Well, dear readers, I am quite tired from my very long, too long, really long, endlessly long day and evening. I even have a little headache hovering around the windmills of my mind – perhaps I’ll take an aspirin right this very minute. I shall return. I have returned, aspirin taken. Where was I? I have lost the momentum. And, as we all know, momentum is everything. Once you’ve lost the momentum you no longer have the momentum and you flail about wildly, limbs akimbo, trying to attain the momentum. There, the momentum has returned. Speaking of the momentum, yesterday was a very long, too long, really long, endlessly long day. I got up a little later than I’d planned and had to hurry and do the long jog, which I did, more briskly than usual. Upon my return, I had to shave and shower and then I left to do a couple of errands, after which I was on my way to the Dale of Glen, first to have lunch, then to begin our long day’s journey into night. We convened at a local restaurant and I ate more than I wanted to. We then returned to the home where we were working, and began our session. The first order of business was playing through the songs that could be played through. The ones we’d worked on were indeed better, but still too long. The ones I’d given some notes on but hadn’t heard were not that much better, and in some cases, were worse. Then we heard some of the new songs, one of which was nice but wrong for the spot it was written for, and others, which I felt didn’t do what they were supposed to do. I’d asked everyone not to offer notes at the end of that, but just to write down their thoughts and that we’d do all notes after we’d heard the new version of the book. We then began that read-through, with all of us playing roles. The book was better, a little more focused, but I still felt there were structural problems, focus problems, and the major problem of the fact that it still doesn’t smell, walk, or talk like a musical. We then sat at the dining table, for one of the authors had made home made ravioli and salad. I tried not to overeat, and did a reasonable job – I’d also brought the beloved Parisian Cake, and that was quite popular with the populace. I did eat more than I’d wanted to, but I did run four miles so I think I’m probably all right. I then began my spiel, asking everyone to just listen and to understand how I felt we had to proceed. I began by complimenting everyone on their good work thus far. I then said that by the end of my little overview that no one at the table would like me. I said from this point forward this creative team had to function like a TEAM – that hasn’t happened once in their over a year long collaboration. It’s been people off in their own worlds doing their own things with no one really being on the same page and no leadership. I said that had to change and that no one could do anything without involving every member of the team. I said the most important job ahead was to make this a real musical. I was then interrupted by one author who made some long speeches about why certain things were the way they were and why they wouldn’t be changing. I then said that’s exactly what no one wants to hear. I said everything would be changing until everything was right. I said there couldn’t be any more pronouncements, that everyone had to work together and no one could ride herd over anyone else. I then continued with my book overview. I said much of it still confused me, and I got into a couple of specifics. I was met with some arguments, and again, I had to say that everyone had to listen. The other author, though, seemed very interested in what I was both saying and proposing and he articulated what he liked about a few of my suggestions, and that was very helpful. I, in fact, won the biggest battle I wanted to win, which is going to help the show and its structure immeasurably. I then talked about the music and then the lyrics, with great candor. Of course, everyone gets defensive, it’s only natural, but by the end of it I think everyone had sort of come around to the way it’s going to have to be. The original author wrote this twelve years ago as a screenplay, and that’s what it still feels like. He told all of us that that was never going to change. I told him it had to, and that he had to be prepared to go in new directions and to let this thing morph into what it has to morph into. I know it’s a struggle for him and I understand that, but it has to happen. And that was the evening.
I then came home and had to do the final corrections on the LACCTAA newsletter, and then it was time to start writing these here notes, which I’m now doing in case you hadn’t noticed.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because it’s been a very long, too long, really long, endlessly long day and I must get my beauty sleep.
Today, I have to get up really early if I’m to do the long jog (and after all I ate yesterday, I’m doing it), and then were meeting at ten-thirty to get into specific specifics about music, lyrics, and book – I tried to take as many notes as I could during the read-through, and I’m sure as we go scene by scene other things will occur to me. Then, at four, I’ll be on my way to the LACCTAA meeting all the way across town at the House of Pies. After that, I’ll head home, which is where we’ll be continuing the work session. I’m hoping we’ll be done no later than ten, preferably nine.
Tomorrow’s meeting has, I think, been changed to Friday morning. It’s the very important meeting and I’m very anxious for it to happen. I’ve also got meetings with Brent Barrett and Kevin Spirtas and I’m also supposed to see the video footage with the pickups inserted, so I can do my final finessing before the boys see it. This editor has been way too slow on this project and I’m telling him he HAS to finish it this week.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do the long jog (if possible), have a long work session, have a LACCTAA meeting, have more work session, and then finally sit on my couch like so much fish. Today’s topic of discussion: What historical event are you most intrigued and/or obsessed by – the one you’ve wanted to really understand or research or know more about? With me it was the blacklist period. There was a time in the early 70s that I had every book written on the blacklist and I couldn’t get enough. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I now complete the momentum of these here notes and use whatever leftover momentum I have to go into the bedroom.