Paul

"A walking contradiction, partly truth and partly fiction"... Kris Kristofferson.
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adopt your own virtual pet! ************************************************************ ***************************** Hi, I'm Paul Freeman. (The cheeky, highly squeakable lad you see in my photo). ************************************************************ ***************************** I'm a screenwriter, having penned or co-penned 20 scripts. (No wonder I’m ready for a lobotomy). Most of these scripts have been optioned at one time or another. In hopes that one will actually be produced, I have my fingers crossed (though you can imagine how difficult it is to type that way). I've run the genre gamut -- comedy, rom-com, thriller, fantasy, family, teen, western, adventure, drama, animation and a rock biopic. Jack of all trades, master of my domain? ************************************************************ ***************************** But my first love is music. I've played guitar since I was old enough to imitate Ricky Nelson, then became obsessed during the British Invasion. That was definitely rock’s golden age. (And yes, this does make me a Golden-Ager). I puttered around in garage bands that broke up before they began. But, man, the energy, the exhilaration! ************************************************************ ***************************** Taken under the wing of the late jazz great Cal Tjader, I was set to record a singer-songwriter album for the Skye label, in 1971, when I was still a teen. (Yes, teens had already been invented prior to that prehistoric time). Naturally, the company immediately went bankrupt. Yes, I am a lucky charm (and no, not in the tasty little shamrock-shaped marshmallow sense). ************************************************************ ***************************** I immersed myself in political activism and came away slightly battered and disillusioned, but never giving up the ghost. ************************************************************ ***************************** I became a music and film journalist, regularly contributing interviews, profiles, features stories and reviews for such publications as Los Angeles Times Syndicate, Tribune Syndicate, New York Times Syndicate and the San Francisco Chronicle’s Sunday Datebook, Emmy, Tower Records PULSE!, Goldmine, The Gavin Report. I garnered fascinating insights into the creative process from a myriad of diverse talents, including many of my heroes. I got along famously with my editors, except one who insisted that my reviews shouldn’t be so consistently positive. “Nastiness sells,” he told me. This guy missed his calling -- should have been a political media consultant. I politely explained that I had entered entertainment journalism to encourage and showcase talent, not to crush it. Selling -- and selling out -- are highly overrated. ************************************************************ ***************************** Editor of the online magazine, Top Shelf, which covers the NHL (www.webthumper.com/topshelf), I am one of the very few vegan hockey fanatics in existence. (See, we don't all eat raw meat). ************************************************************ ***************************** And now I’m writing songs again. There’s no better way of venting or celebrating. I might eventually inflict a few of these gems on MySpace visitors. In the meantime, you can find several of my compositions on the new family music CD, “Flower Power,” by Wendy Flower (Wendy & Bonnie). Check them out on her MySpace site or web site, www.wendyflower.com. She has an absolutely amazing voice. I can't pretend to be objective, as she happens to be Ms. Flower-Freeman. However, countless unpartial observers have echoed that opinion. ************************************************************ ***************************** Wendy and I met through Cal Tjader just after the amazing Wendy & Bonnie cult album “Genesis” was released. We formed a band, but eventually lost touch. Decades later we reconnected. (See, fate isn’t always cruel.) ************************************************************ ***************************** I find the collaborative process invigorating. Wendy and I co-wrote a theme song for Project Wee Care, which encourages school children to become involved in the effort to help the homeless. ************************************************************ ***************************** Wendy and I had an amazing time in the U.K. this past summer. We enjoyed playing the Trof in Manchester and the wonderful LLAMA festival in Lynmouth/Lynton. The people there are incredibly warm and gracious. We stayed on at the lovely, hospitable Victoria Lodge to savor the local flavor for several days. After a pilgrimage to Liverpool and a stop in Birmingham, where we shared a joyful visit with James and Trish of Broadcast, as well as Duophonic's Martin Pike of we moved on to London. There Wendy shared the stage once again with the electrifying, inventive Super Furry Animals at ICA. She then performed beautifully at Jarvis Cocker's Meltdown Fest, joined by the amazing High Llamas and angel-voiced Jane Weaver. We were honoured to meet the other "Lost Ladies of Folk" - the talented Bonnie Dobson and Susan Christie - as well as the rising Cate Le Bon and Emma Tricca. Andy Votel of B-Music was instrumental in making this entire experience possible. ************************************************************ ***************************** We’re now writing a lot of material for her next album, which will have folk, rock, jazz, pop, classical and electronica elements. This upcoming CD will be for “grown-ups,” of which I am not one. Previews will appear on her MySpace page: Far more mature are my two incredibly lovely, grown daughters, Jen and Melanie. ************************************************************ ***************************** So there you have it -- my life story. But the best is yet to come. ************************************************************ ***************************** I’ll continue to roam MySpace, on a quest for exciting new music. To my surprise, I’ve found tons of it. You can find it, as well. Just stroll through my “friends” list. Happy listening!