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While he's in Ireland for DIFF, Charlie will be holding a Screenwriting Masterclass which is open to "industry professionals – Writers/Directors/Producers – with at least 3 years industry experience and a proven track record with at least 2 professional credits."

It takes place at Light House Cinema, Dublin, 5 March.

This is a fantastic opportunity for screenwriters and filmmakers to gain an insight into how Kaufman successfully navigated the film industry, how he developed such a recognisable and distinctive writing style, as well as how Kaufman's screenwriting career influenced his later directorial work.

This masterclass will focus on Kaufman's unique approach to screenwriting and delve into the various elements that are integral to the delivery of quality work. The overall aim of the class is to help screenwriters and filmmakers hone a distinct voice in their own creative work. (Source)

It'll include a Q&A with Irish screenwriter Mark O'Halloran (Adam and Paul, Garage, Rialto). More info at the link.

I was kind of hoping to get a review up before most of the major trade publications, but I'm only halfway through an ARC of Antkind and Kirkus has beaten me to it. BASTARDS. The good news is, they love the book.

Always centrifugal screenwriter Kaufman delivers a terrific debut novel that makes Gravity’s Rainbow read like a Dr. Seuss story.

You know you’re in for strange times when a young fast-food cashier cites an anecdote about Jean Cocteau (“They once asked him what he would take from a burning house”) while offhandedly observing that the vehicle you’re driving is on fire.

[...]

It’s a splendid, spectacular mess, much like Kaufman’s Being John Malkovich, commanding attention from start to finish for its ingenuity and narrative dazzle.

Film, speculative fiction, and outright eccentricity collide in a wonderfully inventive yarn—and a masterwork of postmodern storytelling. (Source)

Full review at the link.

I'm at the 300-page mark (of 700) and can confirm that, so far, it really is worthy of the Pynchon comparison. Charlie's not a screenwriter. He's a writer, period. If the next 400 pages live up to the first 300, I'd be totally on board should he ever feel like scaling back the movie-making and publishing a few more books instead. (If they do not, well, FORGET I SAID ANYTHING.)

New interview! Charlie will be attending the Dublin International Film Festival next month (info and tickets to Charlie Kaufman in Conversation here!), and to promote the appearance he spoke to Dave Fanning on RTE2FM.

The discussion is mostly about I'm Thinking of Ending Things. Antkind gets a mention in the final minute--just that it's complete and soon to be released. Charlie mentions the May release dates, so I assume this was recorded before the date was pushed back?

Thanks to Anon!

Orson Bean, who played Dr. Lester in Being John Malkovich, has died at age 91, after being struck by two cars in Los Angeles. Goddamn, imagine making it to 91, and then that happens?

Says Variety:

Orson Bean, the prolific character actor known for his work in “Being John Malkovich,” “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman” and a host of TV shows, died Friday after being hit by twice by cars while walking in Los Angeles. He was 91.

The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office told the Associated Press that Bean’s death was under investigation as a traffic-related fatality. The industry veteran was walking in the Venice area on Friday night when he was hit by a car and fell, after which he was hit by a second car, according to the AP. Bean’s survivors include his wife, actor Alley Mills, who he married in 1993.

Bean was a co-founder of the non-profit actors collective Pacific Resident Theatre in Venice, where he also lived. Bean’s official bio on the theater’s website concludes with the observation: “He is one lucky son of a bitch.”

Bean was well-liked in the industry as a raconteur and versatile performer who was as comfortable on a game show set as he was in an arthouse movie such as Spike Jonze’s 1999 absurdist fantasy “Being John Malkovich,” in which he played Dr. Lester, the mastermind of a plot to prolong his life by inhabiting the body of the titular star. (Source)

Thanks to Doreen for the link.

BCKster Jeff sent this image through to me. Charlie's talk at the Sydney Goldstein Theater has been pushed back to July 13, "Due to the publication delay of his forthcoming novel, Antkind."

Charlie's American publishers' website lists July 7 as the new pub. date.

Charlie's Aussie publisher has it at May 18, but I expect that'll change, too.

If you're in San Francisco May 14, you can catch Charlie at the Sydney Goldstein Theater, where he'll be discussing his novel Antkind. YAY. Get in quick, though.

Says City Arts & Lectures: "Orchestra Tickets ($45) come with a copy of Kaufman’s new novel, Antkind."

UPDATE: This event has been rescheduled for July 13.

Had some computer problems, so I've been posting the last couple of updates on the FB and Twitter pages. This was one of those things: Charlie will be appearing with Susan Orlean at the Dynasty Typewriter At The Haworth At The Haworth, Los Angeles, on May 15. They'll be discussing Antkind, among other things. Not sure if there are tickets left, so get in quick.

UPDATE: it seems publication of Charlie's book has been delayed until July. Probably this means the event with Susan Orlean will be postponed as well, but I can't say for sure. If you're interested, you should call 'em and check.

In the U.S., Antkind will be published by Random House. In the UK and Australia (and probably other places), it'll be published by HarperCollins, which means we get a different cover.

Ta-da:

This is news to me, but apparently it's been known since around October. In the same month that Charlie publishes Antkind, his publisher will be releasing Memoirs and Misinformation, a Kaufman-sounding novel co-written by Jim Carrey and featuring Kaufman himself.

From Random House:

BCk is 18 years old! HAPPY BIRTHDAY BCK. WE OLD. December 18 is the official day, but I am late.

Speaking of late: to celebrate, here's a thing that I have taken waaaaay too long to upload, and which is of no use to you if you don't read French, but which is pretty damned neat if you do read French: Adaptation's screenplay, translated into French. This is based on the shooting script for the film published by Newmarket. Cool, no?! Oui!

Big thanks to Mark Roberts for painstakingly translating this thing and sharing it with us. FANTASTIC WORK. And BOOOO to me for taking so long to add it to the site. But yaaaay to me for keeping this thing going for 18 years.