William Mapother

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First Flyover Film Festival

Posted on: May 31st, 2009 by wmapother 3 Comments

I’m very happy to announce that on June 12-14, Louisville will host its first-ever Flyover Film Festival, founded by several fabulous people (Sheila Berman, Ryan Daly, Gill Holland, Tracy Heightchew, Stu Pollard, George Parker) and myself.

For this inaugural festival we’ve focused mostly on films which include participation from a present or past Louisvillian.  Those connections are here, and the schedule is here.  Of course, I suggested (humbly, mind you!) one of my own films, and lo and behold, the festival will be showing ‘The Burrowers.’  Fortunate attendees will be able to see Phil Parmet’s terrific cinematography (and the awesomely gooey-mouthed creatures) on a wide screen, as well as lob some questions (easy one) to me and (difficult ones) to the nimble director, JT Petty, in a Q & A afterwards.
The festival offers a few other feature films, including one with William H. Macy, some powerful documentaries, and several wonderful short films.  A filmmaker’s reception, an afterparty at Gill’s Green Building, and an awards ceremony round out the festivities.  All screenings take place at downtown’s Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts.
See y’all there!
Posted in Film Festival, In Person (or, like, Live), Louisville & KY, Recs

Elder Abuse PSA in Theatres

Posted on: May 25th, 2009 by wmapother 2 Comments
According to the best available estimates, approximately 700,000 to 3.5 million older Americans are abused, neglected, or exploited each year. 

Unfortunately, that number may likely increase as the baby boomers age into elders, and more elderly are forced to move in with their adult children.
 
In November 2007 I shot some PSA’s (Public Service Announcements) for the KY Cabinet on Health & Family Services to help raise awareness of the issue in some small way.  (A link to all of them is here, and an earlier blog post is here.)  It was uncertain where and when the PSA’s would be shown.

But I’m happy to report the hard-working National Center on Elder Abuse has found a terrific use for them:  From May 22 to June 18 one of my PSA’s will precede movie trailers on over 700 movie screens in more than 50 theatres around the country.  
This is a fast, effective means of educating lots of people at once and hopefully moving awareness of elder abuse to the mainstream, where it belongs.  Great work by the NCEA to reach people who can’t change the channel.  : )  
More information on it is here (in re. their Join Us campaign), and in their May newsletter here.

One last thing:  Witness, the human rights advocacy org founded by Peter Gabriel, has posted the PSA here in their piece on Elder Justice.

Please educate yourself about this issue.  The NCEA has simple FAQs here, and you can subscribe to their newsletter here.

Finally, and most importantly, if you suspect any abuse of the elderly, please report it to law enforcement immediately.  Our elders deserve better.
Posted in Elder & Seniors, Video (Online & Home), Voice

An Appalling Proposal

Posted on: May 25th, 2009 by wmapother 1 Comment

In the past few days, Screen Actors Guild members should have received the proposed contract covering TV and Theatrical (film) work.  If you’re a member or can persuade someone who is, I urge you to vote NO on the proposed contract.

It’s a devastating deal for all actors.  Not only in the short term, but worse, in the long term:  Because this is the first contract to cover New Media/the Internet, the payments we agree to in this contract will be with us for decades:  The Producers have repeatedly refused to change formulas which benefit them.
An all-union negotiating front in 2011 is a pipe dream:  The Producers are under no obligation to face all unions at once and will therefore almost certainly refuse to do so.  Even if they did, the DGA in its entire history has gone on strike once — for 15 minutes; AFTRA chose to negotiate alone last May instead of with SAG; and the WGA just went through a strike.  It’s now or never.
For yourself, for older actors, and for the next generation, please vote NO.
Two Vote No video from some well-known actors are here  and here.
Some reasons to vote NO are because if this contract passes:
1) Actors on shows made for New Media and shown on ad-supported sites (eg, uh, Hulu) will receive ZERO residuals — forever.
2) Studios can use non-union actors in New Media shows with SAG’s blessing.
3) Actors will be forced to promote, in character, any product in TV, film, and New Media.  Without compensation.  This will potentially devastate commercial opportunities for actors.
4) Pre-’74 TV shows and pre-’71 films can be shown on New Media for ZERO residuals — forever.
5) Actors will be forced to give away rights to their image, voice and likeness in New Media as a “condition of employment” (i.e., if they want to be hired).
6) SAG has lost (by the Writers Guild’s calculation) about $4.5 BILLION since 1985 because they agreed to a discount in the first contract covering Home Video.  Since then the Producers have refused to improve the formula, even as Home Video took off (over $23 billion in 2007!).  Whatever we get in this contract, we’re stuck with for a long, long time.
PLEASE VOTE NO!
Posted in Acting Tips & Info, Video (Online & Home)

Lincoln Memorial Dedication Redux

Posted on: May 18th, 2009 by wmapother 1 Comment

The Courier-Journal has a new piece on the Lincon Memorial Dedication here.

Posted in In Person (or, like, Live), Louisville & KY, Press

Just Under the Wire

Posted on: May 14th, 2009 by wmapother 2 Comments

Just in time before it goes off the air, I’ll be on Prison Break this Friday at 8/7C on Fox as FBI agent Chris Franco (in a double ep — ‘Rate of Exchange’ and ‘Killing Your Number’).  I’m sorry the show’s leaving.  It has a cult of devout fans, and as mentioned in an earlier post, I know one of the leads, Dominic Purcell, from Mission:Impossible II.  Here’s hoping that it goes out with a bang.

[Note: If you missed the broadcast, you can watch it online here.]
One other thing:  Not that anyone’s actually voiced this, but just in case there’s any suspicions:  I was cast and shot before — that’s prior to, earlier than, somewhere between eons ago and the eve of — the show was cancelled.  So I’m innocent, in the clear, off the hook.
[One other other thing:  I was also in the last two episodes of Touched By An Angel.  I cannot swear I had nothing to do with that one.]
Posted in Acting Projects, TV, Video (Online & Home)