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November 5, 2009:

LET’S NOT SUGARCOAT IT

Bruce Kimmel Photograph bk's notes

Well, dear readers, I am just tired. That’s all there is to it. Let’s not try to sugarcoat it. I am just tired. There it is, for all to see. Rather than having a relaxing day, which is what I thought I’d be having, I, in fact, started off the day with packing up orders and then lifting and lugging them to the postal office, to Fed Ex, and to the UPS Store. For some reason, I thought I’d be done with all of it in an hour, but it took me over three hours to get it all done. Then there were some errands and whatnot and things to arrange. Then I got a foot-long Subway turkey sandwich because I didn’t get to jog and I wanted to eat very light. I have had very few dud sandwiches at Subway, but this one went to the head of the class. Just not good – don’t really even know why. So, to get the taste out of my gaping maw I ate a bunch of leftover Halloween bite-size candies. Too many, I’m afraid. Then I had a little meltdown because I just wanted to sit the HELL down and the phone kept ringing and the e-mails kept coming and I had to make a second trip to the postal office, and it just finally got to me – I love all this stuff – all the work and doing and the going but it’s been so relentless lately and I don’t need much but I do need a few hours here and there to clear my head and rest my body or, conversely, to clear my body and rest my head. So, I did what I always do when I top off, emotion-wise – I just start yelling incoherently. That was most amusing, me just standing in the middle of my kitchen yelling to no one. It actually felt quite good. After that, I just said the HELL with it and sat down on my couch like so much fish.

Yesterday, I finished watching the Blu and Ray of North By Northwest. I’ll keep it short and sweet and also sweet and short – a superb transfer, with great color and sound – a comparison with the older DVD, which, at the time, was thought to be amazing, reveals washed out color and hazy contrast, the latter being far too bright. You’d always read some wag or other who knows nothing about everything saying that the DVD was so good you could see the backdrops and the matte work so easily that it almost ruined the film. Well, guess what? That’s what happens when you print a transfer three stops too bright – it reveals everything and washes everything out to boot. I’ve read a few comments from the wags who know nothing about everything saying this new transfer is a lot darker than the other. Note to wags: It’s not a LOT darker, but yes, it is darker – as it should be. The contrast is fantastic and it actually resembles a 35mm IB Tech print. And having the contrast right means all the matte work and effects and process work play seamlessly and as they should. If you love this film, get this Blu-Ray, it’s that simple. I then began to watch a motion picture on Blu-Ray entitled The Taking of Pelham 123, not the classic original version but the new remake by director Tony Scott. I had to stop at about forty minutes in because Mr. Grant Geissman called and said that we were indeed going to get-together, so I shut it off and I’ll finish it tomorrow, but I can already tell you that as always the remake is a complete joke – horribly directed and written – but I’ll finish it and then talk about it. Maybe it will suddenly become brilliant. But it did make me want to see the marvelous original again.

I then toddled over to Grant’s house, and I re-recorded the two songs that have new music (well, one has new music and the old lyrics, and one is completely new), then I did the vocals for them. Then we mixed those two tracks, then we mixed all the vocals Niki Scalera did a couple of weeks ago. And so, I’ll add them to our demo and send it out to the people who’ve been asking me about it. I then came home – it was already eleven-fifteen. I ate some pistachio nuts and caught up on e-mails.

I did have one very interesting e-mail I didn’t mention yesterday, and the author of that e-mail got hold of me via the telephonic device today and I must say it was an intriguing conversation that I hope will lead somewhere. I’m not really willing to say more at this time, but it made me feel quite good to get the call.

Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because let’s face it, I’m tired.

Have I mentioned that I’m just tired? Let’s not sugarcoat it. Actually, it is quite good when sugar coated but that’s another story for another day in another time in another place such as Keokuk, Iowa.

Today I thought I had nothing scheduled during the day, but at eleven I have to go listen to some tapes for an upcoming release (actually this will probably be the first or second release of 2010). But after that, the rest of the day is mine all mine, and I only wish I could say the same for the evening but alas, that is not to be. We have another rehearsal and I have no choice but to attend as it’s taking place at my house. So, that’s three hours of the evening gone. Then we have another rehearsal on Friday and one on Sunday. And then we have the table reading next Tuesday and once that’s done and I’ve given my notes, I’ll be free of the show until after the New Year.

Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, try to do the long jog, I must listen to tapes, do a few errands and whatnot, finish a motion picture on Blu-Ray, and attend a rehearsal. Today’s topic of discussion: Are there any remakes that you actually like – ones that hold their own charms, or, perhaps in a rare case, even surpass the original? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, as I hit the road to dreamland because, in case I haven’t said it enough, I’m tired and let’s not sugarcoat it.

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