December 2015

“I am a pencil in the hand of God, who is writing a love letter to the world.” ~ Mother Teresa

I have a confession to make. Not being raised Catholic, I knew nothing, or very little about Mother Teresa, that is until I learned about The Letters film project and had the opportunity to interview the film’s screenwriter-director, William “Bill” Riead.

My 90-minute conversation with Riead began by learning that the film is about the epic life and times of one, Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu, born of Albanian descent, but known to the world, and lovingly embraced as Mother Teresa.

Inspiration, Riead claims, to make The Letters came from viewing famed filmmaker, Richard Attenborough’s box office mega hit, Gandhi. In a Parade.Com article celebrating World Kindness Day on 11-13-15, he stated: “The film effected change and had a profound effect on me. And 9/11 which affected all of us. I wanted to make a film about the polar opposite of that evil—a film that would matter. The best example of good I could think of was Mother Teresa.

The movie became a labor of love and a real passion for me over the last 14 years because of Mother Teresa’s lasting impact on all of our lives. I remember seeing how film can truly effect change and make this a better world. I wanted to make that kind of film—a film that would have lasting impact on the lives of the people who saw it.”

Riead sent me a copy of the screenplay. When it arrived, it was like experiencing the magic of Disneyland for the first time; being filled with wonder as to what magnificence may appear just beyond its alluring gate. I settled back in my chair and read Bill’s well crafted script and was readily engaged in his finely detailed reflections on the life3 of this amazing person known as Mother Teresa. I could visualize a servant’s life; it was like walking hand-in-hand with Bill through the pages of his script.

The story was taken from three storage trunks and some boxes filled with letters she had written to her spiritual advisor and longtime friend, Father Celeste van Exem. Those heart and soul infused, hand-written epistles spanned the last forty plus years of her life and sorrowfully expressed the darkness and isolation she experienced in what she would relate as an “abandonment from God.” That invasive darkness seemed far too much to bear at times, from the selfless choice she made to serve with God’s favor.

I was taken by her noble commitment of sacrifice from receiving God’s call, along with her faith-filled courageous, compassionate heart as she aided the impoverished living in the ghettos of Calcutta, India. Her spirit, guided by a passion to serve in obedience to God’s call, ultimately led the world to take notice—on October 27, 1979, Mother Teresa was honored with the Nobel Peace Prize for her role in founding the Missionaries of Charity.

Eighteen years later, at the time of her passing in 1997, the order she was called to start, had grown to more than 4,000 sisters running hospices, charity centers and orphanages, which are found today in 256 countries around the world. Mother Teresa, the Albanian born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu, is revered throughout the world, as one of the greatest, most cherished humanitarians of all time.

“The Letters is the true life story of this selfless, compassionate woman who walked the earth during our lifetime. It depicts her courage, her tenacity, and such great accomplishments of mankind, beyond anything anyone could have imagined coming from a humble nun from Albania, who chose to live her life in the ghettos of India. Though the public saw her as a cheerful person who went about doing her good works quietly and with a happy smile, audiences around the world will discover that she was far more than that. Theater goers will come away with the feeling that her example, as seen in our film, will light the spirit of mankind. It will, without question, bring people closer together. It is the goal of this film to bring Mother Teresa back to life, back to the collective consciousness, and share with the world her example that she was truly a pencil in the hand of God, writing a love letter to the world.” ~ William Riead

Following her death at age eighty-seven in 1997, the story takes up and casts its revealing light into the lesser known aspects of Mother Teresa’s life, as seen through the eyes of a Vatican priest tasked with the duty of investigating her life’s day-to-day occurrences.

The Letters was honored by winning Best Picture and Audience Choice Award at the 2014 Sedona International Film Festival, and further honored as having Best Director and Best Leading Actress at the Mirabile Dictu International Catholic Film Festival in Rome.

The movie was filmed in the United Kingdom and India, stars the highly acclaimed four-time BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts Award) nominated British Actress, Juliet Stevenson, as Mother Teresa; two-time Academy Award Nominee Max Van Sydow, and Golden Globe winner, Rutger Hauer. Newcomer Priya Darshini, portrays Shubashini Das, the first to arrive in support of Mother Teresa, and her new order of the Missionaries of Charity.

“There is a light in this world, a healing spirit more powerful than any darkness we may encounter. We sometimes lose sight of this force when there is suffering, too much pain. Then suddenly, the spirit will emerge through the lives of ordinary people who hear a call and answer in extraordinary ways.”               ~ Mother Teresa

The film’s leading lady, Juliet Stevenson, is a highly respected and accomplished English actress possessing a well traveled film and television career. Americans may know of her from her great supporting role in the acclaimed 2002 movie, Bend it Like Beckham, a comedy about bending the rules to reach your goal, and a feature film which grossed over 32 million domestically. That same year, she also won the AFI—Australian Film Institute Award—for Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Television Drama for The Road from Coorain. Juliet keeps her thespian’s skills well honed with jaunts back and forth across the pond, where her versatility shines with live stage theater performances, and hidden away from the see all, prying eye of the camera lens.

Juliet Stevenson is absolutely wonderful as Mother Teresa, hitting every note just right in her performance, which is a nuanced performance ranging between humility and servanthood to grit and relentless faith. ~ Edwin L. Carpenter: The Dove Foundation

In a March 15 article in The Observer earlier this year, Juliet Stevenson related that she was unprepared for the adulation she received while filming The Letters in the slums of Calcutta: “I was filming in her iconic white sari with the blue stripes. People would come up to me, drop and touch my hem… in India, she’s still revered. She lifted tens of thousands of people off the streets and into her care. She kept going in spite of her personal feelings. She kept her faith alive and she went on doing the work she did in the name of God.”

Riead, whose goal was to bring Mother Teresa back to life related of his lead actress: “Juliet has brought Mother Teresa back to life. That’s why the Indian people… were responding to her the way they were.”

When considering what actor would be capable of accurately depicting Father van Exem in a supporting role as the elder priest in the film, it was critical for Riead and his producers to cast a principal supporting actor that could drive the story dynamically through expression and powerful narrative. There was only one highly accomplished actor that came to mind who could authentically portray Father van Exem, and it was decided that this actor’s older priest portrayal in The Exorcist, was the acting icon who could pull it off—Max von Sydow is a two-time Academy Award nominee who is still very much sought after by the mainstream directors of Hollywood.

In the 2010 psycho-thriller Shutter Island, Academy Award winning director Martin Scorsese cast him alongside Leonardo DiCaprio. In Robin Hood, legendary director Ridley Scott cast him with Russell Crowe. Gene Shalit, the long time television critic stated on ABC’s Good Morning America that “Max von Sydow steals every scene he’s in with Russell Crowe.”

Max von Sydow has received numerous rave reviews for his performances in both films, adding to a long list of accolades earned over his fifty-plus year career. In securing his second Academy Award nomination, von Sydow starred alongside Oscar winning actors Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock in Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. You will also see him in the hit television series Game of Thrones, and soon to be released Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens.

Von Sydow says it was the script that brought him to The Letters. Bill Riead and his production members were elated and honored to have been able to lure such an internationally acclaimed acting legend to portray Father van Exem.

To this, casting another great character actor in the person of Rutger Hauer to compliment the film’s storytelling alongside von Sydow and Stevenson, adds even greater dynamic value to the project. In the film, he portrays Vatican priest, Father Benjamin Praagh. Rutger Hauer’s legendary performance in Blade Runner stands out as one of the all time great presentations in film, and made him one of the most fascinating and enigmatic figures in the entertainment industry. As a great honor, due to his world-recognized fame, his image resides handsomely on a postage stamp in his native Holland.

Hauer has a reputation of being quite reclusive, and will only accept a part when he truly desires to be cast in a film—as he has with The Letters. Rutger Hauer’s presence in any film is a grand accomplishment for any filmmaker. His lofty status facilitates the opening of theater screens throughout Western Europe.

To capture The Letters accomplished acting troupe on film as best as he could, Bill Riead was fortunate to have enticed legendary cinematographer/director of photography Jack N. Green, to bring his cinematic genius to work on this epic biopic. Green’s film and television resume is impeccably star-crossed, being among the best to have ever worked within the industry. He has been a thirty year collaborator with Academy Award winning director and legendary actor, Clint Eastwood.

The two met in 1977 during the filming of The Gauntlet. Jack was nominated for an Academy Award and a BAFTA for best cinematography in shooting Clint’s high grossing box office smash, the 1992 revisionist western, Unforgiven. He was also honored as a nominee for the ASC—American Society of Cinematographers Award—for another well received Eastwood picture with the 1995 film, The Bridges of Madison County. Jack Green was the Director of Photography on one of my favorite films from 2003 that starred Robert Duval, Michael Caine and Haley Joel Osment: Second Hand Lions.

On February 9, 2008, his longtime friend and collaborator, Clint Eastwood presented Jack with the ASC’s Lifetime Achievement Award during its 23rd Annual Anniversary celebrating its Outstanding Achievement Award ceremony gala event in Beverly Hills. What followed was a three-minute standing ovation given by his peers. As in kind with the cast, it was the script that consummated the agreement with Jack to sign on as cinematographer for the project, and he eagerly flew with cast and crew to London to film part one of The Letters.

The footage he shot on location was so beautifully filmed that Riead and production staff is convinced that Jack N. Green will likely garner another Oscar nomination. His most recent work from touching his creative hand within the Christian faith-based viewing audience was done with last year’s apocalyptic thriller film Left Behind, which starred Nicolas Cage. Jack Green has been a well respected and highly touted member of the American Society of Cinematographers since 1992.

The Letters was executive produced by Corky Barton and Lourden Saks, and produced by Colin Azzopardi, Tony Cordeaux, and Lisa Riead. The film debuts in theaters nationwide on December 4th, through Freestyle Releasing. It is is family friendly with its inviting PG rating, and further honored when it received a glowing “5 Dove” Faith-Friendly Seal rating of approval for ages twelve plus, from Christian film reviewer, The Dove Foundation.

From Bill Riead graciously opening his filmmaker’s door in allowing my interview, and from what I came to learn about Mother Teresa, you can bet your bottom dollar that I will be in attendance with family and friends to watch The Letters biopic when it opens on Friday, December 4th.

Hope you will be, too!

To view the official trailer, visit http://thelettersmovie.com/videos.html                                                       or www.cinemawestfilms.com

Within forty-eight hours after the Presidential election in 2012, 827 eager politicians had announced that they would be running for the job in 2016. Since then we have been inundated with promises, pronouncements, accusations, threats, and just plain hot air. Some promised that on their first day in office they would abolish the health plan known as Obamacare. Others promised that on their first day in office they would expand Obamacare to include everyone plus puppy dogs and pussy cats.

Untold millions of dollars have been spent on television time that could have, instead, been used more productively to advertise stomach gas medications. (At the same time 90% of our representatives in Congress did what they do best: say “To hell with the country, I am starting my re-election campaign.”)

In light of these excesses I have decided that I will run for President in 2016, not as a Democrat or Republican, but on the Cohen ticket. After all “Cohen” means “High Priest” and can be traced back to Aaron, Moses’ brother. It is the oldest family name in Western civilization—(Nyah, nyah, nyah Smith and Jones.)

My INITIAL reaction to these egocentric public “servants” went something like this: One leading candidate wants to change just one of her initials so that it reads H. R. H.; another in the same party and his rhetoric stands firmly as B. S.; one in the other party is respected as a modern non-politico, but his time appears anchored in B. C.; and, finally the folks in that other party all seem to have a bad case of the D. T.s. Hovering over the entire affair floats the faint odor of B. O.

So here is my plan if—strike that—when I am elected. I will postpone the inauguration day twelve days so it will coincide with my 86th birthday on February 2. My Inauguration Address will be 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. On my first day in office I plan to do three things; Party, partie, partee.

I will spend my second day in office discovering where the bathrooms are and where and when my meals will be served. Then it is down to business.

Day 3, Israel/Palestinian Territory crisis: I plan to accomplish this in the morning by calling Netanyahu and Abbas and simply saying, “Mr. N. and Mr. A. you have two weeks to come up with a plan. One state; two states, Abi Gezunt! (Bibi will understand.) If you do not come up with a plan in fourteen days there will be hundreds of thousands of boots on the ground. Get it?” Of course, that afternoon I will call Netanyahu and say simply, “Bibi, you know Teheran and those nuclear facilities? Do what you need to do to turn them into parking lots, but remember I know nothing about your plans.” (All right, you now know where my allegiance lies.)

Day 4, Wall Street excesses: I will, again, simply, call the CEOs of every major Wall Street organization and threaten to punish them severely. I think that will take care of all my expenses for my 2020 re-election campaign–come on, I’ll just be turning 90—the new 87.

Day 5: Immigration: This one is easy. First thing in the morning we annex Mexico and make it the 51st state—we hold off on Canada for a few weeks. Of course, Central Americans are not the only immigration issue. All Chinese, whether citizens or not, will have to return to China; I mean we can get by without chow mein or egg rolls. If the Mexican government objects in any way, I will just drop hints of nuclear and chemical weapons, as well as hundreds of thousands of boots on the ground.

Day 6, Massage, manicure, and take in a basketball game.

Day 7, Deal with the fat kid in North Korea: Again, this is so simple I cannot believe no one thought of it sooner. One phone call: “Hey, you want
South Korea, you got it! It’s all yours.” If he turns out to be a tough negotiator, I will subtly offer him Japan too. If he still balks, boots, baby, boots.

Day 8, Crumbling infrastructure: Huh? I get around in Air Force One and limousines with an entourage of several hundred. Bridges, schmidges, let Congress worry about it.

Day 9, Innercity anger, violence, crime: I will appoint a Blue Ribbon Committee of the finest attorneys available to examine and look for loopholes in 14th Amendment. If necessary, there will be lots of boots.
While they’re at it, I will have them look for loopholes in the 20th Amendment also. (Give ’em the vote and right away they want your job. Whatever happened to taking care of the children, cooking, cleaning, and you know what else?)

Days 10-30, Camp David: Hey, man, I will be 86 years old; I need some down time.

Day 31, The budget deficit: I saved this easy one for a lazy day when we will be doing laundry and catching up on reading. Yes, a deficit of 18 or 19 trillion dollars is a big deficit, but anyone with any business background knows that you also have to examine assets, and our assets equal about two or three times the deficit. All I have to do, therefore, is let it be known that parts of Yosemite, Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, and Denali might be available to the right developer for the right price. That leaves about four hundred other parks and monuments, and, people, that represents a lot of cash. How about an ad that reads: “For Sale or Lease: Federal buildings and property in virtually every major city? Want your own aircraft carrier or fighter plane? It can be arranged for the right price, after secret electronics are removed.” The deficit goes bye-bye overnight and we get rid of the IRS and all taxes. On Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, and Labor Day, we have people on the street with barrels wrapped in flags, and they will ring miniature liberty bells to collect money. Deficit? What deficit?

After that there should be no crises, but if there are, I will deal with them as they come up.

And that, dear friends and my fellow Americans, is my plan for my first month in office. So please vote for me in the November 2016 election.

W A I T !
I almost forgot something: THE COST. Simple! We sell off a few tanks, helicopters, weapons, etc. We are home safe. Well, there is just one more detail. It seems that every pair of those millions of boots gets filled by some American young man or woman, and some of the boots do not make it home–ever. That cost exceeds more than any number of dollars.

Consequently, I think I will pass on the election and just continue to enjoy my grandchildren and occasionally write nonsensical attempts at humor. I will, reluctantly, leave it to Ben, Bernie, Don, or Hil to do this seventy-two hour a day job. Perhaps a committee could do better. How about Doc, Happy, Sneezy, Dopey (we already have 531 of them), Grumpy and a two more–I think they might even have a token woman.

So instead of voting for me, (Damn! I’d do a good, albeit simple, job), please just buy a few, all right, a couple–maybe just one copy of my novel. It makes great Christmas, Hanukah, birthday, wedding, Bar Mitzvah, or any other day presents, and even those of you who manage to read my scribblings to the end might enjoy it.

BY ANY OTHER NAME, by Edwin Cohen
Available at Ingram, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble “dot com’s.”

It’s happened before—the SoCal skies darkened, bringing rain and slick streets, attempting to dampen the spirits of charitable supporters of the Love Ride organizers and participants. But rain, this time, wasn’t supposed to happen. Love Riders had raised their kickstands, and were set to hit the black ribbon highways of Los Angeles, and roll north from Glendale Harley-Davidson, riding some fifty miles to Castaic Lake for the last time. Some fifteen thousand strong were forced to brave the inclement weather on their quest to bring their light of love in support of Love’s Last Ride.

As before, time and time again, motorcycle enthusiasts from across the country, and parts of the world had saddled up to celebrate this final Love Ride Grand Finale. Its thirty-two year run had found its destined end. Historically, it would leave its mark in scribing a rich heritage as the single greatest, one day motorcycle fundraising event in the world, by benefitting the Wounded Warrior Project. Faithful messengers of love persevered, riding through the Sunday morning shroud of black and gray rain-mixed skies in their quest of bidding a fond farewell to the Love Ride and its well deserved legacy.

The Love Ride had always been about showing care and compassion for those less fortunate with heart-led strength, and its founder, Oliver Shokouh, would again, lead the way.

“It’s been my honor to serve these causes for decades. And I’m eternally grateful for the outpouring of support that so many gave this year, as we ride off into the sunset with over $1,000,000 raised for Wounded Warrior Project, and a total legacy of over $25,000,000 for charities to date. Lives are changed, because of your attendance and participation over these years, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.” ~ Oliver Shokouh

The 69 year old “Ugly Oliver,” as monikered by his Ugly MC brethren, would ride his Electra Glide, once again blessed with a huge outpouring of star power support from longtime entertainment industry celebrities and motorcycle luminaries owning, and sporting the Harley-Davidson brand.

Jay Leno, clad in faded blue Levi denim and leather, rolled in the rain aboard his green Ultra Classic, answering Oliver’s call and saddling up for Love’s Last Ride, capping off his thirty-one year reign as Oliver’s grand marshal.

Willie G. Davidson, wife Nancy, son Bill and daughter Karen were also there again, along with Oliver’s Ugly MC brother, Easy Rider, Peter Fonda, a founding luminary and honorary grand marshal, seated neatly inside his custom-crafted Mogwest, three-wheeled roadster.

“I’ve always supported our vets and what they’ve done in serving our country. We keep sending them off to war, and they come back broken and forgotten. With twenty-two vets committing suicide every day, we just have to do more to help them. I’m proud to have been involved with the Love Ride from the beginning, and glad we’re supporting Wounded Warrior Project this year going out.” –Peter Fonda

Another honorary grand marshal, lured from the acting pool of notable thespians in Hollywood years before; current Scorpion co-star Robert Patrick and Boozefighter MC Chapter president returned to lend his star power support in bringing folks to the Love Ride’s final roundup.

Emilio Rivera from Sons of Anarchy returned, bringing along fellow SOA journeyman actor, Mark Boone Junior. Longtime friends and supporters Lorenzo Lamas; film and television actor and a Love Ride Foundation officer with guitarist/lyricist Robby Krieger from The Doors also faithfully answered Oliver’s reveling call.

Actress Catherine Bell of JAG and Army Wives fame also came to attend and support Love Ride 32. Others from the entertainment realm, included opening Love Ride band act Social Distortion; George Gray, comedian, game show host and announcer for The New Price Is Right; actor Phillip Winchester from the current television cable series, The Player as Alex Kane, as Sgt. Michael Stonebridge in Strike Back, and with film credits Flyboys and In My Sleep.

Other notables included actor/musician/bassist and singer Sean McNabb, who also appeared in several episodes of Sons of Anarchy, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer actress, and model for The Huntress, Kristy Swanson, who proudly carried in her motorcycle’s sidecar, one the Love Ride 32 honored guests representing the Wounded Warrior Project, former Marine Corps gunner, Sal Gonzalez. Sal, born and raised in East L.A., proudly served for two and a half years, until wounds he received in combat with one resulting in the loss of his left leg from the knee down, brought him home. He was honorably awarded the Combat Action Ribbon and Purple Heart.

Sal conveyed his sentiments to the crowd with restrained heartfelt emotion:

“I just want to take this time and thank Mr. Oliver for putting this on and having us as the beneficiaries. You know Wounded Warrior Project has been a part of my life ever since I got into the hospital. And a gentleman who worked for us walked in with a backpack with our logo on it, and our logo is everywhere. It’s plastered all over the place and you see it everywhere you look. But what this logo to me means, is us helping each other out. We lose twenty-two veterans a day to suicide. And with you guys’ help, and with the help of The Love Ride, maybe one day, we can turn that twenty-two into zero. God Bless you guys!”

Also in attendance as another honored guest veteran of Love Ride 32 and Wounded Warrior, was Petty Officer 3rd Class, Raymond “Doc” Andalio. Doc served as a Navy Hospital Corpsman for 12 years. In 2003, while serving in the desert wasteland of Iraq, he sustained battlefield injuries resulting in multiple bone fractures, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and respiratory problems. Coming home, he was forced to cope with invasive mental stress (PTSD). In comments by Andalio, given during an impromptu video captured backstage with Robert Patrick, Emilio Rivera, Lorenzo Lamas and Catherine Bell, Doc related on camera with humility:

“I am blessed to be around this love, this love that is given to us Wounded Warriors. As you can see there is nothing missing you know. So it is always a good thing, it’s all in there, for the job that I did it’s a big honor. So thank you, and with all the support, we wouldn’t be where we are now. Thank you…”

Doc was further quoted in a post Love Ride 32 Cycle World article stating:

“Wounded Warrior Project and the Love Ride have our backs. I am deeply grateful to all the attendees who helped. I met so many motorcyclists who were vets, and being around all those people and love felt like heaven. Raising money for awareness shouldn’t be a job; it should be shared and given with an open heart. And it showed with this last Love Ride Grand Finale. The one million dollars from everyone there will not only make a difference to a lot of people now — but also in the future.”

The Foo Fighters hit song, My Hero, performed live by Foo Fighters lead singer/guitarist and bandmates in front of the thousands in attendance, is seen with its interlacing tribute to the Wounded Warriors in this video made by Sullen TV, honoring those who served and presently serve our country. Within this video appears Love Ride front-man Jay Leno, Wounded Warrior Sal Gonzalez, Robert Patrick, Love Ride Founder Oliver Shokouh, Emilio Rivera, Wounded Warrior Raymond “Doc” Andalio, Lorenzo Lamas, and Catherine Bell enjoined together at the historic Love Ride 32 Grand Finale… Love’s Last Ride. To see the video, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9I1b4PMqZ_Y&sns=em

During the Love Ride 32 festivities with its hustle and bustle of organized activities, Oliver and I barely spoke a word to one another. A week or so after the thousands attending the Love Ride Grand Finale had fired up their scoots, headed home and the dust had settled, we finally had a chance to talk and he shared some of his final comments regarding the end of the ride and his lifelong labor of love.

“ The Love Ride has been such a huge part of my life and my family — and all the volunteer friends that I gained through the event planning, the celebrities that have come out in showing their support, and my friend Willie G and his family — that it has been a very bitter-sweet thing for me to deal with! Though I’m proud of all of our accomplishments, and I would definitely do it all over again… I am sad to see it end, but nothing lasts forever — and the Love Ride is no exception. We do intend to keep the foundation alive, and perhaps a couple of years from now we may do some kind of event — not like The Love Ride, but some type of remembrance that is not so management and time intensive! My group of volunteers and me are no spring chickens anymore, we’re all burned out and tired, and feel that 32 years is a good run! I’m relieved that I don’t have to do this anymore because it’s a lot of work, even though I felt good about doing it. There have been so many great moments and memories I have from contributing, giving back and seeing for instance, the MDA kids smiles on their faces, and engaging the Autistic kids that got up on stage and got them talking on stage was pretty incredible.”

 All photos in this article provided by permission, courtesy Chuck Null.