First Laugh of the Day

Media Motion Studio

Charlotte, NC

Today I reached a saturation point. A lot going on. Too much to think about. Too many things slipping through the cracks, happening outside my sphere of control. Suddenly it all culminated with the Supervising Producer turning to me with her pen and paper and asking - "For your lunch today, do you want tofu with your veggie curry?" Didn't she realize how many things I was processing at that moment? Budget! Schedule! Post! Shooting! Trade Out! Can't anyone just make a decision on their own? But no - I needed to be calm to provide answers that made sense and helped guide the production toward ultimate success.

Long pause. Deep Thought. Working the question out in my head - along with all the possibilities... Tofu can provide protein. Protein helps build muscle. I like that - but Im not working out, so there is no muscle to build. I dont like the flavor of tofu. Im not really a fan of soybeans. So whats the point really? Course, I could always do half tofu...

Finally I realized, I dont care about tofu

"I dont care about tofu", I said.

Which seemed so on point, it felt like it should be turned into a bumper sticker for my Kia Sedona rental.

This was my first laugh of the day.

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Parting Shot

Cape Town, South Africa

This was shot from Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was held for 20 something years before becoming the president of post apartheid South Africa.  It's sort of like Alcatraz, and it was notorious back in the apartheid days as the place to hold the most "dangerous" political prisoners.

Other famous inmates on Robben Island include Robert Sobukwe, the leader of the Pan African Congress.  He was held in solitary confinement for years until he literally died of isolation.  Which you may think isn't possible, but apparently, solitary confinement is one of the cruelest forms of torture (Though it's the form of punishment we often deem as safe, sane, and civilized - hence the prolific use of it in prisons across the US).  To learn more about the effects of solitary confinement, read this   Totally fascinating and is likely to change your views on the subject entirely.  

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This is Sibahkle

Khayalitscha, South Africa

Her name translates as beautiful.  Very appropriately named.

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This is Nkosinarte

Nyanga, South Africa

His name translates and "A Blessing of the Kings"

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This is Vuyelwa.....

Nyanga, South Africa

Her name translates as "Happy"

This was shot while filming a new documentary about a south african ballet in the townships.  More to come...

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Wall Art

Khayalitscha, South Africa

This is from the inside of the home of one of the students I am filming for the HBO documentary about the ballet school in Cape Town.

Apparently the translation here is:

If you are jealous of me, I don't worry about it, because you will be taken care of (by God, or demons, or witch doctors, or something...)

This woman is very unhappy. and it's 6:15.

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Im Back In Guguletu...

Guguletu, South Africa

...And loving it.  As long as I feel safe, there is no place in Cape Town I'd rather be.  And I feel safe when Im surrounded by good people who live there, and know what they are doing.  

But if I were alone shooting this picture on a playground in the township - I probably wouldn't last long.  That camera would be gone.  And if Im lucky, that's all that would happen.   Its so hard to tap into that sense of caution though, when everyone around you is so friendly and helpful.  It's deceptive.  (And I know this from experience)  It can all turn very bad very quickly.  

But today, its good.  And it only makes me sad to know that the reality is that I am so shut out of this world.  But that, Im afraid, is what this country is all about.  People keep to their kind and have their own ways on making outsiders feel very unwelcome.  The irony is that,  one on one, you can always find people that contradict that blanket statement, but when you look around, its fences, barbed wire and color lines that run very very deep.  

Btw - those waiting to hear the apollo story will have to move on... Im afraid its not post-able after all.  But it includes Mariah Carey and Prince and I love telling the story in person, so ask me!!

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An Hour Before The 75th Anniversary at the Apollo

Harlem, NY

I never could have imagined the drama that would ensue....  More to come.

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The Retrial of Cameron Brown

Palos Verdes, CA

I spent the morning revisiting the spot where Cameron Brown was accused of throwing his baby daughter off the cliff 9 years ago.  I was the 911 call that day, since I was on the beach below where she landed. As a result, Im playing a small part in the retrial (the first one ended as a hung jury a few years ago).  You can read all about it here

Its an odd thing to be a part of.  Wandering around Inspiration Point (which is, ironically, what the cliff is called) with detectives and the district attorney, leaves you with alot to think about. As Im listening to the 911 call from almost 10 years ago, looking down at the beach where she landed, my mind is filled with the possibilities of what really went on that day, and saddened to think about the slim chance that justice will ever really be served - whatever that is.   

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100 Day Later

Hollywood, CA

The Giant Ron English Linc-o-bama covering the WOW alleyway is finally coming down.  I must admit, after it was defaced with the words FALSE PROPHET and a huge swastika, I was more than happy to see it removed.  Though I did love it.  It was a great thing to see first thing in the morning and as I left at the end of the day.  

At the 100 day mark, I'm happy that public opinion for Obama has faired much better than the artwork in the alleyway would suggest.

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