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(Theme plays: Funky techno music)
Kim: ON THE WORD THIS WEEK, THE JAZZ LIFE OF LENNY BREAU.
(Upbeat jazz music)
Andy: AS FAR AS THE GUITAR GOES, LENNY WAS PROBABLY A GENIUS.
Kim: FROM POVERTY TO PROSPERITY IN THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS.
Chris: I KNEW THAT WHEN I HAD CHILDREN, I WANTED MY CHILDREN TO KNOW WHO THEIR
FATHER IS.
Chris: THERE'S NO SALARY?
Man: NO.
Chris: I WAS NOT AWARE OF THAT.
Kim: AND THE BRILLIANT ART AND POETRY OF THE RAVEN. WHAT WAS YOUR KIND OF
INSPIRATION FOR YOUR VISIONS? YOU READ THE POEM AND THEN SORT OF LET IT
PERCOLATE IN YOUR BRAIN?
Ryan: YEAH, I LET IT PERCOLATE FOR QUITE A LONG TIME. THERE'S A FEW WORDS THAT
JUST SORT OF STOOD OUT FOR ME, THAT SHAPED THE POEM.
[ Caption: The Word This Week ]
[ Caption: Rachel Harry & Kim Clarke Champniss ]
Kim: HELLO THERE, AND WELCOME TO THE WORD THIS WEEK. I'M KIM CLARKE
CHAMPNISS.
Rachel: AND I'M RACHEL HARRY. OUR FIRST STORY FOR YOU IS ABOUT LENNY BREAU, THE
FAMED JAZZ GUITARIST. KIM, YOU HAD THAT ASSIGNMENT.
Kim: AND A GREAT ONE IT WAS TOO. I TRAVELED OUT TO VANCOUVER TO SPEAK TO RON
FORBES-ROBERTS, THE AUTHOR OF ONE LONG TUNE, THE LIFE AND MUSIC OF LENNY
BREAU. NOW, LENNY BREAU WAS WELL RESPECTED AMONGST HIS PEERS, BUT ALMOST
UNKNOWN TO THE MAINSTREAM. AND HE ENDED UP HAVING A TRAGIC END. THE LIFE AND
TIMES OF LENNY BREAU.
[ Caption: scene from The Genius of Lenny Breau courtesy of Sleeping Giant Productions ]
(Upbeat jazz music)
♪
LET'S PUT LENNY IN PERSPECTIVE. IS HE A FAMOUS JAZZ GUY? WAS HE A FAMOUS JAZZ
GUY.
[ Caption: Ron Forbes Roberts One Long Time ]
Ron: WELL, HE'S CERTAINLY FAMOUS AMONG JAZZ MUSICIANS; THE PUBLIC AT LARGE,
NOT SO MUCH. AND EVEN AMONG MANY LONG-TERM JAZZ FANS, LENNY WAS NOT WIDELY
KNOWN.
[ Caption: Ross Porter CEO, Jazz FM 91 ]
Ross: I THINK LENNY WAS A MUSICIAN'S MUSICIAN.
[ Caption: Andy Summers Guitarist, formerly of The Police ]
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Andy: HE WAS SUCH AN INCREDIBLE GUITAR PLAYER. HE COULD JUST REALLY PLAY
EVERYTHING, SO HARMONICALLY ADVANCED. NO ONE HAS EVER PLAYED LIKE LENNY.
(Upbeat jazz music)
Kim: SO WHY IS IT AFTER HIS DEATH, SUDDENLY, THE MYTH OF LENNY HAS REALLY TAKEN
SHAPE?
Ron: WELL, THERE ARE A FEW REASONS. ONE WAS BECAUSE, IN THE MID-'90s, THE
GUITARIST FOR THE GUESS WHO, RANDY BACHMAN, DECIDED TO PUT TOGETHER A LABEL
FEATURING LENNY'S CDs AND MUSIC AND HE MADE AN EFFORT TO COLLECT SOME THINGS
THAT HAD NEVER BEEN RELEASED AND TO PUT OUT SOME THINGS THAT HAD BEEN
RELEASED, BUT WERE LONG OUT OF PRINT. AND I THINK THAT ONCE THEY STARTED
BEING HEARD THAT THERE WAS THIS RENEWED INTEREST IN LENNY.
[ Caption: Ralph Benmurgui Host, Jazz FM 91 ]
Ralph: RANDY BACHMAN'S HERE. WE'RE TALKING LENNY BREAU. SOME PEOPLE KNOW
LENNY AND SOME PEOPLE DON'T. IF YOU HAD TO SAY TO SOMEBODY-- IF SOMEBODY SAID,
"WHO WAS LENNY BREAU?" WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE SAID?
[ Caption: Randy Bachman Guitarist ]
Randy: HE WAS A REALLY WONDERFUL HUMAN BEING, A REALLY GREAT GUY AND THE
MOST FANTASTIC, INNOVATIVE, GROUNDBREAKING GUITAR PLAYER.
[ Caption: Lenny was born in Maine, but made his musical reputation in Winnipeg. ]
♪
Randy: I DIDN'T KNOW HE'D BECOME THE GREAT LENNY BREAU. I DIDN'T KNOW I'D
BECOME THE RANDY BACHMAN THAT PEOPLE KNOW. HE WAS 16; I WAS 15. HE KNEW
GUITAR; I DIDN'T. IT'S LIKE SOMEBODY TEACHING YOU TENNIS, HOW TO SERVE, OR
HOCKEY OR SOMETHING. HE JUST TAUGHT ME GUITAR AND I WAS HUNGRY.
(Soulful rock music)
Ron: LENNY WAS A VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD, HONEST PLAYER. HE ALWAYS WENT FOR
THE EMOTION RATHER THAN THE FLASH. IF THERE WAS A CHANCE TO REALLY SAY
SOMETHING WITH A PHRASE WITH FEWER NOTES, HE WOULD GO FOR THAT RATHER THAN- LENNY RARELY PLAYED TO IMPRESS. AND THAT'S WHAT INITIALLY HIT ME BECAUSE I
DIDN'T REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW GOOD HE WAS TECHNICALLY WHEN I FIRST HEARD HIM
BECAUSE I HAD NOTHING TO MEASURE HIM AGAINST REALLY, EXCEPT MAYBE JIMMY
PAGE. (Laughs)
[ Caption: Photos from The Genius of Lenny Breau courtesy of Sleeping Giant Productions ]
Randy: HE SHOWED ME 10 ENDINGS, BUT I COULDN'T WRITE MUSIC EITHER. I DIDN'T HAVE
A TAPE RECORDER, SO WHATEVER I REMEMBERED. SO I ONLY REMEMBERED TWO
ENDINGS AND I MADE ONE A VERSE AND ONE A CHORUS AND I WROTE A SONG. HE SAID,
"LIKE, MAN, LIKE, HOW CAN YOU MAKE A SONG UP OUT OF ENDINGS 'CAUSE WHEN YOU
START TO PLAY IT, WON'T PEOPLE THING THE SONG IS OVER?" YOU KNOW? SO HERE'S THE
FIRST ENDING. I JUST PUT, LIKE, THESE LYRICS.
♪
♪
♪
♪
♪
♪
EVERY DAY IS AN ENDLESS TRAIN ♪
YOU GOT TO RIDE IT TO THE END OF THE LINE ♪
JUST BE A TROUBLESHOOTER, BLOW THE BAD LUCK AWAY ♪
AND YOU WILL MAKE IT TO YOUR STATION ON TIME ♪ OTHER ENDING:
AND YOU'LL FIND OUT ♪
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♪
♪
♪
♪
♪
♪
EVERY TRICK IN THE BOOK ♪
AND THAT THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY TO GET THINGS DONE ♪
YOU'LL FIND OUT ♪
THE ONLY WAY TO THE TOP IS LOOKING OUT FOR NUMBER ONE ♪
I MEAN YOU ♪
KEEP LOOKING OUT FOR NUMBER ONE ♪
Kim: WHAT ADJECTIVES WOULD YOU APPLY TO HIM? HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE HIM?
[ Caption: Cedar Christie Friend ]
[ Caption: Lenny, Lake Champlain, 1970 photo courtesy of Cedar Christie ]
Cedar: UH, HUMOROUS, UH... ADVENTUROUS, INTENSE, FEARLESS... AND MAYBE LONELY.
Kim: COUPLE OF ADJECTIVES THAT WOULD SUM LENNY BREAU UP? CAN YOU THINK OF
ANY?
Andy: WELL, APART FROM, LIKE, BRILLIANT AND GENIUS? MIND-BENDING, AWESOME,
PSYCHEDELIC, ALL OF THOSE. I MEAN, THEY'RE ALL CLICHÉS. BUT IN THIS CASE, I THINK
THE WORD GENIUS WOULD BE CORRECTLY APPLIED, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IT'S SO
MISAPPLIED IN MODERN LIFE. BUT I THINK, AS FAR AS THE GUITAR GOES, LENNY WAS
PROBABLY A GENIUS.
Man: WELL, OUR SECTION IS SO GROOVY THAT THEY CAN EASILY SOLO BY THEMSELVES.
[ Caption: There are over 60 recordings featuring Lenny Breau. ]
(Mellow jazz music)
♪
Ross: HE WAS A VIRTUOSO. BUT HE HAD THE CAPABILITY OF SOUNDING AS THOUGH HE
WAS PLAYING TWO GUITARS AT THE SAME TIME. HE HAD INCREDIBLE DEXTERITY. HE
WOULD HAVE MADE A GREAT SURGEON.
Randy: SO I SAW HIM DOING THIS-- CALCULATING IN HIS MIND OF WHAT HE WAS DOING.
AND THEN HE WOULD PLAY LIKE-(Guitar picking)
A WALKING BASS LINE AND THE CHORDS AND THE MELODY. LIKE, UH...
(Soft jazz music)
♪
[ Caption: Photos from The Genius of Lenny Breau courtesy of Sleeping Giant Productions ]
Ron: I HADN'T REALIZED HOW FUNNY LENNY WAS. I THINK THAT INITIALLY I HAD THE IDEA
THAT LENNY WAS SORT OF A DARK, MYSTERIOUS FIGURE THAT KEPT HIMSELF LOCKED UP
IN AN ATTIC SOMEWHERE PRACTICING HIS GUITAR ALL THE TIME. NOT THE CASE REALLY.
HE WAS A VERY WARM, OUTGOING, SOCIAL KIND OF MAN. AND ALSO, UM, MUCH SMARTER,
I HATE TO SAY, THAN I THOUGHT THAT HE WAS. HE WAS A VERY, VERY INTELLIGENT GUY
AND THAT COMES OUT IN HIS MUSIC I THINK.
(Upbeat jazz music)
♪
Andy: VERY DIFFICULT TO PLAY THE WAY HE PLAYED. I MEAN, HE WORKED OUT SO MANY
THINGS. HE PLAYED WITH A THUMB PICK, I THINK, THEN HE ADDED A SEVENTH STRING TO
THE TOP. HE WAS AN ABSOLUTE GENIUS, HARMONIC GENIUS, AMAZINGLY FAST LINES AND
THESE BEAUTIFUL HARMONIES, VERY DIFFICULT TO PLAY AS MUCH AS HE DID. HE COULD
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ALSO PLAY FLAMENCO. AND HE WAS A SWEET, FUNNY GUY. I MEAN, THIS IS A GUY WHO
SHOULD HAVE BEEN AN ABSOLUTELY MAJOR STAR BECAUSE HE WAS A GOOD-LOOKING
GUY, HE COULD SING, TELL JOKES. HE HAD IT ALL. YOU KNOW, I MEAN, PEOPLE WILL SAY,
"WELL, THERE'S HENDRIX." I SAY, "WELL, YEAH, JIMI'S GREAT, BUT, BOY, LET'S TALK
ABOUT LENNY BREAU."
♪
Cedar: YOU KNOW HOW A LOT OF YOUNG MEN WANT TO RACE CARS AND STUFF? AND HE
HAD THAT KIND OF ENERGY, BUT HE PUT ALL THAT ENERGY INTO THE GUITAR. AND, UH,
SOME GUYS MAKE IT THROUGH, YOU KNOW, THEIR YOUTH OR THEIR LIFE AND THEY DON'T
EVER GET HURT IN AN ACCIDENT. AND I KIND OF THINK, YOU KNOW, LENNY'S FEARLESS
RELATIONSHIP WITH DRUGS SOMETIMES, I THINK IT WAS LIKE HE WAS A RACECAR DRIVER
OF DRUGS.
[ Caption: scene from The Genius of Lenny Breau courtesy of Sleeping Giant Productions ]
(Upbeat jazz music)
♪
Ron: LENNY DEVELOPED A SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROBLEM THAT WAS A BURDEN FOR HIM
FROM ABOUT 1972 TO 1982. AND HE MANAGED TO GET AWAY FROM IT A LITTLE BIT. HE
CONTINUED TO DRINK REALLY UNTIL HIS DEATH. THE DRUGS WERE DEFINITELY A BIT OF A
BARRIER IN TERMS OF GETTING HIS CAREER OFF THE GROUND. BUT THERE WERE MANY
OTHER THINGS GOING ON THAT WERE HOLDING HIM BACK.
[ Caption: Lenny, 1970 photo courtesy of Cedar Christie ]
Ross: HE HAD A GIFT, AND, I MEAN, IT WAS AT A CERTAIN COST TOO. I THINK HE WAS A BIT
LIKE AN IDIOT SAVANT. I MEAN, HE HAD DIFFICULTY FINDING HIS, YOU KNOW, WHERE HE
LIVED 'CAUSE HE'D FORGET THE ADDRESS OR, YOU KNOW, MANAGING CROSSING THE
STREET.
[ Caption: scene from Master Class courtesy of Guitarchives ]
♪
HE'S LIKE A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAD A GIFT. I MEAN, IT WAS THE ART ABOVE AND
BEYOND EVERYTHING ELSE. UNFORTUNATELY, THERE WAS A DETERIORATION TOWARDS
THE-- YOU KNOW, AT VARIOUS STAGES IN HIS LIFE WHERE IT WAS ABOUT THE ART AND
ABOUT GETTING HIGH, UM, WHICH, YOU KNOW, WE'VE SEEN MANY PARALLELS TO THAT IN
THE HISTORY OF MUSIC.
(Emotive jazz music)
♪
Ron: HE DIED IN LOS ANGELES. INITIALLY, THEY SAID THAT HE HAD DIED OF A DROWNING.
AND WITHIN A COUPLE OF DAYS, THE NEWSPAPERS WERE SAYING THAT IN FACT IT WAS A
HOMICIDE.
Cedar: I THINK THERE'S BEEN A FOCUS ON, UM, THE MORBID ASPECTS OF HIS LIFE
BECAUSE THERE'S A CERTAIN CACHET AROUND THE IDEA OF TRAGEDY.
Ross: I'M REALLY HAPPY THAT, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING'S BEEN CHRONICLED HERE.
SOMETHING HAS BEEN-- WE'VE GOT SOME PHYSICAL RECORD OF WHAT LENNY ACHIEVED.
I THINK THIS IS THE REALLY DEFINING MOMENT FOR LENNY.
Ron: ONE OF THE REASONS THAT I WROTE THE BOOK WAS I KNEW EARLY ON THAT A LOT
OF WHAT IS SAID ABOUT LENNY IS KIND OF MYTH BECAUSE THERE WASN'T A LOT OF
INFORMATION ABOUT LENNY. THE NARRATIVE OF HIS LIFE GREW SORT OF OUT OF THE
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GAPS IN THE NARRATIVE OF HIS LIFE. PEOPLE WOULD FILL THINGS IN THAT JUST WEREN'T
QUITE CORRECT. SO, UH, I THINK THAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SURPRISED.
(Upbeat jazz music)
♪
LENNY ONCE SAID THAT HE LEARNED TO PLAY ON BANDSTAND, YOU KNOW, PLAYING JAZZ.
PEOPLE WOULD COUNT ON A TUNE, AND LENNY WOULD SAY, "WAIT A MINUTE, I DON'T
KNOW THAT TUNE," AND THEY'D SAY, "WELL, YOU WILL." AND THAT'S REALLY THE WAY HE
GOT THE CRAFT OF JAZZ.
(Musical finale)
(Audience applause)
Kim: COMING UP, THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS.
Chris: A SCRIPT IS DEVELOPED, THE STORY IS OPTIONED AND THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW
WILL SMITH'S NAME COMES UP. AND I GOT TO TELL YOU, MY INITIAL REACTION WAS-- I
LOVE WILL, BUT I WAS THINKING, "WOW, HE'S NEVER DONE ANYTHING LIKE THIS. THIS IS
TOTALLY DIFFERENT."
[ Caption: The Word This Week ]
(Theme plays: Funky techno music)
[ BREAK ]
[ Caption: The Word This Week ]
(Theme plays: Funky techno music)
[ Caption: Rachel Harry ]
Rachel: MEMOIRS TO MOVIE SEEMS TO BE THE THEME THIS WEEK, AND AUGUSTEN
BURROUGHS OFF-THE-WALL SMASH RUNNING WITH SCISSORS HAS MADE THE CUT. IT'S
BEEN MADE INTO AN EQUALLY WACKY MOTION PICTURE STARRING ANNETTE BENING.
[ Caption: Running With Scissors courtesy of Sony Pictures Entertainment ]
Augusten: I POLISH MY ALLOWANCE.
Dad: BUT WHY, AUGUSTEN, WHY?
Augusten: BECAUSE I LIKE SHINY THINGS.
Dad: I REALLY DON'T SEE MYSELF IN YOU AT ALL.
[ Caption: Augusten Burroughs Author, Running With Scissors ]
Augusten: THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE IN THE WORLD WHO HAVE EITHER EXPERIENCED,
LIKE, A DYSFUNCTIONAL CHILDHOOD OR HAVE SOME ELEMENT OF SHAME IN THEIR
CHILDHOOD AND THEY CAN RELATE TO MY BOOK BECAUSE OF THAT.
Augusten: (Voiceover) WHERE DO I BEGIN TO TELL THE STORY OF HOW MY MOTHER LEFT
ME?
Dr. Finch: YOUR MOTHER IS IN A STATE OF CRISIS.
Augusten: WHAT IS THIS?
Mom: ADOPTION PAPERS. DR. FINCH HAS AGREED TO BECOME YOUR LEGAL GUARDIAN.
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Augusten: YOU'RE GIVING ME AWAY TO YOUR SHRINK!
(Crash)
Dr. Finch: EVERYONE, WAKE UP!
Augusten: WHEN I WAS 12, MY MOTHER GAVE ME AWAY TO HER PSYCHIATRIST, WHO WAS A
LUNATIC. YOU KNOW, HE LOOKED LIKE SANTA, TALKED LIKE SANTA AND HE DRESSED LIKE
SANTA. AND THE DOCTOR BELIEVED THAT WHEN YOU WERE 13, YOU WERE FREE TO MAKE
UP ALL YOUR OWN DECISIONS.
Dr. Finch: WOULD YOU LIKE SOME OF THESE?
Augusten: WHAT ARE THEY?
Dr. Finch: I JUST GOT SOME SAMPLES IN THE MAIL, SO I DON'T KNOW.
Augusten: MY MOTHER HAD ASPIRATIONS. THE REASON SHE GAVE ME AWAY IS BECAUSE
SHE WAS AN UNDIAGNOSED MANIC DEPRESSIVE.
Mom: YOU'RE TRYING TO SABOTAGE ME.
Augusten: YOU KNOW, SHE COULDN'T DEAL WITH HAVING CHILDREN AND SHE WANTED TO
BE FAMOUS. I DIDN'T WANT TO BE A PRODUCT OF THAT ENVIRONMENT THAT I GREW UP IN.
I DIDN'T WANT TO BE THE SAME PERSON THAT EXPERIENCED WHAT I EXPERIENCED.
Woman: IT'S JUST A LITTLE KIBBLE.
Augusten: IT'S FOR DOGS.
Woman: I GUESS YOU'RE AFRAID TO TRY KNEW THINGS, AUGUSTEN.
Augusten: I TRIED TO SHUT IT AWAY IN A BOX, YOU KNOW? AND IT DIDN'T WORK. AND I
TRIED, YOU KNOW, DRINKING AND THAT DIDN'T WORK. AND IT WAS REALLY WHEN I
DECIDED, YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO WRITE ABOUT IT. AND IT WAS THROUGH THE PROCESS
OF WRITING ABOUT IT THAT THE SHAME LIFTED AWAY LIKE A STAIN ON MY SHIRT. I MEAN,
IT REALLY WAS THAT SIMPLE. POOF, YOU KNOW, AND IT WAS GONE.
Augusten: THE CEILING WAS CRUSHING US.
Girl: SO WE MADE A SKYLIGHT.
Dr. Finch: I THINK IT BRINGS A MUCH NEEDED SENSE OF HUMOUR INTO THE KITCHEN.
Augusten: I MEAN, THE REASON I THINK I WRITE ABOUT MYSELF SO MUCH IS NOT
BECAUSE I THINK I PLACE SUCH A HIGH VALUE ON MYSELF OR MY EXPERIENCES. IT'S NOT
BECAUSE REALLY I THINK I'M SO INTERESTING. I MEAN, I THINK THERE ARE SOME
NONFICTION WRITERS WHO WRITE BECAUSE THEY THEMSELVES BELIEVE THEY ARE
BEAUTIFUL, FASCINATING PEOPLE, AND I RESPECT THAT. THAT'S FINE. BUT I WRITE
BECAUSE IF I DON'T, I'M JUST GOING TO BE A STONE WALL, YOU KNOW? I'M NOT GOING TO
KNOW WHAT I FEEL.
[ Caption: Rachel Harry ]
Rachel: CHRIS GARDNER'S MEMOIR, THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS IS HIS STORY ABOUT
GOING FROM THE DEPTHS OF POVERTY INTO REALLY THE COLOSSAL PROSPERITY. NOW, IF
THAT ISN'T FEEL-GOOD STORY ENOUGH FOR YOU, IT'S BEING MADE INTO A MAJOR MOTION
PICTURE STARRING WILL SMITH.
[ Caption: Chris Gardner, Author, The Pursuit of Happyness ]
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Chris: IT'S A STORY OF EVERYONE WHO HAD TO DEAL WITH EVERY IMAGINABLE NEGATIVE
THING-- CHILD MOLESTATION, UH, ILLITERACY, FEAR-- AND ALL GO THE OTHER WAY.
[ Caption: The Pursuit of Happyness courtesy of Columbia Pictures ]
Voiceover: WHEN I HAD CHILDREN, MY CHILDREN WERE GOING TO KNOW WHO THEIR
FATHER WAS. YEAH.
Chris: A SCRIPT IS DEVELOPED, THE STORY IS OPTIONED AND THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW
WILL SMITH'S NAME COMES UP. AND I GOT TO TELL YOU, MY INITIAL REACTION WAS-- I
LOVE WILL, BUT I WAS THINKING, "WOW, HE'S NEVER DONE ANYTHING LIKE THIS. THIS IS
TOTALLY DIFFERENT." HE PLAYED CHRIS GARDNER BETTER THAN CHRIS GARDNER EVER
DID. AND GOT PAID A LOT MORE MONEY.
Chris: MOM LEFT BECAUSE OF MOM AND YOU DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THAT.
Chris: EVERYTHING THAT COULD GO WRONG WENT WRONG AT ONE TIME: MY
RELATIONSHIP DISINTEGRATED; I HAD RECENTLY BECOME A PARENT; MY EX SPLIT, TOOK
MY CHILD AWAY; I WOUND UP LIVING IN A BOARDING HOUSE. SHE EVENTUALLY RETURNED
MY SON TO ME THREE MONTHS LATER, WHICH WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN THE
WORLD TO ME BECAUSE I WAS ONE OF THOSE LITTLE BOYS WHO GREW UP WITHOUT A
FATHER. AND I KNEW THAT WHEN I HAD CHILDREN, I WANTED MY CHILDREN TO KNOW
WHO THEIR FATHER IS.
Chris: THERE'S NO SALARY?
Man: NO.
Chris: I WAS NOT AWARE OF THAT. MY CIRCUMSTANCES HAVE CHANGED SOME.
Chris: 12% OF ALL THE HOMELESS PEOPLE IN AMERICA HAVE JOBS AND GO TO WORK
EVERY DAY. WE WERE HOMELESS; WE WERE NOT HOPELESS. THAT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT
SITUATION.
(Clicking)
(Banging)
I ALWAYS KNEW I WANTED TO BE WORLD CLASS AT SOMETHING. MY FIRST AMBITION IN
LIFE: I WANTED TO BE MILES DAVIS. BUT IT WAS MY MOTHER WHO CONVINCED ME, "SON,
THERE'S ONLY ONE MILES DAVIS AND HE GOT THAT JOB. YOU GOT TO BE CHRIS."
Chris: OOH, MAN. I GOT TWO QUESTIONS FOR YOU: WHAT DO YOU DO? AND HOW DO YOU
DO IT?
Man 2: I'M A STOCKBROKER.
Chris: STOCKBROKER, OH. HEY, I'M GOING TO LET YOU HANG ON TO MY CAR FOR THE
WEEKEND, BUT I NEED IT BACK FOR MONDAY.
Man 2: FEED THE METRE. (Laughs)
Chris: IT TOOK ME 14 YEARS TO FIND WALL STREET BUT ONCE I DID, I KNEW THIS WAS THE
PLACE MOMS WAS TALKING ABOUT. THIS IS WHERE I'M SUPPOSED TO BE, NO DOUBT IN MY
MIND.
(Syncopated synth music)
Chris: YOU GOT A DREAM, YOU GOT TO PROTECT IT.
♪
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PEOPLE CAN'T DO SOMETHING THEMSELVES, THEY WANT TO TELL YOU YOU CAN'T DO IT.
♪
(Crowd cheering)
YOU WANT SOMETHING, GO GET IT, PERIOD.
Rachel: UP NEXT, SELLING BOOKS WITH THE STARS.
Margaret: THE CREATIVE COMPANY. CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS. MAY I HAVE THIS?
(Growling)
COWS THAT TYPE? THAT'S FOR ME.
[ Caption: The Word This Week ]
(Theme plays: Funky techno music)
[ BREAK ]
[ Caption: The Word This Week ]
(Theme plays: Funky techno music)
(Funky synth music)
[ Caption: Lars-Peter Bjornson Videographer ]
Peter: BOOK EXPO AMERICA IS THE LARGEST EVENT OF ITS KIND IN NORTH AMERICA. IT
FEATURES OVER 2,000 EXHIBITORS. AND THIS YEAR MORE THAN 30,000 GUEST ARE
EXPECTED TO MAKE THEIR WAY THROUGH THESE DOORS AND DO THE ROUNDS IN THE
EXHIBITION HALLS.
♪
Woman: FIRST TIME AUTHOR, I HAVE THIS BOOK CALLED BLACK BODIES AND QUANTUM
CATS.
(Funky synth music)
Man: YOU MIGHT GET THIS ON TAPE.
(Synth music continues)
Woman 2: SPIRITUALITY FOR DUMMIES.
(Music continues)
Man: THIS IS THE BOOK.
Woman: PHYSICS IS AT THE CENTRE OF EVERYTHING.
Man: THE JUICE OF A CARROT IS IDENTICAL TO THE BUD OF THE HUMAN BODY.
Peter: THE EXHIBITION IS NOT ONLY CRAWLING WITH BOOK FANS, BUT ALSO AUTHORS AND
PUBLISHERS ALL LOOKING FOR A BIT OF ATTENTION FOR THEIR LATEST PROJECT. AND
AMONG THEM ARE A COUPLE OF FAMILIAR FACES WITH, WELL, UNFAMILIAR PROJECTS.
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[ Caption: Joseph C. Philips Author, He Talk Like A White Boy ]
Joseph: PEOPLE KNOW ME FROM THE COSBY SHOW. I PLAYED JUSTUS WARD GENERAL
HOSPITAL.
[ Caption: Stephen Baldwin Author, Spirit Warriors ]
Stephen: HOLD ON A SECOND, YEAH.
Girl on phone: DADDY, IS THERE MONEY ON THE CREDIT CARD?
Stephen: WHAT AM I DOING AT A BOOK CONVENTION? IN THE LAST 14 MONTHS, I'VE BEEN
INVOLVED IN WRITING A COUPLE OF BOOKS.
Joseph: I RECENTLY PUBLISHED A BOOK. IT'S CALLED HE TALKED LIKE A WHITE BOY.
Stephen: THIS IS THE BOOK CALLED THE UNUSUAL SUSPECT. THIS IS A BOOK ABOUT HOW
UNUSUAL IT IS THAT GOD WOULD USE A GUY AS CRAZY AS ME TO HELP BE APART OF
BUILDING HIS KINGDOM HERE ON EARTH.
Peter: BASICALLY A BIOGRAPHY, YEAH? IS THAT SORT OF WHAT IT IS?
Stephen: WELL, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS A STEPHEN BALDWIN BIOGRAPHY.
THERE'S, LIKE, KIND OF THE WORLD ACCORDING TO STEVIE B.
Peter: YOU'VE SORT OF BUILT A SORT OF A REPUTATION OF BEING A WILD GUY. AND THAT
IS NOW GONE?
Stephen: IT'S A VERY EXCITING TIME. I'M LAUNCHING MY OWN MINISTRY STARTING IN
JANUARY CALLED THE BREAKTHROUGH MINISTRY. THE FUTURE!
Peter: WHAT'S YOUR BOOK ABOUT?
Joseph: MY BOOK IS ABOUT OLD-SCHOOL VALUES: FAMILY, FAITH AND FREEDOM.
Stephen: I'M STILL A SINNER. I STILL MAKE MISTAKES, BUT IT DOESN'T COMPLETELY
CONTROL AND OCCUPY EVERYTHING THAT I DO. SEE, WHEN YOU'RE A GOOD LITTLE
BOOKMAKER, THEY GIVE YOU LITTLE M&Ms.
[ Caption: Tracy Ulman Co-Author, Knit 2 Together ]
Tracy: (Gasps) MARGARET ATWOOD! OH, MY GOODNESS. I'M WITH MARGARET ATWOOD. I
CAN'T BELIEVE IT. SHE'S A REAL NOVELIST. I'M HERE WITH A KNITTING BOOK. SHE'S A
GENIUS. SHE WENT TO UNIVERSITY.
(Happy instrumental music)
Margaret: THE CREATIVE COMPANY. CAN WE SEE SOME OF THE BEAUTIFUL BOOKS?
Man: SURE.
Margaret: THAT IS STUNNING. MAY I HAVE THIS? KLUTZ BOOKS, THEY'RE GOOD. CAPTAIN
UNDERPANTS.
(Growling)
COWS THAT TYPE? THAT'S FOR ME.
Lars: MARGARET ATWOOD IS NOT ONLY HERE AS AN AUTHOR. SHE'S ALSO PROMOTING HER
NEWEST PROJECT: THE LongPen. SO ALL HER SIGNINGS ARE DONE FROM REMOTE
LOCATIONS.
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Margaret: HELLO, PETER. HOW ARE YOU?
Peter: HEY, MARGARET.
[ Caption: Margaret Atwood Author ]
Margaret: HOW'S THE WEATHER UP THERE?
Peter: WHERE ARE YOU?
Margaret: I'M IN ALASKA.
Peter: OF COURSE YOU ARE. AND I'M IN COPENHAGEN.
Margaret: SO FROM ALASKA TO COPENHAGEN, I'M GOING TO SIGN YOUR BOOK, PETER.
[ Caption: Bruce Walsh Vice President of Marketing, Unotchit Inc. ]
Bruce: WHAT THIS REALLY DOES, IT DEMOCRATIZES WHERE AUTHORS APPEAR. AUTHORS
ALWAYS GO TO THE BIG CITIES, BUT THEY NEVER GO TO THE SMALLER CITIES OR THE
SMALLER TOWNS. AND SO THIS GIVES THOSE COMMUNITIES ACCESS TO AUTHORS AND
OTHER CELEBRITIES THAT THEY'D NEVER HAVE ACCESS TO.
Margaret: JUST THINK OF IT AS A VERY LONG HAND, AND I'VE GOT MY END OF IT HERE,
AND YOUR END OF IT IS OUT THERE.
Woman: ALL RIGHT.
Margaret: AND IF YOU LOOK IN THE CAMERA AT THE TOP OF THE SCREEN, THEN YOU CAN
LOOK RIGHT AT ME.
Woman: OKAY.
Woman 2: WHEN YOU LOOK AT HER THROUGH THE CAMERA, IT'S A VERY PERSONAL
INTERACTION. YOU STILL GET YOUR BOOK SIGNED. THE SIGNATURE'S AUTHENTIC.
Woman 3: I THINK THE AUTHOR'S MORE RELAXED AND I THINK, ALSO, WE ARE AS WELL.
Margaret: HERE GOES FOR PETER.
Computer voice: PEN DOWN.
Margaret: PETER, THANK YOU.
Man: YOU WANT TO MEET THE PERSON IN PERSON, SO I DON'T KNOW. IF THIS IS THE WAVE
OF THE FUTURE, I'M NOT PARTICULARLY THRILLED BY IT.
Man 2: IT KIND OF PUTS YOU IN THIS NARROW SPACE, I MEAN, SPECIFICALLY WITH THE
AUTHOR. I LIKE IT.
Margaret: SOMEBODY JUST SAID TO ME THAT I'M ACTUALLY MORE THERE THAN WHEN I'M
THERE. AND ANYWAY, ONSCREEN, SHE'S BIGGER.
Peter: WELL, MARGARET, YOU KNOW WHAT? IT'S BEEN FUN SPENDING TIME WITH YOU AT
THE BOOK EXPO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
Margaret: THANK YOU, PETER. AND YOUR BOOK IS ALMOST FINISHED.
[ Caption: Kim Clarke Champniss ]
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Kim: WELL, FROM NEW TECHNOLOGY TO OLD TECHNOLOGY, HOW DO YOU BREATH LIFE
INTO THE OLD FORM OF POETRY. WELL, KIDS CAN PRESS, I THINK, HAVE ACCOMPLISHED
IT. THEY'VE TAKEN CLASSIC POEMS AND THEN COMMISSIONED ILLUSTRATORS TO ADD A
VISUAL DIMENSION. THE LATEST IN THE SERIES IS THE RAVEN, EDGAR ALLAN POE'S POEM.
THE ILLUSTRATOR: RYAN PRICE. I TRAVELED OUT TO GUELPH TO MEET RYAN.
(Jazzy hip hop music)
WHAT WAS YOUR KIND OF INSPIRATION FOR YOUR VISIONS? YOU READ THE POEM AND
THEN SORT OF LET IT PERCOLATE IN YOUR BRAIN?
Ryan: YEAH, I LET IT PERCOLATE FOR QUITE A LONG TIME. THERE WAS A FEW WORDS
THAT JUST SORT OF STOOD OUT FOR ME, THAT SHAPED THE POEM. CERTAIN THINGS LIKE,
UH, "DARKNESS THERE, AND NOTHING MORE," WAS ONE OF THE LINES THAT REALLY JUST
JUMPED OUT.
(Ominous jazzy music)
Kim: NOW, YOU ALSO ADD ANOTHER DIMENSION TO THE POEM ITSELF. IT'S EQUIVALENT
TO ALMOST, LIKE, A MUSIC VIDEO. YOU HEAR THE SONG, BUT THEN YOU SEE THE VIDEO.
Ryan: YEAH.
Kim: NOW WE HEAR THE POEM AND WE SEE THE PICTURES.
Ryan: YEAH, TO ME, THAT'S WHAT ILLUSTRATION SHOULD BE ABOUT. IT SHOULD BE
SOMETHING WHERE YOU'RE BRINGING A NEW ELEMENT TO IT BUT IT'S NOT NECESSARILY
TOO MUCH. I STILL HAVE TO MAKE IT THAT WHEN SOMEONE'S READING THE POEM AND
LOOKING AT THE PICTURES THEY STILL CAN COME UP WITH THEIR OWN INTERPRETATIONS.
Kim: WERE THESE COPPERPLATES?
Ryan: COPPERPLATES.
Kim: SO YOU PUT THE COPPERPLATES HERE, EACH ONE INDIVIDUAL, THEN?
Ryan: EACH ONE'S INDIVIDUAL SO THERE'S 21 PLATES. THE MOST INTENSE PART OF THE
BOOK WAS REALLY WORKING ON THE PLATES. THE ACTUAL SCRATCHING OF THE METAL
TAKES A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF TIME.
Kim: HOW LONG DOES EACH PLATE TAKE?
Ryan: AS A GUESS, I WOULD SORT OF SAY THERE ARE ABOUT 30 HOURS PROBABLY OF
SCRAPING AND-- AFTER THE PLANNING, SO...
Kim: EACH PLATE IS 30 HOURS?
[ Caption: Ryan Price Illustrator, The Raven ]
Ryan: YEAH, IT WAS A MARATHON. THE PLATE IS THE REVERSE OF THE ACTUAL BOOK.
THEY'RE DONE PRETTY MUCH THE EXACT SIZE THAT THEY'RE REPRODUCED. SO YOU CAN
SEE THIS RAVEN, FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE, THE TAIL COMING FROM THIS SIDE, WHEREAS ON
THE ORIGINAL PRINT, IT'S COMING FROM THE OPPOSITE SIDE. SO THERE'S A FEW
DIFFERENT TOOLS THAT YOU USE FOR THIS MEDIUM. AND IT'S BASICALLY YOU HAVE-- IT'S
LIKE ANY OTHER DRAW-- IT'S A LOT LIKE DRAWING MORE THAN PAINTING, FOR EXAMPLE.
YOU'RE WORKING WITH LINES AND SHADING.
(Jazzy techno music)
IT'S NOT A VERY GOOD FACE. (Laughs) THIS IS CALLED MEZZOTINT IN PARTICULAR AND IT'S,
UH, NO ONE-- NOT THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE INSANE ENOUGH TO DO IT BECAUSE YOU HAVE
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HOURS AND HOURS OF WORK. I DON'T, DEFINITELY DON'T DISCOUNT THE COMPUTERS AS
A TOOL, BUT I DO LIKE BRINGING IN-- THERE'S CERTAIN ELEMENTS OF THIS THAT YOU'LL
NEVER BE ABLE TO GET WITH A COMPUTER.
Kim: YES.
Ryan: AND YOU CAN COMBINE THEM WITH A COMPUTER BY SCANNING IT AND WHATNOT.
BUT IT'S DEFINITELY, THERE'S DEFINITELY GREAT ELEMENTS ABOUT IT THAT ARE JUST
UNACHIEVABLE OTHERWISE.
(Jazzy hip hop music)
♪
♪
Kim: INSTANT ART ON THE WORD THIS WEEK COURTESY OF RYAN PRICE. THANKS, RYAN.
Ryan: THANKS.
[ CREDITS ]
(Theme plays: Funky techno music)
♪
♪
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(Closed captions created by Bravo!)
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