At home, away from the snow (random thoughts)

January 2011 has been a time when I know change is in the air.  I can clearly tell I need to make career changes, and am aiming for self employment.  While I would like to go to the Albany, NY area (not necessarily the city), I got a yearning for Texas' Gotham City, Austin—thanks to seeing True Grit last night (31 January)!


Actually, I saw two movies in January: The Green Hornet, about a week ago, and True Grit.  The former had many good elements, but I could not stomach Seth Rogen's portrayal of the lead character.  The movie was also badly made from a financial standpoint, because too much money was wasted.  Had it used a smaller budget, and focused on a great story line, AND had a better lead actor, such as Jon Hamm, it would have scored.


That movie is not a total bomb, but it was a real waste.


True Grit (2010) is a superb take on the 1968 novel of the same name, and it is a different animal, compared to the 1969 movie.  Some of the landscape looked semi-familiar, and it turns out that the movie was filmed around Austin and Blanco, Texas, where I lived from 1993 to 1996.  It also was filmed in the high plains near Santa Fe, New Mexico.  


Unfortunately, I have had some issues at work that have caused considerable stress.  But that should be impetus to move ahead with self employment.  And it seems all my time on different Batman message board, such as the 1966 Batman Message Board, has had an effect on my path, in a positive way!


And so has Batman 1969!  Yes, I am still on it, and may be making progress with the music in the next 36 hours or so.  I have some remaining voice over work to do tonight, but will do so.  Anyway, I am sure I will have more to report on soon enough!

My first post for 2011 ...

Well, there is good news and bad news to report on.  The good news is that progress is being made on Batman 1969.  Not only is the shooting all done, but it is all coming together nicely.


Now the bad news.


My SONY camcorder, which has been in use since 2007, apparently has internal problems.  It freezes up from time to time, and I then have to take out the batteries and then reinsert them to "reboot" the camera.  This has been happening since September, and I got word today from SONY it would cost at least $341 to have them look at it.  For a camera that has been around 3½ years, sounds like it is time to upgrade to another camcorder. God knows I need this for future video work, whether it is for fan films or for public relations/media work that I hope to do.


I am also sure a new PC is in order as well, especially for the processor speed for video rendering.  We'll see what happens here!  Stay tuned for further developments!

Onward to 2011!!!!

The new year, 2011, is so full of expectations as never before!!!


One year ago, I owed back child support, as well as a student loan that was basically 20 years old.  And I had two credit cards in bad shape, as well as no sense of direction of what I wanted.  On the edge of 2011, I owe no back child support, my student loan is history, and the credit cards are in much better shape!!!


And as of today, I own a new domain for my sole proprietorship that may become a LLC in 2011.  And that will drag me permanently out of the Southern Tier of New York, perhaps to the immediate Capital District of New York, or some outlying town such as Pittsfield, Massachusetts—or Rochester.  This all makes sense (and dollars) for my future plans:

• More fan film productions.  Batman 1969 had fill-in shooting done on 19 December 2010 in Albany, NY, as well as Rensselaer and Saratoga Springs.  Carrie's World will start in 2011, and will be based in part on the 1966 series.
• Being in a region that supports the arts more fully!

And so much more!


Anyway, I wish everyone a blessed 2011!!  The best is INDEED yet to come!


  

Two years ago today

Eartha Kitt, who played Catwoman on Batman in late 1967 and early 1968, died on Christmas Day 2008 in Westport, Connecticut.  Known for her song "Santa Baby" from 1953, Ms. Kitt did a fantastic job as the Feline Fatale, and was clearly the inspiration for the Catwoman that Millicent Sherman did for my fan film Batman 1969!


And Ms. Kitt's passing matters even more when I work with one of her blood relatives, Beverly Moore of Vestal, NY.  Her sister, D. Alexis Moore, made the piece of jewelry that became the Moldavian Star, which figures into the plot of Batman 1969.


Godspeed, Ms. Kitt!!  And God Bless on this day!!

The times are definitely changing!

Recently, I spoke out on the 1966 Batman Message Board concerning a blog that discussed Gotham City 14 Miles, a series of essays concerning the 1966 Batman series.  The series is getting a lot of deserved attention, in part because the 45th anniversary of the show is already upon us.


But there is more than that.


The dark Batman of the 1980s and 1990s seemed to reflect the times it was in.  One could clearly see that with Frank Miller's tomes, The Dark Knight Returns and The Dark Knight Strikes Again, which oddly enough, featured references to the politics of the day.


One could well understand the reaction at the time to the silliness and goofiness of the 1960s Caped Crusader.  But as the political times are changing fast, so is the world of Gotham City and the world we live in.  No longer do we live in a world symbolised by the cornucopia of prosperity.  The United States narrowly avoided another Great Depression, but faces a prolonged period of economic hardship.


And the dark Batman suddenly no longer seems so appealing.


When I discussed with my mother about two years ago about approaching people in the Town of Corinth, NY about the Web series, she said the locals would not appreciate something grisly, but rather something whimsical.  The appeal of Batman: The Brave And The Bold has proved my point about the appeal of a lighter Gotham City series.  And these days, people would rather watch lighter fare.  With all due respect to 2008's The Dark Knight, I found it a bit of a downer, far removed from some of the coolness of the 1966 series, especially its first season.


Two thousand eleven is shaping up to be a most significant year.  I anticipate relocation out of the Binghamton area, and to an area where I can produce Carrie's World.  One of the Web series' influences, The FBI, is scheduled to be released around next year or so.  Whatever the case, this is not the Reagan era anymore.  We are firmly in the 21st Century.


And that may not be such a bad thing.

Forty five years ago this month

Jill St. John and Adam West at work on "Hi Diddle Riddle," October 1965.

The 1966 Batman series began production this month 45 years ago.  The pilot episode, "Hi Diddle Riddle"/"Smack In The Middle," began production on 11 October 1965, and finished on the 25th.  The series was originally slated to begin airing the following September, but ABC was going through a disastrous season that fall.  Not only did several new shows not catch on, but at least one show that was revamped—Burke's Law—failed miserably as well.


Hence, The Second Season was born.  And Batman was its showcase.


As a six-year-old that autumn, I would watch television on a black-and-white set.  It seemed my parents liked their shows on CBS, whereas I was more partial to ABC and, additionally, NBC.  Friday nights were especially cool, as I got to see The Flintstones, Tammy and The Addams Family.  I also liked Gidget, as well as The Patty Duke Show.  I never got to see Honey West or The FBI, both of which debuted that fall, until much later, but they were superb shows as well!!


That fall of 1965 and winter/spring of 1966 was a truly memorable time for me, full of pleasant memories.


And those memories matter!


When Batman aired in 2002 on TV Land, it awakened memories of that wonderful time.  I was going through difficulties during that time.  That led me to join the 1966 Batman Message Board, and then led to Web site work and then to video.


Batman 1969, which is most assuredly in post-production, is a derivative of the 1966 series.  And Carrie's World, the upcoming fan series, uses many elements from the Sixties' show as well; thank Batman: The Brave And The Bold, in part, for that!


But consider this: That Jill St. John, who played Molly, is a MAJOR inspiration for the lead character of the fan series.  And Catwoman will also play an important role.  When I saw Batman again in 2002, that led me to the comics, and I began getting the Catwoman comic.


And to think all this happened because of a television pilot filmed 45 years ago this month! Amazing!!  To paraphrase William Dozier, the best is yet to come!

Jill St. John and Adam West in New York, fall 1966.

Trying for self employment in the Albany area, and more ...

My recent vacation in the Adirondack/Albany area was an eye-opener.


When dining with a classmate of mine, I inquired about self employment, since she has worked for herself since the 1980s. The concept made so much sense, given my independent streak.  Ideally, I want to have my own video studio, so that I can freelance and rent it out to other video companies as well.


In any event, I am intent on relocation there.  And I am told more jobs are going to be created there!


In other news, I got feedback from Rick Craig concerning editing my fan film.  Yes, there may need to be one final shoot, but as long as we can finish everything off, that is good!  I dislike the time it has taken, but there have been so many things that have worked against the entire production from the start.  Oy! **rolls eyes upward**


And for the fan series, we need to get Carrie Kelley and Catwoman/Selina Kyle cast.  Anyone care to step up to the plate?!?  C'mon, don't be shy!