Two months prior to my freshman year of high school STAR WARS was released. It played my local theater all summer. I saw it several times; seeing that Imperial I-Class Star Destroyer fly overhead never never ceased to give me an adrenaline rush. I loved, loved, loved STAR WARS...
When the Kenner line of toys came out that Christmas (or the certificates for said toys), I desperately wanted them. But I was a High School Man by then; getting caught playing with toys would’ve seriously damaged my hallway cred.
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Oct 22, 2021 • 5 tweets • 1 min read
In the aftermath of Jon Erik Hexum, the dedicated crew job of Weapons Handler was created — someone whose sole responsibility is overseeing any and all firearms used on a movie set.
In the aftermath of Brandon Lee, the rules got much stricter and oversight increased.
For rehearsals, we are given rubber weapons.
When it is necessary for a real weapon to be used, the weapons handler clears the chamber, the cylinder, the clip, etc… anywhere a projectile can lodge is checked. If dummy bullets are required, each shell is checked before loading…
Jun 5, 2021 • 8 tweets • 2 min read
In 1977, I spent a week at Summer Drama Camp under the tutelage of Paris, Tennessee’s Doyenne of Children’s Drama, Miss Ruby Krider.
I vividly remember Miss Ruby telling us about this incredible former student of hers, Cherry, who was on scholarship at Carnegie Mellon...
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That seemed to me to be the most exciting thing in the world — studying to become a Real Actor in an exotic place like Pittsburgh.
Nine years later, I was loaded up and headed to Chicago to attempt my hand at it. Miss Ruby pulled me aside, “I have a feeling...
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Oct 30, 2020 • 24 tweets • 5 min read
“What’s your feeling about a prosthetics gig? I know you’ve said you hate it,” it was my agent on the other end of the call.
My mind flashed back to my days of misery spent as the demon, Menlo, on the tv series, ANGEL. I had eagerly jumped at the chance...
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...to be transformed into an other-worldly being via Hollywood special effects set my Halloween-loving heart aflame. By the time it ended two weeks later, the thrill had not just worn off, it had been sandblasted down to a nub, just as four hours sitting in a...
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Oct 28, 2020 • 10 tweets • 2 min read
🎶 when my day on earth has ended and the race is overrun, I will melt into the likeness of my own beloved ones...🎶
Billy Joe Shaver was an 8th grade dropout; he was a roustabout always up for a fight; he was a poet. Unlike most of the roughhewn poets I’ve known...
he wasn’t an autodidact, at least in the book-reading sense. Words just seemed to flow through him and fall trippingly from his hillbilly tongue.
In just over a year’s time, in 99-00, he lost his mother, Victory, his wife, Wanda (he loved her so much...
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Aug 29, 2020 • 6 tweets • 2 min read
Shooting DRAFT DAY in Cleveland, @chadwickboseman and I went to the ballpark to see the Indians play the Tigers. We had met on the set of the movie just days prior and had many things in common, including sharing an agent. I had scored sweet tickets behind the visitor’s dugout
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... but Chad was late getting to the park. He showed up with his cap pulled low and dark glasses. He was very apologetic for his tardiness. At first I thought the Incognito act and lateness might’ve been some Star Trip. It was anything but...
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Jun 5, 2020 • 18 tweets • 4 min read
Our country has devolved into Chaos. There is a massive public outcry against excessive force by police and, in numbers too great to keep track of, it’s being met with excessive force — counterproductive to say the least.
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I’ve have friends that are police officers. I’ve played Cops & Robbers many, many times on screen; but I know pretending ain’t the same as actually living it. In my real life I’ve encountered and gotten to know many PD. It is not an easy job.
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Jun 1, 2020 • 18 tweets • 3 min read
As I watch the city explode around me, I’ve gotten numerous inquiries from folks Back Home asking about our situation. Where we live, everything is okay at the time being. But here are some things I’ve observed going on, both in my city and in cities around the country:
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* There are legitimate protests against social injustice. As did most of the world, I watched George Floyd get murdered over the course of nine agonizing minutes. His killer showed neither mercy or remorse. Meanwhile, the killers cohorts did nothing to stop the murder...
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Oct 28, 2019 • 14 tweets • 3 min read
BOOS ON FIRST
Hey, heard you folks have some base ball team in DC.
Yep. That’s a fact. Swept through the playoffs all the way to BIG SHOW. The Nationals, as in Americans playing America’s Game.
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Ah, yes. Close to the White House. Nice Night. Great perfect opportunity to grandstand for political opportunists.
So it would seem. But it’s a DC team. Folks in these parts got a real nose for bullshit.
You’re pretty dialed in, I am guessing you know all the players names.
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Jun 4, 2019 • 13 tweets • 3 min read
Let me preface this by saying, I think DEADWOOD: THE MOVIE is wonderful. Not only was I blessed with a reunion of people I love, but I think the end result is an extraordinary film, worthy of the mass of praise heaped upon it.
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Since I’ve been asked numerous times about the “Extra Scenes”, I thought I would explain things as I understand them to be.
The original cut was 2:20 minutes. The Final version was around 1:50. So, yes, there is a half hour of “Deadwood” on the editing room floor.
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Jul 26, 2018 • 17 tweets • 3 min read
The Chronology Of The Return To The Muddy Thoroughfare
A cast mate on DEADWOOD once said, “I was bummed last season when I didn’t have a lot to do, I realized I was batting 9th in the order. I’ve never batted 9th in the order at anything I’ve ever done...
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”...Then I realized, I’m batting 9th in the order on the 1927 Yankees.”
That’s what it was like working on that show. Its abrupt cancellation was devastating for all of us. The show did not end - it stopped. There is a big difference between those two.
