I present a range of fast-paced, pop-culture programs that combine video, PowerPoint and humor to entertain and educate audiences. These programs have been presented across the country at dozens of libraries, universities, museums and conventions, and are appropriate for all ages unless otherwise noted.
NEW! POW: THE HISTORY OF SUPERHERO MOVIES
This new, fast-paced program traces the evolution of Comic Book Cinema, from the Saturday-morning serials of yesteryear to the box-office blockbusters of today. Aimed for all ages, the program uses DVD video and PowerPoint to take audiences behind the scenes of some of the coolest flicks (and a few fun TV shows), exploring how Hollywood’s take on superheroes has changed with the times and technologies available.
NEW! BOOK DISCUSSIONS FOR GUYS
Book discussions are a great way to explore literature and popular fiction, but in recent times, many book groups have become the province of women in terms of topics and titles chosen. In an effort to make them more inclusive, Book Discussions for Guys eschews Oprah-esque picks for the likes of Stieg Larsson’s Millennium Trilogy (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, etc.); Dashiell Hammett’s The Maltese Falcon; Alan Moore’s Watchmen; and so on. Plus, I take requests—have a book you want explored? Let’s talk!
NEW! HOW TO TWITTER
An hour-long, basic overview of the popular social media service, Twitter. The program, which can be offered as a presentation or a lab, explains how to join and make the most the service for personal or business use. Topics include: Twitter etiquette and culture; useful related services and applications; “Tweeting” on an iPhone; what to write about; how to gain a following; improving one’s Twitter page; and more. Attendees should have basic computer/internet skills.
KABOOM: THE HISTORY OF MOVIE SPECIAL EFFECTS
Using DVD video and PowerPoint, this fast-paced program follows the history of visual effects in movies, from the late 1800s to today’s computer-enhanced creations. As audiences have grown more sophisticated, so has Hollywood’s arsenal of smoke and mirrors, always aiming to take viewers into another reality. Following a timeline through movie history, the program presents key effect moments from great movies, explaining how the effects were achieved and why each was an important advancement. Special attention is paid to the movies of the last 30 years, illustrating the shift from using models to computer-generated animation.
Click to download a detailed .PDF file about this program.
YIKES: THE HISTORY OF MOVIE STUNTS
Yikes: The History of Movie Stunts is a fast-paced sequel to my popular Kaboom: The History of Special Effects program, tracing the action-packed evolution of jaw-dropping stunt work in movies. From car chases, explosions and leaping off bridges, to sword fights, motorboat jumps and hanging from helicopters, Hollywood stuntmen and women willingly risk their lives daily to bring excitement to the silver screen. Starting with seat-of-their-pants feats filmed in the early 1900s, the program follows a timeline of movie stunts throughout the ages, presenting some of the most spectacular acts ever put to celluloid while explaining the advancements in technology, training and safety that made them possible.
Click to download a detailed .PDF file about this program.
HOMEMADE HOLLYWOOD
Discover the history of “fan films,” a new movement in today’s pop culture. Regular people are making films based on their favorite movies, books and TV shows, using video cameras and computers to create complex, unique films. Many fan films are now high-quality efforts, sometimes costing as much as $30,000 to produce! This program presents the best fan efforts, featuring Batman, Harry Potter, Superman, Darth Vader and other famous characters, and reveals the history of the fan film movement, exploring what compels budding filmmakers to invest so much into their visions of these popular characters.
Click to download a detailed .PDF file about this program.
MAY THE FAN FILM BE WITH YOU: STAR WARS FAN FILMS
Similar to the Homemade Hollywood program, this presents over a dozen of the best Star Wars “fan films.” These high-quality, short movies have been made by independent filmmakers around the world, often taking a comic view of George Lucas’ creation, expanding upon the original films with new stories. Additionally, the program discusses the history of the growing fan film movement, and explores what it means for Hollywood’s relationship with its fans.
Click to download a detailed .PDF file about this program.
THE HISTORY OF ROCK CONCERTS
Get an insider’s view of how rock concerts grew from Elvis performing in hayfields to the multi-million-dollar spectacles that the Rolling Stones and Madonna present today. Weaving facts, humorous anecdotes, video and PowerPoint slides together, this program highlights how concerts, like rock music, have always changed to reflect the times. While this program features considerable performance footage, The History of Rock Concerts features two video documentaries that are exclusive to this program, showing life behind-the-scenes on Fleetwood Mac’s 2004 tour and The Who’s 2002 tour. These films can’t be seen anywhere else!
Click to download a detailed .PDF file about this program.
VIDEO KILLED THE RADIO STAR: THE HISTORY OF MUSIC VIDEOS
Trace the development of music video, from the movie shorts of the 1930s up to the big-budget clips of today. As a highlight, the program profiles the top music video directors, showing how artists such as Dali and Magritte, and classic films like Apocalypse Now and Casablanca influenced videos. Special attention is paid to the golden age of music videos, which began on August 1, 1981, when MTV played its very first clip, “Video Killed The Radio Star,” by the Buggles. You’ll discover you’ve been watching a lot more than just pop songs!
Click to download a detailed .PDF file about this program.