William Friedkin - From Poverty to Hollywood Acclaim

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Born to a low-income family in an impoverished area of Chicago, William Friedkin went on to become one of the star directors of 1970s American cinema. After graduating from high school, he began working in the mailroom of the local WGN TV station. It was during this time that he first saw Citizen Kane, the cinematic masterpiece that spurred his directorial ambitions. 

Early Life

Friedkin moved into live television directing and documentary filmmaking and led the development of more than 2,000 television programs throughout the 1950s, first garnering acclaim for his 1962 documentary, The People vs. Paul Crump. The film earned numerous festival accolades and ultimately resulted in the reversal of Paul Crump’s death sentence. This success caught the attention of David L. Wolper, a producer, who offered Friedkin his first Hollywood job. 

Success

After heading west, Friedkin struggled to find his footing with his first fiction films, but he finally found success by returning to his roots as a documentarian. In 1971, he released his adaptation of the best-selling true crime novel The French Connection, an action thriller that earned critical acclaim and had a significant impact on the style of future cop movies. The French Connection received eight Academy Award nominations and took home five Oscars, including a Best Director trophy for Friedkin, leading author William Peter Blatty to recruit Friedkin to direct the adaptation of his popular supernatural thriller, The Exorcist. After overcoming obstacles related to the film’s budget and schedule, Friedkin released The Exorcist in 1973, drawing 10 Oscar nominations, thrilling audiences across the country, and solidifying his esteemed position in the history of American cinema.

Pug Nation LA to Host Fourth Annual Strut Your Mutt Walk and 5K

Pug Nation Rescue of Los Angeles rescues abandoned, abused, and otherwise displaced pugs throughout LA, offering sanctuary and striving to match each dog with a loving home. Each month, the organization holds multiple adoption fairs throughout the Los Angeles metropolitan area. It also hosts annual events such as Strut Your Mutt, a fundraising dog walk that benefits local shelters.

In 2014, Strut Your Mutt drew approximately 2,500 human participants and 1,400 canine companions, raising nearly $625,000 for LA’s homeless animals. On Saturday, October 10, 2015, Pug Nation LA will aim to top last year’s attendance with its fourth annual Strut Your Mutt walk at Exposition Park. In addition to a leisurely stroll through the park, which includes landmarks such as the California Science Center and the Los Angeles Coliseum, this year’s event will feature a 5K run, in which people can participate with or without their four-legged friends. Attendees can begin registering as early as 7 am, and both the walk and 5K run will kick off at 9 am.

Following the walk and run, participants will have the chance to enjoy a dog-themed festival featuring a variety of attractions. Dog owners and their companions can take part in a number of pet-friendly activities, compete in pet contests, have their photos taken, and enjoy delicious refreshments.                            

Sidney Lumet - Delving into Human Conscience

Sidney Lumet was an important figure in American cinema who took a unique approach to filmmaking, seeking not only to entertain audiences but also to encourage them to examine their own consciences. Many of his films, such as 12 Angry Men, Dog Day Afternoon, Serpico, and Network, deal with issues of conscience and morality and have inspired countless audiences to consider their themes. In fact, US Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor has credited 12 Angry Men, which revolves around a single jury member’s efforts to convince his fellow jurors of a defendant’s innocence, as a significant influence on her career in law.

Released in 1957, 12 Angry Men was Lumet’s first motion picture, but the acclaimed director entered the entertainment industry much earlier. Born in Philadelphia in 1924 to an actor father and dancer mother, he appeared in several Broadway and off-Broadway productions throughout his childhood and adolescence, and his love for New York shone through in the settings of many of his films.

Lumet transitioned from a career in television directing to work on 12 Angry Men, which garnered three Academy Award nominations and the Berlin Film Festival’s Golden Bear. He went on to direct such widely renowned films as Network, a satire of the American media that earned 10 Academy Award nominations and secured four wins, and Dog Day Afternoon, a complex crime drama featuring Al Pacino in a groundbreaking role.

Throughout his extensive career, Sidney Lumet created over 40 films, directed such noteworthy actors as Sean Connery, Marlon Brando, and Katharine Hepburn, and earned more than 40 Academy Award nominations. Despite this, Lumet did not receive an Oscar until 2005, when he received an honorary Academy Award. He died in 2011 at his Manhattan home, leaving a truly impressive cinematic legacy to be enjoyed by audiences for decades to come.                          

President Obama Establishes Three New National Monuments in Western US

On Friday, July 10, President Obama announced that he would set aside over 1 million acres for preservation in California, Texas, and Nevada to create three new national monuments. While signing the official designation, he referred to America’s national parks and monuments as one of the nation’s “great legacies,” noting that they not only preserve the country’s beauty but also represent its rich history.

The newest national monuments include Northern California’s Berryessa Snow Mountain, a 331,000-acre region comprising Native American cultural sites and numerous diverse ecosystems. In Texas, the Waco Mammoth National Monument boasts preserved remains of a variety of Pleistocene epoch animals, such as saber-toothed cats and giant tortoises. However, the aptly named region is best known for the fossils of 65,000-year-old Columbian mammoths. The third new preserved region, the Basin and Range National Monument, spans 704,000 acres in Nevada. In addition to containing prehistoric rock art and petroglyphs dating back 4,000 years, Basin and Range is the site of City, an abstract sculpture by Michael Heizer that serves as an impressive example of American land-art.

With these three additions, President Obama has established a total of 19 national monuments since taking office, highlighting the historical, cultural, and ecological significance of over 260 million acres of public land.

Mission and History of the Tailwaggers Foundation

From its headquarters in Los Angeles, California, The Tailwaggers Foundation works to provide lifesaving veterinary care for animals in need. The nonprofit group offers financial support to qualified animal rescue organizations, which often spend as much as 50 percent of their funding on medical treatment. With The foundation’s assistance, these groups can focus their efforts on finding loving, permanent homes for the animals in their care.

Both the name and mission of The Tailwaggers Foundation honor The Tailwaggers Club, a British charity founded in 1928. Serving as both a pet registry and an animal welfare advocate, the organization grew to serve nearly one million canine members by the end of its first year. Actress Bette Davis helped to bring The Tailwaggers Club into the American public eye through her work as president of its Southern California branch. From 1929 on, she raised awareness for animal welfare, hosting fundraising events that garnered the support of such prominent figures as Walt Disney and Howard Hughes. Her efforts even led to press coverage from publications including LIFE magazine.

The charity remained active until 1960, when it was acquired by Spillers Pet Food, which created the Tailwaggers Club Trust to administer the nonprofit’s assets. Inspired by the “old Hollywood” camaraderie and unified community service of The Tailwaggers Club, The Tailwaggers Foundation continues to champion the cause of animal welfare in the 21st century.                            

2nd Annual Waggy Awards Shine a Spotlight on Animal Welfare Advocates

On the evening of Sunday, February 8, 2015, The Tailwaggers Foundation hosted its 2nd Annual Waggy Awards in Hollywood, California. The organization, which provides funding to nonprofit animal rescues to facilitate crucial veterinary care, welcomed supporters, animal lovers, and special celebrity guests to the Taglyan Complex for an elegant evening highlighting leaders in animal advocacy. The Waggy Awards not only serve as a yearly awareness and fundraising event for The Tailwaggers Foundation, but they also present an opportunity for the nonprofit to honor individuals who fight for animal welfare around the world.

The event offered attendees a chance to mingle with four-legged guests, beginning at 5 p.m. with a cocktail reception and animal rescue meet and greet. At 7 p.m., The Tailwaggers Foundation began its awards program, presenting its annual Waggy Award to California Congressman Adam B. Schiff for his tireless advocacy in the legislative sphere. Congressman Schiff has delivered impassioned statements on the House floor in favor of the ethical treatment of marine mammals, and he spearheaded an amendment to the FY15 Agriculture Appropriations bills that bolstered regulations regarding captive cetaceans. The foundation also honored Oscar-nominated actress Linda Blair, who strives to prevent animal abuse and neglect via the public education and animal rescue initiatives of the Linda Blair World Heart Foundation.

Following the hour-long awards ceremony, guests concluded the night with an after-party featuring a live DJ. During the party, The Tailwaggers Foundation announced the winners of its silent auction, which benefited the organization’s lifesaving efforts.

Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation to Host Fundraiser Run on September 13

On Sunday, September 13, the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) will partner with New Balance to host its 2015 5K & 10K Run and Kids Fun Run. Sponsored by the Honda Dealers of Southern California, the event will benefit the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, which seeks to enrich the community through initiatives in sports and recreation, education and literacy, and health and wellness.

The day will kick off with the 10K run at 7:30 a.m., followed by the 5K race at 9:00 and the Kids Fun Run at 10:30. The races will take runners through Downtown Los Angeles, including a scenic tour of Elysian Park, and will conclude with a cool-down lap around the Dodger Stadium warning track.

Runners will have the opportunity to meet a number of legendary Dodgers on race day, and participants can register to fundraise in support of the LADF. By bringing in at least $100 in support from friends and family members, runners become eligible for prizes including an LADF shirt and bag, an autographed baseball and jersey, and the chance to throw out a ceremonial first pitch.

Registration will remain open until LADF reaches a cap of 5,000 5K runners, 1,000 10K runners, and 500 Kids Fun Run participants. Additionally, the first 2,000 5K and 10K registrants will receive a voucher for a free Dodgers ticket.