Michael's Musings

August 26, 2011

My friend, Frances Doel, former VP of Development at Concorde-New Horizons Pictures, posted a wonderful review of DRACULA MEETS JACK THE RIPPER & Other Revisionist Histories on Amazon.  I knew she would say something positive, but this made me feel so good that I want to share it with you.

"The most entertaining, wickedly funny short stories I've read in a long time. Michael Druxman is a terrific storyteller. He captures you right away with an intriguing premise and moves the story along with cinematic ease, told through unforgettable characters with sharp, funny dialogue. These stories are real page-turners, with mounting suspense and twists you don't see coming. Best of all, he never fails to deliver a knock-out ending which reveals a satisfying answer to the secret set up within the premise (for example, yes, you will find out who Jack the Ripper was and you'll have a lot of fun along the way).

"In the hands of Michael Druxman, the short story is once again alive and kicking: in the vein of Mark Twain, here is a contemporary American tale-teller who holds all the aces."

Wow!

For the past week or so, I've been futzing around, trying to decide what I wanted to write next.  I spent 3-4 days playing around with a possible novel, but that doesn't seem to be working, so now I'm thinking about doing another book of short stories, converting 5-6 of my unsold screenplays into that format.

I'm also taking another look at PUTZ.  That's the 2-person play I wrote several years ago about my relationship with son David when he was in his teens.  It could probably use a little updating, but it is still a very viable play.  Perhaps I can set up a staged reading at our temple.

Stay tuned....

Have a creative weekend.  I'll be back with you on Monday.

Michael

Comments (0)     

August 25, 2011

Below is an unedited letter I received yesterday via Facebook from Orson Welles' daughter.  I had sent her a message, informing her that my play about her father had been published. 

I believe her letter is self-explanatory, and my response follows.

• • Dear Mr. Druxman,
    
    Reading the synopsis of your play on Amazon.com, I can only say how unfortunate it is that an accomplished writer like yourself has chosen to contribute to the myth that Orson Welles was "self-destructive" and that after he made "Citizen Kane," it was "all downhill." Clearly, you are not familiar with the films he made in Europe, even though your biography states that you have taught courses in film, or if you are, you fail to see their artistry. You are obviously unfamiliar with Orson Welles as he was in real life and yet you have the gall to write a play about him. If you have not read my memoir, "In My Father's Shadow: A Daughter Remembers Orson Welles," published by Alonquin Books of Chapel Hill, you might find it illuminating.
    
    Sincerely,
    
    Chris Welles Feder

• 

  
  

  
  

  • Dear Ms. Feder:
    
    Thank you for your response.
    
    No, I did not know your father. But, I would have liked to have known him.
    
    On the other hand, I didn't know George Washington or Abraham Lincoln either, but if one does their research and takes an honest approach to the subject, I don't see anything wrong with writing a biography...or a play about them.
    
    That's what we writers do.
    
    I wrote this play in 1986. Before I began, I read every biography, news story and magazine interview I could find on your father. I also did extensive interviews with people who knew him well, including my good friend and publicity client, Dan O'Herlihy.
    
    Actually, if you read my play, you would see that my portrait of your father is a very sympathetic one. I have always been a great admirer of his work and, in fact, I wrote a college thesis about him.
    
    I have most of his films on DVD, including KANE, AMBERSONS, THE STRANGER, MACBETH, OTHELLO, CHIMES AT MIDNIGHT, MR. ARKADIN, THE TRIAL and others. He was a master filmmaker and I learn something new every time I watch one of them.
    
    But, let's be honest, as great a filmmaker as he was, after TOUCH OF EVIL, he could not get a directing job with the Hollywood studios.
    
    His movies did not make money and he was not a "team player". He was Orson Welles and he had to go his own way. Had he not done that, he would not have been Orson Welles.
    
    I'm very proud of this play, and I hope you have the opportunity to read it some day. I think you would be pleased.
    
    Kindest regards,
    
    Michael Druxman

  Interesting, huh?
• 
  You have a creative day.

Comments (0)     

August 24, 2011

On the Best Bets on DVD site, there is a combination review of two Starz TV series that have been released onto DVD, CAMELOT and SPARTACUS, Gods of the Arena.  You can access them via the link in the Introduction section of this page.

Now, here's a joke I was sent:

A man walks into a bar, notices a very large jar on the counter, and sees that it's filled to the brim with $10 bills.  He guesses there must be at least ten thousand dollars in it.  He  approaches the bartender and asks, "What's with the money in the jar?" 

"Well,  you pay $10, and if you pass three tests, you get all the money in the jar and the keys to a brand new Lexus."

The man certainly isn't going to pass this up, so he asks, "What are the three tests?" 

"You gotta pay first," says the bartender, "those are the rules."

So, after thinking it over  a while, the man  gives the bartender $10 which he stuffs into the jar..

"Okay," says the bartender, "here's what you need to do:

"First, you have to drink a whole quart of tequila, in 60 seconds or less, and you can't make a face while doing it.

"Second, there's a pit bull chained in the back with a bad  tooth.  You have to remove that tooth with your bare hands.

"Third, there's a 90-year old lady upstairs who's never had sex.  You have to take care  of that problem."

The  man is stunned!  "I know I paid my $10, but I'm not an idiot!  I won't do it!  You'd have to be  nuts to drink a quart of tequila and then do all those other   things!"

"Your call," says the  bartender, "but, your money stays where it is."

As  time goes on, the man has a few more drinks and finally says, "Where's the damn tequila?"

He  grabs the bottle with  both hands and drinks it as fast as he can.  Tears   stream down both cheeks, but he doesn't make a face -- and he drinks it in 58  seconds.

Next,  he staggers out the back door where he sees the pit bull chained to a pole.  Soon, the people inside the bar hear loud growling, screaming, and sounds of a  terrible fight -- then nothing but  silence. 

Just  when they think that the man surely must be dead, he  staggers back into the bar.   His clothes are ripped to shreds and he's bleeding from bites and gashes all over his body.   He  drunkenly says,  "Now, where's that old woman with the bad tooth?"   

You have a creative day.

Michael

Comments (0)