IT’S AN HONOR JUST TO BE NOMINATED! IT’S AN HONOR JUST TO BE NOMINATED… …twice! Thanks to those of you who nominated Church of the Masses in the category for “Best Blog By a Woman” (AKA “Amy Welborn’s Award”) and, then, in the new category “Best Social Commentary”. Go here to vote! Remember Blogmericans, voting is your right and your responsibility! Come on – show us you care! Read more

PATRON OF THE ARTS? I knew Catholic Exchange was running one of my columns when I opened my email and found ten messages with “Patron of the Arts” in the subject line. This column was part of a series I wrote on the Church and the arts for the Register, and which has gotten a lot of feedback. Judging by all the poor sheep bleating agreement, it’s clear the piece touched a nerve. Here’s a snip… It has to be... Read more

PLEASE PRAY WITH US Tonight, Act One is having a blessing ceremony at our new offices. Together with our local friends, alumni, faculty, mentors and Board members, we will take time to thank God for bringing this weird little program to this new level (and I mean more than our higher altitude here under the Hollywood sign…). We will also ask Jesus to come and make His home among us. That this new place will be a source of only... Read more

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Act One: Writing for Hollywood Awards $40,000 Annual Screenwriting Fellowship Hollywood, CA – February 1, 2005 – Act One: Writing for Hollywood, a five year-old program training and encouraging faith-friendly screenwriters is proud to announce Haynes Brooke as the first recipient of the Bishop Norman McFarland Writing Fellowship. The Executive Director of Act One, Barbara Nicolosi explains that “the goal of the Fellowship is to produce a commercial film or television project of great merit and worth.... Read more

DE JA WHO? HMMMM…. Michael Medved’s take on the Oscar noms. I found this passage shockingly novel and well-conceived: …in 2005, top nominations went to films that went out of their way to assault or insult the sensibilities of most believers. Both Million Dollar Baby (nominated for seven awards, including best picture, best director, best actor and best actress) and The Sea Inside (nominated for best foreign-language film) portray assisted suicide as an explicitly and unequivocally “heroic” choice. Their success... Read more

“POINT WELL-TAKEN” Filmmaker, Act One faculty member, and friend Charles Carner has a film coming out on DVD in March. I’ve met many people in this industry. If life in Hollywood can be compared to a big red-carpet reception with lots of people streaming by, making impressions, Charlie stands out on the side of the room reserved for good men. He is that very rare combination of believers who really loves this industry and who really loves God – the... Read more

“AND THEIR HEARTS BURNED WITHIN THEM…” Amy Welborn is launching a very interesting weekly feature over at Open Book. She’s looking to take the temperature of liturgical oratory in the Church, by asking her readers to report on the preaching they heard at Mass the day before. I think this is laudably ambitious…and will probably be downright depressing. I remember, as a child, my Mother would, every now and then, ask us in the car on the way home from... Read more

EMILY MONDAY 126 To fight aloud, is very brave — But gallanter, I know Who charge within the bosom The Cavalry of Woe — Who win, and nations do not see — Who fall — and none observe — Whose dying eyes, no Country Regards with patriot love — We trust, in plumed procession For such, the Angels go — Rank after Rank, with even feet — And Uniforms of Snow. Read more

. Actually, that’s kind of young for a Nicolosi-Couture, such as I am. The women in my family tend to live for ever…They also tend to really, really flip out in their late forties. So, that’s something to look forward to…. It also means that this year I will turn officially middle-aged. Good, I guess. I spent most of the first half of my life not being taken seriously enough because I was too young to speak with any authority.... Read more

IT’S ALL THE RAGE We have just unveiled a revamped Act One, Inc. website. The idea was to give the site a more corporate look to reflect our new status as a separate 501(c)3, and also to be more attractive to potential students, faculty and donors to our new Act One Executive Program. The links are still being uploaded, but it’s basically there. Whaddya think? Read more