Well, dear readers, I am happy to say that the contract is signed for the important project, so we’ll be able to announce it on Monday, I think. That was how the morning began and it would have amazed you just how quickly I signed, scanned, and e-mailed back. I should be seeing the packaging today or tomorrow – lots of text to proof but we should be able to get it to the printers by Friday I’m hoping. I’m really hoping we can get this on people’s radars, especially musical theater people’s radars. Certainly if they love stuff like Street Scene or Regina I think they will love this more, but I don’t know that they even know it exists. And of course recitative has been used in so many musicals of the last two or three decades – so, let’s all spread the word once we’re announced. Doing this has just strengthened my resolve to reissue the rest of the albums that I considered life-changers, two of which, for example, have never been on CD. This is now a quest – and I’ve put in for a few of them already. And our next Rhino title is now in the works, so we’ll announce that in the next few weeks. It’s been out on CD before but not for a few years and it goes for rather large money now.
I did get nine hours of sleep yesterday, so that was nice. Once up, I signed, scanned, and delivered, then had an e-mail from the Levi Strauss folks – I’d asked for just a bit more clarification. The gentleman has truly been a gentleman at every step – I got the clarification and Doug made the two requested changes and all is well in Leviland EXCEPT we did not have a single contribution yesterday – I don’t LIKE that and we must fix it today. Let’s spread that word, baby, we must have ACTION – at this rate there’s no way we’ll reach our goal this week, which was my dream goal. There are so many great perks just sitting there like so much fish. I’m lowering the price on the original art, by the way, so if anyone was thinking about that you can save a hundred bucks.
Then I moseyed on over to Richard Sherman’s home environment – I wanted to get the signed A Kiss Goodnight books so we can get those sent out to those who were lucky enough to get them. He told me he’s happy to give us two more signed copies, so I’ll have those towards the end of the campaign. I love our little visits – we had a lot o’ laughs, I gave my standard issue pep talk, and we even went over some of the questions we’ll be doing at the event next week. I did something I’ve never done there before – held Richard’s two Oscars – those puppies are heavy.
Then I came back to the Valley, picked up no mail or packages, and then got two chicken breasts from Popeye’s, came home, and ate them. I have to say that the last few times I’ve been to this location it just hasn’t been as good as it used to be. So I think I’m done with Popeye’s and if I need a fried chicken fix it will have to be Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles. Sadly, Sweetie Pie’s on Lankershim (right near The Federal) closed – it didn’t even last a year. They had great fried chicken and fried catfish and now I’m sorry I didn’t go there more often.
I did some work on the computer, never got around to casting, which I must do this morning. I had several long telephonic calls, and I spent some time swapping out the old Levi logo for the new one, on Indiegogo and Facebook. I like the new one just as much so that’s good. Then I sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I managed to watch an entire motion picture, this one on the Flix of Net, in fact yet another Netflix Original, entitled Gerald’s Game from the novel by Stephen King. I never read the novel, even though I should have since it was one of his shorter books. I was prepared to not enjoy Gerald’s Game but I kind of did. It’s interesting, has some good suspense, good performances, and it’s themes are kind of classic King. Some of it is a little gruesome, but nothing we haven’t seen. There’s a rather unpleasant dog (the heroine calls him Cujo at one point, which made me laugh out loud) – apparently in the book the dog gets his comeuppance, but in today’s politically correct world even the most rabid, vicious animal must be treated with love and kindness – um, no. There wasn’t too much that was annoying about the direction so that was a plus. If you like King you might give it a try.
I just got an e-mail telling me there’s now a brick-and-mortar Amazon store in Century City. That’s pretty interesting. I’ll go and find out if they have MY books there and if they don’t I shall complain loudly and vociferously, not necessarily in that order. I spent the last hour of the evening listening to various and sundried music selections.
Today, once up I’ll do the usual things, hopefully I’ll pick up some packages, then I’ll go to LACC to see the model of the Levi set, then I’ll be on my way to the Wood of Holly, I’ll park, I’ll either eat first then go kill time at Amoeba, or vice versa. Then I’ll walk to the Pantages and see Hamilton, about which I’m mildly apathetic. This is the first time EVER that I do not either have a physical ticket or printed out ticket – my ticket is in my Apple Wallet and I have a back-up on the actual Ticket Master site, so hopefully that part will be smooth. I will, of course, have a full report.
Tomorrow I have a bunch of stuff to do and I really must find my additional cast member for Levi – don’t know why it’s so hard – I need a non-union actor of about forty, good-looking, has to sing but the character doesn’t actually sing at all, but he’ll sing in other group numbers, so as long as he can sing out Louise it’s fine. I may have to put it out there with some casting agencies, which I’d rather not do. Then I may go out to Calabasas to help Sami with something, otherwise I’m basically home and then I’m joining friends for an after-theater snack. Not sure what all is happening on Saturday and Sunday, then next week we will really begin pushing Indiegogo again and announce the important project and ship out the Claus Ogerman CDs.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do the usual stuff, hopefully see some packaging, hopefully pick up some packages, see a set model, eat, peruse at Amoeba, and then see Hamilton. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite Stephen King novels and movie and TV adaptations of them? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to know that the important project is signed, scanned, and delivered.