| Author | Message | ||
     Duncan Supporter Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 4906 Registered: 12-2001  |
I wanted to take a minute before crashing to thank everyone for tonight. Despite some technical issues it was really gratifying to share my films with some of you all. Thanks to the 2 Arts for the venue, to Steve and his group for some cool sounds and to Francesca across the street who let me borrow an iron so I could iron a sheet to use as a projection screen. But most importantly thank you to each and everyone of you who attended and donated money. To my delight we raised over $335.00 tonight that will be sent, tomorrow to the Red Cross. With all the thousands of buckets and jars and pleas for help I am profoundly thankful for the generosity of those in attendance tonight. It was a small crowd but, as evidenced by the above total, a generous one. I am pleased and proud to be your neighbor. Thank you for the screening, the music and the outreach. Good night. | ||
| Duncan Supporter Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 4942 Registered: 12-2001 |
Tonight is the night. Despite all the football sounds, the post production headaches, the wondering what was going to happen, we get to have a good ole premiere type thing tonight with the Gotham City Short Film Festival. I am actually psyched to meet Tim Burton, always wondered what they guy was like who thought up Nightmare before Christmas and Edward Scissorhands. over 50 credentialed press folk coming and two of the Tribeca Cinema's theater's simulcasting the films. Now, as long as I don't put my foot in it, it should be fun. | ||
| buzzsaw Citizen Username: Buzzsaw Post Number: 2647 Registered: 5-2001  |
Good Luck Duncan! I hope they have the red carpet out. Fill us in. Tim Burton. Cool. I loved Sleepy Hollow. | ||
| composerjohn Citizen Username: Composerjohn Post Number: 491 Registered: 8-2004  |
Break a leg, Duncan! Your film is going to kick arse! Let us know how it turns out. Good luck!! | ||
| Duncan Supporter Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 4951 Registered: 12-2001 |
It was fun. Packed. Well received. I had offers to broaden the film to a feature, pitch it as a series and a whole bunch of other BS. I am glad I am not 23 or 24 cause if I didn't have the experience in the business that I have, I would have taken what folks said seriously and be moving to LA this week. As it is there were some legit folks there who had something of real value to offer. But so many were...ugh. The reception to the film was strong, in both rooms. And because, for reasons yet unknown, Tim B. didn't show up I was the only filmmaker there last night with "talent in tow". Lots of photos snapped of me and Elizabeth Franz. Don't know where they are headed, the Ledger apparently is doing a piece on the festival. But if I see any and they are any good, maybe I will post. The fun folks I met Ahmad Rashad Nancy Speilberg (steven's sister) Stuart BOOYAH Scott More parties and events to come and then the Big Pitch on Sunday followed by the competitive screening. 10/2 in Chicago 10/8 in Hope NJ 11/2 in Williamstown and Bust 10/16 in Burlington. | ||
| buzzsaw Citizen Username: Buzzsaw Post Number: 2662 Registered: 5-2001 |
THE Stuart "booyah" Scott? WOW! This might be a dumb question - but why wouldn't you want to make in to a feature length film? Or do you feel the offer was hollow? | ||
| Duncan Supporter Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 4952 Registered: 12-2001 |
Yea THE Stuart "booyah" Scott. Nice guy. he has a near 5 year old daughter. We made plans for them. As for your question (and its in no way dumb)... its an aesthetic thing. One of the parts of my mission statement reads as follows...
I think there is merit to the short form, and also believe that certain stories take a certain amount of time to tell. Here is my argument as to why, also from my site..
Also, some of the people proposing the idea were...in their cups and because of Elizabeth being a bit gratuitous, IMHO. I would entertain the one offer/inquiry from a man who was sober and articulate about how it could be fleshed out. I would at least entertain that conversation. But The Reader, as I wrote it, conceived it, and created it, is a short film. There is a reason there are O'Henry awards for short stories. It is a validation of the form. Do some of those writers go on to novels? Sure, but usually not by expanding their short story. It's just a thing with me. We have all seen too many movies that were short films that were just too long. That couldn't sustain 90 or 120 minutes. The ones that come to mind are the SNL skits made into films, except for Blues Brothers, most of the time the gag is over in 25 minutes, and thats being generous. And thats my short answer.  | ||
| buzzsaw Citizen Username: Buzzsaw Post Number: 2665 Registered: 5-2001 |
"making a short story long often bores the hell out of the viewer" - This is very true. Can't wait to see your films!.... Enjoy this fine early fall weather. | ||
| Duncan Supporter Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 4957 Registered: 12-2001 |
May have actually found a couple of different people intersted in backing my feature project this weekend. Will know for sure when everyone is sober and back at their desks this week. But it was an encouraging closing night. | ||
| Duncan Supporter Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 4958 Registered: 12-2001 |
If Blog's are press then... then check this out | ||
| Duncan Supporter Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 4971 Registered: 12-2001 |
The Daily Record however. At least its something. Just wish I didn't have to drive out there tonight in the deluge. Also, next week in the Jersey section of the NY Times, there is an article about being an actor in NJ. Perhaps in that one I will sound a little more,um, well, I dunno....articulate? | ||
| Duncan Supporter Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 4992 Registered: 12-2001 |
Been a while but THE READER keeps on plowing ahead. Next up, Williamstown Film Fesitval, then Queens International Film Festival and then after that the Anchorage Film Festival (don't think I will be attending that one as it is in early Decembrrrrrrrrrrr). Got a distribution deal for THE READER. Maybe. Not a contract I have seen before. Investigating and asking. Did a reading of the new play by Paul Grellong, he of last summers MANUSCRIPT at the Daryl Roth 2...former home of DeLa Guarda. The Power of Sail, really interesting play with great potential and the kid is only 27. Wow. Then I will be back at the Bickford in A Thousand Clowns in the role that Jason Robards originated. That'll be fun. Tom Selleck played the part on Bway a few years back, I think I will try to forget that.  Thanks to those who helped out with the Katrina event at H2TA. Donation made. | ||
| Duncan Supporter Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 5059 Registered: 12-2001 |
Now this would make a killer jigsaw puzzle.  | ||
| Duncan Supporter Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 5074 Registered: 12-2001 |
Just returned from Williamstown Film Festival where I saw 19 films in three days. Got to meet and hang out with some very cool people. Larry Turman (producer of The Graduate), Campbell Scott (who was originally to be named Duncan, ironically enough, but his mom vetoed George C.'s instruction and named him Campbell...and get this he has an 8 year old son with the same name as my son, and for those who don't know my son his name is not in the top 200 names) and Patricia Clarkson. A really cool lady who was feted at the fest for her work and has agreed to read the screenplay of my feature with an eye toward participating in it..drool. Here she is at the Q&A when she was honored.  Got to see The Dying Gaul on Friday night. Check Friday's NY Times for a review. It is as good as they say it is. I imagine it will do well on the coasts but some of it is gonna be wayyyy to intense for some of America. Still a terrific adaptation of a difficult play. | ||
| Duncan Supporter Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 5173 Registered: 12-2001 |
Just found out that the 7th NYC Home Film Festival is going to start out with my films. I am really excited that they will open the festival with a re-screening of THE READER after which they will present me with the BEST SHORT award from the last festival and then open this one with my third short, BUST. I have much to be thankful for this holiday. I would love it if any of you MOL'ers would come. Details can be found at at the festival's website and here is a link to the EVITE Happy Thanksgiving to the many online and in real life friends I have made through MOL. Thanks Dave and Jamie for making it possible. | ||
| Duncan Supporter Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 5198 Registered: 12-2001 |
Last year at Thanksgiving...  | ||
| Duncan Supporter Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 5282 Registered: 12-2001 |
In keeping with the season...my favorite memory of childhood was reading this...
Read and hear him read it here. | ||
| kmk Supporter Username: Kmk Post Number: 865 Registered: 5-2001 |
Duncan, Absolutley every third grade child at Far Brook School is required to memorize the first paragraph of A Child's Christmas in Wales. My 8 year old wrote her own version of "One Christmas was so much like another..." just last night (substituting Albuquerque for sea-town corner) and today's ride in the car had the 11 year old howling with laughter about Mrs. Prothero and the fire! It helps me to remember that these are the "things" I should be giving our children this season - the experiences and the exposure to great arts. Thanks for sharing your memory. | ||
| Duncan Supporter Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 5297 Registered: 12-2001 |
My pleasure kmk. I feel physically different after I hear Dylan Thomas read the piece. For me it is the true beginning of the Christmas season, being sort of a seriously lapsed Episcopalian.  O Come O Come Emmanuel on the first sunday of advent used to do it for me, now its a Welsh drunk reading poetry. Hmmmmmm  | ||
| Duncan Supporter Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 5334 Registered: 12-2001 |
 He cut off my head.  | ||
| Duncan Supporter Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 5335 Registered: 12-2001 |
My Wife and Sun at moonrise over the Atlantic Ocean.  | ||
| Duncan Supporter Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 5348 Registered: 12-2001 |
Man was this a long time ago. I am still in communication with all of them but man have the years beaten us up.  Left to right Jeff Haycock...the one person I have known longer than anyone outside of my family. We met when we were three. He and his wife run a children's theater in Boulder Co. and have built a Curriculum for schools that was actually piloted in some YMCA's in the NYC area, primarily on Long Island. We were in a garage band together called Misadventure and her mates. We played clubs and colleges up and down New England. Some kind of fun. He was guitar, I was bass and sometimes lead singer. Chris Foley... an usher at my wedding and one of the greatest craftsmen I know. He can build about anything. He began with guitars and now builds and manages the building of some of the highest end flutes on the market. He was also instrumental in the straight edge punk scene of the late 70's/early 80's playing drums for SS Decontrol. Fronted by Springa, they were a Boston based band and before we graduated high school Chris had played the Hollywood Bowl. He also appears on Jen Trynin's second Warner Bros release and did the incidental music for my first film. Sadly I testified at his divorce. A great friend. Duncan Rogers...nothing more to say here. George Roelke...another of my great childhood friends. He came from a single mom household and was an only child and he sort of adopted my father as his own, and my dad loved George. For some reason they really hit it off. Perhaps cause George loved to go fishing with us. He went on camping trips with me and my dad and was a fixture in most of my life until he moved to California to pursue the dual goals of being a bass player in a metal band and sleeping with as many porn stars as possible . My mother still wishes he would cut his hair.  John McCrellish...affectionately known to us all as Ernie it was at his house that all the debauchery of my high school years occured. His basement was like a bachelor pad and his parents were incredibly hands off. We would get someone to go on a "packy run" and get us Southern Comfort, Beer, and Seagrams. Having curfews forced us to drink FAST on weekends. Then we were foolish to head out to his back yard (weather permitting) to jump on his trampoline. The goal, obviously, was not to puke in midair. He was also the first of our friends from high school to come out and he now lives in Florida with his partner and manages a ton of real estate. I miss these guys and am so lucky to know them even though thousands of miles seperate us. I wish them and their familys and lover's a happy new year. | ||
| Virtual It Girl Citizen Username: Shh Post Number: 3715 Registered: 5-2001 |
Thanks for the Happy New Year wishes Duncan. You too! Continued success in 2006! | ||
| sac Supporter Username: Sac Post Number: 2985 Registered: 5-2001 |
ditto | ||
| greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 6469 Registered: 5-2001  |
Me too, Duncan. Best to your family for a wonderful 2006. | ||
| monster Supporter Username: Monster Post Number: 1784 Registered: 7-2002  |
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| Duncan Supporter Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 5442 Registered: 12-2001 |
2006 is going to be a watershed year. I am, simultaneoulsy scared witless and psyched beyond belief. Lets see how it goes! | ||
| Duncan Supporter Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 5593 Registered: 12-2001 |
I start rehearsals next week for Herb Gardner's A Thousand Clowns. I am playing Murray Burns, a role created by Jason Robard's Jr., and then later played by Judd Hirsch and most recently GULP by Tom Selleck. I get to work with two of my favorite New Jersey actors, Michael Irvin Pollard and Lea Eckert and it should be great fun. I hope some MOL'ers will come. Here is the description from the theater
Theater info here  | ||
| Lucy Supporter Username: Lucy Post Number: 2572 Registered: 5-2005  |
Good Luck and break a leg! I really would like to see the play. | ||
| Duncan Supporter Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 5620 Registered: 12-2001 |
hope you can make it! | ||
| Duncan Supporter Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 5650 Registered: 12-2001 |
I got older yestderday. Weird how on the given day you wonder how you made it this far, or how much farther you have to go, but rarely take the time to celebrate WHERE you are? Its that whole stop and smell the roses thing. Thankfully I was at rehearsal for A Thousand Clowns. And I am always really thankful, as an actor, to be working on my birthday. Now, the day after, I don't feel a whole lot different. Which is nice. I feel, slowly, more vulnerable. Which is good. The older I get, the less I seem to know. Which is also good because it allows an education at the hands of my son. And somehow, by beloved wife, still tolerates me. Cool.  | ||
| Lucy Supporter Username: Lucy Post Number: 2615 Registered: 5-2005 |
Happy Belated Birthday Duncan I hope you had a great day! | ||
| LazyDog Citizen Username: Lazydog Post Number: 135 Registered: 6-2005  |
Duncan, is a Thousand Clowns appropriate for kids ? | ||
| Duncan Supporter Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 5659 Registered: 12-2001 |
Lazy...and anyone else interested in attending. The show is being marketed as appropriate for kids 10 and up. "The truth is always a compound of two half- truths, and you never reach it, because there is always something more to say."-- Tom Stoppard | ||
| wendy Supporter Username: Wendy Post Number: 1978 Registered: 5-2001 |
Duncan, Happy Belated Birthday. A Thousand Clowns was, for many years, my absolute favorite movie. I will make every effort to attend. | ||
| buzzsaw Citizen Username: Buzzsaw Post Number: 3679 Registered: 5-2001 |
What is a good MOL night @ the Morristown theater? | ||
| Duncan Supporter Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 5660 Registered: 12-2001 |
I have no idea. But don't confuse it with the Morristown Theater. It is the Bickford Theater attached to the Morris Museum on Normandy Heights Road. Buzz, if you want to arrange something odds are I could get a good bulk rate for the group. :-) "The truth is always a compound of two half- truths, and you never reach it, because there is always something more to say."-- Tom Stoppard | ||
| Duncan Supporter Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 5661 Registered: 12-2001 |
Though, now that I think about it. The second thursday of the run, Feb. 16th, there is a "talk back" with the "artistic team". So if you all want to come a grill me that would be the night. "The truth is always a compound of two half- truths, and you never reach it, because there is always something more to say."-- Tom Stoppard | ||
| buzzsaw Citizen Username: Buzzsaw Post Number: 3704 Registered: 5-2001 |
Feb 16th. Hmmmmmm. That could be fun - I'll have to think of some great questions. Let me see if I can pull that off. I didn't end up eating any breakfast this weekend anyway. I was getting up at 5am and going back to bed at 10am then skipping lunch and having an early dinner. We'll have to wait until you finish your play to get together for some fine diner food. | ||
| Duncan Supporter Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 5676 Registered: 12-2001 |
My second film, THE READER, the one shot entirely here on locatin in Maplewood was just awarded the Directors Citation by the Black Maria Film Festival. Bust was just shot down at Ashland IFF, but that doesn't really surprise me. If that film is going to find a festival life it will be in urban festivals. But this is nice news about THE READER. So are the 5 distribution deals it has been offered. Nice to have such problems as which deal to take. |
