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July 23, 2015:

THE INCREDIBLE E-MAIL OFFERS

Bruce Kimmel Photograph bk's notes

Well, dear readers, I just this minute received a horrifying e-mail saying that my Wells Fargo account has been breached and that I need to log in and change my information. Of course, I don’t HAVE a Wells Fargo account, so there’s that. And just a few minutes before that, a really cute twenty-year old from an exotic far-off place e-mailed me and asked if I’d help her transfer 9.8 million dollars (her inheritance) to my US account. And I’ll get to keep some of that money, too. I’m so excited about that. And then I got my daily e-mails telling me how happy I’ll be if I just purchase some Viagra and Cialis. I’m thinking of purchasing both, for a double whammy, if you get my meaning and I know you do. Seriously, I’m going to be a millionaire who can make love for hours and perhaps even days. Color me excited.

Yesterday was another day in which I did not get enough sleep. I fell asleep around two, I think, woke up at about five-thirty, my mind filled with ideas for the new book and even a title for it. I got up and wrote all that stuff down, then went back to bed. I fell asleep around six-thirty and woke up at nine-thirty, awakened by a telephonic call from a robotic voice telling me how my online presence needs to be improved or no one will be able to find me. I was so excited by this that I hung up. Then I answered e-mails, did my morning stuff, and then got ready for my noon-thirty lunch meeting at Home on Hillhurst. The meeting was with the new head of the theater department, who I’ve known for years and who is a terrific guy (the former chair was, well, how shall we say, set aside – and I have a feeling that something involving me may have played a part in it and if it did hoo and ray say I), and the head of the LACC Foundation. We’ve had several meetings and will have several more. There will be several projects coming up, including the resuscitation of the alumni association, of which I am president. So, sometime in October we’ll do some kind of master class, probably musical theater and that I will lead. Then next year we’ll do more of that kind of thing with guests, as we used to. We’re also talking about me directing a fundraiser for the department and that would happen early next year if it happens. And, we’re just in the very beginning stages of talking about me coming back to do another musical – although that has to be run by everyone and I’m not sure how supportive they’ll be, although I suspect the new chair can push it through. So, I’m starting to think about what the show might be. He asked about Stages, but that would require a complete rewrite and I’m not sure I want to do that. IF I do, I’d involve my friend David Wechter again. But he also mentioned The Brain from Planet X, and I thought that was an interesting idea as 2016 is the show’s ten-year anniversary (can you believe that). He also suggested I just write something new – not sure that could happen that quickly, but I do work well under time constraints so I’m thinking about what kind of show that would be. Or it could be a classic musical.

After the meeting, I picked up a couple of packages, including the book dear reader ChasSmith told me about, Then and Now by Ed Ruscha, which is mostly photos of the entirety of Hollywood Blvd., with photos from 1973 and then 2004. It’s pretty shocking at times, how much great architecture was removed and replaced by hideous money-grubbing monstrosities like Hollywood + Highland. But it’s also amazing how many buildings were still there in 2004. But I suspect if one were to update again right now, there would be a lot less of them – in fact, having just driven a very long stretch of the boulevard, I know there would be. It’s a beautiful book. I then did a jog, and then sat on my couch like so much fish.

Last night, I watched a motion picture on Blu and Ray entitled The Black Stallion. It’s been sitting here for several days and I just couldn’t get up the energy to watch it – I don’t know why. I saw the film when it first came out and loved every minute of it, although I had real issues with the score – I felt that the film would have been better served by a Jerry Goldsmith. I believe I’d only seen it once since on some early home video format, probably laserdisc. There was a Blu-ray release several years ago but I didn’t get it because I heard the quality was less than stellar. This new Blu-ray is from Criterion. I’ll keep it short and to the point.  The film is amazing. The transfer is one of the best transfers I’ve ever seen – superb in every way, from the incredible detail and perfect color, to the great sound.  Caleb Deschanel’s photography is breathtaking and it was he who supervised this 4K transfer off the film negative.  This is as perfect a representation of The Black Stallion as I’ve ever seen. And what I really love about it, and I don’t believe I’m saying this, is that the opticals look exactly like they should and they’re beautiful – more grain, but perfect optical grain of that era with no attempt to disguise it.

A thing of spectacular beauty, with a first half that is so magical that you just sit there with your mouth agape and a second half so different, but also wonderful and filled with heart and emotion, along with great performances by Kelly Reno, Teri Garr and Mickey Rooney – not to mention the horse itself.  As I mentioned above, back at the time of release I found the score really peculiar and felt another composer would probably have done it better – although there were two really striking and pretty themes. But I’ve gotten used to it and quite like it now.  If you love this film, you will be beyond happy, you will be in Black Stallion heaven.  If you have kids, gather ’em around the old screen and let them revel in this brilliant film. Carroll Ballard should have been a major director.  Alas, that was not to be.

After that, I listened to the soundtrack of The Black Stallion, the three CD set. I did not like the presentation on that CD, so I just went back to the older CD of just the soundtrack album and that was a much better listening experience.

Today, I have a ten-thirty breakfast meeting, which I hope will bring forth some good news. After that, I have some errands and whatnot, I’ll jog, I’ll hopefully pick up some packages, and then I’ll relax.

Tomorrow I have an early dinner thing and then I’m seeing a show in the Dale of Glen. Saturday I don’t have a clew about, Sunday I think there’s something that may be happening but I can’t remember what, and then on Monday we begin our Kritzerland rehearsal week.

Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, have a breakfast meeting, jog, hopefully pick up packages, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your all-time favorite films featuring an real animal performer, whether dog, cat, horse, bird or whatever. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, where I shall ponder all the wonderful e-mail offers I got this evening.

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