DJANGO Unchained

Quentin Tarantino fills my revengeful soul like no other filmmaker.  He portrays Nazis as  cultured and articulate men you can't wait to be killed (painfully).  And now Southern slave owners are played as mean to the core, chillingly violent, and in one silly scene stupidly dependent on their wives to make proper KKK hoods.  I just LOVED this quintessential Tarantino film.  He gives a revisionist view of history where slaves (oh yes, called n****** throughout) rise up and are amazingly successful in retribution.  "You wanna cut off my balls?  I'll shoot you in yours."  Who could not cheer for that moment?
Christoph Walz, Jamie Foxx, Leonardo DiCaprio, Samuel Jackson and Kerry Washington are perfectly cast and brilliantly deliver. The dialogue is wonderful, as is the photography.  Alas, Tarantino's editor recently died so there is too much of the stuff he loves (she would have deleted), but nevertheless a GREAT film.  A great re-making of American history.

HOLY MOTORS

What a ride!  What a performance by Denis Lavant.  Suspend all thoughts of a film that follows any film making formula and let yourself enjoy this zany, insane, provocative ride with a beautiful older woman chauffeur who takes her passenger to nine stops where he becomes nine different characters.  And when he finally returns home you will laugh and shake your head.  I can't think of a better film to see if you're feeling weighed down by the stuff in our world right now.

Armadillo Crafts Bazaar

Since arriving in Austin one of my favorite annual events is this crafts sale at Palmer Events Center where I hear great music, drink wine and support local artists.  I visit the fare a couple of times, pick my selections and then bring Abe back to confirm that he likes what I do.  This year it's a mosaic owl from Aly Winningham, my favorite mosaic artist in Austin, and an acrylic painting (rooster named Chester) by a folk artist, Jackie Haliburton (no relationship to Cheney whatsoever), who travels from Houston with her husband to sell her wonderful paintings of African American figures.  While I am not a lover of Christmas shopping I do love supporting local artists and this venue is perfect.  It's where I first heard Ray Wylie Hubbard and I've been a fan since!  Alas this year there was no Asleep at the Wheel.  KUT tells me Ray Benson is off in Montana.  There's always next year.

LIFE OF PI/Thank-You Ang Lee

Ang Lee, a masterful filmmaker, has created a film which embodies the power of  film.  A film that lifted me from a week of grief and bereavement I have felt since the shootings of children in Connecticut. A film that reminded me of the power of art to demonstrate the human capacity and potential to survive enormous loss.  A film that proved a non-actor could reach into his being to bring us a performance like Suraj Sharma did.  A film that reminded me once again of  the incredible story telling talents of Irrfan Khan.  And all of the technology that went into keeping me captivated by beauty, natural and otherwise was, on this occasion, so appreciated.  A reprieve from madness that surrounds us is, for me, the power of film.  Always always I found myself in a theater since I was a little girl in the Bronx to help me face the demons of this world.  Thank-you Ang Lee for this exquisite film.

Only Two Can Play/Austin Film Society

Last night was the end to our Welsh Essential Cinema Series and an end to Tuesday nights at Alamo South Lamar.  We're being sent up to the Alamo Village for 10 months (bet it's a year) while Tim League builds his empire.  (I'm smiling.)  This was a great B/W film starring Peter Sellers as a loathsome character who you really quite like!  A philanderer, theater critic and librarian.  Who treats his wife shabbily (she's really quite cute) and lives a pretty difficult life in a flat with his wife and two kids and a parade of Welsh characters.  Jim Kolmar's notes as always provided enormous background information and I will never look at THE PINK PANTHER in the same light.  Peter Sellers I learned was a magnificent talent who dealt with his tormentors of self loathing as so many artists do, with drugs and alcohol.  What a shame!  Thank-you Jim and AFS for this wonderful series.

UT/RTF End of Semester Films

Tonight we headed up to the Mc Cullough Theater where we had a chance to view the films made by students in Nancy Schiesari and Kat Candler's Narrative classes.  We were so impressed with the talent, hard work, creativity and collaborative effort demonstrated by these students.  So good to see and hug Amada Yam, Ta Neil Dodson and Skylar Moran. And to let them know I feel like a proud mama watching their accomplishments. One of the best parts of my transition to Austin was meeting and working with these fine young filmmakers.

UNFATHOMABLE GRIEF

I taught two children how to ride the NYC subways when they were 11 years old.  By themselves.  I taught them how to go to middle schools  in Brooklyn called "ghetto schools" and to be wise and safe.  I sent them off to the heartland of America, Wisconsin and Texas where they were surrounded by kids whose families had guns, and I said "have an open mind."  But NEVER EVER could I prepare a kid to go to kindergarten and be safe from a family's dysfunction.  And evil. And a shooter.  Enough of your guns America!  Enough!!

RADIO UNNAMEABLE/AFS Doc Night

I was 19 y.o. in 1967, living in The Bronx, traveling 3 hours each day to and from  Queens College and working two PT jobs.  There was little down time  and so a midnight radio show that spoke to rebelliousness, counter culture events and people was perfect!  I did my sleeping on the 3 buses and subways I rode to get to school!  And Bob Fass, the creator and DJ of this midnight radio show spoke to thousands of us when he created hippie events (an Easter Be-In at Central Park and a Fly-In at Kennedy airport in the dead cold of winter) and we all showed up!  And peace, pot, balloons and human warmth was the common denominator.  He did all of this without Facebook. 

Last night's documentary was a wonderful walk back in time with photos illustrating the gritty, edgy New York I loved so much.  Where I began my first social work jobs working in the East Village with runaways and foster care throwaways.  A shout out to Jessica Wolfson and Paul Lovelace for creating this documentary about a man who brought so much culture to so many of us (my first Alice's Restaurant, Mr. Bojangles,  and introduction to Abbie Hoffman and his band of YIPPIES) first came from Bob Fass.  And when he traveled to Chicago for the notorious Democratic National Convention he reminded us first hand that the world was changing and becoming extremely polarized.  We were in a transition which would have us end up in the brain numbing world of extreme materialism where your worth was valued by what you could buy instead of your creative thoughts.

Thank-you AFS for this fabulous film.  When an audience member thanked the filmmakers from the bottom of her heart for bringing her memories of the Be-In and Fly-In right back to her I wanted to give her a hug and stand by her side.  Like I once did in 1967.

Winter Vegetarian Cooking Class @ Whole Foods

Tonight Liz and I ventured to Whole Foods to learn how to cook some winter veggie dishes.  Her birthday present to me.  While I love to cook I was a bit apprehensive as I shy away from 5 star restaurants and their chefs.  I find the recent attention to  high end food and it's preparation to be over the top, trendy, and intimidating.  But this class was great and not intimidating at all.  The teacher, Jason Edgar, Senior Chef Instructor was expert at making you feel relaxed and capable.  His assistant Chris was a great help as well. The menu this evening was delicious:  Wild Mushroom and Kale Tartlets;  Cinnamon Roasted Whole Carrots; Sunchokes with Bourbon Lacquered Cranberries and Pecans and Caramelized Parsnip Soup. 

I liked Jason's flexibility and when we told him we preferred to leave our soup chunky rather than  blended he didn't make us feel like we were committing a food crime.  I learned some very basic principles this evening:  how to properly cut and chop an onion; to never brown garlic first or with an onion; that roasted parsnip or sun chokes with olive oil, salt and pepper are the best potato substitute in the world!  And most important that fine food preparation does not have to be an intimidating exclusive club for food snobs.    Lovers of POLVO'S are certainly welcome.  A perfect birthday gift Liz.

LATKES,LATKES,LATKES

GREAT success.  Our girl Liz has got to have the cutest, sweetest friends.  It's 2:20 a.m. Just finished cleaning.  Abe will vacuum manana.  Sent everyone home with food and home baked goodies.  Malina Panovich, my very first UT RTF director stayed and helped me clean. 

The festival of light.  Gratitude for oil lasting 8 days rather than one.  What a cool thing to acknowledge.  No shopping or gift giving required.  Just  a chance to honor an unusual event that made people happy and brought light into darkness.  My kind of holiday.  Shalom Y'all.

ROSS Dept Store and a Snooty Shopper

New Yorkers can be very very snooty about shopping.  Even those of us who shop in NYC at Century 21, H&M, and Macy's with coupons.  We just have this POV that our shopping sites have superior choices.  Maybe that's true for some parts of the country but not Austin.  You just have to refigure your brain about what a department store looks like, and also lunge into the creativity of Austin's scene for style.  Liz taught me to refrain from buying anything that's reproduced on the rack 20 times.  Sometimes I even follow her suggestion.  Yesterday was my second trip to ROSS and I must say it was amazingly successful.  Abe and I like clothes (an unusual quality for two social workers I've always believed ) and yesterday I was so happy to be able to find jackets for him, dresses for me for unbelievably reduced prices.  Won't be so obnoxious to mention labels but they're goooood!  I love telling my friends back in Brooklyn about my finds. They are truly envious and happy at the same time.  They've found a new shopping destination!

TIGER BAY/Austin Film Society

12 y.o. Hayley Mills delivers a performance that is so authentic, real, powerful and just plain excellent in this 1958 film shot in Cardiff, the coal capital of the world.  Horst Buchholz (damn, I just read he died in 2003) and John Mills are fabulous in their roles as well.  This is a thriller involving a murder, a street urchin who has developed all of the survivor skills all these kids have, and a sailor.  It's a black and white film with great shots of the harbor, the docks and dock workers, and the diverse families who call this rough area home.  Reminds me in many ways of the waterfront dock neighborhoods in Brooklyn.  We've been reminded by Jim Kolmar, AFS guest curator, that these diverse neighborhoods no longer exist in Cardiff and as always it reminds me of all that is lost when we lose that diversity.

Many of us wanted the murderer to get away with his crime.  Not just because he's the gorgeous Horst Bucholz, but because we really cared about him and the relationship he developed with Gillie.  For me, that is the most important element of a film.  This is a gorgeous film, spellbinding and realistic.

THE YELLOW BIRDS

Just finished this beautifully written book by a Michener MFA graduate, Kevin Powers.  Also a veteran who spent 2004-2005 in Iraq with the U.S. Army.  Insight into the inner workings of a very young soldier told through the eyes of a poet.  Insight into this endless war that has claimed so many souls.  Will write the President later today and asked if he's read this.  Will recommend.

THE PROUD VALLEY/Austin Film Society

I am an easy touch for films about social injustice, workers' solidarity, resistance to corporate greed, and any film I've ever seen about miners.  Last night, guest curator Jim Kolmar, brought us The Proud Valley, starring Paul Robeson, an icon of a great  American who symbolizes the clear and beautiful voice of a fighter of injustice.  Mr. Robeson  was a London dweller for many years and was just loved by the British.  He lived with Welsh coal mining families to prepare for this role and it is obvious he was admired and embraced by them.
I loved this film for many reasons.  What was most striking was the role of women in this Welsh coal mining town.  A mother is an outspoken crusader who throws a snobby shopkeeper out of her home, who stands up for her son's and husband's right to be treated fairly, who raises a little girl who is bold, audacious and unafraid.  I also loved the coal miners embracing Mr. Robeson's character who comes to town to work, and of course to sing (it's Paul Robesen!) with the men's choir.  While it's a fair criticism to note this is a sentimental view of a strong character, willing to sacrifice everything for people who helped him, it's best to remember it's 1938, Hitler is advancing and I'd say sentiment is a fine emotion given the times.  And today I woke up to read  Jim's notes.  It's like taking an online course in Welsh cinema!  Thank-you AFS for these wonderful films.  And Chale I can't wait for that series on Paul Robeson.

SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK

Yikes!  I rarely, rarely write a thumbs down post.  And particularly for a film that so many people raved about at Austin Film Festival. We got the last two seats when I went on line to reserve at the Violet Crown so for sure I was pumped!  But yikes.  I found the screenplay given to the actors annoying.  And while I honor the extraordinary performance of Jennifer Lawrence and just loved that her dance number with Bradley Cooper reflected them perfectly, I found myself annoyed and irritated with the explosions, football fights and De Niro's relationship to his friend, football, and betting.  I am  comfortable with the world of mental illness having worked with so many diverse people as a social worker.  But truth be told, it's not on my hot list of topics for viewing.  While the arguments between family members were real the ultimate consequences for the characters were not.  Thank-you Dr. Patel for portraying a psychiatrist with some sense and warmth and humanity!  Enough of this negative review!

LINCOLN

Did you know that Sally Field implored and begged Steven Spielberg to give her the role of Mary Lincoln (called Molly by Abe)?  After her assertive posturing he agreed to  screen test her.  She admits it wasn't stellar.  He called her and told her he just didn't see her with Daniel Day Lewis.  The next day Daniel Day Lewis phoned her to say he'd fly to L.A. from Ireland to screen test with her. They met for an hour, improvised "something", did a screen test and on the way driving home Steven and Daniel called her and said "you're our Molly."   And oh what a Molly.  And oh, what a film.  Each of the well known actors brings this extraordinary period of time to us with the assistance of extraordinary photography.  The theater was packed. The story was about the dividing wound of the Civil War and slavery. I was aware I was viewing it in the South.   This is a monumental film with Spielberg's signature throughout.  You know the story, it's never been told so artistically.

SLEEP FURIOUSLY/Austin Film Society

I wanted this film to go on for a week!  Have you ever sat in a dark theater feeling so sad that you knew something was going to end?  This is how I felt about this documentary from Wales about what goes on in the small town of Trefeurig.  Much of what I'm about to say about this film has me in debt to Jim Kolmar the Guest Curator, a Welshman himself.  (Adorable too I might add.) This film is described as a "rigorously observed  ode" to this tiny Welsh community.  The filmmaker, Gideon Koppel, uses his camera as a microscope to bring us moments in people's lives and surroundings that are visual and aural  masterpieces (birthing of pigs and calves; movements of sheep; sounds of farm equipment, teens using glowsticks, elderly women baking for each other and reminiscing, dogs barking).  My favorite theme throughout is the mobile lending library with a man who brings all kinds of books to all kinds of characters.  People in this exquisite film LOVE their animals and are so kind.  It made me ponder about a life filled with the routine of daily living without a lot of external stimuli.  When an older woman (who teaches ceramics to children, has a beloved owl she has stuffed upon it's death ) asks the mobile librarian if he has a book about computers for idiots one can sense the turning of a tide.

As a good film does, it made me ponder my own life.  Those afternoons I am by myself listening to music and cooking or baking are an essential part of my existence.  But there is always a pull to "do something."  This is a film where people are content to keep the "do something" familiar and loved and routine.

It was a gift to wake up this morning and read Jim Kolmar's program notes.  I learned that Gideon Koppel was born to Jewish Hungarian artists in Liverpool where he was rejected and bullied for being "different."  The family moved to this tiny Welsh town where his "otherness" was not emphasized as he immersed himself into the landscape.  His parents fit in as well, and felt comfortable in this environment.  And so a lesson in the Jewish diaspora was a perfect birthday gift brought to me today by the Austin Film Society.  AFS has had a hand in softening the cultural divide I have felt in my own diaspora.

It's A Wrap

Finished my role as a revenging murdering grandma and now on to preparation for a homeless bicycle thief.
Love the reaches the UT RTF students ask of me.  Love what I learn from them and am appreciative that they allow my interpretation of characters' motivations.  It's quite an experience working with such young people.  It's made me appreciate my life's experience.

PATAGONIA/Austin Film Society

We began the new Essential Cinema series this evening with a stunning film that comes to us from Wales.  If you weren't aware of the Welsh connection to Argentina (like me) you will be well educated about this after reading the detailed program notes provided by Jim Kolmar, a native of Wales.  This is the second time Abe and I have encountered Welsh films in Austin.  The first was with the Welsh director and producer of GIN AND DRY, a lovely short film we saw at SXSW.

PATAGONIA is a visual masterpiece, well cast with a beautiful narrative of two women's journeys.  An elderly woman journeys with an adolescent neighbor to find her childhood home.  His coming of age on this journey is exquisite and their relationship makes you hunger for this kind of relatedness between people.
  A young couple struggle with their relationship, fall out of sync with one another, separate and find themselves along the way in this beautiful landscape.  Once again we left the theater so enriched by this AFS offering.  The name is perfect for this series, ESSENTIAL CINEMA.  These films are truly essential if you're interested in a larger picture of the world.

E.A.S.T. and Pine Street Station

There is one more week-end for East Austin Studio Tour and I continue to find the artists' crawl one of Austin's most creative and beautiful events.  This year Liz has presented her project of East Side Churches and we feel she has really captured an important part of life in Austin.  Stop by Pine Street Station and look at these amazing photographs (5th St and Waller). Yeah, I'm her Mom but I'm known for being a critical appraiser as well.

ARGO and SKYFALL

Against the backdrop of my Long Island and Staten Island friends back in NY really suffering, I don't forget for a second how fortunate I am to be living in Austin with both of our children.  This could have played out so differently had Josh and Liz lived on the East Coast.  With that in mind I continue to see a few films a week with the only difference being I don't send my recommendations to NYC friends.  I hope for the day soon to do that once again.

I just loved both of these action films.  Hats off to Ben Affleck for his direction of ARGO, this incredible story of a covert operation taking place during the 1979 hostage crisis in Iran.  While accurate historical information provided at the beginning clearly shows our involvement in deposing of the elected leader of Iran (for oil!) and replacing him with the notorious Shah, one nevertheless roots for the Americans to be returned shortly.  A great depiction of Hollywood movers, shakers and dealers, played by Alan Arkin and John Goodman.  I've read some criticism of Tony Mendez being played by a non Latino and I would agree.  I was startled when Affleck gave his name as Tony Mendez.  I recommend this film for anyone who loves films and the filmmaking process.

Josh, Abe and I loved SKYFALL, the latest James Bond film.  Daniel Craig while getting older is a heartthrob, Javier Bardem plays evil like no one else these days, the women are gorgeous, the sets unbelievably beautiful and who doesn't love Judi Dench as M?  This is a great action packed film.  Oh, and the wardrobe!  Gorgeous.  Posted by a sometimes very superficial blogger.

Happy Birthday Bonnie Raitt

Oh behold the talent and accomplishments of women in their 60's.

MEALS 4 MONOLOGUES

This morning I participated in an Open Call with a humanist twist.  Donise Hardy, C.S.A. and Diana Guthrie, C.S.A. hosted an Open Call that benefited Capitol Area Food Bank at the State Theater.  It was a national event sponsored by the  Casting Society of America.  Actors were invited to audition and bring at least 4 non-perishable food items and /or toiletries.  It was my pleasure and as I walked up Congress Ave carrying my donations in a Central Market bag I noticed a lovely looking young woman, riding a bike toward me,   wearing a pretty dress, with long blonde curly hair.  From a distance I thought it might be Liz, but how random would that be?  As I got closer the woman waved and smiled and I thought I was the luckiest mother in the world.  I'm normally at the gym in the a.m. and she doesn't have a conference at The Driskill normally so this was random.  I walked into this audition happy and content and filled with gratitude.
After the audition Donise inquired about the safety of my N.Y.C. family and when I told her we were all here she predicted this is a sign of something very good about to happen.  It's happened already.  The magic of Austin.  And to all of  my Austin acting teachers:  I have learned so much from each of you. When I left that audition having been told the performance of the monologue was "beautiful" it is with gratitude for what you've given me to approach each audition with confidence that "I can do this."

Happy Birthday Abe

For the first time in 10 years we've all been together to celebrate a birthday.  And I must admit it was a success.  We met at POLVO'S, headed on up to the Scottish Rite Temple for  a STRING QUARTET SMACKDOWN directed by the incredibly talented Graham Reynolds and Peter Stopchinski from the Golden Hornet Project.  We text/voted for our favorite compositions and it was definitely an unusual event for the Moskowitzes of Brooklyn.  We have so much to be grateful for given the devastation that has occurred back in our native NYC. Thank-you Austin for providing a safe, warm, hospitable, friendly, creative new home for us.  And Happy Birthday to you Abe, the love of my life.

TO BE OR NOT TO BE/Austin Film Society

A film by Ernst Lubitch, made in 1942, that had us laughing hysterically at Jack Benny playing an actor in a Polish theater troupe.  This troupe works with the underground to try to prevent the Nazi invasion and requires Benny to spy and impersonate a dead Nazi sympathizer.  He and Carol Lombard are brilliant in this beautiful film that mocks fascism and Hitler.  Abe, Liz and I had a ball laughing at a subject matter that is so serious and disturbing.  The filmmaker handled the subject so skilfully.  A joy to watch.

THE PAPER BOY and The Rubber Room

This afternoon we walked over to our favorite theater, Violet Crown to see Lee Daniels' latest film.  This is a harrowing film about a journalist who returns to his small town in the Florida Everglades in 1969 to investigate a murder of a disgusting and loathed sheriff.  The area is one of the worst armpits known to the American landscape and it breeds humans that are hard to watch, listen to and even fathom.  And Mc Conaughey, Kidman, Cusack, and Zac Efron pull it off.  John Cusack portrays a primitive and loathsome man who is pursued by Nicole Kidman who has a thing for convicted killers.  One searches deep  to care for these people and believe me it's a difficult task. (Macy Gray, the narrator and housekeeper does offer some respite with her humanity and warmth). Sometimes I just covered my eyes.  Kidman has taken on a role that will have some  bewildered because of it's raw and violent sexuality. I thought it was brave of her to allow herself to reach so far as an actor.  This film is gut wrenching just as PRECIOUS was.
We each had a huge margarita afterwards with a gift card from MANUEL'S.  I probably would have enjoyed methadone!
This evening I played with other Improv folks at The Institution theater.  The Rubber Room invites people to join the faculty each Sunday and experience the joy (and hard work) of improvisation.  Helpful.
Up early (like 4a.m.) tomorrow for a paid extra shoot close to home.
Worried, worried about all of my NY friends in the eye of the storm.  I will hope for the best for them.

Honky Tonk:Portraits of Country Music/grayDUCK gallery

Last night we went over to grayDUCK close by (in the same lot as LOVELY my favorite vintage store on South 1st) for an opening of the acclaimed photographer Henry Horenstein.  He's Boston-based, a lover of country music and  has taken photos of country musicians and their fans from 1972-2011.  The photos are B&W, revealing the change in times from Waylon Jennings in the 70's sporting some nasty looking nails, an adorable Dolly Parton, lots of BIG hair, a beautiful Emmy Lou Harris to Ray Benson in 2011 looking just like Ray Benson looks.  (Wish he'd taken his hat off the other night at The Paramount during Jayne Mansfield's Car).  Good music, a delicious drink made up of cranberry, cucumber juices and Dripping Springs Vodka.  It was delicious and it seems the gallery owner got it off of Martha Stewart's site. I'm not a big fan of hers at all but this drink is goooood!  I would definitely recommend this exhibit for it's historic window into a world so far different from Austin's music scene.

Austin Film Festival Day #8

We closed out AFF with Billy Bob Thorton's Jayne Mansfield's Car at The Paramount this evening.  He gave a humorous intro and an informative Q&A about how he came to write and direct this story.  In his intro he said this is not an extravagant film with high tech features and  following the film admitted "I don't even know how to use that shit."  This is a story of two families, one Southern and the other English who come together to bury their mother and step-mother in Alabama.  The casting is sensational with John Hurt, Robert Duvall, Kevin Bacon and Billy Bob.  The story takes place in 1969  with complex characters struggling with past wars, current protests, drugs, disappointing relationships and hysterical romance.  Billy Bob Thorton might not know much about modern technology but he surely knows how to deliver Southern characters who are unique and compelling and invite you right in.  A wonderful film seen by some very proud Austinites this evening.
And so we close out our 3rd AFF since arriving in Austin.   We waited in lines, saw every film we selected, made new film loving friends and so happy to see so many RTF students that I've worked with.   Looking forward to the 20th anniversary AFF next year.

Austin Film Festival Day#7

Two feature length documentaries today.  This afternoon I saw INFORMANT, an Austin based story of an energetic organizing radical enthusiast who turns into an FBI informant.  A complex story that I was familiar with after seeing a documentary about the two young men he turned in to the FBI at SXSW.  While I think Brandon Darby is a center stage character loving the attention from anyone I have always seen this story as complex.  Molotov cocktails are made but not thrown.  The young men who have served prison sentences never intended to hurt people, only things.  We hear radicals defending the destruction of corporate property, we hear of kids with stressed childhoods, we see a creepy turncoat advocating for THE TEA PARTY, and I always feel sad, uncomfortable and frankly, can't cheer for anyone.  The documentary is well made and won the documentary award at this year's AFF.
This evening we saw ANN RICHARDS' TEXAS.  God how I miss her.  Wonderful footage of this intelligent, witty, ballsy, gutsy, sexy, alive Democrat.  How different we'd be here in Texas had she beat George Bush in that governor's election.  What the world needs now is another Ann Richards.  Let's get Elizabeth Warren some cowboy boots and  teased hair and she'll do just fine.

Austin Film Festival Day #6

A spell binding day today of shorts, shorts, shorts and a Narrative winner Sparrow's Dance.  I began this afternoon with documentary shorts.  We were given access to so many worlds: a Brooklyn salesman who travels the country selling bronzed shoes;  immigrant college students awaiting The Dream Act to grant them their hard earned rights;  a young boy who collects vacuum cleaners (hats off to RTF student Chelsea Hernandez); Indian women who sort tons and tons of clothes to be made into thread; stand up comedy in Israel and a creative ad executive buying homeless persons signs to further explore advertising.
And then shorts about the space between people and their relationships.  All of these shorts were so well made and many of them deserved the 5 stars I gave them in the audience evals.
This evening Abe caught up with me to see the Narrative winner Sparrow's Dance, a beautiful film about an agoraphobic actress and her saxophone playing plumber.  Mental illness handled deftly, beautifully and with a great artistic view.  Abe and I, both mental health seasoned social workers, were so impressed with the way the writer/director Noah Buschel presented this film about real romance between real people.  And oh yes, the Brooklyn location and references made us really comfortable.
Once again we ran into the warmest of warm couples: Joel Johnstone, his partner Ada, and now his Dad, Steve.  Friendships that develop on line at AFF have brought us continued gratification as we watch these young filmmakers soar.

Austin Film Festival Day #5

I approached this evening's film FLIGHT with enthusiasm thinking I'd see Denzel Washington  in an action film about a scary flight with a crash landing.  A break from meth heads, complex issues and documentaries.  And instead I found myself watching an incredibly well made film by Robert Zemeckis about a character determined to maintain and deny his alcoholism.  This is an extraordinary film about addiction and how difficult it is become free of its hold.  I found the scary flight scenes less frightening than Denzel's determination to remain a boozer.  There are underlying stories as well here about corporate and union complicity and unethical legal representation.  This film had me absolutely captivated.  John Goodman as a drug dealer  offered needed comic  relief and I kept waiting for him to say "I don't roll on shabbas."  A highly recommended film.

While waiting on line at THE PARAMOUNT we were so happy to once again see Joel Johnstone  (THE PILGRIM AND THE PRIVATE EYE) and his girlfriend (Brooklyn folks). Joel's film was one of our favorite shorts.  This really clever and well made short will surely make it's mark at other festivals and we're hoping TV.    More to come.

Austin Film Festival Day #4

After hootin' and hollerin' for the LIVE STRONG cyclists this a.m. we headed up to the Paramount and Convention Center for day #4 of films.  THE SAPPHIRES is a lovely feel good film about four Aboriginal girls who are brought to Viet Nam in the 1960's to entertain the troops.  And my goodness, they can sing!  Great Motown and R&B music throughout and a lively spirited story about young women who want something more for themselves.  We loved this film.

Later on we met the lovely Malina Panovich managing the theater at the Convention Center for JUNCTION and so the wait on line was fun for us.  This is a well written film about meth heads who invade a home and discover the inhabitants of the home are criminals themselves.  Think pedophile type criminals.  Shot in N.J. with actors we know from DEXTER and other NY cop films it felt like home to me.  Tony Glazer, writer and director was available for an intelligent Q&A.  Moving along, some down time manana with FLIGHT tomorrow evening at the Paramount.

Austin Film Festival Day #3

First an Improv Class at Institution Theater (learning, learning) and then an afternoon and evening of documentaries at the convention center.  My favorite was MR. CAO GOES TO WASHINGTON about the first Vietnamese to be elected to Congress.  Elected by a predominantly black constituency in a predominantly Democratic hood in new Orleans.  An intelligent, decent man who is a Republican.  And while he was initially the only Republican to vote for Obamacare he switched his vote after the revisions because he is a staunch Catholic pro-lifer.  He did not get re-elected for a second term. Cao is a kind, decent, sincere person who will continue to make a mark I am sure.  Just wish he could leave his religious beliefs out of his politics and remember it's the law of the land.

A documentary about the man who stole the Mona Lisa from the Louvre in 1911, THE MISSING PIECE, was sweet and informative.  Reminded me of David Chase's rock n roll film in that it's a middle aged guy's returning to a subject that has been with him since youth, a journey that needed to be completed.  More to come.

Austin Film Festival Day #2

Three hours of shorts at The Hideout today were spectacular.  BELLA FLEACE GAVE A PARTY, is a poignant film about an elderly woman controlling her final days by planning a huge Christmas ball.   Amanda Yam's PRIZE is light hearted and funny and turns quite serious when a young boy controls time,  and LISA, a stunning film made in the Czech Republic is a sensitive film about a child dealing with a parent's death.    In the CRIME STORIES category a special shout out to Joel Johnstone's THE PILGRIM AND THE PRIVATE EYE, a film shot in Brooklyn that was clever, funny and well acted by the writer/director.  Mr. Johnstone is absolutely believable as an actor using his craft to help a shady private investigator.  HER NEXT DOOR is a short out of the UK that is hysterical in it's use of a never ending monologue to provide humor in a home invasion.  This evening we headed up to IMAX to see THE MUSLIMS ARE COMING a documentary about Muslim- American comedians taking their   routines across the U.S. to cities, suburbs and small towns to bring their message of HUG A MUSLIM and "this is who we are."  These comedians are superbly professional, funny and open about their experiences.  I wouldn't miss this for the world.  And with all of our waiting we run into old and new acquaintances, lots of UT film students and the friendliest of AFF volunteers.

Austin Film Festival Day#1

My  favorite event in Austin began with a bang.  David Chase (SOPRANOS) began the evening at The Paramount with a lovely intro about growing up in N.J. with Rock n Roll and music being the most essential part of his life.  This is a personal and sweet film, nothing heavy or deeply engaging.  But a movie that so many will relate to about their own adolescence in suburban America during the 60's.  And oh the music...unbeatable.  Hard to imagine that the creator of THE SOPRANOS would make such a light film.

The second film of the evening was breathtaking. THE SESSIONS is an autobiographical film about Mark O'Brien, a poet who is paralyzed since age 6 and lives in an iron lung.  While he has respite from the lung for 3 hour stints he completes a B.A. and works as a writer and poet.  John Hawkes brings a sensitivity to this character that is spell binding.  The sessions he is involved in are sessions with a sex therapist in his quest to lose his virginity at the age of 38.  He is a witty, adorable and loving man filled with angst, guilt and passion.  Helen Hunt as the sex therapist is open, kind, loving and so natural.  We both loved this film and of course I cried numerous times.

We arrived early early to THE PARAMOUNT, met wonderful and warm people, new and old acquaintances, ate dinner while standing and look forward to more.  Tomorrow come the shorts. Some of the filmmakers are RTF students.  This should be wonderful.

SEVEN PSYCHOPATHS

Run to see this film because of the brilliant screenplay, stellar performances, and a moment of respite from the sadness of the current political milieu.  Martin McDonagh delivers, as always, with his most unusual use of violence in a surprisingly comical and hilarious way.  I once read about this Irish born playwright that his parents left him and his brother in a London flat for two years when they were called back to Ireland for work. They were young adolescents at the time. He and his brother spent their entire days watching movies and nothing else (I'm sure weed and booze must have entered into the equation). And while one might question the folks' parenting choice I am so glad they left them!  The world received The Lieutenant of Inishmaan, The Beauty Queen of Leenane and The Cripple of Inishmaan, as well as In Bruges.   I remember walking into a small Off Broadway theater to find  a man hanging by his heels with blood dripping from open wounds on stage  and then seeing the most beautiful young Irish wicked female actor stomping around the stage.  I just knew this playwright was different, and brilliant as well.  The performances by Colin Farrell, Sam Rockwell, Christopher Walken and Woody Harrelson will make you wish for more and more.  And so while ACL is in town we remain unscathed by the crowds which don't seem anywhere in sight of The Westgate and this fabulous film.

SPECTRUM DANCE THEATER/BASS CONCERT HALL

Last night we had the good fortune to see this company perform their interpretation  of the  Terezin concentration camp inmates and the use of their performing arts to cope with their impending doom.  The dancers were magnificent in technique and emotional portrayal, the costumes added to the somber atmosphere, the music a bit obscure for our taste and the accompanying dialogue chilling.  A reminder of how little we have learned since the Holocaust.  The Q&A with the choreographer, Donald Byrd, the musicians and two principal dancers was relevant and so informative.  The dancers' reactions to the content of this piece and how it personally affected them was so real and touching.  A bleak bleak sadness in our own personal history was magnificently told by this dance company.  I love Donald Byrd.

Mama Moment

I've had an unusual two weeks  managing Josh's move to Austin. He touched down on Sunday and left on Monday flying to Miami and Boston this week.  Next week he leaves for Boston and NYC.    He finds the work challenging, has friends in the cities he visits and I can tell he's happy even with all of the flying.  And so I have waited for the moving men, unpacked tons of stuff, waited for furniture deliveries, assembled bar stools and a side table, and have learned more about my son through this process than I would have ever been able to  if we had a sit down face to face.  First: he has 60 T-shirts that all announce who he is: a lover of the METS and Wisconsin football, a cyclist, a hiker, a softball and baseball player, a visitor to Austin, a Brooklyn native, and a funny guy.  He has a ton of books. He's kept all of his Badger newspapers where he had a column in college. He has kept some baseball and basketball trophies.  While he lived like a monk in D.C. he has more clothes than even I would have ever imagined.  He cooks and even has tupperware!  Based on his belongings I can tell he's lived a decent life these last ten years and has held on to important things from his past.  And while I am beat and looking forward to his settling in I am grateful for having had  this opportunity.  A true "mama moment."

The Great Outdoors 25th Anniversary

Just came home from an awesome party celebrating the 25th anniversary of this wonderful plant/nursey site on South Congress. The Great Outdoors was one of the first places I visited regularly after moving from Brooklyn.  The staff have always been warm, welcoming and helpful in instructing me which plants to buy.  And in turn I have taught them Yiddish phrases.  Met some wonderful folks tonight who are also neighbors.
A friendly fine evening in Austin.  Food was delicious as well!

2 DAYS IN NEW YORK/Violet Crown

Had to fit this in before it leaves.  What a pleasant reminder of NYC streets/Park Slope mention (not the "tough" Brooklyn), Chris Rock, a Park Sloper and Julie Delpy with that hysterical father of hers.  A great way to start this beautiful day in Austin! A light film with honesty about families, kids, DNA connections and truth about what goes on between people.  A Romantic comedy with a happy ending.  A good prelude to THE Debates which Abe and I will see at the Alamo South Lamar.  Talk about a high anxiety moment.  Barack, it's your 20th Anniversary.  Make Michelle proud!

SLEEPLESS NIGHT/Austin Film Society

An incredibly well made action film ended our French Essential Cinema Series at the Alamo South Lamar last evening.  This is a cop film and one of the finest we've ever seen.  After seeing END OF WATCH this week and now this French film I am convinced these cop films (good or bad cops) are among our favorite themes.  Notes provided by David Chisolm (Chale's apprentice) were personal and informative and so we learn that the filmmaker, Frederic Jardin, is one who only previously made comedies.  And the star is a successful stand-up comedian who does all of his own stunts in this extraordinary physical role!  The French have never impressed me as particularly funny so this was an eye opener for me.  I have always turned to them for melancholia but tonight we were at the edge of our seats as a cop does everything imaginable to save his kidnapped son.  The audience was audible in their reactions to the cutthroat suspense of so many actions. And there is some comic respite in restaurant kitchen scenes where you can catch your breath.  But only for a minute.  See this film if you can and prepare to be drawn into extremely interesting characters.

LA TRAVIATA @ THE STATE

Abe and I know very little about opera and have only seen opera twice here in Austin.  This afternoon we had tickets for this live performance from that magnificent opera theater on the harbor in Australia.  We couldn't have been happier to see this performance up close and personal.  We could never afford tickets to the Met back in New York and while we loved the live performance of LA BOHEME at the Bass concert hall last year it wasn't nearly as enjoyable as this performance. I cried, we held hands watching a beautiful love story and it was a terrific way to spend a Sunday afternoon.   And we ran into Juan, our AFS buddy also a film fan of all films in Austin.

But first I auditioned to be an angry mean nun up on campus.  What fun! 

END OF WATCH

Let me first mention that I LOVE cop movies.  I love the working class backgrounds, the lives they live, the machismo/machisma POV they share, their helpfulness to each other in construction of their homes, support of their families and the generous spirit I have seen over and over again as a hospital social worker in crime ridden downtown Brooklyn before it became Yuppie Heaven.  Our Red Hook was a small version of South Central L.A. in the 70 and 80's.  Shaking your heads and thinking "what's up with this?"  I hate violent criminals, crack heads who hurt their babies, gang violence, drug cartels, batterers, pimps, on and on.  And bad cops who are criminals themselves.  And David Ayer does good cop/bad cop films like no one else.  TRAINING DAY had me shivering from Denzell's evil character and Diamonique in the role of Wicked in END OF WATCH is one wicked evil woman who you want to kill yourself!  END OF WATCH is beautifully cast with Jake Gyllenhaal as an intelligent chiseled cop who LOVES getting the bad guy's drugs and weapons.  Michael Pena (with a tilda on the n) is his partner and they share a jousting with each other that's refreshing and intelligent.  The film is shot through Jake's character's video lens as he carries the camera everywhere for a film class he's taking as an elective. These are brave, funny, decent young men and I was relieved to see a film about guys like these two. Guys that would run into a burning building for someone's kid.  I have known men like this and it is obvious that when David Ayer was living on the streets of South Central L.A. as a homeless teen he met a good cop as well!  Don't miss this film!

KUT Volunteer Appreciation Shindig

We got to see the beautiful new KUT space on 26th and Guadalupe at a truly lovely reception they made for the volunteers.  Food from CURRA'S was delicious, music from AUSTIN STEAMERS was foot tappin' good and a pleasure to see the new studios my favorite radio announcers work from.  Always nice to see and chat with Jay Trachtenburg, a former social worker and Bob Branson, the little guy with the big beautiful voice.  Abe joined me and I was so happy to sign up for two more fundraising days in October.  Right before Austin Film Festival begins!  Thank-you Kim and KUT for this lovely shindig!

KOL NIDRE

Tonight begins the observance of Yom Kippur our day of atonement where we review the past year, our ethical choices and promises, evaluate our performance and remember our loved ones who have departed.  We begin a fast after the evening meal.  The matzoh ball soup is on the stove, roasted chicken, sweet potatoes and of course pickles (Jewish veggies!)  Abe and I will attend the beautiful and mournful service up on campus (in a church...I love that!) and tomorrow Liz joins me at Hillel.  The music for tonight's service is absolutely beautiful.  And to all of my friends everywhere I wish you a year filled with good health, fulfilled dreams and world peace!

WHERE DO WE GO NOW

Do not miss this joyous film about women using their creative intelligence to put an end to the religious feuds that have destroyed their sons, fathers and husbands.  The setting is Lebanon and the Christian and Muslim women are determined to put their grieving to an end. The village is removed from the battle place of the larger cities but the word comes back to the men and the women come up with the most ingenious ways to distract them  from killing each other.  The most ingenious plan (my favorite) is when they hire a group of gorgeous, sexy Ukranian strippers to distract their men.  AND get them high to mellow their revengeful souls.  The cooking scenes set to music are luscious and the grieving scene is choreographed like THRILLER (credit to Abe here).

The film is written, directed and starred in by the beautiful Nadine Labaki.  This  film  has a women's touch in all of its creation.  Abe said we should get these women to run the world.  No disagreement there.Watch how the film is made when you rent the dvd.  You will want to thank the heavens for this moment of grace.

THE MASTER

The most masterful aspect of this film is clearly the performances delivered by Joaquin Phoenix and Phillip Seymour Hoffman.  I cannot comment enough on how breathtaking Joaquin Phoenix is in this role of a mentally tormented soul.  He proves himself to be a physical actor whose body language has a script all of it's own.  His interpretation of his character is shockingly portrayed.  Hoffman delivers as always with incredible power and strength.  Alas, the story line is not one I found as compelling as the performances.  A cult figure, narcissistic, self-centered and pompous finds a following of mostly women (what else is new?) and abuses his power to control.

A funny aside:  In a scene filled with nude females at a party Abe leaned in and said "want a role as an extra?" The only time I laughed.

Conversation at Vulcan

After a fine acting class with Marco Parella I stopped in at Vulcan to get a film for Abe and me this evening.  An elderly actor from BERNIE stopped in and was quite inebriated.  He attempted to flatter and pick up a 90 y.o. woman (that's how old she appeared) who was instructing everyone in the store about what films to see, her experience as a church volunteer with the mentally ill, and an absolute know-it -all.  His attention did not flatter her and she hid with the store personnel.  I loved him!  I want someone to try and pick me up at the local dvd store when I'm 90!  Just don't tell Abe.

Bakin' for Chale

Spent the afternoon baking for Chale Nafus' birthday.  Nothing could be better than baking sweets for a person we both like, admire and find delightfully human and funny.  He's been a great find in our new hometown.  He's a  little bit of New York, adequate amount of rebelliousness, and so filled with a capacity to teach!  And tonight we shared these goodies with Chale, his friends, Gloria and Bob and learned more about people and their lives in Austin. And Abe was funny!  Woody Allen funny!

L'Shana Tovah and SAMSARA

What better way to bring in our new year (Rosh Hashanah) than to see a visually breathtaking film with no dialogue and just shots  from many different cultures and countries all beautiful and mesmerizing?  This film by Ron Fricke will satisfy your soul if it has been longing for some peace from this world we are finding ourselves in.  The film is filled with natural beauty, cultural beauty, cultural reality, and humanity going about its ritual tasks.  This film is glorious.

The chicken with matzoh ball soup is on the stove.  Our family unites tomorrow for the first time in 10 years on Rosh Hashanah.  In NYC and Park Slope everyone knows this is the Jewish new year and it's part of the fabric and acknowledged.  In Austin we're unique I guess.  And to all of my friends everywhere I wish you good health, prosperity and most of all world peace in this new year.

Amanda and the Lockdown

As I'm telling a friend how happy I am that Josh is leaving D.C. with all of the anti-American furor occurring, I get a text and call from a UT RTF student announcing a campus lockdown because of a bomb threat!  WTF??  This family has lived through 911 in NYC (up close and personal) and then when we move to Austin someone drives a plane into a building and now a bomb threat on campus????  These are the kinds of events one cannot escape in this ever increasing world where guns and bombs are the tools of discourse.  That being said I headed up to Amanda's apartment to help with an exercise she was given for her Advanced Narrative class with Kat Candler.  So 4 other students helped Amanda for the next 4 hours (even more after I left) fulfill an assignment for a one minute film. I found being with these young student filmmakers a pleasure.  Their mutual respect for one another and collaborative efforts are so refreshing.  I approached my character with a good deal of thought and purposely made choices that were not easy ones. This was done with no dialogue.  While she was so appreciative for my effort it is I who am appreciative as well to be given a task that makes me think and put to use what I have learned in classes and through my own experiences. 

THAT CAT!!

Well it seems that adorable little orange tabby who comes by periodically (and whom I was considering having spayed at one of those kind mobile vet clinics at 5 a.m.) belongs to our neighbors.  She's 15y.o., her name is Molly Brown, she's fed twice a day, clamors up a storm to all of our neighbors and is therefore fed by everyone.  Our neighbor Sebastian says "she has a tapeworm,"  Abe says "this cat is sick" and I say she's been traumatized at some point in her development.  Whatever the truth is, man did she have me fooled!  You can all stop laughing.

THE GROCER'S SON/Austin Film Society

I approached this evening's Essential Cinema film enthusiastically because I am the daughter of a grocer.  And for me that brought back wonderful memories of my father's grocery store in the Bronx where he was the warm and personable center of a neighborhood where people came to shop, chat and share their woes.  I remember being parked out in front of that store in a stroller with everyone stopping to play with me before entering.  This evening, in such contrast, we see a young man return home to his provincial French village to help his Mom run a store and drive a grocery delivery van after his Dad suffers a heart attack.  The son and the father are brooding, unhappy, disappointed men.  A brother is clinically depressed and the household is riddled with tension when the Dad returns from the hospital.  The mother is a strong, no frills woman trying to hold it together.  Thank goodness for a young woman who brings color into their lives and warmth into the son's heart.  She teaches him how to sell, how to relate, how to make the gig appealing.  And then she leaves and he's on his own.  He learns eventually how to compromise, how to be generous, flexible and begins to find his own identity as this traveling grocer. The movie ends well.  The cinematography is beautiful, frequently reminding me of a Cezanne painting.  The film is in French made by Eric Guirado, a documentary filmmaker,  in 2007.  Abe and I loved it. Thank-you to AFS and Freestyle Language Center for bringing this film to Austin.

PORTRAIT OF WALLY and RED HOOK SUMMER

Two New York films this week-end with native New York directors.  Let me begin with a loud round of applause for Andrew Shea's documentary of a Nazi looted oil painting and one family's determined efforts to reclaim it.  And correct a mistaken notion that  an Austrian powerful collector of art could hold on to what does not belong to him.  And please....Austrian art from this period of time?  In the private apartment  of a Jewish woman who owned an art gallery?  One need not be a historian of the fine tuned relationship between Austrians and Nazis to determine who would be rightfully awarded ownership.  But 13 years in correcting this!  With New York's powerful Art Museums and their Board of Directors fighting this.  Bless Robert Morgantheau...a bull dog with a bone. Professor Shea is a former New Yorker, lawyer and now a filmmaker and RTF teacher.  I've had the good fortune to act in one of his classes and was delighted to see him once again at the Q&A.  Packed house at the Violet Crown.  Do not miss this!

Alas, Spike Lee's film about a notorious housing project where so many of my clients in Brooklyn lived was a major disappointment.  The casting was terribly flawed with actors delivering sermons (even the kids), an undeveloped story line, amateurish photography and where was he going with all of these sermons?  I went to this film to be reminded of a slice of Brooklyn I worked with so closely.  The address on Lorraine Street had some of the most disenfranchised and impoverished families I have ever engaged.  And instead I saw bright lights, bright colors, kids moving in and out of stairwells with no graffiti on the walls. Help!  Clear to me Spike was out of touch on this one.  His Fort Greene private school background shined through.

Liz Turns 25

What can I say?  I remember distinctly being checked into Beth Israel Hospital (Manhattan) on Labor Day (no pun intended) for a scheduled c-section the next day.  A 2 y.o. Josh in a yellow raincoat and Abe accompanied me and then left. I'd never been a night away from Josh before and was tearful.  I read THE GOOD MOTHER from cover to cover, didn't sleep a wink and was up and ready for Dr. Berk at 6 a.m.  Abe arrived.  A resident performed the surgery being instructed by Dr. Berk. I liked her.  When Dr. Berk announced "you have a daughter" my first thoughts were, "this is for my grandma Bess," and though she'd left us  a number of years before, we were able to reclaim her loveliness by naming our very lovely daughter "Elizabeth."  Happy Birthday Liz. 

Motherese:The Universal Language of Mothers

I was with a middle aged Vietnamese woman yesterday when my cell phone rang. Ann speaks adequate and broken English.  Ours is a new relationship so we didn't know much about each other.  I asked her if it was OK if I took the call as I don't like answering cell phones in small public places.  The call was from Josh who is in the midst of moving to Austin and his calls are usually important these days.  Ann gave me the OK, I answered his questions and when I got off the phone Ann asked me if that was my son.  I was surprised and said it was..."how did you know?"  She answered "because you were so loving in the way you spoke."  She then went on to tell me she is the mother of 4 adolescents (I commiserated) and she showed me photos of her 17y.o. beautiful daughter.

The night before Michelle Obama delivered a speech at the DNC that spoke to mothers.  So many people commented on that.  Thank goodness for Motherese.  Where would the world be without it?

EAST OF EDEN at the Paramount

We pulled into home stretch for the Summer Classic Series with this powerful film directed by Elia Kazan.  James Dean provides an emotional and riveting performance that had me grieving his early passing throughout the film (with tears).  He is beautiful to watch as he shares his soul to the audience as the unloved brother.  His ability and willingness to portray his pain is art at it's finest.  Julie Harris as  the woman who loves him and reads him so well is beautiful to watch as well.  Burl Ives, Raymond Massey and Jo Van Fleet made me so happy to be part of an older generation that elevated dramatic acting to a high plane.  We left the theater moved and grateful to once again see this story of Cain and Abel, misled fathers, troubled sons, and family secrets at the beautiful Paramount.  A highly recommended classic.

The Cat Came Back

Haven't seen my young orange tabby friend in a couple of weeks.  He or she walked up to me while I watered the garden, talked up a storm and waited patiently while I went in to get her  (I'll call her "she") some tuna.  And water.  Really nice having this young cat come visit periodically.  She's not pregnant so maybe she's someone's cat.  Or a "he."

Yesterday was my first experience on THE LYING GAME as "background" and as always a learning experience and eye opener.  About 7 hours on an un airconditioned set in pants suits with blouses and even jewelry they provided!  I never ever wear jewelry.  Enormous amounts of crew and technology,  the cameras reminded me of STAR WARS.  Director re shot a bazillion times.  An experience I'd do again being better prepared.  Some serious characters work as "background."

This morning I received a message from an RTF student asking if I'd be in a short exercise film she was making for an Advanced Narrative class.  Now that made my day begin with a smile.  Of course.  So much more creative I think than yesterday's TV work.  And what's so interesting is TV roles are the only ones who have ever paid me.  But helping to make  films has broadened my life's experience and taught me so much.

THE LYING GAME

I've never responded to any of the casting calls for this abc family series shot at Austin Studios as I am so un-quintessential Texas.   For me  it was just like Christmas...beautiful, but not mine.   But yesterday there was a casting call for  extra school teachers so I thought "what the hell?"  A school teacher can be any age and I don't have to talk so they won't know I'm a native New Yorker.  And early this a.m. I was booked as an extra detective in a police station for 9/4.  To be booked on Labor Day and get paid?  How cool is that? Highly grateful!

Out Of Bounds Comedy Festival

For one week Austin is home to hundreds of improv performers and troupes and stand up comics. Very affordable entertainment which I always like.   Tonight we headed down to the Velveeta Room where we heard 6 comics perform.  Two hailed from New York, one of them was really funny and incredibly smart.  Reminded Abe of John Erler.  Yes, it was really hot waiting outside on line but once we were in and the audience was laughing and responsive to these performers I realized how much respect and admiration I have for men and women putting their stuff out there.  Another fine and very affordable night in Austin.

A bright prelude to the day was taking Abe to Josh's new apartment and bringing over kitchen and bathroom stuff.  He's not here yet but it was a good reminder that we will no longer see our son so very rarely. Oh Happy Day!

ROBOT AND FRANK

I am so happy I heard Frank Langella discuss his role and involvement in this film in an NPR interview not long ago. He met with the writer and director for hours before signing on and discussed with them what it is to be 70 years old. He asked them to incorporate the suggestions he made into their script and return with the script.  He liked what he read and that they had heard him. He agreed to sign on and for that we are fortunate.  This is a beautiful portrayal of a retired cat burglar who is beginning to lose some cognitive functions, particularly his memory.  His daughter SKYPES him and his son travels regularly to try to help him and visit but it's not working. So the son finds a robot to function as a home health aide.  Lovely voice of Peter Saarsgard as the robot.  Susan Sarandon as a librarian and Frank Langella as a rebellious character play older people respectfully and with a great deal of inner life, humor and intelligence.  Hallelujah!  I loved this film about a relationship between an aging man and a robot who respects him and follows his lead.  Damn, I hope my kids get me a robot when my time comes.

THE IMPOSTER/48 Hour Film Project

After lunch with Liz at LEAF  I soloed to Violet Crown for THE IMPOSTER, a well made documentary about a serial imposter.  A clever young man desperate for attention maximizes people's gullibility by pretending to be a youth from San Antonio who has been missing for four years.  From the moment we see him we see he is clearly a grown man.  There are so many authority figures he interfaces with in Europe and then the U.S. who don't question his obvious hoax.  When he is interviewed by the agent from The Missing and Exploited Children's agency one can only pull out their hair by the hoax she bought as truth:  a boy reports to be kidnapped by the military to be brought to undisclosed destinations with other boys where they are tortured, raped, and repeatedly victimized.  He reports broken bones, cigarette burns, and repeated violation with no physical evidence.  It is only when Charlie Parker, a private investigator matches his ears to a photo of the actual missing boy's ears do we have an AHA moment (are you laughing yet?) This movie is painful in that a beautiful boy already experiencing difficulty in a dysfunctional family has gone missing and no one knows what happened.  Sad. 
On a much brighter note tonight I traveled up to Scottish Rite theater to see films shot for the 48 Hour Film Project.   What fun!  Some of these Austin filmmakers are just brilliant, clever, creative and willing to take such risks with their subject matter.  Nice seeing so many familiar faces as well.

Gender Differences

A daughter moves to a far off land and makes her own way.  Never lets me buy her a thing to set up her new life in an apartment or house.  A son re-locates and is more than happy to have mama set up bathroom, kitchen and go shopping with him for the rest when he arrives. Is this cultural? Is this a first born son thing?  I love it but boy it's really shown it's face!

Josh Moves to Austin

It is with great pleasure, happiness and gratitude that I can formally announce our guy Josh's move to Austin in September. (Can you tell how happy I am?)  For the first time in 10 years the Moskowitz/Alexander clan will reside in the same city.  What was the possibility that a transportation sharing program would recruit him away from Washington D.C. to Austin as a Development Manager?  Did they know how much his  mother would be so grateful????  On those days I have kept my gratitude higher than my expectations I have had the best days.  Today is one of them! (And of course we've already found his new apartment in walking distance from his job...can't take that New York pedestrian thing out of our DNA).

HOPE SPRINGS

I approached this film warily as the situation was so close to me.  I've been married 30 years and I was a social worker for 36 years so seeing a movie about a couple married 31 years who involve themselves in intensive therapy had me cautious.  I loathe seeing bad therapists on film with screenwriters' misconstrued notions about what constitutes good therapy.  And I'm cautious about making middle aged couples look silly when discussing their intimacy.  Happy to say I was delightfully surprised.  Meryl and Tommy Lee Jones are so real and authentic as a couple who have lost any intimacy in their relationship (they sleep in different rooms!!) but clearly have had a foundation together.  Tommy Lee takes a journey on screen that is not an easy or comfortable one and I could have cheered audibly for every one of Steve Carell's interventions with this couple.  Meryl as always is brilliant and sensitive in her portrayal of a middle aged wife yearning for more.  At the end of the film when I called Abe for a lift home he realized he forgot to leave work so I had a glass of wine at Hyde Park Grill and waited for him.  When he walked in to get me I realized how in love I am with this guy after 30 years of marriage and how fortunate we are to be growing old together and forgetting to pick each other up after a film.  It's all worth it.

Annual Unified Auditions

Headed up to Scottish Rite Theater this a.m. where I participated in their annual audition.  An annual event from Austin Creative Alliance and UT RTF where Austin actors are given the opportunity to present themselves in performance of a monologue.  Directors, agents and representatives from UT and theater companies are the auditors.  And so equipped with a monologue from SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE that I've rehearsed over and over and given a very painful back story to I presented my stuff.  And I am so aware that I brought with me everything I've learned from Paula Russell, Ck McFarland and Marco Parella.  I am grateful.

Protesting in Silence

We stood outside of the Capitol gates today for one hour in silence. I'm sure others stood for more than the hour.   We wore targets on our shirts (it's Austin so some people were very creative).  One woman was topless with a huge red target painted on her chest.  I recognized an actor I've recently seen and the rest were men, women, children, toddlers.  Photographers took our photos.  We didn't know each other but we came to protest the targeting of women in these political wars being fought. And the denial of basic rights for healthcare, all healthcare that we choose for ourselves.  We silently asked that the men making decisions leave our reproductive organs alone, and stop making fools of themselves when discussing what happens to us when we're violated.  We know what happens, you don't.  Men need to talk with one another honestly about their attention to our stuff.  They've got an issue with our stuff.  And if you ask me, Freud is well and alive deep in the heart of Texas!

ENTRE NOS

This evening we headed up to a very modern and techy screening room in the GSD&M building across from Whole Foods to see this film, sponsored by Austin Film Society and Cine Las Americas.  We were anxious to see this film which premiered at The Tribeca Film Festival and is based on a true NYC immigrant's experience.  Written, directed and starred in by Paola Mendoza.  This is her mother's story.  A mother of two arrives from Bogota Columbia to meet up with her husband who abandons her in two weeks and never returns.  This woman supports her family who becomes homeless by collecting cans and selling empanadas.  They sleep in parks and on stairwells.  The children love their mother who is industrious, loving, hard working and interested in  bettering their lives by always pushing forward.   As  a NYC social worker for 36 years I have seen so many women with hard lives.  This film  brought me right back to remembering the pain and anguish of it all.  The depressing world of abandonment, exclusion, poverty, fear and hunger.  Paola had me in tears.  Her story, her acting, her direction and the Q&A that followed was all so heart wrenching and simultaneously wonderful.  Thank-you Holly, Paola, AFS, and Cine Las Americas for this teary eyed evening.

EL MARIACHE

So much hype about this film lately as it approaches its 20th Anniversary that I had to see for myself.  While Abe warned me it's violent and I might not like it, he was wrong.  I really did like it because the violence was realistic, made sense and the story was authentic.  This was a film made for $7K, with amateur actors and for me had the Rodriguez hook of being tongue-in-cheek.  The scene where a bartender tells the mariache he doesn't need to hire him because he's got a whole orchestra (meaning an electric keyboard played by a guy with a huge sombrero) was hysterical and quirky.  While it's a Spanish speaking film made for home viewing in Mexico it doesn't play that way at all.  I am so glad it was picked up by a mainstream studio for distribution.  It is worthy of being inducted into the National Film Registry because it is a film that brings us into a world of corruption, drugs, guns, small Mexican towns and the people who live there.  It does this without special effects and big names and hoopla.  It's a fine movie because it's well written and well directed.  Hats off to those amateur actors..they were terrific.

THE YARDS

After a fun audition for a reality show about spywear I drove an hour to pick up Abe.  I've never driven that far or long in my life. I'm accustomed to the MTA where the subway conductor is the driver for an hour!  YIKES!

Tonight was a quintessential NYC film at home : James Gray's THE YARD (1999) with Mark Wahlberg, Joaquin Phoenix, Charlize Theron, Ellen Burstyn, Faye Dunaway and James Caan.  What a cast!  And a story we loved: corruption in the subway yards of NYC.  Politicians, Union leaders, Crime Bosses, everyone profiting off the backs of taxpayers.  And then there's that Shakespearean figure once again making right with his soul by telling all, exposing the filth, in order to live with himself.  We watched James Gray work with his cast (bless those special features on the DVDs) and learned how obsessive he is, how professional, and we heard how much the older actors appreciated being with the younger actors.  Another good night of film and another opportunity to be with filmmakers during the day.  A charmed life.

The Twelfth Labor/McCallum Fine Arts Academy

Hats off to this fine group of actors and director and set designer for this wonderful evening of theater.  We especially liked the first act with it's "hens" yenta-ing away about the goings on in a family with an absentee dad and a pregnant unmarried daughter.  Dialogue was so intelligent and filled with humor in what could have been another maudlin display of a dysfunctional family on stage.  Special mention for Rebecca Robinson who played a fierce mama and Erin Treadway who was so authentic as a delayed young woman with a huge heart and a sense of humor.  Thank-you Chris Humphrey for including us in weeks of looking at three chickens, hens, poultry on your FB cover photos.  A shout out to the three hens:  Content Love Knowles, Helen Allen, and Chris Humphrey who displayed what goes wrong when women don't have lives.

 I loved this evening of theater.  Almost didn't make it as google directions mistaken and we were lost and  when I stuck my hand in the glove compartment for our GPS realized it was stolen.  My little radio too.  Bummer in Austin.  All replaceable... movin' on.

AND AFTER THE WORK COMES RAIN!!!!!

This morning at 7:15 a.m. (it's Saturday) 6 workmen show up to complete a major landscape job at our home.  They've built  a metal picket fence to be covered with crossvine Monday (28 buckets sit in front of our LR windows); built a limestone curved wall surrounding those agaves donated to us; replaced crappy soil with rich organic soil that's hot to the touch; rebuilt retaining walls with pavers that surround hundreds of vincas and rosemary and just improved the life of my garden.  And an hour later the rains came and washed away all the dust, and replenished some plants that went into shock and made me so happy I continued to garden and plant and welcomed  the rain to drench me.  Abe did the same on the terrace, sweeping and caring for our succulents.  He even wore shorts while working (he's a jeans guy).

And so I thank Scott Lockhart and his awesome crew from AUSTIN DRAINAGE AND LANDSCAPE DEVELOPMENT for this extraordinary work, performed by hardworking men who are a pleasure to deal with.  Thank-you so much from Addie and Abe

Ray Wylie Hubbard at The Shady Grove

Thank-you KGSR for bringing this free concert to this outdoor venue.  Food was cafeteria like, drinks pretty good, but oh that Ray Wylie.  A great songwriter, a funny and authentic human, and those songs from Grifter's Hymnal.  I just love his presentation of life and his dancing beat.  A great night and thank-you Abe for joining me.  I know it's so not your thing.

WE OWN THE NIGHT/Austin Film Society

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this film and loved the program notes given to us  by David Chisholm, AFS intern tonight.  This is the New York City I know so well and miss.  It's 1988, NYC is dangerous and crime is being fought by working class cops who come out of blue collar neighborhoods and local Catholic schools.  They move to cop neighborhoods in Staten Island, Queens, Long Island and Orange County, NYS.  The criminals are big time dope dealers, Russian mafia types.   The girlfriends are Puerto Rican, Italian, Dominican and hot, hot, hot.  The clubs are gaudy and chintzy, and families are torn apart by loyalty to kin vs a desire to ride the fast wave.  And then there is Joaquin Phoenix, the family's bad boy who returns to the fold, emerges brave and strong and avenges his family's losses.  And David Chisholm gets it.  A character who is driven by fate and  his destiny.  And Abe and I know these characters so well and cheer them on.  These are the cops we met in hospital Emergency Rooms: bringing in victims of violence, abused kids, and each other wounded and hurt.  We love these cop films and their realistic police stations.  This was my city before it became an expensive trendy place to shop and eat and be seen.  Thank-you Holly Herrick for bringing this to us, an appreciated reminder.

STUDENTS OF THE WORLD 2012 SHOWCASE

Tonight we headed up to Wanderlust Live on E 4th Street to see the videos, photographs and audio testaments  of three teams that traveled to different parts of the world to show us what students can do to better lives, protect the environment, bring pure water to people who have never had any, and help remove the stigma of cancer from Mexican cancer patients and survivors. Educating people who are so responsive to learning new ways of improving their lives is the key here. Students of the World has been an active part of our lives ever since Liz went on her first trip to Thailand in 2007 as part of the UT team documenting a school where children are bought back from smugglers and provided safe haven. Tonight she was the producer of a film highlighting The Nature Conservancies in Texas, California and Louisiana demonstrating what is being done to improve the eco system and counter balance climate change.  Impressive work and great collaborative feeling among the three photographers.  The team that went to Mexico has brought enormous support to cancer patients by documenting and televising individual stories about people's experiences with the disease.  The stories are shown repeatedly on TV and have brought comfort and change to people's attitudes toward those who are ill.  And in Malawi we see the benefits of clean water and how it has improved the health and well being of families with HIV and helped strengthen the lives of women and children.  Always a pleasure to see Liz in her world of creative globe trotting friends who make a difference by  documenting people improving their circumstances. Josh joined us as well which made the event and evening especially wonderful for me and Abe. 

It's a wrap on SACRIFICE.  I will miss these wonderful actors I had an opportunity to work with.  Moving along to a new project hopefully soon.

KILLER JOE/Violet Crown

Oy Vey!  I sat in the theater tense and covering my eyes (peeking through my fingers) for the impending violence.  Matthew Mc Conaughey and  Juno Temple are brilliant, brilliant, brilliant.  Mr. Friedkin is 76 years old and proof that one should not ever think of age when being bold, audacious, over the top and creepy, creepy creepy.  Yeah, it's good filmmaking.  Disturbing and violent and packed full with realism.

Back to studying lines for my final shoot tomorrow for SACRIFICE.  8a.m. shoot.  Josh is still in town, hangin' with Liz and her friends and all is good.

POLISSE/Austin Film Society

Chale's on vacation so we all laughed heartily when Holly Herrick. a Brooklyn transplant and the new Associate Artistic Director of AFS, opened the evening with "Hi, I'm Chale Nafus."  An acknowledgment to a tough act to follow.  I very much looked forward to last evenings film because of it's content and  the police genre.  I spent my 36 years as a social worker working in the area of child protection.  33 years  as a hospital based social worker who made regular referrals to ACS and Child Protection Units.  This film is an open window into the lives of men and women police officers whose specialty is Child Protection.  The film is French and Holly forewarned us that much is made about class/language and syntax.  No one works in the field of child protection without being acutely aware of class.  And so when the unit makes a raid to a campground of gypsies and removes all of the children from their parents it is a wrenching scene of class conflict.  While the children are exploited to commit crimes they are fiercely connected to their families.  The director lightens the moment when music is played on the bus transporting them to a shelter and the kids strut their stuff.  The film is emotionally raw and we are shown the imperfections of the people who choose this work.  They are clearly untrained in matters of the heart and psyche and so their work wreaks havoc on their personal lives. They love one another and frequently that turns into romantic/sexual love.  They hurt their loved ones.  They react personally to their cases and interview people with a lot of yelling and judgment.  Children aren't separated from their alleged perpetrators while being interviewed.  The unit cracks up laughing when a young girl seriously admits she performed sexual acts to retrieve her smartphone from a group of boys.  The actor remains stoic while the unit is laughing.  Hard stuff to watch.  Good for people to know and learn about.  Abe told me to suspend what I know about procedures and police who do this stuff in NYC.  Hard to do.  A well made truthful film about what really happens to kids in this world.

Queen of Versailles/Violet Crown

After the gym I bussed downtown to catch this film at the VC.  I was prepared to have a strong negative reaction to Jackie and David Siegel, people whose values are vomitacious (made up word).  But I didn't.  The filmmakers did a good job of presenting their subjects realistically and without ridicule.  It was the Phillipina servants I felt the most compassion for.  As always they have left their own children behind to raise the children of the wealthy, and love them as well.  I would recommend this film because it's unusual and the filmmaker could have easily presented these people as buffoons.  But they're not.  Just different. If only David Siegel hadn't stolen the Florida election for George W. Bush.   For that I don't forgive him.

Cooking for 7/Studying Lines

Spent the afternoon cooking for Liz and her friends (one all the way from Hong Kong) while I studied lines for today's shoot on two locations for SACRIFICE.  On Saturday I was actually paid to be an extra for a TV pilot.  While Studio 4C at Communications B was freezing I really enjoyed being on this set and watching the director and crew.  So happy to have been included.

Last night's meal a great success: spicy lasagne, garlic bread, salad and always, always start the evening with guacamole, veggies, olives, chips.   Young people walk in the door ravenous and there is nothing left!  Interesting conversations and love being up-dated on their lives.

Our guy Josh is being flown into Austin Thursday for a job interview he was scouted for.  Proud parents have fingers crossed.  Haven't lived in the same city with Josh since he left home for University of Wisconsin at age 17.  Hard to believe we all might be in this wonderful city one day.

West Nile Virus?

Four days of muscle aches, leg cramps, eye ache and finally a rash on my legs.  Had my first sick doctor's visit since childhood because googling WNV and wondering "does she or doesn't she?" isn't good health care.  So Dr. Khumbati hears my spiel, sees my rash and asks if I've travelled recently.  "Yeah, to NYC."  "Aha says she.  Much more likely that's where you picked it up if it is WNV."  Even though we've just had a major drainage and landscape job where we unleashed a bazillion mosquitoes?  She's unsure.  So I await results..walked home a mile from the doc and sometimes feel fine and other times crappy. It's definitely a virus, WNV?  We'll see.  Not much to do for either unless symptoms get severe.  Not a bad MD visit in the realm of things.  BTW, insurance doesn't cover the test.
P.S. It wasn't WNV and I feel fine.

JUVENTUD/Austin Film Society

Last night we finished the Cine De Sur series with this delightful autobiographical film made by filmmaker Jaime Humberto Hermosillo.  He returned to his hometown of Aguascalientes (anything but "Hotwaters") and cast locals for this film.  And while he was there gave a workshop for 30 days to teach the craft he loves so much to a new generation of filmmakers.  At the following Q&A with Jaime we were introduced to his cinematographer, Jorge Lopez, whose photography of indoor scenes in the home and bakery of the lead characters is beautiful.  When the young man is sent off by everyone he loves to pursue writing in Mexico City the final shot at a railroad station is emotionally transforming (meaning I cried).  This is a film with a good mother:  she embraces her son's need to leave this provincial town but asks him to live with his godmother (I hope he didn't listen).  The women roles in this film are diverse and deeply textured:  the little sister Veronica is a yenta;  Paz, who marries into the family is a left wing generous sole who is everyone's catalyst; and the mother Pilar is played elegantly and with great wisdom.  Chale gave us 5+ pages of notes and reminded us AFS arranged for subtitles in English.  The Q&A brought us the rare window into a close relationship between men who love films and have great capacity for warmth and humor.

SACRIFICE

Just returned from a day of shooting which has turned out to be extremely rewarding.  The young filmmaker Katie Young held a screenplay contest and was fortunate to get this wonderful screenplay written by  Annette Sanchez.   The film is dominated by roles for women (only two men on set) and the dialogue is real and authentic.  I am very fond of many of the women I find myself acting with and have learned so much.  Amilie Pierce and her Mom Angel Pierce are one of the finest mother/daughter duos I have ever met.  It has been a privilege to spend time with them and work with them. Here's some more info from Kayfilms Productions.
Films - KAYfilms Productions

BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD/Violet Crown

Sometimes a film can raise you to a higher plain emotionally and thoughtfully and today that is what happened for me at the VC.  I had read a wonderful NEW YORKER review about the film but had been forewarned by a dear friend that I might not like it.  Well, today I was riveted by the performance of Louisiana 6 y.o. Quevenzhane Wallis and her local father actor Dwight Henry.  There was nothing about this film that I disliked.  The characters were so authentic, the environment so challenging and the love between the actors for their special place had me cheering for every counter culture move they made.  I came away feeling we have no right to remove people from life threatening conditions.  Where should we bring them to...a football stadium where no one likes them and police shoot them walking across a bridge?  We live in an imperfect world.  The funeral scene for Wink made me think it was the most authentic ritual I could ever hope for when it is my time to move on.  Go see this film.  It is wonderful!

SAVAGES

Passed up our AFS Doc night at the Austin Studios to see a pure brain not required film.  While Benicio Del Toro plays one of the scariest torturers on film and I spent half of the film covering my eyes I found this film entertaining.  A story of marijuana growers in California who make unbelievable weed grow..the seeds come from Afghanistan (thank our military intervention for that one).  Two guys share the same girlfriend and go to extremes to save her from the Mexican cartel who wants the California weed.  Dumb storyline, John Travolta is humorous as a crooked DEA agent, Blake Lively plays a vapid stupid rich pothead but it all worked for me after a week of a major house project.  Sometimes you just need to sit back and be dumb!

LAS MALAS INTENCIONES X 2

I'm reposting what I wrote in April about this wonderful film.  Rosa Garcia-Montero is a daring director who makes choices for children that are unique and rarely seen.  I must admit I find this little girl's analysis of the adults in her world to be intelligent and compelling.  And yes, she does bad things.


LAS MALAS INTENCIONES/Cine Las Americas

YIKES! A FLOOD!/AUSTIN DRAINAGE AND LANDSCAPE

The Tuesday before we left for NYC there was a biblical storm and water was ankle deep outside of our LR windows.  I screamed, Abe ran outside with buckets and hauled it up and away and I grabbed every towel in the house and placed around the LR windows.  We left for NYC fearful as more rain was anticipated and it came..3"-6".  But before we left we met with Scott Lockhart from AUSTIN DRAINAGE and LANDSCAPE who reassured us he would take care of this the day we returned, drew up a plan for new drain pipes, landscaping and exposing our foundation.  We left, heard about the rain from Reed and got a reassuring call from Liz that all was dry indoors and the garden did not need to be watered.  We arrived home and for the last four days a crew of hard working men (all on salary) and exceedingly pleasant have worked from 7a.m.-5p.m. doing really hard digging, drilling, paving, hauling, brick laying.  This has been an enormous task and we are so pleased with the outcome and the ease with which Scott helped us.  So if you have a flood or need drain or landscape work I recommend this contractor with 5 stars.

THE FLAME

After a long afternoon on the set of SACRIFICE (there's lots of waiting around on shoots) we headed up to SKYCANDY to see an aerial and theater performance directed by Andy Agne with music composed by Chris Humphrey.  I met Chris when I was an extra on ALL THAT REMAINS and she was a lead actor.  I had the good fortune of being cast next to her on a couch with the instruction to be consoling to her at her time of grief.  What an interesting conversation ensued and since that time I've learned all that she does here in Austin as an actor and a musician.

 Last night's performance of THE FLAME was wonderful and unusual.  The Olympics can be very boring for me but these artists performing aerial and acrobatic tasks on hoops were amazing!  The music and singers added so much to the feeling tone as well.  The piece about the slaughter at the 1972 Munich Olympics was particularly heartfelt for me and Abe.  The music that accompanied "Grecian Homecoming" had me dancin' in my seat.  This is a solid evening of entertainment.  Thank-you Chris for sharing.

Seeing A Film In This Country

I was about to write a post about THE THIRD MAN which we saw last night at a packed to the gills  PARAMOUNT  theater.  But I was stopped dead in my tracks by the news about last night's events in a suburb of Denver, only 25 miles from Columbine.  I'm shocked and outraged and walking in every parent's shoes who may have lost a loved child. I can't imagine being made fearful of  going to see a film, the way I and so many others have  learned about the world when we were growing up in our own enclaves.  A form of entertainment that is safe, can be culturally and globally enhancing as well as being entertaining.  I did not grow up around guns and continue to be very uncomfortable with the gun talk that is so easily had here.  We need to continue to make guns a very real issue in this very disturbed and violent world.  I am happy to say I have not raised kids who think guns are good.

Maynard,Our Fat-Tailed Gecko/ 30 Years Together

I was about to run out to pick up crickets for our African fat tailed gecko and then decided to write about him.  He's named Maynard for an English drummer (TOOL?)  He was Liz's 17th birthday present and became ours when she left for UT the following year.  He's a very related easy to care for guy who eats crickets we buy from RIVER and REEF on S 1st.  When we decided to move to Austin we really struggled as to how to get him here (many lizards are confiscated from your pocket by TSA).  So we sent him UPS and he had his own airline ticket.  And he drove around in a UPS truck until Liz's boyfriend at the time retrieved him and sent us a message he was OK.  I have saved the message on my phone...it was a stressful delivery!  And so today when we meet Liz at the Four Seasons to celebrate our 30th Anniversary I am thinking about the children in my life.  The people whom I have had the privilege to bring into the world and orient  to a life I think is important.  Both Josh and Liz are Abe's and my proudest achievements.  They enhance the world they were brought into and contribute so much.  They lead lives of productivity, creativity, benevolence, and have no greed.  They do for others by the jobs they have chosen.  Josh helps people get around our nation's capitol on bicycles: no oil issues, no footprints, no toxic air pollutants, and good health contributions.  Liz takes photos of people and children who benefit from the new Health Care Law.  She brings us photos of lives and environments so far from our own and always manages to find the people who live on the bleachers, but contribute so much.  So while I am dining at one of Austin's finest restaurants, my heart is filled with gratitude for the life I have shared with a truly great man.  Happy Anniversary Abe.

HOME!

A delay at JFK (what else is new?) and finally home to our much loved home on S. 4th.  Preparing for a shoot the next three week-ends of an indie film SACRIFICE and major landscaping and drainage work starting tomorrow at 7a.m.  Happy to be home and re-connected to Austin through film and work on this lovely home of ours.  Left much loved friends back in Brooklyn and returned to our new acquaintances and the continual building of community here.  Night y'all.

It's a Pedestrian City/ Live From New York

Spent the morning at Naidre's on 7th Ave and watched everyone walk by, on their way to work, the subway, bringing kids to the camp bus.  No one looks at each other, everyone looks focused and caught up in their own worlds.  That's the difference.  No one has time to acknowledge the other people in their eyesight or path.  You wouldn't get anything done or where you have to be.  Walked Prospect Park with Abe, ate bagels at Bagel World and once again on the F train to Regal Heights for a visit with Abe's Mom.  She wants my shoes, loves my dress and is surprised to learn they come from Texas.  She asks us if we're married and we remind her Wednesday it will be 30 years!  Her caretaker Lucie is with us and she hugs me tightly and thanks me for all I've done...is she kidding?  We thank her regularly for all SHE does!  Dinner with Stuart and Lenny at GIOVANNI'S where we celebrate 30 years of marriage and a friendship of 46 years.  My friend Lenny tells me I've calmed down and used to be a 17y.o. firebrand.  I like that.  Talk to Reed and Liz and learn the rain did not come inside the house and all is well.  Leavin' on a jet plane tomorrow night, I'm ready.

LIVE FROM NEW YORK/ A Premie Grows Up

It's hot, the subways are hot and steamy, it's storming and life goes on NYC style.  Checked out Bloomingdales (did I ever pay that much for clothing?), walked a mile to CANDLE 79 at 79th and Lexington where I met Lenny (my oldest friend from college) for vegan lunch, walked some more with her  to Starbuck's, talked our heads off, walked to the Jewish Museum for the Vuillard exhibit (eh), walked to the West Side through Central Park to meet Abe and his sister at NONA'S for dinner.  Walked about 5 miles through city streets filled with stores, more stores and people of all persuasions.  The Upper East Side was dead as a door nail, those folks hit the Hamptons.  Yesterday I ran into a former client walking  in Prospect Park.  A 4 y.o. who weighed 1 lb 11 ozs at birth and needed human growth hormone added to her mother's milk at $2K a month upon duscharge.  Mama remembered me, remembered I got insurance and medicaid to pay so this baby could go home.  And there she was, a tall 4y.o. perfectly developed, wearing eye glasses and so happy when her mama told her who I was.  She thanked me when we said good-bye  for "getting her milk."  Could anything beat that?  NAH!