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
YOU SUCK
just kidding DPo. Wanted to let you know it is working before I get inebriated as the token hetero female at the nasty Queen’s & transvestites Oscar party.
I could use those Manolos about now THX. I realized I underdressed for occasion.
Lota,
You went to a party in Hollywood full of Queen’s and she-males, and you didn’t think to wear Manolos? Are you sure you’re not drunk already?
Hmmm…what size are you?
Showing up to rescue a girl with some Blahniks at an Oscar Queen/Tranny party would make me a legend among the real Pimp/Rap talents I manage.
Would also be my best Oscar story ever (so far).
i can;t say where I’m going on a public Blog THX what if David’s millions of readers showed up and they are stalkers or freaks (well worse freaks than already visit the Blog) or Blade Runners.
Have to fill the hip flask.
I say repost that post of critic’s and their crowd mentality, I’m interested in seeing responses to that one.
… And the Jacobovici/Cameron film being released tomorrow came entirely out of left field. That will make for some fun posts.
… Now on to the Oscars! Which I will be to busy to comment on, but not too busy to watch tonight.
Dave has my contact info. Dave, if you’re paying attention, you can throw Lota my email, and I’ll grab the stiletto’s and come to the rescue.
Has anyone actually SEEN Lota? For all we know, she could really be a 67-year-old guy named Stu! 🙂
David, no comments on the whole Nikki Finke vs. The Envelope brouhaha going on right now? “I’m right!” “You’re wrong!” “I’m right but they changed it cause I was right!”
I think it is adorable that she thinks Dave has “millions” of readers.
“quite frustrating” is the title of the oscar thread? hmmmm….
Cadavra, you computer-hacking ex-medical school demo bag-of-bones, stay out of my hard drive.
Sorry to disappoint I am not 67 nor is my birthname stuart.
Stella’s Boy can verify my gender and approximate humanoid form, but he is not allowed to say much else since he knows I am mean, vicious, murderous, etc.
Dave can pass me your email but sadly I had to leave LA early for an urgent family reason, but will be back there soon enough I guess.
hafta run so I can hear verbal carnage on the dresses and tux-es in person. already I hear by cell phone text-Queen telecast that Jada Pinkett and Jessica Biel have not chosen dresses that suit them best re. color, and their thighs look like chicken drumsticks. hey, I’m just passing it on, not necessarily my opinion.
Good dresses so far–Penelope C, Maggie G, helen M, Rachel Weisz
Dave doesn’t have millions of readers?!
Sounds good, Lota. I hope your family is in better spirits.
I am stuck at another party right now as it is. And, I am already bored.
Get my email from Dave next time you’re in town Lota, and we’ll hit the fashion district downtown on a sunny day and you can shop from my hookups and get everything at cost.
I will make sure you are looking uber-fly next time you are mingling with the Queen’s, trannies, Blade Runners, Pimps, Players, Jookers, A-Listers, Development Execs, Managers, Agents, Talents, Publiscists and Escorts.
After awhile, aren’t they all pretty much one in the same?
Well, they all judge shoes.
And while my wine buzz is kicking in, before I hand off my phone to refrain from more drunk posting damage. One more thing about shoes……
Who is the asshole Hollywood exec that thought it was cool for suits to wear foot flops to the meetings instead of shoes!?!?
Do you think I or anyone else wants to see your “man-feet” during a negotiation process? Whether you’re gay or straight, it’s not fly.
I am blaiming Andy Cohen.
Enjoy the Oscars, people. It’s all a hustle.
Go Marty!
9:30 est: One major award given so far and one upset. Was it love for Arkin or lack of love for Murphy?
How did The Wicker Man not win Best Costume?
I don’t see how “Pan’s” lost best foreign language film after winning all those other Oscars. It was bizarre.
I love the blog that you have. I was wondering if you would link my blog to yours and in return I would do the same for your blog. If you want to, my site name is American Legends and the URL is:
http://www.americanlegends.blogspot.com
If you want to do this just go to my blog and in one of the comments just write your blog name and the URL and I will add it to my site.
Thanks,
Mark
I thought that was odd that Pan’s did not win foreign film after the early sweep but Lives of Others is fantastic and very deserving. Now maybe more people will go out and see it. Pan’s has already had a pretty good run and should get a little more from winning at least 3 Oscars.
Saw “Lives” today. Very good, if a tad long. It opened here in DC only on Friday.
I haven’t seen “Pan’s,” but if it’s as brutal and unhappy as everyone who’s seen it says, I’m not surprised it lost.
Minimal Spoiler Alert!!! I think I am being pretty careful thought and your risk is low.
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There was one point in Lives of Others, maybe with about 30-40 minutes left, where I thought to myself it seemed long but it passed quickly. Alsom I was a little worried there would be a letdown following the climactic scene involving the three main actors but I liked the way it wound down and ended after that.
Nikki Finke’s liveblogging is absolutely spiteful. She must really hate her position in life.
Finally, the year of Marty. It’s about time.
^^^Absolutely.
Thumbs up to The Departed’s three Oscars and to Whitaker and Mirren.
Thumbs down to Hudson, Arndt, Pan’s Labyrinth winning Cinematography, and West Bank Story.
Puzzled that Pan’s didn’t win Best Foreign, but I’m sure they feel well-rewarded anyway.
“I haven’t seen “Pan’s,” but if it’s as brutal and unhappy as everyone who’s seen it says, I’m not surprised it lost.”
It’s not a movie I’d ever call brutal and unhappy. It has moments you can call that, but overall, it’s more like a sad lullaby. But not a depressing one.
4 Oscars for The Departed jeff.
I’m not so surprised about Pan’s losing best foreign. I wish it didn’t, but The Lives of Others was really good too. I haven’t seen the other 3 nominees, but it seemed like the strongest category overall.
When we were driving home Finke was on Drudge Report on the radio and yeah….she’s really hateful. Her and Drudge were bemoaning how diverse the awards were this year. Wow.
Can’t believe DEPARTED pulled out BP. And Thelma, too! I’ve never been so happy to lose Oscar pools in all my life.
But note to self: ignore the Gurus next year.
Was anyone else disappointed by the Morricone reel? To virtually ignore the western scores that cemented his reputation–with not even a mention of ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST in a list that somehow found room for EXORCIST II and FAT MAN AND LITTLE BOY–speaks volumes about Academy snobbery.
BTW, Dave, you have my permission to give Lota my e-mail address. And Lota, that’s MR. computer-hacking ex-medical school demo bag-of-bones to you!
i might be in the minority but I so-enjoyed that Oscar telecast more than any in more than 5 years that’s for sure–Ellen didn;t crack many jokes but she was so good at putting participants at ease, and that made it a good show.
Majority Report on dresses–the night belonged to the old broads. they were beautiful and classy and hot, and Jack Black couldn’t be so lucky to get off with Helen Mirren, and it was touching that they serenaded her instead of a young thing. When Diane Keaton walked out she looked absolutely amazing. So much so the queens shouted “did she get a sex change to Woman?!” [they yelled the opposite gender question about Kristen Dunst] Catherine Denueve was wearing my man, Gaultier I believe…still classy even though she’s a senior citizen right about this year.
Penelope’s dress & Penelope was the prettiest of the younger broads.
Nicole got the Academy Automaton award. Scary–someone is lying to her and telling her she looks good like a Stepford wife. baby you don;t.
there was concern that Jack Nicholson was a bit puffy. Hope he is well and not ill.
there was alot of harsh lipstick shades out there.
i loved Errol’s opening montage, all the unknown-to-the-public got their cameos in the spotlight.
All the montages were excellent with some of my favorite movies.
I loved Alan Arkin in so many movies, I am not sure it was his very best, but I didn;t think Eddie was better.
YAY for Marty.
For Peter O’Toole, favorite or not the favorite, My heart broke. Lawrence of Arabia must be the most influential movie of my life, as unimportant as my life might be, I still trekked through north African deserts and thinking about the end of the Nefud desert in sight, and it still is a favorite dream to think about walking up a sand dune at night with no one else around.
i am still in shock over Departed wins. I am taking it personally as if I won.
and Cadavra and THX could be predatory butch dykes called Barbara and Cindy for all I know, so I worry slightly, but still I’ve met very many nice people from the internet over the past 8 yrs in well lit public places.
i am still mulling over the significance of these diverse oscars–diverse in many more subtle ways than nationality/skin tone–for science fiction & fantasy as well as comedy (Borat noms) and many other open-minded nominations which I hope will reduce oscar bait fodder in future and encourage more diversity in genre & movie-making.
would love to comment more but must counsel former cad pushing 40 whose much younger girlfriend never had any intention of having a baby with him. The downside of big age differences, the younger one usually aint mentally ready for kids.
Nikki FInke should do everyone a favor and stop commenting on anything. she can afford not to work (judging most likely from her family situation), so thus she should give up her job to someone who needs employment.
“One major award given so far and one upset. Was it love for Arkin or lack of love for Murphy?”
The former. I know trends were thrown out the window these last couple of years, but if there’s one trend I anticipate to keep going its those in supporting categories. Old geezers for Supporting Actor, Young Pretties for Supporting Actress. Not to toot my own horn, but I’d been predicting Arkin since before the nominations (we were all assuming he’d make it). It was just logical, really. And then especially once Dreamgirls failed to get a BP nod. I don’t see how Arkin’s win was that huge of a surprise. It’s like the people saying it have never watched them before.
Pan’s lost Foreign because voters have to actually watch all five nominees. So while 5000 or whatever it is voters vote for Art Direction, only a much smaller group vote for Foreign Language Film.
Lota,
THX5334@hotmail.com
Created just for you!
Hurry spammers. As soon as Lota makes contact for those Blahniks or Feragamo’s, this email is gone like yesterday’s newspaper.
Yeah for Marty. Too bad his big night happend during one of the lamest Oscar’s in history.
Did anyone else catch the announcer goof during Monohan’s win for the Departed, about it being based on a “Japanese Film” ?
Also: Ziskin using her juice as producer of the Oscar show, getting the two big stars of her next big produced movie (Tobey and Kristen)to present together? Well played Ziskin, Well played.
The Pilobus? Not so well played.