Safe at Home

The Boys of Summer continues to roll along, but we need your help to complete this year's journey. Please see our site for the latest on how to contribute. Thank you!

In March 2014, we rekindled the adventure we began ten years prior. My dad, with Parkinson’s, and me, with a camera or two, came together around baseball and went on a journey. In 2004, the journey was simpler to define: we road-tripped 20,000 miles in two months to see a game at each of the 30 MLB parks. In 2014, the initial idea was to do it again. Because of financial and physical limitations, we decided to pare the idea down to the six parks built since 2004. When the limitations became tighter on both fronts, we changed directions.

Dad broke through many walls this summer - most more metaphorical than this one.

My dad was signaling that he was giving up. The red flag for all of us ­­was dad’s lack of interest in golf and his admission that the pain in his back had become nearly debilitating. His doctors had told him there was nothing more they could do beyond prescribing more pain medicine. My mom was scared to the point she fell into another depression.

Dad plays with his grandson, Giuseppe.

Through searching for alternatives, a friend suggested I give Dr. DeMartino of Superior Health Solutions in Henderson, NV a call. We exchanged information, then discussed opportunities. He liked what he saw in our original documentary enough to offer my dad pro bono treatment at the clinic. He was confident he could relieve some of the pain and bring my dad to a greater degree of health. It wouldn’t be easy, though. Dad would have to come to Las Vegas for an extended period of time, estimated at two to three months. Dad said yes.

In late April, Dad said yes. I’ve been blogging about this process over the last three months in detail and there is more to come still. I want to cover the last day right now and a few thoughts on what the future holds.

One goal achieved. Next up.

Mom worked through her depression and came down to join my Dad in Las Vegas in early June. She went home for a brief period of time, then stayed for the last six weeks. Living conditions weren’t always the easiest or most comfortable for them in their extended stay hotel, but they managed. There were many ups and downs in the treatment. There was great skepticism at times and great hope at others. The constant physical sign of health was my dad’s weight loss through nutrition and supplementation. He lost nearly thirty pounds and reached his goal weight of 175 pounds in the final week. He displayed signs of increased health, vitality and enjoyment in his activity. He suggested social events and dates with my mom as opposed to holing up in a room and tuning out with television or his laptop. He said yes to road trips to Zion and Los Angeles. He braved a boxing ring, the Pacific Ocean and some water slides. He played with his grandkids. He emerged, three months later, a healthier man.

Dad plays with his granddaughter, Francesca.

For those looking for a cure to Parkinson’s here, I suggest you look elsewhere. It’s the wrong line of thinking as far as I’m concerned. As to whether or not those working on a cure for it will ever find one, that’s well beyond me. “Ever” is a long time. I have serious doubts about some, if not many, traditional western medical institutions, foundations and pharmaceutical manufacturers because their loyalties, in my examination of them, often following the dollar, seem to value that dollar or system that is supporting them long before the individual. I can say, with certainty, I believe in the power of the human body to heal itself. I believe it is doing exactly that on a daily, combatting much of the toxicity we introduce to it, both knowingly and unknowingly. I believe our bodies can be overwhelmed and that we do sometimes need help in evaluating our health, as we can easily become locked in our silos of self and blind to the things that we are in control of versus those we are not.

 

My Mom and Dad went home yesterday, July 31, 2014. My mom cleaned out the old food they had been eating and they both pledged to “protect their home” from unhealthy foods, recognizing their damaging effects back in June. My dad, who began his treatment with a 55-degree tilt in his spine and ended it with a 49-degree tilt, is committed to a more vigorous, physically active lifestyle. Dr. DeMartino repeatedly remarked how strong my dad’s body was, despite the PD or the massive curvature in his back. That encouragement, along with the weight loss and a renewed acceptance of himself as an athlete, has driven my dad forward.

Our journey is not over. We still hope to get to the six new ballparks built since 2004. We love our Oakland A’s and will cheer our lungs out for them to finally push through and not only get to but win a World Series for the first time in 25 years. Mom and Dad have much work to do, as do I. When will the film come to light? That’s beyond me right now. Too many questions. It will be seen at some point, when the time is right. I am working up my case for the next ask and I will write it soon. I hope you will join those who have already contributed to our mission, understanding, now more than ever, that we have proved the concepts we have put forth, worked diligently and professionally and are very worthy of your financial support.

The biggest difference between now and when we began in the early spring is the presence of hope. My Dad knows he can’t cure Parkinson’s, nor is he even remotely interested in seeking one out. That’s out of his control. He has quit looking. He is interested in making the most out what he has, Parkinson’s – not my Dad -- be damned. His body is much more willing than he previously thought and now so is his mind. The last action he took with Dr. DeMartino yesterday was to take a brief jog with him around the parking lot of DeMartino’s office. The idea of running again, something my dad identified very closely with for decades, was not on the list of hopes when we began this process. It emerged naturally through perseverance, saying yes and a happy accident. Look for Dan Cochrane jogging on a block near you, Walnut Creek, CA.

I am deeply proud of my parents for accepting their challenges head on and fighting back, for not listening to the naysayers, even professional and very well-educated ones, who told them they were on a fool’s errand. Contrary to popular, and I believe often well-meaning advice, “never quit” is not a philosophy I subscribe to. There is a time to quit – whether it’s a belief system, relationship, job or anything else dragging one down or causing you to lose focus. Holding on to too many things is far more dangerous and detrimental than quitting, reevaluating and harnessing one’s energy.

Mom says goodbye. Dad encourages her along.

The journey continues.

The Boys of Summer roll along, but we need your help to complete this year's journey. Please see our site for the latest on how to contribute. Thank you!

Looking back, moving forward

One of the criticisms the original “Boys of Summer” received was that my father and I got along too well. Yes, I’m being serious. From the standpoint of purely selling tickets and DVD’s, I get it; general audiences find more immediate interest in rich housewives arguing than they do an average American father and son dealing with a devastating disease diagnosis in a positive manner – in our case, by road-tripping to all 30 Major League Baseball parks.

Though that criticism stung when I first heard it, particularly from potential distributors, I see it more clearly now. I can see where people wouldn’t understand the work my father and I put in to our relationship to make it what it is today. Being blood-related is not enough to make one interested in a meaningful relationship. There are many, many assumed relationships by blood that don’t carry much meaning in the individuals lives. My dad, wisely, kindly and lovingly realized he wanted more from our relationship when I was 20 years old and away at college. That’s when he first proposed we go to all the ballparks, though it was a more modest manner at the time – we’d go to a few each summer. We did that for two summers, hitting seven ballparks (Chicago(2), Detroit, Milwaukee, New York Yankee, Boston and Philadelphia) in two very short trips. These were amazing trips and they meant the world to my dad and me.

Life got busy with my graduation, dad’s retirement and various plans, so we set the plan to see the parks on hold. In 2000, after six years of living the Hollywood grind, I felt like I had lost myself. I divorced my life and fled to the desert. My goal in moving to Las Vegas just shy of turning 30 was to figure “it” out – either I’d flame out from excess, gambling, drinking, women, etc. or I’d find out what I really wanted to be when I grew up. I dealt 21, I became Caesar, but most importantly, I did figure out some very important things about me. I knew for sure my path of being a filmmaker was far from over; it just didn’t necessarily have to run through Hollywood.

In 2001, after another difficult relationship breakup, I returned to the Bay Area to make my directorial debut with a very personal film called, “the long road home”. In it, the main character was dealing with calling off a much-hyped wedding, the sudden death of a controversial mentor in a high school football coach and a stale relationship with his father. I gave the script to my mom and dad to read. While the film is not auto-biographical, it is derivative, so I was nervous as I knew they’d see pieces of themselves in the script. My dad said it was the best script I’d ever written. Not only that, he backed the film with a loan to ensure it happened. My parents both okayed the use of their house as my production hub and a practical location for shooting. These were all incredible gifts I couldn’t have made the film without.

One month before production was set to begin, my dad was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. I really didn’t understand what that meant. I had heard of it, but, again, didn’t know what it meant. My dad wasn’t too concerned. Whatever was happening wasn’t stopping him from doing anything or being who he wanted to be at that time. Two weeks later, my mom’s diagnosis with breast cancer was a different story. This stopped them in their tracks. She was going to get aggressive chemotherapy as the cancer had advanced. Even so, that wouldn’t begin for several months, and they restated their blessing for me to make the film.

The process was an incredible journey physically, mentally and spiritually. Making the film taxed me in a way almost nothing else has. As director, producer, writer and lead actor I was pulled in every direction at once. I needed autonomy after seeing my first two films fall short of my expectations, at least in part, because of some of the people involved. My parents gave me that respect – not at all blindly, but based on who I was and what I’d done to that point. I had completed a circle, taking a long road home to get back to zero and reassess where I was going next.

Three weeks into a four week shoot, my dad woke me up, saying, “You better come take a look at this.” I walked, sleepy-eyed, into the front room just in time to see a plane hit the second of the twin towers. It didn’t look real. I couldn’t comprehend what I was seeing. We were glued to the television, like millions of others around the world. The thing that moved me from the set was the immediate demand by certain talking heads for accountability – like the situation was immediately clear and that punitive action toward those people would make a difference. I walked away.

On 9/4/11, we shot a scene from “the long road home” at the Oakland Airport. We literally walked past all security, to the gate, with me even walking onto a jetway to make it look like I was exiting a plane, in order to get our shots for the film. We were clandestine at first, shooting out of duffle bags and wearing wireless lavalier mics. But after a few hours and without receiving anything more than a raised eyebrow from anyone official, we started to shoot more openly. We got a great opening scene. We were very likely the last people to ever be able to shoot in an airport with that kind of access and freedom.

Near the end of the film, near the end of my character’s (Bo) journey on screen, he has begun to wake up to some new truths about himself and his surroundings. As he’s packing, preparing to leave and go back to his new adult home, he asks his father a painful question. That scene is here.

This scene, too, was inspired by a real life conversation with my dad. It wasn’t this exact dialogue, except for the part where dad answered a tough question with “I love you very much”. It was the only answer he could give and, after I calmed down, it gave me a tremendous window of understanding into my dad; we’re not the same, we’re not always going to see eye-to-eye and that is, more than okay, great. By respecting each others differences and honoring each other as the people we are for the things we do, even if we don’t necessarily understand or agree with everything, we have drawn closer to each other. Interestingly, after growing up as political opposites, we have both drawn closer to the middle – not saying that’s the right way to think, but in our hours and hours of conversations that span everything (and I do mean everything), the exchange of ideas has been comforting, enlightening and healing.

If you’d like to see “the long road home” in its entirety, it can be found here. It got some very nice comments won some awards in its brief festival run – I simply ran out of money to push it so I moved on to my next project. Thank you and I look forward to your comments.

Simple Stuff Introduction - Dan Cochrane

Our new book, Simple Stuff, is available for purchase for $2.99 as an ebook on Amazon (click here). This book was written in 2002-2003, before the trip for the original documentary "Boys of Summer" was even conceived. It was a key point in our relationship, however, as it drew us together, literally, over an artistic venture. Below is the original introduction my dad, the illustrator, wrote for the book. 

Dad’s Intro (written in 2005)

How do we know we can do things? There may be many different avenues. For me it has come primarily from being around people who were doing things, which makes the process very real, very concrete, very doable. My first memory of creating art work came from my Aunt Libby. She would draw greeting cards for birthdays or special holidays and that seemed magical to a five year old. The same kind of magic my grandmother would use to bake a fresh loaf of bread. Nothing abstract, just put your hands in the flour and create. 

School work always seemed to me to be a much more abstract learning process that did not capture my interest until my sophomore year of college. Actually it was either get interested or get out. I decided to get interested. Graduation, marriage, a family and a business career followed. From time to time I would draw greeting cards for family members and they were always well received. I never expected to develop my efforts any further but when you have children and they become a source of energy and creativity the genie is out of the bottle.

The genie in this case was my son, Bob, who proposed the idea of working together on an idea he called Simple Stuff. This would be a departure from projects we worked on in the past that usually involved such things as bundling tree pruning or building a sport court in our back yard. As Bob explained it, he had some observations about life that I would illustrate. I had not read any of his thoughts so I didn't really understand what the project would amount to. The idea of joining Bob in a creative effort sounded too good to miss. Bob had a very wise approach: in the beginning, he didn't mention how many illustrations would be involved. He only sent me ten at a time. That kept me from becoming overwhelmed by the prospects of doing something as daunting as "a book". Quite the contrary, I found myself energized, trying to interpret Bob's ideas.

Thank you, Bob, for being my genie and for trusting me with your magic.

Love always,

Dad

Boys of Summer Book - Entry #161

You can see the complete film "Boys of Summer" for free by clicking here. 

100% proceeds go to the Michael J Fox Foundation. 

July 9, 2006 - Bob
Walnut Creek, CA

Some ups, some downs...

We didn’t get the New York Post article as we had hoped. They loved our story, but were looking for something a little more local. Easy enough to understand as we’re on the left coast and all.

The good: the Oprah Winfrey show has expressed interest. I’ve long felt we’d be a perfect fit. The producer who contacted me said they keep projects on file to see if they fit with any of their upcoming shows. There’s no guarantee this does anything but put us into what I’m sure is a very big vault, but hey, it’s Oprah’s big vault. Here’s to hoping.
August 1, 2006 - Mom
Walnut Creek, CA

The difference in therapy now and then, is huge. I feel like I’m on a road -- it’s a good path. Before it was like a report card -- 1/2 hour and goodbye. This is working. Our therapist is working with us, helping us to work directionally.

I came from a place of fear with Kaiser. What I learned at the  clinic (in Seattle) was I don’t need to be afraid. It was having dad with me, that he was learning right along with me, that love and support that he showed was absolutely incredible.

The staff there were just so direct. They made me look at the disease, take responsibility. Giving me the actual tools was just amazing to me. It definitely empowered me. It’s a lifelong process. It’s like having diabetes -- you are never going to get rid of it. But you can manage it by your insulin (medication) and through behavior modification. Here are the tools. Each of us had particular behavior modifications for each of our temperaments, personalities and behaviors. It was specific to each of us -- not generic. I wasn’t categorized. I was dealt with as a PERSON, not a disease.

The spiritual aspect was huge to me. It was an important level to connect to. It wasn’t thrown in my face. It wasn’t fundamental or judgmental. It was comforting, informative and still challenging... but it was in a way that I like. It spoke to me.

 

Boys of Summer Book - Entry #153

You can see the complete film "Boys of Summer" for free by clicking here. 

100% proceeds go to the Michael J Fox Foundation. 

April 19, 2006 - Bob

Walnut Creek, CA

Mom and Dad took our doc to the Palm Beach Film Festival. Due to financial and job constraints, I am unable to attend. I hate not being there for it, but I can't just chase something with no money (I've done that long enough!). This "getting married" thing is happening in about five months and it's causing me to get my financial house in order. That's a good thing and it's a sacrifice -- my freedom to just come and go as I please. I feel a bit like I'm saying g'bye to Peter Pan.

April 20, 2006 - Mom

Palm Beach, FL

When we arrived we had a hard time finding anyone involved with the festival. We finally got some information then went to the opening night gala. We saw everybody involved with the festival there. We saw the screening and how everyone was handing out the cards. I was listening to everybody. I wasn’t really sure what I was supposed to be doing. 

April 22, 2006 - Mom

Palm Beach, FL

The big problem was that our movie was shown at a bad time. My heart was broken because not very many people showed up. I saw other films that were good, but they weren’t better than ours.  

I was so sad that there were like 8 people for our screening. We didn't hand out enough cards or talk to enough people. What more could I have done? I had never been to one of these -- so I didn’t know what else to do. Dad’s shy about talking to people. I really got to see the difficulty of marketing first hand and it’s very frustrating. How do you convince someone you have a good product? You can’t drag them in.

Right before our movie was a movie about India and they had TONS of family, relatives and it was a huge group. I wished we were at Seattle or somewhere where we’d have support like that. But then you had 500+ in AZ. All in all, the whole festival seemed very disorganized, poorly put together. There was no support. It was spread so wide. We went to two other screenings and there was hardly anyone in them either. 

I did get to meet Mary Ann Sprinkle at the screening. I was so happy to meet her. She’s a wonderful lady and has done so much for Bob and Dan.

Boys of Summer Book - Entry #147

You can see the complete film "Boys of Summer" for free by clicking here. 

100% proceeds go to the Michael J Fox Foundation. 

March 28, 2006 - Bob

Scottsdale, AZ

and the beat goes on...

My head is spinning a bit -- just to catch up with itself. I got up this morning and went to the excellent gym here at the Valley Ho (which I just can't say enough good things about -- the place rocks). I get a great workout in and, as I'm feeling the adrenaline rush and blood flow, the ideas come with. 

I had thought, months ago, that adding some theatricality to the presentation could be in order. Specifically, I thought about adding vendors before the movie and having some baseball stadium themed music playing as people arrived. After seeing the space last night another thought came to mind that I really love -- let's have someone sing the Star Spangled Banner before the show. BAM! The massive curtains open, the Bro n 'Stine logo comes up and away we go. 

I pitched it to some of the people involved here and got wonderful responses. The screening continues to grow. We've moved from the apathetic Buffalo Wild Wings to the classy-but-fun Abuelo's across the parking lot from the theater. 

I walked into the theater tonight and saw big lines getting ready to go see the movies and I just about burst with excitement. I ran back and got my camera to shoot some of the pre-film buzz. I began to imagine what it will be like for Boys of Summer of Thursday. I get goose bumps even typing it. 

We've been told 200 tickets have been sold (as of last night). We had a great day at the A's game today -- A's wiped out the Rangers 8-3. We got to sit up in the press booth in the box next to Ken Macha. Dad and I both met him and he was very nice. We also met an hysterical man who was the father of the groundskeeper at Phoenix Municipal. He had great stories and I was very happy to pass along a copy of the movie to him. 

We met with the PR rep for the Phoenix Film Festival, Erica. She is lining up several interviews for us, including a TV spot tomorrow. She's working on the Sports Radio guys. We'll keep the phone on in case we get an early morning producer ready to give us some minutes. 

We saw a great documentary at the fest tonight -- the Day After Tomorrow. It was a piece about the original cast kids from Annie and how they had dealt with post-star life. Funny, sad and a lot of great memories as Annie was the first musical I saw as an 8-year-old. How lucky to get to see Broadway at that age -- many thanks to my mom and dad.

We're back at the Valley Ho now -- I'm going to take a quick dip in the hot tub and wait to hear from Annamaria and Mom as to how the screening in Oakland went tonight. 

More to come... 

Boys of Summer Book - Entry #137

You can see the complete film "Boys of Summer" for free by clicking here. 

100% proceeds go to the Michael J Fox Foundation. 

Three more reviews:

Friday Dec 9th, 2005 

From www.athleticsnation.com:

Written by skigurl

Just wanted to give a huge thanks to Robert for giving a few of us the chance to see his very personal film about his baseball trip with his dad last summer. He graciously hosted a great party where we also got to meet his dad, the "star" of the movie, who has Parkinson's disease. 

The film was really three stories: A baseball trip, a father/son relationship, and a chance to see what Parkinson's is about and how it affects those who have it and their families. He's got lots of talent as a filmmaker but, more importantly, he has a wonderful family and was very open about sharing them with us.

It's rare for people to be as open about who they are in front of a camera, and I think it's a great story that will hopefully get wider distribution.

Friday Dec 09, 2005

From www.atheleticsnation.com

Written by Alameda Greg

Me too

I also went with my wife last night (nice to meet you skigurl) and this movie is touching and funny. 

Robert, two things:

I forgot to ask in the Q/A last night what the deal was with those kids with the mansion in Houston? Your dad's line about their parents was the funniest of the night, that and that Cincy kid mispronouncing Miguel Tejada.

I also didn't realize until I got home last night that you are also the person who went to the Raiders game and had such a bad experience. I happened to run across that post last night. Dang, I wish I would have known so we could have talked about it.

Keep in Touch

**********************************************

LETTER FROM THE BOSTON RED SOX

December 14, 2005

Dear Robert,

I would like to thank you for sending me a copy of Boys of Summer. I watched the film, in the company of others in my office, and we all commented on how well the documentary was made. Following you and your father, Dan, as you made your trip across the country, through various cities and Major League ballparks, was a truly touching depiction of the bond between a father and a son.

We were very pleased, as well, to see that the game of baseball could play a small part in the trips you took, and the stories you were able to bring to the film. We particularly enjoyed the fact that you were able to make a stop here, at our beloved Fenway Park.

For those of us who know or love someone with Parkinson’s disease, your film touches upon many of the feelings we go through every day. And for someone who is unfamiliar with the disease, your film does a wonderful job of expressing how such a disease effects not only the person with the disease, but also all of those who care for them and the disease secondhand.

I would like to wish you all the best in this endeavor and all that may follow. Your work on behalf of all of those inflicted with Parkinson’s disease is inspirational, and heartfelt. Thank you again for sharing it with us. 

Sincerely,

Dr. Carles A. Steinberg 

Executive Vice President/Public Affairs

Boys of Summer Book - Entry #134

You can see the complete film "Boys of Summer" for free by clicking here. 

100% proceeds go to the Michael J Fox Foundation. 

September 22, 2005 - Bob

Los Angeles, CA

We have been receiving phenomenal support. There have been some wonderful additions to the project. The Michael J Fox Foundation is now officially on board alongside the National Parkinson Foundation -- getting them to coexist is really something (see below). Though they represent the same illness, they have different approaches as to how to spend the money they receive. In a nutshell, Michael J Fox Foundation is 100% research-based in search of a cure. The National Parkinson Foundation divides it’s money in to research as well as care for those who now live with the disease. There is no right or wrong here and I greatly appreciate both groups willingness to stand by one another with this film.

Great, great, great stuff.

So...our thought is to continue on the marketing front for now -- seeking out individuals who will champion the cause. Hopefully a nice stack of letters will go a long way to helping us be seen where we need to be seen.

I was speaking to my dad a few weeks ago and he sounded very small and distant, as he gets when he is sad, angry or frustrated. They had just begun a massive kitchen remodeling project and right as it began, my mom went into a deep depression, meaning she is not available to manage the project she set up. My dad really hoped to do nothing more than sign the checks. Stress is particularly damaging to him now with Parkinson’s. This is one of the areas where the cognitive effects of his disease come into play. He can’t process things the way he’s used to and he’s aware of it. Then he gets frustrated by that and the vicious cycle continues to spin.

I drove up to see my parents and check things out firsthand. It was as if the house I grew up in was suddenly under a dark veil. The kitchen being torn out is a dramatic thing no matter what mental/spiritual state any house and its inhabitants are in. But because my mom and, therefore, my dad, were both in such a weakened state, the entire house felt as if it were nearly lifeless.

Mom had been down for several weeks already and it was really stressing my dad out. What I mean by mom being “down” is that she literally doesn’t get out of bed but for 15-30 minutes a day. She’ll get up, get a little something to eat, often say something about an upset stomach and that she needs to “go lie down for a moment” then be gone again for several hours. To be clear: she’s not making this illness up. She really does vomit and goes through all the physical pain she’s describing. So far as I can tell, there’s nothing anyone can do for her. My dad, on the other hand, is dealing on a daily basis and trying to avoid a depressed state himself. He could use the support. He really needs my mom, but she’s checked out.

After much soul searching, I knew I couldn’t be a whole lot of help from a distance. I asked my dad if he wanted me to move up to help out. My dad, as I’ve said before is a very proud man and has a very difficult time asking for anything. He said “yes” without hesitation.

It was a relief and quite scary at the same time.

The next big call was to Annamaria. How was she going to take this? She was just getting into a relatively new job she’d been working as a massage therapist. She was making good money and finally enjoying Los Angeles (no small feat for her). When I asked her what she thought, she didn’t hesitate either: “Let’s move up there”. I’d loved her for nearly three years at that point -- but never had I loved her more than when she answered so selflessly and supportively.

This is a big change and very sudden, but one I am very honored to have the ability to make.

Boys of Summer Book - Entry #128

You can see the complete film "Boys of Summer" for free by clicking here. 

100% proceeds go to the Michael J Fox Foundation. 

Mar 21, 2005 - Bob
Walnut Creek, CA

Well...a rough cut was made, though yours truly was the chief architect/editor. Mike is a great guy and an excellent editor -- his time is just not available right now as he's getting married. In all fairness, doubling his rate would have left him with the same amount, so I can understand where his loyalties may be.

I sloughed through it and REALLY enjoyed what I came out with. I showed it to my mom, dad and Annamaria in the Bay Area and got some excellent feedback. There were some blank looks and questions from time to time, but that’s okay (when I say rough, I mean it; for instance there were whole five-minute long sections with no audio. In my mind, I hear the dialogue, the voiceover, the score and the background in perfect harmony. Mom, dad and Annamaria are left with my descriptions of such things).

I am now recutting and moving forward. Mike may do some work after he gets back from his honeymoon, but that's a solid month away. In the meantime, I'll be adding, subtracting and keeping an eye on upcoming festival possibilities.

We received a fee waiver from the Seattle Film Fest. It takes place in late May/Early June. They need my cut at the end of the week. They said it’s okay if it’s rough. Okay...

Next up on the docket is an A's game in Oakland (for the final scene/denouement) -- this will wrap the movie, so dad can talk about his Parkinson’s, the progression of it and the incredible need to do things when the time is available rather than the ubiquitous "tomorrow". Our wrap-up game was scheduled for April 17th vs. the despised Angels of "Los Angeles/Anaheim" (Booooooooooo...), but, because of the Beverly Hills Film Fest (which Annamaria and I are very happy to be part of with “Luckey Quarter”), we'll be down in L.A..

As a matter of fact, Annamaria and I are loading up the trucks and moving to...well, not Beverly Hills, but Mar Vista (near Venice/West L.A.) at the end of this month. We’ve both lived in L.A. previously (before we knew each other). I have found the Vegas market has simply dried up when it comes to what I’m trying to accomplish film-wise. I need the challenge and the opportunities L.A. has to offer.

As for our wrap-up game for “Boys of Summer”, we’re now looking at May first versus the Mariners. Fingers crossed that all works out. It’s a wonder I don’t have arthritis with all this finger crossing.

After that we’re hoping for a Bay Area friends and family screening at the Parkway Theatre in Oakland. They’ve screened several other films of mine and one of their programmers, Will Viharo, has always been kind to me. I know we'll pack the house.