Instagram live replay of my interview with HRC Michigan – Annie, you’re a gem! We discussed my recent recognitions by INvolve People and Corp! Magazine, how Clark Hill creates an inclusive culture, the important work the Legal Marketing Association has done around DEI, what authenticity really means, and how important it is to simply live and let live.
Thank you, Legal News’ Brian Cox, Brad Thompson, Sheila Pursglove, for the lovely support you’ve consistently shown me in my career. Grateful for you, for your friendship, and for all you do for our profession!
Roy Sexton, director of marketing has been selected by Corp! Magazine as one of Michigan’s 2024 Most Valuable Professionals.
Sexton was among the winners of the 9th annual MVP Awards, honoring the state’s most dynamic and influential business leaders. Corp! Magazine characterized the winners as the leading voices in shaping Michigan’s business and economic direction. The MVP Awards recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to their businesses, their communities, and the state of Michigan.
Sexton leads Clark Hill’s marketing, branding and communications efforts in collaboration with the firm’s exceptional team of marketing and business development professionals. He has over 25 years of experience in marketing, communications, business development and strategic planning.
“At Clark Hill, our value proposition is simple. We offer our clients an exceptional team, dedicated to the delivery of outstanding service,” says Sexton. “We recruit and develop talented individuals and empower them to contribute to our rich diversity of legal and industry experience. “
Sexton is passionate about problem solving, facilitating business growth, crafting communications strategy and enhancing law firm culture. He works closely with the marketing team to advance the firm’s digital and social media presence and external engagement, using multi-channel distribution and data collection. This enables the team to quantify results and use those results to produce thoughtfully and strategically organized content for clients and prospects.
Sexton was named one of INvolve People’s 2023 Top 100 OUTstanding LGBTQ+ Executives internationally. He was listed in Crain’s Detroit Notable LGBTQ in Business in 2021 and Notable Leaders in Marketing in 2023, and he was a Michigan Lawyers Weekly Unsung Legal Hero in 2018.
In 2022, Clark Hill’s marketing campaign received the Best Marketing Campaign award from the Managing Partners’ Forum in London, celebrating professional services organizations. The campaign was noted for its focus on values, diversity and inclusion. The Clark Hill marketing and business development team was also awarded Best Marketing Initiative by Managing Partners’ Forum in 2020.
“I’m proud of how DEI has become so fully integrated into my professional efforts in this world. As international president of the Legal Marketing Association (LMA) in 2023 and as immediate past president this year, we have kept inclusion front and center, including me singing ‘Born This Way’ with drag queen Athena Dion in Florida last year at our annual conference,” says Sexton.
He adds, “At Clark Hill we received Mansfield Certification for our efforts in the DEI space as well as conducting firmwide allyship training, all led by our fabulous HR team, supported by the marketing team on external messaging, including a series of DEI-focused videos. Those videos have received hundreds of thousands of views which is very heartening to the team here.”
Sexton hosts the monthly Expert Webcast series “All the World’s YOUR Stage: Authentic Culture Drives Authentic Growth,” discussing the importance of inclusion, allyship, authenticity, and personal/professional branding with nationally recognized executives and thought leaders. Each episode has a monthly reach of at least 20,000 impressions.
“Always take the pause. This is advice my wonderful boss, our Clark Hill Chief Marketing and Business Development Officer Susan Ahern, has imparted on me regularly. We live in such a wired world, and, while responsiveness will always have its place, being measured and thoughtful, listening and learning first, and then collaboratively coming to solutions always wins the day. This has been transformational advice for me. Oh, and pick up the phone sometimes – nuance is too frequently lost in email and things can unfortunately escalate as a result!” Sexton comments. “Also, I carry with me the wisdom my late mother often shared: ‘Tell people what they mean to you in the moment when it will mean something to them.’ Carrying the large responsibilities of the LMA presidency, this thinking served me very well. Again, pause, acknowledge, reciprocate. It makes the world better for all.”
In 2023, Sexton was the international president of the 4,000-member Legal Marketing Association (LMA), a professional organization he’s been a member of since 2012. Throughout his tenure as LMA’s leader, Roy prioritized DEI issues, putting them front and center on all education and messaging efforts.
Sexton also serves on the board of Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit, and he is a published author of two books: Reel Roy Reviews, Volumes 1 and 2. He was named Best Actor in a Musical by BroadwayWorld Detroit in 2017 for his performance as Jasper in The Mystery of Edwin Drood at Ann Arbor Civic.
“Be open and inquisitive to all adventures before you. Every task represents an opportunity to learn and nothing should be ‘beneath us.’ Obviously, know and hold your worth, but sometimes working on that presentation with a colleague is an opportunity to see how others think, to help shape narrative, and to expand your skill set,” Sexton advises.
He adds, “That was what differentiated me in the early days of my career when I was still in healthcare. I worked on bond rating presentations, board retreats, strategic visioning decks and everything in between. I’m a theatre person by training so storytelling is important to me, and I was able to enrich the work by helping my colleagues consider audience needs in their presentations. Through that I built relationships, gained trust, and was exposed to a number of operational areas that would have otherwise been unavailable to me.”
July 24, 6 pm eastern time … live on Instagram with HRC Michigan – more info here.
And thank you dear friends and colleagues Steve Fretzin and Ray Koenig for the lovely shout out here. Love you, both!
EXCERPT …
STEVE: So would we be, so we would be doing the right thing by giving a shout out to Roy Sexton, huh?
RAY: We can always give a shout out to Roy Sexton. Roy heads our marketing for entire firm and he is the king of celebrating other people.
STEVE: King of authenticity. That guy is crushing that on so many levels, but when I think about authentic, I go right to Roy, he’s amazing.
RAY: He really is and he provides a really great example for the attorneys in our firm. And then I think especially for the younger ones. And I think also for the people that in our firm, that most of us feel we don’t fit a cookie cutter mold and don’t want to, that’s Roy.
Roy is who he is and in a really good way. He’s also really smart and strategic. He does so many things well, but he’s just, he’s really good at, he’s authentic, but he’s also really good at celebrating other people, which I just, I really appreciate in that respect.
And then we also, full disclosure, we have a very good friendship. So he’s one of the first people to text me or call me when something good happens in my life. He’s just a great human being.
STEVE: Yep, yep, absolutely agreed. And he’s, I think he’s been on the show a couple of times. He’s just one of my favorite people and always so warm and inviting.
Roy Sexton, Director of Marketing at Clark Hill, has been named one of Michigan’s 2024 Most Valuable Professionals by Corp! Magazine. The recognition highlights Sexton’s significant contributions to his firm and the broader business community in Michigan.
With over 25 years of experience in marketing, communications, business development, and strategic planning, Sexton leads Clark Hill’s marketing, branding, and communications efforts. His work emphasizes collaboration with a skilled team to deliver exceptional service to clients. “We recruit and develop talented individuals and empower them to contribute to our rich diversity of legal and industry experience,” Sexton stated.
Sexton was named one of INvolve People’s 2023 Top 100 OUTstanding LGBTQ+ Executives internationally. He was listed in Crain’s Detroit Notable LGBTQ in Business in 2021 and Notable Leaders in Marketing in 2023, and he was a Michigan Lawyers Weekly Unsung Legal Hero in 2018.
Sexton’s leadership extends to his role as the 2023 International President of the Legal Marketing Association (LMA), a position he has used to prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). “I’m proud of how DEI has become so fully integrated into my professional efforts in this world. As international president of the Legal Marketing Association (LMA) in 2023 and as immediate past president this year, we have kept inclusion front and center,” Sexton said. Under his guidance, the LMA has launched member resource groups and enhanced its inclusive talent pipeline.
His efforts at Clark Hill have also led to notable recognitions, including Mansfield Certification for DEI efforts and awards from the Managing Partners’ Forum for marketing campaigns focused on values, diversity, and inclusion. Sexton’s team has been instrumental in advancing the firm’s digital and social media presence, producing strategically organized content for clients and prospects.
Sexton is also active outside his professional responsibilities. He serves on the board of Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit and is a published author of two books. Additionally, he hosts the monthly Expert Webcast series “All the World’s YOUR Stage: Authentic Culture Drives Authentic Growth,” where he discusses inclusion, allyship, authenticity, and branding with nationally recognized executives.
Reflecting on his career, Sexton emphasized the importance of thoughtful communication and collaboration. “Always take the pause. This is advice my wonderful boss, our Clark Hill Chief Marketing and Business Development Officer Susan Ahern, has imparted on me regularly,” he commented. He also shared personal wisdom from his late mother: “Tell people what they mean to you in the moment when it will mean something to them.”
“Playing comedy is hell. The necessity to have an audience love you is perhaps more overwhelming than in any other form of entertainment. With singing, dancing, acting you don’t know until it’s over if you’ve had acceptance or rejection. The comic knows sooner. The audience laughs or it doesn’t.” – Imogene Coca
One might describe marketing and business development similarly. In fact, there is one unicorn in this industry who is adept at BOTH: Brenda Pontiff. We are thrilled that Brenda is joining host Roy Sexton to talk about how business development and stand-up comedy are in fact two great tastes that taste great together!
Born and raised in Texas, Brenda Pontiff left for graduate school in Kansas and wound up touring the country with the Complex Improv Theater. She returned home and began working on her stand-up comedy skills at The Houston Comedy Workshop’s Comixh Annex, the infamous club that spawned the likes of Bill Hicks and Sam Kinison. A few years later, she moved to Los Angeles and became a New Face at the famed Hollywood Improv. She was also a regular at Igby’s and toured as a feature act for franchise clubs including Punchlines, FunnyBones, and Laff Stops. She took a 14-year break in the early 2000s to focus on her global business development career but has happily returned to bring her Texas meets California perspective to the stage. Brenda believes comedy is like the Mafia, you can never leave.
During said global business development career, Brenda founded Partner Track Academy after years of watching young accountants and lawyers, often part of a group challenged with inclusion barriers, panic over business development expectations related to making partner. So often firms’ marketing staff members are not trained to support non-partners’ revenue generation efforts or they simply do not have the bandwidth to do so. This missing component can be filled through individual, customized coaching or periodic workshops and presentations that provide tools, tips, and best practices that lead to improved networking habits, client satisfaction, revenue growth, and ultimately, a coveted seat at the partners’ table.
Brenda has:
· More than 25 years in accounting and law firm sales and marketing.
· Sold services on behalf of an AmLaw 100 firm, exceeding sales and new client acquisition goals for almost eight years.
· Worked as a professional speaker, stand-up comic, writer, and actress, winning several national awards.
· Created a new sales process for a Big Four accounting firm, taking revenues from zero to $3.7 MM in the first year.
· Led a Big Four sales support team during the demise of Arthur Andersen, winning 67% of the regional client base while competing against three other international accounting firms.
· Maintained a 100% success rate while working as a Big Four global strategist to retain critical, at-risk clients.
· Created a cross-selling client team that increased an AmLaw 200 firm’s revenue by $900,000 through one pitch meeting.
· Spoken frequently at association events and corporate retreats regarding account-centric methodologies, best practices for networking at conferences, diversity and inclusion change management, harnessing stress for better productivity, navigating the book of business demand, and embracing resiliency.
Thank you, Clark Hill and Corp! Magazine, for this recognition. It truly means the world. I do the best I can to focus on helpfulness and team-building and community and celebrating the authenticity in everyone, so a nod like this really puts the wind in my sails. I’m grateful I get to work for such an incredible organization as Clark Hill as well as support my professional community in the Legal Marketing Association. I’m truly a fortunate soul!
And thank you, Joel Epstein, Leslie Smithson, Jennifer Kluge, Alexis Yaeger (Jakowinicz), for your friendship and support on this. I appreciate you all very much!
Thank you to producer Anna Spektor for her loving support and to friend (and our next guest!) Brenda Pontiff for connecting me with the divine Tim Duffy, CMT!
What is that old joke? “How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, practice, PRACTICE!” On this episode, we discuss a different kind of practice but one no less applicable to the business world: how meditation can enhance mindfulness and yield personal and professional success.
Guest Tim Duffy and host Roy Sexton unpack the career pivot Tim has taken to leverage his personal discoveries in this arena to help business leaders worldwide. Roy, being an avowed entertainment geek and fanboy, will no doubt ask Tim to talk about his career journey in Hollywood, what he learned from those experiences, and how his successful navigation of the entertainment industry now informs his coaching and consulting work.
Recently featured as a speaker at the iconic Netflix is a Joke Fest and the Hollywood and Mind Summit, Tim is a two-time Emmy-winner, an advanced meditation practitioner and a Mindfulness-based Executive Coach. His unique background in Behavioral Psychology paired with his wildly successful career as a Fortune 500 Executive and two-time startup Founder fuels his work with executives, performers and organizations.
Tim writes, “In 2010, I launched MTV Networks’ first Mindfulness Program and immediately became enamored with helping businesses harness the power of their greatest asset: people! During the next 13 years, I trained high-level executives throughout corporate America at companies like Amazon, Endeavor Agency, Netflix, AirBnB, and more, while implementing the same techniques and insights in my ‘other life.’ … In 2013, I launched my first startup, Ugly Brother Studios, which became widely known as one of the premier Food & Travel production companies in Entertainment. During this time, I created, sold, produced, and directed over 12 series, garnering nine Emmy Nominations, two life-changing wins, and four James Beard Award Nominations. … Through mindfulness and meditation, I’ve learned how to be truly alive to these people and to my own body and mind. Alive to the births of my children, the struggles of business, the joy of winning awards, the challenges of divorce, the loss of my father, the bliss of falling in love and, like us all, a freakin’ pandemic.”
Two of my Jiminy Cricket guardian angels – Liz Sobe and Laura Gassner Otting – just ran into each other at the train station! Hijinks ensued.
We live in interesting, sometimes exhilarating, often sad times. You might ask why am I sharing this image? There is a point here. And it’s not to garner sympathy. You might also ask why do I put myself through this? I’ve developed a pretty thick skin the last couple of years, and I’m quite proud of that honestly.
But I sometimes hear – and recently did – that we’ve come so far, and the world has changed, so how much visibility is really still needed? I would simply point your attention to these reactions to my Facebook post of this interview. Now I have a public profile, on purpose, and most of these are reactions from people I do not know. And I’m fine with that.
More than half of the 127 reactions have an angry or a laughing or a crying emoji, perhaps in some kind of judgment. These are exactly the people I want to reach. These are people who need to remember our common humanity. And the price of admission for me is that they get to believe they are mocking me from behind a cell phone screen or computer monitor.
They aren’t. They are merely shining a light on how much work we have yet to do.
P.S. File under bittersweet but optimistic joy … just wrapped my last in person meeting on the Legal Marketing Association – LMA International board. I still have six months ahead yet to serve, but in the spirit of fiscal responsibility and keeping resources directed to member value, we will have virtual meetings the rest of 2024.
The past two days have been incredible as President Kevin Iredell and CEO Ashley Stenger alongside incomparable Jonathan Lurie navigated us through robust and inspiring strategic planning conversations. The future is bright indeed with the marvelous, collaborative, forward thinking, kind group of talented humans on this board. It was lovely catching up, commiserating, thinking among friends old and new.
Excited to see where the road takes LMA and grateful I’ve gotten to be some small part of this journey the past five years. Onward and upward!
Oh my goodness, Idan Nishlis, Lee Saunders, Nishlis Legal Marketing, thank you for this lovely opportunity to tell a bit about my journey as a gay man in this industry. This absolutely made my day. Love you and grateful for your leadership and all you give our community. 🌈💕
“As part of Pride month we have been interviewing key figures in the legal industry for our series ‘Talking Pride with…’
“We are excited to share insights from Roy Sexton, Director of Marketing at Clark Hill and Past President of the Legal Marketing Association – LMA International (LMA). In this interview Roy discusses with Nishlis Legal Marketing the impact of identity on career choices, the importance of authenticity in the workplace, and Clark Hill’s commitment to Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion (DEI).
“‘I believe when we can be our authentic selves, we are free and comfortable to do our best work. I’m glad to see the world catching up to that idea.’
“Read more about how being true to oneself can lead to professional success and how law firms are evolving to embrace inclusivity.”
As part of Pride month we have been interviewing key figures in the legal industry for our series “Talking Pride with…”
We are excited to share insights from Roy Sexton, Director of Marketing at Clark Hill and Past President of the Legal Marketing Association (LMA). In this interview Roy discusses with Nishlis Legal Marketing the impact of identity on career choices, the importance of authenticity in the workplace, and Clark Hill’s commitment to Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion (DEI).
How – if at all – has your identity shaped or influenced your career choices?
Whether from being a member of the LGBTQ+ community or being an only child or some intersection of both, I’ve always been willing to take risks. This world imposes unnecessary limits on us based on identity, and when faced with that, I always feel some peculiar urge to prove everyone wrong. I had an executive coach once who laughingly said I seemed willing to put myself in harm’s way (career-wise) just to see what might happen. Lol.
I had spent the better part of a decade in healthcare and found myself getting bored with it, so I just threw my résumé out there and was hired by my first firm in 2011. The managing partner at the time was running for Congress and wanted someone to step in and pick up the marketing responsibilities he had so ably carried. I didn’t realize I was taking a risk making such a dramatic career pivot, but I’m incredibly glad that I did.
This has been such a rewarding industry to support, and being part of the Legal Marketing Association community and being embraced by it so fully gave me a sense of self and confidence that I don’t know that I had had previously.
What were your expectations of the law as a member of the LGBTQ+ community? Did you have any specific preconceptions, fears, or concerns and how has that turned out in reality?
Given what might be perceived as career recklessness on my part, I don’t know that I had any preconceived notions when I joined this industry in 2011. I mean, much like healthcare, I presumed there would be an element of keeping focus on the work first and foremost with identity/authenticity being secondary.
I’ve always felt differently about that presumption and have tried to flip it on its head wherever I worked. I believe when we can be our authentic selves, we are free and comfortable to do our best work. I’m glad to see the world catching up to that idea.
And honestly, I think I was refreshingly surprised by the firms where I’ve had the privilege to work. Yes, there has always been an element of keeping a professional polish on everything, but I have also found in law, a great joy in celebrating our own quirks and eccentricities and differences. I feel like that’s where the marketing magic really lies. And thereby one can execute some really fascinating storytelling to promote one’s chosen organization.
Much is made of Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (DEI) these days and its role in law, how active are you / your law firm in this area?
I’m really thrilled by our leadership in this arena. Our CEO John Hensien and leadership team more broadly have such a visible commitment in this space. We have dedicated resource groups to support everyone in the firm, attorneys and staff.
And we have made a concerted effort to weave DEI education into all of our external marketing messaging. The firm rolled out allyship training firm wide in the last couple of years, requiring all to attend. The conversations were robust and thoughtful and energizing. We have pursued and achieved Mansfield certification multiple years in a row, and our DEI videos and external content have received hundreds of thousands of views. The team I am privileged to lead has been involved in all of these efforts at various levels, in partnership with our fantastic HR team and other operational leaders. It is very gratifying.
And, of course, in my leadership role last year as president of the Legal Marketing Association, I put this issue front and center in all of my communications. And I may have brought a drag queen on stage in Florida at 8:30 in the morning just to make a point. 😊 I was honored to be recognized for these efforts by INvolve People as one of their top 100 LGBTQ executives worldwide last year.
This all sounds very self-aggrandizing to type, but the real point of it all at this stage of my life is to be the visible example I would have appreciated at earlier points in my career. If I can show people that being myself – my weird and happy and quirky self – yields success, while celebrating the joyous life I have with my husband and our rescue dogs, then I feel like I can make some small difference.
How do you feel law firms are generally today on this topic and what work remains to be done?
I think we have come a long way, and I encourage the industry to keep the courage of its convictions. I have been cautiously optimistic/pleased this Pride month (so far) as I feared firms might walk back visible messaging in light of the cultural pushback that we saw last year that caused some consumer facing companies to walk back their visible advocacy efforts.
It feels as though the industry has in fact, stayed the course, on the balance, and I would encourage those midsized and smaller firms that might still be on the fence about making visible declarations of inclusion to realize the world is evolving, clients are evolving, talent is evolving, and the future will be an inclusive one. Not an exclusive one.
Roy Sexton, Director of Marketing, Clark Hill and Past President of the Legal Marketing Association (LMA).
Founded in 1890, Clark Hill is an international law firm with 700 attorneys in over 25 offices in the U.S., Ireland and Mexico.
Thank you to Scott Lawrence and Gittings Global for this snazzy new headshot
Enjoy “Another openin’, Another show” – How a Life in Theatre Makes Good Business Sense, the latest episode of “All the World’s YOUR Stage” on Expert Webcast … On this episode, guest Lauren M. London and host Roy Sexton commiserate on how a life in theatre has informed their respective career arcs; what it is like to be a community minded entrepreneur in the arts world; the intersection of professional services, law, and audience building; and how the magic of storytelling and narrative can drive personal and professional success to achieve business outcomes.
Lauren London graduated from Brown University in 1998 with an Sc.B., with honors in Psychology. She attained her law degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2002, and later completed a judicial clerkship with the Honorable Raymond M. Kethledge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. She has practiced law in Michigan for over 20 years, and presently serves as the General Counsel at Eastern Michigan University, a position she’s held since 2018.
She joined Eastern in 2013 as its sole Associate General Counsel, having previously worked as Assistant General Counsel for Bosch USA in Farmington Hills, Michigan, focusing on commercial law, contract negotiation, product liability, antitrust, and civil litigation. She began her legal career as a litigator and appellate specialist with the Dykema law firm. Working in the firm’s Ann Arbor, Detroit, and Bloomfield Hills offices, she gained significant experience in the areas of civil appeals, constitutional law, and litigation. Lauren has lectured extensively on the First Amendment, speaking to students, faculty, and staff at EMU and in the surrounding community. She is an active member of a number of professional associations, including the National Association of College and University Attorneys.
For the past 13 years, alongside her legal career, Lauren has also served as President and now Executive Director of The Penny Seats Theatre Company, an Ann Arbor-based non-profit professional theater. She co-founded the company in 2010 with a group of friends (among them, one Roy Sexton!) The Penny Seats produces 3-4 mainstage shows per year and provides paid work to numerous Michigan-based artists and designers. Lauren lives in Ann Arbor with her husband, Zach, and their two children.
Thank you, Anna Spektor, for your loving production, friendship, and kindness!
Plus shout outs in the show to Nina and Bob Schwartz, Susie and Don Sexton, Elissa Altman, Tim Duffy.
The entirety of the superhero film genre deals with issues of identity and family and belonging. The best entries – Superman, Dick Tracy, Iron Man, The Dark Knight, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Guardians of the Galaxy, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Wonder Woman, Thor: Ragnarok, Black Panther, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse – transport us to escapist realms while metaphorically helping reconcile the harsh reality of our daily lives vs. our wish fulfillment fantasy to champion all underdogs and right all wrongs. This disconnect between the inner child who still feels all things are possible and the jaded adult who fears the best of life has passed one by keeps us spinning the wheel at the superhero box office in the hopes of finding our ultimate champion on the silver screen.
And Shazam! comes pretty damn close.
[Image Source: Wikipedia]
Based on the classic Fawcett Comics character Captain Marvel, Shazam was acquired by DC Comics in a copyright dispute in the 1950s over the character’s (overstated) similarities to Superman. DC, ironically in turn, lost the rights to use the name (but not the character) “Captain Marvel” to Marvel Comics in the 1970s, and Marvel’s version of “Captain Marvel” had her cinematic debut one month ago. Consequently, DC’s “Captain Marvel” now goes by “Shazam,” which in actuality is the magic word young Billy Batson exclaims to become “The Big Red Cheese” Captain Marvel (but we can’t actually call him “Captain Marvel” any more). Clear as mud? Thanks a lot, intellectual property laws. (It’s all explained much better and in much more detail here.)
None of this matters one whit to your ultimate enjoyment of David F. Sandberg’s film treatment of Shazam (which was also a corny Saturday morning Filmation live action series in the 1970s and a Republic serial in the 1940s). For the casual film-goer, the more relevant comparison is to Tom Hanks’ classic comedy Big as a wish fulfillment fantasy of a little boy lost who assumes adulthood (and superpowers) will solve all his real-life problems (spoiler alert: they don’t). Shazam even offers an onscreen nod to Big’s FAO Schwartz super-sized floor piano keyboard duet.
[Image Source: Wikipedia]
Asher Angel (think young Zac Efron, but a bit less precious) plays foster kid Billy Batson, ever on the hunt for the birth mother he lost years ago at a winter carnival and who mysteriously never reclaimed her son. Batson bounces from group home to group home until he lands at the beautifully blended foster home of Rosa and Victor Vasquez (warm and earthy Marta Milans and Cooper Andrews). Overeager and lonely foster brother Freddy Freeman (It‘s Jack Dylan Grazer in a dynamite and heartbreaking turn) introduces Billy to the nerdy joys of super hero trivia, and, before we know it, flash-bam-boom!, Billy finds himself one subway stop away from the magical “Rock of Eternity,” imbued with magical abilities by an ancient wizard (an almost unrecognizable Djimon Hounsou).
[Image Source: Wikipedia]
When Billy shouts “Shazam!” (acronym of Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles, and Mercury and the respective abilities of each), the young boy transforms into 6’3″ Zachary Levi (Chuck, Tangled, She Loves Me) whose sitcom/musical comedy ethos paired with a physique that now seems to have muscles-on-top-of-muscles makes him the perfect choice for this whimsical hero.
The film is saddled, as are most comic book adaptations alas, with a “take over the world” megalomaniac antagonist. This time, Mark Strong plays Dr. Sivana, and, in his typical glowering skinny/tall-British-Stanley-Tucci-with-dodgy-dental-work-way, Strong meanders about the film, saying vaguely apocalyptic things and shooting energy bolts from his hands. He’s completely unnecessary.
[Image Source: Wikipedia]
Thematically, Strong’s primary contribution seems to be to further the film’s exploration of family lost and family gained. Sivana’s father is a Lex Luthor-esque SOB, played by the go-to actor for Lex-Luthor-esque SOBs John Glover (Gremlins 2, Smallville … where, in fact, he played Lex Luthor’s dad) whose brutal parenting style predictably turns his little lad into a grade-A psychopath.
[Image Source: Wikipedia]
Shazam! works best when the film turns its gaze toward the adorable band of misfits in Billy’s foster home. The child actors are loving, lovable, believable, and kind. The challenges Billy endures embracing his new home and relinquishing his dream of reuniting with his birth mother are poignant and accessible and juxtapose nicely with the comic farce of him learning to be a proper super hero. Levi is an utter delight playing a 14-year-old boy in an (overgrown) man’s body, attempting superheroics when all he really wants to do is gobble junk food and play video games. At one point, Batson in his superhero persona observes, “If a superhero can’t save his family, he’s not much of a hero after all.” Amen to that. Amen to that.
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Thanks to my boss Susan and coworker Megan for this! #wishfulfillment
Reel Roy Reviews is now TWO books! You can purchase your copies by clicking here (print and digital). In addition to online ordering at Amazon or from the publisher Open Books, the first book is currently is being carried by Bookbound, Common Language Bookstore, and Crazy Wisdom Bookstore and Tea Room in Ann Arbor, Michigan and by Green Brain Comics in Dearborn, Michigan. My mom Susie Duncan Sexton’s Secrets of an Old Typewriter series is also available on Amazon and at Bookbound and Common Language.
“Boy Bands who dance make more money,” 98 Degrees’ Nick Lachey observed wryly during a pre-show Q&A at Detroit’s Sound Board in the Motor City Casino on Sunday, December 16. The band was in town with their holiday music tour At Christmas, supporting their recent album Let It Snow. This is their second volume of Christmas tunes, the first being 1999’s This Christmas.
Nick’s answer followed a question about what the 40-somethings (Nick Lachey, his brother Drew Lachey, Jeff Timmons, and Justin Jeffre) would say if they could talk to their younger selves 20 years ago during the band’s seminal days. The other band member answered variations of “just enjoy this, don’t worry so much, and have fun.” Nick’s answer got the biggest laughs for candor and practicality. He surmised, if only he’d allowed himself to be choreographed more or dangle from a trapeze or do back flips, he’d have Justin Timberlake’s career. (Ironic, since his brother Drew was an early winner on ABC’s Dancing With the Stars.)
It was this very inclusive humility that made the boys-to-middle-aged-men so endearing Sunday night. At the mid-point in most pop music careers, there seem to be three doors from which to choose: 1) recycle your own hits before smaller-and-smaller venues; 2) start cranking out “standards collections” (do we really need any more covers of “Someone to Watch Over Me”?); 3) grab a particular holiday and ride the wheels off it (thank you, Perry Como). 98 Degrees have wisely chosen the last option which suits their bromantic ski-lodge cocoa-sipping aesthetic very nicely.
We wisely chose the “VIP upgrade” Sunday night which afforded us a sound check performance, the aforementioned Q&A, a photo op meet-and-greet, and a thoughtfully arrayed “swag bag” (autographed poster, ornament, etc.). I would recommend that to anyone seeing them live. Behind-the-scenes (as well as onstage) they were self-effacing, gracious, and altogether charming. I suspect this hard-earned humility came from years of living in- and out-side the spotlight, both as a vocal group that was generally and unfairly overshadowed by Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC and as solo reality television stars (chagrined George Burns-esque hubby Nick, gold-plated hoofer Drew, and Magic Mike-ish Svengali Jeff) and occasional politicians (thank you, progressive Justin).
As for the show? It’s pretty exceptional. The winsomeness on display informally is manifest in a stage presence that is professional and rehearsed, inclusive and loose and confidently casual, with nary a hint of swagger, and with an authentic appreciation for the fact that people in the audience are still willing to shell out some cash at the holidays to see these Cincinnati kids sing and (sort of) dance. (This is actually our third time seeing them live – once in 2000, and during their first reunion tour in 2013.)
Backed by a strong rhythm section, keyboards, and backing vocalists, 98 Degrees breeze through two hours of holiday music and greatest hits, including a daffy and endearing Disney medley that includes their Stevie Wonder duet from Mulan “True to Your Heart” as well as a take on “Let It Go” (Frozen) that only proud, lightly woke Gen X fathers-of-young-daughters could perform and a breathtaking “Circle of Life” from The Lion King.
“Little Drummer Boy” gets a much needed beat-box refresh; Joni Mitchell’s “River” becomes a sonorous but no less poignant pop anthem; “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” (which we learned was their Motown Records audition song twenty years ago) is given new life as a creamy and rich a cappella number; and their own hit “Una Noche” gets a fizzy infusion of “Feliz Navidad.”
I’m not a fan of holiday music. I think it’s all been run into the ground, and any time a new carol comes along, department store Muzak and pop radio eviscerate its novelty within mere minutes of its arrival. Consequently, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed hearing “Mary, Did You Know?” or “Run Rudolph Run” sincerely delivered by capable vocalists taking the music but not themselves too seriously.
Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. If these boys dedicate their remaining swoon-worthy days to a career of cardigans and holiday doo wop, I’ll gladly follow along. And that is totally unlike me, so well done, lads, well done.
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While I’m recommending holiday (and other) entertainment …
We saw the Barn Theatre’s holiday cabaret during its opening weekend and really enjoyed it. Maybe I’m not such a Grinch after all. From talented critic and pal Marin Heinritz – “It all feels like an intimate family affair — the way we perhaps imagine the holidays to be in our dreams, where everyone is beautiful and happy and talented and welcome; and folks full of love and cheer get together to make merry and shine bright in honor of something much larger than us.” Read her review here.
And my buddy Blaine Fowler, host of the daily Blaine Fowler Morning Show, released a great album 49783 on iTunes and Amazon about a month or so ago in time for his birthday. I’ve been listening to it for awhile, and as I mentioned to him in a text, “Loving it! I’m hearing the influences of Led Zeppelin, Stewart Copeland of the Police, Corey Hart, Rush, a little Maroon 5, Bryan Adams, and The Kinks. Yet, uniquely your own. Production is polished where it should be and rough hewn and funky where not. Your voice is featured nicely as well with catchy at times haunting melodies and heartfelt lyrics.” Check it out!
And because we were at the concert last night, I have not had a chance yet to watch Fox’s live broadcast of A Christmas Story: The Musical – directed by Scott Ellis (She Loves Me, Mystery of Edwin Drood), in fact, the uncle of Blaine Fowler’s cohost Lauren Crocker.
My mom Susie Duncan Sexton offered her enthusiastic take: “It was excellent and clever and added some sensitive-oriented stuff. Great Busby Berkeley-type numbers. Loved all of the three main women and Matthew Broderick…clever use of him to the max. The little boy looks like Jane Krakowski but she makes a darling teacher and Maya and Ana are great. Bully boy quite interesting…little brother looks like Ned Beatty. The story being musicalized gives it true zing.” It got Susie’s seal of approval! I look forward to catching up with this one later this week on the DVR.
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Reel Roy Reviews is now TWO books! You can purchase your copies by clicking here (print and digital). In addition to online ordering at Amazon or from the publisher Open Books, the first book is currently is being carried by Bookbound, Common Language Bookstore, and Crazy Wisdom Bookstore and Tea Room in Ann Arbor, Michigan and by Green Brain Comics in Dearborn, Michigan. My mom Susie Duncan Sexton’s Secrets of an Old Typewriter series is also available on Amazon and at Bookbound and Common Language.
Reel Roy Reviews is now TWO books! You can purchase your copies by clicking 