tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80673923276084941262024-03-20T08:09:45.019-07:00Ramblings of a Marketing MindAlberto Llerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10711284520260943046noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8067392327608494126.post-36903535264959541442023-07-23T14:06:00.001-07:002023-07-23T14:26:40.432-07:00Kill your Darlings? Gravitas vs Escapism<p> It seems like, again, I’ve neglected my writing for longer
than expected. It’s been a year since I’ve had my eye on a very specific theme,
but I’ll flex my muscles with this idea first (as it’s fresher
in my mind). So hopefully I’ll be sharing that other one too very soon.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the meantime, I hate sounding like an old man, but here I’ll
make an exception because it’s essential to make today’s movie-related point,
kids.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Years ago, depending on what kind of movie you went to see,
you basically knew some things that were sure to happen when choosing a typical
action/adventure movie: the evil guys would do their evil deeds, things would
get dire and in the end the heroes would somehow survive and save the day. Pure
escapism fun. There are many literary theories around that idea that go back to
the earliest fairy tales, comparing these with comfort food. You go back to familiar territory to feel happier and emotionally reinvigorated.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I remember going in to see <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiana_Jones_and_the_Temple_of_Doom" target="_blank">Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom</a></b> back in 1984 with just a vague idea of what the story was about so,
when we got to the scene where Indy is standing in the middle of the rope
bridge with Thugees on both sides and the evil Mola Ram has captured Willie Scott
and Short Round… I was so invested in the story and experiencing it so
intensely with our heroes that I was truly worried about having no idea how the
hell they were going to get out of that situation.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPAVKY0iDLMPydZYf3rXN7YpE9zdFg3_-W21gZBWVY2cj7ILfO57h6ixucZeP8tGZLhi-1AOc_HbMwHESKNTtCAb_e4PDDPTDsSYLxjYRHPedUxJntnbnozSacE4Vp7avoCxzbrCosRYKSzIIvpgZIGdEw1DmBlXwtpqX3yRMj6Kl0adiSlZ_2IkFXH-8/s620/Indiana%20Jones%20Bridge.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="349" data-original-width="620" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPAVKY0iDLMPydZYf3rXN7YpE9zdFg3_-W21gZBWVY2cj7ILfO57h6ixucZeP8tGZLhi-1AOc_HbMwHESKNTtCAb_e4PDDPTDsSYLxjYRHPedUxJntnbnozSacE4Vp7avoCxzbrCosRYKSzIIvpgZIGdEw1DmBlXwtpqX3yRMj6Kl0adiSlZ_2IkFXH-8/w428-h241/Indiana%20Jones%20Bridge.jpg" width="428" /></a></p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As unexpected as it was, the resolution was super creative,
over the top and fun, with a little bit of deux ex machina with the cavalry
literally coming to the rescue at the last second (but not before our heroes
had basically gotten mostly out of the situation by themselves). Our heroes
prevailed and lived to fight another day.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Fast forward a few decades and suddenly we find ourselves caught
in a trend where, for some reason, filmmakers have decided to bring back old
heroes and give them a not-so-ceremonious farewell, with very mixed results. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil31hebLKM3n4PHkel7T-yCwO3pQPIwfWLpnb3uYJcYqDqgQmawxqT8Y1pePGXf322zpVGBX3Oil2h77hcIFtRuCeOVW3bMr8Jb8jGvipy7JhqhEqcwqYyFQTb916Di0H7Q9qdomkhyL1A_b_Zq-fu8ElHLdyBnl8j_xypAJr_50THN0Htw4bg0BcJBjY/s582/Mission%20Impossible%20Original%20Team.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="327" data-original-width="582" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil31hebLKM3n4PHkel7T-yCwO3pQPIwfWLpnb3uYJcYqDqgQmawxqT8Y1pePGXf322zpVGBX3Oil2h77hcIFtRuCeOVW3bMr8Jb8jGvipy7JhqhEqcwqYyFQTb916Di0H7Q9qdomkhyL1A_b_Zq-fu8ElHLdyBnl8j_xypAJr_50THN0Htw4bg0BcJBjY/w434-h244/Mission%20Impossible%20Original%20Team.jpg" width="434" /></a></div>The first one that comes to mind was the 1996 <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mission:_Impossible_(film)" target="_blank">Mission:Impossible</a></b> with <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Cruise" target="_blank">Tom Cruise</a></b>. Back then there was a little bit
of backlash from fans of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mission:_Impossible_(1966_TV_series)" target="_blank">original 1966 TV series</a> when the main character, <b>Jim
Phelps</b>, suddenly became the villain of the film. However, that one worked
because it was a whole different beast (and instead of <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Graves" target="_blank">Peter Graves</a></b>, Jim
Phelps was played by <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Voight" target="_blank">Jon Voight</a></b> who, let’s face it, does look a bit shady).
It was a smart reboot that subverted our expectations, and the twist was
entirely in the spirit of what the franchise is all about. Here it was understood that this Jim Phelps was a different character from a different Mission:
Impossible universe (long before the Multiverse fad caught on, which I’ll probably
touch on in a later post).<o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX-8Z83RWrIInAfCDFnKVgYlQsVgVcI4AncIBR-8aLp3i79owliWtDzPEe5l__qiVkGHRNShytNY2UBgFStl1B9NUr-zeg3E_s3at0GDFm_acZAN1d6MZQDSGqCA5el-GXp_WvhRuqsaE4ENYLBrfzQwG-ib0TinZeR6HCkvA5Bi0O7G_0LEXlBPuae1M/s572/Han%20Solo%20Dies.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="572" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX-8Z83RWrIInAfCDFnKVgYlQsVgVcI4AncIBR-8aLp3i79owliWtDzPEe5l__qiVkGHRNShytNY2UBgFStl1B9NUr-zeg3E_s3at0GDFm_acZAN1d6MZQDSGqCA5el-GXp_WvhRuqsaE4ENYLBrfzQwG-ib0TinZeR6HCkvA5Bi0O7G_0LEXlBPuae1M/s320/Han%20Solo%20Dies.jpg" width="320" /></a></p>The next time something like this completely threw me off
was with how the original <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars" target="_blank">Star Wars</a> characters (<b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luke_Skywalker" target="_blank">Luke Skywalker</a></b>, <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Han_Solo" target="_blank">HanSolo</a></b>, and <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess_Leia" target="_blank">Princess Leia Organa</a></b>) were treated (or mistreated) in the
latest trilogy by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._J._Abrams" target="_blank">J J Abrams</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rian_Johnson" target="_blank">Rian Johnson</a>. Instead of one last heroic
hurrah, we see them as grumpy old men and women (even <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alec_Guinness" target="_blank">Alec Guinness</a> as Ben
Kenobi in the original Star Wars had a more playful glint in his eye than they
allowed for our original swashbuckling trio). Things just got very serious and
we had to endure feeling like going to a funeral after watching Han Solo killed
off by his son in <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars:_The_Force_Awakens" target="_blank">The Force Awakens</a></b>, Luke dying and vanishing for some
reason (force-use-exhaustion or something) in <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars:_The_Last_Jedi" target="_blank">The Last Jedi</a></b>, and Leia simply
passing away on her bed in <b><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuyCevgzoXi0knaqjky-rA8SExn7_Fqv6Km6kTI8Qe33rcn9r4srtIoY05IUOSkg-1rWn3_AIIeAPAfGsWQ7MIAIgUuHV46THUth1yo0i2Cp6vkIY88CKiqN-v6h2PRk7kAI25CFX8eSoEU9ECPX0gwuvrkKlTmzNtw0aXdX6KBciED3HfOTjABH9uYwM/s554/Luke%20Skywalker%20Dies.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="311" data-original-width="554" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuyCevgzoXi0knaqjky-rA8SExn7_Fqv6Km6kTI8Qe33rcn9r4srtIoY05IUOSkg-1rWn3_AIIeAPAfGsWQ7MIAIgUuHV46THUth1yo0i2Cp6vkIY88CKiqN-v6h2PRk7kAI25CFX8eSoEU9ECPX0gwuvrkKlTmzNtw0aXdX6KBciED3HfOTjABH9uYwM/s320/Luke%20Skywalker%20Dies.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars:_The_Rise_of_Skywalker" target="_blank">Rise of Skywalker</a></b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars:_The_Rise_of_Skywalker" target="_blank"> </a>after doing a terrible <i>Mary
Poppins</i> rendition in the previous film… when it would have made more sense for
her to die heroically (just as a quick sidenote, here I’m talking about how
characters were treated, and this does not reflect in any way how I felt and still feel about <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrie_Fisher" target="_blank">Carrie Fisher</a>’s passing, which probably affected
decisions surrounding her character’s fate). Heck, even <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Driver" target="_blank">Adam Driver</a></b>’s <b>Kylo
Ren</b> gets killed off before realizing its full potential. And to top it off,
they didn’t even give the three of them the chance to reunite one last time on
screen. A huge missed opportunity in terms of fan service, if that’s what they
were aiming for.<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEACk3DVUqgdTbiVWZl1UFjoxJMY0ZJptCiIyDpKq3tbMOO3FbTWZGuy4WHEx-oTCqRAZdh2tSRcclmDpa5GxcxHjocGB0JGqN-nH_u0tcE21Vqrmv8J-nFME13EshBAzvChaFXvm49Li5sjbklfU9MlM5HzBoUQzgy5pRBmvtREkYVJH1JU2dUlty-DE/s314/Leia%20Organa%20dies.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="177" data-original-width="314" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEACk3DVUqgdTbiVWZl1UFjoxJMY0ZJptCiIyDpKq3tbMOO3FbTWZGuy4WHEx-oTCqRAZdh2tSRcclmDpa5GxcxHjocGB0JGqN-nH_u0tcE21Vqrmv8J-nFME13EshBAzvChaFXvm49Li5sjbklfU9MlM5HzBoUQzgy5pRBmvtREkYVJH1JU2dUlty-DE/s1600/Leia%20Organa%20dies.jpg" width="314" /></a><div><br /><p class="MsoNormal">We can argue about creative decisions in artistic terms, but
the debatable success of these films suggests that a lot of fans were not happy
about them. When they were first released, fans went in to have fun, to celebrate the
return of their heroes and their beloved franchise, but it felt like walking
out of a funeral instead of a celebration when leaving the theater afterwards.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My oldest son was born in 2002 and as he grew up, I had the
joy of sharing the fun of watching the old James Bond and Indiana Jones movies with him.
I re-watched a lot of these reliving the excitement through his young eyes,
while he showed me a new way of having fun with them with the cool new Xbox videogames
based on these characters. I guess you can imagine where I’m going with this.<o:p></o:p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjMTGpl4WzNomduBXocWPVkXHhSk4C0zeSjMmPpHj6PfUq5epz9qydUA64rpGabl87IIDD7MeOH3sckkzxlZCng7KKJ_imQcZEPphBaS3XzTqS6tKbv7HHy1bw1R2SYH2FiU5KSC-FgQFzkOo3oQ-DY0jfAjgQGGrIWf8vORBZ50egNT1JDtxngH3Dp4U/s682/Bond%20Dies.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="503" data-original-width="682" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjMTGpl4WzNomduBXocWPVkXHhSk4C0zeSjMmPpHj6PfUq5epz9qydUA64rpGabl87IIDD7MeOH3sckkzxlZCng7KKJ_imQcZEPphBaS3XzTqS6tKbv7HHy1bw1R2SYH2FiU5KSC-FgQFzkOo3oQ-DY0jfAjgQGGrIWf8vORBZ50egNT1JDtxngH3Dp4U/w384-h284/Bond%20Dies.jpg" width="384" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Cut to years later, barely coming out of the pandemic
lockdown, when we both went excitedly to the theater to watch the latest James
Bond movie, <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_Time_to_Die" target="_blank">No Time to Die</a></b>, hoping to get our spirits lifted by the fun
escapism that these films are known for. Comfort food, remember? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And yes, we got to see an undoubtedly GREAT James Bond film,
a fitting end to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Craig" target="_blank">Daniel Craig</a>’s version of the character… but hell, it just
didn’t feel right going out of a James Bond extravaganza feeling like, again,
walking out of a funeral.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg84J-ndVYGDWdS5T0eQ3UsBccySK5bvaiY8H7IBX6w9LzM-qJ3AxblVCk-QL68OUF4VlnOdpSF9qxwAP25qjUPUetotKmDH0Tn67XU4K0LUGI3EIDY9s7Cssq_6JJ_q4s0tgIONBBc032SbVBEahohxxtcTkOg7fsBa5vCAXQILJm4f9cKvDcMJFqRZ0I/s375/Old%20Indiana%20Jones.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="375" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg84J-ndVYGDWdS5T0eQ3UsBccySK5bvaiY8H7IBX6w9LzM-qJ3AxblVCk-QL68OUF4VlnOdpSF9qxwAP25qjUPUetotKmDH0Tn67XU4K0LUGI3EIDY9s7Cssq_6JJ_q4s0tgIONBBc032SbVBEahohxxtcTkOg7fsBa5vCAXQILJm4f9cKvDcMJFqRZ0I/s320/Old%20Indiana%20Jones.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The latest experience
I had was just last week while watching <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiana_Jones_and_the_Dial_of_Destiny" target="_blank">Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny</a></b>. I get they wanted to give the character a proper send off while
taking advantage that Harrison Ford was still around and willing to do it. But
why not do it in an exciting, fun, swashbuckling way? <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harrison_Ford" target="_blank">Harrison Ford</a></b>
is great as the grumpy old hero, but why place him in a miserable situation to
begin with? Why unceremoniously kill off screen one of the main characters from
the previous film (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shia_LaBeouf" target="_blank">Shia LaBeouf</a>’s Mutt), completely throwing out the window the
relevance of the previous adventure (like what they did in <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alien_3" target="_blank">Alien 3</a></b> by
killing off Newt, Hicks and Ash)? Why suck away <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Rhys-Davies" target="_blank">John Rhys-Davies</a>’</b> <b>Sallah</b>’s
bigger-than-life spirit by making him a poor sad old immigrant instead of the over-the-top
Egyptian digger we knew and loved? Was it necessary to have new characters like
<b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonio_Banderas" target="_blank">Antonio Banderas</a>’</b> charismatic Captain Renaldo come in and get killed off
in cold blood? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(<b>Captain Katanga</b>
from <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raiders_of_the_Lost_Ark" target="_blank">Raiders of the Lost Ark</a> </b>got a much better treatment).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Setting aside if we agree or not with the creative choice of
that final, crazy stretch of the adventure (if you thought aliens were over the
top, this one takes the cake), the ending feels so very rushed and tagged on. Indiana
Jones’ fate is decided for him with a convenient black out that suddenly ties
up all loose ends in the most unsatisfactory way. The final lonely shot of Indy’s
hand retrieving his hat from a clothesline on a New York City fire escape steel
balcony is a far call from the epic ending from <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiana_Jones_and_the_Last_Crusade" target="_blank">Indiana Jones and the LastCrusade</a></b>, where our heroes rode off into the sunset after having overcome evil
forces and reached ultimate enlightenment. Again, the feeling we got when the
lights came up in the theater was not a rush of joy and excitement, but a sad
nostalgic sense of loss.<o:p></o:p></p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyXQFFcUjqma5aCpjcZBLXhs2DlcwyiKT4C_rtb_T7LlicUrByViB8-vJTzNrA6Xo2qreecpVwBPkkKX-G8UogGONic6ZH6cwOY6SaIDhZBb7AYrx5eOpWZTpjLDPhnUrgQ-tRzigRAFUoGuOV0rOO0XvvwbBmamkeDgp67yAv5BDO0W2I4UXJqggjj6Y/s540/Last%20Crusade%20Into%20the%20Sunset.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="215" data-original-width="540" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyXQFFcUjqma5aCpjcZBLXhs2DlcwyiKT4C_rtb_T7LlicUrByViB8-vJTzNrA6Xo2qreecpVwBPkkKX-G8UogGONic6ZH6cwOY6SaIDhZBb7AYrx5eOpWZTpjLDPhnUrgQ-tRzigRAFUoGuOV0rOO0XvvwbBmamkeDgp67yAv5BDO0W2I4UXJqggjj6Y/w643-h255/Last%20Crusade%20Into%20the%20Sunset.gif" width="643" /></a><br />
<p class="MsoNormal">So, what’s my point? That maybe filmmakers have gone back to
the well too many times and, trying to cater to older fans, they have instead pissed
them off by choosing gravitas over escapism (hence the title of this post, see
how everything comes together?). <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Artistic and narrative choices have been made by people who
were not the original creators of the characters and who might have missed a
bit of their essence. Sometimes this works well: <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Stark_(Marvel_Cinematic_Universe)" target="_blank">Tony Stark</a></b>’s sacrifice in
<b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avengers:_Endgame" target="_blank">Avengers: Endgame</a></b> was perfectly built up and satisfying; we all still feel chills when thinking about that simple but powerful line expertly delivered by the great <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Downey_Jr." target="_blank">Robert Downey Jr</a>: "I am Iron Man"... a great, memorable character
send-off that everyone will remember (and the box office numbers show it).<o:p></o:p></p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgctq53KX76aRmt_xzmAfPi94-fdOBE1fUewZ1aWOVRyqUFx7WXxs55Wjcug1tDb12JgtT16sGyUgKs6P1hZktS2nH6KyCds-oO0PKL4_CrFECRU0MLeH0ISVc7b7lDtdBCKaFFw1xoITOIterdPWFC48UUIQPR2J1kAkmi9qJVbH5S6uYsYVp0mjAOBIw/s558/I%20Am%20Ironman.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="558" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgctq53KX76aRmt_xzmAfPi94-fdOBE1fUewZ1aWOVRyqUFx7WXxs55Wjcug1tDb12JgtT16sGyUgKs6P1hZktS2nH6KyCds-oO0PKL4_CrFECRU0MLeH0ISVc7b7lDtdBCKaFFw1xoITOIterdPWFC48UUIQPR2J1kAkmi9qJVbH5S6uYsYVp0mjAOBIw/w531-h279/I%20Am%20Ironman.jpg" width="531" /></a><br />
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Cruise" target="_blank"><br />Tom Cruise</a> has also done an amazing job catering to the
audience with films such as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_Gun:_Maverick" target="_blank">Top Gun Maverick</a> (where he could have easily killed
off his title character) and the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mission:_Impossible_(film_series)" target="_blank">Mission: Impossible franchise</a>. Yes, the stakes
are high and sometimes favorite characters get killed, but in the end the
feeling is of excitement and victory. Escapism. Comfort food. And not in any
way less relevant.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLl_hR4LHOm5QnHGWijNyavFdij53zZ7Deip2prq6hW5DRXEjjBh3CG4043yAWl96DgMu48xfYvIkdi9h1kWmjaIbRi62Ur1EISqPGhTh4E4lmsPN-btBalQn4ZO87dix7u-YEM93waeNUJ8rm4QWWvAvyOkavApUPninR5kl93t7OhMj42aftSk9qag8/s1280/mission-impossible-dead-reckoning-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLl_hR4LHOm5QnHGWijNyavFdij53zZ7Deip2prq6hW5DRXEjjBh3CG4043yAWl96DgMu48xfYvIkdi9h1kWmjaIbRi62Ur1EISqPGhTh4E4lmsPN-btBalQn4ZO87dix7u-YEM93waeNUJ8rm4QWWvAvyOkavApUPninR5kl93t7OhMj42aftSk9qag8/w424-h239/mission-impossible-dead-reckoning-01.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">Does this mean they shouldn’t take risks? Of course not.
There are some amazing noir films, fantastic bleak endings, and deeper themed
films out there (<b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planet_of_the_Apes_(1968_film)" target="_blank">Planet of the Apes</a></b>, <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blade_Runner_2049" target="_blank">Blade Runner 2049</a></b> and <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drive_(2011_film)" target="_blank">Drive</a></b>
come to mind, just to name a few). But when these decisions go against the very
essence of the characters they are using without a good reason, they tend to
backfire.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">To be honest, they shouldn’t try to always force gravitas to
subvert expectations on adventure/fantasy films. Sometimes you just go in for
the popcorn. <a href="https://youtu.be/e3QOQ-skVJs" target="_blank">We love our popcorn</a>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh81OVWmw1G81vNi_XGSBp2Ry8MFgUguX_bkUB2rCGS6F6GoTScSVfTSABogK497lrnbYJwYfMUabdgQDqc2KYd0675oQOtdlTM3ILJmviUqjUfPLNx5vqE8N3DlSci2hOz42TLM3W6N5MF8ntuOhkXoV0h4CLjLwFp9OM_Gka8iTFZOdKrmYfxNEHm8rI/s562/We%20Love%20our%20Popcorn.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="316" data-original-width="562" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh81OVWmw1G81vNi_XGSBp2Ry8MFgUguX_bkUB2rCGS6F6GoTScSVfTSABogK497lrnbYJwYfMUabdgQDqc2KYd0675oQOtdlTM3ILJmviUqjUfPLNx5vqE8N3DlSci2hOz42TLM3W6N5MF8ntuOhkXoV0h4CLjLwFp9OM_Gka8iTFZOdKrmYfxNEHm8rI/s320/We%20Love%20our%20Popcorn.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><br /><br /></div>Alberto Llerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10711284520260943046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8067392327608494126.post-3764708142509748872020-12-29T18:51:00.001-08:002020-12-30T21:51:25.224-08:002020: The Year that Wasn’t<p> ´Twas the
night before 2020, and all through New York City, my family and I spent our
vacation.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">We ice skated
at Rockefeller Center, visited St. Patrick’s Cathedral and climbed up the
Empire State Building where we enjoyed the beautiful New York night skyline while,
in a bit of dramatic foreshadowing, had to avoid an Asian boy suffering from a
terrible, dry cough, not covering his mouth but just hacking around. We
specially took note of this since. during the previous months, we started hearing
in the news the first rumblings about a rare virus that made its appearance in faraway
China (yes, we were politically incorrect and race profiling, but we couldn’t
help it, I’m sorry and ask for forgiveness in advance to all my Asian acquaintances).
China started not to seem so far away then.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Afterwards,
we were picked-up near Madison Square Garden to spend New Year’s Eve at my
cousin’s house. Originally, we had a dinner reservation at a restaurant near
Rockefeller Center, but I had not seen my cousins or their mom in years so, at
the last minute, we decided to cancel and spend the night with them and my dear
sister, who was also visiting.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9pC6mophs4myD5lNAf-H8knqnT9Oo_cFiEAwTT2z6R_9JpEHfwJ1KxziEMr414ro-_2tCR6owq2qUhSgybbUraAyoQRscr1xakPXMH3RYGId-GJXFSyR58QepnwpegwPBBzxxJQX51mc/s701/CenaFindeA%25C3%25B1o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="526" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9pC6mophs4myD5lNAf-H8knqnT9Oo_cFiEAwTT2z6R_9JpEHfwJ1KxziEMr414ro-_2tCR6owq2qUhSgybbUraAyoQRscr1xakPXMH3RYGId-GJXFSyR58QepnwpegwPBBzxxJQX51mc/s320/CenaFindeA%25C3%25B1o.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Seldom have
I been so grateful about making such a simple decision.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">My cousin
lived in New Jersey and, after a wonderful dinner and having celebrated the arrival of the
New Year, was kind enough to drive us back to the city. We made a quick stop at
the riverfront to have another look at NY’s skyline before crossing the Lincoln
tunnel and getting back to our hotel, which was located one block away from
Columbus Circle. It was a cold night, but it didn’t bother us one bit. It was
so peaceful and quiet.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4XMLTusg0iVShG8AEgWA9e5c2xsFYGRvdFbidPvvsSM0cSCFJ_p_C2bOHxRLoAx1Vgv0Oa6u7E9VKyZRUyqTKIEoO2CzSv3Rze8ByLXcGVvOG2vFZvChQNx_2s1xibtw2Njppw4hXc1o/s960/NY+Noche.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4XMLTusg0iVShG8AEgWA9e5c2xsFYGRvdFbidPvvsSM0cSCFJ_p_C2bOHxRLoAx1Vgv0Oa6u7E9VKyZRUyqTKIEoO2CzSv3Rze8ByLXcGVvOG2vFZvChQNx_2s1xibtw2Njppw4hXc1o/s320/NY+Noche.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I should also note (because I'm also grateful about it) that the previous night we had had a drink with my nephew and his family at a fancy hotel
bar near Times Square, and the day after we had dinner, again with my nephew,
at a nice local restaurant in Little Italy.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc1a9IhESTMlw0RE3sGVmqF3WCfHOwZ0AutTCSDlhEOTWtpBi_3-exzYFRZ7t2k2oyvdu7KXjR4BWNaTU4lh0YfA7ufNnVRkC8F0xXXQO7LmqQ7s_Ko6wd05PJkMPAw0TXJhFc8ol384g/s1440/RicardoRockefeller.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1040" data-original-width="1440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc1a9IhESTMlw0RE3sGVmqF3WCfHOwZ0AutTCSDlhEOTWtpBi_3-exzYFRZ7t2k2oyvdu7KXjR4BWNaTU4lh0YfA7ufNnVRkC8F0xXXQO7LmqQ7s_Ko6wd05PJkMPAw0TXJhFc8ol384g/s320/RicardoRockefeller.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I'm sharing all this with you because we had the
rare opportunity of spending the last days of 2019 and the first hours of 2020
in the company of relatives. Our family has been slowly but steadily drifting
apart during the past few years so, even without knowing what was to come, we
cherished these simple gatherings as a rare treat.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcY0WCSDa4I7KJDRcV5sjGXifh-NmiyxkqgHDsbB5K8KuVPWNyNcfMM1xWnZ1dh4418jJTKvIqoh03cPscWbd0HfdzgafkaDR-pSeB4G5R-KnstkVBJWCPCmdKgn3SZOiIHPXTG1Dh3L4/s2046/A5C2C8E1-9E43-4FED-AAF4-A6011B6AEEE1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2046" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcY0WCSDa4I7KJDRcV5sjGXifh-NmiyxkqgHDsbB5K8KuVPWNyNcfMM1xWnZ1dh4418jJTKvIqoh03cPscWbd0HfdzgafkaDR-pSeB4G5R-KnstkVBJWCPCmdKgn3SZOiIHPXTG1Dh3L4/s320/A5C2C8E1-9E43-4FED-AAF4-A6011B6AEEE1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">As wonderful as they were, I don’t
think any of us could have guessed how much of a transcendental blessing these get-togethers
would turn out to be during the following months.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">As happened
to everyone else, 2020 took us completely by surprise.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">By early March,
we heard the news about how the virus was spreading worldwide and we started
following the <a href="https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html" target="_blank">Johns Hopkins University virus tracking site</a> where you can see the red circles representing
the infected areas grow and multiply across the globe. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrsZ1dwx7s5ykpCZ7U9RK5DtNWBgyvMKu3cNYNaUeNTmhFAyzWQRIdt_DOIXD3pnFxR8pcnPwqxvxCrtdxoqOCj-PCNJmjPNKF8CIOkYmU7CG01WNzfg3BBWb1WI_X4mcuZs1XxODHmd0/s1919/Map+Covid.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1084" data-original-width="1919" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrsZ1dwx7s5ykpCZ7U9RK5DtNWBgyvMKu3cNYNaUeNTmhFAyzWQRIdt_DOIXD3pnFxR8pcnPwqxvxCrtdxoqOCj-PCNJmjPNKF8CIOkYmU7CG01WNzfg3BBWb1WI_X4mcuZs1XxODHmd0/w531-h267/Map+Covid.jpg" width="531" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">On March 8<sup>th</sup>
my wife and I went to a nightclub for an 80’s themed music show to celebrate her
birthday. I believe that’s the last public event we attended.</p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A few days later at the office, they gave us a facemask and a bottle of disinfectant
gel, and they told us about plans for a home-office day drill which, as the
morning hours passed, turned into a company-wide directive to gather our essential
equipment, leave for home and stay there until further notice.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">At the time,
even when it seemed grave and our company was very concerned, Government
officials in Mexico and the US were not taking this seriously, so with
conflicting signals we said our goodbyes believing this would be a two-or-three week
thing, thinking back to the 2009 H1N1 swine flu crisis. They told our kids the
same thing at school and they came back home with their books for what at first was supposed to be just a few days
off.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">These “few
days” have turned into well over nine months and counting, and all the while we’ve watched
our plans slowly crumbling down: travel and celebrations were among other
even more transcendent life projects that had to be postponed. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Probably like
everyone else, we have gone through the various stages of uncertainty, tedium,
anguish, boredom, desperation, depression, resignation, while questioning our
fellow human’s immediate need to hoard toilet paper, disinfectant and vitamin C
(the last two at least make sense).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvD3JdQygiK8RKs-yq04hBMnKmDfgI2fTkZpmwT9YKWugaRRaDWyI85mCP5hk75RQHs7mH-9a0sEQ3pyCnjypTUahqA9n-La6YP5rSWJLx1GYvhNL-RJ6TqUS6yG6IWqnNQzF85uSQWWc/s1280/HoardingPaperToilet.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvD3JdQygiK8RKs-yq04hBMnKmDfgI2fTkZpmwT9YKWugaRRaDWyI85mCP5hk75RQHs7mH-9a0sEQ3pyCnjypTUahqA9n-La6YP5rSWJLx1GYvhNL-RJ6TqUS6yG6IWqnNQzF85uSQWWc/s320/HoardingPaperToilet.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">We’ve tried
to see the bright side of things, putting on our best face and smiling in front
of the unpleasantness of the situation we are all going through. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Danny
Elfman released his song <a href="https://youtu.be/jjUjrE19eyw" target="_blank">Happy</a> on
October 29, 2020. Besides loving it (being a long-time fan) I found it
disturbingly appropriate and adopted it as my own personal anthem during the
lockdown.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://youtu.be/jjUjrE19eyw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhalZS4Ge-0cJwQ4jupT5dRzY0RXmvGyJvfnrCsfbaMWLVRRDh-e_socxVK_fGvG2qc70iTsnWxePNP4sRWaOBLfYxSRhONLoZ7-TP661DcHK93r3QJOYqjNCTIdrLy5SuBRhlkREyjexE/s0/220px-Danny_Elfman_-_Happy_cover.jpeg" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Like everyone else, we've tried to take advantage of this unexpected free time (those of us fortunate
enough to still have a steady job have found at least an additional couple of hours a
day available from not having to commute). Beyond the obvious and less
productive binge watching of streaming TV shows, we’ve been exercising, catching
up with our reading, cooking, taking up <a href="https://www.albertollera.com/the-transylvanians" target="_blank">old projects and abandoned hobbies</a>, and the inevitable mastering of zoom-like apps (maybe by 2021 we’ll
have learned how to mute and unmute our mikes at the appropriate times).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.albertollera.com/the-transylvanians" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1390" data-original-width="923" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGROxyJM1cL9bdOU0kptSwrVkHciTddetzm1L5s8-h9nzvbBRXICUoDa2vL5aq2jOfuOoOl6UlevS7Ai32AMDfgqaCoenb_9l9_pZfgP_KYwzVjvL77v451m0nhcFouuD27I4FqUj9j9Y/s320/Transylvanians+Cover.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">We’ve tried
our best to keep in touch with family and friends while also learning to cope, as
if it were a normal happening, with a continuous stream of news about people dying,
public personalities or otherwise. Some have learned about the passing away of
distant relatives, while others have had to bury the ashes of immediate family
members and close friends after saying their last goodbyes at the entrance of a
crowded hospital’s emergency room.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">On an
unrelated note and not trying to compare it to losing someone close, this year I saw the passing
away of one of my life-long idols and number one favorite actor, Sir Sean
Connery. Something that any other time would have been monumental became just
a footnote in an unrelenting cavalcade of bad news. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCRK6ynt3oL0Agmx8IkAIO5soR8yedDJx7BlWJjsMVgAJfB-10DUOIs6bJjZvt6yaLdeJbeMNw91DGEITldvL7gWUZ1CsYg8zio-OSPEC6_AUpDWyUNO_p-7_Ye6TMJUtFe2912N3ZQlE/s900/Sean-Connery-actor.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCRK6ynt3oL0Agmx8IkAIO5soR8yedDJx7BlWJjsMVgAJfB-10DUOIs6bJjZvt6yaLdeJbeMNw91DGEITldvL7gWUZ1CsYg8zio-OSPEC6_AUpDWyUNO_p-7_Ye6TMJUtFe2912N3ZQlE/s320/Sean-Connery-actor.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>We’ve also
heard about companies and small businesses going bankrupt and closing, people
losing their jobs, people trying to make ends meet by launching small home
based ventures, while some businesses are barely keeping afloat with
intermittent closures and/or restricted attendance. We’ve also learned about
the heroic efforts of first line respondents like doctors, nurses and hospital
workers.<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I could go
on about what happened through the year: we went through incompetent
politicians poorly handling the pandemic while others did an admirable job; a
nail biting Presidential Election in the US (which has yet to provide its final
act during January 2021) and, among many other events, natural disasters that added insult
over injury.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">We all know
this (as <a href="https://youtu.be/2kQxVwYwrME" target="_blank">Kate McKinnon so wonderfullyput it</a>). We’ve all lived through it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">So, what have
we learned? What are we taking away from this most unusual year?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">First, I’d
like to cite a favorite quote of mine, attributed to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Harvey" target="_blank">Paul Harvey</a>, an American
radio broadcaster for ABC News Radio:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“In times like these it is helpful to remember
that there have always been times like these.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Yes, the
conditions are unique, but humankind has already gone through catastrophic
events and pandemics -maybe not as widespread and documented as this one- and
has always pulled through.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Because we,
as humans, are extraordinarily resilient. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">We adapt
quickly, we are survivors, and even with all our flaws and faults, optimistic
and inherently good by nature (at least that’s what I choose to believe).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Most of us
have carried on trying to make the best of the situation, supporting each other to the best of our capabilities, trying to inspire, to be better and
to overcome. We’ve banded together and have become stronger for it. We’ve
learned new skills and applied those skills to carry on with our lives. Yes, we’ve
also learned to cope with monumental losses, and by doing so, to seek out and look
forward to new possibilities.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">2020 will
be remembered as a trying year, a year that will change humankind forever in
the way we’ve learned to look at our own frailty, but it is my firm belief that
we will come out stronger, more intelligent, more creative and more
compassionate. Myself, I’ve learned to be more humble, thankful and to cherish what I have in the here and now, while not waiting for things to happen, but to make
them happen. My priorities have dramatically turned on their heads.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I, for one,
refuse to be trounced by any situation, overwhelming as it may be. There’s an old saying quoted in a film
we recently launched at Paramount, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mission:_Impossible_%E2%80%93_Fallout" target="_blank">Mission Impossible: Fallout</a>:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Fate
whispers to the warrior: A storm is coming.<br />
And the warrior whispers back: I am the storm.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDB3f_O8zh7U_5-agn5BN2k6hCf1EY0J8McaYa_EttNseP9b-eXOrReEZ2xOWIDLVvegvs_BF8nG9wjcRnNYOchk3GDwR6nEsw4X2qtW1aE9eDtABfwIZmMOxNjTatxMb06q0fH714dqM/s2000/Mission+Impossible+Fallout.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="2000" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDB3f_O8zh7U_5-agn5BN2k6hCf1EY0J8McaYa_EttNseP9b-eXOrReEZ2xOWIDLVvegvs_BF8nG9wjcRnNYOchk3GDwR6nEsw4X2qtW1aE9eDtABfwIZmMOxNjTatxMb06q0fH714dqM/w593-h334/Mission+Impossible+Fallout.jpg" width="593" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">Yes, we are the storm. We are the ones who should make things happen, not happened to.</p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">We must not
let these learnings go to waste. It is our duty to grow from this experience
and pass it on to future generations. Things will probably become more complex
for everyone in the near future, but we should be ready for it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The pandemic
will hopefully soon be overcome thanks to our scientists’ brilliance and admirable
hardheaded commitment. Let’s all make it worth their while by going back out
there and surprising ourselves. We owe it to us, to our children and to all those
who will follow. As I hinted at in the title of this blog, this should be the year
that wasn’t wasted, rather that the year that just wasn't.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Because we
are human, and humans are fantastic.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Happy New Year.</span></p>Alberto Llerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10711284520260943046noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8067392327608494126.post-50169959939654605772020-06-07T22:14:00.161-07:002020-06-08T17:05:11.400-07:00Collateral Role Model Damage...<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US">This one’s
going to be a longer than usual, very personal and intimate entry to my blog, so
please be kind and bear with me.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US">“<i>When I grow up, I want to be like so-and-so</i>”.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US">How many
times did we say that as kids?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US">As I’ve
grown older, I’ve got to thinking more and more about who my formative years’ heroes
and role models were and, more importantly, why.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US">What was
appealing to me? What did I admire about them? What influence did they have on
the person I am today?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US">These will include fictional characters or people who made a monumental impact on how I saw
myself at the time, and probably had a role in shaping who I am today.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US">I was never much into sports, so there are no athletes here. This doesn't mean I didn't have any interest in sports figures. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nadia_Com%C4%83neci">Nadia Comaneci</a>, <a href="https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miguel_Mar%C3%ADn">Miguel Marin</a>, <a href="https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harlem_Globetrotters">the Harlem Globetrotters</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_Bradshaw">Terry Bradshaw</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pel%C3%A9">Pele</a>
come to mind, however none were remotely impactful enough to make the list. My apologies to all the sports’ buffs, I guess I was
more of a geeky kid.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US">As for historical figures and artists, I admire quite a few of them, but they seemed somewhat
distant. So even when some of them definitely had a big influence,
they were not relatable enough to be considered "a role model".<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US">For
someone like me, a hardcore movie buff since childhood, the list will focus mostly on actors and characters. You might say I was a bit superficial in that sense.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US">Among many,
many others, this is the very short list of the ones that truly stood out
for deeply personal reasons, and now I will share it with you, you lucky
reader, you!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US">So grab my
hand, follow me across two long-gone decades and meet the </span>most influential performers and fictional characters from my early
life.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US">I hope it
will be entertaining for both of us.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></p>
<h1 style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-US"><font size="6">THE 1970’S</font></span></b></h1>
<h1 style="text-align: left;">Kolchak, The Night Stalker / Darren McGavin</h1><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US">Carl Kolchak,
the character, was a by-product of 70’s TV movies and the preceding monster
craze from the 50’s and 60’s. And, at about 5 or 6 years old, I sooo wanted to
be like him.</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl9vYvQ9gHjuRQYFDxIf_VjkquaT9DcYM0DBE8WXz65mJYJvCx-W3oiXKT1s8v_1c1uZGAb4Nf76FycaVzuz0rm3hzRdEGWDzWe92X9wEpP6vSZHPGpeQduPI37jJ2AyQNEjhfM-VdboU/w400-h209/kolchak-e1492337610302.jpg" width="400" /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I guess
this had to do with my very early attraction to horror stories and my desire to face and overcome the childish fear towards things that go bump in the night (this might also explain my fascination with Scooby Doo).</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US">Kolchak was
originally featured in two TV movies: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Night_Stalker_(1972_film)">The Night
Stalker</a> (1972) and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Night_Strangler_(film)">The Night
Strangler</a> (1973), before jumping into his own TV series, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolchak:_The_Night_Stalker">Kolchak: The
Night Stalker</a> (1974-1975). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US">Instead of
the caricature he was meant to be, and could have been in less capable hands, Carl
Kolchak was a truly likable character, </span>portrayed with a self-conscious wink in the eye. He was funny, righteous, sarcastic, idealistic
and a bit headstrong. He did whatever was necessary to uncover the truth, even
if that sometimes cost him his reputation or got him in trouble with the law.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US">He
also forced himself to fight all kinds of creatures, even when it seemed he was truly scared when he faced the monster-of-the-week at the end of the story. He sometimes even screamed out loud, much like I would have done, when things got particularly hairy.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US">He gave six-year-old me a masterclass on how to face your fears, and I will forever be grateful to him about that.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDYIaOXjyweeyMRzS-33qeG9c6Sj_qD48zbznFdhbjwG0fhCcjALukzs4yTHZLEnHp5OLHCWVZuiXXg9JasDNctqbaZ0dIVTu4qrk2exPFD-MgxI6fcfL5Z6rrGp3GH0SPsIBaaupDkDU/s320/Kolchak+worried.jpg" width="320" /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US">Which
brings us to the actor behind the character: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darren_McGavin">Darren McGavin</a>
(1922-2006). After becoming a fan of Kolchak, I started watching every TV
movie he appeared in (even the more adult-themed ones that I shouldn’t have),
and was amazed at the range this man had. He could be funny, cold,
vulnerable and even slightly evil, depending on the part he was playing, up to
his definitive, tough but heartwarming portrayal of "The Old Man", Ralphie’s dad, in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Christmas_Story">A Christmas Story</a>.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW7MnQwz2PeblNpckFYnw2wXdXPN3WA3QEQD5Qpu6O4cw3WKc2fSyydXnYRuCHLFMJ6qDO_ht_x2eZ6YT54g_o-Dj4OIq8WiVnN0VpuEFpBpyw324RYFwJhpTXzpLUMXM9_9t075rrNcU/s780/Old%252BMan%252BParker%252BChristmas.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="439" data-original-width="780" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW7MnQwz2PeblNpckFYnw2wXdXPN3WA3QEQD5Qpu6O4cw3WKc2fSyydXnYRuCHLFMJ6qDO_ht_x2eZ6YT54g_o-Dj4OIq8WiVnN0VpuEFpBpyw324RYFwJhpTXzpLUMXM9_9t075rrNcU/s320/Old%252BMan%252BParker%252BChristmas.jpg" width="320" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US">He was a brilliant
actor, and that earns him his rightful first spot on this list.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><b><span lang="EN-US"><font size="4"><br /></font></span></b></h2><h1 style="text-align: left;">Cornelius / Caesar – Roddy McDowall</h1><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US">I’m a huge
fan of the original Planet of the Apes movies, and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roddy_McDowall">Roddy McDowall</a>
(1928-1998) had everything to do with that. Setting aside the natural childish appeal of watching talking apes on the screen, I loved
the characters of Cornelius and Caesar as portrayed by him.</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbavirLG0oFGMzmlvqr5K8i3oF2pAWe2sXI1iPM2xyc4dJl-1u67w-Zq74rXzYFycsc3DgP62WSzdjlI95dNLfdLKcUOo5JUs6-6SKeyG7liW7e7hKhFatf3qCuMCh0Z_on0ZaaH0zlDM/s320/PlanetApesCast.jpg" /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US">In the
original <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planet_of_the_Apes_(1968_film)">Planet
of the Apes</a> (1968) Cornelius was and ape archaeologist and the cautious husband of Zira, a headstrong
chimpanzee doctor (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kim_Hunter">Kim Hunter</a>). He was forced by his wife into becoming the reluctant defender of Taylor (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlton_Heston">Charlton
Heston</a>), the talking human astronaut.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgiZ39zB72Lqhv4wy-DDs0QM8EC4Vi86ebwPX_GXBb26gRciTCvzALYsUy81p4iGDo5H6jRkoEAjjfP_3CqiLJNw3wS-_LbihsgSPnCCC-BjzDEvKk81iGuOVZb_pm-n1b5jSq6iH7WaI/s379/Cornelius01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="379" data-original-width="299" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgiZ39zB72Lqhv4wy-DDs0QM8EC4Vi86ebwPX_GXBb26gRciTCvzALYsUy81p4iGDo5H6jRkoEAjjfP_3CqiLJNw3wS-_LbihsgSPnCCC-BjzDEvKk81iGuOVZb_pm-n1b5jSq6iH7WaI/w253-h320/Cornelius01.jpg" width="253" /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US">By the third film, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escape_from_the_Planet_of_the_Apes">Escape
from the Planet of the Apes</a> (1971), the character grew exponentially,
becoming a fierce and valiant protector of his wife and his unborn offspring,
ultimately sacrificing his life for them. Zira tragically follows the same
fate, not before managing to trick their enemies into killing the wrong baby
ape and thus saving Caesar’s life.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US">Caesar, portrayed </span>with slightly different make up as a young chimpanzee by the same Roddy McDowall in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conquest_of_the_Planet_of_the_Apes">Conquest
for the Planet of the Apes</a> (1972), starts out as a loving, fearful, idealistic and slightly
naive ape, but gradually becomes driven, headstrong and fierce by the hostile
environment he is forced into.</p> Caesar could have become a victim of circumstances, but his rage, cunning, courage, disgust against slavery and thirst for justice pushed him to the brink as a somewhat ruthless leader and liberator.<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0rcnK_OzUMlNt9gx3JQe7mSWRY5fQ9aWGDfT-y2nYwnRQtERp1bLi5jbVX0q6Va28-f1AMZLCyPwbOfLxGUQe5IPnrqUCgJz-ggW26Cm1nKkshze8INtXjiR5Crv2T7hal1Q_Wlmih64/w253-h320/Caesar_%2528APJ%2529.jpg" /></p><div>Roddy
McDowall played the character once more in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_for_the_Planet_of_the_Apes">Battle
for the Planet of the Apes</a> (1973), and afterwards morphed into yet another
amicable chimpanzee, Galen, for the short-lived <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planet_of_the_Apes_(TV_series)">Planet of
the Apes TV series</a> (1974).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwdXTKOORHlG6PFMAqEKVcHVXBMwjKoXex8SOsDwoRnsa9_AWzUjS3RCyEiCq3fVxVZOu4R5xY-mcWHW_fsPInOeNDnWz9SmtQodg1bF6Km3c1TrZat4DiF62JOB7ge7-_3HMVM5oqCVY/s320/Planet+of+the+Apes+the+Series.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="253" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwdXTKOORHlG6PFMAqEKVcHVXBMwjKoXex8SOsDwoRnsa9_AWzUjS3RCyEiCq3fVxVZOu4R5xY-mcWHW_fsPInOeNDnWz9SmtQodg1bF6Km3c1TrZat4DiF62JOB7ge7-_3HMVM5oqCVY/" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>He was an amazing actor who managed to give all three characters a unique personality and specific nuances, while projecting his own personality on all of them.<div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheqvxWEROW8YHPe0oG4R_IbghitOzDDabokZBLVQAz6ahjtSi4J7cA6HlcrHY8dAqAqamc7D37fYRmxZfv0v15DkO70Vjlal6T2egYFDv4RDgt0EK4UYvCvzYn1g0IPC2ClG4KNY6FixI/s320/RoddyMcDowall.jpg" /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US">As with Darren McGavin, because of Roddy McDowall’s work on the apes’ franchise, I
started following all his other performances, enthralled by the infecting
intensity, sense of wonder, elegance and humanity he projected. His characters were
sometimes flawed, prone to rage and flamboyancy, but at their core, they were
vulnerable and relatable.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></p>
<h1 style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-US">THE 1980s</span></b></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I spent my
teenage years in the ‘80’s and, if you had met me back then, you would definitely
recognize these as huge influences.</p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><b><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></b></h2><h1 style="text-align: left;">Magnum, P.I. (Tom Selleck)</h1><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US">“I know
what you’re thinking. And you’re probably right.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicRr5LPeBYD09mD9m7XfRoGqO92lYG0JdqPfO5gxZmmRrvFJtt19eBENMu5gb3YN_oNSq6TIQumcsQNGsWvo6bqz-qzFjpvPetkLQEJKvU-5bSkbQeuxNyjRJ7_OlG6AhzHjHuC21j4-s/" /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US">Sporting colorful
Hawaiian shirts, a Detroit Tigers’ baseball cap and driving a red Ferrari while
waving his bushy eyebrows behind dark glasses, this was the kind of guy I wanted to
be when I grew up: manly, clever, brave, easy going, with a sense of humor and,
above all, tremendously loyal.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US">Even after having fought in the Vietnam War,
he was determined not to take things very seriously and allowed himself to have a beer with his buddies between dangerous cases. Above the pain and vulnerability, Thomas Magnum never lost the
twinkle in his eye.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM_FdzpqVD5804HRsvRutEpcJ9j-CoZFm7TTIYtx9yLvYfopCEujvl_bDYWgyWUf0IkjkuyLH0n3uuO3iJrGbGsS4WmOrthyphenhyphenPgp2g94h5oIWAsSyZUMINoX01XpzU6he-PGddOlD_BFfk/s1800/Magnum-PI-Tom-Selleck.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM_FdzpqVD5804HRsvRutEpcJ9j-CoZFm7TTIYtx9yLvYfopCEujvl_bDYWgyWUf0IkjkuyLH0n3uuO3iJrGbGsS4WmOrthyphenhyphenPgp2g94h5oIWAsSyZUMINoX01XpzU6he-PGddOlD_BFfk/s320/Magnum-PI-Tom-Selleck.jpg" width="320" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US">As far as I
can remember, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnum,_P.I.">Magnum P.I.</a>
(1980-1988) was the longest running TV show I religiously followed at
the time, simultaneously watching the new seasons on Cable TV as well as the
Spanish dubbed previous seasons on open TV (remember, there was no stream binge watching or DVD collections then).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US">Looking
back, I think I liked the show so much because it managed to surprise me beyond
expectations. When they launched it and I saw the original promos, I thought
this was going to be a show about a hunky womanizer driving a Ferrari </span>around Hawaii.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Selleck">Tom Selleck</a> created a
character much deeper than that: he was the friend you wanted to hang out with,
the kind of guy you wanted to be, and the ally you wanted by your side when
shit hit the fan. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmqlhQApEt-BzUt_K42w91O9Y4BuPucCk1i8sIcc8ErsQnGHghChqJuR43Y9N3dNCd4LsZ6cVWr0alkODJnhA3ltW8mkb5NmxK677ertC3LrVj8mLN4KAIyYeLLQI9m4MX3t6ExPW9eeI/s320/tom-selleck-magnum-pi-detroit-tigers-cap.jpg" /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US">I know he’s
kept busy performing, but I honestly believe Tom Selleck is the most
underappreciated and underrated actor of his generation.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></p>
<h1 style="text-align: left;">Chevy Chase / Fletch</h1><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US">I
discovered <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevy_Chase">Chevy Chase</a>
in the early 80’s and became an immediate fan of his portrayal of Clark
Griswold in the original <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Lampoon%27s_Vacation">National
Lampoon’s Vacation</a> (1983). He was the dad I envisioned I would become (and it
seems I succeeded, according to my kids… I’m not so sure that’s
something to be proud of). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US"><img border="0" data-original-height="859" data-original-width="580" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLq1l1fjtop2A-3IdFWzd3ZCqNBMH8R60X__88XJGFYlpACVfh3X8ljW7C8vMD45qEEWVDNBTn6z4j9L9AL95EVzr1iK46k9jZAflLYApsOmPiNZbXnxvpsNQzYf5WJUidRraNE5-CyOg/s320/VacationPoster.jpg" /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US">I loved his
various ch</span>aracters’ sarcastic sense of humor, the slapstick, the pratfalls, the
smart play on words and the way they seemed to overcompensate not being too bright with overwhelming confidence.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">To Chevy's on-screen
persona, he was a ladies’ man. And even if the ladies in question tended to disagree
at first, they usually succumbed to his confident charm and witty personality.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9lp6iZIosI7VYq9PYS6Ph_WTxHxGVEK5SW9bxNZCxy7zksL39302L6aEgqj6QOZNHR69S8p-TLD687s8THMYUlEr6FVbcqH_6c99Nynf2RzDeOE2Vj86H5fD56IQho3YVQvXmSMi4RcY/s1280/ChevyGoldie.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9lp6iZIosI7VYq9PYS6Ph_WTxHxGVEK5SW9bxNZCxy7zksL39302L6aEgqj6QOZNHR69S8p-TLD687s8THMYUlEr6FVbcqH_6c99Nynf2RzDeOE2Vj86H5fD56IQho3YVQvXmSMi4RcY/s320/ChevyGoldie.jpg" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>In real life it seems Chevy was (and
still is) a very proud and smart man, which may have branded him as
“difficult” to work with and ultimately slowing down his career. No matter how he might be
in his personal life (I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting the man to
have an opinion), I’ve nevertheless admire him as a comic genius and a brilliant,
very politically oriented family man.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US">I watched <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_(TV_series)">Community</a> (2009-2015)
because of him, and it turned out to be an extraordinarily written comedy show with
a great ensemble cast (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Glover">Donald
Glover</a> / Childish Gambino, anyone?) but I strongly believe it was Chevy's participation that elevated the show to a completely different level.</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQf8tn5Of3cllKTKOwpCiabl7mAnkVPYvdWb1Y4UotVFbwYI6s1CXvMkh9xeOADgOQJDS4WHAwtyUC0M2a465PrUdoMNdFzHE_Dkc4MSHM0alw928dhkbFXn8IZ3xkCu_QFbfHbalKB-o/s320/Community.jpg" /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US">So, yes, I
admire Chevy Chase very much and he was a tremendous influence on me as a person,
but the truly defining moment was when they announced he would be playing <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fletch_(film)">Fletch</a>, the wise-ass
investigative reporter from the late <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregory_Mcdonald">Gregory McDonald</a> (1937-2008)
novels.</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZQXi2fY7YgpNhd2fx1S2RJ9cmjUxEmpc-qOiv7CLHti1CnqbnsfwvYLrbD32qux8F0jTz8IMGBxBF5V-QcIB2dx0mAr138UhWNCntTuqG1l0UvX8_NIppbBPLNxeKgV7BK31OGY2yHUk/s320/fletchmain.jpg" /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US">I picked up
the first book before watching the film and ended up plowing through the series.
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fletch_(novel)">Fletch</a>, the written
character, struck a deep chord within me: he was </span>smart, non-conformist, a bit of a loner, had a very ironic sense of justice, was very resourceful, fought for freedom of speech, was against the establishment and, yes, he was also a smart aleck. My young, rebellious self very strongly identified with him as a character and
with Gregory McDonald as a writer.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span><img border="0" data-original-height="1018" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHfvLFrFv-lgXSMM0ykleNvNeFqRlFuEGoJ4gFBP7m6paak8Hlwv2ifK3c0IeV39IHOX6WgTKysv8kz6oRO1KSCSRbeuhTaR4ErI4NE-ufjoo-lBRtF3wVCB3q1LdGKdg1Jep160rXMD8/s320/FletchBookCover.jpg" /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US">As a coda, I
coincidentally just finished reading o</span><span lang="EN-US">ne of his last book</span>s, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Flynns-World-Gregory-Mcdonald/dp/0375713581">Flynn’s
World</a> (1999) -based on a spinoff character from the Fletch novels- and
found it as enjoyable an experience as I remembered from my teenage years. The
guy was brilliant and his style inspired me to write my first (unpublished)
short novel, <b>Brauer</b> (if you happened
to be a very close friend of mine at the time, you might have read it).</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US">I loved
Chevy Chase’s portrayal of Fletch and I believe it’s considered one of Chevy’s
best, but as wonderful as it was, the impact was far more superficial than what
Gregory McDonald’s books did for me.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US">So this one
goes to the amazing Chevy, for the many years of laughter, and for his pivotal role in introducing
me to Gregory McDonald's literary world.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuo2qcC_8I1X_re8KyEJdG95wcE_gYoaSVc8-En981SwC7YMVY7Ew6ta5YtSGYDOnO466OmM5KZ7uFaMYJcyV9y7CNIaZkYiB_f7eDR3uFanuRJaEpOX8rff4s7NGooSdkBAdVSxmV-LE/s300/Chevy-Chase.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuo2qcC_8I1X_re8KyEJdG95wcE_gYoaSVc8-En981SwC7YMVY7Ew6ta5YtSGYDOnO466OmM5KZ7uFaMYJcyV9y7CNIaZkYiB_f7eDR3uFanuRJaEpOX8rff4s7NGooSdkBAdVSxmV-LE/" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">Sean Connery</h1><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US">If you had met
me in the late ‘80’s or early ‘90’s, you would have known how passionate I was about the
man (as were many other moviegoers at the time).</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW0YWiBryPHRENbOp0pRsSorVn6vi9Gt305DR9F4cxO-2w-3RFt31XLuNmL5gkImwm-NSCj25XR_WR87uITN0113hy-F7I9U-N_MclFNy0aZEf1RSf_08OPaTt4vIQe668FAB85n5WVsI/w422-h640/sean-connery.jpg" /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sean_Connery">Sean Connery</a> gained
international stardom originally because of his definitive interpretation as
the original <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portrayal_of_James_Bond_in_film">Agent 007,
James Bond</a>, from 1962 to 1971 (and then in 1983 in the non-official <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Never_Say_Never_Again">Never Say Never
Again</a>).</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgS1Bd4TAjTzAxia7VslQfqvxdzGb_TunmBZnZ3GmoDGGAvigG5AY4e4d4mZiz9r7-EY-Wk_GaBMQfr5S1l0RhpeWAwEAi1gA2blVtVdErfXQhc3XF2yd0LgROk7IOKJ7ZToSK9HmWvNg/s320/NeverSayCloseUp.jpg" /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US">I didn’t
come to appreciate him as Bond until later because, when I was a kid, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Moore">Roger Moore</a> was the
current 007 and, to be honest (and a lot of people will jump on my neck for
writing this down) I prefer <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Craig">Daniel
Craig’s</a> portrayal of the character (there, I said it).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US">When I was
a kid I saw some of Connery’s Bond films, but I actually became a HUGE fan when
he made a spectacular come back as a seriously popular actor in the early-to-mid-eighties
(at age 59 he was named <a href="https://www.eonline.com/photos/10518/people-s-sexiest-man-alive-through-the-years/333479">People
Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive</a> in 1989).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US">He also had
a very interesting, admirable backstory: he was born in Edinburgh to a working
class family and worked very hard, and studied even harder, to gain the level of
culture and education he needed in order to become a serious actor and a proud
representative and advocate of his beloved Scotland.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US">True to
himself, outspoken, sometimes tough and short-tempered, he portrayed the
leading characters and leaders I dreamed about becoming someday, and he always seemed to be comfortable with his own age (at MY age, that's something to look forward to!)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US">I was
particularly influenced by his portrayals as the elegant thief Edward Pierce in
Michael Crichton’s <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_First_Great_Train_Robbery">The Great
Train Robbery</a> (1978),<span> </span>William of
Baskerville in Jean-Jacques Annaud’s <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Name_of_the_Rose_(film)">The Name of
the Rose</a> (1986) and Jimmy Malone in Brian DePalma’s <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Untouchables_(film)">The Untouchables</a>
(1987) -for which he won an Oscar as best supporting actor. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGf7HkslYb1FeFgMJhmaCajswGBf5sVcjuVWDD-LJcAHRw-D_QOgYM-MHgdYB4nN-x-72MEeO4Uon8TZmydnPP2E9WKQbOq2pyaEdydWfHZXL-Ciz5UNp_1QXCwngRV9QSt_gl9bgU9Dc/s320/GreatTrainRobbery.jpg" style="text-align: center;" /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUyMk6LQPu_yum3FZoIHfKrBhHreMacIODwaqBTIIhiUfajTIbaWj4zi7JKNOTq2SCwMWQRt0yjiv8AzlZqz442rEej1wW3j4eP6Jr-YN1m8HDaTiPmh2Ex3GJWx0iBYQgXxVHjUECCts/s320/The+Name+of+the+Rose+%25281986%2529.jpg" style="text-align: right;" /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTVgJ3UUaAfya60-NLMqCR_rs-5NLgbvv3do4emRT1rinP4XCFiRUowuncF6EQ7YUddL2ETzfvsj44X9CHVPRsEWK8MKyKXthPPGWbXlTrdF_pYlNY6Gn-Iu_NYzgyw3nO8a27wikcla8/s320/malonecord-cl1-untouchables.jpg" style="text-align: center;" /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US">And, of course, he played Indiana Jones' dad, Doctor Henry Jones, in Steven Spielberg’s <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiana_Jones_and_the_Last_Crusade">Indiana
Jones and the Last Crusade</a> (19</span>89).</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">“<i>Let
it go, Indiana</i>” is an oft-quoted favorite line of mine.</p><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifJCRc2SIHMnq6N2BUc6bWhbZZ4haPsh4xXML4rywtPfzDzG2OfS1CZTYPvzXo7YD8zbFVp4Ndtk7q3DS94rxwGurcycwLOazU8ea4g0ZBHaJNNArSzV7_VyUUlWl0jycClL3cU9FHxkk/s320/Indiana-Jones-and-the-Last-Crusade-Harrison-Ford-Paramount.jpg" /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US">I always
dreamt about one day meeting him but never had the opportunity; however, I have
the small consolation of having handled the marketing campaign in Mexico for
his last big movie, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_League_of_Extraordinary_Gentlemen_(film)">The
League of Extraordinary Gentlemen</a> (2003).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPxRpauHedd_umjhK2OmGjB1zGIWduy4QrpqXam0i3Zbr9jOMvlB-5Wn-MHAtLThi2WKte9Ilv2_yOmy0QQ0U6wYFCC7JfS7PfVED6TojK9TQxjKLBNzJDA3Q2c9OnRu-KHPtQdcD8uvY/s320/ConneryLXG.jpg" /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">The Batman trifecta: Tim Burton, Danny Elfman and Michael Keaton</h1><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US">Now this is
a story I’ll save for another time, but if you really know me, you’d know I
was cheating if I didn’t at least make a mention of it here.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batman">Batman</a> has always been one of
my favorite comicbook characters and, after watching <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beetlejuice">Beetlejuice</a> and learning
that <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Burton">Tim Burton</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danny_Elfman">Danny Elfman</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Keaton">Michael Keaton</a> were
involved in bringing the character to the big screen for the 1989 film (with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Nicholson">Jack Nicholson</a> as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joker_(character)">the Joker</a>, to boot)...
I guess that’s the closest I’ve ever been to a nerd-gasm in my life.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi7yKJVM1NK5WyUvIF9KHWd7yZf3EnqZrp-tOBA9Snn6vCqdWmdhaAvz8dk3v-7Yg7ngqcJj0xfhAs7oAl3e9kL8hKI278SxydlQDggsRmUDvDcqQ6k3joX5PvsXFh8tCosTjuYvfD_jU/s2560/batman-1989.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2560" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi7yKJVM1NK5WyUvIF9KHWd7yZf3EnqZrp-tOBA9Snn6vCqdWmdhaAvz8dk3v-7Yg7ngqcJj0xfhAs7oAl3e9kL8hKI278SxydlQDggsRmUDvDcqQ6k3joX5PvsXFh8tCosTjuYvfD_jU/w400-h240/batman-1989.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US">A</span>s I said, I’ll
leave the details for another blog. Suffice it to say people thought I was nuts
about how much of a fan I was during my first years in college (a classmate suggested I was just jumping into the bandwagon of the second Bat-craze,
which now that I think back on it, was a very rude and insulting comment).</p><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFi_N-Rhj6xqAVKsUTrziSCIlVQV4U6ylHlOeJg2ECD5YwuinE9uHsYaXQJDhAYu1OLEOJNVulbS6Sw93WbrkkwZzX_ZVulK-W34YmQf21fMGUeFWNUnseaZJ6OSYEqGnNDjjpQ-l5zoU/s320/Batman2.jpg" /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">So there you have them. The most influential actors and characters from my early life.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I guess the traits I picked up from each of them are fairly obvious from what I hightlighted. The only thing left I believe I should mention was that both the characters of Fletch (in the novels) and Magnum exercised regularly, and Sean Connery was a bodybuilder and participated in the 1950 Mr. Universe Contest. As I mentioned before, I was never particularly "sporty" as a kid, so reading about and watching someone you idolize take care of themselves, actually motivated me into keeping in shape myself. I <u><b>hate</b></u> jogging and don't particularly care about exercising, but I force myself to do it regularly and have kept in shape throughout the years, in no small part because of them.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br />If you are still here with me, I thank you for having joined me throughout this trip. <br /><br />Thinking back about this made me think of many warm, happy memories and the p<span style="text-align: left;">eople I
shared them with. And now, looking at my kids, I wonder about who their role
models are and how these will affect their lives.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US">I encourage
you to do this exercise; it might teach you something about yourself (and, if
you are so inclined, share it with me).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US">It’s
amazing how actors, movies and TV shows sometimes shape and reflect who we are. I sometimes wonder if they realize how much of an influence they can
be.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US">It’s a
helluva responsibility and, I guess, a source of huge satisfaction.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US">That’s one
of the many reasons I love showbiz.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmCJHvP2OcM26Zqsg5RKrjJSRRfaVwJxgH6sOxaTMXD7RcHgAIJYbUMJ0yVsPSGaopWZOi9x3_nRuuB1iB0Un_ESkQgk1NyB0aiuXiJ1z0wvKVarE1H8hSDIRa27VjgpalKMzn8vwD3uw/s450/Paramount+Lot.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="450" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmCJHvP2OcM26Zqsg5RKrjJSRRfaVwJxgH6sOxaTMXD7RcHgAIJYbUMJ0yVsPSGaopWZOi9x3_nRuuB1iB0Un_ESkQgk1NyB0aiuXiJ1z0wvKVarE1H8hSDIRa27VjgpalKMzn8vwD3uw/w400-h266/Paramount+Lot.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div>Alberto Llerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10711284520260943046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8067392327608494126.post-35196503256587866192020-05-26T17:58:00.002-07:002020-06-07T22:20:27.471-07:00The Great Digital Marketing Revolution that Wasn’t<br />
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<span style="text-align: start;">Many years ago, in the prehistoric early ‘90’s, I remember strolling through a high-end shopping center and bumping into a then-state-of-the-art </span> <span style="text-align: start;">technology demonstration stand. Their most eye-catching item was a cumbersome Virtual Reality helmet with a clunky graphics’ CG environment (similar, but not exactly, to what I attached below to give you an idea of what it was like).</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7GlPGBYzQg90KVjGuzykQI_uOPaTxve3N7-Lw5pqgd0KmeeBRuP7f713_L1puoqzO4HE0PWJxjS6Dq6X9VzWZnYdO5yVVAyzyQXNCc_tYyew1SaU497LlHv5KaVMUP2FJqfIE24spt6w/s1600/VRHelmet.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="800" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7GlPGBYzQg90KVjGuzykQI_uOPaTxve3N7-Lw5pqgd0KmeeBRuP7f713_L1puoqzO4HE0PWJxjS6Dq6X9VzWZnYdO5yVVAyzyQXNCc_tYyew1SaU497LlHv5KaVMUP2FJqfIE24spt6w/s320/VRHelmet.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCe04W_iDvM6hbk9U3TkRF3WmmLnnezF6Ztrpn4t_dXHsS98biIG8cqL2o2Iq7oS7ttEf1zeqfbdtyfOQK_K9WkpihykfBN134tgHuH5NJUiGe7CJNdGfvVpkF4-jJwtCZ7_qaV6UNI7s/s1600/VREnvironment.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCe04W_iDvM6hbk9U3TkRF3WmmLnnezF6Ztrpn4t_dXHsS98biIG8cqL2o2Iq7oS7ttEf1zeqfbdtyfOQK_K9WkpihykfBN134tgHuH5NJUiGe7CJNdGfvVpkF4-jJwtCZ7_qaV6UNI7s/s320/VREnvironment.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">In the
simulation I experienced, you moved through a crude CGI futuristic town where
you could even climb down the sewers while blasting Alien-Xenomorph-like blocky
aliens. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">When I saw
this, it blew my mind! I thought this was a gigantic digital evolution leap!
The future was here!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">However,
interestingly enough, the technology took a long time to be perfected and actually
engage users. To this day, people still are not used to playing and exploring
virtually inside the “cyberspace” (kids still prefer exploring the new
hyper-real environments displayed on a huge flat screen, than wearing the
currently available, slightly less cumbersome immersive VR technology).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">There are some truly awesome immersive VR experiences that allow for on-site virtual team interaction, requiring a big location and very costly equipment, but these seem to be more of a one-shot fad than an ongoing media regularly explored, let alone used for marketing purposes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Something
similar happened with online advertising. When marketers took hold of the cutting-edge
available technology, they did some spectacular executions that still amaze me
to this day. However, due to restrictions of one kind or another (legal,
corporate, lack of skilled programmers, or the actual digital platforms trying
to have full control of content and tech advancement), these have not been able
to take off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">For me, as
someone constantly looking for innovative ways to promote films, this is
frustrating.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Sometimes
it feels like we make huge leaps forward just to be pushed and held back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">So, after
that brief and slightly disgruntled introduction, here are four spectacular digital
executions from years back that have blown my mind at the time that should have
become commonplace, but are now practically impossible (or dated) to pull off.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">As a big caveat, these executions were mostly done for a desktop experience
(mobile phones and bandwidth were not yet as powerful as they are these days)
and, to be honest, I have no idea how successful they were in terms of
viewership and measurable interaction (probably not very cost effective). Proof of their
success rests in the fact that they still feel like breakthrough executions,
ten years after their implementation, and we are discussing them here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h2>
<span lang="EN-US">Stallone </span><a href="https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/dustin-schoof/2010/08/sylvester_stallone_blows_up_youtube_with_expendables_promo.html"><span lang="EN-US">blows up YouTube</span></a><span lang="EN-US">:<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It was 2010
and YouTube was just 5 years young when <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sylvester_Stallone">Sly Stallone</a> was promoting the first
The Expendables film. If you clicked on a link, he appeared on what seemed like
a regular YouTube interview, when suddenly the small screens with related
videos at the right of the display began reacting aggressively at him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Annoyed, he excused himself and responded, as a surprising, very explosive shootout involving all screens, ensued. Due to current YouTube policies, this (or something similar) is now practically impossible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI_lgn4zEEsXSSFd5Q-2c4xgrk-10c9olr94jb-7_dFAbnkozbhMWOsNEOquQzIk7AC-_fRN2svV2Cw6D5tmz_p027iUhxA8wPOFl1ywH-jf9La9Gm5nnpPmggenZMZspC80gwyYdrX4I/s1600/Stallone1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="334" data-original-width="590" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI_lgn4zEEsXSSFd5Q-2c4xgrk-10c9olr94jb-7_dFAbnkozbhMWOsNEOquQzIk7AC-_fRN2svV2Cw6D5tmz_p027iUhxA8wPOFl1ywH-jf9La9Gm5nnpPmggenZMZspC80gwyYdrX4I/s320/Stallone1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggYtCY_ceS_5BbqsxvS28heWiEV90WldxbxOscj4OLzmWuLeNvk48Lu-bj-s_xsO0Fis-5DOw8deKjS9F3y2Vr7AZRDXo44TXabkl8R__S-vvfF6vCkkpxum1TwegQiNmDtyC2ZLroWCo/s1600/Stallone+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="814" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggYtCY_ceS_5BbqsxvS28heWiEV90WldxbxOscj4OLzmWuLeNvk48Lu-bj-s_xsO0Fis-5DOw8deKjS9F3y2Vr7AZRDXo44TXabkl8R__S-vvfF6vCkkpxum1TwegQiNmDtyC2ZLroWCo/s320/Stallone+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfCW9TbvvKmjg77_rmW1QAbSyiDOxPXPJNPrE37J5gBpW2GWhF3LWBKnIMPlFdaYihRbLE8OLAxNHHcxX8AfYe5tsXXOd7UTXS5Gei1nOjI2eB4zPuBx_V91vaJRaMQu525Ji1dtJ_I4I/s1600/Stallone+3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="228" data-original-width="432" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfCW9TbvvKmjg77_rmW1QAbSyiDOxPXPJNPrE37J5gBpW2GWhF3LWBKnIMPlFdaYihRbLE8OLAxNHHcxX8AfYe5tsXXOd7UTXS5Gei1nOjI2eB4zPuBx_V91vaJRaMQu525Ji1dtJ_I4I/s320/Stallone+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<h2>
<span lang="EN-US">Carmen
Electra has a crush on you!</span></h2>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Way back in
2008 when promoting the movie Meet the Spartans, a film with not a particularly
hefty budget, mind you, the studio’s digital advertising team came up with a
sophisticated, fun, </span><a href="https://www.viralblog.com/mobile-and-apps/carmen-electra-has-a-crush-on-you/"><span lang="EN-US">interactive experience</span></a><span lang="EN-US"> where users could input a friend’s
name, phone number and photo.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Their friend received a link to an interview with
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carmen_Electra">Carmen Electra</a> where she confessed her secret crush, which turned out to be
that person! Carmen would show the “victim’s” digitally inserted name to the
camera and his photograph on her wallet. Then, the target would receive a
synched phone call from Carmen Electra inviting him to see the film. Sheer
brilliance! One would think such interactive, personalized stunts featuring
talent would have become commonplace after 12 years… but no. This was a rare,
spectacular stunt, which today would be stupidly expensive, if not legally
prohibitive for the use of a third person’s shared information. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It should
be noted that a similar digital stunt was used that same year for </span><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/jul/09/digitalmedia.television"><span lang="EN-US">TV’s Dexter</span></a><span lang="EN-US"> and through recent years in </span><a href="https://afreevideofromsantaclaus.packagefromsanta.com/"><span lang="EN-US">the customizable Santa videos</span></a><span lang="EN-US"> popular during the Holiday season.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyGT9LyxkVWH515Y7FWS2uzyGg-NuDLwjOBhn6Tjd4c1vjon1K_jbx4TYpbNyNk5ArQU_b8aTNFkAiA5TOJP4FXC8nl37XdIx8nDJAiNJ5UvzvDYO8UrVAxWnIcPs0jRla9rr1ibZ-NgQ/s1600/CarmenElectra1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="490" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyGT9LyxkVWH515Y7FWS2uzyGg-NuDLwjOBhn6Tjd4c1vjon1K_jbx4TYpbNyNk5ArQU_b8aTNFkAiA5TOJP4FXC8nl37XdIx8nDJAiNJ5UvzvDYO8UrVAxWnIcPs0jRla9rr1ibZ-NgQ/s400/CarmenElectra1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<h2>
<span lang="EN-US">Chaos in
your town </span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">In 2011 <b><a href="https://www.statefarm.com/">State Farm</a></b> insurance’s advertising team
created an </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCPzfIABvZU"><span lang="EN-US">ingenious interactive experience</span></a><span lang="EN-US"> where you could input your address (or
that of a friend’s house) and unleash a giant robot to deliver a message of
unexpected destruction, using actual Google street view images from the
real-life location!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjInqICa54C08eIU08noWt_TvxgzPFeCvGJm1FOdt1y0aPZJsXEDe-64xZ74-dE4EjXqgBfrJvyv4h2028YLLVfNws3X_Fkn31lqyXXnguFjeemoLQHaAemaqKR1MkKpY4iGfTHM5XZBkw/s1600/Statefarm1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="527" data-original-width="947" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjInqICa54C08eIU08noWt_TvxgzPFeCvGJm1FOdt1y0aPZJsXEDe-64xZ74-dE4EjXqgBfrJvyv4h2028YLLVfNws3X_Fkn31lqyXXnguFjeemoLQHaAemaqKR1MkKpY4iGfTHM5XZBkw/s320/Statefarm1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4t1pvo8biS74TwPogyvyB_-2jZuwmHDlXkcJUTK75NJd7m_GR9_3WBTB-F4v86YlztvawW_AQF8WEbmQpU5-5z5ZezZ38iB5LPP50yxRImQD016xwL1TYtxDKPfWuQgdItq5ymBYPDMw/s1600/Statefarm2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="1500" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4t1pvo8biS74TwPogyvyB_-2jZuwmHDlXkcJUTK75NJd7m_GR9_3WBTB-F4v86YlztvawW_AQF8WEbmQpU5-5z5ZezZ38iB5LPP50yxRImQD016xwL1TYtxDKPfWuQgdItq5ymBYPDMw/s320/Statefarm2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The stunt
was successful enough to prompt a </span><a href="https://adage.com/creativity/work/chaos-your-town-mobile-iad/32918"><span lang="EN-US">sequel</span></a><span lang="EN-US"> using a mobile app and AR technology. I haven’t
seen this level of engagement and interactivity in years (and again, if you
tried this today, it would probably cost millions to develop).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"></span></div>
<h2>
<a href="http://www.jibjab.com/"><span lang="EN-US">Jib Jab</span></a><span lang="EN-US"> interactive e-cards<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5iCFAes_QuigDFmxCF28Dz7pBu73SqhMI7xzxYXBko3Ibx7sIaVMZPik6rXIYaMK-XwRpBn6vNAEP_Yr-qnpO5jmQCi2mrzBqUK5ctN17yP8sQHeFwAreNPFwReD1reMhaRsj4taFSV4/s1600/Elf1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="246" data-original-width="404" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5iCFAes_QuigDFmxCF28Dz7pBu73SqhMI7xzxYXBko3Ibx7sIaVMZPik6rXIYaMK-XwRpBn6vNAEP_Yr-qnpO5jmQCi2mrzBqUK5ctN17yP8sQHeFwAreNPFwReD1reMhaRsj4taFSV4/s320/Elf1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">This one has
not really disappeared, only underused, from my point of view.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Jib Jab’s
interactive cards have been around<b> since
2007</b> and I remember a High School Musical template that was really fun.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The
technology to create template shareable videos where you can insert and animate
your face along with those of your friends and family seems like a sure-fire
tool to promote movies. However, for some reason or another (usually
stratospheric development costs) have made partnering with the company very
difficult.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Additionally, the visuals and interactivity style have not been updated in years, which makes these interactive clips’ style decidedly
dated, with newer interactive platforms, like Tik Tok, having taken its
place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3VlVS97espaMtYgmM7BSy_Zi58jBzaH-6NAWlexREv7pmyTKOzRHIszLNULfsjs3LyqZPBofI56WCBBtgO_fPpEZWcUnMIf9YgLNVd6rtQOXjI5ePJJ3ZQBPnbOR3-jrKKwbnxcsRZnE/s1600/JibJab.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="480" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3VlVS97espaMtYgmM7BSy_Zi58jBzaH-6NAWlexREv7pmyTKOzRHIszLNULfsjs3LyqZPBofI56WCBBtgO_fPpEZWcUnMIf9YgLNVd6rtQOXjI5ePJJ3ZQBPnbOR3-jrKKwbnxcsRZnE/s320/JibJab.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">So there
you have them, four digital stunts that seemed to be a turning point in
interactivity, but weren’t.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Nowadays
you’ve got face recognition, deep fake technology, filters, more accurate
geo-localization and improved VR and AR technology, however for some reason it
has become harder and harder (and not cost-effective) to create this type of
engaging digital experiences, as technology platform owners and legal
regulations tighten their grip on developers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">In my
profession, we must seek ways to push the envelope, finding the best,
cost-effective ways to capitalize on our Intellectual Properties and talent
availability.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Meanwhile,
today’s market seems to be limited to shopping around for the current trend
(snapchat filters, TikTok videos, or candy crush/fruit ninja styled
games), instead of creating new, truly original and engaging interactive
experiences.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The
technology and talented programmers seem to be there. We only need to listen to
our maverick spirit to pull us away from the flock and drive us to explore
uncharted territory, while navigating the corporate pitfalls, legal
entanglement and the established social platforms’ chokehold.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvkqaGONjol7hGeCC0aGLtzhofEnERLXLLPt6xJV7_8v4AR_X0XvFQZ7zKOLkGY3rbEGRtssFuUxEVt69qluOvMn6ZhfvbXsVsZOdg_RDgHSC9-GWXT__Py4I63ybvwJ5NbIFHAhlMh3E/s1600/tom-cruise-top-gun-original.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="1500" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvkqaGONjol7hGeCC0aGLtzhofEnERLXLLPt6xJV7_8v4AR_X0XvFQZ7zKOLkGY3rbEGRtssFuUxEVt69qluOvMn6ZhfvbXsVsZOdg_RDgHSC9-GWXT__Py4I63ybvwJ5NbIFHAhlMh3E/s400/tom-cruise-top-gun-original.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">There is a
lot of innovating to do on the ongoing digital Revolution.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">If we
don’t do the conquering, who will?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Alberto Llerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10711284520260943046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8067392327608494126.post-25082550940479046432019-06-14T21:55:00.000-07:002019-06-15T06:57:38.195-07:00A Long Overdue Farewell<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s been a
year and a half since I left <a href="https://www.foxmovies.com/" target="_blank">20th Century Fox</a> and, until now, I hadn’t had the
time or the inspiration to formally say goodbye.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">As a quick
backstory, after a few years at various creative jobs in advertising and production,
I started my career in the movie industry in February 2000 when I joined <a href="http://www.uip.com/" target="_blank">United International Pictures (UIP)</a> as Media Manager.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgOie6KZ-palom0kmBzRHYRR09lNcIBml6-4ySmOEQHibVPHUveCHaZZRJCccs3ER8Ej53drcoaoPwk0q1TMHepE2cJQgznahHPym0M1JGhHzrIqd5m6kn4k6sSsbUNRyRO_O2acLq7c4/s1600/uip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgOie6KZ-palom0kmBzRHYRR09lNcIBml6-4ySmOEQHibVPHUveCHaZZRJCccs3ER8Ej53drcoaoPwk0q1TMHepE2cJQgznahHPym0M1JGhHzrIqd5m6kn4k6sSsbUNRyRO_O2acLq7c4/s200/uip.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The now gone
UIP distributed films from <a href="https://www.paramount.com/" target="_blank">Paramount</a>, <a href="https://www.dreamworksanimation.com/" target="_blank">Dreamworks</a>, <a href="https://www.universalpictures.com/" target="_blank">Universal Pictures</a> and <a href="https://www.mgm.com/" target="_blank">MGM</a>. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Back then, I believed I had struck career gold by getting a job at the industry
I had always loved, so I was devastated when, less than two years later, I had
to leave and move to Miami, Florida, due to personal issues.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">While I was
making that hard decision, a good friend (she happened to be my boss at the
time) told me that you had to move on and not dwell in the past, as nothing in
this industry (or the World, for that matter) was certain. Who would have guessed
those words would prove to be so prophetic?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I spent six
very interesting months in Miami, both very happy and very stressed, as my
first son was born, but I couldn’t secure a steady job and the bills began to
pile up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">As money
was running out, I got an unexpected call inviting me to return to Mexico to a
job at Fox (the same friend who told me about uncertainty had recommended me
and, for that, I will forever be grateful). That happened in 2003.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Joining Fox
felt like lightning had struck twice: it seemed incredible I had the
opportunity to get back to the movie industry!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I spent
over fourteen years there, first as Media Manager and then as Marketing
Director.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">When I
joined, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Rothman" target="_blank">Tom Rothman</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Gianopulos" target="_blank">Jim Gianopulos</a> were co-chairmen, while Paul Hanneman
and Tomas Jegeus ran international distribution.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I was
thrilled to work for the same studio that released films I loved growing up
with: the<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planet_of_the_Apes_(1968_film)" target="_blank"> Planet of the Apes</a> original films, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars_(film)" target="_blank">Star Wars</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alien_(film)" target="_blank">Alien</a>, among
countless other classics.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A few years
passed before I finally got the chance to visit the lot in Century City, right
next to what we called “Nakatomi Plaza” (the Fox Plaza building featured in the
first <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Die_Hard" target="_blank">Die Hard</a> film) as well as the retro-futuristic streets and pedestrian
bridges I watched invaded by simian rebels on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conquest_of_the_Planet_of_the_Apes" target="_blank">Conquest of the Planet of theApes</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">While
visiting for our periodic international summits, I had some very exciting and
unforgettable experiences:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I got to
meet <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Cruise" target="_blank">Tom Cruise</a> for the first time, as well as the cast from the original two <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fantastic_Four_(2005_film)" target="_blank">Fantastic Four</a> films. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sean_Penn" target="_blank">Sean Penn</a> walked right by our table while having breakfast in a hotel in Santa
Monica. I attended a meeting with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gore_Verbinski" target="_blank">Gore Verbinski </a>and, walking out, had a casual
bump into none other than <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_Beatty" target="_blank">Warren Beatty</a> (a big thank you to our friend Wayne
Duband for introducing us). <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ridley_Scott" target="_blank">Ridley Scott</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_Stone" target="_blank">Oliver Stone</a>, among many other
filmmakers, presented their films to us at the Zanuck and the Small Theaters. I
met and worked with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_Katzenberg" target="_blank">Jeffrey Katzenberg</a> and even had a quick chat during a cocktail party with
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Cameron" target="_blank">James Cameron</a> at the Intercontinental Hotel… these are just a few of the many anecdotes
I fondly remember, and that’s not counting the huge amount of star talent (too
many to list here) we got to host in Mexico for various tours and premieres.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Walking
through the lot, I envied (in a good way) everyone lucky enough to work there
every day.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Even when I
never fulfilled my dream of actually working there -God knows I tried, but the
stars never seemed to align- I attended many meetings, screenings and cocktail
parties in those grounds. I also got to smoke and read a few scripts on the
concrete benches lining the walkways between the sound stages, while I watched
people go by their everyday exciting production business.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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I loved the
larger-than-life murals adorning the walls with art from the Empire Strikes
Back, The Sound of Music, The Seven Year Itch, Die Hard, Young Frankenstein and
even The Simpsons!</div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I had lunch
a few times at the historic commissary and always made sure I made a stop to
buy a few souvenirs, books and Blu Ray movies at the small studio store (it was always a
treat to visit and get an employee discount!).</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimd3ZzpY0IU0OWqGvXipDzqaSNZ5eHACcOl_GvMP1icSShwE30Pzpiza86YNkhUCSR2NCwKWGutZszb-0AzXr4ryy0FRT82pqw8O8JYolYztWtmWxe9FIC2lGc_14DxI8q_5tiZVvZVgI/s1600/fct4383-776-Hollywood-0006-Fox-Lot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="742" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimd3ZzpY0IU0OWqGvXipDzqaSNZ5eHACcOl_GvMP1icSShwE30Pzpiza86YNkhUCSR2NCwKWGutZszb-0AzXr4ryy0FRT82pqw8O8JYolYztWtmWxe9FIC2lGc_14DxI8q_5tiZVvZVgI/s320/fct4383-776-Hollywood-0006-Fox-Lot.jpg" width="316" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The studio
slowly began to change, first with the departure of Tom Rothman, followed by
the arrival of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stacey_Snider" target="_blank">Stacey Snider</a> (who, at first, I was thrilled to meet after reading
about her previous career) and the final nail in the coffin: the ultimate
departure of Jim G.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">After that,
the writing was on the wall. You could feel things were stirring in the air,
and not in a good way. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">For those
and many other reasons, I was both sad and relieved when I had to leave for the
last time the new but smaller Fox offices in Mexico City in September 2017 (we
had only moved there a few months prior from our nicer digs at the Emerald
Tower a couple of blocks away).</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I left some good friends behind, but I knew
then, as I know today, that the memories I made there will keep me company ‘till
the last day of my life (and hopefully even after that… if you believe in such
things).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Soon after,
I was lucky enough to secure a job at Paramount (yes, unbelievably and against
all odds, lightning struck <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">thrice</i>!)
just at the same time as the news of the Disney/Fox takeover broke. It seemed I
had only experienced the first symptoms of what would become a terminal
condition: 20th Century Fox, as I had come to know it, would be no more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn8iXBd9h5uQ8kQBal3JELznMqPrfrG3T_Uts5rI3Cx38NLMtXJB0PGOm-tlC8UVAYXnU70ZRqBexfSYVHC5AFhzlI-DDASfBzGSsoizTE5hBmASKGy1k2H9MihSzOqvyVe9UmEi2_E20/s1600/Sparrow+Farewell.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="207" data-original-width="500" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn8iXBd9h5uQ8kQBal3JELznMqPrfrG3T_Uts5rI3Cx38NLMtXJB0PGOm-tlC8UVAYXnU70ZRqBexfSYVHC5AFhzlI-DDASfBzGSsoizTE5hBmASKGy1k2H9MihSzOqvyVe9UmEi2_E20/s320/Sparrow+Farewell.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I’m happy
to say I’ve stayed friends with many of the wonderful people I met at the
Studio, and I’m sure they will all land on their feet after the dust settles
(they are too talented not to).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I am proud to have been part of that amazing Studio’s story (serving there 14 of its 84
years).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have fond memories I will
always treasure and friends I know will be part of my life for a long time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">At
Paramount and Viacom we are hard at work creating the future of entertainment,
as the playfield and the players continue to shift and change -just like our
own Transformers- into a whole new, different beast.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The times
are a-changin’, as Bob Dylan once said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">People are
changing, entertainment is changing… but hopefully, there will always be a
place for us: As long as we actively seek for it, the final frontier will be
there waiting to be explored.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgNt7PnTyY3kYXXHUDYlxmQQ7DFzrIOz-F_0rQanj8aMSUZhyMx0cSiSiIxWtmWwPaHlAZ8ccbvs1E-1Gvti_fX9ZGdNnRGuFH-KHY1Nfr0ynsVCbwP7hQXkGXOB-1lDUwiNlm5CgPBcI/s1600/8797b4e00c65ac5ac65b3b8affb9ce09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgNt7PnTyY3kYXXHUDYlxmQQ7DFzrIOz-F_0rQanj8aMSUZhyMx0cSiSiIxWtmWwPaHlAZ8ccbvs1E-1Gvti_fX9ZGdNnRGuFH-KHY1Nfr0ynsVCbwP7hQXkGXOB-1lDUwiNlm5CgPBcI/s320/8797b4e00c65ac5ac65b3b8affb9ce09.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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As for the
20<sup>th</sup> Century Fox that once was:</div>
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<br /></div>
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Thanks for
the memories.</div>
<br />Alberto Llerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10711284520260943046noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8067392327608494126.post-67244754486300243362018-03-04T10:32:00.001-08:002018-03-04T11:06:28.174-08:00The Bond Verdict: And my personal favorite James Bond film ever is…<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; margin-bottom: 8.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Recently
I had some brief but unexpected additional free time, so among many other
things I decided to catch up on my movie library (there were quite a few
films I hadn’t watched since I got them long ago). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Among these was my 2012
issued 50</span><sup style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">th</sup><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> Anniversary James Bond BluRay collectors’ edition. It
includes all official Bond Films (with the exception of Skyfall and Spectre,
which I bought at a later date, and the unofficial Never Say Never Again -a
Thunderball remake starring Sean Connery).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Before
I write down my choice, here are some caveats for anyone who decides to do the
same exercise:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; margin-bottom: 8.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 105%;">You
have to watch these taking into consideration the time period when they were
made: Dr. No, for example, was the granddaddy of the modern era spy action
films, so there are a lot of elements that now might seem clichéd, but were
quite revolutionary for its time (so much so that it did launch one of the
longest-running movie franchises).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 105%;">Technical
issues should not be considered. There was a lot of green screen and very evident stunt-double work on the first films which were standard moviemaking at the time.
Also, each film represents a time period and reflects that period’s
sensibilities.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; margin-bottom: 8.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 105%;">Taking
all that into consideration, my very personal opinion comes from the level of
enjoyment each film gave as a movie (interesting characters, engaging acting,
humor, drama, provocative scenes, exciting action, interesting gadgets, eye catching
locations…)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 105%;">So,
drumroll please… my favorite all-time Bond film is:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguCl9wAYOXGt-DNKfpD_foRge4d9JzpBiQJMTcU9TG5pB72DaIrzndLroxXGbygLK3QR9R78eOxtVwYx4HgbiQIOviPDPpkqUp5GRLDC1Cbg_TChjEfn_S497TVzn1Sm8k4rXiDZpvHXs/s1600/BOND-007-Skyfall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="403" data-original-width="650" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguCl9wAYOXGt-DNKfpD_foRge4d9JzpBiQJMTcU9TG5pB72DaIrzndLroxXGbygLK3QR9R78eOxtVwYx4HgbiQIOviPDPpkqUp5GRLDC1Cbg_TChjEfn_S497TVzn1Sm8k4rXiDZpvHXs/s320/BOND-007-Skyfall.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Skyfall.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; margin-bottom: 8.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 105%;">Yup.
Skyfall: it has everything you want from a Bond film: great acting, a spectacular
opening sequence, a truly engaging story (it feels very personal for the
characters, and the stakes are high in many levels), a memorable villain (Javier
Bardem’s sinister baddie is one of, if not <i>the</i>,
best), exciting action, surprising twists, eye popping locations
(the neon lit scenes in Shanghai and the Casino in Macau really stand out, but
the more quiet scenes with the Scottish landscapes as backdrop near the end are
breathtaking), the iconic Aston Martin, beautiful women, <a href="https://youtu.be/q-gLRp5bSpw" target="_blank">one of the best Bond theme songs ever –performed by Adele-</a>… it truly is a tight piece, not only as a
Bond vehicle, but as a film in general. Also, it’s the first one where the
classic Bond elements come together after Daniel Craig took over and the
franchise was rebooted.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB9VxVNFBY2JW9tWhLD-fA9Fo73QIOqrFCN99VL6z9naF5nETQ9tPCdKRhhVP7kEKwYbHIXXNOP8XvFG0fX1PeZDq7ItVnhrgGj4SxoazoQS5rFUQa8CAzSyu708gih2mTJoo9IyU_500/s1600/skyfall_gun_hha0sa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB9VxVNFBY2JW9tWhLD-fA9Fo73QIOqrFCN99VL6z9naF5nETQ9tPCdKRhhVP7kEKwYbHIXXNOP8XvFG0fX1PeZDq7ItVnhrgGj4SxoazoQS5rFUQa8CAzSyu708gih2mTJoo9IyU_500/s320/skyfall_gun_hha0sa.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuewsteJgo-zoHIBij5riAJ1ULCU59yS7yRlrSZ6DVfJBLj83LTLUCFtJznpa-K591adwxJqoFcVaYL8NWNv-B5ExYBDvw0VFOu7MRmo2q0P3-tGcn98u82pnSNzOmE05RoN5uasvMC94/s1600/MacauCasinoSkyfall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuewsteJgo-zoHIBij5riAJ1ULCU59yS7yRlrSZ6DVfJBLj83LTLUCFtJznpa-K591adwxJqoFcVaYL8NWNv-B5ExYBDvw0VFOu7MRmo2q0P3-tGcn98u82pnSNzOmE05RoN5uasvMC94/s320/MacauCasinoSkyfall.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Everyone
knows I’m a huge Sean Connery fan and I thoroughly enjoyed all his Bond films
(Goldfinger is my second favorite in the series and probably the most iconic
spy genre film ever), but I liked him even better in his later, post-Bond
performances.</span><br />
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</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWHypFGMZz1i9XdMtjfrjv1ST6Fbugw2uGsj2KSWf6IVyjFTR1D4sgqzxoYZBVTbJO9EnGv7m29a8kAySus1TKUHys2WK9J177iTELPzkWeQ4uDsSjl46tDgRVOzRmVEIDNtBTJNwrZZU/s1600/goldfinger-laser.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="956" data-original-width="1600" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWHypFGMZz1i9XdMtjfrjv1ST6Fbugw2uGsj2KSWf6IVyjFTR1D4sgqzxoYZBVTbJO9EnGv7m29a8kAySus1TKUHys2WK9J177iTELPzkWeQ4uDsSjl46tDgRVOzRmVEIDNtBTJNwrZZU/s400/goldfinger-laser.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Just
a quick note to mention that it’s impressive how they managed to sustain this
franchise for so many years… watching the behind-the-scenes featurettes it’s evident
they were aware they needed to keep revamping the character very early on (this,
and the promise of how the new Bond girl would be an equal match to Bond, were
staples of most of these interviews). Also, the painstaking process of choosing
every actor for each time period is evident. Connery, Lazenby (yeah, even him),
Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig were all inspired
casting decisions. They are all effective and did an adequate job in the
vehicles they were given.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikATN8XLeM9QbBKkd-tAbs6r2RBDXOeANGsygIKMD8CNLiJ30g-4PG2HqFrOBiXbD02kvUjKF8lgEgv6VKhuJeA61yrmRxvq3Ay88HrOQlK0UYNGvdin3pmdKR-mEn4rZNZPXTfuwtekw/s1600/AllBonds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="580" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikATN8XLeM9QbBKkd-tAbs6r2RBDXOeANGsygIKMD8CNLiJ30g-4PG2HqFrOBiXbD02kvUjKF8lgEgv6VKhuJeA61yrmRxvq3Ay88HrOQlK0UYNGvdin3pmdKR-mEn4rZNZPXTfuwtekw/s400/AllBonds.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">But
yes, Connery and Daniel Craig stand out from the pack as the most accomplished
and believable (if such a thing is possible) Bonds.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI1RrpZQwxXmX5cyht-NbuOdxZSN5hrK70IuyDcxxKQzCxPdMt-FRTsg3xQgeua9bDABt4BDSKWibFKywLU6Ud0wUPsWxifEiVdKVb88YxcgSyfi4fp0w-tT97E08wNtnVgKvrb4OJk58/s1600/connery_car2_wide-a42fb3044fbb4941b3b4836403cfc9407f8c3397-s900-c85.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="900" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI1RrpZQwxXmX5cyht-NbuOdxZSN5hrK70IuyDcxxKQzCxPdMt-FRTsg3xQgeua9bDABt4BDSKWibFKywLU6Ud0wUPsWxifEiVdKVb88YxcgSyfi4fp0w-tT97E08wNtnVgKvrb4OJk58/s320/connery_car2_wide-a42fb3044fbb4941b3b4836403cfc9407f8c3397-s900-c85.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; margin-bottom: 8.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 105%;">So
there you go. To each his own. And for me Skyfall is the best Bond movie ever.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 105%;">Bond
will surely be back (and hopefully, so will I).<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEH_sNYFDQe6XhnbD7vWz8XvUGYuyNndUc1JoPe4G3HFtDspVMhT1XIKT5CZoUIOC9GZIBHA2iPeoQkruBd7oUlTeC76ZLwuUIAp6ilhBJBNIXQcML19ygLGd2ZGNdtlPoxrciK_RI91I/s1600/12108139_10153641653572319_7116592871498376815_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="718" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEH_sNYFDQe6XhnbD7vWz8XvUGYuyNndUc1JoPe4G3HFtDspVMhT1XIKT5CZoUIOC9GZIBHA2iPeoQkruBd7oUlTeC76ZLwuUIAp6ilhBJBNIXQcML19ygLGd2ZGNdtlPoxrciK_RI91I/s320/12108139_10153641653572319_7116592871498376815_n.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
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Alberto Llerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10711284520260943046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8067392327608494126.post-85906991607189533302017-10-13T16:27:00.002-07:002020-06-01T11:22:56.779-07:00The character sex-change, white washing issue<div class="Cuerpo">
Maybe it’s
because I was born and raised in Mexico, but there’s been an interesting
phenomenon in the media (mostly in the US) that I can’t but marvel at, due to
the apparent complexities and cultural ramifications.</div>
<div class="Cuerpo">
<br /></div>
<div class="Cuerpo">
<span lang="EN-US">I’ll try to
make my case without being insensitive or offensive, however I believe I need
to give a bit of background information on my upbringing just to clarify where
this is all coming from:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Cuerpo">
<br /></div>
<div class="Cuerpo">
<span lang="EN-US">I’m a gen-Xer
through and through. I was born and raised in the seventies, while my teens
took place through the 80’s.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Cuerpo">
<br /></div>
<div class="Cuerpo">
<span lang="EN-US">I grew up
watching, among many other things, Warner Bros cartoons with abundant racial
stereotypes that would seem unthinkable under today’s political correctness’
standards: there were slow-talking black skinned manservants and cannibals,
bucktoothed and spectacled oriental characters, and Mexicans (yeah, that’s us) portrayed
as lazy zarape-wearing, sombreroed smartasses who spent the day sitting next to
a cactus in the company of a donkey. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Cuerpo">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxNniBknSkM2CRpZckWif5STA-J61DzgGyQGEPfgSgA1e9UQ5_V8ipcWEMsxRFn0KE5xXrn5SnKkpnh45Fqmg7rCP2Qmd54AvdDqNKBVu-xHmIrnli5JTtAZmgmIV24KJ0aZ9WsWeufzs/s1600/Don-Donald.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="662" data-original-width="904" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxNniBknSkM2CRpZckWif5STA-J61DzgGyQGEPfgSgA1e9UQ5_V8ipcWEMsxRFn0KE5xXrn5SnKkpnh45Fqmg7rCP2Qmd54AvdDqNKBVu-xHmIrnli5JTtAZmgmIV24KJ0aZ9WsWeufzs/s320/Don-Donald.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I was also
blessed growing up right after the worst part of the human rights movements, which
made it possible to enjoy a wide variety of shows that made it a point to be inclusive,
without forcing themselves into being so: Star Trek, Sesame Street, Fat Albert,
The Jeffersons, Different Strokes, Ultraman, Cometo-san, The Cosby Show (yeah, that one's made a horrible turn recently), A
Different World, Arsenio Hall...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKNGbcUl-siJaCoVevfg7CIjt7AyPW35YdLD2UrljHXnH-yUQeJlgYtvSYu_0eu0O7rDhjDeXhVyLwWHms4oLYFTl41P8rG4kuNqqfiPsSMeLU6IvEXMxhjD02Spn2rVDtlHtIxzlo3X0/s1600/tmg-facebook_social.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="557" data-original-width="780" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKNGbcUl-siJaCoVevfg7CIjt7AyPW35YdLD2UrljHXnH-yUQeJlgYtvSYu_0eu0O7rDhjDeXhVyLwWHms4oLYFTl41P8rG4kuNqqfiPsSMeLU6IvEXMxhjD02Spn2rVDtlHtIxzlo3X0/s320/tmg-facebook_social.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Last night I
re-watched the 1973 James Bond film <b>Live and Let Die</b>, and was amazed at the
black and redneck stereotypes portrayed, but back in the day we didn’t give a
second thought about it; it was, like all James Bond films of the time, a
caricature of their era.</div>
<div class="Cuerpo">
<br /></div>
<div class="Cuerpo">
<span lang="EN-US">At least for
me, race has never been an issue: in Mexico our prejudice problems are rooted
in cultural, education and economic differences. So, when I saw all those
stereotypes mentioned above back then, I took them as non-offensive caricatures
that helped us understand our cultural differences and historical roles. I
never judged a person of a certain background based on these, as I didn’t
expect myself to be judged based on Speedy Gonzalez (a character I love and
don’t really feel offended by... but then, I’ve always been good at taking a joke).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Cuerpo">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK-SjGgwWgx3ihrmNr4I-YFzqnqcMMDlxtPYEjtL24YWg8VO1UrK18hI8hGYM6Dkc87lzzjsWq4YkLeSaF8IsEBr-ds1yv_MYnycYAZISV4f6HKR3o50GDvjsm3MdEjtNerqmL1kSlkR4/s1600/Speedy_Gonzales.svg.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="816" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK-SjGgwWgx3ihrmNr4I-YFzqnqcMMDlxtPYEjtL24YWg8VO1UrK18hI8hGYM6Dkc87lzzjsWq4YkLeSaF8IsEBr-ds1yv_MYnycYAZISV4f6HKR3o50GDvjsm3MdEjtNerqmL1kSlkR4/s320/Speedy_Gonzales.svg.png" width="255" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="Cuerpo">
<span lang="EN-US">As for sex… I
was raised in a family that developed through the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s (I’m the
youngest of seven brothers and sisters). Even when my dad was what might be
considered a “Mexican macho”, someone who believed women were supposed to get
married and raise their children, my sisters rebelled and were very much
pro-women’s lib.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Cuerpo">
<br /></div>
<div class="Cuerpo">
<span lang="EN-US">So, my view is
very inclusive regarding sex, race and religion (I’m agnostic). So, these
recent explosive reactions (disguised as “liberal” stands) towards people
expressing their personal points of view seem radical, and sometimes even
fascist, to me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Cuerpo">
<br /></div>
<div class="Cuerpo">
<span lang="EN-US">The point is:
yeah, we are different, and that’s what makes us interesting. Having good fun
with these differences doesn’t make us bigots or racists; making fun helps us
understand and celebrate our cultural backgrounds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Cuerpo">
<br /></div>
<div class="Cuerpo">
<span lang="EN-US">The problem,
of course, is that there’s a fine line between “laughing with” and “laughing
at” someone. I honestly believe that if we are all on the same page we can have
fun at each other’s expense without being offensive (take a look at this video
of Don Rickles making fun of a roomful of entertainment people from various
ethnic backgrounds… I don’t think it was ever meant to be offensive, it’s
totally the opposite, and it’s hilarious). Thanks to my nephew Ricardo Llera for sharing it.<o:p></o:p></span><br /><br /></div><div class="Cuerpo">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BtQdW7KVjkI" width="320" youtube-src-id="BtQdW7KVjkI"></iframe></div></div><div class="Cuerpo"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="Cuerpo">
<span lang="EN-US">Nowadays they’ve
gone to the opposite extreme of political correctness in the US: everyone must
be extra careful not to say anything that might be taken as offensive to other
races, sex or religion. It’s hard to define what is and what isn’t correct
(especially for someone who lives out of the States) but, honestly, I think this
has been taken to ridiculous extremes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Cuerpo">
<br /></div>
<div class="Cuerpo">
<span lang="EN-US">Now it’s
commonplace to have celebrities and politicians publicly excusing themselves
for something they said or tweeted, and for various social groups to scream
bloody murder at anything that might remotely offend them (and granted, there
are the extremist groups and individuals that do say things to openly offend,
making matters worse). Recently actor
Jeffrey Dean Morgan was digitally lynched through social networks for wearing a
<b>Blue Lives Matter</b> T-shirt (which
supports the Police). He had to go on explaining where that T-shirt had come
from and that wearing it didn’t mean he was against the <b>Black Lives Matter</b> movement… everyone matters, was his final
thought. People are so eager to jump into the hate band-wagon these days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Cuerpo">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3yQSmuIuVRCKQOklxpAND-TZaq53VJ8pacbacxr4z8Cb_EWOB9_vNejNVPHTL1IMtTV9M1Fzdy1guUZi3d35Frnp0XRtTn63mQeHtmxoAmIYBYsLcK5P-51kC8o9FXFUfGpMq5RKuE_M/s1600/jeffery-dean-morgan-instagram.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="456" data-original-width="940" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3yQSmuIuVRCKQOklxpAND-TZaq53VJ8pacbacxr4z8Cb_EWOB9_vNejNVPHTL1IMtTV9M1Fzdy1guUZi3d35Frnp0XRtTn63mQeHtmxoAmIYBYsLcK5P-51kC8o9FXFUfGpMq5RKuE_M/s320/jeffery-dean-morgan-instagram.png" width="320" /></a></div>
These are sad
and dangerous times for freedom of speech.</div>
<div class="Cuerpo">
<br /></div>
<div class="Cuerpo">
<span lang="EN-US">Which brings
me to the shallow, superficial main subject I want to address today: the
sex/race change of well-known fictional characters… Why?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Cuerpo">
<br /></div>
<div class="Cuerpo">
<span lang="EN-US">As a pop
culture fan, I couldn’t understand why Josh Trank suddenly decided to make up a
whole different character background story for Fox’s terrible Fant4stic Four
reboot, making Johnny Storm African-American and Susan an adopted child… and now we have a
female Doctor Who, and some people vying to have James Bond portrayed by a
black man or even a woman, just to make the character more “inclusive”. I wonder
what those same people would think if they made Luke Cage Japanese, the Falcon
German and have Black Panther portrayed by Charlize Theron.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Cuerpo">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3RF0KvcN0Ci4x02eyJ1BFnThbTd7txFE1zFjBxwBwQ5f5kuhtk6grDv0aQb-sS58zabf-XUIQgMc1SW0Ba7Jarinirwo88IRFwe6RW7PHRuwwUjIvcZRhyphenhyphenSmc4UYz65k4wq7CVO7nPIA/s1600/fantastic-four3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="404" data-original-width="640" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3RF0KvcN0Ci4x02eyJ1BFnThbTd7txFE1zFjBxwBwQ5f5kuhtk6grDv0aQb-sS58zabf-XUIQgMc1SW0Ba7Jarinirwo88IRFwe6RW7PHRuwwUjIvcZRhyphenhyphenSmc4UYz65k4wq7CVO7nPIA/s320/fantastic-four3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5igJqSUvjqsk5ktxpxNUxHm-IHg5pydcjiwuZAxSkqWVB45WDQ2ppQLMVUdvC_OemHWHEbPdvsTqF4_9sx6P7e-hQ1aG2WWPIoO5SWVBUP8T7SUsx80FSlSAqO_EeouvY3sCt6PwGZ5k/s1600/fantastic-four-jack-kirby.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="487" data-original-width="1200" height="129" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5igJqSUvjqsk5ktxpxNUxHm-IHg5pydcjiwuZAxSkqWVB45WDQ2ppQLMVUdvC_OemHWHEbPdvsTqF4_9sx6P7e-hQ1aG2WWPIoO5SWVBUP8T7SUsx80FSlSAqO_EeouvY3sCt6PwGZ5k/s320/fantastic-four-jack-kirby.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Characters, be
it in books, comicbooks, films or TV series, are created in the writer’s mind
with a specific background. There they garner a fan base and, after some time, become
embraced by a wider mainstream audience and fans. The character becomes theirs,
like an adopted friend they’ve known for years.</div>
<div class="Cuerpo">
<br /></div>
<div class="Cuerpo">
<span lang="EN-US">In my very
humble opinion, out of respect to that audience, they should be portrayed by
actors who approach what the character’s essence is. If a change is made, it
should make sense and not tamper with the character’s inherent nature: the DNA
that makes it what it is. When they decided to portray Nick Fury in the comics
as a black character, its essence was kept more or less intact and, after all,
it was not a “top tier” Marvel character; and then, when readers accepted the change, it made total sense to have Samuel Jackson portray it in the movies. I totally agree when, for example,
people object to an oriental character portrayed by a Caucasian actor, now that
there are many talented oriental actors available that could play it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Cuerpo">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWqPFdzamfs6DpdFR6dKcVNlW03ANYrCRDHgv9ne2OKnj9UA1CIcYaVby3Ovqyb14yp6AqvVdyetAIvtPos2meOBmAuNN6S-qFYvMWoNPyGoVzFKaMuo4C_ZAatKzuzgA2ym5j96nkIJY/s1600/image2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1509" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWqPFdzamfs6DpdFR6dKcVNlW03ANYrCRDHgv9ne2OKnj9UA1CIcYaVby3Ovqyb14yp6AqvVdyetAIvtPos2meOBmAuNN6S-qFYvMWoNPyGoVzFKaMuo4C_ZAatKzuzgA2ym5j96nkIJY/s320/image2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="Cuerpo">
<span lang="EN-US">But changing
the basic nature of a character just to “see what happens” and “make it more
interesting”, “inclusive” and “in synch with the times”? That’s totally
ridiculous and frankly, lazy. If you want a female Doctor Who, then CREATE that
character (when they wanted an American James Bond they created the Man from
U.N.C.L.E.; then came a Girl from U.N.C.L.E. when they decided it would be fun
to have a female agent; they didn’t turn Steve Austin into Stephanie Austin,
they CREATED Jamie Sommers, and when Marvel wanted a female Hulk, they CREATED Jennifer
Walters!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Cuerpo">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitX3sjK6gAhsqs4U49kMDZG_63_yEVm9m_kegu2bbwRRR-m6gKcvR5BoCLFdLscbdDK6O8irlYVym_bCFk_9Dm1Lx7FZzTHYkTtehvqJY7eF6oCuRu1BGBfUHHtbuXwCHNkPUQ-1O7qSM/s1600/she_hulk_cover_1_a_p.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="524" data-original-width="349" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitX3sjK6gAhsqs4U49kMDZG_63_yEVm9m_kegu2bbwRRR-m6gKcvR5BoCLFdLscbdDK6O8irlYVym_bCFk_9Dm1Lx7FZzTHYkTtehvqJY7eF6oCuRu1BGBfUHHtbuXwCHNkPUQ-1O7qSM/s320/she_hulk_cover_1_a_p.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
They didn’t
have a problem creating Shaft, Supergirl, Spider Woman, Superfly or Blade. All
great characters on their own terms. Why, then, change a beloved character’s
nature? Again, I believe this is lazy character development.</div>
<div class="Cuerpo">
<br /></div>
<div class="Cuerpo">
<span lang="EN-US">My 5 cents
are: the media should keep our beloved characters’ essence, portray characters
in different media respecting their ethnic and cultural background, and create
new inclusive, compelling multi-cultural characters that reflect our current
global reality. You want a character to portray the LGBT community? Create a
viable one! Don’t expect writers and producers who don’t understand that
background to come up with one, or switch an established character’s nature,
just to be “inclusive”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Cuerpo">
<br /></div>
<div class="Cuerpo">
<span lang="EN-US">And, retaking
the other subject of this blog, we should be wary of extreme liberals (if there is
such a thing) that jump at the slightest provocation to condemn anyone’s point
of view that’s not their own. They are just as dangerous (if not more so) than
a right-wing radical. We should definitely raise our voices against those
who ACT against any one group (the recent Harvey Weinstein scandal comes to
mind). But we should allow for people to express their opinions and points of
view, even when they are different from our own.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Cuerpo">
<br />
As Evelyn Beatrice Hall elegantly stated (trying to convey Voltaire's thoughts on a certin issue):<br />
<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it..."</span></i></b><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="Cuerpo">
<span lang="EN-US">Let’s find a
common ground where we can be open to learn from, and celebrate, our
differences.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Cuerpo">
<br /></div>
<div class="Cuerpo">
<span lang="EN-US">That’s my take
on that. So now excuse me while I put on my sombrero and ride away on my burro.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Cuerpo">
<br /></div>
<div class="Cuerpo">
<span lang="EN-US">¡Adiós, señor!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Alberto Llerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10711284520260943046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8067392327608494126.post-46148757794893125372017-04-13T09:56:00.002-07:002020-05-27T12:27:03.484-07:00The Action Figure ConundrumClearly I need to dedicate more time to writing. I started out this blog before Christmas 2016, and I am finishing it just now, April 2017... note to self: be more constant on my writing habits!<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US">Ok, so, back then, as Christmas was rapidly approaching, I started thinking more and more about the subject of </span>Action
Figures.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I used to
love them. As a matter of fact I still do. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">When I was
a kid I spent long hours playing with my Big Jims, GI Joes,
Mego’s Planet of the Apes and Star Trek action figures, Mattel’s Space 1999 figures and of course, Kenner’s Six Million Dollar Man. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz0I49WdUgd9Rawziq2X7tnlnoAWbZWKkxpeDTL9GLceHAYhSHF1OylcL7RyqAjBNr_3P4xMmgjfsFGdM08qYY9JJYdHhx1apuIjfqjFBkMrCnZpNQZFjPA7o6ZRo4w2D8cFioPVw-iew/s1600/Mattel_Big_Jim_PACK_Ad_03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz0I49WdUgd9Rawziq2X7tnlnoAWbZWKkxpeDTL9GLceHAYhSHF1OylcL7RyqAjBNr_3P4xMmgjfsFGdM08qYY9JJYdHhx1apuIjfqjFBkMrCnZpNQZFjPA7o6ZRo4w2D8cFioPVw-iew/s200/Mattel_Big_Jim_PACK_Ad_03.jpg" width="149" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizefO0xlkVxqEqG6o0ljNb4UrajRlKZ8sWDIjY5dgJ_Jd4Gu4W4jMlOxFuBxBqBw1Rj_pp6K1QpyJX-lXVnpYaj1oRu4ibEputgQh36hb7Jdk8nG5CXwyuuC3ObrB8uoMchvwg5qLBYc8/s1600/70talkingcommander-lg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizefO0xlkVxqEqG6o0ljNb4UrajRlKZ8sWDIjY5dgJ_Jd4Gu4W4jMlOxFuBxBqBw1Rj_pp6K1QpyJX-lXVnpYaj1oRu4ibEputgQh36hb7Jdk8nG5CXwyuuC3ObrB8uoMchvwg5qLBYc8/s200/70talkingcommander-lg.jpg" width="172" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkr57gHWX25nHBRcVeic9aIB8r8uEomn2bNh4EsXa432gx3c_ENC0v1l-dfu__aAfdxFjWLGeN8Mbzy1Q1va7nytFCWqZwtIJDMKobiAwfQfUN77hKEbVt2yUxa5fAgKSglG0whswMk-Q/s1600/planet-of-the-apes-treehouse-mego.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkr57gHWX25nHBRcVeic9aIB8r8uEomn2bNh4EsXa432gx3c_ENC0v1l-dfu__aAfdxFjWLGeN8Mbzy1Q1va7nytFCWqZwtIJDMKobiAwfQfUN77hKEbVt2yUxa5fAgKSglG0whswMk-Q/s320/planet-of-the-apes-treehouse-mego.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When Kenner launched the Star Wars 3 ¾
figures… well, that was a turning point that revolutionized the industry and
the way we played. A lot of movie properties were released on that format (and are still being released for collectors).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioN2flW11OKG19wwfg9rhR6-WQ9H8afiiWJ-rcSUXTjx5WJgYaKTc8T9W-aZgafnQAxnzXBS_GkNQf2GunGhRvLST4-0XpfkO3gUoMeJl7ELnGkf3kYO42bXzXvoPAhKCZ6oA8eCF7BBw/s1600/1770902_6_0cd4_presentoir-early-bird-package.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioN2flW11OKG19wwfg9rhR6-WQ9H8afiiWJ-rcSUXTjx5WJgYaKTc8T9W-aZgafnQAxnzXBS_GkNQf2GunGhRvLST4-0XpfkO3gUoMeJl7ELnGkf3kYO42bXzXvoPAhKCZ6oA8eCF7BBw/s400/1770902_6_0cd4_presentoir-early-bird-package.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
However I’ve noticed today's kids outgrow action figures at a very early age. As they get older, they buy them mostly as collectibles, not toys to play with.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">This got me to thinking about how we used to consume entertainment years ago. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">If you wanted to see a film you had to catch it while it was playing at the movie theaters, otherwise you would have to
wait literally for years until they were shown on TV (or sometimes re-released
theatrically).</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US">If you were lucky, rich or both, your family had cable or a satellite dish </span>and you could catch them a bit sooner (these just became popular during the late 70's and early 80's). Or maybe you had a super 8 movie projector to show them in
your own living room, but these were expensive and not very common (you usually had to settle for a silent, cut print that reduced a 2 hour film to a 20 minute short). Remember, I’m
talking about the time before home video systems (laser discs or VCR’s) became
popular.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmRI9wHTx7mVmvj9VN7JThzKzOkOLLyxDxZRsbuqyGSyP6QimVG2HGiUYHilI4eDRvbkLlI6jQsACLGh7ZYdb88NO4tWNvOrJQOhJRN7DDFBISe-xTXJmEVFb0p_2AkQmJGhzqZQ80i5Q/s1600/home-movie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmRI9wHTx7mVmvj9VN7JThzKzOkOLLyxDxZRsbuqyGSyP6QimVG2HGiUYHilI4eDRvbkLlI6jQsACLGh7ZYdb88NO4tWNvOrJQOhJRN7DDFBISe-xTXJmEVFb0p_2AkQmJGhzqZQ80i5Q/s320/home-movie.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The same was
true for TV shows and TV movies: you had to be home at the precise hour of the
show, otherwise you missed it (if you were lucky you could catch it on a re-run -if there was one- months later). I remember sitting by the TV waiting impatiently for the showing of the first episode of the Planet of the Apes TV series fearing that, if I missed it, I wouldn't be able to watch it for months, if ever (as I write this, the complete series is sitting comfortably on a DVD box set in our family room).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGxS0GzMDzYY7XbFPePsSZZJAZq-Q0EwP-jDC8NfnrtapSzRwUHxUsXSDOtthJWLvplat7QlGEJ7F2CikFbFRnD2s_w3JhtLcjf_mJHBdcgMc97k4czDqpiMyh1QgMK8ksZJnOxxOO9Ts/s1600/317spock1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGxS0GzMDzYY7XbFPePsSZZJAZq-Q0EwP-jDC8NfnrtapSzRwUHxUsXSDOtthJWLvplat7QlGEJ7F2CikFbFRnD2s_w3JhtLcjf_mJHBdcgMc97k4czDqpiMyh1QgMK8ksZJnOxxOO9Ts/s320/317spock1.jpg" width="192" /></a><span lang="EN-US">So if you
really liked and were excited about a movie or TV series, the only option to
relieve it was to use the available tools: comic books, soundtracks, the
infamous Ben Cooper costumes in Halloween, board games, model kits, Mad Magazine parodies and, yes,
action figures among many other licensed products.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">As a side note, comic books were published based on almost every imaginable TV show and
movie (most of the time they also did the continuing stories based on
your favorite characters as they still sometimes do, but... ¿A Jack Kirby drawn <b>2001 Space Oddisey</b> comic book continuing the story where the film left off? That was just plain weird).</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSe-q55sPVtwecGbePAq9drKkM7u78Dy-ODsGNYgbP0SokHn-YaGuQMxh6LsYzTFtdZLreroR2SY-r7LhVTmv9exkMaS24zgaX8XLx1l0DaZKDtCVpOct-OPUT6DHKIygN-wUfH16Yuq8/s1600/Man+From+Uncle+comicbook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSe-q55sPVtwecGbePAq9drKkM7u78Dy-ODsGNYgbP0SokHn-YaGuQMxh6LsYzTFtdZLreroR2SY-r7LhVTmv9exkMaS24zgaX8XLx1l0DaZKDtCVpOct-OPUT6DHKIygN-wUfH16Yuq8/s200/Man+From+Uncle+comicbook.jpg" width="141" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1dwRXkzIVEVzbkKENzFu4ktQ-scMHv4YyFwUyBrc2bJAXoTQ-mqeDhTf1DFjar7-V4WjR4HG46H93ozjeUKA9GTcfS3Nq_0iR6U_BDUF7iwHm4CSTsXkCK6k1VHOuEanXXSVa_6MTAaY/s1600/Munsters+Comicbook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1dwRXkzIVEVzbkKENzFu4ktQ-scMHv4YyFwUyBrc2bJAXoTQ-mqeDhTf1DFjar7-V4WjR4HG46H93ozjeUKA9GTcfS3Nq_0iR6U_BDUF7iwHm4CSTsXkCK6k1VHOuEanXXSVa_6MTAaY/s200/Munsters+Comicbook.jpg" width="142" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1dwRXkzIVEVzbkKENzFu4ktQ-scMHv4YyFwUyBrc2bJAXoTQ-mqeDhTf1DFjar7-V4WjR4HG46H93ozjeUKA9GTcfS3Nq_0iR6U_BDUF7iwHm4CSTsXkCK6k1VHOuEanXXSVa_6MTAaY/s1600/Munsters+Comicbook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1dwRXkzIVEVzbkKENzFu4ktQ-scMHv4YyFwUyBrc2bJAXoTQ-mqeDhTf1DFjar7-V4WjR4HG46H93ozjeUKA9GTcfS3Nq_0iR6U_BDUF7iwHm4CSTsXkCK6k1VHOuEanXXSVa_6MTAaY/s1600/Munsters+Comicbook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">You could also get the soundtrack for most films very easily (I remember listening repeatedly to James Bond’s <i>Live and Let Die</i> LP record over a decade before I was actually able to watch the film).</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US">You had
your view-masters and your toy “animated” entertainment varying from simple
opaque object projectors and slides mounted on cardboard strips, to actual film
running on very basic plastic contraptions with a crank that you had to operate
by hand.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6u1kuMuoMT55C7Yv1bkEHt8WW9up_2_u84FF1cvL0Da9jY7VBUnqvW7d7IHHtn7ATXaNUPBHsgF3X7dVpZLggKl_kC9gPGwC-TN185TAxTWdy9DtUZnBs3UY0CphiiXi1wE_G8XQc0oU/s1600/live-and-let-die-soundtrack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6u1kuMuoMT55C7Yv1bkEHt8WW9up_2_u84FF1cvL0Da9jY7VBUnqvW7d7IHHtn7ATXaNUPBHsgF3X7dVpZLggKl_kC9gPGwC-TN185TAxTWdy9DtUZnBs3UY0CphiiXi1wE_G8XQc0oU/s320/live-and-let-die-soundtrack.jpg" width="320" /></a>You also
had a lot of fanzines that told you what the film was about, and even movie
photo magazines that used stills from the actual film to tell the story. Oh,
and movie books, of course; almost every film had to have a tie-in book.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The
merchandising opportunities surrounding a property were endless while the actual
entertainment experience –i.e. watching a film or a particular TV show- was perceived as unique and precious.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US">Nowadays if
you want to "re-live" a film or TV show you can simply stream it through your
favorite platform or, in the worst of cases, if the film or TV show is too obscure, buy it online through a specialized store. That’s that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Even when
this is wonderful, I have to admit I miss some aspects from the good old days:
I loved listening to my late sister colorfully narrating Twilight Zone episodes
(watching them on YouTube is just not the same) and discussing ad-nauseam with
friends the minutiae of a show that we barely remembered, leaving a lot of interestng, unanswered questions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I also miss
the excitement of reenacting favorite scenes with recently acquired action
figures or reading a movie comic book while listening to a cool movie
soundtrack. Yes, entertainment is easily attainable today, but I think the
whole multimedia experience has devaluated itself a little bit.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US">The offer is simply much larger than the demand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">And now kids can also recreate a movie and explore further adventures
through sophisticated video games that place you right in the middle of the
action. Just look at what I had to play with when I wanted to explore the world
of James Bond or escape the Alien on the starship Nostromo on my Atari 2600 (this
was the early 1980’s, at the dawn of home consoles when video games began
substituting action figures, which is just after the time I described above),
versus the new Xbox adventures my kids are playing today.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJTh6vq38ylqNXaUY3s5DQoOzazi8NMbMyh55tgFYsWc-Xouf3UbpyjjuDAJs5a1awrTUFoOsCn2NnpflWhwwZb3pDvANbRemqkvXk9vxkU3yyINIjzE199qRHGjeRi0fOZzH2sb6AwZA/s1600/alienisolation3.0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJTh6vq38ylqNXaUY3s5DQoOzazi8NMbMyh55tgFYsWc-Xouf3UbpyjjuDAJs5a1awrTUFoOsCn2NnpflWhwwZb3pDvANbRemqkvXk9vxkU3yyINIjzE199qRHGjeRi0fOZzH2sb6AwZA/s320/alienisolation3.0.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSnCQZCaDDPS3QrvAcGTjR1NHNmIo7ctVYABEJCfS2k-IQVYJbKOxGXjgVECzPxmPO-W3R3Iy302sJXZPvVpgjhhfDBmsO0k1_OR754vMKKTGvlykWXKpP1anLtll43ZVHvqFqsG1Q7Wg/s1600/alienatari2600.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSnCQZCaDDPS3QrvAcGTjR1NHNmIo7ctVYABEJCfS2k-IQVYJbKOxGXjgVECzPxmPO-W3R3Iy302sJXZPvVpgjhhfDBmsO0k1_OR754vMKKTGvlykWXKpP1anLtll43ZVHvqFqsG1Q7Wg/s200/alienatari2600.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNHdw3U7EG7lf7TnnIJ9ECogc440HCh8yWoEO8QLwAI3ZFl8m9quFhSec8wR91DP6fBWK5Y7BkK1WHue2Tgyefl1p9DCTTqjNf57QaQuJUb99tI-8GzlCThXRg-kRLn1sDucEF3bfdqqc/s1600/james_bond_007.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg8Aq4bUzDEBD8zqwq3u_VMdO4b-4KV5AeAgjq6M8nEux1QeYee_rQtkZVEZKF2-Dy7S3j9nfIUBigKzzwU3obzjw66F7bWarLHIsZPJcvLfsJPH7LWADVy5VZ_rVoU100IT_BGoTWCaw/s1600/maxresdefault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg8Aq4bUzDEBD8zqwq3u_VMdO4b-4KV5AeAgjq6M8nEux1QeYee_rQtkZVEZKF2-Dy7S3j9nfIUBigKzzwU3obzjw66F7bWarLHIsZPJcvLfsJPH7LWADVy5VZ_rVoU100IT_BGoTWCaw/s320/maxresdefault.jpg" width="320" /></a><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNHdw3U7EG7lf7TnnIJ9ECogc440HCh8yWoEO8QLwAI3ZFl8m9quFhSec8wR91DP6fBWK5Y7BkK1WHue2Tgyefl1p9DCTTqjNf57QaQuJUb99tI-8GzlCThXRg-kRLn1sDucEF3bfdqqc/s200/james_bond_007.png" width="200" /></div>
<br />
On the positive side, I can now exchange information with my children about likes and dislikes at the swipe of a finger over a tablet, share with them a Twilight Zone episode and meet their favorite blogger on the same sitting.<br />
<br />
Despite
some drawbacks, even when action figures have become collectibles instead of
toys, I honestly believe we’ve made giant leaps forward on the entertainment
field, and with Augmented Reality and VR looming large on the horizon, it seems the best is yet to come!</div>
Alberto Llerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10711284520260943046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8067392327608494126.post-25209110205857798392016-10-22T13:02:00.002-07:002022-08-26T18:30:59.664-07:00Remembering the two First Families of Halloween<div class="MsoNormal">
Long ago,
in a decade far, far away during the monster craze period, two wonderfully
creepy family shows were released through different networks and ended up <a href="http://www.collinsporthistoricalsociety.com/2015/02/the-morgue-tvs-year-of-monster-1964.html?spref=fb">competing
against each other to </a>everyone's delight.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjjFnSws-iL8te4a64DQrF4kJxVNkP9PMKxwcYdTJCd-1jKTKAq5HJVHBm0Tpq52XoJmKrlKYU_BekcbPQO-Q8NYSG_PzmjwRAP-dQkrUsnDJIynYacJHlofy4FurdybWV2_Usd9dQ1VM/s1600/Munsters+vs+Addams.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjjFnSws-iL8te4a64DQrF4kJxVNkP9PMKxwcYdTJCd-1jKTKAq5HJVHBm0Tpq52XoJmKrlKYU_BekcbPQO-Q8NYSG_PzmjwRAP-dQkrUsnDJIynYacJHlofy4FurdybWV2_Usd9dQ1VM/s320/Munsters+vs+Addams.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">According
to Wikipedia, The Addams Family aired for two seasons on ABC from September 18,
1964 to April 8, 1966 for a total of 64 episodes; while The Munsters aired on
CBS from September 24, 1964, to May 12, 1966 with a total of 70 episodes. </span>Both shows
have lived in our cultural psyche ever since through reruns in syndication and now video collections,
becoming enduring franchises.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2LF3Cn-UWn-YkBswg5ZVJQM-fz1icSsIVUH1HhlZ62KIgegeNXBCU9zCWJaJH-X0ip2byBxM6Y8ZGkv76959Gs34WhbSduuzlZ6tMgmLDFDK15FXkmI319ib1Gb8i0N88GmgsTuzSWLE/s1600/Addams+Family+DVD+set.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2LF3Cn-UWn-YkBswg5ZVJQM-fz1icSsIVUH1HhlZ62KIgegeNXBCU9zCWJaJH-X0ip2byBxM6Y8ZGkv76959Gs34WhbSduuzlZ6tMgmLDFDK15FXkmI319ib1Gb8i0N88GmgsTuzSWLE/s320/Addams+Family+DVD+set.jpg" width="227" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYlG_iYqaCuqhyKFVWuFkWoUpDxQLW9pLG3zFlXyC_M7muI5wXykYi3mk0UHi8OgadMyH2SSzrVSUTJuvWC2gvoSL0HhEbdZiU4O49ACFJSXwyfAr516nHlnydTyxXg5Wpc1mmKOBXqPM/s1600/TheMunstersDVDset.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYlG_iYqaCuqhyKFVWuFkWoUpDxQLW9pLG3zFlXyC_M7muI5wXykYi3mk0UHi8OgadMyH2SSzrVSUTJuvWC2gvoSL0HhEbdZiU4O49ACFJSXwyfAr516nHlnydTyxXg5Wpc1mmKOBXqPM/s320/TheMunstersDVDset.jpg" width="233" /></a><span lang="EN-US"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-US"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-US"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-US"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-US"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-US"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-US"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-US"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-US"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-US"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-US"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US">I had the
chance to discover them in the early 70’s and immediately became enamored with
the concept (as a child I even had my mom sew me up a black Herman Munster
costume and buy me a red Herman rubber mask… yeah, red, go figure).</span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The
Munsters had an arguably successful revival with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Munsters_Today">The Munsters Today</a>,
a more traditional sitcom which (according to Wikipedia) “broadcast 72 episodes
from October 8, 1988, to May 25, 1991, giving it more first-run episodes than
the original series”. However, I doubt anyone under 35 remembers this iteration.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh65nkTVD1kanhaotGNmLS5TbXf0KOnGjsEQKGPSWcNniHzxpPZ_bz_qb3d6XCgtHRwn8GzM52oDUAYByawWWQwfqKRlQTa96TAJzNH6jN9j5Xy312bdFsM7EJL3ZHV4QQ3xBtj7niIyzw/s1600/TheMunstersToday.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh65nkTVD1kanhaotGNmLS5TbXf0KOnGjsEQKGPSWcNniHzxpPZ_bz_qb3d6XCgtHRwn8GzM52oDUAYByawWWQwfqKRlQTa96TAJzNH6jN9j5Xy312bdFsM7EJL3ZHV4QQ3xBtj7niIyzw/s320/TheMunstersToday.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
In 2012
they tried to unsuccessfully reboot the franchise with something called <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mockingbird_Lane">Mockingbird Lane</a> (a
reference to the Munsters’ home street name). Immediately since I saw the
photos and read the concept, I guessed it would fail miserably -and it did
(although I can’t be sure why, since I haven’t had the chance to watch it). I’m
not a sightseer or the best TV concept analyst, but it obviously derived too
strongly from the original’s vibe.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOdzxzdjEufszsUU6utsf32vm-A3ldTz7l0Ck1WsQ3g9Oj8QhCi2TOgOfgiDwwcP_lY1tkPlnGi3Q1Cu3Sv0iQtRLAOkPDWw0B_nJaQE8uZ3voV181Zs4RuqSEndcEGPQN5VXImGfwMyk/s1600/Mockingbird+Lane.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOdzxzdjEufszsUU6utsf32vm-A3ldTz7l0Ck1WsQ3g9Oj8QhCi2TOgOfgiDwwcP_lY1tkPlnGi3Q1Cu3Sv0iQtRLAOkPDWw0B_nJaQE8uZ3voV181Zs4RuqSEndcEGPQN5VXImGfwMyk/s320/Mockingbird+Lane.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLzbXuWSRBkpI9-7YuvLT3-0g0ZFE1FTg1yY-vUcqST6REvU9XY0PVoVIk0ar5Nn9426i9CouVoSiqS9d1vzgp5OSWHF3RNhCW90IwRlbMBYk6LsJXthZzJgWQH9It42nZCWe1RjFBiP0/s1600/The-Addams-Family+animated+70s.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLzbXuWSRBkpI9-7YuvLT3-0g0ZFE1FTg1yY-vUcqST6REvU9XY0PVoVIk0ar5Nn9426i9CouVoSiqS9d1vzgp5OSWHF3RNhCW90IwRlbMBYk6LsJXthZzJgWQH9It42nZCWe1RjFBiP0/s320/The-Addams-Family+animated+70s.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-US">The Addams
Family, on the other hand, has had various successful reincarnations including
an <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Addams_Family_(1973_animated_series)">animated
cartoon in the 70’s</a>, another <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Addams_Family_(1992_animated_series)">animated
series in 1992</a>, and of course the great, classic Raul Julia / Anjelica Huston films
of 1991 and 1993.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">There have
been other versions of both franchises (TV movies, a Munsters' theatrical release with the
original cast, animated series and even an Addams Family musical play), but these are the most enduring ones.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj86xIksFg2wBzhShennxYedLkIpr6QbmRH58E_44DzpUS2IzdaJ_NwyxlPvqCx5Jnn77-KGwDMuShHXN_FoZFMlp3rpiiN_vzkktEXZCSkzs5NKlcS4uo3aMKeiMlZsgdbiZvx7y7nDd8/s1600/Addams+Animated+90%2527s.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj86xIksFg2wBzhShennxYedLkIpr6QbmRH58E_44DzpUS2IzdaJ_NwyxlPvqCx5Jnn77-KGwDMuShHXN_FoZFMlp3rpiiN_vzkktEXZCSkzs5NKlcS4uo3aMKeiMlZsgdbiZvx7y7nDd8/s320/Addams+Animated+90%2527s.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Now, even
when The Munsters have been my favorites ever since my early childhood, I have
to recognize The Addams family as the best developed concept.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US">So now that we
are in the Halloween mood, following are the basic ideas I believe are behind
each original incarnation so you can be the judge if later revivals kept close
to them and if that had anything to do with their success (or lack thereof):<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSLA0aL6w2WD9pRr3pGrwImGMQYsB48pYBy_oPW1Kqa57Ls37RYLRfwaeduMi4ZzvdV5GZlnmC-ZzpOAageSX5ikPqYJ2hi4HNHmz7FysM49VqxOUAKerLivmd0TP8jz-eg0HtLjIxoTQ/s1600/Addams+Family+Movie.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSLA0aL6w2WD9pRr3pGrwImGMQYsB48pYBy_oPW1Kqa57Ls37RYLRfwaeduMi4ZzvdV5GZlnmC-ZzpOAageSX5ikPqYJ2hi4HNHmz7FysM49VqxOUAKerLivmd0TP8jz-eg0HtLjIxoTQ/s320/Addams+Family+Movie.jpg" width="176" /></a><br />
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<span lang="EN-US">As everyone
knows, The Addams Family is based on the dark and delightfully macabre cartoons
of <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/cartoons/bob-mankoff/charles-addams" target="_blank">Charles Addams</a>, however the TV show had many more layers to it: you had a
very strange but united family, a family who had a very impresssive (albeit weird) lineage that saw
everyone else as “strange”, and which was ironically seen by others like
eccentric nouveau rich.</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US">Even when to everyone else they were weird, they
weren’t a dysfunctional family, quite the contrary, they were a loving,
supporting bunch. They saw themselves as a normal family with a strong
lineage, pretty much accustomed to their wealth –which made them abhor the rich, uptight and pretentious guests that sometimes dropped into their home.</span><br />
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That's what made them so appealing: they made you feel your own weird, dysfunctional family was normal in comparison. They behaved weirdly and were proud of it, not trying to change to fit within the society that surrounded them.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiZun_a0-4eb-dajX1-abcVwExpI26TO6n2_THoOJFks__o4yP_FG5TM7cyaCp_WkHH9FG-2hsCWldOVClz0v0of_y0s42p_rtjFV8VZWKkCHmnDtrJx4t0JtgTFLGVq-1oJ8qz42xuv4/s1600/uncle_gillman.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiZun_a0-4eb-dajX1-abcVwExpI26TO6n2_THoOJFks__o4yP_FG5TM7cyaCp_WkHH9FG-2hsCWldOVClz0v0of_y0s42p_rtjFV8VZWKkCHmnDtrJx4t0JtgTFLGVq-1oJ8qz42xuv4/s200/uncle_gillman.jpg" width="200" /></a>The Munsters, on the other hand, were immigrants from Transylvania, referred most of the time as "the old Country" (this in a time when post-WWII european immigration was fairly common). They were trying their best to subdue their nature to become the typical all-american family while looking like the classic <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Monsters" target="_blank">Universal Monsters</a>. They even had visits from the Gillman (Uncle Gilbert) and the Wolfman (Lester Dracula, Lily's brother) among<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_The_Munsters_characters" target="_blank"> other creatures</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhYj_rZ4zJPpRIzRqzuWXn6VvZSg33l2DBuhF72SDiwqUfE4aMLu61nOZ25W7laESwFvpYfOry13HjUk5ISTVs9g8xz6ZuAMEccpA14gkju2w_iQHRsxfSgoLmdqo_1NFDgyFXFrRgdbs/s1600/Lester+Dracula.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhYj_rZ4zJPpRIzRqzuWXn6VvZSg33l2DBuhF72SDiwqUfE4aMLu61nOZ25W7laESwFvpYfOry13HjUk5ISTVs9g8xz6ZuAMEccpA14gkju2w_iQHRsxfSgoLmdqo_1NFDgyFXFrRgdbs/s1600/Lester+Dracula.jpg" /></a></div>
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Even when the basic idea was not very strong (making fun of contemporary family oriented sitcoms with monstruous characters) the real key to their success was the wonderfully talented cast:<br />
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<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001304/" target="_blank">Fred Gwynne</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0506891/?ref_=nv_sr_1" target="_blank">Al Lewis</a> and the glamorous <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001119/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1" target="_blank">Ivonne DeCarlo</a> did an amazing job creating and portraying these characters, supported by Butch Patrick, who played Eddie Munster like a normal kid, and the stunning Beverly Owen and Pat Priest, who both played the part of Marilyn Munster, the awkwardly "ugly" duckling of the family. These characters were faced with typical, suburban problems, and the comedy derived from people reacting to them, even though they behaved "normally".<br />
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To be successful, both The Munsters and The Addams Family need extraordinary actors to portray them (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000471/?ref_=nv_sr_1" target="_blank">Raul Julia</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001378/?ref_=nv_sr_1" target="_blank">Anjelica Huston</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000502/" target="_blank">Christopher Lloyd</a> and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000207/?ref_=nv_sr_1" target="_blank">Christina Ricci</a> were essential in making the 90's Addams films a success), however while The Addams Family is a great, fully conceived concept, The Munsters needs to be visually referential to its source, otherwise it's main appeal is lost.<br />
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Thinking about the creative process, it seems like The Munsters were the result of a TV studio creative concept meeting, while The Addams were born from the imagination and sensibility of an artist and built upon by other creative minds, making it a seemingly stronger basic idea.<br />
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Anyway, Halloween is the perfect time to revisit them and, even when I love them both, the original Munsters are still my favorites!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPp7rZyWCuESgpMu3K-_TFN9ns0zpZarrKRBCo01Yc5DnnkL8rLllzarrj-Bf-4Sx5XsId3ZoOHdu32wRW_VywcJeNZFvCTchyVwK79X9FasvwKzxdxigNqF69izgHqGKVid1N_s0N9Ac/s1600/munsters.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPp7rZyWCuESgpMu3K-_TFN9ns0zpZarrKRBCo01Yc5DnnkL8rLllzarrj-Bf-4Sx5XsId3ZoOHdu32wRW_VywcJeNZFvCTchyVwK79X9FasvwKzxdxigNqF69izgHqGKVid1N_s0N9Ac/s400/munsters.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Alberto Llerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10711284520260943046noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8067392327608494126.post-10606899771200403722015-02-26T15:15:00.003-08:002015-02-26T15:21:26.611-08:00Pathway into the Stars<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;">As someone who was born in 1970, one year
after man first set foot on the Moon, I grew up believing space travel was a
common thing. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;">As a boy, I regularly watched TV series
like </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space:_1999"><span style="color: orange;">Space 1999</span></a><span style="color: white;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Trek"><span style="color: orange;">Star Trek</span></a><span style="color: white;">, the British </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UFO_(TV_series)"><span style="color: orange;">UFO</span></a><span style="color: white;"> and the Japanese </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultraman"><span style="color: orange;">Ultraman</span></a><span style="color: white;">, so to me
starfighters were as common as a </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sopwith_Camel"><span style="color: orange;">Sopwith Camel</span></a><span style="color: white;"> or a </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtiss_P-36_Hawk"><span style="color: orange;">Curtiss P-36 Hawk</span></a><span style="color: white;"> might
have been to my dad (and remember, this was a few years before </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars"><span style="color: orange;">Star Wars</span></a><span style="color: white;">!). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaZiYsNsvg2x78XNI1GnM3znmyda88KlZueVGhXYBt7BSx7G7_A-igZH8DIiLSY3xF8a2WHCL3naQYOnh6n6q4bjMgfb12IBb090MPGqDQeU1qmPt9s7DgDzyIE4n5rIHQVJ-1r7pUy7c/s1600/ufo-shado-interceptor-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaZiYsNsvg2x78XNI1GnM3znmyda88KlZueVGhXYBt7BSx7G7_A-igZH8DIiLSY3xF8a2WHCL3naQYOnh6n6q4bjMgfb12IBb090MPGqDQeU1qmPt9s7DgDzyIE4n5rIHQVJ-1r7pUy7c/s1600/ufo-shado-interceptor-2.jpg" height="160" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;">Some of my TV heroes such as Steve Austin
(</span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Six_Million_Dollar_Man"><span style="color: orange;">The Six Million Dollar Man</span></a><span style="color: white;">), Virdon and Burke (The </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planet_of_the_Apes_(TV_series)"><span style="color: orange;">Planet of the Apes</span></a><span style="color: white;"> TV
series), and even </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Dream_of_Jeannie"><span style="color: orange;">I Dream of Jeannie</span></a><span style="color: white;">’s Major Anthony Nelson, were all
astronauts.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZVshn0CFSUC91K9UGdUVyuJAekZb7QWYxumZTqjwvfjjLZ56UQoztxoVjPIGjHG7Ixb8wSLXf_2XnE226ibEkByYGChD5q0mQXisQltlsVRiKaFTSjCXWnijAAg2cT0a8oOsQA8J1YSY/s1600/steve-austin-astronaut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZVshn0CFSUC91K9UGdUVyuJAekZb7QWYxumZTqjwvfjjLZ56UQoztxoVjPIGjHG7Ixb8wSLXf_2XnE226ibEkByYGChD5q0mQXisQltlsVRiKaFTSjCXWnijAAg2cT0a8oOsQA8J1YSY/s1600/steve-austin-astronaut.jpg" height="231" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;">One of my favorite movies was “</span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Doppelg%C3%A4nger_(1969_film)&redirect=no"><span style="color: orange;">Journey to the Far Side of the Sun</span></a><span style="color: white;">”
starring Roy Thinnes. It was one of those slow, bleak-ending films with a weird
premise about an astronaut finding a mirror-image Earth at the other side of
the Sun. I don’t recall much about the story, but I remember I loved the
space-travel aspects of it… and the bleak ending. Oh, how I loved those bleak
endings back then (any of the first four Planet of the Apes’ films, anyone?). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;">Last year I had the opportunity to
re-visit NASA’s Space Center in Houston with the wife and kids.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;">I was there
many, many, MANY years ago when I was a boy myself; back when I couldn’t grasp
the magnitude of what I was seeing. This time I clearly remembered the small
auditorium they let you in to see the original Mission Control Center.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFzKNM0eU-AiOLvHIN_rNeUlZcNk-tY-ELs3kcFWXWrwpgexfh1dyuhUgI1PnNio70o3I3iZWavgLnmaPPEeWG5FeAXunhOoG89jokr6N9soX2BzuiWezc65I7bLPJGHMmV7ZybYtJIKk/s1600/texas-mission-control.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFzKNM0eU-AiOLvHIN_rNeUlZcNk-tY-ELs3kcFWXWrwpgexfh1dyuhUgI1PnNio70o3I3iZWavgLnmaPPEeWG5FeAXunhOoG89jokr6N9soX2BzuiWezc65I7bLPJGHMmV7ZybYtJIKk/s1600/texas-mission-control.jpg" height="217" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;">What I
didn’t remember was that this medium-sized room behind Mission Control used to hold the computer mainframe that put
the first men on the moon. This room, the tour guide explained, was filled with
refrigerator-sized machines with processors and memory banks that
amounted to… get ready for this… 4MB!! Yes, the guide concluded, the same
amount of memory taken up by 4 or 5 hi-res photographs from your cell phone was enough to send the first men to the Moon.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJQBNOyhry_Xj_59yMemxpO0_MTMVPogUE9One-htSh0Lnph4-Gof8e5QKuiSGVt5acak0-SnpcfGvq65hvxGobCXlXEhSuD5i0SPEr6zatpVg3gUYc4Y6Su-a1VUHEuh9xTi73I3lPqY/s1600/Best-ever-selfie-taken-at-the-2014-Oscars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJQBNOyhry_Xj_59yMemxpO0_MTMVPogUE9One-htSh0Lnph4-Gof8e5QKuiSGVt5acak0-SnpcfGvq65hvxGobCXlXEhSuD5i0SPEr6zatpVg3gUYc4Y6Su-a1VUHEuh9xTi73I3lPqY/s1600/Best-ever-selfie-taken-at-the-2014-Oscars.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;">Then we went to see the exhibitions… there
was this HUGE hangar that held the gargantuan engines that propelled the
rockets into space, basically a fuel bomb waiting to explode behind their backs.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;">And then we visited the dark exhibition room where they have the original space capsules and space suits. Remember I
mentioned I Dream of Jeannie before? There’s this scene where Major Nelson lands
on a beach and finds Jeannie’s lamp. I always thought the capsule looked
ridiculously small and fake, as if it was made of flimsy tinfoil. Well… turns
out it was pretty accurate to the actual thing. Capsules back then really looked
like large metal cans with barely enough room to hold astronauts inside with
their equipment and space suits. My God… talk about feeling cramped. My car’s
backseat has more leg room than those guys had… and to think they were sitting
in these small tin cans on top of those gigantic rockets brimming with the most
explosive, flammable fuel, hoping they would get them to the Moon and back… <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigtRDNUkQsgoy75_RT2qgnLMNM8rw5KEZ0L6TphVNCzI9EQ17EYaE6cTxsJyvVJ1000JI8ua1Emct0JSxntQ-_zggP16RhYZo0LeyqpOPBbOtbGgw-vLXb9eOv6Zx2YN9bsf4vqwKzXrQ/s1600/IMG_7429.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigtRDNUkQsgoy75_RT2qgnLMNM8rw5KEZ0L6TphVNCzI9EQ17EYaE6cTxsJyvVJ1000JI8ua1Emct0JSxntQ-_zggP16RhYZo0LeyqpOPBbOtbGgw-vLXb9eOv6Zx2YN9bsf4vqwKzXrQ/s1600/IMG_7429.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;">We also saw a couple of films that talked
about the </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_Challenger_disast"><span style="color: orange;">Challenger</span></a><span style="color: white;"> and </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_Columbia_disaster"><span style="color: orange;">Columbia</span></a><span style="color: white;"> space shuttle disasters. I vividly remember
the first one because as a fifteen year old I watched the launch live on TV and
the impression of watching the ship go up in smoke burnt a lasting mark in my
psyche. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;">I’m writing all this down because
technology has made such giant leaps that we sometimes forget how far we’ve
gone in such a small amount of time. We’ve become cynical and impatient,
wishing the space program had gone beyond what they’ve already accomplished.
Yes, I also think we should. However, it’s truly amazing that inhabited space
stations and unmanned missions to mars are a reality.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;">Twentieth Century Fox (yup, blatant commercial
time, kiddies) is releasing a film called “</span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3659388/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1"><span style="color: orange;">The Martian</span></a><span style="color: white;">”, based on the book by Andy Weir and starring Matt Damon, later this year.
I’m currently reading the book and, let me tell you, it pretty
much nabs what a miracle -and a triumph to our ingenuity, man’s exploration of
space is.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD9YEdnHfSDb6bxbBtL-QO7BdWxNkX_Da2BH3dlI5TPkepROPrFYi8ReEt-7WkU7Nl1MUJ3FBjyWxrooQ33RH0wRbFUTCFdScOjcsJ0kzzM0GAZX8w2IY4_LmqMfTQHWVWiG8gJpsHbpo/s1600/Matt-Damon-Eyes-The-Martian.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD9YEdnHfSDb6bxbBtL-QO7BdWxNkX_Da2BH3dlI5TPkepROPrFYi8ReEt-7WkU7Nl1MUJ3FBjyWxrooQ33RH0wRbFUTCFdScOjcsJ0kzzM0GAZX8w2IY4_LmqMfTQHWVWiG8gJpsHbpo/s1600/Matt-Damon-Eyes-The-Martian.jpg" height="165" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;">I’m also writing this to express my
admiration for those first guys who had the courage to strap themselves to a
tin can and explode their asses into space, and also for the men and women
currently building our pathways into the stars.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQCYOiep0afo5Sm8rUpaMhusie_hbB89_SYtwvW2RRUCG-hr4JVQ7A6cV4RirnlfU5lqBepfzz3J-dYNS-6CpZwOta1Ii6vZoUCbrThUNar5MynTo8Og5s05M4CDtHTq0W2kq41bo-z_c/s1600/first-seven-pioneer-astronauts-photo-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQCYOiep0afo5Sm8rUpaMhusie_hbB89_SYtwvW2RRUCG-hr4JVQ7A6cV4RirnlfU5lqBepfzz3J-dYNS-6CpZwOta1Ii6vZoUCbrThUNar5MynTo8Og5s05M4CDtHTq0W2kq41bo-z_c/s1600/first-seven-pioneer-astronauts-photo-1.jpg" height="320" width="265" /></span></a></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;">I don’t think we give them enough credit.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;">If you are interested in learning more
from NASA’s current programs, here’s a list of links they gave us at the end of
our visit. Check a couple of these out, just out of curiosity. I bet you will
be surprised:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;">NASA Homepage<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;"><a href="http://www.nasa.gov/">http://www.nasa.gov</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;">Space Flight – Shuttle and ISS<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;"><a href="http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/">http://spaceflight.nasa.gov</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;">Education:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;"><a href="http://www.nasa.gov/education">http://www.nasa.gov/education</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;">Cool Sites for Kids<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;"><a href="http://www.nasa.gov/forkids">http://www.nasa.gov/forkids</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;"><a href="http://www.earthkam.ucsd.edu/">http://www.earthkam.ucsd.edu</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;">Ditigal Images<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;"><a href="http://www.nasaimages.org/">http://www.nasaimages.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;">Mars Exploration Program<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;"><a href="http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/">http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;">Human Space Exploration<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;"><a href="http://www.nasa.gov/exploration">http://www.nasa.gov/exploration</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;">Nasa Spin-offs<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;"><a href="http://www.sti.nasa.gov/tto/">http://www.sti.nasa.gov/tto/</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;">Nasa Info in Spanish<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/En_Espanol.html"><span lang="ES-MX" style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">http://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/En_Espanol.html</span></span></a></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Alberto Llerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10711284520260943046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8067392327608494126.post-46669240203573641892014-07-11T10:35:00.000-07:002014-07-11T10:42:48.012-07:00Your own personal Holy Grail<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">First off,
I've just realized I haven’t posted anything since last October… which goes to
prove I really only post when I have something to say.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">However, I've got to write down
on my agenda reminders to update my blog periodically!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Ok, off to
today’s subject: the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Grail">Holy Grail</a>.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdZsLuY_3SghMHVe7-_2G1hyoSRlPCkd9M_18GIdJw0Ob9R4bvLAiPEuyD00AB6zJGphKhbTyCKxhsnhkE16fxutXw-qKHWXq8-v-e0mh0tRk3_vD7KpMukFu4M4MAFF_pQj-ta0zOiH4/s1600/Holy_Grail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdZsLuY_3SghMHVe7-_2G1hyoSRlPCkd9M_18GIdJw0Ob9R4bvLAiPEuyD00AB6zJGphKhbTyCKxhsnhkE16fxutXw-qKHWXq8-v-e0mh0tRk3_vD7KpMukFu4M4MAFF_pQj-ta0zOiH4/s1600/Holy_Grail.jpg" height="200" width="170" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">As everyone
knows, the Grail from the legends of King Arthur is supposedly the cup from
which Christ drank during the Last Supper and later became the sacred object of
various Knights’ quests. The ultimate McGuffin, if you will (masterfully used
in films such as John Boorman’s Excalibur and Steven Spielberg’s Indiana Jones
and the Last Crusade).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9vw_kOPFg7OH-xEHGmX6_7xyD6wE-FSu7znAt4XkvO8f3zzMW1_QURZbpqFzgOamILywii62-Iy3Wl9qYauSXLaJP4pfn-oFQXqFYI0C6LrmDWB1CsNhyfkb1qDouBowJrzQINq6mCzM/s1600/excalibur_ver2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9vw_kOPFg7OH-xEHGmX6_7xyD6wE-FSu7znAt4XkvO8f3zzMW1_QURZbpqFzgOamILywii62-Iy3Wl9qYauSXLaJP4pfn-oFQXqFYI0C6LrmDWB1CsNhyfkb1qDouBowJrzQINq6mCzM/s1600/excalibur_ver2.jpg" height="320" width="205" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjztdYomx5cmnId25bMfnC3FH1IF58Hse2_k9bCn2VeKDKHmk_SwrTLgSnAnkJ1lKnzNUblFV0qtxanxOzKScHBJq81PT_ON-zKLKnOtOLZ6rpEvKmol614Usfy7os5ebMVUlPdb1hHMhU/s1600/perceval-morgana-mordred.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjztdYomx5cmnId25bMfnC3FH1IF58Hse2_k9bCn2VeKDKHmk_SwrTLgSnAnkJ1lKnzNUblFV0qtxanxOzKScHBJq81PT_ON-zKLKnOtOLZ6rpEvKmol614Usfy7os5ebMVUlPdb1hHMhU/s1600/perceval-morgana-mordred.jpg" height="235" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcSyZ-6e-6uxfBVKoldob8CX9BFaPuHGPmTVeU78MFMjxV-h4HoBKaLANq1YEafmhnx7KMyklSCn3onQLgExJAZVOw4626m_tpRC0Ww3R4qQos24lPil_t1sc1YVxPeCHKoxlMy9NpJBY/s1600/Indiana_Jones_and_the_Last_Crusade_A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcSyZ-6e-6uxfBVKoldob8CX9BFaPuHGPmTVeU78MFMjxV-h4HoBKaLANq1YEafmhnx7KMyklSCn3onQLgExJAZVOw4626m_tpRC0Ww3R4qQos24lPil_t1sc1YVxPeCHKoxlMy9NpJBY/s1600/Indiana_Jones_and_the_Last_Crusade_A.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLdbN_Nrh48uqUi5iRQtcnI2hHHemP5Bl7VWsUWRiZsHoZ6LRYzZxSo__f-tuBszdSRC4HOPSCQ6QfmFMNz1NqMQjr3N9gqtb6KcURvgrjdqVaBFd5JdQvTKQOP1tCuFfzch2SPGGAdSk/s1600/indiana_jones_and_the_last_crusade_1989_d5634749_001h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLdbN_Nrh48uqUi5iRQtcnI2hHHemP5Bl7VWsUWRiZsHoZ6LRYzZxSo__f-tuBszdSRC4HOPSCQ6QfmFMNz1NqMQjr3N9gqtb6KcURvgrjdqVaBFd5JdQvTKQOP1tCuFfzch2SPGGAdSk/s1600/indiana_jones_and_the_last_crusade_1989_d5634749_001h.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The Grail
represents the ultimate prize, powerful and valuable enough to justify
life-long quests and epic crusades.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">So I got to
thinking: is there a Holy Grail in my life? Should everyone have one?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">And the
answer, of course, is yes. And I don’t think it should be generic stuff as “be
happy” or the common “get married and have kids”, because as those of us who
have gone through that know very well, marriage and kids should not be a
lifelong objective (it’s an important part of the journey, not a
destination).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">No. The Holy
Grail should be your ultimate objective, something truly spectacular: Fortune
and Glory, World Domination, Ultimate Enlightenment… the stuff of legends.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">That’s the
whole point of having a Holy Grail. Even when there’s a slight degree of
plausibility, in most cases it should be elusive: so great that it becomes your unreachable guiding star, dictating your general life-long direction.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">You may or may not reach it in the end, but it will become a beacon that will lead you to great
adventures and an overall more enjoyable and purposeful life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">And of course, having found it or not, in the end there will come a point when you will probably have to let it go, with the satisfaction of having done everything you could to find it (and the memories of the countless adventures that went with it).</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCNEo3NP5D15uRfIwJxbY5IbNNiNzsgrxYBMtXgBmbZ5bU3X1lGUq4sSLXJohFccOcrNavJLf006rDV6aAHmgAZrpesjDpQ8YNVJ-JRgaQJZ__cpNJVM-Gro5m-2hGvv2VwFxKDaDae68/s1600/tumblr_liqcyupGac1qi9q4ko1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCNEo3NP5D15uRfIwJxbY5IbNNiNzsgrxYBMtXgBmbZ5bU3X1lGUq4sSLXJohFccOcrNavJLf006rDV6aAHmgAZrpesjDpQ8YNVJ-JRgaQJZ__cpNJVM-Gro5m-2hGvv2VwFxKDaDae68/s1600/tumblr_liqcyupGac1qi9q4ko1_500.jpg" height="640" width="364" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Recently I
got to thinking what has been my life-long Holy Grail. The good news is I actually do have one that's been with me since I was very young.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The bad news is: I haven’t recently thought much about it. And when that happens you kind of lose your purpose, your momentum,
your drive… you start drifting and moving with the everyday flow of things. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I've made a
point about reminding myself what that goal is, and have purposefully started rowing back
into course. This blog, hopefully, is part of that process.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Enough with
this busy procrastination. Let the true epic crusade continue!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Alberto Llerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10711284520260943046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8067392327608494126.post-36734105628248681722013-10-02T08:25:00.000-07:002013-10-02T08:26:49.722-07:00Early Halloween edition: What’s in a souvenir?<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I finally
have a little time to pick up my blog, and since we are already in October, I
chose a Halloween-ish theme, only because the idea came up from a monster
bobble head figure (even though it’s not really a Halloween-related monster).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">If you
weren’t a kid in the ‘60’s or very early ‘70’s you probably have no idea of who
this character is:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJlgjvthzCO9e-PIthciYZaNdQKYa9cmaAvK_mxBmR-pznM-pILoKrdptHocVaz1fJ6_FiUDVevuTVOQkpldhwrcAbokJngJ8gHZziIVSmMsH49sCGulovp2N6jOPgH6LYFx0b1KlA3Q/s1600/Rat+Fink+by+Ed+Big+Daddy+Roth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJlgjvthzCO9e-PIthciYZaNdQKYa9cmaAvK_mxBmR-pznM-pILoKrdptHocVaz1fJ6_FiUDVevuTVOQkpldhwrcAbokJngJ8gHZziIVSmMsH49sCGulovp2N6jOPgH6LYFx0b1KlA3Q/s320/Rat+Fink+by+Ed+Big+Daddy+Roth.jpg" width="217" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">That’s <a href="http://www.ratfink.com/">Ed “big daddy” Roth’s</a> “Ratfink”. Ed Roth was
a drag racing car aficionado and designed a lot of outlandish customs back in the '60's. He was
also the cartoonist who created Ratfink, among many other similar frantic monstrous
creatures (very similar to the <a href="http://dirtydonnyart.blogspot.mx/2008/03/weird-ohs-artist-bill-campbell.html">Weird-Oh’s</a>
characters created by Bill Campbell). Anyway, that’s not really the point of
today’s blog.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I grew up
looking at some of these monstrous creatures around the house and they always
bring back memories from my childhood. Last year while on vacation with the
family in San Francisco, I visited the <a href="http://cartoonart.org/">Cartoon
Art Museum</a> where I was fortunate enough to see some Mad Magazine and Marvel
Comics’ originals, which was absolutely exciting (my wife and kids were ho-humming
the time away, but at least they got a kick out of some of the most outrageous
Mad cartoons, plus there was a small <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1623288/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1">Paranorman</a>
exhibition featuring some of the original stop motion figures, so they had a
good time too).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">As we were
coming out I stopped by the gift shop and bumped into this:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPz37AXD8yVHq3JnJfosQrYiXjn3_i1UOtB8OyO8Is-KMIXdNCAteHpPWsOS_kt9oHZLteE0GKeSyht406X9NnelZNs3vRLmT0lCnVogJZdkMzcngLS0hLA3SXezB_MW0Qzy0jEvo75Do/s1600/funko-wacky-wobbler-rat-fink-toys-games.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPz37AXD8yVHq3JnJfosQrYiXjn3_i1UOtB8OyO8Is-KMIXdNCAteHpPWsOS_kt9oHZLteE0GKeSyht406X9NnelZNs3vRLmT0lCnVogJZdkMzcngLS0hLA3SXezB_MW0Qzy0jEvo75Do/s1600/funko-wacky-wobbler-rat-fink-toys-games.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Yup, a
Ratfink Wacky Wobbler figure. I really wanted to get it as a memento, but there
was a group of people chatting away with the cashier and I decided I didn't
want the family to wait any longer for me, so I left. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Months
later I found the figure on Amazon and ordered it by mail. A few weeks later I received it
at my hotel during one of our company’s L.A. Summits. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The point
is (yep, it took me 8 paragraphs to get to it) that even when it’s great and
all, it kinda lost its original appeal. And that's because I didn't get it at
the right place at the right time: back in San Francisco, during one of the
best trips we've ever had. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">As I've
grown older, I've lost interest in accumulating dust catchers and collectibles,
but sometimes there’s this really cool souvenir you should get, not only for
what it is, but because of what it represents at the moment you get it. If I
had gotten that figure in San Francisco, it would have been a reminder of a great afternoon
I spent with the wife and kids that also connected my early teen's fascination with comicbooks and my fun monstrous childhood memories. As it is, it’s just another cool looking
plastic figure I got through the mail and out of a big brown cardboard box.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The advice here
is: if you are going through a particularly memorable moment in your life and
you find something that connects you to that moment, by all means try to get
it (very different than trying to find something as a souvenir just because you want one; if it feels forced, it probably is). You will probably not regret it later. Not exactly rocket science, right?
You probably could have gotten the same advice from your grandma while cleaning up the closet with her, but I had to get it out.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">So there!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Alberto Llerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10711284520260943046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8067392327608494126.post-12493505791848748592013-04-04T14:48:00.001-07:002013-04-09T06:28:58.714-07:00A lesson from the workings of a teenage girl’s mind…<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Hey,
finally making a quick, much anticipated (mainly by me) comeback to my blog!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">And to
celebrate the occasion, I’d like to reminisce about something that happened to
me a long time ago, when I was a teenager: one day, a friend’s daughter (she
was about 6 years younger than me) anxiously asked if I liked Alyssa Milano. She
was dead serious about it. Back then I only had a slight idea of who Alyssa
Milano was (the girl who played Arnold Schwarzenegger’s daughter in “Commando”,
right?) and I did think she was cute, so I told her so.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje2Pl5oMqXysBB5MjlfyUageamGF7DPkr50vgpGfGjSkeztYMjMCgr15MBpEmS9tCA8q2FqRqy3BQN2nixDLjygQ-O7RpG9e-Yx8-wm58O_OyE_lAMkZKXH9SB71A8n2o-oVQrm-wDyKU/s1600/commando_arnold_schwarzenegger-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje2Pl5oMqXysBB5MjlfyUageamGF7DPkr50vgpGfGjSkeztYMjMCgr15MBpEmS9tCA8q2FqRqy3BQN2nixDLjygQ-O7RpG9e-Yx8-wm58O_OyE_lAMkZKXH9SB71A8n2o-oVQrm-wDyKU/s320/commando_arnold_schwarzenegger-5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">She
immediately sighed with sincere relief, so I asked her why she was interested
about it. She explained that Alyssa Milano was dating Corey Haim, and if I
liked her I could date Alyssa so Corey would be free to date her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Yes, she
was absolutely certain of this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">That was a
very enlightening moment about the workings of a young teenage girl’s mind, but
more importantly, it was also a lesson about the perception that people have
about us: She was actually convinced I could date Alyssa Milano, even if I
thought it was impossible (and whoo-boy, would I have wanted to date Alyssa
Milano a few years later… before getting married, of course –my wife’s likely to read this, you know?)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmGNPKeBIzfoJ7PSIfLCPG8wOgfUAGRRrie05xKBbzTeXI0gL1mFLZUXjLw0VvwWlbU98WQWQXp1AE50XDLzczUYnlqAuesUJTk-zClFOAX72piiPZC50qtF_sjfBgsARiZcD4z6Tww-M/s1600/imgAlyssa+Milano2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmGNPKeBIzfoJ7PSIfLCPG8wOgfUAGRRrie05xKBbzTeXI0gL1mFLZUXjLw0VvwWlbU98WQWQXp1AE50XDLzczUYnlqAuesUJTk-zClFOAX72piiPZC50qtF_sjfBgsARiZcD4z6Tww-M/s320/imgAlyssa+Milano2.jpg" width="235" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br />
It’s funny how people usually think much higher of your potential than
yourself, isn’t it?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">We admire
people and believe them capable of amazing things, and don’t realize there are some
who have total faith in our own ability to achieve something that sometimes we
don’t feel capable of doing. If only we always had the same confidence in
ourselves as we put onto others… <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Anyway, kids,
the lesson here is: support everyone around you and help them realize their
full potential. Chances are they’ll do the same for you. And by all means, try
to have more confidence in yourselves!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhA0pBFEOfEN_FVnp1UGGNKJKD3x_Ej-xBq_8S5d3NdJdvbSTX98iTabQTZPu8Y26fD2qf2qnZ_AEEXZ3Atm8bCGMgsr4X508DNcd8hjQ8T4JDPwckoJpbbUu47APSgmNc8fS1uicaqDY/s1600/Han+Solo+Odds.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhA0pBFEOfEN_FVnp1UGGNKJKD3x_Ej-xBq_8S5d3NdJdvbSTX98iTabQTZPu8Y26fD2qf2qnZ_AEEXZ3Atm8bCGMgsr4X508DNcd8hjQ8T4JDPwckoJpbbUu47APSgmNc8fS1uicaqDY/s320/Han+Solo+Odds.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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</div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Have a
great week!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Alberto Llerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10711284520260943046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8067392327608494126.post-42211146763362809252012-11-20T09:19:00.000-08:002012-11-20T11:06:43.733-08:00Next time you feel old, kick yourself in the butt!!<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">If there’s
something that really, really bothers me, are people my own age acting as if
they were old. I’m only 42, and I’m already surrounded by self-appointed pipe-smoking
old men, cat ladies and old maids. What’s wrong with these people? I’ve never
really felt old at my age (because I ain’t!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcLZXBCaAg0_KxsaFLHI9QxMN0FTvyfLtT4GQhK_Bzy6GqNJ68hRuRJHa8PjyP40Z_m8d_sRHt-x99bS0H2bX_XoZsq-DRpYJNRD3fyf-dRONmZJKnFxZoyJc3BuWglIvwpQ4MHqTdAYU/s1600/Hugh-Jackman-The-Wolverine1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcLZXBCaAg0_KxsaFLHI9QxMN0FTvyfLtT4GQhK_Bzy6GqNJ68hRuRJHa8PjyP40Z_m8d_sRHt-x99bS0H2bX_XoZsq-DRpYJNRD3fyf-dRONmZJKnFxZoyJc3BuWglIvwpQ4MHqTdAYU/s200/Hugh-Jackman-The-Wolverine1.jpg" width="138" /></a><span lang="EN-US">Hugh
Jackman (who’s less than 2 years my senior) in his first “The Wolverine” photos,
became a wake-up call for me to shape up again (not to mention Daniel Craig’s
physical condition in Skyfall- who’s also 2 years older than me).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I believe
attitude is EVERYTHING! If you feel old at 40 (or 50, or 60, or… shall I
continue?), man, you are really not getting it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpN3PkRfwU3BYfs-_2ezqDU4BITMA4PpE8JRx0titU5LyDM-9oZIxYj9XRsZAZGB-bWD9y0PvBe_Sz4MyUaLTR-0RdXfYvnKNIncF5EsdlDciLOe_FKJln3AuOK1x2psBJekhmsy9-hNk/s1600/Daniel-Craig-Skyfall-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpN3PkRfwU3BYfs-_2ezqDU4BITMA4PpE8JRx0titU5LyDM-9oZIxYj9XRsZAZGB-bWD9y0PvBe_Sz4MyUaLTR-0RdXfYvnKNIncF5EsdlDciLOe_FKJln3AuOK1x2psBJekhmsy9-hNk/s200/Daniel-Craig-Skyfall-1.jpg" width="200" /></a><span lang="EN-US">And to
prove my point, here’s a list of people I truly admire for keeping active,
current and with a positive attitude (there are a lot more, but these are the
ones that truly stand out for me):<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
STAN LEE: I
didn't meet either of my grandfathers. But damn, I wish one of them had been like Stan
the man (as a matter of fact, I’ve already adopted him as my unofficial
grandfather, he just doesn’t know it yet). The most important person in Marvel
Comics’ history and co-creator of most of their greatest characters, he still
keeps busy, loquacious and funny at 90 (he’s one of the co-creators of the <a href="http://comikazeexpo.com/">Comikaze</a> expo). Check him out <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3X7T-0Fh9g&feature=relmfu">here</a>
in one of his most recent “Stan’s rants” videos. He’s SO cool… ‘nuff said!<br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZsYjLsyYrub3kXkjBj5c6LDZFj_oenS0dYgl5wb-du5hRyNoOYp5vwiZV1hj5Fxb4A5aDdrGA1UmXeiRB6f41qXj-c9HYih_EpTaJpTjMaTGza-1nbD5kOS450kFg7HtfHeNZWyc4uvE/s1600/Stan+Lee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZsYjLsyYrub3kXkjBj5c6LDZFj_oenS0dYgl5wb-du5hRyNoOYp5vwiZV1hj5Fxb4A5aDdrGA1UmXeiRB6f41qXj-c9HYih_EpTaJpTjMaTGza-1nbD5kOS450kFg7HtfHeNZWyc4uvE/s320/Stan+Lee.jpg" width="305" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">CASSANDRA
PETERSON (aka Elvira, Mistress of the Dark): funny, smart, sexy entrepreneur
(and she likes horror films!). I’ve been a fan of hers since I was a teen. She’s
always kept busy and trim, has maintained her sassy attitude, is also
co-creator of the aforementioned Comikaze, and looks spectacular at 61! That's her in costume at a premiere earlier this year... you just gotta love her!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBIXywTmlimlMLXpszz_UPD-OAZC_ODuZ8_P6q2kt8C7LnVeKw8OdURU8om55nlABcquIJgKToBBF-eQT8plzDRkm1pFDXMKmzN1rKpYIprDPZlT0XgseHbirqd0Q8MbFj_xOlGq2hNUs/s1600/Cassandra+Peterson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBIXywTmlimlMLXpszz_UPD-OAZC_ODuZ8_P6q2kt8C7LnVeKw8OdURU8om55nlABcquIJgKToBBF-eQT8plzDRkm1pFDXMKmzN1rKpYIprDPZlT0XgseHbirqd0Q8MbFj_xOlGq2hNUs/s1600/Cassandra+Peterson.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiov42yl4M_93LhokiE_2uV6PyU4yfjZJ2XA6LSubRkXSUJDqCa7Z7-ZS5v0fobNu1s_BNrSblrOXetqaz19o0nc284X2NRJrcUNFOKQyQ5lTtIJ_RuoQc-z6On13Z9DHc9kiG6XztLOjU/s1600/Cassandra-Peterson-Elvira-frankenweenie-premiere.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiov42yl4M_93LhokiE_2uV6PyU4yfjZJ2XA6LSubRkXSUJDqCa7Z7-ZS5v0fobNu1s_BNrSblrOXetqaz19o0nc284X2NRJrcUNFOKQyQ5lTtIJ_RuoQc-z6On13Z9DHc9kiG6XztLOjU/s320/Cassandra-Peterson-Elvira-frankenweenie-premiere.jpg" width="218" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">CLINT
EASTWOOD: Yes, you can say anything you want about Clint’s recent political
escapades, but at 82 he’s still a commanding presence, great director and a man’s
man (he was never the most emotional actor, but he just has to stand in front
of the camera to fill up the screen). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj2ZQRO_Owg9UDQL0y2d3hhdPBAsCarYbRxA0zkww51G6_1HhlKeZFCklAhuz6VB0xwKerysCETxFnuM1sD6pvCfkkL_NOtUCcJsz6kIpj0xjtcLj1slQxtF_MEAaG4sQ0BrY2nnvKsBY/s1600/LR-Clint-Eastwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj2ZQRO_Owg9UDQL0y2d3hhdPBAsCarYbRxA0zkww51G6_1HhlKeZFCklAhuz6VB0xwKerysCETxFnuM1sD6pvCfkkL_NOtUCcJsz6kIpj0xjtcLj1slQxtF_MEAaG4sQ0BrY2nnvKsBY/s320/LR-Clint-Eastwood.jpg" width="244" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">SEAN
CONNERY: same age as Clint Eastwood and, If you know me, you know he’s one of my
life’s biggest role models: a truly self-made man, educated, politically
active, no-nonsense attitude… he’s just the best. He decided to retire from
acting a few years ago, but you can still catch glimpses of him laboriously supporting
causes for his beloved Scotland and attending sporting events such as the
tennis finals in NY.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjzARQQrHQ2E5O8vxMssPOZLURND0Br2MxWfoWqIxhq9864BiJ5ZBHCThkvwH5xLfFCVjubQCgoKtSVC178wh3uHtN4ve7Rx5I8v9pcKPvrptIX9mEPpQkwHAaujIYt6WLbgQAYeyX5ZU/s1600/Sean+Connery+US+Tennis+Open.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjzARQQrHQ2E5O8vxMssPOZLURND0Br2MxWfoWqIxhq9864BiJ5ZBHCThkvwH5xLfFCVjubQCgoKtSVC178wh3uHtN4ve7Rx5I8v9pcKPvrptIX9mEPpQkwHAaujIYt6WLbgQAYeyX5ZU/s320/Sean+Connery+US+Tennis+Open.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">So, next
time you start feeling old, get off your butt and start doing SOMETHING,
anything to keep you interested, busy and current. Because you aren’t old
unless you believe you are. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Alberto Llerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10711284520260943046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8067392327608494126.post-68672699997857417582012-03-06T10:48:00.000-08:002012-03-06T10:48:32.421-08:00And my Number 1 Movie Ever is…<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Working for
the movie industry, many times I’ve been asked this question by different
people. It usually gets me to re-think which one to choose above all others.
And every time I come back to one conclusion, which for no specific reason
feels embarrassingly clichéd (especially when talking to more serious movie
connoisseurs like my professional film critic friends).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">But here it
is. My most favorite, number one movie ever is:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The Empire
Strikes Back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDw9Z92zddKHEpt7qfPGjPWsjUS0ygApML0hlEylipbq5gGqEVmVG5HalSLJaK9KVNqArwjvoksQovJjCVBKmqfuaWHdWZPYn7OA8xA3k6XUcRd3MbppJEDfIovBJgJFGZzP6dEe8XicM/s1600/empire_strikes_back_style_a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDw9Z92zddKHEpt7qfPGjPWsjUS0ygApML0hlEylipbq5gGqEVmVG5HalSLJaK9KVNqArwjvoksQovJjCVBKmqfuaWHdWZPYn7OA8xA3k6XUcRd3MbppJEDfIovBJgJFGZzP6dEe8XicM/s320/empire_strikes_back_style_a.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Yes, Chapter
V in the Star Wars saga.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">There, I’ve
said it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">And the
more I think about it, the more I realize there are plenty of reasons for that
particular movie to have a special place in my heart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It is not
only because it came out in 1980, when I was at the impressionable age of 10, and
not just because it was the follow-up to the original, commercially successful
Star Wars phenomenon. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">No, it actually has A LOT to offer as a movie, thinking about movies as the sheer escapist
entertainment they should be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">And here
are just seven of the many reasons that make this my favorite movie ever:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US">1.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">It was exceptionally well crafted by
its time. Visuals, special effects, sound effects… they were all so well done
and presented, that you felt you were actually there. I loved the atmospheric
feel ranging from the violent snowstorm from the opening scenes, the trip aboard
the Millennium Falcon, the swamps of Dagobah, the furnace in Cloud City… the
sounds, the images; they truly transported you to a galaxy far, far away. One
simple scene that stands out for me is when the Falcon lands in Cloud City’s outdoors’
docking bay. The sunset, the breeze, the ship’s steam outlets… you actually feel
like you’ve just landed from a long trip on a pleasant, otherworldly
destination. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUztEh4wbRGzTgzK3VcQbg6bum7rkserZCUSf9F45eB8jwFOsO2zRuhTW9eLPZFkqHJQPddup4vHXVTGQOvUF1xK7gtUS0F9nXT2I4NeNHqC3n-18_GTVv0BsGhaDErIXrvcrvckwW6tI/s1600/falcon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUztEh4wbRGzTgzK3VcQbg6bum7rkserZCUSf9F45eB8jwFOsO2zRuhTW9eLPZFkqHJQPddup4vHXVTGQOvUF1xK7gtUS0F9nXT2I4NeNHqC3n-18_GTVv0BsGhaDErIXrvcrvckwW6tI/s320/falcon.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US">2.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">Visuals you actually had never seen
before. The battle on Hoth was amazing; the Snow Walkers’ design alone was astonishing;
the weird snow steeds called Tauntauns; the asteroid field chase that by far technically
surpassed the Death Star battle from the first one (and the surprise payoff when you realize the
Falcon has hidden inside a giant space slug); discovering a powerful Jedi
master in the form of a tiny, very old muppet (and having them pulling this off
in such a way you actually thought it was believable); the climatic lightsaber
duel… This film offers one visual wonder
after another, and they all feel organically part of a whole, which is not easy
considering how different every scene is.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US">3.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">The philosophical background is
amazing and easy to grasp. The religious theology hinted at in Episode IV gets
fully developed here, including a very good explanation about what “The Force”
is, as well as some wonderful pearls of wisdom, like Yoda’s famous “Do or do
not. There is no try”. It all made you actually wish you could become a real
life Jedi.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US">4.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">The drama. What is a good movie if it
doesn’t have great drama? And in that sense, this movie is PACKED from start to
finish: Luke Skywalker lost in a snowstorm while there’s an impending imperial
attack and Han Solo risking his own life to save him; the exploding chemistry
of the love-hate (but mostly love) relationship between Han and Leia (and you
thinking “wait, wasn’t this Luke’s girl in the first movie?” -because you
still didn’t know they were twins); Lando Calrissian’s betrayal (the scene
where they find Darth Vader at the dining room was a real shocker, and you just
loved Han’s no-nonsense attitude: hey, there’s the villain, just shoot him! It didn’t work, but he did the smart thing you actually wanted him to do); C-3PO
gets blown to pieces; Han Solo gets frozen in carbonite; our hero gets his hand
cut off and actually loses the final battle; and of course, the shocker of all
shockers: Darth’s revelation to Luke: “I am your Father”. How cooler could this
get?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKkKUJIa9pF1BRWi28cxRxW4fjJx2nAlIBwLsPRo8XlJ5-PmwbU9KdZEIPlWIeHHDolpPX3ig8g__e0iR_tWFXSxwE9QRLKxd7H8vM3cxmtMR3vGKbHsS-S-sP0J2vPrZJNCv7_skjAZM/s1600/the-empire-strikes-back-Darth-vader.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKkKUJIa9pF1BRWi28cxRxW4fjJx2nAlIBwLsPRo8XlJ5-PmwbU9KdZEIPlWIeHHDolpPX3ig8g__e0iR_tWFXSxwE9QRLKxd7H8vM3cxmtMR3vGKbHsS-S-sP0J2vPrZJNCv7_skjAZM/s320/the-empire-strikes-back-Darth-vader.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US">5.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">The dialogue. This film has a
particularly great script with many wonderful, memorable lines. Just check out
the <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080684/quotes">quotes' page in IMDB</a> and you’ll see what I mean.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US">6.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">The great ending. Such a convoluted
plot could not be easily resolved. And we would probably have hated and felt
cheated if they had tried to do so. There
are a lot of loose ends in the end (one of the main characters is frozen in
carbonite, for chrissakes!) but they manage to leave you with a sense of
resolution AND still obviously wanting MORE!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAL7DY6b6UIm5AQbh-XRwmg3qp1Am5BUX6sJvQ4oWqfLFzt5pcxCJtxoJLiQpeC8Kid_zcRwYm9ODi6k6CZSHaSs-n33jGMGkxj5YtE2vyB9C-e1QjnDw8NlI6CLo04GALaQVBrut4RAA/s1600/esb_endscene.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAL7DY6b6UIm5AQbh-XRwmg3qp1Am5BUX6sJvQ4oWqfLFzt5pcxCJtxoJLiQpeC8Kid_zcRwYm9ODi6k6CZSHaSs-n33jGMGkxj5YtE2vyB9C-e1QjnDw8NlI6CLo04GALaQVBrut4RAA/s1600/esb_endscene.png" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span lang="EN-US"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US">7.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">The wonderful music. To me, this is
John Williams’ finest overall score ever. This has some great memorable themes
(including the Imperial March) and you don’t feel there are any fillers just to
get some background music in there; every piece seems thought through and
carefully composed for each scene. This is probably the soundtrack I’ve heard
most times in my life and I still love putting it on the iPod once in a while.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I could go
on and on, but I think this rests my case. Aside from being part of a very popular,
commercial franchise, The Empire Strikes Back stands out as a GREAT, overall movie
experience and for that it deserves its rightful place atop my favorite movies’
list; the one movie with which I measure
all other movies. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">You probably have your favorite movie ever for completely different reasons.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">But this is
mine. So there!<o:p></o:p></span></div>Alberto Llerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10711284520260943046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8067392327608494126.post-59489347307052103192012-01-04T09:56:00.000-08:002012-01-04T09:56:13.662-08:00Here be Dragons...<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I thought
this was an appropriate subject to kick off 2012.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">During one end-of-year
gathering with friends, somebody mentioned <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_George">Saint George</a> had been removed from
the Catholic Sanctoral, and that started out a heated debate. I’ve been
checking references on the issue, but there doesn’t seem to be anything online,
so I guess it was a false alarm (if someone has additional information about
this, please let me know).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTVwUilvFJDFJ2A2wtt-9m9joirMOXhBylLZywe7e1OZTdft6YghqsT6TkwC3zA0vAPuWeJkkzrwrt2ExsZyQqcKcTztSl4DY5JgdEV9VjL3mA7IOHzE6TXCZ_r7ngEvvcR7tGUUP-fz8/s1600/st_george_and_the_dragon_by_esic-d32klh3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTVwUilvFJDFJ2A2wtt-9m9joirMOXhBylLZywe7e1OZTdft6YghqsT6TkwC3zA0vAPuWeJkkzrwrt2ExsZyQqcKcTztSl4DY5JgdEV9VjL3mA7IOHzE6TXCZ_r7ngEvvcR7tGUUP-fz8/s320/st_george_and_the_dragon_by_esic-d32klh3.jpg" width="235" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Anyway, as
most people who know me are aware of, I don’t consider myself Catholic (I
embraced agnosticism years ago), however I still believe symbols carry the
power we confer unto them and one of my Catholic upbringing favorite vestiges
is Saint George (along with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Judas">Saint Judas</a>, for completely different reasons).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I love the
imagery of the saint valiantly slaying the dragon, because I believe it’s a
great allegory of how we should overtake the challenges in our lives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">We
constantly face tasks, problems, sorrows, fears and whatnot that sometimes seem
too big, and we somehow manage to pull through. But I believe the most valuable
learning doesn’t come from challenges thrown at us, but from the ones we actually
choose to face. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Sometimes
we arrive at crossroads in our path when we can decide to follow the easy way
out, maintain the status-quo, remain in our comfort zone, and maybe miss some
opportunities; or we can face the “dragons” blocking the way to new
experiences.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I often
find myself choosing the later without thinking every detail through. I’m a
fool lured by the treasures beyond, and that makes me charge in without fully sizing
up the difficulties first. Fortunately I usually prepare myself for possible
eventualities beforehand, and have good improvisational skills. I’ve also
always believed that trying to bite off more than you can chew is a great
learning experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">My older
son has just decided he won’t participate in a poem declamation contest at
school. It proved to be too stressful and did not really appeal to him. On the
other hand, two weeks ago he was genuinely afraid he couldn’t ski, and an hour later he
was zipping down the hill past me (I was the one rolling down… first time at
the slopes for all of us, you see). He’s learning to choose which dragons to
face and actually goes through with it, which makes me really proud of him. It
seems we are doing something right with the kids, after all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">That’s
why I believe this was a great subject to begin the year. I’ve decided the best
way to face this 2012 is with a calculated gung-ho attitude. Always take the
path you think is best for you, put aside your concerns and fears, and don’t worry
too much about the dragons. You’ll probably find out you can defeat most of
them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Happy New
Year!<o:p></o:p></span></div>Alberto Llerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10711284520260943046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8067392327608494126.post-70605886601237665882011-10-19T11:05:00.000-07:002011-10-19T11:05:54.718-07:00Oops! Did I offend you with my Halloween?<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">In this age
of political correctness, it’s hard not to offend someone. Almost every day you
read about some actor, public figure or politician who said or did something
that “offended” some group (some of these are more radical and aggressive in
their response than others).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">A few years
ago a friend of mine sent me an e-mail, copying our circle of common
acquaintances, about the Christian vision of Halloween as a Satanic
celebration, and why, according to them, decorating your house for the holiday
is a way of inviting evil into your home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp2FT_YnLOGlN04CveOHXlUDKNC9ZgB_TRWvG5mcGj2GVgH1N6MJ4YHmbbkMKkBl2d7dNJoHz0YJ31rTVwdF6eJz63b6m6joyyrc4U3hSZLP3ri_TMnOY9HuBSsMF7HDzdKou34HQlcpA/s1600/4001864937_35e0b31edf_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp2FT_YnLOGlN04CveOHXlUDKNC9ZgB_TRWvG5mcGj2GVgH1N6MJ4YHmbbkMKkBl2d7dNJoHz0YJ31rTVwdF6eJz63b6m6joyyrc4U3hSZLP3ri_TMnOY9HuBSsMF7HDzdKou34HQlcpA/s320/4001864937_35e0b31edf_o.jpg" width="155" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Whoo, boy, do we decorate our house.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Halloween
has always been a big deal for me, and that message I received was questioning
that (in a friendly way, I have to admit). I did not feel offended or attacked
in the least (frankly, I couldn’t care less). I’m always open to all points of
view… however it did make me curious.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Years ago I
did my research about the origins of Halloween and discovered it’s a mish-mash
of various beliefs and customs (you can read <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Halloween_Tree">the book</a> or see the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Halloween_Tree_(film)">made-for-TV-cartoon
movie</a> “The Halloween Tree” by Ray Bradbury to get a simplified version of
this). In the end I concluded that it began as a celebration of the change of Seasons,
and this has also been linked to the ways we face death, the unknown, the
afterlife, the supernatural and all things that scare us throughout different
cultures (yes, there are some ghastly acts in its history too, but isn’t that true
about most aspects of culture, especially when there’s religion involved? The Inquisition,
the Salem witch trials and public stonings, anyone?).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJR9RR6in5EF25br3ThT-kJLewzQA-eDgbwCifHflZpFu3t2vThBYyKS2r3SCmfnSc1PbSeDQc9gCcHBYdBbm3v520HTuub_RfYytborftwcyiFOhnet5nWQWa5GI7fKKgmN-axh2U9uI/s1600/hw_tree_painting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJR9RR6in5EF25br3ThT-kJLewzQA-eDgbwCifHflZpFu3t2vThBYyKS2r3SCmfnSc1PbSeDQc9gCcHBYdBbm3v520HTuub_RfYytborftwcyiFOhnet5nWQWa5GI7fKKgmN-axh2U9uI/s320/hw_tree_painting.jpg" width="217" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It’s also a
great pretext to have fun with the kids, friends and enjoy all sorts of goodies
and social gatherings. To dress up in disguises and pretend we are someone or
something else, to have fun getting spooked. I think it’s a way of helping people
cope with some of the things they don’t understand or fear. And I can see how
that can be troubling for those who feel their particular religion is the right
and only vessel to deal with these issues. Some of us don’t.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">We also
need to understand symbols have the meaning people and different cultures have
bestowed upon them. Someone who dresses up like a red, horned devil might be
seen as something completely different in another culture, where evil is portrayed
in a different way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Qt-z2TfFiD_zeVPBRfMZAANwo2ljH93wlAAnthTZdL7J2eZ1NUdaF3HDRzb_TW7suTQu0R_VazLKHZmj0aDmFtgFMU4MogKu8Zr0BSVsmqFCbGaEbUBg-AW2tlEl_YX5rcBHq2s_WnU/s1600/Devil-Doll-Teen-Costume-.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Qt-z2TfFiD_zeVPBRfMZAANwo2ljH93wlAAnthTZdL7J2eZ1NUdaF3HDRzb_TW7suTQu0R_VazLKHZmj0aDmFtgFMU4MogKu8Zr0BSVsmqFCbGaEbUBg-AW2tlEl_YX5rcBHq2s_WnU/s1600/Devil-Doll-Teen-Costume-.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Summing up,
I think it’s all about respect. I respect your beliefs, you respect mine. If
you feel uncomfortable with my celebration of Halloween and find it unbearable,
just block me throughout October. There are a lot of political and religious
points of view out there, but I’m not offended by people expressing these, I
just choose when and when not to pay attention (I am offended, however, by
people insisting on making you listen when you have already chosen not to).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I think it’s
demanding too much of the rest of the world to be careful about what they say
not to offend you.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">What IS your responsibility is to prepare yourself and your children
about how to filter and deal with these messages in a tolerant way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Anyway, for
everyone out there who does want to join in on the fun, it’s only 12 days to
Halloween! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE-o0JF-3dtXui0MtDva7q-_DsskoZ3AiY-O51RU4PVSdVIIlqrSClNoEDt317D49BDWeGN5oPI0PLN9dy3HUiRiKKsrcjSVwOy6sLGW_i-W9h66g0AlBf-qYmS1o155Sh28H4QGiw3_U/s1600/Disney-WitchHazel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE-o0JF-3dtXui0MtDva7q-_DsskoZ3AiY-O51RU4PVSdVIIlqrSClNoEDt317D49BDWeGN5oPI0PLN9dy3HUiRiKKsrcjSVwOy6sLGW_i-W9h66g0AlBf-qYmS1o155Sh28H4QGiw3_U/s1600/Disney-WitchHazel.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>Alberto Llerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10711284520260943046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8067392327608494126.post-61741678750347945152011-10-05T13:12:00.000-07:002011-10-05T13:17:12.408-07:00You never know... memories of Ice.<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">This will be a quickie, but I really wanted to write about this.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">A few years ago, between 1997 and 2001, I worked for a small advertising agency called González de la Vega & Associates. It was so small, my work was not limited by my title of Associate Creative Director (i.e. they had me multi-tasking without paying me more, but I didn’t really mind). One of my roles was drawing cartoon characters for different brands and miscellaneous advertising materials.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnANaedzDwVP8dlbonxXbA9frA683OX-kmjTtIZX58zYSxFESqNyD58y5mF23aeG5ipUFuHjAPA2OvFctKuUAB21JH3rzTLskBdDnurBzjU32sf_IlJualdhhufR9kc1preBhjEMM_P7E/s1600/BurgerOk.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnANaedzDwVP8dlbonxXbA9frA683OX-kmjTtIZX58zYSxFESqNyD58y5mF23aeG5ipUFuHjAPA2OvFctKuUAB21JH3rzTLskBdDnurBzjU32sf_IlJualdhhufR9kc1preBhjEMM_P7E/s320/BurgerOk.JPG" width="211" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFjV3FIddtTT7ES1Ta9fnk9xpoUPGzpOi3wg2Bio9QWUmjSstYuwZHemtrZggnH66lYHEAHIET3vGG8A04FBA972mMwsoBKWPfbw6pDTqEp8FF4HAnFxQJ1-tIPdMYYQqVq8RwOSzehk8/s1600/CarrierDog.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFjV3FIddtTT7ES1Ta9fnk9xpoUPGzpOi3wg2Bio9QWUmjSstYuwZHemtrZggnH66lYHEAHIET3vGG8A04FBA972mMwsoBKWPfbw6pDTqEp8FF4HAnFxQJ1-tIPdMYYQqVq8RwOSzehk8/s320/CarrierDog.gif" width="198" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">Back then we had the Fiesta Ice account (the kind you buy in bags at convenience stores and gas stations). I drew a very sketchy ice cube character which fortunately was immediately approved.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">From that, as part of the campaign, I drew various different poses and situations which, to my surprise, are still present on their packaging, POS and distribution refrigerated trucks.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLFQCa401BoruCMqVNQnlGMmaMSAyfZ5lObhT4diWL3dTMIn0yj_hpVQW-iXCW6ulvzWns7ZFhz9-YMkN_oWvudsxF8_sOwGWkKI3sWzU5gMc_W5nckLugHb1xYEpjKUnrfZyeG-lJFt0/s1600/FrescosHigh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLFQCa401BoruCMqVNQnlGMmaMSAyfZ5lObhT4diWL3dTMIn0yj_hpVQW-iXCW6ulvzWns7ZFhz9-YMkN_oWvudsxF8_sOwGWkKI3sWzU5gMc_W5nckLugHb1xYEpjKUnrfZyeG-lJFt0/s320/FrescosHigh.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">I visited </span><a href="http://www.hielofiesta.com.mx/web/"><span lang="EN-US">their website</span></a><span lang="EN-US"> a couple of weeks ago and found some familiar faces there… the characters have lost their outline quality when they animated them, but are still the same old crazy cubes I drew over 10 years ago!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">And what’s more, our Home Entertainment division did a promotion with them for the release of <b>Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs</b>, bringing for me the brand into a full circle! (you can see one of my cubes in place of the "o" of the slogan "Pureza al Cubo" below).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh21OQXNrmzts4AKgZDDTyknEwaCVYxAwXoxxn9dflI-rjJ15sTTPkTl5kKjwxonAOUUsaESY47Tmd-OcPkFw1hvz-bmdvDeCgSSwPeCLIF3_KeCq2AhB4USWDO24PTeuluOiq2Yvx2T9c/s1600/Ice+Age+Hielo+fiesta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh21OQXNrmzts4AKgZDDTyknEwaCVYxAwXoxxn9dflI-rjJ15sTTPkTl5kKjwxonAOUUsaESY47Tmd-OcPkFw1hvz-bmdvDeCgSSwPeCLIF3_KeCq2AhB4USWDO24PTeuluOiq2Yvx2T9c/s320/Ice+Age+Hielo+fiesta.jpg" width="198" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">My kids are growing up looking at these characters in grocery stores, supermarkets and gas stations, knowing that their dad created them. That’s pretty awesome! I suddenly realized this became part of the cultural landscape, and all from a sketchy drawing I did so many years ago.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">I never imagined that doodle would ever be so long lasting. Goes to show you, you never know in the long run what will happen with something you are doing today.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">This is the one thing that stands out and I’m really proud of from the 7 years I spent working in advertising agencies before I joined the movie industry, and I'm really happy to share it with all of you here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Alberto Llerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10711284520260943046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8067392327608494126.post-56956296963417997592011-09-29T11:31:00.000-07:002011-09-29T12:34:05.396-07:00A Career is a Terrible Thing to Waste...<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Here’s my 5 cents of cheap career advice.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">The other day some friends and I were discussing professional opportunities, choices, plans, decisions...<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Some people think it’s better to focus on the here and now, after all, no one knows if and what opportunities may arise in the future. They believe they have to do their best at what they currently do and then things will eventually sort themselves out for them. I believe that’s leaving too much to chance.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">On the other end of the spectrum, there are the Luke Skywalkers- “<i>All his life has he looked away... to the future, to the horizon. Never his mind on where he was…</i>” as Yoda so succinctly put it. These are the ones who start a new job thinking about what other position they covet and what other companies may be interested in them, without truly devoting themselves to their current chores. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHPa-EBFmsxUERxuClqEXBNpqcijcCpIUMWQq_or5oEbmVbEOpErRQKRjN-6bhacr2F3GbxJECzRdAitU_b1icvO7PhO_PLOjy8dCkJo6u2NJtCKpxbHuWIlFRJ2FH09YT28mJE0d1Rok/s1600/luke-and-yoda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="123" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHPa-EBFmsxUERxuClqEXBNpqcijcCpIUMWQq_or5oEbmVbEOpErRQKRjN-6bhacr2F3GbxJECzRdAitU_b1icvO7PhO_PLOjy8dCkJo6u2NJtCKpxbHuWIlFRJ2FH09YT28mJE0d1Rok/s200/luke-and-yoda.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
I’m more of a Qui-Gon-Jin person:<br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000191/"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Obi-Wan</span></a></span>: …<span lang="EN-US">Master Yoda says I should be mindful of the future.<br />
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000553/"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Qui-Gon Jinn</span></a>: But not at the expense of the moment. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1lPkz1gd-MytX6EV31xI3Mz_y7nVRzchPeyMQ3wjmC-Eh0i0b-9YohGKwQRUixZKpUL1uONPjMzOST3HMZz44J_G2cvHfx_MlkLJ_PnVKukX6ukNVeedcg1XkIEOI1jTjxe4XwqN957Q/s1600/obi-quigon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1lPkz1gd-MytX6EV31xI3Mz_y7nVRzchPeyMQ3wjmC-Eh0i0b-9YohGKwQRUixZKpUL1uONPjMzOST3HMZz44J_G2cvHfx_MlkLJ_PnVKukX6ukNVeedcg1XkIEOI1jTjxe4XwqN957Q/s200/obi-quigon.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span lang="EN-US">Quick parenthesis: Why all the Star Wars’ references? Because we are re-releasing <b>Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace in 3-D</b> on February 10<sup>th</sup>, 2012 and I need to shamelessly plug it! And now back to our regular programming.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">I always try to focus on my current responsibilities, without losing sight of possible future paths. I see my career like a boat on a very choppy sea. You’ve got a general idea of where you want to go, but the currents keep dragging you somewhere else. You’ve got to play those currents so as not to stray too far away from your visualized destination, which must also be somewhat flexible, otherwise you might lose opportunities by stubbornly following a fixed goal, or be disappointed if things don’t turn out exactly as you want… and chances are they won’t.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">By having more or less a defined general goal, you can then constantly prepare yourself for possible opportunities that will keep you on track of reaching it (as Seneca has endlessly been quoted as saying, “<i>Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity</i>”).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Then comes the tricky part: you have to know when to take chances, jump the big waves, brave the currents, jump into the water with the sharks or paddle like crazy (enough cheap nautical references for you? I know I’ve had my full, so let’s continue without them).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjbTfy-qQryGyOnqSQ8bPEp3XV1iaejva5Cd551fWG95G0S3pyol7JuiaPcpnmagkqY_l3u5B5GdaLDXB0YB86sUS38eOLCyVvVMFeG-fgYZLp8vg6Aj1VfmFjEjm_B15hUcKjQuDX2O4/s1600/jack-sparrow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjbTfy-qQryGyOnqSQ8bPEp3XV1iaejva5Cd551fWG95G0S3pyol7JuiaPcpnmagkqY_l3u5B5GdaLDXB0YB86sUS38eOLCyVvVMFeG-fgYZLp8vg6Aj1VfmFjEjm_B15hUcKjQuDX2O4/s200/jack-sparrow.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">I guess what I’m trying to say is that you need to strive to do whatever you are currently doing as best as you can, have an overview of what you want to accomplish in the mid-to-long run, and always keep preparing for it. You have to actively seek opportunities and keep your eyes open for signs (sometimes you’ll know when to aggressively pursue an objective and when it would be better to let it pass you by).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">And there are always pesky politics to consider. Who are your true allies? Who’s holding you back? Who couldn’t care less? By knowing this, it becomes easier to play the pieces, even the ones working against you, in your favor. Try to keep most people on your side. Pissing people off almost always turns out to be counter productive, but sometimes it’s unavoidable. These are the risks you sometimes have to take.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">After all of the above, you might think I devote way too much time on career planning.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">I don’t.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">I'm more of a dreamer. I try to visualize myself and my family in an ideal future, get a good feel of what that future might look like, and then keep that vision in my heart while pulling up my sleeves to do the current job at hand. That's what inspires me to keep doing my best.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Alberto Llerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10711284520260943046noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8067392327608494126.post-77273780081605715862011-08-19T08:07:00.000-07:002011-08-19T11:46:22.393-07:00Frak, Starbuck’s dead!<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">And I’m not talking about the coffee chain.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">It’s taken me years, literally, to catch up with one of the best, critically acclaimed sci-fi dramas of the last few years: the Battlestar Galactica (BSG) TV series that ran from 2004 to 2009. Great stuff. But watching it this way got me into thinking about the way we enjoy our personal entertainment and how its social impact has changed over the years.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9z_UaaWov6c6ubu2IRMl3JEMmxCp3HG7BLvV6PHx-TN6ynO0_lQRsDUMceOGAzVPgJx377-AGXHba1BKPb_SrG_W8n8nt40wb3OlmWRBsQjtexzNwkHl7rqkYJQja5F31Sh4sv9RoPNs/s1600/2008-03-31-bsg_table.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="129" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9z_UaaWov6c6ubu2IRMl3JEMmxCp3HG7BLvV6PHx-TN6ynO0_lQRsDUMceOGAzVPgJx377-AGXHba1BKPb_SrG_W8n8nt40wb3OlmWRBsQjtexzNwkHl7rqkYJQja5F31Sh4sv9RoPNs/s320/2008-03-31-bsg_table.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">A long time ago, say, from the ‘50’s through the ‘70’s, there was a limited number of TV channels. So-called movie “events” were scarce (three or four really big ones a year, at the most). Your individuality was defined by the kind of books and magazines you read, and probably the theater plays you saw and night clubs you attended. But mass media was a social thing. Almost EVERYONE knew what had happened on the highest rated drama the night before, had heard the same local news, or had seen the same sporting event. A really big theatrical release guaranteed almost everyone had seen it and discussed it. You could tell what the cool property was by looking at the cover of Mad Magazine. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTFcK5l_LhghzchJrl8JCwI3A2rjbMcPJb3QTKQOphTpJkrFSsyY5ZLM0rNzSOQIoQnZ6BSnvuMIbmqG4ya36WIZyVtx8-uEiDXWF0Eq4nTsA_KWXtqvoikB7BErOAjleAm3SQ-UoltMQ/s1600/eIeD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTFcK5l_LhghzchJrl8JCwI3A2rjbMcPJb3QTKQOphTpJkrFSsyY5ZLM0rNzSOQIoQnZ6BSnvuMIbmqG4ya36WIZyVtx8-uEiDXWF0Eq4nTsA_KWXtqvoikB7BErOAjleAm3SQ-UoltMQ/s320/eIeD.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Nowadays, there’s an endless variety of open TV, cable and digital channels for every taste. And you can rent or buy whatever series you want to watch when you feel like it.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Case in point: I bought the BSG series but, as a person with limited free time to watch TV, I end up catching up on series long after they’ve broadcasted. So I’ve been trying to get up to speed on Entourage, Smallville, 24, Mad Men, Breaking Bad… even the The Batman animated series. But by the time I get to some of these, nobody cares about them anymore. BSG got very limited exposure in Mexico, only the first season was available to buy or rent, and scifi in general is not popular down here. So I’m one of the few within my circle of acquaintances that is excited about it. A couple of nights ago I was watching in bed and got to the show almost at the end of the third season where Lt Kara “Starbuck” Thrace apparently kills herself, disintegrating her viper against an energy cloud. Powerful stuff. I’m sure she will somehow pop back from the dead for the last season, but in the meantime the shock was huge. So much so, that my gasp woke my wife up.”What happened?” she asked. “Starbuck’s dead!! I cannot frakking believe it!” (“frak”, by the way, is BSG’s euphemism for… ok, I guess it’s obvious, nerd parenthesis off). “What?” “Yeah, she killed herself in her Viper.” “What the hell is a “viper”?” “Oh, nevermind, go back to sleep”. And so, I was left with no one to share the shock and excitement, because the next morning no one knew or cared about BSG at the office, and if anyone somewhere else might have, they probably saw it when it first aired. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">So, sometimes watching a TV series can become a lonely enterprise. Even so, it’s exciting that now we can catch up whenever we want to whatever everyone’s talking about. And we can choose what really excites us, and we can link with people who share similar interests based on a wider range of entertainment options. There’s something for everyone’s taste and the really great stuff still manages to stand out from the clutter. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Exciting times we are living in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Alberto Llerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10711284520260943046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8067392327608494126.post-35251097239588512182011-08-08T14:24:00.000-07:002011-08-08T14:24:38.383-07:00I Confess!<br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Now that <b>Rise of the Planet of the Apes</b> (#Apeswillrise / #elplanetasimios) released over the weekend in the US and will be opening on September 2<sup>nd</sup> in Mexico, I’ve had the chance to discuss it with people in general with very positive results (everyone who’s seen it agrees it’s a great surprise and that it surpassed or at least reached their expectations… which is amazing considering how high these were). But I also realized that it is most un-cool to say you remotely liked Tim Burton’s 2001 re-imagining. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv6Kv7aU-RqFA2eMC53pKbNORSeNYtyHKCA7lwMCTraOcFpCQEzo9a0RkleGBA8GVnE52mEcGudifbdjIWOBru7stX4JwNOG7eVecDkrC7I9MdYdo6WCKhKYWxaRnbU8IGySSSTnTLy7o/s1600/planet_of_the_apes_ver2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv6Kv7aU-RqFA2eMC53pKbNORSeNYtyHKCA7lwMCTraOcFpCQEzo9a0RkleGBA8GVnE52mEcGudifbdjIWOBru7stX4JwNOG7eVecDkrC7I9MdYdo6WCKhKYWxaRnbU8IGySSSTnTLy7o/s320/planet_of_the_apes_ver2.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Well, I confess I liked it. So sue me. But I’m a huge fan of the franchise, I grew up with it, I’m also a big Tim Burton fan, and I thought he did a very interesting take on the ape mythology. Rick Baker’s makeup was great (yeah, NOW we can do believable CGI apes, but that was still not the case back in ’01) and the ending was a brave attempt to update the original’s. I appreciated all of that. There, I said it. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">And now, to top that one off, here I will proceed to declare my liking of other three such films (the ones that earn an exasperated eye-roll from movie “experts”):<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US">The A-Team:</span></b><span lang="EN-US"> Everyone ended up hating it. But I thought it was a very good updating of the original series, which I kinda liked because of their 80’s goofiness. Liam Neeson did a good job on George Peppard’s role and the other guys were fun to watch (I also got to work with most of them during their visit to Mexico!) I loved it when a plan came together. So there.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZJ5nomi3RgvZPt32fOcnM60NZHdvglb32-zptZ4ygySknWxOqsVF3-hCwzTDBp-9sLnNs9f2Oo8J-OY2GoYSPVIi8_O7RipqTsvi22SN8jlJb7utm1kVVQauZT1HatDg7kTnFIKJkciM/s1600/DSC_0574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZJ5nomi3RgvZPt32fOcnM60NZHdvglb32-zptZ4ygySknWxOqsVF3-hCwzTDBp-9sLnNs9f2Oo8J-OY2GoYSPVIi8_O7RipqTsvi22SN8jlJb7utm1kVVQauZT1HatDg7kTnFIKJkciM/s320/DSC_0574.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US">The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen</span></b><span lang="EN-US">: Granted, not one of Mr. Connery’s finest, but there have been much worse (Highlander II, anyone?) I also got to work on the marketing campaign for the movie in Mexico (which was very exciting, considering he's my all-time favorite actor!), and up until now, it’s Sean’s last movie before retiring. You gotta love that!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnz-mTYO2XxyTS6sMjJwWT6yIpGVCKdFOF3jbTnt1LlgficnZRDErBA86e4uEp2UANX4JwzFOtdl-FnTP5SfSsGKkPTa0uFio2QosT4lS4KVtxJewckn7WiBqcEo3y7kt1T_U27JtMIOA/s1600/league_of_extraordinary_gentlemen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnz-mTYO2XxyTS6sMjJwWT6yIpGVCKdFOF3jbTnt1LlgficnZRDErBA86e4uEp2UANX4JwzFOtdl-FnTP5SfSsGKkPTa0uFio2QosT4lS4KVtxJewckn7WiBqcEo3y7kt1T_U27JtMIOA/s320/league_of_extraordinary_gentlemen.jpg" width="215" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US">Mars Attacks:</span></b><span lang="EN-US"> Yep, last but not least, another rare Burton-dud. But I loved it when the Martians blew up congress!! And watching such great actors having fun (even when it didn’t always feel you were attending the same party) made for a good, if not great, time (oh, and the Martians’ design, CGI animation and attitude were priceless!) Ack Ack!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheUMXxZ0AeE4-HDBDVk05G_g83VRIq3M_cXfXu-pyKlZyiQmUK-0bxnrAUt-kdhiSiTlvIIYoQAl7M58vBuiq2BIg7dGzsWTOx8EC_Hewi0Q8P4QSmY_4F3eQwKSn6NDA4AOwxlHOOkqw/s1600/mars_attacks_1996.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheUMXxZ0AeE4-HDBDVk05G_g83VRIq3M_cXfXu-pyKlZyiQmUK-0bxnrAUt-kdhiSiTlvIIYoQAl7M58vBuiq2BIg7dGzsWTOx8EC_Hewi0Q8P4QSmY_4F3eQwKSn6NDA4AOwxlHOOkqw/s320/mars_attacks_1996.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">This is why I always say there are no bad movies, only wrong audiences.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Is there a movie you've liked and everyone else hated? Now's the time to confess.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Have a great week, everyone!<o:p></o:p></span></div>Alberto Llerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10711284520260943046noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8067392327608494126.post-26341153128472935832011-06-27T10:57:00.000-07:002011-06-27T10:57:44.376-07:00Back to School…<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Today I got invited to speak in front of the kids at the place where I attended my first two years of grade school: the Simon Bolivar Institute. It all came about because it turns out my youngest boy’s teacher at another school is the daughter of my own 1<sup>st</sup> grade teacher. It’s a small world (after all!)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Stand me in front of 400 movie theater managers and put on me an X-Men First Class Professor Xavier’s light-up helmet (yep, true anecdote, worthy of another blog by itself), and I’ve got no problem. But talking in front of children… that’s a whole different ball game. I remember a few months back when I had to attend my own kid’s school to tell a Halloween story and sing songs to his class. Now THAT’s a tough audience to keep entertained for 45 minutes.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Whoever knows me, knows I’m not comfortable writing down speeches. I don’t usually put down on paper what I’m going to say, I just subconsciously make notes in my head and then let inspiration take over as I go along. Makes it easier to improvise. </span>Well, this was no exception. However I spent a sleepless night trying to figure out how to say everything I wanted to say in three minutes or less (kids have a very low attention span).</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">So I tried to picture myself over 34 years ago and take it from there. I remembered Star Wars came out back then and that made the rest easier: the connection between generations, the imagination, the dreams we had, how technology has evolved… and so the center message of my speech came about: <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Be true to yourself, try to do whatever you are passionate about, and always keep on dreaming, because today’s dreams will very probably become tomorrow’s reality.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I firmly believe so, because I’m living pretty much in the world I dreamt up back then (with some major ecological, political and social glitches I could not have foreseen, of course, and I’m still waiting to drive my own flying car, traveling by teleportation and fighting it out with a light saber, but hey, aside from that, almost everything else came true).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I know of people who always think about the impossibility of new ideas. I like to think nothing is impossible (improbable, maybe, but never impossible) and that’s the message I’d like to leave behind, especially to my own children.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I’m always thankful for these opportunities to stop a moment, look back, see how much we’ve accomplished, take a breath and continue on the road to whatever we’re dreaming about today. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Making those dreams come true makes the trip worth taking, don’t you think?<o:p></o:p></span></div>Alberto Llerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10711284520260943046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8067392327608494126.post-14963269087071827202011-06-20T18:27:00.000-07:002011-06-20T18:27:32.678-07:00I Want to Believe…<div class="MsoNormal">After a long, long time, I've decided to start blogging again. And for no particular reason, I decided to begin with this recent anecdote.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Anyone who knows me knows I love supernatural themes and horror stories. Since I was a teenager, I’ve searched for opportunities to experience strange occurrences, without success.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">When I lived in Miami for six months in the early 2000’s I had an experience anyone else would have attributed to restless spirits, but which I am fully convinced was the result of a very stressful period in my life.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">We were renting an apartment in Fountainebleu Boulevard and I recall going to bed and hearing a woman’s voice calling my name from the bedroom door, and one night when I lay facing the night table, I felt what I thought was my wife embracing me from behind. Only the embrace suddenly turned into very violent heaving and shoving (and it was not my wife, believe me!). Both times I rationalized I must have been suffering from stress and was probably half asleep (I had just moved to the States without a job, my wife was about to have a baby and I barely had enough money to pay for the medical expenses and our own basic needs) so I don’t count these as “supernatural” experiences.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">So up until a few days ago, whenever conversation turned to these themes, I usually told the only story I could about the only inexplicable experience I had as a very young child. Back then I slept in a crib in my parents’ room and I could see a mirror from a big wall to wall closet. On that mirror I seemed to recall every night watching strange silhouetted creatures moving around and interacting, it seemed as if they were whispering to each other: they were human shaped, black clad and spidery limbed, with pointy hoods and a blank face (it seemed like a white oval with undistinguishable features). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believed I shouldn’t stare at them too long or they would realize I was watching them. One night I dared to do so for too long and one of the creatures seemed to jerkily jump out of the mirror and approach my crib.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I perfectly recall what it looked like up close, and it’s easy to do so, because even back then I knew where that face came from (even so, imagine how something like this </span>looming over and staring at him would scare the bejeezus out of a 2 year old):</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZiRkChk3SLa8219A37kqBlB_Bq4rDri7XJT1xech-BO_QhlqF4JjOixtUS-GWb-CjkDy4PnMxdpGzyaXqAy0X0wWOi432V5kr6mTkx7DmOU2X9rzUlSEyL9nIGZDB4VlsZbGIn4DZbfs/s1600/angelfink1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZiRkChk3SLa8219A37kqBlB_Bq4rDri7XJT1xech-BO_QhlqF4JjOixtUS-GWb-CjkDy4PnMxdpGzyaXqAy0X0wWOi432V5kr6mTkx7DmOU2X9rzUlSEyL9nIGZDB4VlsZbGIn4DZbfs/s320/angelfink1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Yes, if you grew up in the ‘70s you probably remember the infamous Angel Fink, one of the model kits designed by Ed “Big Daddy” Roth, the creator of Ratfink.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFNzOyheuEcJ6OtKV5fCUiOff7cHKI-4Q4qlM_PTR4A0pDTdXvp3DZypiePco0UaBLQsDE210O0ns-naAOMBVhN606fO6bNQi3xNn-TEUgr5tlycSKZ0J15gUpOzPXnek3-gTxcNSw9W0/s1600/eranglfk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFNzOyheuEcJ6OtKV5fCUiOff7cHKI-4Q4qlM_PTR4A0pDTdXvp3DZypiePco0UaBLQsDE210O0ns-naAOMBVhN606fO6bNQi3xNn-TEUgr5tlycSKZ0J15gUpOzPXnek3-gTxcNSw9W0/s320/eranglfk.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">So, I figured these beings could take a familiar shape that would scare me. But I still wanted to believe all these years that they were not the product of my imagination, but actual creatures from another plane of existence that only my innocent child’s eyes could perceive through the mirror.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">That is, until last week, when I found in my YouTube account a suggested </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">link to an old Lone Ranger cartoon (circa 1966, not the ‘70’s version). These shows re-ran on Mexican TV when I was very young (1972-’73) and I particularly remember this episode (</span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHEiGqvMMpI"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHEiGqvMMpI</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">)</span>. It was called Cult of the Black Widow. I had never seen it since those years and when I saw it last week something struck me like a bolt of lightning.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Without going into detail, the story involves a mysterious female witch-like character (her greenish face revealed almost at the end of the story) robbing banks with the aid of two nefarious minions. And to my surprise, this is what the goons looked like:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVOGUyP2R92BZCaAu7ZWKi0nnsCIxqG3g-YwFoYPt2c5MKQeIt7t29RsrOKP7RRInBSwLyH9seqiOmF15Doh8tjWWmRl3biMOVEkFSCtnj0_MQ8AN0dYznJNwwsjfN0BGoA63SY1M0jgE/s1600/Goon1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVOGUyP2R92BZCaAu7ZWKi0nnsCIxqG3g-YwFoYPt2c5MKQeIt7t29RsrOKP7RRInBSwLyH9seqiOmF15Doh8tjWWmRl3biMOVEkFSCtnj0_MQ8AN0dYznJNwwsjfN0BGoA63SY1M0jgE/s1600/Goon1.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJH5uCjF0tZWGLWDnR2v2F7ShhoSLC1GUAUA9reHQdW0jnHF2_qkRbchwBBrcBOYyyIZpnvcjNQYva3kX67UMF4CQcwg9vdX5Vqa9MrKKAOrzTRc0AGSTQ2wtXHuVY-ogAAzDKU0AVqp8/s1600/Goons2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJH5uCjF0tZWGLWDnR2v2F7ShhoSLC1GUAUA9reHQdW0jnHF2_qkRbchwBBrcBOYyyIZpnvcjNQYva3kX67UMF4CQcwg9vdX5Vqa9MrKKAOrzTRc0AGSTQ2wtXHuVY-ogAAzDKU0AVqp8/s1600/Goons2.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">So, a personal years-old mystery has just been unraveled, the supernatural experience turned out to be a trick of my almost sleeping subconscious mind.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Too bad. For a lover of horror and ghost stories such as myself, it was exciting to have a small piece of the supernatural to hold on to. But alas, up until now I haven’t had the fortune of experiencing anything beyond the typical "paralysis", "hovering presence watching you" or "thing sitting on the bed", all of which always happen when you are already falling into sleep (and most probably during periods of stress). <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">But I don’t discard anything yet. As Fox Mulder’s X-Files’ office poster said, “I Want To Believe”.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Have you ever had any supernatural experiences? Or have you experienced these “near sleep” occurrences? <o:p></o:p></span></div>Alberto Llerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10711284520260943046noreply@blogger.com1