| In Case You Missed It (ICYMI) |
| Wednesday February 1, 2023 |
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| Was there a direct line connecting Cindy Williams with Jim Morrison? Yep, there sure was! You could read Ray Richmond's terrific My Greatest Day in Show Business: Screen Legends Share their Fondest Moments or . . . (February 2023; Los Angeles, CA) Ray explains it:
In 1999, I wrote a book called "My Greatest Day in Show Business" that didn't exactly fly off the shelves but that I was hugely proud of nonetheless. It featured 75 stories from celebrities ranging from Jack Lemmon to John Ritter, Katey Sagal to Judith Light, about the greatest day in their careers. Some were hilarious, others bittersweet, still others inspiring. But no one's was better than the tale told to me by Cindy Williams, the "Laverne & Shirley" star who died last Wednesday at 75.
Of all the people I spoke to, nobody was kinder, funnier and more down-to-earth than Cindy. Within 30 seconds of our phone conversation starting, it felt like we'd known each other forever. She was, in fact, the sweetest person in the public eye I've ever interviewed, and the only one I spoke to for that book whom I singled out for thanks in the acknowledgements. I was later told by several people that everyone Cindy dealt with felt similarly about her. For her and me, it was love at first "Hello." Within 10 minutes, she was off to the races in talking about her greatest day in show business, which actually happened while she was waiting tables at a legendary nightclub before her career even launched.
Author Ray Richmond I'll let Cindy pick it up from there:
"It was the Summer of Love (1967). I was 21 and got this incredibly cool job as a cocktail waitress at the Whiskey-A-Go-Go on the Sunset Strip. My friends were all jealous, mainly because I got to work around live music. Live, fabulous music.
"So, it's my first night working there, and the manager of the club, Mario, gives me the VIP section. I'd waited tables before, but never cocktails. My initiation as a waitress had been serving pancakes at the IHOP up the street. The other girls at the Whiskey had given me sort of a crash course, which was rooted mostly in the science of getting big tips. It involved the way you put down your tray when returning change. Very complex but proven methods. Really.
"Anyway, as I get to my first table, I'm very nervous and excited all at once, because this place is truly magical with all of the cool music and people. I mean, c'mon, it's 1967! When I reach the table, I see there's three girls and three guys, so I start taking orders, ladies first. I move around the table to get the guys' orders, and as I look up from my little waitress pad and pen, I suddenly find myself staring into the eyes of Jim Morrison, from the Doors. The Jim Morrison!
"To have Jim Morrison at my first table went way beyond cool. It was just surreal. And my God, he was handsome. So I just stand there slack-jawed for what seems like an eternity before I can muster up the nerve - and the voice - to ask for the man's drink order. The women have already ordered Tom Collinses. The two other men want double scotches. And now it's Jim Morrison's turn to order.
"'I'll have a bottle of Jack Daniel's,' he says as cool as can be.
"I hesitate a beat, and then write it down. The thought crosses my mind that I might not actually be able to serve him an entire bottle of liquor at his table, But then I caught myself and thought, hey, this is the Summer of Love. This is Jim Morrison. If the man wants a bottle of whiskey, I'm sure he can have a bottle of whiskey.
"So, I take this order back to the bartender, a very hip guy I instantly like named Tony. The minute Tony sees the ticket, he starts in.
'Hmmm...let's see...Tom Collins...double scotch...bottle of Jack...Uh, Cindy, what's this?'
"'What?' I reply, feigning ignorance.
'What's with this bottle of Jack Daniel's?' Tony asks.
"Before I can reply, he says, 'Wait, let me guess. Morrison's in the club, isn't he?'
"'Yes!" I blurt out, hardly able to contain myself. 'Isn't it fantastic?'
"Tony was somewhat less impressed.
"''You go right back there," Tony ordered, 'and you tell the little sonofabitch that he knows damn well I can't serve him a bottle of Jack at his table. It's illegal and he knows it.'
"'Um," I reply meekly, 'maybe you could make an exception?'
"'Go!' orders Tony, handing me everyone else's drinks.
"I head back to serve the rest of the table. I'm starting to tremble a bit as I get there, and I say to my illustrious cocktail customer, 'Mr. Morrison, I am so sorry, but our bartender just told me that we can't bring a bottle of Jack Daniel's to your table.' (I decided to leave out the "little sonofabitch" part.) 'Can I bring you something else?'
"Morrison looks me right in the eye. God, he was so handsome. Did I mention that?
"'Tony wouldn't happen to be tending bar tonight, would he?' Morrison asks.
"'Um, yes,"' I reply.
"'Well," he says, 'you tell that little bastard that I always get a bottle of Jack Daniel's at my table, and he knows it, and that's exactly what I'd like now!'
"Oh my God. Even when he was angry, he was just so damn gorgeous. It turns out Morrison also has a beautiful speaking voice, and I'm somewhat mesmerized, to say the least. All I can manage is, 'Yes, sir,' and I'm off to see Tony again.
"At this point, I'm thinking that a little begging can't hurt.
"'Can we just give Jim the bottle, Tony? Pretty please?'
"Now Tony gets really ticked.
'Do I have to go out there myself and re-explain our policy to this asshole again?' he asks. 'It's very simple. No bottle at the table! Is that clear enough? If Morrison has a problem understanding that, tell him to get his rock star butt out of that chair and come deal with me!'
"I can see my short life as a cocktail waitress already flashing before my eyes. Back to the table I go.
"'Mr. Morrison...I am so very sorry, but I just don't think Tony is going to serve a bottle to...'
"'Please try one more time,' Morrison politely interrupts me, 'or I'm afraid I'll need to get up and go talk to the idiot myself.'
"Well, so now, I start to feel like I'm experiencing some sort of white-out. I'm just positive that these guys are going to start carving up each other's faces any second, and I'm feeling lightheaded.
"I somehow manage to find my way back to Tony.
"'Tony, PLEASE! He wants the bottle!' I blubber, breathing heavily and starting to whimper. 'Can't you make this one exception?'
"Tony just glares at me like I'm some sort of termite.
"Back I go to Morrison. I feel like I'm not going to hold it together much longer. In fact, I'm not holding it together now.
"'Oh M-M-Mister M-M-Morrison!' I squeal between sobs, 'please don't get upset. There is no way I'm g-g-going to be able to s-s-s-serve you a b-b-bottle. I (sniff) don't know what else to do. I'm just s-s-s-so (sniff) s-s-s-sorry.'
"At this point, I break down completely in tears. While I'm weeping like an idiot, Jim Morrison takes my hand, smiles up at me (God, more handsome than ever) and asks, 'What's your name, honey?'
"'C-c-c-cindy,' I sob.
"'And this is your first night working here at the Whiskey, isn't it?'
"'Yes,' I say, sniffling and whimpering.
"'Well, Miss Cindy,' Morrison starts, 'me and my pal Tony have been playing a little joke on you here tonight. Just bring me a double.'
"I look over, and I see Tony and all the other waitress doubled over in laughter. I couldn't believe it. It was all just one huge joke - on me.
"Standing there feeling like the world's biggest sucker, I thought, 'Whoa. Is this the coolest job in the world or what?'
"Morrison would come into the club nearly every night, drinking his Jack and reciting his poetry or singing a cappella as we closed up. It was an amazing time to be alive. He was always just so sweet to me after that night. (And do I need to say again how handsome?)
"Did I feel dumb after falling for the prank that night? Absolutely. But it was so totally worth it. This was Jim Morrison. It was the Summer of Love. And the leader of the Doors had taken me by the hand and called me Miss Cindy. Life could never get better than that."
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| Tuesday January 24, 2023 |
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| BrightKnight Entertainment, LLC Developing Feature Length A PRODIGAL FEAST, Casts Lynn Lowry as Angela (January 2023; Los Angeles, CA) Who doesn't need a bloody gory love story around Halloween, with a bit of sadomasochism, partying, brains oozing out of heads, many deaths, and possibly a dinosaur? Los Angeles based BrightKnight Entertainment, LLC owned by Guile Branco and Lou D'Amato, is developing A PRODIGAL FEAST, as a Halloween seasonal feature.
A PRODIGAL FEAST written by Guile Branco and Arthur McClen, is a well-crafted horror comedy that centers on a dysfunctional family. Adds Guile: “The screenplay for this film has been an integral part of my adult life, I can honestly say I have been writing and rewriting this for about twenty years. It’s horrific and funny at the same time! Dark humor is our language here, and we are aiming for it to be a Halloween sensation!!”
Shooting is projected to begin around the end of February through the end of March.
Lynn Lowry, famous for doing the movie SHIVERS with David Cronenberg and CRAZIES with George Romero, has been cast as Angela, a character unlike any ever portrayed in cinema. Angela is a former ballerina who descends into madness. A combination of the suppressive gender roles and a passion that never had its day in the sun, leading to the meltdown -- with a bloody aftermath.
Guile Branco concludes: “I created BrightKnight Entertainment, LLC to be a company by actors for actors, giving opportunities to international/underrepresented professionals working in film! We have many people of many nationalities involved, with the one goal: To collaborate and make this the best film we can make!"
BrightKnight Entertainment, LLC (213) 259-3220
http://www.brightknightentertainment.com/
brightknightentertainment@gmail.com |
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| Tuesday December 27, 2022 |
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Jaime Brockett Legend of the USS Titanic Jaime Brockett is a New England-based folk singer. He enjoyed cult status in the 1969-early 1970s era. In the mid-to-late 1960s, he was a regular performer at many Boston, Massachusetts, clubs and coffeehouses, including the White Whale, Beverly, MA; Damaged Angel and Quest, Boston, MA; and Club 47, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Brockett has lived in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Colorado, Wyoming, and Ohio, among other places. While in Ohio, he supplemented his performance and recording income by teaching guitar. Also while in Ohio, he opened at a local club for folk musician Tom Paxton. Members of the audience included Arlo Guthrie (who was to do a benefit for Friends of the Homeless the next day) and then-governor Dick Celeste.
It was back around the turn of the centuries, back around nineteen hundred and thirteen there was a negro pugilist. His name was Jack
Johnson. Now old Jack Johnson he was the toughest man in the whole wide world. He used to walk around whoppin' people up side the head 'n makin' all sorts of money. Like I say, ol' Jack Johnson he was a pugilist, he was a pugilist by preference and by profession and one day ol' Jack came walkin' on down by the pierside. He's just walkin on down. His manager come walkin' on down by the pierside He says "Uh, hi, Jack" He says "Hi manager" He says "Whatcha doin'?" He says "I'm just walkin' on down by the pierside" He says "What's up?" He says "I gotta gig for ya" He says "Ya gotta gig for me?" He says "That's right" He says "Where abouts?" He says "Over in England" He says "Hmm ... what'm I gonna do over there?" He says "Well you goin' up n' whop this guy up side the head n' make all sorts of money." Ol' Jack says "That's groovy baby. That's really groovy you give me a ticket on the next flight out!" He said, "Ticket on the next flight out?! This is nineteen hundred n' thirteen. Why the Wright brothers haven't even started foolin' around with Kitty Hawk yet" He said, "Uh ... who's she?" It was midnight on the sea The band was playin' "Nearer My God To Thee" Fare thee well Titanic, fare thee well Ol' Jack says, "Well how'm I gonna get there baby?" N' he says, "Oh I'm gonna show ya", and he whips open a newspaper n' shows him a picture of the USS Titanic Folks, she's the world's biggest ship she's made outta good wood and good iron they said she'd never go down He says, "you mean I'm goin' over on the boat." N' he says, "that's right baby, you're goin' on the boat" N' he says "well, let's go get some tickets so they head on down to the ticket taker's place." He walks on up to the ticket taker he walks on in n' he says, "Hey man I wanna buy me some tickets." He said, "Gotta red ticket green ticket yellow ticket blue ticket. What kinda ticket you want?" He says "I wanna red one." He gave him some loot n' he laid it on him So here's ol' Jack, he's got his ticket now he takes everything he owns he wraps it on up in a diaper n' he hangs it on a stick over his back n' goes headin' on down by the pierside. He gettin' on down by the pierside his manager's down there by the pierside n' here she is folks, the USS Titanic! She's lined up beside two hundred n' fifty parkin' meters n' the Captain's gettin' done ready to split cause he run outta dimes Now around this time there was an Italian senator 'n the state house n' all Italian senators done got brothers own construction companies n' this one had a brother he owned a construction company n' the Titanic she was made outta good Italian wood, good Italian iron they said she'd never go down So there's ol' Jack standin' on the bottom got everything he owns wrapped on up in that diaper hangin' on a stick over his back. He shakes hands with his manager goes walkin' on up the gangplank. The Captain standin' on the top. He get up onto the top n' the Captain he look at the ticket He look at the ticket He look at Jack He look at the ticket He look at Jack He look at the ticket He look at Jack He look at the ticket He look at Jack Lookita He says, "Sorry baby, wrong color." He says, "Me or the ticket?" N' he says, "You!" Now he wouldn't let Jack Johnson on board They said this ship don't haul no coal Fare thee well Titanic, fare thee well It was midnight on the sea The
band was playin' "Nearer My God To Thee" Fare
thee well Titanic fare thee well So the Titanic she sails on out into the North Sea she's out there floatin' around in and out between the icebergs n' ol' Jack's standin' on the pier. I'm gonna tell ya 'bout the people on the Titanic now. First of all there's a whole bunch of Jewish people from Miami They're jumpin' up n' down They're laughin' They're drinkin' booze They're tradin' wives n' Cadillacs n' diamonds n' havin' all sorts of good clean party fun Then there was the people that run the boat. Now the people that run the boat they know all about runnin' boats. They know all about hoistin' up land lubbers n' battenin' down hatches n' doin' all sorts of other good things like ... all good sailors do when their far away sea Then there was the Captain. Now the Captain he knows how to walk like a captain, write like a captain, walk like a captain, talk like a captain, smell like a captain, eat like a captain, do all sorts of captain things Then there was the first mate. Now I gotta tell ya bout the first mate. Now the first mate, he don't know nothin' about Jewish parties. He don't know nothing about hoistin' up land lubbers. He don't know nothin' about captains. He uh, he wants to go on over to England he wants to play his guitar. He wanna run around n' chase women n' have all sorts of good ... times Anyways this fella', his sideburns they're just a little too long. He giving away, see. He ... he been down in Mexico he been down in Mexico. He been workin' in this rope factory down in Mexico now. Down in Mexico they make rope outta this funny little hemp plant that grows wild in the ground. Some of you people ... grow it in flower pots under your bed ... ehh Anyway he's down there and he's ... he's makin' rope outta this funny marijuana plant ... One day the rope factory she catch fire n' he runs back on in to save his lunch - he's got two sardine sandwiches - runnin' back on in to save his lunch he gets inside n' there's all this funny smoke floatin' around up inside n' ... he gets some of this funny smoke up inside his head n'... he sit down in the middle o' de' fire n' he say, "Shhhhhit baby, I ain't gonna make rope no more!" So he takes everything he owns, he wraps it up on into a diaper and a knapsack too n' he ... he headin' on to the Titanic he gets to the Titanic he standin' on the bottom walkin' on up the gang plank n' the Captain's standin' on the top n' the Captain says "What you got boy?" He says, "I'm comin' on" He says, "WHAT YOU GOT!" He says, "well I got me two changes of BVD's. I got me my guitar. I got me my address book, a ... pair of socks, four Masked Marvel comic books, a tennis racquet and four hundred n' ninety-seven n' a half feet o' rope." He says "four hundred n' ninety seven n' a half feet o' rope! Whadaya got that for?" He says, "Oh, I just carry it." So he says "It's all right. Go on board, go on board" and he did It was midnight on the sea, the band was playin' "Nearer My God To Thee" Fare thee well Titanic, fare thee well Now he wouldn't let Jack Johnson on board They said this ship don't haul no coal Fare thee well Titanic, fare thee well That brings us up to what's happenin' now, The Titanic she's floatin' around in and out between the icebergs, the Jewish people they partyin' they tradin' wives n' Cadillacs n' diamonds, they drinkin' booze n' havin' all sorts of party fun, everybody else is hoistin' up land lubbers n' battenin' down hatches, the First Mate he's hangin' over the rail, he's havin' himself a little smoke ... he's diggin' the icebergs. havin' himself a little smoke n' it's the Captain's time to do his thing. The Captain comes on out (remember I told you about the captain - he knows how to walk like captain write like captain talk like ... all sorts of captain things). He comes on out n' he's standin' now. His thing right now is that he's gotta go out n' test the wind So he casts his nose up into the north wind n' he goes (sniff ... snniff sniff sniff sniff sniff sniff sniff ) He walks on over to the First Mate He say, "Hey first mate what's that you smokin'?" He
says, "That ain't nothin' but a little ol' cigarette captain" N' he says, "I don't believe it. Gimme a puff" "Alright." So the captain takes himself a little puff. Nothin' happened right away He says, "It's alright, it's alright. It's just a cigarette. I'm goin' for a walk" And that's what he did, folks, he went for a walk. He went ... he went out walkin' around the boat he went walkin' toward the wheelhouse he ... he walked around, he walked around the wheelhouse once ... He walked around the wheelhouse twice ... On the third time around the wheelhouse ... The First Mate he looked on over at the Captain n' ... he say, "You wanna 'nother toke, Captain?" And the Captain, he say ... "RIGHT!!!" So this time he's gonna tell the captain a little bit about this smoke that he's smokin'. He says, "Now the idea Captain, the idea is to get this smoke way down deep inside your tummy n' hold it there just as long as you can it'll make you head feel good all inside. So the Captain says alright he takes himself three big tokes off that funny little brown weed n' he says, "I am commencing to hold it in!" He walked around the wheelhouse He went downstairs He laid down He get up he ran in the other room He sent a radiogram He came on back in He took a shower He come out He shaved He laid down He got up again He turned on the television He turned off the radio He played a game of cribbage He read his Masked Marvel comic book He walked through the kitchen Made a cup of tea, made a cup of coffee, sat down, ate a piece of pie, went upstairs, played another game of cribbage, went back in, finished his other Masked Marvel comic book, laid down, he had the television, the radio, the egg beater, the air conditioner n' everything's all goin' at once. He walks up on deck and this is fifty two minutes later n' this cat ain't breathed yet! So the First Mate see him standin' up there on the rail he's all puffed up like a balloon! He says, "Ya gotta let it out, Captain! So the Captain he let it all out at once. Fallin' right down on the wheelhouse floor. He's out cold Ohhh, this just brings us up to what's happenin' again folks. The Titanic she's sailin' around in between the icebergs. Every body else is havin' parties. The Jewish people they jumpin' up n' down they tradin' wives n' Cadillacs n' diamonds n' drinkin' booze. Everybody else is hoistin' up land lubbers, battenin' down hatches n' doin' sail things. The First Mate's hangin' over there on the rail havin' himself a little smoke n' diggin' icebergs. And the Captain's out cold on the wheelhouse floor It was midnight on the sea, the band was playin' "Nearer My God To Thee" Fare thee well Titanic, fare thee well Now he wouldn't let Jack Johnson on board They said this ship don't haul no coal Fare thee well Titanic, fare thee well All of a sudden ... the Captain's eyes popped wide open. He stood right up straight ... grabs a hold o' da wheel ... Looks on out at the bow o' dat boat n' he say, "I'M GONNA MOVE YOU BABY!!!" And he did right on into an iceberg n' she went right on down It was midnight on the sea, the band was playin' "Nearer My God To Thee". Fare thee well Titanic, fare thee well Now they wouldn't let Jack Johnson on board They said this ship don't haul no coal Fare thee well Titanic, fare thee well That's the true story of the Titanic folks. She went right to the bottom. She took with her all the Jewish people, all the first mates. She took with him the Captain. She took with him the land lubbers. She took with him the Masked Marvel comic books, the tennis racquet, and four hundred and ninety-seven feet of rope Meanwhile back on the stateside, ol' Jack Johnson ... why he's standin' up on the pier he's fishin' away he's got himself a little stick n' a line n' he gets a tug he pulls it on up n' it's a big wet blue soggy mess n' on the inside on the lining written in big gold letters it says "USS Titanic" and stuck right above it was a wet roach That boy was so happy he started doin' the eagle rock up n' down that pier like it's goin' outta style he go ... He gonna do the eagle rock now Everybody in for the eagle rock. Oh rock! It was midnight on the sea, the band was playin' "Nearer My God To Thee" Fare thee well Titanic, fare thee well Now he wouldn't let Jack Johnson on board They said this ship don't haul no coal Fare thee well Titanic, fare thee well Fare thee well Titanic, goin' down! Fare thee well Titanic, goin' down!
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| Thursday October 27, 2022 |
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Photographer: Bernard Gotfryd. 1987 No known restrictions on publication. | |
| Two Time Academy Award Winner William Goldman was known as one of the all time greatest screenwriters, respected across the entire film industry And in his must read book Adventures in the Screen Trade he says Cliff Robertson got him his start in the film industry. William Goldman was an American novelist, playwright, and screenwriter. He first came to prominence in the 1950s as a novelist before turning to screenwriting. He won Academy Awards for his screenplays Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) and All the President's Men (1976). His other well-known works include his thriller novel Marathon Man (1974) and his cult classic comedy/fantasy novel The Princess Bride (1973), both of which he also adapted for film versions. (Wikipedia) William Goldman’s screenwriting credits include:
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (Paul Newman, Robert Redford) The Hot Rock (Robert Redford, George Segal) The Great Waldo Pepper (Robert Redford) The Stepford Wives (Katherine Ross, Paula Prentiss) All the President’s Men (Dustin Hoffman, Robert Redford, Jack Warden)
Marathon Man (Dustin Hoffman, Laurence Olivier, Roy Scheider, William Devane, Marthe Keller) A Bridge Too Far (Sean Connery, Ryan O’Neil, Michael Caine, Laurence Olivier) Magic (Anthony Hopkins, Ann-Margaret, Burgess Meredith, Ed Lauter, David Ogden Stiers) Heat (Burt Reynolds, Karen Young, Peter MacNicol, Howard Hesseman) The Princess Bride (Cary Elwes, Mandy Patinkin, Chris Sarandon, Christopher Guest, Wallace Shawn, Andre the Giant, Fred Savage)
Misery (James Caan, Kathy Bates, Richard Farnsworth, Lauren Bacall) Maverick (Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster, James Garner, Graham Green, Alfred Molina, James Coburn, Dub Taylor, Geoffrey Lewis, Denver Pyle, Dan Hedaya, Clint Black, Corey Feldman) The Chamber (Chris O’Donnell, Gene Hackman, Faye Dunaway, Robert Prosky)
Absolute Power (Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman, Ed Harris, Laura Linney, Scot Glen, Dennis Haysbert, Judy Davis, E. G. Marshall) and many, many others!
After publishing five novels, Mr. Goldman was disconsolate about his mixed reviews and modest success. But his fortunes began to turn when the actor Cliff Robertson, who had read Mr. Goldman’s 1964 novel, “No Way to Treat a Lady,” approached him about writing a screenplay adaptation of “Flowers for Algernon,” Daniel Keyes’s best-selling science fiction novel about a mentally challenged man who is turned into a genius. Mr. Goldman agreed and then, realizing that he had no idea how to write a screenplay, panicked. Unable to sleep, he recalled, he rushed from his New York City apartment at midnight, headed to an all-night bookstore in Times Square and found a single volume on screenwriting. Though he was eventually fired by Mr. Robertson — “probably because it was a terrible screenplay,” Mr. Goldman later said — he kept at it. (The movie was later made as “Charly,” with a screenplay by Stirling Silliphant. Mr. Robertson won an Oscar for his performance.)
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| Friday April 8, 2022 |
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Al Stewart Modern Times Modern Times is Al Stewart's sixth studio album, released in 1975. The album was re-released in 2007 with bonus tracks. The blonde woman on the album cover is Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour's first wife, Ginger. The Cord automobile Stewart is sitting in belonged to Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page. Al Stewart - vocals, acoustic guitar Technical
Modern
Times Hello old friend, what a strange coincidence to find you So call the barman over here, and let us fill our glasses Do
you remember the time we were young? So we pulled our scarves around our faces in the night It all comes back like yesterday Sneaking in the back way into movies after school It all comes back like yesterday While
I talked he sat and he never made a sound Do you remember the church across the sands? So
you packed your world up inside a canvas sack He said, "I don't remember ... I Don't want to remember So
I left him, and I went out to the street A picture-card of yesterday And far off in a deserted part of town
Information source: Wikipedia |
| Friday April 8, 2022 |
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Al Stewart Dark and Rolling Sea Modern Times is Al Stewart's sixth studio album, released in 1975. The album was re-released in 2007 with bonus tracks. The blonde woman on the album cover is Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour's first wife, Ginger. The Cord automobile Stewart is sitting in belonged to Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page. Al Stewart - vocals, acoustic guitar Technical
Dark and Rolling Sea Oh you slipped away from the harbour side Oh you set your course for the furthest shores Oh I have no need of a chart or creed Now the thunder rails in the great mainsails
Information source: Wikipedia |
| Friday April 8, 2022 |
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Al Stewart Song on the Radio Song on the Radio was released in January 1979 as the second single from the Time Passages album, following the title cut which had been a Top Ten hit on the Hot 100 in Billboard magazine whose Adult Contemporary chart had afforded Time Passages a ten week tenure at No. 1. Song on the Radio would peak at No. 29 on the Hot 100 and rise as high as No. 10 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. "I was kind of making fun of Arista Records" who had "asked for a mid-tempo ballad with a saxophone...They wanted a song that could be played on the radio, [so] very tongue-in-cheek I wrote...'Song on the Radio'. I thought they'd [get that] I was actually joking, but of course they didn't & ...put it out as a single [which] made the Top 30, [so] the joke was on me because I screwed up a preposition" - referring to the opening lines "I was making my way through the wasteland/ The road into town passes through" which ends with a preposition - "Worse, I used the same word [through] twice in the same sentence." Al Stewart - guitars, keyboards, vocals Produced by Alan
Parsons
Song on the Radio I was making my way through the wasteland But you and me baby I remember the first time I saw you 'Cause you and me baby I don't know what it was that was painful 'Cause you and me baby
Information source: Wikipedia
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| Monday August 2, 2021 |
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Raja Deka, Founder / Actor Touch A Life Productions "Having worked on various sets ranging from Paramount Pictures, network television, to independent films, I have never witnessed a producer bring their own specific drive, dignity, and belief in the story in such an unparalleled light the way she does. I have witnessed Sabrina lead and naturally make everyone around her raise their own caliber of work on set. It is an absolute honor to have her spearheading our film Living The Dream as producer. She's the mother brain and heart of Touch A Life Productions, hence giving us balance and peace of mind. " |
Guile Branco / Actor / Writer “Sabrina Percario has created a significant body of work, both as an actress and a producer, and I appreciate the opportunity of working with her developing the feature film Living The Dream. As a writer, I created a script blending both my own experiences moving here, with the struggles and successes in America, with her experiences and ideas. We plan to bring a wonderful adventure, true to the immigrant spirit, to the silver screen.”
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| Sabrina Percario: Producer with Touch A Life Productions presents “Living The Dream”, Feature Film Inspired by Multiple Life Events (August 2021; Los Angeles, CA) Multiple award-winning actress and producer, Sabrina Percario, has been collaborating as lead producer with Touch A Life Productions. Touch A Life Productions was founded to inspire humanity. Sabrina, along with Raja Deka, are changing lives through their work, and currently have multiple films and TV series in development.
Their film Be(lie)f was selected at the Short Film Corner at Cannes 2021. Be(lie)f is the story of a newly promoted detective, who is assigned a murder case involving the death of a young black man, but he soon realizes his own personal beliefs may obstruct his quest for justice. On Be(lie)f Sabrina observes: “Quentin Lee Murphy and I produced Be(lie)f to bring awareness to two very important issues in this country: gun regulation and racism. We’re proud of the script and the film's message. We're avid supporters of independent filmmaking.” Quentin Lee Murphy adds: “Without Sabrina from Touch A Life Productions, I wouldn’t be able to have made this film happen.”
Sabrina is also producing Living The Dream, a feature in which she will also be starring, along with writer Guile Branco, Bella Silverstein, and Raja Deka. Living The Dream is the story of the struggle of a determined woman on her journey to achieve her lifetime dream of becoming an actress. Inspired by multiple life events. “The purpose of Living The Dream is to share stories of foreigners who came to America searching to live their dreams. We wanna bring awareness to the struggle of being from abroad, and trying to work in the entertainment business. We’re also bringing in a veteran director Teresa Lampreia, she worked at Globo TV, the biggest TV channel in Brazil. As a lead producer at Touch A Life Productions, I feel honored and blessed to work with Raja Deka, we both share the same goal and mission in life, which is to touch people’s hearts with inspiring and uplifting stories. Our goal is to see all walks of life globally leaving the theaters after experiencing our films realizing there is a warrior within each one of them with specific purpose. We’re all about lifting humanity and planting seeds through our stories, which are already changing lives, and will inspire generations by reminding each individual of their own courage and all we're capable of despite life's challenges.” Sabrina has several other projects in development with Touch A Life Productions, more information on those projects will be coming soon. # # # # Be(lie)f at Touch A Life Productions
Click or tap or click to go to Sabrina Percario's Press Resource Page | |
| Thursday June 10, 2021 |
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| Celia Keenan-Bolger and Jeff Daniels in the 2018 production of “To
Kill a Mockingbird,” which reopens on Broadway Oct. 5. (Julieta Cervantes) ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ sets an Oct. 5 Broadway return, with original star Jeff Daniels and a new producer replacing Scott Rudin By Peter Marks Although much will look and feel the same in this well-received adaptation of Harper Lee’s beloved novel, the guiding hand in the front office is new. Replacing Scott Rudin at the helm of “Mockingbird” is Orin Wolf, himself a Tony winner for his production of “The Band’s Visit,” best musical winner of 2018. Rudin, a prolific generator of prestige movie and Broadway hits, announced on April 17 that he was stepping away from several of his Broadway projects, including “Mockingbird,” “The Book of Mormon,” a revival of “West Side Story” and a forthcoming “The Music Man” with Hugh Jackman.” The move came after an April 7 article in the Hollywood Reporter detailed accusations by former employees of physical intimidation and bullying. Rudin apologized in a statement to The Washington Post, saying he was “taking steps that [he] should have taken years ago to address this behavior.” Click or tap or click to go to the original Washington Post story | |
| The New York Times
Gas lines at Costco in Greensboro, N.C., last month during the shutdown of the Colonial Pipeline from a ransomware attack. Credit...Woody Marshall/News & Record, via Associated Press Pipeline Investigation Upends Idea That Bitcoin Is Untraceable By Nicole Perlroth, Erin Griffith and Katie Benner “But this week’s revelation that federal officials had recovered most of the Bitcoin ransom paid in the recent Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack exposed a fundamental misconception about cryptocurrencies: They are not as hard to track as cybercriminals think. On Monday, the Justice Department announced it had traced 63.7 of the 75 Bitcoins — some $2.3 million of the $4.3 million — that Colonial Pipeline had paid to the hackers as the ransomware attack shut down the company’s computer systems, prompting fuel shortages and a spike in gasoline prices. Officials have since declined to provide more details about how exactly they recouped the Bitcoin, which has fluctuated in value.” | The New York Times
Mirko Ilic What is the Blockchain? Explaining the Tech Behind Cryptocurrencies “A blockchain is a relatively new kind of database that has become the trendy solution for storing digital information more securely. The International Data Corporation recently forecast that companies and governments will spend $2.1 billion on blockchains in 2018, more than double what was spent last year. But if you ask even the people who work with blockchains to define the technology, you are likely to get a stuttering response.” |
| Click Story to Link to Original Source. Best when viewed with computer or laptop | |
| Tuesday October 26, 2020 |
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| What was intended to be a peaceful protest at the 1968 Democratic National Convention turned into a violent clash with police and the National Guard. The organizers of the protest - including Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, Tom Hayden and Bobby Seale — were charged with conspiracy to incite a riot and the trial that followed was one of the most notorious in history. I lived through the events, and I recall teachers telling us about what happened. The film is particularly relevant now, especially in view of Abby Hoffman’s testimony on the stand: “I’ve never been on trial for my thoughts before. In 1861 Lincoln said in his inaugural address: ‘When the people shall grow weary of their constitutional right to amend their government, they shall exert their revolutionary right to dismember and overthrow that government.’ And if Lincoln had given that speech in Lincoln Park last summer, he’d be put on trial with the rest of us.” Defense attorney William Kunstler then asks: “So how do you overthrow, or dismember as you say, your government peacefully?” Abbie replies: “In this country we do it every four years.” Directed by Aaron Sorkin, he told Vanity Fair in July 2020 that he first found out about the planned film during a visit to Steven Spielberg's home in 2006, specifying that Spielberg "told me he wanted to make a movie about the riots at the 1968 Democratic Convention and the trial that followed." He also added that he did not understand in which capacity Spielberg wanted him to be involved, stating, "I left not knowing what the hell he was talking about." In July 2007, Sorkin wrote the script for The Trial of the Chicago 7, based on the conspiracy trial of the so-called Chicago 7. Executive producers Spielberg, Walter F. Parkes, and Laurie MacDonald collaborated on the development of Sorkin's script, with Spielberg intending to direct the film. Sacha Baron Cohen was cast as Abbie Hoffman as early as 2007. Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Richard Schultz, Federal Prosecutor, Frank Langella as Judge Julius Hoffman, and Michael Keaton as Ramsey Clark, Attorney General of the United States during the riots. In October 2018, Sorkin was announced as the director of the film. The film had a production budget of $35 million, with $11 million going towards the cast. John DeFore of The Hollywood Reporter wrote, "Sorkin has made a movie that's gripping, illuminating and trenchant, as erudite as his best work and always grounded first and foremost in story and character. It's as much about the constitutional American right to protest as it is about justice, which makes it incredibly relevant to where we are today." Watch The Trial of the Chicago 7 on Netflx
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| Monday August 31, 2020 |
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Hello all from Guile Branco! I hope you are safe in these crazy times! I would like to present you with my latest film - a short docudrama adventure set in Egypt!
Raiders of the Lost Tomb A man fools his wife into a trip to Egypt under the pretense of a honeymoon, when in fact he is searching for a lost tomb. A homage to "Raiders of the Lost Ark" as an exciting docudrama set in real archeological sites in Egypt! Filmed during a real honeymoon, wife was very accommodating. |
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| The Point of Harry Nillson (Updated!)
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| Saturday, June 27, 2020 |
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| Thursday October 25, 2018 |
| The
Highwaymen Like the characters in The Highwaymen, I'm old enough to avoid making absolute statements, knowing I'll likely need to reverse myself in the next few days. Recently Steven Spielberg made a statement that films produced for Netflix should not be considered for Academy Awards. After all, Academy Awards are for films that have appeared in theaters, and many Netflix films are viewed on tv or device screens, which directors like Mr. Spielberg feel are something much less than the movie theater experience. Seems reasonable, and I think I'll avoid disagreeing with Mr. Spielberg for today, since I've never stood behind a camera, and been responsible for completing a major film project. I have however, been a big film fan for all of my adult life, and "I may not know art, but I know what I like."
That love began with Bonny and Clyde. In 1967 there was no home video industry, you had to "go to the movies" or wait a few years for the sanitized version be broadcast on one of the three television networks. Bonny and Clyde was instant, hypnotic, cinematic magic. Likable characters, beautiful costumes, catchy music, cool old cars, a palpable sexual undertone (obvious even to a seventh grade viewer) all presented in a tight, fast-moving, highly emotional script. When the lights went down in the theater, we were instantly swept away. Audiences agreed, IMDb estimates it cost $2.5 million to produce, and as of January 1973, generated a cumulative world gross of $70 million, earning six Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor in a Leading Role for Warren Beatty, Best Actress in a Leading Role for Faye Dunaway, and Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Gene Hackman. So it's basically now a screen classic, which has stood the test of time for over fifty years! A very hard act to follow! Would you try to remake this story, in today's competitive theater and streaming market? I'm glad Kevin Costner, Woody Harrelson, and everyone at Casey Silver Productions were up to the task.
Faye Dunaway as Bonnie Photo: Warner Brothers In the original, the great actor Denver Pyle plays the role of Texas Ranger Frank Hamer. In this production, we learn more about Frank Hamer, played by Kevin Costner, who has retired from law enforcement, and done well in providing private security. He has a beautiful home, and a loving, socially active wife. He clearly doesn't need the work, and age has caught up with him. The Texas governor's office offers him the task of capturing Bonnie and Clyde, which he accepts. He looks into drafting his former partner Maney Gault to help him, played brilliantly by Woody Harrelson. Maney has descended into the life of a former hero, and is up to the challenge of joining Frank on the chase. The next act is how they arm themselves, how they track Bonnie and Clyde, and all of the resistance they meet from their prey's families, neighbors, and the public who have made them into folk heroes. But we see the trail of violence and death they leave behind, which motivate Hamer and Gault. From here we all know how the story ends, but director John Lee Hancock knows that, and keeps us rivoted anyway. The Highwaymen is a deeply rewarding cinematic experience: Great cast, fast-paced story, lots of surprises, great costumes, beautifully shot, hypnotic soundtrack, even lots of old car action. Which brings us back to my original point, Steven Speilburg's suggestion that Netfilx films not be considered for Academy Awards. If you see him before I do, tell him I'd like to know what he thinks of The
Highwaymen. Years ago an interesting film entitled Donnie
Darko was released just before 9/11. The plot included an intentional place crash, so it was pulled because of 9/11. But the film became such a home video sensation, that Picturehouse mounted a second limited theatrical release. Great! My wife and I went to a small NYC theatre to see it on the big screen, we were joined by dozens of other enthusiasts, but the run only lasted a few weeks. If Netflix mounts a theatrical release of The Highwaymen, we'll be there, make it iMax!
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| Thursday October 25, 2018 |
| Who was Peter Wooley?
Several years ago producer Tony
Schweikel contacted me about promoting a documentary he had produced with his partner Peter Wooley. The documentary Barbarossa and the Towers of Italy, was about ancient mariners of the Mediterranean Sea attacking the southern coasts of Italy, and the towers the towns built to protect themselves from those pirates. (Towers that still stand today!) Somewhere along the way Tony said: "You should check out my partner Peter Wooley, he has quite a track record." I had never heard of Peter, and when I did check him out, Tony was right, I was totally astounded! IMDb Pro lists an amazing ninety-three
film and television credits for Peter, including Summer
Rental, Porky's Revenge, Under the Rainbow, Up the Academy, High Anxiety, Blazing Saddles, and many, many others. And not only did Peter work in all of those films, but he wrote a highly entertaining book about his experiences: What! And Give Up Show Business? A View from the Hollywood Trenches.
Many of us who were fortunate enough to work in the film business in recent years were inspired by the many great films of the seventies, and the very talented performers and personalities of that era, projects Peter worked on, and people he worked with! Peter describes working with Brian Keith, Robert Mitchum, Robert Redford, Katherine Hepburn, and many, many others. And from the Amazon description: "And his memories are not just about stars, but also about the scores of creative, clever, zany, egotistical characters he's worked with in his demanding and creative profession. Full of fun and gossip and yarns, it's for everyone who wants to know what really goes on behind the scenes."
"Fraught with insight and mirth, just like Peter himself." adds Mel Brooks himself! With holiday season on the way, Peter's book is the perfect gift for the film lovers on your list who are fascinated with inside stories on Hollywood.
And if all of that were not enough, Peter also wrote a novel: You Only Go ‘Round Once, a kind-hearted, sometimes shocking, and continually fascinating novel about three men's unique, fifty-year friendship.
In the fall of 1956 three guys who grew up along the same river in Northern Indiana had a chance meeting in the cafeteria of a small university in Southern Indiana. Their stories begin as very young men in Hawaii and Germany, then proceed to Southern Indiana, Montana, Florida, Hollywood, and the Middle East. A chance meeting in a cafeteria of a small university in Southern Indiana begins a fifty- year friendship that goes as far as it can go. Three guys who saw something in each other they liked, stayed friends for life. They went their separate ways after graduation, but kept in touch. Their lives often times were one in the same-as close as you could be one minute and spread to the winds the next. For over fifty years, they realized their dreams and lived them to the fullest. They fought for and with each other, and played the games they wanted to play. “After all”, they reasoned, “you only go ‘round once.” But if you do it right. . . You Only Go Around Once is another riveting, emotional story told in Peter's unique, almost hypnotic style. I couldn't put it down! Most recently Peter and Tony produced The Hybrids Family, starring Paul Sorvino and Carolyn Hennesy.
Peter
Wooley on IMDb You Only Go Around Once on Amazon
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| Sunday October 14, 2018 (Updated 10/5/2019) |
| The Point of Harry Nillson
Harry Nilsson’s Animated Film ‘The Point!’ Gets 50th Anniversary Digital Release
From Harry's Facebook Page: "We are excited to announce that for its 50th anniversary, the Nilsson animated classic, The Point, has gotten a spiffy upgrade and will be released on Blu-Ray and HD Digital, along with a ton of bonus features and a special poster!" Original post: I probably spend way too much time on my laptop in my dining room . . . one night a week or two ago my wife was watching tv in the living room, when what do I hear: This is the town and these are the people Not a cover, but the original by Harry Nilsson himself! That's the way they wanted it Of all people, who would be using this music in a tv spot? Facebook! I laughed, then thought "Wow at sixty-four might I actually be cool again, even if just for a moment?" In 1973 a friend convinced me to move to Southern California with him, and I ended up making some terrific new friends. No mortages, insurance, car repairs, just a job that barely paid to keep a small roof over my head and a couple of frozen pot pies in the freezer, with lots of free time to do what guys in their early twenties did back then. It was the same time John Lennon was in LA on his "long weekend," many evenings spent with Harry Nilsson and others making tabloid news.
Peter Lawford, John Lennon, Mai Pang, and Harry Nilsson with hat, in the audience of a Smothers Brothers LA club appearance Out of that time peroid came Harry Nilsson's The Point short animated film and album, a charming story about conformity. For me it was one of those albums that I listened to many, many times, so it became a symbol of that free and easy youthful time period. Me and my Arrow came from that project. Fast forward to the 90s when somehow the subject of the film came up with my young grade school kids, they discovered it, and loved it! So all of these things occurred to me from the soundtrack of that Facebook commercial. (Coincidentially that's a '76 BMW 2002 at 0:30, I had a black one before my daughter was born.) Here's a brief history on Harry Nilsson:
Think About Your Troubles, from The Point to get a flavor for the animation style.
So after seeing a little bit of Harry Nilsson's life and work I think you can understand why it brought a smile to me hearing him in a Facebook spot. -- Steve Thompson
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| In Case You Missed It (ICYMI) Social media has turned us all into journalists, most without the benefit of any journalistic training. Musicians who spend years learning their craft, then spend countless hours practicing, generally sound pretty good to us, way better than those of us who might just pick up a guitar and start strumming away. So I started this page for curious people who want to learn interesting, true, things, to help improve their own peronal journalism. A journalist's most valuable asset is their credibility, and the foundation of credibility is reliable sources. Fake news never quotes recognizable sources, they use meaningless phrases like "people are saying" or "people have told me . . . " or "the result of a recent study was . . . " Your questions are "Who is saying?" "Who told you?" "What study?" So I'll be telling you about some of the interesting things that I see throughout my day, and about some of the people I know with ideas and accomplishments I think you should be aware of. Don't expect to agree with everything, and don't waste our time arguing. If you go out to dinner, and you see something on the menu you don't like, you don't argue with the waiter, do you? No, of course not, you just move on and find something you like. I have always loved arts: visual, music, film, and now live community theatre. There is no greater thrill to me than watching a film with the cast in the audience, and I was priveledged to attended several Ritz Theatre original productions, hosted by the playwrights, which were every bit as memorable and enjoyable to me. So many of the stories I'll share will have an artistic theme. So here are a few stories from today to help get the ball rolling. Let me know what you think, then tell me your story! |
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Steve Thompson I was Community Outreach Director for The Ritz Theatre Co. in Haddon Township, before that I promoted nearly forty films, and worked with an Academy Award Winner for ten years. Since then I've promoted a variety of producers, directors, actors, and film technicians. I thought we'd have some fun discovering some interesting people and things, so contact me with your own interesting story!
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