tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1072791278951155662023-07-28T16:10:55.433-07:00Film Book NotesTchaikovsky Sounds Funnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09895799697398645324noreply@blogger.comBlogger185125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107279127895115566.post-17346667894460570892016-06-10T12:53:00.002-07:002016-06-10T12:53:37.601-07:00"Rene and Me" by Gorden Kaye<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Gorden Kaye with Hilary Bonno. Rene & Me: An Autobiography. London” Sidwich and Jacksn, 1989.<br />
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Actor Gorden Kaye has “painful awkwardness and “dreadful shyness” as an overweight youth. He joined the drama club and found acting as a “homecoming”. He used acting for the rest of his life “as a welcome escape from the harshest aspects of bleak reality/”<br />
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Kaye starred in “‘Allo “Allo, a BBC television series. There was criticism from those who felt its setting as a comedy during the Nazi occupation of France was objectionable. The show was successful. It was a success that drew a large number of British viewers at 16 million watching.<br />
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There were some mistakes during shooting A scene where a woman tried to rescue actor Arthur Bostrom, whose character who is hanging from a tree as his parachute is entangled. The female character accidentally pulls down Bostrom’s pants while trying to rescue him. During a take, she accidentally pulled down his pants and underpants. Of course, that tape was not the one chosen for airing.<br />
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There was a year gap between filming the pilot in 1982 and the series beginning.<br />
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Kaye, when delivering speeches, prefers to speech in character of Rene, who he portrays in “‘Allo ‘Allo”, Kaye is still shy and finds it easier to pretend to be Rene.<br />
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Once while in Rene mode, Kaye spoke at a dinner for Richard Branson and his Virgin Airlines, noting “why anyone wants to fly with an airline that is not prepared to go all the way I cannot understand.”<br />
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The longest audience laugh while filming was when an acrobat held a suggestion position while being interviewed for a job as a wait server. The audience laughed for 37 seconds. The scene was reduced for TV broadcast.<br />
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Kate observed he never used his French accent while speaking English as a means to get a laugh. This was something Peter Sellers did masterfully as Inspector Clouseau.<br />
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“‘‘Allo ‘Allo” filmed most of its scenes before a live audience. Kaye notes some actors find an audience as disturbing and prefer not to shoot in front of audiences. Kaye found shooting before an audience “brings it all alive.<br />
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“‘Allo ‘Allo” was shown in France, Kaye notes that it may have been hard from some French viewers to buy a British comedy which makes French characters the butts f some jokes especially with the show was set during a time when French citizens ere being harmed and killed. Kaye appreciates that so many French viewers enjoyed the series.<br />
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Kaye belonged to a technical college drama group where he learned much about acting. He later was a past of the Bradford Amateur Theatre Group. He was in a play shown on BBC. When he joined Equity, they misspelled his first name as “Gorden”. He had a kidney stone attack and was unable to correct the error before receiving his Equity card. He accepted his new name.<br />
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Kaye performed in more plays before he was then cast on the TV show “Coronation Street”, which is seen by 500 million people. He was on that series for eight months. He was not given a contract extension. Kaye appeared in two episodes of “Are You Being Served?”. Crift then cast Kaye in a seires “Come Back Mrs. Noah”. It lsted one eason,<br />
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David Croft, who created “‘Allo ‘Allo” seriesm hired Kaye for the lead road. Croft also originaly thought the Edith character should be an opera singer. Carmen Silvera who portrayed Edith, recommended Edit e a good signerm in parr because she was petrified to sing, Croft agreed with the suggestion.<br />
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The “‘Allo ‘Allo” TV actors performed stage versions of the show. The stage show broke some audience records.<br />
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Tchaikovsky Sounds Funnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09895799697398645324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107279127895115566.post-49592698550488658232016-02-08T09:24:00.002-08:002016-02-08T09:24:50.483-08:00Them Ornery Mitchum Boys by John Mitchum<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
John Mitchum. Them Ornery Mitchum Boys: The Adventures of Robert & John Mitchum Pacific, CA.: Creatures at Large Press, 1989.<br />
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A large amount of brawling occurred amongst the Mitchum brothers throughout life. Many of these fights are detailed and we see the Mitchums up for themselves and are tough and usually victorious. It was not wise to challenge a Mitchum, as most of the fights were brought on by others.<br />
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It was often supporting character actors who had the lines the public remembered from films during Hollywood’s Golden Age. As skilled actors, the Mitchum brothers delivered many of the memorable lines in their films.<br />
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The Mitchum brothers were nicknamed “them ornery Mitchum boys” from childhood. Bullies attacked them. John bit back and Bob fought them so hard both bullies were hospitalized.<br />
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Their sister Annette became a dancer on Broadway shows. She moved to California and changed her name to Julie. Bob spent time as a young hobo and took a train to visit his sister. She took Bob along on auditions. Bob to some theater work beginning in 1937, Bob realized he could reach inward and find characters using his adventurous youth as a brawler and hobo. He had even briefly been in a chain gang while being a hobo.<br />
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Bob appeared in his first movie, “Border Patrol”, filmed in 1942 and released in 1943, This led to more move roles in 1943, Bob appeared in five movies in 1944 including “Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo”. His role in “Nevada” gained notice leading to more work He was in “The Story of G.I. Joe” in 1945 that brought him even more attention.<br />
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Robert Mitchum was in the movie “Cossfire”. He established himself as one who underplayed his characters. Director Eddie Dwytryk coached “I know what you’re doing, but it you keep it up, even the sound man won’t hear ya.”<br />
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In 1947, John MItchum was approached in the streets by an agent who asked if John waa an actor. John stated he was not. The agent asked if he wanted to be an actor. John replied “Why not? Where do I go?” John was signed to be in the movie “The Private.”<br />
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Robert was arrested for having marijuana in 1948. John writes it was entrapment. The press was alerted before the police entered a party and arrested him. John believes the police and move studio wanted to show they were doing something about the marijuana problem. Yet they did not want one of their big stars arrested. So Robert was set up Robert was sentenced to 60 days in jail and two years probation.<br />
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The event helped publicize Robert Mitchum’s name. He received larger roles.<br />
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John was in the movie “Flying Leathernecks”. A replica of Henderson Field, where Marine Corps planes flew, was built. It was so realistic it startled pilots who were familiar with Henderson Field.<br />
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John was on the 1951 TV series “Adams Spare Rib” which ran for 13 episodes, The sponsor, Easy Air Mattress, on live TV attempting to show how strong their mattress was that it could even hold an elephant, brought in an elephant, The elephant’s toot went through the mattress.<br />
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John was in the movie “One Minute to Zero”. In the move, he played an artillery officer ordered to fire on refugees being used as shields by North Korean troops. This was a controversial scene as this did happen in the Korean War.<br />
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Nicholas Ray was a director who would sit in deep concentration and then jump up with every detail having been determined. Ray directed both brothers in “The Lusty Men”. Both brothers agree it was one of their best films.<br />
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Henry Hathaway as a director was known for screaming directions. The author believed Hathaway would yell at weak links in cast and crew as a form of therapy.<br />
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Simone Silva, an actress who Robert had never met, ran up naked from the waist up to Robert, in front of press photographers. Silva did this to publicize her career.<br />
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If an extra had to say a line, the extra was paid more money, perhaps $40 in the early 1950w. Some movies saved paying an extra by having them respond nonverbally, such as being asked how many rode into town, and the extra would raise a number of fingers.<br />
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Bob once crawled in a scene bare chested for four takes for director John Huston. When Huston say how Bob was bloody from nettled, Huston asked when Bob didn’t say anything. Bob replied “That’s the shot you wanted, wasn’t it?”<br />
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Carey Lofton was a noted stunt driver. He once dug a trench so he could perfectly hit it while driving at a high speed in order for the care to roll over three times and land exactly were requested.<br />
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Actor Charles McGraw once complained that his Mexican hotel toiler did not flush. McGraw did not realize the handle was on the left side. McGraw died in 1980, probably while drunk, when he fell through the glass in shower which cut an artery.<br />
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Bob Mitchum was in 19 movies during the 1960s.<br />
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When John was filmed “El Doredo”, the director Howard Hawks told John a squid would go off on his hard at the count of three. This would simulate a bullet hitting his hand. Hawks had the squid go off on the count of one to film John’s actual surprise reaction.<br />
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Bob stated of actor Bruce Dern in 1982 “he hasn’t yet learned that acting is not a competitive business”<br />
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On actor Forrest Tucker, John writes I an happier to write that the tales of his sexual prowess, so legendary as to sound apocryphal, are true.” Tucker once his his penis to sink a two foot gold shot.<br />
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Clint Eastwood stated his directing style consisted of “1.) there are no rules of filmmaking---only sins---and the cardinal sin is dullness, and 2.) never underestimate the intelligence of the audience. Doing os stimulates restlessness and boredom and taxes the audience’s patience.”<br />
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Clint Eastwood demanded and received half interest in his movies. As director Ted Post stated, “This approach took its tool of meaningful scenes that were ruthlessly shortchanged and even excised. Clint’s gread and ego began to affect his sensibility and judgment. It was painful to watch.” Eastwood once allowed Post to direct a scene Post argued was important. Eastwood had instructed the cameramen not to even load the cameras and then claim the film was ruined in the laboratory,<br />
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An inmate at San Quentin Prison once told John Mitchum the mistake in films when someone is shot and they fall backwards several feet. The inmate explained he has shot and killed three people and each kept moving forward towards him.<br />
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John had a role in the CBS daytime TV drama “Clear Horizons.”</div>
Tchaikovsky Sounds Funnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09895799697398645324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107279127895115566.post-69262866080253747792016-01-14T18:39:00.000-08:002016-01-14T18:39:16.791-08:00By Some Miracle I Made It Out of There by Tom Sizemore<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Tom Siexmore with Anna David. By Some Miracle I Made it Out of There: A Memoir. New York: Atria Books, 2013.]<br />
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Sizemore writes how he overcame drug abuse and restored a career that had been harmed by his imprisonment.<br />
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Sizemore was addicted to heroin as well as crystal meth. He admits back then he was not seeking sobriety.<br />
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Sizemore grew up admiring his two uncles who were drug dealers, even though his father did not use any drugs.<br />
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Sizemore, as a child, read books about James Dean and Montgomery Clift. He decided he wanted to be an actor. At age 20, Sizemore tried out for the League of Professional Theater Training Programs. He was accepted into Temple University’s program. He immersed himself in studying acting. He played on the college’s main stage as a first year student. He continued with graduate school and received an MFA. He worked performing in theatre in New York City. He attended the Ensemble master acting class.<br />
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A casting director, Risa Braman, helped bring New York City actors such as Alex Baldwin, John Torturro, Ethan Hawke, and Anthony LaPaglia to Hollywood films. She cast Sizemore in “Blue Steel”. That led to a role in “Point Break”, “Strange Days”, and “Born on the Fourth of July.”<br />
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Sizemore filmed with director Oliver Stone Stone thought Sizemore acted well. Yet Sizemore was very self-critical. Stone added Sizemore to additional scenes,<br />
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Sizemore was cast in the movie “Lock It Up”. Sizemore was amazed by Mickey Rourke’s talents.<br />
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Sizemore believes if you can imagine yourself being anything else but an actor, then you should be doing something else” He notes that an actor is selling, not a product, but the actor. Being rejected for a role is “the most personal kind of rejection.” He decided when he was rejected for a rle he would grieve for a day and then move on.<br />
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Sizemore had a recurring role on the TV series “China Beach”. Several more movie roles followed. He received a leading role in the movie “Passenger 57”.<br />
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When Sizemore was cast in “Natural Born Killers”, he realized he needed to become sober. He went to AA and achieve brief sobriety before filming.<br />
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Sizemore completed a 30 day rehab program. He returned to drugs without four hours after getting out of rehab. He still wanted to get high. He notes that “it sounds insane, I realize, but if you even heard that a guy OD’d fro a certain batch of drugs, you’d find out who his dealeer had been because you know that heroin was good.”<br />
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Sizemore was cast in “Saving Private Ryan”. He had to promise producer Steven Speilberg he could remain sober during the filming.<br />
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Sizemore next portrayed John Gotti in an NBC-TV mini-series “Witness to the Mob” He gained 40 pounds to play the role. Hw loat the weight under doctor[s supervision. He then was in the movie “Florentine”.<br />
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Sizemore went into methadone maintenance. He started at 200 mg, the largest amount allowed. He became addicted to methadone. He was on methadone for two years. He returned to using heroin. His wife called an ambulance when he didn’t respond and was told the ambulance got to him before he suffered brain damage.<br />
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Sizemore appeared in “Red Planet” with Val Kilmer. Kilmer kept production waiting 3 to 4 hours daily while arguing with director Antony Hoffman for script changes. Val Kilmer and Sizemore got into an argument and Kilmer responded by throwing a lighter at Sizemore. Kilmer later kept everyone waiting for nine hours. Kilmer got angry at a 18 year old prop gifl, called her a “dumb bitch”, and threw a lit cigarette at her which burned her chest. Things were so tense a producer asked Sizemore, if he came to blows with Kilmer, not to hit Kilmer in the face as it might be hard to cover that up with make-up. Sizemore did hit Kilmer in the chest, stomach, and arms. Both Kilmer and Sizemore were going through divorces. They later spoke to each other about their personal troubles and became friends.<br />
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Sieemore dated convicted prostitution madam Heidi Fleiss. They consumed meth together. Sizenore noted “when you’re letting yourself fall deep into a hole with drugs, whatever reins you have on other aspects of your ife can easily disintegrate.” Heidi Fleiss told interviewer Howard Stern has hard Sizemore’s movie “Black Hawk Down”. The film producer canceled a planned Academy Award campaign for Sizemore.<br />
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Siemore stopped using meth while filming a TV movie Sons of the Father” because he was afraid of carrying meth on a flight to Canada. When Sizemore filmed the movie “Swindle”, Heidi Fleiss sent women to Canada to deliver meth to Sizemore. Fleiss also put speed in his Visine bottle.<br />
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Sizemore was cast in the CBS TV series “Robbery Homicide Division”. Critics liked the show yet it had poor ratings. It was canceled after a few months.<br />
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Heidi Fleiss believed Sizemore stole her list of prostitutes. Sizemore states he believes Fleiss had a friend falsely claim Sizemore abused her and then drop the charges. Sizemore’s arrest made news but not that the charges were dropped.<br />
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Fleiss later had Sizemore arrested, claiming he hit her. He denies this. He was convicted on some counts.<br />
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Before sentencing, Sizemoe filmed his role in the movie :”Hustle”. Director Peter Bogdanovich stated people are mistaken in telling actors to become rheir roles, and an actor should strive to b the best “look for the character” inside the actor.<br />
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Before Sizemore was to be sentenced, he tried to kill himself by taking 100 antidepressants A friend something was wrong and found him, his face already blue He was told in the hospital he was near death.<br />
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Charlie Sheen was among friends who supported Sizemore at sentencing. Sizemore was sentenced to six months imprisonment reduced to three months if he completed drug rehabilitation. He left reb twice and got high He was given one last change and did not leave again. He stayed 57 days, which was longer then the 45 days we was sentenced He got high after release. He learned how to bend drug rules, including using a take penis with clean urie, He ried being in a steam room drinking water and not eating anything for four days followed by taking vinegar to become nauseous, drinking cranberry juice and taking many aspirin, only to still test positive He was found with meth and given 36 months probation. Sizemore spent $10 million in legal fees. He became broke and filed for bankruptcy.<br />
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The TV network VH1 had a reality show “Shooting Sizemore” that Sizemore calls “a piece of shit”. It showed Sizemore smoking speed and having a fake gun that he writes its use was taken out of context.<br />
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Sizemore overdosed a lot. His friends would take him to the hospital and shove him out the care to avoid arrest.<br />
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Sizemore remained “hopeless addicted” to meth. Sizemore filed a porn movie with six women. He was later arreste with meth and sentenced to 16 months imprisonment for violating parole, later cut in half for previous time spent imprisoned and in rehab. He learned he had to pick a gang to survive in prison. He found the guards were worse than inmates as they would have inmates fight to the death and take bets.<br />
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Sizemore appeared on Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew”. Sizemore failed to appear until day nine, He the escaped to get high. He was lured to return to treatment when he ran out of food and he was lured with pizza. He had to be sedatd with Seroquel to stop leaving.<br />
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Sizemore admits he filmed “Celebrity Rehab with Dr.Drew”” and then “Sober House” for the money. He lost $200,000 of the $250,000 he received for the shows. He believes some trusted firends took the money. He credits the shows for saving his life. He went to AA meetings, something he had declined to do before.<br />
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Sizemore appeared in the movie “White Knight”. He then received a recurring role in the CBS TV series “Hawaii Five O”.<br />
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Sizemore notes “the hardest part about acting, for me, is that you’re sitting there on a set for 14 hours only to act for maybe 28 minutes.”<br />
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Tchaikovsky Sounds Funnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09895799697398645324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107279127895115566.post-23333619610490231562016-01-10T20:47:00.002-08:002016-01-10T20:47:33.501-08:00Lost Girl by Kathy Coleman<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Kathy Coleman with Steven Thompson. Lost Girl: The Truth and Nothing But the Truth So Help Me Kathleen. 2015.<br />
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Coleman notes “the whole premise of the book should be that we’re no different.”<br />
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Coleman grew up without a father and was the youngest of several siblings. She lived in a small community an hour and a half away from Hollywood. She was not liked by her classmates who ridiculed her being a child actor. Coleman told Dinah Shore on “The Dinah Shore Show” that her classmates “beat the heck out of me.” That was edited out of the interview.<br />
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Abuse continued in her life. Coleman’s first marriage first marriage was to a husband who shot up their house, causing $18,000 damage,. She hid and fled, fear for her life. Her husband was son the son of U.S. Rp. Alphonso Bell. Her husband grew up rich and without an appreciation for things. Her in-laws remained supportive of her and her children even when her ex-husband was non-supportive,<br />
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Whitman had an acting agent at age six. She was born Kathleen Buck (and never saw her father growing up and later learned she had a different father from her siblings. She used her mother’s maiden name, Coleman, while acing She first worked as Goldilocks in a Shakley’s Pizza commercial. More commercial work followed, including a part in the play “Gypsy”.<br />
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One commercial would quality as work during an unemployment compensation period. Coleman, along with numerous other celebrities, lived off of unemployment compensation.<br />
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Coleman was selected as one of the 16 members of the changing membership of the Mike Curb Congregation Congregation singing group.<br />
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Coleman was cast in the Saturday morning TV series “Land of the Lost”. The only child actor was Phil Paley. Paley and Coleman had worked together prior in a Cheez-Its commercials Paley was the youngest second degree black belt at the time, studying under Chuck Norris. Later, Coleman and Paley lived together briefly.<br />
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The writers of “Last of the Lost” developed intelligent science for adult viewers with visuals for children. Several top notch directors such as Bob Lally, Gordon Wiles, and Dennis Steinmetz directed episodes. Denis Steinnetz, a noted make-up articles worked on the series. Two sound stages were used. A chroma blue key, a.k.a. “green screen:, was used. Coleman were blue corduroys in early episodes that were changed o burgundy as the blue pants color faded in the chroma key blue.<br />
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Dinosaur close-ups involved hand puppets. Coleman noted “they could have been done better.”<br />
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Wesley Eure, an actor on the series, was originally billed as “Wesley”. He and Coleman would comptee for ad libs and last close-up shots.<br />
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When Coleman had to cry in a scene, Wesley Eure held her was she released tears. After her performance that included crying, the crew gave her a sanding ovation.<br />
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“Land of the Lost” declined in viewership when Spencer Milligan, who player her father on the show, He was replaced by Ron Harper, who was cast as her uncle. Spencer had acted as a father, which appealed to young viewers. Uncle Jack wanted to display sex appeal, Scenes between Coleman and Harper were visibly tense.<br />
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Coleman appeared singing on national TV during the Macy’s Day Parade. Minutes before she saw her mother having an epileptic seizure. She had to appear on TV not knowing if her mother was still alive. Her mother did survive.<br />
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Coleman’s agent turned down being on “One Day at a Time”. This was even though fellow cast member Wesley Eure was doing two TV shows at the time. Her agent didn’t want her to do that.<br />
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Spencer Milligan was upset that there were no payments for cast members for merchandising with their images. Milligan did not get along with producer Marty Kroft. Milligan left the show.<br />
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Ron Harper was added to the show. He made inappropriate advances to women on the set, including 14 year old Coleman on the set which was captured on tape. Coleman’s mother threatened to report the incident. She was offered the option of having the incident reported and shutting down the show, or accepting an apology from Harper. Her mother needed the income and agreed to the apology. Harper gave a weak apology. The tape was destroyed.<br />
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“Land of the Lost” was the top rated children’s show. It lost ratings as fans became confused and upset that Milligan was no longer on the show. The show lasted three seasons.<br />
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Coleman got a job in “Adam 12” through connections during a dinner discussion. Coleman writes “that’s how this business works. When you know someone and they can help you, then they do and that’s the beauty of it.”<br />
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Coleman filmed her last set of commercials for Burger King at age 17 before marrying, divorcing an abusive husband, and returning at age 29.<br />
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After divorcing a second abusive husband, who were sometimes homeless, Coleman was homeless alone for two months. She learned homeless people tend to be among the nicest people. <br />
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Coleman developed an alcohol addiction. It became serious enough that she was hospitalized for a month. She found recovery.<br />
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Coleman auditioned for the second “Land of the Lost” TV series. The director stated she gave the best reading but shoe was not cast.<br />
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Colmean filmed a scene with the “Land of the Lost” movie. Her cameo was deleted from the final movie when it was decided to use a different humorous ending.<br />
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Tchaikovsky Sounds Funnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09895799697398645324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107279127895115566.post-7560176671121587522015-11-05T17:44:00.001-08:002015-11-05T17:44:44.973-08:00The Road to Happiness Is Always Under Construction by Linda Gray<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Linda Gray. The Road to Happiness Is Always Under Construction. New York, N.Y.: Regan Arts, 2015.<br />
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At age five, in 1945, the author contracted polio. She was told she would be unable to walk. Her parents exercised her legs and her legs regained their functions. Her parents signed her to dance classes. At her first performance, she was scared yet her mother appreciated she could walk and dance at all. In 2012, at age 75, People magazine declared she had the “Sexiest Legs in the Universe”.<br />
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Linda Gray started acting in school She “came to associate acting with relief, calm, and confidence.” At age 16, she began modeling work. She auditioned for TV only to learn there was an industrial prejudice against models as people who couldn’t speak well.<br />
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Linda Gray enrolled in the CEC Studio acting class in Burbank. Her classmates included Carl Weathers, Dee Wallace, Susan Blakey, and Veronica Hamel. Hamel would later win an Emmy for which Gray was also nominated. This class used the Conrad Method of memorizing scripts, repeating them rapidly to desensitize the actor to emotions, and remove preconceptions regarding the roles. The acting coach Charles E. Conrad explained that “Acting is reacting.”<br />
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Gray received parts on some TV shows, including playing a transsexual on “All That Glitters” where Norman Lear declared to her, and she was not sure how to take this, “You’re perfect for the role.”<br />
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Gray auditioned to be on “Dallas”. She won the role of Sue Ellen Ewing. Her portrayal of an alcoholic helped persuade alcoholic viewers to recognize their own problems and to obtain help.<br />
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A voice coach helped Linda Gray develop a Texas accent. Gray researched her character to better play the part, The “Who Do It?” episode of “Dallas” drew 80 million viewers, more people than had voted for President a few weeks earlier. Worldwide there were 370 million who viewed that episode.<br />
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Gray was nominated for an Emmy for Best Lead Actor in a Dramatic Series in 1981. Her contract ended after eight seasons on “Dallas”. She asked to direct a episode. She had studied directing with Lilyan Chauvin. She learned camera shots, blocking, camera height tricks, etc. The show executives at first refused to let her direct and they fired her from the show Larry Hagman and Patrick Duffy had directed, The executive’s response was if Linda Gray directed then other women would want to direct. Larry Hagman threatened to leave the show if Gray was not signed, The executives relented and let her direct an episode. The show she directed received great ratings She later directed three additional episodes.<br />
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Gray left “Dallas” after its eleventh season. SHe filmed some TV movies. She learned about Aaron Spelling’s new show “Models Inc.” and asked to be considered for the show. She auditioned in front of 30 people and was hired. The show, though, flopped and received bad critical reviews. It lasted one season.<br />
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Gray had a recurring role in the soap opera “The Bold and the Beautiful”. She had to memorize 30 pages of dialogue daily.<br />
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In 2011, “Dallas” returned with a new cast yet with Gray, Patrick Duffy, and Larry Hagman returning to their old roles. Hagman died in 2012, “Dallas 2.0: lasted three seasons.</div>
Tchaikovsky Sounds Funnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09895799697398645324noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107279127895115566.post-79134616055912035762015-05-21T20:36:00.002-07:002015-05-21T20:36:53.169-07:00Danger Rhythms by Richard Barrios<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Richard Barrios. Dangerous Rhythms: Why Movie Musicals Matter. New York, N.Y. Oxford University Press, 2014.<br />
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The author observes movie musicals are “intended to seem effortless and diverting they are, beneath their gleaming surfaces complicated and contradictory.” Some are “so riddled with paradox that it becomes difficult to comprehend hem.” Still, the offer “a spectrum of fantasies” that are “balanced understanding between the sublime and the inane.”<br />
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Musicals allow an uplifting of spirit. “Chicago” won a Best Picture Oscar during the Iraq War. “Oliver!” won a Best Picture Oscar during the Vietnam War. “Oliver!” in 1969was the fourth musical in a seven year period to win as Best Picture along wtih “West Side Story”, “ My Fair Lady”, and “The Sound of Music”. After “Oliver!”, there were a few musicals such as “Fiddler on the Roof” and “Cabaret” that was successful yet musicals were mostly missing among movie offerings unitl “Grease” in 1979.<br />
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Musicals began with auteur directors which increased scrutiny of them. They held important roles in American society. “42nd Street” in 1933 increased the spirit of the New Deal. “Star Spangled Banner” rallied audiences during Wold War II.<br />
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The author observed each musical builds upon previous musicals Any part of a muscial had exise before. Audiences appreciate this “kinship” with the past.<br />
<br />
“Don Juan” in 1926 excited audiences with its phonograph sound played over loud speakers. Al Jolson captivated audiences in “The Jazz Singer” in 1926 with sound portions combined with silent portions. Warner Brothers was unprepared for the success of “The Jazz Singer” as it had no further plans for musicals. MGM filled he void as its “The Broadway Melody” won the Oscar for Best Picture .<br />
<br />
Ernest Lubissh ad King Vidor directed some musicals. Many were “trial and error” MGM tried shooting a night and in Technicolor.<br />
<br />
In 1933, musicals delved into social issues, morale building, escapism, and propaganda.<br />
<br />
“Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” began a long line of musical cartoon movies.<br />
<br />
Arthur Freed, a producer “perhaps unwittingly” changed movie musicals from “formulatic schlock” to stories with music.<br />
<br />
The author explains “A good musical must forge an emphatic bond with its public: a poor or ignorant one is merely show and tell.”<br />
<br />
A “disconnect” with musicals began by the late 1960s.<br />
<br />
The first Broadway musical made into a movie with songs was “The Desert Sons” in 1929. It was made simplistically.<br />
<br />
The moral Code required of movies removed musicals about divorce, sex, and drugs.<br />
<br />
Musicals were profitable during World War II. The late 1940s saw an increase in original musicals made as movies.<br />
<br />
The 1950s saw the return of many Broadway musicals adapted into movies. The 1960s found great successes with “My Fair Lady” and “The Sound of Music” as well as Elvis Presley movies.<br />
<br />
“Sweet Charity”, which the author describes as “so hyperkinetic, with so many zoom lenses, tht many were annoyed” did poorly. Musicals typically did not fare well for several years afterwards.<br />
<br />
A number of great performers were impressive in musicals. These include Janet Gaynor, Maurice Chevalier, Jeanette MacDonald, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Gene Kelly, and Julie Andrews. Al Jolson presented confidence on the screen. Mickey Rooney had comedic versatility.<br />
<br />
Cecil B. DeMille produced one musical, “Madam Satan” It did not do well with audiences..<br />
<br />
“Tthe Wizard Of Oz” lost money and would take about 20 years before it made money MGM was less willing to invest in expensive musicals.<br />
<br />
“The Singing Fool” cost MGM $388,000 to make and it earned $3.8 million domestic and $2.1 million foreign.<br />
<br />
MGM made more costly musicals in 1944 and several years afterwards.<br />
<br />
The author argues an excellent musical is “Singin’ in the Rain” because it “understands its roots, respects its ancestors, and by embracing its own history is enabled to soar.”<br />
<br />
The author argues “Musicals don’t die, not even when neglected...their absence is always temporary, their heritage is everlasting.”</div>
Tchaikovsky Sounds Funnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09895799697398645324noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107279127895115566.post-38288676186512317752015-04-27T09:17:00.001-07:002015-04-27T09:17:16.042-07:00Eddie by Ken Osmond<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Ken Osmond and Christopher J. Lynch. Eddie: The Life and Times of America's Preeminent Bad Boy. San Bernardino, Ca.: EvookeditingServices.com, 2014.<br />
<br />
Ken Osmond's father worked at Universal Studios. Ken began taking drama classes at age 4. Dancing lessons were then added. He worked as an extra in movies. In 1952, his first role was a small port on "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet". He then had a role in the movie "Good Morning Miss Dove". This was following by more TV appearances, including an episode of "Corky" in 1957 which started Micky Lopez as Corky. He later, in 1957, won the role of Eddie Haskell on "Leave It to Beaver". It originally was meant for one episode He would up being in 97 of the show's 235 episodes.<br />
<br />
"Leave It to Beaver" began with Monday table reads while led to script revisions. The scenes were blocked on Tuesdays. Child labor loads had a maximum of eight hours working per day including three hours of school.<br />
<br />
"Leave It to Beaver" moved from Republic Studios to a better deal at Universal Studios.<br />
<br />
After the show was cancelled, Osmond went into the helicopter rental business He then because a Los Angeles Police Officer. He was wounded when shot pursuing a suspect. He was also questioned by Internal Affairs asking if he was an adult film star. It turned out that porn star John Holmes was cleaning to have been Eddie Haskell. Osmond appeared in a few TV episodes.</div>
Tchaikovsky Sounds Funnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09895799697398645324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107279127895115566.post-9498666262434018122015-04-26T21:45:00.001-07:002015-04-26T21:52:45.950-07:00If You Build It…by Dwier Brown<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Dwieer Brown. If You Build It…Ojai, Ca.: Elsie Jean Books, 2014.<br />
<br />
The author, an actor, at one point in his career felt typecast as over 12 of his characters died over a five year period. This made him feel as if a part of him was dying. He asked God for one "meaningful" role, after which he would devote himself to helping others. He received his iconic role in the movie "Field of Dreams". He played Joe Kinsella, the deceased father who emerges in the field to play catch with his adult son.<br />
<br />
The author recalls advice form his father His father taught him that working at something made one better. He realized he had never considered acting as something one worked on. He began working at his craft.<br />
<br />
The "Field of Dreams" Executive Producer insured the corn filed as it was that important to the script. When drought hit, the insurance company paid for damming a creek for irrigating the corn field rather than their paying the $3 million insurance policy benefit. As a backup, 60,000 actual size silk corn stalks were offered. The irrigation project worked.<br />
<br />
When Brown auditioned for the role, he read the script and realized his character wanted to find peace with his son and let his son know he loves him. He entered the audition telling himself "I am John Kinsella."<br />
<br />
He learned in acting class that one has to become the character. He was taught "acting isn't lying; acting is telling the truth."<br />
<br />
Brown's scene was filmed three times. There were 3,000 extras. Flashing high beams were used in the third take as there were fears the previous two takes were not working with background cars. The third take worked, which was good as the first two takes found the film was all blank.</div>
Tchaikovsky Sounds Funnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09895799697398645324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107279127895115566.post-29815923606747359592015-04-21T20:46:00.001-07:002015-04-26T21:54:27.811-07:00A Fine Romance by Candace Bergen<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Candace Bergen. A Fine Romance. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2015.<br />
<br />
Bergen auditioned for the TV series"Murphy Brown". She writes her audition "tanked" as she didn't have a comedic background. Diane English, a showwriter- producer, insisted Bergen was the right person and Bergen was hired. Bergen writes "in television, writer-producers are king---queen, in this case."<br />
<br />
Bergen fund performing in a sitcom that "I was in a state of shock. It was a complete out of body experience, a dramatic difference format: four cameras filmed before a live audience."<br />
<br />
On "Murphy Brown", the writers often worked past midnight for the Monday table reads.The scripts were good and there was no improvisation, Bergen writes.<br />
<br />
A running gag on the show was Bergen's character was so difficult she had a different secretary each week. Among those portraying her secretary were Sally Field, Paul Reubens, Michael Kramer, and Bette Midler.<br />
<br />
Bergen won five Emmys, the most anyone ever won for the same role. She withdrew her name during the show's seventh season.<br />
<br />
The show "Murphy Brown" engaged in cultural commentary. The show became part of the culture. Vice President Dan Quayle criticized "Murphy Brown" for depicting a single woman raising a child. This created a national discussion.<br />
<br />
Bergen loved her work. In the 7th season, some of the other cast returned from time off complaining about returning to the grind yet Bergen enjoyed working. What did trouble her was her husband was ill, in failing health, and then died.<br />
<br />
After "Murphy Brown" ended, Bergen had an interview show on Oxygen called "Exhale with CandaceBergen". It ran for two seasons.<br />
<br />
Bergen was in movies, yet as Bergen writes, "demand for me never returned to the degree it has been with "Muphy". Bcause I had become a click: a middle aged actress marginalized in her career. Jobs dry up. Visibility is gone." She would then be cast on the TV series "Boston Legal" with James Spader. Spader, she writes, "is truly eccentric, initially a bit prickly, hyper focused and hyper intelligent."<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Tchaikovsky Sounds Funnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09895799697398645324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107279127895115566.post-9381763141246865542015-04-21T20:13:00.003-07:002015-04-26T21:56:13.005-07:00So That Happened by Jon Cryer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Jon Cryer. So That Happened: A Memoir. New York, N.Y.: New American, 2015.<br />
<br />
On the first day filming his first movie, the scene was supposed to be one of birds pooping on Cryer and other cast members. The director, Robert Altman was upset as the angle of the bird poop was appearing sideways, which was not realistic. Altman positioned himself and dropped fake bird poor on Cryer and other actors. Thus begun Cryer's film career.<br />
<br />
Cryer first appeared on TV at age 4. His mother was in a commercial for Zestab vitamins where she was asked if she had children. Cyer and his sister were then added to the commercial.<br />
<br />
Cryer studied acting under Dr. Jack Ramano, who was known for throwing chairs and once criticizing someone singing with "you sound like a fart in a balloon." Cryer stated Ramano was cruel "but it never came off as true cruelty---it was always inbred with the feeling that he wanted you to be better."<br />
<br />
Cryer attended a summer program at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. There, June Kemp taught mask work, where a student wore a mask and then performed body motions to match the mask.<br />
<br />
Cryer won a role understudying Matthew Broderick in the play "Brighton Beach Memoirs" as he looked like Broderick. He was then offered to understudy the lead in "Torch Song Trilogy" where he was fired the first day for not knowing his lines. He was given a second chance and later replaced the lead. He toured with the play where Robert Altman saw him for his movie "O.C. and Stiggs".<br />
<br />
Altman liked improvisation. The movie was released three years after it was filmed.<br />
<br />
Cryer dated Demi Moore. He learned she cheated on him and had a drug problem.<br />
<br />
Cryer was cast in the movie "Pretty in Pink". The costume designed decided his character would wear nothing that matched, thus showing his clash of personalities. "Pretty in Pink" was originally filmed with the female lead, portrayed by Molly Ringwald, being with Cryer's character. Test markerig felt the lead girl should should overcome social barriers and be with the wealthy guy at the movie's end. Cryer admits he was "mystified" by his character ending up with someone he had just met. Cryer learned that Molly Ringwald wanted Robert Downey Jr for his part Rinwald later stated she could see chemistry between herself an Downey but not with Cryer. Cryer wonders if Ringwald sabotaged him for the new ending.<br />
<br />
The director picked Cryer to be in another John Hughes produced movie. Yet the director was fired and Cryer lost his part along with the director<br />
<br />
Cryer was given a Paramount office to produce movies. In reality it was a way to keep an actor at a studio. None of their ideas were actually made. Cryer than got his own office. He produced a movie<br />
"Adult Education" as the first of four movies of his that bombed in 1987.<br />
<br />
Cryer was on a short-lived TV show "The Famous Teddy Z". Its cancellation left Cryer emotionally bruised.<br />
<br />
Cryer found success in the move "Hot Shots". He worked with Charlie Sheen who spent evenings at clubs and strip clubs, yet this never affected his acting.<br />
<br />
cryer auditioned for, but did not get, the role of Chandler on "Friends".<br />
<br />
Cryer co-wrote, starred in, and produced a notable independent film "Went to Coney Island…."<br />
<br />
Cryer was in a movie "The Pompatous of Love". The financier never paid the Screen Actors Guild he small amount for residuals. The Guild seized the film and sold it for less than $10,000.<br />
<br />
Cryer was facing financial ruin and his marriage was in trouble. He was then offered two roles, to be on "Battlestar Gallactica" and "Two and a Half Men". He felt the "Two and a Half Men" would work as he felt good vibes filming the pilot. Charlie Sheen was "a natural". The writers were funny. The show opened o great rations and held most of its original audience.<br />
<br />
Charlie Sheens's ability to drink and party late at night and still act began fading away Sheen began criticizing the show. He demanded producer Chuck Lorre and others be fired. Lorrie fired him.<br />
<br />
Hugh Grant was picked to be added to the cast. Grant changed his mind. Ashton Kuchner was added to the cast.<br />
<br />
Sheen later apologized. He was using testosterone cream that made hm angry. Ironically, the demands Sheen made happened. </div>
Tchaikovsky Sounds Funnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09895799697398645324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107279127895115566.post-4767990152019832082015-03-08T15:17:00.001-07:002015-03-08T15:17:32.234-07:00The Illusion of the First Time in Acting by William Gillette and George Arliss<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
William Gillette and George Arliss. The Illusion of the First Time in Acting. (Charleston, S.C.: Bibliolete reproduction). New York: Dramatic Museum of Columbia University, 1915.<br />
<br />
George Allen observed acting is connected to “personality”, which is hard to describe. It is possible for an actor to be well suited in voice and technique yet be a bad actor. Good acting emerges from the actor reaction and reflecting upon the other characters and from past experiences. Bad actors fail to recognize this. Bad actors are able to follow acting methods yet still fil if they “know nothing about the art of other people.” An actor accesses and exudes “personality”, or something to the degree to which different attributes are remembered.<br />
<br />
Some can play only type of part. Thus, such a actor excels so long as that type part requires being portrayed. A problem emerges when actor are chosen to portray types they can not handle. It is better to have actors who know the range of the acting business.<br />
<br />
An actor feels a “personality” of a character. It will be appear in voice, eye movements, bodily motions, head tilts, shoulder placements, etc.<br />
<br />
George Allen admits he and others “haven’t the remotest idea” how personality is fostered. The characteristics vary. Allen notes “one can never be really, truly “natural” on the stage. Acting is a bag of tricks.” Facial expressions are more telling than most other bodily movements.<br />
<br />
Dramatic presentations reaches into one’s “life-class” experiences. There is no theory or philosophy to this, yet it requires an actor to take that knowledge to mold into a character. The possibilities of presenting a role are infinite.<br />
<br />
A play cannot be read. It exists only when performed as Simulated Life.<br />
<br />
An actor must show expressions through behavior throughout the body. There are over a thousand things to be presented when acting along with dialogues. According to the authors, “To discover the Highest Art we must inquire the many kinds of things the man can do.”</div>
Tchaikovsky Sounds Funnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09895799697398645324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107279127895115566.post-50149386652921823172015-02-01T20:09:00.002-08:002015-02-01T20:09:22.390-08:00Journey Through the Unknown by Murray Langston<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Murray Langston, a.k.a. The Unknown Comic. Journey Through the Unknown...Albany, Ga.: BearManor Media, 2013.<br />
<br />
The first celebrity Langston ever met was Mickey Rooney. Langston went up to Rooney. Rooney ignored him completely. The second celebrity Langston met was Jayne Mansfield, who was nice to all her fans Langston decided when he became known, he would treat his fans as Mansfield did.<br />
<br />
Langston, a Canadian, joined the U.S. Navy. He wanted to work in radar. His Canadian citizenship removed him from his radar job and he was placed on latrine duty. Upset, he went AWOL then gave himself up. In explaining his situation, he was offered another non-classified position, He chose Special Services, where he became a naval radio disc jockey.to a crew of 2,000. In this job, hemet Bob Hope who told him “Actors are a dime a dozen. Comedians can always become actors but actors can rarely become comedians.”<br />
<br />
Langston got a job in the computer division of Universal Studios. He used to sneak onto set. He was stunned when he saw John Wayne wore a toupee.<br />
<br />
Langston saw the Discovery of the Week segment on “Rowan and Martin’s Laugh In”. Unaware of standard business procedures where usually only agents contact producers, Langston called NBC and asked to speak to the show’s producer. He was put through to its producer George Schlatter. Langston told Schlatter he did an impression of a fork. Schlatter asked him to audition his act, which consisted of him standing with his hands up. His audition was before Schlatter as well as two people he would later work with, Chris Bearcle and Alan Blye. Langston heard no laughter or response during his audition, Yet they called him the next day to say they liked it and he was put on the show.<br />
<br />
Langston auditioned for a five minute comedy sketch before George Jessel for his comedy club. He has hired. When he performed, the audience did not laugh much. He wondered why his audition went so well yet the same material bombed before an audience.<br />
<br />
Langston got a lead in a comedy play “Dracula Sucks”.<br />
<br />
He then was hired to be on the “Sonny and Show Show” performing skits at $1,000 weekly. The show began as a summer replacement series and then became a regular series.<br />
<br />
Langston learned Cher had natural comedic talent. He once dressed as a werewolf and tried to see Cher with his furry hand. Cher was not scared and immediately responded “Sonny, your mother’s here.” He did successfully scare Carol Burnett with a similar werewolf costume prank while she was having her makeup applied.<br />
<br />
Steve Martin was one of the show’s writers and performed on some sketches.<br />
Langston continued performing in comedy clubs<br />
<br />
Langston and an African American comic, Freeman ing, joined appearing in Sonny and Cher’s live show. King responded to a heckler, who was a casino high roller, with a standard line for hecklers “why are you bothering us trying to do our job. We don’t go to your job and take away your plunger, do we?” When they then went to shake the heckler’s hand, he refused and instead left and demanded they be fired. Sonny fired them. Langston believes Sonny should instead have defended them. Langston notes Sonny often belittled his cast, referring to them as “atmosphere”.<br />
<br />
The cast attended Sonny’s birthday party yet the cast did not buy him a gift When Sonny observed this, one of the cast told Sonny never gave them any gifts. Sonny jokingly threatened to fire them, yet he saw the cast stuck together, They kept their jobs.<br />
<br />
Sonny and Cher divorced. The split was vicious. “The Sonny Comedy Hour” was created that kept the same cast. Ratings dropped and it was cancelled after six shows.<br />
<br />
Langston observed “Achieving success in Showbiz is primarily being at the right place at the right time with the right look. Talent, though a plus, is usually secondary. However, what ensures is the more talent you possess, the longer ou last in the business.”<br />
<br />
Langston and several of the “Sonny and Cher Show” cast were hired to appear on “The Hudson Brothers Razzle Dazzle Show.”<br />
<br />
Langston opened his own comedy club. Comedy roasts were held there.<br />
<br />
Langston was on “The Bobby Vinton Show” in Canada performing comedy sketches. He found Bobby Vinon the most aloof of actors who never socialized with any of the cast. Alan Thicke worked on the show and did not like Langston and wanted Langston fired.<br />
<br />
Langston then appeared of “The Lola Fanala Show”.<br />
<br />
Langston heard about an amateur talent show called “The Gong Show” that gave $500 prizes. Union members who did not win got $250. Langston decided to appear on the show wearing a bag over his head so that those who knew him would not recognize him. He called himself the Unknown Comic. He insulted the host Chuck Barris., who on air closed the curtain on Langston’s act. After the show, Barris told Langston he loved the act and asked him to return on the show show. Barris then hired Langston at $500 per week. Barris then added Langston as a writer on the show.<br />
<br />
Langston also appeared on “The Wolfman Jack Show”. He filmed 20 episodes in a month in Vancouver. He found Wolfman Jack as one of the nicest he ever met.<br />
<br />
Langston was hired to be on the “Everyday” afternoon talk show. The show ran si months as it did not fare well against the “Phil Donahue” show.<br />
<br />
The Improv and the Comedy Store refused to pay comedy acts performing at these clubs, Comics, including David Letterman and Jay Leon, went on strike demanding $25 per night, The Improv agreed first, he Comedy Store, owned by Mitzi Shore, gave in after five weeks. Shore refused to let strike leaders perform at the Comedy Store <br />
<br />
Langston believes Billy Crystal primarily associates with people who can help his career. He did not seem to associate with other comics whom Crystal may have felt were beneath him<br />
<br />
Langston learned his agent took not only 15% of his earnings yet also got expenses, including flying first class to see Langston perform at venues where Langston flew coach, Langston was further upset to see his lawyer charged $250 to review standing contracts at talk shows that paid $300.<br />
<br />
Langston told a joke on his “Make Me Laugh” TV show that “Frank Sinatra recently opened a halfway house for girls who won’t go all the way.” Sinatra called Langston threatening to “break your fucking head into a million tiny pieces.”<br />
<br />
Langston starred in the Playboy Channel’s “The Unknown Comedy Hour”. It was that channel’s second highest rated show.<br />
<br />
Langston was in the movie “The Being” with Martin Landau.<br />
<br />
Bill Osco, a porn film producer, produced Langston in Playboy Channel’s “The Sex and Violence Hour”. It also starred Jim Carrey.<br />
<br />
Langston appeared in the movie “Stiches”. He was not given a script and was told to ad lib his role, which he did.<br />
<br />
Langston appeared on the Jerry Lewis’s Muscular Dystrophy Telethon He was pleased to see the audience and crew all wearing bags over their hards in honor of his character.<br />
<br />
Langston acted in a move “Lightening the White Stallion” with Mickey Rooney. Langston was saddened to see Rooney was as difficult a man as when he first met him, noting that “it was truly embarrassing watching that pitiful, self-absorbed, self-proclaimed icon.”<br />
<br />
Langston was the sidekick to Larry Anderson during a run of “Truth or Consequences”.<br />
<br />
Langston borrowed $100,000 and produced his own film “Up Your Alley”. He co-starred in it with Linda Blair. It was profitable, His reputation for making money on a low budget allowed him to direct “Wishful Thinking” for an investor who risked $200,000. It make a profit on distribution.<br />
<br />
Langston hosed 40 episodes of “Comic Strip Loive”,. He hen appearing in a movie “Bringing Up Business” with Gary Owens.<br />
<br />
Langston appeared on and was a writer on “Candid Camera with Do DeLuise I lasted six months. He believes editing problems hurt the show as editors were not aware of what was funny while working under pressure to edit for a daily television show.<br />
<br />
George Clooney did a movie “Confessions of a Dangerous Mind” based on Chuck Barris’s autography. Langston learned the role of the Unknown Comic had been cast without anyone contacting hi. Langston’s attorney noted that the Unknown Comic was a copyrighted character that could not be used without Langston’s permission, Since the Unknown Comic scenes had already been filmed, Looney offered Langston to play himself in the movie. Langston accepted<br />
<br /></div>
Tchaikovsky Sounds Funnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09895799697398645324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107279127895115566.post-22933214466110539522015-01-29T18:39:00.000-08:002015-01-29T18:39:24.545-08:00William Gillette by Henry Zecher<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Henry Zecher. William Gillette, American’s Sherlock Holmes. xlibris Corporation, 2011.<br />
<br />
William Gillette was a famous stage actor in his day,who, according to the author, was the third best known celebrity behind Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) and Harriet Beecher Stowe. Gillette was best known for his stage portrayals of Sherlock Holmes.<br />
<br />
Gillette, as were Samuel Clemens and Theodore Dresser, were part of the movement for artistic realism over melodrama. In acting, melodrama, which was a leading characteristic of 19th and early 20th century actors, displayed unrealistic behavior. Melodramatic acting would over-emphasize movements and speech that actors believed would make certain the audience recognized and heard what the actor was conveying. Instead, the realistic actor behaved on stage as a person would appear in real life.<br />
<br />
Gillette was a strong leading actor, This led to more plays and movies focusing on a strong leading, realistic hero, The set the stage for actors such as John Wayne.<br />
<br />
Gillette introduced “Psychological acting”. This emphasized realism in the emotions and reactions in a performance, The New York Times considered Gillette’s Psychological acting as “the first modern acting technique.”<br />
<br />
Gillette’s life was free of scandal. He married once and never remarried after his wife’s death. He was seldom involved in politics except in 1912 when he spoke in favor of Theodore Roosevelt. He drank moderately and seldom smoked. He did enjoy cigars and incorporates cigars or pipe smoking into most of his characters,<br />
<br />
Gillette first portrayed Sherlock Holmes in 1899 at age 46 and last portrayed Holmes in 1932 at age 78. He presented Holmes with a “quiet, confident voice” with “suave but nervous movements.” He was known for his “riveting scenes” while performing.<br />
<br />
Gillette performed with Edwin Booth, one of the most famous 19th century actors. On stage, he helped boost the careers of Charlie Chaplin, Helen Hayes, Ethel Barrymore, and Maude Adams.<br />
<br />
Gillette was also a playwright. In the 1880s, he, Bronson Howard, and Steve MacKaye were among the better known playwrights who wrote in the realism style. Gillette noted “realism should be inferred not actual-sm, but the artistic presentation of reality...Art must have recourse to the principal of suggestiveness.”<br />
<br />
Realism became a major part of 1890s American theater. A number of playwrights arose who had acting and / or business experience in theater. Prior, most playwrights had academic backgrounds in writing. These new playwrights knew the theater and the degree of realism and of literature that audiences liked. These playwrights, including Gillette, were consider “theatre craftsmen.”<br />
<br />
Gillette’s father was a U.S. Senator. His brother was a member of Congress. Thomas Kuhn labeled it a “paradigm shift” that a member of the governing class would go into theater. As the New York Herald Tribune noted, “Nobody has conceived what is a commonplace today: that a person of gentle culture could make a successful trooper and retain his integrity.”<br />
<br />
Gillette was among the leading practitioners of natural, reserved, understated acting, speech, and movements as people actually do. On the contrary, many actors spoke their lines as if they had been spoken many times before, When realism actors such as Gillette spoke, it was as if the lines had been spoken for the first time. Realistic actors moved on stage as people do and did so as if this was the first time they had done their roles.<br />
<br />
Gillette wrote about his acting technique in his 1915 monograph “The Illusion of the First Time Acting.”<br />
<br />
Gillette declined interviews in a deliberate attempt to create an “air of mystery” about himself Friends found him modest so he did not appear to like to boast about himself. He gave only a few in his lifetime.<br />
<br />
Gillette believed actors should be mysterious and rarely seen by the public. He also did not believe in promoting himself, which was against the New England aristocratic ideals. He commented in1896 about his work that “the public has ample opportunity to see it...it will speak for itself.” he gave out preprinted cards explaning he “does not feel his views can be of any value to the public at large.” When asked questions, Gillette often responded with a line in his plays, simply “Quite so!”<br />
<br />
Gillette was not known as a “party animal”. His wife’s death was a severe emotional setback.<br />
<br />
Gillette’s father Francis served in the U.S. Senate when Sen. Daniel Webster gave his famous speech on slavery. William Gillette, as a school boy, presented his father with a sample of his elocution. His father wanted him to change his presentation. William responded that his presentation was “right.” His father replied “Right! Of course you did it right! Do you suppose if Webster had doe it “right” anyone in the Senate would have listened to his for two minutes?” Francis explained that Webster was summoned to speak with no preparation and that his great speech was spontaneous and real. William learned that “I never forgot that a word was a fine thing that must be search for, and that the way to make a speech was no in the way that was “correct” as elocution, but the way that the man actually made it in the first place.”<br />
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Gillette was a honor roll student who participated in theater and in elocution. He knew then he wanted to be an actor.<br />
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The movement toward realism in theater resulted in fewer plays regarding “lofty patriotism and idealism” and more plays on “basic pragmatism and a desire to simply survive.” As he overdramatic style of melodrama gave way to more subtle styles of realistic theater with more subtle reactions, theaters became smaller so audience could better see the actors. This, in turn, called for new lighting techniques and more detailed scenery and props.<br />
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Gillette observed that “the purpose of the theater is to afford relief from stress and strain in actual life. And the play people love best ,because it does most for them, is the play that gives them a new angle on life, a practical presentation for happy living.”<br />
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Gillette wrote the play “Esmeralda”. It had 350 performances in New York. It was made into a movie in 1915 starring Mary Pickford and was directed by James Kirkwood..<br />
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Gillette risked opening social wounds when he wrote the play “Belle Lamar.” It was the second stage presentation of the Civil War, a subject experienced by many in the audience. His play was the first which was not a historical presentation of the war. His play showed the interactions of people during the war. It is a story of three suitors for a woman. One is a Union officer, one is a captured Confederate officer accused of being a spy, and the third a Union soldier who tries to help the Confederate escape.<br />
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Gillette was among the playwrights known for the emerging style of “more unified and tightly constructed drama.” Melodramatic plays had a hero and a villain. In the realism of Gillette’s plays and others like him, characters had both heroic and villainous characteristics.<br />
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Gillette was among those who writings presumed there is a “fourth wall”. This was a concept first noted in 1758 by Denis Diderst that the play with a fourth wall is performed as if there is no audience.<br />
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Gillette was among those who had female characters that were “independent, selfless heroines.” Numerous plays had strong, independent female characters in the 1920s yet such characteristics declined in afterwards. Female characters generally were presented according to the life events of male characters.<br />
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Gillette improved some theater sound effects. Instead of the then traditional method of replicating horses moving by slapping half coconut shells on top of marble, Gillette used clappers on different materials to simulate different types of roads and paths. Gillette unsuccessfully tried to patent his techniques.<br />
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Charles Frohman and his Frohmannational Theatricallities consisted of over 200 theaters in the U.S. and London (including six in New York City) where 700 plays were produced, managing 28 star actors, and employing around 10,000 people with an annual payroll of $35 million (or an equivalent circa 2010 of $700 million). He had no written contracts with his star actors, His word was considered valid. Gillette often worked in theaters owned by Charles Frohman.<br />
<br />
David Belasco was among the leading theater producers. He wore black with clerical collars He would eventually be called “the Bishop of Broadway.” He was known for popularizing the concept of the “casting couch” where actresses were hired in return for sexual favors. Belasco produced, directed, or wrote over 100 plays. Over 40 of these plays were made into movies.. Belasco helped developed an actress Gladys Louise Smith who he had her change her name to Mary Pickford. Gillette worked with Belasco on some plays.<br />
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Gillete wrote a play that had a character with one arm. Stanley McKenna sued, stating he had a play eight years earlier with a one armed character. Gillette argued that one armed characters were not legally protected “novelties” over which one could hold a “monopoly”.” Further, there had been a one armed character in a David Belasco produced play prior to McKenna’s play. The court sided with Gillette.<br />
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Gillette observed there are two kinds of director, One kind allows actors great leeway in presenting their characters The other kind dictates the details of how roles should be portrayed. Gillette believed the true system lies between the two.”<br />
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The Copyright Act became law in 1891. It required producers to pay royalties to authors and playwrights including paying for foreign works. Thus foreign authors received payments and their works could not be used as lesser expensive alternatives to domestic writings.<br />
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Sherlock Holmes is the more prolific movie character, appearing in 211 movies, according to the Guiness World Records. The Sherlock Holmes Society of London lists 260 films with Sherlock Holmes as a character.<br />
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Gillete wrote a play regarding Sherlock Holmes based upon originating author Arthur Conan Doyle’s writings of Holmes. It took about a month to write the first script. It was destroyed in a hotel fire. Gillette wrote another script in a week. Doyle and Gillette worked on the script. Gillette’s final script differs greatly from Doyle’s original contributions. Both as listed as the script’s authors.<br />
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Doyle wrote another Holmes play. Harry Arthur Saintsbury portrayed Holmes i “The Soeckled Band” for 168 performances. Saintsbury was the “only one who rivaled Gillete” at that time in appearing as Holmes. Saintsbury was cast in a play with 14 year old Charlie Chaplin. Saintsbury coached Chaplin on performing and on comedic timing and touches.<br />
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Gillette first appeared as Sherlock Holmes in the play “Sherlock Holmes” in 1899. Max Goldberg appeared in another play about Holmes entitled “The Bank of England, An Adventure in the Life of Sherlock Holmes.” The Max Goldberg play existed because there is no copyright on titles.<br />
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Gillette’s “Sherlock Holmes” play was successful. It became well known and was parodied in music halls. One parody play was “Sheerluck Jones, or Why D’Gillete Him Off?” which played in London. Other Holmes presentations appeared in burlesque presentations.<br />
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Frederick Dorr Steele illustrated Holmes. A fellow illustrator’s brother Walter Paget was the initial model used for the illustration. Yet Gillette’s “expression and posture” were integrated into the drawings. In 1929, Gillette would be the model for Steele’s illustration. There drawings would help convince actor Basil Rathbone in 1939 to appear in movies playing the role of Holmes as Rathbone believed he looked similar to the Holmes in Steele’s illustrations.<br />
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John Barrymore was Holmes in a 1922 move “Sherlock Holmes”. Barrymore stated they used Steele’s illustrations in creating the Holmes character for the movie.<br />
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Gillette, when appearing as Holmes, introduced the deer-started cap, rococo gown, and a smoking pipe.<br />
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Gillette, in believing actors should be mysterious to the public, also believed they should not state their views publicly. He also believe political candidates should not campaign publicly. He contributed money to anti-Tammany Hall advocates in 1903. Gillette spoke publicly about politics only during the 1912 Presidential campaign which was a race which many thought might change the nation’s course. Gillette spoke in favor of the losing Progressive Party candidate, former President Theodore Roosevelt. A number of other actors also made statements on this race, something the Washington Post noted as a “surprising” development.<br />
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Gillette began construction on his Hadlyme home in 1914. He picked a site he saw from his year a year prior. Gillette designed the house. Construction was mostly finished in 1919. Gillette never called it a castle although it would come to be called Gillette’s Castle. It is now a state owned park open to the public. It cost $1,100,000 to build (or about $14 million in circa 2010 costs). Gillette named his home the Seventh Sister as it was on the end of seven hills.<br />
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Gillette was signed to film movies for the Essanay Film Manufacturing company. He appeared in “Sherlock Holmes”. His image was used in much Essanay advertising. Gillette told Lowell Thomas “there is too much mosaic in the cinema industry to suit me.” Gillette did not want to appear in another movie. Gillette, though, became one of the “actors of the transition” of theater stars who appeared in movies. Some actors found the art of pantomiming in silent films required a different skills set from their skills for stage performing.<br />
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Some claim Gillette belonged to the “impersonator” acting style where actors take on the characteristics of the role. This was different from the “interpreters” style where an actor’s own personality is brought into the role. Gillette objected to being labeled as an “impersonator” insisting his personality strongly influences the roles he played.<br />
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Gillette belonged to the “heroic school”. This was a style of a “quiet he-men” type that would later be portrayed by John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, and Gary Coopeer. They were heroes who stayed calm in crises.<br />
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Gillette refused to permit babies in the audience as they could become distractions If there was too much audience noise, he would have long pauses of instrumental music playing to drown out the noise,<br />
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Gillette failed to show strong emotions during love scenes. This have been resulted from his proper New England upbringing. This became part of his characters’ natures.<br />
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The first Sherlock Holmes movie was “Holmes Baffled”, filmed by Thomas Edison in 1900. The actor , which was a common trait then, is not identified and remains unknown. Many believe Gillette inspired the Holmes look in the movie. More Holmes movies appeared starring Viggis Larson in Denmark, Alvin Neus in Germany, and G.B. Samuelson in Englad, as well as England’s H.A. Saintsbury filming one Holmes movie.<br />
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Gillette’s Holmes movie was co-directed by Gillette and Arthur Brethelet. W.G. Postarie assisted directed. H.S. Stevens was the screenwriter. The movie ran for two hours. It was produced by the V-L-S-E Film Company. The movie followed the stage play yet focused more on romantic scenes than had the play. it was a “major hit.”<br />
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The film showed more details in the office than did the stage production. Kitty Kelly’s review in the Chicago Daily Tribune declared “Gillette completed dominated the visualization of ‘Sherlock Holmes’ and his wonderful facial expression and pantomime acting rang true to the camera.”<br />
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Gillette believed there were no rules or regulations for playwriting. He recommended finding an interesting theme, create a series of “ingenious traps” that carry from the play or theme, have the traps spring at right manners and moments, and then create a way out from the troubles.<br />
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Gillette rode a motorcycle. Its’ brakes once gave out and he plunged off the ferry entrance into the river. Guy Hedlund, a movie producer, quipped “There goes Mr. Gillette, wastes $10,000 of movie thrills on an audience of five people.”<br />
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Gillette advised Helen Hayes to “never read your reviews. If they praise your work, they will serve to make you self-conscious. If they criticize you, which most of them usually do, they can cause you great harm. Let your director read reviews. If he thinks something should be changed, he will tell you.” Helen Hayes followed this until she did films, at which point reviews could not affect her performance.<br />
<br />
Films were made of stories Gillee wrote, he were “The Border Wireless” released in 1918 which starred William B. Hart and “Coincidence “ released in 1921 which starred Bradley Parker.<br />
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After spending over $1 million building his home, the Lyme Board of Relief listed it as having a taxable figure of $58.300. Gillette claimed the figure should be $22,380. An Assessor valued it at $71,000. Gillette told the Superior Court the taxable value was $21,040. The Board of Relief reduced ths to $69,999. (Editor’s Note: The property is in Lyme and East Haddam with the house in East Haddam.)<br />
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Gillette and Charles Frohman held the dramatic license for the play “Sherlock Holmes” in 1898. These rights were transferred to Essanay whe they filmed the movie version. When Essanay folded in 1921, these rights were transferred to the Goldwyn Company for $18m0000 with payments of $6,000 each going to Gillette, the Frohman Company, and Arthus Conan Doyle. In 1920, the Educational Film Exchanges Incorporated announced play to make movies of 12 short features of Doyle’s about Holmes that woudl star Eille Norwood. Gillette, Frohman, and Frank Godsol, Presiden of Goldwyn, sued. The court distinguished between Gillette’s play and the different original stories. Norwood would go on to be in the most Holmes films at 49 silent films.<br />
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Gillette portrayed Holmes in the 35 program series on NBC’s Red Network station WEAF in 1930. Others had performed Holmes on the radio before Gillette. The first Holmes on radio was Edward H. Smith in 1922 over WGT in Schnectady, N.Y.<br />
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Clive Bark appeared as Holmes in the first talking Holmes movie “The Return of Sherlock Holmes.”</div>
Tchaikovsky Sounds Funnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09895799697398645324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107279127895115566.post-18595998052975224442015-01-05T10:34:00.000-08:002015-01-05T10:34:10.084-08:00Sons of Anarchy by Tara Bennett<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Tara Bennett. Sons of Anarchy: The Official Collector’s Edition. New York: Time Home Entertainment, 2014<br />
<br />
The TV series “Sons of Anarchy” arose out of show creator’s Kurt Sutter’s personal interests in motorcycle clubs (MC). While he was never in an MC, he lived on the fringes and was enamored with the MC lifestyle.<br />
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Sutter received an MFA from Northern Illinois University and worked on several TV shows. Sutter researched MCs. He wanted a realistic show, Sutter admits “Hamlet” is an inspiration for the series.<br />
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Scott Glenn was originally cast as Clay Morrow. glenn did not seem to deliver the dark human that was wanted. His role was recast and the reshot for the pilot with Ron Perlman.<br />
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The show was about an MC club started by Vietnam veterans. The club smuggled goods and drugs. A club founder John Teller saw these as acceptable yet found the club losing its moral focus when it began running guns.<br />
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Charlie Hunnan identified with his role of Jax Teller, John Teller’s son. Hunnan’s father has forsaken life in a British industrial or mine setting and opted for the criminal life Hunnan acted with an American accent. Hunnan researched the role with an MC members similar to his character,, whose father has been a founding member of his MC club.<br />
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Actor Ryan Hurst admits “I auditioned for the show because I wanted to learn how to ride a motorcycle. I don’t think I read the entire script.” His character was intended to die at the end of the first season. Her popular performances kept his character alive longer.<br />
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Actor Chris Telford was a DJ who face was slashed with a knife in a mugging A friend asked him to join a theater company. He turned to acting.<br />
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Actor Kim Coates auditioned for two “Sons of Anarchy” roles. He got neither. He was offered a newly created role. Coates read the role and replied “this is not for me...I have not desire to play a one note dark guy.” Sutter convinced him the role would involved more depth. Coates signed onto the show that night. Coates admits he sometimes struggled with the role, yet realized despite the character’s many weird emotions, he was loyal.<br />
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Kurt Sutter told actor Theo Rossi “I don’t know if you’re going to be in one of hundred. I just know I want you on the show.” Rossi accepted.<br />
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William Lucking first acted in a biker movie “Hell’s Belles” in 1969. He crushed his leg when his motorcycle went off a bridge while filming “Harold and Maude” He rode a Tri Glide on the series.<br />
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Sutter hired himself in a role. It would take an hour of make-up for his character.<br />
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Kurt Sutter is friends with actor Ally Walker. The role of Agent June Stahl was written for her.<br />
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Rockmond Dunbar’s character was originally planned for one season, He became such a fan favorites his character lasted three seasons.<br />
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The production designer Anthony Medina, along with Kurt Sutter, sought authentic looks Medina researched MC clubs,<br />
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Director of Photography Paul Maibaum and Executive Producer / Principal Director Paris Barclay planned the cinematography. They sought a “modern day western” feel. People by doorways and background items were frayed. Exteriors had a “bleached, dried-out, dusty look”. Theatrical light was avoided for a realistic feel.<br />
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The Principal Director creates a cohesive direction for all Directors. This series was filmed as if it were really happening. Kurt Sutter provided the tone.<br />
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The show did not use clothing with advertising. The Sons of Anarchy members wore black. Mayas wore green and blue. Gemma would wear a $5 halter under a $1,500 jacket.<br />
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Tattoos were applications.<br />
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Exterior shots for the Northern Ireland portion were filmed in Northern Ireland. Local bikes rode in an aerial shot. North Hollywood served as most scenes depicting Northern Ireland.<br />
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The show was Bob Thiele Jr.’s first as a music supervisor. He had written before with Katey Sagal, who portrays Gemma and is married to Kurt Sutter. He led an existing band, the Forest Rangers, and used it as a house band. Thiele would send original songs to Sutter. Suter would sometimes add to the songs. Thiele and Sutter never collaborated together simultaneously.<br />
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Tammie Baird served as a stunt double for Katey Sagal during Gemma’s rape scene.</div>
Tchaikovsky Sounds Funnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09895799697398645324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107279127895115566.post-4048210755635672582014-12-24T18:53:00.000-08:002014-12-24T18:53:05.258-08:00Foolproof Filmmaking by Andrew Stevens<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Andrew Stevens. Foolproof Filmmaking: Making a Movie That Makes a Profit. Westport, Ct.: Prospecta Press, 2014.<br />
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The author, while producing and directing in 1968, “the Terror Within II”, used rubber monster suits. The sun damaged the suits so badly the t-shirts could be seen through the. The Director of Photography (DP) shot so the deterioration could not be seen. The DP also shot a fully nude dance with backlight, crosslight, and diffusion such that no body parts could b seen. The author notes this brilliant DP, Janusz Kaminski, went on to twin two Oscars for “Schiendler’s List” and for “Saving Private Ryan”.<br />
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About 65% of independent film revenues are from sales to countries countries outside the U.S. and Canada. The author helped form Sunset Films which made a profit on their first film selling global rights before it was released. The author sold his shares of Sunset Films International and started a new venture, Royal Oaks Entertainment.<br />
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The business model changed. The studios moved into independent film distribution. Also, the demand for novelty videos fell.<br />
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The author’s Royal Oaks company pre-sold and released an average of 20 films annually. They fell into three genres of action, thrillers, and family films.<br />
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Realizing the market was changing, the author and his partner formed Franchise Pictures and Phoenician Entertainment. Royal Oaks ceased. Franchise Pictures worked with Warner Brothers, which handling printing and advertising expenditures as well as loaning money. A film often cost $25 million in production and $35 million in printing and advertising. Franchise Classic Pictures made non-commercial arts films for festivals with star actors who appeared for much less pay than they normally received.<br />
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Phoenician Entertainment made direct to DVD videos. Several movies would be sod as a group in a foreign market. Most of these did not require loans to make and were profitable relatively quickly.<br />
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Franchise Pictures made about 75 pictures with budgets from $100,000 to $70 million. Almost 20 had theatrical releases, including “The Whole Nine Yards”, “The Pledge”, and City by the Sea”.<br />
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The author left Franchise Pictures and in 2033 began financing and producing over 35 films. He closed his foreign sales division in 2004 and was producing mostly for studio home entertainment divisions.<br />
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Producers find financing for movies. They get distributors for their films. Producers hire the director and oversee casting actors Producers usually decide what the final cut of a movie will look like, unless they have yielded that right to the director.<br />
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Producers often can decide, or they may choose to suggest, script changes. The producer should have good communications skills and knowledge of the entire filmmaking process of creating a film including budgeting, post production, special effects music, etc. Producer often must know how to handle crises.<br />
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Producers should understand about the various forms of insurance, and their various rates, required in filmmaking.<br />
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A true producer confidently leads, provides useful insights, solves creative issues, and understands the entire movie making process. This often require multitasking, making and sticking to knowledgable decisions, handing crises, knowing finances and budgeting constraints, knowing how to negotiate, knowing the crew and talent, and knowing contract requirements.<br />
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A good producer has an editorial idea through editing to the final cut what the movie should become. The producer knows the editorial techniques, music, special effects, etc. required to achieve that vision. This requires understanding current special effects and computer generated imagery (CGI) abilities.<br />
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One must be “at the Right place, at the Right tie, and Ready.”<br />
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An Employee Producer, hired by a studio, risks the studio’s money and not the money of the producer’s company’s money. The financing and creative control rests with the studio, production company, networks, etc. that hired the Employee Producer.<br />
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The Executive Producer traditionally is the person in charge of financing and / or distribution. Now it is often a title awarded to line producers, actors, and others. Co-producers are often titles with no clear distinction.<br />
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Line Producers have physical production expertise and duties.<br />
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There was once a Federal requirement that some portion of movies broadcast on TV be from independent programming That mandate no longer exists.<br />
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There are (circa 2014) five conglomerates: Viacom, CBS Corporation, Walt Disney Corporation, 21st Century Fox / News Corporation, Sony, and Time Warner. These companies are moving to control programming to the broadcast networks under their control. Independent filmmaking is endangered.<br />
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All independent straight to video distributors and retail stores have closed.<br />
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Many independent movies are sold at trade shows, a.k.a. film markets. Buyers from various territories purchase all or some rights.<br />
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There are about 170 buying and selling companies participating in film markets, which are held globally.<br />
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To sell a movie at a film market, the author recommend a good poster as a sales technique. The author recommends creating posters that resemble a studio poster.<br />
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Flyers are recommended. They should contain artwork. Buyers prefer not to have to create their own artwork. In general, comedies traditionally have white backgrounds. Buyers tend to dislike artwork hat is too dark. Having something that might appeal to foreign viewers, such as military planes or ships or wild, fierce animals can help.<br />
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Germany and Japan are territories that traditionally pay the most money for long term contracts, which are often for 15 to 25 years. United Kingdom, France, Spain and Italy often have contracts of 10 to 15 years, Eastern Europe, Latin American, Southeast Asia, Turkey, and Greece often have seven year contracts. When the contract expires, the rights revert to the owner who may resell the rights.<br />
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Movie profits are affected by marketplace fluctuations.<br />
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Independent pictures in North America often get theatrical releases by paying theaters to show the movie plus providing the advertisement, Many do not earn a profit from theatrical showings.<br />
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Studio divisions often offer less for movies than what the studio offers.<br />
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To enter the film marketplace, once must know current trends, conduct analysis of the global market and create a profitable plan.<br />
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There have been certain past trends in movie international markets Japanese markets liked movies with military and technological hardware. The German market liked action films without much violence, as violence would be censored Nudity is allowed in German prime time TV not blood is not. The South Korean market liked hand to hand martial arts films.<br />
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A Sales Agent sells films to foreign distributors. The Sales Agent receives a commission of 25% to 30% The author recommends giving a Sales Agent a 15% sales agency fee plus $25,000 for market expenses.<br />
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The author recommends selecting a Sales Agent by speaking with others who have hired them.<br />
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A sales agency contract should consider accounting requirements. Some sales agents have gone out of business before accounting for their expenses. The contract should include a collection account where funds go to the account rather than to the sales agent.<br />
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Allocation sales, where a sales agent sells a movie as part of a group of movies, should be avoided, the author suggest, as sales agent could allocate a film a lesser portion of that deal. Also, packaging a film with another could create problems which could lower a price.<br />
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Term deals of 10 to 25 years should be avoided for foreign distribution deals, the author advises. The author advises three to seven year contracts or ten years paid in advance. The contract should have a “key man” clause designating a sales person. The contract should have designated how residual payments are paid, often to a collection account. The author recommends insisting a film remain without a cross collaboration as packaged with other movies and that film royalties are sacrosanct. The buyer should be responsible for subtitles and / or foreign language dubbing.<br />
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Piracy, especially in Southeast Asia, is widespread. Some distributors have refused to buy films if they have been pirated in their region.<br />
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An alternative to hiring a sales agent is selling the film directly. The author notes sales agents usually have contacts and that selling directly can be costly.<br />
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Another alternative to a sales agent is to hire a producer’s representative. They often receive a double commission.<br />
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When attending the American Film Market, the author advisors researching and targeting 30 to 50 companies.<br />
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The Sundance, Toronto, Cannes, Berlin, and Venice Film Festivals are film markets. Most other film festivals are vanity screenings.<br />
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The author advises “Don’t be naive enough to think your film is going to be the one movie that proves everyone wrong and makes the entire world think differently. This is not going to happen.”<br />
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The author advises agreeing to pre-sells. This usually generates ore money overall.<br />
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Agents’s assistants have a strong network. Knowing them can be useful.<br />
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The author recommends “The system is full of B.S. Find any way you can to navigate through it. Think outside the box and beat the system at its own game, as long as it is legal.”<br />
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When hiring a screenwriter, read some of the writer’s past works. Note that soe writers are appropriate for specific genres.<br />
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Writers can be hired. Writers can have a step deal. A non-union writer can be removed from a project at any specified step.<br />
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A speaking actor (circa 2014) receives union scale. In addition, there is a 18.77 percent payroll tax and 16.8% pension, health, and welfare cost paid o the Screen Actors Guild.<br />
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The author often uses one title, such as “Inheritance of Valor” to attract actors to a movie that will have a cheesy title for foreign market sales.<br />
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An Equity Investor invests money into a project. The equity investor is paid from revenues first before others.<br />
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A Limited Partnership has multiple partners. It has liability only for debts created by the registered investment.<br />
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There are numerous foreign and U.S. sate film subsidies. The rules for qualifying for subsidies and the degree of subsidization varies. There may be requirements of headquartering, local hires, unionization, etc.<br />
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Financing can be obtained from bank loans (which require collateral), pre-sales (foreign and / or domestic)m a combination of sources, and crowd-funding (where numerous people contribute in return for incentives).<br />
<br />
Laurence Olivier and Dustin Hoffman began shooting. Oliver asked Hoffman “What on earth are you doing?” Hoffman responded “I’m doing a sense memory, Larry, preparing for the scene.: Olivier watched this for awhile and then asked “Why don’t you just try acting, my boy?”<br />
<br />
Lee Marvin advised “The two most important moments for an actor in any picture are your entrance and your exit, When you enter, make it count...and when you leave, make it count even more.” <br />
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Attorneys should be paid hourly rates instead of fees, often 5%, advises the author.<br />
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Business managers pay bills. Many actors can take care of their own financial matters, the author believes.<br />
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A manager cannot gain employment for an actor client, yet can negotiate and arrange auditions and have an attorney to negotiate deals.<br />
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Film budgets have above the line (ATL) costs, which are the create and administration costs. They also have below the line (BTL) costs which are crews, goods, services, production, and financial costs.<br />
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A completion bond fee is often 3%, charged if using bank financing.<br />
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The SAG Modified Low Budget Agreement (circa 2014) is for films with budgets under $625,000 and for under $937,000 if casting ethnicity requirements are met. <br />
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A payroll company will be needed to maintain time sheets plus deduct and pay taxes and deductions.<br />
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A risk manager maintains worker’s compensation files.<br />
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A film will require production insurance, cast insurance a.k.a. producer’s indemnity insurance, errors and omissions insurance, and essential element insurance.<br />
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Production insurance covers general liability, commercial vehicles, back-up workers‘ compensation, and delay ad reshooting costs due to weather, location damage, and equipment failure.<br />
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Cast insurance covers costs due to a death, injury, or illness of a key cast members thus being unable to finish filming.<br />
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Essential element insurance covers a key element such as a director or star actor. The element must pass a rigorous physical examination,<br />
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Negative insurance covers physical damages or loss of film, hard drives, memory cards, videotapes, or anything that could cause a reshoot. Additional insurance would cover lab damages plus costs from faulty equipment and materials that damages film.<br />
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Errors and Omissions Insurance protects against trademark or copyright errors, libel, slander, privacy issues, name use errors, incorrect crediting, plagurism, unfair competition, piracy and copyright infringement.<br />
<br />
Some Teamster locals will negotiate with independent film producers with budgets under $1 million. They will likely insist on an 8 hour day minimum and refuse a 12 hour day minimum.<br />
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Films save money by reducing the number of speaking roles, filming fewer exterior scenes, reducing location moves, minimize equipment rental periods, lower the number of shooting days, reconsider expensive scenes, educe vehicle and transportation costs. reduce software expenses, etc.<br />
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Paid overtime occurs at 8 hours for SAG actors, 10 hours for weekly contract players, and 12 hours for over-scale actors.<br />
<br />
Pre-production planning is important. A producer should establish a production entity to protect against personal liability The producer should hire multi-taskers who are motivated. A payroll company should be hired. A production office should be opened. The Studio Zone should be known, as this affects mileage calculations. Local rules and overtime laws should be known. It should be determined what props can be rented or borrowed. Hair and make-up artists who understand continuity should be hired. Good grip and electrical equipments should be found. Many films have generators. Loss and damage insurance is needed.<br />
<br />
Many low budget films use one track for both grip and electrical equipment.<br />
<br />
Costs for fuel, security, and meals should be kept in mind.<br />
<br />
Correct meal information must be given to a caterer. Some cast and crew may prefer that food use a local restaurant’s food over a caterer. A craft service person is sometimes hired to prepared and serve food.<br />
<br />
An editor assembles the day’s footage into linear fashion. This film needs to be fine tuned. The Director need not be part of this unless the Director has creative rights or belongs to the Directors Guild of America signatory.<br />
<br />
<br />
The author has had to recut movies so make them what studios and distributors want. He has had to overturn what directors wanted.<br />
<br />
SAG requires that low budget movies have the first 30 extras each day be from SAG membership These extras require time and a half overtime after eight hours. If more than 30 extras are needed, non-union people may be hired.<br />
<br />
When using two cameras when filming, a camera may shoot from one side directly across he other camera but not across that line. This is known as the “line”, “axis of action”, “continuity line” or “`180 degree line”.<br />
<br />
Sometimes, with two cameras, one camera is for a master show and the second for a close-up shot.<br />
<br />
There is a SAG penalty if actors are paid more than one week after principle filming is done.<br />
<br />
SAG’s Global Rule requires a SAG member living in the U.S. must work under a SAG contract anywhere on Earth. This has reduced the number of American authors hired in foreign films.<br />
<br />
Independent producers must calculate residuals on a SAG formula. A theatrical movie would assign 3.6% for pay television, 4.5% for the first million of gross receipts and 5.4% above that first million, and 3.6% for free and basic cable TV. This formula does not consider actual distribution data.<br />
<br />
It is hard for many independent film companies to process residuals. Thus, most actors are paid scale only.<br />
<br />
The author prepays over-scale actors. This reduces the total for SAG salaries and reduced the financial assurance bond. It often takes six months after a film is completed to get the bond funds returned.<br />
<br />
SAG is notorious for losing things and claiming they never received them.<br />
<br />
SAG may require a residual bond to guarantee prepayments. The author notes SAG requires this bond in a capricious manner.<br />
<br />
A Financial Core member, of Fi-Core, may claim only limited or Guild rights. They have union rights, may work non-union and union jobs, and they may not vote for or hold union office. A decision to become Fi-Core can not be reversed.<br />
<br />
The Buyer’s or Distributor’s Assumption Agreement makes the signer responsible for paying residuals to the Guilds. A person with a film that does not pay residuals will be stigmatized in future dealing with SAG.<br />
<br />
Many movies use 35 mm, super 35 mm, and Steadicam cameras. These films run 24 frames per second, known as Cinespeed.<br />
<br />
Super 35 mm cameras can create digital prints. These can be viewed and fixed before making film prints.<br />
<br />
16 mm cameras use two and half less film. This can reduce film processing costs. Using one requires selecting lenses.<br />
<br />
16 mm cameras are less expensive than 35 mm cameras.<br />
<br />
35 mm cameras use a circular parabola lens called a “flat”. Images are filmed without disstortion. It can also use an elliptical lens called an “anamorphic” This is used for wide angle filming. The result looks disproportioned. The proportions can be electronically corrected by repositioning and stretching 2.35 times wider than tall. A projector lens can achieve this.<br />
<br />
A prime lens can range from 6 mm to 400 mm. Most low budet films use 16 mm, 18 mm wide angle, 25 mm, 35 mm, 50 mm, and sometimes a 75 mm, 85 mm, or 100 mm lenses. A 10:1 zoom provides ore options.<br />
<br />
The First Assistant Camera Person, or 1st AC, is responsible for the film being in focus. The correct lens at different lens is important. It is important actors hit their marks when this has been calculated.<br />
<br />
A Second Camera Assistance, or 2nd AC, carries and puts the camera as directed by the 1st AC.<br />
<br />
A Film Loader keeps track of how much film has been bought and how much has been exposed. This person also leads the film into magazines in a dark room. This person fills out reports for film labs..<br />
<br />
Motion pictures use a 1:85 aspect ratio Pre-wide screen TVs use a 1:33 aspect ratio. TV broadcasts use 4:3 format. Many new TV sets, using the standard HD aspect ratio, are 1:78 which is also known as 16:9.<br />
<br />
Digital camera are often poor at capturing sounds. They capture much ambient noise.<br />
<br />
An off-line editing format is required, such as Avid or Final Cut Pro. An edit decision list, or EDL, is used to create the film.<br />
<br />
A broadcast scope provides information on luminance and chroma so it is known what film is acceptable and which is distorted and which is fine for broadcast technical standards.<br />
<br />
A color grading quality monitor checks for color consistency.<br />
<br />
A one light video work print telecine-transfers processed film.<br />
<br />
The negative cutter uses key numbers from cut points in the EDL. The negative then undergoes the answer print process. Color adjustments are made while viewing prints on a Hazeltine. The film is screened. More color changes are often decided upon.<br />
<br />
Color changes involves removing a primary color or red, green, or blue.<br />
<br />
Beach bypass or silver retention processes make a film appear grainy or more desaturated.<br />
<br />
The audio is checked as being in sync with the optics.<br />
<br />
The first print is a check print. It is produced from an internegative. Changes or tweaks are made on a “light tape”. An internegative is created with the changes.<br />
<br />
Note that making too many prints from a camera negative may cause it to break in the printer and thus damage and lose that film section.<br />
<br />
The answer print is the lost print from the original negative. Inter-positives and internegatives are made into polyester film Up to 2,000 prints can be made from a polyester film.<br />
<br />
After an inter-positive is made, it can be telecrine mastered to HD for a colorist, usually supervised by a cinematographer and / or the director, color corrects the film. A Direct Removal System, or DRSm corrects for dirt on the film. When this is done, the resulting lay back silent video is then synced to sound. There are at least four channels of sound with channels 1 and 3 for Stereo Left and channels 2 and 4 for Stereo Right.<br />
<br />
Feature films often use Quicktime Pro Res for creating a mezzanine master digital file.<br />
<br />
Music is often added using Quick-times. Source music, which is pre-existing music, is sometimes used, Sometimes music is scored for the movie.<br />
<br />
Dialogue tracks from original dailies undergo “cleaning up” or “smoothing out” or building ramps” and fixed.<br />
<br />
Foley sounds, which are background noises, are often added. Foley sounds make a film appear more realistic.<br />
<br />
Automatic dialogue replacement, or ADR, adds or changes dialogue.<br />
<br />
Sound effects are often added.<br />
<br />
Sound design uses synthesizers, samplex, and audio plug-ins to enhance or distort sounds to achieve “sonic alchemy”.<br />
<br />
A pre-dub, consisting of ADR, Foley, and sound effects, are edited using sound mixers. Pre-dubs are often 70% balanced acceptable.<br />
<br />
Dolby reduces over-modulation.<br />
<br />
Music and effects tracks (M and E) are added to a print master. Sound effects are provided on sound drives for non-theatrical print masters<br />
<br />
Studios campaign for viewers to see their movies. Posters and key art are created for advertising. Confusing artwork can dissuade people from seeing a movie.<br />
<br />
Production still photographs can be used for advertising and for guiding key art.<br />
<br />
A catchy log line can attract an audience.<br />
<br />
Trailers show film highlights to attract an audience. They often target specific demographics.<br />
<br />
The Motion Picture Association of America ratings system often allows big studios more latitude in the degree of violence or graphic content than is allowed to independent films.<br />
<br />
A title search checks there are no competing films with the same title.<br />
<br />
An Electronics Press Kit, or EIPC, shows behinds the scenes information such as interviews. It is often added to a DVD.<br />
<br /></div>
Tchaikovsky Sounds Funnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09895799697398645324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107279127895115566.post-20554496353242673102014-12-01T15:55:00.001-08:002014-12-01T15:55:15.945-08:00Choose Your Own Autobiography by Neil Patrick Harris<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Neil Patrick Harris. Choose Your Own Autobiography: You Are the Star in N.P.H.’s Life Story. New York: Crown Archetype, 2014.<br />
<br />
Harris recalls when young meeting Keith Carradine backstage Harris notes “time image will stick with you forever. For two hours he was a conjurer summoning up the spirit of a beloved icon; now, once again, he’s just one of the crowd. Heralded, then anonymous. That’s preforming.”<br />
<br />
Harris had an agent who got an audition for Harris with Steven Bocho. After a callback he was cast as Doogie Howser on “Doogie Howser M.D.” The role had challenges, including learning to say a line in fluent Japanese.<br />
<br />
Newborn babies, by California law, are limited ot working 20 minutes at a time. Twins or tripes are often used. Harris once asked a mother why she chose this work and she replied “I don’t know, they just seem to enjoy it.”<br />
<br />
California law limits children to nine and half hours per day of work which includes three hours for required school and one for lunch.<br />
<br />
Harris learned he could not socialize with his costar Max Casella, when he calls “the secret ingredient behind the show’s success” because people would swarm them.<br />
<br />
“Doogie Howser M.D.” ran for four seasons from 1989 to 1993, Typecast as Doogie Howser, Harris had trouble landing another TV series, Yet he did several movies and 13 made for television movie from 1988 and 2001. He appeared on episodes of several TV shows. He also did theater work.<br />
<br />
Harris was asked to appear in the TV series “How I Met Your Mother”. He found the pilot script funny and “unusually for a pilot it did not feel derivative of other shows.” The show lasted nine seasons. He credits CBS for not moving it around so it built an audience that could find it. It was always on Monday nights at either 8 pm or 8:30 pm.<br />
<br />
“How I Met Your Mother” was filmed with multiple cameras. It did not use a live studio audience. This gave the show more flexibility to reshoot and edit.<br />
<br />
During the strike in 2007, Josh Weldon asked Harris, for no pay, to be in an online musical “Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along Blog.” Harris trusted Weldon so much that he accepted without seeing a script. Viewer reaction was overwhelmingly positive. </div>
Tchaikovsky Sounds Funnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09895799697398645324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107279127895115566.post-28942225878284247332014-11-24T04:01:00.000-08:002014-11-24T04:01:01.029-08:00Watch Me by Angelica Huston<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Angelica Huston. Watch Me: A Memoir. New York: Schrber, 2014.<br />
<br />
Huston was a noted “high fashion” “exotic” model in New York. She did not find as much success in southern California as she was not the “tanned blonde” that seemed more desirable there. Her father, director John Huston, gave her a role in his movie “A Walk with Love and Death”. Critics were not kind to her.<br />
<br />
Huston dated actor Jack Nicholson. She would later marry Robert Graha. She told Nicholson she liked acting. Nicholson stated he “hated actresses” yet thought they could work together in their next movie “The Fortune”. Nicholson asked director Mike Nichols to consider Huston for the female lead. Huston, fearful for her past bad reviews, did not want to risk it.<br />
<br />
Sam Spiegel, MGM’s Chief, and director Elia Kazan wanted Jack Nicholson for their movie “The Last Tycoon”. They gave Huston an audition, perhaps in hopes of luring Nicholson. Nicholson agreed to a lessor supporting role. She was cast. While filming, she learned to consider “the other character’s state of mind.”<br />
<br />
Huston writes that director Roman Polanski was “restless, opinionated, urban, brilliant, impatient, and mercurial....You had to work to keep up with him. He was staying at Jack Nicholson’s residence while Nicholson was away. The police raided the house and arrested Polanski and Huston for drug possession. Polanski was also arrested for sexually assaulting a 13 year old. Huston writes she did not witness that.<br />
<br />
Huston’s father had emphysema. Due to that, his least films he directed were low budget films.<br />
<br />
Nicholson found director Stanley Kubrick a “taskmaster” and “all genius.”<br />
<br />
Lee Grant asked Huston to be in the movie “Playing With Fire” which Grant director. Grant could not get the project fuded<br />
<br />
Sue Menger, a noted agent, turned down Huston’s father’s request that Menger represent her. Menger stated she represented Ali McGraw who Menger thought look similar to Huston. Menger and Huston, though, became “good friends.”<br />
<br />
Huston auditioned for a role in the movie “This Is Spinal Tap”. She received a smaller role than for what she auditioned.<br />
<br />
John Foreman asked Huston to be in the movie “Prizzi’s Honor.” Foreman then asked if her father would direct it and if Jack Nicholson would act in it.<br />
<br />
Huston won an Academy Award for her role in “Prizzi’s Honor”. She was the only person from the film to win an Academy Award for that film.<br />
<br />
The Huston family challenged Ted Turner from colorizing movies filmed in black and white. French law prohibited doing this if the original creator objects. In the U.S., the National Film Preservation Act prohibited substantially altering, including colorizing, a film it had labeled without the creators participating int the altering.<br />
<br />
Huston played the Supreme Leader in the Disneyland 3D short “Captain EO.”<br />
<br />
Huston agreed to be in a Woody Allen movie knowing only about the character she would play. She had never met Woody Allen and offered to meet him for a drink. Allen said he was sick. She suggested another day. Allen asked what if he would be sick then, too. The drink meet never occurred. Yet she did appear in his movie “Crimes and Misdemeanors.”<br />
<br />
Huston researches her character before filming. She wants to know her character<br />
s health, choices, hopes, dreams, disappointments, and secrets.<br />
<br />
Huson most enjoyed her acting in the movie “The Grifters”. She was nominated for Best Actress.<br />
<br />
Huston played Mortica in the film “The Addams Family”. Her corset made her look well yet it was painful to wear. She had troubled turning her head, it gave her big headaches, her neck blistered, and she could not sit.<br />
<br />
Woody Allen asked Huston back to appear in his movie “Manhattan Murder Mystery”. She agreed. She found the dialogue required a lot of fast talking. She worried about missing cues.<br />
<br />
Huston filmed an Addams Family sequel “Addams Family Values”.<br />
<br />
Huston filmed the movie “The Perez Family”. She found she and Mina Nair had conflicting styles. Huston “was sensing her impatient and feeling a certain discomfort in performing actions without having found my original impulse.”<br />
<br />
While filming “Buffalo Girls”, Huston was diagnosed with a basal cell carcinoma which was on her nose. It had to be removed surgically after radiation did not work. Two years later, her nose was reconstructed using cartilage from her ear.<br />
<br />
Huston agreed to direct the film “Bastard OUt of Carolina” for the Turner Network Television. SHe was upset she did not know as much about the technicalities of filmmaking yet she “survived on instinct and by surrounding myself with great people from whom I could learn.” The film took 28 days to film. Ted Turner and Jane Fonda screened the film and were upset over the rape and masturbation scenes. Turner declined to air it. It was shown at the Canes Festival. Showtime aired it. Huston was nominated for an Emmy and Directors Guild awards.<br />
<br />
Huston filmed “Ever After”. She first found costar Drew Barrymore giggling during the filming which upset Huston. Huston yelled at Barrymore “All right, missy, I’ve had it.” Barrymore, the next day, sent Huston a card reading “Thank you for making me a better actor.”<br />
<br />
Huston filmed “The Golden Bowl”. She found Jim Ivory was “calm” while Ismail Merchant was “loquacious and outgoing”.<br />
<br />
Huston filmed “The LIfe Aquatic”. he stated it “was deceptive in that it looked simple, but a great deal of effort went into the set, the costumes, the location.”<br />
<br />
Huston filmed “The Darjeeling Limited” in India.. There were no wardrobe or make up artists. Each actor created his or her own look.<br />
<br />
Michael Mayer asked Huston to be in the NBC TV series “Smash”. She agreed. The pilot took three weeks to shoot.</div>
Tchaikovsky Sounds Funnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09895799697398645324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107279127895115566.post-54167175474573452602014-11-11T18:04:00.000-08:002014-11-11T18:04:07.600-08:00Not That Kind of Girl by Lena Dunham<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Lena Dunham. Not That Kind of Girl: A Young Woman Tells You What She’s “Learned.” New York: Random House, 2014.<br />
<br />
Dunham made a web series called “Delusional Downtown Divas”. THere were ten episodes filmed. THey used many of their parents’ friends in small role “who still viewed us as children doing an adorable class project.” In retrospect, she notes the camera was shaky and the images blurry. It was “amateurish, a little vulgar.” It was shown at a SoHo gallery.<br />
<br />
In 2009, the Delusional Downtown Divas hosted the Guggenheims First Annual Art Awards.<br />
<br />
Dunham observes that filming a sex scene is “weird”. While many actors call it part of their job she sometimes found the experience “humiliating”. She does not think of the audience while filming nude. She notes “getting naked feels better some days”. She is not afraid to do them. She appreciates that showing her body imperfections allows others to more easily accept their body imperfections.<br />
<br />
Dunham is Executive Producer, writer, director, and acts on the HBO TV series “Girls”. She has won two Best Actress Golden Glove awards. She has been nominated for eight Emmy Awards. She also wrote and directed tow movies.<br />
<br />
Dunham’s grandmother Carol Marguerite Reynolds was her best friend until age 12. She felt her loss deeply when she died. Carol’s sister Doris “Doad” Reynolds Jetwett died on December 10, 2003 at age 100.</div>
Tchaikovsky Sounds Funnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09895799697398645324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107279127895115566.post-41316373684142085572014-11-04T15:51:00.000-08:002014-11-04T15:51:11.037-08:00So, Anyway…by John Cleese<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
John Cleese. So, Anyway....New York:Crown, 2014.<br />
<br />
Cleese learned when young that humor was a useful tactic in dealing with bullies.<br />
<br />
Cleese was involved in theater in Clifton College. In his first straight acting performance, the sight f him in tights as the supposedly fearsome Satan drew audience laughter instead of the intended fear. Cleese never worked in straight acting again for 37 years.<br />
<br />
Cleese met Graham Chapman at Cambridge. They performed in theater together. He learned his strength was comedic timing. He notes comedic timing “depends on confidence; you cannot o great comedy if you are not relaxed...any anxiety, any tension. and the flow goes wrong, you snatch at the joke, you force too hard, you lose the rhythm.” He notes “the greatest cure for anxiety is familiarity. The better you know the sketch...the more effortly it starts to flow.”<br />
<br />
Cleese worked at BBC Radio. He wrote for an early evening magazine show. He then wrote comedy sketches.<br />
<br />
He then toured New Zealand for six weeks with “Cambridge Circus”. During one performance, a bell tester did his job testing the bell. “Cambridge Circus” played on Broadway. He later appeared on Broadway in “Half a Sixpence”.<br />
<br />
David Frost asked Cleese to work on his sketch show “The Frost Report”. Cleese also helped work and perform on a David Frst comedy series “Frost Over Britain”.<br />
<br />
David Frost was listed as the lead writer of his shows although some wondered if he wrote any of his shows. It was noted by another writer “how greatly David has always improve our punctuation.”<br />
<br />
Cleese worked on “The Frost Programme” that aired three times a week. Terry Gilliam was hired to sketch guest Shirley Bassey. From that show, Cleese learned “ that when you stop concentrating on avoiding mistakes, you relax a bit, and consequently...you actually make fewer” mistakes.<br />
<br />
Frost offered Cleese his own show. He did 13 episodes of “At Last the 1948 Dhow”. He included fellow writer Marty Feldman, who had not acted in awhile, and Graham Chapman.<br />
<br />
Cleese notes wen Graham Chapman told Cleese that Chapman was homosexual, Cleese was surprised but it did not affect their writing relationship in any way. hey wrote several movie and numerous TV scripts together.<br />
<br />
Cleese appeared in the move “The Magic Christian” with Peter Sellers and Ringo Starr. Cleese states Sellers and director Jimmy Burrows were two geniuses that he worked with.<br />
<br />
Chapman liked the TV show “Do Not Adjust Your Set” which starred Michael Palin, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam animation. Chapman ased the, if they wanted to work with him and Chapman. The idea of all these people working together was approved without a pilot.<br />
<br />
Graham Chapman died of cancer in 1989 at age 48. Cleese noted Chapman “had a priceless, quite uncanny knack of knowing what the audience was going to laugh at.”<br />
<br />
Clleese notes most of Monty Python were primarily writers rather than performers. They never fought over casting seeking instead to put the wrong person with the right role.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Tchaikovsky Sounds Funnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09895799697398645324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107279127895115566.post-4653351600273372792014-11-01T17:57:00.001-07:002014-11-01T17:57:11.754-07:00Pigtails, Presley, and Pepper by Cynthia Pepper<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Cynthia Pepper with Victor J. Hangor. Pigtails, Presley, and Pepper: A Holllywood Memoir. Author House, 2014.<br />
<br />
Pepper recalls residuals from one of her movies. The first residual check was for $300, the second check was for $13, the third was for $7, and the fourth was for $2.<br />
<br />
Pepper’s grandfather worked in vaudeville. Her father was an actor appearing in moves and on an “Our Gang” episode.<br />
<br />
Pepper modeled and appeared in theater as a child At the age of 12, she appeared in her first movie with Cary Grant. She was shocked when she heard Cary Grant swear.<br />
<br />
When in high school at Hollywood High School, Pepper joined a sorority, Each sorority met under a tree, Stephanie Power was in her sorority, She recalls when some boys were mad at her sorority and they cut down their tree.<br />
<br />
Pepper appeared in episodes of “The Many Lives of Dobie Gillis” among other series. She then had steady work appearing on “My Three Sons” The other actors and crew made her fell welcome. Fred MacMurray would quickly film his scenes and leave. The rest of the cast then filmed their scenes. Actors talking to Fred MacMurray’s character would speak to an off-screen mop.<br />
<br />
Pepper’s character dated Tom Considine’s character in “My three Sons”. In real life, she was married and he had a girlfriend They were friends and did go on double dates.<br />
<br />
Pepper was paid $400 a week for being on “My Three Sons”. SHe was on eight episodes from 1960 to 1961.<br />
<br />
Pepper was then cast in the TV series “Margie” as Margie. The studio had unwritten rules of no obscenities and no smoking. The show as shot with one camera on 35 mm black and white film in front of a live audience even though a laugh track was added As “Margie” was successful, Pepper was then hired to sing on reords. She jokes “this record is my Million Seller...that’s right, I’ve got a Million in My Cellar”. Marie merchandise was also produced with her likeness. She has never paid for any of the merchandising. She was pictured on a TV Guide cover which became, for then, the highest selling issue.<br />
<br />
“Margie” lased two seasons on ABC, despite its 20 share, The show was costly to produce. ABC was moving towards showing more Westerns. Proctor and Gamble, wich sponsored “Margie” began moving their advertising towards more daytime soap operas.<br />
<br />
Pepper next filmed an episode of “The United States Steel Hour”.<br />
<br />
MGM called Pepper film “Kissin’ Cousins” with Elvis Presley. Elvis called her Speckled Pup. There is a scene where Pepper throws Elvis to the ground. As a joke, Elvis pretended to be unconscious after falling.<br />
<br />
Pepper’s contract work was over after “Kissin’ Cousins”. She worked on some TV episodes She did a guest appearance on “My Three Sons”. She then got the role of the neighbor on “The Addams Family”. She filmed a pilot “Three Coins in the Fountain” which was not selected yet was shown on TV five years later as a TV movie.<br />
<br />
Pepper appeared in summer stock theater in “Under the Yum Yum tree” with Edd Byrnes and David Hedison, Tab Hunter later replaced Hediosn. Margaret O’Brien replaced her.</div>
Tchaikovsky Sounds Funnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09895799697398645324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107279127895115566.post-26419404177520500212014-10-22T21:45:00.000-07:002014-10-22T21:45:08.568-07:00Chuck McCann's Let's Have Fun Scrapbook by Chuck McCann<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Chuck McCann. Chuck McCann’s Let’s Have Fun Scrapbook: My Life in the Wacky World of Live Kids’ Television. Tuluca Lake, Ca., 2012.<br />
<br />
McCann knew from childhood he wanted to perform. He did impressions as a child for those around him. His grandfather juggled and rode a unicycle in Bill Cody’s West Show His father was a musician who toured with orchestras.<br />
<br />
After high school, McCann appeared in the Pasadena Playhouse. He enjoyed being a character actor. He worked as a comedian in New York clubs and on variety shows. He then apprenticed in the “Rootie Kazotte Show” with puppeteer Paul Ashley. Ashley and McCann traveled with thier puppet acts. Their New York TV show was often picked up live in mid-broadcast in other cities in other time zones such as Chicago.<br />
<br />
Sandy Becker of WNEW-TV asked McCann to take over his comedy show while he was on vacation. McCann was asked this on a Friday to begin the next Monday McCann wrote a show with Dick Gautier.<br />
<br />
Live television for McCann included drinking buttermilk in a commercial that made him sick, animals that bit him and drew blood, and a commercial with a talking doll that broke and wouldn’t stop talking.<br />
<br />
McCann and Dick Van Dyke did impressions of Laurel and Hardy on WPIX-TV. They also did impressions of Ralph Kramden and Ed Norton.<br />
<br />
WPIX expanded the hours McCann was on TV. In 1960, his “Let’s Have Fun” was a live four hour show.<br />
<br />
McCann’s show was profitable for WPIX. Yet the show was not given a budget, McCann had to pay for whatever he needed for the show, Costumes were found from the Salvation Army store. The show was filmed in a small space no intended to be used as a TV studio. The lights were two feet about McCann. His hair once caught fire.<br />
<br />
McCann was once fired from a cannon It shot his clothes out yet left him inside.<br />
<br />
During a newspaper strike, McCann, a la Fiorello LaGuadia reading comics on the radio during an earlier strike, acted out the comics.<br />
<br />
There was no live live audience in most of McCann’s shows. He fed off the crew’s laughter, When a program manager insisted children appear in a Kookie Fortune Cooke Contest, he had a child open and read a fortune cooke from a local fortune cooke company who sent over the wrong batch. The fortune read “Sex will be risky tonight.” The contest was quickly cancelled.<br />
<br />
Leon the Lion, the MGM lion, appeared on McCann’s show. The lion escaped, went into an elevator, exited into the lobby and swiped a fur coat off a woman, The station put the woman and a friend up at the Waldorf Astoria and got them show tickets and a fancy dinner.<br />
<br />
Bert Draeturrous, an engineer on McCann’s show, invented showing film backwards. McCann invented a character Mr. Backwards. The signal from the backwards film, though, failed to meet FCC broadcast standards so they had to stop using it. McCann showed the technique to Steve Allen. Allen could afford the preamplifier that made the process work according to FCC standards.<br />
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McCann and Earl Doud created the CBS show “Far Out Space Nut” which starred Bob Denver.<br />
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The first MdDonald’s TV ad in the New York-New Jersey-Connecticut area was on McCann’s show. He had to eat and pretend to enjoy a sandwich which had gone cold.<br />
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McCann once ate what he thought was ice cream with chocolate syrup only to discover it was a potato underneath the syrup as ice cream melts He had to talk while being unable to swallow it,<br />
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The Federal Communications Commission in 197 required fewer product endorsements by children’s show hosts. In 1968, sensing the changing directions of children’s TV programming, left children’s TV. He was in the movie “The Heart is a Lonely Hunter”. McCann later did comedy tours with Tim Conway. </div>
Tchaikovsky Sounds Funnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09895799697398645324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107279127895115566.post-44510300221200486412014-10-22T21:13:00.003-07:002014-10-22T21:13:51.936-07:00Just Between Us by Mario Lopez<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Mario Lopez with Steven Santagati. Just Between Us. New York, N.Y.: Celeba, Penguin Group, 2014.<br />
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The author has worked in the entertainment business since age 10. He started doing commercials. He was on the TV series “Saved By the Bell”, was a guest judge on “Dancing with the Stars”, and now hosts “Extra”.<br />
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Lopez was a chubby baby, claiming to look like a sharpei dog. He grew up in Chula Valley, Ca. near the Mexican border. It was whispered some of relatives were involved in the drug cartel.<br />
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Lopez’s mother enrolled him in dance class at age nine, which he questions as “what cool boy ever took a dance class?” He found he liked it and enjoyed being the only boy in class dancing with girls.<br />
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Christine Guerrero, a talent agent who specialized in representing children and young people was at a dance recital where Lopez danced. Lopez’s mother approached Guerreo who had liked his dancing. Lopez read for her at her San Diego office and she took him as a client. His first work was in local print ads. He then was cast in 1984 as a regular on the TV series “A.K.A. Pablo”, a Norman Lear production that showcased Hispanic actors. He enjoyed working with guest star Bea Arthur who answered many of his questions. Lopez remained in public school through graduation. “A.K.A. Pablo” filmed 13 episodes yet was canceled after six episodes. “TV Guide” ranks it as the 45th worst TV show of all time although Lopez argues it wasn’t on long enough for it to gain an audience.<br />
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Lopez met other child actors. He found Gary Coleman, who had several handlers, spoiled from all the attention. Ricky Schroder, on the other hand, was friendly and nice to Lopez and others.<br />
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In the fall of 1984. at age 11, Lopez was cast in the TV series “Kids Incorporated”. His dance and drumming skills were important to his work on the show. He recalls it as “the toughest job I ever worked” with a “tough as nails choreographer”. Off set, he exchanged 11 year kisses with Stacy Ferguson who is now knows as Fergie. He also did guest appearances on other shows such as “The Golden Girls”.<br />
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NBC developed a TV show “Good Morning, MIss Bliss” that it then rejected. The Disney Channel ran it but canceled it before its first season was over. NBC reclaimed the show, changed the focus from the teacher to the students, and renamed it “Saved by the Bell”. Mark Paul Gossler was kept as the lead along with Dustin Diamond and Lark Vorhies. New characters were created. Lopez won a role as one of the added characters. He was a permed mullet cut wig. The wardrobe was chosen by staff who attempted to follow current trends.<br />
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Lopez was friends with Dustin Diamond. Not everyone liked Diamond. Diamond would leave photographs of his penis around the set.<br />
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Mark Paul Gosselaur’s mother did not let him go to parties or hang out with the other kids.<br />
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Lopez was close to co-star Elizabeth Berkley as a “brother / sister” type relationship that continues to the present. He dated co-star Tiffani Thiessen off and on.<br />
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“Saved by the Bell” laster five seasons. It became more popular afterwards in syndication. There was a season long spin-off “Saved by the Bell: The College Years” which did not connect as well as the network did not want the characters to become too different from their high school characteristics.<br />
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Lopez did personal appearances. He was amused seeing how young girls would slip him their phone numbers, and then mothers would also slip him their phone numbers.<br />
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Lopez appeared as Greg Louganis in a TV movie “Breaking the Surface”. He was nominated for an ALMA Award.<br />
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Lopez hosted the reality TV show “Name Your Adventure:. He later co-hosted the talk show “The Other Half”. Dick Clark gave him lots of useful advice. Lopez then had a recurring role for four years on ?Nip/Tuck”. He was a contestant on “Dancing with the Stars” and won the contest He then hosted “America’s Best Dance Crew” on MTV in Los Angeles and would then fly to New York where he was on Broadway in “A Chorus Line”. He was later hired to host “Extra”.<br />
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He notes that, on movie press junkets, a stopwatch is used to time interviews and when the prescribed time is reached, the interview is over and then next interviewer takes over.<br />
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Lopez also had a radio show “ON with Mario Lopez’ that is nationally syndicated. It ranks best in its time slot in all major markets including Los Angeles. He also has a NOVO show “Mario Lopez: One on One”.</div>
Tchaikovsky Sounds Funnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09895799697398645324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107279127895115566.post-88639020252896838992014-10-01T14:08:00.002-07:002014-10-01T14:10:11.614-07:00Dear Cary by Dyan Cannon<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Dyan Cannon. Dear Cary: My Life With Cary Grant. New York, N.Y.: It Books, HarperCollins Publishers, 2012.<br />
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Dyan Cannon was born Diane Friesea. Jerry Wald of 20th Century stated he wanted to change her name to something that evoked “Explosions! Guns! Cannons! Excitement!” He declared her new name was Diane Cannon, later changed again to Dyan Cannnon.<br />
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Cannon tested for a movie role. One of the studio executives declared her nose was oo flat. She went to get a nose job. The doctor refused to perform the surgery, stating she already had kind of nose that people were paying to have.<br />
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Cannon did not get the movie role for which she tested. She get a job working on publicity for the movie “Les Girls” for $200 a week.<br />
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Cannon dated Cary Grant. Grant believed his mother had died when he was 10 years old. He learned 20 years later from his father that she was still alive yet in a mental institution His father declared he did it for Cary and he could not support both of them. His mother had not had a breakdown. Cary walked out on his father. He father died a year later.<br />
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Cary Grant alway wrote Dyan as “Diane” as if not accepting her stage name. Yet Cannon always referred to Grant as “Cary Grant” and not by his real name Archie Leach.<br />
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Cannon agreed to take LSK with Grant. Grant called LSK as “the key to ultimate peace of mind” that makes the user “closer to God.” She agreed. After taking it, Grant told her “this is your opportunity to ask the universe anything you want”. She responded with “okay, universe, I want to ask you, what is God?” Cannon then saw giant dancing bears singing nursery songs in German. Cannon reacted badly and a doctor present gave her Seconol which made her sleep for 18 hours. Cannon asked Grant “How in hell can giant bears singing in German bring you closer to God?”<br />
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Cannon admits to feeling jealous while watching 30 feet away on a set watching Grant kiss Leslie Caron while filming “Father Goose”. She knew it was acting but felt they were “putting a little too much feeling” into their roles.<br />
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Grant and Cannon married. Grant convinced Cannon to take LSD again. She did not want to but finally agreed. Cannon’s father told Grant “She doesn’t need drugs, Cary. She needs love. Your love.” Grant responded “She’s under my jurisdiction now.”<br />
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Grant kept taking LSD yet Cannon wouldn’t. They drifted apart as Grant became more dependent on chemicals. They divorced. Cannon had a breakdown that ws attributable to the 10 or 12 times she had taken LSD and other drugs she had taken. She detoxed from her pills and chemicals. <br />
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Cannon returned to acting. She appeared in the movie “Bob & Ted & Carol & Alice” and several others. </div>
Tchaikovsky Sounds Funnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09895799697398645324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107279127895115566.post-68640856308425144592014-09-29T10:17:00.002-07:002014-09-29T10:17:48.860-07:00A Survivor's Guide to Hollywood by Robin Riker<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Robin Riker. A Survivor’s Guide to Hollywood: How to Play the Game Without Losing Your Soul. Studio City, CA.: Callipygian Press, 2013.<br />
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Th author warns that the entertainment industry has norms that are different from other industries. Rejection for work is common and often occurs for reasons that are not easily understood. Work is not hired based upon merit.<br />
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The author advises actors to remain positive, noting an actor’s “state of mind is the most important thing” the actor has.<br />
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The author advises actors avoid focusing on studying acting rather than applying what has ben learned.<br />
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Luck is an element in getting acting jobs, but it isn’t all luck.<br />
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The author appeared on TV with Lloyd Bridges. Bridges offered to pay for an apartment for her “no strings attached.” She turned the offer down noting “I also know a little bit about strings. Thus, I left with my integrity.”<br />
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The author advises actors be enthusiastic about their work.<br />
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Actors are advised to not become derailed by others who wish to attempt to place the focus on themselves or those who are always trying to steal scenes.<br />
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Auditions are a necessary part of acting. An actor should not be discouraged if the people giving the audition are not friendly. The author recommends asking those giving the audition a question to allow the actor to show a bit more of the actor’s personality.<br />
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An actor should realize those giving auditions are usually looking for a specific type of actor.<br />
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The author recommends wearing the same clothing for a callback as worn during an audition.<br />
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An actor may not be called for table read. This is because the producers want to save money and not pay the actor for that day.<br />
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The author recommends Los Angeles film and TV actors also appear in Los Angeles theatre. This exposes the actor to casting directors, agents, and managers. It also gives actors affirmation of their work. The dues for Actors’ Equity (circa 2013) are $1,100 or which $400 may be paid upfront with the balance paid in two years.<br />
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An agent is essential for an actor. An agent’s commission cannot be higher than 10%. Managers are not essential but often are helpful. Their percent is negotiatble and often 15% and sometimes between 10% and 15%.<br />
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Agents seldom contact their actor clients.<br />
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In 1921, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce warned those moving to Hollywood hoping to become actors that “only one in five reach the top.”</div>
Tchaikovsky Sounds Funnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09895799697398645324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107279127895115566.post-31004238690704015532014-09-29T10:14:00.004-07:002014-09-29T10:14:40.499-07:00Know Small Parts by Laura Cayouette<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
TLaura Cayouette. Know Small Parts: An Actor’s Guide to Turning Minutes into Moments and Moments into a Career. San Bernardino, CA.: LA to NOLA Press, 2012.<br />
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The author notes if one loves acting, one may make a living acting even if one’s career is all small parts. Independent films are more apt to hire unknown actors whereas huge studio films are more apt to seek well known actors. Even big stars will take small roles or “cameos”.<br />
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It is often easier to get roles in smaller regional markets than in more competitive Los Angeles.<br />
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Cayouette observes her two lines in the movie “Kill Bill” led to more work. She nots Suzanne Somers had a memorable role in “American Graffiti” despite having no lines. She notes “every small part is a big opportunity.”<br />
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An actor should always be prepared and do one’s best at an audition. Even if the actor is not chosen, an impressed director may know of another role the actor could portray.<br />
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When receiving a script for an audition, the actor should learn what the scene is about including its genre, mood, time period, etc.<br />
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The actor should consider what the characteristics of the role are, what are the motivations and objectives of the character, how the character relates to others, what the character wants from others, whether there is someone the actor knows who is similar to the role and could serve as a good substitute to how that character reacts, and consider details from one’s own life that may add to the role.<br />
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An actor should consider what obstacles face the actor’s portrayal including nerves and worries about timing. The actor must learn to face obstacles and find how to overcome them.<br />
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An actor must focus on acting while acting. An actor must know lines and must ignore distractions until the director yells “cut”.<br />
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It is an actors job to play a role as it is written. An actor should not refuse to act in a role because that is not how the actor would behave in real life.<br />
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Auditions are job interviews. An actor should remember that one “gets” to audition and not that one has to audition and that opportunity should be embraced. the author did not get a role in his first over 100 auditions.<br />
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One should take a head shot to an audition. One should have an acting reel online.<br />
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An actor at an audition is expected to know how to pronounce and understand the words in the dialogue. If there is a pronoun with a questionable pronunciation, the actor should ask how it is pronounced before the audition. If an actor doesn’t have any questions, the actor should demonstrate the actor knows the materials, perhaps with humor.<br />
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An actor should listen to and follow instructions and directions. An actor should mentally prepare ahead as to how the actor will perform.<br />
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Am actor should be even more prepared for a callback.<br />
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An actor should have an updated passport in case the actor is hired to film in another country.<br />
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When an actor is called to a callback, this means those evaluating already like what they have seen. It is advised to wear the same outfit as worn at the audition at the callback. This will help the evaluators remember the actor. An actor should keep a record of what is worn to auditions.<br />
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Props taken to auditions should be limited to what one normally carries.<br />
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Actors hired are advised to arrive early, check in, check that the contract is correct, have proper ID, wear easily removed clothes to quickly change into costume, and check the “minis” which state what is being shot. An actor should be prepared to sit around a lot. An actor should be prepared to be called upon earlier than expected. An actor usually signs out at the end of the day. An actor should not leave personal items behind.<br />
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An actor is advised not to bring anything personal to the set. Personal items can be moved at will without regard to them. The only exception to this is actors with personalized chairs with pouches may put items in the pouches.<br />
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Any item that is brought to a set by an actor should be labeled with the actor’s name. Nothing irreplaceable should be brought onto a set.<br />
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An actor who is married should consider the microphone is always on. Conversations can be overheard A mic on a person can be asked to removed for bathroom breaks.<br />
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It is good for spirit when actors with spoken lines introduce themselves to stunt actors and background actors.<br />
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An actor during filming should learn to reach one’s marks, be on camera, be where lighting requires the actor to be, and to adjust if the actor notices the actor is casting a shadow on another actor<br />
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It is common that a shoot will begin early in the morning and lost 12 to 16 hours.<br />
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Rehearsals are often to assist camera, sound, and lighting people practice where they need to be. An actor should be prepared for changes.<br />
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An actor should roll with problems. The author worked while having laryngitis which she used to make her voice sound sultry.<br />
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The author warns against actors who are saboteurs against other actors on sets. She advises remaining professional and “the best defense against a saboteur is to deliver an amazing performance no matter what crap anyone pulls.”<br />
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It is illegal to ask an actor’s age except to ask if an actor is over age 25 for liquor commercials.<br />
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When an actor is asked to “slate” it means the actor is to state his or her name on camera.<br />
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THe suggest profile shots be taken with the hand and shoulders turned to one side and the eyes facing towards the camera.<br />
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The author recommends “as a general rule, keep everything positive.”<br />
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In commercials where a product is lifted by hand by an actor, the actor should keep the label facing the camera with as little obstruction as possible on that label.<br />
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When an actor eats on camera, it is often best to take a small bite and chew as if it is a big bite.<br />
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The SAG-AFTRA initiation fee (circa 2012) is $3,000 with semiannual dues of $99. One has one day to pay the dues. To become eligible to join the union, one needs to work in a union job or work at least three days as a background actor on a union job. A principle in ACTRA, CAEA, AGMa or AGUA may also join SAG-AFTRA.<br />
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A credit for work done may be claimed regardless of the final product. One may list a credit for a part that is cut from a film.<br />
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IMDA Pro costs $124.95 annually (circa 2012). It allows credentials on IMDb to be updated. An actor should make certain there is at least one photo available on the actor’s IMDb page.<br />
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An actor should have a reel of work available online.It should be at least three minutes long up to 10 minutes long.<br />
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Websites such as Actor’s Access and LA Talent allow any actor with a headshot and resume to register with them.<br />
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Agent and manager contracts are usually for one to three years. The best time for an actor to get an agent is when the actor is working. The author recommends a commercial agent is a necessity for getting commercial work. An actor should never pay an agent upfront.<br />
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The most publicity excitement occurs before a movie is released or before a new TV series starts.<br />
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A publicity usually is hired for at least three months. A publicist is best used in the months prior to a film’’s release.<br />
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It is possible for red carpet events to allow an actor to find a new clothing company that wishes the actor to promote their clothes while on the red carpet. These clothes can be borrowed from such a company.It is considered as wrong for an actor to ask for photographs or autographs at red carpet events. These events should be considered as work for promoting films. An actor should not drink to excess or cause embarrassment.<br />
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It is good for actors to keep good company and make good industry contacts.<br />
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95% of actors (circa 2012) make under $5,000 annually, 4% make a bit more but can’t live on it, and 1% made enough to live. The author advises “know what you can control and what you cannot and focus your energy only on the things you can change.”<br />
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Tchaikovsky Sounds Funnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09895799697398645324noreply@blogger.com0