Life Changes

Much has happened since my last entry. The first focus is the passing of my father, Robert Goodman. My dad passed on January 15 of this year, just 24 days after the passing of my mother. There was no doubt a sympathy for my mother when she was just given weeks to live from her cancer. My dad had leukemia, but never knew it till those last few weeks. But as my father always told me, "be of good cheer".

After about 10 trips to Vegas to set up one thing or another, both parents have left us, and it has been a different life, not getting my daily call from my father. But I have made changes to my own life that I hope will make my father proud.

As Blendtec is changing direction with a new CEO, we felt the era of WILL IT BLEND is over, which I think we are all relieved. But many other changes came to Blendtec that pretty much gave me the pathway to leave the company. It has been something I have plotted over the past 6 months. Our marketing team has grown from just a couple of us, to 20 people now. It's all good, but I also felt my opinion on things were starting to mean nothing. I was feeling like the old guy with stupid old ideas and all I was doing just pushing the buttons the younger whippersnappers wanted me to push.

Plus, I love my independence. And I noticed the company was growing to proportions that require order in all things. When I was hired there over 7 years ago, I had an interview and was given the job 5 minutes later. Things were much looser. In leaving, it was a challenge. I was trying to finish up things and it took me longer then the leaving date I turned in. So I told some people I needed a few more days to clean up, finishing projects I started. I felt I was doing them a favor, working for free for an extra week, but I noticed I had worn out my welcome.

Anyway, I am now on my own with a number of projects that have been waiting for my attention. First is the release of THE LAST EAGLE SCOUT. Then, I am being hired to produce a series of short films about the constitution that will be playing in schools across the country. Then, I will be shooting a new film with Rob Diamond, which is a feature film, a modern day version of the Prodical Son.

I have also changed my company name to Tier 2 Media. I forgot to renew my name with the state of Utah and some dufus decides to buy Ampersand Films and wants to sell it back to me. Good time for a change, I guess.

I also have a surprise that I will not reveal just yet. Pretty exciting.

- POSTED BY KELS GOODMAN

Shirley Goodman 1935-2012

As my sister tells me, "I am not very sensitive to other's feelings". My mother was comatose for a good few days, so even though I was scheduled to come to see my parents for Christmas not till Friday, I came a day earlier. I got things squared away at work (even though we had a new WILL IT BLEND episode being released on the "end of the world").

I got to the house and went to see this frail, week yet sweet woman who gave me all I have... my life, now ready to leave hers. I barely got a nod and a grunt when I told her that I was here. Stephanie received the same.

Later that night, we met as a family, all who was there and took turns telling her good night. The next day she was still breathing, but not even moving. My sisters Connie and Pam continued to move her around to try to make her comfortable, but we didn't even know what she was feeling.

Finally, a blessing was given by Connie's father-in-law, who was also a patriarch, and asked The Lord to relieve her of her pain. And not more then 3 hours later, she passed. After about 30 minutes, with family gathering, calling hospice and giving the official report, I let my other family members know, then put a posting on Facebook.

My sister, Pam became upset with me the next morning because her kids found out about it on Facebook before she could call them herself. It was 2 in the morning, so I didn't figure many people would have read the post till later, but I was wrong. I assume I will always do something wrong in the sight of my sister Pam, not sure how to handle it.

All I can think of is Mom is now in a better place and no longer having to deal with this evil and mixed-up world. Love you, mom.



- POSTED BY KELS GOODMAN

THE LATEST... (START BLOGGING BACK UP AGAIN)

It has been an interesting day. In fact, it has been an interesting few weeks. Interesting few months.

Yesterday, I went to the re-baptism of Rob Diamond. It was the most spiritual baptism I had ever gone to. It meant several things. I was asked by Rob to give the opening prayer. During the opening song (before the prayer) many things floated into my mind, that I was still processing.

Thus, as I started to say the prayer, I broke down and cried, which I don't do much. And I can't talk very well when I am crying, so I struggled through the prayer. I then exited the chapel as they started the meeting.

What went through my head first was how joyous it is to see a friend in the film world come back into the fold and make a decision to live according to what he believes. Rob has been through a lot these past 20 years. Much of which I know nothing about and wish to keep it that way. But, the film business is an ugly business. I jokingly tell young people who want to get in that if you are not strong in the Gospel, you might as well just leave the faith now, because it will be challenged. I can't count how many married mothers who want to be actors in the film business have left their spouses and left their church to go "change the world" or go "seek after their fortune" in becoming actors or actresses in film.

That is what I have said many times, in LDS Cinema, there are those who are "just LDS enough" to be in an LDS film and dump the church. I feel it a big reason why LDS Cinema struggles. We are not giving the "glory to God" like many successful Christian movies do. (save that for another discussion). So to see a fallen soul come back into the fold, is much to cry about.

I met Rob through my second wife, Heather. While I was married to her, I come to Utah and worked on a film with Dave Sapp that Rob was producing. Heather kept telling me about him, but I had never heard of him. She said we would get along and she was right. I consider him a close friend, and it is our hope that we have more films to work on together.


In the midst of all this, the night before, I was informed that my father had been in the hospital and has leukemia and if he doesn't do the extraneous (28 days of treatments in the hospital) that he would only have weeks to live. He has chosen against the treatment. I don't blame him.


Ironically, my mother, who has been fighting cancer for 3 or more years, is now in a bed-ridden position, and was also given 3 weeks to live (which was 6 weeks ago, and is actually doing better then my dad.

So we are waiting to get my father home from the hospital and my mother is already at home, being set up with a hospice program. Thanks to my two sisters who live there in Vegas near them, they are being taken care of. I personally have taken 6 trips to Vegas in the past two-three months.

So in the Goodman family, we are overwhelmed by these events, but have a calm feeling toward our lives here-after. I have a brother and sister who passed away years ago and I am sure they are awaiting their arrival. I feel for those who don't have some sort of comfort as to the other side. Such as my favorite drummer, Neil Peart.... but I will save that discussion for another blog post.

Until then, 2013 is going to be a full plate of events, keep in touch.

- POSTED BY KELS GOODMAN

Scout Camp 2012

Another fine scout camp year is behind me. That will make 10 years in a row I have attended or ran a camp as either a scout master or some kind of leader.

I actually visited camps in the mid-to-late 90's but really started as a father in 2002 with Forrest, then as a Young Men's President in 2003, then as a scout master in Virginia in 2004 and 2005, then as a father again in 2006, then as a young men leader again from 2007 till now.

I don't remember all of the events, but I have tried to get better over the years, understand the rules as they constantly change. Being a Scout Master is a busy calling. This year was no different.

Luckily, I had good help. But I back up a moment. I actually went from assistant scout master, to scout master, back to assistant scout master because my schedule got busy, but I wanted to stay with the scout.

Then, the scout master that replaced me moved and I was stuck alone as the sole leader for a while. Camp came and I did it on my own. I totally understand. You can't just become scout master overnight. It takes a lot of time to understand all of it. I am still trying to get all the rules.

Then, that scout master was released and I was stuck as the sole guy again. But, then a new one was called and he has been eager to learn and is learning fast. Mike Lamb and Brian Card were Scout Master and Assistant Scout master this year (there are two assistants).

Now that I have confused you, just know that camp was awesome this year. We switch every year, one year we go to an organized camp, the other year we do our own camp. This year we did our own up the American Fork canyon in a beautiful setting, worked on Camping merit badge, went canoeing, learned a little about life saving, and Brian set up a sling shot range (it was probably the hit of the camp).

My dufus here (me) made brownies in dutch oven (an experiment) and besides a sun burn earlier that day, got sick from eating A LOT of the uncooked brownie mix (the coals weren't working very well). While everyone got to hike Timp Cave, I had to lay in my tent all day, waiting for something to happen to my stomach... nothing happened. Got a ride home half a day early from someone visiting.

The picture above shows how I looked before I left camp. Even though there could be no more beautiful place to be sick (with the port a potty standing close by), it was better to recoup in the comfort in my own bed.

The miracle came when I received the inspiration for my next film while laying there begging The Lord to "take me". Instead, I wrote the story to a new film I am writing called Lemonade Stand.

You will hear about it soon.


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Location:In Bed

Delaying the Sequel

As you can see from this fine photo (it was late) the Nick has just finished playing a cowboy.

Actually, Nick Whitaker (The Last Eagle Scout) was in a hilarious musical at the Desert Star Theater in Murray called "The Princess Bridesmaid". It was hilarious, I seriously busted a gut. The Desert Star makes up plays based on real plays, musicals or movies, and messes around with them. I think a lot of it is improv. And, at least the show we saw (the final performance of that show) they got off script a lot, making it even funnier. Very fast paced.

Nick has been in many of the shows and I can see why, you have to have major ADHD to perform there.

The bad/good news from Nick was that he was leaving on a mission. I brought him in to do a few voice over pieces for the new cut of The Last Eagle Scout before I release the DVD and he told me it was a good thing I got him since he was leaving for two years.

I am proud of him, the only bad part was I wanted to make a sequel, but I am OK with it and have already started planning on what my next film is. BTW, The Last Eagle Scout will have a DVD release on September 11. I will probably have a few theatrical showings, but over all I am not going to pursue the theater showing much more. The theaters seem to be scared to touch this film. Or not ready for it. Not sure what the hold up is. But I think I know why.




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Location:In bed

"You're Killing Me, Smalls"

A familiar line from the film "The Sandlot", probably my favorite film about baseball and growing up. I was simply 10 years later or so. At 9 years old, I lived in Richmond, Virginia, getting ready to move to South Texas. I became a fan of the local Richmond Braves team. Not sure if the Braves were AAA, AA or whatever they call it (sounds like a type of battery), I just knew it was not the major leagues.

In my church congregation, I vaguely remember a man named Jack who told me about a hot new baseball player named Dale Murphy. He was a handsome tall fellow, just became a new member of our church.

In the spotty remembrance of that time, I remember going to the stands of the games and pointing him out. Then, we met him after the game outside of the locker room. Seems like he might of stayed at our house, not sure the relationship. I just remember I wanted to play baseball and when I moved to Texas, I was going to be on a team.

Jack sat with us in the stands during the games. At the time, Dale was being considered to play for the Atlanta Braves. Sitting in the stands was a man who was there representing the Braves, names Henry Aaron. I sat next to him and he talked to me, but to this day, I can't remember what he said.

I was finished and I went to sit back with my parents, I was thinking to myself "I wonder if he's related to Hank Aaron". It was one of my many "Sandlot" moments, me fitting into the Smalls character very nicely.

I remember when moving to Texas, I was going to play baseball (I was 10). I decided to tryout for the little league. First, I think I was the absolute next to the last player to be picked. I too remember I couldn't throw the ball. I couldn't hit either. In fact, once when I did hit the ball in the middle of the game, I threw the bat (just like on TV) and accidentally hit my coach. I knew there were so many other boys who were better than me.

The end came when I got a black eye during practice and used the pain as the excuse on quitting the team.

Dale Murphy sent me a ball with all of the Braves autographs on it, including Hank Aaron. What did I do with that ball? Well, what did Smalls do with the Great Bambino ball? Yup.

I managed to still keep my hat he gave me, so a few days ago, I got to see Dale again, for the first time in 35 years. I do the video work for the Orem Owlz team and Dale came to speak at the opening season dinner. I went up to him and, not surprised, he didn't remember me. But he remembered the location, the atmosphere, Jack. I related my story and he kindly autographed my hat, noticing it was old and realized what I gem I kept.

I'm not one to run up to someone for an autograph and chat with a celebrity. But this one I couldn't pass up.

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Apology Campaign

No, I'm not talking about the apology tour President Obama gave when he was first in office. I'm talking about the commercials I hear every day on the radio here in Utah.

Let me back up. I know a little something about advertising. Usually you buy airtime on radio, TV or the internet to get people to buy something. You might use airtime to get people to vote for someone or even say thank you for a special event or an award.

In the case of Energy Solutions, I don't really understand what they are advertising to us for. Is there anyone in the listening audience with some left-over nuclear waste that needs to hire Energy Solutions to take it away? Is there a need to tell us that Energy Solutions is the best at taking away nuclear waste just in case sometime down the road someone might have some in their back yard?

Or are they helping ensure the public that the many tons of nuclear waste brought here from Italy is safe? OR, are they making radio spots to get environmentalists off their backs? To show the world that they are "sooo green" that they are the best at taking away the waste.

I'm sorry, but I have to shake my head at the advertisements that talk about how green they are, how their product helps lower carbon emissions or less destruction of the planet. Terms like "smarter planet" and "better for the environment" coming from companies that in my opinion could care less about their carbon emissions, and probably are big wasters of mountains of paper, water, electricity and fuel in traveling around the world.

Truth really is, when a company is promoting how "green" or "friendly" they are, it's really a form of HUSH MONEY. That's right. Companies are just operating in CYA mode when they do that. They are worried some environmental group is going to start camping outside the front door with picket signs that will evolve the discussion from "this company is deadly to the environment" to "this company kills the elderly" to "this company needs to share the wealth". Then "this company" will get a visit from the EPA. Then "this company" will cave and make themselves "green", and more then likely, pay money to some cause in the case of not being sued or look bad in public.

That is why I cringe when I hear the Energy Solutions commercials on the radio, spending thousands of useless dollars to tell the world that the canisters they use are safe.


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