Understanding human behavior

Recently I blogged about changing careers. Well, another opportunity has surfaced. Not that I'm necessarily going to pursue this, but human psychology and behavior has always fascinated me. It really can be quite predictable, especially after more than 40 years as a journalist.

Yesterday I spent some time in court observing jury selection, watching the judge, watching the attorneys, and most importantly watching the potential jurors. It wasn't the first time trying to get into the minds of those few people doing their civic duty purely through observation.

It may have struck a cord. I have always been told I read people well. While I've never used that skill to make a living, I have had to use it for survival ever since I was a child. I guess that many years of practice makes you pretty good at picking up subtle signs, body language, hand and mouth movements, etc.

So now I have about 15 books on selecting juries. And last night talking to an attorney friend in San Antonio she asked me a question. Pick three animals you'd like to be and give reasons why. After I went through the exercise she explained how you can tell the type of person by the animals they've chosen, and why. I picked a jaguar, eagle and clydesdale horse. She explained what that meant. You figure it out.

The provider of those books has given me the order in which to read them. There will be a test, he said. So I guess I better get to my homework.

More on Public Enemies

Well, it's an interesting week....and it's only Tuesday.

On Sunday while watching the Indianapolis Colts game we were surprised by commercial for the "Public Enemies" DVD being released Dec. 8th, a week from today.

Now the commercial wasn't necessarily surprising, but an image of me and one of my lines starting the TV spot was. In fact, I thought I heard myself, but by the time I looked at the TV I was gone. After waiting, and waiting for a repeat, a second PE commercial came on. This time I was no where to be found.

But, a few friends saw the first one and that's all that counts. And honestly, after having seen the film three times, the promo commercials and trailers playing from March through the movie opening on July 1, I really am kind of tired of seeing and hearing myself. Many won't believe it, but it's true.

It's still an experience I will always be grateful for, and memories will remain with me forever.

I shared those experiences in a book, which is no longer in print. "Public Enemies Confidential: Johnny Depp, Michael Mann and Me" chronicled my five days of filmdom working on PE, in three states -- Columbus, Wisconsin, Crown Point, Indiana, and Chicago.

Sometime this week I hope to make arrangements to post the book, with photos from retired Chicago Tribune Photographer Robert Hollingsworth Jr., somewhere online. My friend Bob Hollingsworth played Hoover Reporter #1 in the movie.

Not that it's a literary masterpiece because it isn't, but what it does do is give a view of film-making from this rookie actor's perspective. Stay tuned.