SPOTLIGHTS
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| Name: | Shawn S. Lealos |
| Email: | shawn411@shawnlealos.com |
| Current Roles: | Alternate Takes, Film Reviews, DVD Reviews, CD Reviews, TNA PPV Previews, Contributor to Fact & Fiction, PPV Round Tables, Movie Round Tables, Top 5 Lists, The Watcher Diaries, Angel Investigated |
| Past Roles: | Substitute for ECW on SCI-FI recap, WWE HEAT recap, Furious on Film News Report, Golden Globes Live Coverage, Academy Awards Live Coverage |
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And we're rolling... - 05.07.2008
I have wanted to be a writer for as long as I can remember.
Back when I was a kid, I took art classes but my main focus was writing comic books and the art was just a way to do it. As I grew into adulthood, I started to read Stephen King and decided that writing what all I wanted to do. Short stories became my primary focus but I started college and began to work towards a business degree. I mean, I couldn't make a living writing, could I?
My English professor had different thoughts. She told me that the University of Oklahoma had an accredited degree in Professional Writing in its journalism school. She told me that unlike the English creative writing classes, the Professional Writing degree would also teach me how to make a living writing. I bought it and off I went.
In my first year at OU, we were shown all the opportunities available to us as extra-curricular activities. I decided to take an intern position at the Sooner yearbook and also took a class that allowed me to write for the Oklahoma Daily newspaper. It was at this time that I realized if I wanted to be successful, I had to fight for everything.
For the news gathering class, I was supposed to come up with ideas for stories. I was watching an OU football game and saw an interview with former Sooner great Brian Bosworth. He was talking about a foundation he had set up that gave tickets to football games to kids from the local children's hospitals and foster homes. He also gave them to inner city youth groups and children whose parents were victims in the Murrow bombing.
I brought the idea to the Oklahoma Daily and they told me it was a great idea and they were going to let one of their more experienced reporters take it and run.
What the ...
I was pissed. This was my story. I didn't let it keep me down, though. I went to the yearbook and told them about the story and they told me to go ahead and write it for the yearbook. I called the Athletic Director's office and found out the phone number of Bosworth's Hollywood agent. I made the call and set up an interview with Bosworth. My phone rang one day and I did the telephone interview with Bosworth. It was my first interview ever. He was the best subject I could have hoped for and was very courteous and open with me.
I went to the newspaper and asked how their reporter was doing on the story and they told me they weren't sure how to get in touch with Bosworth and were waiting until he was in town. I mentioned that I had already interviewed him and they just kind of looked at me in shock. They asked if I would be interested in writing a story for them.
Yeah.
I wrote the story for the yearbook and it was named the Sooner story of the year. I wrote the story for the newspaper and they saved it and made it the cover story of the game day paper, The Red Zone. It earned Honorable Mention in the state of Oklahoma's SPJ Awards ceremony for feature writing. I also wrote a "Where Are They Now?" article that was bought and published in the National sports magazine Inside Sports.
That was my first interview ever. My first major story ever.
I wrote for the yearbook for three more years. I won a number of Columbia University Gold Circle Awards. One year I even swept the Sports Feature Writing category, taking first, second and third place. The last year I wrote for them, I was standing on the sidelines in the Orange Bowl as Oklahoma beat Florida State for the National Title. It was the best way for me to go out. I wrote an article about MVP Terrance Marshall that was picked up by the AP and carried online for a couple of years.
It was my first story to be widely seen online.
There's another little story I would like to share. The Rolling Stones came to Norman and played at Owen Field. I tried to get some passes for the yearbook but was told - once again by the Oklahoma Daily - that we would not be able to get them. See, they told me the newspaper would be able to get passes but the event was too big for the yearbook to be allowed in.
What the ... , part deux.
No one tells me I can't do something. I started looking for information. I found a number and called The Rolling Stones management company in Chicago. Guess what? Press passes. And not the press passes for OU, but press passes reserved in my name to get in to cover the concert.
Hey, that story won some awards too. Like I said, don't tell me what I can't do.
After I graduated I moved a little further into filmmaking than writing. I took a couple of years of film studies classes. I remember in my Intro to Filmmaking class, we were given a paper with a list of web sites we should use when working on film studies. One of the web sites was called Chud.com.
While working on my films over the last eight years, I mainly just wrote screenplays. For a two year period, I did write for two alternative magazines - Loud and Vox. It was nice for awhile, but like most alternative magazines they would not last.
Well, in 2007, I got my first online writing gig, penning The Special Edition at Chud.com. In September of that year, I also began to review DVDs.
Another website I read religiously was 411mania.com. I will admit, I was lured to 411mania for its wrestling news. However, when I hear recently they were hiring new writers, I figured I would give it a try. As much as I love reviewing DVDs for a site like Chud.com, I feel I have much more to offer than just reviews. I wrote a couple of reviews and then pitched a column idea.
Alternate Takes was born.
Writing for Chud and 411mania are both great gigs, but more than anything else it is allowing me to write full time again. Now, as I write more and more, I have regained the fire that I felt was slipping away.
I have also started writing a book. It is something I have wanted to do for awhile now. It is a nonfiction book dealing with the Stephen King dollar babies, of which I am one. I am excited about this new endevour and, as always, will do everything in my power to make sure it is the best it can be. |
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Movies/TV's 3R’s 11.17.09: Rainn Wilson, Michael Caine, Sheneneh, Spencer Pratt, More...
(11.17.2009)
From 2012 destroying the box office, Carrie Prejean being a hypocrite, J.J. Abrams leaving The Dark Tower, and Spencer Pratt pissing off a weatherman to Rainn Wilson shooting a gun, MGM being auctioned off, Wanda and Sheneneh fighting crime, and more, 411's Shawn S. Lealos breaks down the Right, wRong, and Ridiculous from the week in Movies/TV! |
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Alternate Takes 11.14.09: John Cusack
(11.14.2009)
With the release of 2012, Alternate Takes looks at the films of the movie's star John Cusack |
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411 PPV Preview: The Road to TNA Turning Point 2009
(11.13.2009)
Now with 99% less Hulk Hogan and the 2005 Unbreakable triple threat match embedded for your enjoyment |
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2012 Review
(11.13.2009)
This is a disaster movie in every sense of the word... |
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Movies/TV's 3R’s 11.10.09: The Undertaker, Evil Dead, Yogi Bear, NCIS, More...
(11.10.2009)
From The Undertaker's origin movie, Evil Dead returning to theaters, Taylor Swift taking a jab at Kanye, and James Franco starring in a daytime soap to Levi Johnston getting mad at Conan, The Office offending suicidal people, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin going to the Oscars, David Fincher making a horror movie, and more, 411's Shawn S. Lealos breaks down the Right, wRong, and Ridiculous from the week in Movies/TV! |
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Alternate Takes 11.07.09: Christmas Movies
(11.07.2009)
With Christmas time already in the air with the release of A Christmas Carol, Alternate Takes looks at some of the best Holiday films, from Scrooged to A Christmas Story. |
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Movies/TV's 3R’s 11.03.09: The Rock, Roger Rabbit, True Grit, Netflix, Southland, More
(11.03.2009)
From The Rock coming back to action flicks, the Coen brothers remaking John Wayne, Anthony Hopkins in Thor, and Microsoft turning off the Family Guy to The Terminator getting auctioned off, Roger Rabbit's sequel finally getting off the ground, Paranormal Activity sequel talk, and more, 411's Shawn S. Lealos breaks down the Right, wRong, and Ridiculous from the week in Movies/TV! |
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Alternate Takes 10.31.09: Horror Remakes
(10.31.2009)
On the weekend of All Hallows' e'en, Alternate Takes brings you something very frightening - horror remakes that are actually as good as the originals. |
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Winger - Karma Review
(10.30.2009)
Beavis and Butthead's least favorite band is back. Can they bring the noise or are they headed for a heartbreak?
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Movies/TV's 3R’s 10.27.09: Paranormal Activity, James Gunn, Nathan Fillion, Scientology, Steven Seagal, More
(10.27.2009)
From Paranormal Activity chasing The Blair Witch, Jay Leno the ratings killer, the Steve Phillips sex scandal, and the new Wolfman trailer to Leo DiCaprio wanting to be The Third Man, Paul Haggis quitting the Church of Scientology, Joss Whedon directing an episode of Glee, and more, 411's Shawn S. Lealos breaks down the Right, wRong, and Ridiculous from the week in Movies/TV! |
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Alternate Takes 10.24.09: Horror Sequels
(10.24.2009)
With the sixth installment of the Saw franchise upon us, Shawn S. Lealos looks at horror sequels that actually surpassed their predecessors in this week's Alternate Takes. |
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Saw VI Review
(10.23.2009)
Many questions are finally answered in the Saw franchise. Were the answers worth the wait? |
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Movies/TV's 3R’s 10.20.09: X-Men, The Avengers, Jack Ryan, Dollhouse, Bon Jovi, More
(10.20.2009)
From Marge Simpson getting naked, Jessica Simpson getting fat, Texas Chainsaw leaving the 70s and Captain Kirk playing Jack Ryan to Bryan Singer talking X-Men, Jackie Earle Haley playing Sinestro, Southland getting dropped, and Bon Jovi becoming NBC's favorite band, 411's Shawn S. Lealos breaks down the Right, wRong, and Ridiculous from the week in Movies/TV! |
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Where the Wild Things Are Review [2]
(10.20.2009)
It's not the next great kid's flick, but it is a masterpiece. |
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Alternate Takes 10.17.09: Children's Literary Adaptations
(10.17.2009)
On the heels of the release of Spike Jonze's Where the Wild Things Are, Shawn S. Lealos looks at other classic children's tales brought to life in this week's Alternate Takes. |
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411 PPV Preview: The Road to TNA Bound For Glory 2009
(10.17.2009)
Will Sting, Mick Foley and Kurt Angle pass the torch at Bound For Glory? Will their one-year anniversary mark the beginning of the end for the Main Event Mafia? For all this and more, join Shawn S. Lealos as he runs down the lineup for the flagship pay-per-view of TNA. |
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Movies/TV's 3R’s 10.13.09: Marlon Wayans, Jamie Foxx, Texas Chainsaw, Paris Hilton, Predators, More...
(10.13.2009)
From Venom getting a writer, Adrian Brody joining Predators, Star Trek breaking records and Texas Chainsaw going 3D to a Showgirls sequel, Paris Hilton losing her head, Dollhouse closing its doors, and Seinfeld on Curb, 411's Shawn S. Lealos breaks down the Right, wRong, and Ridiculous from the week in Movies/TV! |
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Alternate Takes 10.10.09: The Brat Pack
(10.10.2009)
In this week's Alternate Takes, Shawn S. Lealos looks back to the eighties and the infamous Brat Pack. |
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Trick 'r Treat Blu-Ray Review
(10.08.2009)
The best Halloween horror film in over thirty years |
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Movies/TV's 3R’s 10.06.09: Zombieland, Dennis Hopper, The Hobbit, Seth Green, More
(10.06.2009)
From directors petitioning to get Roman Polanski released, The Hobbit getting a reprieve, Seth Green going to network TV, and Jenny Slate dropping the F-Bomb to Kate Plus 8, The Rock being a Tooth Fairy, and Roger Avery going to prison, 411's Shawn S. Lealos breaks down the Right, wRong, and Ridiculous from the week in Movies/TV! |
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