Mickey Free Storms Back

[Bob Boze Bell]

January 29, 2009
Looks like we got a strong nibble on our Mickey Free project. A company that Paul Hutton worked with in Hollywood has expressed interest in developing Mick for the screen. Very exciting. More later.

Worked with Robert Ray last Friday on creating a 128-page-template for the graphic novel on Mickey Free and spent yesterday spreading out Remington's narrative so that each entry from Freddy corresponds with the images on that page (this was the biggest knock against the excerpt that ran in the magazine last November).

Meanwhile, went home for lunch and worked on more clouds, inspired by our trip to Kingman and back. In my discard pile I discovered a very nice cloud bank, and, with Mickey Free back on my mind, whipped out this:

As I brushed in Mickey's big mule, I heard an oldtimer say, "Mickey's life was one damn storm after another."

Too true, Buck. Too true.

And, by the way, I must confess I apologized to The Top Secret Writer for his nomination of Mickey Rourke to play Mickey. When he made the suggestion several months back I made some snide remark to the effect that, "Why don't we get Mickey Rooney, too?" Well, after Rourke won a Golden Globe, Hutton sent me the newspaper clipping with Rourke's award being announced and I sent him this reply:

Paul,
Got your newspaper clipping with the Golden Globe winners. I take it back. I was wrong. Mickey Rourke could easily play a grizzled, one-eyed Irish breed. And, I think he would relish the part, making Mickey Free damaged but sympathetic.

And, I propose we cast Mickey Rooney as Pastor Guenther. Ha.

After the Mickey Storm, I grabbed another discard from the Pat Garrett pile and finished it off. Some nice lighting effects on a Smoke Out.

"Oh, you hate your job? Why didn't you say so? There's a support group for that. It's called EVERYBODY, and they meet at the bar."
—Drew Carey

[Jeff Prechtel]

Bob-
That's great news on the Mickey Free project, and like the looks
of the clouds and the smoke effect, too...lots of warm colors,
and a great moody feel. Great stuff.

[Gold Lady]

Bob, congrats on your nibble!

I saw Rourke in The Wrestler. He was wonderful, and very grizzled. He would be great as Mickey Free.
By the way, if you like Marisa Tomei, see that film. She's naked in almost all her scenes, pole dancing or not. I don't know how they got her to do that.

[Jim Hatzell]

Here's a bit of trivia from 20 years ago. When they were casting "Dances With Wolves" Robert Pastorelli came in to read for the part of Sgt Bauer. He had read the whole script and said it would be more fun to play the part of the Mule Skinner Timmons...the guy that takes Dunbar to Fort Sedgewick. He was told no....that the role was written for a much older character and they were going after MICKEY ROONEY! Pastorelli insisted and as everybody knows....he did indeed get the part of grubby, stinky Timmons.
Good luck with your "Mickey Free" project Bob.....and remember, I'm available to work on your show ANYTIME!!!!!!!

[Bob Boze Bell]

Amazing. So often the casting makes or breaks a movie. I think Mickey Rooney would have ruined that pivotal scene. When "stinky Timmons" gets nailed with that first arrow, that is so unexpected and he's so perfect. Frankly, Jim, you are dead on as Al Sieber in my book. Can you act?

[Jeff Prechtel]

Bob- Did you know that Jim has already been in several movies, including
the TNT movie "Crazy Horse" in which he had a small speaking role.
Plus ya gotta remember, we Living Historians are 100% historians and 50% ham :)

[Bob Boze Bell]

Come on Jeff. I think the 50% number is too low, don't you?

[Sixgun]

80% thats why we work so cheap

[Jeff Prechtel]

Well, I was trying to be kind

[Jim Hatzell]

Bob....I'm flattered, but the last guy to play Al Sieber was the GREAT Robert Duvall. You have to start thinking of marquee value. I'd like to work on props or wardrobe or some such gig (I'm an IATSE stage hand)

[Bob Boze Bell]

You underestimate your ability, Mr. Hatzell. Let's do a line reading right here. Say, as you spit tobacco, "Mickey Free was half Irish, half Mexican and all Son of a Bitch." If you can nail that, I think you can have the part.