A Future Nightmare?

I started a post planning to write about all the comments attached to YouTube Music Videos by the under 25  generation of the World.  Many of them watch the old videos & listen to the Music of the Big Bands  & Jazz Musicians of the 1930's. 40's & 50's. Then they comment on how great the music is... how talented the musical artists are, and the way the era is depicted makes them wish they could have been born then.  I think that is great... but I hope they also know a lot of  people died in war during the same time period,  and many families struggled during the Depression & War years.  But I also realize they are seeing the quality of the performance, in contrast to... Yo, Yo,  I can't play an instrument or read music Mr. Rapper Dogg  &  American Idol.

That was what I started out writing about... the good old days of the past.

Part of that was going to be about Artie Shaw and his part in helping the country out of The Great Depression. Actually all the musicians through their radio, movie & dance club performances, along with records gave the people a hope to keep getting up in the morning.

Now our World is stumbling around to find it's ability to walk forward and I think maybe the past might have some ability to help.  Then all those thoughts kind of rolled into one when I read the following press release.

On August 3rd, 2010 Sunn Classic Pictures, Inc. based in Palm Springs, California announced that it had acquired all rights related to the motion picture, television and all other ancillary rights related to the life story of bandleader and composer Artie Shaw, which was negotiated with Shaw’s estate entertainment attorney A. Edward Ezor.


Sunn has also secured the rights to use Artie Shaw’s musical library, which consists of hundreds of his digitally re-mastered songs. Hugh Kelley and Lang Elliott will write the screenplay which will go into development immediately. The story will focus primarily on the nostalgic years of Hollywood, the glamour stars, the period music, WWII and the influence that Artie Shaw’s music had on later contemporary artists such as: Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, The Righteous Brothers, The Beatles, Marvin Gaye, The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Bobby Darin, Four Tops, The Isley Brothers, Smokey Robinson, Louis Armstrong, Ray Charles, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald and many others.

They had me up to the influences on later contemporary artist, I guess that is the way they are going to tie in Mr. Shaw's life after 1960.

My high tech marketing study would tell the experts to focus on the years prior to 1970, with much of your attention going to the 1930's & 40's. There is the story that offers all us Baby Boomers and those that followed the insight on a past era that most know little of.  Show the sights & sounds of the era. And make it believable. Tell the truth, good & bad... about Artie, about the business of movies & music... about the life of the era.

Over at the Scabvendor  website this past week Jonathan Shaw was writing about how many on this planet have elevated CRAP to the level of worshipped discipleship.  Given our world has an overflowing excess of rectal material, it was suggested that this matter could be taken out to the desert and buried.  Where then an enterprising individual would dig it up, package it in colorful boxes and re-sell it to the original owners.

That is exactly what would piss off Artie Shaw, replaying the same song over & over until it no longer resembled the art it had originally been.  Or putting together some fluff that doesn't even resemble what Mr. Shaw knew as his truth.  Rest assured Mr. Shaw isn't going to be happy with any film about him that he doesn't come out looking good during his stay here on planet earth. But he never got use to the idea of an audience seeing who he was.  He would have been uncomfortable allowing a story to show his human weaknesses,  but it will be those sides of him which may endear him to his new audience. They may be able to relate to all his internal confusion he spent much of his life trying to get an understanding of.   And, when the negative is written with an openness & truth it can be viewed with less of a frown.

Again I offer up a perfect example of a colorful picture that is entertaining...yet, Mr. Shaw's personal image comes through intact because we all have friends & family members who got older. Dinner with Artie Shaw as Painted by Jonathan Shaw.

In 1939 Billy Holiday gave an interview with some thoughts on Artie Shaw. She told the story of how Artie, a few of the guys in the band along with herself were  traveling in the same car going to a band date. Billie talks about how they are traveling down the road and just having casual conversation. They past a bearded man on the side of the road, and Billie ask Artie had he ever had a beard. Artie responds, "oh yeah he had had a beard back in the days when he had a farm." Billie ask, "so how did you look?" Artie replies, " Like a Young Jesus Christ." "All those in the car roared with laughter, all but Artie. Artie looked mad, because he had been serious. So I said, 'We'll just call you Jesus Christ, King of the Clarinet, and his Band."

"Now here's the payoff--the story got out around Boston and even today, we hear a lot of the musicians refer to Artie as 'Jesus Christ and his Clarinet'."

There are two scenes with light hearted humor allowing Artie to come through without self- destructing. I would start the film with the the images & story created by Jonathan of the roller coast ride in the dark of night with the underlying sound of Artie's theme song, Nightmare along with some of the opening credits. Then as Artie's cane pops Jonathan in the head the viewer is blast into solarizing sunshine, and a young Artie with his own father.  At this point the audience will be wanting to pet the image of the sleepy cocker spaniel, allowing the the filmmaker a  hook to tell his story.

When I first read about the rights finally being sold for Shaw's Life I was hoping it would end up in capable hands,  first because I like great movies and second because I believe a great movie can be made of Artie Shaw's Life.  Eleven years ago a film was talked about with Robert Altman writing & directing along with Johnny Depp in the role of Artie Shaw.  It wouldn't have hurt to have Jonathan Shaw along as a co-writer & advisor.    So... now we have this new group. I checked them out.  I read about the people behind the company. One is listed as the founder and President of Tri-Star Pictures, on their website they have plans for a new movie studio and theme park... A 2 billion dollar investment was being made by the principals a couple years ago over a 12 month period.  Thats a great start,  if real dollars find their way into a real bank account.  I won't say too much about their film library. You look them up. But hey... the head guy is listed as the founder & president of Tri-Star Pictures... you know Pegasus the flying white horse logo. They did some really good pictures,  The Natural with Robert Redford was TriStar's first picture.

All this is going on in my head and I start to think about that documentary Time Is All You've Got, in 1986 by Brigitte Berman... Except for special showings that Academy Award winning film has been locked away from public eyes.  I look up Ms. Berman, and see at the end of July she had started promoting her newly released documentary on Hugh Hefner, seems Mr. Hefner opened the doors of his life for her to document.  It appears he won't be taking all the credit for her work and wanting control over it. In the interview I am reading about her, Ms. Berman is ask about her next project,  replying she can't talk about it at present, but does say that it was going to be a full length motion picture.

Humm... I say,  you think these guys from Sunn are going to bring her in to pull all the Artie Shaw stuff together.... Nah... she probably spit for years trying to get the bad taste from the last Shaw project out of her mouth.

But then the final little piece of information rolls across my computer screen. From all places... a story in Forbes Magazine by Seth Lubove, published November 25, 2002. Now I came across this story because I went looking for information on a guy that was the founder & president of Tri-Star Pictures, I figured I'd find all kinds of information on his Wikipedia Biography, all the references to Tri-Star but I really was coming up with not much of any thing other than plans for this great new magical studio & theme park in the desert near Palm Springs.

Tri-Star Pictures (sorry spelling prior to 1991). TriStar Pictures came about in 1982 when Columbia Pictures (then a subsidiary of Coca-Cola), HBO, and CBS (who, despite their former full name - Columbia Broadcasting System - was unrelated to Columbia Pictures, although the film studio did produce some series for CBS) decided to pool resources to split the ever-growing costs of making movies, creating Nova Pictures as a joint venture. Later Columbia Pictures buying out HBO & CBS. And then Sony buying control of all of Coca-Cola's entertainment holdings.

Back to the Forbe's article... now we find the individual that states he was the founder of Tri-Star listed with lots of other details. And another Film company named Ameri-Dreaming that is going to build a Movie Studio & Theme Park in the desert outside of Palm Springs in 2002. Wow... its like they had the same idea years earlier, on a few occasions with different company names.   Maybe you best just read the original article.   At least before you think about pulling out your wallet to invest anymore than the ticket price.

All I can say now is I hope this isn't Artie working from the grave to put all the access out of reach, not allowing any film to ever be made.  Should it ever find a script & the ability of a true storytelling filmmaker , like a Martin Scorsese.  It should entertain yet allow a believable historical view into the past through the Life of Artie Shaw.  A bigger and better version of the era than... "The Aviator" which was a good movie.  They did turn to Artie Shaw to supply the music of Nightmare.  Maybe something with the feel of Howard Hughes riding Seabiscuit while he plays the Clarinet for his riding partner Ava Gardner while Frank Sinatra cries in the corner. Anyway you look at it,  there will be a challenge to do it right.

Johnny Depp would have been great in the roll 11 years ago,  I still vote for him today...   But he, probably  like Artie Shaw is at another place in his journey of life.  If he answers their calls, they best be ready to make it happen this time, and not even think of asking Mr. Depp to put on a cheap suit.

There is an audience from the past which gets smaller everyday and an audience of the future that needs an association to the past today for some insight on the future.  Otherwise... Hollywood should just continue making Doomsday Pictures wrapped in pretty paper smelling like... Well you know.  Apparently there is always another buyer for that.

UPDATE: Aug 9th -  Appears Shaw's longtime lawyer who handled the deal  with Sunn Classic Pictures was an Associate Producer for this group's "Blockbuster Hit",  CAGE  in 1989.  I can hear a flushing sound in the background....  must be a new batch of  pretty gift boxes.

What a Nightmare.

Update:  Sept 26th  Part II "A Future Nightmare"    **scroll down and read comments first.**
 

A response to a comment below at bottom of comment section.

To Anonymous:

Yes...the above post was an opinion & collection of thoughts. Based on more research than your PROFESSIONAL Media types are going to do. Actually many of them come to this website, including a couple of LA investment analyst - financial managers looking for facts... that is why I am posting your Anonymous comment because I feel it deserves attention.

    For... "when Anonymous speaks... investors listen".

But I will first start by saying even the "so called professional". is going to start their search from what information is in Sunn Classic Picture's own Press Release, it was Judy Garland who in her release included a link to the company's website. Those truths & falsehoods which I agree exist in the media of the Internet should have been set straight at the company website. All which I have given credit and links to the reader to make their own opinion. Researching the founder of Tri-Star basically starts with seeking out the founder's name as listed in film credits and documents on the INTERNET.  Not much really written connecting him with the big Corporation it is part of today,  I will make sure I send them a letter asking why not.

I am sorry to say even with its faults the Net is the best tool for getting information out there to the masses, along with a good starting point for further research. This site is a couple of months old and Google has already allowed its content to be spread far and wide. If Sunn & its principals were truly concerned that the World knew of their accomplishments & abilities it would not be a difficult task for a good press agent to make happen.  24 to 48 hours and Google will eat it up, and share it with the world.

This would also allow those giving their opinions a more balanced supply of information available from different sources. I ask... should the average person not give a little weight to the article published by Forbes Magazine which was not just an Internet blurb, i know a lot of investors want to know some basic information about where they are putting their money. I should add... in 2002 that detailed article in Forbes basically described an image of a company which closely resembles the same image still being presented upon visiting Sunn's Website recently, 8 years later same impression.  Along with alot of other details gained from a personal interview with the principals at their offices in the desert. I'm pretty sure Forbes Magazine has folks in suits that specialize in telling them if its ok to publish the stories they do.

Wikipedia's listing of Tri-Star (TriStar) on the Internet can be edited to include the facts which I don't see so difficult to believe stated as the original organization which you write of. So why not update & address these issues... which I believe again was a short coming of the press agent to present a good image of the company. I do know the films which TriStar pictures is truly noted for producing came after this original organization.  I personally will make note of the film productions prior to "The Natural" which was produced under new ownership.

So what opinion was I left to come to... and believe me my "marketing study" will sell you some tickets if I was involved in getting Artie Shaw & the Era to the screen.

I truly want to see this story of Mr. Shaw become a successful film project.  Then John Bartee will finally get a royality check from the use of one of his Latin compostions.  At least one which will be needed as part of any depiction of the 1949 band during the popular Latin Jazz Era... He then will be able to afford a tombstone for his grave.  But the image presented of those behind the venture make me wonder...If he will have to be content a  little longer with his cardboard marker.

I wish them all the Luck & Fortune regarding this picture. But if you want the World to know the facts don't bury them under a rock.  Print the history of Tri-Star along with the other information you have on the founder's bio which is on your company website. On that same site there is a link for investment opportunities,  I would be presenting the glowing  facts on that website, so potential investors didn't have to beat the bushes to dig up information on their own. .

Do know I have an idea who Anonymous is, given the Google searches that you did to get to this site. And the fact that AOL has terrible proxy servers and its not that hard to get over the rainbow to find Toto on Facebook.  I am actually pretty good at research if you had bothered to read what the primary basis of this blog was about.   Believe me the above post: A Future Nightmare? really wasn't about your interest, it was about mine...  Artie Shaw, The Music and quality movies.  If those whom you represent focus on those facts, other than worrying about some blogger like me they might have a chance at creating something worth watching.  I hope this exercise prepares you for the real Movie Industry critics.

Now if... all those involved with Sunn Classic Pictures get this picture produced and it shows some level of quality & integrity I will be the first to write a glowing review of the film & the production company's Artistic abilities.     I will actually give you a full page on this site starting today should you wish me to report on its progress & promotions.  Again take note... even the Miles Davis film project is now laying on the shelf due to the economy,  if there is 100 - 150 million of that 2 billion still around,  Sunn could hire the people to make the project work. Maybe pull in an initial 200 million Worldwide with a good film, on a good day.

Until that time I remain a skeptic given the 20 years that have pass since the films which you make note of were produced. Along with the amateurish image presented on the website, which in no way appears to be the image of a 2 billion dollar film company (A again not my claim... but from press releases of Sunn, 2 years ago.) But then I refer that back to your press agent.  Maybe... all the money is in the bank and they see no need in wasting it on a superficial corporate image. 

The Artistry that will be needed to made the film regarding the life of Artie Shaw and the Glamour of Hollywood & the Big Band Era is no way in the same league with producing videos... of Dorf, an original story book for kids idea into a video about a modern day Pinocchio who lives in the Hood which has been in pre-production since 2006, and Martial Arts & FIGHT pictures which make lots of money.

 I think you would agree Martin Scorsese made a "fight picture" which appealed to a wide audience it also had a believable storyline, it was "Gangs of New York". This is a film in a league which, "Nightmare" will need to be produced to be considered an Artistic success to the viewing public.  I  am sure if your focus is straight to video & cable you will probably find a way to see it a profitable venture, yet a disappointment to those actually interested in seeing a memorable and quality film made.

I Quote from your comments:
"You refer to Sunn's "CAGE" movie as though it amounted to nothing in terms of viewer acceptance. It was an action adventure genre movie, which led to a sequel, is still paying royalties around the world, and was and is the "Father" of today's mixed-martial arts sports fights, which are making billions of dollars."    In my original post I refer to the film as a Blockbuster, and  any assumption beyond that is your own.  And as far as financial success I won't dispute your claims... as my original post clearly states numerous times in this society there is a very good market for things wrapped in pretty boxes.  I just don't happen to be one of those individuals that fall in that market's demographics .  And the more power to those that are successful in marketing that type of product but just because it sells doesn't make it smell & look like a field of  beautiful flowers.

Please forward any documented information regarding my "Blatant Errors" as you failed to point them out clearly in your comment, as most of it was about my lack of research, although you did see fit to cut  & paste what I did make note of about Tri-Star's history in your own comments.  Also, I am not sure if you know that in my original post there are links which highlight red when clicked on linking to documents & articles which others have written and published on which my opinion is based.  Wouldn't it be their lack of research if their words are not true?  Should I get their address or phone number for you? So I look forward to your email, and I will be very willing to post the corrections.  First though I am going to jump right on the research of the 3 films you made me aware of.  Where would you direct me to find factual information about them?  As you surely know the INTERNET is not to be trusted.

Also... I am a registered Editor on Wikipedia and would be happy to update the Public Data regarding the true creation of Tri-Star and its History. OR you could actually register yourself, you'll need a name and email, as they don't allow anonymous submissions.

I truly do like the guy's name you mentioned... Cool name,  Lang Elliott.   That will look real good on the Movie Poster... as long as its not drawn in crayon.