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 …
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. …
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 …
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, …
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 …
I’m about 8 miles high somewhere over Kansas. It’s pitch black out the window. I'm flying out to LA to finish the final mix and the color correction of When You’re Strange. The entire …
Alright. I've finally got a moment to turn the page from Delirious to the Doors. After all it's only been 3 years. And after all, we're only talking about THE DOORS. Some quick updates. …
Jimmy and I have not spoken for several days. His Superman flick is really picking up steam. Penelope Cruz has signed on with the only condition being she and Starlett Johannson perform a pseudo-quasi-hardcore sex …
I woke up this morning and discovered Jimmy still sprawled on my couch in his underwear. "I thought you were going to LA," I said, muting the TV. "Next week," Jimmy muttered, grabbing the …
My friend Jimmy is back in town. He told me he's been out in LA for 6 months, which surprised me because he never once tried to contact me the whole time I was …
Delirious was released on DVD this week. The release was of such importance to Gestation that they hired a publicity firm and secured the interest of two (2) journalists. The interview below is from DVD Snapshot.com. The 2nd, at …
Somehow I made it to the Burbank airport in the morning. I stared at the DELAYED notice above my flight for about 15 minutes before I realized it meant I was going to miss my connection …
I worked late in the editing room last night. I'm flying to Chicago tomorrow to show Delirious at Roger Ebert's Ebertfest; a festival that highlights the year's Best Overlooked Films. It is an honor …
The Doors documentary is slowly slipping into shape. Every day though is intense. I'm trying to keep track of a hundred hours of footage in my brain, sifting through it over and over to …
I've had to relocate to Los Angeles to do this Doors gig. The producers found me an apartment in North Hollywood, not far from the editing room. I've learned that North Hollywood is called Noho. It …
Richard Widmark died on Thursday. I happened to read his obituary in the paper. I was struck by a coincidence. Here's what the 93 year old actor said about Hollywood; "The guys who run …
A woman I know drops so many names I make sure to wear steel-toed shoes when I'm around her. So, if I tell you that Chris Noth is a friend of mine I'm trusting you …
I am not home. I am in Loss Angeleze for at least 2 months, directing a feature documentary about The Doors. I got here last Sunday. I started work on Monday. I think today is …
Suede is smooth but let's slide back to Delirious for a moment. It is actually the event that prompted this blog in the first place. About 4 years ago, mid-winter of 2004, I came home from …
Guess what? I just found out my first film, Johnny Suede, has been released on DVD by Anchor Bay. The reason I just found out about it now could be a very lengthy post …
Howdy lensbusters. Just a quick note to let you know I'm still alive and kicking--punching a little bit too. I've got two scripts in development and am working hard to get them into production. …
Well, chicos y chicas, the time has come to swing open the corral gate and let this pony go. I've got a couple films I'm trying to usher into production as well as the pointed …
In the olden days, about 200,000 years ago, before Mankind had developed the thumb and intelligence to operate a TV remote, a guy named Twain wrote a few books. In one of them, Roughing It …
This just in: I've just been informed that someone claiming to be Michael Pitt has sent word (again) that he will not be doing any press for Delirious. According to this "Michael Pitt" he …
So, here's what happened. In mid-February of 2004 I flew back to NY with Scarlett Johansson's commitment to do the film and several of her ideas about developing K'harma's character. Two things were now …
I’m back. Sorry about the delay. A week ago Delirious left all theatres in NYC. The reality of its departure shall we say, affected me. I’ve lived with this film for 6 years. Now …
Just a quick observational note: Perhaps some of you have noticed the advertising campaign for the new alt western 2:10 To Zima. Perhaps you have noticed the ads for this movie are everywhere and …
Alright. So now you've got your 1st Draft. Give yourself some credit. In fact, give yourself a lot of credit. I may have been exaggerating about the 42 million other screenwriters out there but …
So. Here we go with a little detour into the writing of Delirious. This one delves a bit deeper and may be a great big yawn to some of you. If so, just skip …
This just in from Gestation: Nothing. For over a week; no emails, no phone calls--no nothing. I checked the weekly flyspeck of an ad in today's NY Times to see if the film was …
Wednesday, September 5, 2007 Well, I’m back in New York now. The chainsaw’s put away and it’s time to face the jungle of reality barehanded. Delirious is miraculously still playing in one theater here …
I know I said I was traveling further north. I was lying. I traveled west; far west. A few days ago this email from Gestation blinked into my inbox: "To All Concerned, a private screening …
Well, it is 8:30 pm here in Vermont. I've had only the tiniest morsel of news from Gestation; an email that read: "Film holding in NY with ads; not likely for LA." There. Now …
Friday, Aug. 24. I'm taking it easy today. I made such a mess in the back yard that Jane had to call a tree service to come in and repair the damage. I wonder …
Thursday, Aug. 23. I have spent the last three days alternating between writing frenzied emails and cutting down trees with a chainsaw behind our house. A neighbor came by and remarked in nervous alarm, …
Left NY today. Heading north up into the Vermont woods. I leave Delirious on its own, playing on two screens daily. With every mile that passes beneath the wheels I feel a sharp twinge …
Mark TK's wife suggested posting the wallpaper Les Galantine (Steve Buscemi) has on his computer in the film. So I tried doing so. You'll find it in the TRIVIA PAGE above, entitled; Buscemi Wallpaper. …
Dear Friends, Mr. DiCillo is under intense sedation at the moment. He has asked me to fill in for him while he is incapacitated. Just before going under he completed the final Promotional Video …
Wed. Aug 15. 2007 Delirious had its final word-of-mouth screening last night at the Angelika Theater on Houston Street. The Q&A afterwards was to be the last one for the film and I was …
Here’s a funny story for you. Just finished two days of NY press for the film. Nothing much to report there. Except one guy asked me at a “roundtable” if I’d ever shoot films …
I’m on an airplane right now. Spiderman XXVII is playing silently on the overhead video screen and looks like it is being projected through 5 pairs of pantyhose. Just after takeoff flight attendants moved …
Sorry about the black cloud a few days ago. My fever has eased and I’m better now. At least now I can read email attachments. Apparently I’m to fly to LA where there will …
A few days ago I was called into a development meeting at Gestation with Arnold and George, the executive in charge of distribution. The long and short of it was this; they were cutting …
Got the first week’s numbers in from France. Not a blockbuster but the film did very well for itself. Delirious was number 4 behind Live Free and Die With a Hardon, Spiders of the …
Just before returning to NY I flew from Paris to Karlovy Vary in the Czech Republic where Delirious was presented as the Opening Night film. At the ceremony a long line of limousines dropped guests …
After San Francisco I went to France in the middle of June to promote Delirious for the French release. It was set to open July 4th on about 70 screens; 11 just in Paris …
Got some good news after returning from Istanbul. Gestation has formed its own distribution company and will make Delirious its first theatrical release. What excites me most about this is that the film will …
Woke up the next morning hungry and hungover. The Festival had planned a boat trip up the Bosphorus. The boat was crowded and the river was unexpectedly rough leaving me gripping the railing …
After Sundance I came back to NY and fell in a hole for about a month. After I crawled out of it I called Buscemi just to see how he was doing and to …
I came back from San Sebastian in October and immediately began preparing for Sundance. It’s funny; when I was first invited to Sundance in 1990 with Johnny Suede my reaction was hesitation. At that time …