It’s interesting how the length of a TV series season has evolved over the last 50 years. Into the 1960s, there were some with seasons of more than twenty-six episodes: Perry Mason, The Wild Wild West, and Lost in Space are three examples (all on CBS). Nowadays, depending on the network, a season usually varies between ten and twenty-two episodes, although certain shows at times have had more (Frasier being an example). But I digress… (more…)
One of the most powerful television dramas to come from the 1990s, lasting until 2005, was NYPD Blue. Set in New York City (although only partially filmed there), the extremely gritty stories were reflected in a range of non-glamourous characterizations, highlighted by Dennis Franz’s work as detective Andy Sipowicz, for which he won four best actor awards in eight nominations. (more…)
I have just finished editing the third draft of my first book, the latter based on my nearly twenty-five years in the financial services industry. This has been a two years’ process, not counting months of organizing research material before the first written word.
While there remain major steps ahead in looking toward publication, there have been helpful lessons learned in the process so far. (more…)
Taking Charge – behind the camera:
(a) “What I learned is that film is really a director’s medium. The script is essential as the beginning of a great story, but there’s a whole other element to a film which involves the visual – and even more importantly, there’s what the actors bring to the script. I learned as a writer, I have to release my script to my fellow collaborators… Directing has made me a very spare writer.” (more…)
It is supposedly a truism that in a group of thirty people, at least two will share the same birthday. I have been witness to this anecdotally, but how accurate it is over a scientifically large sample is unclear.
What is unequivocally accurate is that a birthday is, by definition, the most important day in one’s life. It seems like it should be worthy of some recognition. (more…)
Taking Charge – in directly:
(a) “Why did I direct twenty-one pictures? Because I wanted to control every aspect of my own movies, and have a great time making them… I had a good time making ‘em, but I still had to deal with all kinds of vagaries of weather and sound and crew and actors. It doesn’t have the purity of simply painting a picture, composing a song, or sculpting, or writing. That’s something you do all by yourself.” (more…)
It’s February 2nd, traditionally known as ‘Groundhog Day’, in which a few of these critters, or their cousins, appear in various locations across Canada and the U.S., to supposedly ‘predict’ the early or late (read normal, per the calendar) arrival of Spring. In many places, celebrations take place to mark the occasion, most famously in the U.S. at Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, and in Canada at Wiarton, Ontario. (more…)
the watch of time 
A Fork in the Road
At our Toastmasters meeting yesterday, as chair my selected theme was ‘A Fork in the Road’.
Certainly the expression has a highly conceptual value, both literally, and widely as figurative, symbolic representation.
The primary reason I picked this as theme had to do with recognizing that a portion of the meeting would be devoted to an annual rite of a Toastmasters club, (more…)
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Arts commentary, Behaviour & Relationships, Personal Development, Uncategorized
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