"It Only Takes a Moment" (Morrow. 345 pages. $24.95), by Mary Jane Clark: For Mary Jane Clark fans, the most thrilling TV network has to be KEY. The fictional company has some very nasty anchors, producers and correspondents who would do anything -- even murder -- to get what they want. Decent employees of the network regularly become killers' targets and must use their sleuthing talents to stay alive.
The author, a former writer and producer for CBS News, is good at dreaming up scary happenings involving KEY staffers and describing them in lucid prose and succinct chapters that do not strain the patience of TV-age readers.
Her novels are essentially like Agatha Christie's whodunits, but they have a hard, contemporary edge that enhances the fear factor. They are so addictive, in fact, that her readers would surely suffer withdrawal symptoms unless they kept coming on a regular basis.
Her latest effort, "It Only Takes a Moment," just arrived in the middle of summer, but dismayingly, it fails to provide the arctic chills her readers have come to expect.
The protagonist -- or victim -- is Eliza Blake, host of the top-rated KEY News morning show. Poor Eliza. Terrible things always happen to her. She was almost murdered in Clark's three previous novels, "When Day Breaks," "Do You Want to Know a Secret?" and "Close to You." Now, bad people have kidnapped her precious 7-year-old daughter, Janie, and her caretaker, Carmen Garcia.
One anonymous letter mentions Janie and asks Eliza: "Can you imagine what your life would be like without her? Janie better appreciate how lucky she is to have you, because it only takes a moment for life to change forever."
Indeed, the TV star's life changes overnight from a glamorous and fulfilling one to that of agony and fear. Her home in the peaceful suburban community of Ho-Ho-Kus, N.J., is overrun by investigating FBI agents, concerned KEY colleagues and media people waiting for news breaks. A single mother whose husband died of cancer, Eliza is frantic with the real possibility of losing Janie. In desperation, she even turns to a psychic for help.
Eliza's anguish comes through loud and clear in the novel, but suspense never builds. There are a few suspects, but they are total strangers to Eliza, and not very convincing or interesting ones at that.
The literary devices Clark so effectively used in "Nowhere to Run" and other books are AWOL: No twisted character hiding behind a friendly mask, no beguiling red herrings, no titillating hints, no soliloquies by an unidentified murderer plotting his or her next move. Clark does her usual good job with a surprise ending, but it is too little, too late.
Taken as a whole, though, her 11 novels attest that she is one of the most talented story tellers around. If she keeps on the right track, she could very well claim to be "the Queen of Suspense" one day -- the title currently bestowed by some on her former mother-in-law, Mary Higgins Clark.
Rabu, 30 Juli 2008
Rosemary Ingham, Costume Designer and Author, Dies at 71 (Playbill)
Over her long and varied career, Ms. Ingham educated herself at four different universities and taught at a few more. She was the first costume manager at the Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven, CT, and managed the costume shop at the Milwaukee Repertory Theater from 1973 to 1978. In 2003, she helped create the Great River Shakespeare Festival, which presents Shakespearean plays along the Mississippi River each June and July.
She was born in Charlottesville, VA, and aimed at a nursing career while attending the University of Virginia. The combination of sewing costumes for the theatre department in her spare time, and meeting and marrying Robert Ingham, an actor and playwright, in 1959, steered her in the direction of the stage.
The peripatetic Ms. Ingham studied playwriting and design at the Yale School of Drama in the early 1960s. While there, she became involved in the creation of the Long Wharf Theatre, heading the costume shop. Productions during its first few season invariably had costume designs by Ms. Ingham. A move with her family to Montana led her to complete her bachelors degree in English at the University of Montana in 1973. She spent the next five years in the Midwest, at Milwaukee Rep.
With designer Liz Covey, she wrote three books on costume design, "The Costumers Handbook," "The Costume Designers Handbook" and "The Costume Technicians Handbook." In 1998, Ms. Ingham wrote "From Page to Stage: How Theatre Designers Make Connections Between Texts and Images." Covey and Ms. Ingham received the Golden Pen Award of the U.S. Institute for Theatre Technology in 2004. In 2006, she received the institutes Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award.
Ms. Ingham taught for four years at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, and taught at the University of Mary Washington from 1989 to 2001. She never ceased to educate herself, even as she was an educator. She took a masters degree in liberal arts from St. Johns College in Annapolis in 1995.
Ms. Ingham was the director of costuming for The Great River Shakespeare Festival. When it was founded in 2004, the festival was one of the largest Equity companies to open in a decade in the Midwest. Attendance increased by 23 percent from season one to season two, and by 15 percent from season two to season three.
Her husband died in 1992. She is survived by her four sons, Robert "Ted" Ingham, on Montpelier, VT; Richard Ingham of Alexandria, VA; James Ingham of Palo Alto, CA; and Stephen Ingham of Verona, Italy; and four grandchildren.
She was born in Charlottesville, VA, and aimed at a nursing career while attending the University of Virginia. The combination of sewing costumes for the theatre department in her spare time, and meeting and marrying Robert Ingham, an actor and playwright, in 1959, steered her in the direction of the stage.
The peripatetic Ms. Ingham studied playwriting and design at the Yale School of Drama in the early 1960s. While there, she became involved in the creation of the Long Wharf Theatre, heading the costume shop. Productions during its first few season invariably had costume designs by Ms. Ingham. A move with her family to Montana led her to complete her bachelors degree in English at the University of Montana in 1973. She spent the next five years in the Midwest, at Milwaukee Rep.
With designer Liz Covey, she wrote three books on costume design, "The Costumers Handbook," "The Costume Designers Handbook" and "The Costume Technicians Handbook." In 1998, Ms. Ingham wrote "From Page to Stage: How Theatre Designers Make Connections Between Texts and Images." Covey and Ms. Ingham received the Golden Pen Award of the U.S. Institute for Theatre Technology in 2004. In 2006, she received the institutes Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award.
Ms. Ingham taught for four years at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, and taught at the University of Mary Washington from 1989 to 2001. She never ceased to educate herself, even as she was an educator. She took a masters degree in liberal arts from St. Johns College in Annapolis in 1995.
Ms. Ingham was the director of costuming for The Great River Shakespeare Festival. When it was founded in 2004, the festival was one of the largest Equity companies to open in a decade in the Midwest. Attendance increased by 23 percent from season one to season two, and by 15 percent from season two to season three.
Her husband died in 1992. She is survived by her four sons, Robert "Ted" Ingham, on Montpelier, VT; Richard Ingham of Alexandria, VA; James Ingham of Palo Alto, CA; and Stephen Ingham of Verona, Italy; and four grandchildren.
Creedence Clearwater albums to be reissued (Reuters)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The first six albums of California rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival are being reissued on September 30 with bonus tracks and new liner notes, Concord Music Group said on Tuesday.
The reissued albums, which have been digitally remastered and will be presented in DigiPaks, are: "Creedence Clearwater Revival," "Bayou Country," "Green River," "Willy & the Poor Boys," "Cosmos Factory" and "Pendulum," all originally released from 1968 to 1970.
Among the many extras are unreleased studio versions of "Down on the Corner" and "Born on the Bayou," which were recorded with Booker T & the MGs. The tracks appear on "Willy & the Poor Boys" and "Cosmos Factory," respectively.
The announcement comes about three years after Creedence singer/songwriter John Fogerty re-signed as a solo artist with Concords Fantasy Records label, for which Creedence recorded in the late 60s and early 70s.
Concord bought Fantasy in 2004 from Fogertys nemesis, Saul Zaentz, and has been mending bridges with Fogerty, such as paying performance royalties on his back catalog.
Creedence, one of the great American bands to emerge in the late 1960s, recorded for Berkeley, Calif.-based Fantasy until it broke up in 1972. Fogerty had signed away his copyrights to such tunes as "Fortunate Son" and "Bad Moon Rising," and spent the ensuing decades in legal battles with Zaentz.
He once immortalized Zaentz in a song called "Zanz Kant Danz," while Zaentz countered with a plagiarism lawsuit, claiming that Fogertys solo song "The Old Man Down the Road" ripped off the Creedence hit "Run Through the Jungle." The litigation went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.
(Reporting by Dean Goodman)
The reissued albums, which have been digitally remastered and will be presented in DigiPaks, are: "Creedence Clearwater Revival," "Bayou Country," "Green River," "Willy & the Poor Boys," "Cosmos Factory" and "Pendulum," all originally released from 1968 to 1970.
Among the many extras are unreleased studio versions of "Down on the Corner" and "Born on the Bayou," which were recorded with Booker T & the MGs. The tracks appear on "Willy & the Poor Boys" and "Cosmos Factory," respectively.
The announcement comes about three years after Creedence singer/songwriter John Fogerty re-signed as a solo artist with Concords Fantasy Records label, for which Creedence recorded in the late 60s and early 70s.
Concord bought Fantasy in 2004 from Fogertys nemesis, Saul Zaentz, and has been mending bridges with Fogerty, such as paying performance royalties on his back catalog.
Creedence, one of the great American bands to emerge in the late 1960s, recorded for Berkeley, Calif.-based Fantasy until it broke up in 1972. Fogerty had signed away his copyrights to such tunes as "Fortunate Son" and "Bad Moon Rising," and spent the ensuing decades in legal battles with Zaentz.
He once immortalized Zaentz in a song called "Zanz Kant Danz," while Zaentz countered with a plagiarism lawsuit, claiming that Fogertys solo song "The Old Man Down the Road" ripped off the Creedence hit "Run Through the Jungle." The litigation went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.
(Reporting by Dean Goodman)
Hollywood takes a back seat at Venice film festival (Reuters)
ROME (Reuters) - Big Hollywood studios will take a back seat at this years Venice film festival, with the competition lineup highlighting independent U.S. cinema, Italian productions and Japanese animation movies.
Festival director Marco Mueller said the lighter Hollywood presence was partly due to disruptions caused by a 14-week writers strike that ended in February, meaning the release of some films had to be postponed.
"Some of the films which would have normally been ready in time for Venice now wont be released until December or later," Mueller told a news conference, unveiling the program of the festivals 65th edition.
Last year, U.S. and British films dominated the lineup, with nearly half of the films in the main competition.
This year, only five English-language movies -- all listed as U.S. productions -- will vie for the top prize at the worlds oldest film festival.
Among them is Jonathan Demmes "Rachel Getting Married," starring Anne Hathaway and Debra Winger in the story of a woman returning home for her sisters wedding after spending 10 years in and out of rehabilitation centers.
The other U.S. films in the main contest, all by lesser-known or first-time directors, include "The Burning Plain" -- a family drama with Kim Basinger and Charlize Theron -- and "The Wrestler," with Mickey Rourke in the lead role.
Italy and Japan loom large over the rest of the 21-film competition, with four and three movies respectively. Two of the Japanese offerings are animation films, including "Ponyo on Cliff by the Sea" by cult director Hayao Miyazaki.
Outside competition, "Burn After Reading" by Oscar-winning directors Joel and Ethan Coen will open the 11-day movie marathon on August 27.
The film, starring George Clooney and Brad Pitt, should bring to the Venice red carpet some of the Hollywood star power that is critical to the success of any festival.
Veteran film-makers Manoel de Oliveira, who turns 100 this year, and Mario Monicelli will present two short works at the festival, which traditionally combines obscure art house cinema with A-list celebrities.
For the second year running the unofficial prize for the longest film will go to Filipino director Lav Diaz, whose "Melancholia" runs for seven-and-a-half hours.
(Reporting by Silvia Aloisi, editing by Paul Casciato)
Festival director Marco Mueller said the lighter Hollywood presence was partly due to disruptions caused by a 14-week writers strike that ended in February, meaning the release of some films had to be postponed.
"Some of the films which would have normally been ready in time for Venice now wont be released until December or later," Mueller told a news conference, unveiling the program of the festivals 65th edition.
Last year, U.S. and British films dominated the lineup, with nearly half of the films in the main competition.
This year, only five English-language movies -- all listed as U.S. productions -- will vie for the top prize at the worlds oldest film festival.
Among them is Jonathan Demmes "Rachel Getting Married," starring Anne Hathaway and Debra Winger in the story of a woman returning home for her sisters wedding after spending 10 years in and out of rehabilitation centers.
The other U.S. films in the main contest, all by lesser-known or first-time directors, include "The Burning Plain" -- a family drama with Kim Basinger and Charlize Theron -- and "The Wrestler," with Mickey Rourke in the lead role.
Italy and Japan loom large over the rest of the 21-film competition, with four and three movies respectively. Two of the Japanese offerings are animation films, including "Ponyo on Cliff by the Sea" by cult director Hayao Miyazaki.
Outside competition, "Burn After Reading" by Oscar-winning directors Joel and Ethan Coen will open the 11-day movie marathon on August 27.
The film, starring George Clooney and Brad Pitt, should bring to the Venice red carpet some of the Hollywood star power that is critical to the success of any festival.
Veteran film-makers Manoel de Oliveira, who turns 100 this year, and Mario Monicelli will present two short works at the festival, which traditionally combines obscure art house cinema with A-list celebrities.
For the second year running the unofficial prize for the longest film will go to Filipino director Lav Diaz, whose "Melancholia" runs for seven-and-a-half hours.
(Reporting by Silvia Aloisi, editing by Paul Casciato)
Jack White, Alicia Keys Bond Over 007 Theme (E! Online)
Los Angeles (E! Online) - Heres a match made ina lab?
With Amy Winehouse long out of commission, Alicia Keys has signed on to lend her sultry, soulful pipes to the new theme song being readied for the upcoming James Bond installment, Quantum of Solace, by alt-rocker Jack White.
The male half of the White Stripes, who wrote and produced the tune, called Another Way to Die, will also play drums. The films soundtrack is due out Oct. 28, while the movie itself, the second 007 flick featuring hunky blond Bond Daniel Craig, hits theaters Nov. 7.
Keys involvement in the production was first reported by E! Onlines own Marc Malkin.
White and Keys collaboration marks the first time a duo have tackled the Bond song, which hopefully will be more Thunderball (Tom Jones = suave and sophisticated) than Die Another Day (Madonna = Pierce Brosnan getting his ass kicked in a Korean prison).
The tradition of having a specialized theme harkens back to English cabaret star Matt Monros treatment of the title song from 1963s From Russia With Love.
Hitmakers who have lent their vocals for the use of her majestys secret service over the years include Paul McCartney and Wings (Live and Let Die), Carly Simon (Nobody Does It Better originated on The Spy Who Loved Me soundtrack), Sheena Easton (For Your Eyes Only), a-ha (the purveyors of The Living Daylights as well as 80s favorite Take on Me), Duran Duran (A View to a Kill), Gladys Knight (License to Kill), Tina Turner (GoldenEye), Garbage (The World Is Not Enough) and, most recently, Chris Cornell, who crooned You Know My Name for Casino Royale.
U.K. pop stars Leona Lewis and Duffy were also rumored to be in contention for Quantum of Solace honors before the job was handed over to White and Keys, who are sure to add a certain that sounds like a marimba! je ne sais quoi to the 22nd Bond adventure.
With Amy Winehouse long out of commission, Alicia Keys has signed on to lend her sultry, soulful pipes to the new theme song being readied for the upcoming James Bond installment, Quantum of Solace, by alt-rocker Jack White.
The male half of the White Stripes, who wrote and produced the tune, called Another Way to Die, will also play drums. The films soundtrack is due out Oct. 28, while the movie itself, the second 007 flick featuring hunky blond Bond Daniel Craig, hits theaters Nov. 7.
Keys involvement in the production was first reported by E! Onlines own Marc Malkin.
White and Keys collaboration marks the first time a duo have tackled the Bond song, which hopefully will be more Thunderball (Tom Jones = suave and sophisticated) than Die Another Day (Madonna = Pierce Brosnan getting his ass kicked in a Korean prison).
The tradition of having a specialized theme harkens back to English cabaret star Matt Monros treatment of the title song from 1963s From Russia With Love.
Hitmakers who have lent their vocals for the use of her majestys secret service over the years include Paul McCartney and Wings (Live and Let Die), Carly Simon (Nobody Does It Better originated on The Spy Who Loved Me soundtrack), Sheena Easton (For Your Eyes Only), a-ha (the purveyors of The Living Daylights as well as 80s favorite Take on Me), Duran Duran (A View to a Kill), Gladys Knight (License to Kill), Tina Turner (GoldenEye), Garbage (The World Is Not Enough) and, most recently, Chris Cornell, who crooned You Know My Name for Casino Royale.
U.K. pop stars Leona Lewis and Duffy were also rumored to be in contention for Quantum of Solace honors before the job was handed over to White and Keys, who are sure to add a certain that sounds like a marimba! je ne sais quoi to the 22nd Bond adventure.
Greek Star Paddled With DUI Charges (E! Online)
Los Angeles (E! Online) - The hazing continues for Scott Michael Foster.
The 23-year-old Greek star was charged Tuesday with two misdemeanor DUI counts stemming from his arrest last week in Hollywood following a routine traffic stop.
Foster is scheduled to be arraigned Aug. 11 on charges of driving under the influence and driving with a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 percent or above.
Patrolmen pulled the actor over shortly past midnight on July 21 near the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Wilcox Avenue. After he failed field sobriety tests, Foster was booked into custody and held until about 5 a.m., when he was released after posting $5,000 bail.
Foster wasnt too rattled by the bust to return to frat-boy mode. He managed to make it to the Greek set that morning, where, a source told E! News, he was very apologetic and grateful that nothing worse happened as a result of his bad decision.
The 23-year-old Greek star was charged Tuesday with two misdemeanor DUI counts stemming from his arrest last week in Hollywood following a routine traffic stop.
Foster is scheduled to be arraigned Aug. 11 on charges of driving under the influence and driving with a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 percent or above.
Patrolmen pulled the actor over shortly past midnight on July 21 near the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Wilcox Avenue. After he failed field sobriety tests, Foster was booked into custody and held until about 5 a.m., when he was released after posting $5,000 bail.
Foster wasnt too rattled by the bust to return to frat-boy mode. He managed to make it to the Greek set that morning, where, a source told E! News, he was very apologetic and grateful that nothing worse happened as a result of his bad decision.
Sam Lutfi Won't Agree to Permanent Britney Barrier (E! Online)
Los Angeles (E! Online) - Does Sam Lutfi want back in the Britney picture? Or does he just not want some stinkin judge telling him what to do (let alone some stinkin commissioner)?
Sources tell E! News that the former member of preconservatorship Team Spears is willing to fight the restraining order thats been keeping him at least 250 yards away from his popster pal since Feb. 1.
A hearing on conservatorship issues, including whether to make the Spears familys order against Lutfi permanent, is scheduled for July 31.
Sam wont sign a permanent stay-away, a Lutfi insider says.
So far, Lutfi has quietly allowed the current order to be extended twice without appearing in court to object, with the last rollover occurring April 16.
He just agreed to it, Lutfi spokesman Michael Sands said at the time. Sam and the family are communicating and cooperating, trying to do whats best for Britney.
But while the onetime flashbulb target just wants the whole case to go away, he is apparently eager to at least clear his name, considering 2 a.m. shopping sprees and other questionable bonding experiences are a thing of the past.
If they want to go to trial, he will go to trial, the source said. He did nothing wrong.
Sources tell E! News that the former member of preconservatorship Team Spears is willing to fight the restraining order thats been keeping him at least 250 yards away from his popster pal since Feb. 1.
A hearing on conservatorship issues, including whether to make the Spears familys order against Lutfi permanent, is scheduled for July 31.
Sam wont sign a permanent stay-away, a Lutfi insider says.
So far, Lutfi has quietly allowed the current order to be extended twice without appearing in court to object, with the last rollover occurring April 16.
He just agreed to it, Lutfi spokesman Michael Sands said at the time. Sam and the family are communicating and cooperating, trying to do whats best for Britney.
But while the onetime flashbulb target just wants the whole case to go away, he is apparently eager to at least clear his name, considering 2 a.m. shopping sprees and other questionable bonding experiences are a thing of the past.
If they want to go to trial, he will go to trial, the source said. He did nothing wrong.
Langganan:
Postingan (Atom)