Books: Neal Pollack's Alternadad and Glasgow Phillips' The Royal Nonesuch

I just read that producer Bill Gerber ("The Dukes of Hazzard") bought the rights to Neal Pollack’s “Alternadad.” Yes, the news is two months old, but I'm reading the book, so it kinda peaked my interest being that it looks like Warneer Brothers might bring it to movie theaters. I now find myself more enthused about finishing the darn thing.

Since I'm on the subject of books, I’m also reading Glasgow Phillips’ “The Royal Nonesuch.” It’s an autobiographical account of his harried experiences in Hollywood (and eslewhere). At the same time, it's kind of a behind-the-scenes look at the South Park/Trey & Matt-success from the point of view of their friend.

I admire the way Phillips writes. The guy’s got skills.

Interview with Broken Lizard: Potfest & The Greek Road

I did a short interview with a couple of the Broken Lizard guys. Click here to give it a read.

We talked a little bit about the movie Potfest. Initially, the idea for Potfest was just a joke; a little thing that the guys put into the end credits of Beerfest. But what's happened is: Beerfest was a mild success, and the guys get so many questions about Potfest, they're now actually considerng making the movie.

Ghost Rider: Interview with Nicolas Cage

That's right, Nic Cage. The man who plays Johnny Blaze in the upcoming movie Ghost Rider.

My interview feature is now online over at Rotten Tomatoes.

Click here to give it a read.

Letters from Iwo Jima Trailer

Here's the trailer, in case you haven't seen it yet.

Letters from Iwo Jima Interview

My interview with Flags of Our Fathers co-star Barry Pepper is now online over at IGN Movies. Click here.

The subject of our interview is Clint Eastwood's companion film to Flags of Our Fathers... Letters from Iwo Jima.

DreamWorks will release Letters from Iwo Jima on December 20th.

Interivew with Spike Lee - Upcoming

Did an interview with director Spike Lee. Great guy. We had some fun with it. Look for it on IGN.com in the next few days.

Casino Royal - Big Blow Off

I was planning to see it this week. There were two screenings for the press. But when it came down to Thursday night, my roommate Tara and I decided to see the Boston Philharmonic.

So, I was planning on Bond, and opted for Mahler. I know it sounds kinda bad, but Bond will be around for a little while. No big whoop.

Lesson in Appreciation

As a freelancer, I always try to stay as positive as I can. There's a lot of rejection with this job. And I try hard to turn it in to something positive.

I guess I'm expressing this because I had a rough day today. I worked my ass off, offering the best material I can. But... some people just don't care, no matter how hard you try, they don't see what goes in to your creation and how much the work means to you.

But I understand. I realize other people have their own concerns, their own fears.

I just wish they'd take a moment to appreciate the people who make things happen for them.

Tenacious D: Interview with Liam Lynch

My interview with director Liam Lynch is now online over at IGN Moives.

This Friday, Jack Black and Kyle Gass bring Tenacious D to the big screen in The Pick of Destiny. The movie pits the acoustic metalheads against Satan — that's right, the Dark Lord himself — as they journey forth to acquire the most highly-prized treasure in the history of Rock & Roll.

Sure, Tenacious D brings the heat. But the man who makes it happen behind-the-scenes is director Liam Lych.

While editing a couple short films for The D — one for their live show and another for the movie's cast and crew screening — Lynch took time out to talk with IGN about the D's biggest quest: The Pick of Destiny.

Click here.

Tenacious D: Exclusive Interview with Satan

That's right, The Prince of Darkness.

My interview with Satan has been published over at IGN.com.

For shits and giggles, click here.

LMK what you think.

Happy Feet Somebody Clip

Animated penquins singing Queen's "Somebody to Love." Would have been better if they used the actual song. But whatever. It's amusing.

Do watch.

Deja Vu trailer

Sure, it'll probably bomb at the box office. But the trailer is lookin' cool.

The Office's Jenna Fischer On Letterman

I'm posting this because she's so damn cute. Kudos to her lucky husband (the director of Slither).

Seeing Tenacious D

At long last, I'm seeing the movie tomorrow. Very much looking forward to it, of course.

Casino Royale: NBC's Daniel Craig Interview

This one's from NBC.

In this video (a very non-dude) Matt Lauer interviews (a real dude) Daniel Craig.

tenacious d movie trailer

Actually, the guy who posted this at youtube got it wrong. It's a clip from the movie.

The Return: Interview with director Asif Kapadia

My exclusive interview with director Asif Kapadia has been published over at IGN. Click here to give it a read.

His movie The Return, starring Sarah Michelle Gellar and Sam Shepard, opens this Friday.

If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment.


Ms. Gellar in The Return

RobotChicken Star Wars Parody

This one's from RobotChicken.

It's just too funny. Click on it. Seriously. You really must see it.

Trailer: The Return, starring Sarah Michelle Gellar

My interview with director Asif Kapadia will be ready shortly over at IGN.

In the meantime, here's the trailer for his new movie The Return starring Sarah Michelle Gellar.

Freaky.

Mike Jittlov's Time Tripper Short Film

From 1978...


You've gotta love this, especailly the use of Aaron Copeland's "The Red Pony."

Re: Marvel Comics Teams with Guiding Light

Guess what? I missed it.

Maybe it'll appear on YouTube.

There's got to be some way to watch this.

Mike Jittlov's The Wizard of Speed and Time

Talk about a blast from the past.


Mike Jittlov, a.k.a. The Wizard

I walked into Hollywood Video (on Mass Ave here in Cambridge) and the crew had Mike Jittlov's The Wizard of Speed and Time on the flatscreens.

I was at a loss for words. Really, just like I was almost 20 years ago when I first saw it, I was drawn in emotionally. It's such a goofy, fun and well made low-budget movie. Tons of charm. It captures the feeling of early '80s Hollywood dominated by Lucas and Spielberg.

If you haven't seen it, seek it out. You'll fall for the darn thing, too.

And check out Mike's site, Wizworld.com. There you'll find the trailer.

Sure wish this was available on DVD.

Official Site for Simon Pegg's Hot Fuzz

Brand new and lookin' cool.

Check out JoinTheFuzz.com

And click here for one of my interviews with Simon, an early piece about Hot Fuzz - We did the interview while Simon and director Edgar Wright were working on the Hot Fuzz script, literally. Simon was in a conference room jotting down scenes from the script on index cards and arranging them on the table.

Photos from ILM's Halloween Party

My friend John sent a link to a gallery of photos from Industrial Light & Magic's Halloween party.

Click here to check them out.

Saw Borat Again - Who Was In On It?

It's worth seeing twice.

I'm led to wonder: among the people appearing in the film, who knew Borat was a actor? Some performers obviously had to have known. For example, the police and security guards in the movie. I mean, in the real world, Sasha Baron Coen would have been arrested for these actions. Maybe he was? But then, pehaps the police and security guards were actors.

Who was in on the joke?

Hugh Jackman Talks Wolverine

My latest piece for IGN Movies is live. It's an interview with Hugh Jackman about his X-Men spinoff movie Wolverine. He's not only the star, he's producing it. Screenwriter David Benioff completed the script a few weeks ago. They're looking to begin filming next year.

Click here for Wolverine Machine.

Will Ferrell in Stranger than Fiction

Want to laugh?

C'mon. You do!

Click here for the Stranger than Fiction trailer.

New Jackson Pollack Movie

Well... Jackson Pollack-related anyway.

Was surprised to see this poster today. The movie looks interesting. Mind you, I dig Pollock.

So yes, I'm gonna dig deeper on this movie. Perhaps there's a trailer online.

New Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny Poster

Kyle and Jack... they're back.

Keira Knightley Star Wars interview forthcoming (I hope)

If I can pull the file off my old computer, I'll offer you guys my nerver-before-published interview with Keira Knightley. I interviewed her in New York a few years back when she was doing a press tour for Bend it Like Beckham.

One of the many things we talked about was Star Wars; specifically, how she was cast in Episode I: The Phantom Menace, and somewhat surprisingly, her work on Episode II: Attack of the Clones. She confirmed she did in fact work on Episode II and she's in the movie. (Any guesses as to why she keeps Episode II off her resume?)

Star Wars Insider was interested in publishing her interview. But due to deadlines and issue "themes", they passed. Since then, of course, Knightley's become quite the Movie Star.

Now... I figure it's time this interview saw the light of day. Stay tuned!

A Nice Quote from Nick Hornby

Last year - yes, a whole year ago - I was flipping TV channels and noticed author Nick Hornby (High Fidelity and About a Boy) on C-SPAN. He was giving a speach at the New York Book Festival. I didn't catch the whole thing, but I loved how he wrapped things up. So, I quickly looked for a pen and paper and wrote it down.

Now, finally, it goes from my notebook to my blog for your consideration:

"In the end, it's not the stories that matter, it's something that's going on underneath. That's what I've always tried to look for."

- Nick Hornby, New York Book Festival, 6-4-05

Marvel Comics Teams with Guiding Light

Aparently Marvel Comics is okay with aligning their name with hokey daytime mellowdrama. The deal is, they've entered into an agreement with the CBS soap Guiding Light to feature Marvel characters and, I guess, debut an all new superhero - she'll be introduced November 1st in an episode entitled She's a Marvel.

At Marvel's website they're offering a trailer for the episode. Click here to check it out.


Who is this new superhero?

For fans, the site's write-up notes: As an added bonus, the episode will feature many "Easter eggs" for sharp-eyed Marvel fans, so be on the lookout!

And over at Netscape, Karina followed-up on the story with Marvel's publicist. From her report:

"Several of Marvel's well known characters will make appearances." [And an] 8-page Marvel/GL crossover comic will be bundled in 13 comics to be released between October 25 and November 15, including Spider-man Loves Mary Jane 11, Amazing Spider-girl 2 and Franklin Richards: Happy Franksgiving!.

Marvel's official press release offers a plot summary:

In the first-ever comic-soap crossover, Marvel's mightiest heroes (and villains) meet some of daytime drama's steamiest characters. The Avengers and their deadly foes descend on Guiding Light's city of Springfield to determine if a new super-powered being is friend or foe! Appearing in comics as an 8-page back-up beginning 10/26 and written by soap-and-comic scribe Jim McCann, this adventure will actually be the second appearance of this new super-powered character. The debut and origin of Springfield's first costumed crime-fighter will be told on air on the November 1 st episode of Guiding Light.

Looks like we've got some really bad (and by that measure, awesome) superhero-centric TV on the way.

Tenacious D and the Girls Guitar Club

New Line Cinema has pinned Tenacious D’s Pick of Destiny for a November 17th release. They've been sitting on it for a while. The D finished filming the movie almost exactly a year ago. Finally we’ll get to see the darn thing.

Now I must ask you: What about the Girls Guitar Club? The D has their movie and with it their impending dominance of the music world. But what about the Girls Guitar Club?

Yes, there’s a female take on the D and they are: Karen Kilgariff and 24’s Mary Lynn Rajskub. As the spolight is pointed toward the D, it’d great to see these girls get some noteriety.


"Why be a fan when you can be a band?"

I spoke with Mary Lynn for a bit about the GCC. Some of our coversation is located here. Mary Lynn and Karen did a few shows and they made a movie, the Girls Guitar Club. I encourage you to check it out.

Come to think of it, Cage and Jables ought to ask the girls to join them on stage at one of their upcoming gigs. Tenacious D with the Girls Guitar Club would be a darn good thing.

Darkon docu, a nice surprise

Was able to catch the documentary Darkon yesterday. I wasn't expecting much. It was a nice surprise.

The documentary is about live-action roll playing gamers who've created this world called Darkon. And within their fictitious kingdom, the politics and in-fighting is very real. That's where the fun starts for them, I guess - because when negations break down, it's time for war. And they do take to the battlefield quite often.

Maybe if these guys (and gals) didn't spend so much time preparing their armor and weaponry they wouldn't be compelled to bop each other on the head with foam covered swords. It seems like going to war is a prime directive in the land of Darkon.


"In everyday life, most people don't get to be the hero."

Fighting aside, Darkon isn't a love letter to live-action roll playing gamers. It isn't about how great this stuff is. The filmmakers seem displaced enough to allow the audience to laugh with (and sometimes at) its subjects. You get to really see why so many people ascribe to this sort of imersion gaming.

For many players their participation comes from wanting escaping the oppressive world of "reality." IMO, reality isn't about survival. It's about doing better than surviving. Anyway, Darkon is their way out. It's the thing that some of the say makes their lives balanced.

It's a well made movie. I do recommend it.

Darkonners out there, feel free to set me straight if you feel the need.

Click here for the official site.

The Host, that monster movie from South Korea

It pretty much rules.

I never thought I'd describe a monster movie as elegant, but The Host is. Maybe because it's more than just a monster movie. It's really about one father's commitment to his daughter.

The Host's storyline is somewhat similar to Close Encounters. The difference here, however, is the father's quest isn't so egotistical as Roy Leary's to reconsile with his inner demons. In the Host, the father is primarily after his daughter. So, unlike typical American monster movies, finding and killing the beast isn't so imperative. But if he gets the chance, that's a plus.

The characters make this movie. The girl's family, as comically distressed as they are, gamble their lives with their small, make-shift rescue attempt, and it's most amusing.

If you're on the fence about seeing The Host, look at it this way: the sequence in which the monster is first revealed is simply the best. The thing emerges from the river and chases parkgoers. It's just amazing. That scene alone should grab you.

Sarah Michelle Gellar interview

My Women of Horror piece on Sarah Michelle Gellar for The Return is now live at IGN.

When it came time to select her next project, Gellar wanted to stick with the supernatural thriller genre, but it had to be different. Really different. It had to have a certain something about her character that would set moviegoers on edge. So she accepted director Asif Kapadia's The Return, and with it, the challenge of playing a masochist.

"She's a cutter," says Gellar of her character Joanna Mills. "She does violent things to her body, and that's sort of an interesting concept all in itself."

Automatons, it has the freak

After viewing Severance, I decided to keep my ass in the movie seat and watch Automatons. I'm told it at one time had a longer title, Death to the Automatons, but the filmmakers are presently going with Automatons. Simple, yet cold. Just the way automatons like it.

So this movie, Automatons. It's a post-apocalyptic robot war. It sounds cool and it is. Yet bear in mind, the movie was filmed in 8mm black and white. It looks shoddy, and that's the point. It's all for the love of '50 b-movie, sci-fi horror. And it would make a perfect double feature alongside The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra.


The story puts one girl, aka The Girl, alone in a mechanics shop surrounded by the automatons she constantly repairs. Daily she sends them out to battle other atomotons, and watches the whole thing on TV monitors. If the enemy "warbots" kill her, that's just about it for the human race. She's one of perhaps a half dozen survivors. But she's holding out for hero. Go girl!

Kick it back to the Brattle for tomorrow's line-up.

Severance, it's worth the trip

I've been wanting to see this one for a while. I suppose I was initially interested because I read somewhere it was like "The Office meets Shaun of the Dead" or something like that. All anyone has to do is say "The Office" and I'm interested.

So this movie, Severance, it played tonight at the Brattle here in Cambridge. My overall take on it is: it's worth the trip to the theater. Assuming you dig the occational slasher movie like I do, you should be comfortable shelling out $10 for this one, whenever it gets released here in the States.

The set-up is - big surprise - really standard: weekend office outing to an abandoned abode. But the execution, that's where the payoff is: crazed, bloodthurstly lunatics conspire to off each member of the non-wilderness friendly office party, and with deadly precision. This movie will shock you.



True, Severance has a little bit of the tone of Shaun of the Dead, and by that I mean its graphic scenes featuring the occasional decapitation and whatnot are spiked with a sense of humor. But that's it. It's not Shaun. It's just a good slasher flick with a fine sense of humor about itself.

If you have the chance to catch it at a festival, take it.

Fonty Happenings

As you can see, I'm kind of messing around with the template and the fonts sizes. What can I say? I love courier. But I large font doesn't really work well with this template.

Forgive me as I test different looks.

The Brattle Fanstastic Film Festival

Actually, it's the Boston Fantastic Film Festival, but I like to think of it as the Brattle's. And really, it's fantastic.

I was at the theater earlier today. I picked up some flyers to drop off at Newbury Comics, Simon's Coffee Shop, Million Year Picnic and some other local spots.

Okay, now. Here's the deal. I'm telling you outright: if you're in the Boston/Cambridge area this weekend and you're looking to see a great, new sci-fi, horror movie, you absolutely must go to the Brattle and catch the Fantastic Film Fest!



The Host - Getting ready to defend Seoul
from one very big, very hungry creature.

The event kicked off tonight with Terry Gilliam's Tideland. And tomorrow (Friday) you don't want to miss the premiere of the British horror flick Severance. It plays at 8pm. I'll be there. And so should you!

(Alright, I'll take it easy now on the exclamation points.)

Another movie you won't want to miss is the Boston premiere of South Korea's monster movie sensation, The Host. It screens Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 5pm. I'll be there for the Saturday screening.

For the complete schedule and write-ups, click here for the Brattle's site.

Movies: Flags of our Fathers, Little Children

Saw two terrific movies this week.

First, Flags of Our Fathers. For the most part, it's fabulous. The Iwo Jima battle footage is mind blowing (literally). Just astonishingly good. The last 45 minutes, however - kind of a yawner. Or maybe I'd just had a long day last Tuesday. Yeah, it was a long day.

Today, I interviewed actor Barry Pepper. So stay tuned. Cool Flags of Our Fathers material is on its way.

Second, Little Children. This suburban drama starring Kate Winslet and Patrick Wilson is 100% riveting. And, I'll add, scary - I didn't expect that. Jackie Earl Haley's (Yes, the guy from The Bad News Bears and Breaking Away) performance is worth a supporting actor nomination. More later, too.

Borat: Hilarious Cultural Learnings

As a journalist, one of the things I'm always grateful for is having the ability to get into movies even when they're sold out. Such was the case this evening at a screening of Borat at Harvard. I was told more than 300 people were turned away.(For advance screenings theaters are over booked, so it's always a smart move to arrive at least 45 minutes early.)

This movie, Borat - or to be more precise: Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan - it's a hell of a thing. Funny? Oh yeah! I'll go as far as to say it's even a little scary. I mean, the situations Sacha Baron Cohen puts himself in for this movie are just... well, let me put it this way: there's the saying 'Don't go there.' Sacha Baron Cohen 'Goes there.'



I don't want to come off like I know what I'm talking about. So, right up front, here's the deal: I knew next to nothing about the character Borat prior to tonight's screening. I'd seen some photos. I saw a short clip of Cohen speaking in character at the San Diego Comicon. But that was it. As much as I've wanted to watch the Ali G show, I'd never gotten around to it. So I'll admit: Borat was somewhat of a mystery. But maybe that was a good thing?

Watching Borat with almost no preconception was sort of an uneasy experience. I mean, who the hell is this guy anyway and what's all the hubbub about? Five minutes into the movie, I swear, I was thinking of what it might be like to walk out and head on over to the Border Cafe for a burrito. The movie was looking like a bore-fest.

But then, wouldn't you know it, this guy Borat is just so strange it doesn't take long to warm up to him. He's a really likeable, well-meaning guy; just seriously lost when it comes to customs outside his homeland Kazakhistan. And that's what this movie's about: it's one hilarious episode after another dealing with Borat's attempt to relate to Americans.

One of the funniest moments in the movie, however, isn't about relating to Americans. It's between Borat and his producer, who has taken Borat's newly acquired Baywatch magazine. The fight in their hotel room is, without doubt, one of the funniest and most disturbing sequences in any movie this year. You just have to see it to believe it.

Borat opens nationwide November 4th. Click here for the official site.

A Quote from Patrick Stewart

I'm a lucky guy. Why? Well, for one thing, I get to ask people what makes them happy.

On the subject of 'Happiness at Work', Patrick Stewart (you know, Captain Jean Luc Picard of the Starship Enterprise) offered this, and I wanted to share it with you. The enthusiasm with which he said it was infectious, too.

"I'm completely unqualified to give advice about many things. But to work with somebody who loves his job so much is such a treat, no matter what the area of work it is. When somebody just cannot wait to get to work in the morning, and every aspect of it is exciting and satifying, it transforms everything. Those of us who feel that way, we know it when we see it."

The Status of Old School 2

Hot off the press: IGN.com has published my feature on Old School 2, in which director Todd Phillips discusses the sequel's status.

Yes, it's happening.

Click here for the article.

Book: Do It! Let's Get Off Our Butts!

I had an interesting find today (which happens when one is looking through boxes in the garage). I found a self-help book I purchased 14 years ago: Do It! Let's Get Off Our Butts by John-Roger and Peter McWilliams. It's in perfect shape (which happens when you don't read a book).

I flip through the pages. Turns out I did read it, though only as far as page 139. On that page, under my bookmark is the quote:

"Strong lives are motivated by dynamic process" - Kenneth Hildebrad

... Something to think about as I proceed with finally finishing this 500-page tome.

I'm happy I found it. There's good stuff here. (Side thought: I wonder if it's still in print?) If I come across any amazing insights, I'll share them with you. So check back.

Movies: Marie Antoinette, Flags of Our Fathers

You know what's also exciting about movies? ... Looking forward to a good one.

In the next few weeks we will have Sophia Coppola's Marie Antoinette and Clint Eastwoods Flags of Our Fathers.


The poster for Marie Antoinette caught me by surprise. Before having see it, I thought it would be bland, like Reece Witherspoon's Vanity Fair. Lo and behold: Not bland. Kinda punk even. Appears they're tapping into Sophia's alt/coolness factor - and it's... well, amusing. Ms Dunst is dazed and confused and amused. Nice.

For Eastwood's Flags of Our Fathers, seems like its been kind low key for marketing the movie. Perhaps WB is saving money for the Oscar haul. Anyway, my feeling is the movie will be terrific. I can't wait to see the Iwo Jima invasion footage. I can't wait to see the movie. Period.

Motivational Quote: "The Only True Measure... "

There's a wonderful motivational quote over at the Daily PlanIt. I thought I'd share it with you.

"The only true measure of what you believe is what you do, not what you say."
-Brian Tracy

You hear that? Just keep on doing :)

I'm as guilty of over-thinking things as anyone. I mean, I really over think things. And that can actually prevent me from making progress on any of my projects. I've found the solution is to just have the guts to go for it, and know that in the end things will always work out.

Movie: The Departed: Rat Bastard

My latest feature for The Departed is now live over at IGN.com.

Click here for Rat Bastard. It's about Leonardo DiCaprio's character Billy Costigan.

Office Alert: Watch Out For Your Boss

For those of you reading this at work, note: please be on the lookout for your boss, or any other co-worker. I care about you and I don't want you to get busted for reading about The Departed, Freaks and Geeks or Four Eyed Monsters when you ought to be submitting your TPS reports. Mm, kay?

I'm flattered you're reading my blog, but don't put your job at risk over it.

On the other hand, you want to be happy, right? And you're into movies, right? To hell with your boss and co-workers!

ps. About the term "Blog", it doesn't sit well with me. Maybe because it rhymes with hog and clog. I don't know why I feel that way about it. It's a weird word.

TV: Catching Up with Freaks and Geeks

I'm proud to say I don't watch that much broadcast TV. On the other hand, I do watch TV on DVD. I dig the whole idea of watching back-to-back-to-back episodes. I can go until I'm my eyes can't take it. I'll get into 24 (currently into season 3) and Arrested Development (into season 2) and The Office (both the British and American verions).

However, for the past two evenings I've been taken by Freaks and Geeks. It's a show I've been wanting to catch up with for a long time. When I saw the DVD on the shelf a couple days ago, I was overcome by impulse and had to get it.


Now I'm knee deep into Freaks and Geeks - a show that makes me proud to say: I, too, was a freashman in High School in 1980. And man, the nostalgia of it really hits home: the Steve Martin poster in the bedroom, the all Star Wars references, dodgeball, and the music. In the pilot episode, when Styx's "Renegade" kicked in and when it closed with "Come Sail Away", that connected with me in a big way. Jeez, with "Come Sail Away" at the dance, I'm not 100% sure about this, but it may have brought a tear to my eye. (Steve, you big, lame-ass baby. Grow up!).

Thank you Paul Feig and everyone else on the show. You guys nailed it.

Movie: Borat Gets Hot

It seems Fox's word-of-mouth marketing strategy for Borat is beginning to take hold. I'm hearing right and left about how funny this movie is. Heard David Poland say this was one of the funniest movies he has seen in years. And here in Cambridge, it screened at the Harvard Square Cinema last night. Lots of students are talking about it. Looks like Fox will continue with the adavance screenings for the next three weeks or so.

Interviews: Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Vera Farmiga

Just a quick note. If you'd like to watch my video interviews with Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon and Vera Farmiga, head on over to IGN.com.

Movie: The Departed

Saw it again last Tuesday. Really, it's worth seeing twice.

The screening was at the Regal Fenway; and I must say, it was kind of a strange viewing experience because the theater is near one of the locations featured in the movie. Yes, the Fenway marshes come into play. That's all I'm going to say.

Check out The Departed this weekend and let me know what you think!

Quote: "Jump, and your net will appear."

At any given time, I'm reading perhaps three books; and there's a good chance one of the books is about personal development or business. Presently I'm reading One Person/Multiple Careers: A New Model for Work/Life Success by Marci Alboher - it will be publised in February, 2007.

Among the many people profiled, the author introducues Sally Hogshead (for her official site, click here). She'a a successful advertizing executive - she helped come up with a series of ads for the Mini Cooper cars - who's also an author, speaker and consultant. While promoting one of her upcoming books, Hogshead utilized various business cards with snappy designs to get people to remember her - or brand her; effectively associating her name and image with being fun, creative, and exciting. A quote on one of her business cards struck me. It reads:

"Jump, and a net will appear."

I love that! For moving your life forward, getting your career started or just kicking things into gear, it remins me of a quote by Ray Bradbury that goes something like: "Jump from the cliff and build your wings as you go." And this I guess could also relate to the idea: instead of 'ready, aim, fire' go with 'fire, ready, aim' - because most people aim, aim and aim, and as a result, never actually create their book, business or product.

So... you must jump. And don't worry. Your net will appear.

Website Advice: Focus on Content

That's really what it's all about, content. If you're building and growing your website - and I've helped grow some successful, database-driven ones - that's where you must focus most of your energy: on content. With good, helpful content, traffic will come.

Quote: When Prose Meets Passion

I heard this today while listening to a discussion with George Vaillant, Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard. It really struck me. This probably isn't the exact quote, but I goes something like this:

"When your prose meets your passion, they will both be exulted."

It's from author Kazuo Ishiguro's The Remains of the Day.

The Dog: This is Lowell...

She's a West Highland Terrier. At this close, she's about 3 seconds away from licking the lens.

Sometimes she positions herself between me and the keyboard. I might then type over her back, and that's an aquired skill.

If she rolls over onto the keyboard, however, then yeah, that's problematic.

Making People Happy: Cheesecake

This is my friend Parrat. She's serving cheesecake, and it makes a lot of people happy.

11:27 PM at the Trident

Next time you're at the bookstore, be on the lookout for Ray Bradbury's new book Farewell Summer - his sequel to Dandelion Wine, which he wrote around 55 years ago.

Thank God for Ray Bradbury.

Journalist Advice: Tape Recorder or No Tape Recorder?

TV: The Office: Pam Gets Real

Jenna Fischer and John Krasinski
This isn't exactly cutting-edge reporting. I mean, my reporting. This is more like: a while ago I read something real and I remembered it just now and thought it would be a good thing to share.

You know Pam on NBC's The Office? She's such a sweetie, isn't she? She's played by Jenna Fischer. And Jenna has a blog over at TV Guide.

This is from a few months back, her most recent entry. It's a good one. It says "I'm real" - and when someone comes across like that, when you read something where the writer shelves their ego and you get the feeling they'd really like to help you, and motivate you, then that's gold.

Jenna's got it going on....

I know how hard it can be when you first get out here. Go out and meet as many people as you can. Create a family for yourself, one made up of creative, supportive people. And don't stop your personal life for your career. I know a lot of people who wait to do things — visit family or friends, have relationships, get married — because they are waiting until they "make it." Or, they don't go to a friend's wedding because they might "miss something." Life is too short, and it's not worth it in the end. I always took off and did that stuff, and it turned out fine. I was often anxious and worried in the process, but I did it. I believe that in order for my professional life to move forward, I have to keep my personal life moving forward as well.

It's all here.

Movie: Confetti

Britain's had this one for some time now. I guess it was released there earlier this year. It's called Confetti.

Digged Waiting for Guffman? Well then, Confetti is your movie. And of course, any movie starring Martin Freeman (The Office) and Jessica Stevenson (Spaced) is worth seeing.

Confetti opened in select cities last week.

Click here for the official site.

Note of Importance

Hmm... I'd say there's some truth to that. I believe everything, even the most seemingly insignificant deed, has meaning.

It's the little acts of kindness that are most important.

Movie: Four Eyed Monsters - a Must See

A lucky find

I'm a little bummed-out. Reason is: There's this movie, Four Eyed Monsters. It's good. Very good, actually. The few chances people had to see it in theaters have now passed. Unless the filmmakers arrange a few more screenings, and let's hope they do, the next stop is DVD.

Here's the website: www.foureyedmonsters.com

Check it out. Co-directors and co-stars Arin and Susan have put together a series of terrific video podcasts documenting the making of the movie.

This Is Where I Write...

Featured necessities ^ ^ ^ ^ : notebook, pen, coffee (house, cream no sugar), CD player (Yeah, I know: old school) and bottle of aspirin.

Boston Advance Screening for The Departed

Yup, there will be one.

It's Tuesday, 8pm, at the Regal Fenway Theater, just down the street from Fenway Park.

If you have a pass, it's best to be there by 7, since the theater is intentionally over-booked. Also, it's a college promotional screening. That's where the tickets went - to college students. No doubt it'll be a packed house.

Referring to the below photo. Yes, I sometimes write my blog entires before typeing them. Bringing my laptop to the coffee shop isn't always practical.

Writing and Editing

So it goes. Writing and editing every morning.

Last night I wrote my first feature piece for The Departed. It pretty much took me half the day to write it, but it turned out pretty well. I printed it out this morning, and brought it with me to Simon's Coffee Shop to edit.

Since I write and edit a lot of material online, lately I'm really digging the process of printing out my articles and editing them from the printout. There's something tangible about that. It's like, the pen is permanent, and the computer (where things can magically appear and disappear when you're making edits) is ephemeral.

Editing from a printout just feels right. Maybe it's because every crossed-out word, every misspelled word, every new sentence... essentially every change... is documented.

The Departed: Jack Nicholson Goes Nuts

I was fortunate enough to catch an early screening of The Departed in New York two weeks ago. The movie was about 99% complete, only a couple special effects shots needed to be completed, and some of the movie was temp-tracked. But for the most part, it was all there. And it's a masterful piece of movie-making.


"This isn't fucking reality TV!"

I swear, sometimes I just don't know how Scorsese does it. The Departed is so well paced, and so well composed, dare I say it's the best movie of the year? At the very least, it's this year's first real contender for a Best Picture nomination.

For those of you out there who prefer The Shining Jack as opposed to the As Good As It Gets Jack, this one's for you. Nicholson takes lunacy to the limit protraying a South Boston mob boss. In the current issue of Rolling Stone, Nicholson says of his character, Frank Costello, "He's bad - nothing is sacred, nothing."

Martin Scorsese also gives this quote about Costello to Entertainment Weekly, "He can do anything, mutilate people. He's like God and he's still not fulfilled."
The Departed opens October 6th.

Writing That Article

Because my livelihood depends on it, I spend quite a bit of time thinking about the articles I'm writing. To me, it's all part of the creative process. It's like creating the blue print before building the house. Because I have quite a lot of experience writing articles about movies - I write for a well-known online movie publication - I feel I have the ability to help other people become better writers. I think I can offer some suggestions with this blog.

There are certain tricks to the trade. Little things you can do that add up to establishing your voice as a writer. Quirky wordplays and sentence structures. And I love that. Really, there's nothing better than reading someone's ingenious combination of words and punctuation. (Except maybe comeing up with something yourself.)

Not everyone finds that exciting, of course, but I do. So let's see what happens here. Maybe I can help you.

Welcome!

It's a start... :)