An Idea for a Super Premiere
Moore, Oklahoma will never be the same after the EF-5 tornado tore through with unfathomable destruction. But, the people and community will heal in time. They are proving to be extraordinarily resilient and they will rebuild, despite the fact the memories of this tragedy will never simply be seen in a rear-view mirror. Still, it will get better. And yet, what would probably help at this point, beyond treasure chest after treasure chest of money and comfort for the people who lost everything, including loved ones, are perhaps a few little glimmers of inspiration and help for afar.
The clean-up and rehabilitation of the town will be non-stop for years. In the midst of all that is occurring, I have a suggestion for something to take place about three-three and a half weeks from today. I propose that Warner Bros. and everybody involved (cast, crew, director, producers, marketers, studio heads, etc.) in “Man of Steel” visit Moore, Oklahoma for a weekend and help in any way possible. This would involve cleaning, building, searching, consoling and anything and everything that the town needs. In one area would be director Zack Snyder lifting heavy metal of a store with members of the community to producer Christopher Nolan helping to clean up a street unrecognizable now to families to Amy Adams and the ‘man of steel’ himself Henry Cavill moving rubble and offering comfort to families (especially children) in another area. This pattern of generosity would be widespread throughout the entire area affected by the tornado.
People helping people.
Then, on the night the highly anticipated movie was scheduled to premiere to the world, Warner Bros. would bring in a giant projection screen to a cleared field or area where everybody from Moore, Oklahoma, its many outside helpers and the actors, producers, writers, grips, executives, etc. would disperse throughout the crowd to watch on blankets and/or grandstand seats to watch “Man of Steel” for the first time anywhere in the world. There would be complimentary popcorn, drinks, food, you name it with “Man of Steel” packaging. If this weekend and movie premiere could offer the people of the tornado-ravaged community time to temporarily escape from their reality, then it would be a success.
It’s important to note that this event would not be publicized to the public before it occurs, but secretly arranged between the studio and the local government. In essence, it would be a complete surprise for the citizens of Moore, Oklahoma!
Movies are meant, in part, to offer the audience a time to escape, dream and to be inspired. Maybe what the men, women and children in this town needs is Superman. The character of Clark Kent was raised in the Midwest. In many ways, he’s the perfect superhero/savior for this community right now. This event could also give them some assurance that they are not alone and that people for all over do care well beyond the few days of initial media coverage by the networks.
To “Man of Steel” & Warner Bros.: Even if only for a day or two…even if only for a couple of hours, show the people of Moore, Oklahoma the new movie of the greatest superhero of all-time…all the while showing them what hope and spreading goodness to our fellow men, women and children looks like off the big screen.
“It’s not an ‘S.’ On my world, it means hope.”
P.S. A super big check would be a nice gesture as well! “The Clark Kent School” sounds pretty cool!
Or, just put the the Superman “S” on the front of a rebuilt school. How’s that for inspiration.
Happy Monday!
One speech with four words of pure inspiration for today, tomorrow, the next day and each day thereafter…
“The true adventurer goes forth aimless and uncalculating to meet and greet unknown fate.”
—O. Henry
“The physics is theoretical, but the fun is real”
The best television shows consistently demonstrate one commonality: the audience knows the cast is having fun and that they are actually friends off-camera. This post will examine one of these sitcoms.
As crazy as this reads, my Dad and I were actually at the taping of “The Big Bang Theory” pilot! Full disclosure: it was an amazing atmosphere, sitcom episode and, being candid, it felt like a hit from the very first scene that was shot in the waiting room where Sheldon & Leonard were waiting to make manly depos-…you get the picture. They ultimately bailed out, but this first impression of the characters was funny nonetheless.
In this first episode, the final scene comprised of the four guys and Penny driving out to dinner. Howard Wolowitz, the self-described Ladies Man, who can wish a woman “good shower” in a multitude of languages, was flirting with Penny by enticing the group to got to a karaoke bar. Wolowitz then proceeds to seductively, and humorously, serenade Penny. Penny is caught between a smile and a gentle laugh, genuinely amused by her co-star as Sheldon closes out the show with a quip about Leonard being a, “veritable Mack Daddy” in the car, directly referring to his long-shot chances of dating the beautiful girl next door. Penny then bursts into laughs from the back seat as the scene goes to black.
Comradery is special to see in any episode, let alone the pilot. Aside from the fact the first episode was great by regular standards, this quintet appeared to be onto something beyond just a pilot. This very funny show with its great characters enters Season 7 (already!?) this fall with Leonard returning to Pasadena and his girlfriend Penny from his career-changing voyage at sea with Stephen Hawking’s research team and with Raj finally able to speak to women without being intoxicated, which actually turned Amy into a bit of a drinker…this being a sips worth of red wine.
One guarantee is that if the cast is having fun, it’s very likely the audience is too.
The laughs in the upcoming seventh season are only four months away.
Jimmy's Daily Planet 