Lee Wochner: Writer. Director. Writing instructor. Thinker about things.


Blog

Why I avoid one-man shows

December 21st, 2011

Imagine me sitting in one of the seats in this video, watching this show. Then you can imagine why I don’t do it any more.

And re this imaginary theatre’s bathroom, I’m betting that everyone in Hollywood instantly thought of a place we love… that we don’t want to go any more because it’s so difficult to, well, “go.”

He did it his way

December 19th, 2011

Successful people usually have their own way of working. Here are 10 Management Secrets of Kim Jong Il.

History in the making

December 15th, 2011

In his autobiography, Joe Simon says that as a boy he got to meet a Civil War veteran and got to “shake the hand of a man who shook hands with Lincoln.” This was part of his inspiration for creating Captain America — the idea of meeting an icon. I completely love this little bit of American history: from Lincoln, to frail old veteran, to schoolboy, to the enduring American icon Captain America.

Joe Simon, R.I.P.

December 15th, 2011

Just a week after Jerry Robinson’s death, Captain America co-creator Joe Simon has left us for that four-color splash page in the sky. Here’s an interview with him from last summer, courtesy of the Washington Post. I’m glad he got to see the Captain America movie — where, after the bad previous filmic attempts, producers actually got the character right — and I’m glad I got to meet him once, and got his autograph on my hardback reprint of the first Captain America comics from the 1940’s.

The irony isn’t lost on me

December 13th, 2011

Here’s what I saw when opening a drawer in our kitchen.

Note the title of the book.

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Why men shouldn’t write advice columns

December 13th, 2011

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To be fair, it could also be the electronic ignition.

Difference of opinion continues

December 11th, 2011

What did the Los Angeles Film Critics Association name the Best Picture of the year? You guessed right:  “The Descendants.” (Had there been no other movies released this year, I still wouldn’t have voted for it.)

By the way, the association also placed a lot of praise on  “Tree of Life.” Those friends I trust didn’t like that one either.

I just checked — and three of the association’s member critics are friends, and two more are former students of mine.

An important message from George Takei

December 11th, 2011

Well, maybe it’s not so important.

Setting the record straight

December 10th, 2011

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End times

December 9th, 2011

Laurie Winer, on the demolition of the Los Angeles Times by Sam Zell. It’s a tragedy, writ daily.