: When did we become the Enquirer? Hope Jacko and Robert Blake's lawyers don't read the PCR.
It's one thing to be funny, it's another to be insulting or downright mean. As Leonard Maltin
found out, it's very bad financially to even imply that someone looks like or is a drug addict.
Maybe it's just me, but I honestly think this brings down the quality of what you have worked
so hard for. Just my opinion. Personally I think it blows!
Number One, I don't ever recall Michael Jackson being confused as to his gender. Is the guy weird? Sure. And I'll be the first to write something about him dangling his kid off a balcony or his nose, but unless I know something no one else does, I'm not going to put in writing that Michael Jackson wants to be a woman or even thinks he is. And Robert Downey, Jr. has been clean for almost 2 years as far as I know. It's one thing for you to say to me in a conversation that you THINK Robert Blake murdered his wife, it's another to put in print that he shot her in the middle of the street! [Jay] Leno can get away with ending a joke about someone lurking around a crime scene with, "Hey, does anyone know where O.J. was?" Since OJ was found "not guilty" in a court of law, for us, or any publication, to refer to him AS a murderer, or to even imply that he is one, is libelous.
For his annual movie guide, Leonard Maltin reviewed a drug-related film that starred a post "Father Know's Best" Billy Gray. Maltin, and I'm paraphrasing, praised Gray's performance, but noted he was probably just playing himself since he had at one time been a drug dealer. Unfortunately, Billy Gray was NEVER a drug dealer. He had spent some time in jail for marijuana possession, but that is the extent of it. Not only were all copies of the book recalled, but the publishers paid out a 6-figure settlement and Maltin had to include a printed apology in later editions of his book.
And as for the column being similar to what I write in Mike's Rant, I try to keep the majority of my "Hollywood" info to upcoming projects and items I think are interesting to our "class" of readers.....basically geeks like us. Even tho I know she's a kid, I found her items to be gossipy, mean-spirited and, just on a professional level, poorly written.
And yes, if I felt like it, I could list birthdays and babies every week. In fact, if you recall in some of the first Rants, I did do birthdays. But then I saw that EVERY newspaper in the world did the same thing and I want us to NEVER be confused with every other publication. I will, on occasion, mention a birthday of a favorite celebrity of mine (every November 10th you KNOW there will be a Roy Scheider mention). But I try not to write the obvious!
I honestly believe that including this type of column only brings down the quality we have all worked for the past few years!
You're the boss so it's your call, and I will respect your decision. However, you must know how much I want this to be a success for you, and I wouldn't want ANYTHING to hurt the PCR.
Mike [Smith]
Mike, I appreciate and prize your candor, as I do all PCR's writers. Not surprisingly, I don't agree with all your assesments, BUT, as a cautionary move, I went back to Ashley's column looking for libelous talk. I have since changed "Robert Blake shooting his wife" to "[allegedly] shooting his wife", I modified the Robert Downey, Jr. reference from "can't stay out of rehab long enough to finish a series" to "couldn't stay out.." as well as a note that he's improved. As far as Jacko, I think what Ashley meant was every plastic surgery makes him look more feminine and more white. Many think he looks a lot like his sister LaToya and there was talk he was obsessed with looking like Diana Ross! I think this is all Ashley was alluding to.
There was no OJ accusation. She wrote "How am I a [Hollywood] insider? Well, if I told you than I would have to kill you. Just kidding, a little OJ humor for you." That is hardly more than a mild, even confusing reference. Leno could've said it. About somebody "looking like a drug addict" was the line regarding Reese Witherspoon's husband "Ryan Phillippe. Their daughter Ava is 3. Personally, I think Ryan is a nut ball and looks like a drug addict." There followed a line about asking Robert Downey Jr. for tips raising a kid while on drugs which I have since removed.
There is some mild overlapping of topics covered by The Rant, but nothing I even noticed at first because you're both writing for two different kinds of audiences. Adults who read The Rant have a history Ashley and her group can't possibly identify with. And I've been criticized for giving a rat's ass about her demographic at all.
So you did do some good here. But I also think there's been an over-reaction in fandom just a tad bit and I want to remind everyone Ashley's only 18 and writes like an 18 year-old-girl, a market we don't normally serve, but I wanted to give her a chance (actually, a second one). Are they unimportant? Read on...---Nolan
Nolan,
Bravo, to you and the gang (the "Buckaroo Banzai" of the new millennium?), on the latest PCR. (Of course, calling us the "Buckaroo Banzai of the new millenium" is the highest compliment you could possibly pay me! I'm moved.--Nolan) As always, a reliable staple in the world of fandom.
I very much enjoyed Will Moriaty's review of "Night of the Zombies". Unbelievably, that's one I've never seen (and I've seen lots of Italian gut-munchers in my time), so I was thrilled to get a fellow fan's perspective. I even learned something: New Wave wannabe Donnie Iris sings "Leah"? I'm quite the New Wave-head, yet I never heard of that performer or the song. Guess because I hadn't seen NOTZ (and I don't particularly like Elvis Costello, as I duck tossed tomatoes). Incidentally, I do own a copy of NOTZ on VHS (still shrink-wrapped in a plastic oversized glossy case!), but have not yet unwrapped it. (Caution: Will and I learned there's more than one movie by that name.--N) Hope to read more Schlockarama reviews in the future; I'm currently watching "Battle in Outer Space" (1960), directed by Ishiro Honda (director of the "Godzilla" films), wishing Dr. Paul Bearer was there breaking in as the movie plays. (Don't we all?--N)
Managed to actually get to the movies this week, seeing the postponed "Phone Booth". I agree with Michael Smith; it's one of the best "thrillers" of the year - probably THE best so far. Hope it's up for a best picture nod when the Academy Awards rolls around again next year. Just a few notes about the review: Mike mentioned that Kiefer Sutherland was "never seen"; actually he was, briefly, at the end of the film. In addition, Joel Schumacher's career started much earlier than films like "Falling Down" and "The Lost Boys". Back in '81 he directed the classic "Incredible Shrinking Woman" starring Lily Tomlin! In my opinion, Schumacher is beginning to make up for time-wasters like the Batman films, "Flatliners" and the aforementioned "The Lost Boys". Keep it up, Joel! Lastly, the contribution of horror legend Larry Cohen should be acknowledged; he wrote the screenplay. Cohen has had a venerable career, helming such classics as "It's Alive!" (+ the sequels), "God Told Me To" and not-so-classics "Full Moon High" & "The Stuff".
Any chance of PCR reviewing "House of 1000 Corpses" and David Cronenberg's "Spider"? (Yeppers!--N)
The other features in this weeks PCR are reliably noteworthy, particularly Mad Matt's homage to Sideshow's incredible horror action figures, Matt's FM update, and the Linda Harrison interview (Nova rocks!) (Thank you, yes she does, and did last issue--N).
On a critical note, we geekfans aren't particularly interested in Catherine Zeta-Jones' new baby or the surprise success of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding". (Referring once again to the earth-shaking debut of Ashley Lauren's Hollywood, last issue.--N) I'd much rather read about what Barbara Steele and Roger Corman are up to.
I get a little "spooked" when I perceive that types of media I enjoy
(monster mags, movies, etc.) may get "contaminated" with content that
doesn't really relate to the rest of the cherished work. For example, it's
like having an '80s New Wave compilation CD featuring a band like "Bon
Jovi"...contamination. No disrespect intended to the 18 yr.-old writer, I
think it's great that a young person like her does the column. But does it
belong in an online fan page that centers around UFO's, classic monsters,
independent filmmaking, etc. is the question. I'd venture to guess that
type of gossip is available in magazines like "People" and I suppose that's what most of the mainstream wants.
I'd really be
impressed if the writer was able to get the latest scoop on past or current
cult stars, like John Carpenter, Ashley Laurence, Romero, Bob Burns, etc. I
don't think anyone has done that before - did a gossip column about B-movie
personalities. That would be tremendously cool! (Agreed--N)
BTW, I'm not suggesting that the column be yanked. Like I wrote, I'm
impressed with Ashley's work in general - it shows a lot of initiative &
talent for such a young girl. Not to mention a lot of people out there are
no doubt genuinely interested in Hollywood gossip, it's just that
personally, I am not. To be honest, I felt the same way about some of the
past movie reviews on PCR, for example "Bringing Down the House", it's just
that I think a review of such a mainstream flick like that (and similar
films) doesn't belong on PCR. I also feel that the "celebrity machine" in
Hollywood stands in the way of (and has been the cause of) sci-fi, fantasy
and horror taking a back seat to dramas and comedies since the late 1980's,
and the less info the media can convey about the J-Lo's, Julia Roberts, and
George Clooneys the better. Yes, I'm still bitter about the fall of the
late '70s/early '80s...we all need to pitch in and bring back the "Dawn of
the Deads" & "Escape From New York's".
I was very saddened to hear about Corey's mom. Wish him the best for me.
I'm guessing Will Moriaty is going to spotlight the unfortunate closing of Cypress Gardens in La Floridiana (Yep! "La Floridiana, PCR #160"--N). Truly sad Florida's losing another institution.
Thanks again for a job well-done on the latest issue of PCR! Keep up the magnificence.
- Andy Lalino
Thank you, Andy! I appreciate the input as always.
After I got several complaints about Ashley Lauren's Hollywood, I must say I'm at once both surprised and gratified to know the contents of this 'zine are taken so personally! This same type of column (Ashley's) ran two years ago and I heard nothing about it then. I never at any time stated or meant to convey that the PCR was only serving baby-boomers with a predilection for tacky sci-fi/horror movies. Oh sure, that's what happens MOST of the time, because that's the kind of geeky guy I am! But the term "Pop Culture" has a broader range than that, and I like to think the 'zine does, too. I say it in the banner, we also cover a little politics and mainstream television when appropriate. We've done mainstream and underground comics. But always for the pupose of commentary. That's what we do--we commentate!
I'm not changing course, and I haven't taken leave of my senses (well, actually of all the things I've lost in life I miss my mind the most, but I digress....). The subjects we've covered in here will continue to be covered just as vigorously as ever before. This Week's Movie Review will feature the latest opening of a major motion picture, whether it's genre-oriented or not. I think we provide a valuable, non-media-controlled service with that. If it IS genre-oriented, you can probably bet that more writers will review the same flick (as happened last year with Spider-Man, Jason-X, and Attack of the Clones). As I said in my last video, I'm even expanding the crazed fan frontier with an online store and an internet talk show, so this crazed fanboy ain't goin' nowhere!.
Although I included a too-brief intro in purple font above her first column, apparently nobody read it, so missed the fact that Ashley is a teenager and writes about teen topics---I thought she would provide a kid's perspective and I, for one, found it amusing, I wouldn't expect you guys to get into any of that, and I certainly didn't consider any of it libelous.
No, we're not turning into the "Enquirer" or "People". But also consider this...
I've had three major writers drop out over the last 8 months to pursue other agendas and I confess to taking a look at diversifying to attract more writers/readers. Maybe to regain the editorial ball I dropped, "Hollywood" will be moved to its own page, and I'll be more vigilant about inflammatory content, but it will and should continue. Admittedly right now it's a little green, but as Ashley gets her writing chops down, her column will improve.
I'm glad Plastic People got off to a good start anyway!
Nolan
Nolan,
Hey, I ran across your site and saw there was a thing on there about our movie and Kim Kahana. (Re: The Filmmakers Update on the CF Homepage.---N)
Other Side Cinema (formerly Blood Cinema Entertainment) is bringing world renowned stunt man Kim Kahana to the TamBay Film and Video Fest. After the showing of "B-Movie: The Shooting of Farmhouse Massacre", which features scream queen Debbie Rochon, Kim Kahana and the crew of Other Side Cinema will have a 30-minute panel discussion of stunt safety in movies.
A portion of "B-Movie" was shot at the Kahana Stunt Ranch in Groveland, Florida.
If you would like any additional information on Mr. Kahana or Other Side Cinema please visit the web sites below.
www.kahanastunts.com
www.othersidecinema.com
Mark [Terry]
Ashley, do what you do...
Andy Lalino, thanx...
Mike Smith, Roy Scheider??? hmmm...
MAD MATT