Koriander- That Girl 10/20/2011

Getting a little Koriander fix in the morning! Everyone check them out, Dennis and I had them on Arts Talk last year and we can tell you this band has what it takes to be great! So Erin Ashleigh , Erskine Ford Jr, AJ Gonzalez, and Andy Lewis as they use to say back in the day- KEEP ON KEEPING ON!http://youtu.be/cNH9yEMfqOY

Courtney Gains 04/22 by Arts Talk | Blog Talk Radio

62 Courtney Gains 04/22 by Arts Talk | Blog Talk Radio

Courtney Gains (born August 22, 1965) is an American actor who achieved success during the 1980s with a variety of roles in films such as CHILDREN OF THE CORN, HARDBODIES, LUST IN THE DUST, BACK TO THE FUTURE, CAN'T BUY ME LOVE, COLORS, THE 'BURBS and MEMPHIS BELLE. His most recent credits include SWEET HOME ALABAMA, DORM DAZE(which he also executive-produced) and DESOLATION CANYON, as well as a cameo in Rob Zombie's HALLOWEENremake.  In addition to his film work, Gains has guest-starred on several notable television shows including SEINFELD, IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT, TALES FROM THE CRYPT, ER, JAG, PACIFIC BLUE, NASH BRIDGES, DIAGNOSIS MURDER, CHARMED, ALIAS, THE GUARDIAN, MONK and MY NAME IS EARL.  Gains has also worked as an acting coach and a musician; he once performed live on stage with Phish and has since released a solo album.
Besides being an accomplished actor, Courtney is also a musician. You can catch this singer-songwriter playing his guitar at many local clubs. His first CD "Gains" was released in August of 2000 and showcases a singer/songwriter with depth and creativity, and a lot more to say.
The band Ripple Street was formed in November of 2007, when Courtney and Steven met and began writing songs together. Courtney, a seasoned performer, first hit the LA music scene in the 90’s with his band “The Gathering”, which was a part of the coffee house/unplugged scene. Most recently he was the front man for the band “Benny Bliss and the Disciples of Greatness” which spun off a rock and roll anti-technology road comedy film that will be coming out on DVD this summer.

59 Bob Martin 03/25 by Arts Talk | Blog Talk Radio

59 Bob Martin 03/25 by Arts Talk | Blog Talk Radio
Last week we introduced you to the music this week we introduce the man, don't worry there will be some music as well. Bob Martin has enjoyed a performing career spanning more than forty years and recorded several albums including the recent The River Turns the Wheel and Next To Nothin’ for Riversong Records. His releases have received numerous accolades, industry awards and extensive airplay on folk, country and Americana radio programs around the world. Martin has recently returned to performing live and has reissued his classic first album Midwest Farm Disaster and is releasing his second album Last Chance Rider onto cd.

Turtle Update

Here is a little update for you on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles issue making news this past week. The director of the film has stated that the turtles aren't the aliens but the ooze that mutates them is an alien substance. So for now looks like everything is right in TMNT land again, but as actor Robbie RIst posted on his Facebook page, "I am satisfied with her verdict. But I am keeping my eye on you, Bay. I am watching. That little turtle from the meme is watching you. The Phuk Yu Croo is watching. And every turtle fan on the planet is watching. And we can be VERY.....persuasive......"

Comic Book to Film Alterations

Well this is the first significant post I've had in awhile that wasn't related to one of my projects. I've been following some of the news regarding the new Michael Bay film version of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT). Seems there is a lot of buzz regarding a statement from Michael Bay, "These turtles are from an alien race, and they are going to be tough, edgy, funny and completely lovable." So they are changing the background of the turtles which kind of changes the name to TANT. Actor Robbie Rist wrote in a letter to Bay that he posted online, "You probably don’t know me, but I did some voice work on the first set of movies that you are starting to talk about sodomizing,...I know believing in mutated talking turtles is kinda silly to begin with but am I supposed to be led to believe there are ninjas from another planet? The rape of our childhood memories continues." So here we have another example of Hollywood taking something that has a strong fan base and saying screw you fans, I have better ideas about what you want to see in this movie forget all that stuff you learned growing up reading the comic or from the first films. Now granted he didn't outright state that but that is the message fans are receiving. I've been a comic book fan my entire life and do own some of those first issues of TMNT form the early 1980's and as an artist I use ti love drawing them but I admit I was never a diehard fan. What I am a fan of is history and respect of that history. Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird devoted several years on creating that TMNT universe that the fans love so much that should be respected by Bay even if he is suppose to be working directly with one of those creators. What these people forget is that the fans are the ones that make their product possible as a film. If there wasn't already a built in audience they wouldn't be having someone like Michael Bay involved, he is known for big splashy shoot-em, explosions films with huge budgets. The only reason anyone green-lighted the project is because of the history and the fact that they have a 30 year long following with most of those people now having children to drag to the theater. I personally am tired of seeing the characters I grew up with being changed constantly, just last year DC Comics did an entire reboot of their entire universe, changing characters such as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman etc... It seems like every 5-10 years they are doing that over at DC. Marvel has been doing some of the same over the years just hasn't attracted the attention DC has because their changes are usually minor. I haven't read the new Superman, I did read the first issue of the new Justice League and really didn't like it. Superman has always been referred to as the big blue boy scout and you know what, we need those kind of heroes in this world, we don't need all of them to be dark and grimacing like Batman. If the big comic book companies really want to build their audience back up, then they should really devote a little of their creative efforts on reaching younger audiences with children comics and have them grow into the darker adult fare. My generation grew up on Richie Rich, Hot Stuff, Caspar the ghost, and Archie comics. Where are these now or their replacements? Archie Comics is still around and publishing teenage story lines. Disney owns Marvel, yet I never see any Mickey Mouse or Donald Duck monthly comics, they were around when I was young. I know, I got off the original subject, but my point is don't rewrite history, some of these characters have been around for over 70 years, whether the powers that be like it or not they are part of history. The attached image is borrowed from TMZ, please go to their website if you want more information.

Bob Martin music on Arts Talk radio

Listen to Arts Talk with the Johnson Brothers most recent episode : http://www.blogtalkradio.com/artstalk/2012/03/18/58-andrea-pramuk We had a cancellation at the last minute but was fortunate enough to have Bob Martin allow us the opportunity to play some of his music on the show as a fill in. Bob will be on the show as a guest interview in a couple weeks.

Actor-Educator Douglas Hoppock on Arts Talk

Douglas Hoppock has more than 130college theatre productions to his directing, scene design and lighting design credit. In addition, he has worked as a professional actor with the Moscow Repertory Theatre Company, Moscow, Idaho, actor and stage manager with Casa Manana Summer Musicals in Fort Worth, Texas and actor and director with theRoof Garden Dinner Theatre in Cisco, Texas. He is a member of Actor’s Equity Association. He has beenhonored with numerous teaching and community service award’s, including multiple designations as a “Who’s Who Among Teachers of American Colleges,” two-time MinniePiper Stephens Professor nominee,Outstanding Young Man of America,and is the first recipient of the“Inspire Award for Torch BearerMentor” presented by Anointed Works Organization of Pittsburg, Texas. Mr. Hoppock is the author of two plays, Rhubarb! and Perception. He is currently writing his third play. His directing, lighting design and scene design credits include The Time of Your Life, Fiddler on the Roof, Of Mice and Men, Noises Off, The Diary of Anne Frank, The Lion in Winter, The Fantasticks, Lost In Yonkers, You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown, Harvey, Wait Until Dark, The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail, The Crucible, The Boys Next Door, Our Town, Les Miserables, The Miracle Worker, A Cry ofPlayers, Waiting for Lefty, The Mousetrap, The Odd Couple, The Bad Seed, The Gentle People, The Cave Dwellers, The Real Inspector Hound, Charlotte’s Web, The Effect ofGamma Rays on Man-In-the –Moon Marigolds, T Bone N Weasel, TwelveAngry Jurors, The House at Pooh Corners, Barefoot In The Park, The Hasty Heart, Winnie the Pooh, Thieves, Blue Horses, Rumors, The BestChristmas Pageant Ever, The Sunshine Boys, The Boy Who Stole the Stars, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe ,See How They Run, The Goodbye People, The Great Cross Country Race, The Flowering Peach, Crimes of the Heart, The Rope Dancers, Brighton Beach Memoirs, Sylvia, Marvin’s Room, The Last Night ofBallyhoo, Gooney Bird Greene and Her True Life Adventures, The Female Version of the Odd Couple and Look Homeward, Angel. Douglas is married to Sherry Hoppock. He lists as hobbies, reading, writing, hiking, canoeing, and traveling (particularly to see his former students direct and/or act in plays.) Every other year, he and Sherry takea group of Theatre Northeast students to New York to see plays and to “invade the city.” He is exceptionally proud of his current and former students, many of whom have become professionals in theatre education. "Arts Talk with theJohnson Brothers" is a 30 minute interactive, live Internet talk-radio show focusing on all the formsof the arts: Visual Arts (Painting, Drawing, Printmaking, Sculpture, etc); Drama (Acting, Directing, Playwriting, etc…); Music (Singing, touring, bands, songwriting, etc...); Dance; Cartooning (Comic books, graphic novels, etc…); Film (TV, Movies, etc…); and Literature by interviewing professionalsand educators in their respectivefields. Hosts Duane Johnson (artist in Austin, Texas) and Dennis I.Johnson (actor-playwright in Fayetteville, North Carolina) explore the careers, advice, and personality of each guest. Listeners are encouraged to call (323) 657-1446 tolisten or ask questions (if time allows). The stream and archives are available at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/artstalk or you can download a free podcast through ITunes. The show is live every Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. Central/ 1 p.m.PT. The show is hosted on BlogTalkRadio. http://www.facebook.com/events/298730323526314/