8 Questions with......actor/director/writer Darren James King

Its 11:39 am

    Just dropping by to share my new "8 Questions with...." entry



My new interview is now up and running,please drop by and say "hello"

Up on my Soapbox

Its 12:27 am

*warning...this post has some salty language,so if you are easily offended....this entry is not for you.

     Summer decided to leave SE Michigan for a couple of days as yesterday we had a massive thunderstorm hit our area with heavy rain,winds and hail. I was at work and as the sky grew darker by the second,we waited for the deluge to hit us. Soon...we could hear the sound of rain hitting our roof....but it only lasted 5 minutes. For the all that sudden dark cloud cover,it was rather anti-climatic.

  My co-workers and I were commenting on the sad size of the storm while waiting for the sun to come out. And come out it did...even while it was still raining.  We continued to work and a couple of hours later,the scene repeated itself but the second round was the real deal...this storm just pounded our area.
It lasted a hour before it ended,we had to put some buckets out because we had some leaking in the store.


I like to take a minute to thank everyone who supported my newest "8 Questions with...." interview with Karen Dumas. This interview not only has gotten the most comments on my blog but is now the 2nd most viewed in my series. I am very grateful not only to Karen but to everyone who took a moment to comment.
My next two interviews,with professional photographer Suzanne West and musician Dave Miller of the band Talky Tina are in the chute and will be online soon.


 Had a weird day...I tweeked my elbow at the job this past week...normally that would send someone to our healthcare clinic but I decided to wait and work out the week because we had a crew working overnight polishing our floors and I was asked if I would stay over to help reset the aisles after they were done. I agreed and so I worked it through. I have had sprained ligaments before but this time its a little different as I think I have pinched a nerve as I have numbness all the way to my fingertips.  Its not painful but I do notice a weakness in my hand so I decided to go yesterday to the clinic but the one closest to us was closed. So my ASM said to go today,Monday. Now I have only been there once in 2.5 years with the company and I had a idea of where it was at...so at 11:00 am I headed to the clinic and promptly spent the next three hours looking for the damn place and that was with even asking for directions. I thought I had overshot it and gotten the street address wrong so I backtracked to where I thought it was but to my chagrin,I was wrong again. Now I know many of you are wondering,use your cell phone and find this place...well that is why I asked three different businesses where it was at...I mean,doesn't a industrial medical clinic have to standout??

 So after fruitlessly driving in 3 big circles in busy traffic looking for this place,I pulled the chute and headed home where I looked up the address and all three businesses had given me the wrong information and that included one using Google Maps!!! I didn't feel so foolish afterwards but I also don't think I have been to this place as I had originally thought.
  So tomorrow morning I will venture once again into the mix to have my elbow looked at. I hope its something that can be dealt with easily as we are headed into our inventory time and we need all the help we can bring to get this done....I will let you know how it goes tomorrow.


Its almost time for my fellow pals to drag me to see "Guardians of the Galaxy" which has been getting decent  reviews and I guess based on pre-sold ticket sales,already has been green lighted for a sequel. I know my fellow fanboys will over the moon to hear this bit of news....but I am on record as not being impressed and while I do think James Gunn is a talented director,I just can't get over with the changes from the source material which I have written about over and over. But you know Disney is going to make cute Rocket and Groot toy figures and cram this film down our throats. But based on the rather underwhelming Spider-Man 2 movie and the X-Men film (which I don't hear ANYONE talking about now) this is not a wise course of action...movies that ignore the audience that made them possible in the first place tend to crash and burn quite loudly (Catwoman and Green Lantern anyone?).
  The one bit of good news is this sudden interest in the Guardians has sparked a new series from Marvel featuring the original GOTG team and I'm pretty happy about that.

Its 2:24 pm - Tuesday

    Just got back from my 2nd attempt to find this medical center,I did my homework this time and was able to finally find it. I got the usual work clinic treatment plan:

1. 800 mg motrin
2. a x-ray (on a sprained ligament,this was not needed but hey,they have to bilk,err,bill my company somehow)
3 Psychical Therapy

I have to admit,my arm was a lot more sore then I thought so being put on light duty isn't such a bad thing but since there really isn't too many things under 5 pounds,I don't know how this is going to work out. I also had my feet looked at and I have corns....lovely,right? But now that I know this,I can go online to find out the best way to get rid of them.
   And one last thing about my TMI trip to the clinic....I am not the only one who has not been able to find this place,it happens quite a bit actually. But next time,I will be ready...I may not have a phone but I do have a iPad...which could have saved me so much trouble yesterday,all I would have had to do is go to a WiFi hotspot and well....look for this place myself....


  Been watching the Ray Rice circus play out this week in the press. Rice is a football player who knocked out his fiancee while they were in a hotel elevator. He was charged with assault but quickly married because a wife cannot be compelled to testify against her husband.

   The NFL turned its head yet again on a domestic violence/sexual assault case against one of its bigger stars and only suspended Rice for two games. The dumb fucks at ESPN condoned the violence,led by Stephen the Ass Smith,which after a harsh backlash,was given a paid one week vacation after his half assed apology.
But the one that floored me was the lead in on ESPN radio...."With Rice suspended two games,how will this impact Baltimore's offense"?
  Excuse me???What the fuck is THAT all about??? The man knocked out his fiancee cold,scrapes by with a slap on the wrist by the justice system (remember women,you aren't anything by a babymaker or target practice),a even lighter slap by the NFL and the only thing ESPN is concerned about is how this is going to effect the Raven's offense????
  Its things like this why I follow sports less and less these days,I have no real passion for anything pro related because of assholes who commit these kind of acts to the even bigger assholes who condone it.
Like the knucklehead Ravens fans who gave Ray Rice a standing O when he hit the field..the moral decay of America is continuing to gather more and more steam.

  My brothers and I saw domestic violence up close and personal and it is not pretty. There is nothing to condone or excuse hitting a woman for any reason. When I worked the clubs,I had to break up a few girl on girl fights and yes,I got scratched and even hit a couple of times but never have I even raised a finger against a woman.

  I don't understand the reasoning behind it,if both parties are that worked up....the man needs to walk AWAY and let things settle down. It should never escalate to where violence is introduced. But what more can I say,men are the weaker of the two sexes. Its the truth and until men learn how to communicate with their better halves,Americans will continue to see the rise of violence on women and sadly,some will even give it a standing ovation.


And while I am up on my soapbox....I listen to a local sports talk station as I drive home at night. Selling ads on talk radio is a extremely tough job,CBS owns the radio station I listen to and they are ALWAYS looking for "young bright professionals" who want to sell ads. The thing is,NO ONE really wants to buy a fully produced ad. They will go the budget route and have the personality with the highest listening audience read a ad copy instead of paying for a radio produced one.
  The late night shift is the graveyard for ads in radio,no one buys ads for the 1:30 am spot on Lesson and Leach. Many times,you will hear the host comment on the open lines and try and get you to call in. Open lines mean no one is bothering to call the show,the host is on his/her own until someone decides to call.
Many of the ads are state funded Public Services Ads (PSAs) with a few federal ones thrown in by the Department of Homeland Security.

   But the ones that crack me up are the gambling PSAs...you hear various folks talk about how gambling has ruined their lives and a voice over actor says if you have a gambling problem,call this number. What it fails to do is address that the STATE has created this problem by allowing casinos to invade the state so they can collect a wad of cash...they have led these folks down the road of destruction. I find it sort of twisted the same money the state collects for taxes on the casinos is then used to warn of the risks of gambling! What kind of logic is that?

 Okay....I am off my soapbox. Just had to get that out there...

Alright,I am going to end this....I know this wasn't the most cheerful entry you have read here but not everything is peaches and cheetahs....sometimes even a blogger has to cut to loose a little bit.
For those who stayed in the drift with me on this one....thanks for understanding.


If you are on Twitter,please,follow me @Jinzo_2400


Shout outs

Camille and Mocha - Sending you love and peace
Stephen Clark - thank you for your honest feedback and I will get better.
Pat Caputo and Tom Leyden - Thanks for letting me be a one man army for tiny EMU on your pages.
My friends on the "Plateau"...your support and RTs are just awesome!
Sydney - Glad you are back writing
Ken Helwig - Where do you want the Dodgers to send your broom to??
Ivy - Hope your vacation is going well! Should have asked for a URI sweater!
Tim Teets - Can't wait to see your shirts and your new project
Rachel Thompson - Thanks for giving us a bloggers a voice! #MondayBlogs
The Fluffy Twins - just because
Cheryl - For helping me find my feet
Jessica Clackum - for The Last Ship recaps,I have read them all!

8 Questions with.........Karen Dumas of Images and Ideas,Inc

Its 3:25 pm

      Welcome to an another edition of my ongoing interview series,"8 Questions with.....". I started this waaaay back when on another social media site and have re-started it here. The series features people from all over who in one way or another have perked my interest. So I ask to do a interview where they answer the questions themselves,in their own words.

 Sitting outside the city of Detroit the past 15 years has been a real education for me. I moved here from San Jose,California when Lori and I met.
  I really knew very little about Detroit other then cars were made there,Jimmy Hoffa was murdered in a nearby town and of course,the sports teams.
  Sitting here and watching the decline and destruction of once was a great and proud city has been rough to watch. Sitting 25 miles from it is a hell of a lot different from being IN the middle of it. I have written many blogs about Detroit,both good and bad...about the places Lori and I went to,to the tireless people working hard to make a difference and the ones always looking to "get theirs" at the expense of others.
  One such person who could have made a REAL difference was Kwame Kilpatrick when he was elected mayor,not once but twice. He made a difference alright and not for the better and Detroit's image took a savage beating as Kilpatrick and several cronies were arrested and sent to prison.
  Dave Bing came on as the new mayor and again,hope rose as he brought along a crack staff to help him try and reverse the damage from Kwame.
   Karen Dumas was one of those sharp and dedicated people that Bing brought along. As the spokeswoman for Mayor Bing,she brought a real sense of what Bing was hoping to create here in the city.
Every day Karen would talk to other leaders,the news media and citizens as the mayor's voice. She was strong,whip smart and hard working. While those traits are always in demand elsewhere,in Detroit,it merely puts a target on your back as former police chief Warren Evans and one of the cops who helped bring Kwame Kilpatrick to justice,Gary Brown,can attest to. Asking people to work as hard as you can get you in deep trouble as Karen found out. After Bing became mayor,he started losing that great staff to various issues,some real and in Karen's case,rather "dubious". A employee who had a ax to grind made several claims against Karen and instead of subjecting the city and its people to another circus,Karen regretfully and graciously stepped down. It was a real loss to both Bing and the city as after this,it seemed the city went sort of leaderless as soon after the deputy mayor retired unexpectedly and several appointments that Bing made blew up in his face causing more problems.
   Karen has hit the ground flying,between her various news shows guest spots,she has own public relations firm,Images and Ideas,Inc that is even now trying to get new businesses into the city. All this plus a wife and mother,Karen is one very person.
  I have to admit,when I asked Karen for this interview,I really didn't think I would land such a high profile figure here. I like to thank Karen for agreeing to the interview and my friend Susan for her editorial advice.



And now.......8 Questions with.........Karen Dumas




(courtesy of Karen Dumas)






What was it like growing up in the Dumas house? Were your parents involved in public service?

   I grew up with my mother, but my parents—both of whom are deceased—were the most generous I have ever seen. Not just by making donations, but by being involved in that which made a difference in the lives of others, individually and collectively. Whether giving gloves to the paperboy who had none or hosting a cookout for those who participated in the neighborhood clean-up day or supporting political efforts of a cause or candidate, there was constant involvement. Politically or personally, I watched and was then engaged in every level of productive participation. I learned that just because something didn’t immediately impact you didn’t mean you shouldn’t be involved, or not support who or what was right.

(courtesy Dave Bing Facebook)

How did you decide to work for Dave Bing? Do you have regrets in doing so?

  The Bing administration was the 3^rd mayoral administration for which I had worked: The Scott administration in Highland Park, the Kilpatrick administration and then Bing. I was contacted by Charlie Beckham and Dave Bing asking to join the administration because they needed help on the communications side. I said no twice, but after several conversations offered to accept it on an interim basis, which indeed it was. I have no regrets.

What is the biggest difference in adjusting to a public service job from a private sector job?

 The majority of my professional career has been in the private sector—my own company, which I started when I was 24 after leaving Highland Park. So, the adjustment has always been the other way around—operating within the confines of government where accountability and performance were dictated or limited by politics and process.



(courtesy of Karen Dumas)

 
Deputy Mayor Saul Green
(courtesy of bing.com)


Former Detroit police chief Warren Evans
(courtesy of bing.com)

It seemed to many that as Dave Bing forced his more talented and skilled members to either resign or face being fired,his lack of leadership caused Detroit's sharp decline and the into getting a EM put in charge...how would you respond to that?

  The Mayor was unique in that he gave his staff—all of them-the autonomy and support to do their job; the challenge was that many didn’t do so, which undermined his ability to be more effective. And, he was nicer than he was political. While the EM was appointed on his watch, the financial compromise of the city was a culmination of decisions—or lack thereof—of every administration before.

Did you volunteer to resign or did Bing force you out like he did Warren Evans? Have you and Dave Bing talked since he has left office?

In an appointed position, you serve at the pleasure of the mayor. It is a temporary position—whether it ends before or when the administration does. So, no one is ever forced out, some just publicly oppose the decision that the mayor rightfully retains. It’s never personal for me, and the mayor and I continue to be friends.

How important is ego in doing such a high profile job such as the one you held?

It’s very important—that you DON’T have one. Because people are pulling at you from every direction, and being complimentary in so many ways it is important to not lose sight of the fact that it is not you, it is what people think you can do for them; that they treat you a certain way because of where you are, not always who you are, and at the end of the day it is not about you but all and only about the citizens you serve—the true reason why everyone is (or should be) in office.

What is the state of the city compared to when you served on Bing's staff?

  Every administration builds on what was done, or not, in the previous administration. The current administration has the benefit of generous state support and resources, and an EM with powers no other administration has ever had. This should prove beneficial, but for whom is yet to be seen.

 

Much has been made of color and race causing the incredible amount of violence in the city,some believe it has gone deeper then mere color and it now ingrained the culture,how can the folks here break the cycle? Your thoughts?

  There needs to be a very open, candid and non-judgmental discussion about race. People don’t want to talk about it because they want to pretend it doesn’t exist, but it does. We need to understand that people are different—not better or worse, but different; that crime is more about economics and culture than race, and that we need to see things and people for who they are first, rather than what color they are. Sounds good, but it’s a tall challenge that needs to be undertaken.

You are now running your own Public Relations firm,Images and Ideas,Inc,as such,how do you sell the city to outside investors and companies?

Detroit has always been intriguing to those who don’t know about it. Right now, the interest and energy are high, although still tempered by apprehension because of perception. Those who want to participate will do so, and those who don’t will not, no matter what.

How can the city of Detroit develop and more importantly,retain good leaders?

Good is relative, as people base their opinions on some unique criteria including name recognition, limited encounters and what “they” say, whoever “they” may be. I think we need to be better educated on the political process—knowing who can do what in certain positions, so that expectations are realistic; we then can and should hold leaders accountable. Aren’t effective? Out. Give new names and ideas an opportunity. And, stop recycling and allowing folks to run from office to office. Elected positions are a privilege, not an entitlement.
  

 Detroit has been the heart of Michigan's economic drive,why does it have such a hostile relationship with Lansing (Michigan's state capitol)

 Detroit is the biggest city in the state, but many have long viewed it as the biggest headache, for many reasons. Only recently has the state realized the potential and possibilities therein. I think a lack of familiarity and disconnect long fueled the contentious relationship, which for many reason is dissipating. 



 


  Detroit voters have been accused of voting more for a "name" like Charles Pugh and Dave Bing then someone who may be more qualified in terms of leadership. Why does this happen in your opinion?

I think this happens everywhere simply because marketing if effective for everything, including politicians. People remember names, or a pleasant encounter which is sometimes enough to secure their vote. And, there are those who run from--and for--office to office, where their name recognition is helpful to their campaign. 





  Going back to crime,outside of downtown,do you feel safe to travel in the city? And what was the biggest obstacle in battling blight during your tenure with Mayor Bing's staff?

 I feel as safe here as I do anywhere; which means I am cautious--but not fearful-- everywhere I go--city, suburbs, etc. It's the society not the city in which we live that dictates our caution. I think the biggest challenge was the availability of resources--dollars. This administration has the benefit of state support and EM powers, both of which has brought money and the autonomy to make and execute decisions otherwise hampered by work/union rules, process, etc. 



 You had a critically acclaimed run as a radio host here in Detroit,is this something you are looking to do again if a opportunity presented itself?

 Of all the things I have done, I LOVED being on the radio and interacting with people. I believe Detroit is capable of and entitled to a more intelligent discussion, beyond conspiracy theories and gossip. People are empowered when they are armed with information and access to resources, as well as discussion that prompts  productive thought and action.

Walk us through a typical day of Karen Dumas, what, where and who we would see and do?


No day is typical, and that’s what I love most. The things I do, as well as those I encounter and engage with are as varied as they come. I do a lot of writing for clients and myself (my blog, opinion pieces, social media and working on a book); I schedule and coordinate business meetings so that they don’t occupy my entire week (I am a big proponent of organization and time management), go to the gym 3 times a week, and spend any other available time with my family. I enjoy dining out, and I love driving alone so I can listen to and enjoy my music (of which I also enjoy many genres). 

 What has been your biggest triumph professionally,career wise?

 I see everything as a staircase, each accomplishment or challenge as the next step up. I'm still climbing.


To learn more about Karen's public relations firm,Images and Ideas and Karen herself, please visit her website by clicking here.
You can also follow Karen on Twitter @KarenDumas.


Again,my deepest thanks to Karen for allowing me the honor of this interview. Please feel free to drop a comment or better yet,share this interview with your friends and family.

If you are on Twitter,you can also follow me @Jinzo_2400.


Shout outs

Amy,Rob,Camille,Ronnie - How did I do?
Susan - thank you for your input
My "contact" on the Plateau - is this newspaper worthy?
Tiffany Hendra and Willow - thank you for letting me share your story.
To my Pink Hat Mission supporters- thank you!!!
Lisa and Ashley - I very much love to do a mission with you and your readers!
Ivy - Glad you are all moved,now enjoy your vacation!
Monte Lebo- always a class act,thanks for keeping me sane.

What if Jewel gave blood while eating a Subway sandwich while blogging about it?

Its 5:08 am

  Running on fumes as I had a rugged day getting only 2 hours of sleep the past 24....and I am no Jack Bauer.

(Jim Davis)

  Like to thank everyone who came and supported my first Blog Hop...so many kind comments,really warms my heart. I do think that some folks either couldn't grasp the reason behind my writing or they were on cruise control in dropping a comment...it left me a little flustered. But overall it,it was a positive experience and I hope Tiffany and Brad will follow through and do a blog hop as well. Lisa gets a pass because its rather hard trying to write during a chemotherapy cycle. I know which chemo she is on and its not a very pleasant ride..
Maybe with her permission,I can do a blog hop in her name and post it on here.


  Its 11:42 pm

   Still working on my newest "8 Questions with....." interview,its going to be slightly larger then the normal sized ones as this person has a lot to say and I want to provide the space for them. Its one of the advantages  of doing interviews in a blog,one is having someone not only write their own answers but also being able to be flexible in the size of the interview.
   This will be the biggest "name" interview I have done here on this blog so I am wanting to do everything correctly,it could lead to more heavyweights actually agreeing to talk with me on here and I would really like that to happen. With this interview,I am hoping it will open the doors to that.


   While out promoting my blog,I have stumbled across a weird trend...people are now getting products from companies to push their goods. Bloggers are becoming paid hacks to tell us how awesome some companies new products are. They have disclaimers up stating they have been paid or been a product for free to write about it. Now I can understand doing this maybe on a 1-2 times a month but on a daily basis? That is not writing nor is it blogging. I am only mentioning this because on some blogging PR groups,we are encouraged to share our blog while visiting others and dropping a comment as well. It just seems all of a sudden I am reading more about how company's new diaper is catching 89% more poop then last year's diaper or how exciting that the new shoelaces they got from someone not only will help keep your shoes on but in a pinch,can be used to defuse a nuclear bomb.

(Adam Sandler in "Happy Gilmore")

  I find myself trying to relate to this and coming up short,I am supposed to be supporting other writers/bloggers but feel like I am in a Adam Sandler movie (Adam's films are the king of product placement)
reading about stuff I will never try. I think there can be a happy balance between writing about products and writing about things that really matter to you,places you have been and how cute your kids,husband,wife,cat are in your daily life.
   Am I being a bit too harsh or do I have a legitimate complaint? I welcome your feedback both pro and con.

   Lately I have been on a serious Jewel kick,listening to her greatest hits album while I have been blogging as of late. I don't know how to explain this other then suddenly her voice speaks to me. This happens to me when I listen to a handful of artists like Barbara Manning,Sarah Brightman,Penelope Houston,Dave Alvin and as late,Paramore.
   So it was pretty sad to sign on and see that she and Ty Murray are divorcing...quite shocking actually as many (including myself) thought that was a til death do us part type of marriage. Maybe she got tired of staying on the ranch,she still has a lot music in her and I just couldn't see her fade away to small concert tours and an a TV appearance here and there. Jewel just needs to go back to listening to her voice...it was maddening watching others trying to twist her into a sexy pop singer and then reshape her as a country singer
  She needs to forget the imaging part and trust in her songwriting which as always been her strength as a artist,not her figure or trying to please everyone except herself.
  I am sorry for both Ty and her because on paper,it really seemed quite a good match...

Today I had a appointment to give my 5th pint of blood. I drove to the Red Cross donation site and checked in. I had drank a ton of water as they always ask you to do so after I checked in,I had to use the restroom(because once you get hooked up,you are hooked up) and then get my blood tested.
Lo and behold,my hemoglobin was too low....I don't eat a lot of red meat but I do take a multi-vitamin every day so I was a little confused why it would be low....turns out when I switched from coffee to tea,that tea absorbs the iron and lowers your hemoglobin. Oh I still drink coffee but its more as a treat now then everyday. With my sleep already shot to ribbons,tea is a better way to go for me...unless I want to donate blood. The nurse suggested "no tea" for a week before donating,that seems logical and so the Red Cross calls me back,I will be ready.


  I have a new Pink Hat mission for July. I am asking you all to collect any books/novels that you have read and calling a local hospital,senior center,hospice or VA center to donate them. I recently had a chance to donate a large bag of books that I got in turn from someone else. The books are going to a large church parking lot sale. I decided that would be a good idea for a mission and so July that is what I am doing and I am hoping some of you will join me on this.
To learn more about the Pink Hat,click the link here to see the history behind the missions.






Well that is it for me,sorry its a bit of a short entry....but I will try and do better next time...

Oh....before I go, it seems like a very sweet woman who has supported many people through her various acts of kindness,once again stepped into the breach when she saw a woman in distress.  I first met Michelle Ball through our mutual friendship with the two Amys...journalist Amy Lange and Amy Neilson,who was fighting recurrent breast cancer.
   When Lori got sick with her own uterine cancer,Michelle extended her kindness and friendship to me as well,talking with me and supporting my family at Lori's funeral.
I had a chance to return some of that kindness when Michelle's beloved dog crossed the Rainbow Bridge and we chatted on the phone.
So when I saw this story about Michelle, I wasn't surprised at all by it because it was so her. She is an amazing young lady who helped a lot women through the years.

Only kindness matters


If you are on Twitter,follow me sweater monkeys or perish at @Jinzo_2400

Next entry up will be guest blogger Alexandria Ingham.


Shout outs

Miguel Diaz - Thanks for the refreshing talk,we may not see eye to eye but at least we listened to each other.
Barb - thank you again!
Sue - and thank you as well. That was a nice treat tonight.
Cheryl - I was going to write about your friend but I am going to wait...hoping Jerry and you have a nice vacation!
USA Today - San Jose State at No.76? I think we can do better and outside Auburn,we can win every game.
Lisa Adams - Light and love to you.
Dominic - We need to kidnap Rome for a SyFy Creature movie marathon!
Dollar Tree - About time you had a DVD sale! I was running lowish on Dollar Tree Theater flicks
Angie H - Happy birthday again detective!
Tiffany and Brad - Hope you will do the blog hop!
Derek Jeter- All Star.....yep,that is about right!

8 Questions with.........director/producer Brian Remo of Fearless Productions

Its 7:56 pm

      Welcome to an another edition of my ongoing interview series,"8 Questions with.....". I started this waaaay back when on another social media site and have re-started it here. The series features people from all over who in one or another have perked my interest. So I ask to do a interview where they answer the questions themselves,in their own words.

  It was almost a year ago that I first interviewed actor/playwright Stephen Foster for my blog. The interview was a lot of fun and as of today,is the second best viewed one in my series. Stephen and I have remained friends and he is one of my blog's biggest supporters. 

  Picking subjects to be interviewed is a random inexact science for me. I don't have a list or leads,I just ask someone if they want to be interviewed,explain my format and away we go...

  Recently I posted that if anyone knew someone who would be a good person to talk to to suggest their name to me,Stephen sent me Brian Remo's name right away. Brian is a stage director and producer of Fearless Productions based in Rahway,New Jersey.

  I was fortunate that I was able to attend a lot of plays when I was in San Jose and I really enjoy a good production. I always wonder what does it take to put a play or a musical. I know that movie making is done in pieces and out of order with tons of editing and effects work. But a live stage production is organic and raw and in the now, As a former talent buyer,I know about putting on a live show,working the logistics,securing the talent and promoting it. But doing it on a daily basis (or nightly) and making sure the show is PERFECT,that takes a supreme talent and Brian Remo clearly has that and more. 

   

From Brian's bio on the Fearless website

" I wanted to be an actor. So I cropped a candid photo off my computer, printed a make-shift head shot out at the local Target, and started knocking on doors of major Broadway theaters asking for a shot. "I would start at the bottom!!" I explained. The bottom, I soon learned was nowhere near the Midtown Theater District, and I sneaked into an audition at a West Village 40-seat theater for a show entitled "Sex, Relationships and Sometimes...Love" I had no credits, no experience, and no IDEA what I was doing, but I had a SICK ability to memorize written word so I got off book for a three minute monologue in fifteen minutes and got cast in a show that was 30 blocks south of where I wanted to be. Seven years, twenty plus community theater productions and a few doses of life showing up later, I sit here today looking at a poster that has my picture, my name and the title of that SAME show with an address that resides 36 blocks north of day one: The Jerry Orbach Theater located on the corner of 50th and BROADWAY. I find myself surrounded by a cast of 24 and a company of over 70 actors and actresses that have got to be the most valuable assets a man could dream of... We came together in friendship, in love and in the name of our passion for the craft that was fueled by a collaborative spirit that can only be referred to as Fearless........"



 With such dedication and drive,is it no wonder that Brian can do it all? Of course what really warms my heart is his insightfulness on taking chances on NEW VOICES. To be bold enough to challenge his audiences with fresh works from relatively unknown playwrights. Remember,when you see "Legends and Bridge" get nominated for Tony Awards and hit Broadway by storm,just recall this most hard working and fearless director.


And now........its time for 8 Questions with.........director Brian Remo of Fearless Productions.

    Take a minute to introduce yourself to us.

Hey there... My name is Brian Remo. I'm currently CEO and Artistic Director of Fearless Productions. Among the many hats this corporation allows me to rack, I am currently engaged in a career in acting. I am a theatrical producer, director, instructor, promoter, manager, writer, advocate and philanthropist. These may seem like a lot of words to describe one I prefer which is "opportunist." I live in New Jersey and am the lucky dad to three amazing children: Justin (13), Jack (10) and Kali Peyton (1)...

  What was your early years like? What one moment led you into becoming a actor?

I spent most of my life doing what I thought others wanted me to do. I did these things in order to be liked or appreciated. Truth is I acted most my life away. If I wanted someone to accept me, or appreciate me, I would quickly adapt to fit in or conform. My first exposure with theater was in the St. Alphonsus sixth grade production of 'The Stations of the Cross'... The critics seemed to miss the boat on this one but I assure you it was riveting. Not being classically popular I was cast as a shepherd which was Catholic School for "Spear bearer #3" when Pontius Pilate got chicken pox on opening night, the nuns had an open freak session on what to do. Sister Maureen asked if any of the smaller roles would care to play the role while reading the script, I raised my hand. So with fifteen minutes to go, I got into costume, and as I waited in the wings the director handed me the script and said break a leg. I looked at her and said "Thank you", and preceded to go on without the script. After the play was over, everyone asked me how I knew all the lines and blocking and I remember replying,"Well I saw the play like ten times, you know, in rehearsal...." I never saw a stage again till 2007,.. but man oh man do I try to make up for it. I figure if I do twice as much in half the time then maybe I'll catch up to my happily ever after. I spent the better part of my life...afraid. Afraid of not being good enough, not having enough, or not knowing what the hell enough was. Self centered fear drove me to the least likely of places: The furthest away from my true self's center possible. It wasn't until New Year's Eve, 2007 that a simple resolution changed everything. I wanted to be an actor...

   

Was there one person or performer who influenced you to explore your creative side? If it was a person,who was it and how did they influence you?

 My uncle Jim and I were very close I was a child. He was always the life of the party doing impressions making jokes and constantly doing physical comedy... I loved the way the eyes of the people in the room would light up when he would do these things. He told me a story once about how his dream was to be a standup comedian. And he never got that chance except for one night at an open mic night while on vacation. He spoke of that night like all of his dreams came true at that very moment. I remember thinking of that story when I made my decision to turn my life around.

    You had your first role in a 40 seat theater,what do you remember from that first night and share with us what emotions you felt.

*LOL*... Well the theater held 40, but I only held the attention of the one person who showed up that night... Her name was Ingrid... And she drove three hours in the snow to see her friend in the show who coincidentally did NOT show... So I learned really early the adage "play to a full house every night"... Someone asked me what I was so happy about, I told them "I'm a working actor in NYC and it's an all female audience!!! Don't know bout you but I'm already planning on what drink I'm gonna let her buy me..." FYI the following night there were so many people in the audience that they sat them on the stage itself. (Ingrid was my comp for that show).... It was a gin and tonic by the way.

    What does it take to take a new play such as "Legends and Bridge" to the stage? Does a director have any influence in tweaking the material?

L&B is a triumph before it ever hits the stage... The truth is, that's kind of how I look at all the projects I become involved with. I don't rate the material before I gage the potential for the greatness that is possible surrounding the people involved with the project. Because of this wonderful piece of written word, i've had the pleasure to meet Stephen Foster, and to cast three amazing women to portray three iconic figures. Not to mention two immensely overqualified supporting actors. Sometimes I get thought of as a pre-caster, but it's just that combination of knowing what I want and holding auditions in day to day life when I meet people and play them out in my head. A person only has to spend five minutes on Facebook to know the fire and intensity with which Stephen lives his life and has transcribed that into the words on the page. I would sooner explain how a cheetah manages to run 70 miles an hour, it's just potential ability and basic instinct that made the play what it is...all I get to do is set it loose.

  What is a difference between directing a play and producing it?

Although I enjoy acting a bit more than directing, and directing a bit more than producing, the differences between the positions has to do with the ability to relinquish control and the number of decisions you have to make in comparison to their importance. As actors we make 1000 decisions on stage and one wrong decision can easily be fixed by the other 999. As a director we make a couple hundred decisions all fixable but much more heavily weighted as there are less but far more powerful ones to make. And as a producer we make key decisions like what play to choose or who is going to direct it. The decisions a producer makes are few and early, but ultimately those three or four decisions set the tone for the entirety of the project.

  Why are the same plays like "Cats" and "Phantom" constantly "revived" on Broadway instead of new plays and new playwrights? Every year at the Tony Awards ,it seems we see the same roles nominated just new faces in them.

I'm probably not the best person to answer this question but I'll give it a shot. I think every once in a while a play or musical is written that just plain old deserves to be immortal... Les Mis, Wicked, Menagerie.... I think some of these plays ultimately set the tone and establish a new set of standards for future works. Frankly I can see every generation wanting their opportunity to perform such great pieces. And every generation of viewer to appreciate these works in presentation by the actors of their time. A comparable question might be why do people fly halfway around the world to see structures and artworks built by man when computer generation can fabricate replicate and dominate them in far less time. When something great happens you celebrate the discovery no matter how much time passes... I'm just saying.

   What is the more difficult to create for the stage...a drama,a comedy or a original musical and why?

I personally find drama to be the most difficult yet the most rewarding. I feel musicals bring with it an instant gratification to the audience.. Everyone loves a good song and dance. Comedy is of course designed to provide enjoyment through laughter and ridicule of the human instrument,but in the drama it is so much more difficult to embrace and attempt to tackle the audiences ability to appreciate much deeper and richer emotions such as remorse, resentment, denial, addiction, heart ache, betrayal, desolation, sacrifice,.. And without resorting to easier tactics such as comedic influence and special-effects that is a challenge that I respect and relish the opportunity for.

   Tell us about your stage company,Fearless. Between acting,directing and producing,how did you find time to start a stage company?

To tell you the truth Fearless essentially formed itself. As I became more and more involved in theater I looked around me and I saw not only a collection of associates, but this immensely talented group of friends that acted more like family. After shows we would all sit in the bar or coffeehouses and the conversations usually ended up in "we should do this show" or "you'd be great in that show" and I guess I just said to myself if somebody doesn't start making these dreams come true for people they may never get the opportunity to do it at all. I wish I would've pursued mine earlier. And that's what Fearless Productions is about,... fearlessly pursuing our hopes and dreams through the art of theater.
Currently Fearless Productions has five regional shows slated for 2014, six regional shows slated for 2015, a featured production in 'Legends and Bridge', an open ended New York City cult juggernaut in 'sex relationships and sometimes love'and is producing a statewide musical theater competition called Fearless Icon... The company was formed in January 2014 and what started out as about 30 members has tripled in size in five short months. And God willing it will continue to make dreams come true.

  Exactly how does one represent a actor? Do you decide based on stage/film credits/SAG-AFTRA standing?

Fearless management was actually Kristin Barber's idea. And I usually follow her lead, but to me it comes down to work ethic... There are 1 million markets out there and millions of different types. Everyone can find their niche if they work hard enough at it. It seems we may spend our whole life for that five-minute moment when we feel that feeling we've been searching for. Most people would give anything to feel that.

 You are extremely busy,so what do you do on your down time? (I had to seriously press Brian to answer..a testament to his drive)

Down time...I read... I ride my motorcycle... I catch up on game of thrones. I try not to miss any of my son's baseball games. I usually make it a point to have movie night with my sons once a week. Laundry sneaks its way I there somewhere. Truth is I kinda live my life a moment at a time and when a spare moment creeps in I kinda do what falls in front of me... I'm just not the "I enjoy Sundays in my herb garden" kinda guy, ya know? I don't read the paper, I don't watch the news, I don't hike or bike or shop unless I need a new pair of jeans or a black t shirt. Theater is what makes me happy... And I'll take happy, with or without the ever after..

I like to say thank you to both Brian Remo for taking the time to answer my 8 Questions and to Stephen Foster for suggesting him! 

To learn more about Fearless Productions just click the link. 

My next interview will be with actress/activist Monique Parent. She is one of the sweetest people I know and this should be a fun interview.

  Also have reached across the pond again for my next guest blogger who I know you will enjoy reading. 

If you are on Twitter,follow me @Jinzo_2400

Shout outs

Happy birthday to both Sue and Dominic

Joan L. - Mary Steenbergen! 

Robert and Heather - There can't be a Pacific Rim 2 without Cherno Alpha!

Susan - glad the tire was reasonable

Debbie Rochon - thanks for the fun

Chris B. - Thank you for knowing about Torpedo-8 and John Waldron. Sad that Midway is so badly forgotten by this country and without that victory maybe D-DAY would have never happened.

Josh - thank you so much for the new music...its like water to a thirsty man.

Amy Lange and Gary Avila - all my love and gratefulness this past weekend

Donald - next year.

Did someone mention music?

Its 12:32 am

    Sitting in the den,the cheetah is sitting in the window and listening to the birds chirp outside.
Drinking some iced tea and just waiting to see if the words will flow well enough for a entry.
I am tickled to see that Dollar Tree Theater is starting to gain some traction as far people being amused by the term. Paladin and I slugged our way through a truly God awful film called "Curse of the Wolf" which should have called "Curse of the wasted 90 minutes". Like I posted in on my Facebook page,this movie was so bad even the SyFy Channel rejected it
  But we started watching "Descendent" starring Jeremy London and a young Katherine Heigl (the movie was released in 2003) and it was surprisingly a nice little gem of a tale. Quite unexpected considering the fact the first five films I have watched in this collection have been so bad.



So many things come across in this film...number one being bummed for Jeremy London,who was the best thing going in this. His role as  Ethan Poe,a descendant of Edgar Alan Poe was sad, sympathetic,creepy and driven. Very much like Jeremy himself in real life as a series of bad lifestyle choices have pretty much derailed his once promising career.  Pretty much just like Poe's drinking destroyed his life,a case of life emulating art.
  Katherine's performance was very understated and I liked the fact the director didn't glam her up,she looks very plain and normal which allows the watcher to focus on her acting which is quite good.
Of course the next movie I am going to watch is called "The Fear Chamber",so I suspect I will heading back down to cheesy town.


 
    Had a very unexpected surprise when I came in to work last night. One of my co-workers and I have bonded over the love of good music and he burned me several CDs worth of music. While I can get 19 low budget films for a buck at the Dollar Tree or Wal-Mart,I can't afford 15.99 for a single CD. And since I have blogged about the death of used music stores in my area,I won't recap it again. New music has been extremely rare and since I never listen to commerical radio,I am out of touch with many new bands....which is my friend was amused when I told him I stumbled across Paramore.
  I kept hearing a quirky sounding tune on our overhead radio in the store. I started to listen for it and when I did,I copied down the lyrics and came home and Googled them and up came "Still Into You" by Paramore.
Slide over to YouTube and ta da,I saw the video. What a cool sounding alternative band. Really like Hayley Williams look,spunky without being affected.
  The band has been around since 2003 but the releases have been sort of sparse,only four albums in 11 years is not a very large catalog. Which while of sad for the band,maybe not such a bad thing for a new fan like myself who has belatedly found their music.

While I am listening to Jewel again while I am writing this blog,I am pretty excited to give the new CDs a crank in the Rodger Young during the summer months.
  He asked me about my favorite singers and of course I shared him Barbara and Dave Alvin,whom he wasn't too familiar with. We talked Dave and of course The Blasters,who have just released a new album.
Last night he came into work a bit excited,The Blasters and Dave are touring Detroit and so guess who is going to treat my buddy to two of the very best in American music? It will be my first live music show since I can't remember when. Oh,I have seen a couple of free jazz shows but the last time I saw a show at the club level was Barbara Manning so many years ago.

  It will be a real treat to introduce Dave Alvin to a new pair of ears....as well as The Blasters. Sort of bummed the brothers are not playing together but still,Phil can still bring it a lot better then most anyone...

  Getting geared up for the work around the house,I went and started gathering up the supplies that I will need to get this project going,fresh caulk,new check value for the sump pump,plumbing parts for the bathtub and going to have to replace the faucets in the upstairs,some much has fallen apart while Lori was sick. Its like I am seeing these things for the first time...and now I am ready to try and fix it.

  Working overnights is not so easy for me anymore,when I was younger,it was nothing to wake up at 7:30 am,be to work at 9:00 am,work all day,do a rock show,get home by 3 am and do it again the next day. I am no longer that same guy anymore,I am slowing down a little bit....it takes longer for this beat up soul to recover. I like the shift in terms of the people I work with,my job is so much easier because of the team I have and we work well together. Its funny,when I do interviews for jobs,they always "Do you like working by yourself or with others"? While I am perfectly happy working solo,I enjoy working with a team so much more. A good team gets the work done and done right. Time flies as well....because you are working on a common goal and working to hold your end up.

   

Its one of the strengths of my job,we have a lot of folks who will quickly jump in and help out someone else. Makes it easier to come into work...

Heard some most welcome news from back in San Jose,seems like the SoFA Street Festival is coming back in September. This was a true neighborhood driven event and I got to work on three of them in both planning,set-up and booking bands. The Fair was the brainchild of Fil Maresca and Gary Walker of Club FX and it was a lot of fun with great music,small businesses and tons of folks walking down First Street.
 Well Fil is back and he is once again working very hard to put this event in place.
    I think its going to be more of a real challenge this time due to the fact there are no more clubs in the area...which really helped draw the crowds due to the strong musical line-ups both in the venues and on the main stage.  He does have some heavy firepower still at his disposal in the fact that my former boss Jimmy plus Chris Esparza and Larry Trujillo are still in the live music scene and should help book some strong local and in Jimmy's case,national acts to help headline the music part of it.
 Just hope the city of San Jose is a lot more progressive in working to make this happen with as little trouble as possible.

   Well that is it for now....short and to the point.

If you are on Twitter,follow me @Jinzo_2400


Shout outs

Don Zimmer - a hell of a great Yankee, RI.P.
Valerie - This is your year..
Monique P. - Can't wait for your answers and new website
Fluffy Sisters  - The poster above is so you.....
Josh - Thanks for the toons


Everyone else "Life is a cabaret.......so sing!"


If you had to share your favorite band/singer with someone new,who would it be and why?

8 Questions with ................Tim Teets of o73 Films

"Because we put our heart and soul into them, they are everything". - Jessica Cameron,award winning actress/director "Truth Or Dare" speaking about working small independent films


Its 11:20 pm

   Welcome to an another edition of my ongoing interview series,"8 Questions with.....". I started this waaaay back when on another social media site and have re-started it here. The series features people from all over who in one way or another have perked my interest. So I ask them to do a interview where they answer the questions themselves,in their own words. 

  Its been a while since I posted a interview and for this edition of "8 Questions with......" I am trying something a little different in this one and I hope you like it!

As some of you know,I run across my subjects from all over the place...I have no set type of person I interview,you can be in a band,a writer,a small business owner or just a citizen just like myself. What is important to me is that you are interesting...and so when I was surfing Facebook one day recently,I ran across Tim Teets of o73 Films.
  Tim owns 073 Films,I caught a picture of one of his kids working on a piece of equipment and I was struck with how DIY it was (Do It Yourself). Just a man with a goal of making movies on shoestring budgets and telling a good story. In other words,someone who I feel has a story to share and I would like to share that story here.
After you read the interview,continue reading as I ask the well known and respected film critic Richard Von Busack about the world of micro budget films. I think Richard makes several good points as the rise of homegrown studios rises each year. 

And now its time for 8 Questions with.......Tim Teets of o73 Films







1. Who are you and why movies?


My name is Tim Teets and I am a 40 year old husband and father of 3. I have held many a job in my lifetime from pizza delivery to Debt Collector, but movies have always been my passion. I have always dreamed not of being in movies but making movies. I wrote my first screenplay in high school and have been doing it ever since. It is only now that I have chosen to give actual film making a chance.

Tim and his wife (courtesy of Tim Teets)


2. What film,writer or director influenced you the most and in what way?


There are 2 directors who inspired me to actually go ahead and attempt to do this filmmaking indeavor, they are Kevin Smith and Edward Burns. Kevin Smith says on his concert film, “Burn in Hell” that when his father died, he died screaming, and it was then he realized we were all probably going to die screaming, so there is no reason not to live all your dreams. He also said to surround yourself if people who ask WHY NOT? instead of just WHY?. Mr. Smith also goes on to say that anyone can make a movie. You don't need millions of dollars, you only need a camera and some friends willing to help out.

Edward Burns is much of the same. In a podcast I heard and listen to when I need the inspiration to get going, he talks about how he, as a known celebrity, couldn't get his movies made. So instead of selling out or just giving up, he just stock of what he had available (i.e. locations), wrote screenplays using those available items, called his friends and made a movie, then another, then another. He used the digital domain to release his movies and now has a career using this model. One of those films was “NEWLYWEDS” which he made for $9,000 To listen to Ed Burn's explain how he creates,click here 3. Had you ever worked on a film before creating your own production company? If so,what did you take away from the experience?

Before creating “o73 Films” I had never worked on a film of any kind before. I tended to watch every behind the scenes special feature and read whatever I could about filmmaking.



4. How did o73 Films get started and do you have any projects in the works?


I worked at a collection agency here in my city for five years, and my extension was o73. And no matter where I moved in the building, while other people's extensions would change o73 seemed to stick with me. So when I decided to attempt filmmaking, I decided to use that as a branding device for my films.



5. How hard is it to actually work on a micro budget film? What are some of the biggest obstacles you have to work around?

I wouldn't call it hard, just engrossing. I have to either do everthing myself, or ask my friend to donate their time. Luckily I have a few great friends (Rob, Bobi Jo, Wil) whom have helped me along the way, as well as undying support from my wife Tera. Those keep me going, The biggest obstacles is trying to balance your time to do all the things that need to get done on your film, while continuing to work and spend time with the family.



6. How does one cast,market and show a indie movie? What is the best and worst part of each segment of film making?

Cheaply. For the first film I am relying on actors/actresses to donate their time for no pay but the possiblity of IMDB credits. I am planning on relying on the internet and social media for the marketing of my film. The best part of this is the writing. I love to make up stories, create the characters, and see how they react to the situations I put them in. The WORST part is the waiting for everything to come together so that I can actually film my story.
7. What do you think of the current state of Hollywood? Is there a place for someone like o73 Films?



I think Hollywood as a whole as lost its way. It seems to be drifting away from smaller budgets higher quality and moved in the direction of higher budget more spectacle. It seems that the CGI driven films get all the press while the smaller films are religated to the home market. As far as is there a place for o73films, I hope so. But I want to put stuff out there that only I can do. If that means staying digital then so be it. I care more about the quality of my films then their box office gross.

8. Where do you see your company in three years? If there anyone today you would love to work with? 


In three years I want to be seen as regular on the festival circuit. I want o73 films to be a place where people can be entertained by stories that are told differently than main stream Hollywood tells them. As far as who, would I like to work with, I would love to work with Danielle Harris. I have been a fan of hers since she starred in Halloween 4. I think she is a talented actress who brings something special to the screen whenever she appears.

9. What were your three favorite films of 2013?

My three favorite movies of 2013 that is a difficult call. I could go all artsy on you and tell you which had the best cinematography, the best acting and so on.... but when it comes down to it, I watch a movie to be entertained. And if a movies has all those good things, wonderful, but if it doesn't that's fine as well. As long as when the final credits roll, I enjoyed the time spent watching it. That being said here are my three favorites:
Now You See Me – This film was a pleasant surprise. Although, a movie with some plot holes, I was throughly entertained thought out the film, from trying to figure out what was going on, to enjoying the chemistry between the actors. This film made time flyby and when the credits rolled had me wanting to watch it again to see what I missed
. You're Next - A horror movie that exceeded my expectations. It had the right mix of scares as well as suspense, with a touch of who-dunit. They cast made of mostly unknowns was also a pleasure to watch
. JOBS – One of the few times I have found Ashton Kutcher watchable. His portrayal of Steve Jobs, co- founder of Apple was never boring. The movie showed Steve Jobs as less than perfect individuall who was career driven over family oriented


To learn more about Tim and o73 Films,you can visit his YouTube Channel by clicking here and "Like" his Facebook page by clicking here to get updates on current and future projects.


Who hasn't at one time either hasn't dreamed of making or starring in a film? It looks so exciting going to various exotic places for location shoots,crazy stunts and amazing make up effects. A lot of folks think its just easy enough to do...but is it? 

" The pro - you typically get more freedom to collaborate and bring your vision as an artist with an indie flick. The con - you get this benefit because you're not paid as much and you typically work under more stressful conditions."

- actress Elaine Hendrix speaking on the difference between shooting a indie film and a big production project.


In keeping with the theme of this interview,I reached out to a old friend and noted film critic Richard Von Busack and asked him for his insight on small films.

- What is your impression of micro-budget films?
I’m for them, on the whole. I wish I had the time to see more of them, the ones that matter—people work their rumps off making documentaries, for instance, and it’s so hard to get them distributed, seen and paid off. Cyril Connolly once defined critics as the old cat waiting by the mousehole of talent, and I don’t want to be that cat. But I also don’t’ want my time wasted by derivative stunt-films, even if I know the whole thing is about people who, when they’re old, want to look back on the happy days when they had enough time and money to make their own feature film. I’m delighted that anyone can make a movie for the price of a used car, but the power of the art needs some respect. If it’s all about youthful jackassery, fine. Be open about that and own it. But if you’re trying to make something deeper, put in the effort to make up for the fact that funds were low. People will marvel at the budget but they’ll really marvel at the effort. “This Is Not A Film”—did you see that? http://www.mrmovietimes.com/movie-news/this-is-not-a-film/ Talk about low budget filmmaking done as a matter of life and death

» This Is Not a Film

www.mrmovietimes.com

Q2 - What mistake do first time film makers/student film makers make most?

I think it's a real fork that gets the first time filmmaker: they either make a movie about a milieu they know too intimately and have no distance from--like a real callow college love story--or else they try to tackle a crime drama when they don't know anything about the criminal's life. One beautiful example of how to reverse the problem is to make a film about someone completely antithetical to yourself: example, Funny Ha Ha, which is a very understanding film about the kind of girl who would have rejected the director, despite the matter that she was a big reject herself.

Q3 Should micro budget directors look to a local community theater for casting rather then casting friends and family?

I once wrote that one of the four key ways of making a Plan 9 type movie was to get real case-hardened Little Theater vets in the cast—I mean the kind of people who had been doing it for decades. They’re sure to take the movie into a very stagy, profound direction. However, in your bigger cities, people are acting wherever they get a chance. Steppenwolf in Chicago was little theater once…even at good schools like SJSU, you get an overlap between audio-visual and theater departments; younger actors won’t have decided on a firm style yet…so, to give you a too-long answer, I don’t really have a strong opinion. When you’ve got a flamboyant family, you’re in luck (like Scorsese was); they’ll work for nothing, you’ll know how to push their buttons to get a performance—hell, if you’re John Turturro, you apparently can talk your sister into working topless! Not that I want to sound like a prude. I think you have to really be ready to have your brothers and sisters mad at you if the film doesn’t work. It seems like the projects where people have their fams in the movie are projects made by people whose families were in the arts to begin with. Maybe (going on way too long here) I’m arguing for a mix: friends, professionals and families. Think over the casting good and hard—that can’t be overstressed.

3-a What is easier to cover up,poor acting or a poor script?

The poor script, easy. The best thing is to be in a sitch where you don’t have to ask the question. My prejudice is that we’re in a time where acting supersedes all other aspects of filmmaking. The writing isn’t really pleasing me so much—the classic era of cinema drew people in from all different fields, whereas the age of the film school brings in professional students who MIGHT know something about their craft beyond the time of their birth. And the switch to digital is making color problematic, though we’re getting huge improvements in the last few years. But we have numberless intuitive players who make pisspoor scripts ring like the Liberty Bell. God bless the actors. The profession never fails to stun me. Seen the previews for Godzilla? Bryan Cranston can make you want to weep over the crime of the government covering up the King of Monsters’ rampage.

I like to thank Tim,Jessica Cameron,Elaine Hendrix and Richard for helping me with this entry!

If you are on Twitter, follow me @Jinzo_2400

If you want to be interviewed,drop me a comment and a link to your project/business


Shout outs:

Tom and Will aka Slade Wilson: The Mets are rocking it hard this year.
Derik - Thank you for sharing the news about Bea. Shame that no one even noticed.
Kayla and Alison - have a great time at Motor City next week!
Denise V - I should update those 50 answers Amy Lange - More Emmys? You are going to need an addition to your house to handle all those awards!
Pat Caputo - The Lions should have drafted Chandler Jones instead of that smurf pf a DB from Utah State
Monique P. - thinking and remembering about Harlow,such a classy lady!
My friends on the Plateau - thank you for your support!
Jada Pinkett Smith,mother of the year? Really?? *LMAO*
David and Bene - make us proud! Spartan Strong!
To those who are walking the Relay for Life,THANK YOU!
Pam K - we will talk next week