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
Its their typo and they’ll cry if they want to!
Sincerely yours,
Steven Kaye
That is total Steven Kaye wording. Maybe he’s not a delusional stalker and really does work for Woody after all?
Seems like between Mary and Steven, we have two THB regulars who are blissfully unaware of the concept of a corporate confidentiality agreement.
I would never – NEVER – make that mistake.
Anyhoo – $50 million on Thursday!!!!!!!!!!
Specifically came here to see what Stephen Kaye would say.
Impostor or nay, thread delivers.
always have liked WA films, never understood the hate for some of his lesser efforts like Hollywood Ending or Jade Scorpion … is it true Anything Else is the only 2.35 film he’s ever shot? Have quite the WA press book and press kit collection … interestingly a few of the Orion releases from the 80s don’t list What’s Up Tiger Lily? on his filmography, but the MIP book does … would like to see the version of Melinda and Melinda that starred Robert Downey Jr. instead of Will F
i wouldnt mind seeing it again. the only problem is all this theatrical success has pushed back the dvd release.
1. I assume the dissipated man with the mustache next to Owen Wilson is supposed to be Hemingway.
2. But I had also assumed that the man playing him was TOM HARDY and not COREY STOLL (???). Is that so wrong?!?!!
LexG had it right in an earlier thread: FASSBENDER SYNDROME.
Yeah, just checking in to see if Steven Kaye got his second wind. Can’t wait to see the next list of ‘victims’ or ‘vanquished’ or whatever he calls them.
SK’s victims list is the funniest HB meme since Chucky and his gat and his projection booth revenge fantasies. To put it charitably, Leahnz and I don’t see eye to eye on anything, but her utter delight at Chucky was the most disarming thing on here.
Berg,
MANHATTAN is 2.35.
Kaye’s lists of the vanquished are truly a delight for me. It’s like, he’s got many superficial qualities of a troll, but the thing that makes SK decidedly non-troll is his happy DELIGHT and GENUINE ENJOYMENT of MIP’s continued success, which I can only attribute to somehow working on or for the film.
The “vanquished” include films that were released last year and global billion dollar pics. I LOVE THIS.
I keep waiting for him to add FRED OTT’S SNEEZE or WORKERS LEAVING THE LUMIERE FACTORY (though I guess it’s hard to find accurate box office figures for those).
Almost there… almost there…
Meanwhile, an updated roll of the vanquished:
Cars 2
Winnie the Pooh
Bad Teacher
Larry Crowne
Monte Carlo
Mr Popper’s Penguins
Green Lantern
Super 8
X-Men First Class
Kung Fu Panda 2
Hangover 2
Pirates of the Caribbean
Bridesmaids
Priest
Thor
Jumping the Broom
Something Borrowed
Fast Five
Water For Elephants
Tyler Perry’s Blah Blah Blah
Rio
Soul Surfer
Tangled
N.B.: The above films either debuted at the same time as or after Midnight in Paris OR occupied a higher position on the box office chart on the weekend it bowed.
Steven, do you live in some world where 50 mil is more than 500 million?
Just asking.
Yeah, it’s like saying a pretty good marathon runner vanquished Usain Bolt, because Bolt stopped running while the other guy did an additional 26 miles. I guess it’s true if it makes you feel better…
the analogy for Steve’s vanquished involves someone who is happier with 12 hours of orgasm free humping as opposed to 45 minutes of quality fucking.
The vast majority of movies on your list came in, fucked like a champ, dropped a load and went on to other things. Congratulations on the marathon.
By your logic, Rocky Horror Picture Show must be the greatest movie ever made.
LOL! As if any of you could even last 45 minutes!
LexG: Leaving aside the fact that no film has made close to $500 million domestically this summer, your point is still utterly fatuous and you know it.