CEDTalks

As a writer and filmmaker, I love watching television. For me, watching television (specifically sitcoms) serve as a study session of sorts, an opportunity to dissect some of the industry's techniques and see areas where my projects can be innovative in our own light. In addition, it is a chance to identify what are the elements of a great show. Arguably the most popular facet of a show is its theme song. The song kicks off everything, and helps create a brand. Take a look at my Pick 6 of intros, 6 of my favorite theme songs of all time! Each features a background on the show and song, with a brief insight from me. Be sure to comment and post your own! Night Court N ight Court is an American television situation comedy that aired on NBC from January 4, 1984 to May 31, 1992. The theme tune composed by Jack Elliott, featuring Ernie Watts on saxophone. "Night Court" is a cult classic, which carries ties to popular modern tv (Family Guy) to late 90s hip-...

I see you creeping in the background. You're not slick; fall back. The "you" I'm referring to is the current or future guy who meddles in my relationship. I'm not trying to speak this travesty into existence, or bore you by blabbering on about my love life. The topic is being addressed because the playa hater aka "crab in a bucket", "Buster" Douglas, or PB (doesn't stand for peanut butter) is on the prowl, and their tactics can cause serious detriment to those looking for love. In an early episode of the classic TV sitcom, "Martin", the title character becomes concerned when Gina begins to hang out with a male coworker named  Wallace . His entry into Gina's circle was that he participated in tasks men generally hate, like shoe shopping. Your girl and her best friend: They're just so close... so close...too damn close. While Wallace was not actually pushing up on Gina, there are plenty of men (and women...ladie...

With the summer dwindling down and the nostalgia of being away from dorms wearing off, students are planning their return to school. It is a time of mental  and  physical  preparation; you must retrain your mind to study concepts, prepare to balance your studies and social life, and buy new clothes so that you're "killin' em" the first 3 weeks of class. In addition to looking fresh, each scholar has a number of goals and objectives to accomplish during the respective year, and it is truly important to get off to a great start in order to do so. Success, specifically great starts, are a result of preparation; as a great man once said, "Success is the sum of a preparation, faith, and opportunity. So with the opportunity to return to school, I have faith the following methods will help bring success  and put you in the place to be.  1. Bring in the Goal List What everyone's working for... We make lists for everything: grocery list, Christmas li...

(Ed. Note: Hey folks. I hope all is well with you. In an effort to re-establish myself as a strong story writer, I've decided to shift the focus of my blogs to recollections of the daily happenings in my life. Hopefully you gain lessons from each narrative, but the attempt is to make you smile.) Last weekend, I visited my friend and We're Just Talking co-writer Ray Bracy at his home. In an attempt to improve our cohesion as a writing team, we decided to start having more face to face meetings and dub ourselves "Ribs and Bibs"(He's Bibs.) Normally we meet on Sunday, but the thought of staying home alone in Trenton on Friday sent me into a bit of a breakdown. Time being a sensitive issue, I made the call to Bracy and he set up a night of NBA 2K12, adult beverages, and hilarity. It was established early in the trip to his home that this would be a great night. First, I was able to hit all the high notes on the Miguel album. When wearing the special Miguel glasses...

I, Cedric Charles Perry, am a hater. Whew...though it's tough to say, admission is the first step to recovery. It's a gene that has traveled throughout my family tree; my great-grandmother has been recognized as one of the more influential haters during the civil rights movement. My sister Dee actually holds the Pennsylvania state record for most consecutive statements using the word "corny", with 46. It appears that there are numerous types of haters; my type is called "Conditional Hater", where in attempts to create humor, I will break out in uncontrollable hating. Recognizing that this trait runs in my family, I was bound to be a hater and it's better for me to acknowledge this now and help others who share this condition. To better address this addiction, which currently affect approximately 3.6 million people in America (I made that number up), let's identify what hating is. Rapper LL Cool J once stated that hating is "identifying a perso...

 HELLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Shabooie to all...it says I haven't written anything since June. (Pharrell in "Grindin" voice) Draw-lin! Well things have definitely been moving and shaking since then. New job, first episode of a new show ( We're Just Talking ), and new friends. But I will make a conscious effort to discuss these items in great detail this week. Right now, I was listening to "You Don't Know My Name" by Alicia Keys, and put a little rhyme together, called "Heavenly Portrait". It's a little piece talking about my vision of the right woman, and how that matches with God's (Follow him at @TheoriginalHOVA jk). Check it out, and let me know how YOU feel. Midnight’s arrived, and I’m impatiently waiting/ Dreaming of what you will be like, I’m creatively painting/ An image so vintage, a classic illustration/ Then I wake up and draw some more, this time a  correlation / I wonder if God’s the one painting; I’m just holding the frame/ Do ...

Hello team; long time, no see! Things have been hectic, but I'm back for y'all. Over the weekend, I talked with my brother and good friend, Dev aka The Uber Manuever. We discussed the usual: girls, NBA Eastern Conference standings, doritos, and Facebook. Midway through this convo, however, we talked about our personal network: black greek fraternities and sororities. In my (gulp) 3+ years as a member of Alpha Phi Alpha (Fraternity INCORPORATED!), I've obtained many friends, and in some instances, "followers". Though in NO WAY, SHAPE, or FORM is anyone a celebrity because of their "greekdom", you do receive a certain amount and privileges from your affiliation. One such benefit is the instant connection with anyone who crossed the "Burning Sands". I've shaken hands with fellow Alpha Cornel West, received a Christmas card from Tom Joyner (Omega Psi Phi) and shared a laugh with Sigma Dwayne Ashley from the Thurgood Marshall Fund. Besides ...

Have you ever noticed how often cliches conflict? For example, many people believe in the theory "Que Sera Sera" (Whatever happens, happens), while others such as myself follow the saying "Carpe Diem" (Seize the day). Whatever quote you use is up to you; the purpose is to foster knowledge and improvement. One of my new favorite sayings is "When the rubber meets the road..."; It refers to racing, and is analogous to a moment of truth or important opportunity. The quote is used to define levels of performance or being "clutch" in pressure situations. What I've learned over the past few weeks is that those who are unique, talented, and dedicated separate themselves when the rubber meets the road. The lesson became all too real this past week, as I experienced both grave disappointment and incredulous exhilaration in one day. That day I stood before my hero, filmmaker Spike Lee, and pitched my show with pride and zeal. It was a total shock t...