In Praise of Chris's Colleagues

TeeJay · 17 Oct 08 :: 07:37

Yay for Michael! Hope to hear more about the movie soon.

-TeeJay

domesticelefant · 25 Oct 08 :: 12:26

Just watched the trailer for Jason Ritter's movie "Good dick". Looks interesting.

TeeJay · 25 Oct 08 :: 22:17

I'll be putting this up as an HTML file with a photo or two tomorrow, so that I can link it on some other message boards as well. But I wanted to share it with you guys tonight already. It's my review of Michael's and Aaron's play that we saw in LA at the beginning of October.
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Debating Speech & Debate
by T.J. Bornemann
24-Oct-2008

Nothing about The Blank theatre is blank. On the corner of Santa Monica and Wilcox right in the middle of Hollywood, the purple-walled building currently invites you in big letters above the entrance to the play Speech & Debate. Even as you enter the foyer, you notice: Wow, this place is tiny! Through a door that is opened 10 minutes before the play commences, you step directly into the auditorium. The place seats maybe 30 or 40 people, and to get to the toilet you actually have to cross the stage and enter the backstage area. While it's dark and confined, it's also relaxing and cozy. There's an air of familiarity about this place.

On this night, sadly, not even half of the seats are taken. The vice-presidential debate is on TV and people seem to be drawn to that rather than a night out at the theatre. Still, everyone present seems to be excited and expectant of what is to follow in the next two hours. The lights are dimmed and the chatter of the audience dies down to make way for a first scene that is silent except for the sound of fingers typing on a laptop keyboard.

On the stage you see Howie sitting with his laptop, an online Instant Message conversation being projected onto the two big screens at the top of the stage. It's a conversation you immediately realize is delicate and risqué. Howie (Michael Welch) is openly gay and struggling to fit in, looking for acceptance. And he is searching for it in an internet chatroom.

As the play unfolds, you learn about three high school kids and their teacher in Salem, Oregon and the Speech & Debate extracurricular that Diwata (Mae Whitman) is very passionate about. The only problem is, she needs at least three people on the Speech & Debate team for it to be accepted by the school. And there's only her so far. As productive and communicative as she is on her blog that's updated daily, one person talking to a webcam isn't going to be enough to make a Speech & Debate team.

At the same time, overzealous school reporter Solomon (Aaron Himelstein) is working on his own project: Uncovering the dirty little secrets and sex scandals of this small town community. Solomon is just as much a misfit as Howie and Diwata, dressing a little too conservatively and having an agenda that's maybe a little too radical.

It is unlikely circumstances that bring these three young students together, and Diwata knows she's found her team. Now it just takes a little more convincing for them to actually want to be a part of it.

It is none too subtly that the play visualizes a time of teenage angst, forsakenness and insecurity that most adults have chosen to forget about. Speech & Debate peels layers off its characters and makes the viewer discover what's underneath them. And in the end, when you leave the theater, you wonder if life has ever seemed more complicated than when you were in your teens and looked at life from such a different angle. And maybe you also wonder about whether the person next to you used to be a Howie, a Solomon or a Diwata when they were that age. Aren't we all misfits in our own way—if only just a little?

Speech & Debate continues to play Thursdays thru Sundays at The Blank theatre in Los Angeles until Nov 16, 2008. Tickets and more details can be found at www.theblank.com.

larry-411 · 25 Oct 08 :: 22:23

BTW Just between you, me, and the stove, Michael may not be appearing in Speech and Debate anymore, for the most part.

The bad news is, the official run which he committed to ends tomorrow.

The good news is, they are extending it to November 16.

The bad news is, Michael begins shooting Rough Hustle so he will not be able to appear in the play through the extension.

The good news is, he MAY be able to do an occasional show depending on his shooting schedule.

What we are going to do is look at his shooting schedule, look at the play schedule, see if and when he can do any performances, and then announce the extension and any shows he will be doing, if any.

So for now we aren't really going to promote it. Stay tuned for more info.

Last edited by larry-411 (25 Oct 08 :: 22:24)

TeeJay · 25 Oct 08 :: 22:26

Ah, I see. I can take the last "promotional" part out when I post it on Mike's boards tomorrow. So, is the understudy taking over for Michael? Such a shame that he might not be able to do all the shows.

-TeeJay

larry-411 · 25 Oct 08 :: 22:40

TeeJay wrote:

Ah, I see. I can take the last "promotional" part out when I post it on Mike's boards tomorrow. So, is the understudy taking over for Michael? Such a shame that he might not be able to do all the shows.
-TeeJay

We just don't know yet. He may not do any at all. I'd say let's hold off on any further promotion of the play until we know. At the very least we'll certainly post the review but we'd have to make it clear if and when (or not) he'll be doing it because, obviously, we can't have people thinking he's in it when he's not. But we also don't want to post it and say "we don't know..."

I'll definitely let you know as soon as I do. Then we can coordinate everything perfectly.

TeeJay · 25 Oct 08 :: 22:41

Okay. I'll hold off with posting this on any Michael-related boards until I hear from you, Larry.

-TeeJay

domesticelefant · 25 Oct 08 :: 22:42

Great review, Tina.

TheCentralScrutinizer · 26 Oct 08 :: 06:10

I love this blog from Amber's MySpace...

MY POETRY BOOK
... is coming. I had to delay it due to some heavy personal stuff. My long time manager and creative partner Joan Hyler was in a near fatal accident 3 months ago, and it has rendered me useless and depressed for a long time. I could not focus on editing a manuscript, let alone keep track of my kitchen knives. I made a lot of rose Tulsi tea and cried over the sink. Every night, a dream would beat the shit out of me. I'd wake up exhausted. She is recovering but still cannot speak and is barely communicative. The sound of her voice, which I have longed to hear since her accident, holds up like an abandoned spider web in my head, catching all the thoughts that try to fly through it. I'm doing better now, and will hopefully be able to work some more. Keep your fingers crossed for '09. I might release something then. I get a lot of letters from you all and know that you're waiting. Thank you for your support and love of my work.
And last but not least, I'm moving to New York to be with the love of my life and work on a show that is the life of my love. Woah. I am so complexical.
"The Unsuals" was picked up by ABC and I'm very excited to be playing a fierce kick ass lady role once again on primetime. Only this time, she gets to drink Whiskey. Maker's Mark best be sponsorin'. Me likey. The show will air in February.
I'll close by saying 2 things-
Opening a link that a best friend sends you, that takes you to an IMDB message board about yourself, is a bad fucking idea. So to my best friend Brianne who sent me that link, who should have known better, I will answer your question here publicly.
Yes, I know Warner Brothers still won't release "Spring Breakdown" and I've heard it's because people say it sucks. Let me be very clear. It doesn't suck. Amy, Parker and Rachel agree that it doesn't suck, and anyone who saw a screening and says it sucked can eat a tit. A swollen, breast-feeding, saggy tit. Like your mommy used to have.
Since we all know messageboard links can often be gateway drugs to masochism, I will also address some of the other things I read on there.
Yes, I care that you think I eat too many hamburgers and need to lose some weight. I care like I care about ants. Or new inventive colors for jello.
Yes, I am very proud of my dad and his honor from the Professional Dancers Society a few weeks ago. He be my pops, yo!! He done ½ born me!!
No, I don't think I look like Thora Burch. I'm more of a Judy Garland meets that fairy creature Sprite from "Legend". That's me. With a pinch of Maureen Dowd. And a droplet of Nancy Spungen. And a sprinkle of Kim Kardashian (in the doodoo-rig area, of course.)
I'll be on the cover of BUST Magazine for their March issue. There's also some Italian and French magazines. And some other stuff I can't remember right now, as I am riveted by Rachel Maddow's eyelashes. Christ, are those real? They must be.
Sincerical,
Amber T.
p.s. I'm pretty sure I'm the reason all the honey bees are disappearing. That's not narcissism, just a hunch.

No, sweetie, those eyelashes are most definitely NOTE real.

And there's this tidbit...

You can also check out the non-profit Mindy Nettifee and I started earlier this year, www.writenowpoets.org, which will help to give poets and writers grants and scholarships like nobody's bidnizz. Stay tuned, as next year we will be kicking off our annual programming with an auction of clothing, shoes, accessories and notes between cast members from "Joan Of Arcadia". That's right. I saved it all. Joan's lce up Doc Martins. Her skirts. Her jewelry. Hate letters to Jason Ritter (by hate I mean love!! SO MUCH LOVE!!) Tic-Tac-Toe with Mary Steenburgen, using the names of all our exes. THAT'S RIGHT. ALL OF IT. And I'm auctioning it off for charity. Tell her your Joan-freak friends to add www.writenowpoets.org to their Safari bookmarks toolbar (not sure what this would be equal to in PC language. Probably, "that thing that always crashes.")

We've definitely gotta get the deets on the auction since I'm sure most of us would love to have summa dat!

domesticelefant · 26 Oct 08 :: 09:07

Too bad I can't buy from the US. But thanks for sharing.

BiggestChrisMarquetteFan · 26 Oct 08 :: 09:20

That's a great blog Amber wrote. I love her way with words.

CappuGirl · 26 Oct 08 :: 09:25

Samsy-Marie wrote:

Great review, Tina.

I agree. I would have loved to see that play. There's propably no way that will ever happen unless someone tapes it. So never. I hope one day I'll get to the US and get lots of great theater experiences.

Ofcourse there's theaters where I live too but I've never gone. :embarrassed: Not that I didn't want to. I just never find anyone to go with. Non of my friends or family are interestead in that. They're all stricly movie-people. That plus the fact that the theater doesn't do lots of publicity so I never know if they have something playing.. Um..Here's something I haven't told anyone ever.. I need a new hobby and for couple of years I've been thinking about checking my local theater for that. I never get to it. I seriously need to build a backbone...

CappuGirl · 26 Oct 08 :: 09:29

BiggestChrisMarquetteFan wrote:

That's a great blog Amber wrote. I love her way with words.

... And I agree again.

TeeJay · 26 Oct 08 :: 10:24

Couldn't you just hug Amber all day? She's such a quirky character. Love her blog. The auction sounds great. But I know I'll never be able to get any of that stuff. What would I do with Joan's skirt or earrings anyway?

-TeeJay

domesticelefant · 26 Oct 08 :: 11:04

TeeJay wrote:

Couldn't you just hug Amber all day? She's such a quirky character. Love her blog.

Oh yeah ... I agree so much with that! LOL Love her blog too.
Yeah, well, maybe they're not only sell clothes, but other stuff too? Who knows? I couldn't do anything with the clothes and earrings either. But hey, it's for a good cause.

TeeJay · 26 Oct 08 :: 19:24

I've uploaded my Speech & Debate review to a linkable website now: http://seeya.at/speechdebate/

-TeeJay

TheCentralScrutinizer · 26 Oct 08 :: 19:40

It''s not just clothes and jewelry. Hello? Did you guys miss these bits all together?

...and notes between cast members from "Joan Of Arcadia". That's right. I saved it all....

...Hate letters to Jason Ritter (by hate I mean love!! SO MUCH LOVE!!) Tic-Tac-Toe with Mary Steenburgen, using the names of all our exes.

What if there's notes between cast member talking about how much they hated Trial & Error or something? Just sayin'.

larry-411 · 26 Oct 08 :: 20:22

TeeJay wrote:

Okay. I'll hold off with posting this on any Michael-related boards until I hear from you, Larry.
-TeeJay

Thanks TeeJay. Should know very soon.

CappuGirlFin wrote:

I agree. I would have loved to see that play. There's propably no way that will ever happen unless someone tapes it. So never. I hope one day I'll get to the US and get lots of great theater experiences.

I do have some good news for you. While you may not get to see it performed live onstage, the movie rights have been sold to Overture Films. When it will be made into a movie and whether or not it will ever make it to you in the cinema and/or make it to you on DVD are questions that cannot be answered right now but certainly there is hope.

TeeJay wrote:

I've uploaded my Speech & Debate review to a linkable website now: http://seeya.at/speechdebate/
-TeeJay

Looks great! As soon as we know what's happening I'll be sure to include it in any of my/our promotion and will send it out to all the appropriate parties.

Last edited by larry-411 (26 Oct 08 :: 20:23)

TheCentralScrutinizer · 27 Oct 08 :: 00:54

Saw two movies this weekend. W on the big screen, which featured Jason Ritter as Jeb Bush (!) And Jesse Bradford was in it too. Interestingly, Jesse's a friend of Chris's (and used to date his ex). He was also supposed to play a part in Pinkville.

And I just watched August Rush on cable, which featured Alex O'Loughlin, who played Marcus in The Invisible.

domesticelefant · 27 Oct 08 :: 14:03

I've seen August Rush too, but in German unfortunately.

CappuGirl · 27 Oct 08 :: 17:31

Samsy-Marie wrote:

I've seen August Rush too, but in German unfortunately.

:rofl: What does it saund like in german? The songs? I absolutely loved it.

Here's some of it in english (just diggin thru my youtube playlist...):

Most of the songs together:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prucjHyK … D&index=41

Bach/Break:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JH7OoleA … D&index=36

This time:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUy64Jx_ … D&index=37

Something inside:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOO2N1mw … D&index=38

Lovely Father-song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akqMHnrn … D&index=63

Guitar slapping song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sN0c_egqXAM

And here's the end scene:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MW3lF9W0 … D&index=62

domesticelefant · 27 Oct 08 :: 17:37

They don't translate the songs, thank God. THAT would be really weird. LOL They just dubb the voices, which I hate, because when you watch a lot of American TV shows, like I do, you always recognize the same voice for different characters. For example Meredith from Grey's Anatomy has the same dubbing voice as Allison from Medium. That irks me. This is the main reason why I stopped watching the dubbed versions. Sometimes it's still hard for me to understand the original version, but that's okay, I'm still learning English and I must say, if I watch an episode in German after I saw the original version, the German one is boring, because I already know it. LOL

larry-411 · 28 Oct 08 :: 00:47

I hope this isn't too off-topic, and you can move it if it is, but I've seen a few posts here and there from our friends outside the US and I'm curious (well, confused) about what kinds of films you get where you are and what you prefer.

Here in America, foreign (non-English speaking) films are almost never dubbed. In fact, I've never seen one in all the years I'm doing this (except cheesy Asian martial arts or bad Bollywood movies on TV), and I've probably seen about 300 non-English speaking films just in the last few years. They are always subtitled. The same goes for DVDs that I get.

I've seen some of you talk about getting English-speaking films dubbed. Is this common practice? If they are dubbed, do you prefer them that way or would you rather they be subtitled?

Do you get them subtitled? If they are subtitled, do you prefer them that way or would you rather they be dubbed?

Do you ever try to get Region 1 DVDs over there and play them either with an all-region DVD player or on a computer with a region-free program?

TIA

TheCentralScrutinizer · 28 Oct 08 :: 01:16

Just as an aside, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was released in both dubbed and subtitled versions. You could choose which one you wanted to see. We chose subtitled. That's the only one I remember ever having a choice with. Everything else I've ever seen was subtitled.

larry-411 · 28 Oct 08 :: 01:25

Sisterdebmac wrote:

Just as an aside, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was released in both dubbed and subtitled versions. You could choose which one you wanted to see. We chose subtitled. That's the only one I remember ever having a choice with. Everything else I've ever seen was subtitled.

Like I said, cheesy Asian martial arts films. (j/k)

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