Blog Page RE-updated

...let's see how long this lasts.

www.joehilliard.com is now fully current. I believe that page will be comprised mostly of my OCD lists with headlines for blog entries that will link back here. So what do I intend these blog entries to be?

What with the podcast and the radio show and all my other 'stuff', invariably, not all is conveyed, and frankly both shows don't allow for some information to be conveyed. Let's break it down shall we?

The podcast
TMH has a strict format with a loose presentation: one new-in-theater release for x minutes, DVD (maybe two) for y minutes, the magic segment and then LRFF. Now that's a solid show--first class entertainment--but at the end of the day I'm seeing more movies in a week than we can discuss on the show AND I'm seeing films, bc I try to see anything with potential cultural value, that we may not want to discuss on the show.

Two examples:
There is no pop culture phenom in the literary world larger, currently, than Twilight. So I rented Twilight in spite of the horrible critical reception it received. And that negative, unanimous critical reception will keep it off the show. I'll write a review of Twilight here, then. Harry Potter is a different story and had TMH existed when HP I was released of course we would have discussed it due to it's at least average, if not above average, critical reception. The second example, a Netflix currently at my house, is Marley and Me. I doubt we'd ever discuss M&M on the show, but, again, very successful book, actor with a recent suicide attempt, controversy over its rating: yeah, I want to check that out. So, again, I'll review that here.

The Radio Show
KWM is admittedly in a state of flux right now. I have no idea what it should be or what it is right now. Suggestions? However, this will be the avenue to blog about things we discuss on the show

CCFS Stuff
CC7D 2009 is on its way. I'm considering this location to be the 'sneak peek' point of information transfer.

So, I have plenty to say.

...Optimistically, this will last forever.

Review - Slumdog Millionaire

Originally published elsewhere and writen as a quick, short paragraph nutshell on 1/16/09.

I saw this one in New Orleans when I'd learned it hadn't opened in CC the same weekend as scheduled. I need to see it again. It's visually stirring and I understand why people enjoy it, but I am not a part of the unabashed love train this film is getting. It will win the Oscar and I will be saying, after the fact, that I disagree with that decision...unless I see it again and am moved in that direction.

Review - The Wrestler

Originally published elsewhere and writen as a quick, short paragraphs nutshell on 1/26/09.

Saw The Wrestler on my first double date in...don't know how long. Dinner at Thai Cottage which was excellent and then on to the movies. This was the biggest weekend in local theaters all year with the release on the same day of The Wrestler, Slumdog Millionaire, Frost/Nixon, and Revolutionary Road. Longest line at the theater? Underworld: Rise of the Lycans. Welcome to CC.

If you consider what makes a great film, you break it down into a few pieces: acting, story, filmaking technique, etc. The Wrestler is a very good film. Easily one of the most entertaining of the year. What makes it a very good film is the performance of Mickey Roarke. IT IS as good as you're hearing. Sadly what keeps it from being a great film is the flimsy, cliched story. You know what will happen at every step of the way and hardly see anything new (except for the in-ring wrestling scenes). You know what will happen at every step of the way. For many this will not be a factor bc there is a true emotional heart that will pull the heart strings. I would have liked to get there in a less conventional manner.

Show Note Addendum - January 17, 2009

Casey Rocks House of Rock Appreciation - TONIGHT

HOUSE OF ROCK: 511 Starr St., 882-7625. Today: 10 p.m., Whitey Morgan, Paul Sutherland, The Doolins. Cover: $5; $7/minors. Saturday: 7p.m., House of Rock, 511 Starr St., presents the Casey Rocks! House of Rock Appreciation show presented by Neo Sound Resources, featuring Fist of Pleasure, Cloud Chaser, Dalton's Eyes, Killamora, Sandy Craven, Avenue Rockers, Chad Petty, Hobo, Ty Dietz and Tim Russell. Cost: $5. $8/ages 21 and younger. Sunday: 10 p.m., Shockwave with DJ Johnny Hotcakes. Cover: $5. Monday: 7 p.m., Broken Schematics. Cover: $5 for minors.
www.texashouseofrock.com

Vote CC Facebook Page
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1198756225&ref=ts

Coastalthon - Feb. 6
www.coastalthon.com

David Loeb - City Council At Large Candidate
http://www.caller.com/news/2009/jan/15/city-council-at-large-businessman-loeb-announces/

Show Notes - Jan 3, 2009

--CC Film Society's newest event, Coastalthon 2009, is coming up Feb. 6.
www.coastalthon.com

--Reel Simple's Casting Call
go to www.corpuschristifilmsociety.com for more info

Reel Simple Productions is casting local talent for a national commercial
spot. ALL ages, ALL ethnicities, ALL types welcome. Bring your friends,
family and neighbors. The more the merrier.

You must be available to come to a location TBD in the CC area for no more than one hour at a time, any time during the four shooting days, January 12-15. You will be asked to sign an image release in order to appear in the ad.

Minors must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

All interested parties must attend the casting call at the offices of Reel
Simple Productions.

Date: Sunday January 4th
Time: 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Location: Reel Simple Productions
3833 S. Staples Ste N215
Corpus Christi, TX

Need directions? Visit us online at http://www.reelsimple.com/aboutus/#contact

Daniel Garza
Reel Simple Productions
980-1375
549-8594

--J Mullins, KEYS Producer, is leaving CC! Why?

--Dist. 2 and Incumbent John Marez announces candidacy and appears on show

Sexy 2009!

ANOTHER PARIS VIDEO SCANDAL!
LINDSEY BACK IN REHAB!
BRITNEY GOES NUTS…AGAIN!

Can we have an honest moment? Headlines like these are like a horrible car accident. Even though we know that it’s useless junk, we simply can’t look away. Every week at the grocery store and every day on afternoon television we just can’t deny that tiny surge of adrenaline that comes from knowing who’s in rehab or who has cellulite. We watch American Idol and hate ourselves for it…but keep right on watching. It’s a countrywide epidemic: we just seem to live for the latest juicy nugget from Us Magazine, perezhilton.com and Entertainment Tonight. ‘Serious’ and ‘valid’ media outlets aren’t above taking the sleazy, tabloid ride either. Tom Cruise gets wacky on Oprah’s couch and it’s playing hourly on CNN Headline News.

Smoking Bans and Decrepit Coliseums? Who cares? We want to know where Brangelina is this week, and, if in some blissful utopia, we could see a photo of Brangelina together with TomKat, our lives would finally be worth living. These are the headlines that Americans care about.

The tipping point for me—when I decided to investigate this nationwide phenomenon at a local level— was last year’s People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive issue (Matt Damon ‘won’ last year by the way...his precedessor for 2009? Hugh Jackman). As a student of what Corpus Christi is all about, I immediately asked myself, “Where do Corpus Christians turn for a local celebrity fix? Who are the people that always turn heads when they walk into a room (even if there are not paparazzi hiding in the plants to get a candid shot of them)?” In short, “WHO ARE CORPUS CHRISTI’S SEXIEST PEOPLE?”

Using the show and internet-based voting, I set out on a two month journey to find the answers to these questions realizing I was on the right track when I immediately received over 100 nominees. I quickly learned that even here in the Sparkling City by the Sea, we’re not immune to the instant celebrity provided by reality shows and tabloid exposes: everyone wants to be a celebrity. People nominated themselves. People asked friends to nominate them without taking the nomination request off the bottom of the email. People sent in Glamour Shots from 1997. I knew then it was going to be a very crazy ride.

In addition to sexy, though, I was curious about celebrity so I used a simple criterion for all nominees: Would most people know them by name or face if they were in this contest? If so, they were indeed a ‘celebrity’ and could advance into the contest.

According to the online voters and nominators, there are tons of local Britney Spears and George Clooneys and they all began to fit into general, broad categories. Leading the pack were our local news reporters and anchors, which makes sense since they are true television figures that we choose to bring into our homes day after day. Joe Gazin vs. Lee Sausley vs. Eric Von Wade. Bianca Castro vs. Crystal George vs. Katia Uriarte. Sure you trust them to bring you the latest local news, but had you ever asked yourself: which is sexiest? If you could cozy up to Katia Uriarte or Barbi Leo in the KIII newsroom, which would you pick?

Our locally-based elected officials also scored big. I didn’t realize people went to city council meetings to gaze into the eyes of Mike Hummell, John Marez and Mike McCutcheon (all nominated). Both of our State Representatives were nominated. Can Juan Garcia and Solomon Ortiz, Jr., effectively introduce legislation to their fellow representatives when their audience is swooning from their picture-perfect hairstyles?

Prominent local business leaders also took center stage including Freddie Records VP Freddie Martinez, Jr., House of Rock co-owner Casey Lain, and Carol Scott, Co-owner (owner?) of Kailo Communications.

It took five rounds of American Idol-style weekly eliminations to parse the field from 70 to the top 3 finalists. There were ties. There were upsets. There were twists and surprises. There were newsroom catfights across the city, but 7000+ votes later with 30,000 website visits we have a very thorough and democratically-produced answer. I don’t know if the paparazzi will begin huddling in Barbi Leo’s landscaping hoping to snap a photo of her taking out the trash or if we’ll see an FYI headline someday that says ERIC VON WADE PLASTIC SURGERY SHOCKER, but it’s comforting to know that we don’t have to rely on Hollywood for local Hollywood-caliber celebrity and great looks.

For the full story go to keysweekendmagazine.com

2008's Winners:
SEXIEST MAN - RUBEN BONILLA
SEXIEST WOMAN - BARBI LEO
SEXIEST ANCHORMAN - ERIC VON WADE, KZTV
SEXIEST WEATHERMAN - DAVE MAZZA, KZTV
SEXIEST WEATHERWOMAN - NADIA TORRES, KORO
SEXIEST MOUSTACHE - ANGEL COVARRUBIAS, KORO
SEXIEST CITY COUNCILMAN - MIKE HUMMELL
SEXIEST SPORTSCASTER - SEAN HOREJS, KRIS
SEXIEST RAY - NICK LINDBERG
SEXIEST HOOK - TWIST! NOT A PLAYER! MANAGEMENT! JJ GOTTSCH
SEXIEST REPORTER - LAUREN WILLIAMSON, KRIS
SEXIEST DISC JOCKEY - GINO FLORES, Z95
SEXIEST LOCAL MUSICIAN - MATT HOLE, MATT HOLE AND THE HOT ROD GANG

WE'RE MAD AS HELL AND....YOU KNOW THE REST - THE STATE OF CC

An email exchange yielded the following email from me. It may not be succinctly worded but there's nuggets of truth in there.

This morning a friend sent out a few emails with an underlying theme of frustration about the state of CC. They all went out to people about my age (36) give or take a few years. I believe there's a reason he sent this out to this age group. I believe that we as a city have an age issue, the issue being we (30somethings or very close to it) are underrepresented. There's an argument about whether we're underrepresented because there aren't very many of us or that if we as an age group choose to not take a seat at the table, but I believe that this demographic hole will be the death of our city if SOMETHING doesn't happen.

Two Fridays ago I was with a friend when the Whataburger story officially broke. My friend and I are both optimists, both cheerleaders for the city. Bryan Smith's resignation was a day old and now here's Whataburger....and we both kind of looked at each other and said, "Man...CC is really going down the tubes right now." I hated that I was saying that. If you know me at all, you know I'm one of those never-say-anything-negative guys: keep the positive spin up; keep a smile on your face. I hate to let the pessimism sneak out and know many of the politically-inclined will never say a negative word, but I feel that there's an undercurrent among people our age just like yours, "I just can't take it anymore." I believe that people our age are tired (to the point of actually doing something about it) of talk-without-action and the sunshine-y posturing from our leaders.

It is an organizational truth that without innovation, every organization dies. Organizations begin, grow, crest, plateau and decline. This is true of any organization: a friendship, a church, a non-profit, a business, a city. The only prevention of this trend is a purposeful injection of innovation: New innovative products. New branding. New experiences in a relationship. New development and attractions. New, younger, talented players to a baseball team. Fill in the blank as it applies to the organizations you're involved in. If you haven't been growing it's time for PURPOSEFULLY EXECUTED INNOVATION. It can be succinctly boiled down to the adage: If you're not growing, you're shrinking. A step further: If you're shrinking, you're dying. If a business isn't growing, it's dying. If a city isn't growing, it's dying. Is CC growing? (Never mind the follow up "in relation to other Texas cities" because then we're really scr*wed)

Recently, two of CC's five high schools downgraded from 5A to 4A. These classifications are based on attendance in relation to other schools in the state. This is problematic on two fronts: Our numbers of high schoolers are shrinking, and the threshold to remain a 5A school is rising. In other words, school classifications take into account that other Texas cities are growing. Grow with the state or be 'demoted'. Texas (or at least the metropolitan areas) is growing up around us. Is CC a 4A city? I hope not, but fear that's where we're headed. If we're not growing, we're shrinking. If we're shrinking, we're dying.

The powers that be seem to want CC to remain a sleepy, seaside village which does nothing for our age group. I believe that our leaders, God love them for trying, don't know what to do (or how to do what they know needs to be done). People our age have been introduced to so much more that is out there through accessible travel and a constant stream of information and would like to see it grow. I contend that the sleepy seaside burg is a recipe for death. If you're not growing, you're shrinking.

But the most frustrating part is the lack of a clear answer to the question, "So what do we do about it?"

Often times we're sold a magic bullet:
Get a Landry's
Get a Toyota
Get a resort
Keep Whataburger

Those are all great, high concepts, and individually they would have been great booms for the economy. But what about the big picture? What IS the big picture? Is the big picture ONE event (a resort, for example) that triggers other events (as an example on a smaller scale: Whataburger Field begat Brewsters Street, other upcoming development in the area, and an upcoming Justin Timberlake film set in CC to be seen by millions)? The 'one event concept' is dangerous bc the event planned may not be big enough: redoing the bayfront is essential, but not going to bring in the tourists 'they' say it will.

Is the big picture a clear plan that we execute? We've seen 100 plans before and they seem to fizzle out through ineffective leadership or the plan itself not being so great after all.

We can see that CC needs so much, but how do we as individuals make it happen (outside of our voting in the next council/mayoral race)?

I believe that the future of CC, if it is to succeed, will come from new, innovative thought from a new generation of leaders. I believe that our city election ballots need more people under 40 on them. It is up to a new generation--our generation--of leaders to stand up and lead. We must. I believe that the answers to our city's issues lie within our age group even when I, for one, readily admit that I don't know the answers.

I dub us CC's 'Generation Next' and I challenge us to band together as a bloc to demand excellence from here on out. I challenge us to support one another's causes, events and elections.

I look forward to some interesting conversations.

Joe Hilliard
Age: 36