RIP Robin Williams

It is always sad to hear of someone you grew up watching on TV or in the cinema has passed away. It is not only felt in Hollywood, but all across the globe as well. I honestly feel the depth of sadness from such a loss.

Though I didn’t know him personally, I feel I have gotten to know him as the talented actor on screen. We all have gotten to know him from the many roles he has played. So many laughs, so many great on screen memories we all have shared with our friends and families. There isn’t just one Robin Williams movie that I can pick to call my favorite, as they are all my favorite and shall always be.

It is truly sad to hear that someone who spent years making people laugh, had been suffering with so much pain and depression. RIP Robin Williams, you will be missed greatly!

To Appomattox – A Mini-Series in the Making

Most Americans should know of the American Civil War when asked. We learned about it in grade school from our History books. Some of us may have acted in school plays as Lincoln, reciting the Gettysburg Address. Some of us even have ancestors that fought in the civil war. There are also a few movies that could help fill in some of the blanks, Gettysburg, North and South, Lincoln, just to name a few.

On April 12, 1861, the American Civil War began when Confederate forces fired upon Fort Sumter. For four years, both the Union (The North) and the Confederates (The South) battled against one another in twenty three different states. The majority of those battles were fought in Tennessee and Virginia.

On April 9, 1865, Lee surrenders to Grant at the Appomattox court house, the Confederates lost, the war was over. The American Civil War still remains one of the bloodiest battles in history, with over 620,000 killed from combat, disease, or starvation, and over 476,000 wounded.

A mini-series is currently being filmed called, To Appomattox. It will be the most historically accurate presentation ever to be filmed. They currently have a Kickstarter page going, where you can become involved with their project by donating. With your donations, you can receive really awesome gifts such as cast autographed items, a behind the scenes DVD, a copy of the script, an opportunity to walk on the set, or be an extra, or have an actual speaking part in the mini-series. You can even be a part of the premiere in New York City or Hollywood, as well as the post-premiere party. You could take a tour of the set, or be a part of the meet and greet at one of the screenings. There are more things to list that you will receive from your donations. To see the full list, click here.

By donating, you get to be involved in the production of the mini-series. This is an opportunity of a lifetime, not just for Civil War historians or re-enactors, but for everyone. Everyone should be involved. Click here to find out more details about the mini-series or to donate now.

To Appomattox has a cast of amazing talent: Jason O’Mara, Stephen Lang, Noah Wyle, Richard Speight, Rascal Flatts, Kim Delaney, Trace Adkins, Kix Brooks, Powers Booth, plus many more other famous talents.

Here are some important links for you to visit:

http://www.toappomattox.com

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1258300090/to-appomattox-a-civil-war-event-miniseries

www.facebook.com/ToAppomattox

I’m asking for everyone to please, re-blog this, and/or share this blog post on every media outlet. Spread the word.

Guest blogging for Emmy award winning filmaker Gayle Kirschenbaum

Recently I was asked to guest blog post on Gayle Kirschenbaum’s blog. I had to read the email three times to make sure I read it correctly. I know who Gayle is and have seen some of her work, so that is why I was shocked, excited, thrilled to have even received an email. It is really an honor to have been asked to be a guest blogger on her website.

Gayle is an Emmy Award Winning filmmaker and TV producer. She is also a published author, artist, and a motivational speaker. Some of you may have already seen some of Gayle’s work on TLC or Discovery Health; Little People, Big Charlie, Little Parents, Big Pregnancy, Little Parents: First Baby. She has even co-created a TV series on HBO called Judgement Day: Should the Guilty Go Free. Those are just to name a few.

She is currently working on a documentary film called Look At Us Now Mother. It is true story about a mother-daughter relationship between Gayle and her mother. It is truly an inspiring film about family. It’ll make you laugh. It’ll make you cry. You may even relate to the relationship between Gayle and her mother. It is a film everyone should see.

Please go to this website and watch the trailer of her upcoming documentary at: http://www.lookatusnowmother.com/Home.html

You can check out her website at: http://www.kirschenbaumproductions.com

And to view my guest post on her blog: http://www.kirschenbaumproductionsblog.com/my-daughter-is-my-inspiration-for-my-childrens-books/

You can also follow Gayle on her twitter: @MyNoseBV   @glkirschenbaum And Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KirschenbaumProductions   https://www.facebook.com/kplookatusnowmother

Will we get a Terra Nova?

I’m a HUGE fan of action and adventure. I guess that’s why I love Doctor Who so much. Every episode is adventurous and exciting and leaves you wanting more. I started with Doctor 9 and before I knew it I was hooked. I began to understand the terminology, phraseology, even cried when Doctor 9 left, then really cried when Doctor 10 left. It’s all about being a fan. And a fan I am!

I’m also a fan of Stephen Lang. I’ve seen quite a bit of his work and I admire his talents and his skill of acting. I’m not sure how many of you are familiar with a show that he was in last summer called Terra Nova. It only lasted one season, but I found it very interesting and entertaining. It had action and adventure and it also had dinosaurs. It also had family based drama.

It was something my eight year old nephew looked forward to watching when he came over to my house to stay the night. We had a ritual, I would put my little girl to bed, pop some popcorn, lay out two paper towels on the floor, and fill a bowl of popcorn for him. I would place his bowl on his paper towel and my bowl on my paper towel. Drinks would stay in the kitchen. The two of us would be glued to the TV until commercial break. When the commercials came on, we both looked at each other, smile and say “Wow! That was really cool!”

The first episode begins in the 22^nd century.  The environment is over polluted and the air is too harsh to breath; people have to where re-breathers if they chose to go outside. Jim Shannon (played by Jason O’Mara) comes home to his wife and three kids. A few moments later the police knock on their door to search the house. They received word that the Shannon’s have broken the law. In this century the law states that there are to be two kids per household. The police find a third child hiding in a vent. Jim attacks the police officer and is sent to prison.

Scientist has found a way to go back in time, except it’s only a one way passage and its 85 million years. Eighty five million years ago dinosaurs roamed the planet. A few expeditions have gone through and set up housing, preparing for more people to come through. They’ve also set up high fences, surrounding the area to keep dinosaurs from coming into the housing areas. Along the fence lines are gunnery stations, set up with stun guns, rather than live ammo; to stun any and all dinosaurs that come near the fence. They decide to name this place Terra Nova.

Jim Shannon’s wife, Dr. Elisabeth Shannon, (played by Shelley Conn) is picked to be a part of a medical team that goes to Terra Nova. Only one bad thing, she’s only allowed to take her two eldest children with her. She helps her husband escape out of prison and he sneaks himself and their youngest daughter into Terra Nova.

Well, I won’t tell you what happens next, but I will tell you that Terra Nova just came out on DVD; I got mine. I believe it’s a show for all ages. It’s sad that it was short lived all due to the cost of money to keep the show running. But it does make you think, if our planet continues the way it’s going, will Scientist find a way for us to start over? Will they send us into the past and have us create our own Terra Nova?

Gates please

I have a secret crush for the man whose Destination is Truth. Donning his trademark scarf, aviator glasses, and a ring he wears on a black cord necklace. He and his team travels the world in search for creatures of all kinds, myths and legends, the paranormal, and things that go bump in the night. Showing prestige, courage, and never an ounce of fear. He battles raging rivers, the desert, floods, sand dunes, snakes, spiders, dark caves, weather of all kinds, and dives to the bottom of the murky water. Absolutely a man of skill, showing he can even free climb or scale walls and cliffs; he can drive anything on wheels, including a panzer. He is like a modern day, iconic Indiana Jones. He is Josh Gates.

And now my crush isn’t so secret anymore 😉

Rescue Me Final Episode, “Ashes”

  Rescue Me Final Episode, “Ashes”

        Rescue Me is a television show based on New York City firefighter’s after the tragedy of 11 September 2001. Quite often, names of those who fell that day are mentioned on the show to honor and memorialize them. The series also shows, in a dramatical sense, the daily lives of a firefighter at work and at home.
The last episode of the final season, appropriately titled “Ashes,” starts out with the scene of tragedy. A ladder truck from 62 Firehouse is sitting amongst a rubble ridden ground. Two firefighters stand nearby with sadden faces, staring at the ground and shaking their heads.
A few moments later, the scene changes to show flag covered caskets being wheeled down the aisle of the church as bagpipes play.
Lieutenant Kenneth Shea, also known as Lou (played by John Scurti) walks to the podium to give his eulogy, “Today we are gathered, together, here to honor five men. My men. My brothers. Five men who were given a choice. To run. To flee for safe ground. To seek clean, fresh air. Knowing the danger…” He continues his speech as if it was the scene going up for an Emmy Award nomination. It was followed by a roar of applause, cheers, and a standing ovation.
Tommy Gavin (played by Denis Leary) opens his eyes and I realize I was a witness to another one of Tommy’s avid dreams. Chief ‘Needles’ Nelson (played by Adam Ferrara) reminds Tommy that since he was the acting lieutenant and the senior officer, he is now appointed lieutenant. The first thing he has to do is write the report for headquarters on the accident he was a part of — the same accident that took his best friend, Lou Shea, life. It also means that he has to relive the accident all over again.
Tommy has been plagued with the horrors he has gone through as a firefighter. The victims he could not rescue haunt him now and then. The only relief from his ghosts was drinking. He managed to get sober, now, and the ghosts have not returned, and the horrific dreams are not as often as they were.
The rest of the crew, Franco Rivera (played by Daniel Sunjata), Mike Siletti (played by Michael Lombardi), Sean Garrity (played by Steven Pasquale), and Bart ‘Shawn’ Johnston (played by Larenz Tate), looking beaten and battered from the accident, sit around the firehouse’s kitchen table wondering if they should stay, find a new job, or transfer to a different firehouse. Meanwhile, Tommy has filled out his retirement paperwork and turned them in. Tommy soon learns that he might not be cut out for civilian life, which his daughter Katy (played by Olivia Crocicchia) and his wife Janet (played by Andrea Roth) can only concur.
Lou’s funeral benediction was given by Father Mickey (played by Robert John Burke), whom is also Tommy’s cousin. Many of Lou’s family and friends each spoke kind words and shared memories that they had of Lou. Tommy then reads a letter he found in Lou’s locker, written by Lou, a few memories he wanted to share of his time on earth. “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” by Iron Butterfly is played on bagpipes as Mickey and Tommy scatter Lou’s ashes over a cliff into the sea below.
The episode ends ceremoniously as the first episode of season one began; new firefighter recruits standing at attention, yet again. Tommy lectures them at how underserving the new recruits are to be standing in front of a flag with 343 firefighter’s names on it. He goes on to tell them how those 343 men fell as heroes on 11 September 2001. Just as in Tommy’s dream of Lou’s eulogy, they could have fled for safer ground but instead, they went in to save lives, even though it cost theirs.
I am truly amazed at the acting talent in this show. There are a few big names but many are unknown. This episode was written by the show’s creator’s Denis Leary and Peter Nolan. The series began airing in 2004. Each episode gives an insight of what a firefighter deals with in his day to day job, the calls he goes on, the stress he goes under, and the emotional impact it has on each firefighter. Not to mention, every other episode 11 September 2001 is brought up and how many men gave their lives. Each fire house has a small memorial, a plaque hanging on the wall, with those names of the fallen. Each firefighter in the show has each had some emotional connection to the tragedy. Some of them lost brothers, cousins, and or best friends. Some of them were even there at Ground Zero helping out.
I have really enjoyed watching the show and continue to re-watch each episode on DVD. My grandfather was a firefighter and retired after twenty five years of service. I can understand what a firefighter goes through and commend them each on their service and braveness. I also had a small participation in the tragedy. I was stationed on board the USS George Washington CVN 73 as it was ordered by President Bush to make haste to New York’s harbor. We arrived later that night and patrolled the harbor for several days.
The language of this television show may not be suitable for children, but I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a fast-paced drama TV show.