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May 22, 2003
Dig if you will, a picture:
You’re at the movie theater. You’re in your seat, sharing the popcorn
and soda with your friend. The lights go down, the curtains part and
the movie begins.
Appearing on screen is a worn,
leather bound gold leafed book. The viewer can see that the ye olde
title on the booke is “One For the Road”
with what appears to be an ancient sketch of a Cruisemaster RV.
Suddenly, a velvet gloved hand opens the book and turns the page and
the voice over begins… ”Once upon a time, in an age that was known as
New Wave….” AAAAARRRGGH!
Hello
glennmovie minions! How do you start a movie? This is the dilemma
I’m faced with now. I’ve successfully completed the leaden task that
is transcription and must now put all of the good bits into a script.
I now face what Neil Finn described as the “fear of the blank page”. I
sit here at my computer and wonder how the heck the movie is supposed
to start. It seems that everyday I wake up, I immediately try and
think of some busying tasks that will distract me from thinking about
writing the script. I have fallen in love with the idea of the movie
rather than the actual movie itself. (I fell out of love with that a
long time ago!) I know what I want the movie to say, but how do I say
it? I know what I want the audience to get from the movie, but how do
I go about them getting it?
Should I begin with the theme from
2001: A Space Odyssey? Should I begin with my voice-over stating
simply: “I didn’t know how to start this documentary….” I initially
wanted to go with Glenn’s idea of having a production number open the
movie! He was to write a sort of 60’s poppy number and we’d show the
RV pulling up to the beach in Malibu, Glenn hopping out and then
throngs of way out girls and hep cats bopping over to him. Not unlike
“Summer Holiday”! The opening credits would roll over the
dancing numbers and Glenn singing and playing, then the movie would
begin! How fab! It could’ve been achieved with my “let’s put on a
show” gumption and with the help of many, many friends and volunteers
but it’s not going to happen. My second dream choice for an opening
would be the above mentioned idea, but ANIMATED! Groovy or
what? A little cartoon opening! I was thinking something along the
lines of the Beatles cartoons of the sixties with an animated RV
driving all over the world. Sadly, animation is what you call,
EXPENSIVE. We’re talking silly money If I had this silly money,
I’d be editing the movie rather than concentrating on how to make
Glenn look realistic in cartoon form!
These are the things I enjoy thinking
about. I suppose it’s a bit like thinking about that dream holiday
while you’re sitting in your kitchen while it’s pissing down with rain
or when your neighbors crank up their Metallica records, you might
fantasize about that home you’ll own someday where the only neighbors
you have will be eight miles away. As I sit here and stare at my blank
document, I think of production numbers, animated openings, Paul
McCartney narrating the movie, Colin Firth massaging my feet… Um… is
that my outside voice? Moving swiftly on….
So that’s the update on the movie.
I’m writing the script and giving myself a mere few weeks to do so.
It’s a bit like a musicians’ first album. They have all of their lives
to complete the first album and to get it right. But on the other
hand, you want to get it out there. I’m a goal-oriented person and
give myself deadlines to keep sharp. The only problem with this
motivational trick, is when you don’t reach those deadlines, there is
a tendency to wallow in self-loathing. The latest goalpost that I’m
aiming towards is the London Film Festival deadline of August 1st. The
London Film Festival is held in November but the deadline is
significantly earlier. I’m trying not to get too freaked out over the
encroaching August deadline and just concentrate on the script. But
knowing that the film needs to be edited in less than two months time
is not helpful when the coffers are empty. The good news is that
whilst attempting to write the script, I’m also putting the word out
to every known human being who I think could help in any way. I’ve
written to every network, every celebrity, every philanthropic
artistic person, every possible sponsor, etc… in the hopes that one
might step up to the plate. (or at the very least get the latest
version of the editing software, Final Cut Pro!) Fingers crossed! If
it transpires that no one can help, the August deadline will not be
met. However, I’ll get a job soon and just try and save the dough
needed to pay a proper editor to finish the movie before the October
deadline for Sundance. Believe it or not, I’m feeling really positive
about the progress and the possibilities! (Having said that, I was
feeling perky right before the RV rolled on top of Fred the mechanic!)
Speaking of the RV rolling on top of
Fred, I was thinking of including the audio of my 911 call in the
movie. I thought it would be something humorous to roll over the
credits… or as an epilogue of sorts. The bad news is that I contacted
the folks in Portland who handle that sort of thing and after reams of
paperwork and research, they discovered that my phone call was not
properly recorded! Oh well, never mind, eh?
Glenn’s touring the UK and all of you
lovely pink people need to go out and experience the Glenn love
firsthand! Go to
www.quixoticrecords.com for the latest official tour dates. I know
there’s always speculation about when Glenn will play in your
immediate vicinity but it ain’t official until it’s up on the Quixotic
site! Raise a glass of Pimms and sway with lighter in hand if Glenn
belts out “Introvert” or “Maidstone” for me! I’ve been
asked repeatedly if I know of any upcoming summer GT US tour dates. I
love that some have the impression that I am commissioner of Glenn
City and have a special red phone on my desk that, not unlike the Bat
Phone, only rings when urgent Glenn news is shared. (I know when to
stand by for a call when the image of the Cruisemaster RV is flashed
across the sky in a spotlight!) Surprisingly, there is no such
emergency Glenn phone and nine and a half times out of ten, I find out
stuff when you guys find out stuff! But bless your cottons for
thinking otherwise!
Before I go, I’d like to shout out a
special thanks for those of you kind enough to spread the
Glennmovie love by acquiring some of the
groovy merchandise and helping the cause! I enjoy supping out of my “One
For the Road”
coffee mug
every morning and I cannot describe the thrill I get when I drive
around LA knowing the folks behind me are reading my
bumper sticker
and admiring my
license plate frame! I like to think that all the honks I get are
because of my foxiness and my glennmovie
accessories rather than my bad driving! I proudly showed my
glennmovie auto goods to Pete Thomas
who laughed and said, ”It never ends!”. My roommate Suzanna then
quipped, “You have no idea! I have to live with her!” They are just
jealous! How fantastic to spread the Glenn love wherever you go
whether it’s a
bumper sticker or T-Shirt! I’m
easily pleased and should get out more! Happy Summer everyone and I’ll
speak to you soon!
Keep Rockin’,
Amyx
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