Who would play the part?

[vlmagee]

Rob and Leslie,

I have to admit that I am very flattered by your kind words and your votes of confidence in me. I would love to write Gord's biography and have thought about it for a long time now, although I have never considered the screenplay format. Whether I will ever get to do this, I don't know, but I really appreciate it that you both think I could do it.

------------------
Valerie Magee

[dill23]

Val,

Do both. Gets you a Puletzer(hope I spelled that right) and an Oscar. Waste no time. Start today. LOL.

Rob

[Rob Wells]

Val,

Do both. Gets you a Puletzer(hope I spelled that right) and an Oscar. Waste no time. Start today. LOL.

Rob

[dill23]

Isabella,

Yeah, Like that. And this Semi pulls over after the opening credits. Gord lugs his guitar into the cab and puts it between his legs, resting his head on it.

Drive: Where you headed kid?
Gord: Home.
Driver: What's there?
Gord: A girl.
Driver: What's her name?
Gord: Marianne.

Gordon stares off at the distant mountains, as the driver rolls his cigar around in his mouth. Just the sound of the engine. Fade

[This message has been edited by Rob Wells (edited May 24, 2000).]

[Rob Wells]

Isabella,

Yeah, Like that. And this Semi pulls over after the opening credits. Gord lugs his guitar into the cab and puts it between his legs, resting his head on it.

Drive: Where you headed kid?
Gord: Home.
Driver: What's there?
Gord: A girl.
Driver: What's her name?
Gord: Marianne.

Gordon stares off at the distant mountains, as the driver rolls his cigar around in his mouth. Just the sound of the engine. Fade

[This message has been edited by Rob Wells (edited May 24, 2000).]

[Bill]

Fictionalized bios seldom do a person justice...neither do documentaries really. I'm a video producer/college professor. As I lifelong fan, I have a lot of info on Gord, but nowhere near what you guys have.

I tried to get Gord for an interview about eight years ago for a guitar documentary I was producing...was politely, but firmly turned down. (I did get a really good interview with Ian Tyson).

A VH1 show is an astronomical long shot just because of music biz economics...their documentaries have steadily gone down hill into formulaic promotional pieces. PBS or the CBC would be better options...and they would be the only ones with clout and $ enough to access rare film and video. (Burt Sugarman wouldn't license any Midnight Special footage at the time either).

But on a more optimistic note...why not pool our resources to produce something? Certainly couldn't sell it because of copyright issues...and Gord would probably get REAL ticked off (no control + who's to say what the real story is & what should be focued on). I'd love to do something, but there are some serious issues standing in the way. Anything palpable to everyone might end up being pretty thin.

Sorry for rambling.

[dill23]

Bill,

Agreed. There are many obsticles to over come. First is convincing Gordon to let us do this. We could pool the resources. I'm sure of that. This would be a docu-drama. This would also be best produced as an independant effort, likley being premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. This world is literally filled with Gordon's fans. Seems as if there's one on every corner and we are talking people in very high places. Lams and Val Magee have something of a little more than just a minor reputation in the business and there are more than just a handful of us that are very close to Gordon. Convincing him, if he knows it's us, I don't think would take that much of an effort. Especially, since these are people he trusts. The big studio's are certainly out.

If you read all of the threads on this discussion board, it its easy to see that keeping the facts straight seems to be an underlying theme for the members. Therefore I feel that keeping the storyline within reasonable boundries wouldn't be an issue.

As a parting comment, let me add, that I e-mailed The Biography Channel of The Arts and Entertainment Network just yesterday and asked why they had not done his biography as yet. I have yet to recieve a reply.

Still I like the idea of producing such a venture ourselves.

Dr. Robert Wells


[This message has been edited by Rob Wells (edited May 24, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by Rob Wells (edited May 24, 2000).]

[Rob Wells]

Bill,

Agreed. There are many obsticles to over come. First is convincing Gordon to let us do this. We could pool the resources. I'm sure of that. This would be a docu-drama. This would also be best produced as an independant effort, likley being premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. This world is literally filled with Gordon's fans. Seems as if there's one on every corner and we are talking people in very high places. Lams and Val Magee have something of a little more than just a minor reputation in the business and there are more than just a handful of us that are very close to Gordon. Convincing him, if he knows it's us, I don't think would take that much of an effort. Especially, since these are people he trusts. The big studio's are certainly out.

If you read all of the threads on this discussion board, it its easy to see that keeping the facts straight seems to be an underlying theme for the members. Therefore I feel that keeping the storyline within reasonable boundries wouldn't be an issue.

As a parting comment, let me add, that I e-mailed The Biography Channel of The Arts and Entertainment Network just yesterday and asked why they had not done his biography as yet. I have yet to recieve a reply.

Still I like the idea of producing such a venture ourselves.

Dr. Robert Wells


[This message has been edited by Rob Wells (edited May 24, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by Rob Wells (edited May 24, 2000).]

[LouiseAnne]

I'm afraid I have to agree with Bill. Anyone who would undertake a project like this WITHOUT the express permission of Gord could find themselves in somewhat of a spot both professionally AND civilly. I seriously doubt that he would take at all kindly to anyone taking it upon themselves to write up something and then put it up on the "silver screen" for the world to see without making sure that EVERYTHING is fact. And even then, there are many things he may not WANYT included in it at all. I know Kitty Kelly does that sort of thing, but .... well, she has paid dearly, believe me. And she usually waits until someone is DEAD before she writes anything at all.

This is a very fun thread, but at the risk of opening my mouth again and being beat soundly about the head and shoulders, my suggestion to you, on a serious note, it to leave a project like this to someone who not only knows the industry, but who also knows that the FIRST step is to gain the trust of the one you wish to write about and who can figure out how to do that.

Stay loose, eh?

LAMS

------------------
"Love and maple syrup
go together like the
sticky winds of winter
when they meet....
If you go into the forest
Gaze up through the trees
The sky is white.
You can understand
What makes the forest
Greet the man
Like a mother's only
child ..."

[loveandmaplesyrup]

I'm afraid I have to agree with Bill. Anyone who would undertake a project like this WITHOUT the express permission of Gord could find themselves in somewhat of a spot both professionally AND civilly. I seriously doubt that he would take at all kindly to anyone taking it upon themselves to write up something and then put it up on the "silver screen" for the world to see without making sure that EVERYTHING is fact. And even then, there are many things he may not WANYT included in it at all. I know Kitty Kelly does that sort of thing, but .... well, she has paid dearly, believe me. And she usually waits until someone is DEAD before she writes anything at all.

This is a very fun thread, but at the risk of opening my mouth again and being beat soundly about the head and shoulders, my suggestion to you, on a serious note, it to leave a project like this to someone who not only knows the industry, but who also knows that the FIRST step is to gain the trust of the one you wish to write about and who can figure out how to do that.

Stay loose, eh?

LAMS

------------------
"Love and maple syrup
go together like the
sticky winds of winter
when they meet....
If you go into the forest
Gaze up through the trees
The sky is white.
You can understand
What makes the forest
Greet the man
Like a mother's only
child ..."

[LouiseAnne]

Just HAD to come back. (Promise to shut up after this).

With regard to Bill's suggestion .... Why don't you guys get together and WRITE something ... not professionally, but all in fun. For example, Isabella came up with a very beautiful opening scene. Go with it and everyone contribute. If you would like to do it in screenplay format, I would be happy to help with the technicalities of that.

Then, when it's done, bind it nicely and present it to Gord as a sort of "tribute." I'm sure he would be touched and there would be no risk of offending him because no one would be trying to "get" anything from him. Just a group of admirers expressing themselves in a unique way.

I have a writing e-mail group at Egroups called "The Meow Mafia". It's for cat lovers. Years ago, this thing started where we were sitting around and laughing about our cats and we came up with this "parallel" to "The Godfather." We jokingly called it "The Godkitty". You can't believe what people came up with. It's priceless. (Things like characters named "Kitty Litter" and "Chihuahua Gonzalez, part of the Alley Patrol, who went undercover as a cat, but blew his cover when he lifted his leg in the litter box" -- stuff like that. Anyway, I started the writing group and it is really good fun.

I know this has nothing to do with Gord, but if you guys would like to do something like that, write a "mock" (I know that's not the right word, but you get my gist") film about him to give to him at a later date, I think that would be a very good thing.

Like that story thread that got started using song titles, which unfortunately kind of "Faded Away". And just when I wanted to find out if the guy really DID go up to Canada -- darn. We should give THAT to Gord. He would LOVE it. (Maybe we should start that again, by the way --- Florian???? Interested???)

Okay, just suggestions. I'll go away now.

Stay loose, eh?

LAMS




------------------
"Love and maple syrup
go together like the
sticky winds of winter
when they meet....
If you go into the forest
Gaze up through the trees
The sky is white.
You can understand
What makes the forest
Greet the man
Like a mother's only
child ..."

[loveandmaplesyrup]

Just HAD to come back. (Promise to shut up after this).

With regard to Bill's suggestion .... Why don't you guys get together and WRITE something ... not professionally, but all in fun. For example, Isabella came up with a very beautiful opening scene. Go with it and everyone contribute. If you would like to do it in screenplay format, I would be happy to help with the technicalities of that.

Then, when it's done, bind it nicely and present it to Gord as a sort of "tribute." I'm sure he would be touched and there would be no risk of offending him because no one would be trying to "get" anything from him. Just a group of admirers expressing themselves in a unique way.

I have a writing e-mail group at Egroups called "The Meow Mafia". It's for cat lovers. Years ago, this thing started where we were sitting around and laughing about our cats and we came up with this "parallel" to "The Godfather." We jokingly called it "The Godkitty". You can't believe what people came up with. It's priceless. (Things like characters named "Kitty Litter" and "Chihuahua Gonzalez, part of the Alley Patrol, who went undercover as a cat, but blew his cover when he lifted his leg in the litter box" -- stuff like that. Anyway, I started the writing group and it is really good fun.

I know this has nothing to do with Gord, but if you guys would like to do something like that, write a "mock" (I know that's not the right word, but you get my gist") film about him to give to him at a later date, I think that would be a very good thing.

Like that story thread that got started using song titles, which unfortunately kind of "Faded Away". And just when I wanted to find out if the guy really DID go up to Canada -- darn. We should give THAT to Gord. He would LOVE it. (Maybe we should start that again, by the way --- Florian???? Interested???)

Okay, just suggestions. I'll go away now.

Stay loose, eh?

LAMS




------------------
"Love and maple syrup
go together like the
sticky winds of winter
when they meet....
If you go into the forest
Gaze up through the trees
The sky is white.
You can understand
What makes the forest
Greet the man
Like a mother's only
child ..."

[dill23]

Bill

On behalf of Florian and the other Members I would very much like to extend the invitation for you to become a regular Member. Your input is very thoughtful and intelligent.

Rob

[Rob Wells]

Bill

On behalf of Florian and the other Members I would very much like to extend the invitation for you to become a regular Member. Your input is very thoughtful and intelligent.

Rob

[Anne]

Can I back up Silver Heels' suggestion of Iain Glen as Gord in his 60s fresh faced period.

On a lighter note, here's an eclectic list of possibles:

70s-80s Gord: Ralph Fiennes, Tom Berenger, Alan Rickman, Patrick Bergen, Bill Nighey, Nick Nolte and the cast of 'Tombstone' especially Kurt Russell and Sam Elliott.

Older Gord: Sam Sheppard

Even older Gord: Paul Newman

Very Old Gord who could sing: Robert Duvall

Don't fry me! LOL

------------------
Hi derry day in the month of May

[This message has been edited by rainydayperson (edited May 26, 2000).]

[rainydayperson]

Can I back up Silver Heels' suggestion of Iain Glen as Gord in his 60s fresh faced period.

On a lighter note, here's an eclectic list of possibles:

70s-80s Gord: Ralph Fiennes, Tom Berenger, Alan Rickman, Patrick Bergen, Bill Nighey, Nick Nolte and the cast of 'Tombstone' especially Kurt Russell and Sam Elliott.

Older Gord: Sam Sheppard

Even older Gord: Paul Newman

Very Old Gord who could sing: Robert Duvall

Don't fry me! LOL

------------------
Hi derry day in the month of May

[This message has been edited by rainydayperson (edited May 26, 2000).]

[chris]

I have to agree with Dan and his comment made a bit earlier in the thread. Movies never do the person's life or career justice. The actor is never quite right. They always seem artificial and contrived. I'm still cringing from the awful John Denver movie that was on TV not too long ago. I still can't believe I watched the whole thing. There are plenty of other dreadful movie depictions of musicians in recent years.

I guess I like seeing GL in concert, listening to his music and learning what I can about him interviews he chooses to do. It would seem that because he seems to be such a private person, any movie of his life no matter how well done, would make him uncomfortable.

It's fun to talk about but I don't know that I would ever want to see his life on the big or little screen. But that's just my opinion; the rest of you guys have a great time pursuing your ideas.

chris

------------------
"It took most of my time to do what never was done" -- GL

[dill23]

Chris,

With all due respect, I have to disagree. Please let me use Robert Downey Jr.'s performance of Chaplin. Or Dwight Schutz as Dr. Robert Oppenhiemer and Paul Newman as General Leslie Groves in Fat Man and Little Boy. Or Sissy Spacik (my spelling) In Coal Miners Daughter. Or Jessica Lange as Patsy Cline. I think three things must happen to get the life stories right. Good Script. Good Actors. Good Director.

Rainydayperson,

Go ahead and name every actor I love. Nice choices. Especially Fiennes, Duvall, Newman and Sheppard. What Genius!!! I also thought that Clint Eastwood would make a great older Gordon.

Rob

[Rob Wells]

Chris,

With all due respect, I have to disagree. Please let me use Robert Downey Jr.'s performance of Chaplin. Or Dwight Schutz as Dr. Robert Oppenhiemer and Paul Newman as General Leslie Groves in Fat Man and Little Boy. Or Sissy Spacik (my spelling) In Coal Miners Daughter. Or Jessica Lange as Patsy Cline. I think three things must happen to get the life stories right. Good Script. Good Actors. Good Director.

Rainydayperson,

Go ahead and name every actor I love. Nice choices. Especially Fiennes, Duvall, Newman and Sheppard. What Genius!!! I also thought that Clint Eastwood would make a great older Gordon.

Rob

[Anne]

Rob,

Great minds think alike! Is it the Gord likeness that makes us like them? I had Clint on my 'back of envelope' but didn't include it as the list was getting too long. Hasn't he sung in a film? Not like Gord though.

------------------
Hi derry day in the month of May

[This message has been edited by rainydayperson (edited May 27, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by rainydayperson (edited May 27, 2000).]

[rainydayperson]

Rob,

Great minds think alike! Is it the Gord likeness that makes us like them? I had Clint on my 'back of envelope' but didn't include it as the list was getting too long. Hasn't he sung in a film? Not like Gord though.

------------------
Hi derry day in the month of May

[This message has been edited by rainydayperson (edited May 27, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by rainydayperson (edited May 27, 2000).]

[charlene]

Clint sang in the 1971 film "The Beguiled" I believe. He was a wounded soldier in the civil war and ended up at a girls school to recuperate. He had a lovely voice - very sweet and pure. I will have to think a bit more about what the song was though. He could play Gord now - it would be great but I don't know if Clint's singing voice has held up like Gord's!
Char

[charlene]

Clint sang in the 1971 film "The Beguiled" I believe. He was a wounded soldier in the civil war and ended up at a girls school to recuperate. He had a lovely voice - very sweet and pure. I will have to think a bit more about what the song was though. He could play Gord now - it would be great but I don't know if Clint's singing voice has held up like Gord's!
Char

[charlene]

http://www.man-with-no-name.com/welcome.html
this site has a detailed listing of Clint's ALBUMS. He DID NOT sing in Beguiled but in Paint your Wagon - he sang "I talk to the Trees". It was very sweet. He also sang in several other movies.
Char

[charlene]

http://www.man-with-no-name.com/welcome.html
this site has a detailed listing of Clint's ALBUMS. He DID NOT sing in Beguiled but in Paint your Wagon - he sang "I talk to the Trees". It was very sweet. He also sang in several other movies.
Char