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MBrevard · 18 Apr 2003, 10:56

Hi, Jen! I'm SO glad you're here!!! And what an amazing idea--a terrific way to spread the word, attached to every email sent out!! I absolutely love it, as I do your website!

Listen, I have a problem. Something happened when you shared your idea here. I immediately got a full-blown image of one in my head. I tend to see things, Jen, at a slightly tilted angle (figuratively speaking). That's the way I've been my whole life. I suppose I could try to change it. But you know, after all these years of being this way, I sort of like it.

I'm not a professional photographer like you, so I don't have a photographer's eye. But I have done a LOT of layout, newsletters, typesetting, desktop publishing, some ad work--nothing on a professional basis because of certain circumstances--but still and all, I did this work.

So, instead I have a layout artist's eye. When I say I have a full-blown image, I am not picturing, necessarily, the exact photos that go along with it. Just the idea behind the photos, as I see them in my head, plus the kind of fonts needed--because they give it life, as well as the photos.

My problem here is that because most of this idea is complete, in its way, I am afraid that I will have taken away your artistic freedom here and I would NOT want to do that for anything in this world! As I said, I love your website. I call it Eye Candy because my eyes are always surprised and delighted by what I see when I go there, and I go there often. Not to mention all the great material there.

So, by sharing this idea, I don't want to take anything away from you. Am I making sense? This is a good thing you're proposing. I don't want anything bad to come from it between us.

Therefore, I was thinking, if you like this idea at all, and I'm sure it's not what you are already imagining (and I know you have already begun to build an image of what you want to do in your head by now), would you consider doing two? Your conception and mine? I'll find a way to compensate you, if I can, for your work, and it IS, indeed, work. Maybe if you're coming out to the Saratoga concert as you did last year, we can buy you some wine or dinner or something. :) We can work that out later.

Anyway, can I share my concept with you? I'm going to try to describe it as it's in my head, which probably won't be easy. But I'll do my best. Since I can't speak it to you, you need to "see" it.

The photos I imagine behind the first section are of a couple. They are slightly blurred, so you cannot distinguish their faces, but you can see that it is a man and a woman. I have no particular colors in mind. I would certainly leave that up to a photographer's eye!!

The photos would show this couple in varying emotions. I can't picture anything else in the blurred photo but them. The emotions would fit in with the words on that particular screen. There would be five different screens in this section.

This is the only part onwhich I cannot picture the fonts. The rest I have an image in my head. Perhaps the fonts will be dependent upon the photos chosen. I don't know why it's not there, but it isn't.

First screen, the photo of the couple is seen and then the words come up:
You have the right to remain silent.

Second screen, second photo:
Angels watching over us all.

Third Screen, etc.:
Hearts crashing to the ground.

Fourth screen etc.:
This is the moment we've been waiting for.

Fifth screen etc.:
Just love me like you love nobody else.

Then, the photos are gone. I see a plain colored background--again, the color of the background would have to fit in with the photos we have just seen.

On comes these words, in a soft font--not necesssarily cursive, but just one with round, soft lines--not square, blocky. Okay? The color of the font--well, obviously contrasty, but still fitting in with the colors from the photos.

(I made the word "this" in all caps, in the following line, but that's NOT the way it should be. However, that is the word I am hearing in my head as being emphasized. So, it would have to be just the tiniest bit larger than the other words, OR perhaps, it could be done with color and its color would be slightly different from the others. This would all have to be subtle, you know. It's just something that the eye and mind would register, without really understanding what is going on. Not really subliminal, but you know what I mean.)

And the words are:
Is THIS a song?

Then, I think the words would gently fade and very abruptly, there would be a large photo of Meat, as he looks now-- We need a Big Bold Blocky Square Font for this part, as the words quickly come onscreen:

HEY, WE'RE TALKIN'
MEAT LOAF
HERE!

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

(I made the letters all caps, just to give the feeling of blockiness, but I'm not sure that they should be. Maybe...It would depend on how it looks. The emphasis on the last line is on the word, "think" so, once again, that would have to be the slightest bit larger or the color varied subtly to allow the eye to see it. And the text, of course, would be centered, which I can't seem to do here.)

Then, I can't decide whether to keep the photo of Meat up. Perhaps it would be better to have the cover of CHSIB onscreen. Or the blank, colored background again.

And the credits would be here: Font, still blocky, but would be smaller than the previous screen, growing ever smaller, line by line, but still readable.

Couldn't Have Said It Better
performed by Meat Loaf and Patti Russo
words and lyrics by James Michael
Mercury Records, copyright 2003 (don't know how to do the symbol in here)

IN STORES NOW (god willing)
(only kidding on the 'god willing' there.

That's just how I feel after the past couple of days.)

Are there any other credits which would be needed? That's all I can think of....

So, we're probably talking 15 to 20 seconds, tops for this. The first part: the photo screens only have to be visable as long as it takes to read the words.

Now, we would probably have to get some permissions in order to do this: Meat--probably James Michael because we are using some actual lines from the song...I don't know who else--how Mercury may or may not fit in. So, this might just be more complicated than it seems.

I would LOVE to use Meat's font on his name, but after the fire which reigned down on different sections of this website yesterday, I'm scared to even put the thought in my head!!!

What thought??

Anyway, Jen, what do you think? I respect your opinion on these things. Is this potentially doable? Too difficult?? Did I give a good enough description for you to picture in your mind what I have in MY mind?

I have all these ideas in my head, but I don't, at this time, have the knowledge and ability to work with the various media needed to put it all together. I haven't had the time or chance to play with multimedia enough.

As I said, I'm sure it's not anything like you are imagining. But I would love to hear what you (and anyone else reading this) have to say about it.

One more quick thing and then I'll end this post. You know, Jen, have you asked anyone what they think CHSIB means? The song--not the title, that is.

I was having a rather heated discussion about it with my family. So, I have since then gone to others and asked what they thought it meant. And I get a different answer every single time.

And to make it even more interesting, everyone seems to try to apply it and their meaning for it, to their own personal life!!

I am beginning to believe that James Michael (as well as Meat's and Patti's interpretation of it) has created a truly universal song. Everyone relates to it in a different way, finds different meanings from the lyrics, and then, takes it home to their own life.

I'm finding that really fascinating!! I was thinking about starting a new topic at this forum, just to see how people would respond to it. Might be in interesting study.

Anyway, enough for now. Better post this--or I won't. It's hard to let go of creative ideas, especially when they are still 'cooking' inside of you. I'm sure you understand what I mean, Jen!

Again,Jen, thanks for being a part of all this and for bringing everyone such a terrific idea to help advertise the single and the upcoming album!!

Hope all of you will continue to respond to her request for quote ideas to use for her email ad.

It's now 1:25 a.m. in California. That means, 9:25 a.m. in the UK. Not much action here so far today. Hope things pick up, for Meat's sake. Please check in, friends, and let us know what you're seeing or finding in your local communities.

Also, we're still looking for radio stations that can be contacted either by phone or via the internet to 'encourage' them to start playing CHSIB.

We gotta keep this 'push' on at least until midnight UK time!! We can do this!! Talk with y'all later.

18 Apr 2003, 10:56	#151
MBrevard Super Loafer Join Date: 06.02.2003 Location: Deceased Posts: 761	Hi, Jen! I'm SO glad you're here!!! And what an amazing idea--a terrific way to spread the word, attached to every email sent out!! I absolutely love it, as I do your website! Listen, I have a problem. Something happened when you shared your idea here. I immediately got a full-blown image of one in my head. I tend to see things, Jen, at a slightly tilted angle (figuratively speaking). That's the way I've been my whole life. I suppose I could try to change it. But you know, after all these years of being this way, I sort of like it. I'm not a professional photographer like you, so I don't have a photographer's eye. But I have done a LOT of layout, newsletters, typesetting, desktop publishing, some ad work--nothing on a professional basis because of certain circumstances--but still and all, I did this work. So, instead I have a layout artist's eye. When I say I have a full-blown image, I am not picturing, necessarily, the exact photos that go along with it. Just the idea behind the photos, as I see them in my head, plus the kind of fonts needed--because they give it life, as well as the photos. My problem here is that because most of this idea is complete, in its way, I am afraid that I will have taken away your artistic freedom here and I would NOT want to do that for anything in this world! As I said, I love your website. I call it Eye Candy because my eyes are always surprised and delighted by what I see when I go there, and I go there often. Not to mention all the great material there. So, by sharing this idea, I don't want to take anything away from you. Am I making sense? This is a good thing you're proposing. I don't want anything bad to come from it between us. Therefore, I was thinking, if you like this idea at all, and I'm sure it's not what you are already imagining (and I know you have already begun to build an image of what you want to do in your head by now), would you consider doing two? Your conception and mine? I'll find a way to compensate you, if I can, for your work, and it IS, indeed, work. Maybe if you're coming out to the Saratoga concert as you did last year, we can buy you some wine or dinner or something. :) We can work that out later. Anyway, can I share my concept with you? I'm going to try to describe it as it's in my head, which probably won't be easy. But I'll do my best. Since I can't speak it to you, you need to "see" it. The photos I imagine behind the first section are of a couple. They are slightly blurred, so you cannot distinguish their faces, but you can see that it is a man and a woman. I have no particular colors in mind. I would certainly leave that up to a photographer's eye!! The photos would show this couple in varying emotions. I can't picture anything else in the blurred photo but them. The emotions would fit in with the words on that particular screen. There would be five different screens in this section. This is the only part onwhich I cannot picture the fonts. The rest I have an image in my head. Perhaps the fonts will be dependent upon the photos chosen. I don't know why it's not there, but it isn't. First screen, the photo of the couple is seen and then the words come up: You have the right to remain silent. Second screen, second photo: Angels watching over us all. Third Screen, etc.: Hearts crashing to the ground. Fourth screen etc.: This is the moment we've been waiting for. Fifth screen etc.: Just love me like you love nobody else. Then, the photos are gone. I see a plain colored background--again, the color of the background would have to fit in with the photos we have just seen. On comes these words, in a soft font--not necesssarily cursive, but just one with round, soft lines--not square, blocky. Okay? The color of the font--well, obviously contrasty, but still fitting in with the colors from the photos. (I made the word "this" in all caps, in the following line, but that's NOT the way it should be. However, that is the word I am hearing in my head as being emphasized. So, it would have to be just the tiniest bit larger than the other words, OR perhaps, it could be done with color and its color would be slightly different from the others. This would all have to be subtle, you know. It's just something that the eye and mind would register, without really understanding what is going on. Not really subliminal, but you know what I mean.) And the words are: Is THIS a song? Then, I think the words would gently fade and very abruptly, there would be a large photo of Meat, as he looks now-- We need a Big Bold Blocky Square Font for this part, as the words quickly come onscreen: HEY, WE'RE TALKIN' MEAT LOAF HERE! WHAT DO YOU THINK? (I made the letters all caps, just to give the feeling of blockiness, but I'm not sure that they should be. Maybe...It would depend on how it looks. The emphasis on the last line is on the word, "think" so, once again, that would have to be the slightest bit larger or the color varied subtly to allow the eye to see it. And the text, of course, would be centered, which I can't seem to do here.) Then, I can't decide whether to keep the photo of Meat up. Perhaps it would be better to have the cover of CHSIB onscreen. Or the blank, colored background again. And the credits would be here: Font, still blocky, but would be smaller than the previous screen, growing ever smaller, line by line, but still readable. Couldn't Have Said It Better performed by Meat Loaf and Patti Russo words and lyrics by James Michael Mercury Records, copyright 2003 (don't know how to do the symbol in here) IN STORES NOW (god willing) (only kidding on the 'god willing' there. That's just how I feel after the past couple of days.) Are there any other credits which would be needed? That's all I can think of.... So, we're probably talking 15 to 20 seconds, tops for this. The first part: the photo screens only have to be visable as long as it takes to read the words. Now, we would probably have to get some permissions in order to do this: Meat--probably James Michael because we are using some actual lines from the song...I don't know who else--how Mercury may or may not fit in. So, this might just be more complicated than it seems. I would LOVE to use Meat's font on his name, but after the fire which reigned down on different sections of this website yesterday, I'm scared to even put the thought in my head!!! What thought?? Anyway, Jen, what do you think? I respect your opinion on these things. Is this potentially doable? Too difficult?? Did I give a good enough description for you to picture in your mind what I have in MY mind? I have all these ideas in my head, but I don't, at this time, have the knowledge and ability to work with the various media needed to put it all together. I haven't had the time or chance to play with multimedia enough. As I said, I'm sure it's not anything like you are imagining. But I would love to hear what you (and anyone else reading this) have to say about it. One more quick thing and then I'll end this post. You know, Jen, have you asked anyone what they think CHSIB means? The song--not the title, that is. I was having a rather heated discussion about it with my family. So, I have since then gone to others and asked what they thought it meant. And I get a different answer every single time. And to make it even more interesting, everyone seems to try to apply it and their meaning for it, to their own personal life!! I am beginning to believe that James Michael (as well as Meat's and Patti's interpretation of it) has created a truly universal song. Everyone relates to it in a different way, finds different meanings from the lyrics, and then, takes it home to their own life. I'm finding that really fascinating!! I was thinking about starting a new topic at this forum, just to see how people would respond to it. Might be in interesting study. Anyway, enough for now. Better post this--or I won't. It's hard to let go of creative ideas, especially when they are still 'cooking' inside of you. I'm sure you understand what I mean, Jen! Again,Jen, thanks for being a part of all this and for bringing everyone such a terrific idea to help advertise the single and the upcoming album!! Hope all of you will continue to respond to her request for quote ideas to use for her email ad. It's now 1:25 a.m. in California. That means, 9:25 a.m. in the UK. Not much action here so far today. Hope things pick up, for Meat's sake. Please check in, friends, and let us know what you're seeing or finding in your local communities. Also, we're still looking for radio stations that can be contacted either by phone or via the internet to 'encourage' them to start playing CHSIB. We gotta keep this 'push' on at least until midnight UK time!! We can do this!! Talk with y'all later.