Am I The Only One Worried That Blogging About Mine And Other People's Business Will Come Back To Haunt Me?

Before the word blogging was invented (it's kind of funny to think of words being invented but they are--every year), I published by email a regular little column for my friends and family that I dubbed "L.A. Diaries."

They were basically short essays, thoughts and stories about my experiences as a young fresh earnest screenwriter embarking on my career in Los Angeles.These days I'm still earnest, though perhaps not as fresh (or young!) as I once was (hopefully more knowledgeable and experienced though), and the blogsite has replaced the en masse emailing.

Though I love the technological benefits blogging gives me, I've lost something in the transition. Because of the public, aye, world-wide access posting anything on the web provides, I have found myself becoming very conscientious about mentioning particular names of people I interact with. I speak namely of the stars, those people who generate fifty-zillion Internet pages when they are googled (that's a recently invented verb).

It's not that I have anything damaging to say about any of these people (for the record, my relationships with all of them are good and those I really know are GREAT people), it's just that in a business whose daily decisions are so precariously perched on the pinnacle of public opinion that they can be swayed by a mere positive or negative breeze, I don't want to be the guy who's blowing the wrong winds. Are thousands of people reading my blog? Heck no. But it only takes one:

"Ya know this writer named Avery has told the world that he's frustrated at how slow things are moving with you."

So in trying to decide whether or not to write about this or that, I ultimately end up not writing at all. That's got to change.In fact, my whole approach to writing professionally needs to be fixed. What that entails will be the subject of my next post--unless, of course, I have a very important story meeting with Tom Hanks or Steven Spielberg to tell you about first.

I could only wish.

Avery O. Williams

THE END OF THE WRITERS STRIKE: ARE WE THERE YET?

WILL CREATE FOR FOOD

BET held what they termed as a "job fair" last month in Beverly Hills. I went, with shoes shined and resumes in hand. I sat in front of a rep from New York named Wayne Brooks who looked like a football player. He seemed like a nice guy as we quickly exchanged pleasantries.

He read my resumes while I talked about myself as a writer waiting for this Writer's Guild Strike to end. "Well, we definitely need strong writers," Wayne said, "And from the looks of things you certainly have the experience. I'm going to pass your resume on to Robin [a BET exec who works in the LA office] and hopefully she'll give you a call." A few more kind words were swapped, then a handshake and I was gone. I've never gone on a speed date but I would imagine it feels something like that.

Avery's Desperate People story continues...

Barry Bonds Shows How to Make Your Haters, Your Motivators

Barry Bonds slammed a home run yesterday to make him the all time leading home run hitter, but many say this record comes with a "raised eyebrow."

The road to number 756 has been anything but smooth for Bonds as he has been dogged with rumors of steroid use. Sports commentator Bob Costas, a vocal critic, says “Just look at the graph. In his late 30's and early 40's it is evident that Bonds used performance enhancing drugs. This was his steroid era.”

But on the other side of the issue, Barry Bonds has strong supporters. Number one amongst them is the previous home run champ, Hank Aaron, who offered Bonds his congratulations: “You’re the king” he said in a video taped message.

Part of the reason the haters dog Bonds is his oftentimes cocky, sometimes to the point of arrogant, attitude toward the media.

He’s not cuddly like Babe Ruth or as smooth as Hank, but no one can deny the man can hit a baseball.

Whether he’s on steroids or not, it takes strength, determination, skill, timing and a dozen other factors to knock the skin off the ball the way he does.

And thus, he is the home run king. Congratulations my man.

HEAVY D WEIGHS IN

Legendary Rapper and Actor Enters The World of Blogging (and he has something to say!)
"Honestly, I had heard of blogging but until my friend and writing partner, Avery O Williams, showed me what it was all about and suggested this as a new way for me to reach my fans, I was really clueless about it. Now I get it..." Read more, go here.

Malcolm-Jamal Warner: Theo's Grown Folks Show

In the 80's we watched Malcolm-Jamal Warner play the adolescent Theo Huxtable.

Now Theo is all grown up and no where is that more evident than in his one-man spoken-word jazz show called "Love and Other Social Issues" which is running through July 8 at the Assistance League Theatre in Los Angeles.

(pictured: Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Denise Dowse, Avery O Williams)

Warner, now 36, delivers a gritty, soulful show that is divided into three categories: thoughts and images, women and transitions.

His spoken-word virtuosity speaks to a number of sexual and social obsessions that have plagued and/or enraptured him. He also skewers "bling"obsessed hip-hop stars as he rails against the Sprite inspired phrase: "Image is Nothing" because for Warner, image is EVERYTHING, which he underscores by a series of thought provoking (and sometimes poignant) photos created by image designer Avery O Williams which are displayed behind him while he rhymes.

Then he shifts into confessional poetry as he rhymes about his not-quite-so-confident history with women, then later his love and pride of black women."Love and Other Social Issues" is adroitly directed by Denise Dowse (a powerful actress in her own right) whose inventive blocking and lighting is never boring or static.

The show is produced by Pamela Warner who has surrounded her star actor/performer with all the elements necessary, like a live jazz band, to create a well-woven and rewarding 90-minute wordfest. But at it's center is Warner, and he holds it well. The musician/actor delivers his poetry with unabashed energy, vigor and stark honesty.

Theo has truly grown up in such way that dad, er, Bill would undoubtedly be very proud of. Even Olivia, aka Raven-Simone has come a long way. Look at her all grown-up.

Now Denise, aka Lisa Bonet, is another story. You won't believe the latest drama on her!

Get it here.