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Remembering Robin Williams – Director Dito Montiel opens up about Robin’s last film – Boulevard

dorriolds — Tue, 21 Jul 2020 09:38:33 +0000

In the movie “Boulevard,” Robin Williams plays Nolan Mack, a 60-year-old bank worker who spontaneously takes a dramatic U-turn — literally and figuratively — when he drives down an unfamiliar street and becomes intrigued by a young male hustler, Leo (Roberto Aguire), who asks if Nolan can give him a lift.
After forming a peculiar connection with Leo, Nolan faces the fact that he is gay and has spent his life hiding that. He’s hidden it from his wife Joy (Kathy Baker) and even from himself. Nolan’s climactic decision to confront who he really is proves the old adage: It’s never too late to change.
From director Dito Montiel and written by Douglas Soesbe, “Boulevard” also stars Bob Odenkirk (TV’s “Better Call Saul,” “Breaking Bad”) as Winston, Nolan’s supportive best friend. Montiel was drawn to “Boulevard” because of its poignant and universal themes. “When I read Douglas Soesbe’s script, I thought about how many people are in Nolan’s situation in some way or another,” Montiel told Dorri Olds. “It really is every man’s story. Nolan does not have a terrible life; his wife is not mean to him, he has a decent job and the prospect of a promotion, he lives in a nice house. But emotionally he feels empty, as if he is sleepwalking through a lonely and subdued world, devoid of all passion.”
This is the last film from the beloved Williams, who tragically hanged himself in August 2014, two weeks shy of 63. Williams struggled for years with depression and substance abuse, but what led to his suicide was the neurodegenerative disease Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) combined with Parkinson’s disease.
In November, ABC News reported:
“All people with LBD have dementia, and sometimes appear confused and disoriented and exhibit unusual behavior, said Angela Taylor, the director of programming for the Lewy Body Dementia Association. According to the coroner’s report, Williams had been acting strangely before his death. He is said to have kept several watches in a sock and was very concerned about keeping the watches safe.”
The much-missed Williams began his career as a standup comedian in the mid-1970s, then made it big as the hilarious alien Mork on the hit show, “Mork & Mindy.” Williams worked for four decades making films; my favorites include “One Hour Photo,” “The Fisher King,” “Good Morning, Vietnam” and “Good Will Hunting.” In 1998, Williams won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for “Good Will Hunting,” and during his long and magnificent career, he received two Primetime Emmy Awards, six Golden Globe Awards, two Screen Actors Guild Awards and four Grammy Awards.
Williams gives a gripping performance in “Boulevard,” and director Dito Montiel spoke openly about working with the late actor on his last film during this interview with Dorri Olds.
Dorri Olds: What was Robin Williams’ take on his character?
Dito Montiel: We were on the same page, which was really nice. There was one scene in particular where Robin as Nolan and Kathy as Joy are in bed together, and they both say “I love you.” It wasn’t in the script, but I said, “You love her. Why don’t you tell her you love her?” Robin said, “Yeah, I would,” and then Kathy said, “I love you, too.” I thought that scene was so touching because they’re saying so many things. They’re saying, “I love you” and “It’s over” and “Goodbye.”
Robin, Kathy and I felt strongly that this was a loving marriage, just not the right loving marriage for Nolan. Kathy had an interesting thing to say, and then Robin said it all the time. It was that their characters had an unwritten agreement, and Nolan was breaking it. That’s why Joy was so mad. They have the big blowout when they finally have this conversation. It was like a “don’t ask, don’t tell” marriage for too long.
Could you tell that Robin was feeling depressed?
That’s impossible to know. We talked all the time, but it was about his character mainly, and he was as obsessed as I was about it. We would just literally talk at crazy lengths about Nolan and walk around all night while shooting. It was impossible to tell that sort of thing. You never know with anybody, unfortunately. It’s one of those weird things. He’d joke around when I’d try to give him direction about how sad Nolan was, and he’d say, “I’ve done the research.” There’s a side to Robin that is outrageous, that goes on David Letterman. Then there’s the guy who goes home at night trying to sit by himself and think about things.
“Boulevard” available online for streaming. LGBT drama. Rated R. 88 min. RIP Robin Williams.

You were an original. One of the best talents the world has ever seen.

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Club Cumming • MARCH 4 • Let Enclave Entertain You • No Cover Charge

dorriolds — Sat, 02 Mar 2019 01:53:46 +0000

clubcummingnyc

“Enclave Reading Series, now in its 12th year, returns to Club Cumming with an absolutely stellar line-up of authors, headlined by the one and only Michael Cunningham, a true master of the craft. Essayist and author Dorri Olds, acclaimed novelist and filmmaker Brian Alessandro, and writer/comedian Eddie Sarfaty will all be taking the Club Cumming stage, comprising one powerhouse program of intellect and wit… As usual the lights will be down low, the drinks will be flowing, and admission is free.” — Jason Napoli Brooks, author (SHELTER), and co-creator, co-curator and emcee for Enclave’s monthly shows.

THANK YOU Honeysuckle Magazine!

It’s a night of wordplay, award-winning authors, treats and fun as the famous Enclave Reading Series rides again at a favorite Manhattan hotspot. On Monday, March 4, 7-9PM, join New York’s literati at Club Cumming (505 East 6th Street, Avenue A), for an evening to remember – with no cover charge. From somebody given to fill The Hours to an expert who knows laughter is the best medicine, a journalist speaking truth to power, and a novelist who can pin down the unmentionable, this is bound to be one for the books.

WHO’S READING? MEET THE AUTHORS:

Michael Cunningham, Pulitzer Prize and PEN Faulkner Award Winner

Michael Cunningham is the author of novels A Home at the End of the World, Flesh and Blood, The Hours, By Nightfall, and The Snow Queen, and a short story collection, A Wild Swan and Other Tales, all published by Farrar Straus & Giroux. The Hours won a Pulitzer Prize and PEN Faulkner Award and was nominated for the National Book Critics Circle Award. It was also made into a movie starring Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman and Julianne Moore.

Cunningham’s fiction and nonfiction have appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times, the Atlantic Monthly, the Paris Review, and other publications. A recipient of National Endowment for the Arts, Guggenheim and Whiting Foundation fellowships, he is a Senior Lecturer in English at Yale University.

Eddie Sarfaty (Mental: Funny in the Head)

Eddie Sarfaty, author and comedian, has appeared on The Today Show, Comedy Central’s Premium Blend, Logo’s Wisecrack, The Joy Behar Show, and is a subject the documentaries, Laughing Matters and Heartfelt. He has been featured at the prestigious Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal, the Toyota Comedy, and the New York Comedy Festival. Sarfaty will be reading from his new novel.

His first book, a collection of hilarious autobiographical essays entitled Mental: Funny in the Head, was the InsightOut Book Club’s selection of the month and his essays have been published in anthologies When I Knew, I’m Not the Biggest Bitch in This Relationship, andLove, Christopher Street. In addition to offering stand-up comedy workshops at theaters around the country, Sarfaty teaches at NYU and The Theatre Lab in Washington, DC. keeplaughing.com

Dorri Olds, Author, Essayist, Journalist

Dorri Olds has been published in eight book anthologies

Dorri Olds is an award-winning writer — and Honeysuckle contributor — whose creative nonfiction has been published in eight book anthologies.

Before the Cosby and Weinstein scandals, and the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements, Olds’ personal essay in The New York Times, “Defriending My Rapist,” went viral. It became required reading at CUNY’s John Jay College of Criminal Justice and led to frequent speaking engagements. She’s been interviewed by CNN’s Dr. Drew and on CBS, ABC and NY1; podcasts; and radio shows. She is currently working on her first full-length book. DorriOlds.com

Brian Alessandro (The Unmentionable Mann)

Brian Alessandro is the author of the novel The Unmentionable Man (Cairn Press). He wrote and directed the feature film Afghan Hound and co-founded The New Engagement, a literary journal that has published acclaimed authors. His plays were performed by the Neighborhood Playhouse, Love Creek Productions, and Monarch Theater Company. Most recently, Brian completed work on the graphic novel adaption of Edmund White’s 1982-classic A Boy’s Own Story for Top Shelf Productions, which won the National Book Award in 2016 for March.

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Don’t miss out on this night for the ages! Enclave Reading Series will present Monday, March 4th, 7-9PM at Club Cumming (505 East 6th Street, Avenue A).

To learn more about The Enclave Reading Series, visit theenclavereadingseries.tumblr.com or follow on Facebook and Instagram.

For more info on events at Club Cumming, visit clubcummingnyc.com or follow on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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Enclave Reading Series ‘FRAYED IN NEW YORK’ at Actor Alan Cumming’s Club Cumming

dorriolds — Sat, 10 Nov 2018 23:37:26 +0000

Jason Napoli Brooks. ©DorriOlds

Enclave Reading series on Saturday night was standing room only. Held at Alan Cumming’s Club Cumming in Manhattan’s East Village, the joint was full of hot bodies and talent. As I looked around, it gave me a feeling “down there.” Okay, so I just shamelessly lifted that phrase from Joan Jett, which fits the Enclave’s theme—FRAYED IN NEW YORK—with a focus on the 70s, 80s and 90s. It’s a time I remember oh so well.

The Enclave Opener

“I was so fucking depressed last night,” emcee Brooks said, referring to another hell week with the GOP’s spoiled toddler. Not The Orange Swamp Thing, the other entitled white baby in a suit, Brett Kavanaugh, the sobbing, blubbering, self-pitying Supreme Court nominee.

Brooks got huge laughs with a funny bit about the Unabomber, and talked about the night before the Enclave reading.

“Friday night…I decided to drown my tears and indulge myself in a twink…the magic of an iPhone app is this guy shows up, 22, cute as fuck, and, you know, huge. He had a reckless quality which I find attractive in a twink.”

Unfortunately, the young hottie ruined the action in the middle of it by calling out, Daddy!

“Being called Daddy during sex,” said Brooks, “is the gay equivalent of finding a fly in your soup at a fancy restaurant. You go from, this is gonna be good, right? — to what the fuck?”

I laughed so hard I nearly choked on my seltzer.

Frayed in New York

Jeremiah Moss, the man behind the award-winning blog and book, VANISHING NEW YORK read about what’s gone. It was apt for me. As I’d ambled past Tompkins Square Park on the way to the club, the recurring stab of sadness got me in the gut. My native Manhattan looks nothing like it did and often feels like an empty town filled with ghosts

In the 80s, whenever I was hit with an emergency need for drugs at 3am, it was that park that beckoned, luring me toward Alphabet City. It was a suicide mission back then. Being an ex-junkie, though, it’s not surprising that my wasted ideas always made perfect sense. The coils of my head kick off a Pavlov’s dog-inspired rush of endorphins that leaves me drooling at memories from years of debauchery.

Moss at the Mic

Jeremiah Moss reads from his book VANISHING NEW YORK for Enclave. Photo © Dorri Olds

Moss at the mic lamented his arrival to what he refers to as the end of New York City: 1993. He was 22 then. Moss read, “I was Harold and New York, my Maude.” He openly admits his bias and lack of objectivity in his signature prose. Self-deprecating words inspired laughs from the audience but the biggest howl came when he quoted reviewers: “The New York Times called me a curmudgeon with a penchant for apocalyptic bombast” and “The Daily News dubbed me a fetishist for filth.”

Lara B. Sharp sparkled onstage, all the way down to her native New Yorker feet. Photo © Dorri Olds

Lara IS Sharp

DO THE HUSTLE is Lara B. Sharp’s memoir-in progress. It’s about being raised in New York City’s foster care system and her exploits as a crustie and grifter. She chose a chapter that is set in 1984 and appropriately titled Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves. “A crustie,” Sharp explained, “is a homeless runaway, living on the streets of downtown Manhattan.”

Sharp as a Whipped Crustie

The author opens by telling the audience a little background info.

“I was 14 years old and I ran away from foster care. I’m just kind of living in Washington Square Park because that was a done thing then…My mom was an alcoholic and a drug addict…but [she was] awesome because she taught me everything I needed to know. She taught me how to lie, cheat, and steal.”

In addition to writing, Sharp has performed in a number of theater productions, including Penny Arcade’s original production of the Sex and Censorship Show, BITCH! DYKE! FAGHAG! WHORE! Sharp’s author reading was a performance piece because she’s charismatic and naturally theatrical.

She nailed the accents for the scene’s two characters. One voice is Sharp at age 14. The other is “Gay Cher.” He is her new kinda-sorta mentor who tells the young Sharp that he can easily make her look 18 if she steals beauty products from Duane Reade. The motivation behind wanting to look older, was practical. She wanted to find a job.

Sharp reads in Gay Cher’s midwestern accent: “I’m the most beautiful, half-Mexican faggot boy ever to escape Kansas. I looked like a fat old milk cow, but not no more. And, honey, I can fix you up. I mean, you’re a mess. But, I have talents. No offense but your white eyelashes are disgusting.”

Huge laughs from the crowd.

Then, narrating in her younger self’s voice: “He scratches his left arm making the needle sores bleed. He rubs the blood into his stone wash cut-offs…. He yanks my scrunchie and runs his dirty fingernails through my long blonde hair, pulling at the matted sections.”

I quit drinking, drugging and smoking, but I can’t get enough of Sharp’s writing. Saturday night’s performance proved that I’m addicted to her prose.

Barb Morrison

I chatted with Barb Morrison. Yes, THE Barb Morrison—recording artist, hit songwriter, platinum and gold records producer. Morrison has played with Blondie, The Runaways, Johnny Thunders and plenty more biggies. Morrison’s pronoun is they. They told me they grew up in the East Village and Chelsea after arriving here at 17. They came to the city after a childhood in Albany.

“Did you runaway?” I asked (spontaneously) because I had. At 15, I moved into the Hotel Earle on Waverly (now, Washington Square Hotel). It was only one block from the park I’d fallen in love with. I found it romantic that Joan Baez sang about Bob Dylan smiling out of the window of that crummy hotel over Washington Square.

“Yeah, I ran away many times,” Morrison said. They laughed. “I disappeared into the city. You’ll hear all about it when I read.”

Reading from a memoir-in-progress, Morrison talked about being a squatter and a musician on her way up and joining a band called The Loveless. “I tried out a few bands but none of them fit the way this gang of misfit rebels fit me…. I wanted to get in bar brawls with my guys and wake up the next morning not knowing which bruise was for what reason.”

The band had their first show at the underground Lismar Lounge. “You had to enter through one of those gates in the sidewalk that went down into a basement. Most of the bands on the Lower East Side couldn’t play worth shit and we actually had some good songs, so we instantly gained a following the night of our first gig. I remember pushing our amps up First Avenue after that show. Someone rode past in a cab and yelled “LUHHHHHVVVV LESSSSSSSSSS!” at us. We were too broke to take a cab but we felt like the most famous rockstars on the planet that night.”

Barb Morrison and Lara B. Sharp. © Dorri Olds

Christopher Stoddard

Author Christopher Stoddard read from his new book (AT NIGHT ONLY). His words were about the universal feeling of yearning for an ex to come back and convincing yourself that just by wanting it, you can make it so. Max, his dog, is also an important character in the chapter.

“I’m wondering what he’s doing right now….He didn’t text from Montreal to let me know he landed safely—like he did when we were still in a relationship.” Then he describes pulling out his iPhone to contact his ex. The foreshadowing makes it clear that is always a bad, bad, bad idea. Stoddard’s voice is easy to listen to and, yes, his was one of the hot bodies I had referred to in my second sentence of this recap.

Pedro J. Rosado, Jr., actor, dancer and stage manager. He stage-managed Penny Arcade’s BITCH! DYKE! FAGHAG! WHORE! at Performance Space New York. He can be seen in Joan Moossy’s MISS MOOSSY’S NEIGHBORHOOD MYSTERIES on YouTube singing “It’s Important to be Friendly.”

Alissa Brianna

Despite a packed room, Alissa Brianna, the solo bartender for the evening, breezed through the night and looked calm and poised amidst the madness. She banged out those drinks—which I was told were fantastique!

Also in Attendance:

Elizabeth Wurtzel, celebrated author of PROZAC NATION and BITCH: IN PRAISE OF DIFFICULT WOMEN
(the lyrics are awesome!)
He may be a middle-aged white heterosexual man/But he’s friendly/He’s not an ageist, sexist, racist, homophobic pig/He’s friendly.
Be like him/ Be friendly.

© Lara B. Sharp. All rights reserved. Here’s an exclusive photo of Sharp, with her mother, at a sidewalk cafe (across from Club Cumming) in 1988—the year Sharp turned 18. She told me, “I was no longer a criminal. I was a legal adult! Free at last.” At the time, Sharp worked at the Cat Club for manager Don Hill (before he opened Don Hill’s).

Lauren Pine, downtown debutante and horse lover, as in horse trainer and horseback rider, not to be confused with old slang for heroin. Glad we cleared that up. Pine, Morrison and Sharp are alumnae of the Don Hill’s Thursday night Squeezebox Parties and have known each other for 30 years.

Melody Jane, danced in Penny Arcade‘s 2018 BITCH! DYKE! FAGHAG! WHORE! at Performance Space New York

Elizabeth Collins, writer and comedian (RAISED BY GAYS AND TURNED OUT OK!)

Clayre Saxon Morrison, British fashion stylist and photographer

Steve Zehentner, stage designer and sound designer who has collaborated with theater artist, writer and performer Penny Arcade for 30 years. One of their collaborations was the Lower East Side Biography Project. If you’ve never experienced it, I recommend clicking on that link.

Gavin Van Vlack, guitar, bass and vocals and member of the bands Canonized and Burn

Liza Béar, artist, photographer, writer, filmmaker

Albie Mitchell, well-known downtown photographer who documented the East Village for over 40 years, and worked for the Village Voice and for the original production of Penny Arcade’s BITCH! DYKE! FAGHAG! WHORE! at PS122 and the Village Gate.

Jenny Gorman, practicing fine art and photography in New York City and the Hamptons for over 25 years.

Cid Scantlebury. Photo © Jini Sachse

Cid Scantlebury artist and musician. Cid was an original Bitch from the Don Hill’s ‘ladies metal’ night of that name, a Loser’s Lounge singer, and she sings at F*Bomb NYC shows several times a year.

Sean Harris, artist, whose works in paper collage and mixed media can be viewed on Instagram @seansheengram.

AUTHOR BIOS

JEREMIAH MOSS, creator of the award-winning blog Vanishing New York, is the pen name of Griffin Hansbury. His writing on the city has appeared in the New York Times, the New York Daily News, and online for The New Yorker and The Paris Review. As Hansbury, he is the author of THE NOSTALGIST a novel, and works as a psychoanalyst in private practice in New York City

LARA B. SHARP‘s writing has appeared in various print and online publications, including Longreads and Teen Vogue. A native New Yorker, she has also written for and performed in a number of national and international theatre productions and live storytelling events in New York City, London, and Philadelphia. She was an original member of Penny Arcade’s BITCH! DYKE! FAGHAG! WHORE! in the early 90s and toured with Penny Arcade. Sharp earned her BA from Smith College, where she was an Ada Comstock fellow, and is working on a memoir about her childhood in the New York foster care system.

BARB MORRISON is a musician and producer who uses music as a platform of advocacy for the transgender community. A regular performer at The Ritz and CBGB’s, they were the saxophonist, guitarist and singer for the bands Gutterboy and Itchy Trigger Finger, which were signed to Mecury Records and toured with Lollapalooza in 1999. Barb has co-written and produced songs for artists such as Blondie, Rufus Wainwright, LP, and Franz Ferdinand. They also wrote the scores for films, including The Safety of Objects (2000), which starred Glenn Close. Their writing has appeared in various publications, such as the New York Times and The Good Men Project. Currently, they are at work on their memoir.

CHRISTOPHER STODDARD’s new novel At Night Only from Itna Press released this June, which has been praised by The Paris Review, Kirkus, Slate, Lambda Literary, and authors Edmund White and Gary Indiana. Featured in OUT Magazine’s “Tastemakers” issue in 2015 for his contributions to literature and publishing, he’s written two other novels: Limiters (Itna Press, 2014), and White, Christian (Spuyten Duyvil, 2010). He lives in Brooklyn, New York.

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To learn more about The Enclave Reading Series, visit theenclavereadingseries.tumblr.com or follow on Facebook and Instagram.

For more info on events at Club Cumming, visit clubcummingnyc.com or follow on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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Dorri Olds is an award-winning freelance writer whose work has appeared in book anthologies, and publications including The New York Times, Marie Claire, Woman’s Day, Time Out New York, The Fix, The Forward, Yahoo, and Tablet. Visit her YouTube channel and see other works she’s done for Honeysuckle here.

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Lesbians Obsessed with Women Who Kill

dorriolds — Wed, 19 Jul 2017 01:36:51 +0000

Simone (Sheila Vand) and Morgan (Ingrid Jungermann) in Women Who Kill.
Photo: Diane Russo — Written for Honeysuckle Magazine • HERS issue • PDF
Women Who Kill is a feature film written and directed by Ingrid Jungermann who also stars as main character Morgan, a commitment-phobe. While screening the film, I fell in love with Jungermann’s striking face. Angular and piercing it grabs you and becomes more and more intriguing via her black-as-soot humor and deadpan delivery. Her long, lean model build is perfect for a movie screen but it’s her wit and quirks that stand out most of all.
I was thrilled to land an exclusive interview with Jungermann. It was right after the July 4 holiday when she returned to her native NYC. Despite exhaustion—and directly due to my pleading—the rising star made time for the interview. It did not take any convincing for my editors to say she was perfect for this HER issue of Honeysuckle.

Jean (Ann Carr) and Morgan (Ingrid Jungermann) in Women Who Kill. Photo: Diane Russo

Women Who Kill debuted at Tribeca Film Festival in 2016 and received the jury award for Best Screenplay. Indiewire described it as the “Best Lesbian Horror-Comedy Ever.” I have to agree. The film racked up a slew of awards at film festivals: Best Screenplay at Outfest; and Weekend. It won Best Narrative Feature at Indie Street; Seattle TWIST Queer; Melbourne Queer; and Oslo Fusion International. It also received Honorable Mention for Outstanding First Feature at Frameline.
It is a love triangle between two ex-girlfriends, Morgan and Jean (Ann Carr), who still live and work together. They’re true crime podcasters with a show about female serial killers. The exes spend so much time together, it has impeded letting go of the relationship. The heat dial turns way up when Morgan meets beautiful new love interest, Simone (Sheila Vand). Soon the high drama kicks in when the podcasting lesbians obsessed with murders begin to fear that Simone may be one. Now, let’s get to the interview!
Dorri Olds: Want to tell if she is a murderer?
Ingrid Jungermann: I can’t. [Laughs]
What planted the seed for this story?
It’s funny, when I first watched the film at Tribeca, and throughout the whole finishing process, and then over the months of screening at festivals, I saw that the movie was clearly a personal film about my own struggles with relationships. It was my version of a romantic comedy in a twisted way. The new script that I’m working on right now is a romantic comedy, but it’s a satire about the genre.
It’s like a queer person’s first experience with love, especially with a religious background, which is not a positive experience because you’re working through feeling all these dark emotions, when you really should just be feeling the pure emotions.
What religion were you brought up with?
Jehovah’s Witness.
I’ve heard the followers are judgmental.
Yeah, exactly. I came out as soon as I left home at 17, when I went to college. That year I realized I was gay, or at least became more comfortable with it. I was probably one of the last people who realized I was gay. I don’t think it was a big surprise to many people. I grew up in Florida and there is no language for it. No allowance for the feelings. You walk around with a secret. I worked at Blockbuster Video and I remember seeing the queer section and that was one of the ways I could put language to how I was feeling, but I still didn’t realize at that time that I was gay.

Ingrid Juntermann (Writer, Director, Performer), Women Who Kill. Photo: Diane Russo

Did you experience any self-loathing?
People in the arts can be more sensitive and are naturally gonna question things about themselves, where other people might not. Certainly, self-loathing was part of it. Internalizing some of those views, yeah. That’s something that takes many years to get at and hopefully unravel. Then you come out on the other side, understanding that self-loathing was really unfortunate. I feel we’re trained to be that way. It takes a long time to get out of that. Then years of therapy.
How do you feel about the vitriol in America right now thanks to Trump?
I definitely feel the hatred. He’s given people a free pass on that kind of language. The vitriolic language and darkness everybody is feeling is at an all-time high. We are experiencing a collective depression.
Anything new and exciting on the horizon?
Yes, I’m in development for my next feature with QC Entertainment, who worked with Blumhouse on Get Out.
Great movie!
Yeah. So, I’m writing this satirical romcom. It’s formulaic except it’s a commentary on formula. I like formula and structure and playing with the genre, and shaking it up and making a joke of itself.
Any nod to classic movies?
This was inspired by Tootsie. That idea of dressing up as someone you’re not. I’m also studying films from the 40s and 50s—going back to see how romantic comedies started and what they became. It’s fun.

Women Who Kill next screens in New York, July 26–August 1 at IFC (wwkmovie.com).

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Transgender Author-Activist Jennifer Finney Boylan Continues to Open Minds

dorriolds — Fri, 05 Jun 2015 07:08:08 +0000

Photo by James Bowdoin

Author and political activist Jennifer Finney Boylan has been busy as she continues to raise awareness and spread acceptance for the transgender community.

“What is a transsexual Republican, anyway? The answer, of course, is someone who thinks a little too much about their private sector.” — Jennifer Finney Boylan

Long before Jeffrey Tambor and “Transparent” or Bruce Jenner on Diane Sawyer, there was trailblazing writer and political activist Jennifer Finney Boylan.

Boylan has been a guest on TV and radio shows, including “The Oprah Winfrey Show” (four times!), “Larry King Live,” “Today,” the “Barbara Walters Special” and a documentary on CBS News’ “48 Hours.” So it is no surprise that Boylan is in great demand for speaking engagements; this month alone, she has had three biggies.

Boylan is the author of 13 books including “She’s Not There: A Life in Two Genders,” a memoir that became the first bestseller written by a transgender author. She is a contributing writer for The New York Times Opinion page, and her articles have appeared in way too many top magazines to list here. Boylan’s books include three memoirs, three novels, a collection of short stories and six young adult novels. And, as if that isn’t enough, she is currently the inaugural Anna Quindlen writer-in-residence at Barnard College.

She was born James Boylan in 1958, and 30 years later, she married Deirdre “Deedie” Boylan and had two sons. In 2000, Boylan very publicly began her male-to-female transition. Her marriage has stayed strong and intact, and Boylan has played a huge role in educating the public about acceptance and support for the transgender community.

“The last year … has been remarkable in the changes that we’ve seen in the culture. We’ve seen Jeffrey Tambor in ‘Transparent’ [and] we’ve seen Laverne Cox on the cover of Time Magazine.” — Jennifer Finney Boylan

Following is a roundup of what Boylan’s been up to this month, including snippets of her never-ending inspiration.

There was an enthusiastic roar from the crowd for Boylan after she opened her keynote speech at ASJA at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York. It was a foreshadowing to the standing ovation she would receive at the end. Her speech, “Connecting Hearts: Storytelling & Social Change,” began:

Thank you Jenny Boylan for commenting on Caitlyn Jenner #TransJenner and #transgender women

“When I do events like this and speak to people, I often think back to a reading I gave at a bookstore in Martha’s Vineyard, now many years ago, when ‘She’s Not There’ first came out [2003]. As some of you know, Martha’s Vineyard is small. There are only two bookstores on the island, so I was going to give a reading at one of them … It was a beautiful day, and I spent the day riding a bike, then [I] show up at the bookstore … and there’s the owner of the bookstore with this kind of depressed, sad expression, and I said, ‘Why the long face?’ She said, ‘Wouldn’t you know, at the last second, [the other bookstore] scheduled a reading at this exact time.’ Of course, I thought, who is going to see that when they can come see me? She said, ‘It is Hillary Clinton,’ which made me think that the only people that would come to my reading would be transsexuals and Republicans. And, in some cases, transsexual Republicans, which raised the question, what is a transsexual Republican, anyway? The answer, of course, is someone who thinks a little too much about their private sector.”

The crowd went crazy.

Freelance journalist Randy Dotinga, the first openly gay ASJA president since the organization’s inception 67 years ago, told the room, “Jenny’s message is crucial for independent writers. As freelancers and authors, we often get distracted by the day-to-day grind and forget we hold tremendous power as storytellers. Our work can transform the world for the better.”

I was especially moved by Boylan’s remarks about feeling suicidal when she was younger. I can relate. Our reasons were different but, like Boylan, I, too, would like to tell my younger self, “It will get better. It will not always hurt the way it does.” At the end of the speech, with a tear in my eye, I told Boylan how much she inspires me. She gave me her warm, radiant smile, and we chatted for a while despite the long train of other people who wanted to thank her, too.

This year’s 26th Annual GLAAD Media Awards were held at the Waldorf Astoria in New York. These awards recognize and honor the media for its fair, accurate and inclusive representations of the LGBT community and the issues that affect their lives. The awards also fund GLAAD’s work to amplify stories from the LGBT community that build support for acceptance. While introducing “Transparent” stars Judith Light and Jeffrey Tambor, and in celebration of Mother’s Day, Boylan described her coming-out conversation with her mother.

“So, there I was, in the house I’d grown up in, coming out as transgender to my 85-year-old mother, an evangelical Christian, a Republican, a nice suburban lady who did needlepoint and drove a Lexus. She didn’t know the difference between a transgender woman and the Trans-Siberian railroad. I kind of had a feeling that my coming out as trans wasn’t going to be the high point of her week. Quite frankly, I had a strong suspicion that she wasn’t going to want to know me any more.

“When I started to cry, however, my little mother got up out of her chair and put her arms around me and said, ‘I would never turn my back on my child. I will always love you. It doesn’t matter to me if you’re gay, or lesbian, or, well, whatever you are. The important thing is this: Love will prevail.’

“And I said, ‘But Mom, won’t it be embarrassing for you when everyone finds out I’m your daughter now?’ And she said, ‘Well, quite frankly, yes. But I will adjust.’

“Later that night, as I headed for bed, she kissed me and said, ‘You need to tell your story. Because no matter what, it’s impossible to hate anyone whose story you know.’”

“My mother passed away five years ago at the age of 94, still Republican, still an evangelical Christian and forever a transgender ally.”

On Friday, I asked WTCI faculty member Anne Wennerstrand to describe the organization’s mission statement. “The WTCI is evolving as an Institute to respond to the needs of non-binary, gender-variant communities via our professional training programs, workshops and lectures for the public,” she replied.

On why Boylan was chosen as this year’s speaker Wennerstrand said, “We have an annual tradition of honoring Laurie Phillips, a beloved faculty member who died of breast cancer in 1995. As an organization dedicated to mental health, we also have an equally strong commitment to social justice and equality. Each year, we honor notable feminist thinkers and practitioners who have made significant contributions to our notions of gender. We invited Jenny this year to honor her for her advocacy, feminism and unwavering dedication to civil rights.”

Wennerbrand then shared the WTCI’s definition of feminism. “To practice feminism is to believe in basic human and civil rights and equality for all regardless of gender. Jenny, through writing and advocacy embodies the definition of social justice. Jenny expands our knowledge, but more importantly, our hearts and helps us understand how to be true allies for feminism and the trans community.”

“Through her writing and speaking, Jenny [Boylan] helps raise awareness of the extremely high suicide risk and other vulnerabilities of trans youth.” — Anne Wennerstrand, Faculty member, WTCI

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‘Boy Meets Girl’ Writer Director Eric Schaeffer Talks About Caitlyn Jenner

dorriolds — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 09:42:53 +0000

Excerpt from TheBlot Magazine

Eric Schaeffer is the writer, director and producer of “Boy Meets Girl,” a movie starring transgender actress Michelle Hendley. It’s a love story with a twist.

On Monday, Vanity Fair went public with its July cover, and it was the exclusive unveiling of Caitlyn Jenner — former Olympian champion/reality-TV star Bruce Jenner. On the same day, Jenner’s new Twitter account blew up the Internet. @Caitlyn_Jenner broke a Twitter record (previously held by President Obama) when her account amassed 1 million followers in four hours. Now, two days later, she has 2.3 million followers.
Jenner will receive the Arthur Ashe Courage Award during the ESPN ESPY Awards, which will be broadcast on ABC July 15. On June 2, Jenner jokingly tweeted, “What the hell am I going to wear?”
This has been a beautiful time of change. In addition to the reveal of Caitlyn Jenner on Vanity Fair magazine’s July cover, we have seen Michelle Hendley in the movie, “Boy Meets Girl,” Laverne Cox on “Orange Is the New Black” and Jeffrey Tambor on “Transparent.” The changing face of television will include the June 8 premiere of the series “Becoming Us,” about a teenage boy dealing with his father’s transition. “I Am Jazz” is a TV series premiering July 15 on TLC which stars transgender teen girl, Jazz, who was diagnosed with gender identity disorder at age 6.
Out of the 50-plus films I’ve seen this year, Eric Schaeffer’s “Boy Meets Girl” stands out as one of the best. The protagonist in this romantic comedy slash drama is Ricky (Michelle Hendley), a transgender girl.
Dorri Olds: How do you feel about comics mocking Caitlyn Jenner?
Eric Schaeffer: The mocking of a transgender person of any kind by anyone, especially those with a public forum that reaches millions, is inhumane and therefore has no place in a loving and civilized culture — which is what I would hope we all want to move towards having. I like strong and edgy humor, but tact, common sense and an underlying compassion must be present for me to think edgy humor [is] appropriate.
What do you think of Jenner’s public transition?
Any person who can model living a life of loving authenticity and truth, especially in the face of challenge and/or societal push-back, is the most courageous and important kind of person we have. She is the bravest of the brave. Many things are done for publicity/media frenzy, but I don’t suspect coming out as transgender is one of them.
Are you a fan of the show “Transparent”
A huge fan. The writing and the cast is impeccable. Jeffrey is shatteringly sublime.
I saw you thanked Jennifer Finney Boylan on Facebook. How do you know each other?
I have been lucky enough to forge a new friendship with Jenny after meeting her when she saw my new film, “Boy Meets Girl.” She’s one of my favorite people and has been a great supporter of the film.
Read more

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Thank You Jennifer Finney Boylan for Commenting on Caitlyn Jenner

dorriolds — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 08:46:36 +0000

On Monday, Vanity Fair went public with its July cover, and it was the exclusive unveiling of Caitlyn Jenner — former Olympian champion/reality-TV star Bruce Jenner. On the same day, Jenner’s new Twitter account blew up the Internet. @Caitlyn_Jenner broke a Twitter record (previously held by President Obama) when her account amassed 1 million followers in four hours. Now, two days later, she has 2.3 million followers.
Jenner will receive the Arthur Ashe Courage Award during the ESPN ESPY Awards, which will be broadcast on ABC July 15. On June 2, Jenner jokingly tweeted, “What the hell am I going to wear?”
This has been a beautiful time of change. In addition to Jenner, we have seen Laverne Cox on “Orange Is the New Black” and Jeffrey Tambor on “Transparent.” The changing face of television will include the June 8 premiere of the series “Becoming Us,” about a teenage boy dealing with his father’s transition. “I Am Jazz” is a TV series premiering July 15 on TLC which stars transgender teen girl, Jazz, who was diagnosed with gender identity disorder at age 6.
There was a time when haters would’ve flooded cyberspace; instead, we’ve seen a tremendous outpouring of love and support … except for some moronic comments and feeble attempts at humor.
Let’s take former Republican Arkansas governor and former Baptist pastor Mike Huckabee as an example. The GOP presidential candidate made transphobic comments at the 2015 National Religious Broadcasters Convention in Nashville, Tenn. His feeble attempts at humor were posted to YouTube over the weekend by World Net Daily. Sadly, its channel has since been suspended. My, my. Those Republicans sure have a lot of power.
Here’s what Huckabee said:
“We’re in city after city watching ordinances that say that your 7-year-old daughter, if she goes into the restroom, cannot be offended and you can’t be offended if she’s greeted there by a 42-year-old man who feels more like a woman than he does a man …
“I wish that someone told me that when I was in high school that I could have felt like a woman when it came time to take showers in PE. I’m pretty sure I would have found my feminine side and said, ‘Coach, I think I’d rather shower with the girls today.’ You’re laughing because it sounds so ridiculous, doesn’t it?
“And yet today we’re the ones who are ridiculed and scorned because we point out the obvious, that there’s something inherently wrong with forcing little children to be part of this social experiment. I’m not against anybody, I’d just like for somebody to bring their brain to work someday and not leave it on the bed stand when they show up to govern.”
Hopefully one day we won’t hear such nonsense. Let’s stop using labels all together instead of saying things like “transgender TV star” or “lesbian photographer” or “black actor” or “female presidential candidate.” But until then, trailblazers like Jenner are vital in changing the conversations and questioning society’s “norms.”
Now, I bring you more public voices who support Jenner’s transition.

STEVEN POLITO AKA HEDDA LETTUCE

Steven Polito is a self-described drag queen whose alter ego Hedda Lettuce is the six-time “Drag Queen of the Year” from HX Magazine. Her tagline is “Big Queen, Small Throne.”
Dorri Olds: Is it in poor taste for Jimmy Fallon, Conan O’Brien and Jimmy Kimmel to mock Caitlyn Jenner?
Steven Polito: No. In comedy, everything is up for grabs. If it’s funny, it’s funny. You have to be a really great comic to be able to finesse this without coming across as an idiot. If it’s just mean, then forget about it.
What do you think Jenner should do with the bundle of money she will get for all of this publicity?
I feel that it is very important to use her fame to help gender-conflicted people who cannot afford the transition. I am not in a place to tell anybody what to do with their money. That being said, it would be great if she donated her time and her money to a worthy transgendered cause.
Do you view Jenner as brave?
Yes, she is brave. It’s also showbiz. This is a great human story as well as an incredible Hollywood story, which makes it very interesting. Going from one of the greatest athletes in the world to one of the most-celebrated female-trans figures in the world is wild.
What did you think of the Diane Sawyer interview?
I think it was very tasteful. And Caitlyn looked so demure on Sawyer, unlike her recent photo shoot for Vanity Fair, which I thought was going to be accompanied by a sex tape!
Are you a fan of the TV show “Transparent?”
Yes. I think it is very entertaining, yet poignant.
* * *
In the video below, you’ll hear from both Polito and Hedda Lettuce about “Titty the kitty from New York City.” And if you watch the video all the way through to the end, you’ll be treated to the words of a supportive dad.

JENNIFER FINNEY BOYLAN

Jenny Boylan is a political activist, board member at GLAAD and the author of 13 books including “She’s Not There: A Life in Two Genders,” a memoir that became the first bestseller written by a transgender author. She came out as a transgender woman very publicly.
Dorri Olds: How would you describe Caitlyn Jenner’s very-public transition?
Jennifer Finney Boylan: I am impressed that she is absolutely determined to use her celebrity for good. I can’t imagine what it is like to live your life [that much] in the public eye. She has to come out in the way that seems right to her. And I’d encourage people to be patient and see what she does in the years ahead before they make judgments about her character.
What do you think of the late-night TV show hosts poking fun at Jenner?
I suppose humorists ought to poke fun at moments in the culture. But making fun of someonebecause they are trans is definitely not cool.
Do you have any favorite nonprofit organizations to recommend for donations?
GLAAD, of course. We have worked very hard to make sure this story is told properly.
* * *
In the video below, Jenny Boylan talks about her very-public transition and how going public can affect children. She also wants the world to know the transition “is not a choice.” This video was posted one day before Caitlyn Jenner (as the former Bruce Jenner) spoke openly with Diane Sawyer:

ERIC SCHAEFFER

Eric Schaeffer is the writer, director and producer of “Boy Meets Girl,” a movie starring transgender actress Michelle Hendley that’s a love story with a twist.
Dorri Olds: How do you feel about comics mocking Caitlyn Jenner?
Eric Schaeffer: The mocking of a transgender person of any kind by anyone, especially those with a public forum that reaches millions, is inhumane and therefore has no place in a loving and civilized culture — which is what I would hope we all want to move towards having. I like strong and edgy humor, but tact, common sense and an underlying compassion must be present for me to think edgy humor [is] appropriate.
What do you think of Jenner’s public transition?
Any person who can model living a life of loving authenticity and truth, especially in the face of challenge and/or societal push-back, is the most courageous and important kind of person we have. She is the bravest of the brave. Many things are done for publicity/media frenzy, but I don’t suspect coming out as transgender is one of them.
Are you a fan of the show “Transparent”
A huge fan. The writing and the cast is impeccable. Jeffrey is shatteringly sublime.
I saw you thanked Jennifer Finney Boylan on Facebook. How do you know each other?
I have been lucky enough to forge a new friendship with Jenny after meeting her when she saw my new film, “Boy Meets Girl.” She’s one of my favorite people and has been a great supporter of the film.
* * *
Watch till the end to hear Eric Shaeffer tell GLAAD’s Claire Pires the most touching story about a teenage fan he met at a movie screening.

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Yay for a Female-Driven, Pro-LGBT, Pro-Choice Comedy Drama That Delivers and Stars Icon Lily Tomlin

dorriolds — Sun, 17 May 2015 15:55:56 +0000

Photos by Dorri Olds
“Grandma” is Lily Tomlin’s movie. She is in top form in a role created just for her. Writer director Paul Weitz (“American Pie,” “About a Boy”) confirmed that he had written the part for Tomlin after the two had worked together on 2013’s “Admission.”
Yay for a female-driven, pro-LGBT, pro-choice comedy drama that delivers. “Grandma” is Lily Tomlin’s movie. She is in top form in a role created just for her. Writer director Paul Weitz (“American Pie,” “About a Boy”) confirmed that he had written the part for Tomlin after the two had worked together on 2013’s “Admission.”

On the red carpet at the film’s Tribeca Film Festival premiere last month, Weitz smiled as he referred to Tomlin as “so punk rock” and added that she was great as Tina Fey’s mom in “Admission.”
“She was so hardcore, funny and smart that I wanted to do a whole movie with her as the lead.” said Weitz. Before “Admission,” he hadn’t known Tomlin well, “But her intelligence rang like a clear bell,” he said. “It made me think of a character and how much that character would have to offer a young woman under duress.”
Tomlin’s smile lit up the red carpet — corny-sounding, I know, but it did — and she exuded a natural air of hippitude. As I stood next to her on the carpet, she seemed tickled by the grin plastered on my face. I’ve adored her since “One ringy-dingy” and loved her decades later on FX’s “Damages.”

Julia Garner costars with Lily Tomlin in ‘Grandma’

Watch a hilarious clip from the “Grandma” here:
Watch one of my YouTube channel’s most popular videos with Nat Wolff:

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A Very Literal Gay Bashing Occurred In New York This Week

dorriolds — Thu, 07 May 2015 21:02:55 +0000

Photo inset of Jonathan Snipes is by DNAinfo/Ben Fractenberg

UPDATE:

Bronx resident Bayna-Lekheim El-Amin, 42, was convicted of attempted assault in the first degree, and assault in the second degree.

On Tuesday, May 7, in the most LGBTQ-friendly neighborhood in New York City, a gay couple was assaulted at the Dallas BBQ on 261 Eighth Avenue at W. 23rd Street. Jonathan Snipes, 32, has cuts all over his head. A tooth was knocked loose, and the cartilage in his ear was damaged during the beating, according to DNAinfo New York.
I have lived on the same block as Dallas BBQ since 1994 and have always felt safe. Gay bashing is rare here, thank goodness. My building, Chelsea Gardens, is full of diversity and sits within a warm, welcoming neighborhood. That’s what makes this violent incident especially jarring.
The fight broke out at 11 p.m. when Snipes received a text about a death in his family and had to leave the restaurant quickly. When he stood up, he accidentally knocked over a drink at a table where two large men — one is 6-foot 4 inches — were seated. Snipes is only 140 pounds and didn’t stand a chance. One of the men knocked Snipes to the ground and began kicking his face and back.

“Take that, faggot!” he shouted.

Snipes’ boyfriend, Ethan York-Adams, 25, tried to shield Snipes, but was unable to block the vicious blow of a wooden chair that bashed into both of their heads. York-Adams was knocked to the floor, and Snipes fell back in his chair, stunned. They’d been out for margaritas to celebrate Cinco de Mayo.
“They hit us hard and then they wouldn’t stop,” Snipes told DNAinfo. “I was hobbling away and they came and attacked us again.”
The attackers fled the scene as the couple awaited police and medical crews. At the time of this posting, the attackers had not been arrested.

Dallas BBQ on 8th Avenue at 23rd Street is where the violent anti-gay incident occurred. (Photo by Dorri Olds)

The morning after the attack, I spoke to some folks who live right near the BBQ. Alex (pseudonym) was out walking his dogs — a Bijon, Max, and Shih Tzu, Mia. Alex lives with his husband and their dogs a block from the restaurant. Alex left Serbia two years ago, and when I asked why he’d left, he replied, “[For] being gay. In Serbia, I had a lot of problems. I had a lot of threats, and people made a Facebook page about hating me. I was a teacher’s assistant in a state university. Students make statements like, ‘Oh my God, if I ever get bad grades I will break every single bone in his body.’ Now I live here, and I’m happy.”
I asked how his family felt about him moving so far away. “My mother, she was very sad, but in another hand, she told me, ‘I will finally be able to sleep. I know you will be safe there and I don’t need to worry,’” Alex shared. “My partner and I got married two months ago, and my mother came for wedding!’”

Esteban Monsalve and his dog Leo. (Photo by Dorri Olds)

I stopped another man, Esteban Monsalve, who is a trainer at the Equinox Gym and was out early walking his dog, a chocolate Labrador name Leo. Last week, Monsalve and his husband moved to an apartment building only a couple doors from Dallas BBQ.
“We moved here because it is supposed to be a safe neighborhood,” he said. “This news is such a shame. I mean, here we are in New York where this kind of thing should not be happening.”
Watch the video of the incident (Warning: It contains graphic content):

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The Shoemaker’s Kids Have No Shoes!

dorriolds — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 10:06:20 +0000

My work world has been a wonderful whirlwind for ages. But it’s time I took a breath and focused on my own blog for a minute! The first week of May my new Resident magazine articles will become available. They are 2011 Great Reads: Can’t Think Straight: A Memoir of Mixed-Up Love (Citadel Press) by author Kiri Blakeley and Stalina (AmazonEncore) by author Emily Rubin; and New York City April 2011 Events including celebrations of Easter and Passover.

In the first week of June more new articles will become available. Yup, told you I’ve been busy. Those pieces are about author Mindy Greenstein and her new collection of personal essays titled The House at Crash Corner, Molly Jong-Fast and her new novel The Social Climber’s Handbook, and Steven Petrow‘s Complete Gay & Lesbian Manners For Every Occasion. Also to come is a feature length piece on Dr. Todd Sinett, an unusual chiropractor and his unconventional and highly effective practice that focuses on healing beyond the symptoms but learning to prevent back problems. He is author of the book The Truth About Back Pain.

My upcomiong travel piece will follow my late June trip to a luxury Marriott Hotel in Cancun, Mexico.

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