Well, dear readers, neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays this courier from the swift completion of these here appointed notes. That is our credo (oderc, spelled backwards) here at haineshisway.com, and by gum and by golly and buy bonds these notes will be written. What am I, the post office all of a sudden? Well, I feel every place should have a credo because to have a credo is to have a credo. The real question is, did Han Solo or credo shoot first? What kind of word is credo anyway? It looks stunted, doesn’t it, like someone was making up a nice, long word and got tired and just stopped in the middle like so much fish. In any case, you now know the haineshisway.com credo and since the credo says that nothing can stop these here notes, perhaps I’d better write them.
Yesterday – another day when I got up too early but stayed in bed and fell back asleep. Once up, I had to answer a ton of e-mails, then went out and had a salad and a bagel, after which I picked up one teeny-tiny package. Then I came home, did some work on the computer, after which the East Coast Singer and Lanny Meyers arrived. We had a nice chat, and then began rehearsal, with the intention of stopping and starting. She’s really been working her stuff since we did the show in New York and it was immediately apparent in energy and focus. It was really fun to see it – I only stopped a handful of times to pick a nit or two, and we fixed a couple of musical transitions. Then she and Lanny worked on some of the songs she’ll be recording for a Christmas CD that I’m producing for her, while I had some telephonic conversations and approved some covers for upcoming releases. Then we went for a bite to eat at the Studio Café. I had some eggs and no potatoes, so it was pretty light. Then we went our several ways and I finally sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched a motion picture on Blu and Ray entitled The Space Children – I don’t think there are many 1950s sci-fi films that I haven’t seen, but this was one of them. It’s not much of a film, but I kind of enjoyed it – very low-budget, small cast, the usual good alien comes to Earth to stop Cold War madness and save us from ourselves – the kids were all very good, including a very young Johnny Crawford. The script wasn’t brilliant or anything, but it’s nicely directed by Jack Arnold (The Incredible Shrinking Man) and it has a fun score by Van Cleave, a composer I really enjoy. The transfer is nice, and has good clarity and detail save for the film’s opticals.
I then watched the first thirty minutes of the new Criterion Blu and Ray of Harold and Maude, which I haven’t seen in quite a few years. I do think that if this same transfer had been issued by Paramount, it would not be quite getting the raves it’s getting. It’s fine, but there are a few oddities along the way, at least in the first thirty minutes. This is a film that, when released, was an instant cult film, with young people really loving it and becoming obsessed with it. I don’t think it was a huge financial hit, but it remains enjoyable. I liked but didn’t love it back in the day, although the cast is really first-rate, and it has wonderful sequences. I’ll talk more about it after I’ve finished watching it in its entirety.
After that, I finished reading the Rear Window script – there are some interesting dialogue bits that were cut, and one can see why – just a bit to smart-ass at the wrong times. Mostly it’s what was filmed – there was one additional shot in the script taken from the vantage point of the villain’s apartment looking at James Stewart’s apartment – obviously that never happened. But it’s just a brilliant script by the wonderful John Michael Hayes. Then I did an edit road map for an upcoming project, finessed the contextual commentary for the Kritzerland show, and then it was time to write these here notes and post our credo. Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I must be up early and need a good night’s beauty sleep.
Today is a very busy day. I will be up early and meet David Wechter to get all the materials for the Junior High School CD (the Blu-ray stuff is all at the printers and the pressing plant). At noon, the East Coast Singer and Lanny arrive and we’ll rehearse the show straight through then run any problem areas. Then we have our second Kritzerland rehearsal, after which I sup with Kay Cole at the Eclectic Café.
Tomorrow, I have many things to do and then we have our sound check at four, then supper at the club at seven-fifteen and the show at nine. We are really light for Friday night, so again I’m mentioning the offer of a free show (cover, drinks, whatever – no cost at all) to any West Coast dear reader who’d like to attend. Just drop me an e-mail. We’d love to have another fifteen to twenty people. Saturday night is pretty well sold, so that’s not a problem. Saturday is the Kritzerland stumble-through and prior to that there’s something happening in the morning and I cannot imagine what it is because I neglected to write it down – hopefully someone will remind me – oh, yes, it’s Jane – hopefully meeting dear reader Jane in the morning. After the stumble-through, we have the Saturday night show, and that will be followed by some little party at a hotel. Sunday it is my intention to relax.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, meet David Wechter, have a rehearsal, have another rehearsal, hopefully pick up some packages, and sup. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your all-time favorite Michel Legrand songs? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, where my credo is “Neither rain nor snow nor gloom of night stops me from getting my beauty sleep.”