End Game

This blog continues its path, sharing the inside details of the follow up to the award-winning documentary, "Boys of Summer". For more details, to watch the film or contribute to the sequel, please click here.

As we enter week eight of my dad's therapy under the skilled eyes and hands of Dr. DeMartino, here is the latest:

* Dad has lost 17 pounds (eating gluten-free and sugar free).
* Dad is a bit straighter, though this process is very much in play right now as the weeks leading up to this point were about getting his body healthy to receive this stage of the treatment.
* Dad would like more energy - he still feels tired.
* Several tests, including blood and urine, with definitive markers and scientific numbers will be taken in the next couple of weeks.

To that end, we are near the end of this phase. We don't have an exact out date for dad, but a good guess would be the end of July. My mom will be returning tomorrow and will be staying for a few weeks. There appear to be a few doctors in the bay with similar modalities to Dr. DeMartino who dad can continue his therapy with.

We need to make our way to Los Angeles in the next couple of weeks for a few things:
*Interview Dr. George Gonzalez, inventor of Quantum Neurology (one of Dr. DeMartino's highest recommendations for us).
*Interview Rob Belushi, a good friend and former instructor of mine at Second City about the value of comedy in health/life.
*Take dad to a gym that specializes in Parkinsonians boxing. I want to challenge my dad to keep fighting hard for his health and life - boxing is a great metaphor for that.
*See the coast. Get in the water. The ocean heals.

Who knows? Maybe we can even take in a game at Dodger or Angel Stadium.

Our story (go to about one minute in to see our mention) played on the local Las Vegas NBC affiliate last week in celebration of our ten year anniversary. The reporter, Amber Dixon, liked it enough to follow up last night with a few questions.

Or maybe she just liked Giuseppe that much - he's quite the charmer. He says he wants to be a reporter. She'll be cutting a longer piece that should make its way to air on Sunday night - I'll post it here when it's up.

So what happens after dad is done with treatment? Are we done? I hope not. We still need to get to the six new ballparks built since 2004 plus return to the Field of Dreams. If you'd like to help us get there, please visit our site to donate. Thank you. 

Dan & Robert talk

Today Dad and I spent some time in front of the camera together, something we did a lot of in the first documentary, but haven't done much of so far. Part of this has been because I've been one-man-banding this act and really focussing on shooting dad's process. Part of that is very freeing and interesting, especially since I am far more camera/image focus than I was in the past. The other side, though, that is missing, is the connection between us, literally, on screen. To that end, I offer today's video.

We talked about a number of things - golf and giving it up, which may sound antithetical against our process of trying to get my dad back to it, but if you watch the video you'll get it. We also talked about the things we take for granted, like walking and the value of said simple things. And, of course, we talked a little A's baseball - which is quite enjoyable right now with the boys tearing up the league!

We also had a very interesting meeting with Zen Master, Thomas Pastor. He's one of the teachers at the Zen Center of Las Vegas. Dad's going to begin to learn how to meditate. There are many studies, especially in the last couple of years, that point to the specific scientifically provable benefits for the brain by meditating. Almost nothing could make more sense for my dad to engage in and we're excited to start the process. 

Lastly, we talked about Giuseppe's graduation from preschool. While it might sound like a silly idea to have a graduation from preschool, if you know his medical history, which included a rough start at birth, and understand he's been there at UNLV's preschool for three years now, you'll know this is a great thing to celebrate. I'll post some pictures tomorrow.

As always, we appreciate your comments and hope you'll take a look at our book, Simple Stuff, which is still a free download for the next two days. 

Spring Training - Cactus '14 (part one)

The Boys of Summer - Second Base, sequel to the award-winning first documentary, began principal photography on March 13, 2014. We need your help. Please visit our kickstarter page and share it with your friends and family.

 Simply making the trip to Phoenix was a big deal. For anyone who's ever been on a family road trip, particularly from the parental side, or if you've seen National Lampoon's Vacation, you know what I mean. We loaded up our metallic green Town & Country minivan to the hilt, strapped in the kids (no Aunt Edna), and headed south. I got us there, but thankfully the rest of the car was sleeping or they would have to endure and, worse, probably would have questioned my unintentional scenic route that added roughly an hour to a journey that didn't need it. For the record, my wife only suggested we should ask for directions once. I, of course, said no.

It's the small things that make family road trips so great. When we arrived at our first night shanty - and that's being polite - we convinced the kids to go back to sleep so they could have waffles tomorrow morning at the "Continental Breakfast"! The name sounded just regal enough to put them back to sleep with a smile. The next morning, my four year old, Giuseppe whispered me awake with the repeated word: "Waffle? Waffle?"

We did. The joy he got out of sitting in the lobby and picking out his own yogurt, pouring an orange juice out of a machine ("so cool!") and having a perfectly round, hot golden waffle put him firmly in hog heaven.

We moved on to our next hotel, where the Nine Baseball Conference would be held. The hotel was a significant upgrade. The pool immediately had the kids jumping out of their shorts. Grandma and Grandpa's flight arrived and we went to lunch. That night, I was part of a three-person documentary film panel about baseball. It was an excellent discussion.

That night, I had a hard time sleeping. I was very nervous about the next day. I had a press credential to be in the clubhouse of my beloved Oakland A's. I had a plan to talk to certain players who I thought might have an inherent relationship to Boys of Summer. Would they talk to me? What was the proper etiquette for the clubhouse? What if I struck out in my attempts? Would this be a wasted effort? How was my dad feeling? Would my wife be okay with the kids?

Worry, worry, worry. So it goes in the mind of a father, son, and independent filmmaker in a high stakes poker game.

What is baseball?

What is baseball?

After watching (or, more accurately, re-waching) four baseball films and meditating on the sport through the lens of our proposed follow up documentary, something simple came to me: baseball is a vehicle, not the end game. Where it takes us is much more important that what it does. It serves as a support system, a spine of sorts, that allows us to fill in the details around. The four “baseball films” and their true intent seem to bear that truth out. 

The Final Season – It’s about saving a small town in Iowa

Eight Men Out – It’s about corruption

Field of Dreams – It’s about healing and fulfilling a dream

The Natural – It’s about redemption

It’s the same with Boys of Summer. Though it leans heavily upon baseball, it’s not about baseball. It’s about relationships – fathers and sons, fans and teams, indivduals and their bodies which are doing strange things.  

Baseball is a great sport. At the same time, it’s a bit of a dumb animal. It can’t, by itself, do anything. It can be played in a way that can move people to terrific heroics on one hand and murder on the other. In that sense, again, it is a conduit, a mirror and a vehicle.

Where do you want it to take you?

For players, it may be fame, fortune, the thrill of feeling what their bodies are capable of. For owners, it may be money, ancillary properties and the ability to build and maintain a public trust.

For fans it’s the thrill of taking part in a lucid, voyeuristic dream – one that makes the impossible seem possible. The slowness at which the game is played fuels that serenity. The daily grind itches at one’s soul, not allowing it to leave until it is scratched…only to itch again the next day.

I want baseball to take us all on the road - both literally and figuratively. I want to share this journey with those I’ve met before and those we’ll meet anew. I want to talk about dreams and fears, life and death. I want the latest and greatest minds on PD to share what has changed ten years later and where hope lies today. I want to experience the greatness of the people of America, the adventure of the road and a game of catch with my dad and my son at once. I want to help build a new generation and allow people’s stories to be heard by all.

Baseball is a vehicle. It sits by the side of the road, ready to take us wherever our dreams allow. It doesn’t ask for much beyond daily attention. While that may sound like a lot, the return is infinite.

The Boys of Summer - Second Base, sequel to the award-winning first documentary, began principal photography on March 13, 2014. We need your help. Please visit our kickstarter page and share it with your friends and family.

Boys of Summer Book - Entry #163

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

100% proceeds go to the Michael J Fox Foundation. 

April 1, 2007 - Bob
Las Vegas, NV

Annamaria and I have moved back to Las Vegas. In a way, this is “full circle”. It was very hard leaving the Bay Area, my friends, co-workers and my parents. Living with them for 18 months was such a gift. It was not our intention to stay with them that long, but life, for numerous reasons seemed to encourage us that way.

I had many feelings about living with them:

*The joy and friendship of dinners, movies or walks together.
*The sadness of seeing the ups and down in mom’s health particularly at such close range.
*The admiration of watching dad manage his PD in different ways.
*The strangeness of simply being that close to my parents as an adult, with a wife, no less. What did that say about me? There was guilt, as if I must be a failure to be living with them. There was also the reminder that what Annamaria and I were doing was helping from the ground level.

Ultimately, there was disappointment in simply not being able to afford a house in the Bay Area. We’re in a large group there, so I know I shouldn’t feel too bad. A house of the same size and with far more amenities is about half the price out in Las Vegas. Annamaria’s family lives out here and this is a place where Annamaria and I met and have had success in.

How will my parents be? They’ll be as they are supposed to, as well and conciously as they treat each other and themselves. I know Annamaria and I can only do so much. What my parents will do with their lives and how they will manage their illnesses is ultimately up to them. I don’t need to live with them to support them. I also know that part of the support I can offer is living a happy life with my beautiful new wife.

They’ve got a tremendous support system of friends, family and medical staff up there. And if anything really goes crazy, I’m only an hour flight away. I have to get on with my life and my family now. I’m a married man. Annamaria and I are (gulp) talking about kids of our own. That’s a little way off, but with a wife and a house, that “next question” is being asked with greater and greater frequency...

I think about taking my kids to their first ballgame. Tears well up just thinking about it. I’ll buy my child a snack. (FYI: I use “my child/kid” etc. because it doesn’t matter if we have a boy or a girl, they’re getting the game experience! Matter of fact, if my wife has her way, we’ll have twins.) I’ll make sure my child has the appropriate hat and jersey on (I really hope the kid’s first game is an A’s game...I’ll probably have the little one in A’s gear regardless of where it takes place). We’ll cheer, we’ll dance, we’ll sing “take me out to the ballgame”. I’ll teach my child very small things because I don’t want the experience to be a lecture...but understanding why the batter bunted or why an intentional walk was issued isn’t that hard to explain. And I’ll probably have to carry my child back out to the car because he or she will have fallen asleep by the time the game is over.

I hope my dad is with me at this game. And I hope they’ll have found a cure for Parkinson Disease by then so when my kids ask, “What were you guys talking about in the “Boys of Summer” movie?” I can tell them: hope and baseball.
 

Boys of Summer Book - Entry #162

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

100% proceeds go to the Michael J Fox Foundation. 

Feb. 20, 2007 - Paulette

Walnut Creek, CA

I’m looking back. There are things I wish I knew then what I know now so I could handle them differently. But I don’t blame myself. I would have been more encouraging. I think dad felt guilty. I wish he wouldn’t have -- that he could have gone with a freer heart. But it wasn’t so -- that’s just the way it was.

I’m thrilled with what the trip did for Bob’s and Dan’s relationship. Bob worked so darn hard -- I don’t know how much he enjoyed it.

They do have the memories. Jumping in the ocean, the Field of Dreams -- it was amazing. At the Auters, the Payzants, with Naiden -- all the opportunities and the people you met. You can’t put words to it. I am so grateful.

Had Christine said “mom I want to do this journey with you”, I’m sure I would have gone. I didn’t feel left out. If I wanted to go on the whole trip I could have. There were responsibilities at home.

Just to see the power of this film and the good that it has done and will do...it’s hope, it’s relationship. Yeah, dad’s got Parkinson’s Disease, but he isn’t Parkinson’s Disease, he’s a man who’s got Parkinson’s Disease. Like me, I’m a person who’s got bipolar but I live. I enjoy life. Before I was waiting for the next shoe to fall. I was feeling not in control in my life. I’m not saying I’ll never have an episode again. That happens -- life goes on, things happen. But right now things are good. I want to get ready for life -- living one day at a time. I can be prepared by working my program.

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 #155

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

100% proceeds go to the Michael J Fox Foundation. 

June 14, 2006 - Bob

Scottsdale, AZ Screening w/ Health South

Dad and I were fortunate enough to be invited back to Scottsdale, AZ by Karen Christiana of Health South again for two purposes:

A) To meet and interview the riders of a dynamic group, "Amputees Across America" (AAA). When I spoke Karen at the after party for "Boys of Summer", the cross-country bicycling trip I took came up. She mentioned that AAA was also a cross-country group. She immediately said I had to meet the riders from AAA. 

She was right. What a great, enthusiastic, funny, inspirational and hardworking group with "IT" in their attitude. The core group is three riders who are amputees riding 30-35 miles a day across the country and sharing their story with Health South medical groups. They have tremendous support from the Health South staff and have gotten proclamations from Mayors in many of the cities they've gone to (including Scottsdale yesterday). 

Big, big ups to AAA and we wish you much luck, health and love.

We got to show "Boys of Summer" a few hours later at the hospital and had a phenomenal response. This trip to Scottsdale has brought forth an astonishing number of ideas and opportunity. 

With the extra day on either side of the event (on Tuesday), we contacted our other PD friendlies in the area.

The first is Jim Reed, a lawyer who we met at the Phoenix Film Festival. Jim is an incredibly bright and passionate man who specializes in health/disability related issues. He has worked with several presidential campaigns and is getting more involved in films. He is very interested in "Boys of Summer" becoming "THE" PD film. In meeting with him on Monday, he suggested we needed to make some changes to the film in order to make that happen. Dad and I had discussed that before and are very open to that as we'd like nothing more than for "Boys" to become "THE" PD film.

So what does that mean? It means we need to up the PD content for one. So we began to strike out in that direction and doors have flown open quickly. We have an interview with neurologist Holly Shill at the Muhammad Ali Parkinson's Research Center today. Jim has helped with the questions and Dr. Shill is a very pertinent expert in the field. The other nice thing, content-wise, is that Phoenix is the first stop on the "Boys" trip (when we came to see the D'Backs). That means I'll be able to put her interview right up front in the movie to up the PD stakes/information from the get go. 

We also (completely unrelated) got a call from the New York Post yesterday (through Alicia Marks, PR rep with NPF) and they want to do a Father's Day story on us! That's great pub that, again, will hopefully give us the eyes we’re looking for to find a buyer. 

Yesterday, after our screening with Health South, Karen, Melinda and Barbara (staff, Therapy Experts and Wonderful ladies) sat down with us and discussed the possibilities for how they could help get the film out in a wider distribution. It was a very encouraging conversation, details of which need to stay on the low-low for now. 

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 #152

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

100% proceeds go to the Michael J Fox Foundation. 

Below are a few of the reviews from the film festival by viewers. There are many more posted at: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0770724/reviews.

April 3, 2006

Robert, 

I saw your documentary in Phoenix and it blew me away. Like you, my best connection with my Father (and Brother) came through baseball. My Dad started playing catch with me and taking me to baseball games when I was 8 yrs. old. And, he died when I was 11 and my brother was 5. I passed along a love of baseball to my brother which we share to this day. I'm 56 and my little brother is 50. Thank you for another thing baseball we can share! 

Best Wishes, 

Hank

Reviews from imdb.com:

A Father and Son Odyssey to Baseball Parks, raising awareness of Parkinson Disease. 

March 31, 2006

Author: boyerpk from Phoenix, AZ 

This film touched my heart and brought back memories of sharing good times with my parents. As a film patron, I look forward to the general release of this film, as the story is entertaining as well as educational. The wide release would not only raise knowledge about Parkinson Disease but would raise funds for Parkinson research. The every day trials were fun to watch, the sense of humor of both men was priceless. There is much to be learned from these fellows and the way they handled disappointment and triumphs. The public embraced them and that was heartwarming. It is America at its finest -baseball- as our national pastime. And being able to share it with someone you love is priceless. My wish for all would be for everyone to experience one day with a parent and enjoy the day. This film celebrates the America in all of us.

*********

Baseball, Apple Pie, Fathers & Sons 

April 1, 2006

Author: jzatarski from Phoenix, Arizona 

Boys of Summer, a Father & his Son - Who wouldn't want the opportunity to tour all of the Major League baseball parks? Yes, as baseball fans it sounds like the ultimate road trip. But what if the reason for going is not the reason you expect.

Some of us have been to many of the big league stadiums. We may have gone to our favorite park as youngsters with our Dads, we may have gone to the ball game while on an out-of-town business trip - or better yet on vacation.

Yet the road trip this son and his father took was unique. Unique in the way they met the challenge of the father's medical condition and the son's quest to make the trip financially feasible. The cause they were on as they skipped across the USA and into Canada one ideal summer.

While watching the Boys of Summer, I thought back to the time my father was alive and wish that something like this would have been possible for us to do. But like the song, the time is never there when you need it so that the commitment that was made was an impossible dream.

You will really find yourself involved in this journey of a son and his father. Even my non-sports wife found the opportunity to share their adventure - a dream in the making. You wondered if they would ever be able to make all the professional ball parks and not run out of money.

But those key observations made along the way - the interviews with the fans and the new friends made along the way - will make seeing this movie a perfect opportunity for all of us to share in the wonderful game, the families that enjoy it, and a father & son who know that the road traveled together is the best world to be in.

Boys of Summer Book - Entry #151

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

100% proceeds go to the Michael J Fox Foundation. 

Mar. 26, 2006 - Dan

Phoenix, AZ

Sometimes you are just to close to the process to see the whole picture. Chris LaMont, the executive director of the Phoenix Film Festival set the tone. He is a bundle of energy and enthusiasm.

The first sign was when we checked into the hotel provided by the Phoenix Film Festival, the Valley Ho in Scottsdale. On our Boys of Summer(BOS) tour we got used to camping, private homes and inexpensive motels. The Valley Ho was an extra special surprise.

The second sign was the Boys of Summer selection as the closing film of the festival. I didn't realize that that was such a special honor.

The third sign was the enthusiasm of our supporters Mike O'Leary, Linda Cooper and Rhaye Mosley.

The fourth sign was the response form the students at the physical therapy class at Arizona State University. We were invited to tell our story and the students seemed surprisingly interested.

The fifth sign was the coverage by the local TV stations which was the result of the efforts of our PR person, Erica Sico. All of the reporters seemed genuinely interested and were very through in their approach.

The sixth sign was that half the seats were sold the day before our screening. The theater holds 585 people.

The seventh sign was the news that over 400 tickets were sold ninety minutes before our screening time.

The eighth sign was that over 500 tickets were finally sold for the screening. After a very humbling introduction the screening began and before too long there were some heart stopping technical problems. The excellent technical staff was able to correct the problem.

As our story unfolded on the giant screen the audience response was the ninth sign. I was finally getting it. I should have known.

The tenth and final sign was the outpouring of appreciation from so many people for what the BOS meant to each of them. For many it was the trip itself. For some it was the relationship between Bob and myself. For some it was the individual Parkinsonians' stories and struggles. Many asked how Paulette was doing. Some loved the humor.

The film is a great one. I should have known.

 

Boys of Summer Book - Entry #150

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

100% proceeds go to the Michael J Fox Foundation. 

Mar. 30, 2006 - Bob

The screening at Phoenix Film Festival (cont'd)

The movie rolled, the audience was with us. Thunderous applause at the end. Dad took the first part of the Q&A. I got up to join him a few minutes in. The questions we're great. One man stood up without a question just to say he wasn't all that thrilled to come to the movie -- just something to do -- but he was incredibly moved and thanked us for making it.

Inspirational. Loving. Powerful. Moving. Important. THANK YOU.

Over and over again we heard these things and more. Better than I could have imagined.

We head over to the after party across the parking lot. It was like a wedding reception. We couldn't even get a drink or food for about 90 minutes as so many people approached us. How wonderful. So touching. Personal stories. Tears. Laughter. Questions. Thanks. People inspired to go volunteer with their local PD agencies because of the screening. People demanding we come back and do another screening -- if not a run.

The Harkins group (who owns the theater) will get a glowing report of the 500 (that's the final count) people who came out to see "Boys of Summer" and how much they enjoyed it.

We finally settle in and have a sip of beer and a bite of food in between conversation. A ton of love and listening.

So many thanks to be passed out, and I will do so as I can remember.

Briefly:
The Phoenix Film Festival
Mike O'Leary and Linda
Rhayelin
Erica
The Valley Ho Hotel
All the news stations that gave us coverage
The local APDA

So many more. I'm tired -- didn't sleep much last night and we have the long drive home today. But that's okay. As dad says, "Ain't no mountain for a couple of climbers.”

 

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...