Kyle Smith has an interesting article in the entertainment section of today’s NY Post. There is a website, kickstarter.com, that solicits donations for ideas, some of them artistic, such as films. Recently, fans of the cancelled Veronica Mars TV show raised five million for a film version. Smith focused on Spike Lee, who is raising money for his next project, and wonders why the director, whose net worth is estimated at 40 million, doesn’t spend his own money on it. Lee hosted a $36,000 per plate fund-raiser for President Obama at his Upper East Side townhouse, which is worth millions. Although I would never ask the public to fund one of my novels nor would I donate to such ventures, I believe people are free to be stupid with their own money, even if it amounts to charity for the rich. I'm more infuriated by government waste of taxpayer dollars. The aforementioned are not investments. No donor receives any financial return. So far the Lee proposal has attracted $241,740.
I’ve neglected to mention the passing of Dennis Farina, 69, who succumbed to a blood clot last week. The son of a Sicilian immigrant doctor, he spent 18 years on the Chicago police force. His mom was also of Sicilian extraction. He began his acting career at 37 and often played cops or mobsters. He has 75 titles listed at IMDb. He appeared in 46 episodes of Law and Order as Detective Joe Fontana, replacing the beloved Jerry Orbach, which could not have been easy. One of his character’s comments remains with me, even though I viewed the episode as far back as 2006. Unfortunately, I was unable to find the exact quote online. It went something like: “I’ve tried everything once.” It was delivered with the every day subtlety that characterized the series and was left unquestioned by his partner, played by Jesse L. Martin, who simply raised an eyebrow. It had this viewer wondering: Heroin? Group sex? Gay sex? I have used this technique quite often, leaving a particular issue to the imagination of the reader, allowing him/her to fill in the blanks. L&O always trusted the intelligence of its audience. Although many of those types of remarks went over my head, it was my fault for not paying attention more closely or not being astute or versed enough to get it.
For the first time in weeks the floating book shop did not have to contend with intense heat, high humidity or the threat of rain. It was a lovely day. Marie stopped by. She is half way through Killing, having just finished my favorite part, Christmas dinner. I had to fight from getting choked up when I mentioned the wife's high heels clicking along the driveway. Since my book sales are so paltry, and I have a hard time getting readers to rate my work at Amazon, I'm not very confident in it right now, but there are instances I believe I really nailed. "You're a helluva writer," Marie said. Thank you, madam, and also to Mrs. Eclectic, who purchased eight novels, including the Charles Dickens classic, David Copperfield; and to the gentleman who bought four World War II DVDs and a Barbra Streisand CD.
Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx
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