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July 27, 2011:

EVERYTHING OLD IS NEW AGAIN

Bruce Kimmel Photograph bk's notes

Well, dear readers, it seems that everything old is new again and therefore I am still overtired, it is still late, and I must still write these here notes in a hurry. I, for example, am old and yet I am new again. For the past forty minutes I have been listening to wailing guitars and fierce drumming and synths – something I can issue on CD if I wish to – it’s from a major film by a major director and the score has never been issued – it had a song album at the time of release (that may have had a couple of cues, but that’s it). It’s not really my kind of score but I know it would sell out instantly and frankly we could use one of those. Interestingly, this was going to be done by another label – the composer and his agent got wind of it and reacted so poorly that the other label immediately dropped the project. I have no idea why they would have reacted poorly as they do not own the music, nor do they really have any say in whether it’s released or not. But I think the label has a relationship with the agent or something. I don’t, nor do I have a relationship with the composer, and since the rights’ holders would like to make the deal, I’m seriously thinking about doing it. I suppose I might get contacted but since nothing about this will be known until the day it’s announced, there’s not much that can be done at that point. I suppose we shall see, but I’m leaning heavily towards doing it.

Prior to the wailing of the guitar, I got up after eight hours of sleep. I didn’t really have time to do the long jog in the morning, so I did some stuff on the computer and then I moseyed on over to the Bank of Bur for a meeting with the company that is doing the authoring of the Nudie Musical Blu and Ray. The guy was very nice and we discussed menus and layouts and looked at a few samples. We discussed the transfer itself, bitrate, dual-layers, how the bonus material will lay out, the commentaries, and I just made it very clear that all I really care about on this disc is that the film has the highest bitrate it can have, even if that means doing the low-def extras in really low-def, and I really don’t want any compromises in the image quality. We worked too hard to get this to be the best it can be. We discussed what music would play behind the menu screens and what the main image will be. This part of the process will take four to six weeks and I’ll see check discs every step of the way. Apparently this company’s QC department is maniacal, so that gives me comfort.

After the meeting, I came home, did the four-mile jog. I wasn’t feeling totally up to snuff, so I popped a few Coldeez just to be on the safe side. I had a vistor, then did some work on the computer, and then it was time for our first Gardenia rehearsal. This show was very difficult to schedule because there are more duets than we normally do, so three performers had to all come at the same time, but no one really had to wait too too long and it we were actually ahead of schedule. It’s going to be a really fun show – I do think I’m going to have to adjust my show order a little – the last three songs. We’ll see how I feel after Friday’s rehearsal. I always enjoy working with new singers and we’ve got three newbies this time, at least new to our Gardenia shows. They’re all quite different and all quite good.

After rehearsal, I went to Jerry’s Deli as I hadn’t eaten all day. I had a bowl of matzo ball soup and a turkey sandwich. It was all yummilicious and just what the doctor ordered, although the doctor also had a side of hummus. Then I came home and sat on my couch like so much fish.

Last night, I watched the first hour of a motion picture on Blu and Ray entitled High and Low, a Japanese film from Japan, directed by the great Akira Kurosawa. I’ve written about this film repeatedly on this here site, so other than saying that it’s probably one of my ten favorite films ever made and a desert island movie, I will only talk about the transfer, but not until I’ve finished watching it this evening.

After that, I had long telephonic conversations with our very own Mr. Barry Pearl, whose helping coordinate the New York shoot for the web series – that is now on the fast track and I booked my hotel today and will book my flight in the next couple of days. We are almost fully cast now – we’re only shooting two of our six episodes there – I just didn’t want to make these days too hard by having too much to do. The other four episodes will be shot in here in LA. So far, our cast members are Beth Leavel, Brad Oscar, Barry Pearl, Sandy Rosenberg, Melody Hollis, and even dear reader Jose, and we’re waiting to hear about one other gal. I then sent scripts to everyone, along with some rough mp3s to listen to. And yes, as you’ve probably surmised, our little web series does have music and even some dancing, choreography in New York courtesy of Adam Cates, and choreography in LA courtesy of Cheryl Baxter, who did our What If revue. I’m talking to our potential New York cameraman today and am hoping he’ll have a sound person he can bring along. Barry’s working on booking two locations we’ll need.

Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I must get a really good night’s beauty sleep and please send really strong excellent vibes and xylophones that I do not get sick – I have no time for such nonsense, especially with the Gardenia show coming up.

Today, I’ve decided that everything new is old again, just to be contrary. I’m hoping I sleep in today, and then I really only have a handful of errands and whatnot to do and some writing to do, otherwise my intention is to relax and stay well and jog and eat something light but amusing.

Tomorrow is busy and I really have to book a haircut soon, certainly before the Gardenia show. I have a lot of stuff to do during the day and then we have a Melody run-through at Screenland Studios – we’ll eat before the rehearsal. Friday we have our Gardenia rehearsal, Saturday another Melody run-through at the retirement home and then Sunday we do our one and only preview performance for the patrons of the retirement home.

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, hopefully pick up a package or two, eat, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Ask BK Day, the day in which you get to ask me or any dear reader any old question you like and we get to give any old answer we like. So, let’s have loads of lovely questions and loads of lovely answers and loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, where everything old is new again and, conversely, everything new is old again, and, in my case, everything old is old again.

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