There is a lot of strange things going on at the moment. I had "googled" a few things for my last blog, mostly to do with UFO's and the loud "humming" noises reported around the world. While doing that I then remembered the phenomenon of birds falling out of the sky...dead. This led me to articles about dead fish. Of course if you look at both of these occurances, you will find references to the weather.
Just last week the thriving metropolis of the Dallas/Fort Worth area had seven or eight tornadoes go ripping though their suburban streets. I was thunderstruck (pun not intended). Seven or eight! When I was growing up, you might just get two, but not at the same time, or one after the other. It almost seems like some sort of "following the leader" game that the weather has decided to play. When I first moved to the United Kingdom in 1980, I was informed, with wry amusement, that England "doesn't have tornadoes old bean." That information was not totally correct, but pretty close. There were the occasional 'twisters' but they were small and caused little damage. Now it seems, we have several a year. Still not doing too much in the way of damage, a roof here and a tree there, with the odd wall blown down. But still much more than the odd one that occurred when I first moved here.
I first became aware of the "dead birds" in 2011. That was also the year that "thousands" of dead fish were discovered in an Arkansas river. Now I think about it, Arkansas also had their share of dead blackbirds. If you google the phrases 'dead birds' and 'dead fish' you will find a lot of reports of same all over the USA. More importantly, it also happened again this year in Arkansas. Dead birds fell out of the sky as recently as February this year. Just what the hell is going on?
I wrote about the multiple UFO sightings last year, and by multiple I mean more than one 'bright light' or 'flying object' at each separate sighting. Some of which occurred in broad daylight and witnessed by thousands of people. I also wrote about this new phenomenon, the "loud humming" noise that is being reported all over the world.
Is someone or something trying to tell us something?
My daughter and I watched the film Signs again last night. It is a permanent favourite in our house. M. Night Shyamalan's brilliant tale of a Reverend coming to grips with his wife's death and his subsequent loss of faith. I only mention the plot because it also revolved around signs or portents if you prefer. The final message of the film is that nothing happens by chance. We are given clear signs of what is going to happen. Unfortunately we don't always recognise the significance of these when we are shown them or even realise that we are being given a "heads-up"
After we had watched the film, I got to thinking about all the strange things that are going on in the world right now. I started surfing the net and found references to HARP, that stands for High Altitude Research Program. In a nut shell, the articles I read indicated that this program can change the weather. It also intimated that they are indeed using the program for just that. Now I don't know, I am not a rocket scientist - hell, I am not even scientifically minded - but if I was running that program, I would start to get a little worried about all the strange things that are happening world wide right now.
I know there are a lot of people who will see these happenings as religious portents that have been written about in the Bible.
I don't know whether they are right or wrong, and I am not part of the HARP program, but, my "spidey-sense" is tingling and I think something life-changing might just be around the corner. The only problem is this, I don't know if I should be excited or scared.
TIME WILL TELL.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Sunday, April 22, 2012
The Big Bang Theory...or is it The Big Noise
As long ago as last August there have been reports of strange loud noises. These reports have come from all over the world. The USA, Norway, China, Puerto Rico, well the list is pretty widespread and for lack of another word worldly. If you don't think this is a world-wide phenomenon just go on YouTube and type noises in the search bar. Scroll down on the suggestions that appear.
Just on the search 'Noises In The Sky' you'll find twenty-one suggestions on the first page alone. Now listen to some of them. You'll pardon me if I don't join you in this exercise, it kind of creeps me out.
Have you noticed how much alike the noises are yet still different? I know some sound like huge metal objects being ground against each other. Some of the sounds resemble wind rushing, akin to a tornado - which one family thought it was. Other times it sounds like giant cannons going off. Sometimes the sound seems to emanate from the sky, other times from the earth itself.
There seems to be no logical explanation about this phenomenon. More importantly it is not being widely broadcast.
2011 was the year of the 'multiple UFO sightings' with UFO's being sighted in broad daylight and at night all over the world. The most famous - or infamous, if you prefer - was in China. Now it is 2012 and we are hearing (pun intended) about the Big Noise. Okay, I know that the noises were reported as early as August 2011, but I am sure that the same goes for the UFO sightings.
So, the big question has to be this. Are the two related? Will we in 2013 be the world's witnesses to something that will change the way we see things...forever? Years ago I read Whitely Strieber's Communion. It was (allegedly) a non-fiction account of him being abducted over the years repeatedly by a group of aliens referred to as "The Greys" and it scared the shit out of me. I only read it once. I then sold it in a car boot sale and I have never felt the urge to read it again. But the sightings and the noises immediately made me think of the book again. I don't necessarily believe that Strieber was abducted by aliens, I also don't not believe it.
I do think though that the two things are quite probably related. UFO's + Noises = What exactly? I think we will find out very soon. There are more things in heaven and earth than ever figured in our philosophies.
I'll leave you with a story. In 1976 I lived in Houston, Texas. I was dating a girl who lived in New Caney, Texas. New Caney was roughly thirty miles to the north of Houston. After one date with my girl, I drove home very tired. On the way to her house there was a stretch of road that for ten miles was being re-worked by the road maintenance crews. At both ends of this stretch of road, was a set of scaffolding that went over the road. This scaffolding had flashing yellow lights over both lanes. You really could not miss it. That night as I drove home, I nodded off to sleep while I was driving. I was jerked "awake" by the flashing lights of the road works. I stopped and got out of the car and walked around a bit to make sure I was fully awake. There was not another car visible for miles in any direction. I got back into my car and finished the trip home. It was not until I got home that I realised I never saw the other set of flashing lights.
I had driven ten miles as straight as a string through the roadworks while I slept.
And before you say it, I can tell you that the next time I went to see my girl the roadworks were still there, exactly ten miles apart. I told that story to an Air Force buddy. He looked at me and said flatly, "That's impossible." He then told me about Whitely Strieber and his greys. He believed,and as far as I know still does, that I was abducted that night by aliens. I don't believe that, but I also don't believe that I drove ten miles asleep and never even scratched my car. All I do know is that I apparently did just that.
I'm just saying that as far as these mysterious noises go...anything is possible.
Just on the search 'Noises In The Sky' you'll find twenty-one suggestions on the first page alone. Now listen to some of them. You'll pardon me if I don't join you in this exercise, it kind of creeps me out.
Have you noticed how much alike the noises are yet still different? I know some sound like huge metal objects being ground against each other. Some of the sounds resemble wind rushing, akin to a tornado - which one family thought it was. Other times it sounds like giant cannons going off. Sometimes the sound seems to emanate from the sky, other times from the earth itself.
There seems to be no logical explanation about this phenomenon. More importantly it is not being widely broadcast.
2011 was the year of the 'multiple UFO sightings' with UFO's being sighted in broad daylight and at night all over the world. The most famous - or infamous, if you prefer - was in China. Now it is 2012 and we are hearing (pun intended) about the Big Noise. Okay, I know that the noises were reported as early as August 2011, but I am sure that the same goes for the UFO sightings.
So, the big question has to be this. Are the two related? Will we in 2013 be the world's witnesses to something that will change the way we see things...forever? Years ago I read Whitely Strieber's Communion. It was (allegedly) a non-fiction account of him being abducted over the years repeatedly by a group of aliens referred to as "The Greys" and it scared the shit out of me. I only read it once. I then sold it in a car boot sale and I have never felt the urge to read it again. But the sightings and the noises immediately made me think of the book again. I don't necessarily believe that Strieber was abducted by aliens, I also don't not believe it.
I do think though that the two things are quite probably related. UFO's + Noises = What exactly? I think we will find out very soon. There are more things in heaven and earth than ever figured in our philosophies.
I'll leave you with a story. In 1976 I lived in Houston, Texas. I was dating a girl who lived in New Caney, Texas. New Caney was roughly thirty miles to the north of Houston. After one date with my girl, I drove home very tired. On the way to her house there was a stretch of road that for ten miles was being re-worked by the road maintenance crews. At both ends of this stretch of road, was a set of scaffolding that went over the road. This scaffolding had flashing yellow lights over both lanes. You really could not miss it. That night as I drove home, I nodded off to sleep while I was driving. I was jerked "awake" by the flashing lights of the road works. I stopped and got out of the car and walked around a bit to make sure I was fully awake. There was not another car visible for miles in any direction. I got back into my car and finished the trip home. It was not until I got home that I realised I never saw the other set of flashing lights.
I had driven ten miles as straight as a string through the roadworks while I slept.
And before you say it, I can tell you that the next time I went to see my girl the roadworks were still there, exactly ten miles apart. I told that story to an Air Force buddy. He looked at me and said flatly, "That's impossible." He then told me about Whitely Strieber and his greys. He believed,and as far as I know still does, that I was abducted that night by aliens. I don't believe that, but I also don't believe that I drove ten miles asleep and never even scratched my car. All I do know is that I apparently did just that.
I'm just saying that as far as these mysterious noises go...anything is possible.
Saturday, April 21, 2012
YouTube...The new TV?
I am a huge fan of YouTube. My daughter got me hooked on it, years ago. Channels like Failblog.org and others have become necessary viewing for me. So much so that I don't really watch television any more. But I am of the belief that YouTube is the new television.
Let me explain.
There may be some folks out there who have never heard of or even experienced YouTube. But the basic principle is this. Anyone who has access to a video camera and a computer - or a combination of both - can make videos and post them on the web via their channel on YouTube .
This can and does lead to an astronomical amount of videos featuring cute pets, babies, and toddlers. These type of videos tend to go viral. *viral basically means that HUGE amounts of people click on the video to watch it* The other type of video that usually heads into viral territory are the funny ones. You know someone falls, trips, screws up...well you get the idea, I am sure.
What fascinates me are the different kinds of videos available. Make-up channels, alone, with their self-styled guru's must run into the thousands. Movie review channels, Game review channels, in fact just about any subject you can think of crop up as multiple channels. Comedy is very popular. Guys like raywilliamjohnson, kevjumba and nigahiga all use comedy as their channels format. All channels have subscriber counts that range from none to the millions. The highly popular channels (the ones with the most subscribers) propel their presenters into "celebrity" status.
But the principle of YouTube is the same for everybody. You film your stuff and people watch it, hopefully, and then subscribe to your channel. A lot of channels on YouTube seem to be trying to get partnered. Getting partnered, I understand, is a lot like getting into heaven; lots of folks want it but only a few get it.
The popular channels result in the presenter getting partnered. These partners then get money from advertisers (like television) and grants from YouTube. Not to mention freebies from companies who want the presenters to feature their products on their channel (like television again).
A channel's popularity is judged by the amount of views each video gets and the amount of subscribers the channel has. Also each video has a "thumbs-up or down" to show how many folks actually liked or disliked the video. There is a comment box for viewers to say what they think about the video. This can result in trolling. Trolls are disagreeable folks who put nasty, mean, or just plain rude comments on channels. They will also give all videos they watch a thumbs-down.
Unfortunately because anyone can use YouTube it also has it's fair share of strange, nonsensical, garbled, and offensive videos. These videos are the ones where the channel presenter cannot talk without swearing every other word or shouts so loudly you cannot really understand what they are saying. Of course mumbling or talking in an incoherent fashion also fall into this category. There do seem to be more of these channels than the really good ones.
That is where the problem of communication or the lack of it comes into play. If the presenters can't communicate the point they are trying to make it becomes a waste of time to watch. Of course for a lot of presenters, practise does make perfect. But these channels generally never reach the dizzy heights of nigahiga or raywilliamjohnson.
Some of the popular presenters go on to do other projects. Projects that became open to them because of their status as a YouTube celebrity. It also leaves presenters open to that dual edged sword of fan/subscriber identification. Because the subscriber sees the presenter on a regular basis and in a more intimate setting than they would on the 'box,' they feel like they know them personally. Again a lot like television, where soap opera stars are accosted on the street because the public feel like they know them personally.
I implied that YouTube is becoming the new television in my title. I think to an extent it already is. With copyright issues becoming more prevalent and intrusive and lawmakers trying to control what we, the public can watch or post on the internet; I fear that soon, just like television, YouTube will be so controlled that we will no longer have a choice of channels we want to watch.
Just like television, YouTube will be controlled by governments and sponsors and we will have to watch what they deem fit.
Let me explain.
There may be some folks out there who have never heard of or even experienced YouTube. But the basic principle is this. Anyone who has access to a video camera and a computer - or a combination of both - can make videos and post them on the web via their channel on YouTube .
This can and does lead to an astronomical amount of videos featuring cute pets, babies, and toddlers. These type of videos tend to go viral. *viral basically means that HUGE amounts of people click on the video to watch it* The other type of video that usually heads into viral territory are the funny ones. You know someone falls, trips, screws up...well you get the idea, I am sure.
What fascinates me are the different kinds of videos available. Make-up channels, alone, with their self-styled guru's must run into the thousands. Movie review channels, Game review channels, in fact just about any subject you can think of crop up as multiple channels. Comedy is very popular. Guys like raywilliamjohnson, kevjumba and nigahiga all use comedy as their channels format. All channels have subscriber counts that range from none to the millions. The highly popular channels (the ones with the most subscribers) propel their presenters into "celebrity" status.
But the principle of YouTube is the same for everybody. You film your stuff and people watch it, hopefully, and then subscribe to your channel. A lot of channels on YouTube seem to be trying to get partnered. Getting partnered, I understand, is a lot like getting into heaven; lots of folks want it but only a few get it.
The popular channels result in the presenter getting partnered. These partners then get money from advertisers (like television) and grants from YouTube. Not to mention freebies from companies who want the presenters to feature their products on their channel (like television again).
A channel's popularity is judged by the amount of views each video gets and the amount of subscribers the channel has. Also each video has a "thumbs-up or down" to show how many folks actually liked or disliked the video. There is a comment box for viewers to say what they think about the video. This can result in trolling. Trolls are disagreeable folks who put nasty, mean, or just plain rude comments on channels. They will also give all videos they watch a thumbs-down.
Unfortunately because anyone can use YouTube it also has it's fair share of strange, nonsensical, garbled, and offensive videos. These videos are the ones where the channel presenter cannot talk without swearing every other word or shouts so loudly you cannot really understand what they are saying. Of course mumbling or talking in an incoherent fashion also fall into this category. There do seem to be more of these channels than the really good ones.
That is where the problem of communication or the lack of it comes into play. If the presenters can't communicate the point they are trying to make it becomes a waste of time to watch. Of course for a lot of presenters, practise does make perfect. But these channels generally never reach the dizzy heights of nigahiga or raywilliamjohnson.
Some of the popular presenters go on to do other projects. Projects that became open to them because of their status as a YouTube celebrity. It also leaves presenters open to that dual edged sword of fan/subscriber identification. Because the subscriber sees the presenter on a regular basis and in a more intimate setting than they would on the 'box,' they feel like they know them personally. Again a lot like television, where soap opera stars are accosted on the street because the public feel like they know them personally.
I implied that YouTube is becoming the new television in my title. I think to an extent it already is. With copyright issues becoming more prevalent and intrusive and lawmakers trying to control what we, the public can watch or post on the internet; I fear that soon, just like television, YouTube will be so controlled that we will no longer have a choice of channels we want to watch.
Just like television, YouTube will be controlled by governments and sponsors and we will have to watch what they deem fit.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Name dropping pt 6 Stanley Kubrick
My biggest break came after we moved back to the UK. I had been fronting videos and was trying to find work as a VO artist. I also was doing the odd supporting artist gig. From Lovejoy to ITV'S The Chief I did a few. Then I changed my agent, or rather agents. While I was doing extra work I had two agents, both from Norwich. I then had a chat with actor and vocal coach John. Sorry, another of those "I can't remember his surname" deals. He told me off for doing extra work. His view was if you are an actor then act, don't stand in the background and watch other people do it. "And for God's sake, go and get a proper agent...one in London!"
So I did.
It took a while as it seemed there were a lot of "me's" out there already. I got a lot of notes back thanking me for asking but they already had someone like me on their books. I then lucked upon Ronnie. Ronnie was an ex-juvenile actor whose wife had been a regular on the old Archers Radio programme. They were both delightful people and Ronnie took me under his wing.
I got my CV aka resume and picture put in the casting "bible" Spotlight. I did not get any work after I shifted to a London agent. But I did get more auditions. I got a call from Ronnie who told me that Leon Vitali the casting director for Eyes Wide Shut (and Stanley Kubrick's right hand man) was sending me a script. The part was for a gay hotel desk clerk who interacts with Tom Cruise. The part was played eventually by Alan Cumming, an excellent actor that I did not mind losing out to, even if he did get the part because (as rumour had it) he had worked with Nicole Kidman before.
The script was about three and a half pages long. I dutifully memorised all my lines and Tom Cruise's. I also did a bit of groping around for a character. Was the clerk to be uber camp? Or just a hint of camp? Or not camp at all? I had to wait for my audition with Leon to find out.
Leon was terrific. Even though I was the last audition of the day, he was full of energy and suggestions. He finished by saying that just a hint of camp would be great and was I ready? With Leon playing Cruise's part we started. I have to say here that the fact I was able to audition at all was quite remarkable. I was waiting for back surgery and on so many pain pills, it is a miracle that I was able to memorise anything, let alone three pages of dialogue. Still everything went well until the last paragraph of my spiel. I kept messing it up and after three attempts, I lost my temper. Slamming down the paperback romance that had been my prop during the audition and filling the air with expletives that would have made a sailor blush. All of this while the camera rolled on.
"Don't break character," Leon quickly shouted. I immediately shot him a look that would have withered rock. Veins were popping in my forehead and throat, I must have looked homicidal at the very least. I calmed down while Leon handed back my prop and we started again. This time I nailed it. Although, as I said before, Alan Cummings got the part.
But...
Six weeks later I got another call from Leon. He said that Stanley wanted me to audition for another part. I was a bit confused as I knew that Eyes Wide Shut was going through post-production. It turns out it was for another film, that Stanley would be doing later. I said sure, send me the script and we'll do it. Leon said there wasn't one yet. So I said okay just call my agent and set something up. My agent did not set anything up. It was his opinion that as Stanley already had me "perfoming" on tape he knew I could act. His response was, "So hire the man already."
Leon told me all this on the phone. He explained that Stanley did have the audition tape that was sent to him. But Stanley's method of filing was to put the tapes in boxes and wardrobes. This practice meant that the tapes were hard to find. So in effect Stanley had lost my tape. I said okay, forget Ronnie, just let me know where and when I have to show up. We left it at that. Time passed and I would occasionally ring Leon to see what was going on. The last time I talked to Leon, he told me that the project had been "put on the back burner" for the moment, but that he would call me as soon as the project was hot again. Time passed and one day I turned on the television to find the news was full of Stanley Kubrick's death. I was gutted.
I felt a little like the female actress who finally gets an appointment with a huge casting director because he has found a part for her. She shows up in his office the next day for their appointment only to be told by a tearful receptionist that he died the night before. "But we had an appointment today. He had a part for me." The receptionist apologises and explains that they are all very shocked. "Well," the actress says tearfully, "Did he leave any messages about me?"
Years later, I am reading a book about Stanley Kubrick. It talked about Leon and about Stanley's filing system (it really did consist of wardrobes and cardboard boxes). It also pointed out that if Stanley was interested in you he would have you come out to his house with Leon and he would do an audition tape of whatever improvisations he and Leon could come up with. I also found out what the next project was that Stanley would have been casting for...A.I. Artificial Intelligence. So when I talk about the folks I've met and almost met, I always tell the Stanley Kubrick story.
The "I got this close to auditioning for him" story.
So I did.
It took a while as it seemed there were a lot of "me's" out there already. I got a lot of notes back thanking me for asking but they already had someone like me on their books. I then lucked upon Ronnie. Ronnie was an ex-juvenile actor whose wife had been a regular on the old Archers Radio programme. They were both delightful people and Ronnie took me under his wing.
I got my CV aka resume and picture put in the casting "bible" Spotlight. I did not get any work after I shifted to a London agent. But I did get more auditions. I got a call from Ronnie who told me that Leon Vitali the casting director for Eyes Wide Shut (and Stanley Kubrick's right hand man) was sending me a script. The part was for a gay hotel desk clerk who interacts with Tom Cruise. The part was played eventually by Alan Cumming, an excellent actor that I did not mind losing out to, even if he did get the part because (as rumour had it) he had worked with Nicole Kidman before.
The script was about three and a half pages long. I dutifully memorised all my lines and Tom Cruise's. I also did a bit of groping around for a character. Was the clerk to be uber camp? Or just a hint of camp? Or not camp at all? I had to wait for my audition with Leon to find out.
Leon was terrific. Even though I was the last audition of the day, he was full of energy and suggestions. He finished by saying that just a hint of camp would be great and was I ready? With Leon playing Cruise's part we started. I have to say here that the fact I was able to audition at all was quite remarkable. I was waiting for back surgery and on so many pain pills, it is a miracle that I was able to memorise anything, let alone three pages of dialogue. Still everything went well until the last paragraph of my spiel. I kept messing it up and after three attempts, I lost my temper. Slamming down the paperback romance that had been my prop during the audition and filling the air with expletives that would have made a sailor blush. All of this while the camera rolled on.
"Don't break character," Leon quickly shouted. I immediately shot him a look that would have withered rock. Veins were popping in my forehead and throat, I must have looked homicidal at the very least. I calmed down while Leon handed back my prop and we started again. This time I nailed it. Although, as I said before, Alan Cummings got the part.
But...
Six weeks later I got another call from Leon. He said that Stanley wanted me to audition for another part. I was a bit confused as I knew that Eyes Wide Shut was going through post-production. It turns out it was for another film, that Stanley would be doing later. I said sure, send me the script and we'll do it. Leon said there wasn't one yet. So I said okay just call my agent and set something up. My agent did not set anything up. It was his opinion that as Stanley already had me "perfoming" on tape he knew I could act. His response was, "So hire the man already."
Leon told me all this on the phone. He explained that Stanley did have the audition tape that was sent to him. But Stanley's method of filing was to put the tapes in boxes and wardrobes. This practice meant that the tapes were hard to find. So in effect Stanley had lost my tape. I said okay, forget Ronnie, just let me know where and when I have to show up. We left it at that. Time passed and I would occasionally ring Leon to see what was going on. The last time I talked to Leon, he told me that the project had been "put on the back burner" for the moment, but that he would call me as soon as the project was hot again. Time passed and one day I turned on the television to find the news was full of Stanley Kubrick's death. I was gutted.
I felt a little like the female actress who finally gets an appointment with a huge casting director because he has found a part for her. She shows up in his office the next day for their appointment only to be told by a tearful receptionist that he died the night before. "But we had an appointment today. He had a part for me." The receptionist apologises and explains that they are all very shocked. "Well," the actress says tearfully, "Did he leave any messages about me?"
Years later, I am reading a book about Stanley Kubrick. It talked about Leon and about Stanley's filing system (it really did consist of wardrobes and cardboard boxes). It also pointed out that if Stanley was interested in you he would have you come out to his house with Leon and he would do an audition tape of whatever improvisations he and Leon could come up with. I also found out what the next project was that Stanley would have been casting for...A.I. Artificial Intelligence. So when I talk about the folks I've met and almost met, I always tell the Stanley Kubrick story.
The "I got this close to auditioning for him" story.
Tower Heist...Ocean's Five?
As I am a huge Ben Stiller fan I was really looking forward to his latest effort, Tower Heist. I will say up front I liked the film. I could have loved it, but the ending let it down a bit. Stiller who is the son of the comedy duo Stiller and Meara has never failed to deliver in the comedy field. Must be something in his genes. Now unlike Tropic Thunder and Zoolander, Stiller is not at the helm of this film. I can't help but feel that if he had written and directed Tower Heist it would have been great instead of just good.
One of the things that let this film down was the way the studios marketed it. The teasers and trailers that hyped the film made it seen like an outright comedy. This was not the case at all. The film was a "genre bender" as my daughter likes to put it. Falling more into the range of a funny Action/Caper film. It was not an outright comedy. I know this because when I watch a comedy, I usually have to watch it at least twice. Because if it is a good comedy I have laughed so much while watching it I have missed huge chunks of dialogue. I did not have that problem with Tower Heist.
The cast list is impressive. Ben Stiller, Eddie Murphy, Alan Alda, Casey Affleck, Matthew Broderick, Tea Leoni, and Judd Hirsh. It seems like ensemble films are all the rage at the moment. All the actors acquitted themselves wonderfully with their respective performances. Ms Leoni in particular showed a flair for comedy that was surprising.
The plot revolves around an exclusive apartment building that appears to be a thinly veiled version of Trump Tower. The folks who live in this building are near the top of the Forbes list. Stiller plays Josh Kovacs the manager of the apartment building. Casey Affleck plays Kovacs's brother-in-law Charlie the bumbling concierge. Mattew Broderick is the hapless Mr Fitzhugh who has lost everything and is being evicted from his apartment. Alan Alda portrays shyster Arthur Shaw with his usual sense of style. Shaw is a financial investment whiz who has a close relationship with Kovacs. Kovacs asks Shaw to invest the apartment buildings staff retirement fund for them with the hopes of improving their pensions. Enter Tea Leoni as Special Agent Claire Denham who arrests Shaw for fraud. It seems that Shaw is only a whiz at taking people's money and investing it into his own pocket. Kovacs then decides that the money must be in Shaw's apartment and that he needs to get it back.
Kovacs then coerces his brother-in-law, Mr Fitzhugh, new employee Enrique Dev’Reaux (played by Michael Peña) and his criminal neighbour and one-time school mate Eddie Murphy into entering Shaw's apartment and retrieving the stolen pension fund.
The film is clever and it did make me laugh in all the right places. The misguided marketing campaign used by the studios though did not do the film any favours. As I mentioned before this is not an outright comedy film. It was an Action/Caper film with a lot of laughs in it. A definite winner and a film I enjoyed watching.
So if you watch Tower Heist, think 'Ocean's Five' and you will most likely not be disappointed.
One of the things that let this film down was the way the studios marketed it. The teasers and trailers that hyped the film made it seen like an outright comedy. This was not the case at all. The film was a "genre bender" as my daughter likes to put it. Falling more into the range of a funny Action/Caper film. It was not an outright comedy. I know this because when I watch a comedy, I usually have to watch it at least twice. Because if it is a good comedy I have laughed so much while watching it I have missed huge chunks of dialogue. I did not have that problem with Tower Heist.
The cast list is impressive. Ben Stiller, Eddie Murphy, Alan Alda, Casey Affleck, Matthew Broderick, Tea Leoni, and Judd Hirsh. It seems like ensemble films are all the rage at the moment. All the actors acquitted themselves wonderfully with their respective performances. Ms Leoni in particular showed a flair for comedy that was surprising.
The plot revolves around an exclusive apartment building that appears to be a thinly veiled version of Trump Tower. The folks who live in this building are near the top of the Forbes list. Stiller plays Josh Kovacs the manager of the apartment building. Casey Affleck plays Kovacs's brother-in-law Charlie the bumbling concierge. Mattew Broderick is the hapless Mr Fitzhugh who has lost everything and is being evicted from his apartment. Alan Alda portrays shyster Arthur Shaw with his usual sense of style. Shaw is a financial investment whiz who has a close relationship with Kovacs. Kovacs asks Shaw to invest the apartment buildings staff retirement fund for them with the hopes of improving their pensions. Enter Tea Leoni as Special Agent Claire Denham who arrests Shaw for fraud. It seems that Shaw is only a whiz at taking people's money and investing it into his own pocket. Kovacs then decides that the money must be in Shaw's apartment and that he needs to get it back.
Kovacs then coerces his brother-in-law, Mr Fitzhugh, new employee Enrique Dev’Reaux (played by Michael Peña) and his criminal neighbour and one-time school mate Eddie Murphy into entering Shaw's apartment and retrieving the stolen pension fund.
The film is clever and it did make me laugh in all the right places. The misguided marketing campaign used by the studios though did not do the film any favours. As I mentioned before this is not an outright comedy film. It was an Action/Caper film with a lot of laughs in it. A definite winner and a film I enjoyed watching.
So if you watch Tower Heist, think 'Ocean's Five' and you will most likely not be disappointed.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Name dropping Pt 5 or Van der Valk pt 2
After my huge disappointment at not having Peter Snow write a part for me in that episode of the New Van der Valk, life went on as normal. I kept doing adverts for the AFN guys and presented (for a very short time) a program called Why and How. But I was no longer having to rely on the chaps at AFN for acting work.
I had done a commercial for Tonka Turbo Tricksters with the production company Fireside Productions. I had gotten that job because the casting folks were the same ones who had hired me for Murder Story. I had been cast as a motorcycle cop even though I had shown up late on the day of the Amsterdam auditions. The train was late, something unheard of in Holland, which in turn made me late, an unforgivable sin in the entertainment industry. I know, it cost me a job years ago when, despite running at the speed of sound, I was late by two whole seconds for an interview in an office building just off Sunset Blvd. But regardless of that obvious faux pas, I was the fair haired boy and I was given another audition in Rotterdam the next day.
My champion at the casting company was Patricia. Patricia called me to let me know of work on another Van der Valk. I rang and talked to Ian, the chap who I had dealt with on the other audition. The pay wasn't very good, but I did not have to perform for anyone this time. It involved about a half days work so I said yes.
When I arrived I met the other two chaps I would be working with. The first was Ian Gelder another jobbing actor who I have seen in many other shows. He was friendly and welcoming, not mention good fun to work with. The second was Frank Vincent Ogilvy a Scottish actor working mainly in Holland. We would also be working with Melanie Thaw, the adopted daughter of that great actor John Thaw, and Richard Huw, who was making a name for himself in the UK.
Ms Thaw was lovely. A stunning blonde with a willowy figure and full of grace and charm. She came up and introduced herself to the three of us. "Oh, you must be the actors I'll be working with today. Pleased to meet you, I'm sure we'll have a good time today." Frank and I were stunned as she shook our hands and then wandered off to find the director Jim Goddard. The reason we were so surprised by her actions is that in this particular episode we were literally part of the furniture. Ian was a gangster type and we were to be seated with him in a disco. That was it. Now Richard Huw's attitude towards us was more in character. He ignored us completely. If he did spare us a look, it was one of utter disdain. Not so nice.
It was on this shoot I discovered the joys of continuity. I had been given an option of smoking in this scene. There was already a huge cloud of smoke from the dry ice machine. This was a dance floor in a bar in the 90's. Smoking socially had not yet been banned. I thought, hello! No waiting for set-ups, filming, or anything else to have a smoke. How wonderful, I thought.
I was wrong.
Due to the number of re-takes required because young Richard kept fluffing his lines, every time they started filming again, the continuity lady stopped everything. The reason was my cigarette, or rather the length of it. When she checked the monitor, she found that it was at the wrong length. Either too long or too short. This turned out to be real pain, until someone found a pair of scissors so I could cut the cigarettes into varying lengths.
Despite this setback, the day was great fun. The director had a vocabulary that would make a sailor blush and made Melanie fall about laughing every time he gave a "blue" direction. Because the location was in a real bar and it was Franks birthday, we got given real single malt Scotch whiskey in our glasses instead of the usual apple juice. Ian was paranoid in case the director found out. But as far as I know he did not.
By the end of the day, I was barely able to breathe, my back was killing me from the awkward position I had sat in for the scene and I was slightly tipsy. Just as well I had taken the train down. I also had two new contacts and their phone numbers for future work opportunities. Jim Goddard had graciously given me his and I had gotten the assistant directors number as well.
I had done a commercial for Tonka Turbo Tricksters with the production company Fireside Productions. I had gotten that job because the casting folks were the same ones who had hired me for Murder Story. I had been cast as a motorcycle cop even though I had shown up late on the day of the Amsterdam auditions. The train was late, something unheard of in Holland, which in turn made me late, an unforgivable sin in the entertainment industry. I know, it cost me a job years ago when, despite running at the speed of sound, I was late by two whole seconds for an interview in an office building just off Sunset Blvd. But regardless of that obvious faux pas, I was the fair haired boy and I was given another audition in Rotterdam the next day.
My champion at the casting company was Patricia. Patricia called me to let me know of work on another Van der Valk. I rang and talked to Ian, the chap who I had dealt with on the other audition. The pay wasn't very good, but I did not have to perform for anyone this time. It involved about a half days work so I said yes.
When I arrived I met the other two chaps I would be working with. The first was Ian Gelder another jobbing actor who I have seen in many other shows. He was friendly and welcoming, not mention good fun to work with. The second was Frank Vincent Ogilvy a Scottish actor working mainly in Holland. We would also be working with Melanie Thaw, the adopted daughter of that great actor John Thaw, and Richard Huw, who was making a name for himself in the UK.
Ms Thaw was lovely. A stunning blonde with a willowy figure and full of grace and charm. She came up and introduced herself to the three of us. "Oh, you must be the actors I'll be working with today. Pleased to meet you, I'm sure we'll have a good time today." Frank and I were stunned as she shook our hands and then wandered off to find the director Jim Goddard. The reason we were so surprised by her actions is that in this particular episode we were literally part of the furniture. Ian was a gangster type and we were to be seated with him in a disco. That was it. Now Richard Huw's attitude towards us was more in character. He ignored us completely. If he did spare us a look, it was one of utter disdain. Not so nice.
It was on this shoot I discovered the joys of continuity. I had been given an option of smoking in this scene. There was already a huge cloud of smoke from the dry ice machine. This was a dance floor in a bar in the 90's. Smoking socially had not yet been banned. I thought, hello! No waiting for set-ups, filming, or anything else to have a smoke. How wonderful, I thought.
I was wrong.
Due to the number of re-takes required because young Richard kept fluffing his lines, every time they started filming again, the continuity lady stopped everything. The reason was my cigarette, or rather the length of it. When she checked the monitor, she found that it was at the wrong length. Either too long or too short. This turned out to be real pain, until someone found a pair of scissors so I could cut the cigarettes into varying lengths.
Despite this setback, the day was great fun. The director had a vocabulary that would make a sailor blush and made Melanie fall about laughing every time he gave a "blue" direction. Because the location was in a real bar and it was Franks birthday, we got given real single malt Scotch whiskey in our glasses instead of the usual apple juice. Ian was paranoid in case the director found out. But as far as I know he did not.
By the end of the day, I was barely able to breathe, my back was killing me from the awkward position I had sat in for the scene and I was slightly tipsy. Just as well I had taken the train down. I also had two new contacts and their phone numbers for future work opportunities. Jim Goddard had graciously given me his and I had gotten the assistant directors number as well.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Scream 4...Sidney's last stand
I fell in love with the original Scream after watching the first five minutes. When Wes (we are not worthy) Craven killed off the "name" star in the first reel. With this one action he showed us, the audience, that he knew and loved horror films and thrillers. The little nod to Hitchcock's killing of Janet Leigh at the beginning of Phsyco told me immediately that this was a film-maker that was going to have fun with the genre.
Scre4m aka Scream 4 is the last of the Scream franchise. I had real reservations about the last of the Screams. I was afraid that Wes had gone to the well once too often and that the bucket he drew up would be empty. Boy was I wrong. This was a brilliant end to a series that has always shown a stroke of genius in each sequel. Yes I know that Wes cannot take all the credit. These films work because of the writing and the acting as well.
Scre4m opens with a murder similar to the first Scream films. Although it comes to us initially via various trailers to the fictional Stab films in the Scream verse. We are introduced to Sidney Prescott's cousin Jill, played with great panache by Emma Roberts. We then get to see all our favourite living characters from the previous films. Deputy Dewey, played again by David Arquette, is now the sheriff of Woodsboro and has married Gale. Gale Weathers-Riley, played by Courtney Cox, has retired from the mainstream news world and is trying to write "the great American novel" and not getting very far with it. Sidney Prescott, played again by Neve Campbell, is now a writer. Her book, about living through and dealing with the events from the previous films, is a bestseller. She returns to Woodsboro as part of her book signing tour.
We also meet the new cast of "victims." Hayden Panettiere as Kirby Reed, one of the slew of friends that Jill has, makes the most of her part. She was born to play this kind of role. I of course still think of her as the cheerleader from Heroes, you know "Save the cheerleader save the world." But she does a brilliant job as the future "man-eater" Kirby. The other memorable friend of Jill's is Rory Culkin as Charlie Walker. Charlie is the Randy substitute in this Scream film. A necessary replacement since Randy is dispatched by Ghost Face in Scream 2. Although not in the victim department I have to mention Marley Shelton. As Deputy Judy Hicks she rocked it out of the park. Her characterisation of the love lorn Deputy Judy was both comedic and scary, sometimes at the same time.
Of course Ghost Face is still voiced by Roger Jackson. Could anyone else have done it? I think not. His voice is synonymous with Ghost Face and always will be. I can't reveal anything else about the plot because I will be heading into spoiler territory if I do. I can and will tell you it deals with the theme of the internet and it's propensity to make celebrities out of those who know how to use it.
So that's it. I have, like so many other Scream fans I am sure, waited for this film for ages. I loved it so much that I sat through two viewings on two separate occasions. I also couldn't wait for a special edition blu-ray to come out. As much as I want special features, in this case it did not matter.
So hats off to Director Wes Craven for once again pulling it off. The grande finale of all the Scream's was nigh on perfect.
Scre4m aka Scream 4 is the last of the Scream franchise. I had real reservations about the last of the Screams. I was afraid that Wes had gone to the well once too often and that the bucket he drew up would be empty. Boy was I wrong. This was a brilliant end to a series that has always shown a stroke of genius in each sequel. Yes I know that Wes cannot take all the credit. These films work because of the writing and the acting as well.
Scre4m opens with a murder similar to the first Scream films. Although it comes to us initially via various trailers to the fictional Stab films in the Scream verse. We are introduced to Sidney Prescott's cousin Jill, played with great panache by Emma Roberts. We then get to see all our favourite living characters from the previous films. Deputy Dewey, played again by David Arquette, is now the sheriff of Woodsboro and has married Gale. Gale Weathers-Riley, played by Courtney Cox, has retired from the mainstream news world and is trying to write "the great American novel" and not getting very far with it. Sidney Prescott, played again by Neve Campbell, is now a writer. Her book, about living through and dealing with the events from the previous films, is a bestseller. She returns to Woodsboro as part of her book signing tour.
We also meet the new cast of "victims." Hayden Panettiere as Kirby Reed, one of the slew of friends that Jill has, makes the most of her part. She was born to play this kind of role. I of course still think of her as the cheerleader from Heroes, you know "Save the cheerleader save the world." But she does a brilliant job as the future "man-eater" Kirby. The other memorable friend of Jill's is Rory Culkin as Charlie Walker. Charlie is the Randy substitute in this Scream film. A necessary replacement since Randy is dispatched by Ghost Face in Scream 2. Although not in the victim department I have to mention Marley Shelton. As Deputy Judy Hicks she rocked it out of the park. Her characterisation of the love lorn Deputy Judy was both comedic and scary, sometimes at the same time.
Of course Ghost Face is still voiced by Roger Jackson. Could anyone else have done it? I think not. His voice is synonymous with Ghost Face and always will be. I can't reveal anything else about the plot because I will be heading into spoiler territory if I do. I can and will tell you it deals with the theme of the internet and it's propensity to make celebrities out of those who know how to use it.
So that's it. I have, like so many other Scream fans I am sure, waited for this film for ages. I loved it so much that I sat through two viewings on two separate occasions. I also couldn't wait for a special edition blu-ray to come out. As much as I want special features, in this case it did not matter.
So hats off to Director Wes Craven for once again pulling it off. The grande finale of all the Scream's was nigh on perfect.
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