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Dirty Harry, Clint Eastwood

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Who is Dirty Harry?

With crime escalating and the economy on a hellish rollercoaster dive, it is a perfect time to view the 1970s tough-cop action thriller Dirty Harry.

The script, by the married team Harry Julian Fink and Rita M. Fink (based on her unpublished story), Dean Riesner, and John Milius (unaccredited), is a lesson in a tight, fast-paced story.

The .44 Magnum he carries guides a story’s worth of sharp dialogue that launched a movie legend.

Eastwood states the memorable tough-cop line while holding a .44 Magnum, “Make my Day.” He repeats the famous line at the end of the movie. He baits the punk to gamble with his streetwise Russian Roulette.

Who is Clint Eastwood?

Don Siegel’s stylish, almost surreal, at times direction and editing set the pace for Clint Eastwood’s incredible performance as Harry Callahan, a middle-aged, individualist, unconventional cop who throws away the rulebook but gets the short end of the stick.

The screenwriters give Callahan some of the most memorable lines and witty comments in film history, thus establishing the territory for how far a script can go to create the antihero of all jerks while keeping the audience on his side.

The unsolved Zodiac murder case in San Francisco is eerily contemporary today. The opening scene of a public tribute to San Francisco police officers killed in the line of duty fades to the muzzle-barrel end of a high-powered rifle of a serial sniper, a baby-faced hippie killer, on a rooftop with a telescopic lens aimed at a young woman in a yellow, one-piece swimsuit. She swims her lap, he pulls the trigger, the bullet hits her, and she sinks below the surface as the water turns red.

Who is Harry Callahan?

Enter Harry Callahan, the lone wolf investigating the crime scene by himself. He finds the used shell of the shot and a ransom note pinned to a TV antenna. The first few words he says throughout the film are direct responses: “Jesus.”

The handwritten note from the deranged sniper calling himself Scorpio says he will enjoy killing one person every day until he receives one hundred thousand dollars. It will be his pleasure to shoot a Catholic priest or a nigger. I can’t help but remind us of the sniper killings in the D.C. area.

Favorite Dirty Harry Quote

Those surveyed said their favorite Dirty Harry quote is “You’ve got to ask yourself a question. Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?! The next favorite quote is  “Go Ahead, Make My Day.”

Dialogue Makes the Movie

Spiteful and rude, Callahan was summoned to the Mayor’s office. After the Mayor inquires what he has done about the Scorpio case so far, Callahan complains, waiting, “Oh well, for the past three-quarters of an hour, I’ve been sitting on my ass in your outer office, waiting for you.”

Most Unforgettable Movie Cop Scene

Up next is probably one of the most unforgettable cop scenes in film history, which is often mistaken for the film’s opening scene.

Callahan drives up in his navy blue sedan on a San Francisco street and parks illegally at the red curb in front of an adult bookstore. He walks to a local Burger Den restaurant to order his jumbo hot dog. Callahan casually asks the cook about a tan Ford across the street in front of the bank, with the usual lack of excitement. He suspects a bank robbery and asks the cook to phone the police department and report a two-eleven in progress. Callahan says, “Now, just wait until the cavalry arrives.” he hears the bank’s alarm system and a gunshot after one bite of his hot dog and says, “Oh, Sh-t!”

Cliint Eastwood shows how to point a gun at the camera.
Clint Eastwood shows how to point a gun at the camera.

“I have a very strict gun control policy: if there’s a gun around, I want to be in control of it.”— Clint Eastwood

Clint Eastwood Dirty Harry Quotes

Callahan’s calm and collected strides outside pull out his monstrous, long-barreled, heavyweight Smith and Wesson .44 Magnum. He single-handedly stops the heist by shooting the fleeing bank robbers. Still chewing his hot dog, Dirty Harry fires his sixth shot at the last fleeing robber. He looks down at his pant leg, which indicates blood seeped through from a leg wound. Dirty Harry walks over to the bank entrance. He threatens the wounded robber, who is reaching for his shotgun on the sidewalk.

Aiming the .44 Magnum, Callahan says his memorable tough-cop line baits the criminal to try and use the shotgun- gamble on luck with his streetwise version of Russian Roulette.

The dialogue contributes to the fast-paced movie, while the audience sees Callahan as a tough, unscrupulous cop. In the film review for the New York Times, critic Roger Greenspun describes Callahan as: “Dirty is Harry’s given epithet, and he carries it proudly enough. But he is a knight in shining armor whose dirtiness is mostly rubbed off from the scummy world he keeps trying to wipe clean.”

Clint Eastwood as Dirty Harry

Clint Eastwood is not only a fine actor but also an award-winning director and jazz musician. Each project he works on has a social message important to our society.

Like Dirty Harry, Eastwood communicates the need to help the underdogs and support this generation’s heroes.

Harry Potter Obsession

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J. K. Rowling’s Books

If you are a Harry Potter fan, you have most likely read all of J.K. Rowling’s books. If you are not a reader, then you watch the Warner Bros. movies. They grabbed your attention, and you couldn’t get away. The obsession with the Harry Potter stories is worldwide, whether it’s the books or just the movies, or both. The story is one that the whole family can experience together, and I highly recommend it. When your family decides to watch Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, snuggle up because it’s time to share a much darker and deeper Harry Potter movie than the earlier ones.

Moviegoers’ first reaction to Half-Blood Prince is how much those kids have grown up. They look so much older, and the story grows with them and gets darker. The actors surpassed their adolescence, and the characters have mastered their wizard training. If you have read the book, you are aware of the movie’s overall plot and outcome.

Sure. The story is darker, and Harry Potter learns more about Voldemort’s dark secrets and how to overpower the evil wizard once and for all. One main character in the story will perish, which is a pivotal point in Rowling’s series and may be hard to bear.

Harry Potter Books or Movies?

Those surveyed indicated that 50% had read the books before seeing the Harry Potter movies. The other 50% split between seeing the films and then deciding to read the books, and never reading the books at all.

Yates Directs Harry Potter Movies

David Yates directs the movie, and he is by far the best director of the franchise, as evidenced by his return to finish the last three installments after directing Order of the Phoenix.

Yates’s experience as a British television director keeps the story above the special effects. Yates told IMDB, “I like to create an atmosphere where actors feel safe enough to take risks. I certainly don’t believe in being a macho bully. I’m not interested in frightening good work out of people. It’s bollocks,” he continues. “In an ideal world, I’d bounce between big projects and no-budget TV dramas with fantastic scripts. Many Hollywood films tend to be bloated, bombastic, and loud. At the same time, I do like the infrastructure of making a blockbuster; it’s like having a big train set.”

Young Tom Riddle

In Half-Blood Prince, we discover detailed information about the young Tom Riddle, the boy. He eventually grows up to be Lord Voldemort, played brilliantly by Hero Fiennes-Tiffin, the nephew of Ralph Fiennes. Ralph Fiennes plays Voldemort, which makes the casting quite a family affair.

Another new cast member of the franchise is Jim Broadbent as Horace Slughorn, the new potions teacher, a plot-driven character in the Harry Potter story. Broadbent’s resume is extensive and probably one of the most favored character actors in the U.K. and the U.S.

Rowling’s Final Scene

So, sit down with your family and enjoy the sixth installment of the Harry Potter films. At the end of the movie, Harry reflects with Ron and Hermione on the difference between him and Voldemort. It’s a meaningful line and poignant, which is why we read Rowling’s series and flock to see Harry Potter movies.

“Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery Mobile Game”

Even though we read the books, watch the movies, and see spin-offs like Fantastic Beasts, a Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery Mobile Game offers a chance to play a game set in the franchise. The mobile game is just another way to enjoy Harry Potter.

Play the video promoting the new game, and you will see some reactions to the game from real Harry Potter talent, like one of the Phelps brothers. The game launch at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando was exciting and eventful for those who attended.

It is one of the first games where players experience being a character they choose and a Hogwarts student.

Future of Harry Potter

With spin-offs from Harry Potter stories, the new television series, the play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, the theme parks, and mobile games, you walk into a Barnes & Noble bookstore and see Harry Potter fandom from the original story, Fantastic Beasts. Anything is possible with such a fantasy story.

Rowling’s work inspires people to dream and to be part of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, or to write their own fantasy books where families and friends bond, sharing a fanciful reality.

Aretha Franklin Queen of Soul

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“There are singers then there is Aretha. She towers above the rest. Others are good, but Aretha is great. She’s my only sure-enough sister.”— Ray Charles

Aretha Franklin Concert Review

The more I hear Aretha Franklin sing, the more I look for her songs. The more I hear about her, the more I want to know. Have you read any Aretha Franklin concert reviews that mention her greatest hits? You discover none of them discuss her jazz songs. Why is that?

Recordings that uniformly come up are “Amazing Grace,” “Think,” “Respect,” “I Say a Little Prayer,” “Chain of Fools,” “Baby I Love You,” “I Never Loved a Man,” and “The House That Jack Built.”

If you google “jazz music,” Franklin’s jazz showcase appears. Now is your chance to hear a gifted and talented jazz singer. As you listen to her voice, she sings riveting jazz band music, lifting the whole arrangement onto a soul quest.

It might sound corny, but Franklin is the ultimate singer who sang anything and sang better than anybody.

Aretha Franklin is Soul

Most agree that Aretha Franklin is the “Queen of Soul.” She undeniably is the singer of the American pop culture. She epitomizes the soul as the central part of her gospel label. She brings a rhythm to each rendition. It’s like a new soul waking up each time someone hears her songs.

Jazz Festival USA

A few jazz fans fail to see her as the main attraction at jazz festivals. Nevermore wrong, Aretha Franklin is a talented jazz singer and performed jazz renditions throughout her career. She even performed at the White House for jazz night.

“Being a singer is a natural gift. It means I’m using to the highest degree possible the gift that God gave me to use. I’m happy with that.”— Aretha Franklin

Franklin Performing at the Kennedy Center Honors

Close Family Ties

Franklin hailed from a house of a gospel minister, Reverend C.L. Franklin. During the 1950s, Aretha and her sisters Carolyn and Erma sang in their father’s church. All three earned recording contacts.

Franklin Sing Amazing Grace

Amazing Grace is a documentary about Franklin recording her “Amazing Grace” in a South Los Angeles church. The event took place in 1972 in a packed church.

Gospel Label

Aretha Franklin began her first recordings at the age of 14. Gospel artist in her own right and just a gospel-folk tale, Motown approached her, and she signed with the budding recording label. Contrary to that story, John Hammond, who is legendary as a talent scout, signed her with Columbia and started her recording career.

Jazz Music Songs

After discovering Motown’s fabricated story, I continued my research and learned that Franklin had started singing Jazz while recording at Columbia. In the early 1960s, she recorded some R&B hits while earning a Top Forty single “Rock-a-bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody.”

For all that, while at Columbia, Franklin tried developing her niche or style as a recording artist. Several of her recordings included uptown Jazz. Her Columbia CD “Jazz to Soul” shares some renditions of her jazz potential with songs like “Less Cross,” “Walk on By,” and “Skylark.”

Jazz Wealth

Although speculation about Franklin’s aspirations to sing Jazz gradually died down at Columbia, as things go, when focusing on popular material and production. She dreamt of experimenting with her vocal talents even more in the jazz genre.

Luckily, I found a small number of upbeat recordings by Columbia on various LPs. She lifts her voice, singing jazzy renditions with undeniable passion.

“Music does a lot of things for a lot of people. It’s transporting, for sure. It can take you right back, years back, to the very moment certain things happened in your life. It’s uplifting, it’s encouraging, it’s strengthening.”— Aretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin Greatest Hits

Aretha Franklin split with Columbia and made a lasting and profitable impression at Atlantic Records. Her vocal talent not only brought success to Atlantic Records but also enabled her to cross over from soul and R&B to pop without a hitch. She arrived in black music at a time that propelled her to fame, appealing to all levels of society.

Newport Jazz Festival

Prevailing, she vocalized her best at popular Jazz festivals around the world. Some notable ones are Toronto, Newport, and Montreux, Switzerland.

During her Golden Years before she passed away, I liked listening to her rendition of “Brand New Me,” the opener for the Newport Jazz Festival 2008, which is truly a gift from the Heavens. I strongly recommend you take the time and listen to her belt this song out. It is like Jazz in the garden. Listening and looking too, you meet the one and only “Queen of Soul.”

Barbra Streisand Sings Mainstream Jazz

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Barbra Streisand the Love Inside

Listening to Barbra Streisand sing any song is pure joy. She takes singing to a level that few have achieved in their careers.

I have never seen her in concert. Something that I would like to correct. Even if I sit in the nosebleed seats, it is a memory I will cherish forever.

Filmmaker

Although she is a singer, she is also an actress-turned-filmmaker, singing songs written specifically for her movies. As a filmmaker, she is unparalleled. Surprisingly, they missed the Oscar radar a couple of times. Yentl comes to mind, and The Mirror Has Two Faces. Both films came from Barbra’s heart, which is clear.

Based on a bestseller, she directed and starred in The Prince of Tides. It might not be as personal as the others, but she still sings.

Love Is The Answer

It surprised me to hear that this is her only jazz release. It’s the only jazz album with Barbra singing so well.

“I hated singing. I wanted to be an actress. But I don’t think I’d have made it any other way.”— Barbra Streisand.

“Love is the Answer”

Listening to Barbra Streisand sing jazz standards is not a dream. You can hear her recording on her album Love Is the Answer. If you are a substantial Streisand fan, you know about this album. If you are not a fan but an admirer, this may be the first time you’ve ever heard that she is also a jazz singer.

Streisand’s Love Is the Answer arrived on the streets and radio airwaves in 2009. She sings as if the songs are part of her being, performing them with a passion for jazz. “It’s a toast to life,” Barbra explained in an interview.

Love Is The Answer

Love Is The Answer

Barbra Streisand’s album Love Is the Answer came out in 2009. When she sings, it’s like the jazz songs are part of her being performed with passion. “It’s a toast to life,” Barbra explained in an interview.

 Buy Now

Barbra Streisand Live in Concert DVD

Love is the Answer, followed by Live In Concert 2006. Not bad for a three-year break, Barbra sings the notes and lyrics like she is on stage in a cabaret. Each song is jazzy, like an emotional dream. The depth and maturity of her renditions are deep. It’s like cherishing the first dawn reflections of past sorrows, hoping for kindhearted comforts.

The jazz album offered Barbra the opportunity to collaborate with the Grammy-winning jazz pianist Diana Krall—her quartet, comprising bass, guitar, and drums, showcases finesse. The tenderness is in delicate and understated compositions. Barbra and Diana never worked together until this project. You cannot tell because the music flows seamlessly and blends.

Grammy Winner Arranger

Barbra experienced an exclusive pleasure during the studio recording of the album. Working with celebrated songwriter and Grammy-winning arranger Johnny Mandel completed the creation. Mandel had been in the studio before with Barbra in 1993 while recording her Back to Broadway album. He worked with Diane before arranging and co-producing. The outcome was Krall’s 1998 Grammy-winning jazz album When I Look in Your Eyes. The familiarity and talent in the studio make it easy to understand Mandel’s work. He brought his awe-inspiring orchestrations to their collaboration on Love is Answer.

Listening to the standards, some of them held my love for them. “In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning” was sung by legends like Frank Sinatra. “If You Go Away (Ne Me Quitte Pas)” is a version of the Jacques Brel standard presented in English and French. “Spring Can Hang You Up” is one of those songs Barbra sang back in a St. Louis club when she was only 18. The same version is on the album, marking the first-ever studio performance of this standard.

“There is nothing more important in life than love.”— Barbra Streisand

Bossa Nova Movie

“Gentle Rain” is a tender bossa nova performance. Derived from Black Orpheus, a movie that presented the rhythm style of Brazilian music,” Smoke Gets In Your Eyes” is a pensively sad and melancholy standard. First written in 1933 for Roberta, an operetta on Broadway by Jerome Kern and Otto Harbach, indicates the transformation of the rendition. Nat “King” Cole performed the song, as did the Platters and other great talents. “Some Other Time” is a jewel and is rarely presented with the music arranged by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Betty Comden.

“Barbra Streisand is without a doubt one of the most honest people I have ever known. There is no doubt in my mind that she will not be doing any more concerts. Of course, she still will be making records and starring and directing in movies.”— Marvin Hamlisch. Composer

Jazz Standards

Jazz standards tickle my ears and fill my heart with delight. Barbra Streisand sings them on Love Is Answer, and I hear pure joy. Of all the songs on the album, I pick “In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning,” my ultimate favorite. I praise Frank Sinatra’s version of this standard, and Barbra’s version is frothy, despondent and enchanting.

Brad Pitt New Orleans Housing Project

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Community Meeting

Brad Pitt centered along side the supporters of rebuilding after the hurricane.
Brad Pitt stood alongside the supporters of rebuilding after the hurricane.

Helping People of New Orleans

Brad Pitt initiated a housing project in the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans following the devastating Hurricane Katrina. Pitt’s pet project, “Make It Right Foundation,” is an example of helping families rebuild their homes.

Celebrity home designer and “Holmes on Homes” TV personality Mike Holmes worked with Pitt on the project. Holmes promotes green living, so working with Pitt and Make It Right was perfect for both.

Although years have passed, the project remains, and the foundation is no longer as prominent as it was during the construction of the homes. The results are as endearing and heartfelt today as when the people were still recovering from Katrina.

Although some people he helped are biting the hand that feeds him, his program remains as strong as ever.

Pitt Talks with Ellen About His Foundation

“I’ll tell you, every time I drive over the Claiborne bridge, no matter what frustration I might be dealing with at the moment, I get this well of pride when I see this little oasis of color and the solar panels.”— Brad Pitt, Country Living Magazine.

Pitt designed and built homes like this one for the devasted area.
Pitt designed and built homes like this one for the devastated area.

Building Homes

Holmes and Pitt agreed on building homes that would not burn down, be blown down, or go down under any circumstances. The Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood star indicated that building such a home is not that difficult.

Following the devastation caused by Katrina in New Orleans in August 2005, building homes that take into account environmental conditions is a blessing. New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward experienced devastation and ruin when the levees broke during Hurricane Katrina.

“Make It Right Foundation” joined Holmes in building homes to withstand a catastrophe like Katrina, thereby rebuilding the area devastated by the hurricane.

The rebuilding of New Orleans, Lower Ninth Ward, included homes like this one.
The rebuilding of New Orleans, Lower Ninth Ward, included homes like this one.

Brad Pitt Builds 150 Homes

Pitt and Holmes built 150 homes, each designed to prevent future catastrophes. To some, that may seem impossible, but they achieved it to raise the homes three feet above ground level. They withstand the possibility of being blown down by a hurricane.

Looking at the homes in the pictures, you can see how they stand on the ground, stronger and rooted.

Pitt and Holmes designed 150 homes like this one for the people homeless after Katrina in Midsummer, 2005.
Pitt and Holmes designed 150 homes like this one for the homeless people after Katrina in the summer of 2005.

Solar Panels

Of course, solar panels play a significant part in the project, and other environmentally friendly factors include homes capturing rainwater for reuse in gardening and toilets.

Another designed home orchestrated by Pitt and Holmes.
Another designed home orchestrated by Pitt and Holmes.

No Longer Worried or Stressed

The locals appreciate rebuilding their homes, knowing they will withstand environmental catastrophes, and acknowledging that such incidents have historically occurred. The worry and stress caused by the possibility of losing their homes during the next hurricane no longer exist.

In New Orleans, Pitt and Holmes set positive examples for others to follow, providing hope and a brighter future for the region.

Make It Right Helps the Unfortunate

Today, the “Make It Right Foundation” believes that everyone has the right to live in a high-quality, healthy home that enhances the natural environment. Sadly, some are less fortunate and need assistance to get started and build a stable home.

The organization assists those in need. They believe the program fully engages the communities in defining their own needs and has a leading role in designing appropriate ways to meet those needs.

The foundation supports any design that can help improve the quality of affordable housing and enhance other living conditions of its occupants. The results are playing a pivotal role in creating vibrant, sustainable communities. The purpose is to build safe homes and help people around the world live in healthy cities. The fact that it offers affordable, high-quality, and environmentally sustainable homes is all the better.

Cradle to Cradle Homes

One of the programs the foundation supports is “Cradle to Cradle Homes.” The program is still unique, but hopefully, that will change, and it will become more widespread.

Architect William McDonough and chemist Dr. Michael Braungart apply specific criteria to develop communities. They use materials that are both biological and technically safe, renewable, and focused on social fairness and human dignity.

5 Popular Movie Cocktails, Including Recipes

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Hollywood entertained the idea of drinking alcoholic drinks during prohibition.
Hollywood entertained the idea of drinking alcoholic drinks during prohibition. | Source

Cocktails in Film

Celebrating special times is what we care about the most. When something comes up faster than we care to acknowledge, movies or books like Water for Elephants capture yesteryear spirits and today.

The movies overflow with retro radiance and fascination. In Water for Elephants, Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon bring us back to the days of speakeasies and unforbidden love.

Enthralled like an interloper, you witness the scene where August and Marlena invite Jacob for an evening of cocktails and elegance. The undercurrents portray the movie sequence as relatively private and intimate because of the prohibition. The scene captures the essence of the glamour of the 1930s and the spirit of sharing a moment of entertainment.

Other Hollywood films have captured the same ambiance of the prohibition era. You might be familiar with them as well. Let’s explore the glamour of cocktails in prohibition-era films like Some Like It Hot, The Untouchables, and The Roaring Twenties, with drinks including the Deauville, Manhattan, Whiskey Sour, and Hurricane.

“Why the hell shouldn’t I run away with the circus?”— Sara Gruen

Whiskey Sour

One of my favorite scenes in The Roaring Twenties is when naïve Eddie (James Cagney) orders milk at a speakeasy. A counterpart would have ordered the classic Whiskey Sour. The Whiskey Sour has been around since the late 1800s and remains popular even today. If you’re so inclined, you can add a dash of egg white to the mix to turn it into a Boston Sour.

· 45ml Bourbon whiskey

· 30ml fresh lemon juice

· 15ml Gomme syrup

· Orange slice (garnish)

· Maraschino cherry (garnish)

Pour whiskey, lemon juice, and Gomme syrup into a shaker with ice. Shake well, and then strain into an old-fashioned glass. Garnish with a maraschino cherry and an orange slice, and serve on the rocks.

“I think you’re a pretty decent guy. I like to talk to decent guys. They’re hard to find.”— Panama Smith in “The Roaring Twenties”

Manhattan

In one of my favorite Billy Wilder films, Some Like It Hot, Marilyn Monroe’s character, Sugar Cane, makes Manhattans in a hot water bottle. She’s so natural in the scene. I can’t help but believe it. Luckily, we have cocktail shakers and swizzle sticks, so we don’t need the hot water bottle.

· 50ml whiskey

· 20ml sweet red vermouth

· Dash Angostura bitters

· Maraschino cherry (garnish)

Stir whiskey, vermouth, and bitters over ice and then pour strained into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a maraschino cherry.

Some Like It Hot

“It’s the story of my life. I always get the fuzzy end of the lollipop.”— Sugar in “Some Like Hot”

The Deauville

There are no movies set in Deauville. Created in New Orleans in the 1930s, The Deauville is a classic brandy sour with a colorful fruit bouquet served straight up.

· 25ml brandy

· 25ml applejack or Calvados

· 25ml triple sec

· 25ml fresh lemon juice

Pour the ingredients into a shaker with ice, shake well, and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

What Would You Like to Drink?

Gin Fizz

Brian De Palma captured the prohibition era and the mafia’s heyday brilliantly as we watch Al Capone (Robert De Niro) and some of his cohorts in The Untouchables. I am sure the mob might have thrown back a Gin Fizz or two. The best known of all the “Fizz” type cocktails, this still-popular creation has been a hit since the 20th century.

· 50ml gin

· Juice of half a lemon

· 10ml Gomme syrup

· Soda water

Pour gin, lemon juice, and Gomme syrup over ice and shake—strain into a highball glass and top with soda water. Serve on the rocks.

“People are gonna drink – you know that I know that, we all know that, and all I do is act on that. And all this talk of bootlegging – what is bootlegging? On a boat, it’s bootlegging. On Lake Shore Drive, it’s hospitality. I’m a businessman!”— Alphonse Capone, “The Untouchables”

Hurricane

No movie refers to the Hurricane, which is a New Orleans staple. The Hurricane originated as a way to dispose of unsold rum in the 1930s and 1940s. Eventually, the cocktail became popular with sailors and remains a bestseller in the French Quarter today.

· 15ml dark rum

· 15ml white rum

· Passion fruit syrup

· Lime juice

Shake the ingredients with ice, then pour into a cocktail or tulip-shaped glass. Serve on the rocks.

“In the spring of 1988, I returned to New Orleans, and as soon as I smelled the air, I knew I was home. It was rich, almost sweet, like the scent of jasmine and roses around our old courtyard. I walked the streets, savoring that long lost perfume.”— Anne Rice, “Interview with the Vampire”

Cocktail Party

For any special occasion, you might want to contemplate throwing a Prohibition Party. If not for Thanksgiving or Christmas, you might want to consider New Year’s Eve. You can throw one at any time of the year.

You have the recipes, and all you have to do is get the ingredients and shake or stir them into cocktails.

Actor Michael Jai White Workout Routine

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“For Better or For Worse”

Before Michael Jai White starred in For Better or For Worse from 2011 to 2017, he worked on other television shows and starred in martial arts movies and for Better or For Worse aired on OWN in its third season after being canceled by TBS.

He starred in well-known martial arts movies. He looked incredibly fit. You watch the films you are streaming and see a mighty fine-looking man.

Body Aesthetics

White discusses body aesthetics in this video. As a fitness enthusiast, White provides a summary or introduction to the particular type of training. The training concentrates on building a proportional, symmetrical body. It is not lifting heavy weights or working on just one specific body aspect. Instead, it is a guide to developing your statuesque physique. He shares his secret for looking so good on camera.

Michael Jai White Movies

White’s movie career began in 1989 with minor roles, including Alley Man #1 and Audience Man. His work developed and gradually grew. He was cast in meatier roles on television, including Jag and NYPD Blue. Eventually, he landed starring roles in both TV and movies.

His starring role in Black Dynamite is a story about a 1970s movie that exploited black people as stereotypical characters. White plays Black Dynamite, an impressive crime fighter.

The 2009 movie dramatizes the portrayal of black people in film. The premise is like the movies Dolemite and Trouble Man. Black Dynamite even pokes fun at these types of films because, viewed today, they appear demeaning. I am glad Black Dynamite pokes fun at these movies because they do demoralize the black race.

Years later, only White’s voice starred in the Black Dynamite animated TV series. The series lasted three years and featured the same types of characters as the movie. You can still catch some of the episodes on YouTube.

Martial Arts Training

White spoke to interviewers about how martial arts is a significant part of his life because it helps him achieve his goals.

Michael Jai White’s martial arts training takes his acting ability to a whole new level. He discussed how the body becomes conditioned by the mind’s actions. Building his discipline and focus is the driving force behind his dedication.

He can shut out anything in his life he wants to, so he can focus on acting or business ventures. He knows the importance of discipline because he can accomplish anything with it.

Michael Jai White starred in “Spawn” in 1997 as the superhero. A milestone for him because he was the first African American to play a superhero in a blockbuster movie.

Action Martial Arts

White starred in Universal Soldier: The Return with Jean-Claude Van Damme, a sci-fi combat and action martial arts movie.

To stay in shape for his role, he put himself on a strict diet of only protein and three gallons of water a day. He worked out on the set when he wasn’t shooting a scene.

He refined his martial arts skills and avoided weightlifting. He felt that using weights made the body weight heavier, not lighter. He needed to keep his body trim and agile.

Enthralling Movie Roles

White starred in The Dark Knight, playing Gambol opposite the late Heath Ledger’s Joker.

White played Mike Tyson in the movie Tyson. He received positive feedback.

In another movie, he played a unique superhero in Spawn, a supernatural being who can kick some evil booty.

He even kicked some booty in Exit Wounds with Steven Seagal.

Black Belt Certification

White maintains his persona in these action movies because he trained with several well-known Black Belt Hall of Famers. They all hold a Black Belt in Six Sigma. That means they are leaders, teachers, and mentors of martial arts.

White flourishes on film and in life by learning and applying martial arts, and believes that tying on a white belt rather than a black belt is a way of “looking forward to learning something new.”

White’s Spiritual Journey

White identifies the spiritual journey of his body as it reaches maturity. As a martial artist, he is willing to confront the philosophical aspect of being himself. White has discussed with interviewers the notion of taking the bait of just looking good as a disservice to himself. As a martial artist, he explained that he intends to be the best he can be, no matter what else is happening in his life. It is this philosophy that has guided him and contributed to his success.

White looks good in the reruns of For Better or For Worse. It will be interesting to see his next move in the industry. According to his IMDb profile, he stars in several movies. They are either in pre-production or post-production.

On his Facebook page, he posted, “I have some cool things planned… and an announcement of the first Jaigantic feature.” Jaigantic looks like it’s his own production company, making action movies. All in all, he still has a lot of kicks and jabs left in him.

How to Become a Professional Actor

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Stars Changes
Stars Changes

Actors and Acting

We all know that actors perform on stage and in front of the cameras rather than behind the scenes. However, some professional actors have transitioned into writers, producers, directors, and other roles.

It has become increasingly common for actors to take on multiple roles in the film industry. They are behind and in front of the camera. Some notable examples include Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Charlize Theron, Tina Fey, and Jodie Foster.

However, we must never forget that actors are also professional liars. They bring the unimaginable to the front and make it real.

However, we must never forget that actors are also professional liars. They bring the unimaginable to the front and make it real.

Prime examples of these “Renaissance people” include Johnny Depp, John Travolta, Mila Kunis, Natalie Portman, Emma Stone, Jennifer Lawrence, George Clooney, and Ryan Gosling.

Actors entertain and communicate with the audience through their interpretation of dramatic roles.

“The actor creates his own universe, then peoples it — a giant puppet master. The trick is to make the audience feel that they are observing reality, and this isn’t easy, because to convey the work that has been placed in your mouth to a great number of people you have to exaggerate subtly, ever so slightly highlight. Lead the audience the nose to the thought.”— Laurence Olivier,

Movie Extras to Movie Stars

Only a small number of actors achieve tremendous recognition in motion pictures. Some actors start as “extras” (people in the background of the film) with no lines, while others are cast in supporting roles or as walk-ons. A “feature extra” may be used for the same movie over and over, with no lines but plenty of camera time.

Stunt people take on the more dangerous work, performing such stunts as driving cars in chase scenes, falling from buildings and other high places, or “fighting” instead of the principal actors.

A stunt actor is a professional stunt person hired to play the role of an actor in a scene that requires a full camera shot. They receive higher compensation and are listed in the film credits as a character in the movie.

How Much Money They Make
How Much Money They Make

Agents for Actors

It would be helpful if you built your resume before a decent agent sees it and considers representing you. That is the problem of breaking into the film business. But keep working on your craft, because the upside is that an agent will see you.

Most acting jobs come through an agent. Beginners and lesser-known actors and actresses who are not union members can register with several casting directors for a small fee. These directors invite them to auditions, which can lead to acting roles.

Later in the article, I will tell you how to build your resume and land jobs based on your talent and previous work.

Acting in Feature Films

Although a few actors and actresses find parts in feature films straight out of drama school, most spend many years supporting themselves by working at jobs inside or outside the industry.

To learn the ropes, some actors and actresses have gotten jobs at talent agencies or casting companies. Here, they understand the process of setting up auditions and casting for commercials, film, and television.

Collider
Collider

Acting Classes

Taking any old acting class is not the way to do it. It would help if you did your homework, asked around for opinions you could trust, and checked the teacher’s working student ratio. How many of their students get paid work? The class is complete, but two out of ten students are making a living as actors. Five out of ten students working is a better ratio.

Ensure you feel comfortable with the teacher and are confident that they will support your career. Make sure you attend classes and do your homework so the teacher knows you are serious about becoming a successful actor and will work with you earnestly.

Be a Competent Actor

Success, for the most part, does not happen overnight. “Being discovered” is a fantasy that happened for a few movie stars over the centuries of theater and film. Still, they proved themselves, took classes and maintained professionalism.

Being a professional is where you start. There is a valuable booklet titled “The Way to Happiness.” The booklet contains 21 precepts that help people lead a happy life by following them. One principle that applies to professionalism is “Be Competent.” The common-sense guide explains how to succeed in what you do. I tell my students and friends to follow this guide.

They read it, follow the advice, and achieve their desired goals. That is my final advice to you: be competent as an actor, and you will succeed.

“The Tree of Life” Filming Locations

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Malick, What is the Meaning

Terrence Malick’s The Tree of Life takes us on a passage through the Heavens, and then we are carried above volcanoes and then plunge below the surface into the deep ocean.

We see a few of our most celebrated scientific images of all time. I have wondered why we are on this journey with Malick. I don’t think this concept received an answer.

During the movie, we visit diverse locations, including Waco, Texas; Villa Lante; Death Valley; and the Sun. Malick reminds us of space, living things, and the significance of our humanity. Bringing up such questions: Being raised by a violent father and an angelic mother, does it balance a person? Does history shape our existence?

I had the opportunity to watch the movie the other night. A viewing experience that sometimes bewildered me with visual and aural beauty. Almost bored with wandering attention, I was surprised to see dinosaurs in the movie, which I believe was meant to explain why man is so violent, but I’m not sure.

The DVD comes with a 30-minute featurette about the behind-the-scenes look at the making of the movie. I watched the featurette, and it didn’t help explain Malick’s choice of locations.

“The nuns taught us there are two ways through life: the way of nature, and the way of grace. You have to choose which one you’ll follow.”— Mrs. O’Brien (Jessica Chastain) in Terrence Malick’s “The Tree of Life”

Death Valley

In the Mojave Desert, located in Eastern California, lies Death Valley. Records indicated the area registers the lowest, driest, and hottest locations in North America. The valley gained fame in 1849 during the California Gold Rush. Its title, “death,” didn’t hold much weight in the era, with only one death recorded during the Gold Rush.

On July 10, 1913, the hottest air temperature ever recorded was 134 degrees Fahrenheit at Furnace Creek, a perfect name for the event. During this period, the desert reached 129 degrees Fahrenheit for five days.

At one point (2.588 million to 12000 years ago), the area was a succession of inland seas called Lake Manly. A freshwater lake that eventually evaporated as the temperatures in the region grew hotter. How this relates to Malick’s movie, I don’t know.

Texas

The second-largest state in the United States is Texas, nearly twice the size of Germany and Japan combined. The large size of Texas brings divergent climatic regions, and rivers form three of its borders. Thus, the state is diverse yet beautiful, with deserts, prairies, grasslands, forests, and coastlines. For this reason, the large state resembles the American South and Southwest.

Source

Villa Lante

The Villa Lante is a historical garden of wonder near Viterbo in central Italy. Construction of Villa Lante started around 1566. The estate has changed owners many, many times since its development. Families lived in the Villa until around the 19th century.

The property is famous for its architectural design and water fountains, drawing thousands of visitors for centuries.

In 1944, Allied bombing heavily hit the estate due to the fall of Rome. In the late 20th century, Dr. Angelo Cantoni purchased the Villa. He managed a very long restoration process. As of 2014, the Villa belongs to the Republic of Italy.

Source

The Sun

The Sun is a star at the center of our Solar System. It has a mass 330,000 times that of Earth. The Sun emits sunlight that supports all life on Earth and shapes Earth’s climate and weather. Because of the Sun’s godlike nature, it controls Earth’s well-being. Some societies have believed the Sun to be a deity.

Mauna Loa Volcano

Mauna Loa, located in the tropical paradise of Hawaii, is one of the largest volcanoes on Earth. One of the five volcanoes that form the Islands of Hawaii, the volcano has remained active for roughly 700,000 years. However, Mauna Loa’s most recent eruption in 1984 caused no deaths, whereas those in 1926 and 1950 devastated villages.

Hilo, Hawaii, has been built on lava flows from Mauna Loa since the 19th century. Because Mauna Loa is still active and evolving, the volcano is watched continuously for the safety of its inhabitants.

“I film quite a bit of footage, then edit. Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can’t. My attitude is always ‘let it keep rolling.'”— Terrence Malick

Malick: A Hidden Life

I have shown you scenes from Malick’s movie, hoping it helps you understand his overall message about the nature of man and his many forms.

Malick said once, “Perhaps when I have ten films behind me, I will have something worth saying.”

A pivotal part of Malick’s films is the music he uses for the score. We cannot hear his music now; it plays only in the movie, where the soundtrack plays a vital part in The Tree of Life. The visual locations with the significant compositions by the greatest composers, including Mozart, Brahms, Berlioz, and others, experience the nature and grace of humankind.

Director John Frankenheimer

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John Frankenheimer relaxing between camera setups on the set of the Turner Film Production "Andersonville."
John Frankenheimer relaxing between camera setups on the set of the Turner Film Production “Andersonville.” | Source

Frankenheimer Came to Northern California

A friend of mine, Kevin, got a job working with one of the industry’s most talented directors: the late John Frankenheimer (Birdman of Alcatraz, The Manchurian Candidate, Grand Prix, Wallace, and Ronin).

Frankenheimer came to Northern California to do location work for one of his last films, HBO’s Path to War, starring one of the Baldwin boys – Alec. I highly recommend this movie.

Donald Sutherland also stars in the cable movie. According to IMDb, the Path of War is based on a true story set in the mid-1960s: President Johnson and his foreign policy team debate whether to withdraw from or escalate the war in Vietnam.

Gary Sinise Tribute to Frankenheimer

Frankenheimer passed away in 2002 after a stroke. Gary Sinise, who worked with him on three movies, wrote a tribute to Frankenheimer for Entertainment Weekly. Here is an excerpt of that tribute. “He was drawn to dramatic material and found a lot of drama in biographical subjects. His television movies in the ’90s were based on real events or real people, like…the biopic George Wallace,” which was the first of three projects I did with him. The television movies would bring him four Emmys for his direction.”

The movie industry expects people to introduce themselves, network or show their work.
The movie industry expects people to introduce themselves, network or show their work.

“He had an enormous amount of energy, and at 72 was reemerging as one of the great filmmakers of all time, somebody whose work was as powerful later in his career as it was in the beginning,” praised Sinise.

Catch the movie on Amazon or Netflix.
Catch the movie on Amazon or Netflix.

Getting Noticed in Hollywood

Please consider how my friend networked with someone who can help his career. You are about to learn something about networking in the film business. My friend, Kevin, was inventive enough to network and pitch a local independent film, Ashes, to Kristi, who, in turn, would give it to her dad to view. Kevin was thinking on his feet and taking advantage of a business relationship he had formed while on a film set.

Some may think it was a bit of a bold move, and you would never approach a celebrity like that and be so forward. Why not? The worst that can happen is that the personality would say “no.” Or, you would get kicked off the set, but I doubt that would happen unless you were rude and obnoxious. People in the movie industry expect and accept others approaching them, networking, or showing their work.

The best thing that could happen is that Frankenheimer likes Kevin’s movie and helps him with its distribution, or finds an agent to help distribute the film. It’s not bad that he approached the daughter of a well-known director and producer.

However, nothing came of his contact with Kristi when he gave her a DVD of his movie.

Kevin made his move, and he felt good about his efforts. Later, when he pitches it to another distributor, he can mention that Frankenheimer’s daughter is interested in the movie. It’s called “name-dropping.” It also tells the distribution representative that Kevin hustles and works to get his film known to others in the industry.

Directed by Frankenheimer

“The movie Path to War was filmed at the California State Capitol on Monday. Long Day–7:30 AM until 11:45 PM! “It was an exciting day as I had the chance to work and speak with the director John Frankenheimer and his daughter, Kristi,” explains Kevin. “I was very impressed with Frankenheimer – he demands a lot from his crew, and he definitely doesn’t tolerate wasted time …but when you’re responsible for a 17 million dollar budget project, the pressure is certainly on you to get the job done.”

Frankenheimer stopped the filming long enough to personally thank all of the Sacramento cast and compliment them on their work, “which I found very refreshing, especially from someone of his stature,” adds Kevin.

Working with such a prestigious director was an honor.
Working with such a prestigious director was an honor. | Source

Follow up Contact Number

“I had the opportunity to speak with his daughter, Kristi, for a few minutes between set-ups, and Kristi accepted a copy of the local independent film Ashes that she promised to give to her father. She also provided me with the production office number in LA, so I could stay in touch and follow up on his impressions of the film.”

Another smart move by Kevin was to have a follow-up number for Kristi to use later after her dad viewed his movie.