Year: 2009

How many people know one of Jim Morrison’s favorite blues singers was a cat named Arlen Condrell? Arlen was in a band called The Bottom Feeders. He died penniless in Chicago at 47, in 1961. In one of Morrison’s notebooks I discovered this fragment of Arlen’s lyrics: Go fuck yourselves, my petty friends. Go fuck […]

Just as my brain recovers from the trip to Deauville someone sneaks up from behind and thwacks it with a giant tennis racket. As a result it lands in San Sebastian, Spain about 7 hours before me and stubbornly keeps its distance. The 5 days there play like a slightly damaged DVD with only flashes […]

Sept. 5. 09. 9 am. I’m sitting in the back of a car looking out the window. The driver works through the outskirts of Paris and heads north for the 2 hour drive to Deauville. Landed at Charles DeGaulle an hour ago. Slept 3 hours on the plane. It is 2 in the morning, My Time, […]

This is more of a News Update than a specific post. It may also serve to remind people I’m still here. Been kinda busy. The developments on When You’re Strange are good. I can’t go into much detail because there are several scenarios being played out, all with their own positives and complexities. But, the […]

When You’re Strange has finished its two screenings at the LA Film Festival. Many of you have written in with your comments and reactions which I greatly appreciate. Early word seems to be that the film was well received. I could not be there but I wrote a brief statement which was read before both […]

Creating an energized, productive set begins long before you ever get there. It starts with the people you’ve chosen to join the team. Making a decision about who to hire is never easy. No matter how carefully you consider someone you never really know if the Production Designer you’ve just hired is going to show […]

I wrote earlier the director is the captain of the ship. I did not mean Captain Bligh. But you’d be amazed how many people say the main reason they want to be a director is so they “can tell people what to do.” Certainly valid. Although it might help to keep in mind that most people who operate […]

When I was 23, I moved to NYC and started classes at NYU Film School.  As the months went by I kept waiting for the day when I would actually learn something. I knew the art of directing could not be taught. I knew the faculty was doing their best to provide the basic fundamentals of filmmaking […]

Notes From Winter January 1.16.09. 7:06 am. Newark. The flight to Sundance is over-sold. The plane is jammed with ski-bums and half the NY independent film scene. Bad news; I got stuck with a middle seat. Good news, I got an exit row so at least I can stretch my legs and sleep. Just discovered exit row […]

  Back from Berlin. Been awake for 39 hours. Here’s what I remember: First three screenings were to sold-out houses. Another screening is set for Feb. 14th. It too is sold out. Audiences came curious, as opposed to skeptical. This helped give the film a chance to work on them. John Densmore was with me for […]

CHRONIC After the financing fell through on Box Of Moonlight for the 3rd time I got an email from one Fred Knimble. Fred had a production company based in South Africa that was looking for low-budget independent films. I sent him the script. He loved it. My producer Marcus Viscidi and I quickly worked out an option agreement that […]

Here is the 1st in a new series of posts under the general heading of Whacked But Fact. These are actual incidents that have happened to me. They will appear when I remember them. For legal reasons and for physical safety, name changes are obligatory. SABOTAGE On Johnny Suede, I spent a long time looking […]