Well, dear readers, I had the day I needed and wanted to have. Yes, you heard it here, dear readers, I had the day I needed and wanted to have, not necessarily in that order. I got up earlier than I cared to, but just was lazy right off the bat. I answered a few e-mails was about all I did during the morning hours. I did have a short conversation with my handler at the publishers, just checking on a couple of details, and then I took one more quick tour through the book and told Grant he’s free to send it along now. He still has to do the back cover – just adding our blurbs, and then he can send that, too. So, by the end of the weekend they should have everything. Then it will take what it will take to get me a galley, which, of course, I will be able to approve almost immediately. Then at some point I get my test copies of the book and then it will be ready for the world. How long all that will take is anyone’s guess. After that, I felt like a good lunch so I went to Hugo’s and had my beloved small Caesar salad and something I’ve never had before, the Hugo’s chilaquiles, which were quite good, although next time I’ll get them without the chicken sausage, which I just don’t care for. And for a special treat, I had their yummilicious chocolate mousse. After that, just for fun I drove to Toluca Lake to look at one of the Adam 12 locations – astonishingly, other than a few name changes it’s exactly the same. It does look like the Marie Callender’s was, at some point, completely redone. After that, I came home and just spent the rest of the day and evening relaxing and sitting on my couch like so much fish, which was exactly what I needed and wanted to do, not necessarily in that order.
Yesterday, I watched a motion picture on Blu and Ray entitled Bigger Than Life, a film of Nicholas Ray, starring James Mason and Barbara Rush. I must say, I’m a fan of the film, even though it does get a bit melodramatic – back then it certainly was fresh and new, though, and one must always look at films like this in context. The film is beautifully directed, and Mason is superb, as is the luminous Barbara Rush. Walter Matthau, in a very early screen role, does well as a friend, and the little boy is terrific (the same little boy from Hitchcock’s The Man Who Knew Too Much). The score by David Raksin is terrific. Which brings us to the transfer. Simply put, this is an astonishing transfer – crystal clear, great sound, sharp as a tack, but most importantly, with completely accurate and fantastic color. THIS is what color looks like. If you’ve ever heard me complain about films that are too brown or too yellow, use this film transfer as your reference. I couldn’t have been more pleased.
After that, I watched the first thirty-five minutes of the Blu and Ray of Kurosawa’s Yojimbo, and I dare say this film hasn’t looked this good since it came out, and since the US always got subtitled dupes, it probably looks better. And what an entertaining film it is.
After that, I listened to music, played on the computer, and that’s about it. Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because it’s back to work for me and I must get a good night’s sleep.
Today, I’ll be picking up the script for the long musical and I shall begin my paper blocking – just figuring out the basic entrances and exits for each scene. Having that pre-planned will make everything go faster at our rehearsals. Other than that, I don’t have much planned and hopefully that will stay that way.
Tomorrow, I will continue paper blocking and I’ll start to figure out some specific staging things – simple stuff, but again, the more I do on paper the easier it will be. Some cast members will be stopping by to get their scripts, too, including our very own Mr. Barry Pearl – we may go sup afterwards.
Sunday, we address packages and put postage on them. I have a new gal doing it and she’ll have to learn the routine, but I’m hoping it goes pretty quickly.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, pick up a script, paper block, and eat. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Friday – what is currently in your CD player and your DVD/video player? I’ll start – CD, a whole slew of newly released soundtracks. Blu and Ray, Yojimbo, then Days of Heaven, then Sanjuro. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, not necessarily in that order.