Did George Lucas Ruin Your Childhood Memories?

The hilarious documentary The People vs. George Lucas makes a good point: It's virtually impossible to recreate that sense of awe and wonder that we felt as children the first time we saw something amazing like Star Wars.

The People vs. George Lucas features a lot of laugh-out-loud commentary from sci-fi fans, critics and everyday people who offer perspectives on why the second Star Wars trilogy doesn't come anywhere to measuring up to the first.

Watch the trailer for The People vs. George Lucas at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aoc3roT81nU

Many of the Star Wars fanboys (and girls) came to the conclusion that the first Star Wars trilogy may have been more inspired, since creator George Lucas was young and hungry when he made it. But they also realized that the reason why the first Star Wars trilogy was so awe-inspiring is because when they saw it, they were children, when everything seemed larger than life.

In the documentary, one fanboy describes the anticipation he felt when it was announced in the late '90s that a new Star Wars movie would soon be released, and the enormous sense of disappointment he felt when he finally got to see 1999's The Phantom Menace.

The fanboy said he became increasingly irritated not only by the fact that the movie wasn't as good as he'd hoped it would be, but that the children around him in the movie theater didn't seem to realize that it "sucked," as he put it.

While I'm a Star Wars fan and grew up watching the movies like most of my Generation X peers, I'm not as rabid a fan of the Force as the people featured in The People vs. George Lucas.

I was, however, a huge fan of '80s movies about young people pursuing dreams in the arts, like Purple Rain, Krush Groove and Flashdance.

And when I recently saw the Broadway musical adaptation of Flashdance, I felt the same sense of irritation and violation that The People vs. George Lucas commentators did: that something special from my childhood was being desecrated. Some cultural touchstones are classics and shouldn't be tampered with.

No Time To Write That Book? Try Emailing Yourself

Have you always wanted to write a book, but you don't have much time? One convenient option is using your SmartPhone, iPad or other tablet to write via email.

While you may not have time to sit down at your desktop or laptop and write for an hour each day, it's easy to carve out a few minutes here and there by dashing off a few lines throughout the day in the form of emails to yourself.

 

While standing in line at the bank, the post office or the grocery store or while waiting for your turn at the barber shop or beauty salon, you can use your phone to type out a few lines of your work-in-progress and email them to yourself.

Instead of thumbing through the latest edition of Us Weekly and living vicariously through overexposed celebrities while in the dentist's office or the bathroom, use your own imagination to escape your drab surroundings and draft creative-writing emails. 

If you do this every day, the emails add up to chapters, and the chapters will eventually become a full-length book. At the end of a week, if you cut and paste your emailed prose into a Word file and print them out, you just might be surprised at how much writing you were able to accomplish during what would otherwise be unproductive, wasted time. 

My 'Insanity Workout' Experience

(This post was originally published on Jan. 9, 2014)


In 2013, I tried a couple of different fitness programs. One of the ones I tried was The Insanity Workout, a 60-day program that basically boils down to taking a bootcamp-style fitness class six days a week. 

I embarked on the Insanity Workout while in the fall of 2013 while in the midst of rehearsals for The Springtime of Our Lives, my first stage play that I wrote and directed. Taking on such an intense workout while involved in such a major undertaking was – well, insane. But I actually had a really good experience with the Insanity Workout.

Unlike some fitness gurus, who spend most of their time talking, Insanity trainer Shaun Thompson (aka “Shaun T.”) does most of the workout along with the fitness models. The workouts take place in a spacious gymnasium instead of the fake-looking studios that are the backdrops in so many workout videos.

And Shaun and the Insanity producers definitely get an A-plus for diversity by including fitness models of nearly every race.

 
The only criticism I have of The Insanity Workout is that it’s a bit too repetitive. The same moves are done over and over, which can get monotonous, not to mention exhausting. The repetitiveness can make you start wondering in agony, "When is this ever going to be over?!"

And occasionally text appears onscreen that contrast with the visuals.  For example, a message encouraging viewers to “Never Stop” is superimposed over a shot of one of the fitness models sprawled on the floor, having given up finishing that particular exercise before the rest of the crew. Conversely, a message assuring viewers to “Take a Break When You Need To” is superimposed over a shot of a fitness model gyrating energetically.

But for the most part, I had fun doing The Insanity Workout. It was motivating to roll out of bed and know exactly what I was going to be doing as soon as my feet hit the floor – trudging down to my basement to do the day’s "insane" workout.
Overall, the Insanity Workout is worth the time, energy and sweat.

  

 

The Best of 2013

(This post was originally published on Jan. 9, 2014)
 
It’s hard to believe, but 2013 is gone and, with the start of 2014, we’re into the teens and almost halfway through another decade. The following is a look back at some of my “favorite things” of the past year.

MOVIES

My favorite movie of the year, hands-down, was “Lee Daniels’ The Butler.” This epic story of an African-American White House butler who serves eight presidents while witnessing the civil rights movement and other historic moments is based on a true story. And that profile of the late Eugene Allen, which originally appeared in the Washington Post on the eve of President Barack Obama’s first election, was written by Wil Haygood, who is a native of my hometown, Columbus, Ohio.

It was really cool getting to hear Wil share behind-the-scenes details and describe the movie’s success (it’s officially become a blockbuster, having broken $100 million at the box office and recently came out on DVD) at the Columbus Association of Black Journalist’s Gala at the Hilton Easton in November.

 

“The Butler” and its stellar cast, including Forrest Whittaker and Oprah Winfrey, were unfortunately overlooked by the Oscars and the Golden Globes. But the movie and cast have at least gotten well-deserved recognition with numerous NAACP Image Award nominations (http://www.naacpimageawards.net/).

Also on my "Best of 2013" list for movies is "12 Years a Slave," which was nominated for a Best Picture Oscar and is considered a favorite to win. Chiwetel Ejiofor and Lupita Nyong'o also received well-earned nominations for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress, respectively.

 

While "12 Years a Slave" is definitely not "entertaining" in the traditional sense, it's probably the most realistic depiction of slavery to ever appear in a mainstream, theatrically-released film. And it does what movies are supposed to do - transports you to another time and place and immerses you in the story.

In the documentary category, the Oscar-nominated "20 Feet From Stardom" is definitely worth checking out.

 

"20 Feet" offers a fascinating glimpse into the lives of successful background singers such as Lisa Fischer, who has backed such legends as Tina Turner, Luther Vandross and the Rolling Stones; Darlene Love (Sam Cooke, Elvis, Sonny and Cher) and Merry Clayton (the Rolling Stones) and why these phenomenally talented women never became solo stars. The doc also chronicles the story of up-and-comer Judith Hill, who has performed with Michael Jackson and other superstars and her struggle to establish herself as an artist in her own right.

MUSIC

"Next Exit," Columbus, Ohio-based duo Ingram Street's mixtape, is in my 2013 Top 10 list for music.

 

Brothers Woody and Minquel Ingram deliver a palatable blend of the old and the new on hip-hop-flavored R&B jams like “Internet Man,” which samples New Edition's classic “Mr. Telephone Man.” They also promote nostalgia for us Gen Xers and Yers on the self-titled “Ingram Street,” which samples the familiar theme to “Sesame Street.”

 
Look for Ingram Street to kick into high gear in 2014. You can watch the video for the smooth track "Don't Disturb This Groove" and learn more about Ingram Street on their page at Soultracks.com, a prestigious website for everything related to soul music: http://www.soultracks.com/first-look-ingram-street-dont-disturb-the-groove.

BOOKS

One of the best literary endeavors of 2013 is my friend Lin Rice’s short story “Off the Record,” which is featured in the new anthology “Best Ohio Short Stories.”

In this story, Lin skillfully keeps you turning the pages – or, moving your Kindle screen forward, which is the way I read it – by portraying a mysterious organization that tracks alien abductions. The main character is an out-of-work reporter who reluctantly agrees to do business with the organization and conduct interviews with people who claim to have had experiences with extraterrestrials.

Lin creates suspense, keeping you guessing as to whether this creepy organization is legitimate and how they draw this reporter in – sort of like a sci-fi version of the John Grisham novel “The Firm.”

One of the best aspects of the story is how Lin, a guy, portrays the female main character. Except for a few clarifying pronouns, the female character could be of either gender – which will encourage both male and female readers to identify with her.

“Off the Record” is definitely one of the literary highlights of 2013 - not that I’m biased, of course.

 

 

'Rapping' With Public Enemy's Chuck D

I’ve been a Public Enemy fan for more than 20 years, and it was a real honor getting to talk to Chuck D, who delivered the keynote address at the Feb. 3 kickoff of Ohio State’s Black United World Month celebration at the Ohio Union Performance Hall. 

My friend Margaret Nivins and I attended the event and sat in the front row. To our pleasant surprise, as an intro video featuring Public Enemy’s “Fight the Power” played, Chuck D came and sat right beside us. We both shook his hand and thanked him for coming to the Buckeye State.

After his powerful and insightful keynote address, Chuck D graciously greeted OSU faculty, students and fans, signed autographs and posed for photos. When I approached him, I told him that he probably didn’t remember visiting OSU several years ago, at which time I interviewed him for the Call and Post newspaper.

In his accessible manner, Chuck D said he did remember visiting the campus and our interview and asked how I’ve been doing since. Despite his outspokenness and tough, hip-hop image, I can genuinely say he’s one of the nicest people I’ve ever met.

Chuck D’s appearance was also part of OSU’s annual Hip Hop Literacies Conference.

(This post was originally published on Feb. 4, 2014)

Is Lorde Gloria Estefan's Long-Lost Daughter?

Though Lorde, the 17-year-old rising pop star, hails from Auckland, New Zealand, she looks like she could be the long-lost daughter of Cuban-American pop star Gloria Estefan, 56.

Here’s a look at other artists who appear to have been separated at birth:

Drake, Al B. Sure! & Christopher Williams

Hip-hop star Drake, 27, may have still been in diapers when ‘80s “New Jack Swing” stars Al B. Sure!, 45, and Christopher Williams, 46, were popular, but Drake’s urban sound that merges hip-hop and R&B is directly descended from them.

In fact, as the photos above illustrate, Drake looks like he could be related to Al B. Sure! and Christopher Williams as well.

Janelle Monae and Anita Baker

Anita Baker, 56, and Janelle Monae, 28, have a lot more in common other than being dead ringers for each other.

Both are from the Midwest. Baker was born in Toledo and was raised in Detroit. Monae was born and raised in Kansas City, Kan.

Baker got her start in jazz, while Monae started off in experimental funk and R&B. Both are improvisational, sometimes abstract forms of music.

If a movie is ever made of Baker’s life, Monae should be the first in line to portray the soulful songstress.

 

 Lady Gaga and Dale Bozzio

Much has been written about Lady Gaga’s influences – musical and stylistic. Gaga, 27, is often compared to Madonna, Elton John and even Grace Jones.

But one influence that isn’t mentioned as often is Dale Bozzio, 58, lead singer of ‘80s new-wave group Missing Persons. (Bozzio was also briefly signed as a solo artist to Prince’s Paisley Park Records in the late '80s.)

Bozzio may not be the first name that comes to mind when Gaga’s influences are cited, but there’s no denying their uncanny resemblance.

Reflections on MLK Day 2014

It was truly an honor to be a part of the King Arts Complex annual open house on Martin Luther King Day 2014 (Jan. 20).

I was a middle school student when the King Holiday was first celebrated nationally on Jan. 20, 1986. Even as a teenager, I had a sense – albeit vague, at first – that the day and the man it commemorates have a special significance.

One of my most distinct memories of that first King observance in 1986 is the music video “King Holiday” by the King Dream Chorus & Holiday Crew (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17DpFraXZ4c).

This “We Are the World”-style music video features R&B and hip-hop stars of the day lifting their voices in honor of Dr. King and the then-new national holiday. The Holiday Crew included the likes of Whitney Houston, El DeBarge Stephanie Mills, Teena Marie, Run-DMC, Full Force, Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam, and even Latin-pop boy band Menudo, featuring a young Ricky Martin.

As a youth, seeing music stars I admired paying tribute to Dr. King helped me to understand why the man was so influential and the importance of his legacy. I was an avid BET watcher as a teen, and “King Holiday” was thankfully played in heavy rotation on the then-fledgling cable network.

As a young adult, when I started working in journalism in the ‘90s, the King Holiday continued to play a special role in my life. MLK Day was never a day off, it was always a “day on” for me – and rightfully so.

My earliest assignments as a reporter were covering the city of Columbus’ annual MLK celebration at Vets Memorial as well as the King Breakfast at the Convention Center - the largest sit-down event honoring Dr. King in the nation. Columbus Call and Post General Manager Amos Lynch, my boss at the time and journalism mentor, was the driving force behind the King Breakfast.

In recent years, I’ve enjoyed participating in the King Arts Complex open house, which features arts performances, educational presentations and showcases the institution’s excellent selection of programs and exhibits. Being a part of the event as a speaker this year was a true honor.

During my presentation, I showed a clip from my documentary “Lady Wrestler: The Amazing, Untold Story of African-American Women in the Ring” and spoke about the impact that these phenomenal women had on sports history, and history in general.

A big thank you to King Arts Complex Executive Director Demetries Neely, Program Director Jevon Collins, Marketing Director Mark Cardwell and all the staff and volunteers.

A big, big thank you as well to the lady wrestlers and their families who attended the open house and my friends and family who offered moral support for my first major public speaking engagement (I don’t want to name names for fear of leaving someone out).

A special shout-out also goes to my friend, photographer Terry Gilliam, for sharing his photos of the event with me.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2014 was indeed a very special occasion, one that I will always remember and cherish. 

(This post originally was originally published on January 21, 2014.)