this is… The Neighborhood
the Story within the Story
TAKE THE 5TH SHOT
Most people, both here and around the globe, would deny no one, who has sincerity, and honor and goodness in their hearts a third chance, because with an exception of a few, most could conceive of the notion of needing a third chance our self. But before we ask those around us, to allow us to roll the dice again, we must find the will or the courage or the strength or the nerve, to take the shot we keep missing, time and time again.
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2018 Grammy Award Winning
Chris Stapleton w/ Broken Halo
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The 5th Shot
written & edited by Kendall F. Person
It was in 1972 that Mary Decker took her first shot. Although it can be argued quite successfully, that it was not really a shot, since her young age of 14 prevented her from being considered for the United States of America Olympic Track Team. I will beg to differ, however, since the fact that we know she was too young, is that someone had to make the inquiry, to ask the question, and more importantly, that she was good enough to be mentioned, even if her first shot had no chance of hitting its mark. But in 1973, little Mary Decker, as she was affectionately called, announced that she would take a second shot, as she shocked the track and field world by winning the 800 meters, in a dual between the United States and the former Soviet Union, during the height of the cold war.
But she would fire a blank, as she missed the 1976 Summer Games in Montreal, betrayed by her own body, a stress fracture in the lower leg. But little Mary Decker kept running, as it had become her life. And by 1979, she became only the second woman to run a mile in under 4:30, gaining an American Record, which proved to be a mere stepping stone. In 1980, Mary Decker, shattered the world record, running a full mile in less than four minutes and eighteen seconds, and putting her competitors on notice, that she intended to use her third shot.
Soviet Union invasion of Afghanistan
In 1979, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan, further polarizing the world’s only two superpowers, and politicizing the world’s greatest peacetime event. Sixty-three nations would boycott the 1980 Summer Games in Moscow, and with her home nation leading the charge, this time it would be world brinkmanship, that would cost Mary Decker her third try.
But Mary, who did not know it then, would still have two shots left. Like all the other athletes, who had trained for all those years, and all the smiling faces, from countries big and small, little Mary Decker was devastated at the indignity of it all. But whether her eyes remained on the prize or she thought she could outrun a string of bad luck, she kept running, even faster, even harder and in 1984, the Summer Olympics were on her home turf.
Los Angeles Olympics
She had won the world championships, held in Helsinki the year before, and her trip to Los Angeles was touted more as a coronation than a competition, she was overwhelmingly expected to win. But the Olympics needed a rivalry and they had found the perfect one, in the barefoot runner from South Africa whose name was Zola Budd. 100,000 spectators were on their feet, and millions around the globe tuned in, as the rest of the field appeared invisible as all eyes were on them. For three laps, side by side Mary and Zola ran, the tension, nerve-racking, the excitement, overwhelming.
But into the fourth lap, it was Zola who made the first move. There was no panic among the American masses, because we knew that Mary knew what to do. But it would be a year later, before little Mary Decker, a full grown woman by then, would admit she had the speed, but not the tactical fortitude, As the race entered its halfway mark, and the thrill of the Olympics had filled the air, and with Mary holding tightly to her fourth time around, this time when it missed, she had only herself to blame. Inside of a tight pack – there were other champion runners in the field – Mary would clip Zola’s hill, stumble for a meter or two, then right before our eyes, she spectacularly fell out of the race.
How many times have we felt so alone. How many times did it appear the harder we try, the faster we fall. How many times have we wanted to throw our hands into the air, and scream out loud, although we were really shouting at ourselves, “I give up!” How many times have we given up our dreams, have we denied our own ambition, and collapsed our own vision, with goals still unfulfilled. How many times have we decided that we would never hit our mark? We take our final chance, and hide it or break it or curse the fact, that we ever had it. But when we regain our composure and take a moment to breathe, we understand the answer is not at all difficult, for what is a 5th shot for, if not to be put to good use.
Mary Decker
In 1988, Mary Decker Slaney, a married woman with a child, would finish in 10th place at the Summer Games in Seoul, well out of medal contention, and far removed from the top of the podium, which was always her goal. But she walked away from the sport with her head held high, her dignity intact and no regrets to be made. For she was never an Olympic champion, which was the bullseye of her life, but she gave it everything she had, she used every single shot.
Dream big. Think large. Let us create a vision for our lives. Keep your on eye on the prize and achieve every goal. But rather we hit them or not, does not determine our importance, or diminish our existence, nor turn our dreams into nightmares. Because with every try we make, there is a contribution to humanity, which defines our legacy and the meaning of why we are here.
— this is… The Neighborhood
In 2020, no one will know what happened or why some stayed
and some left us all alone, but on Feb 4th, it no longer matters.
For you will have to choose, between the strawman and the crow.
THE STRAWMAN AND THE CROW
begins Feb 4, 2018
And beginning April 1, 2018…
The Neighborhood’s Season VI: WIN OR LOSE
If you have been here, donate. If you are knew, wait until the season begins (big smile)
WELLNESS & RESOLVE
“Honor his life in remembrance.
Pay tribute to the legacy
through active community service.
– The King Center
mental health
A freefall from the highest heights or an average life, is all the same experience, believe it or not. Extreme pain and suffering, self induced or violently enforced, is not the story of all our lives, nor is sipping champagne in the South Pacific on our fully staffed yacht. But on either extreme or somewhere in between, mental health affects us all. We exist together, connected by neighborhoods and greater societies, and often judge from afar, at what is crazy to us, never understanding they were not really bad, but did not recognize, they were simply going nuts, yet help was all around.
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from Billionaire Bossy, Livesosa and Hustle Crowe
this is… Block Visit
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“We must listen to the real life childhood stories, the root cause of our pain in order to understand how we heal as adults.” – Dr. Gina Warren, Neighborhood Wellness Foundation
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Wellness & Resolve: A Sacramento Neighborhood Honors
Dr. King’s Legacy in a High Wire Act of Community Service
by Kendall F. Person
American Identity
We know what happened after the civil war. After the spilling of more blood, than all other US engaged combat combined. After a fight that pit brother against brother, black slaves against freed Black men. After nearly burning the United Confederate States to the ground, and after finding victory in the rubble, by rebuilding America’s southern states. After a country of immigrants and former slaves ushered in a new era of war games, in fact, no other nation had yet to even imagine how to play. And after solidifying World power, a still very young nation, went even higher; for they did not gloat, but used their newfound and unprecedented wealth and respect to shine a beacon of light that emitted peace prosperity for the whole wide world to see. And even after it had become painfully clear, that the end of slavery did nothing to resolve hate based on race as Jim Crow was nearly as disrespectful of humanity as its predecessor.
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community service
““She’s so pretty”. Circle of Life
Gina Jones grew up in the same neighborhood as her husband, Sacramento City Councilmember Allen W. Warren, and their journey from junior high school sweethearts to man and wife, was chronicled by The Neighborhood in the Circle of Life.
In 1996, Gina received her Doctorate in Clinical Pharmacy from the University of California, San Francisco, affording her the title of Dr. and their union changed her last name from Jones to Warren. But to those of us who went to Grant High School during the same formative years, we still see our Gina Jones: Head cheerleader, a brilliant student and one of the prettiest girls we ever did see. But I am not sure if she even noticed that, as her outward appearance was not inwardly connected to her identity. for she gave everyone the same genuine smile. In the more than 3 decades I have known her, I have never heard anyone speak even a cross word about her.
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“The spirit of service
is the heart of humanity.”
– Lailah Gifty Akita
mental health & a president
We cannot turn away, no matter how hard we try. One glance at the news, out of the corner of our eyes, that our daily trials and tribulations could be multiplied, if the North Korean state of affairs cannot be calmed. A political state, we do not live in and even though a transition takes place every four or eight years, feelings of uncontrolled helplessness, simply do not translate. But the mind, in all of its complexed wonder, develops its own conclusion and triggers an appropriate onslaught of emotions.
As individuals, each and every man and woman, must ultimately live and die based upon our own choices, most good, some bad. But how often do we make the connection, that by nourishing our mental health, the scales may tip, avoiding disaster. It is no secret that while The Neighborhood is all-inclusive, it is part of the resistance and no fan of Trump. However, our commitment to mental health awareness supersedes political tribalism. And when it appears to the commoner and the mental expert community that he is suffering under the weight of a formidable mental health disorder, that at times it bares down, and the anger fueled by bafflement is not always aimed at Trump, but to those who not only pretend not to see it, but try to convince us that neither do we. And while there is help out there, the stigma of mental illness and the lust of power, close their eyes, and pretend its magnificence and hope it is not nuts. But the stress put on race relations, has reached around the world: nuts to us all.
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You Are Not Alone
from the legendary Mavis Staples
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race and a dream
After a man named Dr. Martin Luther King revealed his dream, clearing space in our heads, that no matter how great a nation, only God – in a God-fearing world – can give or take our civil rights. But even He, had neither the gall nor the audacity to do it all, so Free Will was given to us. and every boogeyman is of our own creation. And after the celebration of our first Black President; gave visibility to half a nation, revealed the other half felt lost. And after comprehension that if collusion – CRIMINAL! – but our President is not Russian, he is one of us and the checks and balances, takes us all the way back to start. After Alabama – of all places – saved our souls, and confirmed there was a line that they dared not cross.
But after all of that, Another day of reckoning of American identity, seems all but lost. But Sacramento – the north part – decided not to stand down, but to walk the high wire, as it appears to be the only way out. So the volatile subject of race and the stigma-covered issue of mental health, are the subjects of Martin Luther King Day and the White House itself.
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community service
The Warren’s are quite notable in Sacramento, but for all of their successes and tribulations, being a part of and giving back to a community, that they believe helped to shape the people they have become, has always been at the forefront for the River City power couple. But today belongs to Dr. Warren, whose Neighborhood Wellness Foundation will spotlight mental health and deliver information directly into the community in hopes to defeat the stigma. And perhaps they will discover, it is crazy that binds us to race over nation and we can cure ourselves.
— this is… The Neighborhood
A ONEMANSHOW – THE REDUX FINALE
Season V ‘REDUX’
March 13 – December 31, 2017
“Who are you?
Are you in touch with all of your darkest fantasies?
Have you created a life for yourself where you can experience them?
I have. I am fucking crazy.
But I am free.”
― Lana Del Rey
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from 1992, Ice Cube
w/ Today Was A Good Day
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The 2017 Season-ending Show
and the REDUX Finale
A OneManShow
by Kendall F. Person
Continental Army 1779 by Oriop Rat
In 1775, two years after the Boston Tea party, the colonists had enough of British rule. They tapped George Washington to take control of the Continental Army and lead the American Revolution, to fight for a type of freedom, that would give rise to such a Union. 1775 over 160 years before World War II and the re-integration of America’s Armed Forces. How quickly it was forgotten, the strategy to victory as the ugliness in defeat reverted Negro soldiers back into slaves. Reaching across the aisle remains our best chance to heal a broken heart, but 1775 is what fuels the red & blue hate, and keeps the resistance alive.
“It always appeared a most iniquitous scheme to me to fight ourselves for what we are daily robbing and plundering from those who have as good a right to freedom as we have.” – Abigail Adams
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I am as proud as can be of Miles Morales, a young Black Latino that hit superhero primetime when casted as Spiderman. From a comic book family like mine, only Batman and Superman hold sway when spidey is on the big screen. And while I look forward to noting how Morales the young actor plays such a high-profile role, I liked Peter Parker and I love the idea of our imagination creating brand new superheros. like Jarmon created by actor Ricky Bell Jr. But even more so than reimagining a true classic movie and flipping the script a little bit, which I have no issues with, and while it is true that Morales will no doubt be a kickass wall crawler, but by referrals of the first Black Latino Spiderman, minimizes Black Panther who came into existence 51 years ago in The Fantastic Four. We must take better care of history, which means taking better care of truth and relevance today.
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Steampunk Vigilante by Dire Impulse
In 2014, The Neighborhood under the leadership of the 1st Chair Kirby Workes, sent a search party for a young, White rapper in Missouri named Keenan Rucker aka ke3No. We soon found him via his sister and after 4 years we still can’t let him go. Some artists find us and it just works out, like Rebecca Lemke who fits beautifully into this category, and is White. Others, not so much like the talented, but troublesome Charles Okpere, who is Black. Some artists, we find them and while those relationships tend to be more challenging, it doesn’t matter – the color of their skin, for once inside – unless expelled – they can always come home. The Neighborhood was built as an all-inclusive collaborative for young artists and an audience that adores our high-wire act.
But alas, I am a realist, with absolutely no hang ups or shortcomings or embarrassment about the color of my skin or discussing it. Besides, even if I tried to outrun it, it is so embedded in the fabric of America that no one can dig more than a few inches without hitting someplace it hurts. But we must forge onward, rather we believe it possible or not, that America can ever get passed the race dance, even though most of us are tired of playing — but the music plays nonstop. So what becomes the answer? Can only war against a common foe reduce the nonsensical race debate forever? I do not not have the answers just yet. But one thing is assured, that no matter how much I say it, to defeat our staunchest enemy is anything but a one man show.
These past few months, have been particularly silent on the subject, instead choosing to surrender to the NFL headlines. The topic is rarely publicly discussed, perhaps each demographic too afraid to set off the wrong chain reaction. But I see it as moment of common ground and an opening to talk. The above the law loathing by a small but loud percentage of law enforcement, their communal ire, seemed once reserved for young Black Men, has targeted White America with alarming efficiency. The brazen mistreatment of a nurse in Salt Lake City; the young white man in Arizona. whose video death was so psychology disturbing, we initially believed it was a scene from Saw, rather than a legal execution at the hands of the law.
KP but he needs a new picture.
From 2004 – 2008, I worked for Mothers Against Drunk Driving who partnered with Law Enforcement across the USA. When I spoke before a packed house honoring Officers in an all white Chico Police Department, I realized then they were just like us, and as the cherry, my brother became a cop. So by no means do I think there is a larger conspiracy, but something has run amok. The fact, that there is still no comparison or recognition that Black America was in trouble and were not at fault in many cases for the spate of random police shootings, demonstrates how daunting our task. Does White America believe that if the two epidemics are indeed comparable, than the notion of systematic injustice would also deem true, and force them to face a lifetime of myths and lies? And does Black America stay quiet, because as much as we wish that I now tell lies, we take a psychological stagnating comfort in the victims syndrome role?
Legba, VEKN art 1 by ccornet
It is this story and others like them, where the details are lost in a blinding, non-stop crusade of Trump and his love/hate reporters, that national media seems almost blinded to the infiltration of the not rights into respected law enforcement communities. The idea of race actually not being at the heart of our problems, stops the dialogue from every happening. But not here and no longer.
In the forthcoming 6th Season, we will take the uncomfortable stand of addressing ugly head on. Never allowing an opportunity to pass, if we believe a discussion is merited for the greater good of man. But as artists in artistic performances – via The Neighborhood – is how the race dance will be delivered until we finally win or lose.
Happy New Years. Season VI begins April 1, 2018 but in the meantime, donate to the cause or chip in for the value of original, all-inclusive, blog entertainment.
Season V now over. Goodbye.
Much love. More peace. Most Imagination to the artists community known as Deviant Art.
TAG YOU’RE IT! (MAN)
TAG AN ANTHOLOGY VOL II
developed by Kendall F. Person
produced by The Neighborhood
THE POSTLUDE ED. VII
TAG YOU’RE IT! (MAN)
by Vincent Hart
Why is pain, abuse, selfishness, and retaliation easy roles to portray? Whereas, selfless support, mentoring, love, acceptance, forgiveness, and the pursuit of communal discovery, one of the most difficult genres of man’s agenda toward a collective understanding of self?
From 10,000 Men Named George to Zootopia, man continues to demonstrate just how fearful we are with pushing the boundary of life’s most dismissed expressions. As in ‘The Art of War: Sun Tzu‘, it is the strategy to appear strong when, in fact, you are weak. Appearing to have the advantage when, in actuality, you are outnumbered, under resourced, and lack the core of all political, economic, or social structures… ‘UNITY!‘
Man, whether he/she chooses to or not, continues to embark on the greatest role, upon the largest platform in existence… LIFE!
As in Theatre, man strives to build a meaningful name for one’s self. There are others that are on a similar type journey. Unfortunately, man has been programmed not to seek assistance, but rather rely on self to resolve most of life’s challenges by discrediting, out-performing, or sabotaging their most seasoned colleagues. Colleagues who have taken the time to pursue, study, develop, and master some of the most effective processes that allow for the discovery of individual purpose.
Why does man so easily forget that the founding of our productions’ platform (nation), in which we (individually) confess to belong to, was achieved by highlighting and exploiting the oppositions weaknesses, imposing the desired structure upon the indigenous characters, and destroying those roles that would prove toxic to the underlining, as well as imposed, genre.
Why must the rules remain the same, while the BIG SCREEN continues to evolve? Man feels that he must corrupt, imprison, deface, pollute, and/or destroy that which he does not understand nor control. The only way man is ever going to overcome this particular Achilles Heel, within our global community, is to courageously, honestly, and thoroughly communicate with one another.
Communicate on how each role, if performed appropriately (relative to the gifts, talents, and strengths of each character), can collectively pull off the largest award-winning production of a long-awaited title, ‘PARADISE.’
In life, much like Theatre, the challenge is to remain authentic while investigating the best role that would inevitably accent, add to, and/or explore the benefits of man’s creativity/expression of self.
Not everyone is qualified to be cast for a leading role! With more supportive roles than leading ones, every character possesses the possibility to bring life (so to speak) to an extremely vital segment in the accurate portrayal of man’s most precious and endangered commodity. A priceless commodity that rebelliously remains overlooked, underappreciated, and selfishly dismissed as nothing more than an unattainable concept… ‘UNITY!‘
TAG. YOU’RE IT!
this is…. The Neighborhood
End of Season V. Season VI begins In March 2018. However, you can anticipate spontaneous shows throughout the hiatus. Thank you and have a happy and safe New Years. – KP
Much love. More Peace. Most Imagination.
YOU MEAN I’M IN CHARGE?
THEATRE thesis: In spite of my hopes and all that I’ve done, my greatest fear, has become my destiny. But even if it becomes law of the land and establishes a new world order, I am determined to….
Photo by Tracy Thomas on Unsplash
A Very Special Note: Before I knew it was improvisation or even that the star of Quick Draw (a review) was also a co-creator, it was one of my favorite shows. So imagine, my big smile when I received word that TV Show Creator, Producer, Actor and in my opinion the undisputed king of the improv, Mr. John Lehr was set to appear in The Neighborhood in TAG VOL II Ed. VI THEATRE (big smile) imagine no more.
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Big & Rich
w/ Wild West Show
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TAG AN ANTHOLOGY VOL II
developed by Kendall F. Person
produced by The Neighborhood
ED. VI THEATRE
You Mean I’m In Charge?
by John Lehr
In 2006, my business partner Nancy Hower and I were lucky enough to sell our first TV pitch to Sony. Nancy and I had just wrapped a feature that Nancy wrote and directed called “Memron” which won the Slamdance film festival. I had previously sold a script to NBC and produced a pilot for Fox so we had just enough clout to pitch. We developed a hybrid improv/scripted show set in a grocery store called “10 Items or Less” and the Sony executives bought it in the room. And, because of our unique style, they agreed to let us write and produce the pilot. Once the pilot was produced we pitched the show to TBS and they agreed to buy the series. Since Nancy and I were the creators and producers of the pilot, Sony and TBS agreed that we should “showrun” the season.
The term showrunning gets bounced around in Hollywood a lot but basically it means you are responsible for delivering a season of shows on time and on budget. Nancy and I were thrust into this job and had to learn on the fly. We shot “10 Items” in a working grocery store that was open during filming and when our art department accidentally drilled into the refrigeration lines we were suddenly over budget without a paddle. We suddenly realized the if we didn’t know how to read and manipulate budgets our comedy on the screen would not be what we wanted. From then on we became the masters of finding fat in the Sony budgets.
I remember having an enlightened moment on the set when I realized I was responsible for a crew of 100 people and being so proud that our creativity and hard work helped employ all these people. I also realized that it was not my job to get these people to fit their talent into my concept. Rather, it was to bend my concept so that I could put each of them in the best position to do what they did best. This was a major change in the way I looked at TV production management and I have never looked back.
At our first production meeting, we always tell the cast and crew that we are making comedy — not curing cancer. The only real rule we have is that you can’t be a jerk. If you are an ass on the set, we will not have you back the next day. We’ve only had to enforce this once or twice over the years. During season three of “10 Items” an electrician went off on a make-up/hair person and we told the department head to let him go. He called the next day in tears apologizing — no one had ever called him out on his behavior before. We accepted the apology and hired him back. He became the best team member we had.
this is… The Neighborhood
Up Next: the postlude Ed. VII Tag You’re It.
THEATRE the entire anthology can be found here
the 2017 Season-ending Show as well as the conclusion of The Photograph have been rescheduled for a date tbd.
MUCH LOVE. MORE PEACE. MOST IMAGINATION.
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