Michael's Musings

September 30, 2013

It's here!

My second book of Hollywood memoirs is now available for purchase at Amazon.com and elsewhere.

It's called LIFE, LIBERTY & THE PURSUIT OF HOLLYWOOD: More of My Wacky Adventures in Tinseltown, and it not only contains more stories about my early years in Seattle, but also tales of my encounters with such stats as Rock Hudson, Jane Fonda, Janet Leigh, Frank Sinatra, George Raft, Broderick Crawford, Jack Lemmon, playwright Tennessee Williams and others.

If you haven't read my first memoir, MY FORTY-FIVE YEARS IN HOLLYWOOD...AND HOW I ESCAPED ALIVE, then you should take advantage of a terrific deal that my publisher, BearManor Media, is offering.  This link will take you to their website where you can buy both books together at a 25% discount.  And, if the link doesn't work, then just copy the address below into your browser and you'll be taken right there.

http://www.bearmanormedia.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=689

If you have read the first book, then you will probably get a better deal buying the new one from Amazon at this link...or the address below.

http://www.amazon.com/Life-Liberty-Pursuit-Hollywood-Adventures/dp/1593937385/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1380248818&sr=1-1&keywords=life+liberty+%26+the+pursuit+of+hollywood

I've also posted a fun book trailer on YouTube, so while you're in a clicking mood, check out this link, too...or the address below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDTiqUIBBuI

Finally, I've posted a review of THE KINGS OF SUMMER on the Best Bets on DVD site, accessible via the link in the Introduction section of this page.  It's a well done coming-of-age movie, so check it out.

You have a creative week.

Michael

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September 23, 2013

My writing class at The Writing Barn on Saturday went well.  We only had seven students, but they were attentive and appreciated what I had to tell them.  I also sold a couple of books and a DVD of CHEYENNE WARRIOR.

Hopefully, I will have the opportunity to teach another class there in the not too distant future.

The CLARA BOW audio adaptation is in it's final sound effects & music editing stages.  I'm waiting to hear 3-4 minor corrections additions to the last pass, then actress/producer Nancy McLemore and I are going to take a week or so off from the project, so that when we come back to it, we will hear it with "fresh ears" before we make final adjustments.

I have now signed the contracts for the Dinah Shore biography.  My manuscript is currently in the hands of a typist, who is putting it into an electronic MS Word document from which I will do the updates.  I've also ordered some research materials from the Motion Picture Academy in Los Angeles.

Additionally, my 2nd memoir, LIFE, LIBERTY & THE PURSUIT OF HOLLYWOOD, has now been sent to the printers, so copies should become available within the next few weeks.

Finally, I've posted a new DVD review on the Best Bets on DVD site, accessible via the link in the Introduction section of this page.  The movie is UNFINISHED SONG with Terence Stamp and Vanessa Redgrave, and it's pretty good.  So, please take a look.

You have a creative week.

Michael

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September 16, 2013

This is going to be a busy week.  On Saturday (21), I teach my 3-hour class, "The Art of Storytelling," at The Writing Barn in South Austin, so I'm going to have to prepare what I'm going to say.

We've entered the music and sound effects editing stage in preparing the CLARA BOW audio.  Nancy McLemore, who is producing and voices the audio, is doing most of the work here, but I have to be available for consultations.

Speaking of CLARA BOW, a high school (?) drama student recently posted a 8 minute video on YouTube of her doing a condensed version of my play in a classroom.  Though flattered that this actress liked my play enough to utilize it, once I discovered the video, I had YouTube remove it because it was a violation of my copyright.

I have no problem with people doing excerpts of my plays in classrooms.  Indeed, I've been told that THE HOLLYWOOD LEGENDS collection of plays in quite popular with students for that very purpose.  I encourage the practice, since it sells more copies of my work(s).

However, what I will not permit is for those classroom readings to be filmed and then uploaded onto the Internet.  I doubt that any professional artist, were he/she aware that their work was being so exploited, would allow that.

Even when a play is licensed for a production, virtually every contract states that the production cannot be recorded without the author's specific permission.  To do so can diminish the value of the work and is a violation of copyright law.

I know.  "Everybody" does it, but...

The bottom line is that it is a form of stealing.

You have a creative week,

Michael

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