The question is going around - who should fill Lynda Carter's boots, let alone replace her booty?
What this part needs if it is going to be a David E. Kelley show is deft comedy skill. And a decent set of boobies.
David E. Kelley is a promising name for this material though. It will be social commentary in the right hands. On TV he'll get away with more of that then they would in a feature.
The origin feature has been done as an animated DVD with Nathan Fillion voicing Steve. Good choice, and nice nod to Joss Whedon who likely would have cast him.
If they shoot another live action origin story they should use the animated one as an
animatic. I'd like to see a report on the process and why DC's animated division is so killer and their live action projects (without Nolan) bog down at the script level.
Also, Meryl Streep has a Commencement address on youtube where she notes that it is
not easy for heterosexual males to identify with a female protagonist. Even though Wonder Woman is a character we fall for and respect I think we are basically Steve Trevor and want to have her do all the work but still be in an artificially superior status. I'm not sure that's bankable for an all-eggs-in-one-basket $200 million feature. With a series they can play with that dynamic.
Castle, created by the screenwriter of Air Force One, has been pretty successful with something non-threatening to the male ego - Fillion is the mystery author who shadows a pretty homicide detective and models his newest character on her. She has the authority and status, but he is the civillian who proves each week that his intuition beats her hard-bitten proceedure.
I suspect that they may discover the next Lynda Carter, who will have some chops but be the "straight man" and the Steve will be someone funny who is the breakout star.
Wonder Woman running down modern streets would be interesting, though I hope they use the old uniform and stay away from the less patriotic look in the rebooted comic. One is an icon, the other is a reaction. I think now that we are in the Omaba era it is okay for people to be a bit patriotic. And I'm sure it will pass without much comment when Paradise Island sports more diverse-looking "sisters" for Diana. But even that aspect of the show needs a smart writer or it will be soft porn.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Star Wars 3D re-releases
From the pee-ing up a rope department, I may as well file this opinion about the annoucnement about Star Wars in 3D.
Beginning in 2012, George Lucas plans to re-release a Star Wars movie each year, ostensibly because it takes a year to do the digital 3D process to a feature. But he plans to release all 6 movies that are formally considered "Star Wars" live-action features. It's like a theatrical version of a boxed set. You want the good movies? Take these crap ones off our hands as well. He plans to release the films in numerical order, beginning with Episode One: The Phantom Menace, and says the rest will follow "depending on how well the others are received." ** Ahem. ** Well, the prequels made money, but I'm not sure how well they were received. The Original Trilogy (1977, 1980, 1983) were well thought of enough that a desire for lasted nearly two decades. A set of novels about the original characters Luke, Han, Leia, and Lando in the early nineties began to rehabilitate a dormant brand. The re-release of the Original Trilogy went well enough, but you can't go home again. In 1999 Lucas explored elements of Star Wars we hadn't head of and frankly couldn't have cared less about. No word on whether the 3D version of The Phantom Menace would be edited or partially re-shot, let alone re-conceived. It is unclear how Lucas will sell the "triumphant return of a movie that was so bad it's follow-up Attack of the Clones had a notable drop in box office and theater chain faith.
The con behind this is that 3D tests have already been done a couple of years ago when fans at conventions go to see scenes from the original, popular, 1977 film converted to 3D. So Lucasfilm has actually had a good head start on that one and they likely won't need to take that "year" to convert it. If they have set aside Star Wars Episode IV A New Hope in order to spend 2011 converting The Phantom Menace, I'd like this to be a wake-up call where NOBODY bothers to go. Frankly I'm already old enough that my heartrate isn't exactly racing at the prospct of paying again to see GOOD movies I have on DVD. Even if it is 3D. Waiting 4 more years to see Star Wars in 3D is just one more benchmark of stagnant middle age for me.
It's the same process that was done to Piranha 3D, conversion of material shot in 2D.
When Han shoots Greedo under the table, I'd like to see him topple to expose a disintegrated lower half, Piraha-stile, with blood spewing everywhere. May as well really mess with us. Friggin horrify the kids who actually liked Jar Jar. They deserve a good scare. Something to jolt some sense into them.
Boycott The Phantom Menace, Boycott Attack of the Clones, Boycott Revenge of the Sith. Lucas knows nobody would go to these movies if they followed the good ones. They would have the fate of the Clone Wars animated feature (which by the way is much more entertaining than the live-action prequels, more in the spirit of the older films, but following characters and an era that the audience couldn't get excited about).
Beginning in 2012, George Lucas plans to re-release a Star Wars movie each year, ostensibly because it takes a year to do the digital 3D process to a feature. But he plans to release all 6 movies that are formally considered "Star Wars" live-action features. It's like a theatrical version of a boxed set. You want the good movies? Take these crap ones off our hands as well. He plans to release the films in numerical order, beginning with Episode One: The Phantom Menace, and says the rest will follow "depending on how well the others are received." ** Ahem. ** Well, the prequels made money, but I'm not sure how well they were received. The Original Trilogy (1977, 1980, 1983) were well thought of enough that a desire for lasted nearly two decades. A set of novels about the original characters Luke, Han, Leia, and Lando in the early nineties began to rehabilitate a dormant brand. The re-release of the Original Trilogy went well enough, but you can't go home again. In 1999 Lucas explored elements of Star Wars we hadn't head of and frankly couldn't have cared less about. No word on whether the 3D version of The Phantom Menace would be edited or partially re-shot, let alone re-conceived. It is unclear how Lucas will sell the "triumphant return of a movie that was so bad it's follow-up Attack of the Clones had a notable drop in box office and theater chain faith.
The con behind this is that 3D tests have already been done a couple of years ago when fans at conventions go to see scenes from the original, popular, 1977 film converted to 3D. So Lucasfilm has actually had a good head start on that one and they likely won't need to take that "year" to convert it. If they have set aside Star Wars Episode IV A New Hope in order to spend 2011 converting The Phantom Menace, I'd like this to be a wake-up call where NOBODY bothers to go. Frankly I'm already old enough that my heartrate isn't exactly racing at the prospct of paying again to see GOOD movies I have on DVD. Even if it is 3D. Waiting 4 more years to see Star Wars in 3D is just one more benchmark of stagnant middle age for me.
It's the same process that was done to Piranha 3D, conversion of material shot in 2D.
When Han shoots Greedo under the table, I'd like to see him topple to expose a disintegrated lower half, Piraha-stile, with blood spewing everywhere. May as well really mess with us. Friggin horrify the kids who actually liked Jar Jar. They deserve a good scare. Something to jolt some sense into them.
Boycott The Phantom Menace, Boycott Attack of the Clones, Boycott Revenge of the Sith. Lucas knows nobody would go to these movies if they followed the good ones. They would have the fate of the Clone Wars animated feature (which by the way is much more entertaining than the live-action prequels, more in the spirit of the older films, but following characters and an era that the audience couldn't get excited about).
Moon
Sam Rockwell appears in this under-rated sci-fi film by Duncan Jones. It's interesting to me because it's a "first feature." As such it is excellent. It is difficult to describe the plot without either lying or giving a spoiler. Kevin Spacey plays a computer voice for which he achieves a HAL 9000 without doing an impression of Douglas Rain. The end result simply reminds us of what we knew all alone. Kevin Spacey's usual tone is fairly measured and robotic to begin with, and like his character Gertie here he is someone we initially mistrust or from whom we expect and accept a wide range of possibility. I can't say that Moon is for everybody. It wasn't just a marketing mix-up that led to its fate. Moon involves a technology that is very trendy and mixes that with a third act plot device borrowed from Outland (which I admit I prefer) or High Noon if you like without being too overt about it. But it is closer in tone to Sodderberg's version of Solaris. There are things I like about Solaris, more than the Andrei Tarkovsky version anyway. But unless you are driven to see a wide range of films because you are in the industry or a cinephile, it's not necessary to see any film called Solaris. Jason X includes a space station called Solaris, perhaps as a nod of respect for a much critically-favored story/novel/film or films, but I'll admit I can recommend "Jason Goes to Outer Space" more easily and widely than either Solaris. And I'd much rather boast having made the pop-horror flick than the drifting narrative of a Solaris. Sam Rockwell keeps most of his whimsical side in check with Moon, since it is a more somber situation. But I would have preferred a more silly movie, frankly. Rockwell in serious mode reminds me too much of his unhinged psycho Billy the Kid in The Green Mile which puts up a barrier to empathy with him. But then keep in mind I'm one of the few people who want to see him play Zaphod Beeblebrox again. Most of the movie is a two hander of sorts between Rockwell and the computer voice of Spacey.
Portable cafe at Nuit Blanche
Here are some things that ran through my head last night, some being old thoughts and some about the subject at hand. All I had was a new camera case on my lap for the subway and streetcar ride, nothing to read or watch, no escape.
I had cold feet as I do about almost anything in which I plan to I participate. Had to race to find a blank DV tape even though I knew three new ones were somewhere in my disaster area apartment. I put a little Sony Cybershot still camera into what I thought was a side pocket of my new videocamera case, only to realize at my destination that it had been just an extra handle of some sort and that the cybershot had slipped through. So my evening had that weighing on me. I didn't remember hearing anything clunk but it could have dropped as I descended a hill beside my building. I had stills of Maple Leaf Gardens in its current state, something verbotten. I had a few stills where I searched myself for "skin tags" in anticipation of hopefully getting them removed. I know that's gross to even mention, but I'm in mid-life and heavy and have type 2 diabetes, so this is one of the expected bonuses you get with that combination. But after stressing that all night I found the camera on my bed, where it had slipped out silently.
I shot some pretty good video of the preparation and a couple of stops made by the Cafe AuBrey Friesner had organized, Cafe Phantasmagoria. The Parkdale public library got a few passers-by stopping in for the free coffee and cookies. The rising of the cafe framework was not as regimented as rehearsed, but it got done. Interesting to see the labor of constructing a structure turned into a ritual with choreography and chants. The Marching band David the juggler (of rods with glowing coils and then finally fire) were excellent and people on the street responded accordingly.
I was wearing the required white, opting for a disposable painter's jumpsuit which I had kept in my camera bag. I had an incident getting into it, though it was extra large. The zipper broke so it just gaped open like I'd been split down the middle. My pants and jacket were underneath, but at least you could see that I was wearing a weathered Porno the Clown "F**ked by Porno" T-shirt. This was in honor of the clips from PTC shorts that I had donated to be shown on the video projector. But outside the library there were some smaller kids so this time a video was shown of Dave McKay satirizing Toronto Mayor candidate Rob Ford. Very funny stuff. A passer-by chimed in with his own "I hate Rob Ford" rant, which was understandable but anticlimactic after a killer-funny video. The Cafe was taken down in another ritual fashion, ending with people baring the lit legs as polls like they are torches and singing a song from The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
Although it had been given to us as the youtube link the lyrics trailed off a bit after "There's a light at the Frankenstien's place. . ." The idea was there.
Next we were to move northeast, ending up near some Burners and their "Heart Machine" display. But on the way I stepped into McDonalds to take a Mcleak after peeling off my painter suit which was stifling. It felt like one of those PSA's for United Way where a homeless person peels off their skin-suit and becomes healthy.
I followed the lights and caught up in time to see the structure put up again, this time a bit more smoothly.
Porno the Clown was shown, in the montage I had put together using clips from a few of the episodes. Jay Ould ended up being there, so we finally had an impromptu meeting to catch up a bit. It seems that when people come back from Burning Man, or a trip to Europe for that matter, it's harder to lock down where and when projects can be organized. Right now it feels like January, the stretch where there is almost no point making plans with people. Which is not a Jay thing but a people-in-general thing. Except me - I try to keep no life to the extent that I can always stick to a plan. "How's that working out for you?" Tyler Durden would say.
The next PTC short will involve Adam Bailey as a new character in the clown universe of PTC. Jay mentioned that he seemed enthused at a wrap party for Adam's new play. I had seen the play myself Royal Porcupine's production of The Shadow of a Boy. Earlier in Septmber I had run into Adam and one of his cast on Spadina while departing from a toxic buddy. They were coming home from a rehearsal and I decided to acknowledge my friend across the street and that was either a weird interaction or it was only that way in my head. I didn't explain to Adam and his actress Tanya that I was dropping off some DVDs I had borrowed from my quirky friend. I haven't spoken to him since but because this was part of my train of thought I'll follow through here.
A montreal filmmaker who had a couple of features I hadn't heard of had given my friend a disc of each to use in researching an article. He loaned them to me saying they were the only copy and don't damage them. I asked why not burn a copy of each and let those be the loaner copies. He said his computer couldn't do that and he had tried. After watching one disc (the most recent) I asked on the phone if I should burn a copy of the first in case I won't get around to watching it in two days. He agreed, and specially noted that this movie was not available in stores so copying it wouldn't be competing with a store-bought copy. Anyway, after copying the earliest feature of the filmmaker I phoned to say I was on my way over and I had checked my disc copy and it burned okay. He freaked out, insisting that he said I could "capture" the film onto my computer but not "burn" a DVD. We went back and forth arguing over what word was said. We had a few arguments over trivia in which he would say something like "Don't talk to me that way." And I respond "Okay I won't," and hand up. In this case the shrill "episode" was enough that I had to hang up a couple of times. Finally he took his turn hanging up after saying something bizarre about my father. If there hadn't been any sirens going off before, this would be it. I arrived with the discs and we were polite but I've silently resolved that being around people who seem stable and happy is necessary. Otherwise crazy is contagious. But like I said there was no point briefing these theater people about the whole thing, "Here's one of my hetero sci-fi geek mates who I am apparently breaking up with." Somehow if a woman is scolding me for something or having an episode I almost find it relaxing and necessary. But if it comes from a male - even a boss - the fight won't be over until I win. And that can take so much time and effort it's hardly worth it.
I left the cafe early, paid respects to a few people and hit the streetcar after what might be my final visit to McDonald's. I just can't afford to delay any further my celery-only diet. I think that has to begin right now and last until Thanksgiving at least. I think I need more cardio too. I had a hit of a joint before the cafe got going and caughed my head off. If I was doing the required hours of cardio per week, or more to lose instead of maintain, I would have enjoyed it all better. Well, I used most of the battery and a whole hour of tape so there should be something entertaining to cut together. Cafe Phantasmagoria.
I had cold feet as I do about almost anything in which I plan to I participate. Had to race to find a blank DV tape even though I knew three new ones were somewhere in my disaster area apartment. I put a little Sony Cybershot still camera into what I thought was a side pocket of my new videocamera case, only to realize at my destination that it had been just an extra handle of some sort and that the cybershot had slipped through. So my evening had that weighing on me. I didn't remember hearing anything clunk but it could have dropped as I descended a hill beside my building. I had stills of Maple Leaf Gardens in its current state, something verbotten. I had a few stills where I searched myself for "skin tags" in anticipation of hopefully getting them removed. I know that's gross to even mention, but I'm in mid-life and heavy and have type 2 diabetes, so this is one of the expected bonuses you get with that combination. But after stressing that all night I found the camera on my bed, where it had slipped out silently.
I shot some pretty good video of the preparation and a couple of stops made by the Cafe AuBrey Friesner had organized, Cafe Phantasmagoria. The Parkdale public library got a few passers-by stopping in for the free coffee and cookies. The rising of the cafe framework was not as regimented as rehearsed, but it got done. Interesting to see the labor of constructing a structure turned into a ritual with choreography and chants. The Marching band David the juggler (of rods with glowing coils and then finally fire) were excellent and people on the street responded accordingly.
I was wearing the required white, opting for a disposable painter's jumpsuit which I had kept in my camera bag. I had an incident getting into it, though it was extra large. The zipper broke so it just gaped open like I'd been split down the middle. My pants and jacket were underneath, but at least you could see that I was wearing a weathered Porno the Clown "F**ked by Porno" T-shirt. This was in honor of the clips from PTC shorts that I had donated to be shown on the video projector. But outside the library there were some smaller kids so this time a video was shown of Dave McKay satirizing Toronto Mayor candidate Rob Ford. Very funny stuff. A passer-by chimed in with his own "I hate Rob Ford" rant, which was understandable but anticlimactic after a killer-funny video. The Cafe was taken down in another ritual fashion, ending with people baring the lit legs as polls like they are torches and singing a song from The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
Although it had been given to us as the youtube link the lyrics trailed off a bit after "There's a light at the Frankenstien's place. . ." The idea was there.
Next we were to move northeast, ending up near some Burners and their "Heart Machine" display. But on the way I stepped into McDonalds to take a Mcleak after peeling off my painter suit which was stifling. It felt like one of those PSA's for United Way where a homeless person peels off their skin-suit and becomes healthy.
I followed the lights and caught up in time to see the structure put up again, this time a bit more smoothly.
Porno the Clown was shown, in the montage I had put together using clips from a few of the episodes. Jay Ould ended up being there, so we finally had an impromptu meeting to catch up a bit. It seems that when people come back from Burning Man, or a trip to Europe for that matter, it's harder to lock down where and when projects can be organized. Right now it feels like January, the stretch where there is almost no point making plans with people. Which is not a Jay thing but a people-in-general thing. Except me - I try to keep no life to the extent that I can always stick to a plan. "How's that working out for you?" Tyler Durden would say.
The next PTC short will involve Adam Bailey as a new character in the clown universe of PTC. Jay mentioned that he seemed enthused at a wrap party for Adam's new play. I had seen the play myself Royal Porcupine's production of The Shadow of a Boy. Earlier in Septmber I had run into Adam and one of his cast on Spadina while departing from a toxic buddy. They were coming home from a rehearsal and I decided to acknowledge my friend across the street and that was either a weird interaction or it was only that way in my head. I didn't explain to Adam and his actress Tanya that I was dropping off some DVDs I had borrowed from my quirky friend. I haven't spoken to him since but because this was part of my train of thought I'll follow through here.
A montreal filmmaker who had a couple of features I hadn't heard of had given my friend a disc of each to use in researching an article. He loaned them to me saying they were the only copy and don't damage them. I asked why not burn a copy of each and let those be the loaner copies. He said his computer couldn't do that and he had tried. After watching one disc (the most recent) I asked on the phone if I should burn a copy of the first in case I won't get around to watching it in two days. He agreed, and specially noted that this movie was not available in stores so copying it wouldn't be competing with a store-bought copy. Anyway, after copying the earliest feature of the filmmaker I phoned to say I was on my way over and I had checked my disc copy and it burned okay. He freaked out, insisting that he said I could "capture" the film onto my computer but not "burn" a DVD. We went back and forth arguing over what word was said. We had a few arguments over trivia in which he would say something like "Don't talk to me that way." And I respond "Okay I won't," and hand up. In this case the shrill "episode" was enough that I had to hang up a couple of times. Finally he took his turn hanging up after saying something bizarre about my father. If there hadn't been any sirens going off before, this would be it. I arrived with the discs and we were polite but I've silently resolved that being around people who seem stable and happy is necessary. Otherwise crazy is contagious. But like I said there was no point briefing these theater people about the whole thing, "Here's one of my hetero sci-fi geek mates who I am apparently breaking up with." Somehow if a woman is scolding me for something or having an episode I almost find it relaxing and necessary. But if it comes from a male - even a boss - the fight won't be over until I win. And that can take so much time and effort it's hardly worth it.
I left the cafe early, paid respects to a few people and hit the streetcar after what might be my final visit to McDonald's. I just can't afford to delay any further my celery-only diet. I think that has to begin right now and last until Thanksgiving at least. I think I need more cardio too. I had a hit of a joint before the cafe got going and caughed my head off. If I was doing the required hours of cardio per week, or more to lose instead of maintain, I would have enjoyed it all better. Well, I used most of the battery and a whole hour of tape so there should be something entertaining to cut together. Cafe Phantasmagoria.
Friday, July 30, 2010
The Passion of the Mel
Oksana says Mel Gibson is "trivializing" domestic violence by charging her with extortion over the audio clips of phone conversations that were sold to the internet by her sister. She says she recoded the messages because she thought she wouldn't make it through the night. Of course she is saying this to RadarOnline, the webside that bought and posted the rants and which along with TMZ will hopefully have a special place in internet Hell when they are finally toppled.
If she honestly felt she wouldn't last the night she would have called the cops, especially after the rose garden threat. But she remains calm and is quite cold for these clips, and I have heard all 6 she is in and the 7th which is actually just a voice-mail from Mel. If the tapes were intended for cops Oksana would have handed them over right away. Instead she let her sister access them and field bids from newspapers and websites, settling on RadarOnline.
There is no doubt that Mel was angry. As a less creative person I might say "I should KILL you!" to someone, but Mel being used to speeches instead said something one of his characters would have said. Frankly, I give it no more weight than the average person saying I should kill you. The spectre of OJ Simpson of course is there, because nobody exepcted him to snap. But again, whatever he said to get her to start recording should have also spurred her to call the police and then let him rant.
The fact that her stated fear for her life was not great enough to call the police and that there is ZERO fear in her smug voice in these clips shows the tapes were for extortion and/or inevitable humiliation. Because even if Mel paid or agreed to a rotten custory revision Oksana's sister would have still been able to release the audio. Charging someone with extortion does not "trivialize" domestic violence, but even her claim if it is very suspect considering the underhanded way she operates.
News sources, such as they are, say that Mel Gibson's Viking epic was due to start filming in the Fall and also say that there is no script yet and it is just an idea. The one thing they easily make up their collective mind about is that Mel Gibson is the anti-Christ because he yelled at his ex-girlfriend. He also (forgetting context for a minute) used the n-word, which apparently nullifies any and all handshakes and friendshakes with black people and marks him as much as a racist as telling the story of Christ marks him (and I suppose any and all of us raised Catholic or Christian) as anti-Semites. It depends who you ask. Unfortunately journalists don't seem to have the enthusiasm they once did for verification of facts. Or maybe I'm romanticising the past and it was always about sensation and immediate gut reaction and fact-free knee-jerk judgements.
Some say he is staying in America to shoot The Beaver and How I Spent My Summer Vacation, therefore he has no plans to skip the country for Australia. But his acting in those two projects is completed already. Privately, I'd like to see him take over Mad Max: Fury Road if George Miller will have him back in the role. I understand that even though Gibson is not supposed to be in it (after dropping out of the planned 2004 shoot) Icon Productions is involved. The real kick in the pants hasn't happened yet. Bruce Davey his longtime producer and former accountant at Icon hasn't jumped ship yet. But I can see that even on the level of reporage limited to production plans the entertainment news media doesn't seem to bother cross-checking its facts.
Firstly, according to People, Mel Gibson has finished shooting on How I Spent My Summer Vacation before the infamous leakage of phone rants. People magazine remarked on how Mel got along with everyone on the set, and also there had been several news items about the controversy of displacing prisoners to shoot that prison film in Mexico. I don't know what kinds of clashes he had with Hispanics, but reportedly there were demonstrations against the film so his "wetbacks" comments don't come quite from out of the blue. Also, The Beaver was only $5 according to Mel the last time he was on Jimmy Kimmel. Certain influential people in the media, and Ari Emanuel the head of his former agency have applied negative pressure against him for years. In this case, I can't blame Leo for bailing from the Viking movie because there is so much hate and nary a word about Manic Depressive Disorder which is as much a disease as alcoholism. This does not mean his peers actually hate Mel. In an industry where people live in public and watch their every joke, trying to avoid nuance and irony (like Oliver Stone's overly candid jokes while trying to defend Mel), when people are having a PRIVATE conversation the floodgates open almost like a secret handshake. And that doesn't mean they are all racist. It just means that when you are dissing someone or someone's maid or painting a picture of what the local thugs might call each other and what their attitude is (losers with chips on their shoulder and a slavery complex ie: the n-word) you just spew. Especially if you are venting to someone you once loved who has now administered a damaging blow to your reputation (by reporting the scuffle over the baby from January).
Violence especially against women is of course despised as is racism, but then there are people gleefully and mindlessly throwing around words like "anti-Semetism" which have an ever-broadening definition. I can love Spielberg, Harrison Ford, Richard Donner, and be moved by the Shylock speech scenes Mel Gibson performs in The Man Without a Face, love Mel Brooks as much and still be called an anti-Semite if I think David Geffin and Ari Emanuel were tacky in holding a grudge over The Passion of the Christ. That movie by the way is not anti-Semetic. Mel's own hands hammer in the nails. Humanity and each individual of a Catholic or Christian congregation crucifies Jesus and is forgiven as good and evil fight it out in each person's heart. It is not about Jews, no matter what the idiot Ciaphas says. JC said (of his own Crucifixion and every unjust crucifixion and flogging and stoning that happened on a regular basis and was attended by locals) "Forgive them, they know not what they do."
Even if Mel Gibson doesn't bounce back from this right away, I think a lot of people will be ashamed. Sure Manic Depressive disorder is not cool and yelling and screaming and swearing and threatening may not be cool, but they are as much a part of the "trunk" and go-to language Mel is used to in almost ALL of his characters. Just as persecution (accusations of anti-Semetism) he endured in 2006 when reports anticipated Disney dumping Apocalypto caused him to fall off the wagon and drive drunk naturally lead to jewish slander being part of his ramblings. Next step will be that perhaps Mel will meet someone who transcribes or tape records whatever he says as he talks in his sleep. Then THOSE ramblings will also be taken as "the truth" and the "mask removed."
Thank God Darlene Love and Whoopie Goldberg have spoken up and Robert DeNiro has wished him luck getting through this ordeal. Burt Reynolds movies are still entertaining years after he hit Loni Anderson, even though he was wrong. It may not be particular to Mel Gibson but there may be quirks and flashpoints here that a lot of Hollywood people secretly recognize.
I also think a LOT of people including myself would like to see TMZ and RadarOnline and the like utterly destroyed. If Mel Gibson kills himself over this humiliation I hope RadarOnline staff get prison for manslaughter.
If she honestly felt she wouldn't last the night she would have called the cops, especially after the rose garden threat. But she remains calm and is quite cold for these clips, and I have heard all 6 she is in and the 7th which is actually just a voice-mail from Mel. If the tapes were intended for cops Oksana would have handed them over right away. Instead she let her sister access them and field bids from newspapers and websites, settling on RadarOnline.
There is no doubt that Mel was angry. As a less creative person I might say "I should KILL you!" to someone, but Mel being used to speeches instead said something one of his characters would have said. Frankly, I give it no more weight than the average person saying I should kill you. The spectre of OJ Simpson of course is there, because nobody exepcted him to snap. But again, whatever he said to get her to start recording should have also spurred her to call the police and then let him rant.
The fact that her stated fear for her life was not great enough to call the police and that there is ZERO fear in her smug voice in these clips shows the tapes were for extortion and/or inevitable humiliation. Because even if Mel paid or agreed to a rotten custory revision Oksana's sister would have still been able to release the audio. Charging someone with extortion does not "trivialize" domestic violence, but even her claim if it is very suspect considering the underhanded way she operates.
News sources, such as they are, say that Mel Gibson's Viking epic was due to start filming in the Fall and also say that there is no script yet and it is just an idea. The one thing they easily make up their collective mind about is that Mel Gibson is the anti-Christ because he yelled at his ex-girlfriend. He also (forgetting context for a minute) used the n-word, which apparently nullifies any and all handshakes and friendshakes with black people and marks him as much as a racist as telling the story of Christ marks him (and I suppose any and all of us raised Catholic or Christian) as anti-Semites. It depends who you ask. Unfortunately journalists don't seem to have the enthusiasm they once did for verification of facts. Or maybe I'm romanticising the past and it was always about sensation and immediate gut reaction and fact-free knee-jerk judgements.
Some say he is staying in America to shoot The Beaver and How I Spent My Summer Vacation, therefore he has no plans to skip the country for Australia. But his acting in those two projects is completed already. Privately, I'd like to see him take over Mad Max: Fury Road if George Miller will have him back in the role. I understand that even though Gibson is not supposed to be in it (after dropping out of the planned 2004 shoot) Icon Productions is involved. The real kick in the pants hasn't happened yet. Bruce Davey his longtime producer and former accountant at Icon hasn't jumped ship yet. But I can see that even on the level of reporage limited to production plans the entertainment news media doesn't seem to bother cross-checking its facts.
Firstly, according to People, Mel Gibson has finished shooting on How I Spent My Summer Vacation before the infamous leakage of phone rants. People magazine remarked on how Mel got along with everyone on the set, and also there had been several news items about the controversy of displacing prisoners to shoot that prison film in Mexico. I don't know what kinds of clashes he had with Hispanics, but reportedly there were demonstrations against the film so his "wetbacks" comments don't come quite from out of the blue. Also, The Beaver was only $5 according to Mel the last time he was on Jimmy Kimmel. Certain influential people in the media, and Ari Emanuel the head of his former agency have applied negative pressure against him for years. In this case, I can't blame Leo for bailing from the Viking movie because there is so much hate and nary a word about Manic Depressive Disorder which is as much a disease as alcoholism. This does not mean his peers actually hate Mel. In an industry where people live in public and watch their every joke, trying to avoid nuance and irony (like Oliver Stone's overly candid jokes while trying to defend Mel), when people are having a PRIVATE conversation the floodgates open almost like a secret handshake. And that doesn't mean they are all racist. It just means that when you are dissing someone or someone's maid or painting a picture of what the local thugs might call each other and what their attitude is (losers with chips on their shoulder and a slavery complex ie: the n-word) you just spew. Especially if you are venting to someone you once loved who has now administered a damaging blow to your reputation (by reporting the scuffle over the baby from January).
Violence especially against women is of course despised as is racism, but then there are people gleefully and mindlessly throwing around words like "anti-Semetism" which have an ever-broadening definition. I can love Spielberg, Harrison Ford, Richard Donner, and be moved by the Shylock speech scenes Mel Gibson performs in The Man Without a Face, love Mel Brooks as much and still be called an anti-Semite if I think David Geffin and Ari Emanuel were tacky in holding a grudge over The Passion of the Christ. That movie by the way is not anti-Semetic. Mel's own hands hammer in the nails. Humanity and each individual of a Catholic or Christian congregation crucifies Jesus and is forgiven as good and evil fight it out in each person's heart. It is not about Jews, no matter what the idiot Ciaphas says. JC said (of his own Crucifixion and every unjust crucifixion and flogging and stoning that happened on a regular basis and was attended by locals) "Forgive them, they know not what they do."
Even if Mel Gibson doesn't bounce back from this right away, I think a lot of people will be ashamed. Sure Manic Depressive disorder is not cool and yelling and screaming and swearing and threatening may not be cool, but they are as much a part of the "trunk" and go-to language Mel is used to in almost ALL of his characters. Just as persecution (accusations of anti-Semetism) he endured in 2006 when reports anticipated Disney dumping Apocalypto caused him to fall off the wagon and drive drunk naturally lead to jewish slander being part of his ramblings. Next step will be that perhaps Mel will meet someone who transcribes or tape records whatever he says as he talks in his sleep. Then THOSE ramblings will also be taken as "the truth" and the "mask removed."
Thank God Darlene Love and Whoopie Goldberg have spoken up and Robert DeNiro has wished him luck getting through this ordeal. Burt Reynolds movies are still entertaining years after he hit Loni Anderson, even though he was wrong. It may not be particular to Mel Gibson but there may be quirks and flashpoints here that a lot of Hollywood people secretly recognize.
I also think a LOT of people including myself would like to see TMZ and RadarOnline and the like utterly destroyed. If Mel Gibson kills himself over this humiliation I hope RadarOnline staff get prison for manslaughter.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Kickstarter
They still need more money for the Burning Man intergenerational flick:
I've been introduced to this new site to help filmmakers get some seed money for their projects.
http://kck.st/90rJJY
Kickstarter is the name. The link is for a friend's flick I've just put a thousand dollars into. Big step for me, because I don't help anyone.
Oddly, one of their producers is someone who did The Corporation and a Noam Chomsky film.
I've been introduced to this new site to help filmmakers get some seed money for their projects.
http://kck.st/90rJJY
Kickstarter is the name. The link is for a friend's flick I've just put a thousand dollars into. Big step for me, because I don't help anyone.
Oddly, one of their producers is someone who did The Corporation and a Noam Chomsky film.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Cinemerde: Were I've Gone Wrong
This is going to be the title for a new blog I plan to start, focusing on problems encountered in making short films or attempting to set up features.
It should be self-depricating but will also pull no punches in giving discredit where it is due, even if that means changing the names of the guilty.
It should be self-depricating but will also pull no punches in giving discredit where it is due, even if that means changing the names of the guilty.
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