Recommended reading - No Time Like the Future: An Optimist Considers Mortality (2020):

No Time Like the Future:
An Optimist Considers Mortality

By Michael J. Fox.

Published by Flatiron Books.

Published 2020.

Hardcover.

ISBN-10: 1250265630

ISBN-13: 978-1250265630

Description:

The entire world knows Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly, the teenage sidekick of Doc Brown in Back to the Future; as Alex P. Keaton in Family Ties; as Mike Flaherty in Spin City; and through numerous other movie roles and guest appearances on shows such as The Good Wife and Curb Your Enthusiasm. Diagnosed at age 29, Michael is equally engaged in Parkinson’s advocacy work, raising global awareness of the disease and helping find a cure through The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, the world’s leading non-profit funder of PD science. His two previous bestselling memoirs, Lucky Man and Always Looking Up, dealt with how he came to terms with the illness, all the while exhibiting his iconic optimism. His new memoir reassesses this outlook, as events in the past decade presented additional challenges.

In No Time Like the Future: An Optimist Considers Mortality, Michael shares personal stories and observations about illness and health, aging, the strength of family and friends, and how our perceptions about time affect the way we approach mortality. Thoughtful and moving, but with Fox’s trademark sense of humor, his book provides a vehicle for reflection about our lives, our loves, and our losses.

Running through the narrative is the drama of the medical madness Fox recently experienced, that included his daily negotiations with the Parkinson’s disease he’s had since 1991, and a spinal cord issue that necessitated immediate surgery. His challenge to learn how to walk again, only to suffer a devastating fall, nearly caused him to ditch his trademark optimism and “get out of the lemonade business altogether.”

Does he make it all of the way back? Read the book.

Recommended reading - Directing: Film Techniques and Aesthetics (2020):

Directing: Film Techniques and Aesthetics

By Michael Rabiger & Mick Hurbis-Cherrier.

Published by Routledge.

Published 2020.

Sixth edition.

ISBN-10: 0815394314

ISBN-13: 9780815394310

Description:

Directing: Film Techniques and Aesthetics is a comprehensive exploration into the art and craft of directing for film and television. It’s filled with practical advice, essential technical information, and inspiring case studies for every stage of production. This book covers the methods, technologies, thought processes, and judgments that a director must use throughout the fascinating process of making a film, and concentrates on developing the human aspects of cinema to connect with audiences.

The fully revised and updated 6th edition features new sections on using improvisation, the development of characters for long form television series, visual design, the role of the digital imaging technician, film promotion and distribution, alongside expanded information on contemporary color grading tools, stylistic approaches and genre, workflows, blocking scenes for the camera and more. The book emphasizes independent and short form cinema which allows cutting-edge creativity and professionalism on shoestring budgets. Recognizing that you learn best by doing, it includes dozens of practical hands-on projects and activities to help you master technical and conceptual skills.

On this day in music history - Strength & Serenity - Flute & Piano, by Greg Maroney and Sherry Finzer (2020):

Strength & Serenity - Flute & Piano

Album by Greg Maroney and Sherry Finzer,
released May 22, 2020.

Track list:

Sleeping Fields; Plum Trees; Softly Rise; Gossamer Dream; Greeting the Spirit; Diaphanous Dawn; Golden Serenity; Ever Elusive; Distant Glow.

On this day in music history - Celtic Fairy Dream, by 2002 (2020):

Celtic Fairy Dream

Album by 2002,

released May 20, 2020.

Track list:

Castle of Dromore; The Green Fields of Autumn (Coinleach Glas An Fhomhair); Lullaby (Suantrai); South Wind; David of the White Rock (Dafydd y Garreg Wen); Close Your Eyes (Dun Do Shuil); She Moved Through the Fair; Genevieve’s Waltz; Little Bird (Einini); Across the Waves (Trasna Na D’tonnta).

On this day in movie history - Time Warp: The Greatest Cult Films of All-Time. Vol. 2: Horror and Sci-Fi (2020):

Time Warp: The Greatest Cult Films of All-Time. Vol. 2: Horror and Sci-Fi

documentary directed by Danny Wolf,

was released in the United States on May 19, 2020.

Cast:

Bruce Campbell, Roger Corman, Joe Dante, Illeana Douglas, Jeff Goldblum, Malcolm Mcdowell, Joe Morton, Ed Neil, Kevin Pollak, John Sayles, Anthony Timpone, John Waters, Mary Woronov, Sean Young, Rob Zombie.

On this day in movie history - Capone (2020):

Capone

directed and written by Josh Trank,

was released in the United States on May 12, 2020.
Music by El-P.

Cast:

Tom Hardy, Linda Cardellini, Matt Dillon, Al Sapienza, Kathrine Narducci, Noel Fisher, Gino Cafarelli, Mason Guccione, Jack Lowden, Kyle MacLachlan, Rose Bianco, Manny Fajardo, Christopher Bianculli, Edgar Arreola, Jhemma Ziegler, CG Lewis, David Wachs, Tilda Del Toro, Wayne Pére, Josh Trank, Neal Brennan, Jason Edwards, Caiden Acurio, Mason Rozas, Emma Kathryn Coleman, Tara Marie Foy, Reed Luckett Wiley, Troy Anderson, Andreanna L Jenson, Tony Beard, Silas Borelly, Patti Brindley, Rebecca Chulew, Samantha Czosnek, Macey DePaula, Julia Holt, Bruce Jesse Mattson, Michael McQuillan, Christopher Morris, Carl Anthony Nespoli, Jack Reeder, Candace Reuter, Ivan Salvatore, Natalie Sibille, Cameron Stout, Sue-Lynn.

On this day in music history - Reverie, by Laura Sullivan (2020):

Reverie

Album by Laura Sullivan,
released May 11, 2020.

Track list:

Reverie; Silueta; Canon in D (Remastered); The Serpent Mound (Remix); After Rain; Pictograph Cave (Remaster).

On this day in movie history - Time Warp: The Greatest Cult Films of All-Time. Vol. 1: Midnight Madness (2020):

Time Warp: The Greatest Cult Films of All-Time. Vol. 1: Midnight Madness,

documentary directed by Danny Wolf,

was released in the United States on April 21, 2020.

Cast:

Peter Bogdanovich, Barry Bostwick, Jeff Bridges, Gary Busey, Joe Dante, Illeana Douglas, Fran Drescher, Jeff Goldblum, Pam Grier, Michael McKean, Kevin Pollak, Rob Reiner, Penelope Spheeris, Anthony Timpone, John Turturro, John Waters.

On this day in music history - Beyond the Horizon, by Lauren Scott (2020):

Beyond the Horizon

Album by Lauren Scott,

released March 6, 2020.

Track list:

Adventures for Lever Harp, Book 2: Free Running; Adventures for Lever Harp, Book 2: Blue Moon Rising; Adventures for Lever Harp, Book 1: First Flight of Spring; For Mattia; New Shoots – Old Roots: Away for a While; Adventures for Lever Harp, Book 2: Gypsy Dance; In a Landscape; The Yellow Cake Review: Farewell To Stromness (arr. for lever harp by Lauren Scott); Beyond the Horizon; Celestial Spirals; Across the Universe (arr. for lever harp by Lauren Scott); Adventures for Lever Harp: Crepuscule.

On this day in music history: Transcendence, by Sherry Finzer (2020):

Transcendence

Album by Sherry Finzer,

released February 28, 2020.

Track list:

The Ascent; Third Eye Opening; Veil of the Unknown; Inner Awakening; Meditative, relaxing, soothing, contemplative, cinematic, flutes, calming, relaxing - Ancient Roots; Evening Prayer; Winds of Intuition; Elements of Light.

On this day in music history: Vessel of Light, by Helen Jane Long (2020):

Vessel of Light

Album by Helen Jane Long,

released February 19, 2020.

Track list:

Signs of Life; Sequoia; Propel; Solus; Order; Life Is; Ravelled; Instincts; Collision; Symmetry; Quiet Voice; Living With Hope.

On this day in television history - Star Trek: Picard (2020):

Star Trek: Picard

created by Akiva Goldsman, Michael Chabon, Kirsten Beyer and Alex Kurtzman,

was released in the United States on January 23, 2020.
Music by Jeff Russo and Stephen Barton.

Cast:

Patrick Stewart, Alison Pill, Isa Briones, Harry Treadaway, Michelle Hurd, Santiago Cabrera, Evan Evagora, Jeri Ryan, Orla Brady, Annie Wersching, Brent Spiner.

On this day in movie history - True History of the Kelly Gang (2019):

True History of the Kelly Gang

directed by Justin Kurzel,

based on the novel by Peter Carey,

was released in Australia on January 9, 2020.

Music by Jed Kurzel.

Cast:

George MacKay, Orlando Schwerdt, Russell Crowe, Nicholas Hoult, Essie Davis, Sean Keenan, Jacob Collins-Levy, Thomasin McKenzie, Charlie Hunnam, Claudia Karvan, Marlon Williams, Gentle Ben Corbett, Earl Cave, Louis Hewison.

On this day in television history - The Stand (2020–2021):

The Stand

9-episode mini-series.

Directed by Josh Boone, Bridget Savage Cole, Danielle Krudy, Chris Fisher, Vincenzo Natali and Tucker Gates.

Written by Stephen King, Josh Boone, Benjamin Cavell, Jill Killington, Owen King, Knate Lee, Eric Dickinson, Taylor Elmore.

Based on the novel by Stephen King.

Released in the United States on December 17, 2020 – February 11, 2021.

Music by Mike Mogis and Nate Walcott.

Cast:

James Marsden, Odessa Young, Alexander Skarsgård, Whoopi Goldberg, Gordon Cormier, Amber Heard, Jovan Adepo, Owen Teague, Irene Bedard, Brad William Henke, Nat Wolff, Henrique Zaga, Greg Kinnear, Nicholas Lea, Eion Bailey, Katherine McNamara, Olivia Cheng, Fiona Dourif, Tarun Keram, Ezra Miller, Gabrielle Rose, Natalie Martinez, Jason Burkart, Paul Jarrett, Mark Gibbon, Sunita Prasad, Seth Whittaker, Hamish Linklater, Kendall Joy Hall, Daniel Sunjata, Cameron McDonald, Luis Javier, J.K. Simmons, Kristy Dawn Dinsmore, Jennifer-Juniper Angeli, Curtiss Cook Jr., Angus Sampson, Heather Graham, Spencer Drever, Reese Alexander, M.J. Kokolis, Primo Allon, Harrison MacDonald, Nyla Alleyne, Clifton Collins Jr., Ariana Nica, Todd Matthews, Isla Crerar, Peter Anderson, Rob McEachern, Troy Mundle, Jagua Arneja, Briar Diallo, Tim Carlson, Tebo Nzeku, Alexis Paige Dixon, Shadi Janho, Bruce Blain, David Parent, Miles Chalmers, Brandyn Eddy, Lisa Chandler, Arkie Kandola, Darren Dolynski, TJ Kayama, Mariessa Portelance, Angela Moore, Joe Costa, Fletcher Donovan, Donald Sales, Liza Huget, Lissa Neptuno, Veena Sood, Kim Kondrashoff, Eddie Flake, Hugo Raymundo, Jesse Stanley, Camden Filtness, Jasmine Lukuku, Mike Wasko, J. Douglas Stewart, Shishy Gebru, Myles McCarthy, Leah Hennessey, Jeremy Jones, Richard Meen, Sean Millington, Jenny Mitchell, Iris Paluly, Luvia Petersen, Lisa Renee Pitts, Michel Issa Rubio, Eric Ruggieri, Carolyn Tinglin, Danny Wattley, Bryan Cranston, Steve Ellis, Stephen King, Mick Garris, Jeremy Angel.

On this day in music history - Sketches, by Michele McLaughlin (2020):

The album Sketches,

by Michele McLaughlin,

was released on December 5, 2020.