Thursday, March 26, 2009

Don't Shoot the Brewmaster! - by Mark Schulze

Mark Schulze, Jim Koch and Patty Mooney



Don't shoot the brewmaster! Okay, that's my little allusion to the old quote, "Don't shoot the piano player." It's an inference that you don't want to destroy something or someone that brings you pleasure. And I was being sarcastic, in that I DID shoot this particular brewmaster, Mr. Jim Koch, the CEO of Samuel Adams, but I shot him with my camera when he appeared at the Craft Beers Convention in San Diego last summer. If you've ever seen the Sam Adams commercials on television, yes, that really is Jim's voice.


This is a man who knows his beers! And why not? He is a third-generation brewmaster, and he and his forebears have been immersed in hops for decades. See the taps behind us? That is what they call a "perk" of the gig. It was one of the best video production gigs I have had the pleasure to be a part of.


Some of the finest beers on Earth, right there in that room. Well, as they say, someone has to do it! As someone who is part German, I certainly know how to appreciate well-crafted beers. And so does my wife, Patty, who is part Irish. 'Nuf said.

Friday, March 20, 2009

An Interview With Ced Dempsey - by Mark Schulze


Ced Dempsey and Director of Photography/Videographer, Mark Schulze - Photo by Patty Mooney

Now that March has roared in like a lion, it seems like a great time to talk about the day we shot a short interview of Ced Dempsey, who is one of the most respected men involved with intercollegiate athletics in the United States.

According to his bio on the Albion College website, Ced Dempsey, who has been President of the NCAA since 1994, "has championed athletic involvement as a means of enhancing international understanding. He provides leadership for the more than 1,200 colleges, universities, conferences, and affiliated organizations that comprise the association."

Additionally, "A nine-time letter winner in three different sports at Albion (football, basketball, and baseball), Ced was named the MIAA Most Valuable Player in basketball his senior year and was inducted as a charter member of the College’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1989. From 1959 to 1962, Ced served as Albion’s head basketball and cross country coach. The following year he was dean of men."

"Prior to joining the NCAA, he was director of athletics at four institutions, the University of Arizona, University of the Pacific, San Diego State University, and the University of Houston.
He earned a doctorate from the University of Illinois in 1963. A recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award from Albion in 1993, he was presented with an honorary doctor of laws degree from the College in 1995."

"He and his wife, June Luke Dempsey, ’54, recently funded extensive improvements in the College’s softball field. The Dempseys are the parents of three children and reside in Indianapolis."

It was a great pleasure for my wife, Patty, who is also my sound person, and I to meet Mr. Dempsey. It would be difficult to meet a more gracious man. Although Patty met the late, great Pete Newell a couple of years ago, just before he passed, and he, too, was fantastic.

The great Pete Newell - Photo by Patty Mooney

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

"The Invisible Ones: Homeless Combat Veterans" Website


We are very excited to announce that the website for our multiple award-winning documentary, "The Invisible Ones: Homeless Combat Veterans" has been updated with our latest awards. There's a trailer there and viewers can click on that and see the four-minute piece that highlights the plight of nearly a quarter of a million homeless veterans across the nation. Every American needs to see it. The thing is, those who served their country and performed the work that was required of them should not be disposed of like trash. There are veterans from every war, even going back to WW2, who are sleeping on the sidewalks. We have troops coming home now from Afghanistan and Iraq who are slipping through the cracks and finding themselves sleeping in cars and on park benches because they missed one payment on their home or apartment. After getting clued in by watching the trailer, you will realize how deluded someone like Bill O'Reilly is when he says "there are no homeless veterans." Yep, and I have some swamp land to sell you in Florida.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Premiere of "The Invisible Ones" at San Diego Public Library

This last Sunday afternoon was matinee time for around a hundred people who came to see the world premiere of our latest project, a documentary called "The Invisible Ones: Homeless Combat Veterans. The reason we created this documentary is that we felt not enough people know about the plight of homeless veterans; they comprise around half the population of homeless on our streets. My wife, Patty, has written extensively about this topic, so if you are interested in learning more about veterans, and homeless veterans in particular, read these blogs by Patty Mooney. Here are the links.

Our Gift to Veterans

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday!

Steve Mason's "The Wall Within"

"The Invisible Ones" Wins Two Prestigious Awards