Well, dear readers, even though I had a headache for most of the day yesterday, it was really quite a lovely day, with many lovely things going on. Of course, I don’t remember what any of them are, but that’s just because it is late and I’m just starting to write these here notes. I shall endeavor, however, to remember the high points. I did manage to get a little over eight hours of sleep, so that was good. Then CDs arrived and we got everything shipped out, and I paid a bunch of Kritzerland bills, which is what probably gave me the headache. Then I did the four-mile jog, which I’m quite certain exacerbated the headache. But whilst on the jog I did come up with an amusing song for what will be the second season opener of the new web series (yes, I’m already starting to write new episodes). I had a nice telephonic chat with Mr. Robert A. Harris, the film restoration expert – we talked of many things and he has been very helpful to me all along the way with the Nudie Musical Blu and Ray. Then Alet and Boswell came over and we ran the Gardenia show. She’s got almost all of it down very well now, and she’s just superb. Then I did some errands and whatnot and went to the mail place to pick up packages. None of the ones that should have been there were, but one that was completely unexpected came early – the first 100 copies of the Nudie Musical Blu and Ray. I opened the box right then and there because I just couldn’t wait to see it all packaged and shrink-wrapped – it looked swellegant. I was then quite hungry, so I decided to cure my Dino’s Pizza craving that I’ve had for two weeks and I cured it by going to Dino’s Pizza and having a small pepperoni, which was, as always, yummilicious. Their small pizza is about the size of a CPK small pizza, so I don’t think it did any harm after the four-mile jog.
Then I came home and answered e-mails and got a telephonic call from Miss Cindy Williams who is graciously going to sign two hundred Nudie Musical Blu and Ray sleeves (I’ll be signing as well). They will go to the first 100 people who order at Kritzerland and the rest go to our Kickstarter angels. I’ll have the rest of the discs on Tuesday, probably. So, we’ve tentatively set the official street date for October 25 or November 5 – probably the October date, though. We’ll put it up for pre-orders in about a week, and those will ship out immediately.
Then Mr. Barry Pearl arrived and we watched the three completed episodes of the web series. He laughed throughout, and agreed about the short version being best on the one episode that had run too long. He gets an associate producer credit on the two New York episodes. I’ve pretty much decided on which order these three will air in and they’re not quite the order they were written in. We’ll lead with episode two, then one, then three. After Barry left, I finally sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I finished watching a motion picture on DVD entitled RKO 281, the fiction film based on the documentary The Battle Over Citizen Kane. It’s a real “why” movie – one has the documentary, which has, you know, the real people in it. Why on earth do we need an HBO movie with actors trying to ape the real people? The information is the same (and apparently highly suspect), and so it’s like some sort of weird clone that’s not quite accurate. The actors are fine, the script is mundane and at times silly, the direction is occasionally Welles-cutesy, and the score is okay. Basically a waste of time. I then watched the first thirty-something minutes of The Magnificent Ambersons, which was bundled in the Citizen Kane set. It’s on DVD and while it’s not an optimal transfer, it’s a lot better than the two import DVDs available, which are horrid. I have to say that the first thirty minutes of Ambersons are as good as anything I’ve ever seen on film – magical, brilliantly choreographed and directed, with still-amazing camerawork, which, combined with the acting and music is just mesmerizing and, yes, genius. As some know, this film played a major role in the Adriana Hofstetter mystery, Murder At The Hollywood Historical Society. I’ll finish watching it this very evening.
Then, head still pounding, I did some work on the computer and found a website that sells Cherry Ripe candy bars – I ordered a few, as the last batch I got was over three years ago. Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I really must put my sore little head on Ye Olde Pillowe and try to get some beauty sleep.
Today, I shall hopefully arise after a good night’s sleep. I shall do the four-mile jog and then I’ll most likely go into the editing room to do some final work on the sound mix, which isn’t quite right in two of the episodes. Once that’s done, we lock everything and transfer it onto our backup hard drive. From there I can post it on You Tube when the time comes and the time is coming around November 5th. Then I’m supping with Melody and parents and grandma – we’re going to The Smoke House, where I will eat only two pieces of garlic cheese bread and probably have their wonderful seafood Louis.
Tomorrow, she of the Evil Eye will be here, so I’ll jog and do errands and whatnot. Then I have to finish some liner notes, listen to a new master, do an edit road map for the title that comes before that, and then hopefully I’ll drive out to Woodland Hills and meet up with Cindy so she can sign everything. Sunday is the Michelle Nicastro event, and then I’m seeing some new musical at the Pasadena Playhouse. Next week there’s something every day, including rehearsals, booking camera and sound for the next shoot, and getting books and Blu and Rays shipped to my hotel in Chicago for the Ray Courts show – then I leave for Chicago on Friday morning. I’ll probably sup with Druxy that evening.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do the four-mile jog, I must hopefully pick up some errant and truant packages and an important envelope, I shall go to the editing room and I shall sup. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Friday – what is currently in your CD player and your DVD/video player? I’ll start – CD, many upcoming Kritzerland projects. Blu and Ray, My Life As A Dog. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland where I shall hopefully dream only of the high points.