Acting for the Camera workshop

The only time for at least another 3 years because of my schedule, I'm conducting an Acting for the Camera workshop October 24 and 25 (Saturday 9am-5pm and Sunday 10am-4pm), in Seattle.

LA Casting Director Russell Boast will drop in, via Skype, to talk about what they're seeking in auditions there.

If you want to work on a short scene (very short) with me, you can arrange to get it to me ahead of time; I'll select some we can perform live for the camera. You and your scene can be a visual aide for the workshop.

If enough directors show up, I'll also give tips on how to direct actors for the camera - both improv and scripted scenes - with newbie and established "stars."

Bring a lunch - we'll be working straight through with few breaks to make the most of our time.

Assisting me is Karie Gonia, whom I coached and who just finished working on the lead role in the indie feature PERFECT 10. Cast and crew report her performance is a knock-out!

Registration is mandatory - if you're interested, email me at cpcontacts@comcast.net for details.

This seminar is not for the humor-challenged. While we'll work very hard, learning is easier, better remembered and more empowering when fun is a factor!

Transitions

I'm undergoing some positive transitions, personally and professionally, and the journey feels really good. As if I'm taking a step up in life.

Transitions.

When they're a blind-siding surprise or imposed - do not feel good. Recovery from unexpected, hurtful changes can take a long time and be painful.

Change doesn't scare or bother me - it excites me.

I don't mean change for the sake of change, but change that I believe will enhance my life, lifestyle, relationships, environment, work, whatever.

Some of it entails tasks I've wanted to undertake for awhile - streamlining, getting rid of what I don't need, want or use any longer; others include adjusting my schedule; taking steps to upgrade my level of writing, directing, producing, singing, whatever,

I like preparing for new projects - I have several that are in the development stage; another ready-for-preproduction to shoot and a couple whose subjects I'm researching.

I guess I enjoy planning, researching and preparing for the future while enjoying doing what I do in the present. I've found that when I don't prepare and work for a future I want, life has a way of doing it for me and I'd much rather take the next step, prepped and as ready as I can be for what the world has to offer than be at its mercy. Anticipating its arrival is way more fun than dreading or fearing what "might" happen.

It's like the Girl Scout ditty - make new friends, but keep the old; one is sliver, the other gold. Keeping what works, but spiffing up, and adding what makes a positive difference.

One of the transitions I'm particularly happy with is losing weight, which is turning out to be reasonably easy the longer I'm away from the drugs I've been taking for beating cancer for nearly eight years. My joints have stopped aching, I have even more energy than ever and for some reason my sense of taste has changed. What tasted good before - like comfort foods - are nearly repulsive to me now; I favor natural foods and the major ingredients in my meals now are vegetables and fruits. That combined with being much more physically active is a winning combination!

Putting the house in complete order also feels terrific. Getting rid of unnecessary stuff feels like my home is losing weight as well. Drawers, cabinets, nooks and cranny's are all getting streamlined. I know where things are; I can find what I need, want or use, instead of having to deal with clutter.

I'm not expecting to create a completely pristine environment. My place will always reflect an active life - not just because of my work. I live with three dogs and a cat, have hobbies that take up room and folks tend to like coming here for meetings.

It may be the same place I've lived for 18 years, a little reworked and trimmed down, but it feels brand new and empowered - just like this next stage of my life.

An historical Hollywood feud lives on

A few years back, I wrote extensively about Alfred Hitchcock for my Screeenwriter's Cafe column in ScreenTalk (an international screenwriting magazine - forepublication to movieScope magazine): how he created his films at the script level - building them piece by piece, that he did not write the dialogue, and so on.

I also wrote a column about the historical and sorrowful feud he had with courageous Oscar-nominated screenwriter John Michael Hayes, pictured here, who wrote such Hitchcock classics as Rear Window, To Catch A Thief, The Man Who Knew Too Much and The Trouble With Harry, as well as and many more memorable films.

Click here to read the column.


The impact of this feud on Hollywood writers lives on.

Mr. Hayes, who died late last year, told me it was the best and most insightful article on their industry- shakeup flap he had read, and sent me an autographed marketing placard of Rear Window from his personal collection to show his appreciation.

I framed and hung it on my living room wall. It is the only "award" type artifact I have on display in my home.

It's one of my most prized possessions.

unsubscribing...

How is it I let my email inbox start to overflow with offers, savings, alerts, updates and a bazillion other notices I do not have time to read, do not care about, or have come to think, unrealistically, that I'll get around to reading them "later?"

It's been a slow but steady growth - to the point where I finally realized this morning I am so swamped with so many that none of them means anything except having massive emails to delete, which takes too much time.

So I unsubscribed to nearly all of them. Whack, whack, whack.

It took an hour, but I figure in the long run it will save me ten times that number over the months - having to delete hundreds of unread messages. Not to mention the ungratifying journeys I've taken when I succumb to open them, peruse what's available/for sale, etc., only to decide I do not really need or want what I've just spent too much time evaluating.

I'm an inveterate online shopper - when I need something I usually go where I know I'll get the best item at the greatest value with fair-to-free shipping costs and I'm good to go.

I had also subscribed to online publications and newsletters I no longer read now - for any number of reasons, mostly because the content is not as substantial as I wish.

I also had emails from a plethora of meetup groups to which I subscribed, looking for the right fit, that I'll never attend now because I did find the right groups that suit me.

Hmm. Come to think of it, I'm also de-cluttering my home, streamlining everything I own and cleaning what needs to be spiffed up. I must be making way for something new coming into my life - I just don't realize what it could be. I'm simply preparing for whatever it is, so when it arrives I'm ready.

Sort of like preproduction for the next stage of life...

After purging my emails of all these newsletters, updates, sales notifications, free shipping offers and more meaningless blather, I'm now free to focus on what really matters: having a good hair day.

;-)

OK, that and responding to real emails from correspondents I look forward to answering!

Sean Patrick Flanery on Hallmark Sept. 12

Thanks to entertainment blogger Mireille Miskulin, you can read all about THE WHOLE TRUTH's Sean Patrick Flanery's upcoming original MFT (made for TV) film, CITIZEN JANE, which debuts on the Hallmark Channel Saturday, Sept. 12.

The story is based on a real woman - Jane Alexander, a champion in the victim's rights movement.

Ally Sheedy portrays Jane, as she puts her life on the line to catch a killer - an ordinary citizen doing an extraordinary thing to obtain justice on behalf of a victim mercilessly murdered.

Sean has several other projects ready to pop as well - as soon as I hear, you will!

LOVE: Personal Health Care Policy Boost

I'm audio "reading" LOVE AND SURVIVAL, a book by Dr. Dean Ornish - a medical doctor specializing in preventive medicine who has performed extensive research on the effect of love and affection on our health.

Basically, he says if you have all the precursors of certain conditions, the difference between an earlier demise and longer healthier survival is how much love and affection you have in your life.



















Not just receiving love and affection, but giving it.

He says if you have high cholesterol, high blood pressure, etc., but you have affection in your life - chances of you excreting healing endorphins and therefore having a better chance at living longer and feeling good while you do it are greatly increased.
























The scientific research he quotes involves primarily human relationships, particularly emphasizing the support of partners, friends, family and community.
I also believe the same is true of living with pets we love deeply and - without becoming completely anthropomorphic - who appear to love us. I believe my animals love, even adore, me. But that's an emotion I attribute to them based upon their behavior, I don't know that for a fact.

Medical studies show the interaction - verbal and petting - between humans and dogs has noticeable effects on the cardiovascular system (mostly lowering blood pressure). Interestingly, it is the tactile action that makes the greatest difference. While the verbal impact was noticed statistically, it is not nearly as great as the effect of petting - of touch. Perhaps this is because our skin is the largest organ in the body.



















I think this can extrapolate to other affectionate animals as well - and even those who are not considered affectionate but who elicit the emotion of love and affection from us, toward whom we feel loving, caring and compassion. Imagining love coming from them still produces endorphins.

I've even seen this effect on those who cherish a stuffed toy, imagining it has a soul.

Of course there's the valuable side effect of walking a dog or other ambulatory pet - moderate exercise is always recommended for all creatures. There might even be some social benefit if you do it with other dog owners or people alone or with other pets who want to accompany you.

"Therapy animals" are actually medically approved - trained and certified - who are brought to visit children and adults who are ill, lonely, mentally challenged or confined.



With permission, my now deceased wee pup Oscar - himself challenged with many health issues during his life (the picture is of Oscar wrapped in a towel, recovering after suffering a grand mal seizure) - and I visited a friend's mom at her assisted living quarters; she was in the later stages of dementia so she was not responding to or recognizing people she had known previously.

She lit up when she saw my little guy and responded near gleefully as she spoke with him, of him, and petted him.

Another patient I sat next to in the waiting room slowly lifted a stiff arm to pet him awkwardly. I was told she had not moved her arm for a very long time. They didn't know she could.

















The point of Dr. Ornish's book is that the more touch - affectionate touch, caressing, hugging, cuddling, embracing, massage - we enjoy in our lives, the more positively it affects not only our minds but our emotions and stimulating those loving emotions helps heal bodies. The mind-emotion-body connection.

He also notes spirituality, including prayer, can ignite loving feelings toward ourselves and others, but the vast majority of empirical touch/emotion healing evidence he presents relates to the power of tactile contact, what we can physically feel.

I know some believe it's strange to be so close to pets, that it's more important to give and receive from humans. But I believe it's also important to share a special physical and emotional bond with pets, and not just because they share the planet with us, but because they are salient beings capable of feeling. Although - LOL - an actor I coached once told me, "In my next life I want to come back as one of your pets."

We humans decided to purposely domesticate them. We removed them from their natural habitats, in which they learned to live and thrive naturally. We took them away from the communities of other animals who socialized and trained them to live in the wild.

Because of that, I believe we have a special responsibility to care for them - training, socializing, providing them with safe and clean environments as well as affection and care they no longer understand how to obtain for themselves on their own - away from packs, herds, clutters, troops, flocks, strings, rags or flanges that previously did all that for and with them.

Not to the exclusion of humans, but I believe as much as we need affection - so do they. Even fish, believe it or not. Here's a young deer massaging her cat pal:




And here's an even more touching video of animals treating one another affectionately.


Thanks to funnyanimals.com for the monkey hugging his pup photo.

LEWIN GROUP: owned by US health insurance industry

Here's a Washington Post article outlining who owns the Lewin Group.

The reason this information is important? Republicans against any health care reform constantly refer to its bogus "research,"calling it "nonpartisan."

It is completely, absolutely and positively partisan, owned by the second largest health care corporation in the US: United Health.

There's a lot of information about the Lewin Group, its misleading "research" and consulting work on the WWW. Just type Lewin Group in your search engine and hit ENTER.

Here's an article based on the Columbia Journalism Review's questioning why mainstream media continue to feature quotes from Republicans using Lewin Group "research" and claiming it's nonpartisanship - without comment - when references to Lewin Group "information" is considered by those wanting health care reform as tantamount to a hoax.

Check out the Washington Post article to see how the Lewin Group has been caught and held accountable for some of their misleading statements.

The actual "Death Panels"

..are "health care" insurance provider individuals and boards who deny medical procedures for their clients that could save their lives.

Americans spend more per capita on health care than citizens from any other nation in the world.

Do you know that the top cause of bankruptcy in the USA is medical catastrophe debt?

And that is by people who *have* health care "insurance."

Insurance from health care providers who pay more than $1 million/A DAY to advertise and lobby against health care reform. That's from the money paid to them by their clients for health care programs, according to U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont. That means he's independent - not a Dem or Rep.

Republicans - to a person - in congress have said they will not vote for any health care bill, even provisions they helped create. So it's up to President Obama and the Democrats to formulate a bill that is viable and works - and is understandable.

It's still shocking to me that the US is the only nation that doesn't take care of the health of its citizens; capitalist and socialist nations have universal health care - their economic structures have not collapsed or even hiccuped because of it.

France and Germany report they are a kiss away from being out of economic recession because their economies are bouncing back so substantially. Both have universal health care.

A phenominal invention that can change the world

It's a small, safe, deep-storage battery that can hold enough power - provided by solar energy - to electrify your house or business independently developed by Ceramatec, the division of CoorsTek responsible for research and development in Utah.

A self-contained power source for homes a businesses.

This will eliminate reliance on power grids and other means of mass electrical power upon which Western nations are so reliant today.

While it will eradicate some industries, it will create more "green" jobs and freedom from having millions of homes left without power in cases of any disasters, dysfunctions, malfunctions and even attacks.

Read about it here!

Jimmy Carter's reason for leaving the Baptist church

Losing my religion for equality

(A statement by Jimmy Carter made July 15, 2009 regarding his decision to leave his 60-year membership with the Southern Baptist Convention.)

I have been a practicing Christian all my life and a deacon and Bible teacher for many years. My faith is a source of strength and comfort to me, as religious beliefs are to hundreds of millions of people around the world.

So my decision to sever my ties with the Southern Baptist Convention, after six decades, was painful and difficult. It was, however, an unavoidable decision when the convention’s leaders, quoting a few carefully selected Bible verses and claiming that Eve was created second to Adam and was responsible for original sin, ordained that women must be “subservient” to their husbands and prohibited from serving as deacons, pastors or chaplains in the military service.

This view that women are somehow inferior to men is not restricted to one religion or belief. Women are prevented from playing a full and equal role in many faiths. Nor, tragically, does its influence stop at the walls of the church, mosque, synagogue or temple. This discrimination, unjustifiably attributed to a Higher Authority, has provided a reason or excuse for the deprivation of women’s equal rights across the world for centuries.

At its most repugnant, the belief that women must be subjugated to the wishes of men excuses slavery, violence, forced prostitution, genital mutilation and national laws that omit rape as a crime. But it also costs many millions of girls and women control over their own bodies and lives, and continues to deny them fair access to education, health, employment and influence within their own communities.

The impact of these religious beliefs touches every aspect of our lives. They help explain why in many countries boys are educated before girls; why girls are told when and whom they must marry; and why many face enormous and unacceptable risks in pregnancy and childbirth because their basic health needs are not met.

In some Islamic nations, women are restricted in their movements, punished for permitting the exposure of an arm or ankle, deprived of education, prohibited from driving a car or competing with men for a job. If a woman is raped, she is often most severely punished as the guilty party in the crime.

The same discriminatory thinking lies behind the continuing gender gap in pay and why there are still so few women in office in the West. The root of this prejudice lies deep in our histories, but its impact is felt every day.

It is not women and girls alone who suffer. It damages all of us. The evidence shows that investing in women and girls delivers major benefits for society. An educated woman has healthier children. She is more likely to send them to school. She earns more and invests what she earns in her family.

It is simply self-defeating for any community to discriminate against half its population. We need to challenge these self-serving and outdated attitudes and practices – as we are seeing in Iran where women are at the forefront of the battle for democracy and freedom.

I understand, however, why many political leaders can be reluctant about stepping into this minefield. Religion, and tradition, are powerful and sensitive areas to challenge. But my fellow Elders and I, who come from many faiths and backgrounds, no longer need to worry about winning votes or avoiding controversy – and we are deeply committed to challenging injustice wherever we see it.

The Elders are an independent group of eminent global leaders, brought together by former South African president Nelson Mandela, who offer their influence and experience to support peace building, help address major causes of human suffering and promote the shared interests of humanity. We have decided to draw particular attention to the responsibility of religious and traditional leaders in ensuring equality and human rights and have recently published a statement that declares: “The justification of discrimination against women and girls on grounds of religion or tradition, as if it were prescribed by a Higher Authority, is unacceptable.”

We are calling on all leaders to challenge and change the harmful teachings and practices, no matter how ingrained, which justify discrimination against women. We ask, in particular, that leaders of all religions have the courage to acknowledge and emphasize the positive messages of dignity and equality that all the world’s major faiths share.

The carefully selected verses found in the Holy Scriptures to justify the superiority of men owe more to time and place – and the determination of male leaders to hold onto their influence – than eternal truths. Similar biblical excerpts could be found to support the approval of slavery and the timid acquiescence to oppressive rulers.

I am also familiar with vivid descriptions in the same Scriptures in which women are revered as pre-eminent leaders. During the years of the early Christian church women served as deacons, priests, bishops, apostles, teachers and prophets. It wasn’t until the fourth century that dominant Christian leaders, all men, twisted and distorted Holy Scriptures to perpetuate their ascendant positions within the religious hierarchy.

The truth is that male religious leaders have had – and still have – an option to interpret holy teachings either to exalt or subjugate women. They have, for their own selfish ends, overwhelmingly chosen the latter. Their continuing choice provides the foundation or justification for much of the pervasive persecution and abuse of women throughout the world.

This is in clear violation not just of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights but also the teachings of Jesus Christ, the Apostle Paul, Moses and the prophets, Muhammad, and founders of other great religions – all of whom have called for proper and equitable treatment of all the children of God. It is time we had the courage to challenge these views.

Jimmy Carter was President of the United States from 1977 to 1981.

more on collaborating

If you followed my other blogs on preproduction prep for directing a film and how I like to collaborate with all my creative colleagues, I thought I'd mention a couple more folks who are normally brought into the work at post production - I like to bring them in even before pre-production:

The composer and the editor.

The composer comes in even before the editor, because music plays such an integral and important part of my films. In the case of WALLS, which was a silent film, composer/musician Evan Schiller's music was a crucial character.

I see the composer's work as part of the script development.

After I've found the perfect composer - one who loves the script and is willing and eager to strech far beyone where he or she has been before, creating a whole new sound - I like to come up with instruments that represent each main character, scene and sequence as well as a "template" sound.

That is, an inspiration for the music that will go with the film.

For THE WHOLE TRUTH, I chose act II of DIE FLEDERMAUS operetta by Johann Strauss. If you've seen the film, you know you haven't heard Strauss' music; it's only used as an inspiration. The harmonies, the feeling of theme familiarity, the touch of European and classical music and some selection of instruments representing various characters.

In DIE FLEDERMAUS ("The Bat"), men and women work hard to deceive one another - which is what THE WHOLE TRUTH is about, only the characters also deceive themselves in the process (even Sean Patrick Flanery's character - who is the most grounded and stable, he's the moral compass in the movie).

By pulling the composer in so early, at the "script level," the musical artist has time to create a score completely original and specific for this particular film.

When pre-production begins with crew and cast (about 6 weeks before cameras turn), I'm listening to samples for characters and scenes that give me more ideas about when I can just turn the scene over to the music - no need for dialogue when expressions, sounds and music can say it so much better.

We go over each scene's score: should the melody be taken out and just leave the harmonies and rhythms? Should the instrument for that character be replaced? More bass? More tenor? Should there just be silence? Should the music comment" on what is transpiring on screen? Music should be a character in the film - but how to integrate that character? Should there be a Mickey Mouse here - or there ("Mickey Mouse" is the term for a little musical sound effect that is usually "on the nose" of a character's action - it takes place as the character moves, as in a cartoon).

These and many more questions are mine to answer - in collaboration with the composer. He comes in with strong ideas and samples for me to hear on which we can negotiate, as do I. I only asked him to completely rewrite one small scene of music because I felt it didn't match.

In one of my short films, the composer came back with what he thought was a completed score and, seriously, I only saved three notes from the entire composition. He was furious, but when he reviewed with me what would actually work and why - and performed the historical music homework I requested initially? He created a sound he had no idea he could make - it was truly brilliant.

I love pushing great talent to accomplish what they never realized they could. I have terrific relationships with composers because I respect them and recognize their talent as well as their skills.

And I'm a music *nut.*

As Phoebe Snow sings, "There ain't no music .. I can't use.." (from her album, LOOKS LIKE SHOW, "Drink Up the Melody, Bite the Dust Blues).

Normally, composers are brought in at the last minute, after the film is completely edited, and told to put the music together in as short a time as possible. When a composer who is allowed to compose does this, too often they fall back on what they already have done and what they already know, so there's not really much they can claim is new for the film.

Most studio movies don't even use composers to compose any more. They pull music samples from several other similar films and create a hodgepodge of what they think will make you feel comfortable and make you think that what you're hearing feels familiar. Well, in too many ways, it actually is.

I like to feature fresh, new, original work for you to hear.

I'll never forget a MFT movie (made for TV) I saw that was really good - except the music felt like it was a vat of sticky syrup poured over the whole thing - eeeeew. The director said she did not work with the composer, it was just turned over to him and handed back to her, completed. She was pretty upset, but according to the way that particular studio works, that's the way it's done.

Our TWT composer Ragnar Rosinkranz had never worked with the types of music you'll hear in the film. But you'd never know it from his score.

Literally the first question asked after screenings has been, "Who did the music!? Wow!" One person, intimately acquainted with a certain type of music we use in one part of the the film, wondered where on earth we found someone who could create and perform that type of music so well! Go Ragnar!

Likewise, bringing the editor in at the script level helps because he or she can make shot recommendations that will put a scene into the next level of excellence. Like, "an ECU (extreme close up) of her lips would really sell this scene." These suggestions are also made after reading the script and my shot sheet - where the editor can see I did not call for any ECU's in that particular scene.

Suggestions for other types of coverage can also be made. Coverage is all the angles from which a scene is shot. You normally don't think about coverage - but the next time you see a film scene at home, count the various angles from which that scene was shot. Every time what you see changes, that's another angle.

This preparation makes the final work move much more quickly and with a higher quality than could possibly happen otherwise. When I asked Ragnar to do that scene with other music - I think I gave him a note of, "It needs to be lighter."

Unbelievably, he had it ready the next day and it was *perfect!* Our sound mixer was astonished at the speed and quality of the replacement. But that's what happens when we collaborate over a period of time - and the composer is in total synch with the project and the director.

Remember, the music has to blend in with at least 16 other tracks of sounds, dialogue and other sound effects, each standing out as they need to in the process.

Having said all this, I have to add that the injection of wall-to-wall pop and AC songs in films and dramatic TV programs has become too intrusive to me. That trend started in a big way with the WB TV phenom Dawson's Creek, more films before that and has since become the cornerstone of several television dramas, with varying results.

One of the reasons is that it's another way for studios to make money - shows such as NCIS also sell CD's of music they've featured on the program.

Don't get me wrong, I like it - I love the attention it brings to great musicians as the music world is hurting financially. I just think it's overdone when it's used, now.

Good heavens....

I assume as a reader of this blog, you know for certain that 1) President Barack Obama was born in Hawaii. 2) That Hawaii is a state within the United States of America.

I assume that because the folks who follow this blog from up to 104 nations are well, smart. And want to know the truth, no matter where the chips fall.

I trust that you read. And do your homework, research facts - or know trustworthy people who do - instead of hitting a panic button about issues that some purposely attempt to obfuscate, outright lie about or with which they want to frighten vulnerable people.

I reluctantly show you this verified document, because the people who claim that 1) it doesn't exist, or 2) it's been tampered with have less and less credibility and make themselves and their cause look positively daft.

The more they frantically yell and scream about it, the more they dig themselves into a deeper well, the more they fabricate bizarre stories about it, the more they help the "other side." The faster they will self destruct.

Because this is one of those issues over which there are not really two sides. The President's birth certificate and actual birth in the United States of America are genuinely facts, vetted by government and independent researchers.

But there are those who viscerally hate President Obama so much, who would do anything to get rid of him, that they have created a factitious, pseudo story that has, strangely, been given coverage by mainstream media, leaving some - who do not know how to, or want to, track down the truth - to wonder.

So, reluctantly, I present to you, President Barack Obama's birth certificate and a couple websites that researched its veracity.
























You can find the independent Annenberg FactCheckED.org Obama birth certificate research, investigation and fact check is here.

Go to the website that posts the official birth certificate of President Barak Obama here.

The only reason I can come up with that people would create a fabricated story like this out of whole cloth is to distract us from the real issues - like health care, economy, education, crime, and well- just about anything but this subject (that does not actually exist).

Bizarre.

But by all means - there are many other websites and ways of researching this issue - help yourself to finding the absolute, positive truth for yourself.

Meanwhile, even though she's known as a liberal, the only reporting I've seen that is actually, completely fair and balanced on this and other issues is Rachel Maddow - who appears on Meet the Press today to present the facts about the health care town hall meetings disruptions dug up by her team of investigative reporters.

She has facts that should have been exposed by mainstream media on the health care issue long ago - hopefully they will catch up now.

More, she does not have any illusions about how very poorly the democrats and Obama have represented his recommended health care policy changes and says so.


Just be sure whomever you rely on for information doesn't present things in a way that they want to manipulate you to think, but who presents the facts and where you can find out where and how to verify their reports. News programs should have website links and more ways of digging more deeply into stories they present.

So popular - here are more neighbor pics!

Two days of wall-to-wall poetry!

Actually, it's a three day poetry extravaganza sponsored by world famous Wave Books, but I can only go tomorrow and Saturday; Sunday I'm taking care of rescued horses.

There will be films about poets and poetry, readings by poets, art exhibitions related to poetry, poetry book discounts, book signings and a book arts presentation (including rare books) at Seattle's Henry Art Gallery on the University of Washington campus.

There are still some tickets available - I got mine at Open Books in Wallingford (Seattle neighborhood), a fantastic store devoted completely to poetry. I love this store - it has a terrific inventory, including rare and first editions - and has that perfect poetry "vibe."

That means it's accessible to everyone, no airs or snooty folks to be found - just people who love words and language and poetry and the folks who create them; people who work there are all about helping you with whatever you need or need to know. If you visit, tell John I say howdy.

I got a couple of a a milne poetry books for my niece there. I'm going to record me reading them aloud - giving her the books to follow my spoken words until she can read them on her own - she's only 16 months old.

Milne's the guy who wrote Winnie the Pooh; he also wrote many books of whimsical poetry for youngsters. In a way, he's the British Dr. Seuss, only he lived decades before America's Doc.

Renowned novelist Ray Bradbury says all writers should read poetry every night before going to sleep. I agree.

Should be a very fun, illuminating, thoughtful and inspirational two days.

Impacting messages/images=no time to think

OK, the idea here is not to sound pedantic, shrill or alarmist.

But it is to help gain awareness of how what we watch and hear affects us so you can make choices about everything and anything you wish to expose yourself.

Basically, there are two types of media messages: impacting and linear.

Impacting messages are easy to recognize - they look and sound like they beat you over the head constantly and consistently, blast your eyes and ears senseless, take your breath away, leave you semi- to completely paralyzed, spur an adrenalin rush and leave you basically numb, but excited, believing you've actually seen something that means something because physiologically you're stirred, shaken and what's left of an sensory explosion.

Lots of films, video games and television programs with special effects and violent images attacking you ceaselessly, certain music, any sensation that pounds you nearly unconscious (thus the feeling of "escape"), it's all impacting.

What this means is simply anything that has this effect does not permit you to think - even for a moment - about what is done, said, flashed into your eyes, pounded in your ears.

The result can be the attention span of a gnat, the addiction to exciting and stimulating visual and/or audio experiences, the inability to create something because of an "entertain me or DIE" mentality, and more. Or should that be less.

We can only be pummeled so many times before we're stunted, stunned or injured in some way. Football players, boxers, UFC athletes, whoever puts themselves in the way of a bludgeoning - whether intellectually or physically - becomes brain damaged in some way without complete recovery between poundings.

Pound your forehead with your fist several times and you'll get a version of what your brain experiences - without realizing it if you're not aware. Aware? You start feeling it when it happens. Pow! Biff! Bam!

Even if you avoid video games, TRANSFORMERS, GI JOE and other films geared to stun you with hundreds of images, you can still be caught by good ol' TV - the "free," "safer" variety.

Commercials can be made in a way that impacts the viewer; more, as you watch one program and are interrupted by a louder message imploring you not to miss: the next program, the next episode, another show, a drug that will help you feel better, get better, get well, lose weight, eat hearty, eat junk food, eat fast food, eat fattening food, eat comfort food, avoid or deal with pain... and on it goes.

Kids' TV with cartoons and their commercials can be as bad or worse.

That's why folks who work in media generally refer to it as The Beast, because it's always demanding more and more and more impacting messages, programming and commercials.

They want to make an impact. They not only want to pound it into your mental being, they want you to remember it over all the thousands of other messages you're pounded with every single day.

Linear media is basically any message delivered that allows you to think about what it shows, says, sounds like, feels like, how it impacts you, how you can explore, learn and follow up on what you've experienced.

The impacting message is generally left as it is, making the impression that it does, requiring or inspiring no response or possibly leaving the receiver so blown away/blown out there is no motivation or energy left to follow up. The message is left to smoulder in the receiver's mind, heart and soul with whatever elements are forever embedded - like information or image shrapnel.

That means the possibility of information/image wounds, infection and bacteria building into something that was never based on reality or anything meaningful to start with.

Reality TV is fraught with meaningless images and false or misleading "information" (not to be confused with facts) that media write about and we discuss over the water cooler - hitting the broadcasters' target behavior response: getting people to watch so advertisers will pay for the programming.

Reading anything is a linear experience because even if you "misread" what is written, you have the chance to review (re-view) it - which is impossible with impacting media. Impacting messages are designed never to be revisited, but only to be built on with other impacting images and sounds.

A still photo is a linear experience because you can look at it and reflect on it as long as you wish; art - paintings, drawings, sculpture, dancing, theater, and non-uber impacting films are a linear experience as well.

Video art is generally intended to be impacting, though at its conclusion you may have time to reflect on what you've seen, what you believe the artist wanted to say.

Films planned to only blast you away without any meaningful content counts on your only response being, "Wow! That was really something!"

In real life, impacting messages (those that prevent you from reflecting or thinking about what is being said, but only leave you to become fixated on a heightened emotional response) happen when people try to shout down anyone attempting to talk about an issue.

Right wing opponents of President Obama's health care plan are typical of this. We discover many of them are not "just folks" as they say they are, but are bona fide Republican operatives who only want to make people crazy with emotion to shut down any discussion - preventing anyone from actually thinking about and discussing the facts. Death threats are the epitome of impacting messages designed to prevent any thoughtful discussion and preventing the truth about anything reaching the people who need it most.

Actually creating something - whether it's a photograph, a bird house, a story, a work of art, a drawing, a painting (even by numbers!), anything crafty, wood carving, origami, making a clay pot, sewing anything, making a quilt, cooking, a dance, learning a monologue, being in a play, learning a song, writing a song, play, screenplay, book, poetry, fixing a car - all linear experiences for the creator and the audience.

Doing these sorts of things all help create the balance we need to keep our minds from becoming a thoughtless desert filled with meaningless images and drivel if we expose ourselves to major amounts of crap pounded into our brains. The moment you don't want to think at all when you're watching a movie or a video game - the moment you actually say to yourself, "Entertain me or DIE!" you know you're in trouble.

Deal is, as long as we monitor how much impacting media to which we allow our kids - and ourselves - to be exposed, and make sure we are good role models in reflecting and evaluating what we read, view and listen to - it's all good!

Casting director Russell Boast ...

...has this to say after seeing THE WHOLE TRUTH at the Los Angeles screening:

"The cast of THE WHOLE TRUTH take tremendous risks and extend themselves further then I had ever imagined possible. Creating a safe environment in which Actors can fully experience themselves 'out of the box', takes a great deal of trust between them and their Director and clearly Colleen is a master at creating this safe environment and bond."

Russell Boast
Casting Director
Pagano/Manwiller, Inc.
-----------------------------------------------------

Thank you so much, Russell!

Massive Polar Bear habitat melts away

First, thanks to the National Resources Defense Council for these photos.

Over the weekend the Associated Press reported that tens of thousands of miles of ice melted yesterday (Sunday, August 9) away from the Arctic Ocean because of the extraordinarily warm summer temperatures.

The AP says scientists viewing the habitat disintegration from satellite photos, are deeply concerned by the extraordinarily large ice regions, habitat to numerous species, disappearing in such monumental quantities so quickly.

For the complete story and scientific data, read AP reporter Charles J. Hanley's report here.

Walking and smiling (at the same time)

So there I am, conversing with my assistant, Aaron, about people we pass, walking the sidewalks and streets of North Seattle.

The inspiration: running errands afoot rather than using the car. Healthy *and* green.

CP: There must be a lot of unhappy people in the world.

A: Why do you say that?

CP: Because of all the people we've passed, almost none of them smile. Or say howdy.

A: Why should they smile? Or speak to anyone?

CP: I don't know. Maybe because they're happy. Because they're grateful to be alive on such a beautiful day. Because they have the use of their legs, because they can see, because they're polite, because they enjoy-

A: Do you smile while you walk?

CP: All the time.

A: That's unusual. Most people don't smile when they walk. They just walk.

CP: Why don't they smile?

A: Why would they? Why should they?

CP: Because they're happy to be alive- because they're friendly?

A: Most people just want to get from one place to the next. They don't have any particular feeling about it.

CP: So. You're saying that smiling and walking is unusual?

A: 'fraid so.

CP: You're saying that *I'm* the odd one, not all those people frowning, grousing, looking at the pavement, ignoring everyone passing them.

A: Uh huh. Most people just don't smile when they walk.

CP: (silence)

A: Sorry.

CP: I'm still going to smile. (To passer by - smiling) Good morning!

(The passer by is left a little shaken by someone interrupting his turgid walk. Uncertain how to react, he practically trips wondering if he should respond, or if he should - how).

CP: Point taken. Still going to smile. Say hi.

A: Knock yourself out.

CP: I still can't believe it's considered odd to smile and say howdy to folks passing by. That I'm "odd." This is Seattle. We're supposed to be friendly. Not Canadian friendly*, mind you, but normal friendly, eh?

A: Um hum. You're the odd one.

(We continue walking - me shaking my head, him smiling - not at other people, at my apparent oddness)

CP: Fine. I'll just be odd. And friendly. And smile when I walk. I believe it would be a better world if everyone did.

A: Maybe that's because you're a writer. You live in an imaginary world. Or two. Or three.

(OK - it may have been my imagination, but I could swear Aaron scooted just a little farther away from me as we made our way up the street).

*Canadian friendly=offering you their parking spot as they head toward their car, about to leave; handing a street person begging on the corner a cigarette from behind the driver's wheel; helping you carry bags to your car, hotel or remote home if you're having trouble managing all of them; lying down over a mud puddle so you don't have to sully your shoes as you traverse over him or her ...

There's more, but you get the idea.

No wonder Mounties always get their man - all the Mountie has to do is walk into a Canadian bar, show a photo and ask, "Can anyone help me find this scumbag?" I bet a Mountie even adds, "Please."

And suddenly he or she has a posse. A posse that probably carries extra pieces of carrots and apples just in case a Mountie's horse needs a nibble.

I wouldn't be surprised if the posse gives the caught culprit a snack of carrots and apple on the way to the hoosegow.

Yep. I bet Canadians walk and smile simultaneously, even out in the woods.

And say "hi" to any human or creature they pass as they perambulate. Oh, yeah.

Love Giant Panda Bears?

The San Diego Zoo's Panda Cam was crushed with so many hits the site went down yesterday, but it's back up again today.

The fuss is about the Giant Panda cub born early August 5 - just three days ago.

You can see the tiny baby's birth for yourself by clicking the video window here.

The gender of the wee bear - about the size of a stick of butter - won't be known for awhile. The mostly pink, hairless little offspring will take about four weeks to start showing those distinctive black and white fur panda markings.

It's cub #5 for Giant Panda Bai Yun, who weighs in at more than 200 pounds. There's not much action at Panda Cam because she's mostly overseeing her minuscule charge, blocking our view to the baby. However, sometimes she moves enough for us to see the little guy.

Do NOT miss the photo gallery! Be sure to click the button to the left of the panda cam - it features a fantastic slide show of a panda youngster enjoying life.

The Giant Panda is one of the most critically endangered species of the planet, according to the World Wildlife Fund - that's their photograph in the corner.

The San Diego Zoo is world renown for its successful animal husbandry work with some endangered species - in the case of pandas, some who were born at the zoo were then sent to China to help the Giant Panda's native nation's breeding programs and research.

A new twist!

I'm still smiling after returning from our trip to Los Angeles.

I had a great chat with a good friend last night about life and art and whatnot; she suggested I launch into yet another project (I love working on several at once).

So after walking two of my dogs with my assistant Aaron today - I decided to write a new feature script, one that is more singular-character driven and dramatic than what I've been writing most recently.

I got two thumbs up - way up - for this decision from a trusted production associate; part of the excitement is that so many marvelous actors, crew and other artists want to work with me.

It's going to be lots of fun, very intense and a totally splendid experience for me and everyone who works on it.

I also arranged today to record my niece's Christmas presents - some poems for little girls and a special story I wrote for her, one that mentions her name over and over - for her to play over and over and over and ... It will have lots of sound effects, too!

Yikes!

I hope her mother still loves me after her 16 month-old turns 4, then 5 and still wants to listen to the CD with her name on it .... with all those sound effects...

All. The. Time.

;-)

OK, two days was a stretch..

All I can say until further notice is ... "negotiations."

What a wonderful group came to the screening of THE WHOLE TRUTH last night - it's an evening I'll never forget at the famous Aidikoff Screening Room in Beverly Hills. I recommend it without reservation.

Back to Seattle tomorrow (Thurs).

I learned, once again, so much on this trip.

Two very successful screenings...

It's late Tuesday, just got back from having a bite to eat after the evening screening.

I'm really pleased with the film's reception at both the afternoon and evening screenings; we'll hear how the distributors felt over the next few days - I have had an extremely long and demanding day, so - later!

In LA for distributors' screenings

It's now Monday night and several more distributors rsvp'd "yes" today to the 2pm theater screening of THE WHOLE TRUTH in Burbank tomorrow, which is nearly full now; still more rsvp'd "yes" to the 7:30pm theater screening in Beverly Hills - where studio reps, other distributors, Elisabeth Röhm and special guest stars will be on hand.

Producer Larry Estes put out the invitations, so they're responding to him.

Some distributors who are not coming to either screening have requested "screeners," the dvd-very low resolution format of the film - which won't be ready until at least a few days after the theater screenings. We may not send them because we're hoping to sign a deal within two days after the screenings.

We've also prepared THE WHOLE TRUTH posters for display outside the theaters so the distributors will see them before they see the film, which should give them a taste of the film's tone in case they've not seen the teaser or the trailer.

The most exciting part for me is not just spending time with our special guest stars - superb and well known talents all - and good distributors who know their stuff, but as soon as we have a solid distribution deal, we can get started with our next feature film, THE LONELY GOATHERD!

Thanks to all the folks who have sent their best wishes, high fives and good luck; at this point we are hoping the film sells itself!

In case there is no distribution deal signed among the folks attending? We have other resources and contacts to help us; hopefully we won't have to turn to them!

Shot sheeting - Part Deux

Following up on my initial missive on breaking down every single shot I see in my head and writing each down in a list format that I call "shot sheeting" is also called "shot listing."

I just finished the completed finessed version of my script for my next planned feature, THE LONELY GOATHERD and the shot sheets for it almost simultaneously.

For the first pass, I just want to get the "bread and butter" shots on the list, so now's the time to polish and compress what I've written so the filming process can be streamlined and my ideas clearly conveyed to the cinematographer (also called the "DP" - Director of Photography), editor, production designer and everyone else who will read them in the creative collaboration.

Chances are any or all of these professionals will come up with ideas that enhance my vision so profoundly - that I replace pages over which I languished and labored with the new notes provided by these brilliant collaborators.

The DP and I may decide to re-do the shot sheets together based on the vision and all the other work we've done - watching other films for references, discussing emotions, tones, style and effects.

These same conversations take place with other collaborators, individually and together. We need to speak each others' language, understand one another and the way we like to work.

There's more - after I work with the actors, I take into consideration the notes they've made, worked out the blocking (where actors move in the scene) and if they have notes that will enhance their performance, the portrayal of their character, the scene and the film itself - I will listen and if they work to elevate the visual, verbal performance, I'll incorporate them.

It's important to be open to everyone's thoughts, but remain clear about what does and does not work to maintain the film's vision. I say yes to everything that enhances, improves and elevates; I say no to anything that doesn't build on what's already there.

I stay true to the vision of the film, without ever feeling like I have to say yes to soothe someone's ego; I'm not afraid to say no - but I don't want to lose a chance to punctuate a performance with a smart word, movement, shot, prop, whatever has been thoughtfully proposed.

I explain my decision - why I think the idea works - or not. People usually light up and listen closely when I give specifics of how a new thought is "brilliant" and fits right in; their eyes glaze over after I say, "Good thought. But in this case it won't work-- (because the antagonist needs to see it coming and- yadda yadda)"

After "won't work," they tend to have better things to do; few discussions ensue.

But they always come back and back with ideas because when someone gives me an idea that works? It really is brilliant and they can justly feel their thumb print is in the production.

I love working with people who know more than me - so I can learn new and different whatever it takes to make a better film. I'm pleased to say that others in a position to know more have told me they've learned from me as well because I tend not to work the way they've encountered previously.

I always tell the people with whom I work - I'm more interested in making a good film than being "right." The vision is the only thing to work for -- not ego or doing things the way they've always been done.

I know there are directors who are very dictatorial and rude, but the reason I'm so completely, totally and critically anal about pre-production and preparation is so I can relax, and remain open to seeing and inviting all the creative opportunities to enhance the vision during the actual production of the film - whether they come from me or someone else on the production.

The idea is that while I'm making this film a dozen times in my head before I meet with my collaborators, after I meet with them and share my vision/ideas, I expect them to come in with ideas of their own and begin the process I genuinely love - collaborating.

One thing about collaborating - the buck always stops here. For example, if the set designer comes up with an idea of putting egg shells on the floor so they crunch with every step and I don't carefully consider whether that genuinely enhances the vision/production, and come up with a very reasoned answer - and the egg shell idea BLOWS? I can't come back and "blame" the set designer.

It's still my decision.

Thus, the more transparent and grounded the vision, the better the decisions AND, honestly, the better the ideas that are passed my way from all the collaborators working on the film.

Fountains

I have two quietly gurgling fountains in my home.

I gave them names - I tend to be anthropomorphic that way. I call each of them The Fountain of Soothe.

"Flow" seemed a bit on the nose.

There's not only a sense of tranquility with the sound of fountains gently pouring water day and night, but it reminds me that life well lived moves continually. There is no sense of feeling stuck.

My own private waterfalls.

For the Chinese, water represents Qi, which is our inner energy, our soul power as it were; and fountains constantly remind us that water is the element necessary for all life on earth.

In Feng Shui, fountains create positive Qi - which helps create a healthy living environment.
























My small, portable fountain has small stones over which the water pours, which represents the power of nature over all the elements of our planet, reminding us that we are one of those stones - nature does rule us no matter how much we try to contain it. That should remind us to be humble. My larger, plug-in fountain features a fairy/angel (you choose) overseeing the world as water continually cleanses the orb as the small pool around the globe flows.

They both need to be refilled daily - the larger one with a full cup of water - to keep the water pure and clean, and to keep the fountain engines running smoothly.

Without water to churn, they can burn out.

It keeps me involved with that whole cleansing and tranquil cycle - it's a way to keep me involved.


Interestingly, not everyone who comes into my house notices the fountains. And sometimes when they do, they ask, "Have you always.... had ...?" To which I nod my head. Yep.

It's also nice to gaze longingly at my fountains on very hot days, wishing I were an inch tall and could jump in to cool off. Even the thought, however, puts just a bit more of a refreshing breeze in my psyche.

Before you ask - I've forgotten where I bought these, but I got them online.

There are fountains galore available online.

Be a careful shopper - get one that is the perfect size and motif for your personality and living circumstance or office. Some are a little pricey, others are shockingly inexpensive but are still sturdy.

Make sure it's a good fit because as many years as I've had mine, I know I'll have them the rest of my life.

Oh, one more note -- I think they also make me thirsty, so I drink plenty of water. ;-)