Michael's Musings

March 5, 2012

Okay, I missed one of my Oscar predictions last week.

Meryl Streep won Best Actress over my pick, Viola Davis. 

I have not seen THE IRON LADY, so I can't really comment as to which performance I felt was best.  What I do know is that, with the exception of Meryl's performance, the film has not been getting very positive reviews.

This past week, I did finally see HUGO and MY WEEK WITH MARILYN, the latter I reviewed on the Best Bets on DVD site, accessible via the link in the Introduction section of this page. 

I really liked MY WEEK WITH MARILYN.  HUGO, not so much.  Although I was very impressed with its overall production, I never really got involved with the story.

This past week, I revised the book trailer I'd done for my published screenplay, MATRICIDE.  I felt that the original version was too enigmatic   If this link doesn't take you to the new trailer, then just copy the following address into your browser and you'll be swept right to it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6r-wI9t6Fg&list=UUQ6z6vyjJFsiqL33qbiSJSQ&index=1&feature=plcp

Also this past week, I finished editing three more books: BARRY & THE BIMBO, BLACK WATCH/THE CAVERN (three screenplays in 2 volumes) and my one-person play, (Maurice) CHEVALIER.  I think that I've finally cleared the music rights on that last one well enough to offer it for production.  The manuscript files for all three works are now with the publisher, and the only thing left for me to do is check the proof copies when they arrive this week or next.  After that, they will all be made available on Amazon and elsewhere.

The really good news this past week is that I finally got the contract and initial check for that screenplay assignment I've been talking about for over a month.  I'm currently in the process of outlining the story with the person who hired me.   I'm sure that this job will keep me quite busy these next 2-3 months.

You have a creative week.

Michael

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February 27, 2012

I'm actually writing this blog entry before the Oscar Awards.  You'll probably read it after the ceremony is over, so you'll know if my predictions are correct.

Frankly, I don't think there will be any surprises this year, but here goes:

Best Picture: THE ARTIST
Best Actor: Jean Dujardin
Best Actress: Viola Davis
Best Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer
Best Supporting Actress: Octavia Spencer
Best Director: Michel Hazanavicius
Best Original Screenplay: Woody Allen

So, I'm still waiting for that contract and check to write the original screenplay I told you about.  This person I'm dealing with says it's a done deal, but then there is always another delay.

Currently, I'm in the process of getting 3 more of my original screenplays ready to publish in 2 separate books.  My work, except for checking/correcting the final proofs, should be finished in a week or so.  I have decided that, if I don't have the contract and check in hand by the time I'm done with those books, I'm going to just forget the whole deal and start a brand new writing project of my own.

What will I do?

I'm seriously considering writing a couple new one-person plays on iconic movie stars.  They seem to sell well on Amazon, and I do get an occasional production of these works.

 I'm thinking about Rita Hayworth and Robert Mitchum as subjects.

Both of them had interesting lives and continue to have a viable fan base.  Now, I have to decide whether they have the other necessary qualifications to make a good one-person play.  Each one of them has a particular issue that makes me wonder if they would.

They are not there yet, but sometime this coming week I'm going to upload DVD reviews for both ANATOMY OF A MURDER and CORMAN'S WORLD, that's the new Roger Corman documentary, onto the Best Bets on DVD site, accessible via the link in the Introduction section of this page.  So, please check back and have a look.

You have a creative week.

Michael

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February 20, 2012

Saturday night, we watched THE BODYGUARD with Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston.

So sad about Whitney.  What a waste.

I still have not received the contract and check for the aforementioned screenplay assignment.  Hopefully, it will still arrive before the Messiah, but in the meantime, I've been working on a couple of other projects.

I'm going to publish three more of my unsold screenplays.

Since they both deal with the supernatural, BLACK WATCH and THE CAVERN will be published in one volume.  I'm currently in the process of formatting that one, which should be complete by the end of this week.

Already formatted is BARRY & THE BIMBO, a romantic action-comedy.  Slightly autobiographical, if you've read my memoir (MY FORTY-FIVE YEARS IN HOLLYWOOD...AND HOW I ESCAPED ALIVE) this is the script that came very close to being purchased by 20th Century-Fox.

I've already completed trailers on both volumes, and will bring the books out together in a month or two or three.  Not sure.

Thursday (23) is my birthday, the big 71.  Sandy and I will probably go to a movie that day, but I'm not sure what it will be. 

Then, next Sunday (26) is Oscar night, so nobody had better call me during the ceremonies.  Even though I haven't seen all the movies that are frontrunners (e.g. THE ARTIST, HUGO, THE DESCENDANTS), this is, for me, a special night.  Always has been.

You have a creative week.

Michael

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