rebroadcast "Pueblo Revolt" drama ASAP

You are reading http://rriverstoneradio.blogspot.com/

There's a trememdous local interest in Don Onate, since PBS broadcast
"The Last Warrior," about the world's largest equestrian statue,
erected in El Paso, TX. The "In Focus" show on KNME last night was a
town forum on the Acoma, the Pueblo Revolt and issues of class, race,
history, art and culture.

Onate was a bona fide criminal, as documented by the SPANISH,
themselves. Why is such a HUGE statue "representing" that part of New
Mexican history, of which most of our citizens are unaware?

We produced the radio theater drama, "This Miserable Kingdom," a
fictionalized account of the Pueblo Revolt. It was followed by a 1
hour panel discussion with historians who've studied the largest
Native rebellion in the contiguous United States. The acting was
wonderful; the direction and production were of the highest calibre.
The feedback was extremely supportive

It was a live, national broadcast (aired on AIROS stations), with
foley and prerecorded sound effects, with a rather large, professional
and multicultural cast, including children. It was rehearsed for WEEKS
before air.

The ONLY reason this drama was hustled into a back corner was because
a tiny, bur STRIDENT group of "Hispanics" decided the Pueblo Revolt
was the equivelent of 911 and complained to high heavens about it: the
best press the radio drama could have had. These people are officially
represented by people who tell Native people to "just get over it."

They complained SO loudly that the Pueblo Cultural Center's director
backed out of an agreement to let us broadcast from there! It's a
drama about their own history: fully, historically researched for
accuracy, backed by an academic discussion that verified every aspect!
We made the papers.

We need to rebroadcast "This Miserable Kingdom" IMMEDIATELY! Public
interest in this seldom-taught and extremely noteable part of New
Mexican history has revived. KUNM BEGAN this discussion wth "This
Miserable Kingdom!"

no respect

You are reading http://rriverstoneradio.blogspot.com/

PLEASE, take flame wars off list!

Take it to General Meeting, Radio Board, Board of Regents, Board of
Bored White Guys, Whatever!

NOBODY who volunteers or is paid at KUNM is ever fully appreciated,
respected or thanked. Some aren't even acknowledged as humans! Morale
sucks and many seem to think their own needs outweigh the needs for
COMMUNITY radio.

Everybody feels rectally probed, from Richard Towne to the maintanance staff.

Nobody has privacy or a place to play, exercise or let off steam. It's
a radio station, not a national park.

Hell, I was told I could no longer use the (pre-rennovation) VOLUNTEER
ROOM computer to research news stories because a staff member didn't
like having to see me when she came in for a cup of coffee! There
weren't enough computers in the newsroom, and it was too chaotic
(under a previous news "director") for me to concentrate. I was left
with no place to produce news for the news dept.!

Nobody has chairs, access to the copier, staplers, or anything else
they need without unlocking fifty million locks, wandering from office
to office to beg or filing requests to UNM in gazilliplicate. The only
thing efficient about a university radio station, apparantly, is we
always have toilet paper. I'm not even sure about THAT!

The station's off limits to ALL of us, because a few sociopathic thugs
steal and break everything that isn't locked down.

Most kids -- and adults -- on the planet are working every morning for
subsistance wages or as slave labor. Nobody ever thanks them. They
don't have electricity to plug in a tv. This includes a LOT of people
in New Mexico.

See quote in my signature, below.

--
Rogi Riverstone
http://rriverstone.com
PWD Powered Radio Blog
http://pwdradio.blogspot.com/

"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never
stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and
neither do we."
-- President George W. Bush, August 5, 2004.

"feedback?"

You are reading http://rriverstoneradio.blogspot.com/

I've never heard of a volunteer producer at the station "suggesting" content to another producer. Perhaps I could suggest that the programming for youth do a production on how neglegent and indulgent parents of children with behavioral disabilities, who accuse the general community of "discrimination" when their children assault people and destroy property while the parents ignore it,  are setting their kids up to be social rejects or criminals. But I don't think that idea would go over very well. I think I just got "complimented" on,  and "congratulated" for, a piece someone didn't even hear!

K said:

Thanks for such a thoughtful discussion about TBI and its effects.

Me: This was not a discussion of TBI, although some of the participants acquired Traumatic Brain Injury. As I began my research, the Brain Injury community quickly educated me to the fact that those who have NOT been labeled "TBI" get ignored and receive even worse care & treatment by the medical industry.

Personally, I can't see how the medical industry can NOT think ALL forms of brain injury are "traumatic."

K: As you know, my daughter was born with cerebral palsy and we've experienced many of the symptoms of TBI that your guests describe.

Me: No, I didn't know; nobody told me. My guests and I described experiences with brain injuries. In fact, in the intro, I tell the listeners that this is "an experience of brain injury." I could not, in the limited time I had available, address all forms of brain injury. Nor could I secure interview subjects with every label of diagnosis. A lot of brain injuries were not, specifically, listed; the list could have consumed the entire hour.

K: It's a little different to be born with brain injury, in that you
don't get plugged into "rehab" instantly, but have to seek it out on
your own.

Me: I've never "instantly" received rehab; in fact, I've NEVER received rehab, because I'm not affluent enough to afford adequate insurance which would cover diagnostic testing, beyond speculative musings of psychotherapists (I stated this in the intro). I, therefore, as is true of most people with BI, still don't have an "official" diagnosis of BI (as I stated in the intro), which is the primary reason WHY I'm not affluent enough to afford adequate insurance.

Glen Ford, founder of the now-defunct Brain Injury Clubhouse (which could not secure adequate funding, due to general community's arrogance, lack of interest, under education and nonexistant empathy) and board member of BIANM didn't, as he said in the piece, receive treatment for -- or acknowledgement of -- his brain injury for over three years. HE was a very affluent, government engineer, and the feds are STILL forcing him to fight his case, 12 years later, as he said in the piece. I also stated in the piece that apx. 85% of people with brain injuries never receive accurate diagnosis or treatment. Most people with BI have to seek therapies on their own.

I think, given limitations of time, resources, voluntary and (at my insistance, as "professionals" in the medical industry frequently have a far different, and often harmful, agenda on the subject of brain injury) nonprofessional interview subjects, I did a pretty thorough job. Ralph Shields, board member of BIA, said he thought it was the best presentation he'd seen in 25 years of advocacy for the Brain Injury community, and wants to assist me in broadcasting it nationally. That's got to count for something.

K: How about a show on autism and adults in New Mexico - possibly the most under-served of all adult developmental disabilities?

Me: You can apply for an Independent Producer's grant, if you'd like to pursue this subject. Otherwise, I could use assistance with securing the funds necessary so that I could produce it, as I'm too low income to produce huge radio documentaries for free. With a KUNM IndyProd grant, I figure my actual wages for each production at between $3-10/hour. Last I heard, KUNM only gives out 2 IndyProd grants per producer, per year. I have another project in mind this year.

"Brainstorm" feedback

You are reading http://rriverstoneradio.blogspot.com/

Rogi's radio documentary, "Brainstorm," aired on KUNMfm yesterday. To read some email feedback, please go to Rogi's Radio blog http://rriverstoneradio.blogspot.com/.

from Ralph Shields

You are reading http://rriverstoneradio.blogspot.com/

Dear All,

I don't usually "toot my own horn" but I and several others will be part of a Public Radio program about Brain Injury that was produced by Rogi Riverstone (also a person living with BI) locally at KUNM fm (see below). For those of you who do not have access to the Albuquerque channel you may access it via Internet on their web site.

The program has already been accepted other stations so that it will most likely be aired nationally.

If anyone in the Albuquerque Metro area is interested in joining Rogi in a disability network program - advocacy group, please contact her directly... it sounds like a great way to get our words out to the public and participate with others.

Glenn

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

-- "Rogi Riverstone"

"Brainstorm" is an experience of brain injury, produced by Rogi

Riverstone of People with Disabilities Powered Radio

It will be airing on KUNMfm http://kunm.org on Sunday, May 4 at 11am.

Tune in! Different frequencies in different parts of New Mexico, and

you can listen on line.

Dear Glenn and Rogi,

I thank you and wish you both great success with your broadcast --- and thank you for the "heads up!"
Have been trying to enlarge your listener base, but ran into a snag with AOL.
You might want to be aware that the link for Rogi's blog (the domain --- not your particular blog) is apparently on an AOL block list.
I sent this notice to a number of contacts around the country last night, and could not get it to go through to any AOL or Compuserve address --- thought they might be blocking my (hotmail) address, but had same result trying to send via gmail --- so called the AOL postmaster this morning and they had me forward the message to them so they could check the included URLS.
The link to your blog killed it --- thought you should know.
Best regards ~ RWS
Ralph William Shields


The info re: the blog is very discouraging. However, if any of you &
your friends would like to be added to the People With Disabilities
Radio email list, just let me know. Our next meeting will be Tues, May
6 at 4 pm in the Conerence Room at KUNM.

Call 277-4516 for more info.

http://pwdradio.blogspot.com/

Wow !!!
Rogi, thank you so very much. Glenn, thank you so much --- for your intimate and intelligent sharing on the broadcast, for your commitment to our community, and for alerting me about the broadcast. Thanks to Ken, for introducing me to Glenn.
To each individual who spoke and shared their stories, and to everyone involved in producing the show, thank you.
I just left a rambling message at KUNM to thank you and tell you that your program today was perhaps the best presentation about what it is like to be a person learning to live with a brain injury that this one has heard in his twenty-plus years as a member of the "club" --- and I've seen, heard, facilitated and/or participated in many --- from local support groups to national conferences --- through nearly twenty years involved with BIANYS, a six-year stint awhile back as a member of the BIA of America board of directors, and through considerable connections with major academic researchers and other BI professionals, and so much more.
Again, wow.
Now, I thank you, Rogi, for your invitation and I'd love to join you to discuss this at your May 6 meeting --- but am afraid the trip from here (Albany, NY) might be a bit much.
I do, as suggested in my rambling message, hope we might discuss possibilities for sharing your broadcast with a larger audience.
Do you have any plans in regard to this? Hope we can connect to consider possibilities, and how I might help you with this.
All for now. Thank you again. Wow!

Best regards ~ RWS
Ralph William Shields

PS --- I did forward the notice about the show to a couple hundred people across the country last night (and the AOL folks this a.m.) --- hope some of them got it in time to tune in --- will let you know about any feedback I might receive.

Paul Ingles, to KUNM volunteers' "Ideas List"

You are reading http://rriverstoneradio.blogspot.com/

I'd like to chime in on this too. I think Rogi's program this morning was a stellar example of what public radio is supposed to do, which is to give voice to those whose voices are ignored.

Giving someone access to the microphone is worthy in itself, but to shape such an engaging, artful and emotional hour of radio listening is another thing. Rogi really took it to that level.

And having done this myself for a longggg time now, I know how much work went into the montage that led off her program. It's not easy to pull off so well. It was a tremendous achievement.

If you missed it, go out of your way to hear it online whenever KUNM posts it. Congrats Rogi! Extremely well done!

Paul

Paul Ingles
Independent Producer

from Glen Ford, peer advocate for people with brain injuries

You are reading http://rriverstoneradio.blogspot.com/

Rogi,

YOU ROCK!!!

Your program was superb.

How can I ever thank you enough!!!

I spent all evening E-mailing out your announcement to over 300 people. I am now getting compliments to the show. I will forward as appropriate!

Bless you

Glenn

P.S. I am still wiping away the tears... and thank you for sharing your story too!

"Brain Storm"

You are reading http://rriverstoneradio.blogspot.com/

Hi, Sarah.

I'm copying this to Rogi Riverstone, Brainstorm's producer. She should be able to forward this to the guest.

Thanks!

Rachel Kaub
KUNM Operations Manager


Dear KUNM,

My husband and I heard a small portion of today's Brain Storm program, and I
wonder if it is possible to get in touch with the woman who had suffered a
brain injury and was interviewed today -- I did not hear her name. She said
she was hoping to learn to play a song on the guitar and be able to play it
within a year.

My husband is Vince Bell http://www.vincebell.com

He has five of his own CDs and his songs have been performed and recorded by
Lyle Lovett, Nanci Griffith, Little Feat among others. He has also been on
KUNM in the past! More important, he is also a TBI survivor, as a result of
a car accident in 1982. He spent a month in a coma and had to relearn how
to walk, talk and play music again. The first song he was able to do was
not his own, but Bob Dylan's I Shall Be Released.

I mention all this only to assure you our reasons for getting in touch are
that he was very touched by her story, and wondered if he might help in any
way.

We look forward to hearing from you, and thank you for the help.

Sincerely,

Sarah Wrightson & Vince Bell
Santa Fe, NM

Sarah,

Thank you for your interest. I'm sending this on to Corey Perea, the
woman who wants guitar lessons.

Keep on her; Corey can remember EVERYTHING from her past, but had
difficulty remembering what she'd ordered for lunch yesterday -- ten
minutes after she'd ordered it (yesterday was, coincidentally, Corey's
birthday, and I took her to lunch.)

Corey's smarter than hell; she just needs gentle reminding.

And please remember: follow up is necessary, even if your husband
decides he can't follow through on the idea. It really hurts to get
one's hopes up and never hear back from the person who made the offer.
I think Corey will feel pretty jazzed to know someone really heard
her, and cared enough to make contact. Just remember, though, "the
road to hell is paved in good intentions." Nothing personal, and I'm
not saying y'all WOULD "flake out" on her, but Corey's had a lot of
disappointments since her brain injury, and I won't reign in my
maternal instincts to protect.

I'm sure she'll be thrilled to hear from y'all! Thank you SO MUCH!

Dear Rogi,

Thanks for this. We will call her tomorrow, Tuesday, and see what she'd
like to do. An easy drive from Santa Fe, as she is on the north end.

Thanks too, for your concern, but I think rather preaching to the choir as
my husband is brain injured. Remembering for ten minutes can be quite a
success in fact. And the decade of betrayals he endured in his first 10
years cannot be recounted. That he understands the world's fears and
inabilities to help in the face of helplessness is as much a part of his
recovery as anything else. It is as much a part of his heroism. His book,
One Man's Music, which deals in great part with that part of his life, will
be published by University of North Texas Press in Spring 09.

He has spoken at various TBI state conferences around the US, as the keynote
speaker, but it is always the break-out sessions with the survivors, which I
help with also, that are the most wonderful and difficult.

Anyway, we'll call on Tuesday and many thanks for all your help with this,
and your concern and care for Corey.

Sarah

"Excellent"

You are reading http://rriverstoneradio.blogspot.com/

What a wonderful program. The opening montage was stunning. Great interviews followed. Thanks so much for bringing voices that are virtually never heard onto the radio.

I hope you'll want to re-shape this slightly for national broadcast. I'd be willing to offer you some guidence on that so when you/KUNM put it up on Public Radio Exchange, it will have its best chance to be picked up by other stations. Briefly - if you're interested - that would mean inserting national brain injury hotline numbers in place of NM's. Some stations - that play NPR newscasts hourly - require a 53 minute version. Although I'm sure editing out 6 more minutes would be excrutiating, it could be worth it to get a station like KUOW in Seattle to pick it up. They only use 53 minute shows. Anyway, we can talk later this week if you have questions/energy for that.

But in any case, again, just a triumph for you on this one! I insist that you/KUNM enter it for an AP Documentary Award next year.

Congrats!

Paul


Paul Ingles
Independent Producer
www.paulingles.com

"Brainstorm" podcasts on KUNM

You are reading http://rriverstoneradio.blogspot.com/

The pieces I've produced: Kicked Out Queers, Native American Vets with PTSD, What's a Disability to Brenda's Girls and Brainstorm ALL involve populations of our community who have little or no discretionary income.

People are telling me they can't afford to buy the podcasts.

Disabled people have to lose everything, before they qualify for Medicaid and, therefore, necessary therapies, technologies, housing, rehabilitation, transportation and even FOOD. Just listen to "Brainstorm" for several examples of relatively-affluent people who were reduced to poverty, in order to receive medical attention.

IF my programs about financially-vulnerable populations are to be posted on KUNM's website, is there a way to waive the fees?

"Brainstorm" documentary about brain injury

You are reading http://rriverstoneradio.blogspot.com/

"Brainstorm" is an experience of brain injury, produced by Rogi Riverstone of People with Disabilities Powered Radio http://pwdradio.blogspot.com/

It will be airing on KUNMfm http://kunm.org on Sunday, May 4 at 11am. Tune in! Different frequencies in different parts of New Mexico, and you can listen online.

focus

You are reading http://rriverstoneradio.blogspot.com/

This is another comment to J's "random musings" blog:

I'm really sorry about your dad. Here's what you need to know about that: If Dad's in foster care, it's healthier for Mom. I know, from personal experience, how draining and physically disabling it is to care for someone's every need. I did it for a living, as a personal care attendant. And I did it for my father. The day he died, although I felt -- temporarily -- guilty for it, I was relieved. I was young, back then, and physically stronger (though not psychologically). If I had to do it today, in my 50's, it would destroy me. Your Mom needs care, too.

You're learning something very important about focus & discipline, in this experience.

I'm going through something TERRIFYING in my personal life. I don't get to even feel safe & respected in my own home. I never know when the situation will again turn hostile and dangerous. There's no peace; there's no economic stability; there's no privacy; there's no dignity. I have been completely betrayed by someone I chose to love, with whom I'd chosen to live my life.

I have to wait until I earn more money, before I can change the circumstances in which I live.

So, I'm working on radio. And I'm working on print journalism.

Things here are SO chaotic, it's difficult for me to sleep through the night. I wake up, startled and paniced, and worry about what will happen next.

I've been very concerned that this will destroy my attempts to improve my situation through my creative work.

I'm brain damaged; I can't hold a regular job. And a few months ago, this person I loved punched me in the head, repeatedly. This person is much larger & stronger than I and has several martial arts blackbelts.

The only way I can work my way out of economic dependence on this person is to work, here, at home, on my computer, to produce radio and writing.

And I WOULDN't be able to produce these, just to earn money. I need to be motivated by more than economic instability. I have to WANT to produce.

I can't let the distractions of: a drunken, hostile landlady; drunken, DANGEROUS neighbors; a narccissistic & volotile house mate keep me from working.

I have to concentrate. And I'm brain damaged & have PTSD. My memory's bad, esp. under stress. I can't control my adrenal glands; my brain chemistry is out-of-balance, so I don't experience well-being like "normal" people. I have to work REALLY HARD for that one.

Creative work is how I feel well-being.

If I let all the crap going on around me sabbotage me, I'm dead.

My work isn't about me. It's about the communities and people on whom I report. I keep myself OUT of these productions and writings, as far as I can.

So, my work is HEALING to other people, and THAT is the biggest blessing in the world to me: I'm useful; I'm helping.

If I allow the toxins around me to poison me, I can't BE helpful in the world.

I'm one of the few and the VERY lucky: I get to do something I REALLY LOVE doing. Being low-income, with no formal degree, I KNOW how scarce THAT is.

It's rare, even among the financially privileged.

I've learned SO MUCH about: discipline (which I'd mistaken for "abuse," given my childhood), commitment, emotional control, impulse control....

It's turned into a Zen thing. It's like self-hypnosis or trance: I'm completely focused on my work. I don't feel pain, panic, fear, anger, self-pity. You could probably smack me on the head with a frying pan & I wouldn't feel it.

I'm very protective of my work, and everything required to do it. INCLUDING my body, my mind and my balance. I've never cared SO MUCH about my own health as I do right now, because it facilitates the WORK!

So, let everybody around me be crazy and dangerous, selfish and abusive. I've got a deadline; I don't have time for that crap.

comment on Random Musings

You are reading http://rriverstoneradio.blogspot.com/


Random Musings blog

It's not disinterest, in my opinion. It's dispassion. I've heard Tom Trowbridge cover stories about which he'd just done a very passionate monologue, in the newsroom, off the air, to anybody who'd listen. On the air, he knew what you've discovered: the listeners aren't as engaged as is a reporter who has a history of talking with the sources, covering the event in GREAT detail, often on multiple occassions.

Tom would have burned to a crisp very early on, if he'd let his perceptions influence his news persona. He's a very passionate, opinionated, caring and thoughtful man. But you'd have to know him, off mic, to know that about him.

I'm from the Cronkite school of delivery: let the STORY inspire passion in the listener. Now, BELIEVE me, I don't share a lot of Cronkite's perspectives; he was, after all, a success in a very commercialized, straight, white, male industry. That says, to me, something about his FAILURES, actually.

The ONLY time ANY of us can EVER remember seeing him "lose it" was during his coverage of the Kennedy assination. It was personal; they knew each other. It was patriotic; our President had been shot. It may even have been political; he may have shared a national sentiment that this new, young, frisky President was going to bring back hope, grandeur and integrity to the White House. Who knows, on that last, because Cronkite didn't communicate that. Nor should he.

Journalism must be dispassionate. It MUST be. We have to let the CONTENT of the news inspire people to take action, to feel whatever needs to be felt, to live consciousl lives.

Too much of media today is about emotional manipulation: a well-studied SCIENCE of Madison Ave. My god, characters on SOAP operas are now peddling Cambell's Soup and Ragu sauces. The actors actually look SHEEPISH, delivering lame dialogue about PRODUCT PLACEMENT!

Pharmaceutical companies DELIBERATELY peddle antidepressants during news & bloody dramas/thrillers. AND their products are placed during DOCTOR SHOWS!!!

Look, you are the captain, during your airtime at the station, of one of the LAST bastions of freedom of information. This is a sacred trust. I've SEEN egotistical characters, at the station where you're working, nearly DESTROY that trust!

What R was telling you was, more succinctly, what I'm telling you, here.

I consider that newsroom sacred ground. Literally. It is a tremendous responsibility and HONOR to be allowed to broadcast FACTS to THOUSANDS of people around the state who have NO other media outlet, besides the Moyers stuff on Friday nights (which NEVER is about our state!).

Local, commercial coverage, beyond police blotter garbage, is nearly nonexistant here. The consumers of that drivel are uninformed, ignorant and the people in power want it to STAY this way!

When your mouth is in front of that microphone, you are influencing the ballot box. You are influencing the legislature. You influence nonprofits. You influence public policy.

You DON't do it by telling everybody what YOU think and feel. You do it by letting the FACTS, that people SELDOM get to hear in this state, do the work.

You get to be emotional in your blog, among your friends, in your late night bed when you can't think for the thoughts whirling in your head.

Be very careful of revealing your emotional self to ANYBODY at the station, especially R.

He has his own trials and difficulties, yet he never discusses them, unless asked. And MY experience is that, when asked, he gets rather embarrassed and clumsy at the attention to his personal life. Although, he doesn't mind it when I call him "Shorty," as long as I don't do it in front of ANYbody!

People at the station are struggling, daily, with the challenges of just keeping good radio on the air. Period. It's frustrating; that univesity wants seventeen thousand forms, signed in triplicate, filled out just so, before it'll shake loose any resources, money or anything else the staff and volunteers there thing it needs.

If they want personal frinedships with you, they'll ask.

I'm speaking from personal experience here, buddy. I arrived in pain & crisis. I told them WAY too much about me. I scared some, alienated others and taught quite too many of them to distrust me, for fear I'd be a "loose cannon."

They can't afford distractions.

You are VERY GOOD as an on air voice. Your reading, writing, cueing of material, etc. sound quite polished. I'm comparing you to a certain freeform host who, after -- what? -- a DECADE on the air still sounds like a bumbling, complaining, rank ameteur. Listeners I meet outside the station COMPLAIN to me about her crappy broadcasts, and wish she were off the air.

What you need now is that sacred shell, in the center of your chest, that protects you from revealing too much.

It protects the station; it protects freedom of information; it protects YOU.

I'm very sorry about the loss at El Ray. I have a LOT of opinions about it. The fire was caused by negligence, for one thing. For another, it wasn't well insured!!!

But I won't broadcast my opinions. I'll let the FACTS do it.

Opinions, my friend are like assholes: everybody's got one! And they usually stink.
Random Musings blog

from a certain Music Director at a certain station I know

You are reading http://rriverstoneradio.blogspot.com/

new adventures in radio ...

A guy buys a new Lexus 330. He returns to the dealer the next day, angry because he can’t get the radio to work.

The salesman explains that the radio’s a new voice-activated model. “Watch and listen!” he says, and shouts “Nelson” to the radio.

A voice from speakers asks “Ricky or Willie?”

“Willie!” answers the salesman, and On The Road Again begins playing.

The car’s owner shouts “Ray Charles!”, and in an instant Georgia On My Mind replaces Willie Nelson.

The customer drives away happy. “The Beatles!” he shouts as he hits the highway, and Across the Universe comes on.

Seconds later an SUV cuts him off, nearly forcing him and his new Lexus off the road.

“Asshole!” he shouts after the speeding driver.

The radio begins playing Hail to the Chief.”

to Cris Williamson

You are reading http://rriverstoneradio.blogspot.com/

http://criswilliamson.com


Subject:
permission for radio documentary
To:
publishing@criswilliamson.com

Hi,
I'm producing a documentary for http://kunm.org in
Albuquerque, NM. It's about a single mom of two,
severely disabled kids, living in Ft. Sumner, NM (a
VERY small town.) She's a cowgirl, a spitfire. The
agencies & institutions which are supposed to protect
& nurture her family are splitting hairs and
endangering her children. She's smart, self-educated,
and fighting them, every inch.

While listening to my interview with her, phrases from
the album, "Country Blessed," kept popping in my head.
I don't plan to use entire songs. I'd like to use
portions of the following: "Calamity Jane," "Country
Blessed," "Move On" and "Fertanga."

I'll happily list these, and any contact info you
like, in the closing credits.

Just let me know how you'd like them listed.

I'll also be using a bit of instrumental, probably
from "Move On," in the on-air promo.

And I can list you on the KUNMfm website, as well.

I realize, as this is a collaborative album with Ms.
Trull, there might be complications.

Anticipated air date is mid Feb. to mid March.

Please reply as soon as possible.
Thanks!

Rogi Riverstone

about A. L.

You are reading http://rriverstoneradio.blogspot.com/

I've worked, for many years, as a psychiatric nurse's assistant as an assistant/attendant for the disabled. I'm very comfortable, dealing with people with alternative mental states, disabilities, brain disorders, etc.

I approached you, several months ago, about this project. This was a conversation in your office, and I don't expect you to remember it. So, this is a reminder.

Ali and I had discussed the possibility of a nindependent producer's grant, in order for him, primarily, to produce a program on TBI, with my assistance. He had energy for content, but had no idea how to deal with the technicalities of such a production. He also made it very clear he had no interest in involving himself with UNM HR. He's concerned about the impact a grant would have on his eligibility for human services, disability insurance,etc. I told him I would be willing to executive produce the project, deal with the financial aspects,editing, recording/engineering, etc., if he would actually conduct interviews and establish the contacts. HE has with the TBI community in Albuquerque. We agreed that I would pay him half the IP grant, in exchange for his work. He has never been interested in the money; his primary motivation was the production and its potential educational value.

That part, you knew.

Here's what you didn't know.

I suggested that Ali and I meet, for about two months, every Monday evening at 6pm, at the station, for preproduction meetings. My purpose was to familiarize him with the application process, production requirements, interview skills (we invited Paul Inglesto that particular meeting), and all aspects of how such a program might work.

I had another purpose, as well. I was honest with Ali about this. I wanted an opportunity to assess Ali's capabilities, interests, levels of ability. I wanted to know if he would or could follow through on any aspect of the production, if there might be roadblocks we could overcome to make it happen, and if or whether he really had interest in following through on the project, or was just "pipe dreaming." I did not want to get involved in a cooperative project if it meant my partner could or would not meet his obligations and responsibilities.

Much has changed in Ali's personal life, since we began meeting. He's now involved in Vocational Rehabilitation, where his skills were assessed as he temporarily worked for Goodwill Industries. He will now be given training and employment options, based on their assessment of his skills and limitations. His life is in more serious flux than even he can appreciate, as a result.

In our most recent meeting, he suggested that he cannot be as involved in such a project as he'd previously believed. I found this a relief. Based on my experiences with him over the prior months, I'd concluded that some of his expectations of the project-- and of himself -- might not be realistic. I was planning to have a very uncomfortable (for me, anyway) conversation with him, during that meeting, about what I'd observed from him in the past, two months. Fortunately, he beat me to it, and bowed out of co-producing the project.

We have renegotiated the roles we'll be playing in the production, as a result. He still wants to conduct interviews, when he can. He still wants to provide me with contacts. And he's interested in editing some sound, in order to lay music beds in parts of the piece. But he is no longer interested in producing or directing it. This is totally fine, by me. I can edit interviews into cohesive segments, easily. I can schedule studio time, call interview subjects, investigate the piece, etc. I was pretty much planning on doing all of that,anyway.

Ali's life experience, as a TBI survivor, is important to the production, in my opinion. I'm hoping to contact another KUNM volunteer who survives TBI, as well.

I don't expect anything from Ali. I will use what I can of what he brings to the project, if anything. He can interview; whether he will or not remains to beseen.

As with most of the projects I've produced (with the possible exceptions of radio plays), not much about them looks, in the final production, like the application I put forward to you. Things change, as I contact people who may or may not follow through. I can afford to be flexible. In fact, I find it interesting, to watch a piece I produce begin to evolve over time. It makes for much better radio, than expecting everyone and everything to follow my directions in lock-step. And it's very satisfying, creatively.

Even one of my radio plays evolved in such a way: I had to edit down the original script from nearly 2 hours to 58 min. At first, the play write, who's pretty famous, was miffed and threatened by my editorial decisions. But he came to believe -- and still does -- that my edits actually improved the script. That piece, "Epilogue," is now in the Museum of Radio and Television. I'm pretty damn proud of that.

So, Ali is no danger or threat to the completion of this project. He's an asset to it. Don't worry about how or whether he'll screw it up. He's only interested in producing an educational, evocative, informative piece of radio. He's absolutely not interested in getting in the way of the production, just to salve his own ego.

I picked a good guy to work with. I just need to let him be Ali, and not someone he can't or won't be.

I can do this, with or without his help, support or input. And it'll be good radio.

record from SF radio station, or drive there?

You are reading http://rriverstoneradio.blogspot.com/

I forgot about Santa Fe: My truck gets 10 mpg. I rarely drive it out of town. I have a scooter that gets 90mpg, but is not suitable, as it would take all day to drive the round trip. And New Mexico drivers are ultra-lethal, esp. on I 25.

I'm not sure HOW I'll be interviewing people yet, WHERE I'll be interviewing, etc. I'm suggesting this as a possible option for my production. Nothing is written in stone, yet. I'm just factoring in variables to satisfy the application process, right now.

paying talent from an IP grant

You are reading http://rriverstoneradio.blogspot.com/

I just paid Beaver cash, out of my funding. Actually, I had to take out a payday loan to pay her, at 25%interest/mo., because HR took so long to process my paperwork

Ali doesn't need to be on the payroll. I've paid engineers, actors, voice talent, etc. out of my IP funds, before. It's up to THEM to declare it on taxes,etc., so it's not a UNM HR issue.

office politics

You are reading http://rriverstoneradio.blogspot.com/

I need to say the following to you, because my anxietyl evel about KUNM is way, too high, and my experiences with you are a serious part of that.

I never know where I stand with you. I'm not talking about this application business, although you'll see that the tension and apprehension I feel when I interact with you is reflected by my fears of double standards. I don't feel I can trust you, and I don't feel you trust me

.I strongly suspect that you don't respect or like me. I don't need to be liked, but respect is very important to me. People have wiped their posteriors with my dignity, whenever they could. It's just about the only resource I have left, and it's sorely damaged. For survival purposes, I've been REQUIRED to pretend my dignity wasn't a priority, and have allowed people to use me to gratify their own, neurotic purposes.

It continues, to this day. I'll have to risk assault by homeless, single, male drunks -- who hang out near the dental clinic, because there's a package liquor store across the street -- at 5am, for first-come-first-served dental care. I have no option. The clinic isn't open at that hour; the community center it's in is closed; there's no security. But my body is riddled with infections from my teeth. And I wake every morning with the smell of death in my mouth. The clinic is my ONLY option in New Mexico. I'm weak, dizzy and light headed from the infections. And teeth are VERY close to the brain

.I've approached you as a necessary evil. This is my fault, not yours. I hope you won't take offense.

When I first arrived at KUNM, I was very happy to have a chance to work with you as my temporary news director. I have a lot of respect for you as an editor. I knew you, primarily, as station voice talent, and was impressed when you subbed on NAC, etc.

Things have disintigrated, over the years. I've felt, whether it's true or not, that you were short-tempered with me and that you believed me to be either: irresponsible, mentally defective, contemptibly "street," or otherwise not acceptible for KUNM.

It's gotten to the point where I feel my chest tighten, when I see an email from you, or hear your voice in the halls. I'm always worried that I'll have offended you.

And, no matter how much I've "proven" myself, I never feel that you respect me or my work.

Now, I have a temper. You've seen that.

I need you to know I'm not coming from a place of trying to hurt YOU when I'm trying to defend myself, my position, my work.

I'm really all I have. I have no family. I have no close friends -- in Albuquerque, anyway -- for moral support or to have my back. I've lived under circumstances that would drive a LOT of people to drugs, mental illness, suicide or seriously antisocial behavior. I survived it all by being quick on my feet, constantly vigilant and VERY assertive about my needs. That's the UPSIDE of PTSD.

The down side of PTSD includes: I have a terrible memory when I'm under stress. I can't stop adrenal "rushes" when I feel threatened. I have lousy impulse control when I'm angry or afraid.

Given all that, I'd say I've done a pretty good job,when it comes to KUNM. I've never screamed at people, hit anybody, destroyed property, showed up chemically impaired, stolen, threatened, intimidated or otherwise exhibited the antisocial and unacceptable behaviors I'we personally witnessed or heard about from so-called "normal" people at that station.

Now, I'll NEVER be what's so smugly called, "normal." But I've been a devoted and hard-working member of the KUNM community under some pretty unacceptable circumstances. I guess I'm saying I'd like that acknowledged by you, as management.

I just don't want to feel afraid when I interact with you,. Whether either you or I like it or not, you are, by default, a role model and authority figure for many of us at KUNM. I don't want to fear you.

I try really hard not to bother you, annoy you, cause you extra effort, distract you, etc. Have you noticed how rarely you even see me, anymore?

If there's something I can do to improve communications and interactions between the two of us please let me know. I'll consider any feedback you have as PERSONAL correspondence, and will NOT hold against you anything you honestly care to express. I do NOT want to cause trouble for you at KUNM. I want to make things better. I want to work well with you. That's my motivation.

app rejection

You are reading http://rriverstoneradio.blogspot.com/

I did try to call within the last hour, but got voicemail, so I figured you were gone for the day.

I don't like "ratting out" people at the station, as the office politics are very toxic there. But it is a fact that R told me today was the deadline. I was covering for her, but I really need not to have my app. rejected over an otherwise minor miscommunication. But I ALSO don't want R to suffer any fallout over such a minor thing!