Filing this report in the “Stuff we already knew” department, Verve Mobile, a media based company that places advertising campaigns as phone apps and related elements, recently released a report on how the so-called Millennials and Generation “Z” demographic groups utilizes their hand held electronic gadgets with an emphasis placed on smartphone devices.
The report, based upon surveying 3,000 people ages 14–29 in selected focus groups, found such details and insights from the report with basic facts as:
-60% of Mobile Prodigies ages 14–17 would prefer to lose their wallet instead of their phone.
-80% of Mobile Prodigies said that they spend more time on mobile apps than a year ago.
-95% of Mobile Prodigies said that they make purchases in brick-and-mortar stores based on ads that they have seen on their mobile device.
-46% spend more time daily on mobile devices than they do watching television and, if forced to choose, none of them would keep their TV over their mobile device.
There were some other facts and figures as well. However, this writer’s review will only concentrate on what’s being mentioned within this article.
Before yours truly goes on further, it’s assumed that the reader is asking. “What exactly is a “Millennial and a Generation “Z” person?” For the record, a Millennial is a person that was born between 1980 through 1998–give or take a year of two. A “Generation Z”, or “Gen Z” is someone under the age of eighteen yet old enough to understand what’s going around the person. Generally speaking, it’s somebody from age eight born around 2008, using this year (2016) as a reference point.
And the “Mobile Prodigies” name? That was invented by the folks at Verve Media to describe somebody who can’t remember life without the internet, cell phones, and related apparatuses in the same mode as “Baby Boomers” can’t recall life without television, or at least being aware that it exists.
It’s pretty obvious that such a company as Verve Media would conduct such a survey. Since they provide ad space and presence in hand held devices for their clients, they desire to work with such companies that have an interest in providing details on a product or service that would cater to this type of groups of youth. But with all said and done, the report also lists facts and figures that had been already known or assumed by the general public.
For anyone that has some type of connection with anyone of that said age demographic, be it a parent, grandparent, co-worker, or somebody within one’s domain and if these young(er) folks live and exist in today’s post-modern domestic society, one will know that the under 30-ish crowd will use their phone devices as they would use air on a daily basis.
If the reader doesn’t believe the fact expressed within this article, step on over to the local coffee house located in nearly every urban neighborhood and watch how many of these types have their phones at bay. They may be gawking at their screens, or just having them in nearly plain view ready to use within seconds–the same way that those old cowpokes on TV used to have their guns ready for some quick draw action! (To confirm this fact, just ask any “Baby Boomer” that watched TV from 1948 onward, and chances were they they tuned on to a TV western or perhaps a rerun from a “B” western feature created in the 1930’s and 40’s!)
Those Millennials and Gen Zs are currently the “poster children” in terms of advertising, social media presence, and general public attention. Granted, many of the selected sect (those from 25 through 35), have seen a few ups and downs in their lives that were not necessarily of their making, such as holding massive student loan debt, being hard hit victims from the Great Recession and its aftermaths, along with other episodes that made life suck but still have benefit in carrying the torch through the next few generations ahead. That holding the torch may be a bit heavier, but there is the notion of hope and toward rising to the occasion.
This is a refection of sorts that were fist placed upon the previous demographic, the “Generation X” crowd first when through in the 1990’s. (“Gen X” refers to those born c.1965 through 1979–give or take a year!) This was the generation that were first exposed to the internet and what it could offer as well as computer devices for home and personal use. They also started to dabble with cell phones around the turn of the 21st century when these devices and the phone services that went along with them were first made practical. Many, but not all, were also victims of busted families due to divorce. They may also have been over watched by their parents and/or caregivers thanks to notions that either existed or were assumed. At the same time, those were the ones that first expressed they became the under achievers, and made off in a worse shape age-wise as the previous generation (those pesky Baby Boomers) were at the same time of life. However, everyone tended to come out all right to progress in their own methods.
But as to the report as noted within this article stated about. It’s already confirmed that those in their early 30’s, 20’s, teens, and single digits, find their phones to be the be all to end all. That’s OK for what it is. It’s expressed in the same method as any other generation would in this society. A lot of these traits, real or otherwise, is played as comedy relief. As attention spans grow shorter, one has to be entertained right away. If they are not amused, they won’t come back!
And is this lack of return a good thing? It all depends on who you ask. After all, why dose Google exist in the first place?
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NEWS AND REVIEWS
The Edgemar Center for the Arts in Santa Monica presents the west coast premier of Warren Doody’s LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE, a play that focus upon a number of woman serving time for their murder of their domestic partners, and the backstory toward each one.
The story centers around the parole hearing of Helen Broker (Vivian Vanderwerd), serving twenty five years to life for the murder of her spouse. Her hearing, taking place at the California Institution for Women in Chino, California where she is housed, consist of three hearing board personnel. The prosiding “judge” Kellerman (Brook Joseph) instigates Helen in order to discover if she is fit for release. Upon the many questions she is asked during her hearing, she states that she belongs to an inmate run support group for those doing time for the murder of their husbands, boyfriends, and family members due to physical and/or emotional abuse. Those within her group come from different backgrounds and lifestyles. Some were raised through vile conditions while others lived well-off lives. However, they all hold one element in common: They were with another man that took harsh advantage of them, down to a point where the only way out was to end their life, usually with a firearm. Upon going through her hearing, Helen will wait if she will be deemed fit to live within society, or if she will live the rest of her days behind bars–along with the others in for similar reasons!
This theatre production by Warren Doody was extracted upon actual cases and episodes the playwright studied through previous research conducted by the late Dr. Elizabeth Dermody Leonard, taken from interviews of a number of women that were convicted for second degree murder of their domestic partners due to some form of abuse. Although the cases and characters depicted in this stage work were modified for theatrical purposes, the situations are very real, down to the depiction of the parol hearing itself that is conducted not for the benefit of the prisoner. This play focuses upon the Helen character along with four others that are on the inside: Barbara (Amanda Zarr), Charlotte (Maria Mayenzet), Grace (Cynthia Moreno), and Sherie (Lola Kelly). They tell their stories as well in a non-linear fashion. In spite of the fact they did indeed committed the crime of murder, their reasons behind it all were not because of jealousy or hate; It was for basic survival! Susan K. Berkompas directs this production that discloses each woman as victims to the people they thought they loved, and as victims of circumstance.
Also appearing in this production is Virginia Brown as parole board secretary Shaeffer, and Mark Piatelli is a duo role as a parole board clerk and the various husbands/boyfriends of the other women.
LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE is a very intense one-act play that doesn’t necessarily take sides to the women and the justice system. One can debate upon the stories depicted if the actions that occurred were indeed justified, or if the legacy rule of two wrongs not making a right still stand. Whatever the debate and whatever the outcome, the performances rank as one of an element of importance found within post modern society.
LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE, presented by the American Coast Theatre Company, performs at The Edgemar Center for the Arts (Theatre “B”), 2437 Main Street, Santa Monica, until November 5th. Showtimes are Friday and Saturday nights at 8:00 PM. For ticket reservations or for more information, call (310) 392-7327, or via online at http://www.EdgemarCenter.org
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Continuing its run at Theatre 68 in North Hollywood is the west coast premier of the stage adaptation of John Grisham’s A TIME TO KILL, a courtroom drama of an attorney who handles a case involving a man who murdered the men who abused his young daughter.
In a small town in Mississippi, a hideous crime was committed. Two young white men took liberties with a ten year old black girl. The girl’s father Carl Lee Hailey (Bechir Sylvain, alternating with Dayo Ade) shot the two accused men right after their courtroom hearing. As a man now accused with murder in the first degree, Carl seeks the aid of attorney Jake Brigance. (Iam Robert Peterson) Jake find this measure as an act of vengeance as the two now dead men were white and Carl is black–all existing in a community where racism is very much alive. Jake does fight for this doomed man, although this battle may be within a steep uphill mode. The district attorney assigned to this case Rufus R. Buckley (Gregory Thirloway) operates in a slick method, ready, willing, and able to place this man behind bars for a long time, if not sentenced toward death! Jake faces many odds in winning the case, from the DA to the local chapter of the KKK. Jake does receive an offer to assist him to win this courtroom battle within the realm of eager law student Ellen Roark (Mercedes Manning) that believes in the case’s moral cause. With this ragtag team, Jake goes all out proving that his client’s act was not done for ill means, but for the backlash he had faced just because he is black living in a white ruled community.
This play based upon John Grisham’s same named novel and adapted for the stage by Rupert Holmes, is a gripping courtroom epic that never lets go from its opening scene down to its final moments. There are many climaxes depicted throughout this production, an element that is rarely seen within a stage play. (That kind of thrilling drama is usually reserved for a video program or a feature film!) The lead players that appear in this production perform their roles within the same method to the drama’s velocity as depicted on stage, never letting the dramatic flow settle while leading toward more climaxas as one can even tally. Ronnie Marmo, who has directed previous stage productions produced by Theatre 68 (90 plus), helms this program that is just as gripping at the content itself.
Outside of the performers that appear in this stage work that also include Ian Peterson, John William Young, Hansford Prince, Peter Ostereli, Paul Thomas Arnold, Ari Thompson, Heidi Rhodes, Jalil Houssian, Steven Jones, Robert Domonick Jones, Joe Capucini, Jenny Nwene, Christopher Kelly, Caroline Simone O’Brian, Jarrod Robbins, and Steven Wu, there are the other visuals to take note. Danny Cistone’s set design of the courtroom is set to detail, while Christopher Hirtz’s multi media effects enhance the realism this play depicts.
This production is the first show performing at Theatre 68’s new space. The theatre itself, formally known as the Antaeus/Deaf West Theatre, has recently been remodeled and upgraded into a dazzling place where live theatre continues to thrive in North Hollywood, a community that has become a local “hot spot” for the performing arts. It’s a great place to see theatre in this part of the San Fernando Valley region.
A TIME TO KILL is a gripping courtroom drama that moves along in a very absorbing stride. Even with a two plus hour running time (not counting the fifteen minute intermission), one will indeed receive their money’s worth! This is a show that is not to be missed!
A TIME TO KILL, presented by Theatre 68, and performs at Theatre 68, 5112 Lankershim Blvd. (two blocks south of Magnolia Blvd.) North Hollywood, until November 19th. Showtimes are Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30 PM, and Sunday matinees at 3:00 PM. For more information, call (323) 960-5068, or via online at http://www.Theatre68.com. Tickets can also be reserved at http://www.plays411.com/TimeToKill
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