I'm being lazy here but I have just endured two of the worst movies I have ever seen and one of them is the biggest blockbuster of the summer. I hated Transformers (the other was the dreadful excrement Fantastic Four, Rise of the Silver Surfer). But I couldn't put into words just how much I thought this movie was bad for our collective moviegoing soul.
Fortunately, Bemis at http://cinevistaramascope.blogspot.com could and did and I have to put his closing paragraph here because it is dead on.
"It's hateful, materialistic crap, keeping the sales-pitch cynicism of the original cartoon minus the endearing kitsch. True, the writers try to bracket everything in wink-wink sarcasm, making this crap that knows it is crap. The effects are flawless but pointless, as Transformers is never remotely fun . Try to defend it as meant for kids and I'll ask you to recall the indefensible dreck we liked as kids; try to defend it as shut-your-brain-off fodder and I'll ask why I should shut my brain off; defend it at all and I'll remind you of the scene where a robot pisses on Barton Fink. The Number 23 and Vacancy are bad, but Transformers is actually dangerous, its massive success paving the way for another decade of Bay's Teutonic brand of anti-art. The biggest question, then, is who Michael Bay hates more - us or himself."
Truly. A robot pissing on Turturro. How much fucking money are they paying these guys these days?
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Thursday, November 15, 2007
My very first acting job
This is the job that launched a career. Shot in 1988, the director was Lawrence Bridges, consequently the only commercial director that I have remained good friends with to this day.
Note the editing style, Larry was the creator of the herky jerky cutting, copied by many after this spot ( and it's sequel the following year).
It's been almost 20 years. I can't believe I am still doing this for a living. I have truly been blessed.
Thanks, Lar.
Some thoughts about the Strike (writers)
Okay. Here's a few thoughts.
1. The amount the writers are asking for does not come close to the amount that will be lost during this strike. It won't even come near that amount in 20 years.
2. The amount the writers are asking for does not equal the salary of a CEO.
3. The producers and studios WANT this strike. After a certain amount of time they can (and will) negate all contracts. Directors, writers, ADs, assistants. This strike represents a reboot for the studios. That will save them millions.
The studios will give the writers something for the Internet. They have to, they are not stupid. But they will save a lot of money by letting this action play itself out. everyone will be hired back. Perhaps at slightly lower wages and a lot of waste will be terminated.
But, the issue I take umbrage with is the sentiment that because of the strike the union is causing the layoffs of many below the line players.
That's fine because it is, in a sense, true.
What I have a problem with is that no one seems to ahve a problem when the networks cancel the shows rendering the same result.
Story: I have a friend who was on Drake and Josh. He had a good job. They ran for 4 years. Then they were cancelled and EVERYONE was unemployed. But, here's the thing: Drake and Josh didn't need to be cancelled. It's still the top show on cable. So, why end a popular show at it's height? because the target demographic is tweeners who are no longer interested in the show after they get past, say, 14. There is a new crop of 10 year olds every year for whom the show is new.
When Nick cancelled the show they laid off dozens of employees. No one bitches about that. And they should.
1. The amount the writers are asking for does not come close to the amount that will be lost during this strike. It won't even come near that amount in 20 years.
2. The amount the writers are asking for does not equal the salary of a CEO.
3. The producers and studios WANT this strike. After a certain amount of time they can (and will) negate all contracts. Directors, writers, ADs, assistants. This strike represents a reboot for the studios. That will save them millions.
The studios will give the writers something for the Internet. They have to, they are not stupid. But they will save a lot of money by letting this action play itself out. everyone will be hired back. Perhaps at slightly lower wages and a lot of waste will be terminated.
But, the issue I take umbrage with is the sentiment that because of the strike the union is causing the layoffs of many below the line players.
That's fine because it is, in a sense, true.
What I have a problem with is that no one seems to ahve a problem when the networks cancel the shows rendering the same result.
Story: I have a friend who was on Drake and Josh. He had a good job. They ran for 4 years. Then they were cancelled and EVERYONE was unemployed. But, here's the thing: Drake and Josh didn't need to be cancelled. It's still the top show on cable. So, why end a popular show at it's height? because the target demographic is tweeners who are no longer interested in the show after they get past, say, 14. There is a new crop of 10 year olds every year for whom the show is new.
When Nick cancelled the show they laid off dozens of employees. No one bitches about that. And they should.
Not The Daily Show, With Some Writer
As it comes in I will try to put strike related info on this blog.
I know, I'm not much of a diligent blogger, but less is more, right?
Anywho, if you still read Septenary and you are a Daily Show viewer, you will enjoy this.
Friday, November 9, 2007
Support the writers!
Sign the Petition
http://www.petitiononline.com/WGA/petition.html
Thanks to Kristen at Slate Your Name for the heads up.
http://www.petitiononline.com/WGA/petition.html
Thanks to Kristen at Slate Your Name for the heads up.
Sunday, November 4, 2007
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