Jules Feiffer + SUTHERLAND = win

[thehefner]

Someday, I WILL perform this monologue at someone's wedding. Even if I have to sabotage a total stranger's wedding to do it.

The best part is that Sutherland is a pastor for The First Existential Church of Christ, whose motto is, "Christ died for our sins. Dare we mock his martyrdom by not committing them?"

Why oh why don't I own LITTLE MURDERS on DVD? Probably because I'm still ashamed of the fact that I never followed up on that chance to work on a movie based on the works of Jules Feiffer, with permission from the man himself. Stupid college, real life, and more important personal projects that matter more to me in the long run! Damn them all!

Still, a part of me still thinks I should do the damn thing before the guy, y'know, DIES.

But then, that story is so old, only about three of you here probably remember when I posted about that. That's 2004 shit, man.

Comments

[little-dinosaur.livejournal.com]

That's fucking amazing.

Also, what?

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Do you know who Jules Feiffer is? Let me ask that first.

[little-dinosaur.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I was really into "A Barrel of Laughs, A Vale of Tears" when I was younger. I know vaguely what he's been up to, and "Little Murders" is on my list of movies to see before I die, but I haven't gotten around to it yet.

The "what?" was more about the movie story, which I wasn't around for.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

I think/hope this is the movie story you're talking about, and not, like, the plot of LITTLE MURDERS or something.

Well, back around 2003 or so, I discovered the cartoons of Jules Feiffer. I don't know if you've ever seen one of his cartoons, but... well, a hint of things to come, you're getting something in the mail that's very, very inspired by them.

His cartoons were cartoon monologues, for lack of a better term. Cartoon beat poetry, or maybe cartoon open mic. And through these cartoons, his characters told stories and displayed charactertistics that revealed the real dark side of neurosis and insecurity. Sorta like PEANUTS, only without the pretense of being for all ages, and sorta like Woody Allen, only with a knife.

And my favorite recurring character was this one guy Bernard Mergandeiler. I absolutely adored the Bernard cartoons, and realized that I could easily do an entire play (or maybe even a movie). Now, Jules had already written two plays based on his cartoons, which were little more than plotless collections of his monologues, with nothing really tying them together.

So after several months of trying to go through his assistant, I actually, one morning, got a CALL from Jules Feiffer! He seemed a little uncertain as to what I thought the big deal was, or my commitment to it (ha), but as long as I understood that he had the final go-ahead in the end, I was absolutely free to do it. That was in 2004.

And then senior year of college happened. Which is to say, Tammy, Misty, six major roles in plays, writing an entire novel, Hefner Monologues, and so on. Which, obviously, is where we're still at.

And again, a part of me still thinks that I should do it before the dude dies, because he will is one of my heroes, absolutely. But I just don't have the drive right now, y'know? So whenever I see his name now, I'm filled with mixed admiration and shame.

[little-dinosaur.livejournal.com]

I've seen his illustration, but not much of his cartooning. I googled a bit, though, and I like them.
Mail things! How exciting.
Wow. It's pretty cool how most of your hero stories end with "and then when I met the guy, he was really nice/impressed/enthusiastic!!" Most people don't actually manage to engage with the objects of their fanhood. I don't, anyway. Except for when I got a hug from Jonathan Richman.
Yeah, I can see how all that'd hiccup your Feiffer schemes. But that's pretty awesome that he approved it, even if it's not off the ground. One day, maybe.

[civilbloodshed.livejournal.com]

Uh, dude, I think the theme for today is Weddings-I-Would-Give-My-Right-Eye-To-Attend. I spent all this moring laughing myself sick when I found out Gerard Way was engaged, and all I could think was, "What? Like, to a woman?" Then later I read a peice of fanfiction a friend wrote about a dog wedding, and now this. OH, DONALD.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Truly, it was meant to be.

As I'm likely gonna say a lot in this thread, if you can find the DVD of LITTLE MURDERS, oh my goodness, yes, see it. It's one of the darkest goddamn comedies you will ever see. Preacher!Sutherland is just one wonderful tidbit.

[civilbloodshed.livejournal.com]

Oh what, LIKE THIS ONE? $10, wtf that is awesome!

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Oh man, that's fucking criminal that it should be so cheap, but yay me! I'm so getting it.

Seriously, it's a fucked-up story. Very '70's, in terms of how NYC was then compared to how it is today; I'd have no idea if this play could exactly work the same way, post-911... but I'd love to see someone try.

[civilbloodshed.livejournal.com]

Yay, my leet-fu has paid off. I;m getting someone to buy me this.

[adaptor.livejournal.com]

"He is seperated, still masturbating, but he is at peace with himself."

That is fantastic.

That is all.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

You should absolutely seek out the play/movie of LITTLE MURDERS. The whole thing is bloody fantastic, but absolutely one of the darkest goddamn comedies you will EVER see.

[suburbfabulous.livejournal.com]

Must hunt DVD.
Like dark comedies.
Dog with head split open.

[suburbfabulous.livejournal.com]

Just remember, John: we can't always do all the things our heroes demand/suggest.
Why, Richard Roundtree, Fred Williamson, William Smith, and Antonio Fargas told me to go get in a bar fight. That was 1999, and I still haven't done it.

[gore-whore-5.livejournal.com]

Holy shit that's awesome. I can totally see you doing that. He even looks a little like you with his hair and beard like that.