We lost Chuck Barris last week. If I’m being generous, I have ‘cloudy’ memories of the Gong Show. I do remember ‘Confessions of a Dangerous Mind’ as Clooney’s first film as a director, and the scene below was a heavy influence on the last short I directed ‘Santa’s Third Wheel’ (love story, body language over dialogue). […]
Like some of you, I get a little nervous when a film seems to be too overtly political. There’s a delicate balance in doing those right. But as most of you know, if Clooney is involved I’m willing to give it the benefit of the doubt. Especially when I spot a couple other people who […]
So ‘Trojan War’ is done and a living product now, officially. It’s been a great ride, a ton of memories I’ll never forget, chief among them the outpouring of support. I love my people. In every possible way that statement can be interpreted. Beyond the superficial links between us, that sense of ‘take care of […]
Returned to the director’s chair. Made a quality short that will find a new audience every holiday season (like the film its based on, ironically). Wrote my first original pilot. Wrote my first spec based on a TV show I love. Producer on another ‘legacy’ project that’s one of those ‘once in a lifetime’ things […]
I’m looking at the next month and realizing ‘Holy sh–, I’ve completely over-committed myself.’ Only way to get ahead though. So as I fight off impending stress with this concentrated apple juice on the rocks, enjoy the other song I guarantee I’m covering one way or another in a film someday, even though at this […]
This is starting to feel like a year from the 70s. A lot of really good films, but they cover a lot of different territory. American Hustle is the ‘fun’ film, and 12 Years a Slave is the ‘important’ film…but if you wanted to make the case that Gravity is the ‘most cinematic film’ (and the Producers Guild seems […]
Everyone (especially in this line of work) sees the finished product, but depending on the ‘method’ used, there are a lot of different decisions made on the way to getting on the stage, getting in front of the camera, or getting behind the microphone. Today I’ll pull back the curtain ever so slightly to […]
The stats machine is telling me today’s post is post number 500. So much going on in ‘real life’, we’re right on time for some introspection… By the personal and professional standard I hold myself to, I’ve had back to back ‘house money’ years. I’ve been in the Game long enough to know this […]
Frontrunner for the Best Picture Oscar now? Well, definitely not for Best Director (argument for another day). Anyway, Ben Affleck’s latest (and best) effort has all the ingredients: ‘based on a true story’, top notch supporting cast, a little bit of Hollywood making fun of itself…all the pieces are there. The story itself is […]
So we had technical difficulties, so if you weren’t keeping up with me on Twitter, you didn’t get my thoughts (sorry). A few post game feelings though… You all know how much I’m a fan of Clooney, so I was genuinely surprised/amused at the disgust and hate when he didn’t get the Best Actor award. […]
malikaziz.com 