A Lesson In Acting And Shakespeare From A Young Ian McKellen
This is a chunk of archival gold from British television, circa 1979. As part of an “in-studio master class” on speaking Shakespeare, Ian McKellen talks in depth about the imagery and analysis he used to bring a famous Macbeth speech to life for a production by the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Peanuts First Animation For Ford, 1959
Since the debut of Peanuts in 1955, Charles Schulz was hounded by fans and advertisers alike on when he would make the leap into TV. He reportedly balked, saying, “There are some greater things in the world than TV animated cartoons.”
Originally, he only said yes for Ford Motors, as it was the only brand of cars he ever drove.
The advertising started when the Ford licensed the characters in early 1959 for a series of color television commercials for its automobiles and intros for The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show which they sponsored. While the show ended in 1961, the deal lasted another three years. The ads were animated by Bill Meléndez for Playhouse Pictures, a cartoon studio that had Ford as a client. Schulz and Meléndez became friends, and when producer Lee Mendelson decided to make a two-minute animated sequence for a TV documentary called A Boy Named Charlie Brown in 1963, he brought on Meléndez for the project.
Martin Luther King, Jr.’s List For African-Americans Riding Newly-Integrated Buses In 1956
It wasn’t that long ago – 60 years to be exact – on December 1st, 1955, the course of history was changed when Rosa Parks refused to give up her bus seat for a white passenger and was subsequently arrested. For the next year, until racial segregation was deemed unconstitutional by the federal courts, a boycott of the public transport system, headed by Martin Luther King, took place. On December 19th of 1956, the eve of a historic victory for those opposed to such segregation, King prepared a list of guidelines for those soon to be re-boarding the buses.
What King would think of the US election this year…His words have gone so far, and yet, so far they seem to be when it comes to peaceful relations and resolutions.
INTEGRATED BUS SUGGESTIONS
This is a historic week because segregation on buses has now been declared unconstitutional. Within a few days the Supreme Court Mandate will reach Montgomery and you will be re-boarding integratedbuses. This places upon us all a tremendous responsibility of maintaining, in face of what could be some unpleasantness, a calm and loving dignity befitting good citizens and members of our Race. If there is violence in word or deed it must not be our people who commit it.
For your help and convenience the following suggestions are made. Will you read, study and memorize them so that our non-violent determination may not be endangered. First, some general suggestions:
1 Not all white people are opposed to integrated buses. Accept goodwill on the part of many.
2 The whole bus is now for the use of all Take a vacant seat.
3 Pray for guidance and commit yourself to complete non-violence in word and action as you enter the bus.
4 Demonstrate the calm dignity of our Montgomery people in your actions.
5 In all things observe ordinary rules of courtesy and good behavior.
6 Remember that this is not a victory for Negroes alone, but for all Montgomery and the South. Do not boast! Do not brag!
7 Be quiet but friendly; proud, but not arrogant; joyous, but not boisterous.
8 Be loving enough to absorb evil and understanding enough to turn an enemy into a friend.
Now for some specific suggestions:
1 The bus driver is in charge of the bus and has been instructed to obey the law. Assume that he will cooperate in helping you occupy any vacant seat.
2 Do not deliberately sit by a white person, unless there is no other seat.
3 In sitting down by a person, white or colored, say “May I” or “Pardon me” as you sit. This is a common courtesy.
4 If cursed, do not curse back. If pushed, do not push back. If struck, do not strike back, but evidence love and goodwill at all times.
5 In case of an incident, talk as little as possible, and always in a quiet tone. Do not get up from your seat! Report all serious incidents to the bus driver.
6 For the first few days try to get on the bus with a friend in whose non-violence you have confidence. You can uphold one another by a glance or a prayer.
7 If another person is being molested, do not arise to go to his defense, but pray for the oppressor and use moral and spiritual force to carry on the struggle for justice.
8 According to your own ability and personality, do not be afraid to experiment with new and creative techniques for achieving reconciliation and social change.
If you feel you cannot take it, walk for another week or two. We have confidence in our people. GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
The screen tests of Robin Williams as Mrs. Doubtfire will make you happy and sad at the same time
After a bitter divorce, an actor disguises himself as a female housekeeper to spend time with his children held in custody by his former wife. Robin Williams plays a duel role as Daniel Hillard / Mrs. Doubtfire, and these screen tests will show you just how good he truly was.
Great interactive site of Billboard Top 5 songs from 1956 – 2016
Polygraph studio created this great timeline of every top 5 song, from 1956 – 2016, so we can stop arguing about when music was still good.
I’ll be speaking about social media at the R2I Spring Tune Up Conference
The R2I Spring Tune Up Conference, presented by Slaight Music, will take place from Saturday May 28 until Sunday May 29 at the Edward Village Hotel Markham (50 East Valhalla Dr).
The conference will feature knowledgeable panelists and keynote speakers. All panels and workshops are interactive to ensure delegates can connect with key members of the music industry. This conference, while focused on country music, will be relevant to many genres of music. I’ll be speaking on the social media panel on Saturday, May 28th at 2:45pm with my good pal Alan Mamaril moderating.
For full schedule and panel details click here.
Two day conference passes are priced at $75.00 plus processing fee and HST.
M For Montreal Submissions Close May 15, 2016
The Call for Submissions for the 11th edition of M For Montreal, taking place from November 16-19, 2016, are now open to local and international artists! Artists will get the opportunity to play in front of more than 200 music industry professionals from 20+ countries.
An administration fee of $40 CAD is required for each submission and guarantees that your submission will be considered by the programming committee.
The deadline to apply for this opportunity is Sunday, May 15, 2016.
Why Songbirds Choose To Sing At Sunrise
You’re having a dream, and for some reason that giant rabbit that’s about to eat you starts to sing like a bird. You wake up to find that birds are singing outside your window! Check out this SciShow Quick Question to find out why those birds sing in the morning, as opposed to, say, in the afternoon or at night.
Scientists call this phenomenon the dawn chorus, and they think it has to do with clarity of the sound. When the sun rises, it heats the ground and, in turn, the air. As the day goes on, the warm air rises, mixes with layers of cool air, and creates atmospheric turbulence, lots of pockets of air molecules moving around at different speeds. This turbulence interferes with the birdsong broadcast, making the sound less clear. Since male songbirds of the same species can sing slightly different versions of the same song, clarity is key, if a guy wants to set himself apart from the others and make sure he reaches the ladies. And it’s easiest to send a clear, complex message in the morning, when there’s not much atmospheric turbulence. Plus, singing in the morning means that a male songbird not only survived the night, but he has the time and energy to sit and sing, instead of foraging for breakfast right away.
Life In 4K With The Toronto Blue Jays
There are three things you can’t touch.
This.
…The Toronto Blue Jays baseball team led by this guy.
…and what Rogers and Samsung has been able to do with your television viewing opportunities.
All the time when the Toronto Blue Jays were writing their historic season last year ending with the Jays only 90 feet away from a tie, to later fall 4-3 in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series to lose the series, four games to two, Samsung was putting the finishing touches on making their viewing experience even more heart-pounding, if that was even possible.
Baseball to me isn’t just a game, just like music isn’t just a medium of sound and silence. Basebal is an event with a heart, a life force, a profound spirituality and a vital part of my life. As a lover of the Jays, I enjoy going to the Rogers Centre where I can relax, have some peanuts and hot dogs and possibly be yelled at from the people around me for singing OK Blue Jays, Let’s Play Ball a little too off-key. “You were great, Dad!” my daughter would say, trying to be nice. “During some of the singing, I could see dogs perking up without anyone else hearing that really high note!”
And then I would spend an average of 96 minutes- more than half the game – just looking for Rush’s Geddy Lee sitting behind home plate.
The way I got into the Jays was like any other kid in Toronto in the ’70s. First, watching them play at Exhibition Stadium, where I was at the first game back in April, 19777, along with 86 million other liars who claim to be there. Then, watching them throughout the year, culminating into their two World Series titles. And now, with my daughter, we get to watch them at the Rogers Centre and create those moments like I remember with my dad all those years ago – exciting, hungry, eating too much, getting sick, getting excited again, sleeping in the car on the way home. By the time morning came, I realized it was the greatest day I ever spent.
Last season’s success for the Jays caused such a great demand for tickets that the City of Toronto actually got to stop building its dream superb subway system costing billions of dollars because we put it all towards buying Jays hats, jerseys, and Rush albums on vinyl. The Jays again have a huge uptick in a fan base across Canada, and around the world for the team. With sell-out after sell-out, more people are watching baseball at home in record numbers. This is where Rogers and Samsung comes in.
Actually, let’s go back about 50 years. Samsung was founded by Lee Byung-chul in 1938 as a trading company. Over the next three decades, the group diversified into areas including food processing, textiles, insurance, securities and retail. Samsung entered the electronics industry in the late 1960s by forming several electronics-related divisions, such as Samsung Electronics Devices, Samsung Electro-Mechanics, Samsung Corning and Samsung Semiconductor & Telecommunications, and made the facility in Suwon. Its first product was a black-and-white television set.
I’ve long admired their products. Their televisions even back then were extraordinary, powerful and compelling. Today, their 55″ Samsung UN55JS8500 4K SUHD 3D Smart LED TV in the ultimate realization of a visionary project, tracking between two different worlds – the actual content and clearness of that product, and the cutting-edge online world of YouTube and social media. This more affordable 4K LED backlit offering from Samsung has some excellent features. The 8500 series has a slightly lower Clear Motion Rate, edge-lit LEDs and thus an edge lit dimming platform, lower LED peak brightness, awesome specs and new color technologies. With SUHD 4K TVs, now you can experience stunning colors, deep contrast, incredible brightness, and 4K resolution that redefines your TV viewing experience.
That means, for most people, you can go to YouTube, watch the latest videos there, and also Tweet your heart out at the same time. From your TV. This blows my mind. The above jargon is for readers who truly accept and understand this is one remarkable television. You should know that I am fine, decent and inquisitive man, but unfortunately I have barely more technical knowledge than a baked potato.
But what I do know is this: The Samsung UN55JS8500 Smart TV provides one place to enjoy content from a wide range of sources. You can easily connect the Smart TV wirelessly with your compatible smartphone for streaming and content sharing. It also lets you access your favorite program choices, live TV, video on demand, streaming sources, apps and social media in one easy-to-browse navigation experience.
In order to watch on your 4K TV, the Rogers NextBox set-top box go hand in hand. Without content (viewed through your 4K box), you’re watching on a blank screen. That’s not what you want. Sportsnet will be airing all 81 Blue Jays home games in 4K, so you have to get the Rogers NextBox set-top box. Rogers continues to expand its 4K offering throughout the year, so this is terrific news.
Watching the Blue Jays has given me a bit of a creative spark online, so I’ll be live-tweeting throughout the season fun facts about the team, score updates, player trivia and anything else I can think of with the hashtag #LifeIn4K, so you can follow along, too!
This is assuming that I ever leave my house again. Once you see it for yourself, you may never, too.
By the way, Samsung provided my new 4K TV and Rogers provided my Rogers Nextbox 4K set-top box, but as the Jays’ owners provide the players’ salaries, I’m the owner of my own words and enthusiasm here.