DARK SHADOWS FORUMS
General Discussions => Current Talk Archive => Current Talk '24 I => Current Talk '12 I => Topic started by: Joeytrom on March 27, 2012, 10:01:21 PM
-
I have the new KLS book and while I enjoy it, there is reuse of a lot of the text from My Scrapbook memories of DS.
-
Thanks Joey; interesting to hear, and hardly comes as a surprise.
Any observations or thoughts on the photos?
Best, G.
-
I was just going to start a topic about the book and get into a similar thing as to what you just posted about, Joeytrom, so that's why I've split your post from the new film's topic and it now starts this new topic.
Anyway, I've only read two chapters of the book so far and I found them interesting for vastly different reasons.
The chapter entitled "Cinematic Collinwood" is basically the same chapter as the Movie Book's "Collinwood At the Cinema," however, it's not entirely the same because some things have been edited out while other things have been added - and in some cases entirely new paragraphs of info have been added. It would be interesting to know if it's the same piece that Darren originally submitted for the Movie Book, but this time around it's simply been edited differently, or if Darren added more to it. I suspect the former over the latter. But in either case, it's very nice to have both versions to present an even more accurate picture of what transpired with both original movies.
And the only thing I have to say publicly about the "Hidden In the Shadows" chapter is that it should come across as a major marvel of discretion to anyone who closely followed some of the projects it discusses and, therefore, got different sides of the stories from several of the parties involved. But then, I would expect nothing less from a KLS book or a chapter written by Jim Pierson.
And now that Joeytrom has mentioned that other parts of the book are also recycled from other PomPress sources, it's going to be really interesting to see how much of the text of the book is recycled and how much is new. But then, I never really bought the book for the text - much more so for the new photos - and when it comes to them, I'm quite satisfied.
-
Hi. "Cinematic Collinwood" is actually a top-to-bottom rewrite/revision of the chapter I wrote for the movie book. The movie book chapter was written under a very tight deadline and had some errors in it. In the intervening years, more information and documentation has become available, so I made dozens of corrections and added several paragraphs of new or clarifying information, and tweaked some frankly, embarassing clunky prose. It's the more accurate of the two and just better all around.
There's lots of additional information and crew quotes that I hope to make use of someday. Perhaps when the restoration is accomplished, I'll proprose doing a slim book on it with the BFI. I certainly think I could fill one up by this point.
-
I found the chapter on the trip to England for filming the cameo scenes to be quite entertaining. Even the original series foursome were kept very much in the dark about most everything, and had pretty much no idea of what they'd be doing in their cameos until it came around to the actual filming.
The chapter on the 2004 pilot was very sad reading. Most of that was news to me. It would be really cool if WB could somehow include the pilot as bonus material on a future DVD release. Perhaps with the Burton film or, more appropriately, with House of Dark Shadows.
-
I hope you do get to do a book, Darren, because I would greatly look forward to that. [snow_smiley]
-
The chapter on the 2004 pilot was very sad reading. Most of that was news to me.
Trust me, though, don't take everything written in that section of the chapter as gospel. In fact, there's information posted right here on the forum in the pilot's own topic that calls into question some of what's written...
-
What is the quality of the book like? Is it expensive looking or cheap? Do the photos reproduce well. I own the very first boook KLS put out, My Scrapbook memories, and it was top notch. actually, the first few books she did were beautiful-looking books, sometimes hard-covers, but some of the later ones were cheaper-looking compared to her earlier ones. The photos didn't reproduce well And the size changed to smaller paperback-type versions.
-
What is the quality of the book like? ...I own the very first boook KLS put out, My Scrapbook memories, and it was top notch
It's a return to that size and that quality and nothing like everything beyond the 30th Anniversary Almanac.
-
Thanks! That's good to know. I might actually buy the book now!
-
The book is gorgeous. It's arguably the most handsome book Pomegranate have ever put out about the series.
-
Darren, congratulations on being given the opportunity to revise and improve that chapter! I will look forward to the book now for your contribution alone.
Really? There are omissions and equivocations in the chapter on the 2004 pilot? I'm shocked. Simply shocked. Why, I always thought of Miss Scott and Mister Pierson as authors of the most unsullied candor.
am I winking or do I have something in my eye,
G.
-
Really? There are omissions and equivocations in the chapter on the 2004 pilot? I'm shocked. Simply shocked. Why, I always thought of Miss Scott and Mister Pierson as authors of the most unsullied candor.
LOL! Though when I referred to the chapter as being a major marvel of discretion, I wasn't actually referring to the portion about the pilot because for the most part it's actually an accurate recounting of the situation. (Though I know that I and others here on the forum would vehemently disagree with the piece's final view of the pilot)
I was actually referring to how the situations with some of the other projects are described and how one particular remark is an understatement if ever there was one. Those of us who were active on the old incarnation of the forum on VantageNet will no doubt realize what situation I'm referring to as soon as they come across it because, as we did here with the '04 pilot, we followed that project very closely back in those days and we linked to/discussed articles covering all sides of its development...
-
There were some new photo's but most were in several other books.
What surprised me about the 2004 pilot was who was actually behind the project being shelved. I thought it was the reverse.
-
I wouldn't say most are in other books. There are certainly some that have been recycled from other PomPress books. But it looks to me as if others are only similar to what's been published before and in and of themselves are new. While others are completely different from what's been published before.
-
My copy of the book arrived over the weekend. I was very impressed by the look of the item. The cover in particular is pretty fancy, with flaps like a book jacket instead of a simple paperback cover, and the pages are full glossy like the Scrapbook or the original Almanac.
I haven't had much of a chance to read it yet (it looks to be mostly a promotional tool for the new movie; several of the articles I flipped through dealt with Burton's work), though I've already spotted two inaccuracies within the first 25 pages. ;)
ProfStokes
-
thanks prof,
i'm attending a book signing that she's doing in new york next week and will pick it up then.
given the mixed reaction the film is getting could be a strange event. [snow_undecided]
-
I was honestly surprised by how little of the book is about the new film - maybe about 40 pages. That leaves more than 150 pages that are about the original DS right up through the Big Finish audio dramas. And actually, fans of the'91 series will be pleased because there are several new color photos from that show (including a color photo from the cut Dr. Fisher scene from Ep #4).
-
i'm attending a book signing that she's doing in new york next week and will pick it up then.
There's an ad for the signing (April 3, 7 pm at the B&N on 86th and Lex) in today's NY Post. And she's having a drawing for 2012 movie posters-- hope you win one.
-
thanks midnite...
i'm sure you know which one i want. [snow_wink]
-
Just received my copy in the mail. A day too late to make it to the NYC signing, unfortunately. Did anyone from the forum attend?
Skimmed through the text quickly so no comment right now. The pictures, always Pomegranate Press' major asset, are great. It's amazing to see new pictures from the original after so many years!!
-
i was in attendance.
it was quite a well attended if slightly odd affair.
as with the POMPRESS material in general KLS indulged in her usual factual inaccuracies. among last night's more notable gaffes was her "remembrance" of her 1966 audition for the series alongside grayson hall, marie wallace and kate jackson. none of whom were present of course and would not join the series until many months and even years later.
stranger still was that rather than speak of her own experiences off the cuff she gave a prepared speech of sorts where she quoted herself pretty directly from 'my dark shadows memories'. some passages verbatim. the text of much of the new book itself is largely lifted from that source as well.
then there was the usual confusion of who she played when(last night kitty hampshire was apparently an eighteenth century character)and when and how she stepped in for the clothes dummy draped in tatty cloth and assumed the mantle as josette.
with each new published "recollection" she gets a new opportunity to iron out factual inaccuracies...yet she doesn't. the people sitting in the audience of course knew more than she did and there was sort of a collective eye roll when she went off on some imagined turn of events.
still she spoke highly of her experience onset of the new film and assured guests that there was much more to it than the campy humor seen in the trailers(we'll see ourselves soon enough). i did not 'win' one of the posters she raffled off but someone who did was nice enough to give me theirs. it's HUGE. it's the cast photo with depp in the center and the rest grouped around.
-
Thanks for the account of the event. KLS can certainly be the patron saint of self-promotion. Marie and Grayson were probably in NYC at the time. But Kate was about 17 and most likely still in high school.
-
i did not 'win' one of the posters she raffled off but someone who did was nice enough to give me theirs. it's HUGE. it's the cast photo with depp in the center and the rest grouped around.
That was so nice of them. And I'm happy that you were able to get one, if not also a bit jealous. [easter_grin]
-
Fascinating. How ... intriguing that she now thinks Grayson, Marie and Kate attended her audition. I do hope this isn't a sign of anything more than the usual ditsy scatteredness.
When my current phase of budget austerity is done, I look forward to getting hold of a copy of the new book. I am quite intrigued to see the photos and to read Darren's revised essay on the films.
G.
-
How ... intriguing that she now thinks Grayson, Marie and Kate attended her audition. I do hope this isn't a sign of anything more than the usual ditsy scatteredness.
i shouldn't worry much about miss scott. she's as sharp as a tack and remarkably spry.
i think was just indulging in a bit of name dropping. and her usual inaccuracies. [easter_rolleyes]
-
I think it would be very constructive, if anyone finds inconsistencies or inaccuracies in the book itself, they can post them on this thread. I'm curious which bits of info are causing distress. The more specific the better...
-
I only read the first 6 pages before I let a friend take the book to look at - but in those first 6 pages I noticed:
The year DS ended on the Sci-Fi Channel is wrong. The book says 2001, yet it actually ended in December of 2003. (And there's abundant proof of that right here on the forum.)
And also, the book says something like in 2006 Depp finalized his rights deal to do a film version of DS, yet Variety and any number of reputable publications reported in late July of 2007 that the deal had just closed then. (The complete text of, as well as a link to the Variety article is in reply #6 of the topic that you started ("It's official: Dark Shadows returns as a film with Johnny Depp") on the Current Talk board back on July 26, 2007.)
-
If she would hire a professional researcher and editor to go over her books, errors such as this could easily be avoided.
But then I've said for years that editors are going the way of the dinosaur... and English is now my favorite dead language.
cheers,
G.
-
... and English is now my favorite dead language.
Love it! [easter_smiley]
-
And also, the book says something like in 2006 Depp finalized his rights deal to do a film version of DS, yet Variety and any number of reputable publications reported in late July of 2007 that the deal had just closed then. (The complete text of, as well as a link to the Variety article is in reply #6 of the topic that you started ("It's official: Dark Shadows returns as a film with Johnny Depp") on the Current Talk board back on July 26, 2007.)
I haven't looked into the threads mentioned, but it is very possible that in 2006 Depp finalized his rights with DCP estate for the property then, but didn't make a deal with it and WB til 2007... The Sci-Fi thing sounds easily verifiable though.
-
When I read what the book says about Depp's deal, I had the same thought that perhaps it was the deal with Warner Brothers that finalized in July of 2007. But then I went back and reread the articles from back then and Variety in particular specifically says "A rights deal just closed with the estate of Dan Curtis".
Obviously either the book or Variety (and the other reporting articles) has (have) it wrong. Though given the track record of PomPress books...
-
Given the vast amount of information in these (especially the two Alamanacs), errors are going to creep in, despite everyone's best efforts.
Let's put any we spot for Return to Collinwood here on this thread. They can always be changed in a reprint, if necessary.
-
Obviously either the book or Variety (and the other reporting articles) has (have) it wrong. Though given the track record of PomPress books...
Well considering that 2012 Vicki was called a local waitress by them in a couple of articles, I am not so sure about Variety. Unless she indeed is a local waitress in this new movie. I guess we'll find out in a month's time. [easter_wink]
-
Though as I said back then, if Variety did get that wrong, it can be traced back to whoever it was in the film's own publicity department who provided Variety with the info because when it comes to casting news and descriptions of characters, that's what the source is. In those instances, Variety simply reports what it's told.
In the case of the right's deal closing, the same type of situation would be similar in that Variety would also be reporting what they were told - though the source in that instance would most probably be a different one because chances are it would have been someone on Depp's own staff and/or connected to the production companies involved. Though, of course, they could have been equally inept if it turns out to be true that Victoria was never a waitress in the film and the rights deal hadn't just closed back in July of 2007. And actually even multiple times more inept because they would have also supplied multiple reporting entities beyond Variety with the same erroneous info.
(However, when it comes to seeing the film shortly, we may not actually find out if the waitress description holds because any reference to that part of Victoria's character could very well not be included in the finished film. And if it's not in the film, the only way we could really be sure it wasn't true would be to either read the script and/or the official character breakdowns.
All that being said, though, from what we've seen and learned about the film since Variety's report, it would certainly seem as if the waitress angle was wrong. But who knows?)
-
In addition to the error about the Sci-Fi Channel discontinuing DS in 2001 (unless she meant that this year was the final time Sci-Fi began airing the cycle of eps; IIRC, they started with Vicki arriving at Collinwood sometime in May/June, 2001 and played the series through until December, 2003), KLS mentions that Jonathan Frid attended the Burbank Festival in mid-August, 2008 (pg. 24). That year's Fest dates were July 18-20.
ProfStokes
-
All very true, MB. It would just be nice if everyone - PR people, reporters, and nonfiction writers - would actually double-check all of their facts before going to print. There are a lot that do, but enough that don't to make credibility levels drop.