THIS guy –
THIS GUY –
– is, of course, former Stargate Executive Producer and writer Carl Binder who called me this morning to catch up. Coincidentally, I was just thinking about him the other day and was meaning to give HIM a call after Akemi inquired: “How’s Binder-san?”. Well, Binder-san is doing great and keeping busy with several projects on the go. Like Paul and I, he’ll be hearing back on his various irons in the fire shortly. Yep, very soon we’re all going to finally get word. Rob, Carl, Paul and myself. With a half dozen projects between us, you’d figure the chances are good, right? How good?
I’d love to get back into production sooner than later if, for no other reason, than the opportunity to once again work with THIS guy –
THIS GUY –
Meanwhile, THIS gal –
– goes in for surgery tomorrow. Wish her luck!
And now, following yesterday’s entry on some of the March movie releases that caught my eye, here are some of the under-the-radar releases to look forward to next month. Or not.
PARTICLE FEVER
Release Date: March 5, 2014
What it’s about: The launch of the Large Hadron Collider
What it’s got working for it: An inside look at one of history’s biggest and most expensive experiments.
What’s it’s got going against it: Science can be fun. But, sometimes, it can be boring.
THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL
Release Date: March 7, 2014
What it’s about: A concierge and lobby boy contend with some coloful guests at the Grand Budapest Hotel.
What it’s got working for it: If you like Wes Anderson’s quirky sensibilities, this movie looks promising.
What’s it’s got going against it: On the other hand, if you find his sense of humor annoying, you might want to give this movie a pass.
THE GRAND PIANO
Release Date: March 7, 2014
What it’s about: A concert pianist performs under the watchful eye of a sniper, burdened by the treat scribbled on his sheet music: “Play one wrong note and you die.”.
What it’s got working for it: The premise sounds like Speed at a piano concerto.
What’s it’s got going against it: Actually, it sounds like an SNL parody of Speed at a a piano concerto. When was Brian DePalma’s last good movie?
ENEMY
Release Date: March 7, 2014
What it’s about: A university lecturer tracks down his doppelgänger.
What it’s got working for it: Could be creepy.
What’s it’s got going against it: Or unintetionally silly.
UWANTME2KILLHIM?
Release Date: March 14, 2014
What it’s about: Two teenagers seek revenge against a murderer.
What it’s got working for it: Based on a true story.
What’s it’s got going against it: As always, there’s the danger of dramatic license trumping a satisfyingly straightforward dramatization of fact.
VERONICA MARS
Release Date: March 14, 2014
What it’s about: Veronica Mars is back on the case when her ex-boyfriend is accused of murder.
What it’s got working for it: Three seasons of t.v. history and a rabid fan base.
What’s it’s got going against it: Television shows rarely make the successful leap to the big screen.
BLOOD TIES
Release Date: March 21, 2014
What it’s about: In New York of the 1970’s, a cop must deal with the problems engendered by his ex-con brother.
What it’s got working for it: A solid cast.
What’s it’s got going against it: Ho hum, it feels like we’ve seen it all before.
CHEAP THRILLS
Release Date: March 21, 2014
What it’s about: A mysterious couple engages two hard-luck friends in a series of increasingly dares for cash.
What it’s got working for it: Possibly a cutting social satire.
What’s it’s got going against it: Or, on the other hand, just a nasty piece of filmmaking.
Binder-san is looking good! Is it bad luck to wish you “good luck”?
Give Jelly hugs from us please! Also, while she’s asleep, maybe they could trim her nails? It’s so much easier when their out.
So great to see Carl! Lots and lots of Carl! 🙂 You guys all need to hurry up and wait faster though, I’m anxious to see how things turn out.
Speaking of which, I hope that everything is okay with Jelly. Wishing her and you guys all the best.
The LHC movie would be interesting by default of course, but the piano one sounds like an interesting concept that could go terribly wrong. And I don’t mean as an intentional part of the movie.
When you next see Carl can you tell him I am loving Cedar Cove.. that is if it is the same guy? ;D
Kriss 🙂
Good luck to Jelly! We’re looking forward to seeing her feeling better soon. 😉
Hope things go well for Jelly and for you too.Looking forward to hearing how all of y’alls projects fair. Must be maddening to have no idea when you will hear.
Hey everybody,
My name is Christian I am from Salzburg, Austria.
Home of Mozart, the sound of music, Schwarzenegger and Hitler.
I’ m a long time lurker seldom poster. Huge Stargate fan, have seen every episode numerous time.
I have been reading Joes blog since December 2006 over at blogspot.
Just a year later I almost got an heart attack as Joe suddenly stopped blogging for a couple of days.
I prayed and hoped that Joes blog would come back. Only a few days later my wish was granted. He wasn’t kidnapped by space dolphins as feared first. If I recall it wright, there was just an issue with blogspots spam filter something, something.
So I’ m very proud to say that I read every blog entry Joe ever wrote and I will continue to do so until Joe decides to stop blogging one day. Hopefully that day is still years away.
Joe I wanna take this opportunity to thank you for all those years of daily blogging!
Your posts often cheered me up, when I wasn’t doing so well.
Do hope Jelly will be ok. And glad to hear that Carl is doing well. More updates on both are always appreciated.
Can’t say I had heard of any of these projects, except for Veronica Mars. Cheap Thrills looks like it has potential, but as you point out, it looks like it can be a pretty ugly movie in more ways than one. As it is, I doubt I will have much time to catch any of these anyways. Thanks for the updates though.
Hugs for Jelly. Hi to Carl or Binder-san
First I want to wish Jelly MEGA LUCK! I hope her surgery goes well and she heals up nicely.
Secondly I want to thank everyone for expressing their condolences over the loss of my brother-in-law. It has been difficult but being able to take in his dog makes it easier. I’ll be sure to spoil her rotten! 🙂
Thirdly, Joe, You are VERY welcome to sleep on my guest bed, watch my tv and eat my food if you’re here on your world tour. Ziggy and Annabell (and soon Foxy) will gladly snuggle with you, too. I’ll even take you to one of my favorite restaurant here in Tampa. It’s a very cool speak easy. You need a password to get in and everything! Just maybe come when it’s like January or something so you’re not melting. 😉
Ok.. I helped make the Veronica Mars movie happen! I was one of the many fans who donated money for the kickstarter! 😀 I’m excited about it! But I do agree many tv shows just don’t translate well on the big screen Usually sci-fi shows DO however. (*hint* *hint* MGM.. SGA. )
Grand Piano: Um.. wait.. I had both my daughters taking piano lessons because I thought it was safe. Now they have to worry about snipers? O.o For seriously?!? I don’t think I like the sound of this movie. It’s hard enough playing piano in front of a whole crowd! Yeeesh.
Next you’ll tell me that I’m in danger when I go swimming with manatees next weekend. Hopefully no snipers.
Trish
my brother liked veronica mars, so he’s looking forward to the movie.
hope jelly does ok.
@whovian:
Sorry for your loss. My wife has lost brothers too. We’re praying the new doggie situation goes smoothly for you.
@Joe:
It’s good to see Carl again, and I’m crossing my fingers for a series pickup!
And good luck Jelly! Give her an ear tussle for Barb and I.
Possible duplicate post
A little inexpensive help for the aspiring writers among us.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00GHXYASM/ref=redir_mdp_mobile/182-7997239-2575764?_bbid=9877&tag=bookbubemailc-20
Big giant HUGS for Jelly baby.!!! Nice to see Carl’s smiling face again on the blog, and hope all of you have some good news on that front soon. As far as the movies go,,meh..not so interesting to me, but thanks.
@jeffw thank you! I feel confident Foxy will fit right in.. I took in my parents’ german shepard when my dad had to relocate to Virginia. 🙂 But prayers are always welcome. 🙂
Good thoughts headed Jelly’s way. My Chihuahua, Buddy, had a tooth pulled the other day and I was a nervous wreck all day until I could bring him home.
And I am shocked, shocked I tell you, to see you write this, “Science can be fun. But, sometimes, it can be boring.”
Science is never boring….although, I’m sure my brothers would side with you….LOL.
Good luck, Jelly! Fingers and paws crossed for you.
Good luck, Jelly!
@whovian: My condolences. I’m glad you are able to make his dog a part of your family.
Oh, poor little Jelly Belly. Good luck sweet baby girl. Smoochies under the neck.
Wishing Jelly, and you too, Joe, all the best tomorrow.
I’m kinda pooped – still trying to reorganize my kitchen (and utility room/pantry). Worked ALL day and I only finished three small cabinets (and two shelves). I’m moving stuff around, washing stuff, organizing stuff…cursing at stuff. Last night I worked until 2 am washing out spice bottles and removing labels. You might be wondering why I just don’t toss ’em, but these are old cork-style bottles so I reuse them. I’m trying to figure out what to keep and what to get rid of, and where to put things for the best access. I managed to get rid of enough stuff so that now I don’t have to use my oven for storage. That was a real pain in the arse – had to take it all out before I could cook, and I have no counter space so it had to go on the table…the same table I have to prepare food on since I have no counter space!
So far I have finished the oven ware and pots and pans cabinets (part of which also includes our thermos collection 🙄 ), the cabinet with my good china and good serving plates, the cabinets for glasses and cups, the storage container cabinet, the liquor cabinet, the spice cabinet, the coffee and tea cabinet, and the cabinet for dishes and serving bowls, the cabinet for cookbooks and picnic ware, and half the pantry. Today I also ‘built’ a shelf unit out of wooden wine cases – that’s for the cat food. I still have to tackle the rest of the pantry, under the sink, the food prep cabinet (food processor, mixing bowls, measuring cups, cake pans, etc), and the hutch where I squirrel away all sorts of stuff – mostly pottery, pewter, and other decorative items that I rotate now and then with stuff on display. (Yes – although I have very little counter space, I have a massive amount of cabinets for a small house. I also have loads of hand-me-downs from my grandparents – mostly depression glass and other things from that era that – although not worth a lot of money – isn’t stuff I can just sell for a quarter at a yardsale.
Okay…hubby just got home from work so better go. Again, I hope all goes well for little Jelly tomorrow! {{hugs}}
das
Oh hai, Carl. *said in my best LOLCats voice*
das
I am Doug from Indianapolis. I rarely comment, but I have been reading your blog every day since 2006 when you were still on blogspot. I am a fan of Stargate and SciFi in general and have seen every episode of all 3 series, many of them multiple times. Hope you find a new project soon. Would be nice if it was Stargate related but it doesn’t sound like that is likely.
I miss reading your hilarious spam email exchanges… You should try that again. They were priceless.
*waves at Carl*
Wishing Jelly a successful surgery. Maybe they could paint her nails red during surgery as a surprise.
The Grand Piano looks like one serious pile of bat shit. My husband and I were cracking up at the trailer, especially this line from the sniper: (sneering) “I don’t want your money. I just want you to play the most flawless concert of your LIFE!”
How does crap like this get approved? And what were were Elijah Wood and John Cusack smoking when they agreed to be in this? DePalma must have some really unsavoury dirt on them.
And best wishes for a speedy recovery for Jelly!
Best wishes to Jelly for a smooth procedure and a speedy recovery.
Hey DePalma gave us Phantom of the Paradise. What could possibly go wrong?
(Actually I adore Phantom for the music, but the continuity errors make me twitchy).
The feeling’s mutual, Joe! Nothing I’d like better than getting the band back together. That would be pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty cool. And hello everyone! (Side note: those pics are from a few years ago — I’ve lost a lot more hair and an eye since then.)
P.S. Thanks, Kriss. Yes, I did season one of Cedar Cove, but will not return for season two. On to the next adventure.
If you look at TV today you can see good storytelling is once again in high demand (sorry Simon Cowell) so it should bode well for all these great projects.
I’m all about that the Higgs and the Boson, and I’m a practicing Marshmallow so I’ll be checking both Veronica Mars and Particle out. I also liked Red Road with Jason M. on Sundance; I’m loving all the “Crazy small town shows” like Hemlock Grove and Bates Motel.
Thank you Joe and Carl for the great news! Will pray to see a good show back on TV! (Yes! I am that desperate with what is on these days there… :/).
Please let us know as soon as you two know! 🙂
Best of luck to Jelly! and i guess it is her hips again? and yes, as Tam is saying, the toe nails could do with a nice trim, i agree 🙂
Someone at work is also having heart surgery tomorrow… which will also tell the surgeons if the heart tumor is cancerous… so Jelly and her will have to be strong and brave tomorrow… There is no dignity when these things hit us, sadly..
I know I am only popping in once in a while here, but just wanted to say I really really really appreciate this blog and the lovely wonderful people here <3 xo
@Carl Binder Ooooo getting the band back together! I’m cheering for that! You lost an eye? Do you have a cool pirate eye patch? Eye patches are in. As are bow ties.
@Carl *big pouty lip* thank you for getting it all on the road though… hugs
Kriss 🙂
And I too am a practicing Marshmallow… Go Veronica Go! So I too am looking forward to Veronica Mars.
All the best for your projects and to Jelly.
Science is never boring! Though I probably will wait to watch when it gets on Netflix.
That Enemy trailer doesn’t really show much. I have no idea what to think about it.
Not really interested in anything else, though I wish Veronica Mars luck.