Mission Accomplished
Posted on June 30, 2008
If you’ve been keeping with us on the 2008 GI Bill of Rights issue, I’m very happy to say that after passing the house and senate with bipartisan heft, our fearless president has signed it into law. Terrific. I’d like to think that this is the beginning of some much needed bi-partisan legislation, and it’s up to us film makers to do what we can to keep the ball rolling. The Internet Archive is filled with public domain footage just waiting to be turned into multimedia with political ends. Choose your battles wisely, remain un-biased, and go fix the country.
I’d like to give a shout out to Senator Jim Webb from Virginia and Senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska for writing the bill and getting it through.
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2008 GI Bill of Rights
Posted on June 21, 2008
Talkie21 along with a coalition of concerned artists have released a series of promotional pieces supporting the new GI Bill of Rights. With any luck it will pass this week, but please continue to write your representation and tell them this is an issue that means a lot to you. Tell them you cannot vote for a man or woman who does not support a veteran’s right to a free education.
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Filed Under film, 2008 GI Bill, Steve Ruonna, Jim Webb, Chuck Hagel, Obama | 1 Comment
The Truth Lies Within Conflicting Voices
Posted on June 20, 2008
So Talkie21 along with a coalition of concerned artists have released a series of promotional pieces supporting the new GI Bill of Rights. With any luck it will pass this week, but please continue to write your representation and tell them this is an issue that means a lot to you. Tell them you cannot vote for a man or woman who does not support a veteran’s right to a free education.
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Up and Coming
Posted on June 15, 2008
Well hello there Doctors. The heat wave has finally broke in New York and most of us feel like our brains are working properly again. For a few days there I was very concerned that the occupants of my aquarium would boil (sadly the shrimp are just too small to eat). In fact, it was so hot that the cranes were melting before they hit the street.
But that didn’t stop us from shooting the first two spots supporting the 2008 GI Bill of rights. Some terrific actors contributed their time including Steve Ruonna, and Brian Sloan. I’ll praise the crew as soon as I have a video to show you. I’m expecting that to be finished the middle of next week.
Right now I’m half way through ADR and hammering away in Color. After syncing everything up I think it came out great.
Aside from that, my friend Aaron Howard gave a slick performance with David Francis and Alex Colwell over at Unnameable Books in Brooklyn. As soon as he has the recordings up I’ll be submitting that for your approval, along with the dynamite performance from the Sullivan Hall last evening. I was fortunate enough to get the call from Robert O’Haire and we shot Dub is a Weapon celebrating the birthday week of Larry McDonald with none other than Brian Jackson (from Gil Scott Heron) tapping keys.
The have a new album out which you should invest in, as I don’t know a single other Live Dub Band. For my friends in Portland, keep your eyes peeled because these folks stomp in your woods from time to time.
Here’s their Myspace page:
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Filed Under film, 2008 GI Bill, Edgar Oliver, Brian Sloan, George Demas | Leave a Comment
Celebrating Memorial Day
Posted on May 26, 2008
It’s Monday, May 26th and Americans all over the country are enjoying cookouts in the honor of the soldiers who bravely serve this nation. For others this date holds more significance, marking the loss of a loved one or a fellow soldier. For a lot of folks, this is a difficult reminder every year of what they have given up for this country.
The casualties will grow, but so can our interest in building compassions to best put our country back together. After WWII we had the GI Bill to honor those that paid the ultimate price, and I think it would be apt for you to read the following speech by Roosevelt given on Memorial Day sixty six years ago. It’s the kind of speech that needs to be given in every backyard and over very meal we have today and for the weeks and months to follow.
Memorial Day 1942
Houston, Texas
On March 1, 1942 the USS Houston (CA-30), Heavy Cruiser was sunk by the Japanese off of Sunda Strait in the Pacific. It was the first American capital ship sunk in the Pacific after war was declared. Shortly thereafter the Navy Department announced a new cruiser named Houston (CL-81) would be launched in June 1943.
On Memorial Day 1942 the city of Houston asked for 1000 “Houston Volunteers” to man the new cruiser, over three thousand answered the call. President Roosevelt sent a letter to all in attendance that day commemorating their effort. Below is a copy of that letter.
On this Memorial Day, all America joins with you who are gathered in proud tribute to a great ship and a gallant company of American officers and men. That fighting ship and those fighting Americans shall live forever in our hearts. I knew that ship and loved her. Her officers and men were my friends.
When ship and men went down, still fighting, they did not go down to defeat. They had helped remove at least two cruisers and probably other vessels from the active list of the enemy’s rank. The officers and men of the U.S.S Houston were privileged to prove, once again, that free Americans consider no price too high to pay in defense of their freedom. The officers and men of the U.S.S Houston drove a hard bargain. They sold their liberty and their lives most dearly.
The spirit of these officers and men is still alive. That is being proved today in all Houston, in all Texas, in all America. Not one of us doubts that the thousand recruits sworn in today will carry on with the same determined spirit shown by the gallant men who have gone before them. Not one of us doubts that every true Texan and every true American will back up these new fighting men, and all our fighting men, with all our hearts and all our efforts.
Our enemies have given us the chance to prove that there will be another U.S.S Houston, and yet another U.S.S Houston if that becomes necessary, and still another U.S.S Houston as long as American ideals are in jeopardy. Our enemies have given us the chance to prove that an attack on peace-loving but proud Americans is the very gravest of all mistakes.
The officers and men of the U.S.S Houston have placed us all in their debt by winning a part of the victory which is our common goal. Reverently, and with humility, we acknowledge this debt. To those officers and men, wherever they may be, we give our solemn pledge that the debt will be repaid in full.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
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Bill Moyers
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Non Partisan Mashup
Posted on May 16, 2008
For those of you who haven’t been reading up on the subject, Senator Jim Webb along with a long list of bipartison cosponsors have proposed a 2008 GI Bill which would help returning Veterans afford college. Repeatedly it has been introduced in the house only to be booted out again due to the costs. It’s also very likely George Bush would veto the bill, so it needs to pass with strong majorities.
I got my hands on a video from the forties explaining the GI Bill of rights, and mashed it up with some Cinematic Orchestra. I encourage you all to do the same, as it’s going to take a lot of public interest to make this Bill a reality.
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