San Antonio

“Celebrate America”: It’s That Time Again

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Celebrate AmericaFor the last several years (I think I came on in 2008- is that right, Nikki?), I’ve been privileged to be part of the team that brings the Celebrate America writing program to San Antonio. It’s sponsored nationally by the American Immigration Council, and facilitated locally by the law firm De Mott, McChesney, Curtright & Armendariz (or DMCA), and I’ve helped spread the word to teachers, students, parents, and the media.

It’s been a great experience for me. I’ve learned a lot – about history, about people, and even about myself and my writing.

So you probably have an idea of what’s next… Continue reading →

The Hope of Art

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The world is full of possibilities.

If your experience with that truth is anything like mine, then it’s a lesson we all learn. And forget. And relearn. But I have to believe it’s worth the constant trying.

That truth is so much at the heart of what Monarch Academy is about. And it’s at the heart of the school’s latest [ad]venture.
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24 Hours In The Life And Learning Curve Of A New Producer

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Friday, 8:43pm…

I’m at my desk, notes in hand, going over my shot list, making sure I have everything I need – or at least a way to find it – for tomorrow.
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Places To Be

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One of the great marvels of films like The Fugitive or The Taking of Pelham One Two Three is their incredible sense of place.  It’s a testament to the talent of the filmmakers involved that Chicago and New York become characters in their own rights; as I’d written of Pelham,

There’s a quality more felt than seen about the film, a sense that what happens in it could only happen in this city, at this time, with these people.  And the film’s so much stronger for it.

This is one of the things I love about the San Antonio Neighborhood Film Project (the brainchild of the city’s Office of Cultural Affairs).  It’s a chance for local filmmakers to bring one of their favorite characters to life onscreen.  And it’s a chance for local filmgoers to look at their hometown in whole new lights.  So I was looking forward to being a part of last night’s screenings. Continue reading →