Well, dear readers, this week has flown by, like a gazelle pounding beefsteak. I mean, what the HELL is going on – it’s the last week of April, for heaven’s sake. It occurs to me that unlike the gazelle I have never pounded beefsteak. Am I missing a thrill? Perhaps I’ll buy some beefsteak (as opposed to what, I wonder – chickensteak, turkeysteak, vealsteak) and pound the HELL out of it just to see what the attraction is. What the HELL am I talking about? Wait a minute, I know – “Never mind getting’ dandelions pulled or the screen door patched or the beefsteak pounded – a Music Man reference, which is apropos as that is how I spent my very early morning yesterday.
Someone from management at the publishers called me at six-thirty in the morning. He had looked at the new stuff we’d sent with the title change and he told me if I agreed to go with it there would be no further delay and the book could go directly to the next phase – galley and cover proofs. I’d already made up my mind that we were going with the title change, so I said yes. But I explained to him how the content evaluation people were wrong and that had I not liked the new title better, I would have been very strong about moving ahead with the original title. He said he’d been online and seen that there was a Music Man trademark. I told him I’d sent the link and that there were, in fact, two Music Man trademarks, neither of which had to do with the musical known as The Music Man. I told him I could own a trademark for The Music Man for $149. He then switched to “Well, it’s under copyright” and I told him that I understood but that the way in which I used the title within my title wasn’t infringing in any way, shape, or form on a copyright, especially as the TITLE The Music Man can’t be copyrighted. We went back and forth but I could tell he just didn’t want to admit they’d cost me two days due to an overzealous content evaluation person who completely misread something and caused grief over it. I then called my check-in gal and she knew that I’d just spoken to the guy and said we were absolutely moving to the next phase instantly, and she was apologetic, which I appreciated. Of course, the irony in all this is that the majority of the people I canvassed like the new title better anyway, so it’s good that it happened, I guess. I asked her to send me an e-mail saying the book was moving along quickly, which she did. I then heard from the design person (my usual guy who knows exactly the drill, as he’s done my last five books) – he told me that I’d probably seen a galley and cover proofs early next week, which is great.
I couldn’t really go back to sleep, but I did get in bed and just relaxed until it was time to shower and then have my work session with the musical director. There was a lot of arranging work to do as there are more put-togethers than we usually do and those take time and must be routined before the singers come. So we methodically went through all of those and did those arrangements, which are going to work really well. One of them took a really long time, because I’m having one gal do the Stop the World song Typically English and all its variations (in the show, all of Littlechap’s romantic partners are played by the same person) – so through some clever editing, we now have Typically English, Typische Deutsche, Glorious Russian and All-American in one four-and-a-half minute medley – it’s funny and the gal who’ll be doing it will do all of those accents splendidly. That took about two solid hours, but we got it all done. Any other arranging things on the single songs gets done when the singers are here.
After that, I went and had a quesadilla with guacamole, sour cream and salsa – it was great and just what I was in the mood for. Then I did some banking, then picked up two little packages, then I came home and did a three-mile jog, so I at least worked off a little of the quesadilla. I then had to listen to our new master, which is spectacular – we’ll probably announce on Monday. Then I went to Gelson’s for my evening food snacks – I got a small container of chicken noodle soup (not many calories at all), and some shrimp cocktail shrimp (almost no calories). So, I ate all that and it really filled me up and made me feel bloated a little, but the calories are the calories so I’m hoping I’m fine, what with the jog and all. I then sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I finished watching The Great Gatsby, starring Mr. Robert Redford and Miss Mia Farrow. I’ve never read the book by F. Scott Fitzgerald but I’m told that the Francis Ford Coppola screenplay is pretty faithful to it. The film’s director, Jack Clayton, was never known for his peppy pacing – he’s kind of a glacial director, pace-wise. But considering what a huge bomb the film was (amazing, considering it was Redford and Farrow) I found myself really enjoying the film’s opulence and I was very involved in the story and characters. So, perhaps this is one of those films that at the time seemed not to work but over the years has aged well and come into its own. For example, I absolutely dread the new version directed by Baz and starring Leonardo. The thought of it makes me want to vomit on the ground. The look of Clayton’s Gatsby is incredible – the sets, the costumes, Douglas Slocombe’s photography – and the acting is just fine from Mr. Redford. I don’t know the character of Daisy well enough to know if Miss Farrow really embodies her, but she’s very good, as is Bruce Dern as her loutish husband. And I’ve always loved Sam Waterston and he’s wonderful as Nick. Lots of great supporting actors like Karen Black, Scott Wilson, and best of all in a one-scene role, Howard da Silva. The best news about The Great Gatsby on Blu and Ray is that the transfer is stunning, with perfect color, great contrast, and perfectly replicating the diffusion-filled photography of that period in the 1970s. So, despite its slow pace, I quite enjoyed the film, I must say.
I then watched the very first episode of Dr. Kildare, starring Mr. Richard Chamberlin and Mr. Raymond Massey. I watched the show back in the day, but not regularly. Warner Archive just issued the complete first season on DVD. The TV dramas of that era are wonderful, and I just loved watching the first episode, even though they are clearly feeling their way to arrive at the tone of the show. Of course, all these episodes will have great casts – in the premiere episode in addition to the leads we have Beverly Garland guesting, and Jack Weston, too. The first episode was directed by Boris Sagal – before I even saw his name I’d guessed it was him. But the huge plus of the first show is the show’s main theme and the score by one Jerrald Goldsmith, who’d soon drop the formality and call himself Jerry. Great music from my favorite Jerry period. Quality is certainly acceptable. Looking forward to more episodes.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I must get a good night’s beauty sleep.
Today was supposed to be a light day, but I now have a lunch AND a dinner AND a show to see – I got invited to the latter two things late yesterday by Mr. Barry Pearl. So, I’ll have to eat VERY light at one of those two meals, which won’t really be a problem. I shall also do a jog, hopefully pick up some packages and like that.
Tomorrow I finish a set of liner notes, then I’m seeing an opening night at the Colony Theater, some show about Lorenz Hart. Sunday is mine all mine, and then next week we have our two Kritzerland rehearsals, I have several meetings and meals and definitely something Tuesday night although I can’t remember what – oh, yeah, I remembered – I’m going to see some singers – then we have our stumble-through, then our sound check and show.
Let’s all put on our pointy party hats and our colored tights and pantaloons, let’s all break out the cheese slices and the ham chunks (and the poutine), let’s all dance the Hora or the Charleston, because today is the birthday of our very own dear reader Jennifer. So, let’s give a big haineshisway.com birthday cheer to our very own dear reader Jennifer. On the count of three: One, two, three – A BIG HAINESHISWAY.COM BIRTHDAY CHEER TO OUR VERY OWN DEAR READER JENNIFER!!!
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do a jog, have a very light lunch (under four hundred calories, hopefully), hopefully pick up some packages, write, and then sup and see a show. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Friday – what is currently in your CD player and your DVD/Blu and Ray player? I’ll start – CD, endless. DVD – more Dr. Kildare and then some Mr. Lucky. Blu and Ray, The Red Pony and Champion. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland where I shall ponder the pounding of the beefsteak.