Michael's Musings

March 18, 2013

First off, there are two new reviews up on the Best Bets on DVD site, accessible via the link in the Introduction section of this page: KILLING THEM SOFTLY, an excellent, offbeat crime drama/dark comedy with Brad Pitt, and RIPPER STREET, a British television series; a cop show set in Victorian England shortly after the Jack the Ripper murders.  Please take a look.

While wife Sandy had been proofing the proof of my 2nd memoir, LIFE, LIBERTY & THE PURSUIT OF HOLLYWOOD, which she is still doing, I have been preparing an anthology of all ten plays in THE HOLLYWOOD LEGENDS collection.  I am currently awaiting the proof copy and, once that is corrected, I will make it available for sale in the not too distant future.

Readers who purchase the anthology will get all ten plays in the collection for the price of four.

Now, here's a joke for you:

Stumpy and his wife Martha went to the state fair every year. Every year Stumpy would say, "Martha, I'd like to ride in that there airplane."

And every year Martha would say, "I know Stumpy, but that airplane ride costs ten dollars, and ten dollars is ten dollars."

One year Stumpy and Martha went to the fair and Stumpy said, "Martha, I'm 71 years old. If I don't ride that airplane this year I may never get another chance."

Martha replied, "Stumpy, that there airplane ride costs ten dollars, and ten dollars is ten dollars."

The pilot overheard them and said, "Folks, I'll make you a deal, I'll take you both up for a ride. If you can stay quiet for the entire ride and not say one word, I won't charge you, but if you say one word it's ten dollars."

Stumpy and Martha agreed and up they went. The pilot did all kinds of twists and turns, rolls and dives, but not a word was heard. He did all his tricks over again, but still not a word. They landed and the pilot turned to Stumpy, "By golly, I did everything I could think of to get you to yell out, but you didn't."

Stumpy replied, "Well, I was gonna say something when Martha fell out, but ten dollars is ten dollars."

You have a creative week.

Michael

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March 11, 2013

I am now doing physical therapy twice a week to compensate for a couple of herniated discs in my spine.  On Monday, I get soft tissue massage and on Thursday, I have pool therapy.  Last Thursday was the first time I'd been in a swimming pool for over 10-12 years.

The book designer at BearManor Media works fast.  He'd only had my edited manuscript (LIFE, LIBERTY & THE PURSUIT OF HOLLYWOOD) for a week, yet I now have his first proof.  Wow!  I'm impressed.

There are reviews of two excellent French-language films, RUST AND BONE and THE INTOUCHABLES on the Best Bets on DVD site, accessible via the link in the Introduction section of this page.  So, check them pout.

Now, here's a joke for you:

A funeral service is held for a woman who just passed away.  As the pallbearers carry the casket out, they accidentally bump into a wall.

They hear a faint moan.  They open the casket and find that the woman is actually alive.

She lives for 10 more years and then dies.  They have another funeral for her.  At the end of the service, the pallbearers carry out the casket.

As they are walking, the husband cries out, "Watch out for the wall!"

You have a creative week.

Michael

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March 4, 2013

I got 5 of my 8 Oscar predictions correct, which, I guess, is not too bad.  I missed on Director, Supporting Actor and Animated Feature.  Oh, well....Hopefully, I'll do better next year.

This past week, my 2nd book of memoirs, LIFE, LIBERTY & THE PURSUIT OF HOLLYWOOD was sent off to the book designer, so there should not be a problem with it being finished by the first of November.

Also this past week, it looks like a production company will be producing an audio version of my play, HAIL ON THE CHIEF!.  I believe they are planning to record it in May for a release next year.  It's my understanding that it takes about 6 months to edit one of these productions.  I am awaiting a contract and I will keep you in the loop.

Also this past week, I created three (3) music videos, two of which are now visible on YouTube.  (The 3rd will probably be uploaded sometime this week.)  I really enjoy doing these videos.

The Party Girl is a song that I wrote back in the mid-80s with Michael Silversher, who also performs it.  You can access it here, or if that doesn't work (as it usually doesn't), then just copy the following link into your browser and you'll be taken right there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1t1xM8-tJgs&list=UUQ6z6vyjJFsiqL33qbiSJSQ&index=1

The other song, Where the Bad Things Go, was written by and is sung by my son, David.  It's from his album, HOUSE OF D, so if you like it, please go to iTunes or CDBaby.com and buy yourself a copy.  Here's the link, as well as the web address for this song.

http://youtu.be/0HAI-7z1xOI

Finally, I've uploaded two new reviews to the Best Bets on DVD site, accessible via the link in the Introduction of this page.  They are Fritz Lang's MINISTRY OF FEAR and Sam Peckinpah's first movie, THE DEADLY COMPANIONS.

You have a creative week.

Michael

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