My friend Paul Guyot has some really nice things to say about my book THE MAN WITH THE IRON-ON BADGE. He says he’s not just saying it because he’s my friend…but it means even more to me because he is.
On Other Blogs
Marvin H. Albert
You may recall that I’ve got a guilty-pleasure-passion for the Frank Sinatra’s TONY ROME and LADY IN CEMENT movies, both of which were based on books by Marvin H. Albert (who also co-wrote the screenplay for LADY). Novelist, editor and paperback collector Bill Crider has written an interesting article about Albert for this month’s issue of Mystery*File magazine. The article includes a complete bibliography of Albert’s work, compiled by Steve Lewis. Albert was an amazingly versatile, if unappreciated, writer whose work included screenplays, novels in several genres, and even movie tie-ins. He was one of a dying breed.
Judging Books By Their Covers
I have to apologize to Kit Tunstall for making fun of her name…it was a cheap shot (I gambled that there was a 50/50 chance that it wasn’t a pen-name and I lost). Her comment about all the money in e-book erotica made me curious about her…so I checked out her site. There may be, as she claims, a oodles of cash in the smutty e-book biz, but obviously none of the profits are going towards cover art. It turns out that the cover of her e-book PHANTASIE, so brilliantly lampooned by the Smart Bitches Who Love Trash Novels, is not half-as-bad as some of her others…
The Plotting of LOST
There are creative squabbles on every show. Former LOST producer David Fury has made his public in a recent Rolling Stone interview, and my friend Javi, supervising producer of the show, isn’t happy about it. But the squabbles aside, Javi’s lengthy post (which refutes Fury’s assertions) offers a fascinating insight into the development of LOST. While the details are unique to LOST, the process is applicable to most TV shows I’ve ever worked on…especially when it comes down to how individual episodes are crafted:
a good example of how the writers room works in a series such as
"lost"- and one that is extremely appropriate to this situation – is
the creation of the story that eventually became david’s emmy-nominated
episode "walkabout."now, let me make one thing perfectly clear.
david wrote the living hell out of that episode. he deserved the emmy
nomination (and in my opinion, the emmy itself) for an episode which is
rightfully hailed as a turning point in the series and a signature
moment of "lost."
however, like all episodes of this – and
almost any television show – that story was "broken" in the writers
room. it was discussed, conceived and divided into acts and scenes in
an environment where a group of writers sat together, shared their best
ideas and thoughts, and collectively filtered out the chaff to come up
with the best possible version of that story: which david – to his
complete credit – then turned into one of the best hours of tv that i
have ever seen.
How to Fire Your Agent
Screenwriter Craig Mazin shows you how it’s done.
I recommend doing it on the phone. I don’t say this because it’s the cowardly
move. It’s not. I say this because agents are extremely well-trained in the art
of not letting clients fire them. Don’t kid yourselves…the stories of meetings
that began with clients saying “you’re fired” and ended with “okay, you’re still
my agent” are legend at the big firms, and they have many ways of breaking
you.
As usual, Craig has lots of good advice. Take notes.
Name Dropping
I got an email today from someone asking for advice on pitching a pilot…and she implied that Paul Guyot recommended that she talk to me. Well, I’m always glad to do my friends a favor. But the thing is, my buddy Paul has never heard of her. Didn’t she think I’d check with him? Some people are morons.
Two and out
HEAD CASES was cancelled by Fox after only two episodes, but it’s hardly the first series cancelled so abruptly. It joins an infamous list, compiled by TrivialTV, that includes such forgotten failures as BIG SHAMUS LITTLE SHAMUS, CHARLIE LAWRENCE, FOUR CORNERS, THE PAULA POUNDSTONE SHOW, PRINCE STREET, SLEEPWALKERS, THE MIKE O’MALLEY SHOW, and RYAN CAULFIELD: YEAR ONE.
What’s it Worth to You to See Me Put on Deordorant?
Despite it being "an overwhelmingly positive experience," The Waking Vixen is giving up her job as a sex worker:
"Of course, it remains to be seen whether I can maintain “retirement” or whatever
– it’s probably not going to be a clean break. In many ways, sex work is pretty
addictive – the hours, the piles of cash money, the control over my body and
those of others. It’s really difficult to see my days in terms of hour-long
sessions, and to constantly think – hmm, could I get paid for what I’m doing
right now? From peeing to eating to squeezing my nipples, I’m always wondering
about how much that’s worth."
Yeah, me too. Especially when I’m staring at the blank screen, twisting my nipples, trying to figure out what to write next. Deep down, I think she’s really a writer. I mean, who among us scribes hasn’t had this thought before:
"it’s hard to turn away from it, to think about the eventuality of having to work
with clothes on."
Um, that was my brother Tod
Jennifer Love Hewitt says she’s been haunted by a ghost who likes to appear in her shower and ogle her breasts.
But her most terrifying experience came when she was showering and turned to
see a ghostly male figure leering at her naked body. She revealed: "The ghost had a crush on me and liked to see me showering."
There’s a new Devil in Miss Jones
Fleshbot reports that Vivid Video’s THE NEW DEVIL IN MISS JONES, starring adult superstar Jenna Jameson, is already the best-selling adult film of all time…on pre-sales alone. But the real question is, how does it compare to EMMANUELLE VS. DRACULA?