For the second time in two days I find myself wanting to post something about one of Ray's friends/colleagues/collaborators, so I thought we ought to have a special thread for this very purpose. Here's my first offering:

Richrd Matheson (and son) are shopping the former's stories and scripts around Hollywood, looking for production deals - capitalising on recent high profile adaptations of RM's works such as I AM LEGEND and REAL STEEL. Full details here:

http://www.variety.com/article...18043997?refCatId=13

For those who don't know, RM is about 6 years younger than Ray, and Ray helped him in his early career. They both wrote for THE TWILIGHT ZONE, and RM adapted RB's THE MARTIAN CHRONICLES for TV.

Just to keep things neat and tidy, here's a duplicate of a post I made yesterday about another Bradbury pal:

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Slightly off-topic, but Ray's friend and sometime collaborator Norman Lloyd recently contributed to a re-premier of the recently discovered film from Alfred Hitchcock's early career. It sounds as if Norman was on good form, as ever:

http://www.alfredhitchcockgeek...cocks-lost-film.html
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For those who don't know, Norman worked with Bradbury on the ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS/ALFRED HITCHCOCK HOUR TV shows. NL not only produced them, he directed some of the Bradbury stories.

This is my last one for now!

Salem Press, publishers of the literary studies series CRITICAL INSIGHTS has just published its volume on Ray's friend Harlan Ellison. I haven't seen the book yet (it costs a cool $85, so best to pester your local librarian to buy a copy...), but it's edited by Joe Francavilla, who has written some important short studies of Ellison's work.

Full details here:
http://salempress.com/Store/sa...insights/ellison.htm

Bradbury was a key early influence on Ellison's writing and writing career, and in some ways their career paths (pulp magazines, TV & film scripts, books) have paralleled.

Thanks for the tip on Norman Lloyd's work. I have not been able to find this in the past. This gives me hope that I will be able to reengage this work. Thanks again.

quote:

Originally posted by mattbrady:
Thanks for the tip on Norman Lloyd's work. I have not been able to find this in the past. This gives me hope that I will be able to reengage this work. Thanks again.

Any particular items you are looking for, mattbrady? Many of the Hitchocks are available on DVD.

Brian Sibley, friend of RB and adapter of RB's works for radio, has posted one of his earlier radio pieces which has something of a Halloween theme:

http://briansibleysblog.blogsp...vilish-dialogue.html

Another Brian Sibley blog post, this time about a Dickens' CHRISTMAS CAROL-inspired event he is staging in London:

http://briansibleysblog.blogsp...11/magic-humbug.html

I wasn't entirely sure whether Ray knew the late Anne McCaffrey (although as near-contemporaries it seemed likely that they would have met at some point). So I did a Google search and found this grainy photo:

http://www.myspace.com/pworlds...mageId%22%3A4642597}

quote:

Originally posted by philnic:
Another Brian Sibley blog post, this time about a Dickens' CHRISTMAS CAROL-inspired event he is staging in London:

http://briansibleysblog.blogsp...11/magic-humbug.html

Two can play at this little game. Tickets still available.

http://libertytheater.tix.com/...anizationNumber=2401

Brian Sibley again, this time posting a musical work he created with composer Dave Hewson:

http://briansibleysblog.blogsp...t-dark-carnival.html

Mr Sibley's latest opus, heralding that of Peter Jackson:

http://briansibleysblog.blogsp...09/wizard-cover.html

I collaborated with Ray on what would become his final project. In fact, he and I were working on it right up until he passed, so he truly did make good on his promise of getting his work done!

And now, work is beginning on the post-production. The footage we've captured is gorgeous, and we have high expectations for the finished film. In an attempt to raise much-needed funds for the costs involved with the post-production, my associate producer has started a campaign. You can see more and have an opportunity to be involved with the creation of this magnificent piece of art here:

http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/209304?c=home

You can also read more about its creation here:

http://www.slatoffsculpture.co...gallery/frelectrico/

We're working on the trailer and will post that when it becomes available. I screened a clip at Ray's 92nd birthday bash and everyone loved it. Looking forryward to the final cut!

Harlan Ellison just posted this on his message board:

quote:

Spent some extended time in telecon with Tina Bradbury (one of Ray's daughters) about This and Ray and that and Ray. Sweet woman. Because Ray and I were so close--he being a non-driver, and I being a frequent steering-wheel beard when we were booked to the same gig so often--I never got to know her very well. Most excellent lady. She complimented me on the memoir I wrote to my last story, WEARINESS, for the Bradbury memorial SHADOW PLAY anthology. Sweet.

Thanks, it's lovely to hear such things.

Speaking of Norman Lloyd, he recently turned 98 and was honored with a special American Cinematheque tribute on Nov. 8 (his actual birthday) at the Egyptian Theatre in Los Angeles. He's booked for the TCM cruise in January and still travels to film festivals all over the world.

We wanted to try to make it out to L.A. for the birthday party, but schedules here at home prevented us from doing so. Norman was thrilled with the event, which featured screenings of several of his ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS/ALFRED HITCHCOCK HOUR episodes, including "The Jar" (they used a copy I loaned to Norman) and "Design for Loving" (based on "Marionettes, Inc."). I'm attaching a photo of Norman and my children from our most recent visit with him in April of this year. (His wife of 75 years, Peggy Lloyd, passed away last August. His daughter is former actress Josie Lloyd, best remembered for her roles in THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW, TWILIGHT ZONE and the HITCHCOCK series.)

Anita and I had also hoped to make it out last month for Norman Corwin's memorial service, but we were tied up preparing for our annual Pillar of Fire Halloween show (and Bradbury memorial event), LONG AFTER MIDNIGHT: A HALLOWEEN SALUTE TO RAY BRADBURY (1920-2012).

If you haven't already, check out our Pillar of Fire page on Facebook for news of upcoming Bradbury-related events as well as rare photos, videos, and news of Bradbury collaborators like Norman. May he live forever! Here's the link -- please find us and "Like" use!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/...2351536487983?ref=hl

Terry Pace
pillaroffire@bellsouth.net

"God, here and there, makes madness a calling." -- Ray Bradbury (1920-2012)