RIP Elliott Kastner - You Will Be Missed.

Elliott Kastner was awesome. I got to meet him once; and it was only ten months ago. I had a meeting set up with a producer who had discovered my work, enjoyed it, and invited me to his office for a chat. That same day, he was meeting with Elliott. And luckily for me, he introduced us.

I was prepared to do my quiet-shy-anti-networking-thing of saying "Hi" awkwardly, before shuffling off - but Mark, the producer I was meeting with - went on to tell Elliott all about my work and what I'd been up to. "Well sit down," said Kastner enthusiastically. And then he dropped the question; "what are you working on?". He said it in a professional way; which was kind and welcoming but also, kind of fierce and challenging. I sat there, frozen. Fuck, I'm so crap at this stuff. I eventually rambled a bit about what I do. The voice in my head was reminding me of his incredible experience and filmography, making me feel more and more inferior by the second.

But the great thing about Kastner was how enthusiastic he was. He managed to veer from me, to Mark, to his ideas, to tales from his producing career; and did it in a way that was extremely natural - and extremely riveting. I briefly mentioned a film idea I'd been working on. He listened, he said "that's interesting," (it wasn't, I will ill-prepared), and then he said "You know, I've always wanted to do a film, where Tom Hanks and Johnny Depp meet at a Dental convention in Las Vegas. That would be interesting." He went on to share some humorous thoughts and ideas. I liked them all. "If you write something like that, I could do something with it," he said.

Before I had a chance to process the thought; he and Mark were bantering back and forth, and I was completely in awe of Kastner. Film Producers come in all shapes and sizes, but Elliott really looked and sounded like a film producer. He was approaching 80 at the time, but was still incredibly energetic and enthused.

I wish I could remember the exact content of the things we talked about, but I don't. I do remember him sharing a very funny and fascinating story about Peter Sellers. I would write out the story, but it wouldn't do it justice. It wouldn't have the Kastner touch. I don't know what the Kastner touch is, after all, I only met the man once. But seeing what people have been writing about him today, it seems that his touch was something that inspired a lot of people. He will be missed.

Elliott Kastner died on June 30th, aged 80, after a long fight with cancer. He produced "Where Eagles Dare," "Angel Heart," "The Big Sleep," and countless others. Stealing shamelessly from Wikipedia, here's some names he worked with: Paul Newman; Frank Sinatra; Elizabeth Taylor; Warren Beatty; Clint Eastwood; James Mason; Michael Caine; Peter Sellers; Robert Shaw; Pierce Brosnan; Jack Nicholson; Robert de Niro; Mickey Rourke and Jeff Bridges.

Elliott Kastner on Wikipedia

Elliott Kastner on IMDB

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And that's all I have to say about that.

I'm blogged out.Stay out of trouble.

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My Friends.

My friend Ally Mcbeal is waiting for me somewhere in the middle of season three, just before Billy dies but just as John Cage is getting really funny. John Cage is great. We've been hanging out for over ten years now yet we see still each other a lot. Not every day, but often intensely for a few weeks at a time.

I don't see my old friends Phoebe, Joey, Ross, Rachel, Chandler & Monica very often, I've kinda outgrown them - but I pop in to see them every now and again.

I still keep in regular contact with Frasier and Niles. How could I not? They're two of my closest friends. It's weird because I thought I'd have outgrown Dawson and Joey by now but I haven't, I still spend a lot of time with them. It's a bit like Ally Mcbeal, I won't see her for months and then I'll spend a lot of time with her.

Right now, I'm spending time with Ari Gold and Vinny Chase, occasionally visiting Victor Meldrew and I even saw Basil Fawlty recently. I haven't seen the Trotters in a good few years, maybe I should pay them a visit.

I long to see Sam Seaborn, Jed Bartlet and Josh Lyman, they're some of my closest friends. The problem is, when we hang out-- we hang out for hours and hours and hours for nights on end, they never let me sleep, and we talk about such big issues! Even though a part of me resists, I will definitely see them soon. I miss them.

The thing you all need to realise, is that all the people I've mentioned, are some of my very best friends. They have provided me with years of wisdom, companionship and laughs. And I am forever grateful - I would be a different person without them.

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'Benda Bilili!' Documentary, MUST-SEE!!!

I'm not sure where or when you're going to be able to see it, but if you EVER get the chance, then you really MUST. 'Benda Bilini' is one of the most inspiring documentaries I've ever seen. It's about a group of mostly disabled Congolese musicans who; in the midst of abject poverty, crime & corruption in the heart of the Congo; manage to keep going by being creative and following what they believe and know to be their destiny: that they will be known as the world's greatest disabled band.

The music is INCREDIBLE, the camaraderie of the band is INCREDIBLE, the strength and resolve of the Congolese is INCREDIBLE. These are guys who've spent most of their lives sleeping outdoors on cardboard boxes. They would spend their days in a center for disabled people and when that place got burned down, they carried on as normal, because it's part of life in the Congo. These musicians literally had NOTHING, except each other and their instruments-- instruments that were often broken, or custom-made/invented by themselves. With passion, hope, and some help from French filmmaker Renaud Barret and a record company, they went on to record their inspired music, and then take it on tour to Paris, and then this year--- around the World.

I cannot really explain what is great about this documentary and what it meant to me, I don't have the words; I can only recommend you see it. On the one hand, it makes you realize how difficult life in the Congo really is, it makes you realize just how privileged we are. But on the other hand, you realize, Staff Benda Bilini don't want our sympathy, they just want us to hear their music, to appreciate their remarkable talent, and we really should.

Below is a YouTube video of one of Benda Bilini's songs-- unfortunately, there's not a great deal of them on the net, at least; not with subtitles. You can appreciate their talent without knowing the lyrics, but seeing them adds something because you get to see the depth of what they're singing about. Luckily, all the songs in the documentary 'Benda Bilini!' are subtitled.

The film is being released in France in September, and hopefully in the rest of the world soon after. I write this today not expecting that you'll see the documentary in your multiplex any time soon, but just in case you do, or if you see a band called 'Staff Benda Bilini' touring near you- then you should check them out. These are a group of people who have had tough, tough lives; living in poverty, with no money, on the streets, for pretty much their whole lives. But rather than bitterness, anger and resentment; they come at us instead with beautiful music. Inspirational in the extreme.

"My instrument is made from a tin can that held fish, and one single guitar string, and some wood. There's nothing else."
-Roger Landu

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Film Career FAQ.

Last month, I wrote a list of questions (with some help from you guys) that keep popping up from friends/family/locals passing by/strangers/internet people/career advisors/teachers/pets/priests. All of these people, in fact nearly everyone you meet, happens to have many fascinating questions to ask about what we do for a living. It's very nice of them to show so much interest. Of course, as we're quite busy acting/directing/writing, etc-- we often don't find the time to work on the correct answers. I've put some answers together, that you can refer back to whenever you need.


So what do you do exactly?

I work hard every single day to follow my dreams, to develop myself to be the very best I can be. What do you do?

Are you sure you are what the industry is looking for?

No, that's what's so exciting about it! I have no idea!

Did you hear about that guy who made a film for $1 and got into Cannes? Have you thought of doing that?

I heard about it, that's amazing. There's also a guy who made a film for $50million and didn't get into Cannes, I'd like to do that as well!

Any progress with your films yet?

Every day I'm progressing, even on the days it's going horribly wrong! I had no idea you were interested in progress-- what can you teach me about it?

Are you famous yet?

I hope not!

Why are you still working here?

It's helping me support the career that I am so outrageously, crazily, obsessively in love with. Is that why you're still here too?

Do you want to hear my idea about a a Sci-Fi film about the devil and death and life and vampires and good versus evil where the devil plays chess and did you know my idea is totally amazing and original?

Sure! Write out a full treatment and email it to me, great.

Are you talented enough?

Definitely.

It's been a year already and you're not famous yet, shouldn't you consider a career change?

You're so good at these questions, maybe you could be a journalist!

Oh you're an actor? I know a girl who is an actor and she's only been able to get a Herpes commercial so far?

Cool. At least she didn't get Herpes.

You do know that hundreds of women try out for those parts, right?

Oh no, really!? I thought it was just me! Now I know those rejections aren't so personal!

Have you ever thought about making a film that people actually want to watch?

You mean, like a Transformers movie? I'll give it a go, if you want.

Have I seen you in anything?

I've been fortunate enough so far to do great work that hasn't been big, international stuff. I'm worried that one day I might be 'a star', then I'd have to deal with all the stuff that comes with it!

You know that EVERYONE wants to direct features, right?

Wow, I didn't know. But that's great! Maybe they'll start making much better films than we have at the moment.

Are you still trying to make films?

I like that you use the word trying. I always forget how much I try. What a great quality! Thank you for reminding me, that was really kind of you.

And how old are you again?

I'm [age]. And judging by your question, you're 96.

Why don't you get a real job?

Let me tell you a secret. This job is the greatest thing in the world. Whether it's real or not, I don't know. I mean, you seem to know. But even if it's not real, it's still the greatest in the world!

Are you rich yet?

I met five wonderful actors last week. I worked with a truly inspirational production designer the week before, and yesterday I spent the evening watching a life-altering play. So, yes, I am very rich, in many wonderful ways!!

[To an actor] So that means you make a living at lying, right?

Whatever my answer, how do you know I'm telling the truth?

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