What kind of traction have you gotten with the Ostroy Report?
Now, with my stuff appearing almost daily on Huffington Post, the audience is much greater and my voice is starting to be heard. My personal little claim to fame? Being quoted earlier this year in the NY Times' front page lead story on Obama's derailed effort to appoint Tom Daschle Secretary of Health and Human Services. Damn-near choked on my morning bagel when I saw that.....
What a great feeling! But back to spineless Democrats. What's your take on health care legislation and the whole health care debate?
Spineless Democrats? Is there any other kind?! Oh yeah, Rahm Emmanuel. There's one who's not. And FDR, but he's dead. The Kennedys too. Jeez, we really need some fully-spined living Democrats, don't we? Here's the thing about heath-care reform that I don't get: how is that over 65% of Americans, according to a recent CBS/NY Times poll, want reform and a public option, but Democrats--who own the White House, the Senate and the House--can't seem to get it through? And why is it that the very people who this bill is designed to greatly help are the primary group behind the opposition? It's because Republicans do a very good job of creating smokescreens and spreading misinformation and lies. "Death Panels" is a perfect example of how the GOP succeeds in brainwashing the little guy against his own self-interest.
Let's not forget the power of those health care industry lobbying dollars - in the millions to every member of Congress, including all those Democrats who are avoiding listening to their constituents. There is at least o ne ray of sunshine - Florida Rep. Grayson who caused a stir recently when he said that Republicans' health care policy is "don't get sick" or if you do, "die quietly." Maybe because he's only a first-termer, he hasn't been bought off yet.[ Here he put up a great fight on CNN's The Situation Room, where they tried to get him to apologize or back down.]
Let's segue to the Adrienne Shelly Foundation. Can you tell our readers a bit about it?
Thank you for asking. The Foundation was established in December 2006 just one month after my late wife, the actor/writer/director Adrienne Shelly ("Waitress") was murdered. I had been asked by so many people to what charity they could donate money in her honor. After a few weeks, when I was able to have a few moments where I could think somewhat clearly, I wanted people to remember her for what she stood for and for the passion she had has a female artist.
I had not know about any existing filmmaking organizations, so I decided to start one of my own. Our mission is simple: to support women filmmakers. I'm proud to say we've since awarded 19 grants, scholarships, finishing funds and living stipends to very talented women, one of whom won an Academy Award in 2008 for the film we helped fund. We partner with some of the most prestigious academic and filmmaking institutions in the country: Columbia University, NYU Tisch School of the Arts, Sundance Institute, Tribeca Film Institute, AFI, IFP, Women in Film and the Nantucket Film Festival.
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