Interview with Marvin Kanarek, RIP January 18 1947- December 19 2012

(Sept. 2010 Interview reposted in honor of a lovely man with a terrific sense of humor. Marvin left this world far too soon – as is evidenced by his poetic and profound response to the question, “Any life lessons you’d like to share?” MARVIN: “Don’t know yet. I feel like I’m still in the middle of the storm. According to legend, we will know during those final moments that we draw our last breath. I’ll either have a smile on my face, or someone at bedside will be slapping it. I’ll know then.”    Our thoughts are with his family.)

Original interview:

This amazingly multi-talented Guest Star has lived the COOLEST lives – that’s right – plural! No, he’s not reincarnated…that I know of…

Born in Havana, Cuba, raised in Toronto, Marvin Kanarek has lived everywhere from Paris to LA.  He has worked as a studio drummer and toured extensively (HOW COOL IS THAT?!?) with: Rough Trade, The Bonedaddys, Burton Cummings (The Guess Who), Randy Bachman (BachmanTurner Overdrive), Janis Ian, Bo Diddley, The Beach Boys, and that’s only the beginning!!

My head was spinning from all he’s done, but I think I covered it pretty well…

Kristi: Welcome, Marvin Kanarek, I’m thrilled to have you on HowDidYouGetThere. Please tell our readers what you do for a living?

Marvin Kanarek: I am a multi-disciplined artist. I am a drummer–“don’t be afraid!”– singer-songwriter, painter, writer, architectural designer and according to my brother, a pretty good photographer. I am also working on my black belt in Bordeaux tasting.

Kristi: That’s a lot of discipline! Let’s start with drummer/singer/songwriter–Yes, I’m terrified, but in a cool way, like when I used to sneak home after curfew.

Marvin Kanarek: (nods, smiling) Stay up to watch the sunrise?

Kristi: No…I had to be home before sunset.  But once I missed my curfew!

Marvin Kanarek: No!

Kristi: Yea! It was totally dark when I got home!! I was such a rebel…that one time… WILD times.

Marvin Kanarek: (wonders if he’s ever even gone out before dark) Wow.

Kristi: So how long have you been a musician?

Marvin Kanarek: Too long to remember.

Kristi: This memory problem – was it brought on by too much music? I’ve read that can happen.

Marvin: No it can’t.

Kristi: What can’t?

Marvin Kanarek: Music can’t give you a bad memory.

Kristi: You have a bad memory?

Marvin Kanarek: No, I have a great memory… Music is actually good for the brain. Ever heard of the Mozart Effect?

Kristi: Mozart? (checks notes) I thought your name was Marvin.

Mavin Kanarek: (wonders if it’s too early for a glass of Bordeaux)Of course I’m Marvin.

Man in the Middle, by Marvin Kanarek

Kristi: (smiles, extends hand) Nice to meet you, I’m Kristi. Thank you for meeting me. So what do you do?

Marvin Kanarek: F*ck it. (signals waitress for a bottle) I believe we were discussing my being a drummer/singer/songwriter?

Kristi: (plays really bad air drums) A drummer!! How Cool is that?! What do you like most about it?

Marvin Kanarek: (smiles, because the wine has arrived) The spontaneity and freedom. I am a practitioner of the ”Do what you love and never work again” philosophy.

Kristi: You’re a Philosopher?! I’ve never interviewed a Philosopher before!

Marvin Kanarek: Uh, no… I’m NOT a philosopher. I adopted this philosophy after not being able tofunction in the regimented 9-5 world. I had no choice.

Kristi: I see… so…what’s it like being a Philosopher who has no choice?

Marvin Kanarek: (hopes Kristi’s terrible childhood is the reason she’s like this) I couldn’t say, really…

Kristi: Couldn’t say? –Or choose not to? No, wait. If you have no choice then you can’t choose not to say. That doesn’t make any sense. And I love making scents –I learned how in arts and crafts.

Marvin Kanarek: Right…(Suspects Kristi was born like this, her poor parents were probably trying to protect her through isolation) Anyway, as a musician I’ve had a wealth of choices.

Kristi: Oh my God! You’re a Musician, too?! This is WAY Cool!! (high-fives Marvin) Who have you worked with?

Marvin Kanarek: (laughs because it hurts too much to cry) Well, let’s see, I’ve worked as both a touring and studio drummer for many Canadian and American artists: Rough Trade, The Bonedaddys, Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman of The Guess Who and Bachman Turner Overdrive, and DJ Massive, DCB, Janis Ian, Bo Diddley, Junior Walker, The Beach Boys, and more. And I’ve had my own bands as well.

Kristi: Wow—Impressive!! What kind of music do your own bands perform?

Marvin Kanarek: One of my groups included a Chilean DJ, a country-rock guitarist and a reggae singer. We had a House music hit which stayed on the U.K. club charts for 13 weeks.  And as a solo artist, “2forty6″ was my first album, titled after the place that will always be home in Toronto, and “Looking Back Ahead” is the latest one.

Kristi: And the other disciplines you mentioned?

Marvin Kanarek: As an architect, I’ve worked on many residential projects and as an artist I’ve had many one man and collaborative art shows. I am now concentrating on following my muse just to see what “comes out”. Mainly in my music and art. Occasional architecture, if it interests me.

Kristi: Oh! – I know of a muse if you need one, but I think she may be busy working for your brother…

Marvin Kanarek: Really? I’m in the market for a muse…

Benjamin Kanarek: (storms up to outdoor café) Hey, forget it! Frédérique’s my muse and you can’t have her.

Marvin Kanarek: Oh yea?!

(horrible fight ensues: screaming, kicking, chairs and tables fly.

The Brothers Kanarek finally get Kristi to calm down and stop flinging furniture. They leave the waitress a very large tip, apologizing profusely as they carry Kristi out, one on each arm.)

Kristi: That was a riot! Rock and Roll!! Any life lessons you’d like to leave our readers with?

Marvin Kanarek: Don’t know yet. I feel like I’m still in the middle of the storm. According to legend, we will know during those final moments that we draw our last breath. I’ll either have a smile on my face, or someone at bedside will be slapping it. I’ll know then.

Kristi: If you need anyone there to slap you, here’s my number. But until then – Thank You so much for Playing!!

Interview with Steve Kaplan, SK Comedy Intensive

Today’s Guest Star has been the industry’s most respected and sought-after expert on comedy for almost 15 years. He teaches comedy workshops, has created the HBO Workspace, the HBO New Writers Program and was co-founder and Artistic Director of Manhattan Punch Line Theatre, developing writers like Peter Tolan (Analyze This, Finding Amanda), writer/ producer David Crane (Friends, Joey, The Class), writer/producer Tracy Poust (Ugly Betty, Will & Grace), Michael Patrick King (The Comeback, Sex and The City, Will & Grace), Will Scheffer (Big Love), Steve Skrovan (Everybody Loves Raymond) etcetera, etcetera.

Exactly!! I know what you’re thinking and I’m WAY ahead of you. If this guy thinks he can monkey around in this interview he has another thing coming. I’m a serious interviewer, so he’d better Bee-have.

Especially since we’re meeting at the legendary Jerry’s Deli on Ventura Blvd., that’s LA, CA, aka Hollywood, Baby – I have to look cool!

Kristi: (applies 10^th coat of tangerine lip gloss, adjusts enormous rhinestone sunglasses, flings open door of crowded deli)

Steve Kaplan: (waves from red booth) Hello, over here!

Kristi: (slides into booth) Mr. Kaplan, I presume?

Steve Kaplan: (smiling) Really nice to meet you. I hope you didn’t run into bad traffic?

Kristi: So this is how we’re going to play it, huh? Question Avoidance! You’re avoiding my questions by asking your own.

Steve Kaplan: (baffled) What? What do you mean?

Kristi: I know the game and it’s not gonna work. (slams table, sloshing water glasses) Are you or are you not Steve Kaplan?

Steve Kaplan: (steadies water glasses) No, no, not at all!

Kristi: (jumps up bumping table, water drenches Steve) You’re not Steve Kaplan? Then who the hell are you?!

Steve Kaplan: (fumbling for napkins) No, no – I mean, I’m not avoiding your question. I was just starting to get worried. I’ve been here for over an hour and thought something might have happened to you.

Kristi: (sits back down) Oh. I get it.

Steve Kaplan: (smiles, wipes up spilled water) Glad we got that settled.

Kristi: Deflection. Classic counter move.

Steve Kaplan: Huh?

Kristi: Trying to pin it all on me.  (scribbles in notebook) Hostile Guest Star.

Steve Kaplan: (reads upside down) Wait – did you just write Hostile?

Kristi: (slams fuzzy pink pencil down on notepad) How can I conduct an interview if you won’t stop fooling around and answer the question!

Steve Kaplan: (starts to sweat) Wha- what question?  You haven’t asked me one.

Kristi: (rolls eyes) Yea, right. I’ll just call you Mr. X.

Steve Kaplan: (confused) Look, I’m really not trying to be difficult, but you were the one who contacted ME, so I assumed–

Kristi: (to gawking Elderly Couple at next table) I’m deeply sorry, is my companion bothering you? Imagine how I feel! (to Steve Kaplan) Since you refuse to tell me your name, how about telling me what you do for a living?

Elderly Husband: Yea, just do what she says. The date goes a lot better that way.

Elderly Wife: (bats husband’s arm) Harold!

Steve Kaplan: (laughs awkwardly at mounting on-lookers) No, no, ha! This is an INTERVIEW – definitely NOT a date – I’m married! She invited me here to INTERVIEW me.

Elderly Husband: We’ll be the judge of that. Tell the lady what you do.

Steve Kaplan: (raises voice for all to hear) I’d like the readers of HowDidYouGetThere to know that I teach comedy writing and performance, as well as conduct workshops, seminars and consult on scripts.

Kristi: (points pencil at Steve) Ah-HA! Just like Steve Kaplan does.

Steve Kaplan: Um…yes.

Kristi: How long have you worked in comedy, Mr. X?

Steve Kaplan: If you don’t mind, just call me–

Kristi: Again with the question avoidance? You’re an artful dodger, Mr. X, but you underestimate my amazing counter moves, developed from years of tether ball. (Kristi demonstrates ducking and air-hitting manoeuvres)

Elderly Husband: (winks at Kristi) Nice moves. If it doesn’t work out with this guy–

Elderly Wife: Shut up and order, Harold!

Elderly Husband: (to waitress) I’ll have what she’s having.

Steve Kaplan: (wishes they’d met at McDonald’s like Kristi suggested)

Kristi: (sits, winded) So you see, you’ve met your match. I repeat: How long have you worked in comedy?

Steve Kaplan: OK, ok! I started a theatre company in New York completely devoted to comedy in 1979. Would your readers believe that I started the theatre at the age of 10?

Kristi: (beams with pride) My readers will believe anything.

Steve Kaplan: I can imagine.

Kristi: What do you like most about working in comedy?

Steve Kaplan: I get to hang around a lot of people who are laughing.

Kristi: I can imagine. People in here are sure laughing at you.

Steve Kaplan: (blank stare)

Kristi: What do you think makes you suited to teaching comedy?

Steve Kaplan: Let me quote from Dorothy Parker’s prescription for writing comedy: “Have a sharp eye, and a wild mind.” I guess I have both.

Kristi: Have you always been sharp and wild or did you start off dull and docile, and grow into it?

Steve Kaplan: I guess it all started when I was a kid. I was the kind of kid who would get picked on and beat up after school. I’m really not sure why.

Kristi: (scribbles in notebook) Dull and docile child…

Steve Kaplan: (reads upside down) Hey – I wasn’t dull or docile! As a matter of fact, because of the threat of being pummeled, I learned to do two things really well—

Kristi: (continues writing) …could only do two things well…

Steve Kaplan: I learned to run fast and make people laugh. Most kids couldn’t catch me; those who could, I disarmed with trenchant wit, with more than a soupcon of self-deprecating humor thrown in.

Kristi: (still writing) …kids laughed at the way he ran. But he made excellent soup.

Steve Kaplan: OK, I still got beat up, but I also grew to love comedy.

Kristi: Fascinating how soup-making leads to comedy. Who were your favorite comedians?

Steve Kaplan: While my peers were settling for the slapstick fun of Soupy Sales, my tastes were developing a more discerning palette.

Kristi: Good choice. I was getting tired of soup.

Steve Kaplan: My heroes were the anarchic Marx Bros. and the 40s era hipster-quipster Bob Hope. I couldn’t for the life of me figure out why Bing seemed to get all the girls in the Road movies just by singing. I remember, to my eternal humiliation, going up to a band at a dance (I was 12) and asking them to play a request: Bob Hope’s theme song, Thanks for the Memories.

Kristi: Oh – I love the Marx Brothers and have a special spot in my heart for the Road movies of Bob Hope and Bing Crosby. Who else?

Steve Kaplan: I loved Laurel and Hardy and W.C. Fields and Danny Kaye (“The pellet with the poison’s in the vessel with the pestle; the chalice from the palace has the brew that is true!”) and the Dick Van Dyke Show, and through the subversive humor of Get Smart I became a fan of Mel Brooks, who I later discovered was also the 2,000-Year Old Man.

Kristi: You should watch that science program, Get Smart, a little more closely if you think Mel Brooks is 2,000 years old. I happen to know that the oldest person is only 1,029, because he was abducted by aliens. True story.

Steve Kaplan: Right.

Kristi: So you had a love of the classics even in your early years?

Steve Kaplan: I have to admit I wasn’t yet a fan of the great silent classics, but I’m proud to point out that, even at 13, my love of The Three Stooges extended only to Shemp, who I thought alone exhibited the heart, compassion and bewildered sweetness that was the hallmark of great comedy and was lacking in Moe, Larry and Curley.

Kristi: Where have you worked prior to now?

Steve Kaplan: Well, immediately prior to immediately prior, I was doing some talent development gigs for Chris Albrecht at HBO. I was then given an opportunity that, in retrospect, I should have turned down. I went into talent management representation. So I zigged when I shoulda zagged.

Kristi: I used to have that problem in tether ball. Want me to show you?

Steve Kaplan: No, no, that’s OK. I worked it out.

Kristi: (starts to stand) Sure?

Steve Kaplan: Uh…positive. To give you a sense of how it turned out, I once approached my partners about taking on a new act, and one of them said, “That Jack Black and Tenacious D are never going to amount to anything.”

Kristi: And how did you begin teaching Comedy Intensive Workshops internationally?

Steve Kaplan: Well, that’s a position I really had to invent myself. I do give a lot of credit to a guy who worked for Robert McKee who took me to lunch and said, “You could be the Robert McKee of comedy.” I don’t think I’m at McKee’s legendary status yet, but it’s been an amazing ride so far, and it’s taken me to New York, Vancouver, London, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore!

Kristi: Wow. Any other jobs stand out in your past?

Steve Kaplan: The theatre I started in New York was called Manhattan Punch Line, and it was an amazingly vital and creative time of my life and an amazing launching pad for new talent—Steve Skrovan (Executive Producer of Everybody Loves Raymond), Michael Patrick King (Sex and the City), David Fury (Lost, 24), Peter Tolan (Rescue Me), John Leguizamo, Oliver Platt—the list goes on.

Kristi: How cool is that?! Any valuable life experiences do you wish to share?

Steve Kaplan: Hey, waking up is an amazing life experience!

Kristi: And for my final question– Are you or are you not Steve Kaplan?

(Elderly Couple lean in closer.)

Steve Kaplan: You’re actually going to post this?

Kristi: Of course, I’m a professional! I’m not doing this for laughs, you know.

Steve Kaplan: Uh… right… In that case I have to be honest. My real name is…um…Robert McKee.

Kristi: I knew it! I’ve got a nose for this –  nothing gets by me! (Hi-fives impressed Elderly Husband)

Steve Kaplan: (relieved) Yep. You saw straight through me.

Kristi: Thank you for coming clean, Mr. McKee. And to Steve Kaplan, where ever you are, I’d like to send out a very big Thank You for Playing!!

© Kristi Thompson 2010

(originally published August 2010)

Steve Kaplan’s bio:

For almost 15 years, Steve Kaplan has been the industry’s most respected and sought-after expert on comedy.  The artists he’s taught, directed or produced have gone on to be nominated for 43 Emmy Awards, 1 Academy Award, 3 Golden Globe Awards, 1 American Comedy Award, 6 Writers’ Guild of America Awards and several others. (They’ve WON 10 Emmys, 1 Oscar, 2 WGA Awards and the American Comedy Award.) In addition to having taught at UCLA, NYU, Yale and other top universities, Steve Kaplan created the HBO Workspace, the HBO New Writers Program and was co-founder and Artistic Director of Manhattan Punch Line Theatre. He has served as a consultant to such companies as DreamWorks, Disney, Aardman Animation, HBO and others.

Kristi Meets the Rich and Famous

(Reposted In honor of William and Kate’s new status)

I CAN’T WAIT to tell you about the FAB-U-LOUS party I talked my way into in London. I know my blog normally features Ordinary people in out of the ordinary lives, but when you see with whom I’ve been rubbing shoulders you’ll understand why I couldn’t resist…

TAKE A LOOK!!!

That’s what I’m talking about! Woo-Hoo!!

Me and Guillermo Smithico!?! Just hanging out.

Do I look happy or what? I think he must’ve just turned away from the camera here, but we were chatting.

Well, I think I did most of the talking but he is every bit as funny in person as he is on camera.

¸„ø¤º°¨¨°º¤ø ¸„ø¤º°¨¨°º¤ø„ø¤º°¨¨°º¤ø ¸„ø¤º°¨¨°º¤ø

Who out there can tell me who this hunk is? Like EVERYONE can, right?

Georgio Clunacius—I call him by his Roman name. (sound of Kristi’s annoyingly high pitched giggle)

Kristi’s Husband (poking his head over her shoulder as she types): It looks like he wants you to let go of his arm.

Kristi: He does not! He was just stunned because I planted a big kiss on his cheek. He was speechless. You can see he’s breaking into a smile.

Kristi’s Husband (who will not leave her alone to finish this blog): Where did you say you were again? I just can’t believe you met all these people.

Kristi: I most certainly did. Pictures don’t lie.

Kristi’s Husband:    Maybe the pictures don’t but…

Kristi: (sizzling sound, as Kristi’s glare scorches husband’s brow)

Kristi’s Husband:   They let you hang all over them like that?

Kristi: I see what this is about. You’re jealous!

Kristi’s Husband:    No I’m not. I’m thrilled for you, but…something just doesn’t seem right.

Kristi:             We live in London now – stuff like this happens here!!

Kristi’s Husband: Where exactly were you?

Kristi: Near Oxford Street. I saw this huge red dome on top of a building, with a long line out the door. It was hard to get in, but I did! Had to grease their palms, too. But it was worth it!!

Kristi’s Husband:    So, you were in a club?

Kristi:             I’m not sure, but it was very posh.

Kristi’s Husband:    Wasn’t this the middle of the day?

Kristi: Yes. Wish I’d known the dress code, I’d have worn my tiara. Everyone was incredibly gracious. No one said a word about it, or even looked sideways.

Kristi’s Husband:    Who else did you see?

Kristi:             Who DIDN’T I see? Look—who do you think this is?

Kristi’s Husband:    No way! Is that–? And he’s letting you in front of the microphone?

Kristi: Yea, I did that joke about the big mouth frog, remember?

Kristi’s Husband:    No.

Kristi: Neither did I.

Kristi’s Husband:   (on the verge of belief) Must’ve been some open charity event. Wonder why I didn’t read about it…

Kristi: (way too thrilled with herself) I love this one—Me and Captain Picard!

Kristi’s Husband:    Looks like he’s nervous, his face is all sweaty.

Kristi: (snappy) What do you mean?

Kristi’s Husband: (mandatory smile for Snappy-wife mode) Nothing at all, dearest.

Kristi: Well, this man was extremely happy to have me there, helping him. I never realized how frail Ben Kingsley is.

Kristi’s Husband:    Wait a minute! That’s not Ben Kingsley. That’s Mahatma Ghandi.

Kristi: Ghandi? Are you sure?

Kristi’s Husband: Of course I’m sure. Ben Kingsley was the actor who played Ghandi.

Kristi: (even more impressed with herself) I met Ghandi? This is better than I thought!

Kristi’s Husband:    Wha—?! How could you meet Ghandi? He’s been dead for decades.

Kristi: (snappy repeat) I knew it! You’re jealous!

Kristi’s Husband: (trumps Kristi’s Snappy play with his I Am The Champion smirk)   Right. So who else did you meet— the Queen?

Kristi: (hates husband’s I Am The Champion smirk) I’m not sure I want to tell you.

Kristi’s Husband: Good.

Kristi: But if you must know I did take an appropriately sombre photo with the Queen which I’m thinking of having framed for our living room.

Kristi’s Husband: May I inquire as to the name of this establishment where all the high and mighty stand around to have their pictures taken with those such as yourself?

Kristi: I, uh, I can’t recall. Madame something or other, but it was very posh.

Kristi’s Husband:  (smile widens)  Madame Tussauds? The Wax Museum?

Kristi: Damn!

Kristi’s Husband: (peering over Kristi’s shoulder as she types furiously) I’m sorry, what was that you said?

Kristi: (slams keys on computer, “I’M NOT TALKING TO YOU”)

Part 2: Interview with Robert McKee

WRITERS:  

1. Read the post below.

2. Now read it again.

3. Make some warm cocoa, cause you’re gonna be up all night thinking about it…

(Part 2 in my 2-Part series of interviews with Robert McKee, originally posted on  Writing.ie )

Robert McKee on CHARACTER

Kristi: Is it necessary to know your character so well that you know where they were last Tuesday at 12:23 am?

Robert McKee, the man, the legend: You do all that research as just imagining, to pour it out. Then you research from the real world of the subject. You do all this to give yourself choices.

You don’t pour it all into the book, especially if it has nothing to do with the plot. Don’t be so obsessed and proud of your research that you don’t make choices, not everything is relevant to the story line.

I like work that is in depth. I don’t think humans are shallow. I think they have a public persona, in fact all varieties of public personas. We create various styles of behaviour when we interact. We have a whole set of social masks, then we go home and have a whole set of social relationships.

We have our private self, who is conscious of everything we do, then we realize our body is not us, we are not our moods, nor our feelings. I am not even my own mind.

I can watch my mind think. As I’m going through the day my mind and I become merged. I know there is an unconscious mind that gives me things I don’t want. It gives me fears.

All these things are not me. We live inside a complex of various selves. Most of them are tools that we use to get through the day. The society we live in is a whole pyramid of power, multilayered. Nature is multilayered.  The evolution of living things is a pyramid, with humans at top, and bacteria at bottom.

My life is layered, so I want a writer who can shed light on this huge, layered complex that is the life of a character, and shed light on the things needed for his story.

When someone wants to write in a way that is knowingly flat, in order to express just some of those levels of complexity, that is fine.

But if the novelist just starts writing without knowing his characters, who they are, what they want, where they are, you may get something good, or you may not.

© Kristi Thompson, December 2011

Robert McKee, a Fulbright Scholar, is the author of the international bestseller STORY. STORY won the International Moving Image Book Award and has been translated into 20 languages. STORY is a required reading in the creative writing courses at Harvard, Yale and major universities around the world. McKee’s UK Television programs have been twice nominated for the BAFTA, winning it for J’accuse Citizen Kane.  McKee lectures world-wide on the art of writing for page, stage and screen and is the most sought after story consultant in Hollywood, NY and all other film making centres of the world. McKee was portrayed by Emmy Award winning actor Brian Cox in the Colombia Pictures, 4 time Oscar nominated film ADAPTATION.  McKee alumni have won 35 Academy Awards, 164 Nominations, Emmys, Pulitzer & Whitebread Awards. In 2011 alone, McKee Alumni won 7 Oscar Nominations & 2 Oscar wins (Toy Story 3 & Inside Job).