Honoring a friend to millions.
By Steven Jay, Creative Director, Mobilized NEWs
There are greats amongst us who had the courage to take a chance when others played by the rules. This very unique group of people includes Special Effects Directors such as the late Douglas Trumbull, Stanley Kubrick, innovators and inventors such as Thomas Edison, Richard Branson and Nikola Tesla, and Filmmaker Roger Corman.
Roger Corman is known as the King of the B-Movies. You may have liked or not liked his films. But what’s important to understand is he’s a man who remained autonomous of “The Machine” and stuck to his code of ethics. Roger Corman passed away peacefully May 9 at his home in Santa Monica, California.
While big studios refused to give people a change, he inspired and empowered the talent that he discovered. He gave breaks to Francis Ford Copolla, Jonathan Demme, Jack Nicholson, Ron Howard and countless others.
His legendary yet unique style of the creative process from idea into action, from financing to distribution enabled films that would not have been made by the big studios to cut through the glut of Hollywood’s “Big sized” motion pictures
Not every film had to be a blockbuster. Not every story had to be sensational.
There is only one man who could have done what Roger Corman has done, given life and hope to those who dreamed of making films, creating art and making a difference. To that, we say, Thank you, Roger Corman.
In 2005 Roger gave this talk in New York City. We proudly present it as a celebration of a life well lived.
Thankyou, from all of us.
Steven Jay, Mobilized News
I only met Roger Corman once but felt like I had known him my whole life. I was asked to introduce him when he was giving a keynote at one of Steven’s conferences in 2005. I was deeply honored to introduce him, and Rodger truly seemed moved by my introduction.
I said that I rarely use the word genius, but that I felt such a word truly applied. For among his many achievements, Corman typified better than anyone else in cinema history, the enormous ability to create memorable work in a DIY manner that many now take for granted. Such an early understanding that creating media did not require an enormous corporation, with hundreds of crew members and with seemingly endless budgetary resources, not only inspired, it empowered the diverse, and under-represented creators who needed so much to not only make their own work, but to get it distributed and seen. This was the genius that Corman shared with anyone willing to try.
Among the ways that an artist can influence the world’s heritage, is through exemplary efforts that prove that a certain approach is not only possible, but actionable. He did that and gave the world a blueprint for independent filmmaking that has evolved and grown into many specialized and localized cultural vocabularies, each celebrating the unique character and nuance of the diverse pluralistic and multicultural planet that we all share. It is a rare gift to inspire each to tell their own stories in their own ways, but he did exactly that.
Following his talk, Roger invited me to have lunch together. He was exactly as expected, brilliant, in an unassuming way, open, and curious. He was more concerned about learning about my work, than about speaking about his own. He was gracious and welcoming. I regret that I never tried to follow up on building a friendship, especially as he lived in Santa Monica, where my studio is located, and where I have served as an Arts Commissioner for many years.
But for those who do know his name, ranging from the many titans of the industry who gained their start through him, onto those life myself who he influenced and inspired, as well of all around the world who study his work, we collectively say thank you, Rodger, for a life and job, well done.
Michael J. Masucci
Director, EZTV Online Museum
www.eztvmuseum.com
Co-Founder, DNA Festival Santa Monica
Dnafestival.com
Arts Commissioner, City of Santa Monica.
