Greetings,
So, have you heard of this new movie coming out called True Story starring James Franco and Jonah Hill? I have, and I'm actually interested in seeing it. Why? Well, it's certainly not because of who is in it, since certain people in said film are ones I avoid like the plague. No, it's because I know this story, and I know it because I've heard it at least three times on the Investigation Discovery Channel. To be fair, those might have been 20/20, 48 Hours or Dateline reruns, but still. My point is that this channel has exposed me to several riveting stories. Stories that might give some people, like screenwriters, some good ideas.
Now, I have talked on this blog before about how much I enjoy the shows on ID. Okay, maybe "enjoy" is not the best word considering all the murder and mayhem. Let's say I'm intrigued instead. And until I heard about this upcoming film, I didn't realize how inspiring all of these stories can be. Again, "inspiring", maybe not the best word as people tend to associate that with uplifting things...for some reason. But I speak from personal experience when I say that one can be inspired by good as well as bad things. Heck, a lot of my new book came to be thanks to the horrific and/or moronic behavior that I've been forced to witness. So, right there, on the ID channel, are so many tales that can encourage some great writing. Of course, one can only go so far in telling a story that actually happened without some permission. At least, I think that's how it works with true crime incidents. Still, even if one does not tell the exact events by way of a new book or some other medium, a writer could certainly be motivated to do some great fiction. Maybe even taking bits and pieces from several different circumstances to create a really original story. Oh, there's the word I love so much and for which I long - originality.
Yeah, I don't know if anyone has noticed this, but, for the last several years, we have been inundated with films that are either remakes or reboots or sequels. Enough! Okay, look, I'm not saying that they are ALL bad, I'm just saying I wish people could come up with their own ideas. AND I wish even more that the studios would be willing to take risks on those new ideas, instead of just pushing out more crap that they know will make money because they, themselves, have fooled people into thinking that stuff is good. Of course, I'm not about to say there is no original material out there. In fact, as much as I criticize the Oscars, they do manage to expose me to things I would not have known about otherwise. Money in advertising, you understand. I'm just saying that what gets put at the forefront, most of the time, are the things that we've seen again and again. I just feel like many people, especially writers, have stopped trying. And this goes for screenplays AND books. Why write well when you can make millions writing Fifty Shades of Grey? The writing in that was terrible, by the way. But I digress.
Back to my point at hand. Pretty much every time I watch one of the many shows on Investigation Discovery, I think "Hey, that story would make a great movie!" So, I'm hoping that, if any screenwriters, or writers in general, can't come up with any good, original ideas, they will turn to channels like this for inspiration. And, yes, I know that copying a story that has already happened in real life might not be considered original. But it can be considered extremely good. Look at All the President's Men or Apollo 13 or Titanic. Okay, maybe not that last one. Not that last one, at all. Like I said, though, there is also an art to hearing all these different stories, taking parts from all of them, and building a tale of your own. It's a good idea. One that I hope is legal.
And if all else fails, someone can just write a biopic about the awesome Lt. Joe Kenda! I'd watch the crap out of that!
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Tuesday, May 12, 2015
Thursday, May 7, 2015
Straight From the Theater Review - The Room...RiffTrax Style
Greetings,
Oh, HI, people who read my blog!
Okay, so this is going to be kind of a different review for me. First of all, I already reviewed The Room in a more traditional sense. You can go back and read that if you must. So, technically, I won't be talking about the movie, per se, but more the experience of...well, experiencing it through the eyes of Mike Nelson, Kevin Murphy and Bill Corbett, a.k.a. the awesome dudes of RiffTrax.
It was such a nice thing being able to attend something like this, considering that where I live rarely has such events. Okay, to be fair, it wasn't actually taking place where I live. I think they said they were in Nashville; I was here. And now I have ANOTHER reason why I wished I was in that city. The first, by the way, is because I heard Bob Gaudio lives there. Unless Jersey Boys wasn't accurate. But that CAN'T be! Back to my point. I got to see The Room in a big (or ya know, average sized) old (okay, eleven year old) fancy (well, they have nice bathrooms) movie theater, which is enough of a treat, but, of course, it was accompanied by a fantastic RiffTrax commentary. But let me back it up a bit.
We walked into the theater, and I assumed the screen would be filled with the usual move trivia and other assorted crap that no one cares about. NO! No, we got those things RiffTrax style, too. In other words, BETTER! What are the odds! Also, Weird Al was playing. Good times, indeed, because I thought they were playing actual "Blurred Lines". Gross. And creepy. Anywho...Then, the guys came out to greet us all over the country...and Canada. Fine. Before the feature presentation, we were treated to some expected banter, which included a reminder of it being Orson Welles' birthday. Perfect timing for such an event. Then, they gave as best of an explanation of what the heck The Room is that we can hope for. You know, for the virgins. Also, I was pleasantly surprised that we go to see them riff on a short film. Something about teaching kids from a million years ago how to make boats out of trash. What? Those kids had to do something when they weren't under their desks hiding from the A-Bomb. Oh, 1950's. Never change.
But after all that, we got down to the business at hand. If you've ever seen The Room, you'll know that it basically does the work for you when it comes to mockery. And yet, I still feel like these guys work really hard to sift through the millions upon millions of jokes that can be made about this film in order to find the best for us. They just hit everything so perfectly, as usual, practically reading the minds of the audience and also everyone who has ever seen the movie in the last dozen years since its birth. They were even nice enough to warn us about certain things we were going to see. Again, if you know The Room, you WILL know to what I am referring. They're called "pants" Mr. Wiseau, and they are a beautiful thing. Actually, I almost feel like all their positive energy and hilarity was infused into the audience with which I saw it. So much laughter and even some live riffing from the people around me made for a great night. I love having a good audience when I go to the movies. It's rare.
Okay, I guess that's all I can say. This experience was amazing! That's sounds good enough, right? Honestly, if you ever get a chance to go to one of these Live RiffTrax events, go. No matter the movie, just go. You WILL have a good time. And isn't that a nice thing to have happen these days? To go to the movie theater and know, without a doubt, that you will have fun. That pretty much happens never. I know I certainly don't trust the movie making people and the things they put out to take care of that. I'm looking at YOU, Maleficent! Bottom line, if you're looking for a good time, call the RiffTrax guys. Yeah, that probably sounded not the way I wanted it to. Oh, well.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Oh, HI, people who read my blog!
Okay, so this is going to be kind of a different review for me. First of all, I already reviewed The Room in a more traditional sense. You can go back and read that if you must. So, technically, I won't be talking about the movie, per se, but more the experience of...well, experiencing it through the eyes of Mike Nelson, Kevin Murphy and Bill Corbett, a.k.a. the awesome dudes of RiffTrax.
It was such a nice thing being able to attend something like this, considering that where I live rarely has such events. Okay, to be fair, it wasn't actually taking place where I live. I think they said they were in Nashville; I was here. And now I have ANOTHER reason why I wished I was in that city. The first, by the way, is because I heard Bob Gaudio lives there. Unless Jersey Boys wasn't accurate. But that CAN'T be! Back to my point. I got to see The Room in a big (or ya know, average sized) old (okay, eleven year old) fancy (well, they have nice bathrooms) movie theater, which is enough of a treat, but, of course, it was accompanied by a fantastic RiffTrax commentary. But let me back it up a bit.
We walked into the theater, and I assumed the screen would be filled with the usual move trivia and other assorted crap that no one cares about. NO! No, we got those things RiffTrax style, too. In other words, BETTER! What are the odds! Also, Weird Al was playing. Good times, indeed, because I thought they were playing actual "Blurred Lines". Gross. And creepy. Anywho...Then, the guys came out to greet us all over the country...and Canada. Fine. Before the feature presentation, we were treated to some expected banter, which included a reminder of it being Orson Welles' birthday. Perfect timing for such an event. Then, they gave as best of an explanation of what the heck The Room is that we can hope for. You know, for the virgins. Also, I was pleasantly surprised that we go to see them riff on a short film. Something about teaching kids from a million years ago how to make boats out of trash. What? Those kids had to do something when they weren't under their desks hiding from the A-Bomb. Oh, 1950's. Never change.
But after all that, we got down to the business at hand. If you've ever seen The Room, you'll know that it basically does the work for you when it comes to mockery. And yet, I still feel like these guys work really hard to sift through the millions upon millions of jokes that can be made about this film in order to find the best for us. They just hit everything so perfectly, as usual, practically reading the minds of the audience and also everyone who has ever seen the movie in the last dozen years since its birth. They were even nice enough to warn us about certain things we were going to see. Again, if you know The Room, you WILL know to what I am referring. They're called "pants" Mr. Wiseau, and they are a beautiful thing. Actually, I almost feel like all their positive energy and hilarity was infused into the audience with which I saw it. So much laughter and even some live riffing from the people around me made for a great night. I love having a good audience when I go to the movies. It's rare.
Okay, I guess that's all I can say. This experience was amazing! That's sounds good enough, right? Honestly, if you ever get a chance to go to one of these Live RiffTrax events, go. No matter the movie, just go. You WILL have a good time. And isn't that a nice thing to have happen these days? To go to the movie theater and know, without a doubt, that you will have fun. That pretty much happens never. I know I certainly don't trust the movie making people and the things they put out to take care of that. I'm looking at YOU, Maleficent! Bottom line, if you're looking for a good time, call the RiffTrax guys. Yeah, that probably sounded not the way I wanted it to. Oh, well.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Sunday, May 3, 2015
Top Ten Worst Hit Songs of 1973
Greetings,
Remember yesterday when I said there was quite a bit of good in 1973 when it came to music? Well, in order to keep the balance, we had a boatload of bad. And some of it comes from artists that I otherwise like a lot. Go figure. Let's just get this over with.
#10. "My Love" Paul McCartney & Wings - Odd. Normally, I'd be putting Paul on a 'best of' list. Sorry. I can't this time. Look, we all know what Paul McCartney can do, especially with a love song. So why is this thing so boring? I'm sure it's got sentimentality to someone, but I just can't with this.
#9. "Say, Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose?" Tony Orlando and Dawn - It's just "Tie a Yellow Ribbon". It's just a rehash of that song. Which I'm not a huge fan of. And which came out the same year, for crying out loud. I love Tony and the girls normally, but not this time.
#8. "Hocus Pocus" Focus - Okay, I like me some weird music. I do. But even I have lines that cannot be crossed. This song crossed it. Maybe it's because I'm such a lyric snob and there are no lyrics. Oh, there's singing, but no lyrics. To be fair, though, this didn't rank as high as it might have had the musicians not been so good. Yeah, credit where it's due, when it comes to pure musicianship, these guys were pretty good. The song as a whole, however...Not for me.
#7. "Wildflower" Skylark - I don't like the idea of thinking a woman is weak and needs to always be taken care of and is basically an object. I mean, if you wanna be that way, God bless and do your thing, but I just don't know.I'm sure whoever wrote this song had good intentions in mind. Well, I hope. But look, buddy, I'm not your delicate little flower. Now back off before I get mad. I think I've made my point.
#6. "Playground in My Mind" Clint Holmes - That title. I just don't know. Anyway, I have no idea what this song is supposed to be about. All I do know is that, at some point, child singers enter the picture. Get it? Playground? Kids? But WHY? I just don't really like kid singers all that much. Sorry.
#5. "Funny Face" Donna Fargo - You know, I can defend the Easy Listening genre on several occasions, but not all of them. This is NOT one of those occasions. Just...what is this? This is WEAK! I need something of a level of sophistication and it just does not have it. At all.
#4. "Oh, Babe, What Would You Say?" Hurricane Smith - I heard somewhere that this was meant to be an album filler song, but it somehow made it to the charts. Why? I'm sorry. I just don't get how that happened. This is not a good song, at least, according to me. Maybe it's because the guy's voice is not exactly my cup of tea. But I think there's a reason why this has not seemed to endure as well as other One Hit Wonders. Did I mention that this made it to Number ONE?!
#3. "Funky Worm" Ohio Players - Let me make this clear. I really like the Ohio Players. They were fantastic. Usually. Again, my weirdness tolerance levels only go so high, and this thing's cup runneth over. It's called "Funky Worm"! That just feels wrong.
#2. "The Morning After" Maureen McGovern - I had intended this to be at the top of the list, with good reason. It's awful. It's another song that is evidence in the case against Easy Listening. It's getting a pass, though, because it is associated with the awesome Poseidon Adventure. And because...well, stayed tuned for what DID make it to Number One.
#1. "Daddy's Home" Jermaine Jackson & the Jackson Five - This...is...creepy! I have never NEVER liked the idea of someone calling their significant other..."Daddy"! It's just not right. It's disturbing, in fact. So, why in the world do some people feel the need to immortalize said fetish in song? Just...WHY? Look, I can enjoy some Jackson Five, but, in this case, NO!
Well, there are the songs of 1973 that I wasn't so crazy about. You can go check them out for a listen, if you must, as I bet you guys may never even heard of some of them. Heck, I had never even heard of some of them. But do so at your own risk. As always, these are just my opinions. You can disagree. I'm fine with that. But, wow, some of these songs make me really happy I missed being born in this decade.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Remember yesterday when I said there was quite a bit of good in 1973 when it came to music? Well, in order to keep the balance, we had a boatload of bad. And some of it comes from artists that I otherwise like a lot. Go figure. Let's just get this over with.
#10. "My Love" Paul McCartney & Wings - Odd. Normally, I'd be putting Paul on a 'best of' list. Sorry. I can't this time. Look, we all know what Paul McCartney can do, especially with a love song. So why is this thing so boring? I'm sure it's got sentimentality to someone, but I just can't with this.
#9. "Say, Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose?" Tony Orlando and Dawn - It's just "Tie a Yellow Ribbon". It's just a rehash of that song. Which I'm not a huge fan of. And which came out the same year, for crying out loud. I love Tony and the girls normally, but not this time.
#8. "Hocus Pocus" Focus - Okay, I like me some weird music. I do. But even I have lines that cannot be crossed. This song crossed it. Maybe it's because I'm such a lyric snob and there are no lyrics. Oh, there's singing, but no lyrics. To be fair, though, this didn't rank as high as it might have had the musicians not been so good. Yeah, credit where it's due, when it comes to pure musicianship, these guys were pretty good. The song as a whole, however...Not for me.
#7. "Wildflower" Skylark - I don't like the idea of thinking a woman is weak and needs to always be taken care of and is basically an object. I mean, if you wanna be that way, God bless and do your thing, but I just don't know.I'm sure whoever wrote this song had good intentions in mind. Well, I hope. But look, buddy, I'm not your delicate little flower. Now back off before I get mad. I think I've made my point.
#6. "Playground in My Mind" Clint Holmes - That title. I just don't know. Anyway, I have no idea what this song is supposed to be about. All I do know is that, at some point, child singers enter the picture. Get it? Playground? Kids? But WHY? I just don't really like kid singers all that much. Sorry.
#5. "Funny Face" Donna Fargo - You know, I can defend the Easy Listening genre on several occasions, but not all of them. This is NOT one of those occasions. Just...what is this? This is WEAK! I need something of a level of sophistication and it just does not have it. At all.
#4. "Oh, Babe, What Would You Say?" Hurricane Smith - I heard somewhere that this was meant to be an album filler song, but it somehow made it to the charts. Why? I'm sorry. I just don't get how that happened. This is not a good song, at least, according to me. Maybe it's because the guy's voice is not exactly my cup of tea. But I think there's a reason why this has not seemed to endure as well as other One Hit Wonders. Did I mention that this made it to Number ONE?!
#3. "Funky Worm" Ohio Players - Let me make this clear. I really like the Ohio Players. They were fantastic. Usually. Again, my weirdness tolerance levels only go so high, and this thing's cup runneth over. It's called "Funky Worm"! That just feels wrong.
#2. "The Morning After" Maureen McGovern - I had intended this to be at the top of the list, with good reason. It's awful. It's another song that is evidence in the case against Easy Listening. It's getting a pass, though, because it is associated with the awesome Poseidon Adventure. And because...well, stayed tuned for what DID make it to Number One.
#1. "Daddy's Home" Jermaine Jackson & the Jackson Five - This...is...creepy! I have never NEVER liked the idea of someone calling their significant other..."Daddy"! It's just not right. It's disturbing, in fact. So, why in the world do some people feel the need to immortalize said fetish in song? Just...WHY? Look, I can enjoy some Jackson Five, but, in this case, NO!
Well, there are the songs of 1973 that I wasn't so crazy about. You can go check them out for a listen, if you must, as I bet you guys may never even heard of some of them. Heck, I had never even heard of some of them. But do so at your own risk. As always, these are just my opinions. You can disagree. I'm fine with that. But, wow, some of these songs make me really happy I missed being born in this decade.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Saturday, May 2, 2015
Top Ten Best Hit Songs of 1973
Greetings,
I find something very intriguing about transitional years in music, when one, I guess, fad is starting to find its way out only to make room for another one that will soon be making its way in. This particular year took place just as that so-called hippie music was starting to fade and we were on the cusp of the disco movement. For better or worse. So, the things we find on the charts in years like this are kind of...whatever. Yeah, we have a mix here, but I'm happy to say there is plenty of good. And now I will share that good with you all. Come and see my personal favorites, my Top Ten Best Hit Songs of 1973.
#10. "Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth)" George Harrison - I know. I'm as surprised about this one as you all probably are. Okay, look. Whilst I am a huge admirer of The Beatles, George and I never exactly clicked. But I must give credit where it's due, and this is a really good song. I might even call it one of his best. Even if it's not, it's one of the best of this year.
#9. "Me and Mrs. Jones" Billy Paul - I feel about this song very similarly to the way I feel about the movie The Bridges of Madison County. I have issues with the content of the story, but I cannot deny how wonderfully it is executed. And Billy Paul was a fantastic singer. I really don't know why his career or, at least, his popular success, didn't last longer. It should have.
#8. "Drift Away" Dobie Gray - This is a song I have liked for pretty much my entire life. Still do. It's what I call a 'stopper', which means that when I hear it on the radio as I station surf, I stop and listen. It's just such a feel good song, and nothing about it needs to be changed. Which is why no covers of it are or were necessary. Yeah.
#7. "Do It Again" Steely Dan - It's funny. I've never considered myself a fan of Steely Dan, though I kind of don't know why. Every time I hear one of their songs, I tend to like it. And this one is no exception. Now I don't know what the 'it' is that they want to do again, but it better not be the one I'm thinking.
#6. "Killing Me Softly With His Song" Roberta Flack - I hate to say this, but I think the first time I really heard this song was through a cover, the one by The Fugees, which is pretty good. But once I heard the original, I was sold. It's better, but what did I expect? I still don't know what the title means, but...what? Look, I'm not one to make assumptions. Either way, who cares? Great song.
#5. "Could It Be I'm Falling In Love?" The Spinners - Someone once told me that they thought The Spinners were the poor man's Temptations. Uh, bull crap! Don't get me wrong. I love The Temptations, but I think The Spinners are just as good, maybe sometimes even better. Sometimes. And I consider this song to be one of the highlight of their career. Not as awesome as "Rubberband Man" but, seriously? Is anything?
#4. "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia" Vicki Lawrence - Yes, you are reading that correctly. Vicki Lawrence, Mama herself, was something of a pop star in her youth. As well she should have been. She is a great singer. Anyway, this is a story song, which, from what I've been told, was a thing back in the 70's. Back when people gave some thought and creativity to what they wrote as lyrics. And it's a pretty darn good story with murder and betrayal and all sorts of stuff. In short, it has a better plot than most movies these days. It's just plain great. Although, in this case, I'm going to say you can go ahead and also give the Reba cover a listen, because that's actually good, too. And yes, I did squeal when I heard her and Vicki duet that sucker. Who wouldn't?
#3. "You're So Vain" Carly Simon - Warren Beatty. What? Don't you know you're not allowed to have a conversation concerning this song without saying who you think it's about? Well, that's my guess. That aside, I love this song. I know it has been overanalyzed to death in the past forty years, but I have to say, it has some of the most clever lyrics I've ever heard. The lyrics alone are legendary and that is not easy to do. Trust me, I know.
#2. "Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye) Gladys Knight & the Pips - Now THAT is a title. Oh, yeah, we are going to take advantage of those parentheses like it's nobody's business. Anyway, I know most people may have chosen the other Gladys Knight & the Pips song from this year, "Midnight Train to Georgia", which is also amazing. But I just think that this one is far superior. Plus, I can't have two songs on the list with the word 'Georgia' in them. Right?
#1. "Dancing in the Moonlight" King Harvest - I literally have know idea who these guys are or what else this band did, if anything. I think they might be official One Hit Wonders. But what does it matter? Even if they are, they certainly went all out with their one hit. I just love this song so much, almost inexplicably. It just makes me super happy, which is one of the best things a song can do. Now you may be wondering something. Have I personally ever gone dancing in the moonlight? Maybe. Unless 'dancing' is a euphemism for something. In which case, NO! No, I have never danced in the moonlight! Ever.
So, there you have my favorites from 1973. Come back tomorrow to find out my not so favorites.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
I find something very intriguing about transitional years in music, when one, I guess, fad is starting to find its way out only to make room for another one that will soon be making its way in. This particular year took place just as that so-called hippie music was starting to fade and we were on the cusp of the disco movement. For better or worse. So, the things we find on the charts in years like this are kind of...whatever. Yeah, we have a mix here, but I'm happy to say there is plenty of good. And now I will share that good with you all. Come and see my personal favorites, my Top Ten Best Hit Songs of 1973.
#10. "Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth)" George Harrison - I know. I'm as surprised about this one as you all probably are. Okay, look. Whilst I am a huge admirer of The Beatles, George and I never exactly clicked. But I must give credit where it's due, and this is a really good song. I might even call it one of his best. Even if it's not, it's one of the best of this year.
#9. "Me and Mrs. Jones" Billy Paul - I feel about this song very similarly to the way I feel about the movie The Bridges of Madison County. I have issues with the content of the story, but I cannot deny how wonderfully it is executed. And Billy Paul was a fantastic singer. I really don't know why his career or, at least, his popular success, didn't last longer. It should have.
#8. "Drift Away" Dobie Gray - This is a song I have liked for pretty much my entire life. Still do. It's what I call a 'stopper', which means that when I hear it on the radio as I station surf, I stop and listen. It's just such a feel good song, and nothing about it needs to be changed. Which is why no covers of it are or were necessary. Yeah.
#7. "Do It Again" Steely Dan - It's funny. I've never considered myself a fan of Steely Dan, though I kind of don't know why. Every time I hear one of their songs, I tend to like it. And this one is no exception. Now I don't know what the 'it' is that they want to do again, but it better not be the one I'm thinking.
#6. "Killing Me Softly With His Song" Roberta Flack - I hate to say this, but I think the first time I really heard this song was through a cover, the one by The Fugees, which is pretty good. But once I heard the original, I was sold. It's better, but what did I expect? I still don't know what the title means, but...what? Look, I'm not one to make assumptions. Either way, who cares? Great song.
#5. "Could It Be I'm Falling In Love?" The Spinners - Someone once told me that they thought The Spinners were the poor man's Temptations. Uh, bull crap! Don't get me wrong. I love The Temptations, but I think The Spinners are just as good, maybe sometimes even better. Sometimes. And I consider this song to be one of the highlight of their career. Not as awesome as "Rubberband Man" but, seriously? Is anything?
#4. "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia" Vicki Lawrence - Yes, you are reading that correctly. Vicki Lawrence, Mama herself, was something of a pop star in her youth. As well she should have been. She is a great singer. Anyway, this is a story song, which, from what I've been told, was a thing back in the 70's. Back when people gave some thought and creativity to what they wrote as lyrics. And it's a pretty darn good story with murder and betrayal and all sorts of stuff. In short, it has a better plot than most movies these days. It's just plain great. Although, in this case, I'm going to say you can go ahead and also give the Reba cover a listen, because that's actually good, too. And yes, I did squeal when I heard her and Vicki duet that sucker. Who wouldn't?
#3. "You're So Vain" Carly Simon - Warren Beatty. What? Don't you know you're not allowed to have a conversation concerning this song without saying who you think it's about? Well, that's my guess. That aside, I love this song. I know it has been overanalyzed to death in the past forty years, but I have to say, it has some of the most clever lyrics I've ever heard. The lyrics alone are legendary and that is not easy to do. Trust me, I know.
#2. "Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye) Gladys Knight & the Pips - Now THAT is a title. Oh, yeah, we are going to take advantage of those parentheses like it's nobody's business. Anyway, I know most people may have chosen the other Gladys Knight & the Pips song from this year, "Midnight Train to Georgia", which is also amazing. But I just think that this one is far superior. Plus, I can't have two songs on the list with the word 'Georgia' in them. Right?
#1. "Dancing in the Moonlight" King Harvest - I literally have know idea who these guys are or what else this band did, if anything. I think they might be official One Hit Wonders. But what does it matter? Even if they are, they certainly went all out with their one hit. I just love this song so much, almost inexplicably. It just makes me super happy, which is one of the best things a song can do. Now you may be wondering something. Have I personally ever gone dancing in the moonlight? Maybe. Unless 'dancing' is a euphemism for something. In which case, NO! No, I have never danced in the moonlight! Ever.
So, there you have my favorites from 1973. Come back tomorrow to find out my not so favorites.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Sunday, April 26, 2015
The One Seasoner's Club - Manhattan Love Story
Greetings,
I don't think I've ever done one of these so soon after the show in question has been cancelled. I mean, it's barely been six months, but I do have my reasons for doing this. More on that later. Let's take a look at the short-lived, very recently plug having been pulled, Manhattan Love Story.
Manhattan Love Story was a half-hour comedy that aired on ABC from September 30, 2014 to December 4, 2014. Yeah, it's another one of those shows that technically has a season under its belt, but just barely. It was actually cancelled after four episodes, only half of which I watched at the time, but, since ABC had them, all eleven episodes that had been taped were available OnDemand up until a couple of days ago. Hence, the reason why I decided to write about this series. Eleven 20 minute episodes? That's less than four hours of "research". I figured, why not? So, what exactly was this show about?
Well, as the title predicts, it was about a man and a woman in Manhattan who may or may not fall in love. The woman is Dana, played by AnaLeigh Tipton, a hopeless romantic who comes from a small town and has just come to the big city of New York trying to make it. As you do. As many characters have done. The man is Peter, played by Jake McDorman, a guy who has always lived in New York and has dated many women in it. The two are set up on a blind date, which results in many shenanigans that carry on throughout the short run of the series, as does this gimmick that we can hear what they're thinking to themselves as well as what they are saying out loud. Yeah, that happened. Actually, it was kind of interesting to hear what they SHOULD have said as opposed to what they actually DID say. It was a lesson that sometimes telling the truth can save a lot of trouble. Anyway, I liked these two together. They had potential.
Of course, Dana and Peter weren't the only people on this show. We also have Peter's brother, David, played by Nicolas Wright. He was kind of an enjoyable character. I found him to be the funniest actually, playing the older brother, but the sometimes seemingly less accomplished in a lot of areas. There was also Chloe, the half sister of the boys, played by Chloe Wepper and their dad, William, played by Kurt Fuller, who both, along with Peter and David work at the family trophy making business. Sure, why not? And I liked these characters just fine, which is a good thing. But then, we have David's wife, Amy, played by Jade Catta-Preta. I would like to make it clear that I have nothing against this actress. She's not bad, and I'm sure she's nice in real life. But this character? Holy smokes, she was annoying! I mean, there's always that one friend we have who can get on your nerves, but we let it go, because we love them. But there is a fine line between a friend that makes us say "Oh, you!' and a friend that makes others ask "Why in the heck are you friends with that person?!" This character crossed it. And I hate to say this, but sometimes one bad character can affect an entire show. Again, I do not believe this was the fault of the actress. She was just doing her job. Yet, I think things could have been fixed, if given a chance. It was NOT given a chance, because...well, we'll get to my opinion on that in a moment.
So, the question. Did it deserve a second season? If I consider the state it was in at the time of its cancellation, I can give it a solid maybe. If it had been tweeked a bit, I'd say, sure. Let it have another year. Or at least let it finish the first season in its entirety. But, no. Four episodes that weren't watched by tens of millions of people and good bye. You know, I've probably said this before, not every show has a cinematic pilot like Lost and not every show has a big name in the cast. I mean, I did watch it for two reasons: I love NYC and I think AnaLeigh Tipton is quite adorable. I guess that wasn't enough for other people. It certainly wasn't enough for the studio. I mean, for crying out loud, you didn't really expect them to let this little show build an audience and spread through word of mouth and then listen to the fans, what they liked and what they didn't and adjust the show accordingly so it could end up being something successful and long-lasting. Please! That would require work and patience, and THIS is Hollywood. Don't let's be silly!
Look, I'm not saying this thing was going to be the next I Love Lucy, but they could have given it a bit more of a chance. It had potential, and from what I've read, mostly in comment sections, the show did have fans. I just hope that someday someone gets into power in these studios who cares enough to...well, care. I don't think that's too much to ask.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
I don't think I've ever done one of these so soon after the show in question has been cancelled. I mean, it's barely been six months, but I do have my reasons for doing this. More on that later. Let's take a look at the short-lived, very recently plug having been pulled, Manhattan Love Story.
Manhattan Love Story was a half-hour comedy that aired on ABC from September 30, 2014 to December 4, 2014. Yeah, it's another one of those shows that technically has a season under its belt, but just barely. It was actually cancelled after four episodes, only half of which I watched at the time, but, since ABC had them, all eleven episodes that had been taped were available OnDemand up until a couple of days ago. Hence, the reason why I decided to write about this series. Eleven 20 minute episodes? That's less than four hours of "research". I figured, why not? So, what exactly was this show about?
Well, as the title predicts, it was about a man and a woman in Manhattan who may or may not fall in love. The woman is Dana, played by AnaLeigh Tipton, a hopeless romantic who comes from a small town and has just come to the big city of New York trying to make it. As you do. As many characters have done. The man is Peter, played by Jake McDorman, a guy who has always lived in New York and has dated many women in it. The two are set up on a blind date, which results in many shenanigans that carry on throughout the short run of the series, as does this gimmick that we can hear what they're thinking to themselves as well as what they are saying out loud. Yeah, that happened. Actually, it was kind of interesting to hear what they SHOULD have said as opposed to what they actually DID say. It was a lesson that sometimes telling the truth can save a lot of trouble. Anyway, I liked these two together. They had potential.
Of course, Dana and Peter weren't the only people on this show. We also have Peter's brother, David, played by Nicolas Wright. He was kind of an enjoyable character. I found him to be the funniest actually, playing the older brother, but the sometimes seemingly less accomplished in a lot of areas. There was also Chloe, the half sister of the boys, played by Chloe Wepper and their dad, William, played by Kurt Fuller, who both, along with Peter and David work at the family trophy making business. Sure, why not? And I liked these characters just fine, which is a good thing. But then, we have David's wife, Amy, played by Jade Catta-Preta. I would like to make it clear that I have nothing against this actress. She's not bad, and I'm sure she's nice in real life. But this character? Holy smokes, she was annoying! I mean, there's always that one friend we have who can get on your nerves, but we let it go, because we love them. But there is a fine line between a friend that makes us say "Oh, you!' and a friend that makes others ask "Why in the heck are you friends with that person?!" This character crossed it. And I hate to say this, but sometimes one bad character can affect an entire show. Again, I do not believe this was the fault of the actress. She was just doing her job. Yet, I think things could have been fixed, if given a chance. It was NOT given a chance, because...well, we'll get to my opinion on that in a moment.
So, the question. Did it deserve a second season? If I consider the state it was in at the time of its cancellation, I can give it a solid maybe. If it had been tweeked a bit, I'd say, sure. Let it have another year. Or at least let it finish the first season in its entirety. But, no. Four episodes that weren't watched by tens of millions of people and good bye. You know, I've probably said this before, not every show has a cinematic pilot like Lost and not every show has a big name in the cast. I mean, I did watch it for two reasons: I love NYC and I think AnaLeigh Tipton is quite adorable. I guess that wasn't enough for other people. It certainly wasn't enough for the studio. I mean, for crying out loud, you didn't really expect them to let this little show build an audience and spread through word of mouth and then listen to the fans, what they liked and what they didn't and adjust the show accordingly so it could end up being something successful and long-lasting. Please! That would require work and patience, and THIS is Hollywood. Don't let's be silly!
Look, I'm not saying this thing was going to be the next I Love Lucy, but they could have given it a bit more of a chance. It had potential, and from what I've read, mostly in comment sections, the show did have fans. I just hope that someday someone gets into power in these studios who cares enough to...well, care. I don't think that's too much to ask.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
Hans Christian Andersen - Movie Musical Review
Greetings,
I realized something as I was sifting through my previous posts. I totally have not reviewed enough classic movies. I've done a few, but nowhere near enough. So, I decided to pick one of my favorites from my childhood that I still enjoy to this day. And not just because it's about a writer. Let's talk about Hans Christian Andersen.
Hans Christian Andersen is a 1952 musical about Hans Christian Andersen. I know, right? What are the odds? If you don't already know, he was a poet and also the author of several famous fairy tales, such as The Emperor's New Clothes, Thumbelina, and The Snow Queen, just to name a few. Yeah, The Snow Queen. So you can blame this guy for Frozen. Anyway, this film is not one I would consider a biopic, necessarily. It's not some kind of birth to death scenario, and it's not as rooted in the real world. More on that later. Although, that might be a good idea for someone to do someday. I recall, in the credits of the film, it is referred to as "a fairy tale about the spinner of fairy tales". That is quite accurate.
The film stars one of my favorite actors, Danny Kaye, as the titular character, and I think we can all agree that he is the best thing about this movie. His charm, not to mention, his beautiful, timeless singing voice, always take productions to another level. Anyway, he begins as Hans the Cobbler in a small Danish town assisted by Peter, played by Joseph Walsh, who is his apprentice/foster son/Dick Grayson. Yeah, I really don't what the deal is with those two. I think he just took in an orphan kid to teach him how to, I guess, cobble. And besides being the shoe man in town, Hans is also the story man. He spends a lot of time telling tales to the children and they love it. Who does not love it is the schoolmaster who is more interested in the math than any creative endeavors. He is everyone who we, as artists, are supposed to hate! Okay, to be fair, he is not completely wrong. Hans is keeping the kids out of school. Now it would be nice to find a balance between learning and storytelling, but the schoolmaster goes to the town's Burgomaster, which is like a mayor of sorts, and gets Hans kicked out of town. I guess that's legal? Fine, people. Fix you own shoes. This is what really gets the plot going as Hans and Peter head off to Copenhagan, which is apparently the awesomest place ever! At least, according to the song they sing about it.
Okay, they actually do show Copenhagen as being quite a beautiful place, which it is. But as soon as he gets there, Hans gets arrested for a crime involving a statue. No, really. This all leads to Peter landing them a job making shoes for the local ballet. It is there that Hans meets Doro, played by Zizi JeanMarie, (credited as just JeanMarie, because of...reasons) a beautiful yet feisty ballerina who is in need of the perfect shoe. It is clear that Hans falls in love with her at first sight. Of course, he does. Problem, though. Doro is married to the choreographer named Niels, played by Farley Granger. In public, they appear to have quite a tumultuous relationship, but in private, they seem to really love each other. So what if he slaps her around a bit? This movie was made in 1952 and takes place in the 1830's. Somehow, I think it could have been worse. Oh, Movies. You have a past that requires much explaining.
The rest of the film somewhat chronicles the origin of The Little Mermaid. How the story came to be and how it is turned into a ballet, with the sad ending intact, mind you. Yeah, if you show this to your kids who only know the Disney version, give them a heads up. We see how the goings on of Hans' life have an effect on his writing, as we had been seeing on a smaller scale throughout the film. It also shows how he begins to become appreciated by many more people than he ever expected and ends up becoming a legend.
Again, I love this movie, It was one of the first films about a writer that I ever saw, and it left quite an impression on me. I loved seeing how Andersen got struck with inspiration out of nowhere for his stories. Although, somehow I think he may have had to try a bit harder. It's portrayed kind of like that scene in Jersey Boys where Bob Gaudio comes up with "Big Girls Don't Cry". In other words, "Yep, it's that easy!" Yeah, no. Still, considering the way this film is made, I can let it slide. As many musicals are, Hans Christian Andersen lives on the edge of reality, in a more dreamy world where anything is possible. Even music coming out of nowhere. But it is very beautiful, to listen to, because the music is lovely, and to look at, because it is amazingly colorful, as so many movies from this time are. Boy, did they ever grab onto that Technicolor thing and run like mad.
So, if you enjoy movies that are musical and colorful and classic and just plain good, I say give this one a whirl. But, remember! Warn the children about the fate of The Little Mermaid!
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
I realized something as I was sifting through my previous posts. I totally have not reviewed enough classic movies. I've done a few, but nowhere near enough. So, I decided to pick one of my favorites from my childhood that I still enjoy to this day. And not just because it's about a writer. Let's talk about Hans Christian Andersen.
Hans Christian Andersen is a 1952 musical about Hans Christian Andersen. I know, right? What are the odds? If you don't already know, he was a poet and also the author of several famous fairy tales, such as The Emperor's New Clothes, Thumbelina, and The Snow Queen, just to name a few. Yeah, The Snow Queen. So you can blame this guy for Frozen. Anyway, this film is not one I would consider a biopic, necessarily. It's not some kind of birth to death scenario, and it's not as rooted in the real world. More on that later. Although, that might be a good idea for someone to do someday. I recall, in the credits of the film, it is referred to as "a fairy tale about the spinner of fairy tales". That is quite accurate.
The film stars one of my favorite actors, Danny Kaye, as the titular character, and I think we can all agree that he is the best thing about this movie. His charm, not to mention, his beautiful, timeless singing voice, always take productions to another level. Anyway, he begins as Hans the Cobbler in a small Danish town assisted by Peter, played by Joseph Walsh, who is his apprentice/foster son/Dick Grayson. Yeah, I really don't what the deal is with those two. I think he just took in an orphan kid to teach him how to, I guess, cobble. And besides being the shoe man in town, Hans is also the story man. He spends a lot of time telling tales to the children and they love it. Who does not love it is the schoolmaster who is more interested in the math than any creative endeavors. He is everyone who we, as artists, are supposed to hate! Okay, to be fair, he is not completely wrong. Hans is keeping the kids out of school. Now it would be nice to find a balance between learning and storytelling, but the schoolmaster goes to the town's Burgomaster, which is like a mayor of sorts, and gets Hans kicked out of town. I guess that's legal? Fine, people. Fix you own shoes. This is what really gets the plot going as Hans and Peter head off to Copenhagan, which is apparently the awesomest place ever! At least, according to the song they sing about it.
Okay, they actually do show Copenhagen as being quite a beautiful place, which it is. But as soon as he gets there, Hans gets arrested for a crime involving a statue. No, really. This all leads to Peter landing them a job making shoes for the local ballet. It is there that Hans meets Doro, played by Zizi JeanMarie, (credited as just JeanMarie, because of...reasons) a beautiful yet feisty ballerina who is in need of the perfect shoe. It is clear that Hans falls in love with her at first sight. Of course, he does. Problem, though. Doro is married to the choreographer named Niels, played by Farley Granger. In public, they appear to have quite a tumultuous relationship, but in private, they seem to really love each other. So what if he slaps her around a bit? This movie was made in 1952 and takes place in the 1830's. Somehow, I think it could have been worse. Oh, Movies. You have a past that requires much explaining.
The rest of the film somewhat chronicles the origin of The Little Mermaid. How the story came to be and how it is turned into a ballet, with the sad ending intact, mind you. Yeah, if you show this to your kids who only know the Disney version, give them a heads up. We see how the goings on of Hans' life have an effect on his writing, as we had been seeing on a smaller scale throughout the film. It also shows how he begins to become appreciated by many more people than he ever expected and ends up becoming a legend.
Again, I love this movie, It was one of the first films about a writer that I ever saw, and it left quite an impression on me. I loved seeing how Andersen got struck with inspiration out of nowhere for his stories. Although, somehow I think he may have had to try a bit harder. It's portrayed kind of like that scene in Jersey Boys where Bob Gaudio comes up with "Big Girls Don't Cry". In other words, "Yep, it's that easy!" Yeah, no. Still, considering the way this film is made, I can let it slide. As many musicals are, Hans Christian Andersen lives on the edge of reality, in a more dreamy world where anything is possible. Even music coming out of nowhere. But it is very beautiful, to listen to, because the music is lovely, and to look at, because it is amazingly colorful, as so many movies from this time are. Boy, did they ever grab onto that Technicolor thing and run like mad.
So, if you enjoy movies that are musical and colorful and classic and just plain good, I say give this one a whirl. But, remember! Warn the children about the fate of The Little Mermaid!
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Saturday, April 11, 2015
Tales From the Script - Documentary Review
Greetings,
So, over my lifetime as a writer, I have written many things. Poems, songs, novels, short stories, this blog, obviously. But there is one thing I have never written - a script. Well, as far as I can remember anyway. Now I'm someone who, no matter how good I am at something, is always impressed by those who can do things I can't. Or haven't yet done. So, you can imagine how much I enjoyed Tales From the Script.
Tales From the Script is 2009 documentary which is, ultimately, storytelling about storytelling. It's chock full of interviews with some of the best and hardest working screenwriters in the business. People like John Carpenter, Shane Black, Frank Darbont and Paul Schrader, among countless others. And while we get to hear from some very famous writers, who are often known for other jobs like directing, I was pleased to see people like Billy Ray and Allison Anders, who wrote and directed two of my favorite movies, Shattered Glass and Grace of my Heart, respectively. Honestly, there are far to many people in this thing to mention them all by name. But whether or not you know the names or not, the stories they all tell are priceless, not to mention that great advice is given for any aspiring screenwriters.
While we do get to hear about the incredible thrill of having what you wrote turned into a film, they also don't sugarcoat things. They make it quite clear that this is a hard job, and one that you might not always get appreciation for. Yeah, no kidding. And a few point out that, not only will you work hard on the things that get picked up to actually become films, you will also work even harder on things that will never see the light of day. No lie, one guy wrote down all the scripts he had written in three lists. The first was of scripts that became movies, the second was scripts optioned but never made, the third was scripts that are still merely shelf space fillers. Guess which list was the longest? Exactly. Now, of course, that may not be the case for everyone, but I do like how this movie does not give anyone, particularly young and hopeful writers, any fairy tale stories about the life of a screenwriter. Yes, this might deter some of them from pursuing it, but it will also prepare others who are willing to walk through the fire.
Don't get me wrong, of course, they do share some stories that will inspire and remind people that hard work and taking advantage of opportunities can lead you to success. We hear about how David Hayter pretty much fell into the chance to write the first X-Men movie by having Bryan Singer respect his opinion, and how Antwone Fisher, while working as a security guard at Sony, starting writing about his life and sharing his story enough that it got noticed by the high up people. And speaking of tales that put a smile on my face, albeit don't exactly give me faith in the business, pay close attention to screenwriter Guinevere Turner's little anecdote about Uwe Boll. Whoa, boy! It is, let's say, confirmation for everyone who does not think that man deserves to be involved in film making at all. It's gold, I tell you. You know what? I take back what I said about that story and faith. In fact, her reaction and how she dealt with it is kind of a good lesson on what to do when one is screwed over in the business. Just laugh and move on, because sometimes that's all you can do.
I suppose that's all I can say about Tales From the Script. It's just interviews and stories from people who are very good at telling them, as I said before. I'm sure anyone who comes across this and gives it a chance will find it entertaining, but I think it would be suited best for people who are very much interested in the goings on of film making, especially writing, obviously. It's no secret that I love movies about writers, because I am one, but as someone who, even with all the writing I've already done, has always aspired to go into the world of the script, this especially effective for me. And thanks to these people, my fellow artists, I have a really good idea of what to expect.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
So, over my lifetime as a writer, I have written many things. Poems, songs, novels, short stories, this blog, obviously. But there is one thing I have never written - a script. Well, as far as I can remember anyway. Now I'm someone who, no matter how good I am at something, is always impressed by those who can do things I can't. Or haven't yet done. So, you can imagine how much I enjoyed Tales From the Script.
Tales From the Script is 2009 documentary which is, ultimately, storytelling about storytelling. It's chock full of interviews with some of the best and hardest working screenwriters in the business. People like John Carpenter, Shane Black, Frank Darbont and Paul Schrader, among countless others. And while we get to hear from some very famous writers, who are often known for other jobs like directing, I was pleased to see people like Billy Ray and Allison Anders, who wrote and directed two of my favorite movies, Shattered Glass and Grace of my Heart, respectively. Honestly, there are far to many people in this thing to mention them all by name. But whether or not you know the names or not, the stories they all tell are priceless, not to mention that great advice is given for any aspiring screenwriters.
While we do get to hear about the incredible thrill of having what you wrote turned into a film, they also don't sugarcoat things. They make it quite clear that this is a hard job, and one that you might not always get appreciation for. Yeah, no kidding. And a few point out that, not only will you work hard on the things that get picked up to actually become films, you will also work even harder on things that will never see the light of day. No lie, one guy wrote down all the scripts he had written in three lists. The first was of scripts that became movies, the second was scripts optioned but never made, the third was scripts that are still merely shelf space fillers. Guess which list was the longest? Exactly. Now, of course, that may not be the case for everyone, but I do like how this movie does not give anyone, particularly young and hopeful writers, any fairy tale stories about the life of a screenwriter. Yes, this might deter some of them from pursuing it, but it will also prepare others who are willing to walk through the fire.
Don't get me wrong, of course, they do share some stories that will inspire and remind people that hard work and taking advantage of opportunities can lead you to success. We hear about how David Hayter pretty much fell into the chance to write the first X-Men movie by having Bryan Singer respect his opinion, and how Antwone Fisher, while working as a security guard at Sony, starting writing about his life and sharing his story enough that it got noticed by the high up people. And speaking of tales that put a smile on my face, albeit don't exactly give me faith in the business, pay close attention to screenwriter Guinevere Turner's little anecdote about Uwe Boll. Whoa, boy! It is, let's say, confirmation for everyone who does not think that man deserves to be involved in film making at all. It's gold, I tell you. You know what? I take back what I said about that story and faith. In fact, her reaction and how she dealt with it is kind of a good lesson on what to do when one is screwed over in the business. Just laugh and move on, because sometimes that's all you can do.
I suppose that's all I can say about Tales From the Script. It's just interviews and stories from people who are very good at telling them, as I said before. I'm sure anyone who comes across this and gives it a chance will find it entertaining, but I think it would be suited best for people who are very much interested in the goings on of film making, especially writing, obviously. It's no secret that I love movies about writers, because I am one, but as someone who, even with all the writing I've already done, has always aspired to go into the world of the script, this especially effective for me. And thanks to these people, my fellow artists, I have a really good idea of what to expect.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)