Welcome to the website of Jeremy Thomas
On the site, you will find information regarding my work, together with an essential amount of useless memorabilia and trivia. Click on items on the lined notepad to find your way about the site. There is a guest book forum where you could leave an interesting message or if you so wish send an email to mailjeremythomas@aol.com
February 22nd 2011
THE SEXIEST LITERARY LAUNDRETTE IN THE WORLD
This month’s edition breaks with tradition and concentrates on film, as opposed to books. The Santa Monica Suicide Club, Taking Leave, The World According to Ned, Two Steps Forward and One of Our Meters is Missing are each currently undergoing a wash cycle in the above launderette. Regular readers are asked to have faith and be patient until the cycle ends- more will be revealed. Meanwhile, two authors being read and admired are Murakami and Charles Dickens.
DOCUMENTARIES
‘On the Road Again’ - is an Insiders guide to the world of roadies and tour managers. A series that will cover a social history since 1966 and present a unique set of viewpoints from unsung heroes - people we never hear from talking about bands, the business, how they started and what kept then alive.
STAYING SANE IN AN INSANE WORLD.
A new web site is about to be designed to incorporate a weekly blog, as well as featuring new and old books and documentaries on the subject of positive mental health. The site will be separate from literary endeavours, clear, fun and interactive. It will hopefully also provide access to extracts from ‘An A-Z of Good Mental Health/ You don’t have to be famous to have manic depression/bi-polar disorder.’ Please send any positive suggestions for this new site to MailJeremyThomas@aol.com Talks have recently been given in the following places: Cambridge, Peterborough, Croydon and Chelsea. Many thanks to the CWMT, MHHP, MDF, RAC for hosting each event.
JOHN BARRY 1933-2011
A five time Oscar winner, who gave a great deal of pleasure to many, and was a great source of inspiration to me. Repeated listening to the scores of ‘The Ipcress File’, ‘For Your Eyes Only’ and ‘Out of Africa’ to name but three helped immensely during the writing of various books. Let alone the Propellerhead’s version of ‘On her Majesty’s Secret Service’ Not only did Barry score eleven Bond films, he composed a huge amount of others including such other gems as Midnight Cowboy, The Whisperers, The Lion in Winter, Born Free, Zulu, Dances with Wolves…Take time to listen to this wonderful writer. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERB-r39Cge8
ECCO VILLIERS-THOMAS (1996-2011)
It is with much sadness that that we announce the death of Ecco Villiers. She passed on into the big film studio in the sky six weeks ago. A private funeral has already taken place and a memorial service is planned for early April. Ecco was born in the early nineties to Labrador and Flat Coat Retriever parents in Devon. By the age of six months, she realised she had an original talent and just needed someone special to help her career get off the ground. Well known agent Jane Villiers Thomas jumped at the chance and brought Ecco up from Devon to London on ‘what she described, as ‘the best train journey of my life.’ It was a partnership that was to last for fifteen happy years.
With over a hundred successful films under her collar, there can be little doubt that Ecco was one of the greatest international film stars of the 21st Century. Yet it will be largely because of her hard work on the other side of the camera as a chief executive of Sayle Dog Films that she will be best remembered. Films such as ‘Holidays with Matthew,’ ‘When Toby and Tania Got Married’ and ‘Carry on up the Gunter’ would never have been made without her persistence and kindness. Pictured recently above, on the set of her last film ‘Hunky Dory’ alongside director Marc Evans and co-star, Minnie Driver - Ecco can be seen taking a rare break from her relentless filming schedule. People often said that her favourite words were ‘Turning over’’ ‘Fetch!’ and ‘Cat’ and yet Ecco was often happiest after a hard day in the office enjoying a bowl of beef stew, while curled up in front of a log fire listening to Question Time.
She will be sadly missed but remembered well.
More tributes will be paid in forthcoming issues of this site.
BEST FILMS AND OSCAR TIPS…2010-2011
It is easy to overlook many new films nowadays because their tenure in cinemas is largely decided by ticket sales over the first weekend of release. This is a crazy idea in respect of movies hat are not backed by huge marketing budgets. Good things are promoted best by word of mouth and respected reviewers. Such is life for the lover of underdogs. Here are some films deserving of your attention: WINTERS BONE- is a perfectly drawn drama that manages a wonderful to maintain tension throughout and to be tight as a drum. Echoes of Fargo, Straw Dogs and The Road but set in an impoverished community in the Ozark mountains. Stand out performance by Jennifer Lawrence and also John Hawkes. Credit also due to the wonderful direction and screenplay adaptation by Debra Granik. THE SECRET IN THEIR EYES - winner of last year’s Oscar for Best Foreign Film. This exceptional Argentinean film manages to combine a crime thriller with a subtle love story and makes one laugh at the same time. It is warm, exciting and beautifully acted. BLUE VALENTINE- is an extremely well crafted film about the history of a marriage going from good to dead. Compelling performances from Ryan Gosling and Michele Williams with a great script by director Derek Cianfrance make this risky edgy film a must see. THE SOCIAL NETWORK – I had no intention of liking this film when I went to see it. However, because of the clever and outstanding script and way the film has been put together, I liked it enormously. It is a seriously entertaining film about contemporary culture. THE KIDS ARE ALLRIGHT Not perfect but intelligent and funny, this film has great performances from the whole cast. In particular, Annette Benning and Tom Ruffino. THE THOMAS MUNSTER OSCAR PREDICTIONS. BEST SMALL FILM –WINTER’S BONE. BEST FOREIGN FILMS - DOGTOOTH / BEST BIG FILM - SOCIAL NETWORK BEST DIRECTOR- DAVID FINCHER BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY – AARON SAKIN FOR SOCIAL NETWORK BEST ACTOR – COLIN FIRTH- THE KING’S SPEECH BEST ACTRESS – ANNETTE BENNING –THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT OR JENNIFER LAWRENCE FOR WINTER’S BONE. BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR- CHRISTIAN BAYLE – THE FIGHTER OR GEOFFREY RUSH/THE KINGS SPEECH. BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS- HAILEE STEINFEILD -TRUE GRIT OUSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO FILM MUSIC AWARD – JOHN BARRY
NEWS OF THE WORLD AND DAILY TELEGRAPH ANNOUNCE THEIR INTENTION TO STAND FOR GOVERNMENT.
I had a dream last night that after months of grazing the moral high ground, the Barclay Brothers and Rupert Murdoch have thrown their hats into the ring and announced their intention to win over 500 parliamentary seats at the next election. Widely tipped to become the new Prime Minister is News International’s chief exec Rebeka Brooks. David Cameron is reported to have reacted badly to Mr Murdoch’s offer to become a three day a week consultant.
SOFT BREW APPLE DRINK IS THE BEST.
September 24th 2010
TAKING LEAVE
Unseemly haste on behalf of the London parking authorities?
September 23rd 2010
SMSC MYSTERY MAP DISCOVERED
This map was recently discovered on the floor of a customs examination room at Athens airport. A dazed official stated that he believed that the owner of the map was an American male from Santa Fe with one finger missing on his left hand.
August 1st 2010
THE SANTA MONICA SUICIDE CLUB
The roots of this novel are wrapped around the time when I kicked a heavy smoking habit. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done. Naturally it did not take place in Slough or Pinner but in the Pacific Palisades in 2000. To stay sane I wrote a short story about an English priest seconded to Santa Monica and coming up against gangsters in nearby Topanga Canyon.
I wrote two stories and along with many Trebor mint wrappers stuffed them into a drawer. Seven years later, I dug them out and put them in the blender and the S.M.S.C unfolded. Father Tony the priest is still there but has been nudged off the centre stage by a new character. M is a failed British actor turned private investigator based in Santa Monica. Hooked on Trebor mints, he drives an expensive old Swedish car and is desperate for cash, a decent case and female company. Like buses, three things come along at the same time.
THE WORLD ACCORDING TO NED
Good things take time to come to fruition. This is a story about a Russian cat living in London who is the only witness to a grisly murder and kidnapping. Grandson of a genetically engineered cosmonaut cat, Ned is not an ordinary cat- which is highly convenient considering the nature of the villain he forces himself to pursue. The book is being developed as a graphic novel.
THE CHARLIE WALLER MEMORIAL TRUST
Due to co-writing ‘You don’t have to be famous to have manic depression…’ I was very fortunate to be invited to speak at a seminar on depression earlier this year. The event took place at Emmanuel College, Cambridge and was titled Depression and What You Need to Know. The other excellent speakers were Professor Roz Shafran and Doctor Brian Marien. To be among such great minds was a fascinating and humbling experience. Anyone in need of good practical help regarding depression and what to do about it, should check out www.cwmt.org. I am going to be giving more talks entitled ‘How to Stay Sane in an Insane World’ later this year.
TWO STEPS FORWARD
A play about an Englishman and American sharing a condemned cell in Afghanistan. They have been together in the cell for three years and become used to an amusing daily routine until one day they hear some bad news about their long term future. Plans are underway for a London production in 2011.
TALES OF ECCO
Devastated to be bumped out of the leadership contest for the Liberal Conservative Coalition government, Ecco has enrolled in the London 2013 First Dog on Mars programme….A keen space enthusiast, Ecco has agreed to accompany Boris the Mayor of London, on a trip that will take in visits to Mars, the South of Saturn and of course, Sirius the dog star. Her training has already started…by accompanying HRH on a charity run on July 8th for Cancer Research RUN FOR LIFE… a highlight of the event was meeting the definitive Truman Capote actor, Toby Jones.
FILMS
To be recommended:
THE WHITE RIBBON
LET THE RIGHT ONE IN
THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATOO
I LOVED YOU SO LONG
FANTASTIC MR FOX
BOOKS
To be recommended:
HARUKI MURAKAMI –South of the Border, West of the Sun.
IAN RANKIN- Exit Music
BERYL BAINBRIDGE- The Bottle Factory
WENDY MOORE- Wedlock
RICHARD COLE- Stairway to Heaven.
HBO EUROPE HIJACKED BY MR MURDOCH
I did appeal to HBO to set up HBO Europe in my last posting here. Now it appears that Sky TV has grabbed the opportunity by backing the entire HBO back catalogue.
MOUSSAKA AND OTHER ANIMALS?
October 13th 2009
NINE MONTHS LATER…
Some people think it necessary to dump a blog onto the Internet every day. Not the author of this web site. We’ve got it down to a fine art of once every nine months.
Most extraordinary but no TV company has taken up my previous suggestion of launching a reality TV showwhere sub primal bankers, hedge fund managers, Berlusconi and Madoff & Co are given a multiple dunking in a slimy Russian lake on a pay to view broadcast basis every Sunday night after the Antiques Road Show.
THE SANTA MONICA SUICIDE CLUB is in its final few months of gestation and looking good on the ultra scan. It’s going to be a boy but one with a girl’s name. No more information until February 2010.
It’s never a good idea to read too much when writing a novel but here are three books I would recommend:
RAYMOND CHANDLER – A BIOGRAPHY by Tom Hiney.
Fascinating to read about Chandler’s early life, his subsequent battles with alcohol, and devoted obsessive love for his wife Cissy. And that his first novel, The Big Sleep was not published until he was 51. Also that he attended Dulwich College, the same school as the great PG Wodehouse
THE LADY IN THE LAKE –by Raymond Chandler.
Muscular, tough and often funny story that takes you in into the fictional world of Bay City (Santa Monica) and Gray Lake (Silverlake). The book provides a great peepshow into a 1930’s unsentimental world of a private detective, bad cops, secretaries wearing nylons, men wearing hats, uppers and downers, loneliness, violence and despair.
Did anyone find out whether Chandler and Wodehouse had the same English teacher at Dulwich College?
CHILD 44 – by Tom Rob Smith
A serious thriller set in Stalin’s Russia. Partly based on a true story this is beautifully written novel is disturbingly compulsive and something to keep you up all night. Makes one think about what Russian people have had to endure over the last eighty years.
FILMS
Three recent films I would strongly recommend are:
- FISH TANK- directed by ANDREA ARNOLD
- SIN NOMBRE- directed by GARY FUKUNAGA
- MID AUGUST LUNCH- directed by GIANNI DI GREGORIO
All three films are beautifully made and are totally different from the others. One set in Essex, England, one in Mexico and one in Rome. See them on DVD, if they are not at your local cinema but please see them. Should any one of these directors feel inclined to direct TAKING LEAVE… we of nine monthly updated web sites would be honoured and delighted.
HBO EUROPE
An appeal to the owners of Home Box Office Inc to create a European based broadcasting network. To fund, make and broadcast film and television material in Europe. Run the network on a subscription basis where viewers could see new movies and television drama no longer being made by British broadcasters. A channel that could show movies from all over the world, uncut versions of films such as Revolutionary Road and US TV shows such as Weeds and John Adams.
Begin it now, please.
FRIENDS OF ECCO
Grave news (well, nearly.). Plans for the greatest state funeral since that of Queen Boadicea were nearly set in motion recently.
To summarise, having breakfasted on minced quail and Weetabix, Ecco was chauffeur driven to Cattersea Park for her morning constitutional. As per tradition, once inside, 99% of other dogs and their human owners bowed, nodded or curtseyed as she trotted past. The sun was shining, the air full of resplendent dog smells, another perfect dog day morning… until suddenly… a slobbering white Staffordshire Bull Terrier shot out from beneath a park bench, pinned Ecco to the ground and sank its teeth into her neck and wouldn’t let go. Blood, fur, yelps, and barking accompanied by Mrs Thomas’s screaming replaced the tranquillity of Cattersea Park. The owner of the Staff tried to pull his dog away from Ecco, so did a distraught Mrs Thomas, other brave souls tried, but still the bull terrier’s teeth sunk even deeper into Ecco’s neck, blood now spurting like a children’s playground fountain. A swat team in a helicopter arrived overhead, a man shouted through megaphones but the Staff remained firm in its wish to terminate Ecco. Something had to be done, before it was too late! Just then a ghostly figure of a large black cat ambled up to the psycho dog and sank both sets of front claws into the dog’s nether regions. The effect was instantaneous. The dog yelped a high pitch scream, released Ecco from its jaws and charged off at high speed after the athletic cat...
Ecco was air lifted to a private clinic in Chelsea and given emergency surgery. After nine and a half weeks of recuperation she was able to return home to celebrate her thirteenth birthday. Mrs Thomas shed a tear of relief and took herself of to Moscow to see Patrick Barlow’s ‘The 39 Steps.’ Meanwhile many other people are wondering just who that brave black cat is...
Reviews
"Jeremy Thomas is a complete original. His writing, like his life, is a whirlwind of brilliance, wonder and blunder, by turns, hilarious and terrifying. Highly recommended".
Stephen Fry