DEADWOOD BLOG

The Deadwood BG rides together again.  This time a group of us worked for close to a week on the feature “From Mexico with Love”.  This is a movie set in a small border town in Texas.  It’s about an immigrant boxer from Mexico who crosses the border to ultimately do battle with the local champ.

Deadwood BG were represented by Jesse Wilde, Damon Viola, Bob Wyld, Jim Bratcher, John Ammons, Mark Lawrence, Bert Lanham, and Townswoman Phyllis Avellano.  Rumor has it that there were other Deadwood people there including a couple of crew members who worked for a time at Melody Ranch.

For more about this movie go to their website:
http://www.frommexicowithlove.com/mexico/

Hey Kids…

Get all dolled up this Thursday, Nov 30th for King Straggler at Social on Sunset….

Who? King Straggler
What? An evening of new movements and vintage classics…
When? Thurs, November 30th. 9:00PM.
Where? Social on Sunset~6525 Sunset Blvd
Why? Well, why the hell not?

myspace.com/kingstraggler
kinstraggler.com

WIN BEN STEIN’S COMMENTARY: 

The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on a CBS Sunday
Morning Commentary.

Herewith a few confessions from my beating heart: I have no freaking clue who Nick and Jessica are. I see them on the cover of People and Us constantly when I am buying my dog biscuits and kitty litter. I often ask the checkers at the grocery stores. They never know who Nick and Jessica are either. Who are they? Will it change my life if I know who they are and why they have broken up? Why are they so important?

I don’t know who Lindsay Lohan is either, and I do not care at all about Tom Cruise’s wife. Am I going to be called before a Senate committee and asked if I am a subversive? Maybe, but I just have no clue who Nick and Jessica are. If this is what it means to be no longer young. It’s not so bad.

Next confession: I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees Christmas trees. I don’t feel threatened. I don’t feel discriminated against. That’s what they are: Christmas trees.  It doesn’t bother me a bit when people say, “Merry Christmas” to me. I don’t think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn’t bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu. If people want a creche, it’s just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away. I don’t like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don’t think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians.
 
I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can’t find it in the Constitution, and I don’t like it being shoved down my throat. Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship Nick and Jessica and we aren’t allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that’s a sign that I’m getting old, too.
      
But there are a lot of us who are wondering where Nick and Jessica came from and where the America we knew went to. In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it’s not funny, it’s intended to get you thinking. Billy Graham’s daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her “How could God let something like this Happen?” (regarding Katrina) Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, “I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we’ve been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?”

In light of recent events, terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O’Hare (she was murdered, her body found recently) complained she didn’t want prayer in our schools, and we said OK.  Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school .. the Bible says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK. Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn’t spank our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock’s son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he’s talking about. And we said OK. Now we’re asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don’t know right from wrong, and why it doesn’t bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.

Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with “WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.” Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world’s going to hell.  Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send ‘jokes’ through e-mail and they spread like wildfire but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace. Are you laughing?

Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you’re not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it.  Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us. Pass it on if you think it has merit. If not then just discard it… no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don’t sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in. My Best Regards .. honestly and respectfully,

Ben Stein

Several of Deadwood’s finest recently participated in a still photo project that will ultimately become a children’s picture book.  This project is for a French publishing company in Paris and is entitled “Le Pere Du Tapis” or in English “The Master of the Carpet”.  The story is about the great Jewish Sages.

On hand were Damon Viola, Jesse Wilde, David Jackson, Bob Wyld, Mark McCaw and Craig Patterson.  All were fitted with period Middle Eastern wardrobe for the photo session.  The photos taken will be rendered into original artwork for the book by Marc Lumer of Marc Lumer Design in Los Angeles.  He says he was pleased to have found a great source of “character” types such as the Deadwood BG gang is and indicated he would happily use us again in future projects.

Marc is an accomplished book illustrator.  Prior to starting his own graphic design/illustration company he served as an animator on “The Prince of Egypt” for DreamWorks and a designer for Warner Brothers.  He also has experience in interior design.

Marc Lumer

The UCLA Film School
Checks payable to:
“The UCLA Foundation/Jim Glennon Cinematography Memorial Fund”
Attn: Rosalee Sass
UCLA School of Theater, Film & Television
Box 951622
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1622

–or–

The Cedars Sinai Prostate Cancer Research Institute
Checks payable to:
“Cedars Sinai Medical Center”
PO BOX 48750
Room 2416
Los Angeles, CA 90048
Be sure to note this is in honor of James Glennon for
the prostate cancer research fund. Cedars Sinai will
notify Charmaine, Jim’s wife, of all donations made.

Thank you JLPhotosUSA for a
great collection of Photos and Tributes:
JAMES GLENNON, ASC
Photos | Tributes

Click Here to Check Out the
Amazing Photography of
JOHN LONGENECKER
JL Photos USA

I think C. Virden sent this one.

Butt it’s not Carl.

And

Buckley in PRESTIGE:

Click here for Lord Buckley Jr. Trading Company

…and,

from Mr. Dennis LaFollette:

 I recently talked to my brother, Jim, and he and Linda are doing very well in their new digs in Mesquite. I hope to get over to visit them some time in the not too distant future.
  
  Before Jim left, I had the pleasure of joining him at the Reel Cowboys for breakfast. Karl Virrden, and Sleepy Dave and a couple of our other brothers were there also. It was a fun time and I’m looking forward to going back when I can redeem myself for the poor showing I made as part of the impromtue entertainment. “Back in the Saddle” will never be the same.
  
  My weekends just now are taken up with rehearsals for “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” which goes up at the Lancaster Performing Arts Center November 10, 11, and 12, with yours truly essaying the part of Jacob.
  
  In addition, I’ve landed a small speaking part in a low budget film which will be shot near Mojave in mid November. It is a combination ghost story and morality tale called “A Cabin in Time.” written, produced and directed by Linda Larson of Palmdale. I will play the part of a judge. It is a good opportunity!
  
  I’ve got to say I really miss all the Deadwood deadheads! See you all soon, I hope on some project or other.

Dennis
 

What About Bob?

Is this?

The location for Bob’s Bluff Concert.
Bob is suddenly inspired to write a song about Viagra.
Why Bob can’t build on his new property.

King Straggler info:

Hey kids…

   I’m playing a last minute acoustic show on Thursday, Nov 2nd at 9:00 PM at the Bourgeois Pig. Get there on time as seating is limited. And Brentley is playing again, just around the corner, at Honey, the resturaunt in the Avalon building on Vine, at 8:15 PM. I know some of you might be torn, but if you’re a die-hard fan, you can see Brent then go just around the corner and catch Rodney’s set. Hope you all can make it…

Rodney’s show…

Who? Rodney Eastman
What? A solo acoustic show…
Where? The Bourgeouis Pig, 5931 Franklin Ave. L.A. CA
When? Thursday, Nov 2nd at 9:00 PM Sharp!
Why? You ask why, I ask why not?

Brentley’s show…

Who? Brentley Gore
What? Solo acoustic/piano show
Where? Honey, (in the Avalon Bldg.) 1735 Vine st. L.A. CA
When? Thursday, Nov 2nd at 8:15 Sharp!
Why? For the kids!

Thanks…

Rodney+Brentley
of
King Straggler
www.myspace.com/kingstraggler
www.kingstraggler.com

Happy Halloween

James Glennon

© Douglas Kirkland 

and Tommy Michell 

photo by Gary Sokolowski

Tom was truly one of my closest friends from Deadwood. He has moved on to a brigher horizon but his spirit will live on with his friends from Deadwood.

Gary Sokolowski

Wow, bad news all around. First, I’m sorry to hear about Michell being taken off life support. My heart goes out to his family.
Secondly, two days ago Jim Glennon, one of the Directors of Photography, died of a blood clot dislodging from his leg and entering his heart. He was already in the hospital for reasons unknown to me. I have yet to hear if there will be a service, but when I do, I will post the information.
Take care everyone, and I hope to see you all on set when/if the two DW movies happen. With your guns in the holsters that is.

Manuel Baca (props)

Jim Glennon, who was the cinematographer for the majority of episodes of DEADWOOD, has died, I was informed by a fellow cast member tonight.  He was the son of Bert Glennon, who was the cinematographer on such classics as STAGECOACH, the original TEN COMMANDMENTS, RIO GRANDE, and the original HOUSE OF WAX.  Jim’s own credits include ABOUT SCHMIDT, ELECTION, CITIZEN RUTH, and CARNIVÁLE as director of photography, and as camera operator on ALTERED STATES, THE CONVERSATION, ORDINARY PEOPLE, and TRUE CONFESSIONS.  He was the location DP on RETURN OF THE JEDI.

More importantly, he was an absolutely splendid human being, one of the truest gentlemen it has been my pleasure to know in this business.  He was kind, funny, vastly encouraging, and unfailingly upbeat.  In the four years since I began work on DEADWOOD, I never once recall seeing him without a smile, and he rarely let a take go by without a compliment to someone involved.

There’s nothing wrong with Hollywood that a dozen Jim Glennons wouldn’t cure.

RIP, my friend.

Jim Beaver

http://www.cinematographers.nl/PaginasDoPh/glennon.htm

 http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0322694/

Jackson Bolt will appear in the movie Dead and Deader as the character Reed on the SCIFI channel next month.

He sent some pics.

And

The Silver Spur Awards are this Friday!

Also, for anyone interested in checking out the REEL COWBOYS, they have a website at http://www.reelcowboys.org/ with memebers’ photos and info on how to join them most any Saturday for a little Cowboy Breakfast in the Valley.

Bob Wyld, Mike Dixon and others are members:
Click here to see a few familiar faces. 

and David Newland sends sad news of Tommy Michell:

To The DeadwooD Gang: 

For all of you who remember Tommy Michell, from Deadwood. As of today October 17 the last word I had on him is that, after moving to Arizona to work on a ranch, he apparently got into a conflict with some roughs up at, or near Scottsdale some time before Saturday, and when he came in from the mountains Saturday he went to the hospital with some massive injuries to his face and head. At the hospital they took a look at him and air lifted him to Phoenix, there the doctors decided to operate.  During the opereation something went wrong. He is at the hospital, However he is brain dead. His brother, who lives in Arizona, signed the waver to take him off life support. As of yesterday evening his heart was still beating. Nancy, of Nancy s Tree Farm, here in Santa Clarita, who has been a friend of Tommy s for a long time informed me of the situation. I will pass on any further information as soon as I know anything. 

David Alan Newland (Lilybob)

H.R.H. Crown Prince Richard Buckley has been working as a casino dealer on Ocean’s 13 at the Warner Brothers Lot in Burbank for the past month. He, Stephen Weisbaum, and others have had a great time with the cast which includes Deadwood’s Michael Harney (Steve) as the Blackjack Pit Boss. And Elliot Gould, a fan of Richard’s father, introduced Buck to George Clooney which has made the experience a lot of fun. 

Click here for a little “What’s Up!” with Buck

Click here for Lord Buckley Jr. Trading Company

and from The Camp Giant:

Big Tom Stiver sent the following info and photos: He recently worked background in a Golden Corral commercial,

 and in a History Channel Decoding the Past segment as John the Evangelist, 

and in Mitch Toles’ “Pirates of Ghost Island.”

Directed by Mitch Toles

And Mitch emailed: Also David Vallaire gets his eyes sucked out in my new movie, Pirates of Ghost Island.

Mitch Toles stars as Pirate Death in Curse of Pirate Death coming out on DVD in a few months.

and from King Straggler 

Hey Kids…

   It’s been a while…But the Straggs are back in action! We’ll be appearing on Thursday, October 5th at Social on Sunset. This show will kick off a series of live appearances on Thursdays for David Schneider, Sean Patrick and David Heath’s production company. It’s a special show, we’ll be playing some great covers from the 80’s and 90’s along with our own material. Should be fun! And most important, dress to impress! Ladies and Gents, get all dolled up, put on your Suday best for a fabulous Thursday night out in Hollywood…

Who? King Straggler
What? Live, an evening of new movements and vintage classics.
Where? Social on Sunset. 6525 Sunset Blvd.
When? Thursday, Oct. 5th. 9:00 PM SHARP!
Why? For the kids! It’s all for the kids…

Thanks…

King Straggler

myspace.com/kingstraggler
www.kingstraggler.com

and…

This Saturday Night, October 7th, at 8pm:

Deadwood Night at the Knitting Factory

Knitting Factory Hollywood Presents

Deadwood Night Featuring
Sacred Cowboys & Brigette DeMeyer

Saturday, October 7th, 8:00pm

and lastly,

Check out the MLB Division, League and World Series here:

Major League Baseball : The Official Site

late entry…

Mark McCaw emails:

Hey Everyone,

Hope you are all well. I have had a good time the last 6 weeks: first the team that I am on went to the Bonneville Salt Flats located in Utah, in the middle of August, and we got our driver in the 200MPH club and the 300MPH club. We went in the high 200’s in the gas class and then we ran on fuel at 325 MPH–not bad for a little 4cyl GM engine. George Poteet is our driver and is very well known in the hot rod circuit. Then on the 16th of September, my wife surprised me with a 60th birthday party with about 110 of my good friends - including Marilyn Monroe. I tried to take her home, but the wife said “no way,” so she got the final word. Then I returned to Bonneville at the end of September and we set a new international record with the car at 326MPH.  Also, Steve Fossett, the famous around the world hot air balloonist, flew in and took our car on three runs down the salt not to shabby either: first run at 229, second run at 256, and the last run at 298MPH. Not bad for the first time behind the wheel.

Good luck to all you guys and hope to see ya all soon,
Mark,,,,, Schitz..

and Leah sends:

Volunteers Needed: Red Carpet Event Fiday Night Hollywood.

Hello everybody,

The red carpet event is this Friday night, October 6th. They are looking for volunteers to assist with the event which will be honoring George Lucas, Harrison Ford and Jane Goodall. All three guests are confirmed. James Cameron, director of “Titanic,” is also a confirmed guest. The entire evening will be hosted by Malcolm Macdowell, star of “A Clockwork Orange.” Also at the event will be the Delorian from “Back to the Future.”

This red carpet event is taking place at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. This is the venue for the Emmys, Grammys, SAG Awards, American Music Awards and countless other top-name shows.

Friday night’s awards ceremony is the launch event of the Jules Verne Adventure Film Festival in Los Angeles. This is the first year that the festival is in Los Angeles. Previously, the festival has been based out of Paris for fifteen years. This is an excellent opportunity to get in on the ground floor of the LA version of this festival which is sure to be one of Hollywood’s largest, most prestigious film festivals.

If you are interested in being an integral part of this amazing festival please contact:

Brandon Deah at 213-741-8497
http://www.adventure-festival.com

Serious inquiries only please.

Thank you!
Leah

Damon Viola emails: 

Recently I played the character “Big Al” in a movie called “Retribution” shot in Reno Nevada.

Here are some pictures from the shoot and the movie poster

Synopsis: Faced with his ruined life, Jake Solomon seeks revenge on the one person he holds responsible…only to find himself face to face with the “demons” from his past, in this Twilight Zone-esque dramatic-thriller.

http://www.gammauniverse.com/gammaFilms/retribution.html

Hey all,

Brian Duff, Editorial Assistant at FILMINK Magazine (Australia), emailed:  We have featured Timothy Olyphant prominently in our October issue, out now.

The issue is available internationally through their website www.filmink.com.au.