Well, dear readers, what is it about e-mails and chat boards that just brings out the stupidity in some people? Well, that was a nice opening salvo, wasn’t it? On the face of it, e-mail is okay – sadly, it has all but replaced old-fashioned letter writing, but it’s what we have. But the amount of times the simplest of e-mails are completely misunderstood and cause problems is astonishing. You say the most innocuous thing in an e-mail and because, I suppose, it’s difficult to ascertain tone, someone adds a meaning to it or a tone to it that was never intended by the person who sent it. I’ve seen it time and again, especially with the creative team of the long musical. I’ve even been dragged into it and have been accused of having horrible attitude and disrespect. In fact, they made one of the co-writers take me to breakfast so I could be dressed down for it and told it had to stop. Fortunately, I found out in advance what that breakfast was about and so I was prepared with a sheaf of e-mails, every single one in that particular volley. The co-writer, on behalf of everyone, said his piece, telling me how I’d inflamed everyone and caused this horrible volley of e-mails (most of which had to do with the length of a casting session). He then told me I could respond. I pulled out the sheaf of e-mails and told him not to interrupt me until I was through. I then read each and every e-mail from start to finish. About halfway through he knew how stupid this all was – that he’d been hoodwinked by basically one of the other collaborators. Because what was instantly evident is that not one of my e-mails was inflammatory or disrespectful – merely even-keeled and factual. What was also instantly evident is that there were several inflammatory e-mails, just not from me. When I was through, there was no way to do anything other than admit I was right. All that had happened is that someone had read something into an e-mail that simply didn’t exist in any way, shape, or form. And I see it happen every day, with that project and with other things. It’s shocking, actually, and always baffling, and every time someone does it I have to write back and say “Where are you getting this from?” The same thing on chat boards, where one is forced to use smiley faces to imply humor because the Internet is, of course, filled with the most humorless bunch of twits who ever lived. The trolling and the personal attacks are unbelievable. And it’s all because they do it under cover of anonymity. Putting one’s real name on a post is the great leveler, and not one of these creeps would ever have the guts to say any of the things they say to someone’s face. Thankfully, it rarely happens here at haineshisway.com where there is respect and decorum and, wait for it, HUMOR – that’s usually the order of the day. The real trick is to actually talk to someone. Confused about the intention of an e-mail? Pick up the phone and talk to someone – things get straightened out instantly. But usually that’s not what happens. Usually the e-mails continue, misunderstandings continue and it escalates to a point that is so nonsensical it actually takes one’s breath away to actually watch it happen.
I had a very nice, relaxing day yesterday, sort of. I got up early, did a three-mile jog, had some bacon and eggs, visited Mystery and Imagination Books, did some errands and whatnot, got some snacks from Gelson’s, picked up a package and no mail, had some Kritzerland supplies brought to the house (including a lot of printer ink, 18 copies of the latest Nudie Musical draft), packing tape, and various and sundried other things. This should hold me for about three or four months, so that’s good. I then had a couple of telephonic calls, then sat on my couch like so much fish.
Yesterday, I watched three count them three motion pictures on Blu and Ray. The first motion picture was entitled Brief Encounter (a region B Blu-Ray). I really like this motion picture quite a lot, especially the performances of Celia Johnson and Trevor Howard as the ill-fated lovers. The direction by David Lean is superb as is the script by Noel Coward. And who knew that Sergei Rachmaninov was such a fine film composer? Once again, a couple of armchair experts decreed that the transfer wasn’t all that. The only thing that’s really not all that is their absolute ignorance about Blu-Ray, transfers, and what film looks like. This is a fantastic Blu-Ray made from a wonderful restoration performed by the BFI. The contrast and sharpness is astonishingly good, and the old Criterion DVD is not within a country mile of this Blu-Ray. One site had screencaps and based on those you would never want to purchase this Blu-Ray – the problem is his captures don’t resemble what’s on view in any way. What a disservice and what a slap in the face to all the people who did a great job. Shame on that site, shame on the armchair experts, and shame on anyone who stays away from this Blu-Ray based on their lack of knowledge. Highly recommended by the likes of me. I then watched the second motion picture, which was entitled Belle du Jour. This is the first time I’ve actually ever been able to sit through this film – I’ve always shut it off after about fifteen minutes. I know it’s a highly lauded film and that people love Luis Bunuel, but his films just don’t appeal to me all that much, and while I love Catherine Deneuve and she’s at her loveliest in this film, the film just didn’t do it for me. The transfer on this region B Blu-Ray is, for the most part, very nice – there are some source material weirdnesses, but the color’s good, it’s mostly very sharp, and the mono sound is fine. I then watched the third motion picture on Blu-Ray, which was entitled Assault On Precinct 13 – not the garbage remake, but the okay original. I’d actually never seen the film before. It was released in 1976 – for some reason I thought it was shot before Nudie Musical, but it must have been after, since we shot in May of 1975. So, the film has several things in common with Nudie, including its $150,000 budget, director of photography Doug Knapp, sets built by the same people who built ours, and interiors shot at Producer’s Studio, as we were. Also, actor Frank Doubleday, who plays Riff/Arvin in Nudie has a prominent role in Assault. Several crew members are the same, as well. And the films both had mediocre box-office (Nudie got better reviews), and both went on to become cult films. I liked the film okay – it’s short and sweet, some good action scenes and atmosphere, especially given the budget, and a good plot (somewhat borrowed from Rio Bravo) but not great dialogue. The transfer I’m sure replicates the low-budget look of the film.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I simply must get these here notes posted and hope nobody misunderstands their tone. But, just in case – ☺ Hmmm – what a teeny-tiny smiley face that is.
Today, I shall try to sleep late, I shall try to jog, I shall try to finish liner notes, and then I may or may not go to the DGA to see Nine at four. Or is it Four at nine? Whether I do or not, afterwards I’ll be supping with our very own Miss Alet Taylor. If I see the movie, we’ll sup somewhere in Hollywood, perhaps even Genghis Cohen or the Hamburger Hamlet or AstroBurger. We shall see.
Tomorrow, I have several errands and whatnot to attend to throughout the day, and a lot of telephonic calls to make and things to follow up on, including the Holy Grail release, so please keep sending strong excellent vibes and xylophones for a stress-free and quick journey to the finish line.
The rest of the week is filled with work sessions, meetings, and meals, not necessarily in that order.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do a jog, I must finish liner notes, I must maybe see Nine at four, and then I must sup with Miss Alet Taylor. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s free-for-all day, the day in which you dear readers get to make with the topics and we all get to post about them. So, let’s have loads of lovely topics and loads of lovely postings, shall we, and just in case anyone misreads any of them – ☺