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CARLSBAD ART-ANTIQUE MALL
Not Only Antiques!
2752 State St. Carlsbad, Ca. 10:30---5 Mon ---Sat, Noon---5 Sun. |
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ANDY'S BARBER SHOP
'Andy never has a bad hair day'
123 W. Grand Ave. Escondido, CA, 92025 760-745-4211 |
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J Danielle & Co. Staffing
Full-Service Domestic Staffing Placement Agency
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Didn't get enough 'Puppy Bowl' Superbowl Day? How about 24/7 DOGTV on Time-Warner, Cox....
"Loving our dogs so much, we feel guilty when we leave them home alone," said Gilad Neumann, CEO of DOGTV. "DOGTV provides customized television entertainment, while the rest of the family is away at work or too busy to play. Studies show it relaxes and stimulates our dogs -- keeping them healthier and more content." DOGTV is designed for dogs and approved by leaders in the pet industry. Backed by scientific research, humane societies and pet experts, DOGTV producers understand how dogs perceive the world. A creative team then spent hundreds of hours to produce appropriate content and test its benefits with dogs, dog owners, vets, and dog trainers before scheduling the official launch. To cater to a dog's unique sense of sight, hearing, and movement detection, DOGTV took great care to select the right visuals -- the scenery, scenarios, color palettes, camera angles, and transitions that appeal the most to dogs. In addition, the programming's audio soundtracks, including music and other sounds, were selected specifically with a dog's experience in mind. Many people may be asking themselves, 'Do dogs really watch TV?'
"The answer is yes! Dogs respond to what they see and hear on TV, and enjoy TV the most when they see other dogs, other animals and even inanimate moving objects," said Dr. Nicholas H. Dodman, program director of the Animal Behavior Department of Clinical Sciences, Tufts University, Massachusetts. "YouTube has over 5,000 videos of dogs watching TV, and an increasing number of dog parents admit that they have seen their dog watching TV more than once. Unlike any other TV channel, every frame and every sound on DOGTV is designed 100 percent for dogs. DOGTV provides companionship -- the right company -- for a dog home alone." DOGTV is designed as the perfect babysitter for dogs who have to stay home alone. Research shows that dogs feel better in the company of television, especially when the right content is on. DOGTV's three types of programming offer relaxing and stimulating content as well as positive behavioral reinforcements. Dogs that are left alone tend to become anxious so the relaxing sounds and music in the relaxing segment were created to keep the dog calm and peaceful. Many dogs also suffer from lack of stimulation, which becomes acute when their owner is away. The stimulating content will provide the dog with invigorating images, animation and exciting real world sounds to keep the dog up and running. DOGTV's programming meets a dog's typical daily cycle and helps prevent mental fatigue, depression and boredom. DOGTV is scientifically proven to reduce stress, add pleasure and improve a dog's development, according to research from Tufts University. "Animals need visual and auditory simulation throughout the day. DOGTV presents a breakthrough with programming that is created specifically for dogs," said Dr. Nicholas H. Dodman. "It will help millions of dogs that are left home alone every day and also help pet parents who don't have the luxury of taking their dog with them to work or paying for doggy daycare." Beginning today, DOGTV is available to Cox and Time Warner Cable households. On Cox, pet parents can find it on Channel 2635. On Time Warner, pet parents should go to Channel 148, select Find It On Demand, and then select My Pet. DOGTV is free for a limited time during the launch in San Diego. At a later date, DOGTV will be available on a subscription basis for a low monthly fee, approximately $4.99 per month. For more information and to learn more, visit DOGTV at www.dogtv.com . Perry’s Previews 2011 Disney D23 Expo Review: “Perrific!” Attractions (FOR MORE -- MUCH, MUCH MORE -- FROM THE INIMITABLE CARMEL VALLEY SIXTH GRADER...VISIT THE REAL DEAL AT http://www.perryspreviews.com/.)
2011 Disney D23 Expo Unveils New Attractions By Perry S. Chen How would you celebrate the 25th anniversary of one of the most creative studios in the world? Well, at the Disney D23 expo, we celebrated the awesome anniversary of Pixar with delicious cupcakes, about 4000 of them! Each cupcake looked like a ball with a red star and a blue stripe, and it was very soft with a sweet and slightly tangy frosting. Everybody got one and my mom and I really enjoyed them!
Perry Chen enjoying Pixar 25th anniversary cupcake (photo by Zhu Shen) It was very fun at the D23 fan expo this year! During my second visit to the Disney Fan Expo, My mom and I got to see a full 3D film, find out about upcoming films, and attend interesting panels. This expo was quite a blast!
Perry Chen at press check-in (photo by Zhu Shen) On the first day, we drove off from a friend’s house that we had been staying with for a film camp in Burbank, where I learned how to make live action films with a few friends. I even made a live action short which I co-directed, did the screenwriting for, and starred in, called “Life of a Businessman.”
Perry Chen having fun at D23 (photo by Zhu Shen) We arrived at the Anaheim Convention Center, picked up our press badges, and went to see the main event of the Convention, Building Worlds: Inside the Walt Disney Studios. There we got some super sneak peeks at future films coming out in 2012 and 2013, such as Brave, a Pixar film about the adventures of a warrior princess in Scotland, Monsters University, a prequel to Monsters Inc, and many more interesting upcoming films. Four thousand people attended the packed event, and the screen showed pop quizzes and interesting facts about Disney, so I didn’t get bored.
Then when it started, Disney/Pixar’s Chief Creative Officer John Lasseter introduced many directors and stars of upcoming animation films.
Perry Chen checking out Wreck it Ralph videogame (photo by Zhu Shen) The first film introduced was “Wreck it Ralph,” the story of Ralph, a villain in an 80’s arcade game who longs to be a hero. The first 4 minutes of Wreck it Ralph were shown. I don’t think there has been a feature film about a video game villain before. John C. Riley, a great actor I interviewed at LA Film Festival in 2010 at “Cyrus” red carpet, is the voice of Ralph. We later met people who have been working on this film at the “Wreck it Ralph” display at the exhibit center.
Perry Chen with Disney modeler Tony Jung (L) & character technical director Si-Hyung Kim (R) who work on Wreck it Ralph (photo by Zhu Shen)
Next, John Lasseter talked about “Brave,” a story that takes place in ancient Scotland, where Merida, a Princess changes her own destiny. I thought that the ancient Celtic symbols and designs were very pretty. We got free posters of the film after the presentation.
Brave by Pixar Also, they showed pictures from Monsters University, a prequel to Monsters, Inc., about how Mike and Sulley developed a friendship, with voice talent Billy Crystal (Mike) on stage, they showed the differences between the teenage and older Sulley and Mike. I really thought that the designs for the monster university were great, since the buildings still look like buildings in reality, but the doors have teeth and there are different designs on the walls like eyeballs and heads. Monsters University by Pixar There were quite a few more upcoming films and every one of them sounds exciting. There is “Frankenweenie,” directed by Tim Burton, a story about a boy who brings his dead dog Sparky back to life; Frankenweenie by Tim Burton “John Carter,” a story about a civil war veteran who is accidentally sent to Mars; Marvel’s “The Avengers,” and “The Muppets,” which is about the Muppets, with special appearance by Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy; and 2 untitled films from Pixar, one about a journey into the mind, and the other about what would have happened if the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs missed earth. My friend Pete Doctor from “Up” whom I interviewed in 2009 and 2010, is directing the one about the mind with Jonas Rivera the producer, which will come out in the summer of 2014. Bob Peterson, co-director of Up and voice of Dug the dog, directs the dinosaur film, which is scheduled for release in the Holiday season of 2013. Finally, the best part about the event is that everybody got a delicious cupcake for the 25thanniversary of Pixar. Here is a photo of the Disney characters made by the same bakery: It was extremely difficult to get into the panel “A Conversation With the Pixar Creative Team” starting after the main presentation. Mom and I waited with a few other media people and were finally let in moments before the session started. The directors and head of story of some of best Pixar films are there: Pete Docter & Bob Peterson, Ronnie Del Carmon from Up, Andrew Stanton from Finding Nemo, Mark Andrews from Brave (wearing a Scottish skirt!), Dan Scanlon from Monsters University, and more! We were the last ones to get in! It was “Perrific!” and worth a separate posting: Then, we went to the screening of Lion King 3D. It was quite a treat to watch the Lion King 3D at the first public screening! It had been quite a while since I watched Lion King on DVD (the original film was made in 1994 before I was born!), so I was a little bit vague on the details. I enjoyed the film greatly and gave it 4 starfish. Perry Chen at Lion King 3D premiere
(4 out of 5 starfish) At the morning presentation, the filmmakers told about the making of Lion King and the behind the scenes stories were intriguing and showed how difficult it was to complete the film. The film was wonderful and I really enjoyed the music and the great visuals. One of my favorite scenes is when the film shows leafcutter ants walking on a branch close up, and then it focuses on zebras running in the background. The flaws of the film were mostly scientific ones. First, I thought that when the herbivores were all killed off, the plants in the grasslands should flourish, instead of being sparse and depleted, but, I guess that is poetic license signifying sadness. Also, when lightning started fires all around Scar and Simba while they fought, they stayed there and did nothing! Ordinarily animals would flee instantly from fire but the 2 lions kept on fighting. Finally, I thought that it looked even better with the 3D too. It took hundreds of animators months to make the 3D effects! The characters seemed to pop right out of the screen! We stayed at a friend’s guest house in Newport Beach that night. I thought that a guest house is even better than a hotel. There was some food there, and internet access, where I entered a code on club penguin that got me a super rare club penguin hoodie! The beds were very comfy, and I could not wait for tomorrow, where there are many more interesting panels. The next day, we drove off to the D23 again. While waiting in line for the “Art of Brave” presentation, I had fun working on my drawings. The panel was presented by Tia Kratter, shader art director, and Steve Pilcher, production designer, and learned many new things about the art design for the film. The creative team traveled to Scotland twice to learn about the history and check out the landscape and sceneries to get a realistic feel for the film. They traveled to a forest, where different shades of green and brown were all over the trees and moss. I even got to ask the last question: What advice do you have for aspiring young animators? “Always carry a drawing pad with you and draw all the time,” said Tia Kratter. I’m happy to say that I’ve been doing that for a while now. “Also you have to love what you do and be passionate in your interests,” remarked Steve Pilcher. Great advice! After the presentation, a fellow San Diego Union Tribune journalist Roger Showley came by to say Hi, mom and I had a nice chat with him. Roger read my movie reviews on the Union Tribune. Mom & I also met Disney’s veteran animator, director Eric Goldberg (Aladdin, The Princess & the Frog, Winnie the Pooh) who gave a great demo on animation and autographed a “Winnie the Pooh” poster with fellow Disney animator Sean Felix. He remembered me from ASIFA-Hollywood’s 2010 Annie Awards where he won an award for animation and I was a presenter. Finally, it was the end of the day, and after a delicious meal at P.F. Chang in Anaheim’s GardenWalk district, we drove home. All I could think of the rest of that day was,”When will we get to come again?” ————- About Perry Chen: Perry Chen started reviewing movies and family-friendly entertainment with his unique, kids-friendly starfish rating system at 8 in third grade. He writes movie reviews for the San Diego Union Tribune, Animation World Network (AWN); Amazing Kids!, and his own Perry’s Previews website, with a combined readership of over 2 million. He became a national sensation with his network TV debut on CBS Evening News as the youngest film critic in 2009 and has since appeared on numerous national and international media, including NPR, CNN, Variety, the Guardian, spoke at a TEDx conference, and presented at Annie Awards for Animation. He won a prestigious “San Diego Press Club Excellence in Journalism Award” in 2010 and is the youngest honoree of Cox Communications’ annual Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. He regularly interviews filmmakers and stars on the red carpet and film events. Perry started drawing when he was three, and frequently gets inspiration from nature. He has won numerous art awards and started learning computer animation using Toon Boom Studio software in November 2010. More info: http://www.awn.com/blogs/perrys-previews/holocaust-through-eyes-child-animated-child (Animation World Network: The Holocaust Through the Eyes of a Child – Animated by a Child) For more info and to donate and support this film, visit the official website: Become a Facebook Fan: http://www.facebook.com/IngridPittAnimation http://www.facebook.com/PerrysPreviewsFan Follow him on twitter: http://twitter.com/perryspreviews Read all his movie reviews: Subscribe to his YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/perryspreviews For media & business inquires, contact Zhu Shen, Producer, Perry’s Previews 858-761-7955 bioforesight at gmail dot com 
Mexican 'Luxury Cinema' Cinepolis Making Over Del Mar Highlands Entertainment Exerience..
Cinepolis doesn't look like a typical movie theater. Dave and Kris Litvak, patrons of the new cinema in San Diego, say it's more like a chic hotel. Before the building was renovated, "it looked like a horrible kind of movie theater," Dave Litvak says. Now, he says, "it's modern, and it's elegant." The lobby floors are dark hardwood, and there's an art gallery. General Manager Antonio Garcia points to people sipping cocktails at the bar. "We have...
Play Ball with the Splendid Splinter at North Coast Repertory Theatre, Solana Beach, Calif.
Commissioned by NCR Artistic Director David Ellenstein and underwritten by the San Diego Hall of Champions Museum.
The Splendid Splinter recalls his life both on and off the field as we are privy to his failed marriages, distant sense of family and his scoffs with the media as well as his heroics of The Korean War, his near impossible accomplishment of hitting .406, and finally his entrance into baseball’s Hall of Fame. “Baseball is the only place where you can fail seven out of ten times and be considered a success. Maybe my life mirrored the sport more than I could have ever known.” – Ted Williams. (Photo: Johnny Clark portrays Ted Williams in the world premiere of "Ted Williams: A Tip of the Cap," at North Coast Rep in Solana Beach. — Courtesy of Valerie Henderson)
“A Tip of the Cap,” which stars the L.A.-based actor Johnny Clark, follows the Hoover High grad and batting hero’s career from his early days in the 1930s (Williams’ first pro team was the minor league Padres) to his post-playing time as manager of the Washington Senators. In between came all those still-startling achievements by “Teddy Ballgame,” who died in 2002: his six American League batting titles, his career .344 average, his pair of Triple Crowns, his .406 average in 1941 (the last time any major league baseball player has hit above .400). Its writer is Matt Thompson, a wide-ranging playwright, director and actor who also heads the Solana Beachcompany’s education programs. Thompson was commissioned by NCRT artistic director David Ellenstein two years ago to create the workshop piece, which will be restaged at the San Diego Hall of Champions later this summer. The project’s original inspiration came from the hall’s late founder, Bob Breitbard, a childhood friend of Williams’ and a local sports legend in his own right. (He opened the San Diego Sports Arena and brought professional hockey and basketball franchises to town.)
"Dido and Aeneas" Stuns in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.
(Photo: The playfully evil witches of Henry Purcell's "Dido and Aeneas." All photos by Bjorn Berede.) Although I have only seen it twice before in my entire life (and I am now 70 years old), Henry Purcell's "Dido and Aeneas" holds a very special place in my heart. I discovered the work on an RCA Victor LP recording (which I still own and is actually playable), featuring -- of all people! -- Kirsten Flagstad as Dido and Elizabeth Schwarzkopf as Dido's lady-in-waiting, Belinda. A CD exists on Great Recordings of the Century . Who knew back then that conductor Geraint Jones and the Mermaid Singers and Orchestra were miles away from anything resembling authentic performance practice! When I first heard it on huge...
Child Film & Food Critic Perry Chen in Feature Documentary Film “Average Joe on the Raw”
Perry Chen on the set with "Average Joe on the Raw" filmmakers L to R: Seth Hayhurst (Star & Producer), Russell James (Raw Chef & Producer), Daniel Hayhurst (Director & Cinematographer) (photo by Zhu Shen) Child Film & Food Critic Perry Chen in Feature Documentary Film “Average Joe on the Raw”
If you watched director Morgan Spurlock’s Oscar-nominated documentary “Super Size Me,” and the more recent “Forks Over Knives,” you will LOVE the new feature documentary “Average Joe on the Raw,” about a young man Seth Hayhurst’s (“Average Joe”) incredible 60-day journey on nothing but raw food in the hopes of reversing the damages of 30 years of “average” American diet. What did he do and what happened to him? What can you do to improve your own health with what you eat? You can find out by pre-ordering the DVD, and save $10, watch the trailer and order NOW before the offer expires on June 21, 2011: Click here to view more details Mom (Zhu Shen) and I are both featured in the film. I got invited because I review restaurants and food, in addition to movies and events, and can provide a child’s perspective on food. Mom and I grow lots of vegetables and fruits in our backyard. I am also a member of my elementary school’s Garden Club. Mom is also a producer of this film, along with our dear friend, fellow producer Angel Burns, who introduced the “Perrific!” filmmakers Seth and Daniel Hayhurst (2 brothers) to us. Here is a clip of my interview in the film:
The idea for the film started many months ago when Seth Hayhurst talked to raw chef Russell James (http://therawchef.com/). Seth’s brother, Daniel Hayhurst, a filmmaker who graduated from Los Angeles Film School (where my animation short “Guard Dog Global Jam” had its LA premiere on May 20, 2011), became the director and cinematographer for the film. We met all three of them during the shoot and enjoyed learning about preparing healthy, raw food from them!
Mom & Producer Zhu Shen on the set with director Dan Hayhurst (photo by Russell James) As you first see Seth at the start of the film, he seemed like a healthy young man, with a bit of flabby tummy, but not obese. Then he got tested to find that even at the age of 30, serious health issues were lurking around… We met Seth on his 57th day of raw food diet, he looked amazing!
This film is more than raw food. You will meet many interesting people along the way who are closely involved in growing, harvesting, preparing, selling, reviewing, and enjoying food. Today, nearly 1 in 3 American children and teens is already overweight or obese. These kids are more likely to develop serious health problems such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. With America’s fast food culture and unhealthy diet in the past decades, our generation could be the first generation to die at a younger age than our parents, if we don’t make drastic changes soon! There’s an opportunity to pre-order and save $10, which will expire in 7 days (June 21, 2011) when they go into post-production, do yourself & your family a favor, cheers to your health: Click here to view more details While you’re on the site make sure you do 2 things… 1. Sign up for the free goodies (including recipes from Raw Chef Russell James). 2. Pre-order the DVD. 3. Share with your friends and loved ones. Other ways to keep up with the film: Like the Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/averagejoeontheraw Follow them on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ontherawfilm Become a fan on my Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/PerrysPreviewsFan By the way, since my parents and I watched “Forks Over Knives” and mom and I being on the set of “Average Joe on the Raw,” we have adopted a diet that is 95% vegetarian with a lot of raw vegetables, we’ve enjoyed it! My next restaurant review will be at Kitchen 1540 in Del Mar’s L’Auberge Hotel. I look forward to interviewing chef Paul McCabe, acclaimed James Beard fellow: http://www.laubergedelmar.com/kitchen1540/chef-paul-mccabe.php Check out my four restaurant reviews on San Diego Entertainer Magazine: http://www.sdentertainer.com/dining/restaurant-review-grand-del-mars-amaya-feast-senses/ (Grand Del Mar’s Amaya) http://www.sdentertainer.com/dining/reviews-dining/san-diego-dining-restaurant-review-the-french-gourmet-perry-chen/ (The French Gourmet)
———– Become a fan on Perry’s Previews Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/perryspreviewsfan Perry S. Chen is a 11-year-old award-winning film critic & artist, actor, TV/radio personality, Annie Awards for Animation presenter, TEDx speaker, filmmaker and animator. He writes about movies for San Diego’s largest newspaper, the Union Tribune with over 1 million readers. Perry is also the youngest columnist and entertainment critic for the San Diego Entertainer Magazine. He also blogs for Animation World Network, the leading animation industry publication, and is the resident film critic for Amazing Kids! with about 1 million readers. Perry’s collaboration with Oscar-nominee Bill Plympton led to 2 animation shorts: “Guard Dog Global Jam” which won “Best Experimental Film” at ASIFA-EAST Animation Festival; and “Ingrid Pitt: Beyond the Forest” which will premiere at Comic-Con in July 2011. http://www.perryspreviews.com/?p=15 (About Perry Chen) Perry won the San Diego Press Club 2010 Excellence in Journalism Award, and is represented by Rebel Entertainment Partners, a talent agency in Hollywood; and Shamon Freitas Agency in San Diego. Perry started writing movie reviews using his unique kids-friendly starfish rating system on his website (www.perryspreviews.com ) as an 8-year-old third grader at San Diego’s Torrey Hills Elementary School from the Del Mar Union School District. Perry became a national sensation when he debuted on the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric in May 2009 as the youngest film critic in the country. He was featured on National Public Radio (NPR) with host Liane Hansen in March 2010, and has reviewed over 70 movies and DVDs on a multi-media platform: TV, radio, print, and web. He is the youngest member of the Asian American Journalist Association, the San Diego Press Club, and the youngest honoree of Cox Communication Channel 4’s annul Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Perry reviews films on a kids-friendly starfish rating system, 5 being the best. Perry’s reviews are available on his website: www.perryspreviews.com. Subscribe to his YouTube: www.youtube.com/perryspreviews Check out his Internet Movie Database (IMDB) profile: Read his press releases http://pressroom.prlog.org/PerrysPreviews/ Twitter: http://twitter.com/perryspreviews (over 1800 followers) Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/perryspreviews (over 9 million connections) For media and business inquiries, contact Zhu Shen (bioforesight @ gmail dot com) Producer, Perry’s Previews Ziggy Marley, DEVO, Jimmy Eat World and Jimmy Crack Korn MUsicK @ SD CtY FAre (Yay!)
 In 1994 Del Mar brought the funk to Fridays with free concerts. Over the years the free Summer Concert Series has attracted the likes of Cake, Weezer, ZZ Top, Billy Idol, Devo, Gnarls Barkley, Ziggy Marley, Matisyahu, Violent Femmes and Jason Mraz, but in 2001 a singer/songwriter/surfer named Jack Johnson put Del Mar on the musical map (or was it the other way around)? Fast-forward 18 years and 128 concerts later to Del Mar’s 2011 Summer Concert Series.Lineup:
7/22: G Love & Special Sauce
8/5: The Bravery
8/6: Weezer
8/12: Jimmy Eat World
8/19: Devo
8/26: Airborne Toxic Event
9/4: Ben Harper
All concerts will be held in a new venue, the Seaside Stage. The improved venue offers better sight lines, the Pacific Ocean as a backdrop and better access to concert-goer services and amenities.
All ten performances of the Del Mar Summer Concert Series are free for fans attending the races. The Seaside Stage is a non-smoking venue. For Friday shows, as is the case with attending the races, patrons under 18-years of age must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Patrons must be 18 years or older to attend any of the weekend (Saturday & Sunday) concerts.
Following the last race, concert prices are $20. No reserved seats, standing room only so get here early. Concert starts after the races.
This year will mark the debut of the series' new Seaside Stage, which will be located just west of the race track's Grandstand, with the ocean as a backdrop. In previous years, concerts took place in two locations: On Saturdays in the infield area of the racetrack and on Fridays at the racetrack's Plaza del Mexico (until last year, when the Friday stage was moved to the Seaside Cabana area). "This year we decided to create one stage to accommodate all of our shows," said Josh Rubinstein, senior vice president of development for the Del Mar Racetrack. "We feel the new stage location will provide better sight lines and a better concert experience for everybody who attends. Having one stage allows us to invest more in one location, as opposed to having two." Peter Pupping Picked a...Never mind: Guitar Ensemble Seminar Now Forming in Encinitas, CA.
Guitar Ensemble Seminar Now Forming in Encinitas, CA
Led by noted performer and teacher Peter Pupping, it focuses on learning and performing Noted Encinitas guitar performer and teacher Peter Pupping is inviting guitarists of all levels to participate in a summer guitar ensemble seminar. The purpose of the seminar is to deepen a guitar student’s knowledge of guitar techniques, while playing music in a group setting. work on improving sight reading, tone, fingering, understanding chords and strumming, music theory, and overcoming performance anxiety. The summer ensemble’s theme will be surf and reggae music. The ensemble will meet for eight consecutive Mondays from 7 – 9 p.m. at Ranch View Baptist Church, 415 Rancho Santa Fe Rd., in Encinitas. The session begins Monday, June 20. There will be a concert during the final session, Aug. 15. Participating...
Perry’s Previews Movie Review: 'Kung Fu Panda 2 – Po Finding Inner Peace'
Perry Chen with Po from Kung Fu Panda 2 (photo by Zhu Shen)
Have you ever wondered why Po, the main character in the original Kung Fu Panda, and prophesied Dragon Warrior and protector of China had a father that was a goose? Well, in this hilarious action-packed sequel to Kung Fu Panda, you will definitely find out! Po discovers his origins in the new film while on a mission to save kung fu. The new villain’s name is Lord Shen (my mom’s last name) who is a stunning albino peacock, skilled in kung fu and adaptable with many weapons such as blades, metal feathers, and a staff with a lethal metal talon on the end, but has not much need to use his skills due to his invention of the cannon, which renders the kung fu of an opponent useless…or does it?
This film is about finding destiny and inner peace. It’s better than the original film. I love the 2D cell animation that’s incorporated into the film instead of just 3D graphics. I especially liked the style in the film at the beginning that looked like traditional Chinese shadow puppets. I also thought that the interesting idea of a peacock as a villain was not ever used until this film. It is so creative! The music has a Chinese style which goes along well with scenes in the Chinese countryside. The voice cast is sold, expressing emotions of major characters well.
Director Jennifer Yuh Nelson is the first woman as sole director of a major animation feature. She is Korean American, who worked as head of story in the first Kung Fu Panda film at DreamWorks Animation. I remember seeing excellent animation shorts at the San Diego Asian Film Festival in 2010. A lot of animators in “Guard Dog Global Jam” (animation short directed by Oscar-nominee Bill Plympton that I participated as an animator) are Asian or women or both, it’s cool to have many talented Asian and women animators. I give this film 4 starfish, it’s “Perrific!” For all of its strengths, Kung Fu Panda 2 has one flaw. At the very end, somebody that the main villain Lord Shen eradicated a long time ago mysteriously came back, and even though he was miles away, he miraculously knew that Po was alive! I have a few personal favorite parts in the film. My favorite scene was when Master Shifu used inner peace and caught a drop of water without breaking it and set it on a leaf. I noticed that when Po was distracted, he let the villain get away, or got clobbered by a wolf, or other mishaps that don’t always end up good for Po himself.
I enjoyed meeting Po at the San Diego Zoo last month, he even posed for his portrait by a zoo artist! At the press screening, the audience LOVED the film! They cheered, laughed as the movie went along, and applauded at the end. I recommend this film to people age 5 and above, as small children could be scared of the battle scenes. Moral: You cannot change the past, but you can choose what you become.
Copyright 2011 by Perry S. Chen
—————– Become a fan on Perry’s Previews Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/perryspreviewsfan Perry S. Chen is a 11-year-old award-winning film critic & artist, actor, TV/radio personality, Annie Awards for Animation presenter, TEDx speaker, filmmaker and animator. He writes about movies for San Diego’s largest newspaper, the Union Tribune with over 1 million readers. Perry is also the youngest columnist and entertainment critic for the San Diego Entertainer Magazine. He also blogs for Animation World Network, the leading animation industry publication, and is the resident film critic for Amazing Kids! with about 1 million readers. Perry’s collaboration with Oscar-nominee Bill Plympton led to 2 animation shorts: “Guard Dog Global Jam” which won “Best Experimental Film” at ASIFA-EAST Animation Festival; and “Ingrid Pitt: Beyond the Forest” which will premiere at Comic-Con in July 2011. http://www.perryspreviews.com/?p=2601 (Perry Chen at “Guard Dog Global Jam” LA premiere, New Media Film Festival, May 20, 2011) http://www.perryspreviews.com/?p=15 (About Perry Chen) Perry won the San Diego Press Club 2010 Excellence in Journalism Award, and is represented by Rebel Entertainment Partners, a talent agency in Hollywood; and Shamon Freitas Agency in San Diego. Perry started writing movie reviews using his unique kids-friendly starfish rating system on his website (www.perryspreviews.com ) as an 8-year-old third grader at San Diego’s Torrey Hills Elementary School from the Del Mar Union School District. Perry became a national sensation when he debuted on the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric in May 2009 as the youngest film critic in the country. He was featured on National Public Radio (NPR) with host Liane Hansen in March 2010, and has reviewed over 50 movies and DVDs on a multi-media platform: TV, radio, print, and web. He is the youngest member of the Asian American Journalist Association, the San Diego Press Club, and the youngest honoree of Cox Communication Channel 4’s annul Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Perry reviews films on a kids-friendly starfish rating system, 5 being the best. He was featured on “The Young Icons,” a nationally syndicated TV show on Nov 20, 2010, and on Variety as one of the most active young film critics in the country: http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118026037.html?categoryid=4137&cs=1 Perry’s reviews are available on his website: www.perryspreviews.com. Become a fan on his Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/perryspreviewsfan Watch his videos on www.youtube.com/perryspreviews Check out his Internet Movie Database (IMDB) profile: Read his press releases http://pressroom.prlog.org/PerrysPreviews/ Twitter: http://twitter.com/perryspreviews (over 1800 followers) Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/perryspreviews (over 8 million connections) For media and business inquiries, contact Zhu Shen (bioforesight @ gmail dot com) Producer, Perry’s Previews Rancho Santa Fe filmmaker Palmedo-Smith and resident Bob Baker present 'Hold At All Costs' was shown Memorial Day, on KPBS-TV, Channel 15 in San Diego, Calif.
HOLD AT ALL COSTS: KOREAThe Story of Forgotten Warriors, in a Forgotten Battle, of a Forgotten War
The film -- to be aired at 9 p.m. Monday, May 30, Memorial Day -- honors this year's 60th anniversary of the war's commencement. The concept, a relatively novel one; told by the men and women who actually fought it, but from all sides. This 80-minute effort focuses on the survivors of The Battle at Outpost (OP) Harry and how this horrific event affected their remaining years.
The US 3rd Infantry Division had orders to hold OP Harry at all costs -- the Chinese intended to seize it. On 10 June 1953, 3,000 Chinese assaulted the position, defended by King Company, 15th Infantry Regiment -- about 200 US soldiers. Massive artillery fire -- 90,000 US and 30,000 Chinese shells -- decimated both sides. K Company and then reinforcing units of about a hundred -- at terrible human cost -- ejected the attackers from the trenches in close combat, with only about 30 US soldiers walking off the mountain unscathed the next morning. But the Chinese would return again and again for eight subsequent nights. The film depicts interviews with American, South Korean, Greek and Chinese veterans -- in addition to introducing three Generals, MASH nurses, the South Korean Prime Minister, noted scholars and political commentators Newt Gingrich, US Sen. Richard Lugar, US Con. Charles Rangel, S. Korean Honorable Hwang and Oliver North. By dedicating an entire program to the buildup, battle and its aftermath, while endearing the audience to these soldiers, a unique perspective is given to the greater Korean War. These combatants -- who are so proud of their service -- are grateful that before their generation is gone, a document is finally procured to preserve the memory of the soldiers who fell attacking and defending OP Harry to HOLD AT ALL COSTS. With a new world order imminent, the term "Hold At All Costs" is ultimately what the Korean War or Cold War were all about. It is hopeful that these stories represent all soldiers of that era and perhaps all soldiers everywhere, throughout time. Narrated by Edward Herrmann (FDR & The Gilmore Girls), Edited by Chris Peterson, (Who Killed The Electric Car), Produced by Bob Baker Family Foundation and Directed by Glenn Palmedo-Smith, (Discovering Ellis Ruley & The Hungry Woman), this is a war documentary like never told before... -- DINI Films International ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q & A with filmmaker, Glenn Palmedo-Smith Q. How did this film originate? A. Produced by the "The Bob Baker Family Foundation", Bob Baker, a veteran of OP Harry, reached out to me regarding the untold story. I’m a filmmaker with more than 25 years experience. After earning a BS in Telecommunications and Film at SDSU, I’ve since completed a handful of documentaries, a feature film (The Hungry Woman) and dozens of biographies and tribute videos and films for clients. I’ve also been published by Crown Publishing. Q. What inspired this movie? A. Bob Baker inspired the movie, and was the driving force behind it. After returning to the US from Korea, Baker became one of the most successful car dealers in CA. He’d always been a religious man, and he raised a large and successful family. After surviving surge of unimaginable scale from Chinese forces on OP Harry, he felt he could afford it, and therefore owed it to the soldiers he fought with, and in particular those who didn’t made it back. When thinking back on a battle that changed the course of a nation (Korea) and much of the world following that, he wanted people to know what happened, and at what price victory was won. Q. What was so exceptional about Outpost Harry that it deserves its own documentary? A. OP Harry may have been the most decisive of the final battles of that conflict, and the one that convinced the North Korean and Chinese forces that the US was not going to give up. The order, Hold At All Costs, was not given often, nor was it given lightly. It means, “Maintain your position, or die trying”. It was given to US forces, though, and it was also an order given to the Chinese. But the US “held”. That’s the motto of the survivors. “We Held”. After more than a week of fighting, from June 10 – 18, the Chinese gave up. It was June 1953 and the peace talks had been secretly taking place between UN officials and the North Koreans since 1951, so many believe it was the final straw that convinced the North that the best they could do was a cease-fire. Q. What separates Hold at all Costs from other documentaries? A. First , it’s the only one I know of that tells the story of this battle. Also interesting to viewers will be the never-before-seen footage shot by the soldiers who fought. We have 120 minutes of footage that’s never been seen publicly. And there are some amazing moments. Also, we have several Chinese soldiers who talk openly about their experience from the “enemy” side. It provides an amazing contrast and look into the fear they too experienced. War is hell for everyone involved, the winners and the losers. And this war officially had neither. Q. What do you hope to accomplish with this film? A. Anyone looking for a typical "military documentary" is going to be disappointed. This is a film about a group of men who found themselves in an extraordinary situation and prevailed. It shows what can be done under extreme adversity, when all the chips are on the line. Bob and his fellow soldiers held a critical piece of land through an onslaught of unimaginable scale because they were well trained dedicated and they believed in what they were doing. I want viewers to take away from this film that strength comes from within. But I also want people to know the Korean War was no "peace keeping" mission. It was war, and the soldiers who fought there were heroes. They protected an entire nation. And that nation has grown in the ensuing 60 years to go on and accomplish great things. Q. How did the film-making process begin? A. Bob Baker, who is a San Diego resident, saw one of my films at a small, local theater and contacted me with the idea of producing a feature-length motion picture about the battle. After starting the process of interviewing several of Baker’s colleagues who’d fought with him, I became convinced the story was best told by the warriors who were there fighting it, not by some actors. The access Bob provided was unprecedented. We had access to three US Generals, one South Korean General, two MASH nurses, one CCF (Chinese Communist Forces) nurse, twenty-five US veterans, six former CCF combatants, two military historians, the Veterans’ Committee chairman of Korea’s National Assembly, three notable US politicians, two national veteran advocates, three Greek Spartan veterans, two KATUSA’s, an MIA relative, a KIA family member and the Prime Minister of South Korea. Q. What surprised you most about making this film? A. There is nothing more powerful than listening to what these veterans went through. It was heroic, but it left scars that will last forever. Each had a singularly unique experience – even though it was very much communal. In every case, the interviews would start slowly, almost like they didn’t want to revisit that place or time. But in each case they opened up. And while they each had a horrific story to tell, they each talked about their fellow soldiers. There was a sense of extreme pride that they held together and they held their position. I’m sure it changed each of them to have gone through that experience. And it surely strengthened them as men. And to see them reunite annually is magical. Q. What is the most moving thing about this movie? A. There is no end to the battles these veterans fought, or the things they saw. All of us too frequently take the Korean War in particular, and the men who fought it, for granted. It’s difficult to sit and watch these grown men recall their exploits, and to relive what was obviously such a terrifying period. But we owe them a huge debt of gratitude. The entire nation of Korea owes them thanks, and to a great extent, the rest of the world. This was the start of the Cold War, and when the rest of the world saw the US and its allies stand up to Communist aggression, it made a statement. Their dedication saved a lot of lives and many believe altered the course of history. Q. Where did this movie take you? A. Shooting this movie has taken our crew throughout the US, meeting with veterans in locations as disparate as Oregon, California, Tennessee, North Carolina, Alabama, Nevada, Phoenix and Texas. It’s also taken us on several occasions to Korea and also on two separate trips to China. That may be the most harrowing part of my filmmaking career. Shooting former CCF combatants in secret locations and hurrying that film out of the country? Its not something the Chinese government would have allowed. Q. What was the most difficult part of making this film? A. On the first visit to China, we were denied the opportunity to interview Korean War veterans unless the Chinese government could approve the questions we asked, and had approval of the final edit. The only way we could get the interviews we wanted was to return to Beijing as “tourists” and interview those veterans willing to speak. Those interviews have proved to be some of the most compelling moments in the film. Q. What are your plans for distribution? A. The documentary is being shopped to both broadcast and cable outlets. Private showing are planned for Memorial Day 2010 at The Kennedy Center, and at the annual OP Harry Survivors Association in San Diego in June. Other screenings will be held for veterans groups at Ft. Stewart, home of the 3
rd Infantry Division, and other places where OP Harry veterans are known to live.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GLENN PALMEDO-SMITH – thirty-five year Rancho Santa Fe, California, resident. Born in Washington DC in 1952, Glenn is the son of New York natives -- Consuelo Palmedo-Smith -- an early practitioner and instructor of yoga in 1960’s Bay Area and -- Edward N. Smith – Bureau Chief US Department of Labor and Statistics, jazz enthusiast and closeted socialist. Raised in Mountain View, California, Glenn received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Telecommunications & Film from SDSU. He financed his education performing as a magician during winter and summer breaks in Lake Tahoe Night Clubs and Casinos, billed as, The Not-So Great, Great Glendini! After graduation, he established New West Antique Malls growing to three retail locations, while cheaply funding empty lettuce trucks returning from the East Coast filled with multi-paint coated and discarded oak furniture, that he would strip and stain and sell at 500% markup. With profits from dozens of truckloads, he later enjoyed considerable success in the burgeoning San Diego real estate market under the banner of "Costa Linda Development", named after his high school sweetheart and current wife, Linda Costa. Building and marketing multi-million dollar estates to a variety of wealthy clients, and constructing large apartment complexes for his retirement, he accumulated much success -- until the California real estate bust of 1990, losing everything. Licking his wounds in 1994, he completed his first book, Discovering Ellis Ruley, Crown Publishing. A true story about Ellis Ruley, the son of a runaway slave, who, as an artist, married a white woman in 1932. The couple settled in the bucolic backwoods of upstate Connecticut. The artist was eventually discovered murdered in 1959, as was his son-in-law found earlier, upside down in the family well. Palmedo-Smith unearthed evidence of possible KKK involvement and official cover-up. The FBI has since opened the case. In addition, Palmedo-Smith organized a two and half year national exhibition of the artist’s work, sponsored by The Ford Motor Company. The exhibit, by the same name as the book, exhibited at The Museum of American Folk Art, The Wadsworth Athenaeum, San Diego Museum, Washington’s Corcoran Gallery and four other venues. Having Rosa Parks and Hilary Clinton as Co-Chairpersons of The Ellis Ruley National Committee of Honor, along with The Congressional Black Caucus as sponsors, are the result of Palmedo-Smith’s undying effort in promoting art. Palmedo-Smith has been featured on CBS Sunday Morning, Tony Brown’s Journaland PBS Radio’s -All Things Considered, as well as in The New York Times, The Hartford Currant, The Washington Post and The San Francisco Examiner; among dozens of other newspapers and magazines. Locally, he’s frequently depicted in local print and on San Diego television stations promoting various projects. After creating Dini Films International, he followed with The Hungry Woman, a 35mm feature film depicting a true-life murder mystery and involving a migrant camp in Southern California. Performed mostly in Spanish and based on the Rancho Santa Fe’s Ian Spiro Murder Case – the tale is told through the innocent eyes of the family’s Mexican maid, Evelia. Palmedo-Smith produced, wrote and directed the picture. The film screened locally on both sides of the border for four weeks in 18 theaters in October ’08, earning considerable revenue and rave reviews. A deal was struck with a Florida distributor for 400 screens nationally, but funding fell through with the initial investor. Local car dealer, Bob Baker, saw the film in his local theater and contacted the filmmaker to discuss his next project. Upcoming projects include: Hold At All Costs – The Story of Forgotten Soldiers, in a Forgotten Battle, of a Forgotten War – A Documentary Film. Executive produced by Bob Baker, a Korean War Vet himself, shooting began June ’08. A retrospect of America’s first war post WWII, the film follows the lives of aging Korean War vets in the US, China, Greece and South Korea who all fought in a little known, but deadly eight-day skirmish called, The Battle of OP Harry. Parallels are drawn with today’s military conflicts and ultimate costs of war -- while providing powerful insight and hope for today’s veterans and citizenry. Directed & Produced by Glenn Palmedo-Smith. (To be aired nationally . Discovering Ellis Ruley - A Documentary Film. Based on the book and exhibit of the same title, the film examines Ellis Ruley’s art, the eccentric East coast "outsider art" community and follows this man’s life of hardships and violent death. (Currently in post- production in LA and NY The Last Minstrel - A Documentary Film. A true story. A bizarre light-hearted look at American entertainer, Clive Baldwin, who finds considerable success in England, emulating a blackened-up Al Jolson. Written and directed by Glenn Palmedo-Smith. (Currently in post production, England The History of Blackface Minstrelsy - A Documentary Film. A three-part mini series on the history of Blackface Minstrelsy -- from TD Rice’s "Jim Crow" in the 1830’s to it’s subtle influences on popular American culture to this new millennium age. Produced and directed by Glenn Palmedo-Smith. (Date to be determined) Castro City - Manny Valdez, PI. Peace/Love meets Greaser/Gangs in this pulp-fiction-like detective thriller. Initially, Valdez became a private dick to "put the hurt on the gringo", but currently, (1967), finds himself their benevolent servant -- until, that is, fate walks through his door with the case of a lifetime, a kidnapping of a wealthy Atherton girl. Written by Glenn Palmedo-Smith. Written, currently in final editing, due February ‘11) Pat Boone Salute at Tommy V's on Thursday. Be There or Be Square. Exclusive Interview...
According to Billboard, Pat Boone was the second biggest charting artist of the late 1950s, behind only Elvis Presley. He is ranked at No. 9 in its listing of the Top 100 Top 40 Artists 1955-1995 and Pat Boone still holds the Billboard record for spending 220 consecutive weeks (that’s over 4 years) on the charts with more than one song. Pat continues to perform today and he enjoys speaking as a motivational speaker, a television personality, a conservative political commentator and even a preacher on occasion. Pat will be the very special guest for the aptly-named “An Evening with Pat Boone and Friends” on Thursday, May 26th at Tommy V’s restaurant in Del Mar. He will share some thoughts, sing a few songs and join local favorites, The North Coast Quintet (featuring members The Joe Satz Trio) on stage as the entertainment for the evening. The Event will celebrate America and our military both past and present, with proceeds benefiting Ryan’s Reach, one of the many charities Pat supports, plus the Rancho Santa Fe Rotary Club, known for the many worthwhile causes they support. Pat Boone Exclusive Interview We caught up with Pat at his office on famous Sunset Boulevard where he shared some thoughts and a few of his many stories. Q: You look great! I can’t believe how busy you are; it’s been so hard to track you down. Tell our readers what you been up to lately. Pat: My wife has been begging me to think about retirement for a few years now because certainly I’m around retirement age (laughs), but I still feel very vigorous and vital and energetic. And I still think of myself as 30, 35. I still play singles tennis – real hot, competitive tennis – with a kid. He’s only 73 or 74. I’m 76. I tell my wife and others, my problem is I know how to spell “n-o,” I just can’t pronounce it. I just keep saying yes to almost everything that anybody asks me to do because I see it’s a good thing. I think, “Well maybe I can wedge that into my schedule.” And as a result I find myself constantly on the go with a tremendous diversity of things. I’ve been writing weekly columns for World Net Daily and News Max and have been recording still. I have a recording company featuring other performers, other business investments, as well as working with all kinds of charitable endeavors. Plus, I still try to wedge in some tennis and golf and spend time with grandkids too. It’s such a busy active life, at least for me, seems to keep me younger instead of wearing me out.
Q: Let’s go back a few years. At the tender age of 20 you started recording. You had your 1st #1 single in 1955… Pat: Yes, I had my first #1 single in 1955. It was my second record. The first record was a top 10 million-seller called “Two Hearts, Two Kisses.” I recorded that one when I was 20, maybe 21. The second record in 1955 was “Ain’t That a Shame.” It was a million-seller and went to #1. The next record was a song called “Crazy Little Mama (At My Front Door).” I was doing nothing but Rock and Roll at that point. It was Rhythm and Blues done more Pop, but still really Rock. I find hard to believe myself, but from March of ‘55 when I made my first record, to February of ’56, I had 6 million-selling singles. And two of them were #1s. The other #1 after “Ain’t That a Shame” was “I’ll Be Home,” it was also a Flamingos’ hit in the R&B field. I did a Pop version of it. That came out just before Elvis hit with “Heart Break Hotel.” I thank God I had an eleven month head start with two #1s and a few million-sellers. It helped me weather the Presley ‘storm.’ A lot of other singers went by the wayside in that time. Q: Tell us how everything changed in that year for you. Pat: Starting in ‘55 and right through ‘58 when I graduated from Columbia University with honors, Magna Cum Laude, it was a whirl wind. I was on the cover of TV Guide in my cap and gown. I had already done several big movies and had already started the weekly Pat Boone Chevy Showroom TV show. Chevrolet had sponsored my show, sometimes #1 in the Nielson Ratings. I was married with four children at 23. All of that set the tone for the rest of my life. I’ve never been able to catch up. Q: You’re very humble, but I read some data on a survey back then that among High School students you were a 2-to-1 favorite over Elvis among boys and were preferred 3-to-1 by girls. I think you held your own in that period of time. And you were busy with children and a family. Talk briefly about the challenges that presented. Pat: Well, God bless my wife. Shirley is one of the great blessings of my life. We married at 19 and by the time we were 23 we had four children. I probably should have been jailed, or neutered, but Shirley had this strength. She even had a ‘show biz’ background because of her father Red Foley who is a country music legend. Shirley helped me weather the storm and help me do everything I had to do and still be an active daddy, involved with my kids. We just found the ways to keep getting everything done, and using every second and every minute of every day. We made sure that included family time and togetherness. We were always in church Sunday mornings, Sunday nights, and Wednesday nights. I was a congregational song leader, sometimes Sunday School teacher, and that facet of our lives is what helped us keep our heads on straight with all the glamour, the money, the girls screaming, the success. I knew because of my family roots and our involvement in our church that all the other stuff was superficial. It was wonderful and we appreciated it greatly, and I enjoyed it, but my real life was with my wife and my girls. When we were all on the cover of all the teen magazines it was amazing to me that the teenage kids and girls would still scream when I walked on stage with my white buck shoes, knowing I was married and having a child a year. I wasn’t available but I think that they saw in me something they aspired to. I was somebody that was living by the rules and winning. On the other hand, Elvis seemed to be breaking a lot of the rules and winning big. Elvis appealed to a different instinct in us; he was fascinating. We were two Tennessee boys living different lifestyles and both succeeding. Q: Was it love at first sight with you and Shirley? Pat: It was for both of us, but at different times. She remembers when we first met. We were 13. I was playing American Legion Ball when a girl that was a friend of hers and a girl I thought was pretty cute introduced me to Shirley. But I was more interested in a hot grounder, not a hot date, so I didn’t really remember that meeting. Three years later, when we were 16, she transferred to our high school. This time I saw her in the hallway talking to the captain of our basketball team and I walked up and asked to be introduced to this girl. We started holding hands right away and we still are, almost 60 years later. Q: What’s the secret to almost 60 years of marriage? Pat: Shirley and I made commitments not just to each other when we got married at 19. We knew even then that we would meet obstacles, that there would be pressures. We actually got married as young as we did because her dad was moving to Springfield, Missouri and was going to take his family with him. I couldn’t stand to let her go. She didn’t want us to be apart either. So we asked for his permission and he gave it tearfully. We got married. We eloped, I say. But she says, “We didn’t elope, you asked my dad’s permission.” But I didn’t ask my parents. They had just said, “Not on your life. Get your college education and then you think about getting married.” So we didn’t ask them. So I like to say we “half-eloped.” As far as the secret to a good, long marriage, it is the commitment we made to God as well as to each other. It was “till death do us part, for better or worse, in sickness and in health.” It was all of those things. As we had kids so young in our lives, even when we met the stresses and strains of the entertainment business and all that goes with it, it was looking at our kids, being involved in our church life, knowing we had made commitments to God, knowing He had made commitments to us and to our marriage; that helped us greatly to weather the storms that are inevitable. Q: Your girls have performed, you have recorded them, produced them, sung with them. That had to present some challenges. Talk about the family performance dynamic. Pat: Well, as a performer in the middle of my career, I saw my four daughters all becoming teenagers. They are only a few years apart, so they would all be teenagers at once. They were pretty teenage girls. I had been a boy, so I knew there were going to be boys flocking around wanting to peel off my daughters too soon. So Shirley and I formed a family act that became the Pat Boone Family. And for seven years, my four daughters, who sing beautifully, performed in Las Vegas, on TV specials, on Bob Hope’s and Glen Campbell’s shows, and many others. We also had our own series and specials. We were a family act. That was not something a pop singer would normally do – bring his wife and four kids on stage and even record with them. But it kept my pretty teenage girls in sight at all times and we had a lot of fun doing it. Some may consider me overly protective. Okay, I was. But they all met wonderful guys and married them, eventually, when they broke through my defenses. And we’ve had 15 wonderful grandkids now as a result. It was a great blessing. Not everyone can do that, but for me as an entertainer it was a tremendous blessing. Q: You’re starting a one man show. What can fans expect in your show? Pat: I have started something new after all these years. It’s really what Cary Grant was doing in the last couple years of his life. He would walk on stage and show film clips from his movies and talk about some of the behind the scene stories he experienced working with people like Sophia Loren and Frank Sinatra. The last night of his life he had just done one of those elegant nights. He walked off stage and an hour later had died. The applause were still ringing in his ears, I’m sure. Now that’s not what I’m looking for, but I am doing something similar called “Music and Memories.” It’s a night like that except in my case I’ve got more than just movie clips. I’ve worked with Ann Margret and Debbie Reynolds. I’ll show scenes from the movies and musical scenes especially. I will also show clips from my television shows. So instead of just seeing me for the evening you’ll be seeing Nat Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, Johnny Mathis, Count Basie, and on and on. I also sing live with a pianist. I won’t just show the great moments from my career either. I have also decided to show the other side as well. I’ll show some of my most embarrassing moments on television. I show the audience those clips and bring them into the moments in my life from which I’ve recovered. At least I think I have. I let the audience ask questions as well. It is a happy and informal night, highlighting some of the great moments and some of the embarrassing moments of my career. Q: You’ve really done it all in your career. You are a hit singer, variety show host, product spokesman, record producer… What’s your favorite job description? Pat: I’m at a time in my life where I’ve enjoyed everything that I’ve had the privilege to do: movies, television, and recording – which I love the most. When I walk into a studio and stand in front of the microphone with some great musicians and some good songs, it is up to me to create something right there on the spot. Once it’s done, it’s permanent. The recording is a legacy. I’ve recorded some 1500 songs of all types, more diverse than any other singer. I am in the gospel music hall of fame. And if I had to choose one kind of music to sing it would be gospel music because I know I’m going to keep on singing that kind of song from here on out. I’m going to sing that kind of song for eternity. Singing songs is always meaningful to me. Some songs I write myself to express what is important to me. These songs seem to communicate emotionally with others. What I do these days is much more personal than just performance. And also what I truly enjoy the most are situations like the one we’re doing in Del Mar where I get to give some testimony about my faith and what has motivated me. I want to share that with people who are looking for guidelines in their lives and ways to make it through the turbulence and the uncertainty. Plus, as you know, I have such a strong heart for this country so to be honoring the military means so much to me. Plus, thanks to the generous giving spirit of the Sexton Advisory Group and The Financial Knowledge Institute, we’ll be generating money for some very worthy causes. Q: Pat thanks so much for your time. I know a lot of folks are looking forward to attending “An Evening with Pat Boone and Friends” on May 26th in Del Mar, to not only celebrate our great country, but have the opportunity of meeting you in person as well. Pat: Well I know I’m looking forward to it. Join Pat Boone, North Coast Jazz Quintet (featuring members of the Joe Satz Trio), and others to celebrate our military and veterans on Memorial Day! Event Proceeds go to Rancho Santa Fe Rotary Club and Other Charities Every guest will be treated to:
Cost: $29.95 VIP Tickets include Meet & Greet with Pat Boone & Wine Tasting with Sommelier Gino Campbell. All VIP will receive a $25 gift card to Tommy V's. Cost: Additional $19.95 Location: VIP event begins @ 6:30pm, Doors open @ 6:00pm Space is Limited. Reserve Today: 858-356-2296 or
Pinback goes Belly-Up at the tavern of the same day this May falalalala....
Starting in Washington D.C. on May 1, and making their way down the eastern seaboard and across Louisiana and Texas, the month long trek found the band playing classic hits and new material, like their recently released Record Store Day 7”. Originally formed in 1998 as a side-project between Zach Smith (Three Mile Pilot) and Rob Crow (Thingy, Heavy Vegetable), Pinback has since gone to release 4 full length albums and a slew of EP’s on their way to becoming the one of the most notable bands to emerge from America’s finest city. Opening the night was the band’s bassist and multi-instrumentalistKenseth Thibideau, performing songs off his recently released solo debut for Temporary Residence LTD, Repetition. Pinback is currently gearing up for an Australian summer tour Belly Up Tavern, 143 S Cedros Ave, Solana Beach, CA 92075 Switchfoot's 7th Annual Bro-Am is set to take place on Saturday, June 18th, at Moonlight Beach in Encinitas, CA. The surf contest/beach concert is the centerpiece in a weekend full of activities conceived by Switchfoot to give back to their local community and benefit the San Diego Since its inception in 2005, the Bro-Am has raised more than $400,000 for San Diego-based children's charities. Last year's event was the most successful to date, drawing over 7,500 attendees and raising more than $135,000 for the local chapters of StandUp For Kids. While admission to the beach event is free, funds will be raised at an Auction Night Soiree (set for June 16 at a private residence), sponsorships, beach vendors and an after-party held on the... North Coast Rep Presents the world premiere of 'The Perfectly Preposterous Pirate Adventure of Solana Beach from May 19 to 22...
The play was co-written by Theatre School Director Matt Thompson and NCR Development Officer Kathryn Byrd, who wrote the grant proposal. "Winning the grant was a highly competitive process, so we were thrilled when our proposal was accepted," she said. "Matt has written a number of plays and said he always wanted to write a funny pirate adventure, because everyone loves pirates. We expect this play to appeal to kids and adults alike. It's a fun way to learn something about the community." Mother’s Day Weekend! Bernardo Winery 34rd Annual Arts and Crafts Faire May 7th and 8th, 2011 10AM-4PM This Mother’s Day weekend, come to the Bernardo Winery’s 34rd AnnualSpring Arts and Crafts Fair, May 7th and 8th from 10 to 4 pm. The Artsand Crafts fair will be featuring over 140 of California’s best artisans andcrafters, selling their handcrafted items on the beautiful and historic groundsof the 120 year old Bernardo Winery!The Bernardo Winery Arts and Craft fair is one of the largest handcraftedfairs in Southern California. From jewelry to soaps to hand-thrown pottery,there is something for everyone! Enjoy live music throughout the weekend,on both the tasting room patio and in the large outdoor pavilion whereguests can take a break, enjoy a glass of wine and music under the olivetrees.Besides the craft fair vendors, the Bernardo Winery village shops will beopen all weekend, offering special discounts and craft fair promotions.The winery tasting room, Café Merlot and Sweet...
” Let’s Cook Together” at The Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. Garden Club with California Greek Girl, Mary Papoulias-Platis...
Welcome to my cooking classes!
Just recently I have partnered with the Rancho Santa Fe Garden Club to teach and direct a new culinary program for the community. My goal and emphasis for the program is to build a relationship with our community by scheduling educational programs, introducing new foods, and experiencing the practice of ”eating daily as close to our homes” as our motto. Our menu will represent what is in season locally from our nearby farmers as the source of our class ingredients which will support and encourage our farmers to continue bringing us farm fresh ingredients to our tables. We are beginning a C.S.A. (Community Supported Agriculture) delivery with Suzie’s Farm for our neighbors, also purchasing locally from our organic health-food stores, and in the future building a children’s program for our younger audience. I ‘m just thrilled to have the opportunity to organize and develop my own program of inspiring events, involving the talents of our local writers, chefs, and artists surrounding our beautiful city. My joy will be when we can gather together for a meal and enjoy many “culinary discussions around the open table”. The center began from the garden community in town as far back as 1926 and many of my classes will continue to be focused around the family garden. A few classes I will be teaching include the use of herbs in our daily dishes, vegetables grown from our gardens, and seasonal fruits and berries for your summer entertaining. The complete class schedule will be available soon. Classes are scheduled to begin May 10th, every Tuesday morning at 11:00 and Thursday evening at 6:30 in the kitchen.
More about Mary Papoulias-Platis Mary stayed in Southern California to pursue a college education. She graduated from Cal Poly Pomona with a teaching credential, and a Master in Computer Education. She has always been most passionate about teaching students how to read and write. Mary has taught many years in North County San Diego, and over the years has continued to create innovative ways of engaging her students. One of her favorite tactics is to include cooking classes into her lesson plan! In addition to her teaching career, Mary opened the first children’s bookstore in North County San Diego called “The Reading Patch”. Here, she held author signings, live events, art classes, and wrote a children’s newsletter that was sent out to the local teachers and parents. While Mary has enjoyed her many years as an educator, she has also loved being a chef. More than 15 years ago she combined her love of cooking with her entrepreueial skills to become Co-Owner and executive chef of the Greek Gourmet, a family run concession business and catering business. Her successful business has provided Mary with an array of opportunities to express her culinary talents, as well as the perfect outlet to provide her community with fine Greek Cuisine. Mary is currently working on her first collection of recipes for her first Greek cookbook. Mary’s blog is about her travels along the beautiful California coastline, as well as her enjoyment of Greek cooking, gardening, and the lifestyle that she has created with her family and friends over the years. You can reach me for special engagements, food demonstrations, cooking classes, or catering events at: Thme4Mary@sbcglobal.net. Perry's Previews Movie Review: – RIO is knockout animation and a 4-Starfish Treat!
(4 out of 5 starfish) What a relief after four months of mediocre animations to finally have a great animated film! “Rio” is a superb film with rich characters, dazzling visuals, lively music, great humor, and an interesting story with many twists and turns in the plot. The film is created by the same team that made The Ice Age, and opens nationwide on April 15, 2011, rated G.
Blu, a domesticated, mild-tempered male blue macaw, is one of the last two birds of his species left in the world. “Rio” tells the story of how Blu and his owner Linda (a young woman who works at a Minnesota bookstore) go to Rio so that Blue can meet the last female blue macaw named Jewel, and preserve the species from extinction. Along the way, a vicious bird named Nigel and his cruel poacher owner are out to get them. I noticed that Rio’s opening is very similar to “Up,” because it shows the characters when they are young, and the lovely sequences of images without dialogue, indicating the passing of time in both films. The opening scene is one of my favorites. It dazzles you with multi-colored birds in the Brazilian forest, dancing in lively, energetic samba music. I love the rich characters, especially Blu and Jewel. Jewel is assertive, bossy, always making it clear to Blu who’s the boss. Blu, the submissive male, goes along with it because all his life, he relied on a female to provide and care for him. I like how the film shows Blu, my favorite character, gradually gaining courage and becoming a protector and hero at the end. I give Rio 4 starfish, it’s “Perrific!” There are some minor flaws. When baby Blu was found by Linda as young girl, she fed him milk in a bottle. That is not very realistic because parrots cannot metabolize lactose. The same thing goes for the hot chocolate that he drank later in the film. Just like how chocolate can kill dogs and cats, it is dangerous to parrots, too. I would recommend this film to ages 10 and up because of mild references to bird reproduction, as the film is about reuniting the last male and female of the blue macaw species. Rio is about greed, corruption in the illegal animal trade; but also about rivalry, love, and trust. Love can give you wings to fly. My shorter review together with other movie panelists’ reviews published on San Diego Union Tribune: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/apr/15/movie-panel-loves-aposrioapos/ Copyright 2011, by Perry S. Chen
About Perry Chen – Gifted with a keen eye from a young age, Perry began writing movie reviews for his website “Perry’s Previews” at age 8. Characterized by his starfish rating system, his “Perrific™” favorite movies, and his family-friendly movie choices, Perry is often regarded as one of the great up-and-coming movie critics. The youngest honoree at the recent San Diego Press Club Excellence in Journalism Awards, Perry also serves as -resident movie critic for the Amazing Kids! Magazine (http://mag.amazing-kids.org), http://mag.amazing-kids.org/category/ak_columns/amazing-movie-reviews/ -film critic and blogger on Animation World Network, a leading professional animation industry publication: http://www.awn.com/blogs/perrys-previews - movie panelist for the San Diego Union Tribune with over a million weekly readers: - San Diego Entertainer Magazine’s youngest columnist and entertainment critic, reviewing films, restaurants, and entertainment events: http://www.sdentertainer.com/?s=perry+chen Perry has been featured in numerous publications and television interviews, including a recent article in Variety, which spotlighted the top 3 up-and-coming young movie reviewers: http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118026037.html?categoryid=4137&cs=1 (Variety: Kid Crix Grade Pix through Different Eyes, Oct 22, 2010) and The Young Icons, a nationally-syndicated TV show. In May 2009, Perry made his national television debut on CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, and in March 2010, he appeared in his first national radio interview on National Public Radio (NPR) with host Liane Hansen. Perry’s hobbies outside of film reviews include drawing, reading, folding origami, exploring nature, and gardening. Perry is represented by Rebel Entertainment Partners, a talent agency in Hollywood; and Shamon Freitas Agency in San Diego. Perry’s talents extend to filmmaking and animation. He recently finished two animation shorts in collaboration with twice-Oscar nominee Bill Plympton: “Ingrid Pitt: Beyond the Forest” about a young Holocaust survivor” which will be screened at the Burbank International Film Festival, and “Guard Dog Global Jam,” which premiered at the SXSW Film Festival in March 2011 to rave reviews. For Perry Chen’s movie reviews, film project updates, visit: Become a fan on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/perryspreviewsfan For press and business inquires, contact Zhu Shen: bioforesight at gmail dot com Fallbrook Film Factory announces winners of the 2011 Fallbrook Film Festival
The Fallbrook Film Factory announced today the winners of the 2011 Fallbrook Film Festival. The festival had 68 films in competition; four were nominated for best of show in each category; and the following films were recognized at the festival’s Gala at the Pala Casino Spa and Resort on Sunday:
For Best Documentary Feature: John Muir In the New World, directed by Catherine Tatge. Nearly a century after John Muir’s death, he is remembered in this beautiful film as California’s most beloved environmental hero. Best Narrative Feature: Colin ♥ Kay [Colin Heart Kay], directed by Sebastian Ho Conley. When Brooklyn-based cartoonist Colin Jenson breaks up with longtime girlfriend Kay Ho, he pulls out all the stops to win her back, including dragging her into his world of illustrated cartoons. Life definitely imitates art in this micro-budget gem that seeks to answer the age-old question: What is love? Best Narrative Short: Sudden Death! directed by Adam Hall. Finally, a musical where everyone dies. For Best Documentary Feature: American Masters series’ John Muir in the New World – premiering April 18 on PBS (check local listings) – directed by Catherine Tatge. Nearly a century after John Muir’s death, he is remembered in this beautiful film as California’s most beloved environmental hero. Best Documentary Short: She Wore Silver Wings, directed by Devin Scott. Told by Jean Landis, this is the true story of the Women Air Force Service Pilots — the joys and triumphs of being needed to fly military aircraft for the Army in WWII. The challenges and dangers. The heartbreak and insolence of being abruptly disbanded.
Best Animation: Sharfik, directed by Karina Gazizova. An almost unbearable siege threatens to suck the last drop of life out of a once warm family. Best Student Film: The Response, directed by Andrew Spieler. In the early hours of the 1992 LA Riots, Shauna, a seasoned African-American paramedic is forced to confront an incensed and dangerous mob after her idealistic white partner, Rick, violates protocol in hopes of saving a severely wounded child. The Frank Capra Award: Heal, directed by Mian Adnan Ahmad. This short feature tells the poignant story of a young boy whose special gifts enable him to help his stricken teacher rise above the shattering effects of the conflict in Afghanistan and Pakistan to recapture hope. The Capra Award is given to the film that best uplifts the human spirit, as Capra’s films did so eloquently. Audience Choice Award: Listen To Your Heart, directed by Matt Thompson. A touching musical drama that follows struggling songwriter Danny Foster (Kent Moran) and a wealthy hearing-impaired girl (Alexia Rasmussen) as they fall in love against all odds and the wishes of her controlling mother (Cybill Shepherd). For more information, please visit www.FallbrookFilmFestival.com. 
Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve Fund Raising Event, Sunday, May 15, 2011
(Photo: Rancho Santa fe Art Guild leader Toni Williams painting at Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve.)
The Torrey Pines Natural Reserve Docent Society and Torrey Pines Association present the second annual Art in the Pines to be held Sunday, May 15, 2011 from 10am to 5pm. The Festival is free and open to all. Art in the Pines is an all-day event featuring a professionally judged Plein Air contest with an awards ceremony; artists’ booths exhibiting nature-inspired art for sale in a variety of media such as painting, pastels, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, and photography; food and live music; children’s nature and art activities; an opportunity...
VIDEO: PULLING A HOUDINI ACT AROUND SOLANA BEACH, CALIF. CIRCA NOW... Foster the People - Houdini Live at Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach, CA on March 23rd 2011.
Gene Shefrin, publicist, dies at 90 at Encinitas, Calif. Repped Peggy Lee, Connie Francis, Perry Como and the lost goes on...
(Gene Shefrin with Tony Bennett, one of many stars and celebrities the Encinitas, Calif. publicist reppresented until retirement in 1987.) Former entertainment industry publicist Eugene "Gene" Shefrin died April 6 in Encinitas, Calif., after a long battle with Parkinson's Disease. He was 90. During his 42-year career in PR prior to his retirement in 1987, Shefrin represented, at various times, Guy Lombardo, Tony Bennett, Johnny Mathis, Frankie Laine, Vic Damone, Perry Como, Sam Cooke, author Irving Wallace, composers Alan and Marilyn Bergman, Don Rickles, Norm Crosby, Don Adams, Richard Pryor, Jackie Mason, Peter Falk, James Caan, Monty Hall, Peggy Lee, Kate Smith, Connie Francis, Sarah Vaughan and Dick Clark.
Shefrin was also involved with the PR for the Beatles' first New York appearance at Carnegie Hall and a performance by Frank Sinatra and Lena Horne, also at Carnegie Hall, benefitting the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee. Along with special projects for Motown Records and Simon & Schuster Publishing, which included West Coast PR for Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein's Watergate tome "All the President's Men," he also handled 1964 rock concert film "The T.A.M.I. Show" and numerous TV variety specials. Born in New York City, the son of Russian immigrants, Shefrin attended graduated from City College of New York in 1942 and then joined the U.S. Army Air Force. He was initially stationed at Randolph Field in San Antonio, Texas, and was assigned as a reporter on the base newspaper, the Randolph Rookie. While there, he married Sophie Schwimmer. During WWII, he served in the 96th Bomber Group in England and was awarded two battle stars.
In 1945 he started his career in PR at Fred Stengel Associates in New York as an apprentice publicist. The following year, he joined David O. Alber Associates as an account exec; five years later, he was named exec VP. While at the Alber firm, he gave a then 16-year-old Woody Allen, ne Allen Konigsberg, his first job, as a joke writer.
In 1963 he left Alber and soon thereafter moved to Los Angeles, founding Gene Shefrin Associates, which was renamed the Shefrin Co. in 1976 when his son, Paul, joined the firm. He was a longtime member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences and the Publicists Guild. In addition to his son Paul, a longtime publicist, Gene Shefrin is survived by his wife of 68 years, Sophie, and two grandchildren. Donations may be made to the National Parkinson Foundation. Carmel Valley 1960s fugitive mom Marie Walsh on Oprah and Today Show discussing her book
The 1960s fugitve turned Carmel Valley housewife Susan LeFevre gets the Oprah center stage treatment on Thursday and Today Show reveal on Friday as Marie Walsh unveils her new book "A Tale of Two Lives: The Susan LeFevre Fugitive Story."
More from the publicity gurus:
Bethany Hamilton at La Paloma Theater, Saturday for sneak screening of biopic 'Soul Surfer'
MEET BETHANY HAMILTON
WHAT: Hear Bethany Hamilton present her inspiring story while contributing to the Challenged Athletes Foundation. For $10 fans are invited to see the film before it hits theaters and participate in a post-screening discussion with Bethany. WHEN: Saturday, March 26th at 2:30pm Q&A with Bethany Hamilton immediately following the film Press call time: 4:00pm WHERE: La Paloma Theatre WHY: Teen surfer Bethany Hamilton, who lost her arm in a shark attack and courageously overcame the odds to become a champion again, has teamed up with the Challenged Athletes Foundation to present this moving true story. 100% of the proceeds benefit the Challenged Athletes Foundation. Tickets are available online athttp://soulsurfer.kintera.org and at the door on a first come first served basis. http://www.soulsurferthemovie.com/ SOUL SURFER opens in theaters nationwide on Friday, April 8th! Devo Rocks Belly-Up This Week. Video At Right Now...Michael Pilmer/Devo-Obsesso Reporting
DEVO performs "Uncontrollable Urge" in Solana Beach, CA - 3/20/11. Video shot by Michael Pilmer/Devo-Obsesso. For more visit here or contact michael@devo-obsesso.com.
DEVO AT BELLY-UP “Thirty years ago, people said that we were cynical, that we had a bad attitude,” says Devo’s Mark Mothersbaugh. “But now, when you ask people if de-evolution is real, they understand that there was something to what we were saying. It’s not the kind of thing you want to see proven right, but it does make it easier to talk about.” “The world is in sync with Devo,” says his band-mate and co-writer Gerald Casale. “We’re not the guys who freak people out and scare them—we’re like the house band on the Titanic, entertaining everybody as we go down.”
And so, now is the time. More than three decades after the release of its visionary debut, Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo, and a full 20 years since its last studio album, Devo is back with the aptly titled Something for Everybody. The long rumored, wildly anticipated album (which was launched with a memorable performance in Vancouver at the Winter Olympics) features the band’s classic line-up—Mark and Bob Mothersbaugh, Gerald and Bob Casale—joined by drummer Josh Freese (Nine Inch Nails, Guns n’ Roses). Produced by Greg Kurstin (The Bird & The Bee), the album also includes contributions from John Hill and Santi White (better known as hip-hop star Santigold), John King of the Dust Brothers, and the Teddybears.
Though the 12 songs on Something for Everybody are built on Devo’s signature mechanized swing, the recording and presentation of the album saw the band experimenting with an entirely new approach. Greg Scholl was brought in to serve as COO for Devo, Inc., and—working with the advertising agency Mother LA—conducted a series of studies through the www.clubdevo.com site to help the band with its creative decisions, from color selection to song mixes. “We decided to actively seek comment and criticism from outside people and use that as a tool, rather than shunning or ignoring it,” says Gerald Casale. “Our experiences participating in secondary creativity—things like corporate consensus building, focus groups—make you appreciate the connection that an artist has to society.” “In the past, Devo was very insular,” says Mark Mothersbaugh. “This time, I became intrigued with the idea of having people who understood Devo actually work on the songs, and to do to our songs what we did to ‘Satisfaction’ on our first record. Don’t put any boundaries on their production style, let them bring what they needed to make Devo be what it should be after waking up from suspended animation for 20 years.” His revelation came when the Teddybears did a remix of the song “Watch Us Work It,” an idea initiated by the Mother agency. “They took Josh Freese’s drums off and put on a sample from something we did back in, like, 1982. And I thought, ‘That actually is better!’ That was when I first really saw that Devo had something to absorb, as well as something to impart.”
Devo’s sound, style, and philosophy have been an influence on artists from Rage Against the Machine to Lady Gaga. Kurt Cobain once said, “Of all the bands who came from the underground and actually made it in the mainstream, Devo is the most challenging and subversive of all.” In 1990, Devo morphed from a recording and concert act to putting more focus on individual pursuits and various creative enterprises. Mark Mothersbaugh, along with brother Bob, and Bob Casale, began making music for films and television, working on Pee-Wee’s Playhouse and Rugrats and the movies of Wes Anderson. Gerald Casale directed scores of commercials and music videos for the likes of Miller Lite Beer and Mrs. Butterworth’s to Rush, The Foo Fighters, and Soundgarden respectively. (“Everything we’ve done outside of Devo is basically a permutation on the theme we started with,” says Mark Mothersbaugh.) Meanwhile, Devo’s music remained a staple in movies, commercials, and videogames. After appearing sporadically in concert and working on 2006’s Devo 2.0 project—with kids providing the vocals to Devo songs—the band began the stop-and-start project of making new music. “It was now or never,” says Gerald Casale. “We’re all still alive, and we can all play and sing—probably better than we ever did in the past. These new songs, like ’Don’t Shoot (I’m a Man)’ or ‘What We Do,’ are as Devo as anything Devo has ever done.” Especially notable on Something for Everybody is the focus its songs bring to the vapid absurdity of so much contemporary speech (don’t miss the closing wail of “Don’t tase me, bro!” on “Don’t Shoot”). Mark Mothersbaugh points out that, for all the attention usually given to Devo’s funky robot sound, this has always been a central aspect of its work. “We grew up in a time when we saw hippies become hip capitalists, when the real punks truly destroyed themselves, and we came to the conclusion that rebellion was obsolete,” he says. “We saw subversion as the most successful form of change, so we always had an attraction to loaded phrases that you can reshape and subvert to fit your own needs.” Gerald Casale adds that Devo really was looking at today’s world when writing the new songs. “The tautology of a line like ‘What we do is what we do’ is taken straight from hip-hop,” he says. “And words like ‘bro’ and ’dude’—we’re surrounded by it all the time, 20-year-olds don’t even see any irony in it anymore.” A Devo for our times. A band that evolves, even as the world around them confirms the decay they have long suspected. With Something for Everybody, Devo has gained from experience, honed its attack, and stands ready to sound the alarm for another generation. “As angry young men who have been validated, we have the possibility to do something that resonates like it did back in the early days,” says Mark Mothersbaugh. “It’s the same car, just now with air bags, power brakes, and steering.” “We’re inspired by reality,” says Gerald Casale, “because the world is so ridiculous and stupid. DE-EVOLUTION IS REAL.” Perry's Previews: SXSW Film Festival Premieres Animation Short Featuring Perry's Work... SXSW Film Festival Premieres Animation Short Featuring 5th-Grade Animator & Film Critic Perry Chen In 2010, renowned animation master Bill Plympton decided to remake via the internet his 2005 wildly popular Oscar-nominated animated short, “Guard Dog” about an over-protective pug who imagines every flora and fauna is out to kill his beloved master. Perry Chen is among over 70 artists from around the world invited to make “Guard Dog Global Jam,” each with different levels of expertise, recreating each shot of the film in their own style. The global team represents animators from Canada, the UK, Scotland, Ireland, France, Sweden, Germany, Italy, Spain, Lithuania, Argentina, and the U.S.
(Bill Plympton & Perry Chen discussing animation film feedback before Annie Awards (photo by Zhu Shen) Plympton is the storyboard artist on “Ingrid Pitt: Beyond the Forest,” an animation short about a young Holocaust survivor, in collaboration with Perry Chen, the sole animator of this film, sponsored by Toon Boom Animation, the leading 2D animation software company; and Wacom, the leading computer tablet company for the animation industry. “Ingrid Pitt: Beyond the Forest” is in post-production and will be ready for film festivals starting April 2011. In November 2010, Perry created scene 41 (bull thinks of hamburger) in “Guard Dog Global Jam” using Toon Boom Studio 5.0 and Wacom Intuos when he was 10 years old. “I am thrilled to see our film finally making it to SXSW! I have learned so much about create animation using Toon Boom software for this film.
It is magical to see things moving on the computer screen from my own creation.” said Perry. “I created 35 drawings on my computer for the 7-second scene 41 by watching Bill Plympton’s original Guard Dog again and again. With my mom’s help, the help of Toon Boom’s wonderful technical support team and other local animators, I was able to finish the scene within one month and by the deadline.” “Guard Dog Global Jam” had its world premiere at 9:30 pm on March 11, 2011, the opening night of the South by Southwest (SXSW Film Festival and Conference, March 11-20, 2011) http://schedule.sxsw.com/?conference=film&category=Screening&day=11# http://www.vimeo.com/20252572 (Guard Dog Global Jam video clip) “Ingrid Pitt: Beyond The Forest” is a 5-minute animated short told through the eyes of a young Jewish girl, Ingrid Pitt, who survived the Holocaust after being in various concentration camps in Poland with her mother from age 5 to 8. Pitt eventually became a film and TV star and appeared in the classic World War II film “Where Eagles Dare” with Clint Eastwood. The film is already accepted to screen at the Burbank International Film Festival September 10-17, 2011. Perry’s Previews is an online resource for kids, teens, parents, educators, and movie lovers of all ages to read and comment on family-friendly movie reviews from a kid’s perspective. To date, over 50 reviews are listed on a multi-media platform, including TV, radio, print, and web. In addition, Perry’s Previews features Perry’s art and animation videos. Reader participation is encouraged through and via Perry’s website, Facebook fan page: (http://www.Facebook.com/PerrysPreviewsFan) and Perry’s twitter feed @PerrysPreviews. About Perry Chen – Gifted with a keen eye from a young age, Perry began writing movie reviews for his website “Perry’s Previews” at age 8. Characterized by his starfish rating system, his “Perrific™” favorite movies, and his family-friendly movie choices, Perry is often regarded as one of the great up-and-coming movie critics. The youngest honoree at the recent San Diego Press Club Excellence in Journalism Awards, Perry also serves as the resident movie critic for the Amazing Kids! Magazine (mag.amazing-kids.org), film critic and blogger on Animation World Network, a leading professional animation industry publication; a movie panelist for the San Diego Union Tribune with over a million weekly readers; and the San Diego Entertainer Magazine’s youngest columnist and entertainment critic, reviewing films, restaurants, and entertainment events. Perry has been featured in numerous publications and television interviews, including a recent (October 22, 2010) article in Variety, which spotlighted the top 3 up-and-coming young movie reviewers; and The Young Icons, a nationally-syndicated TV show. In May 2009, Perry made his national television debut on CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, and in March 2010, he appeared in his first national radio interview on National Public Radio (NPR) with host Liane Hansen. Perry’s hobbies outside of film reviews include drawing, reading, folding origami, exploring nature, and gardening. Perry is represented by Rebel Entertainment Partners, a talent agency in Hollywood; and Shamon Freitas Agency in San Diego. For Perry Chen’s movie reviews, film project updates, visit: For information about Perry Chen, media & business inquiries, contact: Zhu Shen, # # # Perry’s Previews features multi-media reviews by Perry Chen, an award-winning 10-year-old entertainment critic of movies and family entertainment, TV/radio personality, youngest blogger, filmmaker featured on CBS & NPR. Details: http://www.perryspreviews.com. |
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(4 out of 5 starfish)
