Well, dear readers, it is wonderful to be able to begin today’s notes with the fantastic news that last evening the Nudie Musical Kickstarter project became fully funded. It can still receive more funds and we hope it does, as it would be nice to cover the Kickstarter fees, so if you know anyone else who’d like to partake of the adventure and fun rewards, point ’em to Kickstarter. It was a really nice way to end a really nice day. Thanks to everyone who became a backer and your help is very appreciated by the likes of me.
Earlier, I’d gotten up when she of the Evil Eye rang Ye Olde Doorbell. I answered some e-mails, then did the long jog, then did some errands and whatnot, including picking up a package and an important envelope. I then came home and shortly thereafter it was time for our rehearsal with the thirteen-year-old. The rehearsal was really fun and she’s really getting comfortable with everything. She’s just so much fun to watch and she so loves what she’s doing that it’s just infectious. She’s pretty much got the patter down, and she’s getting the flow down, too, although we still have a ways to go in that regard. I have some notes afterwards. She’s really good about taking the notes, interpreting them, and making the changes her own, which is always what I want. Every time we run the show I am extremely pleased with everything about it – the structure, the patter, the song choices, and her delivery. We’re going to delve deeper into a couple of the ballads, but we have three and a half more weeks, so we’re in really good shape.
As we’ve put the show together, I realized just how blessed I’ve been to have directed such fantastic people in their acts and how different and wonderful each collaboration has been. That’s the fun of this, and it’s what some cabaret directors understand and it’s what some cabaret directors never understand. It’s not about the director at all – you really have to get to know the performer, know their likes and dislikes, the way they think, the way they speak, what’s happened in their lives – all of it. When I begin work, it’s usually a lot of dinners and fun conversations before we even begin to think about songs. Out of those conversations comes information and direction and ultimately what the act is going to be about. And that’s just the beginning and I think I’ll stop there because we all know we have some prying little eyes around these here parts and I don’t feel like doing other people’s jobs for them. ☺ This is not paranoia, for those who think it might be. It’s actually a proven fact, and proven more than once. In any case, I just love the process, and putting Melody’s act together and watching her grow and get comfortable OUTSIDE her comfort zone is so much fun and so gratifying to see. And having her whole family come into my life at this time has also been wonderful. We love our dinners after rehearsals, and we did indeed sup directly afterwards at the Eclectic Café. They’d never been and everyone loved their food. I decided it would be my splurge day and had a small Caesar salad and some pasta salsiccia with marina sauce. I looked up the calorie count online when I got home and it actually wasn’t too bad at all, so given the four-mile jog, I think I did fine. I then came back home, did some work on the computer, and watched two videos that were sent to me that have to do with the web series and I have to say I laughed out loud at both, which gives me great hope that this is going to really work. I’ll be sending out the scripts for the New York shoot next week. Then I sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched a motion picture on Blu and Ray entitled The Lincoln Lawyer. I know one of our dear readers liked it a lot and said it had a twist at the end that he never saw coming. I actually saw all the twists coming, but that’s neither here nor there. It’s an okay film but with very annoying, mannered direction, full of jerkycam shots and jerky zooms, which are just jerky. It’s basically a courtroom thriller so all that crap is so unnecessary – this guy is obviously a fan of Michael Mann and various TV shows, but I just hate that “style” and it’s already about three years past it’s expiration date. I’m not a huge fan of the leading man, but he’s better in this than he’s been in other films where I’ve really loathed him. The story is interesting, although there’s nothing terribly original about it, especially if you’ve seen any of the John Grisham movie adaptations. But I’m a sucker for courtroom dramas and this one held my interest, so there’s that. It’s yet another film with a boring and totally pointless musical score that adds nothing whatsoever to the film – that, and the REALLY annoying use of rock songs and rap songs at the most inopportune moments that it’s almost laughable. The transfer, as you would expect, is terrific.
Then I watched a little of the new Blu and Ray entitled Obsession, a film of Brian De Palma. It’s an import, but is all region and will play on any machine. So far, I’m thirty minutes in and the transfer is quite nice and more importantly quite accurate to what the film is supposed to look like. More when I finish it this evening.
After that, I saw that we’d been fully funded and I danced a jig. I had some e-mail volleys with Adam Cates, and a few with some other nice folks and then it was time to write these here notes. Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I’m really overtired from lack of sleep and I want to get a really good night’s beauty sleep.
Today, I shall hopefully sleep in. Then a singer is coming to pick up a piece of music I didn’t have when he was here earlier. Then we have to recast Alet’s songs. Then I’ll do the four-mile jog, write, prep our new release and then toddle off to Vitello’s to sup and see a singer.
Tomorrow, I have to be up at six to announce our new title, then I go to the lab to see a software demonstration and to take one final look at the first fifteen minutes of the film, just to make sure I’m completely happy with the white speck removal – I’m sure I will be, but it’s just me being a perfectionist and wanting to do the right thing.
The rest of the week is a little less busy than the past few weeks – still a lot to do, but I will have the odd moment to relax and hopefully I’ll catch up on my sleep at some point. I also have to get a haircut this week.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, sleep in, do the long jog, write, prep our new release, sup and see a singer. 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, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, where I shall hopefully fall asleep quickly, knowing that the Kickstarter project is officially funded. Thanks to everyone who was able to take part, and for spreading the word.