Tonight I watched The Oscars which is my favorite awards show. Not sure why, I hardly go to the movies but there's something about the movie business that's so out of reach that draws me in. If I hadn't headed east to Nashville I probably would've headed west to L.A. and there's no telling what I would've done there.
I have this silly fantasy about the movie business. I want to be in it. I'll never be but it's fun to dream. Heck I dreamed myself to Music City and it paid off.
In 2001 I tried out as an extra in DreamWorks "The Last Castle." It was a big budget film that was shot at the Tennessee State Prison where they also shot The Green Mile. It starred Robert Redford and James Gandolfini. I made it on to the set, made the cut, went thru wardrobe, buzzed my hair, shaved my gotee and hung out in my fatigues (I was supposed to be a military prison guard) with all the other extras for 3 days where we did nothing but wait for our call. We were paid 125.00 bucks a day for hanging out. Finally at the end of day 3 we were called on to the set and directed to run across a catwalk several times then sent home. It was a box office bomb! The film scored a 52% rating at
Rotten Tomatoes based on 113 reviews. 59 were positive and 54 negative. Regardless I was in the movies!!!! It was great experience. I'll never forget it. I did it!
A few weeks ago I posted this on FB and I got quite a bit of feedback.
"So
I tried listening to Country Radio that past few days. Conclusion - The
songs are terrible and tired. Nothing original. OK, maybe a few. "House
That Built Me" is one. If you call yourself an songwriter of original
material then stop writing the same tire ideas. Then maybe we can cut
great songs and we can start listening to the radio again. Until
then...thank goodness for NPR."
Tonight 'Man or Muppet' wins The Oscar for original song. Why? Because it's ORIGINAL! Please writers let this be a lesson to you. Stop writing old ideas. Take chances, stop following, start leading and become great. We need leaders.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MFn8L9tIrg
Man! This post inspired me! I own that movie, and I'm really not sure why it rated so badly. I LOVE "The Last Castle". It's definitely a feel good movie. I'm glad you posted about the Muppet Song. It sorta made a light go off in my head. I was able to put that critique into immediate action! Thanks Alex!
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