We Speak Authors
Hollywood film director and author Elizabeth Blake-Thomas on overcoming personal challenges to write her new book, ‘Living With Intention’
Elizabeth Blake-Thomas is a film director, author and founder of mental health practice Medicine With Words. Elizabeth, who is British but based in Los Angeles, directed this year’s release ‘Hunt Club’, starring ‘American Pie’ star Mena Suvari alongside Casper Van Dien and Mickey Rourke, as well as the new film ‘Caralique’, which is out now. Over her career she’s worked with many well-known actors including Tony Todd, Natasha Henstridge, Jodie Sweetin, Malcolm McDowell and Lou Diamond Phillips. Elizabeth’s new book ‘Living With Intention’, published on 19 December 2023 by Wallace Publishing, aims to help people find clarity, purpose and peace in their lives. Her previous books are the novel ‘Arabella’ and the helpful guide to Hollywood, ‘Filmmaking Without Fear’. Elizabeth is also a monthly contributor to Health & Wellbeing magazine, offering insight into how to live a more purposeful, healthier life.
You directed the new film ‘Caralique’ – tell us all about it.
“It’s about a young, determined fashion designer who wants to bring more colour into the world. The story came to me in a format that required a lot of rewriting, but I was immediately interested because it was a mother-daughter story, and because these were people who had faults and flaws. I always enjoy telling stories with these types of characters. It’s an inspirational film, because against all odds, Caralique manages to live her dream. It’s a special film for me too, because it stars my daughter, Isabella Blake-Thomas. It was great to work with my daughter in real life and do something with her that she’s incredibly passionate about.”
What was your experience directing Mena Suvari in ‘Hunt Club’, which was released earlier this year?
“We filmed in Mississippi in a big park. All the crew stayed in cabins and we filmed for 15 days in various places around the park. I loved working on the stunt fight scenes, as well as the intimacy scenes with Jessica Belkin. The story is based on the premise that a daughter is trafficked and murdered and her mother seeks the people out who did it, to get revenge.
“I’m an ambassador for child trafficking awareness. So even though this is a horror movie, it still has a message. It’s just a different way of getting it across.”
You’re a storyteller – not just as a film director, but also as an author. Can you tell us more about your new book, ‘Living With Intention’?
“This is my third book and it means so much to me. I was bullied as a child and also on set a few times – it made me realise that I had to transform my life. The book is called ‘Living With Intention’ because I have clear goals, and I make very definite decisions on how I live my life; I have a strong belief in finding purpose while maintaining peace and clarity. This book guides others to live in the same way, using the tools and exercises I created to teach the methodology.”
How will the book help those who read it?
“It aims to teach the reader how to become self aware, by looking after themselves and maintaining clarity and a healthy mindset.”
“The world is filled with so much noise that I always encourage others to take time for themselves.”
“With tools such as ‘pyramid of purpose’, cabinet cleanse’ and the ‘kintsugi technique’, the reader will really begin to transform their lives.”
Who do you think should read this book and why?
“The exercises in this book never really end. It might be that you fill it out every six months or every year. Maybe you can leave it for as long as five years, or use the exercises daily. It’s great for the individual as well as for the people around them, because it can help families to bond. The exercises are fun as well as creative – it doesn’t matter how old you are, you can still get something out of each exercise.”
Featured photo credit: Isabella Blake-Thomas
We Speak Authors
Sanford K. Sanford, Son of Isabel Sanford, Star of “The Jeffersons”, Guests On Harvey Brownstone Interviews
Harvey Brownstone conducts an in-depth Interview with Sanford K. Sanford, Son of Isabel Sanford, Star of “The Jeffersons”.
Sanford K. Sanford is the son of one of the most popular and beloved stars in the history of television, Isabel Sanford, whose portrayal of Louise Jefferson – or “Weezy”, as we came to know her – first on “All in the Family”, and then for 11 seasons on “The Jeffersons”, made her a household name.
After a distinguished career on the stage, she landed the role of “Tillie” in the classic 1967 movie, “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner”, opposite Katherine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy and Sydney Poitier. From there, she was cast as Louise Jefferson, next door neighbor to “the Bunkers” on the groundbreaking TV show, “All in the Family”. And THAT led to the incredibly successful spinoff, “The Jeffersons”.
Isabel Sanford received 7 Emmy Award nominations, and WON an Emmy in 1981, making her the first and still the only African American woman to win an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. She was also nominated for 5 Golden Globe Awards. She won TWO NAACP Image Awards, and in 1981 she won a Genie Award from the American Women in Radio and Television Association. And in 1985 she received an Honorary Doctorate from Emerson College. She has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. And in 2004, she and her co-star Sherman Hemsley, won a TV Land Award for Favorite Cantankerous Couple.
Sanford K. Sanford has written a wonderful, heartwarming book, entited, “Her Fans Call Her Weezy, But I Call Her Mom”, in which he shares many poignant and life-altering moments with his beloved Mama, and allows the reader to get to know the real person behind the beloved actress – a courageous single mother of 3 children who, despite many challenges in her life, showed remarkable determination and remained focused on becoming a successful actress. Our guest has had a successful music career as a percussionist, and he’s worked with Quincy Jones, Marvin Gaye, Johnny Guitar Watson, Bobby Womack, Cuba Gooding Sr. and The Main Ingredient.
Harvey Brownstone is a retired judge of the Ontario Court of Justice and was the first openly gay judge in Canada. He is also the bestselling author of “Tug of War: A Judge’s Verdict on Separation, Custody Battles and the Bitter Realities of Family Court” and hosted “Family Matters with Justice Harvey Brownstone,” a television talk show on matters involving the family justice system.
After a distinguished legal career, Harvey was appointed a judge at the age of 38 in 1995. He has presided in family and criminal courts. He has been a trailblazer in several ways. He was the first openly gay judge in Canada. He was the first sitting judge in the world to write a national best seller and to host a TV talk show.
Harvey has been a role model and icon in the LGBTQ community. When same-sex marriage was legalized in Canada in 2003, he was the only judge to make himself publicly available to officiate at weddings for lesbian and gay couples travelling to Toronto from all over the world to get married. In 2007, he officiated at the wedding of Edith Windsor and Thea Spyer, the American couple whose marriage triggered the 2013 United States Supreme Court decision overturning the definition of “spouse” in the federal Defense of Marriage Act.
In February 2021, Harvey launched his online talk show “Harvey Brownstone Interviews” on his own YouTube channel. He saw this as an interesting hobby. Within several months, the show attracted hundreds of thousands – and then eventually, millions – of viewers. Because of the overwhelming success of the show, Harvey decided to retire from the judiciary on December 31, 2021 after having presided as a full-time judge for 26 1/2 years. Free from the constraints imposed upon judges regarding the expression of opinions and the endorsement of private enterprise, Harvey now happily devotes his full-time attention to hosting “Harvey Brownstone Interviews” as a regular member of the public – albeit one with a rather illustrious and unique career history.
Watch Sanford K. Sanford on Harvey Brownstone Interviews on Youtube here:
The official website for Harvey Brownstone Interviews may be found at https://www.harveybrownstoneinterviews.com
Get “The Talk Show Blend” – Coffee For The Modern Day Trailblazer! By Harvey Brownstone from Breakfast At Dominique’s available at https://www.HollywoodBlends.com
For more information about Harvey Brownstone, here’s his Wikipedia page:
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