The WGA Strike: "Why the Striking Writers Are Right"

"Why the Striking Writers Are Right"By Mark HarrisThe Writers Guild of America is a hard union to love, even for many of its members. Anybody who has spent time in a roomful of writers knows that getting them to agree on anything is a fool's errand. Fill that room with 12,000 people, and you have a fractious alliance that has, at times, barely been on speaking terms with itself. The WGA, long known as the guild that can't even unite its East and West coasts, has always been some...Read more

The WGA Strike: "Share The Wealth With Writers"

Over the past few weeks or so, many people have been asking me about the WGA strike, which began this past Monday, November 5th, at 12:01 (EST) while I was at 30,000 feet somewhere over the Pacific.  So, rather than respond to everyone individually, which would take a long time, I thought I'd borrow the words of Howard Rodman (one of Kit Hui's professors at USC, interestingly enough), who perhaps articulated some of the issues at stake better than I can.  I hope you'll find the following a...Read more

My 5,000th Visitor

So, anyway, it’s a little after noon here in Hong Kong and I have 4,959 total views, which means that, as of either sometime later this afternoon or possibly this evening, my page and I will be graced by our 5,000th visitor.  

And I can’t help but wonder… Who will it be?  

Having been inspired by Boon, I’ve decided to hold a little contest of my own and the prize will be (drum roll, please): a date with yours truly.  (Actually, come to think of it, Boon never took me on a date, the cheap bastard.)  Anyway, I digress… Like a...Read more

REVISITING "LAST TANGO IN PARIS"

In case you hadn't noticed yet, I'm one of those annoying people, who, after seeing or reading something of great interest to himself, pressures friends, colleagues, and even complete strangers to take a gander as well.  I'm sort of notorious for it, actually.  In fact, I spend a great deal of money every year sending books and films to people all over the world, so that they, too, can share in my experience.  I wouldn't call it an addiction, but it's definitely a problem.  (I mean, you know you&...Read more

"An Open Letter to the Next Generation of American Filmmakers" by Ray Carney

Over the past year or so, I've become a big fan of Ray Carney's.  For those of you who may not be familiar with the man or his work, he is, according to Wikipedia, "a prolific and controversial American scholar and critic, primarily known for his work as a film theorist, although he writes extensively on American art and literature as well.  He is most well known for his study of the works of actor and director John Cassavetes."  Last summer, I discovered...Read more

MY WILLIAM FRIEDKIN STORY

Like some of you, whenever I find myself in the presence of someone I greatly admire, particularly when it’s a “famous” someone like an actor, writer, director, musician, athlete, etc., the same two questions always leap to mind: “Should I say something to them?  Or should I just leave them alone?”  Most of the time, I choose the latter option.  I decide to respect the person’s privacy and I keep my distance.  And, most of the time, I can live with that decision.  In fact, the only time I truly regret having made that decision was w...Read more

"STANLEY KUBRICK - A Life In Pictures"

Several years ago, Seth Winston, my teacher, my friend, and my fellow Kubrick fan, invited me to an exclusive screening of Jan Harlan’s feature-length documentary, “STANLEY KUBRICK – A Life In Pictures,” at the Academy Theater on Wilshire in Beverly Hills.  Needless to say, it was an evening I would not soon forget.  The film offered a rare glimpse, not just behind the scenes of some of my favorite films of all time, but also into the private life of their legendary director.  

Unfortunately, as wonder...Read more

MY MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENT (AKA "THE NOBU STORY")

I don’t know about you guys, but, when I’m getting to know people, one of my favorite things to do is to swap “most embarrassing” moments. 

Why? 

Well, there are multiple reasons really.  One, these moments are often great for a laugh at someone else’s expense.  Two, the way someone tells the story of such a moment, not to mention the specifics of the moment itself, often reveals a lot about their character.  Three, if you’re like me, then the sheer process of telling the story an...Read more

Francis Ford Coppola Interview Clip

Like many of my colleagues, I’m a big fan of Francis Ford Coppola.  In fact, I remember vividly every single place where I watched every single film of his.  This, in my opinion, is always a great indicator of the power of any given film.  For example, I saw “The Godfather” trilogy while sitting on the floor in the family room of my old house in St. Louis, Missouri.  I saw “The Conversation” in a friend’s dorm room at Southern Methodist University.  I saw “One From The Heart” at the Academy Theater on Wilshire in Beverly H...Read more

"CHARLIE TWO SHOES"

Hi, everyone.  As some of you know, I wrote an adaptation of “Charlie Two Shoes and the Marines of Love Company” for veteran Hollywood producer Stratton Leopold last year around this time. 

For me, the opportunity to work on the project was a dream come true.  It really is one of those projects that, if you’re lucky, comes along once in a lifetime.  Essentially, the story of my involvement in the project began back in 2000.  I had recently graduated from the American Film Institute (MFA, Screenwriting) and had started w...Read more