I noticed that Mr. Marc Anthony and wife will be doing a somewhat biographical film due out next year. This should be quite interesting, as I like Mr. Anthony's music and acting. And he is a Nuyorican... like me. So that is a big bonus to me. His choice in a wife, as expressed by his current, is another matter but he is happy so what does my opinion matter?
One thing that does matter is the amazement that constantly surounds the music industry in the U.S. when any form of music that isn't in english does well. Given that there are several ethnic populations within the U.S. it shouldn't be surprising. Considering 'Hispanics' (I don't like that term) are the 2nd largest group in the nation and that spanish is the 2nd most popular in the world, it really shouldn't be a surprise. And the 'Latin Explosion' or whatever the exact term was back a few years ago was silly. You would think there was never a popular 'Hispanic' musical artist selling well in the U.S. before (Santana, Julio Isglesia, Gloria Estefan, Ruben Blades, Jose Feliciano and many more).
On another front is the news of Mr. Denzel Washington making the largest donation ever to Winter Assistance for Rocky Mount program. I enjoy seeing when movie actors and other celebrities give to worthy causes that they believe in. Too few do so. Or make charitable acts. Like when Mr. Samuel Jackson was on The Daily Show, and spoke about how he helped the Hurricane Katrina victims he encountered personally. He also mentioned how (as I recall) he helped Mr. Tommy Lee Jones feed hundreds at a cookout. [Mr. Jackson mentioned in the same interview that he feels direct help is better as donations get spent everywhere first leaving little to actually help people with - ie the 'guy who buys stamps']
Many artists of various types and fields of focus, often do events in honor of ____, with proceeds going to that cause. I hate them. While We Are the World, Live Aid (the first) and maybe the first Farm Aid were are helpful, and unique the rest are much less so. Much like the money wasted on providing some New Orleans victims residence in luxury cruise ships (at 3x the cost of a seven day cruise), funds from these events is wasted on every hand involved. Paying for television time, cameramen, organizers, security, lights, grip work, commercial sponsors, ect. All that must be paid for... Oh, and the entertainers too, as most do not forgo their fee to support the event.
Why can't Artists just donate their time or money or both to a cause they believe in? The excuse of 'everyone will line up for a donation' just doesn't work. These are famous and well-paid movie actors, sports stars and other celebrities we are speaking about. They already get people lining up for handouts. You think Ohpra doesn't get solicitations every day from some group or another? Or Puffy Combs? Donating to a truly needy cause or helping them directly (and at no cost) just helps people, it doesn't hurt the celebrity. As a bonus that most don't talk about, donations are tax deductible. And before anyone says, but they do it annonymously... most can't. Why, because its easier to go to Mr. Shaquille O'Neal and say Mr. Michael Jordan just gave X, can't you at least afford to match it. Once you tell one person a secret it stops being one. So most of the time if you don't see a donation from an artist, but you do see a big event with part of the proceeds donated, then you can conclude they haven't given anything but they did recieve.
But as for Mr. Washinton, again I say it's nice to see a celebrity make a donation to a worthy cause they believe in.
All of this are my thoughts, what are yours?
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