Game Change

The movie "Game Change" was designed to depict the narrative from the left about Sarah Palin as being true. The movie was about the narrative. The progressive/liberal left must be terrified of a Sarah Palin resurrection, as they are re-crucifying her with this movie. The truth cannot be stopped and cannot be silenced. For that reason, Sarah Palin will emerge like a stainless steel alloy from the forge of politics. As the American people realize the lies behind the various narratives from the Obama administration, elected and appointed progressive/liberal government officials and delivered by a complicit mainstream media, both the political left and the media will lose credibility, support and relevance.

I saw it with my own eyes -- Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley standing centerstage Tuesday in the Oval Office. Only it wasn't the one in Washington. It did, though, make for a light but fascinating kind of political-pop-culture-meta moment. O'Malley was in Harford County to visit the set of "House of Cards," the $100 million Netflix political thriller starring Kevin Spacey. The reason for the visit as the cast and crew settles in to film Season 2 was to highlight the success of a state film incentives program backed by O'Malley that has brought such award-winning productions as HBO's "Game Change" and "VEEP" as well as "House of Cards" to Maryland.

HBO's "Game Change," the docudrama about the John McCain and Sarah Palin presidential campaign in 2008, was a big ratings winner for HBO in its Saturday premiere drawing 2.1 million viewers. That was the largest debut audience for an HBO movie since Something the Lord Made" in 2004, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Read that here . That film about a pioneering medical worker at Johns Hopkins was also filmed in Maryland, by the way. It drew an audience of 2.6 million.

Paul Kruger tried not to get swept up in the emotional tidal wave that washed over M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday. But this was no easy feat. In the tunnel right before the pre-game introductions, with the defense buzzing and Ray Lewis delivering his usual fire-and-brimstone incantations, the charged atmosphere felt like the end of the world. "It was just purely electric," Kruger, the Ravens' big pass rusher, said. "You had the crowd going crazy. You had more media than ever.

UPDATES WITH MORE BALTIMORE NOMINEES: HBO's Baltimore productions "VEEP"  and "Game Change" got some solid Emmy notice with the comedy earning a best actress nomination for Julia Louis-Dreyfus and the made-for-TV movie about the 2008 presidential election picking up best actor and actress nominations for Julianne Moore and Woody Harrelson. Overall, "VEEP" received three nominations including one for best comedy, while "Game Change"  earned additional nominations for Ed Harris as best supporting actor in a movie or miniseries and as best movie or miniseries.

Sarah Palin says it's a lie. Her press spokeswoman calls it "sick. " Other supporters of the former Alaska governor refer to it as a "hit job" - concocted by Hollywood leftists and the liberal media. Filmed in and around Baltimore last year, " HBO "s "Game Change," won't premiere until next Saturday. But even mostly sight unseen, the two-hour made-for-TV movie about John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign has generated a torrent of debate. Taking on a polarizing figure like Sarah Palin already makes "Game Change" one of the most evocative productions of the year.

Actors seem to love HBO's filmed-in-Baltimore "Game Change. " But the likewise filmed-in-Baltimore HBO series "Veep?" Not so much. Nominations for this year's Screen Actors Guild awards were announced this morning, and they proved a mixed bag for Baltimore-based production and talent. "Game Change," HBO's take on the candidate-selection process that saw Sarah Palin receive the GOP vice-presidential nod in 2008, earned nominations for all three of its leads - Julianne Moore for female actor in a television movie or miniseries, and Woody Harrelson and Ed Harris for lead actor in a television movie or mini-series.

Maryland is no stranger to movies and TV, but with the filming of the HBO political drama "Game Change" here, our small state has taken on its toughest role ever -- Alaska. Yet production designer Michael Corenblith and set decorator Tiffany Zappulla weren't intimidated. Challenged to film a scene at the Alaska State Fair for the docudrama about the 2008 presidential election, they headed to Six Flags America near Bowie. They found a rollercoaster that looks just like the one up north and tracked down a 9-foot stuffed grizzly from an antiques store in Easton to evoke the vibe of a real Alaskan midway.

"VEEP," the HBO political satire starring Julia-Louis-Dreyfus, started production Monday on location in the Baltimore area, Gov. Martin O'Malley and the cable channel said. The Maryland Film Office estimates that the first season of the series will result in 2,000 jobs for crew members and actors and $25 million in economic impact for the state. The estimate is based on HBO doing five weeks of prep and eight weeks of filming here on the seven episodes yet to be made for season one. The producers will also be purchasing and renting goods or services from hundreds of Maryland businesses, according to the film office.

I saw it with my own eyes -- Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley standing centerstage Tuesday in the Oval Office. Only it wasn't the one in Washington. It did, though, make for a light but fascinating kind of political-pop-culture-meta moment. O'Malley was in Harford County to visit the set of "House of Cards," the $100 million Netflix political thriller starring Kevin Spacey. The reason for the visit as the cast and crew settles in to film Season 2 was to highlight the success of a state film incentives program backed by O'Malley that has brought such award-winning productions as HBO's "Game Change" and "VEEP" as well as "House of Cards" to Maryland.

Overall, the Golden Globe nominations proved kind to made-in-Baltimore productions. HBO's political drama "Game Change" -- the story of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's 2008 vice-presidential run -- earned the most TV nominations with five: best TV movie or mini-series; best actress in a TV movie or mini-series (Julianne Moore); best actor in a TV movie or mini-series (Woody Harrelson); best supporting actress in a TV movie, series or mini-series (Sarah Paulson); and best supporting actor in a TV movie, series or mini-series (Ed Harris)

Actors seem to love HBO's filmed-in-Baltimore "Game Change. " But the likewise filmed-in-Baltimore HBO series "Veep?" Not so much. Nominations for this year's Screen Actors Guild awards were announced this morning, and they proved a mixed bag for Baltimore-based production and talent. "Game Change," HBO's take on the candidate-selection process that saw Sarah Palin receive the GOP vice-presidential nod in 2008, earned nominations for all three of its leads - Julianne Moore for female actor in a television movie or miniseries, and Woody Harrelson and Ed Harris for lead actor in a television movie or mini-series.

Deactivated for the previous five contests, Richard Crawford picked an opportune time to make a lasting impression for the Washington Redskins. The rookie cornerback's 64-yard punt return set up rookie kicker Kai Forbath's 34-yard field goal that propelled Washington to a 31-28 win over the Ravens at FedEx Field Sunday. The outcome was significant as it kept the Redskins one game behind the New York Giants in the NFC East and one game behind the Seattle Seahawks and the Chicago Bears for the last wildcard berth.

Baltimore's Pat Moran won an Artio Award from the Casting Society of America for her work on HBO's "Game Change," the locally-produced film about the 2008 presidential election. The awards, which are considered the most prestigious in the casting industry, were announced earlier this week in Los Angeles by the C.S.A. The "Game Change" award marks the third time Moran has been honored by her peers. She also won Artios for casting on "The Wire" series in 2003 and the made-for-TV movie "Something the Lord Made" in 2004.

Whatever happens Sunday night in Los Angeles, Baltimore is already a winner when it comes to this year's Emmy Awards. Last Saturday at the creative arts Emmys, which are awarded in off-camera categories, Baltimore casting director Pat Moran was honored for her work on HBO's “Game Change.” The film, which tells the story of the 2008 presidential campaign of John McCain and Sarah Palin, was made here in 2011 and brought top-flight TV production back...

Today's Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference baseball game between No. 4-seeded Archbishop Curley and No. 1-seeded Gilman has been moved to Yankee Stadium at the Ripken Complex in Aberdeen.  The game will begin at 6 p.m.

"Jamesy Boy," an independent film directed and co-written by Maryland native Trevor White and starring Mary-Louise Parker, Ving Rhames and James Woods, will begin filming in Baltimore March 5, the Maryland Film Office announced today. The film, which will be shot over five weeks, tells the story of James (newcomer Spencer Lofranco), a street-tough gang member who ends up in a maximum security prison. There, he befriends a convicted murderer who becomes his mentor and helps turn his life around.

"Game Change," HBO's made-for-TV movie about the 2008 presidential election, started production in Baltimore on Wednesday with a flurry of casting news and the release of the first image of star Julianne Moore as former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. Based on the best-selling nonfiction account of the election, HBO's film focuses on the campaign of Republican candidate Sen. John McCain from the time of his controversial pick of Palin as his running mate to the ticket's loss in the general election to Barack Obama.