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’s strange – as “meh” as I was about Nicole Kidman’s performance in “Golden Compass” and, by extension, “Invasion” (yes, I sat through it) earlier this year, I have to say, I thought she was pretty awesome in “Margot,” as was Jack Black who didn’t do any of the schtick he’s been relying on since “High Fidelity.”
Is it a minor movie? Sure. Is it pretty well-written, well-acted and well-directed anyway? At least in my opinion it was.
We’re going to watch the MARGOT screener tonight. I kept forgetting it was in the pile, but now I’m excited …
Margot is getting a raw deal from the critics. It’s a tough little movie, funny as hell, and Kidman’s best work since To Die For.
Hey, has Ian Sinclair posted here at all since his masturbatory ravings about Beowulf proved unfounded?
This is off the subject and not related to the thread, but I wonder if the Gotham Award for “Into the Wild” helps its chances for an Oscar nod. I generally like the Gotham picks, but I don’t know if they mean anything in terms of Oscar nom chances.
Wrecktum, he’s had a couple of things here and there, but no “behold BEOWULF and all its mighty works” stuff. Might be too busy counting all the dough Gaiman was supposedly slipping him on the side. /sarcasm
Wrecktum, he’s been active Elsewhere where he pretty much did give the post L.B. is suggesting above.
One of the many, many joys of never going Elsewhere anymore. Thanks for the encouragement, jeff.
Wish you were still around HE, LB.
Sorry, christian. My blood pressure’s glad I’m not.Living life without Wells and Zelter has improved my outlook immesurably.