Hitler's Hollywood, A Look at the Documentary Film

Hitler’s Hollywood, is a a documentary film about how Joseph Goebbels reinvented Hollywood film making for the Third Reich.

After completely cleansing Jews out of filmmaking, Goebbels used the relatively new media of talkie films to legitimize anti-Semitism and euthanasia as he glorified the concept of people sacrificing their own lives for the honor of the Third Reich.  

Goebbels was able to oversee the subtle mixture of entertainment, art and propaganda to indoctrinate Germany and soon all of Europe.  

There was no television during the Nazi administration 1933-1945 so attending your local movie house was your only option for seeing films. 

Before you could enjoy the Nazi entertainment film at your local theaters they’d show a newsreel (Fake News) film.  There were potentially serious consequences for those movie goers that came to movie houses purposly late avoiding the newsreels. That was seen as a form of resistance by the Nazis.  

This mixture of entertainment, art and indoctrination was not lost on our own Hollywood.  They later used films to legitimize homosexuality, gender confusion along with various societal and politically unAmerican aberrations.  

As we enter the age of YouTube and citizen journalism the mixture of entertainment and diverse propaganda is now in its own Renaissance Period.  Today nearly anyone can create video Media to promote whatever they please.  

Free speech is all about diversity of opinion.   The efforts to control and censor video content has become a hot button in our new media society.  It’s all fun until others want to silence your voice or content.  

As for this Documentary film, Hitler’s Hollywood, the grand and nefarious scheme of creating and shaping popular public opinion is laid out for all to see.  Below is the trailer. 

Even Jessica Chastain Could Not Save This Propaganda Clinker!

Hollywood, CA—The filmmaking business is getting more democratized every day.  The days of only the most powerful studios and talent agencies  producing films are numbered. Cheaper equipment means  more people than ever can make films.  

Alfred Hitchcock was a master of making great films on the cheap.  No special effects, difficult sets or  costumes were used.  Just talented writing and actors made his success.

Some filmmakers enjoy the power of mixing art with political propaganda.  They want to influence the masses rather than entertain them.  That’s exactly what was behind the recent financial film disaster of, MISS SLOAN.

With an estimated $13 million budget, a terrific leading lady (Jessica Chastain) what could possibly go wrong?  The answer is everything!

I’m loving the films finally being produced with female protagonists. When I saw the slick previews I thought this would be something I wanted to see.  However I was spared from seeing this disappointing disinformation package when I found out this was a not so subtile attack on America’s gun rights. 

The previews did not let out even a hint that this was about pushing gun bans that have proven time and again to actually be more dangerous to public safety.  I’m sure not tipping their hand this was a deliberate effort by producers to ambush and brainwash their audience with their tired political message.    

Gun control is a far more complicated idea than most people realize. Gun bans always fail because they only impact the most law-abiding and trustworthy citizens.  The criminals will always continue to obtain and use, gasoline, bombs, knives, clubs, motor vehicles and of course guns.

We all ready know only too well how bans work in America.  The wars on drugs and alcohol never had a meaningful effect on consumption, only the price and staggering corruption.   

The sad truth is that in the gun control Utopias the sheep are unprotected and the wolves reign supreme.  

It serves the investors in this film flop right to have lost their money.  Imposing their will on others camouflaged as art is risky business. 

I don’t fault the actors for this colossal film failure, after all they are paid to perform. I cant wait to see the next film starring Jessica Chastain. 

I simply love this beautiful and kind actress who will move on to thrill us on the big screen for years to come.  

As for the up and coming filmmakers, those that don’t learn from history are bound to repeat it!   

Woody Allen Move Over, an 800 Pound, Bright Blue Gorilla is Here!

Michael Glover, Robyn Rosenkrantz, Paul Huebl and Gregor Marvel

Berlin, Germany—I had the absolute pleasure to sit down with two expatriate Americans living in this great city.  Musicians and filmmakers Michael Glover and Robyn Rosenkrantz sold everything they owned but their musical instruments and the clothes on their backs taking the very bold step of moving to Europe. 

They’ve been making films with their own production company Bright Blue Gorilla.  I first met them through their European friends after getting invited to a Hollywood Screening of their farce film, Go With Le Flo.  It was a real Blue Carpet Event where I was handed a banana as I walked in the door.

The Film was terrific and the reception after was filled with cast members that flew in for the event.  It made for a delightful evening. 

I knew it was just a matter of time and I’d be visiting with them and another Berlin pal, Gregor Marvel that was in that film.

Imagine making a film in another country with several actors and crew members that have limited English skills.  A great director knows how to get the most out of actors and doing that with the accompanied communications challenges can be daunting. The Bright Blue Gorilla team has delivered in spades.

Thankfully far less expensive but sophisticated filmmaking equipment has become obtainable to these talented kids enabling their filmmaking visions.  In return they take the audience away from their own difficulties and entertain, delight and thrill them with their movies.

Internet Crowd-Funding has been a necessary part of their films and it’s been paying off for everyone.  Right now they are involved in yet another project,  Mr. Rudolpho’s Jubilee. I just know it will be another fun film to watch.

I have to ask what’s next for the Bright Blue Gorilla?  Will he come to the USA and make films here too?  If the monster talent agencies (like CAA) spies ever get wind of the Gorilla they will quickly sign him up and he may just bring his parents back to L.A.

I heard there maybe a surprise announcement regarding, Go With Le Flo next month!  I wonder just what that may be? 

Here is a trailer for GO WITH LE FLO!

People are Asking Me What I Actually Do For A Living. Here are Some Answers!

From an Undisclosed Location—Ok, that’s a fair question.  The answer is complicated.  I’ll do my best to answer that.

Yes, I’m a licensed private detective but I avoid work that’s meaningless, illegal, or immoral.  My primary specialty is criminal defense and I’m considered an expert in self-defense cases involving deadly force. 

I accept other cases including personal injury cases where liability must be established and fixed.

In 1989 I was recruited to work as a TV investigative news producer.  I did not shut down my agency but agreed simply do the work for TV news like all my other clients. 

On news cases I spend my time finding out what the cops and other authorities do NOT want the media to know about the most high profile murders and such.  I’ve actually reported stories but generally never have the time to do anything but locate and hand over the material and important witnesses for interviews to those familiar TV faces. 

I have been sent to all over the USA, India and Europe on cases.  I speak fluent German thanks to that draft/conscript invitation from President Lyndon B. Johnson.  Germany was a much better assignment than Viet Nam!   I served as a medical corpsman which in addition to personally observing nearly 800 autopsies at Chicago’s Cook County Morgue helps me in homicide cases.

I write this blog for fun.  However, I wish I were sponsored more to travel and report on more of the crime stories around the world.  I do manage to cover a high profile story from time to time.

I love to report on filmmakers and review art, music and of course films.  I’m naturally attracted to crime films and documentaries. 

As my blog visitors know I’m a serious gun Rights advocate.  I’m often called to speak about gun rights on radio, TV or live events.

My latest endeavor is the camera/drone technology.  I value drones for video journalism in a big way.  Unfortunately as much as I’d like to be a somewhat less creepy, Droneie version of that film character in Jake Gyllenhaal's latest movie "Nightcrawler",  so far the FAA, so far has obstructed that new passion. 

My news experience has also given me a specialty in Media Crisis Management.  That’s helping high profile people and businesses deal with a sudden onset of bad publicity connected to serious allegations.

For more fun I like writing, acting (I’m a member of SAG-AFTRA) and making short and documentary films.

This blog has brought me some very exciting cases when my visitors have reached out to me for help.  As you can expect I can’t nor won’t talk about most of my cases due to necessary client confidentiality.

I seem to wear at lot of hats but for me they’re all interesting and fun.  I hope this answers a lot of questions.

Meet the Latest and Greatest Prosumer Camera Drone! Wow!

Los Angeles, CA—Yes! As most of my visitors know I’m pumped up and over the top about camera drones as a photographer and filmmaker.  I already own two of them.  My current flagship is the DJI Phantom 2, which uses a GoPro camera.

Today, worldwide there are more than a million multi-rotor camera drones in civilian hands.  They well outnumber conventional helicopters.  They have a perfect safety record of no reported deaths or remarkable injuries.  To date there are still no known collisions between a camera drone and any conventional aircraft. 

Like all of the DJI drones the new Inspire 1 model they unveiled yesterday is relatively easy to fly.  If you have or acquire photography and video editing skills you have the time of your life capturing images.  I find flying these multi-rotor copters incredibly exciting, addicting and empowering!

Now there is a new must have camera drone in the skies as I speak.  It’s the DJI Inspire that has taken the industry by storm. 

The sleek looking Inspire can go easily travel at 45 mph and has already been clocked by one user at 60 mph.  Because of special built in navigation cameras it can fly safely indoors like in convention halls and churches where GPS signals are interrupted.

The fail-safe, return home feature now sends the drone to the radio controller radio instead of take off point.  That so you can operate this from a moving vehicle or boat.
Previously the DJI drones would only land at the spot where it took off.  This means operating the Inspire from boats and motor vehicles can be accomplished with out fear of losing the drone in the drink! 

The Inspire boasts a better camera that shoots in 4K.  The Inspire uses the DJI Lightbridge technology sending back startling real time HD video for nearly a mile. The Inspire works with common TV screens, IPads and monitors.

The telemetry display gives distance, altitude along with precise battery usage information.

It has a better camera 4k and you can use two controllers and pilots.  One pilot operating the drone while the other operates the camera for much better control of the shots. This is made by the same company as my Phantom 2 and was released yesterday.  

I must have an Inspire for my own camera drone air force and I hope to somehow get one to use from DJI for demonstration purposes soon. 

The cost is just under $3K with a second controller at an additional $600.00. 

There can only one word for the new Inspire, WOW!

Sit back and watch the three videos.  Most of the aerial shots were done in and near beautiful Frankfurt, Germany. 

Hollywood Met My Drone Today!

Hollywood, CA—I have to blame my dear friend Pablo Lewin for my obsession with camera drones.  Lewin is a film director who discovered this marvelous and incredibly creative filmmaking tool and got me hooked and empowered with the latest high tech toy.

I’ve done a number of drone stories but today I was going to film a scene for Lewin’s latest film offering. I thought I'd let you in on the experience.

I can still remember that horrible accident in the early morning hours of July 23, 1982, actor Vic Morrow along with two children, My-Ca Dinh Le (age 7), and Renee Shin-Yi Chen (age 6), died in a nasty helicopter crash during the filming of the Twilight Zone  movie.  We've taken any safety risk out of our production! 

Helicopters can be deadly and they are too expensive for some filmmakers. Not to worry, the camera armed drones are here!  Today it was me and my drone that eliminated any dangers along with the impossible expense for a helicopter for our low budget film!

Here is the scene. We have not selected necessary music or voiceover for this yet.  I put up Patti LuPone’s version of Calling You from the film Baghdad Café. It’s very fitting for that video.  I love Patti's great work but we don't have the $$$ to put her great voice on our film.  Of corse donations will be accepted!

Stay tuned for this film from Pablo Lewin Productions.  He’s got some great actors and he also has done the principal photography.   

Here is the video scene that was shot using a DJI Phantom 2 and a GoPro Black Edition 3+ camera.  YouTube compresses the video too much but the film DVD be so much more cinematic!

Hollywood has exiled Archie Bunker, Dirty Harry and Paul Kersey

Hollywood, CA—Let me begin with a disclaimer.  I don’t suggest for a second that bigotry; hate or genocide should be glorified or be made acceptable in our society.  The fact is these ugly things are a part of our world and writing them out of film scripts is not going to cleanse us of these human imperfections.

Books and films are about the life-changing events on this earth.  By necessity we must show evil, hate, violence, war, heroism, peace and love because these are the human realty. Police investigations go wrong and innocent people are convicted.  Sometime justice happens.  All of these things give us the ability to tell the stories that need to be told. 

We must always try and preserve the truth of the human experience.

The only brave filmmaking soul left that seems to escape the political correctness police is Quentin Tarantino.  However, should Tarantino ever make a film that shows Gays in a less than stellar light he will find himself permanently exiled to the Cornfield.

How bold it was for Clint Eastwood to bring us Dirty Harry in 1971.  That legendary scene where he guns down a gang of African-American bank robbers would never see the light of day in today's Hollywood.  The bank robbers would have to be white to satisfy Hollywood’s PC cops.

Archie Bunker graced the small screen with lots of racial and homophobic insults.  The idea was to give the audience a slice of life for a poorly educated bigot in a modern society.  In the end Archie was very human and just somewhat misunderstood.  The Archie character was just more ignorant than mean spirited.  

Today the Paul Kersey character from the film Death Wish would have to be African-American and his antagonist’s white supremacists! 

Hollywood has created a false Fantasy Land that eradicates anything that would offend minorities or Gays.  I say that telling the truth is always better and perhaps we need more scripts where we extol the contributions made by the minorities we are trying to protect. 

We do see to neglect the real heroes that are Women, Minorities or Gays.  An example of a good film in that regard was Dallas Buyer’s Club.   They allowed Homophobia to be seen and Jared Leto’s transgender character came off as a genuine hero.  Perhaps that film could be made because in the end that film the homophobic bigots looked foolish.  

We must face the facts that Gays, women and minorities can be evil and not be afraid to show that in films.

When we make a film about police work today we reverse the racial demographics of the cities depicted.  That kind of pandering is so overtly outrageous it makes the film a sick caricature of reality.  Sanitizing scripts in the name of political correctness is an affront to art and truth. 

Today’s Hollywood would never allow a scene like this: