<b>WHO IS ROB McKINNON?</b> My early years in the entertainment field included performing as a musician and entertainer during my stint in the Army, later performing with my own jazz ensemble in the Boston area, opening concerts for such jazz notables as Dizzy Gillespie and James Moody. I was born in Reading, Massachusetts, studied acting and theatrical directing and graduated cum laude from Boston University with a degree in film and broadcasting. Because of my combined experiences in film directing, acting and writing, and life-long studies of American film, I thoroughly enjoy writing movie reviews and conducting live interviews. I write a weekly column "Watching Movies" for Houston's "Daily Court Review."
And like many other film reviewers, I've begun writing screenplays. With my partner Jolene McMaster, we're establishing a feature film production company in Houston (Pure Horror Films, Inc,) specializing in psychological horror films. We'll continue to grow our internet site ITEN.NET (INTERNET TALK & ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK), with audio programming, including interviews with other film directors, written movie reviews, and specialty music programs--jazz and blues. It's on- demand programming for the internet audience. We also chair the TALA (Texas Accountants & Lawyers for the Arts) Film Club which was organized in October 1998 by attorney Jamie Baker. (We're not lawyers or accountants, but for better or worse, we've spent a lot of time around them.) TALA helps aspiring artists who otherwise couldn't afford these legal and accounting services. We've recently produced a video and handbook for Houston-Galveston Area Council featuring successful Juvenile Justice Accountability programs in Texas. The handbook provides much information on how to set up these juvenile justice programs in other communities and it's available free (as a result of a grant from the Criminal Justice Division, Office of the Governor) to interested communities. AND, I'm very proud to be a part of ONLINE FILM CRITICS SOCIETY.
