2ND FAVORITE FILM OF ALL TIME- "NOODLES"

My second favorite film WAS intended to be the typical film from AFI and it was CITIZEN KANE however I have placed that film on my MOST NOTABLES (a blog coming up within a couple of days). This was a tough one being that I love love love CK and Director Orson Wells so much; however I have to pay homage to a film that has be to one of the most underrated, dogged out film in cinema history.

ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA-1984

Robert DeNiro, James Woods, William Forestye, Jennifer Connoly

Directed by Sergio Lenore

Based on the book THE HOODS

You wanna talk about a masterpiece that was shitted on by Hollywood and viewed a classic, this is the film. Ill get to that nonsense (yes its pure nonsense) in a minute.

ONCE...tells the lives of a small group of New York City Jewish gangsters spanning over 40 years. Told mostly in flashbacks and flash-forwards, the movie centers on small-time opium addict hood David 'Noodles' Aaronson and his lifelong partners in crime; Max, Cockeye and Patsy and their friends from growing up in the rough Jewish neighborhood of New York's Lower East Side in the 1920s, to the last years of Prohibition in the early 1930s, and then to the late 1960s where an elderly Noodles returns to New York after many years in hiding to look into the past. 

Now here comes the nonsense

Some studio exec jag off felt the movie was too long, the audience would never appreciate it; therefore it was decided to trim it to 2 hours, changing  the story a bit by going in order from young to old and it would be a hit.

WRONG

No one understood a damn thing. The essence was gone, performances diminished, add that up and you have a flop from one of the greatest Filmmakers of all time. Shame on Hollywood for ruining what would be Serio Lenore's last film. 

Then magic happen

A bright idea was made to re-edit back to 3 hours, change the story with a Godfather Part 2 flashback method and the film becomes, what Sergio created, A MASTERPIECE.

The movie was a monster hit on VHS and if someone listen to Sergio it would've won tons of Oscars but hey, it was an era in Hollywood where true brass balls of the 60s and 70s died and money hungry trust fund kid studio execs were created-kinda like the same now.

Robert DeNiro as a Jewish gangster is unfathomed to believe at first but this is not MEET THE FOCKERS DeNiro. This was method actor "Raging Bull-King of Comedy" DeNiro. The man was in his prime playing the quiet yet unpredictable NOODLES who never explodes in rage but his eyes showed a hidden monster waiting to unleash. A great common trend from Sergio who was big on the eyes in frame. You never know what he's thinking or planing: even at the last shot of the film where he gets high and lets out a big smile-we're lead to believe this whole story was all in Noodles opium high or if its real. My opinion.....

Anyway

James Woods who never, in my opinion, has done a bad film or performance in his 30 something career, plays MAX with a crazed yet sympathetic demeanor. You truly care for this sick bastard who wants to live the high life by robbing the federal reserve bank, among other treachery.  In fact you care for all of these characters struggling to survive in the Great Depression all the way down to the late 60s where the story ends. Second to the last scene is very chilling as Max disappears. Sergio leaves it up to our imagination again-was he murdered and dumped into the garbage truck or did he escape? It reminds me of the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa to say the least. In my opinion....

Well see the clip below

THE MUSIC IS A CHARACTER IN THIS FILM. Extraordinary is speaking too low of this wonderful score, which is pretty much used in almost every scene. It's the peace within the music that carries the violent, turbulent plot all the worth watching. I play the movie on sometimes just to hear the score. I know, I should just download the soundtrack. 

One other reason I love the film is the production value of old NYC. I'm from the Bronx but I do know my history of NYC, and the look was astonishing, almost better than The Godfather. ONE BLUFF that I noticed and only a true NY'r will spot this out:

The scene, one of the best scenes, when they pass by the Williamsburg bridge in the lower east side (the master shot of the poster), the kid goes under the bridge and spots a creepy Thug named BUGSY (A young James Russo who would go on to play more crazy roles in years followed) heading toward them with a gun. When the kids run away in slow motion (the shot is so beautiful), you can see Housing Projects all the way in the back on the left screen. Someone forgot to tell the Italian director the Projects wasn't developed until the early 60's. I know, I'm a nerd.

ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA  HOLDS DEAR TO MY HEART. An underrated film that became a classic to this day. Editing PAYS.

Sorry Orson. Still love Citizen Kane, but Sergio wins.

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The Making of my last PERSONAL SHORT FILM "MUSIC: A Marvin Gaye Story"

I had Marvin Gaye planned since I was a teen, after watching a documentary of his life-I knew one day it would happen.

Just like the same connection I had with Tupac, I came to find out Marvin and I were pretty much the same. Both came from a religious background, both torn between doing "God's work" or doing secular work through our talents. Both can be shy but very deep into our work, wear our emotions on our sleeves and most of all battle duality with our personalities-angelic and can be devilish. During Marvin's 30's-to his death, Marvin would suffer from depression and the drugs didn't help-I too would suffer within the last stages of my marriage, one point thought of Suicide.

Sometimes within the industry there are actors or people that you feel such a great chemistry with one another that you can't wait to work with them. I've known Toni Robinson-May for 5 years now; a wonderful, talented actress, poet and person who interns for my mentors Rosalyn and Crag T. Williams of Red Wall Productions and I always wanted to work with her.  It was the night where Stuart Productions gave a huge private industry party headed by Producer Emelyn Stuart (12 Steps to Recovery online show), and it was this night where I approached Toni that I wanted to do a short film on Gaye and she was a lock to play his ex wife, Janis. She said "OK" but looked nervous. Maybe she didn't believe me, I don't know but I had this planned to shoot around 2010 but I felt it wasn't the right time.

Tupac was created instead.

The Marvin Gaye script wasn't written yet but it was in my head. I saw it in a dream where Marvin would escape all the troubles in his own world by heading to the studio and sing his heart out giving himself peace through his music. At the same time, his wife would enter and just watch him from afar. He notices and invites her into the booth to share one last dance together. A somber moment for both that this relationship was over but the love will always be there through the music.

Never wrote it down.

Then my marriage of 12 years ended.

My marriage ended the same time I filmed JUSTICE and I was a wreck mentally, physically and spiritually. Its very hard for me to watch JUSTICE because I was so much in pain, pretty much the same pain my character Marc Justice was, after losing his wife. I knew for certain once JUSTICE wrapped, the Marvin Gaye project had to be filmed NOW or it will never get done. 

MUSIC: A Marvin Gaye Story wasn't just another "look at me and what I can do" project, THIS WAS PERSONAL. Marvin says "Great artist suffer for the people" and always wrote based on his lifestyle. If he was in trouble, he made the album "TROUBLE MAN". If he was going through a sexual phase, he created "LETS GET IT ON", I am the same way; therefore MUSIC is a personal release for me.

A release to let go, move on, forgive myself, learn from your past and start anew. Divorce is not a great thing at all, its very painful; however I've learned that I could do two things-Get better or get worse. 

MUSIC wasn't going to get made without the blessings from Marvin's ex wife Janis Gaye, a wonderful mother who went through a lot raising two kids on her own throughout the years. Janis openly shared her experience with me being married to a legend. Once she read the script, made some adjustments and approved, I knew this was all in God's timing and we kept a friendship to this day.

When I set the date with my cast featuring Toni, Emelyn Stuart's son Justus playing "Frankie Gaye", my niece Taylor Scott playing "Nona Gaye", along with my trusted crew Cinematographer Ryan J. Lee, Cameraman John Olivo, Make Up Artist Lillybeth Gonzalez and new jacks like Assistant Director Brenda Santana and Stylist, Still Photographer Sylvia Torres, preparation began in full force.

I listen, watched and read every material there is of Marvin 24/7, the same way I studied Tupac. This film will not mirror my previous short film DRUNKEN FREESTYLE: AN INTERVIEW WITH 2PAC where the musical legend shares his whole life story in a studio, drunk; I wanted this to be very intimate and personal showing the love he has for his family and passion. This short doesn't focus on his father, years of Motown, drug abuse and the tragic murder of his life.

The short, pretty much like most of my content, was funded by my own pocket and we didn't go over budget, in fact we went under. Filming went smoothly yet challenging because I'm directing at the same time plus I was nervous as hell. Hours later Hurricane Sandy would land in New York City and the last thing I wanted was to have my actors caught in the storm but we wrapped hours before.

So what do I expect from this short? Accolades from people watching in film festivals, a big time movie producer giving me money to distribute or to make a feature film version? A big time agent noticing Toni and the kids and want to represent them? That's my goal with ALL of my content.

But my main goal. THE BIG GOAL for this short film...

is to pay tribute to Marvin, Janis and her children. This is my tribute saying THANK YOU. If none of the above things I've mentioned before don't happen, I will not be bummed at all. This was something we, my crew needed to do and it got done through the midst of the storm. 

A storm that hit NYC hard but like every storm in our lives, we just gotta stay strong, hold our heads up high, find peace...

rebuild

restore

and like Marvin said in his song...

"PRAISE"

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HOW TO BRAND ON SOCIAL MEDIA: FINDING AND BUILDING AN AUDIENCE

I will start out every blog of these HOW TO BRAND ON SOCIAL MEDIA thingys the same way so the message is clear and here it goes:

My name is Damian Bailey and I am NOT a Social Media branding expert nor claim to be one; however I used a few methods that continues to work in my favor that I would like to share with you on this journey of success. 

ONSET of the film "BLACK PEARL" featuring Samuel Gomez and Bill Johnson

OK so you know your "type", have the greatest headshots that represent you, and you consider yourself an INC. a BRAND, NOW WHAT?

1. THE DEMO REEL

Back in the 90's, a demo reel was only needed if you were going to LA to meet an agent; now its a necessity across the board. The headshot will make them smile and check your resume; a solid reel will give you an appointment or an audition. I mean a GOOD SOLID REEL. So what makes a great reel or a bad one? what IS a reel?

A Reel is a combination of clips from previous or present films from your resume. Here's where it gets complicated; what if you have close to no work, or too much work, what do you do? lets break it down with limited to no work first:

a)ask a FILMMAKER friend for a favor to film a scene featuring you as the subject. Now we're going back to the INC. viewpoint. You don't want to hire the salesperson for your store who has no teeth, bad breath and smells like pure ass to sell the products right? then don't just ask any filmmaker friend or student to film you. Research their credentials, look at their work and if its of HIGH QUALITY, hire them. You may have to pay a huge dollar for this but this is your career you're investing in; therefore get the best. If you cant pay them, offer them lunch, carfare, etc. but DON'T go the cheap route getting a student filmmaker who will shoot you on a camcorder with the bathroom as a background. 

b) DO A MONOLOGUE by FILMING YOURSELF. With that said, you are responsible for filming a quality video. Use a good HD camera or your iPAD and MAC with great lighting that will show you in the best way and not in a distracting way. Be mindful of sound which is key-don't do a monologue video with a baby crying in the background (I saw this before).

c) DO MONOLOGUES BASED ON WHAT YOU'RE SELLING-YOUR "TYPE". Too many actors are doing monologues that are not their type because they want to show the agent or casting director that they have range-sorry but this is the industry of FIRST IMPRESSIONS and they want to see the person on the headshot along with the person in front of them  that can be MARKETABLE. A beautiful woman in her mid 20's should not, in my opinion, do a monologue on a 50 year old woman going through menopause, crying over her deceased children. STAY IN YOUR LANE. Show your type FIRST then build that rep through the work that you get.

My type is leading man and I landed my agent by doing a monologue from the film "PRINCE OF THE CITY" -the scene where the LEAD character, a crooked cop who snitches on his crooked partners and breaks down when doing so. A role played by Treat Williams that I can also portray myself that's why I did it. Its from a LEADING MAN doing an intense monologue with range.

-----

Now lets discuss the fact that you have mountains of work: here's where the GREAT DEBATE begins.

HOW LONG SHOULD A REEL BE? Industry standards would say 3 min. Now some of these Casting Directors are lying to actors saying they just want to see 60 seconds. Some say 5 min. Few say ADD AS MANY MATERIAL AS YOU CAN. In my opinion, ALL ARE VALID (except for the 60 sec rule). The reason these Agents and Casting Directors say it has to be short because "THEY GET SO MUCH ON A DAILY BASIS AND DON'T WANT TO SEE REELS ALL DAY", ok I get that yet when I do attend these "offices", they're snooping on FACE BOOK most of the time (I'm nosey, I see everything even when they don't realize it).  As a filmmaker, I HATE watching REELS that are too short because I feel cheated. I don't like credits on the reels, cant stand loud background music and special effects on reels. 

The main focus on REELS is YOU. Not the music, not the credits, not the AFTER EFFECTS usage, I want to see YOU and the first 30 to 60 seconds better be DAMN GOOD for me to keep watching and it should showcase YOUR TYPE. right away. The second clip should be just as great as the first for the viewer to KEEP WATCHING. Its up to them to shut it off or to keep watching MORE OF YOUR OUTSTANDING WORK.

I know TONS of actors who have reels that are 5 min or longer...AND WORKING. The ones I see or know of with these microwaveable reels, are barley getting it-again this is debatable and I can be wrong but....

hey, everything is TRIAL AND ERROR and what works for me may not work for someone else. Just make sure those first 2 min are EXCELLENT.

I used to do reels for actors but I decided not to anymore; however I do know filmmakers such as Tony Clomax and Rosalyn Coleman Williams and Craig T. Williams of Red Wall Productions who not only establish your reel but will create a short for your reel. Yes you have to PAY-this is an investment you cannot go cheap in. Anybody that charges you $50 or $100 to do their reels, go the other way. THIS IS YOUR BUSINESS, SO INVEST WISELY. 

2. WEBSITE

This used to be hard to make and maintain because it was so expensive however hosting sites like godaddy.com or web.com has made it affordable for you to create your own website. Yes we have social media but a website is different. Its just YOU, no friend request, no fighting with your friends, just you. Once your reel is established, place your reel on your website so not only filmmakers, Agents or Casting Directors can see it, but they can KNOW about YOU as well. Besides talent, they want to see who they can work with: Do I  like this guy? do they have a "story" within their life? What's their BIO like? This is where you can share who you are, what you want to do, where you're doing it and how. 

my website

www.damiantheactor.com

3. FAN PAGE. I used to be against this because I thought it was just too vain until I saw the light. Its just another way to brand yourself the right way. I'm not sure what the statistics are and I'm too lazy to research it right now but I strongly believe Facebook is ten times of a larger audience than Twitter. I could be wrong. A Fan page is like a spawn of your website. Now you're letting your audience see what you're about as an actor, filmmaker, etc. When you create a Fan page, you separate yourself from your personal page. I have a dumb big mouth, and on my personal page I say whatever I want and it stays just on Facebook. On my ACTOR/FILMMAKER fan page, I speak on acting and my career and it  posts on Facebook AND twitter to open my audience, letting them know what I'm doing. Post whatever you want but be mindful on how you do it. Imagine seeing someone in person and they constantly say "I got an audition, I got an audition, I got an audition..." you're not gonna give a damn plus you would want them to just shut up. Use your fan pages wisely. Connect it with Twitter or any other social site. Again, you're building an AUDIENCE.

4. BLOG. I've learned this from my mentor Craig T. Williams who is a great writer (writer of JUSTICE-Shameless plug), to always WRITE. Write what's on your heart, mind  and soul on your journey. You build an audience by people being inspired by you. They are on the same path and need to hear from others how to take this journey with their heads lifting high. The main key is to get your name out there and making a video on how to take care of your hair and put it on youtube is great exposure. Always remember YOU ARE BEING WATCHED AND YOU NEVER KNOW WHO'S WATCHING YOU. A top notched  producer could be bored one night, go online, accidentally type "HAIR" on his google feed and your face comes up. He clicks on your picture which leads to your youtube video about hair. The video makes his snicker...then he notices something: on the right side he sees your name with other videos attached. One HAS YOUR REEL. "Oh...shes an ACTRESS? I LOVE HER PERSONALITY. SHE NEEDS A JOB". This HAS happen before. It also happen to myself. Blogging shows your personality so blog.

When you have all these tools and post them at least 2x a week, YOU WILL ESTABLISH AN AUDIENCE. Few may approach or email you saying they love what you do and TONS of people wont say anything but they ARE following you. You will know when you're approached in the street and they say "I love your blogs and you're work" and all it takes is the right person to see it. 

Always keep in mind whatever you're selling or promoting, which is you, it has to be ready NOW. Don't promote yourself on social media saying "my reel is the shit" and you have no reel. Online content audience must see it right there and then. 

GUARD YOUR WALLS. Stay active on your social media sites, that doesn't mean you have to update statuses, post pics on a daily basis like I do (hee hee) but be active. I find when you're not active on social media, viruses are posted on your walls or idiots would put something to make you look bad. You always wanna guard whats on the wall because these agents ARE on FACEBOOK watching you. 

Post your reel up at least once every three weeks. Post it in groups, etc not only to showcase yourself but to showcase the person or production company who made it for you. In this business, one hand washes the other and its all about connections. Posting your work, pictures showcasing the photographer, goes a mile away. 

When an actor becomes a Hollywood star their publicist makes sure their in the spotlight by SHARING pics of their clients who were at the latest events, or filming a new production-you should be no different and this eliminates the whole "SHOWING OFF" theory. Hey, you're a BRAND, you HAVE to show off.

ONSET of "JUSTICE" directed by Rosalyn Coleman Williams

Operate as if you ARE a Star NOW. with that said....

this leads me to number 3 on how to BRAND

another method my mentor Craig told me

a method that I hate

3. NETWORKING 

Stay tuned

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FOR REELS contact Craig T. Williams of RED WALL PRODUCTIONS

http://www.redwallproductions.com/

Tony Clomax

on facebook

for HEADSHOTS / FASHION or MODELING Sylvia Torres at fotogenik

www.fotogeniksyl.com

WATCH MY NEW SERIES "JUSTICE" by RED WALL PRODUCTIONS

http://blip.tv/justicetheseries

HELPFUL TIPS FOR SOCIAL MEDIA BRANDING

My name is Damian Bailey and I am NOT a Social Media branding expert nor claim to be one; however I used a few methods that continues to work in my favor that I would like to share with you on your journey of success. 

For those who are unaware of who I am and what I do, I am a professional actor, filmmaker, model and personal trainer with my own 2 companies Glory 2 God Productions and DBFit aka DAMIAN BAILEY FITNESS. Yes I wear a lot of hats and with these hats, I was able to use social media in a way that created numerous opportunities for my businesses. Since joining social media outlets such as Facebook, Twitter, Linkin and Instagram, I've gain the opportunity to meet tons of great people that lead me to opportunities and most of all, exposure. 

The following are methods and do's/dont's I used that I feel will help you BRAND yourself to your market. This and the ones to follow, blogs caters to the people in both my industry of Fitness and Film but I believe this can help all across the board.

1.DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE AND HAVE A PLAN

You just became an Actor. ok. Now what? What makes you different than the next actor, filmmaker, etc? This is the common practice done by most actors:

Lets meet ACTOR 1

Actor 1 is a great Leading man type. He has the looks, over 6 feet tall, and very talented but shy to the core. He wants work as most of us do. Day after day he reads the trade papers, searches online for acting work, ANY acting work. He hardly takes classes, No reel, decent but bland Headshot that doesn't show his real personality but shows a comfortable boy next door type, hardly attends networking events but through mailing his headshot, he lands an Agent. Now with representation, he does nothing. No searching for work or crashing auditions because he feels he got it made-he could tell people his Agent is finding work for him. Joins Facebook and gets in ACTING groups. Weeks go by and he gets auditions from his Agent but something is different: he's only seen as a boy next door. ACTOR 1 knows he's leading man material but his Agent thinks otherwise, submits him to these go-see's and nothing happens. Actor 1 becomes frustrated and starts to blame his agent for not "getting him work" (SOUNDS FAMILIAR?). He becomes depressed and afraid to tell his agent what he really wants, in fact he doesn't contact or speak to his agent at all unless its something to benefit him. Months go by and he hasn't heard from his Agent until he realizes he's back to square one. No representation, no work. So he goes on facebook to bitch about how bad the agency is, how bad the industry is, threatens to quit the business (when its a lie, he just wants sympathy from fb friends) and yada yada yada- the cycle of a struggling actor without a plan.

WHAT WAS THE FIRST THING HE DID WRONG?

HE HAD NO PLAN because he lacked vision and felt entitled that his agent should get him work. He thought that he was a leading man but didn't BELIEVE that he was a LEADING MAN type so he took bland cheap ass headshots. One of the things that hinders us Actors is lack of confidence. I cringe when actors say "I don't like to look at myself when I perform", if YOU don't like to look at you, then why the world should even bother to look at you? 

He had no reel yet didn't think to create scenes showcasing or proving to the industry that he IS a Leading man type.

Lets break down types:

1. LEADING MAN / WOMAN: Hero, Romantic or Villian-Drama, Thriller, Action, Romance. They're the types who carry the film or play. This type is the main reason why they will watch an episode of the show or the film. Good looking, sexy, most are tall, ladies love him, men dream about her. Ex. Tom Cruise, Denzel Washington, Julia Roberts, Will Smith, Scarlet Johannsen

2. BOY/GIRL NEXT DOOR/SUPPORT: Supportive friend to the lead or Villian. Average Joe looking. The Audience loves this person, sometimes comical and sometimes can be the lead based on the story. Ex. Jonah Hill, Melissa McCarthy, John Goodman, Dustin Hoffman

3. COMEDIC ACTOR-Comedy from beginning to end. Nuff said. Ex. Tina Fey, Eddie Murphy, Cedric the Entertainer, Will Farrell

Do you know which type you are? Of Course many will say number 1 but maybe you're not-no worries. Here's a plan that could help you define your type.

a) Make a survey of these three types and ask 10 people who are not that familiar with you, what can they see you play? Do not ask family members. You may have a few who would say "you remind me of this person" and you might get pissed off but don't. I was told early in my career that I was the next Wesley Snipes. I used to get mad at that because I didn't know my type until I looked beneath the surface. What they're saying is "I can see you be the lead. You can play a drug kingpin, a cop saving a plane full of hostages or a Vampire Slayer"

b) Tally up the votes.

c) The ones with most votes, THAT'S YOUR TYPE whether you feel it or not. 

NOW YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE IN YOUR TYPE AND MARKET IT which will lead to you developing a PLAN for your career. 

Whether you like it or not, the minute you decided to become an Actor, Filmmaker, trainer, etc. you have decided to become an INC. which means it is your job, yes YOUR JOB YOUR JOB YOUR JOB to BRAND yourself. YOU have to pick the right photographer that showcase your type in the best way so Agents, Casting Directors etc will not only know your type but your personality. 

With this headshot (yeah its old, black and white. I've been in the game for a minute) I got freelance representation that all called me in for the same thing: THUG. There's nothing wrong playing a Thug, Mugger, Hooker etc if the role has substance but if its just a gig to say "I ain't do nothing, bee", I knew there was much more I can do.

A standard BORING headshot that's typical within the Actor industry. Yes its a nice smile but its forced, which a lot of headshots are-Forced expressions showing NO TYPE nor REAL personality. I hardly got any auditions with this pic because its bland.

This Headshot shows TYPE-LEADING MAN. He's in a car which says he's DRIVEN AND looks good in this Steve McQueen type look. You can tell from his chest he has a good physique which means he can probably kick ass and get the girl. There's tons of range with this look and I got a contract from my agent using this, along with numerous auditions. It shows that I'm a driven person because I AM. 

If you have an agent, its YOUR JOB to EXPRESS to your Agent your plan in this business. Do NOT give all your control to your representation, you have a voice and you matter as well. Be professional and tell them, "We need to do this, WE should seek this director" ALONG with "I'm taking classes" or "I'm writing" etc. This is a TEAM effort. My Agent and Manager all go by TEAM DAMIAN where are goal is "how can we obtain THIS gig to get us to the big picture to be seen throughout the world". 

Say you have no work to create a reel because its important to have on these days; therefore create your own content. Ask a filmmaker friend of yours (the one you did his film for no pay? a favor for a favor) to film your monologue for you WITH HIGH QUALITY. One scene is good enough if your starting out. 

My plan was to show the world through social media that I wasn't just some fit buffed guy who could play thug. I knew I could do the same roles Wesley, Denzel, Laurence and even Idris could do but the work wasn't there for me. I kept getting calls to audition for THIS thug and THAT thug until I changed my headshot and planed it out to either produce or create roles that shows me as a lead.  What you see below was part of my 5 year plan that worked which lead me to legit representation and numerous film roles just by branding on social media.

Once this is done, here's where the tools of branding on social media comes into play.

2. FINDING AND ESTABLISHING AN AUDIENCE

.......and THAT will be in the next blog.

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BEST AND WORST GYMS OF NYC

GYM CHAINS PRO AND CONS

This blog is a list of gyms I feel in my opinion are the best to the worst chains in NYC. Let me start out by getting this out the way: GYM MEMBERSHIP SHOULD BE FREE if a member pays for training. Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors should get paid for what they're worth and its NOT $20-30 a session (when the session cost $120). You're gym experience all depends on the manager that's running it; therefore gyms need to stop hiring 21 year olds who don't know their head from their asses, as managers. It's just a Job to do them-they just want to get paid and have no knowledge of life I don't care how book smart they can be. Plus these head managers don't do a damn thing. Ok I'm going off a bit here lol. This list is based on the years I've experienced as a employer and a member. My opinion. You can disagree, just don't be an ass about it.

1. GOLDS GYM
2. 24FITNESS
3.REEBOK
4.NYSC
5. EQUINOX
6. David Barton Gym
7. Parks and Recreational Gyms
8. Health and Racquet club
9. Crunch
10.Ballys Total Fitness Center
11. Soul Cycle
12. Planet BITCHness
13. Lucille Roberts
14.Curves

GOLDS GYM: THE MECCA OF GYMS and FITNESS
PRO:Golds Gym is in a class by itself, that's how great it is; however it's closing numerous chains in NYC and Miami converting them to the gym that's listed on number 8 (I have no idea why). This is the MECCA of fitness, the place where the Gods of Bodybuilding like Schwartzenegger and Ferrigno started and made famous. Of course from the outside looking in you may think its a steroid gym filled with muscle heads; it is not and its in fact the biggest stereotype among the gym chains. This is not a gym to have a martini or fat free liquor and socialize. It's not a "sex and the city" posh gym, as soon as you hit the door, you're inspired to WORK because everyone who works there is in shape. No one is there to pussyfoot around because they're getting it in through their workouts and tough training with their personal trainers who were very good. The gym's apparel is top notch within their clothing store and their nutrition shop hits the spot. Pretty affordable as well. If you haven't done so, you must visit the Venice Beach location in California. I was there for 3 hours. I didn't want to leave. THAT'S a gym experience.

CON: some locations can be a bit dirty or the equipment is a little outdated-only a few. Trainers can be a little standoffish

24 FITNESS: 2nd BEST
Pro: very clean, affordable, great equipment, great Personal trainers. The Spa, classes and health bar caters to your fitness needs the right way, especially the bar by having food you actually KNOW of. The electronic lockers are amazing.
CON: none

REEBOK-you got mad paper if you workout here.
PRO: read above.
CON: way too expensive. Caters mostly to celebs plus no one is hardly there. It's always empty.

NYSC-The Starbucks of Gyms
PRO: Pretty affordable. $89 a year for a passport membership is not bad. It could be a little cheaper but not bad.
CON: depending on your location, a few are dirty, old, missing or broken equipment. Staff needs training on customer service 101- trainers are not that great because they're train to sell as a key factor than to actually train for fitness which is why the next gym has an up over them.

EQUINOX FITNESS: "Sex and the city" of Gyms
PRO: clean, great personal training and spa. Classes are effective, good equipment. Out of all the gyms, Equinox are number one when it comes to training trainers by constant fitness and health education, along with customer services. As soon as you hit the door you're greeted with a smile.
CON: way overpriced. Entitled members and socialites who could be annoying. No locations catered to urban areas (NO I don't count BLINK). Being that they're the top in the education field they carry this arrogant, cocky attitude that they're the best and that's it. That attitude reflects across the board through Managment on down. Wine parties after a workout for socializing like its a club in Chelsea.

DAVID BARTON GYM: The Disco of Gyms
PRO: Flashy. Decent membership price. Good equipment. Fun atmosphere, music decent. If you want to work out in studio 54 this is the spot.
CON: TOO DAMN DARK, it's like working out in the batcave. Training is inconsistent because you're free to pick anyone at any day if they're available or waiting in the lobby sitting around like whores in a whorehouse.

PARKS & Recreation: Workout at your own risk
PRO: $100 a year. Yes a year and a few are clean. Nuff said
CON: you're on your own when it comes to training. There's little to no Persoanl training and depending on the location, you gonna walk the floor with weights from lazy ass people who don't put them back. They have kept up with the maintenance of the pools but something about going to a city gym disgust me.

HEALTH & RACQUET: Jail gym
PRO: by far the best Group Fitness Classes within the NYC gyms. Basketball and tennis courts.
CON: crappy building structure, almost feels claustrophobic. Trainer uniforms are bad along with their skills. Rooms are too small. Rates are overpriced

CRUNCH: Crunch what?
PRO: boxing ring. That's it
CON: no identity. Nothing really stands out for me with Crunch. It's not good nor is it bad. It's a spawn of Equinox and NYSC mixed as one. Membership prices mirrors NYSC.

BALLYS: the McDonald's of Gyms
PRO: EYE CANDY
CON: EYE CANDY. This gym used to be equivalent to Golds but it has been so tampered and watered down throughout the years that even the training doesn't stand out. Based on former and current employers that I'm friends with, Ballys is big on the BIG SALE instead  of trainers knowing how to train and become effective with the program. Sale Commission is a high priority to them...this is why they get the most complaints and law suits from members complaining about their fees, memberships etc. YES the eye candy of attractive men and women can be a distraction...to some.

SOUL CYCLE: the OH MY GAWD GYM
PRO: If you're a spinning nut-this is the place. Great music, high class Cycle equipment, oh my Gawd
CON: OH MY GAWD its a socialite spot. Friends of friends, celebs of celebs occupy the spot OH MY GAWD. Im not a fan of doing dumbell curls and Overhead Presses while riding a bike cause you don't do this out in the street so why do it in the gym? but whatever, you're friends are sweating and they're playing GANMAN STYLE OH MY GAWWD

PLANT FITNESS-the Soul Food of Gyms
PRO: really?
CON: oh where should I begin with the cons of Planet BITCHness. The color design of yellow and purple, the fisher price workout machines, the stereotypical stupid commercials making fit people seem ignorant, pompous and vainglorious, NO SQUAT RACKS, NO DEADLIFTS, NO WEIGHTS HIGHER THAN 65lbs. The wack ass "Spa" which is some cheap tanning booth and a crappy massage chair. They don't even know what a Kettlebell is-I'm serious. I've asked and they looked at me as if I was from another planet. WORKING OUT HARDCORE IS PROHIBITED. You must do the Walking Dead Cardio (walk on the treadmill for an hour with your hands on top of the machine at high incline looking like a zombie), the HOBBIT size pull up bar that has a line of dudes to use it and attempt to do tricks when they fall flat cause it's too short. No grunting, breathing hard (seriously), no tank tops from GOLDS, SPEECIES or any bodybuilding tank that shows your physique but its ok to wear those stupid ass heavty bag looking crap over your body so "you could sweat". OH I forgot, after your "hard" workout, YOU GET FREE PIZZA along with tootsie rolls. So go ahead and spend $10 a month to lift small weights then eat a pizza afterwards so you won't gain not one result but it will keep you coming back for more. This is the SOUL FOOD OF GYMS and doesn't promote an ounce of what real fitness is about. Judgement free zone they say yet in the "hood" areas that's out the window. You can't even look like you're from the hood going inside cause they'll kick you out. No trainers and if it is one its a kid on his blackberry text while showing you the machines or a jail bird. $10. You get what you pay for.

LUCIELLE ROBERTS: All female.
PRO:............if you don't want to deal with men, this is your spot. $20 a month I believe.
CON: their equipment makes Planet BITCHness look like Equinox. It's THAT bad. Almost every location I went and worked for, all of them had a an odor...I'll leave it at that. Trainers? Well no one trains them so they'll get anyone from the street who has arms. The dudes are only there to get laid and the women trainers are just there for the experience in training so they can leave to another spot. This is not the gym to feel inspired by others. DON'T BE MISLED BY THE COMMERICALS WITH ALL THE HOT WOMEN DANCING AROUND, you may find one like that in 6 months.

CURVES: the .75 store of gyms. Ever heard of a .75 store? Exactly, they hardly around.
PRO: caters to the obese, affordable
CON: the worst training system by having them do the same circuit machine training. Windows are dark and tinted-what the hell are they really doing in there? The size is a living room, not a gym.

The mask of Social Media: TAKE IT OFF

This is going to be REAL short

Folks, stop hiding behind social media via twitter, fb, etc.

If you love someone, CALL them up and tell them on the phone.
If you hate someone's guts or involved in a he said/she said situation or problem, CALL the individual to squash it and clear the air.

DO NOT BE A COWARD and post your feelings or situation online to gain numerous soul claps from so called "friends" which is imprinted forever. You think you're being victorious when its actually making you look vanglorious, narcissist, stupid and most of all...MORE STUPID. I know, I used to be one until I wised up and realized in this so called world of Social Media that no one really gives a shit. Its the main reason why I shut everything down on my social media.

Why should I care if you're man cheated?
Why should I care if you can't find a good job or a good man?
Why should I care if you someone didn't pay you the exact dollar for your services?

WHO CARES.

Handle it like a real man or woman and deal with it privately. Always remember that your true friends will call you up and put you in check saying "remove that last status NOW. No one needs to know all your business". I'd rather have THAT friend than the fake "LIKE/ RE-TWEET" whores of Social Media.

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told you it was short

3RD FAVORITE FILM OF ALL TIME-DONT GET OFF THE BOAT

"APOCALYPSE NOW" 1979
Written and Directed by Francis Ford Coppola
Based on the book "Heart of Darkness" by Joeseph Conrad
Winner of 2 Academy Awards (Sound and Cinematography), Nominated for Best Picture
Starring Marlon Brando, Martin Sheen, Dennis Hopper, Laurence Fishburne, Robert Duvall and Harrison Ford.


THIS ALMOST MADE NUMBER ONE ON MY LIST. ALMOST, but my main number one was just too damn perfect. Not that THIS movie isn't perfect, there's some flaws but its damn near close.

Apocalypse Now tells the story of a damaged yet skillful solider Captain Willard (Martin Sheen's greatest performance besides THE WEST WING) is sent on a dangerous mission to assassinate a Former Green Beret who went ape crazy and claimed he was a GOD within a hidden tribe in the jungle  of cambodia. Simple mission right? wrong. Paired up with a crew of crazed soldiers, they head up to seek this "classified" mission during the hell of vietnam. The film is never clear as to what year it takes place but it doesn't matter; the movie clearly shows that Vietnam was a death zone mentally and physically to our young men in the 60's.

From the very first shot of the film, Francis shows the heart of man as the beautiful, peaceful trees of the jungle blowing in the wind EXPLODES in flames after a chopper passes through frame-EVIL. Jim Morrison's voice from the song "THE END" hums like a ghost letting the audience know you are in for some deep, tramatic shit. What follows is a super-imposition shot (and there's ton of these in this film) of Sheen staring at us with a spinning ceiling fan letting us know we're just as crazy or heading to BECOME crazy during this journey. This film is dark from the beginning to the end. It holds so much power to make you feel exactly what these soldiers, or at least the characters in the film, felt as they head for a world of chaos: dirty, deranged, depressed and most of all AFRAID. By the end of the movie where Jim Morrison's voice is heard through a whisper again, you want Williard to end ALL OF THIS and it all comes through the wonderful, well deserved Oscar win for Cinematography. I have to say in my opinion, every shot in the film looks like a painting.

The making of the film alone is one of the reasons why I truly love this film, Francis and everyone involved. A film that was suppose to take at least 6 weeks to shoot took a total of 16 months in pre-production, 2 years in post (OMG) due to the destructive monsoon weather in the philippines, over budget and actors basically "losing it".

Here are the FACTS in case you don't know:
1. George Lucas was set to direct this film  but was too occupied with Star Wars (THANK GOD)

2. Steve McQueen, Al Pacino and Jack Nicholson were up to play Williard but declined. Harvey Keitel was hired and fired after 2 weeks replacing him with Sheen. There's footage of Keitel's scenes on the documentary "HEART OF DARKNESS"

3. Brando's character "Kurtz" based on the book, was suppose to be real skinny and frail due to malnutrition but Brando being BRANDO at the time, went the opposite, gained tremendous weight not out of method acting but out of I DONT GIVE A FUCK, PAY ME MORE method,  along other problems he gave Francis.

4. Martin Sheen was a severe alcoholic at the time  and appears drunk in the opening scene; within production he would suffer a heart attack.

5. Laurence Fishburne (aka Larry Fishburne) lied about his age saying he was 16 when he was actually 14. When the film was completed he was 17.

There are so many facts on this film that it would be way too long to discuss; however the testament this crew and Francis went through inspires me as a filmmaker and actor that the SHOW MUST GO ON and go on RIGHT during the storms. It almost reminds me of what Sir David Lean wen't through with LAWRENCE OF ARABIA; both men made masterpieces when their backs were against the wall, facing termination from the studios.

I don't consider Apocalypse Now a WAR film. I view it as a war within mankind-the evil that man performs on a daily basis just to get what they want and need and sometimes dying for. The soldiers in the film fought all their battles from machines to spears and knifes-they were heading up to the river when in reality and mentally they were going backwards. Its truly a heart of darkness when you have the hunger to kill, especially killing when your forced by the government to do so (another topic, another time).

No matter how you look at it, WAR IS EVIL and no good comes out of it. I always think what would Willard's life become after the mission? In my opinion, worst than the beginning. He would stay in the military until it killed him. I don't think he would survive the world outside the jungle-I could see him being so traumatized and mentally damaged that he probably would've committed suicide. Truly a heart of darkness.

I'm a dork like that. I think beyond.

Hey, don't blame me. Francis developed a great character I care about.

Such a great film.

BIG FACT:
There's no opening credits nor is there an ending to this film. When it was premiered in 1979, audience received a program with credits. After the great super-impostition of Brando saying "the horror" with an ancient stone in the background, the film went to black at that was the end. Two versions of the ending were shown years later: 1. Willard leaves on the boat and the military air strike team blows up the villiage, killing everyone in it. The Redux version shows ending credits.

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NEXT: FILM #2
"You were too old to be called anything else. You were always too old"

HOW TO GET CLIENTS AS A PERSONAL TRAINER IN THE GYM

TIPS ON GETTING CLIENTS IN A GYM AS A PERSONAL TRAINER

Im no EXPERT, let's get that out the way; but I KNOW some stuff. I was hired as a personal trainer for Equinox Fitness 8 years ago and was told it would take me 3 months to get off the floor. The floor meaning "FLOOR SHIFTS", a humiliating yet rewarding experience as a new trainer to tell the gym "HEY IM NEW AND I NEED CLIENTS FAST SO I WONT WEAR THESE STUPID ASS ROOKIE UNIFORMS". The norm was "within 3 months you're not gonna make any money. You gotta work the floor, picking up weights, engaging clients because THIS IS your business"-more on that nonsense talk later.

But I said SCREW THAT and using the methods I'm about to share, I set a record in that gym in TriBeCa that to this day, far as I know or care of, was on the floor for only 4 weeks.

1. PROFESSIONALISM no matter what. Look like you give a damn when doing floor shifts. Avoid chatting with other new and old trainers on the floor during busy hours and keep moving-smile, clean machines a bit, rack and re-rack to rack weights, be there on hours/days you're not on shift. The key is to BE SEEN. Look neat, smell neat, be neat and ALWAYS  BE ON TIME.

2. EXPOSURE. Don't just train or do a floor shift, then go home-WORKOUT. You are now a walking billboard of fitness, like it or not; therefore showcase your best moves, best workouts etc ALONE. Are you showing off? YES. WHY? Because someone is ALWAYS watching you and if you're serious about fitness then they want the same passion and drive you have. And when I say workout, WORKOUT to the tee-wear your best clothing that reveals your body. Don't be a dork working out fully covered like you have something to hide. The fitness industry is VISUAL.

2. Make a weekly goal program. "this week I will talk to 2 people and sign up 1 for a free session" seems small right? Wrong. 2 people will turn into 4 people, then the next week will be "I'll talk to 4 people and sign up 2" next thing you know you have clients. It's no different than a fitness program.

3. Gyms will get mad at me for this but stay away from doing FLOOR DEMONSTRATIONS. It's just desperate and forced advertising from managers and it screams "THIS trainer is not pulling enough sessions, sign up with him so I, the manager alone, can hit bonus". If the managers would give them my tools of getting clients, they wouldn't need it; however managers are pressured by the "big dogs" who just want their pockets full so you might have to do this. If you are assigned, give it your best BUT if you use these tools they wouldn't ask you to do this unless you have a shitty manager.

4. Study body language. Not everyone is approachable. Study and watch who and how they're working out. I don't  like to be bothered when I workout but it all depends on the mood I'm in. I may look pissed off, but if you approach me with a nice smile and something I will add to my next exercise, then I'm all ears. Never and I mean NEVER assume a fit client doesn't need you.

5. CONFIDENCE. You may be new and not know a lot of things. The client doesn't know that but you damn well better sell it like you know your stuff. Lack of confidence in any industry is a complete turn off. I'm not saying you have to lie, if there's a question you don't know the answer to, just say "I honestly don't know but I will research it and have the answer for you the next time we meet", that's better than "well this movement works your bicaleipious.." making up some word. BELIEVE your the best trainer for them; they need you just like you need them-no one wants a trainer who doesn't know what he/she is doing yet alone doesn't know who they are. Certifications is just a piece of paper without personality and confidence.

6. My last one and this is gonna piss some of you trainers: DON'T DEPEND ON MANAGERS GIVING YOU PROFILES. You are off the floor for a reason and they constantly say "THIS is your business" which we all know is complete bullshit cause if that's the case, give trainers the amount of money they deserve; however it's true in a sense-operate like you are your own INC. Get your clients with these methods or your own style and method. When you depend on them too much, they got you by the balls then you'll complain that you're not getting enough cause the new trainers are getting it all which leads to frustration which leads to your sessions faultering. I say this cause once you go PRIVATE, no one is gonna give you jack squat. You have to fish for it and private is 10 times harder. 

Speaking of private, I will also blog on how to become and remain successful as a private trainer.

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4th ALL TIME FAVORITE FILM- Sir Lawrence

LAWRENCE OF ARABIA

Winner of 7 Academy Awards including Best Picture 1962

Starring Peter O'Toole, Alec Gunniness, Anthony Quinn 

Directed by Sir Davis Lean

MASTERPIECE

That's the word that plays in my head over and over when I watch this film, all 227 minutes of it. 

Beautifully crafted, sharp direction and brilliant performances from the leads, Sir David Lean spent almost a year in the hot desert creating the story of T.E. Lawrence. Yeah yeah yeah we can complain about the history of it being white washed-another film where the white man saves the day in a land not his own.

Ok

The film tells the story of the  real T.E. Lawrence to go from lieutenant to colonel, sets on a mission, a BALL-sey mission at that, in the desert tribes tries to unite and tip the balance in the Allies' favor against the Turks in World War I.

Yeah...one man dressed in all white tries to make peace...for 3 long hours and my God is it long but it's equivalent to staring at the best painting in the world for 3 hours.

It was so long that there was an intermission in its theatrical release-wished they had that for LORD OF THE RINGS.

So why do I like this and use it as a tablet of inspiration when I prepare to film my projects? No matter environment, actors used, you MUST create or at least try to create a masterpiece. Try filming a  violent feature length film with brand new state of the art equipment at the time with wide lens, in 115 degree heat for almost a year-and not only make a masterpiece but it became a box office hit and snagged some oscars.

We can debate all day how Marlon Brando, Lawrence Oliver and DeNiro are the greatest actors of our time and of course I agree; however Peter O'Toole is the best underrated actor who gave in my opinion and according to PREMIERE magazine, the best performance in cinema history.

Sadly to this day, he has never won an Oscar. 

The rape scene alone, the pain he endures through betrayal and mission at hand, priceless. He was also, this debatable, the first to shoot someone in the head at close range onscreen. Numerous versions of the film have cut the scene but if you look at the brand new editions, it's there.

There would be no STAR WARS and INDIANA JONES if it wasn't for this film. It's so hot it makes you feel hot watching it.

Highly recommended.

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Next

"never get out of the boat"

The GREATEST ENTERTAINER ALIVE is BAD 25 years today

"Michael Jackson is in cardiac arrest. pray"
A Text from a dear friend of mine who knows that I am a devoted Michael Jackson fan for years. I brushed it off thinking it's a rumor or he'll make it though. He injured his back years before, suffered burns on his scalp before that, he can make this. I continued to eat my burger with my son at the now defunct ESPN ZONE restaurant.

Paid for my bill. Stepped outside with son in hand.
"he's dead, Damian"

I think that text will haunt me forever. No way. No way did MJ die. Not now? I thought he would go out like Sammy Davis Jr. or his hero Gene Kelly-old but still dancing. I called my friend to confirm and I could hear the sobbing from her voice. I was speechless, shocked, in pain as if I lost my own brother. My son looked up at me and said, "don't cry. He's in a better place".

Ok that even screwed me up.

Tomorrow, August 29, two things: MJ BIRTHDAY and the 25th Anniversary of BAD album. My first intro to the greatest entertainer alive was 1979. My older sister bought the new release album of OFF THE WALL and she blasted the tunes and sounds of his wonderful voice through out the house, of course Mom and Dad were at work. We didn't have music video or cable TV back then but I loved the man's voice wooing during the song of "Don't stop till you get enough". My favorite was "TURN THIS DISCO OUT" at the time. Along comes the album TRIUMPH, The Jackson's best album besides DESTINY, with the thunderous song "CAN YOU FEEL IT" attached with a wicked short film that almost looks 3D (hint hint this needs to be on blu ray), with the marvelous performance on MOTOWN 25, you had to be a fool NOT to like him.

He was talented
Smart
Very good looking
Rich
Trend setter
And best of all
BLACK.
A brother that everyone, the whole world, loved.
Not even ELVIS had dealers from the hood listening to him, more less prisoners in jail.

Then he vanished after 1984. Where the hell was he, I thought. Where's the moonwalk? The glove???
Arrives another Jackson, JANET who came out with "CONTROL" and ruled the mid 80s.

Fine. But as years went by and I became older, I couldn't be any happier when the announcement came that MJ was back with his THRILLER follow up on August 29, 1988. A video was to be released publicly on national TV along with the album. I remember that summer day play the game of "TAPS" with my friends until it was 7:30pm, time to go upstairs. The video would air at 8pm.

Its on. The first shot is a tight close up on MJ. It's in black and white. And we all said in my house...

WHAT THE HELL DID HE DO TO HIS FACE? Why does he look lighter? Almost like Diana Ross. His Hair is THAT long? What's with the belt buckle thing? Wait, MJ is HARD core? He's a thug? A former thug?

.........BWWAHHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

What the hell
The world thought

BAD was bashed. It wasn't a critical success. People wanted another THRILLER where every song was a hit and it wasn't.

That didn't stop people from making it NUMBER ONE. It didn't stop him from making one of the best videos from the album SMOOTH CRIMINAL more less make that film MOONWALKER, a film that makes no sense but who cares, it's still a hit. It damn sure didn't stop him for doing his first world tour smashing records (remember he never had a tour for THRILLER). Yes MJ changed. A first that would be a line of changes to come sadly. MJ was gone to reinvent and to master his craft. He would create new dances, new routines, each video had to be bigger and better than the last. THIS WAS THE DEFINITION OF A GENIUS.

And the beginning of cruel ridicule till the day of his death. No one left him alone. It was so bad that the man has to make a song out of it called LEAVE ME ALONE.

WE could sit around and joke till the cows come home about how "white" this man was and how weird he acted only because he didn't follow the norm. He was viewed crazy because he had his own fashion style. We could ying yang all day and night but imagine walking in his shoes. Just think about that.

MJ WAS BAD. A BAD MUTHA%#>^*

Though I freaked out when I saw the BAD video, I still had love for him. I loved him through the DANGEROUS period where he was accused the first time causing his sales to drop. I loved him when he went through that vendetta that eventually killed him (another blog for another time).

The day of June 25, the music died but his anointing through music lives on.

Happy Birthday Michael Joe Jackson
You are BAD

MY REVIEW of RED HOOK SUMMER

I'll come out right away to say this.

I LOVE SPIKE LEE.

LOVE YOU SPIKE. Not like THAT but you know what I mean.

Loved and supported you since SHE'S GOTTA HAVE IT till RED HOOK SUMMER. I even paid for SHE HATE ME (...)

You are a pioneer and the only filmmaker I will pay to see.

Now that we got all that out the way.

I saw RED HOOK SUMMER

JUST WTH???

This is two in a row now of WTH. The first was MIRACLE OF ST. ANNA where I first said WTH. I had hopes for this, especially when word got out you reprised your role as "Mookie" from your classic, your "Citizen Kane" film "DO THE RIGHT THING" but I was let down. badly.

RED HOOK SUMMER tells the story of a boy taking a trip to Atlanta with his FINE mother (I so wanted to know and SEE more of her) to spend time with his Overbearing preacher grandfather (a great GREAT Clarke Peters) in the Red Hook section of Brooklyn, NY. We don't know why the mother has an attitude when she drops her only son off then vanishes. The boy doesn't want to be in the hood nor wants to attend church, singing praises and hearing sermons all day. On non church days, he cant watch TV, play video games, eat healthy food, instead he's forced to work for the church with this "crazy" deacon (Thomas Byrd who looked like his character "Eroll Barnes" from CLOCKERS got saved and more screwed up in the head), befriends another girl from the church who is LOUD and carries her asthma inhaler like an ipod, and passes out tracks to people out in the street.

Yeah

I would be pissed at my moms for sending me some where so boring. And I'm a Born Again Christian too.

Now I was fully prepared that Christianity was going to get a bad rep, like it always does in the media: Money hungry preachers taking from vulnerable black folks praying to a white God-FAR FROM THE TRUTH but with every film I try to keep an open mind to see Spike and writer James McBride point of view. Though false prophets exist, there are Pastors who care for the community and their congregation so I was waiting to see if there was a hint of any characteristics in the film. There was none. What I saw was an angry, personal attack on the church. It was very one sided instead of having a balance on the issue, especially with the climatic unpredictable last half hour. 

This film, like most Spike Lee films, have a plot but something else always goes on left field making it a distraction such as a Blood gang member (Excellent NATE PARKER) who wants to be a rapper, steals the boy's ipad and the preacher's money. OK....AND????

Without giving the climax away, I still didn't understand why the mother did what she did (again you have to see it). There was no solution, no ending, and nothing special about Red Hook. I'll enjoy Country Club section of the Bronx, thank you.

Spike is known for having the best actors in his films, shine. SPIKE please next time, hire ACTORS, child actors particularly. Deal with the stage moms, its a headache but at the end of the day, you'll have a great performance from them like the kids from CROOKLYN. The kid characters dialogue seemed as though the kids wrote it themselves on the spot. 

THE MUSIC. sometimes less is best or NONE AT ALL and this is a common trend with Spike Lee films-loud volume music over gripping scenes. The opening scene alone I actually said aloud "CUT THE MUSIC OFF". Not saying the soundtrack is bad because its not, its just used wrong. I loved the church songs. A lot. Especially towards the end at "that scene" I cant say.

I was disappointed seeing MOOKIE who...looked like Spike walking onset. I find it hard to believe that he would still be an old man delivering PIZZA wearing expensive jordans. Instead of Mookie he should have bought back MARS BLACKMAN who wasn't about nothing anyway so I would like to see what he would've evolved into. I DID however love the fact that NOLA DARLING (Tracey Johns) from SHES GOTTA HAVE IT appeared as a Jehovah's Witness. I thought that was a breath of fresh air. 

This film in my opinion felt personal from the writer and I hope and pray that his eyes of understanding will be enlighten on the issue of Christianity. We are all not like what you appeared or showcased in your film. 

I still love you Spike. Why? because you got this film made on your own. I may not have liked it but who cares. You got my $14 and this is the reason why we make films: to tell the story YOU want to tell, despite if I like it or not, and like Mookie says "I GOTS TO GET PAID". 

I didn't like it. Not at all. But I will continue to support you when OLDBOY is released. Your last good film to me was INSIDE MAN. Your last EXCELLENT flawless film was MALCOLM X. I'm waiting for the next masterpiece from you brother. This wasn't it.

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