Well, dear readers, I must write these here notes in a hurry for she of the Evil Eye will be here all too soon. May I just say that I love the editing process? Yes, you heard it here, dear readers, I, BK, love the editing process – film editing (or video editing), that is. I spent several hours with Marshall Harvey, the wonderful editor of our web series, finessing things on episodes four, five, and six. It’s amazing what trimming a few frames off a shot can do, timing-wise, just as adding a few frames for comedy rhythm. Also, swapping out one take for another on a certain line can also do wonders. Making little trims in a scene to have it play faster – that’s so much fun and so creative. Of course, it helps to have a really good editor and we’ve got one of the best. Mr. Harvey cut several of my Likely Stories segments back in the day, and he’s edited many of Joe Dante’s films, as well as Dario Argento, and TV shows like Dawson’s Creek and Masters of Horror. But the great thing about Marshall is he knows funny, he knows his comedy. So, when I come in to view his first cuts their already 80% there and then we just talk through whatever little nits I pick and we do our little fixes. It’s really fun for me and I’m really thrilled to have him doing this.
The show, of course, premieres on Sunday – I’ll probably upload episode one at midnight tonight for the early birds. Prior to my visit in the editing room, I got a reasonable night’s beauty sleep, then had to hie myself over to LACC to get our LACC gals their CDRs to work with. It was raining off and on the entire day, so no time to do a four-mile jog or any other jog. I had a sandwich and onion rings, picked up one package and no important envelope – hopefully the latter will arrive today.
I came back home and did some work on the computer. I wrote the blurb for our two-release announcement, I listened to the master for our next soundtrack release, a 60s double bill by two of the coolest cats of that decade, had a cupcake, and sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched a motion picture on DVD entitled The Molly Maguires. I’d actually never managed to see it before, despite having issued its soundtrack (the LP version) on CD on Bay Cities twenty years ago (and I’ll never forget the day Mr. Mancini called me to tell me how pleased he was that we were issuing it). The film was a box-office disaster and received many tepid notices. So, imagine my surprise to see that it’s a terrific little movie – beautifully directed (by Martin Ritt) and photographed (by James Wong Howe), with great performances from Sean Connery, Richard Harris, Samantha Eggar, Art Lund (yes, Mr. Joey, Joey, Joey himself), Anthony Zerbe, and many others. The screenplay by Walter Bernstein is very well written – it’s not overtly dramatic and doesn’t feel the need to pile it all on in hammer-like fashion – it just tells its tale and tells it well. And Mr. Henry Mancini’s score is one of the most sublime of his sublimely sublime career. The original LP had thirty-two minutes of it, but the film has more and it’s all cherce. A little known fact is that Mr. Mancini was not the original composer on the film – the film was previewed with a different score and was such a disaster that Paramount tossed it immediately and brought in Mr. Mancini. And that original score? Charles Strouse. Wouldn’t it be fascinating to hear that? You bet it would. And you might just, if you get my meaning.
After that, I sent out a personal eBlast for the web series – it really takes a long time to do it with the Mac mail program, but I got it done and it went to a LOT of people. Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I must be up early to greet she of the Evil Eye.
Today, I shall do errands and whatnot, the four-mile jog (weather permitting), then I’m seeing Melody and folks – giving her her music for the LACC show and we may go grab a bite to eat. Hopefully, I’ll also pick up some packages and an important envelope. The Richard Sherman signing booklets has been pushed to tomorrow. Then I have to prep everything for the web series debut, and for our Monday announcement.
Tomorrow, Richard Sherman signs, I’ll eat something light but amusing, and then I have to get any music that needs copying over to Staples so I can have it for Monday evening’s first rehearsal. This entire week will be filled with evening rehearsals (and some afternoons), and meetings and meals and packages and jogs.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do the four-mile jog, do errands and whatnot, hopefully pick up some packages and an important envelope, see Melody and folks, get announcements prepped, figure out which music needs copying, and somehow perhaps find a moment or two to actually relax. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite films of Sean Connery and Richard Harris, two very fine actors. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, where I shall have perfectly edited dreams.