Well, dear readers, first things first and second things second. First thing is the launching of our A Carol Christmas Indiegogo campaign, and as we all know our Indiegogo boots are made for walkin’ so let’s all walk right over to the campaign, check out the fun perks (a little something for everyone at every price range – and more perks will go up during the campaign, just to keep things fun). I can’t put the link up until we go live when I get up at nine, but I’ll put it here then and of course on our message board and everywhere else I can think of. And as is always the case, the first two days are key – they set the tone for the campaign and we must do very well on these first two days. It’s been my experience that we always fund when we have a great first two days – so check it all out, please share with anyone you think might be interested, and spread the word if you’d be so kind.
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/a-carol-christmas-a-new-musical-needs-your-help/x/9165600#/
Second things second, yesterday was a pretty relaxing day as yesterdays go. Once again, I didn’t fall asleep until after four, so slept until after noon o’clock for eight hours of sleep. I puttered around the home environment, answered e-mails, had an important telephonic conversation that will hopefully bring some respite – please do send your strongest most excellent vibes and xylophones for said respite – and then I went and got In ‘N’ Out for my main meal o’ the day. Thankfully, it was a good day, taste-wise, and I enjoyed it all very much.
After that, I wrote more commentary and only have three little things left, so I’ll definitely finish that today. I listened to some music, had more telephonic calls, approved the Indiegogo video and got that link working and then proofed the whole campaign, making sure it was all ready to go. The underscore you’re hearing in the video are actual orchestra tracks for my songs that we’ll be using in the show. Then I finally sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched a motion picture on Blu and Ray entitled Cinderella Liberty, starring Mr. James Caan and Miss Marsha Mason, along with a host of other terrific actors. What are the odds that two films based on novels of Daryl Ponicsan about the Navy would come out in the same year? And yet that’s what happened in 1973 with Cinderella Liberty and The Last Detail. Both did well critically and at the box-office, but having seen both now in fairly close proximity, I can tell you that The Last Detail doesn’t much hold up for me at all, while Cinderella Liberty has aged beautifully. Ponicsan wrote the script himself, and Mark Rydell, a director I’m not that fond of, did a terrific job on this one. It doesn’t hurt that Caan gives one of his best performances and that the character is someone you simply like and root for, and it doesn’t hurt that Marsha Mason gives a brilliant performance that garnered her a Best Actress nomination. The film never devolves into stupidity, and it’s not only laugh out loud funny, it’s very touching, too. It just kind of gets everything right. The John Williams score never overstays its welcome and features a fun, up main title as well as his haunting love theme, both of which have lyrics and vocals by Paul Williams – the harmonica on the score is none other than Toots Thielemans. And happily the transfer from Fox via Twilight Time is absolute perfection, a gloriously right transfer – just look at those crystal clear daylight scenes with those bluer than blue skies – the neon-lit night scenes are gorgeous, and the indoor scenes are dark and beautiful and gritty as they’ve always been. Vilmos Zsigmond is the cameraman. Highly recommended by the likes of me.
Then I went to Ralph’s and got a couple of snack items – a little package of small salami, low-fat provolone, and some low-fat Wheat Thins. I came home and ate a few of each thing and it was very good.
Today, I’ll be up by nine to launch the campaign and then will keep my eye on it and keep getting the word out. I’m praying for respite, which I’ll know about in the morning, and then I’ll probably have a little something to eat at some point, hopefully pick up some packages, then at seven-thirty I show up to judge the singing contest. I’m not sure why it starts at eight, but hopefully it won’t go more than two hours. We shall see.
The rest of the week is meetings and meals, working the campaign, hopefully preparing two CDs for release, callbacks – so a very busy week.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, launch an Indiegogo campaign, spread the word, pray for respite, eat, hopefully pick up some packages, then judge a singing contest. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite performances of James Caan and Marsha Mason? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, praying for respite, and excited to launch our new Indiegogo campaign.