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October 12, 2002
Hello and sorry it's taken me so long
to post a diary entry! Hope all of you are well and happy. There's so
much to tell, I haven't enough pens! But I'll pick up where we last
left off in July:
I went to both Neil Finn concerts
here in Los Angeles. Neil is a god and I have loved him since the 80's
when we played the "Something So Strong" video on South Side
Video (the public access video program in Dayton, Ohio that I was on).
I arrived early on the first night Neil played at the House of Blues
in order to pass out Glennmovie
flyers and to generate awareness for the flick. I figured that Neil
fans are probably Glenn fans and it can't hurt right? Well, I was
overwhelmed by the Glenn love from the Neil crowd! I met producers,
folks who worked at Sundance, music publishers, Glenn fans, PR people,
etc... you gotta love LA being an industry town! I even came across
some lovely folks who were regular visitors to the
glennmovie site, which was
really sweet!
The Neil fans genuinely wanted to
know what Glenn was up to, when they could see him play next and they
couldn't wait for the movie to come out. I went home hoarse by the end
of the night from talking so much! I got a chance to check out the gig
and Neil's voice was straight from heaven. I found myself choked up
when the audience sang harmonies on "Fall At Your Feet" and I
think Neil was quite taken with all of our singing ability as well. A
transcendent concert moment! The next night was equally as groovy and
my pal Suzanna helped me pass out flyers to the crowd before the show.
I even tried to give a flyer to Johnny Marr (of Smiths fame) who uh...
turned me down. Boo hiss to Mr. Marr! I loved seeing Neil in concert
again, but was disappointed that he let everyone in his band sing a
song or two. He also did a few Smiths covers with Mr. Marr on guitar
but quite frankly, if Neil is going to tour once every lunar eclipse,
I want to hear Neil sing his OWN songs. With Split Enz, Crowded House
and two faboo solo albums to cull from, I should think there is no
shortage of classic tunes of his own that he could sing! After what
seemed like the millionth cover tune of the evening, thankfully,
Mitchell Froom was brought on for a bit of heavenly keyboards on
Don't Dream It's Over: cue goosebumps! I was even privileged
enough to go backstage for a nanosecond where Elliot Smith hid in the
corner while Neil held court in the middle of the room.
As I stood in the awkward "waiting to
meet and say something completely insignificant to rock star" line, I
suddenly became absolutely tongue-tied. (For anyone that knows me,
this is a rare occurrence.) I then begged Suzanna to take me out of
there so I could go home with dignity intact but then it was suddenly
my turn to speak to him. I've met Neil several times before due to my
video show in Ohio and due to my friendship with a few of his crew but
for some reason, I got panicky about talking to him. He looked at me,
smiled and I said, "Hi I'm Amy." He grinned and said, "I'm Neil" and
then I wanted to tell him all about the documentary and how I will be
knocking on his door to follow him around with a camera after the
Glenn movie is out but I was afraid that he would just... back...
away... slowly. So I just said, "I'm feeling the Neil love!" and he
laughed and said, "Are you feeling it?" And I said, "I'm feeling it in
a big way and now I'm going out to spread it accordingly!" He laughed
again and said, "I think that's a good thing." Then I got the hell out
of there and couldn't shut up to Suzanna the rest of the night about
what a dork I was. The great thing about the Neil shows were the
amount of flyer recipients who actually visited the site afterwards
and who emailed me to tell me that they dug it and joined the mailing
list! How cool is that? Good frenz indeed.
One of the reasons I've been remiss
in posting diary entries is that I ended up getting a job! Yes, I have
rejoined the normal people in the world and am now able to feel the
joy of a steady paycheck for the first time in over a year. I'm an
Associate Producer on an unnamed documentary series for an unnamed
production company that will later air on an unnamed network here in
the US. It is a short contract but it's helping fund the movie for a
bit longer and feed me, so for that, I'm eternally grateful. It has
kept me insanely busy but the home stretch is near and I am saving
every glorious penny of my steady paycheck like a little filmmaking
squirrel. I want to go crazy and buy a groovy pair of leather trousers
or the cute boots I saw at Nordstrom's but know that I may get another
job when this contract ends in October or I might not work until
January. Luxury items will have to wait.
Also, my brother John is no longer
updating the site. Sadly, the bulletins announcing new posts to the
site will not be nearly as witty, clever and hilarious since John
isn't the one writing them, but alas, we shall carry his hard work and
dedication with us and revel in the glory of his website genius. (The
dancing Glenn on crutches with "OW!" in the thought bubble was a
beautiful thing, wasn't it? And while we're on that heady stroll down
memory lane, let's pause and thrill at his comment that the RV was
slowly resembling a certain yellow citrus fruit. Good times.) SIGH.
Fear not though, you can still see John's handiwork on his website
www.rockandrollconfidential.com It's like the
Onion but for rock and roll.
Also, you should keep a keen eye out for possible new Glenn merch by
John in the future and we'll always keep you posted on what he's up
to!
Let's talk about the movie! When I
last posted in July, the editor was in the process of going through
all the footage and digitizing it in his computer. He had estimated
that he would be able to get us a first rough cut in 4-6 weeks. Well,
it's now been three months and there is still no first rough cut.
Resources have now run dry and enthusiasm is sufficiently dampened and
my confidence as a filmmaker is dented. I wrote in my last diary entry
that in a few weeks time, I'd either be filled with love and joy or on
the bridge with one leg over. All I can say is "Greetings from the
Golden Gate!" I don't mean to be a negative nelly, but it is all
making me very sleepy. I lay napping at the foot of the flag pole that
once showcased a filmmaking flag that was proud, eager and dancing in
the wind. Today it lays limp and twisted and out of gusto.
Now before you send me a greeting
card with a kitten hanging from a tree branch that says, "Hang in
there ‘til Friday", let me just say that I still want more than
anything to complete this movie. I want it to be great. I want so many
things! I want people to see the movie and run out to stores to buy
Glenn's music and Squeeze's back catalogue. I want people to
appreciate Glenn's completely underrated guitar playing and then want
to see him play live in their hometown. I want to travel around
promoting the film in the hopes of being able to work on other
projects I'm passionate about. I want to be proud of the movie and I
want it to be entertaining not just to Squeeze fans or music fans, but
to people who go see movies! And I believe... .(cue pan flute and
imagine me in flow-y dress, windswept and glamorous whilst standing at
the bough of a doomed ship beneath a blanket of stars) that my heart
will go on!
When I started this project, I
remember telling people "I'm going to join Glenn on the road in
November for a few weeks, then I'm going to put the footage together
and edit the movie by December/January and then the movie should be
finished by Feb!" I MUST HAVE BEEN SMOKING CRACK! It frightens
me how unbelievably innocent I was and had I known what hard (but
joyful) work this whole One For The Road business was going to
be, I might not have undertaken it. There seems to be a never ending
list of things to do and no money to do it! Imagine all the things it
takes to put a documentary together and then imagine doing it all by
yourself! As one who enjoys dormancy, independent filmmaking is the
wrong career choice.
I've been reading a fantastic book
called "The Ultimate Film Festival Survival Guide" by Chris
Gore and can't recommend it highly enough. It is a witty, informative
account of what budding filmmakers need to know and do in order to
make their movie a success and he talks to filmmakers who share their
stories of pain and passion. I found it to be unbelievably helpful and
even found myself shedding a tear or two over someone ‘feeling my
pain'. I felt especially proud that when it came to reading the
chapter about how important a website is in generating awareness for
the flick, I already had one! Gore runs a website called
www.filmthreat.com and I
emailed him letting him know about
glennmovie.com and he actually gave One For The Road a
write up! Unfortunately, he called Squeeze ‘The Squeeze" but hey, I'll
take any publicity I can get. The
What Are Records site links you to
the article
featuring One For The Road on
filmthreat.com if you want to
check it out. [Or click
here]
Besides trying to figure out how to
progress with the movie in a way I'm happy with, I'm trying to sort
out the music publishing for the movie, which was an unforeseen
expense to the flick due to my ignorance. I feel a bit in over my head
when it comes to negotiating for the use of Squeeze songs in the
movie. I sometimes wonder if we couldn't just have 'Up The
Junction' be the only tune used in the whole damn thing but
hopefully, it will all work out. Being a fan, I want to use
practically every Squeeze/Glenn song EVER! I mean, how great does
'Third Rail' fit as the soundtrack to the RV trucking happily
along the highway? How can you not include the heartstring-tugging
poignancy that only Glenn can bring to his cover of "You Are Always
On My Mind"? You have to include lots of solo songs to let the
audience know that this man is more than just "Tempted"! But a
very real problem I need to deal with is the possibility that I may
not be able to use all the songs I feel are necessary to include in
the movie. I'm going to cut all the songs I want in now but have a
sneaking feeling that I'll have to get out the axe before I lock the
picture.
"Locking the picture" means
the film is complete and all postproduction is finished! (My meetings
with other filmmakers where I picked their brains and used their
contacts shamelessly have taught me a tremendous amount!) Admittedly,
'locking filmmaker away' seems more realistic than 'locking
picture' at the moment. I often joke about people calling me a
filmmaker or director. Those terms just seem far too clever for me. I
have often posed the question to my friends, "What's the difference
between an unemployed TV producer and an independent filmmaker?" I
don't know. I know I have learned more in the last year than I ever
thought I could have. As I make suggestions for certain cuts that
further the storyline or that work editorially, I grow more confident
in my ability to tell Glenn's story. Or my version of Glenn's story
anyway and it's only in recent months that I feel comfortable (and
confident enough) to call myself a Director or filmmaker! I had lunch
with good old Steve Poltz' manager a few weeks ago and he suggested
that I look upon this whole gigantic undertaking as SCHOOL. He's
right. Many lessons have been learned and there are more to go... yet,
why do I feel that I'm wearing the big, pointy dunce cap as I sit in
the corner? When's recess?
In addition to the music publishing,
(which makes me sleepy just thinking about it.) I'm also thinking of
promotional stuff like Electronic Press Kits, regular press kits,
stickers, stationary, VHS covers with the logo of the movie, etc...
(according to the Chris Gore book, I'll need to think about these
things.) Gore's book also recommends that filmmakers get a lawyer, a
publicist and an agent. Three things that aren't as free as I need
them to be! Because of this, I'm going to ask for help. It has come to
my attention that, as much as I thought I could in the beginning, I
can't do this by myself. There have been countless times throughout
the duration of this project that I've felt overwhelmed and completely
out of my element but I've managed to keep it together. My family and
friends have been unbelievably tolerant of my all- consuming mission
with getting this film made and I am grateful for their patience and
help. Some, however, have accused me of being completely boring and
self absorbed but they have now found their way off of my Christmas
Card list.
So what is my point after all of this
boring, self absorbed rambling? Well, I suppose the point is that it
ain't all Glenn sing-a-longs and kooky road stories. After reading the
Chris Gore book, I feel better knowing that sensing defeat and utter
disappointment in people over creative visions, work ethics,
productivity and expectations, is completely normal and that I'm not
in need of heavy medication. Although turning to the crack pipe has
crossed my mind! I think the point is that the movie is far from where
I would like it to be and that I honestly don't know when it will be
finished. In some ways I need to start over with funding, equipment
for necessary re-shoots, etc... but this is going to take time. I can
sense a lot of anticipation from Glenn fans about this documentary. I
don't mean in a cheesy, "I feel all your love" way...I mean in a very
real, kind way from your emails asking me about the movie. I've
decided to take a month off from the movie and rethink the direction
and hopefully, return to the project refreshed, renewed and
re-motivated! (Is re-motivated a word?)
After my TV contract ends in early
October, I'll be traveling back to the Midwest for my best friend's
wedding where I'll be donning an espresso colored bridesmaid dress!
Never one to miss out on a rock opportunity, I am flying out to Ohio
early so I can try and catch Paul McCartney's show at Ohio State. It
also happens to be my birthday and I can think of no groovier way to
turn 34! I go to my pal's wedding that weekend, then drive four hours
to Indianapolis to see Elvis Costello and the Imposters then drive
back to Cleveland which I think is about 4 or 5 hours to see Elvis
Costello open for the Rolling Stones! The day after the Stones show,
thanks to a pal's frequent flyer miles, I will also be going over to
London for a bit as well. I want to catch my friend Tammy's gig at the
Royal Festival Hall while I'm over there. Tammy is a very cool rock
chick drummer for the group SPARKS and they are playing London on
Oct.19th. She used to work for a movie company as well and has been
unbelievably enthusiastic and supportive of me through all of this! My
best pal and glennmovie flyer
cohort Suzanna will be over in London coincidentally at the same time,
as well as my pal Leslie from Austin, TX. Leslie is a journalist and
very kindly pulled some of her journo strings and got Glenn some press
on the last tour so it will be a girly
glennmovie gang reunion! She
also got me a lovely freelance writing gig for her Austin newspaper! I
decided this year to stretch my birthday out for two weeks (I think
I'm allowed.) so I will have fish and chips and cake and ice cream and
a little bit of "Cool Places" and "Cash Machine" please!
After my self -imposed month long
hiatus, I will be returning to LA. Once home, I will have to start the
Glennmovie wheels back in
motion. I need to get a free DV camera for two weeks, (and free tape
stock), figure out how to get other people involved in the
Glennmovie cause so I can step
back a bit and I need to get completion funds for the doc! In the
meantime, I'm listening to Bob Marley (Don't worry about a thing, ‘cos
every little thing gonna be alright!) and when people ask me how the
movie is coming along, I shall grit my teeth and smile and say,
"GREAT!". And when people ask me when they will be able to see the
movie, I will just say, "FRIDAY!"
I'll drop a line to the website in a
month or so and let you know how I'm getting on with the new, groovy
way forward for One For The Road. I hope you enjoyed the
trailer... I know it's tauntingly short but it's the best I can do for
now! Hope all of you get more treats than tricks in October.
Haggard but Happy
in Hollywood,
Amyx
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