Frank DeMartini (Producer) began his entertainment career 20 years ago as an entertainment attorney. Soon he became a specialist in representing not only the above-the-line elements but also all aspects of motion picture and TV production from development through financing and distribution. His film credits include producer on the independent feature “Motel Blue” (1997) starring Sean Young and Robert Vaughn, “Crocodile” (2001) directed by horror icon Tobe Hooper, “Mozart and the Whale” (2006) starring Josh Hartnett and Radha Mitchell, and “Journey to the End of the Night” (2007) starring Brendan Fraser and Mos Def. His most recent film, “Mad Money” (2008) starring Diane Keaton, Queen Latifah, Ted Danson, and Katie Holmes opened on 2500 screens in January 2008 and was directed by Academy Award winner Callie Khouri. He has just completed production on an M.O.W. for the ABC Family Channel entitled, “The Prince and Me 4: The Elephant Adventure.” The film is scheduled to be complete in September 2009.
Frank DeMartini
Reading Election Night Tea Leaves and Wearing Lucky Neckties
by Frank DeMartiniChris Christie was obviously wearing his; as was Robert McDonnell. The GOP is officially breathing again. It was a great day for Republicans Tuesday. It happened exactly one year after we took our worst shellacking since the 1960s. And, what did President Obama do while his party was getting whooped in two states which voted for him last year? The official statement from the White House is that he did not even bother to watch any of the results as “they just didn’t matter and didn’t reflect on him: They were locally driven.”
For the past year I have been saying the current President is one of the biggest megalomaniacs in history. And Tuesday night he proved it again. While the state of New Jersey, which is one of the bluest, was falling and the State of Virginia was being swept by Republicans (which has not happened since Reconstruction), the President refused to acknowledge any of it mattered. I wonder if he was wearing his lucky tie. (more…)
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Bullying Screen Actors Guild Does More Harm Than Good
by Frank DeMartiniA few months ago I wrote a column about the effect IATSE’s wage increase in Michigan would have on future production in Michigan. Just recently, the company I have my first look deal with decided to produce another picture in Michigan and was informed my column made it impossible for IATSE to negotiate or help us in any way. They basically said this is the deal, take it or leave it if you want to shoot here; your employee ruined it for you.
My company then proceeded to disavow any knowledge of my column and said that what I write is of my own doing and not the policy of the company. This is true. It is my own doing. No one tells me what to write or censors my editorial content.
I still believe IATSE is harming the burgeoning film industry in Michigan. I believe that if IATSE was doing the right thing in Michigan, the state of Michigan would be putting all of the other tax-incentive states out of business. Producers would be running there in droves.
Unions are supposed to be the mechanism to level the playing field for the working man. Their job is to protect the working man from “the man,” and to keep their members employed fairly. Isn’t employment what unions are really all about: Especially now when unemployment is so rampant all over the United States, particularly in Michigan and California. You would think the unions would be bending over backwards to work with “the man” in a mutually beneficial situation. Let us all do whatever is necessary to keep employment in the United States; not Eastern Europe or Asia. (more…)
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So Goes California, So Goes the Nation?
by Frank DeMartiniI have been a California resident for the past 23 years. During that time, I have seen the best of times and worst of times. Prior to this economic disaster, the only serious recession in those 23 years was in 1991-1992. At that time, myself and many others in similar situations faced economic turmoil. However, nothing comes close to what is happening now in what used to be the greatest State in the union.
According to the most recent reports, the unemployment rate in California has reached 12.2%. The rate in Los Angeles County is at 12.7%. Some cities within the county such as Compton and Commerce are over 20%. These are all far worse than the national rate of 9.8%.
What makes these numbers even scarier is that they have not hit rock bottom according to economic estimates at both the state and federal level. In fact, the State Government estimate of a maximum unemployment rate of 12.8% seems like it is going to be topped shortly, probably by early winter. Is it possible that California’s unemployment rate will top the number in 1940 of 14.7% which is the highest recorded on record? (more…)
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Hopefully ObamaCare Will ‘Die Quickly’
by Frank DeMartiniRepresentative Joe Wilson shouts in the House Chamber to President Obama during a speech on Health Care Reform, “You lie,” and is forced to apologize to the President directly and compelled to apologize in the House where the incident occurred. He chooses only to apologize to the President. This did not make him many friends in the Democratic Caucus. They could not bully him into a formal apology in the Chamber. What happens next, the Democrat House votes to rebuke him in a meaningless resolution. Of course, the vote is along party lines.
A few weeks later, Representative Alay Grayson of Florida, who also happens to be a Democrat, says while debating health hare reform on the House Floor:
“If you get sick, America, the Republican health care plan is this: Die quickly. That’s right. The Republicans want you to die quickly if you get sick.” (more…)
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The G.I. Film Festival and Gary Sinise: Supporting Our Troops
by Frank DeMartini
Among the screened films was a documentary entitled “About Face,” which was directed by Steve Karras. To me, the film is a masterpiece. It depicts a group of Jewish Refugees from both Germany and Austria that joined the American and British Armed Forces in WWII to fight against their native lands. The film was both moving and educational. In fact, I must state I was not even aware there was so many of these refugees. Apparently, they numbered approximately 10,000. And, because of their knowledge of the native languages of the enemy, many of them were placed in positions that put them directly into contact with the same Germans who were persecuting their family and relatives. (more…)
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Ideology of a Liberal
by Frank DeMartiniSince the health care debate has wound down a little as a result of President Obama’s speech on Wednesday which, by the way, was pure rhetoric and seen by the general public and pundits as a failure because of its lack of new ideas and detail, I have decided to tackle a subject other than health care reform in this article. What makes a liberal tick? Why are there such major differences between the two parties in this country?
The other day I was playing on Facebook and saw a number of posts from my liberal friends regarding health care. The comments posted were all similar. No one should go without health care in this country and no one should go broke because they got sick. Why only liberals would post this amazes me, because there are not too many people in the world that disagree. However, it is just not that simple. (more…)
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D-Day for Health Care Reform?
by Frank DeMartiniCongress is back in session after its hot and grueling August recess. More than a few of its members were drilled incessantly by citizens upset about the pending passage of HR 3200 and/or its progeny. Today President Obama will address the nation on health care reform. It will be his final pitch to the country in hopes that he can regain his splendor with the American public which has been fairly tarnished over the whole issue.
Yesterday, the Los Angeles Times ran an article entitled, “Obama is Fast Losing White Voters’ Support.” In that article, the Times states that, “strategists in both parties blame Obama’s decline on growing discontent with his policy agenda, particularly after a month of often-rowdy debate over his proposed healthcare overhaul, in which some conservatives accused him of socialism.” What else can this plan be called? I have torn apart HR 3200 in many ways. And, above all else, when the plan is carefully reviewed it is socialist. (more…)
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Why Can’t Conservatives Sign On to ObamaCare?
by Frank DeMartiniIt is now the dog days of summer and Congress is about to go back to work. The Groundswell by the Democrats during the month of August was a complete failure. President Obama’s approval numbers are on a steady downward slide. And yet, the Democrats insist on passing this Obamanation that is more commonly known as HR 3200.
The President has just announced that he will try a more formal sell to Congress on September 9th. Will this work more than the last press conference in which he appeared to have no idea what he was trying to sell? Will it be more successful than his appeal to religious leaders last week? Or, will this be the final death knell in the partisan attempt at Health Care Reform? Only time will tell.
However, the tide has definitely turned against the Democrats. More than 50% of the country on the whole and in some parts of the electorate, way more than 50% are against the current bill and its companion bills both in the House and Senate. Why? Because Republicans and even moderate Democrats cannot stomach what is contained in them.
My last article was about the need for bipartisanship and debate in Congress. I still feel that way but I do not see it happening. In fact, both sides are digging their heels in and getting ready for the tug of war. At this point, it is not about whose solution is better, it seems to be about which side will win. (more…)
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Big Government, Big Mistake
by Frank DeMartiniThe biggest success of the “Spending Bill,” oops, “Stimulus Bill,” is ending. Yup, that is right; “Cash for Clunkers” is gone. Why? Because it was such a big success, the government ran out of money for the program not once, but twice. This time President Obama is shutting it down. No more money. It is finished. The official spin is that it brought the automobile industry back from destruction. Or, did it?
In my opinion, it is just another example of a government program that did not work contrary to what I said in a prior column. To begin with, the government mistook the popularity of the program and only allocated one billion dollars of stimulus money to the bill. That money ran out in less than two weeks. Then, Congress immediately allocated another two billion dollars. That money is running out in less than four weeks. Another Big Government miscalculation! (more…)
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Health Reform and the Tenth Amendment
by Frank DeMartiniHR 3200, the so-called health reform bill, in my opinion, is one of the worst pieces of legislation ever to be considered by Congress. It, not only, would lead us down the path of socialism but, in the process, would bankrupt the entire country. I am very happy to see that citizens are showing up at town hall meetings throughout the country and voicing their complaints about the bill and health care reform in general. It is actually quite funny watching Congressmen squirm when the tough questions are asked. And, it is even more interesting when they cannot respond to the tough questions because they have not read the bill or are even familiar with its contents.
I suggest you continue going to the town hall meetings and voice your concerns. And, do not be afraid to get angry. The Democrat and Republican Congressmen must know they will not be reelected if HR 3200 passes as it is currently written. But, please, do not get violent. Violence at these meetings will do nothing except make the opposition look weak and dumb, and hurt the path of democracy. Violence at these meetings is similar to me being called a racist this week because I stated on a public forum that HR 3200 should not pay for medical services for illegal immigrants. Remember the protest ways of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King. (more…)
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The Anti-Obama Groundswell Begins?
by Frank DeMartiniIt has been almost two weeks since I have had a chance to write and a lot of things have happened in that time. Most of them evolve around the health care mess that may be the beginning of Obama’s fall from grace.
But, to begin, I have to do something that I never thought I would do and I never thought was in the realm of possibility. Based upon the knowledge available thus far, I have to give kudos to Bill Clinton. Unless evidence appears that he sold the country out or promised something to the North Korean government, he is owed a thank you for precipitating the release of two imprisoned American journalists. So, kudos are being given to a Democrat in this column. A bet a whole bunch of you never thought that would happen! (more…)
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Obama’s Six-Month Report Card
by Frank DeMartini
It has been six months since the Administration took office and the far left have taken complete control of the government. Has our capitalist past been improved upon? Or, is the socialism we have had thrust upon us making us worse off? Has the foreign policy of appeasement and apology made the world a safer place? To put it more simply, are you better off now than you were six months ago? Unfortunately, the answer is not only “no,” but “much worse.”
When the President took office in January, the entire world was full of “Hope.” The far left and moderates that put him there were hoping for “Change.” Well, they got the change, but I do not think they were “hoping” to get the type of change they got. (more…)
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Obama’s Next Folly – Health Care
by Frank DeMartiniPresident, it has to happen today, Obama is up to his tricks again. In February, the stimulus bill had to be passed immediately or disaster was waiting. “Cap and Trade” had to pass immediately or another crisis would occur. Now, it’s time for health care. The House must pass a health care bill this week or the American people will be in for another disaster.
So, Obama asks and Congress obeys! Here we have another 1,000 plus page bill winding its way through the House of which I am sure almost no member of Congress has read. Just get it done before anyone knows what’s going on. Make it happen fast! That appears to be the logic behind the President’s legislative agenda. If you get the ball rolling, pass it and sign it before anyone reads it.
We all know how much good the February stimulus bill did; none. If anyone had a chance to analyze it and the pork associated with it, it would have never passed. It looks like “Cap and Trade” may be dead in the Senate. People must have read it and told their Senators to make sure it dies. I guess things did not move fast enough.
Now, let us look at the health care bill. The rich are in for it again per the Democrats. The Democrats are proposing that the top income earners will see their income taxes increase in order to pay the approximate one trillion dollars that this bill will cost our future generations. The top tax rate would go up by 5.4%. This would be on couples earning more than one million dollars. The smallest increase would be on couples earning more than $350,000. They would get an additional tax bill of one percent of their income. (more…)
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Unions Seem Determined to Kill Michigan Film Industry
by Frank DeMartiniA lot can be said about unions supporting wage earners and creating a middle class. However, a lot can also be said about unions ruining this country. Case in point: Michigan.
You would think that after the UAW destroyed the auto industry and the tax base in Michigan, the people of the state and the unions based there would have learned. However, this is not the case. In the latest union disaster for the state of Michigan, the IATSE has decided that the blooming film industry in the state must be stopped before it even gets started.
As most of you in the film business know, the state of Michigan has one of the most lucrative tax credit/rebate programs in the industry. The state gives you 40% of every qualified dollar that you spend in the state. In addition, if you shoot your film in a few core areas such as Detroit, you will get an additional 2%. That’s a whopping 42% of what the producers’ qualified in Michigan spend. On a 20 million dollar budget, this can amount to a gift from the state of Michigan of approximately 6.5 million dollars after you subtract the non-qualified costs. (more…)
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‘Cap and Trade’: 1000+ Pages of Economic Chaos
by Frank DeMartiniThe American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, more commonly known as the Cap and Trade Bill, is dangerous for the country and potentially disastrous for the economy. I cannot say this more simply. This bill which is designed to lower emissions and stop global warming will do nothing except raise the average Americans’ expenses and cause the loss of many American jobs.
The bill passed in the House last week by a margin of less than ten votes. The vote was mostly among party lines. However, many Democrats sensing its disastrous consequences actually voted against it. In fact, if it were not for eight liberal minded Republicans, the bill would have failed. It is going to the Senate shortly and must be stopped there at all costs. As for those eight Republicans, I suggest they start looking for employment themselves.
Global warming is allegedly caused by the burning of fossil fuels. This Cap and Trade bill is supposed to lower emissions caused by such energy sources. It is the dream of former Vice President Al Gore who has made a mini-industry out of global warming and who does nothing personally to stop it. This typical Democratic hypocrite burns more carbon based fuels than 10 average Americans and yet he claims that we, as a country, are not doing enough to stop this potential disaster to the planet. I wonder when the last time he flew on a commercial airline was. But, that’s another column completely. (more…)
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The End of Reverse Discrimination?
by Frank DeMartiniReverse Discrimination, according to Wikipedia, is defined as, “the practice of favoring members of a historically disadvantaged group at the expense of members of a historically advantaged group.” Since the 1964 Civil Rights Act when the phrase came into usage, it has been practiced in many different ways. Some examples include employment practices and college admissions. A more euphemistic way of saying reverse discrimination would be “affirmative action.” However you say it, it is still discrimination plain and simple.
The United States Supreme Court tackled the issue in the seminal case of Regents of the University of California v. Bakke, 438 US 265 (1978). In that case, the Court found that race could only be one of numerous factors in determining admission to a university. It stated that the University of California policy was unconstitutional, but that the policy used by Harvard was a valid type of affirmative action. The result was that Mr. Bakke was admitted to medical school and became a respected physician. (more…)
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The Ideals of Independence Day
by Frank DeMartini
July 4, 1776. One of the greatest days in the history of the human race. For this is the day the founders of this country executed the Declaration of Independence and declared themselves free from the British Empire. It is a day we should be reverent about and a day in which we should remember those who have fallen in order for the ideals of the Founding Fathers to be upheld.
It is a day the whole world admires whether they be Western or whether they be the people rebelling in Iran against the tyrannical regime in power. It is a day the South Koreans think of whenever they fear the Communist empire to the north. And, it is a day all people throughout the world who want to be free cherish and remember. (more…)
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Crossroads in Middle East as Obama Stays Silent
by Frank DeMartiniI am on vacation in South East Asia visiting friends and touring some areas that I am quite familiar with and some not so much. I have not had much access to news or the internet until the last two days. However, from what I have heard recently, there are definitely a few things that need to be addressed.
A few days ago, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a speech in we he agreed for the first time to the possibility of a two state solution. To many countries in the world, this is considered a major breakthrough in the Palestinian conflict. For the first time in recent memory, Israel is ready to consider giving the Palestinians a homeland. The entire western world applauded the concessions. Of course, the Palestinians did not: they condemned them. (more…)
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Is The Republican Party Lost?
by Frank DeMartiniEvery article you read these days from the liberal media has a very clear message: the Republican Party is dead and should be buried. Conservatism is in shambles. The Democrats have the upper hand and the correct solution for the country. Tax and Spend is working. The Stimulus is working. Foreign powers love us. All is happy in liberal land.
I beg to differ. In fact, I believe the evidence is stronger each day that the Republican Party is making inroads into the Democratic “majority.” The election happened and Obama and the Democrats are in power. We have to live with that for another 18 months. But when one looks at the trends a new picture begins to develop.
All evidence indicates that the country is going the other way and still leans center-right. Look at what happened in Virginia yesterday. In a hotly contested Democratic primary for governor, R. Creigh Deeds, a conservative Democrat, whooped an ex-head of the DNC and staunch supporter of the Clintons. Deeds is about as far to the right as the Democratic Party gets. He is so pro-gun that he supports concealed weapons in bars and nightclubs. I’m not even sure if I go that far.
Why did Deeds get the nomination? Well, according to every article and news report, it is because the Virginia Democrats are afraid of losing the governorship in November to the Republican candidate. Robert McDonnell is a staunch Republican Conservative and the Virginia populace is definitely to the right regardless of whether the state went with Obama. A liberal Democrat is never going to win Virginia right now and probably never. (more…)
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Will Obama Abandon Israel?
by Frank DeMartiniPresident Obama has left the United States for a foreign trip that includes Saudi Arabia, Egypt, France and Germany. Unfortunately, a stop in Israel is not included. Why? With increasing rhetoric, Mr. Obama and his administration seem to be leaving Israel in the cold and partnering up with Israel’s Arab enemies at the same time that he is not taking the threats of North Korea seriously.
In the past few weeks, President Obama has told Israel that it must now accept a two state solution to the Palestinian problem, and just yesterday, he told Ehud Barak that Israel must stop all growth in the West Bank settlements. Further, the President has taken the position that Iran may continue its nuclear programs provided that it intends only to pursue nuclear energy and not nuclear weapons, in contravention of Israeli wishes.
What is going on here? Does the President believe that by kissing up to our enemies; i.e. Iran, North Korea, Venezuela and Radical Islam, that he is going to make all of the problems of the world go away? Does he believe that by allowing Israeli/US relations to go by the wayside, he is going to make Al Qaeda disappear? I think not.
In fact, yesterday another tape of Osama bin Laden appeared condemning the United States for backing the Pakistani military in taking on the Taliban. The tape made it clear that President Obama was no different from President Bush in bin Laden’s eyes and that the blood of Muslims and retribution for their deaths would be on Obama’s hands. The War on Terror is not over regardless of what President Obama wants to call it, and based upon the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan, it is about to escalate. (more…)
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