Lights, Camera, Action - Critique!

Hey there, Parker here.  Let’s talk television and film.

I was watching Law & Order yesterday when it occurred to me that I've been watching this show (and spinoffs) for more than half of my life.  Briscoe was my favorite Sr. detective.  Jr. detectives Logan, Curtis and Green shined with Briscoe in the lead. Lt. Van Buren took no prisoners.

My favorite cast of Law & Order

Ben Stone, Jack McCoy and Michael Cutter all made excellent executive DA's but Adam Schiff was the best DA in the show's history.  No one came close to Assistant DA's Clair and Abbie, except perhaps Paul.

I talk in terms of characters and not actors.  This is because I enjoy when actors play their parts so well they became the character.  The talent of a tv show’s writers appear when actors are true to their craft - acting.

Some tv actors are brilliantly gifted like Vincent D'onofrio, Jerry Orbach, Sam Waterson, Jesse Martin, S. Epatha Merkerson, etc.  Some major motion film actors are equally talented.

"It's Hard Out There for a Pimp" deserved that Oscar

Taraji P. Henson is one of my favorite ladies in the business.  Before The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, she brought Shug to life in Hustle & Flow.  Shug had me sweating, feeling bloated and accepting that was all the good this world would give as she sang into the microphone in that makeshift studio.  Taraji took a backseat while Shug performed on-screen.  Yvette was as real a person could be in Baby Boy because of Henson's talent.

Good acting.

And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next.

Maximus Decimus Meridius was commander of the armies of the north, general of the felix legions and loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelies.  You shared his pain upon kneeling at the foot of his murdered son and wife.  You held your breath when his hand waved upon the wheat in the field and saw his family in death.  Then long after the credits rolled, almost as long as it took for the Academy Awards to announce the nominees, you paired Gladiator with Russell Crowe.

Very good acting.

Stanley Tucci can wear anything and look good!

Meryl Streep is the greatest actress ever.  As famous as she is, her talent is such that Julia Child was as lovable on-screen has her dishes were delicious to watch.  Miranda Priestly was the quintessential b!tch whose wardrobe, shoes and purses caused me to drool.  Even Mary Fisher, entitled as she was, had me on her side as she whipped those kids into shape and reclaimed her life.  Meryl Streep plays her role so well that you do not see Streep, only the character during the movie.

Great acting.

beauty. song bird. can't act.

Everyone mentioned above are the cream of the crop in show business.

On the flip side, there are famous people who star in movies who cannot overcome their name.  Let's play a game, I name the movie and star, you name the character:

• Lindsay Lohan in Georgia Rule
• Beyonce in Dream Girls
• Beyonce in Cadillac Records (hint: she portrayed a famous living person)
• Madonna in Swept Away
• J-Lo in Maid in Manhattan
• J-Lo in The Wedding Planner
• J-Lo in any movie she's made
• Brad Pitt in any movie after 1995 with the exception of Fight Club

Remember "The Parent Trap"?

You see where I'm going.  Their names are too big for the big screen.  No matter how hard she tries, you only see Beyonce, not Dina or Etta James.  You recall Madonna, not Amber, rolling around on the beach.  Marisa, Mary, Charlie, Gertrude, Ricki, Slim or Sharon might as well have all been named "J-Lo" because that's who you saw.  Linsday was Rachel but she didn't have a chance in hell of escaping her fame while filming Georgia Rule despite the fact that she can really act.

Even Brad Pitt, who is very talented, was Brad Pitt in all of his post-1995 movies except as Tyler Durden in Fight Club.

best.  movie.  ever.

You take the good; you take the bad when it comes to movies and television.  But you stick with what you love.  For me, that is Law & Order for nearly 20 years.  The characters are real, the actors are great and the storylines are riveting.

Well folks, that's my cue to take five.

Best,
Parker

Parker's Thoughts: Social Media and Your Personal Brand Risks

Hi there, it's Parker here.  This has been on my mind lately so I have to say something.  Often you hear stories of a person who accidentally leaves the speaker phone unmuted and speaks his true feelings about the boss aloud for the entire group to hear.  Or someone who gossips about another in the restroom, not knowing said person is in the next stall.  Embarrassing right?  Well people, that's called risk.


You open your mouth, you take a risk that your words will come back to haunt you.


Does that mean you should stop talking, sew your mouth shut or rip out a vocal cord?  Well, maybe (don't get offensive, some of you should consider those options).  But why do that when your instant message, tweet, facebook status update or 4-square check-in could be just as incriminating?


Social media allows you to broadcast your every thought, your every whim, to a world-wide audience in real-time.  Your forum comments and blog posts get collected in search engines and displayed in search results.  If you're a celebrity, your tweets are often screen-captured and that image is saved for later reference.  Take it from me, 7 years later and my rant about Beyonce still comes up!


Just like you can't unspeak those disparaging remarks about your boss, you can't always un-tweet the 140 character text about your night filled with binge-drinking and debauchery that lead to you calling your boss requesting time off to care for your ailing family-member (the hangover).  Either way, your boss finds out the truth.


If your personal marketing strategy involves a venture into online social media, understand that every keystroke and finger tap is contributing to your personal brand.  For better or for worse.  


Here are some options:

• Lose the brand equity you've spent years cultivating and start all over with a new online identity. (no!)
  
• Split your energy in half, worrisomely manage two completely separate personal and professional online identities, and never the twain shall meet. (pffft!)
  
• Treat risk management and social media as a high priority and develop a zero tolerance policy. (yes!)

The choice is simple.


Best, 
Parker