Slater Mill Showcases Classic Rock ‘n’ Roll Flick  

Published in the Woonsocket Call on October 11, 2015

When planning the 2nd Annual S.A.M. Fest, in conjunction with this years Pawtucket Arts Festival, Slater Mill’s Executive Director, Lori Urso scheduled a showing of Jim Wolpaw’s “Complex World.” Urso, also a professional musician, knew featuring the film at her event in August was a great way to both promote a local Providence filmmaker and give homage to The Young Adults, a popular rock band playing at the nonprofit’s weekend festival, too.

Rediscovering a Classic Film at S.A.M. Fest

On Aug. 30, more than 80 people gathered early evening at Hodgson Rotary Park to watch on a big outdoor screen the 81-minute offbeat cult rock ‘n’ roll comedy filmed at Providence’s Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel. While the film attracted the curious, many adoring and loyal fans of The Young Adults came to check out the flick, too, says Urso.

The Complex World captures one night at Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel, with its zany plot involving terrorists, political conspiracy, 100 pounds of explosives in the bar’s basement and drugs, with music from iconic Providence bands such as the Young Adults, NRBQ and Roomful of Blues. The film had a brief two-month run in a Boston and one week in New York City, and it garnered good reviews. However, a distribution deal with Hemdale, a major film distributor that released “The Terminator” and the “Last Emperor,” fell through, ending up in a lawsuit. Even though Wolpaw won his case and a small settlement, the legal battle sealed the film’s fate. Over the years, the filmmaker’s DVDs have been sold on a website, and the last public showing was in 2010, for two days at the Providence-based Cable Car to raise money for a local charity.

Urso, 51, remembers being an extra during the 1987 film shoot, “a biker chick hanging out in the bar’s parking lot” at 79 Washington St.  “Quite a few people that I knew showed up to be extras that night. I’m glad I was able to be part of it,” she said.

Rudy Cheeks one of the founders of Young Adults and co-writer of the Phillip & Jorge column published in “Motiff Magazine,” was in attendance during the S.A.M. Fest screening, and he observed people of all ages in attendance, many of whom watched the film for the first time.

Even though the film was produced about 25 years ago, “it’s held up pretty well over the years,” says Cheeks. “The strongest part of the film was its ‘mise en scène,’ the capturing of the inside atmosphere of the bar.”

Adds, Rick Bellaire, Chair and Archive Director of Pawtucket-based Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame, the Wolpaw’s Indie film produced outside of the major film studio system, is a great Rock and Roll documentary.  “It was a snap shot of what was happening in the Rhode Island music scene at the time the film was shot,” he says.

The Making of a Classic Film

While it took about two-and-a-half months to shoot the film in 1987, it took more than two years to bring “Complex World” to the screen of the Cable Car Theatre in 1990, says Wolpaw, noting that it ran for a record four months. The veteran filmmaker, who was nominated for an Academy Award for a 1985 documentary, was brought into this film project by Rich Lupo, the owner of Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel, who just happened to be his roommate at Brown University and later a bartender and manager at the Providence bar.

In 1970, when both young men graduated from Brown University they shared their dreams. Lupo planned to open up a bar with music while Wolpaw wanted to become a filmmaker.  Wolpaw agreed to use Lupo’s bar in film if he opened on up.  “I never would have believed at that time we would both end up at that place,” says Lupo.

According to Wolpaw, the efforts to create and fund a film began a year before the bar was going to be torn down to make way for condos. The film was to use Lupo’s as a basis for the movie to “explain the spirit of the bar,” he said, noting that it would be shot like a documentary film.

Lupo invested the most to produce the film, but with increased costs, other friends chipped in, said Wolpaw. The unique film stood out among films that were produced in Hollywood, he said, “noting it was not the typical movie.”

Two years of editing and reshoots would later result in the final film, says Wolpaw, noting that over the years and even at the Slater Mill screening he “had trouble watching it.” Shooting the film like a documentary just did not work for the plot, he said, but it captured an early era of the Providence music scene.

Even after more than two decades since being released, orders for “Complex World” keep trickling in, says Wolpaw, who has worked as an adjunct film professor at Emerson College in Boston, the University of Rhode Island and the Rhode Island School of Design. He is pleasantly surprised that orders come in from such faraway places as British Columbia and France.

A Prolific Filmmaker  

Besides his Classic “Complex World,” Wolpaw is known for innovative approaches in considering artists and issues in the arts, and he has an impressive number of films under his belt:  “Cobra Snake for a Necktie” (Showtime 1980), a portrait of rock ‘n’ roll legend Bo Diddley; “Loaded Gun: Life, and Death, and Dickinson” (PBS 2003, INPUT 2004), a quirky look at poet Emily Dickinson that was chosen by “The Library Journal” for its list of Best Poetry Films; and “First Face: The Buck Starts Here” (PBS 2011), an accounting of the dollar bill portrait of George Washington.

Even at 67, Wolpaw, who has won awards at more than a dozen film festivals worldwide, has not slowed down. He is still working on three projects, a film about Cleveland poet and activist Daniel Thomson, one detailing the history of Rhode Island’s Ladd Center and a fictional narrative film about poet Dickinson. Hopefully, they will have a long shelf life and audience like “Complex World.”

“Complex Word” can capture viewers who wish to relive their experiences at Lupo’s, and purchases of the DVD benefit the Gloria Gemma Foundation and Advocates in Action. For details, go to www.complexworldthemovie.com.

 

H

 

 

Make sure abuse of the elderly is no longer a ‘dirty little secret’

Published in Pawtucket Times on October 5, 2015 

Last September, 86-year-old Martha Smith (not her real name) woke up in the middle of the night to a loud noises coming from the first floor of her East Bay apartment. When she went to investigate the commotion, she found her granddaughter in the kitchen. When Martha asked her granddaughter what was going on, the young woman started to verbally and physically abuse her. At one point, she even tried to suffocate Martha with a pillow.

Martha’s other granddaughter came to her aid, only to be assaulted as well. When the police arrived after Martha had tried to call 911, the phone had been ripped out of her hand by her abusive granddaughter, but they heard Martha’s screams of help coming from the house.

According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office, the granddaughter was arrested and is now awaiting trial.

We grow up being taught to respect our elders. But, it seems these lessons are not learned or even followed. Martha’s abuse by her granddaughter is a sad tale, but it happens all too often to our nation’s elderly.

Elder Abuse Growing The National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse defines domestic violence on elders as “an escalating pattern of violence or intimidation by an intimate partner, which is used to gain power and control.” And the perpetrator of the violence is not always a spouse, but more often than not it is a family member, as was the case with

Herb Weiss Martha Smith. Victims may be fearful to report the abuse to doctors or law enforcement for fear of the violence escalating, or because the victim relies on the abuser or their family for caregiving.

The National Center on Elder Abuse has reported that during calendar year 2010, there were nearly six million reported cases of elder abuse, representing nearly 10 percent of that year’s elderly population. The Center acknowledged that it really have a handle as to how many people are suffering from elder abuse and neglect, either because signs of abuse and neglect are missed by professionals working with older persons, or because of a reluctance on the part of the abused person to file a report.

America’s “dirty little secret” is getting worse by the graying of America’s population. The numbers are growing – the 2010 United States census recorded the greatest number and proportion of people 65 and older in its counting history: 40.3 million or 13 percent of the population.

Attacking Elder Abuse in R.I. In Rhode Island, cases of domestic violence against older people are handled by specially trained prosecutors and victim advocates at the Office of Attorney General. And, there are special laws on the books that provide for enhanced criminal penalties for assault of a person of 60 years of age.

“We have specialized prosecution units for those who commit domestic violence against older people,” said Attorney General Peter Kilmartin. “The dedicated prosecutors, victims advocates and support staff in our Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Unit and Elder Abuse Unit deal with these cases each and every day, working to bring justice for victims while minimizing their emotional trauma. Our domestic violence and elder abuse prosecutors and victim advocates are all specially trained to handle the highly sensitive details of domestic violence cases, which are often extremely emotionally charged,” he notes.

In 2014, the General Assembly passed legislation that allows the release of patient records for investigation and prosecution of physical assault on an older person if a health care provider believes, after providing services to the elder patient, is or has been physically, psychologically or sexually abused.

“Due to the nature of elder abuse crimes, time is of the essence. The victims in these cases are often vulnerable and face a myriad of health challenges, thus making a timely investigation more critical to ensure the victim’s availability to participate in the investigation and prosecution” added Kilmartin. “Moreover, the perpetrator of elder abuse is most often known to the victim, making it less likely for the victim to report,” he says.

AARP Tackles Elder Abuse Across the United States “Abuse of older Americans, whether it be physical or financial, is unconscionable. That’s why AARP is fighting in states across the nation for new laws to crack down on abuse and financial exploitation and strengthen protections for victims so all Americans can live with dignity and independence as they age,” says AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond.

AARP national staff, state chapters and volunteers are in the trenches fighting against elder abuse and exploitation. According the nation’s largest aging advocacy group, adequate funding must be given to preserve and strengthen the states adult protection services agencies. These agencies investigate complaints about abuse, neglect and exploitation of adults who are unable to care for themselves or make decisions due to mental or physical impairment, illness or a crisis in their lives.

In 2014, AARP advocated for increased funding and to ward off efforts to cut funding for the agencies in five states: Arizona, Ohio, Oregon, Utah and Wyoming.

AARP also calls for better prevention and detection of financial exploitation of the nation’s elderly. While states legislatures look at different ways to addressing this issue, many create task forces, even enact new legislation to address this abuse. According to the Washington, D.C. based nonprofit, last year, seven states enacted bills to protect their older residents against abuse and exploitation: Florida, Kansas, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Oregon, Virginia and here in Rhode Island.

In 2014, the General Assembly passed a law supported by AARP Rhode Island that extended the statute of limitations for cases of financial crime against the elderly from three years to 10 years.

Meanwhile, both Iowa and West Virginia adopted legislation last year to increase criminal and civil penalties against perpetrators of financial exploitation and to update the definition of financial exploitation.

Finally, uniform laws focused on adult guardianship and power of attorney not only support those who provide caregiving across state lines, but also create processes to help protect older people against abuse and exploitation. Six states, including Rhode Island, passed uniform adult guardianship or power of attorney laws in 2014, and this year additional states have already introduced legislation. Abuse at Any Age No matter a victim’s age, domestic violence and abuse is about the perpetrator trying to gain power and control over their victim. Domestic violence against older people can include physical, psychological, sexual and economic abuse, stalking, and tactics meant to isolate the victim from other people and supportive services October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and the statistics are alarming. According to the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence, 24 people per minute are victims of physical violence, rape or stalking by an intimate partner in the United States. One in four women, and one in seven men, will be a victim of domestic violence at some point in their lifetime. On average, three women are killed every day at the hands of a current or former intimate partner. Being in Rhode Island, with statistics like that, chances are you know someone who has been abused.

Help is available. In 2014, over 400 senior Rhode Islanders received domestic violence victim services from the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence (RICADV)’s six member agencies. The RICADV’s member agencies provide a wide array of services for victims, including hotline support, emergency shelter, support groups, counseling services, and assistance with the legal system.

In addition, specialized shelter and other services are available for older victims of domestic violence through a partnership between the RICADV and the Saint Elizabeth Community. For more information about these organizations and services, call the statewide Helpline at 800-494-8100. If you hear or see someone being hurt, call 911 immediately.

Polls Say that America Gives Big Thumbs Up to Pope Francis

Published in Pawtucket Times on September 29, 2015

On a whirlwind trip to Washington, D.C., New York City and Philadelphia over five days, from Sept. 22 to Sept. 27, Pope Francis, 78, has a jam packed public schedule for his first visit to the states.  While the media has released dozens of political polls over the last few months giving statistical predictions readers as to who is the GOP presidential frontrunner, last week they published poll results about the popularity of Pope Francis as he toured this country.

America Loves Pope Francis

With the Pope Francis’ arrival to Washington, D.C., to address Congress, a CNN/ORC Poll finds the Catholic pontiff has a high approval rating across the country and most Catholics approve of his comments even those considered controversial.

The pollsters say that almost 50 percent of Americans and 78 percent of Catholics note they are looking forward to the Pope’s first trip to U.S. soil.  While the Pope’s positive views have decreased slightly since December 13, 9 months into his papacy, three-quarters of Catholics still view him in a positive light.

The telephone poll, conducted from Sept. 4-8 among a random national sample of 1,012 adults), finds that the Catholic Church itself is viewed positively by 60% of the respondents, while 63% view Pope Francis favorably. Among Catholics, the church (88% favorable) outperforms the Pope (74% favorable).  The researchers note that this percentage difference may be due to Catholics who say they’re not sure about Francis rather than from negative impressions.

Comparing a worldwide snap shot of the Pope’s popularity to this country, the CNN/ORC poll findings indicate that non-Catholics (61%) say they have a positive view of Pope, the first Jesuit priest and Latin American church leader, and just over half of these individuals are looking forward to his American visit. Even those with a negative view of the Pope (17%) say they are looking forward to this month’s visit.

A recently published New York Times/CBS News poll also supports the CNN/ORC poll findings, that American Catholics like their Pope.  Eight out of 10 of his United States followers give thumbs up to the direction the church is taking under the Pope’s leadership, including a majority who approve strongly.

The telephone poll, conducted from Sept. 8 and 14 with Catholics on both telephone and land lines, also found that more than six in 10 Catholics worldwide view him favorably compared to just 3 percent who just don’t like him.  Pollsters say that his positive job approval ratings might be tied to his position on same-sex marriage, abortion, woman issues, immigration and distribution of wealth.

Another national poll, commissioned by Fox News, before Pope Francis’ arrival to this country, also found that the religious leader’s visit is viewed positively across the country and with Catholics, too.

Sixty-eight percent of Catholics view Pope Francis favorably.  That increases to a 73 percent favorable among Catholics who attend Mass almost every week, say the findings.  Among all voters, 55 percent have a positive opinion of the pope.

The telephone poll of 1,013 registered voters found the Pope is more popular among Catholic women (74 percent) than Catholic men (62 percent). The poll findings indicate that his comments on political issues, such as climate change and income equity, did impact on how Republicans and Democrats perceived him.

According to the Fox News’ poll, 38 percent of those who identified themselves as “very” conservative had a positive view of Pope Francis while only 35 percent of those respondents affiliated with the Tea Party movement viewed him favorably. However, among Democrats respondents, nearly two-thirds had a positive opinion of the pope (65 percent), while just over 50% of these voters  feel that way about the Catholic Church (52 percent favorable).

About half of all voters polled (51 percent) and three-quarters of Catholic (75 percent) have a favorable view of the Catholic Church in general.  Those attending Mass frequently (83 percent), view the religious institution favorably.

50-Plus Americans Favor Woman Catholic Priests

Finally, AARP, the nation’s largest aging advocacy group recognized for gather opinions of 50-plus Americans on health, finances and later life issues, puts Pope Francis on its polling list because his trip to the United State is considered to be “one of the most topical issues of the day.”

In this national telephone AARP poll, older Americans were asked their thoughts about the head of the Rhode Catholic Church’s leadership.  When asked “Do you think Pope Francis is leading the Catholic Church in the right direction?” seventy six percent of the respondents agreed. Thirty five percent of these respondents indicated to the pollster that they were Catholic or had at one point been a practicing Catholic.

Additionally, the AARP poll sought the respondent views about women becoming ordained as priests in the Catholic Church, a controversial and heated issue to many practitioners.  Of those surveyed, 66 percent of the older 50-plus respondents favored the change.  For this poll question, 37% indicated they were Catholic or had at one point considered themselves.  Of these respondents, 70% said the Pope should consider women priests.

Finally, the AARP telephone poll tossed in a question about the afterlife, asking the older respondents whether they believe in heaven and hell. Of those survey, 72 percent said they did.

With Pope Francis concluding his trip and heading back to Rome, last week poll findings indicate that the Pontiff is well liked by the American public and his flock, and that he’s leading his Church in the right direction. With the voters angry about continued political gridlock inside the Washington, D.C. beltway, presidential and congressional candidates can only pray to get Pope Francis’ off the chart polling numbers.