Haines His Way

Archives => Archive 1 => Topic started by: bk on January 26, 2004, 12:07:03 AM

Title: THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: bk on January 26, 2004, 12:07:03 AM
Well, you've read the notes, you know what is expected, you're poised to post so, on your Mark Bakalor, get set - GO!
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Tomovoz on January 26, 2004, 12:30:52 AM
Happy birthday MusicGuy wherever you are.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Charles Pogue on January 26, 2004, 12:31:16 AM
Jane, in case, you don't catch up with last night's late post, say Hello to Janet Greek for me!  What a small world!  Where in Oregon are you?  Janet got me my first agent and she more or last started both me and my friend Larry Drake on our movie careers out here.  How in the world did I end up coming into the conversation?  Please send her my best!  Hope she's well and happy.

For those interested, my Golden Globes impressions, piddling though they be, are also in my post from late last night on page 6, the last page.  I will just say the tenor of my observation was BOOBS (The breast kind; not the idiot kind)!  So that might pique the curiosity of a few of you to peruse  the back pages.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Tomovoz on January 26, 2004, 12:35:02 AM
Can't discuss the Golden Gobes - maybe they will show it on a Sunday aftenoon in a few months time! pleased that Anthony won.  I haven't seen most of the movies or the TV shows either. May watch "Mystic River" DVD this week.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: bk on January 26, 2004, 12:37:21 AM
Do discuss Globes whether or not you posted about it yesterday.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Panni on January 26, 2004, 04:07:20 AM
Good morning - sort of.  It's 4 AM and I'm having a mug of chamomile tea with lots of honey. It seems I can barely speak -- I just said something to my dog and he looked afraid - very afraid. Whose voice is that?

Happy birthday, Music Guy!

I had the Golden Globes on, but must have dozed off for a bit -- missed a few categories, I guess. I thought it wasn't tacky enough this year. It's no fun when things get too swellegant. I agree with Jay about "What I Did for Love"... Maybe it was an in-joke. Michael Douglas was, after all, treated for sex addiction. Okay, maybe I was wrong about it not being tacky enough. I liked Meryl Streep. She was hilarious.
Think I'll go back to bed now. I feel rather lousy. If the voice doesn't come back, I must try and find a doc today who will give me some serious meds. MUST have voice for Tuesday morning. Aaaaargh. I've waited over two months for this script meeting and my voice might be gone. A network executive's dream come true - a writer who can only listen!

Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Michael on January 26, 2004, 04:11:21 AM
Did not watch the Golden Globes. But saw the list of winners. Interesting. Anyone know exactly how many members they are of the Foreign Press Association who give out the awards.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Ben on January 26, 2004, 05:12:47 AM
I'm confused. I thought Music Guy's birthday was January 27th. Today is January 26th (at least it says that on the calendar and on my computer). Music Guy, you must post and let us know the truth!!!
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Ben on January 26, 2004, 05:30:36 AM
As we wind down our photo tour of Ben and Anthony's trip across the pond, I will post yet another photo. This was taken in Harrod's. We went there to have high tea. I had hoped to splurge and go to The Ritz or The Savoy, but alas, both places were fully booked. We discovered that Harrod's serves tea and thought that would be an acceptable substitute so we cleaned ourselves up, took the tube to Knightsbridge Station and had a most wonderful and delicious time as you can see by the photo.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Ben on January 26, 2004, 05:39:43 AM
Since it's just Dan (in Toronto) and me right now, I will post another shot. We took the double decker bus home from Harrod's and got off at our stop on Cromwell Road. As we were walking down the corner to Knaresborough Place we saw one of those blue ceramic historic plaques on a building. On closer inspection we saw who lived in that building. You can tell from the picture who it was. We were living around the corner from a legend! Why, it almost made us feel Psycho. The Birds seemed to be circling around us. We felt Spellbound. Then we realized we were walking North by Northwest and that was the wrong direction so we calmly went back to our studio to get over our Vertigo.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: William E. Lurie on January 26, 2004, 06:13:01 AM
I haven't paid any attention to the Golden Globes since Pia Zadora's then-husband bought her one as Best Newcomer years after she appeared on Broadway in FIDDLER and starred in "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians".  Newcomer?

Instead, since they substituted a rerun "The Practice" for the new episode scheduled, we watched the 2nd episode of "The L Word".  What a hoot.  By the way, I forgot to mention my favorite quote from the first episode.  When Jennifer ("Flashdance") Beales and her partner pick up a man at a party to help them have a baby he discovers their plan and as he is leaving says...

"You damn Lesbians.  The only reason you want to have sex with a man is to steal his sperm!".
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Jennifer on January 26, 2004, 06:17:12 AM
Good morning all.

Okay, more coherent  Golden Globe notes.

I agree, that most of the movie awards were predictable. But the tv awards weren't!  I loved that Sarah Jessica Parker won.  Love her.  She was the one who was doing the Access Hollywood interview after the show, when her hubby Matthew Broderick called. It was so cute. They had been trying to reach each other since she had won. And he apparently was asking if she could talk. And she was like, "well I can, but we're on live tv, Nancy and Pat say hi".  They had their conversation and Sarah was getting weepy, which was making me weepy!

What is The Office? Has anyone heard of this show?  Is this even an American show (or is it merely a British show that is seen on BBC America?).

Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Ben on January 26, 2004, 06:23:02 AM
Didn't watch the GGs. It's just the beginning of the award season and already I'm over-awarded. I will watch the Oscars with my two best theatre buddies (is that an oxymoron?) and then we will watch the Tonys (much more important to me than any other awards show) and that's it for my award watching.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Ben on January 26, 2004, 06:27:02 AM
The Office, as far as I know since I don't have BBC America and it wasn't playing when I was in London, is a hit television series about an obnoxious moron and his co-workers in a British office. It's supposed to be very funny. So funny that it is being re-made into an American version. That makes me afraid, very afraid and I have one word to explain it, Coupling. I never saw the original British series but the U.S. version on NBC was, IMHO, appalling.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Ben on January 26, 2004, 06:33:44 AM
I kept forgetting to mention this. I've had a cassette version of the original cast for Forum for years. I also have the revival w/Nathan Lane, etc. but I had trouble finding the original cast on CD. I knew that BK had released it years ago on Bay Cities but I never came across a copy, until Thursday when I found a copy at Academy, a used CD emporium. I now have the original Forum on CD. Thank you BK!
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: ArnoldMBrockman on January 26, 2004, 06:38:26 AM
DR'S- It's more fun reading your comments about THE GOLDEN GLOBES than watching on TV.
The one positive note is that they do move faster than The ACADEMY AWARDS.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Kerry on January 26, 2004, 06:57:19 AM
Well Ben,
You are right.   DRMusicGuy's birthday is tomorrow (or at least so I've thought for the last thirty years), but how lovely to don our pantaloons a day early!!!!!

I loved the pics from London-- thank you for posting them.

The Golden Globes were fine to watch while we had dinner, but I had never heard of many of the people and have not seen most of the films or series.   I thought Meryl Streep was fun, and a few people looked good.  That was pretty much it.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Jennifer on January 26, 2004, 07:12:00 AM
I forgot to mention this last night. But Mary Louise Parker (who had a baby 2 1/2 weeks ag0) looked SO AMAZING!!!!!
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Jennifer on January 26, 2004, 07:17:28 AM
My favorite speech from last night was Charlize Theron. Very classy and beautiful. And she seemed truly thankful.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: DERBRUCER on January 26, 2004, 07:19:08 AM
HRH BK bemoans the lack of "leaping phraes"; indeed he offers: "My Kingdom for a leaping phrase".

Clearly Christmas needs more days.

On the thirtieth (or whatever) day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, thirty leaping phrases, twenty-nine vile epithets, twenty eight promising promises, twenty seven unseemly buttons, twenty six Galley Slaves…

Der Brucer (who left out Arabian Knights crying “Sesame!”)
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: MBarnum on January 26, 2004, 07:28:54 AM
Well, as I posted last night...Al Pacino and Johnny Depp scared me!  :o

I always enjoy awards shows, but I usually only watch the emmys and the oscars. I watched all but the last hour of the GGs last night, but I just had to get to bed.

I do need to get out more as I have seen practically none of the shows or movies that were up for awards! But I did tape THE OFFICE last night and am looking forward to seeing that program. It looks very funny.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: PennyO on January 26, 2004, 07:30:08 AM
Manin', all. I didn't see the awards show - but aol is spewing forth many and sundry details. Sounded fun. Glad about the Diane Keaton award (being, myself, a lady of a certain age...). Geezer sex. Yup. Okay, so off into my day. Good luck with your final push on the manuscript, Bruce. Happy B'day, MusicGuy.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Jrand73 on January 26, 2004, 07:32:08 AM
[move=left,scroll,6,transparent,100%]Happy birthday, MUSIC GUY![/move]

Hmmmmmmm.....well l enjoyed the Golden Globes, like MR BK, I thought most of the ladies looked very nice....and the guys were scruffy!

Jessica Lange - and of course when I see her I think of Frances, she is now around the age Frances was when she was on TV here in Indiana.

And Diane Lane was channeling Natalie Wood!
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: PennyO on January 26, 2004, 07:32:47 AM
Oh, about The Office: I've seen one episode. And it reminded me why even the uncertainty, unemployment, insecurity, lack of health insurance, loneliness and other attendant annoyances of show business make it preferable to working for a living.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: DERBRUCER on January 26, 2004, 07:37:56 AM
Anyone know exactly how many members they are of the Foreign Press Association who give out the awards.

The HFPA WebSite (http://www.hfpa.org/html/Members-Printable.html) lists 90 members and three affiliates.

der Brucer (who has been informed by DR SWW that there is much ado because many of them are only part-timers)
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: DERBRUCER on January 26, 2004, 07:42:36 AM
...so we cleaned ourselves up...

And you do clean up nicely. Your Mums would be proud.

der Brucer (sipping on his morning Earl Grey)

(I'll bet I get TCB'd for that line!)
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Jrand73 on January 26, 2004, 07:55:58 AM
Yes...lovely photos!  Tea at Harrod"s?!!!

We used to have the Ayres Tea Room in Indianapolis!
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Matt H. on January 26, 2004, 07:58:20 AM
Because so much of THE OFFICE is improvised, the quality for me varies with each episode. Ricky Gervais is marvelous; he's captured his obnoxious boss character and run with it (he doesn't realize he's obnoxious and despised by his entire staff; he thinks he's loved). Some of the players surrounding him I find fairly uninspired which makes the shows (which run 40 minutes) inconsistent. But when they're clickin', it's a scream. I had no problem with the two awards the show won. Also, in two years, they've made only 12 episodes of the show, so the quality can remain high when you're only producing 6 shows a season.

Not all of the men were scruffy. Pierce Brosnan was the height of sophistication and elegance. Leonardo DeCaprio looked the best he's looked EVER, and I thought Elijah Wood was stunning in that velvet tux. Keanu Reeves looked quite handsome. Even Tom Cruise cleaned up a little for a change.

Queen Latifah had the most beautiful gown, I thought, after looking at photos this morning to refresh my memory.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Matt H. on January 26, 2004, 08:04:57 AM
[move=left,scroll,6,transparent,100%]HAPPY[/move]

[move=right,scroll,6,transparent,100%]BIRTHDAY[/move]

[move=down,scroll,6,transparent,100%]DR MUSICGUY !!!![/move]
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Ben on January 26, 2004, 08:09:42 AM
Why thank you DerBrucer!
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Ben on January 26, 2004, 08:20:20 AM
Donald, thank you for a WONDERFUL show this week. Without giving away the "faith" part, I especially enjoyed Once Upon a Time, Make Someone Happy, All the Things You Are, and A Quiet Thing.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Matt H. on January 26, 2004, 08:47:31 AM
DR Ben, the songs you mentioned from Donald's show are among my favorite Broadway songs ever. Just goes to show that wonderful songs like "Once Upon a Time" can be found in flop musicals like ALL AMERICAN as well as in hits.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Panni on January 26, 2004, 09:01:10 AM
Anyone know exactly how many members they are of the Foreign Press Association who give out the awards.

In today's LA Times it said "about 90."
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: George on January 26, 2004, 09:03:56 AM
I loved Queen Latifah's dress and her new boobs.  She really looks proportioned now.  Elijah Wood looked quite dashing with his suit and huge eyes.  I didn't care too much for Nicole Kidman's outfit (but I didn't hate it).  I thought that the cut-out sections made it too angular and that it should have had more curves to it.  Also, that's the kind of dress where one cannot slouch when sitting!
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Panni on January 26, 2004, 09:11:27 AM
Before we get too serious about these awards (any awards, for that matter) - I want to re-post what I said last night... Which is that the Hollywood "Foreign Press" consists of very few members (around 90, according to the LA Times) many (if not most) of whom have day jobs which have nothing to do with the press, foreign or domestic. One of the members was quoted in the paper today as saying "We're more fans of movies than judges."
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: bk on January 26, 2004, 09:36:45 AM
I HATE the calendar thing, which I obviously still don't know how to read - oh, well, MusicGuy gets two parties then.

No comments on the Larry Moore interview?

And where in tarnation IS everyone?  Certainly TODAY is not a holiday like last Monday.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: JoseSPiano on January 26, 2004, 09:39:05 AM
Good morning!  Good afternoon!

It looks rather lovely outside my window right now... although, I'm not really looking forward to the next TWO waves of freezing rain, sleet and ice tonight and tomorrow.  At least I have no real place I have to be in the next few days... But I guess it also means I won't be able to get my car into the shop until Wednesday.  Ah, well... But that will also mean I won't have to pay for the repair until Wednesday now.  Always a silver lining!

Re: "The Office" - Sometimes I get it, sometimes I don't.  However, Ricky Gervais does clean up nicely, and it's nice to see him with a real smile on his face - almost a different person.  The American version will be interesting to check out.  -And at least they're not just going to reuse the original English scripts for their first two episodes like "Coupling" did.  -And I actually like the original "Coupling" - the shallowness of the characters seemed more real than their American counterparts, so the humor is actually funny rather than forced... imho.. or something like that.

Well, I'm off to venture into the snow.  Just want to take nice walk, and then I'm heading over to a friend's place for some hot soup and fresh-baked yeast rolls!  YUMMY!
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Jrand73 on January 26, 2004, 09:49:28 AM
I thought the Larry Moore interview was very interesting.  I am still not sure what an arranger does....but I sort of know.  ;D

Sounds like a hardworking loyal friend!
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Jay on January 26, 2004, 09:52:40 AM
Do discuss Globes whether or not you posted about it yesterday.

Sorry, Dear BK.  I don't repeat myself.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Jay on January 26, 2004, 09:52:58 AM
Do discuss Globes whether or not you posted about it yesterday.

Sorry, Dear BK.  I don't repeat myself.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Jennifer on January 26, 2004, 09:56:23 AM
DR Jose (or others): Did you happen to see the new Trading Spaces episode on Saturday?  The new designers one with Laura and Barry. I must say, Laura seems sweet. And her design was nice (except for that awful slipcover). I cannot stand when designers do tacky slipcovers. IMO, you need to totally redo the couches, with form fitting slip covers. What she did (that white thing) looked like she got it from a dollar store!

As for Barry, I don't like his designs. That room was awful. What the heck? He used a white sheet to make an entraceway? What were those horrible red circles on the ceiling? And the blue sofa and curtain were so ugly. I'm sorry, but yellow, red and light blue do not go together! Terrible room. About the only part I did enjoy was the wall color. I felt so bad for that woman, since she said she didn't like modern. And all he did was go against her wishes.

Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Jennifer on January 26, 2004, 09:59:33 AM
LOL DR Jay.

It was too bad that they did them on tape delay to the west coast. But I suppose they do it partially for the ratings. I mean, who would want to watch at 4pm when the red carpet stuff started.

But at least next weekend the west coasters are in luck. Cause they can watch the Superbowl and Survivor at a decent time. And us east coasters will have to stay up till midnight to catch the end of Survivor All-Stars (probably).
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: William E. Lurie on January 26, 2004, 10:01:46 AM
I saw one episode of "The Office" on BBC-America and sat there wondering what was so great about it.  Perhaps it was because I did not see the initial episodes that explained who these characters were, but I find it very over-rated.

I printed out the Larry Moore interview and when I've had a chance to read it, I'll comment.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Noel on January 26, 2004, 10:30:12 AM
Didn't watch.  I find award shows tiresome and Onanistic.  But yesterday I caught some of the heralded movies, and, if they're the winners, it must have been a very bad year for film.  Lost In Translation and Mystic River weren't bad films, but, compared to award-winning performances of the past, the work of Bill Murray, Sean Penn and Tim Robbins seems pale.  And Sofia Coppola for screenplay?

Some spoilers ahead (if you haven't seen Mystic River)
.
.
.

I'm someone who visited Japan soon after graduating from a college in New York, just like Charlotte in Lost In Translation.  The script says she's an intellectual, but this goes unproven.  I'm here to say anyone with half a mind would find Japan fascinating.  And yet, Charlotte and Bob are completely bored with it.  Now, Bob's a movie star, so, he needn't have much of a mind.  But he's contrasted with another movie star, a blonde with no mind at all, and SHE's having a great time in Japan.  Why are the leads so bored in such a fascinating place?  Made no sense to me.

Much of the mystery of Mystic River turns on doubts as to what happened to Tim Robbins that led his hand to get cut up.  He comes up with several explanations at various points in the film.  What WE know (and his wife knows) is that he also has a long knife wound in his belly.  So, at various points in his film, when characters doubt his story, why doesn't he reveal this wound?  Katie had no knife, and no one would think she slashed his belly.  The film would have you believe that the memory of a childhood trauma leads all sorts of characters to act the way they do.  But nothing accounts for Dave's not revealing his stomach wound, even when his life is at stake.

Maybe I knew too much to buy Master and Commander.  But, there's a key moment in which the captain learns about camouflage from observing an insect.  And yet any seaman of the time would know that pirate ships disguised themselves as other kinds of ships all the time.  So, the lesson learned from the obscure species was specious.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: DERBRUCER on January 26, 2004, 10:34:08 AM
Reflections on the GG:

BOOBs, yes:
(http://www.foxnews.com/projects/photo_essay2/golden_globes_2004_winners/photos/1.jpg)

SCRUFFY, yes:
(http://www.foxnews.com/projects/photo_essay2/golden_globes_2004_winners/photos/10.jpg)

LONGEST ROSARY AWARD:

(http://www.foxnews.com/projects/photo_essay2/golden_globes_2004_winners/photos/2.jpg)

Peter Jackson as Edna?

(http://www.foxnews.com/projects/photo_essay2/golden_globes_2004_winners/photos/11.jpg)

More like these at Photo Essay (http://www.foxnews.com/projects/photo_essay2/golden_globes_2004_winners/file1.html)

der Brucer
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Emily on January 26, 2004, 11:09:34 AM
Happy Birthday to MusicGuy!!

My one GG related statement/comment:

LES INVASIONS BARBARES WUZ ROBBED!!!!!!!

That is one of the few movies I have ever seen which not only got me teary eyed, but made me WEEP.  Osama shosama.  Give me Marie-Josée Croze any day.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Panni on January 26, 2004, 11:13:58 AM
Just read the interview with Larry Moore. I love going into worlds I know absolutely nothing about. And certainly I know nothing about orchestration. It was fascinating. It was also interesting to read about "madcap escapades" during recording sessions...  The only disturbing aspect of the piece was Moore's ambivalence about his feelings for bk. (For those who haven't read the interview, that's a joke. Moore to bk: "...I love you! You are a genius in every sense of the word, and I'm still one of your biggest fans.")
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Jennifer on January 26, 2004, 11:42:47 AM
OMG, I almost just had a heart attack. I just got 2 emails from ship-confirm@amazon.com saying i'd bought hundreds of dollars of electronics. The emails looked so REAL. And I'm pretty sure the address was real.  And they had the same "your order 123-456 has just been shipped".

Spammers are getting too good at this! (although I don't think they even asked me for money, which is weird). Maybe they were just hoping i'd respond to their message.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: S. Woody White on January 26, 2004, 11:51:58 AM
What is The Office? Has anyone heard of this show?  Is this even an American show (or is it merely a British show that is seen on BBC America?).
Merely?  Because a show is British, it's merely?  This descriptor of a country whose television production has given us I, Claudius?  The Six Wives of Henry VIII?  Upstairs, Downstairs?  The original Traffic?  As Time Goes By?  Are You Being Served?  

Not to mention Doctor Who, The Avengers, and everything Black Adder!

(DR Jennifer, I hope you realize I'm teasing.   :-*)

Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Laura II on January 26, 2004, 11:54:40 AM
Happy almost birthday, MusicGuy!

I was errant and truant from Friday until today. My dad returned from his trip to Dublin and London, so we spent time with him doing family things. :) We went to this place called Sweet Water Tavern yesterday--delicious filet mignon! Overall, the weekend was nice. I figured since I'm leaving for Philly tomorrow (depending on this weather), and my dad is leaving for Paris before I come home, I should spend time with him. I should be errant and truant on and off this week, too.

Random thought (I'll post about the GGs later): My brother turned to me earlier and said, "Laura, what kind of site do you read?? This Bruce guy uses bad words." He was looking at today's notes and showed me. http://asksnoop.com/shizzolator.php?url=http://www.haineshisway.com (http://asksnoop.com/shizzolator.php?url=http://www.haineshisway.com) Baaaad BK! This asksnoop thing is really kind of funny, though!
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Jane on January 26, 2004, 11:59:36 AM
Charles Pogue I did catch your post last night, in fact I went looking for it.  I live in Ashland, a lovely town just over the California border.  Ashland is well known for its Shakespeare festival.

Janet mentioned Larry Drake.  

You came up in the conversation because I asked.  A while back I mentioned I should watch Babylon 5 as my neighbor directed some of the episodes.  At that moment it struck me you knew Janet.  She is writing, has begun directing some local plays and may be filming a documentary soon.  I believe her, absolutely gorgeous, little girl is eight now.  I think Janet moved here to give her daughter a simpler life.  Come to Ashland in the fall and find out for yourself.  I said fall because it is so beautiful here.  Spring & summer or great too.

Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: bk on January 26, 2004, 12:03:51 PM
Man, what is WITH Mondays?  There are actually quite a few people with us, but they are staring into their oatmeal instead of posting.  

I got (finally!) my third and final blurb for Kritzer Time.  It's from Gary Owens (who blurbed the first two - he and Dick Lochte are my good luck charms) so I'm happy to have it, and I sent it off to the publishers so they can add it.

"A pop culture gem. Bruce is the greatest writer of this genre since my friend Jean Shepard.  Anytime Is Kritzer Time!"
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: S. Woody White on January 26, 2004, 12:10:50 PM
I loved Queen Latifah's dress and her new boobs.  She really looks proportioned now.  Elijah Wood looked quite dashing with his suit and huge eyes.  I didn't care too much for Nicole Kidman's outfit (but I didn't hate it)....that's the kind of dress where one cannot slouch when sitting!
As Kidman carries forward the proud tradition of Mamie Van Doren!
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Matt H. on January 26, 2004, 12:18:51 PM
Before we get too serious about these awards (any awards, for that matter) - I want to re-post what I said last night... Which is that the Hollywood "Foreign Press" consists of very few members (around 90, according to the LA Times) many (if not most) of whom have day jobs which have nothing to do with the press, foreign or domestic. One of the members was quoted in the paper today as saying "We're more fans of movies than judges."

I don't have any problem with that statement. None of the critics' and film groups that give year end awards have any more members than the Hollywood Foreign Press other than the AMPAS. And how many members of the National Board of Review actually have jobs as critics or journalists? They keep their membership lists MUCH more secretive than the HFPA does.

Once you start pointing fingers at one group, it seems unfair when there are other groups whose awards have just as much to be suspect about as the GGs.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: MBarnum on January 26, 2004, 12:20:04 PM
DR Charles P., I second the wonderful description of Ashland, Oregon. I lived in Medford (which is just north of Ashland a few miles) for my first 21 years of life and that whole area is great! And Ashland is such a beautiful place...and a great spot to see some nice plays!
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: td on January 26, 2004, 12:30:12 PM
td on the Golden Globes:

Quote
I just caught an infomercial for THE CAROL BURNETT SHOW COLLECTOR'S EDITION, which packed more entertainment value into it than nearly any award show can, or does.

Quote
Someone unexpectedly looks very pretty in pink - Queen Latifah.

Quote
Well, without spoilers, I will say that I have only had FOUR or FIVE shout-out-loud, "Yippee!" moments tonight during the awards. . .

Quote
Someone please explain Paris Hilton to me.


Quote
Wow, has anybody seen Anthony LaPaglia's wife? !? !? !?! ? hubba-hubba!


I for one, didn't find Pacino scary at all, though Johnny Depp puts me in a goose-fleshy trance. . .is he a mesmer?
Pacino as Shylock, which is what I assume the beard and ponytail are for. . .

and last but not least, once again I present:

[move=left,scroll,6,transparent,100%]MY FAVORITE PHOTO OF NICOLE KIDMAN:[/move]
(unlike DR Jay, I am more that willing to repeat myself)   ;D


(http://www1.odn.ne.jp/~aac65140/images/metaluna.jpg)
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Tomovoz on January 26, 2004, 12:33:46 PM
Thanks for the Harrods photo Ben. With a low $A we could not afford the afternoon teas last time -  the price seemed outrageous. We have had it on previous trips.
It is MusicGuy's birthday here. Thank you BK for once are in the same time zone.

"The Office" was on TV here about 18 months ago. I certainly had no trouble identifying similar people in my old work place. I did not find it "roll about laughing" - just uncomfortably funny and very clever.

Who knows, the USA remake may work. "Archie Bunker" ("All In The Family" was it? ) made it from "Til Death Do Us Part" and even "Queer As Folk" works in a bizarre sort of way.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Charles Pogue on January 26, 2004, 12:38:45 PM
I always wanted to visit Ashland simply because of the Shakespeare Festival.  They also held onto my Sherlock Holmes play THE EBONY APE a long time, before finally declining not to produce it.

I have a friend from High School who is a doctor, also a big naturalist, and has been living in Bend forever and has always extoll the virtues of Oregon.

And then, of course, I must make an odssey someday to the legendary Powells Book Store in Portland.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: S. Woody White on January 26, 2004, 12:38:45 PM
...THE OFFICE...in two years, they've made only 12 episodes of the show, so the quality can remain high when you're only producing 6 shows a season.
You've probably hit upon the key reason why it is so difficult for an American version of a hit British show to succeed.  With a full season of American shows running 22 episodes these days, as opposed to the British six, there's a lot of strain put on the writing staff to come up with original ideas that still work within the premise.  For that matter, a British show will often have just one writer, or a team of two, while it's American counterpart will easily have a half-dozen, all with varying senses of humor and skill levels.

Still, we keep hoping to find another All in the Family.  But that, in turn, shows how the translation means making radical changes.  The British Archie was caustic and unlovable, an unredeamable fellow.  Six episodes per season were quite enough.  But move him over to American television, and such a character would have become unpalatable all too soon.  Thus the American Archie softened, changed with time; in effect, the man learned.  

If there ended up being a problem with the American Archie, it was that he lasted too long, his rough edges worn away until he became a smooth pebble in a stream, with none of his original roughness to create a stir in the currents around him.  We do this to our own characters, too; consider Murphy Brown, who was originally caustic and sharp, and by the end of the series was just moments away from turning into Mary Poppins!  Even Becker, whose final episode is coming within the week, is ending with the man contemplating being happy.

I've read that Don Knotts, who left The Andy Griffith Show after just five seasons, regrets having done so.  I say he did the right thing; would we really want to see Barney Fife happily married and successful?  In real life, perhaps, but it makes for lousy comedy.  Barney Fife remains a comic gem because his edges are still rough and unpolished.  Not as rough-edged as his British counterpart would have been, but a good balance between the two extremes.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: S. Woody White on January 26, 2004, 12:44:37 PM
One hundred away!  Watch out, ye Gods, here I come!

Oh, look!  A
Music Man reference!
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: td on January 26, 2004, 12:46:27 PM
Another thing about the Golden Globes - - why don't I ever see people like Panni, Charles Pogue, BK or Jane on these shows? ? ? ? ?
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Emily on January 26, 2004, 12:47:01 PM
A REQUEST TO ALL NATIVE ENGLISH SPEAKING (NORTH AMERICAN VARIETY ONLY - SORRY TOMOVOZ) HAINSIES AND KIMLETS

Remeber the "Mary, Merry, Marry" debate we were all ape over a couple of months ago?  Also remember the fact that I am now enrolled in the author of that paper's Sociolinguistics class?  Remember how much enjoyment you get out of filling out short yet fascinating questionaires about yourself and and your speech habits?  Most of all... remember how much you ADORE me and want to see me do unbelievably fantastically in said Sociolinguistics class? ;)

To make a long introduction paragraph come to a much anticipated ending - would all of you wonderful Hainsies and Kimlets who are native English speakers (North American ONLY) possibly follow the link to my teacher's website and fill out a short questionnaire on your choice of vocabulary?  

All you have to do is remember the following things:

1) Under the heading "NAME" do NOT put YOUR name.  Instead put MINE (so that the prof knows which students completed the task of finding the required number of questionees).  In case any of you don't know my full name is EMILY KULIN.  

2) Try to remember instances of what you say in a certain situation and not just think of what you think sounds most familiar (because we hear others who might not share our "quirky" speech habits more than we do ourselves)

3) Please Private Message me if you fill out the form so that I know how many have been completed

Thanks for all who take the time to help me out!!! :D

http://www.arts.mcgill.ca/programs/linguistics/faculty/boberg/

(All you have to do is click on the above link and then that for "Vocabulary Survey" on the left hand side of the page)



   
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: MBarnum on January 26, 2004, 12:48:24 PM

And then, of course, I must make an odssey someday to the legendary Powells Book Store in Portland.

Oh, yes, you can get lost in that place! But what a wonderful place to be lost in!!
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Tomovoz on January 26, 2004, 12:59:08 PM
DR Emily: I feel so excluded. I shall cope. I hope you can post some of the results.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Panni on January 26, 2004, 01:10:10 PM
Another thing about the Golden Globes - - why don't I ever see people like Panni, Charles Pogue, BK or Jane on these shows? ? ? ? ?
I don't know about the others, but I don't have a gown tacky enough.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Panni on January 26, 2004, 01:12:58 PM
Re Ashland - I considered moving there at one point some years back. No, I'd never seen it - but it just sounded so perfect. That was back in the days when I was looking for The Perfect Place. Eventually, I figured out that nowhere is perfect. Some places are just better than others.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Jane on January 26, 2004, 01:18:41 PM
Man, what is WITH Mondays?  There are actually quite a few people with us, but they are staring into their oatmeal instead of posting.  

I got (finally!) my third and final blurb for Kritzer Time.  It's from Gary Owens (who blurbed the first two - he and Dick Lochte are my good luck charms) so I'm happy to have it, and I sent it off to the publishers so they can add it.

"A pop culture gem. Bruce is the greatest writer of this genre since my friend Jean Shepard.  Anytime Is Kritzer Time!"


Nope, I finished my oatmeal before I began posting. ;)

Nice blurb! :)
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Noel on January 26, 2004, 01:19:44 PM
I don't have any problem with that statement. None of the critics' and film groups that give year end awards have any more members than the Hollywood Foreign Press other than the AMPAS. And how many members of the National Board of Review actually have jobs as critics or journalists? They keep their membership lists MUCH more secretive than the HFPA does.

Once you start pointing fingers at one group, it seems unfair when there are other groups whose awards have just as much to be suspect about as the GGs.

Right, it's not quantity, is the quality of critical acumen.

The Golden Globe voters ain't a brain trust.  They're just the foreign journalists who got the not-so-plum assignment of the Hollywood beat.  I say not-so-plum because foreign countries don't have the same mania for movie news that we do in the USA.  For all we know, those 90 voters include the cultural editor in some not-widely circulated rag in Trinidad or Chad.

Re: Faith Radio Hour -- Great to hear the Subways Are For Sleeping overture in any form.  I think it's Styne's best
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Panni on January 26, 2004, 01:20:04 PM
Another thing about the Golden Globes - - why don't I ever see people like Panni, Charles Pogue, BK or Jane on these shows? ? ? ? ?
Actually, td, the only time that I attended the evening I was sitting so far back you would not have seen me. A post from yesterday or the day before explains the whole sordid tale of the lost table.

The funniest line of the evening last night came from Ricky Gervais. I'm paraphrasing - and probably badly: "We're from Britain. You know, the country that used to run the world before you."
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Panni on January 26, 2004, 01:23:51 PM
Right, it's not quantity, is the quality of critical acumen.
The Golden Globe voters ain't a brain trust.
I have no idea what the group is like these days, but on the only occasion I spent time with them (I'm talking about luncheons and things of that type) "ain't a brain trust" would be an understatement of gigantic proportions.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Tomovoz on January 26, 2004, 01:23:58 PM
DR Panni I am sure that are a few DRs who can lend you a tacky enough gown. Maybe there are some preloved Dame Edna frocks available.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Matt H. on January 26, 2004, 01:29:36 PM
Just in case folks lost track since they've changed their calendar this year, but Oscar nominations are announced tomorrow morning, so all this awards talk will continue right on into tomorrow.

What fun!   ;D
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Panni on January 26, 2004, 01:30:07 PM
DR Panni I am sure that are a few DRs who can lend you a tacky enough gown. Maybe there are some preloved Dame Edna frocks available.
I appreciate the offer, DR Tomovoz, but I don't think Dame Edna's frock would fit me unless I went on Charlize Theron's Krispy Kreme diet. I'm willing to try, however (the gown, not the diet) as I do think the lady has impeccable taste.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: S. Woody White on January 26, 2004, 01:33:59 PM
DR Panni I am sure that are a few DRs who can lend you a tacky enough gown. Maybe there are some preloved Dame Edna frocks available.
DR der Brucer would be glad to help out!  (At least, I think he packed up some of the old things!   ;D)

But they would probably fit Charles and BK better than you!   :o
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: S. Woody White on January 26, 2004, 01:56:57 PM
Dear Emily: I was trying to send you a private message, but it appears your in-box is full.

If you could check with your Prof (or, better, one of his assistants), I'd like to know if my reply to the survey was received.  (I included my own name with yours in the name block.)  If not, I'll gladly take the survey again; these things are fascinating.  There may be a problem with the different servers not playing well together.  If that's the case, I can send you my answers, so that you can forward them or hand them in directly.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Jane on January 26, 2004, 01:59:19 PM
Emily your mailbox is empty. I just completed the questionnaire.  
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Jane on January 26, 2004, 02:00:42 PM
I don't know about the others, but I don't have a gown tacky enough.

LOL :D

Then you have been to Ashland?  
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Panni on January 26, 2004, 02:06:36 PM
I'm seeing a lovely new wardrobe coming together here! This is the BEST site on the internet bar none.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Emily on January 26, 2004, 02:08:19 PM
All this talk about ugly dresses led me to think about this web gem:

http://www.uglydress.com/
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Jed on January 26, 2004, 02:16:27 PM
Ah yes, Mr. Pogue, you (and everyone else, for that matter) owe it to yourself to enjoy Oregon sometime.  A very lovely state, with many areas worth exploring.  The Ashland area where Jane is has fantastic scenic appeal (my great-grandparents lived in Jacksonville, that's how I have my familiarity with southern OR), Portland is a wonderful city (yes, Powell's Books is everything you've heard it is) with an under-acknowledged restaurant scene, and I am a huge fan of the Oregon coast (particularly the central coast, around Yachats and Florence, for my tastes).

Geez, you'd think I was the one who worked for the State of Oregon, not MBarnum!

When I look down the road at grad school in a few years, Eugene and the U of O keeps singing its siren song to me.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: George on January 26, 2004, 02:23:57 PM
All this talk about ugly dresses led me to think about this web gem:

http://www.uglydress.com/

ROTFLMAO!! ;D

Especially THIS (http://store2.yimg.com/I/uglydress_1757_7097879) wedding dress!
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Laura II on January 26, 2004, 03:02:42 PM
BK, while I was truant, I caught up with something. I must say that I loved it!! I especially enjoyed the last line. I had intended to ask you if you had ever heard from the girl again, but the last page answered my question!

GGs: I caught bits and pieces...I just thought it was fun to see Nicole Kidman turn and mouth "She's good" when Charlize Theron won. That's better than being caught saying something nasty! :)
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: DERBRUCER on January 26, 2004, 03:08:05 PM
[
To make a long introduction paragraph come to a much anticipated ending - would all of you wonderful Hainsies and Kimlets who are native English speakers (North American ONLY) possibly follow the link to my teacher's website and fill out a short questionnaire on your choice of vocabulary?  


Well, that was revealing. I was born and raised in Philadelphia; attended college in the south, then spent 6 years in Virgina, 2 years in New England (RI and ME), and the rest of my years in southern CA.

As I read the questions I could almost have answered each one two ways - the phrase I learned, and the more formal phrase I'll often use today.

Actually, the Philly background provided even more archaic phrase than some offered, like: Ice Chest, Ash Bucket, Cupboard (for a closet).

der Brucer (what no Pretty Sticker atop the page for getting all the answers right!)
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: DERBRUCER on January 26, 2004, 03:11:05 PM
All this talk about ugly dresses led me to think about this web gem:

http://www.uglydress.com/
Looks like a drag queens closet!

der Brucer (Wong Foo would be pleased)
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: DERBRUCER on January 26, 2004, 03:16:02 PM
...I just thought it was fun to see Nicole Kidman turn and mouth "She's good" when Charlize Theron won. That's better than being caught saying something nasty! :)

And considering her career started with "Children of the Corn III (1995)", it has progressed.

der Brucer (DR SWW and I knew the Producer of CotCIII - he was a Log Cabin chap)
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: bk on January 26, 2004, 03:46:43 PM
Laura II - GREAT!  Now you'll be all ready for Kritzer Time.  Don't forget to write reviews at amazon - every little bit helps.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: SwishySarah on January 26, 2004, 04:04:51 PM
RE: GG- Clint Eastwood looks like he had to climb out of the grave to get there.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Jane on January 26, 2004, 04:13:12 PM
Another thing about the Golden Globes - - why don't I ever see people like Panni, Charles Pogue, BK or Jane on these shows? ? ? ? ?

I’m not sure why I was mentioned but I’m honored to have been so.  I’m also reminded of the time I was invited, by this really nice guy, to go to the Academy Awards when I was in high school.  I was very excited to be invited and wanted very much to go.  I couldn’t afford a dress and asked my parents-well, I was young enough I also had to ask their permission to go.  My parents thought it was a waste of money, which they could easily afford, to purchase a dress I wouldn’t wear again.  So I missed my big chance.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: PennyO on January 26, 2004, 04:15:21 PM
Jane, are you still on? I was at Auntie Eleanor's on Sturday, to take a keepsake. I took the wedding silver, marked with an "L" for you and Keith.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: PennyO on January 26, 2004, 04:17:01 PM
PS - hey, everyone, I have the tackiest evening gowns in the world. For the longest time, my entire wardrobe consisted of jeans, sweats, and evening gowns... but nobody ever asked me to go to an awards show in them.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Jane on January 26, 2004, 04:22:59 PM
Well, that was revealing. I was born and raised in Philadelphia; attended college in the south, then spent 6 years in Virgina, 2 years in New England (RI and ME), and the rest of my years in southern CA.

As I read the questions I could almost have answered each one two ways - the phrase I learned, and the more formal phrase I'll often use today.

Actually, the Philly background provided even more archaic phrase than some offered, like: Ice Chest, Ash Bucket, Cupboard (for a closet).

der Brucer (what no Pretty Sticker atop the page for getting all the answers right!)

That is funny.  I had the same problem having moved around the country after leaving L.A.  My son called while I was answering the questions.  We were discussing how I should answer as a Californian.   He said it was in Michigan that we said pop vs. soda or soft drink.  As for Pennsylvania (at least where we lived), they definitely have an interesting way of pronouncing words.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Jane on January 26, 2004, 04:25:27 PM
Jane, are you still on? I was at Auntie Eleanor's on Sturday, to take a keepsake. I took the wedding silver, marked with an "L" for you and Keith.

Penny that is so nice.  I'm touched & will treasure it.  I will tell Keith.  For everyone else reading Aunt Eleanor was Keith's aunt who was best friends with Penny's mother.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: PennyO on January 26, 2004, 04:33:10 PM
Hiya, Jane. For myself, I took a tiny porcelain box with "Eleanor" in gold on the lid.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: PennyO on January 26, 2004, 04:33:56 PM
And I saw pix in the paper this morning - hated Nicold's dress. Ugh. Where can I get one like it?
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: PennyO on January 26, 2004, 04:36:12 PM
So I guess Bruce has gotten through the galleys and sent the manuscript back for publishing. Wow. Three books in three years. He's so prolific. And has an actual LIFE, besides. A better man than I...
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Charles Pogue on January 26, 2004, 04:40:08 PM
Yes, I did see Anthony Paglia's wife and second the hubba-hubba!

Well, I do have the tux, but not the desire or the conections to attend Award Shows.  I've been to the Writers Guild Awards when I was a member of the board of directors.  The first year Jon Voight sat right next to us and was giving us his number after about fifteen minutes.  My wife's charm, surely not mine.  The second two years were not nearly as exciting...and, if you're not up for anything, the thrill palls.  I'd much rather attend the British Stuntman's Ball which is everso much more fun... and which I've done a couple of times.  I also was invited to the Women In Film Luncheon once.  Sat next to Drew Barrymore.  Diane Keaton, Meryl Streep, anda few other notables were in the general vicinty.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: S. Woody White on January 26, 2004, 05:02:11 PM
The Golden Globe voters ain't a brain trust.  They're just the foreign journalists who got the not-so-plum assignment of the Hollywood beat.  I say not-so-plum because foreign countries don't have the same mania for movie news that we do in the USA.  For all we know, those 90 voters include the cultural editor in some not-widely circulated rag in Trinidad or Chad.
Even a cursory glance over the link der Brucer provided earlier shows that the membership of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association is composed of reporters (if oft'times part-time) from nations that have their own film industries.  Twelve come from Germany, six represent Great Britain, and France has seven.  I don’t think there is a country represented by their membership that hasn’t at least once been nominated for Best Foreign Film by AMPAS.

The foreign audience is a major source of income for the American film industry.  Even as far back as WWII, the loss of that income almost bankrupted Disney.  It is even more valuable today, with films such as Titanic leading the box office in countries such as Japan (only topped by Spirited Away within that film’s own country of origin).  And the market for pirated DVDs is far more volatile internationally than it is in the USA, in spite of the AMPAS attempts to prove they’re “doing something about the problem” by trying to ban screeners locally.

Even in the small, underdeveloped nations, the film industry has an impact, if only in an ancillary way.  There are many countries that supplement their income through the sale of postage stamps, and the inclusion of Hollywood icons and stars in the imagery on those stamps.  These countries certainly aren’t selling all of their stamps within their own borders.

As for the HFPA, they also add to the economies of the countries the journalists represent.  Take, for example, the number of celebrities that do not endorse products here in the USA, but receive large fees for their doing the exact same thing in other nations.  If the income received by the firms hiring the celebrities was not magnitudes larger than the cost of hiring the celebrities, they would not keep up this practice.  This doesn't even begin to account for the licencing of the films and products internationally, and how these boost the local economies.  Keeping the celebrities, and the films they appear in, in the spotlight in the international press is the job of the HFPA membership.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: td on January 26, 2004, 05:05:01 PM
Yes, I did see Anthony Paglia's wife and second the hubba-hubba!


I see that Mr. Pogue is indeed a man of good taste.  ;)
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: George on January 26, 2004, 05:12:46 PM
Penny that is so nice.  I'm touched & will treasure it.  I will tell Keith.  For everyone else reading Aunt Eleanor was Keith's aunt who was best friends with Penny's mother.

WAS his aunt?  She's not anymore?  :-\
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Jrand73 on January 26, 2004, 05:21:29 PM
DR EMILY the ugly dress site was.....well...horrifying!  I think I have seen most of those dresses on my friends and relatives over the years!
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Panni on January 26, 2004, 05:21:50 PM
My big script notes meeting - for which I have been waiting for two months - and which was supposed to take place tomorrow morning at 11 - has just been postponed for a week.
Hit it Ethel:
There's no business like show business...
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: S. Woody White on January 26, 2004, 05:25:13 PM
DR EMILY the ugly dress site was.....well...horrifying!  I think I have seen most of those dresses on my friends and relatives over the years!
Male or female?

 ;D
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: S. Woody White on January 26, 2004, 05:26:12 PM
My big script notes meeting - for which I have been waiting for two months - and which was supposed to take place tomorrow morning at 11 - has just been postponed for a week.
Hit it Ethel:
There's no business like show business...
In it's own screwy way, that's great news!  I hope your throat is feeling better.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Jrand73 on January 26, 2004, 05:27:37 PM
LOL SWW, I will never tell!

Oh Emily - I just took your survey as well!
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Panni on January 26, 2004, 05:28:15 PM
15 more posts and I become a Goddess!  Meanwhile, still earthbound, I must take the wonderdog for a walk.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Tomovoz on January 26, 2004, 05:28:45 PM
DR EMILY the ugly dress site was.....well...horrifying!  I think I have seen most of those dresses on my friends and relatives over the years!
Were they female relatives and friends Jack? Just curious and non judgemental. ;)
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Jed on January 26, 2004, 05:30:37 PM
Well, that just means that now you have plenty of time to get healthy, Panni!

And, yes, another vote in approval of Mrs. LaPaglia. :)
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Tomovoz on January 26, 2004, 05:33:05 PM
Seems some of us think along the same lines here. Hope you are impressed Jack. The first time I have used a "smiley" at HHW. Your surprise was posted today.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Jrand73 on January 26, 2004, 05:39:27 PM
Thanks TomovOZ....yes I have found that many of us are of the same mind here at HHW.  
I shall look forward to my surprise and hopefully your book will arrive sometime before ...  well before February.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: bk on January 26, 2004, 05:44:11 PM
In about ten little posts we shall pass the 23,000 mark
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Tomovoz on January 26, 2004, 05:49:19 PM
I think Mr La Paglia married actress Gia Carrides.
Recommendation for fans of Mr La Paglia - Oz movies "Looking For Alabrandi" and "The Bank". "Lantana" did very well her but I thought it was somewhatt "stagey".
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Matt H. on January 26, 2004, 05:50:57 PM
Renee Zellweger was in one of the TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE sequels. You never know what these folks have to do to break into the business.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Jane on January 26, 2004, 05:55:15 PM
Yes George. :(

Panni considering how you sound maybe it is a good thing your meeting was postponed. I hope you are beginning to feel better.  As I continue to scroll down the posts I see I’m not the only one with this opinion.

Bruce you didn’t comment on my story.  I guess you don’t remember. :o
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Jay on January 26, 2004, 05:55:37 PM
I don't know about the others, but I don't have a gown tacky enough.

I could have lent you mine!
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Danise on January 26, 2004, 05:59:14 PM
Evening all!

Happy Birthday, Music Guy!

This will be short and sweet, I'm soo very tired  but wanted to say,
I didn't watch the Award show.  I think they are such a waste.  The people I want to win rarely do so I rarely watch them.

They are starting a Toastmasters club at work.  I'm thinking of joining.  It would be good for me to have some practice getting up in front of a group of people and having to speak.  

Have a good evening all!
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Jane on January 26, 2004, 06:00:23 PM
I wish I had not looked at the ugly dresses.  That pregnant prom dress might give me nightmares.


Good night Danise.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Jay on January 26, 2004, 06:05:41 PM
The Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. makes a hefty donation each year to the Los Angeles Conservancy in support of its "Last Remaining Seats" series.  Think of the GGs what you will, I call that a nice and meaningful bit of philanthropy.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Andrea on January 26, 2004, 06:10:49 PM
PS - hey, everyone, I have the tackiest evening gowns in the world. For the longest time, my entire wardrobe consisted of jeans, sweats, and evening gowns... but nobody ever asked me to go to an awards show in them.

Mine still does contain all that. I should post pictures of the pink fushia one I wore last year-- I still maintian that it was a beautiful dress!

BTW, anyone have a good link for good pictures of the dresses last night?
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Panni on January 26, 2004, 06:11:53 PM
In it's own screwy way, that's great news!  I hope your throat is feeling better.
Thank you, SWW. The funny thing is that I went to a doctor this afternoon to make sure that I'd be okay for the morning meeting. Normally, I would've just waited out the course of the cold. Oh well...

One of the most aggravating things about these long delays - aside from losing the "fire" that you had going in your writing - is that you don't get paid until your draft is turned in. Thus, there can be a three month (or more) wait between paydays.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Michael on January 26, 2004, 06:14:36 PM
My big script notes meeting - for which I have been waiting for two months - and which was supposed to take place tomorrow morning at 11 - has just been postponed for a week.
Hit it Ethel:
There's no business like show business...

At least you'll be fully recovered by then.

[move=left,scroll,6,transparent,100%]
Let's Go On With the Show
[/color][/move]
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: DERBRUCER on January 26, 2004, 06:15:16 PM
..Los Angeles Conservancy in support of its "Last Remaining Seats" series...

Come on, Jay, let's educate the folks:

La Conservancy (http://www.laconservancy.org/remaining/remaining_main.shtml) - see some great pix of historic LA venues.

der Brucer (doing his part to reach BKs latest milestone)
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: SwishySarah on January 26, 2004, 06:15:55 PM
Maybe I missed it in an earlier post, but I'm guessing no chat tonight. I remember the room was "broken" last night, and I don't remember hearing anything about it becoming fixed. Too bad! No school tomorrow, yet nobody had time to plan something for tonight, so I'm stuck at home. Hmpf.

TD has just become competely A+ 100% wonderful in my book. Let's NOT hear it for bootlegs that we DON'T have!
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Michael on January 26, 2004, 06:17:13 PM
Oh my I was 23,000 and I didn't even know it!!! Congrats here is to 23,000 more and we will be hitting topic 100 on Friday on this new board!!
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Panni on January 26, 2004, 06:19:17 PM
...and, if you're not up for anything, the thrill palls.

I know what you mean, but I still get a kick out of being in a room filled with writers. I find it very energizing. It's like we've all crawled out of our little holes, blinked at the light and come together for a night of fun.
I haven't missed a WGA Awards night since 1990 or 91. I've even flown in from wherever I was living at the time just for the event. Granted they used to be more fun back in the days when Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau would perform a sketch written by Billy Wilder... or Syd Caesar would do his double talk routine... But I still enjoy the evening.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: bk on January 26, 2004, 06:20:24 PM
Jane: I have no memory of that story.  Am I senile?

Here's the fully mocked up cover for Kritzer Time.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Panni on January 26, 2004, 06:22:14 PM
Cover looks grand! And congrats on the 23,000!
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Jane on January 26, 2004, 06:23:13 PM
Bruce-yes.  You were the one who asked me to the awards.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Jane on January 26, 2004, 06:23:44 PM
And the cover looks great!!
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Panni on January 26, 2004, 06:28:02 PM
Bruce-yes.  You were the one who asked me to the awards.

Here's a story I MUST hear! How did Bruce have tickets to the Academy Awards as a high school student?
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Kerry on January 26, 2004, 06:28:54 PM
[
And Diane Lane was channeling Natalie Wood!


Interesting comment, Michael.  Can you explain it?  I like them both, so I want to know what you mean (and I'm feeling denser than normal at the moment).
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Jay on January 26, 2004, 06:40:19 PM
Great blurb, great cover.  Best of luck to you, Dear BK, on this conclusion to your trilogy.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: S. Woody White on January 26, 2004, 07:03:50 PM
Good News!  This time the survey took!
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: S. Woody White on January 26, 2004, 07:05:03 PM
And I agree, good looking cover!  (Interesting contrast in the three, combined, too!)
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: JMK on January 26, 2004, 07:11:13 PM
Where have I been, you ask?  Well you have been asking, haven't you?  Yes, I'm sure you have been.  Haven't you?

Er...where was I?  Oh yes, I have been, Dear Readers in

[move=left,scroll,6,transparent,100%]NEW COMPUTER HELL!![/move]

I got a really cool little unit that's kind of a PC version of an IMAC (all in one, no separate CPU, speakers, etc.), but it turns out it didn't have a full version of XP loaded and a bunch of my MIDI software has made everything kerflooey, so there ya have it.

But where, you might ask, where was I before I was in

[move=left,scroll,6,transparent,100%]NEW COMPUTER HELL!![/move]

Well, I'll tell you.  I was in the

[move=left,scroll,6,transparent,100%]EMERGENCY ROOM![/move]

I had been sanding a sticky kitchen drawer when I felt a sharp twinge and looked down to see a rather large (as in several inches) splinter sticking out of my finger.  Only after I went to my wife and asked her to pull it out did we notice it sticking out the OTHER side of my finger.  Yes, dear readers, it went clear through my finger, which is not a good thing for someone who makes their living with their hands.  Oy.  I say it again.  Oy.

To DRs Charles Pogue & Panni--what do you think of our Oregon friend Mike Rich's shut-out on the Miracle screenwriting credit?  Mike has known my wife for years due to their radio connections, and shortly after Finding Forrester was optioned he sat in our very own kitchen trying to convince my wife to come do the morning drive news at the station for whom he was working.  She wisely decided against getting up every morning at 3 a.m.

There, I'm back.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: SwishySarah on January 26, 2004, 07:11:33 PM
The cover looks awesome! At first I wasn't sure if I liked the colors, but with everything together, it looks great! Now all I have to do is steal Kritzerland from Laura II and I'll be set.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: SwishySarah on January 26, 2004, 07:13:51 PM
WOW, JMK! Are you doing better now? That must have been awful!

And Jane, your last post made me laugh. Bruce, HOW could you not remember that?
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: JMK on January 26, 2004, 07:15:32 PM
TOMOVOZ & SIGERSON Be watching your mailboxes.  Don't ask me why, just do it.  :)
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: bk on January 26, 2004, 07:17:06 PM
Jane must tell the story because I, who have an incredible memory for the details of that period, remember nothing.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Jay on January 26, 2004, 07:23:36 PM
Nothing like a little impalement to ruin your day, Dear Reader JMK.  I certainly hope all is OK and your manual dexterity remains undiminished!
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Jane on January 26, 2004, 07:33:17 PM
Here's a story I MUST hear! How did Bruce have tickets to the Academy Awards as a high school student?

I think he was out of high school by then.  I don't remember the details or the exact year, only my disappointment .
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: S. Woody White on January 26, 2004, 07:36:52 PM
All this talk about ugly dresses led me to think about this web gem:

http://www.uglydress.com/
DR Emily, I wish you had given more warning about this site.  One should never look at it until an hour after eating, or risk getting cramps!
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Jane on January 26, 2004, 07:37:15 PM
Where have I been, you ask?  Well you have been asking, haven't you?  Yes, I'm sure you have been.  Haven't you?


Yes I was wondering.  Glad to have you back.  Is your hand going to be okay?  
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: bk on January 26, 2004, 07:38:27 PM
Well, I obviously was a gentleman, since I didn't go without Jane.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: S. Woody White on January 26, 2004, 07:41:01 PM
TOMOVOZ & SIGERSON Be watching your mailboxes.  Don't ask me why, just do it.  :)
I'm getting this strange visual image, of Tomovoz and Sigerson slowly circling their respective mailboxes, carefully, suspiciously, never blinking, never letting down their guard for an instant...
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Jane on January 26, 2004, 07:44:50 PM
Bruce I’m sure I would have intentionally blocked out the details of your evening with someone else.  Our memories can be rather selective.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Jane on January 26, 2004, 07:50:52 PM
You can't remember going and I have a vague memory that you didn't.   :D
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Panni on January 26, 2004, 07:51:17 PM
To DRs Charles Pogue & Panni--what do you think of our Oregon friend Mike Rich's shut-out on the Miracle screenwriting credit?
I know nothing about it, JMK. But I do know that credit arbitrations can be mysterious and...arbitrary.

Hope your hand heals soon! Ouch!!
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: JMK on January 26, 2004, 07:51:40 PM
Thanks DRs for your concern--yes, hand is fine, in fact you can barely see where the damned thing pierced me.  What REALLY hurt was the tetanus shot!!  (I think Betsy was secretly hoping for lockjaw to set in, but that's another anecdote completely).
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: S. Woody White on January 26, 2004, 07:54:21 PM
Currently, in Philadelphia they're holding what they call "Restaurant Week."  That's where a whole bunch of restaurants get together and serve a more limited menu to those saying that's why they're there, but for a smaller price tag.  The idea is to encourage diners to try new places.  Well, it's actually to encourage diners to spend more money in more places.  But that's a good thing, right?

I seriously doubt that der Brucer and I will be making our way north to his former home town for a while, but one of the nice things about the Restaurant Week Website (http://www.centercityphila.org/restaurantweek2004/default.aspx) it that it provides all sorts of links to the participating eateries, or most of them at least.  Some of them even have recipes!  (This is a whole lot more than the Washington D. C. Restaurant Week website, which didn't give links to doodly-squat!  But their Restaurant Week is already over with.)
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: SwishySarah on January 26, 2004, 08:00:14 PM
I have just finished the latest Unseemly Interview. What fun! He seems like such an entertaining person. I enjoyed it.

I do have one question, which I feel rather dumb asking, but apparently no question is a dumb question, so here goes: What on earth is a theremin?!

Ah, I feel better now.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Panni on January 26, 2004, 08:02:12 PM
I'm going to watch my tape of CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM from last night. Although I have to say that bk showed me a couple of old shows the other night - a Jack Benny and a Phil Silvers Show - and both of them had me on the floor. There is nothing - nothing - as funny on TV today. Larry David himself, says that his idol was Nat Hiken and the old Bilko shows.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Panni on January 26, 2004, 08:07:51 PM
I What on earth is a theremin?!
It's a musical instrument - the first electronic instrument -  that sounds like an eerie human voice. It was invented by a weird Russian scientist named Leon Theremin, around 1918 or 19, I think. When you hear that high-pirched "eeeeeee" sound in horror movies - that's the theremin. There's a wonderful documentary about him and the invention.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: bk on January 26, 2004, 08:09:13 PM
Jane, I can assure you I have NEVER been to the Academy Awards, so when you said you couldn't go I must have said phut to whoever was offering the tix.

A theremin in a strange instrument - it's actually not an instrument - it makes a strange noise when you use your hand in front of some electric device.  It can play on pitch, and was used most famously in Miklos Rozsa's score to Mr. Hitchcock's Spellbound, as well as countless sci-fi movies from the fifties.  The Ondes Martinot is a second cousin to the theremin.  I believe Howard Shore used the theremin in Ed Wood, and there is a wonderful documentary on the instrument.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Matt H. on January 26, 2004, 08:12:09 PM
The freezing rain we were supoosed to get all day never arrived. Now the forecast says it's coming after midnight. It's been so cold here that all the snow and sleet we had yesterday didn't melt at all today, so everything is still very icy here. And bitter cold outside. I've spent the entire day indoors, but I didn't get any DVDs watched. I watched programs I recorded last night while the Golden Globes were going on.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: S. Woody White on January 26, 2004, 08:12:32 PM
I do have one question, which I feel rather dumb asking, but apparently no question is a dumb question, so here goes: What on earth is a theremin?!
The theremin is one of the first electronic instruments, invented by Lev Theremin.  (You'd think he could have named it after his girlfriend, but no, he had to get greedy with the accolades.)  It is played by waving your hands between two projecting electrodes, and provided lots of early sci-fi movies with that eerie wooo-ooo-ooo sound.

(On the other hand, Theremin was Russian, and his girlfriend could well have been named Olga.  Who would want to play something called the Olgaphone?)
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Panni on January 26, 2004, 08:13:25 PM
Swishy - More on the theremin. THE LOST WEEKEND and SPELLBOUND make terrific use of the theremin. As does, if my memory isn't playing tricks, THE 5000 FINGERS OF DR. T. As do lots and lots of horror films - or films where the Martians are invading. Ed Wood loved the theremin. I have a particular weakness for it because it is so damn weird.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Panni on January 26, 2004, 08:18:50 PM
bk - You were cheating on the theremin test -- looking at my paper for sure.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: SwishySarah on January 26, 2004, 08:19:08 PM
Wow! Four responses! I'm glad I asked! Even though I still don't have a clue as to what you're talking about. I suppose that if I heard it, I'd know. Still, thats a wonderful thing about this site: Everyone is so full of information.

Have I mentioned how much I love my iPod? Because if I haven't mentioned how much I love my iPod, I'll tell you now: I love my iPod THIS MUCH!! *stretches arms out as far as they can go*
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: S. Woody White on January 26, 2004, 08:19:31 PM
We've had pretty snow here in Delaware, which arrived last night.  It is very light and fluffy, and the dogs had a wonderful time running around in the yard today, playing in it and making it yellow.  I think they were having a competition to see who could make the most interesting pattern.

We're supposed to have more stuff coming down in the next day or so, but it's not supposed to be as pretty.  Then we've got the rest of the week with clear skies predicted.

(By the way, tonight's Hamburger Stroganoff was yummilicious.  I added a pinch of red pepper flakes at the start, when I was cooking the onions and mushrooms, which gave it an nice boost without being overpowering.)
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: bk on January 26, 2004, 08:21:58 PM
No, Panni, we were typing at the same time, you deluded taffy.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Jay on January 26, 2004, 08:22:18 PM
Dear Swish--

If you've heard the Beach Boys' rendition of "Good Vibrations," you've heard a theremin.  It's the only musical instrument that is played with the musician NOT touching the instrument.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Panni on January 26, 2004, 08:22:53 PM
I suppose that if I heard it, I'd know.

Rent LOST WEEKEND. It's a great film and you can hear the theremin - when he having DT's.

Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: JMK on January 26, 2004, 08:25:17 PM
Did any of you know that the theremin is an electronic instrument invented by Theremin and that there is a GREAT documentary about it?  I thought not.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Panni on January 26, 2004, 08:27:00 PM
No, Panni, we were typing at the same time, you deluded taffy.

I've never been called a deluded taffy before. I'll take it as a compliment - the taffy part, anyway. And I KNOW we were typing at the same time. I just thought it was funny we used exactly the same phrase in referring to what is in the normal world a relatively obscure doc - a double whammy.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Jay on January 26, 2004, 08:27:37 PM
I was just thinking...somebody should really do a documentary about the theremin.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Tomovoz on January 26, 2004, 08:28:19 PM
After an hour of loitering around the local post office (I don't have mail delivered to the house), I thought I should not tempt fate of the Neighbourhood Watch vigilantes any longer. I shall just have to keep hoping that my lack of courage does not prevent whatever is about to happen from happening. Perhaps it will be the arrival of free tickets to Brazil.
Glad to know that you are OK JMK. My sister sliced open her hand a few months ago (I told her the wrists would be more effective) and microsurgery had to be perfomed.  Dangerous things - hands.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Panni on January 26, 2004, 08:31:26 PM
Dear Swish--

If you've heard the Beach Boys' rendition of "Good Vibrations," you've heard a theremin.
I should've thought of that, DR Jay! You are a constant source of valuable information.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Jay on January 26, 2004, 08:31:49 PM
Anyone else getting suspect e-mail lately?  I received four e-mails tonight from unknown senders with odd e-mail addresses, each containing an attachment but no text message.  Zapped them without opening them, I did.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Tomovoz on January 26, 2004, 08:32:24 PM
"Taffy" is a nice compliment Panni. It doesn't mean toffee in OZ. It is a term of endearment for a Welshman.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Matt H. on January 26, 2004, 08:33:11 PM
OK, off to bed now. Looking forward to the Oscar nominations tomorrow. GOod night.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Jay on January 26, 2004, 08:33:26 PM
I should've thought of that, DR Jay! You are a constant source of valuable information.

Likewise, Dear Reader Panni!
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Panni on January 26, 2004, 08:34:13 PM
I'm going to savor my upcoming ascent to goddessvile and post this one post and not post another until later tonight. How's that for incredible self-control and admirable restraint?
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: S. Woody White on January 26, 2004, 08:40:39 PM
OK, off to bed now. Looking forward to the Oscar nominations tomorrow. GOod night.
Another case of West Coast/East Coast, sorry to say.  The nominations are given before the sun rises (or most self-respecting sons, for that matter) in Hollywood, in order to make the New York newscasts.  Isn't that redicuous?  Or fuchiadiculous, at least?
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Jane on January 26, 2004, 08:43:19 PM
Jane, I can assure you I have NEVER been to the Academy Awards, so when you said you couldn't go I must have said phut to whoever was offering the tix.


How sweet. :)
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Jay on January 26, 2004, 08:49:45 PM
Speaking of eerie sounding, obscure and rarely used musical instruments, shall we now discuss the glass harmonica?
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Jane on January 26, 2004, 08:50:10 PM
Panni I will miss your ascension.  

I should have said good night earlier & let Keith let Echo out tonight.  We have had snow flurries all day and she came back in a bit muddy.  But then, if I had done so, I would have missed all of the fun posts tonight. :D

Good night.  Have fun.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Charles Pogue on January 26, 2004, 09:12:52 PM
DR Panni, Anyone who is a Miklos Rozsa fan like Bruce knows the theremin...Really, he wasn't looking at your paper.

JMK, I know nothing of Mike Rich's supposed credit shut-out, but you're talking to the wrong guy.  

As the pit-bull of writers' creative rights,  I believe the first writer should get credit and anyone else who comes on a project after that should be an uncredited script doctor.  I think the guild should be doing things to reduce writers on projects, not to increase the number of writers.  

Anything that encourages a studio from cavalierly throwing a writer off a script and throwing two, three, four or more other writers at  the script is bad...bad for the script and bad for all writers.  I also don't believe in a system that encourages writers to leap over the fallen carcasses of their brethren and feed on their carcasses.  If you don't give first writer credit, then you should not tie backend monies and residuals to credit.  Too many writers blithely rewrite their fellows in an attempt to get credit and a cut of the backend. Their goal becomes not to improve the script but to get credit...and hence, money.

I hate being rewritten...I would think any writer would...so why do to somebody else what you hate having done to you?  

For a long time now, my policy has been I will rewrite only if I have the early writer(s)'s blessing to do so or it is a page-one rewrite and I'm starting from scratch or with the original source material and I do not have to read any previous drafts.

The Writers Guild can sometimes be its own worst enemy.  Any system that encourages a proliferation of credits or encourages writers savaging other writers and other writers' work in order to get credit and more money is a bad system.  

Why is the director so powerful?  Because there is only one director on a film.  A lesson the Writers Guild should learn.  I won't be happy until the Writers Guild has the same deal the Dramatists Guild has...no one can change a thing without the playwright's permission.  No one in drama works without the dramatist.  He is the reason everyone else gathers.

"The director and the cast are servants of the playwright; He must therefore be the centre of the collaboration."  -- Sir Peter Hall --

But, I did a screenplay weekend with Mike Rich in Vegas a couple of years ago and found him a delightful and talented fellow.  Please say hello for me.  He's a very good writer.  I don't know Mike's situation on this film you're talking about (Was he the original writer? Or did he come in as a re-writer?).  

But I'm always leary when Writers talk about getting screwed in the arbitration process.  Flawed as it is, I think it's more fair in its guidelines than most writers claim.  I, for one, have always come back from an arbitration with exactly the credit I expected to get...be it sole or shared credit.   The only time I was ever surprised is when I was not only awarded sole screen credit, but also awarded a shared story credit I had not asked for and wasn't expecting.  It was a remake of an old film, but the arbiters thought that I had substantially changed the story enough that I got a shared story credit with the writers of the original film from the fifties.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Charles Pogue on January 26, 2004, 09:14:51 PM
Jay, there is a new worm working its way around the world.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: bk on January 26, 2004, 09:35:23 PM
Amen, Pogue!
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Panni on January 26, 2004, 10:04:04 PM
I COULD NOT agree more, fellow-scribe Pogue. In fact, for years I refused to even look at rewrites unless it was totally page one. If all writers refused to rewrite their brothers' and sisters' work, the studios and networks would have to stop this ridiculous "(s)he's written out, let's get a new writer" mentality.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Panni on January 26, 2004, 10:04:59 PM
And that was a perfect topic for Post #500!
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Panni on January 26, 2004, 10:05:40 PM
I don't hear trumpets... Wait! I hear a theremin....
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Tomovoz on January 26, 2004, 10:08:33 PM
Congratulations Panni.  You don't need a green card here.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Panni on January 26, 2004, 10:09:58 PM
Thanks, Tomovoz. At last I'm a citizen.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Panni on January 26, 2004, 10:13:50 PM
DR Panni, Anyone who is a Miklos Rozsa fan like Bruce knows the theremin...
It's no surprise that Rozsa used the theremin. It's the perfect instrument for a Hungarian.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Charles Pogue on January 26, 2004, 10:14:32 PM
Panni, unfortunately, it's always the people who have studied and lived with the script the least who have the most power over it.  

Everyone is always very tentative in telling the director how to direct, or the art designer how to design, or the composer how to score,or even the lighting technician how to hang a light, and, God knows, if you told some Iatse guy where to move a prop, you'd probably have a hammer dropped on your head from the catwalk.  But everybody and his brother has no compunction or hesitation whatever  in telling the writer how to write.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Charles Pogue on January 26, 2004, 10:17:59 PM
I'm convinced Rozsa's nationality is why he's the greatest.  It's just the gypsy in his soul.  My absolute favourite composer.  "A gypsy knows how to make a violin cry."  A theremin too!
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Jed on January 26, 2004, 10:18:14 PM
This evening's conversation instantly made me think of a poster for a concert given by the composition majors in my music department a couple years ago: "Why come to Composers' Night?  Two words: Theramin, baby!!!"

Thanks to one of my music theory profs being big into 20th century composition and such, I've actually gotten to play a theramin a couple times.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Charles Pogue on January 26, 2004, 10:18:58 PM
By the by, Panni, congrats on your divinity.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: bk on January 26, 2004, 10:26:23 PM
You'll soon add composers to the list of the downtrodden.  They have so much interference today it's not even funny.  Everyone suddenly is an expert - it's all the "temping" films with other music.  The director falls in love with his temp track and the composer is forced to imitate it.  If he doesn't, they make him rewrite it, if he can't or won't, they bring in someone else to complete his work, or they simply toss the score.  This happens to everyone - Jerry Goldsmith has had many scores tossed out of films, most recently, Timeline - so has Elmer Bernstein and Henry Mancini and others that would shock you.  Never EVER happened in the old days because producers and directors trusted their composers and pretty much stayed out of their way.  The first real public tossing out of a score (at least that I remember) was Herrmann on Torn Curtain.   But years before, when Magnificent Ambersons was recut and scenes were shot by someone else, I believe Herrmann refused to score them and Roy Webb came in and did them and they're horrid.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Panni on January 26, 2004, 10:27:13 PM
Thanks for the congrats, DR Pogue. And I agree about Rozsa's nationality making him great. I love being Hungarian. We're an odd lot, true, but there IS something in the blood. I have so many artists, actors, etc in my famlily. A wonderfully eccentric lot. The only problem for me is knowing that I no longer belong there - nor do I fully belong here. It's in a way a good thing for a writer to be always the outsider. But I have to say that when I'm in Hungary (which is not very often) a strange calm falls over me. I'm at home.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Panni on January 26, 2004, 10:34:07 PM
Panni, unfortunately, it's always the people who have studied and lived with the script the least who have the most power over it.
I remember once saying to a producer who - after a year of work, shortly before shooting was about to begin - was forced by the network to put someone else on my script - saying to her that I highly doubted that someone could waltz in and "fix" something I had bled my soul into for a year. It turned out I was right and once the new script was delivered I was asked if I would come back. When I walked into the production office for the first meeting with the director (a director of considerable renown) he stood up and said, "Ah, the talent is finally here." I think that was the best moment of vindication of my entire life.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Charles Pogue on January 26, 2004, 10:39:43 PM
Bruce, it is too, too sad.  Goldsmith's original score for LEGEND was superb and they replaced with rock music from Pink Floyd.  One of the good things about DVD is that I think they have re-released the film with its original score or it's at least one of the options on the DVD.  Nice man, Goldsmith.  He wanted to do DRAGONHEART which I thought was a swell idea.  I wanted him too...which shows you how much clout the writer has.

Was it Hitchcock that threw out Herrman's score or Universal?

Panni, I know...admittedly on a much smaller scale...what you mean about not belonging  to either place...I've lived in LA now longer than anyplace, over 25 years, but I still don't feel like or call myself an Angelean.  The roots are still Kentucky and I often moon about, dream of, and/or threaten a return to  home, but there is always the fear that I'll find the place so prosaic and be bored out of my gourd within a month or two.  Still it instills a soothing peace over me when I'm there.  Both my wife and my manager were looking at the pictures of my 35th High School Reunion and both said the same thing: "You look so happy."  It must mean something.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Panni on January 26, 2004, 10:49:52 PM
Panni, I know...admittedly on a much smaller scale...what you mean about not belonging  to either place...
Once, many years ago, when I was still an actress, I was visiting Hungary, going from theater to theater and loving it. I decided I was a fool not to be where I belonged. So I asked the head of one of the major theaters in Budapest if i could audition. He was intrigued, said yes  - and I did. And he said I could join the company if I took Hungarian lessons of 6 months to get rid of the slight English intonation when I spoke Hungarian. I almost did it. It was something quite ridiculous (and personal) which changed my mind. But had I stayed - who knows who I would be today? (BTW - I'm glad I didn't stay. I'm a much better writer than I ever was an actor.)
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Panni on January 26, 2004, 10:58:56 PM
Every goddess needs her beauty sleep. Good-night, all.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: S. Woody White on January 26, 2004, 11:01:20 PM
[move=up,scroll,6,transparent,100%]Congratulations on your Ascention, Panni![/move]
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Charles Pogue on January 26, 2004, 11:04:21 PM
Panni, I wish I had such tales of vindication.  I'm usually only vindicated after they've ruined the film.  A pyrrhic victory that.

I don't know if I'm a better writer than I was an actor.  Though I was a very polished actor and had lots of panache, qualities I share as a writer, but I think I take more chances as a writer than I ever did as an actor.  I think I'd be a much more dangerous actor today because of my writing.  And certainly my acting experience enhances my writing every day.  I've always been more of an actor's writer than an director's writer.  
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: Charles Pogue on January 26, 2004, 11:08:57 PM
An addendum to above.  I think I'm glad I endured as a writer rather than actor. I don't envy the life of most of my acting friends.  A much more precarious existence, though both writing and acting can be the most emotionally debilitating careers in the world.  But as someone once wisely said to me, "If you can write, you'll eventually work in this town.  That's not true if you can act."  I'm not sure it's true anymore even if you can write.  But it was when I started.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: bk on January 26, 2004, 11:44:15 PM
Hitch, under pressure from Universal.  And it wasn't Pink Floyd but Tangerine Dream - just as bad, though.
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: bk on January 26, 2004, 11:56:36 PM
Last call, last call - hear ye, hear ye!
Title: Re:THE LEAPING PHRASE
Post by: bk on January 26, 2004, 11:56:51 PM
And one for Mahler