You’ve committed to craft the third significant American film about pool.
Your challenge -- and isn’t it a fun one? -- is to make all of the creative and otherwise critical decisions necessary to create a blockbuster hit.
So … here’s your opportunity to let the world know what you’re going to do and how you’re going to do it.
The following amateurish suggestions are nothing more than conversation starters -- faint hints, mere whispers to suggest possible courses of action for your consideration.
Of course -- as you would expect and insist -- everything is, ultimately, up to you.
To secure the kind of financing you want -- tons! -- you’re first going to nail down a couple of obvious elements -- scripting and casting.
Some bygone Russian writer once said there are only two stories: someone leaves on a journey or a stranger comes into town. Both are great metaphors for pool players, no?
However, as you well know, every great libretto is, essentially, a love story. So your storyline might want to start with, include, and end with, amore. Up to you.
Casting? Also your call.
You might want to consider a couple of mischievous misfits such as Christopher Walken and Joe Pesci. Each makes many of us feel a bit nervous as he looms into certain scenes. Each is a bit edgy in his own inimitable way. You don’t really want just another pretty boy as your principal actor, do you?
You might also consider spotlighting a quietly sinister villain. Low key, with barely suppressed creepiness occasionally seeping into a scene. Hannibal Lector. Bert Gordon.
The girls?
You know so very well how crucial they will be to the critical and commercial success of your film. Yet, you might want to resist the impulse to decide on a female protagonist, tempting as that may be … pool hall verisimilitude ... that’s the phrase you’re thinking of!
Cameos. Tons of them! And all from the world of pool. Your insider’s nod to the pool cognoscenti.
Fer instance?
Keith, in a reprise.
Niels and Jasmin, obvious reasons. You might want to also consider tossing Stevie into that particular mix of Q-Factor faces. You’ll probably want to fit him with a clip-in extension to bring back his ponytail.
You might decide, for obvious reasons, that you want Efren. While you’re on that particular subject … Francisco. And Dennis. And Jose.
Hmm … is a Filipino subplot emerging?
And authentic color … A Freezer glower. Alex laughing with delight. Karen frowning before she hammers in a 10 ball. Who else? The Black Widow? Earl, festooned with paraphernalia? And barely suppressed rage?
And background chatter … you consider the astonishing talent pool of a few of our elite streaming commentators. You might want to work one or two of them into your film.
Music. You contemplate the atmospherics. Mumblecore a la Leon Redbone?
Or a moody instrumental ... Tom Waits ... perhaps ‘Closing Time?‘
More upbeat? Professor Longhair … his classic, ‘Tipitina?’
Stomping bluegrass for the heartbeat scenes?
Location. Vegas is obvious. And relatively easy. Contemporary and competitive reality suggests including Europe. And Asia. Gorgeous geo-porn.
Commoner appeal? The sheer number of active players in the APA intrigues you from potential ticket-buyer and word-of-mouth perspectives. Could there be a Ken Burns-type of background theme -- a populist meme interwoven into your main story?
Backstory. You’re interested in pool’s gritty history, in its bittersweet heritage, and, most especially, in our poignant living legends.
Hmm … black & white flashbacks? You know that there is some terrific historical footage available. Along with haunting photos.
And the stories … oh my, the stories. You think of the players still around, those yesteryear icons with their twilight interviews, their legacy memories.
My dad suggested, and you’re probably already thinking of, Warren Beatty’s ‘witnesses’ in his award winning ‘Reds.’
Wikipedia: "The most evocative aspect of the presentation is a documentary enhancement – interviews with a number of venerable 'witnesses,' whose recollections of the period help to set the scene, bridge transitions and preserve a touching human perspective," wrote The Washington Post.[6] "More than anything else in Reds, these interviews give the film its poignant point of view and separate it from all other romantic adventure films ever made," wrote New York Times film critic Vincent Canby.[7]
Actual pool content. ‘Hustler’ and ‘Color’ had -- understandably, and appropriately, -- a relatively minor percentage of actual pool table action. You’ll probably decide on a similar ratio for your upcoming film. The main matchups, the cameos, the backstory footage … all of those combined won’t be enough to bore, nor confuse, your general audience.
In the end, more than anything else, you want to make a terrific film.
Auteurism is my life,
Sunny
S. Naturally it would be tempting for you to consider alternative directors. Quentin. The Coen brothers. Each would create an entirely different, and entirely wonderful, kind of film. But, for your immediate consideration, I hope you’ll focus on my dear friend, Marty.
Whom, someday, I hope to meet.
> It’s challenging -- is it not? -- to pen an almost entire post in the second person? Yes, it is arduous. No, it is not insurmountable. Not for someone who is, shall we say, not overburdened with quietude.
Your challenge -- and isn’t it a fun one? -- is to make all of the creative and otherwise critical decisions necessary to create a blockbuster hit.
So … here’s your opportunity to let the world know what you’re going to do and how you’re going to do it.
The following amateurish suggestions are nothing more than conversation starters -- faint hints, mere whispers to suggest possible courses of action for your consideration.
Of course -- as you would expect and insist -- everything is, ultimately, up to you.
To secure the kind of financing you want -- tons! -- you’re first going to nail down a couple of obvious elements -- scripting and casting.
Some bygone Russian writer once said there are only two stories: someone leaves on a journey or a stranger comes into town. Both are great metaphors for pool players, no?
However, as you well know, every great libretto is, essentially, a love story. So your storyline might want to start with, include, and end with, amore. Up to you.
Casting? Also your call.
You might want to consider a couple of mischievous misfits such as Christopher Walken and Joe Pesci. Each makes many of us feel a bit nervous as he looms into certain scenes. Each is a bit edgy in his own inimitable way. You don’t really want just another pretty boy as your principal actor, do you?
You might also consider spotlighting a quietly sinister villain. Low key, with barely suppressed creepiness occasionally seeping into a scene. Hannibal Lector. Bert Gordon.
The girls?
You know so very well how crucial they will be to the critical and commercial success of your film. Yet, you might want to resist the impulse to decide on a female protagonist, tempting as that may be … pool hall verisimilitude ... that’s the phrase you’re thinking of!
Cameos. Tons of them! And all from the world of pool. Your insider’s nod to the pool cognoscenti.
Fer instance?
Keith, in a reprise.
Niels and Jasmin, obvious reasons. You might want to also consider tossing Stevie into that particular mix of Q-Factor faces. You’ll probably want to fit him with a clip-in extension to bring back his ponytail.
You might decide, for obvious reasons, that you want Efren. While you’re on that particular subject … Francisco. And Dennis. And Jose.
Hmm … is a Filipino subplot emerging?
And authentic color … A Freezer glower. Alex laughing with delight. Karen frowning before she hammers in a 10 ball. Who else? The Black Widow? Earl, festooned with paraphernalia? And barely suppressed rage?
And background chatter … you consider the astonishing talent pool of a few of our elite streaming commentators. You might want to work one or two of them into your film.
Music. You contemplate the atmospherics. Mumblecore a la Leon Redbone?
Or a moody instrumental ... Tom Waits ... perhaps ‘Closing Time?‘
More upbeat? Professor Longhair … his classic, ‘Tipitina?’
Stomping bluegrass for the heartbeat scenes?
Location. Vegas is obvious. And relatively easy. Contemporary and competitive reality suggests including Europe. And Asia. Gorgeous geo-porn.
Commoner appeal? The sheer number of active players in the APA intrigues you from potential ticket-buyer and word-of-mouth perspectives. Could there be a Ken Burns-type of background theme -- a populist meme interwoven into your main story?
Backstory. You’re interested in pool’s gritty history, in its bittersweet heritage, and, most especially, in our poignant living legends.
Hmm … black & white flashbacks? You know that there is some terrific historical footage available. Along with haunting photos.
And the stories … oh my, the stories. You think of the players still around, those yesteryear icons with their twilight interviews, their legacy memories.
My dad suggested, and you’re probably already thinking of, Warren Beatty’s ‘witnesses’ in his award winning ‘Reds.’
Wikipedia: "The most evocative aspect of the presentation is a documentary enhancement – interviews with a number of venerable 'witnesses,' whose recollections of the period help to set the scene, bridge transitions and preserve a touching human perspective," wrote The Washington Post.[6] "More than anything else in Reds, these interviews give the film its poignant point of view and separate it from all other romantic adventure films ever made," wrote New York Times film critic Vincent Canby.[7]
Actual pool content. ‘Hustler’ and ‘Color’ had -- understandably, and appropriately, -- a relatively minor percentage of actual pool table action. You’ll probably decide on a similar ratio for your upcoming film. The main matchups, the cameos, the backstory footage … all of those combined won’t be enough to bore, nor confuse, your general audience.
In the end, more than anything else, you want to make a terrific film.
Auteurism is my life,
Sunny
S. Naturally it would be tempting for you to consider alternative directors. Quentin. The Coen brothers. Each would create an entirely different, and entirely wonderful, kind of film. But, for your immediate consideration, I hope you’ll focus on my dear friend, Marty.
Whom, someday, I hope to meet.
> It’s challenging -- is it not? -- to pen an almost entire post in the second person? Yes, it is arduous. No, it is not insurmountable. Not for someone who is, shall we say, not overburdened with quietude.
