Not too long ago, a marketing study was conducted that focused upon how entertainment was fundamental to one’s health and happiness, as well as being key in shaping one’s identity.
This report, called Truth About Entertainment, took a survey based on some 6000 replies from those residing in the USA, as well as in Asian nations as Japan and China that asked upon their views on what entertains them through media (television, movies, etc.), music through recordings and/or through musical artists, as well as books and sporting events. Through these mediums, the report targeted on how a person seeks an identity through their entertainment values, as well as how such amusement plays a key role through their personal health, be it as physical and/or emotional, and the pleasure they obtain.
Some of the results found within this study shows that nearly three quarters (74%) served as an influence to the person they presently are, while 60% noted that this same interest influenced their choice of a domestic partner. Also, some 66% of Americans would want to preserve live entertainment vs. some related source that was delivered through electronic means, such as a video based streaming service. And the more they are using a “canned” form of entertainment, they more they desire some exposure of live entertainment. 80% of Chinese agree on this notion while American stated this fact at 75%. (Folks at Japan only agreed to this notice at 57%.) However, more than half of all groups could not recall the last time they experience some form of live entertainment! But whatever the case, 80% of the Chinese and Americans did agree that “without entertainment in my life, I wouldn’t be me!” (This level runs at 70% in Japan.)
Some of these facts as noted above came from a filing conducted by the advertising agency McCann as a commissioned study by MGM Resorts International, one of the largest (if not the largest) conglomerates that operate casinos. And McCann is the agency that works with MGM Resorts to advertise their facilities that functions wherever gambling is allowed.
There is some truth connected between the notion on how the choice of entertainment and one’s personal identity and well being holds true through their personal connections.
First, being a “fan” of some kind of musical group, TV series, or feature film picks ring true to one’s personal standing. It’s a moment where a selection of a form of media- based amusement places a stand in one’s life, especially if that same person is within a group or gathering of said followers. To present a basic idea to this fact, this writer usually attends the annual Turner Classic Film Festival that takes place every spring in Hollywood. (This year, the TCM Film Fest occurs from April 26th through the 29th. Details can be found at http://filmfestival.tcm.com/). Throughout the fest, I have encountered score of folks that holds this passion to see feature films from not so long ago on the big screen with a group of others who just adore movies of this type. Some attend with the sense of amusement, while others are present as their be-all-to-end-all journey. (Many folks take their spring break vacations from where they came from to travel to good ol’ Hollywood, USA just to only watch movies!) The same goes for fans of comic-based entertainment to travel to many of the “comic cons” (the generic term for a “comic book convention”) that takes place in locations throughout the country. Some attend the regional fests, while others use San Diego as their mecca to hit the San Diego ComicCon, perhaps the biggest one of them all! This writer never had the opportunity to attend any of the SDCC events, but the media always reports upon not only of the activities that took place, but on the people that attend! Many don costumes of characters found in comic book series, graphic novels, manga titles, and so on. (These folks are in “costume play”, or ‘cosplay” for short.) Their identity is refined as they attend these events in either through a simple method, or going out in full force. (More details on the San Diego Comic Con can be found at https://www.comic-con.org.)
Of course, movies and comic book fodder are just two of many forms of entertainment that reflect upon who one is and where they stand within their domestic world in terms of interest, knowledge, and metal state of mind. Granted, not every person who leans toward a specific form of amusement holds their real identity within this realm, but it still exists in some from of being. On the opposite side of these points, many who was once a fan of something or another may have had their interests shift over time and tide. A person that once held an interest in the writings of an author and/or fiction genre at a younger age might have discovered that their interest in the subject matter was great at that moment, but eventually lost interest. Their identity to those works fell off the wayside. It may return one day, or it may never come back again!
In this day and age, finding one’s identity and one’s entertainment will only expand in terms of amount and access to the goods. For movie fans, one can now catch a feature on a TV device that sits within a living room or den space in one’s home, on a laptop carried anyplace that has internet access, or on a phone that sits in one’s pocket or pocketbook. (Don’t forget the traditional movie houses!) The same goes for music lovers discovering their tunes through their computer machines, smartphones, or even through the radio! The list goes on and onward.
So take a stand to who one is, where they are at, and what kind of video programs they are going to stream through their over-the-top TV-esque channel systems. As Popeye would say, “I yam what I yam and that’s all what I yam”! Just ask anyone who are fans of comic strips, animation, or points in between! They will lay it on ya!
———————————————————————————————————————
NEWS AND REVIEWS
Performing at Hollywood’s Lounge Theatre is the west coast premier of Jeff Tabnick’s THE INTIMACY EFFECT, a play that takes two couples attending a dinner party only to have their event turn itself for its worst with the introduction of a stranger delivering an announcement about a future delivery of sorts.
Tim Fannon plays Matt Appel. Toni Christopher is his wife Amy. Matt’s invited his bother Doug (Robert Bella) and his spouse Merrily (Jordana Oberman) to their apartment to celebrate his birthday. Although this was meant to be a festive occasion, things begin on the wrong track. Amy’s going through the effect of a traumatic incident that occurred the day before. Matt still makes an attempt to bring the spirits up in spite of the incident. The conversations that go between this foursome speak for personal affairs and exploits that range between politics, social issues, their six individual lives, as well as the traumatic incident in question from the day beforehand where a strange woman bearing child named Jennifer (Cassidy Schiltz) showed up from out of the blue. Her arrival bares a deep secret that can change things for all, not necessarily for the better. This so-called birthday/dinner party starts off as flat, and may become a sign for the future between all.
This one act play written by Jeff Tabnick can be labeled as a dramatic downer. The characters express some form of grief, uncertainty, and a sense that things are not going very well and will only become driving toward the worst. This method of moodiness brings the best drama-wise where the four bicker with one another as well as to themselves, expressing their thoughts showing off on how they really feel. These inner thoughts are not as hidden as the bitter truths become more exposed.
This cast of characters as performed by this troupe of five players are the kind one would find in lighter TV comedies, giving a sense of familiar territory that the theater audience would expect. Play director Eric Hunicutt packs enough emotional drama that keeps the pace going (even at its depressing points) for its full seventy-five minute running time.
Michael Fitzgerald’s set design of Amy and Matt’s apartment shows a rather tight yet cozy space with enough hints of their never-seen young daughter and her personal effects such as storybooks, drawings, and photos, giving the illusion of a content young(er) family, even though Matt’s birthday commemorates the halfway point of life.
The only element of intimacy ever depicted in this play is the real lack of closeness the two couples share. It’s a stage play for the emotional ties between middle class hetrosexual couples living in today’s post-modern age.
THE INTIMACY EFFECT, presented by JTK Productions and performs at the Lounge Theatre, 6201 Santa Monica Blvd. (at El Centro Avenue, one block east of Vine Street), Hollywood, until May 6th. Showtimes are Friday and Saturday nights at 8:00 PM, and Sunday evenings at 7:00 PM. For ticket reservations, call (800) 838-3006, or via online at http://TheIntimacyEffect.BrownPaperTickets.com
———————————————————————————————————————
Lois Robbins’ solo show L.O.V.E.R., a coming of age saga of Lois’ sex lives, makes its world premier at the Zephyr Theatre located in the Fairfax district of Los Angeles.
In her performance, Lois tells about how she discovered the joys of sex at a young age. Not with anyone human, but through household furnishings as well as the washing machine that vibrated within the spin mode, making Lois doing her own “spinning” in the right places. As she grew up, she discovered boys, later men, through academic schooling and through the many schools of life. She found the loves in her life, only to leave them behind, as well as having herself left behind. She had a career to take care of–acting of course, as well as going through her own situations both as emotional and physical. But whatever occurred, Lois survived them all, enough to tell her pubic that she became the lover (and l.o.v.e.r.) that she is.
Lois tells her mini epic that consists of a pleasant blend of comedy and drama with enough doses of tragic episodes that shows more truthful emotion than being another stage of personal depression. She also displays enough honesty that makes her own self character appealing. (She fully admits that she “played with herself” with the assistance of couch arms and the family Maytag!) Through her sixty minute presentation, she thrusts herself (pun?) from childhood, adolescence, college age student, young adult, wife and mother, and to her level of existence where her fellow “girlfriends” admit they have/had it all when it comes to good ol’ sex! She also confesses that a little creative license was added for flavor. Then again, she has enough stories to tell, even if some of those tales are “fish stories”!
Although Lois is the star of her own show, there are other visual notions to make note of. Pete Hickok’s scenic stage design consists of a post-modern retro-esque club chair set on stage right, a lucite and chrome upright bar on stage left, and a set of three panels hanging along the rear of the performing area that are rectangular in shape. These panels are used to project moving imagery (as designed by Nick Santiago) that depicts Lois’ phases in life as physical points and emotional milestones. Kate Bergh’s costuming shows Lois dressed in a beige colored smooth fitting outfit that is stylish for a middle aged person as herself.
Recall the fact that Lois has been around the block a number of times. That is what makes this show very humorous, dramatic, and even somber as she has traveled a great journey. Sonia Sebastian directs this program that gives Lois the talent and respect she desires. She may have had her flings for came for the good or otherwise, but she wound up as the L.O.V.E.R. she desired to be. Then again, there is always the ol’ Kenmore washing those duds in suds on “full load”!
L.O.V.E.R., written and performed by Lois Robbins and presented by Theatre Planners, performs at The Zephyr Theatre, 7456 Melrose Avenue (between Gardner and Vista Streets), Los Angeles, until May 12th. Showtimes are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights at 8:00 PM. For reservations or for more information, call (323) 960-5770, or via online at http://www.Plays411.com/Lover
Visit the show via Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/LoverPlay
———————————————————————————————————————
ACCESSIBLY LIVE OFF-LINE
is a presentation of Linear Cycle Productions
Details@AccessiblyLiveOffLine.com
AccessiblyLiveOffLine@gmail.com
Details@LinearCycleProductions.com
http://www.AccessiblyLiveOffLine.com
https://www.facebook.com/accessiblylive.offline
@AccessiblyLive (Twitter)
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEHxSllfDItpWh3z8vuUb_w
(Accessibly Live’s channel on YouTube)
http://www.LinearCycleProductions.com
#AccessiblyLiveOffLine
(Look for us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and see us on YouTube!)
ACCESSIBLY LIVE OFF-LINE (C) 2018 Linear Cycle Productions. All rights reserved. The views and opinions are those of the writers, and not necessarily of the staff and management. ‘Nuff said!
ACCESSIBLY LIVE OFF-LINE 