Indie Film

I had a wonderful conversation with John Alan Simon and Elizabeth Karr, the director and producer of the brave, new indie RADIO FREE ALBEMOUTH. If you're a fan of sci-fi master Phillip K. Dick and/or indie film, you can join their 'creative conspiracy' to distribute their acclaimed adaptation. The Kickstarter campaign runs until July 2.

Drive safe. Play nice. Dream big.

And reach out to the show @abwrites

aba

Radio Return

My myriad adventures: writing books, coaching, teaching and all the promotion they entail has forced me to neglect my beloved Radio Graffiti blog.

I will try to use this outlet to promote my new Internet radio show. For those who have found me on the 'airwaves' again, I am grateful and delighted to be back in my natural habitat. Radio has always been a passion and being behind the mic is a good fit. Just like riding a bicycle

The show weaves together a mosaic of notable and emerging voices in the arts, pop culture, personal growth and justice,. The focus is storytelling, and  the  inspiration and influences that fuel a creative life. We mix in cultural commentary, too,. Yeah, I can't help myself. And some of the most popular shows have been those dealing with true crime.

I've already featured an impressive array of guests including authors  Tania Grossinger, Eliot Tibor, Jessica Handler and Bill Deane; true crime experts Dr. Daniela Schreier and David Diamond; filmmakers Lora Lee Ecobelli and John Alan Simon; theatre pros Mike Selkirk and Mary Catherine Wilson; and pop culture gurus Chris Lucas and Kristen Burtt.

I always ask for listener input: so if you have a compelling story to tell, feel free to query me. the easiest way is through my website . We're always looking for authors, filmmakers, theatre folks, musicians, social commentators, etc. We also have Coffee Klatch editions, where we feature our free flow pop culture convo. So if you're a loquacious free thinker who likes to dish TV, movies, hot topics in the news, be in touch and we'll talk.

It's been great to hear from so many 'old' fans. Your kind words of encouragement. mean so much.

Please join us: The Amy Beth Arkawy Show  live Fridays @ 1 PM ( EST) and Mondays  at Noon (EST). Or anytime on demand. that's the beauty of the Internet podcasts. you can listen anytime. The only drawback: we don't get as many calls as I'd like. As my hearty radio irregulars know: I love interacting live on the radio with listeners. So if you get a chance, please call in and join the conversation.

We've just begun. Again. So stay tuned!

Drive safe. Play nice. Dream big.

aba

Cliffhanger Fatigue

As we get set to shelve 2012 blame the lazy Mayan elves and their gullible jolly boss for your new Chia Pet or Clapper. But blame the pending coal in your shrinking bank balance on Boehner and the tone deaf GOP Congressional brigade.

If the Fiscal Follies extend into 2013, the shrill show will get real old, real fast. It's time for the people stand up. Obama won re-election, guys. Get your job done already. Or maybe let's talk about freezing Congressional salaries and overhauling your bennies before you even think about touching so-called "lock box" entitlements.

If that doesn't bring it home for the House nothing--short of being tossed out of office--will.

Here's to a most merry and lucky 2013!

Drive safe. Play nice Think peace.

aba

Two Hitchcocks

Alfred Hitchcock never won an Oscar. I thought, after all the Awards' Season popcorn dust settled the master of suspense would achieve a little posthumous payback in the guise of Anthony Hopkins' recognition. But the two time Oscar winner, who plays Hitch with honey-glazed ham homage in the uneven, but ultimately delicious "Hitchcock," has so far been shut out of the biggies ( Globes, SAGs).



Helen Mirren, who glams up Hitchcock's long suffering wife and creative collaborator Alma Reville, has so far, fetched all the glory with a slew of noms. And, in many ways, the film is a tribute to Alma's contributions to the classic film making operation. The film, which focuses on the Hitchcocks' relationship during the making of "Psycho" meanders a bit, particularly when it shows Hitch in imaginary counseling sessions with Ed Gein( Norman Bates' real-life inspiration) as therapist. Still it's a compelling, witty, often generous portrait of both Hitchcock and his wife. And, dare I say, far more entertaining than the much ballyhooed, Oscar-bound "Lincoln."


But Hitch may still get his due this season. Toby Jones, the diminutive British actor, rode the balcony a few years ago when his turn as Truman Capote took a back seat to Phillip Seymour Hoffman's portrait largely because "Capote" came out a year before the lighter "Infamous" ( now a cult fave; if you haven't seen it, it's a must add for your DVD list) hit the big screen. This year, Jones, who stars as Hitch in the smaller and far creepier "The Girl," HBO's brilliant but very dark exploration into Hitchcock's psyche as seen through his obsession with Tippi Hedren during the making of "The Birds," has scored noms from both the Globes and Screen Actors' Guild.


And if that's not enough Hitchcock, A&E is set to run a series called "Bates Motel" billed as a prequel to "Psycho." The master of suspense would surely find all this renewed fascination very fascinating.

Drive safe. Play nice. Think peace.

aba

Carole King's Crown

Music has always had the power to heal, to soothe, to bring people together. So, after last week's devastating news, I am happy to celebrate some truly good news about an inspired and inspiring artist.

Carole King will be the 2013 recipient the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. She will be the first woman to enjoy the much deserved and lauded recognition, and only the third composer, following behind the pioneering Pauls, Simon and McCartney respectively.

When I was nine, ten years old, I couldn't resist the lure of my older sister's record collection. The Beatles, James Taylor, Carly Simon, Jim Croce, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Patti Smith, all held my passport to the mysterious and forbidden teenage world. I'd find out about Elton John, Blondie, The Ramones, Talking Heads, The Smiths, and Elvis Costello a bit later on during my precocious adventures in Marconi's box.

But Carole King's "Tapestry" album was one of my sister's perennials. The earth moved us through that seminal album over and over. Long before I truly understood the heartbreaking pathos behind 'Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? and "It's Too Late." the yearning in "Way Over Yonder" or "So Far Away."

The irony of "Smackwater Jack's" jaunty tune eluded my innocent imagination, and for obvious reasons, now grips my psyche at this writing.

It would be a while before I learned about King's first fame as a (very) young Brill Building scribe, penning hits for a slew of groups from The Shirelles to The Monkees.

Carole King's music has become indelibly etched into the pop cultural landscape. The celebration of her musical canon will give us another chance to revel in its powers.

Bravo, Carole King! And congratulations.

Drive Safe. Play nice. Think peace.

aba

A Call For Action & Compassion

The tragic Sandy Hook Elementary massacre has broken America's national heart. The loss of 28 people, 20 of them innocent six and seven year old children, is an unimaginable loss. Add the festive patina of the December Holiday season and we have a perfect storm of paralyzing emotions.

As the days, weeks, months pass, we'll also have an opportunity for reflection and action. Mostly action. President Obama eloquently called for "meaningful action," and now is his time to finally make good on that promise. We must ban all assault weapons. And do it as swiftly as possible. Obama has no re-election to worry about, no more need to cower to the power of the NRA. The public must put pressure on the President and Congress. Petitions are floating through the social media matrix. Sign one. Or six. Call your reps. Join the Brady Organization or other like-minded gun control groups.

Beyond that, we must examine the value of mental health services. Long the neglected step-child of the medical community, and often eschewed by insurance plans, psychiatric treatment must be included in insurance coverage. Mental health professionals educators, parents, neighbors, we must all reach out to those at risk. Let's be clear: not all "bright but troubled loners" are human tinderboxes. But we must listen and look for signs of isolation and alienation. Reach out before it's too late.

Love, prayers and compassion for all affected by gun violence. Compassion, too, for all who feel isolated, alienated and abandoned. There is a help out here. There is a positive place for you in this world. Please reach out for that helping hand. It will embrace you.


Drive safe. Play nice. Think peace.

aba

Whine Country, U.S.A.

Sour grapes make the best whine! Mitt Romney, in his campaign autopsy phone tour to donors attributes Obama's victory to giving away stuff. You know goodies like health care, immigration reform and college loans. Different from the big time bennies like 13 % ( or lower) tax rates, shelters and off-shore incentives Romney and his ilk in the one percent have been feasting on for decades. Repubs,who are hoping to revive the GOP brand, essentially threw what was left of the Romney legacy under the big old limo out of town. Still, running mate Paul Ryan, dumb-founded over the big loss, clings to the notion that the campaign didn't "lose on issues." instead, the Wisconsin wonk insists, Obama's win was thanks to "the urban turn-out." Translation: dang, that voter suppression thing didn't turn out so well. Meanwhile, doing his part to sully the grand old pouters even more, John McCain is busy trying to whip the tragedy in Benghazi into a scandal beyond Watergate proportion. He's so hellbent on sticking it to Obama ( by way of U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice) that he actually missed a briefing on the incident so he could kvetch about it on TV. Then he complained about scheduling snafus. Whine on, boys. Whine on. We'll just drink it all in. Drive safe. Play nice. Think peace. aba