Seizing The Day

The Seven UP Documentary Series is an amazing experience that is entertaining, informative and thoroughly engaging. It is a collection of seven documentaries that follow the lives of 14 British children every seven years from the age of seven to 49 in the most recent release. The premise of the film was taken from the Jesuit motto “Give me a child until he is seven and I will give you the man,” which is based on a quote by Francis Xavier.

It is fascinating to see the these adorable little children on the playground talk about their hopes and dreams and then instantly cut forward seven years, fourteen years, twenty one years and so on. It is amazing to see how some of the boys and girls had a keen sense of what they were going to be when they grew up while others were totally clueless.

I think this series which started in 1964 was like the first reality TV show. There is so much to learn from this series and so much to enjoy as well. It forces you to remember your own youth and the things you hoped and dreamed for as well as some of your friends. It naturally makes you feel reflective and at the same time inspired to do more with your own life. Sure, we are not under the scrutiny of a film crew every seven years, but we shouldn’t need such pressure to stay focused on our aspirations in life. As a matter of fact, it is so informative that many therapists, social behavior professionals and educational institutions use this series as educational material.

Michael Apted has directed most of the documentaries. He always does a wonderful job being sympathetic to the subjects, understanding how sensitive and painful it can be to share your life in such a public manner every seven years. He has made many other excellent movies, including “Coal Miner’s Daughter”, “Gorilla’s in the Mist” and most recently, “Amazing Grace”. Roger Ebert has stated that this series of documentaries is in his top ten movies of all-time. After viewing just one of these installments I think you will agree.

Here are some video clips from the most recent documentary called 49 UP which includes footage from the previous six installments.

This clip focuses on Nick the Professor:

This clip focuses on Neil who wound up nearly homeless and ultimately in the house of Parliament:

Here’s an interview with the director Michael Apted:

For a complete update on all of the participants and the series itself, visit the 7UP wikipedia entry.

Note: A new documentary series called 7Up 2000 started in 2000 with a new group of children followed by 14up 2000.
There is an American documentary series equivelant with three installments:
Age 7 in America (1991) and next Phil Joanou
14 Up in America (1998)
21 Up in America (2006) by Christopher Dillon Quinn^[1]

I will never forget Derek Redmond and what he did in the 1992 Olympics. No, he did not win the Gold medal, nor any medal for that matter. He shouldn’t even have finished the race because of a blown hamstring, but his heart and determination prevented him from giving up and thus a legend was born. He limped across the finish line with his father by his side. It’s still an emotional experience whenever I watch the footage of that race. How can you not be moved by those images? It’s been over 15 years and I still think of his courage and heart from time to time. He might not have the hardware like so many other champions, but he’s won a spot in the history of sports and humanity. He will never be forgotten. What a true inspiration!

Here is an excellent ESPN article on the story:

Video Recap of the Race

Here’s a two part reflection by Derek…

Michael Chang was just elected into the tennis hall of fame (1/23/08). It’s an amazing accomplishment when you consider all that he had to overcome in his career. He was never blessed with any of the god-given talent or ability that many of his rivals possed and he was almost always the smallest/shortest player in his matches. Still, he managed to climb to the peak of his sport thanks to his incredible work ethic, unrelenting determination and awe-inspiring heart. No one hustled more than Michael Chang, period.

The first thought that pops into any tennis fan’s mind whenever we hear the name Michael Chang is the 1989 French Open champtionship that he won. It is considered one of the biggest upsets and greatest underdog performances in sports history. What he accomplished transcended sports in many ways. He taught us all that we can make our dreams come true even when all odds are against us. The lessons learned from his incredible feat can apply to business or just life in general, not just sports. Despite all logic and facts, David slew goliath. The giant wasn’t just Stefan Edberg the legendary Swede that he defeated in the finals to win his one and only grand slam title of his career, but Ivan lendl in the semi-finals. Lendl at the time was in the midst of dominating run in his career (he would reign as #1 player for a record 270 weeks!). By all accounts, Michael Chang should not have even shown up for the match. Not only did he show up, he gave us all a legendary experience that no one will ever forget. His heart on that day alone earned his spot in the tennis Hall of Fame.

Here are some video clips from that French Open championship. This one is the moment that most people remember the most. He was down two sets to none against the world’s best player whom many called the terminator. Michael was cramping up badly and on the ropes as the stoic Lendl appeared to get stronger, thanks to his incredible conditioning. Michael was only 17 years old and already outgunned and now had to deal with a severe physical handicap. All he had was his iron will, sharp intellect and tremendous heart. On a critical point in the match in the final set he decided to do something that surprised not only Lendl but everyone else in the world.

Here are highlights of the final against Edberg including the winning moment. Notice the scores as Chang was down two sets to one and a few games in the fourth before staging another comeback to cement his spot in sports lore.

Here are some of the best movies with a focus on the african-american experience that I’ve ever seen. It is my hope that everyone sees these classic films because they make you a better person, but it’s especially important that caucasions watch them. Why? Well, they are not only wonderful stories but they also present african-americans realistically on film which was extremely rare in the early years of cinema.

The honest, sympathetic and positive portrayal of African-americans in film and entertainment was just as important as what Jackie Robinson did for race relations with his excellence in the sports world.

One of the watershed moments was when Hattie McDaniel won the Academy Awards in 1939 for Gone with the Wind. She was also the first black woman to ever sing on national radio. However, it would take another 63 years before a black woman would win the Best Actress Oscar which Halle Berry did in 2002. The same year, Denzel Washington became only the second african-american male to win the Best Actor Oscar, Sidney Portier being the first. Ironically, the same night that Denzel won his award, Mr. Portier was honored with a lifetime achievement award.

A Raisin in the Sun (1961) is based on the award-winning play written by Lorraine Hansberry, who died tragically at a young age (34). The title and opening lines comes from A Dream Deferred”, a poem by Langston Hughes (1902-1967): “What happens to a dream deferred? / Does it dry up / like a raisin in the sun?” The story centered around a black family moving into a white neighborhood and the fight to keep their dream of owning a home despite all of the bigotry surrounding them. Sidney Portier gives a tour de force performance as do everyone else in the movie. It is a must-see experience.

Watermelon Man (1970) is a brilliant satirical comedy from Melvin Van Peebles. Godfrey Cambridge is outstanding as the bigot turned black man. It is a funny movie but also a touching bittersweet story.
Many movies have tackled the same theme, but none have ever done it as well as this gem.

Claudine (1974) is an inspiring tale about a black woman trying to raise her children on her own. Diahann Carroll is amazing in the lead role and James Earl Jones gives a wonderful performance as the garbage man turned prince charming. Everything about the movie feels like home. The music by Gladys Knight only enhances the experience. Here is Mr. Welfare man from the movie. I might be biased because my mother had to raise four sons all by herself in a new country during the same time period that this movie covers (the 1970s). It totally shatters the stereotypical perceptions that many had of african-american families who were on welfare. It also showed how ALL people want the same things in life, a roof over their heads, food on the table and someone to love.

Here are some scenes from this wonderful movie:

The trailer

The Welfare Man scene

The Ending (Spoiler Alert!)

Final Thoughts

I grew up in Newark, New Jersey so I have a strong affinity and affection for these stories. The movie “Claudine” is especially important to me because my immigrant single mom raised four boys alone in Newark and we had the endure the social stigma of being on welfare. Still, despite poverty and hardships we were never hungry and always felt loved.

My friends in my youth were mostly black, so I had no idea about racism until I grew up and moved away. Imagine the surprise when I witnessed blatant bigotry. I still have a scar on my forehead from the only time I got stitches from being blindsided by a high school senior for standing up to him. You see, he was mocking and insulting my best friend Oscar who was the star basketball player but a gentle giant of a young man. He did not dare say anything back because we were freshmen and the white seniors had all gathered around like a pack of wolves, smelling blood. I was seething and could not allow this to continue. I said outloud, “Why don’t you just leave him alone!” It became instantly silent for a moment as everyone turned to look at me in shock. I can still see the look on Oscar’s face as if to say that I should’ve just remained quiet, but I couldn’t. Fortunately, the teacher arrived but the seniors gestured that I was dead meat. Sure enough, while I was dressing up for soccer I got pushed into the locker which cut my forehead. All I remember was getting up and feeling blood on my face and seeing the tough guy senior running away with his pals. I got my stiches and from what I heard that guy got the beating of his life from his dad and he never said another word to me or any other freshmen. I might have won that battle with racism but the war continues.

I have always loved these words. They are simple and yet so powerful. They become extra special when you consider the source, the man who wrote and spoke them.

Here it is….

“‘Tis true my form is something odd,
but blaming me is blaming god.
Could I create myself anew,
I would not fail in pleasing you.

Was I so tall, could reach the pole,
or grasp the ocean with a span;
I would be measured by the soul.
The mind’s the standard of the man.”

a poem often quoted by Joseph Carey Merrick
A.K.A. The Elephant Man

The Elephant Man’s life story has always fascinated me. It’s sad that John Merrick has become forever linked to a punchline involving Michael Jackson because his life deserves much more than that.

Instead, we should remember him by these beautiful words and the lessons they teach us all. Beauty is indeed only skin deep. We are not this mortal coil but the mind and soul. How unfortonate he was to be born in the body he had, but what a legacy he left behind.

I’ve always loved The Elephant Man movie (1980). John Hurt was amazing in the lead role. David Lynch did his greatest work as director. Anthony Hopkins was also at his best. The scene where he first lays eyes on the Elephant Man is spellbinding and moving.

Here is the trailer

Here is the heart-wrenching train station scene in which Merrick shouts in defiance, “I am not an elephant! I am not an animal! I am a human being! I am a man!” One of the most touching scenes ever.

Final Thoughts:

The lessons learned from The Elephant Man are many. Mostly, it’s a constant reminder to never take our blessings for granted and that underneath any sort of “abnormal” appearance we must never forget that there’s a fellow human being living and breathing with feelings and emotions. John Merrick reminds us all that we are all human beings no matter what we look look on the outside.

Here’s a scene from “Almost Famous” that occurs smack dab in the middle of the movie. To me, it’s one of my favorite movie moments ever. It is not only fun to watch but there are some wonderful nuggets of wisdom enfused in the scene. It’s amazing that there can be such life lessons crammed in a short couple of minutes in a movie.

In a nutshell, the movie centers around a teenage boy who follows a rock band on tour as a reporter for Rolling Stone. It is based on a true story that the director Cameron Crowe (Jerry McGuire) actually experienced as a young man who followed bands like The Allman Brothers Band, Led Zeppelin, and Lynyrd Skynyrd and actually wrote for Rolling Stone.

The scene begins when the band members all board the bus in disappointment and anger with their lead singer who nearly killed himself by jumping off a roof into a pool.

As they drive in deep somber silence the song “Tiny Dancer” by Elton John starts to play, cutting the tension like a giant knife. It slowly melts everyone’s coldness and they join in one by one to sing along. While everyone is singing in unison, the teenage boy tells Penny Lane (Kate Hudson), “I gotta go home”. Penny smiles and replies with a simple but profound statement, “You ARE home”. The boy lets it sink in and realizes she was right. He was where he had to be.

That moment, those words, have always hit me hard. It’s simplicity is so profound. “You ARE home”. We can apply this lesson to everything we do at work and in our personal lives.Whenever we feel the least bit lost or anxious about things in our daily hectic lives, we should think of this scene and those simple words. We are where we have chosen to be at that moment in time. All of the decisions that we have made in our lives up until that very moment created the situation you find yourself in and who you are at that time. If you aren’t happy with where you are then simply make the changes to create a more desirable future moment. In the mean time, embrace and accept the moment and the “home” that you created.

Here is the magical and powerful scene:

Breakfast at Tiffany’s is another one of my favorite movies. It isn’t just because I’m a huge Audrey Hepburn fan (though that’s a major part of it), but mostly because everything about the movie was wonderful. Starting from the very beginning with Henry Mancini’s timeless “Moonriver” and the scenes of Audrey roaming the deserted streets of New York City in the early 1960s.

Even though the Shawshank Redemption came out in 1994, it still remains ever present for me. Yes, the movie and the performances were incredible, but the music and the way it enhanced every scene created a deeply moving and memorable experience for me. Thomas Newman is my favorite composer today and this was his greatest achievement. Listen carefully to the subtly when a scene needs it or the majestic exuberance when that’s what is needed. He is a master and this movie was his opera.

The most powerful theme of the movie is HOPE. It’s what keeps the main character alive and prevents him from going insane. It’s like a modern parable of Job from the bible who endured all kinds of pain and anguish but never lost faith or hope. it is truly an inspirational experience and a must see movie, especially when we’re feeling a little lost or hopeless in life. This movie will lift your spirits without question.

Here are some of the best moments and music from the movie.

Here are several magnificent composition by Thomas Newman from Shawshank: