This weekend, by a rather strange turn of events, myself and Stranger Danger found ourselves at the Elementary Chess National Championship at the Hyatt in downtown Atlanta.  Now, while the pseudonym “Stranger Danger” may arise suspicions as to why we were at such an event, I will assure you that Stranger Danger is a huge chess fanatic and that I find the game fascinating as well.  Even more fascinating was seeing an enormous ballroom full of elementary-aged kids so intense, so focused, and so concentrated on such an intelligent game.

After checking out the competition, we headed down to the team rooms and met David MacEnulty, a world-renowned chess coach with whom Stranger Danger had previously become acquainted.  2005’s A&E movie Knights of South Bronx was based on this man’s experience at Bronx Community Elementary School 70 where he led a team of schoolchildren to win the New York City State Chess Championships.  His character was played by Ted Danson, and the film also starred Malcolm David Kelley from the TV series Lost.

I didn’t really understand this man’s influence until I started looking him up afterwards.  This also makes the second famous person I’ve met in the past month or so - in my brief exposure to the 2010 Atlanta Film Festival, I was able to catch Scott Mosier give an intimate chat about the trials and tribulations of film producing.

So here’s what it looks like after last week’s episode:

1. Kevin with 10 points (21 points total)
2. Raymond with 2 points (15 points total)
3. Chris with 7 points (12 points total)
4. Stranger Danger with 5 points (5 points total)

As we can see, Raymond slacked off and lost his lead…but can he gain it back this week for the final episode of the month? And who will wind up in last place, receiving our yet-to-be-determined punishment? Tune in to find out!

As of right now, our standings for the “Brainless Blurbs” game are as follows:

1. Raymond with 13 points
2. Kevin with 10 points
3. Chris with 5 points
4. Stranger Danger with 0 points (due to lack of showing up)

At the end of the month we will tally up the points and determine the punishment for the podcaster in last place!

Here is a short film that both Raymond and Chris were involved in a few years ago for the annual 48 Hour Film Festival in Atlanta.  Don’t worry - we know, Danny does go “full retard.”

Upon viewing the new horror flick The Crazies this past weekend, I found myself being caught off guard by seeing a familiar face in the movie: Justin Welborn, an actor that I’ve worked with before here in Atlanta on a few local productions.  Since the new production tax incentives have been taking rise in the state of Georgia, more and more productions have shooting here, so you would think by now I’ve gotten used to seeing fellow actors on screen and fellow crew members in the credits.  Nonetheless, I still feel star-struck every time I see one of us up there.

Some other friends and coworkers of mine that I see regularly in the lights include names such as Matthew Cornwell, Chris Burns, Sherrie Peterson, Stephen Caudill…the list goes on and on, and I definitely won’t be surprised if any of them wind up with a lead role sometime in the near future.  There’s a lot of great talent here in Atlanta, and I can say that from personal experience.  Keep your eye on these guys and gals!

With the new year, the boys here at The Reel Deal Podcast are putting their heads together and taking the podcast back to square one.  That’s right, we’re starting fresh, and this time, we’re going to do it right.  Stay tuned for the awesomeness.

Also, the fifty archived episodes have been nixed, but if we do get a demand to bring them back, we can arrange that.  It’s up to what the people want!

Brace yourselves…