allegiance in LA!

Here's the latest news on the "Allegiance" musical!
It's certainly come a long way since this project began in 2014!

"Hello Friends,

Things are really getting exciting here in Los Angeles. As you may have heard, I’m reprising the role I played on Broadway in the Los Angeles premiere of Allegiance at the Aratani Theater in the heart of Little Tokyo. This production from East West Players and the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center brings a new artistic vision to the musical that was inspired by my own experiences in the internment camps as a child.

Performances of Allegiance start tonight and, with our current political climate, this show could not be more relevant. It is a powerful reminder of what dangers come when fear and prejudice override human compassion.

On a lighter note, this production brings Allegiance back to where it all began for me more than 75 years ago! Take a look at all of the buzz! You'll recognize some familiar faces on the ABC News clip and the LA Weekly cover story below. Give 'em a quick watch or read... and hopefully, I'll see YOU in Los Angeles.

Sincerely,

George Takei"

chicken dressing bobby bumps!

I am happy to report that the project to restore the Bobby Bumps video library is continuing to move along very nicely!
First, I was treated to the first video of the boy and his faithful companion - just in time for the Year of The Dog, too!
Then, last month, I was given another episode to view of this bumptious Bobby Bumps, in the times (early 1900's) that he was 'living'.
Now, I have a third - and in as many months!
Well done, Tommy Jose Stathos!

"February 2018 Update

Dear Backers,

Despite continued slow movement through my and some collaborators' workflow pipelines, I'm pleased to share some exciting new visuals in this month's update.

As with most of these restoration projects, some films occasionally have title cards that are very brief, damaged, and cannot be presented as-is. One such film in this project is Chicken Dressing, a later subject released in 1923 by Educational Pictures. It combines live action and animation. There are only two known prints, one of them being mine which was scanned for this project. Both the main and end titles on my print were heavily damaged and brief.

Artist and animator friend Maira Vergara has recently finished restorations of these titles, and I'd like to share the main title. Isn't it gorgeous?

Chicken Dressing is a truly bizarre film, with filmmaking/animation techniques that are on par with Max Fleischer's Out of the Inkwell films of the period, if not even more complex—so I'm sure you'll really enjoy seeing it.

One of the films in this project that is rather complicated is Bobby Bumps' Last Smoke (1919). Our main print has various splices in it, and my heavily water-damaged back-up print (these are both practically unique 28mm prints struck around 1920) contains some of the missing frames—but it's taking some very careful re-animation (taking needed picture elements, cleaning them up, and pasting over good background frames) to try and rescue some of this missing footage...in order to make it presentable for the restoration. Here's a scan of one of the missing sections, by photographer friend Louie Despres, showing the extent of damage in the back-up print:

Last Smoke may very well be one of the wildest and risque Bobby Bumps cartoons ever produced that survives today, at least from the Bray years...so I want to get the restoration of it as close to perfect as possible. Like Chicken Dressing, I'm sure all of you will really enjoy seeing this one once it's ready.

Finally, I'm happy to report that research and design collaborator David Gerstein will soon have more time to dedicate to his contributions on this project, as he wraps up a couple current book projects of his own. Just this past weekend, he was able to tackle one of the most stunning aspects of his part in this project: the packaging for the Blu-ray! Between Josh Latta's art and David's design work, it really looks like Master Bumps is finally getting his due...

My hope is that this project will be in the midst of authoring and replication by the time our next monthly update is due. Fingers crossed, and as always, thanks kindly for your continued patience...

Sincerely,
TJS
"

Still looking for the video link?
Here it is!
No, he didn't point me towards it this time, I found it on my own.
(smile)
Oh, that Bobby boy! And his little dog, too!
(smile)

speed bump for my invention

Exactly one month ago, I had submitted the initial paperwork to Montgomery Patent & Design to go forward with the application for the Utility Patent for my invention.
Then, I had received a letter that shook me deeply.
The US Trade & Patent Office required that Bob Montgomery, the man behind For Sale By Inventor as well as Montgomerty IP Associates, separate himself from my patent application.
Oh, no! What did that mean???
Did I need to start this process anew and with a stranger at the helm?
Gratefully, that was not the case.
His assistant, Aaron Cramer, would be forming Cramer Patent & Design and I would simply be transferred to him and his firm.
As Mr. Cramer has been the one I've been working with for much of this process, then I should see no changes in progress of my application.
A new letterhead would be the most marked difference in operation.
What a relief!
And progress marches onward!
I do hope students will soon be able to have this educational tool at hand!

breaking up is hard to do

... but sometimes that option is the best for all concerned.
When talking about sodium content in food, breaking up seems extra difficult.
Most flora naturally contain sodium. It is one of the key nutrients that plants obtain from the soil and liquid around them.
That means almost every fruit and vegetable consumed will contain sodium.
Every grain - including oats, wheat, rice, barley, corn - also contains sodium.
With all of this sodium naturally present, why add more to food?
Well, as many would say, it enhances the taste.
For hundreds of years, humanity has used sodium chloride as a seasoning agent.
In fact, Roman soldiers were once paid with salt, as it was so highly prized.
Back then, not only was salt used for flavor, but also for preservation of foods.
After all, the refrigerator had not yet been invented.
(smile)

The American Heart Association has a new initiative, #BreakUpWithSalt.
I urge you to take the Pledge to Reduce Sodium.
That is a first step toward better health for you and everyone who dines at your table.
Then, take action by contacting owners of fast-food franchises, owners of food processors, owners of restaurants - just by clicking right here.
The AHA has done all the heavy lifting, essentially adding a megaphone for your voice to be heard.
Believe me, when we speak together, even those high up the ladder hear us.
Here's the latest message from AHA on the progress:

"About this time last year, more than 1,000 of you took back control of your food and sent letters to the CEO of McDonald’s, calling for the company to prioritize healthier options. Today, McDonald's took a first step in answering your call for change. The fast food restaurant has announced a commitment to offering healthier kids’ meal options for millions of families across the globe.
This is a big step in the right direction, and it’s because customers like you have shown your support for healthier foods. When you consider that 220 million happy meals are sold each year in the US, taking steps to make them healthier is good for kids.
We know there is more work to do with McDonalds and look forward to continuing to work with them and other restaurants."

Bravo!
Yes, the company only committed to making a change for children's meals...
and that result was in direct response to the expressed request of a small portion of the population.
Just over one thousand voices raised in protest caused that change.
Amazing.

I urge you to take action now, let your voice be heard. We all need to have sodium reduced in our foods, not only for the sake of the children, but also for our sake.
Contact the restaurant association to decrease salt content in the food offered.
Contact Congress to keep information about sodium content on nutrition labels.
Contact the CEO's of popular fast-food companies to decrease salt content.
Be the Voice Of The Future, for yourself and those you love.
That will be a lasting gift on this Valentine's Day... and is completely free.
(smile)