AGGIELIFE
dai January 28, 2(XX)
THE BATTALION
Page 3
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H E BAIT
Screenwriter
Shane Black
less JadvS
i t make, Blaiie Black is one of Hollywood’s most successful screenwriters. Black’s last
,d creenplays have all been major Hollywood productions and attracted major
t to bee. wwood stars. Black first found success with the action classic Lethal Weapon.
p util rch snest screenplay, The Last Boy Scout, starred Bruce Willis. His most recent screen-
i students i »y. > 'he Long, Kiss Goodnight, sold for over $4 million — the most expensively
r Lire tv u l^ 1t screenplay of all time. In addition to writing. Black has also acted in films,
chits ,4.v Good as it Gets and Predator. The Battalion spoke with Shane Black
out screenwriting and his role in I lollywood blockbusters.
inteSuN:
I'pporttrr
2:
More i
".nuck a I
Did you always want to write screenplays, or was it something you
stumbled across?
f the second. 1 had a friend who wanted to write screenplays, and one day
ook at one of his. Until that point, I guess I thought screenplays floated
tuost small rosk the ether and somehow wound up on the screen. When I read my friend’s
. ript i realized I could do that. It w asn't as complex as I thought. And having stum-
rKets you edlcross that, it seemed the most profitable.
i t see a
\\ hat do you think sets your scripts apart so that they attract some
of the biggest names in Hollyw ood?
—Ktr
senior vice p?
with Cu
Q:"
ow long does it usually take you to w rite a screenplay*
In the first two years of working, 1 wrote three scripts. Then it was another two
;ars before I wrote the next one. Then for the next one it was three years. Now I am
■ jing on four years, so it seems like I am going slower a
i historical!>. nd slower. I can’t say why except that, unfortunately, the process doesn't get any
toe and a, asier. That’s what makes it so sad. You think afler you've written a few screenplays,
\,VM has, ’ll be a cinch. But it’s worse. Worse than it ever was when you started.
Q
1 am trying to do an original piece, a spec script, start of a dramedy. Technically,
I don’t know if you could call it a love story, but certainly a relationship film. It’s a
little bit out of my realm, so it is taking a bit longer.
Q
So are you doing this for the challenge of it instead of writing anoth
er thriller type film?
Yeah. When I sat down and asked myself what I wanted to do, I did not have as
much enthusiasm as for a thriller. This is something I felt I had to do and not just to
prove something but because I like the shape of it. I like what it has to say.
Q
I saw something on the Internet that had your name attached to a
project called AWOL. Is that you?
i-ilcsi^nd
1 rsc hv flttV- 1 ^ IO lC ^ a £ oot * stor y’ a compelling story. I study pop culture, and 1 ask myself
v T; hy is Grisham read so often, why this author isn’t read that much. I think he is a
fy ff inch h ylist. something about his writing makes you want to keep turning the page. That
- f as goal one. Goal two is I try' to write characters that make an actor want to play
k Nicklaw emlThey just want something to sink their teeth into. 1 think you do this by avoid-
g stereotypes and letting some of yourself creep through into the character.
The Internet gets everything wrong. I am not involved with that project.
• Are you through with your acting career?
One of the reasons I haven’t gone back to it is I’ve been kind of lazy, and 1 don’t
like pursuing acting. The times I’ve acted are the times someone has come to me and
said ‘Hey, just as a favor, you want to come have some fun with us?’ It’s been sort
of a courtesy business, and I haven’t actually pursued it.
Q
• Are you interested in directing ever?
Yeah. I imagine that the next thing I complete, if it is good and it’s under $ 10 mil
lion, that I would want to direct it. I think if I could write something really compelling
that is low budget, even like two million, I could probably swing that. I would very
much like to direct.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF AMAZON.COM
• Are you working on anything presently or have you written anything
m recently?
Q
• Have you ever been kicked off a set?
No. I’ve had to quit a movie I was writing because of disagreements. But I’ve
never been kicked oft’. I am not very belligerent. I always try to be productive. If
something bothers me too much, I argue eloquently, and then if they still say no, I
walk away.
Q
• You obviously don’t write w ith a partner much. Is there some reason
• for this?
The ones I have written on my own have performed better at the box office. I
wrote Last Action Hero with a partner and I must say it was a blast. It was so much
easier. It’s like someone else is in the sinking boat with you.
Q
• How was it producing on The Long Kiss Goodnight? Did you have
• more input or power?
Well, they listened maybe a little more carefully, the director and the stars. Most
ly we kind of respected each other, and I don’t think the credit really mattered. 1
wound up in the editing room with Renny (the director), and it was a lot of fun. It felt
so much different, the experience of talking things over that way. It was gratifying
that he was that nice, that he respected my input enough to do that. We ended up be
ing friends and had a great time. I love it when I can discuss things with the star and
the director.
Q
What is your worst enemy as a screenwriter?
Fear and doubt. It’s very common for screenwriters to have a lot of doubt and I
think I have it tenfold. I can’t emphasize enough how much misery goes into putting
one of these things together, because it is just so much selfdoubt. Everyone hates
writing and loves having written. It’s almost so bad so that if I was good at some
thing else, I would do that. This stuff really bites till you’re done.
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Eye of the Beholder
1 Starring: Ewan McGregor
and Ashley Judd
Directed by Stephan Elliott
Sure to be too grim and dark for many people,
>e oj the Beholder is an eerie thri 1 ler of surprising
pth and power which offers ample rewards for
3sekvho dare to brave its harrowing journey into
; human psyche.
The Eye (McGregor) is an intelligence agent
n more detail. Nick-: th a knack for surveillance. While on assignment
1 l <K ltl - 1 pemianer itching his boss’s son, he sees Joanna (Judd) for
munity for the dural ;fj rst time and is intrigued by her unusual actions,
.■onstruction. 'begins his obsession.
tighlight of the cours Director Elliot demonstrates a remarkable savvy
and returning nine' ” he pirects a talented cast in a gripping story,
around the (ioll'C; This is a fabulous film for its many shades of
inn the meeting ofiut'ay. There is no good guy vs. bad guy in this
:s. construct ion on the avie,and everything is not black and white. The
I to beuin this summ- uggles within this film are mainly internal, and
•ns opening in the h er y sharacter has ambiguous qualities.
Mc(Iregor and Judd bring to life their characters
-th such reckless abandon that one cannot help but
itch in awe. MeGregor infuses his characteristic
tensity into every scene, and Judd lends her beau-
itl looks and blossoming talent to a role that is her
r j c hiy textured to date.
Like peeling an onion, this film removes one lay-
ata time revealing a small piece oftlie puzzle and
Wng the viewer a chance to savor each little piece
1 fore moving onto the next layer and the next piece.
Steeped with symbol ism, Eye of the Beholder is
taunting movie experience, pulling the viewer
o a surreal setting filled with danger, only to re
al that for many people, the true danger lies with-
Chicf
i. Pilot.
I to Edii
Editor
aphics Editor
views Editor
dioff. Radio Produce
yton, Weh Editor
r. Science & Technol
Wagr'., Bradley Atchison,Kii# (Glade: B)
.Sallie Turner, Patrlc Schneiders’
Ian Smith. Elizabeth O' Farrell.^
irt Villanueva & Susan Redding
hriel Ruenes, Eric AndraosJeW*
derson, Richard Home, David
rrell, Kevin Turner, Sean Gillespie
issistant: Cristina Padroni Betti Aft
. Carrie Bennett, Brooke Corse,
er Huff, Carrie Jacobs, Melissa Me*
Kate Siegel & Audrey Bohlmanii.
ant: Non! Sridhara; WhitneySW*
Ryan Locker, Chris Carter,
larkley.
hnoloqy Judy White, Scott Jen* 1 -
szewski.
- Matt McConnick
Play It to the Bone
Starring: Woody Harrelson
and Antonio Banderas
Directed by Ron Shelton
Woody and Antonio are hilarious as two over-
the-hill boxers in Play It to the Bone. An offer of
$50,000 each if they fight each other in Las Vegas
leads the two on a road trip from L.A. with their
ex-girlfriend Grace (Lolita Davidovich).
Writer/director Ron Shelton {Bull Durham,
White Men Can't Jump) creates another clever,
sexy comedy set against the backdrop of a sport
— this time it is professional boxing. In many
ways, this movie is more subtle and dramatic
than some of Shelton's other work, but in other
respects it is lacking. Two-thirds of the movie is
spent watching the film’s three stars in a car talk
ing. However, with the strength of really sharp
perfonnances from its talented stars, Play It to
the Bone still packs one heck of a comedic
punch. (Grade: B-)
— Matt McCormick
Down to You
Starring: Freddie Prinze Jr. and
Julia Stiles
Directed by Chris Isacsson
Down to You, starring Hollywood’s newest pet,
Freddie Prinze Jr., is a cheesy love story that tar
gets junior-high girls and looks better in movie
previews than it actually is.
Alfred “Al” Connelly (Prinze Jr.) and Imogen
(Stiles) are supposed to be an average college cou
ple who fall in love at first sight.
The couple meets in a bar that serves to mi-
Top: (L to R) David Hyde Pierce, Nathan Lane and Bette
Midler star in Isn’t She Great, based on the true-life story
of Jacqueline Susann the author of The Valley of the Dolls.
Left: (Lto R) Antonio Banderas and Woody Harrelson
star as best friends and boxing rivals in Play it to the Bone.
nors and discovers that they have everything
in common.
They move in together after three months. To
further its “realistic” portrayal of college life, Al’s
roommate is a pom star and Imogen's best friend
will go home with anyone. Life is grand on this
college campus.
But Al and Imogen’s relationship hits a speed
bump, when Imogen thinks she might be pregnant
and predictable angst ensues. The two separate
when Imogen goes home with a guy named Jim
Morrison.
The saving grace of this film is Prinze’s abili
ty to play the part of the heart-broken male with
such sincerity. Such a great face looking so sad is
enough to make the audience want Imogen to
come back to him. Luckily for the film, if not for
Al, she does. (Grade: C-)
— Emily Harrell
Isn't She Great
Starring: Bette Midler
and Nathan Lane
Directed by Andrew Bergman
Sweet and funny, Isn't She Great is an engaging
movie — but, unfortunately, it is not a great movie.
In fact, it is a shame that such outstanding talent was
assembled for such a weakly directed movie.
The movie relates the true-life story of Jacque
line Susann (Midler), a woman obsessed with be
coming famous, and her publieist/husband Irving
Mansfield (Lane), who was determined to see her
dreams come true. Her mission suffers many set
backs until the publication of Valley of the Dolls, a
novel which creates a stir of controversy for its
brazen, and often vulgar, story of sex and drugs. The
hook becomes a nationwide sensation.
Many older viewers wil 1 probably remember the
book even if they never read it and consequently
may find the story more interesting than younger
viewers who are unfamiliar with the book.
No matter what your age, it is extremely enter
taining to watch Midler turn in an delightful over-
the-top performance.
Utilizing a screenplay with funny one-liners and
not much else, director Bergman {Striptease) creates
a light-hearted movie. Every scene is brightly lit,
even at night, and the sets are decorated with bright
and flamboyant colors. While this seems to have
been done intentionally, one wishes there could have
been more depth to the storytelling. For those in
terested in a light comedy that is fairly straight
forward, this is the movie for you; however, for
those who expect more realism in movies based
on true-life events, this movie will be sorely dis
appointing. (Grade: C)
— Matt McCormick
^Drummers of West Africa storm their way through Texas A&M
BY JUSTIN GARRETT
The Battalion
Masters of their genre, the world
enewned Drummers of West Africa
iave performed across the globe,
ipeped for the Rolling Stones and at-
ainjed international status as one of the
, , nosi creative and talented percussion
k up a single copy of The Battalion T i
T. m m in imi$i ‘joforthesc fchcstras in the world. The group will
, ill Rudder Auditorium with thunderous
- I,ill .uni .print: semesters and MO®-.;,.
aem univniMiv PeriodicalsEi' 1 ’ibal rhythm Saturday at 3 p.m.
he orchestra is conducted by the
ty in the Division of Student Media,
oom phone: 845-3313; Fax. 845!
Battalion. For campus, local, and naN
ire in 015 Reed McDonald, and office
Reed McDonald Building, Texas
legendary Doudou N’Diaye Rose and
consists of 35 performers.
“The Drummers of West Africa re
cently opened for The Rolling Stones....
Unfortunately it was one of the tours 1
didn’t get to see,” Dave Salmon, pro
gram adviser for MSC Town Hall, said.
Rose has also collaborated on vari
ous projects with other popular artists
such as Miles Davis, Peter Gabriel and
Dizzy Gillespie. Native to Senegal, the
group’s music is rooted in traditional
African melody.
However, Rose, a conductive mas
ter, incorporates rhythms popularly
used in rock, jazz and other distinct
genres, giving his music a rich, world
ly quality. Rose experiments regularly
with new arrangements and styles
sometimes incorporating up to 100
drummers.
Salmon said although he has never
seen a live show, he said he was still
drawn deeply into the experience
which includes dancing and elaborate
costumes.
“The cultural value of witnessing
this event is phenomenal,” Salmon said.
The Drummers of West Africa are
currently on a world-wide tour.
When MSC Town Hall discovered
the group’s tour went through Texas,
they acted quickly to secure a date.
“I found out they would be coming
through Texas; 1 saw the opportunity,
and I took it,” Shimon said.
After Texas, the performers will
venture west for more dates, bringing
a truly African experience to each city.
Who: Th
m
rs of West
JL
When; Saturday,
CsTJa
Where: Rudder Audito
A