Hey Friends,
Things have been hopping these days, got after it last week in the greatest city on earth, NYC, where I headed up with the KTP CREW. They were playing a show that night and I had to take care of some business there too. We kicked it all off with film guru Bob Hawk, Bob is always pushing the envelope….he saw CLERKS and brought it to the VILLAGE VOICE, and hooked Kevin Smith up with his career….he saw a small film called HEY SCO at NYU and encouraged that filmmaker….who went ahead and made BROTHERS McMULLEN launching Edward Burns. I wanted to get in that mix and pick his brain a little (ok, pick his brain a LOT). It was exactly what I needed…it's good to know whether you have a tight budget or a huge budget, everyone worries about the same things, which is wanting to do your best work, getting frustrated when you can't and he basically encouraged me like he encourages even the biggest of studio filmmakers….to just go out there and no matter what you do, make your own path. Good words to go on.
From there I grabbed a couple calls with the west coast, we're all working in the kitchen where we're cooking this tv show called "Watching The Detectives" basically it was some good stuff but also a heaping spoonful of "hurry up and wait" but I wasn't going to let that bother me because we were on the way to the legendary Albert Maysles Cinema, where the fellas had "keeping the Peace" screening. I was ready for this show for a couple reasons, first of all, Albert Maysles is a world class filmmaker and a legend who gave us "GIMME SHELTER" "GREY GARDENS" and so many more.
This is a great doc, directed by Maysles and has some shocking moments and great tunes.
Plus it was in Harlem right on Malcom X Blvd between 178th and 128th. Harlem and Brooklyn always have that really inspirng "old school New York" feel to them, good vibes, good people…and just a good atmosphere. KTP was playing right across the street from Sylvia's, which is a world renowned soul food joint that I'm kicking myself I didn't stop into while I was there.
Anyway the Maysles theater was PERFECT. A really solid homegrown theater. Great screening room and lots of great posters and pictures in their gallery…plus downstairs they had P FUNK, and the Clash kicking out over the speakers. Set the tone perfectly for that great show. The film took off and the KTP fellas did an inspiring Q&A with a great bunch of fans. The fans were so on point they even got on the subway with us, just to keep the conversation going. That's the type of fans every film needs!
Got back home at about 230am and back up at 530am….why so little sleep? Because I was doing press for the sneak peak of "Detectives" on 2/27 and I had to get after and let the world know what we were up to. This included a great stop with my friends at 93.7 WSTW. They've always been encouraging and wonderful, so I always jump at the chance to kick back with them, share some stories and have some laughs. THE A GAME show has been really kind to me over the years and I love to stop in and visit.
That eased us right into the first public showing of WATCHING THE DETECTIVES. We're not screening this one that much, so I was excited to get back out in public with a crowd and just share what we've been up to for the last couple of months. It's been mostly offices and agent conference calls…so I was unbelievably ready to get out with the crowd and have some fun. We packed the venue, people were standing, kneeling, sitting on tables and bars, hanging from the rafters, it was a turnout I didn't expect and was unbelievably humbled by it. Then the show started and it just worked, crowd was SO into it, getting every joke, laughing clapping, cheering….we got so much love, after it was over, I went out there and just started thanking people personally, shaking hands and giving huge hugs to the audience members, people I'd never even met….I had to give that love right back. I'll probably keep doing that, when the show is on TV and we'll see the Nielsen ratings, I'll probably come to the houses that watched and just give out some thanks and hugs…so keep an eye out, I may be on your doorstep! Don't worry, I normally bring snacks.
Also, wanted to get a little music talk for one sec. Rancid released their record "Let The Dominoes Fall" in Autumn, but they've packaged it with a bonus acoustic disc there, and after listening to it a lot, just those huge choruses restructured with banjos, acoustic guitars and accordians, I think that bonus disc may be one of my favorite things that they've done. Timmy Armstrong has that unique and sincere voice, it works wonders in a folky type setting. Granted I love it when they slam around to the loud stuff, but if you're looking for something a bit different out of those guys, try that bonus record!
So that's the word so far, everyone enjoy the next couple of days…
one love,
TIM