Prequels and Laura Croft: A combination worth seeing?

Ah the joy of prequels. Yes there is nothing quite like the ability of Hollywood to go back in time, on a movie set, and to generally screw up the history and persona of any character or storyline that can make an extra buck. As you might notice, I tend to dislike prequels. They tend to be as good as revisioned movies, and you know I hate that word.

I know that everyone, including me, loved The Dark Knight. That had a lot to do with the script, which kept the theme of the Dark Knight series of graphic novels, more than Christian Bale. Though Bale did a great job. And honestly there wasn't that much of the storyline that was changed.

Another prequel that worked out well was the restart of the James Bond series of films. Of course Bond restarts every time there is a new lead. So the public can accept every change without it being a major revision. Still there is something lost in the action first, thought nowhere, Bond that is Daniel Craig.

The Superman restart was pretty much what you would expect. Not a revisioning as much as it was an attempt to draw attention back on the movie franchise. I never was a big fan of Superman to start with - he's too much of a boyscout for me - so I'll leave that alone.

But then there are movies like Wolverine, which was horrible. Yes lot's of action, and Hugh Jackman without a shirt for the ladies. But it was disappointing. The storyline was basically missing. It was just action for the sake of action. Dare I say that the majority of the film was boring. And as for any attempt at logic, well they really stretched it even for a comic book to movie conversion film.

It gets worse when you think of films like Star Trek. Lot's of action (note the recurring theme in these prequels) and angst. Not much logic or plot. Most of the things that made Trek so enduring were thrown out. And I really disliked this new version of Spock.

So to summurize, when Hollywood wants a prequel these days they load up on action, throw out the plot, ignore all logical actions, and rewrite (or revision) everything to ensure that a youthful audience will show up for the flash of skin and lots of explosions.

Thus we are led to what got me thinking about this in the first place. Laura Croft and the Tomb Raider series. Which is set to get revisioned - excuse me, a prequel is planned. A prequel without Angelina Jolie.

To be exact, Jolie is not confirmed to be out of the film yet. But unless there is some Spock-like temporal vortex, she is too old to play herself young enough to satisfy Hollywood executives. Especially with the current emphasis on more action and more explosions vs. plot (which the Tomb Raider movies were short on to start with).

Will the prequel work for Tomb Raider? Well it's hard to imagine it being worse than Cradle of Life. That film sucked. So in regard to that, there is a huge upside potential since expectations at this point are limited to a pretty woman with big boobs (likely fake enhancements as with Jolie) in a tight shirt with explosions going off around her. Sad to say but it is honest.

Of the potential actresses being rumored to take the Croft role, Megan Fox is at the top of the list. This is likely due to her performance (if it can be called that) in Transformers. A film which the director insisted

"It seems that [Michael] Bay feels women should have curves and look like a person as opposed to the near-anorexic looks usually found in actresses these days. In fact he is making Megan Fox GAIN 10 lbs. for her next film Transformers 2."

A similar need for food, and exercise, will be needed if she is to be the new buxom adventuress.

The only 2 actresses I think fit the bill are Malin Akerman, of Silk Spectre II (Watchmen) fame. Though she is too old.



And Summer Glau, of Firerfly (Serendipity)



But we will see, once the director and screenwriter are picked, how this prequel will be geared. Don't expect much.

Oh the pain - Manchester United defeated by Barcelona

Ouch.

Yes, it's true. Barcelona has defeated Manchester United. Which means that Sir Alex Ferguson likely thinks hell has frozen over. For those that are unaware, he stated that no team would ever duplicate the league, cup and Champions win, all at the same time, that Manchester had in '99.

And it just wasn't Ferguson who was in shambles. Just look at the British reports on the game. "Lifeless" and "elementary mistakes" are the kinder descriptions of how Manchester United played. For a team with such a history, you couldn't tell from the 2-0 loss.

Barcelona on the other hand looked great. Here are the 2 winning goals. The first is Samuel Eto'o and the second is a great header by Lionel Messi.



I'm sure many United fans are wondering where Cristano Ronaldo was? He was on the pitch, but the top ranked world star played like he was definitely somewhere else. That's not to say he didn't get close to a goal. But this is futbol (soccer) and a ball in the net is the only thing that matters at the end of referee's time. You expect one of the world's best to get the ball in the net, not next to it.

With the World Cup around the corner, expect this to have repercussions.

Update from Michael Vass - President of M V Consulting, Inc.

Well the first half of the year has been quite a ride so far. With the economy in the faltering status that it is life has become a bit harder for us all - if not massively so. But I continue to strive forward.

So far the VASS political blog has been completely revamped. It has undergone a complete change, now using Wordpress a clean theme and a few add-ons like a rating system for each post (found at the bottom of each post).

While it is not completely finished, each and every post and comment is being hand transfered from the old site to this new one (both are active now). I expect to announce the re-launch shortly. And new posts are already being placed on the site now (the most recent is the latest on the hearing for trial of Johannes Mehserle - who killed Oscar Grant).

In addition to revamping my political blog, there has been the photo shoot at Guys and Dolls in Endicott NY. The shoot highlighted virtually every designer clothing line found at World of Vass. You can see the models and the various lines by clicking on the links at the top of the site, and clicking the images will take you to that clothing line for purchase.

We have also added a new line of designer clothing - Wanna Score. At this moment there is just the women's fashion line, with designs for Black, White, and Hispanic women. We will be adding a complete men's fashion line of this design within days (also for Black, Hispanic, and White men). I invite you to look it over, and buy a few too.

Of course I also direct you to our advertising. We are always looking for the best, most interesting, and highest quality advertisers for our blogs. In this market, its tough. But we have one of the best entertainment blogs in the world - focusing on people of color - not to mention the recognized political blog as well. Our ad rates are superior to many, but we always will be (limited in advertising space and) selective because you our readers are as well. So check out our advertisers from time to time, I believe in their products and services, so you can too.

Another change that will be taking effect shortly is an expansion to the writing staff here and at our other blogs. In the coming months we expect to add another 3 or so writers, covering a miriad of topics. I of course will continue to write, and at the same pace as always. But it's a big world, and there are far too many things we want to bring to you our readers.

For those interested in joining the new staff of writers for Black Entertainment USA or Vass the political blog, contact me at info@vassconsult.com - subject writing staff.

For those that are interested in becoming a model for upcoming calendar, t-shirt, and other photo shoots (with noted photographers like Michael Rolston and Todd Messinger) contact me at info@vassconsult.com - subject model photo shoot.

The economy is difficult, the clients of M V Consulting, Inc. are numerous as always, and I believe in expanding no matter the climate. We will not falter as long as you, our valued readers, continue to give us your time and attention.

Always let us know what you think of the changes and inspiration we have. Feel free to comment on the posts, we value the input. We are here to provide the best service we can. Your feedback and support will ensure we do just that.

Thank you, I look forward to your continued readership.

Michael Vass
President - M V Consulting, Inc.
info@vassconsult.com

ex-officer Mehserle on trial for Oscar Grant murder - justice undone

And so it begins. Almost 6 months ago to the day, the year 2009 rang to life. At almost the same time Oscar Grant’s life came to a close with a sharp bang. That bang was a gunshot through his back and into his lung. Oscar Grant was lying on the ground, possibly handcuffed, with one police officer kneeling on his neck with another standing and having shot him.

This was the cause of riots in Oakland, California. This was the start of yet another cry for justice from the Black community across the nation (a cry the major news media ignored). And it was the target, along with another murder and shooting – all by police, of multiple posts and videos by me. And I’m not done yet.

On the 26th of May, the defense for former officer Mehserle has claimed that the officers at a BART station on January 1st feared for their lives and were receiving resistance from at least Oscar Grant among 4 men detained that night. One officer has stated that Grant was grabbing her arm shortly before being shot in the back. It was stated that Grant had to be forcibly made to sit down by officers, and that he was being restrained when he was shot in the back.

Oh, and the major point that everyone has waited for the defense to say: Ex-officer Mehserle thought he had his stun gun out when he shot Oscar Grant in the back while he lay on the ground, defenseless.

This is bullshit. Not unexpected but crap from start to end.

While I cannot comment on the actions of Grant or the other men that night from before video was available, I can comment on the video before and during the time he was shot. The video that the earliest news reports denied existed. Video that was available to the world, and I featured in my posts of the event.

Here are the facts as I saw on the video. Grant was not resisting officers. Grant was on the ground, restrained and under control of an officer who was on his neck. None of the other men being detained moved. There were some 5 or 6 officers on the scene. Not one officer made a move for their guns or stun guns. None were reaching for or had out their mace/pepper spray. While the situation was loud, not one officer was moved against with aggression from the crowd on the scene. Officers did try to confiscate videos being taken of the event.

Most important is officer Mehserle. After he stands, he is alone from all other groups and officers. He takes out his gun, which is not near his stun gun, just because of this supposed occurrence. He aims for about 2 or 3 seconds, then fires.

So the actual visual record, from at least 3 video recordings of this event, all show the same thing. The officers did not have to fear for their lives. They may have been uncomfortable, but they were in no apparent danger. They were outnumbered, but they also were in force and not mobbed by a crowd. None felt the situation to be so precarious as to arm themselves.

Mehserle is the only officer to become armed. He took his time, and acted with purpose. He was seemingly in full control and was unencumbered nor rushed. He is not a rookie, and was supposedly well trained.

Grant was lying on the ground. His hands are behind his back, likely restrained. Which means this was cold-blooded murder.

The news media will likely not cover this story, just as it did not cover the initial event. There will probably be no mention of this on the national cable networks. The few stations that do cover this trial will likely take the stance that the police offered immediately after the shooting. That it was a tragic accident. The actual videos of what happened will likely not be mentioned. And the likes of Rev. Al Sharpton and Rev. Jesse Jackson will remain absolutely silent.

In fact, other than a quote from the family of Grant, the existence of a video was barely mentioned in the news report by the San Fransisco Chronicle

So the average American, who probably never heard of this murder, and don’t know that video evidence of the actual shooting exists, will think that an officer in fear of his life accidentally shot a kid that was resisting arrest. Which is a lie.

And I’ll even say more on that. It’s a lie because officer Mehserle would not have quit the police force rather than go thru an internal investigation of the shooting if it was an accident. Mehserle would not have left the state prior to charges being placed against him (well over a month after the fact). News organizations would not have omitted the existence of multiple videos of the event, nor would the police have denied all but one source of video (which conveniently had the worst view of the shooting). This is a set-up. It is the means by which a former cop is being protected from the truth of his actions.

Again I tell you that I have covered this story in detail. You can see all my posts at http://blogsearch.google.com/?bl_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blackentertainmentblog.com%2F&ui=blg&as_q=grant

True justice demands that Mehserle gets the death penalty. Justice would be his imprisonment for life, and the awarding of all his possessions and funds to the Grant family (in particular to Grant’s daughter that will never see him again). But this is America. Mehserle was a police officer who killed a young Black man. Odds are that Mehserle will walk away from this with barely community service.

And people wonder why African Americans are so angry at the police and the legal system. Just imagine the press coverage, and speed this would be happening at – not to mention the ultimate outcome – if this was a Black cop that killed a young White father while he was lying on the ground defenseless. If you can imagine that, you cannot compare it to this mockery. That’s why we are angry.

But I will continue to follow this, even as the major media avoids it like the televised plague.

Is William Wallace really deadlier than Tshaka Zulu?

For those that have the time, on Tuesdays there is a show on Spike TV that’s quite interesting. The show is called Deadliest Warrior. At its roots it is a rip-off of Mythbusters with a twist. But the twist is what makes the show interesting.

There have been several episodes already this season. Each episode breaks down to the following formula:

2 separate warrior tribes/armies are selected from very different eras (normally) and vastly different regions of the world.

Each fighter is given a breakdown of their historic battles, main arsenal of weapons, and tactics

Then the 2 fighters, with a small selection of key weapons, are compared to each other in the areas of long range, mid-range, short, and special weapons. Each category introduces the weapon, highlights its use, has a demonstration enacted on ballistics gel or a dead pig/cow – then the same for the opponent.

There is an E.R. doctor, and 2 techies that evaluate the damage done, and a winner of that scenario is determined.

Finally, based on all data selected, a program is run simulating an encounter with both fighters each using the tested weapons. The simulation is run 1000 times. The final outcome is then enacted by actors, with the tally of the effectiveness of each weapon shown to the audience.

It’s simple, a tad bit repetitive, and interesting. Shaolin Monk beat Maori, Samurai beat Viking, Pirate beats Knight, and so on.

This week’s episode may be the most debatable and hotly contested. For the first time the show took on individual warriors instead of random groups. They picked Tshaka Zulu vs. William Wallace.

(I like the song choice by the way. My video just has the audio from the show)

Now I understand the concept that steel beats wood. And I will give the fact that a claymore sword can inflict horrific damage. But I still don’t think Wallace wins.

Shaka Zulu is a lifetime trained warrior, with far more experience than Wallace. Shaka is faster, with lighter more flexible weapons. One miss with a claymore and Wallace is exposed for way too much time. That is the nature of his sword. The short spear of Shaka should leave Wallace dead in my opinion.

But before this gets racial (because someone out there will make it so) this is not about the race of the fighters. Not for the show, nor me. Just based on my knowledge of the weapons both men used, the number of battles they fought, and the likely conditioning of each, I put Chaka Zulu above Wallace.

But do you agree with me, or the Deadliest Warrior team? And why?

Movie Preview: Land of the Lost

I was thinking about the upcoming movie Land of the Lost earlier today. I had been flipping channels and saw that Sci-Fi had a marathon of the episodes on. I watched a few, reminding me of my youth some time ago.

Now the thing is that the children’s television show used to appear in the 70’s on Saturday mornings. It’s campy, unrealistic, and done in stop animation – which looks bad compared to the effects of say Jurassic Park. That doesn’t even cover the bad make-up jobs on the Sleestac creatures that abound the show. But it was entertaining, and even moreso today.

Then I saw trailers for the Will Ferrell movie remake. The first thought I had was instantly ‘revisioning’. Those that follow my movie reviews know that this almost always means a crappy movie. When you add in the fact that this is a television show to movie conversion, well the odds of it being a crappy movie go up exponentially. Perhaps the only way you could be more sure this will be horrendous was if 2 or more rappers were in the film.



The trailers really don’t have any of the campy charm of the original show. From what I’ve seen it looks like it will be a running gag of how wrong, and stupid, Will Ferrell’s character can be. Add in a couple of bits of CGI, and there you go. To say I’m underwhelmed at this point is an understatement.

But this film will draw an audience. Not a big one by my bet, but it might just break-even. Which is a shame as that means Will Ferrell will likely continue on the path of mediocre films he has been doing for years now. He was funny in Elf. But by the time I saw Ricky Bobby, the joke was old. Now it’s as ancient as the dinosaurs are supposed to be.

Let me share a known secret about movies, specifically movie trailers. The editors of any film have one huge job when it comes to the movie trailers, which is to make the film look good. Any halfway decent editor can make the worst film look like a $100 million dollar blockbuster. They tend to grab the best 2 minutes of a film and cobble it together, so viewers will rush in expecting a far better film than they get 9 out of 10 times.

Look at some of the worst films you have ever seen, and check out the trailers of that film. In almost every case you will see a great (relative to the final product) movie trailer.

When I watch the trailer for Land of the Lost, I am immediately drawn to the fact that the writers almost definitely never saw the show. Not as kids or adults. I can also see that a huge chunk of the below the line costs of the film were spent on CGI animation. But what I don’t get are really funny jokes. Or any hint of a plotline beyond the one joke that is obvious (as stated above).

The film makes me think of the revisioning of Dukes of Hazzard and Lost in Space. Or perhaps Starsky & Hutch. Films that no sober person ever saw before, or even maybe after, they hit cable. And they hit cable fast, as the DVD sales sucked as well. They were bad films, remakes of far better television shows, and completely revisioned.

Of course Land of the Lost, and other shows of this ilk, are not targeting my dollars. They know that I remember the show. They know that I would see the trailer and think it was crap. Nope, they are targeting an audience of 25 and under. Because it’s all new to you. And since it’s new, the younger audience is not expecting better.

Hollywood has become a land of low expectations, and lower performances. Movie studios won’t spend the money on an original script – especially when they can revamp someone else’s idea. They slop together a half-thought out idea, and bang there is a movie. They will keep doing this too, until audiences stop paying to see this warmed up refuse.

I’m sure Will Ferrell got paid well for this film. Good for him, honestly. He didn’t have to work hard and got his money up front. I don’t blame him. But I will say that based on the trailer, the running joke, and the plot if you see this movie you will be wasting money.

Beginner's luck pays well in Craps

In news that is quite lighter, a new record has been achieved this holiday weekend. In Atlantic City, Patricia Demauro, a true novice craps player having only played the game once before, beat the 20 year old record for the longest craps roll. She was rolling for 4 hours and 18 minutes. Beating the old record by 1 hour and 12 minutes.

For those of you that are unfamiliar with craps (my absolute favorite game to gamble on) what Deauro did is insanely improbable. With 2 die, the highest probability on every single role is a 7. There are 6 separate combinations to reach 7 – the most of any combined 2 die. Odds on rolling a 7 are somewhere around 40+ percent on each roll of the dice (Odds of going 7 out on a point is quoted at some sites as ~60%). Patricia Demauro rolled for 4 hours and 18 minutes – for a total of 154 times. I can’t even figure out the odds on that – but I think you would have better odds on winning the lotto.

The casino, Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, bought Demauro a bottle of champagne once she did finish the run. Which I am sure is not the least thing she was comped after such a run. They won’t mention how much she won, but I’ll take a stab at it.

Let’s say IF she only had a $10 bet on the pass line (which pays 1-1), took no odds, and only played the 6 or 8 (paying out 6 – 5). Let’s say that she worked with a strategy where she let her bet ride 3x, and then dropped the bet to 2x what she started with. On 154 roles, the 6 or 8 are the second highest chance to appear on any given roll, that means a hit at least some 38 times. So on an original bet of $6 I get a total of around … $57,000 or so. The chance of this kind of win is around .04% or so.

Even if I am off just a little bit, this is a huge and great win for just 4 hours and a second try at craps. And that’s only if she made a relatively simple bet, and played with the house’s money. And some people don’t believe in beginners luck.

Wishing Tyson's daughter well

I hope that everyone enjoyed the holiday.

But while there was some good news on Monday, there was some sad news as well. It seems that the daughter of Mike Tyson was rushed to a hospital after getting caught by a cable on a treadmill in the family home. She is only 4.

Such news is never good. So far she is in extreme critical condition and on life support. Tyson was away, but upon getting the news rushed to be at his daughter’s side.

These kinds of accidents are terrible to hear about. I can’t even imagine how Tyson and his family are feeling right now. I just wish his daughter a quick and full recovery.

Yahoo goes off the deep end with Jon & Kate Gosselin

Oh this is just not funny. In yet another example of why I hate the way the media exploits situations today I saw one of the worst cases.

On Yahoo, in the front page news headlines at 10:27 am, there is a video clip of Jon and Kate Gosselin. The headline reads

“Jon & KatePlus 8 parents have open marriage contract?”

Such a headline is a surprise. It implies, in conjunction with the recent allegations by tabloids, that both the parents are swingers. Such a subject is taboo among the mainstream of America, and rarely ever mentioned in the news without negative implications.

The video clip then shows you the Good Morning America show, and Robin Roberts introducing a video report of the status of the show. We see that the new season has started, that Jon and Kate appear but separately, and that the children are now 5 years old. In that video report the allegation that the Gosselin’s are contemplating splitting up is covered. And it is stated that Kate requested Jon to sign a contract that he could date as long as he appeared for the shows taping.

So immediately we get one thing clearly set before us. Yahoo is sensationalizing the situation. They are taking a step towards a tabloid in creating a headline that has virtually nothing to do with the actual information. At best, the entire 6 minute video clip – which includes an interview with a black family that has sextuplets and an older son, and has had limited exposure to the pressure of reality television – covers all of 7 seconds on what the Yahoo headline proposes.

Only in Hollywood does the alleged contract equate to an open marriage. Only in the worst of news media is such a connection become the driving force of the story.

In fact, Robin Roberts covers how the media, and reality television itself, are major factors in causing the family to have difficulty. That is it the existence of the cameras non-stop that is harming every person, notably the 5 year olds, for no reason than the fascination of the public.

I understand that the Gosselin’s need the financial help to raise the 8 children, and to have any income left over. I understand the extremes that they undertook to ensure that their kids would be guaranteed absolute needs. But there is so much more damage that the media is causing here.

A friend of mine stated about this Yahoo headline and the show

“What is wrong with them [Yahoo]. That doesn’t help anyone. It just gets more people into their business, running around and jumping to conclusions everytime they do anything. If either of them walk into a store and ask for directions, and walk out with someone to show them where to go – there go the cameras and gossip about being up to no good.

And you know, when was the last time that they [Gosselin’s] had time together? I have never seen a show where the company [producing the show] say ‘Hey, why don’t you too just go off for a dinner or on a little weekend trip on us so you can have time to be together and alone.’ I have never seen that. There is always a camera on them. It’s not healthy.”

And there you have it. The family of sextuplets stated directly to Robin Roberts how they needed to get away from the reality cameras to save their marriage – which is not completely fixed years after the fact. My friend sees it. I think you my readers see it. Robin Roberts sees it I think, and thus the nature of her on-air discussion.

But Yahoo wants to exploit the Gosselin’s. It wants to take a serious question and turn it into tabloid fodder. Did the headline garner my attention? Yes. But it is my job to comment on the media and celebrity news. Beyond that it only furthered my anger. Especially as Yahoo actively sought to warp the situation. And think, if Yahoo will go this far with its reputation how far will a tabloid go?

I say again that the news media needs to get their noses out of this family’s lives. There is no positive in what is being done. There is no need for the virtual yellow journalism here.

If Jon and Kate Gosselin do split, I blame the media as much as the show and the pressure of so many children. In fact I blame the media and reality television more. The Gosselin’s deserve better, but paparazzi and ratings whores just won’t let them get that. It truly is a shame.

Guitar Hero takes over television

I am sure all the gamers out there have heard this news already, but for anyone that missed this here we go. Reality television shows are here to stay, sadly, but over the past several years they have been dwindling in viewers. Shows like American Idol, Survivor and the ilk are all getting a bit old. So in a quest for television programming that requires the least effort, lowest cost, and about as much mental stimulation as sugar has nutrients a potential new craze is about to spring forward.

Guitar Hero.

Yep. The belief is that Activision will soon be announcing that the video gaming industry leading game will be hitting a television station real soon. And if that isn’t enough, expect to be able to buy tickets to watch a Guitar Hero concert in your local stadium/arena too.

Talk about the lowest common denominator. For people too lazy to actually purchase and/or play a Guitar Hero game, and too much of a couch potatoe to change a channel, the ability to watch a person play a game has now come. I can hear the Simon Cowell equivalent for this show berating someone for improperly mashing their fingers to a song that actually required talent and skill to perform in the first place.

I can’t wait until there are crowds of people screaming out ‘yellow, yellow, red, blue!’ Or better yet talk shows and pundits glibly chatting about the ‘skill’ and 'quality' of a Guitar Hero program. Probably will call the show ‘Are you a Hero?’

And I wonder what in the world the winner of this reality snore fest will receive? A trip to Disney? A box of band-aids? A spot in a television commercial for the umpteenth version of the Guitar Hero video game?

Seriously, the only thing I could imagine is that the aforementioned concert is their next option. But would you really want to pay top dollar to watch some kid mash a bunch of buttons to your favorite band? Think about it, you might pay some $40 dollars to watch someone, hopefully play correctly, a song you have on CD or a MP3 that you paid $5 for. And it isn’t even the originals you are watching.

Hell, you can go to a local bar and get more out of watching a cover band.

Do I hate reality television? Oh Yeah! Do I think that this idea is only good for the people least likely to reproduce? Our global genetic DNA pool would seriously be improved if that is the case. Do I think that if this show comes on, it’s only a matter of time before television hits the ultimate lowest common denominator of just flashing random colors on a screen? If they do, I bet the text votes will go to the color blue.

If this becomes a reality, I seriously fear for the human race. Honest.

Pitbull attacks son of Pittsburgh Steeler

It’s sad news on any day when you hear that a child has been injured. That doesn’t change where the child has a parent that is famous or not. Because we all want children, anyone’s child, to be safe at all times.

But there is something in this story that infuriates me. The source of the injury to Pittsburgh Steeler’s linebacker James Harrison’s child was a pitbull dog. And I’ve heard these kinds of stories way to often. The breed should never be around children. In fact, I believe the entire breed should be destroyed.

But before I go on, let’s get this into perspective. The pitbull is NOT part of dogfighting. The dog was not abused, or mistreated. There have been no reports of the dog causing trouble, or getting loose, or anything that would indicate it would harm anyone. This is not a Michael Vick kind of situation. This is all about the breed.

Pitbulls are a breed of dog bred for one thing, fighting. They are known for their aggressiveness, and the injuries they give to adults as well as other dogs and animals. They are prone to sudden vicious attacks, without cause. In my experience, every pitbull will at some point turn and attack without cause at some point in their lives. And the manner of raising the pitbull, and it’s parentage have little to do with that.

Case in point, back in the mid-90’s I was working at a stock brokerage firm in NYC near Wall Street. In the middle of one day a call came in that the daughter of one of the brokers I knew had just been taken to the hospital. The cause of her injuries was the one of the family’s pitbulls.

This pitbull had been raised with the child from birth. It was bred as a family dog, and the broker was a recognized breeder. All of his dogs were raised in a gentle surrounding, with good bloodlines. Up to that point there had never been an incident with the dog. The attack occurred in the kitchen, with the mother and a family friend present.

The little girl was just 6 years old. The dog was 5. For no apparent reason the dog turned on the girl as she entered the kitchen. It bit her face, requiring plastic surgery though she face would always retain marks from the attack. But at least she survived.

Just as James Harrison’s son will survive. He was bit in the leg. He will be in a hospital for at least another day, as the injury is considered severe but not life threatening. Just as with the experience my broker acquaintence learned about, Harrison’s dog attacked without provocation. 2 adults, one being the mother of James, were also injured while trying to rescue the boy.

Why do people continue to have these animals? Especially around children? I just don’t understand it.

They are beasts at the best of times. They are popular because drug dealers in the 80’s used them to protect crack houses from police raids. They serve no purpose, and are without any merit in my opinion.

How many children will need to suffer from attacks by these beasts before they are destroyed? How many people will be attacked? How many more headlines will it take before the status of owning such a vicious and unpredictable creature fades?

Owning a pitbull leaves you with one result. Given time it is bound to attack. I’ve found that to be true in every case of someone owning a pitbull. And sadly, children often are the victim of these attacks.

Canada, Australia, England, Norway, France, Singapore, Iceland and even Serbia get it. They all restrict or forbid the breed. Various cities and counties across the nation including Sioux City, Overland Park, Miami-Dade, Youngstown, and Sparta among many others get it. Even the state of Oklahoma has proposed the ban of these dogs.

I am sorry to hear of the injury to Steeler’s linbacker Harrison’s child. But I hope that if any positive can come out of this horrific attack, it is that it helps to end the existence of this breed so that no other child ever goes through this again.

So Adam Lambert has lost American Idol

Considering all the hype and anticipation, I’m left with the same feeling I have every year after American Idol ends. Relief and a hope that it won’t be back again.

Separate of all that though I will mention 2 things. I caught a glimpse of a woman in a bikini, and some other woman that seemed to be battling her – who then exposed a bikini. There was no sound, and I don’t watch the show so I have no idea what it was all about (I was inbetween matches at my pool league) but if that was a regular event on American Idol, I just might watch it regularly – minus the sound.

The other thing is what I have started to hear about the Lambert loss. It seems that some are saying the loss was because Lambert might be gay. Which I think is stupid.

First, as I stated earlier this month, the question of Lambert’s sexual preferences have nothing to do with his ability. For anyone to juxapose sexuality with singing is wrong. In addition to that I will add what I stated before

“Adam Lambert should not win American Idol if his sole or main qualification is the perception of his sexuality. If his current position is being bolstered or altered due to the hype and mystery of his private life, which some want to use to advance a political agenda, then he must lose. It's just that simple.”

So if the only reason some think that Lambert lost was because he is whatever he is, then that means he is not a good enough singer. Such distractions should not exist about a singer doing their job. If you can daydream about these other questions while listening to him, then he was not good enough to win.

Second, I truly believe that if it was known that Lambert was gay then he likely would have won. Because such is the nature of Hollywood and the entertainment industry these days. The Perez Hilton incident, and the reaction of the media, has made it clear that the media would rather support a bias than dare to be fair. Thus if Lamert was gay, he would have won. And that would have been just as wrong as if he lost because he was gay.

Now I realize that I have no idea how anyone on Idol sounds. So I am speaking objectively about music and not this situation. Given. But I did hear one other theory that might explain the loss of Lambert.

Because of the contracts that the winner gets, and the ability of the runner-up to get a substantial contract as well, it makes pure business sense to have the most popular guy take second. It creates hype for both singers. I creates an environment where the battle will continue at least into the first album of each, reaping tons of money for the record companies.

Because lest you forget, American Idol is about business in every aspect. The goal at every step is to find a way to make more money for record labels. That goal, and the process does not end with a winner being declared. It just goes into another phase, which really brings in the profit. Controversy therefore is beneficial.

So did Lambert lose because he is whatever his sexual preference might be? No. He lost either because he wasn’t good enough, or it makes some executive (Simon Cowell I believe) significantly more money. Some things in life are just simple.

Conclusion of my interview of independent film director Dennis Dorcth

This is part 5 of my in-depth interview with independent film director and writer Dennis Dortch, creator of the Sundance Film Festival Award winning film A Good Day To Be Black & Sexy (which is available on DVD).

The interview has covered the motivations for Dennis Dortch, the inspiration of the film, working in the film industry, the actors, writing, and other insights. If you want to see the other parts of the interview they are in order:

Sundance director Dennis Dortch interviewed by Michael Vass

Director Dennis Dortch interviewed by Michael Vass - pt 2

Part 3 of the Michael Vass interview with Sundance noted director Dennis Dortch

Part 4 of the Michael Vass interview with Sundance noted director Dennis Dortch

Conclusion of interview:

Michael Vass : No I can understand that. By the way how old are you now?

Dennis Dortch : I’m in my mid 30’s

Michael Vass : Oh that’s not that old at all. That is a good age. I’m not that much older but I’m older so that’s a good age. So it's something that, the achievement that you’ve gotten at this point. It's something that’s easily achievable you don’t have to wait till your 50 or 60 to get it done.

Dennis Dortch : You know what it is, I wish I’d done this earlier. Cause I had this idea and I had a short film idea Slam Dance in 99. I had an idea, the name, I had the short script version of Black and Sexy. But it took me literally a decade to really get it going from there and I think it really was just life literally.

I think the filmmakers who are young hot shots make films but they don’t know shit after that. It's kind of hard to follow up. I think it's life experiences that make good filmmakers. Even people like George Lucas; to be a good film maker a writer a visionary. I think the new 20’s are the 30’s and the new 30’s are the 40’s.

I didn’t really find myself until I hit 30. I didn’t find out what I wanted to do but I knew I wanted to be creative. But I didn’t know how I was going to do it or how I was going to express it. I went to film school by accident. I didn’t know any thing about festivals. I just wanted to be creative and someone told me to do my short film at Sundance so I did Slam Dance.

I got into it with Slam Dance and I was like oh cool, but I didn’t know how to do that stuff. It was not in my world. I didn’t grow up with a video camera in my hands or a mommy and a daddy who were pushing me to do something with the camera. I sort of stumbled into it and found that I took to it. So I think it took … you know I got married and I have kids so its a lot of distractions. So it took me a while and in the time that it took me is the time that I needed if that makes any sense to you.

Michael Vass : Yes it get the fullness of what you needed to be to make what you needed to have. To make your vision become real.

Dennis Dortch : Exactly instead of half assed doing it.

Michael Vass : Yeah, I understand that completely. That’s a good thing to mention; a lot of people aren’t thinking about that sometimes. That little bit of extra time to get the experience to get the full vision is more important than just getting it out now.

Dennis Dortch : Exactly, instead of being that hot shot director and all that.

Michael Vass : No, I understand that … We’ve covered a lot and I’m sure that if we had all the time in the world I could probably give you another dozen different things I would want to ask you, but I love the work you’ve done. I’m very interested in the work your doing and I’m going to ask for just a little peek into what is that next project.

I know you mentioned its bigger, it’s a little different than what we’ve seen so far, that’s always a good thing. It’s a mix of art and contemporary or commercial I should say. I’m just wondering, 'gee is there a little teaser I can give to all my readers out there?'

Dennis Dortch : Ah no…no … I have to keep this secret. Its just a little superstition I have that if I talk to much about it I’m going to lose it. You know in order to tell the story you have to really want to tell somebody and I take that desire to want to tell somebody and I fit it into the writing. So I can’t really talk about it; but what I can do is tell you about another project that I’m doing. A web episodic online it’s a spin off of Black and Sexy.

Michael Vass : I understand, absolutely, so what is that?

Dennis Dortch : It’s called Black and Sexy Besides. What I’m doing is taking the movie and myself and some of my friends writer/directors are re-imagining what happened after the movie or some things about the movie like for example what happened after Her Man.

So there is an episode online now that you can take a look at if you wish. That is our first episode, our first attempt to see about extending the world of Black and Sexy. We currently shot this weekend and we will be shooting more in a couple of weeks to see what we are going to do with it. But its for the spin off of the movie.

Michael Vass : Definitely there is something that will tied over all my readers till we get a chance to see the next thing. That’s always a good thing and I thank you for giving me that.

End of the interview

PSA: Fake Part Time Job offer circulating net

Beware the latest trend in fake emails meant to steal your money. As always criminals are taking advantage of economic events and trying to use them to get your money. The latest of these is an email supposedly from Global Shipping Agency Ltd.

The email goes along like the following, with my notations added:

Dear Sir/Madam,


My name is Melisa Cunningham [This is a fake person], I am a Personnel Department manager in Global Shipping Agency Ltd [Fake use of corporate name] and I would like to offer you a job of Customer Service Financial Assistant in our company [Fake Job].

First of all, I would like to make a brief review on our company. Global Shipping Agency Ltd.– is a world famous full service transportation company with the head office based in Hong-Kong. Our company is a leader and one of the most famous freight services providers. We work both with companies and private individuals. We specialize both in transportations by air, sea and road as well as in household removal services. GSA Ltd. has more than 10 affiliated branches around Europe and Asia and constantly develops. For more information, please visit our web-site http://hurec.eu [Fake site].

Today we would like to offer you a position of our Customer Service Financial Assistant with a prospect of a career growtsh [Note the poor spelling and bad grammar in this document - a corporation will not send an email like this. Plus a corporation would never give a job randomly to anyone].

In January, 2009 our Marketing Department started a research in the USA to determine the states with the highest customer activity [Actually the criminals behind this are seeking out areas that respond the most to random unsolicited emails]. By the time research finishes, there will be 5 states chosen, with the highest level of clients’ activity. We will be happy to offer you a position of a full-time manager at one of our newly opened US offices, once you perform well at a part-time position.

As for now, let me tell more about a part-time position of a Customer Service Financial Assistant.
At this position, you would be responsible to deal with the payments form our American customers; these can be companies or private individuals. You will be a middleman between our customers based in the US and the regional branches of the company based in Europe and Asia. Your mission will be to fasten the process of payment delivery, so that to help us get the payments in regional branches efficiently, deal with each of the customer orders in shortest possible dates, attract extra customers and improve company’s total profit [This is illegal. It is money laundering, a violation of 9/11 finance laws, and international law].

Moreover, it is important to notice, that we work on special program under patronage of U.S. Government for reducing cheap-contracts taxes [The U.S. Government is not involved with this at all. Note that no specific Agency of the Government is stated]. The reason we join that program is the European Union economic restrictions that affect us. If the payment is forwarded directly to one of our European accounts, our customers would have to pay another 25%-27% as a fee to the European government [There is no single European Government], which would make their expenses much higher. This 27%-Law was made by European Bank Association to protect the interests of European banks, but it affects us as well.

This is a step-by-step description of your responsibilities on a position during the approbation period:

You will have to deal with the customer payments, arranged by the Company Head Office for you. Our Head office will arrange every new coming payment with you in advance over the phone (so that to make sure you are available) and then send you an e-mail with all the details that you might need, a step-by-step instruction, exact amount transferred, the name of the customer who made the payment and the details of the regional branch the money is supposed to be sent to [This is an attempt to launder money, and gain your banking information].
We try to arrange all the customer payments to be made like wire transfers – we consider this way of sending money to be the safest and the fastest one – transaction is checked by a Federal Wire System and is normally released for the beneficiary in 1 hour after the money has been sent.
So, after the customer makes a payment to your bank account, we will send you an e-mail with all the details of the payment. Once the payment is shown at your available balance, you are supposed to deduct your 10% commission first. Out of the 90% left you are supposed to deduct the related charges for the Western Union fee. The amount left after all the deductions are made is supposed to be transferred by Western Union to one of our regional branches (depending from and to what destination the transportation is required) [No corporation of worth handles its banking with random people, or outside of a bank. Western Union is not a banking service. This is an attempt to circumvent detection by the Government].

We use Western Union service to fasten the process of payment delivery – this I an instant money transfer service, and the money you sent is available for the receiver immediately.

As this is a part-time job position – you will get 2 payments a week to deal with during the approbation period and then up to 3-4 payments a week once we sign up a working agreement with you. Once you get some experience, you will probably need less than 1,5 hours to finish the whole task [By the end of the "approbation" you will likely have frozen accounts and/or the criminals will have stolen your money].

We offer that for the approbation period for the incoming customer payments you either use the existing bank account of yours [Never give this information to anyone! If you would not give the information to a stranger on the street why would you give it to a strange company?] or open a separate bank account for the company needs (the amount of each payment on the trial period will not exceed 10000 usd). Once we sign up a long-term working agreement with you [Will never happen], we will assist you in opening a business account for the company payments as we will expect more payments of larger amounts to be arranged for you to deal with. The business account takes some time and effort to be opened, and so that not to lose time (as we are just going to test each other) we advice to start with some private account first [Again, never give your private information to anyone!].

The approbation period lasts for 2 weeks, which allows both of us make sure we are comfortable to deal with each other [Just long enough to get your information, steal your identity and money, and disappear before the Government gets involved]. We will sign up a pre-contract agreement with you, which will be valid through the approbation period only. Once the approbation period has gone through successfully, we will be happy to sign up a long-term working agreement for part-time employment on a regular basis with you. Some of our lawyers come to the US every 1-2 months, so once a lawyer comes to the USA, we will arrange a meeting for you, for all the papers to be signed up.


This position offers excellent benefits and basic salary of $2000 a month, along with long term career progression opportunity. Apart from a basic salary, we also offer you a 10% commission out of each project you are dealing with, so that to encourage you to deal with more payments and keep your interest in finishing any new coming task in shortest possible dates. [Sounds nice, but all lies sound good. But this is illegal and false from start to finish]

Once you get more experienced and are able to come with your duties easily, you will be offered to take more responsibility on a position. Experienced managers normally do all the arrangements regarding new coming customer orders themselves – communicating with the customers and regional branches, making lists of transportations, authorizing each new customer order with the company Head Office, dealing with the payments and sending them to the final destination. These responsibilities involve more time to be spent, but as well higher earnings. For all the business calls to go through successfully, you will be equipped with an iPhone. As well we will cover your international call expenses.


If you have any questions, please, do not hesitate to e-mail us.
We are looking forward to hearing from you ASAP.

The Company this proposes to be is a fake. The website is a fake. The actions it is asking people to be involved with are illegal, and meant to steal your money.

The goal of this is to get you to use your bank account to launder money. In addition the hope of these criminals is to get your bank information and take any funds you have as well. Either way they gain cash, and you receive extreme trouble.

This is the 3rd iteration of this specific scam. The first 2 versions have been identified at http://www.bobbear.co.uk/global-shipping-agency-ltd.html and http://www.bobbear.co.uk/global-shipping-agency.html.

In each case the same website and virtually the same email has been used. Who knows where the next version will appear at.

Facts

No company of worth will randomly select you, via email, for a position.

No company of worth will ask you to evade international laws and taxes

No company will provide you money to move money, something they should easily be able to do themselves.

By definition, this "job" violates several laws enacted in the U.S. after 9/11 to prevent funding of terrorists, and will result in frozen accounts with a chance of being arrested under those laws.

This is not a real corporate website, nor company. The contact information is false. The Website currently in use is the worst cut and paste job I have seen in years.

As presented in the links above, this is an on-going attempt to capitalize on the fears some have of a bad economy. Do not respond to this email, nor ever give anyone presenting similar "jobs" your private information.

I am glad to know that www.bobbear.co.uk and other sites are identifying spam and phishing emails and sites as I am. People that commit these kinds of acts are scum of the earth. Be aware and don't be fooled.

Shakespeare Intensive Workshop on June 9th with Rosemary Tichler and Barry Hortwitz

An old friend just mentioned something to me that I will pass on to all the current and future actors that read my blog.

On June 9 & 10 there will be a Shakespeare Intensive Workshop by the producer of Shakespeare in the park and The Public Theatre, Rosemary Tichler and Barry Hortwitz.

Obviously it is difficult at best to become an actor. Adding to the difficulty level is the competition and the ability to stand out in a crowd. Perhaps there is nothing that quite makes a statement more than the use of Shakespeare in an audition, or to sharpen the acting abilities.

One of the most sought after roles emphasizing Shakespeare is the New York Shakespeare Festival in Central Park. Many well known actors got their start from stand-out roles there. And there is now an opportunity to connect with a 10 year Artistic Producer of this program, and noted director and producer Barry Horwitz.

Rosemarie Tichler has worked on productions including: Simpatico by Sam Shepard, Venus by Suzan-Lori Parks, George Wolfe's production of The Tempest at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park, and Mike Nichols' production of Chekhov's The Seagull with Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, Christopher Walken et al.

She has cast over 150 plays which include: Orchard, Richard Foreman's Threepenny Opera, For Colored Girls... by Ntozake Shange, Wilford Leach's Pirates Of Penzance, and more.

Ms. Tichler founded The Shakespeare Lab, now in its 14th year: an intensive program for actors in Shakespeare performance. Ms. Tichler has been teaching at New York University's Graduate Acting Program and The Juilliard School for 20 years.

Barry Horwitz, Professor of English and Drama, Saint Mary’s College of California, has taught Shakespeare, modern theatre, and contemporary literature for over thirty years at Univ. of California, Berkeley; Univ. of Paris (Sorbonne); and Univ. of Montpellier (France). He teaches “Shakespeare Today!” a course that opens Shakespeare’s texts to modern interpretations, and, this summer, is delivering a paper on “Politics & Modern Theater” at the “Conspiracy and Consent” conference in France. He has published papers on Langston Hughes and the Harlem Renaissance and on teaching classical drama for our time.

To find out more about this opportunity you can contact infonyc@bilingualacting.com
and/or go to www.Bilingualacting.com

Porn stars upset over lack of exposure

Some things you just cant make up. In France, at the Cannes, there was a small group of porn actresses that were getting a bit of coverage. The reason they were there was to try to gain attention for the revival of the Hot d’Or Film Festival.

The Hot d’Or Film Festival ran from 1992 until 2001, and occurred at the same time as Cannes Film Festival. Like the U.S. Adult Video News Awards (AVN Awards), the Hot d’Or was a showcase of new porn movies. Awards were given out for Best Director, Best American and European Film, Best Actor/Actress, plus a few industry specific honors like Best Box Cover and New Starlett (American/European).

Now I have no problem with an industry awarding the best of it’s own. I just find it interesting on 2 points. The first is the fact that any event or activity related to porn has ever ended amazes me. The porn industry makes more money than all of Hollywood and Eurpoe combined, from just the U.S. alone. Which always amazes me since no one ever buys porn, of course. So to see any of their events end or fail seems to be shocking considering their success.

The second thought is the fact that porn needs more exposure to succeed. It just seems odd considering that I can’t think of another industry that receives as much exposure for it’s exposure. And in non-prudish France of all places. I mean if this were Britian I could understand the plea. But France?

There is no real point to the post. Just an observation. It caught my attention. I’m sure that no one has ever seen a porn movie anyway, let alone to be at an awards ceremony. Though I think it would be interesting to interview people in the industry or to cover an awards show. Maybe if you my readers express interest I will look into it.

The Bruce Lee Nokia video

I have no doubt that many more people than I think have seen this video before, but for those of you who have not just like me it will be a treat.

I was watching a special called How Bruce Lee Changed The World. It was a really cool program about the impact that Bruce Lee was able to have with only 4 films made before his highly untimely death in the 70's. His reach continues even to this day, in martial arts movies, sports, video games, music and more.

One of the things touched upon is how Lee is so well known that his image is still a symbol for innumerable products across the globe. One such take on Lee, and his abilities (he was so fast that he was slowed down in his films so people could believe the action they were watching) comes in the form of playing ping pong with nunchuku.



What that has to do with a cell phone I do not know. But I just think its a very cool homage to Bruce Lee. And I have no doubt that he could have done this with ease.

Movie Preview: Facing Ali

Here is a movie that I am definitely going to see. It is the movie about the Great One. The greatest that there has been. A movie about a man beloved by the world and whose influence helped shape America.

No this is not about President Obama. Not even close. I’m speaking about Muhammad Ali.



This is an intresting and unique insight into the life and career of the greatest sports entertainer of the last century (or number 2 depending on which list of athletes you look at). It is a homage, a tribute, a reflection at how the men that faced the living legend of Muhammad Ali went into and then lived after their battles.

To this day Muhammad Ali is beloved around the world. His name still is known to even children in the far reaches of the globe. Even in Muslim-phobic America, he is cherished. Considering all that, how can you not watch this documentary?

Is this a film for boxing fans? Of course. Is it a film for African Americans? Not specifically but yes. Is this a film that anyone not in the prior 2 groups can see? I would certainly hope you do.

Because Muhammad Ali is more than just a boxer, or just African American. He is not defined by his religion, profession, or skin tone. Most I think understand that, over the age of 35. But for those that never saw a fight of Muhammad Ali, who never saw the television cartoons, or the live interviews this is a must see. Because I believe this will give insight to what a professional athlete can be, and few rise up to become. This movie I believe will touch upon how this man overcame adversity, and nay-sayers, to become known as The Greatest.

There is just nothing more to say. The movie trailer says it all I think.

ABC fall television lineup is no breath of fresh air

Yes it’s that time of year again. The fall broadcast television lineups are being announced now. And as usual there is a dearth of anything really woryth watching if you have a mental capacity above that of a kindergarten kid.

NBC so far seems to be satisfied with its current lineup. There seems to be little if any change. Bully for them.

But ABC is going all out. They are frantic with hopes of drawing viewers away from cable, which offers a far superior quality and range of shows worth watching. Here are a couple of “new” ideas from ABC.

Shark Tank – not what you think. Yes it’s a reality show. But instead of people having to survive being in a tank with sharks (hopefully with bleeding cuts if they are so stupid) this is a remake of a popular British television show Dragon’s Den. And that was a remake of an old Japanese television show to boot.

Still the program might be interesting and inspire some to start their own business. I wouldn’t be surprised if it is funded by the Obama Stimulus Paclkage. Even odds it will make one season.

Castle – the revisioned remake of Murder She Wrote will continue for another season. Odds are that this is the final season.

The Forgotten – in a twist on the current anti-war, anti-military theme of late this show will emphasize the paranoia and mistrust of the Government. Viet Nam vets are released from North Viet Nam after 17 years. They are then interrogated, and likely pursued, by the Government outside of the U.S. Expect a run at Republicans in this show. Odds are it won’t make the season.

Oh another bright spot is Cougar Town. Single mom trolls for young men while raising teenaged son. That’s a family show. Plus it has Courtney Cox, so all the single guys alone on a Wednesday will have something to do.

Then there is Flash Forward. Well this is like Lost, with a better timeline. Or maybe Quantum Leap with far more people. Though you have to take a leap to get the origin point of the story.

The World blacks out, and sees their future. Everyone. When everyone wakes up (minus the people that died in plane crashes, on operating tables, and so on) they now have to decide if they will continue on that path. Which is stupid. Because the second anyone does change what they saw, it’s ripple effect changes things for everyone.

But since Lost and Quantum Leap have done so well, this will likely go 2 seasons.

I could go on but you get the gist. Watch some DVD’s of old quality television, or find something on cable.

Roots - the lost mini-series

On a separate note, derived from my thoughts about the Dr. Martin Luther King biopic, I wondered about something else.

When was the last time you saw Roots?

I imagine that most people in America under the age of 35 have never seen it. I bet they don’t even now what this amazing television mini-series was. They have never heard of it, nor seen it.

To my knowledge it’s been on television once, in the 1970’s. It hasn’t been on BET to my knowledge. Ever. It hasn’t been replayed on broadcast television though it was one of the most watched programs ever, each night it was on (it was several parts long). It doesn’t even get mentioned in February.

Talk about a failure to move forward. No one complains that it does not appear on television anymore. I have yet to hear of others balk at the difficulty to find the series on DVD or VHS. I have noted how even a station proposing to be Black Entertainment can ignore such a groundbreaking program through it’s entire existence.

Again I am led to a thought I have spoken about before. The entertainment media does not want to move forward. They want to talk about it, but not act. They want to promote gangsta rap, but not political rap. They want to fill airwaves with depictions of African Americans as hustlers, pimps, drug dealers, and hoes but not leaders. Unless you consider bouncing a near naked ass next to a crome and gold covered man holding malt liquor and an illegal drug while speaking to a beat as success and leadership.

Roots, like the true message of Dr. King, speaks against the commercialization of being Black in America. Black culture is more than trendy clothes, silly adornments, and a minstrel show. These are not the things people died for during the Civil Rights Movement. This is not the life that the freed slaves prayed for.

Roots should be back on television. Because I think we all need a jolt to remind us of just those very facts.

41 years and counting for Dr. Martin Luther King

It’s been 41 years so far since the death of Dr. Martin Luther King. In that time, my lifetime as I was born 2 days after his death, many things have changed but some have not. One of the more surprising things is the fact that this celebrated Civil Rights champion has never made it to the silver screen.

Well let me correct that. There was a documentary about Dr. King, shown once on March 24th 1970. That’s it. Every other time he has been shown has been on television. And that is usually just documentaries about his actions and/or death, shown almost exclusively during February (Black History Month).

But it seems that Dreamworks has decided to change that chasm of history. Finally Dr. King will have a film, noting more than just his marches and tragic death. Giving everyone in the nation a bit more than just his speeches. But how much do you want to bet it opens in Febrary?

The thing I hope for in this film, that has no date for production to begin or when it might appear in theaters (bet on it being in either 2010 or more likely 2012), is that it does for Dr. King what Malcolm X did for Malik El Shabazz. That is give the public more than a few quotes, or a static visage of the man.

In allowing us to see Dr. King as the man he was we will get to understand and appreciate what he did and what he sacrificed. Because right now, Dr. King is just “I have a Dream” and not the passion and desperation that fueled that dream. People forget that Dr. King was not some political tool, but a force with goals and issues that were societal in the foremost.

Dr. King these days is seen as a holiday. The aspirations he hoped for African Americans have mostly failed to happen. America is little better off today than in 1960 in many ways. We are improving, but so slowly as to seem as if all forward motion has stopped.

I say this because I don’t know how many people believed that President Obama was the incarnation of Dr, King’s dream. Which is a falicy, promoted by the commercialization of his efforts. Dr. King did not want one man to succeed, he wanted everyone to improve their lives.

Yes, President Obama did a grand thing. But how could Dr. Martin Luther King be happy about that when over 50% of teenage pregnancies are Blacks. How can he be rejoicing the election while over 50% of African Americans are dropping outr of school. Why would he cheer when television still shuns people of color in front of and behind the camera, or when African Americans are highlighted we are stereotyped and objectified?

Dr. King’s dream’s, efforts, and life were dedicated to preventing these very things. While I think he would be impressed with the success of President Obama (which is not the same as approval of his political policies) he would not hold that above the failures that are rampant in the Black community. The success of one is not the success of us all in some cases.

So I hope that seeing Dr. King as the man he was, standing for the things he believed in, advocating changes we still need to see implemented can help to really improve America. Because it’s not happening now. It likely won’t happen even if President Obama is re-elected on the political endeavours he currently proposes. Because that is not what the dream is about.

Hip Hop and Washington DC – going back to the beginning

Rap and Hip Hop today has taken a huge leap backwards, which is actually a great thing to happen. When I say backwards I mean to the beginning of the entire genre of music. Back before there was the current mainstream of gangsta rap there were the diversified and influential styles of rap music.

From Grand Master Flash introducing the first serious rap song in 1982, The Message, there was a growth in the music that spoke to serious issues. This culminated in perhaps the strongest voice for political involvement and criticism from the rap hip-hop industry ever: Public Enemy.

They might not have been the most loved rap group among White America, or even people of color, but they were vocal. They took the entrenched political status quo and shouted for them to be accountable. They looked at African Americans and demanded we do better. That we become involved rather than be directed. And they had an effect.

In fact Public Enemy, along with serveral other rappers and groups, became such a force for change that the music industry stood up and paid attention. Their reaction has been denied for decades, excused and deflected. They found, pushed, and manipulated gangsta rap.

In the over a decade since 1992, gangsta rap has become the standard rather than a sub-genre it started as. It has almost entirely avoided any serious involvement in politics or political action. It has promoted violence, drug use, abuse of women, and crime. It has distracted the masses with illusions of wealth and giggling of female anatomy. The music executives did their job so well that even when leaders in the rap and hip hop industry tried to get serious about politics (2004) no one listened. And they were undercut from within with actions like that of Kanye West during the Hurricane Katrina Fund Raising efforts.

But then came President Obama. And the rap and hip hop industry rallied. Because President Obama is relatively young, a Democrat, full of promises, and most importantly (if we are honest) he is Black. And they jumped in with both feet, in an election more defined by a national breaking of the ultimate glass ceiling than most anything else.

Now I do not fault rappers or hip hop for this. I in fact am happy to see they have finally gone back to their roots and suddenly realized the power that was thrown away (or bought off) 17 years ago. The latest attempt to regain the past impact on politics is the Hip Hop Caucus.

The Hip Hop Caucus is a lobby group made up of rap artists, guided by the Congressional Black Caucus and supported in some issues by members of Congress. As of this moment they are seeking to have a bill introduced, with the support of Sen. Barbara Boxer and Rep. Ed Markey. Their goals – green reform, education, re-entry legislation for prisoners, lessons on the Constitution in schools and funding for voter registration.

These are all good ideas (to varying degrees). The big question though is if Hip Hop is capable of making the transition back to where it started. Especially as the music genre continues on its path of glorification of violence, drugs, and abuse of women. Can it make money for music executives focused squarely on distraction of the masses, while encouraging the youth to become involved in the politics that shapes their lives?

I think not. To me only one master can be served at a time. Which means either Rap cleans up, potentially causing another backlash from the music industry, or the Hip Hop Caucus and other such groups fail.

“The decisions that we make now politically will affect the next generation and the generation after that. So we have to be involved. By speaking out, I end up speaking for poor people and a larger group all over the country.” – David Banner, rapper

The quote is a true statement. But as long as we affect the next generations with thoughts and images of exclusion from the mainstream of America, of living in a manner that is counterproductive to society in this nation, then all of the speaking out will be little more than static in the air.

Woo-ing audiences with Red Cliff

Many fans of Asian cinema may be familiar with the name John Woo. To a lesser extent the mainstream probably is more familiar with his films: Face/Off, Hard Target, Broken Arrow, Mission Impossible 2, and Paycheck. As can be seen by his run of American movies, he is a bit hit am miss.

But that is not really Woo’s fault. He is a Hong Kong director. Which means that he is used to low-budgets, complete control, large amounts of violence and action in the movie, and the time to make it his way (generally). Hard Target failed after the studio stepped in and re-edited his version. Broken Arrow suffered studio intervention as well. And Paycheck – well what can you do with Ben Affleck?

Given the problems he has faced it is no surprise that it’s been 6 years since Woo has had a film hit America. Not that he hasn’t made films. They are just huge hits in Asia. Where he can work his magic, like in The Killers.

The fiulm that’s coming to America? Red Cliffs.



The english sub-title trailer does not do justice to the ability of John Woo to tell a complex story, with thought and action combined.

I see this film as being much like Jet Li’s Hero. A great film that few in America have had the chance to see. A film that has been a mega-hit blockbuster in all of Asia. A film that is worth seeing, yes even with sub-titles.

Perhaps Quentin Tarrantino said it best

“I suppose Woo can direct action scenes. Sure, and I suppose Michelangelo can paint ceilings!”

It’s unknown how many theaters Red Cliffs will be released to in America. So far there will only one part of this 2 part film hitting our shores. But, I have no doubt that this will be a far better film than the tawdry revisioned remake of Land of the Lost (the trailers already make me wish I was seeing the television series instead), or yet another sequel/prequel of a film (though ther Terminator Salvation might just prove to be worth the money and time).

My thought is, take a chance. You may just wind up enjoying yourself – even if you don’t understand a word that is said.

**Oh, and keep an eye out for a few very differnt films from Woo in the near future. They might include: Mighty Mouse (yes even he is into cartoon conversion movies - hopefully better than Underdog), a remake of Papillon (which would be very interesting to see from his point of view), and Rainbow Six (Yes, another video game made into a movie - though this one has the action that fits perfect with Woo).

Part 4 of the Michael Vass interview with Sundance noted director Dennis Dortch

Continued from Part 3 of the Michael Vass interview with Sundance noted director Dennis Dortch

Michael Vass : Well its all yours that’s true. Do you think that in your next film since this is more of an art house film are you going to look to the future to main stream traditional Hollywood or are you going to stay in more of the art house film direction?

Dennis Dortch : My next film that I am setting up right now and writing is going to be a mix of art house and commercial. I don’t think I’m ever going to go straight commercial it would just bore me. So I’d like to make money I’d like to make a living but I think at the same time when you try to do something that’s not you and try doing commercial your going to fail like you're not don’t doing the best you can do any way. My next film is definitely going to be a bigger film and a little more traditional in having more of a plot line maybe in the story, but I think the approach is going to be exactly the same.

I mean its going to say kind of that art house feel. I mean Steven Soderburg has probably the career I’d most likely follow that makes sense. Where he can go back and forth between Shay which is an art film, an epic art film. You know Erin Brochovich and then go do another small independent film and then do something else. All these films and retain their sensibility. Remain art house to a degree, you know what I mean. So I think that’s probably what I would like my career to follow. So I can have my hands in both worlds where I don’t feel boxed in on anything. I have that white script coming too, that’s going to break the mold a little bit.

Michael Vass : I imagine that was something that was going to come down the line at some point.

Dennis Dortch : It didn’t interest me at first until my lawyer brought the idea to me and I just really went with it. And I think probably coming out with Black & Sexy and the next film will be a surprise for me but I will definitely do it my way. But my heart really is in making black films always.

You know these kettle black films, how people say 'oh you only want to make black films'. No, I want to make good black films. I like black people but we’re not doing enough of our own films so there’s plenty of material and there’s plenty of opportunities. I think if you make good black films you’ll definitely be working, its just if you make a bad black film then your not.

Michael Vass : Well here’s something you touched on something that’s very important. Because you’ve gotten the recognition out of Sundance which is well deserved, is that influencing the… has that helped you in getting your next film? Are you looking forward to getting other work? Is that working for you? Or…

Dennis Dortch : Oh yes certainly. Its opened a lot of doors and has got people looking at me. I mean if I had the same film at another smaller festival or black festival per say , I would still have not gotten the attention I’ve got now. Its just something about Sundance and major film festivals that really opens the doors for you with the same damn film.

Michael Vass : Are we possibly going to see some of the bigger black actors and actresses or are you still looking to work with people who are lesser known and build them up? I mean if you can have Denzel in a movie would you go with him or a lesser known actor?

Dennis Dortch : Not at this point in my career, I mean if it happens I’m not going to sneeze at it and go ahh no. It hasn’t even crossed my mind because of the way I approach the film is very realistic. I like the characters to meld, the actors to meld to the characters. You don’t know who they are you just let form.

Denzel is such a good actor you just recognize him so much that my first instinct is not to use him. But you know there is a certain point in my career where you know the box office potential will be a factor. Then I’m going to have to consider the casting. And quite honestly this next film I’m thinking about is probably going to be set up somewhat bigger than my house as far as a studio. And that will probably come up but for now I will keep it out of my mind because I want the characters to be more themselves.

Michael Vass : You don’t want them typedcast, like Morgan Freeman. You look at him and you have this image of gravitas immediately. So your trying to stay a little bit away from that?

Dennis Dortch : Exactly I don’t want to write for an actor per say, I want the actor to act for the roll.

Michael Vass : That makes perfect sense and if Denzel reads this he should keep an eye out for the future. Because I think you both could do some great work together.

Coming towards the end of this I just want to ask you a question which is some what more detracting from what you’ve actually done. But something that I always find interesting to ask.

I find it very important you mentioned presenting a very positive image of African Americans. There’s a lot of things that are being said and to see that more of us are making positive statements is always important to me. But there are also a lot of things that we have not said. Are there issues or humanitarian aid that you’d like to emphasize or are looking to emphasize at some point.

Myself I do a lot of promotion of the work towards Darfur and the Child Soldier Prevention Act which you may or may not be familiar with. And a few other issues; is there anything like that, that your looking at that you either privately or publicly maybe emphasizing in the future?

Dennis Dortch : You know I’ve thought about a documentary form and make something a bit more narrative. This is more of a broad issue its not really a particular specific issue. Black on black crime, that’s something that I care about, because I do work in the child delinquent system and I just don’t like seeing kids sort of glorify gangs or violence or treating people in a certain way. It seems more difficult but seeing real kids believing this stuff and having a warped perception of what a real black man is and what a man is, that really bothers me a lot.

Its really our down fault overall and as people in this particular country we just are not organized and moving forward. Even having our own distribution system for our own stuff is really rooted in distraction by mosaic bull shit.

I know we’re kind of sort of sick and insane from the slave trade and a lot of issues that we have and some other races in this country do have. But I just think it handicaps us more than any one else. I think literally we are the first people on this earth , we’ve got the greatest minds and the greatest athletes and the greatest talent. Everyone wants to be like us, but we have this real sickening disease of being degenerate to ourselves. Those of us who were raised around it either got out of it or aren’t in it is great.

But kids growing up in it may not know what it means to be a man. You know a man is someone who takes care of his people, his family. That’s probably an issue I’d like to hit on probably in a narrative feature, in a documentary at some point. But those are some of the things I care about for me.

All the other issues I do care about, but it goes along with the honesty thing like the politics you can only be so honest. But it’s… a lot of it falls under the umbrella…but if your talking about art the biggest thing is going to be black on black crime. Us killing each other that is a small percentage but in the percentage that we are doing it and not seeing that as our brother or our sister, really its just kind of doing someone else’s work. It seems crazy to me, you know.

Michael Vass : No I understand that completely. I follow a lot in the writing that I do so I can understand the direction that your coming from. I agree that’s one of the big issues out there and I’ve addressed it a lot and I’ve been yelled at about it a lot. But its good to have that out there and speak about it so I understand completely.

Along that same line is something else which is more akin to what your doing. For those who are looking to get into the industry either as an actor, writer or director, and knowing that Hollywood is so two-faced in a sense where they maybe promoting a whole bunch of movies that maybe very liberal but at the same time there is almost ...what? Five percent of people of color in front of or behind the cameras when you look at the entire industry as a whole. For those who are looking to come up into this industry to become actors to become writers to become directors or a camera man or a sound man ...what ever it maybe. What in your experience would you say would be a way for them to do that? Are the opportunities getting bigger what do you think about that? Is there something you can say to them?

Dennis Dortch : Well you know I’m still outside the Hollywood system, I don’t even have an agent you know what I mean. I’m not really in the system, I’ve never worked in the system. So I don’t know much about the system and I don’t really think you have to be.

Michael Vass : So there’s another path ?

Dennis Dortch : There is another path, and its an interesting time for entertainment in general, it’s the era of DIY, the do it yourself film making. I mean literally we all have a cameras to HDV’s and they're affordable. All the equipment you need to do it yourself and the internet is suddenly exploding. I mean NBC, ABC everybody is getting online. Its almost the same playing field but it’s a little bit slanted towards the industry. But there is still a way to get in and do your thing if you have something different. Do it. You don’t have to try and get into the system if you have the talent.

People that get into the system know that they can do it and they have the talent and the gift of gab and they really know how to play the game. But for those of us who don’t, like me, if you have a vision then Hollywood will come to you. You know what I mean because they are always looking for the next new voice, the next new commercial thing. So all you have to do is do your thing.

I could have waited for an investor but I just took the money out of my house and made my film. I don’t have time and I’m not waiting. I have my collection of friends, my philosophy from college, and people that are sort of creatively my match; and they sort of share my sensibilities. We all got together and made the film. So that’s the way to do it is just make the film.

Michael Vass : Ok, that makes a lot of sense.

Concluded in Part 5

Black Entertainment USA presents the Wanna Score designer clothing line for women

In the continuing effort to provide some of the sexiest, fun, flirtatious designer clothing to be found on the internet, M V Consulting, Inc. presents our latest clothing line: Wanna Score.







Similar to our Wanna Ride line of clothing, they share the same inspiration, a woman being as sexy as she wants to be. We think it's a great combination of sports and women, and of course flirtation.

On any day, at any event, this is sure to turn heads and grab attention.

As always we believe in diversity here at M V Consulting, Inc. As such you can see that we have a version for almost every type of woman.

But guys don't fret. We will be releasing a men's version of our stylish fashion statement in a day or 2.

Fake boobs offend Ohio town

I hate hypocrites. Seriously, what is worse? Here is one example.

In Ohio, there is a guy who owns a burger joint. Like everyone these days, he is having trouble with making sales. So in a bit of inspiration, he decided to place a life-sized mannequin outside his store. So far I don't think anyone has a question.

But the mannequin is a woman. And clothed in a bikini. And the hypocrites came out in a storm.

"It's a sensational ploy to attract gawkers," neighbor Chris Broering said.

Are you kidding me?

Let's see if we got this right. In a nation where Levi's advertises spontaneous unprotected sex among 20-somethings, throughout the day in television commercials, in a nation where kids have access 24/7 to music videos objectifying women and glorifying drugs, a mannequin in a bikini is sensational?

I have to wonder if anyone has watched a soap opera in the last 2 decades. Maybe they have failed to watch a PG movie in the past 15 years. Somehow they have avoided television commercials going back to the early 80's. Because every one of these are far more provocative and explicit than a mannequin in a bikini.

Hell, where do you think Kenny Tessel got the idea for his K.T.'s Barbeque from? Going to church or companies that make billions of dollars and have tens of millions of viewers? I bet that if I open a local magazine for clothing, look at local billboards for perfume, cars, music, and/or movies I will see more suggestive and revealing images than the mannequin. But no one is complaining about that.

The local town council has said the mannequin is ok if it has a tshirt on. I'd gladly donate my Wanna Ride t-shirt for the mannequin. But considering that sales for Tessel went up 40% since having the fake model, I suggest he go right back to what was working. If the town doesn't like it, they can buy the store from him.

I wonder how the latest Bond movie, or any number of movies with gratuitous sex or cleavage did in Reading. Because if they made any money at all, I'd not only tell them what to do with their ideas for a business they don't own, I'd sue to hammer my point home.

Tron 2.0 will have good music at the least

In a world where originality is seemingly repugnant, a place where the promise of originality is delivered in the form of revisioning, occasionally the less than displeasing occurs. You might be thinking I'm speaking about the Obama Administration but in fact I mean Hollywood - it is hard to tell the difference sometimes I admit.

Still in Hollywood, the number of remakes, revisionings, conversions from comic books and sequels is full in stride. Virtually the entire 2009 summer season of movies falls into one of the above categories. Roughly half of the announced or planned movies of 2010 fit this bill. And even going out as far as 2011 you can expect to see a film you already know.

Of course Tron is not an ordinary film. Made in 1982 it was somewhat groundbreaking visually. And after 29 years it's going to get a much talked about sequel. Called Tron 2.0

The positives are that the visuals will be massively improved. There was no CGI in 1982. So there is one thing to look forward to. For fans of Jeff Bridges, he will be back as Flynn. And as a recent bonus, Daft Punk will be doing the entire soundtrack for the film.

Fans of the original will recount that it was the music of the film that worked so well with the visual display in giving the movie credibility and ambiance. In fact just speaking about the film brings back the main theme to my mind.



Daft Punk is known for electronica style music that is catchy and rythmic. It is popular across the globe, and heard in as many colleges as nightclubs.So that is a big boost to the potential success of this sci-fi film sequel.

Will this combination of positives be enough? No way to tell so far. Few details about the script are around. There are no trailers yet, and won't be for 9 months most likely. And we can only hope that the writers have actually seen the full movie, rather than the Cliff Notes that most sequels and revisionings seem to be based on these days.

What do Germans fear? The Producers

Of the multitude of things I can think of that Germany is known for - beer, sausage, efficiancy, cars, and armies - only the last has prevented one of the best loved plays and movies of the past 3 decades to appear there. What movie or play could so disturb the people of Germany?

The Producers.

Yep, just that little play/film that fantastically makes fun of Hiltler and the Nazi's. Believe it or not, according to Reuters (Joanna Partridge), this Mel Brooks classic has never been played in Germany. In fact, it failed in Vienna when it was tried there. I know Germans aren't known for their humor, but really.

I realize that Germans are still sensitive about WWII. They tend to shy from anything that recounts the horror that was the Nazi Party. But this is different. It's meant to debase the Nazi's, to place a comedic spin on the travesties that happened while in no way glorifying what happened.

I hardly think that neo-Nazi's or other miscreants would find The Producers beneficial to thier warped mindsets. So I would hope that the play will be successful. Just as it has been everywhere else it has run (except Vienna).

Just something I ran across and wanted to share with everyone.

The Maxim Top 10 of the Hot 100 list

Another year has passed, the stock market just closed and many are looking for a ray of sunshine. Well perchance this will brighten your day. The latest Maxim Hot 100 list has just been released.

Right up there with the annual Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue, this list is well anticipated. But being the critical being I am, I pondered the top 10. Are they really worthy of being on the list? Should they really be ranked so high?

For those that heard the First Lady was on the list, yes it is true. No, she is not in the top 10. Nor should she be. She may be one of the best looking First Lady’s, definitely in my lifetime, but being on the list is about as good as she deserves (at number 93). Besides, were she not married to President Obama [the Great] she would never have made the list.

• Olivia Wilde – at least it’s not one of the Jessica’s (Beil, Alba, Simpson). Still the best thing that can be said is that being on a hit television show, really helps push you up front. Not a #1 in my book.
  
• Megan Fox – Those hamburgers she had to eat for Transformers 2 really paid off. Still being the old guy I am, I like women that are more real than stick figures. She doesn’t match up to Beyonce (#52), Fergie (#45), or Marisa Tomei (#97).
  
• Bar Refaeli – You may not know the name, but by know you know the figure. I can see her as a top 10 choice. Too much media for her not to be.
  
• Malin Akerman – Who is this? If you say that, then you missed Watchmen and seriously missed her. She deserves to be a top 5 to me.
  
• Mila Kunis – Jackie from That 70’s Show. She’s over 21 and fits in the top 10.
  
• Eliza Dushku – she doesn’t Bring It On for me. At best she’s in the top 50.
  
• Adriana Lima – Hello. Does she make the top 10 for me? Yep. Though she is a bit skinny, it’s that foreign quality that gets her on the top.
  
• Rihanna – Like the saying goes,

  “There is no bad news in entertainment and politics.”

  I feel for what she has been through, but not enough to put her in the top 10.
  
• Jordana Brewster – Seriously? Ok she did SI, and she was in Fast & Furious (first and latest). But the top 10? No, I don’t think so.
  
• Jennifer Love Hewitt – What is it with the people that pick these lists? She is eternally on the top of these lists, and I still cannot see it. Too skinny, too ugly. Better now than earlier in her career (plastic surgery?) but still nowhere near the top considering who is on this list.
  

So in my list I need to replace 6 women on this Maxim Hot 100 top 10 list. Who would I have picked?

Charlize Theron (#38) – She has a grace, a body, and a mind. She has talent too. How do you not pick this woman?

Gabrielle Union (#71) – She can match up to any of the other women on this list any day. J-Lo wishes she had that ass. Which is more curves than basically everyone on the top 10 of Maxim. Plus she looks better and is older too.

Tricia Helfer (#75) – How did they miss her from the top list? Does Hewitt really compare? They even ranked her at #75 if you can believe it.

Hayden Panettiere (#36) – On the thin side as well. But I’m working with the Maxim list here. There aren’t many women who know what a cheeseburger is. Or even a salad in some cases.

Zoe Saldana (#29) – I said before that being in a popular item helps push yopu to the top, but obviously Maxim did not push her far enough up the list. If you didn’t think Nichelle Nichols was sexy on TV, this movie Uhura has to do it.

And for my final choice, I pick someone not on the list of Maxim. Mind you this woman is sexy, and attractive as any woman on the list (in my opinion far more than most). You might have seen her in A Good Day To Be Black & Sexy – and if you did you didn’t forgert her. Nana Hill. (and I believe she was in the Star Trek movie too)

When you are The Doctor no more.. what is next?

Let’s say that you are an actor. Your last job was portraying a character who is loved by fans in over 100 countries, from the ages of 15 to 85. What could you possibly do next? (And no, I am not speaking about anyone connected to the latest Star Trek revisioning.)

Well if the character was Dr. Who, and you happen to be David Tennant, you go on to host Masterpiece Contemporary. No doubt there are thousands of American Dr. Who fans that are trying to figure this out. Tennant left Dr. Who (the next few new episodes we see will be his last), to be replaced by a skinny, geeky (in a bad way), barely adolescent, basically unknown actor. And this seems to be what he wanted to do next.

Masterpiece Contemporary might be best recalled by its old name Masterpiece Theater. It’s been running, on PBS in the U.S., since about 1971. Former hosts include some of the more loved Brits – like the former Alistair Cooke, and Russell Baker

Could Tennant have done better? I would imagine that there would be a hoard of films and television shows that would have loved to have his star power, and international fanbase as one of the better received Doctor’s. I mean Masterpiece Contemporary? Isn’t that where the formerly famous end their careers, with dignity?

Maybe I’m still bitter and twisted that Tennant left Dr. Who. Maybe I’m really not looking forward to the nebbish replacement. Perhaps I hoped for Tennant to take on a role of some importance and recurring nature that I could watch repeatedly. Like a BBC mini-series or something sci-fi.

Overall, it just ends up with a simple thought. The new Dr. Who will take more than a few episodes to overcome my apprehension, and the old Dr. Who will likely be unseen by most Americans for some time to come. Neither is a positive.

Tabloids not done with Jon & Kate Plus 8

Last week Jon Gosselin was the target of accusations of cheating. This week People has targeted Kate Gosseling. I expect that next week both will be accused by some tabloid of being swingers. And in short order stories of abuse of their 8 children will appear.

It's ludicrous. Not just because the stories appear to be completely fabricated and meritless, but because the tabloid media is building upon the fluff that it is hyping. And the damage of their actions seems to be inconsequential to the ratings and sales they hope to make of this family.

The price of fame these days seems to include the destruction of any semblance of normality and happiness. Paparazzi vultures circle the even quasi-famous, searching for a photo that can be taken to have duplicitous meanings. Tabloids exploit any action that might present even a hint of negativity.

I realize that 'reality television' is the new 15 minutes of fame. I recognize that tabloids are being hit in this economic struggle as much as any other media. But do we all really need to bask in the difficulties and hyped fantasies of failure of even the most obscure celebrities? Does anyone's life become enriched by pondering a photo of a celebrity doing something as normal as getting a ride home from a bar, encircled by text declaring it may be a sexual jaunt? Will any person's day become miraculously better because marital strife is decried to have occurred in the life of someone on tv?

Aren't we all better than that? Or have we sunk to a point where anyone who makes more money, or is more famous, than the average must be displayed with flaws and riddled with barbs of anger. Could the lowest common denominator of tabloids and television scraped so low that this is considered fair treatment and entertainment of the masses?

Look, if Jon and/or Kate are having difficulties they should be left alone to resolve them. It's not like the media does not have enough access to their daily lives. The small bit of privacy they have should remain theirs.

Better yet, I would love to hear from anyone in the tabloid industry, or the paparazzi, that is willing to explain the reason why we need to know these things about any entertainer. Why the potential destruction of a family is justified for ratings and sales. How the private lives of anyone is less important than the ability to infer disharmony and flaws projected to the masses. And if any of them do respond, I dare them to place their names on such a response.

Honestly, I don't expect them to answer. They are to cowardly, in my opinion, to dare face the masses with honesty or an explanation. Rather they would prefer to hide behind their business and cameras, maintaining their anonymity, and collecting money.

Still the largest blame might be best left to the masses themselves. Because if no one purchased the trash they produce, out of necessity it would have to end.

3 times and Ron White is out

Bad news for fans of comedian Ron White. The latest comedy album Behavioral Problems will be the last. That makes three hit albums for him and he feels that's as close to perfection as he will get.

I tend to agree with his grandfather who said (in White's retelling)

"That boy has a lot of quit in him."

Somehow I don't believe this will be like the final performances of Cher, Jay-z, Barbara Streisand, and other entertainers that keep coming back. Ron White just won't make another album. But that does not mean we won't be able to enjoy his comedy.

Plans are still moving forward for the Ron White Show. This will be a new show on Comedy Central, featuring White discussing the various news headlines from across the nation. He will be focused on the middle of the nation, as always, and of course he will give his unique brand of storytelling to the mix.

On top of that White will continue to cross the nation, or at least the mid-West, doing live performances. He has been on the road about 50 times a year since 1986, and plans to continue. In his own words

"The live show is staying real steady. That's not true for everybody, so I'm happy about that. People don't have the disposable cash that they did."

Just don't expect him to keep the old jokes coasting along. He feels that comedy isn't a song. The joke won't work if you know the punchline. Which I agree with. And that makes his live performances really worthwile, since you will now be getting stuff that you won't see or hear elsewhere. That's worth the price of admission.

The truth of the war between Eminem and Nick Cannon

Sometimes it's just nice to hear someone in the major media tell the truth about the music industry. It doesn't happen often, but when it does you just can't miss it.

Case in point is the bruhaha involving Nick Cannon, his wife Mariah Carey, and Eminem. By this point I'm sure many have heard about what is going on, but for those that havent it boils down to this. Eminem once dated Carey for a brief time. His next albulm will contain a song that disses her and husband Cannon. Cannon heard a leaked version, was inflamed, and jumped all over the internet to protest.

Does this matter at all? Not really. I mean it's nice to see Nick Cannon standing up for his wife. But the manner and degree that he is doing so has only one outcome. More sales for Eminem's albulm. Not that most in the music industry will admit it. Except

"By getting irate, threatening Eminem, and digging up his old dramas, Nick has done exactly what Marshall Mathers hoped he would do. Eminem is the bad guy people love to hate. Nick has spent too much time on the subject.

Nick should have simply said that he did not appreciate the song and would discuss it would Eminem." - Billy Johnson Jr.

This effectively is turning out to be the same battle as the one between 50 cent and Kanye West. [By the way wasn't one of them supposed to quit music forever?] It doesn't improve the music, it just makes the sales jump. It's hype pure and simple.

At least this time someone is admitting it. Not that this won't bump sales, for no good reason. Which is a shame since I always thought music, no matter the genre, was supposed to be about quality and the listener. Chalk up another change to rap.

Richard Branson joins Mia Farrow's Darfur hunger strike

In less noted news over the weekend, further developments came about in Mia Farrow’s hunger strike. Farrow started the water only strike to highlight and draw attention to the deplorable state of the Darfur region. It was perhaps one of the more dramatic endeavours made by a celebrity to try to garner public attention to the millions that have continued to suffer over the last 6 years and still counting.

12 days into the hunger strike Mia Farrow was told to end the strike by her doctors. Mia Farrow is 61, and continuing the hunger strike would have endangered her life. To which she stated

“I am fortunate. The women, children, and men I am fasting for do not have that option.”

To date over 300,000 Darfuri people have been murdered and died since 2003. 2.7 million people are homeless and seeking shelter. Since the start of the genocide (a term the American Government has officially used to describe the ethnic war since shortly after its inception) the United States Congress has done nothing. Every Congress since the start of this genocide has had HR 180 IH before them, which would place financial pressure on the Sudan and help to end this outrage. Each Congress (Democrat or Republican run) has failed to even take the issue out of committee. Effectively America is helping to fund the genocide of women and children.

Thus the work of Don Cheadle, George Clooney, Mia Farrow, and many many others deserves to reach the public. I am an advocate of the work to end the genocide and help the people of Darfur. And I again commend Mia Farrow for what she did.

It should also be noted the Sir Richard Branson, the mega-billionaire businessman and adventurer, took up the hunger strike in place of Mia Farrow. Again I believe he sought to keep attention in the media on this issue (which it seems the media wants to ignore). Branson stated he will be on the strike for 3 days.

I expect that other entertainers and celebrities will take up this cause. I hope that celebrities of note will join in on this hunger strike to drive media attention to this. Perhaps Snoop Dogg could be of some real help (for once) if he were to join in the hunger strike, and even convince other rappers to do so.

Too much is at stake not to be involved. And we as Americans can do so much more.

President Obama at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner

So over the weekend the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner took place. And the Dinner was quite interesting. The remarks made at this annual event are comical in nature, plays on the events and scandals at the time. It’s a time for the White House to get back at it’s detractors, poke fun at gaffes, and lighten the mood over controversial policy decisions. Obviously Vice-President Biden was not one of those speaking at the event.

I thought that President Obama did a decent job at the event. He got in jibes at FOX News (which you knew had to happen) and even Michael Steele. He had a few really good jokes, though I think some of the best were directed at himself and Vice President Biden. Perhaps the best joke was at the start of his speech. That was dead on.

So hear is the full speech of President Obama. What do you think was his best joke of the night?

The Forbes Top 20 Richest African Americans List: Reflecting on the list

$8,255,000,000. That’s a huge number. It’s a sum of money that normally only gets mentioned in relation to the actions of the Government, or the largest of corporation. But that also happens to be the total of the net worth of the "http://www.forbes.com/2009/05/06/richest-black-americans-busienss-billionaires-richest-black-americans.html" target="_blank">Top 20 richest African Americans as stated by Forbes.

There is no question that everyone on this list is impressive. There is no question that each person on this list created the wealth they have today (which is reduced just like the wealth of every American these days). They are all examples to follow.

But I was looking through the list, and a few things came to my mind. Observations that probably few notice.

The youngest person on the list is 30, the oldest 79

65% of all the people on the list attained the bulk of their wealth via entertainment

Every person on this list attended, if not graduated, from college (I may be wrong about Jay-Z and Don King)

Only 1 person on the list ran a Fortune 500 company

Only 2 were involved in investments as the means of their wealth

Only 3 are women

6 attained the bulk of their wealth directly from sports

I take several things from this list. Some good some bad.

It’s wonderful to know that Oprah is still a multi-billionaire and tops the list. I am also glad to see that women have done well, having struggled as much as any man on this list. And I note that all the women achieved their success without the aid of sports.

The entire list includes some of the very best in the world at what they do, or have done. That includes: Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Bill Cosby PhD, Berry Gordy Jr, and you might even include Jay-Z.

Several people on the list are visibly and actively giving back to the community. I say visibly because everyone on the list has made considerable and frequent donations to multiple charities and causes. But some are very outspoken. That includes: Oprah Winfrey, Bill Cosby PhD, Magic Johnson, Janice Bryant Howroyd, Alphonse Fletcher Jr.

The thing that annoys me though is that there are so few that have had major success in business, or non-entertainment fields. Worse yet, the general public would be hard pressed to recognize the non-entertainers names. They are: Sheila Johnson, Quintin Primo III, Janice Bryant Howroyd, Herman J. Russell, Ulysses Bridgeman Jr., Tracy Maitland, Alphonse Fletcher Jr., and Kenneth I. Chestnut.

The implication is that African Americans main avenue to success is limited to entertainment. That in some way other ventures are unworthy of attempts to grow. That the focus of the youth needs to be isolated to entertainment alone.

This is reinforced with the media. The media lavishes over singers, rappers, actors/actresses, and athletes. The media pushes images of these entertainers almost exclusively, with shows on television and cable just because of their fame (ie. Snoop Dogg, 50 cent, Flava Flav, Russell Simmons, Xzibit, and several others have shows – not one non-entertainer of color has a show of any type, ever).

In fact, while everyone on this list has at least gone to college, the media and the entertainment industries highlight the lack of education among those with fame. Rappers are constantly identified for their lack of education, and criminal behavior. The media never discusses the educational background of professional athletes, or most any successful person of color. I mean can you name what degree, in what field of learning and from what college, Tiger Woods has? How about Bill Cosby? Oprah? Quentin Primo?

My point is that there is too much focus on the narrow field of entertainment. Like it’s a golden path. Everyone in lower income areas thinks it’s their ticket out. Whether it’s basketball, or football, or rapping, or whatever. But the fact that an intelligent mind is the only true ticket to lasting success should be the focus.

Jay-Z would just be another guy that made records, if he were not intelligent enough to see and groom other business ventures. Michael Jordan would just be another record holder if he were not able to have created business deals that continue to reap more money than he ever made as a player. Magic Johnson grew his wealth and helped communities across the nation because of his mind, not his records or lifestyle.

I can go on and on. But the fact is that success is more than just playing with a ball, or keeping a beat. It’s more than clothes or street credit. It’s not drugs, or criminal status, or bling. In fact, the people on this list are all almost exact opposites of what is shown off as success for people of color by the media. And that includes Jay-Z.

Success and wealth in America can be attained by anyone. This list proves that in droves. If there is anything to be taken from this list, it’s the fact that anyone can join them as well. It just takes an education, thought, and determined work.

Part 3 of the Michael Vass interview with Sundance noted director Dennis Dortch

This is the third part in my series of the taped interview with Sundance Film Festival winning director and writer Dennis Dortch. In this part of the interview we discuss the DVD of his movie A Good Day To Be Black & Sexy, the motivations of the characters, and several of the actors.

You can see the first part of the in depth interview at Sundance director Dennis Dortch interviewed by Michael Vass

You can read the second part of the interview at Director Dennis Dortch interviewed by Michael Vass - pt 2


Michael Vass : I can understand. Perhaps that’s why, and I think that a lot of people will find this through out all of your vignettes, that there is a lot of honesty. It is very honest. Very almost taken directly from life. You did a great job with the writing and directing and being able to make it like a real moment. I think that adds a lot to the power of what’s going on there. It’s just that I just like it the other way because it kind of almost gets a comeuppance. To a certain extent it kind of gets that a little more.

I did watch the extras which I think most people should see. You’ve got a lot of different things happing within the preparations. Some of the scenes are very different from what we got in the final version. I guess you did that with all the different actors going just a little bit more off the cuff just kind of letting them roll with it to a certain extent. Is that correct?

Dennis Dortch : Yeah very true I think it goes along with the honesty thing. After a while the scenes start sounding like lines. I think I write natural but it does not sound natural coming out of the actor’s mouth. It’s because for actors its their job to make it believable in the scene; to be in the moment. I can’t direct them on every single nuance. So I think having them have that freedom to be able to improvise and explore goes along with the same goals as being honest and true - makes it more real.

Michael Vass : Ok I can see that and it did work. It works very well.

One thing you didn’t change in any version, at least it looks like that from the extras, is the American Boyfriend storyline. You could have used almost any type of group of people. Inparticular you could have gone with some whites, some Russian. You could have gone to native Indians, or Jewish. There are so many people you could have interjected instead of Ann Marie Liu (Emily Liu) I believe that’s her name. But you went there in that direction and they're Chinese. Traditional Chinese I believe? Is that correct?

Dennis Dortch : Yes that is correct.

Michael Vass : Why did you make that choice to the Asian? To use Asians.

Dennis Dortch : For two reasons, one is because its really happened in my real life so I stuck with that and what I knew. And two - there’s a particular type of tone I was going for. I can only write what I know number one and number two a lot of people can identify and have had more experience with a Chinese family.

I could have made them Mohican but it just seemed too straight forward. To on the nose and racism does go beyond, people learn it. You know what I mean? So that is another part that I wanted to get at and I also wanted to bring in a freshness something that was different to. And felt a little different as far as a Chinese family hanging around popping the Mandarin.

And I think the other part was quite honestly, it was like Alphonso. He had the same experience with a Chinese girl he was dating, and my editor who edited that particular vignette, he had the same experience. He [editor] was not really dating the girl but he was friends with her but she would never take him to her house till one day they dropped by to pick up some stuff and he felt really strong with it… and so everybody can identify with it. But this is after the fact, after I wrote it of course. But I knew I was on to something that was very identifiable. Speaking the Chinese was really the way to go.

Michael Vass : It makes perfect sense to me, and it is a different approach to that theme. I just know some readers are going so say, ”well why did he do that?” So I just wanted to ask that. So you said that it happened to you? Did you actually walk through the door like that at the end? You said it was something that you did.

Dennis Dortch : No it was something that I wanted to do. I didn’t have the courage to do that. I get to do that in the movie but I didn’t. We were caught like the line where Ann Marie says he’s just a friend, that happened. I was hidden in that room or pushed out the back door on about three occasions.

Michael Vass : I’ve had that happen too.

Dennis Dortch : On the fourth occasion her parents walked up. It was hot you know you have the door open the screen door closed and they walked up and I didn’t even see them. They walked in on us and my girlfriend at the time let go of me and jumped and said, “he’s just a friend.” It was hurtful so that is exactly how that happened and so that actually played out in the film, but the other part was made up. A scene that was in my head that I wanted to do since I was sitting in that room steaming for hours you know.

Michael Vass : I think there is a lot of black men who can cheer that on, because I’ve had a similar experience to that same one and I didn’t [do anything]. I’m a strong man too and no I didn’t make that confrontation either so I can relate both to.

We all want to be him walking out that door but then again most of us aren’t going to do it. So that’s why I wanted to ask that because its kind of funny. Because we’ve all had that same experience.

By the way where did you find Nana Hill?

Dennis Dortch : She actually auditioned for Reprisosity and you probably saw that on the extras. She was just a girl who would literally go down and do it. So she didn’t work at all. But I liked her so much, that sensuality in her, and I definitely wanted a chocolate sister. I love natural hair in an afro so I wrote that part for her, it was supposed to be that hidden tract after the credits. But it was shot so beautifully that it was a nice little interlude that I ended up putting it into the main film.

Michael Vass : Where is she from? She sounds almost South African.

Dennis Dortch : Yes she is from Uganda.

Michael Vass : She is stunning and I think you just may have started a great career there because I can’t see Hollywood turning around and going I can’t use her. They’ve got to be using her more.

Dennis Dortch : Last time I saw her she was on CSI, but yes she is getting work here and there.

Michael Vass : Let me just skip ahead a little bit on a question that is also of interest into the actors you’ve worked with so far. Are you looking at going into the same thing that Spike Lee, Clint Eastwood and a few directors do. Which is to use a consistent core group of people over and over again in most of your films, or at least several of them?

Dennis Dortch : I don’t know, I’m not sure yet. But it’s possible to do that some times. I’m not sure yet but I don’t think that they knew that at the time either you know.

I think they were kind of looking for people. Probably new fresh people and just going back to people like Wesley Snipes, you know just kind of going back to the same actors. Because you know there really is only so many great actors. So I don’t know if we really are premeditated to do that, I think we just naturally kind of run out of options.

Who knows what this person really embodies, then you just start writing for people we know because we’ve got something so strong in our heads. So its kind of hard for me to say what I would do. I have no idea right now.

I have my next film in my head and I’m not thinking about any particular actor I’d use. Chonte is probably the one that comes to mind more often. Between her and Mylika who played the girl in Tonight, those are my best actors. And in my head yes I’d use them again but I’ve not made any plans yet.

Michael Vass : Ok so there is something for people to look forward to and I know they both have fans. But there are people who are fans of several of the people you use. So there is something they will be looking forward to in your next item.

Before I go there though …give me a moment, I’m just thinking through … there are a couple of things I wanted to hit on. Did you have a favorite story in this? I know American Boyfriend is one that you’ve lived but was that your favorite or was there a favorite in all the stories?

Dennis Dortch : No. They’re all my babies.

Michael Vass : Well its all yours that’s true.

Continued in part 4…

Keanu Reeves: 2 personalities, but can any act?

Everyone loved Keanu Reeves in The Matrix. To varying degrees he was just as good in the 2 sequels to the film. Since then, well let’s just say that Reeves is likely loving the money he makes per film far more than the critical commentary.

If you think I’m saying that Reeves has sucked in the roles he has played since the Matrix Trilogy, you hit the nail on the head. There may be no better example than his most recent film, The Day The Earth Stood Still. The rewrite of this classic sci-fi film didn’t give any of the actors much to work with, and yet Reeves still underperformed. But I believe he made about $20 million for the film.

I bring this all up because of the next film to star Keanu Reeves. It’s another remake. Again it will be a classic. And I have to wonder if anything can help raise the performance of Reeves. Maybe if they don’t pay him??

The film will be a modern rendition of The Strange Case of Dr. Jeykll and Mr. Hyde. This has been done multiple times in film, on the stage, in television shows and even cartoons. There is an enormous amount of room for the writers to work in a modern story, and change anything in the story they want. So in that at least the film has a chance to be decent since there is no single version this movie will be compared to.

But Reeves is the real question. His acting has been flat for quite some time. I can imagine his portrayal as one character with the standard level of emotion we have seen n the last several movies with Reeves: and the other could be a character that actually seems alive and interested in what is going on.

We should hope that if this is true, the Hyde character will be the lively persona. But no guarantees on that.

Look, I’d be the first one to compliment Reeves on a job well done – if he does a job well anytime before I retire. I would love to talk about the film remake that breaks the trend of low cost scripts and similar acting. It would be a huge joy to watch a classic film in a modern venue. But I think the closest any of us will get to seeing this on a big screen is if we watch the BBC mini-series on a big screen television in our homes.

Either way, don’t expect to see this film for about another 2 years. The script is still being developed. Filming is far off. And Reeves should spend some time going back to acting class, or maybe watching a couple of the Lon Cheney films (father and/or son).

More on this when the trailer comes out, or more news develops.

Director Dennis Dortch interviewed by Michael Vass - pt 2

This is the continuation of my taped interview with acclaimed director and writer Dennis Dortch. You can see the first part of the interview at Sundance director Dennis Dortch interviewed by Michael Vass.

To see the review of the award winning film by Dennis Dortch, go to DVD Review: A Good Day To Be Black & Sexy


Michael Vass : The truth is truth.

Dennis Dortch : It may not be the truth for everybody but its certainly something that exists in the world. Its apart of behavior. I have not thought about him in years. You asked me that question and he is probably the guy that turned on the switch on for me to make it ok for me to do what I do, and think what I think, and do it the way I want to do it, you know?

Michael Vass : Would you include him in say the heroes or people who were inspirational in your life that have helped create the directorial vision that you have now?

Dennis Dortch : I would if I could remember his name. I should add George Lopper. He was my creative writing teacher in my senior year and I almost flunked out that year. I had all good grades but, you know, I had a girlfriend who kind of took my attention away.

Those two people I would definitely include them as my heroes and inspiration. I almost forgot about Nikki Giovanni. I had just discovered Nikki Giovanni for the first time. I was in an AP Class in high school, and literally there was two black people in this entire thing. We had a half black school but in this class there was only two if us. So your looked at as being special or whatever and I was reading books that I had never been exposed. I was reading Nikki Giovanni and he [George Lopper] was like ok if that’s what you want to read that’s cool. Giovanni was saying some pretty strong anti-white stuff and he was cool with it. He’s white and the whole class was white, but he was like if this is something your interested in then I’m going to let you go with it. So defiantly I think those three people would probably be a heavy influence on me to be myself.

Michael Vass : I can understand completely. I’ve had a couple of teachers like that myself. I think they are really important. Besides just going to school, having a teacher somewhere along the line that gives you that opportunity to expand on besides what is there is really critical. That’s what I’ve always felt.

Going back to the movie, and looking at the order of the film. Was there a purpose in the way you put the order of all the vignettes together?

Dennis Dortch : I had a slightly different order of my first cut and the writing it was a little different too. My goal really was to make it feel like a mix tape. So sometimes you know when your mixing songs together you go by the feeling and the beat. If I do something different in the vignette that I put together then it’s the feeling and the beat, the rhythms, how they flow, how you feel about them.

I would lay them out and watch and see how they made me feel, you know. The only thing majorly I changed in my final edit was American Boyfriend - the last one. It used to be second to last and I had Tonight part 2 to be last. And what it did was have a real sleepy feel to it so it was like…

Michael Vass : Too slow.

Dennis Dortch : Yes literally, and it was like a real somber ending. I had a test screening. Really I thought it was my premier but it turned into a test screening after I thought that it didn’t quite work with the audience. I didn’t embody the concept. It just felt like kind of a somber ending. So I ended up changing the ending. That was the only thing that I sort of you know changed.

Michael Vass : Well I liked the way it ended because that was a real big positive and it starts with a big jolt. As I said before at least for me it was a big jolt. Because it’s so different what we are getting there and then it ends with the American Boyfriend and that was pretty much the best of the vignettes. The one I like the best. It’s very positive to me. Very up lifting. Very... break through. I don’t know how to explain it exactly but it was very positive, I liked it a lot. So I agree with your order.

I was just wondering if there was that. I noticed that your going in many different directions through out the entire film. Were you trying to emphasize one type of over all theme through out the entire movie or was it one theme. Besides the idea of being black, being sexy, relationships can be more multi-dimensional than what’s been exposed already. Besides that theme was there anything else you were tying to get through?

Dennis Dortch : No that was really basically the cohesive thought I was going for. The goal was really to make each one feel different. And then do something different. I was literally trying to make a mixed tape on film. That was my real goal.

Michael Vass : Ok well it worked it’s a different approach because you really just don’t see films that really do that. At least if there were they are probably really very old because I have not seen anything like that in quite some time, quite some time. Nothing even close.

You also picked a great cast, I mean you really had a great cast. Chonte Harris - I really liked her a lot, I think she did very well. Alphonso Johnson as I said he’s one of the reasons I loved the American Boyfriend section. The section with Julian, I forget his actual name…

Dennis Dortch : Jerome Hawkins

Michael Vass : Yes. That story line drove me nuts. Tonight part 1 and 2 and its very... I guess harsh is the word. Cause your kind of dealing with child sex. In a way. Did you have trouble filming that? Was that a difficult one to write?

Dennis Dortch : It was probably not difficult in the sense of any angst but it was difficult to try to get it honest. You know, it actually changed several times. But the outcome is the same to a degree. And I talked to the actors before hand about their own experiences. Even the talking to the girl her first time, was with an older dude and she was under aged, they all identified with it. I just played on it, I mean I have a different ending …

Michael Vass : I saw that…

Dennis Dortch : And there is the extra that I just cut out thought it was kind of a cop out to me.

Michael Vass : You think so?..

Dennis Dortch : I’ve heard from people like these older black gentleman that like the alternative ending…

Michael Vass : That would be me… I’m old and I like the alternative ending.

Dennis Dortch : They told me ‘like oh another older black man, I didn’t want to see another negative of a black man this and that.’ And my wife echoed ‘it reminds me of [her] first time.’ Or some have said its sounds like what happened to my first boyfriend. It depends on your perception.

You know it’s quite funny how the same film effects people depending on what their experiences are, what their agenda is. How some people are like "oh god I wish you weren’t going to do this" and then others were like, "this reminds me, this is so real." I think this was my goal.

I had an actor who is semi known, who I was sort of pursuing for playing the role and he didn’t want to play it. He said I just can’t play this role because he does not even get his comeuppance; he does not even go to jail. Nothing happens.

How many times do you see a guy go to jail for statutory rape? It does not may any sense. It’s not going to stop anybody from doing it either by playing it realistically. The only time you’re going to have the conversation about it, it’s got to be somewhat controversial true and honest. And I’m not trying to save the world or say its ok. I have a daughter myself who I don’t want that to happen to. But I have to be honest with myself, with what my goals were, and portray things honestly. I could not take away from the uncomfortableness of it. You know?

Continued in Part 3...

Jon and Kate plus 8 - the tabloids are the real problem

What is it with the tabloids? Are they getting in too much trouble with the paparazzi circling stars like vultures that they now are after reality tv stars? And what cost does this all have?

Case in point is the drama surrounding Jon and Kate plus 8 stars Jon and Kate Gosselin. They are the parents of 8 children, and have a television show that highlights their daily tribulations in taking care of their little troop. I’ve seen the show from time to time, it’s not great television but it does surpass most of the ‘reality’ television fare out there.

The Gosselin’s are not a perfect couple. They get tired, stressed, and annoyed. Just like parents of far fewer kids. And like every other parent in the world, they occasionally look forward to having time away from the kids. But they are good parents in a good marriage, from what can be observed.

That of course is motivation enough for the paparazzi and the tabloids. Any successful relationship seems to be the fodder of their ire. And now they are stirring a hornet’s nest of trouble.

If you haven’t heard, recently Jon was photographed in a car with a woman other than his wife. He was exiting a bar. His wife Kate was on a promotional tour for her book at the time.

Does that sound like a scandal? That he was out cheating on his wife? To the tabloids it does. Though all the people involved insist that it was merely a night out away from the kids with a friend. Still they twisted the wording and laid down accusations all the same.

Of course this has lead to the usual paid dirt. You know, when someone related to or familiar with someone in this situation sell a story to the tabloids that backs up or infers truth on some part of the paparazzi driven drivel. You would be amazed what some people will do for $10,000 (a common amount paid for such “inside” information), or just a few moments of fame.

But what is the ramification of all this? Has anyone at these tabloids stopped for one moment and thought how this could affect the 8 children?

I mean the best thing that a tabloid could have happen is that they instigate a marital fight. They put undue pressure on the already difficult task of raising so many children, and hope that something pops. And if it does the paparazzi will be there in droves to film every second of it.

But what if this tabloid driven version of a married guy going out for a drink with a friend, who happens to be a woman, in a public place by the way leads to divorce? Neither of the parents are millionaires or even rich (8 kids will do that I am sure). Life for either Jon or Kate will instantly become more difficult.

But the real losers will be the young children. None are old enough to understand divorce. Hell, grown kids often don’t understand it. What kind of trauma might this mean for 8 innocents, still learning the basic building blocks of life.

Maybe it’s just me, but the private lives of entertainers and celebrities are private. Paparazzi and tabloids are a poison to the lives of everyone they touch or go after. There is no justification for what they do, nor any way to determine the damage they create in their wake of going for the photo.

Maybe Jon is innocent. Maybe he is not. But no matter which is the case, having the lesser part of the national news media (if such a thing exists) exacerbating the situation makes it all worse.

No child deserves this. And even if I am the only one to think so, I will say that the media needs to back off. Some things aren’t worth a minor bump in ratings or an extra couple of dollars in profit.

Christopher Walken clears 100 films

So I was checking out some of the proposed movie deals for what will be coming to a theater in the next year or two. I ran across a bit of information that got me excited. Because one of my all-time favorite actors will be in another motion picture.

And I was a fan of Walken long before the Fat Boy Slim video



and even before Pulp Fiction



Yes, Christopher Walken will be gracing the silver screen once again. The film is called The Irishman, it a conversion from a regular book (which is a change from the current trend) about an Irish-American mobster who took on the Mafia. This is a true story of Danny Greene.

In an overview the films sounds something like the Denzel Washington led film American Gangster. The time frame is the same, 1970’s. It has 3 main characters that are very well known. It involved the Mafia. And to an extent it glorifies these crime syndicates.

But I’m willing to over look these things. Hell the movie also stars Val Kilmer and Ray Stevenson (from the 2008 Punisher movie). It just sounds like a great combination of actors and storyline. A dark subject, brutal violence, actors known for their brooding performances. It sounds like a sure hit.

Too bad the director is Jonathan Hensleigh. If his name is not familiar it may well be because he is responsible for the Punisher (2004) film. Not the best film, nor the best use of decent actors. Still the law of averages says that even bad directors will get it right eventually. Though if Hensleigh was the writer the movie would be an almost assured hit. He wrote Die Hard with a Vengence, Jumanji, The Rock (along with others), Armeggedon, Gone in 60 Seconds and Con Air. His writing is impressive, but not directing.

I believe that this will be the 100th film for Walken. (He has already done 100 plays) So as a centennial film I hope it is deservingly good. I can’t wait for the trailer.

Mystery on Mythbusters?

Perhaps it's because I haven't been watching Mythbisters, on the Discovery Channel, as much as I used to (my 9-ball pool league is the same time as the show). Maybe the episodes lately were all filmed during the winter (unlikely at best). Or it could be that Kari Byron gained a bit of weight and is self-concious.

But I think that Kari Byron is pregnant.

**Ok, I'm an idiot. Well sort of. Byron is pregnant. I just double checked a couple of sources and found out she made the announcement in February. I though it was a baby.

Congratulations to Kari Byron and her husband Paul Urich.

So the next part of this is redundant and useless. Unless you too are a fan and did not hear of the news. I'm keeping it as is. If nothing else it will be a bit of humor to start the day with.**

I noticed that she has been wearing larger and larger clothes in the last few episodes that I saw. Then last night I was watching as she wore a huge jacket, while Tory Belleci and Grant Imahara both were in shirts. Plus her face has plumped up a bit.

In fact as I watched even more closely I thought I noticed a bit of a bulge. A baby bulge.

I wonder how far into the pregnancy she is? Will the Mythbusters start doing, or in honor of a birth, episodes on baby myths? Will they mention this at any point in the show, or will Byron disappear kind of like Scottie Chapman?

Sundance director Dennis Dortch interviewed by Michael Vass

The following is a taped interview with Dennis Dortch, Sundance Film Festival award winning director and writer of A Good Day To Be Black & Sexy and Michael Vass of M V Consulting, Inc. The interview was taken earlier this year and is quite in depth. Dennis Dortch discusses his background, motivations, the meaning in his film, and hints at plans for the future.

Since this is an extensive interview (over 45 minutes of conversation), I will be breaking the entire interview into several parts. I will be posting each part over the next couple of days, with a summary listing the links after it is all posted.

The delay in posting this interview is mine. My transcription skills are hardly the best and I apologize for the delay. But I invite you enjoy this interview, to see my review of A Good Day To Be Black & Sexy, and to check out the B-sides (the continuation of the stories in the movie).

Michael Vass : You’ve got quite a film. The film was incredible and powerful. The first thing I have to ask is where did you get that idea for this film?

Dennis Dortch : Real life you know what I mean. The title itself is from Black Is Beautiful. You know just trying to make it a little more modern, that idea that concept. So I just really wanted to see certain images of ourselves up on the screen. And that was my first you know, little part of the concept. Then the other parts just came naturally for me, the particular things and issues that I’m interested in and the little tells and anecdotal type stories that don’t really warrant an entire movie, but they are little moments. You know that’s kind of the concept that formed on that and I wanted to do something a little different.

That was my point I wanted to break the mold a little bit. Especially for black film and for film in general, so I think those three things combined is kind of what made Black and Sexy come about.

Michael Vass : I can see that you definitely broke a lot of things. I don’t know if people said it before but I would imagine, well for myself and from what I’ve heard from a couple of people I know who have seen it, it definitively throws you off at least initially in that your almost kind of uncomfortable because its so what you’ve not seen, so different. But powerful - not in a bad way, its not bad its just …new. You know what I mean?

It shocks the system to go and say, "wow its so different and that‘s still beautiful and good." So I think that’s quite an accomplishment You did well in the way that you styled it for that.

Dennis Dortch : Thank you.

Michael Vass : No problem. Let me ask you something, one of the things I like to know about people and I’ve found is very important is the education. The most successful people almost always have great educations of some type. What was your education like?

Dennis Dortch : I was going to school for the recording arts, I was going to produce music. My education was kind of all over the place from elementary school on to high school because I was a military brat too. So I went to middle school in Germany on a military base and my experiences - well I was a pretty good student but my experiences being overseas helped me out with a lot of things too. I’ve always been a book worm and I’ve always been a writer. I’m not sure if I’m really answering your question., but I think I’ve always been the sort of guy to be sitting at home who would rather read than go out.

Michael Vass : It wasn’t a specific type of knowledge but more experience of the world and the accumulation of general knowledge that kind of led you foward. That’s been your background. Would say is that accurate?

Dennis Dortch : You know I’m not really sure. It’s kind of hard to analyze myself. I think for the most part I’ve always been into being honest in looking for the truth of things.

I think it’s [the truth of things] probably going to be my entire career and in everything that I chose to be apart of or read or be into. It’s something that gets at sort of a greater truth or something more honest and raw.

So I had a few choice teachers. I think everyone has had a few teachers that have changed your life or shaped you. When you’re coming up as adults they look at you as a kid and they are able to identify what your about and help shape that a little bit by saying a few things. You know there are a couple of key words that a life holds up.

I think I remember in junior college I had a far east Indian teacher who I literally had for one semester for philosophy and I had a tendency to apply real life situations to this class. I could not study the actual period, I had to apply them to real life. It was apart of our curriculum anyway.

I would come up with these scenarios that are very similar to the stories that I am writing now that are in Black and Sexy that are mainly based in philosophy. I think that one particular teacher for that one semester told me that it was ok. You know other people got mad at me saying things that felt so hurtful to them or so honest and so on. I guess it was raw so they didn’t want to talk about it in class. They felt offended like I’m saying these things, 'how could you say this. It’s not kosher.' But he actually told me it was ok Because it’s the truth.

Michael Vass : The truth is truth.

...Continued in part 2

Screw Wolverine, Deadpool lives!

If there is anything that is remotely satisfying about X-Men Origins: Wolverine, it is the news that someone in Marvel had enough sense not to kill Deadpool. In fact he is so alive, that he will be getting his own movie.

Spoiler Alert
Now if you saw the movie, you know that Wolverine cut off the head of Deadpool. Given the fact that Deadpool has a skeleton laced with admantium (the same unbrakable metal in Wolverine) so it would be highly unlikely for such a thing to happen. Plus the fact that he is supposed to have a healing factor on crack and can regrow limbs in mere moments. But what may not be as well known is that there is a second bonus ending (besides the boring and useless Logan drinking in a bar in Japan) where Deadpool rises out of the rubble alive! Hey, it's not called a mutant healing factor for nothing.
Spoiler End

So this has allowed the Merc with a mouth to become the first spin-off of a spin-off movie that I am aware of. And this time, Ryan Reynolds will be returning to play Deadpool. (Yep, that was not him playing Weapon XI).

Reynolds had wanted to have a movie of this character since 2003. And if you watched the trailers you can understand why he is the man for the part.



Now how will this work out? Well if they get rid of all the crap from X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and keep the hyper healing factor he is supposed to have it could work well. Especially since he has no true super powers.

Yes, for those that did not know, Wade Wilson is a normal person (minus the healing given to him by the Weapon X program). His moves and ability are just the rewards of a man that trains hard because he loves his work. Killing people and getting paid is a reward all it's own for this merc.

Will we get more of Reynolds providing near constant one-liners while slicing and dicing his way to the grocery store? Will we get him breaking the 4th wall to laugh with us on the jokes? (The 4th wall is a term which means that the characters in a book, comic book and/or movie don't know they are in the medium. To break it is like when Ferris Bueller spoke to the audience) Will the dark (really dark) humor that is the essence of the character come shining thru?

With all good luck, and a couple of writers that actually have read (maybe even understood?) the huge mass of history the characer has. I mean at the very least they can go to Wikipedia and learn more about Deadpool than any of the writers bothered to figure out in Wolverine.

Beyond making sure that Bret Ratner, David Ayer, and David Benioff have nothing to do with the Deadpoll movie, I think this could be a great film. It's all in the writing and director. Ryan Reynolds has already proven he can make the role work with aplomb.

Figure it will take 2 years for the movie to come out. Just enough time to make a really good movie. We can only hope.

Movie Preview: Dance Flick

It's been a while since a Wayans family movie has been in theaters. It's been even longer since one of their movies has been worth watching. But the latest try is a trip back to the roots of the family, parody of movies that are in themselves a joke.

The latest movie, Dance Flick, looks to take on the flood of films that are more or less spontaneous dances strung together by the loosest and most trivial of plots. Films of this genre includes Stomp The Yard, Save the Last Dance, You Got Served, Flashdance (ok that one actually had a plot of some sort, but it's older than most of the audience going to movies this summer), and so on. So we would expect that this Wayans project should be an easy target, and far more entertaining than the movies it parodies.



From the trailer we can see that like all parody films it's hit and miss. But I think it's hitting more often than not. All the elements look to be in place. The dumb street guys. The 1 educated street kid. The White girl trying desperately to be accepted by Black kids she has no connection to. The general void of intelligence by anyone under the age of 72 in these films. And so on.

The baby popping out and striking a pose is cute, and way over the top. The scene bending Flashdance into a quasi-homoerotic experience is spot on. And the Black kid denying any connection to the White girl is priceless in its mockery of reality and these movies at the same time.

Perhaps the biggest clue to the potential success of this film is the fact that the whole family of Wayans are on board. Damien is directing. Keenan, Damien, Shawn and Marlon wrote it. Yes Marlon and Shawn are in the film. Thus fears of another Little Man exist. But this film also has Keenan, and sister Kim as actors. Add to that David Alan Grier and you have a solid cast of comedy standard bearers. If they appear in more than 1 or 2 scenes. Oh, it also has Chris Elliott in it, another mark against the film if he is in more than just 1 scene.

This will also be the first film for Damon Wayans Jr. Considering the ability of Damon the elder, and the tutelage of everyone in the family (except Marlon and Shawn) this should be a big break-out film. It may also be why the whole troupe is showing up (though Damon Sr. is not - but that may just be because he didn't want to give his son gitters). And Damien Wayans will have this film as his first motion picture debut (though his credits include work directing his uncle Damon Sr. on My Wife and Kids).

While the early trailer is not telling a lot about how good the film is, it is nice to see that the foremost (and likely largest) family of comedy movies has not ended their run. Every film backed by the Wayans clan may not be the best film ever, but then again no actor or Hollywood studio can make that claim either.

This should be a decent film. I hope it's a nice introduction of Damon Wayans Jr. and a success for Damien (it just needs to clear $30 million). But we have some time before it hits theaters, more trailers will arrive. And the opening weekend will say it all. At the very least, it's one of the most original ideas of the 2009 summer movie season.

Auto racing beware the rabbits

Way back in 2007 I made an observation about NASCAR, and the whole of auto racing. I mentioned that I was surprised that the "global warming" eco-freaks had yet to protest or address auto racing in any way. In fact I made a prediction

"Mark my words, it is quite possible that one day soon, some green political organization is going to suggest that all cars in the auto racing industry be replaced with hybrid vehicles. Actually, it will probably start with some super green nutcase (like a certain musician, who thinks everyone should use one square of tissue paper only) who will suggest that instead of racing cars fueled with a gas, races should be with solar cars or just bicycles. Imagine a Daytona 500 like that."

Well it's a bit less than 2 years later, and it seems that part of what I imagined is on it's first legs to start.

Yep, race cars made out of plants and fueled by chocolate. Sounds like a joke doesn't it? But it's not. Because in London a group of scientists have done it.

Called the WorldFirst Formula 3 racing car, it is claimed but unproven to reach speeds of 145 mph. It runs on used vegetable oils and chocolate factory refuse as a biomass fuel. It has a steering wheel made from carrots and wheels made of soybeans. It will be featured in the European Grand Prix and Britain's Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Now there are 2 thoughts I have about this car. The first is what will happen when it is in a race. If this car finishes anywhere above dead last, you can be assured that there will be a huge cry for more to be built, and an end to all other styles of race cars. Monster Trucks will be replaced with monster cabbage, and NASCAR with broccoli inspired stock cars. It will be the example of green entertainment, and the prototype for everyday vehicles.

There is a good and bad to this of course. The good is the eco-fanatics dream. A world of vegetables and speed, or at least just vegetables. The bad might be the damage drivers will endure from cars that are not strong enough to be safe, or more flammable. And of course there ever present problem of rabbits.

But the more serious thought is something far more dangerous. Let's say this Willy Wonka inspired contraption works. Maybe even wins a race. And it inspires a slew of other vehicles and changes the entire auto racing industry. Even the personal vehicle industry (especially if President Obama continues on the path of privatizing the auto industry).

The result is that the cost of food will skyrocket. Most haven't noticed, and the major media has yet to seriously report that ethanol, especially corn-based ethanol as used in the U.S., drives up food prices. All the food we have costs about 10% more today just because of corn-ethanol. And that is rising.

Imagine cars made out of food, with engines fun on biomass derived from food. Of the hundreds of millions of cars just in the U.S. alone, with billions of gallons of fuel consumed. Of the thousands of race cars in the auto racing industry and the fuel they use. If the use of ethanol, which can't be bought by 95% of American citizens, has risen food prices 10% already what might this trend cost us?

Auto racing, NASCAR in particular in the U.S., is not going to go away. But this Wonka-mobile will start a trend, similar to what I imagined 2 years ago. So get ready. Things are about to change I think. And all the change may not be as fun, healthy, or affordable as some will claim.

Robert Duvall vs Wal-Mart: One more battle at Wilderness battlefield

Just a bit of news that most might have missed. Robert Duvall is currently fighting with Wal-Mart over a new proposed location in Virginia. Now before all the left-wing, anti-Wal-Mart nuts start tripping over themselves in joy this is not about the company.

It seems that Duvall is a descendant of Robert E Lee. This may well be a factor because the new Wal-Mart location in Virginia is also the next to the site where Lee first fought General Ulysses S. Grant - Wilderness Battlefield. So for Duvall, Congressmen Peter Welch of Vermont and Ted Poe of Texas, this is a matter of historical preservation.

I am known for my desire to preserve - in fact highlight - the causes, repercussions, and reality of the Civil War. So to an extent I see the reason these men are fighting Wal-Mart on this location. But, the fact is that there are hundreds of battlefields that crisscross the nation from that war. And several are far more famous and significant than Wilderness.

For me, it is the pivitol and the last battles that matter. Not the first nor the minor. To preserve such sites seems in a way to be holding on to a romanticized dream of what happened, why and how. Of course had I ancestors that died in the battle I might feel different. Then again, my ancestors died before, during and after the Civil War on a regular basis - en masse at times - without so much as a gravestone.

But I will say this. In my conversation with Robert Duvall some years ago in Moscow. I came to find him to be a driven and purposive man. He is a deep thinker, and rarely acts without reason or forethought. He is committed to the actions he takes. So I am left to believe that this battlefield is perhaps more significant than I am aware. Still I notice that the Virginia representatives of Congress are not mentioned in reports about this.

I have readers in the South. I am sure at least a few are Civil War buffs. How important was Wilderness battlefield? Do the people of Virginia care about this site? Is this site worthy of being kept preserved, or is it just the quasi-political tether of family that drives this cause?

Dom DeLuise passes at 75

Some of my younger readers may not be familiar with the comedic actor Dom DeLuise. Some might just know him as a chef. But that would be a severe misunderstanding as this was a very funny and accomplished man.

Dom DeLuise was not just an actor. He was a director, an actor, writer of several children's books, and a chef. Which says nothing of his being a father to 3 sons, each of which went on to have success of their own.

If you were alive in the 1980's you could not miss DeLuise. He was in a host of movies with Burt Reynolds including: Canonball Run, Smokey and the Bandit II, and All Dogs Go To Heaven. If you are a fan of Mel Brook's movies you again would note DeLuise as he was in Blazing Saddles, Spaceballs, Robin Hood: Men In Tights to name just a few. But he was a biger actor than just this selection of his work. He was in Johnny Dangerously with Michael Keaton. He was star of his own ABC hour-long comedy show. And if you wondered about his range, pay attention to the original Fail-Safe to see him in a serious role. He even did operetta at the Metropolitan Opera.

This is no small career. His career spanned 50 years, just counting movies and television. 67 movies, 33 television series or shows, the voice of over a dozen animated characters, 7 children's books, and 4 cookbooks. All this from a man from Brooklyn who lived a quiet life, never on the tabloids or in scandals.

Dom DeLuise may not have been the leading man or mega-star status of Burt Reynolds, or other Hollywood entertainers, but he was a fixture of Hollywood in the way that counts most. He helped make the movies and television shows he was in better. He worked consistently because he was skilled. He was a good man.

I am saddened to hear of his loss. Though there is some comfort to know that he passed in his sleep, without pain or suffering. For 50 years Dom DeLuise gave the world laughter and a reason to smile, such a loss cannot go without being noticed.

My condolences to his family and friends.

Movie Review: X-Men Origins: Wolverine

What can I say about one of the more anticipated movies of this summer season? I was disappointed.

Wolverine is a movie with several things going for it, but it just doesn't seem to take hold of any of them. Fans of the comic books will have various issues on top of those presented by the movie. Regular fans of the X-Men will feel short-changed. It's like the bonus scenes at the end of the movie, neither is worth the time you spend waiting to see them.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine is indeed a well produced movie. There is CGI and explosions to fulfill the testosterone needs, and more than enough scenes of Hugh Jackman without a shirt off to pass the time of most who enjoy that. Jackman has worked out a lot for the film. The explosions happen almost every 15 minutes with fights mixed in between to keep everyone busy. There is even a loose bit of plot woven into the whole thing to keep your mind stimulated, a little.

But it just doesn't work. Here is a problem, we start the film proper with Logan and Creed part of a secret superhuman squad of assassins. This is after an introduction explaining that they had been part of every conflict and battle America had since the Civil War (Interesting to note that both Creed and Logan were in Blue). We are introduced to every member of the group as they do their thing against some ambiguous African warlord with a stash of diamonds. Then they are all gone, essentially.

Zero, has one scene where we get to see he is really fast and accurate at firing a gun, and about 45 seconds throughout the rest of the film. Blob gets the scene against the tank, and another in the boxing ring. Then he is gone. Wraith gets about 10 minutes, of which only 1/3 has him talking. But he does get to be in 3 locations before he is gone. And Wade Wilson - well other than his opening scene, nada. Hey Ryan Reynolds got paid a likely $200,000 plus for 5 minutes of screen time. I don't hold that against him. It's a great job and life if you can get it.

Suffice to say, everything in this movie is just thrown at you, then tossed away. You barely get enough time to understand who a character is and what they might be able to do, before they are gone. So you never really get to care. Except for Wolverine and Sabertooth. Which you either like or not from early on in the film.

Plus you are left with a lot of why in this movie. Why are some mutants killed, others held captive, and yet others frozen in block of ice. Why don't certain people, besides Wolverine, remember what happened in the subsequent movies this is a prequel of. Why does Wolverine lose his memory even though he heals from all injuries perfectly. Why doesn't Sabertooth use any of the past on Wolverine in the X-Men movies?

And on and on.

You don't get a lot of time to ponder any of these questions. The movie keeps the pace high enough that you never get enough time to consider these questions. But you are left with the feeling that nothing is resolved. And once the film ends it just hits you like a brick.

As much as I was looking forward to the film, it just never got to a point where I was satisfied. Especially my interest in the Wade Wilson/Deadpool character. As a fan of that comic book character I was left with a Tim Burton Batman movie introduction and end to the character.

Bottom line, Don't see this in the theater. It will be a nice DVD, especially if there is extra scenes that expand on the characters and what they can do and/or give more details about them.

Let's hope that the ret of this years crop of summer movies just get better from this point on.

Abigail Disney interviewed at the Tribeca Film Festival

The last interview I had at the Tribeca Film Festival was with producer Abigail Disney. She had 2 films at this years festival - Playground and Pray The Devil Back To Hell - both documentaries.

Both of these films are powerful stories on subject that Hollywood and the major media just won't touch. Which is a shame as what is being shown to the audience is important and affects millions of lives. Let me clarify what I mean.

Pray The Devil Back To Hell is the story of the women of Liberia (Chrisitians and Muslims) that joined together to create peace in their war-torn land. This was not political, or religious. It was exactly what Dr. Martin Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi did. And it worked. In fact it is being used as a template (for those women that have seen the film) to bring peace to other regions of the world.

Playground is another documentary based in solid fact. It covers the child sex trade from overseas to the U.S. and back again. It details how over 300,000 U.S. children, and perhaps countless others in the world are in danger from this growin issue. It is a call for attention to a subject that the U.S. media is either to squeamish or uncaring to cover.

Both documentaries are movies that need to be seen. They deserve coverage. And they are the only means currently for anyone to know what has happened. Because CNN, MSNBC, Fox News and all the other news media are ignoring the subjects.

But enough of what I think of the subject, here is Abigail Disney in her own words.





Don't forget about the International Day of Peace.

Also, I want to apologize to Abigail for not covering enough of Playground in this interview. I will be following up with her to get the rest of that interview soon.

Bette Gordon of Handsome Harry interviewed At Tribeca Film Festival

Another of the great films at the Tribeca Film Festival this year was the film by Bette Gordon, Handsome Harry. This is an intriguing drama by an independent filmmaker is known for her introspection and exploration of sexuality.

I had the chance to speak with Bette, and got to speak with Jamey Sheridan as well as Mariann Mayberry (who I did not even recognize at first!). While my conversations with Sheridan and Nayberry were off camera (and I might add quite pleasant), I did interview Gordon on video. And I found the interview to be filled with unique insights into the mind of an artist that has been captivating audiences for 35 years now.

(and I apologize for the background noise. It was quite busy at the Direct TV Tribeca Press Center. Next year I'll try to get a quieter room)







The film stars Jamey Sheridan, Steve Buscemi, John Savage, Campbell Scott, Aidan Quinn, Karen Young and Mariann Mayberry. Truely a tour-de-force of actors.

If you enjoyed the interview then I am sure you will enjoy Handsome Harry. I did.

The war of the cable news networks

When you look at the various pundits on cable news these days, you get the feeling that there is a war going on. Not the events in Afghanistan, or Iraq, but in the cable networks themselves. Not a new idea, but recently it went to a new level.

Recently Sean Hannity, of Fox News, made a statement that he would endure waterboarding for the benefit of U.S. military troops. While this was a statement made somewhat lightheartedly, Hannity is a strong supporter of waterboarding as a means of gaining information from terrorists, it was heard in every newsroom across the airwaves.

Thus Keith Olbermann, of MSNBC, took it upon himself to make that comment a reality. He has offered an $1000 to be donated for every second that Hannity endures the interrogation technique. And the far-left loved the visage of the event.

But Olbermann missed something in this. Whether it takes 5 seconds or 5 minutes, Hannity will break. That's not a victory for Olbermann or MSNBC. Nor for the far-left. Because all that proves is that waterboarding is effective.

As much as the far-left, the major media in general, and President Obama want to state that tough interrogations are ineffective the fact is that they work. Even as the President has refused to reveal any information that he has available to him that proves waterboarding has saved American lives (though he is quick to divulge that it was used among other techniques) the fact remains clear as day.

This is only a small part of the war being held in the 24-hour news networks everyday. With the lines drawn such that MSNBC is to the furthest left, and Fox News in the center and thus seeming far right. That is not to say that some people on both networks are at different points in the political spectrum, even to extreme. Hannity is hardly a centrist, just as Olbermann is not.

Still this all leaves me with a big question. Where is the real news?

When any news organization is actively taking a political position, the overall information being given is inevitably altered. When that news is political and will shape the American life, then there is a problem.

Take this minor example. MSNBC praises President Obama and the Congress. This has led them to emphasize coverage of the Obama Administration budget on the fact that it has pledged to lower the national debt by 50% in 4 years. But to cover just that portion of the impact of the budget is to lie to the American public.

The fact is, under the best scenario given by the Obama Administration, the budget will absolutely increase the national debt in 10 years. That is the ultimate outcome of his budget. In fact in the 5th year the deficit will be slightly larger than it is today. That's just 1 year after it would have been whitewashed to look lower for a year. That's polispeak.

Or how about the New York Times, questioning President Obama about how he feels as President. Not that questions about the economy (none were asked), nukes in Pakistan, the war effort in Afghanistan, or the impending release of Gitmo detainees into America are even slightly more important. Do you really care if President feels elated, if you just lost your job?

I realize that I am picking on the left in my examples. Other examples of the same kind of insanity from the right exists abundantly across the net. But the examples are real. And the net effect is damage to the public.

Were it up to me, I'd like to see all the executives at the cable news networks waterboarded. Perhaps that would remind them that the news, and honest critique of politicians (in both Parties), is their job. Not ratings or political agendas. That's what America cares about.

So if Olbermann wants to cover waterboarding, let him do an expose that covers the pros and cons of the issue. Which means admitting it worked, and explaining its failures. Anything else is just trying to grab a bigger television rating (which MSNBC needs - given). Which is not a benefit to America.

And by the way, Olbermann, why not just donate several thousand dollars to the families of the troops that are ensuring that you can get on the air and say whatever you believe. Without them you would be like Cuba or China, just reading whatever the Government tells you to.

Will Adam Lambert win American Idol? If so, for what reason.

So here is a question that I recently was pondering. Does it matter if a contestant on American Idol is gay?

I personally find the question to be dumb. Seriously there should not be a question on this subject. Because it really does not matter. Not even in the slightest.

But it seems that there are some out there that find this to be important. Why is quite beyond me. I suppose they are the universe balancing out all those incensed by the response of Miss California. Which itself was an issue that should not have grown to the extent it has.

No matter the private sexual preferences of Adam Lambert, he is a singer. Since I take it that he is in the running to win American Idol (I don't follow the show as I like my brain cells) I would assume he is quite good. Thus until technology exists where listening to music will instigate direct sexual intercourse with the music, only his voice is important to the competition.

Still there is a flip side to all of this. Adam Lambert should not win American Idol if his sole or main qualification is the perception of his sexuality. If his current position is being bolstered or altered due to the hype and mystery of his private life, which some want to use to advance a political agenda, then he must lose. It's just that simple.

Hollywood loves to show a face of ultra-liberal beliefs. It glorifies those that agree with it's ideals and/or supports them. And those that diverge in any way from its dictates find themselves shunned. Just read what the late Ron Silver stated. Look at how the major media backed Perez Hilton in his attack on Miss California.

This of course flies in the face of what Hollywood does. Like the disparity of people of color in front of and behind the cameras. Plus the promotion of various stereotypes, like the gangsta rap genre as an example, without shame. And the non-stop love affair with President Obama, as opposed to the critiques of virtually every President beforehand in my lifetime.

Hollywood would love to have an openly gay, or bisexual, American Idol winner. It matches the showboat of ideals that it flourishes daily. It flies in the face of those that have whatever issue on sexuality (which is itself wrong), and reinforces the views that caused Perez Hilton to attack Miss California over.

By the way, the actions of Perez Hilton were upsetting. To attack someone for having an opinion you don't like is no less wrong if the person is Archie Bunker or Perez Hilton. It's a small minded way to dismiss someone, for something they should be free to choose. The First Amendment works both ways.

But back to my point. Who cares what Adam Lambert does in his private life. Beyond selling extra teen magazines, there is nothing worth knowing. And anyone that would judge him, either way, on that basis is biased. Either he is a good enough singer or not.

So will Lambert win American Idol? I could care less. That is up until the point where winning is more of a political statement than proof of ability and performance.