A funny new comedy special and a real science fiction film are featured in this week's DVD column.

Puzzlehead

For many people the words "science fiction" all too often conjure up space operas with heroes, damsels, some kind of monster and futuristic technology.

There's nothing wrong with "Flash Gordon" at least the vintage Flash, not that re-worked series on the Sci-Fi Channel but science fiction has so much more to offer than just adventure stories. That's been the complaint of serious science fiction fans for years.

Here's a film that does take the potential of exploring what it would be like to create a robot way past an actor in a metal costume.

Ever since writer Karel Capek coined the word "robot" in his 1921 play "R.U.R," people have imagined the moral and ethical implications of creating something that appeared to be alive and whether or not it should be treated as living.

Writer, producer and director James Bai creates a story of conflict set in the future when technology is banned. Walter, a scientist, uses forbidden technology to create a robot in his own image and with his own memories and thoughts. The robot, which he dubs "Puzzlehead," is developing his own personality and with that comes problems when Walter becomes obsessed with a grocery store clerk, Julia.

Although some of the story is a bit predictable, Bai does have a couple good plot twists.

Essentially a two person drama, Stephen Galaida does well with the twin roles of Walter and his robot and Robbie Shapiro is good as the young woman who slowly grows to love one and loathe another or is it the other way around?

Bai shows what can be done on a limited budget. He obviously constructed his screenplay so he could produce a film that reaches its story-telling goals something many independent films fail to do.

There are no monsters, ray guns or stunt sequences in this science fiction film, but there are some intriguing ideas presented in a compelling way.

For more information, log onto www.puzzleheadthe

movie.com



Demetri Martin: Person

Well known now for his "Trendspotting" series on "the Daily Show," Demetri Martin takes the presentation of a series of clever one-liners past how Stephen Wright performs.

Martin is a multitasker: his special, which ran earlier this year on Comedy Central, features a string of Martin's own skewed observations on life but in the form of charts, animation and musical performances.

Remaining almost always deadpan, Martin's persona is also not unlike Wright's or Buster Keaton's he is a stranger in a strange land trying to figure out what is going on.

The fact he involves family members in his act, though, gives him a grounding Wright never has had. In those segments, Martin comes across like a precocious kid who is being humored.

Despite his obvious and admitted influence from Wright's comedy, Martin is in a class by himself. I find his stuff very funny and if you like him on "The Daily Show" give this DVD a try.

For more information, log onto www.comedycentral.com.

© 2007 by Gordon Michael Dobbs

What comics do you read?

A former friend who works at the daily paper here once told me that when the Newhouse chain consolidated the two papers it owned here into one, the one thing that elicited the most comment from people was there two pages of comics the merger produced.

The other day one of the graphic artists stuck his head into my door and saw me reading the comics. He wondered that if this day and age if any young person would even want to produce a daily comic strip.

I replied there seems to be quite a number of folks who do indeed want to do a strip and he retreated.

I think his point was that most strips today suck pond water. Of course the fact they are reproduced at a size that does not service to the work of the creators is another issue.

Anyway, I thought I would list most, if not all of the strips and give them a rating and encourage my readers to do the same.

Do you read the comics in your paper? What are your favorites? Which are the worst?

Here’s my picks and pans of the strip I see almost everyday:

Strips that deserve a fond farewell and a long dirt nap: Blondie, Beetle Bailey, Hi and Lois, Nancy, Hagar the Horrible, Andy Capp (celebrating 40 years of spouse abuse!), Family Circus, The Wizard of Id, and the Peanuts re-runs

Strips that were never much good: Spiderman, Cathy, Drabble (possibly the worst strip in syndication today)

Strips that just need to be put down: Sally Forth, Apartment 3-6, Buckets, Marvin

Strips that actually tell a compelling story: For Better or Worse, Funky Winkerbean

Strips that actually make me laugh: Mutts, Shoe, Dilbert, Non-Sequitor, Crankshaft, Curtis, Mother Goose and Grimm, Zits

Strips that are just too precious: Rhymes with Orange, Get Fuzzy (what in the name of God is that thing all about?) Baby Blues

Strips I honestly hate: Garfield

Do I use strips in my papers? We have the King features weekly service and I do run the Sunday Popeye strips every chance I get. A second strip if there’s room is Henry that I run out of sheer perversity.

© 2007 by Gordon Michael Dobbs

Horror film critic Jeff Allard had a great time talking shop with Fangoria Editor Tony Timpone, who played a newspaper editor.



Corbin Bernsen in costume consults with William Gove on a shot.



My sloppy office was deemed "funky" enough to serve as Bernsen's character' s office. I was proud!



Bernsen is seen here with director Bob Stock.



The dead dog prop that plays a key role in the film

Last Tuesday I received a call from my buddy Marty Langford. It seemed a fellow Western Massachusetts filmmaker, Bob Stock, was shooting a low-budget horror film and needed a newspaper office for a day's worth of scenes. Could he use our place?

I spoke with Bob and he met me the next morning. With the okay from his director of photography William Gove, the crew came in and the newspaper staff had a very interesting day.

The crew was fast, efficient and certainly knew what they were doing and the cast was great as well. Corbin Bernson was the absolute definiiton of grace. He signed autographs, talked to folks and was slightly molested by one staffer. He managed to endure the gawkers with a smile and genuinely seemed to enjoy the no-frills trappings.

One of the best parts of the day was sitting down to speak with the late Darren McGavin's daughter, Graemm, who is the line producer for the film. We talked about her dad's career a bit and she was pleasantly surprised to find a "leg lamp" on my desk as well as to meet someone who remembered "Riverboat," one of her dad's early television series.

For a film guy, it was a great day.


It’s mid-way through Wednesday afternoon and actor Corbin
Bernsen is walking up and down an aisle through the cubicles at Reminder
Publications’ office saying the same line over and over.

Bernsen strides down the aisle, looks into the camera in the cubicle and
delivers the simple line, “Thank you very much, Sarah” about nine
different times. Each one is a different reading of the line.

It’s slightly surreal to have a well known actor – a long stint on “L.A.
Law,” films such as “Major League,” and currently a co-star on the USA
Network show “Psych” – filming in your office, much less, hanging out and
munching on donuts.

Bernsen is the star of a new film “Angel’s Blade 2: the Ascension”
written, directed and produced by Robert Stock of Granby. A day of shooting
needed to be at a newspaper office since Bernsen’s character is an
investigative reporter caught up in a story of the paranormal.

Stock’s crew took over the East Longmeadow offices for a day, much to
the delight of the staff of Reminder Publications. Autographed photos of
Bernsen decorate many cubicles.

Stock is a computer animator and games designer who produced, wrote, and
directed “Angel’s Blade,” a horror film set in both the present day and the
19th Century over a year ago. He did a test screening of the film in a Long
Island theater and is revising and augmenting some of the film’s special
effects.

Stock is co-producing the second film with Angel Light Pictures and,
unlike the first film, has a name actor in a pivotal role. Bernsen’s role is
a loving homage to “Carl Kolchak” the character created by the late Darren
McGavin in the highly popular “Nightstalker” movies and television series
from the 1970s.

An interesting coincidence is that McGavin’s daughter, Graemm, is the
film’s line producer. She also has a small role in the film.

This writer was heartened that his messy, artifact-strewn office was
deemed “funky” by the crew and became the home for Bernsen’s character.

Tony Timpone, the editor of “Fangoria Magazine” – the bible for horror
film fans – was also here for the role of Bernsen’s boss at the newspaper.
It was a smart casting move, as that will insure Stock receiving coverage
for his film in the national magazine.

The film has a four-week shooting schedule and only had Bernsen for
three days, so all of his scenes had to be shot as efficiently as possible.

Those who think filmmaking must be glamorous might be surprised at the
Spartan world of the independent production. A crew of less than ten people
set up the cameras and sound. Digital films gives greater flexibility with
lighting and no lights were set up for the scenes.

Fueled by donuts and coffee in the morning, the crew’s lunch break was
to eat sandwiches from Romito’s Deli while standing up. The production
rented a RV for a dressing room.

The simplest of scenes requires multiple takes to make sure the sound,
image and the performance are all optimal.

For a performer who has been in a variety of productions, Bernsen seemed
right at home shooting a low-budget horror film in Western Massachusetts.

“I’m very much into the indie world,” he said during a break.

Despite his status, Bernsen never pulls rank or complains. Crew members
talk among themselves how he is bringing so much value to the production.

If he likes a script and he can do the role, he’ll consider it, he
explained. Bernsen said he was pleased he could do this film as he was on
the east coast dropping his son off at the University of Connecticut.

Bernsen likened his job to that of a carpenter. “Sometimes you work on
castles and some times on outhouses,” he said.

And, he added, sometimes it’s a crumby castle and a great outhouse.

“If you’re an actor, you act,” he said.

What he likes about independent films is they have “more soul.”

“They’re all heart, all passion,” he added.

Because he came to prominence on a hit television show, “L.A. Law,”
Bernsen admitted to having a problem years ago with his career not reaching
a higher level. He said that as his career grew, he loved it.

He has formed his own company and is producing his own independent
films. One is completed and is available on DVD, “Carpool Guy, “ while two
others, “Donna on Demand” and “Dead Air” are in various stages of
production.

Bernsen directed “Carpool Guy,” which is a comedy starring ten soap
opera actors in roles very different than those they play on television.
He said he loves directing and producing, although “it’s a lot of work.”

Although he said that beginning a directing career in his fifties
requires a lot of energy, his experience in the industry has given him
knowledge that younger persons might not have.

He said with a smile that directing has given him the same kind of
thrill he received when he first discovered sex – just the kind of remark
his Arnie Becker character might make.

© 2007 by Gordon Michael Dobbs

Over the years, I’ve had to defend the news business on a number of occasions in conversations with friends, readers and listeners – depending upon where I was working at the time.

It’s not easy, because the press is a human institution and as humans we all make mistakes and we all have different judgments.

For instance, I can’t agree with the minimizing of Democratic presidential candidate Senator Mike Gravel. His fellow candidates want to eliminate him from debates and forums and the press wants to treat him like he is the comic relief for this election cycle.

After having the chance of meeting the senator and speaking with him, all I can say is that it’s refreshing to meet a politician who cares so deeply about his country but doesn’t give a damn about censoring himself. Gravel is viewed as “goofy” by some because he is actually candid.

On the Republican side, Congressman Ron Paul is getting the sticky end of the lollipop because he is seen as that side’s loopy sidekick. He, like Gravel, speaks his mind and that works against him.

We don’t like candid, now do we? We really don’t want politicians to speak their minds? I think so considering who gets the buzz for trotting out tired old clichés instead of solutions.

Here’s the irony: we respond to marketing and image-making more than honest opinion. We reject people with experience presenting new ideas for people whose images are carefully managed. Did anyone buy the warm story about Hillary following around a nurse all day so she could learn what nurses face? And if you did respond favorably to it, why?

Why did the press make a big deal over the Iowa Straw Poll? Twenty-six thousand people bought tickets to attend essentially a personality contest and to cast a vote for the candidate with the best band and barbecue. Twelve thousand people who attended didn’t cast a vote – or their votes weren’t counted. It’s a non-story about a vote that doesn’t mean anything.

It’s just another example of image and puffery triumphing over substance. By the way, to many in this business puffery is perceived by many as being “better” news because it’s more entertaining and easier to cover than that awful hard stuff.

© 2007 by Gordon Michael Dobbs

Hampden County Sheriff Michael Ashe and Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick. Photo by yours truly

File under local politics...every year Hampden Country Sheriff Michael Ashe has a fund-raiser that has evolved into a must event for any political junkie. The good sheriff rents out the picnic grove at Six Flags New England and for $50 people can eat and drink to their heart's content while meetign elected officials and candidates who are doing the same. In a year with a governor's race, shmoozing at the clambake is a must. Last year was a lot of fun with all of the candidates working the crowd.

As usual I was the only reporter who completed more a cursory story on the event. As referenced in my last post, my dissatisfaction with corporately-owned local media is growing.

AGAWAM – Hampden County Sheriff Michael Ashe’s annual Clambake at the picnic grove at Six Flags Amusement Park remains a singular political event where there is non-stop schmoozing sandwiched between rounds of drinks, baskets of steamers, an occasional hot dog, steaks and barbecue chicken.

Ashe hosted the event on Wednesday and, as usual, the slightly surreal sight of opposing candidates performing intricate dances to meet and greet the same potential voters without having to confront one another provided a certain level of amusement to observers.

For Ed O’Reilly, the clambake was wide-open territory, though. His dance partner was nowhere to be found. The Gloucester resident and attorney is taking on Senator John Kerry in the Democratic primary for the Senate. Kerry seldom appears in Western Massachusetts and O’Reilly said that Kerry not only has a disconnect with Western Massachusetts but with all of the Bay State.

O’Reilly supports an immediate military withdrawal from Iraq. He said he believes there is “no military solution” to the situation and the Administration is “putting the troops in an impossible situation.”

O’Reilly chastised Kerry for not advocating for an end to the war and called his lack of action part of Kerry’s “calculated demeanor.”

He was scornful of Kerry missing a recent controversial vote that continued the potential wiretapping of American citizens and has written Kerry to explain where he was that day. So far, Kerry hasn’t replied.

The candidate, whose campaign manager is from Leverett, has made 10 trips to Western Massachusetts in the last three weeks meeting people and building a grassroots base not unlike what Governor Deval Patrick did as a candidate.

Patrick interrupted his vacation to make a visit to the clambake. He spoke to the press for about five minutes and then waded into the crowd led by Ashe who introduced dozens of people to him.

Patrick is going through various reports to come to a decision about casino gambling in the state. A report by the Center for Policy Analysis at the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth issued Aug. 6 has called for three state-licensed casinos to be built, one of which would be at the intersection of the Massachusetts Turnpike and Interstate 291 in Chicopee.
Patrick had told Chicopee Mayor Michael Bissonnette that he would make a decision after the Labor Day holiday and he did tell the media assembled at the clambake a decision would be made shortly.

Patrick repeated what he has said before: he doesn’t discount casino gambling on moral grounds, but the question is complicated with strong arguments on both sides.

The issue of a Western Massachusetts casino proved to be an interesting question to pose to people at the clambake. Springfield Mayor Charles Ryan, a successful opponent of casinos in Springfield, said that he opposes any Western Massachusetts casino, not just a location in Springfield. He said the issue of economic development is outweighed by the social ills a casino could bring to the region.

His opponent, City Councilor Domenic Sarno, said, “If it’s going to come about we need to be at the table negotiating for part of the money.” Sarno said he would support a location that would replicate the Foxwoods casino or what he described as “a casino in the woods.”

Russell Denver, the president of the Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield, said the chamber has not made a formal decision to support a casino, but that “if someone wants to invest $100 million and create opportunities, we would treat them like any other business.”

Denver noted there are many details “still much up in the air” over the casino question.

Both State Representative Michael Kane, D-Holyoke, and State Senator Michael Knapik, R-Westfield, are in favor of an expansion of gambling in the state. Kane would only support a destination gambling resort that would be in the same league as the Connecticut casinos. Knapik said the Legislature and the public are “far from where we would vote on one.”

The casino issue was not the only one on which Ryan and Sarno disagreed. Ryan questioned when Sarno would release his plan to remove the trash fee from the budget and replace the $4.3 million it’s expected to generate with another revenue source.

Ryan said the $4.3 million represents the cost of 60 to 70 police officers or the budget for the city’s parks.

Sarno has made rescinding the trash fee a key part of his campaign and has said he is analyzing the city budget to find a way to do away with it.

When asked about the fee, Sarno did not offer any conclusive answers about how he would eliminate it. He said that in a budget of nearly half a billion dollars the $4.3 million, which is under one percent, should be something that could be managed.

He did say that he would like to see a greater emphasis on recycling in the city in order to raise more income and suggested that residents need larger recycling boxes.

The Westfield mayor’s race was also represented at the clambake. Brent Bean and Michael Boulanger both worked the crowd.
Boulanger is the former commander of the 104th Fighter Wing at Barnes Air National Guard Base. He serves as the city’s Emergency Management Director and as a part-time police officer.

His top priorities as mayor would be to work on the city’s infrastructure, public safety and education. He expressed concern not only about the condition of the city’s roads and bridges but also traffic patterns and signals that can create problems for motorists passing through the city.

He is very interested in resolving issues surrounding the proposed bike trail and downtown development and noted how Easthampton’s bike trail has been successfully integrated into that community’s downtown area.

He also said he is interested in seeing industrial development around Barnes Airport rather than the new shopping mall that has been proposed.

Among the other elected officials, candidates and former office holders spotted at the event were former State Senator Linda Melconian, State Representative Angelo Puppolo, D-Wilbraham, State Senator Gale Candaras, D-Springfield, Springfield City Council President Kateri Walsh, Springfield School Committee member Antonette Pepe, Springfield City Council candidate Mo Jones, Agawam Mayor Richard Cohen, and Congressmen Richard Neal and John Olver.

© 2007 by Gordon Michael Dobbs

photo by Katelyn Gendron-List
Presidential candidates don't bother much to come to Western Massachusetts. Our primary means very little to most of them – so little that only Dennis Kucinich was the only one to show up during the last election. John Kerry, who never comes here, couldn't have been bothered to make even a token appearance.

What makes the situation worse is that few members of the press decided to cover this story. Say what you might want to about Gravel's candidacy, he is a real candidate and he has some very interesting ideas. He, like Ron Paul, is being cast as the comic relief in this race. While the national press can play such nasty and counter-productive games I'd like to think on a local level we would be different, but apparently we're not.

I was the only print reporter to make use of the offer for time. No radio showed up and I know of only one TV station that did a story. This is disgraceful. This is real news and is not the slop I see taking up so much of the space in the local daily and so much of the time on the television stations.

Gravel is a gracious smart guy and I could have spoken with him much longer.

WEST SPRINGFIELD – Western Massachusetts isn’t a typical destination for candidates seeking their party’s nomination. In the last election only Congressman Dennis Kucinich campaigned here briefly.

For Senator Mike Gravel, though, visiting Western Massachusetts was more about coming home than winning over voters.

Gravel was in the area on Wednesday, hosted by his long-time friend former Hampden County Commissioner Richard Thomas. Thomas and Gravel are childhood friends, having known each other since age five when they grew up in the Brightwood section of Springfield.

Although his day was dedicated to visiting the city of his birth, a tour that was covered by an author who is working on a biography of Gravel, the former senator from Alaska took time to meet with Reminder Publications.

Another childhood friend, Morris Archambeault of Chicopee, joined Gravel and the senator recalled with obvious fondness that living near Moore Drop Force was like “watching the Fourth of July every night.”

At ease in Thomas’s backyard, Gravel was clearly passionate about his campaign and issues, but frequently broke into a smile.

His fellow candidates have tried keeping him out of debates and forums. The media wants to characterize him as the comic relief of the Democratic primary process. Gravel, though, is taking it all in stride and continuing to speak out on the issues.

He insists that he is “not tilting at windmills” and although he has not been treated fairly in many debates, those in which he has appeared he said, “There’s no question I can hold my own.”

Although Gravel is not a front-runner, according to a number of polls listed on PollingReport.com he is within a percentage point or two of in a pack of fellow candidates that includes Kucinich, Senator Christopher Dodd, D-Connecticut, Senator Joseph Biden, D-Maryland and Bill Richardson, governor of New Mexico.

He characterized Kucinich as “a good guy, but he doesn’t take names.” Gravel said he isn’t afraid to directly attack the policies of his fellow candidates.

In a race that has been characterized by how much money has been raised by candidates, Gravel said that his level of contributions has been “modest” because the funding comes from individuals who believe in what he says, rather than from larger contributors.

He referenced a recent article in the “New York Times” that reported that 69 percent of the contributions going to Senator Barack Obama, D-Illinois, have more than $500 and 89 percent of Hillary Clinton’s contributions have been over that amount as well.

He has had to fight to be treated like any other candidate. He noted he was cut out of several forums and debates and has only been reinstated when there was pressure placed on the sponsoring organizations such as CNN, the “Manchester (NH) Union-Leader,” and Moveon.org. He said being barred from the recent AFL-CIO sponsored forum that “was an embarrassment to the AFL-CIO.”

“I enjoyed 100 percent labor backing when I was in office,” he added.

Like his fellow candidates, Gravel is running on his legislature record. He served as a senator from Alaska from 1969 to 1981. During that time, he led the legislative effort to force the Nixon Administration to end the draft. He read sections of the Pentagon papers on the floor of the senate touching off a court battle on the public’s right to know that ultimately was settled by the Supreme Court in his favor.

Gravel said that today “representative government is broken.” He wants to empower the American people to have a larger role in governing themselves and he added Congress must evolve to become more responsible to the people. He supports the National Initiative for Democracy that would, if enacted, allow for federal referendums. This provision would give citizens the ability to enact legislation without having to go through Congress.

The former senator doesn’t mince his words when discussing the current front-runner Senator Hillary Clinton, D-New York. He called her a “sell-out.”

He was highly critical of former President Bill Clinton and the Democratic Leadership Council.

“This [today’s Democratic party] is not the party of Franklin D. Roosevelt,” he said. The rich, he added, just get richer.
“We lionize Bill Clinton,” he said. “Those were the good old days, but only because we compare them to the worst president in American history [George W. Bush].”

“I’m not afraid to take them on,” he said of the rest of the candidates who haven‘t called for an immediate end to the war in Iraq like he has. He said they “want to continue the war under a different name.”

If elected Gravel would bring home American forces from Iraq within 120 days.

“Anyone [of the candidates] who voted for the war should be eliminated,” he said.

Although Gravel does not favor rescinding NAFTA, he does believe it needs to be radically changed and said this nation as well as Mexico and Canada have lost jobs because of it.

He believes America can see resurgence in manufacturing by concentrating on developing and making products for a greener society. As president he would work for a “carbon tax.” A tax on carbon at the source would spur the growth of wind energy, liquid hydrogen and the redevelopment of the nation’s transportation infrastructure.

As far as tax reform goes, Gravel said he would eliminate the Internal Revenue Service and the income tax. In its place he would substitute a national sales tax at 23 percent with no deductions or loopholes. Part of his plan would be a monthly “prebate” that would be sent to individuals to offset the cost of clothes, medicine, lodging and food.

With a national dropout rate of 30 percent, Gravel is calling for year-round public education.

“How can you be productive when you have a capital asset [such as a school] being unused?” he asked.

His views on education triggered an exclusion from an event sponsored by the National Education Association.

Despite the obstacles he’s facing that other candidates are not, Gravel said he is “speaking as loud as I can.”

For more information on Gravel’s positions, log onto www.gravel2008.us.

©2007 by Gordon Michael Dobbs

Please go to my animation blog for my comments on the new Popeye collection. Thanks!

A must-watch documentary and compelling drama are featured in this week's DVD column.

Zodiac

In 1968, a serial killer who called himself Zodiac put California into a state of panic with a series of random unrelated acts of violence. Five people were murdered by the killer who taunted the police through a series of letters he sent to the "San Francisco Chronicle." Some people believe that he had more victims and a number of cases remain unresolved.

The Zodiac himself, despite a massive police investigation, never was apprehended.

The killer has inspired several movies and characters in film, perhaps most notably the Scorpio killer in "Dirty Harry." Now, director David Fincher has brought forth an adaptation of two non-fiction books on the killer and the people who tried to catch him that has the truthful ring of a documentary.

"Zodiac" doesn't tell the story of the killer, but his effect on the people who were trying to stop him. Mark Ruffalo and Anthony Edwards are the two cops assigned to the case, while Jake Gyllenhaal is the "San Francisco Chronicle" newspaper cartoonist who becomes obsessed with the case.

Fincher became well know for "Se7en," his highly popular, but graphic, crime thriller, but here he keeps the gore off-screen. He is clearly more interested in presenting a film about obsession. The killer is clearly obsessed and the cops and reporters who are seeking him out almost allow their single-mindedness to destroy them.

The result is a film as much about the actions of a famous serial killer as it is about the need to stop him.

This is a great choice for anyone who appreciates a solid crime drama.

For more information, log onto www.paramount.com/homeentertainment.

American Cannibal

My poor wife has long accepted that I will watch almost anything there are notable exceptions but the one thing with which she cannot abide is reality shows. She'll walk out of the room if she catches me watching one of these guilty pleasures.

This documentary on the creative process behind one failed reality show would only give her more ammunition that reality shows are corrosive and ruining television.

The film centers on a writing team whose agent is trying to steer them away from developing television sitcoms or dramas. She wants them to pitch reality shows to networks execs and they do so reluctantly.

One would-be producer, Kevin Blatt the man best known for a porn tape starring Paris Hilton decides he likes the concept one of the writers threw out as a joke: make people believe they are in danger of being eaten by their fellow contestants on a "Survivor"-like show.

How this show is developed and what it does to the writing team makes up the bulk of the film. After watching this movie, one could easily say reality television represents the nadir of American popular culture. The film is funny in a very grim way and instructive in how the media works.

Anyone interested in media should watch "American Cannibal."

For more information, log onto www.american-cannibal.com.

© 2007 by Gordon Michael Dobbs

I'm working on my application to Arcadia Publishing for a book featuring postcards from Springfield and it's an interesting process. They want biographical information and a reference (!) besides 20 images with captions and a chapter breakdown. I've got a good chunk of the postcards I need for the project and have found that I probably need a checklist to bring to flea markets with me as I've duplicates of some images.

I recently did a story about a new Arcadia Publishing book on Springfield firefighters.

For author Bert Johanson, his new book on Springfield firefighting "Images of America: Springfield Firefighting" was due to a happy accident.

Johanson is active in the Connecticut Fire Museum, which is housed at the same location as the Connecticut Trolley Museum in East Windsor, Conn. He and his wife Nancy had finished a book on Hartford Conn. firefighters for Arcadia Publishing's "Images of America" series when he met William Pooler, whose family has had a long history of being firefighters in Springfield.

Pooler's grandfather was Noah Pooler, a city firefighter from 1907 to 1942. The elder Pooler has assembled a collection of photos of his colleagues, the station houses and scenes of actual fires.

Johanson told Reminder Publications once he saw that collection he knew he had "the nucleus for a new book."

But the Johansons needed some additional help that came from Fred Rodriguez, a 29-year veteran of the Springfield Fire Department. Rodriguez was able to help the Johansons identify many of the people shown in the photos.

Additional photos came from Geoffrey Neilson of Wethersfield, Conn., Raymond Pond of Agawam and the Connecticut Valley Historical Museum.

The book has a history of the Springfield fire fighting effort dating back to 1792 when the community purchased its first hand-pump engine, "The Lion." The photos take readers through the history of the department from its volunteer days to when horses drew steamed-power pumpers to when the city became one of the first all motorized departments in the nation.

Johanson believes Springfield might have been the first motorized large city, although he said that Oklahoma City, OK. claims to have been the first.

The bulk of the book's photos depict the department in the later days of the 19th century and the early years of the 20th century. Johanson said that being a firefighter was considered a great job in those years due to the steady income it afforded, even though prior to World War One, firefighters in the city only had one day off a month.

Johanson, a retired transportation manager for a Hartford, Conn. business, said he was impressed that so many of Springfield's original fire stations are still standing with several still in operation. He said that most of Hartford's old stations have been demolished.

This is Johanson's seventh book for Arcadia Publishing, and he said he would love to compile a book on Springfield's trolleys. He is very involved with the Connecticut Trolley Museum as well and has written several books on various trolley systems.

For more information on the book, log onto

Arcadia Publishing

© 2007 by Gordon Michael Dobbs

Dream girls and fever dreams are in this week's DVD column.

Dreamgirls: Two-disc Showstopper Edition

Musicals are not my favorite genre, but I was drawn to "Dreamgirls" because of the music and of its notoriety. The Broadway show that inspired the film had drawn criticism because it was a depiction, although altered, of the life and career of The Supremes.

"Dreamgirls" tells the story of a slightly fictional African-American girl group who suffers from the pressures of fame and success. The story is so close to the bone of Motown, its head Berry Gordy and The Supremes, that Dreamworks and Paramount, the stow studios that produced the film, actually apologized to Motown personnel if they were offended by it.

The film starts out more as a conventional musical. There are dramatic scenes that advance the story and are supported by musical numbers. As the film progresses, though, it becomes much more operatic with the characters speaking through the music and the plot carried by the songs.

This shift is accompanied by the change in the style of music. At the beginning the film begins in the early 1960s the music is more traditional R&B. As the story progresses the music changes to the more sterile pop that typified the Supremes and other Motown acts.

My own musical tastes are such that I enjoyed the first part of the film much more than the latter section.

Directed by Bill Condon, who wrote the screenplay for the movie "Chicago," the film suffers from too much music. The performers are capable of good dramatic performances and frankly I wanted to see more of that instead of hearing faux Supremes tunes.

As the Dream who gets dumped, "American Idol" contestant Jennifer Hudson is the revelation here. Her voice and acting abilities are dead on. I thought it was interesting casting to see Beyonce Knowles in the Diana Ross role. One wonders if art was imitating life a little bit here.

Eddie Murphy is excellent as James "Thunder" Early, the raucous soul singer who is forced to change his style.

The second disc gives you everything you could possibly want in extras including audition footage, extended versions of many of the musical acts and documentaries. Pack a lunch if you're going to try to view it all in one sitting.

For more information go to www.paramount.com/homeentertainment.



The Screwfly Solution

Director Joe Dante is well known for his ability to produce horror and fantasy films that deftly blend humor with drama. In his new film, part of a Showtime horror series, Dante demonstrates he can play it very straight with the result being a serious and affecting horror film.

Based on a short story by James Tiptree, Jr., the film is about an outbreak of violence against women that is spreading around the globe. At first it seems like a series of hideous coincidences, but then it's clearly an epidemic.

Running just an hour, Dante shows what can be done with a taut effective script, good performances and effective direction. There are a lot of horror directors who could learn from him.

If you're a horror fan, seek out "The Screwfly Solution."

For more information, go to www.mastersofhorror.net



The Film Crew: Killers From Space

Imagine how Peter Graves must have felt. In 1953 he had a prominent role in director Billy Wilder's "Stalag 17." Just a year later he was working for Billy's brother, W. Lee Wilder, who spent his career churning out pretty terrible low-budget films such as "Killers From Space."

Graves was able to get through it. He has had a long and respectable career and thanks to The Film Crew three of the former creators of "Mystery Science Theater 3000" we all can get through a viewing of "Killers from Space" without twitching and crying.

"Incompetent" and "inane" are two words that come to mind about this story of a nuclear scientist who is abducted by aliens with ping-pong ball eyes (literally).

The Film Crew's commentary is pretty darn funny and I'm looking forward to their next release. So far it's been two for two.

For more information, log onto www.shoutfactory.com

Kung Fu Hustle: Axe Kickin' Edition

OK martial arts and Hong Kong movie fans, you want to know what are the differences between the 2005 DVD release of this Stephen Chow kung fu comedy and this latest release. Well, I'm not entirely sure.

The back of the DVD box states this version contains footage not seen in the American release and has a bunch of cool documentary extras. I've been going around the Internet trying to nail down just how much good stuff we had previously missed and as near as I can tell there's no definitive answer!

This version is "approximately 100 minutes" which is what the running time is noted for the previous edition. Yet one source lists the Hong Kong version as 99 minutes. Oh, what is a film geek to do?

Well, enjoy this package that features Chow's biggest success to date. I have to admit I didn't care for the film very much when I saw it in the theaters largely because it was so different from the other Chow films I've seen. Chow is one of the most popular comic actors in Hong Kong films and this film was a big departure for a guy known for silliness.

A second viewing of this tale of redemption, though, left me with much greater appreciation. It is both funny and moving.

As a director, Chow loves to make references to other movies, both American and Chinese. I'll let you guess where in the film he tips his hat to the Roadrunner. This action comedy is probably unlike anything you've ever seen before.

Be adventurous and try it one Saturday night.

For more information go to www.kungfuhustle.com
© 2007 by Gordon Michael Dobbs

My comments on American- made products hit a chord with several readers last week who sent in letters to me...one for and one against.

If you're serious about trying to consciously buy more American-made products, there are some interesting Web sites that can help, including

Shop union-made

that directs consumers to products made by union labor.

By the way, I found another American made brand of jeans as well: Pointer Brand. More information is located at

Pointer jeans

. Prices for standard jeans range from $29.45 to $41, depending upon your size.

Here's another angle to this on-going issue to consider: we have heard for years that government officials and think tankers believe the United States is heading to an information-based high tech economy. I remember former Governor Michael Dukakis advocating such a vision when Massachusetts was a center for the computer industry in the 1980s. Remember Digital? Wang?

I think Dukakis had a vision of technocrats supported by entry-level service jobs. I liked him, but he was dead wrong about this view of the state.

Anyone who is talking about that today is either behind the times or just not telling the truth. Everyone in the high tech field has been threatened by the continual out-sourcing of those jobs to qualified people in foreign countries who will gladly work for a fraction of what Americans want and need.

There was a story earlier this year about a Pasadena, Calif. publisher who was hiring a writer in India to cover local city council stories. She was going to do it by phone and e-mail.

Now I think this is patently ridiculous and I hope the Flying Buendo Brothers do as well but clearly there is a mind-set among some business owners to do whatever is necessary for short-term profits regardless of those actions' effects over the course of three or five years.

But who knows if this if something freakish or a trend?

And remember that more and more of our food is coming from foreign countries and you might not even realize it. Beef, for example, can be stamped with a Department of Agriculture seal and not be raised in this nation. Although Congress passed legislation in 2002 that mandates detailed labeling, the legislation is not going into effect until next year. And according to Food and Water Watch, food industry representatives are working to weaken the legislation.

The more money we send out of the country in the form of wages or the cost of goods, the weaker our nation becomes.

Here's my mantra: buy as much as you can from locally owned businesses and as much that is made in this country that you can afford.

***

Speaking of trends in the press, I must have been sick the day the memo went out that female reporters should kiss public officials as a way of greeting. I see this more and more and frankly it bewilders me.

Yes, it's great to be friendly with the officials you cover day after day, but giving them a hug and kiss might prove to be an impediment to asking a hard question.

I know it's a question of style and, yes, I come from a fairly uptight family where hugs and kisses to casual acquaintances was not the norm.

It's just when you ask a question bound to irritate someone, a habit of kissing them just seems to be awkward to say the least.

Of course, I've noticed the use of the "air kiss" a lot. That's a phenomena I don't understand either. What's the point of smooching into the air and pretending it's a moment of some sort of affection?

To the mayors, state reps and senators and others I see regularly, don't worry about me. It's going to be a firm handshake instead of a kiss, I promise.


© 2007 by Gordon Michael Dobbs

Shameless plug time...the book's publication date is Nov. 1. Go down to the link to Bear Manor Media at the right and tell them you want a copy! Several! They make great Xmas presents...maybe not as good as a Chia Pet, but not bad!

Okay Steve...I changed it! I changed it!

An initial inquiry to Arcadia Press has resulted in some interest in a postcard book featuring Springield. I'm working on the proposal and rounding out my collection.

In the meantime, I published this rant this week. I received a reaction from a reader who stated that tariffs and other protectionary trade policies would only result in a greater trade imbalance. He advised folks who could afford to buy American to do so, allowing "the poor people to shop at Wal-Mart."

The trouble isn't the fact that Wal-Mart has policies that have weakened American manufacturing, the problem is that it's the only game in town for many Americans. It's great to have free will but your free will as consumers is controlled by your paycheck and the availability of products. Control the distribution and you control a shopper's free will.

And perhaps there is a rich person store where one can buy top-of-the-line tube socks, dish racks and other mundane necesssities of life that the poor folks like me couldn't afford. We have to settle for the stuff made in China at the Wal-Mart.

And in Springfield, a city of 152,000, we have a sputtering K-Mart and a dirty nasty (literally) Wal-Mart. Take your choice! Thank the consumer gods there is a Target and a Costco nearby.


You know we like to fool ourselves. We go through life thinking that walking around the office is going to take care of that extra donut we had that morning or it doesn't really matter if that empty water bottle makes its way into the trash instead of the recycling box.

All of us do it.

Recently I needed a pair of jeans. I went to the Wal-Mart because they have fat guy sizes and selected a pair that cost me under $20.

They fit fine. The price was right, but I did something that I shouldn't have: I supported the gross trade imbalance in order to get something quick.

At this time when we're at war, some people would think how we buy a pair of jeans is a pretty trivial matter. It is, of course, unless you're a person who has worked in manufacturing and have seen the steady decline of that sector of our economy for years.

The all-American blue jeans a fashion icon representing this nation around the world is scarcely American any more. The company that invented the denim jeans, Levi Strauss, moved its last American manufacturing facility to Mexico in 2003.

Here in Western Massachusetts we ought to be pretty sensitive about such things. Since the end of World War II, our manufacturing has seen a steady erosion.

In the chase for increased profits, we seen businesses relocate first to the South to avoid union labor, then across the border and finally to places such as China.

Add the country-destroying legislation of NAFTA and the ballooning trade imbalance with nations such as China and we have a huge problem on our hands that few politicians want to talk about.

I'm all for making money, but the short-term effort to boost the bottom line has meant a decrease in the number of people who can afford anything but the cheapest of goods. The more cheap foreign stuff one buys, the less of a chance that American manufacturing can come back. It's a vicious circle.

Without having decent paying manufacturing jobs, there are less opportunities for people to have a vehicle to reach middle class status.

I've not decided whom I want to support for president, but I can tell you I'd be interested in the first candidate who speaks of repealing NAFTA and reinstituting tariffs that protect our manufacturers.

I doubt that any of them will want to tackle such an un-sexy topic of re-building the manufacturing base, though.

So the next time I need jeans, I'm getting a pair from Gusset (www.gussetclothing.com), one of the few American-made brands of jeans left. They cost about double than what I've been paying, but at least I know my money is staying here paying some fellow American a wage hopefully something close to a living wage.



***

Speaking of fashion, I've been wearing my summer Panama hat (made in the U.S.A, by the way, and bought locally at The Brim and Crown in Springfield) and from some of the reactions I've received one would think I had dyed my hair purple and spiked it.

Wearing something other than a baseball cap is considered radical these days.

It's just a hat and a venerable style at that.

I must admit I'm compelled to wear hats. It's my DNA. My dad wore a wide variety of hats and the hat-wearing habit was imprinted at an early age.

I'm not going to apologize.

Now I must admit I've been tempted to cram a press pass under the band and whenever I wear it I feel the spirit of Karl Kolchak (you young people can look him up on the Internet) bubbling through.

Thankfully, I don't have to chase any vampires.

Just a warning, I'm going back to the Brim and Crown for a snap brim fedora for the fall.

© 2007 by Gordon Michael Dobbs

Gosh, has it been almost a week since I last posted? This has been a brutal week at work and I've been incapable of summoning the time or energy to post anything.

There's a lot I'd like to write about, but for the sake of my employment I really can't. It's not that I want to defame my bosses or complain about works conditions, it's that I'd like to write about Springfield, Chicopee and Holyoke in a more candid manner. I can't though, as my comments would undoubtedly affect the way I do my job.

You see reporters and editors are forever walking a line between being insiders and outsiders. Yes, we know things, and folks like to treat us like best friends until of course we have to write something negative and then we're in the freezer. We're also quite jaded about the political process and yet we're True Believers as well.

There are many, many times I'd like to say what I really think, but as all journalists, especially ones in local markets, I must always exercise a certain level of restraint.

The level of ego-drive maniacs and morons in local governments is astounding. Statements any more specific than that become the subject of libel, though.

There's a lot of censorship I do to protect people from themselves such as the local mayor who dropped the "f" bomb a few times when describing certain members of that town's council. He did so during an on-the-record conversation. Now he knew the game. He could let me know what he thought without feeling threatened.

Let me say that in every town I cover there are some honestly good elected officials who are succeeding in making a positive difference. There are also in every town some first-rate chowderheads whose re-election to their positions defy all logic.

That's why I seldom write about local politics here – and if I did I wonder just how many people would give a damn.

I'm cleaning my home office as one book is now done and I've got two more in the hopper. For some reason I actually feel good about bothof them since both have received some initial interest from a publisher. Here is one of the items that has come to the surface....Charlton Heston's Christmas cards.

No, the acclaimed actor and conservative didn't send them to me. Max Fleischer's daughter Ruth gave them to me. She was on his mailing list as he had done several films directed by Richard Fleischer. She asked me if I would like them and I thoought it was fairly surreal thing for me to have so I took them.

But now what do I do with them? Would someone reading this post want them? They're handsome photos taken by Heston's wife Lydia.

© 2007 by Gordon Michael Dobbs

Howie Carr, columnist for "The Boston Herald" and long-time talk show host for WRKO in Boston has jumped ship and has left his regionally syndicated show in the lurch. I wrote the following as a response in my column last week:


With the departure of Howie Carr from the local airwaves, one wonders who fill his sport on WHYN AM. Hmmm.let's see, like Howie, I'm in my fifties, my hair is thinning and I'm not svelte. I'm a working newspaper guy and I have broadcast experience. Some people like what I do and some don't.

Of course, my politics are different than his and I'm not one of the beautiful people. I'm not making the money nor have the lifestyle Howie has. I actually give out Halloween candy, too. Maple High Six Corners isn't an exclusive neighborhood. I'm not obsessed with gangsters. I actually buy clothes.

That might count against me. And, unlike Howie, I actually love this region.

I know one thing for sure. It would be refreshing if a local radio station actually had original non-music programming during the afternoon drive period. The conventional wisdom in the industry is to put syndicated programming in that time slot.

Now in reality, the chance Clear Channel, which owns the station mentioned, wold invest in a local host is pretty slim. The economics for a syndiacted show are much more attractive. Most syndicated shows are offered on a barter basis...you get the show for free as long as the national commercials play and you have time for local spots. No host is necessary and neither is a producer. All you need is someone at the controls making sure everything runs correctly.

Marky Mark and I have been exchanging some e-mails and responses on other blog postings on this subject. Not to repeat myself (but I will), to me it's more important to have local programming regardless of its ideological bent than to have stuff off the satellite. I know the chance for a local host to be a conservative would be good as it would match the other shows on the schedule. But I care less about that than I do hearing local voices discussing local events.

Would I perfer a liberal or a moderate? Sure. But trying to reverse the trend of the dominance of canned national opinion on local radio is more my priority.

© 2007 by Gordon Michael Dobbs

You know, you've got to trust a publicist about setting up a time for an interview and the person who put me in touch with comedian Paula Poundstone arranged for me to call her at 9:30 a.m. my time...6:30 a.m. her time. She was remarkably gracious about the time and very politely asked if I could call her back later than morning. That impressed me.

During a telephone interview there are the sounds of vacuuming and children in the background, but that’s typical for working mother and comedian Paula Poundstone.

Poundstone, named one of the 100 greatest stars of comedy by Comedy Central, balances a performing career and being a mother of three children. She will be appearing Aug.18 at the Colonial Theater in Pittsfield.

Poundstone is also a regular on “Wait! Wait! Don’t Tell Me,” the weekly news quiz show heard on National Public Radio including WFCR and WAMC. When asked if she prepares for the show that will test her knowledge of the week’s events she said, “Sadly, I do cram. But it does no good.”

She didn’t audition for the program, but was asked by the producers and has appeared for the past six years. Originally, she would go to a local NPR in Los Angeles and be connected electronically to her fellow contestants and host Peter Sagal.

But now the show is taped live either on the road or in a theater in Chicago and Poundstone said, “It’s definitely better.”

“Before I was a ball player in a batting cage,” she said. She added she likes actually seeing her fellow cast members.

The live tapings mean travel, though, and Poundstone said it can be difficult being both a parent and a touring comedian. Generally, she tries to be away from her home and family only an average of eight days a month.

And when she is home she focuses on her family duties.

“When I’m home, I’m really home,” she explained.

Poundstone started her comedy career at age 19 in 1979 performing in Boston. She said she had no responsibilities at that age and “rode the wave of that time” – a time that she called a “renaissance of stand-up comedy.”

She said she had “no particular skill or talent” but was in “the right time and the right place.

“I went around the country learning and having fun, when it was fun,” she said.

She credits Robin Williams for attracting attention to the new generation of comics and for allowing random thoughts and non-sequitors to be part of the new comedy landscape.

Although her act is not known for profanity or adult material, Poundstone said “the stupidest thing” for a comic to worry about today is language.

“My goal is to entertain people. I don’t want to say things that are mean,” she said.

She added she doesn’t deliberately want to insult people and that words are not as important as intent.

She admitted she is not as in tune with changes in stand-up comedy as some of her colleagues because many of her performances are at theaters rather than nightclubs. The advantage, she said, is that people really want to be at her shows and they’re not drinking.

Today, there are fewer venues for aspiring comedians. She said that a recent club appearance she noticed several young comics who drove an hour and a half just to be able to appear a few minutes at an open mic night. She explained that in the 1980s and ‘90s, in a city such as San Francisco, she could do three open mics during one evening.

When asked if she had pursued the sitcom career route as so many other comics had done, Poundstone said with a laugh that she hadn’t rejected sit-coms, they rejected her.

She said that her efforts to develop a sitcom hadn’t made it as far as being a pilot. She said that when she first started exploring a career in television she didn’t understand the language used by television executives.

This was apparent on the ABC variety show she did in 1993 that lasted three episodes. She recalled networks officials using phrase such as “We’ll leave you alone.” “We’ll give you time to develop.” and “We want something different.”

She thought the show was an interesting experience that presented some “really great ideas.”

She realized that there are “only a handful of people lucky enough [that]when an executive said those words they mean something.”
After her cancellation she had lunch with another ABC executive who was interested in having Poundstone host a daytime program. She recalled she was uncertain over whether or not that would be a good move for her until the exec said, “We’ll leave you alone.”

“I’ve had a lot of good lunches out of show business,” she said with a laugh, although she added she no longer discusses businesses over a meal.

Network execs aside, Poundstone said, “I love my job. I’m the luckiest comic in the world.”

© 2007 by Gordon Michael Dobbs

Please go over to That's 30, my blog on media, for today's posting.

Well, our Springfield didn't win the Simpson's movie contest and I'm a little disappointed. I thought the video that was produced was solid and funny and should have been a contender (we came in fourth).

Springfield VT won the national contest. Please, no gloating Steve!

Some of the people at work didn't vote for ours which drive me nuts. For our community this was not so much about having a premiere, but about economic development and civic pride. Too many people kick the crap out of Springfield and this effort was designed to do something different and positive.

Supposedly we still getting some sort of "special" screening whatever that means. I'm still seeing the film, but it would have been great thing for this city to land a little more positive national press.

© 2007 by Gordon Michael Dobbs

From the October 1938 ediition of Popular Science is this three-page spread on the cult film "The Terror of Tiny Town," the infamous midget Western.

I've tried to watch this production but it is so exploitative that I always turn it off. It's not like the Westerns aimed at African-American audiences starring Herb Jeffries that were made about the same time. Their goal was to create a Western hero for black audiences.

I doubt though there was a clamor from the community of little people for this film! We're supposed to be amazed the midgets are "normal" within the context the film establishes.

Made on a low budget by Sam Newfield, one of the auteurs at PRC, the film is a pretty standard B western only with little people. They ride ponies instead of horses. I bet this thing was exhibited for years.

Go over to youtube and search for it. There's a variety of clips.

© 2007 by Gordon Michael Dobbs

Marky Mark wants me to answer his question about who cares about local radio programming.

He wanted to know if I care before he posts a new installment of our on-going volleyball game.

At the risk of being repetitive, I do indeed care about the amount of local airtime and as I have already written, the general public cares, or at least the people I speak with, also would like to see more local time.

Please note I'm not in the favor of the Fairness Doctrine. I believe in the free marketplace, HOWEVER, the airwaves do not belong – unlike publishers' presses – to the owners of radio stations. They are licensed by the government to serve the public good. If Clear Channel or whatever other media company doesn't like that they can go to the unfettered world of the satellite.

Hour upon hour of syndicated programming does not serve the public good. I don't care if it's liberal or conservative.

This isn't an arguement about ideology. It's about an economic model of a public utility that doesn't serve its consumers well.

To recap: no to the Fairness Doctrine. No to government censorship. Yes to mandated local programming, no ideology indicated.

Okay, I hope this clarifies my position. I know the fate of the Western world rests upon it!

The ball has been vollied, but not spiked to Marky Mark's side of the court.

Hey, when in beautiful Holyoke Massachusetts visit the Volleyball Hall of Fame! The birthplace of volleyball!

Housekeeping notes...revised link to Heather Brandon's new blog...added Bill Dusty's blog...my publisher...and more!

©2007 by Gordon Michael Dobbs