Well, dear readers, thus begins a very busy week. I shall try not to feel overwhelmed. At the worst, I hope to feel no more than whelmed – I can live with whelmed. But, before we get to today and the rest of the week, may we just talk about yesterday? What a lively and sparkling day we had here at haineshisway.com. For those who were errant and truant, I canned the free-for-all day and we had a topic. Boy, did that make all the difference in the world. I’d awakened quite early because my allergies were buggin me. Then I went back to sleep an hour later and managed to get three more hours of lovely shuteye. Then I wrote quite a bit (well, it seemed like quite a bit but it was really only three-and-a-half pages), then I had to go through a couple of contracts and highlight sections we won’t be needing. We’re hoping the contract can be e-mailed today to the two parties who need it. I then began routining the show album we’ll be recording – starting to decide which bits of dialogue we’ll be using to get in and out of songs. As I went through the script, my feeling was not to use too much, but we shall see. I then went to Vinnie’s and picked up a new Guy Haines CD, this one with the two songs flipped and the little deletion in one mix. And, both changes made me very happy, so that’s that. I also picked up the CD that has the Pro Tools session files for Kerry Butler’s duet, which I’ll bring with me to New York, New York. I then went to a pricey children’s store and bought a gift certificate for the baby shower, which I then attended. I thought it would be one of those affairs where I’d want to flee immediately, but it was quite a bit of fun and I stayed the entire length of the partay. Upon my entrance, I was greeted by Miss Barbara Deutsch and son Sam, who was videotaping everyone as they arrived. I was then led outside where we were asked to paint baby shirts with something original. I did two of them. There were some yummilicious appetizers, which I partook of. I knew several people there in addition to La Deutsch and son Sam – I knew Sam’s ever-lovin’ Natalie, I knew Mr. Kevin Spirtas and his pal, I knew director David Galligan, I knew Mr. Bob Garrett, and I, of course, knew the mommy and daddy to be. There were some amusing games with prizes (I did not win), and there was blackened barbecued chicken, corn-on-the-cob, cold sesame pasta, and sundaes for dessert. A good time was had by all, and baby-to-be Ava got some lovelier than lovely presents. I then went home and sat on my couch like so much fish. Isn’t that exciting? Isn’t that just too too?
Yesterday, I also watched a motion picture on DVD entitled The Life and Death of Peter Sellers, one of those dreadful HBO movies that the network loves to believe are high art. They’re not. The cast was certainly game, and I must say Mr. Geoffrey Rush did a grand job as Sellers, considering that he looks nothing like him. The makeup was very good, and there were times in medium or long shots, when he really had the look of him down. It’s hard to understand why Charlize Theron would want to play Britt Ekland, but she played it well, and she looked and sounded just like her. Stanley Tucci was a joke as Stanley Kubrick – did they cast him because he had the same first name? Mr. Tucci, I’m afraid, is a bit of a one trick pony and I’ve tired of his act. John Lithgow tries gamely in the role of Blake Edwards, but it’s just poorly written. And therein lies the tale. The script is horrid; one terribly written scene after another. And even the bits when you start to get into the story keep being interrupted by these awful “backstage” scenes that completely take you out of the story for no reason other than they think it’s “hip”. And therein lies the next tale. The “hip” factor. I don’t know this director’s work, but his work on this film is as bad as it gets – filled with every hip and trendy trick in the business. It’s nauseating to have to watch, and if that’s the best he can do he should not be directing anything. The best thing about the film are the main titles, which are done in the style of What’s New, Pussycat (to that music). There are lots of recreations of Sellers’ great scenes, but unfortunately we have the originals and these copies can only seem tired and fake. Sadly, other than Rush, it’s almost a complete waste of time.
What am I, Ebert and Roeper all of a sudden? Don’t I have to talk about today, and even perhaps tomorrow? Why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below so I can do just that.
Today I shall finish routining the cast album, and I have to make sure all the contracts get to where they’re going to, and I have to write at least three pages. I must have a meeting with Miss Tammy Minoff about several things including the play, and then Mr. Nick Redman will be coming over and we shall sup. Tomorrow is equally loaded with more of the same, plus working with Mr. Kevin Spirtas. We’ve got to really start to buckle down Winsocki and get the show on its feet soon. My plan is to have him go through all the material in each act without stopping, so we can see where we’re at in terms of time, and so we can see how the material flows. So, now we’ve had yesterday, today, and tomorrow. What am I, a Vittorio de Sica film all of a sudden?
Don’t forget, Donald should have a new radio show up for your listening pleasure, so be sure to tune in. Yes, you may tune in, but do not turn on or drop out.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must write, I must attend to all the details I’ve mentioned, I must also do a few errands, and I must hopefully pick up some packages from hither and thither and perhaps even yon. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite non-fiction biographies, autobiographies, and histories? Those books that really know their subject and really tell their stories interestingly – for all subjects: Entertainment, politics, ancient history, whatever has really entertained and taught you things you didn’t know about people or places. I’m always on the lookout for interesting non-fiction, so I shall enjoy hearing your various and sundried choices. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst we ponder yesterday, today, and tomorrow.