St. John's Confidential File

HELLO AMERICA!—This past weekend at the Los Angeles Convention Center sparkled with those who have a passion for television and film production. This realization became even more evident with the kind of first night "reception" organized by the U.S.-China Film & TV Expo organization, which was also supported by Variety. It was very clear that the entertainment industry is...

HELLO AMERICA!—When I first turned on the tube to watch the Primetime Emmy Awards I had no great expectation of discovering anything really compelling or simply surprising.  On the red carpet the same old wannabes showed up, guys who looked as if they hungered to be recognized and overdressed women who could barely walk because of the dragging train...

HELLO AMERICA!—I was very excited when hearing that Chinese film producers were joining hands with Hollywood, planning the kind of festival which allows the two countries to promote some of their best creative motion picture productions. Of course, it was a wiser move in convincing young producer Michael Plaster to be the Production Coordinator for the event. When speaking with...

HELLO AMERICA!—When the news crossed my desk that Matt Damon was actually taking over the reins again for the “Bourne” saga films, it made not only my day, but it made millions of motion picture fans want to stand up and applaud! Let's face it, Damon is the only actor born to play that superman-type character who can out-think,...

HELLO AMERICA!—It doesn't matter how much money “Straight Outta Compton” is pulling, it still paints a dismal, depressing picture of thousands of hard working, struggling people who are desperate to lead decent, fulfilling lives. The herd of low life rappers occupying a few of the streets in the Compton area , throwing the "n" word amongst each other as if...

HELLO AMERICA!—The motion picture industry as well the Cable networks are seriously looking for different but challenging stories to produce for the world to see. Of course thousands of young, hungry writers who are laboring in some of the most noted colleges and universities are trying to show what they can do. Daniel Berghoff, a writer, producer is out of...

HELLO AMERICA!—The former MSNBC host Ronan Farrow is much more than simply sitting in front of a camera spewing out the latest news or interviewing some new hot personality.  He is rather special in ways that very few new young personalities have going for themselves.  Ronan, as part of his history was a very formidable activist, journalist as well as...

HELLO AMERICA—I have heard of many story ideas for film and theatre, but never anything like this! "Send Me" is a web series about Gwen, a black woman and a professor of African American studies who has the power to send black people back in time to slavery as a character building measure. The power to do this has been...

HELLO AMERICA!—It is very unusual to find someone like Mohammed Jackson who is an actor, writer, producer and you-name-it in our midst today.  Usually we find those who arrive in Hollywood on buses, trains and planes expecting one thing: "stardom", refusing to realize or understand the sacrifice and the intense reality that it demands.  When their objective is not achieved...

HELLO AMERICA!—It makes my day when I receive notice that my old buddy, director, producer Gerald Gordon has come up with yet another Tinseltown winner in making it difficult to leave the theater. His SHASHAM offering, a few years ago, proved that he was not only adebt at keeping us riveted to our seats watching one of his theatre drama...