Name:              Kevin
E-mail:

Dear Josh:         

<<However, I do hear that it looks good>>

The image that comes to mind is the train robbery in the green fog. I give JESSE JAMES credit for trying to be a good film, if you talk about the plot, it sounds like a good film, but watching it is like watching paint dry...

In the meantime, I did rent ROBINSON CRUSOE ON MARS, and promptly bought it afterwards. It seemed like a completely ridiculous movie that works anyways with nice special effects. I also liked JOURNEY TO THE FAR SIDE OF THE SUN where the other planet was actually a mirror version of our own.

Name:              Diana Hawkes
E-mail:             crazyfelinelady@yahoo.com

Dear Josh:         

August, my good man!  I think you're mistaken in which scene, and therefore episode, John was referring to. The Gabby-on-da-Barby scene borrowed from Naked Prey was actually in "The Abyss" - story by Rob, written by James Kahn, and directed by Rick Jacobson. ("Dangerous Prey" had the human hunters flush out Xena and Varia from the woods by setting fire to the trees.) I do agree with John that Gabrielle getting strung onto a spit with a huge venting tube forced into her mouth was one of the most provocative visuals of the entire show.  I always contended that it was a phallic metaphor, and the previous scene with the medicine man forcing liquid in her mouth and sprinkling her torso with herbs - I go right to Monica and the stained dress in my mind.  Which always had subbers steamed at me for mentioning it. I'd love to ask that hunkie Rick about the ep!

Which reminds me - someone down page was dissing Josh's appearance - I'm here to say I find all the XWP directors I've seen very attractive! (Well, I suspect TJ has had work done. *wink*)  I know Josh hates his late night haze on the Season 1 DVD, but I think you're all adorable.  Why, if I wasn't married and Josh didn't smoke, I'd bat my eyelashes from across the room.  So neener, neener.

Name:              Steve
E-mail:             spicoli323@gmail.com

Hey Josh,

I was going to propose Sleuth for movie with smallest cast, but its Wikipedia article linked to an article on something called Give 'em Hell, Harry! which apparently only has a single character.  But maybe this wouldn't count, apparently being just a filmed play.  Would you disqualify Sleuth on the same grounds?

Steve

Name:              Vincent
E-mail:             VPaterno@aol.com

Dear Josh:         

Your late 1998 entry on Turner Classic Movies came up recently on a TCM message board, and your thoughts still apply nearly a decade later. If I were stranded on a deserted island and could watch only one channel, this would be it.

I regularly watched "Xena: Warrior Princess" during its run, and enjoyed it immensely as a wonderful blend of action, adventure and humor (an element of Lucy Lawless' talent that has yet to be fully exploited during her post-"Xena" career). Belated kudos on a directing job well done.

Finally, I'd like to invite you to check out my site, "Carole & Co.", dedicated to my all-time favorite actress, Carole Lombard, and classic Hollywood. We've put up nearly 300 entries since the site began eight months ago, with plenty of rare stills and other information. I think you'll enjoy it. Check us out at http://community.livejournal.com/carole_and_co/

Name:              August
E-mail:             joxerfan@hotmail.com

Dear Josh,

In case anyone is curious, that Xena episode that John Hunt asked about was written by Joel Metzger, and was Renee O'Connor's first full-length directing gig (since her earlier episode was a clip show.)  As you can tell from the title "Dangerous Prey," it was a combo of the plots of "The Most Dangerous Game" (bad guy hunts humans for sport) and "Naked Prey" (especially the fire  scenes) along with a climactic fight sequence atop a teetering tower of logs taken straight out of a Jet Li/Michelle Yeoh film called "Twin Warriors."  It was pretty decent.

So unsure if you would know this, but perhaps you've heard some of your old colleagues talking about this in passing.  Do you have any idea if Disney/ABC was interested in the Goodkind books and then courted Sam and Rob?  Or were they interested in the series and then began pitching it to studios?

And is it likely they will do it in NZ?

Thanks,

August

Name:              Jayne
E-mail:             jayno17@hotmail.com

Dear Josh:         

Hi, I was just wondering if the script 'biological clock' has been made into a movie? i absolutely loved reading it!!

Name:              Kevin
E-mail:

Dear Josh:         

I'll save you some time and misery. Avoid THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD. It's really boring, the music is annoying, and to add insult to the injury, it finally gets interesting in the last 30 minutes of the 2hr 30min film.

Name:              John Hunt
E-mail:             Chowkidar@aol.com

Josh,

It's been a while since I wrote (and "sent" anyway) but, like many, I check the posts every day.

We've discussed the elephant slaughter in "Naked Prey" before, but the roasting scene; do you know who put that scene into "Xena".  It was almost as disturbing in "Xena" as it was in "Prey", if only because it was less expected.  I can't think of another scene in "Herc" or "Xena" that stood apart like that.  Since the rest of the episode seems to have been there to include that scene, I always wondered whose idea it was, and if you knew anything about the decision.  Thanks,

John

Name:              God
E-mail:             iamthelord@gmail.com

Josh, my son:

I understand you do not believe in me, and I just wanted to let you know that I am perfectly okay with that, and anyone who says you will "burn in hell" is quite wrong. I crafted man in my image and gave him a brain not so he could shut it off and act like an ant, but so he could use his brain, and resemble me in all of his trials and tribulations. Even I am not perfect (if I was, I never would have created Republicans).

Don't you just hate Anne Coulter? Would you fuck her if given the chance? Don't forget, I am the lord, and can make such things happen.

Name:              Edwin Spaulding
E-mail:             espaulding@aol.com

Hey Josh,

It's my buddy Ross Starr's birthday--you mind giving him a little well-wishing shout-out? He's a fan of yours and checks your site daily.

Thanks.

--Edwin--

Name:              Tim
E-mail:             NansemondNative

Good Afternoon Josh.

Did you ever watch a movie called "The Virgin Spring" directed by Bergman?

If not you should do so. It was shot in Black and White and is beautiful to watch.

The only thing you might not like is that it seems to get into religion a bit.

The story allows for forgiveness, in real life however, I would be hard pressed to believe any father/family would steer towards forgiveness given the crime.

I'm not going to give out a load of BS and tell you I'm a big Bergman fan but I did like this movie.

Any thoughts on it if you have seen it?

The film you want to shoot, The Horribleness, is that going to be shot in the US or are you planning to go abroad if you get the green light on it? Just wondering on that.

Finally, I found "Within the Woods" a somewhat interesting study. Like everyone else I have the official bootleg version of the movie.

It was interesting from the standpoint of seeing how the ideas were expanded and improved upon in the later movies.

It was cool seeing a Baby Face Bruce, geeky glasses and all, doing some improvisation and a clearly crazy Ellen Sandweiss running through what I recognize as a for real honest to goodness swamp.

How none of you folks never had an encounter with a water moccasin amazes me. You seriously got lucky unless the snake doesn't populate swamps in Michigan.
You were right there with them after all...Fogger in one hand and I think a smoke in the other.

I'd bet $100.00 that none of you have the spine to go trotting through a swamp now! Or do you?

In any event, Sam might dismiss the movie as "amateur" and hate it but us diehards love it!

Have a good one!

Tim

Name:              Diana Hawkes
E-mail:             crazyfelinelady@yahoo.com

Dear Josh:         

Wow, again.  I just want to thank Calvin, Lee and everbody else for chiming in about what 5 Easy Pieces meant.  (See, this is why I was pushing for a message board here; we could talk amongst ourselves too, and keep a bunch of topics on one page.) I'm going to write my Dad and he'll think I'm brilliant.  I still don't get why they'd keep that title if the final cut took out the "Title Sequence" scene which gave it significance.  Meh. But moving on, as suggested!

I throw out "My Dinner With Andre" as a contender for least # of cast. Just the two of them and a waiter, right? Behind them as they talked was a lamp and a mirror, so I don't think the viewer saw any other patrons.
[img]http://www.dvdbeaver.com/FILM/DVDReviews25/a%20my%20dinner%20with%20andrea%20-%20louis%20malle/3.jpg[/img] I forget if we see them enter and exit the restaurant, though.  Hmm....

Name:              Scott
E-mail:             sspnyc66@mac.com

Josh,

I could get the gist that Tapert is not an "artsy-artsy" guy nor is Sam and maybe that is why they are so success, but nobody that I know of goes out and purposely says "I'm going to make and art film!", so that is why when people throw around that term so loosely, I find it bothersome.

There are filmmakers who speak very eloquently when they talk of making films like for instance Vittorio Storaro, and maybe his motivations when he shoots are to make some sort of artistic expression, but he still never refers to the films he has shot as "art films", however, hearing Storaro speak and hearing or reading Tapert speak about something related to filmmaking are in two completely different worlds, but both have had great success at what they do, so that is why singling out certain films as art films doesn't really make much sense to me.

Also, let me make it clear that Tapert wasn't dissing "art films" throughout the whole Q&A, but it mentioned it strongly twice and once before going into a diatribe about how much he likes fantasy films and discussed his idea for doing a new TV show based on a fantasy script he had etc.. Of course, I was immediately turned off when he started talking about fantasy films over true science fiction because I am not that interested in fantasy films, and personally, that is where I think both "Xena" and "Hercules" failed in ever holding my interest, but I am sure they were a gas to work on and they had a good run.

I know that here in Brazil and when I lived in Europe, what we do for a living is referred to as Cinema, so maybe that gives it more of an "artsy-fartsy" aura?

Even though I believe you have great taste in cinema and films for the most part, honestly, I don't consider your films "art films", so I guess the terms means something different to everyone, which is probably what you were trying to say in your response.

BTW, I find it hard to believe that you don't like "Nebraska" by Springsteen. I think that is one of his finest moments as a songwriter and it is music stripped down to it's essentials. I don't think it is a great album, but I think it is far better than almost anything that followed it. It was hard to listen to anything else by him when he released "Nebraska" as I thought it was such a good album.

-Scott

Name:              Matt Kerny
E-mail:

Josh, I know you hated "Magnolia", but this latest film "There Will Be Blood", it's nothing like any of Anderson's previous work. In fact, it's unlike any movie I've seen before (and I've seen well over a thousand). I'm not saying your going to love this movie, but it's a powerful piece of filmmaking.

Name:              Chris
E-mail:             shenaniganz@hotmail.com

Hey Josh,

Havn't sent ya an email for ages but i still read your Q+A. Just wanted to know if you have seen "My name is Bruce" or at least seen the trailer? What are your thoughts on the movie/trailer? I think its looks really really funny. Perfect movie for Bruce! I hope it comes to theaters in NZ. Bubba Ho-Tep came here for one weekend...maybe the same will happen for MNIB.

PS. "Maybe you want to fix the Wikipedia entry on me, too." - I saw that....You look VERY different Josh. (Ha...)

Name:              Jake Weaver
E-mail:             jweaver221@yahoo.com

Dear Josh:

That's cool about 'Highway.'

Far as Springsteen goes, I love where you're coming from. Wild, Innocent... is easily his most underrated album. "Incident on 57th Street" and "New York City Serenade" are my two all-time favorite Springsteen songs, and "Rosalita," "Kitty's Back," and "Sandy" are nothing short of genius. He's got a couple great songs on the "Tracks" collection that were outtakes from his Wild, Innocent... sessions that are just as cool.

Here's where we differ--I'm a HUGE fan of Nebraska, as well as its little brother Ghost of Tom Joad. While I can't say I listen to them anywhere near as much as I listen to Born to Run or The River, these are my choices for long night drives on desolate highways.

And with each passing year I find myself appreciating Tunnel of Love more and more, it's probably his most "grown up" album.

I'm with you on the majority of his music post-Tunnel, but I have to say, his latest album Magic is kind of a return to form...a good deal of it reminds me of his early stuff, and joy of joy, he even brings back the piano! Have you given it a shot yet? Don't listen to the one or two pop-singles and get turned off, he's got some real gems tucked in between them.

Well, sorry if that bores you, I can talk The Boss all day. I'm actually surprised you're not a big fan of "Baby It's You." The moment where Vincent Spano walks into the caffeteria and "Saint in the City" comes on is one of the coolest moments I've ever seen on film...not to mention the whole "Adam Raised a Cain" climax.

Anyway, just to weigh in on "No Country for Old Men," though I felt the same way you did about the water plot-point I was able to get past it because I was so absorbed by the suspense. I'd take the academy honoring a movie like that over "Crash" or "Brokeback" or "Chicago" any day.

And I love "Last Detail." The moment in the park where Quaid tries to run is heart wrenching. Definitely my pick for favorite Ashby and Nicholson.

Ever see The Naked Prey? How about The Naked Jungle? I'm a big fan of movies where it's one-guy-vs-the-world. Any reccommendations?

Name:              Gregg Kent
E-mail:             greggkent@comcast.net

Dear Josh:         

The book says-Texas 1886, but where did they really film all those Big Country shots?

Name:              Jason Roth
E-mail:             scootermcgurk@yahoo.com

Hey Josh,

Regarding The Last Detail, I watched it last year and it was wonderful. "I AM the fucking shore patrol!"  I'll take your recommendation on Cinderella Liberty.

Nice to see that someone else didn't dig No Country For Old Men.  Just plain poor storytelling.  The less said the better, I guess.

Back to the classics, I finally caught Singin' In the Rain the past weekend.  I'm not huge on musicals, but I was totally enthralled.  Amazing colors, dancing, humor, the works!  Don't know why I didn't see it sooner.

Best,
Jason

Name:              susanna
E-mail:             swillener@aol.com

Hi

I came across your site.
I work and live at the St.Moritz Hotel.Yes,Theres a lot going on!!
Its my first Job after I moved from NYC to LA I was wondering if I could order your movie and if you actually filmed the scenes in the St. Moritz.
Thanks
Susanna

Name:              Kristie
E-mail:

Dear Josh:         

To respond to your question, I saw "The Last Detail" back in the early days of VHS (I was sixteen or so), then again fairly recently on DVD.

It's great how Nicholson and Otis Young fluctuate between natural feelings of sympathy for Quaid to looking after their own asses and getting the job done, leaving morality in favor of duty. The ending is surprisingly unsentimental, though it also allows Robert Towne to fully deliver his message about male bonding, mixed sympathies and the meaning of duty. Jack Nicholson's character is so volatile and erratic, and you never know when he's going to really go for it in terms in explosive energy and misdirected anger, which makes him a real pleasure to watch. It's certainly one of Hal Ashby's best films.

By the way, I can't wait for "Rushes." I'll order a copy the first week it's out.

Kristie

Name:              Jake Weaver
E-mail:             jweaver221@yahoo.com

Dear Josh:

Is it true you directed episodes of "Real Stories of the Highway Patrol"?!?!?!?!?!

Also, do you like Bruce Springsteen and what are your favorite songs/albums?

Name:              Redundant
E-mail:

Dear Josh:         

You've probably heard this question a million times, but what do you think of Heath Ledger's death? Does it make you sad at all? Did you like him as an actor?

Name:              Austin
E-mail:             zman221@gmail.com

Dear Josh:         

Just wondering how much a screenplay will typically sell for? It would help me greatly in determining if I want to pursue this as a career or merely as a hobby. Thank you.

Name:              Chigurh
E-mail:

Josh:

Alright, you want a No Country for Old Men challenge, I'll challenge you you jerk.

First off...you claim in an earlier post that this is not one of Roger Deakins's finest moments. What the hell is that supposed to mean? This is the tip-off that you are not intelligently critical of the film, that it's something deeper, you've got an inner demon, or perhaps just dementia, and you simply refuse to acknowledge that anything of worth has come out since, what, Unforgiven? You're grasping at straws when you criticize this film for its cinematography...you got issues with the narrative? Fine. But the movie looks fucking incredible. And I'd like to know what Roger Deakins could have done to make it look better.

Next up: Josh Brolin returns to give the guy the water. Unlike criticizing Deakins (which is illogical) finding fault with a character motivation like this is perfectly fair, but also very subjective. I won't convince you on this point, but the fact is:

The guy didn't have water the first time out, and he was too busy thinking about his money to go back immediately. But, like most good people, he is not without conscience, and the image of that guy dying in the car must have been biting at his eyelids, preventing him from sleeping. He knows it's stupid, he acknowledges it's stupid, but he's compelled by morality to go back and give the guy the water. If Hamlet was just a badass and killed his uncle in Act I then Hamlet wouldn't have been much of a play, now would it? God forbid someone have a heart...even if it's a bleeding heart.

Unfortunately I can't speak to your other "issues" with the film because your stupid search engine turns up nothing of relevence when one types "No Country for Old Men." Thanks Shirley. If you care to stand up for you opinion, please restate it.

And I'll extend the invitation to all your pansy-ass fans out there who love to jump on the Becker band-wagon and trash the latest "stupid" movie out of Hollywood just because Joshy is bashing it.

It's going to win best picture this year, and unlike most other recent best picture winners, this one deserves it.

Name:              Adam Dixon
E-mail:             Dixicup@mistress.edu

Dear Josh:         

"LAS VEGAS -- Filmmaker Sam Raimi is looking to conjure up some syndication magic.

The Spider-Man director is teaming with Disney-ABC Domestic Television and ABC Studios on a new first-run, live-action weekly series targeted for a fall launch. The series, titled Wizard's First Rule, is based on Terry Goodkind's best-selling epic fantasy series The Sword of Truth.

Sword follows the extraordinary transformation of woodsman Richard Cypher into a magical leader who joins with a mysterious woman to stop a bloodthirsty tyrant.

Raimi is executive producing the hourlong series with Robert Tapert (The Grudge), Joshua Donen (The Quick and the Dead) and Xena: Warrior Princess production executive Ned Nalle. Disney-ABC Domestic TV is distributing, and ABC Studios is producing. "

Looks like someone's off the bread line!

Name:              Kevin
E-mail:

Dear Josh,

How do you survive the horrors of "work-in-progress"? That little beginning stage where you put your all into a screenplay everyday and it still comes out badly.

Name:              Hughes Christina
E-mail:             jack.shang.lu@gmail.com

Dear Josh:         

Do you say religion is inheritantly evil or it has been manipulated for evil and has become evil?

Name:              Evan
E-mail:             evanmandrews@gmail.com

Hi Josh,

In reference to what the title of "Five Easy Pieces" means, the IMDb claims that it's the title of a book of piano lessons for beginners, so it's pretty much what you assumed it to be.

Some other interesting facts listed about the film are that Nicholson originally wanted Janis Joplin to play the role of the annoying hitchhiker, and that the original ending has Dupea driving his car off a bridge. He dies, Rayette survives. That's an even bleaker ending than the one they eventually went with, but I'm glad they didn't use it. The ending to that film couldn't be more perfect, with Bobby leaving without a cent to his name. I always wondered why he leaves his jacket behind, though, Any thoughts?

Also, I'm curious whether or not you ever saw Children of Men, and if so, what you thought about it. It certainly has an interesting visual style, full of long tracking shots like you used in Running Time, although I think they hid the cuts using CGI.  Have you seen it yet?

Thanks,

Evan

Name:              Paul
E-mail:             paul@paulsalvi.com

Josh:

"Five Easy Pieces" is the title of a children's piano primer.

"A Clockwork Orange" refers to the main character, who is no more alive and normal than said mechanical fruit.  I don't remember how or when or where I came across these factoids, though, so don't go by me.

Name:              Scott
E-mail:             sspnyc66@mac.com

Hey Josh,

I was thinking about something this past week and I finally had time to write you. I read that whole Rob Tapert Q&A and I give the guy a lot of credit for answering so many questions and he seems to really have had a passion for these shows he produced, but it also seems he is more interested in making a lot of money more than making better films which was evident when he started talking about the "Ghost House Pictures" > films.

As you know, I was never a fan of "Hercules" Or "Xena", so it was funny for me to actually have read all his answers to the questions, but I was interested in other things he had to say as well, but the one thing that struck me throughout the Q&A is how he kind of criticized or said how he disliked what he calls "art films".

Now I know what many people believe to be "art films" and there were and still are "art house" movie theaters, but when people start saying they don't like "art films", but give no example of what they are talking about it always makes me believe they don't know what they are talking about.

What the hell makes an "art film" and art film and why would a guy like Tapert point this out so much as disliking them? is there really such a thing as an "art film?". Are they like Warhol's films or a film by someone like Mike Leigh, or films that don't make any money, or all three?

Personally, this term bothers me and I just wanted to get your take on that?

To me there are only three kinds of films no matter what genre they are in and that would be good films, bad films, and a shit load of mediocre films.

-Scott

Name:              Rob
E-mail:             info@evildeadchainsaws.com

Hi Josh,

I run EvilDeadChainsaws.com making replica evil dead chainsaws, so I am a massive fan! I'm trying to hunt down a better quality copy of 'within the woods', I have three versions so far, all from different source tapes and all about the same poor quality. Can you help?

I would offer to trade copies any of the rarer unreleased evil dead video material I already had but I'm guessing you'll already have anything I could offer you?

Thanks for your time, Rob.

Name:              VanishingPoint
E-mail:             No Thanks

Dear Josh,

My recollection was "A Clockwork Orange" was derived from a slang expression "as queer as a clockwork orange" meaning something (or someone) odd, unexpected or unusual. I'll add here I myself have never heard the expression used anywhere else. Ever.

Checking on Wikipedia ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Clockwork_Orange ) confirms and expands on this:

Anthony Burgess wrote that the title was a reference to an alleged old Cockney expression "as queer as a clockwork orange". Due to his time serving in the British Colonial Office in Malaysia, Burgess thought that the phrase could be used punningly to refer to a mechanically responsive (clockwork) human (orang, Malay for "person").

Burgess wrote in his later (Nov. 1986) introduction, titled A Clockwork Orange Resucked, that a creature who can only perform good or evil is "a clockwork orange - meaning that he has the appearance of an organism lovely with color and juice, but is in fact only a clockwork toy to be wound up by God or the Devil; or the almighty state."

In his essay "Clockwork Oranges", Burgess asserts that "this title would be appropriate for a story about the application of Pavlovian, or mechanical, laws to an organism which, like a fruit, was capable of colour and sweetness". This title alludes to the protagonist's negatively conditioned responses to feelings of evil which prevent the exercise of his free will.

Recently  I have been reading a lot of Stephen King. I think he writes extremely well (I may have already condemned myself to your contempt there) but I do feel the technical structure, the pacing and the 'timing' of his books is often dreadful. I find it so frustrating. I guess the parallel is a movie with great special effects, superb  cinematography, a couple of set pieces but no actual story.

Incidentally the 'horror' parts in Stephen King's work are the least interesting to me. Have you ever read IT? Take out the horror and you'd have a great nostalgic story of a group of self proclaimed losers taking on a gang of bullies in the late 1950s. Which he actually wrote in the later novella 'The Body'.

VP

Name:              Lee
E-mail:             lee.price@gcapmedia.com

Hi Josh (Hi Diane!)

I think the title Five Easy Pieces comes from the scene where he's trying to impress the girl by playing one piano piece from his repertoire of five classical numbers. She loves it and he says he's a fake, "Five easy pieces." I think his repertoire is a symbol of his life: he's never found a direction, a real passion, and he's coasted through without emotionally connecting. This is his flaw. He's a lost man.

Thems my two bits.


Lee

Name:              David R.
E-mail:

Dear Josh:         

Do you recommend any of Peter Weir's films? I've seen "Master & Commander", which I liked alright. I also just watched "Picnic at Hanging Rock", though I didn't like it that much.

Name:              Bob
E-mail:

Dear Josh:         

Just my last word on the Last King of Scotland.

The Scottish Doctor, I guess it's not a good sign for me or the movie that his name escapes me, I don't think was supposed to be that sympathetic a character.  Yes, he had no trouble being a cuckold, which made him dislkable, but, I think the idea was that Gillian Anderson and Kerry Washington were neglected wives, and there was the swinging 70's idea. Maybe this played better to Hollywood types than to the public.

As far as his detachment from the violence of the Amin regime, I think the idea there was that he was naive and idealistic.

So here is the question, do you agree with me that a lot of the suspense in the movie was based on a subliminal fear that white people might have of what to do if stranded in a third world country, without being able to rely on their nationality to protect them?

Name:              Jeff H
E-mail:

Hey Josh

I sent question to you awhile back asking about working with Bob Perkis and appreciate your response.  He was beast of a taskmastering line producer and it turned out to be a nice situation.  Thanks.

I've made about 20 shorts and shot two features, but now ready for a turn as AD for a feature with an astromical budget ($2M--do you really need any more??) and would like to know any advice you have about what a quality AD can bring to a set.  I've had a few really good ones, but have never been on set for anything as big as this current project.

Good luck with your projects and with your new book....

Name:              Rob Hampson
E-mail:             robhampo14@yahoo.co.uk

Dear Josh:         

I am 20 years old and from South Africa and I am planning to study at Los Angeles film school next year but have not saved enough money to pay for all my expenses. Would you be able to give some advice or point me in the right direction on how I would be able to find a form of financial aid or sponsorship to help pay for my expenses? Apologies if I have waisted any of your time. Thanks

Name:              Alice Schultz
E-mail:             aeschultz333@hotmail.com

Dear Josh,

? Excuse me? You're "not certain it's all that important" to know why the title of a thing is the title??

For your information, the title "Rushes" for example suggests:
--any big hurry, esp. toward something important or good
--sudden influxes of inspiration
--the reeds from which the Egyptians made papyrus, the material on which they could then write down their rushes of inspiration
--whatever those things are, obviously intrinsic to the filmmaking process, that you're talking about in "Evil Dead Journal"
--sex
--drugs
--rocknroll ("Don't miss your chance to see Rush live!!  Join the rush for Rush tickets and we'll rush you your order!!")
--oh and the obvious one, a verdant wetland in the arid desert of Life

And that's just a sample.  Indeed so many, varied, and useful are the meanings of this title that the title itself could be called inspired.  So what you wish we wouldn't bother?  Hardly.  You yourself never thought of the half of these applications, and certainly not the sex drugs and rocknroll?  So much the better!  Work your audience overtime while you go to the movies!

As for "Five Easy Pieces," I'm just glad this film came up because I was the last visiting Martian on earth not to have seen it or almost even know about it and it's in every way as awesome as its reputation.

Oh and BTW I do know why Bod Dylan called it "Rainy Day Women Numbers 12 and 35."  To drive Me crazy, that's why.

Cheers and regards,

Alice

Name:              Dan Lovetere
E-mail:             dlovetere@gmail.com

Dear Josh:         

I just heard that "Running Time" and "Thou Shall Not Kill..." Except are being released on remastered special edition DVDs.  I was so excited to learn about this.  I just watched Running Time again yesterday, coincidentally.  It truly is a great, yet sadly overlooked film.  As a young writer/director, it has actually served as a great piece of inspiration to me.

Name:              Trey Smith
E-mail:             cobra_commander_of_cobra@yahoo.com

Dear Josh:         

Someone started an interesting thread on a message board last night that posed the question of which movie in film history has the least amount of human characters on screen throughout the entire film. This includes characters that extras would usually play such as crowds, restaurant patrons, etc.

So far the best we've been able to come up with is the original "Alien" with it's 7 crew members. Any input?

Name:              Henry
E-mail:

Dear Josh,

I see you liked the documentary AMERICAN MOVIE, about a would be filmmaker trying to break into the business. I'm wondering if you've seen another documentary entitled OVERNIGHT, about Troy Duffy, the director of BOONDOCK SAINTS, who is handed the keys to the kingdom and just pisses them away? If so, what are your thoughts on Mr. Duffy and his self-defeating attitude?

Thanks,

Henry

Name:              Tim
E-mail:             NansemondNative

Josh,

Music? Isn't "Five Easy Pieces" about Jack nailing 5 easy pieces of booty in 90 or so minutes? The PERFECT saturday night!!!

Just kidding. It conceivably refers to a title sequence, per the internet, that was not used in the final print. Apparently a "fictitious" piece of music by Grebner.

I think if Mrs. Hawkes owns "Five Easy Pieces" she should watch it again and just enjoy it without applying too much logic to it.

I just got through watching "The Thing from Another World" which had a fair amount of cheese factor to it. I couldn't help but laugh when this Chuck Connors look-a-like walked over to this hysterical man, who had just seen the creature for the first time, and threw a glass of cold water in his face. That would result in a decapitation nowadays.

What did grab me about the movie was how the director, Nyby, kept track of all those actors together in one place. I mean 11-15 or more in one shot with many of them talking. Overkill I thought. I could see though why the movie was so visionary and influential to so many future film makers.

Later.

Tim

Name:              Calvin Gray
E-mail:

Josh,

Hello once more.  I just wanted to throw in an answer to Diana's question about Five Easy Pieces (being that it's one of my top ten personal favorites):

The title "Five Easy Pieces" refers specifically to a book of piano sheet music that was quite popular around the 60s.  The concept of the "Five Easy Pieces" booklet was breaking down classical piano compositions that, while relatively simple to play, sound complex and brilliant.  This reflects on the Bobby character, especially when he refers to "Faking a little Chopin" - what he's playing isn't difficult and he knows it, but those who hear it regard him as a genius, and he can't deal with that kind of pressure when he knows himself only as a fraud.

The metaphor extends into his personal life.  He bags women by "pretending" to be a local TV commercial celebrity.  He stumbles into relationships like the one with Rayette, where they latch on to him and feel he is the only man for them, when he knows he's just a scumbag.  He gets her pregnant, which his friend tells him is a meaningful act while Bobby knows it's just a side-effect of haphazard fucking.

I could go on delving into the meaning and duality of all this, but I'd likely come off as more of an obnoxious nerd than usual.

Allow me to use this space to share one last piece of information, however: Tim Burton's Sweeney Todd musical sucks, and is probably the laziest piece of acting and direction I've seen all year. Why the hell is it apparently so hard to make a worthwhile musical these days, and what piddling shit we do get is hyped and overpraised to the moon and back?

- C.G.

Name:              August
E-mail:             joxerfan@hotmail.com

Dear Josh,

I can take no credit for the update at the IMDB, I just found the listing there.  But if I ever register to be able to do Wiki updates, I'll be sure to add that.

That's extremely cool that the overseas dvd people have been in touch, given that the producers are the only ones making any $$ off of these, right?

And thanks for the image from my favorite moment in "Blind Waiter" - that's *my* salad!

As for the significance of the title "5 Easy Pieces," I still have fond memories of MAD Magazine saying that the title referred to the all-female Radcliffe basketball team.  And then printing a ton of hate mail the next month from outraged Radcliffe alums!

Regards,

August

Name:              Diana Hawkes
E-mail:             upon request

Dear Josh:         

Ooh!  I'm delighted there's some other responses to "Five Easy Pieces". Lee, Tim, Josh, Bueller, anyone  - any thoughts on what the title is referring to? (My inkling was maybe 5 pieces of music, perhaps corresponding to 5 confrontations, but I looked at the credits and there were more songs.) The only mention of "easy" in the movie [i]I think[/i] is his friend Elton saying:  "I can't say much of someone who could leave a woman in a situation like this and feel easy about it." The five children of Bobby's family? "Five Easy Pieces,  by Grebner",  played over Bobby's mother's funeral that is shown on sheet music (apparently fictitious)?

You know what - just reading the script provided here: http://www.imsdb.com/scripts/Five-Easy-Pieces.html -- that entire 1st sequence at the funeral with Bobby as a child wasn't on the DVD I watched! The rental copy started with Tammy Wynette singing "Stand By Your Man" with shots of Bobby working and driving. Weird! Did the theatrical release have that flashback funeral stuff as the "Title Sequence" or was this cut before release at all?

Name:              The Line That Shall Be Crossed
E-mail:

Dear Josh:         

I was just wondering where the line was between quoting a song in a script and copyright infringement? I thought you would know.

Name:              August
E-mail:             joxerfan@hotmail.com

Dear Josh,

Following up on my previous e-mail, my memories of high school French began nagging at me after looking at the copy on the new dvd cover.  So a little bit of research reveals that you were indeed the 2007 winner of the Best Direct-to-Video Film at the Gerardmer International Fantasy Film Festival (which appears to focus on genre movies.)   It's even now listed at the IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/Sections/Awards/G%E9rardmer_Film_Festival/2007 , and it's now dutifully recorded on your bio there under "Awards."

That and a couple of Euros still won't get you any ganja in Amsterdam, but hopefully if nothing else it gives you a nice warm feeling.
Congratulations!

August

Dear August:

Thanks for updating IMDB.  Maybe you want to fix the Wikipedia entry on me, too.  Anyway, yes, I'm aware of this award, as well as the accompanying artwork.  The French DVD distributor, who was incredibly nice, also licensed my 9th grade movie, "Oedipus Rex," for that disk, as well as the "The Blind Waiter," and sub-titled them both.  Here's an example:

Josh

Name:              David R.
E-mail:

Dear Josh:         

Any thoughts on Joseph L. Mankiewicz's 1972 film, "Sleuth"? I watched it earlier tonight. Actually, it took me two tries to get through it. The first hour was really tedious and dull; I almost bailed. It wasn't until Michael Caine's character got shot that the film really started moving. Particularly liked the direction from Mankiewicz (was surprised to see on IMDb that it was his last film).

On a related note, this actually showed a few weeks ago on TCM. I continue to be amazed by all the material they broadcast on that station, many of it not seen on tv in years.

Name:              Lee Price
E-mail:             lee.price@gcapmedia

Hi Josh

Watched No Country For Old Men last night. What a meandering mess. I've only read one Cormack McCarthy novel, The Road, which absorbed me. He writes about landscapes beautifully. The film of No Country... (which I haven't read) is all over the place. The best part is the cinematography of the wide plains - you get a great sense of isolation. But, I left the 2 and a half hour film without a clue about what the filmmakers wanted to say (apart from, maybe, don't steal a million dollars in a suitcase out in the desert). It's a huge contrast to my movie viewing at home two night ago - The Treasure of the Sierra Madre was on a late night showing on TCM. A brilliant film that knows what it wants to say, then structures the film to deliver that point.

And No Country... has got two Golden Globes and EIGHT (count em) Oscar nominations.

See No Country... on cable, mate - it'll make ya mad!

I've always found the Coens to make visually striking films, with a certain amount of kookiness (I love off the wall Raising Arizona, and it has a rare emotional resonance despite the broad comedy) but as storytellers/humanists I think the Coens pull up short. (Having said that I've still to see Miller's Crossing).

All right, Josh. Them's my two bits.

Lee

Name:              not for you
E-mail:             steamfan1@hotmail.com

Dear Josh:         

ROFL I was expecting your "Blast from the Past" to be that Silverstone movie.  WOW, have you actually made any of your treatments into a movie?

Name:              Landon
E-mail:             landon2006@gmail.com

Hey Josh, I have been wanting to get into Film making for a long time, and I guess I have two questions for you:

1. I was once told that it is easier to sell and idea and/or get funding to make a movie from TV sources (Sci-Fi Network, USA, ABC, etc) than it is to get financing from a major Hollywood studio. In your opinion, is there any truth in that statement.

2. When making a movie, is it considered "less glamorous" to work on a TV Movie instead of Theatrical movie, from the Director's stand-point.

As always, I enjoy your work. Thanks for your time,
Landon

Name:              Sabrina
E-mail:             monsonsabrina@yahoo.com

Dear Josh:         

Ok seriously, I would honestly like to know how you kept from killing the others on the set of Evil Dead?  I want to kill(just a figure of speech) annoyingly evil people I have to work with for 8 hours.  And these are people I don't have to spend all day with.  I surely would have blown up at somebody,

Name:              David R.
E-mail:

Dear Josh:         

This is kind of random, but...

I know you've mentioned the ubiquity of high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) in American foods on the Q&A. I truly believe that most of the food people eat in this country is negatively affecting their lives in my ways. Anyway, very interested to check out a recent documentary about the subject called "King Corn". Here's the link to the trailer at IMDB: http://imdb.com/title/tt1112115/trailers-screenplay-E35325-314

Ahh, documentaries these days are great.

Name:              Torben Hove Larsen
E-mail:             torbenl@live.dk

Hi Josh

I just watched Cleveland Smith on youtube (HAHAHA it's awesome). Is it possible that it will be released on DVD (maybe together with the your old super8 movies and that stuff(the Campbell, Raimi, Becker, Tapert etc. stuff)) (Is it released?)?

I've just ordered your book, looking forward to reading it.


All Hail!

Torben Larsen

Name:              Brian Christie
E-mail:             b.christie@sbcglobal.net

Dear Josh:         

Being told that my great grandfather built owned "Christie Hotel" in Hollywood in the 1920's. Really have limited info & not sure what is accurate. Was told his first name is Haldane and came to hollywood around 1916 from michigan. Am trying to find if it was actually Charles H Christe, same as the Christie Film Company, along with his brother Al. Sort of fits with what I heard over the years. But never any mention of fil company before. Do you have any info to pass on?

Name:              Bhaskar Banerjee
E-mail:             banerjee.bhaskar@rediffmail.com

Dear Josh:         

I have no idea about the treatment of a film. Is it a paragraph wise synopsis of the story as described in the script?Thanks.

Name:              August
E-mail:             joxerfan@hotmail.com

Dear Josh,

Ernest Borgnine became your old buddy when you made him smile the time you ran into him on the street in Hollywood.  And I wouldn't be surprised if he told that story to a lot of his buddies too.  I didn't see the tv movie he got nominated for, but according to the PR material, he plays a retired song-and-dance man, ala Gene Kelly, which is sort of funny if you think about it.

And happy to add my two cents' worth - I just realized the other day that it was Christmas of 1998 when I read somewhere that one of the Xena directors had a website. A few days later a friend introduced me to a hard-to-find videotape called "Lunatics," and I said "Wait - that's the same guy!"

That exceptionally long Q&A with Rob was rather remarkable - the site had said he was willing to do 20  Questions, and so readers could submit as many as we liked.   He ended up answering every single freakin' question, 121 in all (he numbered them.)  I asked two broad ones that I knew the answers to anyway, but it was nice to get him to confirm.    Plenty of fans who visit you here participated in that.  (I was the one who added that "Lost Lost World" would be a great project with which Ghost House should diversify its appeal.)

The drive-by insulters notwithstanding, one thing I really enjoy about your Q+A section is when people pass along interesting info and links, like that short film "Camping," and the previous one by the same director, about the paper-doll robot that came to life. Those were just amazingly well done.

And just to give you a smile - that new release of Alien Apocalypse is currently ranked at #5,488 on Amazon, while Titanic is at #5,548.

Regards,

August

Name:              Evan
E-mail:             assgas@hotmail.com

Dear Josh:         

Hey i was just surfing the web and found an essay you wrote on religion being evil, i thought it was mighty kickass but the us and them thing i thought isnt the key focus on religion at all, its not about exterminating a section of humanity at all, or even converting them for that matter, although the us and them thing IS a huge factor to most people, the basis of religion is to control mass amounts of people in different countries around the world with all sorts of different governments, and in that way, religion becomes almost the perfect dictatorship, so screw sadam and hitler, its that damn L. Ron Hubbard we gotta be scared about haha, but im not gonna write you an essay on it cause after reading through yours essay your probably a well informed individual, i just thought your essay on it was fairly kick ass and just wanted to leave a comment

Name:              Lee Price
E-mail:             lee.price@gcapmedia.com

Hi Josh

Five Easy Pieces is a terrific piece of cinema. Favourite scene is when Jack is trying to leave Karen and he can't and he beats himself up in the car. A story about a man who's just... lost. The ending is perfect. Man, can you imagine the Hollywood exec's greenlighting that one today? American Pie 15, maybe!

Have you seen Rafelsson's Blood and Wine, starring Michael Caine and Nicholson? A great little thriller, rarely seen on TV and unavailable in the UK on DVD (I had to get a Thailand copy off Ebay!) Some real Oedipal stuff in there.

Gonna Watch Five Easy Pieces again this week! (I've recently bought King of marvin Gardens - haven't seen it yet but intend to soon).

Lee

Name:              August
E-mail:             joxerfan@hotmail.com

Dear Josh,

Best of luck with both the movie project, and Bushes, err... Rushes.   Not sure if you caught my other question or if no news is good news, on if you had started teaching classes, something you had mentioned in passing last fall.

BTW, I might echo Tim's sentiment on the random acts of trolling; the first 9 years of "You're not as rich as Spielberg, so I'm going to call you names at your site even though I haven't directed any movies at all!" letters have been amusing, especially the numerous and diverse ways you find to answer in kind, but they eventually get a bit old.  You've written a couple of very eloquent replies recently (i.e. you make movies for yourself not random viewers, you stand by your films especially given the time and $$ you had to work with, not being George Lucas doesn't diminish the value of your professional opinions on film-making, etc.)  so I wonder if you might just add those to your FAQ and refer nuisance-writers there. And/or to their mothers, as Joe Pesci did in "Goodfellas."

One other observation:  there was a neat profile of your old buddy Ernest Borgnine in the Mon. 1/14 USA Today - I had no idea that at age 90, he'd been nominated for his 2nd Golden Globe for Best Actor, for a TV movie he did for Hallmark called "A Grandpa for Christmas."  He lost to the guy from "Longford," but that's got to be some kind of record for longevity.

Regards,

August

Name:              Tim
E-mail:

Good Morning Josh.

I truly wish this clown Erricson would cut the bullshit.

His ridiculous rants, aimed directly at you personally, take away from the forum.

Until shown other proof, we can only guess that he rented his local sticky floor for $50.00 and projected his home movies thereby qualifying his "theatrical releases". Probably lost money on it.

Moving forward, "Five Easy Pieces" is a fantastic movie as stated. One of the most memorable scenes, and one discussed a lot, is the diner scene with the exchange between Jack and the waitress over the toast. The two hitch hikers added an edge to the story as well. It struck me as kind of a sexual edge at one point.

I enjoyed Karen Black's performance immensely and have enjoyed most everything she has ever been in. That would include the cheesey horror movies and especially "Burnt Offerings". Karen fit in perfectly with Dunsmuir.

Josh, did you like anything Bob Clark did? I have watched all of his stuff including all of his early horror outings and then most everything right up to his death last year."Porky's" and "A Christmas Story" seem to be what most everybody associates him with. You know yourself he did a whole lot more than that. Any thoughts on his style or the man himself?

Tim

Name:              Jackson
E-mail:             jville@comcast.com

Hey Josh Becker!

Long time reader here. I was sifting through your responses and found a thread about the loss of irony in American films. I think that's true, but some interesting recent examples include Arlington Road and The Mist.

The Mist is actually a neat B-movie that recognizes itself as such, and does have a great bit of irony running through the whole story. It's also a lot of fun, and got some good effects mileage out of a $17 million budget.

Any Hal Ashby films you can recommend?

J.

Name:              August
E-mail:             joxerfan@hotmail.com

Dear Josh,

Happy New Year!

I remember when someone wrote in suggesting you add a blog or journal to this site, and you observed that you often slip little tidbits of news into answers to questions.  So I realized there have been some potentially big ones recently.    Like the chance that "The Horribleness" will come to fruition.  Somehow I missed this - when did you get this all lined up? Who is producing it?  (Is this that the Steven Mena you referred to earlier?)  I know you don't want to jinx anything, but any bones you can toss us would be much appreciated....

Also congrats on yet another screening at that Mitten Movie Project thing. You seem to be turning into a regular there.   Was the event an evening of short films?  Or was it just you, and if the latter, did you show more than just "The Blind Waiter?"

And any other news?  Progress on "Rushes" and/or the novel?  Did the teaching gig come through, and if so,  what has that experience been like?

Thanks,

August

Name:              Si
E-mail:

Hello Josh

Happy New Year. Long time, no post, but I've been busy...

Anyway, just like to tell you that I saw "To Sir, With Love" a few days ago and quite enjoyed it, especially Sidney Poitier's performance. What did you think of it?

Also, I'm curious as to what you think of Liam Neeson as an actor. I personally think he's impressed in nearly everything I've seen him in (yes, even Schindler's List - he had good presence and delivered his lines well, as did Ralph Fiennes and Ben Kingsley. I think the problems with that film are more down to Spielberg and Steve Zaillian, not the actors and Janusz Kaminski. But I'm digressing...)

Si

Name:              Jim Erricson
E-mail:             nethrfriend@aol.com

Dear Josh:         

Well "dumb as a box of rocks" shares something very unique with Bombast Becker. What do you both have in common? C'mon Joshie boy, crinkle up your bald forehead , cross your skinny arms over your fake ,rebel cool, khaki explorer throwback , wannabe director's shirt, and take a guess. No...? Okay , in the last 25 years, "a box of rocks", has had exactly the same number of movies released theatrically as writer/director Josh Becker. An amazing fact that I was unaware of. You should thank the folks over at IMDB for posting that lil tid bit. Also, as an aside, how long do you think that you would last in the ring with P.T. Anderson?

Name:              David R.
E-mail:

Dear Josh:         

Do you care at all for director George Roy Hill's "The Great Waldo Pepper"? Watched it this evening and enjoyed it. I thought it was a good solid three-star film. I noticed it's not on your fav. film list. (Pauline Kael hated it by the way)

Name:              Scott
E-mail:             sspnyc66@mac.com

Josh,

I was going to pipe in earlier about "The Last King of Scotland", but you beat me to the punch. I really enjoyed Forrest Whitaker in that film and he has always been on one of my favorite actors anyhow, so it was nice to see him get such a good part to play.

My feelings about the doctor character pretty much mirror yours, and I feel that like another film "Cry Freedom"- (The Stephen Biko Story), the secondary fictitious character becomes the main character of the biopic and I hate that.

The Biko film could have been done very well, but Kevin Kline's journalist character became the main focus and in the case of both "The King of Scotland" and "Cry Freedom", each of the main "real" character's lives were interesting enough not to warrant the token fictitious character to drive the story.

However, the difference between the two films is that  "The Last King of Scotland" is it was based on the novel of the same name which was basically written from the fictitious doctor's point of view of the.

I agree that the writing was very thing with regards to this character and it really weekend the film which is a shame because Whittaker was so good in that film.

I subsequently read the novel, and the Doctor's shenanigans with others wives were pretty much exclusive to the film which I also agree made for a weaker story, however, this was one of the better films I had seen this past year.

The other films which I had the chance to see which I enjoyed were mainly documentaries and I think the one you should try to catch is "The King of Kong: A Fist Full of Quarters" which is basically about a guy trying to beat the Donkey Kong video game Highest score, but in fact the film is beyond better than the premise (Which was not that fascinating to me) and I think it is a documentary you would really like.

The other Documentary I think you would like is "Good Grew Tired of Us". It is very good, and one of the best docs I have seen in a longtime.

The other films I liked this year were:

"This is England"
"Atonement"
"Once"
"Paris Je T"
"Zodiac" (Yes, I liked this film)
"Sunshine"
"Reign over Me" (When you get past Sandler's Dylan look-alike hair, the acting is really good in this film and like a few of Binder's films, it isn't great, but decent.)
"Ratatoullie" (One of many animated films I took my son to se this year and it was the best of all of them).
"There Will Be Blood" (Daniel Day-Lews is rally good in this film).

That's about it, although, I haven't seen "Eastern Promises" and I want to see that.

-Scott