Things have been crazy of late. I have been working on a major rebranding revamp of RnD.
RnD is preparing to go to the next level with some exciting project later this year.
With that we have a brand new web-site, though technically not "live" for two more weeks. http://www.rndes.com/
RnD Entertainment Studios has joined facebook and twitter... and flickr. We have updated our youtube site, which now includes my director's reel. All links are available through the link above.
More exciting news to come.
Don.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Rest In Peace, Dixie Carter.
Dixie Carter, of Diff'rent Strokes, Family Law and Designing Women fame passed away at the age of 70 on April 10th.
http://www.deadline.com/2010/04/r-i-p-dixie-carter/
http://www.deadline.com/2010/04/r-i-p-dixie-carter/
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Rest In Peace, John Forsythe.
John Forsythe, from Dynasty and the legendary voice of Charlie from Charlie's Angels, passed away March 31st after a year long struggle with Cancer.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Rest In Peace, Robert Culp.
Robert Culp, best known for I-Spy and The Greatest American Hero appeared in over 100 television episodes and over three dozen films, passed away on March 24th.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
Rest In Peace, Frances Reid.
Frances Reid, who played Alice Horton on “Days Of Our Lives” since 1965 passed away on Feb 3rd at the age of 95.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1004065584
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1004065584
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Rest In Peace, Zelda Rubinstein.
Zelda Rubinstein from the Poultergeist movies and Picket Fences television show, passed away Jan 27th in the hospital.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Christmas Movies
Top Christmas Movies (in alphabetical order)
A Wish for Wings That Work
Die Hard & Die Hard 2
Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas
Love Actually
Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
Serendipity
Honorable Mentions (in alphabetical order)
Go
Gremlins
Holiday Inn
Home Alone
Lethal Weapon
The Family Stone
White Christmas
A Wish for Wings That Work
Die Hard & Die Hard 2
Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas
Love Actually
Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
Serendipity
Honorable Mentions (in alphabetical order)
Go
Gremlins
Holiday Inn
Home Alone
Lethal Weapon
The Family Stone
White Christmas
Monday, September 14, 2009
Rest In Peace, Patrick Swayze.
Patrick Swayze passed away Monday after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.
http://movies.msn.com/movies/article.aspx?news=431218>1=28101
Don.
http://movies.msn.com/movies/article.aspx?news=431218>1=28101
Don.
Monday, August 31, 2009
HOLY !@#$%^!!
The Walt Disney Co is in the procees of buying Mavel Enterprises. All that is required is stockholder approval.
I can see the cross-overs now...
Spiderman v. The Sorcerer's Apprentice
Wolverine v. Goofy
The Starjammers on Treasure Planet
Darkwing Duck meets Howard the Duck
The possibilities are endless...
Don.
http://scifiwire.com/2009/08/disney-buys-marvel-for-4.php
I can see the cross-overs now...
Spiderman v. The Sorcerer's Apprentice
Wolverine v. Goofy
The Starjammers on Treasure Planet
Darkwing Duck meets Howard the Duck
The possibilities are endless...
Don.
http://scifiwire.com/2009/08/disney-buys-marvel-for-4.php
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Rest In Peace, Ted Kennedy.
This is not solely entertainment news... But it is world news.
Senator Edward "Ted" Kennedy has passed away.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32491712/?gt1=43001
Don.
Senator Edward "Ted" Kennedy has passed away.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32491712/?gt1=43001
Don.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Just a quick update...
My buddy that has been planning his series of children's books for nearly a decade took my post as a challenge.
By 12:01am on October 1st, 2009 he has agreed to have sent me a full and complete 1) prologue, 2) epilogue and 3) chapter one.
Stay tuned...
Don.
By 12:01am on October 1st, 2009 he has agreed to have sent me a full and complete 1) prologue, 2) epilogue and 3) chapter one.
Stay tuned...
Don.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
When should you give it up your dreams?
Recently, I had lunch with a friend that is following her dreams. I met her a few years back when she answered a job notice for my film, Phobia. She was an outstanding and unbelievable worker that was always looking to do and learn more. She became a highly respected and liked crew member. Over the next couple of years, she worked on numerous productions in various positions. However, during that time the film production business began to slow up. She began to pursue her teaching degree. This year she completed her degree and became certified. With the limited production jobs and her degree, she began interviewing for teaching positions… she had nearly given up on her dream to work in production. THEN, out of nowhere a production company called her from her resume submission months earlier. She now works for an extremely busy production company in an important capacity. She could have given up on her dreams, but she did not.
My dream of being a writer began when I was in the single digits. My first comic story was submitted before I was 15-years-old. My first screenplay was written before I ever considered going to college. Over the last few years, I have (with a creative partner) had a Los Angeles-based international agent, optioned a feature-length film script, had that same script go into pre-production with a $10M budget (before a hurricane closed it down), directed a short film and had the same short film debut at a film festival in NYC. I make baby step progress towards fulfilling my dream.
Despite knowing that, as Lao-tzu would put it, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”, it can be quite a test on occasion to keep focused and directed to your dreams.
I have met many people over the years that have seemed as passionate as me, or even more so. Yet, after a time they drop their dreams and “make do” or “settle”. I can’t tell you how many people I have met that have put an expiration date on their dreams; people that have quit because they have not had the success that they thought that they should have by their 25th or 30th 0r 35th or 40th or whatever.
Louise Hay was 61-years-old when she published her 1st book. At the age of 80 and as a publisher, her book company became one of the largest publishers of Christian books in the world.
Many people in the entertainment industry may not receive any acclaim until later in life. Sir Ian McKellen had parts in over a dozen films from the time he was about 30-years-old; however it was not until he turned 60 and Apt Pupil and Gods and Monsters were released that the world “discovered” him. Then, X-Men and Lord of the Rings made him a worldwide acting superstar.
I have a friend that has a dream of writing a line of children’s books. For nearly 10 years we have been talking about these characters and plots… I know what will happen for at least ten books. I am so invested in these books after talking about them for so long that I fight him every time he wants to make changes. However, he is “to busy”, by his admission, to write. Yet, he wants to put an expiration date on his dream. He has the passion, the talent but I’m not sure about the confidence. It will be an injustice if I am the only one to ever hear his stories… especially since he has had some creative ideas that I would like to use, but have agreed not to… at least until he can publish…
Myself. It seems that I have been climbing up Mount Everest, in a blinding snowstorm, with a broken leg or two ever since the principal photography of Phobia ended. I have had two children born (they are a BIG plus- but still they can slow progressive forward movement). I have had multiple family members pass away after long illnesses. My son, who is nearly 2-years-and-9-months, has probably spent more than 6 months of his life (total) in the hospital just visiting loved ones. Throw in a near-death accident and other health issues for loved ones. Mix in a little bit of being laid off. I get down on occasion; once in a while I want to put an expiration date on my dreams… but I can’t.
I was born and mostly raised in the Hudson Valley in N.Y. The place I lived was not exactly small or rural, but it had a “small hometown” feel to it. Much like the place that The Dixie Chicks sing about in “The Long Way Around”, people grow up and marry the kids of their parents’ friends and buy a house a block away from their parents. I never, not even as a child, felt like I belonged there. I have a dream of something more, a dream that will never die.
So, what do I do?
I stop, take a deep breath (or ten), then I plant my feet, lower my head down and prepare to force my way forward, no matter what the pace.
After all, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”, and I have taken that 1st single step.
Don.
My dream of being a writer began when I was in the single digits. My first comic story was submitted before I was 15-years-old. My first screenplay was written before I ever considered going to college. Over the last few years, I have (with a creative partner) had a Los Angeles-based international agent, optioned a feature-length film script, had that same script go into pre-production with a $10M budget (before a hurricane closed it down), directed a short film and had the same short film debut at a film festival in NYC. I make baby step progress towards fulfilling my dream.
Despite knowing that, as Lao-tzu would put it, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”, it can be quite a test on occasion to keep focused and directed to your dreams.
I have met many people over the years that have seemed as passionate as me, or even more so. Yet, after a time they drop their dreams and “make do” or “settle”. I can’t tell you how many people I have met that have put an expiration date on their dreams; people that have quit because they have not had the success that they thought that they should have by their 25th or 30th 0r 35th or 40th or whatever.
Louise Hay was 61-years-old when she published her 1st book. At the age of 80 and as a publisher, her book company became one of the largest publishers of Christian books in the world.
Many people in the entertainment industry may not receive any acclaim until later in life. Sir Ian McKellen had parts in over a dozen films from the time he was about 30-years-old; however it was not until he turned 60 and Apt Pupil and Gods and Monsters were released that the world “discovered” him. Then, X-Men and Lord of the Rings made him a worldwide acting superstar.
I have a friend that has a dream of writing a line of children’s books. For nearly 10 years we have been talking about these characters and plots… I know what will happen for at least ten books. I am so invested in these books after talking about them for so long that I fight him every time he wants to make changes. However, he is “to busy”, by his admission, to write. Yet, he wants to put an expiration date on his dream. He has the passion, the talent but I’m not sure about the confidence. It will be an injustice if I am the only one to ever hear his stories… especially since he has had some creative ideas that I would like to use, but have agreed not to… at least until he can publish…
Myself. It seems that I have been climbing up Mount Everest, in a blinding snowstorm, with a broken leg or two ever since the principal photography of Phobia ended. I have had two children born (they are a BIG plus- but still they can slow progressive forward movement). I have had multiple family members pass away after long illnesses. My son, who is nearly 2-years-and-9-months, has probably spent more than 6 months of his life (total) in the hospital just visiting loved ones. Throw in a near-death accident and other health issues for loved ones. Mix in a little bit of being laid off. I get down on occasion; once in a while I want to put an expiration date on my dreams… but I can’t.
I was born and mostly raised in the Hudson Valley in N.Y. The place I lived was not exactly small or rural, but it had a “small hometown” feel to it. Much like the place that The Dixie Chicks sing about in “The Long Way Around”, people grow up and marry the kids of their parents’ friends and buy a house a block away from their parents. I never, not even as a child, felt like I belonged there. I have a dream of something more, a dream that will never die.
So, what do I do?
I stop, take a deep breath (or ten), then I plant my feet, lower my head down and prepare to force my way forward, no matter what the pace.
After all, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”, and I have taken that 1st single step.
Don.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
District 9 = WOW.
District 9 ... was an event.
The last film that I went to see that I could say that about was Cloverfield.
Much like Cloverfield, quite a bit of District 9 is told through a documentary... but not all. This was the one bad thing that I can say about the film. The 1st 15 or 20 minutes were all told in documentary mode then there was a jump out and then back in and then it started cutting between the two. Eventually this worked, but there should have been cutting between the two from the beginning so that it was not jarring when it first happened. This was the only time I really felt that I was taken out of the story.
That said, I think I loved the film. At this point, I did not love it as much as Ain't It Cool's Harry Knowles. Read his much more eloquent (and quite accurate) review here http://www.aintitcool.com/node/42012. Much like Harry though, I do want to see the film another time... or three.
I found a few plot points predictable, yet I was still incredibly impressed.
There was A LOT of killing of humans and aliens and yet, the Halloween 2 trailer that played before was considerably more gorey.
I had seen the Alive in Joburg short and while I was intriqued by it I was overall not that impressed. But I took a chance on this film... And the F/X did NOT disappoint. The budget for District 9 is listed at $30M. The special effects here rivial any $150-200M movie out right now... or soon to be released.
The acting by most was better than average. However, Sharlto Copely who plays the lead, Wikus Van De Merwe is extraordinary in his range. From where he starts to where he ends and everything in between. One should expect him to be the next big male actor.
This IS Classic Science Fiction. This could easily have been a novel by Phillip K. Dick or Clark or Asimov or Orwell.
I hope no sequel is made.
District 9 is definitely one of my top two films of the year and one of my top sci-fi films ever.
Just go with an open mind, because what you think you know about the film just from the trailers... you don't know.
Don.
(this photo borrowwed from http://pro.imdb.com/media/rm1764984832/tt1136608)
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Rope
Anyone that knows me knows that Alfred Hitchcock is my favorite director. He has some movies that have received great acclaim over the years. Rope is not exactly one of them.
Rope made Hitchcock my favorite director. What he did. He changed the rules on shooting a film. The film is truly an exquisite piece of art.
Quint, a blogger at Ain't it Cool News, just posted a review of the film. I am glad to see that people continue to rediscover the underrated Hitchcock films.
Quint's review can be found here http://www.aint-it-cool-news.com/node/42051.
I would encourage anyone interested in film to watch the film a few times and learn quite a bit.
Don.
Rope made Hitchcock my favorite director. What he did. He changed the rules on shooting a film. The film is truly an exquisite piece of art.
Quint, a blogger at Ain't it Cool News, just posted a review of the film. I am glad to see that people continue to rediscover the underrated Hitchcock films.
Quint's review can be found here http://www.aint-it-cool-news.com/node/42051.
I would encourage anyone interested in film to watch the film a few times and learn quite a bit.
Don.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Guilty Pleasure... or Underrated Great Television?
How could I forget my number 1 guilty pleasure?
Psych.
Well, maybe the show does not qualify as it has witty and intelligent writing. Maybe it is a fact that I was a child of the 1980's, but I throughly enjoy the fact that one epside can reference classic '80's television, music, film and general pop culture, while guest-starring an acclaimed actress from a 1990's sitcom, with a plot that is "ripped from the headlines" and make it work in a fun and intelligent way.
The directing is often fun with the use of the "psych-vision" and flashbacks. The acting is better than average. And, you have to love a show that will occasionally make fun of itself with the opening credits... and always does with the closing ones.
If you were a "nerd" or "geek" in the '80's... Shawn Spencer would be your hero.
USA's Psych... Great television... undiscovered.
Don.
(this photo was borrowed from http://pro.imdb.com/media/rm2089128448/tt0491738)
Psych.
Well, maybe the show does not qualify as it has witty and intelligent writing. Maybe it is a fact that I was a child of the 1980's, but I throughly enjoy the fact that one epside can reference classic '80's television, music, film and general pop culture, while guest-starring an acclaimed actress from a 1990's sitcom, with a plot that is "ripped from the headlines" and make it work in a fun and intelligent way.
The directing is often fun with the use of the "psych-vision" and flashbacks. The acting is better than average. And, you have to love a show that will occasionally make fun of itself with the opening credits... and always does with the closing ones.
If you were a "nerd" or "geek" in the '80's... Shawn Spencer would be your hero.
USA's Psych... Great television... undiscovered.
Don.
(this photo was borrowed from http://pro.imdb.com/media/rm2089128448/tt0491738)
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Will it never end...?
A Buffy The Vampire Slayer without Whedon or Giles or Xander or Willow or Anya?
(this photo borrowed from http://pro.imdb.com/media/rm3623787776/tt0118276)
A Rockford Files without James Garner?
(this photo borrowed from http://pro.imdb.com/media/rm3234960640/tt0071042)
and NOW... ?
A Battlestar Galatica movie?
By Bryan Singer???
That re-boots the 1970's television Series?????
(see Variety story here: http://weblogs.variety.com/bfdealmemo/2009/08/singer-back-to-scifi.html)
Why? Oh, why?? Do the money collectors always need to beat a good idea to death??? While raping and piliging our memories????
I have a better idea... why not dig up some of the creatively inspired but short-lived shows of years past? I know that I would live to see an updated version of Otherworld or Automan or even StreetHawk.
Think about it.
I'll even pitch the new series and write a script for you.
Don.
(this photo borrowed from http://pro.imdb.com/media/rm3623787776/tt0118276)
A Rockford Files without James Garner?
(this photo borrowed from http://pro.imdb.com/media/rm3234960640/tt0071042)
and NOW... ?
A Battlestar Galatica movie?
By Bryan Singer???
That re-boots the 1970's television Series?????
(see Variety story here: http://weblogs.variety.com/bfdealmemo/2009/08/singer-back-to-scifi.html)
Why? Oh, why?? Do the money collectors always need to beat a good idea to death??? While raping and piliging our memories????
I have a better idea... why not dig up some of the creatively inspired but short-lived shows of years past? I know that I would live to see an updated version of Otherworld or Automan or even StreetHawk.
Think about it.
I'll even pitch the new series and write a script for you.
Don.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Guilty Pleasures…
There are some shows that are… unbelievable. Shows like The Shield, the last two seasons or so of Lost. These are shows that are expertly written, directed, produced and acted. Then there are…
The guilty pleasure shows.
These are the shows that may not be the best written, or directed or produced or acted but that are entertaining and keep me tuning in week after week.
ALL things BBC America sci-fi…
Primeval shouldn’t really work but it does in a BIG way. The show just ended its 3rd season here in the US and every season it has managed to get better. Any show that can kill of main characters and successfully bring up less important characters to take their place has got to be doing something right- after all The X-Files could never do it. Primeval has killed off at least three main characters and made a fourth one leave with little chance of her coming back this past season alone.
Three of the charcters shown here do not make it to the end of Season 3.
(this photo borrowed from http://pro.imdb.com/media/rm492931072/tt0808096)
Torchwood: Children of Earth was phenomenal. Again, seemingly a BBC convention to keep fans on the edge of their seats- killed off a major character, sent another in to space, got the last main character pregnant and blew up their base of operations. All the while they were telling a gripping dark story.
Three of the charcters shown here do not make it to the end of Season 3.
(this photo borrowed fromhttp://pro.imdb.com/media/rm2443416576/tt0485301)
Doctor Who: Everything David Tennant. I was never a fan of the pre-Tennant series. But he brings such an energy and excitement and underlying sorrow and darkness that despite the not-so-great special f/x – this is one of my favorite sci-fi shows of all time. This is my 2nd favorite BBC show of all time just behind Coupling. I mention this because while rumors are that David Tennant is leaving the show when it returns in 2010 the writer of the best episodes of the series AND creator and writer of Coupling will be taking over as showrunner/ head writer. So, I suspect that I will give the show a couple of episodes to wow me.
(this photo borrowed from http://pro.imdb.com/media/rm596808192/tt0436992)
Gordon Ramsay. Whether it’s watching The F Word on BBC A or Hell’s Kitchen on FOX, Gordon is educational or entertaining depending on the show. But he and his shows are never boring.
(this photo borrowed from http://pro.imdb.com/media/rm2527433728/nm1451059)
Top Chef. I complain about the Masters episodes but I still watched them. However, I am much more looking forward to the return of the regular series, as-well-as Tom and Padma. My wife is looking forward to this show as well, since it causes me to be creative in the kitchen.
(this photo borrowed from http://pro.imdb.com/media/rm3960572672/tt0765425)
Gene Simmons’ Family Jewels. I received my 1st KISS album when I was about 7 or 8 years old. But I was much more familiar with Shannon Tweed from her roles on Days of Our Lives and Falcon Crest and Hot Dog: The Movie. Imagine my surprise when I saw that the Tweed-Simmons family is like the rest of us… albeit on another level. This is the only show that my wife and I watch live and not DVR’d.
(this photo borrowed from http://pro.imdb.com/media/rm3679425024/tt0498617)
Drop Dead Diva. I believe that there was a show on Lifetime in the late -80’s when I was still a young teenager called ENG. The show came from Canada I believe and was rebroadcast on the network. That was the only show that I ever watched on Lifetime. So, imagine my surprise when I was flipping around and caught the credits and saw a name I recognized. Thania St. John. May not be a Whedon (there is one of them in the credits of this show as well- Jed) but she has quite the pedigree. She has worked on such shows as Buffy, Roswell, VR5, 21 Jump Street, Lois and Clark and Eureka. Maybe it was because I had never heard of the show and had no expectations… But I was thoroughly entertained. It could so play down to the audience… and it doesn’t. With Journeyman and Eli Stone gone, this could be THE show with heart.
(this photo borrowed from http://mytakeontv.wordpress.com/2009/07/12/sunday-must-watch-drop-dead-diva-on-lifetime/)
Which brings me to Eureka… I could not really describe why this show works. But it does. I usually can argue why a show is bad or good. But with this show there are not a lot of great elements on their own… but the product that comes out keeps frustrating me when I have to wait for the next episode. I will note that the season long story arcs and the attention grabbing endings are big positives.
(this photo borrowed from http://pro.imdb.com/media/rm994547456/tt0796264)
I am sure that there are more on my DVR, but I am to tired to get the remote as I type this…
Last but not least is…
The Penguins of Madagascar. Yup. I said it. My son never made it through Madagascar and I fell asleep all 5 times I played it. We both found the 2nd move more entertaining- but I always thought that the penguins were the best part. One day while I was setting the DVR for another show, we discovered this show. My son loves it. We enjoy popping popcorn and sitting down at some point in the day to catch an episode or two. The best thing is that are no commercial during each “episode” just before, after and in between. Also, in a time when some many animated series promote sex, violence and pure stupidity the penguins are always trying to do the right things for their friends and neighbors.
(this photo was borrowed from http://www.myfreewallpapers.net/cartoons/pages/madagascar-penguins.shtml)
Don.
The guilty pleasure shows.
These are the shows that may not be the best written, or directed or produced or acted but that are entertaining and keep me tuning in week after week.
ALL things BBC America sci-fi…
Primeval shouldn’t really work but it does in a BIG way. The show just ended its 3rd season here in the US and every season it has managed to get better. Any show that can kill of main characters and successfully bring up less important characters to take their place has got to be doing something right- after all The X-Files could never do it. Primeval has killed off at least three main characters and made a fourth one leave with little chance of her coming back this past season alone.
Three of the charcters shown here do not make it to the end of Season 3.
(this photo borrowed from http://pro.imdb.com/media/rm492931072/tt0808096)
Torchwood: Children of Earth was phenomenal. Again, seemingly a BBC convention to keep fans on the edge of their seats- killed off a major character, sent another in to space, got the last main character pregnant and blew up their base of operations. All the while they were telling a gripping dark story.
Three of the charcters shown here do not make it to the end of Season 3.
(this photo borrowed fromhttp://pro.imdb.com/media/rm2443416576/tt0485301)
Doctor Who: Everything David Tennant. I was never a fan of the pre-Tennant series. But he brings such an energy and excitement and underlying sorrow and darkness that despite the not-so-great special f/x – this is one of my favorite sci-fi shows of all time. This is my 2nd favorite BBC show of all time just behind Coupling. I mention this because while rumors are that David Tennant is leaving the show when it returns in 2010 the writer of the best episodes of the series AND creator and writer of Coupling will be taking over as showrunner/ head writer. So, I suspect that I will give the show a couple of episodes to wow me.
(this photo borrowed from http://pro.imdb.com/media/rm596808192/tt0436992)
Gordon Ramsay. Whether it’s watching The F Word on BBC A or Hell’s Kitchen on FOX, Gordon is educational or entertaining depending on the show. But he and his shows are never boring.
(this photo borrowed from http://pro.imdb.com/media/rm2527433728/nm1451059)
Top Chef. I complain about the Masters episodes but I still watched them. However, I am much more looking forward to the return of the regular series, as-well-as Tom and Padma. My wife is looking forward to this show as well, since it causes me to be creative in the kitchen.
(this photo borrowed from http://pro.imdb.com/media/rm3960572672/tt0765425)
Gene Simmons’ Family Jewels. I received my 1st KISS album when I was about 7 or 8 years old. But I was much more familiar with Shannon Tweed from her roles on Days of Our Lives and Falcon Crest and Hot Dog: The Movie. Imagine my surprise when I saw that the Tweed-Simmons family is like the rest of us… albeit on another level. This is the only show that my wife and I watch live and not DVR’d.
(this photo borrowed from http://pro.imdb.com/media/rm3679425024/tt0498617)
Drop Dead Diva. I believe that there was a show on Lifetime in the late -80’s when I was still a young teenager called ENG. The show came from Canada I believe and was rebroadcast on the network. That was the only show that I ever watched on Lifetime. So, imagine my surprise when I was flipping around and caught the credits and saw a name I recognized. Thania St. John. May not be a Whedon (there is one of them in the credits of this show as well- Jed) but she has quite the pedigree. She has worked on such shows as Buffy, Roswell, VR5, 21 Jump Street, Lois and Clark and Eureka. Maybe it was because I had never heard of the show and had no expectations… But I was thoroughly entertained. It could so play down to the audience… and it doesn’t. With Journeyman and Eli Stone gone, this could be THE show with heart.
(this photo borrowed from http://mytakeontv.wordpress.com/2009/07/12/sunday-must-watch-drop-dead-diva-on-lifetime/)
Which brings me to Eureka… I could not really describe why this show works. But it does. I usually can argue why a show is bad or good. But with this show there are not a lot of great elements on their own… but the product that comes out keeps frustrating me when I have to wait for the next episode. I will note that the season long story arcs and the attention grabbing endings are big positives.
(this photo borrowed from http://pro.imdb.com/media/rm994547456/tt0796264)
I am sure that there are more on my DVR, but I am to tired to get the remote as I type this…
Last but not least is…
The Penguins of Madagascar. Yup. I said it. My son never made it through Madagascar and I fell asleep all 5 times I played it. We both found the 2nd move more entertaining- but I always thought that the penguins were the best part. One day while I was setting the DVR for another show, we discovered this show. My son loves it. We enjoy popping popcorn and sitting down at some point in the day to catch an episode or two. The best thing is that are no commercial during each “episode” just before, after and in between. Also, in a time when some many animated series promote sex, violence and pure stupidity the penguins are always trying to do the right things for their friends and neighbors.
(this photo was borrowed from http://www.myfreewallpapers.net/cartoons/pages/madagascar-penguins.shtml)
Don.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
G.I. Joe is there!!! ...more or less...
G.I. Joe is throughly entertaining...
Just don't go expecting high art.
I was an avid reader of Marvel's Larry Hama's G.I. Joe comics of the 1980's. I liked the cartoon but felt that it strayed to much from the comic. The comic was GREAT! The fact the Joe team was based on a real military base was cool. The fact that Cobra was based out of Springfield was brilliant. The fact that Cobra Commander was a disillusuioned car salesman that inadvertantly began a ku klux klan organization to defy the government was ingenious and very phrophetic... (Maybe Timothy McVeigh was a Cobra Commander fan...) The Snake-Eyes stories (whether with Storm Shadow or Scarlett) were always a high point of that month's comic readings.
But I Digress...
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra is kind of a happy mess. Dennis Quaid is frakking great as Hawk. Rachel Nichols was pretty kick ass as Scarlett (though to young for the role). Sienna Miller did a good job as The Baroness despite the writing.
The base located in the desert left me with questions- such as why is a super secret black ops organization being run from the middle of a third world country, among others.
The Snake-Eyes/Storm Shadow stuff was handled pretty well while taking little from the actual history. I understand that it is hard to take stories with a backdrop of Vietnam and modernize them. Even with the various Gulf War iniatives it is not the same. Making the "brothers" children was not a bad idea. Having them still be children when the Master was killed was not so great as it never allowed time for the kids to bond. This film made them appear to be enemies while skipping all of the parts that made them brothers.
One of the worst historical revisions was the line about Snake-Eyes taking a vow of silence after the death of the Master. Again, this may have worked had they still not have been kids. Really, would a black ops group recruit a man that would never talk? How did he even get into the military without being able to say "Yes, sir"? In the comics it was an accident that disfigured him. What was wrong with that?
Personally, I think that the script chose the wrong lead characters. Duke and Ripcord? Duke was just a replacement for Hawk... and Ripcord? I don't think that he was ever an interesting character. Though Marlon Wayans played him well. And having all of the villiany rest on McCullen's shoulders? Poor choices.
And, don't even get me started on those dumbass roboto suits...
And then there was that awful ending... Rex turns McCullen's face in to metal, when he had the original mask next to him the entire time? (Have you not learned anything for the ludicrisness of Fantastic Four's Dr. Doom's stupid metal skin?) The fact that both McCullen now Destro and Rex now Cobra Commander are captured AND the fact that The Baroness was revealed to be a pawn... and let's not forget the fact that Storm Shadow died (allegedl) violently. The only villain left is... the President of the United States/ Zartan.
So, sequel? The president closes down G.I. Joe and General Hawk with the help of the original Joes (i.e. Snake-Eyes, Scarlett, Stalker, Doc, Rock'n Roll, Grunt) and the healed Storm Shadow and Baroness save the world from... Serpentor!!!
Some may think that this is a bad review. It's not. This is an accurate review. I enjoyed the movie. I didn't look at my watch until about the last 5 minutes so it kept me entertained, which is more than most movies...
Don.
(this image borrowed from http://www.comicvine.com/gi-joe-a-real-american-hero-silent-interlude/37-113726/)
(this photo was borrowed from
http://www.harpersbazaar.com/cm/harpersbazaar/images/sienna-miller-gi-joe-de-44496488.jpg)
(this photo was borrowed from http://www.rachelnichols.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/12107/size/big/perpage/12)
(this photo borrowed from http://www.availableimages.com/images/pictures/2009/gi-joe-the-rise-of-cobra/aph_5.jpg&imgrefurl)
Just don't go expecting high art.
I was an avid reader of Marvel's Larry Hama's G.I. Joe comics of the 1980's. I liked the cartoon but felt that it strayed to much from the comic. The comic was GREAT! The fact the Joe team was based on a real military base was cool. The fact that Cobra was based out of Springfield was brilliant. The fact that Cobra Commander was a disillusuioned car salesman that inadvertantly began a ku klux klan organization to defy the government was ingenious and very phrophetic... (Maybe Timothy McVeigh was a Cobra Commander fan...) The Snake-Eyes stories (whether with Storm Shadow or Scarlett) were always a high point of that month's comic readings.
But I Digress...
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra is kind of a happy mess. Dennis Quaid is frakking great as Hawk. Rachel Nichols was pretty kick ass as Scarlett (though to young for the role). Sienna Miller did a good job as The Baroness despite the writing.
The base located in the desert left me with questions- such as why is a super secret black ops organization being run from the middle of a third world country, among others.
The Snake-Eyes/Storm Shadow stuff was handled pretty well while taking little from the actual history. I understand that it is hard to take stories with a backdrop of Vietnam and modernize them. Even with the various Gulf War iniatives it is not the same. Making the "brothers" children was not a bad idea. Having them still be children when the Master was killed was not so great as it never allowed time for the kids to bond. This film made them appear to be enemies while skipping all of the parts that made them brothers.
One of the worst historical revisions was the line about Snake-Eyes taking a vow of silence after the death of the Master. Again, this may have worked had they still not have been kids. Really, would a black ops group recruit a man that would never talk? How did he even get into the military without being able to say "Yes, sir"? In the comics it was an accident that disfigured him. What was wrong with that?
Personally, I think that the script chose the wrong lead characters. Duke and Ripcord? Duke was just a replacement for Hawk... and Ripcord? I don't think that he was ever an interesting character. Though Marlon Wayans played him well. And having all of the villiany rest on McCullen's shoulders? Poor choices.
And, don't even get me started on those dumbass roboto suits...
And then there was that awful ending... Rex turns McCullen's face in to metal, when he had the original mask next to him the entire time? (Have you not learned anything for the ludicrisness of Fantastic Four's Dr. Doom's stupid metal skin?) The fact that both McCullen now Destro and Rex now Cobra Commander are captured AND the fact that The Baroness was revealed to be a pawn... and let's not forget the fact that Storm Shadow died (allegedl) violently. The only villain left is... the President of the United States/ Zartan.
So, sequel? The president closes down G.I. Joe and General Hawk with the help of the original Joes (i.e. Snake-Eyes, Scarlett, Stalker, Doc, Rock'n Roll, Grunt) and the healed Storm Shadow and Baroness save the world from... Serpentor!!!
Some may think that this is a bad review. It's not. This is an accurate review. I enjoyed the movie. I didn't look at my watch until about the last 5 minutes so it kept me entertained, which is more than most movies...
Don.
(this image borrowed from http://www.comicvine.com/gi-joe-a-real-american-hero-silent-interlude/37-113726/)
(this photo was borrowed from
http://www.harpersbazaar.com/cm/harpersbazaar/images/sienna-miller-gi-joe-de-44496488.jpg)
(this photo was borrowed from http://www.rachelnichols.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/12107/size/big/perpage/12)
(this photo borrowed from http://www.availableimages.com/images/pictures/2009/gi-joe-the-rise-of-cobra/aph_5.jpg&imgrefurl)
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Rest In Peace, John Hughes.
The writer-director of such iconic films as Home Alone and The Breakfast Club died in NYC today of a heart attack.
note: The above photo was borrowed from http://pro.imdb.com/media/rm1296145408/tt0088847
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Write What You Know...?
It's been a long couple of weeks but version 1.0 of the newest RnD script has been completed.
So, do I write what I know?
Who believes that Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman have fought ancient gods, trained in a black ops CIA unit, battled alien robots or flown in a starship?
I have met many people that absolutely believe that you write what you know and nothing more. They don't seem to understand that the axiom of "Write what you know" pertains to the human condition.
One can understand how people react in general situations. Much like the actors that remember the death of their childhood pet to cry for a big dramatic moment, writers have to be able to look at the moments of their lives and take the emotions and feelings and transfer that to the characters and other worlds that they create.
Do you write what you know?
Don.
So, do I write what I know?
Who believes that Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman have fought ancient gods, trained in a black ops CIA unit, battled alien robots or flown in a starship?
I have met many people that absolutely believe that you write what you know and nothing more. They don't seem to understand that the axiom of "Write what you know" pertains to the human condition.
One can understand how people react in general situations. Much like the actors that remember the death of their childhood pet to cry for a big dramatic moment, writers have to be able to look at the moments of their lives and take the emotions and feelings and transfer that to the characters and other worlds that they create.
Do you write what you know?
Don.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Karl Malden, Rest In Peace...
Oscar winnng Karl Malden has joined Pitchman/reality TV star Billy Mays, music icon/king of pop Michael Jackson, TV icon Farrah Fawcett and the legendary Ed McMahon as having passed away within the past week.
Friday, June 26, 2009
The Year of Development Hell (Part 8)...
Continued from a previous post...
The (option) year was not over yet… We still had a few more highs and lows in front of us…
For Christmas, our agent let us know that he was aggressively pursuing the money men to get the film back on track. About a week or so after New Years we received a call from our agent, he told us that he was in NYC and would be meeting with people with money.
Friday night, we received a late night e-mail, sent from his phone… most probably while at a club in the city. He said that the meetings had gone well and that we should expect to hear from him by Monday and that we would then receive our contracts and checks for low six-figures within two weeks.
We didn’t want to get our hopes up…
But we started to “plan”. RnD would take a good portion of our checks to pay down our debts. Then, we were going to take time off from our IT jobs and head to L.A. for a few months. We were doing all the research… without getting our hopes up.
Then Monday came and… we heard nothing. Tuesday… Wednesday… By Friday we were concerned. Why hadn’t we heard anything? Phone calls, e-mails, texts all went unanswered.
Two weeks later… We received an e-mail from an assistant that our agent never had and explained that his agency was merging with a literary agency. It was mostly matter of fact but included a few questions.
As I stated previously, RnD had wanted to get rid of this albatross of a script and move one. Included with our answers was the fact that we would not offer our script up for option again. They could buy it or we would keep it to fix and pitch it again.
Within a week, coincidentally, was the option date of our script. A few days after that…
We received an e-mail from yet another new person at this new merged literary agency. Our services would no longer be required…
We never heard from our (now former) agent… again.
(The funny thing is that a number of his former “talent” have since gone on to bigger careers than they ever had when they were at his agency.)
Not really the end…
Not quite a new beginning…
Don.
The (option) year was not over yet… We still had a few more highs and lows in front of us…
For Christmas, our agent let us know that he was aggressively pursuing the money men to get the film back on track. About a week or so after New Years we received a call from our agent, he told us that he was in NYC and would be meeting with people with money.
Friday night, we received a late night e-mail, sent from his phone… most probably while at a club in the city. He said that the meetings had gone well and that we should expect to hear from him by Monday and that we would then receive our contracts and checks for low six-figures within two weeks.
We didn’t want to get our hopes up…
But we started to “plan”. RnD would take a good portion of our checks to pay down our debts. Then, we were going to take time off from our IT jobs and head to L.A. for a few months. We were doing all the research… without getting our hopes up.
Then Monday came and… we heard nothing. Tuesday… Wednesday… By Friday we were concerned. Why hadn’t we heard anything? Phone calls, e-mails, texts all went unanswered.
Two weeks later… We received an e-mail from an assistant that our agent never had and explained that his agency was merging with a literary agency. It was mostly matter of fact but included a few questions.
As I stated previously, RnD had wanted to get rid of this albatross of a script and move one. Included with our answers was the fact that we would not offer our script up for option again. They could buy it or we would keep it to fix and pitch it again.
Within a week, coincidentally, was the option date of our script. A few days after that…
We received an e-mail from yet another new person at this new merged literary agency. Our services would no longer be required…
We never heard from our (now former) agent… again.
(The funny thing is that a number of his former “talent” have since gone on to bigger careers than they ever had when they were at his agency.)
Not really the end…
Not quite a new beginning…
Don.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Rest In Peace, Farrah Fawcett.
Actor Farrah Fawcett has passed away.
http://tv.msn.com/tv/article.aspx?news=416214>1=28103
http://pro.imdb.com/news/ni0850666/
Don.
http://tv.msn.com/tv/article.aspx?news=416214>1=28103
http://pro.imdb.com/news/ni0850666/
Don.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
The Year of Development Hell (Part 7)...
Continued from a previous post...
Where would we go?
Nowhere.
Everyone that had been interested in the script/film before had gotten new work. All of the edits and re-writes that we made for the specific cast and crew now just weighed heavy on the script. As the writer, I was confused.
I tried to take this time to get back to our original draft, with a few of the edits left in. The original idea was loved in pitch form and had been optioned. I just wanted to take it back to the beginning and then build it up from there.
I/we were told flat out, NO! The script was liked and approved how it was and that version was NOT to change.
So, we weren’t allowed to make the script better. Our connection to the film had been relegated to…
doing research for our agent…
As fall turned in to winter, we heard less and less about the film. Our agent was still looking at other literary properties and sending them to us for evaluation as possible films or television projects.
As the New Year rolled around, we discussed whether we should try to relocate to Los Angeles OR shoot our own short film. Either way, we had decided that we would not offer another option on our script (any version of it). We would sell it outright if anyone wanted to buy it, but we no longer wanted to be involved with it.
We wanted to move on… we wanted to write and create… again.
(and so it continues...)
to be continued, again...
Don.
Where would we go?
Nowhere.
Everyone that had been interested in the script/film before had gotten new work. All of the edits and re-writes that we made for the specific cast and crew now just weighed heavy on the script. As the writer, I was confused.
I tried to take this time to get back to our original draft, with a few of the edits left in. The original idea was loved in pitch form and had been optioned. I just wanted to take it back to the beginning and then build it up from there.
I/we were told flat out, NO! The script was liked and approved how it was and that version was NOT to change.
So, we weren’t allowed to make the script better. Our connection to the film had been relegated to…
doing research for our agent…
As fall turned in to winter, we heard less and less about the film. Our agent was still looking at other literary properties and sending them to us for evaluation as possible films or television projects.
As the New Year rolled around, we discussed whether we should try to relocate to Los Angeles OR shoot our own short film. Either way, we had decided that we would not offer another option on our script (any version of it). We would sell it outright if anyone wanted to buy it, but we no longer wanted to be involved with it.
We wanted to move on… we wanted to write and create… again.
(and so it continues...)
to be continued, again...
Don.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
The Year of Development Hell (Part 6)...
Continued from a previous post...
I, by no means, would not compare what happened to our film to what happened to the people that lived in New Orleans. I know a few people that were displaced by the damage that occurred. However…
A while after the incident, I received a phone call from a colleague. He told me that we had been mentioned on a news channel as one of the productions that had been affected by the damage. (I must note that he was “flicking around” and did not pay attention to what channel it was. Also, I never found a reference online. However, he did refer to it by the revised name Clinical; we always referred to the script/film as Phobia when talking with anyone except our agent.)
RnD helped support the various charities that were providing assistance, we donated food, clothing, home goods, money and time to work at the Ice Palace which had become a makeshift “distribution center”.
Our agent kept trying to get the location team back in… but obviously they were not allowed.
Our DP turned 1st time director left to direct another project that never materialized. Our actors left as well, they needed to work. Everyone was released.
It was September now, more than half a year had passed and we were now starting over… with a script that we (the writers) no longer liked. The money was still ready to go. All we needed to do was lockdown locations, get a new cast and crew signed on and the money would be released…
All we needed to do… Ugh!
We were no longer being tasked with inane notes. Now, we were being tasked with finding places to shoot the film and to then pitch that idea in a way to our agent that he could then pitch it to the rest of the production team and money men.
Prague. Vancouver. Los Angeles. Tampa. All were considered. And, many more international and national cites as well. I believe at one point an actual rundown "Ghost Town" in the south west was in consideration...
The producers only had so much time to get everything in place before they would have to start looking for new money. They wanted the film in the can before Christmas. Where would we go?
(and so it continues...)
to be continued, again...
Don.
I, by no means, would not compare what happened to our film to what happened to the people that lived in New Orleans. I know a few people that were displaced by the damage that occurred. However…
A while after the incident, I received a phone call from a colleague. He told me that we had been mentioned on a news channel as one of the productions that had been affected by the damage. (I must note that he was “flicking around” and did not pay attention to what channel it was. Also, I never found a reference online. However, he did refer to it by the revised name Clinical; we always referred to the script/film as Phobia when talking with anyone except our agent.)
RnD helped support the various charities that were providing assistance, we donated food, clothing, home goods, money and time to work at the Ice Palace which had become a makeshift “distribution center”.
Our agent kept trying to get the location team back in… but obviously they were not allowed.
Our DP turned 1st time director left to direct another project that never materialized. Our actors left as well, they needed to work. Everyone was released.
It was September now, more than half a year had passed and we were now starting over… with a script that we (the writers) no longer liked. The money was still ready to go. All we needed to do was lockdown locations, get a new cast and crew signed on and the money would be released…
All we needed to do… Ugh!
We were no longer being tasked with inane notes. Now, we were being tasked with finding places to shoot the film and to then pitch that idea in a way to our agent that he could then pitch it to the rest of the production team and money men.
Prague. Vancouver. Los Angeles. Tampa. All were considered. And, many more international and national cites as well. I believe at one point an actual rundown "Ghost Town" in the south west was in consideration...
The producers only had so much time to get everything in place before they would have to start looking for new money. They wanted the film in the can before Christmas. Where would we go?
(and so it continues...)
to be continued, again...
Don.
A Couple Days Off...
Monday afternoon a very close family member passed away. I will be taking the next few days off from writing to do what needs to be done and be with family.
I did have one additional chapter in "The Year of Development Hell" ready to go so I will post that now.
Thank you.
Don.
I did have one additional chapter in "The Year of Development Hell" ready to go so I will post that now.
Thank you.
Don.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Why I Write...
I know that everyone is waiting to read what happened next in my Year of Development Hell...
But I decided to take a break for one day. Part 6 will be available on Monday.
For today...
[Why I write…]
“I write because there are not enough hours in the day. I am interested in way to many subjects, fascinated by so many diverse facts and figures. If I did not write, I would not accomplish anything – I’ve tried. My OCD and ADD would battle each other and I would never be able to leave my house. So, basically, I write… so, that I don't lose my mind. ”
Don.
But I decided to take a break for one day. Part 6 will be available on Monday.
For today...
[Why I write…]
“I write because there are not enough hours in the day. I am interested in way to many subjects, fascinated by so many diverse facts and figures. If I did not write, I would not accomplish anything – I’ve tried. My OCD and ADD would battle each other and I would never be able to leave my house. So, basically, I write… so, that I don't lose my mind. ”
Don.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
The Year of Development Hell (Part 5)...
Continued from previous post...
RnD is a creative partnership. I tend to do more of the writing. The D (of RnD) does more of the editing. But, by the time the script was (nearly) approved I had to step back. Larry D stepped up and made the tweaks that the producers, actors, director and everyone else wanted. I wanted out…
I took two days off and then he sent me his changes and the notes that we had been given and we worked them out and sent them in.
A couple days later, we were told that our agent was going to be heading to NYC in two weeks to meet with potential money people.
We had been given the list of names of actors that had been interested in the script and that were ready to sign on once the money was locked in.
We had been told that our previous deal would be a little better as the cast and crew that was expressing interest would help increase the budget and return-on-investment potential.
Previously, we were to split the WGA minimum, now we were told we would be paid double- thereby allowing each of us to make the minimum. We would continue to be on set every day. And…
I believe that I misspoke before. Initially, we were told that we would get Associate Producer credits. NOW, we were told that we would be listed as Co-Producers.
A couple of weeks later, we got the call. Financing would be in place. The paperwork had to be drawn up and signed, but there was essentially a handshake deal… (Yeah!)
Within a week, at the end of August, we got a call saying that a producer, location scout and a couple assistants were on the ground in New Orleans… (Do you see where I am going with this?)
Less than 24-hours later we received a second call, this one was to tell us that the location scouting team was being pulled out due to mandatory evacuations and that they would have to head back “in a couple of weeks.”
Less than nine hours after the last pre-production crew member got out of New Orleans…
Hurricane Katrina hit...
(and so it continues...)
to be continued, again...
Don.
RnD is a creative partnership. I tend to do more of the writing. The D (of RnD) does more of the editing. But, by the time the script was (nearly) approved I had to step back. Larry D stepped up and made the tweaks that the producers, actors, director and everyone else wanted. I wanted out…
I took two days off and then he sent me his changes and the notes that we had been given and we worked them out and sent them in.
A couple days later, we were told that our agent was going to be heading to NYC in two weeks to meet with potential money people.
We had been given the list of names of actors that had been interested in the script and that were ready to sign on once the money was locked in.
We had been told that our previous deal would be a little better as the cast and crew that was expressing interest would help increase the budget and return-on-investment potential.
Previously, we were to split the WGA minimum, now we were told we would be paid double- thereby allowing each of us to make the minimum. We would continue to be on set every day. And…
I believe that I misspoke before. Initially, we were told that we would get Associate Producer credits. NOW, we were told that we would be listed as Co-Producers.
A couple of weeks later, we got the call. Financing would be in place. The paperwork had to be drawn up and signed, but there was essentially a handshake deal… (Yeah!)
Within a week, at the end of August, we got a call saying that a producer, location scout and a couple assistants were on the ground in New Orleans… (Do you see where I am going with this?)
Less than 24-hours later we received a second call, this one was to tell us that the location scouting team was being pulled out due to mandatory evacuations and that they would have to head back “in a couple of weeks.”
Less than nine hours after the last pre-production crew member got out of New Orleans…
Hurricane Katrina hit...
(and so it continues...)
to be continued, again...
Don.
Friday, June 5, 2009
The Year of Development Hell (Part 4)...
Continued from previous post...
We had several actors that had expressed interest in the script. Actors that (if a true level system existed) would have been at a “B” level, maybe a “C” level. While the actors that we knew of were a lower level when they saw our script, many of them have risen up. A couple television shows and one of the biggest movies of 2009 star the actors that expressed interest in our script.
Quite a bit of stress and late nights lead us to a mostly acceptable script…
Then…
We were told that we needed a bigger opening. We had to add an opening that “grabbed the audience” and started the “roller coaster ride”. We needed to have a large set piece for the advertising campaign.
What we developed, I have to admit was a fun, dark, action-packed ride. It was great. Everyone loved it.
The problem was that we had been tasked with the job to create that big opening, while not touching one other word in the script. We had to develop a scenario that would essentially make no difference to the rest of script.
What we ended up with was a 1st ten-pages of script that was more worthy of a Final Destination film than of Phobia… or should I say… Clinical.
The 1st ten-pages created a disconnection with the rest of the script. The real problem for us truly was the fact that everyone claimed that they loved the opening… and no one saw the disconnection with the rest of the script.
Since RnD has been writing together, we had completed about four scripts per year. Since we had optioned our feature Phobia/Clinical script, we had not written one new script, nor performed one re-write.
Up until the point where we added the new opening, we had been so focused on doing whatever it took to get this project off the ground that we never started another script. I believe that this was the point where we had almost given up…
(and so it continues...)
to be continued, again...
Don.
We had several actors that had expressed interest in the script. Actors that (if a true level system existed) would have been at a “B” level, maybe a “C” level. While the actors that we knew of were a lower level when they saw our script, many of them have risen up. A couple television shows and one of the biggest movies of 2009 star the actors that expressed interest in our script.
Quite a bit of stress and late nights lead us to a mostly acceptable script…
Then…
We were told that we needed a bigger opening. We had to add an opening that “grabbed the audience” and started the “roller coaster ride”. We needed to have a large set piece for the advertising campaign.
What we developed, I have to admit was a fun, dark, action-packed ride. It was great. Everyone loved it.
The problem was that we had been tasked with the job to create that big opening, while not touching one other word in the script. We had to develop a scenario that would essentially make no difference to the rest of script.
What we ended up with was a 1st ten-pages of script that was more worthy of a Final Destination film than of Phobia… or should I say… Clinical.
The 1st ten-pages created a disconnection with the rest of the script. The real problem for us truly was the fact that everyone claimed that they loved the opening… and no one saw the disconnection with the rest of the script.
Since RnD has been writing together, we had completed about four scripts per year. Since we had optioned our feature Phobia/Clinical script, we had not written one new script, nor performed one re-write.
Up until the point where we added the new opening, we had been so focused on doing whatever it took to get this project off the ground that we never started another script. I believe that this was the point where we had almost given up…
(and so it continues...)
to be continued, again...
Don.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)