Category Archives: Entertainment
Ross Goes to Austin (Film Festival)!
Time for a Reset!
The Austin Film Festival is just the place.
Hello Friends, Family & Associates,
On Wednesday, October 22, 2025, after two years of reading screenplays and writing coverage for the Austin Film Festival, I finally decided to take the leap and attend the festival. By reading many scripts and earning points, I acquired a Conference Badge. That went a long way to being able to afford to go to Austin. One has to consider flights, hotels, and food.
Wednesday: I’m on a plane
Our flight had one stop in Phoenix, Arizona. There was a change of plans and planes when we landed. So, we had to go inside the Phoenix Airport to our gate. Phoenix is a very hot place. Imagine if the airport had NO AIR CONDITIONING? UGH! (Apparently, in Phoenix, they ruled out air conditioning because of the Freon being released into the air, messing with the environment. Oye.)
The hotels in Austin are very expensive. Even with the AFF discounts, the hotels were still too costly. I lucked into a loft situation with some fellow writers staying right in the heart of Downtown Austin and in the middle of all the AFF festivities.
The drive from the airport to the Littlefield Lofts was about 20 minutes. The Uber driver dropped me off in front of a building named Littlefield. Unfortunately, the building I was staying at, Littlefield Lofts, was across the street. It was 10:30pm. I knew there was a small black box on a wall beside the Gold’s Gym. After circling twice, I managed to locate the little black box. PHEW!
My goal the first night was to get my hands on my Conference Badge. Goal achieved!
I was so exhausted from my trip. I didn’t want to have to walk far to acquire my badge. I checked my Google Map app. Great! It was a 5-minute walk to the Omni Hotel.
As soon as I entered the registration area, feeling like a zombie, I heard someone call out, “Ross!” It was Paige Parker, the AFF Script Manager. It was a nice moment of recognition and very welcoming to connect with someone I knew through email and Zoom meetings.
Thursday:
Breakfast With Roadmap Writers
Roadmap Writers has been a huge indirect addition to the Austin Film Festival. They are a screenplay platform with resources on their website for rewrite clinics, pitching reps and Zoom meetings with industry insiders. Roadmap held numerous mixers throughout the week, often around food.
On Thursday, October 23, Roadmap hosted a breakfast at Halcyon Coffee. I knew that one member from each of my small writers groups would be attending. I invited them to this breakfast. Sarah Angell is from Canada. Troy Mann lived about an hour or so from Austin. It was surreal to meet them both in Austin.
It was also great meeting some of the Roadmap staff. I was familiar with some of them.
As time passed, the coffee shop filled up with writers. There were writers I knew from a monthly Zoom meetup, hosted by Collin, called #VHH or #VirtualHappyHour. Collin is also one of the guys I was staying with.
I also reunited with a mutual friend, Brandon Walter, from whom I hadn’t seen in over a decade.
It was the best way to kick off my AFF adventure! This was even before the first panel on AFF Opening Remarks.
That afternoon, I attended a panel called ‘Your Second Act: Breaking In Over 40.” There is some ageism in Hollywood, but really, it comes down to your screenplay.
From 4pm to 5pm, I was at the Reader Happy Hour at Higbie’s. I hung out with Paige Parker, the Script Manager, (Below) and finally met the Script Director, Grace Donaldson. I had known Grace for two years, but only online.
At the same mixer, I met Carolyn Carpenter (below) for the first time in person, too. Carolyn is an instructor for the Hollywood Gatekeepers, an online course I took on script reading.
It was early evening and I had not had lunch yet. You get caught up going from panel to panel and can be out of reach for food. Brittney Coon is both a reader and a screenwriter. We decided to grab some fast food, but took our time. Brittney (below) is from Phoenix and was on my plane, but we did not know each other until Austin.
Friday
My Friday, October 24th, started with a panel titled, ‘Meeting a Manager.’ It was all about seeking representation. It was great that Jason Lubin of First Story Entertainment was on this panel, as he was going to be doing a roundtable with Roadmap on Saturday that I was attending. I got a preview of what Jason was like.
A term was mentioned about meeting other writers in the same situation: Lateral Networking. That resonated and stuck with me the rest of the week.
The next panel I planned on attending was ‘Everything Everyone Else is Telling You is Wrong.’ I wasn’t going to make it so I pivoted to seeing Michael Ardnt’s panel about developing first acts. What if the panelists in ‘Everything Everyone Else is Telling You is Wrong’ would give wrong advice?
Michael Ardnt’s presentation at the Paramount Theater was sensational! It had visuals and great examples on the movie screen. I’ll have to check out his website, and so should you. If an attendee misses a panel, there are supposed to be replays available at some point.
Another night. Another Roadmap party. This one took place at the San Jac’s Saloon.
John August and Craig Mazen held a live podcast of Script Notes from 9pm to 11pm with special guests. It was a fun event.
I did take some pictures. Out of respect for AFF not wanting pictures taken of any of the panels, I’m saving those for myself.
Saturday:
A Day of Roundtables
On Saturday, October 25th, I decided to sleep late because I hardly slept the first two nights.
This is my day of roundtables. The first one was with literary manager Jason Lubin through Roadmap Writers. There were about twelve of us writers doing a quick pitch to introduce ourselves, our screenplays, and ask Jason a relevant question. About eight writers went before me and some of them had some crazy stories, some of them supernatural. I felt more comfortable about what I was going to pitch because my story is out there.
These days, I’m branding myself as a sci-fi feature screenwriter. It’s suggested that your personal statement relate to the genre and story you’re pitching.
If you didn’t already know, I saw a UFO when I was fifteen years old. 🛸
My pitch went well. My question at the end was about querying managers and producers. When you have 3 or 4 scripts close to being solid, should you query? Jason was adamant about having a solid script to query with.
Another panelist during the week suggested querying to create relationships.
I just have to keep rewriting until I have a SOLID screenplay. It’s been over 30 years. What’s another year? (I’m 55, people.) 🙄
After a nerve-racking time pitching a literary manager, it was time to stuff my face! I was craving BBQ, and Roadmap Writers were doing a get-together at Coopers Old Time BBQ. YUMMY!
Good food! I met more people. NEXT!
I had to race to the next panel. I didn’t think I was going to make it because people stress to be early if you want to get into a popular panel. My next panel was Christopher McQuarrie and Rian Johnson discussing time travel in movies. It’s the one panel I wanted to be at. I made it…barely. I must have used The Force.
Jon Concepcion, who got Rian to sign his “Last Jedi” Blu-ray, posted on one of the WhatsApp AFF groups that Johnson and McQuarrie were at the Stephen F. Austin Hotel. So, I left my loft and headed there. Just as I arrived, I spotted McQuarrie for a moment, and he soon vanished.
Rian was heading towards the stairs to leave. I was able to briefly say hello and shake his hand. It didn’t hurt that I was wearing my Skywalker Ranch tee shirt.
Below is a marketing stunt for the screening of the feature film, “Christy” starring Sydney Sweeney. Sweeney was awesome! I saw the film back in Los Angeles.
Round 2 As in Roundtable 2
I only signed up for one official roundtable with AFF. Andrew Kevin Walker (“Seven”) was one of the speakers and the reason I chose that roundtable. I arrived early and was first in line. I ran into Viki Solis whom I met days earlier. She, too, was excited to meet Andrew Kevin Walker.
There were probably 8 or 9 speakers for each roundtable. Upon entering the room, I did not see Walker. You never know if speakers have to cancel last minute.
So, I sat down at an empty table. My thought was whoever I got, I’d be happy with. Nadia Abass-Madden (“911”) sat at our table. I was thrilled as I’ve met Nadia before and am Facebook friends with her. It was a great way to reconnect.
Somehow, I sat at the perfect table because I noticed Mr. Walker finally entered and sat at the table behind us. This meant that when the first session ended, the panelists would get up and move clockwise to the next session and Walker would move to our table.
Andrew Kevin Walker did not disappoint. He answered some questions I had about his screenwriting process and approach to outlining. Walker was very down-to-earth and easy to talk to. Viki got Walker to sign her “Seven” script.
The third and last speaker was Virgil Williams (“Criminal Minds”). Virgil was intense. I asked him about the research done on the show and how he was able to write about dark topics involving sexually assaulted and murdered women and children. Virgil was very emotional. He reached his limit on the show and had to move on. He stressed that the work can affect your mental well-being.
Saturday night was simply a night to hang out at the Stephen F. Austin and Omni Hotels. Lots of people were partying at both places.
I hung out with some members of an old writers’ group, Deadline Junkies. I ran into Harim Sanchez, whom I first met earlier in the year at the Slamdance Film Festival. After going back and forth between these two hotels, I made the decision to remain at the Omni since the sky opened up and started raining.
Sunday: Last Day
Sunday morning started with donuts at Voo Doo Donuts. Fun place.
The first panel for me was The Writer Producer Relationship with Christine Vachon and filmmaker Celine Song (“Past Lives,” Materialists”). I ran into Taylor Coriell (above) who had a short film, “Ladylike” playing at AFF.
Song talked about how good the crew was to her about being a novice filmmaker. They helped Song feel comfortable, answering her questions.
What Song got from Vachon was no bullshit. If a scene was too much for the budget, Vachon would inform Song to think about other ways to tell her story.
Closing Remarks with Shane Black
Shane Black (“Predator,” “Lethal Weapon,” “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang”) has been giving closing remarks for AFF for many years. After attending the panel, I can understand why.
Black was no-holds-barred and off the cuff. Black humbled himself and brought himself down a level to all of us struggling writers. Black shared how he had plenty of troubled times as a writer.
It was a very inspiring way to finish my first experience with the Austin Film Festival.
Goodbyes
Although this section is about goodbyes, I finally got a chance to meet up with fellow Deadline Junkie, Nate Russo at the Stephen F. Austin Hotel.
Sarah Angell met me there. Nate had to leave. Sarah and I went to grab a bite to eat. Then I returned to the Stephen F. Austin Hotel for more goodbyes.
Andrew Kevin Walker saw that I was standing with my little suitcase, as I had been rolling it around all day. He said goodbye and wished me a safe trip back.
My loft mates were awesome! Above are Dan Gorski, Collin Lieberg and me. Jim Wurst, not pictured, was in the roundtable I had with Jason Lubin.
A screenwriter doesn’t need a screenplay to place at AFF. You can get so much out of simply attending the conference.
Stay Weird, Austin! Until next time!
Below is a video I edited with more pictures and footage. Enjoy!
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Set Mom is 80!
It’s May 2025, and we just celebrated Mother’s Day. Are we done celebrating Mom? We’re just getting started. After all, my mother, Clara, turns a whopping 80 this Wednesday, May 14th. 80 years! WOW!
When I was a kid, my mother encouraged me to follow my heart and dreams. For me, I was into drawing early on. And then I added quotations for comics I drew. I wanted to tell my own stories.
When we had family over for Thanksgiving and the guys were playing football in the backyard, I’d rather watch the monster specials on TV. Godzilla and King Kong!
As an older kid, short story writing became my thing. I took some creative writing classes TWICE in high school. I also took a film appreciation class TWICE!
At the University of Hartford, I took creative writing courses and wrote more short stories. During my senior year, my dad became a part-owner of a textile company in Los Angeles, CA. He headed out West, and so did my imagination. Eventually, I would join him along with my mom and my sister.
During that last Summer in New York, I picked up some screenwriting resources and started writing my very first screenplay on a WORD PROCESSOR! Yeah. That’s right.
That first screenplay wasn’t good, but I finished it when I reached Los Angeles, CA. Both my parents were extremely supportive. My dad thought I might be interested in working with him, but the more I worked on the sets of TV pilots and feature films, the more likely I’d pursue the film industry.
In 1994, I decided to attend film school at Columbia College-Hollywood. In addition to my main pursuits, screenwriting and directing, I learned about cinematography, production design, editing, and acting. I wrote, produced, directed, and edited short films on 16 millimeter. My mom was often on set helping out wherever she could. I gave her the honorary credit as Set Mom. She was every crew member’s mom. She prepared fruit salads and vegetable trays.
“The Turnaround” was my epic thesis short film shot on 16mm. The short won the “Best of the Fest” at the Rochester International Film Festival in Rochester, NY. The film screened at the George Eastman House. My parents could see my talent, but they also observed the difficulty in breaking into the business.
My parents assisted in hosting short film showcases at our house in Calabasas. I’d meet filmmakers at various film festivals and invite them to show their films. It was a fun way to network, and it was a BLAST!
After film school, the focus was on co-writing a feature screenplay and film, “Rubbernecking” with Sean Kinney. Sean and I searched vigorously to locate investors. Even when we attached investors, they fell through for whatever reason. Some investors dropped out right before the shoot.
My parents stepped in to save “Rubbernecking” and got the film out of production traffic, though it was a film about people stuck in traffic. My parents were natural featured extras, complaining about the traffic ahead.
Completing the film was a major accomplishment. Finding the right editor became a challenge because part of the film was shot in 35mm, and another part in High Definition. It was the late 90’s, and HD was all new.
The film played at a few film festivals, including one in New York. Some of my relatives attended. The edit of “Rubbernecking” was a constant battle. It’s no wonder that Sean and I became film and video editors. We were never completely happy with the cut. “Rubbernecking” was shelved. Years later, we still mull over doing something with it.
My parents continued to support my creative career as I struggled to find my way. Somehow, I found myself editing the feature film, “War of the Worlds 2: The Next Wave” that can currently be seen on Tubi. But my editing career was not thriving.
So, I tried teaching English in South Korea, but that didn’t work out. So, I landed in Las Vegas, Nevada, where my parents were living at the time. I tried to assimilate into the Las Vegas film community. I got involved in various areas. I wrote concert reviews for Vegas Seven Magazine on artists like Duran Duran, ZZ Top, and Matisyahu. The last short film I produced, “You Are What You Eat” was filmed at my parents’ house in Las Vegas.
My parents were there again to help me put on a film festival. The Social Media Film Festival was a great experience. The main event took place at the Mirage Hotel and Casino, which doesn’t exist anymore.
In 2013, Hollywood was pulling me back to Los Angeles. I took some regular jobs. Eventually, I took a vault job at Fotokem in Burbank. Five years later, I was laid off due to the pandemic. I took some additional post-production jobs as things started to open up again.
I needed to get back to writing, BIG TIME. Since editing wasn’t working out for me, I dropped it and my last post-production job. The pandemic had me going down rabbit holes and meeting interesting people on an app called The Clubhouse.
My parents had moved back to Los Angeles to be closer to me and my sister, who now had three kids. A part of the reason they moved back was that my dad’s health was deteriorating. My father passed away in December 2020.
The year 2021 became a dark time. I needed to write something light. So, out of left field, I wrote a rom-com called “My Soulmate Died at Birth.”
Along with quitting my last post-production job in 2023, I moved in with my mom in Thousand Oaks, CA. She needed company and I needed a place to figure out my life and career. It’s a work-in-progress.
Often, I had written in various genres, but something else was calling me – SCI-FI! I had already written a sci-fi script called “Rivals” before the pandemic.
I got the idea for “The Battle of Los Angeles – 1942” from the time I spent going down rabbit holes. Mom was gracious as usual to let me hold a first draft reading at her house with some actor friends. I remind her how grateful I am in the following You Tube video.
I’m doing what I can to go all in on screenwriting. That includes script reading. I’ve been reading screenplays for the Austin Film Festival since last year, 2024. I’ve had a few clients and hope to build a script consulting business of sorts.
The film and TV business seems weak right now. You hear about some script sales, but for the most part, breaking in as a screenwriter is looking bleak. Are the studios buying anything original or are they just remaking movies with AI? I’m actually learning Midjourney, an AI app so I can at least create some movie posters for my screenplays. It’s not enough to write a screenplay, you have to market it too. Who knows what the future holds?
Whatever I end up doing the rest of my life, I know my mother will support me. She’s the best!
Happy 80th Birthday, Mom! I LOVE YOU!
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MAYDAY! Coverfly Shutting Down!
Cover-Fallen
| Dear Film and TV Industry, Over the past five years, I’ve been improving my craft of screenwriting. I’ve been writing for over 30 years, and the struggle has been long and tough. While pursuing other creative roles like directing and video editing, screenwriting has always been at the center of my passions. At times, sometimes for a whole year, I suffered from writer’s block or impostor syndrome. |
| It’s tough being a screenwriter, especially when unproduced. You take classes and watch webinars, listen to successful writers and development people share tips and trends, but where do you stand as a screenwriter? How do you gauge your progress? |
Coverfly
Starting in 2020, my feature-length screenplays started to place as Quarter Finalists. Coverfly was not just a platform to post your scripts. You could see first-hand how well your script was doing. Although I never made the Red List, the top tier, it gave me something to shoot for. Coverfly kept a record of your submissions and gave out badges when your script received an accolade. Even when your script didn’t place, but scored high enough, your Coverfly rank could improve a little bit.
When it’s hard enough to gain attention as a writer, every little boost helps.
Below is what I have to show for the last 5 years thanks to Coverfly.
Peer-To-Peer
Coverfly had a free peer-to-peer option for those seeking feedback and don’t have the money or resources to swap with other writers. I used this a few times for feedback. As a budding script reader, reviewing other writers’ scripts was a good practice.
Writers shared their ‘Coverfly profile’ on their social media accounts. Industry people could check out profiles showcasing a writer’s bio., industry and life experience, projects, and script accolades. It’s unclear to me how many industry people were checking out profiles.
It’s a mystery to me why and how this wonderful service needed to go. It doesn’t seem to be bought by another company. Cast & Crew owns Industry Arts. Industry Arts had several screenplay and coverage companies under their label that were shut down earlier this year: ScreenCraft, WeScreenplay, The Script Lab and Launchpad.
What happened? It’s about business and money. Either way, screenwriters have to keep finding ways to stand out and get hired.
There are other screenplay platforms. Some company needs to build another platform where screenwriters can post their scripts and find resources so they can reach their writing goals.
Script Reader
This past week I read a screenplay and wrote coverage for a client on Talentville, another screenplay platform. You can check Talentville out at https://www.talentville.com/
Last year, I read screenplays and wrote coverage for the Austin Film Festival. I’m reading again this year.
I also have a script reading gig on Fiverr.
“Ross was very prompt and quick to respond. Very knowledgeable and professional. He provided me with an analysis that went above and beyond my expectations, providing me great feedback to help take my screenplay and future ones to the next level. Invaluable information, that I greatly appreciate!”
– Maurice S. (Client on Fiverr)
Check it out! Tell your writer friends! https://www.fiverr.com/s/qD6Qo5d
May the 4th be with all those writers out there struggling to find their way and to all of you whatever you do!
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Does 2025 make you want to SCREAM?
Screenwriters, does 2025 make you want to SCREAM?
Go ahead. LET IT OUT!
The past five years have been brutal for the film industry. It’s like one fiasco after another. Covid and the Strikes did some real damage. And just when it looked like things were starting to turn around with a few good spec script sales Hollywood burns to the ground. It sure felt like it. (The photo below is a fake.)
Hollywood Burns to the Ground?
For screenwriters looking to get attention on their scripts, things are looking even more bleak. To acquire representation or attach a producer, screenwriters often submit to screenplay competitions.
In February 2025, Industrial Arts decided to consolidate a bunch of their smaller screenplay platforms including ScreenCraft which also had fellowships. Additional platforms are Launch Pad and WeScreenplay, a source for coverage. Thankfully, Industrial Arts is not doing away with Coverfly. Coverfly is one of the top platforms to showcase your screenplay, discover and enter competitions, and an overall great resource.
Take a moment to BREATHE.
Are you calm? Now, I can serve up the next bit of screenwriting drama. In late March 2025, The Nicholl Fellowship, arguably the biggest screenplay competition, announced that it will no longer accept submissions directly to its website. The Nicholl Fellowship is associated with the Motion Picture Academy. To enter the Nicholl Fellowship, the Academy provided a long list of universities and other organizations. On that list is another popular screenplay platform, the Black List.
Nicholl Fellowship / The Black List
More detailed information will come out soon. So far, from what I understand, a writer will need to have their script hosted on the Black List for a month during the submission period which will be July and August of 2025. To host your screenplay it costs $30. And there is no further cost to enter the Nicholl competition. Oh, wait. There is one more task. The script must have an evaluation done by a Black List reader. How much are evaluations? $100. Ouch!
If a writer doesn’t have the funds or simply doesn’t want to enter, there are other top screenplay competitions out there. Final Draft Big Break, Script Pipeline and the Austin Film Festival are ones to pay attention to.
Script Reader
Last year, I read screenplays and wrote coverage for the Austin Film Festival. I’m reading again this year. Here is a partial quote from last year’s AFF script manager, Cynthia Cano.
“We were consistently impressed by the level of thought and detail he included in his feedback. He clearly has a goal to help the writers that entrusted him with their work; and though he did not shy away from commenting on what was not working within a script, he always offered encouragement and possible solutions for the piece moving forward. I was very lucky to work with someone as dedicated, communicative, and dependable as Ross over this past summer, and I hope to have the opportunity to work with him again. He is a hard-worker, and a great teammate; anyone would be lucky to work with someone so dedicated to the craft and exudes dedication in everything he does. ”
Other than reading for AFF, I have a script reading gig on Fiverr.
“Ross was very prompt and quick to respond. Very knowledgeable and professional. He provided me with an analysis that went above and beyond my expectations, providing me great feedback to help take my screenplay and future ones to the next level. Invaluable information, that I greatly appreciate!” – Maurice S. (Client on Fiverr)
Check it out! Tell your writer friends!
https://www.fiverr.com/s/WEz3y5d
Break on Through
I feel like I now have a handful of scripts that are ready and/or close to ready. Last year was actually a pretty good year as my scripts placed as Quarter Finalist in some decent competitions. “My Soulmate Died at Birth” placed at Table Read My Screenplay and Creative Screenwriting Unique Voices (2025). “Modified” placed at Filmmatic Inroads. “The Ringmaster” placed at Filmmatic Horror Screenplay Awards.“The Battle of Los Angeles – 1942” placed at a lesser-known Cineplay International Film Festival.
What else am I doing to ‘Break on through to the other side’? (Reference to the Doors in memory of Val Kilmer. Rest in peace.)
What’s a Screenwriter to do?
I’ve been playing around with Canva to create movie posters. You never know who you meet or what they might want to see as far as screenplay materials.
Next, I plan to go further and create pitch decks. Whatever I need to do to move the needle forward.
Speaking of needles, if you have any Doors on vinyl now would be a good time to listen. Really, any time is a good time to listen to the Doors.
Val Kilmer’s vocals singing over the Doors’ songs while recording were so hauntingly like Jim Morrison the rest of the band thought they were Jim’s vocals. In preparation, Kilmer learned 50 Doors’ songs. Kilmer’s performance of Jim Morrison is one of my favorites. RIP Val Kilmer
Val Kilmer plays Jim Morrison in “The Doors.”
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Making Movies Wilder
Born June 11, 1933, as Jerry Silberman in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he would later change his name to Gene Wilder and become a comedic icon in movie classics “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” “Young Frankenstein,” “The Frisco Kid” and “Stir Crazy.” It all started when Gene was a kid. His mother had a heart attack. When she returned home her doctor leaned into Gene and told him never to upset his mother. If anything, make her laugh.
Wilder landed some TV roles before his first film break in “Bonnie & Clyde” playing an undertaker. Director Arthur Penn wasn’t planning on the featured role to be funny, but that’s what you got when you hired Gene Wilder. Wilder met Mel Brooks very early on as Brooks’ wife, Ann Bancroft, was performing in a play with Wilder. When Wilder ran into Brooks backstage, Gene noticed Brooks’ peacoat. Mel said he liked to call it a urine coat. Wilder busted a gut. The two men collaborated, laughed, and became best friends for decades.
Brooks had the idea for “The Producers” when they first met but didn’t have the financing. A few years later, Brooks got the money. The producer of the movie, “The Producers” didn’t want Wilder. He wanted a leading man. Brooks disregarded the producer and kept him from seeing dailies.“The Producers” was a huge hit.
Wilder and Brooks would eventually team up on “Blazing Saddles” and “Young Frankenstein.” Wilder wasn’t initially cast in “Blazing Saddles.” The actor playing the Waco Kid fell ill and could not continue. Brooks called up his muse, Wilder. There may have been a new sheriff in town, but Gene Wilder saved the movie. “Everything Gene did for me was angelic and supreme,” said Mel Brooks on American Masters PBS.
Gene Wilder found great comedic chemistry with comedian Richard Pryor in “Silver Streak.” Another electrifying comedic performance with the masterful duo of two innocent best friends sent to prison for robbing a bank in “Stir Crazy.” The combined comedic stylings and antics of Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor became even more legendary. Wilder and Pryor as Skip and Harry toughened themselves up for prison, saying out loud, “That’s right. That’s right. We bad.” Years later, Wilder and Pryor teamed up a third time on “See No Evil, Hear No Evil.” Wilder is also credited as a screenwriter.
“Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” wasn’t a box office smash due to its edgy, dark telling of a story about naughty, greedy children. The young fans who grew up with the movie and recognized its genius made it a cult classic. Wilder’s Wonka is one of the greatest and most memorable performances. When young Veruca states there’s no such thing as schnozzberries, Wonka explains it to her. “We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams.” This quote reminds its fans and humanity of the importance of storytelling. Artists and people in general need to keep dreaming big.
Wilder wasn’t just a charismatic, funny actor with piercing blue eyes. He was a comedic visionary. Wilder was playing with the idea of Frankenstein’s grandson, a serious surgeon, wanting nothing to do with his grandfather’s work in reanimating dead tissue. The young Frankenstein and rightful heir could no longer fight this resistance. It was his destiny! In collaboration with Mel Brooks, “Young Frankenstein” was cast with the funniest ensemble; Madeline Kahn, Marty Feldman, Cloris Leachman, Terri Garr, and Peter Boyle as the ‘monster.’ The biggest argument Wilder and Brooks had was whether to include the scene with his character and the monster, sharply dressed up in tuxes, top hats and canes, singing ‘Puttin’ On the Ritz.’ Brooks was more than thrilled to have lost that battle. It’s cinematic comedy gold!
Gene Wilder met Gilda Radner of “SNL” fame on the set of “Hanky Panky.” They fell in love and made the best of their short-lived time together. Radner’s time ran out due to cancer. Wilder found himself in love again years later after doing research for “See No Evil, Hear No Evil.” Karen Boyer was a clinical supervisor at the New York League for the Hard of Hearing. Boyer taught Wilder how to lip-read for his role as Dave who was deaf.
Gene Wilder was 83 years old when he died of Alzheimer’s disease in 2016. “Remembering Gene Wilder” is a documentary and a beautiful tribute to Gene Wilder touching on his magical gift of making people laugh. Not only did Wilder touch the lives of so many artists, but his comedic humanity will live on in his classic movies for years to come. Go see the documentary while it’s still in theaters.
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Screenplay Feedback
How do screenwriters get feedback?
Congrats! You finished your first screenplay draft. Now what? It’s time for some feedback. It doesn’t matter who you are or what you’ve accomplished as a writer. Everyone needs feedback. There are so many elements that make up a good script; story, structure, format, characters, and dialogue. You may be great in one area, but deficient in another area. Getting feedback is important in improving your script and growing as a writer.
How and from whom do you receive feedback?
Everyone has different perspectives when reading scripts so I would get more than one person to read your script. When common issues arise you then know what to work on in your rewrite. Writing is re-writing.
You may have colleagues, friends, or family members who could read your script and give their best impressions. They may simply sugarcoat the story and not give constructive criticism because they know you, don’t want to hurt your feelings or are simply not familiar with scripts. You want constructive criticism.
Other writers perfecting their craft who may be more knowledgeable about screenplays would be more honest with your script and therefore more beneficial. Even better are readers working in development whose jobs are reading scripts.
Screenwriting competitions give feedback. You might have to pay a little extra, but it may be worth it.
Writers Groups
Writers groups are a great way to get feedback. You’ll receive notes from readers of various backgrounds. It may be beneficial to have readers who specialize in the genre you’ve written your script in. If your script is a horror story, it may be more helpful to have horror writers read it.
Some writers’ groups involve actors who do cold readings of your script. That way you hear the voices of your characters out loud. This is a whole additional level of feedback. It’s instant feedback. To hear your characters and the dialogue live really shows if you’re on the right track. Do your characters all sound alike? Writers groups can be very supportive.
Screenplay Platforms for Hosting Screenplays, Getting Notes and Pitching
You can pitch your story to development insiders for a price. One screenplay resource platform is Roadmap Writers. You can upload and host your screenplay on platforms to enter contests with savings. Coverfly does peer-to-peer notes. It doesn’t cost anything. They have direct notes too. The International Screenwriting Association or ISA has a low monthly fee to host your screenplay. Stage32 is another platform. Blacklist is a popular platform. You can pay to have your screenplay evaluated.
There are also pitchfests where you pitch to managers, agents, producers, and production companies.
Read, Read, Read!
I highly recommend reading scripts in the same genre. In addition, just read any scripts of any genre. Reading scripts helps regardless of the genre. Read Oscar-winning scripts. Read scripts from the best and most prestigious competitions like Nichols and Austin Film Festival. What’s in those scripts that stands out and shines?
Now, go write!
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System of a Down and Korn 2022
System of a Down, Korn, Faith No More, Helmet, Russian Circles
‘Rona may have killed the mood for a while, but rock and roll will never die! Way back in 2020, pre-Covid and still working at my last job before being laid off due to the pandemic, I had purchased two tickets. I hadn’t seen one of my favorite bands, Faith No More, in decades. The last time I saw Faith No More, they opened up for Metallica and Guns N’ Roses and somewhat stole the show…for me anyways. I was really looking forward to seeing them after so many years. I believe the concert was originally supposed to take place in May 2020. Headlining the bill is System of a Down and Korn. Additional bands opening the show are Russian Circles and Helmet (“Unsung.”)
No More, Faith No More
Like the rest of the world, I’m not tapped into things I normally would be. So, a few weeks away from the show, I see an advertisement with no mention of Faith No More. I find out that the band dropped out last year due to lead singer, Mike Patton, having mental issues.
“Sorry to report that due to mental health reasons, I cannot continue with the currently scheduled Faith No More and Mr. Bungle dates,” said lead singer Mike Patton. “I have issues that were exacerbated by the pandemic that are challenging me right now. I don’t feel I can give what I should at this point and I am not going to give anything less than 100 percent. I am sorry to our fans and hope to make it up to you soon.”
The Show Must Go On
Although FNM was the reason I got tickets, there were still great bands playing this show. I’m familiar with both System and Korn. I even know the one hit song by Helmet. In these times in lockdown, it is rare to get the chance to see live music. Early on in 2020, I watched a few concerts live online, but it’s not the same as seeing and hearing a show in person. There’s a whole experience of a concert that includes traveling, parking and walking. For this show I would have the company of my close friend, Sean Kinney.
Banc of California Stadium, Los Angeles
The venue is fairly new, Downtown, next to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. I look on their website and check out the parking lots. I click on the nearby lots and find them sold out. So, I purchase a $40 reserved spot. That’s right. Forty dollars to park my car a few hours. I paid for these tickets so long ago that it’s not a big deal to secure a parking spot.
Saturday, February 5th, 2022
You park your car and walk to the stadium. You secure your mask. You show your vaccination from your Apple Wallet. Then you slide the QR barcode in the reader from the tickets on your Ticketmaster app.
“Everybody’s going to the party. Have a real good time.”
– System of a Down
Russian Circles
The Banc of California Stadium erupts as the Russian Circles start jamming. No one is singing. In between songs you can hear the cars racing next door at the LA Memorial Stadium for NASCAR. A large flame lit up at the top of the Memorial Stadium, adding to the experience. We learn later in the show that the band played without their lead singer. How cool is that? Apparently, the singer got the ‘Rona. The last cancellation was due to System of a Down singer, Serj Tankian, getting Covid.
Helmet
Another band from the 90s, Helmet, rocked the stage with their explosive “Unsung.” Solid set!
Korn – Get Your Boogie On Ironically, the last big concert I saw had Jonathan Davis on the bill. It was at Ozzfest 2019 on New Years Eve and Davis was a solo act. I look forward to seeing both Korn and System, but not a serious fan. I downloaded some hit songs I liked. Because so much time passed waiting for this concert, I got into these bands a bit more. Put your ear plugs in. Bassist Reginald Arvizu is about to crank up this mother [BLEEP!] Korn’s set is fantastic! Davis enters the stage playing bag pipes on a song I had forgotten, “Shoots and Ladders.” And I love the off-shoot jamming and singing of Metallica’s “One” in the thick of it. Mosh pits that started early on were now growing in size throughout the floor.
System of a Down
But wait, there’s MORE METAL! My buddy and I sit in Section 213, an upper section around the side and middle. It’s been a long show and the seats are making our butts sore. So, when System or S.O.A.D. enters the stage, I’m relieved to stand up with all the fans so we old timers can stretch our weary legs. And we stand for the rest of the show. I don’t know or recognize the first handful of songs, but they all sound great. It definitely takes the experience to another level when you know the songs. There are songs I’m reintroduced to such as “Hypnotize” and “Lonely Day” as well as songs I didn’t know beforehand.
Feeling like I have no release
Why do we see bands play live? We want an experience. We want to see and hear our favorite bands. They inspire us. They give us something to bang our heads to. They help us hope and dream. We can dance and even enter a mosh pit if we feel like it. It makes us feel alive. Music takes us away from our troubles. It’s a release.
The Corona virus took away many of our chances to see our favorite bands live. It’s just not the same watching bands perform live online. You have to be there in person. You need to feel the vibe of the floor rocking and rolling under your feet. You need to be surrounded by other fans, yelling, screaming, rocking out, swaying their long locks, raising their fists, displaying their middle fingers and devil horns.
It’s also really cool to discover bands and be introduced to other music and songs.
Midlife Crisis
Regarding Mike Patton, other members of Faith No More; Billy Gould, Roddy Bottum, Mike Bordin and Jon Hudson released a statement, “Coming on almost two years of pandemic and lack of work, it has been heart-breaking to give our crew the news. We consider our crew like family. And then, equally importantly, we are aware of what this means to our fans, who have been patiently supporting us – hoping, as we have, for a break in this frustrating situation. Many folks have taken isolation quite hard, and patiently waited as shows have been postponed time and time again. This will be tough for them.”
I hope Mike Patton recovers from whatever mental issues he’s having. The pandemic has been so overwhelming for so many people. Musicians have been hit very hard, not being able to tour, make money and are dealing with both outer and inner demons. Patton is dealing with the elements just like all of us. Maybe he’ll get inspired and write a whole new album from it. We’re all dealing with different issues. It’s best to take care of ourselves and improve our health so we can perform at our best. Take care, Mike.
We Care a Lot.
References
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Fantasy Football 2021. UGH!
I’ve been playing Fantasy Football for three years now. In the first few years I had no trouble making the playoffs. I did very well…until the playoffs. That’s when my players all tanked and my teams imploded like Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers losing 9-0 to the New Orleans Saints. No TDs. No points. A big, fat zero. 2021. UGH!
The Draft
You draft what you think is a solid roster with popular veteran players. You’re filled with hope for a whole new season of Fantasy Football. Being fifth in the draft, I’m pumped for the first round. In most mock drafts, I’m continuously snagging Tennessee Titans star running back Derek Henry. All that changes when the official draft takes place. Someone else grabs King Henry, so I pick Alvin Kamara.
Your Roster Looks Good at least on paper (or the app)
Immediately after your draft you lose one of your running backs to a season ending ankle injury and the season hasn’t started yet. I lose Baltimore Ravens Gus Edwards. So I replace him with Ronald Jones who gives me negative yardage the first week. That just won’t work.
Last year I was fighting for third place in the main playoffs when my opponent had Kamara. Kamara had six touchdowns in one game. So, I figured if I had the chance to pick Kamara up he’d give me some karma. Kamara for karma. Kamara starts out okay, but then gets hurt and I’m without him for four weeks, Weeks 10 – 14.
The Waiver Wire
You hope you won’t be relying on it, but it may be your weekly necessity. You’re trying to figure out who’s producing and who’s not. Sometimes you discover gold. After hearing some hype about Cordarelle Patterson, I pick him up. He’s a great addition as both a running back and wide receiver. He produces consistently until the Falcons stop using him the same way.
Timing is Everything
Sometimes you pick up potentially a fantastic player, but things don’t click for them until after you drop them. Amon Ra St. John is a WR on the Detroit Lions I pick up and play in the Flex position for Week 6. He gives me 7 points. I drop him. He blows up later in the season. I pick him up again. My big dilemma in Week 15 is to play either my “consistent” player, Las Vegas Raiders WR, Henry Renfrow playing the Cleveland Browns or St. Brown against the Arizona Cardinals. I play Renfrow and he gives me 4 points. How many points does St. Brown get? 19.50. By Week 15 Amon Ra St. Brown is the Lions’ go to receiver. It doesn’t matter who the QB is for the Lions, Jared Goff or Tim Boyle. St. Brown is a force of nature.
Bye Weeks
You should be looking ahead to see what backup players you’ll need before your big players go on bye or it’s bye-bye. Week six is brutal. I will be without Kamara, Patterson and TE George Kittle. So, I pick up Alex Collins and AJ Dillon. And Dalton Schultz ends up being a great pickup as Kittle goes on IR.
Time to Panic?
Don’t Panic!
In Week four, Tom Brady only makes 11 points. What? Not the G.O.A.T.? Well, I panic and play Sam Darnold the following week. Darnold started the season pretty solid. Miami’s defense has been stepping up, so I refrain from playing Brady. Brady ends up with a whopping 37 points. I drop Darnold who reverted to his old ways and woes.
Veterans Not Producing
After a few weeks, I drop Juju Smith-Schuster. A few weeks later I find myself dropping injury-stricken Julio Jones. Julio scored his first touchdown with the Titans and this season in Week 18. 18! Another wide receiver I drafted who drove me to pull out my hair is DK Metcalf. He had a few good games to start, but Russell Wilson had problems finding DK. This connection got worse when Wilson was out with a bad finger. When Wilson returns, they don’t get back on track until Week 17 when I’m out of the playoff picture. DK get three TDs in Week 17. THREE!!!
Don’t Blame the Analysts
Week five. A killer. Not only do I play Darnold over Brady, but I play Van Jefferson over DK Metcalf. My record is 1-3. I’m desperate! Every week I watch and listen to a handful of various fantasy football analysts. My biggest dilemma is playing Van Jefferson or DK Metcalf. Seattle plays the LA Rams, known for having a great defense. This analyst who shall rename nameless suggests that Jalen Ramsey usually covers DK quite well. So, I take this analyst’s advice to sit DK Metcalf and play Van Jefferson instead. Jefferson ends up with only two points. DK has a whopping 24 points! It’s unfortunate.
Any Given Sunday
It’s even more unfortunate that I went off a bit on this analyst. I’m not proud of that. I realize later on that these analysts can only make suggestions on who to start or sit. You can have all the history and stats on players and who they’re playing against, but you sort of have to throw that all out at kickoff. Because it’s any given Sunday or Monday or Thursday. Hell, because of Covid this year we’ve had to endure Tuesday Night Football. In the end, you’re the one starting or sitting players. You can’t predict the mood of the players or radical plays attempted by coaches. This year especially has been incredibly unpredictable. Bad teams beating good teams. When Josh Allen of the Jacksonville Jaguars sacks Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills, you discover that anything can happen. The impossible becomes possible.
Injuries, Injuries, Injuries
Losing Gus Edwards was an omen for my season. In Week 7, I’m excited to watch the Browns play the Broncos after picking up Donovan Peoples-Jones. But as the start of the game nears, the female broadcaster on the field announces that Donovan has a groin issue and most likely not playing. With a minute before the game starting, I frantically try to switch wide receivers, but the window to make changes has passed and I end up with a goose egg for him. It would be nice if more can be done to alert fantasy managers of players suddenly not playing if there’s time to do so.
Missed Field Goals anyone?
I did not have this issue so much. I used a handful of different field goal kickers. But damn! 2021 was a horrendous year for kickers.
Lucy talks Charlie into kicking the football. After all, the kickoff is a Thanksgiving tradition. Does Lucy have a different interpretation of tradition?
Consistency
Perhaps players reaching 25 points one week and getting 5 points the next week are not the best players in the long run.
My losses were often by a few points. In our league in 2021, there weren’t many points separating winners from losers. And of course our champion had breakout running back Jonathon Taylor.
Don’t be one of those players who gives up and doesn’t set your lineup! PLAY ON!
Have Fun
That’s the point. Whether you’re losing or winning, find a way to enjoy the chaos, I mean, madness, I mean, the FUN! When I realized I had no chance to even make the playoffs, I shrugged it all off. Oh, well. There’s always next year, right? I had a blast during my Consolidation Semifinal matchup. One of the best reasons to play fantasy football is when your favorite team is one of if not the worst during that season. Oh, Giants. Heal your bodies, brains and your hearts. I may be a NY Giants fan, but I live in Los Angeles. So, it was a lot of fun cheering on both replacement running backs, Sony Michel on the Rams and Justin Jackson on the Chargers in Week 17.
Players Can Impact Lives
Players on your fantasy team can have long lasting effects too. Last season, as I mentioned earlier, my opponent had Alvin Kamara who scored SIX TDs!!!!!! I would need a miracle to come back and win towards the end of that weekend.
Davante Adams
My dad was watching the games with me that Sunday, December 27, 2020. He didn’t play fantasy, but knew football and sports in general more than most fans or one-time players. My dad was also the biggest skeptic and/or critic. So, we were watching the Green Bay Packers play the Tennessee Titans. Cooper Kupp may be the best WR this season, but last year Davante Adams was on fire! #1 Wide Receiver! Adams scores a TD at the very start of the game. Great! Now I only needed 5 more TDs. Adams scores again. Huh. My dad’s face lights up. Could there be a smidgen of a chance I could win? My father starts cheering on Adams with me. Adams scores a THIRD TD!!! It wasn’t enough. At least I lose with a closer score and some dignity.
The family has dinner after the game at my parents’ house. My sister’s family is there with her three kids. My father passes away in the early hours of Monday, December 28, 2020.
Cheering on Davante Adams is my last shared experience with my father and I’ll think of him any time Davante Adams plays or is in the news. Players can definitely impact your lives.
This blog is dedicated to my father, Jeffrey Allen Martin.
Some Analysts I Follow
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Kiss the Ground: Dirt, What is it Good For?
*Originally post was Oct 21, 2020 on another site.
“Kiss the Ground” is a groundbreaking and eye-opening documentary about soil and how we can use it to improve farming and reverse climate change. Filmmakers Joshua and Rebecca Tickell and narrator Woody Harrelson share their vision for what is known as regeneration, the renewal or restoration of a body or biological system.
“We must harness the regenerative power of earth itself,” states Harrelson.
SPOILER ALERT! I am about to discuss everything in this documentary so if you want to see it first go to Netflix, chill and come back here to revisit.
The Dust Bowl
The plow was a popular machine that drilled and turned the soil on farms to plant seeds. In the 1930s, America saw erosion in ‘the Dust Bowl.’ Farmers tilled fields and left the soil exposed. The Southern Plains from Texas to Nebraska were hit by a severe drought with intense dust storms and high winds killing people and livestock. It was a significant part of the Great Depression, 1929-1933. It moved farming families out of the area. By 1934, roughly 200 million acres were destroyed in the Great Plains.
President Roosevelt establishes Soil Conservation Service
Seeing the devastation in person, President Franklyn D. Roosevelt developed Soil Conservation Service to save America’s soil. Today it’s known as the National Resources Conservation Service or N.R.C.S. The mission is to reduce tilling and plowing, but they continue today.
People don’t like change
Farmers have been farming the same way for decades and don’t like change. They don’t understand the principles of working the soil and making the soil work for them.
Everything runs on carbon.
Human beings are built on carbon. Microbes in soil feed off carbon. Carbon is the driving force. Carbon dioxide is a gas. Human beings breathe carbon dioxide out. Plants breathe carbon dioxide in. Additionally, human beings create carbon dioxide by burning fossil fuels. That burned carbon dioxide heads into the skies and stays up there.
Carbon isn’t all bad. It’s actually good. Plants, using sunlight as energy, pull carbon dioxide out of the air. The plants turn it into carbon fuel and that helps them grow. Plants take in carbon dioxide and use it for carbon and producing oxygen.
Micro-organisms
Forty percent of carbon entering the ground goes directly to microorganisms; worms, amoeba and other microbes. This forms nutrients. Micro-organisms make a glue-like substance out of carbon fuel. They control the flow of air and water in pockets.
The Soil is Alive!
Soil absorbs carbon dioxide out of the air and stores it. It’s a universe of life. There are more bacteria cells than human cells in the body. More than half of the human body is made up of micro-organisms. Amazing!
Chemicals and Pesticides
Crops sprayed by chemicals and pesticides leave far less microbes, micro-organisms, thus, nutrients in our food. The nutrients that strengthen our bodies and make us healthy are depleted.
The more farmers till the soil, the weaker the soil gets. Then those farmers rely on pesticides and chemicals to save their weakening fields. This is the awful relentless cycle of industrial agriculture.
Glyphosate Most Likely Causes Cancer
Corn is mostly sprayed with glyphosate, a chemical that most likely causes cancer. Absorb that for a moment. Has it sunk in yet? Glyphosate has been discovered in our drinking water. Bottoms up. Chemical and pesticide companies like Monsanto are now being sued for millions in lawsuits by cancer patients. So, next time you’re looking to purchase Roundup to spray your garden, think again. Glyphosate not only kills microbes in the soil, but in humans too.
Top Soil
Since the 1970s, we have lost one-third of Planet Earth’s top soil. We have one world and we’re losing it. We have one home and we’re letting it go to wasteland.
Allan Savory, the Founder of Holistic Management, talks about desertification, destroying the soil, turning it into erosion, desert. Soil, plants and earth are connected. Without living, thriving plants, there will be more erosion. More plants equals more rain. With more carbon dioxide in the air, warming things up, rain clouds are pushed away. When plants thrive, rain clouds are more likely to stick around.
Poor Land = Poor People
By changing the micro-systems we can affect macro-systems and regenerate the world. In the meantime, people are being pushed off their eroding land, becoming refugees. Poor land leads to poor people. Suddenly, there’s a social breakdown. And the weather becomes more unpredictable with wild floods in some areas.
60 Harvests Left
Could there really only be only 60 harvests left? Paul Hawkin wrote a book called Drawdown about how we can reverse the climate crisis. Hawkins suggests we use biosequestration or the removal of carbon from the atmosphere by photosynthetic plants and bacteria. Basically, we take the carbon dioxide from the air and hold it in the soil, retaining it.
“Our farms are going to dust. Our farmers are going to bust,” says Gabe Brown.
Gabe Brown calls himself a regenerative rancher. He believes livestock should roam freely. After struggling to farm the usual ways, Brown took a chance by implementing natural ways of farming. Plows should not till the land. His machines cut very little grass. When rain hits tilled soil it runs away from the soil. This prevents the ground to absorb water and carbon dioxide.
Free the Livestock
Almost all of the crops are for feeding animals. Monoculture farming holds feedlots where cows are shoved into tight spaces on top of each other, causing greenhouse gases.
When cows roam freely they don’t push GHG (Greenhouse gas) into the air. The gases seep back into the soil below, restoring it. Feedlots send GHG way up into the atmosphere and the carbon dioxide doesn’t come back down to return to the earth. The cows aren’t the problem. It’s how and where the cows are placed that determines the outcome.
Take the Money and Run?
Farmers are hesitant to change their farming ways when they’re guaranteed money before entering their fields. The United States gives $25 billion in subsidies.
Most farmers barely make a living. They struggle to make a few dollars per acre and that’s with the assistance of subsidies and GMOs. Brown’s ranch makes significantly more money farming the natural way.
Brown also stresses that diversification is key to reversing climate change. Brown grows wheat, barley, oats, alfalfa, vegetables, etc. His ranch also has bees producing honey. His animals include lamb, pigs and cows. Brown says diversity builds resiliency into the ecosystem.
Most farmers work farms owned by someone else. When land owners and farmers can see for themselves the difference between old school farming and natural regenerative farming, they won’t go back to those old ways. Farmers will see the profits too. Farmers could make $100 billion annually! Farmers could reduce and eventually avoid subsidies all together.
“If you build a healthy farm ecosystem, you’re going to be resilient. You’re going to take the risk out of it.”
If politicians don’t see this or push this forward it’ll be up to the people. Educate the farmers. Let the farmers educate the people. Let the people tell everyone they know.
Ian Somerhalder, actor and environmental activist, says that tall grass is perfect for capturing carbon dioxide back into the soil. The ability to add more carbon dioxide back into the land can happen globally. Somerhalder says cow poop is full of microbes that would be ideal to fertilize the land.
Food For Thought in San Francisco
What if all those trash piles covering the land in landfills could be put to work, making the earth healthier? The idea is to collect leftover food and turn it into compost. Compost assists soil in holding water. It’s a natural sponge.
In San Francisco, California, residents have three different disposal cans; trash, recycling and compost. The program of taking trash and turning it into compost is so successful that any residents not placing food waste into the compost cans could be fined. Empty trash cans are very much encouraged. If the trash can is full, the authorities will charge you.
Seven hundred tons of food scraps are being turned into compost daily. Food waste is full of nutrients and carbon. It’s sorted at a facility and goes through a process that further refines it into compost. Then the compost heads to a farm to regenerate the earth.
San Francisco developed into the most renewable city in just a few short years. It’s economy has blossomed too. If it can work there the same model can be replicated in Los Angeles, Moscow and every city around the world.
In many ways, compost is about community. All the people in the area come together for a common purpose, healing the earth. There’s also the community of microbes breaking down the physical trash. One man or woman’s trash should be everyone’s treasure.
Collecting Food Scraps in Detroit, Michigan
Murray collects food scraps from restaurants to make good rich dirt. She wants to keep food waste out of the landfills. Pashon is passionate about the environment. You should be too.
Poop belongs in the loop
Actor and Founder of GiveLove.org, Patricia Arquette went to Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, to help the people rebuild after the devastating 2010 earthquake. It was discovered that water under the soil was getting contaminated. Sanitation was bad throughout the area. Bad sanitation could lead to diseases.
Patricia taught the Haitians how to turn their toilets into compost-friendly toilets. “People can learn to do this everywhere,” says Arquette. Her team went out to additional places like Uganda to educate people.
A sign on one of the compost-like restrooms reads: Poop belongs in the loop.
“We eat food. We poop it out. We can then treat it. And create soil that has good content for the plants. And then the circle just goes around and around,” says Arquette.
Plant-Rich Diet
Ryland Engelhart, executive director of “Kiss the Ground,” explains that there’s a way to eat healthy and heal the world simultaneously. A plant-rich diet is also known as a regenerative diet. “If you eat meat, you can eat from healthier farms. Meat from pasture-raised, grass-fed cows,” says David Bronner, CEO of Dr. Bronner’s.
Count Your Chickens
Those eggs you buy in the store that say ‘cage-free’ are still raised in confinement and fed mostly grain which means they have less nutrients. Chickens raised without confinements thrive because they eat whatever they find in the wild. That extra diversity adds to plentiful nutrients.
In “Kiss the Ground,” rancher Gabe Brown shows in a pan how much stronger and darker eggs are from roaming chickens than cage-free chickens raised in confinement. How do you like your eggs?
50% Regenerative Farms by 2025
Today only 5% of American farms are doing regenerative agriculture, healing soil. In 2015, Ray Archuleta, Conservation Agronomist, went to meet with Gabe Brown at his ranch. Their meeting blossomed into an all-out mission to save the soil. The Nature Conservancy partnered with the National Corn Growers’ Association to create Soil Health Partnership. The mission has a goal of 50% regenerative farms by 2025.
That’s a lot to achieve in a short amount of time. Then again, our planet is running out of time. So, anyway we can push people in the right direction as soon as possible the better off we all are.
Changing China
“If we restore all the land on the planet, we can return to paradise,” states John D. Liu, Ecologist at Commonland and Foundation.
Liu went to the most eroded place on earth, China. Liu and his team implemented regenerative agriculture on an area of deserted land the size of Belgium from 1994 to 2009, 14 years. The area went from being completely eroded to seeing green for miles in every direction. An amazing 14,000 square miles were regenerated.
“It’s not about religion. It’s not about politics. It’s about love,” says Maria Rodale, former CEO/ Chairman of Rodale, Inc. publishing.
As a reminder, narrator Woody Harrelson said, “We must harness the regenerative power of earth itself.” Harrelson adds, “I’ll make you a deal. I won’t give up and neither should you.”
Today is Wednesday, October 21, 2020. In less than two weeks, U.S. citizens will be voting on the next American president. It’s no secret that President Trump has no interest in the topic of climate change. Everything to him seems to be a hoax. In addition, he’s not a fan of scientists even though the entire world is dealing with a deadly virus. Trump has lead the Republican Party down a path of destruction. He released the pandemic team in place long before Covid-19 arrived. He did not hire them back when we needed every hand on deck. The largest contributors of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, China, India and the United States were all absent from the Paris Agreement on climate change. Trump took the U.S. out of this crucial Paris agreement.
The climate is going to worsen. As long as we keep burning fossil fuels and pumping carbon dioxide into the air, global warming will intensify. The earth’s climate will increasingly heat up, causing hurricanes, fires and floods the likes we’ve only seen in apocalyptic movies.
Even if ex-Vice President Joseph Biden becomes the next President of the United States, he will need to be reminded that the biggest threat to America and the world is not terrorism. It’s global warming! Biden has his own plan to battle climate change, but it’s not as immediate as the Green New Deal lead by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Hopefully, during the next four years, Democrats and Republicans can come together on this most important issue.
This blog is in many ways a summary of the content in “Kiss the Ground.” But if you haven’t seen the film, go see it on Netflix!!!
The issue of change has always been about politics and money. If we, the human race, hope to have any kind of future it will be up to the youth to educate everyone else since people don’t like change and generally are hard of hearing. The following Ted Talk is not in this movie. You may be familiar with her name and face, Greta Thunberg. Her Ted Talk is about getting people to stop talking about climate change and start acting on it.
“Once we start to act, hope is everywhere,” says Greta Thunberg.
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Vintage Black Films @ Film Grove
Whole lotta’ streaming going on! Film Grove is a new company by Rayna Booker and Charmaine Clark seeking aspiring filmmakers to submit their films for a film festival competition. Filmmakers will share in the revenue as their films stream on the channel. Their mission is to add more diversity to the film and television industry. Film Grove looks to fill their online presence with up-and-coming filmmakers, especially women of color.
Sports Legends
In the spirit of recent events, here is a wonderful collection of Vintage Black Films already streaming on the Film Grove channel. Some of these treasures have historical significance. “The Joe Louis Story” and “The Jackie Robinson Story” are about two sports legends that changed the look of sports forever.
Joe Louis
“The Joe Louis Story,” starring Cole Wallace reminds us what a giving individual Joe Louis was. At first, Louis was taking violin lessons until someone pointed out he was built to box. His family supported his passion for boxing. Joe Louis quickly became a contender, but often bought meals for everyone.
Unfortunately, Louis wasn’t very good at keeping track of his finances and often found himself in debt. His stubbornness forced him to return to boxing no matter how much his wife wanted him to retire.
Joe Louis fought Max Baer in the mid-30s. Baer wore a giant Star of David on his boxer shorts. It was a sign of the times as Germany’s Nazi Party was ruling Europe.
Germany had its own boxing champion, Maximilian Schmeling, on the forefront of a battle of ideologies, democracy vs. nazism. Schmeling was the World Champ in 1930 and 1932, but the main events came years later when the two fighters, Joe Louis and Maximilian Schmeling, fought in 1936 and 1938 in worldwide events with global appeal. The bouts were much bigger than two men in a ring. The whole world was tuned in and had their radio dials turned up. Schmeling won the first fight in the 12th round. But Louis made a comeback in the second fight, knocking Schmeling out in the very first round. It’s one of the most talked about boxing matches of all time, but this 1953 film did not emphasize the details well.
Although not the biggest or best production, the film gives a little bit of insight into Louis’ stubborn character. Joe Louis had to fight racism when he wasn’t in the ring, but the story in the film sadly does not cover that.
Jackie Robinson
A much better production and story that covers everything in depth is “The Jackie Robinson Story.” Not to be confused by the excellent 2013 film, “42” starring Chadwick Boseman, this is the 1950 earliest telling of Jackie’s story. I didn’t realize until after viewing the film that the lead actor is played by Jackie Robinson himself. The film, directed by Alfred E. Green, also stars the dashing Ruby Dee as Rae Robinson, Jackie’s wife, who would be cast many years later in Spike Lee’s “Do the Right Thing.”
After working as an athletic director for the army, Jackie lands a job playing baseball on an all black touring team called the Black Panthers. The bus stops at a restaurant. Being the rookie, Jackie’s teammates asked him to go inside and ask;
- if they can eat inside
- if they can wash up
- if eating inside is okay, can they get sandwiches
Jackie asks his teammates about contracts. His teammates had a good laugh. The black or colored teams were not supported well, if at all.
After a game, Jackie gets a call from someone representing the Brooklyn Dodgers. Jackie blows off meeting with the guy because he thought it was hoax. Finally, Jackie meets with Branch Rickey. The story of Jackie Robinson is also the story of Branch Rickey. Rickey had been scouting other black baseball players in hopes of adding diversity to Major League Baseball. Rickey’s own career is on the line if this idea goes south.
Rickey explains to Mr. Robinson, “It’ll take a lot of courage.” Rickey states further, “We’re talking about the night for any American to play baseball.” If that wasn’t enough to think about, Rickey informs Jackie, “I want a ball player who’s guts enough ‘not’ to fight back.” Rickey stresses,
“No matter what happens on the field,
you can’t fight back.”
Mr. Robinson tells his mother on the phone, “I can be the first negro to play organized baseball, Mom.” His mother advises Jackie to seek the guidance of a priest. Jackie talks to a priest in New York. Jackie then marries Rae. They sit in the back section of a bus. Rae is decked out in her wedding dress. It is one of the many sad images displaying segregation and racism in American society and culture.
Jackie gets hired to play for the Montreal minor team. Every step in his climb to the top has its challenges. He needs to win over not only the players that would be his teammates, but his new coach. More challenges arise when the team shows up to play and they find a sign reading:
CANCELLED
In accordance with
City Ordinance No. 11725
relating to prohibition of
sports events between
WHITE and COLORED.
In 1946, at Roosevelt Stadium in Jersey City, New Jersey, 52,000 fans witnessed history as Jackie Robinson, playing for the Montreal Royals, stepped up to home plate against the Jersey City Giants. Regardless of the turnout, his first at bat was a first for him and a first for all people of color. Robinson grounded out, but the rest of his day was filled with excitement, four hits including a three-run home run, four runs batted in, and stolen bases.
As expected, some fans did not take kindly to Jackie’s participation in organized baseball, throwing trash onto the field. A few caucasian men tried to intimidate Jackie after a game. One says,”Hey Jackie, gimme a shine.” Jackie remembered what Branch Rickey told him by not letting it get to him.
The Montreal Royals were thrilled with Robinson. The coach, resistant at first, ended up praising him.
There was talk of bringing Jackie Robinson onto the Major League Brooklyn Dodgers team, but a small group of Dodgers were against it. There was a petition going around for players to sign to rid of Mr. Robinson. Branch Rickey meets with the small group of players. He reminds one of the players about his ethnic Italian background. No one stopped this player’s immigrant parents from working so why should that stop Jackie Robinson from playing.
Jackie Robinson played for the Brooklyn Dodgers and as they say the rest is history. Robinson’s story has been very influential in race relations in sports and American society and culture. As good as “42” is, check out “The Jackie Robinson Story” too. It’s an excellent film!
RIP Chadwick Boseman (“42”) who died at age 43 ironically on Jackie Robinson Day.
Dirty Gertie from Harlem USA
“Dirty Gertie from Harlem USA” is a 1946 film with an all African American cast. Francine Everett plays lead Gertie La Rue with a lot of spunk and spirit. Gertie belongs to a dance troupe that had been exiled from their usual locations because Gertie had a falling out with Al, her ex-boyfriend. Al manages the group.
Other dancers suggest Gertie really had it good with Al, but she expresses a different experience. Gertie very much beats to her own drum. She answers to no one. When another dancer asked about her going out the night before an early rehearsal Gertie says,
“He’s the manager of the show. I’m the star! I’m the big shot around here.
Nobody tells me what to do. I tell them.”
Gertie then heads to the nearby bar, Diamond Palace. After seeing a flirting Diamond Joe give Gertie a bracelet, a co-worker comments to Diamond Joe, who runs the establishment, “She’s hard to get and hard to hold.”
Gertie hangs out with two other gentlemen taken by her. She teases by kissing both of them at the end of the night.
A holy man, Mr. Christian, in a light suit, tries to talk Gertie into seeing the Lord and changing her ways. Mr. Christian goes to tell the governor to stop Gertie from performing at the Diamond Palace bar.
Gertie, feeling lost, sees a female medium who sees a bad future for her. She sees a man yelling at her. Gertie also breaks a hand mirror. Perhaps Gertie has brought all of this bad luck on herself.
The ending is very abrupt. Their manager and Gertie’s ex-boyfriend, Al, shows up to shoot her dead with a hand gun. And all Al says, “I killed her because I love her.”
It seems Gertie simply drove everyone mad and got what was coming to her. I would have liked to have learned a bit more about Al and his troubles with Gertie. I am somewhat spoiling it because there really isn’t a complete narrative story here. The interest in this film is the period it was made. It is a decently made film and adds to cinema history.
Blaxploitation Films
What Vintage Black Collection would be complete without a some blaxploitation films like “Mean Johnny Sparrows” directed by and starring Fred Williamson and “Lady Cocoa” starring Lola Falana.
You may ask yourself, ‘What is blaxploitation?’ It’s an ethnic sub-genre of exploitation cinema in America during the 1970s originally targeting African American audiences. These films were low-budgeted, independently produced films with subject matter about oppressed black people working for and sticking it to ‘the man,’ the white man. There is often an underlying message of black power and unity.
Lady Cocoa
You could see similarities in both the character of Gertie in “Dirty Gertie from Harlem USA” and Lola Falana’s feisty, fast-talking Cocoa in the 1975 film, “Lady Cocoa.” Cocoa is also having boyfriend issues.
The film starts with Cocoa being released from Nevada State Prison for not testifying against her ex-gangster boyfriend, Eddie. Now she’s taking the opportunity to testify and get out of prison.
Ramsey, an older policeman, gathering Cocoa from her cell, asks her if she’s ready. Cocoa responds,”Cocoa’s always ready.” She enters the unmarked police car with Ramsey. Officer Doug Fuller, in the driver seat, is chosen to watch over her while staying at King’s Castle Hotel & Casino in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. As soon as she sits in the backseat, Cocoa starts running her mouth. She looks over Doug’s quiet demeanor.
“Does it talk or is it fully automated here?”
The two cops share a look suggesting ‘it’s going to be a long night.’
The group of three arrive at the hotel. Doug checks himself and Cocoa in as ‘newlyweds.’ In the hotel room, Cocoa takes one of her many showers of the day. She’s really taking advantage of the day out of prison. Doug, knowing he’s one of the few black officers around, asks Ramsey why he picked a regular patrolman to look after Cocoa when he could have hired an experienced detective? Ramsey assures Doug he chose him because he’s qualified.
After Ramsey exits, Doug and Cocoa lightly argue about politics. Doug talks about his experience in Vietnam and how he didn’t have choices there, but Cocoa is free and has had choices in America. They argue about people getting locked up for smoking grass. Cocoa loves throwing out random trivia and quotes from French philosophy, popular art and music. “Freedom’s just another word for love.” Janis Joplin.
Cocoa orders a lot of food for room service. When it arrives, Cocoa changes the order to caesar salad because according to her you can’t have a heavy meal after being in the shower. She likes being difficult and Doug, inexperienced in this position, let’s her have her way.
Cocoa decides she wants to go downstairs to buy a new dress. Doug mentions limits. Cocoa says, “Limits my ass.” Doug eventually agrees. As they arrive at the elevator, her salad shows up. Cocoa tells the same clerk he must have misunderstood and cancels order.
Feeling lucky, Cocoa gambles at one of the tables. She wins a few hands. With the money, Doug accompanies her in the clothing store to buy a dress. While Cocoa tries on a dress, Doug is met by a young caucasian man waiting for his wife in the changing room. They have a chat about being newlyweds.
Cocoa purchases some clothes. As she and Doug walk out of the store he realizes she stole a necklace and returns it. They run into the couple from the store whom invite them later for live music and dancing.
Just like the old selling point for movies is showing some skin, Cocoa asks Doug in the hotel room to apply some lotion on her bare back. Doug can’t resist Cocoa. She flirts hard time. They kiss. Doug comes to his senses and separates from her.
Cocoa talks Doug into taking her out to dinner. After all, she bought these nice clothes. When Doug and Cocoa enter the dining room Cocoa recognizes a big African American man, Big Joe, played by none other than ‘Mean’ Joe Greene who played professional football. He sits with another man. They’re not smiling.
The rest of this film gets weird. The young white couple they met earlier sets Cocoa up. The young ‘wife,’ Marie, talks Cocoa into hiding in her hotel room until the bad men are gone. Marie let’s Cocoa enter the hotel room, but closes and locks the door without entering. Cocoa finds herself alone with Eddie, the ex-boyfriend she’s supposedly testifying against the next day. Eddie sweet-talks her. He seems to be feeling her out. Cocoa tells Eddie she was never going to testify against him. She only wanted the day out of prison.
Hitmen shoot inside the hotel room window and kill an unsuspecting female hotel staff worker. Cocoa calls downstairs to find and speak with Officer Doug and Ramsey.
Doug confronts the young white couple as they seem to be working with either Eddie or the hitmen. The couple attempt to run Doug down. After driving through a wing of the casino, their car ends up in a pool. Marie, the white woman from the young couple, turns out to be a man. Doug had a shooting match in the bathroom. Doug realized Marie’s wearing a wig and pulled it off. Doug, pissed, states:
”And I danced with him. That son of a bitch!”
Ramsey and Cocoa find Doug and they drive away. Ramsey notices they’re being followed most likely by the hitmen. Doug tells Ramsey he knows a friend’s boat they can hide in. Ramsey pulls the car over. Doug and Cocoa get out and hide until after the hitmen’s car passes.
Cocoa finds an abandoned car and jumpstarts it. Doug and Cocoa arrive at the docks and find his friend’s boat. The hitmen were tipped off and show up at the docks. While Doug and Cocoa think the coast is clear, they let their guards down, deeply kiss and make out. Clothes come off.
The hitmen shoot into the correct boat, but Doug and Cocoa hopped into the neighboring boat because it has a proper shower. And as you’ve learned, Cocoa likes showering. Doug shoots the hitmen.
Ramsey is found to be a traitor. Lady Cocoa and Doug walk away happily ever after. I guess she testified against her ex-gangster boyfriend. It’s a fun, watchable, popcorn flick. With these low independent movies, there aren’t perfect resolves and ending wrap-ups.
Mean Johnny Barrows
From Mean Joe Greene to “Mean Johnny Barrows,” there’s plenty of blaxploitation films from the 70s. Fred Williamson, like Mean Joe Greene, was also a former NFL football player. Williamson is the lead actor and director of “Mean Johnny Barrows.” The 1975 film, taking place in Los Angeles, California, also features Roddy McDowall as Tony and a ‘special guest star’ role by Elliot Gould.
Williamson plays a down-and-out ex-army vet, discharged for punching a superior. His superior had provoked Williamson’s character, Johnny, with racial insults.
Johnny is arrested after a scuffle in the street. The police officers give Johnny a hard time. They mention ‘splitting his skull wide open.’ Finally, an older officer, their superior, recognizes Johnny as a college football star. They chat about how Johnny is a legend also for winning the Silver Star for taking on the Vietcong in Vietnam. Johnny is released to the streets.
Johnny enters a restaurant seeking work. The mobster owner, Mario Racconi, offers Johnny a hitman job. Johnny refuses. The owner tells him, “See how many meals you can buy with a Silver Star.” Music with lyrics about finding work accompanies Johnny on his request to find a job.
The Racconi family discovers that their rival mob family, the Da Vinces, may be moving drugs through a flower shop. Once again, Mr. Racconi tries to talk Johnny into joining their organization. Johnny informs Mario that he was a soldier when he killed all of those men. Racconi asks Johnny, “What are you now? A man just do what a man must do.” Nancy, a pretty, young woman working for the Racconis, asks Johnny again while walking him out to the street. Johnny tells Nancy to thank Mario.
Johnny starts a crappy job washing bathrooms and cars at a car repair shop. Another song plays on the nose lyrics, “He was a hero.” Johnny’s grouchy, horrible boss only pays him $21…for a month’s work! They get into an argument. And then it’s almost like two police officers patrolling nearby channel this potential scuffle. Sure enough, Johnny gets arrested.
The Racconi Family has a meeting with the Da Vince Family. Mario doesn’t want drugs being sold in the area even if it’s only directed at blacks and minorities. The Da Vinces shoot and kill a bunch of Racconi’s crew.
The Racconi Family bails Johnny out of jail. They offer Johnny $100,000 and some land to kill the entire Da Vince Family. They remind Johnny about how the Da Vinces are selling drugs to blacks. “You’re not only doing me a favor, but helping out your own people.”
Nancy is betraying the Racconis with a secret relationship with Tony Da Vince, played by Roddy McDowall. Tony boards a ship to escape to Mexico. Johnny, secretly onboard, throws Tony off the boat in the middle of nowhere.
Johnny gets back to land. He makes a special delivery by surprising a driver working for the Da Vince Family. Johnny and the driver speed down a driveway and crash into the Da Vince house. Johnny then lights all the drugs on fire. Johnny’s ex-army supervisor shows up out of nowhere to battle him. It’s kind of funny how army soldiers also know some form of karate. It’s not like they teach that in army training. Only movies in the 70s and 80s do that. Johnny eventually kills his ex-army supervisor by throwing his Silver Star at him. TWHACK! Perhaps there’s a message there somewhere. Don’t mess with Johnny Barrows.
Now Johnny ends up running into some hills in Malibu with Nancy. Johnny believes Nancy loves him, but she informs him she was in love with Tony. She shoots Johnny and tells him,
“So long, sucker.”
And then like the opening where Johnny is with his army team in Vietnam, trying to avoid the mines, Nancy steps on a mine. Why are there mines in Malibu? This is one of many questions that go unanswered in a blaxploitation film. Blaxploitation popularity filtered into other ethnic audiences.
If you’re a filmmaker seeking exposure and potentially some money for your film, check out filmgrove.com In addition, there are other categories of films in the Film Grove collection; science fiction, horror, Betty Boop cartoons and some episodes of “The Lucy Show.”
Resources:
In Your Head Productions 