Wendy Williams: Part Deux

Okay everybody, today I watched the second day of the Wendy Williams show and it was equally as fabulous as it was yesterday if not better. Wendy looked exquisite in her little black outfit. Today she had on Al Roker from the "Today Show" and he is really a character. I really wish I could get tickets to see a taping of her show? I have a feeling that a taping must be a lot of fun for the audience as well as the guests. Much like the time I went to a taping of "Dave Chapelle Show". It was hilarious, but I digress....

Anyway, before I came here to the library to write (long story short: I was piggy-backing my wireless from somebody in my apartment building and they moved out so now I used the free wi-fi at the Brooklyn Public Library-the big one at Grand Army Plaza next to Prospect Park- I'm not cheap, just broke) I listened a little to the Wendy Williams Experience on WBLS. Her guest today was one of my very favorite authors: E. Lynn Harris. He was there to promote his new book that drops in stores today, Just Too Good To Be True. He also mentioned that he has another book coming out in January called Basketball Jones that deals with a guy living in the closet while playing in the NBA. Now anyone who knows me, knows that this is a subject that really interest me after reading the John Amaechi memoir Man In the Middle. I really can't wait to read that book.

I guess the reason why I brought up sports today is because, as I'm sure you know today is MLB All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium. Of course I'm all about anything that has to do with any Yankees. Derek Jeter (will be playing for the ninth time), ARod, and Mariano Rivera will be playing for the American League. I really wish I could be there to watch this package. I mean the teams, not the player's packages. Duh... Okay I wouldn't mind watching the player's packages (I'm a freak like that). Anyway. I wish them well.

How did I get from Wendy Williams to talking about baseball? Oh yeah right, now I remember: I was wishing that I had a ticket (and a date) to go with to the game tonight since it will be the very last All-Star Game to ever be played in the current Yankee Stadium.

Anyway, oh, I wanted to talk a little about the mini film festivals I had all by myself in my apartment this weekend. Since I've been coming over to the public library, I've discovered the "World Cinema" section of DVDs. Over the past few months I've rediscovered and discovered some works by filmmakers who I greatly admire. This past weekend I watched the Three Colors trilogy by Krzysztof Kieslowski. I've seen it before but not on DVD and not with the commentary. As a filmmaker it's an added bonus to be able to hear what the thought process was for legendary filmmakers such as Kieslowski. It also gave me insight into why European films vastly differ from American-made "Hollywood" films. If you haven't the trilogy yet, it's a must for any serious film maker or lover of films. Three Colors: Blue (Trois colours: Bleu) (1993), Three Colors: White (Trois colours: Blanc) (1994), Three Colors: Red (Trois colours: Rouge) (1994) where the crowning achievement to a brilliant career that sadly ended way too soon in 1996 when he died from heart failure.

My other favorite filmmaker that I had the opportunity to study his films is Michelangelo Antonioni. Antonioni passed away last year but was quite a prolific filmmaker leaving behind what is now considered masterpieces of cinema. I watched Il Grido (The Cry) (1957), L'Avventura (The Adventure) (1960), La Notte (The Night) (1961), L'Eclisse (The Eclipse) (1962) and Blow Up (1966) and you know what I learned from watching these film classics? How to speak Italian! Just kidding, I think that the central thing that I discovered was that much like a novel that has plenty of exposition, so is an Italian film. I understand now why such directors as Ang Lee may have been inspired by the shear genius and artistry of his cinematography as every frame of an Antonioni film tends too look like a rare piece of artwork that should hang in a museum. Like Antonioni, I find that Ang Lee's films are slow moving yet visually a feast for the eyes.

Of course, don't get me started on all the Hitchcock films that I've had the chance to study lately, most notably his earlier works (prior to moving to the US from the UK) such as The 39 Steps (1935) and The Lady Vanishes (1938); and some of his early American films like Shadow of a Doubt (1943); and some of his later work like Torn Curtain (1966) - in this particular film Paul Newman was soooooooo hot!!!!

I could go on and on about films as many of you all know but it's getting cold here in the library and I'm wearing shorts and a light cotton shirt. I think they turn the AC up to keep the people from sitting in here all day.

As always, I welcome your comments. Until next time!

My NY Yankee Dreams

I was so happy today to be able to walk from the subway to my school and watch the tents being dismantled over at Bryant Park! That means the streets will be safe from the fashionistas that have invaded the areas for the past week and the prices in the local delis will go back to normal. I can finally start to exhale a sigh of relief.

On the pre-production front, I'm still working on my Director's book and trying to secure a location to shoot. Casting notices will go out in about 48 hours from now. Next week will be the last week of my 5th Quarter of Film school and I'm both nervous and excited. I'm close to getting an internship. I was told that my volunteering at the IFP Market will count toward some internship hours. That was a relief to hear because I've been sending out resumes and cover letters and going on interviews all this week and had hope to secure something by the end of the week.

My celebrity siting this week: Terry McMillan. At least I think it was her! It sure looked like her trying to hail a taxi last Friday on Sixth Ave at 25th Street. I'm sure it was her because I know what the woman looks like and she wasn't hiding behind gigantic designer shades either. If not, I'm sure someone reading this will let me know otherwise. I was on a bus going uptown when I saw her. She looked fabulous! Maybe she was going to catch a show at Fashion week? Who knows?

Okay, about the photo at the top left. I found it surfing and I truly believe that it's not Photoshop. Between you and me, I've had dreams about this. Funny, why am I in the mood for a "Jeterarod" sandwich every time I look at the photo of my two favorite Yankees?

Hmmm....

Shooting Footage, Comedy Writing and The NY Fringe Festival

This has been a crazy week again for me. Today I shot some footage (known as B-roll) to accompany the interview and other visuals that I will incorporate in the EPK (Electronic Press Kit) that I am doing for my 5th Quarter project. I'm doing it for a for a music producer/sound engineer who has his studio in DUMBO (Down Under Manhattan Bridge Overpass) and I feel that it will be a great project because I've gotten more comfortable with AVID Xpress Pro and my instincts as a cameraman today were on point and I think I went away with some truly awesome footage. I have one more day of shooting (the interview) and then production is complete and the post-production begins. Hopefully I can have it complete before Labor Day that way I can fully focus on my thesis project and the pre-production.

Speaking of the thesis film. I handed in my 2nd draft last week and got my notes today. So tomorrow I will hand in my 3rd (and hopefully final) draft to my Script Development Professor. I don't know, but I have a really good feeling about my thesis film and I think if I can secure the locations and cast, I think it will be really magical. So in a few weeks I'm going to post casting notices for actors and crew for the film. I'm really excited!

Over the weekend I had the opportunity to attend a performance at the NY International Fringe Festival that one of my very good friends, Bambi Engeran is performing in with her theater company from New Orleans. It is called "Sustained Winds" and it was PHENOMENAL! I really liked its multi-media mix of theater, dance, song, and photography. I think it's only running for a few more shows at the festival and I strongly suggest you go see it! Check out the link for more info.

On a very sad note baseball lost a legend this week, Phil Rizzuto. He played short stop on the Yankees for his baseball playing career. He will be missed. The world of entertainment lost a great this week as well, Merv Griffin. I remember as a child watching his talk show and I will always think of him whenever I watch my favorite game show, Jeopardy.

The (Crazy) Week That Was!

Right now I'm home because the subways are not running out of Brooklyn due to the heavy rain that we had overnight. I walked to 4 train stations this morning to be turned away by MTA workers and told that the trains were our of service or MAJOR DELAY. One woman I spoke with in the street said that she was sitting on the 2 train for 30mins and it wasn't moving, so she said "screw it" and got off. (Well, she actually used another expletive, but I was cleaning it up here). Anyway, I'm watching that GORGEOUS Mike Woods on FOX-5 News talking about the miserable weather and the region-wide flooding. But enough about the weather, it' too miserable to talk about (although the sun has just come out)

So much happened since my last post, but good and bad:

• We lost 2 film giants: Ingmar Bergman and Michaelanglo Antonioni. Both directors passed away on the same day, July 30. They legacy of film genius will live forever
• Barry Bonds passed Hank Aaron record yesterday and hit his 756th homerun
• On this end of the country, ARod hit his 500 career homerun (GO YANKEES!!!!!)
• I finished writing a new script. It's a comedy short that I will film for my final thesis and I'm really, excited about filming it because everybody who has read it thinks it's really funny
  
• I finally saw the new film version of HAIRSPRAY. All I can say is I LOVED IT, LOVED IT, LOVED IT!!!! Seeing John Travolta as Edna Turnblad was worth the ticket price alone
• I gave a speech in my Verbal Communications class yesterday, titled "How to Get on Television Without Having to Eat a Cockroach". It went over well. I just spoke about what I knew and spoke from my heart, although I don't think I'm going to be a political speech writer anytime soon
  

Speaking of Hairspray, everyone who reads this knows how big of a John Water's fan I am, but I must confess: I liked this musical version better than the Divine/Rikki Lake original. But I think Divine would be proud to see that John Travolta played the role that he originated with such dignity and class. Also, and this is nothing against Harvey Fierstein (who was GREAT as Edna on Broadway), but John Travolta has a nicer singing voice and we all know that the man can shake his ass! As far as the rest of the cast: Michelle Pfeiffer (as Velma Von Tussel), Queen Latifah (as Motor mouth Mabel) and Christopher Walken (as Wilbur Turnbald) were simply great. But I think Allison Janney (as Purdy Pingleton) and Nikki Blonsky (as Tracy Turnblad) STOLE THE SHOW!!!!

Okay, enough for now.

Stop the Madness!

Okay the whole entire country is talking about the fallout from the Imus incident involving his racist and sexist remarks about the Rutgers University Women’s Basketball team, the Scarlet Knights. I just wanted to put my two cents in on the matter. As of this posting it has just been released that Imus has been FIRED by CBS who carries his radio program. I guess that in the end it just goes to show that when the advertisers start pulling out, it’s a big concern for CBS. But where do you think Imus heard these nasty words from in the first place? Where does it begin?

First of all, I’m always for free speech! That is a right as an Americans that I have come to cherish! I also believe that if something offends someone, than that individual (or individuals) have the CHOICE not to listen, watch or read the offenders ramblings. But whatever happened to using a public forum to promote goodness? And it just doesn’t start with Imus either.

The hip-hop culture has popularized the trend of using sexist, racist and homophobic lyrics for years! Even as much as I dislike connecting the word “hate” to anything, I make the exception when hearing the “N” word! It’s a word that is rooted in hate. Somehow today's young people think it’s a “term of endearment” to refer to each other as “my n***a”. True Imus is a white man who referred to a predominately African-American squad as group of "nappy headed hos". All of a sudden he is the "Michael Richards du jour!" All apologies aside, the genie is out of the bottle and it too late to undo the harm. But when are we [and I’m talking about all my people of color] going to stop calling ourselves by these hateful words? When I hear Kanye West rapping about a gold digger who doesn’t go for “a broke n***a” or Snoop Dogg rapping about “those hos” it makes me wonder: are lyrics such as this giving White America license to refer to us in these terms too? I know rappers like these guys (and many others) can articulate themselves better than that and STILL sell records!

While I’m on the subject of hateful words: I don’t’ think Isaiah Washington (Dr. Preston Burke on Grey’s Anatomy) should get a slap on the wrist and go to “rehab” for referring to his co-star T. R. Knight (Dr. George O’Malley on Grey’s Anatomy) by the “F” word. I can’t tell you how many times I hear gay men refer to each other by this hateful word also. I never liked being called it growing up and I’m sure if you ask ANY gay person if they hated hearing it growing up they will tell you the same. Does that give license for straight people to call it to us because we [and now I'm speaking to my gay brothers out there] call ourselves that too? No, it doesn’t!

To the women out there, think about this the next time you say "yo bitch" to your best girlfriend: Don't you hate it when a man calls you that in anger? Stop calling it to each other even as a "joke". I'm a man and I'm offended by it! Don't give that word any power in the universe.

I watched the team today on Oprah with their head coach, C. Virginia Stringer. They were very posed and dignified young women. I applaud their courage for withstanding the controversy. I am sure, we haven't heard the last from these young women. Beyond basketball, they will all one day be our nations leaders.

Either way you look at it has to stop SOMEWHERE! I have always believed that the goodness you put out into the world will come back to you. If people continue to spew hateful words out into the world about and against their fellow man, then what do you think it going to come back? If anything we have to think about the next generation of children that are coming up behind us. What will their world be like?

I think one of my favorite filmmakers, Spike Lee said it best in the last line of his film "School Daze" and in the very first line of his masterpiece "Do the Right Thing":

WAKE UP!!!!

T.G.I. Good Friday

Well today is Good Friday. That doesn't mean much to me nowadays. But when I was a kid it meant that I had off from school. I went to Catholic school from First grade until I graduated High School. I was even an altar boy for a couple of years. Despite all the nasty things people say about Catholic priests now, I was never molested by any of them. I guess they were too drunk to bother. Just kidding! (sort of). They were good priests in my parish. Needless to say, I survived my time as a altar boy, untouched. I made it to the Vatican in 1987. I was dating someone who was going to med school in Rome at the time. But I digress. All the money and riches that the Vatican oozes made me a little sick to my stomach. Especially when there were so many poor "pilgrims" outside the place. It was more like a opulent kingdom. It was the Las Vegas of Catholicism. With the exception of my dad's funeral in 1988, I haven't gone back to a Catholic mass ever since. That plus how the Catholic church feels about gays, it made me not want to go back. There was a time when I loved the pageantry of the Catholic church. But that was then, this is now. I think I'm what is commonly known now as a "fallen Catholic". I'm not an atheist, but I am spiritual. I've been exploring different places of worship where I feel like I can be accepted unconditionally. But more on that in another post at another time. Anyhoo....

Now I think it's a "Good Friday" when something "Good" happens at the end of the week. Well the Yankees lost last night to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. But they only lost by 1 point. I guess that makes it a "Bad Thursday" for me. The score was 7-6. But in their defense, it was very un-spring-like weather. Snow flurries were even coming down at Yankee Stadium yesterday. But I'm sure Tampa Bay aren't used to playing in that kind of weather on their home turf either. I don't know why the Yankee lost. But they gave it their best despite Derek Jeter's errors and Posada's flubs. And I still LOVE the Yankee's for better or worse. Also Andy Pettitte was back on the mound.

But getting back to why today was "Good" for me. I finally got my grades from school. I was totally shocked! I didn't think I would made the President's List this time like I did last quarter. Last quarter I made a 4.0 (or all A's). This time I got an A in every subject except my Psychology class which I got a A-. THAT was a big shock for me too. I thought I would have at least gotten a B+ in that class. Oh well. So now that I got an A in the following classes:

• College Mathematics
• Information Architecture (a/k/a Web Design-Dreamweaver)
• Motion Graphics and Title Design (a/k/a Adobe After Effects)
• Digital Video Production
  

Now all I need is a JOB! Seriously I really, REALLY, REALLY need a JOB! My phones have been "temporarily suspended" so I need $$ to turn them back on. I'm also really depressed because I haven't worked in over a year. Thank God for public assistance and food stamps. It's funny (in a way) but since I lost my job and had to go on welfare, some of my friends have sort of "disappeared". I know I've been really busy in school, but I think people tend to be less responsive to someone who isn't working like them. I don't know. That's not to say that all of my friends have vanished, just a few. The ones that stayed around, I feel incredibly blessed to have in my life. For the ones that have slowly disappeared, it saddens me to think that the reasons behind it have anything to do with my present financial status. I don't know I could just be paranoid too. I told you I'm depressed. Thank God for good anti-depressants too! Otherwise I probably would have put my head in the oven a long time ago. Which reminds me: did I pay the gas bill yet?

Yeah, it's "good" Friday!

Latin Fever!

Yesterday was opening day for my favorite baseball team in the world. They have some of the most cutest players in the entire league. The Yankees are GOLDEN! They beat the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 9-5. Washington Heights favorite son, ARod proved his worth yesterday with a two-run home run in the eighth inning! I didn't have a opportunity to attended, but I was there in spirit supporting my boys! I heard they started the day with a moment to remember Cory Lidel who was killed tragically last year in a horrendous plane accident on the Upper East Side. That was I day I will never forget. It was very scary hearing about how his plane had crashed into a high rise building in Manhattan. Initially, hearing about planes crashing into buildings have made me very skittish since 9/11. I don't think I'll ever recover from that. But I digress... Bobby Murcer also resurfaced after his recent battle with brain cancer. He looked great too! God bless him! Yankees kicked ass yesterday! I just hope this will be the trend for the rest of the season. John Damon's haircut looks good on him today.

Also last night the season finale of "Prison Break" was on. I have always been attracted to "Men Behind Bars" stories, but once I saw " Prison Break" I've been hooked. It's sort of like the "24" of prison stories. Wentworth Miller (as inmate Michael Scofield) is not normally my "type" but he is one VERY HOT Guy! Rockmond Dunbar (as inmate Franklin) AND my favorite "papi chulo", Amaury Nolasco (as inmate Sucre) make the show all the more worth watching for the "eye candy" aspect. The cliffhanger was a quite startling one as Scofield was put into a Panamanian prison with the man (Mahone) who had been trying to catch him while he was on the run with his brother Lincoln. I am happy that Lincoln Burrows and Sara Tancredi were both exonerated. I hope Kellerman wasn't killed either, but it looks like he was. He did a very brave thing by speaking up for Sara and exposing the truth behind the conspiracy and the President's involvement (that evil witch). I was most upset that Sucre was left for dead in the middle of the hot street as he passed out chasing after Bellick who was being taken away by the police. I felt so sorry for Sucre. I hope he finds his love, Maricruz. I hope he's not dead. I just hope Amaury Nolasco comes back next season. I read that he was about to go to medical school before the acting bug bit him. Medical science lost is televisions gain! He is one VERY STEAMING HOT Puerto Rican man (see photo)! Ay Papi!

Coverman-John Amaechi

By now most of you know that I have a secret crush on recently out of the closet former NBA player, John Amaechi. I mean, who wouldn’t? He’s tall, dark and handsome and that accent is so sexy. So you can imagine my surprise when last week I went to my mailbox to find my latest issues of The Advocate with none other than that sweet teddy bear himself on the COVER! I have to say I was in “seventh heaven”!

The article is an interview with journalist, Anne Stockwell. He goes into detail about why most male athletes in the NBA, NFL, NHL and MLB will wait until leaving their career as ball players to take the step and come out of the closet. Coming out the closet isn’t easy for anyone, let alone for someone who makes their living in the testosterone-charged industry of professional athletics. Either way, I applaud him for his courage and bravery.

In the article he goes on to say that there are still working professional athletes today that live in the closet and fear exposure and lost of endorsement dollars. I believe he’s right. I believe in visibility but not at the expense of putting yourself in jeopardy of loosing one’s source of income.

It’s a very interesting article and if you have not read it, pick it up or go to the website to catch up on it. I can’t wait to read his new book, “Man in the Middle”. He was actually at a book signing this past Wednesday at Barnes & Noble in the Village. I really, really, REALLY wanted to go but these being extremely lean days for me financially, I couldn’t go. It's hard out there being a struggling college student once again, TRUST ME on that. Anyway, if anyone went to the event, please drop me a comment. I’d love to hear your thoughts.

John Amaechi - My Black Gay Hero

I've always been a big sports fan. As a kid growing up in Roosevelt, Long Island some of my fondest memories was practicing my baseball pitching and catching with my dad in our backyard. I always loved when we'd watch football and basketball games whenever we got the chance. My dad was an amatuer boxer before I was born and my mom talked him out of it. He was a Mets/Knicks/Nets fan. I'm now a big Yankee's fan. I often joke with my friends that Derek Jeter is my next husband [oh, how I WISH that photo below of the two of us wasn't "embellished" with Photoshop] he doesn't know it yet.

Growing up, I guess I knew was gay. But how could that be when I liked sports? I mean, that's so unstereotypical for a gay guy to be into contact sports. Right? Gay men are supposed to be into figure skating as far as sports go. Right? Well I'm not saying that I would kick Rudy Galindo out of bed, but I happen to like watching the Superbowl too! (And not just because they played in the rain and their suits where getting soaking wet either!) What it comes down to is that it just goes to show that you can't judge a book by its cover. So for a long time I kept my love of sports from my gay friends and kept my love of men from my straight male friends. But how could I be a whole person with all of my friends if I lived in the closet with so much?

Once I grew up and realized that there ARE many men who are both gay AND big sports fans. It only made me wonder if there were in fact, professional players who were gay as well. Gradually as the years went on there were Dave Kopay, Greg Louganis (although swimming technically doesn't count because it's not a "contact" sport) and countless female athletes. But for the first time I can remember, do we have a Black man, John Amaechi, who is coming out so soon after leaving the NBA. Roy Simmons came out many years after leaving the NFL.

No one even seemed to be too bent (no pun intended) by Pro Wrestler, Orlando Jordan coming out a few months back. I guess this was because he said he is "Bi". So in the eyes of many straight fans, "There's still a chance". Although I'm not a big pro wrestling fan (although I've had a crush on "The Rock" for years), I do know it's more theatrical then say, a boxing match. But just the same, it was a big step for Orlando Jordan to come out too.

I believe this is a really big step because so many straight brothas out there would question the ability of a player who was not only a brotha and a skillful ball player but who is also gay. Mostly the thought of a gay man sharing a locker room with them scares them. Especially someone who (in their eyes) is just a "regular brotha". NEWSFLASH to all the straight men out there: We all don't want to "convert" straight guys! We are not all checking out your asses either! Amaechi has said in interviews since coming out that he was never attracted to any of his past teammates because when he was on the boards it was just a business. I know EXACTLY what he means!

Since I've never made it a big secret about being gay, it amazes me how many seemingly intelligent straight men will question my motives when I so much as say "wassup" in the break room at jobs that I've had. Even at school now, this happens to me. I'm a big guy who is not flamboyant so when I tell people I'm gay, the guys instantly freeze up. I even overheard two guys talking about me saying "but he doesn't look gay?" Sometimes I even question the reason for my being fired may have been because I wasn't part of the "all-boy" network at my last position in corporate America. But I digress. I think that Amaechi's coming out will hopefully let sports fans see that many players may not always play on their "team" but can still win for THE team.

I only hope by John Amaechi and Orlando Jordan coming out will make it easier for other professional Black male athletes to feel comfortable to come out while they are still in the middle of their sports careers rather than wait to retire to do it. If a person is a good player it shouldn't matter who they sleep with outside of the playing field. But ultimately it's up to the fans to support their teams regardless of whether or not there may be one gay player on the team.

I also hope it makes it easier for high school athletes to not be afraid of whom they are. If they are gay and want to play organized sports, then they should without any judgments. I guess what I'm trying to say is that it's important that the door has been open, now it's time to dialogue on how to make the team work to win. It shouldn't matter if someone is a Yankees or Red Sox fan and is gay. [Although I would equate dating a Red Sox fan to dating a Bush supporter: not going to happen in my lifetime.] Our money is still green and we still go to support our teams. Who gives a crap if one of the players is playing in a "different league"? I certainly don't.

One of my favorite books is a novel called "The Dreyfus Affair" by Peter Lefcourt. It's a love story set in the world of Major League Baseball. A white shortstop falls for his Black second baseman and so the story begins. Since it came out, there have been talks of making it into a film. I'd hope with the success of "Brokeback Mountain" in 2005, that "The Dreyfus Affair" would finally get the green light. Like the rugged characters in "Brokeback", the world of baseball is a very testosterone-infused environment. But would straight guys be freaked out that guys, who look like them, are into sports like them, and scratch and fart just like them are suddenly falling into other guy’s arms? I sure hope they do.

There will always be people like Tim Hardaway and his foul comments about his fellow brother of the courts. To the straight guys out there (and I know there are a few reading this now): We are everywhere. We play sports like you. We drink beer like you. With the exception of who we love, we are not that different. If you happen to have a favorite player who you find out is gay, it doesn't make you "weak" or any less of a man because you like him. If anything it makes your more of a man to stand by your favorite team and ALL of it's players. We're not going anywhere. So GET OVER IT!