Don's Basement: Interview with Charlie Rose

Today, I am posting Charlie Rose's interview with me about the upcoming feature, Don's Basement:

Charlie Rose

Don Shearn

In the interview, we go deep into the creative process, the meaning of the work and the interaction of identity and reality.

This intensively personal post features clips from some of my earlier films. It is a joy and sometimes a surprise to remember The Dead Comic, Bulgarian Kitchen, and one of my favorites, Red Buddha.

Following the interview is the trailer for the film Don's Basement: 

While certainly a personal project employing the "auteur" method of production, I believe that this film will meet with the same popular approval as most of my other work.

Enjoy. Please share with your friends and fellow cineastes. And thank you for your support of Don's Basement. Because truly without all of you, I would be just another "basement dweller."

Buffalo Bill (Ted Levine)

What is to be done? + FREE BONUS content

If you are like me, you have been disturbed by all the violence and anger. And that is only on Facebook. In the "so-called" real-world, there have been many approaches to dealing with the white supremacy groups.

Here is one from 1979.




Unfortunately, since that film (about an older man and a young girl) came out, Woody Allen's moral authority has taken a beating.

Then there is peaceful, gentle approach.





At Don's Basement, we have found what we think is a middle ground (and the middle finger) to these hate groups.

Now, here is the FREE BONUS content. We look at things from all sides at db™. Scouring the internet I found a song for Donald Trump.

Apocalypticism: How was your week?

It is difficult for Don's Basement to keep up. In the last week, we had to deal with the North Korean nuclear crisis and Venezuela.

Waiting out the whole North Korea thing

Working out Venezuela

Venezuela went away pretty quickly but North Korea lingered on until Monday morning when the  Chinese stock markets, Hang Seng (Hong Kong) gained 1.36% and the Shanghai Composite rose 0.90% and the US Markets were similarly upbeat.

Now it seems the problem is that we all hate each other. If this doesn't get resolved by next week, I may have to get a yard sign.

I do allow other emotions like fear, envy, and greed.

Still, last week was stressful in that "it's the end of the world as we know it." kind of way. I wanted to address as best I could by stringing together funny movie or TV clips.

I am not alone in mocking a possible apocalypse.

Guys, let's not panic. Maybe "locked and loaded" is just how Trump orders his nachos.

— Stephen Colbert (@StephenAtHome) August 11, 2017

Here's our piece on North Korea from last night...https://t.co/H36BXUTg44

— John Oliver (@iamjohnoliver) August 14, 2017

Wait Wait Don't Tell Me's first joke from Bill Kurtis, "Before the Apocalypse starts, let me be your last Bill and Testament."

Still, I had to take extra Valiums to get to sleep last week.

Thanks for reading and watching Don's Basement. 

Have a nice day!

Master Class: Retirement

It has been nearly 3 months since my retirement (or whatever). I felt the time was right to start giving back and sharing some of the wisdom I have gleaned.

My Master Class will teach you all you need to know about retirement. I have been inspired by the likes of Werner Herzog, Shonda Rhimes, Hans Zimmer, Jane Goodall, Steve Martin, David Mamet(well I used to be until he went on Rush Limbaugh's radio show), Aaron Sorkin, Frank Gehry, and the late Harvey Korman and Slim Pickens.

Retirement is a state of mind. Often that state is Florida or Arizona. For me, it has been primarily my basement.

Don's Basement (artist's rendition) 

There are a few areas regarding retirement that I have not covered: financial independence, health care, developing or pursuing interests, impact on friends and family, psychological or emotional issues regarding work, leisure or relationships.

That stuff is important too and I wish you good luck with all of that.






A special shout out to my blog subscribers, readers, family members, and the occasional stray person who comes upon the Don's Basement by accident. Thank you for reading and tuning in.

Vision Statement for Don's Basement: It's Okay

After resuming my post(s) as Chief Content Provider for Don's Basement, I have faced many internal and external challenges. 

Should I continue to post every week? How about every day? 

How about staying on Twitter (@donsbasement1) all day?

John Podhoretz 

 ✔@jpodhoretz

My challenge to you is to liken the Trump White House to books and classical tales

 Follow

Don Shearn @donsbasement1

The Hustler. With George C. Scott as Trump and Paul Newman as America.

10:55 AM - Jul 29, 2017 

Or writing about interesting stuff like this?

Real Life Mise-en-scène                          

Day I went to Kinko's in my bathroom slippers

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Wild Life Photography

Red Slider Photogr

I felt there was a need to begin to craft a Vision Statement and brought in some experts to assist me. Here is a summary of our initial discussions.