Michael's Musings

August 27, 2012

First, there is a new DVD review (PIRANHA 3DD) up on the Best Bets on DVD site, accessible via the link in the Introduction section of this page.

This past week I finished the first draft of my new play in THE HOLLYWOOD LEGENDS series.  It's the first one I've written since the mid-1990s. 

The last several pages "wrote themselves" a lot quicker than I expected.  I've even done some polishing since then, and the manuscript is now in the hands of a trusted friend and professional for her input.

Unlike my other plays in this series, the new one is a TWO-Person play, rather than a monologue.  It even has music.

However, unlike JOLSON and CHEVALIER, all of the songs I'm using are in the public domain.  Copyright holders, for the most part, have been very nice to me on those older shows, but I really don't want to deal with music licensing any longer.  It's too time consuming and complicated.  Thus, public domain.

The title of the new play is NELSON AND JEANETTE.

And, with that information, if you can't guess the identities of the subjects, then you're probably not going to read it anyway.

:-)

In any event, I had fun writing it.  Assuming that my friend's notes don't trigger a major rewrite, I'll probably make the script available in both paperback and on Kindle within the next month or two.

You have a creative week.

Michael

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August 20, 2012

First, there is a new review on the Best Bets on DVD site, accessible via the link in the Introduction section of this page.  The movie is called TOUCHBACK, and it's sort of a combination of IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE and FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS, so take a look.

Aside from doing further writing on my new play this past week, I've been working with two very talented voice actors on two forthcoming audio versions of my books.  Ed French is producing and acting a radio drama-like adaptation of my one-person play, ORSON WELLES, and Fred Frees (Paul Frees son) is reading my book of short stories, DRACULA MEETS JACK THE RIPPER & Other Revisionist Histories.  Both guys are doing terrific jobs, and I am very pleased with what I've heard this far.

I have five more of these one-person plays to cast, so if you know any good voice actors who might be a vocal match for Clark Gale, Spencer Tracy, Errol Flynn, Clara Bow or Carole Lombard, please have them contact me.

Now, here's a joke I was sent:

A young Arab boy asks his father, "What is that weird hat you are wearing?"

The father said, "Why, it's a 'chechia' because in the desert it protects our heads from the sun."

"And what is this type of clothing that you are wearing?" asked the young man.

"It's a 'djbellah' because in the desert it is very hot and it protects the body." said the father.

The son asked, "And what about those ugly shoes on your feet?"

His father replied, "These are 'babouches,' which keep us from burning our feet in the desert."
 
"Tell me," added the boy.
 
"Yes, my son?"

 "Why are you living in Dearborn Michigan and still wearing all this shit?"

You have a creative week.

Michael

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August 13, 2012

First, there is new review of THE WALKING DEAD, Season Two on the Best Bets on DVD site, accessible via the link in the Introduction section of this page.  If you enjoy the series, I think you'll want to check out what I have to say.

Do you like to listen to your books, rather than read them?

ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD: From the Secret Files of Harry Pennypacker, my first audio book, is now available on Amazon.com. and  iTunes.   It's read by the very talented Scott O'Neill, who responded well to my direction and made my words come to life.  He was a joy to work with, and he even lives in my home town of Seattle.  Here's the link to his website.  If the link doesn't work, as it often doesn't on my blog, just copy the address into your browser.

http://www.scottovoiceo.com/

ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD: From the Secret Files of Harry Pennypacker is the new audio edition of my 2009 book that spoofed Hollywood's Golden Age and the tabloid press that covered it.  It contains bizarre tales of such movie icons as John Wayne, Elvis Presley, James Dean, Clark Gable, Marilyn Monroe, The Marx Brothers and many others.

Indeed, I was laughing out loud hearing Scott read my words.

As an bonus, the download contains the book's title song, music and vocal by my son, David.

Follow this link to see how you can get your FREE DOWNLOAD.

Or, if it doesn't work, copy the following into your browser:

http://www.amazon.com/Once-Upon-Time-Hollywood-Pennypacker/dp/B008VJD9DC/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1344569410&sr=1-1&keywords=once+upon+a+time+in+hollywood

Three of my other titles are also currently in production to become audio books, so stay tuned.

You have a creative week.

Michael

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