Ticker Tape........ Nov. 8, 09

"Sweet Shirley MacLaine"

Since one of my screenplays is up for production this winter (More than Hollywood hype? After all we've been there before.), I thought I would touch on a little bit of the behind-the-scenes story of "Winter Roses" — a.k.a. Rosemont — a screenplay I wrote some twenty-five years ago,...... for a look at what goes on before anything gets onto the big screen...

The story of Winter Roses is one that deserves telling and maybe should be prefaced by an e-mail I received recently from a lawyer friend of mine in new Mexico:

".... Bill, recently I attended a Dinner Party and met a lady who said she was a casting agent. She revealed that she was the casting agent for Winter Roses. During her 30-year career she has identified 3 perfect scripts. One of which is Winter Roses. She also teaches film and uses Winter Roses as an example of a perfect script. Signed: Larry"

The lady teaches at the University of California... Her name is Kathryn Brinks. She was also the casting agent when Winter Roses first went into production in Santa Fe, New Mexico 2006/7 and suddenly came to an abrupt halt. More on this and details is the continuation of the whole Winter Roses story.

...... Enter Shirley MacLaine. PART ONE:

Shirley's part of the story began with an introductory phone call arranged by my then-agent in La-la Land, the unmentionable J. Wolf...... The following is just the beginning,.. a snippet of what is to come......

Shirley MacLaine was on the phone. I pushed the speaker button and said, "Hello, Ms. MacLaine? ...... A pleasure to meet you telephonically."

"That is a beautiful story you wrote, Mr. Rebane. I do have some 'back story' questions."

Without hesitation, Shirley got right into it: "Why does Jennifer [one of the main characters in the film] take a Greyhound bus?"

I was more than taken aback by this question. My thoughts were racing. What the hell..... What kind of question is that? Of course, there was a reason why a Greyhound bus was the transportation choice of this sequence in the screenplay. (How stupid could one get? I thought.) We are talking about small-town America in the l950's or 60's and a young lady without a car would indeed take a Greyhound... especially if it is the only transportation available...

I pretty much explained it that way to "Shirley." (Didn't know then she was a total control freak.)

The other questions she asked regarding screenplay content and back stories on characters were far more intelligent, well intended and well taken. We talked about some details and back stories of characters, resulting in comments from me, that whatever had to be resolved could be massaged and taken care of.

Shirley clung to the word "massage"... (The word "massaged" is commonly used for something that can be talked about and changed, if unclarities existed.)

There was a slight pause before Shirley MacLaine fired back and said, "The only thing that should be massaged are 'balls'." ....... In quote: "Shirley MacLaine".......

Whose balls is she talking about.....?

Those readers not familiar with the Saga of The Winter Roses Story and screenplay may wish to check out the new title of the original screenplay, now being prepped for production under the banner of "ROSEMONT" and — guess what? — with the heading of: Shirley MacLaine – "Attached" ..........

More to come......