Due to some untimely electrical outages (I’m sure one or two of you understand), we had to delay the “airing” the content from the panel on race held a few weeks ago. We should have everything uploaded for your viewing by days end.

Thank you for your patience.

ILOC Staff

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Whats good party people? As you are probably well aware we have a superstar in our neighborhood by the name of Zastrow Simms. The film that is based upon his friendship with Pip Moyer and how the two of them stopped Annapolis from burning in the wake of MLK’s assasination was selected to be a part of the American Black Film Festival in Hollywood California. We caught up with the producers of the film Victoria Bruce, Karin Hayes, and Jancie Hayes-Williams for a few minutes to get a scope of what went down out of town!

ILOC = I Live On Clay
PAZ = Pip and Zastrow producers

ILOC: What is it like at the festival? Are the films all shown in one theatre? How many different films were shown?

PAZ: The ABFF was completely off the hook as film festivals go. Every night there were star-studded parties, glamourous babes in evening gowns (producers included), and red carpet events that Zastrow was made for. The first night was a gala, opening night party at the Writers Guild of America Theater. Guests climbed over each other for Apple martinis (except Zastrow, of course who drank his usual coca cola). We hobnobbed with Jeff Friday, the director of the festival, John Singleton sat behind me and kept whispering in my ear…And of course, none of us will ever forget when Halle Berry purposefully tripped Zastrow as he strolled into the theater just to get his attention!

We were one of 24 films in the festival chosen from 400 entries. All of the films screened at the Beverly Hills Mann Theaters. Nice venue and Zastrow could pick up cologne samples at Nordstrom on the way up to the screenings.

ILOC: How was “Pip and Zastrow” received?

PAZ: We heard the buzz all over the festival…”Wow, we heard that film is GREAT!” people would say as we passed out flyers and Pip & Zastrow propaganda down Beverly Blvd. in Beverly Hills where the festival took place. By the second day, everyone knew who Zastrow was, and the film was getting great reviews. Audience members from all over the United States were really touched by the different layers in the film. One audience member in our first screening gave us a great compliment. “A magnificent piece of documentary filmmaking,” he said. The theater was a little to dark to see who it was, but I could have sworn it was Denzel…

ILOC: What is the hope that most have in showing films at festivals like these? What is the goal?

PAZ: Many times, filmmakers go to these festivals in order to get the attention of distributors. For Pip & Zastrow, we’ve already got such a buzz going that we’ve been offered a broadcast by Maryland Public Television and we’re also talking to a distributor who works on getting films streamed on the internet. Our main goal is to get the film into as many hearts and minds as possible, and also get a buzz going so that eventually, we’ll turn this documentary into a feature hollywood film.

ILOC: Can you confirm the rumor that Halle Berry asked out Zastrow on a date?

PAZ: I don’t want to make Tina Turner jealous.

ILOC: What is the next stop for “Pip and Zastrow” on the festival circuit?

PAZ: We’re headed to Birmingham Alabama for a festival at the end of september. It’s a great honor because we’ve been asked to screen Pip & Zastrow at the Civil Rights Institute. Very very cool. Zastrow will accompany us there, but now that he’s so Hollywood, I’m not sure we can accommodate his first-class needs. He’s sooo J-Lo!

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First, again let me state that I do not reflect all of the voting decisions of Clay Street.  I reflect my own personal decision that has been made based upon my unique situation.  What follows is my thought process condensed into several paragraphs…

First, I wondered what are some credible sources to be reading or watching?  I cant seem to find anything thats not feeling like a hard earned pr campaign. I am marketing admirer…I like what they have done with Obama, his work is effortless, he glides and commands attention.  We are marketed to death by the way, yes right up to your coffin. They even have coffins with your favorite football team on it now.

I spent some time in North Dakota, so I know what chords Sarah Palin is hitting right now. Further, the county that I grew up in has a certain conservative vibe to it. In fact I would go so far to say that if I didn’t get out of that town and see what I have seen I don’t know I’d that be different.

My experience is pulling me towards Obama but, there is definitely a part of me that gets John McCain. Who will I vote for? Barack Obama.

I will vote for Barack because I think the real war ahead of us is a financial one. This is not a war that will be on the ground but, one that is going to be fought for the wallet. It all comes down to money, we know that. Do I think John McCain and his brand of thug capitalism is going to be the answer? Not at this time. He should have won in 2000. He would have been better the last 8 years then GW, no question. This time around though? Its got to be more progressive. We have to embrace our melting pot, move further along in our maturity as a nation. We are changing. Our next golden age will be defined by our ability to take the high road.

I come to the question, in a face to face conversation with people like Vladimir Putin, how would either candidate fair? Deeper though, who will best lead us in our training of our future leaders and work force? Our country is in turmoil but, not in a way that we can not climb out of…speaking with some older heads and knowing what I know about our economy and the frustrations we have overcome, I know we are in a lull. Time will heal these wounds. The hope is that we have a leader who teaches us and appoints others to carry the message honestly as to what we have done wrong. Someone who pushes us in a direction is in our long term best interests as a country.

My life is not charmed, my life has had its turning points in both directions. I have come back from all of my falls. Joe Biden said he was told growing up “get up champ, if you get knocked down, you get back up”. That is what I have done. However, there was no one telling me to do so. My support in other ways was there. I had a strong mother and involved grandparents. I had influence, positive influence that helped me make decisions more effectively as time has passed. I learned from mistakes.

Do I think that most of America has the family structure that I had, even as it was not “conservatively suggested perfect”? No, I do not. My experience on Clay Street has fortified that. Do I think more programs are the answer? No. I think we have enough programs. There is something missing though, there is some disconnect between the programs and their users. Maybe the programs suck, putting it bluntly.

Is a privatization of those entities the method we should be pursuing? My Mother is a teacher, my brother is teacher both don’t think that is the correct decision. These are people on the inside who are stating this opinion. I think we need to kill the joke that teachers are not some of the highest paid people in the United States. How come our teachers are not making what surgeons and investment bankers are pocketing? I know one reason.  They aren’t getting the same size kickbacks the previous two professions are receiving.

Wall Street is fucked up. Healthcare is fucked up. Lets be real, the institutions that we have in place do not protect Americans both financially and healthwise.

Ouch.

I was in Alaska this past Summer. I dug it. A big place with lots great views. Keep it simple stupid. A different kind of person lives there than lives in Maryland. Same as a different kind of person lives in San Diego, same holds true for Dayton, Ohio. Seen these places and met these people. Finding identical commonalities is impossible with all of them, However, there are basic rights that we all deserve for living in the wealthiest country in the world. We should have our healthcare and pension protected. A better balance should be priority in achieving. Props to Sarah Palin though, Alaska is quietly a hotbed in the global war on oil. Some of the stories that I became privy to up there about pipelines, and natural gas, and oil supply will make you take notice that there is more than just the “pain at the pump” the media has done such a good job shoving down our throats.

Our reengineering as a nation needs to be done with more education. That can be accomplished by paying teachers what a surgeon makes. If a teacher is getting the same “rip” that a hedge fund manager is seeing, things would be much different. Settle back, I am making an extreme example to make a point. We both know everything is a negoitation. Come to the table high homie.

I am dragging on a bit here no question. Its getting late. I have to run in the morning. I have deals to do. People to call. Meetings. My life. Which one of these Presidential hopefuls will make my life easier? Barack Obama. There it is, as selfish and honest as I can be, Barack Obama will make my life better, my business better, my connections stronger, and my bank account bigger.

God bless America.

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WHAT:  Potluck Dinner
WHEN:  630pm to 830pm
WHERE: The corner of Clay and West Washington Street
WHO:  Anybody!

For questions and ideas please call Timm Grins 443.857.8775

Popularity: 1% [?]