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 got to “know” Roger years ago via his website and blog. He’s always been extremely cool to me and to those of us who hung out over there. He’d frequently invite blog regulars to events like screenings he was attending and things like a garage sale he had before he moved. The site and blog went nutso when Roger started doing video game stuff and it was never the same, but Roger is an excellent person and was a beyond gracious host over there.
I feel really, really badly for him and about this whole situation. Drunk driving is never o.k. and we all make mistakes in life. I’m just saddened for Roger and his family and hope he pulls through o.k.
Driving drunk is basically a gamble: the addict won’t stop until they get arrested, or something worse happens.
Best wishes to all concerned.
Thanks, Dr. Phil.
Just because an 805 cop booked him on suspicion of drunk driving does not mean he was. We spoke this morning. Gretchen and he will be fine. I would be surprised if he is prosecuted. That road is a winding, unlit dirt road (yes I have been on it). The number of fuckwits over at Wells’ site ready to lynch a guy (based on an AP report) is pathetic.
Seriously, Murphy’s got a point.
Anyone that’s been up or around Ojai, know that it’s mostly dark, one lane, winding roads going through hills and small mountains.
You also get many drunk students from UCSB driving around there. They’re not the safest roads at night at all.
I’m not defending Mr. Avary’s judgement; but Ojai, as beautiful as it is, is still fairly small town and quaint. It’s not really a spot that has a bustling 24hour taxi service that they could’ve called.
I’m not clear if they hit another car, or if it was a collision with something else. If it was another car, best wishes of safety to the others involved.
My condolensces on the passing of Mr. Avary’s friend. That will be a hard burden to bear for sure…
Don has it right – most roadside sobriety tests are complete BS – and any defense lawyer worth his salt can demolish them. Unless they did a roadside breathalyzer test you should assume nothing (and even then those are not a valid indication of inebriation).
Condolences to the victim’s family and to Roger – he must feel like total shit right now. Not a good place to be.
Why are people so quick to judge people?
It’s a tragedy. People should let it get sorted out, not jump to hasty conclusions about the guy.
I would like to address this.
“Don has it right – most roadside sobriety tests are complete BS – and any defense lawyer worth his salt can demolish them. Unless they did a roadside breathalyzer test you should assume nothing (and even then those are not a valid indication of inebriation).”
My Grandparents were killed by a drunk driver. The guy was drunk driving a truck full of lumber. He veered over the median and struck the car killing them and 3 other people in the car including an 8 year old boy.
The guy had a lawyer who got the drunk driving charge thrown out on a technicality, and the guy ended up getting probation and a suspended license. He didn’t serve a single day of jail time. The guy killed 5 people.
The fact that someone would say ‘a lawyer worth his salt can demolish them’ is a sad indication of our legal system. Not that i have anything against a1amoeba, but when someone is in a fatal accident and the subject of sobriety isn’t even considered relevant because it can be so easily invalidated in courts is something i have a lot of trouble with.
I hope it was just an accident. They do happen. Not everyone who gets involved in a fatal accident is drunk, but lets not brush with such broad strokes. If the guy was drinking and then drove on an unlit, winding dirt road, it should be factored in. Good lawyers or not.
Anghus – I was a victim of a drunk driver and also have worked as a firefighter/emt for over 8 years so I’ve seen the carnage. What I am saying is that sobriety tests are not an accurate gauge of inebriation – hence the ease of a lawyer demolishing them. The best indicator is a breathalyzer (which can still yield inaccurate results).
Best test is a blood draw – which is rare in the field.
But please don’t take my post as a dismissal of the seriousness of drunk driving – it is something I never do nor would ever let a friend do. It’s plain stupid.
I will reserve judgment until more detailed info is available. But, like Don Murphy, I have noticed the marked dissimilarity between most of the postings here, and most of the postings on HE. Not saying that’s a good thing, not saying that’s a bad thing. But I wonder how much it says about the dissimilarity between the two blogs — between the people who write them, the people who read them, the demographics of the readership, etc.
While I am all about a good fight on a blog, Joe. It’s very hard to knock a man who finds himself in this sort of situation. It’s a scar that you carry for your entire life. There’s no need to want to pour salt on it.
>”Anyone that’s been up or around Ojai, know that it’s mostly dark, one lane, winding roads going through hills and small mountains.”
Except that according to the LAT the accident occured at 1900 E. Ojai Ave right outside the Ojai Lumber Co. and right down the street from Soule Park Golf Course. Click on the satellite view on the map and you’ll see that Avary’s car was very close to the middle of town.
http://maps.google.com/maps?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GGLJ_enUS256US256&q=1900+E.+Ojai+Ave&um=1&sa=N&tab=wl
SS
You mean right near that ditch he tried to avoid?
No excuses.
7 years ago, my fiancee’s mother and little sister were killed by a drunk driver. He was actually slightly below the legal limit and crossed over into their lane on a long stretch of ighway in the summertime, no wet roads, no dirt, no windy roads.
It tore everything apart. We ended up not getting married (this happened six weeks before the wedding) and her father took his own life less than a year later.
No excuses.
Don: I realize that, because Avary is your friend, you want to think the best of him in this situation. And, trust me, I can appreciate that. But, at the risk of being presumptuous: Be careful not to make the same mistake that I did in an unfortunately similar situation. Do not let your regard for someone make you rush to judgment on the record (and, worse, in print). I would respectfully advise you, as I wrote above: Wait until all the facts are in. Feel free to curse me for my remarks if you wish. I hope you are right. But…
EOTW, that’s truly tragic. I’m sorry.
As for some of the bloggers on HE, yes, anonymity can breed cruel disregard. But not from everybody.
EOTW, that’s truly tragic. I’m sorry.
As for some of the bloggers on HE, yes, anonymity can breed cruel disregard. But not from everybody.
I’d just like to add that a lot of folks on a lot fo blogs (HE and others) are talking about “buzz driving,” as if that is less an offense. I can tell you this. I have NEVER, EVER driven after drinking, even if it was just one drink. Nothing. And I have always been this way ever since I was a teen drinking beers for the first time. I didn’t grow up in NY or LA, not that that matters at all, but I have always known how dangerous that can be.
There is just no good excuse for anyone not to catch a ride or get a cab ir this case, a damn limo. Pretty easy for a guy like RA. Don’t know. Maybe I just have more regard for others. Doing something like this, accident or not, really shows just how much a person DOES NOT respect him/herself or others.
Sermon over.
Oh, yeah. I didn’t post the above post at HE for the obvious reasons.
I can’t imagine a worse punishment than having the death of another on your hands. Not knowing anything more about this it’s irresponsible to make any further personal comments about the people involved. When it all gets legally sorted out, yeah. I hope for the best for Avery and his wife and the family of the deceased.
Having made some incredibly bad decisions in my life that I’m thankful didn’t result in any injury or worse to anyone else or myself, this is a big slap upside the head. Even those small, seemingly practical choices we make can have severe consequences.
Another sad story. Brad Renfro is dead.
That’s a shame, he had a lot of talent.
That is sad about Renfro. He started out so promising in “The Client,” “Sleepers” and “Apt Pupil.” It appeared that he really struggled with alcohol and substance issues throughout his short life.
“I hope it was just an accident. They do happen”.
-Anghus
+1
this experience Roger is going through further reinforces my personal belief in zero tolerance when i drive. too many lynch mobs today… to even risk alcohol on one’s breath when driving a car. heard of some cases where people under .08bac have been placed in prison in injury cases. suspicion is all an officer needs to make an arrest.
Andreas’ death is quite alot to deal with in itself. hope a lesson is learned and no one is strung up.
allthebest to all envolved.
ps: alot of good that humiliating arrest (in ’05) did for Renfro. addiction is an evil hungry beast. sad too.
Well our hearts go out to all concerned. They are sweet sensitive people, and we hope for a quick recovery for all. They remain in our prayers.
Don Murphy – surprised if he is prosecuted…
Windy, unlit dirt roads…
Stop coverin’ or attempting to cover his tracks. Paved road. Lighted. AND, he lives there. Come on, Don. When ya’ gonna’ stop trying to protect the guilty?
Make him pay the legal and moral price for taking the life of an innocent, out of country visitor.
I’m a friend of Andrea Zini. The 34 years old men died during his honey moon killed on the Roger Avary’s car. We are seeking justice for him. Driving drunk and too fast in Italy is always prosecuted. Since January 2008 the trial has been postponed so many times..how is the USA justice? Is it different for famous people? Someone wrote that “Roger had a lot of talent”. Andrea Zini too. He was a successfull engineer, an unforgettable friend and a happy newlywed. We miss him every day. We ask justice.
Thank you AR for your comment. I’m a friend of Andrea too. I remember he was so happy the 22th of December during his wedding. I saw him for the last time that night at 2:00 PM. He was going to leave the day after for honey moon in the USA. After that, I know he met Roger Avary, a friend of friends..unfortunately.. and he didn’t understand that he was dangerous. Only 4 km from the restaurant to the Avary’s house..and .. the worse happened. I’m seeking justice for Andrea. We all miss him so much. Please help us.
Does the ‘D’ stand for ‘Double’?
To be honest D(A)R: yes, justice is differently for celebrities or even non-celebrities that are in the business. They know people, they get connections, and you can follow it out from there. Sorry for what happened, but the US justice system has many flaws. This being one of them.
Check this out yawl!What if you were driving up Ojai ave and crossed a narrow bridge and suddenly a car pulled out and stopped!
The car that stopped was a dreadhead hippy chick possibly ripped.
You swerve to miss the bitch and your tire pops!
Your car is going to ditch so you over correct, hitting a pole on the other side.
The stopped car sees the wreck, thinks of herself and bones out.
Your passengers are dying and you can only help one at a time.
One dies of blood loss and the other is saved.
Help arives too late because the stopped driver left them for dead.
The remaining driver is charged with drunk driving and manslaughter.
The stopped driver comes forth four days later to admitt to witnessing the accident with a letter from an attorney, leaves the state for months and returns clean cut.
Months into the case the DA has to confirm the charged driver innocent by blood analysis and tries a plea bargin due to bad publicity and refuses to take responibliity.
It was already put out there and they were not taking it back.
Blood alcohol shows Mr. Avary was NOT drunk. He was GUILTY before he was able to prove his innocence.
Efed up media spread the word of his verdict before he had a trial. The DA tried to wait for his blood to forment to try to get a possitive drunk reading to convict him.
Get a clue you efin communists!This country is about drama, not freedom.Read the Constitution, we live in a free country but the cost is your life and liberty anymore.