Today is my Birthday, hence no post yesterday and only this today. My Wichita thing STILL isn’t finished - still, I’m taking the day off for R-AND-R. Hopefully this weekend it will be done, as it looks like I’ve just been hired to write a silly action romp… The trailer below might give you a few clues…
Tied up, so be content with this trailer from Barton Fink and the above picture of the troubled Lindsay Lohan …
Myself and Margie were driving past Little Temple - a club on the edge of Silverlake, last night and the name Eddie Little came up. Eddie was a good friend of mine, at one point and I remember him taking me to that very club. Well, it was called something else, then - but still.
Before his untimely demise - Eddie had gone from zero to hero in writing terms . He had completed several very popular novels - one of which was adapted as the indie crime caper flick, ANOTHER DAY IN PARADISE and was about to work on a TV show with Wesley Strick (of Cape Fear fame.)
I suppose Eddie taught me most about writing in the sense that his enthusiasm was infectious. He put himself into his words and his stories, even when he was blending fact and fiction - still, playing that it was the absolute truth. If you were around him and writing, he gave you the sense that anything was possible. To him, success was only ever a few paragraphs or a few lines of dialogue away. I still believe that and when I think of it, it reminds me of Eddie and yet another waitress asking him: ‘are you Mickey Rourke?” They looked similar. Well, not quite.
If you are searching for inspiration for your project, or just the energy to keep writing or shooting or raising the cash to do either - remember that there are people cheering you on. We all have an Eddie Little, who for me, even from beyond the grave is making me smile and giving me energy this morning.
The trailer I found for ANOTHER DAY IN PARADISE is rather cheesy, but I hink that its’ populist, straight-to-video tone might even have given Eddie a chuckle…
Around this time on 9/11 I recieved a call from my father saying that he was watching the news in the UK and a plane had hit the World Trade Center in New York. Both myself and Margie remained incredulous. We went round to Tom Gulager’s to watch the news and later that day attached an antenna to our own TV - following the horrific events as they unfolded. Even now when I watch that news footage I still can’t quite believe what happened.
Today’s post in dedicated to those who lost their lives and the brave people of New York City…
Another short post because of Labor day. Fourteen years ago to the day, more or less, I was staying at The Paramount Hotel in New York with John Rutter. It’s a long and involved story, hence the picture of Cameron Dioaz, above. Anyway, onto the subject has crowded my inbox for the last few days. MUMBLECORE!
For those of you unfamiliar with what the genre is all about, check out the trailer of Joe Swanberg’s HANNAH TAKES THE STAIRS…
Regular posts should resume tomorrow. Hope you had a good holiday weekend.
Today’s post is very, very short, because my deadline looms close today. But after reading about Owen Wilson and his recent difficulties, I thought I would just send a big shout out to him and hope that his situation improves. Tough times indeed. But don’t worry buddy - you will be back on track again soon. Much love and respect to Owen, his friends and family. Meantime - check out the movie that first made him famous - the original, 14 minute version of Bottle Rocket …
I am from Manchester, England, and a week ago today, one of the great cultural figures of my home town and country passed away. For those of you who know anything about alternative/indie music - the name Tony Wilson will have great resonance. As founder of Factory Records he discovered and signed bands like Joy Divison (who later became New Order), The Durutti Column and The Happy Mondays.
I first met ANTHONY H WILSON in Castlefield, Manchester - when I was about 11 years old. There had been a segment on Granada Reports for kids to help out on an archaelogical ‘dig’ in the center of town. It was one of those ‘youth awareness’ schemes centered around local history and if you showed-up, you got a free T-shirt. I remember that it was Tony Wilson who handed me my free t-shirt.
Then as a Grammar School boy, I would hear about ‘Wilson’ putting on gigs at The Russell Club (which he called ‘The Factory’) in Moss Side. I remember the posters, vividly - which were pasted all over the area. The one that sticks in my mind the most was when Throbbing Gristle played on May 19th, 1979. I tore one of those posters off a wall and kept it.
In later years, I would see Wilson all the time in the Hacienda. His signature ‘drop shouldered’ Armani suits made him appear especially unique. He would alledgedly buy them from a store called Jack Creme. I didn’t know anyone else at the time who could afford to wear Armani - however, I did know Jack Creme’s daughter - Caroline.
The second (and last) time I would meet Wilson was on a pilot for a late night Arts Show that Granada was producing - I can’t quite recall the name - but it was along the lines of THE OTHER SIDE OF MIDNIGHT. My college friend Andy Humphries was either Producer or Head Researcher on the show and he booked me as a guest. Another friend, Jason Jules, blagged me an outfit to wear from Paul Smith. So I was sent a train ticket and they reserved me a room at a decent hotel. Backstage I hung out with the guys from 808 State. Somebody from the band had his dad there. I drank beer with this guy and we wandered around Granada a bit. It seemed vast and cavernous.
Later, that afternoon, around tea-time Wilson interviewed me about my book, TRIP CITY. He was very slick and the consummate pundit. On my way out, I told him about getting a Granada Reports t-shirt off him, when I was 11. He smiled at me, but didn’t really comment. I never actually saw him again until his cameo appearance in 24 HOUR PARTY PEOPLE - which doesn’t really count as it was on DVD. And then, last friday, I got a myspace bulletin from Dave Haslam which simply said: “Tony Wilson R-I-P.”
I still can’t quite believe that Anthony H Wilson is gone. I’m sure that he will be sadly missed by many people. Still, his legacy will live on. And for me, I will always remember that little smile from him as he handed me my free t-shirt, all those years ago.
READ the Obituary from The Independent
WATCH the 24 Hour Party People DVD
WATCH one of the last interviews with Tony Wilson
I have often discussed the possibility of making an art movie with Sean McLusky. But cost has always been an issue - even in the early days of digital video. However, as London is becoming an increasingly desirable location cost isn’t such an issue anymore. It is early days, but we have started to put together the UNTITLED BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR PROJECT. This would basically feature Sean’s band, Trafalgar, in a narrative somewhat reminiscent of A HARD DAY’S NIGHT or the lesser known MAGIC CHRISTIAN. In short, the band (Trafalgar) would travel across a post-apocalyptic version of London - pursued by various villains, policemen and sexy girls. (Ringo Starr is pictured above with Racquel Welch in THE MAGIC CHRISTIAN).
Thus far we have discussed the possibility of cameo roles with the likes of Les McKeown (Bay City Rollers), Jarvis (Pulp) and Shaun Ryder (Happy Mondays). Of course, the members of Trafalgar would occupy the most screen time. Early next month, after Sean’s Shoreditch Free Festival (featuring Har Mar Superstar and Fab Moretti from the Strokes), the Art Movie concept will be pitched to the principals at I-Force Films… Exciting stuff…
LISTEN to Trafalgar on Myspace
BUY The Magic Christian on Amazon
IF YOU ARE IN London see Trafalgar at Sean’s FREE Festival
BUY A Hard Day’s Night
Sorry for the lack of updates. I was involved with my first film festival this past week and I’ve been very busy promoting it and whatnot. I promise the articles will resume shortly!
It had to come some day, the first post of the new blog, “Making Indie Films” (in retrospect I kinda wish I would’ve picked a better name).
This is all kinda scary, but not really. I guess I could say this is the dawning of a new era, the opening of another door, or maybe another branch on the Tree of Life… Or I could avoid metaphors about starting a blog and just say “Hey, I started a new blog!”
Hey, I started a new blog! There, that was easy.
Anyway, here I am, sitting at my computer, in my room, listening to the heavy fan blow away behind me.
But enough about me for now; let’s talk about the site. What it is, what it isn’t and what it will someday become:
What It Is:
What It Isn’t:
What It Will Someday Become:
So there it is, folks. The first post of this wonderful new blog. Hope you’ll like it, because I really do…
Catch you in the monkey-pit, ladies & gentlemen.
Love,
Andrew
P.S. So as to not be completely useless in the first post, here are some helpful links to some handy forums about all things filmmaking:
'Making Indie Films' aims to be one of many rich and helpful resources out there on the web for the aspiring film-maker's in the world. On this site not only will you find tips to help make the job of film-making easier, but you will also find previews and reviews of upcoming independent films varying from those with shoestring budget to those with $1million+ budgets. Also on makingindiefilms.com you can look forward to finding reviews for audio, video, and other equipment designed for the art of video and film production.
'Making Indie Films' encourages and supports all aspects and types of film-making. Whether you're a little guy at the bottom of the pole, or a seasoned veteran looking for some light reading, we've got you covered. If you would like to contribute any ideas, or just tip us off to a great indie film in the works or about to be released, drop us a line via the forms below.
Making Indie Films Author(s)
