tuckergurl

What A Week!

This image of Beth is just an example of the week that we have had. The broadcast was last night and it was pretty exciting. I am really tired and have been having a real mixed bag of emotions around all of this. More to come ...

Oh, one more thing. I know that a lot of different people are reading and responding to my blog, especially because of the broadcast. That's fine. All I can say is that we were really trying to make a film that dealt with some difficult issues. The fact that our film got to such a large audience and is creating such a dialogue around issues surrounding the criminal justice system is great for me. If you want to comment directly about the film, you should log onto the website and post some comments on our blog. Thanks!

Deadline in the New York Times

Check out this article about Deadline in The New York Times in the Arts and Leisure section. Much more to say later!

The Glow of Obama

At the Key Food on Flatbush in Park Slope, I raced through the aisles for some Newman’s Own Dressing and my fancy $1 gourmet oatmeal cookies that I have on hard days. I have a half an hour before the DNC starts and I know I am cutting it close.

Suddenly I run right into a tall, cute guy in a suit. I apologize and pick up cookies from the grocery store floor. Looking up I see Bill, (OK, that not his name but I don’t want all my business out there.) a guy I know from my high school days. He smiles at me. Tells me I look good and I’m flattered. These days, I take compliments when I can get them. He looks good. Really good. He works far away and when I ask why he doesn’t move he pauses and says, “It’s hard being a single guy out there. I’d rather stay here.” I thought he was still living with his ex. We both smile and it’s nice but I JUST CAN’T CONCENTRATE.

I take a cursory glace at my cellphone. It’s 8:45 and I can’t remember whether Barack is on at 9 or 10! Bill begins to ask me about myself, my job, when I moved back to Brooklyn when finally, I just look him in the eye and say, “I’ve gotta be honest with you. I really have to get home to watch the DNC. I’ve been looking forward to it all week. Barack Obama is going to speak and ...” “Who?,” he replies. “You should just check it out.” He looks at me strangely. Maybe I was that strange manic way I get when I’m excited. Maybe he’s never heard someone say they’ve gotta get home for the DNC. Whatever the case, I had him my card and dash off.

I might never hear from him and when I’m home just me, my laptop, a Netflix DVD and a cider, I might regret last night. But not now.

Barack means blessing and I have to say that that speech was one for me. Not because I am one of the many women who watched his speech, mouth open. (Look back at that footage and you will every woman had her mouth open. I’m just making an observation.) I feel like he was speaking to me as an African American who has been looking for a leader. And these days it’s just been bleek!

When he mentioned all of the black youth who were seen as "acting white" when they were reading a book, my roomate said, “Yeah that was me.” And it was me too. By including that bit, he knew who he was reaching. Hearing that at the DNC is unheard of. It is the kind of thing that got my non-voting room mater excited about the possibility of a black president. “I didn’t think anyone even had a chance at that.”

The pink elephant of the DNC is Bush and Obama got his dig in when he mentioned a long list of promises that Kerry would make to the American people that “that our vote will be counted most of the time”. Obama targeted Kerry’s experience as an officer in his ability to be a good leader and commented that Kerry would put people into combat, making it clear to the more conservative voters that Kerry is not afraid of war. He’ll just do it right.

Baraka, like all of the speakers, were all about endorsing Kerry and his war angle was a clever one. He reiterated that Kerry would never send young men and women into harm's way "without enough troops to win the war, secure the peace and earn the respect of the world."

"We have real enemies in the world. These enemies must be found. They must be pursued and they must be defeated. John Kerry knows this," Obama said.

I could give you a blow-by-blow but am too caught up in the rapture to really do it justice. (And too busy.) I will say that my phone rang off the hook after it from friends and family members asking me who the hell that guy was and why hadn’t they heard of him sooner. (You can check out a longish blog entry I wrote about the greatness of Obama months ago.) So, if you missed his speech, read it or watch it here and comment freely on my blog.

John Kerry's Voice

I have a debate with my friend, Lauren, that I have never heard the sound of John Kerry’s voice. She thinks it’s impossible but I am sure of it. I didn’t watch the primary debates because it was like a hundred people (ok, 8 but it felt that way) and I see elections like basketball seasons. I don’t start watching until the playoffs. Tonight will be interesting for me.

An Obama Preview

My week has been and continues to be miserable. My licensed professional told me to try to keep a positive outlook but with my internet down for the broadcast of our film and a crazy man sitting across from me at a small table at Starbucks, it's kind of hard. The only real light in the tunnel is that my man, Barack Obama, will be speaking at the DNC today. I could not go to the DNC with my crazy schedule but David said that his blogger friend is not having a great time which sadly brings me some comfort. People say I wouldn't have even gotten to meet Obama. I say they don't know what I'm capable of.

For a sneak peek at Obama's speech, check out his blog at 4pm today. He emailed me personally. (OK, he didn't but getting an email that looks like it's from him is always a nice thing.)

Two Flicks

Teasing my friend about not having a television messed with my karma and I too was in that same situation this weekend. (Long story.) I had my DVD player and watched many movies that I will review on my sidebar but I also went to see a few and must say the following:

Maria Full of Grace - This is one of those movies that you just feel like you're supposed to love and though you admire it, for some reason you can't really get into it. I mean, it was good. I was engrossed at points but not blown away. I probably wouldn't have had such high expectations if I hadn't waited on line for TWO HOURS to see it in January at The Sundance Film Festival and then not get in. It was a total phenomena there. I did get into The Woodsman and when that comes out, run don't walk. Kevin Bacon is going to get major props.

The Bourne Supremancy - I don't know if you all know how much I love The Bourne Identity. I probably watch some part of it once a week. It has everything. Matt Damon looking hot (in black sweaters, my strange weakness), a love story that isn't too corny, great car chases, a great script ... I could go on but you're either with me here or you're not. I think I just love Jason Bourne's character and his overall plight and that is why the sequel just rocks so hard. The new director (I don't know his name but he's no Doug Liman) is a bit too into the "handheld shot as suspense builder" technique for me but I had a great time. God I hope they make a third one!

:)

I put the smiley face into my first email today and I have to say, it's not for me.

Bush Wants My Vote Bad

He refused to speak to the NAACP because they were too political. (OK, he didn't say that but we know that's the case.) But he did speak to the National Urban League. I am sure because this is an organization of black folks with cash. His tactics are fascinating. Telling black voters that Democrats are taking their vote for granted is smart. Divide and conquer. Still, he makes no real points or promises. CBS has a good article about it. Let me know what you think.

A Good Article For The Blogger In You

It is raining and our Verizon line is down in our office days before our website is supposed to launch. I am sitting in Starbucks with a Chai realizing that asking for a laptop was the smartest thing I ever did. Ask for what you want in this life. You just might get it.

Here is a good article from A List Apart about blogging. We are going to have a blog as a portion of our Deadline website and I gave it to our multiple bloggers. I think it has a lot of helpful hints not just for bloggers but for writers everywhere.

HOST A DEADLINE VIEWING PARTY -- PLEASE!

I try not to mix business with pleasure but am not really succeeding today. I have a personal plea, a cry from deep within our office.

We are trying to organize viewing parties ala what MoveOn does and have about a third of the resources they do. Our goals is a small one, to have 100 viewing parties across the country. Specifically, we want to do screenings in states with the death penalty.

For what you may ask. Well, for all who don't know me personally or who skim my blog, I am Associate Producer and now Outreach Director for a film, Deadline. The film is about Republican Governor George Ryan who in 2003 granted blanket clemency to all 167 people on death row in Illinois, commuting their sentences to life without parole. The film chronicles a decision making process but really uses what happened in Illinois as a window into the larger issue of the effectiveness of the criminal justice system in the US. Deadline premiered at Sundance and by some miracle got picked up by NBC and will be broadcast on Friday, July 30th at 8pm as a special two hour Dateline. The fact that the film is going to show on NBC is a BIG deal.

I know with the HUGE success of Fahrenheit 911 that folks think that documentaries getting large audiences is not that unusual but keep in mind that the two largest grossing docs are Fahrenheit 911 and Bowling for Columbine. What do those two films have in common? I think we know. Most documentaries languish in community screening land which is not a horrendous thing but isn't always what you make them for. And if you aren't affiliated with Moveon nowadays, you are really on your own.

With our broadcast, we have an opportunity to reach a large and diverse audience which is something that art houses and public television broadcasts can not supply. It is an important film because people talk about things that honestly people don't talk about in the media.

So, back to my plea. Please, please, please host a viewing party the night of the broadcast. Not just because we want people to watch the broadcast. I mean, honestly, 6 million people watch Dateline on a Friday night (which is bizarre but god bless em) but really because with our handy dandy discussion gude, you can facilitate discussions with your friends and family about some big issues. And remember that two or three people is still a party. It doesn't have to be a huge beer and pretzels affair!

You can just email the form below to [email protected] (that is where Beth, my lovely and overworked right hand gal is tracking the viewing parties) and she will give you all the information you need.

------------------
Your Event Details

* = required

* Date: Friday, July 30

* Time: 8pm Channel: NBC, Dateline

* Event name:

* Address/Location:

* City, State, Zip:

Phone at venue:
(if available)
 
* Max number
of attendees:
 
* Enter a further description of the event:

Give directions to the location, if necessary--or a URL that
gives directions (you can edit this later):

Event is public: (Please let us know if you want your event
to be public or private. If your event is public it will be
posted on deadlinethemovie.com and others will be able to
locate and sign up for your event.)

As the coordinator/host of the event you will be responsible for the following:

• Finding an appropriate venue (aka your crib) to host the event as well as covering all event costs.
• Arranging that all the necessary materials are provided for the event.
• Contacting and communicating with the people who participate in your event.
• Filing a quick post-meeting report.