Well, dear readers, they caught the scum-sucking pig gang-member accused murderer who was trying to elude the police and the FBI mere blocks from my home environment. I knew something was up when I was coming home from my hair appointment with Teddy and traffic going north on Laurel Canyon came to a complete standstill one mile from Ventura Blvd. I saw many cars turning around, so I just lucked out and came to a street I used to take as a shortcut to the Varese Sarabande offices, which were two blocks east of Laurel Canyon. So, I took that but as I came around to down to Ventura, there were police cars everywhere and that street was blocked (where Carpenter Elementary School is) – I asked the policeman exactly what I should do and he said to just keep going to the top of the hill and turn left and that would take me down to Ventura and let me out near Tujunga. And that is what I did, along with about twenty other cars, who then, of course, jammed up the left lane to turn on Tujunga. I went around that, much to the chagrin of some idiots who didn’t think as fast as I did. I got up to Moorpark and the self-same people were jamming up the left lane there and I did the same thing – went straight, did a quick U-turn, and turned right on Moorpark, which saved me about two signals. I finally got home and went online and found out what was happening. Apparently, this miscreant wanted accused murderer twenty-year-old was spotted by a policeman – the miscreant took off on foot right near the school. Within moments, they school was in lockdown, and the police were there in force, checking all the houses and apartment buildings with police dogs and helicopters circling in the sky. The traffic going south on Laurel Canyon was backed up even worse, for two miles. The FBI was called in, and within an hour they’d caught the scum-sucking pig and took him away. I think we should all send our most excellent vibes and xylophones for a speedy trial, a speedy conviction, and a lengthy jail sentence, like life. And so ended the terror in Studio City. Terror In Studio City – that sounds like the bottom-half of a 50s double bill, perhaps starring Jack Kelly and Vince Edwards.
I had a lovelier than lovely time with Teddy. He told me that his client, Miss Raquel Welch had done this huge Taco Bell commercial last week – she goes nowhere without Teddy, so I got to hear the fun stories. He did his customary wonderful job. After they caught the scum-sucking pig, I went and had a sandwich and onion rings, and then picked up no packages but, thankfully, the important envelope. Then I bought some envelopes so that I can send out this errant and truant stuff that should have gone out two days ago. It will go out on the ‘morrow now. Then I worked on the Gardenia show. We are now fully cast save for one guy. It’s definitely not going to be Jason, and I just have to decide who to use. There are two fellows who are dying to do one of these shows, but neither are really right for this particular show, so I’m still thinking about it. In finalizing the song choices and who is going to do them, I realized I was still light two songs – so I’m desperately trying to figure out which those should be. Otherwise, all songs are assigned, I’ve got all the music, and I only have to actually Xerox about three songs. I’ll make the CDRs and then the singers can come on Sunday to pick them up. Then I took a little break and sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched a motion picture on Blu and Ray entitled Artificial Intelligence (AI). I’d watched it a couple of years ago for the first time since I’d seen it. I wrote extensively about it then, but I’ll just say that I absolutely loved the film when I saw it on its initial release (I actually saw a screening just prior to it opening) – the film received a lot of bad reviews, didn’t do much business, and a lot of people really didn’t like it. I predicted then that in a decade this film would have a turnaround, and that turnaround actually started a couple of years ago. People who hated it then suddenly forgot all about that and now love it – time sometimes does that. I believe that it will ultimately be thought of as one of Spielberg’s best films. So many people have so misunderstood what the film even is, even though I found it quite obvious from word one, and that is that it’s a fairy tale. I find the film very moving and wonderfully realized, and ten years later it’s even better, given most of the crap we get these days. The performance of Haley Joel Osment is nothing short of astounding and should have been nominated for an Academy Award. It’s one of the best performances by a child ever put on film. But everyone in the film is terrific, most especially Francis O’Connor and William Hurt. Ben Kingsley does the narration, and Meryl Streep shows up in voiceover, too. The score by John Williams is, for me, the last great score he wrote – maybe he’ll write another in the future, but AI is a masterpiece – a textbook on how to score a film and get under its skin. The transfer replicates the way the film looked beautifully. That’s not going to please some people, but it’s the look that Spielberg and his cameraman wanted and it’s a beautiful transfer to watch. This is highly recommended by the likes of me.
Then it was back to work. I finished the song I’ve been working on, and I’ll probably finesse the last few lines, but it’s quite catchy and fun, I think. It will have its first hearing on Sunday. Then I printed out all this sheet music that had been e-mailed to me, and I discussed the cover approach for the next Kritzerland release with the Kritzerland designer.
It was a very long day and night and it left me spent, I tell you, spent. Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I really need a good night’s beauty sleep.
Today, I have more work to do and must figure out the two songs we need for the Gardenia show, then I’ll make the CDRs, Xerox the few songs I need to, and get everything prepared for pickup. Then I have some errands and whatnot to do, hopefully I will pick up a couple of packages, I will mail out the errant and truant envelopes, I will do some banking, I will eat something light but amusing, and then I’ll probably watch a motion picture or three.
Tomorrow, I have a work session, then dinner, and singers will be picking up their material. And next week I have to write two sets of liner notes, get two sets of packaging approved, have a few lunch meetings, and do up a rehearsal schedule for the following week.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, figure out two songs, make CDRs, Xerox, hopefully pick up some packages, do errands and whatnot, mail two envelopes, do banking, eat, and then relax. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite films of Mr. Steven Spielberg? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, while I can sleep easier knowing that the scum-sucking pig of a gang member and accused murdering miscreant is happily behind bars.