Oscar Picks 2011

Nancy's Picks - will win, surprise win, should win

Best Picture:  The Artist 

Best Director: Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist

Best Actors Leading: Viola Davis, The Help and Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Surprise Win:  Michelle Williams, My Week with Marilyn
Should win again (or give another tie win with Viola Davis): Meryl Streep

Best Actors Supporting: Octavia Spencer, The Help and Christopher Plummer, Beginners

Best Original Screenplay:  Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris

Rachel Crow's Soulful "I'd Rather Go Blind"

Rachel Crow, great dreamer

Silent Night

“If they have a dream, they should always go for it because that’s what happened to me and my dream came true.”
_ Jackie Evancho, Age 10, Great Dreamer

Click link to hear Silent Night . . .
Jackie Evancho Official Website

Van Gogh, Gauguin, Cezanne and Beyond

Visiting the San Francisco Bay Area? Do not miss the Post Impressionist Masterpieces on exhibition from the Musee D'Orsay at the de Young Museum. Van Gogh's Starry Night Over The Rhone brought tears to my eyes. The show runs through January 18, 2011.

Great Inspiration: Mision Cumplida Chile

Mission Accomplished CHILE
Credit: Video Image taken October 13, 2010

Pandora Mobile, Music In Your Moment

Loving Pandora. In case you're wondering, Pandora is all about delivering you the music you love! Set up radio stations with your favorite artists and songs. Share your favorite stations with friends. Read more about The Music Genome Project. Even more enjoyable---listening to Pandora mobile and blocking out the riff-raff noise on BART while riding to/from my day job! From Yo-Yo Ma to Tina Turner, whatever music I feel like hearing in the moment. Simply brilliant.

iPhone 4 Totally Rocks & So Does Jonathan Mann

Hats off to Jonathan Mann for his perfect Song A Day response to the iPhone4 "Antennagate" hoopla. Apple kicked off the July 16 press conference with Jonathan's YouTube channel clip. Steve Jobs followed with a passionate presentation about their latest findings and "We Love Our Customers" good will commitment. As for me, I love my iPhone4!

_ Jonathan Mann, Great Dreamer

Gulf Coast Shrimper Dumps Oil on Herself in Congressional Hearing

Long-time environmental activist Diane Wilson poured Karo syrup over the top of her head during a Congressional hearing on the Gulf oil crisis just as Senator Lisa Murkowski started speaking. Senator Murkowski happens to be a top ranking member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Wilson was immediately hauled out of the hearing room and arrested ---of course.

Reports say that Diane was protesting Senator Murkowski's intention to block legislation which would lift the cap on liability payments for oil spills in the Gulf. A spokesperson for the senator reportedly said she is 'for raising the cap on oil spill liability' yet believes 'it's inappropriate to raise the cap to $10 Billion without proper review.'

BP as in Big Problem: Another report says the Senator has received more than $225,000 in campaign contributions from oil and gas industries during the past 4 years.

Knowing Diane, she wanted to make a point about what it's like to have oil dumped on you in addition to the political garbage going on behind the scenes. As a fourth-generation Texas shrimper, she began fighting the local chemical plants that destroyed the Gulf coast town of Seadrift, Texas more than 15 years ago. I've written about Diane in previous columns and hold alot of admiration for her. In some ways, I envy the fact that she's got the spirit and courage to be out there in front saying all this for the rest of us.

Diane Wilson on the Gulf Oil Gusher

Watch a Fox online news video report of the event and interview with Diane after she was released from custody:



Photo Image: Getty Images

Greyson Chance a Social Media Success Story

Greyson Chance performed Lady GaGa's "Paparazzi" at his local hometown 6th grade talent show on April 28 and posted the video of it on You Tube. Now with more than 23,260,000 You Tube views, two guest appearances on Ellen, $10,000 in prize money, new Yamaha piano, and a contract with Ellen's record label, no one could be more surprised than Greyson. This social media success story took less than 30 days.

Lady GaGa's personal advice to Greyson? "Stay away from the girls . . . and focus on your music." Elton John, Billy Joel--how about adding Greyson Chance to your show? Check out Greyson's "Broken Hearts" and watch clips from Ellen as he speaks about what inspires him.
__ Greyson Chance, Great Dreamer

Watch Greyson97 You Tube viral video . . .

GREAT dream PRODUCTIONS 2010 Oscar Picks

Favorites:
Meryl Streep
Inglorious Basterds
The Hurt Locker
UP

Will wins:
Best Picture & Animated Feature: Avatar & UP
Best Actors Leading/Supporting: Sandra Bullock, Jeff Bridges, Mo'Nique, Christoph Waltz
Best Director, Editing, & Screenplay: The Hurt Locker

On Julia Child After Julie & Julia

Meryl Streep whipping up the essence of Julia Child in Julie & Julia proves to be Nora Ephron's best ingredient. Who else but Streep could paint the portrait of Julia Child we hold in our hearts and minds? Only Streep could capture Julia's zest for life with the same fervor she displays Julia's utter sadness at her inability to have children, the most poignant and private moment of the entire film.

I had dinner with Julia Child early one Sunday evening at a restaurant in Marin (a stretch but I count it since a friend of mine and I were having dinner when Julia and friends came in; it may have been on our way back from Copia and Julia's Kitchen).

Not being an avid cook, let alone French cooking, I wondered why Julia was stopping at this restaurant. While local restaurant critics gave it a decent rating, it was not exceptional or even mildly wonderous so it ended up on my "overrated" list. I'd probably have a heart seizure (sans excessive butter usage) if Julia Child had ever entered a restaurant that I owned.

'A Quiet Revolution' Awarded EMMY®

Women of Tibet: A Quiet Revolution awarded EMMY® by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences San Francisco Northen California Region during the annual awards ceremony. 'A Quiet Revolution' is the second in Bay Area filmmaker Rosemary Rawcliffe's Women of Tibet trilogy. Even more poignant, the honor marks the 50th Anniversary of the Tibetan uprising and forced exile of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Rosemary's film depicts three generations of Tibetan women and His Holiness the Dalai Lama telling the story of one of modern history's greatest movements in nonviolent resistance. An estimated 15,000 unarmed Tibetan women took to the streets of Lhasa in 1959 to oppose the violent Chinese occupation of their country. The surviving exiled elders are the last generation of women left to tell the story of the Women's Uprising and transmit their cultural legacy. Having survived decades in prison and perilous escape across the Himalayas, they have become the architects and builders of the new Tibet in exile. His Holiness the Dalai Lama pays tribute to their spirit and influence.

To learn more about Rosemary's trilogy: Women of Tibet

Playing For Change: "Stand By Me"

Susan Boyle, I Dreamed A Dream . . .

_Susan Boyle,Great Dreamer

GREAT dream PRODUCTIONS 2009 Oscar Picks

Most Missed:

Original Screenplay: In Bruges
Adapted Screenplay: Slumdog Millionaire
Film Editing: Slumdog Millionaire
Directing: Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire





Best Picture:

Best Actors: Leading & Supporting Roles

When it can't be done, deliver a gift of hope

Tony Melendez began learning how to play the guitar at age 16. People told him it couldn't be done. Tony played before Pope John Paul II in 1987, he has delivered his "Gift of Hope" playing guitar as a full-time musician ever since.

Let it be.

Tony Melendez, great dreamer.

In Pursuit Of The Common Good, Paul Newman

Shameless Exploitation In Pursuit Of The Common Good, Newman's Own Founder, Paul Newman leaves a powerful legacy with more than $250 million donated to charities worldwide over the past 25 years.



Retiring from filmwork, December 2007



Check a previous post: On Cool Hand Luke

Living Your Dreams

"If you live your life properly, your dreams will come to you."
-Randy Pausch, Great Dreamer

Primetime special tribute to Randy Pausch with his "The Last Lecture: A Celebration of Life" Tuesday July 29 on ABC "Primetime" at 10 p.m. ET & PT.

Women of Tibet: A Quiet Revolution

Women of Tibet: A Quiet Revolution airs today on San Francisco's KQED at 6:00 p.m. with additional showings on May 21. The film made it's local PBS premier on KCSM San Mateo in April and continues to air around the U. S., I caught this initial local airing on KCSM.

It's the second film in a trilogy by Bay Area filmmaker Rosemary Rawcliffe. A Quiet Revolution world premiered at the 2007 Mill Valley Film Festival.

Rosemary's film depicts three generations of Tibetan women and His Holiness the Dalai Lama telling the story of one of modern history's greatest movements in nonviolent resistance.

An estimated 15,000 unarmed Tibetan women took to the streets of Lhasa in 1959 to oppose the violent Chinese occupation of their country. The surviving exiled elders are the last generation of women left to tell the story of the Women's Uprising and transmit their cultural legacy. Having survived decades in prison and perilous escape across the Himalayas, they have become the architects and builders of the new Tibet in exile. His Holiness the Dalai Lama pays tribute to their spirit and influence.

View trailer below.

To learn more about Rosemary's trilogy: Women of Tibet

More on On Peace

Artwork Image Copyright © 2004 Frame of Mind Films. All rights reserved.

Mama and Me In The First Church of Harpo

Oprah arrived at our family home to meet and speak with my Mother. Since Mama died 19 years ago a few days before Mother's Day, I find it significant that the high priestess of The First Church of Harpo sought her out.

I'd opened the front door to find Oprah coming up the walk, a small entourage of people with her, a limousine parked out front on the narrow street that most people have a hard time finding.

"Oprah's here," I called out, silently wondering what in the world is Oprah doing at my childhood home in Florida. A flurry of activity and greetings followed all around, a few "Faithful Friends" from my parents Sunday school class were there helping Mama get ready for a luncheon.

"O" came into our living room and sat in one of the upholstered side chairs. She was tired and without pretense told us she "needed a little refuge time along with some spiritual rejuvenation."

Everyone left Oprah alone for a moment except me, I'd been standing off to the side observing. She fit right in with her surroundings as if it was perfectly normal for her to be sitting in a stranger's living room. Someone handed her a tall glass of ice tea.

Even though "O" looked bone tired and needed refuge from celebdom, I cast aside my southern manners and approached her.

"Would you mind taking a picture with my Mother and I before you left?" I asked.

Her people 'weren't sure.' One of the "Faithful Friends" gasped out loud.

"O" didn't mind at all.

Photo: Me and Mama, Antonelli's Begonia Gardens, Capitola, CA, 1984.