Well, dear readers, as you know, or as you should know, or as you might know, or as you maybe know, I have grown a little tired of the style of animation used in Frozen, that began with Pixar. What once was different and fresh has just become the norm now, and while I admire it in certain ways in other ways I just prefer and now miss standard animation. Last night, I caught up with a Studio Ghibli film I hadn’t seen – directed by Goro Miyazaki, the son of Hayao Miyazaki, called From Up on Poppy Hill. I don’t think it’s much of a secret that I love the Studio Ghibli animes – there have been a couple of lesser lights, but I’ve even found things to enjoy in those. Goro Miyazaki’s first film as a director, Tales from the Earthsea, did not fare well with critics or audiences – I saw it but have no memory of it whatsoever. Of his father’s films, I adore and cherish Kiki’s Delivery Service, my favorite of all his films, but also really love almost all the others. The ones I don’t love as much, interestingly, are things like Howl’s Moving Castle, the real fantasy ones. I’m happy to say that From Up on Poppy Hill is a complete winner – beautifully done, gorgeous animation, a lovely, simple story, a wonderful musical score, and characters you care about. Unlike Frozen, there is nothing relentless about this film – it has silences and takes its time. It also has no villains, which is so refreshing. Of course, I watched it in Japanese with English subtitles, which, for me, is the ONLY way to watch the Ghibli films. Even though they are always praised for the English dubs, I cannot listen to those voices, which just don’t sound right to me, and they always coarsen the dialogue. After I finished, I did watch a bit with the English dub – yes, well done, but I just had to stop. Whereas the original Japanese opening plays with just music and visuals, the English version has narration all during the opening, explaining the history of what you’re about to see. Funnily, I didn’t need the history and you kind of “get” it anyway as you watch. Not everything needs to be spelled out. In any case, I highly recommend this beautiful, quiet film, and the Blu-ray transfer is eye candy of the highest order. Long live standard animation.
Yesterday, I was up by ten-thirty, after getting some really needed beauty sleep. Once up, I had to get ready for my noon casting meeting at LACC. At the meeting, we had to decide which actors we were going to share with the production before Li’l Abner, which is a stage adaptation of Nineteen Eighty-Four. There were what I considered to be only a couple of real problematic conflicts, so those were easily worked out. In the end, we’re only sharing five people and that will work out just fine, as there are only about four days where there will be real overlaps in schedules. So, basically I got everyone I wanted, and most of the folks I wanted are with us exclusively.
After that, I came right home, and then Sandy and Lanny arrived. The first thing we did was play Sandy the song Richard M. Sherman and I wrote, and both she and Lanny really liked it. It will be on the new CD we’re doing. That was most of what we discussed yesterday, the new CD. We went over to Jerry’s Deli to have our discussion – I had a new thing there – a chili, cheese and onion hot dog, grilled, and french fries, and boy was it all good. So, the new CD is going to be Sandy (and a handful of guest stars) doing the songs of – ME. We’ve already chosen half of them and Lanny will start to work very soon on his orchestrations. We have to do a bunch of takedowns because I don’t really have a lot of lead sheets done. I’m really looking forward to hearing what Lanny does with these – most of which will have never been orchestrated before. We talked about other projects, too, and I put Sandy in the next Kritzerland show for April, which she’s thrilled about.
Then I had a meeting with our Abner stage manager, and we just went over our cast list so it can be posted today. Instead of telling everyone exactly which roles they would be playing, we just made it a company announcement, just a list of all thirty-five people who’ll be doing the show. That way, I still have some time to ponder who will be doing what. My intention is to have one full cast meeting in a couple of weeks, just to remind myself who is who and I may, at that time, just have a few people read again.
After that, I watched From Up on Poppy Hill. Then I watched the first episode of House of Cards, the Netflix series, which is based on a UK series and a book trilogy. I’ve heard nothing but raves for this show and I always enjoy Kevin Spacey, so even though it’s hard to commit to these series, I decided to check out season one. I watched the first episode, which was directed by David Fincher, and I thought it was pretty terrific. Spacey is just one of our finest actors and he’s great in this and it’s a perfect role for him. The rest of the cast seems fine. I’m looking forward to the rest of the season, and I know season two has just hit, so hopefully I’ll be able to get that on Blu-ray soon. I also had no idea that they’d done a second series on The Bridge (Bron) from Denmark/Sweden. The first series I loved, so I ordered the new one and can’t wait to watch it.
After that, I did work on the computer, made some fixes to the packaging of our latest release, and that’s now gone in for approval. Oh, and we also shipped out a LOT of CDs. So, a very full day of doing and going and a productive day at that.
Today, I shall be up by nine-thirty and a local dealer is coming by to get some CDs. Then I’ll eat something, then I have to take some CDs to another local dealer, I’ll eat, I’ll hopefully pick up some packages, and then the rest of the day is mine all mine.
The weekend is unknown to me, but I’m sure I’ll be prepping our new release announcement and doing some other work, plus having a meal with our Daisy Mae. I was going to try and see my friend Lissa Levin’s play this weekend, but I think next week will be much easier for me.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, see some local CD dealers, hopefully pick up some packages, and relax. 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, The Wind Rises, the new Joe Hisaishi score to the new Hayao Miyazaki anime, which will be his last. Blu and Ray – more House of Cards and many other films. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to have seen another great Studio Ghibli film.