Today I met with a filmmaker client who had made a notation on a draft publicity strategy I'd put together for her. On the client goals section she'd written "Oprah." I grinned and shared the vision I'd had while driving over the San Francisco Bay Bridge on my way to meet her: I'd clearly seen her, the film's cinematographer and co-director, and a few key cast members onstage with Oprah laughing and sharing their experiences. They were on the show because it's a best-in-class documentary that reasonated with the team at Oprah who knew it would do the same with everyone who watches the show. Dreaming Out Loud!
Friday, March 31, 2006
On Oprah
Yesterday I tuned into a PRWeb sponsored teleseminar featuring Annie Jennings, a Public Relations expert who's currently promoting her consulting services about 'How To Get Booked On Oprah.' Annie's guest happened to be a former producer on the Oprah Show. The session prompted me to pause a moment and reflect on why I really chose to tune-in on Annie's teleseminar. It's pretty simple, I've come to expect the best from Oprah because that's what she and her team deliver. Who wouldn't want to (1) share their best with the best and (2) share it with others who may in turn be inspired because they watch the show.
Today I met with a filmmaker client who had made a notation on a draft publicity strategy I'd put together for her. On the client goals section she'd written "Oprah." I grinned and shared the vision I'd had while driving over the San Francisco Bay Bridge on my way to meet her: I'd clearly seen her, the film's cinematographer and co-director, and a few key cast members onstage with Oprah laughing and sharing their experiences. They were on the show because it's a best-in-class documentary that reasonated with the team at Oprah who knew it would do the same with everyone who watches the show. Dreaming Out Loud!
Today I met with a filmmaker client who had made a notation on a draft publicity strategy I'd put together for her. On the client goals section she'd written "Oprah." I grinned and shared the vision I'd had while driving over the San Francisco Bay Bridge on my way to meet her: I'd clearly seen her, the film's cinematographer and co-director, and a few key cast members onstage with Oprah laughing and sharing their experiences. They were on the show because it's a best-in-class documentary that reasonated with the team at Oprah who knew it would do the same with everyone who watches the show. Dreaming Out Loud!
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Imitation of Life
Here's two great dreamers. . . one of my high school theatre buddies, Ken Fallin uses his unique drawing style to render sketches of notable folks for the Wall Street Journal and other clients. Today's drawing of the legendary gospel singer Mahalia Jackson caught my attention. 
My first memory of hearing Mahalia Jackson is sitting in the darkened 5-Points movie theatre with my parents and watching the Lana Turner remake "Imitation of Life." It's also my first recall of watching black & white racial discrimination on film. I was 8 or 9, so it had to be about 1959. I remember sitting with a huge lump in my throat trying not to cry as the maid’s daughter, very light skinned and ashamed of being black, had decided she wanted to be accepted into society as white, the lump was due to her treating her Mother so badly—when her sweet Mother died, Mahalia Jackson sang at the funeral. By this time, the lump in my throat was enormous, I could barely breathe. I always remember Mahalia Jackson in this way, singing up in the choir loft. Another amazing person who showed up for civil rights, Mahalia Jackson lived her life with amazing grace.
My first memory of hearing Mahalia Jackson is sitting in the darkened 5-Points movie theatre with my parents and watching the Lana Turner remake "Imitation of Life." It's also my first recall of watching black & white racial discrimination on film. I was 8 or 9, so it had to be about 1959. I remember sitting with a huge lump in my throat trying not to cry as the maid’s daughter, very light skinned and ashamed of being black, had decided she wanted to be accepted into society as white, the lump was due to her treating her Mother so badly—when her sweet Mother died, Mahalia Jackson sang at the funeral. By this time, the lump in my throat was enormous, I could barely breathe. I always remember Mahalia Jackson in this way, singing up in the choir loft. Another amazing person who showed up for civil rights, Mahalia Jackson lived her life with amazing grace.
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
On Unreasonable Woman Diane Wilson
In October 2005, I had the pleasure of picking up great dreamer and "UnReasonable Woman" Diane Wilson from the San Francisco airport---she was traveling "on the lam" having just been ordered by a Texas judge to return to Texas and serve a stint in jail on an old Dow Chemical plant trespassing charge. We found ourselves continually on the look out for Texas Rangers or other Federales while waiting for her baggage--- it dawned on me at this point that I was "harboring a fugitive from justice". Like many others, I've come to support Diane for her passion and non-violent action to change things that are not OK in this world. You might not always agree with Diane on how she approaches something---but you can readily agree with her on what needs changing. On the drive to her hotel in Marin, we talked about being a writer and her love of the great American writer William Faulkner. If you haven't read Diane do so now, she's a gifted natural-born writer.
Diane managed to stay "on the lam" until early December when she slipped back into Texas and was arrested after unfurling a banner while chanting "Corporate Greed Kills and Iraq Kills Too!" at a Houston fundraiser for the less than admirable, Tom Delay--since she was very close to the podium when VP Dick Cheney approached to speak---obviously, she would be stopped and removed from the event. We've come to know now that anyone who wears a 'support' this or that t-shirt in the public viewing seats at the U.S. Capital will be taken away. The macabre scene that followed Diane's removal from the Delay fundraiser got even more frightening when neither her attorney, family, or closest friends and allies could find her for several days in the Houston jail system, reportedly due to a confusing mix up surrounding the name she was booked under. You can imagine how concerned everyone was for her safety. Sparked by the conditions and treatment of detainees within the jail system, once Diane was transferred from Houston to the Victoria jail, she placed a call-to-action for Texas prison reform. Of course she would, this is Diane Wilson.
The world-reknown environmental activist, author, and co-founder of Code Pink is not your everyday 'criminal'or activist. She got real angry about what was happening in her own backyard in the mid-1980's and chose to stop it.
She chooses to go out daily to put her own life on the line for the future of her family, grandchildren and for the rest of us around the globe. Her work has cost her dearly in the process and she knows it. Diane Wilson follows her passion: unwavering dreams for peace and a healthy green environment. An UnReasonable Woman, a great dreamer, Diane Wilson's the real thing.Producer and Director Carolyn M. Scott's TEXAS GOLD is the award-winning documentary about Diane Wilson's 'fight against chemical industry giants in the most polluted place in America.'
Photo Credits: Vicente Franco, Director of Photography, TEXAS GOLD
Monday, March 27, 2006
On The Sopranos 6th Season
Brilliant. Thanks to David Chase for (1)not shooting Tony at the end of the 5th Season and (2) figuring out to have Junior do it in Episode 1 of the final season! With Episode 2, Chase gives Edie Falco her time to shine as she delivers one of the best performances on the program in any season. I'm inclined to go with SF Chronicle Tim Goodman's prediction that Carmela will end up running the business (Goodman also gives himself an out with other possible endings). Last night's Third Episode reveals even more about the true character motives driving Soprano mob members,Carmela ends up sitting in Tony's chair at Dr. Melfi's office, and Christopher's back pitching another film idea: "it's Saw meets Godfather 2." In a meeting with potential investors, Christopher gives the set up: "It's about a wise guy with a big mouth and bigger dreams."
Sunday, March 26, 2006
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