Bonus Round

Members of the "Jeopardy!" Clue Crew reading clues about 
Norman Rockwell at Norman Rockwell Museum, December 2013. 
Photos by Jeremy Clowe for Norman Rockwell Museum.
All rights reserved.

Norman Rockwell Museum is back as a category on TV's Jeopardy! this Thursday, October 9th. This marks the third time we have appeared on the show in recent months, utilizing footage shot at the Museum last December. The outreach certainly paid off... if I do say so myself—you can read more about it in my blog post from last April.

On a related note, I read some Jeopardy-style clues myself recently: As Schools Match Wits, a long-running high school TV game show, stopped by the Museum to film some clues about the subject of Norman Rockwell, and I was asked to read the clues. I put on my best "Alex Trebek," which was fun. Produced by Westfield State University and airing on Springfield's WGBY-TV, the show is entering its 54th season... quite impressive. When I hear about an air-date, I'll let you know... or, as they say, check your local listings.

www.jeopardy.com

Pushing The Envelope

It's all about the chemistry... Courtesy AMC.

Speaking of award ceremonies, I caught a very quick glimpse of the Emmys last night. Despite the irony of other TV award shows being nominated, they are right when they call this a "golden age" of television... "slow-burning, deeply satisfying pleasures" as The Atlantic put it. I too find myself more satisfied with what is being produced on the small over big screen lately (with the exception of Richard Linklater's new film, Boyhood, which was great for similar reasons). 

Today I learned that Breaking Bad won big at last night's ceremony... and rightfully so. The series, writers, lead actor (Bryan Cranston), supporting actress (Anna Gunn), and supporting actor (Aaron Paul) certainly deserved one last bow, following their brilliant run. Also deserving, The Colbert Report for Variety Series (I cross my fingers that the host will be as good when he makes the move to The Late Show). While I wait for the final season of the consistently captivating Mad Men, I hear there are plenty of other good shows to binge on... but I'm not sure I will ever see anything as thoroughly well-produced as Breaking Bad again. Here's hoping.

Related Link:

"Breaking Bad's Hard-Earned, Heartwarming Emmys Win," The Atlantic, August 26, 2014

"Emmys 2014 Winners List," Indiewire, August 25, 2014

We've Got Game!

Clue: This popular arts organization will be highlighted as one of the categories on this Wednesday's episode of Jeopardy!

If you answered "What is Norman Rockwell Museum?" You are correct! If you also guessed that yours truly was responsible for landing the Museum on the popular, nationally syndicated TV game show, you have made it to the bonus round, my friend!

This is "Jeopardy"... live from Norman Rockwell's studio!
Photo by Jeremy Clowe for Norman Rockwell Museum. All rights reserved.

Last summer I was watching the show at my local gym, and noticed that the next category was "Walt Disney"—I took note, since we were showing an exhibition at the Museum on the art of Disney's Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs. The clues in this category were unique, since they were filmed on-location at the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco; that had me even more intrigued, since they were the ones who had organized our summer show. 

So I reached out to the Disney Museum, to see if they might have a contact at Jeopardy that I could try and get in touch with, and pitch the idea of a category on "Norman Rockwell." As I explained, the nature of Rockwell's illustrations; inspired by history, current events, favorite pastimes, and art; and the way that the artist's popularity has endured over the years made it seem like the perfect idea for a category—I was happy to hear that the game show's producers agreed.

Sarah Whitcomb Foss and Jimmy
McGuire, members of the "Jeopardy!"
Clue Crew, observe Rockwell's
"Golden Rule" at Norman Rockwell
Museum, December 2013.
Photo by Jeremy Clowe for Norman
Rockwell Museum. All rights
reserved.

Last December producers and members of Jeopardy's Clue Crew visited the Museum and filmed several segments in the Museum's galleries. The clues, which I helped create, were staged in front of many of Rockwell's iconic paintings from the Museum's permanent collection, and in the artist's original studio. It was a very professional crew that visited that day, and the production was quite streamlined (I only wish that Alex Trebek, an apparent art-lover, could have made it out to Stockbridge). I learned a good deal watching the crew, and conferring with the show's dedicated researchers. 

So this Wednesday, April 30, I get to see how this entire shoot, which I helped coordinate, plays out in the context of the show (I can already hear the theme music). This is actually the first of several categories filmed at the Museum that will air over the next few months. As they say, "check your local listings"... 

And if you can't wait until Wednesday, check out this interview I conducted today with WAMC Radio. Let me know what you think of the show, and how many questions you get right at home. Cue the theme music, Alex...

Related Links (updated 4/30/14):

Jeopardy! website

"This Is... The Norman Rockwell Museum To Be Showcased on JEOPARDY!" WAMC Radio, April 28, 2014 

"Rockwell Museum to be featured on 'Jeopardy'," Schenectady Gazette, April 30, 2014

Mad Bad and Dangerous To Know

At least there's the soundtrack...
courtesy www.nonesuch.com

I have definitely been getting a crash course in film studies lately. Sarah and I have been watching a ton of TV and movies and, more often that not, there seems to be a common thread that we are drawn to.

Yesterday we made it out to see Inside Llewyn Davis, the new film by the Coen Brothers. A longtime fan of the brothers' quirky tales of lovable losers, I have to admit that I was disappointed by this near-humorless movie. Don't get me wrong, the music and cinematography definitely paint the picture of the early '60s New York folk scene, but that was about all I found attractive. Oscar Isaac seems a talented singer, but there is nothing sympathetic about the title character that he portrays. Miserable Llewyn Davis, walking trough the Village in his thin coat, insulting people, chasing after lost cats... the film is about struggling and the artistic life, but very early on I didn't find much about this selfish character to root for... isn't that the idea of the anti-hero?

bad-ass gift! The complete "Breaking Bad" series on DVD.
Courtesy www.breakingbadstore.com.

There was an interesting NPR story that came out this past fall about how in the very first episode of Breaking Bad, show creator Vince Gilligan utilized several story and filmmaking tricks to get us to sympathize with Walter White (played by the brilliant Bryan Cranston). A down on his luck chemistry teacher who learns that he has inoperable lung cancer, NPR points out that the filmmakers establish a world full of sad obstacles for the character and then bring us a point-of-view sequence where we can connect with the character's emotions even further. It seemed to do the trick: after five seasons of increasingly evil behavior, I still find myself somewhat rooting for the nerdy teacher turned meth-cooking drug kingpin. 

I have said it before, but I was so impressed with Breaking Bad. The great thing is that the production of the show has been so well-documented, and I have enjoyed listening to the series podcasts on the way to work and watching behind-the-scenes footage on the show's DVDs. Gilligan and his crew have been extremely generous in letting us see what expertise each member of their crew brought to the table (the writer's room comes to mind), making one of the most compelling series of all time. 

Mad about it... how many weeks until April 13?
courtesy: www.amc.com

After bingeing on Breaking Bad, I was eager to immerse myself in another show of equal quality. People had been talking about the 1960s advertising drama, Mad Men for some time, but I hadn't really taken the time to look into it (apart from an unsuccessful attempt by Sarah and I to watch the first episode of season three, and being repulsed by the characters). Late last year I decided to give it a proper try, starting at season one... and many weeks later Sarah and I had a new favorite show. 

I had a feeling I would enjoy the show's attempts to recreate an authentic "look" of the era, but was surprised how I also began to appreciate and care for the characters as they travel through the changing culture of the 1960s. Don Draper (Jon Hamm), Roger Sterling (John Slattery), Pete Campbell (Vincent Kartheiser)... these are all fairly repulsive men who operate in a selfish, cutthroat and sexist world but again, through great writing, performances, and the unfolding nature of episodic TV, you really get to learn the background and different aspects of each character's personality (almost like a psychological study).

When asked about the appeal of Mad Men during a Paley Center talk with the show's creator and cast, actor Jon Hamm made an excellent point: "It takes it's time... it's not dependent on a certain formula or a certain show that has succeeded in the past... it's sort of this cool little one-off." Show creator Matthew Weiner continued that "you don't know what's going to happen, which takes a tremendous amount of effort from the both the audience and the writing, because the audience is really used to getting into the formula of like Agatha Christie or Law & Order or one of those things... and I think it also helps that the show is kind of honest in an almost embarrassing kind of way."

Mad Men and Breaking Bad have kept me on my toes as a viewer—I appreciate that. Like a good novel, these works are not presented merely as "black and white," and I find myself less patient of TV and films that would present otherwise. 

Do the hustle! Amy Adams continues
to shine. Courtesy www.thewrap.com

In the last couple weeks we have also seen the movies Her and American Hustle—both films are expertly made, but not entirely successful for me. The acting is the best part of American Hustle, loosely based on Abscam, the FBI's sting operation of the late 1970s. Actor Christian Bale plays Irving Rosenfeld, a cheating con man with a ridiculous toupee (hard to believe that before this he starred as Christopher Nolan's Batman) who eventually ends up working with an FBI agent to entrap corrupt politicians. Last seen in the Schenectady-based Place Beyond the Pines, Bradley Cooper plays agent Richie DiMaso, who has his own bad hair issues (I realize now this is what he must have been shooting when he showed up for the Pines premiere here in town). There is great dialogue between all the characters, including the always-entertaining Amy Adams, playing Irving's fellow con-artist/mistress Sydney Prosser. It's the kind of work that might be even better as an ongoing TV series, as the plot seems to get a bit unfocused... but again, I loved the period recreation and characters.

Her certainly has an interesting premise: in a not too distant future, a lonely man starts a "relationship" with his computer operating system—with the way technology is heading (simultaneously bringing us together and further isolating) it's a rather sobering thought. 

Photo of filmmakers Spike Jonze and David Fincher
talking movies at the NYC premiere of "The Curious Case of
Benjamin Buttons, December 2008. Photo by Jeremy Clowe.
All rights reserved.

I admire filmmaker Spike Jonze's work, even though I was pretty disappointed with his adaptation of Maurice Sendak's Where The Wild Things Are (maybe that was largely due to Dave Eggers' neurotic screenplay and the whiny voices of the monsters). In a recent interview, Jonze described learning something about vocal performances from that movie, which helped in the production of Her; I can see the benefit, as Scarlett Johansson was certainly captivating as the voice of Samantha The OS. A dressed-down Amy Adams was also fun as a "real-life" friend to Joaquin Phoenix's Theodore Trombley character (including a ridiculous exchange about people cheating on each other's operating systems). Otherwise, the movie felt a little too claustrophobic and depressing for me. I continue to appreciate what Jonze is trying to do, but prefer his more playful music videos and early films. 

So yes, I'm typically drawn to quirky movies and television, with flawed, realistic characters. Furthermore, I certainly enjoy a great looking film, but am beginning to wonder if the majority of critics are being deluded by style over substance... 

www.facebook.com/downtonabbey

TV seems to be winning out at the moment, and hey... it's cozier on the couch with your girl and a bowl of popcorn. Downton Abbey returns tonight, and I too have succumbed to the allure of this period piece looking at the British upstairs/downstairs social hierarchy of the Crawley Family Estate. This season has brought the cast outside of the Abbey a bit more, opening them up to the changing culture of the 1920s Jazz Age—not a bad thing. Again, the production values and performances are superb; I also find it interesting how they are dealing with the departure of actors, and maintaining strong storytelling. 

In a creative sense there's plenty to watch and learn from in the movies, but perhaps more so from the new "Golden Age of TV." Who would have thought?

Heavenly Host

Schenectady Neighbors for Peace memorial march,
Central Park, Schenectady, NY, 2009. Photo ©Jeremy Clowe.
All rights reserved.

Tonight it's Sarah's turn in the spotlight, as she takes on hosting duties for both TV and radio shows! 

As I reported before, WEXT will be re-airing our "My Exit" guest DJ hour tonight at 11 p.m. ET, giving you all a chance to hear music that has been important to both of us through the years. You can stream the show on their website: exit977.org

Before that, tune into Schenectady's Open Stage Media (OSM) at 10 p.m., as Mrs. Clowe makes her TV debut, guest hosting for the program, "Building Peace." Created by Schenectady Neighbors for Peace (of which we are both members), the show looks at non-violent resolutions to current issues: tonight's program features an interview with SUNY Albany Professor Larry S. Wittner about nuclear disarmament. The show will be aired throughout the week, and those outside of Schenectady can watch the program on the OSM web page: openstagemedia.com

In the words of Beatle John: "Give Peace a Chance"—

of course we'll be playing some Beatles on the radio show!

Update (12/24): It's the gift that keeps on giving... WEXT will broadcast the radio show one more time this Saturday, December 28, 8 a.m. ET

Merry Christmas everyone!

Say My Name

Wow. We finally made it through the entire Breaking Bad series. Only a week behind the airing of the final episode... not bad timing, I'd say.

The finale was perfect− a fine ending to one of the best TV shows ever. There were, in fact, so many great moments during the series that it's hard to remember them all... Two of my favorite shows came during the tail end of last year (part one of season five), and epitomize all that I have come to love about the show: suspense, conflicted characters, and deft artistic touches: the visual montage during the end of episode 8 ("Gliding Over All") was amazing... playing Tommy James & The Shondells' classic "Crystal Blue Persuasion" was a delightful tribute to character Walter White's infamous blue-tinged crystal meth empire.

Courtesy AMC.

The episode before that ("Say My Name") was yet another turning point, as White becomes increasingly dark... more confident in his abilities, yet further distancing himself from his one-time associates. If Breaking Bad were a book it would be a page-turner, and I can't get over the consistent level of quality that series creator Vince Gilligan and his talented crew of actors, writers, and filmmakers have brought to the television medium.

Of course with works of art that I love, it will be fun now to analyze the show and figure out its various meanings; one thing that has piqued my interest along the way has been its use of color: from the recurring strain of purple (especially in the character Marie, played by the delightful Betsy Brandt) to the often terrifying use of red (on the floor of Gus' meth lab and the interior of Mike's car)... I revel in the details, and this show had them in spades. 

Finally, Bryan Cranston must be the luckiest actor in the world... to have had the opportunity to play a conflicted character like Walter White, and so effortlessly pull off his transformation into one of the screen's all-time great villains is no small feat. Even during the last few minutes of the show, I still found myself with a touch of sympathy for the devil. The show's recent promos used the phrase "remember by name," and I won't soon forget the monster that was "Heisenberg."

"Breaking Bad" as Heisenberg in a screen test 
for filmmaker Ben Hillman's "Bomb Squad." 
Photo ©Jeremy Clowe.

Recently I had a fun remembrance, that Cranston isn't the only actor with experience "breaking bad" as a Heisenberg. Shortly after starting work in Western Massachusetts over ten years ago, I actually portrayed German physicist Werner Heisenberg (who inspired Walter White’s alter ego) for a local filmmaker working on a musical about the story of the atomic bomb, which Heisenberg played a part in. I donned my best lederhosen as well as a radiation suit for the screen test, which we filmed on a Berkshire soundstage—brave souls can watch the promo here. 

In the meantime, Breaking Bad makes me think about how little is "black and white" in this world. For any future acting, I expect to keep this show in mind as a lesson in how to present rich, nuanced characters. 

Another thing that has resonated with me about this show is the idea of control, power and, indeed, masculinity. In one of my other all-time favorite episodes, "Hermanos" (season four, episode eight), there is a wonderful exchange during a scene that takes place in hospital waiting room between Walt and a fellow cancer patient. As the man explains how hard it is to learn how to give up power over his situation, Walt counters by saying, "Never give up control... live life on your own terms..." His moral approach is obviously flawed, but I think more and more about the idea behind Walter White's sentiment− in terms of life and creativity, I think there is a lot of truth to consider in that statement and this wonderful work of fiction.

Related Links (Spoiler Alert!):

"Breaking Bad" official site

"The Toxic Masculinity of 'Breaking Bad'" (and counter arguments), Wired, October 5, 2013

"'Breaking Bad' Writers: 'This Is It; There's No More,'" Fresh Air, NPR, October 3, 2013

"'Breaking Bad' Color Theory: The Subtle Symbolism And Meanings Behind The Colors In AMC's Hit Series," International Business Times, September 27, 2013 

"Breaking Bad" Cast Interview, Charlie Rose, August 29, 2013

Bad Influence

Folks, I must make a confession... I have an addiction.

Last summer, after hearing so many people rave about AMC's critically acclaimed TV series, Breaking Bad, Sarah and I decided to give it a shot through the "binge viewing" experience that is Netflix. I should say "new" for us, because we have only just signed up for the service after finding it hard to locate older movies we were interested in viewing. As it turns out, we have ended up watching more TV shows than movies through Netflix, and AMC's creative offering might be the best that I have ever seen.

"Breaking Bad" promo with left to right: Aaron Paul
and Bryan Cranston. Courtesy AMC.

For the uninitiated, Breaking Bad tells the story of Walter White (played by the brilliant Bryan Cranston), a struggling high school chemistry teacher who is diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer. Facing financial troubles and a new child on the way, Walter despairs about how he will provide for his family once he is gone. During the same time, his brother-in-law Hank (Dean Norris), a DEA agent, brings him along on one of his drug busts, and it is here that Walt conceives the idea of producing methamphetamine as a way to make money. In an added twist, Walt's former student, Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) is spotted during the bust and coerced into helping his teacher with his scheme. The two become big-time players in the Albuquerque, New Mexico drug scene, producing a nearly pure crystal meth, known for its unique blue color, and attracting an increasingly complicated and dangerous lifestyle unbeknownst to their families.

I knew this show was going to be different from the very first episode−not just for its unique anti-hero/villain story, but also for its high-quality writing, acting, and artistic flourishes, including some gorgeous cinematography of the New Mexico landscape. But the high point is Cranston, who brings such a rich, nuanced performance as Walter White. You really don't know whether to sympathize with or hate him... five seasons in it feels like a bit of both. During the series, Walter also adopts the alter ego "Heisenberg,” a nod to German physicist Werner Heisenberg, famous for his "uncertainty principle,” which seems entirely appropriate to describe this show that has kept us nervously glued to the screen.

As you may have heard, tonight they are airing the final episode of the series, and there is an incredible amount of anticipation out there− I hear it from my friends and in the media (Conan O'Brien even had the show's cast on his program last week for a full episode devoted to the series). I am amazed by the phenomenon (of a show that wasn't even on my radar a year ago), but it is truly deserved.

Earlier this year I wrote about TV shows in a somewhat rambling blog post, inspired by our new HD TV set (sorry about that one). What I was trying to express was the idea and desire for strong storytelling in motion pictures. The irony is, as a frequent video producer, I rarely watched TV− I found most standard network shows rather insulting, and hardly inspiring. Now I'm learning about this new "golden age" of television, lead by such innovative cable series as Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones, Orange Is The New Black... etc. We don't have anything higher than basic cable, but Netflix is giving us the opportunity to discover what the fuss is about. Kevin Spacey, star of the newly recommended House of Cards, was interviewed recently about this "binge TV viewing" phenomenon, and made the point that it offers viewers the chance to watch these shows like they might read a novel (yeah, don't get Sarah started!).  

Bryan Cranston is Walter White
(aka "Heisenberg"). Courtesy AMC.

I have to say, I find Breaking Bad on the level of a good novel, and certainly better than most movies I have seen recently. There is an obvious care and creativity (lacking in most big-budget Hollywood movies), and satisfying in its use of a "slow reveal"...letting us learn about the characters in a gradual fashion. In contrast, How I Met Your Mother, another one-time favorite that is ending this year, has become unwatchable. Through Netflix I am sad to witness how this once clever sitcom has evolved into caricature and slapstick... is this what happens under the influence of network TV, ratings, and continuing past your expiration date? So far, BB’s quality has remained consistent all the way through—maybe stopping while you’re ahead isn't a bad idea.

Closer to home, I learned some exciting, related news this week: motion picture company Pacifica Ventures, which produces Breaking Bad, has made a proposal to build a $68.9 movie studio right here in Schenectady. That would be unbelievable on so many levels... with the opportunity for film production resources right here in my town, and a likely boon to the area's economy— on that note, New York Times has an interesting story today about how Albuquerque experienced just such a boon, during the years that AMC's hit show was in production there... right down to local businesses selling "blue meth" candy and cookies, and tours of the locations where the show had been filmed. I think Schenectady would be a great choice... the recent feature The Place Beyond the Pines was filmed here, and that was done in the same edgy/artistic way as BB, and also utilized the surrounding town as a character in itself (yes, my friends and I did a tour of its various locations around the time of its release). Schenectady also has an interesting history in relationship to the arts and media—apparently WRGB-TV, celebrating its 85th anniversary, was the first TV station to ever start broadcasting in the world.

So, I guess these are all good reasons to get hooked (on TV) again... if my eyes look bleary, you'll understand why. All I ask is that you don't provide any spoilers on the final BB episode just yet... we have about a season of heart-racing stories to go, and I want to keep that element of surprise. Knowing myself, it's going to be hard to resist reading all I can before then about the show, but this "slower reveal" should provide a much better rush.

Related Links:

Official "Breaking Bad" site, AMC

"Breaking Up With 'Breaking Bad' Is Hard for Albuquerque," New York Times, September 29, 2013

"Point Of View: How So Many Rooted for 'Breaking Bad's' Walter White," NPR, September 27, 2013

"Race to End for 'Breaking Bad' Fans Who Got Behind," New York Times, September 27, 2013

"'Love affair' led company to propose film studio for Schenectady," Schenectady Gazette, September 25, 2013

"Breaking Bad" episode, Conan, September 23, 2013

"A Deeper Dive Into Television's 'Difficult Men'," NPR, June 30, 2013

(post edited 9.30.13)

Higher Resolution

Happy 2013! Hope your new year is off to a good start...

JC + SC... now in HD! Courtesy Mom B. All rights reserved.

So it has taken me a few days to get back to blogging, but fear not dear readers! No, I haven't abandoned the idea of keeping you up-to-date on my ever blue-eyed soulful self during this new year... maybe just easing up on the daily assignment from 2012 (man needs a life too, you know)...

The new year has been fairly good for us so far, starting with a great night out with some of my improv friends for New Year's Eve. Along with a spirited Beatles sing-a-long, we couldn't resist doing a few improvised musical numbers (consider it early rehearsal for our January 18th performance at the Spectrum Playhouse in Lee, MA). 

I was also excited to hear about a film short that my friends Mike and Lex had been busy working on at the end of last year. No strangers to theater (both on-stage and directing), movies are a relatively new venture for them... however it sounds like it was supported in the very best, independent way, with help from fellow artists, friends and family.

On New Year's Day I felt a little "under the weather," so reading and watching movies was about all I had the motivation to do. Sarah and I rented Gayby, an independent feature about two single friends who decide to have a baby... it was an interesting, romantic comedy about a couple that aren't really romantic (Jenn is straight, Matt is gay). With a clever, well-written script, the movie explored some of the issues that such a scenario might hold for these two individuals. We didn't realize how independent the film was until the end credits, which included a thank-you to those who supported the film through the donation website, Kickstarter. It was an impressive debut for writer/director Jonathan Lisecki, and I appreciated the comic book references (the character Matt, played by the charming Matthew Wilkas, works at a comic book shop).

The next day I was supposed to head back to work, but found myself with some car issues... 

Hawkeye #1. ™ & © Marvel & Subs.

On the way back from picking up my car (which suffered from a case of exhausted sparkplugs) I stopped by a comic book shop myself... to promote the Alex Ross exhibition, of course! I also managed to pick up a couple new titles... the book I am especially intrigued by is Hawkeye, which explores the off-duty exploits of the long-time member of the Avengers (also seen in last year's movie). I have always liked the "down on his luck" archer hero, and I have to say that this new book, written by Matt Fraction and illustrated by David Aja, is a perfect bullseye! It is presented in a very subtle, comedic style, and the artwork is just exquisite... somewhat different from typical superhero comic book fare. My first thought, in fact, was that it all unfolds like a good independent movie. Some of the other titles I picked up haven't been quite as successful, and I realize that great art is still dependent on strong storytelling in this medium. Really, the same holds true for television.

We both enjoy The Big Bang Theory, but there aren't too many other shows I consider worth sitting through... clever writing seems to be sacrificed for shock value and crass jokes nowadays. With a lack of quality options, we decided to tune our new HD television into the Me-TV Network, which runs old-time TV classics (Sarah's new favorite is I Dream of Jeannie... :) ). Things really started cooking when we got to The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Bob Newhart Show— I didn't really grow up with these programs (which were airing right around the time I was born), but we have been enjoying them! There is a noticeable difference in the quality of these sitcoms from what is airing today— a little more intelligent and sophisticated... often dealing with cultural issues of the day. The Odd Couple airs right after these two programs, proving that 1970s TV, like film, might indeed have been a "golden age" (the crazy fashion and design choices don't hurt either)!

Yesterday we headed outdoors... braved the elements to help our extended family move, go skiing, and then back inside to watch another movie with Sarah's folks later in the evening: the classic Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, one of my all-time favorites. It's funny, we had just been talking about actor Bob Hoskins ("watching" the British comedy Mrs. Henderson Presents the night before... well, Sarah watched it, I fell asleep... surprising since it dealt with the real-life story of a 1930s burlesque show-!). 

Back to Roger Rabbit, what a joy it was to watch this movie again! I had fond memories of the film when it was originally released back in 1988, right before the advent of computer generated imagery. No, this part-animated/live feature was done the old fashioned way... hand-painted animation, puppeteers, robotics, and a little lighting help from George Lucas' Industrial Light and Magic. But where this film differs from Lucas' infuriating Star Wars prequels from the late '90s, is that you actually feel like the animations and live actors are interacting. I think a lot of the credit must go to director Bob Zemeckis (Back To The Future), who I greatly admired for his creativity and technical skills... at least back then. It seems that the late '80s were also a strong time for filmmaking, where more organic, technical achievements more than held their own. Seriously, watch something like The Polar Express or Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, and tell me if it succeeds on the level of our friends Roger and Jessica Rabbit. Bob Hoskin's detective character, Eddie Valiant, is fun too...the film noir, detective-style writing adds to this cinematic delight.

So when it comes to visual storytelling, I guess it's important to remember what has been working in the first place, while being open to explore new technological advances.On that note, has anyone seen The Hobbit? I'm sort of curious... but that comes more from my memories of the great storytelling that my elementary school teacher shared with us back in the day ("precious" indeed)...

P.S.-Sarah is just settling in to watch one of her NEW favorites, Dowton Abbey.  A modern-day classic? Ok, maybe I'll give it a shot...

Related Links:

www.gaybyfilm.com

"Conversing on Comics with David Aja," Comic Book Resources/Robot 6, December 28, 2012

http://metvnetwork.com

"California Films: Who Framed Roger Rabbit," KQED, January 5, 2013

Getting To Know You

Left to right: CTSB host Olga May Millgan, cameraman Leo Mahoney,
and the J. Clowe Experience at Norman Rockwell Museum.
Photo ©Jeremy Clowe. All rights reserved.

This morning found me back in front of the camera, doing an interview with TV host Olga May Milligan for her CTSB-TV program, Getting To Know You. Conducted at Norman Rockwell Museum, I filled her in our latest programs and exhibitions, including Howard Pyle: American Master Rediscovered and Norman Rockwell: Sports! For the latter exhibition, we have Rockwell's old bicycle on display, and Milligan actually remembers seeing the famed artist ride it around town back in the day, as a break from working long hours in his studio. Olga is a sweet lady of British origin (she even brought me a wedding card!), and she was joined by my buddy Leo Mahoney, who is the station manager at CTSB, where I work and volunteer part-time. The show should be airing in the next few weeks and might even be available online--details to come.


I certainly feel comfortable in front of the camera... and on stage. Last night while I was running the treadmill at my gym, I happened to catch the new ABC-TV show Trust Us With Your Life, which reunites many of the old improv players from Whose Line Is It Anyway? On this new show, hosted by actor Fred Willard, comedians Wayne Brady, Colin Mochrie, and Jonathan Mangum act out scenes in the life of guest celebrities. Last night's premiere featured tennis star Serena Williams, and there were some hilarious moments recreating a time when she broke a piggybank as a child--I saw many similarities to the games I perform with the Royal Berkshire Improv Troupe, but the "this is your life" element was a fun twist. The show looks very promising... I found myself grinning on a number of occasions while watching--Brady and Mochrie, in particular, are hysterical-- very quick and smart--there was one great scene where they lie on the floor, and the camera made it look like they were playing tennis... funny, clever stuff. jack and Kelly Osbourne (Ozzy's kids) were the celebrities featured in the second half-hour.


Watching this show makes me anxious to get back to performing with RBIT again... during our last show, one of the young kids who helps us out with tech learned about my wedding and honeymoon... he became very concerned, wondering what I was going to do because I have a show next Friday, July 20? Bless his heart. I won't be joining them, but you can indeed catch RBIT next Friday at the Spectrum Playhouse in Lee, Massachusetts, or this Friday, July 13, at the Freightyard Pub in North Adams, MA. And don't worry... the J.Clowe Experience will be back... performing seems to be in my blood... bloody good, that!


Related Links:


"Trust Us With Your Life" official website
www.ctsbtv.org
Royal Berkshire Improv Troupe 

Don't Touch That Dial

What an odd day. I think one of the strangest and least "productive" ones (at least in a creative sense) that I have ever experienced... but not for want of trying...


I returned to my full-time job, and had more than enough to do. One of the first things on tap was to accompany a videographer, for what I thought would be a few minutes in the morning. Well, that stretched out to be the entire day... basically just walking around, watching him do his thing... <<insert "yawn" here>>. At least at the very end of all this, he interviewed me on-camera. I have gotten quite good at this spokesperson thing... have I mentioned that???...


From there I drove out to the Capital Region to meet Sarah, and we served as members of the audience for a live TV show taping. Well... the production elements were nice... and it was interesting to watch the various staff producing the show (sweet mechanized camera cranes)... but I can't say it quite matched the fun of being part of the audience for this guy a couple years ago in New York City: 

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
04/14/10 in :60 Seconds
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor & Satire Blog Video Archive

Well... at least we got paid. 

I'm hoping to have more time to be creative in the next few days... need to continue looking at my Spoken Word Almanac Project materials... and... oh yeah, planning for the wedding... "time keeps on slippin', slippin', slippin' into the future..." 

Bandstand

Wow, first Soul Train, now American Bandstand... not a good year for music show hosts, eh?  (Yikes. I better keep quiet...)

As a teenager growing up in the 1980s, Dick Clark provided me with a window to many of the weird new wave bands that I loved (Blancmange anyone?). "Has a good beat and you can dance to it..." Back then you thought the host might live forever.

New Year's Eve just 
won't be the same... R.I.P.

Related Links:

"Dick Clark dead at 82," CBS News, April 18, 2012

Public Image Ltd. wreck havok on American Bandstand, 1980 

One more spoon of cough syrup now...

I have a confession to make: I kind of like the TV show Glee. I know... in many ways, this Emmy Award-winning series is the antithesis of what I look for in music, consisting as it does of somewhat canned, soulless renditions of popular songs, past and present... I think my old Britpop fave, Blur's Damon Albarn said it best in an interview to Q's Jian Ghomeshi: 




So maybe Damon and the Gorillaz aren't going to "sell-out," but it never ceases to amaze me how many other respected artists have allowed their songs to be covered by the cheerful, "would-be Broadway performers" on the program. 

Ok, for those not familiar, Glee is a musical comedy/drama about a group of students taking part in a high school glee club. Aimed at younger viewers, the show looks at what it takes to be a performer, as well as some of the prejudices and issues facing high school students today. The cast is lead by the club's director Will Schuester, played by Matthew Morrison; other cast members include Lea Michele (Rachel), Cory Monteith (Finn), Curt Colfer (Kurt), and Jane Lynch, who plays the conniving cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester. All the actors are quite charming and personable, and when the series started I was eager to give it a chance--sounded like something I would have enjoyed watching as a teen... artist that I was.

Initially, I found the show a little rough. It definitely did not shy away from important issues--relationships, sexuality, social--that all teens certainly deal with, but I wasn't prepared for it being so "in your face." I thought it was  trying to be a little too crass/edgy at start, and worried about the influence it might have on younger viewers. And some of the music... sounded like we had reverted to the 1950s, when Pat Boone recorded neutered versions of Little Richard rock numbers. Sarah seemed to enjoy it though, so I gave it another chance when we were looking for shows to kick back with online... 

I think the turning point for me was watching an episode where the gay student Kurt comes out to his "sporty" father, and was concerned about the reaction--it was really touching and real, with the father showing concern yet absolute support for his son. I began to think there might be more to the show than initially met my eye... and ears.


The cast really is great, and the subjects have been interesting--it definitely sucks you in, and you start caring for the students and their story. Last week we watched a back episode that really caught my attention, as it dealt with another student dealing with social pressure. The character, David Karofsky (played by Max Adler), is a member of the school's football team, and was "outed" by several of his teammates with cruel taunts. What is interesting about this storyline is that the character first appeared a bully to the gay student Kurt, who he later expressed interest in. Karofksy couldn't handle the abuse (along with the very modern-day issue of online harrassment), and tries to kill himself. It was pretty wild, and was actually intercut with a performance by one of the other glee club members, performing an actually pretty decent cover of Young the Giant's recent indie-hit "Cough Syrup". View the clip here, and here is a performance is the original song, which already packs a pretty emotional wallop (it has been stuck in my head ever since we watched the episode): 



So, I had no idea how they were going to continue this show after such a heavy, heavy subject. It turned out later in the episode, that Karofksy's father rushed in at the last minute and caught his son as he tried to hang himself. The character is seen later on in the hospital, as Kurt (one-time victim of his harrassment), stops by to pay him a visit. 

Glee has never shied away from such teen issues, which must be one reason for its immense popularity. But this particular episode took things even one step further... at the end of the show, the characters Finn and Rachel have decided to get married, and are seen trying to rush through a quickly put together ceremony. One of the other glee members, Quinn (played by Dianna Agron), is on her way to the wedding, and is seen texting back and forth with Rachel. The last shocking moments of the program show a truck crashing into Quinn's car. Wow. Who saw that coming?...

To me this is Glee's moment of truth. I'm not a hater of any of the characters, but they would do a real service to their viewers by having Quinn die. A teenager's life is tough enough, but one of the other truly frightening realities of modern-day culture is the number of accidents resulting from texting. I know a thing or two about being distracted while driving, and I'm actually quite terrified by this latest trend. 

All of us can relate to adolescence and the high school years, and I'm sure most of us have experienced the unexpected death of loved ones or friends. I remember back in my high school days learning that a popular classmate had been killed while skiing... later, it was a car carrying two students who were speeding around the time of prom. It definitely wakes you up, and puts things in perspective--particularly your day-to-day high school experience, which sometimes feels like it will never change. Now Quinn is a fictional character, but by this very tragic example, Glee could be offering students a chance to "feel" what this could be like--to them, their family, friends. Here is actress Dianna Agron herself, appearing on The View this week:



I think I was initially wrong about Glee (even if the music can still be a little schmaltzy)--I commend the show for its efforts to raise awareness about all of these delicate issues--I think we have all been there. Above all, the show has presented a sympathetic look at how it feels to be "different"... it can be a challenging road from adolescent to adulthood, and it's still pretty tricky once you reach the later years. Don't stop believin'.



Related Links: 


www.fox.com/glee


"Teens still texting while driving, survey says," Detroit Free Press, April 10, 2012