10/31/09 - Trick or Treat: The Memorial Coliseum

First up: The Rockport Film Festival NEXT Weekend: Click HERE for info

The Coliseum...A Memorial...The Swim Center...The Difference Between an Agreement to Negotiate and the End of a Negotiation...Are people mad about Brass not being 'the one' or that another one (anyone) is gone? And of course, NOW WHAT?

Earlier this week, City Council voted to end negotiations with BRASS, a business who had a plan to create a $90M Bayfront renovation complete with a hotel, an apartment, a movie theater and retail space.

The vote was 3-4 to end the negotiations. Caller article here

Council members Chris Adler, Nelda Martinez, John Marez and Mark Scott voted to end the negotiations. Council members Kevin Kieschnick, Larry Elizondo and Priscilla Leal voted against ending the negotiations.

Brent Chesney abstained from previous coliseum discussions because of his partial ownership of the IceRays

Mayor Joe Adame decided to abstain from discussions because he owns property nearby.

Mayor Adame set October 27 as the deadline for a coliseum decision shortly after he took office in May.

On October 27, the deadline, a vote was called to continue negotiations. When those negotiations ended Tuesday several things happened.

1) Chesney lifted his cone of silence and came out blazing saying that the deadline was unreasonable and that this size of deal would always have taken longer than the Oct. 27 date--that those who voted to end negotiations treated BRASS unfairly and that a mutually advantageous deal would have been struck with more time.

2) Mayor Adame, seemingly unhappy with the vote, asked for a legal opinion from former city attorney Jimmy Bray, which will say if Adame indeed has a legal conflict preventing him from voting on the issue.

3) The city has begun sharpening their knives and pitchforks and buying up all the torches in the area. Academy reports that even their citronella tiki torches have sold out for a yet to be determined future riot on city hall. This effort is being led most vocally--the guys getting the most media time--by a Facebook group called "GROW! CORPUS CHRISTI ... We support the Brass Real Estate Coliseum redevelopment!" - Find it here. In a few days they've grown from one person to just under 1700.

4) Rey Madrigal, a local veteran is getting major press in leading a petition effort to save the coliseum, is in attendance at the meeting. Remember that Joe McComb unsuccessfully led a petition effort to get the coliseum. He said in the Caller Times, "I believe that Memorial Coliseum should be restored back to its original form"

5) I've heard for the first time in all this that their may be an actual cloud on title issue for the coliseum land mandating that the land is to be used for nothing but park space IN PERPETUITY
6) Everyone begins asking what is next?

Before I go there let's talk about the current climate.

We don't know much. What we do know--Chesney's very vocal opinion and a few snippets from Mark Scott in local news outlets--needs to be put through a spin filter (as usual...no offense to those two gentlemen).

We know that an angry, frustrated, community feels that city government isn't working our city.

Consider this:

1) Very few people truly care what happens to The Memorial Coliseum...as long as SOMETHING happens. And through this correct process with a 'new' council: an RFP, public presentations, selecting a potential partner, and closed door communications, here we are again.

That we're 'here' again is the point of frustration. The coliseum isn't the issue. The issue is the inability for CC to grow, to progress, to become a place proud to live that attracts young people from elsewhere, and keeps young people here.

This city is dying. We can not keep our kids here and we can't attract young people down (speaking generally...one can always point to the few exceptions) and that declaration comes from the city's biggest optimist.

And city leaders, hear me: People aren't mad that BRASS isn't the one. They're mad because, again, another opportunity is lost.

Now we can't discount that this opportunity may not have been good for the city long or short term

So let's look at our now what options:

a) Reconsider BRASS. A winning vote member (Chris Adler, Nelda Martinez, John Marez and Mark Scott) from the decision to end negotiations has to call for a new vote and then there has to be a majority vote the other way. Chesney can't vote. Adame won't (and probably can't) vote. So will the original three that voted to continue negotiations (Kevin Kieschnick, Larry Elizondo and Priscilla Leal) still vote that way (At least a couple won't) AND will another of the 'winning' four change their vote? No.

b) Go back to the other organizations who participated in the RFP
i) namely the Swim Center

c) submit a new RFP for a whole new slew of proposals
this would satisfy Tim Lange, owner of the hockey team, who said in a Caller article today that if Brass is out he would like to make the coliseum the home of the IceRays once again. Today's Article

d) Do nothing...let it continue the building rot

e) Renovate to it's original form a la the current petition

e) Tear it down

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The Joe Now What Plan

Step One: Clear the title issue. Can you have any for profit businesses on the land? According to a document I've seen no you may not.

Step Two: ALL THE CARDS ON THE TABLE. How can anyone say they're pro BRASS or the pro BRASS deal on 10/31/09 with no facts about the closed door negotiations? Why did the four vote against continuing negotiations. We need to know. That silence when Chesney is being so vocal leads to premature distrust. Perhaps tomorrow's Caller article will shed light on the issue and perhaps that's what 'the four' are waiting on.

Step Three: Avoid the swim center

Step Four: present an alternative plan.

And here it is:

Coming Soon

Show Notes 10/10/09 - Alamo Drafthouse Coming to CC

The Alamo Drafthouse is coming to CC.

Caller article: Here

The Alamo Drafthouse and Triple Tap Ventures have announced that they are expanding the Alamo Drafthouse franchise to 7 TX cities including CC. Website: http://www.drafthouse.com/.

What is it?
Will it work?
Why or Why Not?

Alamo Drafthouse Wikipedia link: here

This allows us to discuss the current state of filmgoing in CC, elsewhere.

The Arclight in LA:

Press Release:

Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas, the nation’s oldest cinema-eatery concept showing first-run films, has recently signed an agreement to convert two existing company-run facilities into franchisee-owned properties and develop at least seven new locations throughout Texas. This announcement comes on the heels of Alamo’s most successful year in its 12-year history.

Triple Tap Ventures LLC has acquired two existing company-owned Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas in the Houston metropolitan area, which were just named “Best Movie Theater with Dinner” by the Houston Press. Triple Tap has plans to construct new properties in the Houston market as well as Amarillo, Corpus Christi, Lubbock, Midland/Odessa and San Marcos. John Martin, president and CEO of Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas, says the company is also looking to expand into the Dallas market as well as on the East and West Coasts.

The principals of Triple Tap – Norman Abdallah and Neil Billingsley-Michaelsen – bring more than 40 years of restaurant, franchise, corporate finance, management, entertainment and concept development experience between them. Abdallah is currently the CEO and president of Restaurants Unlimited Inc., a Sun Capital Partners portfolio company. Abdallah is also the co-founder of Fired Up Inc., parent of Carino’s Italian where he served as CEO for 11 years, and previously headed the worldwide franchise system for Brinker International with brands such as Chili’s Grill & Bar, Macaroni Grill and On the Border. His business partner, Billingsley-Michaelsen, brings a wealth of corporate finance and management experience covering a wide range of industries. His positions include senior executive and partner-level positions with TM Capital Corp., APS Financial Corporation and International Development Management, a real estate development and investment firm.

“Norman and Neil are the ideal Alamo franchisees and will play an integral role in the brand’s expansion,” said Martin. “Their backgrounds make them the perfect fit for this concept – they’re like a dream team, really – and we’re looking forward to welcoming them into the Alamo family.”

Abdallah said, “I have been a fan of Alamo Drafthouse for years and feel it is one of the strongest emerging brands in the unique ‘cinema eatery’ segment. Having the opportunity to partner with Neil and leverage his experience, we look forward to building Triple Tap into a solid regional entertainment management and development company.”

Austin, Texas-based Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas is the only franchised movie theater chain and the only franchise concept that offers the unique combination of theater and restaurant, with the best first-run and independent films and other one-of-a-kind special events. Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas currently has seven locations and is opening two more in the fall of 2009. For more information, visit http://www.drafthouse.com/.

Show Notes 9/26/09 - Bayfest; Fright Night Haunted House

Bayfest 2009 - Website

What's Joe's favorite ride at Bayfest, Buc Days, Etc.??

The Zipper:

Fright Night Haunted House - Website

Show Notes 9/19/09 - CAFFEINE

Caffeine - wikipedia including the chart of how much is in each product.

Jeremy drinks 954 mg of caffeine a day; Joe drinks around 600. This is too much according to Ruth Fox owner of Nutritional Weight Management here in CC. Wean yourself off gradually increasing your intake of water as you go. Like everything else, moderation is the key. One soda, one cup of coffee is fine. Click here to learn more about Nutritional Weight Management.

www.thesource361.com - This will be the SOURCE for all going on in the coastal bend. Great new website.

Show Notes 9/12/09 - Vincent Sanders, RENT, Social Media Club

Vincent Sanders's OBIT: Here

From Caller.com:

Vincent Sanders

Vincent Sanders died Sept. 9, 2009. He was 52.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Sept. 14 at Calvary First Baptist Church. Burial will be at 3 p.m. Sept. 14 in Ebbon Cemetery, Luling.

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RENT opens at Harbor Playhouse. For Tickets, click here

RENT
September 11 - October 04
7:00 PM

Jonathan Larson's Pulitzer-prize winning Broadway musical based loosely on Puccini's opera La Bohème. It follows a year in the lives of seven friends living the disappearing Bohemian lifestyle in New York's East Village. AIDS and both its physical and emotional complications pervade the lives of Roger, Mimi, Tom, and Angel; Maureen deals with her chronic infidelity through performance art; her partner, Joanne, wonders if their relationship is worth the trouble; Benjamin has sold out his Bohemian ideals in exchange for a hefty income and is on the outs with his former friends; and Mark, an aspiring filmmaker, feels like an outsider to life in general, always behind the camera recording the events but never playing a part.

- 1996 Pulitzer Prize for Drama
- 1996 Tony Award for Best Musical
- 1996 Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical: Jonathan Larson
- 1996 Tony Award for Best Original Score: Jonathan Larson

Show Dates:
September 11, 2009 – October 4, 2009
Fridays and Saturdays at 7:00 pm
Sunday matinees September 27th and October 4th at 2:00 pm

Tickets:
$16 Adults
$13 Seniors and Military
$6 Children and Students with I.D. and parental supervision
Contains mature subject matter. Children under 18 will not be permitted without parental supervision.

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Social Media Club Corpus Christi - Learn More Here

September meeting:

Tuesday, September 15 6-9 pm at Aria Sky Terrace & Lounge.

Topic: The evolution of news.
Sponsorship: El Grado Tequila.
Speakers: John Allen, Corpus Christ Caller Times - www.caller.com
Manny De La Rosa, KIII - www.kiiitv.com
Joe Hilliard, KEYS AM, Podcaster, www.themoviehour.com

KWM Notes - 8/29/09

Today on the show we had:

Ian O'Keefe who posts a wicked blog about Breakfast Tacos in CC. Read the blog HERE. Ian also owns Whetstone Graphics where you can pick up, among other things, this year's CC7D Shirt.

Justin Meeks called in to talk about the DVD release of his film, The Wild Man of the Navidad. Buy it at Amazon here.

Don't forget today's promo at Northshore 8 in Portland. Wear a Hooks jersey and see The Open Road shot here in CC at half price. Showtimes

Pre Podcast Notes - 5/27 - Terminator, Night at the Museum, Dirty Dozen

Prepodcast notes:

Terminator:
Terminator and T2 did something that is hard to do which elevates them into 'The Greats': they showed you something you hadn't seen before. T3 failed bc it didn't proving that Arnie plus comfortable Terminator-y universe elements does not a good Terminator film make.

Consider Matrix - same concept. Sequels wear the new and influential down to flash and bang.

Terminator Salvation is more successful than T3 bc you do see elements of the Terminator universe that you've never seen, but is ultimately a failure bc you've seen them elsewhere: Transformers, War of the Worlds, and Road Warrior and Aliens leap to mind.

Bombastic stupid action.

The Good:
Decent Action with some highlights:
The unstoppable Terminator torso, the underwater 'eels',

The Bad:
-The new terminator with a human heart and the twist seen from a mile away where he's inadvertently brought John Connor to Skynet
-The misuse/unnecessary casting of Bryce Dallas Howard who has gone from vet to heart surgeon since T3
-The horrible, hacky ending - heart transplant thing
-The mute kid
-The horrible 'why don't they just' questions
Everything's mishandled: even 'I'll be Back'

The mixed:
Arnold's cameo

Night at the Museum - Battle of the Smithsonian:
Ben Stiller has left the museum to succeed in a new career as an inventor/pitchman for infomercials. He visits the museum and learns that most of his buddies from the first film are being put into permanent storage at the Smithsonian--without the tablet that brings them to life. Stuff happens and he has to go to the Smithsonian where the tablet HAS shown up bringing a whole new cast of characters to life including Kahmunrah played by Hank Azaria who hopes to take over the world with....

I can sum up everything wrong with the film in one example: There are marble cherubs from a fountain in one of the Smithsonian buildings that come to life and kind of flit around Ben Stiller singing love songs. The cherubs look like and are voiced by The Jonas Brothers.

In that one decision the entire problem with the film comes to light: we will do ANYTHING, we will pander as hard as we need to for your affections. Even if that means showcasing The Jonas Brothers--who are clearly not historical figures that some famous fountain would have their likeness.

--The first film is a delight.

--It's stupid and you can't think too much, but it's a great good-for-the-whole-family-film.

--But they do set up a universe which is ignored here
--My 8 year old son was asking me great questions that shows there's hope for the lad in his filmgoing tastes: why did they know they were manniquins? They didn't know they were manikins in the first film.

I laughed twice. I know that bc I could and did count them. And either ricky gervais or steve coogan were involved.

That's a sad state of affairs for a comedy--the jokes came at you obvious and weren't funny...didn't delver.

Back to Terminator - if we give you robots and guns and arnie you'll be satisfied.

If we give you the characters you liked and the monkey slaps Ben Stiller...you'll like it.

Sorry, it wasn't enough.

Nitpick:
And why are you wearing a cape, are we going to the opera? How are these manikins come to life so aware of the world around them in a way not seen in the first film?
Why General Custer? What did he do?

The good:
Amy Adams - I think I'm falling in love.

Dirty Dozen
There are films for the ages that when you watch them they stand up and you don't have to take into consideration when they were made. For example, The Graduate. There are fingerprints of 1967 all over The Graduate, but I've never had to say it's a good film for a a 1967 film. You don't have to forgive it for its age or year of production. A war film, apocalypse now.....or The Godfather...

Marvin, who was at the height of his career in 1967 (having just come off a Best Actor Oscar win a year earlier for Cat Ballou), accepted the part eagerly. And, after his name was attached to the project, the other participants fell in line.

I'd seen TDD once before and when I rewatched it i found it incredibly engaging.

Not watching the film in context of its release, you have to rely on research to fill in some blanks.
Although it is not often thought of as such, The Dirty Dozen became the first major mainstream film to acknowledge that brutality and atrocities occurred on both sides in World War II. In essence, the film is about a group of thugs attacking and killing dozens of Germans (some of whom were innocent civilians) in cold blood. Despite the heroic musical score and unrelenting machismo evident throughout the film, the climactic event is more of a massacre than a battle. Arriving on screens in the midst of the increasingly unpopular war in Vietnam, it's easy to see how this aspect of the story would appeal to some viewers. In depicting Allied soldiers as something less than model citizens, The Dirty Dozen broke a barrier, blurring the lines between the "good guys" and the "bad guys".

In the wake of The Dirty Dozen, it became a popular cinematic conceit to portray war in a more realistic and less glamorous fashion. Few of these films, however, used this approach with World War II; instead, Vietnam became the common target, with efforts like The Deer Hunter and Platoon. In many ways, however, 1998's Saving Private Ryan can be seen as an extension of what director Robert Aldrich started with The Dirty Dozen - showing that even in wars where the objectives are noble, the means by which they are achieved may be less than heroic.


with a few notable flaws:
The dozen being a perfectly melded potpourri.
Why criminals to complete this mission?
The dozen doesn't earn the affection we're to have for the men with the exception of Posey and Bronson.

Clunky pace but when they get into battle, in the practice field and on the actual mission, Everything is forgiven.

Wide shots of tactical warfare was so refreshing considering the style of the day of cut, cut, cut.

I want to see more films and read more books about WWII strategy.

A great marketing piece short film in the DVD special features that Mike Myers had to have heard to write all the dialogue of Austin Powers.

LRFF:

I decided to avoid all horribly obvious choices:
Saving Private Ryan
Schindler's List
Casablanca
Patton
From Here to Eternity



The Great Escape, 1963


A Bridge Too Far, 1977
Innumerable stars from Britain, the US and beyond gather for this Second World War epic. Directed by Richard Attenborough and scripted by William Goldman, A Bridge Too Far is a remarkable, star-studded telling of General Montgomery's ill-fated Operation Market Garden, in which thousands of troops were parachuted into Arnhem, behind enemy lines, to hold key strategic positions (notably bridges) until the main force arrived to push into German territory.

The Bridge On The River Kwai, 1957
The true story of the superhuman efforts of Allied POWs, who amid inhuman conditions were forced build a bridge to aid the Japanese war effort. When a plan is hatched to destroy the bridge, the POWs are faced with a dilemma - save the bridge that cost so many lives to build, or defend Allied interests buy demolishing it. It's the ironic complexity of the story, together with David Lean's trademark epic visual style that places this among the best British war films.

The Longest Day, 1962
This star-studded Second World War action-film is a big, long, loud spectacular from the days when 'epic' filmmaking really meant something. With 42 international stars (including John Wayne, Robert Mitchum and Sean Connery), The Longest Day depicts the D-Day landings at Normandy from both the Allied and German perspectives, and its scope in story and production is nothing less than mammoth.

Where Eagles Dare, 1968
A classic Second World War thriller starring Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood as crack paratroopers sent deep behind enemy lines to rescue a captured Allied general imprisoned in a forbidding castle commandeered by the SS. Alastair MacLean's script has more old-fashioned thrills, spills and hair-breadth escapes than 20 chapters of 'King Of The Rocket Men'.