Well, dear readers, I really think that someday I actually will be able to take an entire day off, but despite my trying it sure hasn’t happened in the last three weeks. For example, I thought yesterday was going to be an entire day off. So, here is how I spent my entire day off. I got up at nine, which was nice. I then went to the computer and wrote the announcement release for the new Kritzerland title. Then I did the long jog. Then I had a telephonic call and then I went to meet dear reader Jeanne and Nate ‘n Al’s in Beverly Hills. We had a very nice lunch and chat, and then I headed back home. I decided to complete doing the editing road map for the second title on the Holy Grail CD because I realized if I don’t do it now, it will just make things more difficult for me down the line, because come end of October and early November I get even busier – this way I have a major task out of the way. Doing title one yesterday took a couple of hours and went fairly smoothly. There were only a couple of cues that weren’t in the right place and while the film itself occasionally removed beginnings or little pieces of cues, the whole show was easy to figure out. Not so with the second title. When a film’s editing is completed the composer and director “spot” the film, figuring out where the music will go. The composer then writes his score for those specific timings. He then records his score to picture. Then a music editor marries it to the film tracks and the whole thing is mixed. But sometimes re-editing occurs, or sometimes the director ends up not liking a cue, or wanting a different mood, or any number of other things. So, while I believe that what was on the tapes from which my CD ref was made was the score the composer wrote in the order it was recorded. And that was fine for the first five tracks or so. And then the music editor started getting “creative.” And things became impossible to figure out. For example, in one source music cue, two cues were edited together but in really odd ways that I would not even want to attempt to duplicate, since it sounded bad. Understand, in the film there is dialogue over this source music and you don’t even really pay attention to it and notice the weird editing. And then, we start having repeated cues, wherein the same piece of music is used in several different scenes, even though the composer scored those scenes. Then some scenes appear to have been shortened and that changes how the music is used. So, ever cue after cue five became an ordeal to figure out and the whole thing ended up taking over five hours. In the end, I think I figured it all out. I can’t even listen to it in order, because we have to pull apart some cues and put them right, and some tracks on the CD ref don’t have proper ID start points so there are occasionally two, even three cues on one ID. It gets really confusing, but I think I finally got it all. But that’s not all – then I have to decide what source music to include in the score proper and which to include as bonus tracks. And does the score in film order make a good listening experience. I’m beginning to think not, as the leading lady doesn’t appear in the first scenes and so her theme, aside from being in the main title, is all end-loaded and the music in the first half has a certain sameness. Now, breaking it up with some source cues might help, but I may end up moving a couple of later themes for the leading lady earlier because I think that it will help make for a better musical experience. I shall ponder that over the next few weeks. But the bottom line is the music is glorious – really, really glorious.
I did take a break to watch last night’s new episode of Mad Men, which I thought was one of the weakest shows of the series. They seem a little lost. I also had a raging headache from the difficulty with the edit road map, so I went over to Jerry’s Deli and took home some chicken soup, which hit the spot really well. And that was my day off. Not.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I must get these here notes posted, get our new title announced just for you dear readers, and I must get my beauty sleep.
Today I do not have a day off. I must be at a certain movie studio at eleven and before that I will probably try to jog. At the studio I’ll be choosing stills and art for the Holy Grail CD. Then I come home and I have to start addressing packages and I’ll be joined by Mr. Cason Murphy who will help and then we’ll put postage on them and be ready for the arrival of the CDs. We’ll probably grab a bite to eat afterwards, and then I’ll probably try to probably finish Braveheart. Did anyone notice how many times I just used the word “probably?” Just asking.
The rest of the week is filled with lots o’ stuff to do, and do it I shall for there is no rest for the weary and, conversely, no weary for the rest. I doubt I’ll have any time for relaxing, since I also have to write the liner notes for the next release, and then immediately begin the liner notes for the Holy Grail release because those are probably going to take a while to get approved, from what I understand.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do a jog, go to a motion picture studio and choose stills and art, I must address packages, I must sup, and then I must finish a motion picture. Today’s topic of discussion: You’re on your own today, as I cannot think of anything on account of a raging headache and no one to give me the TLC I so need. And those who do not give TLC shall rot in HELL, and I mean that in the nicest possible way. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, and be sure to use the word “probably” a lot.