I want to tell you about a film preview my husband took me to see. It wasn’t really a fun movie, but worth your time.

Kevin Smith, of Clerks and Dogma fame, directed this movie – Red State – but this is a whole new genre for him.

It is not an easy film to watch. It wasn’t exactly a break for my busy brain. It’s disturbing, and it makes you question things. A lot like the recent ruling in the Supreme Court might have. I have to agree, it is American to have the right to demonstrate wherever you want to. But it is also pretty obviously RUDE to picket at a funeral, no matter whose it is, no matter what you’re saying.

So… Smith put together this movie, Red State, and gives us a fictional family that is worse than what we’ve heard of in reality in many ways. They have their own crazy interpretation of the Bible, and more than that, they have a basement full of guns. They also seem to have the mentality of suicide bombers. I don’t want to spoil it for you, but let me say this: it is violent.

Smith found some excellent talent to work on the project, including John Goodman, Stephen Root, Michael Parks, and my favorite – Melissa Leo.

Some people are calling this a horror film, but I’d call it an action/thriller. I suppose it depends on your threshold for violence. But I do recommend seeing it with a friend, because it left me needing to talk. I have a lot of icky feelings about religious zealots as it is, and the movie almost makes you think… Wait? Are we as bad as they are? Good stuff.

Be on the lookout for its wide release October 19th: http://coopersdell.com/

FYI if you are on the list at the website for the sneak peek tour, get tickets! Kevin Smith does great talks with his fans. That was an excellent way to see the movie.

You turn on the television and they are there – beautiful people, with perfect makeup and clothes, saying clever things at just the right time – celebrities.

Movie stars and even our national newscasters seem so out of reach, so otherworldly sometimes. Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to say hello, to see them in person, maybe even shake their hand?

Well, it’s possible, my friend – and sometimes it’s easier than you think. Here are a few tips that have helped me satisfy my need for a brush with fame.

Getting started

• Focus: start with a targeted group of celebrities. When they gather, you’ll have a better chance at hitting one of them. For instance, NASCAR drivers or ballet dancers.
• Patience is a virtue: Especially if you have a major celebrity in mind, you may have to wait a long time for the right opportunity, and a long line may be in your future. Accept this fact and wait for the right moment.
• Manners make the man: Realize that if a celebrity has opened that door to a wall of fans dying to meet them, they are being very brave and patient, and they are hoping that each fan is not a psycho. Don’t be that psycho.
• Know your celebrity: What is your idol up to? Are they on a speaking tour for their favorite charity, selling an autobiography or helping a politician they like get elected? Keep informed.
• Out of their element, in with you: When rock stars are writing children’s books, or comedians are giving ‘serious’ presentations, they are out of their element. This means the crowd around them is not as large, only true fans or business partners have come to see them, and they are much more grateful for the attention they are getting. This is a golden opportunity to get your photo or an autograph.
• Accept your mission: Autographs? Photos with you and the band? In most cases you will have a split second with the celeb, and no re-takes, so decide ahead of time. Actually, decide now. The band may walk into the restaurant any minute now. However: when they say NO, it’s usually best to accept that. In more cases photos are OK and autographs are not, because celebs know the value of their scribbles.
• How much is your celebrity worth? Yes, you might have to spend some money. Some stars charge for an autograph, whether it’s on a piece of paper or on an 8″ x 10″ glossy photo they are selling you. Or you may have to buy a ticket to a book signing, and even buy their book (again!) Why? Signing 200 photos at $20 each might be this week’s income. Hey, it’s a living.

Places stars hang out

• Charity auctions/benefits
• Book signings
• Film screenings/premieres
• eBay
• Product launches – for their signature perfume, clothing line, sneakers etc.
• Fan conventions – comic book conventions, horror conventions, Star Trek conventions, etcetera. Don’t be surprised if the stars in the autograph tent extend beyond the main theme of the convention, and be prepared at these events to pay for an autograph and/or a glossy photo of your favorite star.
• University campuses. If you graduated from somewhere, put that alumni card to use! If not, poke your nose into the local campus and get on their mailing list.
• Fan newsletters, sports team websites etc. If you are the fan you say you are, suck up every piece of info you can. Buy tickets to any special-access event the day they become available, and get your butt out there and be first in line!
• THEIR WEBSITE – many celebrities are only stars to a small group of people. Try writing an e-mail or the treasured hand-written note. You would be surprised how many people will return the favor.
• Twitter – there are as many real celebs on Twitter as there are fake ones. And there are dozens of lists of “Celebrities on Twitter” to help you decipher the difference. Use those tools before you find yourself following an impostor.

Good luck meeting your idol. And remember, be polite!

(I previously published part of this article on Squidoo.)

We lost some big names in entertainment this year, I just wanted the chance to say one last goodbye to some of my favorites.

• Actor Patrick Swayze, 57 – I really enjoyed Dirty Dancing and many more of his movies.
• Director John Hughes, 59 – His films were some of the first that I rented from video stores and watched over and over again.
• Actress Farrah Fawcett, 62 – What a courageous documentary she made at the end of her life.
• Actor Dom DeLuise, 75 – Always made me laugh.
• Actor Ricardo Montalban, 88 – I still want to visit Fantasy Island.
• George Michael, sports broadcaster, 70 – I watched his ‘Sports Machine’ show for years in DC.
• Vic Chesnutt, singer/songwriter, 45 – Just an amazing talent.
• Actress Brittany Murphy, 32 – I loved her voice work for King of the Hill.
• Ed McMahon, 86 – I’ll remember him from Star Search, way before American Idol.
• Pitchman Billy Mays, 50 – He could sell me the shoes on my feet, what a guy.
• Walter Cronkite, 92 – Sad to see him go, but that’s the way it is.

There were many more notable deaths, as The New York Times notes in their annual review.

After a scare that it might not be back ever, Screen on the Green is back. Films run on Mondays on The Mall. The current line-up is:

July 20: “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”
July 27: “Dog Day Afternoon”
Aug. 3: “On the Waterfront”
Aug. 10: “Rebel Without a Cause”

Show time is 8 p.m.

For the next week, Silver Spring, Maryland is documentary film central. If you consider yourself a film buff and you’ve never experienced SILVERDOCS, you need to at least take the time to review the variety of films being screened at the AFI Silver Theater this year.

That’s right, the AFI Silver Theater. Out-of-towners may not realize that the American Film Institute has a movie theater in the middle of downtown Silver Spring, just outside of Washington, DC and it’s a pretty nice little joint. All year long there are special screenings at this theater, which did have a home at the Kennedy Center for many years. But frankly, this location is much swankier, and easier to get to in a lot of ways — a short walk from the Silver Spring Metro station. So even if documentaries aren’t your ‘thing,’ you should check out the schedule at AFI.

Moving on, though… there is a documentary for pretty much everyone on this year’s schedule. I plan to see Muhammad Ali this week in Facing Ali. That’s right. Mr. Ali himself will be a special guest. And I can’t resist finding out what the Best Worst Movie is. Beyond that, there is Splitting Hairs, about the World Beard & Moustache Association; Sweethearts of the Prison Rodeo; The Nine Lives of Marion Barry and so much more.

If you aren’t able to get tickets for a screening in the theater (which could very well happen at this late date), there is a free outdoor screening being offered in the Silver Plaza of For All Mankind on Friday, June 19 at 9:00 p.m. about the men who have traveled to the moon. This film puts together the images of their experiences, their words and voices. Sounds pretty awesome.

There’s a new film out about Wal-Mart – I am waiting for my copy to come in the mail, but I’ve heard about it from trusted resources (my parents). From what I’ve heard and read, it seems to confirm all the reasons I’ve boycotted it for years. The corporation is low-paying, anti-union, and anti-worker in general. As a matter of fact, it’s even sounding anti-American. To buy from China – no, wait – to manufacture in China, then put American Main Street and smaller chains out of business… is that the patriotic image we all had of Sam Walton? Wal-Mart has chosen this route on a grand scale in order to keep their prices lower than any other store can compete with. Stories about their full-time workers needing food stamps, about required overtime, and about muscling out union organizers are downright disgusting.

OK, I’ll get off my soapbox. If you’re pinching your pennies this holiday season, look to alternative options to spend your celebratory cash, like:

• artfortheanimals.org
• www.heifer.org
• www.puravidacoffee.com

For more info on WalMart: WalMart Watch