THIS DAY IN HISTORY MAY 31

On May 31, 1990 the television show Seinfeld premiered. Thinking that this was an obscure show about nothing that the network would soon cancel, my husband and I began taping every episode and managed to attend a live taping (something that would become nearly impossible to do after the show became wildly popular).

On May 30 1536 King Henry VIII of England married his 3rd wife, Jane Seymour, 11 days after he had his 2nd wife, Anne Boleyn executed.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY MAY 29

On May 29, 1431 Joan of Arc was burned at the stake as a heretic.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY MAY 28

On May 28, 1934 The Dionne quintuplets were born in Ontario, Canada.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY MAY 27

On May 27, 1907  the Bubonic Plague breaks out in San Francisco.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY MAY 26

On May 26 1978 The first legal casino to be operated in the United States outside of Nevada was opened in Atlantic City.

WRITING A SCRIPT VS. WRITING A NOVEL

I've frequently been asked what the difference was in writing a script as opposed to writing a novel.

It’s been said, for good reason, that the play is an actor’s medium, television a producer’s medium, film a director’s medium, and the novel a writer’s medium. With the exception of one’s editor, the author of a novel pretty much has free reign and the final say in how he or she wishes to tell a story.

            Writing for film and television is different than writing a novel or a play. In a play, the story is essentially revealed through the characters’ dialogue. Even under the guidance of a director, it is the actor who ultimately conveys the essence of the play. (This was true, incidentally, in old-time radio as well).

            In a novel, the author can rely on a combination of dialogue and exposition to lay out the story. A visual medium, however, is just that. Visual.  Here, the old axiom “show don’t tell” strictly applies.

            For example, in a novel, a young, resolute ballerina might say, “I realize this is hard work, but I’m determined to make dancing my life’s work no matter what it takes.” On film, she’d say nothing.

Instead, we’d see her removing her wrinkled, waitress uniform and change into a leotard. She’d twist her long pony tail into a bun before sitting down and removing her shoes. We, the audience, would watch her slip worn ballet slippers over feet that are bruised and discolored. She’d walk into the dance studio, take a deep breath, and begin a strenuous dance routine. Her determination to dance despite all obstacles would be revealed without so much as a line of dialog.

            A script can go on for pages without dialogue. To some writers, this might seem easy. Personally, I find it challenging. My strength is in writing dialogue (I would love to have been a writer on one of those old radio shows). I preferred script writing for the soaps as opposed to writing story breakdown. I also find it more natural for me, in writing a mystery, to include a lot of dialogue in addition to exposition.

            Writing a screenplay is a trickier proposition for me. I find that I have to constantly remind myself to convey a scene with as little dialogue as possible.  I would probably have an easier time adapting a screenplay to a novel than I would adapting a novel into a screenplay. 

            Another thing to keep in mind is that to a film director, a screenplay is often no more than a blueprint. He (or she) will interpret the story as he sees fit even if that means completely overhauling the script. In contrast to a novel, a screenplay or a teleplay is usually a collaborative effort.

            At the end of the day, whether one is writing a play, a novel, or a screenplay, it is imperative to keep in mind the particular medium for which one is writing.

Have a great weekend and thanks for traveling along RHODES LESS TRAVELED,

Vivian

THIS DAY IN HISTORY MAY 25

On May 25, 1969 Midnight Cowboy, the only x-rated film to win a best picture Oscar, was released.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY MAY 24

On May 24, 1844 Samuel Morse transmitted the first telegraph message, in which he asked, "What hath God wrought?"

THIS DAY IN HISTORY MAY 23

On May 23 1430, Joan of Arc was captured by the Burgundians and subsequently sold to the English.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY MAY 22

On May 22, 1972 Richard Nixon arrived in Moscow, becoming the first U.S. president to visit the Soviet Union.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY MAY 21

On May 21, 1999 Susan Lucci finally won a Daytime Emmy on her 19th nomination.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY MAY 20

On May 20, 1932 Amelia Earhart took off from Newfoundland to become the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic.

CHOICES MADE IN THE 'AUTUMN OF OUR YEARS'

I recently saw the movie, THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL. I found it to be a charming movie with an incredible ensemble (it includes Judi Dench, Maggie Smith and Bill Nighy among others and was directed by John Madden).  It tells the story of an assorted group of retirees, who appear to be in their sixties, who decide to leave England  to relocate to a hotel in India. Unfortunately the hotel doesn’t live up to its brochure description (does it ever?) and the story unfolds.

            Aside from its being charming, I thought it somewhat profound on various levels.  The basic theme of the movie is aging and the choices we make when life pulls its punches.  My late mother-in-law once told me that the only way to survive was to have the ability to go with the changes that occur in one’s life. I think she was probably better at that than I but it’s something we all need to address at some point in life.

            In old films someone in his sixties was considered to be old.  His or her life was seen as pretty much over. With the life expectancy having grown, however, that is no longer the case. Just as forty is the new thirty and fifty, the new forty, sixty is the new fifty. Wonderful, yes?  Maybe, but it begs the question, what do we choose to do with those ‘extra years’ laid out before us?

            Often the choice seems to be made for us. As in MARIGOLD HOTEL, people are thrown curve balls. Something comes up in life that they didn’t expect.  Health issues, the loss of a spouse, disintegration of one’s life’s savings. Change is inevitable. It’s how one chooses to handle those changes that matters. Of course there are the obvious ways such as denial and substance abuse. Neither of these options is a particularly viable way to live.

            There is another option:  Think outside the box.  Consider alternatives that may not have occurred to you before. Examine the ‘worst case scenario’ and see if there’s a way to turn it to your advantage (making lemonade of lemons, yes, but so what?)

            Baby boomers have always been reluctant to give up their youth (go to any rock concert featuring a group from the sixties and you’ll see fans who still feel as though they’re in their twenties). Some, turned off by the traditional retirement homes enjoyed by their parents, have come up with creative alternatives (ie. metro-condos located in the heart of a city-like area surrounded by movie theaters and restaurants, sharing homes with other adults, relocating to other countries where it is less costly to live).

            The retirees in the film embraced a life that they would never in a million years have planned on. They were only able to do this successfully by letting go of some of their preconceived notions of the way things should turn out in life.

            The autumn years of one's life can be spent passively, sitting around a coffee shop talking about the way things were and should be now or they can be spent re-creating oneself and still considering oneself in the game. The choice is ours alone.

Thanks for joining me on RHODES LESS TRAVELED, and have a great weekend.

Vivian

           

           

THIS DAY IN HISTORY MAY 19

On May 19 1921, Congress passed the Emergency Quota Act, establishing national quotas for immigrants.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY MAY 18

On May 18 2004, Randy Johnson, age 40, became the oldest pitcher to throw a perfect game.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY MAY 17

On May 17, 1875 The first Kentucky Derby was held at Churchill Downs, in Louisville, Kentucky.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY MAY 16

     On May 16, 1929 The first Academy Awards were given on this night. The term, Oscars, was not used to describe the statuettes given to actors and actresses until 1931.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY MAY 15

On May 15, 1972 Alabama Governor George Wallace was shot and crippled as he campaigned for the presidency.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY MAY 14

On May 14, 1998 Frank Sinatra died at the age of 82. (Had the opportunity of hearing him perform live on three occasions -- he was one of a kind).

THIS DAY IN HISTORY MAY13

On May 13, 1981 Pope John Paul II was shot and wounded by Mehmet Ali Agca as he drove through a crowd in St. Peter's Square, Rome.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY MAY 12

On May 12, 1932 The body of Charles and Anne Lindbergh's kidnapped baby was found.

MARTY (The Movie)

            Last week, while home in bed nursing a cold, I took comfort in watching one of my favorite old films: Marty.  A true classic.

            On the surface, Marty is the simple story of a Bronx butcher who finds love. Marty was, however, unique in several ways. To begin with, it was originally written as a sixty minute teleplay by renowned writer, Paddy Chayefsky.  It starred Rod Steiger and Nancy Marchand (in later years associated with the television show, Lou Grant).

            It is said by some that Steiger turned down the chance to re-create his role for film because it would have meant his signing a multi-movie contract, something he didn’t wish to do.  Others maintain that producers Harold Hecht and Burt Lancaster weren’t sure Steiger would work for the big screen. (Ironically, Chayefsky originally wrote the script with his friend actor/director Martin Ritt in mind – hence the title “Marty”.)

            Regardless of how Ernest Borgnine got to be cast in the role, he nailed it.  In fact, I suspect he had the vulnerability that Steiger, good an actor as he was, may have lacked.

            What makes the film so memorable is that American films, unlike European films, are rarely character driven in the way Marty was.  This was especially true in 1955 when the film was made.

            Marty is a devoted son, a practicing Catholic, and a solid friend but he cannot seem to find a girl.  His traditional Italian mother, with whom he lives, worries that he’ll “die without a son”. Rejected so often, due, he believes, to his being homely and overweight, Marty is hesitant to try again; he is fearful of striking out.

            At a ballroom mixer, he finally connects with a girl (Betsy Blair as Clara), who herself is not very attractive. He tells her “maybe you and me aren’t the dogs we think we are.”  For once, Marty begins to feel good about himself.  Of course, human nature being what it is, people in his life offer opinions based on their own agendas.

            His friend, Angie, afraid of losing Marty as a companion advises Marty to “dump her…she’s a dog.”  His mother, terrified of being abandoned, tells Marty she “don’t like the girl” (for one thing, she’s not Italian).  Even his cousin, experiencing his own marital woes, tells Marty he’s better off single.  Ultimately, Marty must decide to do what is in his own best interest.

            Though the movie is over fifty years old, the themes of loneliness, superficiality, and selfishness are ones that are timeless, making Marty a true classic.

           

THIS DAY IN HISTORY MAY11

     On May 11, 1960 Israeli agents captured Nazi Adolf Eichmann in Argentina. They were unsuccessful in their attempts to capture The Angel of Death, Dr. Josef Mengele.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY MAY 10

On May 10, 1924 J. Edgar Hoover became director of the FBI.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY MAY 9

On May 9, 1914 Mother's Day became a public holiday.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY MAY 8

On May 8, 1945 V-E Day marks the European victory of the Allies in World War II.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY MAY 7

On May 7, 1994, Edvard Munch's painting, The Scream was recovered a few months after it had been stolen. It recently sold at auction for nearly 120 million.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY MAY 6

On May 6, 1937, the German airship Hindenburg blew up and burst into flames at Lakehurst, N.J.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY MAY 5

On May 5, 1961 Alan Shepard became the first American in space.

OBSOLETE JOBS

Today, while pumping my own gas and checking myself out of the supermarket, I thought about how many jobs are either obsolete or heading in that direction.

With almost every new innovation, invention, and technological improvement comes the loss of a job.  In the name of progress, men and women have had either had to re-adjust, re-invent, or perish.

            In years to come we might very well see the ultimate demise of the gasoline attendant (still required in New Jersey) and the supermarket checker. Newspapers and book publishers may, too, become obsolete one day due to the internet and devices such as Kindle and Nook.

On the upside, new jobs are constantly created to fill the void. (Who could have dreamed of S.W.A.T. team mediators in the early 1900's?)

I tried to think of jobs that no longer exist or will probably be obsolete in a few short years:

Typewriter repairmen

            TV repairmen (cheaper to buy a new set)

Elevator operators (I can recall the ones at Saks in NYC)

            Bowling pin setters

            Ice men

            Lamplighters

            Milkmen (I still have my mom’s old milk box)

            Switchboard operators (I worked one of these intimidating monsters at a Beverly Hills law office years ago and spoke with Yul Brynner, whom I believe I may have inadvertently disconnected)

            Typesetters

            Telegraph operators

I'm sure you can think of more. Hoping yours won't become obsolete any time soon:).

Have a great weekend and thanks for joining me along RHODES LESS TRAVELED,

Vivian

THIS DAY IN HISTORY MAY 4

On May 4, 1932, Public Enemy Number One, Al Capone, was jailed for tax evasion.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY MAY 3

On May 3, 1979 Margaret Thatcher became the first woman elected prime minister of England.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY MAY 2

On May 2, 1939 Lou Gehrig established a new major-league baseball record when he played his 2,130th consecutive game. It would take another 57 years before Cal Ripken, Jr., broke it.

    On May 1, 1967 Elvis Presley married Priscilla Beaulieu. (They divorced in 1973.)