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Ray Bradbury adored original symphonic motion picture music, and maintained close ties with Miklos Rozsa and Bernard Herrmann throughout his life and career. Ray was also a cherished personal friend for nearly forty years. Here is my published tribute at "Film Music Review."
http://www.americanmusicpreservation.com/RayBradburyRemembrance.htm
Steve Vertlieb
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Posted: |
Jun 28, 2012 - 7:27 PM
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By: |
Doc Loch
(Member)
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I think it's a sad reflection on the media's conception of popular culture that the death of Ray Bradbury, who so effectively used a popular literary form to critique racism, inhumanity, censorship and the dangers of totalitarianism, caused nary a ripple on the cable news channels, but all day yesterday I kept seeing reports on the passing of Nora Ephron, whose greatest contribution to popular culture appears to be writing a scene involving a woman faking an orgasm in a restaurant. Granted, Ephron's accomplishments are regarded as something of a breakthrough for women in the film industry, so my objection here is more with the media's seeming disregard for Bradbury. Still, there is some justice in knowing that Bradbury will continue to be read (even if it's on an electronic pad) and to have an impact on generations to come. (Sorry this isn't about film music, but it seemed like the appropriate thread on which to vent.)
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Posted: |
Jun 28, 2012 - 9:41 PM
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By: |
Dana Wilcox
(Member)
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I think it's a sad reflection on the media's conception of popular culture that the death of Ray Bradbury, who so effectively used a popular literary form to critique racism, inhumanity, censorship and the dangers of totalitarianism, caused nary a ripple on the cable news channels, but all day yesterday I kept seeing reports on the passing of Nora Ephron, whose greatest contribution to popular culture appears to be writing a scene involving a woman faking an orgasm in a restaurant. Granted, Ephron's accomplishments are regarded as something of a breakthrough for women in the film industry, so my objection here is more with the media's seeming disregard for Bradbury. Still, there is some justice in knowing that Bradbury will continue to be read (even if it's on an electronic pad) and to have an impact on generations to come. (Sorry this isn't about film music, but it seemed like the appropriate thread on which to vent.)
It's hard to see how the passing of Nora Ephron bears even the slightest connection to Ray Bradbury and his work. Rather slimy of you in fact, trashing the legacy of a well-regarded screenwriter and director, now deceased, simply because...huh? You're pissed off that the cable news channels didn't share your estimate of the global importance of Bradbury's death? Why do you have to demean Ephron's accomplishments in order to make your point? Ray Bradbury was a class act, and I rather doubt that he would agree with your point, or appreciate your mode of "tribute" to his work.
Next time you need to "vent," please do so in the appropriate place. Oh, and don't forget to flush...
(Sorry, Ray.)
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Posted: |
Jun 29, 2012 - 5:12 AM
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By: |
spook
(Member)
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I think it's a sad reflection on the media's conception of popular culture that the death of Ray Bradbury, who so effectively used a popular literary form to critique racism, inhumanity, censorship and the dangers of totalitarianism, caused nary a ripple on the cable news channels, but all day yesterday I kept seeing reports on the passing of Nora Ephron, whose greatest contribution to popular culture appears to be writing a scene involving a woman faking an orgasm in a restaurant. Granted, Ephron's accomplishments are regarded as something of a breakthrough for women in the film industry, so my objection here is more with the media's seeming disregard for Bradbury. Still, there is some justice in knowing that Bradbury will continue to be read (even if it's on an electronic pad) and to have an impact on generations to come. (Sorry this isn't about film music, but it seemed like the appropriate thread on which to vent.)
It's hard to see how the passing of Nora Ephron bears even the slightest connection to Ray Bradbury and his work. Rather slimy of you in fact, trashing the legacy of a well-regarded screenwriter and director, now deceased, simply because...huh? You're pissed off that the cable news channels didn't share your estimate of the global importance of Bradbury's death? Why do you have to demean Ephron's accomplishments in order to make your point? Ray Bradbury was a class act, and I rather doubt that he would agree with your point, or appreciate your mode of "tribute" to his work.
Next time you need to "vent," please do so in the appropriate place. Oh, and don't forget to flush...
(Sorry, Ray.)
For goodness sake...he's simply drawing a comparison on the oversight of any proper large acknowledgement of Mr Bradbury's passing by comparing the reaction to another celebrity's passing. He's right! I hardly saw anything marking Ray's passing and the man was a giant in his field.
Nobody taking anything away from the sad news of Nora's passing it was just an example. Get a grip!
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Posted: |
Jun 29, 2012 - 8:06 AM
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By: |
spook
(Member)
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Moving tribute, Steve. Thanks for sharing. You are lucky to have been such close friends with the great man.
For anyone seeking more media coverage, I can recommend the LA Times, which ran seven pages of coverage June 7, with stories on its front page, obituary and Calendar sections, celebrating Ray's life and works. Some of that, including a cool photo gallery, is here: http://lat.ms/NbOtn3
Thanks for posting the link and what a wonderful tribute, as has been said, by Steve. I feel sad all over again at the loss of the great man.
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Dear Spook,
re: get a grip
I think, in all fairness, you're ignoring the fact that the post to which Dana objects did not merely make the comparison -- if that was the case, no one would object -- but Doc went beyond that point, going out of his way to belittle Ms. Ephron and her work. THAT's the part of his post which was unnecessary, and not a little mean-spirited. Bradbury was all about love.
As it happens, I too was struck by the comparative disparity the last couple of days with its outpouring of pieces on Ms. Ephron roughly doubling the attention paid to Bradbury's passing. It would be perfectly legitimate to point this out, and even to criticize the news media -- the real villain, if there be any, in this event -- without saying a single word in disparagement of Ms. Ephron.
The world needs every artist it can get, and all are to be celebrated for whatever gifts they brought to the party. Pitting one against the other does a disservice to both.
Peace.
PNJ
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Posted: |
Jun 29, 2012 - 9:30 AM
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By: |
spook
(Member)
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Dear Spook,
re: get a grip
I think, in all fairness, you're ignoring the fact that the post to which Dana objects did not merely make the comparison -- if that was the case, no one would object -- but Doc went beyond that point, going out of his way to belittle Ms. Ephron and her work. THAT's the part of his post which was unnecessary, and not a little mean-spirited. Bradbury was all about love.
As it happens, I too was struck by the comparative disparity the last couple of days with its outpouring of pieces on Ms. Ephron roughly doubling the attention paid to Bradbury's passing. It would be perfectly legitimate to point this out, and even to criticize the news media -- the real villain, if there be any, in this event -- without saying a single word in disparagement of Ms. Ephron.
The world needs every artist it can get, and all are to be celebrated for whatever gifts they brought to the party. Pitting one against the other does a disservice to both.
Peace.
PNJ
Fair enough ... My apologies to both you and Dana
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Posted: |
Jun 29, 2012 - 11:10 AM
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By: |
Doc Loch
(Member)
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Dear Spook,
re: get a grip
I think, in all fairness, you're ignoring the fact that the post to which Dana objects did not merely make the comparison -- if that was the case, no one would object -- but Doc went beyond that point, going out of his way to belittle Ms. Ephron and her work. THAT's the part of his post which was unnecessary, and not a little mean-spirited. Bradbury was all about love.
As it happens, I too was struck by the comparative disparity the last couple of days with its outpouring of pieces on Ms. Ephron roughly doubling the attention paid to Bradbury's passing. It would be perfectly legitimate to point this out, and even to criticize the news media -- the real villain, if there be any, in this event -- without saying a single word in disparagement of Ms. Ephron.
The world needs every artist it can get, and all are to be celebrated for whatever gifts they brought to the party. Pitting one against the other does a disservice to both.
Peace.
PNJ
Actually, my intent was not at all to belittle Ms. Ephron, but to point out first the disparity in the media coverage of the deaths of Bradbury and Ephron, and second to criticize the media for its superficial treatment of the latter, creating the impression that Ephron's major contribution to society was a scene in When Harry Met Sally. Perhaps the latter point could have been stated more directly and eliminated the perception that I was attacking Ephron, but I hardly see how acknowledging her accomplishments as a breakthrough for women could be regarded as going out of my way to belittle her. Still, as I have discovered many times with message boards people will read into a post whatever they want, and even if my points had been made more directly I'm sure someone would have found some reason to be outraged. What should not be lost in all of this is the significance of Bradbury's achievements as a writer and I hope that is something on which we all can agree.
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Actually, my intent was not at all to belittle Ms. Ephron, but to point out first the disparity in the media coverage of the deaths of Bradbury and Ephron, and second to criticize the media for its superficial treatment of the latter, creating the impression that Ephron's major contribution to society was a scene in When Harry Met Sally. Perhaps the latter point could have been stated more directly and eliminated the perception that I was attacking Ephron, but I hardly see how acknowledging her accomplishments as a breakthrough for women could be regarded as going out of my way to belittle her.
No, you described her as a woman whose greatest contribution to popular culture appears to be writing a scene involving a woman faking an orgasm in a restaurant.
Then you added Granted, Ephron's accomplishments are regarded as something of a breakthrough for women in the film industry. Appears to be describes your perception; regarded as describes that of others. If you believed her accomplishments are genuine, the phrase regarded as is redundant. People use the phrase regarded as to describe other people's opinions, not necessarily their own - and the granted doesn't suggest any commitment to that opinion either.
If you'd described her as a woman whose greatest contribution to popular culture is regarded as writing a scene involving a woman faking an orgasm in a restaurant but her accomplishments appear to be something of a breakthrough for women in the film industry you'd have actually said what you now claim to have been saying.
It's probably best to avoid making any comparisons at all.
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Posted: |
Jun 29, 2012 - 8:16 PM
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By: |
Dana Wilcox
(Member)
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Dear Spook,
re: get a grip
I think, in all fairness, you're ignoring the fact that the post to which Dana objects did not merely make the comparison -- if that was the case, no one would object -- but Doc went beyond that point, going out of his way to belittle Ms. Ephron and her work. THAT's the part of his post which was unnecessary, and not a little mean-spirited. Bradbury was all about love.
As it happens, I too was struck by the comparative disparity the last couple of days with its outpouring of pieces on Ms. Ephron roughly doubling the attention paid to Bradbury's passing. It would be perfectly legitimate to point this out, and even to criticize the news media -- the real villain, if there be any, in this event -- without saying a single word in disparagement of Ms. Ephron.
The world needs every artist it can get, and all are to be celebrated for whatever gifts they brought to the party. Pitting one against the other does a disservice to both.
Peace.
PNJ
Fair enough ... My apologies to both you and Dana
Nora is the one who needs the apology (and from Doc Loch, actually) but I doubt she cares at this point. I was sorry to see that Doc felt the need to belittle (yes, Doc, you belittled) the accomplishments of Nora Ephron as a means of making a point about the perceived lack of acknowledgement by the news media of Ray Bradbury's life and works. Nora had her talents and Ray had his. Apples and oranges, as far as I can see. The world is richer for the contributions of both.
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I will be visiting Los Angeles from Thursday, August 23rd thru Monday, September 3rd. On my personal calendars, both at work and at home, there is a designation noted for Saturday, August 25th at one o'clock in the afternoon. There appears a single name written within the confines of the blocked space...BRADBURY. This was to have been my next pre-arranged, scheduled visit with Ray at his home. When I discovered the notation this morning, I simply stared at it and grew sad. I will, however, be having lunch while I'm out there with Ray's beloved daughter, Zee. Sigh!
Steve
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