Alan Rickman Guestbook

(I realize this is not an AR bit and apologize)

When a young (18 year-old), Cambridge student of history named Derek Jacobi went to see Richard Burton as Hamlet with Claire Bloom as Ophelia, he dutifully went round to the stage door for autographs after the performance.

In the process of getting Burton's autograph he saw Claire Bloom walking away and chased after her to get her autograph too.

Seems he frightened her, but then assured her he was not a mugger and talked her into giving her autograph, and went home a happy young man.

18 years later, when he was slated to play 'Hamlet' in the title role and Claire Bloom was going to play Gertrude, his mother, he reminded her of the incident and blurted out "I've been a fan of yours all my life!" Which actually did not best please Miss Bloom.

Well, when the famous Hamlet and Gertrude bedroom scene was about to be shot, Mr. Jacobi turned up on set all ready, but there was no sign of M's Bloom.

He asked what was the delay and was told she was getting "lifts". He figured even with a couple of inches added to her height he was still taller, so was not bothered, but when she turned up on set, he realized height had nothing to do with the lifts she got.

The lifts were the kind applied to the face to remove wrinkles.

Seems she had realized his chasing her for that autograph was 18 years earlier, and was not amused with the "all my life remark" so she had resorted to a rather painful make-up process, so she wouldn't look so old playing opposite him in the scene.

It worked too!

I just thought it was such a funny story, which, by the way, Derek Jacobi stills tells on himself with much humour and delight at his own clumsiness of phrase.

Now to all of my friends here at this great site, I wish you the Happiest and Most Prosperous New Year possible.

For those who are in the New Year's Eve zone, have a fun and safe celebration! I very much look forward to 1999 here with all of you. Happy New Year!

Fairfax County Public Library system in Fairfax, VA has the series. Trot down to your library, stamp your little foot, and DEMAND an interlibrary loan of the tape from FCPL. All right, just ask nicely. If they refuse( some libraries don't lend non-book materials), have the librarian try another place. Enjoy!

Don't feel bad. I remember looking at the play listings in the *New York Times* and passing right over LLD.

In our house, my husband and I open our presents on Chrismas Eve. Forgive me, but I must brag that my precious spouse has given me ROTN and TWG. Wow, AR and a husband that understands AR, I am truly blessed.

I hope you all get your wishes too this season!

A Merry Christmas to all who live in time zones where the day has already arrived . . .

. . . and Claire, the latest selection at CPP is wonderful. Always some delicious surprises there!

I just received an e-mail from Beth from Audiopartners, telling me that they have re-issued TROTN

. . . We are selling the exact same recording (the actual package is slightly different) for a mere $44.95...much less than the original Cover to Cover version. Folks can visit our web site for a free sound sample, and they can place orders there, or by calling (in the U.S.) 1-800-231-4261. We just released this recording in the U.S. on December 15, 1998. Here is the direct link to the page about the audiobook: http://www.audiopartners.com/books/100135.html

Truly, Madly, Deeply on at the same time as S&S? Figures. Seems we're either deprived or our cup runneth over. If you'd like to catch both, TMD will come on Bravo again tomorrow (Monday) at 1:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time.

*Sense and Sensibility* (1995) Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Kate Winslet. Jane Austen's Dashwood sisters navigate shark-infested English waters in search of marriageable men. Sparkling comedy of manners. (PG)

Well, okay ladies! AR is mentioned, but Hugh & Greg are not -- is this something *the powers that be* have sensed?

Our sensibilities?

And a special aside for Suzanne, for giving these pages a wonderful home. You're doing a beautiful job.

God bless you all, and have a happy 1999.

Raising my glass in salute,

And now I'd like to wish you all Happy Holidays! Thank you for making the AR pages SO incredibly enjoyable. Click on the "Happy Hollidays" link above for my card to all of you, my wonderful friends. I hope you have lots of fun this Holiday season!

As to whether an actor appears in the poster, the trailer, the ads, the commercials, the printed press pieces--this is all decided by the film's marketing team. Whether the team belongs to the studio (or distributor) releasing the film, or is hired as an outside agency, is up to the studio/distributor.

There are many, many details to marketing the film--from the name of the film to the typeface in which it appears; from the art or illustration to the many versions of the commercial. (The size/typeface of names in an ad is usually contractual, and frequently the topic of heated negotiation. Some actors accept less money to see their names on the poster or lobby cards.)

Commercials are edited with a certain demo(graphic) in mind. The commercial aimed at 18-24/women is very different than the one aimed at 18-24/men. As with trailers, commercials reflect the marketing team's attempt to reach a specific audience and persuade them into the theatres.

As to why Rickman isn't featured in the ads? Hugh Grant is more widely known--especially to a television audience. By virtue of "Four Weddings", the man is a very recognizable name and face. Rickman--not so recognizable. Emma Thompson's work is very fine and she's not unrecognized--but, were they marketing "S&S" now, it would probably star Kate Winslet and Hugh Grant. Thompson and Rickman would be "also starring". Unless, of course, it was written in their contracts--which, I gather, it isn't--that in all advertising, their names must be featured at 100% in the billing block (or whatever the stip).

Gilda: I'm glad you gave him the photo since I have no way of knowing if he received my package through the mail. Now, at least we know he has seen the photo, and the M7 is making him smile again. Cool.

And I'm told that today is Jane Austen's birthday!

Andrea, had I known you'd already sent it to him, I might not have included it since it would be so repetitious. However, duplication may be a good thing if his PR people don't get him his mail very often. We make a good team!

Soon after reading here about the availability of MO from Videoflicks, I went to their site and found the video listed as "Discontinued."

From the *good*, though OFT, news department: Kenneth Branagh was delighted to receive his birthday present from his on-line fans. Jude Tessel, coordinator and administrator of the project, met with Ken in New York City on December 10, his birthday, to give him the surprise: a donation to Belfast's Ulster Youth theatre, which gives kids a creative haven away from troubled times. Funds were raised through T-shirt sales, auctions and donations. He read the card aloud, quietly, in a soft voice. Ken also received a certificate commemorating the donation, and an honorary T-shirt, which bears quotes from all of the films he has directed. "I will write the group," he promised, with a warm smile.

He spoke from Italy, during work on his last film, "Titus Andronicus", based on a Shakespeare play. "I'll be back and forth until January to finish my film and then it's all over," Hopkins said, adding he's explained all to his wife and agent. "I want to do something else with my life. I don't want to keep hanging around doing stupid things like acting," he said.

After winning an Oscar for best actor in 1992 for "The Silence of the Lambs," Hopkins summed up his career, saying "I've done one or two good films and some bad films." "It was a complete waste of time," he added. "I'm very grateful to the business, they've paid me well but I've got enough... money to live for the rest of my life." Hopkins acknowledged. "I'm interested in music, I write and I like Los Angeles and I'm just going to drop out," he said. Hopkins revealed that he had "been in deep depression over acting and tried to cover it up." "I've been in turmoil pretending everything was okay," he admitted. "I've got to get out because I think acting is very bad for one's mental health," Hopkins said. "My joke has always been, 'It sure beats working for a living' but the joke has caught up with me now," he concluded.

Do you have any more information about the possible New Jersey showing? I am going to be on vacation all of Christmas week---I'd be willing to drive to NJ to see Dogma!

Hmmmmm.....I think I'll check the News Askew site and see if I can find any more information....

To Suzanne, thanks so much for keeping this place so well. To Karina, who, started this place for all AR fans and ran it excellently. To Claire, who provides such wonderful pictures which I and I'm sure everyone else here enjoys so much.

To all the friends I've made through these pages, thanks so much for your kindness and wonderful letters. And finally, to the gentleman who inspired everyone here to come together and share his talents, which are boundless and his gifts, which are so rare, Thank you Mr. Rickman. You make our world a better place by sharing those gifts and talents with us. May you all enjoy the peace and joy of this season, whatever feast you celebrate at this time. And may the coming months and years be filled with the spirit of this time of celebration for you all. And please, let us have more Alan Rickman films, sightings, plays, or whatever other means he uses to share his talents with the world in the times ahead. I pass on to you two Hindu expressions of greeting: NAMASTE. It means roughly 'the Divine light in me recognizes and honours the Divine light in you' and SHANTI. It just simply means 'Peace'

Love to you all

Rickman's choices seem to be to attend an event with Horton, or to go by himself. Anything else would be of great interest to way too many people.

Just wanted to let you know that I really appreciated your account of A&C. Very well composed.

I don't think AR minds being the seducer, etc. I think he's just more subtle than the over-the-top performances given (or encouraged by directors) by Hollywood actors in films.

However, I don't think that your sentiments are rubbish, either! Quite the contrary, a newer take on AR is always welcome.

I don't know how much credibility to give to the newspaper article, since the writer go one basic fact wrong: AR was the first choice and declined. Only then did Bates come on board.

If they had gotten on better -- well, can you just imagine what we would have seen? I have a friend at work who saw LLD when it was on Broadway. She said he was *breath-taking* and spell binding.

Unless contractually stipulated, a scale of residuals is in virtually every contract an actor signs with a union production. (Non-union productions are another matter entirely!) Whether one is a writer (WGA), director (SSDC, DGA), choreographer (SSDC, or actor (AEA, SAG, AGVA, AGMA, etc), one is paid for one's work--sometimes a flat fee , sometimes salary.

To keep this post to a managable length, I'm just going to talk about television. You are hired--as an actor--for a show. Whether you're a principal (lead), a secondary player (featured), or guest actor, you sign a contract that includes some clauses about salary or fee, plus residual payments.

Let's say you're the principal on a show, and your contract says you'll be paid $10,000 an episode. That means you'll be paid $10,000 for each episode you film or tape.

Then, depending on your contract, the first time the show is RERUN (broadcast in the same medium), you'll be paid $10,000 *AGAIN*. The SECOND RERUN, you'll be paid $7,500. (And a good agent will get you another $10,000 for the second rerun).

The THIRD rerun, you'll be paid $5,000. (And that good agent might be able to get you more.) The FOURTH and SUBSEQUENT reruns might pay out at $2,000--up to 10 reruns. (Depends on your agent and how well s/he negotiates. You could also make a lot less.) Subsequent to that, you might make $175 for any additional reruns.

The structure of contracts in regards to reruns, conversions, and subsidiary rights is a tangle I won't bore you with. There are several excellent books on the subject.

A good friend of mine did a series of toothpaste commercials about 20 years ago. Residuals on commercials are scaled based on market size and number of airings. She made a bundle--those commercials ran everywhere for years, and every quarter, like clockwork, a check would show up, based on figures derived from the number of airings in a particular market.

But that was 20 years ago, and eventually, the commercials were "retired". Until 2 years ago, when she opened her mail to find a check for $10,512--seems the toothpaste commercial she'd filmed back in 1979 had been re-edited and was airing in a couple large markets. She got paid for the new commercial (thanks to the edit, it was now a "new" commercial) and residuals.

I have other friends who've gotten residual checks for $28.24--for cast albums they recorded in the 1960s.

But there are also actors who appeared in shows before the matter of residuals was carefully addressed. They've been principals in shows that have been airing on one channel or another for decades--and they never see a penny.

I do believe I hear pleas for "Mercy!"

Don't miss Claudia's painting of Antony & Cleopatra . She's also just added the Rickmaniac Date Diary for upcoming news and events.