It shows how out of it I was in trying to be in it, acknowledging that I was out of it to myself, and then thinking, “Okay, how do I stop being out of it? Well, I get some legitimate illogical narrative ideas” — some novel, you know?
So I decided on three writers that I might be able to option their material and get some producer, or myself as producer, and then get some writer to do a screenplay on it, and maybe make a movie.
And so the three projects were “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep,” “Naked Lunch” and a collection of Bukowski. Which, in 1975, forget it — I mean, that was nuts. Hollywood would not touch any of that, but I was looking for something commercial, and I thought that all of these things were coming.
There would be no Blade Runner if there was no Ray Bradbury. I couldn’t find Philip K. Dick. His agent didn’t even know where he was. And so I gave up.
I was walking down the street and I ran into Bradbury — he directed a play that I was going to do as an actor, so we know each other, but he yelled “hi” — and I’d forgot who he was.
So at my girlfriend Barbara Hershey’s urging — I was with her at that moment — she said, “Talk to him! That guy really wants to talk to you,” and I said “No, fuck him,” and keep walking.
But then I did, and then I realized who it was, and I thought, “Wait, he’s in that realm, maybe he knows Philip K. Dick.” I said, “You know a guy named—” “Yeah, sure — you want his phone number?”
My friend paid my rent for a year while I wrote, because it turned out we couldn’t get a writer. My friends kept on me about, well, if you can’t get a writer, then you write.”
~ Hampton Fancher
“That was the most disappointing thing to me in how this thing was played. Is that I’m on the phone with you now, after all that’s been said, and the fundamental distinction between what James is dealing with in these other cases is not actually brought to the fore. The fundamental difference is that James Franco didn’t seek to use his position to have sex with anyone. There’s not a case of that. He wasn’t using his position or status to try to solicit a sexual favor from anyone. If he had — if that were what the accusation involved — the show would not have gone on. We would have folded up shop and we would have not completed the show. Because then it would have been the same as Harvey Weinstein, or Les Moonves, or any of these cases that are fundamental to this new paradigm. Did you not notice that? Why did you not notice that? Is that not something notable to say, journalistically? Because nobody could find the voice to say it. I’m not just being rhetorical. Why is it that you and the other critics, none of you could find the voice to say, “You know, it’s not this, it’s that”? Because — let me go on and speak further to this. If you go back to the L.A. Times piece, that’s what it lacked. That’s what they were not able to deliver. The one example in the five that involved an issue of a sexual act was between James and a woman he was dating, who he was not working with. There was no professional dynamic in any capacity.
~ David Simon
Yes I hope we get past the navel gazing and the BS
issues that are just not important on any friggin
level outside of one’s opinion on something they
find moral or not. Bush will never change, and
our soldiers need a change. Our economy and everything
on down.
I agree– I’d really love for the next four years to be less bitter, and I think it’s much more likely to be so if Kerry wins.
But, as a Kerry supporter, I’m biased. I suppose it would be hypocritical of me to say “We’ve just spent four years fighting Bush tooth and nail, and now the Republicans need to settle down and accept Kerry for the good of the country.” That sort of reasoning is exactly what we hate about Bush.
I do think a Bush loss will be a severe blow to the right wing, because he’s come to embody their side more than any individual ought to. Their fortunes rise and fall with him. But, either way, the rancor isn’t going away. And that thought exhausts me possibly more than another four years of Bush.
The track record for second terms is pretty frightening: Clinton, Reagan, Johnson, and especially Nixon, all suffered mightily. Bush will, too, but not before he and his band of cutthroats ashcan that “stay the course” nonsense. Free from worrying about re-election, they will simply go berserk on every conceivable playing field: economic, social, educational, environmental, and of course, international. If history teaches us anything, it’s that messianic leaders eventually go down in flames, taking their nations with them. Too bad no one’s reading their history.
Mike, I suspect you’re right on two points.
First, an unemcumbered second Bush term would drop any and all pretense of moderacy. Without a re-election campaign to worry about, they can use their single-party hold on the legislative and executive branch to force through some grand conservative goals– specifically, I’m thinking of Social Security privatization (disaster looming) and a broad shift of the tax burden from capital to labor.
But it might not happen: Second, there’s a chance that a second Bush term would play out like Nixon’s second: any number of brewing scandals (CIA’s 9/11 report, WMD, Abu Ghraib, Valerie Plame, the energy task force, etc.) could finally spark and cripple the administration early in the term.
If Bush wins, I’d be happy to see him knocked out like that, because I fear the changes he’d make. But I’m not counting on it– the press has proven itself woefully inadequate to facing the current Republican apparatus head-on, because the public is just complacent enough to let it all happen.
Thank God the Liberals are not in power. Maybe after losing the House and the Senate again they should redo their 50 yr playbook and get some new ideas. Liberals are fading away and losing power by the day. And the media and the Hollywood elite are the ones pissed and bitter.
Mark, what exactly are the liberals for again? And
when exactly did Bush and the Neo-Cons ever represent
a true conservative or republican? You are just
a representation of the red states. A place
where even though I live in, have become sickened
I share a country with most of the people who live
there.
There is my America; the REAL America. Where people
know the truth, know what has been going on, and
have to share a continent with people who believe
in their ridiculous morals more than they believe
in real issues.
I would rather be a liberal any day of the week, then
a person from the red states who votes based off of
fear and their religion.
We are a country at WAR, with OURSELVES.
liberals are on the wrong side of every arguement
for more gov’t
for less military
for no preemption
for gay marriage
for higher taxes
they don’t know how to communicate with middle america and they’re power erodes daily. only 10% of people call themselves liberal anymore. they don’t even like themselves
Bob, you’re not a real bright fella are you? Dubya has increased the size of the government, in case you haven’t been paying attention. Not very conservative right? I am happily against preemption, which is an insane and idiot way to govern. Gay marriage? Who are you (or anyone) to tell people what’s right and wrong, and what they can and can’t do behind closed doors? Are you happy being a closed-minded fool?
We’re in a war. That will trump WW2 when we look back on it. How are we supposed to not increase military spending? Dumbass. Typical Lib. Telling us whats right and wrong and how to live. If you haven’t figured it out yet, the real country doesn’t care and won’t listen to you.
Wait, liberals tell people how to live and what’s right and wrong? Um, no. You could not be more wrong. What about gay marriage? Abortion? Religion? It is conservatives who tell people how to live and what is right and wrong. Anyone with half a brain could figure that out.
No Bob, we do not like you. Middle America has
blue in it as well. Do not act like this has
become some mandidate because it has not. And
Mark, if this war becomes greater than WWII;
Have fun being drafted asshole. Or maybe
members of your family or some friend of yours
because WWII was massive on a scale this war
has never even touched.
If you think that, you are a nudnick. The youth
again, did not get out to vote, and this lost
the election. Plus, most people in this country
are just fucking dumb. Two women or Two Men
cannot get married, but losing the Iraq and
terrorism are not that important? Again, fucking
stupid.