On 09.30.11, In Current Events, by Gerard Spinks
The UndagroundMilli approves this RECORD! Nice lyrics, nice song concept, nice response record.
On 09.30.11, In Current Events, by Gerard Spinks
I no longer felt as passionately about the death penalty as I did on the day that Troy Davis was set to be executed. Troy Davis’ story was a little different to me but was it really different to the officer who got killed and his family?
Last night, I was watching First 48 on television which is a show that highlights murders and violent crime in America and then shows the first 48 hours following the violent crime and the cops and detectives charged with trying to find out the details of the crime. I never watch this show and can’t stand the violence seen in the African American community in these shows, however, I just happened to watch last night with Troy Davis’ execution fresh on my mind and the minds of the American public.
On the show, I saw young black brotha’s killing one another in cold blood execution style and it made me think about my real opinion on the death penalty. Was I against the death penalty or was I simply for saving Troy Davis from being executed because of the details of the Troy Davis case? I had to truly gut check this and think about it. When I saw young cats murder an innocent African American family man who had a loving wife and 2 little daughters, I quickly changed my stance on the death penalty.
I no longer felt as passionately about the death penalty as I did on the day that Troy Davis was set to be executed. Troy Davis’ story was a little different to me but was it really different to the officer who got killed and his family? The bottom line is that someone got shot and killed just like I watched on First 48. I can honestly say that seeing murder like that makes me re-think my stance on this capital punishment issue in America and it really makes you almost want the people who commit these type of murders to die as well.
I saw some young cat kill his entire family and then beg for mercy and forgiveness and plead for his life because he was scared of being put to death. What! How can this cat be scared for his life yet take the life of his aunt, her son, and her 12 year old daughter? Why is he scared? And, the real question for me personally is, why should his life be spared? I know it’s a question of ethics but it’s a tough question. It’s a question I think should be weighed on a case by case basis.
On 09.30.11, In Current Events, by Gerard Spinks
EDUCATION is the only way. A true higher education in something in America that is the future and entrepreneurial. YOU MUST take it upon yourself to get this education and find the free education to do so.
In case you didn’t notice, there are class wars jumping off right underneath your nose in America. Don’t believe me. Look around you. Are there any jobs? Sure there are but they are pushing those jobs overseas. The middle class is being decimated and America will be simply a country of haves and have nots. No one will care about the lower class structure as everyone will be trying to survive. But how do you survive in a class war?
EDUCATION is the only way. A true higher education in something in America that is the future and entrepreneurial. YOU MUST take it upon yourself to get this education and find the free education to do so. For example, Stanford University offers free courses in Databases, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning which I am taking personally. Why take these? I told you before, we are in a class war. The more I’m armed and ready, the more you cannot shake me and force me into economic slavery.
The streets are going to be littered with people who did not make it in the next 5 years due to the economy. Which side will you be on?
On 09.30.11, In Current Events, by Gerard Spinks
Ty Johnston presents The Atlanta Pitch Summit on November 3-5, 2011. This summit will teach you exactly how to pitch your script or screenplay to the right players.
Ty Johnston Presents The Atlanta Pitch Summit November 2011
On 09.29.11, In Current Events, by Gerard Spinks
Don’t let your glory years be behind you. You’re alive and well today. Let your glory days be today. Live for now. Live to create your space today and be happy in that space today.
Are you forever reliving the past and stuck in the 1970′s or 1980′s because those were your glory years? If so, get out. You can’t possibly have success if you are trying to relive every moment of time in the 70′s or 80′s. Yeah, it may have been fun and interesting times and you may have loved the Michael Jordan era of basketball in the 80′s but it’s time to let that go.
Getting stuck is real. I know people who are actually stuck and still even rock 70′s and 80′s attire naturally and not just during a 1970′s or 1980′s party. They are actually living as if they are in that era. It looks cool when you see them walking down the street but if you really know the person, it doesn’t seem quite as cool. Yes, everyone says to each their own. I do believe this, however, there’s also a saying that says let it go and move on.
Don’t let your glory years be behind you. You’re alive and well today. Let your glory days be today. Live for now. Live to create your space today and be happy in that space today.
On 09.29.11, In Current Events, by Gerard Spinks
Get Connected is Tonight in Atlanta at The Foundry at Puritan Mill!
Atlanta Film and Entertainment Industry! Get Connected at The Foundry at Puritan Mill in Atlanta
On 09.22.11, In Current Events, by Gerard Spinks
This dude got a $300,000 advance and then secured a budget of $6,000,000 to produce the film and direct it. He even got paid directors money as a first time director to direct the film. After that, everything went down hill. The movie had great actors and was actually completed.
Last night, I was watching a great show on the Documentary Channel about this dude Troy Duffy who created a movie called The Boondock Saints. It was very interesting because this dude got completely lucky and got the attention of Harvey Weinstein, owner and CEO of Miramax Films. It was amazing and I couldn’t believe my eyes. He did the unthinkable. He wrote a script when he was broke, pitched it to Harvey Weinstein, and secured the money to finish the script and on top of that, film the movie!
What the heck! Who does that? This dude got a $300,000 advance and then secured a budget of $6,000,000 to produce the film and direct it. He even got paid directors money as a first time director to direct the film. After that, everything went down hill. The movie had great actors and was actually completed.
The thing that amazed me in the documentary was how ungrateful and arrogant this dude was that only a white guy would do and be when receiving blessings. He was dang near pissed off that he got money for both his film and a recording contract for his music group. He was yelling at everybody and mainly his core team around him. He was acting as if he should have received more than that nearly $750,000 that Weinstein personally put in his pockets.
Needless to say, the film flopped and was only put in 5 theatres. Here’s my point, though: Artists are always crying about why they got dropped or why they aren’t getting signed to a contract. Let me say it again: the film company and the record label put over $6,000,000 into this dude Troy Duffy and The Boondock Saints film and it made only $30,000 back initially. Who would invest in that again? Not even YOU would invest in some b.s. like that.
Ironically, years later, a cult following of teenagers was developed and the film on DVD picked up momentum and sold $50,000,000 but Troy Duffy and his attitude were cut out of all profits of that. This shows a couple of things to learn from: 1). Be humble with any small amount given to you to advance your project and 2). Keep publishing rights of your work because you never know what you write will pick up 20 years after you create it.
On 09.21.11, In Current Events, by Gerard Spinks
They put me to death by three lethal injections. I am dead. I am Troy Davis. I sat in a death chamber knowing I was just running by the Burger King parking lot.
Unlike other so called murders, this one especially hits home because it really could have been any black man and for that matter, it could have been me. Here’s how:
A fight breaks out at Burger King in Oakland, California. On my way home from dropping off my babygirl, I happen to be walking by the parking lot of the Burger King. As I walk closer to the parking lot, I notice a cop running over there and see a scuffle and fight going on. I see the cop trying to break it up and as I get closer, I hear two shots ring out. I’m like “Oh Shyt” and start running away from the scene so that I don’t get shot.
7 eye witnesses who happen to be in the same area as me see me running away from the scene and also heard the shots. The other cops on the police force are pissed as police code dictates that you MUST kill any cop killers. There will be no cop killers in their city, period. I’m long gone, jumped in my car and got out of there. The cops furious about seeing their fellow brethren killed in action, start to round up witnesses to interview and find the cop killer.
7 of these key eye witnesses saw me running away from the Burger King parking lot. They id me in a lineup, saying Gerard Spinks is the killer. They find me at work, arrest me and give me a life sentence and put me on death row. I go through many appeals and sit on death row for 20 years while sitting in prison. My daughter goes from 9 years old to 29 years old while I’m arrested. I barely know her. They put me to death by three lethal injections. I am dead. I am Troy Davis. I sat in a death chamber knowing I was just running by the Burger King parking lot.
