Juan Carlos Coto

writer, producer, director / I reject your orthodoxy / WINE IS LIFE / /

[Juan Carlos Coto @brasstab]

Hello friends,

STAR TREK turns 60 this year, and my brother Manny would have been 65.

The greatest sci-fi show ever made premiered when he was a little kid, and for some reason our Cuban parents used to put it on Friday nights. It never stuck, but then in reruns, Manny became obsessed — and he passed on that obsession to his little brother.

Manny grew up to achieve one of his biggest dreams — to run a Trek show. ENTERPRISE also has a big birthday this year: It’s turning 25!

Pancreatic cancer took Manny from us in 2023, but it did not take his spirit. I think of my brother every time I put pen to paper. He’s the reason I’m a writer, director and a showrunner.

So every year I walk — for Manny, for his family, and for everyone who’s lost someone to this terrible disease. It’s the least I can do.

Once again, I’m joining with Trek Against Pancreatic Cancer to walk in PanCan’s “Purple Stride” on April 25. If you can, please help me raise money to fight back. Your support has been incredible and humbling these past three years, helping make the Trek team #1 in L.A. and #1 in the nation (in our category).

I can’t thank you enough. `

Donate via the link below and if you can’t, please help spread the word. Share this message or tell anyone you know about PanCAN. Awareness is everything.

Live long, prosper and let’s beat this thing.

https://t.co/q4LQrGEgIa

#pancreaticcancer #pancan #PurpleStride #WageHope #StarTrek60 #TrekAgainstPancreaticCancer #StarTrek

[Juan Carlos Coto @brasstab]

@PopcornPost_ Crimson Tide

[Juan Carlos Coto @brasstab]

@VerminusM Midnight Run

[Garrett Exner @Exner_Garrett]

Ray’s Rock - Omaha Beach

On the morning of June 6, 1944, 23 year old Staff Sergeant Arnold “Ray” Lambert came ashore with the first wave of the 1st Infantry Division on the eastern side of Omaha Beach. At this small patch of concrete he saved nearly 20 lives:

The division came under intense fire from several German bunkers surrounding the entrance to the Colville Draw (one of two exits off Omaha Beach). Ray, a medic, immediately went to work.

He was shot in the arm. Moments later he was hit by shrapnel in the leg, but Ray kept pulling men to safety. He pulled nearly 20 wounded soldiers to cover behind this 8ft wide obstacle, treating each soldier before going out in search of others.

After several hours under fire, while pulling a wounded soldier from the ocean, he was struck by a landing craft. It dropped its ramp on top of him, breaking his back. He fell face down in the water, drowning. The craft backed up and nearby soldiers pulled an unconscious Ray to safety, eventually evacuating him off the beach.

Remarkably, Ray had already earned two Silver Stars and three Purple Hearts in Sicily and North Africa, prior to landing in France. But here in Normandy his war would end.

He awoke in a hospital back in England a day later. In the next bed over was his brother, who had also been wounded at Omaha.

When asked about his work on D-Day, Ray simply said, “I did what I was called to do.”

Ray Lambert passed in 2021 at 100 years old. He exemplified the best of American grit and why remembering this day is so important.

[Industrial Light & Magic @ILMVFX]

Last month members of ILM's original crew from Star Wars: A New Hope gathered at their former studio space in Southern California. 50 years ago in 1976, they were busily preparing the world's most innovative visual effects facility to create over 300 shots for George Lucas' space fantasy. Guests at the reunion included everyone from modelmakers and production coordinators to visual effects supervisors and camera operators. Some crews remain bonded forever.

Photography by Chloe Dykstra

[The Admiral @RebelAdmiral]

I started watching SG-1 at age 15. I was the first in the family to start, but one by one they all joined me. Then one day, even my Dad joined. NOTHING on television held my Dad's interest. He never went to the movies. It was the first time I'd ever connected with him in this way. Not long after he started, he came home one day with the first season DVD box set, and the whole family started watching from the beginning. He kept buying the sets, until we caught up with the currently airing show, and then we watched like clockwork as a family every Friday night, with pizza and soda.

You have to understand, that is a CRAZY thing to type out about my Dad. He never did stuff like that. He was tough to connect with about something that wasn't mechanical or construction. I can't think of a single other fun thing he did with us that wasn't what a kid would consider "chores" or "work." My siblings and I treasured those Friday nights like nothing else. It was an entirely new experience, having something like that where he would quote the lines to you in the middle of the day (Teal'c lines were his favorite, especially the infamous "undomesticated equines" line).

My Dad has been buried for almost 8 years now. My oldest two kids barely remember him and the other two never met him. We recently watched both SG-1 and Atlantis as a family. It's been an emotional ride, sharing this with them yet wishing Grandpa was around to share it with them too. My kids ADORE Stargate. My girls have crushes on Daniel Jackson and John Sheppard. My youngest son wants to BE Jack O'neill. They cried when Daniel ascended the first time. They were over the MOON at the idea of a new series in the works to enjoy. I haven't had the heart to tell them the news that the whole thing has been called off.

Save Stargate!

[Juan Carlos Coto @brasstab]

@IV_Musketeer holding a cold beer up to your wrist has the same effect, just sayin'

[Juan Carlos Coto @brasstab]

@TheStingisBack The Fugitive

[Juan Carlos Coto @brasstab]

@TheCinesthetic Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey

[Juan Carlos Coto @brasstab]

@LangmanVince 1. Unforgiven
2. In the Line of Fire
3. The Outlaw Josey Wales
4. Magnum Force
5. High Plains Drifter

[Juan Carlos Coto @brasstab]

The makings of a perfect Saturday evening

[Juan Carlos Coto @brasstab]

@RetroMoviesDB Timecop

[Juan Carlos Coto @brasstab]

@AuthorGFAllen East of Eden

[Juan Carlos Coto @brasstab]

@enjoyer_liberty Jesus you forget

[Juan Carlos Coto @brasstab]

@NealEdelstein William Goldman said it best

[Juan Carlos Coto @brasstab]

@Super70sSports

[Juan Carlos Coto @brasstab]

@Carlos_Frias @USATODAY Felicidades! This is fantastic news

[Carlos Frías @Carlos_Frias]

Here’s your Friday news dump:
I’ve joined @USATODAY as an investigative and storytelling editor.

I’m thrilled to be working closely with such a talented group of writers.

[Juan Carlos Coto @brasstab]

@malmesburyman The End of the Night by John D. Macdonald

[Juan Carlos Coto @brasstab]

@PopcornPost_ Crimson Tide

[Juan Carlos Coto @brasstab]

@PopcornPost_ Austin Powers