Covid 19! The Shutdown! Heat Wave! Power Outage! Earthquake! Smoke! Fire!

If you live in California, including in Los Angeles particularly during September of 2020, you may think, “What is going on?  It can’t get worse than this!” Then it did.

Politically, many Democrats blame everything on Trump, and many Republicans blame everything on the Democrats.  Factually, many around America even wonder if the world is ending, and consider all of the recent calamities befalling America and more particularly in California and the West Coast; as signs of the apocalypse.

While we won’t digress on the four horseman, or tyrants in the form of health officials, mayors, and governors, we can definitely all agree, there is “Trouble in Paradise.” Those of us who have lived in California and L.A. for years who have been fortunate enough not to be hit by the Malibu fires last year, all found their lives affected by the many other fires throughout California during the fire season this year.  While the flames  only reached some, the smoke reached everyone.

While L.A. generally is like paradise for many of us, in reality, no one ever promised us a heaven on Earth in 2020.  And it is times like these that teach us just how fortunate we usually, really are. 2020 has taught us–or at least should have, to appreciate and be thankful for a safe, healthy environment, for good, clean water, for fresh, clean air, for good health, for our every basic freedom we have; big and small, and for every breath of life itself.

We are not owed a perfectly working universe. We are not owed a planet that always has enough oxygen and fresh clean air, but that is what we usually have. We were not promised enough gravity that we can walk but don’t fly into the sky, or enough warm sun that gives just enough heat to warm us, but not kill us, and just enough air and wind that cools us, but that overall doesn’t blow us away; but that’s what we were kindly given.

In reality, the universe is a perfect creation, designed for our survival, sustenance, and success.  Most natural disasters are a rare occurrence compared to the countless times of peace and calm when there are not disasters, and the majority of the disasters anyone does experience, are generally caused by manmade problems–not by the universe or its creator.

While the above is true, and the awareness of this mindset is good to focus on, it does little to help those confronting the devastation of air that one can’t breathe in because it is too smoky, a state they can’t live in because the majority of the economy is shut down and there is no work to be found and no where to go, or to deal with the home that one lost if it got burned down.  Thinking of others less fortunate to try make a terrible condition seem less horrible, does not necessarily change one’s condition.  Times are tough for many in 2020 to be sure, and in California, let’s face it–for many, things have gone from bad–to worse.

So what is the solution?

1, Realize that any condition is not permanent.  Forest fires, viruses, tyrannical governments, earthquakes, floods, and other disasters all end. The nature of any human being and the nature of the earth is to heal and to survive.  Bad conditions will end, and things WILL get better.

2, Do realize that the more stressed or depressed you are, the worse things will seem, and the more overwhelmed you will be, being less capable of handling the problem. That means, you need to be well rested, well fed, and in a calm state of mind and body to confront any problem.  Look at things when you are calm and consider things objectively, and rationally.

3, Do look around at all of the things you have yourself that are working, and look out in society at other people that are happy, healthy, and safe and functioning and working. Look at society itself at things that are working and functioning properly and realize that most things are OK and you will be OK do.

4, Know that any good condition takes work. To be healthy, you need to eat well, get enough sleep, work out, and take care of your body, mind and spirit. If you have bad air for a few weeks or months, you may need to invest in some air purifiers. If you can’t work out at the gym or outside, you may need to invest in some workout equipment for indoors until things change. If the city or state you live in has crazy politicians that won’t let you work, you may need to do new things for work online, or move to a location that has more freedom. Take action, and do it now. Don’t wait until you are in a lower condition where you can’t function.

5, Expand your power. Build reserves of money, food, capitol, and resources. Prepare for disasters that may occur in the future, and then focus on the present, here and now. Be prepared for the future, but don’t obsess over it. Focus on the now.

6, Once you are in a condition of power, help others. We are all in this together.

With that said, if you, one of our readers needs help with anything, call us, and if we can help, we will if we can. There is no guarantee but we will see if we can try.

7, We must come together as a city, as a state, as a nation, and as as world to be better people, kinder people, and more forgiving, compassionate, thoughtful, and loving to each other, and to the earth itself.  While we don’t always live up to what we preach–we try each day. No one is perfect, but the goal of every human being should be to be better, do better, and be kinder than the day before. Spread the love–even to those with whom you disagree with politically. What we reap, we sow. In other words–karma is real. We are treated by others based on  how we treat others. Be kind.

Sure, we have some trouble in paradise, but it is still paradise. The trouble will soon fade, and we will make it. 

Be sure to check out the back issues, and let us know what you liked, disliked, want to read, hear or see. We might even publish your words or message for the world to hear or see in the next issue.

Until then, keep safe, be healthy, and be strong.

–Bruce Edwin

Contact: 310-226-7176

StarpowerManagementLLC at gmail dot com

(c) 2020, Hollywood Sentinel

The first ever foreign language film to win an Oscar for Best Picture, “Parasite” dominated the awards, winning also for, Best Director, Best International Film, and Best Original Screenplay.  Director Bong Joon Ho paid tribute to one of his inspirations during the night; Martine Scorsese.

We have a saying in Korea; “The more personal you get, the more creative you are.” –Bong Joon Ho

The following is the excerpt of Oscar Winner Bong Joon Ho, backstage at the Oscars.

Q (…)What does this (win) do for the acceptance in this country of foreign language films, films with subtitles? Is this a breakthrough moment, do you think, and allows you, other people from — who make films in foreign languages?

A. [Bong Joon Ho Translated] So during the Golden Globes I mentioned the one-inch barrier of subtitles, but I feel like that was already a little late. People were already overcoming these barriers. There are streaming services, YouTube, social media, and the environment that we currently live in, I think we are all connected. So I think naturally we will come to a day when a foreign language film — or not, it doesn’t really matter — a foreign language film winning this won’t be much of an issue later on, hopefully.

Q. This is amazing. This is history tonight. This is history, not just for the Academy Awards, but for South Korea. Can you please talk about that significance?

A. [Kwak Sin Ae Translated] So it’s the first time a Korean film has been nominated for the Oscars, so to just win one award would have been a huge celebration, but to win in four categories, six Oscars in total, I can’t even imagine the atmosphere in Korea right now and what would happen when we get back. But I did once imagine what it would mean to win Best Picture. To win Best Picture means that this film was voted by the members of the Academy, and I realized that that would signal the beginning of a different kind of change for international cinema, not just for Korea. So in that sense, it would have been great to win. We did win.

Q. What a historic night. Four historic wins for South Korea and also for Asians in general. So, Mr. Joon Ho, can you talk about your early influences, Asian directors in particular, who influenced you when you were growing up and to make you what you are now?

A. [Bong Joon Ho In English] It’s quite many. So first of all, the Kim Ki-young, the Korean big master, he is a huge master in the 1960s and ’70s who made THE HOUSEMAID, the movie digitally restored by the Martin Scorsese Foundation, you can find out that movie in the Criterion DVD, I strongly recommend. And I also strongly inspired by many Japanese directors, like Imamura Shohei, Kiyoshi Kurosawa, all those masters, and also, yeah, quite many wonderful Asian directors. For example, the Taipei New Wave directors, like Hou Hsiao-Hsien, Edward Yang, they also — they made always so beautiful movie which I admire so much, yeah.

Q. Your win is not just a win for South Korea, but it’s a win for international films, especially Asian cinema. My question is, what is your message for the actors of Asian descent that are based in Hollywood? It’s more than winning an Oscar, more than getting a nomination. They’re just fighting to get more work. What is your message? What does this award mean to them?

A. [Bong Joon Ho In English] Yesterday, in the Indie Spirit — Indie Spirit Award, THE FAREWELL, Lulu Wang, won the Best Picture, so I was so happy with her. I really love her works and — [Bong Joon Ho Translated] but I don’t think it’s necessary to separate all the borders and divisions, whether it’s Asia, Europe or the U.S. If we pursue the beauty of cinema and focus on the individual charms that each piece has, I think then we will naturally overcome all these barriers.

Transcript ©2020 Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ® used with kind courtesy.

Happy New Year from The Hollywood Sentinel! We are already into February, with the new awards season upon us. The Golden Globe and Grammy Awards have commenced, and the Oscars have now commenced.

Congratulations to all of the nominees, and winners. 

When a stranger is shocked at another strangers random act of kindness, you know that  we are in dark times. But are they indeed that dark? 

Since the creation of man, there has always been one man or group of men seeking to impose their whims upon the will of another man or group by force. There has always been what some call “evil” on this planet. But there is also good.

Most people are basically good, and want peace, and random acts of kindness happen every day; more than acts of evil. The good is just not usually reported. 

If human beings were not mostly good, the world would have ended long ago. And if any group of men in any church or government knew how to save all of humanity from ourselves, that would have happened by now too.

Both good and evil are within us all. It is up to us to choose. What master do you follow? Is anger, hatred, and cruelty your way? Or do you seek to be calm, forgive others and yourself, and try to be kind to yourself and others?

I have never met a man who tried to do good, who wished instead he were bad. But I have met many bad men who were ashamed at who they were, and wanted to turn good.

It has been said that the only thing for evil to triumph, is for good men to do nothing. And so what good does it do the world when good people are silent? When evil is not confronted? Is this who we are? Should we allow comedians, politicians, or reporters to tell us to sit down and shut up, and then obey in silence?

The nature of a human being is to be free.  Free to choose what we do, so long as it does not harm another. And our nature is to be free to speak and express ourselves as we see fit. If that means expressing ourselves in the media, on the stage, or in the streets, then so be it. We may not always get it right. Contrary to the delusions of some–no one is perfect. But at least we can say we tried. At least we can lift our hearts and our voices with our spirits united, and fight for what we believe in.

The world doesn’t need another verbally abusive public figure, whether that person is hosting an awards show, or hosting the governments of the world.

It’s not cool to be a jerk anymore.*  Perhaps the only people not tired of mean, abusive people, are other mean and abusive people themselves.

And so let us fight the good fight. Follow what you know is true and good in your own heart and mind, and fight for what you believe in. Don’t let anyone silence you into submission now because they say you were not loud enough before. Do not be afraid of bullies or tyrants. Do not deny your soul the freedom it demands–to tell the truth, to condemn evil, and to be free. This isn’t just being a good American–it’s being a good human being.

Being an artist is not just about creating your art. Being an artist who is true to yourself is about ‘living’ your art. At that means being true to who you are and what you believe in.  Be brave. Dare to change the world for the better.   And happy new year.

Enjoy the new issue.

–Bruce Edwin

©2020, The Hollywood Sentinel

What does success mean to you? And when you feel someone does you wrong, how do you deal with that? Many people out there–especially in our industry of Hollywood, scoff at that line above of “Success is the best revenge.”  To many, “Revenge is the best Revenge.”  But is it?

Imagine you are walking down the sidewalk, and accidently bump into someone, and they drop their phone. Would you grip your phone tightly, expecting them to jump up to their feet, and bump in to you, purposefully knocking your phone out of your hand? Or would you pick it up and hand it to them, and quickly apologize?  Obviously, you would apologize and be courteous, because you know it’s the right thing to do, and it’s how you would want treated.

The line of “Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you,” otherwise known as “The Golden Rule,” has some serious truth to it. The law of reciprocity says that when you treat another person kindly, they are inclined to act back in a kind way. Not that good sense is necessarily common, but if it were, this would be it. Likewise, the reverse is true. If you speak to someone with rudeness or anger, they will most likely respond back in a similar manner.

Allowing for the fact that we are not perfect–we all make mistakes, and sometimes accidentally hurt people that we didn’t mean to; especially the ones we deal with the most and love the most, doesn’t it make sense that if we want to be forgiven, and not have every accidental slight we cause another held against us with retaliatory action, that we should forgive others first?

While the philosophy of “Might is Right” and “An Eye for an Eye” may  appear “tough” and “cool” to some, it is– we are seeing more and more in this new age–this is NOT how the world works. Karma is REAL. The liars, cheats, crooks, cons, and murderers generally always go down, and down hard.

No one respects the “screw me over and I will screw you ten times harder” politician or punk on the street. The only one that perhaps likes them, are other similar jerks,  and–they are the first one’s to be surprised when their devilish friend or hero screws THEM over. What?! A person who embraces evil did ME wrong?! I thought it was only  for THEM! Duh.

Befriend a snake, and don’t be surprised when your slithery friend acts like one.

If I had a list of every person who did me wrong; looked at me the wrong way, spoke rudely to me, didn’t bag my groceries correctly, hurt my feelings, lied to me, wasted my time, flaked, cheated, gossiped, libeled, attacked, or more, it would make up quite a large notebook full of many pages. And sure, I could try go after each and every one–attacking back, and getting even. But who would it serve?  For one, it would take up years of my time, and by the time I was finally done getting even, I’d have yet another new notebook full of enemies to try get back or destroy.

Mean people want you to think, obsess, and worry about them. The more you focus on the jerks of the world, the less you are focused on your goal.

Hate, plotting revenge, and getting angry will literally make you sick. Stress causes disease; a slow death that still yet surely kills. The perfect weapon your enemy would love is; knowing you are talking about them, thinking about them, worrying about them, and stressing about them all night, without sleep.

When you feel hurt or angry, repeat these mantras:

Revenge is not worth my time.

Revenge is not worth my health.

I deserve to be at peace. 

I deserve to feel good and be happy. 

While the path of revenge promises you power, in actuality, it weakens you, distracts you from your goals, and pulls you into an endless battle of fighting the enemy more, and yet more endless rows of new enemies.

Even the most crazy and wicked of politicians generally try to avoid war. They generally know and care about the reality, that what we reap, we sow.

By no means am I sitting here professing to be an angel, and saying that I always immediately forgive everyone. I don’t. But I eventually try.  And the times I lived my life  with forgiveness, grace, and a positive outlook, were vastly more happy, lucrative, and successful than those earlier years that I focused on anger, hatred, and pessimism.

Now, the more you try to live a life of peace, grace, and forgiveness of yourself and others, oftentimes, the more you may be attacked. Attacked not only by others who see you as a soft, easy target who will not fight back, but also attacked by certain spiritual forces that prey on those seeking to create a heaven on Earth–rather than a hell.

The solution on the physical plane is to resist the urge to fight, focus on the good, and keep moving forward. With that said, don’t allow yourself to be a victim. By all means, defend yourself, your loved ones, your community, and your business when you have to.

The solution on the spiritual plane, is to remember that words–which effect our unconscious mind, have power. For this reason alone, the art of prayer is a real, and a workable tool, as you speak out loud that which you want to change and manifest, through the help of the creator. If you don’t believe this and all worlds were created by anything other than a random accident, then you can at least speak your intentions out loud. Focus on the good, cleanse your energy with a nice bath or shower, or walk outside in nature, and write down the WAY you want your life to be, in the present tense.

If the devil ‘is’ real, he’s probably a politician, but you DON’T have to vote for him.

Vote for Peace, and peace of mind instead.  Love, Laugh, and Follow the Light, Your Happiness and Success will surely follow.

We hope you enjoy the new issue.  As always, contact us through this site or at 310-226-7176 if you have any questions or comments.  We might even publish your words in our next issue, for the world to see. 

About the image: One of the most famous television sitcom’s in American history,  on August 6, Fathom Events and CBS Home Entertainment paid tribute to “I Love Lucy” and its legendary star Lucille Ball with “I Love Lucy: A Colorized Celebration” that screened in movie theaters nationwide for one night only on the comedienne’s birthday.

–Bruce Edwin

This content is (c) 2019, Bruce Edwin, Hollywood Sentinel, all rights reserved.

Hello, and welcome to the new issue of The Hollywood Sentinel. We bring you each week, news you will not find anywhere else in the world of art, music, fashion, film, celebrity interviews, and more.

More importantly, we report only the good news. There is enough toxic, negative, depressing news in the world by the mainstream media, that may end up making a person feel angry, sick, hopeless, lost, confused, and depressed. The purpose of life is to be happy, and productive–not to be miserable, and reactive to the bad news others propagate.  Why should we add more toxic words or images to the already over-saturated, negative marketplace of information and ideas? And why should you let the media control how you feel?  Never let anyone insult you for trying to be happy. You were not born to suffer.

The Hollywood Sentinel serves as a place to celebrate some of the greatest human beings on the planet–artists, of all types.  The entertainment industry–above all other professions; along with nature–makes life worth living.

Fine Art, Literature, Theatre, Dance, Storytelling, Film, TV, and Fashion; all of these things and more,  and add to the power, beauty, and happiness of this planet thanks to the artists of the world.  Join us here in viewing a glimpse into our world, and visit often.

Enjoy the new issue!

–Bruce Edwin

Long Shot

Fred Flarsky (Seth Rogen) is a gifted and free-spirited journalist with an affinity for trouble. Charlotte Field (The lovely and talented Charlize Theron) is one of the most influential women in the world. Smart, sophisticated, and accomplished, she’s a powerhouse diplomat with a talent for almost anything. The two have nothing in common, except that she was his babysitter and childhood crush.  When Fred unexpectedly reconnects with Charlotte, he charms her with his self-deprecating humor and his memories of her youthful idealism.

As she prepares to make a run for the Presidency, Charlotte hires Fred as her speechwriter, much to the dismay of her trusted advisors. A fish out of water on Charlotte’s elite team, Fred is unprepared for her glamourous lifestyle in the limelight. However, sparks fly as their unmistakable chemistry leads to a round-the-world romance and a series of unexpected and dangerous incidents.

From Summit and Lionsgate, and the celebrated team of Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg; creators of comedy hits including THIS IS THE END and NEIGHBORS, LONG SHOT also features O’Shea Jackson Jr. (Den of Thieves, Straight Outta Compton), Andy Serkis (Black Panther, Planet of the Apes), June Diane Raphael (The Disaster Artist, Grace & Frankie), Ravi Patel (TV’s Master of None) and Alexander Skarsgård (TV’s Big Little Lies and The Legend of Tarzan).

Directed by Jonathan Levine (Warm Bodies), Starring Seth Rogen, Charlize Theron, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Andy Serkis, June Diane Raphael, with Bob Odenkirk, and Alexander Skarsgård.

Produced By Charlize Theron,  A.J. Dix,  Beth Kono, Evan Goldberg,  Seth Rogen, and James Weaver.

Comments or Questions? Call 310-226-7176. Your question or comment might be published live for the world to hear in our next issue. 

©2019, Hollywood Sentinel

This life we have been given is truly amazing.  We create what we want.  If you want to fly across the world, you can make some money, buy a plane ticket, and do it.  If you want to write a book, make a song, dance, or paint a picture, you can do that. If you want to fall in love, you can be loving, meet someone, and fall in love. You can make money, buy a house, and live your dream. The only thing stopping you is you. If you feel stopped, look at what you tell yourself and what others tell you. Validate your self worth, and do not tolerate others who do not tolerate you or your dreams.  Dream bigger every day.

I hope you enjoy the new issue.

–Bruce Edwin