Lucky Guy: The Musical… and My Life

In honor of all my friends.

From the original website for the musical comedy Lucky Guy, this quote leapt right out: “It’s not what you got in life, it’s who you got to share it with that counts.” I find that to be a wonderful observation on life, and it literally connects me to the project, which is written by my multi-talented friend Willard Beckham, whom I met with Beth last year in New York through my larger-than-life pal, Lisa Cleff Kurtz.

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Laura Longsworth: Thanks for the Documentary

Thanks once again to Sundance Channel, I recently had another life-altering experience from a documentary film they chose to program. This time, the film is entitled “Luckey,” it was produced, written and directed by filmmaker Laura Longsworth, and it documents the challenges faced by sculptor Tom Luckey to carry on with his life, his artistry and his business after experiencing a major spinal injury.

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Much love to and from The Children’s Playhouse

A creative play space for families, and a powerful force for community goodness in Boone, North Carolina, USA

After helping my wife Beth Darnell, and her sister Ann Kiefert, their comrade Kathy Parham, and many others from our then-new hometown of Boone, North Carolina, open The Children’s Playhouse in November of 2002, I am very proud to see how Kathy has led the venture in countless ways which continue adding precious dimensions to our community. The video featured here was produced by our friend Beth Jacquot in 2003, and much has happened since then. I invite you to visit the official site www.GoPlayhouse.org and explore the Facebook group, and I also wanted to share news from a recent event that reveals a lot about our community, and Kathy.

Read moreMuch love to and from The Children’s Playhouse

Joining iParticipate.org in honoring Veterans today and tomorrow…

In my humble opinion, iParticipate.org has been doing an outstanding job of promoting its very important mission and inciting us all to consider volunteering to support members of the military who have done so much for us all through their military commitments. The above public service announcement (PSA) was released back in September, and I wanted to share it, and also include its transcript.

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Brought to you by deep love and appreciation for local libraries

Growing up in Illinois, Tennessee, and Florida, I am extremely indebted to many local libraries and librarians who helped encourage me to learn and grow as an individual. This week’s posting is short and sweet, inviting you to visit the American Library Association’s great ilovelibraries.org site where you can learn a lot about local libraries … Read moreBrought to you by deep love and appreciation for local libraries

Kevin McMahon: Thanks for the Documentary

At some point over the past several weeks, my eyes were opened to the global water crisis, but I see now that I’m only beginning to get the full picture. Last week, I posted an entry on Irena Salina’s “FLOW,” and last night, my wife and I had another chance to see that amazing film thanks to it being repeated on the Sundance Channel. This morning, we found it there again and watched more of it with our 8-year-old daughter. After these viewings, I realized that there was a second powerful film I had recently seen (thanks again to Sundance Channel) on this subject: filmmaker Kevin McMahon’s “WATERLIFE.”

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Irena Salina: Thanks for the Documentary

Filmmaker Irena Salina has created an amazingly powerful documentary film entitled “FLOW: For the Love of Water,” which debuted at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival and has since won the International Jury Prize at the Mumbai International Film Festival, as well as Best Documentary honors at both the Vail International Film Festival and the United Nations Association Film Festival. Within the past several weeks, I saw the film on the Sundance Channel, and I want to encourage as many people as possible to see it. If interested, you can order the film on DVD by visiting this link.

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Earth Island Institute asks tomorrow’s leaders, “What would Dave do?”

Earth Island Institute established the Brower Youth Awards in 2000 to honor their founder and legendary environmental activist, David R. Brower and to call forth a new generation of leaders. This award manifests the Earth Island Institute’s abiding commitment to growing environmental leadership. The annual Brower Youth Awards honor six young people for their outstanding activism and achievements in the fields of environmental and social justice advocacy.

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Case Study: Endless Noise

Lasted Updated on June 1, 2003: Grammy-Winning Composer Leverages Past Recognition and New Achievements to Successfully Relaunch Commercial Music and Sound Design Company

“Strategic Public Relations Campaign Designed and Executed by The Darnell Works Agency Helps Endless Noise Command Uncommon Success”

Endless Noise: a Hollywood-based commercial music and sound design company serving the global advertising industry’s most prestigious agencies.

Executive Summary
As the PR agency of record for Grammy-winning producer and composer Jeff Elmassian from 2001 to 2003, DWA was charged with successfully relaunching music and sound design company Endless Noise. In 2002, the company earned a Gold Clio Award, an International ANDY Award, an International Monitor Award, AICP Show recognition and the London International Advertising Award for Best Sound Design (to name but a few) for their phenomenal work on Nike “Freestyle,” then went on to earn the 2003 Cannes Lion for Excellence in Music, recapture its second-straight D&AD Silver Award for Use of Music in TV and Cinema Advertising Crafts, and also score an International Andy Award in the TV category and a One Show Awards Bronze — all for their work on Nike “Before.”

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Case Study: Crest Digital


Lasted Updated on March 1, 1999: Film, Television, Music Industry, Airline In-Flight Entertainment… Crest National Does It All

“Public Relations Campaign Secures Successful Optical Media Launch and Dramatically Extends Film & Television Post Developments”

Crest Digital: A Hollywood-based provider of motion picture film lab and extensive post-production services since 1961 (including large-format telecine, subtitling, mass audio and video duplication and fulfillment), which had recently launched a full-service optical media operation.

Executive Summary
Back in 1998, Roger Darnell helped Hollywood-based Crest Digital partner with the Women in Film International Summit, the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, AFI Worldfest, IFP/West, the Slamdance Film Festival and many others while reaching millions through a balanced cross-media marketing campaign. Campaign media highlights included strategic coverage in American Cinematographer, Billboard, Daily Variety, Film&Video, Game Developer, Millimeter, New Media, The Hollywood Reporter, and other top media outlets.

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