Shayne's Domain

***UPDATE*** Lifetime Movie "The Wronged Man"

I have an UPDATE on the release of the Lifetime movie I filmed, "The Wronged Man."

"The Wronged Man" will premiere THIS SUNDAY, JANUARY 17, 2010 at 8:00PM ET on Lifetime.

NOT THIS SATURDAY, as I originally posted.

There are three encore broadcasts as well:
1. Sunday, January 17 at 12:00AM ET/11:00PM CT
2. Monday, January 18 at 8:00PM ET/7:00PM CT
3. Monday, January 18 at 12:00AM ET/11:00PM CT 

For a recap on all the movie info, I'll include my last post:

While I'm always a bit iffy with how film stuff turns out, I am excited to see this finished product.  Lifetime is really changing up some of their content:  I'm pretty sure this will not be your typical Lifetime chick-flick.

ABOUT THE WRONGED MAN:

"Renowned actress Julia Ormond(Legends of the Fall, Sabrina) will headline The Wronged Man, an unforgettable story of justice and redemption.....Mahershalalhashbaz Ali(The 4400), Ormond’s The Curious Case of Benjamin Button co-star, also joins the cast as an African-American husband and father convicted of raping a young girl. The film is based on the true story of an unlikely friendship between paralegal Janet Gregory (Ormond) and Calvin Willis (Ali) as they fight to overturn his sentence and restore faith in the justice system....

Janet Gregory (Ormond), a single-mother with a haunting past, is a paralegal struggling to overcome doubts about Calvin Willis (Ali), an African-American husband and father wrongfully accused of raping a neighborhood girl. Eventually convinced of his innocence, Janet takes Calvin’s pro bono case and wages a dramatic and stormy 22-year battle with the justice system that ultimately redeems an unjustly accused man and cements a life-long friendship."

Oh yeah, I play Vicky Tanner, the lawyer that makes the case for Willis.  See?  I did actually get to be a lawyer and I didn't even have to go to law school for it after all! :)

Love to all...

I have an UPDATE on the release of the Lifetime movie I filmed, "The Wronged Man."

"The Wronged Man" will premiere THIS SUNDAY, JANUARY 17, 2010 at 8:00PM ET on Lifetime.

NOT THIS SATURDAY, as I originally posted.

There are three encore broadcasts as well:
1. Sunday, January 17 at 12:00AM ET/11:00PM CT
2. Monday, January 18 at 8:00PM ET/7:00PM CT
3. Monday, January 18 at 12:00AM ET/11:00PM CT 

For a recap on all the movie info, I'll include my last post:

While I'm always a bit iffy with how film stuff turns out, I am excited to see this finished product.  Lifetime is really changing up some of their content:  I'm pretty sure this will not be your typical Lifetime chick-flick.

ABOUT THE WRONGED MAN:

"Renowned actress Julia Ormond(Legends of the Fall, Sabrina) will headline The Wronged Man, an unforgettable story of justice and redemption.....Mahershalalhashbaz Ali(The 4400), Ormond’s The Curious Case of Benjamin Button co-star, also joins the cast as an African-American husband and father convicted of raping a young girl. The film is based on the true story of an unlikely friendship between paralegal Janet Gregory (Ormond) and Calvin Willis (Ali) as they fight to overturn his sentence and restore faith in the justice system....

Janet Gregory (Ormond), a single-mother with a haunting past, is a paralegal struggling to overcome doubts about Calvin Willis (Ali), an African-American husband and father wrongfully accused of raping a neighborhood girl. Eventually convinced of his innocence, Janet takes Calvin’s pro bono case and wages a dramatic and stormy 22-year battle with the justice system that ultimately redeems an unjustly accused man and cements a life-long friendship."

Oh yeah, I play Vicky Tanner, the lawyer that makes the case for Willis.  See?  I did actually get to be a lawyer and I didn't even have to go to law school for it after all! :)

Love to all...

The Extermination of Kindness. Yes! Let's just do away with it all!

Ok, so really, how has it come to be that we live in a society where kindness is a crime?  

Where compassion and common courtesy get you nowhere? 

A world in which genuine thoughtfulness is frowned upon, or even worse, taken advantage of.  

I don't want any part of that kind of society.

Yes, I'm in a pretty bitter place right now. And yes, yes, I know....it's good I'm writing about it. A good sign.

I don't have many moments of discouragement like this, but this is a fairly big one. And one that makes my heart very very sad.

And of course, you know I'll get over it in a couple days. The bitterness will dissipate.  

But man. Right now. It's. Just. Not. Right.

Weekend Wedding in Houston/The Labor Day Gang Explained

Wow.  What a wonderful weekend in Houston (and yes, Houston rose a few notches from its "Least Favorite City of Mine" due to the four days of GORGEOUS weather!).  I not only got to be a guest at the beautiful wedding of Clayton and Elizabeth, but also spent some great time with my family and I FINALLY got to see some of the Labor Day Gang!  The WHAT Gang?  For those that don't know this story, let me explain, 'cause it's pretty darn cool....

So once upon a time, a looooong time ago (hee!), my mom was a wee college lass at Texas Tech University.  It was there she met eight other fabulous women, and the whole lot of them became great friends.  Starting Labor Day Weekend, on the tail end of the summer of '73, they decided to plan a camping trip together - no children at this point, but a few husbands and significant others.  Well, fast-forward 36 years, and they're still  camping....(albeit, a few less tents and more trailers involved).

Of all nine women and their spouses, six still attend regularly.  There are sixteen children in all (yes, yes, once again I'm the oldest...), and now grandchildren are gracing the scenes.  There have been years when not everyone could make it - life has interrupted, parents have passed, children have had crises.  But there have always, always been folks there - even if just one member of a family could make it.  The family representative, so to speak.

I have grown up with these people, literally, my entire life.  I have more godparents than I can count.  I have had to miss many a Labor Day, but I always hear the Labor Day Scoop, and if I'm lucky, I'll get to see a family here and there during a holiday pass-thru, or a beautiful wedding such as this one.

I can't think of a more inspiring example of true friendship than this story.  I know that any one of these families could ask anything of each other.  Through differences and distances, their friendships have remained a priority.  I have seen these people laugh and cry together, argue and hug, pitch tents and throw horseshoes. 

So to them ALL, I say thank you.  What a delight to be there this past weekend.  And to those I didn't get to see, here's to hoping it won't be long!

To Elizabeth and Clayton:  Congratulations!  I wish you both the very best!

To my family - the Kohouts and ALL the Labor Day Gang:  I LOVE YOU!

Acting

A friend recently shared this quote with me.  It's hitting a big nerve with me now, as I struggle to decide if I want to stay in this business or not.  This is exactly, EXACTLY how to describe the life of an actor....Might sound crazy to most, but it really is often worth "a thousand lifetimes."

Actors are some of the most driven, courageous people on the face of the earth. They deal with more day-to-day rejection in one year than most people do in a lifetime. Every day, actors face the financial challenge of living a freelance lifestyle, the disrespect of people who think they should get “real” jobs, and their own fear that they’ll never work again. Every day, they have to ignore the possibility that the vision they have dedicated their lives to is a pipe dream. With every role, they stretch themselves, emotionally and physically, risking criticism and judgment. With every passing year, many of them watch as the other people their age achieve the predictable milestones of normal life - the car, the family, the house, the nest egg. But they stay true to their dream, in spite of the sacrifices. Why? Because actors are willing to give their entire lives to a moment - to that line, that laugh, that gesture, or that interpretation that will stir the audience’s soul. Actors are beings who have tasted life’s nectar in that crystal moment when they poured out their creative spirit and touched another’s heart. In that instant, they were as close to magic, God, and perfection as anyone could ever be. And in their own hearts, they know that to dedicate oneself to that moment is worth a thousand lifetimes.

David Ackert

Ho Hum.....

I'm feeling blah...Just arrived in Asheville to film the Jesus show for the next few days...but I really don't want to be here.  I'm grateful for the work, I'm making money, I'm in a gorgeous place, I'm with some great people...but I'm just not feeling it, you know?  My heart's not in this job, it never really has been, and that always makes things a bit more challenging and less satisfying.  I feel like a hypocrite, and I don't like that feeling.  But despite differences in beliefs, I have to trust that I'm impacting someone, somewhere, in a positive way and putting my talents to use.  It's a good lesson to learn, though...listening to your heart, being true to yourself, being grateful for what you have.

Can't believe the summer's over...but I'm so ready for a new season!  If anyone has any great stories about the summer fill me in!

Troy Carlton Henson

TROY CARLTON HENSON
8-25-1973
8-15-2008

In one of the stars
I shall be living
In one of them
I shall be laughing
And so it will be
as if all the stars
were laughing
when you look
at the sky at night.
The Little Prince
Antoine de Saint-Exupery

 (Pictured above: Marty, Helen, Troy, and I.  Dinner at Todd's, June 2008)

Grand Theft

Well, SHIT...sorry, but that's really the only word that comes to mind right now...the last day and a half have not been fun.  I walked outside Tuesday morning to go to work and my car was gone.  Totally gone.  Stolen right off the side of the street, in front of my place.  Nice.  The car, even though I loved it, is really just a car.  But it didn't help that I practically live out of my car so I lost some valuable and sentimental stuff.  Just really sucks.  But then later in the afternoon Todd called to let me know that they were putting Troy on Comfort Care (they took him off everything except morphine).  There was just nothing left they could do.  So now it's just a waiting game.  Sure puts things in perspective.  Yeah, having your car stolen sucks, but watching a loved one pass away...feels like they're being stolen away from you too.

http://www.carepages.com/carepages/TroysTransplantUpdates

http://www.troykickscancer.blogspot.com/

Showing Up For Life

I got another really good DailyOM message this morning.  Thought I'd pass it along...

(If you're interested, go check out DailyOM.com and sign up for the daily words of wisdom.)

Actively Participating
Showing Up For Life

"The way we walk into a room says a lot about the way we live our lives. When we walk into a room curious about what’s happening, willing to engage, and perceiving ourselves as an active participant with something to offer, then we have really shown up to the party. When we walk into a room with our eyes down, or nervously smiling, we are holding ourselves back for one reason or another. We may be hurting inside and in need of healing, or we may lack the confidence required to really be present in the room. Still, just noticing that we’re not really showing up, and having a vision of what it will look and feel like when we do, can give us the inspiration we need to recover ourselves.

Even if we are suffering, we can show up to that experience ready to fully engage in it and learn what it has to offer. When we show up for our life, we are actively participating in being a happy person, achieving our goals, and generally living the life our soul really wants. If we need healing, we begin the process of seeking out those who can help us heal. If we need experience, we find the places and opportunities that can give us the experience we need in order to do the work we want to do in the world. Whatever we need, we look for it, and when we find it, we engage in the process of letting ourselves have it. When we do this kind of work, we become lively, confident, and passionate individuals.

There is almost nothing better in the world than the feeling of showing up for our own lives. When we can do this, we become people that are more alive and who have the ability to make things happen in our lives and the lives of the people around us. We walk through the world with the knowledge that we have a lot to offer and the desire to share it."

Everyone Has A Story

So lately I've found myself strangely intimidated by someone.  Why strangely?  Because I am never intimidated.  I think that's why I can make friends with anybody, why I'm not shy, or afraid to approach a total stranger and start up a conversation.  But with this particular person, it's different.  So it got me thinking...why?  What is it about this person that makes me feel intimidated?  Two things: One, this person is extremely gifted in an area I am not.  Two: I somehow forgot that this person is just a person.  A person just like me. 

Now being intimidated by someone who is good at something you're not, or knows something you don't, is understandable.  So you learn from each other and accept each other's and your own gifts.  But to think that someone is better than you, or to put them on a pedestal...well, maybe that's not so healthy.  To admire certain traits in someone is great, until that admiration turns into a feeling of not being good enough, or not worthy enough. Because, really, we are all just persons.  And in that sense, we all share something in common.  But then again, we are all so very different.  Different fears, different looks, different perspectives, different stories.  So when I open myself up to the fact that this person has a story just like I do, the intimidation disappears.  It's a different story from mine, no doubt.  And there might even be parts of the story that I wish were my own.  But it's not a better story; it's just different.

This "Daily OM" (a daily meditation/inspiration) was delivered in my Inbox this morning.  These messages have a funny way of being eerily relevant to issues I'm dealing with at the moment.  This particular blurb helped me realize that there are interesting people everywhere.  If we take the time to discover other people's stories and share our own in return, chances are we won't feel intimidated.  But rather we'll feel connected to one another.  And our own journeys will be validated.  I guess the trick is finding the people who genuinely want to listen as well as share. And you might just find people who aren't interested.  But that doesn't mean YOU are not interesting.  Like everything else, it's just a risk you have to take.  But all you have to do is ask.

"It’s easy to forget sometimes that everyone has a story to tell if we take the time to listen. We are so accustomed to hearing the stories of people in the news that we sometimes lose track of the fact that the random stranger on the bus also has a fascinating story about where they came from and how they got to be where they are. The sheer variety of paths taken in this world, from farmers to CEOs to homeless people to world travelers, is indicative of how much we can learn from each individual. Sometimes the shy, quiet person at work has the most amazing life story and the biggest dreams, it is up to us to take the time to find out.

Some people travel a path of wealth and privilege, while others struggle with only themselves to rely on, and both have great stories to tell. Each person learns lessons, makes choices, and develops a unique perspective, which only they can claim and share. Even two people who have had very similar lives will have slightly different experiences, leading them to a different point of view, so each person remains a treasure trove waiting to be explored. When we take the time to ask questions and listen, we find that every person has a fascinating story to tell and an utterly unique perspective from which to tell it.

Bearing this in mind, we have the opportunity to approach the world around us in a new way. There is never any reason to be bored at a party, or on the bus, or in a conversation with a stranger. When we retain the spark of curiosity and the warmth required to open someone up, we always have in front of us the makings of a great story. All we have to do is ask."

From: DailyOM

Prayer for Peace

I ran across this prayer today at work and it really struck a chord.  Not even sure who wrote it, but here it is:

Prayer for Peace

We cannot merely pray to You, O God, to end war;
For we know that You have made the world in a way
That we must find our own path to peace
Within ourselves and with our neighbor.

We cannot merely pray to You, O God, to end starvation;
For You have already given us the resources
With which to feed the entire world,
If we would only use them wisely.

We cannot merely pray to You, O God, to root our prejudice;
For You have already given us eyes
With which to see the good in all people,
If we would only use them rightly.

We cannot merely pray to You, O God, to end despair;
For You have already given us the power
To clear away slums and to give hope,
If we would only use our power justly.

We cannot merely pray to You, O God, to end disease;
For You have already given us great minds
With which to search out cures and healings,
If we would only use them constructively.

Therefore we pray to You instead, O God,
For strength, determination, and will power,
To do instead of merely to pray,
To become instead of merely to wish;
That our world may be safe,
And that our lives may be blessed.