tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post6868784300124834798..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: The one word to look out forBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-59939403748646189522018-03-12T14:28:47.698-07:002018-03-12T14:28:47.698-07:00Joseph S.
You shouldn’t apologize for your rant. I...Joseph S.<br />You shouldn’t apologize for your rant. It was very interesting, and many of us had no idea how it worked. It’s so unfortunate that these changes have occurred—they seem to make it very difficult for the people who would much prefer to see the work of individuals like you to actually find you. It seems as if a whole new venue is needed, and YouTube needs to be left to the large enterprises that they seem only to be interested in now. I wish you good luck, however!Joe Blownoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-32746636509780431142018-03-12T11:57:50.648-07:002018-03-12T11:57:50.648-07:00My favorite 'praise' for a friends show wa...My favorite 'praise' for a friends show was one I came up with on the spot. At least I think I originated it:<br />No one liked it more than me.stephen catronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17879615896830957479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-92178678609542276332018-03-12T11:22:49.707-07:002018-03-12T11:22:49.707-07:00In my youth there were always the people who never...In my youth there were always the people who never went near live theater unless a relative forced them to see another relative onstage. They often expressed delighted surprise that it wasn't as dire as they clearly expected. "Almost professional" was offered as sincere, unironic praise.DBensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01144515471557731622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-51170528082274310052018-03-12T11:06:34.744-07:002018-03-12T11:06:34.744-07:00At least you can say you tried. :)At least you can say you tried. :)Nealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07486304582579129058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-89452605011166224752018-03-12T06:32:19.205-07:002018-03-12T06:32:19.205-07:00The oldest euphemism, "interesting"The oldest euphemism, "interesting"Mike Barerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14447874605833321732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-59331358728153857602018-03-12T04:30:03.138-07:002018-03-12T04:30:03.138-07:00I have a rule that if someone asks what I think of...I have a rule that if someone asks what I think of something I assess whether there's time to make changes. If there's not and they're about to go on stage, nothing but support. If there is, they get the truth. *However*, that doesn't mean doling out truth by the truckload. My preferred approach if there's a thousand things is to pick a few that are relatively easy fixes and see how the person responds. If they get defensive and insist it can't be changed, then the conversation is over.<br /><br />Sometimes the response you get to major fixes is, "Yes, I know you're right, but I don't want to spend the time and effort for the total rewrite this would call for." Then you know the person is not - and not ever going to be - a professional, but in some contexts (amateur theater) that may be a perfectly reasonable approach.<br /><br />The last thing I wrote attracted wildly different assessments of what was wrong with it from the group of people who saw it. Their ideas conflicted enough that they couldn't all be right...and I eventually concluded that the problem was a layer down from where they were all looking, a fundamental flaw they hadn't understood, which was a character whose motives *I* don't understand (the idea was based on something that happened to a friend, and none of us have ever understood why). <br /><br />wgWendy M. Grossmanhttp://www.pelicancrossing.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-39084514888560255572018-03-12T01:10:12.487-07:002018-03-12T01:10:12.487-07:00I never found "fun" pejorative for movie...I never found "fun" pejorative for movies. Some films you watch for artistic merit or action thrills, others you watch to laugh a lot with. I just saw the new teams"Jumanji", and though there were no philosophical or artistic points to hammer home, it was a hoot and lot of fun at the theater.<br /><br />Speaking of "Jumanji", it gave me some potential Friday Questions. 1) Karen Gillan said she knew she needed to hit the gym and hire a trainer when she saw the skimpy "costume" of her Ruby Roundhouse character. When actors need training for a role, like boxing if they're playing a prize fighter, firearms training if they're playing soldiers, or even just toning their bodies like Gillan, do the actors pay for the skill coaches, or do the studios pick up the tab? 2) Like many films since the Jason Bourne trilogy, "Jumanji" just showed the movie's title at the start, and didn't list the actors, director, producers and writers until after the end. What's the reason for hiding all that info until the end titles? I'd personally like to have an idea of the Key players and production leaders early on, and saving them for the end drives me crazy.Liggienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-81207063195115895012018-03-11T23:41:08.280-07:002018-03-11T23:41:08.280-07:00A few I like:
"I just can't find the wor...A few I like:<br /><br />"I just can't find the words."<br />"I've seen a lot of movies this year, and this is certainly one of them."<br />"I think it's gonna do a lot of business."<br />and my favorite:<br />"You're the only one who could have made this."cadavranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-79589161129267704772018-03-11T22:59:12.646-07:002018-03-11T22:59:12.646-07:00One other thing I will add regarding family member...One other thing I will add regarding family members and relatives is it's also just as bothersome when they feel as though simply because they're related to you, that they're entitled to have their input worked into your project, and then take it personally when you don't.Joseph Scarbroughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02572781083272335747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-16926376678010433152018-03-11T22:52:34.804-07:002018-03-11T22:52:34.804-07:00My mom always used to say "Well, that was dif...My mom always used to say "Well, that was different."alan0825https://www.blogger.com/profile/12684922049452771909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-34083995930256997652018-03-11T21:25:54.091-07:002018-03-11T21:25:54.091-07:00In the early ‘90s my brother-in-law decided to ful...In the early ‘90s my brother-in-law decided to fulfill his dream to write, direct and star in movies. He had a non-creative but well-paying job so he decided to make his own film, using about $500,000 of his own money. He took acting classes, talked to film production people and began writing a script. When he was happy with his script he asked me to read it and give him my honest feedback. “Be brutally honest!,” he told me. <br /><br />While I thought he had the germ of a possibly good idea, I thought the whole thing was a mess. I made pages and pages of notes to discuss with him and called him up. Every question or suggestion I had was met with “Well, I like it the way it is.” An hour later my sister calls back angry at me for my feedback. So much for being honest. <br /><br />Cut to two years later. The film is finished (my brother in law hasn’t said one word to me about it since the call) and he rents a big, old theater to hold the world premiere About 500 friends and family members are in attendance. I arrive straight from the airport to find he has reserved the seat to his right for me. A friend from high school and college sat to my right. The movie began. After 90 minutes of shear torture, while the end credits roll, my friend, who had been whispering “This is awful, this is awful” the entire movie, asked me, “What are you gonna say to him?” <br /><br />I don’t know where it came from but when the credits ended and the lights came up, I stood up, shook his hand and said, “I can’t believe you did it!” 25 years later, he still thinks I loved it. DetroitGuyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01429351018490492648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-88312680100877377232018-03-11T20:09:25.041-07:002018-03-11T20:09:25.041-07:00As far as back-handed/left-handed, diplomatic feed...As far as back-handed/left-handed, diplomatic feedback and what have, I remember always rolling my eyes at a line from the SANFORD AND SON episode in which Lamont enrolled in an acting class, but wanted to keep it a secret from Fred because he knew Fred would just dismiss it as nonsense; his acting coach insisted Fred see him act, saying, "Your friends and family are your toughest critics. If you can please them, you can please anybody." Please, unless your friends or family happen to be straightup jerkasses, of course they're not going to say anything critical.Joseph Scarbroughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02572781083272335747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-42581888881725614862018-03-11T19:05:14.006-07:002018-03-11T19:05:14.006-07:00Maybe I'm alone in this, but I far prefer cons...Maybe I'm alone in this, but I far prefer constructive negative feedback to diplomatic pseudo-positive feedback. Whether I'm acting, directing, writing, or some combination of the three, I always want to do my best; I have far more room to improve when people tell me what they didn't like than when they try to spare my feelings.<br /><br />Of course, if their feedback is just plain wrong, I still reserve the right to discard it.Covarrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05512077437345823232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-877364414140456962018-03-11T18:08:12.735-07:002018-03-11T18:08:12.735-07:00Aside (sotto)
Ted Danson is on tomorrow's Mar...Aside (sotto)<br /> Ted Danson is on tomorrow's Marc Maron /WTF podcast<br /><br />Ok, not properly 'labeled' but you get the point.Wallynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-22721817008255816552018-03-11T16:42:40.837-07:002018-03-11T16:42:40.837-07:00@MikeN I do. And Facebook as well. Don't help ...@MikeN I do. And Facebook as well. Don't help much, honestly.Joseph Scarbroughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02572781083272335747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-52656001387059761812018-03-11T16:23:39.536-07:002018-03-11T16:23:39.536-07:00My least favorite reaction is, "It was... ...My least favorite reaction is, "It was... 'nice.'" That's the show business equivalent of, "I just want to be friends/I like you like a brother." To digress slightly: Its ironic, but with all of the negative reactions to the so called INTERNET TROLLS I personally feel that they're closer to real life than polite commenters. Why do you think so many polls, surveys and questioners are taken anonymously? Because the experts know that you're far more likely to get an honest opinion if the person doesn't have to give his or her name. Although that doesn't really apply here. As regular readers of Ken's blog know he's had his share of negative, even hostile comments from people who leave their names. And while he allows "anonymous" replies they usually aren't that bad. I'm just curious about what the deleted comments had to say. <br />M.B. <br />P.S. I'm really looking forward to Ken's next FUN play. I hope its really FUN! I can't wait to tell him how FUN it was. Yes, I'm an a-hole.Mike Bloodworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04755626259169126800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-21058692742646340072018-03-11T16:01:24.634-07:002018-03-11T16:01:24.634-07:00My particular favourite is variants on "No ex...My particular favourite is variants on "No expense spared". No, literally, no expense was spared on that.Looseheadnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-29685975272462481992018-03-11T14:16:23.479-07:002018-03-11T14:16:23.479-07:00My older relatives would always bring me down with...My older relatives would always bring me down with two words added to any compliment. "That's very good, FOR YOU." Cap'n Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11783977137812876489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-41380120568964661832018-03-11T14:02:31.172-07:002018-03-11T14:02:31.172-07:00I remember Milton Berle telling another comedian, ...I remember Milton Berle telling another comedian, "You were never better."Greg Ehrbarhttp://www.gregehrbar.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-12710343991656065652018-03-11T13:52:03.312-07:002018-03-11T13:52:03.312-07:00Joe Scarborough, you need to use Twitter to link t...Joe Scarborough, you need to use Twitter to link to your videos. <br /><br />Youtube is making a series Cobra Kai that will star Ralph Macchio and Zabka in the same roles.MikeNnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-35776208745658981832018-03-11T13:27:16.841-07:002018-03-11T13:27:16.841-07:00I saw Jack Lemmon tell a great story in an intervi...I saw Jack Lemmon tell a great story in an interview. I forget which movie it was, but at the screening everyone knew it was just a godawful dud. Up comes Walter Matthau, "my brother", Lemmon said, and Lemmon steeled himself to ask what he thought. "Get out of it," Matthau advised him.<br /><br />Personally, I was always taught that "interesting" was the sign that they really hated it.<br /><br />wgWendy M. Grossmanhttp://www.pelicancrossing.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-83977112599731058332018-03-11T11:55:49.299-07:002018-03-11T11:55:49.299-07:00After the lady in my avatar made "Fools For S...After the lady in my avatar made "Fools For Scandal," arguably her worst starring vehicle, in 1938 (it was made at Warners, a studio which, post-Code, had no feel whatsoever for screwball comedy), Carole Lombard said she knew it was a flop when people told her how beautiful she looked in it. <br /><br />The critical failure of "Fools" led Lombard to change her career course from comedy to drama for the next two years, not returning to comedy until her next-to-last film, "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" (1941, directed by her good friend Alfred Hitchcock of all people, and completely unrelated to the 2005 Pitt-Jolie film with the same title). VP81955https://www.blogger.com/profile/11792390726196611188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-41126245084905233122018-03-11T10:59:04.237-07:002018-03-11T10:59:04.237-07:00"No problem" has replaced "you'..."No problem" has replaced "you're welcome" to the point where it has lost all meaning. More like "it may or may not have been a problem but I'm not going to ask for your gratitude if it did."Breadbakernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-90927809428421695232018-03-11T10:33:29.717-07:002018-03-11T10:33:29.717-07:00I have a friend who sees all the newest movies. W...I have a friend who sees all the newest movies. When she calls something "odd" (most recently GET OUT), I know to approach with caution.Buttermilk Skyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07430011403223875192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-15220949340160552712018-03-11T10:14:26.613-07:002018-03-11T10:14:26.613-07:00My favorite diplomatic backhanded compliment is on...My favorite diplomatic backhanded compliment is one I found in researching my book "Hollywood Hi-Fi." It came from Cary Grant, who was a friend of Cole Porter's and played him in "Night and Day." When pressed for a quote for the jacket of Cybill Shepherd's first album, "Cybill Does It...To Cole Porter," Grant provided this: "I only wish Cole could have heard it." <br /><br />And that's why he was Cary Grant and we're not. Pat Reederhttp://www.facebook.com/hollywoodhifibooknoreply@blogger.com