Well, dear readers, this week is flying by, like a gazelle auditioning for A Chorus Line. The hunt is now officially on to find the person who will do the audio books for the Adriana Hofstetter series. Dear reader Druxy told me about a website that specifically does audio books, distributes them and everything else. So, I began by putting Murder at the Hollywood Historical Society up there. I uploaded the entire book because I want the girls who will audition to read several things that involve several moods and characters. I figured that book has a lot of adults and the gal has to be able to pull that off without going all phony baloney. It’s quite a challenge I should think. What happens is people contact you and audition, at least that’s what’s supposed to happen. You can also hear other teen girls reading various things – I listened to a few, but none really caught my fancy. But, supposing you find someone you like, they then “produce” the audio and upload it. The author has complete input over the performance, so I’d probably be the “director.” If I don’t get results, I’ll try the first book, where the gal has to not only be Adriana, but other young characters, too. But I also am having both Staitman girls record an audition, as well as Jenna Rosen, as well as Caitlynne Medrick. Amusingly, a young person I used to work with, who will be turning just the right age, would have been perfect to do this, but thanks to some pretty silly drama that won’t be happening, which is a shame. You can either pay the person who does it, or it’s a fifty-fifty royalty split, which is probably what I’d end up doing. They’d probably have a shot at making more money that way anyway. If I don’t find anyone to my liking, then I just won’t do it. I also think I will personally record the three Kritzer books – I do think I’m the right guy for the job. I’ll have to figure out all of that – the mic, the way to do it and edit and all that stuff. If those come out well, I think I’ll also do the two memoirs. I’m not sure I’d do Writer’s Block or Rewind at this point.
Yesterday was a day that occurred. I got up at ten after a pretty good night’s sleep. I then did some work on the computer, answered e-mails, and then I went and had a turkey sandwich and no fries or onion rings. Then I came back home and had to listen to a couple of upcoming projects. I ended up licensing a soundtrack for us to do, based on what I heard, and it’s one that I know will be an instant sell out, so we’ll put it on the fast track. Then I got the good news that the A Time for Singing packaging has been approved so that’s gone to the printers. I should have the master to approve in a day or so, then that will get sent where it needs to go. I’m hoping we can actually announce this in a couple of weeks, in conjunction with another release that will compliment it.
Then I picked up one package. I came back home, did more work on the computer, and then I sat on my couch like so much fish and finished watching Midnight Lace. As some dear reader pointed out, the red herrings in this film are rather outrageously done and make no sense. You can’t cheat like that and have anyone take a film seriously. And I have to say, I find Miss Day particularly overwrought in this film – she talks about it in her autobiography and apparently she went the “method” route for her distraught scenes and someone should have held her back a little because it’s way too much sauce. Rex is fine, Myrna Loy is just plain weird, John Gavin is John Gavin with a terrible Brit accent, and I do love Herbert Marshall in anything. The film is filled with Americans playing at being Brits and their accents are no better than Mr. Gavin’s. Being a Ross Hunter production, the film is really about the settings and wardrobe – Miss Day has a new wardrobe for every single scene. It’s glossy and competently directed. The transfer is kind of awful – decent color, but it appears to my eye that the ratio is not the advertised and correct 1.85 but rather 2.0. The element used is miles and miles from any kind of decent negative – it’s overtly grainy (there ARE a lot of opticals in the film, but it shouldn’t look quite this bad), and soft with little detail.
I then watched the beginning of a movie entitled That Cold Day in the Park, a film of Mr. Robert Altman before he hit it big with MASH. I’ve never seen it before – it stars Miss Sandy Dennis, and Mr. Michael Burns, who I would, just two years later, act opposite in a CBS comedy pilot produced by Miss Doris Day’s company, Arwin. He would also star in one of my musicals. So far I like it, but then again I only watched the first ten minutes. It has wonderful music so far, by the great Johnny Mandel and I look forward to watching more of it.
The rest of the evening was spent setting up the audio book stuff and then listening to some more music that I needed to listen to. Well, let’s all click on the Unseemly Button below because I must get a good night’s beauty sleep.
Today, cousin Alan and I shall drive to the Hills of Woodland to have a brief visit with my brother. After that, I’ll pick up an overseas Fed Ex package that contains tapes for a project we’re doing – praying that they’re usable and in good shape – then we have our second Kritzerland rehearsal, which I’m looking forward to. At this rehearsal, our second guest star, Miss JoAnne Worley, will be running her number. Fun ahead. The show is now oversold. Karen Morrow forgot to make her reservation for three, but thankfully I had extra seats at my second table so she’s fine. I’m trying to get our very own VinTek in for the show, as he waited too long to make his reservation.
Tomorrow, I may or may not have a visit from Mr. Nick Redman, and then I’ll be going to the editing room to begin assembling the bonus material for the Blu and Ray of Outside the Box – blooper reels, uncut stuff – all that jazz. It will be fun, I’m sure. Friday is our stumble-through, and then Saturday it’s video and sound check and then our show.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, have a visit with the brother, pick up packages, and have a rehearsal. I’ll also eat at some point. 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, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland where I shall do an audio book of my dreams.