Well, dear readers, this week is flying by, like a gazelle with a dragon tattoo (oottat, spelled backwards). The week started off with a bang. This bang woke me out of a sound sleep. But I got a bang out of the bang and got up and did the Limbo whilst doing my morning ablutions. I then announced the new Kritzerland CD, and then printed orders as they came in. I had to continue putting labels on boxes, and then I did a three-mile jog. I then showered and made myself purty and then the helper arrived to help. We addressed all the Juggernaut packages and got postage put on them. And we did about half the Promises packages – we’ll finish those this morning and get postage on them because the CDs arrive on Wednesday morning. We shipped some packages out including a big box o’ stuff that had to go the mastering guy. Then the helper left and I went to have some bacon and eggs. After that, I found out that our next project had a problem, said problem being that there is already a CD release out – put out by the composer’s family on the composer’s label without actually having licensed the title. The rights’ holders were very upset, but I had to pull out of it because there was no way for me to sell 1000 units or anywhere near that. So, I’ve asked them to please clear the next title so I can put it on the fast track fast. I’m hoping they can. I had one slightly annoying telephonic call – I couldn’t believe what I was hearing really, and the person who called certainly heard that I couldn’t believe what I was hearing and I was quite strong about not believing what I was hearing. I told this person a thing or two and if I have to ultimately go over this person’s head I’ve already set those wheels in motion. After that, it was time to mosey on over to Encino to have a meeting with writers Ron Clark and Sam Bobrick, along with our very own Mr. Barry Pearl. Sam and his ever-lovin’ Julie were kind enough to have gotten some Chinese chicken salad for us to nibble on – it was really quite good. The meeting was really fun – Sam and Ron are great and a hoot, and I think we’re all going to enjoy working on this project. I gave them my ideas and thoughts, as did Barry and now they’ll do a new outline for us and we’ll proceed from there. I then came home, did a nighttime jog of a mile and a half, ate a Rice Krispies treat, and then sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched a motion picture on DVD entitled Deadline at Dawn, a film adapted from the novel by William Irish (Cornell Woolrich), one of my favorite writers. Deadline at Dawn is not one of his masterpieces, but it’s still a really good book with a classic Woolrichian storyline. Unfortunately, the film’s screenplay is by Clifford Odets, a writer with not one thing in common with Mr. Woolrich. He changes so much that very little of it is recognizable as Woolrich. He writes his pithy New Yorker wiseacre dialogue, mixed in with his Odetsian poetic New Yorker dialogue and while it certainly holds the interest, it’s a shame that Woolrich just gets lost in the mix. The cast is mostly fine, with a very young and pretty Susan Hayward, a strange leading man named Bill Williams, a terrific performance from Paul Lukas, and lots of other good character people. The film is directed by theater director Harold Clurman (his only film), and that’s part of the problem – he has no real feel for cinema, although he’s lucky to have Nicholas Musaraca as his cameraman – I’m sure the latter is responsible for all the camera setups, so the film looks fine, as Musaraca was a key noir cameraman. The score by Hanns Eisler is okay.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I must get these here notes posted so that I can get my beauty sleep – I think I shall dream of the gazelle with the dragon tattoo.
Today has suddenly become very busy. I have to get up early, do a jog, then the helper will be here to help – we’ll finish addressing packages and putting the postage on them, and we’ll do some organizational stuff, too. Then I’ll have some errands and whatnot to attend to, and then I finally tape the Skip E. Lowe show, which, at the very least, will be amusingly amusing. Depending on how fast I can get back to the San Fernando Valley will depend on whether I go to a play reading or not.
Tomorrow, CDs will arrive and helper and I will get everything packaged up and ready to ship. I’ll do as much as I can in terms of getting everything out of here, but I have a 12:30 lunch meeting in West Hollywood so I have to be out of here by noon – anything that’s left to do the helper can finish by herself. Thursday seems like it might be a light day and I’ll definitely get some writing done. Friday I’m seeing the opening night of Cinderella out at the Cabrillo Music Theater.
Let’s all put on our pointy party hats and our colored tights and pantaloons, let’s break out the cheese slices and the ham chunks, let’s dance the Hora or the polka, for today is the birthday of dear reader Miss Karen. So, let’s give a big haineshisway.com birthday cheer for our very own dear reader Miss Karen. On the count of three: One, two, three – A BIG HAINESHISWAY.COM BIRTHDAY CHEER FOR OUR VERY OWN DEAR READER MISS KAREN!!!
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do a jog, finish addressing packages, do errands and whatnot, tape the Skip E. Lowe show, and maybe see a play reading. Today’s topic of discussion: What was the very first movie you ever purchased on video – was it VHS or Beta? And what was your very first videocassette player? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I dream of the gazelle with the dragon tattoo.