Starting Fresh

[kinkaid]

Hi fellow Bruce fans,

I've been a fan of Bruce's for about 17 years. More than his music I respect him as an artist and the integrity that he exudes.

He has given me permission twice now to use his lyrics in projects I have developed. I have never worked with Bruce directly. Correspondence has always been first through his manager via snail mail and fax, then with his legal department.

The first was lyrics to I'm On Fire for a stage play that I wrote and was produced in Chicago, IL in 1993. (For Admirial - it was a 2-character piece set in the Arizona desert, a gritty love story of sorts, called Cactus Seed.)

The second was for my current project.

My friend, Richard Brewer, was co-editor of MEETING ACROSS THE RIVER, a published book of short stories inspired by Bruce Springsteen's song from BORN TO RUN. Richard wrote a great short story which was included in the book. It is this story that I developed with him and turned into the short film KEEPING IT GOOD.

Link to the book on Amazon, if you want to check it out: http://www.amazon.com/Meeting-Across-River-Inspired-Springsteen/dp/1582342830

(Bruce gave me permission to use the lyrics to Meeting Across the River for my end credits, but Sony would not license the music rights to me.)

My short film is currently competing in the Top 10 of an online film festival. I am trying to get the film into the finals.

I don't normally post to ANY message board because I juggle working full-time, being with my husband and a toddler, and working on my art - I'm also currently 6 1/2 months pregnant. =)

I am coming here to post as I think it might be of interest to see how one of Bruce's songs got interpreted for the screen. It probably is not the best short you've ever seen, but it also won't be the worst. If you take the time to watch and also watch some of the other entries you'll see that it is pretty darn good in comparison.

I shot it on a $10k budget which I funded myself. I had a professional crew and cast. I love the story, which is why I produced it.

There are two days left in the current round. If you would like to check out the film and hopefully give it a vote of support, the festival website is www.famecast.com - STAGE 12 - Keeping It Good.

You do have to register to vote - this is strictly to keep the festival legit. If you do not want to use your primary email address you can register with a disposable email account: www.pookmail.com or www.spambob.com or www.mytrashmail.com

Thanks if you made it this far in my post.
Best wishes,
Samantha

[kinkaid]

MEETING ACROSS THE RIVER

Hey, Eddie, can you lend me a few bucks
And tonight can you get us a ride
Gotta make it through the tunnel
Got a meeting with a man on the other side

Hey Eddie, this guy, he's the real thing
So if you want to come along
You gotta promise you won't say anything
'Cause this guy don't dance
And the word's been passed this is our last chance

We gotta stay cool tonight, Eddie
'Cause man, we got ourselves out on that line
And if we blow this one
They ain't gonna be looking for just me this time

And all we gotta do is hold up our end
Here stuff this in your pocket
It'll look like you're carrying a friend
And remember, just don't smile
Change your shirt, 'cause tonight we got style

Well Cherry says she's gonna walk
'Cause she found out I took her radio and hocked it
But Eddie, man, she don't understand
That two grand's practically sitting here in my pocket

And tonight's gonna be everything that I said
And when I walk through that door
I'm just gonna throw that money on the bed
She'll see this time I wasn't just talking
Then I'm gonna go out walking

[admiralkosmos]

The first was lyrics to I'm On Fire for a stage play that I wrote and was produced in Chicago, IL in 1993. (For Admirial - it was a 2-character piece set in the Arizona desert, a gritty love story of sorts, called Cactus Seed.)

Thanks Sam.

And I think when we imagine which of Bruce's songs and lyrical sweep are best to adapt for film, this has to be one of the best, if not the best. I remember the scene from Godfather where Pacino (Michael) tells Enzo (shoemaker?) at the hospital where they're guarding the Godfather to put something in his pocket to give the illusion he's armed - to make it look like he's carrying a friend.

The song has it's own plot, it's own exegis and sweep of story. Then there's the music. Why Sony wouldn't allow you to use the music I'll never know. Did they say why? The music is perfect - utter cinematic perfection. The horns remind me of Mark Isham from L.A. I have his earliest work like "Castalia" which I listened to way before Human Touch, when Bruce used him on a track.

I think you're to be admired having a marriage and a child and one on the way and still having the devotion to your craft to pursue your dream.

[kinkaid]

Admiral,

Bruce is absolutely wonderful for that! You hit it right on the nose. I love his work, every element of it.

My composer (Paul Kessell-Holland) is great - I will always work with him. It's funny you mention Isham because that's some of what I sent my composer as a temp score. The choral bit underscoring the murder scene I originally cut in from a Peter Gabriel (who I also think is a great composer) piece - my composer substituted actual recordings of himself (Paul) when he was a child singing in choir in England. Fantastic.

Music is one of the most powerful elements in film (and in theatre too). I view it as another actor actually. Just like the camera is. All elements working together to evoke the emotion and communicate the message of the piece.

It was economics - Sony wouldn't give me the rights cause I didn't have the budget to pay them $25k. My budget was only $10, so I put all of it into the picture you see on the screen.

[admiralkosmos]

Admiral,

Bruce is absolutely wonderful for that! You hit it right on the nose. I love his work, every element of it.

My composer (Paul Kessell-Holland) is great - I will always work with him. It's funny you mention Isham because that's some of what I sent my composer as a temp score. The choral bit underscoring the murder scene I originally cut in from a Peter Gabriel (who I also think is a great composer) piece - my composer substituted actual recordings of himself (Paul) when he was a child singing in choir in England. Fantastic.

Music is one of the most powerful elements in film (and in theatre too). I view it as another actor actually. Just like the camera is. All elements working together to evoke the emotion and communicate the message of the piece.

It was economics - Sony wouldn't give me the rights cause I didn't have the budget to pay them $25k. My budget was only $10, so I put allof it into the picture you see on the screen.

A $10 budget! lol $10K, right?

I don't know about the others here, but I'm damn glad you're on this board - what a refreshing breath of fresh air of vision, intelligence and passion - keep posting!

[kinkaid]

LOLOL! Yes, 10k. I would be fricking AMAZING if I put that together for $10. HAHAHAHA!!!

[admiralkosmos]

Well, although I know she won't post it, I will.

She won. Cool, no? Off to L.A. and she'd probably cave my head in with a brick for posting that she won - but there t'is.:hat: