Tuesday, September 15, 2026

Joining Janeane on Wednesday September 16th at 9:30am - Chaya Segelman Program Director Our Big Kitchen Los Angeles

 


Chaya Segelman
Program Director 



Our Big Kitchen Los Angeles 

OBKLA  |  September 2026 

Our Big Kitchen Los Angeles (OBKLA) is a community-run, non-denominational nonprofit that brings people together to prepare fresh, nutritious kosher meals for people experiencing food insecurity across Los Angeles. Through hands-on volunteering, OBKLA nourishes people and strengthens community connections. 

Our history 

Established in 2020 and inspired by Our Big Kitchen in Sydney, Australia, OBKLA began as a grassroots response to hunger during the pandemic. In June 2022, with support from the Feder family, it moved into the 4,600-square-foot Margaret Feder Our Big Kitchen on Pico Boulevard. During the January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires, OBKLA also mobilized volunteers to provide meals for evacuees and first responders. 

Our impact 

In 2025, OBKLA prepared 190,534 fresh meals and 315,243 baked goods, with 24,437 volunteers contributing 46,292 hours. The kitchen welcomed 477 groups and worked with 69 charity partners. 

Growth continued in 2026. July production reached 30,030 fresh meals and 37,400 baked goods. In August, almost 2,900 volunteers participated across 56 groups. 

Volunteers and charity partners 

Individuals, families, schools, faith groups and corporate teams prepare and package meals under professional guidance. Charity partners distribute the food to individuals and families in need throughout Los Angeles. 

Partners include Union Rescue Mission, The People Concern, Safe Place for Youth, Jewish Family Services, Tomchei Shabbos, Chai Lifeline, Pico Union Project and A Place Called Home. 

Our vision for 2030 

OBKLA aims to produce one million fresh meals and distribute one million pounds of pantry supplies annually, while engaging tens of thousands of volunteers each year. A permanent home with greater capacity will support this next stage of service. 

Volunteer, bring a group or support our work at obkla.org. 

Sources: OBKLA organizational figures and updates for 2025–2026; obkla.org/about; Aish wildfire coverage, January 14, 2025. Statistics refer to the periods shown. 


Coming up on GTFO September 16th 9:00am - Ryan Johnson, President and Head Fabricator of NewRuleFX, to discuss his journey in the special effects industry, the impact of the devastating fire, and how the company is rebuilding stronger than ever while continuing to create innovative work

 

 

 

 

RISING UP FROM THE ASHES….

NewRuleFX has been an industry leader in special effects fabrication since 1991, creating work for clients including Netflix, Disney, Marvel, and MrBeast. The company's products have appeared in acclaimed film, television, live entertainment, and music productions, including Captain America: Brave New World, Only Murders in the Building, Everybody's Live with John Mulaney, The Bear, MJ The Musical, Conan Must Go (Conan O'Brien), Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa's High School Reunion Tour, Game of Thrones, and hundreds of other high-profile projects.

On November 13, 2025, NewRuleFX's workshop was devastated by a major fire that destroyed much of its facility, equipment, materials, and an extensive collection of custom molds built over decades. While no one was injured, the loss was catastrophic.

Today, NewRuleFX is writing its next chapter. The company has relocated to a new facility and, even while rebuilding its workshop, continues to deliver large-scale projects for clients. It's a testament to the resilience, creativity, and determination that have defined NewRuleFX for more than three decades. 

https://www.newrulefx.com/pages/fire-recovery-page



About Ryan Johnson / President, Founder, & Head Fabricator

 

For more than three decades, Ryan Johnson has been turning impossible ideas into practical reality.

 

As the Founder and President of NewRuleFX, Johnson leads one of Hollywoods premier practical effects fabrication studios, creating screen-ready props and special effects for film, television, streaming productions, live entertainment, haunted attractions, and immersive experiences. His work spans everything from breakaway glass and stunt-safe weapons to hero props, creature effects, custom fabrication, and specialty casting, - always with an emphasis on realism, safety, and craftsmanship.

 

Johnsons career began behind the camera as a producer, director, and cinematographer, where he developed an instinct for visual storytelling that continues to shape every project his shop produces. Rather than simply building props, Johnson approaches every fabrication as part of the story itself—understanding how an object must look under studio lighting, perform in

 

the hands of an actor, survive the demands of production, and ultimately convince an audience that what theyre seeing is real.

 

Known throughout the industry for taking on projects that others consider impossible, Johnson has earned a reputation for engineering practical solutions to extraordinary creative challenges. Whether reproducing historic artifacts, developing stunt-safe versions of dangerous objects, or inventing entirely new fabrication techniques, his team is frequently called upon when productions need results that cannot be purchased off the shelf.

 

Under Johnsons leadership, NewRuleFX has grown into a trusted resource for production designers, art directors, prop masters, special effects coordinators, museums, military trainers, themed entertainment companies, and independent creators around the world. The companys extensive catalog of production-ready props is complemented by a custom fabrication department capable of developing one-of-a-kind solutions under demanding schedules and tight production deadlines.

 

Beyond fabrication, Johnson is a lifelong maker and innovator. He continually explores emerging technologies, including advanced molding and casting systems, CNC machining, laser fabrication, additive manufacturing, and digital design, to expand the possibilities of practical effects while preserving the craftsmanship that has defined Hollywood for generations.

 

Johnson believes the best practical effects are the ones audiences never notice. When a prop disappears into the story, an actor performs with confidence, and a director captures the perfect shot without relying on visual effects, the craftsmanship has done its job.

 

Today, Ryan continues to push the boundaries of practical effects through NewRuleFX, combining old-school artistry with modern manufacturing to help filmmakers and creators bring extraordinary worlds to life, one prop at a time.


NewRuleFX.com - Special Effects Props Supply & Breakaways


Abby Savell, Founder and CEO of LA Percussion Rentals joins Janeane 9/23 at 9:00am. HOLLYWOOD’S ULTIMATE SOUND WAREHOUSE EXPANDS AS LA PERCUSSION RENTALS & RECORDING LAUNCHES IN-HOUSE RECORDING STUDIO FOR MEDIA COMPOSERS. CI 88.9fm

 LAPR Opens Its Renowned Archives to Create a Live, Experimental Tracking Space for Film, TV, and Game Scoring

 

LOS ANGELES, CA — LA Percussion Rentals & Recording (LAPR), the premier source for elite instruments in the entertainment industry, has officially announced the launch of its new in-house recording studio services.

 

Designed specifically for film, television, video game, and professional media composers, LAPR is the first of its kind, a large-scale, percussion-focused service that delivers exploration and recording in one location. It offers a fully equipped, live tracking space that gives composers a greater array of services from solo player multi-tracking to intimate ensemble sessions, providing an agile, budget-friendly alternative to traditional Hollywood scoring stages.

 

"We wanted to remove the barriers between a composer's imagination and the final recording," says Abby Savell, Founder and CEO of LA Percussion Rentals. "Instead of staring at an empty room waiting for a truck to arrive, creators can walk directly onto our warehouse floor. It is a massive sonic playground!"

 

LAPR’s vast inventory of premier orchestral gear, rare world instruments, and the historic Emil Richards collection of legendary sound artifacts has been heard on iconic Hollywood soundtracks. 

Most recently award-winning writer and composer Daniel Pemberton used LAPR resources in the summer blockbuster hit "Project Hail Mary” creating an other-worldly score with an eclectic variety of wooden instruments and some metals in key sequences.

 

LAPR In-House Recording Features include:

      Zero Cartage Fees: Complete elimination of instrument transport, trucking coordination, and packing logistics.

      The World's Instrument Depot: Instant access to thousands of pro symphonic percussion instruments, sound effects, and rare cultural instruments.

      Sonic Exploration: The unique freedom to audition, swap, and experiment with rare timbres live in the room, followed by a tracking session

      Professional Percussionists:

LAPRR staff are available to help composers logistically and creatively, helping with selection and suggesting ways to explore the instruments more deeply for sounds.

 

About LA Percussion Rentals and Recording

Founded in 2004 by professional percussionists Abby Savell and her late husband, Dan, LA Percussion Rentals & Recording is a cornerstone of the Southern California music and film industry. Housing an unparalleled collection of world, orchestral, and custom sound-effects instruments, LAPR supplies elite gear to major scoring stages, world tours, and premium recording sessions across the globe. With the addition of its in-house recording studio, LAPRR continues to innovate by providing one-stop tracking solutions for the modern media composer.

 

To set up an interview with Abby Savell about LAPR, please contact Deborah Gilels of LA Media Consultants at gilelsdeborah@gmail.com or call 818-648-9513