NewsNite: Friday, Dec. 28, 2012

WE FEATURE THREE VERY DIFFERENT
AND CREATIVE PEOPLE, ALL WITH
TIES
OF VARYING DEGREES TO AKRON.
AND EACH WITH NEW WORK.
WORKS OF INSIGHT AND
CREATIVITY.
THAT'S NEXT ON "NEWSNITE."
>> [THEME MUSIC]
>> WELCOME TO "NEWSNITE" FOR
DECEMBER 28, THE LAST SHOW OF
OUR
REGULAR SEASON FOR THIS YEAR.
IT'S A VERY DIFFERENT SHOW AT
THAT.
TONIGHT, WE ARE GOING TO
FEATURE
THREE PEOPLE MATURE OF THEM WHO
I
HAVE KNOWN FOR A VERY LONG TIME
AND
ONE OF WHOM I JUST MET.
THE TWO OUR AUTHORS WHO HAVE
WRITTEN BOOKS THAT WE ARE GOING
TO
SPOTLIGHT.
AND THE THIRD IS CARBON BERNSEN
--
CORBIN BERNSEN.
WE ARE GOING TO START WITH
CRAIG
MARKS, WHO WROTE A BOOK CALLED
"ON
THE MARK."
AND I'M GOING TO ENCOURAGE ALL
OF
YOU TO GO TO OUR EXTENDED
EDITION
WHERE THE INTERVIEWS IN THEIR
ENTIRETY CAN BE SEEN.
BUT FIRST WE START WITH CRAIG
MARKS.
>> THE TALENT AND CLEVERNESS OF
CRAIG MARKS CAME TO MY
ATTENTION 20
YEARS AGO.
I WAS IN EDITOR AND CRAIG WOULD
WALKING EVERY WEEK WITH HIS
CARTOONS STORYBOARDS.
ANOTHER -- NOTHING WAS SACRED.
HE WOULD MAKE POLITICIANS,
ACTORS,
LANDMARKS, POLITICAL ISSUES,
ALL OF
THEM WOULD BE PART OF HIS
CARTOONS
OR HIS COLUMNS.
CRAIG USES HIS CLEVER AND
INSIGHTFUL HUMOR TO TELL THE
STORY
PRETTY MUCH ABOUT THE WHOLE
COMMUNITY.
CRAIG HAS PUT THOSE COLUMNS AND
CARTOONS INTO A BOOK CALLED "ON
THE
MARK."
A COMPILATION OF HIS COLUMNS
AND
CARTOONS FROM 1992 TO 2012.
AND CRAIG JOINS US TO TALK
ABOUT
HIS BOOK AND HIS CLEVERNESS.
>> IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE.
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
YOU DIDN'T DO THIS FOR -- AS A
FULL-TIME JOB IN YOUR REAL
LIFE,
RIGHT?
>> NO.
I AM A FULL-TIME COMPUTER GEEK
IS
THE BEST WAY TO PUT IT.
I WORKED IN DOWNTOWN AKRON AM A
WEB
PROGRAMMING, COMPUTER
PROGRAMMING.
BUT CARTOONS AND COLUMNS ALLOW
ME
TO USE THE OTHER PART OF MY
BRAIN.
>> IS IT AN ALTER EGO, LITERARY
PERSONA PER SE?
>> I WOULDN'T SAY IT IS AN
ALTER
EGO.
I WAS NOT THE PERSON WHO WOULD
SAY
THE FUNNY THINGS, BUT I WOULD
WHISPER IN THE YEAR TO SOMEONE
ELSE
AND AS THEY WERE -- I WOULD I
WOULD -- THE
LAUGHS AND THE PUNISHMENT.
>> WHEN DID CARTOONS AND
COLUMNS
AND WRITING BECOME A PART OF
YOUR
LIFE?
>> I'VE BEEN DRAWING CARTOONS
SINCE
THIRD GRADE.
MY FATHER IS AN ARTIST AND A W
RITER.
HE USED TO WORK FOR THE
SOFTWARE
PUBLISHING COMPANY, WRITING
COLORING BOOKS AND ACTIVITY
BOOKS.
AND I THINK I JUST KIND OF --
FROM
THAT, STARTED DRAWING CARTOONS.
AND I THINK I PICKED UP A LOT
OF
THAT FROM HIM.
>> BUT YOU ALSO DREW CARTOONS
AT
THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON,
CORRECT?
>> YES.
I DID A COMIC STRIP CALLED
"ZIPPY,"
AND HIS FRIEND, A HUMAN SIZED
PARROT, ONE OF THE CHARACTERS
I
USED TO DRAW IN THIRD GRADE.
AND I JUST STUCK WITH HIM.
AND I WAS DOING THAT.
AND THEN THE READER CAME ALONG
IN
1984.
AND AFTER THE FIRST ISSUE, I
BROUGHT A SAMPLE OF MY CARTOONS
TO
MARY MAXON.
AND SHE LIKED IT.
SHE DIDN'T HAVE ANY NEED FOR A
COMIC STRIP BUT THEY DID AN
EDITORIAL CARTOONIST.
>> AND YOU HAVE BEEN WITH THEM
EVER
SINCE.
>> YES.
>> IT'S NOT JUST CARTOONS AND
WHAT
YOU DID FOR WESTSIDE READER,
YOU
ARE MULTITALENTED.
>> I'VE BEEN ALLOWED TO PURSUE
A
LOT OF MY INTERESTS.
I LOVE SPORTS.
I'VE BEEN ABLE TO COVER THE
INDIANS
AND THE CAVS.
I ENJOY MOVIES.
I'VE BEEN ABLE TO SEE MOVIES.
SO IT HAS BEEN A REALLY FUN
GIG.
>> YOU ARE A NATIVE OF AKRON.
AND YOU HAVE A HISTORICAL
PERSPECTIVE THAT A LOT OF
PEOPLE
DON'T HAVE.
IS THAT PART OF THE REASON WHY
YOU
ARE ABLE TO PUT THEM TOGETHER
IN
THE WAY THAT YOU DO?
>> I THINK WHEN YOU'VE LIVED IN
AN
AREA FOR A LONG TIME, YOU CAN
SEE
HOW THINGS CHANGE.
YOU SAY, OKAY, WELL, I REMEMBER
WHEN THAT PLACE -- I THINK NOW
IT
IS A PAINT STORE -- IN 1984, IT
USED TO BE A DRUGSTORE, AND I
CAN
FLASH BACK TO THOSE EARLY
TIMES.
>> EVERYTHING THAT YOU WRITE IS
VERY FRESH.
WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR IDEAS?
>> IT'S THROUGH A LOT OF
THINGS,
EITHER READING THE NEWSPAPER,
TALKING TO PEOPLE, JUST
SOMETHING
WHICH PIQUES MY INTEREST.
SOMETHING ODD, PEOPLE ARE
TALKING
ABOUT OR SOMETHING THEY SHOULD
BE
TALKING ABOUT.
>> HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR
YOU TO
WRITE A COLUMN?
>> IT DEPENDS.
PARTICULARLY THE COLUMNS CAN
COME
FAIRLY QUICK.
SOME HAVE BEEN IN MY MIND FROM
MAYBE THURSDAY TO MAYBE MONDAY
MORNING WHEN I HAVE TO HAND
THEM
IN.
>> AND NOBODY IS IMMUNE FROM
YOUR
CLEVERNESS AS FAR AS I'M
CONCERNED.
YOU HAVE TALKED ABOUT LEBRON,
MAYOR
PASQUALIC.
DOES SOMEBODY HAVE TO DO
ANYTHING
IN PARTICULAR TO PIQUE YOUR
INTEREST?
>> YEAH.
IT'S NOT ANYTHING IN
PARTICULAR.
IT'S JUST -- THAT WAS
PARTICULARLY
ODD OR SOMETHING WHICH ADDS
THAT --
WHICH AS THE OLD SONG SAYS,
THAT'S
MEAN.
>> THE TELEVISED PORTION OF OUR
INTERVIEW IS ACTUALLY JUST A
SAMPLING OF THE ENTIRE
INTERVIEW.
I URGE ALL OF YOU TO GO TO
NEWSNITE.NET FOR THE FULL I
NTERVIEW.
>>> OUR SECOND INTERVIEW IS
WITH
DON ADAMS.
THE OFFER -- THE AUTHOR OF THE
BOOK
FROM AN OFFICE BUILDING WITH A
HIGH-POWERED RIFLE.
I WANT TO WELCOME DON ADAMS,
WHO IN
FULL DISCLOSURE, WHOSE BOOK I
HOPE
TO EDIT -- DON HAS WRITTEN A
BOOK
CALLED FROM AN OFFICE BUILDING
WITH
A HIGH-POWERED RIFLE, THE STORY
ABOUT HIS INVOLVEMENT IN THE
SSN
MISSION OF PRESIDENT JOHN F.
KENNEDY IN NOVEMBER, 1963.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING
HERE
WITH US.
>> MY PLEASURE.
>> I WANT TO START WITH THE
BASIC
PREMISE.
CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, YOU
ARE
CONVINCED THAT LEE HARVEY
OSWALD
DID NOT NECESSITATE -- DID NOT
ASSASSINATE KENNEDY?
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
>> I WANT TO GO BACK TO 1963.
YOU WERE A ROOKIE FBI AGENT IN
A 2 -MAN OFFICE IN GEORGIA.
>> CORRECT.
>> THIS WAS EARLY NOVEMBER,
1963.
TELL US ABOUT A PHONE CALL YOU
GOT
FROM AN AGENT COME A SPECIAL
AGENT
IN CHARGE IN ATLANTA.
>> OKAY.
ON NOVEMBER 13, I HAD WORKED
ALL
DAY AND I HAD GOT HOME AND WAS
GOING TO HAVE DINNER WITH MY
FAMILY.
AND THE AGENT IN CHARGE OF THE
ATLANTA FBI OFFICE, JAMES, HE
CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THAT HE
HAD A
MATTER THAT WAS OF URGENCY AND
HE
WANTED TO CONDUCT IT AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE.
AND HOPEFULLY I WILL GET
STARTED
THE NEXT MORNING.
HE EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THEY
HAD
RECEIVED INFORMATION FROM AN
INFORMANT THAT THERE WAS A
PLANNED
ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT
KENNEDY
THAT HAD TAKEN PLACE IN
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.
>> THE CONVERSATION --
>> THE CONVERSATION --
>> ABOUT --
>> RIGHT.
AND THEY WERE IN INDIANAPOLIS,
INDIANA, ON A MEETING.
AND ONE OF THE FOUR INDIVIDUALS
WAS
A MAN BY THE NAME OF JOSEPH
ADAMS.
AND HE WAS REALLY THE MAIN
PERSON
OF THE FOUR PEOPLE THAT WERE
THERE.
ALSO PRESENT, WHICH A LOT OF
PEOPLE
DIDN'T KNOW, WAS ONE OF OUR FBI
INFORMANTS AND AN INFORMANT
FROM
MIAMI INTELLIGENCE POLICE UNIT.
AND HE WAS UP -- HE WAS ONE FOR
THAT WAS THEIR ALSO.
SO HE HAD FIRST, DIRECT
KNOWLEDGE
OF EVERYTHING THAT THEY WERE
TALKING ABOUT.
>> SO AS A ROOKIE FBI AGENT,
YOU
ARE CHARGED !WITH INVESTIGATING
JOSEPH ADAMS -- BECAUSE HE
LIVED IN
GEORGIA.
>> GEORGIA.
AND IT WAS IN OUR TERRITORY.
WE HAD NINE COUNTIES.
AND SO MY RESPONSIBILITY WAS TO
DO
EVERYTHING I POSSIBLY CAN AS
QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE TO
DETERMINE
EVERYTHING I CAN ABOUT --
>> TELL US ABOUT JOSEPH ADAMS
MILTEER.
>> HIT -- HIS FATHER HAD LEFT
HIM A
LARGE INHERITANCE.
HE WAS A RADICAL RIGHT-WINGER.
HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE KU KLUX
K LAN.
THE AMERICAN CONSTITUTION PARTY
AND
DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS.
THEY WERE TOTALLY OPPOSED TO
THE
KENNEDYS.
THERE WAS TREMENDOUSLY BITTER
FEELINGS.
HE AND HIS GROUP WERE NOT
HAPPY.
AND AS A RESULT OF IT, THEY
WENT SO
FAR AS TO PLAN THE
ASSASSINATION.
AND THE ASSASSINATION WAS
PLANNED,
LIKE I SAID, TO KILL HIM.
THEY DIDN'T SAY WHERE THEY WERE
GOING TO KILL HIM, BUT THEY DID
SAY
THAT HE WAS GOING TO GET
KILLED.
>> SO YOU DO YOUR
INVESTIGATION,
YOU DRESS UP IN BOMBS CLOTHING,
YOU
TAKE SOME OF THE -- INOF THE --
IN BUM'S
CLOTHING -- YOU WRITE YOUR
INVESTIGATION, YOU SEND YOUR
REPORT
IN AND YOU THINK THAT IS ALL?
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
>> OKAY.
ON NOVEMBER 22ND, JOHN F.
KENNEDY
IS ASSASSINATED.
YOU GET A REQUEST TO CALL JIM
MCMAHON IN ATLANTA.
AND WHAT DID HE ASK YOU TO DO
AT
THAT POINT?
>> HE INSTRUCTED ME IMMEDIATELY
TO
FIND JOSEPH MILTEER.
THE SECRET SERVICE WAS
INTERESTED
IN HIS LOCATION OR WHEREABOUTS.
AND THAT I SHOULD DO EVERYTHING
IMMEDIATELY.
NOT WAIT UNTIL SOMETIME -- THIS
WAS
LIKE 1:00 -- NO, THE
ASSASSINATION
TOOK PLACE AT 1:30, SO THIS WAS
ABOUT 2:30 THAT I RECEIVED A
CALL.
IT WAS IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE
ASSASSINATION.
THE SECRET SERVICE DECIDED THEY
WANTED LOCATED.
>> HOW WOULD YOU FEEL?
HERE, YOU'RE BEING ASKED TO
INVESTIGATE THE MAN WHO SENT A
REPORT IN.
HOW DID YOU FEEL KNOWING THAT
THE
PRESIDENT HAD BEEN
ASSASSINATED?
>> I WAS DEVASTATED.
I NEVER HAD ANYTHING SHOCKED ME
IN
MY LIFE, BECAUSE I HAD FINISHED
ABOUT A YEAR AND HALF
INVESTIGATION
ON THIS GUY AND DID EVERYTHING.
I WENT UP AND MET HIM.
I TOOK DOCUMENTS AND PAPERS
FROM
HIM AND THAT.
ALL OF A SUDDEN, HE IS NOW A
PRIME
SUSPECT IN KILLING OF THE P
RESIDENT.
AND WHEN -- I WAS TOLD THE
PRESIDENT WAS KILLED, I WAS
DEVASTATED.
MY FIRST THOUGHTS WERE, MILTEER
HAD
TO BE INVOLVED.
DID I MESS UP?
DID I MAKE A MISTAKE SOMEWHERE?
IN THE PROCESS, DID I FAIL TO
KEEP
THE PRESIDENT ALIVE BECAUSE OF
SOMETHING I HAD DONE WRONG?
>> OKAY.
SO LEE HARVEY OSWALD IS
ARRESTED.
AS THE POTENTIAL ASSASSIN OF
PRESIDENT.
YOU, IN THE MEANTIME, START
LOOKING
FOR MILTEER.
TELL US ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED
NEXT.
>> I DID THREE INVESTIGATIONS A
D AY.
I WENT TO MORNING AND NOON AND
EVENING.
WITHOUT FAILURE.
IF I WAS WORKING MY CASES AND
IT
WAS 10:00 AT NIGHT, I STILL HAD
TO
MAKE THAT CHECK.
>> A CHECK ON HIS HOME?
>> YES.
AND HIS GIRLFRIEND HOUSE IN
VALDOSTA, GEORGIA.
AND A COUPLE KNOWN HAUNTS HE
WOULD
GO TO.
I DID THAT EVERY SINGLE DAY
UNTIL
WEDNESDAY THE 27TH OF NOVEMBER.
AND THEN ABOUT 5:30, I WENT UP
ON
HIS GIRLFRIEND HOUSE, WITH MY
CAR,
AND AS SOON AS I DID I SAW THE
VOLKSWAGEN BUS.
I KNEW HE WAS DRIVING THIS,
PREDOMINATELY.
SO I BACKED OFF BECAUSE I
COULDN'T
DO IT BY MYSELF -- I WAS NOT
PERMITTED TO GET INTO A
SITUATION
LIKE THAT WITHOUT BACK UP.
I BACKED OFF AND I WENT TO A
PAY
PHONE, BECAUSE WE COULDN'T USE
OUR
RADIOS.
OUR RADIOS WERE -- OPEN
MICROPHONE
TO ALL AGENCIES.
SO THERE'S NO CONFIDENTIAL
INFORMATION THAT CAN BE
EXCHANGED
OR DISCUSSED.
ANYWAY, I BACKED AWAY AND WENT
TO A
PAY PHONE AND I CALLED THE FBI
OFFICE IN VALDOSTA AND GOT A
HOLD
OF KEN WILLIAMS.
I SAID, I NEED YOUR HELP.
WE'VE GOT A PRIME SUSPECT.
WE'VE GOT TO FIND HIM AND
INTERVIEW
HIM.
AND HE IS HERE AT HIS
GIRLFRIEND'S
HOUSE.
>>> THE FINAL SEGMENT OF OUR
PROGRAM, WE GET A CHANCE TO
TALK
WITH CORBIN BERNSEN.
HE IS AN ACTOR, PRODUCER,
WRITER
AND DIRECTOR.
WE TALK ABOUT THOSE MOVIES, HIS
AFFINITY FOR AKRON, AND WHAT HE
HOPES TO DO WITH AKRON IN THE
FUTURE.
>>> CORBIN BERNSEN, WELCOME TO
"NEWSNITE."
>> THANK YOU.
GREAT TO BE HERE.
>> YOU WERE BACK IN AKRON,
BECAUSE
OF THE TEST, WHICH PREMIERED I
THINK IT WAS JUST THIS WEEK
HERE
LOCALLY?
HOW DID THE PREMIER GO?
>> IT WAS WONDERFUL.
WE HAD A PREMIER THE DAY BEFORE
IN
LOS ANGELES, WHICH WAS WITH ALL
OF
THE LA PEOPLE.
AND THEY LOT OF FRIENDS.
VERY CRITICAL PEOPLE.
I WAS A LITTLE NERVOUS ABOUT IT
BECAUSE IT IS SORT OF A SWEET,
LITTLE FAMILY MOVIE.
RIGHT NOW THE ACADEMY AWARD
SEASON
WITH THE MASTER AND ALL OF
THESE
BIG STUDIO MULTI-BUDGET MOVIES.
AND SO THERE I WAS WITH MY
LITTLE
FAMILY, A LITTLE BIT OF FAITH
ELEMENT IN IT.
AND EVERYBODY LOVED THE MOVIE.
THIS WAS L.A.
BUT IT WAS IN THE L.A.
CROWD.
AND THEN I WAS IN THE AKRON
CROWD,
FEELING AT HOME.
I FELT LIKE I HAD MY PEOPLE
THERE.
THESE WERE TRULY MY FRIENDS AND
IT
WAS WONDERFUL.
AND IT'S GREAT.
>> IT'S A HOLIDAY MOVIE.
SO TELL US WHAT THE PREMISE OF
THE
MOVIE IS.
>> IT'S ABOUT A MAN WHO HAS
LOST
TOUCH WITH HIS FAMILY.
A 17-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER ABOUT TO
GO
TO COLLEGE.
A 12-YEAR-OLD SON WHO IS LIKE
INTERNET -- THAT'S ALL HE DOES.
THING ON HIS DOOR SAYS, DO NOT
DISTURB.
HE'S GOT A 6-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER
WHO
IS GLUED TO WATCHING
TELEVANGELISTS
ON TV.
HE'S GOT A WIFE THAT IS AT SOME
CLASS EVERY NIGHT.
LOST EVERYONE THREE DAYS BEFORE
CHRISTMAS.
THEY HAVEN'T GOTTEN AROUND TO
THE
CHRISTMAS TREE, HAVEN'T GOTTEN
AROUND TO FAMILY STUFF.
HIS BROTHER, WHO IS A
SURVIVALIST
LIVING OUT IN THE WOODS, SAYS,
YOU'VE GOT TO GET CONTROL OF
YOUR
FAMILY.
I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU MY GIFT.
IT'S CALLED THE THREE DAY TEST,
A
SURVIVAL TEST.
WE MANUFACTURED AND -- IN THAT
T EST, IT IS BASICALLY THIS:
WITHOUT
WARNING IN THE MOST
INAPPROPRIATE
TIME, THREE DAYS FOR CHRISTMAS
WITH
A BIG COLD CHILL COMING IN,
TURN
OFF ALL THE WATER, POWER,
ELECTRICITY TO YOUR HOUSE, TURN
OFF
THE PHONES, UNPLUGGED INTERNET,
LOCK THE DOORS, CLOSE THE
WINDOWS,
NOBODY COMES IN AND OUT FOR
THREE
DAYS.
CAN YOU AND YOUR FAMILY
SURVIVE?
HE DOES THIS OSTENSIBLY TO GET
HIS
FAMILY BACK.
AND --
>> DOES HE?
>> OF COURSE.
IT'S A FAMILY MOVIE.
HE'S GOT THEM BY THE END.
HE REALIZES AT THE END IT IS
NOT
REALLY THEM.
THIS COMES FROM ME BECAUSE I
HAVE
FOUR SANS.
-- I HAVE FOUR SONS.
HE'S THE ONE THAT HAS NOT MADE
THE
EFFORT.
OUR KIDS ARE TUNING OUT AND
DOING
STUFF AND I GET A LOT OF THAT
AND
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THAT, BUT I
ALSO KNOW THAT WHEN WE COME
HOME
AND WE ARE TIRED AS PARENTS,
WE'VE
STILL GOT TO SIT THERE AND DO
THE
HOMEWORK, GOT TO ASK, WHAT ARE
YOU
DOING?
YOU JUST CAN'T BLAME YOUR KIDS
WHEN
THEY DRIFT OFF IF YOU'VE NOT
BEEN
RESPONSIBLE ALONG WAY.
>> LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE
TECHNICAL STUFF.
YOU'VE FILMED THIS IN MARCH OF
THIS
YEAR.
THIS WAS A QUICK TURNAROUND,
WAS IT
NOT?
>> A VERY FAST TURNAROUND.
THIS WAS MANY, MANY DAYS
BACK-TO-BACK, HOURS AND HOURS,
JUST
GETTING READY.
WE ACTUALLY RELEASED IT ON N
OVEMBER 6.
DVD IS UNLIKE A MOVIE.
IT DOESN'T COME OUT ON A BIG
WEEKEND AND IT IS OVER IN A
MONTH.
DVD IS A SLOW BURN, IF YOU
WILL.
AND THE FILM WE SHOT TWO YEARS
AGO,
WE ARE STILL PROMOTING THAT.
BECAUSE DVDS -- WITHOUT ALL OF
THE
BLOCKBUSTERS IN THE STORES --
DVDS,
AMAZON, NETFLIX, RED BOX, THEY
ARE
ALL OVER THE PLACE.
YOU'VE GOT TO KEEP PROMOTING
THEM
FOR WHERE THEY END UP.
ON THAT FILM, "25 HILL," WE
SLAMMED
IT TO HAVE IT READY FOR
NOVEMBER 6,
WHICH MEANS WE HAD TO DELIVER
IN
SEPTEMBER.
MARCH, APRIL, MAY, JUNE, JULY,
AUGUST, WE SHOT IN MARCH -- IT
WAS
REALLY LIKE FOUR OR FIVE
MONTHS.
>> DID THE ORIGINAL FILM CALL
FOR A
SNOWSTORM?
AND AKRON DIDN'T COOPERATE?
>> RIGHT NOW.
IF WE SHOT THE FILM RIGHT NOW,
IT
WOULD HAVE BEEN FANTASTIC.
ALL OF THESE CHRISTMAS
DECORATIONS
-- PEOPLE MIGHT NOT RECALL, IT
WAS
LIKE 75 DEGREES WHEN WE SHOT IN
MARCH.
IT WAS LIKE A HEAT WAVE.
THERE'S A SCENE UP IN THE ATTIC
WHERE EVERYBODY GOES TO SEE THE
MOVIE, THEY -- THE FATHER AND
THE
SON ARE IN THE ATTIC.
IT WAS 100 DEGREES, LITERALLY
AND
THE HEAT RISING IN MAGIC WITH
ALL
OF THE LIGHTS AND EVERYTHING.
NOW I'M DRIVING AROUND -- ALL
OF
THE THINGS -- WE SHOULD BE
SHOOTING
RIGHT NOW.
IT CALLED FOR A SNOWSTORM.
WE DIDN'T GET ANY SNOW.
WE DON'T HAVE THE BUDGET TO
CREATE
TONS OF SNOW.
SO INSTEAD, WE TURNED IT INTO A
CHILLY BLAST OF ARCTIC WIND.
WHICH IS ALSO -- IT WORKS
BECAUSE
WE ARE SEEING ALL OF THESE
FREAK
TORNADOES AND WINTER STORMS
AROUND
THE COUNTRY.
SO IT WORKED ON THE SAME SORT
OF
LEVEL.
>> WHAT HAPPENS NOW WITH "3 DAY
TEST"?
>> "3 DAY TEST" IS OUT RIGHT
NOW.
I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO BE AT THE
ACME LOCALLY -- THEY ARE
SELLING IT
FOR US.
I'M GOING TO BE LATER ON THERE
AND
SIGNING AUTOGRAPHS AND SELLING
IT
AND HELPING PEOPLE LEARN MORE
ABOUT
IT.
BUT IT IS OUT NOW, OUT THROUGH
CHRISTMAS.
IT'S A GREAT IF.
WE ARE OUT NATIONALLY.
I'M IN AKRON PROMOTING IT
BECAUSE
THERE'S WONDERFUL SUPPORT FROM
ACME
FRESH MARKET, HELPING SELL THE
FILM
LOCALLY, AND IT IS OUT.
IT'S INBRED -- RED BOX AND
DIFFERENT PLACES AROUND THE C
OUNTRY.
I JUST WORKED FOR THE NEXT TWO
YEARS PROMOTING -- THAT'S WHAT
I D O.
>> THIS IS THE SECOND MOVIE
YOU'VE
DONE IN AKRON.
BECAUSE YOU DID "25 HILL,"
WHICH IS
PROBABLY THE MOST FAMOUS PEOPLE
THAT PEOPLE MAY KNOW ABOUT IT.
EXPLAINED TO OUR VIEWERS THE
STORY
OF HOW YOU GOT INVOLVED WITH
THE
SOAP BOX DERBY AND CAME UP WITH
THAT MOVIE.
>> AND ULTIMATELY LED TO AKRON,
WHICH IS THE BIGGER PART OF THE
STORY.
BECAUSE ONE THING BEFORE I TELL
YOU
THAT -- ONE THING I'VE LEARNED
IN
LIFE A LOT LATELY -- I'VE BEEN
MARRIED FOR 25 YEARS -- I SEE
DOUBT
-- WE ALWAYS KNOW WHERE WE ARE
GOING.
WE GET AN INSPIRATION OF
SOMETHING,
WE THINK IT'S GOING ONE DIRE
ACTION
AND IT GOES INTO ANOTHER.
AND I SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN
MARRIAGES -- THIS IS OFF
SUBJECT
FOR THE SECOND -- IT'S ALL
WONDERFUL AND THE MONTHS OF THE
HONEYMOON PERIOD AND ALL THAT
--
THE DUTY OF LIFE IS IF YOU
STICK
WITH THIS -- THIS IS IMPORTANT
FOR
KIDS WHO ARE LISTENING -- START
DOWN A ROAD -- DON'T DEMAND
WHAT
TOMORROW IS GOING TO BE.
LET THE ROADSHOW ITSELF.
SOMETIMES I TELL YOUNG ACTORS,
THEY
GO, I WANT TO BE AN ACTOR.
I SAY, GO LEARN.
COME TO A PLACE LIKE THIS.
WORK ON A SHOW.
MAYBE IT IS NOT ACTING AND YOUR
WITH SAM OR -- CAMERAS AND
SOUND
AND WITH PEOPLE AND
INTERACTING.
YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU'RE
GOING
TO END UP.
YOU MAY FIND YOU ARE GOING TO
BE A
MAKEUP ARTIST.
STILL IN THE SAME BUSINESS.
I WROTE AN ARTICLE TO GO BACK
TO IT
-- I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE I WAS --
I
READ AN ARTICLE IN USA TODAY.
IT SAID, SOAPBOX DERBY.
IT'S IN TROUBLE.
I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT
IT.
I MEAN, I KNEW ABOUT IT.
I DIDN'T RACE IN IT OR DO
ANYTHING.
SOMETHING SAID, CHECK THIS OUT,
CORBIN.
AND I GOT A HOLD OF THE DERBY
AND I
FOUND OUT THEY WERE IN DEBT TO
THE
BANK ACROSS THE STREET HERE.
LOOK, WE'VE GOT A HOLD OF YOUR
MONEY.
IT'S TIME.
WE'VE GOT TO START TO DO
SOMETHING
ABOUT THIS.
AND I THOUGHT, IT'S A TRAGEDY
TO
SEE THIS GREAT AMERICAN
TRADITION,
IT IS ONLY 75 YEARS OLD, THEY
DON'T
HAVE A TON OF TRADITIONS --
>> WITH FAMILY --
>> I REFUSE TO THINK BLACK
FRIDAY
IS GOING TO BE, AN AMERICAN
TRADITION.
JUST SHOPPING ON FRIDAY?
WHAT IS IT?
>> I THINK IT IS.
>> WHATEVER IT IS --
>> THERE'S ALSO FAMILY
TRADITIONS.
>> IT'S A FAMILY TRADITION.
WE JUST DON'T HAVE A LOT.
SO I'VE GOT TO WORK ON HELPING
TO
SAVE THIS.
I'M A BIG ADVOCATE OF FAMILY.
FAMILY, COMMUNITY, IT'S SORT OF
THE
BUILDING BLOCKS OF ANY GREAT
SOCIETY.
THIS IS NOT A POLLYANNA -- NOT
FAMILY -- FAMILY IS IMPORTANT.
AND FAMILY CAN BE THE MAKEUP OF
WHATEVER YOU WANTED TO BE.
FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ARE VERY
IMPORTANT BUILDING BLOCKS OF
SOCIETY.
THIS IS A GREAT SPORT.
IT IS ALL ABOUT FAMILY AND
COMMUNITY.
SO I DIDN'T KNOW THAT WHEN I
READ
THIS ARTICLE.
I THOUGHT, THIS IS GOING TO
HELP
THIS TRADITION.
AND LO AND BEHOLD, IT LED ME TO
THE
DERBY.
THE DERBY LED ME TO AKRON.
AND I SEE THE BIGGER PICTURE
FOR ME
-- AGAIN, LIKE I SAID, NOW I
AND
HELPING THE DERBY GETS SAVED
AND
TRADITION.
AND NOW IT'S MORE ABOUT AKRON
WITH
ME.
I'M GOING TO STAY WORKING WITH
THE
DERBY.
THAT'S GOING TO BE FOREVER COME
KEEP THEM ON THEIR FEET AND
BRING
SPONSORSHIP.
>> LET'S REMIND OUR VIEWERS
THAT
THE MOVIE, "25 HILL," WHICH YOU
PRODUCED AND HAVE RELEASED ON
DVD,
YOU ARE BUILDING A FUNDING
MECHANISM TO HELP THE DERBY.
>> ALL OF THE SALES -- THE
DERBY IS
A PERCENTAGE OWNER OF THE FILM.
SO A PORTION OF -- NOT A
PORTION,
JUST LIKE ANY OTHER EQUITY I
NVESTOR, THEY GET MONEY EVERY
TIME
MONEY COMES IN.
AND THAT WILL GO ON AND ON AND
ON.
MOVIES ARE -- UNLIKE OTHER
PRODUCTS, THEY STAY -- IT'S A
WONDERFUL LIFE COMES OUT EVERY
CHRISTMAS AND IT IS 60 YEARS
OLD OR
WHATEVER IT IS.
MOVIES STAY ON AND ON.
MAJOR LEAGUE, THE MOVIE I WAS
IN,
EVERY YEAR, AT BASEBALL SEASON,
PEOPLE WATCH MAJOR LEAGUE.
THE WHOLE THING IS -- IT MOVED
ME
TO AKRON WHERE I HAD THIS NEW
VISION OF CREATING AN
INDEPENDENT
HOME CENTER HERE.
WORKING WITH THE STATE AND
STARTING
TO TALK TO THEM AND SEE IF WE
CAN
TAKE SOME OF THE CRAP -- TAX
CREDIT
AND MONEY AND SAY, WHY DON'T
YOU --
INSTEAD OF INVESTING INTO ONE
BIG
FILM THAT HOLLYWOOD BRINGS TO
OHIO,
WHY DON'T YOU INVEST INTO 20
SMALL
INDEPENDENT FILMS?
FRACTION OF THE NUMBERS -- WHEN
YOU
HAVE $50,000 TO MAKING MONEY
AND
YOU ARE GIVEN ANOTHER 50, THAT
HAS
DOUBLED MY BUDGET.
AS A YOUNG FILM MAKER, WHY
DON'T
YOU BRING YOUNG TALENT HERE?
IN THIS ROOM, THERE'S TALENT --
PEOPLE I SEE AROUND HERE.
SOMEBODY WHO DOES STEADY CAM
RIGHT
OVER THERE.
SHAKE YOUR CAMERA.
GO AHEAD.
GIVE ME A LITTLE NOT.
-- A LITTLE NOD.
THAT'S RIGHT.
WE'VE GOT PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BE
INVOLVED IN FILM.
I THINK THIS CAN BE A GREAT
FILM
CENTER.
WE ARE SIX HOURS FROM DETROIT,
CHICAGO, INDIANAPOLIS, NEW
YORK.
>> EVERYWHERE.
>> WE ARE EVERYWHERE.
SO THIS COULD BECOME -- THERE'S
A
THING THAT I LOVE ABOUT AKRON.
AND I'M GOING TO SAY IT -- IT
SOUNDS NEGATIVE -- BUT THERE'S
A
HUGE INDUSTRY THAT HAS BEEN
STRIPPED OUT, THE RUBBER CITY.
TIRE MANUFACTURER WENT ABROAD.
YOU'VE GOT THIS SORT OF GHOST
TOWN
TO SOME DEGREE OF THIS
INCREDIBLE
AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY AND WILL
AND
COMMUNITY THAT IS JUST WAITING
FOR
THE THING TO DO.
I SENSE THAT HERE.
IT'S TIME TO PLUG INTO IT.
>> THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO ASK
YOU.
HOW DID YOU GET THIS FEELING
ABOUT
AKRON?
WHAT IS IT ABOUT AKRON AND THE
PEOPLE OF AKRON THAT RESONATES
WITH
YOU?
>> TWO THINGS.
ONE IS, LIKE MANY THINGS,
CHARACTER
AND -- YOU DRIVE AROUND AND YOU
SEE
THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND YOU GO,
WHAT
WAS THAT?
THAT WAS FIRESTONE.
THAT WAS GOOD YEAR.
WHAT WAS THERE?
YOU SEE THE INDUSTRY.
YOU SEE THE BUILDINGS AND
SMOKESTACKS.
LOOKING -- COOL-LOOKING STUFF.
THAT'S FACTORY STUFF.
I'M GOING TO BUILD LOFTS LOFT
THERE.
TO US, IT IS HIT.
-- IT IS HIP.
YOU START TO LEARN WHAT
HAPPENED
HERE, WHICH QUITE FRANKLY, THE
STORY OF AMERICA -- WHAT
HAPPENED
HERE IS PROBABLY -- KEN BURNS
SHOULD DO A DOCUMENTARY ON IT.
WHAT HAPPENED IN AKRON, THE
PROBLEM
OF THE FISCAL CLIFF WE'RE AT.
QUITE FRANKLY, YOU CANNOT STRIP
OUT
THE WORK AND ALL OF THAT AND
SEND
IT ABROAD.
AND THINK YOU HAVE A STRONG
ECONOMY.
YOU CAN'T DO IT.
IT DOESN'T WORK.
I'M GETTING BIGGER ON THE
SUBJECT
THAN WE SHOULD, BUT THAT'S
WHAT'S
HAPPENING.
IT DOESN'T TAKE A GENIUS OR ALL
THE
GUYS IN WASHINGTON TO FIGURE IT
O UT.
WE TOOK OUR INDUSTRIES AND SHIP
THEM AWAY.
>> BRING IT BACK HOME TO ME.
HOW DO YOU TAKE THAT THOUGHT
AND
THAT WHOLE PHILOSOPHY AND BRING
IT
DOWN TO MOVIEMAKING AND AKRON,
OHIO?
>> MOVIES HAVE A UNIQUE
QUALITY.
PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN THEM.
THEY ARE KIND OF COOL.
IT'S LIKE PEOPLE GRAVITATE
TOWARD
THEM.
DURING THE DEPRESSION, PEOPLE
WENT
TO MOVIES.
APRIL LIKE MOVIES.
-- PEOPLE LIKE MOVIES.
IT'S LIKE JOINING THE CIRCUS.
IT'S GOT THE ALLURE OF THE
CIRCUS
FOR PEOPLE, FOR KIDS, IT'S
LIKE, I
CAN BE IN MOVIES, MAKE MOVIES.
THERE'S A THING ABOUT IT.
IN SPORTS -- TO SOME DEGREE,
THE
SAME ALLURE.
IF WE CAN SAY WITH MOVIEMAKING,
LET'S SHOW HOW WE CAN BRING
INDUSTRY BACK TO A PLACE --
AKRON,
OHIO -- WHERE -- THIS CITY WAS
THE
LEADER IN THE WORLD, THE
GLOBAL, IN
MANUFACTURING OF RUBBER
PRODUCTS,
TIRES.
THE WORLD.
THE GLOBE.
ALL OVER.
THIS WAS THE PLACE.
IF WE CAN BRING SOMETHING BACK
HERE
AND BRING IT SOME ATTENTION,
AND
MAYBE ONLY FOR MOVIEMAKING --
I'M
NOT SAYING IT'S GOING TO CHANGE
THE
ECONOMY, BUT IT IS GOING TO
BRING
ATTENTION BACK.
ALL OF A SUDDEN PEOPLE ARE
SAYING,
I CAN BRING MY DRUG COMPANY, MY
PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY -- NOT
SOUNDING LIKE WASHINGTON STATE
--
BRING YOUR DRUG COUNTRY --
BRING
YOUR DRUG COMPANY -- NOT HERE
--
[LAUGHTER]
AND I'M NOT ADVOCATING
THAT BY THE WAY.
>> SO WHAT DO YOU SEE IN THE
PEOPLE
OF AKRON'S THAT -- GREAT, YOU
CAN
BRING THE COMPANY HERE BUT
YOU'VE
GOT TO HAVE BODIES, PEOPLE.
>> BUT IT IS HERE.
ABLE, WILLING PEOPLE TO DO IT.
I TELL YOU WHAT, THE DERBY IS
IN
TROUBLE.
NOBODY WANTED TO PUT MONEY INTO
SAY
THE DERBY BECAUSE IT WAS -- BUT
THEY WANT TO PUT MONEY INTO A
MOVIE
TO HELP SAVE THE DERBY.
>> FOR MORE CONTENT INCLUDING
EXTENDED DISCUSSIONS, FULL
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