Anyone seen ‘rent’? I saw it a few months ago, and I was listening to the soundtrack today (no day but today), and I have a thought or two…

Those are some of the most damn simplistic lyrics I’ve ever heard – and that’s not a good thing. Some of the songs make me cringe, the lyrics are so grade school.

I thought the first act dragged to the point of me taking note of the theatre’s architecture. By the end of the second act, I was sort of onboard, but I still couldn’t get over how lyrically remedial the songs were (“…see what becomes of it, instead of my old shit.”). I don’t know – maybe I’m getting old. Maybe I’ve just got zero sympathy for a bunch of slackers laying around, whining about being junkies and such. There were times I wanted to get up and yell “Get a job, you fucks!”

Anyhoo, my apologies go out to anybody over at KSU who was put out by my cancelation. Rest assured, if it wasn’t hectic and weird here, I’d have gone. There are just ‘Dogma’ and animated series things going on that bend my mind right about now. Without going into detail at present, let me say only this to those of you with creative aspirations akin to mine…

99.4% of the time, the suits don’t understand what you’re doing, and never will until someone else (or a lot of someone elses) tells them it’s good, funny, etc. You will deal with idiots most days, folks. The people in charge are mostly scared shitless of losing their jobs. Periodically, you’ll make it through the morass of nonesuch, and some of your ‘vision’ (for lack of a better artsy fartsy term) will reach the masses, but it’s a very big uphill battle to get to that zenith. Bring a canteen.

In the way of good news: I’ve got some proofs of the ‘Clerks’ DVD menus in my hand, and they list the commentary.

The script for the aforementioned animated series is down to a lean, mean 45 or so pages, and it’s pretty funny stuff. Can’t wait for ya’ll to see it. We had a reading of the longer draft last week, during which I heard Brian and Jeff as Dante and Randal for the first time in over five years. It was really cool. They both did stellar jobs. Mewes, as usual, was great too.

We head to Cannes in a little over a week (we’re going at toward the end of the fest). The screening’s on the 21st. For those of you toying with the notion of making the trip, let me save you a few sheckles: the screenings are closed. You can’t get in. There’s no one scalping tix out front. Just sit tight, and we’ll have our own screening toward the end of the summer/beginning of the fall. Promise.

I saw a pair of flicks that I got into over the weekend: ‘Go’ and ‘Election’ (maybe it’s the one word title thing). I know some of you are saying “Election?!? He hates Reese!” True as that may be, you gotta give credit where credit’s due: she’s good in the flick. Broderick’s the man, though, and hats off to helmer Alexander Payne (who also did the entertaining ‘Citizen Ruth’ two years back) for breathing visual life into what seems like a great script. Both he and Liman (the fellow who directed ‘Go’) are gifted, gifted visual storytellers who apparently know how to do justice to decent scripts (gentlemen – I’ll be expecting my checks in the mail). If you get a chance, check out both flicks.

Talk to Lee a few weeks ago, who – as most of you know by now – is doing Cameron Crowe’s next flick (which is still untitled). He’s having a blast, getting ready to play the lead singer in the fictional band in the flick. He said he’s been rehearsing with Peter Frampton for a few weeks to get ready for the part, but doesn’t think he’ll be singing his own songs. I expect great things from this flick. I can’t think of a better pairing: Lee and Crowe. Renews a brother’s faith in Hollywood.

And lastly: having been married for two weeks now, I highly recommend it.

To someone else, though. You can’t have my spouse. I’m a generous guy, but you gotta draw the line somewhere.