KRAKOOM! 

Killer Fan Art

Check out this awesome drawing of me and Tyler (Sock) by Reaper’s #1 artistically inclined fan, Cheri Nowak.  Thanks, Cheri!

If you’ve got something you’d like to share, send it along.  I love this kind of stuff!

Bret
May 30, 2008

The Difference Between TV & Film

Before I really get into this blog, I want to comment on the recent news about Reaper’s future.  Some people are down about Reaper’s midseason status, but I wanted it to be out there that I’m not.  In fact, I’m excited.  The way I see it, midseason is better than no-season.  And who knows what the future holds… Maybe one of the CW’s new shows will tank early or something crazy will happen and we’ll end up back on the air before 2009.  But we can talk more about that when the timing is closer.  For now, let’s talk about what I’m up to right now.

Currently (as I type this, in fact), I’m sitting in a hotel in the Big Easy (New Orleans to most of us) in between shooting days on a new Sony feature film called, what else, “Mardi Gras”!

The movie is a buddy comedy about three friends who head down to Mardi Gras to blow off some steam and so far it’s been nothing but fun.  We’ve been down here filming for a few weeks now and what I wanted to talk about was the difference between shooting a TV series and shooting a film.  Let me apologize in advance if this gets too “inside.”See, when you shoot a television show, it’s all about speed.  You have to get it done as quickly as possible because there’s never an end in sight (at least not if you’re doing well).  Every day, the goal is 8-9 pages of script (which translates to about the same number of minutes of screen time).  It’s a lot to tackle from a writing, directing, producing, crew and acting perspective, but it’s the way it’s done – you gotta constantly feed the beast.

But in film, at least with a big studio film like Mardi Gras, we get to take our time.  So far we’re shooting 2-4 pages a day.  That’s 4 minutes of screen time tops.  The biggest positive to this is that the actors (and the director) get to really play around with the scenes.  I mean, it’s a comedy, so there’s certainly no harm in doing a scene over and over and over, with the actors constantly trying new deliveries or reactions or even lines.  If the crew doesn’t laugh on the first take, change it up for the second and see if that works.  Not only does this result in funnier takes, but, as an actor, it really keeps it fresh as we do shot after shot of the same line readings.  Add to that the fact that I get to play a character who is not the same one I play every single week for 6-9 months and you can understand why I’m finding this refreshing enough to write about.

You can read a little about the movie here:  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1083462/.  It’s due out next year.

As always, thanks for reading.

Bret
May 27, 2008 

CYA, CW?

Bad news, Reaper fans.  The Wall Street Journal recently reported that the CW network, otherwise known as the home of Reaper, is in serious ratings trouble.  Apparently those of you who do watch the network are doing so off of TiVo or while surfing the ‘net or doing one of a hundred things other than sitting through their commercials.  Anyway, long story short, the author hints at a complete disintergration of the CW if things don’t improve.  You can read all about it here.

CW ANNOUNCES FALL SCHEDULE AND REAPER… ISN’T ON IT?!?!

It’s true.  Today, the CW announced its new fall schedule and Reaper was not included.  But fear not, Reaper DID get picked up for 13 more episodes to air midseason, so maybe your socks made a difference.  (We like to think so.)

The bad news is you’ll have to wait until 2009 for new episodes of Reaper, your favorite, original, critically acclaimed series starring great actors. 

The good news is you’ll have a remake of Beverly Hills 90210, a series that ran its course years ago, was panned as a banal soap for the young, and starred some questionable actors, to hold your attention until then.

Here’s a link to an article on the schedule announcement.  Extra points to the author for making reference to our sock campaign.

HOLLYWOOD REPORTER LOOKS INTO THEIR CRYSTAL BALL AND SAYS REAPER LIKELY TO RETURN

 On May 5, over one week ago, The Hollywood Reporter Hollywood reported that Reaper’s chances for survival had “turned unexpectedly positive.”  By our math, that was 5 days after the Save Reaper with Socks campaign began.  Coincidence?  I think not!  Here’s the link.

Sock it to ‘em

Wow.  I was planning to write a blog on summer movies, but I guess that’ll have to wait.

What the sock is going on?  I mean, one seemingly harmless post on this tiny microcosm of the webiverse and all of a sudden the entire ‘net is reporting on it???  I’m talking, of course, about the whole “Save Reaper with Socks” campaign.

When Dave (Editor’s note: David Baldy, Bret’s writing partner and majority contributor to krakoom) first suggested the idea, I loved it.  Not because I thought anyone would actually do it, but because it made me laugh – and that’s really all I strive for here.  But now… well, now I see this site as so much more.  I mean, it’s a powerful thing to be able to share a few words with your fans and have literally thousands respond to it.  And, well, I just want you all to know that’s not lost on me.

As for the actual campaign, whether it works or not, I’ll still be happy knowing we did all we could do to keep the dream alive.  That said, the CW doesn’t announce their new fall schedule until May 13th so that gives us 8 more days to make our voices heard.  Keep those letters, emails and foot warmers flowing.

We’ve come this far, let’s finish this.

Bret
May 4, 2008

SAY IT AIN’T SO! LA TIMES DECLARES REAPER “ON THE BUBBLE”

For those of you unfamiliar with hackneyed, Hollywood cliches, that means it could sink or swim, it’s on the fence, it could go either way, they could take it or leave it, it’s six of one, a half dozen of the other, what goes up, must come down, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, and, of course, a penny for your thoughts. 

What that also means is that YOU, the loyal Reaper enthusiasts and proud Bret fans have to BOMBARD the CW with emails and letters and phone calls or anything else you think might be convincing.  We’re not suggesting a Jericho-like barrage of peanuts to be sent to the CW offices, but perhaps a Jericho-like barrage of peanuts sent to the CW offices would do the trick.  Only instead of peanuts (also hackneyed) how about something a little more original and a lot more appropriate for the show.  We’re thinking… socks! 

If you’re interested, here is the CW’s address:

CW Network
ATTN: Executive in charge of Reaper
3300 W. Olive Ave
Burbank, California 91505

Oh, and here’s a link to the LA Times article.

‘REAPER’ SCORES MONSTROUS 10.4 RATING AND 16 SHARE TO EASILY BEAT EVERYTHING ELSE ON TV!

Okay, that was American Idol, but Reaper still did well, beating its lead-in, Beauty and the Geek, by more than 800,000 viewers.  Could those viewers all be because of that banner at the top of Krakoom?  We like to think so.

STARTING TODAY, YOU HAVE TO ‘DEAL’ WITH IT!

Calling All Bret Fans! (In Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, Boston, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Las Vegas, Dallas, and maybe New Orleans.)

The long awaited release of ‘Deal,’ starring Burt Reynolds and Krakoom’s own Bret Harrison is finally upon us.  If you live in one of the above metropolitan areas, make sure you check it out in theaters this weekend.  The success of the opening week is going to determine if the movie spreads to other markets, so you have to see it this weekend.  But don’t take our word for it.  Here’s the film’s director, Gil Cates, Jr., explaining the “sitch”:

“”DEAL”, starring Bret Harrison, Burt Reynolds, Shannon Elizabeth and Charles Durning, will be released by MGM this Friday, April 25, in select cities (Los Angeles San Francisco, Las Vegas, Chicago, Dallas, New Orleans, Boston, and Philadelphia).  The film also features World Poker Tour and World Series of Poker stars Joseph Hachem, Phil “The Unabomber” Laak, Jennifer Tilly, Antonion Esfinaidari, Chris Moneymaker, Greg “Fossilman” Raymer, Mike Sexton, Vince Van Patten and more…

If the movie has a good opening weekend it will expand to more theatres and into more cities across the country.  If it does not… it’ll be on DVD within a few months :).  Unfortunately NY is not one of the opening cites, but for those of you in the east coast who have been looking for an excuse to have a clam roll or a cheese steak, now’s your chance!

Please spread the word if you live or if you know people who live in these cities.  Again, opening weekend is the most important…

Thanks!

Gil

www.dealthemovie.com “

So there you have it.  Go see it!

My Favorite Things!* (*right now)

I’ve been getting a lot of questions about stuff I like, so I thought I’d use this week’s blog to answer a few of those.  Let me know if you like this feature by emailing me at questionsforbret@krakoom.com and maybe I’ll do it somewhat regularly.  Oh, and thanks to everyone who wrote about the “Deal” trailer. 

My favorite movie right now is Eastern Promises.  Viggo Mortensen’s performance is amazing.  Especially the naked fight scene.  Very raw, real and “ballsy.”  Go Viggo!

For television, look no further than The Wire.  I realize I’m late to the game with this one, but I recently purchased season 1 on DVD and watched half of it in one day.  That’s 6 hour-long episodes.  And I’m not talking about 42 minute network “hour-long” episodes, like Reaper.  These are really a full hour… and worth every minute.  LOVE IT.   

My favorite book right now is A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore.  It reminds me a lot of Reaper in tone, mixing humor with horror. 

And finally, music.  Right now, I’d have to say my favorite song is Air Aid by Menomena.  I can listen to it all day.  “People of the future will remember…”