TEMPORARY FREEDOM
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
www.theparkfilm.blogspot.com
Are You Using Coupons To Pay For All That?
3 years ago
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
WHY?!
Dear Hollywood,
You took "The Pink Panther" and you took "Underdog" and you also took "Bewitched." But this?!?!
'Three Stooges' coming together at MGM
(WireImage.com/Sony Pictures)
Nyuk-nyuk-nyuk.
MGM and the Farrelly brothers are finally slapping together their high-profile cast for "The Three Stooges," a comedy project the filmmakers have been developing for years. Sean Penn is set to play Larry, and Jim Carrey is in negotiations to play Curly. Benicio del Toro is a rumored possibility for the brothers' taciturn leader, Moe.
The studio is looking to start production in the fall for a 2010 release slot.
The project was originally set up at Columbia, which produced the 1930s Stooges shorts. C3 Entertainment Inc., which holds the licensing rights to the Stooges brand, then sold the feature rights to Warner Bros. in 2001 for the Farrellys to write and produce the movie. Eventually, Warner Bros. let the rights lapse and MGM's Mary Parent scooped them up along with the Farrellys' continuing participation.
Peter and Bobby Farrelly wrote the script, which Bobby has referenced as "Dumb, Dumber & Dumbest," and will produce with Bradley Thomas and Charlie Wessler. Earl and Robert Benjamin of C3 will executive produce.
The film is not a biopic but a fictional treatment that maintains the Stooges' gleeful slap schtick updated for a modern milieu.
Originally constructed as four separate shorts, the feature screenplay has since been streamlined into a single narrative. Included in the story line is an opening that shows the Stooges as kids in an orphanage, a device that will require some "Benjamin Button"-style visual trickery to place the adult actors' heads on child actors' bodies.
The Stooges maintain remarkably global brand recognition, and their shorts, films and cartoons are still broadcast in 30 countries. The Farrelly brothers' latest comedy "The Heartbreak Kid" grossed $124 million worldwide.
Penn is repped by CAA, Carrey by CAA and the Miller Co.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Springer and Stepford
Connecticut's Gold Coast braces for Jerry Springer
NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Connecticut's Gold Coast, a bastion of suburban perfection including both Martha Stewart and the Stepford Wives, is about to become home to Jerry Springer's bawdy TV show, which features wife swappers, strippers and skinheads.
Subject to negotiations, Springer's show will move from Chicago this summer into the new production studio at the Rich Forum Theater in Stamford, about 30 miles from New York City and next to one of the region's largest and oldest Catholic churches. The pastor says he plans to talk to church lawyers to see if they can stop the plan after hearing complaints from parishioners, including one who called the show "low-brow."
"They didn't think this was the right place for it," said the Rev. Stephen DiGiovanni of St. John's Catholic Church. "I'm not very thrilled about it."
Fairfield County is one of the nation's richest regions and inspired the classic film "The Stepford Wives" in which the men in a seemingly perfect town find a way to turn their spouses into beautiful, compliant housebound robots. Stewart's television show focusing on fine living was filmed for many years in nearby Westport.
Springer, the former mayor of Cincinnati, shows the seedier side of life with a show known for profanity, fistfights, cheating spouses and incestuous relationships. Many of the guests are from low-income backgrounds and reinforce negative attitudes about the poor, DiGiovanni said.
"Springer is making millions on other peoples' misery and stereotypes," DiGiovanni said.
Telephone messages were left Thursday and Friday for Springer.
The deal would also bring two other shows with similar formats. "Maury," hosted by Maury Povich, would move from New York, and "The Steve Wilkos Show," hosted by the former security director of "Springer," would move from Chicago this summer to start producing shows for next season.
Connecticut officials see dollar signs amid the Wall Street meltdown that has taken a toll on Fairfield County, which borders New York and is home to many business executives. They said the new studio that will house Springer's show and two other shows will create 150 to 200 jobs and could be the start of an emerging entertainment industry in Connecticut.
"It's a home run for Fairfield County," said Joseph McGee of the Business Council of Fairfield County. "This is not public radio, but who cares? Springer may upgrade his audience mix."
Connecticut officials announced last month they were in final negotiations with NBC Universal to open the studio by offering a 30 percent production tax credit on annual activity and a 20 percent tax credit on infrastructure costs exceeding $1 million. The state would spend $3 million in infrastructure, Gov. M. Jodi Rell said.
"We hope to close the deal soon, but I'm kind of getting a jump on the gun because we're so excited about bringing some new talent and new production to the state," she told reporters Feb. 27.
"We are delighted that the film production tax credit enables us to create high-paying jobs in the state, and we're happy to be working with the governor and the mayor to stimulate the Connecticut economy and also to help save the arts center financially," NBC said.
The deal will help the Stamford Center for the Arts — which runs the Rich Forum and another theater — pull out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy, said Michael Widland, the center's chairman. The financial stability during precarious times also will enhance the arts by allowing the center to continue to serve as a venue for ballet, symphony and other performances, he said.
Stamford Mayor Dannel Malloy said he has not received any complaints about Springer's show coming to his city, which ranks among the safest in the country. He denied the show would hurt the region's image.
"Having the rest of GE doesn't hurt either," Malloy said, referring to NBC parent company General Electric, headquartered in nearby Fairfield.
Stamford has long been home to World Wrestling Entertainment, whose televised wrestling shows have sparked controversy over the years.
While Fairfield County is renowned for its wealth and cachet, local officials note that the region is more economically diverse than its image. The Jerry Springer show could shatter the Fairfield stereotype, said Frank Trotta, a lawyer who lives in Greenwich.
"If anything, it will bring the perception of Fairfield County more in reality," Trotta said.
But he compared the show's new setting to a blizzard in Bermuda.
"One is nasty, cold and bitter," Trotta said. "The other is bright, clean and warm. I'm not sure it's a good fit."
But after a wave of corruption in Connecticut, some officials don't see much harm with Jerry Springer's arrival.
"Some of the politics in our state is as entertaining as anything Springer puts on," said Michael Freimuth, Stamford's economic development director.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Shakespeare
But, peace be with him!
That life is better life, past fearing death,
Than that which lives to fear: make it your comfort,
So happy is your brother.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Chet
I just wrote something up on my other blog. I've been severely distracted these past few days with recent death of Chet. I don't know if writing is simply my way of venting or remembering or whatever it is. I know that whatever I write doesn't convey whatever I feel. It's something. It's something of the moment and though I'm not articulate now or ever really, I just need to the get thoughts down. I'm talking out loud to myself and my fingers are moving, but I'm not really taking a lot of time to think. Maybe that's what I need now. I need to stop thinking. Therapy. That's what writing is. I know that whatever I say now has the potential of pushing me back to Monday, back to shock, back to numb, back of suffocating, back to something I don't want to think about. But for the past few days, I've done nothing but think.
I didn't know Chet as well as other friends of mine, but he affected me nonetheless. His death was not only a shock, but more devastating than I think I could have prepared myself for. In some ways I'm grateful that I wasn't closer to him and yet at the same time so upset for not having been closer. Since hearing the news Monday, the only thing I can think about is Chet. There's Chet's laugh, there's Chet's smile, and so on. I just need to write the things I do remember before I forget. And I didn't know him that well, but I don't want to forget.
I remember when I first saw him holding hands with my neighbor when I was in 9th grade. I had come back to the middle school for some reason and saw them walking down the hall. They were in eighth grade. Jeans and a white shirt. It was then that he wore that and that's the probably what I'll always remember him in. That's what Chet will always wear in my mind.
A few months later I actually met Chet face to face when my first play was produced that summer. His arm around my neighbor in the audience. I didn't know what to think of him at first. There was the studded black leath wrist band, clean hair, white shirt and jeans. White shirt and jeans.
Chet fades in and out of my memory. He's in the yard next door, he's in the hall at school, he's at the band performing. Two shows. Maybe those were the only shows I ever saw him perform in. I saw him and his bands perform at a show I helped some friends out with in Ridgefield and another show in the high school.
I remember the summer time yelling, "YO CHET" over into the yard next door in the summer. My dad told me it was stupid to have yelled over at him. He didn't know Chet and I knew each other. I didn't care. When I went out later to the yard again, Chet started yelling back at me. I can't remember what was said, but I remember my dad realizing that it was ok for us to banter at one another.
It wasn't long after I got my driver's license when I was driving home from the high school and saw Chet walking along the grassy stretch that extends from the high school down past the fields. I opened my window and slowed down, "Chet!"
"Oh hey!"
"Where you walking to?"
"Home."
"Where's that?"
"Cheesespring."
"Want a lift?"
"Yes!"
He swung the door open, threw his bag to the ground and was immediately thankful. He told me how he had gotten into a spat with his parents and they couldn't pick him up. He had stayed after school (photo club, detention, I don't know) and didn't have a way home so he was going to walk. The sun was out, the windows were down. It was a good day. I wish I remember more of what we talked about. But he was grateful, happy, laughing. White shirt, black jacket, jeans. I don't even know if I was legal to allow people to ride in my car yet with my permit, but it didn't matter.
What about coming back to the high school that summer? I thought about filming in the theatre there. Chet had been serving some time in the high school and he and the dean had a great relationship, as if they were old friends. Despite his trouble, it didn't matter. I remember talking to her and then striking up conversation with Chet who was in the neighboring room. The three of us talked and I don't remember what it was about. We laughed until the dean stopped me and said, "Don't talk to Chet he's taking an exam." Chet gave her some bs banter and it made me laugh before I finally found it appropriate to leave.
On another instance, he was doing some work and I remember seeing him on the way out, smoking a cigarette.
"She knows I do it, but she just doesn't care anymore. She knows I'm going to do it anyway."
The light conversations outside of Starbucks when there were others around.
The motorcycle. He parked it right outside of Starbucks and everyone made a stink about the revving engine. He got off and immediately lit a cigarette Everyone kept trying to rev it and he eventually got pissed that they would mess up the engine. My friends and I couldn't help but find the whole thing pretty stupid and when one of they guys I was talking to got in his SUV (a mom tank), he revved the enging jokingly and drove off.
The memories buzz in and out and I'm scared that's all I may have left. We saw each other, we knew each other, but what else do we have?
I feel pathetic.
I've reevaluated so much in the past few days. What if someone else I know is gone to tomorrow?
I'm angry with him in many ways. Just really pissed. I want to shake him, scream at him for making us feel the way we do. But he's gone. And it just hurts and it's scary.
So Chet, all I can hope is that you're better wherever you are. There are people that you touched and people who loved you. You've scarred us in some way, but maybe that's not all bad. You left a mark on us that's with us forever. You left before any of us had the chance to forget you as a passing person in our youth. Now you're an entire piece of it. Who knows, maybe you did want to live forever and that's how you did it. Whatever it is, you're a part of us. Maybe this is where the words start to fail me. I know you know what I mean and I'm thankful to have known you. You made me smile, made me roll my eyes, but whatever it was, you were great. You were a character and a great one. That's something I won't forget.
Maybe I'll go to the funeral. I think it'll bring some closure. I've done a lot of thinking on that. i want to go. I don't know if I want to go to the wake though. Is it open? The thought of Chet in a suit, his eyes closed, his expression gone. I don't know if I can see that. For me, Chet will always be they smile, that laugh, the black jacket, the white shirt, and jeans.
Chester (Chet) Wayne Burcheet 1989-2009
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
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