Myrna Sokoloff is the co-writer and Executive Producer of “An American Carol.” Myrna and David Zucker started working together on a series of humorous political commercials in 2004 and 2006, including “Indecison,” “Basketball Diplomacy,” “Taxman,” and “Iraq Study Group.” It was during their work in 2004 that they began to write the script for “An American Carol.”
Myrna spent many years working in Democratic politics both in New York and California. While in New York, she also worked in public relations and finance. Myrna brought a wealth of experience and strategic relationships to the creative and executive team behind the movie.
After September 11th she made the political change that had been brewing for many years. We were at war and she knew the Left would never fight it to win. The horrific attacks changed her life. They changed her priorities and her political views. Like many patriotic baby boomers, she wanted to do something.
Since she could not serve directly, she chose to volunteer. She made sandwiches for the Marines that came into the USO at LAX, reached out to help the families of those servicemen and women on active duty and helped with various events. The character Josh in “An American Carol” is named after her nephew who is currently serving in the Navy.
Myrna drew on her years of experience in politics and government to write the screenplay. Although she focused on the serious challenges in our country, she and Zucker used humor to create characters and situations that would tell a great story that makes you laugh and cry at the same time.
She grew up in Westport, Connecticut in the shadow of New York City. She received her undergraduate degree from Boston University and her Masters from Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion in New York.
Myrna Sokoloff
Why America Loves ‘NCIS’
by Myrna SokoloffIt’s a sign! “NCIS” on CBS has been the No. 1 show on Tuesday nights for four weeks. It is the highest rated show on TV. Why is this important except for advertisers who want to sell products?
It is important because America is choosing to watch Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs catch “dirtbags.” It’s a cop show, you may say. Yes, but these cops are in the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. They solve crimes involving Sailors and Marines. So for one hour every Tuesday (2 hours if you count “NCIS-Los Angeles,” the spinoff) we are in the world of the United States Navy and Marine Corps.
There are many reasons to watch the show. It is face paced, clever and the audience is drawn into this team with all its unique characters. They are a family and we want to be one of them. They have talents we wish we had and they use them for good.
Special Agent Tony Dinozza (Michael Weatherly) is the goof off from every office we’ve ever worked in. But he is a former cop and relies on his instincts to come up with that one idea that might solve the case. Of course, he is also a great shot and a good fighter which comes in handy with bad guys. (more…)
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A Winning 2010 Issue: I’m Not Paying For That
by Myrna SokoloffEven the Democrats finally have admitted that Republicans may pick up 25-30 seats in the 2010 Congressional elections. People are angry. We need a creative way of harnessing that anger and giving the voters a weapon to fight the Left’s agenda for the rest of the President’s term.
Obama won in 2008 with 53% of the vote. The President felt he had a mandate to enact his legislative programs. But a lot of those independents and moderates who voted for him are having buyer’s remorse. It is clear that the President is far to the left of the average American. The Van Jones episode should make that obvious. It is not that Van Jones slipped through the vetting process and no one knew his true views. Van Jones represents the views of the administration. Van Jones is Obama. They just didn’t want the average American voter to find out about it.
The President also tried to hide his real agenda in health care-the government single payer system. But it didn’t work. According to Rasmussen, ObamaCare, is opposed by 53% of the people. Only 43% support it. However with old fashioned arm twisting, an unpopular bill like ObamaCare can still pass a Democrat Congress. According to Rasmussen, 57% of the people would like to replace this Congress! But that doesn’t matter to ideologues on the Left. They want their agenda passed even if the public is against it. Once a bill is enacted, it is difficult to dismantle the structure. There must be a remedy for this. (more…)
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Conservatives and the Culture of Resistance
by Myrna SokoloffRemember the leftist protest group “Not in Our Name” active during the Bush administration? They believed that the United States over reacted to 9/11 that resulted in the murder of 3000 Americans, by going to war in Afghanistan. ”Not in Our Name” also opposed the war in Iraq. In fact they opposed all war. They also protested the arrest of suspected terrorists, the Patriot Act, wire-taps, you know the whole ‘War on Terror’ thing.
The protestors of “Not in Our Name” believed that President Bush was not speaking for them when he took actions that they did not approve. According to their website they wanted to create a ‘culture of resistance.’ “Not in Our Name”, along with other leftist protest groups were very successful in demonizing President Bush and the war effort both in Afghanistan and Iraq. Barack Obama was elected largely as an anti-war President. “Not in Our Name” disbanded in 2008. On their website they encourage their followers to join similar groups like “Code Pink” and “United for Peace and Justice.” Whether they will re-emerge to protest the widening war in Afghanistan will be an interesting family food fight for the left. (more…)
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‘The Smile’: A Perfect Presidential Nickname
by Myrna SokoloffPresidents have nicknames. Clinton was” Bubba” or “Slick Willy,” if you didn’t like him. ”The Comeback Kid” if you did. Reagan was “Dutch” from his sportscaster days or “The Gipper” from the movies. But love him or hate him you had to admit Reagan was “The Great Communicator.”
President Obama should have a nickname from our side. Words mean something we are reminded all the time. So I am going to name him “The Smile.”
If you watch him at “town meetings” when he’s pressing his agenda and making statements that go unchallenged from the adoring crowds, he comes across as calm, reassuring and easy going while he’s attempting to dismantle American capitalism. His answer to everything is to smile.
From my perspective in Hollywood, I see that people respond to him like they do to a movie star. It’s the face, the eyes, the smile, not what he says. This phenomenon shows up in the polls. His personal popularity holds around 60%, but if you ask about specific policies, Americans don’t agree with him. Americans by wide margins do not want to close Guantanamo, are against affirmative action, and against late term abortion. The majority want him to cancel the stimulus and hate the bailouts! (more…)
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