Entertainment – Page 5 – universal positive

Great to know: Anson Williams

March 13, 2024December 16, 2014 by Roger Darnell

My relatively short career as a professional working in episodic television production took a giant leap forward in 1995, when I was hired to assist the Florida-based producers for NBC, Universal Television and Amblin Entertainment’s SeaQuest 2032. The year before, I had worked on a different series for Fox, BBK Productions and Columbia Pictures TV, where the many producers, directors and talents I met became inspirations for me. Nonetheless, I was very surprised to meet – and have lots of opportunities to work with and get to know – director Anson Williams as one of the many all-stars involved with SeaQuest.

Best known for his Golden Globe-nominated role as Potsie Weber on Happy Days – the single greatest TV series of my youth – Anson is also an award-winning television director, as well as being a writer, singer, producer and entrepreneur. By 2014, Anson has directed over 300 hours of television for scores of world-famous TV series, including Beverly Hills 90210, Melrose Place, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and The Secret Life of the American Teenager, to name but a few.

Amy Schatz, HBO and American Museum of Natural History: Thanks for the documentary

May 10, 2024December 8, 2014 by Roger Darnell

On Monday, 15 December, an important new series will debut from HBO Documentary Films, the American Museum of Natural History and producer/director Amy Schatz, starting with a two-part family special about the environment. Entitled “Saving My Tomorrow,” additional credits include executive producer Sheila Nevins, supervising producer Lisa Heller, producer Beth Aala and editor Tom Patterson. “Saving My Tomorrow” will continue in 2015 as a four-part series beginning on Earth Day, 22 April, exclusively on HBO.

From the children who will inherit the planet comes a collection of songs, activism and heartfelt tips for protecting the earth. Kids share their thoughts on subjects ranging from endangered animals to climate change, while exploring stories with the museum’s scientists about the plants and animals that are affected by a changing earth. A lyrical mix of science, animation and music, SAVING MY TOMORROW celebrates the wonders of the natural world and is a call from kids to kids to help take care of the planet.

Read moreAmy Schatz, HBO and American Museum of Natural History: Thanks for the documentary

Great to know: Allison Dollar

March 21, 2024August 11, 2014 by Roger Darnell

It’s safe to say that the illustrious Allison Dollar has had a huge impact on my professional career, beginning with assignments she gave me in 1993 and 1994 to write the annual Florida Regional Production Guides for the national film and television industry trade magazine “In Motion,” which was published by Phillips Business Information (PBI). Allison and I have kept in-touch over the years, and her unique expertise and first-hand knowledge of cutting-edge innovation across the media landscape is a constant reminder of how lucky I am to know her. Read on for more of Allison’s background, and to learn about a fascinating upcoming panel discussion she is co-hosting on 21 August through the Interactive Television Alliance (ITA), the non-profit she established in 2002 to represent the interests of companies that create, distribute and enable interactive programming.

Marketing Innovation: Under Armour

March 21, 2024July 28, 2014 by Roger Darnell

On July 17, top executives from the world’s major sports marketing companies gathered in New York City to honor the best in sports advertising, design and communications at the first-ever Clio Sports Awards. That night, Steve Battista proudly accepted the Brand Innovation Award on behalf of Under Armour, where he serves as senior VP brand creative. Behind the scenes, I know that many of the companies and talents I have had the privilege to work with are also celebrating this monumental win. For example, global creative agency ATTIK provided key support for Under Armour’s launch of Armour39 (wearable tech that helps you track your workout intensity), as did creative production company Shilo… which also produced many of the epic brand films (including the one above) that have made Under Armour’s YouTube Channel must-see TV for serious athletes.

A story by Austin Siegemund-Broka for The Hollywood Reporter chronicles the brand’s growing success, and offers this insight

Read moreMarketing Innovation: Under Armour

Have you seen our cosmos?

March 28, 2024July 1, 2014 by Roger Darnell

The National Geographic Channel and Fox teamed-up this year to launch the new 13-part documentary series starring astrophysicist and author Neil deGrasse Tyson, who has proven to be the perfect person to fill Mr. Sagan’s enormous shoes.

On traveling to learn, and introducing “Rare Air”

March 21, 2024June 23, 2014 by Roger Darnell

In the famous words of St. Augustine, the world is a book, and those who don’t travel read only one page. I agree that traveling is a great means for learning, but at the same time, I know that most often, it’s a luxury. According to the Travel Effect Study, travel improves educational attainment and future success. If you’re a parent, that gives you two excellent reasons to get out and go, when possible. Ready to hit the road? If so, I highly recommend this list of awesome experiences compiled by Bryan Kitch for Afar.com.

“If travel is the best form of education, this is a Master Class. These experiences go off the beaten path, and likely outside average tourists’ comfort zones.”

On the other hand, if you are not free to cut loose at present, I have something for you, too. It begins with a story.

Days we are sure to remember

March 21, 2024June 16, 2014 by Roger Darnell

Richmond, California-based Mountain Hardwear creates performance apparel and equipment designed to empower outdoor athletes to live boldly. At the time when this post is going live here, if you wanted to find me, you’d have to travel to the Kalaloch Campground in Forks, Washington, along the outer edge of continental USA’s northwesternmost coastline in Olympic National Park. My family and I have been planning this excursion for the past couple of years, and it’s a dream come true. Apparently, my dreams are a lot like those of the individuals behind Mountain Hardwear… and their customers.

Earlier this year I started noticing the company’s “Days You Remember” video series, and I bookmarked it as the perfect thing to share in today’s blog post. All the videos are tagged with this statement that resonates very deeply with me:

Stacy Peralta: Thanks for the documentary

May 10, 2024May 27, 2014 by Roger Darnell

I have expressed my appreciation in the past for LJ Jeneski of Nonfiction Unlimited, the LA-based commercial production company that since 1995 has been built upon the idea of exclusively representing the planet’s best documentary filmmakers for commercial and creative assignments. We worked together over the period that launched us all into a very busy 2007, and I feel we accomplished a lot together. At that time, the company’s elite roster included directors Rob Bindler, Paul Crowder, Steve James, Robby Kenner, Barbara Kopple, David McNamara, Stacy Peralta, Earle Sebastian, Ondi Timoner and Jessica Yu. It was my introduction to most of these incredible talents, and through the process of updating bios and promoting their newest projects, I got to know many of them pretty well.

Among my early assignments was touching-up an already stellar bio for Mr. Peralta. Here’s a snip from that writing amalgam I can only take a little credit for.

So far, the life of award-winning documentary filmmaker, accomplished television producer/director and Nonfiction Spots commercial director Stacy Peralta is literally a Hollywood movie – or more precisely, several of them.

Sarah Klein, Tom Mason and Redglass Pictures: Thanks for the documentary

March 21, 2024March 31, 2014 by Roger Darnell

What is the magic that allows us to connect across any span of time, distance or imagination to experience the lives and lessons of others? Of course, it’s what we simply call the story. For me personally, some of the most riveting and impactful storytelling of my lifetime has been courtesy of filmmaker Ken Burns. Like legions of other Americans and fans of quality historical entertainment all around the world, Mr. Burns’ epic works have reached me thanks to television and the internet. And while his past projects have helped shape my world view and my aims for living, beyond his work, he is mostly a mystery to me. For all of these reasons, I’m very thankful to the filmmakers Tom Mason and Sarah Klein of Redglass Pictures who created the powerful short film embedded here… to offer us all more insights into Ken Burns himself and his unique perspective on story.

“We live in a rational world where absolutely we’re certain that one and one equals two, and it does,” Burns says in the short film, “Ken Burns: On Story.” “But the things that matter most to us, some people call it love, some people call it God, some people call it reason, is that other thing where the whole is greater than the some of its parts, and that’s the three.”

Read moreSarah Klein, Tom Mason and Redglass Pictures: Thanks for the documentary

Coming soon to HBO: “Silicon Valley”

March 21, 2024March 26, 2014 by Roger Darnell

I find it interesting that the executives behind “Silicon Valley” chose the recent SXSW Film Festival to host the world premiere for their new HBO series. From everything I’ve seen, anticipation is ramping up quickly for the official April 6 debut on HBO. I thought I’d share the trailer with you and also pass along a taste of the great review by The Hollywood Reporter’s Tim Goodson. Be sure to check-out the full story.

In Goodson’s words, “The Mike Judge-created series about life in modern-day Silicon Valley

Read moreComing soon to HBO: “Silicon Valley”