Roger Ebert

It is always great to receive the love and support of friends and fans alike. And sometimes a person of prominence takes an interest in promoting your talent and will enrich your life just by their say so. That is my great fortune.
Roger Ebert the great film critic, writer, screen writer, artist (Yeah, he can draw too!) and intellect – who also happens to be funny as hell – is one such person in my life.

I want to talk about Roger Ebert.

I assume you all have come across this great American at some point in your life through his “At the Movies” shows with long time friend and co host Gene Siskel. We all know about his personal health struggles which he so bravely disclosed to the world recently. But unless you are a Eberthead (my term) you may not know what he’s been up to lately.

Roger has taken on the World Wide Web. I have watched Roger Ebert create a brand via the Internet. He has taken hold of the Internet and worked it!! I am taking lessons from him every day because he is relentless – tireless it seems. He is constantly writing and expanding his own fan base at super speed. I check into his twitter page as much as I do any news source for all kinds of information: news, art, comedy and of course film. He has over 120,000 followers on Twitter. He writes a personal blog and each post has a few hundred comments from around the world. And of course there is his love of film which as you know is also one of my great loves. He writes reviews that really get to the heart of what the movie is about. And he does not suffer fools gladly. Have you heard of his “Your Movie Sucks!” books?

Me & Woodstock director Michael Waleigh @Ebertfest 2009

And then there’s Ebertfest. If you’ve been following my blog then you know about Ebertfest. (see Posts in APRIL 2009) Formally known as Roger Ebert’s Overlooked Filmfest, this pet project is a five day film festival held in Roger’s hometown of Champaign- Urbana, IL. Ebertfest screens ten or more of Roger’s favorite films. Selections have been old favorites, new movies, music docs (saw Woodstock last year), indie and foreign, animation, Bollywood as well as films that may have had no distribution at all. There is always one silent film that features the original score performed by the The Alloy Orchestra. It’s accessible and casual and nothing beats watching a movie with real movie lovers. Roger and Chaz attend every screening in the back of the theater. I went alone last year and had a ball!!!

Now he says that he and Chaz are developing a new film review television show that will encompass all of the ways in which we – the viewing public – access film, not just at the theater but via On Demand, Netflix and of course the Internet. I think the timing is perfect for such a show. I think we could all use some programming that has this great mind behind it. Roger has lived life. He has lived through alcoholism, Cancer, the sixties, London, Newspapers, real life and the movies. He has met just about every kind of human you can imagine and really seems to still be learning. He has strong Liberal political opinions and he expresses them. He is always traveling, going to film festivals, world culture conferences and who knows what else. He’s a bright eyed, bushy tailed sage. Such a love of life should be celebrated and viewed as an example of how to achieve and live life whenever possible. I think he’s mentioned a possible memoir…

Yeah, you could call me a fan.

Me & Roger Ebertfest 2005 I was singing “If I Can’t Sell It” I’m Gonna sit down on it, tho’ Roger sat down on me!!

And when someone so brilliant says “You are great!” there’s no amount of self esteem issues or insecurities that can argue with that. He is always out there dropping me a bone and it elevates me so much. I am humbled by his admiration for my talent. Roger has encouraged me to write and to keep at it. I can not thank him enough. I am not the only one. I know there are countless actors, directors, writers and film critics out there as well who all say the same thing. I know we can’t say enough about this brilliant, generous and genuinely kind-hearted man. I can barely send an email to him that isn’t gushing with gratitude and affection. And don’t get me started about the great love he and his wife Chaz share. Talk about a partnership!! Talk about a love story!!

Roger & Chaz – partners for life.

I just wanted to share this with you all. He sent a Tweet out today about me and the Shivers and included a link to our video. And it hit me like a shot of adrenaline:

Jay, David, Jimmy, Craig: Enough of these scrawny losers in T-shirts! Book a real woman. Lynne Jordan and the Shivers. http://j.mp/aKziBA
Check him out on the web. Read his journal and movie reviews.
Roger Ebert on the web

Follow him on Twitter. Roger Ebert on Twitter You will be smarter for it!
Roger Ebert on Twitter

and follow me too!! Lynne on Twitter

Thank you Roger. You are an American treasure and my friend.

P.S. Roger is humble. He would hate this mushy, praise filled post!!! Ha!! Too bad!!