My Favorite News Show

I always have these crazy obsessions, and I like to let my blog family in on it, so you can enjoy!!! I am obsessed with Christiane Amanpour, and her news show that airs every Sunday morning on ABC. This is the best hour of journalism I had seen on T.V. in my life. I know that is a big statement, but she asks all the tough questions. Her round table is amazing, and she just interviews some of the best. Christiane may dress like a lesbian, speak with a British accent, but she is the real deal in journalism. She has a beauty, charm, courageousness, and sharpness like no other journalist. I also love the fact that she is middle eastern, and it is nice to see her be accepted and do her thing in this climate. If you are looking for some good news, you have to tune into Christiane, I promise you won't be disappointed.

Frustrated Actor

I am writing this blog, because I want to document, the low times, as well as the high times in my career. These past two weeks have been a terrible low. As I strangely love to audition, and lately it has been so slow that I have been on one audition in the past two weeks. My manager, said she is having a bit of trouble getting me in for the recent films. Again, type, and my musical resume getting in my way. It is a blessing and curse looking the way I do, because I don't fit any one's mold. I am a multi cultural looking man, and tons of characters are very specific to "type". I fall in the middle for many of these projects. This is a struggle I have no control over, but I believe when it does happen, it will be huge! I can't let being SPECIAL stop me, I just pray that more opportunities come. It is hard to be a talented actor, if no one will even let you in the door to audition. My manager is going to start pushing more, which I think I need, because I know I have the chops. It is also slow in musical theater land, but that is expected as there aren't many roles again, out there for my type. I am learning the art of patience, and sticking to my guns. I don't want to go back to the chorus, it is time to move on. However, I will take a chorus contract if there is a great role I can understudy. Or if it is a featured ensemble role, and that could satisfy my appetite as well. This is still a struggle to get out, ex specially when I have to turn down money, to follow my dream. I am sticking with my dream, and I know this too shall pass. I do have a couple of auditions this week, so, I will just press on, and look forward to my future.

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo #2

This is the second part of my three section series, on the book that I am in love with. I finally got to see the foreign film version of this mega hit book, "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo". This film got very high critical acclaim, but it won't be receiving praise from me. I was very disappointed in this film version. It had nothing to do with that actors, because I enjoyed all there work. My biggest complaints come from the screenplay. Stieg Larsson must be rolling around in his grave. They got rid of one of my favorite characters. They killed off characters that were alive and well in the book. They changed many plot lines, and change the story around. It wasn't a murder mystery that was nearly as thrilling and entertaining as the book. This was a huge disappointment for me. I know that the book is long as hell, and I am sure they had to cut stuff out. However, some important plots, stories, images, relationships, twists, and love was missing from this film. It was so hard for me as the book was so fresh in my mind, and I just don't understand why they would change something that was so brilliant. This only makes me nervous for the Hollywood version of this film, and I pray that we get it right.

On a positive note, some of the more graphic scenes shot in the foreign film version were exquisite. The acting was so real, and intense. They didn't miss a note, and showed more than I expected. It made me so uncomfortable, that at this moment, I knew that they were doing there work. That the work was honest, and that it did exactly what it was set out to do. That is the only positive I have to say about this film. I think if you haven't read the books, you would probably love this movie!

Fingers are crossed for the American Version of one spectacular book.......

The American

Last night I went to the movies to see The American, and I had no desire to see this movie. As the previews make it look like the biggest action movie ever, and surprised to say it wasn't. You see I hate plot less action flicks, James Bond, Rambo, etc. any of those flicks get on my nerves. Unless it is like The Borne Identity, or 24 and actually has a good plot. I was surprised when I saw The American, it was nothing like what I expected from the previews of this film. It was smart marketing to get people in the seats, and I am sure most action movie folks were disappointed. I, however, was a very happy camper, as I fell in love with this film. I should have known George Clooney wouldn't just do some fluff. The silence in this movie is riveting, and the acting is so simple, gritty, honest, and AMAZING! George Clooney was a Revelation, and I enjoyed his performance so much! The movie was so awesome, that I want to own it, and watch it over again, as I am obsessed with the simplicity, silence, and pure genius of the whole film.

For Colored Girls

This is one of my favorite plays and it is nothing but monologues. It is intense and can be a great piece. I'm nervous and thrilled to see what Tyler Perry does with this piece as a movie. The cast looks so talented, and the movie looks great from the above preview. We shall see.....

My First Tornado

I was on the phone gabbing away with a friend, when she stops and says "turn on the news, there is a tornado watch in Brooklyn"! I immediately turn on the news, and see that the tornado is scheduled to hit at around 5pm. It is 4:30 so I think I have to walk Brewster quickly, before it gets bad around these parts. I go out and walk Brewster, it is sunny outside, and seems a little more windy than usual, but didn't think nothing of it. When all of a sudden, I see thunder and lightning from a distance way down the street. A huge cloud was following it, and as it gets closer to me, I see this wind and a spinning natural disaster ready to take me up like Dorthy in "The Wizard of Oz"! I think to myself "This sure looks like twister weather"! I pick Brewster up in my arms, and decide to run like hell for my apartment complex. I am running so fast, and am so scared, I truly thought this might be the end of my life! The wind is picking up, the rain from the distance has reached us, and a fear has come over me. I pick up the speed a little, drenched from the rain fall, I make it in time to reach the front door of my apartment. I watch from the window, as the tornado takes down cars, and trees in my neighborhood! I thank GOD I made it, because I can't imagine what it did to that tree, it could have easily had done to me. There are others watching with me, some of us drenched, some just watching, because they never seen an actual tornado. I'm so glad and thankful that Brewster wasn't Toto, and I wasn't Dorthy! Thank you GOD!!!!!!!

Mrs. Warren's Profession

I had the privilege of seeing one of my favorite actors last night in the play "Mrs. Warren's Profession", starring the amazing Cherry Jones. I sat in the audience with enthusiasm as I waited for the play to begin, as I am obsessed with Cherry Jones, and all her work! The show starts and it is a very slow beginning for a comedy. Finding the first moment in this show for the actors, never quite happened. I sat up in my seat trying to force myself to get in engaged in the story. I look over and my friend Greg is falling asleep next to me. Cherry Jones makes her entrance, in one of the most extravagant and beautiful costumes I had seen on the stage in a while. At first I'm off put by her, and trying to figure out what kind of accent she was going after. As I relaxed into the piece, and as it started to get more interesting. I realized that Cherry Jones could read the A,B, C's and I would still love her. She is just captivating on stage, and she makes the most honest choices. This play is not my favorite play, but I did enjoy the work on the stage by the incredible cast. Although the one person who should hold the play together, and who was really the lead in the piece was horrific. This women's name is Sally Hawkins, as she yelled throughout the piece, and just didn't come about as honest as I would have preferred. I think they need to fire her, and recast the lead role! At first I didn't know if it was the character I hated or was it her performance. I decided in the end it was her performance, and I am not a fan. It is a shame with such a stellar cast, Adam Driver (interesting choices and beautiful work), Mark Harelik (One of the best actors I seen awhile), Edward Hibbert (Fun, Honest, and Brilliant) and lastly Michael Siberry (Who has amazing comic timing, and stole some of the scenes)! It was an interesting night at the theater, and maybe Sally Hawkins is a good actor, but just not in this piece. Cherry Jones I have seen do better work, but that last scene was gripping, and amazing! The play itself is OK, the story is kind of interesting, and it was a preview and no telling what changes they will make to it by opening night!

Death at a Funeral vs. Death at a Funeral

I watched both the British, and the American version of "Death at a Funeral". The British version is way, way, way better. The British know how to take a story and be funny, and yet still be amazing actors and bring the drama. The American version follows the same plot line, even using some of the same lines. This movie (American Version) was produced by Chris Rock and has some of the funniest comedians in the business in it. However, it just doesn't come close to the original (British) version. It is as if the American actors were trying hard to be funny, unlike the British who just play the scenes very straight, and it makes you laugh so hard. Chris Rock I think is one of the funniest men alive, and is great at stand up comedy, however, he can't act at all. Although I will say he has grown as an actor, because he started off the worse. Highlights in the American cast is Columbus Short, Martin Lawrence, and Danny Glover, these three are the best in this version. In the British version the highlights in the cast is the whole cast. Everyone is amazing in that movie, it is hard to reproduce that feeling the British actors have so naturally. If I had to pick a favorite in the British version it would be Peter Vaughn. I am in amazement with his work, and want to see him do more. Special mention in the British version has to be Alan Tudyk and Mathew Macfadyen. That last monologue performed by Macfayden was so brilliant, and I almost put my head down in shame listening to Chris Rock attempt it. The common and interesting thread in both pieces, is that they use the same small person, in both movies,(Peter Dinklage) he gets to play the same character, twice, with two different casts. This must have been a thrill, and an interesting experience for him. I will say the British version did make watching the American version easier, if I hadn't seen this first, I would probably be bored!!!! I think it is worth taking the journey and seeing both pieces for yourself, let me know what you think blog world???

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo #1

This blog entry will be a three part series, as I write about the book, the Foreign Film, and the American film.

As I ride the train, I would see this yellow book in every ones hand. I finally got a glimpse of what everyone was reading, and I went to the book store and bought it. "The Girl With The Dragoon Tattoo", was the title of the book, I read the back of it, and it seemed very interesting, and different for me. What they heck, everyone was reading it, so I thought why not? I started to read the book, and I had to read the first chapter twice. I had no idea what heck the writer Stieg Larsson was talking about. It was so confusing, and filled with so many facts. My brain hurt, but something in me said keep on going. I got to about chapter five, and I almost gave up again. This book is so so so boring! I felt illiterate, as if my reading comprehension was not up to snuff. Again I decided to challenge myself, and keep on going. When I tell you, I am so happy I took this challenge, as I kept reading this book, it got so amazing. The story is so well written, and intense. I am obsessed with the character the girl with the dragon tattoo named Salander. I can envision her in my mind and had an instant connection to her. The story is filled with drama, murder, mystery, journalism, fight, sex, and revenge. The mystery and intrigue in this book is so intense, that I couldn't put it down. I am so excited to see the film, the foreign film is first on my list in my netflix queue. The American version is not released yet, and I can't wait to report to you on both of them. I want to be more detailed in my blog entry, but I won't give it away. I think everyone should join me, and the folks on the train, and read this book. It is writing at it's best, and it is a story that I promise will keep you on the edge of your seat!

Museum Project 3 (The Brooklyn Museum)

On our third museum project, I took Tiffany to The Brooklyn Museum, right up the street from my apartment. It was a beautiful walk as the sun beat our backs. Tiffany always shows up on our museum dates, looking stunning. I love the time I spend with this girl, and I think it is the best idea we have ever had. I know I said we would go to a museum once a month. However, we both have lives, and busy schedules. Therefore our museum dates are when we can get together.

We walk into the stunning museum and it so huge, with so many exhibits, that we didn't get to see the whole thing. However, we chose exhibits that intrigued us. We started with Andy Warhol, and me being from Pittsburgh like Warhol, I was excited to see what the museum had to offer. I will say that was the weakest Warhol exhibit I had ever seen. Maybe I am bias, after seeing the amazing Andy Warhol Museum in my hometown of Pittsburgh. The works they had up, weren't interesting to me at all, and couldn't like a candle to Mr. Warhol's Pittsburgh exhibit.

Then we went through the African exhibit, which was beautiful and intriguing, and I decided that I just love African Art. The masks, the spheres, to the traditional and cultural things I got to see! I want a room in my house dedicated to African Art, it is just so interesting to me.

Finally we went up to floor five, which was my favorite part of the whole museum. I saw so much amazing contemporary pieces, and there were so many things I wanted to hang on my wall. Others that reminded me of my childhood. Pieces that made me sad, and some that made me just want to do cart wheels. I love art when it makes you feel all kinds of emotions, and when you stare into the soul of it, and it takes you to a different place. Tiffany and I had a wonderful time reminiscing on black culture, from jherri curls, to the S curl, to the box, and perms! To the movies we saw, the music we listened to, the colors that made no sense to me. To the colors that took me on a journey. Art...

I had the privilege of watching the TV show "Work Of Art" on Bravo, and I got to see the winners exhibit. Abdi Farah, won the whole thing, and his work of art is playing The Brooklyn Museum. I told Tiffany, that I couldn't leave until I seen his exhibit, and it was even better in person than on the TV show! You have to go see this new talents work, as it touched me in a current but yet a renaissance sort of way. This man has found himself and has such a prevalent story to tell. I'm glad I got to see it.

Tiffany and I left the museum with so much to discuss, and with a better understanding of each other. I loved the Brooklyn museum, and I need to walk up the street to see the rest of it. If you end up in Brooklyn, you have to check out this cultural genius of a building.

The Emmy Awards 2010

I want to put on note The Emmy's were brilliant this season! As you know I love Awards Shows, and this one was just a smash from beginning to end. The director and the show, deserve an Emmy for there work. LOL! The opening montage with the Glee kids, just made me so happy, and was one of the funniest, most clever, and entertaining openings I had seen in awhile. Jimmy Fallon was an amazing choice, and I think they should go with him again for next years telecast. His timing was superb, and he kept the show moving at a great pace!

The awards had some surprises, and it was interesting to see the homosexuals clean up in the comedy T.V. category. Homosexuals have come a long way in the T.V. medium. It was amazing to see Jane Lynch, Neil Patrick Harris, and I am assuming that nerdy dude from "The Big Bang Theory" is gay-- Jim Parsons, Ryan Murphy, and Eric Stonestreet from Modern Family ( Who is not gay, but plays a gay character)win! Who would have thunk it, but I guess gay folks are funny.

Edie Falco who won for her performance on "Nurse Betty", started by saying "I am not funny", that is a tough category, to be a comedic actress nominee, and be a dramatic actress on a comedy show. This can be very tricky, and I am sure hard to vote. Just as I feel the same for Toni Colliette, and a couple other people nominated in this genre.

My least favorite speech of the night was Kyra Sedgwick, her speech came off very cold, and prepared. Some friends tweeted, and on facebook said she seemed like a bitch. I think she is probably a wonderful lady, but she has to work on winning an award. She read her speech which I usually hate, but it had no heart and feeling.

The other interesting part of the show was the awards for mini-series, it was like every show was from HBO! HBO swept the mini-series category. There were so many good ones this season, and it was interesting to see who was going to win. Temple Grandin being my favorite. It was nice to see Claire Danes win for her work. As I blogged about her and the show awhile back. Check it out, I predict her win for best actress. She was the belle of the ball and looked amazing. It was also great to see my idol Al Pachino win, as he gave a socially awkward speech. I'm so mesmerized by his work, and I have to work with him one day! Lastly to see the project "The Pacific" win, this massive project should win, for the amount of detail and work they put into it.

Jewel sang during the memorandum, which was done with such class, and taste! I'm telling you the Emmy Awards was the show to watch. The Tony's, The Oscar's, and The Golden Globes need to take note on how an award show should be run. BRAVO!!!!