How good is this imitation of Nicholson by Jack Black. Classic.
Thursday, August 02, 2007
Repost
From The Hollywood Reporter Risky Business Blog, covering Comic-Con
In addition to a Mediterranean feast at the "300" DVD party Friday night at Petco Park, organizers also gave attendees a feast for the eyes as a dozen guys dressed as Spartans and a few women who appeared to be the Spartan equivalent of pole dancers entertained guests. Among those guests were David Arquette, Paul Reubens and pretty much the whole cast of "Blade Runner" that had been on hand earlier in the day at the Warner Bros. Home Video panel. Hours into the party, I happened to pass by Sean Young — sporting a kicky coif and bright red lipstick — right as she approached Frank Miller with a smile, stuck her hand out and said, "Hi, I'm Sean." (Karen Nicoletti)
How Sean Young? When one of the Batman movies was casting, she turned up at the Paramount gates (Schumaker Batman) dressed as Catwoman. I can almost see the mad twinkle in her eye.
In addition to a Mediterranean feast at the "300" DVD party Friday night at Petco Park, organizers also gave attendees a feast for the eyes as a dozen guys dressed as Spartans and a few women who appeared to be the Spartan equivalent of pole dancers entertained guests. Among those guests were David Arquette, Paul Reubens and pretty much the whole cast of "Blade Runner" that had been on hand earlier in the day at the Warner Bros. Home Video panel. Hours into the party, I happened to pass by Sean Young — sporting a kicky coif and bright red lipstick — right as she approached Frank Miller with a smile, stuck her hand out and said, "Hi, I'm Sean." (Karen Nicoletti)
How Sean Young? When one of the Batman movies was casting, she turned up at the Paramount gates (Schumaker Batman) dressed as Catwoman. I can almost see the mad twinkle in her eye.
Tagged
SOOOOO. Even though I’ve been described as anti-social, even as a blogger, I’ve been tagged. The very funny/cute/married Julie O. tagged me. I am supposed to disclose ten things about myself that, well, here’s dem rules.
Once you’ve been tagged, as I have, you must write a blog with ten weird, random things, little-known facts or habits about yourself. At the end, choose at least 5 people to be tagged, list their names and why you picked them. Don’t forget to leave a comment that says “you’ve been tagged” and tell them to read your latest blog.
And away we goooooo….
1. Though I am a producer now, I wanted to be a writer growing up. I do a bit of writing now, but I did quite a bit of short story writing in my teens. Some of it was good, and some of it was porn.
2. I have thought at least three times that I was going to be married to the woman/girl I was dating at the time. The first time was with my first serious girlfriend, Kristen. The second time was with my law school live-in girlfriend (also a law student), Krystallo. The last time was with another live-in girlfriend, Jeanne, and the only time that I really feel a loss over, in that I think it might have worked but circumstances prevented it.
3. This is hard. Yikes. Maybe I am not that open a person. I’ll come back to 3.
4. I am somewhat fascinated by the concept of people moving through your life and spending time with them and then not seeing them anymore. That friendships are fleeting sometimes. I’ve been fascinated by this for years. It took me a long time to come to terms with lost friendships.
5. I always wanted to be in the movie business. I thought that I would wait until I was 40-45 to give it a shot, because I knew it was a hard road. Only the events of 9/11 and my proximity to them made me switch careers earlier.
6. I found working on Wall Street the most boring thing I’ve ever done. Any job I spent time in – every morning I’d have to coax myself out of bed just to go to work most of the time.
7. The worst year of my adult life, personally, was the year I made the most money (almost 400K).
8. I spent two years seeing a therapist. It was one of the best things I’ve done for myself. I stopped when she told me she thought I had achieved my goals in seeing her.
3. Back to 3. Um. Still tough. I am blocked on 3. Here is goes. My second toe is longer than my first. That’s a cop out. When I was young, I used to be on a swimteam. I hated getting up in the morning and getting into the freezing cold pool (even though it was summer, in the mornings, that pool felt very cold). I also hated getting up at 6AM for practice. I can’t imagine it was that much fun for my parents to be driving us there at that ungodly hour. Anyway, I used to sneak away and hide in the showers (hot showers) during practice, until the coach would notice I was gone and send someone to come and get me.
9. My first three girlfriends were Korean. The second, after I broke up with her, attacked the third and beat her up in front of a crowd of friends. I felt a small bit of pride about these two attractive women coming to blows over me. I couldn’t help it, and it was only ended when Number Two girlfriend (hehe, couldn’t resist) jumped in my car and took off at high speed. My car!
Once you’ve been tagged, as I have, you must write a blog with ten weird, random things, little-known facts or habits about yourself. At the end, choose at least 5 people to be tagged, list their names and why you picked them. Don’t forget to leave a comment that says “you’ve been tagged” and tell them to read your latest blog.
And away we goooooo….
1. Though I am a producer now, I wanted to be a writer growing up. I do a bit of writing now, but I did quite a bit of short story writing in my teens. Some of it was good, and some of it was porn.
2. I have thought at least three times that I was going to be married to the woman/girl I was dating at the time. The first time was with my first serious girlfriend, Kristen. The second time was with my law school live-in girlfriend (also a law student), Krystallo. The last time was with another live-in girlfriend, Jeanne, and the only time that I really feel a loss over, in that I think it might have worked but circumstances prevented it.
3. This is hard. Yikes. Maybe I am not that open a person. I’ll come back to 3.
4. I am somewhat fascinated by the concept of people moving through your life and spending time with them and then not seeing them anymore. That friendships are fleeting sometimes. I’ve been fascinated by this for years. It took me a long time to come to terms with lost friendships.
5. I always wanted to be in the movie business. I thought that I would wait until I was 40-45 to give it a shot, because I knew it was a hard road. Only the events of 9/11 and my proximity to them made me switch careers earlier.
6. I found working on Wall Street the most boring thing I’ve ever done. Any job I spent time in – every morning I’d have to coax myself out of bed just to go to work most of the time.
7. The worst year of my adult life, personally, was the year I made the most money (almost 400K).
8. I spent two years seeing a therapist. It was one of the best things I’ve done for myself. I stopped when she told me she thought I had achieved my goals in seeing her.
3. Back to 3. Um. Still tough. I am blocked on 3. Here is goes. My second toe is longer than my first. That’s a cop out. When I was young, I used to be on a swimteam. I hated getting up in the morning and getting into the freezing cold pool (even though it was summer, in the mornings, that pool felt very cold). I also hated getting up at 6AM for practice. I can’t imagine it was that much fun for my parents to be driving us there at that ungodly hour. Anyway, I used to sneak away and hide in the showers (hot showers) during practice, until the coach would notice I was gone and send someone to come and get me.
9. My first three girlfriends were Korean. The second, after I broke up with her, attacked the third and beat her up in front of a crowd of friends. I felt a small bit of pride about these two attractive women coming to blows over me. I couldn’t help it, and it was only ended when Number Two girlfriend (hehe, couldn’t resist) jumped in my car and took off at high speed. My car!
I am over the asian thing.
10. I’ve had pretty successful long distance relationships, or relationships where we only spent a few days a week together. E.g., Jeanne lived part of the time with me, and part of the time in Long Island. My best times with Krystallo were the summer we saw each other only on weekends. I broke up with my first girlfriend shortly after she started at University of Albany, where I was going to school, our first unimpeded time in our relationship (she had a very restrictive home life).
God. That’s is. I am done. What a learning experience. I’ll tag five people who I am sure will be very surprised to be tagged by a near stranger.
Tagging
annie
julie
rachel heather
patrick
dixon
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
What I am Watching
Saw III - Not so bad. Some good stuff. Ultra gory at the beginning before calming down quite a bit.
Ratatouille - Full of heart. Not a barrel of laughs like Shrek but a very good solid stroy story and a classic toon that will play forever. Peter O'Toole is a classic too.
Hot Fuzz - To me, funny but a little bit overhyped. I liked it though I wish it went a bit further- the last thirty minutes are the best and I think they could have been well served by getting there a bit sooner and playing up the very fun homage(s) to American action movies. A lot of fun, nonetheless.
Dexter season 2 premiere - the fun continues. One of the best shows on tv.
Family guy - season three. Every bit as good as the Simpsons, maybe better.
Ratatouille - Full of heart. Not a barrel of laughs like Shrek but a very good solid stroy story and a classic toon that will play forever. Peter O'Toole is a classic too.
Hot Fuzz - To me, funny but a little bit overhyped. I liked it though I wish it went a bit further- the last thirty minutes are the best and I think they could have been well served by getting there a bit sooner and playing up the very fun homage(s) to American action movies. A lot of fun, nonetheless.
Dexter season 2 premiere - the fun continues. One of the best shows on tv.
Family guy - season three. Every bit as good as the Simpsons, maybe better.
Comic-Con Bloggin'
{I wrote this piece for a column for John Gallagher's National Board of Review Column, Between Action and Cut. If you havent been there and are a film buff, definitely check it OUT.}
Many of us saw, and enjoyed the carnally humorous “The 40 Year Old Virgin.” It was sexually raucous and some of the scenes (especially, for me, the waxing man-o-lantern bit) were unforgettable. Judd Apatow cemented his status as one of the current kings of comedy with that piece.
A subplot of the movie has Steve Carell's character, Andy, selling his collectible collection on Ebay. His character has an enormous collection of ephemera from popular TV shows, comic books and other American "culture."
Well, I just visited Comic-Con in San Diego. For those of you who cannot imagine an enormous, Jacob Javits sized-convention center housing 125,000 Andy's in search of their next Steve Austin action figure, let me tell you, it does exist. Its in San Diego, its an enormous collection of collectibles, movies, tv shows, comic books, video games, and the people who love all of the foregoing, and much more. And Hollywood definitely is paying attention, more than ever.
I was down at Comic-Con for the weekend, doing research for the upcoming marketing that will be necessary for the two horror movies I have shooting this fall (including your own John Gallagher's “Digger”). I had heard that horror films had made their presence felt at Comic-Con, and because I wanted to see and understand what a fellow producer labeled the “End Game” in getting a project out in the market, I ventured down to the “Con” to see what it was all about.
And what its about is everything that is nerdy. The nerds rule.
You approach the football stadium sized building on waterfront property, overlooking part of the gorgeous San Diego harborfront. The Andys don’t look at the harbor, they are way too focused on getting inside and sampling the goodies. As you approach, hawkers (except they aren’t selling anything) lob T-shirts for upcoming shows in your direction – I got tees for the “Bionic Woman” show and some show called “Chuck.” The masses congregate and cross, in groups, into the convention center where you present your badge (security is very light and there is much badge-sharing going on) and venture inside.
That’s when the smell hits you (one producer termed it “Nerdstink”).
Think back a bit to high school. To the guys and girls who spent a little too much time in the arcade, or playing video games, or drawing skulls on their forearms. And a little less time than average on personal hygiene. This is their domain, and trust me, they do mark their territory.
Add the adrenaline rush and accompanying smell of perspiration from an Andy, maybe in his mid-twenties or mid-thirties or mid-forties, who is for the first time seeing, close up, the “Iron Man” artwork, while listening to Robert Downey, Jr., in person, discuss what it was like to strap into Marvel Comic’s favorite super-hero suit. It’s a rush for Andy. And there are perhaps thirty thousand of him and his brethren at any one time inside the convention center. Add the availability of cheap high carb food, caffeine and few visible restrooms. Well, you understand.
Many of the folks who attend come in full costume. Literally, hundreds of storm troopers roam the floor, in full gear, with their laser guns. Only a fraction of them are hired “guns,” most are there freelancing for fun. (An aside – a friend told me that at Con 2006, Mark Hamill attended and as he walked up an aisle he came upon a few dozen storm troopers. They spotted him and began to run towards him, at which point he turned and broke into a full Luke Skywalker sprint in the other direction. Must have been quite a site). There are Vaders and Trekkies, and Heroes and Spidermen and Wonderwomen and all sorts of other dressed up folks, some in outfits which are interesting yet entirely unrecognizable (to me at least).
This is not to take away from the overall grandeur of the event, which can, in limited doses, bring out the Andy in almost anyone. Comic-Con is literally everything for which a genre fan could hope. It goes way beyond the usual suspects from the Studios and major comic book companies (although the studios and major comics companies are in prime position and are the most conspicuous). There are lesser known comics, unknown comics, straight-to-DVD movies, memorabilia and collectibles of every type, including no shortage of weapons fashioned after those found in movies like the Lord of the Rings trilogy. There is also original artwork, in many variations and much that has a certain, shall we say, Boris Vallejo quality to it. Buxom, scantily clad women seem to be on the mind of your average Andy and a central them in much of the original art and in many comics too. That’s OK. Lucy Lawless was in the house to let everyone know that this artwork has its basis in fact.
As for the horror I was seeking, it was pretty limited. I’d read that Comic-Con had refashioned itself as a family-friendly event (there isn’t much they can do about the scantily clad women walking around all day and evening, whether working to attract attention to a particular booth or just their as guests), and other than Lions Gate and Picturehouse (yes, Picturehouse has a horror film), there were few displays for upcoming horror films. There were posters for a few more, but for the most part, Comic-Con has minimized the horror film element in favor of films like “Spiderwick Chronicles” and the dozen or so others trying to be the next Harry Potter.
I don’t mean to say its limited to action-adventure, sorcery and sci-fi (oh, my). As I said, Jenna Jamison was there promoting her bio-pic and comic-book. And plenty of comedies, including Apatow’s upcoming “Superbad” and the new Dane Cook vehicle “Good Luck Chuck,” were both the subject of significant promotions. A shirtless Dane Cook impersonator covered in red lipstick kisses held court next to the Lions Gate booth for most of Saturday.
One change from recent years is that the biggest draws, panel-wise, are some of the TV shows. Apparently the “Heroes” panel drew the biggest crowds of the Con, with 4000 people jamming a panel room within minutes of it opening. Other shows like “Lost” also drew huge crowds at previous Cons. (Incidentally, I spent most of my time at the Con with Louis Lombardi, who played Edgar the computer programmer on “24,” until his character was killed off. Louis also played the FBI agent who flipped Vinnie Pastore on the first two seasons of The Sopranos. We didn’t go five minutes without Louis cordially posing for a picture or signing an autograph.)
I don’t know what to take away from the whole Con experience. Some things about it are a little bit, shall we say, strange. The level of detail and investment of people in the minutia of these shows, movies, games and comics is, to me, startling. But it is axiomatic that the audience is never wrong. And this is the Audience. For the studio marketers and the other companies at the Con, it’s the litmus test of fan approval.
William Goldman opined in Adventures in the Screen Trade, a book that he wrote in 1983, that movies were either comic books or not comic books, not literally, but as a metaphor for the type of story that was told. He said that Hollywood mostly only was making comic books (twenty three years ago). He seemed to lament this as a loss.
I wonder if The Princess Bride was a popular panel at Comic-Con.
Many of us saw, and enjoyed the carnally humorous “The 40 Year Old Virgin.” It was sexually raucous and some of the scenes (especially, for me, the waxing man-o-lantern bit) were unforgettable. Judd Apatow cemented his status as one of the current kings of comedy with that piece.
A subplot of the movie has Steve Carell's character, Andy, selling his collectible collection on Ebay. His character has an enormous collection of ephemera from popular TV shows, comic books and other American "culture."
Well, I just visited Comic-Con in San Diego. For those of you who cannot imagine an enormous, Jacob Javits sized-convention center housing 125,000 Andy's in search of their next Steve Austin action figure, let me tell you, it does exist. Its in San Diego, its an enormous collection of collectibles, movies, tv shows, comic books, video games, and the people who love all of the foregoing, and much more. And Hollywood definitely is paying attention, more than ever.
I was down at Comic-Con for the weekend, doing research for the upcoming marketing that will be necessary for the two horror movies I have shooting this fall (including your own John Gallagher's “Digger”). I had heard that horror films had made their presence felt at Comic-Con, and because I wanted to see and understand what a fellow producer labeled the “End Game” in getting a project out in the market, I ventured down to the “Con” to see what it was all about.
And what its about is everything that is nerdy. The nerds rule.
You approach the football stadium sized building on waterfront property, overlooking part of the gorgeous San Diego harborfront. The Andys don’t look at the harbor, they are way too focused on getting inside and sampling the goodies. As you approach, hawkers (except they aren’t selling anything) lob T-shirts for upcoming shows in your direction – I got tees for the “Bionic Woman” show and some show called “Chuck.” The masses congregate and cross, in groups, into the convention center where you present your badge (security is very light and there is much badge-sharing going on) and venture inside.
That’s when the smell hits you (one producer termed it “Nerdstink”).
Think back a bit to high school. To the guys and girls who spent a little too much time in the arcade, or playing video games, or drawing skulls on their forearms. And a little less time than average on personal hygiene. This is their domain, and trust me, they do mark their territory.
Add the adrenaline rush and accompanying smell of perspiration from an Andy, maybe in his mid-twenties or mid-thirties or mid-forties, who is for the first time seeing, close up, the “Iron Man” artwork, while listening to Robert Downey, Jr., in person, discuss what it was like to strap into Marvel Comic’s favorite super-hero suit. It’s a rush for Andy. And there are perhaps thirty thousand of him and his brethren at any one time inside the convention center. Add the availability of cheap high carb food, caffeine and few visible restrooms. Well, you understand.
Many of the folks who attend come in full costume. Literally, hundreds of storm troopers roam the floor, in full gear, with their laser guns. Only a fraction of them are hired “guns,” most are there freelancing for fun. (An aside – a friend told me that at Con 2006, Mark Hamill attended and as he walked up an aisle he came upon a few dozen storm troopers. They spotted him and began to run towards him, at which point he turned and broke into a full Luke Skywalker sprint in the other direction. Must have been quite a site). There are Vaders and Trekkies, and Heroes and Spidermen and Wonderwomen and all sorts of other dressed up folks, some in outfits which are interesting yet entirely unrecognizable (to me at least).
This is not to take away from the overall grandeur of the event, which can, in limited doses, bring out the Andy in almost anyone. Comic-Con is literally everything for which a genre fan could hope. It goes way beyond the usual suspects from the Studios and major comic book companies (although the studios and major comics companies are in prime position and are the most conspicuous). There are lesser known comics, unknown comics, straight-to-DVD movies, memorabilia and collectibles of every type, including no shortage of weapons fashioned after those found in movies like the Lord of the Rings trilogy. There is also original artwork, in many variations and much that has a certain, shall we say, Boris Vallejo quality to it. Buxom, scantily clad women seem to be on the mind of your average Andy and a central them in much of the original art and in many comics too. That’s OK. Lucy Lawless was in the house to let everyone know that this artwork has its basis in fact.
As for the horror I was seeking, it was pretty limited. I’d read that Comic-Con had refashioned itself as a family-friendly event (there isn’t much they can do about the scantily clad women walking around all day and evening, whether working to attract attention to a particular booth or just their as guests), and other than Lions Gate and Picturehouse (yes, Picturehouse has a horror film), there were few displays for upcoming horror films. There were posters for a few more, but for the most part, Comic-Con has minimized the horror film element in favor of films like “Spiderwick Chronicles” and the dozen or so others trying to be the next Harry Potter.
I don’t mean to say its limited to action-adventure, sorcery and sci-fi (oh, my). As I said, Jenna Jamison was there promoting her bio-pic and comic-book. And plenty of comedies, including Apatow’s upcoming “Superbad” and the new Dane Cook vehicle “Good Luck Chuck,” were both the subject of significant promotions. A shirtless Dane Cook impersonator covered in red lipstick kisses held court next to the Lions Gate booth for most of Saturday.
One change from recent years is that the biggest draws, panel-wise, are some of the TV shows. Apparently the “Heroes” panel drew the biggest crowds of the Con, with 4000 people jamming a panel room within minutes of it opening. Other shows like “Lost” also drew huge crowds at previous Cons. (Incidentally, I spent most of my time at the Con with Louis Lombardi, who played Edgar the computer programmer on “24,” until his character was killed off. Louis also played the FBI agent who flipped Vinnie Pastore on the first two seasons of The Sopranos. We didn’t go five minutes without Louis cordially posing for a picture or signing an autograph.)
I don’t know what to take away from the whole Con experience. Some things about it are a little bit, shall we say, strange. The level of detail and investment of people in the minutia of these shows, movies, games and comics is, to me, startling. But it is axiomatic that the audience is never wrong. And this is the Audience. For the studio marketers and the other companies at the Con, it’s the litmus test of fan approval.
William Goldman opined in Adventures in the Screen Trade, a book that he wrote in 1983, that movies were either comic books or not comic books, not literally, but as a metaphor for the type of story that was told. He said that Hollywood mostly only was making comic books (twenty three years ago). He seemed to lament this as a loss.
I wonder if The Princess Bride was a popular panel at Comic-Con.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
What I'm Watching, What I am Reading
What I'm Watching
Entourage Season IV. Yes!
Borat - Funny but remarkably uneven. Way overhyped, i thought. Brilliant performances, though. But like the show, kind of a one joke wonder. And the producer's body, I just didnt need to see that. Ugh.
William Castle's Homicidal -Dated psycho ripoff from the master showman. And I didnt even figure it out.
Friday After Next. It is what it is. Has some good stuff. Katt Williams with the pliers is a funny bit.
Battle for Shaker Heights. Say whatcha want, I liked it. I liked the script a bunch.
For Your Consideration. Good, though felt like it coulda been better than good. Some very funny stuff, tho.
Biggie and Tupac. Great, spooky doco. Check it out.
What I am Reading
Making Movies, by Sidney Lumet (Dog Day Afternoon, Serpico). Pretty interesting so far.
Entourage Season IV. Yes!
Borat - Funny but remarkably uneven. Way overhyped, i thought. Brilliant performances, though. But like the show, kind of a one joke wonder. And the producer's body, I just didnt need to see that. Ugh.
William Castle's Homicidal -Dated psycho ripoff from the master showman. And I didnt even figure it out.
Friday After Next. It is what it is. Has some good stuff. Katt Williams with the pliers is a funny bit.
Battle for Shaker Heights. Say whatcha want, I liked it. I liked the script a bunch.
For Your Consideration. Good, though felt like it coulda been better than good. Some very funny stuff, tho.
Biggie and Tupac. Great, spooky doco. Check it out.
What I am Reading
Making Movies, by Sidney Lumet (Dog Day Afternoon, Serpico). Pretty interesting so far.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
I am so connected
I have internet at home (well, LA hovel home) again. For about a week or so, I’ve had no connection. And before that, I had a connection but my ill-tempered and short for this world Ibook wasn’t connecting because of some new security issue. Then the artist formerly known as roommate disconnected the service from our place and I was without internet, even just as I was discovered a way to fix the security issue, on my own, technical wizard that I am (NOT!).
After some bandying about, and figuring that no 22 year old rocker was going to step forward to get internet service in their name, I signed up for it. And for some reason, it took until today for AT and T to turn that damn signal on. What a wait. I’d taken to spending long hours in starbucks and Cheebo (which is nice anyway, much better than Starbucks, which can be Freakbucks depending when you go). I’ve stopped by Jay’s and even parked outside the Slamdance office to use their internet. On a Sunday. In the heat.
Anyway, I feel like I’ve been let our of prison, because I finally (for the moment at least) have working internet. It wasn’t working all day, for some reason. The reason why it wasn’t is that one of the rockers, a none-too-bright one, couldn’t figure out that to make it work, you need to plug the DSL line into the socket that says DSL, and the phone line into the socket that says Phone. She thought the opposite. Clever girl.
But I’m on now. I’m downloading the latest Entourage. I am checking baseball scores. I may just surf all nite.
(Less) Grumpy
After some bandying about, and figuring that no 22 year old rocker was going to step forward to get internet service in their name, I signed up for it. And for some reason, it took until today for AT and T to turn that damn signal on. What a wait. I’d taken to spending long hours in starbucks and Cheebo (which is nice anyway, much better than Starbucks, which can be Freakbucks depending when you go). I’ve stopped by Jay’s and even parked outside the Slamdance office to use their internet. On a Sunday. In the heat.
Anyway, I feel like I’ve been let our of prison, because I finally (for the moment at least) have working internet. It wasn’t working all day, for some reason. The reason why it wasn’t is that one of the rockers, a none-too-bright one, couldn’t figure out that to make it work, you need to plug the DSL line into the socket that says DSL, and the phone line into the socket that says Phone. She thought the opposite. Clever girl.
But I’m on now. I’m downloading the latest Entourage. I am checking baseball scores. I may just surf all nite.
(Less) Grumpy
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Cheebo Blogging: Not Just an Indulgence
(Blogging from the Sunset Blvd restaurant Cheebo, a local favorite. Great salsa).
So a lot of the time, movie stars having rock bands are simple indulgences. A lot of the time, but not all of the time.
I went to hang with my friend Lev and his friend Paul last nite in Santa Monica. Paul is a pretty well known character actor – can play basically anything. He directed a great play in LA this past winter (does LA have a winter?) and he was the studio boss on Entourage last season, the one that booted Adrien Grenier from Aquaman. Anyway, so we hung at Lobster on the Santa Monica pier for a few hours (they have surprisingly amazing food, including kobe beef that was one of the best things I’ve tasted in a long time, for a restaurant that looks like a tourist trap) and then headed to a little benefit in Culver City for the Actor’s Gang, which is some kind of LA-based actors group doing theater.
We got there and paid our ten dollar suggested donation (fyi, donations in LA don’t seem to be suggested, even if they say so, its just an LA way of smilingly asking for money for a ticket, like when a studio exec smiles at your great idea before calling security?). Anyway, we got inside and found seats, and I hear Kate Nelligan and some chubby short dude do some covers of Jefferson Airplane tunes. They seemed to be having a great time, but it wasn’t exactly Grace Slick. Not should it have to be, and they just seemed to be having fun.
But Tim Robbins was lurking stage left. Don’t know if you’ve ever met him, I have a few times, or at least seen him up close, including at Liberty Studios when he was regearsing for the Henry Bean movie, Noise, he shot last year. Anyway, he is tall, like college basketball player tall. And he’s also in Bull Durham, which I love but which is neither here nor there. And he’s grooving off stage, listening.
I walked out after the mini-set of Jeff. Airplan, and then I hear the band start up again. And so when I walk back into this hundred seat theater, Tim Robbins and a band are playing. And I’ll tell you…
He’s pretty damn good. He did a few songs, including some Dylan and some Bob Roberts stuff (for the young and unitiated, Bob Roberts was a movie Robbins did fairly way back about a musician turned presidential candidate who was basically a phony). And he did Jersey Girl, a Springsteen anthem. And all the little actress girls in the Gang got up on stage and grooved like they were from Jersey. It was a lot of fun, he had quite the onstage presence, great delivery and a good voice. The band was tight.
So its not always an indulgence.
I had fun, thanks for asking.
Grumps.
So a lot of the time, movie stars having rock bands are simple indulgences. A lot of the time, but not all of the time.
I went to hang with my friend Lev and his friend Paul last nite in Santa Monica. Paul is a pretty well known character actor – can play basically anything. He directed a great play in LA this past winter (does LA have a winter?) and he was the studio boss on Entourage last season, the one that booted Adrien Grenier from Aquaman. Anyway, so we hung at Lobster on the Santa Monica pier for a few hours (they have surprisingly amazing food, including kobe beef that was one of the best things I’ve tasted in a long time, for a restaurant that looks like a tourist trap) and then headed to a little benefit in Culver City for the Actor’s Gang, which is some kind of LA-based actors group doing theater.
We got there and paid our ten dollar suggested donation (fyi, donations in LA don’t seem to be suggested, even if they say so, its just an LA way of smilingly asking for money for a ticket, like when a studio exec smiles at your great idea before calling security?). Anyway, we got inside and found seats, and I hear Kate Nelligan and some chubby short dude do some covers of Jefferson Airplane tunes. They seemed to be having a great time, but it wasn’t exactly Grace Slick. Not should it have to be, and they just seemed to be having fun.
But Tim Robbins was lurking stage left. Don’t know if you’ve ever met him, I have a few times, or at least seen him up close, including at Liberty Studios when he was regearsing for the Henry Bean movie, Noise, he shot last year. Anyway, he is tall, like college basketball player tall. And he’s also in Bull Durham, which I love but which is neither here nor there. And he’s grooving off stage, listening.
I walked out after the mini-set of Jeff. Airplan, and then I hear the band start up again. And so when I walk back into this hundred seat theater, Tim Robbins and a band are playing. And I’ll tell you…
He’s pretty damn good. He did a few songs, including some Dylan and some Bob Roberts stuff (for the young and unitiated, Bob Roberts was a movie Robbins did fairly way back about a musician turned presidential candidate who was basically a phony). And he did Jersey Girl, a Springsteen anthem. And all the little actress girls in the Gang got up on stage and grooved like they were from Jersey. It was a lot of fun, he had quite the onstage presence, great delivery and a good voice. The band was tight.
So its not always an indulgence.
I had fun, thanks for asking.
Grumps.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Monday, July 16, 2007
Dumbfounded
I was on Myspace just now. Yes just now. Really, i just clicked over. (Thats not funny).
Anyway, there was a link for Drama film, and an url pointing to amazon.com. And some generic tag like, see the amazing gripping thriller. So i clicked it, curious what it was for.
I was directed to amazon, to the page for a movie that was shot in Bulgaria several years ago. I recall being in Bulgaria recording the score for My Brother (no I didnt record it myself, we have people for that, and they are paid less in Bulgaria, and are generally better looking, but thats neither here nor there. They walk more. They also smoke. They tend to be thinner, but probably get lung cancer. Like Israelis.)
Anyway, the excellent (formerly excellent?) director Bruce Beresford was directing John Cusack and Morgan Freeman in a thriller. I dont remember if it had a title back then, but the title of the DVD release is The Contract. Yeah, you heard me, the DVD release. As in, straight-to, do not pass go, do not collect box office rentals.
Beresford is an excellent director responsible for good movies in a number of genres. He's best known for Driving Miss Daisy, but also did the excellent, Black Robe, and Tender Mercies, and Breaker Morant. And here he is working with two very good (if not great) actors. The movie, how little could it have cost Avi Lerner and company in Bulgaria? 15 million? 12 million?
I haven't heard anything about it one way or another, quality wise. I have often wondered what happened to it, because I remember talking quite a bit about it when I was there. It was just after the Millenium (Avi Lerner's company) Brian DiPalma production with Scarlet Johnassen and Hilary Swank, another movie I haven't seen. Anyway, I guess I am surprises that a movie with that quality of talent couldn't even get theatrically released. Especially because its a thriller with a name cast, and even if it was terrible, it probably woulda raked in some money anyway.
My guess it that either (1) some theatrical rights situation is preventing it, or more likely (2) the movie is bad, there is limited upside to releasing it theatrically, and Millenium has already recouped the entire budget of the movie because THEY SOLD IT BEFORE THEY MADE IT. And thus, they have very little incentive to see it through, especially if the talent has disavowed it because of a lack of quality. If they arent gonna stomp for it, then in fairness to these gods of direct to video, the Nu Image/Millenium boys, maybe its the right move. Its just hard to image that it could be that bad. How many bad movies have Freeman and Cusack made? Not many. None jump to mind.
I suppose that may be exactly why they might choose not to promote this one, although thats completely speculation on my part.
Anyway, there was a link for Drama film, and an url pointing to amazon.com. And some generic tag like, see the amazing gripping thriller. So i clicked it, curious what it was for.
I was directed to amazon, to the page for a movie that was shot in Bulgaria several years ago. I recall being in Bulgaria recording the score for My Brother (no I didnt record it myself, we have people for that, and they are paid less in Bulgaria, and are generally better looking, but thats neither here nor there. They walk more. They also smoke. They tend to be thinner, but probably get lung cancer. Like Israelis.)
Anyway, the excellent (formerly excellent?) director Bruce Beresford was directing John Cusack and Morgan Freeman in a thriller. I dont remember if it had a title back then, but the title of the DVD release is The Contract. Yeah, you heard me, the DVD release. As in, straight-to, do not pass go, do not collect box office rentals.
Beresford is an excellent director responsible for good movies in a number of genres. He's best known for Driving Miss Daisy, but also did the excellent, Black Robe, and Tender Mercies, and Breaker Morant. And here he is working with two very good (if not great) actors. The movie, how little could it have cost Avi Lerner and company in Bulgaria? 15 million? 12 million?
I haven't heard anything about it one way or another, quality wise. I have often wondered what happened to it, because I remember talking quite a bit about it when I was there. It was just after the Millenium (Avi Lerner's company) Brian DiPalma production with Scarlet Johnassen and Hilary Swank, another movie I haven't seen. Anyway, I guess I am surprises that a movie with that quality of talent couldn't even get theatrically released. Especially because its a thriller with a name cast, and even if it was terrible, it probably woulda raked in some money anyway.
My guess it that either (1) some theatrical rights situation is preventing it, or more likely (2) the movie is bad, there is limited upside to releasing it theatrically, and Millenium has already recouped the entire budget of the movie because THEY SOLD IT BEFORE THEY MADE IT. And thus, they have very little incentive to see it through, especially if the talent has disavowed it because of a lack of quality. If they arent gonna stomp for it, then in fairness to these gods of direct to video, the Nu Image/Millenium boys, maybe its the right move. Its just hard to image that it could be that bad. How many bad movies have Freeman and Cusack made? Not many. None jump to mind.
I suppose that may be exactly why they might choose not to promote this one, although thats completely speculation on my part.
Historic/What I am Watching/Reading
I cannot believe it. My internet wireless connection went down for no reason yesterday. Absolutely, worked one moment, dead the next. And with my busy social life out here (NOT), it sucked pretty bad. I tried everything, including endless searching on the net while physically plugged into the router in the main house.
After almost a full day of on and off searching, I found a Mac helpsite that gave some suggestions for fixing this problem (with the particular error message I was getting- it seems that macs, while they dont get viruses, have other sorts of problems that people often randomly experience and post about online - thats been the case whenever I've had a Mac problem).
Anyway, finally, i followed these steps, trial and error style, and I am wirelessly connected to the internet again. I am a little incredulous, because I am not particularly technical. And I am having some problems with the safari browser, which wont let me connect to certain sites because of security concerns. Blogspot, included, I am posting using Camino.
But Im back, in any case, and pretty damn excited about it . Can you tell?
Anyway, here I am.
What I am Watching: Lords of Dogtown, Bird with the Crystal Plumage, The Office Season 1, Search and Destroy (someone should have destroyed the DVD before I watched it).
What I am Reading: Spike, Mike, Slackers and Dykes by famed sales agent John Pierson. A fun read but probably only for those in the biz.
After almost a full day of on and off searching, I found a Mac helpsite that gave some suggestions for fixing this problem (with the particular error message I was getting- it seems that macs, while they dont get viruses, have other sorts of problems that people often randomly experience and post about online - thats been the case whenever I've had a Mac problem).
Anyway, finally, i followed these steps, trial and error style, and I am wirelessly connected to the internet again. I am a little incredulous, because I am not particularly technical. And I am having some problems with the safari browser, which wont let me connect to certain sites because of security concerns. Blogspot, included, I am posting using Camino.
But Im back, in any case, and pretty damn excited about it . Can you tell?
Anyway, here I am.
What I am Watching: Lords of Dogtown, Bird with the Crystal Plumage, The Office Season 1, Search and Destroy (someone should have destroyed the DVD before I watched it).
What I am Reading: Spike, Mike, Slackers and Dykes by famed sales agent John Pierson. A fun read but probably only for those in the biz.
Sunday, July 15, 2007
ON THE CHEAP IN LALA LAND
So there are some very nice things about LA and the LA lifestyle that I am coming to learn. One of the foremost is the utter cheapness of living here, and the selection of things to do on the cheap.
I went hiking last week. It was a mere ten minute drive from my place. Now, I am not comparing the hiking to being up in the Adirondacks in New York, which are bucolic and lovely. The trail was a little dry and dusty, and you’re never really that far from feeling like your in a city. But still, the occasional porn star down from the valley hiking there helps make up the difference.
COST: One buck parking fee. You can’t even get on the train in NY for that. Not even close.
I went to a jazz series opening at the Hollywood Bowl with some friends last Wednesday. And while there are certainly seats that are more expensive, the general admission seats for this concert, featuring Queen Latifah (who was excellent) and a ten piece Jazz ensemble, were very comfortable and allowed us, once we’d moved off center, to spread out and have a picnic with the wine and food we were permitted to bring into the place. So a nite out with music and a picnic.
COST: $12 bucks for the seat and seventy five cents? for a seat cushion. BYOB.
Similarly, last nite, much of the same crew from the concert went to the Hollywood Forever cemetery screening. Basically, you queue up outside on the grass for an hour or so, then they let everyone in to place, and you stake a claim with your blanket, food, booze, etc. on the grass opposite the white wall of a very conveniently placed mausoleum, which is right opposite Hitchcock’s tomb. (Incidentally, they began this series with Vertigo, which to me is a little weird, but Hitch probably would have dug it). They project the movie on the side of the mausoleum and voila. Between seven and when it gets dark, you basically sit there and listen to a DJ spin. Last week, when the movie was Fast Times at Ridgemont High, they spun eighties music, and Amy Heckerling was there for the show. (No word on Sean Penn). Since the movie was Milos Forman’s amazing One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, they spun mostly older seventies hippie tunes. And everyone gets a little loaded while waiting for it to get dark enough for the movie to start, which made it a little weird because while the movie is inspirational, it had the effect of making some Angelinos laugh an inappropriate moments.
Movie Aside: So many years later, Cuckoo’s Nest stands up. In the wake of the torture of prisoners in Cuba, the movie is extremely timely. It also doesn’t have a false note, pulls no punches, has a great score and incredible acting. Its basically perfect, and I have a suspicion that it would play pretty well if released theatrically now. If I can make one movie nearly that good in my career, well, that’s a career. Fucking amazing, and I’ve seen it half a dozen times or more.
Anyway, so we sat there, watched a great movie (and they have a good project and great sound system), and chilled. Of course, there is all the waiting but that can be fun. I ran into (well, she spotted me somehow in the crowd) Jen Getzinger, who was Darren Aronofsky’s script supervisor and then on Sex in the City for years, before attending AFI. She was with her producers, and we chatted a bit. It was nice seeing her unexpectedly like that.
COST: $10 (a suggested donation, but not really the vibe I got when we walked up – you gotta pay).
I drank a little too much and have a bit of a headache today. But it was another fun time, and far preferable to hanging in a stuffy bar.
Grumpster
I went hiking last week. It was a mere ten minute drive from my place. Now, I am not comparing the hiking to being up in the Adirondacks in New York, which are bucolic and lovely. The trail was a little dry and dusty, and you’re never really that far from feeling like your in a city. But still, the occasional porn star down from the valley hiking there helps make up the difference.
COST: One buck parking fee. You can’t even get on the train in NY for that. Not even close.
I went to a jazz series opening at the Hollywood Bowl with some friends last Wednesday. And while there are certainly seats that are more expensive, the general admission seats for this concert, featuring Queen Latifah (who was excellent) and a ten piece Jazz ensemble, were very comfortable and allowed us, once we’d moved off center, to spread out and have a picnic with the wine and food we were permitted to bring into the place. So a nite out with music and a picnic.
COST: $12 bucks for the seat and seventy five cents? for a seat cushion. BYOB.
Similarly, last nite, much of the same crew from the concert went to the Hollywood Forever cemetery screening. Basically, you queue up outside on the grass for an hour or so, then they let everyone in to place, and you stake a claim with your blanket, food, booze, etc. on the grass opposite the white wall of a very conveniently placed mausoleum, which is right opposite Hitchcock’s tomb. (Incidentally, they began this series with Vertigo, which to me is a little weird, but Hitch probably would have dug it). They project the movie on the side of the mausoleum and voila. Between seven and when it gets dark, you basically sit there and listen to a DJ spin. Last week, when the movie was Fast Times at Ridgemont High, they spun eighties music, and Amy Heckerling was there for the show. (No word on Sean Penn). Since the movie was Milos Forman’s amazing One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, they spun mostly older seventies hippie tunes. And everyone gets a little loaded while waiting for it to get dark enough for the movie to start, which made it a little weird because while the movie is inspirational, it had the effect of making some Angelinos laugh an inappropriate moments.
Movie Aside: So many years later, Cuckoo’s Nest stands up. In the wake of the torture of prisoners in Cuba, the movie is extremely timely. It also doesn’t have a false note, pulls no punches, has a great score and incredible acting. Its basically perfect, and I have a suspicion that it would play pretty well if released theatrically now. If I can make one movie nearly that good in my career, well, that’s a career. Fucking amazing, and I’ve seen it half a dozen times or more.
Anyway, so we sat there, watched a great movie (and they have a good project and great sound system), and chilled. Of course, there is all the waiting but that can be fun. I ran into (well, she spotted me somehow in the crowd) Jen Getzinger, who was Darren Aronofsky’s script supervisor and then on Sex in the City for years, before attending AFI. She was with her producers, and we chatted a bit. It was nice seeing her unexpectedly like that.
COST: $10 (a suggested donation, but not really the vibe I got when we walked up – you gotta pay).
I drank a little too much and have a bit of a headache today. But it was another fun time, and far preferable to hanging in a stuffy bar.
Grumpster
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Michael Bay States His Position
This was posted by Transformers director Michael Bay on his website, and captured before he took it down shortly thereafter, having thought better of sharing. We bring it to ya, you can't take it back. Sorry Mike.
LET'S GET SOME FACTS STRAIGHT
06/29/2007 11:20 PM
The movie is over.
Wow that was a hard one, but I must tell you it was so much fun. The most difficult actors I’ve ever worked with, besides Bruce Willis, are Optimus Prime and Bumblebee. They took every single one of my days for a year. But they are well worth the work. I’ve just traveled 36,000 miles around the world (in two weeks) and had the most amazing premiere at the Taormina film festival in an ancient, Greek-built theatre that existed well before the birth of Christ. I loved seeing the reactions to the film from so many different cultures. This movie really travels around the world. I’m so excited for everyone to see it. Thanks to all you that supported me on this film.
Just so I set the story straight, my budget started at $145 Million, it crept to $150 and some change – I’m very proud of that – the fact that we are half the cost of all these other summer blockbusters. I see people doubt that out on the net, but anyone want to challenge me I’ll put a ten thousand dollar bet down on the table right now.
Even when the studio tried to ship me out to Canada or shoot down with Aussies - I looked but I knew we were dead up there. I needed my crew that I have been loyal to for years, they are the best in the world. Besides I believe American movies that portray America, should be made in America. I cut my fee 30% so I could make this at home. I knew this was right for the movie so I asked the other producers to join – Ian and Lorenzo did, and the two others (that came attached to the project) Tom Desanto and Don Murphy did not. That was my introduction to them – they did not want any part of their fee going to make a better movie. Things like that don’t usually sit well with me.
Now that the movie is done I get strange questions from the press. Like 'how did Tom control the set'? What? 'How did Tom and Don control you?' What the fuck. 'How was it working with Tom and Don who knew Transformers so well?' 'We heard Tom wrote the story – he had a 90 page treatment, right?' Okay stop. Let me take you back in time. Tom and Don are very nice guys, but let’s get some facts straight.
Tom had one creative meeting with me for one hour and ten minutes to be exact about a year ago. He told he was the über fan boy and was going to protect me from the minefields. The type of minefields on the Net like 'Damn you Michael Bay' 'You wrecked my childhood Michael Bay' and other various web death threats I received. Tom proceeded to tell me how much he had problems with the robot designs and script issues. I realized he was worlds apart in my vision. I said thank you very much, and then showed him my office door - I never really spoke to him again other then to mutter hello. He would occasionally come to the set with guests like it was some theme park. I never spoke creatively with Don. I read his notes kind of trashing the script and making me and the writers feel like a big shit pile. But during production Don was nice to me, he knew I was not going to talk creative with him.
One day not too long ago, the writers of our movie Alex and Bob called me in a panic saying all of a sudden after the movie was almost finished in post that Tom was applying for writer's or story credit. I was appalled because neither the writer’s nor I ever saw any treatment. Well, he applied for credit, but the Writer’s Guild shot him down, denied him.
But what made my blood curl was something that was on the Net with Tom at the Saturn awards on IESB.net where they interviewed him about the movie – a movie I might add he had not seen yet. He acted very much like he did. Check it out as he vamps through the questions, and how Hugo put his 'thumb print on it'. Give me a break, the guy was lying through his teeth - he had seen nada, nothing, until the press screening.
So that’s the real truth, I had to say it, cause I'm tired of answering these questions.
What these guys did do was stuck with a ‘silly toy movie’ and pushed it around town and kept the faith after everyone turned them down, always with the hope that maybe someone somewhere would make it. Now I commend them on that. Hats off to them, but trying to taking creative credit in the press let me just say it – irks me. Too many credits are given to too many people who had nothing to do with the movie. Hell, even investment bankers with not the slightest idea of how to make a movie all of a sudden are big producers in town.
I guess that’s how it goes in Hollywood.
Michael Bay
LET'S GET SOME FACTS STRAIGHT
06/29/2007 11:20 PM
The movie is over.
Wow that was a hard one, but I must tell you it was so much fun. The most difficult actors I’ve ever worked with, besides Bruce Willis, are Optimus Prime and Bumblebee. They took every single one of my days for a year. But they are well worth the work. I’ve just traveled 36,000 miles around the world (in two weeks) and had the most amazing premiere at the Taormina film festival in an ancient, Greek-built theatre that existed well before the birth of Christ. I loved seeing the reactions to the film from so many different cultures. This movie really travels around the world. I’m so excited for everyone to see it. Thanks to all you that supported me on this film.
Just so I set the story straight, my budget started at $145 Million, it crept to $150 and some change – I’m very proud of that – the fact that we are half the cost of all these other summer blockbusters. I see people doubt that out on the net, but anyone want to challenge me I’ll put a ten thousand dollar bet down on the table right now.
Even when the studio tried to ship me out to Canada or shoot down with Aussies - I looked but I knew we were dead up there. I needed my crew that I have been loyal to for years, they are the best in the world. Besides I believe American movies that portray America, should be made in America. I cut my fee 30% so I could make this at home. I knew this was right for the movie so I asked the other producers to join – Ian and Lorenzo did, and the two others (that came attached to the project) Tom Desanto and Don Murphy did not. That was my introduction to them – they did not want any part of their fee going to make a better movie. Things like that don’t usually sit well with me.
Now that the movie is done I get strange questions from the press. Like 'how did Tom control the set'? What? 'How did Tom and Don control you?' What the fuck. 'How was it working with Tom and Don who knew Transformers so well?' 'We heard Tom wrote the story – he had a 90 page treatment, right?' Okay stop. Let me take you back in time. Tom and Don are very nice guys, but let’s get some facts straight.
Tom had one creative meeting with me for one hour and ten minutes to be exact about a year ago. He told he was the über fan boy and was going to protect me from the minefields. The type of minefields on the Net like 'Damn you Michael Bay' 'You wrecked my childhood Michael Bay' and other various web death threats I received. Tom proceeded to tell me how much he had problems with the robot designs and script issues. I realized he was worlds apart in my vision. I said thank you very much, and then showed him my office door - I never really spoke to him again other then to mutter hello. He would occasionally come to the set with guests like it was some theme park. I never spoke creatively with Don. I read his notes kind of trashing the script and making me and the writers feel like a big shit pile. But during production Don was nice to me, he knew I was not going to talk creative with him.
One day not too long ago, the writers of our movie Alex and Bob called me in a panic saying all of a sudden after the movie was almost finished in post that Tom was applying for writer's or story credit. I was appalled because neither the writer’s nor I ever saw any treatment. Well, he applied for credit, but the Writer’s Guild shot him down, denied him.
But what made my blood curl was something that was on the Net with Tom at the Saturn awards on IESB.net where they interviewed him about the movie – a movie I might add he had not seen yet. He acted very much like he did. Check it out as he vamps through the questions, and how Hugo put his 'thumb print on it'. Give me a break, the guy was lying through his teeth - he had seen nada, nothing, until the press screening.
So that’s the real truth, I had to say it, cause I'm tired of answering these questions.
What these guys did do was stuck with a ‘silly toy movie’ and pushed it around town and kept the faith after everyone turned them down, always with the hope that maybe someone somewhere would make it. Now I commend them on that. Hats off to them, but trying to taking creative credit in the press let me just say it – irks me. Too many credits are given to too many people who had nothing to do with the movie. Hell, even investment bankers with not the slightest idea of how to make a movie all of a sudden are big producers in town.
I guess that’s how it goes in Hollywood.
Michael Bay
Insurgents - Variety Review
The Insurgents
By LISA NESSELSON
A Slamdance Media Group release, in conjunction with Allumination FilmWorks, of a Revel Films production, in association with Angel Baby Entertainment and Full Glass Films. (International sales: Revel Films, New York.) Produced by Greg Segal, John Gallagher, Elana Pianko, Stan Erdreich, Mike Parness. Directed, written by Scott Dacko;
With: John Shea, Henry Simmons, Juliette Marquis, Michael Mosley, Mary Stuart Masterson.
A brain-teaser that tosses ideologies in a narrative blender alternately set to "certainty" and "ambiguity," "The Insurgents" makes the most of its compact cast of attractive thesps and low budget to examine the inner workings of a domestic terror cell. Anybody wondering how homegrown terrorism against a U.S. target could ever seem like a good idea will find somewhat stagey but consistently engaging food for thought here. Fests and civics classes should investigate.
As a citizen's response to post-9/11 doubts, scripter-helmer Scott Dacko's debut film is sometimes clunky in execution but always lively on an intellectual level. Script has something for everyone, whether you think the Chicago 7 were swell guys or you see no real reason not to wipe rogue nations off the map.
Talky but intriguing pic bounces back and forth in time, reconstructing the lead-up to an all-American bomb plot implemented by a disabled Iraq vet, a resourceful ex-prostitute and an ex-con country boy. Disgruntled protags follow the self-righteous leadership of a charismatic professional author and lecturer.
At pic's outset, clean-cut Southern-accented James (Michael Mosley) addresses the camera with a defiant rant marbled with eloquent references to dying for a cause, prefaced by, "If you're watching this, I guess I'm dead."
Ten or so title cards situate the action at between "three years ago" and "yesterday" but in non-chronological order, keeping viewers on their toes.
For example, "6 months ago" James came to the rescue of foxy, self-reliant Hana (Juliette Marquis) in a bar, after which they became a couple.
Two years before meeting suave but impotent ex-Marine and Iraq vet, Marcus (Henry Simmons), Hana was befriended by polemical author Robert (John Shea) who holds cozy salons for folks unsatisfied with the status quo.
Set piece devoted to the Unified Theory of Sept. 11, 2001 is an entertaining if chilling roundup of all the square pegs that don't fit in round holes pertaining to that day's terror attacks.
"The remarkable thing about 9/11 isn't how many people died -- it's how many lived," is one assertion.
"Why do conspiracies always have to be vast? Two people can be a conspiracy," offers one character. And, oh yeah, "The founding fathers were insurgents."
By the time the title card reads "Yesterday," suspense is white hot. Who really recruited who and for what?
Production values are sufficient on limited funds.
Camera (color, widescreen, HD), Learan Kahanov; editor, Bob Reitano; music, Ben Butler, Mario Grigorov; production designer, John El Manahi; art director, Patrick McGowan; costume designer, Dara Ettinger; sound, Stephen Barden, Brian Miklas; casting, Adrienne Stern. Reviewed at Avignon Film Festival -- competing, June 23, 2007. Running time: 83 MIN.
By LISA NESSELSON
A Slamdance Media Group release, in conjunction with Allumination FilmWorks, of a Revel Films production, in association with Angel Baby Entertainment and Full Glass Films. (International sales: Revel Films, New York.) Produced by Greg Segal, John Gallagher, Elana Pianko, Stan Erdreich, Mike Parness. Directed, written by Scott Dacko;
With: John Shea, Henry Simmons, Juliette Marquis, Michael Mosley, Mary Stuart Masterson.
A brain-teaser that tosses ideologies in a narrative blender alternately set to "certainty" and "ambiguity," "The Insurgents" makes the most of its compact cast of attractive thesps and low budget to examine the inner workings of a domestic terror cell. Anybody wondering how homegrown terrorism against a U.S. target could ever seem like a good idea will find somewhat stagey but consistently engaging food for thought here. Fests and civics classes should investigate.
As a citizen's response to post-9/11 doubts, scripter-helmer Scott Dacko's debut film is sometimes clunky in execution but always lively on an intellectual level. Script has something for everyone, whether you think the Chicago 7 were swell guys or you see no real reason not to wipe rogue nations off the map.
Talky but intriguing pic bounces back and forth in time, reconstructing the lead-up to an all-American bomb plot implemented by a disabled Iraq vet, a resourceful ex-prostitute and an ex-con country boy. Disgruntled protags follow the self-righteous leadership of a charismatic professional author and lecturer.
At pic's outset, clean-cut Southern-accented James (Michael Mosley) addresses the camera with a defiant rant marbled with eloquent references to dying for a cause, prefaced by, "If you're watching this, I guess I'm dead."
Ten or so title cards situate the action at between "three years ago" and "yesterday" but in non-chronological order, keeping viewers on their toes.
For example, "6 months ago" James came to the rescue of foxy, self-reliant Hana (Juliette Marquis) in a bar, after which they became a couple.
Two years before meeting suave but impotent ex-Marine and Iraq vet, Marcus (Henry Simmons), Hana was befriended by polemical author Robert (John Shea) who holds cozy salons for folks unsatisfied with the status quo.
Set piece devoted to the Unified Theory of Sept. 11, 2001 is an entertaining if chilling roundup of all the square pegs that don't fit in round holes pertaining to that day's terror attacks.
"The remarkable thing about 9/11 isn't how many people died -- it's how many lived," is one assertion.
"Why do conspiracies always have to be vast? Two people can be a conspiracy," offers one character. And, oh yeah, "The founding fathers were insurgents."
By the time the title card reads "Yesterday," suspense is white hot. Who really recruited who and for what?
Production values are sufficient on limited funds.
Camera (color, widescreen, HD), Learan Kahanov; editor, Bob Reitano; music, Ben Butler, Mario Grigorov; production designer, John El Manahi; art director, Patrick McGowan; costume designer, Dara Ettinger; sound, Stephen Barden, Brian Miklas; casting, Adrienne Stern. Reviewed at Avignon Film Festival -- competing, June 23, 2007. Running time: 83 MIN.
Saturday, July 07, 2007
Fear And Loathing Review
Sometimes you see a movie and it doesn’t resonate properly the first time. Maybe it’s the depth of your experience, or lack thereof. Maybe its something else, like there are layers of subtext. In the case of my initial reaction to Terry Gilliam’s adaption of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, I think the cause was different. For whatever reason, when I first turned it on, watching it on DVD when it was released, I didn’t make it past the first twenty minutes. And I love Terry Gilliam, always have. I think, though, that when I saw one of my favorite books on screen, from one of my favorite directors, it set my expectations for comedy so high that what I saw in the first twenty minutes was quite disappointing. I was watching at a friend’s place, we turned it off, and I never bought or rented it afterward.
Well, its years later, now, and I’ve had the chance to see this brilliant movie. I think the first twenty minutes is kind of the orientation period. It’s the elevator ride down. I stopped the movie before I had a chance to acclimate to its vision, to embrace what Gilliam was trying to do with the book. The way that a world is created is undeniable, and even after watching just the first bit made me realize that he had done that, but to write it off as a terrific failure, one that was brave and masterful and just didn’t work.
But I had to give it another chance. I mean, this is Terry Gilliam. Brazil, Terry Gilliam. With Johnny Depp and Benicio Del Toro. And I am glad to report that it was my short attention span, my ADD, whatever, that led me not to recognize the brilliance in the vision and the humor that resounds throughout. Its just that he doesn’t explain his vision, the background of the characters and their real-life behavior; he just asks you to hold on to the back bumper until youre running faster than you ever have, at the same speed as the car.
The casting is brilliant, with great cameos up and down, including Tobey Maguire, Christina Ricci, Ellen Barkin, Chris Meloni (great as Sven, the Hotel Clerk), Gary Busey (may I have a kiss before you go?), Viggo Mortensen, Cameron Diaz, Penn Jillette, Harry Dean Stanton and a bunch of others. The photography completes the trippy atmosphere, as does the use of the rear projection in driving scenes. And Del Toro is a great foil to Depp, whose movie it is and who carries the movie with his performance and voiceover and complete dedication to his homage to Hunter S. Thompson (who appears in a flashback).
Watch it. Own it. Live it (well, probably not, you’ll get arrested). And try the Land Crab.
Well, its years later, now, and I’ve had the chance to see this brilliant movie. I think the first twenty minutes is kind of the orientation period. It’s the elevator ride down. I stopped the movie before I had a chance to acclimate to its vision, to embrace what Gilliam was trying to do with the book. The way that a world is created is undeniable, and even after watching just the first bit made me realize that he had done that, but to write it off as a terrific failure, one that was brave and masterful and just didn’t work.
But I had to give it another chance. I mean, this is Terry Gilliam. Brazil, Terry Gilliam. With Johnny Depp and Benicio Del Toro. And I am glad to report that it was my short attention span, my ADD, whatever, that led me not to recognize the brilliance in the vision and the humor that resounds throughout. Its just that he doesn’t explain his vision, the background of the characters and their real-life behavior; he just asks you to hold on to the back bumper until youre running faster than you ever have, at the same speed as the car.
The casting is brilliant, with great cameos up and down, including Tobey Maguire, Christina Ricci, Ellen Barkin, Chris Meloni (great as Sven, the Hotel Clerk), Gary Busey (may I have a kiss before you go?), Viggo Mortensen, Cameron Diaz, Penn Jillette, Harry Dean Stanton and a bunch of others. The photography completes the trippy atmosphere, as does the use of the rear projection in driving scenes. And Del Toro is a great foil to Depp, whose movie it is and who carries the movie with his performance and voiceover and complete dedication to his homage to Hunter S. Thompson (who appears in a flashback).
Watch it. Own it. Live it (well, probably not, you’ll get arrested). And try the Land Crab.
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Airplane Bloggin’: Back to LALA land edition
Grabbed my first flight to LA after restfully (somewhat) spending the entire month of June in NYC. I had traveled back for the PictureStart Film Festival in late May, and I had actually intended to make my way back west by mid-June. But mid-June turned to late June and then, with airline ticket prices skyrocketing, to early July. And when I say early, I mean early, as I took another redeye inverse, a plane leaving NY damn early and getting into LA before 10AM. Redeye inverse, just made it up. Like it, feel free to use it.
LA is a source of ambivalence for me. I like LA. I like the weather. I certainly don’t mind a day of driving from meeting to meeting, grabbing coffees in between. I don’t mind being in a car alone (the anti-social part of me (is there any other part) likes that quite a bit).
But my apartment in LA, how shall we say, SUCKS. It’s been a little bit of a disaster all along. Its primary draws are that its well located, has off street parking, and is cheap. Readers may recall that when I moved into it, the room I had lacked walls., Yes, wall. I”ve since put up walls at moderate expense, but they were necessary so that I didn’t have to listen to the god-awful music the guy who shared the bungalow played. And he didn’t have to listen to me snore.
Rather uncermemoniously, this fellow, who was the one who convinced me to rent half the bungalow and join his band of merry thieves (I chose to simply cohabitate, anti-social being that I am), has moved out. With all the rest of his crew. When he told me he was leaving, I tried to find another tenant to replace him, choosing to choose my poison. But he never responded to the person I chose, so that they could see the place, and now one of the hipsters in the main house picked his replacement. So, I am going back to a bungalow with a roommate Ive never met. Hes supposedly quiet, and my format roommate was no joy, being noisy, home all the time, and kind of a slob, so perhaps it wont be that bad, We shall see. But to say that I don’t have some degree of trepidation would be a lie.
I also don’t really have much of a friend base in LA. That accounts for evenings in the bungalow on a regular basis. Which would be OK, except the bungalow is not exactly the Pierre. And I don’t have much STUFF there. I have some clothes, a few DVDs, and no cable television. So passing the time takes some time. I usually am multitasking at home, working on the computer while writing emails or reading or whatever. The TV is on, often playing a movie I’ve already seen (its kind of like playing music for me). I cannot do that in LA, with no cable. I have a few DVDs, and that’s where it is. Its not optimal.
But its work, and the friend situation is getting better (oh, woe is me). And things are progressing, which makes me feel good. Both Digger and Slaughter appear to be almost fully sewn in by now, and that’s the main reason I am out here.
I hate flying too, did I mention that? We’re over Colarado. A few hours to go.
See ya there.
Grumpy
LA is a source of ambivalence for me. I like LA. I like the weather. I certainly don’t mind a day of driving from meeting to meeting, grabbing coffees in between. I don’t mind being in a car alone (the anti-social part of me (is there any other part) likes that quite a bit).
But my apartment in LA, how shall we say, SUCKS. It’s been a little bit of a disaster all along. Its primary draws are that its well located, has off street parking, and is cheap. Readers may recall that when I moved into it, the room I had lacked walls., Yes, wall. I”ve since put up walls at moderate expense, but they were necessary so that I didn’t have to listen to the god-awful music the guy who shared the bungalow played. And he didn’t have to listen to me snore.
Rather uncermemoniously, this fellow, who was the one who convinced me to rent half the bungalow and join his band of merry thieves (I chose to simply cohabitate, anti-social being that I am), has moved out. With all the rest of his crew. When he told me he was leaving, I tried to find another tenant to replace him, choosing to choose my poison. But he never responded to the person I chose, so that they could see the place, and now one of the hipsters in the main house picked his replacement. So, I am going back to a bungalow with a roommate Ive never met. Hes supposedly quiet, and my format roommate was no joy, being noisy, home all the time, and kind of a slob, so perhaps it wont be that bad, We shall see. But to say that I don’t have some degree of trepidation would be a lie.
I also don’t really have much of a friend base in LA. That accounts for evenings in the bungalow on a regular basis. Which would be OK, except the bungalow is not exactly the Pierre. And I don’t have much STUFF there. I have some clothes, a few DVDs, and no cable television. So passing the time takes some time. I usually am multitasking at home, working on the computer while writing emails or reading or whatever. The TV is on, often playing a movie I’ve already seen (its kind of like playing music for me). I cannot do that in LA, with no cable. I have a few DVDs, and that’s where it is. Its not optimal.
But its work, and the friend situation is getting better (oh, woe is me). And things are progressing, which makes me feel good. Both Digger and Slaughter appear to be almost fully sewn in by now, and that’s the main reason I am out here.
I hate flying too, did I mention that? We’re over Colarado. A few hours to go.
See ya there.
Grumpy
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Thoughts on horror and scares
Heading back to LA on Thursday. Last stretch of packaging on Slaughter and Digger. Gonna have some announcements on those soon, but best wait til the news is public. Of course you understands. Gracias.
As you may have noticed, I’ve been watching a lot of horror movies. Mostly bad. Kind of tells ya something, especially because we have two on tap for the summer. Hopefully we can make something scary, and hopefully, good as well. Scary first. Scary is a good start.
One thing I’ve noticed about the best horror movies is that it’s the acting, as much as anything else, that makes them work and frightening. I mean, the concept and script of course play their parts, but it’s the communication of fear from the actors to the audience that creates fear. So I suppose that what that tells us is that the fear that we feel when watching a horror movie is sympathetic. Its received from the feeling of the characters, and the better their ability (the actors) to convey that feeling and make us believe it as well, the better the movie works.
I guess that plays into a lot of elements, the believability thing that is. If the effects are not believable, i.e. too schlocky, or the stunts are poorly staged, then it affects the overall believability of fear – not as much as bad acting (to me), but to some degree.
I hope both movies will have the acting and overall believability that’s so necessary to scare the pants off of the audience.
As you may have noticed, I’ve been watching a lot of horror movies. Mostly bad. Kind of tells ya something, especially because we have two on tap for the summer. Hopefully we can make something scary, and hopefully, good as well. Scary first. Scary is a good start.
One thing I’ve noticed about the best horror movies is that it’s the acting, as much as anything else, that makes them work and frightening. I mean, the concept and script of course play their parts, but it’s the communication of fear from the actors to the audience that creates fear. So I suppose that what that tells us is that the fear that we feel when watching a horror movie is sympathetic. Its received from the feeling of the characters, and the better their ability (the actors) to convey that feeling and make us believe it as well, the better the movie works.
I guess that plays into a lot of elements, the believability thing that is. If the effects are not believable, i.e. too schlocky, or the stunts are poorly staged, then it affects the overall believability of fear – not as much as bad acting (to me), but to some degree.
I hope both movies will have the acting and overall believability that’s so necessary to scare the pants off of the audience.
What I am Watching
Lady in the Water - Omigod. What the hell was that. Worse than expected, despite a valiant effort from the always excellent Paul Giamatti.
Idle Hands - Well, at least Jessica Alba is in it.
Dexter - a must see tv series on Showtime. Excellent, consistent, interesting.
Idle Hands - Well, at least Jessica Alba is in it.
Dexter - a must see tv series on Showtime. Excellent, consistent, interesting.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Classic Email Exchange from Judd Apatow (Knocked Up) and Mark Brazill, EP of That Seventies Show, c. 2001.
Don't have a cow, man
BY Judd Apatow and Mark Brazill
PUBLISHED March 2002
From an exchange of emails in fall 2001 between Judd Apatow, the creator of the sitcoms Freaks and Geeks and Undeclared and a successful writer of Hollywood screenplays, and Mark Brazill, the creator of That '70s Show. Topher Grace is one of the stars of That '70s Show.
* * *
Mark,
I am writing you because I left a message but did not hear back. I understand that you were upset about me not calling you to ask if Topher could do our show. Since Fox executives were talking to Topher about it, I thought it was cool with you. Also, since I hadn't written it yet, I wasn't at the point of asking if it was possible to have him do it. I would have called your show then. I didn't realize it would create a problem. I never wished to offend you. If there is some protocol for people on Fox doing guest shots on other Fox shows, I didn't know what it was. Regardless, I'm sorry that this resulted in such a mess. If you are mad at me about this or something else from our past, please tell me. I only remember us having fun in the early nineties and it troubles me that it seems like you have a beef with me.
Best regards,
Judd Apatow
* * *
Judd,
Yeah, we were friends in the early nineties. And if you don't recall what happened, I'll remind you. I had a pilot at MTV called "Yard Dogs" about a rock band living in Hollywood. I told you about it and you proceeded to completely rip it off, storyline and all, for the Ben Stiller show. You called it "Grungies." MTV and UTA [United Talent Agency] were working on an overall deal (MTV's idea) with me, based on that pilot. When it turned up on your show everything went away overnight. I had just had my son Jack and I had no job, no money, nothing. There's a saying, "I forgive but I don't forget. And I don't forgive." So, now you know. Although I kind of think that you already did.
Mark
* * *
Mark,
I truly don't remember anything you are talking about. Jeff Kahn wrote "The Grungies" sketch, a parody where we did Seattle bands as The Monkees. I don't remember you ever calling me after that saying you were mad. Ben and I would get fifty sketches a week from the writers and then we'd pick the ones that we thought were funny. I never connected the two. Even now they don't seem similar. Ours was a goofy over-the-top parody, not a situation comedy about musicians in L.A. Nobody watched our show so I don't see how that could be the reason your pilot died. I am sorry you are upset. I am not a thief of ideas. I'm sorry you believe differently.
Judd Apatow
* * *
Judd,
The show I wrote was also over-the-top and it let down the fourth wall. Since it's registered at the WGA [Writers Guild of America], you could compare the two. And as an Exec Producer, we both know you have input into every sketch. As for no one seeing the show, everyone knows everything in Hollywood. There are no secrets. Personally, I feel you've made a career out of being a sycophant to Carrey or Shandling or Roseanne, and when you weren't kissing ass you were stealing from lesser-known comics or leeching off other people's ideas ("Celtic Pride," "Cable Guy"). I noticed how outraged you were to not get a writing credit on "Cable Guy" until it came out and was panned. You dropped that cause like the showbiz weasel you are. You may not think you're a thief, but most comics know otherwise. And again, you know that too. Have you ever read "What Makes Sammy Run"? I think you'd like it. Get cancer.
Love,
Mark
* * *
Mark,
Come on, we all wrote for comics at the beginning of our careers. I wrote for Roseanne, you wrote for Dennis Miller. If that makes me a sycophant, then I guess I am. And so are the writers for "Caesar's Hour." I dropped my "Cable Guy" lawsuit not because the film got bad reviews but because I spent eighty grand on it and my lawyer told me I was going to lose. You would be upset if you rewrote the vast majority of a script and received no credit. I wish you had called me about this years ago. I'm sure we could have worked it out. Try not to be so angry. Not everyone is as bad as you think. You should call Jeff Kahn and ask him how that sketch originated. If it turned out that I didn't steal your idea would you still want me to get cancer? I swear to God that I didn't know you were mad about this. Until six weeks ago I was still referring to you as an old friend. Maybe one day I'll be able to say that again.
Judd Apatow
* * *
Mark,
It's come to my attention that you are upset with Judd Apatow about the sketch "The Grungies." I completely understand why you would have been pissed off about seeing something similar to what you were working on at the time. However, the idea for "The Grungies" and all the initial writing and rewriting came from me. I also cast it, acted in it, and edited it. I was and still am influenced by pop music, and I thought it would be funny to satirize the seriousness of the Seattle grunge music scene with the ridiculous superficiality of "The Monkees" 1960s show. I hope that this clears up any misunderstanding. By the way, I am a huge fan of "That '70s Show." Congratulations on its well-deserved success. I also think it's cool you set it in Wisconsin. I went to the University of Wisconsin at Madison and loved it. If you have any other questions don't hesitate to email me.
Jeff Kahn
* * *
Mark,
I have no interest in talking with you on the phone anymore. I know you are very successful and think that gives you the right to judge people and berate them regardless of the facts, but I have had enough of you for one day. I know it's hard to believe that your rock band TV idea, which every writer in this town has thought of at one point, was not on my mind half a year after you told it to me. Yes, you thought of breaking the fourth wall. Groucho and George Burns stole it from you. Why don't you sue the guys who have that new show "How to Be a Rock Star" on the WB? I must have told them your idea. Nobody has ever goofed on rock bands, not "Spinal Tap" or The Rutles or 800 "Saturday Night Live" sketches. I should have told everyone on the show, no rock band sketches, that's Brazill's area. So hold on to your hate and rage, even though it makes no sense. I'll go back to my life of thievery and leeching. As for the cancer, I'll wait till you get it and then steal it from you. By the way, that joke was one of my writers', Rodney Rothman (see, I credited him). See, I have no original thoughts. Sorry I bothered to figure this out.
Judd
* * *
Judd,
How appropriate that you had to use someone else's joke to take a swipe at me. I told you my idea. You did it two weeks later, VERBATIM. Spew revisionist shit all you want. Everyone knows you're a hack. Also, everyone knows how you fucked over Paul Feig on the new show. All your press mentions "your" brilliant "Freaks and Geeks," as if Feig didn't even do the series. It must have killed you when the true genius behind it got nominated for an Emmy. Is your wife still livid about someone in the neighborhood building a house just like hers? Tell her I know how she feels. The reason I called was to tell you to piss off. We'll never be "friends," regardless of the pussy whining from your last email. I respect you zero. See ya at the upfronts, bitch! Well . . . unless you get canceled before that. Until then, die in a fiery accident and taste your own blood. (Is that too angry?)
Love,
Brazill
* * *
Mark,
I hope your anger is a joke, because if it isn't . . . wow. Here's a line by line reply. I have starred (*) the replies if you are confused by my format.
>How appropriate that you had to use someone else's joke to take a swipe at me.
***That was the joke. How interesting that you couldn't understand that. You would think someone with the lineage of "Yard Dogs" would have the intellectual acumen to pick up on that. I feel for the writers that have to pitch to you. Never doubt how much they hate you.
>I told you my idea. You did it two weeks later, VERBATIM. Spew revisionist shit all you want.
***How could I hear your idea, steal it, and then have it air two weeks later? It was a filmed sketch show. Sketches were written months before they aired. They were filmed six weeks before they aired. I thought you were a producer. Shouldn't you understand how these shows are made? Do you start writing episodes two weeks before they air? Maybe you stole "Yard Dogs" from me.
>Everyone knows you're a hack.
***That's why I kiss the ass. Let me know who thinks I am a hack so I can kiss their ass as well. I also suck dick lately. That's how I got my Dreamworks deal.
>It must have killed you when the true genius behind it got nominated for an Emmy.
***I'm sure it's hard for you to believe, but I do not control the national media. That is only true in your paranoid mind. If I create a show they often mention the last show. When they write about "That '80s Show" I am sure they won't ever mention "That '70s Show." I wrote an entire article in the "L.A. Times," a cover story in the calendar, that credited Paul for his work. He went from a struggling actor to an established writer/producer over the course of a year. He is still my friend and I am very happy that he was nominated for two Emmys. He deserved it. I wasn't upset about his Emmy nominations, I already have enough. The certificates are so big you can only hang so many before it starts looking tacky.
>Is your wife still livid about someone in the neighborhood building a house just like hers?
***Yes.
>Tell her I know how she feels.
***I'm on it.
>The reason I called was to tell you to piss off. We'll never be "friends," regardless of the pussy whining from your last email.
***The funniest part of these emails is how bad your sense of humor is. You neither get nor can tell a joke. After you said "get cancer" did you really think I was looking to heal our relationship? Usually the cancer insult is a closer. I'm sure everyone who has suffered with that appreciates your sharp wit.
>I respect you zero.
***Oh no.
>See ya at the upfronts, bitch! Well . . . unless you get canceled before that.
***If you think cancellation hurts me at this point, you haven't been following my career as closely as I thought. I guess you are too busy tracking my real estate problems.
>Until then, die in a fiery accident and taste your own blood.
***That's a Sam Kinison line, you stupid fuck!!!! Hypocrite!!!! J'accuse!!!!
>(Is that too angry?)
>Love, Brazill
***Mark, I have enjoyed this. It's good to see the tragedies of the past few months haven't watered down your passion. I guess if Mark Brazill doesn't go insane over stuff that makes no sense, the terrorists win. Good luck with "That '80s Show." And I look forward to "That '90s Show."
Judd Apatow
BY Judd Apatow and Mark Brazill
PUBLISHED March 2002
From an exchange of emails in fall 2001 between Judd Apatow, the creator of the sitcoms Freaks and Geeks and Undeclared and a successful writer of Hollywood screenplays, and Mark Brazill, the creator of That '70s Show. Topher Grace is one of the stars of That '70s Show.
* * *
Mark,
I am writing you because I left a message but did not hear back. I understand that you were upset about me not calling you to ask if Topher could do our show. Since Fox executives were talking to Topher about it, I thought it was cool with you. Also, since I hadn't written it yet, I wasn't at the point of asking if it was possible to have him do it. I would have called your show then. I didn't realize it would create a problem. I never wished to offend you. If there is some protocol for people on Fox doing guest shots on other Fox shows, I didn't know what it was. Regardless, I'm sorry that this resulted in such a mess. If you are mad at me about this or something else from our past, please tell me. I only remember us having fun in the early nineties and it troubles me that it seems like you have a beef with me.
Best regards,
Judd Apatow
* * *
Judd,
Yeah, we were friends in the early nineties. And if you don't recall what happened, I'll remind you. I had a pilot at MTV called "Yard Dogs" about a rock band living in Hollywood. I told you about it and you proceeded to completely rip it off, storyline and all, for the Ben Stiller show. You called it "Grungies." MTV and UTA [United Talent Agency] were working on an overall deal (MTV's idea) with me, based on that pilot. When it turned up on your show everything went away overnight. I had just had my son Jack and I had no job, no money, nothing. There's a saying, "I forgive but I don't forget. And I don't forgive." So, now you know. Although I kind of think that you already did.
Mark
* * *
Mark,
I truly don't remember anything you are talking about. Jeff Kahn wrote "The Grungies" sketch, a parody where we did Seattle bands as The Monkees. I don't remember you ever calling me after that saying you were mad. Ben and I would get fifty sketches a week from the writers and then we'd pick the ones that we thought were funny. I never connected the two. Even now they don't seem similar. Ours was a goofy over-the-top parody, not a situation comedy about musicians in L.A. Nobody watched our show so I don't see how that could be the reason your pilot died. I am sorry you are upset. I am not a thief of ideas. I'm sorry you believe differently.
Judd Apatow
* * *
Judd,
The show I wrote was also over-the-top and it let down the fourth wall. Since it's registered at the WGA [Writers Guild of America], you could compare the two. And as an Exec Producer, we both know you have input into every sketch. As for no one seeing the show, everyone knows everything in Hollywood. There are no secrets. Personally, I feel you've made a career out of being a sycophant to Carrey or Shandling or Roseanne, and when you weren't kissing ass you were stealing from lesser-known comics or leeching off other people's ideas ("Celtic Pride," "Cable Guy"). I noticed how outraged you were to not get a writing credit on "Cable Guy" until it came out and was panned. You dropped that cause like the showbiz weasel you are. You may not think you're a thief, but most comics know otherwise. And again, you know that too. Have you ever read "What Makes Sammy Run"? I think you'd like it. Get cancer.
Love,
Mark
* * *
Mark,
Come on, we all wrote for comics at the beginning of our careers. I wrote for Roseanne, you wrote for Dennis Miller. If that makes me a sycophant, then I guess I am. And so are the writers for "Caesar's Hour." I dropped my "Cable Guy" lawsuit not because the film got bad reviews but because I spent eighty grand on it and my lawyer told me I was going to lose. You would be upset if you rewrote the vast majority of a script and received no credit. I wish you had called me about this years ago. I'm sure we could have worked it out. Try not to be so angry. Not everyone is as bad as you think. You should call Jeff Kahn and ask him how that sketch originated. If it turned out that I didn't steal your idea would you still want me to get cancer? I swear to God that I didn't know you were mad about this. Until six weeks ago I was still referring to you as an old friend. Maybe one day I'll be able to say that again.
Judd Apatow
* * *
Mark,
It's come to my attention that you are upset with Judd Apatow about the sketch "The Grungies." I completely understand why you would have been pissed off about seeing something similar to what you were working on at the time. However, the idea for "The Grungies" and all the initial writing and rewriting came from me. I also cast it, acted in it, and edited it. I was and still am influenced by pop music, and I thought it would be funny to satirize the seriousness of the Seattle grunge music scene with the ridiculous superficiality of "The Monkees" 1960s show. I hope that this clears up any misunderstanding. By the way, I am a huge fan of "That '70s Show." Congratulations on its well-deserved success. I also think it's cool you set it in Wisconsin. I went to the University of Wisconsin at Madison and loved it. If you have any other questions don't hesitate to email me.
Jeff Kahn
* * *
Mark,
I have no interest in talking with you on the phone anymore. I know you are very successful and think that gives you the right to judge people and berate them regardless of the facts, but I have had enough of you for one day. I know it's hard to believe that your rock band TV idea, which every writer in this town has thought of at one point, was not on my mind half a year after you told it to me. Yes, you thought of breaking the fourth wall. Groucho and George Burns stole it from you. Why don't you sue the guys who have that new show "How to Be a Rock Star" on the WB? I must have told them your idea. Nobody has ever goofed on rock bands, not "Spinal Tap" or The Rutles or 800 "Saturday Night Live" sketches. I should have told everyone on the show, no rock band sketches, that's Brazill's area. So hold on to your hate and rage, even though it makes no sense. I'll go back to my life of thievery and leeching. As for the cancer, I'll wait till you get it and then steal it from you. By the way, that joke was one of my writers', Rodney Rothman (see, I credited him). See, I have no original thoughts. Sorry I bothered to figure this out.
Judd
* * *
Judd,
How appropriate that you had to use someone else's joke to take a swipe at me. I told you my idea. You did it two weeks later, VERBATIM. Spew revisionist shit all you want. Everyone knows you're a hack. Also, everyone knows how you fucked over Paul Feig on the new show. All your press mentions "your" brilliant "Freaks and Geeks," as if Feig didn't even do the series. It must have killed you when the true genius behind it got nominated for an Emmy. Is your wife still livid about someone in the neighborhood building a house just like hers? Tell her I know how she feels. The reason I called was to tell you to piss off. We'll never be "friends," regardless of the pussy whining from your last email. I respect you zero. See ya at the upfronts, bitch! Well . . . unless you get canceled before that. Until then, die in a fiery accident and taste your own blood. (Is that too angry?)
Love,
Brazill
* * *
Mark,
I hope your anger is a joke, because if it isn't . . . wow. Here's a line by line reply. I have starred (*) the replies if you are confused by my format.
>How appropriate that you had to use someone else's joke to take a swipe at me.
***That was the joke. How interesting that you couldn't understand that. You would think someone with the lineage of "Yard Dogs" would have the intellectual acumen to pick up on that. I feel for the writers that have to pitch to you. Never doubt how much they hate you.
>I told you my idea. You did it two weeks later, VERBATIM. Spew revisionist shit all you want.
***How could I hear your idea, steal it, and then have it air two weeks later? It was a filmed sketch show. Sketches were written months before they aired. They were filmed six weeks before they aired. I thought you were a producer. Shouldn't you understand how these shows are made? Do you start writing episodes two weeks before they air? Maybe you stole "Yard Dogs" from me.
>Everyone knows you're a hack.
***That's why I kiss the ass. Let me know who thinks I am a hack so I can kiss their ass as well. I also suck dick lately. That's how I got my Dreamworks deal.
>It must have killed you when the true genius behind it got nominated for an Emmy.
***I'm sure it's hard for you to believe, but I do not control the national media. That is only true in your paranoid mind. If I create a show they often mention the last show. When they write about "That '80s Show" I am sure they won't ever mention "That '70s Show." I wrote an entire article in the "L.A. Times," a cover story in the calendar, that credited Paul for his work. He went from a struggling actor to an established writer/producer over the course of a year. He is still my friend and I am very happy that he was nominated for two Emmys. He deserved it. I wasn't upset about his Emmy nominations, I already have enough. The certificates are so big you can only hang so many before it starts looking tacky.
>Is your wife still livid about someone in the neighborhood building a house just like hers?
***Yes.
>Tell her I know how she feels.
***I'm on it.
>The reason I called was to tell you to piss off. We'll never be "friends," regardless of the pussy whining from your last email.
***The funniest part of these emails is how bad your sense of humor is. You neither get nor can tell a joke. After you said "get cancer" did you really think I was looking to heal our relationship? Usually the cancer insult is a closer. I'm sure everyone who has suffered with that appreciates your sharp wit.
>I respect you zero.
***Oh no.
>See ya at the upfronts, bitch! Well . . . unless you get canceled before that.
***If you think cancellation hurts me at this point, you haven't been following my career as closely as I thought. I guess you are too busy tracking my real estate problems.
>Until then, die in a fiery accident and taste your own blood.
***That's a Sam Kinison line, you stupid fuck!!!! Hypocrite!!!! J'accuse!!!!
>(Is that too angry?)
>Love, Brazill
***Mark, I have enjoyed this. It's good to see the tragedies of the past few months haven't watered down your passion. I guess if Mark Brazill doesn't go insane over stuff that makes no sense, the terrorists win. Good luck with "That '80s Show." And I look forward to "That '90s Show."
Judd Apatow
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
What I am Reading, Watching
William Goldman's Adventures in the Screen Trade - Funny, and interestingly off base sometimes with respect to its predictions of the future (It was written 20 years ago). Its interesting also, to read the writing of those who have made it in the entertainment biz because they are always, to some degree, spinning. They don't totally give it to you straight, because they may have to work with the people about whom they are writing again, or they may just run into them at a dinner party. In any event, this industry classic is more than worth the read for any screenwriter.
Watching...yes, more horror.
The Ring Two - Snore. Chuckle. Snore.
Evil Breed - Porn Stars and Richard Grieco in a "horror movie" - add it up. Very high scores on cliche and unintentional comedy, though. Never saw I guy get strangled by his colon before.
From Dusk Til Dawn II: Texas Blood Money - looks like they were missing Bob Kurtzman on this one. I saw it on SciFi, so it was cut with commercials, so I can't really give much of a real opinion though.
Watching...yes, more horror.
The Ring Two - Snore. Chuckle. Snore.
Evil Breed - Porn Stars and Richard Grieco in a "horror movie" - add it up. Very high scores on cliche and unintentional comedy, though. Never saw I guy get strangled by his colon before.
From Dusk Til Dawn II: Texas Blood Money - looks like they were missing Bob Kurtzman on this one. I saw it on SciFi, so it was cut with commercials, so I can't really give much of a real opinion though.
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