Twofer

Writer guy

Oscar madness is in the air. Luckily, I never watch awards shows, unless I feel like yakking in the litter box. But I did see two movies nominated in the best film category: Brokeback Mountain and Capote. In the spirit of the Academy Awards, here’s a movie review doubleshot.

Brokeback Mountain
Based on Annie Proulx’s story, this drama captures twenty years of two men’s sad and very confused lives. First thought: their sexuality made them neither confused nor sad; it was the fact they lived near Riverton, Texas in the 60’s and drank so damn much Wild Turkey. Honestly, pairing a sex addicted alcoholic, who craves committment but can’t possibly with a tight-lipped good old boy, who fears committment but is relatively monogamous, could only lead to disaster. Thank you. Come again.

NOTE: To the ninety-year-old couple who left during the pup-tent love scene, that was as rough as the love got. Next time, give it a few more minutes before running for the hills.

Pluses:
1) Good performances. Good casting.
2) Excellent dialog. Probably the largest concentration of great one-liners of any theatrical release this year.
3) Magnificient cinematography. How tight were the visuals? I wanted to hop the next train to Wyoming.

Verdict: DVD rental is fine. Matinee if you must see it now.

Capote
Truman Capote is the sort of guy I would have ejected from a dinner party after he drank all my gin. A brilliant, possibly genius writer? Absolutely. Insipid pain in the ass to be around? I say, “Yes, sir!”

Phillip Hoffman gave a great performance. He was Capote. As such, if I ever meet Mr. Hoffman, I’m kicking him to the curb for drinking all my gin. True words, his performance was so good, it compensated for the lack of a plot, story, or theme.

A sample page from the screenplay.

Scene 1: INT – APARTMENT – DAY
Capote sits at typewriter, bottle in hand. Empty gin bottles surround the desk. Pages litter the floor. He rips a page from the typewriter, tearing it to shreds.

Capote: This is ruining me.

Scene 2: INT – APARTMENT – NIGHT
More pages, more empty bottles. Same Capote at the desk with the typewriter.

Capote: Oh, oh, oh. I’m ruined.

Inspiration strikes. He types a few sentences, and reads his words in a low voice.

Capote: I’m a genius. Time for a drink.

Verdict: DVD purchase for the performance. Punch Mr. Hoffman only if you must.

Nice

Writer guy

The executive producer of my favorite TV show spoke on campus last night, as part of the curriculum. Besides screening dailies, he left the actual shooting script for a yet to air episode – and two earlier drafts. I’m studying the shooting script closely.

What he said about the movie and television was interesting. In movies, writers are a notch above the janitor; directors wield the control. No surprise there, based on the movies Hollywood belches out each season. Television writers on the other hand, have a huge influence on the show, and not just the story. They can be executive producers and guide the entire operation. In his case, he is also the show’s creative consultant ( plus creator ). During the season, he works until 2AM fine-tuning scripts a team of writers draft. From raw idea, to shooting script can take the team of 5 writers upwards of a month.

He was very gracious and answered tons of questions. And because the Wife and I arrived early, we both had a chance to thank him for the show and shake his hand.

I’m sending him an email later today thanking him for his time.

These are the days I love my job.

UPDATED on Saturday: Then again, there’s always the chance of a gremlin.

The only thing better than one slow day…

Writer guy

…is a second slow day in a row. The memory of the nasty network issue is fading. My job is a whole lot more fun when the infrastructure functions properly.

On the writing front, the big character revision continues, and the synopsis is just about right.

Random thought: I believe 2006 is the year of The 88. Not only is their music on the soundtrack of a half dozen movies, they wrote the theme song for a new television show following American Idol. I find their story intriguing because the band broke out late in the game for pop music. If moguls ruled as in past years, the 88 would not have happened at all. Yet somehow, their music rose above the scene. And that’s a good thing.