Two weeks ago I appeared on a morning show on WJXT-TV in Jacksonville. During the pre-interview, co-host Staci Spanos chatted with me about the book. “I’m interested in getting into film as well. But I have to ask you…” She paused, getting all Barbara Walters on me (head cocked, lips pursed). ‘Why do you like movies?” Why do I like movies? It was the hardest easiest toughest most thoughtless question I’ve ever been asked. Why do you like spaghetti? Why do you like clothing? I was stumped. After a moment, I said, “It’s the greatest, most accessible visual medium ever created.” But I should have said, “My optical receptors respond favorably to persistence of motion.”
The Florida Humanities Council recently produced a radio program on The First Hollywood, which aired on NPR affiliates across Florida. Hear it here.
Last week I attended the 8th annual Jacksonville Film & Television Industry Reception. They set up a little booth for me where I sold and signed books. But the best part was the space. The event was held at PRI Productions. It was a skating rink in the 60s and now stores movie and themed event props (here’s a pic from the event). There were casino tables, slot machines, miniature Sphinx, giant sets of dice and all the best arcade games from the 80s: Donkey Kong, Galaga, Space Invaders, Pac Man. I got so caught up playing Donkey Kong that I actually missed a few people who had stopped by my table. But who cares? That damned gorilla kept killing me with flaming barrels. Blame him for poor book sales!
During the late stages of The First Hollywood’s production, the University Press of Florida’s top brass recommended that one of the chapters be cut. Chapter 8, titled ‘Race to the Box Office,’ was about the hugely influential role racism played in the early days of filmmaking. It just so happens that Chapter 8 contained the book’s most controversial and troubling revelations. Unearthed publicly for the first time, here is The Lost Chapter.
This past weekend, my beautiful wife and family planned a surprise book release party at Yellow Dog, a fantastic riverfront restaurant in Malabar. I was surprised because I didn’t have a clue this event was happening. The party guests were surprised because a lumbering, unshaven galoot who got a 620 on his PSAT had written a book. So it was nice to not be the only one in disbelief. But we had a fantastic time, and thank you to everyone who came and supported my debut literary endeavor.
While working at a magazine in Miami, I wrote a story about Florida’s growing number of megachurches. After turning it in, I got an angry call from the editor-in-chief. She said it was tabloid junk, and that she’d never in a million years publish it. It was the first time a story of mine had been killed. Here it is, published for the first time anywhere. By the way, she was totally f#@king wrong.
On Friday, August 29th, I’m being interviewed on NPR’s South Florida affiliate WLRN about the book. I will be wearing a beret and a monocle, which of course you won’t be able to see. Tune in to hear all kinds of interesting things about my favorite topic: me.
Yesterday, I opened a hardback version of THE FIRST HOLLYWOOD for the first time. On the copyright page, I learned that my book “is printed on Glatfelter Natures Book stock, a paper certified under the standards of the Forestry Stewardship Council. It is a recycled stock that contains 30 percent post-consumer waste.” That means my book is made from things like old blue jeans and plastic cups. Which means my book wouldn’t have been possible without cowboys who attend keg parties. Thanks to all the drunk cowboys out there who made my book possible. Cheers.
Hello everyone. This is the first official blog entry for my new website. Many exciting, random, through-provoking, Guinness-fueled musings to come about the my new book and many other topics. Stay tuned…
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© 2008 Shawn C. Bean.
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