James Whitmore Jr. was born into the home of peripatetic, bombastic and pure actor; James Whitmore and his understanding and charming bride Nancy. Little Jimmy was inundated with the harrowing realities of the performers life.
Eve Gordon's most recent work when this profile was first published was starring in the November 1999 ABC TV movie about the Partridge Family. Eve played Shirley Jones. She also had a recurring role as Felicity's mother on the popular TV series "Felicity". Other episodic work she's done includes "The Practice" and "Party of Five". Eve has starred in three series on Network Television. The first was "Almost Grown", with Tim Daly, created by David Chase, who went on to create "The Sopranos".
The last eight surviving Munchkins from "The Wizard of Oz" share their memories in this 1993 documentary hosted by Oz historian John Fricke.
Judith Hoag clearly wanted to be an actress from a very early age. It was a positive outlet, a way to channel all of that energy. Her 4th grade music teacher said she was "given to histrionics". Her mother called her "Sarah Heartburn".
You served your apprenticeship originally with Roger Corman working on horror movies. Was that a good apprenticeship?
quote-leftOh yeah. Aside from the fact that it was the only apprenticeship possible, the only way to gain that experience. Nowadays there are many people like Roger making so-called exploitation films. But in those days there was nothing other than Roger, and I was lucky to become his personal assistant, and he assigned me many many different jobs, from editing and writing to being a sound recordist, cameraman - you name it, I did it for him. And although the pay was, of course, very very poor, what you gained in experience and confidence more than made up for it.
What would a normal "Simpsons" work schedule be like for you?
quote-leftWhen we're on a week-to-week schedule, what I will normally do is spot an episode on Friday afternoon. The music editor will prepare my timing notes on Saturday and Sunday and then I'll start writing, usually Monday morning if it's a "normal" episode of "30 cues or less." If it's more than that, I'll sometimes start on Sunday to get a jump on things and then I'll put in probably four long days—Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday—of maybe nine in the morning until 11:30 or midnight every day. And then we spot the next week's episode Friday afternoon again and I'll record the cues that I've composed during the past week on Friday night starting at seven. We usually have anywhere from a three to a three-and-a-half hour recording session to do those 30 cues. Every week is different on "The Simpsons" as you know. It really is dependent on whether it's straight underscore type of recording that I have to do or if I have to record vocals—if I have to do orchestral sweeteners of songs that I've written in the past. So, it's never a dull moment.
In a few minutes I'll ask you about Beloved, and about Storefront Hitchcock, but before I do I'd just like to do a little canter over some other parts of your career. I know you've talked a lot about your time in the Corman stable in the 1970s and your development through the work you did there and the movies you made with Roger Corman. I wanted to ask you about what the single most important thing was that you learnt from Roger Corman in terms of that background that really gave you the opportunity to become a director?
quote-leftI think it was probably that it was completely understood that if you didn't complete the days work on any given day that you would be replaced. That instilled in me a very strong discipline and a sense that first and foremost your priority was to keep the movie on schedule and on budget, and that's one way you get to stay on the job. That was very valuable. Roger also said something I'll never forget. He said that as far as he was concerned the formula for a director was 40 per cent artist, 60 per cent businessman. He also had a little pat speech that he'd give you before you did your first directing job, a lot of really good rules - stuff that most movie goers know anyway - just ways to keep the eye entertained, the value of well-motivated camera movement... that kind of thing. He was great. We called it the Roger Corman school of film technique. You really did learn on the job.
Corey Eubanks will disclose the startling truth about what really took place during the filming of some of the biggest television shows and feature films Hollywood has ever produced, including “The Dukes of Hazzard” – “The Fall-Guy” – “The A-Team” “TRANSFORMERS” - “THE FAST AND FURIOUS” and “TERMINATOR GENISYS”.
After more than fifty years in show business, actress Shelley Morrison, who played the wisecracking Rosario on the hit NBC series "Will and Grace," has more than her share of stories. This veteran of the big and small screen has also augmented her professional life with ties to her family and community that have made her a compelling person as well as a skilled performer.
Jinks/Cohen Company
A sexually frustrated suburban father has a mid-life crisis after becoming infatuated with his daughter's best friend.
Sage Advise to a Young Oregonian, Barbara Niven
If you want to make it in show business, get the hell out of Oregon!
No passion in the world is equal to the passion to alter someone else's draft.
I'll give you a definite maybe.
To young actor. Eugene Roach on the subject of acting
Don't ever let 'em catch you at it.
Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens.
The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can't find them, make them!
My mother never saw the irony in calling me a son-of-a-bitch.
Television enables you to be entertained in your home by people you wouldn't have in your home.
From the moment I picked your book up until I laid it down I was convulsed with laughter. Some day I intend reading it.
The faster I write the better my output. If I'm going slow I'm in trouble. It means I'm pushing the words instead of being pulled by them.
What's this business of being a writer?
It's just putting one word after another.
I can't wait to one day shoot in Detroit and say 'Let's have this double for Toronto'.
The camera makes everyone a tourist in other people's reality, and eventually in one's own.
Sometimes a scream is better than a thesis.
The difference between fiction and reality? Fiction has to make sense
Women might be able to fake orgasms. But men can fake whole relationships.
The problem with television is that the people must sit and keep their eyes glued on a screen; the average American family hasn’t time for it. Therefore, the showmen are…
The problem is not that television presents us with entertaining subject matter,
but, that all subject matter is presented as entertaining.…
It is difficult to produce a television documentary that is both incisive and probing when every twelve minutes one is interrupted by twelve dancing rabbits singing about toilet paper.
Seeing a murder on television, can help work off one's antagonisms.
And if you haven't any antagonisms, the commercials will give you some!
It's kind of fun to do the impossible.
You don't write because you want to say something; you write because you've got something to say.
The movies are the only business where you can go out front and applaud yourself.
When asked what he thought of William Shakespeare
I'll moider da bum!
Kiss and make up...
but too much makeup has ruined many a kiss.
From: "Tuesday's with Morrie"
We must learn to love one another or die.... We must!
I never forget a face, but in your case I'll be glad to make an exception.
When you're down and out, something always turns up -- and it's usually the noses of your friends.
All I need to make a comedy is a park, a policeman and a pretty girl.
Who the hell wants to hear actors talk?
Television has done much for psychiatry by spreading information about it, as well as contributing to the need for it.
Advise to a young Richard Roundtree
Whatever you do in this business, It's much easier than lifting heavy things.
The remarkable thing about television is that it permits several million people to laugh at the same joke and still feel lonely.
I don't want to achieve immortality through my work; I want to achieve immortality through not dying.
Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft might win by favoring to attempt.
No matter how slow the film, Spirit always stands still long enough for the photographer it has chosen.
I must say that I find television very educational. The minute somebody turns it on, I go to the library and read a book.
I think there is a world market for maybe five computers.
I saw a woman wearing a sweatshirt with 'Guess' on it.
I said, Thyroid problem?
Do, or do not. - There is no 'try'..
Writing is the only profession where no one considers you ridiculous if you earn no money.
While attending a Production Meeting
This is no place to ask questions!!
Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic
Life ain't no dress rehearsal.
Imitation is the sincerest form of television.
The one function TV news performs very well is that when there is no news we give it to you with the same emphasis as if there were.
The difference between sex and love is that sex relieves tension and love causes it.
I don't know anything about music. In my line you don't have to.
The world is a fine place and worth the fighting for and I hate very much to leave it.
Why should people go out and pay to see bad films when they can stay at home and see bad television for nothing?
The embarrassing thing is that the salad dressing is outgrossing my films.
