Mar 17

Mar 17 Real Movie Magic: The Ten Screenplays that Sparkle Beyond Mere Entertainment

There are hundreds of wonderful films in existence that feature screenplays that are literate, intelligent, and compelling in ways that elevate them beyond mere entertainment. Citizen Kane, The Godfather, The Lady Eve, Ordinary People, My Man Godfrey, and Moonstruck are all screenplays that reside within the upper echelons of the sublime writing of which cinema can aspire to. Beyond that, there is a special niche of cinema where screenwriters are not afraid to utilize prosody in writing screenplays, adding a special shimmer of poetry and majesty to the storytelling. These ingredients heighten emotion and theatricality through a carefully chosen rhetoric that may not come across in a way that is familiar speech for audiences, but may be far-more effective in conveying character and situation. These screenplays are an art unto themselves. Today’s column is a celebration of ten-films that demonstrate this style to great effect.

Mar 15

Mar 15 The Television Sitcom: Social Change Through Laughter

Mark Robinson

Tube Tied

So many of us take television for granted, relegating it to the lowest echelons of entertainment without giving it the due for the creative and cultural force that it is. TV holds a great deal of power, being the most-accessible of all entertainment forms, besting theatre and television for price and instant gratification. With this in mind, we have to concede that television has the greatest influence on our individual and collective social psyches, shaping how we see and greet the world. TV offers opportunities for us to see how other people live, people who may not be like ourselves. Laughter is something that is also universally understood. People like to laugh, by themselves and even more so with others. It is no surprise that one of the most beloved forms of television storytelling is the situation comedy, a device for creating humor by putting characters in relatable (if often extreme) situations where they learn and grow. The greatest leaps and bounds of social change in our country have occurred when a television audience was presented with topical and challenging material though the refreshing catharsis of laughter provided by the sitcom?

Mar 13 New Attractions We’d Like to See at Disney World

Mark Robinson

Second Star to the Right

There is no denying that a trip to Disney World is an exciting proposition that every family hopes to make someday. Indeed, a visit to this enormous resort complex near Orlando, Florida is considered the ideal of family vacations, with its four exciting theme parks, two water parks, dozens of luxury hotels and fine dining restaurants, as well as terrific shopping and entertainment possibilities. Of course, the Disney vacation experience is also well-known for its inclusiveness, customer service, and those magic little touches that just tell their clientele that they are values. It truly is a magic place.

Mar 12 Broadway Musical Humor: Ten Broadway Hits That Look Ridiculous on Paper

Mark Robinson

Music That Makes Me Dance

Spring is close, but not close enough, so we find ourselves getting cabin fever and our cranky meters are dialed up to high. A little levity seems to be what the doctor has ordered, so I thought it might be fun to muse what certain hit musicals would look like on paper (having a little fun with boiling them down to their barest components). This is merely for fun and I hope no one will take offense. In fact, I’m hoping you’ll share some of your own ideas here.

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