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
When Hannah hits $25 million this weekend on just 650 theaters, what are people going to say?
I know where I’ll be this weekend. “To Catch A Predator,” where I come!
The real question is whether Disney will be allowed to set up concert-esque vending at theaters… that’s where a lot of the money is in concert tours.
Just like Harry Potter, this sounds like a cult to me.
“The real question is whether Disney will be allowed to set up concert-esque vending at theaters… that’s where a lot of the money is in concert tours.”
Disney did try something like that with their IMAX releases like Lion King and Beauty and the Beast. Don’t think it was entirely successful.
Anybody wanna bet that come next Friday, there’ll be huge ads screaming “HELD OVER BY POPULAR DEMAND!”?
1000 sold out shows ought to be about 200,000 tickets at $6 per ticket that is $1.2 million. Not sure how high it can go on 630 theatres. Borat did $26 million in 837 periods with what will certainly be a higher average ticket price. $20 million I guess is possible. Is this realistic?
Aris, as a Potter fan, I have to ask… Do you consider Star Wars a cult?
Also; One of us. ONE OF US. ONE OF US.
Both Star Wars and Potter have serious cults, but there are plenty of casual fans too.
I don’t know any casual Hannah Montana fans. But then again, I only know one Hannah Montana fan, period.
I don’t know dude, Star Wars has become a cult now, yes, mostly by people my age (mid-30s). I know that when I and my friends were kids, being prime age for the star wars trilogy, we didn’t camp out on the streets to catch the first showing, like kids on the floor of Borders Books stores at midnight, to BUY A BOOK. I’m all for kids reading, but isn’t it odd that a 7 year old MUST MUST MUST have that book at midnight? Something creepy about that; feels like more than being a “fan” to me. I guess part of this is the age of cultural hysteria we live in.
And if ONE OF US is some cultist recruiting chant, i say to you, good sir, NEVER.
aris – ‘star wars’ had a cult following in 1977… granted, a smaller cult following but only because of lack of internet access and conventions….believe me, those of us who stood in line on hollywood blvd. for the first show knew we were part of a movement…..and if, as you claim, the the cult is now mostly people your age, it’s only because many of the people my age are dead……
and re: potter — the reason those kids ‘must, must, must’ have that book at midnight is because the stores have made it an event…it’s a great, big party for kids….nothing creepy about it…the book is just the ‘mc guffin’ to get kids to respond to kid lit…..
I read books that I discovered myself and liked, when i was a kid. stephen king, terry brooks, whoever. by myself. sorry but “kid-lit” rubs me the wrong way.
Also, why are many people your age dead?? That seriously sucks.
I would believe a Hannah Montana: The Movie type would make big bucks, but a concert film? The 3D gimmick though could help. Still, sitting in a theatre ain’t the same as going to an actual concert so will little girls even wanna go?
I guess I won’t be surprised either way, really.
Also, why are many people your age dead?? That seriously sucks.
yes, it does…..and it will happen eventually to you too……
you realy are a dick….
Once again, no Canadian theat(re) chain has a digital projector west of Ontario, so HM fans around here are going to be driving at least 2 hours south of the border.
Makes my decision easier. Since there was no pressure to go to HM, I took my 13 year old to U23D instead. She loved it.
Direwolf: Tickets aren’t $6. They’re generally $15 since it’s considered a “special event” showing in 3-D, etc. The El Capitan and The Bridge are selling tickets for even more, although I’ve heard some theaters in the midwest are lower.
But, the point is, the “average” ticket price for this movie will be well north of $10. I think it gets $20 million easily.
Scooterz, I really didn’t want to offend you. I am a dick, this is true, but I wasn’t trying to be one here.
Kamikaze,
As the mom of one tween girl who has been counting down the days until she goes to see Hannah Montana at the theater tomorrow night, I’d say the answer is “yes, absolutely.” Among my girlie and her friends, while they would have rather seen the live show, they also get why we wouldn’t shell out several hundred dollars per scalped ticket to go to it, and as far as they’re concerned, seeing it in a theater is way better than not seeing it at all.
We bought tix for this back in December, as soon as they went on sale, and many of the shows here are sold out now. BTW, here at least, they went for normal ticket prices — $10 for adults, $7 for kids.