Funny Girls Panel WGA Foundation Was Great!

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Mara Brock Akil, Elaine Ko, Kari Lizer, Marti Noxon, Robia Rashid, Cindy Chupack

I haven’t been to a panel in a long time. I used to go almost every week, but then got busy writing, or working, or both, and or moved out of state for a bit, and then this fall I was so busy writing on a show-yes I was actually hired this fall-that I got behind on the panels, but I always love them.

*Okay, I know that was the longest run on sentence, but give a girl a break, ’tis almost midnight.

Anyhow, tonight was a great panel of some very talented ladies:

Mara Brock Akil, Elaine Ko, Kari Lizer,Marti Noxon, Robia Rashid and Cindy Chupack

I want to say something about all of them, but it’s 11:30 and I have yet to eat a proper meal tonight, so I think I better. I wanted to give them all a shout out-wow I sound like I am in my twenties with that statement, but it is just that a shout out! THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE PANEL!

Okay I am exhausted, so I will definitely write more, another blog soon. I still need to really break down SMASH, and some others, but honestly been INSANE this week.

I applied for THREE writing jobs that I didn’t know were coming up-one was for a TV show that required I write and storyboard, the other was for a screenwriting job, and the other was for a social networking job. I had to submit different samples for all and one of them required work from the ground up. I still have to finish-okay start typing-my Happy Endings script for the Nick writing program deadline-TUESDAY! I can do it, 5 days is a long time and I already have it beated out.

My blog has suffered, but I appreciate you reading and hopefully you are busy writing as well!!

xoxo

Amber Riley Channels Whitney on GLEE

IMHO Amber Riley, (Mercedes on GLEE) did a better job at singing “I Will Always Love You” on this week’s GLEE, than Jennifer Hudson did at the Grammys-the girl can sing!

It’s late, but my next entry will be about how it now seems that the writers are writing the story to fit the songs they want instead of the songs supporting the story-as a writer this is very annoying.

 

SMASH is a SMASH!

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Debra Messing, Jack Davenport, Katherine McPhee, SMASH

OMG I love this show, it’s amazing! The story is well told-so great writing. The music is brilliant and the characters are so believable that they just might “smash” everyone in the real world’s idea of Broadway. If you aren’t watching you need to be. It’s GREAT!

My favorite characters so far are:

Julia, played by Debra Messing-this is a great character for her and since Will & Grace I don’t think she has hit that stride before and I am so happy to see her in such a great role.

Karen, played by Katherine McPhee-LOVE HER. I love her character-the new girl to Broadway who wants it so much but lacks the experience. This character is so well written-she is just, well, reminds me of me when I first was auditioning on Broadway-well done writers, and well done Katherine.

Derek, played by Jack Davenport-he is my favorite character by far!! This part was written for him. He has been in a lot of things and I always liked him, but in this something just fits-Sorry Jack, I am sure you are lovely in real life, but man do you play that dickhead director just perfect!

The whole show is brilliant and I like the entire cast-watch it and enjoy, it’s amazing.

 

First Place!

I found out today that I won first place in the “Dream Bio” January contest by WriteOn Online-the contest-to write your dream bio. I love stuff like this, so I imagined my life in a few years and this is what I wrote.

*today I was really sad about losing my dog-so this brought a smile to my face for a bit*

 

Stephanie Olivieri is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the eight book series, Ryuan. The first book in the series, Discovery has been made into a major motion picture and she has signed a deal with Paramount for books two and three. The Ryuan series has received worldwide acclaim and massive press attention. The first three Ryuan books occupied the top three spots on numerous adult bestseller lists as well as dominating the young adult market. The fourth book in the series, Ryuan Escape, was published simultaneously in the USA, Great Britian, Canada and Australia with a record first print run of 4.2 million in the US alone.  It quickly broke all records for the greatest number of books sold on the first weekend of publication since Harry Potter and the Goblet of fire in 2008.

 

Stephanie is also the creator and executive producer of the hit ABC show Ellie From Chicago. Ellie has received three Emmy nominations and Stephanie took home two Golden Globes for writing and best television show comedy or musical. She also has worked on Happy Endings, Modern Family and Grey’s Anatomy as a freelance writer. Her original show The First Year has been picked up by Showtime and Jennifer Aniston has signed on in the leading role. The show is expected to air later this year.

 

In addition to awards in television writing Stephanie has received numerous awards for her first screenplay, The Airport Bar. She was nominated and won an Oscar, a Golden Globe and The Writer’s Guild of America Award for excellence in writing. The Airport Bar also won Best Film Comedy or Musical that same year at the Golden Globes and Best Picture at the Oscars.

 

Stephanie is involved with many charities including; the Ian Somerhalder Foundation, World Wildlife Foundation, Lungevity and AIDS Project Los Angeles. She is a sponsor for AIDS Walk Los Angeles and AIDS Walk New York. She hopes to continue to help spread awareness about HIV/AIDS by donating her showrunner salary from The First Year to the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, APLA and amFar.

Stephanie currently lives in New York with her husband, actor, Gabriel Mann. The couple also has a home in Los Angeles.

 

 

Stop Slamming on “my” Facebook Page

Okay, look not everyone likes certain shows, films, books, writers, actors, etc. and that is fine, but do NOT go onto my page-or anyone else’s-especially if you don’t know them really well-and start slamming.

I think opinions are fine. Example: I don’t like the show The New Girl because; I don’t think it’s funny, the characters don’t appeal to me and …… you get the point. There is no reason to SLAM anyone.

A couple days okay some wanker offered me a job to write a screenplay for him for $300-THREE HUNDRED dollars-I posted about it on Facebook-and suddenly some people though that was the place to start slamming certain films saying that the writers should have got less than $300 for that film, or that actor’s films. Well two of the writers of a film someone mentioned are friends on mine on Facebook-there is no reason to do that-ever. Come on people grow up.

Then recently-today-I posted about how Ghost Protocol has been Tom Cruise’s highest grossing film to date. I posted the article and then people went into how it’s only because of inflation and all his films suck and then a rant on Scientology-NOT THE PLACE for it and I have friends on my page who work for his company and worked on Ghost Protocol so this was not cool. I had to delete the post-UGH

I don’t understand why people think this kind of behavior is okay. Do it on your own page, but don’t go onto someone else’s page and start slamming people.

I have no problem if you don’t like Tom Cruise’s films, or Scientology-but I have a problem with you voicing it on my Facebook page in that way. The person could have said something like this. “Really? I have never been a fan of his or his films.” That would have been enough.

I am sick and tired of being a hall monitor on my page-and so now I just post quotes from TV shows and movies and still that crap happens. I just don’t understand why Facebook is bringing out these traits in folks. As well, you have no idea who the friends of your friends are so why slam someone personally?

So if you are on a FB friends list-don’t slam anyone on there ever.

What Happened to GLEE?

I am not even sorry to say this but the last two episodes of GLEE have really not worked at all. Just song song song song and storylines falling apart and making no sense and the characters acting in ways they wouldn’t. Such a shame. The show is falling apart faster and faster and yet, like a train crash, I am watching.

Last week’s was so all over the place I could hardly watch-the “Summer Loving” thing with Sam and Mercedes? What? The other songs didn’t match up and it was just a complete mess. I thought, “Steph, you’re just sad because your dog died and you can’t think straight.” And I was even told that by friends-but then how come, Once Upon a Time is still good? The Good Wife, Southland, Revenge, Happy Endings, Modern Family, House? It is NOT because my dog died.

Then this week I was so excited for Michael Jackson-how could they possibly ruin that? Not sure, but they did. The show was song song song song song and them breaking out in song for NO reason-breaking the first rule of musicals-and then meetings under streets so they had an excuse to do “Bad”…..you know what? IT WAS BAD REALLY REALLY BAD!

The storylines are all over the place, the characters aren’t acting in character and the show is falling apart. It really makes me sad because it was such a great show and now-I hardly care.

My Dog Died-My Heart is Broken

So I was doing great with both my blogs, Twitter, the screenplay, the Happy Endings spec, my query for my novel AND my own series then BAM! My dog got sick and I was still doing okay, but on the 18th he passed away from Westie Lung Disease and I didn’t know it was coming, so I spent the first few days in shock and denial and sadness. I am still wrecked-but I know I have to get on with my job. I have lost tons of people-including immediate family-and I have never not been able to function as a writer, but this was/is worse. I am definitely going to start blogging again-I have so many opinions about the awards getting handed out and also lots of movies and TV shows I want to talk about-just need some time to get back on my game.

Thanks for understanding and for keeping on reading and coming back.

R. I. P. Finnegan March 30, 1998- January 18, 2012

For Starters, Get The Name Right

Last week I had posted on here and Twitter about my consulting services because spec and pilot season is here. Now is the time TV writers and aspiring TV writers are polishing their spec and original scripts. A few people contacted me to read their work and one of them sent me a script that I had to turn away immediately. Well I told her that I would be happy to help her once she fixed one major problem.

She had the name of the show wrong! Yes. I thought it was a typo in her email when she said, “Will you please read my Downtown Abbey spec”, but it wasn’t. Side note, even getting the name wrong in an email is bad-you are showing who you are as a writer-get it correct. We ALL make typos-any writers who say they don’t are liars, that said, get the name correct. So I opened the PDF and it said DowntoWn, not Downton.  She also included the synopsis and the query. It get’s worse, when I pointed it out, she got angry and corrected me. Okay so I won’t be helping her.

I am not trying to make her feel bad if she is reading this blog, but rather share a story to everyone because this is beyond important. You must get the name correct. I am not a showrunner-someday maybe/hopefully-but today am just someone trying to make it as a writer, so to her I don’t matter, but you know what? I do matter, we all matter. This is a small industry, even if it doesn’t seem that way. Mistakes are fine, but really don’t spec a show that you don’t even know the name of. All that tells me, and anyone reading your script, is that you don’t watch that show and don’t pay attention to details. Why would I read any further?

My Golden Globe Choices!

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Golden Globes

I love the Golden Globe awards, definitely my favorite of the award shows followed closely by Emmy and Oscar.

Here is who I would love to see win and then the list of nominations below: Not who I think will take it, but in my opinion I would love to see them accepting awards tonight, but ALL the nominees are great and this has been a great year for film and TV.

Can’t wait for Ricky Gervais either!!

Best Film Drama: THE IDES OF MARCH

Best Actor Drama: RYAN GOSLING 

Best Actress Drama:VIOLA DAVIS

Best Motion Picture Musical/Comedy:MIDNIGHT IN PARIS

Best Actor Musical/Comedy: OWEN WILSON

Best Supporting Actress: OCTAVIA SPENCER

Best Supporting Actor: JONAH HILL

Best Director: GEORGE CLOONEY

Best Screenplay: GEORGE CLOONEY, HESLOV, BEAU WILLIMON

Best Television Series Drama: HOMELAND (SHOWTIME)

Best Actress in a Television Series Drama: CLAIRE DANES

Best Actor in a Television Series Drama: DAMIAN LEWIS

Best Television Series Comedy/Musical: MODERN FAMILY

Best Actress Television Series Comedy/Musical: LAURA LINNEY

Best Actor Television Series Comedy/Musical: JOHNNY GALECKI

Best Supporting Role Television Series: SOFIA VERGARA

Best Supporting Role Television Series: ERIC STONESTREET

THE 69TH ANNUAL GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS NOMINATIONS

HOLLYWOOD FOREIGN PRESS ASSOCIATION
2012 GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2011

NOMINATIONS PRESS RELEASE

1. BEST MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
   1. THE DESCENDANTS
      Ad Hominem Enterprises; Fox Searchlight Pictures
   2. THE HELP
      DreamWorks Pictures, Participant Media; Touchstone Pictures
   3. HUGO
      Paramount Pictures presents a GK Films Production; Paramount Pictures
   4. THE IDES OF MARCH
      Columbia Pictures, Cross Creek Pictures, Exclusive Media Group, Crystal City Entertainment; Sony Pictures Releasing
   5. MONEYBALL
      Columbia Pictures; Sony Pictures Releasing International
   6. WAR HORSE
      DreamWorks Pictures; Touchstone Pictures
2. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA

   1. GLENN CLOSE

      ALBERT NOBBS

   2. VIOLA DAVIS

      THE HELP

   3. ROONEY MARA

      THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO

   4. MERYL STREEP

      THE IRON LADY

   5. TILDA SWINTON

      WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN

3. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA

   1. GEORGE CLOONEY

      THE DESCENDANTS

   2. LEONARDO DICAPRIO

      J. EDGAR

   3. MICHAEL FASSBENDER

      SHAME

   4. RYAN GOSLING

      THE IDES OF MARCH

   5. BRAD PITT

      MONEYBALL

4. BEST MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
   1. 50/50
      Summit Entertainment and Mandate Pictures; Summit Entertainment
   2. THE ARTIST
      a La Petite Reine – Studio 37 – La Classe Americaine – JD Prod- France3 Cinema – Jouror Production-uFilms coproduction; The Weinstein Company
   3. BRIDESMAIDS
      Universal Pictures, Relativity Media, Apatow Productions; Universal Pictures
   4. MIDNIGHT IN PARIS
      A Mediapro, Versatil Cinema & Gravier Production; Sony Pictures Classics
   5. MY WEEK WITH MARILYN
      The Weinstein Company; The Weinstein Company
5. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL

   1. JODIE FOSTER

      CARNAGE

   2. CHARLIZE THERON

      YOUNG ADULT

   3. KRISTEN WIIG

      BRIDESMAIDS

   4. MICHELLE WILLIAMS

      MY WEEK WITH MARILYN

   5. KATE WINSLET

      CARNAGE

6. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL

   1. JEAN DUJARDIN

      THE ARTIST

   2. BRENDAN GLEESON

      THE GUARD

   3. JOSEPH GORDON-LEVITT

      50/50

   4. RYAN GOSLING

      CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE.

   5. OWEN WILSON

      MIDNIGHT IN PARIS

7. BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
   1. THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN
      Paramount Pictures/Columbia Pictures/ Hemisphere Capital/Amblin Entertainment/Wingnut Films Production/ Kennedy/Marshall Production A Steven Spielberg Film; Paramount Pictures and Columbia Pictures
   2. ARTHUR CHRISTMAS
      Columbia Pictures & Sony Pictures Animation, Aardman; Sony Pictures Releasing International
   3. CARS 2
      Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar Animation Studios; Walt Disney Pictures
   4. PUSS IN BOOTS
      DreamWorks Animation; Paramount Pictures
   5. RANGO
      Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies present A Blind Wink / GK Films Production; Paramount Pictures
8. BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
   1. a.

      THE FLOWERS OF WAR

      (CHINA)

      (Jing Ling Shi San Chai)
      New Pictures Film Company; Wrekin Hill Entertainment

   2. b.

      IN THE LAND OF BLOOD AND HONEY

      (USA)

      GK Films; FilmDistrict

   3. c.

      THE KID WITH A BIKE

      (BELGIUM)

      (Le Gamin au Velo)
      Les Films du Fleuve; Sundance Selects

   4. d.

      A SEPARATION

      (IRAN)

      (Jodaeiye Nader az Simin)
      Asghar Farhadi; Sony Pictures Classics

   5. e.

      THE SKIN I LIVE IN

      (SPAIN)

      (La piel que habito)
      El Deseo D.A., S.L.U.; Sony Pictures Classics

9. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE

   1. BERENICE BEJO

      THE ARTIST

   2. JESSICA CHASTAIN

      THE HELP

   3. JANET MCTEER

      ALBERT NOBBS

   4. OCTAVIA SPENCER

      THE HELP

   5. SHAILENE WOODLEY

      THE DESCENDANTS

10. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE

    1. KENNETH BRANAGH

       MY WEEK WITH MARILYN

    2. ALBERT BROOKS

       DRIVE

    3. JONAH HILL

       MONEYBALL

    4. VIGGO MORTENSEN

       A DANGEROUS METHOD

    5. CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER

       BEGINNERS

11. BEST DIRECTOR – MOTION PICTURE

    1. WOODY ALLEN

       MIDNIGHT IN PARIS

    2. GEORGE CLOONEY

       THE IDES OF MARCH

    3. MICHEL HAZANAVICIUS

       THE ARTIST

    4. ALEXANDER PAYNE

       THE DESCENDANTS

    5. MARTIN SCORSESE

       HUGO

12. BEST SCREENPLAY – MOTION PICTURE

    1. WOODY ALLEN

       MIDNIGHT IN PARIS

    2. GEORGE CLOONEY, HESLOV, BEAU WILLIMON

       THE IDES OF MARCH

    3. MICHEL HAZANAVICIUS

       THE ARTIST

    4. ALEXANDER PAYNE, NAT FAXON, JIM RASH

       THE DESCENDANTS

    5. STAN CHERVIN STEVEN ZAILLIAN, AARON SORKIN

       MONEYBALL

13. BEST ORIGINAL SCORE – MOTION PICTURE

    1. LUDOVIC BOURCE

       THE ARTIST

    2. ABEL KORZENIOWSKI

       W.E.

    3. TRENT REZNOR, ATTICUS ROSS

       THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO

    4. HOWARD SHORE

       HUGO

    5. JOHN WILLIAMS

       WAR HORSE

14. BEST ORIGINAL SONG – MOTION PICTURE
    1. “HELLO HELLO” — GNOMEO & JULIET
       Music by: Elton John; Lyrics by: Bernie Taupin
    2. “THE KEEPER” — MACHINE GUN PREACHER
       Music & Lyrics by: Chris Cornell
    3. “LAY YOUR HEAD DOWN” — ALBERT NOBBS
       Music by: Brian Byrne; Lyrics by: Glenn Close
    4. “THE LIVING PROOF” — THE HELP
       Music by: Mary J. Blige, Thomas Newman, Harvey Mason, Jr., Damon Thomas; Lyrics by: Mary J. Blige, Harvey Mason, Jr., Damon Thomas
    5. “MASTERPIECE” — W.E.
       Music & Lyrics by: Madonna, Julie Frost, Jimmy Harry
15. BEST TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
    1. AMERICAN HORROR STORY (FX)
       Twentieth Century Fox Television
    2. BOARDWALK EMPIRE (HBO)
       Leverage, Closest to the Hole Productions, Sikelia Productions and Cold Front Productions in association with HBO Entertainment
    3. BOSS (STARZ)
       Lionsgate Television in association with Grammnet NH Productions, Roya Productions and Old Friends Productions
    4. GAME OF THRONES (HBO)
       Bighead, Littlehead, 360 Television, Grok and Generator Productions in association with HBO Entertainment
    5. HOMELAND (SHOWTIME)
       SHOWTIME Presents, Teakwood Lane Productions, Cherry Pie Productions, Keshet, Fox 21
16. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA

    1. CLAIRE DANES

       HOMELAND

    2. MIREILLE ENOS

       THE KILLING

    3. JULIANNA MARGULIES

       THE GOOD WIFE

    4. MADELEINE STOWE

       REVENGE

    5. CALLIE THORNE

       NECESSARY ROUGHNESS

17. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA

    1. STEVE BUSCEMI

       BOARDWALK EMPIRE

    2. BRYAN CRANSTON

       BREAKING BAD

    3. KELSEY GRAMMER

       BOSS

    4. JEREMY IRONS

       THE BORGIAS

    5. DAMIAN LEWIS

       HOMELAND

18. BEST TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
    1. ENLIGHTENED (HBO)
       Ripcord Productions in association with HBO Entertainment
    2. EPISODES (SHOWTIME)
       SHOWTIME Presents, Hat Trick Productions, Crane Klarik Productions
    3. GLEE (FOX)
       Ryan Murphy Television in association with Twentieth Century Fox Television
    4. MODERN FAMILY (ABC)
       Levitan-Lloyd Productions in association with Twentieth Century Fox Television
    5. NEW GIRL FOX
       Chernin Entertainment in association with Twentieth Century Fox Television
19. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES –COMEDY OR MUSICAL

    1. LAURA DERN

       ENLIGHTENED

    2. ZOOEY DESCHANEL

       NEW GIRL

    3. TINA FEY

       30 ROCK

    4. LAURA LINNEY

       THE BIG C

    5. AMY POEHLER

       PARKS AND RECREATION

20. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL

    1. ALEC BALDWIN

       30 ROCK

    2. DAVID DUCHOVNY

       CALIFORNICATION

    3. JOHNNY GALECKI

       THE BIG BANG THEORY

    4. THOMAS JANE

       HUNG

    5. MATT LEBLANC

       EPISODES

21. BEST MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
    1. CINEMA VERITE (HBO)
       A Pariah Production in association with HBO Films
    2. DOWNTON ABBEY (MASTERPIECE) (PBS)
       A Carnival/Masterpiece Co-production
    3. THE HOUR (BBC AMERICA)
       Kudos Film and Television/BBC America co-production.
    4. MILDRED PIERCE (HBO)
       A Killer Films/John Wells Production in association with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and HBO Miniseries
    5. TOO BIG TO FAIL (HBO)
       A Spring Creek and A Deuce Three Production in association with HBO Films
22. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

    1. ROMOLA GARAI

       THE HOUR

    2. DIANE LANE

       CINEMA VERITE

    3. ELIZABETH MCGOVERN

       DOWNTON ABBEY (MASTERPIECE)

    4. EMILY WATSON

       APPROPRIATE ADULT

    5. KATE WINSLET

       MILDRED PIERCE

23. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

    1. HUGH BONNEVILLE

       DOWNTON ABBEY (MASTERPIECE)

    2. IDRIS ELBA

       LUTHER

    3. WILLIAM HURT

       TOO BIG TO FAIL

    4. BILL NIGHY

       PAGE EIGHT (MASTERPIECE)

    5. DOMINIC WEST

       THE HOUR

24. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

    1. JESSICA LANGE

       AMERICAN HORROR STORY

    2. KELLY MACDONALD

       BOARDWALK EMPIRE

    3. MAGGIE SMITH

       DOWNTON ABBEY (MASTERPIECE)

    4. SOFIA VERGARA

       MODERN FAMILY

    5. EVAN RACHEL WOOD

       MILDRED PIERCE

25. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

    1. PETER DINKLAGE

       GAME OF THRONES

    2. PAUL GIAMATTI

       TOO BIG TO FAIL

    3. GUY PEARCE

       MILDRED PIERCE

    4. TIM ROBBINS

       CINEMA VERITE

    5. ERIC STONESTREET

       MODERN FAMILY

I’m just a little bit …..Annoyed at Moneyball

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Moneyball, The Show

Loved loved loved the film Moneyball about Billy Beane and the Oakland A’s in 2001/2002 and how they broke the record. I remember that game well as a huge baseball fan. The film was great, it really was, but there was one thing-well there were 4 things that pulled me out of the film, but one stuck out.

Do you know the song “The Show” by Lenka? Of course you do, it came out just 3 & 1/2  years ago in 2008….

*’m just a little bit caught in the middle
Life is a maze and love is a riddle
I don’t know where to go, can’t do it alone
I’ve tried and I don’t know why

Slow it down, make it stop or else my heart is going to pop
‘Cause it’s too much, yeah it’s a lot to be something I’m not
I’m a fool out of love ’cause I just can’t get enough*

If you’ve seen Moneyball you have to know what I am about to say. They used this song and not just playing over what was happening. His daughter sings it to him in 2001 and then again in 2002 at the end he plays a CD she made for him of her singing it. This is a HUGE MISTAKE and should not have been overlooked in a film of this caliber.

As well, this film took place in 2001/2002 just after Sept 11th and back then you could NOT pick up your kids at the gate if they were over 12 years of age. You could drop them off 13 and younger if you had a special pass. I am not sure why this was overlooked either, it wasn’t that story moving, maybe they were trying to show how close he is with his daughter, but honestly could have been pulled right out of there.

Then young Billy Beane has almost black hair and Brad Pitt has blond/brown? Hair goes grey when we get older it doesn’t go blond.

Then another major screw up. Billy goes to Fenway park to discuss something there-I don’t want to ruin the story if you haven’t seen it-and the 2004 Red Sox championship banner is hanging up! This is a film about BASEBALL-how did they miss that?

Look this is a great film, so that is what makes these mistakes unforgivable. Especially the song! Okay you’re not a Red Sox fan, you may not have noticed that, but again it’s a baseball film. You don’t care if someone’s hair color changes that much-okay. You don’t even know the rules about taking teens to the airport post-9/11. Fair enough, I can actually let those things go, but you can not take a hit song from 2008 and have a character in 2001/2002 singing it. You can’t you can’t you can’t!!

What would otherwise be an almost flawless film really made a huge mistake. Isn’t there someone who is paid to go over these things? Seriously. In today’s technology, there is no excuse for that kind of thing and it happens all the time.

I have a friend, and I apologize to him if he’s reading this, who wrote a very good film about Sept 11th, BUT he had his main character talking on Skype on an iPad!! UGH That said, this film hasn’t been made yet. Moneyball has been.

If this kind of thing doesn’t bother you, then you will love it. Hell, you’ll probably love it anyhow. I did. I think it’s great, but that just gets under my skin and makes me want to scream!