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April 12, 2013:

A WONDERFUL DAY LIKE YESTERDAY

Bruce Kimmel Photograph bk's notes

Well, dear readers, this week has flown by, like a gazelle eating a turnip. Does anyone still eat a turnip? Did anyone EVER eat a turnip? In all my years, I can never recall even seeing a turnip let alone eating such a thing. So, what exactly is a turnip and why is it so very unpopular with the populace? Why is only the gazelle paying any attention to it? What the HELL am I talking about? Don’t I have some notes to write? I do, and write them I shall.

I have to give yesterday its due – it was a wonderful day by and large and also large and by. I don’t think it started out that wonderful but it certainly ended up with enough positive and fun things that whatever kind of morning it was I don’t even remember. Oh, I remember I got up at nine and stayed in bed till ten. I remember answering a lot of e-mails, making some packaging corrections, getting approval on one of the CDs we’re announcing next week (I’ve decided we’re announcing two rather than one), then I got the news that the dialogue, music, and effects tracks had been delivered to Chace Audio. They’d originally told me two days to get it done, but they put it right on the schedule for the afternoon, for which I was very grateful. So, that was wonderful news. Then I made myself two cheeseburgers (no mean feat) and ate them all up. Then yet another contractor came by and I had to show him all the house stuff. That’s the last of it and hopefully they’ll decide on one of these guys next week and then work can begin apace. We are going to have all of the trees trimmed next week, and they’ll be pulling out any dead stuff – shrubbery, bushes, trees, and the like, and then I’ve asked them to plant some roses and other colorful things in both front and yard, so we’ll finally have some color and beauty.

After that, I picked up a few packages and came right back home. I did some work on the computer, had a nice telephonic conversation with our very own Mr. Nick Redman, and then I watched the rest of Monsieur Verdoux. One can only imagine just what the reaction to this film must have been like back in 1947. It’s pretty dark even by today’s standards. Whatever one may think of the writing or directing, the fact is it’s an audacious film for Chaplin and he’s quite good in it, as is the entire supporting cast. There are some great laughs along the way, but it’s the underlying drama that really makes it work. It’s themes are not treated easily and Chaplin doesn’t really shirk the unpleasant aspects of his character. One can see that the ending, with Monsieur Verdoux being led to his death by hanging, as the end of Chaplin as a lovable character. He’s literally killing himself at the film. His troubles back then are well known and one can’t help but think this film was very personal for him. The transfer is nice if not perfect.

After that, I got an e-mail that made me very happy. After three years of badgering I have finally got the Kritzerland designer to find someone who can help take this here site into the current year rather than being stuck in 2001, design-wise, software-wise, and every other wise-wise. This fellow’s proposal was excellent and not too costly and I think it can even get done in the next two months or so. Everything will be upgraded and updated. The design of the main page will change completely, but not its look and the way the notes are presented – that’s what people are used to and I like the way it looks. We’ll basically ONLY have the splash page, with just a handful of links off to the side – for Kritzerland, for interviews, and for the radio show. The radio show will now not have any problems for people – it will flow effortlessly. The discussion board will be updated to the latest version, but not until it’s thoroughly tested on a phantom server so we make certain that all passwords, usernames, and avatars remain. All archives and databases will be preserved. The search function on the notes will finally work again. There are so many dead links and things that don’t work and all that will disappear. The new version will be tested relentlessly to make sure no viruses are anywhere. We’ll be able to resume doing interviews, we’ll have video capability (and Donald and the radio show may even begin to do video interviews with his occasional guests), and everything will be much easier to operate – we’ll be able to add whatever features we like. I am beyond thrilled about all this and can’t wait to get going. We’ll have a meeting next week and discuss all the particulars, and then I’m just going to let him do his thing. If it takes a month to do our beta testing then that’s what it will take, but we won’t go live until every kink and bug has been worked through, tested, and fixed.

Then I taped this week’s new The Broadway Radio Show with Mr. Donald Feltham – it’s fun, so be sure to tune in this weekend. We talk about Juliana’s live CD and A Time for Singing. Lots of good stories. After that, I stopped at Gelson’s and got some fruit, but no turnip. I then came home to find the link to download the dialogue, music, and effects tracks we needed – they ended up giving us the final three reels, so we have everything we need. I immediately located the missing cue and there it was in all its glory. So, we now have the first complete release of this wonderful score. We’re including the new material in two different ways – one within the score proper, and then again as a bonus track – in the album proper the new cue will have its own track because we can’t edit it into our master because the sound quality is different. But in the bonus section we’ll have it as one track, from the music stem, that plays exactly as it does in the film.

After that, I listened to another Hofstetter audition and that was that. So, a wonderful yesterday, as you can see, with lots of wonderful things going on. Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I must get a good night’s beauty sleep.

Today, I must return some tapes from whence they came and then I must do a jog. I’ll do some errands and whatnot, hopefully pick up some packages, then I’m waiting to hear if we’ll be supping before seeing Grease. If not, I’ll eat something here. If so, I’ll try to just have some fruit before dinner. Then it’s opening night of Grease, and maybe a little opening night do after.

Tomorrow I don’t think much of anything is happening, so that’s good. I may go down to Mystery and Imagination Books and talk about a date for a signing in early June, which is when I think books will be ready. I went a little ballistic on that subject yesterday and I’m hoping it had its effect and that we can get this book to the publisher by next weekend. Sunday I’m lunching with the Staitman clan – I want to go somewhere really fun, maybe Casa Vega or some place like that. Next week we’ll be announcing two titles, I’ll be getting singers music and MP3s, and all should be well and well should be all.

Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, return tapes, do a jog, do errands and whatnot, hopefully pick up some packages, eat, and see Grease, directed by our very own Mr. Barry Pearl. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Friday – what is currently in your CD player and your DVD/Blu-ray player? I’ll start – CD, too many to name. Blu and Ray, Richard III, the new Criterion release, and then a few other fun things. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland where I shall think on what a wonderful day was yesterday.

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