Worldwide Art Exchange with Ben Affleck #actors

I’ve extended Ben Affleck’s reign as King Dong, for another month, so as to not have any missing months with no leading actors this year. Therefore, let’s just say that he is our March and April 2012 King Dong. During April, most of my attention was focused on the A to Z Challenge, so the King Dong series took a backseat to the daily blog posts. A May 2012 King Dong will be announced before this weekend is over but I’d like to take a moment to highlight one of Affleck’s favorite charities, Children Mending Hearts.

Although I mentioned this charity in the post about Ben Affleck being a top GOP pick for everything from economic matters to movie casting choices in Washington, I did not highlight any details about the organization. So in honor of Ben Affleck’s extra, bonus month, here are some tidbits about Children Mending Hearts (CMH) that some of you may not know (or maybe you did; in that case, let the info serve as a nice reminder).

Ben Affleck serves on the Board of Advisors for Children Mending Hearts, an organization that provides art education and art workshops for at-risk and homeless youth. One of their workshops is titled “Please Mr. President” and participants include at-risk and homeless children who write letters and paint T-shirts and backpacks for disadvantaged youth in other countries. Through these arts exchange programs, CMH aims to build its participants’ self-esteem and hope for a brighter future where they can reach their full potential.

Children Mending Hearts partners with many organizations around the globe to connect youth who can share their life stories with other young people living in similar or worse conditions than they are. CMH also launched an after-school program for at-risk youth in Los Angeles and recently held their annual Spring Benefit Gala, where Tom Cruise’s son, Connor Cruise provided music.

The organization seems to make their art exchange missions a family event -- providing transportation, art supplies, teachers and food for children and their parents or chaperones to engage with youth in another part of the world, through art. Here’s a glimpse of the work that CMH does: in 2011, hundreds of children in Los Angeles, CA painted T-shirts and backpacks for youth in Haiti and Japan.

If YOU were asked to paint a T-Shirt or Backpack for one child or adult in any where in the world, what country would YOU want to send the finished piece to and why?

If YOU could receive a painted T-Shirt from one child or adult in another country, where would YOU want it to come from?

Photo by Erin Lassahn

GOP Favorite Ben Affleck, One of the Worst Casting Decisions in History

Although we may not see Ben Affleck running for office any time soon, he’s still rather popular in congress -- especially among our Republican leaders. The GOP screens Affleck’s movies during their debates and Arizona Senator John McCain wants this “Changing Lanes” star to play him in a future film. Apparently McCain thinks that Affleck is a better fit than Ed Harris, who portrays this 2008 Presidential nominee in the HBO movie “Game Change.”

South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham believes, however, that McCain’s pick of Ben Affleck would be “one of the worst casting decisions in history -- but it works.” Do you agree? Would you be convinced watching Ben Affleck in a role based on Senator John McCain?

I asked my 24 Hours with Ben Affleck team this very question and here is what they had to say about McCain’s casting choice.

“No I don’t think he would, although he does look like a young McCain, I think he just isn’t good enough as an actor to pull that kind of part off. George Eads would be a better fit for a young McCain, but again not the best actor. I've just never rated him I'm afraid. Sorry Affleck fans.” - Dale at Smurfin' the Web

“Interesting. Of course, physically that is a tough match since Affleck would tower over McCain. I do see a few similar facial expressions, but I can't quite make the jump to imagine Affleck as a convincing McCain. Plus, I think that while Affleck is great at writing and directing all types of films and at acting in movies about guy friends, his dramatic chops could still use some work. Overall, I would say McCain is barking up the wrong tree! I would probably pick Philip Seymour Hoffman or Richard Dreyfuss ... but I can see why McCain prefers to see himself as a young, handsome Affleck!” - Alana Garrigues at Writercize

“I can't picture Ben Affleck as John McCain. Honestly I don't recall what Affleck was in and don't recall his acting, but the McCain character doesn't fit unless we're talking about a younger McCain in his POW days or early political days. If he's a good enough actor though I guess he could pull it off fine. In fact, I just went to look up his movies and I can’t remember him in any of them. Matt Damon I can remember, Ben Affleck not.” - Arlee Bird at Tossing It Out, Co-host of the 2012 A to Z Challenge

While Affleck, who supports dozens of charities including Children Mending Hearts, might not be convincing as a politician, McCain doesn’t appear to be convincing as a movie casting director, either.

Regardless of whether Ben Affleck ever gets the starring role in such a film or not, would YOU watch a biopic on Senator John McCain if one was released in theaters?

24 Hours with Ben Affleck #march #actors #meme

What would you do if you had 24 Hours with Ben Affleck? 

I’d probably ask him if he believes that changing a Boston street name was worthwhile, from a marketing and financial standpoint, when the Ultimate Collector’s Edition of “The Town” was released on Blu-ray and DVD was released earlier this month.

Recently, I found out that a few writers and movie aficionados would have some more active plans in mind for their time spent with this actor. These 24-hour schedules, complete with Ben Affleck in company, are filled with edible treats, fun at the arcade and pain.

“I think I would spend 24 hours torturing him slowly and painfully for his roles in Armageddon, Pearl Harbour, Daredevil. For ruining the Jack Ryan series in The Sum Of All Fears, and generally turning up in, writing or directing mates films to give them more apparent ‘pulling power’ at the box office...” - Dale at Smurfin’ the Web

“If I had 24 hours with Ben Affleck, I would spend it hanging out in a pub, playing skeeball over a few pints, picking his brain for all his best Boston buddy stories and latest script ideas. I imagine it would be non-stop laughter with some great political and social zingers thrown in for further thought. I do imagine it would be on your toes, fast thinking conversation, as I think he is a really smart guy.” - Alana Garrigues at Writercize

“If it were consecutive hours I'm sure part of it would be sleeping, but I'll answer as though it were something like 8 hour increments over 3 days. I'd want to go eat with him at his favorite restaurants since we'd have to eat and I like to try new restaurants. I'd definitely want to talk filmmaking and just get to know him in general. Hang out in some of the places where he hangs and meet some of his friends. It might be nice to spend part of the time at work with him on a film shoot or whatever to get an idea of what his working life is like.” - Arlee Bird at Tossing It Out & Founder of the A to Z Challenge

What a day! Which of these three 24 hour periods with Ben Affleck would YOU want to participate in?