Well, dear readers, this week is flying by, like a gazelle in a coonskin cap. I mean, for heaven’s sake, we’re almost halfway through December. Before you know it, it will be our Rockin’ New Year’s Eve bash and then 2013. As I write these here notes it is actually raining – not drizzling, but something resembling actual rainfall. Well, never mind – it just stopped. Still, about eight minutes of real rain. I have to say that December is always a worrisome month for Kritzerland. So many bills due and so little coming in thanks to a huge soundtrack glut at this time of year and one I could not go anywhere near (it really happens every year). There were something like twelve releases in one week it’s just crazy. Therefore, I haven’t announced any new titles and won’t for at least another week – we’ll hopefully be able to announce three, but they won’t ship until after the first of the year. The problem is, we’re paying for all this stuff but not putting it out in a timely fashion and it’s very difficult to keep pace because of the way we’re paid by our biggest dealer. If you knew how much we were owed you would be shocked, but they send a certain amount of money every week and while that may sound like a decent amount it’s almost impossible to keep up with OUR payments to people. So, we have to offset that by our releases and the money that comes in from the Kritzerland site sales – but, again, we haven’t been able to release anything for any money to come in. It’s really tiresome and it’s really getting to me but we’ll just have to hope everyone can be patient or that some big chunk of dough shows up. The joke is, it’s been an extraordinary year for us – and we’re owed a LOT of money and if they’d just pay that off we’d have a wonderful cushion and there would never be any problems. So, send some excellent vibes and xylophones that all will be well and that well will be all.
Yesterday was almost a perfectly perfect day, with only one annoyance, a piece of mail that was extremely irritating and which was deposited instantly in the trash. Other than that, the day was lovelier than lovely. I had a wonderfully wonderful lunch at some French jernt with dear reader Jeanne, and then we perused art books in a new book store (not new, just transplanted from the Third Street Promenade in the Monica of Santa). I was very good at lunch and just had a small Caesar and a ham sandwich. Then I came back to the San Fernando Valley, did some banking, then went to the mail place and picked up a few packages, after which I came home. I answered a plethora of e-mails, did some work on the computer, had some telephonic calls, wrote a song for what will hopefully be the season three first episode of Outside the Box, and took some book notes. Then I sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched a motion picture screener entitled Lincoln, about the President, not the car. I quite liked it – it’s very well directed and although I’m not a huge fan of Mr. Spielberg’s current cameraman, it does look good. It’s a real honest-to-goodness talking picture – real dialogue (Tony Kushner) with scenes that actually run longer than a few seconds. The large cast of players is excellent. Daniel Day-Lewis makes a very good Lincoln, and David Straitharn is great, as always. Tommy Lee Jones makes the most of his turn and is very colorful. Sally Field is an actress I really like a lot, but she feels a little forced and a little actress-y in this. It’s two-and-a-half hours, of course, but like 1776, a musical that is hugely suspenseful despite everyone knowing the outcome, Lincoln is equally suspenseful despite everyone knowing the outcome. The film has some touching moments and some moments of good humor and I enjoyed it.
I then watched another motion picture screener, this one entitled Moonrise Kingdom, a Wes Anderson movie. I am not that big a fan of Mr. Anderson’s movies – I find them arch and endlessly quirky and it all gets tiresome, at least for me. Moonrise Kingdom gives arch and quirky a whole new meaning, and even though it’s under ninety minutes, it really wore out its welcome in the first thirty minutes. I’m a sucker for any movie where kids fall in love – and, as most here know, my first novel is all about that. So, I kind of liked that part of the film, but it’s all just so precious, and there are a couple of moments where the twelve-year-olds do a little exploring, and I found that a little off-putting, although it’s not done in any yucky way. I just like to think that twelve-year-olds retain some semblance of innocence, especially these characters, but then again it’s 2012 so what do I know about twelve-year-olds? The only thing I really enjoyed thoroughly about this film were the beautifully designed end credits, and especially the Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra breakdown of Alexandre Desplat’s end title music. The Britten piece (and a lot of other Britten pieces) is used throughout the film. The cast is quirky and arch and included Bruce Willis, Bill Murray, Edward Norton and lots of others. The two lead kids were cute. If you like Mr. Anderson’s films, you’ll probably enjoy this more than I did.
Then I made four ounces of pasta, put a little butter and cheese on it, and ate it all up. Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I really must get a good night’s beauty sleep.
Today, I’ll finalize song choices and gather up music, then send to singers. We’re still one singer short and hopefully we’ll fix that today. Otherwise, if the weather permits I am definitely jogging, then I’ll eat something light but amusing, do errands and whatnot, hopefully pick up some packages, and then watch more screeners. At eight in the evening, I go to the engineer’s to record the voiceover dialogue for episodes five and six of Outside the Box.
Tomorrow, nothing really planned, so book notes, praying that approvals are being worked on, and getting the Christmas cards made. The weekend is open, save for a Face Time rehearsal at some point on Sunday with the East Coast Singer.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, maybe jog, finalize song choices, gather music and send to singers, hire our final cast member, do errands and whatnot, hopefully pick up some packages, eat, and then relax. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite films of Sally Field and Bill Murray. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland where I shall try to dream pleasant dreams and not worry about the occasional struggle.