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November 20, 2009:

THE STARING OF THE PAGE

Bruce Kimmel Photograph bk's notes

Well, dear readers, this week has flown by, like a gazelle singing Day-O. And we’re more than halfway through November. And soon it will be December, a time of merriment and mirth and laughter and legs. But for now, it’s Friday and I, for one, say hoo and ray and am looking forward to a peaceful and restful weekend. This has been a mostly okay but slightly odd week, and we do need to keep those excellent vibes and xylophones coming strongly about crossing the finish line with the Holy Grail release. I’m just sitting here like so much fish staring at this page instead of typing actual notes. This is known in certain circles as The Staring Of The Page. It’s not only known as that in certain circles but also in certain rectangles and squares. I really mustn’t just sit here like so much fish staring at the page, not when a cold bed is waiting for me. I suppose I could say that yesterday was a perfectly okay day. Nothing much happened, and that was a good thing. I did do the two-mile jog, and I did have a sandwich and onion rings and I did run into a former LACC theater instructor who sat with me as I lunched, I did do an errand and a whatnot, but mostly I tried to clear my head. It wasn’t quite possible, as I did have to take a few telephonic calls of the usual kind but I kept them brief and brief I kept them. I did some writing and then I called it a day and I also called it a ficken nitwit. I then sat on my couch like so much fish and watched a motion picture on Blu and Ray.

Yesterday, I watched a motion picture on Blu and Ray entitled The 39 Steps, directed by Mr. Alfred Hitchcock, starring Mr. Robert Donat and Miss Madeline Carroll. First of all, I’ve never been all that fond of this film, but for whatever reasons I enjoyed it much more than I ever have. In fact, I found it quite excellent. Now, this Blu-Ray has come in for a heap o’ criticism from the usual array of armchair experts, who decreed it was a terrible Blu-Ray and that it should be avoided at all costs – which is precisely why I avoided it at all costs until, that is, I realized that I was listening to a bunch of ill-informed people who really have no idea what movies are supposed to look like. So, I got the thing, and imagine my surprise to find a perfectly fine Blu-Ray transfer of a fine-grain print, which apparently is the best surviving element on this film. It’s relatively sharp most of the time (except in opticals), and is, in fact, the best this film has ever looked on any home video format. I put up the Criterion DVD and even upscaled there was simply no contest – the Blu-Ray was so much better in every way – much cleaner (the Criterion is actually pretty terrible), and just a really good representation of what a theatrical print from seventy-four years ago would have looked like. If they had the camera negative to go from of course it would look better – but to call it a travesty is inanity to the nth degree. The US Godzilla Blu-Ray is a travesty, if you want to know what a travesty is. This Blu-Ray of The 39 Steps deserves praise, not brickbats.

After that, I decided to take a big box o’ trade stuff to Amoeba, where I was given quite a nice amount of credit. I got a few Blu-Rays and a few CDs and have quite a nice amount of credit left. I then went to Gelson’s and got some fruit, came home, and ate it all up. I then watched a short film by a person named Kenneth Anger. I profess to only know Mr. Anger’s name through his book Hollywood Babylon. I’ve never seen any of his films. This one was made in 1947 and involved Mr. Anger as a young man dreaming he’s with sailors who beat him quite badly. There are some very disturbing images and it’s all very surreal and weird and not really my cup of tea. I watched a second film from a couple of years later called Puce Moment. There are a couple of his more well known films in this Blu-Ray set, so I’ll just get right to those.

Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below before I go back to The Staring Of The Page.

Today, all that I have planned is a potential lunch with Mr. Barry Pearl, and the writing of the liner notes, which can only happen after The Staring Of The Page. But I must finish them. Other than that, I’m hoping some packages arrive and I will watch at least two Blu-Rays.

Tomorrow and Sunday are pretty clear and I’m pretty happy about it as next week there are at least two work sessions for the long musical and several meetings. And, if all the excellent vibes and xylophones for a hopefully smooth crossing of the finish line work, then we will hopefully put that project to bed and get everything off to the printers and pressing plant. Send them strong and send them often.

Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do a jog, I must maybe have a lunch with Barry Pearl, I must hopefully pick up packages, and I must really hope for a very nice and positively positive day. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Friday – what is currently in your CD player, and your DVD/Blu-Ray player? I’ll start – CD, Marvin Hamlisch’s score to The Informant. DVD, the latest Three Stooges set, which I’m enjoying. Blu-Ray, up next The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth, Blazing Saddles and a couple of others. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I no longer have to deal with The Staring Of The Page.

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