Until You Walk the Path: Author, Ambassador, and Veteran Charles Ray

Until You Walk the Path, You Don’t Know Where it Goes will be hosting author Ambassador Charles Ray on October 3 at 5 pm eastern.

Charles Ray was bitten by the writing bug in his teens when he won a short story contest sponsored by a national Sunday school magazine. As a young soldier in Germany in the early 60s, he frequently contributed poetry to the Stars and Stripes newspaper.
From the late 1960s through the early 80s Ray did magazine and newspaper writing, photography and cartooning, and was editorial cartoonist for the Spring Lake (NC) News. He has done magazine cover art and photography and cartoons for publications such as Ebony, Essence, and Asia Magazine. Ray has written on everything from cultural history to travel to theatrical reviews.

His first book length work was a leadership book, “Things I Learned from My Grandmother About Leadership and Life,” published in 2008. This was followed in 2009 by “Taking Charge: Effective Leadership for the Twenty-first Century.” In 2009, he published an e-novel, “Color Me Dead,” a mystery featuring DC-based private investigator, Al Pennyback. He has since published “Deadline” and “Memorial to the Dead,” in the Al Pennyback series. These books are at Lebrary.com.

His recent book, “Angel on His Shoulder,” available at amazon.com in paperback and lebrary.com as an e-book, is a fantasy/humor book about Winston Nesbitt, a 40-year-old loser whose grandmother comes back to life as a twelve-inch tall impish spirit who complicates his boring life.

Tune in at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theresachaze on October 3 at 5:00 pm eastern to learn more about Ambassador Charles Ray work.. The phone lines and chat will be available for those who wish to talk to Charles Ray call (347) 324-3745 or Skype is available by using the click to talk on the show page.. The interactive chat room is also available.

Blue Bloods: Where was Tom Selleck?

Blue Blood led CBS to rating victory on Friday night. But in spite of its success, I kept wondering where Tom Selleck was. An actor who looked very much like him appeared occasionally on the screen, but the vibrant, multi-dimensional actor that I have always enjoyed failed to make an appearance.

Blue Bloods is the story of a New York family, who has a multi-generational tradition of service in the police department. Selleck plays the current Police Commissioner, whose youngest son has just joined his brothers as the newest rookie. With a conspiracy within the police department and a secret society, Blue Bloods implied that the youngest son will be investigating his family, including his father. The problem is that no one cares. None of the family members are likeable or interesting.

Tom Selleck always gives a diamond performance. Even characters who would normally be one dimensional, he has been able to breathe life into, giving them depth with humor, character and likeability. Whether a good guy as in Magnum or the not-so-much of the white hat with the dark character Jesse Stone, Selleck’s eyes were always lit with his inner passion. As Frank Reagan, Selleck’s eyes were lifeless. In fact, the character was a little more than a prop for the younger characters as was Len Cariou’s. Part of me kept waiting for the real Selleck to make an appearance. Sadly, he never did arrive.

Over all the show reminded me of out of sync gears, where the teeth failed to properly work in tandem. Or better said a choir that was singing the same song, but the individual singers fail to listen to each other. The detective son was simply unlikable. His blaming his bad behavior on his military experience just made me dislike him even more. It was just one more stereotype those who serve simply don’t need. The daughter and the youngest son had no personality. I would like to comment on Cariou character, but he wasn’t given enough air time for me to comment beyond Cariou is normally first rate.

To be honest, I was hoping Blue Bloods would be a dog simply because I wanted Selleck to portray Deek in my military series, Operation Home Base. After hearing the rumors of trouble on the set, I held out a glimmer of hope. But I was realistic enough to start looking elsewhere to cast the role. Before watching Blue Bloods, I didn’t think Selleck had a bad performance in him. He was never just a pretty face, but a talented professional who has always brought passion and life to his work. Do I still want him to play Deek? You-betcha in a heart beat. Will I watch Blue Bloods again? No. There isn’t anything in the show interesting enough for me to spend the hour.New

Saving the Soap Opera Genre

Until You Walk the Path, You Don’t Know Where it Goes is hosting television critic and Soap Opera Advocate Silas Kain on September 19 at 5 pm eastern

Since the cancellation of Another World, Kain has been actively fighting to save daytime serials. As a fan and businessman, Kain believes his “Soap-osal” will not only revitalize the soap genre, but help local community theatres, the country’s struggling economy and the entertainment industry as a whole. His plan involves holding companies, whose products and services became successful because of the genre, and the networks, whose prime time programming was financially supported for decades, responsible to the genre and the fans, who make their financial success possible. In addition, SAG and AFTRA need to fully support all their members, not just those who work in prime time and film.

His plan proves a fresh approach not only to marketing the programming, but how the industry can revitalize itself by contributing and creating venues on the local level across the country. By reintroducing the Arts into high schools and supporting community theatres, the entertainment industry not only gives back for the decades of support, but it also creates new jobs and inspires people of all ages to believe in their talents.

Tune in at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theresachaze on September 19 at 5:00 pm eastern to learn more about the Kain proposal and how viewers can become involved. The phone lines and chat will be available for those who wish to ask questions or make a statement. The phone number to call is (347) 324-3745. Skype is available by using the click to talk on the show page.

If you are unable to listen to the live show. It will be available in archives.

Producer Joins Never Can Say Good-bye Staff

The executive producers of the paranormal romance film, Never Can Good-bye, announce the addition of veteran producer Shara Nickell to their staff.

Never Can Say Good-bye is a paranormal romance that is best described as the Reincarnation of Peter Proud meets Fatal Attraction. Described as a traditional ghost story by award winning screenwriter, Darlenne Girard, Never Can Say Good-bye ties the Michigan’s historical lumber era to modern day life to prove that love and hate survive death.

As a published photojournalist and still photographer, Nickell established a strong reputation for producing creative and unique work.  Having spent many years experienced in business and project management, in 2002 she returned to her attention to filmmaking, where her smart planning and her ability to successfully present projects to investors has establish her as the go-to producer. In 2009 she was approached by Class Clown Pictures to produce their slate of feature films. Once financing has been found, she will be joining the staff.

As a producer and line producer, she has worked with several award winning writers, directors, and cinematographers. She has produced numerous productions to include features, documentaries, television pilots, shorts, commercials and new media projects.

In the spring of 2010, Nickell partnered with Subtropolis Film Partners to the development the sci-fi action feature film, The Black Riders. Bringing her diverse experience both as producer and line producer to the production, Nickell will be using her connections, creativity and out of the box thinking to bring resources and personal touch to Never Can Say Good-bye.

Executive Producers will be looking to the new studios and at locations in Northern Michigan, including Traverse City and Manistee for possible scene sites.  Their goal is to keep the entire process within the Northwest area of Michigan due to the strength and availability of a qualified and skilled crew base, facilities, and staff and to make use of the Michigan film incentive program.

Interview with Producer and Networking Expert Stephen Mitchell

Until You Walk the Path, You Don’t Know Where it Goes will be hosting producer and networking expert, Stephen Mitchell on September 12 at 5 pm eastern.

Although born and raised in Southern California, Stephen Mitchell began his film making career in Paris, France with the satirical Montmartre, followed shortly by The French Chef, which starred the Cesar-winning actor Philippe Leotard. Since returning to California, Stephen has written, produced and directed 12 movies, created and produced more than a thousand televised one-act plays and the critically-acclaimed Confessions web and (Interview) television series. He judged Best Directing in a Comedy Series for the Cable ACE awards during the last nine years of its existence. In 2001, he authored the book How to Start a Hollywood Career Without Having to Go There.

In 1980, Stephen founded an entertainment industry think tank in the guise of a repertory company for film and television labeled The New Hollywood Studio System. In the repertory environment, Stephen authored a number of intellectual properties including the Action/ReAction technique for actors and a curriculum for writer/directors; both bearing directly on advertising and marketing concerns. .In formulating the New Hollywood Studio System, he felt it was important to take into account the present-day dynamics affecting the world of entertainment content, advertising and public relations as well as the development and management of talent..

In 1985, Stephen pioneered a unique application of product integration in branded entertainment with his cable TV series (Interview). .I wanted to sell a product that nobody wanted to a public that had an aversion to buying. It was important to him that the show, which was actually a 28-minute commercial, be perceived as entertainment and not as a product pitch. Furthermore, it was imperative that, in purchasing the product, the buyer was made to feel part of a select group of cognoscenti.. The series was lauded by critics and attracted a cult following that included Oscar, Emmy, Peabody and Grammy winners. It succeeded in attracting buyers for his ideas and garnered a first-look deal for him with Tri-Star Pictures. (http://www.cineparis.net/ints/int.html)

Mitchell has been one of the driving forces behind InterFund. A new business social networking site, which provides entrepreneurs and project originators with a venue in which to privately expose their business plans to qualified and vetted funders. It is often the case that networking groups suffer from the fact that the membership consists entirely of those seeking funding and lack parties able to bring funds to a project. http://interfund.biz

Currently, Mitchell is producing a documentary on the Ferrari GTO, one of which he used to own, and he is co-producing a documentary on the tobacco industry with Charlie Evans Jr (The Aviator).

Tune in at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theresachaze on September 12 at 5:00 pm eastern to learn more about film industry from insider Stephen Mitchell.. The phone lines and chat will be available for those who wish to talk to Mitchell call (347) 324-3745 or Skype is available by using the click to talk on the show page.. The interactive chat room is also available.