One of the most enjoyable anecdotal aspects of William Friedkin’s new autobiography The Friedkin Connection involves the late Blake Edwards. In 1966, when Friedkin was just getting started as a director on the TV side, he had the privilege of being asked to read the script for a planned feature film version of Edwards’ earlier TV series Peter Gunn. But it’s what happened at a subsequent Monday morning breakfast meeting that really made the difference:

“So what do you think?” Edwards asked.
I chose my words carefully, but I had to say what I felt and accept the consequences. “Blake, I think the script is a piece of sh*t.”
He looked up in shock, his English muffin poised in midair. “What?” He set his muffin down and looked at me directly, not so much mad as confused. “What did you just say?” A bitter smile crossed his lips.

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LACMA’s upcoming Stanley Kubrick film retrospective begins November 9 with Fear and Desire and ends December 15 with Eyes Wide Shut. There will also be a separate exhibit at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, preceded by a special November 7 celebration evening event hosted by Malcolm McDowell.

Today, via Hollywood Reporter reporter Merle Ginsberg, there is also a very intriguing oral history of Eyes Wide Shut from co-star Nicole Kidman. The actress tantalizingly reminds that some much more explicit footage she was comfortably coaxed into by the late filmmaker was cut from the movie. Kidman also confirms that Kubrick was no fan of spoilers:

People have asked me if Stanley ever told us what Eyes Wide Shut was about — and the answer is no. He didn’t believe in interpretation. He always said, “Never say no to an idea — you never know how that idea will ignite another idea.” He also said: “Never put me on a pedestal. When someone’s on a pedestal, there’s no creativity.” That’s how I approach every creative person now — it does not help to glorify them.

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First came the movie, in 1987. Then, two decades later, it was time for a limited edition book. Now, to mark Full Metal Jacket’s 25th anniversary, the film’s star Matthew Modine has turned that 2005 personal production diary into a $14.99 iPad app.

In a guest blog post for Ted Hope’s filmmaking website, Modine explained how the latest incarnation evolved:

The first edition of FMJ Diary [in 2005] was limited to only 20,000 laser-etched numbered copies and featured, literally, a metal book jacket. Upon release, it was well reviewed, awarded a prize for its design, and sold out rather quickly.

For years now, fans of the film and of Kubrick have been asking when a paperback edition might be released. The fact is, I wanted the 20,000 copies to be collector’s items and I never intended to publish a paperback version…

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What is it about Stanley Kubrick and low-level British con men?

First there was Alan Conway, a travel agent turned impersonator, who went around in the 1990s pretending to be Kubrick and whose unlikely success was the basis of the 2005 movie Color Me Kubrick, starring John Malkovich. Now comes news, via UK’s Bury Free Press, of another eyes-wide-open scammer:

A Finningham man, who posed as a successful Hollywood filmmaker to con two aspiring screenwriters out of 121,000 pounds, has been jailed for three and a half years.

Richard Maskery, 42, claimed he was a protégé of legendary director Stanley Kubrick and was involved in producing Tom Cruise films, including Mission Impossible. He convinced the screenwriters he was negotiating with stars and leading Hollywood directors and extracted nearly 55,000 pounds of their savings to finance the project.

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Since opening its doors in October 2009, LA-based GeekChicDaily.com has quickly harnessed the powerful combo of niche marketing and opt-in e-mail subscribers. In this case, the focus is on geeky pop culture movies, games, toys and more.

Today, the official press release went out confirming a new infusion of $1.5 million in cash, led by former Revolution Studios head honcho Joe Roth and Seattle venture capitalist Mike Slade. The money, it is said, will go towards infrastructure, marketing and “brand extension.”

Presumably, the money will also help solidify the tonge-in-cheek GeekChic M.O. Today’s highlighted item, under the category of “Toys,” links to a ThinkGeek.com collectible based on the movie 2001 A Space Odyssey.

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