6 members (Gary E. Andrews, couchgrouch, maccharles, Andy K, Guy E. Trepanier, 1 invisible),
1,869
guests, and
131
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
Welcome to the Just Plain Folks forums! You are currently viewing our forums as a Guest which gives you limited access to most of our discussions and to other features.
By joining our free community you will have access to post and respond to topics, communicate privately with our users (PM), respond to polls, upload content, and access many other features. Registration is fast, simple, and absolutely free; so please join our community today!
|
|
|
Bad Plus
by Gary E. Andrews - 05/28/23 09:27 PM
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Future Me
by Gary E. Andrews - 05/28/23 08:28 AM
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dzidzor
by Gary E. Andrews - 05/28/23 07:36 AM
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Copyright
by Brian Austin Whitney - 05/27/23 06:19 AM
|
|
|
Catalaya
by John Voorpostel - 05/26/23 08:02 PM
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 20
Casual Observer
|
Casual Observer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 20 |
Brian - Sorry for the long radio silence. I've been busy promoting my second novel CAPTAIN NOBODY and just spent the month of November in New York in rehearsals for a reading of a stage musical. Back home, back to work on my next novel (no title yet), and very pleased to see that people are still reading and responding kindly to the interview that you and I did almost a year ago! I'm thrilled that you survived your own JPF Awards process... it sounded epic! Happy holidays.... Warmly, Dean
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 19,545 Likes: 9
Top 10 Poster
|
OP
Top 10 Poster
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 19,545 Likes: 9 |
Congrats again this year Dean for your Grammy nomination for your new project Captain Nobody! Your success just keeps rolling along! We're all thrilled to live vicariously through the success of a good friend and you've been great about bringing us all along for a peak!
Brian
Brian Austin Whitney Founder Just Plain Folks jpfolkspro@gmail.com Skype: Brian Austin Whitney Facebook: www.facebook.com/justplainfolks"Don't sit around and wait for success to come to you... it doesn't know the way." -Brian Austin Whitney "It's easier to be the bigger man when you actually are..." -Brian Austin Whitney "Sometimes all you have to do to inspire humans to greatness is to give them a reason and opportunity to do something great." -Brian Austin Whitney
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 19,545 Likes: 9
Top 10 Poster
|
OP
Top 10 Poster
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 19,545 Likes: 9 |
There's been some questions about co-writing on another post and I think this interview addresses them from someone who obviously knows how it works at the very highest levels of success in the industry. Give it a read, there's lots of great info.
Brian
Brian Austin Whitney Founder Just Plain Folks jpfolkspro@gmail.com Skype: Brian Austin Whitney Facebook: www.facebook.com/justplainfolks"Don't sit around and wait for success to come to you... it doesn't know the way." -Brian Austin Whitney "It's easier to be the bigger man when you actually are..." -Brian Austin Whitney "Sometimes all you have to do to inspire humans to greatness is to give them a reason and opportunity to do something great." -Brian Austin Whitney
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 6,114
Top 40 Poster
|
Top 40 Poster
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 6,114 |
Thanks for insisting on the read Brian. I'm working on it. It's a long read.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,710
Top 100 Poster
|
Top 100 Poster
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,710 |
Brian, Thanks for posting the interview. It was fascinating reading. Frankly, I had never heard of this guy (which says more about me than him), though I had heard of both "Fame" and "Footloose." He's led an interesting life and his successes in the entertainment business speak for themselves. Seems like a nice fellow, also.
Keep up the good work.
Last edited by Dan Sullivan; 07/19/10 08:54 PM.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 19,545 Likes: 9
Top 10 Poster
|
OP
Top 10 Poster
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 19,545 Likes: 9 |
Dan,
That's alwaya been the unfortunate truth about people who write and create. They usually do it in the dark, behind the scenes and far from the spotlight and hoopla. But for many, they also get paid. In music, I'd much rather be a writer with 10 successful hits than the artist performing them with no writing credits. If you have a choice between fame and money, choose the money. You can have a much better life of your own choosing without spending it being told what to do by multi-national corporations every day. Dean is someone I look up to as a perfect role model for a creative person. Most people would be thrilled with any 1 of his areas of success. I'd be happy with simply having the freedom to enjoy attempting all the areas he's been a smashing success even if I never made a dime at it. To get both sides (success and creative freedom) has to be a surreal existance for mere mortals. Dean is clearly operating on a wildly different level than most of us could even imagine.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Brian
Brian Austin Whitney Founder Just Plain Folks jpfolkspro@gmail.com Skype: Brian Austin Whitney Facebook: www.facebook.com/justplainfolks"Don't sit around and wait for success to come to you... it doesn't know the way." -Brian Austin Whitney "It's easier to be the bigger man when you actually are..." -Brian Austin Whitney "Sometimes all you have to do to inspire humans to greatness is to give them a reason and opportunity to do something great." -Brian Austin Whitney
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 19,545 Likes: 9
Top 10 Poster
|
OP
Top 10 Poster
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 19,545 Likes: 9 |
I thought I would bump this post for those who are new and might have missed it. It's a great read!
Brian
Brian Austin Whitney Founder Just Plain Folks jpfolkspro@gmail.com Skype: Brian Austin Whitney Facebook: www.facebook.com/justplainfolks"Don't sit around and wait for success to come to you... it doesn't know the way." -Brian Austin Whitney "It's easier to be the bigger man when you actually are..." -Brian Austin Whitney "Sometimes all you have to do to inspire humans to greatness is to give them a reason and opportunity to do something great." -Brian Austin Whitney
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 19,545 Likes: 9
Top 10 Poster
|
OP
Top 10 Poster
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 19,545 Likes: 9 |
Hi Folks,
Just testing some posts out to make sure they are running properly again after some site maintenance.
Thanks,
Brian
Brian Austin Whitney Founder Just Plain Folks jpfolkspro@gmail.com Skype: Brian Austin Whitney Facebook: www.facebook.com/justplainfolks"Don't sit around and wait for success to come to you... it doesn't know the way." -Brian Austin Whitney "It's easier to be the bigger man when you actually are..." -Brian Austin Whitney "Sometimes all you have to do to inspire humans to greatness is to give them a reason and opportunity to do something great." -Brian Austin Whitney
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 4,001
Top 100 Poster
|
Top 100 Poster
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 4,001 |
I saw the remake of Footloose this evening.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 8,574
JPF Mentor
|
JPF Mentor
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 8,574 |
I saw the remake of Footloose this evening. Tantalist!
You've got to know your limitations. I don't know what your limitations are. I found out what mine were when I was twelve. I found out that there weren't too many limitations, if I did it my way. -Johnny Cash It's only music. -niteshift Mike Dunbar Music
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 19,545 Likes: 9
Top 10 Poster
|
OP
Top 10 Poster
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 19,545 Likes: 9 |
I wonder how much of Dean's script and music they saved? The more they used, the better the movie would have been. The range of songs he wrote for that film are breathtaking. All those hits in different styles and different artists and all big hits and some have become inextricable tied to that era of life for anyone coming of age back then (as I was).
Dean has been such an iconic creator and his fingerprints are far more present in our lives than most people will ever realize.
Brian
Brian Austin Whitney Founder Just Plain Folks jpfolkspro@gmail.com Skype: Brian Austin Whitney Facebook: www.facebook.com/justplainfolks"Don't sit around and wait for success to come to you... it doesn't know the way." -Brian Austin Whitney "It's easier to be the bigger man when you actually are..." -Brian Austin Whitney "Sometimes all you have to do to inspire humans to greatness is to give them a reason and opportunity to do something great." -Brian Austin Whitney
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 4,001
Top 100 Poster
|
Top 100 Poster
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 4,001 |
Same town, mostly the same characters in terms of the names. Entirely different in premise and the angle wasn't the same. Most of the music was the same songs, some of them the originals, some of them covers. One or two new songs.
THE Best part of the movie was the unveiling of what looked like the original yellow VW bug from the original movie.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 19,545 Likes: 9
Top 10 Poster
|
OP
Top 10 Poster
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 19,545 Likes: 9 |
Haven't heard from Dean on what he thought of it all. Will be interesting to hear, but it seems odd they'd change the premise and story but keep the music and character names. I realize Footloose is a huge brand name to launch a movie with, but beyond that, wouldn't people be disappointed in not getting an updated version of the movie they thought worth re-doing?
Hollywood seems much worse than the music industry when it comes to this type of thing.
Brian
Brian Austin Whitney Founder Just Plain Folks jpfolkspro@gmail.com Skype: Brian Austin Whitney Facebook: www.facebook.com/justplainfolks"Don't sit around and wait for success to come to you... it doesn't know the way." -Brian Austin Whitney "It's easier to be the bigger man when you actually are..." -Brian Austin Whitney "Sometimes all you have to do to inspire humans to greatness is to give them a reason and opportunity to do something great." -Brian Austin Whitney
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 4,001
Top 100 Poster
|
Top 100 Poster
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 4,001 |
It's got similar arc. They use a vast majority of the original story. They even use a lot of the same lines.
Somehow the magic didn't translate.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1
Casual Observer
|
Casual Observer
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1 |
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 19,545 Likes: 9
Top 10 Poster
|
OP
Top 10 Poster
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 19,545 Likes: 9 |
Hopefully Dean will stop in and say hi and update us on what he's working on these days!
Brian
Brian Austin Whitney Founder Just Plain Folks jpfolkspro@gmail.com Skype: Brian Austin Whitney Facebook: www.facebook.com/justplainfolks"Don't sit around and wait for success to come to you... it doesn't know the way." -Brian Austin Whitney "It's easier to be the bigger man when you actually are..." -Brian Austin Whitney "Sometimes all you have to do to inspire humans to greatness is to give them a reason and opportunity to do something great." -Brian Austin Whitney
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 781
Top 500 Poster
|
Top 500 Poster
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 781 |
Brian,
This is such a Wonderful and inspiring read! It's just want I wanted today! Dean's journey just boggles the mind. This is a story that everyone with a goal and dream in mind can take something very valuable from and apply to their own journey! Thanks for this.-Dana
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 19,545 Likes: 9
Top 10 Poster
|
OP
Top 10 Poster
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 19,545 Likes: 9 |
Dana,
Glad you got a chance to read it. It's why I have left it up here. It really is such an amazing story of just DOING what you love instead of talking about it. Put yourself in position to succeed, rather than always and endlessly finding new ways to get ready to succeed.
I hope some others will follow suit who haven't spent the enjoyable time reading through one great musical success story. (And by the way, he hasn't slowed down since this interview. He's still at it, ever expanding his legacy and the passion for what he does. You may say few have his talent, but I say the real issue is that few have his courage and work ethic!).
Brian
Brian Austin Whitney Founder Just Plain Folks jpfolkspro@gmail.com Skype: Brian Austin Whitney Facebook: www.facebook.com/justplainfolks"Don't sit around and wait for success to come to you... it doesn't know the way." -Brian Austin Whitney "It's easier to be the bigger man when you actually are..." -Brian Austin Whitney "Sometimes all you have to do to inspire humans to greatness is to give them a reason and opportunity to do something great." -Brian Austin Whitney
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 781
Top 500 Poster
|
Top 500 Poster
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 781 |
Hi Brian,
This story inspires me because no matter how old you are, it shows that the only limits we have are the ones we place on ourselves. I love the idea of putting yourself in positions to succeed!
I would love to hear your ideas on how to put yourself in those positions:)This idea brings Action into play,which is key to any Success.
About a month ago, I was wondering "How do I regain that innocence" I had about Songwriting, "How do I capture" that passion I had before reality got in the way lol. Well, I've had a break-through!
I came across a random website that allows you to lease tracks for demo purposes,and found a producer's work that fits so perfectly with my writing style!
This has taken me to a new amazing level of Songwriting. I have so far written over 20 songs to his tracks, and I am so Amazed that that passion is back!
I'm currently working on getting them demoed and it's really exciting to see myself growing by leaps and bounds and this story adds to that fuel and makes me want this more than when I first started out! So Thanks again!-Dana
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 19,545 Likes: 9
Top 10 Poster
|
OP
Top 10 Poster
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 19,545 Likes: 9 |
Dana,
Good for you! Anything that can get you fired up is a great thing. There's no question that for most of the folks with enough talent to appeal to large masses, those juices sort of dry up over time. Very few can truly sustain it. That's why I think going for a small niche fan base who "gets" you and serving them closely and personally while you share all your stuff and get it out in the world as often as possible, you'll get a little of that fire back. Too many people wait for perfection instead of just going with inspiration in whatever crazy direction it takes them!
Continued success!
Brian
Brian Austin Whitney Founder Just Plain Folks jpfolkspro@gmail.com Skype: Brian Austin Whitney Facebook: www.facebook.com/justplainfolks"Don't sit around and wait for success to come to you... it doesn't know the way." -Brian Austin Whitney "It's easier to be the bigger man when you actually are..." -Brian Austin Whitney "Sometimes all you have to do to inspire humans to greatness is to give them a reason and opportunity to do something great." -Brian Austin Whitney
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 19,545 Likes: 9
Top 10 Poster
|
OP
Top 10 Poster
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 19,545 Likes: 9 |
This is just a note to let new members know this is a great post to read and learn from, especially if you are a lyricist like Dean. He's a perfect example for you all to follow.
Brian
Brian Austin Whitney Founder Just Plain Folks jpfolkspro@gmail.com Skype: Brian Austin Whitney Facebook: www.facebook.com/justplainfolks"Don't sit around and wait for success to come to you... it doesn't know the way." -Brian Austin Whitney "It's easier to be the bigger man when you actually are..." -Brian Austin Whitney "Sometimes all you have to do to inspire humans to greatness is to give them a reason and opportunity to do something great." -Brian Austin Whitney
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 19,545 Likes: 9
Top 10 Poster
|
OP
Top 10 Poster
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 19,545 Likes: 9 |
It was great hearing back to back songs by Dean on American Idol last week. Let's Hear It For The Boy and Footloose.
A good week for a songwriter!
Brian Austin Whitney Founder Just Plain Folks jpfolkspro@gmail.com Skype: Brian Austin Whitney Facebook: www.facebook.com/justplainfolks"Don't sit around and wait for success to come to you... it doesn't know the way." -Brian Austin Whitney "It's easier to be the bigger man when you actually are..." -Brian Austin Whitney "Sometimes all you have to do to inspire humans to greatness is to give them a reason and opportunity to do something great." -Brian Austin Whitney
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,827
Top 50 Poster
|
Top 50 Poster
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,827 |
Amen !  cheers, niteshift
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 19,545 Likes: 9
Top 10 Poster
|
OP
Top 10 Poster
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 19,545 Likes: 9 |
I need to check in with Dean and see what he's up to. If anyone hasn't read this interview yet, give it a look, it's really interesting and I think you'll agree.
Brian Austin Whitney Founder Just Plain Folks jpfolkspro@gmail.com Skype: Brian Austin Whitney Facebook: www.facebook.com/justplainfolks"Don't sit around and wait for success to come to you... it doesn't know the way." -Brian Austin Whitney "It's easier to be the bigger man when you actually are..." -Brian Austin Whitney "Sometimes all you have to do to inspire humans to greatness is to give them a reason and opportunity to do something great." -Brian Austin Whitney
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 19,545 Likes: 9
Top 10 Poster
|
OP
Top 10 Poster
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 19,545 Likes: 9 |
If anyone new hasn't read this, it is a great article about going for your dreams with success! Give the first two posts a read!
Brian Austin Whitney Founder Just Plain Folks jpfolkspro@gmail.com Skype: Brian Austin Whitney Facebook: www.facebook.com/justplainfolks"Don't sit around and wait for success to come to you... it doesn't know the way." -Brian Austin Whitney "It's easier to be the bigger man when you actually are..." -Brian Austin Whitney "Sometimes all you have to do to inspire humans to greatness is to give them a reason and opportunity to do something great." -Brian Austin Whitney
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 19,545 Likes: 9
Top 10 Poster
|
OP
Top 10 Poster
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 19,545 Likes: 9 |
I just noticed how many people have read this... amazing!
Brian Austin Whitney Founder Just Plain Folks jpfolkspro@gmail.com Skype: Brian Austin Whitney Facebook: www.facebook.com/justplainfolks"Don't sit around and wait for success to come to you... it doesn't know the way." -Brian Austin Whitney "It's easier to be the bigger man when you actually are..." -Brian Austin Whitney "Sometimes all you have to do to inspire humans to greatness is to give them a reason and opportunity to do something great." -Brian Austin Whitney
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 359
Top 500 Poster
|
Top 500 Poster
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 359 |
Ya think Pitchford is his real name or some people are just destined by name?
Last edited by RonnieDean; 05/28/18 12:36 PM.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 19,545 Likes: 9
Top 10 Poster
|
OP
Top 10 Poster
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 19,545 Likes: 9 |
It's his real name... good guy... he used to post here but got too busy and he's gone quiet.
Brian Austin Whitney Founder Just Plain Folks jpfolkspro@gmail.com Skype: Brian Austin Whitney Facebook: www.facebook.com/justplainfolks"Don't sit around and wait for success to come to you... it doesn't know the way." -Brian Austin Whitney "It's easier to be the bigger man when you actually are..." -Brian Austin Whitney "Sometimes all you have to do to inspire humans to greatness is to give them a reason and opportunity to do something great." -Brian Austin Whitney
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 1
Casual Observer
|
Casual Observer
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 1 |
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 1
Casual Observer
|
Casual Observer
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 1 |
I found your links so useful, thanks lot's of interesting information
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 1
Casual Observer
|
Casual Observer
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 1 |
Ya think Pitchford is his real name or some people are just destined by name? I see you're going by that old one "nomen est omen." haha
Last edited by PatrickG; 01/26/19 07:56 AM.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 19,545 Likes: 9
Top 10 Poster
|
OP
Top 10 Poster
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 19,545 Likes: 9 |
Ya think Pitchford is his real name or some people are just destined by name? I see you're going by that old one "nomen est omen." haha I am not sure I follow?
Brian Austin Whitney Founder Just Plain Folks jpfolkspro@gmail.com Skype: Brian Austin Whitney Facebook: www.facebook.com/justplainfolks"Don't sit around and wait for success to come to you... it doesn't know the way." -Brian Austin Whitney "It's easier to be the bigger man when you actually are..." -Brian Austin Whitney "Sometimes all you have to do to inspire humans to greatness is to give them a reason and opportunity to do something great." -Brian Austin Whitney
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 1
Casual Observer
|
Casual Observer
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 1 |
DEAN: It’s impossible to get that. If you look at the end crawl on a motion picture, the very last frame that comes up -- if you can freeze frame it and look at it -- is says. “For the purposes of copyright Paramount Pictures or Sony Pictures or whomever is the author of this screenplay. Unlike my novels to which I own the copyrights, anybody who writes work-for-hire for a motion picture company doesn’t own the underlying rights. They get credited, they get royalties, they get paid their fees, they get DVD’s royalties and royalties for broadcast on television, etc. They get all those things, but, for the purposes of copyright the studio is the author of the screenplay. If, on the other hand, I wrote Harry Potter, and a studio buys my book of Harry Potter and then I would have more control, because the underlying property doesn’t not belong to them…
BRIAN: Because it’s an adapted screenplay….
DEAN: Exactly. The screenplay could be copyrighted by the studio, but the underlying story could not. In the case of ‘Footloose,’ they acquired underlying rights when they bought my screenplay, because there was no previously existing story.
BRIAN: So if you’d written ‘Footloose,’ the novel, then you might still have a piece of it?
DEAN: Exactly.
BRIAN: You had one project that you weren’t very happy with and that was the movie ‘Sing.’ Since we’ve talked about your triumphs, tell me about this one case where things didn’t go as well.
DEAN: It’s basically ‘High School Musical.’ The high schools in Brooklyn since the late 40’s have had an ongoing tradition where the Sophomore, Junior and Senior classes write and build and stage their own musicals, and then they compete. Then the winners from each school to go an inter-borough competition, and perform their shows, hoping to win the championship of Brooklyn. And over the years many many many big stars have worked on Sings. Art Garfunkle and Paul Simon and Barbra Streisand and Neil Simon and so many talented artists who went to school in Brooklyn did Sing in high school. So it’s a very emotional tradition with them.
I was approach about doing a movie about the Sing competition. I wrote any number of drafts and went through any number of studio ups and downs. I wished that I were smarter about these things than I was, but it was only my second movie. What I found over the years is that a lot of people -- especially studio heads, especially at that time -- they had the idea that, ‘Oh, those teenagers will buy anything. Make it loud, make it flashy, and they’ll go to it.’
When Alan Parker made ‘Fame,’ the studio didn’t interfere with him. He shot it in New York, away from their prying eyes, and he turned out a very intricate, beautifully shot, quite dark piece. And what made it such a spectacular success was that it didn’t trivialize the experience of being a teenager.
Neither did ‘Footloose.’ I worked with Herbert Ross who by that time was in his 60’s had directed or co-directed ‘Funny Girl’ and ‘Funny Lady’ and so many Neil Simon movies. And Herbert came to that material with a great deal of seriousness and a great affection for the characters.
BRIAN: That’s true, John Lithgow could have easily have been a caricature and he never was.
DEAN: No. That was the big saving grace. John Lithgow brought to this part a great deal of humanity.
But when we did ‘Sing,’ there was this attitude prevalent that all you need to do is give the kids a beat and they’ll line up. That was sort of the studio mentality that drove ‘Sing’ off the rails. It was cast wrong, it was directed wrong, I wrote it wrong, I just kept getting broader and broader to accommodate what I was hearing everybody asking for and it ended up being a kind of a caricature of a teen movie.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 19,545 Likes: 9
Top 10 Poster
|
OP
Top 10 Poster
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 19,545 Likes: 9 |
DEAN: It’s impossible to get that. If you look at the end crawl on a motion picture, the very last frame that comes up -- if you can freeze frame it and look at it -- is says. “For the purposes of copyright Paramount Pictures or Sony Pictures or whomever is the author of this screenplay. Unlike my novels to which I own the copyrights, anybody who writes work-for-hire for a motion picture company doesn’t own the underlying rights. They get credited, they get royalties, they get paid their fees, they get DVD’s royalties and royalties for broadcast on television, etc. They get all those things, but, for the purposes of copyright the studio is the author of the screenplay. If, on the other hand, I wrote Harry Potter, and a studio buys my book of Harry Potter and then I would have more control, because the underlying property doesn’t not belong to them…
BRIAN: Because it’s an adapted screenplay….
DEAN: Exactly. The screenplay could be copyrighted by the studio, but the underlying story could not. In the case of ‘Footloose,’ they acquired underlying rights when they bought my screenplay, because there was no previously existing story.
BRIAN: So if you’d written ‘Footloose,’ the novel, then you might still have a piece of it?
DEAN: Exactly.
BRIAN: You had one project that you weren’t very happy with and that was the movie ‘Sing.’ Since we’ve talked about your triumphs, tell me about this one case where things didn’t go as well.
DEAN: It’s basically ‘High School Musical.’ The high schools in Brooklyn since the late 40’s have had an ongoing tradition where the Sophomore, Junior and Senior classes write and build and stage their own musicals, and then they compete. Then the winners from each school to go an inter-borough competition, and perform their shows, hoping to win the championship of Brooklyn. And over the years many many many big stars have worked on Sings. Art Garfunkle and Paul Simon and Barbra Streisand and Neil Simon and so many talented artists who went to school in Brooklyn did Sing in high school. So it’s a very emotional tradition with them.
I was approach about doing a movie about the Sing competition. I wrote any number of drafts and went through any number of studio ups and downs. I wished that I were smarter about these things than I was, but it was only my second movie. What I found over the years is that a lot of people -- especially studio heads, especially at that time -- they had the idea that, ‘Oh, those teenagers will buy anything. Make it loud, make it flashy, and they’ll go to it.’
When Alan Parker made ‘Fame,’ the studio didn’t interfere with him. He shot it in New York, away from their prying eyes, and he turned out a very intricate, beautifully shot, quite dark piece. And what made it such a spectacular success was that it didn’t trivialize the experience of being a teenager.
Neither did ‘Footloose.’ I worked with Herbert Ross who by that time was in his 60’s had directed or co-directed ‘Funny Girl’ and ‘Funny Lady’ and so many Neil Simon movies. And Herbert came to that material with a great deal of seriousness and a great affection for the characters.
BRIAN: That’s true, John Lithgow could have easily have been a caricature and he never was.
DEAN: No. That was the big saving grace. John Lithgow brought to this part a great deal of humanity.
But when we did ‘Sing,’ there was this attitude prevalent that all you need to do is give the kids a beat and they’ll line up. That was sort of the studio mentality that drove ‘Sing’ off the rails. It was cast wrong, it was directed wrong, I wrote it wrong, I just kept getting broader and broader to accommodate what I was hearing everybody asking for and it ended up being a kind of a caricature of a teen movie. So what are you saying with this quote? Just that you found it interesting or?
Brian Austin Whitney Founder Just Plain Folks jpfolkspro@gmail.com Skype: Brian Austin Whitney Facebook: www.facebook.com/justplainfolks"Don't sit around and wait for success to come to you... it doesn't know the way." -Brian Austin Whitney "It's easier to be the bigger man when you actually are..." -Brian Austin Whitney "Sometimes all you have to do to inspire humans to greatness is to give them a reason and opportunity to do something great." -Brian Austin Whitney
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 19,545 Likes: 9
Top 10 Poster
|
OP
Top 10 Poster
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 19,545 Likes: 9 |
Just saw a Youtube video about Dean's Footloose soundtrack which was the album that knocked Michael Jackson's Thriller out of #1 on the Billboard album charts. So many hits!
Brian Austin Whitney Founder Just Plain Folks jpfolkspro@gmail.com Skype: Brian Austin Whitney Facebook: www.facebook.com/justplainfolks"Don't sit around and wait for success to come to you... it doesn't know the way." -Brian Austin Whitney "It's easier to be the bigger man when you actually are..." -Brian Austin Whitney "Sometimes all you have to do to inspire humans to greatness is to give them a reason and opportunity to do something great." -Brian Austin Whitney
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,225 Likes: 38
Top 100 Poster
|
Top 100 Poster
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,225 Likes: 38 |
There will always be another song to be written. Someone will write it. Why not you? www.garyeandrews.com
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 19,545 Likes: 9
Top 10 Poster
|
OP
Top 10 Poster
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 19,545 Likes: 9 |
He has pretty much done it all. Got a Grammy nod for a Children's album as well.
Brian Austin Whitney Founder Just Plain Folks jpfolkspro@gmail.com Skype: Brian Austin Whitney Facebook: www.facebook.com/justplainfolks"Don't sit around and wait for success to come to you... it doesn't know the way." -Brian Austin Whitney "It's easier to be the bigger man when you actually are..." -Brian Austin Whitney "Sometimes all you have to do to inspire humans to greatness is to give them a reason and opportunity to do something great." -Brian Austin Whitney
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 137 Likes: 3
Serious Contributor
|
Serious Contributor
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 137 Likes: 3 |
Thanks for the interview, Brian...
I didn't know it took that long for Hawaii to become a US State!
Raymond
|
1 member likes this:
Brian Austin Whitney |
|
|
We would like to keep the membership in Just Plain Folks FREE! Your donation helps support the many programs we offer including Road Trips and the Music Awards.
|
|
Forums117
Topics124,181
Posts1,154,765
Members21,446
|
Most Online37,523 Jan 25th, 2020
|
|
"A lot of people will tell you that preparation is what will make you successful. But I think that people misunderstand exactly what that means sometimes. The type of preparation you need most is the kind that allows you to instantly seize an opportunity, change your course based on a momentary circumstance, and grab hold of the totally unexpected when it happens, and allow it to take you for the ride of your life! That is the kind of preparation that can lead to the most enjoyable type of success." -Brian Austin Whitney
|
|
|
|