Just returned from Newport Beach where I moderated the screenwriters' panel consisting of Steve Oedekerk ("Ace Ventura," "The Nutty Professor," "Bruce Almighty"), Jeffrey Arch ("Sleepless in Seattle," "Iron Will") and Brad Gann ("Invinceable"). While we were there we also attended the premiere of my buddy Don Most's "Moola." At the afterparty, took this picture with William Mapother who a lot of you may remember as the snoopy, needle-wielding Ethan who is mysteriously missing from the plane's manifest on ABC's "Lost." That's my son, Jonathan, the USC School of Cinema near-grad. And, no, Mapother is not in the least creepy like Ethan. In person, he seems like a great guy, Don loved working with him and he does a very good job in the film.
- Meanwhile, our internet debut of Winter of Our Discontent: The Impeachment & Trial of John F. Kennedy book project continues. Every Monday brings a new installment in the novel-in-progress being written with alt-history author Harry Turtledove. Today begins Chapter 3: Damage Control which deals with a couple of funerals: reporter Lefkowitz attends the Arlington Cemetery burial of Secret Service agent Clint Hill along with a disgruntled LBJ while Duncan gets to fly to Dallas with JFK who's giving the eulogy for Governor Connally who died when the bullet intended for Kennedy took his life instead.
- Over at Movie Smackdown!, we're continuing to add more "referees" to our film critics group. I want to increase the overall content on the site which means I can't do it all myself. This week we introduce recovering TV newsman Mark Sanchez with his look at "Vacancy -vs- Motel Hell." You've probably already noticed Jonathan Zabel weighing in with "Meet the Robinsons -vs- The Incredibles" and "Grindhouse -vs- Pulp Fiction." Last week we add Jay Amicarella who reviewed "Disturbia -vs- Rear Window."
