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
That’s great, I haven’t seen Toni Basil do anything in forever.
I like Tim Burton so much, but this is going to be what? His fourth remake in five or six movies, I think? I wish he’d go back to more original material.
..but since that isn’t the case, is this going to be played straight, or will it be the musical? If it’s the latter, I wonder what kind of role Danny Elfman will play.
It’s the Sondheim musical
I heard that about Collette last week. Very cool.
Looking forward to this film.
Take a Goody’s.
There’s a place in the world that’s a big black pit and it’s filled with people that are filled with shit and it goes by the name of…Hollywood!
Sorry, couldn’t help myself, wonderful musical, perfect material for Burton and Depp…should be a lot of fun….
Burton’s only remakes are Planet of the Apes and Charlie. Sweeney Todd has been told before, and the Sondheim musical has been presented from its on-stage version, but never adapted into a feature film, hence not a remake.
They all deserve to die! Tell ya why, Mrs. Lovett, tell ya why!
The casting of this keeps making me happy. I really hope no one fucks this up. It’s hands-down my favorite musical.
Saying this is a remake is like saying Dreamgirls is a remake. Does not compute.
it might be strange enough to succeed.
it isn’t a remake is it, but just a re-interpretation
Why would Meryl STreep turn down Sweeney Todd? But then she DID also turned down All the King’s Men so maybe she knows that she’s doing.
It’s not a remake at all. It is a film based on the musical.
Streep would turn down Sweeney because it’s a long-term shoot out of NYC (probably in London). She hasn’t done a long-term shoot out of NYC in ages because of her kids.
Let me rephrase: This is Burton
Well now I’m even more confused. This is his first movie about homicidal barbers – what subject are you referring to?
Burton’s last 5 movies:
Corpse Bride
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Big Fish
Planet of the Apes
Sleepy Hollow
most of those movies have fathering issues as a theme, is that what you’re referring to?
Nonono I don’t mean theme. I mean that Sleepy Hollow has been made into a film before. So has Planet of the Apes, as well as Charlie & The Chocolate Factory, and Sweeney Todd.
It used to be that Burton was making films that people hadn’t seen before. Now it seems like he’s making familiar films but with a Burton ‘twist.’
It’s not the end of the world that this is what he’s doing now. I liked Charlie & The Chocolate Factory (Apes and particularly Sleepy Hollow less so). But I was more excited when I went into the theater not knowing what to expect, ya know?
Sort of, but Burton’s Sleepy Hollow (in my opinion, his best movie of the last decade) was very different from the Washington Irving story. Plus I think that performance and visual style are what I go to a Burton movie for and not plot or story.
Just to be 100% clear, Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd has never been made into a movie before. The only thing that comes first is the famous 1982 Harold Prince production starring Angela Lansbury and George Hearn, but that was taped from a live performance at the Dot Chandler Pavilion, so that really doesn’t count.
There have been several of other Sweeney Todd movies made (most recently for the BBC starring Ray Winstone) but there has never been a filmed version of the Sondheim musical. This would be the first one.
What’s this? Collette in Sweeney. She can sing, she can dance, she can act her pants off. This is wonderful if it’s true. I love this woman and I can see oscar loving her too.
No… it’s not true anymore, Austin… sorry.
Huh, good thing you didn’t announce it.
Things change, J-Mc. Welcome to Hollywood.
The only clue to whatever this new secret is seems to be the word “inevitable”. Since I doubt we’re talking about Angela Lansbury here… please god, it’s not Burton muse Helena Bonham Carter, is it?
Finally a welcome after living here for five years, thanks DP.
Saw Angela Lansbury the other night… apparently she’s planning a return to Broadway soon.
I’d like to see Angela Lansbury return to Manchurian Candidate stuff if Hollywood would get the gumption to make that kind of intrigue picture again. Scary & she walked away with it.
Just as long as it’s not Travolta in drag.
Annette Benning, then?
Cyndi Lauper auditioned for a role. She said so on her blog.
If Helena Bonham Carter gets casts in Todd then I’ll throw something had somebody I know who looks like Tim Burton. I wish she’d get back to making movies that aren’t directed by Burton and that aren’t animated.
Get ready to throw stuff at Burton clones, Kamikaze!
Why the animosity? Bonham Carter has nailed her Burton-directed performances. She was just about the only good thing in Planet of the Apes.
Do we know if she can sing? Toni Collette would have been better – she can be saucier – but no real complaints here.
Well, my friend James better get ready.
Helena Bonham Carter better hope she and Burton don’t get divorced. She may actually have to *gasp* garner roles legitimately.