Saturday, November 5, 2005“Pass The Blogging Torch” by Scott Allen RinkerWell kids, the time has come for me turn over the blogging reins to whatever unlucky son of a bitch Chris has conned into it for the next week. To whomever that is, I wish you the best of luck, since our faithful readers expect a lot and give back so little. But don’t let that dishearten you, I’m sure you’ll find a way to embarrass yourself without any help from me. Now, for the final blog, what’s it to be? I’ve thought long and hard about this and gotta say, well… I’ve got nothing. So here’s some bits of a blog I abandoned for one reason or another: From: “Ten things I’ve learned about Hollywood” 1. There is no such thing as Penis Envy out here. Instead we have Trailer Envy, it’s kind of the same thing on a psychological level. Only bigger. 2. The 15 minutes of fame rule is dead. Or rather, it’s not dead, it’s just subject the same inflationary rules as the U.S. dollar. So today we have dipshits enjoying up to 6 months of notoriety for doing nothing more than being able to eat pickled horse scrotums without vomiting. 3. The best way to become rich and famous in Hollywood is to have rich and famous parents. Talent is not a necessity. And that’s where I dropped it. Sad that after 8 years in Hollywood, that’s pretty much all I’ve figured out, huh? Of course, if I knew more about this town I’d probably be doing films that paid in actual dollars and wouldn’t have contracts that said “As many taquitos and cheetos as you can eat.” I do have to say the Cheetohs were tasty. Stale, but tasty. However, would a Coke have broken the budget? I want to take a moment for shameless self promotion here: I’ll be guest starring on “Charmed” Nov. 13th at 8pm on the WB. I play Sollal, a sort of genius, demon whipping boy of the Villain of the week. I really got to talk to my agent about this, there seems to be a pattern developing here. Anyway, check it out and enjoy. To my fellow cast mates, I want to say thanks again for the wonderful experience of working near you. I hope to eventually be allowed in to your cool boy clique and maybe have a conversation or two. I also hope to see you all again in two weeks at Gen Con when we show those fuckers from Iowa what Ghetto DND is all about. To Chris and all the Producers, I want to say thanks for making this film such a great ride. It was very nearly a pleasure to work with all of you and someday, when I’ve had a lobotomy or two, I’d love to do it again. I’d also like to give a shout out to Chris Hollyfield whom no one seems to have mentioned to date. You provided one of my favorite moments during the production when we dared you to lift Kevin Kirkpatrick on your shoulders. The sight of him slung like a sack of potatoes around your neck will stay with me forever. And the shot of you with the water hose in the film is priceless. Thanks for flying all the way out to be a part of this film and for putting up with being stuck in what can only be described as “white bread hell.” I got nuthin but love for ya, man. Finally, a thank you to the 10 of you who’ve read this blog for a week. I know it wasn’t easy, but you stuck with it and that takes heart. Or stupidity. Can never remember which it is, but whatever it is, heart or stupidity, you’ve got it. So thanks. And finally, finally, a confession. Everything I’ve written this week has been a complete fabrication. Total bullshit. Sorry for deceiving you but I just wanted to be liked, you know? The only true things in the entire sordid mess are these: I did love every minute of working on this film. I really do live in a country club sized mansion and have a private jet. My name really is Scott Allen Rinker. Or, is it? posted @ 01:25 AM PDT [link] [Karma: 0 (+/-)] Friday, November 4, 2005Top Five reasons why the movie "Gamers" should be accepted into Sundance -By Two Folino BrothersTop Five reasons why the movie "Gamers" should be accepted into Sundance 5. Our movie features the "Sundance Kid", granted ours isn't Robert Redford. It's William Katt who was the Sundance Kid in "Butch and Sundance: The Early Years." Still, it's a "Sundance" connection. 4. Gotta have at least one movie that's not a Native-American-Lesbian-coming-of-age-story. 3. Unathletic cast won't clog up the ski slopes. 2. If our movie gets in, we add the Sundance Channel to our cable subscription. 1. You'll be sorry come Oscar time...when we valet your car! GAMERS Dramatic competition Sundance 2006 www.gamers-themovie.com It's nice to have a brother name Michael Folino who is Advertising God. posted @ 05:27 AM PDT [link] [Karma: 0 (+/-)] “Big Blogging News!!” by Scott Okay fearless readers, big news breaking right here: “and what might that be?” you ask? What would be the greatest place for a movie called “Gamers” to do a promotional screening? That’s right! We’re going to GEN CON, BITCHES!!! We’ve been invited to appear at Gen Con on Nov 18th and 19th. We’ll be having a free screening of the movie and some Q&A with us wisecracking bastards after. Chris is working out all the details, so keep posted to the site for more updates. As for me, I’m so completely thrilled to be going… I’ve wanted to attend a GENCON since I was a little teenager just beginning to play D&D. Well, I wanted to go there AND ComiCon and the Trek conventions and the Alamo and Mars and maybe a strip club or two. But Gen Con is right up there! So this is like being one step closer to all my dreams coming true! I can’t wait. It’ll be like seeing Notre Dame or the Cistine Chapel. Okay, that’s kinda stretching it… it’ll be so much COOLER than that. GEN CON, baby!! Oh, and look soon for some other news regarding festival screenings. Chris should be hearing about those in the next few weeks and with his uncontrollable childlike glee I’m sure he’ll post something the minute he hears. He’s pathological in that way. He can help it. The best thing to do when that happens is to just listen and smile politely and try to hide any sharp objects. I’m just saying… I’m keeping this blog short because with news like that, how much more do you need? Well, if you need something else to read then do this. Scroll back up to the top and reread the fucker! Or better yet, just hit your refresh button and it’s like it’s all new again… Plus I’m getting sick of you people. I write and I write, and do I ever hear anything back? No! I’m waiting… posted @ 05:16 AM PDT [link] [Karma: 0 (+/-)] Thursday, November 3, 2005“Just Blogging Along” by Scott Allen RinkerSo faithful readers, what do you want to hear about tonight? What fascinating topic can I ruminate upon for your delight and edification? How about this one: “What happens once you’ve shot the film, and it’s in the festival holding pattern? What do you do in the meantime?” Well, and I can only speak for myself here, pretty much a lot of nothing. You look for the next gig. Read a lot of books on loan from the public library. Audition, when you can, and lament the times you don’t. And you wait. Then one day, you call up your old boss at whatever survival job you last held and ask if they could still use you. I know what you’re thinking, “How glamorous! How exciting! How great it would be to not need an alarm clock!” My answer is, “Yeah, it is nice, until you choked down your 48th packet of Top Ramen mixed with Tuna (for protein) and swilled about 600 gallons of Kool-Aid because that’s all you can afford. When you look in your cupboard and think, “man, remember how great hamburgers used to be?” The day you discover yourself longing for Brussels sprouts (or any vegetable of its ilk) is the day you really begin to understand the life of an actor. Now you may be thinking, “Hey, this blog is a real downer. What happened to the peppy, upbeat, witty crap you used to write?” And to that I guess I have to say, “OK, you’re right, I’m making all that stuff up.” See I didn’t want you to feel bad about having to go to your dead end job at Video Hut, punch your time card after 8 hours, bitch about the fact that the copy of “Hooters Girls Gone Wild” you’d set aside for yourself got swiped by the guy who clocked out an hour before you and think that no one had it worse than you. I was trying to do you a favor. Truth be told, I’m sitting on my back patio next to my Olympic sized swimming pool, staring out at my country club sized estate and pondering whether to 1.) snort another line of coke off the naked ass of the nubile 18 year old chick sunbathing next to me OR 2.) to call my personal pilot to have the jet prepped and ready to go ‘cause suddenly I wanna have sex with six Swedish stewardess at 30,00 feet. God’s honest truth, some days I gotta pinch whatever bimbette is blowing me just to make sure this is real. Life is really sweet. Now tell me, which “truth” woulda made you feel better about your day? Thought so. Later. posted @ 05:21 AM PDT [link] [Karma: 2 (+/-)] Wednesday, November 2, 2005“oops”Ooops. Almost prematurely "Blogged" again. Don't worry, I'm taking my vitamins and I'll be ready to blog in just a little while. Hold that thought. Scott posted @ 10:28 PM PDT [link] “I Blog Your Pardon?” by Scott Allen Rinker So I’m back on my meds today and from here on out my blogs should be relatively coherent. At least I hope so… Have to say, I never thought I’d get smacked down by Chris for using the word “masturbation,” though. Especially from a guy who pens a scene where one of his characters is caught sniffing a sexually abused cucumber while wearing just his underpants. But, it’s his blog so no more masturbation jokes, I promise. Trying to stay on the topic of the movie, tonight I thought I’d share an exerpt from my personal journal written after the first day of filming, that lets you see what making the movie was really like: “Dear Journal, (I write that because “dear diary” sounds a little girly) Just wrapped the first day of filming on “Gamers.” Wow. It was a long day of shooting but what an amazing experience. The day started off with a phone call from Chris at like 8 a.m. saying that Rose had gone into labor with the twins, he was rushing off to the delivery room and his brother would probably be filling in to pinch hit for the day. My first thought was, ‘Well, that’s Hollywood for ya. Nepotism, nepotism, nepotism.’ I couldn’t have been more pleased, however, than when I arrived at Chris’ house (our location for Gordo’s home) to find Chris had returned from the hospital to pilot this ship we were about to set sail upon. (Side Note: If he’s the Skipper, am I Gilligan or am I the Professor? I know that Dave Hanson is Mary-Anne.) Don’t know how Chris managed it. I guess sleep really is overrated. He’s an inspiration. Three births in one day – his twin sons and his first feature- not many elves can say that, humans either. Though Rose deserves some kudos in there too! I got to meet John Heard and Beverly D’Angelo finally; they’re really great people, very sweet. At least I think they are. We never actually spoke to each other. I think they thought I was an extra. But hey, we’re in the same movie and that’s what counts. The guys are great, I feel we really have become the “Four Horsemen,” and of course Dave Hanson’s kicking ass, too. Thank God for the rehearsal time we had this past week. We’re moving so fast and shooting so many set ups, it sometimes feels like I'm in an old 'keystone kops' serial where everyone’s moving at a whirlwind pace. And amazingly there’s been only one death so far. A crewmember happened to be standing too close to where Ben was practicing with his sword and got decapitated. I remember thinking, ‘hey, that’s something you don’t see everyday.’ Hope they got it on film. So far, I think the plan is to keep it hush-hush until the film gets sold, then use it as a marketing ploy. I think that’s genius. I should get to bed now, got another big day tomorrow. We’re shooting the garage interiors and after 10 years I’m finally gonna get to use my DICE again!!! I’m trying not to let anyone know how excited I am about that but I don’t know if I’ll be able to hide my glee. ‘Till tomorrow sweet journal, good night.” So as you can see, “Gamers,” despite its budget size ran like pretty much any standard studio picture. Just without the big cast trailers. Scott posted @ 12:43 AM PDT [link] [Karma: -1 (+/-)] Tuesday, November 1, 2005NOVEMBER -The Start of something specialSorry to break Scott's unique blog today. Wow, I never thought the word "masturbation" would sneak into our blog...ever. We have some exciting things planned for this month. That's all I can say for now. It's in the works! It will be better than "New Coke" or the time they let the rabbit eat Tricks. Don't forget the wonderful new clip on www.warycry.com and another review! We are in talks right now with some folks who are not in the movie industry about perhaps having another free screening in two cities. We will use the screenings to get ready to do a final cut for the festivals. If you want to help us, please email your friends and tell them to check out the site. We update the web site every day. If you live Park City, Utah email me. We are trying to do a bit of word-of-mouth there. I hope to bring you all some exciting news in the next few days. Thanks, Chris Folino P.S. Scott, don't fuck up tomorrow's blog :) posted @ 08:48 AM PDT [link] [Karma: 3 (+/-)] "Blogging the Bishop" by Scott Allen Rinker Today’s title has no relationship to anything in particular I just wanted to keep up the creepy sexual innuendo thing. Sad, isn’t it? I’m sorry to say I’ve no great topic to discuss tonight either, not that the previous were anything special to begin with. You see, I’m in this crazy, flipping-out, “we’re trying to buy a house,” phase of my life this week so you’ll have to forgive me. You have to because I’m the one writing this drivel and you can’t stop me. (Aside, to himself) “Oh please, somebody stop me before I start talking about the prices of wood laminate flooring and the orgasmic joy you get from finding great carpet samples! Seriously, this is adulthood? Does nobody around here understand I became an actor to avoid all that growing up shit?” (Self, back to him) “Pull yourself together, man! You’ve got people looking to you for… for...” Well, what exactly? Humor? Never going to happen. Thought provoking commentary? Excuse me, did you read the past two blogs? Random gibberish that somehow provides a little too much insight into my troubled thought process? Sold! By now, you may realize I’m a guy who spends way too much time talking to himself. Sure, I’m a little nutty but at least I’ve never stood in front of the mirror and said, “How’s Annie? How’s Annie?” (For those of you going, ‘huh?’, that was a Twin Peaks reference.) [For those of you still going, ‘huh?’, Twin Peaks was a fantastic tv show in the early 90’s, a precursor to the X-files if you will.] {For those of you… ahh, forget it.} Well that’s enough mental masturbation for one evening… (Ah-ha! Now the title of this thing makes sense!) Hopefully tomorrow I’ll actually have something to say. Either that or Chris will have pulled the plug on this silly little experiment. Hint, hint. I do want to say to the folks at Warcry.com a hearty and hale, “Thank You!” Your continued support of “Gamers” is greatly appreciated and is way beyond the call of duty. If this film goes anywhere we’ll make sure the viewers know who to blame. Later. posted @ 01:09 AM PDT [link] [Karma: -1 (+/-)] Monday, October 31, 2005New Clip of movie posted on www.warcry.com -By Chris FolinoHello, Here is a new clip from the movie and a new review also! That's right! Warcry sent two people to review the film and we did pretty good with each of them! http://www.warcry.com/scripts/columns/view_sectionalt.phtml?site=15&id=117&colid=8311 or log onto www.warcry.com Thanks again to Warcry for all the support! You guys rock! And once we get money we are coming down to you for a private screening! Thanks, Chris Folino posted @ 01:16 PM PDT [link] [Karma: 1 (+/-)] “Premature Blog-ulation” by Scott Allen Rinker First, gotta apologize for my premature blogging Saturday. I know I wasn’t supposed to post it until Sunday but what can I say, it was my first time and I got too excited. Happens to everyone at some point, I suppose. Sure, it never happens to Joe Nieves, but he’s a dwarven warrior with an 18 constitution. So, on to today’s blogging material, why does Hollywood continually fuck up fantasy films? I’m not talking sci-fi stuff here, that’s a whole ‘nother problem. I mean serious fantasy type stuff here (LOTR, & Conan -the first one). I suppose I should back that statement up with examples, but c’mon, other than the Lord of the Rings trilogy (which was shot in New Zealand, free of Hollywood manipulations) has there been a great fantasy film in like twenty years? Or even a halfway good one? If you say, “Willow,” I swear I will kill you. "Willow" had at its heart a great story, and some damn great actors (Val Kilmer before he got totally nutty) but what the hell was Lucas thinking letting Ron Howard direct it? If you want to make a sweet, nostalgic film about American history then sure, Opie’s your guy, but fantasy? That’s like hiring Tarantino to direct “Splash,” it’d be ok but not the same film. That said, Mr. Howard, if you decide to make a sequel to “Willow” I’d be thrilled to be a part of it. As long as I get a decent trailer. Then, of course, there’s my favorite cock-up, the recent “Dungeons and Dragons: The Movie.” You get Jeremy Irons to star in your film… I take that back, I blame Jeremy for saying yes to this piece of shit in the first place. And Marlon Wayans? Are you serious?! Given all the great source material you could pull from in the D&D universe (there must be 600 Forgotten Realms novels alone) and this is the best you can come up with? Someone should kill Gary Gygax just so he can TURN IN HIS GRAVE whenever this film is mentioned. And don’t get me started on “Clash of the Titans.” AAAARGH! I mean, with all the great fantasy writers out there - Robert Jordan, Terry Brooks, R.A. Salvatore, to name a few- you gotta wonder how does this continue to happen? You can blame the writers, the directors, the production values but it goes higher than that, folks. It’s the shitheads at the studio level. My first thought was that the money pinchers in L.A. just don’t get the material. Or don’t care about the audience, thinking, “If we only make one of these every couple years then these geeks will love whatever we put out”. So why bother doing something really good. My amazing wife, Cathleen, summed it up best when she said that “fantasy films often fail because “they” (the producers, directors, and various other PTBs) refuse to make the fantastic REAL. Just like in any good movie, we must absolutely believe in that world. We have to care about the characters, journey with them as they face challenges beyond imagining. Cheer when they triumph… or weep when they die trying.” Her words, but they hit the nail on the head. It’s the same fucking principle as any good dramatic material, the only difference being the milieu in which it’s told. But they can’t seem to grasp that. Why? Because they live in a world of numbers on spreadsheets and haven’t an ounce of imagination in their black little hearts. Harsh? Maybe so, but fuck ‘em, it’s how I feel. Especially when they continue to turn out this crap. Frankly, they’re lucky I believe in gun control and don’t own any weapons except for my (+2) pocketknife and rubber-coated nun chucks. ‘Cause someday I’m gonna snap and get all medieval on their ass. Let Chris know what you think, all seven of you loyal readers. Sorry, Chris, but you set me loose in this forum and now you see what ya get. Gotta run now, “The Beastmaster,” is about to start on Showtime and I gotta get my semi-decent but mostly crappy fantasy fix. Later. posted @ 12:28 AM PDT [link] |
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