Jenna Elfman

Find out what Jenna Elfman is doing to help people and promote the message of human rights. Visit her website here: Jenna Elfman

A New Deal For Tom Cruise

Tom Cruise's production company has just made a new deal with a large investment company: Cruise hauls in a moviemaking deal. It didn't take long to find a willing group of investors.

Last week Sumner Redstone, the head of the massive multinational corporation "Viacom", bypassed several levels of his company to stop negotiations between Paramount Pictures and Tom Cruise's production company. That's sort of like the President of the United States stepping in to stop a contract negotiation taking place between the City of New York and Donald Trump, it just doesn't make sense.

Also, given that Tom's movies are responsible for roughly a third of Paramount's box office over the past six years (as reported in Daily Variety on Aug 27th) it makes even less sense. So what prompted Redstone to do this crazy act?

Redstone said about Cruise, "his recent conduct has not been acceptable." Hmm. Let's think, did Tom Cruise get drunk, get arrested and then make anti-Semitic comments to one of the cops? No, that was Mel Gibson. Did Tom Cruise throw a phone at a hotel employee who annoyed him? No. that was Russell Crowe. Did Tom Cruise get arrested for a hit and run? No that was someone else. Did he get caught with drugs in his possession? No, that was someone else too.

So what is the unacceptable conduct? Well, he did exercise his right to freedom of speech and told the truth on national TV about the dangers of psychiatric drugs, that there were no tests to prove that psychiatric diseases even existed and that psychiatrists were a bunch of frauds. All things that are known and proven facts.

But, in so doing he cost the drug companies a lot of money because the use of such drugs (antidepressants, etc.) fell noticeably in the following months. His speaking out also helped the FDA get up the courage to issue several warnings about the dangers of psychiatric drugs which further hurt drug company profits.

Now what has that got to do with Sumner Redstone? You ask. Simple, which industry is one of the biggest (possibly the biggest) advertisers? You guessed it: the drug industry. And where does a huge amount of Viacom's revenue come from? Advertising.

It's also possible Redstone has a lot of investment in drug companies - they are extremely profitable after all. Additionally he probably knows many of the top execs of the big drug companies: such people tend to be members of the same societies and are often on each other's boards of directors.

So with all that data it becomes clear why Redstone would be willing to jeopardize a third of the revenue of one relatively small entity in his monster company and why he was willing to attack a man who exercised his right to freedom of speech - a right without which Viacom wouldn't even exist.

Of course his action has not hurt Tom Cruise at all, his production company has already cut a deal with a willing group of investors. Poor old Paramount is the only one who will suffer from Redstone's actions.

Scientology Success: Chick Corea

Chick Corea is one of the greatest Jazz musicians of all time. In July he became the first jazz pianist to receive the prestigious Award of the Piano Festival Ruhr. The lifetime achievement award is given to an artist who has influenced musical development for more than 30 years and has inspired the imagination of generations of musicians. Artistic Director Franz Xaver Ohnesorg presented Corea with the award, which has only Been given to eight other stellar artists, including Daniel Barenboim, Alfred Brendel and Pierre-Laurent.

Chick has also been a Scientologist for almost 40 years. You can read his success story here: Scientology Success: Chick Corea

Anniversary Gala

Can't remember if I did an entry about the recent anniversary gala at the Scientology Celebrity Center.

It was a big affairs with over 1,000 people. I didn't attend unfortunately, however, I heard it was a great evening.

Here's an article about it.

HOLLYWOOD — The Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre International hosted its 37th Anniversary Gala in Hollywood on Saturday, August 5th. The guest list included many of the Church's well-known members, including John Travolta, Kelly Preston, Jenna Elfman, Leah Remini, Giovanni Ribisi, Jason Dohring, Anne Archer, Sofia Milos and Nancy Cartwright (voice of Bart Simpson).

Legendary guest performer Chaka Kahn entertained the more than 1100 guests including parishioners of the Church, local and federal government officials and community leaders.

Guests were also treated to a preview of 30 new TV public service announcements — each illustrating one of the 30 articles of the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Through these audio-visual presentations and other educational tools, Human Rights Department of the Church of Scientology International, in partnership with Youth for Human Rights International, seeks to reach millions of people to raise awareness of fundamental human rights and bring about global change.

Its popularity in the arts mirrors the overall growth of the Scientology religion, with 10 million members in over 150 countries. Its rapid expansion is word-of-mouth driven, due to the religion's practical principles that are used to improve conditions in life.

The Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre in Hollywood was founded in 1969. Other Celebrity Centres are located in cultural centers around the world including New York, Paris, Nashville, Vienna, Florence and London.

In keeping with Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard's words from 1951, "A culture is only as great as its dreams, and its dreams are dreamed by artists," these Celebrity Centres are the arts and cultural branch of the Scientology religion and as such work with those whose broad visions for social enhancement are the catalyst for positive change in society. Celebrity Centres, like all churches of Scientology worldwide, are open to the public.

More on John Travolta and friends

Check out these AP photos of John Travolta, his wife and Leah Remini:
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/060806/482/37826c9dc10145fab16eea7d30c1ac98

amd here with the wonderful Jenna Elfman:
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/060806/482/0f7e74f4a37b4a6bb1fbeb8187fd121d

The photo was taken at the Celebrity Center International, the Church of Scientology were celebrities take couses and Scientology spiritual counseling.

If you have never been there, you should drop by and do a tour. This is the location where the following speech was given: http://www.rtc.org/en_US/presentations/thisisscientology.html

Tom Cruise Does It Again

Tom Cruise has a history of coming to peoples' aid. From saving a woman who was being mugged, to getting a hit-and-run victim to hospital (and paying her bill) Tom epitomizes the care for one's fellow man that all Scientologists share. Well, he's just done it again, as reported by E Online: Tom and Katie to the Rescue!

Duff

A Scientology musician who really is underated is Michael Duff. He used to have a band called "Chalk Farm" and they really rocked.

Michael is an interesting person - he works with "Artists for Human Rights" and he is also a good webdesigner.

He has been a Scientologist for many years. See what he has to say about the subject.

Anne Archer on the Environmnet

Anne Archer is an IAS Freedom Medalist and a runner up in the Academy Awards. She is also a very beautiful and socially conscious woman.

Here's what she says about the environmnet (it's on the web site of the Earth Organziation.

"There is not one of us that is not aware, that the environment around us is changing for the worst. Yet we leave the task to others to do something about it.

"The Earth Organization is the first international organization that has realistic goals that all of us can
achieve right now to help preserve
our environment.

"Our own survival on Earth is dependant upon the well being of all the other life forms that share our planet with us because none survive alone!

"And as we contribute to preserving and enhancing our environment, our own lives are enriched because we "know we are contributing to the preservation of the Earth, our home.

"It really is becoming obvious that the time has come for all of us to be involved. If every one of us did our part, we could turn around this downward spiral.

"That is why I have decided to helpbecause I know I can help."

John Travolta

It was great hearing what John Travolta had to say about Scientology at the 37th anniversary Gala at the Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre last weekend:

"I've been part of the Celebrity Center for 31 years this year. So every year is a celebration for me because when I found Celebrity Center I found my life again."

Scientology Success: Juliette Lewis

Juliette Lewis is an accomplished actor and a dynamic singer/performer. Here is what she has to say about Scientology: Scientology Success: Juliette Lewis

Scientology Success: Lisa Marie Presley

Lisa Marie Presley was born in the shadow cast by her famous father but despite that she has carved out a successful career for herself as a singer/songwriter. Here she tells us how Scientology has helped her: Scientology Success: Lisa Marie Presley.

Scientology Success: Isaac Hayes

Isaac Hayes is probably most famous as the composer of the theme song for the movie "Shaft". It won an Oscar. Here is what he has to say about his experiences with Scientology: Scientology Success: Isaac Hayes

Scientology Success: Kirstie Alley

Kirstie Alley is a lady who doesn't mince words. She's very forthright and tells it like it is. So as you'd expect, her Scientology Success Story is short and to the point: Scientology Success: Kirstie Alley.