a novel by Jay Quinn. 09-30-09 Beginning book. First book by Mr. Quinn that I’ve read, looking forward to it. 10-09-09 into the book’s first hundred pages. A slow moving story, but I don’t mean that as a negative, because the characters are unfolding gracefully, creating an atmosphere. I enjoy stories that don’t whip along leaving me wondering about gaps in time. I am seeing film possibilities, but then, don’t we always create a “movie” in our heads as we are reading a novel? Interesting that the story seems to be centered on the straight brother, and that the gay brother’s name is revealed to mean “beloved” is Swedish. The dynamics of family are familiar, at least I can see my own experiences in the mix, only different circumstances. I am the oldest son, and I have a younger brother…no more personal details…just that I can relate to this book on a personal level. 10-15-09 The cost of being the Beloved Son, hmmm, maybe I’m better off with my own experiences. 10-20-09 Questions of Religion/Spirituality and being gay are brought up. Interesting how the author allows the gay son to embrace his religious foundation, while the straight brother has abandoned his early upbringing. Well, about 50 pages to the end, and we are heading for the beach and the end of this weekend visit to the family. Curious where all this drama is going to take us. 10-22-09 Finished this charming, quiet little family drama. Reminded me of the novel, “Breathing Lessons” by Anne Tyler.

directed by Marc Saltarelli. Written by Tom O’Leary. Starring Susan Blakely & Pauley Perrette. I had the extreme pleasure of attending the premiere Hollywood screening of this film at the Sunset Gower Studios for the NewFilmmakers LA event. What a delight! This film is of the highest quality; in direction, acting, story, and cinematography. Please, please, do yourself the favor of watching this film. I told Marc that the greatest compliment that I could express, was that at the beginning of the film, I was “outside” the film; feeling the excitement of being at the screening, meeting Marc for the first time, and seeing a film with Susan Blakely (who I’ve had a gay boy crush on since RICH MAN, POOR MAN) but, soon after the film began, I forgot all of that and was completely lost in the story…I was “in” the film, it got me. Fantastic work!! 10-15-09 Please attend the screening at the Arc Light Cinema on Sunday, Oct 25th. Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend, as I will be rehearsing for the upcoming filming of “Dinner Out”, but will be supporting this film in Spirit & Voice.

a list of this man’s plays offer the greatest works for the stage. Including A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE; THE GLASS MENAGERIE; CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF; SWEET BIRD OF YOUTH; THE NIGHT OF THE IGUANA; THE ROSE TATTOO; SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER. I would love to take one of his one-acts and put it up on the screen one day… And, the quote that I live by: “Deliberate cruelty is not forgivable. It is the one unforgivable thing in my opinion and the one thing of which I have never, never been guilty.” It was one of my recent pleasures to see “A Streetcar Named Desire” on the big screen at the New Beverly Cinema (Where my friend & I spend “NOTORIOUS” Saturday Nights at the Movies!)

directed by Bob Fosse. Liza Minnelli. Michael York’s character saying the line, “So do I”. Thrills. Inspired by Christopher Isherwood’s writings. BTW I also enjoyed a documentary, “Chris and Don”, about Christopher and his lover. I had a full door-size poster of Liza from “Cabaret” that my sister gave me as a present when I was a teenager (before I’d actually even seen the film). Uh, huh, all signs point to… The music, the direction, the actors, all combined to make this an inspiration that has been an enjoyable experience time and time again. I actually saw “New York, New York” first (and I saw it probably 15 times the summer it came out) so, it was with anticipation that I finally saw this film. That and “Lady Sings the Blues” (I saw “Mahogany” first)

do we have Arthur to thank for Barbra? We certainly have him to thank for WEST SIDE STORY, as well as GYPSY, directing LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, the script for Hitchcock’s ROPE, THE TURNING POINT, and THE WAY WE WERE. By the way, he cast Barbra in her first show, I CAN GET IT FOR YOU WHOLESALE, in the part originally written for a fifty-year-old spinster. Read his memoirs, ORIGINAL STORY BY, for a fascinating account of a slice of Broadway and Hollywood history…He recently directed the bi-lingual production of WEST SIDE STORY, and said in an interview on the television program, SUNDAY MORNING, that he still enjoys an active sex life…yes, Arthur, yes!

an artist who worked in film. I first became aware of him at the release of EDWARD II and was transfixed, then I read his memoirs, AT YOUR OWN RISK. Derek pushed queer cinema forward, but actually he addressed social issues & simply did not shy away from confronting them with a queer sensibility. His open-ended question of filming a man in full excitement brings the issue of when does “art” become pornographic, or is it simply our narrow views that hold us back from completely embracing all artistic expressions? I confronted this issue when deciding upon the inclusion of the male partial-nude shots in the “fantasy” aspects of THE SECRET TO LOVE. I finally drew upon my influences, including Derek Jarman, to not shy away from the fact that a man thinks of the physical, as well as the romantic, when he fantasizes about love (well, I do anyway…and it was my movie) So, thank you Derek, and I hope to honor your memory & never compromise a true queer vision, always remembering what farm boi productions’ mission is: to validate ALL people’s right to express their love freely…

are an English synthpop duo, consisting of songwriter and keyboardist Vince Clarke and singer Andy Bell. Erasure entered the music scene in 1985 with their debut single “Who Needs Love Like That”. Following the release of their fourth single, “Sometimes”, the duo established themselves on the British charts and became one of the most successful artists of the late 1980s and early 1990s. From 1986 to 1997, Erasure achieved twenty-four consecutive Top 20 hits in the UK. By 2007, 34 of their 37 singles had made the UK Top 40, with 17 climbing into the Top 10. Labeled “the definitive synthpop superstars”, the duo is most popular in their native Great Britain, but has also achieved great success in some other European countries (mainly in Germany and Sweden), some states of the US, and in Latin America, especially in Argentina. To date, Erasure has sold over 25 million albums worldwide. The band also enjoys popularity within the LGBT community, with openly gay Andy Bell regarded a gay icon.

a romp of life, love, and musical theatre by Seth Rudetsky. Already I’m excited and making myself comfortable, program in hand, for a delightful, entertaining ride. My friend & I saw four shows at the Pantages theatre this season, “RENT”, “Mama Mia”, “Dirty Dancing”, and “Legally Blonde”. We also saw “Annie” at the Kodak. As a director (actually, as someone who is fair skinned & sensitive to the sun, but my friends all tease me that it was when I realized that I wanted to try to see if I could be a director) I’ve begun wearing baseball caps (no one could be more surprised at this evolution than myself!) Well, I may be sporting the cap to protect my nose, but I DO NOT want to invite people to engage me in “sports talk”, so I have adopted wearing baseball caps from “Broadway Musicals”…as well as a few “so NOT sports” caps (though I would be open to International Ballroom Dancing Championship caps, I suppose). Okay, I’m ready to enjoy my new book! 09-21-09 This is a funny, entertaining, and informative little gem of a novel. Writted in the style of a journal (My ARTIST’S WAY Morning Papers seem rather dull, now, actually they are just as insightful & rediculous) The main Character, Stephen, has landed his first Broadway gig as a conductor, and his boyfriend, Craig (who lives with “his” boyfriend) is preparing to audition for a role in the production, a musical, but Craig can’t sing, and Steve has just found out that Craig’s boyfriend has put up a significant amount of money to back the show!? What will happen next? 09-22-09 Stephen got through the Craig-situation. This book is very amusing, and I am getting all the references (earning my “gay card” credentials) but, I am reminded of when an actor friend suggested that I read “On The Road” (it was on my list, but I put it at the top over last years holidays). When he asked me how I liked it, I told him I enjoyed it, but that to actually “live” it would be exhausting. That’s how I feel about the “catty” remarks of the author/Stephen character, to actually have such judgements about people all the time would be exhausting…but I am enjoying them. 09-23-09 Into Act Two of the book. And I am thinking that this might actually make a good film…quite amusing. 09-28-09 Coming to the end, the last 100 pages. So, I won’t continue spoiling the story, but I am quite enjoying this book, and the dishy humor. But, I’m pulling for the guy to see what is in front of him. 09-29-09 Finished book. Warm place in my heart for the ending.

I can hardly imagine my world without this Fabulous entertainer touching every corner of my life! The talent; the outrageousness; the honesty; the courage; the music!!! A Bright, Shining Light in our universe…Captain
Fantastic!! 01-03-10 Ove the weekend I watched “Elton John: Tantrums & Tiaras”, the documentary directed by his husband, David Furnish. Very insightful & entertaining. I have always been curious about the thoughts & lives of artists. I attempted to explore this by directing a scene from “Nijinsky”, a play by Glenn Blumstein, in Howard Deutch’s workshop, last Spring. As Elton says in the film, this is capturing him “on tour”, and his mind set when focusing on that. He may appear differently if he were filmed on his “down time”. But I really appreciate seeing Elton the artist behind-the-scenes while in “tunnel vision” as a performer. And the intimacy allowed by their relationship is quite candid. I highly recommend this film!