Shiro's Head - A DIY Lesson

Shiro's Head is approaching a year since we left to Guam for production. The movie is currently at the tail end of post production. Yep, and although it's been a while, if I could've gone back and do it all over again, I wouldn't have changed a thing.

The two things that are almost impossible to possess on a DIY project at the same time (or in life, for that matter) are: Time and Money. Which one do you have? Utilize it wisely.

Guam in the Emergency Room

While watching last week's episode of ER, I was surprised to hear a little mention of Guam. In this episode "Status Quo", which aired last Thursday, 01.03.08, television writer Janine Sherman Barrois decided to give a little island a little prime time screen time. I wonder how much research was done for the line... and by the way - there's plenty going on in Guam - they just opened one of the world's largest Home Depot stores ever! ;)

Anatomy of a Car Crash - The Kingdom DVD

Numb to DVD special features? Check out "The Kingdom" on DVD and see the "Constructing the Freeway Sequence" bonus feature. It's impressive and the appreciation level for stunt choreography is renewed once again - proving that there should very well be a "Stunt" category included in the Oscars.

Nominated for 4 Golden Globes - Sweeney Todd

Best Picture - Musical or Comedy
Best Director - Tim Burton
Best Actor - Johnny Depp (vying with John C. Reilly for Walk Hard)
Best Actress - Helena Bonham Carter

I remember watching an episode of Sunday Morning Shootout where hosts Peter Bart and Peter Guber were talking about how the rebirth of theatrical musicals was close to making a successful comeback as a genre. I found that prediction really interesting. "Long gone are the days of 'Oklahoma' and 'Sound of Music'", I thought to myself. Decades gone, in fact. But after thinking about it, they couldn't have been more right.

And a One and a Two...
Recently, we've seen a few musicals garner critical acclaim from both critics and audiences alike - Chicago, remake of Hairspray, remake of Rent, Dreamgirls, The Producers, High School Musical 1 & 2 and now Sweeney Todd - The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Heck even R. Kelly couldn't help but get into the act.

Big talent and big production numbers are bringing big box office dollars and seem to be etching its way back into modern cinema. With Sweeney Todd, it's no wonder why.

Delivering the Goods
Tim Burton brings his signature style to the table and in full force with strong vocal and acting performances from Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter. The Sondheim score was classic and only added to the strength of the cinematography and production design without overshadowing the talent. I've never seen Depp in such a dark and dastardly light. Not even The Libertine came close.

Overall
Taking the theatrical musical to new heights for a new era, the bar has been set for other filmmakers to follow in order to avoid the traps of musical cliches burned into the minds of the modern movie-goer. Definitely deserving of its multiple Golden Globe nominations, Sweeney Todd is a breath of fresh air with a new flavor of meat pies.

Nominated for Two Golden Globes - Walk Hard

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture Comedy or Musical
Best Original Song Motion Picture

Really? Two?
Well, I can say this - John C. Reilly did a great job, but if you're familiar with any of Judd Apatow's earlier comedies, then John C. Reilly is all the movie really offered. The Apatow formula is getting a bit redundant - almost annoying. Don't get me wrong - I love stupid-funny, in fact I think that's the only sense of humor I have hard-wired in me. Nonetheless, I feel that the style of comedy that Apatow constantly rolls off his assembly line is becoming a cookie-cutter experience to the point where it's not as funny as it has the potential to be. Besides, after the Farrelly Bros., everything he's shown me so far has been done before and has been done better.

Overall
Other than that, I thought the movie delivered what I expected. The writing had some highlights as far as stupid-funny goes. I love the recurring line recited from Dewey's father in every scene he appears in, along with the actual name-saying for characters and situations (ie. calling every Beatle by his first and last name just so the audience knows who is supposed to be who, or squeezing in the age of characters to clue in the audience, or an obviously old 14-year old Dewey surrounded by his young bandmates). Although I expected more from Apatow with the power of John C. Reilly behind him, this is a fun movie to pass the time and to have a good laugh or two.

Why They Fight

For those that don't know the reasons behind the Writer's Guild of America strike, here's a great video to help you understand:

And others: Sarah Silverman Talks About the Strike and Writers Strike (spoof by Colbert Report writers) and even more here: United Hollywood on YouTube

Late Night Returns Despite Writers Strike

Last night the prime time talk shows made a return after a two month hiatus as Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Late Show with David Letterman, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson all returned to the airwaves. Only Letterman and Ferguson have struck an interim deal with striking writers through the Worldwide Pants Production Company (owned by Letterman) that will welcome writers back onto the show, while O'Brien and Leno continue to air the show without union writers.

Write On
Having been able to view the first shows back (Leno and O'Brien) I can honestly say I developed a more acute appreciation for professional late-night writers. Being a big Conan fan, I was able to feel the awkwardness in between the comedy and time stalls during the show and could clearly distinguish the difference of where comedic writing meets comedic instincts (which still had me craking up...just didn't care much for the timing).

Since having to co-write the original screenplay for "Shiro's Head", I know first hand how big a deal it is - the importance of needing writers to help bring your material to its peak. Unfortunately, that was a resource that Don and I didn't have and had to go at it alone. And even though Don and I weren't experienced screenwriters, we still had to get through it and be keen enough to write around resources.

Says Who?!
On a "Hollywood" level, however, the demands involved with the strike seem to be so fair and so simple that I can't believe it took a strike to get the producers of the industry to sit up and notice what the writers should be getting. Talent like that of a professional writer is one that is worth way more than is being asked for by the strikers. I mean, how does one other than yourself actually justify what you are worth?

For more of the latest on the Writers Strike check out the United Hollywood site.