Blog Archives

Smokey the Bear

1/31/2020

The longest running Public Service Announcement on record, is for the prevention of forest fires dating back to 1910. There were around 50 million acres lost to fires each year and with the new interest to have state and national parks, the United States Forest Service was born in 1905.

In 1910 they began advertising mostly through meetings and posters. A campaign began in 1944 featuring Smokey and the slogan was: "Smokey Says – Care Will Prevent 9 out of 10 Forest Fires." In 1947, they switched to the iconic: "Only you can prevent forest fires." For 75 years this slogan has remained the same.

Mary Shelley (1797 - 1851)

1/30/2020

The first fictional novel was a game-changer. At the age of 20, Mary Shelley (London), published the book: "Frankenstein," in 1818. I just wish that when she wrote it more people could read because it's one of the most creative books ever written.

Mary was 18 when she started writing it which goes to show how her mind was able to create fantastical images and put it on paper to scare the dickens out of everyone else. Her understanding of electricity and the use of conductors were ahead of Tesla's time. She continued writing for several years, approximately four more novels along with biographies and travel guides. Frankenstein's first theatrical adaptation was in 1823 and it made its way to silent film for the first time in 1910. It was one of the first major scary movies ever filmed.

Mary was extremely intelligent as she came from a family of philosophers and writers. Her mother led a feminists' movement in London but died one month after Mary's birth. Her first husband passed away and Mary lost three children to illness but one son survived who she spent a lot of time travelling with even when he was an adult. She died in 1851 at the age of 54 from what was believed to be a brain tumor.

J.R.R. Tolkien (1892 - 1973)

1/30/2020

There's no doubt that J. R. R. Tolkien, author of "The Hobbit," and "Lord of the Rings," was born with creative genes, but there's also no doubt that his mom nurtured this creativity to monumental heights. Not only did she read non-stop to J.R. and his brother, but she acted out the stories she'd tell. She'd constantly challenge them to make up stories such pointing at a tree and asking one of them what the tree's name was and where it wished it had grown instead of where it was. Tolkien not only loved creative stories, he loved language in general such as where words were derived from. He created an entire new language just for fun. He later taught language at Oxford.

His father died when he was young and his mother died when he was 16 so he and his brother were sent to live with caregivers. He was extremely bright and was given the opportunity to attend a very elite private school. It was there were he met three other students who'd all become like brothers to one another. They were raging against the machine so to speak as they were artists in one form or another and in their families eyes it was frowned upon because it wasn't a way to make a good living. One was a poet. One a composer. One an artist. Then there was Tolkien who wanted to be a writer.

All four of them ended up in WWI and two died in battle and one never really recovered mentally when he got home from the war. Tolkien was the only true survivor. He met a girl when he was in high school who lived at the same orphanage. They were together for 57 years and had four children.

It wasn't until he was 45 years old and a professor at Oxford, when he wrote: "The Hobbit" (1937), which was a major success. It took him 12 more years (1949), to finish: "Lord of the Rings." When he died in 1973 at the age of 81, he didn't know just how famous he'd become. His wife Edith had died less than two years before.

How Tolkien created the world that he did in his two amazing novels, is mind-blowing to me. He is what being an artist is all about. To not only see things we don't see, but also through one form or another, create visually what it is that they see so we can enjoy it as well.

Ghosbusters (1984)

1/30/2020

The movie was the brainchild of Dan Ackroyd but the fact is his original script was chopped to pieces by the time it made its way on film. He was humble enough to accept the many changes. It was originally pitched to the CEO of Columbia Pictures (Fay Vincent), and he loved the idea. At the time Ackroyd was saying that he felt good about Eddie Murphy, John Belushi, and John Candy being in the film but none of them worked out. Belushi was on board but he died of an overdose and the other two turned the roles down so he went looking for other talent.

Ackroyd knew Bill Murray from SNL and he'd known Murray's co-star, Harold Ramis, from the hit movie: "Stripes." Not only would Ramis make for a good actor for the movie he could also help them re-write the script. I believe Ramis will go down as one of the best comedic writers of all time considering how many hit projects he's written and directed like: "Caddyshack," "National Lampoon's Vacation," "Groundhog Day," "Stripes," etc. Murray didn't sign a contract, as he was always very aloof, and he hadn't called anyone for a few months leading to filming, so they were hoping he was going to take part in the movie but didn't really know until he showed up for the first day on set.

They only had around ten months to make the movie because Vincent wanted it to be a summer blockbuster. One of their major challenges was that not only did they have to do the filming, they needed all kinds of special effects and there was only one company that did this kind of work (ILM), and they were already tied up on a "Raiders of the Lost Ark," project. The timing was outstanding though as one of the most creative people at their company wanted to start his own business, so he took a bunch of people with him and their first project was "Ghostbusters."

The name "Ghostbusters," was already trademarked in a low budget film at Universal Studios so they weren't willing to give the name up and Ackroyd thought they'd have to call the movie: "Ghostbreakers," which no one wanted. They tried again and again to buy the rights from Universal and they wouldn't budge.

Then during production, Coca Cola purchased Columbia and even though they didn't have a clue about picture making, they told Vincent he needed to scrap the project because they didn't think it would make money. Vincent not liking the new ownership, left and became the CEO of Universal so they picked up the movie.

In the beginning of the movie, the New York skyline and firehouse turned GB headquarters, was done in NYC but most of the movie was filmed in Hollywood at Universal's 400 acre studio area. The film crew didn't have a clue if the special effects were coming together but they were, and everything came together about six weeks before the movie released.

By the way, Ackroyd was shocked that Sigourney Weaver wanted in on the project off of her fresh success with the movie: "Alien." It was her idea for her character to be possessed and turn into one of the evil dogs at the end of the movie. The gatekeeper, actor Rick Moranis (hilarious nerd in the movie), was originally to be played by Pee Wee Herman but the director made a last minute change.

To show how the stars were aligned for this movie, the reason they could finally call it: "Ghostbusters," is that Universal Studios owned the name and since Vincent left Columbia to run Universal, they were able to get their hands on it.

Needless to say, the movie rocketed to fame. The song: "Who You Going Call," went number one. The music video on MTV was being asked to be played again and again.

Last but not least, some executives who were supposed to bring Columbia Pictures into Coca Cola's portfolio, were fired because they cost the company hundreds of millions of dollars by canning the Ghostbuster's project.

Morale

1/30/2020

I've read about many historic military campaigns throughout history as I'm sure many of you have, and I've come to understand that the heroes of battle that we hear about are on the frontline, which is understandable, but it's the ones on the backlines, the unsung heroes, who win wars.

Can you even imagine being told that you had to provide supplies for 200,000 troops to cross over 1,000 miles that you actually don't know that much about? Some of the greatest militaries have been decimated by not having adequate ammunition, food, and water. Some say it's morale that wins wars so the question is where does good morale come from? If you want to negatively affect morale you reduce rations. It doesn't matter what your military objective is, if the troops aren't happy with their basic needs, they won't give their commanders their best. On many occasions they have fled.

Here's to all the unsung heroes in the supply chain.

Home Alone (1990)

1/30/2020

The screen writer for the film was John Hughes who wrote so many famous movies like the "National Lampoon's Vacation," series. He also wrote Mr. Mom, Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Pretty in Pink, Planes, Trains and Automobiles, and Uncle Buck. These last two movies made John Candy and Hughes very good friends.

MGM decided to produce the movie and were told it would cost around $10 million. Although they used an actual house in Chicago for outside shots, they had built the entire inside of the house in an abandoned high school. The scene where water was flooding the basement was filmed inside the school's Olympic size pool.

When it comes to Joe Pesci, about every other word out of his mouth in person or on screen, are cusswords so they worried that he wouldn't be able to stay with the script. To combat it, Joe came up with his own way of cussing so that the movie good stay PG. It also made the movie even funnier.

John Candy played a very funny role in the film as the guy with a Polka band. Because the movie's budget was low, Candy performed in the movie out of his friendship with Hughes and was paid just $500 which was the minimum the actor's union would allow anyone to be paid for a day's work.

The film was going over budget so the director and producer went to MGM to ask for $4.7 million more dollars to finish the project and MGM declined. They were willing to scrap their initial investment and move on. An MGM representative went to the school and began going around telling people they were fired. But what the MGM person didn't know is that the director and producer saw the writing on the wall and had already pitched the idea for "Home Alone," to 20th Century Fox and they said if MGM canceled the project, they'd come in with investment money to finish it. So at pretty much the same time people were hearing they were fired, the director and producer went around telling them they still had their jobs and were now working for FOX. The movie remained number one at the box office for around 12 weeks and has now brought in $500 million dollars. Needless to say, some MGM executives screwed up big time.

John Candy made one more film after this then tragically died at the age of 43. The amazing screenwriter, John Hughes, died of a sudden heart attack at 59 while walking on a sidewalk in New York City. He and his wife were there visiting their son and new grandbaby. He was truly one of the best and most productive screenwriters of our time.

By the way, everyone involved in the film loved Macaulay Culkin. If you think about it, risking $14 million dollars on an 11 year-old kid who's supposed to carry the film, is pretty gutsy.

Dirty Dancing (1987)

1/28/2020

I could write a book about the making of the movie: "Dirty Dancing," but here are some highlights. The woman who wrote the script did have a father who was a doctor, they vacationed in the Catskills (where the movie was depicted but not produced), and she and a lot of other kids would hang out in a basement listening to music that they weren't supposed be listening to and they'd do some dirty dancing.

She and a friend who was an independent movie producer, tried to get movie studios to produce the movie but they all hated the idea. They received over 40 rejection letters. Vestron Production mostly distributed VHS tapes but they did produce some very low budget movies (some porn). They got their hands on the script and thought it might be a good movie to be their first full length feature film. At this point the two women with the script were willing to try anything to get the movie produced.

The studio didn't have much money so they allocated 14 days of film production in a location in Virginia and around 30 days at a lodge in North Carolina. They couldn't afford established talent to make the film so they brought in a director who hadn't made a full movie yet, but he had won an award for a short film he produced. They couldn't afford A-List actors so they brought in Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey. The two actors competing against them for the parts were Billy Zane and Sarah Jessica Parker.

They couldn't afford leasing music for the film so they tried to produce new songs that fit 1963 or earlier. They used a song Patrick Swayze wrote and sang called: "She's Like the Wind." The song: "The Time of My Life," of course sounded old but it was new music. The film crew and actors/dancers didn't know what the last song for the big finale was going to be until at the end of filming because "The Time of My Life," came in last minute. They knew the dance routine, but didn't know the music.

When they finished the film, the head of Vestron watched it and told them to dump the film and collect insurance from it. They had invested around $4.5 million at that point. The director and producer asked him to please test it with an audience to see what they thought and the crowd went crazy over the movie so he told them to move forward.

They worked out deals to get the movie in theaters across the country and it struck gold. For 19 weeks it topped the box office. The soundtrack from the movie went number one. To date, it has brought in over $200 million dollars.

Time and time again we've seen throughout history that our lives have been enriched by people who had the fortitude to not take no for an answer.

Lockets

1/27/2020

Many people have lockets now, but few had them for around 300 years when they began popping up in the 1500's and worn by nobles and royalty. Commoners couldn't afford the metal let alone the workmanship it took to shape the pendant. Add to this that the lockets didn't contain pictures because cameras weren't around but instead they contained amazing works of art which cost money. I say "amazing" because of what these artists were able to paint on such a small surface.

When we watch movies about the 1800's and some cowboy or farmer is looking longingly at a locket of a loved one he's lost, it isn't realistic because more than likely the person could never afford such an item. But it does pull on our heart strings though.

Suicide

1/26/2020

Rarely do I post someone else's article, but the below is too important. It is from Reverend Clay Smith

"A young man discovered his wife was having an affair with a cop. They talked. She wasn't sure what she wanted. The next day when he came home from work, the cop and his wife were sitting at the table. An argument ensued. At a heated moment, the young man reached on top of the refrigerator and pulled down his pistol. The cop started to get up. The young man said, "Maybe this will convince you." He put the pistol to his head and pulled the trigger. He was gone.

I officiated at his funeral. It was my first funeral of a suicide victim. The family asked a friend, a talented guitarist and singer, to sing two Garth Brooks songs: "The Dance" and "Much too Young." The young man's wife, his widow, sobbed through the whole service. There were no words I could say to take away her shame, guilt and grief. We buried that young man on a cold Kentucky hillside.

I wish I could say that was my last funeral of a suicide victim, but it wasn't. Sometimes people act impulsively, like the young man. Sometimes the pain of living is so great, a person feels like they can't go on. Sometimes a person feels alone, isolated. They truly feel like no one cares if they live or die. Suicide seems like the best option.

Once, when I had to do a funeral for a person who took their own life, God put in my mind the thought of fog. Ever been in a fog so thick you couldn't see? A fog so dense you didn't know where you were? That's what life is like for someone who commits suicide. They have lost their way in the fog. Suicide seems to be the only way out.

I've been asked more than once if people who commit suicide are barred from heaven. The answer is "no." The manner of a person's death does not determine their relationship with God. When a Jesus follower chooses to end his or her life, I think Jesus meets them with a mixture of sadness, because they have arrived at heaven early, and compassion, because he understands their pain.

The title song for "M*A*S*H" was "Suicide is Painless," but that's a lie. I've held mothers who have wept over their child's tragic decision. I've stood by fathers who look at the casket holding their child with a vacant stare, searching for the answer to "why." I've sat with a wife and daughter trying to fathom how their lives changed in a moment by a choice they had no part of. Suicide leaves devastation in its wake.

Words do not quench the pain of suicide. A good friend of mine from college lost her husband to suicide. She shared with me that one pastor came by and, meaning well, began to talk to her about all the stages of grief. She remembered thinking "I wish he would just shut up." What did help was a friend who came and just sat. Didn't say much. He was just there. Sometimes the most holy thing you can do is just be there.

This same friend told me it helped that people had not forgotten her. She still gets texts from people asking how she is, expressing concern, extending care. A funeral marks the start of the grief journey, not the end. People need support, encouragement and presence on that journey. They need you to be there.

The people left behind after suicide have to wrestle with doubt: "Could I have stopped him? Was it something I did or said? Was I not enough for him or her?" People come to me during the grief process and ask, "Why did God let this happen?" It's not time for a discussion on free will and the sovereignty of God. I tell people it is OK to be angry at God and not even know why you're angry. When my children were small, they would get angry at me, not because I had done something to hurt them, but because I was safe. They knew I would not stop loving them, even if they were angry. God doesn't stop loving you in your pain. He is safe. You can pour out your heart to him.

If someone you care about has ended their life, I will not offer the flippant advice that "time heals all wounds." What I believe is this: Our heavenly Father loves you, will listen to your pain, will guide you and will give you strength. You don't have to be put together. You can be real with your Heavenly Father. Your grief is his grief.

If you are thinking about ending your life, if that dark thought dances through your soul from time to time, I want you to know there is hope. There are people out there who care about you. You are not a burden. The most courageous thing you can do is not end your life but reach out for help.

Psalm 30:5 says, "Weeping may last for the night, but joy comes in the morning." Your life is a precious gift. If you are in the dark, reach out for help. Hold on. Joy is coming.
The National Suicide Prevention Hotline is staffed 24 hours a day: 1-800-273-8255."

Dear Hollywood

1/24/2020

Dear Hollywood:

You preach to us about carbon footprints while you travel in SUV's and private jets. You preach feminism while you exploit and abuse women. You condemn violence while you make billions off of it. You condemn guns while your bodyguards protect you with them. The world outside of Hollywood isn't the problem, you are the problem.

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Author: John Mann

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