Precious-thoughts on the film, and deeper reflections on the screenplay

Precious –thoughts on the film


I will first say that in my life hearing and seeing sad stories-very sad stories-are never really that surprising to me. It’s the happy stories that shock me. I am shocked that the whole world isn’t just one sad story that no wants to hear.

I have to admit I have not read the book yet. I will forgive the film maker Lee Daniels for hiring such a wealthy, privileged, over educated screenwriter like Geoffrey Fletcher to bring the brilliant novel to light. For once I’d like a story (screenplay) about poor people written by poor people, not someone born with a silver spoon in their mouth. I should not judge, but I do. Fletcher, the screenwriter, grew up in a wealthy area of Connecticut, (Waterford) and attended one of those ‘rich boy schools’, which is what we called the Choate Preparatory School when I was growing up nearby. I went to public schools, and we public school kids all hated those pompous Choate rich kids. And I will say, no matter what your skin color was going to Choate, the attitude there was as elitist as can be. But I digress on my hatred for the rich and or overeducated who write about the poor, and the kids that went to Choate who always tried to spit on us ‘working class kids’. These things bring out the fighter out in me.

I really do get tired of writers that have not lived an interesting life, and that have nothing to say from their own experience. Or those technically correct writers who have to tried to imagine what other’s experiences would possibly be like. I myself have been told that I have an extraordinary writer’s story, and have lived a crazy life. I guess I agree with that. That crazy life, and getting an education later on in my life, has helped me be the person and the artist I am today. I myself have lived a life of both poverty and been surrounded the privileged-even millionaires on occasion. There is no substitute for real life experiences.

Enough about me, back to Precious-

All that being said, I think this story is all story. If it wasn't for my knowing about the author’s endearing real life work with kids in Harlem, none of the film’s sad realism would be possible or feel authentic to me. The novel is what made this all so legitimate and real. I’ll be reading it this weekend.

I do think philosophical and ethical storytelling complaints aside, the screenwriter and director did do a great job from a great novel and that’s all that counts. This is a story that takes some big risks and mixes them all to paint a sad, yet lovely picture we can all stare at for a while and then take home with us.

I will let all my complaints slide because Gabourey Sidibe and Mo’Nique (and Mariah Carey too) did such great jobs acting the hell out of the story. Who knew Mo’Nique was such a powerhouse of an actress! She is completely mesmerizing! And let’s not get started on the subtext of the story which was peppered with some great yet subtle moments of feminist empowerment thrown in there.

I will also let all of those songs from the 1990’s that were in a movie about 1987 pass. Yep, I do know my old school hip-hip and rap. Queen Latifah’s “Come into my house” was made in 1993. I understand though, that Latifah gave the film some nicer, delicate yet feminist qualities to it all. That’s all I will say about the re-music. Most were some good music choices but they should have picked some hotter 1987 rap like Boogie Down Productions brilliant “Criminal Minded” record.

My last thought-I do remember at Sundance 2009 that this film was the talk of the festival. It’s sad that this film was made in 2008 and it has taken so long to come to the big screen. That’s big business for ya. I also heard it was re-edited since Sundance.

Good job all, good job.

I would like to be surprised in 2010, though, with some more happy and more endearing, un-cheesy stories and films like this one. This is not a happy story, but more a necessary story with patches of sunlight, and sometimes that’s all you need….patches of sunlight to survive.

The 11th Annual Scandinavian Film Fest in LA

Why do I love Scandinavian Film? Because,they are just better thinkers.

I just finished spending inordinately large amounts of time with Scandinavian people. Was I travelling? No. Was I at a Swedish massage Spa? Nope. I was at my favorite LA film festival, the 11th annual Scandinavian Film festival.

Before I get into what I saw and why it was so good, I will explain why Scan Films are better than American films or most other countries. It’s all about the people as whole and the people behind the story. The Swedes, Norwegians, and the Icelandic all have a few things in common that we lack-openness and diversity of thought. To delve a bit deeper, we as Americans think in terms of revenge, solving the crime and so forth in movies. They think in terms of: why was the crime committed and how can we help those that are left behind?

Film #1:

Still not clear? Okay my first and most clear example is the first film I saw at the festival, called,” The Accident”. The film was about a very successful car salesman who is accused of running over a small boy and then fleeing the scene. The crime was committed in car that he had just sold. In this Norwegian delight of a story, the focus is mainly on the mystery that is human nature of man as a whole, not so much the actual answer to who ran over the little boy. Our main hero/antihero was brilliantly played by Rune Temte’, and his character explores how and why a life was destroyed, even though he thinks he knows he didn’t do it. He becomes obsessed with the victim. Things fall apart as they come together.

If this film had been made by Americans, Mel Gibson would have starred in it and he would be out there killing who ever ‘murdered his little boy’. There would be no contemplation or deeper study of any of it. (Generally, not all American film makers think like this.) Scandinavian films are better, I feel, because they think beyond the normal realm of thought.

Here’s the trailer for: “The Accident” aka “Ulykken”


Film #2:

The second film I saw was Swedish and phenomenally funny. It was called “A Swedish Midsummer Sex Comedy”. The term Midsummer refers to a celebration of Summer Solstice and means a European midsummer-related holiday tradition, and celebrations which are pre-Christian in origin. Around June 24th it takes place.

It basically like a hip, European version of the 4th of July. The story is about a group of late 20s early 30s friends who all get together for the Midsummer for an island getaway.
Also included in the Scandinavian crowd is one American friend and former childhood exchange student and pal from America by the name of Sam, hilariously played by one Luke Perry. Perry was a brilliant casting choice to play such an easy going personality. I don’t want to give too much away.

Here’s the trailer/website: http://www.antligenmidsommar.se/

(Sorry I could not find an English subtitle version of the film)


Film #3:

The third film I saw, and the most impressive of all of them, was Norway’s “Max Manus”. It is a flawless biopic about the famed anti-Nazi terrorist by the name of Max Manus. Max’s life on the big screen is one of the most impressive lives I have ever read about and or seen on film. This film was under Oscar consideration but was just eliminated from the second round of Oscar choices/semi finalists and it’s a real shame. To me it is the best foreign film for 2009/2010 year. The lead for this film, Aksel Hennie (as Max Manus) was incredible. As a matter of fact the entire cast should be mentioned as they were all so very great:

Kyrre Haugen Sydness (Jens Chr. Hauge) Mads Eldøen (Edvard Tallaksen) Christian Rubeck (Kolbein Lauring) Nicolai Cleve Broch (Gregers Gram) Agnes Kittelsen (Tikken Lindebrække) Ken Duken (Kriminalrat Siegfried Fehmer) Victoria Winge (Solveig Johnsrud) Knut Joner (Gunnar Sønsteby)


This entire trip of a film is full of intensely smart and clever dialogue, intrigue, amazing tension building scenes, and heartbreakingly spirited actions.

The trailer:


That’s all I have to say. Go see any of these films…or go rent some old Ingmar Bergman films. You will always be impressed, and possibly unlearn some clichés in the film world and in life.


The fest link:

http://www.scandinavianfilmfestivalla.com/

Max Manus's poster:

The Top TV shows of the 2000s

The Top TV shows of the 2000s

In order of importance great TV is hard to find. Again this list was more fun for me than you I bet…but check it out.

Here we go:

1. Dexter-The best one hour show ever.
   
2. Curb your Enthusiasm-The best sitcom ever.
   
3. Breaking Bad –the second best one hour show ever.
   
4. Californication-as far as ½ hour shows go….it's one of the best drama/comedies around. I hate the TV show Entourage and thank god this show reinforces that thought….that there can be good shows written about "Hollywood" or LA that don't involve being a douche bag actor….but more so a cool writer.
   
5. Dead Like Me-original and short lived.
   
6. Six Feet Under-a real modern family gone wrong-this show broke the mold for many shows now.
   
7. House MD-He is an American original even though we all know he's a Brit.
   
8. Sopranos –This show broke some molds too as well-not all so legal.
   
9. Arrested Development-network TV has not beaten this yet. Short lived and brilliant.
   
10. Monk-Comforting and disturbing.
    
11. CSI Vegas-an interesting read.
    
12. Bones-a modern X-files.
    
13. Rescue Me-Denis Leary at his best.
    
14. Damages-not based in any reality but a fun ride. (ask any real lawyer….this stuff would never happen in life)
    
15. Bored to Death-Cooler than cool.
    
16. Extras-humbling and cool.
    
17. Eastbound & Down-stupid and smartly written.
    
18. Lost-a modern Twilight Zone for the one-hour genre
    
19. True Blood-vampires done well.
    
20. Flight of the Concords-the best musical sitcom ever made.
    
21. Simpsons-it's still tops.
    
22. Modern Family-the name says it all-a real family and a real show-great actors.
    
23. Community-filmed at my old school Los Angeles City College. Perfect and smart.
    
24. Lie to Me-Tim Roth at his best-season 2 and beyond is way better than one.
    
25. Family Guy-a classic too.
    
26. Futurama-a short lived brilliance
    
27. Nurse Jackie-junkie nurses well acted and written.
    
28. Hung-midlife crisis hooking? Yes.
    
29. That 70s Show-it was a fun ride. Don't over think it.
    
30. Weeds-suburban potheads.
    
31. Mad Men-early 60's Ad Men are fun to watch. Mom? Dad? Grandpa? Now I get it.
    
32. In Treatment (sometimes) Therapy on TV-finally I can watch someone else's problems and feel better about me.
    
    
33. The Shield (The first 3 seasons)-bad cops good show.
34. Sons of Anarchy-I used to know some real biker gangs back in the day...and this is as real as it gets.
35. The Dave Chappelle show –the funniest man to grace TV ever.
    
36. The Life and Times of Tim-Family guy's R-rated brother.
    
37. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia-good gags and humor done very well.
    
38. Being Human-a UK version of True Blood but a bit different.-not as good as True Blood but I do enjoy it.
    
39. Life on Mars-I liked the American version-or maybe I just like 70s cops shows. It was done well.
    
40. Crash-only because of Dennis Hopper. Last season was a bit eh. I hope the new season is better.
    
41. The Office-a classic they are reliable.
    
42. Fringe –it has lots of potential and has some interesting science fiction concepts.
    
43. The Dog Whisperer –Caesar is the best
    
44. Dogtown- Save those beaten down hounds. From Katrina victim dogs left behind to die to Michael Vicks dogs it's amazing to watch.
    
45. Living with ED-Activist and actor Ed Begley Jr's reality show –it's only cool just to see his green gadgets how he wants to save the world.
    
46. Myth busters-Sometimes it's good sometimes a real snooze.
    
47. Whale Wars-stopping bad things all the time.
    
48. The Grizzly Man Dairies-Timothy Treadwell's final TV days with the bears before being eaten by a Grizzly bear. (I am including the movie " Grizzly Man" in this show)
    
    

    If you notice there are just SIX reality shows on this list…that's because reality shows suck.
    

    This is my last blog of 2009….have a happy new year.
    

    Xox
    

    CV

My Top Films of the 2000s !

This list is not numbered and nor is it in order of importance. Truthfully, I probably had more fun writing this list than you will have reading it.

Here we go:

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (2007 France)-This is pure film: love, art, and sorrow.

Max (2003) –A very profound question of our decade-would Hitler have been stopped, as an artist?

The Beat That Skipped my Heart (2005 France)-A story of art gone wrong: amazing, tough and touching.

Adaptation (2003)-A modern classic.

Million Dollar Baby (2004)-Another modern classic.

The Departed –a true crime masterpiece, and the Boston accents are good for once.

Crash-a bit unrealistic but perfect never the less.

Donnie Darko-my number #1 in any decade.

Eternal Sunshine for the Spotless Mind-Great.

Boy a (UK 2007)-Sick sad and great.

Music within –funny touching and a true story.

Borat –the #1 in funny movies of this decade.

Royal Tenenbaums –Wes Anderson's best family story.

Darjeeling Limited –Cool India.

Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) (2000)-#1 in all the great Sci Fi stories.

Mystic River-another great Boston noir.

Hustle and Flow –the pimp's story not even about pimping

Confessions of a Dangerous Mind- Charlie Kaufman's cool crime capers.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button-F Scott's great story realized in a beautiful masterpiece.

Zodiac –Fincher's underappreciated film.

The Savages-dysfunctional family fun.

Jesus' Son-a perfect 70s junky story.

Candy (2005 UK)-a perfect 2000s junkie story. Heath Ledger is awesome in this.

An Education (2009 UK)-teenage love

Kontroll (Hungary 2003)-a Hungarian version of Pulp Fiction that takes place completely in a subway

The Lost City- Cuba's unheard love song by Andy Garcia.

25^th Hour-It's everything I love and hate about America and NY all in one. Spike's best since the 80s

Little Miss Sunshine-the coolest road trip ever.

Hotel Rwanda –truth.

High Fidelity –an instant comedy classic: great music and great one liners.

The Squid and the Whale-Another perfect family hell.

In America- Jim Sheridan's love song to his brother.

Brothers (2009)-Jim Sheridan's ode to family and PTSD

Grizzly Man-Werner Herzog's great documentary.

Whale rider (New Zealand)- cool story.

Finding Nemo-cool fish story

Ghostdog –way of the samurai-the most ungangster hitman of them all.

O Brother Where Art Thou-folk songs

There Will Be Blood-A masterpiece

Up –Animated masterpiece

Half Nelson-a drugged out masterpiece.

The Wind That Shakes the Barley –the IRA's real story.

Lost In Translation-cool.

Lord of the Rings Trilogy –nothing to say.

A Very Long Engagement (France 2000)-sweet.

City of God (Brazil)-tough.

Rachel Getting Married-cool.

Memento-awesome.

Downfall (2004 Germany)-dark and profound.

W-Oliver Stone is back.

Punch Drunk Love-my number one love story.

Broken Flowers-Bill Murray is back.

Superbad-Perfecto.

Control (2007)-the story of Ian Curtis of Joy Division

Munich –terrorists on either side of the wall suck.

The Ring-a smart and creepy film.

Dancer in the dark (Denmark 2000)-heartbreaking musical perfection.

Brokeback Mountain –heartbreakingly good.

Heaven (Tom Tywker) (Italy)-Written by the late great Krzysztof Kieslowski

Perfume (France 2006) –the story of a murderer-a great book adaptation.

Romulus My Father (Australia 2007)-Australian mental illness story.

The Proposition (Australia 2007)-a dirty, rough, and bloody awesome western-written by Nick Cave

In Bruges (UK 2008)–best screenplay

You Can Count On Me-best acting

Where the Wild Things Are (2009)-a great movie: the beautiful classic book realized beautifully

The Hurt Locker –I saw this movie in May and now everyone loves it? A classic.

The Wonder Boys-a classic New England tale.

King of California-Michael Douglas is awesome again.

Training Day –Denzel.

Talk to Her (Spain 2002)-Directed by Pedro Almodovar

The Dark Knight –Ledger's opus.

Requiem For a Dream-junkie opus.

Factotum-Matt Dillon's opus.

Michael Clayton-Clooney rocked it.

Slumdog Millionaire-Boyle rocked it.

The Family Stone-The Massachusetts dysfunction I know and love. SJP can act.

The Illusionist-Ed Norton and minimal effects worked well here.

The Assassination of Richard Nixon-Sean Penn's most underappreciated film of the century.

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang-Shane Blake's awesome Hollywood revenge.

The Soloist-Robert Downey Jr and a great LA story.

The Princess and the Warrior-Another German opus.

The Hours-awesome tales of tortured artists.

Best in Show –the best in Christopher Guest.

Breakfast on Pluto (Ireland)-Cillian Murphy's acting really well in drag performance and in the IRA.

Reign Over Me-Adam Sandler's best work next to Punch Drunk Love.

Catch Me if You Can-Fun stuff.

Revolutionary Road-Great stuff.

Movarn Callar (Scotland)-a great writer's tale.

Dirty Pretty Things (UK)-you have to see this.

Vicki Cristina Barcelona-Woody's best.

Match Point-Woody's next best.

Shawn of the Dead (UK)-comedy classic.

Bad Santa –Comedy classic….and John Ritter's final film.

Let the Right One In (2008 Sweden)-Vampire perfect.

The Pianist –Great.

The Last King of Scotland-living monsters.

Rescue Dawn (Werner Herzog)-Vietnam

District 9 (South Africa 2009)-Apartheid and aliens.

City of Ghosts- (2003)no one saw this but it's really cool, directed by Matt Dillon.

A Mighty Wind – (2003) Christopher Guest.

Paradise now- (Palestine 2006) probably one of the best movies about being a 'terrorist' to date.

Tropic Thunder-The best war parody ever.

Meet the Parents-greatness.

Tenacious D and the Pick of Destiny-Rock and Roll.

Be Kind Rewind-very Capra.

The Door in the Floor-John Irving's novel partially adapted works pretty great.

Collateral- the best movie about LA in a long time-real noir and real Tom Cruise on his game.

Pirates of the Caribbean-the first one only

Talk to me-Don Cheadle's best work.

My Dog Skip-cool dog movie.

Winter Passing-a cool little indy film about one decrepit Ed Harris and one eyeliner-wearing Will Farrell

Pollock-Ed Harris's best work.

Cold Mountain-Anthony Minghella's real best work screw the English Patient (To quote Seinfeld too)

The Secretary –A sick love story.

The Salton Sea-the best movie about speed and tweekers to date.

The Simpsons Movie! Finally!!!

Gran Torino –Eastwood is back

Star Trek-a good remake finally

500 days of Summer-Love imperfectly works.

Before Night Falls (2000 Cuba)-rebellion

The Motorcycle Dairies (South America 2000s)-a great road trip.

The Sea Inside (2003 Spain)-Ramon Sampedro's true story.

Identity (2002)-quite original and fun.

Observe and Report-a dark horse that everyone should ride.

Shop girl-Steve Martin can write screenplays

Little Children-sad suburbanites

Finding Neverland-Depp is great here.

A Beautiful Mind-never give up.

American Splendor-awesome.

Elf-classico

Watchmen-done well

No Such Thing –Hal Hartley=masterpiece of oddness.

Fay Grimm-Hal Hartley's sequel to Henry Fool.

Broken English-Parker Posey being great.

Saw-the first one only.

Sweeny Todd-Depp does it again with Tim Burton

Milk-Penn does it again.

Capote –Hoffman does it.

The Cooler –William H Macy delivers bad luck and love.

Empire Falls-not a movie technically but a TV mini series but its one of the greats of this decade.

The Woodsman-Kevin Bacon as a pedophile who gets out of prison –sick and heartbreaking.

The Heist- Mamet's coolest heist flick…Gene Hackman right before he retired. Ultra cool dialogue.

The Assassination of Jessie James by the Coward Robert Ford-Pitt's best.

Way of the Gun (2000)-sperm donors and shootouts…what else do you need?

Hollywoodland-Superman's curse

The 40 year old Virgin-American Male vulnerability at its best.

War of the Worlds-a better remake.

Igby Goes Down- Kieran Culkin is really good. One of the great New England black sheep films at its best.

Jarhead-a good example of government waste.

Party Monster-damn cool.

Thumbsucker-cool.

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus-an amazing story, acting & final performance of Heath Ledger

The Wrestler- don't call it a comeback

It's Complicated-not perfect , but a great ensemble of actors and a real, funny and simple story.

The Machinist-acting and story pushed to the edge of human limits

Ghost World-Funny misfits

Art School Confidential-the most real film about art school you ever will find.

The Last Samurai- (exclude the last 14 minutes and it's a great movie)

Shadow of the Vampire-Willem Defoe at his best.

Love Actually-my favorite Christmas non-holiday bullshit film.

About a Boy-Nick Hornby can do no wrong.

Coraline-amazing on so many levels.

9-(animated) It's an animated steam punk masterpiece

Stranger Than Fiction-Will Farrell's best film ever and an amazingly perfect screenplay.

Garden State-A perfect indy movie. Can I relate? Yes.

10th & Wolf-a great post Iraq war movie, a modern GoodFellas if you will.

Happy Festivus -

First off here's my damn cute holiday dog photo:


Festivus website

Wikipedia Festivus




Happy Festivus to everyone! Starting this year I will be "airing of my grievances" via my blog.

So here they are:


1. When I am driving and I hear a song on the radio that has some sort of horn in it that sounds like a real horn next to me, it pisses me off! What kind of musician thinks a car horn or a horn that sounds like a car horn sounds like a good piece to an ensemble of a song? It just makes me look for this non-existent car that's not honking at me. Stop it!

2. Why do radio commercials always sound louder than the songs on the radio? It just makes me change the radio station.

3. Why does all of Los Angeles Radio suck? Either I get bored on KCRW-National Public Radio, or get dumbed down on KROQ with fart jokes from those idiots Kevin and Bean….or they replay the same crappy unpunk but ‘punk’ song on the radio again and again. Then there’s the classic rock radio station DEEJAYS who all sound as conservative as GW Bush’s grandson or something. They also play the most unoriginal songs; never the hard-to-find classics, but the same popular songs again and again. Old should not always mean Bush supporter. Start playing those hard to find classic songs.

Finally, I beg of you Los Angeles....please bring back Indie 103.1 to the car radio!! Thanks for listening.

4. Why do these ‘exclusive’ La clubs (this goes for Vegas clubs too) sell ‘exclusive’ tickets to their ‘exclusive’ events online? If they’re so exclusive then why can I buy tickets on the internet?

5. People who stand outside AA meetings chain smoking? I bet you would be able to quit everything if you quit smoking along with the crack problem….

6. Twitter-it’s sometimes used to express original thoughts, but most of the time its everyday people kissing celebrity ass….you all have your own voices-no need to ass kiss or Re Tweet things again and again. Use it…look at the country of IRAN. They used twitter to express human rights violations and voting outrage…and we use it to ask some celebrity who they like in the next basketball game. Express your own damn voice.

7. Old rock stars don’t all deserve reality shows. Some should just retire or learn to play the acoustic guitar, not have TV shows on what it’s like to date young strippers and or actress wannabes. I think most ‘rock stars’ didn’t start making music to be a reality TV star. Has anyone even heard Brett Michaels’s music? It’s horrible…..and he’s just the beginning.

8. Shut up about Tiger Woods. I didn't care about him or Golf before his affairs and I sure don't care about him now.

9. People who think my blog is any reflection of my screen/novel writing. Newsflash-I don't put alot of effort into my blogs-I mainly write stories....screenplays, novels and yes the occasional stage play. Blogs are good for opinions, ranting and or expressing non narrative moments.

10. Yes, I am a Dyslexic writer, so what. To me, what counts is-that I know how to tell a story and that I tell that story to you all. I have written 3 screenplays, 1 stageplay, 1 novella all just this year.

Thank you and happy holidays.
Xo
CV

We all live and die a little everyday......

Sometimes life just happens.

My wife if you didn't know is a Celebrity makeup artist...and one of her very first celebrity clients, Brittany Murphy has died.
It’s a very sad day indeed. My wife was very upset when she heard the news and said that Brittany was, "the nicest, funniest and sweetest celeb" she has ever worked with.
I am actually working on a script and she would have been perfect for the part, it’s so sad. I never try to write for a specific actor but sometimes parts you write just fit certain people. It’s a Broadway themed script….that’s all I can say. I never discuss a script until it’s done.
Brittany had some of those amazing qualities and some classic Broadway skills that not many actors are born with or have.

Well, a lesson is there somewhere under the murk and tragedy. It’s an odd thing...life, screenwriting and so on.

Let’s all enjoy and create while we are here…whether it is creating: art, life, or just simple love for others.

Life happens; we all live and die a little each day.

Be well to each other no matter what.

My 2009 in the form of a poem……

Novelists think they are better than screenwriters,

Screenwriters think they are cooler than novelists,

And bloggers want to judge either of them.

Myself, I don’t care either way,

A story is a story is a story-as long as it just doesn’t bore me.






Speaking of poems....here's Charles Bukowski's new poetry book, The Continual Condition. I do recommend it.

Happy Holidays or Happy Non-Holidays……whatever floats your boat.

May you float away happy-

Much love-

xo

CV

Brothers 2009

If you can-go see it. It's a great story, and a damn realistic film about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or what is commonly known as PTSD.


It’s Tobey’s best performance yet and I really hope he wins an Oscar for it.

Peace-

CV

Joe Lieberman aka All I want for Christmas is some damn healthcare reform!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

All I want for Christmas is some damn healthcare reform!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!







Joe Lieberman looks like a cross between the villain on The Smurfs aka Gargamel and The Simpsons' old and evil Montgomery Burns.

I'd like to take all of Joe's health care insurance and money away from him, and then I’d take bets to see how long this man would last.

I’d bet on just a few weeks.

That's all.

The Dog Bite aka the results of my Animal Heroism........

Well worth a life saved.

It's tough being a foul mouthed, ill-tempered superhero but it's worth it..

I am perfectly comfortable being who I am. I am exactly who I want to be. Part of me is a real superhero. I love helping people and or overcoming odds. Yesterday, I saved someone's life. Now it wasn't a human being mind you, but it's still a life and very important in the grand scheme of things. Picture it: I was walking my loyal and neurotic Beagle down the street. It was about 1pm on a Tuesday. Nothing special in the day, just an afternoon like any other -but it's not. We were walking at a good pace and the sunshine was hitting us just right. As we were contentedly strolling along, an old woman who could have passed for a skinny version of Betty White from the “Golden Girls” walked up to us and said,

“What a handsome dog!”

“Why thank you,” I answered for him and myself proudly. The moment was too perfect. Then it happened. We were walking by a soft-topped JEEP and we heard the angry barks. I noticed that the Jeep's plastic windows were open and unzipped and suddenly, within a half a second, a huge Rottweiler dog jumped out of it. He must have been at least 70lbs.

“Wait, he's chained to the Jeep frame!” I realized. He fell out of the parked car door and was hanging by his choke collar right in front of us! It was one of the most horrible things I have seen. Think fast!

“Watch my dog!” I said to the woman. She didn't react.

I shouted again-“Watch my dog!” I let him go and she finally grabbed him.

Then I grabbed the snapping, biting, strangling dog that he was, as he nearly took my hand off. I kept at it, trying to pick him up while he scraped my hand with his razor-like teeth. Finally I did it! I got a grab on him as he was snapping at me. I pushed him up and back into the jeep window. He was now okay. He was petrified, but alive.

The old woman standing with my dog looked white as a ghost at this freakish event. But I didn't think it was so very out of the ordinary, sadly. This was a near tragedy due to another careless dog owner.

“I'm going to zip his window up now. He can't fall again, not on my watch,” I say as I brazenly reach my hand inside the door towards the angry and scared animal and zip it up.

“If he's going eat my hand, he'll eat it,” I think to myself.
His owner finally showed up.

“What the hell is going on?” He asks dimly.

“I'll tell you what's going on, asshole. I just saved your dog's life. He almost hung himself because you left him in the car on a fucking choke chain with the window down,” I say.

“What?” He asks.

“You dog almost died just now, motherfucker. He jumped out of the window with that chain around his neck and was hanging from your car. He could have died. If I ever see you leaving your dog all alone again I will call the police or worse.”

“Maybe you shouldn't have harassed him,” he said, unsure of how to react.

“Excuse me young man, he's very upset but he saved your dog. He was far away from your dog and he ran over and saved his life,” the old woman added.

“Don't you ever fucking leave your dog alone in a car ever again! I am serious-I will fuck you up!” I say with conviction.

Sometimes my rage takes over when I'm pushed, and this guy isn't bright at all.

“Promise me?” I say.

“I promise you'll never see me or see me leaving my dog-I love him,” he says.

“Well fucking act like it, pet ownership is a privilege not a right.” I say.
I nod to the old woman and take my dog.

“Thank you for helping. If you weren't here it would have been tough,” I tell her.

“You're welcome,” she answers.

The man jumps in his Jeep, unsure of what to do. I walk away from both of them nearly hyperventilating.

“Fucking-a Mr. B. We did alright,” I say and pet his little head.

I walked home quickly, still breathing oddly. I lay down with my dog. I was alive, but my heart was beating faster than a hummingbird. The life of a superhero isn't always easy but it feels alright sometimes.

I will finally note that it is completely illegal and irresponsible to leave any animal in a car unattended. Leaving animals in a car is actually Punishable by fines ranging from $100 to $1000 to time served in jail. Or worse-you'll have to deal with me.

“Don't do it,” says the self-made hero that I am.
That's one to grow on…..

Xo

CV

My Reflections on the Matthew Shepard Bill & my own story of a 90s Transgender Murder in Boston...

“I heard a funny joke in a bar the other night….just not tonight”


The Story of Chanelle Pickett.


Here are my own reflections relating to the anti-hate bill that was passed today: The Matthew Shepard Bill. I’ve been thinking about my own life and the tragic events that I have had the displeasure of being used to in the past. You have no idea what I am talking about. Well, I will tell you about it: Somewhere in the late to middle of the 1990s when you were either in grade-school, high school, college, or getting an education, I was busy hanging out in the real alternative/punk world in Boston. On occasion I visited those unknown hipster bars in Allston within that scene. It was a sad, happy, and often troubling time for me. This was long before I was a troubled young man, but more so a troubled boy. Along the way I had a few moments that I would consider to be joyful or not so unhappy.

There was one bar I used to go at the time that had all sorts of hip, freakish, hip-hop, jazzheads, and punk customers. I was in none of these categories, and I was all of these categories. I was more of a misfit. So I always hung out with other misfits whether they looked like me, had a Mohawk etc. Every night I stopped by, there was one particular girl, transgender girl- Chanelle. She was always so very happy and funny. She was kind of a flirt with everyone myself included. We had an understanding, we were both kind of misfits and we generally just wound up at the punk bar for lack of better idea. We would exchange ideas, thoughts and more so we exchanged jokes- that was our thing-jokes at the bar. We weren’t best friends or nor did see each other outside the bar much at all, but we always had a funny, nice little joke exchange.

When I stopped seeing her at the bar, I didn’t think much of it. I thought, “Oh she met someone or she moved away or went off to college.” I never thought that she got murdered…until someone handed me an “In Memorium” flyer. Then I knew she was gone. It wasn’t like it was all over the news, not that I watched the news at the time. As a matter of fact hardly many people at all made a fuss about her death. “Another dead Trannie” one person might say. Not really. No life is ‘just another dead **** anything or anyone”.

If you feel so inclined and have a strong constitution, feel free to read what happened to her below….and then tell me that the Matthew Shepard Bill is not needed in this country:

I tell you this story not so you’ll read my blog or think I’m interesting, but so you know another story besides Matthew Shepard. I wasn’t a close friend to this person who died. As a matter of a fact I was like a close or distant acquaintance, but now that this bill has passed I can’t but think to myself this one really important thought and or idea I wish to convey to you ALL:

“There are one or a hundred less jokes being told in bars in Boston, New York, Los Angeles, and all over the world for that matter, on this night and on the many nights to come.”

We know that hate crimes, of course, have happened before and chances are they will will happen again….but since this bill has passed, there might just be more dire consequences for this crime, and the would-be criminals will have to listen. Do yourself a favor and the next time you are in a bar, tell a nearby stranger: black, white, gay, straight, or transsexual a joke…..and make it a good one.

Chanelle Pickett’s story is below this line:

http://www.lgbthatecrimes.org/doku.php/chanelle-pickett


The LGBT Hate Crimes Project

You are here: The LGBT Hate Crimes Project » Chanelle Pickett

Chanelle Pickett
Chanelle Pickett (1972 - November 20, 1995, an African American transgender woman, died on November 20, 1995, in Watertown, MA, at the home of William C. Palmer. Palmer claimed he defended himself against Pickett when she became angry after he discovered she was transgender and rejected her.

The Background


Chanelle Pickett



Pickett and her sister Gabrielle – also a transgender woman – were employed at NYNEX, in Brookline, MA, until she was allegedly fired for being transgender and for standing up to sexual harassment from her co-workers.1) Pickett was transferred to a different department, but the harassment continued and both Pickett and her sister were fired. Unable to find work and having exhausted saving accounts, both sisters turned to sex work in order to survive.2)

On November 19, Pickett, 23, and her twin sister met William C. Palmer, 35, at the Playland Cafe, a popular club with a large transgender clientele. Palmer was known to have frequented Playland, and several transgender women who patronized the club claimed to have had sexual encounters with him.3) The three of them left the club and went to the sister's apartment, where they drank and used cocaine that Palmer, a computer programer for Unisys, had purchased at Playland earlier. After 90 minutes, Pickett and Palmer departed for his apartment in Watertown, MA. 4)

The Attack
Palmer testified in court that he and Pickett smoked crack cocaine at his apartment. Pickett began to give him oral sex, when he discovered she was transgender and demanded she leave the apartment. Palmer then claimed that Pickett became angry, screaming “God will never die” and “the devil is king,” and attacked him. Palmer said he “sat on” Pickett in order to “stabilize” her, but that she was still breathing when he released her.5) Palmer's roommates heard Pickett's screams coming from Palmer's room as she was beaten.6)

The Aftermath
Arrest


William C. Palmer


Palmer slept with Pickett's body for six hours before turning himself in to a lawyer who then notified the police.7) In a taped statement to police, Palmer said that he put his hand over Pickett's mouth and grabbed her throat, but Picket bit his finger and he he hit her with a “quick jab” to the jaw and “sat on her” for about 10 mintues.8)

Police found Pickett at Palmer's residence, lying in a pool of blood. An autopsy showed that blood had accumulated in Pickett's lungs and brain. Along with this evidence, hemorrhages on Pickett's neck lead a medical examiner to conclude that Pickett had been strangled, and suffocated with a piece of cloth, for at least eight to ten minutes.

Investigators found a stain on Palmer's jeans containing semen and saliva. Tests showed that the saliva could have been Palmer's but the semen could not. The results were consistent with Picket ejaculating in Palmer's mouth and Palmer then spitting out the ejaculate onto his jeans.9)

Trial, Conviction & Sentencing
On December 1, 1995, Palmer pleaded not guilty to Pickett's murder, and was released on a $50,000 cash bond. The Middlesex district attorney requested that Palmer be held without bail. As a compromise, Palmer was required to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet, submit to random drug testing, meet with a probation officer each week, and avoid any witnesses in the case.10)

At trial, Dr. Stanley Kessler, a medical examiner, testified that Pickett had been throttled for at least eight minutes and that bedding may have been stuffed into her throat.11) Kessler testified that the cocaine levels in Pickett's system were not enough to have caused her death. Kessler showed the jury photographs of a blood-smeared comforter that he said was puckered in one section, as though it had been “shoved down someone's throat.” Kessler said that when he examined Pickett, blood was coming from her nose and mouth, which was consistent with strangulation.12)

On May 3, 1997, a jury acquitted Palmer of murder and instead found him guilty of assault and battery.13)

On May 16, 1997, Palmer was sentenced to two years in prison.14)