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
It gets major play in all the papers too. Starts off a good buzz.
It’s strictly for geeks and nerds. It’s like one huge Star Trek convention. Was Leonard Nimoy there?
I wish they had a website where we could see the trailers and the promos and such. Since not everyone can be there to see it. Seems to me like a marketing thing that could be exploited further.
Heh, conventions … those days are long behind me but it’s been interesting to see how much of a marketing tool they have indeed become (the ones I worked were considerably more downmarket than ComicCon). I think Terence has a point about “a marketing thing that could be exploited further,” but my experience of conventions has always been that they are fairly deliberately exclusional, it’s always about those who “have access” and keep it pretty much to themselves. Joan Winston’s fascinating but revolting book “The Making of the Star Trek Conventions,” from 1975 or so, is perhaps the earliest and most vivid print exploration of this phenomenon: to quote one of her critics, “Winston is on the ‘inside trek’ and wants to make absolutely sure you know it.'”
I never worked the Trek circuit, but even in smaller fandoms the precise sort of exclusional behavior occurs, and I’m not always sure it’s unnecessary; no matter how cheerful the talent, the fans *will* exhaust them if given the chance, which is one more reason I no longer attend conventions in any capacity, it just brings back a lot of sleepless nights, foggy mornings, and an absolute pittance of any semblance of thanks (not to mention that if you’re not a toy dealer the cash is negligible). I’ve made some lifelong friends through the cons, but that’s sort of an “exception proving the rule” thing , I’m afraid, because the majority remain insanely self-absorbed freaks who are hellbent on spending ridiculous amounts of money on minutiae nobody normal would want, and then getting as much signed as possible so they can hawk it later on e-Bay. Short of being a prison guard or a prostitute, I don’t know if there’s a more depressing way to hack at a living.
I would really like to see some of those presentations. Why don’t they post them online since ALL their fans are online?
They should really make a reality show out of those Star Trek conventions. The comedy that comes out of that would be hilarious.
Best SNL skit ever. Shatner at the convention. “Get a life!”
Comic Con DOES have another convention. Also, you’ve missed the whole point of Comic Con. You only see one side of it – the only side visible to someone invited there by publicists. You’ll probably never see the other side, but as you said, it’s not your cup of tea. Which puts a pretty ironic twist on your professed authority over all things Comic Con, doesn’t it.
Ok. I read Tuesday’s Hot Button. Interesting comments. But there’s something missing. V for Vendetta, anyone?
Terp, what do you mean? You’re talking in circles.
Terp is saying that Dave Poland got the deluxe press tour, not the ground-level experience that normal fans get. Correct me if I’m wrong.
Look at the Mac! HE’S EXTRAPOLATING! HE’S EXTRAPOLATING! Also, these presentations do show up online. You just have to a) know the people that b) know where they are located.
My overall goal in life is to clear up confusion.
You could make that a full time job just following old JW around.
I experienced neither the deluxe press tour or the true geek experience. I did no press events at all (except for attending 3 cocktails and a dinner, where I left the talent to the others)… and I am not the enthusiast that many geeks are.
Ironically, the same is true, but different, about AICN and other true geek sites. They received more ass kissing, but also care a lot more than I.
At any event with nearly 100,000 people, there is no definitive view. Less than 10% of attendees fit in the big hall. So how many people saw the Superman presentation? I am more representative than those who did.
That said, I never professed any authority about all things comicon… I just offered my perspective. So please remove the stick from both of our asses, Terp.
Sites like AICN live for these events. The ass kissing makes their lives. Nerds on top of other nerds. It’s heaven.
AICN can probably ask as much for advertising as you say ComiCon does. They probably get heaps of traffic this time of the year don’t they?
And, yay, We have a new overly opinionated person at the blog in the form of Terp! Excitement to the MAX.
Wasn’t the movie “Trekkies” about Trekky conventionites?
yea they made a movie about people that go to these conventions. its called revenge of the nerds.
I couldn’t go to one of these things. As a girl in her 20’s I’d be stared at, probed, gawked at, and hit on by grown men still living in the basement. Not to say I wouldn’t want to catch the presentations of Aeon Flux and others. I need a press pass and some bodyguards.
A girl at one of these events = Fresh meat.
Run!
Looks like Fanastic Four will get that sequel. Maybe they can come up with a script and get a competent director.
I know what you mean blustealer. I can’t go anywhere in public where large groups of women are present without causing a riot. Really puts a damper on your social life.
Don’t you mean nerds, not women?
Nerds are jealous because of all the women following me.
Ugly women be following you. That much is the truth. Be proud, young man.
Don’t hate just because I am still young and attractive Lester. I can’t help it. It’s God’s will.
From all my years of experience I have learned a few things in life. One is that any guy that brags doesn’t really get any. And two is that every young lady whether she likes it or not likes jazz. So always have a Miles Davis album handy.
I was just responding to BluStealers claim that she could never go to ComicCon or something like it because she would be harrassed due to her incredible beauty. I found that to be an amusing claim. So I’m not bragging.
I don’t know how I would react if one of my daughters brought home one of the conventions attendees. I dont know whether to be scared for her life or happy that shes with someone smart. Obvious use of stereotypes here.
Most folks in this thread are oblivious to the simple fact; Comic-Con is a HONEY POT. There are good looking girls all over the place. An almost RUFUSIAN like affair, where it’s as if all of these fine women just fell from the sky. Who know what Blu looks like. It really does not matter. Comic-Con not actually a hideous place, asthetically.
Also, slamming nerds again? Do we even live in a world where those words do not have some positive affinity towards them? Come on people…come on.
Sharky D, geeks are anything if not loyal to their ladies. Like, Secret Service loyal.
the person who told u it was cool and sounds great to post in ebonics was off his rocker. i appreciate u trying to fill the chris rock void and all.
Bob, do you just want to call me the derogatory terms for “homosexual African-American” or what? That right there, that’s messed up. It does play into my continuing feelings and sentiments towards the Sharks of this blog.
No personal attacks bob. Yet, you are filling the void of the really annoying teenager that has an inability to type simple three letter words. Notice, how, that does not insult 12 percent of the population of the United States.
You silly, silly, boy.
since when does ebonics equal dumb black guy? maybe in ur bizarro world. join the real world, jw. we won’t bite.
and, in the REAL WORLD, do people have a hard time spelling three/four-letter words or using capitalization? If you constitute the REAL WORLD, then the BIZARRO WORLD surely looks more appealling.
Oh yeah. Right now. Let us all pour a fo’ty for Scotty. May Gene Rodenberry be there to great him on the other side with the otherwordly equivalent of Orion Slave Girls!
JW,
Do you ever have anything nice to say or anything to contribute to the discussion besides bashing peoples spelling skills?
Because, no offense, it is really getting tiresome.
Bruce,
It’s no use. Just ignore him.
Witty he ain’t.
Bruce, do you ever have anything nice to say? If I remember correctly. You showed up here the first time, and started slamming kids who watched Transformers by calling them ‘nerds.’ I have plenty of nice to say, but do not front Bruce. Do not front. You are a SHARK. We all know the SHARKS are just one guy. One guy with a lot of time on his hand. And I will slam Bob’s writing style all day. Since, if you paid attention, he insulted mine and 12 percent of the population at the same time. Capice? We cool? Good.
Now, look at you defending yourself with your woman character and your homophobe. Y’all the problem. I’m the solution. But Im too busy…dancin dancin dancin
I’M A DANCIN MACHINEEEEEEEEENNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNEEEEEEEEEEENNNNNNNNNNEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
Get back down!
Not WITTY? NOT WITTY?
Let me have 9 other characters, and we will have a witty duel!
Yeah! YOU TELL’EM JAY!
How I got dragged into this. I have no clue. However, yeah, what that guy said.
How you got dragged into this? Im get to be the ‘token’ female poster. Nothing distinguishing me from the other characters except the fact I have boobs. I feel so disenfranchised.
I got to agree with Jay on one thing; my first movie did suck. Thank got that Raimi guy redeemed my character in the second film, or I would have had to sue somebody. Theoritically, Stan Lee suing Sony for money from my films, means I DID SUE SOMEBODY! SWEET MERCIFUL…spidey-sense tingling. Damn it. My two fake kids with Gwen Stacy are wrecking havoc, time to go.
All of you who hated my film can kiss my stretchy ass! I GOT A SEQUEL! IN YOUR FACE ANG LEE!
We got a problem here? Anybody? I eat worlds. So if we got a problem. Speak up now. Or your world is next.
Just sitting here. You know. Sitting. Just a random guy. I loves kitty cats and Shasta Cream Soda. Yup. Just a random guy. I have no association with them other people.
Yeah. Uh. I like dolphins.
Yes. Dolphins are a fine aquatic animal. They are great singers as well.
You see Sharks. We are all onto your game. IF you like being the borg, then Im sure I will like being the borg just as much.
We could all get along probably. If you were just the one guy posting instead of the other 8.
Yeah,
This JW guy is an absolute joke. I could see if he was just a tiny teeny bit funny. But its like watching a Pauly Shore movie.
Do we really have to put up with this guys childish antics? The only movie this JW guy has commented on in the past 2 months has been his rave review of Fantastic Four. Doesn’t that say enough?
JW, you’re fighting stupid with stupid.
So, hes fighting himself? That’s really sad.
At least he’ll win. Right? Well, I guess he could have a draw.
JW, I don’t think he/they got it.
jeff and jw are probably the same guy. both really have nothing to say.
A nice way to completely ruin a good thread. When you aren’t the center of attention you have to go and try to ruin it for everyone else. I feel like I deal with a six yr old. Thank you, JW for doing that.
Is that not what “bi” bob did by hating on JW’s on-topic post in the first place? You’d think based on everyone’s universal hatred towards JW that he’d started it.
just read there were peeps at Comic Con (was there a few years ago but not this year alas) selling pirate DVDs & a couple have been busted.
It amazes me that at a heavily attended event by so industry people that Pirates would not expect to get caught! pretty risky dudes. and dumb as now the IRS will be looking into their receipt etc.
i meant i was AT comic con a few years ago…Lota doesn’t make, sell or buy Hot DVDs.
But has Lota ever APPEARED in a hot DVD? (Wink-wink, nudge-nudge, know what I mean?)
Hot=stolen Joe, relax. And Lota will not allow herself to be filmed ever. Only black and white photos and no autographs.
Lota: And in these photos, you’re wearing a clinging gown with your hair swept up, while crooning into a microphone? Wait, didn’t I see you at some jazz club with Art Pepper one evening?
Lota.Don’t.Sing.
put the bottle down Joe and step away from the keyboard.
Lota: Sorry. I had this Lonette McKee fantasy thing going for a minute. No offense. (Or was it a Vonetta McGee thing? Hmmm. OK, Vonetta was in “Thomasine and Bushrod,” but Lonette was in “Sparkle,” right?)