John Ridley Writes Red Tails History

Posted on January 20, 2012 | Leave a comment

I love the movies!  My favorite show, the Academy Awards, airs just once a year and will be on in a few weeks.  What typically gets lost among best movie and best actress are the screenwriting awards for original and adapted screenplays. In my opinion, a good screenplay is in essence what makes a movie…well, a good movie.  And writing an original screenplay is rather challenging as it’s done just for the big screen.  Some of my favorite movies in the past few years with winners in this category are Crash, Juno, Little Miss Sunshine, and The Hurt Locker.  Just plain ol’ good story telling.

So tonight (or this afternoon if it keeps on snowing) I’m going to the opening of Red Tails.  I’m not typically a fan of movies based on war or history.  I like drama.  I’m really going to “hear the story” of the Tuskegee Airmen; our nation’s first African-American aerial combat unit; told by writer John Ridley. He was charged with pouring through tons of old flight records and logs and historically black newspapers to craft this story.

I think you have to be a pretty good writer and story-teller to tell the unwritten and untold story…directly for the big screen.  John Ridley might not be able to right history, but George Lucas has given him an opportunity to write it.  So I’m going to see it! WE FIGHT! WE FIGHT! WE FIGHT!

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Posted in My Thoughts

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Who will covet your handwritten notes?

Posted on January 10, 2012 | 3 Comments

I’ve been thinking about thank you notes since just before Thanksgiving.  Not to sell in TT Patton, but those I have received.  I’ve thought about all notes for that matter as I have boxes of letters and cards that I’ve received at the shop over the years. Occasionally, I’ll go thru them just to remind myself of the thoughtful people who took the time to write me a note.  So what to do with them?   And what to do with the large collection I have at home?

When I was an Engineering student at Boston University (BU), most of my work was done in the engineering labs.  Only the liberal arts students went to the real libraries.  But I recall a time during finals when I searched for a quiet place, away from all those I knew, to cram as much as I could.  After a quick distraction (or maybe it was a short nap), I found myself in the midst of a collection of writings by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.   After displaying many of the thank you cards I’ve received in my shop window, it’s only now, just days before the celebration of his birthday, that I wonder why Dr. King selected BU for his collection.  Here’s what I found…

September 11, 1964

Questions from the Press (paraphrased): Why did you select Boston University (BU) to be the depository of your personal letters and handwritten manuscripts.
Response from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (paraphrased): 1.)  BU is my Alma mater. 2.) BU has meant so much to me in terms of the formulation of my thinking and the ideas that have guided my life. 3. ) BU was desirous enough to have the collection, could give it the right kind of attention and would be responsible enough to make the collection meaningful for the future.

Well, I wonder if BU would be so desirous of my collection of notes?  How about yours?  Who will covet your handwritten notes?  I think I better start building my own room…or get more boxes…

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Posted in Greeting Cards, My Thoughts

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USPS Bail Out

Posted on December 16, 2011 | 1 Comment

This week, collectively our clients picked up over 1200 holiday cards and over 30 boxes of personal stationery to give as gifts.  So now will you stop asking…”do people still write?”  Here at TT Patton we are doing our share to “bail out” the USPS.  Why?  Because not only do we need this American institution, but also they’re our clients.

As I rushed to finish addressing a thank you note and searched for the appropriate postage stamp, my mail carrier was kind enough to wait an extra minute.  And as you can see he found something in the shop that he enjoys.  Doesn’t he look like a natural using that Lamy Calligraphy pen?

Remember, the next time you think about writing someone a note, you could be saving a job.  And he or she could be a TT Patton client, or even your client.

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Posted in My Thoughts, Pens

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