MAY 14, 1996

Hey, Diary,

So now we're sitting in Tracks Studio. By the Gold Records on the wall, this was where Natalie Cole recorded "Unforgettable."

I got a lift out to the studio with Jim, the Director, in his old mobile. On the way out, we talked about the creative process and the similarities between writing songs and scripts. He commented that tonight would be the first recording made for the feature film "Still Breathing".

Saturday night, Marshall, the Producer, and I ventured out to a jazz club I knew of called the Derby Club. It was there that we heard baritone sax player John Bolivar blowing with some band. At one of the band breaks, Marshall and I approached him and she asked if he would be interested in recording some sax parts for the "Still Breathing" playbacks (music tracks that the actors mime to while filming on the set).

So, here we are. John and Jim are in the booth, recording playback for a character called "Tree Man." Tree is a sax-playing street performer played by singing legend Lou Rawls.

Right at this moment, they're laying down a tune of mine that I named, on the spur of the moment, "One On One." Jim had been planning on using a tune by the great Thelonious Monk; Jim is a big fan of his. One of the things that I'm picking up on over here is that once you're an established songwriter, if a movie wants to use your music for their soundtrack, then a licensing fee has to be paid. As "Still Breathing" is not a big-budget movie, the cost of using a song must be weghed against the film's budget.

At three am, the night before last, I sat up with my old guitar and wrote the melody to "One On One." It was a fun piece to write, as I had to keep the Tree Man in mind, picturing him as he plays the tune on the street, accompanying a cool jazz-man marionette. Brendan Fraser's character, Fletcher, is an eccentric Texan who is also a gifted street performer. Fletcher is a puppeteer, and this song's scene will be be filmed out front of the Alamo in San Antonio.

Tonight, I met the Music Supervisor, Barklie Griggs. He and Marshall are good friends and he has a very personable, friendly vibe about him. It's good to meet people who dispel the "everyone is a bastard in LA" reputation I heard before arriving here.

An order of Chinese takeaway arrives, and the recording continues. Barklie suggests that my tune is very catchy and maybe should be used for a hamburger commercial or something.