Allan Duffin - Writer/Producer

The Minerva Awards 2010: Carolyn Blashek and Operation Gratitude

The Women's Conference, hosted by California First Lady Maria Shriver, is an annual event that draws a huge crowd to the Long Beach Convention Center. At Big Life Films I had the privilege of working on a number of multimedia programs that were shown at the conference, including films that honored the recipients of the 2010 Minerva Awards.

Created by California First Lady Maria Shriver in 2004, The Minerva Awards have become the country’s most prestigious awards given to women “who serve on the front-lines of humanity,” celebrating their extraordinary legacies of service and contributions to California, the nation and the world.

Here's one of the films we produced. It's about Carolyn Blashek, founder of Operation Gratitude. From the very start of this country’s longest war, Carolyn Blashek has not gone a day without thinking about the men and women who put their lives on the line overseas for the freedoms we enjoy at home. Carolyn was so moved by the enormity of 9/11, that she tried to enlist in the military at age 46. She was sent home for being “too old,” and so began the odyssey that led to Operation Gratitude, the largest military support organization sending personalized care packages to deployed soldiers in US history.

Dancing at the movies: just pure fun

Reposting this great video via Ken Levine's blog:

Definitely Right On Track

Some songs just stick in your head. Breakfast Club's 1987 hit "Right On Track" is a bouncy pop number about a guy that's trying to impress a girl by showing off his dance skills. Problem is, every time he busts a move, she's looking in the other direction or moving away from him. I've always loved this tune, from Dan Gilroy's smooth voice to the insistent beat to lines like, "How far away can you go -- and still be dancing with me?" Did the guy ever get the girl to notice him? Maybe.

Fun fact: Lead singer Dan Gilroy is now a screenwriter and is married to actress Rene Russo.

"Lost" ends, but Michael Giacchino's music goes on

Whether you found "Lost" fascinating or frustrating (or both),  you have to give kudos to one of the series' key components: its music. Composer Michael Giacchino's evocative score gave the show a heartbeat that was sometimes tearjerking and sometimes terrifying. The Los Angeles Times just ran a story about Giacchino, who talked about his childhood love of film music:

"I made my dad buy me the soundtrack album, because in those days, the only way to relive the experience of the film was to get the soundtrack. I'd sneak tape recorders into movie theaters, record the sounds of the movies and then listen to them at night on a little speaker I'd rigged up in bed by my pillow. I was always into the story that a film told, and sometimes the soundtrack album would take everything out of order. So I made my own tapes, so I could always be sure to hear the story in the right sequence."

I love to read about childhood dreams that blossom into adult professions. This is why I'm a writer today.

You can check out Giacchino's music at his website, which has tons of sample tracks. Meanwhile, if you haven't seen this funny video about the unanswered questions of "Lost," here you go:

(This video came from College Humor.)

Schwarzenegger movie quotes

More movie fun, courtesy of Pajiba.com:

One of my favorite Dunkin' Donuts commercials

I went to college in Boston. There's a Dunkin' Donuts on Boylston Street. It was (and still is, according to a good friend) an awesome place. The classic "Time to Make the Donuts" commercials are part of our popular culture, but this one -- from a few years ago -- is also hilarious and memorable.

New article in Leatherneck Magazine about HBO's "The Pacific"

I had the privilege of writing the cover story for this month's issue of Leatherneck Magazine, the official publication of the Marine Corps Association. HBO's new 10-hour TV miniseries "The Pacific," which follows the wartime exploits of three World War II Marines, premieres this month.

Many thanks to the following folks who took time out of their busy schedules to do interviews for the article: Bruce McKenna, co-executive producer and writer; Captain Dale Dye, USMC (Ret.), senior military advisor; Penny Rose, costume designer; and actor Jon Seda, who portrays legendary Marine "Manila John" Basilone. HBO's media relations staff was equally giving of their time and assistance -- thank you so much!

You can take a look at this issue of Leatherneck by clicking here, but you'll need a subscription to read the entire article.

Thanks also to Colonel Walt Ford, USMC (Ret.), the editor of Leatherneck, who's a terrific boss. He loves his job, and it shows.

Policewomen On Patrol, New York City, 1974

March is Women's History Month! Celebrating the publication of my new book, History in Blue: 160 Years of Women Police, Sheriffs, Detectives, and State Troopers: Here's a clip from YouTube featuring rare black-and-white footage of New York policewomen on patrol in the Bronx, 1974. For more information, click on the clip to contact the filmmaker.

History in Blue: 160 Years of Women Police, Sheriffs, Detectives, and State Troopers is published by Kaplan Publishing (a division of the Washington Post Company) and distributed by Simon & Schuster. Visit your local bookstore, or order your copy from the Simon & Schuster website or from Amazon.com, Borders.com, or BarnesandNoble.com.

Women in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Celebrating the publication of my new book, History in Blue: 160 Years of Women Police, Sheriffs, Detectives, and State Troopers: Here's a clip from YouTube featuring women of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

History in Blue: 160 Years of Women Police, Sheriffs, Detectives, and State Troopers is published by Kaplan Publishing (a division of the Washington Post Company) and distributed by Simon & Schuster. Visit your local bookstore, or order your copy from the Simon & Schuster website or from Amazon.com, Borders.com, or BarnesandNoble.com.

100 Cheesiest Movie Quotes of All Time

Just plain fun. Compiled by Pajiba.com.