Wisdom from "Million Dollar Baby"
"If there's magic in boxing, it's the magic of fighting battles beyond endurance. It's the magic of risking everything for a dream that nobody sees but you."
I directed this movie in 1990. The producer Ron Marchini is one of the very first low budget independent producers working outside Hollywood. I directed his first production "Death Machines" in 1975, filmed in Stockton California where we were to film "Omega Cop".
Ron had the production idea, of hiring the name actors Adam "Batman" West, Troy Donahue, and Stuart Whitman before I joined the project. He also had the story of a policeman that survives a solar flare that devastates the earth.
My contribution was to schedule the production for a 21 day straight shoot using the star names so they appear through out the story, even though we had them for only a limited time. Marchini, who was one of the best karate competitors in the '70s, played the lead. He had a string of martial arts movies produced in the Philippines that he had starred before starting his own company in America.
I just recorded in November of '06 Frank Sinatra Jr.'s narration of "McKnight's Memory" based on my novel.
It was a dream working with Mr. Sinatra. I had heard his audio commentary on two of his father's movies on DVD, "Robin and the Seven Hoods" and "Oceans Eleven". His voice, articulation, as well as his respect for character actors impressed me, so he was approached to take the listener along on this conspiracy tale.
Mr. Sinatra requested his recording be done at night as that is when most singers feel their voice is the best. He gave a concentrated performance, often coming up with changes in the text that were superior than the original.
For example, there is a line that read, "The hitman was dead before his 200 pound body crashed to the floor." Mr. Sinatra changed it to:"The hitman was dead before his 200 pounds crashed to the floor."
When I heard that, I was overjoyed that this subtle, but powerful change had happened. Then Mr. Sinatra said, "Okay fellas, I'll read it as written so that you'll have a choice." But I knew right then which reading I would use. This happened a few other times as well.
I was in awe of Mr. Sinatra's annunciation and sometimes ending a paragraph in an upward tone, leaving it hanging as if more will come. I don't know what that's called, but I loved it.
During our breaks, it was wonderful to talk with Mr. Sinatra about the sets that he visited of some of the now classic movies, such as "Journey to the Center of the Earth" and "Them".
He also explained why and how lounge acts disappeared from the Las Vegas casinos. It seems that when the headliners lost popularity and could no long fill the large show rooms they were moved to the lounge to entertain gamblers and provide music to the whole casino.
But when the entertainers insisted that their act be curtained off from the casino, the owners decided that if the gamblers could not see or hear the acts, then why should they pay to have them in the lounge. Thus the lounge acts disappeared.
The production's cast includes Robert Culp, Nancy Kwan, David Hedison, Henry Silva, Don Stroud, Barbara Leigh, Alan Young, Edd "Kookie" Byrnes, Gary Lockwood, and others. The production has full sound effects and music, like an "audio-movie".
It's a mystery/thriller about a CIA deputy director that get's amnesia and for some unknown reason is marked for death by both the Mafia and the CIA. The woman he lives with, but can't remember, runs with him. But can he trust her?
It will be avaliable on Amazon and AuthorsDen.
This is my second full cast audio-book. My first was "Hard Rock Lovers" narrated by Rod Taylor. Performed by Russ Tamblyn, George Chakiris, Robert Culp, James Darren, Barbara Leigh, and Kevin McCarthy.
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Three New Projects Finished
I worked on three audio-books at the same time. Sometimes going from one studio in Hollywood to one in Santa Monica. I felt like Orson Wells when he was performing live radio shows in New York. To get to another studio on time he would hire an ambulance to take him there.
Project 1 - "How to Live the James Bond Lifestyle". This was fun to make. I read the text, but had many actors doing voices for the dramatization parts, as well as sound effects.
Project 2 - "McKnight's Memory" narrated by Frank Sinatra Jr. Performed by Robert Culp, Nancy Kwan, David Hedison, Henry Silva, Edd "Kookie" Byrnes, Alan Young, Gary Lockwood. It's the story of a CIA agent that loses his memory and is pursued by the mafia and the CIA. It has full effects and music.
Project 3 - "The King, McQueen, and the Love Machine". Barbara Leigh reads her true story of dating Elvis, Steve McQueen, and Jim Audrey who was president of MGM studios. The cast includes Joe Esposito as himself, David Hedison as Aubrey, and me as Elvis, along with a full cast and effects.
I wrote and directed "McKnight" and "JB Lifestyle" as well as did the abbridgement and directed "The King". Long time friend and associate Larry Metzger produced. A movie producer has expressed interest in producing the feature length film version of "McKnight's".
Upcoming Project - The audio-book "I, Justice". Frank Sinatra Jr. will narrate in the first person and perform the lead.
Get It Right the First Time
Nancy Kwan in "McKnight's Memory" Audio-Book
We put a great cast together and finished three days ago. Robert Culp plays the lead as a CIA operative who's on the run with a woman he can't remember (Miss Kwan). Also in the cast are Don Stroud, H.M. Wynant, Henry Silva, Alan Young, Barbara Leigh, Edd Byrnes, Gary Lockwood, and David Hedison. It's narrated by Frank Sinatra Jr.
Miss Kwan's wonderful mix of voice and performance pushed the romantic thriller into overdrive. Great to work with her and all the actors. Here is Nancy Kwan's web site.
Also finished directing "The King, McQueen, and the Love Machine" audio-book. As well, as the eight hour full audio-book of "The Complete James Bond Lifestyle Seminar" to be released in September just before the new Bond movie. It has an additonal 40 "pages" recorded on it, as well as the cast performing the dramatizations, with music and effects.
Are you really serious about being a working actor in Hollywood? Then I strongly recommend the ebook that I just read entitled "You Must Act". It has all the realistic info you need to start and sustain an acting career. And will help you in other jobs in the business as well.
I'm not affiliated with him, so I can tell you freely that Bob Fraser's Ebook (or CD-Rom) has the best info I've ever read on the subject. Mr. Fraser is an actor/producer/director/writer that's done it all for years.
You can get it at: www.youmustact.com
And get the free monthly newsletter "Show Biz How To" at: www.showbizhowto.com
"Walk the Line" with Sam Phillip's Advice
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