Videos: Bakersfield.com

Behind-the-scenes with award-winning film producer

By Laura Dobbins

Kernville residents are in for a treat. On April 15 starting at 6:30 p.m., Crosby will be at Ewings on the Kern, offering a behind-the-scenes look at her latest project, The Gypsy Cowman … a Vanishing Breed.

The Emmy-nominee film producer will be talking about the cowboy documentary and the man who inspired it. Tickets to the event will include a $7.95 appetizer of choice, a copy of the film and a presentation by Crosby.

Owen Badgett

No apologies.

That’s the first thought that comes to mind when meeting Cowman Owen Badgett. He’s tough as nails, a straight shooter with little time for “political correctness” yet he’s transparent – penning what he feels – into poetry.

Cowboy poetry is a form of story telling which grew out of a tradition of extemporaneous composition created by workers on cattle drives and ranches. As in most recapitulations, details of a day’s work on the range usually include some tall tales.

Most Cowboy poets draw from their own life experiences to summarize their thoughts into poetic forms. Badgett is no exception.

Like his father before him, Badgett became a cowman herding cattle on land he didn’t own. That type of life can be harsh: Never resting your head on your own property, living on the grace or wrath of Mother Nature and physically laboring from dawn to dusk.

Yet, it’s a life Badgett has embraced and it’s one that filmmaker Linda Lou Crosby, a former Inyokern resident admired enough to spend over a decade capturing on camera.

Linda Lou Crosby

Crosby first met Badgett on a wild horse roundup for the China Lake Naval Air Base near Ridgecrest. She was an award-winning video producer for the Navy and Badgett was working for the Bureau of Land Management.

The two struck a friendship and remained in contact after Badgett quit his job with BLM and moved back to his beloved Eastern Montana. In 1999, Crosby and her husband Hart Broesel, a professional photographer, were invited to visit Badgett – he wanted them to see the Triple N Ranch where he worked at the time. That meeting resulted in what would become a decade-long project for Crosby who decided to film a documentary on the life of “Owen Badgett.”

Crosby has an appreciation for the West and its integral part of America’s cultural heritage. The values and ethics of those working off the land, relying often on each other for survival, and the contributions that were made through hard work and sacrifice which often were not rewarded or recognized, compelled Crosby to tell this story. The undertaking also changed her as a person. The ideals she so admired and wanted to film became so much a part of her that she and her husband now live in Eastern Montana. The “Gypsy Cowman … a Vanishing Breed” debuted in Lone Pine at the Lone Pine Film Festival in 2009. The documentary is also playing and selected locations around the country and a promo of the film has already received over 1,500 hits on YouTube.

EVENT INFORMATION: Tickets are $25 each or $40 per couple and include a $7.95 appetizer of choice, a copy of the movie (only one for couples) and a presentation by the filmmaker. Call Ewings for reservations or tickets: (760) 376-2411.

To learn more about Owen Badgett and his books: http://inyokernhorsehotel.com/index.html

See Documentary Promo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cUCVEWoLXw

Local Film Student is Keeping us Safe on the Roads

Online videos are one of the most powerful ways to influence children. Ryan Francis, a film student of Frazier Park realized this fact when he entered his car safety video into the 2010 Bridgestone Safety Scholars Scholarship. The hip hop styled video was picked out of 1,300 entries to be a part of the top ten finalists this year. The link to the video is found at the end of this article. Ryan's video is now being voted on by the public and the top three video producers each receive a $5,000 scholarship. Go vote!

safetyscholarsvideo.com/

Filmmakers unite for a DRUNK DRIVING video

About a month ago a few local film makers joined forces to shoot a short 3 minute film about Drinking and Driving. The short film is called IMPACT and is currently on The Hectic Films youtube channel. The neat thing about this film is it was all shot in one location. The poem was written by my father Rickey Bird Sr, who also produced the film. The companies involved are all local, Hectic Films, Cinascope Media and Blare Media. All these people donated their time to help this cause. Now this is where YOU come in. Please pass this film on to your friends and loved ones.

Here's a Link to the Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClAPhmcsyhc

Cops Bust Into California Home Without Warrant

Bakersfield, California - March 30, 2010:
About 6:30AM, cops bust into a woman's home in Bakersfield, California without a warrant.
They repeatedly banged on doors and yelled "Open the door!" while other cops were climbing in through windows and breaking in through a back door.

She repeatedly asked to see the warrant, which was never shown.
In the video, you can clearly see her open the front door where one lone cop stood, and then others walked up from behind her, already inside the home.

Clearly these cops believe they are above the law and have no regard for peoples' Rights.
We would like to commend this internally strong woman for standing on her own and making this video available.

Go to www.TrueFreePress.com to view the videos and updates now.

This Is It! Russo's Books to Sell DVDs and CDs

THIS IS IT! Russo’s Books to Sell DVDs and CDs

By Thomas G. Robinson

The hottest DVDs and CDs are coming to Russo’s! Long the local home to national bestselling books, Russo’s Books in The Marketplace will be stocking the top video and music titles beginning with Tuesday’s release of the internationally bestselling movie, Michael Jackson’s This Is It.

The video business is similar to the book business, in that Russo’s can provide what’s hot and new yet still maintain their identity as Bakersfield’s Book Store. Don’t be alarmed, they are not going into selling videos as their major product offering, just the top ten. However, they will be able to order any DVD, Blu-Ray and CD with their legendary two-day turnaround time on most titles!

“People are wondering why we’re still around after 20 years” says Tony Russo, Owner of Russo’s Books, “I say we’re here because Bakersfield wants us here. In a city with two major big-box corporate stores Bakersfield residents are still loyal to us, so we want to provide them with what they are looking for. Providing this entertainment media is just a small step to keep our patrons happy and making shopping for them easier.”

The two-hour documentary of Michael Jackson’s preparation for his London O2 Arena concerts, which features rehearsals and behind-the-scenes footage of the legendary singer working on all aspects of the upcoming show prior to his untimely death at the age of 50, is available in regular DVD and Blu-Ray.

For over twenty years, Russo’s Books has been catering to Bakersfield residents. While DVDs and CDs are new to the store, you can still get local favorites like Dewar’s Chews, Bakersfield Brand Coffee Grounds, My Husband’s Nuts, and Gita Lloyd’s greeting cards. No other retailer in town represents Bakersfield like they do. From local authors to international best-sellers, Russo’s carries it. If they don’t have it in the store, they’ll get it for you quicker than the big boys can!

Their events are Bakersfield originals, too! From Kids Discover Music with The Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra every third Saturday of the month, to local author Nick Belardes’ Random Writers Workshop (which meets on Wednesday nights at 6:30PM). Russo’s says “YES” to providing a venue for local residents more than anyone else in this business.

Russo’s Books is located at 9000 Ming Avenue, in The Marketplace. They are open at 10:00 AM Monday through Saturday, and 11:00 AM on Sundays. Their online store is open 24/7 at www.russosbooks.com.

HOLLYWOOD BIG MOVIE ABOUT MY HIGH SCHOOL CRUSH

I knew and admired Cherie Currie through Jr. High and part of high school, even asked her out once, but she thought I was joking and laughed it off, I was heart was broken. Like Hank Willaim's song...I can't help it if I'm still in love with you. I had a channce to be in the movie as an extra but couldn't get off work. The YOUTUBE with thisis my love song to Cherie Currie.

Currie is the co-author of Neon Angel: The Cherie Currie Story, in which she tells of her trials and tribulations growing up in California in the '70s, her struggles with drugs and alcohol, and her days with The Runaways. The book is the basic material for the movie The Runaways\Neon Angels^[1] ^[2], starring Kristen Stewart. Dakota Fanning will play the role of Currie.

Currie was married to actor Robert Hays in the 1990s and they have one son. They are now divorced.^{[citation needed]}

In 2008, Currie contributed to Carrie Borzillo-Vrenna's book, Cherry Bomb.^[4][5]

Local girl featured in new music video!

Local girl featured in music video!

Shaylan Hammons, 9, was recently featured in a music video for rap artist Busdriver. The video is for his song "Me Time" and was shot in LA last month. Shaylan is a student at Buena Vista elementary school.

No On 8 Rallies in Bakersfield

It was a beautiful three days in Bakersfield this past weekend (Oct 24-26) as those in opposition to proposition 8 exercised their free expression of speech and assembly at three different intersections on three different days. Instead of dwelling on the unpleasantness that Ken Mettler provided Friday night, Saturday and Sunday's demonstrations showed how positive Bakersfield's response can be to those who want to live and love who they choose.

Vote Nader 2008

I can't wait any longer. I'm posting it as is.

***

This video is the first entry in Bakersfield.com's video polling contest. Submit your video of "Which presidential candidate is getting your vote and why?" and enter to win tickets to a Condors Game! See Bakersfield.com/yourwords for details.

Caravan For Compassion Food Drive around Lake Isabella

Kern River Valley residents have been hard hit by rising fuel and food costs. When Al Steuart heard that the local food banks were almost empty he decided to organize a food drive. The Caravan for Compassion drove around Lake Isabella, stopping in six communities: Kernville, Wofford Heights, Lake Isabella, Mountain Mesa, Southlake and Southfork.

Dr. Holly Spohn-Gross of Mountain Mesa’s Sienna Wellness Institute coordinated the effort: “It was very successful. We filled over a truckload of food for this valley and we can’t wait to do it again. We are committed to making sure that everyone in this valley for Thanksgiving has a meal so the weekend before we are going to do it again.”

The food collected will be split between two non-profits that feed the needy: The Food Pantry in Lake Isabella and God’s Storehouse in Weldon. The Caravan for Compassion will take to the streets again on Saturday, November 22.

GOTV at the Obama Family Rally

It was a big day for Bakersfield on Saturday as hundred showed for an Obama Family Rally. People were fired up for the next President of the United States, Barak Obama. Provided, of course, that rally goers got to those phones and called their friends, neighbors and citizens across the nation to get out the vote. Helping to motivate the crowd were numerous speakers as the accompaning video shows.

Tule boating on CSUB campus

Two hundred twenty years ago, Lake Mohave filled the California desert to depths exceeding 200 feet, with a drainage of 3,500 square miles. Buena Vista and Kern Lake, near what is now Bakersfield, covered nearly 100 square miles to depths exceeding 50 feet.

The Kawaiisu Tribe travelled these lakes in tule boats, watercraft made from a tubular tule reed (seh-vi) that grows in marshy areas.

Last week, students at California State University, Bakersfield built a Kawaiisu Tule boat (paaga seh-vi) and took it for a ride on campus in a pond north of the dorms. They used tule reeds collected in the Kern River Valley near Lake Isabella. The students are enrolled in a course thru the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. The class is called California Tribal Arts and is taught by Kawaiisu elder David Laughing Horse Robinson. Students experience the traditions of California Indians as they have been practiced for more than 10,000 years. Indigenous math, painting, basketry and archery are taught in the old way of the Kawaiisu People.

The course meets Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30-7 p.m. in the Performing Arts building on the CSUB campus.

DNC a Great Experience From the Outside

As someone who believes in the inside/outside strategy of the PDA, my trip to Denver last week was the chance of a lifetime. Having missed the excitement of the '60s political upheavals, I decided to get at least a taste of massive protest when I headed to the mile-high city. As a local organizer of the World Can't Wait! Drive Out the Bush Regime!, I was looking forward at showing my anger for the whole Bush program in a very direct, people-driven manner in the streets of Denver. And as a member of the Progressive Democrats of America, I was looking forward to the many seminars with people who, despite their stategy of working within the system, keep their progressive values intact when taking on the ills of our society.

While the protest marches didn't reach anywhere near the level predicted, they were still lively with people who released long gestating outrage of our nation's war with Iraq, the looming attacks on Iran and the continuing torture of prisoners. Solid back-up information was supplied during rallies, seminars and discussion groups. Coming from conservative Bakersfield, it was a great morale booster to realize one is not alone in thoughts of the absolute destruction of democratic values this regime has perpetuated on us in the United States, but also how in the name of fighting terrorism, but in reality of maintaining our imperialistic nature, how we exploit and destroy our fellow human beings around the world. These our issues our mainstream leaders aren't really adddressing during these convention "infomercials." That's why it sometimes takes action on the streets to wake up a complacent society to confront what effects are actions are having on the world.

Will Iran Be Next?

Local members of The World Can't Wait - Drive Out the Bush Regime! joined others at the Peace Corner (Stockdale Highway at California Street) on October 12 to protest the threatened aggression our country has made towards Iran. We can already see the level of hatred towards Islamics is growing in this country that will help make it easier to attack and kill anyone we accuse of being an Islamo-Fascist. Already we have witnessed attacks on a local mosque, which sheriff's deputies are investigating as a "hate crime." And in just a week's time, college campuses across the country will be split apart by David Horowitz's "Islamo-Fascist Awareness Week." This is a well-designed attempt to instill the flames of hatred and help break down resistance to a possible attack on Iran.

Bakersfield Goes Orange To Resist the Bush/Cheney Regime

A dozen protestors braved the 100 plus degree Bakersfield summer heat
to show their resistance to the Bush/Cheney's criminal regime Friday
night, the official kickoff of the national World Can't Wait's
Declare It Now! Wear Orange! campaign. Everyone got into the
spirit of wearing orange t-shirts, bandanas and ribbons. Bakersfield
WCW members created extra orange ribbons to hand out to motorists
passing by the famous local protest corner (Stockdale Highway and
California Street). Channel 17 stopped by to get some footage and
interviews (and made an additional stop to the lone pro-Bush flag-
waving counter protestor across the street. Despite the usual
catcalls, most people honked their horns and gave the peace sign as
they went around the corner. The seeds have been planted. Look for
Bakersfield to become an orange city by Labor Day!

VIDEO PREVIEW - The History Of Rock & Roll Goes To The Movies

Don't miss the smash hit that sold out audiences on opening weekend, "The History of Rock & Roll Goes to the Movies!"

    A new tradition returns to the Spotlight Theatre this summer, as we present the sequel to last year's hit "The History of Rock & Roll" with this year's "The History of Rock & Roll Goes to the Movies!" While last year's production took us on a musical journey from the start of rock and roll to the present, this time around, we focus on songs from movies, dating all the way back to the early days of cinema!

    Excluding songs from established musicals, this year's production has songs that were made famous because of the movies they were in! The show includes everything from Shirley Temple and Judy Garland to Coolio and Eminem! And we also include famous scenes from movies like Casablanca, High Noon, Singin' In the Rain, The Graduate, Young Frankenstein, Animal House, 9 to 5, The Blues Brothers, Rocky III, Footloose, Beverly Hills Cop, Top Gun, Moulin Rouge and more!

    Featuring performers like Abbott and Costello, Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, Audrey Hepburn, The Beatles, James Bond, Barbra Streisand, Isaac Hayes, the Bee Gees, Donna Summer, Bob Seger, Stevie Wonder, Prince, Madonna, Oingo Boingo, Bette Midler, Whitney Houston, Leann Rimes, Trisha Yearwood, Celine Dion, the Soggy Bottom Boys, Peabo Bryson, Phil Collins, and more surprises!

    When our movie host meets our music host, the two combine for a show with acting, singing, dancing, and more! This show is fun for the entire family!

"The History of Rock & Roll Goes to the Movies" plays Thursdays at 7PM, and Fridays and Saturdays at 8PM, and runs through August 18th!

Tickets are $12 for students, seniors, and active military and $15 general admission. Tickets are $3 more on the day of the show.Last year we were sold out almost every night, so make your reservations now for this summer classic at (661) 634 0692! You can also visit us at 1622 19th Street in beautiful Downtown Bakersfield.

Local students excel in Constitutional Rights Foundation competition

Fruitvale Jr. High seventh-graders Ali Castellanos and Allie Molen recently won first place for the state of California in the Free Expression in a Free Society competition sponsored by the Constitutional Rights Foundation. Castellanos and Molen produced a 10-minute video documentary on the voting rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer, a little-known but critical figure in voting rights in Mississippi during the early 1960s. The full title of the documentary is Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired: the Triumphs and Tragedies of Civil Rights Activist Fannie Lou Hamer.

The competition included junior (sixth, seventh, and eighth grades) and senior (high school) categories and was judged by documentary film makers, one of whom said, “This documentary was terrific. It was the best including the senior docs I saw. The research and footage were excellent. The story was superbly well told and the voiceover was excellent in terms of both content and delivery. I came away knowing a lot about a woman I previously knew nothing about, understanding the context of her life and work and had a feeling for her humanity and humor. Well done.”

Castellanos and Molen share an award of $500 and will present their documentary at the CRF Spring Dinner in Century City. In attendance will be hundreds of judges, attorneys, and film makers.

Fannie Lou Hamer was born into a poor sharecropping family in Mississippi. When she was six, she too began working in the cotton fields. On August 31, 1962, when Hamer was forty-four, she stopped sharecropping. She learned from SNCC, the Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee, that she had a right to vote. Mrs. Hamer got on a bus with 17 other black citizens, bound for the Sunflower County seat to register, having recognized voting as the true equalizer.

In 1963, Hamer and other activists were jailed and brutally beaten in Winona, Mississippi. As a result, Hamer lost the vision in one eye and walked with a limp for the rest of her life. But she continued her efforts, saying, “What was the point of being scared? The only thing they could do to me was kill me, and it seemed like they’d been trying to do that a little bit at a time ever since I could remember.”

During Mississippi Freedom Summer in 1964, Hamer co-founded the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party to unseat the original Mississippi delegation at the upcoming 1964 Democratic Convention. In August, at the convention, she gave a riveting speech that was shown coast-to-coast. Nonetheless, the attempt failed, but Congressman John Lewis said, "As far as I’m concerned, this was the turning point of the Civil Rights Movement. I’m absolutely convinced of that.” In 1965, President Lyndon Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act, giving all citizens the right to full participation in the United States government. Both girls previously participated in State History Day in April with their video, winning third place and receiving the Aronoff Award, a $100 special prize given to the documentary best exhibiting the principles of the Bill of Rights. They were also invited to present their documentary last March in Mississippi at the Second Annual Conference of Mississippi Civil Rights Veterans. Both girls; their History Day coach Susan Reep, who is also Ali Castellanos’ grandmother; and Sandi Molen, Allie Molen’s mom, flew to Jackson, and the documentary was well-received by the almost 100 attendees, a virtual who’s who of those who were active in the movement.

Hamer’s legacy was confirmed when, on July 20, 2006, Congress renewed the Voting Rights Act for 25 years. They named it the Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Reauthorization and Amendments Act.

Before she died on March 14, 1977, she made known what she wanted on her tombstone. “I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired.”

Castellanos and Molen researched their project for over six months, watching video footage, reading books, and interviewing numerous people from the movement, including former United Nations Ambassador Andrew Young. They incorporated their interviews into the documentary to help tell the story and produced an annotated bibliography detailing their research.

"I have learned and experienced a lot in the process of making our documentary on Fannie Lou Hamer," said Allie Molen. "My understanding of the Civil Rights Movement has expanded immeasurably, and I enjoyed meeting and interviewing so many people who actually were a part of the movement. I wouldn't trade my experience and knowledge of this project for a million dollars! I think more kids should participate in National History Day because they learn many important skills, like researching and interviewing that will prove useful in their future."

Despite the enormous time commitment, Castellanos said, “Doing the research for this project and making the video itself was such a great experience and accomplishment. I learned so much that will be beneficial to me throughout school and the rest of my life. Even if we hadn’t won any awards, I wouldn’t regret doing the project.”

RAT: The Royally Offensive Video

WARNING: This video contains explicit language. Don't even think about watching it unless you are a little drunk and enjoy dark comedy.

Theatre Addict TV Episode 5

The "Royal Association Of Thespians" (or RAT) plays by its own rules. It is unknown what those rules are, aside from the observation that their comedy is always big, funny, and guaranteed to offend people of all ages and creeds. This short video will give you a taste of that RAT flavor.