By Ray Faulkenberry

Antioch and the East Bay have been famous in recent years for either our housing foreclosures or the kidnapping and holding of Jaycee Dugard. Neither of these events did much for enhancing the image of Antioch or its citizens.

A feature film project called CHOICES will be shot in the East Bay during the summer of 2012. There’s a great chance that it will be successful in enhancing the positive aspects of Antioch. We R One Productions, rooted right here in Antioch, will draw on local talent, locations and resources to bring a touch of Hollywood to our corner of the state.

We R One Productions specializes in developing entertaining, meaningful, and commercially successful projects. Its presence in the community, along with a strong desire to contribute to the economy of the city and its citizens, is paramount in its mission. I’m the CEO of We R One Productions, and it is my dream to bring opportunity, enterprise, and positive exposure to Antioch in particular and our neighbors in general.

I have been fortunate in that I have been mentored by a long-time Hollywood producer who has shown me the way to make a Hollywood-type project at a small fraction of the cost. For the time being I’ll keep his identity anonymous, but once the film is released I’m sure he’ll be proud to say, “Yep, I helped them succeed!” That’s completely okay with me because he will be telling the truth!

By keeping the locations local, using local talent, crews and resources, we can shock the world by making a film that not only entertains, but also brings notoriety, exposure, and business to our city.

We’ll be looking for support in a number of different ways. Cast, crew, locations and resources are just a few of the items on our agenda. We’re confident that everything we need can be found right here! We won’t need to access Hollywood for anything.

We are planning a unique opportunity for people ONLY in our area to be able to pre-order the DVD package. We’re looking for businesses to support the project by providing a gift or certificate or coupon that will be of value to our customers but also bring exposure and sales to their business as well. We’d love to get as many people and businesses on board as possible so that when people get their special pre-ordered DVD packages, they’ll not only get a great movie, they’ll receive gifts and opportunities to go patronize participating stores and restaurants.

We’ve just started a crowd-funding platform online in order to provide people with gifts for their support. You can go right to http://www.indiegogo.com/choicesmovie and learn all about the project, its history, gifts, and how to help. A summary of the available gifts are located at the bottom of the article and can also be seen online.

The feature film is in the thriller genre, and yes, we understand that thrillers are not for everybody. CHOICES started out as a project inspired by my daughter Meg and has grown considerably. The storyline is one that most people will easily identify with; it unearths some of those deep down fears, the ones that frighten us – all of us. It’s an emotional roller-coaster type of film that doesn’t rely on gore, heads getting hacked off, or any high-tech special effects. Instead it’s a good, old-fashioned thriller that draws you in and plays on what you don’t see as opposed to what you do see.

Personally, although a scary film, I found the plot to be very inspiring as it makes me acutely aware of the day-to-day choices that we all make in our lives. It is well suited to a more mature audience that doesn’t mind sitting on the edge of their theater seats. Our projected hope at We R One Productions is to eventually write a pilot for this feature film to become an HBO or Showtime series! The series would be even more engaging as we would move from the end of CHOICES into the mystery of what happens in the pilot. I know this sounds vague but I don’t want to spoil the plot for you!

To be able to see updates on our current project CHOICES and get information on our future projects go to http://www.weareonefilm1.com It’s free, and we’ll be posting updates to the project very regularly.

We’re planning on getting this film into one of the MAJOR festivals as that will provide us with the best opportunity to publicize our feature film.

Here is how you can become a part of the CHOICES feature team:

1. Please go to http://indiegogo.com/choicesmovie to get information about the project. Make your pledge today starting at minimum pledge of only $10. We’re also open to sharing the profits with individuals and/or businesses who are interested in investing in CHOICES. For specific information please contact me rayfaulkenberry@comcast.net

2. Share this with your network. Forward through emails, work, family, and friends and encourage them to come and check us out at the listed website.

3. If you’re a business and want to be a part of the DVD package, please contact us as we’d love to chat with you.

4. If you just want to be involved, drop us an email and tell us what you have in mind and we’ll see what we can do! We’ve already tapped local talent, to compose the music and score the film.

The Pledge Prizes:
Everyone who pledges $10 or more will receive a digital download package that we are continuing to add to. This package will include all posters, banners, and desktop wallpaper used in THE CHOICES campaign – All official CHOICES promotional material. In addition, you will be sent the first 15 pages of the official script.

Pledge $25 or more and you’ll receive the digital download package PLUS a personal phone call from Ray or another Director or Producer! Yes, they’ll need your phone number to call and NO, they will never bother you again.

Pledge $50 or more and you’ll receive the digital download package, a personal phone call, and a limited edition “CHOICES” movie poster signed by Ray, and select cast and crew.

Pledge $100 or more and you’ll enjoy the stylish CHOICES movie T-Shirt. (Plus enjoy the poster, phone call, and digital download package!)

Pledge $150 or more and receive your very own CHOICES the movie coffee mug. PLUS enjoy any 3 of Ray’s books that can be found on his website at http://rayfaulkenberry.com (and the poster, T-shirt, personal phone call, and digital download package!)

Pledge $200 or more and you’ve just become an associate producer and will be credited as such in end title crawl of the movie! You’ll also receive a special edition “CHOICES Associate Producer T-shirt (plus the poster, phone call, coffee mug, books, and digital download package). Your name will appear alphabetically during the end title crawl under the heading “Associate Producers,” and will run on the left side of the screen alongside the traditional credits on the right. This way, you can impress your movie-going friends relatively quickly when your name comes up on the big screen!

Pledge $350 or more – PARTY! Two tickets for you and a guest to attend “The CHOICES” screening in Antioch, California, along with Ray, and cast and crew. Red Carpet posing is (semi) optional. (Includes the Associate Producer package – transportation not included)

Pledge $500 or more – 45-minute personal or Skype call with Ray (along with Associate Producer package). The call can be on whatever you want – Film Q&A, Writer’s insight, director’s commentary, writing secrets, thoughts on their next project, behind-the-scenes secrets, helping you brainstorm your own project in whatever industry you’re working. (Ray’s background also includes consulting, training, and project creation).

Pledge $1,000 or more – Appear as AN EXTRA in the movie (on location in Antioch, California) and join the cast and crew for lunch! (Comes with Associate Producer package – transportation not included.)

Pledge $3,000 or more – (10 opportunities) – One Day as Director’s Assistant, and credited as such in the end title crawl! You’ll also spend an evening having dinner with Ray and his family! (Comes with Associate Producer package – transportation not included.)

Pledge $5,000 or more – (10 opportunities) – Receive once a month coaching for one hour for ONE YEAR from Ray. You can focus on whatever you choose. Ray focuses on helping people build success personally and professionally. More information can be learned from Ray’s website at http://rayfaulkenberry.com under coaching. (Comes with Associate Producer package.)

Pledge $10,000 or more – Ray Faulkenberry will come to you and do a seminar or training for you, your friends, or your company. Topics can be on communication, team-building, success in the new millennium, or whatever topics you can agree upon. In addition to being a consultant and trainer, Ray is an ordained Interfaith minister and focused on realized the inherent talent within to become the best you can be personally and professionally. (Comes with Associate Producer package.)

Hollywood would make this film for between $2 and $4 million dollars. I’ve set our funding goal of $175,000 at http://indiegogo.com/choicesmovie. Would we like to have more money than that? Of course! If we raised more than the $175,000 we would be able to pay our cast, crew, and post-production people more, but we realize we want to get the film out and showcase not only our talents, but our community, its businesses and its people as well!

One way or another, we will create this film to showcase Antioch and the talent it holds within its community. We hope you will join us in this adventure and check us out as we reach for the brass ring and shine a spotlight on our corner of the world. Don’t forget to share this with your world.

Ray Faulkenberry, Ph.D. is an author, consultant, coach, and entrepreneur. You can read more about Ray at his website and for a short time receive his books for free. His website is www.rayfaulkenberry.com and he can be reached at his email at rayfaulkenberry@comcast.net The film funding site is once again located at www.indiegogo.com/choicesthefilm.

On Valentine’s Day, the Antioch City Council received Police Chief Allan Cantando’s annual report on crime in Antioch (2010 vs. 2011 stats).

The report showed declines in homicides (5 vs. 13), rape, robbery, aggravated assault, and total arrests. The bad news, however, was that burglary was up 22.8%, theft up 49.8%, auto theft up 0.7% and arson up 51.4%. To sum it up, although total violent crime declined 5.3%, total property crime went up 25.1% and total violent and property crime went up 18.5%.

Regrettably, there have been 6 shootings in the past few days, resulting in the death of one person. (Shades of the Valentine massacre). Fortunately, the resident who defended himself against an apparent home invader, wasn’t injured.

Residents would like to see the additional hiring of police officers, but due to the reluctance of the Public Employees Union Local 1 and the Antioch Police Officer’s Association, who inexplicably were granted 2 extra holidays per year during budget negotiations last year, to accept the same labor concessions as other city employees, the standoff may continue.

On Feb. 13 at 8:23 p.m. a resident in the 4800 block of Wexler Peak Way was in his home with his young son, when he heard the door bell ring. He did not answer the doorbell right away and soon heard his front door being kicked in.

The resident confronted a man with a gun at his front door, and began to fight with him. The resident was able to take the gun away from the man and shoot him several times before calling the police. The unidentified man died at the scene.

The resident and his son were uninjured, and the Antioch Police are working on identifying the deceased man.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Bittner at (925) 779-6939.

For the first time, proponents and opponents of the State’s plans to transform the San Joaquin-Sacramento Delta will discuss the merits and drawbacks of the Delta Plan and the peripheral canal. The forum is scheduled Saturday, March 3, 2012 at the Civic Auditorium, in Stockton, and is open to the general public.

The purpose of this forum is to inform and explain to all residents in the Delta region the scope, and impact of changes that may forever alter the unique features of the Delta by redefining the character and future growth of communities that lie within the region, by eliminating family farms operating within the Delta, and by altering the fabric of life enjoyed by Delta residents.

“A Primer on Water and the Delta” is the first of three forums that are being hosted by the same coalition of environmental advocates, private business and local government that held community forums the past two years on how to employ sustainable practices in everyday life. Members of the coalition are the Sierra Club, Campaign for Common Ground, the A.G. Spanos Companies, the Stockton City Council and the San Joaquin Council of Governments.

“Water is vital to our local economy, our farms, and our cities. As residents of the region and stewards of this unique estuary and habitat to many species, it is important that we stay informed and alert to insure that we retain local control over our water and our future,” said Susan Eggman City Council Member.

Presentations at the forum will be made by Dr. Jerry Meral, Deputy Secretary for the California Natural Resources Agency; Jason Peltier, Chief Deputy General Manager, Westlands Water District; Jim Fiedler, Chief Operating Officer, Santa Clara Valley Water District; Ann Johnston, Mayor of Stockton and Chair for the Delta Coalition; John Herrick, an expert on local water issues; Jeff Michael, Director of the Business Forecasting Center, University of the Pacific; and Barbara Barrigan-Parilla, Executive Director of Restore the Delta.

The forum will begin at 8:30 a.m. and conclude at 12:00 noon. Each presentation will be followed by a question and answer period. Moderator for the entire series will be Susan Eggman, a City Council Member of the City of Stockton and Professor of Social Work at the California State University at Sacramento.

Members of the organizing committee are Dale Stocking, Sierra Club; Eric Parfrey, Campaign for Common Ground; Councilwoman Susan Eggman, Stockton City Council; Natalia Orfanos, A.G. Spanos Companies; and Andrew Chesley, Executive Director of the San Joaquin Council of Governments.

Vasant Lad, BAMS, MASc, world-renowned Ayurveda Physician, scholar and teacher, will be giving a weekend workshop on “Ayurvedic Principles for Body, Mind and Spirit March 16-18. Shri Anandi Ma, Self-realized master of the ancient yoga lineage of Kundalini Maha Yoga will join Vasant Lad for this workshop.

Ayurveda is a Sanskrit word that means “Science of Life.” It is probably the oldest authentically recorded healing science in existence, having been practiced throughout India for over 5,000 years. Its knowledge is empowering and timely. Ayurveda seeks to understand and correct imbalances and to restore the innate intelligence and harmony of the individual through diet, herbal medicines, lifestyle changes and other treatments.

It creates balance within and around us. It is a simple, practical science of life whose principles are universally applicable to each individual’s daily existence. Ayurveda speaks to every element and facet of human life, offering guidance that has been tested and refined over many centuries to all those who seek greater harmony, peace and longevity.

We are thrilled that Vasant Lad will be traveling to our Center in Antioch from his base at the Ayurvedic Institute in Albuqueque, NM.

Travelers Encouraged to Plan Ahead

The Bay Area’s award-winning 511 traveler information service is the one-stop source for transportation alternatives and detours during the Bay Bridge closure this Presidents Day Weekend, February 17 – 21.

Travelers can easily plan ahead by visiting 511.org or calling 511 from any phone in the Bay Area. Special Bay Bridge closure information is available at www.511.org/baybridge/PresDay2012.

Due to scheduled seismic retrofitting, the westbound deck of the Bay Bridge from Oakland to San Francisco will close Friday, February 17, at 8:00 p.m. and reopen Tuesday, February 21, at 5:00 a.m. The eastbound lower deck from San Francisco toward the East Bay will remain open.

Travelers are encouraged to plan ahead and take public transit, such as BART or ferries, to reach San Francisco. The 511 website features updates about bridge closure status and special information on transit options during the closure; a detailed map of detours using the Golden Gate, Richmond-San Rafael, San Mateo-Hayward and Dumbarton bridges; and information about current traffic conditions and areas to avoid due to anticipated traffic congestion.

“511 is the best local source for comprehensive transportation information, especially during incidents and closures, like the upcoming Bay Bridge closure,” said Adrienne Tissier, chair of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC). “511 offers information via the web, phone, mobile devices, text and social media, ensuring that people can obtain timely information whenever and wherever they need it.”

511.org features the popular 511 Transit Trip Planner, an online tool to help commuters plan transit trips anywhere in the nine-county region. On-the-go transit trip planning and current traffic conditions are available for people using smartphones at m.511.org. Motorists can also find current traffic conditions and driving times using 511’s interactive Traffic and Driving Times Map, the new 511 Traffic (Beta), or by calling 511 and saying either “traffic conditions” or “driving times” from the main menu.

As always, the 511 Traffic page provides the latest-breaking traffic news and emergency information affecting drivers. When urgent news breaks or emergencies occur, a ticker at the top of the page informs motorists about major traffic impacts and commuting alternatives. 511 Traffic updates are also available on twitter.com/511SFBay.

511 is a one-stop phone and web source for up-to-the-minute Bay Area traffic, transit, rideshare and bicycling information. It’s free of charge and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week from anywhere in the nine-county Bay Area. Call 511 or visit 511.org. 511 is managed by a partnership of public agencies led by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, the California Highway Patrol, and the California Department of Transportation.

The popular Christian pop rock band from Australia, Newsboys, will bring their God’s Not Dead tour to Brentwood on Saturday, February 18 for two concerts at Golden Hills Community Church. The band, formed in 1985, has released 15 studio albums of which six have gone gold.

The 7 p.m. concert has been sold out for a couple weeks, so they added a second, matinee show, starting at 1:30 p.m. with tickets still available.

Presented by Compassion International, the concerts will also feature three other groups, The City Harmonic, Anthem Lights, Abandon, and evangelist Bob Lenz.

The City Harmonic, best known for their song Manifesto, is an award winning Christian rock band from Canada. According to Wikipedia, their music is described as “nostalgic Brit-pop meets campfire sing-along mix that features raucous gang vocals along with agile, soaring anthems crafted to include the listener” ^[4] Musically, their sound is often compared to artists like Coldplay, Aqualung or Arcade Fire. In 2011 they won three Covenant Awards from the Gospel Music Association of Canada for New Artist Of The Year, Recorded Song Of The Year and Modern Worship Song Of The Year. http://thecityharmonic.com

The band members of Anthem Lights, from Los Angeles, form an innovative, high-energy pop foursome with soaring vocals and hearts bent on ministry.  According to their website, the band has “an arsenal of influences including dcTalk, Michael Jackson, One Republic, Stevie Wonder, Gavin DeGraw, tobyMac, and Justin Timberlake… [and] has fashioned a dramatic pop experience that is all their own… a rarity in today’s music scene.” www.anthemlights.com

Abandon, an American Christian rock band from San Antonio, Texas, is best known for their song Live It Out, which is featured on The Food Network and at ESPN’s 2011 ESPY Awards Show. www.abandonrock.com

Lenz speaks to about 500,000 teens and adults across North America each year through school assembly programs and faith-based outreaches and events.

Compassion International exists as a Christian child advocacy ministry that releases children from spiritual, economic, social and physical poverty and enables them to become responsible, fulfilled Christian adults. Compassion helps more than 1.2 million children in 26 countries. www.compassion.com

Tickets are just $20 and are available online at www.itickets.com/events/281007.html. The church is located at 2401 Shady Willow Lane, off Lone Tree Way in Brentwood.

For more information on the tour visit www.newsboys.com and for Golden Hills Community Church visit www.goldenhills.org or call (925) 516-0653.

By Walter Ruehlig

Given the bleak state of public affairs these days, a Miss Valentines coronation may pale in significance. The rub, though, was precisely the lack of gravity. The annual Fil-Am Society Valentines Dinner Dance, held at the Walnut Creek Marriott Hotel February 11th was a smash hit exactly because it was a welcome respite from the hand-wringing and uber-seriousness of our times.

Little surprise, as anybody who has spent even a small stitch of time with Filipinos knows that they have an extraordinary ability to see the lighter side of life and a well-pronounced penchant to party. No exception at this shindig as the appetites were vigorous, the dance floor got worn out and the conversation, gaiety and cocktails flowed.

To be fair, the partying actually had its consequential side. Though the figures are not yet in, last year $27,000 was raised for the St. Ignatius Educational building fund. Good things are again hoped for as the program ads were bountiful and a sold out crowd of 320 attended this year’s bash, including City Councilwoman and former Mayor Mary Rocha, Councilman Gary Agopian, former Councilman Allen Payton, County Board of Education Trustee Cynthia Ruehlig and Emlyn Struthers representing State Senator Mark Desaulnier’s office.

Honored were 2012 Little Miss Valentines Sophia Marie Bustamante and Ericka Jeanne Soliman and Miss Valentine Ina Cherub Limon. All three showcased impressive talent before the formal coronation crowning after parading through an honor guard holding canopied swords.

The U.S. national anthem was sung by Rhica Fernandez and the Philippine anthem by Ed Patacsil and Rudy Fernandez. The invocation was given by Rev. Robert Rien, Parochial Administrator at St Ignatius of Antioch Catholic Church.

Entertainment was provided by Luz Ocampo, Miss Valentine 2010, and by Elizabeth Abao, Miss Teen Valentine 201. The emcee was Maria Keepo.

The event was organized by Chairperson Marie Centeno, Event Coordinators Cely and Fred Ablaza, Lino Centeno and Ncri Kellerman.

Ongoing logistical support was given by the club’s Fil-Am officers, Coordinators Clarita Perez and Sofie Zimmerman, Corresponding Secretary Nancy Santos, Recording Secretary Divina Sevilla, Treasurer Norma Villegas, Asst, Treasurer Evelyn Ponce, Auditor, Divina Antonio, Parliamentarian Lilia Suarez. and Public Relations Directors Rudy Fernandez and Norma Delos Santos.

Good people, good times, good cause!