Wendy Williams: How You Doin'?

I know that I've been away from blogging for a little bit, but I had to write today because I wanted to talk about my new favorite talk show that premiered today in limited markets (NY, LA, Dallas, & Detroit) called the Wendy Williams Show! Wendy is a FABULOUS radio talk show hostess on WBLS weekdays. She is also a New York Times best selling author (as I will be one day once I get my books published) But before I go into that I have to put in my two cents before the library closes and I have to dismantle my laptop.

BTW, there are two PHYNE brothas sitting at a table next to me (facing my table) who I'm kinda distracted by as they are studying. I guess they don't think anybody can see them playing footsies with each other under the table! OH-KAAAAAY??!!! Playing "slap and tickle" with their legs all pressed up against each other. And I am sure they are on the DL. I can smell them out ANYWHERE!!! AWRIIIIIIGHT!!!??? (As Ms. Williams would say, "How you doin'?")

Okay, but before I write about Wendy Williams, I wanted to put my two cents in about something I saw today. I was out an appointment today in Downtown Brooklyn and I noticed something that was kinda astonishing and gross at the same time. With the exception of young pre-pubescent girls (who down know any better) and pregnant women: when did mid-riff/baby t's become fashionable wear for older women with beer guts hanging out? Okay, let me say that I know that I may not be the most buffed guy walking around these days, but I do know how to dress to hide my flaws. Okay???!!!! I know it is hot today, but I saw at least half a dozen women (all ranging from age 30 to you-should-know-better) walking around with all that gut hanging out of what looks like their teenager's clothing! Honey, I thought I was going to loose my lunch! Girls, if you are out there and reading this, know this: that is NOT a FLATTERING LOOK!!!! Unless one is forced at gunpoint by one's pimp to wear that in a public setting: RETHINK THE LOOK before venturing out before the public.

Now I know ya'll must be thinking "Well he's a gay guy, what does he care about how a woman looks?" Well I still have eyes, and these woman who are rocking this fashion trend with this particular body flaw, makes me think this is a cry for help! And they OBVIOUSLY don't have any gay male friends, (unless he was mad at her) because if they did, he would have told them about the walking fashion atrocity they would be making by choosing to wear what they thought looked "cute."

Okay, I got distracted again by the aforementioned boys across from me. Okay, scratch what I said before about the "PHYNESS" of the two of them. I just put my glasses on and I really need to get my new prescription because they look more like "Hot Mess 1" and "Hot Mess 2". Nice bodies though, but faces.... But I digress....

So today I watched the new Wendy Williams talk show on FOX-5 here in NY. First let me say, I learned something about Wendy, who I've been listening to on the radio for many years, and that is we are the same exact age! Well she will be this week anyway. And, like me, she looks damn good for her age. She is my "friend in my head." (Look it up - I'm not crazy) I also learned that her first guest, James Denton, (you know "Mike Delfino", the plumber who is married to that clumsy-behind "Susan" - played by the lovely Teri Hatcher - on my favorite guilty pleasure DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES) is also my age as well. Lets just say, it must be the sun because I would have given him older than me! But all in all, I really liked the show, she looked FABULOUS as always!!! And I hope that the show gets picked up after it's limited 6-week run, because it is way more interesting than some of the other talk shows on television now. Oprah better watch out now that she is reruns this summer!

I have to wrap this up so tomorrow I will have to go into detail about my Michelangelo Antonioni and Krzysztof Kieslowski film festivals I had over the weekend. The library is closing in a few minutes and I need to pick up a book before it's too late.

Ciao

The Front Runner

I just finished reading an amazing book that you MUST read!!! Patricia Nell Warren's The Front Runner. Although this book was published over 20 years ago. I heard that it is now being made into a film. I guess with the success of films "Brokeback Mountain", perhaps the puritianical American public can handle a love story as touching and moving as this book truly is. A masterpiece by any other name.

Sex And The City (Across the Bridge)

It's taken me the entire month of May to recuperate from my surgery but slow-but-surely, I'm getting back up on my feet again. I'm just bored to death. I'm still trying to get my thesis film shot, but I haven't been doing too much since the pain from surgery still gets me now and then. The one thing that I can say is that I've been watching a lot of Netflix stuff. Mostly the continuing stories of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Angel" (the hunky vampire with a soul). The few times that I've gotten out of bed, I've found myself at the Brooklyn Pubic Library located right near Grand Army Plaza in my beautiful Brooklyn neighborhood of Prospect Heights. I think I'm really lucky to live within walking distance to this great institution that is located beside the Brooklyn Botanical Garden, The Brooklyn Museum and Prospect Park. I feel surrounded in culture whenever I walk out of my apartment and venture near these great landmarks of Brooklyn. The best thing that I've discovered about the library, besides biggest branch in the borough, is that it also loan out DVDs. For a film student as myself (and you never stop being a student even though I've since gotten my A.A.S. in Filmmaking -that's me getting my degree from the President of Gibbs School NY on May 2nd [3 days before my surgery]) having access to a free film library is somewhat of a coup to me.

Besides all the literature that I've been reading lately, I've been watching a lot of films also. Recently I saw the 1967 classic film "Truman Capote's In Cold Blood" starring Robert Blake and Scott Wilson. It was directed by Richard Brooks. I guess you could say I was fascinated by the extraordinary performance of Toby Jones as Truman Capote in the Douglas McGrath indie feature "Infamous." Yes I know that Philip Seymour Hoffman won the Oscar playing the same character in another film of the about the very same subject, and I think Mr. Hoffman is a FANTASTIC actor, but Toby Jones' portrayal is the one that will stick with you long after your return the video to Netflix or your local library. Daniel Craig as the killer Perry Smith was also a phenomenal performance. Although I'm somewhat of a Daniel Craig fan now since having seen him in "The Golden Compass", "Road to Perdition", "Casino Royal", "Layer Cake" and of course "Infamous".

While I'm on the subject of films, I have to give a shout out to to the ladies and gents of the new film "Sex and The City." Of course, I was on line on opening night to watch the film in an East Village theater. First of all I have to say that it really is somewhat of a phenomenon because about 85% of the audience in this NYC crowd that I went to see it with were mostly very fashionable women in the latest designer fashion and accessories. Hermes and Prada bags, the "infamous" Carrie Bradshaw silk flower on the lapel, and Manolo Blahnik's EVERYWHERE!!! Paul and I may have been two of the few men in the audience besides the various guys who were clearly dragged there by their female companions (Steve's, Mr. Big's, Harry's and Smith's). But there were gay men there as well (what would Sex and the City be without any of us?) It seems that the show is somewhat like the "Rocky Horror Picture Show" in that the audience seemed to replicate the characters on from the film (I guess Paul and I were "Stanford" and "Anthony" that night).

While we waited for the film to come on everyone was talking about their favorite episode. (My favorite of all time is "The Real Me" episode where Stanford declares Carrie to be "Fashion roadkill" when she falls on the runway at a fashion show and Heidi Klum walks over her.) Had alcohol been allowed to been served, I'm sure someone would have ordered a round of "Cosmos" for all.

As far as the film goes, whether you are a fan of the show or not, it definitely has it's moments that people will be talking about all summer long. Michael Patrick King has outdone himself bringing this fairytale to the big screen. It really is a homage to everything that is New York City. I was especially surprised to see the scene that I watch being filmed in front of my school on 40th St, Katharine Gibbs School. Not to give away too much of a plot, it involved 2 limos, the girls, Mr. Big, and a whole mess of discarded white roses! If you look close in the back ground, you can see the Gibbs awning next to the Bryant Park Hotel. I only wish I didn't have to sell my complete series of the show (money was tight) because I always like laughing at the things that makes living in this city so great. Oh, I also like the "Easy Come, Easy Go" episode where Bobby Cannavale played Samantha's sex partner, Adam Ball with the "funky spunk." Gee, I miss Sex and the City!

And I mean that both figuratively and LITERALLY!!

I Didn't Walk Toward the Light

Just a quickie to let everyone know that I've survived my surgery. I did go into it with the idea that it was minor, but in reality, all surgery is MAJOR. And mine was no different. But the good thing is that I survived. I've been home recuperating but relaxing and reading a lot of books. Think Goodness for the NY Public Library Card!!!!

The graduation when very well since the last time I wrote. I'm no longer "working" for Out at the Center for the time being. Relaxing and healing has been my main priority for the moment. Luckily I have good friends to check in on me and make sure that I'm okay. Thanks Paul!!!! I've been taking vicodine and it has the strangest way of giving me really weird dreams. I'm talking really, crazy stuff too! A word of caution: NEVER EVER take vicodine and watch "I Am Legend" (the Will Smith film, or for that matter the original version: "The Omega Man" with Charlton Heston) on the same night: It will FREAK YOU OUT!!!!!!!

I read last week a book by T. J. Parsell called "Fish" that was very interesting. It make me think, "hmm, I wonder who has the film rights for this book?" I finished Michael Cunningham's Specimen Days. Wasn't crazy about it, but it was a quick read. I'm reading now 3 books: Paul T. Rogers book "Saul's Book", Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, and Armistead Maupin's The Night Listener. Needless to say I'm taking it easy while the swelling subsides.

Oh, I watched Looking for Langston. A film by one of my favorite director's Issac Julian. This was one of his first films and it made me think a lot about another film called "Brother to Brother" by another one of my favorite filmmakers' Rodney Evans. They both dealt with the Harlem Renaissance and the Black Gay struggle. I wonder if Evans' was inspired by Julian's film? Either way, it was powerful filmmaking. Both films. So if you have an opportunity, put it on your Netflix queue or go to you local public library. I got Looking for Langston and the Brooklyn Public Library. Go figure?

On a more serious note, my thoughts and prayers are with the people of China and Myanmar and all their family members who reside stateside. God Bless.

DL, Albee, and the Knife

It's been a roller coaster this month and especially difficult when it comes to having access to the Internet.

What did I do this month:

Oh yeah, I saw "The DL Chronicles" on DVD: really good storytelling and acting and it was a lot better than any of the other shows that come on the HERE! Network. I also when to a screening of this new film called "Hamlet 2": It was HILARIOUS! It opens in August. Put it on your must see list! It was an intelligent comedy.

Read a couple of good books: Twice As Good: Condoleezza Rice and Her Path to Power by Marcus Mabry and Michael Tolliver Lives by Armistead Maupin.

At the center I shot a conversation with one of the greatest living American playwrights: Edward Albee. It was for a future segment. Also shot a conversation with author Michael Cunningham. I happen to be reading his last novel, Specimen Days (think "The Hours" except instead of Virginia Woolf it's Walt Whitman). It was an okay shoot, but I'm glad my friend Julie Ann was there to make sure that it started on time, otherwise, I'd still be there.

Oh, I'm graduating from school on May 2. Did I mention I'm graduating WITH HONORS? I'm very excited but now I just want to finish and get my BFA. Check out my Amazon wish list for gifts suggestions. BTW, got an extension on my thesis film. Talk about drama! Thank you Dean LeMelle!!!! OXOXOX

I go "under the knife" on May 5. Many of you know, but for those of you who don't know what it's all about, I will just say that I will be okay and it's a necessary surgery, but not life threatening. After which I will have time to recover because I think I may have just been fired from my gig at The Center. But I'm still trying to wrap my head around that as I sit here and type. I'm at school now writing this entry and wondering what my next move will be. Oh wait, I see my friend Michael Armstrong (he must be here to pick up his cap and gown too).

Okay, gotta run until next time.

Film School at 44

I've done it!! With hard work and determination I can honestly say that as of today, March 28, 2008 I am a COLLEGE GRADUATE. As of today I have my Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S) Degree in Digital Filmmaking and Multimedia! I am very happy and proud that I have been able to achieve this accomplishment at the tender age of 44 given all the drama that I've lived through in the past couple of years. I will get my degree in a ceremony on May 2. Even though I dropped out of my Bachelor program at Pace University over 25 years ago to pursue my calling to be a thespian on the stage, I guess there was something in me that was determine to prove that it's never too late to finish college. The next step will be to get my Bachelor and then my Master's degree. But for the time being I'm going to pursue the workforce in a freelance capacity until I decide on what school I'd like to further my education at.

I should mention that I passed my only class, Literature and Composition by the skin of my teeth. I got a A minus. I thought that I would probably get a C or a B+ because I was late handing in my term paper (a comparison of short stories that I titled "Cowboys and Indians:The Dynamics of Male Bonding in Modern Western Literature") I compared the literature of Annie Proulx's "Brokeback Mountian" with Sherman Alexie's "This is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona" from his collection of short stories The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven. I say I passed by the skin of my teeth because I had so much trouble writing this paper. The first time I did it I forgot to save it on my thumb drive the day that it was due. When I went back to copy on my drive to take to from home to school, my stupid Dell laptop crashed and I lost the file entirely. So when I finally went into class on the last day ready to take what I had coming to me, my professor refused to take no for an answer and made me write "something" during the class. Well 2 hours later, I came up with almost an identical paper that I had written before (with a full bibliography included) of what I could remember. I guess in the end, when push comes to shove and my butt is on the line, I can write like it's nobody's business! In the end I got an "A" on this final paper of this chapter of my academic career.

I had a weird dream the other night where I had the opportunity to meet one of my Film idols, John Waters. It wasn't as crazy as one of his films (or mine for that matter) but it was nice. Someone had passed him a copy of my thesis film (which is still in the works once I get through with my minor medical issues) Poppin' In and one night I get this phone call from someone claiming to be John Waters. So at first I'm thinking it's a friend playing a joke on me until I ask him some questions that only he could answer (you can learn a lot from listening to the Director's commentary tracks on DVDs) and sure enough, it really was John Waters! I was flabbergasted and he invites me to lunch to discuss my short thesis film (That he thought was "a riot") and then I woke up. But it was a nice dream. I guess since I have been meeting famous directors (Mira Nair, Cynthia Wade) maybe this dream was telling me something. Hmmm....

Anyway this week at the Center we put up the March 2008 episode of "Out at the Center" and I have to say that I'm very proud of it especially since I had the opportunity to shot footage for several segments on this program. I even helped with the editing on the closing credits (a fashion show) and I hope that I've made all of my film professors at KGS (Katharine Gibbs School) proud of my film shooting and editing skills. Most importantly I hope I made my boss proud on the show. This week I also worked on filming an upcoming segment with author Michael Luongo who recently released Gay Travels in the Muslim World. I haven't had an opportunity to read the book yet, but from the discussion he gave, it fascinates me. Especially since once my brother-in-law told me that there were no gay people in Pakistan. I made sure he saw "My Beautiful Launderette" after he told me this bit of information. Okay, the guy lived in London, but he was born in Pakistan in the film. Plus it was the very first time I saw Oscar winner Daniel Day-Lewis and was smitten!

Anyhoo, until next time my darlings....

The Saga Continues

Life has been crazy. In addition to turning another year older (I'm 44 yrs young), I've been filming a lot at The Center. It's been interesting with very eclectic subject matters ranging from a leather fetish fashion show, to an art exhibition for nudist. If you hit the link above you can see some of my latest work. I especially proud of the NY City Comptroller William C. Thompson (no relation) segment that I both taped and edited for the program. I even had the opportunity to tape an interview with a new Oscar winner, Cynthia Wade. She came to the Center to talk about winning an Oscar a few weeks ago for best documentary short subject called "Freeheld: The Laurel Hester Story" If you haven't had a chance to see this documentary it will be shown in the summer on cable.

In addition to all that the thesis film has been sort of postponed until I can take care of some recent medical things that have to get taken care of. However, I haven't given up on filming the piece because I desperately want to get it into film festivals before the summer.

P.S. I think as I am about to graduate I will turn my blog focus on my film and video projects POST FILM SCHOOL from now on. It's been really interesting so far and I would imagine as I continue to gain more professional experience it will only get more interesting as the year moves on.