Having been involved in the whole Big Year thing as a friend of Greg's, I can clearly envision Jack Black in a comedic role and not a serious one. The image that comes clearly to mind is Greg/Jack covered head to toe in muck trying to get his canoe unstuck from Snake Bight while failing to paddle out to see American Flamingos. If Gail's vision was correct and it was going to be like "Best in Show", it would be a curious look at manic birding but the Ben Stiller version will likely not put a good spin on "us".
 
Tyler Bell

California, Maryland 



----- Original Message ----
From: Nancy Martin <>
To: 
Sent: Sun, March 14, 2010 10:16:47 AM
Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] Fwd: The Big Year rumors

Hi All,

This brings great trepidation to my heart. I still have not completely recovered from Wally Cox in "The Beverly Hillbillies" being the media image of bird watching. Given this is not a Christopher Guest parody but instead has all the earmarks of Big Hollywood (director of "Marley & Me", Steve Martin, Jack Black) what are the odds this will establish competitive birders as crazy fools for some time to come? As I recall the tone of the source material was often not very flattering and Hollywood often goes for hyperbole with the parts that tickled the producer's fancy (this being Mr. Cruel Humor: Ben Stiller). You heard it here first. I sure hope this is done in such a way as to make us look human as well as funny, but I feel fear.

Good (wet) birding,

Walter Ellison

23460 Clarissa Road

Chestertown, MD 21620
phone: 410-778-9568
e-mail:  <mailto:[log in to unmask]>

"A person who is looking for something doesn't travel very fast" - E. B. White (in "Stuart Little")


On 3/14/2010 9:57 AM, Rick Sussman wrote:
> If they could make it like that film, it would be an instant classic!
> 
> Rick Sussman
> Woodbine,MD
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Gail Mackiernan<>
> To: 
> Sent: Sat, Mar 13, 2010 9:44 pm
> Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] Fwd: The Big Year rumors
> 
> 
> I hope they make some attempt for accuracy on the birds and on birding --
> ne of the reasons we dog show people LOVE Christopher Guest's "Best in
> how" movie was that it is only a *teeny bit* exaggerated, and all of us
> now folks who match each of the characters!
> Gail Mackiernan
> Colesville, MD
> on 03/13/2010 4:58 PM, Phil Davis at  wrote:
>