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December 17, 2018:

AND THUS BEGINNETH TWO WEEKS OF ME TIME

Bruce Kimmel Photograph bk's notes

Well, dear readers, we had a completely sold out matinee, added chairs, too, and so I actually had to stand at the back of the theater for the show, which was fine as I needed the exercise – oh, wait – well, standing is a form of exercise, isn’t it?  The show wasn’t quite as sharp as the previous evening’s show, but it was very good and the audience was great – laughing and having a fine time.  The comments when people come out of the theater are so positive and wonderful, and I know the theater has sold several subscription packages – yesterday they sold six.  And our wonderful Bill Hayes came – none of us knew, he just showed up and we made sure he got in.  He really enjoyed the show.  And we sold a few CDs, too.  So, it was a very nice afternoon.

Prior to that, I’d gotten eight hours of sleep, but then had to get ready and go to the theater.  After the show, I stopped at Gelson’s and got a couple of chicken enchiladas from the hot food bar, and a little lobster salad from the seafood bar.  I came home and ate it all up and it was all very good. I had some e-mails to answer, and then I sat on my couch like so much fish.

Last night, I finished the final ten minutes of Destroyer and I found it absolutely horrible in every way.  There’s not one original idea in this film, there’s not one original shot in this film, the direction is lax, with no sense of pacing (you could take thirty minutes out without blinking an eye), and a leading performance that may as well wear a sign that says GIVE ME MY OSCAR NOW.  This is classic Oscar bait filmmaking and the release date of 12/25 tells you everything you need to know, like anyone is going to want to see a depressing, downbeat, and thoroughly routine film over the holiday season.  It is to laugh.

I then began another DGA screener, this one entitled Mary, Queen of Scots, another blatant Oscar bait film starring Saorise Ronan and Margot Robbie.  I lasted about forty minutes – it is boring as all get out and I think we all know how boring all get out is.  The two leading actors are fine but if the film is a bore they have no real chance.  The script is by the writer/creator of House of Cards, and it’s not a good script. The direction by some theater director from the Donmar Warehouse is exactly what you’d expect for this kind of film – again, not an original directorial thought in the entire film. And who exactly do they think this is going to appeal to, other than perhaps a Netflix viewer whenever it hits that service?  I doubt if I’ll be able to slog any further through it.  Yes, the settings are handsome and so are the costumes, but that does not a movie make.

After that, I did some stuff on the computer, had a spot of low-cal ice cream, a few crackers, and then listened to music.

Today begins my two weeks off.  While I’ll finalize the Kritzerland show casting and choose the songs (I’ve already begun that process), I’m really not doing much of anything else, other than trying to survive.  I’ll write a rough opening few pages for the new book, I’ll have a couple of meetings and meals, but mostly I’ll relax and that will be a pleasantly pleasant way to spend two weeks.  I still can’t believe we’re in the final two weeks of this year – that just boggles my already boggled mind.

The rest of the week will be exactly as described above with the addition of watching screeners.  I’m still hoping we get some that actually sound like they’ll be fun to watch.

Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, finish casting, choose songs, eat, hopefully pick up packages, and relax and maybe watch a screener.  Today’s topic of discussion: What were your favorite fiction and non-fiction books of 2018? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to have had a sold out matinee and a great audience and that the cast soldiered through their illnesses – and happy that I begin my two weeks of ME time.

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