Michael's Musings

May 19, 2014

Sorry that there was no blog last week.  I spent the weekend of the 9-11 in Gainesville, TX, which is just below the Oklahoma border.  It was a 4 1/2 hour drive and when I got home on Sunday, I was just too tired to do anything but collapse.

I was in Gainesville to attend a Writer's Roundup event.  Unfortunately, although I did sell some books, the event wasn't too well attended by the public. I did meet some nice people there, including actor Alex Cord. 

Sandy and I also toured the Frank Buck Zoo.  Buck is the guy who, back in the 1930s, used to "Bring "Em Back Alive"  (e.g. lions and other wild beasts from Africa).  He was born in Gainesville.

We also visited the spot (and the tree) where in 1862 they had "the Great Gainesville Hanging".  Over 40 Northern sympathizers, many of them innocent, were strung up in what is now a small park.

For the most part, this past week, I've continued to research my next play and I've also pretty much decided, once that project is complete, to reactivate a novel I set aside two or three years ago.  I think that I've now come up with a way to solve the storytelling issues I encountered.

On Friday (16), I received a copy of FAMOUS ENOUGH, Diane McBain's Hollywood memoir.  I've read about 130 pages and it's quite good.  Diane, who has been a friend for well over 30 years, is really quite frank about her years in Tinseltown (perhaps too frank), but the book is a quick read and I highly recommend it.

There a new DVD (actually Blu-Ray) review of POMPEII on the Best Bets on DVD site, accessible via the link in the Introduction section of this page.  It's a fun movie, so take a look.

You have a creative week.

Michael

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May 5, 2014

On Tuesday (6), I'm scheduled to tape a video interview in which I am supposed to advise aspiring writers on how to break into show business.  The problem is that I don't know how to break into show business today.

Yes, I've been in show business all my adult life, but the business has changed so much over the years that the conditions that existed when I first journeyed to Hollywood no longer exist. 

I guess that I would do what I did back in 1963.  I would get a regular job, network like hell and look for a new opening the the wall that protects the "Hollywood castle".

Unfortunately, the business itself is currently in a state of limbo.  With streaming and low attendance in movie theaters becoming a major factor, I don't even think today's studio heads are really sure what they should do in order to stay profitable. 

As I've often said: "The good thing about the business today is that anybody can make a movie.  The bad thing is that anybody can make a movie.

The big question is: How are you going to sell those movies?

I've posted three new DVD reviews (all classic films) on the Best Bets on DVD site, accessible via the link in the Introduction section of this page.  They are: JOHNNY COME LATELY with Jimmy Cagney, FLYING TIGERS with John Wayne and HOME OF THE BRAVE with Frank Lovejoy.  Please take a look.

You have a creative week.

Michael

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April 28, 2014

ACX, which distributes my audio books, has give me a few free downloads of HAIL ON THE CHIEF! to distribute to anybody I choose.  If you would like a free download of this audio adaptation of my stage play, please contact me privately and I will send you the code and instructions on how to use it.

If you enjoy the show, a review on the audible website would be appreciated.

I only have a very few of these free downloads available, so if you want one, let me know quickly.

There are several new reviews this week on the Best Bets on DVD site, accessible via the link in the Introduction section of this page.  Most of the movies are pretty good, so take a look.  The titles are: THE ART OF THE STEAL (terrific), BAD COUNTRY, MR. JONES, GENEVIEVE, THE TRAP and DARK CITY.

Wife Sandy and I celebrate our 13th on Tuesday (29).  And, "they" said it would never last. 

You have a creative week.

Michael

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