October 12, 2008
Yesterday, our daughter Deena joined us for a movie. Went to see Apaloosa and I thought it was good, but not great. Viggo and Ed Harris and Jeremy Irons and Renee were all very good, but it kind of misfired about two thirds of the way through. Oddly inconsistent, but then it got back on track at the end. Speaking of track, I believe the train was done by my good friend Jim Clark (The Trainman) and the horse gear was excellent (also supplied by a friend David C.) and there was an obvious love for the Western by everyone involved, which went a long way towards saving the day. I loved the little details like when Ed Harris is shot up and lying on the ground, Viggo asks what happened, and Ed says, "Everybody could shoot." That was so refreshingly different. We all agreed it was a "good Western." And the really good news is that the theatre was filled solid and I wish I could have handed everyone a True West on the way out. Frankly, I wish I could have handed out a True West magazine at every performance.

We probably should consider creating a trailer type ad for True West and buy as many screens as we can when The Lone Ranger comes out next year, at this point, supposedly starring George Clooney as the Lone Ranger and Johnny Depp as Tonto. That's the kind of tie-in that could really put us on the map in terms of national, break-out exposure. The History Channel hit it out of the park last year with their movie trailer-like promo for "Ice Truckers." Hmmmmmm.

Speaking of the History Channel, I'm flying to New Mexico next weekend to shoot a talking (and walking) head part in an upcoming doc. Sherry Monahan got me the gig (Thanks Sherry!) and evidently my being banished from the History Channel (ironically because of comments on this blog) has been put on hold. Or, maybe it isn't for the History Channel. Ha.

And double irony: we're filming on the same set where they shot most of Apaloosa. I intend to wear my Optimo performance hat with the Roger French customized, braided hat band. Gee, I wonder if Oliver Wendell has anything to say about this?

"Wear a good hat. The secret of good looks lies with the beavers in Canadian brooks."
—Oliver Wendell Holmes, as quoted in the new Billy the Kid: The Best Writings On The Infamous Outlaw, by Harold Dellinger)