Heroes: Homeless Charities

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Stunts: A Look Behind the Scenes

The horror cult classic, the Texas Chainsaw Massacre that left audiences perched on the edges of their chairs in 1994,  is still talked about today because of the stunts.  Suntwoman Jody Haselbarth says that the more daring and dangerous work was performed by the stunt team.

In describing herself, the petite stuntwoman says, "I am a natural athlete, I have a strong background in dance, bareback bronc riding, gymnastics and bull riding." 

                                                                                                                             

Haselbarth, who is a former member of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling (GLOW), has been a  member of the Houston Stuntmen's Association since moving from wrestling to stunts over thirty years ago.

Although she has not yet received a call to work on the Texas Chainsaw Massacre sequel,  she agreed to share her experiences from the original one.           

Source: Abiiba Howell

Joining her is longtime friend, and stuntman, Oscar Carles, who “got started just out of high school after learning some things from a friend..”   The two recall a stunt at the one hundred year old Texas house that was a major player in the 1994 horror movie.

Haselbarth offers sage advice.

Source: Abiiba Howell

Whether you choose to rent the 1994 Texas Chainsaw Massacre or wait for the latest sequel, one thing you can count on is that there will be plenty of stunts going on behind the scenes.

Libraries for the Homeless: Revisited

The temperature today was reported to be in the upper ninety degrees in Houston, Texas, which was cool, compared to the last few days of temperatures over one hundred and three degrees.

Source: Abiiba Howell

The high temperatures may be the last thing that Ted Weisgal, an advocate for libraries to be available for the homeless, wants to hear about. Weisgal, Co-Founder of Leisure Learning Unlimited, believes that more can be done on  the part of the libraries and cities to help eradicate the homeless shelter issue.

Source: Abiiba Howell

     
                                                       
Because of the piercing emperatures, the Star of Hope shelter has seen a much higher number of people who are homeless seeking refuge. According to Marilyn Fountain, Director of Communications for the shelter, the homeless need help and we (the public and the shelter)can provide the help that they need.

The shelter spokesperson expressed empathy while discussing the emotions

Source: Abiiba Howell

Source: Abiiba Howell

experienced by the homeless when they have to seek shelter or assistance.

Source: Abiiba Howell

Since my report months ago, the National Alliance to End Homelessness stated, in the July, 2011 Conference on Ending Homelessness,"despite waning state and local assistance, rising need among vulnerable families, and challenges created by new programs and changing rules, this community has demonstrated its willingness to grab opportunities, use the best possible practices, and serve people who have been hit hardest and whose unmet needs are most severe."

The subject of allowing homeless people access to libraries has been discussed

long before M. Vocino referred to the
                                                Source: Abiiba Howell

Source: Abiiba Howell

homeless patron as "the problem patron" in 1976. (Wilson Library Journal, 50 (5)372-373).

Though the debate continues as to whether the decline in library usage should open the door for the homeless population,  cities, such as Houston, are opting to renovate libraries; it remains to be seen as to whether the homeless will benefit.

Helpers of the Homeless

There are many agencies and organizations that work on behalf of those who are without a regular and normal place of residence.


The purpose of this publication is to allow the voice of an agency to point out the myriad of reasons that shelters, agencies and organizations that work on behalf of the homeless, should be supported and utilized by the homeless and others.

Marilyn Fountain, Director of Communication=s for the Star of Hope Mission emphasizes, and educates us on, the reasons many find themselves homeless and the factors that lead them to seek help from the shelters.

Leisure...

C'est La Vie



One of the greatest things that humans take for granted is the ability to enjoy life.

This photo story seeks to connect us with the simple pleasures that are life-balancing and personally fulfilling as we devour the non-obligated hours of our day. The means of leisure are as important as the interactions they include.

With everything going on in the world and the fact that some live a life of "forced leisure," we do have the ability to choose special leisurely moments. It is then that we can include an appreciation for the opportunity to engage in leisure.

It is the life...

Homeless Humor?

Being homeless is no laughing matter, but some people use humor to get through their circumstances.

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Help the Homeless 101

This presentation is designed to encourage people to think of new ways to help those who are homeless. Often, the solutions lie in being more informed about how we can give, what the recipients rally need and what the circumstances are that led to their situation.

Help the Homeless 101 on Prezi

Marilyn Fountain of the Star of Hope mission helps t share the myriad of ways people can get involved.

The key is to put on the thinking cap and vow to do something.

Libraries for the Homeless: Feasible?

If, according to the National Coalition for the Homeless, "The housing situation in the United States has worsened," (July 2010) then the call for libraries to house the homeless may not be such a stretch.

According to Ted Weisgal, Co-Founder and Co-Director of Leisure Learning Unlimited in Houston, Texas, “As a taxpayer and a human being, I don’t like to see money wasted.”  He expressed a concern that many of the library buildings and their adjacent parking lots are sitting empty and could be used as places to house the homeless.



                        

Source: Abiiba Howell

The idea may be further supported by the work of The National Alliance to End Homelessness. In their mission statement for the upcoming National Conference on Ending Homelessness, the group seeks to, "renew our homeless assistance systems by focusing on cost-effective and efficient models for prevention and housing-based methods – both of which have proven to effectively curb and end homelessness, solving the problem rather than managing it." (2011).

The group, whose website demographic, above, is comprised 100% of people who have had some level of college education (42% some college; 26% bachelor's degree; 32% graduate degrees) (Google AdPlanner), states its commitment to "revisit our ideas of permanent housing, supportive housing, and transitional housing and come together as a community to determine how best to move the Housing First Strategy forward."

While the Housing First Strategy focuses on providing permanent housing for the homeless, the library alternative offers the potential for housing, facilities and tents in a regular place that also can offer services.

 

         Source: Abiiba Howell

Kyle Kaczmarick, a patron of the Houston public libraries, among others, supports Weisgal's idea of moving the books into schools and allowing the homeless to inhabit the public library buildings.  "The school libraries often sit empty as well," says Weisgal.

                                                                                  

On the issue of safety and security for the homeless, the streets prove to hold far more dangers than a library would, according to an article by NBC4i.com. Some opponents of the homeless using libraries, according to Weisgal,are concerned about the safety of non-homeless patrons. He says that "moving the books to the schools removes that issue."


The SF Appeal Online Newspaper reports a decline in homeless numbers (May, 2011).  The city's adoption of the Housing First Strategy, according to the publication, contributed to the drop in the chronically homeless numbers from 62% to 33%.

                                                  Source: Abiiba Howell

Despite alternative means for reducing the numbers, the reasons for homelessness, according to Marilyn Fountain of the Star of Hope mission in Houston, Texas, are still varied. She asserts that people still need housing and they need services.

Source: http://www.fmhsloudspeaker.wordpress.com

Any potential opposition by stakeholders to making the libraries into shelters for the homeless is reflected in the blog post commentaries by educators and parents on the subject of whether public libraries are still relevant (eNotes, 2011).

Educator and parent, lmetcalf, appreciates that libraries group books by  age and reading level. (Jan. 11, 2011).  College freshman teacher, mshurn,  views libraries as essential and more than just a repository of books, the writer sees these facilities as places that foster the bonding of families. (Jan.19, 2011).


According to Ted Weisgal of Leisure Learning Unlimited, the impact on the schools would be lessened and the schools would benefit because the books in libraries are getting far less use because of the internet, he states that "having the public utilize the school libraries would foster a stronger sense of community and the public would be more motivated to enroll or complete their education since the services would be right there."

Continuing on, he expresses his thought that seniors can use both places as volunteer opportunities.

In 2008, the Houston Public Library reported an area population of 2,149,948 and registered users comprised of 564,608 (adult) for a total of 797,603. The libraries were open, at that time, for 350 days, with a full-time service staff of 513 and volunteers that logged in as many as 38,035 hours of service. 

Source: googletrendsonline.info

In light of major technological advances and more people needing computer access, the Houston Public Library system found itself with an average of 956 public access computers in 2009.  The daily circulation, according to the library system, was 18,205 books and 4,681,767 visitors throughout the system for that same period.


It will be interesting to see if the Houston Public Library's annual report for the year 2010 reflects an increase or decrease in the figures.


As an educator, auntlori, says in an eNotes blog, "I love the library. It is a sanctuary and a buffet all in one place."  She goes on to say,  "...there is an opportunity to tune out the world and immerse yourself in something beyond who and where you actually are." 

Regardless of what side of the fence one stands, this is one issue that will affect the homeless and housed, alike. 

New Feed on Homelessness

Alternative Solutions for the Homeless: A Resource Feed

In researching options available, and proposed, to serve as off-the-street shelters for the homeless in Texas, a feed was developed to aid others in accessing related data. The feed sources include information from major media outlet RSS feeds, such as The Frontline and The Houston Press,



According to a statement by the National Coalition for the Homeless, "the housing and homelessness crisis in the United States has worsened." (July, 2009).  The group cites the unavailability of sufficient shelter space as the reasons more people try to survive on the streets.

 

In an effort by cities, such as Philadelphia, PA, to explore alternative housing options for those without a regular place of residence at night, options include re-purposing public libraries and other public owned property to house the homeless.  Writer, Heather Knoght, of the San Francisco Chronicle, reports that a social services worker has been assigned to assist the homeless at the San Francisco main library.

Feed:  http://www.google.com/reader/shared/AbiibaHowell

Oil Company Exec Bonuses Revisited

In reviewing the subject of bonuses for oil company executives in the midst of the oil spill in 2010, referred to by CNBC.com as the "Crisis in the Gulf," an exploration of other oil company bonuses revealed this to be a normal part of the oil and gas corporate culture.

 
When Transocean rewarded its executives in 2010 for maintaining a numerically sound safety record, they offered financial bonuses. Although the executives donated the money to help those injured in the explosion of the oil rig, CNN News says the company contends that the bonuses were deserved.

According to an article by ABC Good Morning America, when Exxon paid more than $400 million to former CEO, Lee Raymond in the form of stock options, security, transportation and retirement pension funds, it was for leading the company to the largest profit it had ever seen. The company profits totaled more than $36 billion.

                          Source: YouTube, AttackofTheShow

Juxtaposed against the oil spill in the gulf of Mexico in 2010, despite the loss of income, worker injuries and possible long term health effects, deaths, loss of wildlife and devastation, the awarding of bonuses by oil companies shows no sign of being eliminated any time soon.

Trans Ocean issues bonuses after oil spill

According to Yahoo News, TransoceanBritish Petroleum oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico last year. executives received safety bonuses for their performance in 2010.  This is the same company whose equipment exploded on an oil rig and sparked the oil spill in the gulf of Mexico.

With an estimated cost of more than $8 billion, which included attempts to plug the gap, the spill took at least eleven lives and, according to an information reprographic by the people at Visual Economics, a source for demystifying economic data, their numbers are just the tip of the iceberg. Thousands of people lost their livelihood, many people lost their homes, others had to file for public assistance and many others still wait for compensation from British Petroleum.

In the Yahoo News article, writer Brett Michael Dykes cites many of the negative effects of the oil spill and less on the bonuses to the Transocean executives.

In contrast, Reuter's headline for the same story reads, "Transocean execs giving safety bonuses to memorial fund." This headline provides a more objective perspective, thereby making the Transocean executives appear more humane in accepting the bonuses, without chastising them.

Several large companies have structured the payment of bonuses to their executives into their corporate culture, as evidenced when Lee Raymond, the former CEO of Exxon Oil retired in 2006, whose retirement package reached $400 million which included his pension, perks, stock options and more.  The company justification is that it was for a “long and distinguished career.” 

When BP Oil executives were awarded bonuses after the Deepwater disaster, the company defended the awards, saying that the two men “had hit their divisional targets.”(MacAlister, www.Guardian.co.uk, 2011)

In the case of the Transocean bonuses, although the company maintains that the bonuses were issued based on its "best year in safety performance", according to the Wall Street Journal, the executives donated the money to the fund developed to aid the families of the eleven workers who died in the explosion. According to Reuter's, more than $1.6 million had been distributed by the Deepwater Horizon Memorial Fund.

Opinions on the morality, business sense and strategic logic of the issuance of the Transocean bonuses has caused speculation about the rationality of the bonuses.

Transocean executives had the best safety record, on a statistical basis, than in many recent years. This was despite the loss of life and enormous damages incurred. In evaluating the number of incidents per year, the company found that the year 2010 had the lowest number on an incident basis.  This is the criteria upon which the bonuses were issued. Had the company's criteria for bonuses been based upon the dollar amount or cost to the company in damages, then the same executives may well have lost their jobs, however, this was not the criteria.

Are the executives entitled to receive bonuses if their safety record meets the criteria for a bonus?  Tell me what you think.

Street Help for the Homeless...for the Children...

Source: Dreamstime.com

Never before has the need for individuals to tap into their own resources to help others been heard more than in recent years. With people losing their homes, schools closing and the loss of jobs, more and more people are becoming homeless. 

  

The faces that often get lost in the shuffle are children. It is amazing to me that, in 2009, approximately one in every fifty children in the United States was homeless (Gray, Time Magazine, 2009). Although many of them live in shelters with their parents, the fact is, they are still counted as being homeless by the standard definition.

Source: Rrramone

In recounting the story of a seventh grader who wore the same clothes to school each day, Guidance Counselor, R. Mitchell related that the child was living with a parent in a shelter, yet continued to excel.  “It is possible for homeless children who are lucky enough to have a support system, to achieve their life goals,” she said.

 Nationally, the agencies and shelters indicate that to those who are homeless, the key elements missing in their lives are stability, self-esteem and safety.


In the years, 1999 through 2009, there were, nationally, forty-six attacks on homeless people, eighteen of which resulted in death. (National Coalition for the Homeless, 2009).  Some attacks were by other homeless people suffering with various forms of mental illness and others were from substance abusers of those engaged in hate crimes.

Source: Nat'l Coalition for the Homeless (2009)

People often forget that a large number of the homeless are families. If they are in a shelter, the family eats, the children get to attend school, the family receives mental health counseling, medical care, job training and even parenting skills, which all work to prepare them for redirecting their lives.  

In Houston, Marilyn Fountain, of the Star of Hope mission feels that everyone can be of help, which may not always be monetary. 

  
If, according to an African proverb, “It takes a whole village to raise a child,” then, according to teacher, G. Mebane, “Every child is part of a village and each person has a responsibility to help a child in some way.”

 

The challenge for the shelters in Texas is getting adults with, or without, children, to accept help.

The fact that homeless children are able to attend school, when living in a shelter, increases their opportunity for success.  “Education opens a world for homeless children to escape from some of the ills of society” says Houston area psychology teacher, D. Williams. 

The bottom line is that the shelters are a better alternative to the streets than not, for families and single adults, alike.  Every person should do their part to assist those who are less fortunate because, at some point, any one of us could be in their place.

Who Judges the Judges?

Now that I am entrenched in the process of helping to select the winners of a major awards program, I find myself wondering whether the process is similar to that of screenplay contests and film festivals where those making the selections seem to all come from the same cloth as those being judged. If that is the case  it  may stand to reason that it also applies to other similar shows.

The key is for the judges to be skilled in the areas they evaluate.  One example: American Idol where the judges are icons in the field of music performance. There would be no way to validate a non-industry person being asked to vote on a Best Makeup award when they don't understand motion picture makeup techniques, processes, continuity issues and application methods.

The smaller, less established, events that offer awards and prizes for exceptional work, often have trouble finding enough qualified people to read the stack of screenplays that sits on the event director's desk, getting taller by the day, or to view the stack of DVDs patiently waiting their viewings.  As the deadlines approach and more submissions arrive, the net becomes wider and the experience requirements for judges may drop a level or two. In some cases, the independent small festival directors place the judge cap on their own heads.

These are some of the things I’ve pondered over the years after being asked by film festival directors, such as that of the Gulf Coast Film Festival, to render my opinion on documentaries, comedies, music videos and one hundred-plus page screenplay submissions.

In the course of being a “judge,” it seems that we know a great deal about the motivations, intent, vision and methodology of the person whose work is being evaluated. Not so, most judges in media related contests tend to have a basic understanding of storytelling, content and character portrayal. They, like myself, make every attempt to weigh the project solely on the criteria provided by the event organizers, using their own experience, objectivity and understanding..

Imagine being a judge on the panel reviewing the horror film, Poltergeist, or the Titanic? What about The Passion of the Christ, which was nominated for three Oscars? The point is that judges often make determinations based on what they have seen or what others say about a motion picture or television property, until, or unless, the rules allow for the submission of  additional materials. This extra promotion may be the difference between whether a project gets the nod or not on smaller festivals.  Is this fair? Probably not.

This is not to suggest that fairness is not employed. One may wonder if a documentary project can be judged by the same criteria as a romantic comedy and whether it should be evaluated by genre judges to ensure a deeper understanding of the material. A judge for a hot dog eating contest doesn't need to eat thirty long pieces of meat to determine the winner.

Some producers and filmmakers have enough resources to afford fancy posters, professionally written bios, glamorized and action oriented treatments of their projects, while those with lower budgets have to work harder to get the attention of the judges. Nevertheless, the judges do have to review every project before them.

It is for this reason that books are in abundance helping those with stories to tell and movies to sell, get an edge. In his book, How to Enter Screenplay Contests and Win, Erik Joseph (1997) provides the submission standards and deadlines for many of the top film festivals. He offers advice to screenwriters and filmmakers, telling them that entering film festivals is a cost effective way to bring attention to their work.


Somewhere along the line sometimes, mis-judging occurs. Take, for example, the 2010 Emmy Awards in which Edie Falco received the nod for comedy for her role in the show, Nurse Jackie.

As it turns out, her character was a serious woman with issues. In her acceptance speech, Falco said, ""Oh, this is the most ridiculous thing that has ever, ever happened in the history of this lovely awards show."  She then said, "I'm not funny!" The audience agreed.  Either they knew the show better than those voting or the promotional hype of the show overpowered the objectivity and sensibility of the judges.

In any case, it is up to the directors of the awards programs to ensure that all submissions are given proper and fair consideration based on objective criteria. Failure to do this will result in a loss of trust by those submitting their work and the devaluation of the awards programs in general. 

One Man's Journey from Uncertainty to Clarity

"I want to be more open to experiencing people. It's easy to put blinders on."

When I first spoke with Christopher Kelly, I was mildly surprised by his willingness to share what some would think of as vulnerabilities. Yet, the more I listened to details of his personal and professional life, it became clear that he has experienced a transformation from uncertainty to one of clarity.

As a young man growing up in Cheshire, CT, Christopher experienced life in a small town, stifled environment where one of his pastimes was meandering around the nearby graveyards. This helped to shape his interest in things that go bump in the night.

Living with dyslexia, Christopher experienced anxiety in school as a result of "being placed in a small classroom with other students who didn't fit into the normal bubble." Despite tests revealing an above average IQ, the uncertainty of the effects of the labels and the quality of his education propelled an interest in, and commitment to, education reform. "Nothing is concrete when placed in a situation with contradictions." says Kelly.

Fast forward to art school in New Haven, CT where he became "growth directed" (Kelly) and which provided "the most formative, important time of my life." It was in this environment that he learned that he really wanted to tell stories and "create and distribute views of the world." Christopher describes this period of transformation as being like "a bubble popped and I was suddenly standing there with no security."  It was at that point when he moved and decided to attend film school. He took the initiative to change the uncertainty to certainty.  The clarity was to come later.

When Christopher attended Full Sail University for his undergrad degree in Film, he wanted to be able to learn the technology that would enable him to  merge his interest in things unknown with his ability to craft stories. His thesis project provided the perfect opportunity to bridge his own struggles with the responses of others to his dyslexia to the dark, spookiness of his childhood memories in the graveyards to his need to display compassion and empathy for those whose lives were unknown. His documentary project featured  Covenant House Florida, which, as it turns out, helps restart and reshape the lives of teens and others as they transition from uncertainty to clarity. How fitting.

Working in Austin, Texas at a company that produces web commercials, Christopher yearns for more substantive work that will allow him to merge his passion for storytelling with things that go bump in the night, while still maintaining a socially relevant focus to help others.

For those struggling with uncertainty in their lives, Christopher suggests "Instead of being overwhelmed by the fears, take a moment and take a few breaths and try to explore and come to your own conclusions."

That certainly will help lead to the kind of clarity that Christopher Kelly has found.  He is currently working on his masters degree in New Media Journalism at Full Sail University.

A Vision for the Future...

After experiencing homelessness as a father and husband, Charles Washington managed to craft a vision, develop a process and make some changes that would make him a respected artist, educator, mentor and role model.


Creating a Vision from Abiiba Howell on Vimeo.


The Process from Abiiba Howell on Vimeo.

According to the National Coalition for the Homeless, shelters provide the greatest opportunity for changing the situation of the homeless, unless they resort to their own resources, as is the case of Charles Washington. He explains change, for him, in his own words.


Making the Change... from Abiiba Howell on Vimeo.

Would You Help a Homeless Person?

One of the greatest obstacles for the homeless, in addition to the lack of regular housing and other basic needs, is the lack of public awareness. The general public often relies on stereotypical assumptions about who is homeless and the reasons people are homeless and the public then bases their decision to help on those thoughts.

Those found to be homeless include: adults, families with children, veterans, the elderly, the chronic homeless and those who have experienced sudden homelessness. The reality is that there is no single cause of homelessness and, according to Marilyn Fountain, Director of Community Relations for the Star of Hope Mission in Houston, Texas, there are many different reasons that someone becomes homeless.


What is needed is for the public to understand the nature of homelessness as a societal issue that can, at any time, include each of us, in any number of ways. According to 2009 data from the National Coalition for the Homeless, the homeless include those affected by foreclosures, sudden unemployment, failed finances, the effects of an economic downturn and long term underemployment.


The Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP) of the National Alliance to End Homelessness indicate that many singles who are homeless come from institutional settings. The HPRP is designed to be a model system for rehousing the homeless.


According to Fountain, The missions need the public to help. Things like clothing, shoes, books,  survival kits, calling cards, blankets, soap and toiletries, in addition to donations and a smile, can make a tremendous difference in the life of a homeless person.  


The question is: Would you help a homeless person? Leave a comment...

The Unemployment and Homelessness Connection

According to the National Coalition for the Homeless statistics, there appears to be a direct correlation between the levels of unemployment and the number of those who are homeless in the United States.  As jobs are lost, savings become diminished, people reach, and fall below, the poverty line, and with continued unemployment, no longer can afford a place to live. They move to their cars, to the homes of friends and family until they become a drain and have to leave. This often encourages the transition to substance abuse, mental illness and the complacency so often found within the homeless population.

Of the two types of homelessness, transitional and chronic, transitional includes those who have been recently become unemployed or underemployed, while those who are described as chronically unemployed have been displaced and without a permanent home for over one year.(Kally, 2010)

The cities with the greatest movement in unemployment tend to show similar moves in homelessness for the same periods. Those cities are: Illinois, Michigan, California, South Carolina and New York.

Despite a 15% overall increase, unemployment feel in twenty-four states since this time last year (Bloomberg, 2011).  As the employment levels begin to rise, fewer people lose their jobs, more people gain jobs, more money is provided to help the unemployed and the homelesss with job training and life skills services. The homeless rate drops to some degree.

The solution, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, is to  have greater governmental support of local initiatives, more prevention methods employed among institutions and to ensure that federal funds designed to help the homeless are actually being used as intended.

We+Can+Save+Lives,+But+Will+We?

We+Can+Save+Lives,+But+Will+We?



This blog, from the ChangeMakers website places an emphasis on International Women's Day and the importance of quality healthcare and education in underdeveloped areas. Melinda Gates, the author, challenges us to find ways to make a difference.

Thinking of Gas Price Thresholds... What's Yours?

Have you ever gotten so accustomed to the price of something that when it increased, you changed to a different item or a different place to purchase it?

Maybe you even continued to buy it because you liked the store and the item so much that, no matter what, you would remain loyal.

When it comes to the price of major necessities, like toothpaste, bathroom tissue or gasoline, it seems that we have to either go with the flow and buy where it's more convenient, shop around for a better price or change our method of transport, opting for mass transit or carpooling. This Houston, Texas Shell gas station raised its prices well in anticipation of the gas price hike. It was raised so early, in fact, that two blocks down on the same street, a Chevron station still posted prices of $3.09 for regular and $3.19 for Premium.

At what point would you change your method of transport or the way in which you travel in order to adapt to the change in prices?  Would you wait until prices hit $4.00 per gallon, or did you already make changes? What is your threshold?

Going the Extra Mile...

While working as a Makeup Artist on the film, The Chase (starring Charlie Sheen), I learned of another movie that was hiring crew. After landing an appointment, I arrived at the production office to find two people engaged in intense phone conversations. Another phone started ringing and, when I motioned that I could answer it, I was given the go-ahead. Twenty minutes later, I had answered several calls, taken notes, dug through a file to give someone information and poured coffee. When the man (who turned out to be the producer) finished his call, he interviewed, and hired, me to head the makeup department. Principal photography on House on Todville Road would start in seven weeks, so I had time to complete my work on The Chase. 

When I arrived home the phone was ringing. it was the woman from the office who told me that the producer wanted to know if I would be interested in being trained to be the production coordinator for the film, House on Todville Road.  I said, "yes" and asked if I could still head the makeup department once production began. He agreed. The following year, after more makeup and production work under my belt, the same producer hired me as production manager on his next film, The Dark Dancer (starring Shannon Tweed and Francesco Quinn). This marked the beginning of my road to becoming a producer.  The moral: Answer the phone... even

if it's not yours...   Always do more and offer more... 

Photo: Third Coast Ent.