Michael's Musings

February 13, 2012

I am still waiting for that screenplay contract and check to arrive, but I spoke to the person on Friday and I've been assured that I will have both in hand by the end of this coming week.

My fingers are still crossed.

In the meantime, I've been reading a fascinating biography of actor Robert Mitchum, one of my all-time favorite stars. 

I never met the man, but I did see him on a set once and, when I was doing press for his son (Christopher), we spoke briefly on the phone.  According to this bio and what I know about him, he was a fascinating individual, very self-destructive, but a superb actor.

If I can figure out an angle, he could a good subject for a one-person play.

I've posted a new trailer on YouTube and elsewhere to promote all four of my recently published screenplays, SARAH GOLDEN HAIR, MATRICIDE, UNCLE LOUIE and GHOUL CITY.  If the link doesn't work, just copy this address into your browser and you'll be taken right there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjdD1L3X_24&list=UUQ6z6vyjJFsiqL33qbiSJSQ&index=6&feature=plcp

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day, and I have a very special video valentine coming to dear wife Sandy.

On Wednesday, I'm supposed to do an interview to promo many of my books, then the next week, I am going to turn 71.

I don't feel 71!

You have a creative week.

Michael

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February 6, 2012

This past week, I finished proofing my next book, CHEYENNE WARRIOR II/HAWK, the two screenplay versions of the CHEYENNE WARRIOR sequel that I wrote for Roger Corman in 2003, and now all I have to do is publish it.  That just takes a couple of clicks of my mouse and it's done.

But, unless something changes, I'm not going to do that for awhile, possibly 2-3 months.

The reason is that, as you'll recall, I published four of my other unproduced screenplays on January 6th of this year, and I don't want to overload the marketplace with the works of Michael B. Druxman.

Besides, this new book would be in direct competition with SARAH GOLDEN HAIR, one of those published screenplays, which would not be a good idea.

While you are breathlessly waiting for CHEYENNE WARRIOR II/HAWK to make its appearance in both paperback and Kindle, please take a look at those other scripts.  I'm quite proud of them.

Aside from SARAH GOLDEN HAIR, they are MATRICIDE, GHOUL CITY and UNCLE LOUIE, all available at Amazon.com in both paperback and Kindle editions.

Since I'm finished with the proofreading, my desk is really clear.  Hopefully, that screenplay contract will come though this week.  It has been promised that it would.

In the meantime, I will pass the time by reviewing some DVDs for the Best Bets on DVD site, accessible via the link in the Introduction section of this page.  In fact, after I finish this column, I plan to write a review of the first two seasons of LUTHER, a terrific British cop series that won Idris Elba a Golden Globe award a few weeks back. 

Earlier this week, I posted reviews on ANONYMOUS, TAKE SHELTER, both excellent movies, and THE SON OF NO ONE.  So, take a look.

You have a creative week.

Michael

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January 30, 2012

I thought I was going to get a signed contract and a check this past week to begin work on a new screenplay assignment, but it did not arrive.

I spoke to the person who was hiring me, and they assured me that we do have a deal, but it might be for two separate scripts and she's not sure which one will come first.  Hopefully, that will be resolved this coming week, because I've (more or less) cleared my desk to start working on the new script.

In the meantime, I'm waiting for the paperback proof for CHEYENNE WARRIOR II / HAWK to arrive from CreateSpace .  It should be here by the end of this week and, once I make any corrections, it will be uploaded and ready for sale.

Thursday was a nightmare working on formatting this latest book.  I use the CreateSpace templates, but for some reason, they were quirky this time and would not cooperate, both for the interior and the cover of the book.  The people who work the CreateSpace phones are usually quite helpful, but not for this.

After literally hours of futzing with the files, I finally figured out a workaround all by myself and solved the problems.  CreateSpace should make their templates a bit more flexible.

I'm also awaiting word from the copyright holders of the songs that I want to use for my Maurice Chevalier one-person play.  I've decided that, one way or the other, I will be publishing the book portion, but it would be nice to have the songs attached should a theater want to produce it.

There's a new review of THE DEAD, a zombie movie, up on the Best Bets on DVD site, accessible via the link in the Introduction section of this page, so if you're into walking dead folk, take a look.

With THE ARTIST winning the DGA award on Saturday night, I guess that makes it the frontrunner to take home this year's Best Picture Oscar.

Unfortunately, I've yet to see it, or HUGO, or THE DESCENDANTS, or MY WEEK WITH MARILYN or THE IRON LADY.  And, I have no interest in seeing THE TREE OF LIFE.

That's about it for this week.  You have a creative one.

Michael

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