Posted on 02/27/2005 5:39:10 AM PST by sonofatpatcher2
Well, Oscar Night is upon us again.
And if Chris Rock is nearly right, I might be the only straight white man who watches the Oscars for both the pretty women almost dressed plus the primetime fun of making rude comments as the awards are handed out.
I think I seen about every Academy Awards when I've been able to since my folks got a television set in 1955. It was always in the back of my mind to one night walk up and accept one of those small golden guys.
I tried the acting route, even obtaining a SAG Card, and made a very small splash in some very bad films and TV commercials. I was not good enough looking to be a leading man in the McQueen-Newman-Redford heyday and not ugly enough for the anti-hero period that followed. Proof of that is directly below:
It could be said I envisioned myself as the next John Wayne... Yet in truth came closer to the poorman's Gabby Hayes.
There are five stages in any actor's professional life. The first is "Who is Danny Lee?" The second is "Get me Danny Lee!" The third is "We need a Danny Lee type!" Fourth is "Where are the young Danny Lees?" And fifth and last is the "Who is Danny Lee?"
I, to be honest, am still in the first "Who is Danny Lee?" stage after 40 someodd years of acting.
BTW Danny Lee was nominated for an Oscar in 1979 for Best Visual Effects for The Black Hole and Yes... it was not me. I was in Hollywood at the time and found myself in a very funny situation that very Oscar Night. But that is a hot tub story for another time.
My writing was good enough to get my screenplays perused in La-La-Land, but I never seemed to be able to get them in front of the guy in the head office who would say, "Pay this Danny Lee fella a pile of money and let get this script on the screen!"
As the years have passed, I realize Hollywood and I have two different, distinct visions on film making. That and my declining years have me too crippled up to chase the ladiesand on too many medications to stay drunk... So all I have left is to chain smoke and wind my watch.
Also the politics of Hollywood and I have gone two entirely different directions. I stayed about the same and they went on a very hard left. This past election proves that without a shadow of a doubt.
Therefore, knowing there are some screenwriters here on Free Republic, I hereby declare the First Annual Freeper Screenplay Festival and Chili/Bar-B-Cue Cook-Off to be off and running!
There will not be any awards outside of criticism and indigestion. Freepers who have written screenplay may post links to their work and those FRers who cook can post their fixin's and methods for chili and grilling to perfection.
Now, what could be better for Oscar Night?
I Guess we shall find out...
Here is a a link to "Pappy's Tree" in .pdf (.pdf) HERE
Right click on it to open in a new window.
Here is a link to "Pappy's Tree" in a .zip file four saving and reading at your leasure (.zip) HERE
Right click to save.
I hope any here who read it enjoy it. I know it has brought me a lot of pleasure in writing and rewriting it over the past twenty odd years. And I look forward to any criticism, both pro and con.
Now, you other Freepers who have screenplays, get them linked. And if you don't write, but do cook, tell us about it.
My chili is known far and wide as Armadillo Chili. Nothing special in the making, yet I do include the trimmed hind quarter of a rabbit. When someone always ask, "Armadillo Chili?" I stir around a mite and laddle up those hind quater bones and say, "See? Road kill always makes my brew tasty!"
BTW I saw Sideways recently and it was fairly funny. Thomas Haden Church was much better than expected and I must admit a guilty pleasure in watching Sandra Oh do anything. Loved her 'Rita Wu' in "Arli$$."
I saw The Aviator when it first came out and enjoyed it very much. The style of the film, the music, the atmosphere was terrific! Cate Blanchett was super as Kate Hepburn and this was the first film where I truly enjoyed Leonardo DiCaprio acting. He was dead on 'Howard' in the Senate scenes and Alan Alda was at his top form. Martin Scorsese directing was excellent. I would vote down the line for The Aviator if I could.
Enough from me, let the Festival begin!
We LOVED Sideways. We have lived in the LA area three times and we recognized all the places, like Solvang, in the movie, and we recognized restaurants we have eaten at. Fun movie. I think a really good movie last year was also Napoleon Dynamite.
Here's something to chew on until football season starts...
Ah! Ha! "...a dark and stormy night" classic.
I shall read it and we'll do lunch...
A compilation of many authors, darting from scene to scene faster than you can yell "You FJB".
No "first annual"....just not right.....
Re: - No "first annual"....just not right.....
Well, next year we can call it the Second Annual...
Interesting. My 16 year-old son had "Napoleon Dynamite" on his Christmas list.
Just the fact that a FReeper recommended it as well. Maybe I'll look into getting it for him. I haven't been to a movie in ages, so I'm out of it. (Too expensive, I usually wait for the video.)
Very, very good movie. Aviator sucked.
Went to http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0374900/ and got this plot summary: Preston, Idaho's most curious resident, Napoleon Dynamite (Heder), lives with his grandma and his 32-year-old brother (who cruises chat rooms for ladies) and works to help his best friend, Pedro (Efren Ramirez), snatch the Student Body President title from mean teen Summer Wheatley (Haylie Duff).
Rated PG for thematic elements and language.
Rated on IMDB as a 7.2 out of 10.
Looks tame enough, but you never know...
Thanks for that.
Re: "Aviator sucked."
That pretty much takes the other side of my picks. Well, that's why they have horse races and give out Oscars...
Re: "Thanks for that."
Happy to be of service...
Then Hillary stepped over Bill's prostrate fat body and went to the freezer to check on Buddy. Still dead. Impatiently she clicked on her high heels to the closet. Still no black high-heeled boots.
Impatiently she picked up the telephone and with great impatience she screamed, "Juanita! Get me my personal shopper, now!"
To which, Juanita shouted back, "You no have no percanal chopper. You fired hem when yew found out he waz chewish!"
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