He has a radio program on WXOU out of Oakland University
Wild At Heart
Wouldn't it be cool if roller derby was actually a college credit class?
Just a random thought before I get into something really bothering me.
While I am not quite as upset as I was early last week when I heard that the Detroit Shock had been relocated to Tulsa, I am still upset by the decision. Since it's early struggles as an expansion team, the Shock have gone on to make seven straight playoff appearances, four trips to the WNBA Finals and three championships to show for it. Incidentily, those three titles were won on three different home courts (2003 at the Palace, 2006 at Joe Louis and 2008 at EMU). I have come to enjoy the personality of the team which really seemed to mirror the area more than any other. The team has shown great resourcefulness over the years and a truly never-give-up attitude sparked by team leaders Katie Smith, Tweety Nolan and more recently Taj McWilliams. I had a lot of hopes for next year with a healthy Smith and Pierson and the improved play by Zellous, Braxton Hornbuckle and Teasley. I have enjoyed covering the Finals at the sidelines and in the locker rooms these past few years, esp this past year sitting next to ESPN's Rebecca Lobo. Their isn't another team in the city that really excites me to the same level as the Shock did. Heck, I would give up the Pistons, Tigers and Lions to keep the Shock here in Detroit but due to the harsh economic realities this area has experienced is not going to let that happen. I would love to thank Bill Lambier, the Shock staff and the players for the past few years of excitement. The type of experience I got from the Shock is what I hear sports fans on the Ticket talk about with their sports teams and only the Red Wings, and for a few years the Pisons, have given to that same level that the girls have. Thank-you for the wonderful sports moments which have meant a lot to me and I regret unless I move to another area that I won't get the opportunity to see the Shock (or whatever they will be calling themselves now) play alive again. I also wish Mahorn the luck in findng a new job. He did a great job getting his team to come alive the second half of the season and deserved to be kept on as head coach (college coach Nolan Richardson is the new head coach). I also enjoyed that he started greating me at games which makes a lowly college radio/blog reporter feel special. Part of me is still in denial but I will survive but I think I will stay pissed off at the Palace organization for awhile. Once again, thank-you Shock for being who you are and good luck in Tulsa. I was also happy to talk to Pierson briefly that same night down at St Andrews at the Trey Songz show.
I can't believe they're gone.
Speaking of their counterparts, The Detroit Pistons will recognize one cause per month with a home game devoted to raise funds and awareness beginning with the team’s 2009-10 regular season home opener vs the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday, October 30th at 8PM. The opening night program, "Let’s Go To Work For A Cure," highlights breast health awareness and will benefit breast cancer research programs at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute. During the home opener, the Pistons are celebrating breast cancer survivors and providing them with complimentary tickets and commemorative pink t-shirts. Family and friends will be given the opportunity to purchase specially priced upper level tickets for just $15, with $5 from each ticket purchased being donated to benefit breast cancer research at the Karmanos Cancer Institute. A very nice cause.
I just came from a rally at the Crofoot to help Save the Michigan Film Incentive.
I had Michael Manasseri, who represents www.BigScreenMichigan.com , on my show last week talking about how important it is to the state of Michigan to save this initiative. Manassari states,
“ The highly successful Michigan Film Tax Incentive is in danger of being reduced, capped, or altered in a way that would destroy the momentum that has been generated over the past 18 months in the Michigan motion picture, television, and video game industry. We need all Michigan filmmakers, supporters, artists and crew to step forward and speak up”.
Michigan’s film incentive program is the country’s #1 film incentive program, which offers up to a 42 percent cash rebate which has been instrumental in several major industry developments in the state recently, including bringing in about 70 different films (including "Grand Torrino" and "Whip It"), inspired three different movie studios to looking at locating here, one video game company starting up shop in Michigan (check out there new game "Firefighter") and numerous jobs created.
On my show, I have interviewed numerous local theatre actors who have left the state to go to LA, NY and Chicago to make it big in TV/film but if things work out, these people can stay here and find jobs locally. It is really hard to break into the business out there and being local should help people get on sets and make a name for themselves while still paying MI taxes.
I know people who are working on films (WXOU DJ of Cinema Seranade recently worked on the set of "The Irishman" starring Christoper Walken, I have a non-speaking cameo in "American Virgin" [due out Nov 4th on DVD] and my friend Crash Baby worked behind the set on that film and in front of the camera along with numerous roller deby girls in the film "Whip It"). It has also been cool walking around a corner in Pontiac to see tanks and communist posters during the filming of Red Dawn or hearing the street is blocked off because Al Pacino is filming a movie here.
Those little things are something that just makes life more exciting and uplifting as it is getting harder to find work in this economy as those that follow my blog can attest with my 2 year search for a stable job.
As these movies keep coming, those who are able to get on the crews will start building a reputation and get more work. I have heard of people on their 6th or 7th film in a row with small breaks in between and that should be good news. Mitch Albom talked about how important it was to keep our incentives consistant because if we change things around every year, it will scare off some business from coming here. We have seen film work jump from 1 million a year to over 120 million spent here which we might give some back, that shouldn't be all the budget conscious politicians should be thinking of. Despite those budgets, there are local Michigan businesses and actors who are seeing real profit by these productions. And it is really cool seeing Detroit Landmarks (or your friends) on the big screen. With a number of failing businesses here in Detroit, we should be supporting an industry which can only bring money and jobs here. If you want more information, you can go to BigScreenMichigan.com for more and you can get postcards to send to your lawmakers at the WXOU studios. Get the word out along with the correct information.
Save us from idiot lawmakers.
Speaking about Manasseri, I met him at a screening of his companies new film "Babysitter Wanted" which is a fun horror film coming out soon to DVD. Basically, small-town college girl Angie (Sarah Thompson) is hired by Jim (Bruce Thomas) and Violet Stanton (Kristen Dalton) to babysit their son Sam at their out-of-the-way farmhouse. There is a background of missing girls and Angie believes someone is stalking her. While babysitting, Angie keeps hearing strange sounds and gets in a struggle with a strange man that breaks into the house. Things are not as they seem which is one of the things I enjoyed about this film. Some nice characters turn out to be real villains and it is played really nice, esp by Bruce Thomas who really seems to understand his role and doesn't overplay it like so many actors do. If you love your horror and miss the days of the great 70's films of Carpenter and Hooper, you should really appreciate a film like this which takes a simple premise and really lets it build properly. My grade is a A-.
Another cool film for fans of the animated TV series or the wonderfully fun magna by Osamu Tezuka (who also brought us Kimba The White Lion, Phoenix and Adolf), is "Astro Boy". My bigest worry is to capture a world where robots are used for everyday living needs but also where they are treated like property. The appeal of Astro Boy, which was based on the imprint of Dr. Tenma's son Toby who is killed in an accident working on a military war robot. Struck by grief, Dr Tenma tries to rebuild his son but the result is a boy who while looking like Toby, isn't exactly alike. Astro runs off and eventually comes across a group of rundown robots called the R.R.F (the Robot Revolutionary Front) who save robots and off a group of kids who help the scientist Hamegg find robot parts. While Astro is happy to be around the kids, he is unhappy that the robots he is helping build are going to be used in robot gladitorial games. The one thing Astro has that really separates him is that he takes on the cause that humans and robots are equal and he is willing to go to any lengths to protect both. That is his charm as a character to bring together humans and robots. Only Dr Elefun who is really brought to life here really gets what Astro is about and is a good ally as Astro must face the challenge of the Peacekeeper, a robot build with negative energy (and also caused Toby's death), who has the power to absorb both organic and inorganic matter to make him stronger. His actions both inspire his human and robot friends to work together. The film really does a great job getting the tone of the magna right and the story has enough action where you casual family audience should find a lot of enjoyment in the film. This is a truly inspired film and it gets a grade of an A from me.
With all this talk of Michigan movie, it is only fitting that "Evil Dead: The Musical" has finally come to the area coutesy of the Ringwald Theatre. I saw this a couple of years ago in Toronto where the production won numerous awards beating out stiffer competition such as 'Wicked' and 'LOTR: The Musical'. This film really takes the fun spirit of the movies and puts it on the stage. Mitchell Koory is the important piece of this production for we need someone who can bring the manic intensity and facial expression of Bruce Campbell's "Ash" (hear a brief interview with him this Sat morning on my radio program - WXSOU 88.3FM or www.wxou.org between 8-10AM) and he brings it well. That said, the premise involves several college students spending a weekend in an abandoned cabin in the woods and accidentally unleash an evil terror. Totally tongue-in-cheek as shown when the characters ask the audience what could possibly happen to a group of teenagers who are in an out-of-wthe-way cabin in the woods where nobody knows where they are. Anyone who has seen movies like Nightmare On Elm Street, Friday The 13th or Halloween should see something bad is going to happen. And happen it does as evil spirits are let loose and attack the kids thus creating Ash, one of the most kick ass anti-heroes in film and now stage. This play includes a splash zone (ponchos are sold at the venue) and some sensitive people might find the play a bit vulgar. If strong language and zombie killing doesn't affacte you, sit back and enjoy. Unlike most musical sci-fi films, this musical does have a bunch of stand-outs (in the tradition of Little Shop Of Horrors and Rocky Horror) including my favorites "Cabin in the Woods", "What the fuck was that?" and "All the Men in My Life Keep Getting Killed by Candarian Demons". In the Toronto productions, the audience really got into the scenes like the Boomstick line and hopefully Detroit audiences will catch up quickly. This is one of the funniest parody productions you will ever see and Evil Dead fans have no excuse to miss this production esp since the musical has the approval of both Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell which means it must be great. My grade is a A+. See it or become an evil demon.
Gaming fans can look forward to the release of “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2” which is seeing a special midnight release party at the BLOCKBUSTER on 610 N. Lapeer Road in Orion Township on Monday, Nov 9th. The event features a pre-release game demo, plus the chance to be among the first to rent, purchase or possibly win the game when it is released at 12:01AM on Tuesday, Nov 10th. Admission is free and open to the public. The event will also feature the opportunity to help real-life heroes, the U.S. troops when event-goers can donate old cell phones to be recycled by Cell Phones for Soldiers or buy calling cards for troops far from home. You can also win various video games and hardware so get there and have some fun.
In my upcoming concerts series, we have a nice day on Tuesday (10/27) with icons Richard Thompson & Loudon Wainwright III @ Michigan Theatre or Ingrid Michaelson @ The Ark. On Wednesday (10/28) Ingrid Michaelson is @ The Ark for a 2nd night while Oscillating Fan Club and Copper Thieves opening for the Blakes @ Pike Room. Thursday (10/29) sees local bands Friendly Foes and Lovvers @ Majestic Cafe. On Friday (10/30) Bruce Hornsby is @ Motorcity Casino while psychedlic music legend Roky Erickson (of 13th Floor Elevators) will be @ Magic Stick, Darling Imperial plays @ the Painted Lady and Jill Jack @ Memphis Smoke.
Saturday (10/31) is for craziness with Insane Clown Posse @ The Fillmore, Marky Ramones Blitzkrieg @ Soaring Eagle Resort & Casino and sci-fi inspired Powerman 5000 is @ the Machine Shop.
Sunday (11/01) has Papa Roach & Jet @ the Fillmore and Monday (11/02) has the holiday spirit of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra @ Breslin Center (East Lansing) or Carolina Liar opening for Rob Thomas @ the Fillmore.
Don't forget, the Crofoot is having their Creepy Cheapy Halloween Treat on Oct 31st where we have the music of Wildcatting, Childbite, Silverghost along with Wolfman Mac and WXOU. Of course there are other Halloween parties, but this is where I'm putting my reputation.
I would also like to congratulate my cousin Kathy and having a baby whose name is Elise who comes in at 7lbs 6oz, 19.5 inches long! Cute little thing too but aren't all babies? I don't think I'm missing anything so have a good week and be safe this upcoming Halloween season.
I hope you all get more treats than tricks!