Breaking News Breaking Down

We were at dinner the other night and I mentioned Pamplona, Ernest Hemingway, and “The Sun Also Rises”. It just so happens one of the guys at the dinner had actually taken part in the running of the Bulls. He described with aching details what it was like.

It all started with his cousin who convinced him to go along. They lined up together and then they began to run. It was a crush of humanity. Then you hear this roar behind you. It’s like an earthquake, the noise is deafening, and the ground shakes. He said the fear and adrenlin really kick in. Now the problem isn’t just what’s coming from behind, but also what’s in front. If people lose balance and fall then they will be trampled , not by hooves but by shoes. He described in harrowing detail just how exhausting it was physically and mentally. He also described in detail what it was like to watch someone get rammed by one of the bulls. He shook his head repeatedly and kept saying, “I’ll never do it again. It’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever done.” And yet every year people do it. I suppose if you survive it and come away uninjured then you will forever be able to hold a dinner party spellbound as this man did last night.

So what does this have to do with the running of the spam. Well today I saw that there were 27 comments from previous posts that had not been approved. So I went in and did my own stupid thing. I approved them all. It was my version of the running of the spam. Most of the comments are idiotic, and just an attempt to get real people to read the comments. So read at your will…laugh…enjoy…and know you are a real person and most of these comments come from spammers attempting to get you to buy something. Read them at your own risk and know that if you follow their links you might just end up regretting it like my friend who took part in the running of the bulls.

I’m back to writing, I took a break after my road trip. It was a productive trip. I had a series of meetings.

One meeting was with my producers rep. Jon Gruska in L.A.. Jon is trying to cut a deal to get wider circulation for the film Breaking News, Breaking Down. He’s been in talks with one of the largest video on demand companies about the film. We’ll see what happens with the talks. He’s very enthusiastic.

Next stop from California was a stopover in Chicago, and a brief trip to Milwaukee. The Dart Society like a number of non profits is dealing with a money crunch. Our budget has shrunk in the last year and we are looking at fundraising opportunities to try to make up for the short fall. Part of the plan devised by Deirdre Stoelzle Graves is to host a series of fundraisers around the country where we show the film. So I met with fellow board member Jeff Kelly Lowenstein in Chicago. I also had a very productive luncheon meeting with Gina Barton in Milwaukee. It looks like the talks will pave the way for a screening or screenings in August.

I’ll keep you posted.

I’m in Chicago tonight.  Spent the day at the taste of Chicago.   I also took in the soccer match between Ghana and Uruguay.  I am out here to meet up with my Dart brethren.  We have been talking for months about screening Breaking News, Breaking Down in both Chicago and Milwaukee.  I’m hoping we can continue the talks and put a framework in place to make it happen.

It would be wonderful to screen it here for the first time.  It would also be great because we are hoping the screening can raise funds for the Dart Society.  Like so many non profits we saw are funding levels drop and our looking at different methods to raise  money for this organization that does so much for journalists worldwide.  I will keep you posted  on our progress.   In the meantime check out the Dart Society website.    http://dartsociety.org/

Okay I am taking the plunge.  It has certainly taken long enough.  I used to blog on a consistent basis when I was at WUSA.  But when I left the station I left my blogging desire there at the station.  The Blog Master Rick Garner was no longer hovering over my desk demanding a blog entry and so I enjoyed the freedom.

But over time my little blog itch began again..and so here I am.  A lot has happened since my last blog entry.  We are in California and it’s the first visit here since we came for the funeral of our dear friend Rory Markas.

Just about every year we make the sojourn west to come see family and friends and to do a little business.  This trip is no different.  But it feels odd coming here during the heart of the baseball season and not giving Rory a call.  The routine was always the same.  I’d call and leave a message, and we’d trade voice mail messages.  Eventually we would connect and we’d try our best to synchronize our schedules.   Usually it would be a lunch planned along his route from the Antelope Valley to the ballpark in Orange County.

The lunch would include reminiscences of some dumb things we had done together years ago.  We would catch up on each other, and get the latest updates on our families.  Kate would ask him “When are you going to get married?’  Invariably I’d quiz him about the Angels, the division and baseball in general.  He’d usually have some fun story about a player or a colleague to share.   At some point he’d look at his watch and say “I’ve got to go.”   His life was harried and fast paced, of course ours was as well.

I can remember every year when the schedule would come out, I’d look to see when the Angels were coming to Baltimore to play the Orioles.  Then I’d start trading emails with Rory to figure out a plan, so we could go out for drinks or dinner while he was in town.  The last time we did it, Courtney was along and the three of us had a great visit.  Like always he made us laugh, and our rib cages hurt when we walked out.

So much has changed now.  I don’t check the schedule.   I don’t look at the box scores.  I don’t even check to see how the team is doing in the division.  It’s just too painful.  I asked my sister while we were in L.A., so who is doing the games for the Angels now.  ”I don’t know” she replied.  She can’t listen, listening is a reminder of what we’ve lost.  I still don’t know who is sitting in that seat.  It would require a quick google search, but it too would be a reminder of what we’ve lost.

This trip comes 28 years after I had the happiest day of my life in California.  The day when I walked down the aisle and married my wife.  My good friend was there as best man.  At the time our lives were right there in front of us.

Now 28 years later Kate and I are here to celebrate our anniversary.  We hit Fisherman’s Wharf just a couple of days ago.  In those 28 years I lost a good friend, and my mother passed away.  We’ve raised two wonderful children, and they’ve gone out to conquer the world.  On this trip we hit the Convalescent Hospital to see Kate’s mom.  So much has changed, so much life has been lived.

LIfe is funny, you don’t really know what you have until it’s gone.  But with loss comes wisdom.  I embrace each day as though it’s special, because I know it is.  We are staying at Kate’s sisters home and there is a great sign in the kitchen.  It reads:

Work as though you don’t need any money

Love as though you have never been hurt

And Dance like no one is watching.

For those of you who have seen me dance, you know those three simple statements describe my life.

This has been a zany period in my life. I have lots of projects I’m working on right now. There are two documentaries in Production right now. I have a couple of other projects too. In the midst of all of this I am busy promoting my first film. When we were at Sundance, we picked up quite an honor from Moving Pictures Magazine. They singled out “Breaking News, Breaking Down” as one of the top Documentary Shorts of the year. A friend suggested after the award, and the heady time in Utah that I set my sites even higher.

“Enter the big film festivals, and see if they will waive your entry fee!”

I took those words to heart. So why not try Cannes? I sent a note to the Festival Director and asked “Would you be willing to waive your entry fee? My film just won this big award!”

I was astonished when the answer was yes! Then the Cannes Independent Film Festival let me know that the film had been accepted. Now begins the crazy part, get a flight, get lodging, and buy all of these do dads that get you into stuff. It all adds up of course, but who’s complaining? Certainly not me. I’m a Cannes Do Kind of Guy! By the way the film just screened at two more festivals this weekend. It was at the Crossroads in Jackson, and the Kansas City Film Fest in Kansas City. The film picked up an Honorable Mention there. Thanks to all that came to see it.

So Conan O’Brien is done at NBC. He walked away with millions. So this all started with his statement to “People of Earth”. So I started thinking this week..he makes millions by leaving NBC…and I’m leaving Fairfax to go to Park City. So why not send out a letter to the “People of Earth”? Lightning might just strike twice, don’t you think? So I did earlier this week via email, I’m reprinting the letter here. I was able to permission from myself. Oh and by the way I’m still waiting for my millions.

Hello everyone,

I just wanted to update you on the film. In just a few days we’ll be heading to Park City Utah where Moving Pictures magazine is going to give us another award for our documentary “Breaking News, Breaking Down”.

The film is an important examination of the toll telling the story can take on the story teller. The film is quite timely with all the troubling images that are emanating from Haiti. Images that will be forever seared in the memories of the reporters and photographers tasked with telling these stories. Many of them are friends, and some are featured in the film. If you get a chance I would ask that you read some of their writings that can be found at the Dart Society blog. Here is the link.

I’m happy to report that two distributors, and one network have expressed interest in our film. Being at Sundance we’ll get the chance to meet with them and talk further about getting this important story out to a larger audience.

We are also excited to report that we have three documentaries in various stages of development. Our film Portraits of Success is now being entered in film festivals on the west coast. It tells the story of two single moms on welfare who have managed to turn their lives around. They’ve done it thanks to a little known state run program in California that came close to being cut in last years budget cycle.

We have also just cut the trailer for our film “Dying for Help” that will be our next big production. It’s a different take on the health care debate. As we boldly say, it’s the health care story you won’t find anywhere else.

Here is the trailer…if you get a chance take a look.

We are also committed to helping our non profit friends with productions. Our work this year has included promotional and marketing films for the National Rehabilitation Hospital and the Montgomery Housing Partnership. So once again I can’t thank you enough for all your support. We are very excited at the prospects ahead in 2010. By the way if I bump into Robert Redford next week I’ll let him know that you said hello!

I was running around the house the other day and glanced quickly at my emails. I didn’t have time to sit down and dive in. Later I mentioned to Kate a heading that caught my eye.

Me: “Hey I think I got into another film festival!” Kate: “Which one?”

I had to admit I didn’t look closely enough at the email. I just knew by the heading that it wasn’t one of those emails…the rejection emails. I can spot those a mile away. So I went downstairs and logged on and finally looked at the message.

Congratulations! Your film, Breaking News Breaking Down, has been selected.

I stopped right there, and thought, wait a minute it hasn’t been selected for a film festival it has been accepted for an award. The honor is in the short documentary category and the contest is the Moving Pictures Film Contest of 2009. I read on….I won’t bore you with the entire note. but I did happen to like this particular section.

Out of over one-hundred and seventy submissions, Moving Pictures perceived your film to contain the best quality through subjects such as directing, cinematography, sound, editing, story, and character.

The prizes include coverage on their website and an invitation to the Contest Winners Award Party at Slamdance 2010 in January. Slamdance and Sundance are held at the same time in the same city. So that means a trip to Park City Utah. Of course the icing on the cake would be if the film screened at either of those festivals. That would be nice. I’m already pulling out the parka and getting ready to make the trek. Who wouldn’t?

So this morning I jump on the Internet before I head out the door for work. I have to log some tapes, and write today. I’ve got a project I need to finish up. So I look at the lengthy list of emails, and there it is, stuck right in between a facebook notification and an HP newsgram.

This is how you learn your fate. A short note. The notes go one of two ways.

Here is note number one…and it pretty much sucks!

“We were overwhelmed with entries…we got something like 6 billion films, (who knew there were that many movies made each year!) and while we wish we could accept every film (do you really believe that?) we can’t. So we had a difficult and painful decision to make, and even though your film BREAKING NEWS, BREAKING DOWN is terrific, we regret to inform you that it’s not accepted. Please keep us in mind when you produce your next film (this is the caveat in case they are rejecting the next Martin Scorsese…they want to make sure they can keep the door open.) because we want to continue to follow your progress.

I know what you are asking, did I get a note like that from Cannes? Please!!!! Are you kidding, in their note it’s probably more like 16 billion films. I didn’t even try with Cannes.

Note number two is much better and can actually make your day. I got note number two today from the folks at the Dark River Film Festival!

Congratulations! Your film has been selected to play at the festival. We do not have the show times exactly worked out as of yet, but will inform you as soon as we have them. Thank you for submitting a wonderful film that we can present to our audience.

Naturally I was pleased, but then I did a little digging. The festival only accepted four Documentaries. In some categories they didn’t select any films at all. Why? Well it’s spelled out in their mission statement. The Dark River Film Festival is truly an indie fest. It’s whole mission is to showcase the creatively defiant independent filmmaker. On their website they say their mission is to promote and award films that excel in form, technique, and to also showcase stories that challenge and transcend expectations. The website shouts:

The Dark River Film Festival is dedicated to recognizing and awarding the best films period! Unlike other festivals that show bias to locale, budget, or personal interests, Dark River looks for the best film with the best story.

And it’s the only fest that offers free judge and audience feedback!

So needless to say I’m stoked. My film will play at the Film Festival next month. If you are anywhere near it….buy a ticket, and grab some popcorn. If you do, you will be supporting me, the film, and the type of film festival all of us can appreciate.

I’m at home and watching the American League Series and starting to fret. I grew up in Southern California and have been a fan of the Angels since the days of Tom “Satch” Satriano and Jim Fregosi. I can remember going and watching the mastery of Nolan Ryan. I’m hoping the Angels can turn this series around.

When I was in College in the broadcast department, a friend and I got this hare brained idea to go to an Angels game. We thought we’d get press passes and pretend to be the real thing at the game. To our astonishment, we got the passes. We were able to get on to the field and mingle with the players. I remember getting my picture taken next to Brooks Robinson, and doing the same for my friend. Two college kids with eyes as big as the moon as they walked along on the field before the game in the company of big time ballplayers with the Orioles and Angels. Life couldn’t get any better, could it?

Now years later I watch the game and I think about my college friend. He took his place up in the stands with me in the nose bleeds on that day. As the game got underway, two teens took turns pretending to be Vin Scully or Dick Enberg. We had a little tape recorder and we took turns being the play by play announcers for an audience of no one. I suspect we weren’t very good. I’m not sure if the audio tapes still exist, or if he has them. Now all these years later , my friend is not at my side, now it’s my dog sitting next to me showing no interest in this game.

I’m thinking about my college friend. Because now while I watch the game I know that the exercise was just fun for me, but for my friend it was a taste of the future. So tonight I watch and root for the Angels and think about my college friend Rory Markas. He isn’t sitting in his home, he’s sitting in the broadcast booth at the stadium, he’s the voice of the Angels. He’s also proof that dreams do come true. I’m rooting for the Angels and my friend, and thankful he’s around. Almost a year ago we all feared he was going to be doing his announcing for those other Angels. He had a blood clot and was in intensive care for 10 days. So tonight I say go Angels…go Rory!!