I came across the Chicken Dance off of "Life in a Blender's website:
Ahhhh, memories.
Where have all the Echoids gone? You know who you are.
Echoids: A group of savvy/smart/somewhat snobbish/cool techno geeks who would get together at haunts like CBGB's, or bars in Brooklyn, Soho and greenwich village, listening to music, going to art openings, theatre, installations -- lots of cool venues. If you were an Echoid, you had to be good.
Mark was our resident working dad and music guy in a band...a very good, smart, snarky, witty band called "Life in a Blender" (Mark is STILL in Life in a Blender, he was also really good with the parenting advice as I recall. I read his parenting posts even before I had any kids, they were so interesting)...we all loved the group... well, at least I loved the group. Let me tell you, you just haven't lived until you've seen the chicken dance live.
I also loved our Echoid softball games in Central Park. We, the ragtag film, music and computer geeks of the world hunkered down every Saturday morning and played assorted teams of lawyers, doctors, film studio studs, (the CPAs were the worst, they played for blood!). I was catcher, that is until I took my position a little too seriously and dislocated my thumb by getting run over by a 300 lb CPA, who did not care that I was a girl -- and a wimpy, unathletic girl determined to stand my ground for my team no matter what at that!
My thumb still aches when it's going to rain. But I did get the guy out.
Personally, I think they should rename the field for me, but-- was not meant to be.
It was also thanks to the Echoids that I got my very own movie magazine "MOVIEWEEK" off the ground (our slogan was that we were a "movie magazine for movie makers"). We were a very well respected online movie magazine at that, one of the first of the kind, WAY before "Ain't it Cool News" or anything else like that came along. Too bad we had no way to actually make any money, and there's just so much writing I could squeeze out of the most loyal Echoid gratis, after all. But oh, what a year it was! 3 films to review a day in plush, cushy screening rooms, with programs, incentives, free tickets to the NY Film Festival -- where I got to interview Catherine Deneuve and Mike Leigh, amongst other luminaries.
I got to review films with my partner Ian (we were the he said/she said of Movie reviewers), and I got to conduct interviews with the creme de la creme of the hot NY indie film scene who loved us... I was in heaven, I tell you... heaven!). We were an all Echoid staff, some double up on jobs under different names because we didn't want the studios who were inviting us to all these screenings to know that we were a bunch of kids working out of my studio apartment on 57th street (Ian got to be "James" head of our publicity department and had to stick up for his annoying, hard headed "boss" -- Iam aka himself... boy was that a kick to watch).
The best part of Echo wasn't just the haughty and helpful conversation on topics on everything from culture, art, movies, music to parenting, cooking, gardening and auto repair (yes, there was an expert on you name it)... the best part was that we took it Offline... we all supported each other's ventures, plays, shows, etc... parents met at playgrounds and playgroups, we met in restaurants in the Village, at the Mermaid parade in Coney Island..or at Joe's...
Where have all the echoids gone?? They're probably all still there... except for me, of course. I lost touch with all of them many years ago, moving around to 7 or 8 different states and back across the country since.
Some have had their books published (like Brett Leveredge, a swell guy, who I had a memorable evening watching "Welcome to the Dollhouse" with. Poor Brett, I remember getting all cathartic, self indulgent and weepy about my perception of my woefully pathetic, unpopular early childhood... despite the fact that I bailed on all that at age 11 when I moved to Los Angeles -- but that didn't stop my tales of woe, all those black eyes and hats tossed in the mailbox to endure. Poor Brett. I'm just thankful that I didn't become the subject of one of his books or commentaries on NPR.)
It warms my heart to see that others, like Mark are still recording cds and performing gigs.
I'm certain that there's an art installation going on in the snow by an Echoid right now, even as I write this from my comfortable West Coast digs. Remember that scene in "Sex and the City" the tv series, when Barishnokov and Carrie went back to see that woman who was "living art" at 2am to see if she went to sleep or ate -- I'm sure that woman was an Echoid. I'd bet on it.
Just for curiousity sake, I took a peek at the Echo URL -- yes, they have a URL now. Back then, you just dialed in via your telnet program (ECHO is still, as it was, a purist of the we'll talk to who we want to talk to, community model).
They are there at http://www.echonyc.com I see Echo's founder, author, spokesperson, extremely organized person, and one of the smartest ladies I've ever met, Stacy Horn, is still there hosting the ball. A shout out to you, Stacy. I think you're terrific.
I was pleased and somewhat relieved to see that in today's in your face social online world, with our blogs (ahem, yes like this one), and facebooks and twitters to folks, many of whom you will never get to know in real life or see often, if at all --Echo is an online offline social hybrid. A telnet community. You have to be a member, join, pay your dues and telnet in (yes, people apparently still telnet... and why not, if it ain't broke, why fix it?) The fact that everyone knows everyone on Echo makes it feel warm, friendly and a safe haven for New Yorkers who want to "be a part of it."
I tried to stay in touch when I moved out of the city, off to other states, places, a family, a new life. I telnetted in for a while, but without the actual facetime it just wasn't the same. Not being able to see the gang, schmooze, booze and mingle with 'em. It was the end of an era for me, certainly -- a warm, fuzzy, and gosh, you'd better be on your toes and not say something stupid or you'll never live it down era. But a genuinely caring and supportive community as well.
Echoids, I salute you! Better yet, in your honor, I shall do... the chicken dance... offline.
love
bluesy
Thursday, March 05, 2009
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
I just wanted to take this New Year to thank two wonderful people, who have kept me up and shooting for the stars.
Corrine Morgan Thomas is an inspirational on so many levels. She's helped my spirit grow and keeps me sane most days.
I'd also like to pay homage to the amazing Lew Hunter, who's been so incredibly supportive, kind, honest, a great critic for so many years, since my UCLA days, and who continues to make a huge positive difference in my life. I can always hear your "structure, structure, structure" in my head as I'm writing, along with the many other words of wisdom you've imparted and imprinted on my brain over the years. Lew's my Yoda, okay, so I have to share him with like a million other screenwriters out there, but that's okay, to me, you'll always be MY Yoda. I see you're still teaching the kids at UCLA and breeding even more wonderful screenwriters all over the place this coming year. "Write on!"
This is from Lew's documentary "Once in a Lew Moon" Go to his site and pick yourself up a copy.
Here's a great local newscast about how Lew is bringing Hollywood to Superior Nebraska (looks like a heckofa nice place to me and Lew does seem as much in his element there as he does sitting on a table at the UCLA workshop).
Here's the beginning of "The Miracle Run" the movie about Corrine's life with her wonderful sons, Phillip and Stephen, as well as her terrificly supportive spouse, Doug --all outstanding people I'm honored to know and call friends. If you haven't seen the movie yet, go to Corrine's website where you can get it from iTunes.
Corrine Morgan Thomas is an inspirational on so many levels. She's helped my spirit grow and keeps me sane most days.
I'd also like to pay homage to the amazing Lew Hunter, who's been so incredibly supportive, kind, honest, a great critic for so many years, since my UCLA days, and who continues to make a huge positive difference in my life. I can always hear your "structure, structure, structure" in my head as I'm writing, along with the many other words of wisdom you've imparted and imprinted on my brain over the years. Lew's my Yoda, okay, so I have to share him with like a million other screenwriters out there, but that's okay, to me, you'll always be MY Yoda. I see you're still teaching the kids at UCLA and breeding even more wonderful screenwriters all over the place this coming year. "Write on!"
This is from Lew's documentary "Once in a Lew Moon" Go to his site and pick yourself up a copy.
Here's a great local newscast about how Lew is bringing Hollywood to Superior Nebraska (looks like a heckofa nice place to me and Lew does seem as much in his element there as he does sitting on a table at the UCLA workshop).
Here's the beginning of "The Miracle Run" the movie about Corrine's life with her wonderful sons, Phillip and Stephen, as well as her terrificly supportive spouse, Doug --all outstanding people I'm honored to know and call friends. If you haven't seen the movie yet, go to Corrine's website where you can get it from iTunes.
Christmastime for the Jews
Swiped this from a friend's facebook page. Just too funny, had to share, even though it's past xmas (what they hey, if Disneyland can have Christmastime until January 4th, so can we). By the way, happy new year to all. All I want for this new year is health and happiness for my family, and a 6 picture deal with renewable options for myself. Is that asking so much?
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Hallelujah for the Holidays
This performance by Alexandra Burke performing Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" on England's "Xfactor" talent contest/tv show was "through the moon can't believe how good this is good." We've never had an American Idol performance that was this amazing (okay, Jennifer Hudson doing "I'm Telling You I'm Not Goin'" was pretty darn close, but after all, Jennifer went on to do the role in the movie and win an Oscar, so she got her props). I'm not at all surprised that her released version of this song (you can get the actual video online, but I prefer this live one) was on the top of the British charts, according to today's "Hollywood Reporter." What was surprising was that the awesome Jeff Buckley version from years past was number two right behind it... but I honestly can see having both versions in my iTunes collection (as soon as iTunes offers the Alexandra Burke version... what is WITH itunes not offering the British iTunes songs at the same time here, eh?) Anyway, play this and enjoy. It's the perfect song to listen to during your Chanukah and Christmas celebrations (one of the true non denominational, spiritually uplifting songs for the holiday season). Happy Holidays -- Bluesy
And as long as we're in the bluesy mood, I thought that this was a terrific performance on Xfactor by Alexandra Burke and Beyonce performing "Listen." Alexandra's genuine emotion had me in tears and her voice has enough blues and soul to make her stand out.
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And as long as we're in the bluesy mood, I thought that this was a terrific performance on Xfactor by Alexandra Burke and Beyonce performing "Listen." Alexandra's genuine emotion had me in tears and her voice has enough blues and soul to make her stand out.
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Thursday, December 04, 2008
Okay, is it me or is this Twilight trailer spoof too funny?
Of course, I did see the movie, first week it was out. In a theatre full of giddy teenage girls and a few 40something moms and I must say -- it was a whole lotta fun. Sure, it might be a bit corny and not everyone's cup of tea, but if you read the book it's just a whole lotta fun to see this interpretation of it on the big screen. The casting was perfect, if you ask me. And I was very impressed with the screenplay, which managed to be faithful to the book while condensing a very BIG book. The direction was just stylish enough to be cool to look at and moody (she must've shot on Agfa was my first thought... ever the film major, what can I say). But it wasn't so overwhelmingly "auteur" to detract from what we're all really there for... to see Edward and Bella.
I confess, I did sneak into the film to see it a second time (at least the second half of it) after I'd just seen Australia (a great film by the way, Hugh Jackman reminded me of Bogie in "The African Queen" in it... who knew he could be so good at playing hard to get? It's a keen actor who can get down the macho, snarky, sexy, wounded tough guy routine down... peachy keen to you Hugh. There's more to you than a pocketfull of Freddy Krueger blades a la Wolverine. And Nichole Kidman did conjure up images of a young Katherine Hepburn, come to think of it. But the real discovery in that film was the young boy, who really should be up for an Oscar (and win. Where did this kid COME from. He's a natural).
Anyway, back to Twilight and sneaking in to see it again... this time, the movie theatre was completely empty (after all, it was like 10pm on a weeknight in the suburbs). And I admit, it did seem a bit Kitschy and yeah, a bit hokey. But hey, I'm still a fan.
Kudos to the music soundtrack too... I especially like a couple of the tunes... the Muse tune inspired me to download the whole Muse album
I also liked that song they played over the party scene "Go all the way (into the Twilight)", however I'm kinda miffed that Itunes won't let me just buy the song instead of the whole album (but not miffed enough to shamelessly plug the soundtrack for you to buy here,
While you're at it, in the downloading mood. Itunes has been having some pretty good free downloads in their music of the week section
Ciao for now,
Bluesy in Hollywoodland
Of course, I did see the movie, first week it was out. In a theatre full of giddy teenage girls and a few 40something moms and I must say -- it was a whole lotta fun. Sure, it might be a bit corny and not everyone's cup of tea, but if you read the book it's just a whole lotta fun to see this interpretation of it on the big screen. The casting was perfect, if you ask me. And I was very impressed with the screenplay, which managed to be faithful to the book while condensing a very BIG book. The direction was just stylish enough to be cool to look at and moody (she must've shot on Agfa was my first thought... ever the film major, what can I say). But it wasn't so overwhelmingly "auteur" to detract from what we're all really there for... to see Edward and Bella.
I confess, I did sneak into the film to see it a second time (at least the second half of it) after I'd just seen Australia (a great film by the way, Hugh Jackman reminded me of Bogie in "The African Queen" in it... who knew he could be so good at playing hard to get? It's a keen actor who can get down the macho, snarky, sexy, wounded tough guy routine down... peachy keen to you Hugh. There's more to you than a pocketfull of Freddy Krueger blades a la Wolverine. And Nichole Kidman did conjure up images of a young Katherine Hepburn, come to think of it. But the real discovery in that film was the young boy, who really should be up for an Oscar (and win. Where did this kid COME from. He's a natural).
Anyway, back to Twilight and sneaking in to see it again... this time, the movie theatre was completely empty (after all, it was like 10pm on a weeknight in the suburbs). And I admit, it did seem a bit Kitschy and yeah, a bit hokey. But hey, I'm still a fan.
Kudos to the music soundtrack too... I especially like a couple of the tunes... the Muse tune inspired me to download the whole Muse album
I also liked that song they played over the party scene "Go all the way (into the Twilight)", however I'm kinda miffed that Itunes won't let me just buy the song instead of the whole album (but not miffed enough to shamelessly plug the soundtrack for you to buy here,
While you're at it, in the downloading mood. Itunes has been having some pretty good free downloads in their music of the week section
Ciao for now,
Bluesy in Hollywoodland
Sunday, June 08, 2008
Confessions of a Closet Anglophile
Okay, I have a feeling that all this time I've been an Anglophile and didn't know it. Sure there were signs through the years... various friends from England, good friends, close friends, friends who introduced me to the benefits of Twinning's English Breakfast Tea and Constant Comment, with milk and sugar... and then there was that British Canadian punk biker loser I briefly dated, but I think that had more to do with his motorcycle than the accent, though some things might work on a subconcious level. Then there's the self confessed "Dr. Who" fixation in my very early Elementary school formative years... Dr. Who, Fred Flintstone and the Jetsons, I was a strange kid.
And then, in high school... I somehow got my hands on AbFab... how could anyone not love AbFab, right? And authors? Love Martin Amis, Nick Hornby, Janet Winterson... love 'em.
But it's taken until now, when the rest of our shortened TV season has ended post haste, before the summer goodies like Rescue Me and Burn Notice come back to entertain us, to discover how much I really really love what they're doing on the BBC these days.
Torchwood. Have I talked about Torchwood lately? Love it. LOVE it. Top notch sci-fi writing, very good acting (which is key when you're playing people who shoot hokey looking monsters that look like they're Creature Feature castoffs... but honestly, it's not about the effects or the great make-up for me in these things... it's all about the story, and do I buy into this world... in Torchwood, totally). Now Torchwood is, no surprise, a spin-off from Dr. Who... but a Dr. Who I confess I never watched, this new Dr. Who doesn't quite cut it for me.... I'm a loyalist, old fashioned. But taken on it's own value, Torchwood is hot. And sexy. And where else can you get a flagrantly bi-sexual immortal Tom Cruise lookalike playing the lead... BBC, you naughty Brits, your repressed reputation is such an undeserved bad rap... this show makes American shows look like a buncha puritans, legalized gay marriage aside. I mean Will and Grace, totally tame compared to some of the smoochy sex scenes and risque banter going about in this show...But the main thing is, like I said, really good sci fi stories, great premise, love it.
But it's not just sci fi that I love with the Brits lately... I then got hooked on Wire in the Blood... great show... about a psychologist who gets in the midns of serial killers so he can help the police catch 'em... excellent writing and Robin Green is awesome. Very addictive TV.
After I watched every one of those, I tapped back into the ol' Blockbuster Online queue and checked out MI-5. MI-5 has totally taken my breath away. I'm at the end of the second season in my DVD viewing and am so thrilled to see I've got 3 more seasons to go to catch up on (mind you, I don't get BBC America from my cable company... I tried to get them to buy into it, but they're not biting). MI-5 is just the piece de la resistence, I think. Why don't we have anything like it here? It's a mix of James Bond, Mission Impossible and the Mod Squad... but all done in a very modern day crisis, post 9-11 mentality which makes it fresh, and refreshing.... vital.. .and nothing like anyhthing I've seen here. I know they've tried to do CIA stuff but it's just missed the mark in making a good ensemble cast with good chemistry and very human, personable stories that we really care about. It's like the Grey's Anatomy of Spydom, or Spookdom as they call themselves "Spooks" after all. Everything's a crisis that's really worth freaking out over and the results are NOT that predictable... After the first season, I thought for sure they killed off some majorly sympathetic characters. Tears were shed. Thank God I could immediately have that all rectified by the beginning of the second season... I could never have waited months to find out what happened.
Anyway... what's next that I'm missing? East Enders? I'm not a soap fan but it seems there's no genre they're doing at the BBC world that I'm not liking. Come to think of it, I did used to really love Ballykissangel and Monarch of the Glenn... so this BBC fixation isn't new but... well, those things were more Scottish after all.. not sure if it fits the Anglophile profile, even if it was done by the BBC.
I know I'm not the only one, in any case. David E. Kelly's bought the rights to Life on Mars (which I've never seen, but sure I'd love) and is bringing it to "the states" this fall.
Now if only someone would pick up MI5, Torchwood and Wire in the Blood... Nah, why bother. The originals are great and still on the air... I'll just brew myself a nice cupa tea and get some bisquits and curl up with the DVD collections when they come out. That'll at least hold me until September.
Oh and yeah, we all know I'm supposed to be working on my next script, writing... which I am doing. It's a drama... by the way. And I'm also working on a Kyle XY spec script... really. But they put off the deadline off until July 31 for the Disney Fellowships so... why write today what you can write tomorrow... right?
Until next time... ciao, uhm cheery oh... oh Bollocks! Just take care of yourself, have some fun, wear sunscreen!
Bluesy
Here's a really funny BBC parody of Torchwood.
PS. You can order your own DVD collection of Torchwood, MI5, Wire in the Blood and more from this link.
Also, the latest season of MI5 (season 6) which hasn't been on BBC america is available in January from this link. I know that I'll be pre-ordering mine now.
Pre-order Hot Upcoming Releases Now at BBC America Shop!
And then, in high school... I somehow got my hands on AbFab... how could anyone not love AbFab, right? And authors? Love Martin Amis, Nick Hornby, Janet Winterson... love 'em.
But it's taken until now, when the rest of our shortened TV season has ended post haste, before the summer goodies like Rescue Me and Burn Notice come back to entertain us, to discover how much I really really love what they're doing on the BBC these days.
Torchwood. Have I talked about Torchwood lately? Love it. LOVE it. Top notch sci-fi writing, very good acting (which is key when you're playing people who shoot hokey looking monsters that look like they're Creature Feature castoffs... but honestly, it's not about the effects or the great make-up for me in these things... it's all about the story, and do I buy into this world... in Torchwood, totally). Now Torchwood is, no surprise, a spin-off from Dr. Who... but a Dr. Who I confess I never watched, this new Dr. Who doesn't quite cut it for me.... I'm a loyalist, old fashioned. But taken on it's own value, Torchwood is hot. And sexy. And where else can you get a flagrantly bi-sexual immortal Tom Cruise lookalike playing the lead... BBC, you naughty Brits, your repressed reputation is such an undeserved bad rap... this show makes American shows look like a buncha puritans, legalized gay marriage aside. I mean Will and Grace, totally tame compared to some of the smoochy sex scenes and risque banter going about in this show...But the main thing is, like I said, really good sci fi stories, great premise, love it.
But it's not just sci fi that I love with the Brits lately... I then got hooked on Wire in the Blood... great show... about a psychologist who gets in the midns of serial killers so he can help the police catch 'em... excellent writing and Robin Green is awesome. Very addictive TV.
After I watched every one of those, I tapped back into the ol' Blockbuster Online queue and checked out MI-5. MI-5 has totally taken my breath away. I'm at the end of the second season in my DVD viewing and am so thrilled to see I've got 3 more seasons to go to catch up on (mind you, I don't get BBC America from my cable company... I tried to get them to buy into it, but they're not biting). MI-5 is just the piece de la resistence, I think. Why don't we have anything like it here? It's a mix of James Bond, Mission Impossible and the Mod Squad... but all done in a very modern day crisis, post 9-11 mentality which makes it fresh, and refreshing.... vital.. .and nothing like anyhthing I've seen here. I know they've tried to do CIA stuff but it's just missed the mark in making a good ensemble cast with good chemistry and very human, personable stories that we really care about. It's like the Grey's Anatomy of Spydom, or Spookdom as they call themselves "Spooks" after all. Everything's a crisis that's really worth freaking out over and the results are NOT that predictable... After the first season, I thought for sure they killed off some majorly sympathetic characters. Tears were shed. Thank God I could immediately have that all rectified by the beginning of the second season... I could never have waited months to find out what happened.
Anyway... what's next that I'm missing? East Enders? I'm not a soap fan but it seems there's no genre they're doing at the BBC world that I'm not liking. Come to think of it, I did used to really love Ballykissangel and Monarch of the Glenn... so this BBC fixation isn't new but... well, those things were more Scottish after all.. not sure if it fits the Anglophile profile, even if it was done by the BBC.
I know I'm not the only one, in any case. David E. Kelly's bought the rights to Life on Mars (which I've never seen, but sure I'd love) and is bringing it to "the states" this fall.
Now if only someone would pick up MI5, Torchwood and Wire in the Blood... Nah, why bother. The originals are great and still on the air... I'll just brew myself a nice cupa tea and get some bisquits and curl up with the DVD collections when they come out. That'll at least hold me until September.
Oh and yeah, we all know I'm supposed to be working on my next script, writing... which I am doing. It's a drama... by the way. And I'm also working on a Kyle XY spec script... really. But they put off the deadline off until July 31 for the Disney Fellowships so... why write today what you can write tomorrow... right?
Until next time... ciao, uhm cheery oh... oh Bollocks! Just take care of yourself, have some fun, wear sunscreen!
Bluesy
Here's a really funny BBC parody of Torchwood.
PS. You can order your own DVD collection of Torchwood, MI5, Wire in the Blood and more from this link.
Also, the latest season of MI5 (season 6) which hasn't been on BBC america is available in January from this link. I know that I'll be pre-ordering mine now.
Pre-order Hot Upcoming Releases Now at BBC America Shop!
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Trapped in the Drive-Thru
Now for something completely different...You've been writing long enough, you need a break or you'll get neck cramps... but what to do? Wax the floor (nah), laundry (why bother), do the dishes (gross)... I got it, spend 11 minutes watching a painfully funny video by Weird Al!!!!!! Genius!!!!!
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Mr. Dark Shadows
A word about Dan Curtis... just a word, because I'm in the middle of actually writing my script and no doubt this bit of procrastination will take me off my game for a while... but I was researching something to do with my screenplay on Wikipedia and came across the name "Dan Curtis" ... a name that I cannot see without taking pause. Giving thanks. And so, I must here on this blog that nobody reads, will read -- must in print give my thanks to someone who really changed my life for the better and whom I owe big time... a debt that I will never be able to repay now that he's dead. Still, I must say a word about Dan Curtis.
I met Dan as a kid, a very young kid just out of college. I remember my interview with him... I was sent by a temp agency that specialized in Hollywood gigs to work as a writer's assistant. I was warned by the woman who sent me out that Mr. Curtis had a bit of a reputation, and did I think I could handle it. What was his rep? "I've sent over 7 girls there so far and they've all either been fired or quit... the last three were in tears." Apparently, Dan had a reputation for making the girls cry.
Then I met Dan... and out of fairness, I can see and believe that Dan probably did make the girls cry... but Dan was very misunderstood... first off, he didn't talk, he barked. He yelled too.. but it wasn't out of anger, it was just the way Dan communicated... dan was very passionate about everything, and okay a bit grumpy... but Dan was NOT a mean person, not a bad guy at all... in fact, once I got to know him, I must admit that Dan Curtis probably became more of a role model as a writer... if I ever were to have a real mentor in Hollywood, it was Dan. He gave me a chance to experience everything in making a feature film (and a TV miniseries too... people forget, Dan Curtis was a totally split personality guy who could do both serious vampire horror stuff, like create Dark Shadows, and the Night Stalker and produce all those Dracula, horror flicks for years and years... but also he gave us The Winds of War, War and Rememberance, Intruders... lots of stuff... he was the king of vampire flicks on TV and the miniseries). Dan was a generous guy. He gave to charity, lots. He gave people chances, lots of actors that others would not bank on, would not give chances to... and you know who you are... they owe Dan big time. He talked tough, very tough and he cursed like a sailor, that's for sure... I've never seen anyone curse the way Dan did (remember what David Letterman said about him when Dan was on the show about the Winds of War... about him "poneying up the money"... we used to laugh about that one, because Letterman so had the Dan inflection spot on, minus the cursing, of course). He was smart, he knew story, knew people... knew what moved them and what turned them off and he put all of that into his scripts, his films, his work. I'm sure there are many out there who could tell their stories of Dan, probably many have. But this is just little ole' me's take on how he changed my life for the better.
I was hired that day as a writer's assistant, a temp... within a day, Dan was handing me scripts and asking me what I thought about them... and after that, he wanted to know what I would do to fix then... pretty soon Dan and I wrote together... no, I never got that elusive writing credit on a produced film... but I wrote a lot with Dan, we did lots of horror stuff... rewrote Jekyl and Hyde... a great version, if I do say so myself (though he never wanted to do any vampire stuff, isn't that funny). I wrote with the Trilogy of Terror Zuni fetish doll on my desk... the same doll that honestly scared the crap out of my as a kid when I watched late night TV a rerun of that film... I don't think there's been any film then or since that scared me as much as that damned doll... so of course I insisted it sit on my desk to "inspire" me).
There's tons of things I could say about Dan, all those stories he told me... how he let me watch movies be scored (that was a real thrill), how he let me watch the editing process and how he trusted me to be the one to see and comment on the dailies to the film we were working on... I was just a kid, barely out of my teens and to have such responsibility, to have someone like him trust me so much... it really gave me confidence and helped me mature and grow as a writer, a filmmaker, a person. For that I will forever be grateful to Dan Curtis... Mr. Dan Curtis.
One of my greatest regrets is that I never got to say goodbye to Dan, to see him before he died, to comfort him when his beloved Norma died. My mom got sick and things happened and well, I had to be in CT to take care of her and I'm very glad I did... very glad indeed. But when I heard that Dan died... when I read it online, in the newspaper (it barely got a blurb in the Connecticut papers and dammit, Dan Curtis was FROM Connecticut... Bridgeport, actually)... it hurts greatly... I don't know if he ever realized how grateful I was to him for being the person to encourage me to write movies... to inspire me... to give me the confidence that yes, I was good and I could do this and do this well... dan was always so sure I would make it in this business, he told me so many times over tuna fish sandwiches in the commisary (we both loved those damned tuna sandwiches... we could've eaten anything but no, it was always the same... creatures of habit the both of us)... and how he loved to sit outside and have a parade of famous actors pass by and give their thanks go him, their regards... it was like sitting with the Godfather sometimes... the stories I would hear. Dan Curtis touched so many people's lives in Hollywood and so many people's lives in the world with his stories and vision... and heart... such a great heart and passion to tell a good story...
It's no wonder I'm finally writing a vampire movie (and graphic novel) now is it. I'm sure Dan influenced me... sure there's a bit of his vision that permeated through my brain and is now coming out on the page. So often Hollywood and the Vampire thing are used as metaphores. I mean, it's no coincidence that every damned vampire movie or tv show is set in Los Angeles since the dawn of time (except for Dark Shadows... collinwood and LA had nothing in common, good for Dan, always the original). Well, if Hollywood and it's people are like vampires that are supposed to suck you dry, I am living proof that can tell you that it can also be a badly needed transfusion, that will nourish you to life.
And to Dan, I can honestly say, the thought of going to LA and not being able to see you and say Hi, is the first time you've made me cry.
--bluesy
I met Dan as a kid, a very young kid just out of college. I remember my interview with him... I was sent by a temp agency that specialized in Hollywood gigs to work as a writer's assistant. I was warned by the woman who sent me out that Mr. Curtis had a bit of a reputation, and did I think I could handle it. What was his rep? "I've sent over 7 girls there so far and they've all either been fired or quit... the last three were in tears." Apparently, Dan had a reputation for making the girls cry.
Then I met Dan... and out of fairness, I can see and believe that Dan probably did make the girls cry... but Dan was very misunderstood... first off, he didn't talk, he barked. He yelled too.. but it wasn't out of anger, it was just the way Dan communicated... dan was very passionate about everything, and okay a bit grumpy... but Dan was NOT a mean person, not a bad guy at all... in fact, once I got to know him, I must admit that Dan Curtis probably became more of a role model as a writer... if I ever were to have a real mentor in Hollywood, it was Dan. He gave me a chance to experience everything in making a feature film (and a TV miniseries too... people forget, Dan Curtis was a totally split personality guy who could do both serious vampire horror stuff, like create Dark Shadows, and the Night Stalker and produce all those Dracula, horror flicks for years and years... but also he gave us The Winds of War, War and Rememberance, Intruders... lots of stuff... he was the king of vampire flicks on TV and the miniseries). Dan was a generous guy. He gave to charity, lots. He gave people chances, lots of actors that others would not bank on, would not give chances to... and you know who you are... they owe Dan big time. He talked tough, very tough and he cursed like a sailor, that's for sure... I've never seen anyone curse the way Dan did (remember what David Letterman said about him when Dan was on the show about the Winds of War... about him "poneying up the money"... we used to laugh about that one, because Letterman so had the Dan inflection spot on, minus the cursing, of course). He was smart, he knew story, knew people... knew what moved them and what turned them off and he put all of that into his scripts, his films, his work. I'm sure there are many out there who could tell their stories of Dan, probably many have. But this is just little ole' me's take on how he changed my life for the better.
I was hired that day as a writer's assistant, a temp... within a day, Dan was handing me scripts and asking me what I thought about them... and after that, he wanted to know what I would do to fix then... pretty soon Dan and I wrote together... no, I never got that elusive writing credit on a produced film... but I wrote a lot with Dan, we did lots of horror stuff... rewrote Jekyl and Hyde... a great version, if I do say so myself (though he never wanted to do any vampire stuff, isn't that funny). I wrote with the Trilogy of Terror Zuni fetish doll on my desk... the same doll that honestly scared the crap out of my as a kid when I watched late night TV a rerun of that film... I don't think there's been any film then or since that scared me as much as that damned doll... so of course I insisted it sit on my desk to "inspire" me).
There's tons of things I could say about Dan, all those stories he told me... how he let me watch movies be scored (that was a real thrill), how he let me watch the editing process and how he trusted me to be the one to see and comment on the dailies to the film we were working on... I was just a kid, barely out of my teens and to have such responsibility, to have someone like him trust me so much... it really gave me confidence and helped me mature and grow as a writer, a filmmaker, a person. For that I will forever be grateful to Dan Curtis... Mr. Dan Curtis.
One of my greatest regrets is that I never got to say goodbye to Dan, to see him before he died, to comfort him when his beloved Norma died. My mom got sick and things happened and well, I had to be in CT to take care of her and I'm very glad I did... very glad indeed. But when I heard that Dan died... when I read it online, in the newspaper (it barely got a blurb in the Connecticut papers and dammit, Dan Curtis was FROM Connecticut... Bridgeport, actually)... it hurts greatly... I don't know if he ever realized how grateful I was to him for being the person to encourage me to write movies... to inspire me... to give me the confidence that yes, I was good and I could do this and do this well... dan was always so sure I would make it in this business, he told me so many times over tuna fish sandwiches in the commisary (we both loved those damned tuna sandwiches... we could've eaten anything but no, it was always the same... creatures of habit the both of us)... and how he loved to sit outside and have a parade of famous actors pass by and give their thanks go him, their regards... it was like sitting with the Godfather sometimes... the stories I would hear. Dan Curtis touched so many people's lives in Hollywood and so many people's lives in the world with his stories and vision... and heart... such a great heart and passion to tell a good story...
It's no wonder I'm finally writing a vampire movie (and graphic novel) now is it. I'm sure Dan influenced me... sure there's a bit of his vision that permeated through my brain and is now coming out on the page. So often Hollywood and the Vampire thing are used as metaphores. I mean, it's no coincidence that every damned vampire movie or tv show is set in Los Angeles since the dawn of time (except for Dark Shadows... collinwood and LA had nothing in common, good for Dan, always the original). Well, if Hollywood and it's people are like vampires that are supposed to suck you dry, I am living proof that can tell you that it can also be a badly needed transfusion, that will nourish you to life.
And to Dan, I can honestly say, the thought of going to LA and not being able to see you and say Hi, is the first time you've made me cry.
--bluesy
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