Category: Movies
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Could We Start Again Please?
It’s been a while since I’ve recorded a song. This is mostly because I’ve chosen songs that are too difficult to learn quickly. I can record those after I get more practice time in. In the meantime, I remembered this song, from the musical Jesus Christ Superstar. It’s one of my favorites. Enjoy!
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Creative Work
It’s not a question of talent. It’s a question of timing. Some stories resonate more or less at different times. I wasn’t there for the Catcher in the Rye craze. But somehow, J.D. Salinger was there in the right place at the right time. He nailed it. Lots of people could relate to Holden Caulfield…
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Mira Nair
Mira Nair is another one of my heroes. As a director, she’s made several great movies, unlike any that I’ve seen previously. Here are my favorites. She’s worked with many impressive actors. Denzel Washington gave a rich and tender performance in Mississippi Masala. Marisa Tomei gave a delightful performance in The Perez Family. I look…
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Karilyn T. Starks
Tonight, I’m excited to see one of my heroes, and the love of my life, perform the role of Helen Bonfils in a one-woman show. Karilyn T. Starks has recently appeared in these two articles. It’s an understatement to say that I’m very proud of her and her amazing work. Doing theater together is how…
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Stephen Spielberg
I don’t think much needs to be said about Stephen Spielberg, given that his work is so well known. It should come as no surprise that he’s one of my heroes. The Indiana Jones movies impacted me most as I was growing up. While I’m not a huge fan of shark movies, Jaws remains a…
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Frank Oz
Frank Oz is more than a great director. He’s the genius who brought Yoda to life in The Empire Strikes Back. He’s worked closely with Jim Henson on many projects. And he’s one of my heroes. He directed one of my favorite comedies of all time, Bowfinger. Karilyn and I love this movie, partly because…
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Small Change?
Conceptually, it seemed like a small change. Just move several scenes around in a screenplay to improve the overall structure. It wasn’t a small change. When I moved the scenes, parts of the story began to unravel. I started a ripple effect. Ideas that made sense with the original ordering suddenly became clouded. Characters no…
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Peter Weir
Peter Weir is one of my favorite directors and one of my heroes. Here are my favorite movies that he has directed. The Year of Living Dangerously, Dead Poet’s Society, and Fearless are each so good that I would love Peter Weir’s work if he had done nothing else. But he has! Each of the…
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On Heroes
I have many heroes. I’m not sure if that’s the right word. There are many people who I respect and admire for doing something extraordinary. A very large number of people! At the top of this collection are the people I officially identify here as my heroes. These people have touched my life in a…
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Casablanca
One of my favorite movies of all time is Casablanca. I decided to watch it again to celebrate Father’s Day. Of course, we’ve only been making movies since about 1874, or maybe 1888. I can hardly believe we’ve only been making movies for about 136 years! Here are a few of the reasons why I…