Well, dear readers, the computer just did its ubiquitous every two weeks like clockwork freeze. Luckily, I’d just gotten home from a Ralph’s run so I wasn’t working, but I hadn’t saved the last bit I’d proofed – thankfully, that was only two pages and I hadn’t corrected anything on those two pages save for trying the chapter heading in a different font, but I knew what that was. So, that was good. I turned it off, turned it on and it took its usual ten minutes to get everything working again, although Finder was being finicky – all seems to be well now and just in time for me to write these here notes. I’d be listening to music, but now Music is being finicky and has finally launched but is updating the Cloud library. I really do hope they come out with a new version of my computer sooner than later. There, finally some music – Aaron Copland’s score for the movie Something Wild, starring Carroll Baker and Ralph Meeker, which I happen to be watching on Screen Pix, naturally not in its proper screen ration but full frame. I did watch two motion pictures, though. The first motion picture was entitled Smash-Up on Interstate 5, a TV movie from 1976, and while it’s not very good, it was fun to see it because TV movies in those days were always fun even if they weren’t great. And get this cast for this ensemble movie: Robert Conrad, Vera Miles, Harriet Nelson, Buddy Ebsen, David Groh, Donna Mills, Scott Jacoby, an almost unrecognizable Sue Lyon, Sian Barbara Allen, Herb Edelman, Terry Moore, David Nelson, LACC buddy Roger Hampton, and a VERY young Tommy Lee Jones in a small role. Music by Bill Conti, and directed by John Llewelyn Moxey, who at one time was a very good film director, but who turned into a very ordinary TV movie director. After that, I watched a movie I’ve wanted to see since I originally saw it in 1961, The Last Time I Saw Archie. I really liked it back then, but could never find it to watch again and I don’t think it ever had a home video release. Robert Mitchum stars as Archie opposite Jack Webb as William Bowers. And get this supporting cast: Martha Hyer, France Nuyen, Louis Nye, Joe Flynn, Del Moore, Richard Arlen, Don Knotts (hilarious), Robert Strauss, Harvey Lembeck, Howard McNear, and Nancy Kulp. I mean, c’mon. The film didn’t do well and was not well reviewed. I discovered the song “At Last” in this film – it was a major part of the underscore. All these years later I still liked it a whole lot. It has very funny scenes and Webb is surprisingly amusing in it. The screenplay by William Bowers is fun (based on his service experience with friend Arch Hall – both their real names are used in the film – Hall sued over that and won a small settlement) – Bowers was a terrific writer who wrote some terrific movies like The Gunfighter, Cry Danger, Tight Spot, 5 Against the House, The Best Things in Life Are Free, and his final film, Support Your Local Sheriff. Arch Hall, Sr. was an actor and director, who made some truly hideous D-movies starring his son, Arch Hall, Jr. – Eegah and The Sadist were two of his films. Anyway, it was fun to finally see it again.
Yesterday was another up and down day that went by quickly. I got eight and a half hours of sleep finally, arising around twelve-thirty – was up late trying to finish proofing, which of course got nowhere near because for reasons you’ll understand when you read it, this one is super hard to proof and one must do it slowly. Happily, I’ve only found a handful of fixes so far. I had an irritating text volley with someone who got hold of me about some TV project by finding my phone number via Google search. I find it appalling that you can find most anyone’s phone number, although most of what I saw for me were old numbers and most especially numbers I never had. But ONE sight had my cell. I didn’t know who it was but I figured some mutual friend had given it to him. But he got weird with me and I responded VERY strongly but nicely and he apologized.
Then I began proofing and that took up most of the day, save for doing some Sami stuff for Film Hub – we’re submitting the series to them this morning for all platforms BUT Amazon. I’d still like to offer it to BroadwayHD but I cannot find any way to contact anyone about acquisitions or even a name to hunt down. Very strange. I know they have at least one web series and I should think this would be right up their alley. If anyone has any ideas or names, send ‘em my way, please. I watched the movies and then did a Ralph’s run, since I ran out of sodas. Happily, they were having a three for fifteen sale – three twelve packs for fifteen bucks, so I got two Canada Dry Zero Sugars and one zero sugar 7-Up, along with three Diet Cokes, one of which was caffeine free. So, I’m set for a while. I got a few gummy things that are no-fat and low-calorie, got stuff to make Wacky Noodles today, and that was about it. With my Ralph’s card I saved twenty-five dollars, so that was good. A completely random and weird thing when I pulled into the parking space. I turned my right blinker on as I turned into the space, but then it wouldn’t turn off – it blinked whether right, left, or off and I could not figure it out until I noticed that a red emergency triangle was lit. I pushed that and the blinking stopped. I guess I must have pushed it somehow, although I don’t really know how because of where it’s positioned. Go know.
Today, I’ll be up by ten-thirty, I’ll absolutely finish proofing and get this where it needs to go so we can get this show on the road, book-wise. As I said, I am quite over waiting for Grant to do it and now I have another way and that’s what I’m doing. Then there’s some Sami stuff to do and we’re hoping we hear back from Amazon because we really need to let our publicist start doing her job. I’m not pushing the release date even if it means I put the damn thing up on YouTube. I was thinking it might be fun to do a one-off YouTube Live screening of episode one, a private thing by invitation and link, followed by a Zoom Q&A. What do you think? I’ll eat Wacky Noodles, and then at some point I’ll watch, listen, and relax.
The rest of the week and the weekend is more of the same and we do need that major miracle and just send overall excellent vibes and xylophones for any number of things we need to hear about.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, be up by ten-thirty, finish proofing and send the stuff where it needs to be sent, eat, and then watch, listen, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Ask BK Day, the day in which you get to ask me or any dear reader any old question you like and we get to give any old answer we like. So, let’s have loads of lovely questions and loads of lovely answers and loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, hoping Apple will finally release a new version of my computer so we don’t have to suffer the every two week ubiquitous freeze.