Times flies: A year since book was published

It's coming up on a year since my book Public Enemies Confidential: Johnny Depp, Michael Mann and Me was published.

It's never been a best seller, nor will it ever be. Friends, family and scattered fans have bought the book. I haven't a clue to how many have sold because I do not get a penny from its sales.

What I do know is I've signed a number of these for people, and am happy to do so.

But I have especially signed more for a wonderful woman and fan in Denver, Colorado whom I have never met. Lynn Curran has asked me to sign my book which apparently she has given as gifts to many of her friends. I do not know that for sure, but she is a delightful woman.

In any case, my point is she put a comment/review of my book on    www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/1214959 --  where the book can be ordered.

Don't misunderstand, I'm not shilling for the book because I initially wrote it initially for my use and I don't make anything on its sales. As an aside, both Johnny Depp and Michael Mann have the book, and I have a copy with both of their autographs.

I just thought I would share Lynn's commentary for folks who probably wouldn't otherwise see it; and because I am very proud of what she had to say. Thanks Lynn. So here it is:

LynnCurran says

Have you been searching for a book that covers in great detail a behind-the-scenes look at how a major motion picture is made? If so, then this is the book you must read.

The premise of the book covers the evolution of Don Asher (Reporter #1) fom being a potential extra to actually being cast as a principal player on a very important film. Of particular interest are the many personal insights and anecdotes of Don Asher during his interaction with the director of the film, Michael Mann.

The book includes many lovely photographs of the sets that were made as authentic as possible by Michael Mann. In most cases the scenes were actually filmed where the original historical drama took place. As a bonus, the reader will also find rare photos of Johnny Depp and Michael Mann during the making of the film.

Special mention goes to the last chapter of the book which includes rare photos and the back story behind the Chicago premiere of Public Enemies.

For fans of the motion picture or students of film history this is a must read and a great addition to any book lover's library.

Lynn E Curran

posted at 07:02PM Jun 12 PST

And the saga continues

A couple of weeks ago --maybe three -- I received an email from my agent. This new feature film casting agency asked for a taped audition of me. I had a few days to get it done. Script was attached.

Lo and behold, it's not just an other feature film, but rather a Lionsgate movie, directed by Marc Forster who directed Quantum of Solace, the last James Bond film.

And who is the only other person to date who had been cast -- Gerard Butler.  Since then Michelle Monaghan has been cast.

The title of the film -- Machine Gun Preacher. Anyone who wants to know more about the movie can research it on the internet at -- www.machinegunpreacher.org . Let me say, it's expected to be pretty big.

And the role they asked me to audition for is a contractor who has two scenes and dialog with Butler (Sam Childers) himself.

I take this very seriously. The script for my role has about 10-12 lines. I immediately called my acting coach, Matt Miller in Chicago -- www.mattmillerdirect.com . Of course he's in New York.

"Matt, I have this opportunity...." blah, blah. I told him the tape has to arrive by Thursday, and it's already Monday...only three days from now.

Matt tells me he'll be back Thursday night. I call my agent -- Dawn Gavin at BMG Model & Talent in Chicago -- and tell her the deal. Dawn is terrific! She says, "wait for Matt, do the tape and I'll get it there on Friday...it'll be fine."

Whew!.

I meet Matt Friday at TP&R Casting -- www.tprcasting.com -- in Chicago, one of the premier casting agencies in the Midwest. He's busy doing auditions for a national NFL commercial for Direct TV.

The commercial calls for a Catholic priest and the waiting room is filled with aging men dressed in dark suits, some with collars and hats (I forget what they are actually called).

Here I am in jeans and a powder blue sweater. Having studied my lines over the last three days my mind continues to go over, and over, and over them. I don't want to screw this up.

Matt takes a break from the audition and we go into a separate room filled with cameras and a computer. Matt is great. He's one of those people who can put you at ease effortlessly.

We start the audition, take after take. One scene at a time. "Do this, do that, move this way....." Finally Matt said "we got it. It's great." I was unbelievably relieved.

Matt says "Hey, while you're here, do you want to read for this commercial I'm doing?" I said "I thought you had to be 70 and have white hair. Plus, I hardly look like a priest in this outfit."

"No worries, they can color you hair. Come on let's do it," Matt says.

Sure. Why not. So while I'm there I do the audition for Direct TV. It was only one line of dialog, and very easy. But really, I would be stunned to get that role after seeing all the other guys who looked like the "real deal." But, it was good experience and for that I thank Matt.

Matt tells me he'll finish editing the film audition and get it to my my agent within a couple of hours. He seemed confident. "I think you have a shot; you have the look and everything."

But in this business the competition is extremely stiff, and I'm still a no name, rookie (as Matt politely reminds me).

So now it is past the original call-back date, but I still have hope. You never know. Things get delayed. There've only been a handful cast so far. My big concern is the movie starts shooting in mid-July in Michigan. The other location is South Africa, but my role will be here.

In any case, it was my first big film opportunity since I did Public Enemies. Because the scenes and lines are with Butler himself, I wondered if it was because I had lines with Johnny Depp that I even got called.

On a final note, the week before getting the email from my agent I noted my popularity on IMDb.com -- the internet movie database -- had skyrocketed from 160,000+ to 91,000. That doesn't happen. Remember, there are 2 or 3 million members on IMDb. I suspect they were checking me out.

Not to worry, I'm back down to my normal popularity -- about 170,000.

So if anyone from Machine Gun Preacher is listening (or reading this) I'd really like the role!

Thanks to Dawn Collins for a special patriotic effort

Just a quick post to give kudos to a long-time Porter County business woman.

My hat goes off to Dawn Collins of Century 21 Executive Realty in Valparaiso, who year-after-year spends part of her Memorial Day weekend putting American flags along the parkways in town. Dawn doesn't do it alone. Usually her husband Dave, and possibly others, assist in this patriotic effort.

I know in Valparaiso's Keystone Commons the streets are lined with these flags next to mailboxes. She puts out about 1,000 of these to remind us of a day we often take for granted, but others have given their life for to protect our freedoms.

So my person of the week is Dawn Collins. Thank you, Dawn!

The search for alternatives to newspapers, and more importantly saving journalism

I am halfway through a new book, published just a couple of months ago titled The Death and Life of American Journalism, by Robert W. McChesney and John Nichols.

McChesney is a professor in the Department of Communications at the University of Illinois. Nichols is The Nation's Washington correspondent. Both have authored several books.

McChesney and Nichols provide detailed insight into American journalism, past, present and possibilities for the future. As a veteran of that profession for more than four decades, while I am only halfway through the book I can personally attest that their assessments and conclusions are dead accurate.

Anyone who wonders how newspaper got into the mess they're in, and why they likely won't survive, should read it. As a professional print journalist I am saddened on one hand, but thrilled someone finally called into account the genesis of the decline of newspapers and journalism, which threatens our entire democracy and society.

So far the book is direct, and spares no words in describing the consequences for democracy without prudent, aggressive, quality journalism, all the while it is vanishing before our very eyes. It describes the thousands upon thousands of journalism jobs which have been sacrificed for the bottom line. This has particularly escalated in the past three or four years.

Look around. Where are the investigative journalism efforts that kept a watchful eye on government? Heck, you can't fault the journalists. Those who have survived have their hands full just trying produce enough "copy" to publish a daily newspaper, albeit growing ever smaller both in physical size and number of pages. It's everywhere: Coast to coast, border to border.

I doubt all newspapers will die. Some won't and will continue to make a decent profit. But at what cost?

While newspaper newsrooms have taken the biggest hit, even broadcast news has been hurt. But democracy never relied as much on broadcast journalism as print. Sound bites do not provide the depth of information.

Of course newspapers have evolved in large part into printed sound bites. You rarely, if ever, see stories that provide the depth of information that tell a complete story. Of course there are exceptions such as the NY Times and the Wall Street Journal.

Often they are once source articles, because that's all the reporter has the time and news space for. They don't have the time or news space to do more.

And speaking of space, there was a time when newspapers were happy to publish local, community news ... even school lunch menus. Parents could rely on the local paper to know what's going on in schools, in government, in their communities.

It used to be if you were an out-of-towner you could pick up the local newspaper and get a picture of the local community. No longer.

Is the internet the answer? Maybe. Although as the books points out, the proliferation of internet sites competing for advertising dollars has depressed revenue possibilities to the point they cannot sustain a truly professional, paid journalism staff...at least to the degree newspapers have until the last few years.

At the end of 2009 Smart Money -- an online product of the Wall Street Journal -- put newspapers on a Top 10 List. It was a list of 10 things NOT to buy in 2010. I'm not sure I'd go quite that far, but clearly without a salvation for journalism, so goes democracy.

Hopefully before the the book ends, McChesney and Nichols will suggest a business model for journalism that will be both profitable and provide a truly free and independent press like our Founding Fathers intended in order to preserve democracy.

Want to trade places with Joe? No thanks

Let’s see, what dollar value would you put on your life?

Sounds preposterous that I would even ask such a question, right?

Life sometimes takes us down unexpected paths.

Sometimes it’s no longer even life. Sometimes it’s life with unpleasant limitations. Sometimes what happens pains our family members so badly that whatever the event, life will never be the same for you, or them.

And while we can feel sorry for – let’s say -- poor Joe, who’ll spend the rest of his life in pain and unable to work from a neck fracture he suffered in whatever accident, like being rear ended by a semi, what value can you place on that?

Joe had surgery to repair the fracture. Doctors put in a metal plate and some screws to hold it in place.

How about medical bills? Certainly they’ll be into the tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of dollars.

Okay, so those are paid by the trucking company insurance. Maybe yes. Maybe no. In any case, the medical bills won’t end here and now. They’ll continue … for a long, long time.

And Joe stills wakes up every day having to swallow his pain medication just to make life bearable. The pills have side effects, so he has to take more medication to offset the pain meds.

Remember, Joe can’t work. His job as a – pick one, say an electrician – is long gone because he isn’t physically able to do it any more.

Now Joe doesn’t have a weekly paycheck. He has two children, both in elementary school, and a loving wife who stays at home tending to the family. One income, or at least there was one income. Now there’s no income.

Let’s see, there are groceries to buy, a mortgage or rent to pay, utilities, modest car payment and oh, yeah Joe doesn’t have medical insurance any more for himself or his family.

These expenses don’t even count renting a movie, or an occasional birthday party for one of the children, or life insurance for Joe in case something tragic happens to him.

Oh yeah, something tragic did happen to Joe. His wonderful life just turned into a mess thanks to the negligence of some trucking company and its driver.

And guess what? It will never change back to the way it was. Poor Joe and his family are doomed to a morass of debt, anxiety about the future, and oh yes, Joe is still in pain each and every day.

So now what is the value of Joe’s life? How much money would he have earned working another 25 or 30 years as an electrician? Maybe the house would be paid off by then, he’d have a nice nest egg upon which to retire and enjoy his remaining years and all would be good.

But it won’t be good. That’s all changed. Forever!

And yet the ordinary man or woman whose life is generally good cannot understand why Joe would hire a personal injury attorney, and ask for monetary damages to offset his income, his daily pain, his disability, his disfigurement, the suffering he and his family continue to endure day in and day out.

Joe and his family are good people. They’re not greedy. They’d go back to the way it was in a second. They can’t.

Yet at the trucking company it’s business as usual.

Joe’s only recourse is to hire that injury attorney, like Kenneth J. Allen, who has a passion for people who have been harmed, permanently and forever! So he and his wife do hire Mr. Allen.

A lawsuit is filed against the trucking company. The company’s insurance representatives put a laughable settlement on the table. No way does it cover anything close to Joe’s tangible and intangible losses.

The offer is rejected and a jury trial is convened. Thank goodness it’s a jury of Joe’s peers, because more often than not members of a jury can place themselves in Joe’s shoes. And historically in the case of Kenneth Allen, it’s been always.

The jury returns a verdict of say, $6 million in favor of Joe. Boy, that’s a lot of money we all think.

But would I trade places with Joe? No way. Please, there’s no way it’s worth $6 million to me to go through what Joe and his family have, and will – forever!

In reality, Joe won’t even receive $6 million. It’ll be whittled down with expenses he’ll have to incur because of his limitations, like maybe mowing his lawn like he once enjoyed. Now he must hire someone. Or psychological therapy he’ll need. After all, the mental toll this has taken on Joe is significant and finally hitting.

When there are outcries for tort reform, limits on damages a person can collect after being irreparably harmed, stop and think about poor Joe. Want to trade places?

Instead, how about stronger laws, enforcement and penalties for trucking company safety violations.

Explore cost saving ideas, like license bureau sites

A friend -- Mike Paunovich -- recently mentioned to me something that I can't seem to get out of my mind. Maybe writing about will do it.

He was talking about government efficiency, and ways state government could, and should, save money. One of his suggestions -- which made complete sense to me -- is leasing space from counties or municipalities to house Indiana license bureaus.

Why not, I asked myself? After all I suspect many, if not most, are paying pretty good dough for space in office buildings and/or strip centers such as Valparaiso where it is located south of US30 in a small business retail center.

While I don't have any idea what the state is paying for that space, I can only guess it's not cheap. Who has ever heard of a government agency getting a bargain on virtually anything?

Now I know everyone who works in a government building will cry "We're already too crowded...we don't have any space."

Maybe that's true. But surely throughout the 92 Indiana counties there must be opportunities for this kind of partnership. And maybe there are some examples of this being done, of which I am not aware. If so, congratulations.

And maybe there are other areas to look for cost savings in government. For example, road maintenance. Most cities and towns do their own, separate from county highway departments. Are there opportunities --even at a minimum level -- to contract with each other for certain services that wouldn't impact public safety?

Something to think about. After all, in these tight times saving a buck puts you a dollar ahead.

Easter, celebration and family

Today is Holy Thursday. I was thinking on the way to work about this week, and it's importance to those of us in the Christian faith.

While I have physically left the Catholic Church, it has really never has left me.

My wife and I attend New Song in downtown Valparaiso- a branch of the First United Methodist Church. She is not Roman Catholic, but is a devout Christian.

Were it not for New Song Pastor Kurt Nichols and all of the others who make the Sunday service always meaningful and relevant, I might be swayed to return to the Catholic Church. I often miss it.

Of course the television advertising campaign recently for "Catholics Come Home" was a powerful message to me. However, Pastor Nichols has my devotion, loyalty and appreciation. I know he has my wife Donna's, as well.

So as we prepare to celebrate The Resurrection, and the deep meaning behind what occurred more than 2000 years ago, I am also reminded of our own mortality.

Growing up the fear of dying was terrifying for me. My childhood was far from Ozzie and Harriet -- very far. Now, as I head towards what are surely the last stages of my life, I am no longer afraid. I know I'm in good hands -- God's hands. How much more comforting can it be?

Now there are only two things that scare me -- public speaking, and for some unexplained reason, talking about religion.

I think the latter may stem from an expectation I have on myself to know more about the Christian faith than I actually do, and a fear of being exposed. That does not, however, have any bearing on my deep faith in the Lord.

This Sunday -- Easter -- I am positive it will again be a wonderful experience at New Song. Afterward Donna and I will return home and have our own Easter. We may or may not talk about how we miss family. Again, as we get older our children have their own families and obligations.

I'll quietly remember Easters when my Aunt Jane and Uncle Tom, who raised me for a good part of my life, would cook a leg of lamb. Honestly, I didn't like lamb. But it wasn't about the food. It was about family, and the celebration Easter represents.

I miss that. I suspect Donna will miss her family and experiences as well.