The annual Tribeca Film Festival began this past Wednesday! Super exciting for myself, since I work down in that neighborhood! Loads of celebs out and about with the paparazzi close on their heels.

Now, my place of employment just happens to be next door to Tribeca Film, which has turned a bit into their "office" for lunch meetings. However, they were kind enough to bring over some tickets to the international premiere of a film "My Own Love Song", starring Forest Whitaker and Renee Zellweger, directed by Olivier Dahan (La Vie En Rose). I received my tickets that afternoon and spent the remainder of the day trying to find someone who was free at 9:30 p.m. to see a late movie, a task that proved much more difficult than one might think. My Danish friend Tue answered my call!

To my surprise, this was an event! Red carpet, photographers, and all! I was 10 feet from the stars. Its funny how interesting it is to watch them talk to interviewers. I'm not sure if that's because I'm an actor and am fascinated by behavior, or if the spectacle itself is just that intriguing. Anyway, coming in we walked on the red carpet for about 20 yards. And I rocked my flip-flops all the way!

The film received a good reception. Some liked it much more than others. I liked parts, but as a whole I didn't love it. Or maybe as a whole I like it and parts I didn't. Hows that for vague! It certainly dragged in parts cause I got very tired. After the film, Forest Whitaker and Olivier Dahan stayed for a Q&A. And then Tue and I savored our exit on the red carpet, taking tiny baby-steps on the last few feet.

One day...

Next Fall

Yeah, Erin got to see theatre... for free!!! It's all about who you know (such a redundant, cliche, spot-on statement)

Anyway, back to theatre, I attended the play Next Fall this evening. Story: Individual characters arrive one-by-one to a hospital waiting room. We come to find out "Luke" is in a coma from being hit by a taxi. Present are his father and mother, no longer married and definitely characters; his religious, Bible-toting, estranged friend; his boss who refers to herself as a "fag-hag"; and his boyfriend. However, his parents do not know he is gay and has been living with his boyfriend for 4 years.

The play jumps back and forth, slowly revealing to the audience the relationship these two men shared. The incredibly intriguing element was that "Luke" was a Christian. The play approached the delicate subject matter tactfully and respectfully, I thought, by approaching it from all angles and presenting varying opinions and struggles of a couple with very different religious beliefs directly dealing with their lifestyle choices.

At intermission, my friend leaned over to me and said, "I have a feeling this is going to get very sad." And it did. I heard audible sobs from the theatre and will openly admit I cried... more than once. A very touching play that stayed with me on the subway ride home and made me keep my eyes open long enough to write this. Good nite!