"Chris Nolan Sets More Batman Castings: Joseph Gordon-Levitt ..."

Full story:

http://bit.ly/fu5Hx1

Mega Important Filler Spot ... :)

Remember the movie Better Off Dead? Laughed recently thinking about lines like "Sorry your Mom blew up Ricky." or the dinner that crawled across the table?

Do not get me going on the hot car at the end, though most people who know me know I have a thing about hot muscle cars.

This is Lane's high school in the movie, a screen shot that lasted under a minute. It is also MY high school, the one where I spent three years as a photographer shooting photos very much like this. It's called Verdugo Hills High and is located about twenty minutes from downtown Hollywood. It's been used in a ton of commercials and films, including this fine example or cinematographic genius, and Corvette Summer with Mark Hamell in -- I want to say 1979.

And this brings an end to our filler spot ... :)

Norman Reedus in The Conspirator ...

The Conspirator

Director: Robert Redford
Writer: James D. Solomon

I've studied Lincoln since I was a kid. In the fifth grade everyone else did a book report on presidents. I was assigned John Wilkes Booth. I have been to Fords Theater, read a bio or two on Lincoln, visited Arlington Cemetery to see the tomb of Lincoln's son and I have plans to visit Springfield, Illinois.

I was excited when I heard about The Conspirator ... even before I found out Mr. Reedus would be portraying one of the villains.

And yes, I knew even back then ... he would be bad and dead ... and I would be eating my five Oreo cookies again before the end of the night. Rules are still rules. :)

"The Conspirator" is the true story of the trail of Mary Surratt, the now presumed innocent victim of the government's quest for justice following the assassination -- the country's first -- of its president, Abraham Lincoln. James McAvoy brilliantly portrays the decorated Northern lawyer who first is strong armed into defending Mrs. Surratt, and later realizes it is the right thing to do even at the cost of his own relationships and reputation. Robin Wright and Kevin Kline join McAvoy in leading a tremendous cast.

Norman Reedus plays Lewis Payne, the killer who was supposed to take out the Security of State. Of all the conspirators to go after Lincoln's cabinet on the night of the April 14, 1865, Lewis Payne showed the most determination and the most violence. Yes, he didn't achieve his objective while Booth did fire a bullet into the president's head, but Payne did attack with a more personal weapon - a Bowie knife. It is a lot more up close and personal when you get your own hands dirty rather than shooting from a distance. He also stormed the house, kicked in doors, attacking others, rage making him move with a ferocity. This character trait, clearly portrayed by Mr. Reedus, was carried out throughout the film as it was him who shouted out during the trail that Mrs. Surrart was innocent, and it was him who, when facing the gallows, continued to spit at his executioners and struggle angerly as he was prepared for the inevitable.

John Micheal Weatherly portrayed George
Atzerodt, the man who was supposed to kill the Vice President, as history dictates, chickens out of his part of the plan and gets drunk instead. On the gallows, he is the one whimpering and scared. Consistency with the characters. It was a testament to good writing, excellent direction and great acting.

Lewis Payne was not a starring role. Because of this his dialogue is limited. The majority of acting had to be portrayed through actions, facials expressions and movement: a harder card to carry. Mr. Reedus must have pulled it off as my viewing partner of the film leaned over several times during the trial to whisper to me: "God, he looks miserable, like he's really there ..."

Lewis Payne was no Daryl Dixon. He couldn't be as Payne's character was based on a real live person, one capable of horrific violence. While Daryl might be a bigot through and through, I don't see him kicking a teenage slave to the ground as Payne reportedly did.

He wasn't a Murphy MacManus ... or any of a dozen parts that I might being to mind. But that is what is great about watching Norman Reedus in any part. Whether he is Van in Floating or Archie in Tough Luck - both roles carrying the whole movie - or he is Lewis Payne, sitting in the back of the room, very quiet and very still, not drawing attention from the story playing out in the forefront, he is very much the character he takes on. And it is hard at the end to see him, to know that even if Lewis Payne, by 1865 standards, deserved his fate, watching the scene on the screen as the prisoners are lead by the gallows, the play of emotions on their faces as they pass their own coffins, is difficult, no matter how many Oreo cookies await.

Packing up & heading down to Tucson for The Lessons of Firefly lecture. If you're a Browncoat, come & play with us. We'll be at the El Parador Tropical Restaurant, rear room, 2744 E Broadway Blvd, Tucson on Saturday at 10:oo am. If you just want to say hi, that works, too. :)

No, I'm not drowning. Not in water anyway. Life might be getting a little interesting these last few ... um ... is decades too long? :)

Loved this photo of the little man with his arms up. And I love the concept that if he is drowning use the phone. It's so much quicker that way. LOL

Have you ever thought about who writes these signs? Or worse, the questions at the grocery store when you pay with your debit card? I am convinced there is a man locked in a tower someplace, paid by the question he sends those machines. "Do you want to donate ...?" "Do you want cash?" "Debit or credit..." cuz really, they go to different places, right? Then the kid asks you Paper or ...

Ahhh ...

"We need to slow your life down," a friend said to me just yesterday.
"This is slow," I said.
"My god, what is fast?"
"You don't want to know ... " :)


I will be out of town then next few days, teaching in Tucson about the wonderful show that was "Firefly". It is amazing what you can learn about writing by just watching that show. On Saturday night, I'll be seeing Robert Redford's new movie "The Conspirator" staring our ever popular Norman Reedus. I also have "Meskeda" waiting here for a viewing when I get back. I've seen JGL"The Look Out" as well as "Stop Loss" and now, after writing them all up, I just need to find out who will be next. Matt Damon is leading, Colin Farrell in second and then Sean Patrick Flanery.

And all of a sudden, I have the urge to see "Boondock Saints" . Even if "The Conspirator's" previews gave me chills, I gotta stick by my ol' favorites. :)

Lessons of Firefly ... Jax Live, Appearing this Saturday!!

April 23, 2011, Tucson Arizona

Speaker: Jacqui Jacoby

Taken from the RWA Tucson Web Page ...

"Jacqui Jacoby will reveal the Lessons of Firefly in both sessions of our meeting. Though this TV show by Joss Whedon only aired through the fall months of 2002, it has continued to generate followers through word of mouth, DVD sales and followers known as "Browncoats". Firefly, created by the Rod Serling of our generation, was a masterpiece of writing. Each of its thirteen episodes taught character development, dialogue and plotting techniques. Its motion picture sequel, Serenity, not only touched on these subjects but added relationships, loyalties and loss to its repertoire. In this workshop, Ms. Jacoby use class participation and examples from the episodes to translate with words what Mr. Whedon was teaching us on screen. Joss Whedon has reviewed this workshop and has given his permission for it to be offered to The Romance Writers of America. As a die-hard Firefly fan who can quote dialogue and scene from both the series and the movie, Jacqui Jacoby knows how to get a crowd excited about the Lessons of Firefly. She is a workshop teacher who has appeared both live and online to give such classes as "From Austen to Aliens: How to Create Classic Tough Chicks" and "Behind the Scenes: The Research Before the Book." Winner of the Daphne du Maurier Award in Excellence, as well as the Suzannah and the Dixie for her books, Ms. Jacoby's articles have appeared worldwide. These days, Jacqui spends five days a week at her computer, creating her stories and writing her articles. "The most fun, though, is the research," she says. "I've worked with rock bands and spoken to the CIA to get info for books." A graduate of UCLA, Jacqui lives in the Arizona mountains with her husband of twenty three years and their three semi grown children."

Wow -- Jax here -- I like they way that sounds!! Now if I can just talk enough to make this true ... :)

You get to spend all your time with one man and it will be ...

So, if you knew you had to spend the next six months with just one of these men ... :)

Please vote below ...