The Editor - My Absence Is Noted
October 31, 2008
The last three weeks, and the coming two, are going to be quite insane. I’ve been finishing up a second cut on a documentary that is screening in Beijing next week and I hop on a flight to China Friday evening with (I hope) all of the Quicktimes and SD DVDs ready for screening. The film, which was shot and edited in HD, using the Panasonic P2 technology — and edited in Avid (and looks absolutely amazing) deals with life around five international rivers — the Amazon, Danube, Ganges, Mississippi and the Rio Grande — and is a lyrical piece about people’s relationship to their surroundings. I like it quite a bit, though it’s only in a second cut. A lot of work.
The other thing that I’ve been doing is finishing up my book, THE LEAN FORWARD MOMENT, which will be coming out from Peachpit Press in December. Finalizing the sixty or more color stills, from movies such as THE GODFATHER, THE MATRIX, FINDING NEMO, three student films, two web series and more, has been sucking away a goodly portion of time as well. You can click on the book title and see a flyer about it, which also gives you a discount if you order ahead of time. Buy early. Buy often.
Finally, one other thing that I’ve decided to do (besides vote — absentee ballot, since I’ll be away — vote early and vote often) is to evangelize for a fantastic new film which is having a one week run out here in Los Angeles beginning November 7th. It’s called CAPTAIN ABU RAED and is without a doubt one of the best films of this year. It is Jordan’s first ever entry in the Foreign Film Oscar category. It is a truly amazing story about an airport janitor who finds a captain’s hat one day, puts it on, and is convinced by the poor kids in his neighborhood to tell them stories of his “travels” as a pilot. I know that you think that every film coming from an Arab country has to be political, but this is political only in the sense that WALL-E is political. It is set in a world where the reality shapes the characters, but they live within the world without resorting to politics, because they simply are.
Many of us complain about the low quality of films in the theaters today and then don’t bother to support the films that elevate our experience when they ARE out there. For those of you in the LA area, this is your chance to do something about it. Go see the film at the Laemmle Music Hall in Beverly Hills in the week that it’s there. Support small films, made by independent filmmakers (the director, a Jordanian and American, graduated a year or two ago from AFI, and made the film for 2 million bucks) who have personal stories to tell.
Go do it people, and then I’ll see you when I emerge.
Tags: Movie, Film, Hollywood, Filmmaking, Film Blog
The Showrunner - Why Do TV Executives Suck Worse than Ever? (Part One)
October 31, 2008
Like a patient with a terminal disease who finds themselves somewhere between grief and denial, most every showrunner goes through specific stages of career frustration when dealing with network and studio executives. The transformation often develops in Five Phases, and ends up being something akin to this:
Phase One: …
Tags: Film Industry, Movie, Television, Film, Filmmaker
The Actor - 99 YEARS AND COUNTING
October 29, 2008
Since 2006, when the week of October 20th rolls around each year I look forward to a very special birthday lunch to celebrate the talented, genuine, funny, full of youth, and beautiful (inside and out) Carla Laemmle. For the past 3 years, she and good friend Rick, who celebrates his Birthday on October 21st and who is just finishing a book on Carla’s life (see below), have met up with me at a well-known and favorite restaurant of Carla’s in LA, that has been around since 1931. This year marked her 99th Birthday, a very young 99 as you can see in the picture of us from our lunch.
Some of you, especially those in the entertainment industry, might be familiar with the last name Laemmle. Carla happens to be the niece of Carl Laemmle, the founder of Universal Pictures. Carla was born Rebekah Isabelle Laemmle in Chicago, IL in 1909, but soon took Carla as her professional name. One of the many things for which she is known is speaking the first line in Carl’s classic 1931 horror film “Dracula,” starring Bela Lugosi. She can still recite that line today…“Among the rugged peaks that frown down upon the Borgo Pass are found crumbling castles of a bygone age.”
She spent her youth living in a bungalow by the New York Street set on the Universal Pictures lot, which was common in those days, and is where she collected a number of fascinating stories about what I refer to as the classy years of Hollywood. I simply love hearing about those times and her accounts of the wonderful memories she holds to this day from that very special time, on which she looks back very fondly. These include stories of Marilyn Monroe, Lon Chaney, the filming of the famous tower scene in 1939’s “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”, being a dancer at the age of 16 in 1925’s “The Phantom of The Opera”, and much, much more.
While Carla’s history is very exciting, it is her friendship I value most. I receive the most touching, kind, heart felt, and lovely cards in the mail from her and truly enjoy our old-fashioned correspondence. I am someone who to this day loves to send cards and letters in the mail, even for no apparent reason, and truly enjoys keeping this classic form of writing alive today. It is something my marvelous mother taught me at a young age, along with the importance of hand-written thank-you notes, and I plan to carry on the tradition as best I can, just as Carla and my mother do.
Carla truly is an inspiration to me, and one can’t help but smile after hearing from her whether in person, on the phone, or through her wonderful words in a card. She exudes warmth, positivity, and classic grace, and never misses a beat with her spot-on mind and memory, which are far sharper than mine…and I am 70 years younger! I can only hope to be a tiny fraction as influential as she is when I get to be her age, if I make it that far! I feel honored to simply know her and be a part of her life, and what a life it is!
In fact, Rick just finished working with Carla on her autobiography, “Among the Rugged Peaks–An Intimate Biography of Carla Laemmle.” I got to see the cover, straight from the publishers, while at our lunch last week and I am looking forward to reading the final product and seeing the many historic photographs. That said, I am sure there will be many more stories and adventures to come in her long, yet “forever young and ageless,” life of 99 years and counting!
“Thank you so much for your lovely card and ever so glowing words – I am totally overwhelmed by your ever so lavish compliments. I found it most difficult not reacting to them like my beautiful Persian cat, Mimi, lapping up a bowl of heavy cream! I did so enjoy meeting you and was truly impressed by your charm and both outer and inner beauty. While it is true I am 97 in earth years, I assure you my inner being is forever young and ageless.” - A few of Carla Laemmle’s always eloquent words in a card to me after we first met in 2006.
With Rick and Carla Laemmle at her 99th Birthday lunch on 10-24-08.
Tags: Filmmaking, Director, Movie, Movie, Hollywood
The Storyboard Artist - NO STORYBOARDS, SOME CAMPING, AND A LOT OF GUNS
October 28, 2008
Well, can’t say the work week has been any better. I did get a check that will tie us over for a bit, but a brother needs a nice long-term gig. Six months would be great.
Just spoke with my buddy Darrin Denlinger, a talented colleague who offered his usual good words of encouragement. Always nice to hear. Darrin is on the remake of CLASH OF THE TITANS.
The weekend was good, as I took my son Joshua (12) camping for the first time, and he loved it. Anything to get the kid away from video games, which he has been on a bit too much. Our neighbor Don, road Josh and some other kids on a ten-mile bike ride during the trip, and Joshua had such a sense of pride that he finished it.
A got a nice little surprise when I bought the DVD of YOU DON”T MESS WITH THE ZOHAN, a film I worked on last year for about four months.
On the audio commentary, director Dennis Dugan refers to me as “an idiot savant of martial arts movies” and “the Rain Man of anything martial arts”) which had me laughing out loud.
I guess it beats just being “an idiot”. As he went on, Dennis was actually very, complimentary with my involvement and helpfulness in the process of designing the stunts for the film.
I bought the DVD at a 2020 DVD store Sunday night, and when I walked out of the place there were about 7 cop cars and a police helicopter outside of the fast food store (I think El Pollo Loco) twenty feet away with two guys already cuffed on the ground.
All of the customers were marched out (hands over their heads) and put against a wall where they were ALL frisked. Like 20 people!!! I assume cops couldn’t know who was involved (robbery attempt) and may have tried to blend into the crowd (ala INSIDE MAN). Sorry for the film reference.
I had to wait outside for over an hour as I smartly parked my car EXACTLY where the police pulled in kitty corner like to block any escapes.
I knew it was tense when they pulled the pump action shotguns from the police car trunks.
All this for a DVD ego boost!!!
Anyway, props to Eric Ramsey, who boarded the enjoyable RED BELT, which I just saw on video.
Tags: Filmmaker, Hollywood, Filmmaking, Movie Bloggers, Movie Theatre
The Script Reader - I like movies about politics and Emile Hirsch (still) sucks.
October 28, 2008
I can’t really think of a script reading blog today. I have election fever and it is blocking my brain from other activities. But here’s something:
With a week left until the big day, I have noticed a lot of people listing movies about elections and presidential politics, but, surprisingly, i …
Tags: Actor, Film Industry, Movie Theatre, Movie, Movie Bloggers
The Documentary Producer - Let’s talk about RIGHTS!
October 27, 2008
So the most important thing to consider when trying to get a film distributed is what rights do you have. I don’t mean are you more privileged than the next person, I mean what did you have to give away to get your picture finished?
In the case of “As Seen Through these Eyes” we had to give away our TV rights for seven years. At the time it was all we could do to get “another Holocaust film” finished. To our credit however, we did broker one of the biggest deals Sundance has made in terms of finishing funds. So cool, that means TV is gone and we have the rest of the world.
Well, spliting rights becomes a pretty tough deal. I can say that at one point we had rights split even further than that. We had someone picking up theatrical, someone picking up video and then TV with Sundance. That seemed like a dream and a complete mess at the same time. Now most of you probably know that without the TV rights you aren’t that bad off as far as the securing a theatrical release goes. (Because we all know that that is the prize.) But having the video in the hands of a third party made the hunt for a theatrical distributor very, very tough.
Well, look at it this way. A theatrical release is a very expensive ordeal. A company will loose money on this if they try to get any recognition. I would say a small indie opening up in a few theaters needs to spend between 20 & 40k. Then they have to make that back. Most companies would use worst case scenerio and say they won’t make that in the theaters, or if they do, they won’t make a ton of profit. So then they will get it back on the dvd. So if they don’t have both, what is the point?
Right? You need your rights. So the goal is to get your film made with all rights in place and sell them together. Your film become much more valuable.
BUT let me tell you, a small indie can find its way. “As Seen” will be officially having its NYC debut on December 12. We are now negotiating what the rest of our rights are worth with our theatrical distributor. Our dvd fell apart, so they are back on the table. Now our distributor may not see that he is just doing us a favor, but may see green in the future.
Please vote on TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4th.
Tags: Oscars, Movie Bloggers, Film Industry, Television, Director
The Production Assistant - Straight Edge? Schmaight Edge.
October 27, 2008
So today I received a question from a reader o’ mine asking, “As another kid trying to eek it out being a PA and someone who does not drink or smoke I wanted to ask something. Has your decision to not drink or smoke inhibit you in this industry?”
This is actually something I have spent a good deal of time thinking about… One would think the obvious answer would be NO! Hard work and a good personality get you where you need to go! And this is true… but only to a point unfortunately. The way I see it, the entertainment industry lifestyle is a work hard/play hard wild ride until you crash, take a few days off to recover from 3 months of 17 hour days and then dive right back in on the next project. And for many of the people who subscribe to this way of life, booze, drugs and cigarettes are an integral part of the equation just to keep them going.
I’ve always managed to play off not doing these things with small jokes or just changing the subject… in college I used to carry a cigarette case full of candy cigarettes and chew on them when my friends would take smoke breaks while we were editting our short films. I’m also a lover of Welch’s Grape Juice served in the biggest Brandy snifter you can find at parties. If people ask why I’m not drinking, I’ll usually say I’m driving or I’m cheap and laugh about it.
But every once in a while there are those awkward cases when you’ll be at a bar with the crew and you’ll be asked to explain yourself more in depth… because even though your producer is a vegetarian because she doesn’t like to eat meat, she cannot FATHOM how you could not drink because you don’t like beer. Being a teetotaler brings with it a life of infinite patience and hidden exasperation… God forbid you come across as judgmental, in an environment where you yourself are constantly judged. Sometimes I even consider telling people I’m “sober” and I “keep my temple clean”… The west coast is interesting to me because we glorify those who have gone to rehab… but those that just choose to abstain from the activities that put so many there in the first place are seen as a type of weird moral police.
I don’t, however, think it has really inhibited me in working. Luckily I am personable enough that I don’t need something to help me open up and “be myself”, so most people don’t really even notice. Plus carrying around a Shirley Temple can look enough like you’re enjoying a vodka cranberry that most people won’t think twice. And I know I’ve been lucky with bosses too, the people who I tend to work for again and again don’t care about that kind of thing and it’s that kind of attitude that keeps THEM working on fun projects as well… there’s a reason that vegetarian hippie is only on my resume once.
So I hope I helped, and stay strong my sober brother! You’re not alone, I promise. At least at the end of YOUR night, you can be the one in the room who remembers seeing that washed up 90’s comedian making out with a possible minor. (Seeeeecrets!!)
And anyone else that has a question, go ahead and submit, I love this kind of stuff!
Tags: Director, Filmmaking, , Actor, Movie
The Screenwriter - Taking a break
October 27, 2008
I thought I should put a quick post up here. I’m going to be taking a break from posting for a little while. However, I will continue to answer any questions any of you have. If you post a reply to any of my blogs, it will trigger an alert to my email. I will always answer those. Thanks!
Tags: Movie Bloggers, Director, Film, Movie Blog, Film Industry
The Reality TV Producer - Signing your life Away
October 26, 2008
Ok, so, I’m sorry I’ve been away for a couple of weeks. I always hate reading ‘sorry I didn’t blog’ at the top of these things, but in this case last week I got a late afternoon call to go and take over directing a network show in the wilds …
Tags: Film Blog, , Hollywood, Actor, Movie Blog
The Dreamer - Film acting classes : rationalizing investments
October 26, 2008
I signed up to take a ten week film acting class a school that has opened its doors in Ferndale, a suburb of Detroit.
We are also going to be renting a house in that city and I am teaching a Burlesque class there. It is my favorite place to be …
Tags: Film Blog, Movie, Television, Film,
