Revolutionary Road

I'm continuing my red carpet trek this week. My handsome friend Miles stopped over to my house and hooked up the watchamacallit to the thingamajiggy so I could watch movies on my old, but new to me television. I saw Burn After Reading. It had been awhile since I'd bonded with my over-stuffed, olive green, snuggly, love seat and it felt great. Thank you again, M.

Burn After Reading: I'm a huge fan of the Coen brothers. I enjoy their quirky sense of humor and their ability to capture the complete and utter insanity that can be found in almost anyone when pushed beyond emotional limitations. Like life, sometimes even good people do really stupid things and bad people, well, according the the Coen's, there seems to be little redemption, because the bad just get..worse.

The snow has been falling again, so I had to activate the 4x4 on the Neve mobile before heading across town to see Sam Mendes' film, Revolutionary Road. You might remember another film he directed a few years ago, called American Beauty. He won an Oscar for best director for that film. Revolutionary Road is a similiar in theme - exposing truths that stay safely hidden behind societal norms. It was very well acted, directed and the dialogue between the two main characters, played by Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet (Mrs. Sam Mendes) was outstanding. I found myself wanting to write some of the poignant lines down. Of course, light was not on my side and my purse, which holds the needed pen and paper was not cooperating.

Anyway, I recommend spending the moola and seeing Revolutionary Road. I also recommend renting Burn After Reading too. Both are written quite well.

Next week's films are: In Bruges at home and maybe The Wrestler or I've loved you so long on the big screen.


Oscar countdown 2009,
Neve Black

Wood Chippers and Prison Time

Recently I had posted about my desire to write a screenplay. And then I found my subject matter to write about. I knew I needed time to conduct research before making the decision to move forward and commit to writing a script.

Here's a sample dialogue with friends that have asked me how my research is coming along. I want to share these conversations with you, my blogland friends, because it really sheds light on my progress:

"Neve how's the research coming along on ___?" A curious friend will inquire.

"Pretty good, although I can't get anyone to answer my e-mail inquiries and or return my telephone calls, but, I've made some progress putting together the facts by what's already been documented historically." I respond, happy with my note gathering efforts.

"I'm surprised people aren't willing to talk to you about ____, especially once they realize you're not a reporter, but you're writing a screenplay." A usual response.

"Well, from what I've learned, there's a pretty good reason why people aren't responding." I answer, baiting the hook.

"Oh yeah? Why?" Someone will ask, while cocking their heads to one side and creasing their foreheads as curiosity turns to intrigue.

"Well, there's actually two very good reasons - #1: it appears anyone that's been involved with _____has either served time in prison, or #2: has ended up in a wood chipper. And I can't be certain, but I'm guessing the #2 reason is related to desperate times and...well, desperate measures." I finish, knowing that by disclosing this information concludes the conversation.

I've decided to press on and write the script for at least two very good reasons -
#1: I'm an ambitious girl and, #2: I'm partly insane. I'm kidding. Sort of. I do think the story should be told, but it needs to be told on the big screen. Wish me luck.

Trying to avoid wood chippers and prisons at all costs,
Neve Black

p.s. I will fill in the ____above as I feel more comfortable broadcasting the information and my life isn't in danger...I'm kidding. Sort of. :-)

Fly. On. The. Wall.

I'm in awe of the fact that five living American presidents all met at the Whitehouse for a luncheon to discuss past, present and future global issues yesterday. It's simply extraodinary. According to political historians, the last time living U.S. presidents were all together for a brainstorming session was 1981 and Ronald Reagan was the incumbent.

And, yes, of course the Neve Black naughtiness can't help but wonder what they were all smiling and laughing about. Hmmm....

Whitehouse History in the making, 2009 -

Neve Black

Roderick Jaynes

Not to belabor a topic, but I thought everyone might like to know, Neve Black's grotto is now home to a recently divested circa 1995 RCA television set. Thanks to my loving friend Q for setting my stubborn ass straight and demanding that I save her t.v. from peril - which means Q was getting ready to leave this, beauty is only skin deep at the curb of our favorite second hand store, Unique Thrift.

First, I had to lay down a few ground rules before she settled into the grotto: there will be no nonsense television watching allowed at anytime. She is here for one sole purpose - watching porn...oops, I meant to write films....Yeah, yeah, Oscar nod films. Music and conversation with visitors will always take priority over her. She must stay hidden behind the wooden doors of the armoire until she's asked to be seen. I know this seems dominatrix-like of me, but if you don't crack the whip, then gimps... oops, I meant to write television can run amok.

Tonight, it's popcorn, my couch and Joel and Ethan Cohen's film, Burn After Reading.

Neve Black

p.s. A little Oscar trivia here: Roderick Jaynes is the fictitious name for the Cohen Bros. editor. They edit all their own work. :-)

Peer Pressure and the Golden Globes

If I had a dollar everytime someone has offered to let me borrow, or hell, just give me their second, third, or fourth television set, I'd be a Slumdog Millionaire.

Sure, I'd like to play the martyr and say, while all puffed up with bravado, "For the sake of moral standard and higher learning...oh yeah (puff, puff), I killed my television set." But...the truth is, I didn't kill my television set. She died of natural causes: old age. Maybe I've been mourning her death; afterall, the ol' girl was with me since the early 90's. Maybe I'm just so particular about what I spend my hard-earned money on, that I couldn't, or I wouldn't take the leap and spend the cabbage on a new boob tube.

Whatever the reasoning, all has been just swell in Neve Black land without a boob tube, until...The Golden Globe Nominations (heavy sigh)..... There are not one, not two, but three films I missed seeing on the big screen that have been nominated for Golden Globes. Gasp! Everyone knows Golden Globe nom's are usually a shoe in for the Academy Award Nominations - The Big Kahuna- The Oscars, baby. Oh, be still my beating heart.

So, without futher adieu, the martyr in me flew out the window. I fucking acquiesced. I agreed to borrow my friend Mar's sloppy second television set until Oscar night, which will air sometime in February. Today, I wiped off the layer of dust from my Netflix membership and ordered the following must see films: Burn After Reading, In Bruges, and The Edge of Heaven.

In case you haven't realized, I'm crazy... about film. I couldn't live with myself if I missed seeing these potential Oscar winners while walking across the red carpet at a Cleveland Oscar party, wearing my designed by, Unique Thrift Store gown....Come on...I had to borrow a boob tube. I just had to.

Waiting for Netflix to arrive,

Neve Black

p.s. Yes, and thank you. I'm fully aware that I probably need therapy.

Pendant above can be purchased here via Etsy.

Signs

I pay attention to signs. I think signs are gifts from the universe.

A bolt of lightning, a blinding flash of reality, or learning that a couple traveling through Europe during WWII wrote the original screenplay for Casablanca - Did anyone else know that? It's one of my favorite films of all time and I wondered why I never knew about that little tid-bit of information until last night. I don't think I was supposed to know about it until now - it's a sign. A couple of weeks' ago, I met a poet that spoke about how much she enjoys writing plays and I felt inspired by her words of wisdom. A sign. Then last week, I met writer in town from New York, who recently sold his screenplay to a Hollywood giant. I was so excited for him. Was that a sign too? Yes, I think so.

Then, I was out with my friend Natalie. It was the eve before New Year's Eve. We headed to a local haunt. I was in the mood for Campari, a negroni. Yeah, sometimes I like to think I'm Hemingway, or something, I suppose. Anyway, we met one of the most obnoxious persons on the face of the earth. No really, he rubbed my fur the wrong way. He said something to me though and it struck a nerve deep within my creative soul and I've been marinating in a story idea ever since: juicy and tender. I think meeting him in all his obnoxious glory was...yeah, it was a sign.

It appears screenplay signs seem to keep crossing my path, and I can't help but think it's the universe sending me a message. I've tossed around the idea of writing a screenplay for a long time, because of my love of film. I'd love to sink my writing teeth into the challenge of formulating dialogue and character development, while staying within the fascinating groove of erotica.

Today, I started to conduct research on my desired subject matter in order to get a feel if it's something I should make a commitment of seeing through to the end. Afterall, if the universe is kind enough to give me a gift, I certainly don't want to be rude by not accepting, or returning the gift before making sure it fits properly.

What signs have you been receiving lately?

Neve Black

Vinyl lettering above can be purchased here via Etsy.

As Time Goes By

Uh-huh. I'm a bit hung over today. What better way to nurse my self-inflicted pain then to watch one of my all time favorite movies, Casablanca? Besides, no one looks as good drinking champagne cocktails than these two love birds. Boy, those tiny bubbles sure give good head...aches, don't they? :-)

Happy (say it quietly, please) New Year!
Neve Black