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
I still don’t understand who else would buy the Dreamworks library. Why would Paramount make all these deals with one of the prime assets selling to someone else?
AOL Time Warner had layoffs this week too for Warner Bros and New Line. Happy Holidays Hollywood.
I thought the library would have been a hot seller. Maybe they’re asking too much.
Maybe? More like obviously. Didn’t MGM sell for $2 billion and they want $1 billion for something like 80 or 90 films very few of which are worth anything in the long run. ??? Come on.
Is this including the animated library or is that part of DWAnimation’s total package? I can’t wait for Antz 2.
I find it hard to believe that company org charts all already finalized. These things usually take a long time to haggle out.
Who’s Ruth Vitale and what’s First Look?
Okay, I actually read the press release…nope, still don’t care.
Jeffmcm: Par is keeping the DreamWorks Animation library. Plenty of opportunity for franchises, remakes and sequels!
The really sad thing is with all of the people thatg were fired this or are being fired this season, know one really knows or talks about how well the people at the top of this business are doing for themselves.
Drive by Stacey snider’s new house, (one of four?) Or Brad Grey’s new beach house, or ski home or Chris Albrecht’s fifth home and the list goes on and on for the top five or six people at eachof these companies that are devouring each other and the businees. Every year we hear who brutal this business is and how much money people are losing yet the top bonuses go up and (sometimes) the stocks go up and they buy more buildings and companies, and yet the bemoaning is constant and it’s really a way to blood-let as you say, and it’s sad..
It also feels like the middle of the end to all these big companies…
Merry Christmas to eveyone that is getting dumped so that Ron Meyer and Michael Eisner can pocket another five million each…
Yep, Hollywood is just like the rest of corporate America…
(how do Meyer and Eisner make money off the Paramount-Dreamworks deal? I guess Eisner still has some Viacom stock that he’s probably forgotten about…)
Why shouldn’t execs try to make as much money and be as successful as they can? If you are against that you may as well be a Communist. This is capitalism. This is how it works. Instead of complaining about some execs “beach house” or “ski retreat” you should be working harder to someday be in psoition to make those kinds of choices. And when you are on top you can cut your salary by 65% and pay everyone under you more and hire more people.
I’d gladly take Brad Grey’s beach house or someones fifth home. That’s why we work isn’t it? To make money, to be ambitious, to be successful. If I didn’t strive to have these things I’d teach fourth grade English.
Get laid off by these companies and see if you still feel so charitable.
You get laid off and you find another job. That’s the free market place. That’s why you need to own and run your own things so you control it. Not a bunch of suits.
James has probably been fired. He sounds really bitter about successful people. Tell Brad Grey to watch his back because James Leer is ready for revenge!
When you take corporate jobs you know what you’re getting into. You can lead the good life. Security. Money. Success. But you can also be canned at anytime for any reason. So you can’t really bitch about it.
We all know there are reckless people driving cars too Josh. That doesn’t mean if some jerk hits me with his SUV I don’t have any right to complain.
The every-man-for-himself mentality is what leads to the disgusting corporate malfeasance we’ve seen over the last few years.
There’s nothing wrong with earning money, but there is something wrong with spending the money in your employees’ pension fund on a new private yacht.
Am I suggesting that these studio execs are criminals? Not at all. But I do think a feeling of responsibility for the well-being of one’s employees is good for the employees, employer, and the company itself.
For corporate malfeasance that’s why we have prosecutors, laws, and jails. People shouldn’t be denied a right to earn a living because people are afraid of corporate scumbags.
This made me laugh:
“That’s why we work isn’t it? To make money, to be ambitious, to be successful. If I didn’t strive to have these things I’d teach fourth grade English.”
I don’t know about you, Josh, but I work because I love what I do for a living and I want to help people. I guess I should be grateful, though, knowing that when I have kids they’ll be taught English by those who actually want to make America a better place.
You can’t better the world and also achieve all your goals at the same time, jeffmcm? I don’t know where you live but I live in America. And it’s entirely possible. If you want to have a set salary and security for the rest fo your life teach Fourth grade English. It’ll even be rewarding if you want it to. But if you get involved in the job market and you don’t have ambitions and aspirations beyond a paycheck than you’re in big trouble out there. Because you’re just looking for government handouts. Move to Cuba, Lefty.
That was a great response. Please end all your posts that same way. (I am in fact left-handed, so you were correct).
You are annoying guy/girl, Jeffmcm. You know that? I don’t think you can go a day without offending someone.
I hope you take pride in it. It may be your only talent.
The only people I seem to offend are the ones asking for it…
Best wishes
The whole world???? Ha. Go out guns blazin.
You’ve been watching Unforgiven lately?
“I guess he had it coming.” “We all have it coming, kid.”
Good thing it’s in color or I wouldn’t sit thru it.