Well, dear readers, I am sitting here like so much Friday fish, listening to a Verdi opera I haven’t heard, Un Ballo in Maschera, courtesy of Toscanini. There were several operas in the big Toscanini set so I pulled them out and am listening to them. The first of them was La Boheme – of course, these are all in mono, but the casts are from the late 1940s and early 1950s – Boheme starred Licia Albanese and Jan Peerce. It’s a good performance but the sound is what it is on the Toscanini discs. Certainly, it was not my favorite recording. Maschera stars Robert Merrill, Herva Nelli, and others. I can’t say it’s my favorite Verdi opera, but it’s okay. Same caveats about the sound, of course. And then there’s a La Traviata, which will be up next, starring Licia Albanese, Jan Peerce, and Robert Merrill. Other than that, I’m relaxing after having our callbacks. We had two groups of eight and three additional people that we brought in after the second group of eight read. We dismissed three actors from the second group so the three additional folks could read with the others in that group. Both groups were fun, and I pretty much know who’s cast now, save for one person. So, hopefully by Saturday we’ll be fully cast so that early next week we can do a quick Zoom session where I’ll explain to everyone how it will all happen, technical-wise, and we’ll make a schedule. At some point in the next week-and-a-half, we’ll do a Zoom reading of the play, just so I can hear it and at that point I’ll give any general notes I have about stuff. And then we’ll do the damn thing. What else can I tell you? Well, I ate a cube steak for my evening repast – that was good. Oh, and I listened to all those John Barbirolli opera arias from 78s. Some interesting things, certainly, but most of it is the much older stuff from the 1700s and earlier 1800s.
Yesterday was certainly a day, I think we can at least say that. I got eight hours of sleep, was up at eleven, did a few things on the computer, got another chart proofed and corrected, ascertained that there were no packages, ordered food from the California Chicken Café – breast and wing and chicken pasta salad. That arrived and for the third time they did not include the pita bread that comes with it and that I had checked off in my order. That was three times too many, so when I finished it all up, I did a chat on Grubhub and they refunded my eight bucks, so that was nice.
After that, I shaved and showered and got ready for our callbacks. I had a couple of telephonic conversations before that began. Then, when that was done, I made decisions on all but one role. I then went to Gelson’s because the earlier meal wasn’t many calories, so I got the cube steak and a bit of potato salad, came home, and made the steak and ate it and the potato salad and the rest you know.
Today, I’ll be up when I’m up, I’ll do whatever needs doing, I may hear another actor or two read for the one uncast role, the cast actors will be notified of the schedule, to make sure all are available, I’ll hopefully pick up some packages, I’ll eat – I already have today’s main meal – spicy salmon, asparagus, and some red potatoes – I’ll get the rest of the music for the Kritzerland show out to the singers, and then at some point, I’ll watch, listen, and relax.
I’m thinking the weekend will be light in terms of work stuff, and I’m hoping Grant will get to the book this weekend, as I want to get that to the publisher before the end of the month. I also got the cost for doing the Blu and Ray of Tonight’s the Night and the entire Outside the Box series, and it did not make me happy, so I’m not sure what to do about that. I see that our goal for the Creature DVD was 5K and we raised 253% of that goal, almost 12K, which enabled me to load that up with all those nifty extras and commentaries. I can’t remember the total cost, but this seems higher to me. I just don’t know if we can raise that amount, although I have never had an unsuccessful Indiegogo campaign. But I would have to be able to raise not only the cost but cover the Indiegogo fees and whatever tax would be charged. I looked at the Creature campaign, and I must say most of it were smaller donations, between 20 and 100, with only a couple that went to the higher level. So, I could do several of the most successful perks over again, Blu-ray, Blu-ray/CD combo, and Blu-ray/CD/sheet music combo, plus a BK Perk that would include all that and the Creature DVD and Nudie Blu and CD. Another popular thing we did very well on were the thank yous in the booklet, so we could do that one, and thought we didn’t have any takers for the associate or executive producer perks I’m hoping maybe we can for this. And I have a few things that didn’t get taken so I can make those perks again. And I have a few other fun things that are just taking up space, so those can be perks, too. If I decided it’s viable, I’d want to start it sometime next week or the beginning of the week after.
Next week will be busy with a Zoom meet and greet with our cast and then a few days later a read-through.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, be up when I’m up, do whatever needs doing, maybe hear another actor read, hopefully pick up packages, eat, get the rest of the music to the singers, and then watch, listen, 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 – I have three operas arriving today, so one of those. DVD – maybe another screener. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to have had a fun callbacks session.