On I Wake Up Screening

What to Do Once You've Made That Movie by industry veterans film critic John Anderson and publicist Laura Kim needs to be absorbed long before a filmmaker makes their first or next movie.

Filled with tips and do's & don'ts from more than 60 insiders and several hot filmmakers, there's a few things that became clear to me right off:

1) no single person harbors all the answers
2) the competition is fierce
3) quality films deserve a better shot than they're getting
4) never alienate NY Times Critic Manohla Dargis
(translation: know how each journalist works, how to approach them, and spell their name right)
5) cultivate link(s) to respected industry contact(s) who love your film

Chapter 1: Evaluating Your Film Is It Too Late Now?

"If God wanted us to sell ourselves, he wouldn't have given us agents, publicists, advisors, or evangelists. That's because no one is the best judge of their own work. That's why writers have editors, to tell us where we've gone wrong (and tell us, and tell us)."

Hmm. Now back to my novel writing!

P.S. Thanks to local SF publicist and industry veteran Karen Larsen for steering me to this gem of a book!

On Critics & Love, Janis

SF Chronicle Theatre Critic Rob Hurwitt's Love, Janis review appeared in Tuesday morning's DATEBOOK Section. Of course I was looking for this review on DATEBOOK's front page but it ended up inside---for some reason, I figure Joplin deserved the front page in lieu of space given to Pearl Jam's first concert in 8 years or maybe scale back the art review of Quilts by Gees Bend to at least start Hurwitt's Love, Janis review on the front page. Anyhoo, Hurwitt gave a nice critical review overall though was disappointed in the second act. He did not mention the guitar player's bobbing head distraction--but then again, Hurwitt is a working critic with a critic's approach and perspective.

I sent Hurwitt a note with my 2 cents from seeing two preview shows (see 7/15 blog below) and a link to my blog. Here's our email correspondence:

Nancy to Rob Hurwitt:

Don't think it's a matter of topping the first act with the second act, I think overall the second act reveals an at-a-glimpse steady decline of what was happening in Joplin's life just as the play does all around. Theatrically, the format is no more unpredictable than most musical productions, that it's told entirely through her own words placing signature songs in just the right spot to illustrate her emotions in that moment proves perfect. We see her child-like exuberance in the beginning wane as she discovers the reality rock stardom life brings. She is bone tired, strung-out, and lonely. That Myler and company help us leave the theatre embracing her memory and message to "Get It While You Can" is nothing less than brilliant.

Rob Hurwitt to Nancy:

Thanks. Good to hear from someone who enjoyed the show more than I did. I've already heard from a few on the other side of the aisle: Waste of time, boring, nothing like the REAL Janis etc. Fortunately, my own memories of Janis in concert -- at the Avalon, in the parks, in Monterey etc -- remain vivid enough for me to stand by my evaluation of the singing (though the band was tighter than I ever remember Big Brother being, except at Monterey). On the other hand, I was disappointed in the second act. Dramatically, I didn't think it did much in terms of portraying the post-Big Brother period and the conflict between what she was achieving musically and how her life was falling apart. The format became pretty tiresome (why not mix it up a bit? Maybe two songs in a row, or a change in the spoken material presentation?). And I didn't feel I was getting more inside the character but rather that, as in life, Janis was becoming more guarded and we were getting more shut out.

Enjoyed your review, though. And, as I said in my review, when the show is hot I think it's really hot.

P.S. You can read Robert Hurwitt's Review by clicking on the blog title.

On Love, Janis

Run---don't walk---to see San Francisco's official premiere of Love, Janis! on Sunday Night July 16th at the Marines Memorial Auditorium! You can love Janis Joplin or not, what matters is the sheer mastery of bringing her music and story to our attention again in this magical creative theatre experience! The delightful Morgan Hallett portrays Janis via letters written home, interview responses and her down-to-earth philosophy on life as two amazing singing artists, Katrina Chester and Cathy Richardson, thrill us with Janis in concert---The combination proves staggering in performance, heart and soul. Just as Joplin lived life on an emotional roller coaster ride, this tribute places context around her trying to simply live being true to herself. That Joplin found herself upon arrival in San Francisco seems an understatement---joyfully, Joplin realizes she's no longer an outsider. From "Haight Ashbury's first pin-up girl" to making sure she doesn't "end up as the poor man's Cher," we share in her pure girlish glee at discovering herself and San Francisco. Through her words and music, Love, Janis offers a glimpse into the final four years of Joplin's life. All three performers embody the spirit of Janis Joplin in their own unique style while drawing upon the nuances we remember about this iconic rock star. Watching Hallet show us the raw emotional depth and fierce intellect of Joplin along the way is a joy. And I caught both Chester and Richardson on alternating preview nights, they rotate performances due to the sheer exertion it takes to embrace Joplin in concert. I liked them both for different reasons and one a bit more in delivery than the other.My only distraction was the stage left guitarist's bobbing head. At first, I thought he was acting out one of the 'Big Brother' band members but he continued his same head bobbing through the 'Kozmic Blues'band change and into her third band. The set design and lighting work in an amazing theatrical adaptation of Joplin's story from director Randal Myler. The music rocks down to your bones just like it should! "Get up off your asses!" Janis shouted at us from the stage---and we did!

On Janis Joplin

Love, Janis is in previews here. Finally. Some friends just saw the show in dress rehearsal, loved it. Mayor Newsom proclaimed July 7 Janis Joplin Day in San Francisco since it's here where Joplin's career exploded in 1967 down at Monterey.Big Brother played all around the Bay Area thanks to Bill Graham. They were often booked along with blues & rock legends like Muddy Waters, Jefferson Airplane, The Grateful Dead, and QuickSilver Messenger Service.
The first time I heard Janis Joplin was on my roommate's old "Hi Fi" in college, so it had to be awhile after Monterey when Columbia picked up Big Brother and released Cheap Thrills---I kept my vinyl: Cheap Thrills, 'Kozmic Blues', and Pearl.
What I didn't know until yesterday is that Joplin was an art major, drawing through high school and a bit at UT in Austin before dropping out to sing. The Hotel Monaco hosted an art show this weekend of her work and that of Grace Slick's. I always loved Grace Slick's singing voice, when she stopped singing, Slick picked up a paint brush. She's paid homage to her friend Janis with multiple portraits. There were wonderful vintage concert posters, album covers, the feather boas Joplin wore onstage and on the cover of Pearl. I sort of teared up when standing in front of the Cheap Thrills framed print, a feeling of nostalgia no doubt. I enjoyed reading the scribbles Joplin wrote about her subjects, she was intelligent with a great sense of humor. And some of her letter excerpts help give a perspective of a young woman who wanted to do something big---and she did. For reasons we'll never understand in the big scheme of things, living her great dream lasted only a few short years. More on Love, Janis after I see the show next week!

On Edge of Outside . . . TCM Looks at Indie Filmmakers

Turner Classic Movies presents a documentary saluting indie filmmakers who work(ed) on the edge of Hollywood. The month long festival starts today July 5th and features such film greats as Arthur Penn and John Cassavettes.

Lily Tomlin On July 4

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Lily Tomlin remains one of the most brilliant storytellers in the world, JMO. Here's a funny creative clip off her official web site. Click Here To View Video

On Lloyd Richards . . . American Theatre Pioneer

Lloyd Richards, one of the most influential pioneers and champions of American Theatre died last Thursday on his 87th birthday. Richards brought the works of unknown writers Lorraine Hansbury and August Wilson to Broadway. He nurtured Wendy Wasserstein and Christopher Durang among others. Richards served as Dean of the Yale School of Drama, artistic director of Yale Repertory Theater and the National Playwrights Conference at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center in Connecticut. He lived his great dream doing what he loved doing and helping others realize their own great dreams. (Photo Don Hogan Charles, NY Times)