The Blog

Jason Mannino: Lisa Kudrow, Josh Brolin, Chaz Bono, Christin Ricci Come out to Support LGBT Film at Outfest 2009

2009-07-10T23:09:43Z

If the walls at the Orpheum Theater in downtown Los Angeles could speak they would tell you that last night was the kick off of the 27th Los Angeles Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, Outfest, 2009. Outfest is one of the oldest, continuously running film festivals in Los Angeles and will feature 181 films from 25 countries over a ten-day event that will put focus on LGBT Rights in response to Prop 8.

Cultural change is often led by artists. Outfest has been on the cutting edge of supporting diverse, bold LGBT artists in creating change and remains a pioneer in this festival. Jon Korn, one of the programmers for the festival says that he thinks "one of the biggest trends we're seeing in LGBT documentaries recently is an increased diversity in the types of stories being told and an increased range in their subject matter. Whereas fifteen, or even ten years ago, a lot of films focused [solely] on the sexuality of their subjects as an exclusive topic."

Kirsten Schaffer, Executive Director of Outfest, "In response to the passing of Proposition 8 in California and similar bans against gay marriage and adoption across the United States, we are proud to put a particular focus on LGBT rights and equality, and believe that this is a great time for the entire Los Angeles community - gay or straight - to come out and support one another during Outfest 2009."

Prior to the Opening Night Gala screening of "La Mission," Lisa Kudrow, and Christina Ricci, awarded Outfest's 13th Annual Achievement Award to Dan Roos. The award is Outfest's highest honor recognizing artists in film whose body of work has made a significant contribution to LGBT film and media. Roos is the screenwriter of "Love Field," "Single White Female," "Boys on the Side," and the 1996 remake of "Diabolique." In 1998 he made his directorial debut with "The Opposite of Sex,"(starring Lisa Kudrow and Christina Ricci). Upon receiving his award Dan made some poignant remarks. He said that there was a time when a film could stand out just because it was a "gay" film. However, now, we need to make "gay" films of great quality that speak to the human experience. I asked Kudrow why it was important to her to be at the festival to present Roos with his award. In addition to believing strongly in Roos' work she shared that her brand of humor has always been from the perspective of the person who is the "outsider" not fitting into the mainstream and that many in the LGBT community resonate with that experience.

The festival kicked off with a screening of "La Mission," Peter Bratt's rich and powerful story of a man's journey toward redemption and his struggle with violence and homophobia, which stars Benjamin Bratt. About the film Bratt declared that he is grateful to be part of a film that not only deals with homophobia but also breaks down cultural barriers in the Latino/Mexican community.

Among other guests at last night's even were Chaz Bono, Josh Brolin and wife Diane Lane. Brolin was present to support his friend Peter and Benjamin Bratt but also shared with me that after working on the film Milk, he feels more connected to the gay community than ever, and is happy to step out in support whenever the opportunity arises. Chaz Bono shared with us from the podium that it was seeing affirming films at Outfest that contributed to his decision to make his female to male transition.

The film festival is presented at various locations throughout Hollywood and Los Angeles including: DGA, Fairfax 1, Redcat at the Disney Concert Hall, Ford Amphitheater, and Laemmle Monica. To purchase tickets and for further details visit www.outfest.org

Galas
Opening Night Gala - La Mission (Writer/Director: Peter Bratt)
Closing Night Gala - Dare (Director: Adam Salky; Writer: David Brind)
Outfest Legacy Project Gala (Restoration Premiere) - Choosing Children (Directors: Debra Chasnoff and Kim Klausner)
U.S. Dramatic Centerpiece - Mississippi Damned (Writer/Director: Tina Mabry)
International. Dramatic Centerpiece - El Nino Pez (The Fish Child) (Writer/Director: Lucia Puenzo)
Platinum Centerpiece - Fig Trees (Director: John Greyson)

U.S. Dramatic Features
American Primitive (Director: Gwendolyn Wynne, Screenplay: Gwendolyn Wynne & Mary Beth Fielder)
And Then Came Lola (Directors/Screenplay: Ellen Seidler & Megan Siler)
Drool (Director/Screenplay: Nancy Kissam)
Fiona's Script (Director/Screenplay: Florencia Manovil)
Fruit Fly (Director/Screenplay: H.P. Mendoza)
Hannah Free (Director: Wendy Jo Carlton, Screenplay: Claudia Allen)
Hollywood, je t'aime (Director/Screenplay: Jason Bushman)
Lucky Bastard (Director/Screenplay:: Everett Lewis)
Make the Yuletide Gay (Director/Screenplay: Rob Williams)
Misconceptions (Director: Ron Satlof, Screenplay: Ron Satlof & Ira Pearlstein)
Motherland (Director/Screenplay: Doris Yeung)
Pornography (Director/Screenplay: David Kittredge)
Rivers Wash Over Me (Director: John C. Young, Screenplay: John C. Young & Darien Sills-Evans)
We Are the Mods (Director: E.E. Cassidy. Screenplay: E.E. Cassidy & Bruce Pavalon)

International Dramatic Features
Ander (Director/Screenplay: Roberto Caston)
The Baby Formula (Director: Alison Reid, Screenplay: Richard Beattie)
Bandaged (Director: Maria Beatty, Screenplay: Claire Menichi)
Boy (Director: Auraeus Solito, Screenplay: Jimmy Flores & Arturo Calo)
Chef's Special (Director: Nacho G. Velilla, Scr: Nacho G. Velilla, Oriol Capel, Antonio Sanchez & David S. Olivias)
The End of Love (Director/Screenplay: Simon Chung)
An Englishman in New York (Director: Richard Laxton, Screenplay: Brian Fillis)
Ghosted (Director: Monica Treut, Screenplay: Astrid Stroner & Monjka Treut)
Give Me Your Hand (Director: Pascal-Alex Vincent, Scr: Pascal-Alex Vincent, Martin Drouot & Oliver Nicklaus)
Greek Pete (Director/Screenplay: Andrew Haigh)
Lion's Den (Director: Pablo Trapero, Scr: Alejandro Fadel, Martin Mauregui, Santiago Mitre & Pablo Trapero)
The Man Who Loved Yngve (Director: Stian Kristiansen, Screenplay: Tore Renberg)
Mr. Right (Director: Jacqueline Morris, Screenplay: David Morris)
Patrik, Age 1.5 (Director/Screenplay: Ella Lemhagen)
Raging Sun, Raging Sky (Rabioso Sol, Rabioso Cielo) (Director/Screenplay: Julian Hernandez)
To Faro (Director/Screenplay: Nana Neul)

Documentary Features
After The Storm (Director: Hilla Medalia)
Against A Trans Narrative (Director/Screenplay: Jules Rosskam)
Beautiful Darling (Director/Screenplay: James Rasin)
City of Borders (Director: Yun Suh)
College Boys Live (Director: George O'Donnell)
Edie & Thea: A Very Long Engagement (Director/Screenplay: Greta Olafsdottir & Susan Muska)
Fish Out of Water (Director/Screenplay: Ky Dickens)
It Came From Kuchar (Director/Screenplay: Jennifer Kroot)
Lady Trojans/Training Rules (Lady Trojans Director: Elizabeth Hesik; Training Rules Director: Dee Mosbacher)
Off and Running (Director: Nicole Opper)
On These Shoulders We Stand (Director/Screenplay: Glenne McElhinney)
Pop Star on Ice (Director/Screenplay: David Barba & James Pellerito)
Prodigal Sons (Director: Kimberly Reed)
Sounds Like Teen Spirit (Director: Jamie J Johnson)
Still Black: A Portrait of Black Transmen (Director: Kortney Ryan Ziegler)
Two Spirits: Sexuality, Gender, and the Murder of Fred Martinez (Director: Lydia Nibley)

Roseanne Colletti: Mining the MJ Market

2009-07-10T22:31:42Z

I admit to a bit of morbid curiosity. I was not only interested in finding out what kind of Michael Jackson memorabilia has been selling since the death of the pop icon, but was also curious about their price and potential value as investments.

To that end I picked up the phone and called Dave Margulius, publisher of collectorsweekly.com. He gave me a primer of five rules for collectors, a least for collectors who are paying for the privilege.

Rule#1-Emotional Connection
"Do you love it"? He asked. "If the item turns out to be monetarily worthless, would you still be happy to possess it"? Margulius advises making the purchase only if the answer is yes. The last thing you want is to have buyer's remorse because you were caught up in the hype of the moment.

Rule#2-Displayability
While you purchase something for yourself, you also do so for the purpose of showing it off. Ask yourself how will it appear on your bookshelf, wall, or coffee table. Is the memento visually appealing? Even more importantly, will your significant other allow it inside the house? "A Michael Jackson signed guitar might be really cool and displayable because you can pick it up and play "Billie Jean", whereas an original studio executive's copy of the 35mm film version of "Thriller" in its original metal canister might be unique but pretty boring to look at," advises Dave.

Rule#3-Buy Mass-Produced
Here Dave takes a contrarian point-of-view, but there is logic to it. Personally used items are appealing because of their exclusivity. At the same time, they can be the most difficult to authenticate. Sellers know buyers will jump at the chance of something personal and exclusive and the unscrupulous will fabricate to meet that demand.

Rule#4-Develop a Theme
Try to build your collection around a theme -- a noteworthy event such as Michael Jackson's memorial service, or a specific article of clothing such as his hats or gloves. "Not only will your collection be complementary and complete, but you will also become a real expert on the items you choose. You can potentially create a website to showcase it and interested sellers and buyers will know how to contact you.

Rule#5-Confirm the Back Story
One of the biggest questions when making a purchase online is: is this real? Apparently, the "letter of authenticity" isn't enough these days because creating phony "genuine" articles is easy with today's technology. Dave suggests DNA testing by a reputable grading agency if you're considering a substantial purchase. "Mass media photographs or article mentions such as MJ wearing the exact item are also helpful," counsels Dave.

Now that you have a script to follow for MJ collectibles and others, what King of Pop items are selling best on E-bay? MJ fedora hats both black and white, signed Michael Jackson guitars, "Beat It" style red leather jackets, signed posters and photographs and Michael Jackson and Jackson five picture disc albums.

Yes, prices have increased since the music star's untimely death. Over the long haul, some items may increase in value while others won't. Remember value to the collector is in large part based on personal perception. Thanks Dave, nice picking your brain.

(If you want to see more of my stories and new GossipGrams go to nbcnewyork.com)

James Sims: Reality TV Kills California's Budget

2009-07-10T22:28:22Z

Reality television guru, Mark Burnett, recently talked with The Hollywood Reporter's James Hibberd about his upcoming series Shark Tank, set to premiere this Fall on ABC. Throughout the chat, Burnett touted his TV offerings as "high-quality" programming, going so far as to say his new show "belongs up there with great dramas." Judging by Hollywood's grand gestures - giving reality TV shows Emmy Awards and honoring Burnett with a star on the Walk of Fame - the producer has every reason to believe he is crafting "great dramas."

Then again, those in the industry, working below-the-line, might beg to differ with the Australian import. In case network television executives haven't noticed, California is flat broke. With Sacramento scrambling to fix its $26.3 billion hole in the budget, and banks refusing to accept the state's I.O.U.s, networks should be ashamed of themselves for shunning local production, opting instead for unscripted programming, year after year.

FilmL.A., the office behind film permits for the city, reported last month that the number of prime-time TV pilots shot in Los Angeles is down nearly 42 percent. The organization estimates that pilot production spending in the L.A. region is down more than $100 million this year, compared to 2005.

Lawmakers are trying to ease that burden, slightly, with the new annual $100 million incentive plan, spread out over five years. But, without network executives giving the green light to scripted programming, there will not be any substantial productions spending money in California. It kind of defeats the purpose.

Perhaps "American Idol" host, Ryan Seacrest, will start feeling generous and donate some of his bloated income. Turns out the former afternoon radio jockey could soon become "one of the highest-paid reality hosts on television," according to the Hollywood Reporter. I doubt FOX will be paying the metrosexual personality with I.O.U.s anytime soon.

Looking at the Fall prime-time lineup, there are far too many reality shows taking up valuable space. Burnett's nearly 10-year-old Survivor returns to CBS, as does The Amazing Race. Many other mindless programs are set to return, including So You Think You Can Dance, Supper Nanny and America's Next Top Model.

If networks refuse to get creative and take risks on scripted programming, at least they could relegate reality offerings to the summer, rather than waste time airing repeats. At first, it appeared as if NBC was making some progress, with the least amount of reality shows airing this upcoming season, but then it opted to give Jay Leno the 10pm time slot, every night of the week. Obviously, the network couldn't survive without that notorious chin on the schedule. In one lazy move, they knocked out the opportunity for five new productions.

Neither network executives nor California lawmakers should escape blame for the lack of filming in the state. However, a man with connections to both worlds has been attempting to do some good. Governor Schwarzenegger signed the legislation necessary to kick-start new state tax credits for film production. Applications to take advantage of these incentives started rolling in July 1, and nearly 60 have already been submitted, according to the New York Times. Unfortunately, most of those are from independent film productions, meaning the budgets are rather minuscule, in Hollywood math.

So, the next time a star is given out on the Walk of Fame, perhaps the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce should consider giving one to the likes of Spencer Pratt or Heidi Montag. After all, that gruesome duo has contributed as much substantial entertainment to the industry as Burnett. Reality TV is reality TV, no matter if the show takes place in Beverly Hills or some remote tropical forest. None of it results in economically substantial filming in California.

Nick Johnson: My Thoughts on Michael Jackson

2009-07-10T21:54:27Z

The news came recently: Michael Jackson, aged 50, deceased. I will admit that, having been born in 1988, my knowledge on the history of Michael Jackson is sparse. Only recently have I seen and heard many of his performances and songs. What I remembered Michael Jackson for was primarily the controversies of recent years, but the juxtaposition of the man portrayed in the media versus the man that touched and changed the lives of millions and millions of people was for me disquieting. The two didn't quite match up; something here seemed to be missing.

Michael Jackson didn't become the Michael Jackson we know today in a vacuum. He was, in part, what we made him. With each performance, each hug, each smile, and each scandal we were taking a part of him for ourselves. He was a man with an extraordinary gift, and he was, I think most would agree, the superlative musical performer of our era. In many ways he seemed to become his gift with time. The more he was denied a "normal" existence the more he turned to his monumental talent to sustain him.

From the few videos I have seen of him, the way he would light up when he saw a fan was remarkable, and he always seemed to be very considerate and very generous with his time and person. He was a man that understood he had the power to change lives and he desired to
share this otherworldly gift with as many people as possible. While this is often what we expect of those who are inordinately talented, many musicians and famous individuals of various stripes fall prey to the narcissism that comes with such fame and adulation. While some of this was inevitable with Michael Jackson as well, he still continued seeking to share himself and his gift with the world in a very selfless manner. He perceived the magnitude of the affect he had on those around him and instead of keeping that for himself he chose to give it to all of us. He always came off as spectacularly kind hearted and generous, going out of his way to be courteous to his fans, often talking with them or giving them hugs when most people in his position would have had them whisked away. While we often admire those financially successful individuals who give away vast sums of wealth (although it is often to these few, paltry sums) for the benefit of others, we somehow see fit to ridicule this man who wanted to do nothing more than to give us each a little part of himself. He wanted to move us and inspire us even though it cost him his life, figuratively and now literally, to do so. Michael Jackson was the ultimate philanthropist.

I am not exonerating his personal behavior. He may have harmed a number of children, which, if it is true, is absolutely inexcusable. But we have to recognize that we all share some responsibility for each of those acts. While he may have also had an abusive father and childhood, we all denied him the opportunity for human growth in a way that would skew even the most balanced or healthiest of individuals. Michael Jackson was clearly a man in pain, and we all share a responsibility for much of that pain. While the adulation of his millions of fans may have in some way sustained him, this dynamic was only symptomatic of the loneliness and isolation he was forced into. Michael Jackson lived for the adulation of his fans because we denied him the hope of anything else. We almost categorically denied him the possibility of real and meaningful human connection. To everyone but a few he would never be a human being, he would always be Michael Jackson: dancer, singer, icon. He became an image, he became an idea, he became his gift and his genius because we wouldn't allow him to be anything else. We all wanted and demanded more Michael Jackson and he gave us more Michael Jackson.

But beneath this image was a human being, and human beings are finite. In giving us what we all desired, he was taking away from himself, something all us followers of the American fame machine seem unwilling or unable to recognize. And when we finally saw the man beneath the image, the mask, it alarmed us that this man was a very lonely and distorted human being, as if he could have become anything else under the circumstances. We wanted more Michael Jackson, but what we got was Michael Joseph Jackson. And it scared us. We were once again unwilling or unable to see this man, however exceptional, for what he was--a man--and to take responsibility for what he had become. Instead we ridiculed him, put him in tabloids, and forced him to become even more reclusive than before.

In an interview Michael Jackson once said that he wanted to live forever, but this [in my opinion] was because we wanted him to live forever. He lived for us, and once we discarded him for what we had made him, he was understandably broken, distraught, lonely, and lost. While he may or may not have engaged in inappropriate behavior with children, in some ways it is understandable that he turned to the friendly company of children because they were likely the only people he could turn to who wouldn't be trying to glean some benefit from their relationship, to use his extraordinary talent for their personal gain. Children were the only ones that could enjoy Michael Joseph Jackson for Michael Joseph Jackson, whereas we were always asking for more and were only asking for or willing to see Michael Jackson the
performer.

We forced Michael Jackson to become a perpetual child, always seeking the approval of the media, of his fans, of us--his collective surrogate parent. He worked tirelessly for our approval and we gave it to him, and when we finally withheld it, he was understandably surprised, alarmed and hurt. He had become what we had asked and when he finally shared this with the world, the world rejected him for what he had become.

As his physical ailments robbed him of his performance abilities, he became, by all accounts, a man who regularly endured an extraordinary amount of physical, emotional and mental anguish. I would wager that any one not named Michael Joseph Jackson would have long ago perished under the circumstances. Stripped of the gift that had long sustained him, he turned to prescription drugs and painkillers, and to what little sanctuary he found in the privacy of his own home.

The demise of Michael Jackson seems to have been, in some ways, inevitable. He is now lost to us like many other great artists have been in recent years. He was, to borrow the description of another brilliant, and unfortunately recently departed, artist, David Foster Wallace, a "comet flying by at ground level." The candle that burns brightest also burns fastest, and Michael Jackson's light was blindingly bright, much to the benefit of us all. But as we stoked the flames and the light burned brighter it would inevitably burn out, and when the flame was finally extinguished, when the candle ran out, we have no one else to blame but ourselves.

Michael Joseph Jackson was not only a singular, once-in-a-century musical artist and performer, but he was also a genuine and kindhearted human being. His greatest flaw was only that he expected of us what he gave in return. He was in many ways greater than any of us, and when we asked, he asked in return for something we were all unable or unwilling to give. We forced him to create and live in a pseudo-reality that facilitated the offering of his amazing talent and gifts to us, and when he tried to extend what he had been asked to do all along, share himself with us, he was laughed at and mercilessly mocked and ridiculed. We asked him to live in the funhouse, and when he asked us to join him we scoffed and threw stones through the windows. To paraphrase the aforementioned late artist, David Foster Wallace:

For lovers, the Funhouse is fun. For phonies, the Funhouse is love. But for whom is the Funhouse a house?

Michael Jackson should be remembered first and foremost for the way he changed the lives of millions of people. It will likely be a long time, if ever, before we see another musical performer with the incredible gifts and generosity that he possessed. We asked him to be super-human, and in many ways he was, but ultimately he was just as human and just as frail as we all are. We were given the gift of this extraordinary man, and thus began the rise and fall, the slow and inevitable erosion, of Michael Jackson. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away, and so it goes.

Rest in Peace, Michael Joseph Jackson.

Melissa Silverstein: Interview With Aviva Kempner, Director of Yoo-Hoo, Mrs. Goldberg

2009-07-10T20:20:40Z

When I first heard about Gertrude Berg a couple of years ago when I was working on a documentary, after my initial shock dissipated, I got angry. How could it be that such a towering figure in radio and TV history could just... disappear?

Well, the good news is that Berg is back, hopefully for good. Aviva Kempner has put together the documentary Yoo-Hoo Mrs. Goldberg (disclaimer: I am consulting on outreach for the film) that restores Gertrude Berg to her rightful prominence as one of the leading figures of early TV.

Berg was the creator of the radio series The Goldbergs which morphed into the first family sitcom on TV The Goldbergs. The show introduced the country to a Jewish family in the years right after the Holocaust. This very Jewish family was welcomed into homes all across America and probably introduced Jewish customs and traditions to many people who had never heard of them before.

The thing about Gertrude Berg is that she did everything on the show. She wrote the scripts, she produced the show, and she starred in the show. EVERYTHING. She worked her ass off and received the first Emmy for best actress ever.

What was also so great about Gertrude is that she stood up for her co-star Philip Loeb who was named as a communist. Sadly, standing up for her convictions and her friend doomed the show. She lost her sponsors and couldn't get any more until she fired Loeb which she refused to do for over a year. During the McCarthy insanity there were not many people who stood up for others and Berg was one of those few. The show never really recovered and when they moved the family from the Bronx to the suburbs it was doomed.

This film is a great history lesson about a woman who was a feminist before the word was used. At the height of her popularity she was the second most admired woman in America after Eleanor Roosevelt. I'm so glad that her life has been preserved for generations to see.

Aviva Kempner has been working for many years to bring Gertrude's story to the screen. She answered some questions about the film.

Women & Hollywood: Why did you want to tell Gertrude Berg's story?
Aviva Kempner: For the past 30 years I have done films about Jewish heroes--men and women who fought the Nazis and baseball slugger Hank Greenberg. This time I wanted to concentrate on a heroine who had such a positive influence on American culture.

W&H: Gertude accomplished so many things in her life and was truly famous in her time yet she is completely unknown especially to younger audiences. How did she get to be: the most famous woman in America you've never heard of?
AK: Her shows were not syndicated, she suffered from her co-star Philip Loeb's blacklist, and she was on TV so long ago that she is not duly remembered.

W&;H: Gertrude was in charge of all facets of her show from writing to producing to casting...everything. What lessons can we take from Gertude and use today?
AK: Use every minute of the day. She would write from 6 to 9 in the morning, and her husband Lewis would type her scripts, and then she would go to the studio and produce and then without much effort slide into her role as Molly Goldberg.

W&H: Why have you made it your life's work to make documentaries about under known Jews?
AK: As a child of a Holocaust survivor who lost three grandparents and an aunt to the Holocaust, I consider it my life's mission to make films about Jewish heroes and heroines that contradict negative stereotypes about Jews.

W&H: Gertrude was so big and important in the industry that she was able to fend off the "blacklist" for some time and protect her lead actor Philip Loeb. Yet she could not hold them off and she was forced to remove Loeb and the show suffered and her career suffered. Can you talk about what it meant for a woman to do what she did at that time?
AK: I think for any man or woman at that time it was heroic to stand up to the blacklist, and it makes me proud one of the most courageous stories emulated from a Jewish woman.

W&H: What is your most favorite thing you discovered about Gertrude Berg?
AK: She wrote in the bathtub and every morning at 6 am. Now I wake up that early to work.

W&H: You really want younger women to learn about Gertrude. Why is that so important to you?
AK: Our tagline is the most famous woman in America you never heard of and that alone makes it an important film for younger women to see the film. Also we want Americans to know the first inspiration for the domestic sitcom was Berg, and that you can funny and poignant without having to be gross. Wonder what movie I could be talking about?

W&H: What story are you thinking of working on next?
AK: I co-wrote a dramatic script about a Navajo activist which I want to produce as well as documentaries on labor leader Samuel Gompers and the establishment of the Rosenwald schools.

Yoo-Hoo Mrs. Goldberg opens in NYC this weekend, Washington Dc on July 17th and will roll out across the country over the summer and fall. Check here for info on where the film is playing.

Kempner will be in NY this weekend conducting Q&As: She will be at Lincoln Plaza cinema at the Fri & Sat 7:10 & 9:25 and will be at the Quad Cinema at the Sat & Sun 2:50 & 4:40 shows.

Yoo-Hoo, Mrs. Goldberg

Andrea Chalupa: Phoenix World Tour Makes Stop at Spinner's Studio

2009-07-10T19:37:07Z

Phoenix, one of my favorite bands right now (next to Data Rock, also incredibly good), is taking over the world with their sweet summery music that makes you want to wear colorful, flowy dresses, no matter who you are. Check out their performance on The Interface, Spinner's addictive concert series, also featuring live performances/interviews with Grizzly Bear, Chairlift, and Sigur Ros. Listen to hot lead singer's Thomas Mars' hot French accent as he talks about songwriting. Sexy.

Holly Cara Price: Michael Jackson: The Love We Save

2009-07-10T18:23:06Z

Here's an equation for you. Take one aging celebrity, mix in a hefty scoop of childhood abuse, add a few dozen helpings of bad publicity for pedophilia charges and just plain bizarre behavior, mix in a lethal cocktail of dangerous prescription drugs, plus the loss of billions of dollars due to years of mismanagement and an over the top lifestyle most of us could never even dream of. There's really only one way out of that mess, and it happened two weeks ago to 50 year old Michael Joseph Jackson: Death.

For most of his short, anguished time on earth he was larger than life, but in death MJ has eclipsed all other dead celebs (okay, except for, um, Jesus of Nazareth) for sheer marketability and money-making prowess. And talk about a TV ratings bonanza; holy mamasay-mamasah, the whole world stopped to make room for the breaking news of Jackson's death on June 25th. Iran? Forgotten. Mark Sanford? Luckiest guy in the world, apparently. Recession? Snore. New Iphone? Whatever. And the memorial service? Viewership numbers through the roof, all over the world. We'll get to that.

Perhaps you remember that for a few minutes, right before MJ was rushed to the hospital that Thursday, the world had been stunned and transfixed by the cellphone video of 26 year old Neda Soltani, killed in living color during a protest in Tehran. The video of her death made the situation in Iran immediate and present to us; it made it real. Such is the power of the internet, which transcends all media, making it immediate in every sense.

MJ needed no such boost to make his death relevant to the world. Love him, hate him, you can't help but acknowledge that he changed the world of music forever. But watching the carrion circling him now is plainly horrific. I worry about those three children, who have just inherited the biggest therapy bills known to humankind (although possibly, some day, also the biggest book deals of all time). Their lives up to now must have set new standards for weirdness; what's incredibly sad is that that was nothing compared to the future. Jermaine told NBC News, in tears, that he wishes it had been him who died instead of Michael (hmm...new reality show? I'm A Jackson, Get Me Out of Here!). And Debbie Rowe has done an about face and declared she suddenly wants the two kids she gave birth to, after saying just the opposite right after Jackson's death. Way to go, Deb. Break up a family that's just lost their father. She's obviously ripe for reality TV, maybe she can get signed on to the Octomom's TV deal or something equally tasteless.

It's now abundantly clear that Jackson's money-making abilities are even more pronounced after his death (it's the Kurt Cobain / Anna Nicole Smith / Elvis Presley / Heath Ledger syndrome - times ten). This is clearly a cash cow of such magnitude that it makes my head hurt. Downloads of Jackson's music since his passing set a new standard for internet music sales. His album sales for the last week of June were more than the entire year of sales for the same records. News of his death nearly brought down the largest and most robust internet media sites. Over 31 million U.S. viewers watched the public memorial service on Tuesday on broadcast television. It's estimated that a number close to that watched it live on the web. And ... may I say ... his final sleep chamber, the gold coffin covered in flowers positioned center stage at the Staples Center - was that really necessary at a ceremony planned to celebrate his life?

This is only the first two weeks, people. Now that it's clear that MJ was, if anything, worth more dead than alive, we're so in for it. This news story will go on forever. There will always be someone else crawling out of the woodwork saying they sat next to him in fourth grade or waited on him in a supermarket at 2 a.m. or similar crazy stuff. Any unreleased audio and video material is going to be doled out to the public with big price tags, now that it's clear there is an insatiable thirst for anything related to MJ.

That AEG footage of his tour rehearsals? Certainly a ploy to whet our appetite for the rest of that material, of which there is said to be quite a bit. In fact, Time Magazine said today that plans are underway for a show in London on Aug. 29 - Jackson's 51st birthday - featuring footage from the rehearsals plus performances by Jackson family members. The only thing missing would be MJ himself. This makes me very queasy; I can now picture years of Jackson tours ahead - the brothers Jackson suddenly being marketable again after decades of living in MJ's shadow. Each show will be a tribute to Michael and a massive sales success. You see it too, don't you? It's inevitable. He may have died in debt, but in no time at all that debt will be erased - if it hasn't been already by the album sales. Eleven days later.

Unused tickets to the shows at O2 Arena will no doubt be worth their weight in gold in years to come. Who needs a refund when you have that sitting in your dresser drawer - the value will only go up. AEG has opened a web shop for the concert merch they were planning on selling at the shows. You can buy "Who's Bad" belt buckles, King of Pop wallets, wine glasses, tote bags, socks and other apparel (check out the Michael Jackson Decadent Berry Women's Shirt).

Oh yeah, and in case you haven't noticed, everyone suddenly has had to put in their two cents about Jackson, what he meant to the pop culture zeitgeist, and why he died. My favorite comment yet comes from Rush Limbaugh, who said on his radio show: "Michael Jackson's biggest successes took place in the 80's . . . he flourished under Reagan, he languished under Clinton/Bush, and died under Obama . . . I mean, facts are facts, a timeline's a timeline . . ."

Death. It's a whole new media strategy for success. The only problem is, you're not around to enjoy the spoils.

This column originally ran in a slightly different form on the blog The Critical Condition.

Michelle Bart: Michael Jackson: Always a Hero Among Us!

2009-07-10T15:38:59Z

What a beautiful and moving memorial service; fit for a King! Kudos to Councilwoman Perry, Ken Sunshine, the Los Angeles Police, the Jackson family, and Tim [Leiweke, AEG] for a powerful, heartfelt, and well organized memorial service for Michael Jackson!

Logistics were difficult as with any of Michael's productions, but as Michael always succeeded in a number one show, so did all of those that remembered him and produced a show he would have been so proud to see!

For one afternoon a world came together to remember Michael; celebrities and the public alike, for two hours "We Were the World" and everyone checked their egos at the door ("Quincy Jones") and now the show must go on...

Thanks for all the music, memories, and efforts to embrace humanity, Michael. You were and will always be without any doubt a hero among us!

God bless!
Michelle Bart, Helping Heroes

photo by Vh1

Phil Ramone and Danielle Evin: Dog Ears Music: Volume Eighty

2009-07-10T15:38:30Z

The Louvin Brothers
2001's Country Music Hall of Famers Ira (mandolin) and Charlie (guitar) Loudermilk, a.k.a. the Louvin Brothers, were born in Alabama in the mid '20s. This harmonic super-duo paved a highway for the future of country music. By 1955, the brothers made it to the Grand Ole Opry, and Elvis, then Johnny Cash, opened for them over the next year. The brothers made records for Decca, MGM, Capital, and Apollo until their breakup in 1963. In 1965, brother Ira was killed in a car crash. Brother Charlie went on to have a successful solo career. To date, he's recorded nearly 20 albums and toured with Cake, Cheap Trick, and the Old '97s. The Louvin Brothers have been covered by Emmylou Harris, the Byrds, and Dolly Parton, among many others. "Satan's Jeweled Crown," from the 1960 release Satan Is Real, burns brightly.

Buy: iTunes
Genre: Country
Artist: The Louvin Brothers
Song: Satan's Jeweled Crown
Album: Satan Is Real

The Fratellis
Glasgow's rock trio of Jon Fratelli (guitar, vocals), Barry Fratelli (bass, shouting), and Mince Fratelli (drums, vocals) was founded this mid-decade. Like the Ramones, the boys took on the Fratelli name professionally. Pianist-guitarist Will Foster is also a member of their touring unit. After reaching No. 2 on the British charts with their successful debut Costello Music in 2005, the Fratellis went on to receive the 2007 BRIT Award for Best British Breakthrough Act. With two albums in their pocket, the band has also opened for the Police and Kasabian. Credits include the Hot Fuzz soundtrack and the Rock Band 2 game. "Milk and Money," from their 2008 release Here We Stand, pays deep respect to the rock classic.

Buy: iTunes
Genre: Rock
Artist: The Fratellis
Song: Milk and Money
Album: Here We Stand

Audible
Audible is the Philly-based indie-rock unit of frontman Mike Kennedy, Mary Garito, Kristine Muller, Jim Kehoe, Steve Cawley, and Ed Hogarty. Founded in 2000 as a duo, Audible grew to five members in 2005, then recently became a sextette. Credits include the Catch and Release soundtrack and touring dates with alt-rockers Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. "We Were Wrong," from Audible's spring 2005 release Sky Signal, is so right.

Buy: iTunes
Genre: Indie Rock
Artist: Audible
Song: We Were Wrong
Album: Sky Signal

Skull Snaps
Skull Snaps is the Bronx-based funk outfit comprised of Erv Waters, George Bragg, and Samm Culley, who emerged from '60s soul group The Diplomats. This enigmatic unit has enjoyed a collector's-item/cult-status pedigree since its early run in the '70s, in addition to being a major influence on hip-hop. The band reunited in 2005, collaborating with remixer Audible Doctor. "Backsnap," featured on the 2006 release It's a New Day Redux--EP, sublimely spins in its own gravity.

Buy: iTunes
Genre: Funk/Hip-Hop
Artist: Skull Snaps
Song: Backsnap
Album: It's a New Day Redux--EP

Drive-By Truckers
Drive-By Truckers is the Southern alt-country rock ensemble hailing from Athens, Georgia. Founded in the mid-'90s, the unit includes Mike Cooley, Patterson Hood, Brad Morgan, John Neff, Shonna Tucker, and (on occasion) Spencer Oldham or Jay Gonzalez. With over a dozen releases, the band keeps a consistent and refreshing integrity. "Opening Act," from Drive-By Truckers' 2008 release Brighter Than Creation's Dark, will lull you to think. Currently touring.

Buy: iTunes
Genre: Alt-Country Rock
Artist: Drive-By Truckers
Song: Opening Act
Album: Brighter Than Creation's Dark
Tour: Visit

Memphis Minnie
Gospel/blues/country diva and picker Lizzie Douglas, known as Memphis Minnie, was born a musical prodigy in New Orleans Parish in 1897. Nearing the age of 7, her family relocated to Mississippi, where she picked up guitar. Soon after, Lizzie started performing as "Kid" Douglas before running away to Memphis. By the '20s, as Memphis Minnie, she joined the Ringling Brothers Circus, then formed a musical and romantic partnership with Kansas Joe McCoy. Approaching the Great Depression, Minnie had over 50 recordings to her credit. In the late '30s, Minnie moved to Chicago and became part of the Chicago blues explosion. By the late '50s, health problems forced her into retirement back in Tennessee. In 1973, Minnie passed away in Memphis. Remember this great lady of song with "Keep on Eatin'," from the Hoodoo Lady (1933-1937) collection.

Buy: iTunes
Genre: Blues
Artist: Memphis Minnie
Song: Keep on Eatin'
Album: Hoodoo Lady (1933-1937) collection

Marshall Fine: HuffPost Review: I Love You, Beth Cooper

2009-07-10T12:33:12Z

I hate I Love You, Beth Cooper, a movie which, as a friend noted afterward, goes from grad to worse.

This Chris Columbus film is as painfully unfunny as any movie this summer -- or in recent memory. A chimp could have written this script, if he had screenplay software and a "laugh-free teen comedy" program. The simian in question here is named Larry Doyle, who has several Simpsons scripts to his credit (as well as the novel on which this script is based). Perhaps he suffered a head injury since he wrote them.

Newcomer Paul Rust plays Denis Cooverman, high school valedictorian. As Denis speaks at his graduation ceremony, he uses the opportunity to say things he's always wanted to voice but never had the nerve: outing his gay best friend Rich (Jack T. Carpenter); calling out a couple of bullies; and declaring his long unspoken love for cheerleader/golden girl Beth Cooper (Hayden Panettiere), to whom he's never spoken despite sitting behind her, apparently, since grade school.

The rest of the film is about Denis and Beth's long day's journey into night accompanied by Rich and Beth's posse. It's an unlikely odyssey in which Beth and Denis are meant to bond, while Rich cavorts with her two friends, who are supposed to be funny -- ditzy, slutty, stuck-up -- but are just plain flavorless.

They engage in a running battle with Beth's pumped-up, 'roid-raging boyfriend, go to a big party, take showers together at the high school -- and generally fill 100 minutes of screen time with dud jokes and sadistic slapstick.

Columbus made his name in the '80s as the writer of The Goonies and Gremlins and in the '90s as the director of Home Alone and Mrs. Doubtfire. He has no excuse for a film this dismal.

Panettiere obviously has talent -- and a career to go back to on Heroes. As a launchpad for the careers of Rust and Carpenter, however, this film resembles nothing so much as the space shuttle Challenger.

For more of my reviews, interviews and commentary, click here to go to my website: www.hollywoodandfine.com.

Jay Marose: Why I Posed for the NOH8 Campaign

2009-07-10T04:26:01Z

This is why I posed for the NOH8 Campaign, a silent photographic protest.

As a publicist, it is second nature to opt out of photos. I have a wonderful collection of pictures of famous clients or amazing events with only my black clad arm or leg in frame.

However, when I first saw the NOH8 Campaign photos, they really spoke to me. These two young men, Adam Bouska and Jeff Parshley had started something powerful following the passage and subsequent affirmation by the California Supreme Court. The gay political establishment had focus-grouped a campaign without a message, except, its OK to not like the gays.

Their efforts obviously fell far short, but then, so did the gay community who was apathetic at best. Prop 22 was a distant memory and perhaps the hope of the Obama campaign had a blinding halo effect. There was no ground game. There was no outreach to constituent communities. There was, simply, no face to discriminate against.

The NOH8 Campaign puts faces to the discrimination. It puts stories behind the slogans. Gay, straight, bi, trans-gendered, black, white, brown (and every other shade) friends and families have joined celebrities like Ashlee Simpsons and Pete Wentz, Fran Drescher, Meghan McCain, director Bryan Singer, Steve-O and many others in this silent protest.

Every picture truly tells a story.

I posed for Dilson and Jason. Dilson, legally married in California to his amazing husband Walter, who among the 1100 + right and privileges denied to him by DOMA is not entitled to the same protections and privileges of any other immigrant. His 10-day old son, Jason, could lose his father any day, with no warning and no recourse.

I posed for Alfred, just out of college, who made me appreciate The Wizard of Oz, having found his strength, his heart and his voice in coming out in the last year. He not only did it himself, he is quick to speak up to anyone who would ever seek to treat him as anything less than a full citizen.

I posed for Rob, who came out in the past years, though later in his 30's, doesn't want anything to limit his options or potential. Rather than make up for lost time, Rob lives just as he always has, proving that being identified as gay does not change who he is.

I posed because Americans are the heirs to a philosophical fortune and I don't wish to squander it like the idiot off spring of the great robber barons. I posed because around the world people are dying just for the right to be in love.

I posed because my rights, our rights, are important. I never thought I would have the option of fighting for those rights. I posed for Lt Dan Choi and the 13,000 members of the Armed Forces dismissed under the shameful "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. I posed for the hundreds of young people who call the Trevor Project each year when they have nowhere else to turn.

Mostly, I posed for David. I have to prove to him that when I get misty-eyed describing the founding principles of this nation, the truths that we hold self-evident; when I have faith in the rule of law, at the staggering progress made and inspired here and abroad by these imperfect men who knew the pyramid remained un-finished; when I see Plessy v Ferguson become Brown v Board of Education or see the 13th, 14th and 15th amendments become the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts, I know that those principles are earned and remain my work long after Election Day.

What these young men have created is the kind of grassroots action that can change a mind, that can change a vote, that can change the world.

To view the campaign, celebrity photos and to find our how you can participate, log on to www.noh8campaign.com.

Neal Rodriguez: The History of the Electric Guitar as Seen by 3 Rock Legends

2009-07-10T00:43:23Z

"The earliest documented performance with an electrically amplified guitar was in 1932," according to Wikipedia. The electric guitar was used by Hawaiian Style musicians. George Barnes reportedly recorded the first 2 songs with the electric guitar in 1938.

Now, Rock 'N' Roll without the electric guitar, is a folk song; slap a banjo on your knee and rock with a toothless hockey player on the harmonica. Howstuffworks calls it the best thing since the incandescent light bulb.

In It Might Get Loud -- a documentary on the electric guitar from the point of view of three rock legends, Jack White, the lead vocalist for The White Stripes; The Edge, guitarist for the Irish rock band U2; Jimmy Page, co-founder of the English rock band Led Zeppelin; give accounts of their lives mastering the electric guitar.

Jack White makes a one-string electric guitar from a board, a pick-up and Coke bottle in the film. Jimmy Page wrote a new song for the documentary. And the Edge is featured arranging his song "Get on Your Boots."

Shawn Amos: Pop Music Quiz: Singer-Songwriters

2009-07-09T23:40:25Z

I caught up with Old 97's frontman Rhett Miller at the record release party for his new self-titled album. And while everyone else was kissing his butt and fawning over his good looks, I had a more serious agenda -- although, I gotta say the album is good. Is that ass-kissing? I met with Rhett to test this guy's Pop Culture I.Q. Here's the test I gave him -- five questions about singer-songwriters.

I'll give you 10. If you pass them all, you can go through the rest of your day confident in the knowledge that you're smarter than Rhett Miller.

HONOR SYSTEM INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Click on question for correct answer
2. Keep your own score
3. No checking Wikipedia or other reference sources
4. Answers are also at the bottom

1. Who wrote the Monkees' 1966 hit, "I'm a Believer"?

a. Neil Young
b. Neil Sedaka
c. Neil Diamond

2. Who wrote Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young's "Woodstock" in 1969 despite not attending the music festival?

a. Richie Havens
b. Joni Mitchell
c. Robert Plant & Jimmy Page

3. Which artist did NOT cover Bob Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind"?

a. Stevie Wonder
b. The Hooters
c. Janis Joplin

4. What was the name of Paul Simon's failed 1997 Broadway play?

a. "The Capeman"
b. "Me & Julio Down by the Schoolyard"
c. "Asinamali!"

5. Which singer-songwriter served six years in the British Army until 2002?

a. Damien Rice
b. David Gray
c. James Blunt

6. What was the name of Elvis Costello's 1977 debut album?

a. "Watching the Detectives"
b. "My Aim Is True"
c. "This Year's Model"

7. What was the name of Ryan Adams' 1990s alt-country band?

a. Son Volt
b. Whiskeytown
c. Superchunk

8. What was Cat Stevens last album before changing his name to Yusuf Islam?

a. "Back to Earth"
b. "Buddha and the Chocolate Box"
c. "Izitso"

9. Which Jim Croce song was inspired by an Army friend?

a. "Operator (That's Not the Way It Feels)"
b. "You Don't Mess Around with Jim"
c. "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown"

10. Who wrote the Janis Joplin classic "Me and Bobby McGee"?

a. Waylon Jennings
b. Kris Kristofferson
c. Johnny Cash

ANSWERS:

1. c 2. b 3. c 4. a 5. c 6. b 7. b 8. a 9. c 10. b

0 CORRECT
You are Profoundly Challenged.

1-2 CORRECT
You are Challenged.

3-5 CORRECT
You are Bright.

6-7 CORRECT
You are Gifted.

8-9 CORRECT
You are Exceptionally Gifted.

10 CORRECT
You're a Pop Culture Genius!

Pick up Rhett's new album here.

Andrew Slack: What Would Dumbledore Do?

2009-07-09T23:00:05Z

Gandhi. MLK. Mother Theresa. The Dalai Lama. Visionaries whose words and deeds have pointed humanity toward a new way of being in the world. Also, Albus Dumbledore.

Yes, yes. I know what you're thinking: Dumbledore is different than the aforementioned figures because Dumbledore was gay. But that's not the only difference: he's also a fictional character from a popular book series, and being a fictional character, we obviously cannot give him the same stature as individuals who gave (or continue to give) their actual lives to their cause. Yet I believe that not only has Dumbledore's message to the world been inspired by the teachings of these very individuals, but him being fictional does not override the fact that in the hearts of Harry Potter fans across the planet -- myself included -- Dumbledore is very real indeed.

Of course this may sound nuts to those of you not familiar with the Harry Potter fan community, the Harry Potter Alliance, and our new What Would Dumbledore Do campaign. But in my activism, I have learned that in order to win battles, you sometimes have to have sound nuts -- and I'm not just talkin' cajones here. I'm talking about a need for grounded activists who think outside of the box. That, in a nutshell, is Albus Dumbledore.

In just a matter of days, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince will come out and (spoiler warning) millions of theatergoers will watch Dumbledore's shocking death and Harry's vow that Dumbledore will live on in those loyal to his spirit. Through our "What Would Dumbledore Do" campaign, tens of thousands of Harry Potter fans are coming together to articulate and celebrate the meaning of being loyal to Dumbledore's spirit. You can check out our innovative three-part campaign that involves Twitter, fans organizing at movie theaters on the night of the movie release, and more at whatwoulddumbledore.org.

Time Magazine and Newsweek have expressed interest in covering our project, but our stance on certain issues, in particularly our support for the Employee Free Choice Act and equal marriage (as echoed by Dumbledore's support for Hagrid to come out of the closet as a giant and house elves right to organize) have attracted the ire of the right wing blogosphere. The bloggers of this realm are lashing out at the Harry Potter Alliance, labeling it as some kind of awful "liberal" propaganda machine -- while overlooking our tremendous success in promoting literacy through book donations (over 13,000 in March including 4,000 to orphans in Rwanda!) and protecting civilians in Darfur and Burma. These are issues that conservatives have often been powerful voices on. I hope that despite our differences that in the future we can work together toward common goals.

I told my friend MC Mr. Napkins about several in the right wing blogosphere calling us a threat to all of human existence, and he let me know that if you rearrange the letters in "The Harry Potter Alliance" it spells, "Care a lot? Try helpin' Earth!" (This just so happens to be the same Mr. Napkins who once used his skills as a wordsmith to help me write a piece for the LA Times about how we could have guessed that Dumbledore was gay: "if you rearranged all of the letters in "Albus Dumbledore" it spells "Male bods rule, bud.") So while some on the right may find it silly, or threatening, for tens of thousands of Harry Potter fans to band together with partner NGO's for human rights and marriage equality, we care about helping the Earth and are doing our best to achieve that end.

Contrary to the claims of my right wing brothers and sisters, the Harry Potter Alliance is not operating from a rigid set of partisan political ideas. Rather, like Dumbledore and like history's greatest visionaries, we strive for our political beliefs to come from something deeper than mere ideology.

Fundamentally, Dumbledore believed on a deep spiritual level that love is our greatest weapon, and this belief is what informed his progressive inclinations toward public policy. As a young man Dumbledore was crushed when his sister had been killed as a direct result of his blind ambition to become a dictator. But, like the Phoenix, out of the ashes of his former self, a new Dumbledore rose, and this new Dumbledore had given up his wish for power over others and instead looked to a power greater than himself.

The Phoenix, which in Harry Potter is a metaphor for the unity between birth and death, was Dumbledore's key to understanding a spiritual reality of interconnectedness as taught by everyone from Martin Luther King to Gandhi to Mother Theresa to the Dalai Lama. Though each of these figures comes from different religious backgrounds, each of them came to a spiritual understanding that all of life is interconnected. This understanding lends itself to a natural imperative to act for justice while still being loving, playful, and assertive.

Perhaps this sounds too "New Agey" but we have time and time again seen that If tyrants fear any thing, it is those who can stand firm and patient while seeing through the tyrants' facade of strength and to the reality of the weak fearful place from which they act. Dumbledore was the only one that Voldemort feared because Dumbledore addressed him by his original name of "Tom Riddle" and approached him "as though he had not a fear in the world, as though nothing had happened to interrupt his stroll up the hall."

This kind of confidence is something that has been exhibited by the Dr. Kings, the Gandhis, the Aung San Suu Kyi's in facing great tyrannies. And the What Would Dumbledore Do campaign is about using the metaphor of Dumbledore to demonstrate how all masters of social change have shown a love and patience from which our entire world can learn in how we approach everything from global policies toward poverty to how we approach the reality of our own mortality.

With his connection to the Phoenix, Dumbledore understood that while these fragile bodies of ours are destined to die, we are not single waves but part of the ocean; as he tells Harry, "to the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure," and that those we have loved and lost never truly leave us.

For all of us who are fans of Harry Potter, it was incredibly traumatic to read about the death of Albus Dumbledore, and it will be disturbing to watch it in the upcoming film. But as this fictional character, with whom we have developed a very real relationship, sets off on his next great adventure, he and his vision continue to stay real and alive in our hearts. It is a vision that we are carefully articulating at whatwoulddumbledoredo.org. It is a vision that the world deeply needs, and one that echoes the visions of humanity's greatest visionaries. It is a vision that encourages each of us, in our quest to better humanity, to start from a place of compassion, creativity, and peace as we begin to collectively become aware of the only reality that there is: love.

Andrew Slack is Executive Director of the the Harry Potter Alliance, whose creative approach activism by mobilizing thousands of kids to become activists by using parallels from the Harry Potter novels continues to help its partner NGOs in numerous advocacy campaigns.

Dave Howe: Creativity Can Save the World

2009-07-09T21:10:20Z

How are imagination and the global economy connected? Well, if you're a Hollywood producer, you'd know that the highest grossing films of all time tend to fall in the fantasy/imagination/sci-fi genre. Think, Harry Potter, Spiderman, Lord of the Rings and Star Wars. The studios behind these blockbuster franchises know that they're virtually certain to get a good return on their investment both in the States and overseas.

But beyond the box office, how else is imagination linked to a robust economy? As the global economy shrinks and America's economy contracts, smart businesses have started to focus on the need to reinvent how we think, injecting more creativity and non-linear thinking into the workplace. Writers like Daniel Pink, author of A Whole New Mind, point to a new trend called the "imagination economy." Creative, right brain thinking, they say, is how we can protect Americans from outsourcing, reinvigorate our economy, and regain our place in the world as the incubator for innovation and ideas.

At the 2006 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the theme was "The Creative Imperative." This took place a couple of years before the world economy went into freefall. But even in the good times before TARP entered the vernacular and General Motors went bankrupt,
economic experts touted creativity as the must-have for future world financial strength and growth.

As children we embrace imagination and play, but as we get older, imaginative and creative pursuits tend to be quashed or stymied by the pressures and sometimes sheer monotony of adult work life. Creativity can seem like an indulgence. It's never lost on me that the child who
builds a fantastical city out of Legos and makes music out of pots and sticks is applauded for demonstrating ingenuity and imagination, while the dad who jams with his "band" or reads graphic novels on vacation is chastised as the child who refuses to grow up.

In our bleak economic times with unemployment rising to a scary nine-plus percent, perhaps the only thing many people are fantasizing about is how to pay their bills or keep their jobs. But we all need escapism now more than ever -- not just for entertainment, but for inspiration.

President Obama is reportedly a big Spiderman fan. Perhaps he fancies himself as the webbed superhero who can save us all from the likes of the Joker or, in this case, Ahmadinejad's so-called evil ways. Between the nuclear threat of North Korea, the polar ice caps melting, and the economy crumbling, clearly America is in need of a superhero right now -- a creative, imaginative leader who can think in a non-linear way. And while President Obama probably doesn't have the time to engage in any right brain hobbies in the Oval Office, the President has admitted to reading Harry Potter to his daughters each night. That in itself may not save the American auto industry - but perhaps it may help stir his imagination to come up with new ideas to help solve the world's problems.