Film and TV may not always do the best job or be the best way to influence public behavior. Although, when writers, directors and actors get real, the impact is as rapid, prolific and positive as any method of public…
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For fans of filmmaker Charlie Kaufman who’ve been intrigued over the years by the bizarro worlds of “Being John Malkovich,” “Adaptation,” “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” and a dozen other inventive cinematic experiences, his expansive debut novel Antkind is…
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By Cheryl Brown and Stuart Greenbaum Does Hollywood lead or follow when it comes to important social causes? Judging by recent concerns -- of equality, equity and diversity -- it mostly follows. The bottom line, that is: the money, the…
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By Stuart Greenbaum and Kathryn Cherkas Who better to judge whether art accurately imitates life than those with plenty of experience? So, when Hollywood attempts to fictionalize aging-related storylines, it would make sense -- practically and experientially -- for creative…
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By Stuart Greenbaum and Kathryn Cherkas What happens when two-dozen adult day center participants, ages 68-98, come together to critique a feature film -- “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,” for instance? Well … a handful walked out mid-screening, some fell…
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By Stuart Greenbaum Remember when Harold said to Maude: “A lot of people enjoy being dead. But they are not dead, really. They’re just backing away from life. Reach out. Take a chance …” The science of artful communication has…
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Now that Hollywood appears to have wised up to the Asian market, could the critical acclaim and box-office success of “Crazy Rich Asians” inspire the industry to reconsider its treatment of other under- and misrepresented populations? It’s time -- for…
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What’s new in Hollywood? Not much you might think by watching year after year of wife-killer murder mysteries; rogue surgeons with god-complexes; rom-coms with could-be couples; singing and dancing competitions with hard-luck contestants; and reality series with rotating stars. The…
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Hollywood is full of masterful manipulators, the behind-the-scenes operatives who are determined to control our hearts and minds and actions. Their battlefields are TV, film and streaming platforms, where they challenge viewers to believe the worlds they create, using nothing…
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Older adults are like other natural resources. We use them, use them up -- with little or no regard for their value beyond the present. Fortunately, unlike the rest, older adults are the only natural resource to naturally replenish and,…
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