David Milch of Deadwood (Part 6 of 6)

[v1m]

Absolutely stupendous.

These missed chances for US TV to rise above itself; to raise its audience above the squalor of its dull, violent daze.... Missed chances, squandered chances.

Shine on, David Milch, shine on!

[moeskido]

Seriously, thank you for posting this. Deadwood should have gotten some kind of grant to make certain it was finished properly.

[bittersandblueruin]

THIS GUY JUST BLEW MY MIND

[pwnography123]

There's actually another 44 minutes of Milchy wonderfulness after this. just search google for "USC Lecture Religion, Media & Hollywood" the website is called the idea of the writer.

[TouchRecords]

is guy is completely nuts. He's lost in his own mind.

[Ciada91]

For those interested, "Luck," begins filming in April. Current plan is to air it in the fall. See Variety online for more info.

[Ciada91]

The penalty for attending 12 step programs over time, as Milch has, affects the writing. The heroes, eg John from Cincinnati, become missionaries intruding on the lives of others.

He appears to have lost control over his best product, Deadwood.

[BentHenny]

What was John From Cincinnati all about?

[Ciada91]

Milch uses John as the mysterious stranger who arrives in Imperial Beach California, speaking in tongues to save a dysfunctional family.

[BentHenny]

I know the general plot line, but what was the hidden message? Who was John really?

[Ciada91]

John was the savior, messenger, 12 stepper, who spoke in garbled tongue. The hidden message was nothing more than John, the hero, presented in IB to save the family from self-destruction.

Simple plot device, sin and redemption model.

[BentHenny]

Did it have anything to do with religion? I remember John saying we are coming 9/11/14.

[Ciada91]

Yes, religion, spirituality, saving others, saving ourselves, saving the world.

Book of Revelations, end ot the world.

A sin and redemption model presents in the IB family, and John comes to them, the stranger, speaking in tongues, to save the family, perhaps the world.

(John From Cincinnati ... John the Baptist)

[BentHenny]

Do you think thats how the series would have ended with the end of the world?

[Ciada91]

I don't know Milch enough as a writer, to see where he would take the ending. Writer's interviewed often enough, reveal the direction in which they will take a series. I do know Milch was unhappy with an unfilled first season for JFC, cut short by two episodes.

I studied, listened to many interviews with David Chase, and found great humor in the ending of The Sopranos. It was predictable :)

[BentHenny]

What did Chase say about the ending of The Sopranos? Did you like JFC? Did you understand the dialog?

[Ciada91]

In two NPR interviews, (2001, 2003), Chase stated he would finish the series, "open-ended." Life for Tony simply goes on and on. The ambiguous ending created a huge boost to HBO's bottom line.

I didn't like JFC, from the outset. I'm simply not attracted to any series with a religious theme, sin/redemption model. Therefore, I had no need for understanding the dialogue.

You seem to have found a commanding interest in JFC. Did you enjoy, find value in the dialogue?

[BentHenny]

Well I found the series interesting because I didn't understand it. I liked the mystrery of it. I didn't really know who or what John was, I was thinking maybe God, Jesus Christ, an Angel, the Devil, an Alien. Are you saying he was God in human form or at least sent from God?

[Ciada91]

I could well understand Milch writing to an audience that would wonder, "who is this, where is he from, what is his message."

It's my thought Milch created a, "messiah, messenger," so yes in that context he would be sent to redeem the world.

Given that as the means, it might be interesting to view the series contextually, "what did JFC say that had a religious equivalent."

(Those of us, former Sopranos followers, found great fun in the dissection of the series)

[BentHenny]

Well yes, but I don't know that The Sopranos had much mystery to it. It would have been fun to see where JFC went in the following seasons though.

[Ciada91]

For those who were interested in JFC, one can hope Milch will be interviewed on the series, possibly discussing his intent.

The Sops were of interest to a group of us, who enjoyed discussing, parody, irony, satire, politcal commentary, NJ, Italian heritage, culture, music.

It met our needs.

Milch has been pitching a series on horse racing and is at work writing another cop series.

Chase is writing Ribbon of Dreams, based on the early days of filmmaking.

[BentHenny]

I am pretty sad because I thought Milch was going to do "Last of the Ninth" a police drama set in the 70's about the Knapp Commission rooting out corruption in NYPD. I believe the Knapp Commission was formed post Serpico right?

[Ciada91]

Milch completed his pilot on horse racing in May 2009. He has pitched this to various networks. I don't believe it's been sold.

Don't lose hope on the police series. I understand he is currently researching/writing. I'm unclear if he has network support, or will

need to find a producer and pitch a pilot.

I'm not aware of content on the police series.

We'll see Milch again. He's a talent, and still viable.

[BentHenny]

He is a talent although, his shows seem to get cut fast. Are you aware of the new series coming to HBO called (Treme)? About a New Orleans neighborhood post hurricane katrina. Its from the makers of (The Wire)

[Ciada91]

HBO is still backing him in a series. Three in the pipeling is good. I believe he was involved in Hill Street Blues for 8 years, so there is some longevity. Deadwood was cancelled, cost 5M per episode, mgmt was not happy, although it still had a following. JFC simply did not attract an audience.

Most of my interest is in film. The series on horse racing might be my only attraction.. Chase's new series is on my must see list.

[BentHenny]

What type of film? Since I don't follow horse racing the idea sounds kind of boring. Chase's new series is a must just because of the Sopranos.

[Ciada91]

Horse racing does not appeal to me either. I might be interested in the series due to Milch's strong history of research, good character development and s/l.

My interest in film ranges from historical to contemporary, Coen Bros, Woody Allen, Pollack, Kaufmann, Independent's.

[BentHenny]

I will go back to a line I heard in a Spike Lee film "The American people are a bunch of fucking idiots" I think people don't take to Milch's writting because their not intelligent enough, but you seem to have deciphered JFC. Do you follow actors aswell?

[Ciada91]

Thank you for kind words. It is more a driving need in me to understand a writer's/director's intent. I rarely follow actor's, Meryl Streep is one of interest because she absorbs the character she plays.

Ang Lee's film, Brokeback Mountain is near perfection in filmmaking, honest character development, universal theme, as well as acting.

[BentHenny]

Let me ask you this did you see the complete 10 episode of JFC?

[Ciada91]

No I didn't watch the full series and have no plans to do so.

[BaDasiDTriP]

Much Thanks for posting this,David is a masterpiece,Just like Deadwood,I certainly hate that HBO axed it ,They dont have crap anymore , And im thinking of going to dsl instead of cable,looks like that move might cost the cable company over 200 a month right here,I wonder how many times its playing out like that elsewhere.

[moshikhayman]

i really really enjoyed it

[tobbems]

Milch is insane.

[Grain91]

That was amazing!

[Digginjim]

I love listening to him but I think he went a bit off track towards the end!

[spamforbobby]

Thank you very, very much for posting this.

[KnightChair]

This was it, after that he just says thank you to the class for having him, etc.

Thanks for watching!

[bartonbickle]

thank you so much for posting these. i could listen to him speak forever.

it seems like this wasn't the end, though. is there more?