WHAT HE SAID Just finished watching the hour-long prayer service that was W’s second inauguration. Wow, talk about not bowing to the sniping critics who hate you bringing your faith into everything! What a brave man. And – have to say it – what a difference from Clinton’s inaugurations – especially the first one, which was such an unadulterated celebration of himself. Maybe it was becase he had a boatload of Hollywood folks orchestrtaing the events, but they seemed much... Read more

WITH FRIENDS LIKE FRANKIE AP REDSVILLE, MISSISSIPPI After several years of obscurity, a figure aspiring to success in the seedy world of sweaty L.A. gyms and human cock-fights, has emerged from an unknown corner to set the boxing world reeling with his knockout new book, “Let’s Just Kill All the Cripples.” Frankie Dunn, by some counts a talented manager, had a few close bouts with success in boxers like Scrap Iron Dupuis and Maggie Fitzgerald. Unfortunately, both boxers ended up... Read more

SUSPEND YOUR DISBELIEF Friend, award-winning author, attorney and Act One Board of Directors member, James Scott Bell has started blogging. Jim’s a great guy (….even if he doesn’t respond to mentions of Giant with the appropriate awe-filled trembling) and has an encyclopedic knowledge of classic Hollywood cinema. Jim is a welcome addition to the blogosphere. Check his place out here. Read more

ACT ONE’S NEW OFFICES 2690 Beechwood Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90068 (Just down the hill from the Hollywood Sign) Read more

A close-up Read more

EMILY MONDAY 1523 We never know we go when we are going — We jest and shut the Door — Fate — following — behind us bolts it — And we accost no more — Read more

DEFINITELY FIND NEVERLAND Thank God for Finding Neverland! After spending the last couple of months at the theater feeling mostly like a sewer inspector, here, at last, is a beautifully written, produced and acted movie, that leaves you better as a human being. I admit I was slow to see the film because of the story details I had heard about it, and well, I just didn’t trust Miramax to tell this kind of story. Basically, the story is based... Read more

JUST ANOTHER FEEL GOOD “BETTER DEAD THAN DISABLED” MOVIE I’ll be posting my own review of Million Dollar Baby soon. (Does anybody else just hate that title? It feels like the movie should be one of those 1960’s family comedies…instead of, you know, a pro-euthanasia female boxing drama…) But here’s an interesting review from a disabled writer. And here I thought Clint Eastwood just had an irrational prejudice against the Catholic Church. Turns out his lip also curls at people... Read more

EMILY MONDAY In honor of the rain drenching us all here in So Cal… 1573 There came a Wind like a Bugle — It quivered through the Grass And a Green Chill upon the Heat So ominous did pass We barred the Windows and the Doors As from an Emerald Ghost — The Doom’s electric Moccasin That very instant passed — On a strange Mob of panting Trees And Fences fled away And Rivers where the Houses ran Those looked... Read more

ACT ONE: WRITING PROGRAM – APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN! Act One is now accepting applications for this July’s Hollywood writing program. In support of application recruitment, we have snazzy 2005 program brochures ready to be distributed. (Our new graphic artists, Jason, is the ultra-talented guy who also designed the artwork for The Passion of the Christ) We need your help to get the brochures out to prospective Act One writers. If you can pass these out at a college or university,... Read more