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Today, I'm thrilled to announce my episode with 4-time Tony nominee Judy Kuhn, who is currently appearing in BECOMING EVE at the Abrons Arts Center. Tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary carer, finding the physicality of her character in FUN HOME, singing on the Tonys with RAGS and LES MISERABLES in the same year, how that performance led to her role in CHESS, working with Trevor Nunn on FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, why her role in ASSASSINS scared her, being voted the killer in THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD, acting with Glenn Close in SUNSET BOULEVARD, interpreting the role of Fosca in PASSION, auditioning opposite Boyd Gaines for SHE LOVES ME, and so much more. Don't miss this conversation with a Broadway favorite.
This week, the fellas take in another Clint Eastwood joint but this one likely forgotten in the annals of time - Heartbreak Ridge. The fellas talk all about the vintage 80s movie homophobia (though even more than you might expect), comparisons to Stripes, Stitch Jones, the better-than-usual romance subplot and much more. Next week: One more before we go back to the list! Questions? Comments? Suggestions? You can always shoot us an e-mail at forscreenandcountry@gmail.com Full List: https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/war-movies/the-100-greatest-war-movies-of-all-time Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/forscreenandcountry Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/fsacpod Our logo was designed by the wonderful Mariah Lirette (https://instagram.com/its.mariah.xo) Heartbreak Ridge stars Clint Eastwood, Marsha Mason, Everett McGill, Moses Gunn, Eileen Heckart, Bo Svenson, Boyd Gaines and Mario Van Peebles; directed by Clint Eastwood. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SHE LOVES ME Book by Joe Masteroff, Music by Jerry Bock, & Lyrics by Sheldon HarnickWorks Consulted & Reference :She Loves Me (Libretto) by Joe Masteroff & Sheldon HarnickSense of Occasion by Harold PrinceTo Broadway, To Life! The Musical Theatre of Bock & Harnick by Philip Lambert She Loves Me (2016 Live Capture ) Directed by Scott EllisMusic Credits:"Overture" from Dear World (Original Broadway Cast Recording) | Music by Jerry Herman | Performed by Dear World Orchestra & Donald Pippin"The Speed Test" from Thoroughly Modern Millie (Original Broadway Cast Recording) | Music by Jeanine Tesori, Lyrics by Dick Scanlan | Performed by Marc Kudisch, Sutton Foster, Anne L. Nathan & Ensemble"Why God Why" from Miss Saigon: The Definitive Live Recording (Original Cast Recording / Deluxe) | Music by Claude-Michel Schönberg, Lyrics by Alain Boublil & Richard Maltby Jr. | Performed by Alistair Brammer"Back to Before" from Ragtime: The Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording) | Music by Stephen Flaherty, Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens | Performed by Marin Mazzie"Chromolume #7 / Putting It Together" from Sunday in the Park with George (Original Broadway Cast Recording) | Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim | Performed by Mandy Patinkin, Bernadette Peters, Judith Moore, Cris Groenendaal, Charles Kimbrough, William Parry, Nancy Opel, Robert Westenberg, Dana Ivey, Kurt Knudson, Barbara Bryne"What's Inside" from Waitress (Original Broadway Cast Recording) | Music & Lyrics by Sara Bareilles | Performed by Jessie Mueller & Ensemble"Tonight at 8" from She Loves Me (Original Broadway Cast Recording) | Music by Jerry Bock, Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick | Performed by Jenn Colella and 'Come From Away' Company"Maria" from The Sound of Music (Original Soundtrack Recording) | Music by Richard Rodgers, Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II | Performed by Evadne Baker, Anna Lee, Portia Nelson, Marni Nixon"My Favorite Things" from The Sound of Music (Original Soundtrack Recording) | Music by Richard Rodgers, Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II | Performed by Julie Andrews"Corner of the Sky" from Pippin (New Broadway Cast Recording) | Music & Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz | Performed by Matthew James Thomas“What Comes Next?” from Hamilton (Original Broadway Cast Recording) | Music & Lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda | Performed by Jonathan Groff
David Saint is in his 25th season as Artistic Director of George Street Playhouse. He has directed 43 mainstage productions at GSP, having most recently helmed Ken Ludwig's Dear Jack, Dear Louise. Additional productions include Fully Committed and Tiny Beautiful Things for the GSP virtual season, Midwives, and Conscience, in addition to The Trial of Donna Caine, American Hero, American Son, I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change and An Act of God starring the legendary Kathleen Turner in the 2017-18 season. His time here has been marked by collaborations with such artists as Keith Carradine, Tyne Daly, Rachel Dratch, Sandy Duncan, Boyd Gaines, A.R. Gurney, Uta Hagen, Jack Klugman, Dan Lauria, Kathleen Marshall, Elaine May, Anne Meara, David Hyde Pierce, Chita Rivera, Paul Rudd, Stephen Sondheim, Marlo Thomas, Eli Wallach, and many others including a remarkable partnership with Arthur Laurents. In addition, many new award-winning works have begun their life here during his tenure such as The Toxic Avenger, Proof, The Spitfire Grill, Joe DiPietro's Clever Little Lies, and It Shoulda Been You. He has directed Final Follies at Primary Stages, Clever Little Lies at Guild Hall in East Hampton, NY and off-Broadway at West Side Theatre, as well as the National tour of West Side Story. In July 2016, he directed a two-night concert performance of West Side Story at the legendary Hollywood Bowl. In Summer 2019, he directed a revolutionary new production of West Side Story for IHI Stage Around in Tokyo and served as Associate Producer for the new film version of West Side Story directed by Steven Spielberg.
This week we discuss the only Hollywood depiction of the 1983 US Invasion of Grenada - 'Heartbreak Ridge'. Directed, produced and staring Clint Eastwood Heartbreak Ridge follows a US Marine Corps Recon Platoon as they are whipped into shape and thrown into battle. Written by written by James Carabatsos who also wrote Hamburger Hill the film's young cast includes Mario Van Peebles, Vincent Irizarry, Peter Koch, Tom Villard, Ramon Franco and Boyd Gaines alongside Everett McGill, Arlen Dean Snyder and Marsha Mason. Follow us on Twitter @FightingOnFilm and on Facebook. For more check out our website www.fightingonfilm.com Thanks for listening!
Director Lee Wilkof talks about the production of his film, “No Pay, Nudity” (starring Gabriel Byrne and Nathan Lane), as well as his work as an actor on the musicals “Little Shop of Horrors” and “Assassins.”LINKSA Free Film Book for You: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/cq23xyyt12Another Free Film Book: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/x3jn3emga6Fast, Cheap Film Website: https://www.fastcheapfilm.com/Eli Marks Website: https://www.elimarksmysteries.com/Albert's Bridge Books Website: https://www.albertsbridgebooks.com/YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/BehindthePageTheEliMarksPodcast“No Pay, Nudity” trailer: https://youtu.be/toO8g8fgtP4Lee Wilkof revisits “Suddenly Seymour”: https://youtu.be/x7DNEts0yQQ“Suddenly Seymour” from MDA Telethon: https://youtu.be/b4tddRw6JVU“Little Shop” TV spot: https://youtu.be/itYxORbajScTRANSCRIPTThe Occasional Film Podcast - Episode 103NATHAN LANE 0:00I had one of the best times I've ever had making a movie doing this, this little teeny-tiny film. One could say it's a niche film. And yet I think everyone can relate to the notion dreams lost or shattered and you think it's going to turn out one way and it doesn't. And how do you come to terms with that? JOHN GASPARDThat was the one and only Nathan Lane talking about his experiences making Lee Wilkof's lovely film, “No Pay, Nudity.” Hello, and welcome to episode 103 of the Occasional Film Podcast, the occasional companion podcast to the Fast Cheap Movie Thoughts blog. I'm the blog's editor, John Gaspard. Today we're talking with long time actor and first-time director Lee Wilkof about his film “No Pay, Nudity.” It's the story of Lester Rose, a mid-career actor in crisis about show business in particular, and life in general. It stars Gabriel Byrne, Frances Conroy, Boyd Gaines, Donna Murphy, and Nathan Lane. [AUDIO EXCERPT FROM THE FILM'S TRAILER]When I saw the name Lee Wilkof listed as director during the film's credits, I thought where do I know that name from? I racked my brain and then it came to me. Suddenly.[LEE WILKOF SINGING “SUDDENLY, SEYMOUR”]Lee originated the role of Seymour Krellborn in the Off Broadway production of a little musical called “Little Shop of Horrors,” and went on to originate the role of Samuel Bick in Stephen Sondheim's “Assassins.” He talked about those two memorable roles at the end of our conversation. But first we talked about “No Pay, Nudity”, which was his first time as a film director. Tell me what it was that made you decide, hey, at this point after stage and TV and movies, I want to direct.LEE WILKOF 3:20 It was something that was gnawing at me for the last 10 years, just something that I always wished I had done. I never said I wish I wasn't an actor, and I wish I had been a director. But it was something that I just felt that I thought I could do. And I would say oh, maybe nine years ago, I was in a kind of a fallow period and I had been friendly with this young man, Ethan Sandler, we had met at this theatre festival, the Williamstown Theatre Festival. We've done a play together. He was a young, in his 20s, maybe, maybe early 30s. And I decided, I said I think we should I have this idea for a story. Let's write it together. And let's direct it together and then we'll write it for me. As it shook down, you know, I'm not, it wasn't for me, I decided it was not something that I didn't want to direct it and be in it. And then I realised the character was I was not really, the right character for it. And then as it turned out, we didn't end up co-directing it and he got the screenplay credit. And that was kind of how it played out. But it took it took and we wrote it I think together eight years ago and then it sat in my on my computer for at least five years and then I dusted it off when I was doing a play in Chicago, and I was free during the days and I looked at it and I said, this is good. I happen to be working with Nathan Lane. And we were doing a play at the Goodman “The Iceman Cometh.” And I said, I said, would you read this, this screenplay that I wrote. And I was hoping he'd get back to me eventually. And he got back to me the next day. And he said, This is really good. And I said, would you play Herschel, if I got this made? And he said, Yes. And that's really when the ball started to roll. JOHN GASPARD 5:35 Why did you decide you weren't right to play the part? Because it kind of feels like you would be. I mean, was just you didn't want to direct and act? LEE WILKOF 5:42 I didn't want to direct and act. To say that I wasn't right for it, I think, didn't mean, as it turned out, I wanted more of a leading man. But it would have worked, I think with a character actor, but I didn't want me directing my first film. I just couldn't do double duty. I admire those people that can, but I just I just couldn't. I couldn't multitask to that level. And maybe this had a little to do with it. Although I think I'd already made the decision by the time the investors came on, and they wanted a name, and I was certainly not a sufficient name. I was not. I was not and I'm not a name. So, we started making some inquiries about some names. JOHN GASPARD 6:34 So, what was your process for that? I mean, you already had one name, who had said yes.. LEE WILKOF 6:39 I had Nathan, and that was they wanted for the lead, they wanted a name. But we made some offers to some prominent names. And one was one was very interested, but his wife was ill. Several didn't get back to me. One other prominent name just was on the fence and decided no, and then I got a casting director, involved and gave me a list of a number of names. And Gabriel was on it, Gabriel Byrne, and it, sent it to him. And he responded immediately. And he wanted, he wanted to do it. He understood it, he got it. And I couldn't be more fortunate that it worked out that way. If you would have said to me when I started the process, and we were going to make this film, that Gabriel Byrne would be playing Lester Rosenthal, it was not something I would have not believed it possible. I would have said to you, I don't I'm not really positive that he's right for it. And you know, these kinds of accidents happen. And it was so fortuitous that we got Gabriel, I think he's just fantastic in the role. JOHN GASPARD 7:52 Did you find that once you had everyone in place, did you tweak the script at all to fit? LEE WILKOF 8:00 Yes, to some extent, although the Gabriel, the fact that Gabriel is you know, there's a line that when you first, when he runs into the girl from high school, she said when you first got here, your accent was so fascinating. That's the only reference to the fact that he has a not necessarily an American accent. It's not quite fish or fowl. And we didn't find that it was a problem. When he first called me. Our first phone conversation was I was at the Jazz Fest in New Orleans with music blaring. And he was in Norway, shooting I think it's called the Vikings. And we spoke, I could barely hear him. But he said I think I'm going to keep my accent. And I didn't quite know what to say. I didn't know him. I didn't want to say no, I don't want you to but by the time we started shooting, it was kind of vague, and it never seemed to be an issue. So, we didn't necessarily tweak for the particular person. Now, some of the actors wrote some things for themselves. Nathan contributed a fair amount of his dialogue, which I encouraged. And then there was an incident where somebody brought in dialogue for themselves and I did not care for it. And it created the only real conflict during shooting. And I insisted, with the help of my producer, insisted that the actor speak the words written and it I think it enhanced the performance because the actor was so upset. And the actor didn't speak to me for a couple of days.But there was tweaking all along. The role Nathan plays was originally written for actually another actor, an actor friend of mine who had passed away in between the time it was written and we shot it. It was written with, I wrote it with Maury Chaykin. You know, Maury… JOHN GASPARDYes indeed. LEE WILKOF Maury Chaykin. He and I did our first play in New York together like 44 years ago. And he was just physically and such a, such a wonderful actor that Herschel was I just wrote it, we wrote it for him. But as I said, he passed away. And Nathan stepped into it brilliantly, I think. JOHN GASPARD 10:44 I agree. So, with all your time on the other side of the camera, what was it like to step behind it? And how easy a transition was that for you? I mean, you probably know how to talk to actors, or at least how not to talk to actors… LEE WILKOF 10:59 I had spent many years in Hollywood on TV and film sets. And I probably would have paid way more attention if I knew someday I was going to be directing. But I always was paying attention. I wasn't like going up to the DP and saying, You know what size lens you're using? But I was I was like, I watched and I listened. And I also had the I had the great pleasure and the great fortune of working with Sidney Lumet twice. And I didn't do a movie with him, but I'd worked with Bob Fosse. I mean, I've been around some, some very amazing people, and I observed them as closely as I could without being in their way. So being on the set itself, physically, was not was not intimidating at all. Speaking to the actors. No one was with the exception of that one little set-to with the actor that rewrote their lines, the actors were very, I didn't have to give many notes. But when I gave notes, I was surprised that not only were they well received, but they were well understood. Because I've been directed. I'm an I'm an actor that needs as strong a good hand as possible by a director. So, I've had many directors have to talk to me to get me to what they need to do. And there was like, just like maybe two or three times. Gabriel had so much to do, there were times where I had to, like, maybe guide him and another just a little nudge, and he liked to talk things out. He probably would have wanted to talk things out longer, but we just didn't have the time. That's just how he works. One of my actors would call me up at night, and just need to be stroked. And he's a good friend of mine. And I was able to do that. I had worked with him in a play and knew that that was something that he needed. And I was sincerely telling him how wonderful he was because he was and that was useful. The first scene in the movie with the veterinarian's assistant, I cast this woman I love this actress. Her name is Janine Serralles. I don't think she'd be embarrassed by this story. She was a student of my wife, my wife used to teach at Yale Drama School. And she was somebody that I was aware of her, and my wife cast her in a lot of plays. She came in with an interpretation that was completely and it was completely valid, but it was not what I wanted her to do. And I think I like said maybe two sentences to her. And she's such a great actress, she made the adjustment. And I surprised myself by being able to communicate that to her. But luckily, I had an actress that could take it, you know, take it in and make that quick adjustment. So, I cast the film with such fine actors, that I didn't have to tell them too much. But when I did, they got it. JOHN GASPARD 14:20 Right. Did you have rehearsal time away from the set? Or was it just like, like a TV show where you just show up and block and rehearse? LEE WILKOF 14:28 We did read through the movie for about four hours, I think a couple days before we started shooting. And we talked it through and we would rehearse on the set. But my DP, my wonderful young DP, named Brian Lannon. He was he was 26 years old. I met him I had done a couple episodes of a show called High Maintenance. And he was the DP and I loved what I saw. And I hired him and he and his crew were a little, I have to say this, and I think he knows is they were a little slow. Andnd they were slow because they were, you know, immaculate with, with their setting up. But we had a little more time sometimes than I wanted. So, we were able to rehearse. And the actors, all the actors, the first nine days of the shoot, were in the lounge set that we built the Actors Equity lounge, and the actors would be in a holding area, and they would work on the stuff while I was on the set, you know, getting things set up. JOHN GASPARD 15:40 Was that the only set you built? LEE WILKOF 15:41 We built I think we built another set. I believe you are required to build a set on certain sound stages that are designated by the state in order to get your tax credit. So, we were required to build a set. It was one of the plays that was getting done. We could have found a theatre to do it at, but it was the one that was most easy to build. So, we built that, we had some raw space down in Wall Street. And that's where we built the Actors Equity lounge. And then we built one other set for the two-hander play that Lester attends. JOHN GASPARD 16:35 The lounge set is terrific. It looks, I thought oh, yeah, it's you're actually on location. LEE WILKOF 16:41 Yeah, we wanted to use the real Actors Equity lounge, but it was in a state of transition, it was finally being renovated. And it just timewise we couldn't use it. But luckily, I had a friend of mine is one of the, I think I know most of the officers there. My friend is a vice president and they were really helpful. But I had a young production designer Maki Takenouchi. And she put that together in three days. It was the last location that we found. It was the most crucial location, it was driving us insane, that we couldn't find the space we liked. But we finally settled on this. And they threw it together. And I don't mean throw it together. They put it together in three days, her and her crew. And it really was effective. JOHN GASPARD 17:35 How many days did you have to shoot overall? You said you spent nine days in the lounge? LEE WILKOF 17:40 I believe it was either 24 or 25 days. And I wanted to read I had a scene that I wanted to end the film with that I wanted to add, and we would have had to have a day of shooting but we just didn't have it in the budget. There's nothing that I miss. JOHN GASPARD 18:04 Okay. Was it always planned that the character of Herschel would narrate the story? LEE WILKOF 18:11 No. JOHN GASPARD 18:12 At what point did you decide to include that? LEE WILKOF 18:15 When certain people thought it would be a good idea. JOHN GASPARD 18:19 Okay. I'll move on. LEE WILKOF 18:25 Some people weren't as comfortable with silence as I was. So, some compromises were made to be perfectly blunt. I'm assuming you wisely got it that it was added on. I believe film works with it. And I believe the film would have worked without it. JOHN GASPARD 18:41 And that's exactly what I'm feeling to it. It certainly didn't hurt, it kind of it filled in some gaps. But it didn't feel to me like when you sat down to write at the very first thing you thought was, okay, I'm going to have this character narrate it LEE WILKOF 18:58 No. But it was I've had people that watch the film like it, and people go, Yeah, you don't need it. Okay, I'm glad you know, I feel fine about it either way. It is. It's what we have. JOHN GASPARD 19:13 Yeah. Do you want to talk about the Kickstarter campaign and... LEE WILKOF 19:18 It was not successful. I'm assuming you know that. It was very highly, highly ambitious. I think it was, uh, if memory serves me, it was like $450,000, which is a ton of money for a Kickstarter campaign. And we did nicely, but we didn't succeed. I think we got close to $200,000, which is very, I was, I was, I was touched by all the generosity, but it didn't work out. But because of the Kickstarter campaign, certain people became aware of the film. And then were able to communicate their knowledge of the film to some other people that came aboard and invested in the film. So, the Kickstarter campaign had value. Also, I did circle back to some people on the Kickstarter that had that had committed money to the Kickstarter campaign and said to them, would you still be willing to, to help me out? I'm not going to give the same kind of perks. But if you can give me, if you can help, a couple people got associate producer credits, everybody got their name in the credits, everybody got a video, no matter what the level, so that was helpful. But it was not the amount of money that, I didn't go to back to everybody. I just was like, at that point, I had had my hand out for so long, I couldn't go, like with my hand out to every single person. That was more stressful than making the movie. JOHN GASPARD 21:04 So, I was going to ask, what advice would you give to someone who is considering Kickstarter now that you've tried to get that and then end up going with more traditional investors? LEE WILKOF 21:14 I would say don't ask for so much money. But don't go nuts with the, with the perks. People are really, I don't believe, giving you, being generous for little rewards. Or I don't mean to belittle the rewards, but they're doing it out of the kindness of their, you know, belief in you. Some guys I know, did a Kickstarter campaign to do in a documentary film about something to do about my hometown. And they did I think, a 40-day campaign, and I said, Don't do it, it's too long, and you'll have like a nervous breakdown. And they did it and they raised the money. So, what the hell do I know? JOHN GASPARD 21:58 I noticed that you had Ann Roth credited for a special custom consultant. What? What way did she help you guys out? LEE WILKOF 22:08 Ann Roth is as to me, she's, you know, the premier costume designer of the second part of the 20th century, Edith Head and then Ann Roth into the 21st century. I had worked with Anne on a couple plays. I did The Odd Couple with Nathan Lane on Broadway and Ann designed that. But we had a very nice, warm relationship. And I told her, someday I'm going to direct a film and I want you to be the costume designer, and then she would if she could. And then as it turned out, she agreed to and then she got busy. And another lovely woman that works in her with her, became the costume designer. Michelle Matlin who did a great job. But Ann specifically worked with, because she's done so many shows with Nathan, they work together on his look, and Gabriel's look. And I said to her, I hope you know, I hope this is not a diss to Michelle and I don't believe it was, but I would like I would like you and to give you some sort of credit. You're Ann Roth. I mean, it's and she said whatever you want to give me. So, we gave her that title. JOHN GASPARD 23:41 As you were editing the movie, I know you've you were very in from the beginning on the writing and then I've obviously there for the directing. What was your process for finding the movie in the editing? How, how precious were things to you? How willing were you to move things around or change? LEE WILKOF 23:58 That is a very, we're opening. We're opening a very interesting can of worms. Editing was the most difficult part of the process for me. I'd never been in an editing room. My editor and I, I think sometimes we didn't see eye to eye. And I didn't really sometimes know how to communicate what I wanted. The producers got involved in the editing room. I mean, the you know, the money people, were not thrilled with the editing. And we brought on another supervising editor. And it got a little more complicated. And I was doing a play at the time. And the editor was the supervising editor was doing some editing out in California while I was in New York. And there were some ideas that were had, that I did not agree with. And there are some things in the film... Boy, I'm just opening a can of worms. JOHN GASPARD 25:12 There's open it as far as willing to open it. LEE WILKOF 25:18 There are some things in the film that it was it was suggested that we edit it a different way. And I was adamant not to. And, and those things are in the film. And there's a few things that were not my idea. And that I learned to live with. Ultimately, we ended up with I think, a pretty damn well edited film. It was a somewhat of a difficult journey, the post production, I think, where we got in, I think, I probably got us into a little bit of a little bit of jams, because I didn't do the sometimes the coverage I should have done. Yeah, if I had the opportunity, if I get the opportunity to do it again, I will. I've learned I learned a ton from that. That's where I learned the most, what I needed for the editing room. JOHN GASPARD 26:22 So, there's two questions I always ask at the end, do with these what you will. The first question is two part: what's the smartest thing you did during production? And what was the dumbest thing you think you did? LEE WILKOF 26:36 The smartest thing I did was getting Nathan and Gabriel on board, deciding when Maury wasn't available to get Nathan, and not saying, I don't think Gabriel Byrne. And the stupidest thing I'm not going to say. I won't. JOHN GASPARD 27:00 But you learned from it. LEE WILKOF 27:01 I learned from it. I learned from it. And that's all I can say. JOHN GASPARD 27:07 So, are you going to do this again? LEE WILKOF 27:10 I'm really getting itchy to do it. There's another script that I wrote with the same young man, it's called Teenage Waistband. And it's about growing up in Canton, Ohio my junior, sophomore year high school. Was at a junior? In late 60s in Canton, Ohio, it's period and it would cost a fair amount of money. I'd love to do it. But I wouldn't want to do it under the certain same circumstances. I don't want to do it. I don't want to put my hat in my hand and have to go ask a zillion people for, you know, $1,000 here and there. So, I don't know. But I hope to do it again. I'm trying to figure out what to do next. JOHN GASPARD 27:59 Before I could let him go. Lee was kind enough to spend a few minutes talking about two early-stage successes, Sondheim's Assassins, and the original off-Broadway production of Little Shop of Horrors. So, I had a couple questions for you about just that whole experience, because having talked to Roger Corman about the movie, the original movie. LEE WILKOF 28:18 Yeah, I did it in Los Angeles and met him That was thrilling. Actually, opening night in Los Angeles, Roger came, Jackie Joseph came who played Audrey, and I forget the guy's name. Yes. I forget his name. Anyhow, anyhow, what do you want to know? JOHN GASPARD 28:38 Well, Corman was so, I tell the story all the time to filmmakers, because he was he's a great interview. He's an engineer, and he speaks like an engineer and perfect sentences. And I had 20 minutes and I had to talk about five movies with him, because I was doing five different. And I asked him, I said, So you shot a little shop in three days? And he said, Well, technically, yes. But there was some pickups. I had the actors for five days, and we rehearsed for three and shot for two. And that's what I tell people all the time is you think you think rehearsal is not important? The cheapest man in the world, spent three days rehearsing. And then he said, I shot it with two cameras. He said it really was more of a stunt. I've never do that sort of thing again. But how did you get involved in that project? LEE WILKOF 29:25 I could go on for hours. Anyway, I grew up in Cleveland. I grew up in Canton, Ohio. This is a little background because you just talked about the film, grew up in Canton, Ohio, on Friday nights. In the late 50s. Early 60s There was a guy that did the horror movies. His name was Ghoulardi his name, Ernie Anderson. His son is Paul Thomas Anderson. If you see Paul Thomas Anderson's films called Ghoulardi films. And he showed horror movies. One of our favourites, we would have like sleepovers with you know, 12 year old boys and we'd stay up late and watch. And one of our favourites was always Little Shop of Horrors, the original Little Shop of Horrors. So, I grew up knowing it, loving it, being, just thinking it was amazing. Didn't know when I was a kid that it was shot in three days, but it was primitive. You know, it was great. It's crazy. It's one of those movies. It's so bad that it's great. It's brilliant. It's not bad movie. It's just production values when you look at it now, of course, two days, you know, the scene with Jack Nicholson, this that fell over and they stopped shooting this. So anyway, okay, I was familiar with it. I did a play in New York. The play with Maury Chaykin and I met our stage manager, who had a girlfriend who was a casting director. And I knew them personally. I moved to California a few years after doing that first play in New York, and I was pursuing my Hollywood, that pursuit, working sporadically and playing nerds on TV. And I got a call from this woman. The woman who was the girlfriend of my stage manager. We're doing a musical written by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, and I knew Alan Menken from a revue I did in in New York before I moved to California. And it's called Little Shop of Horrors. I said, I know this, I know Little Shop of Horrors. I grew up watching it, somebody's turned it in to a musical. That's amazing. So, I was very excited. I flew myself into New York. And I was auditioning for the role of the dentist for some reason or another and I , in those days, when I was in California, I was I was I was wearing I was trying to get jobs with wearing a toupee. I was bald when I was 17. And I walked into the audition. And Alan Menken knew me from this revue that I did as bald and he started laughing, and I got so embarrassed, I tore off my toupee. And Howard Ashman said, You are not a dentist, you're Seymour, you're you know, you're a potential Seymour. So, I auditioned for the role. And it, I got a call back the next day. And it was between me—this is a story I've heard years later—but the story was it came down to me and another actor. Nathan Lane, between me and Nathan and Howard Ashman had an assistant, a young woman who suggested to him that I was probably a better fit, for one reason or another. And she is my wife. I married her, I met her on the show, and married her. Her name Connie Grappo. She subsequently directed it all over the world. And so, I played Seymour. We opened it in New York, it was this tiny little show, I would take the flyers for it to people. And they would like, you know, look at me, like what the hell was this. And then, a month later, they were begging me for tickets, because it was such a huge hit. It was the hottest ticket in New York. And it was in a little 99 seat theatre, and then it moved off Broadway ran for five years, but I didn't do it for five years. I did it for like six months, and then six months in Los Angeles, where it didn't do so well. And then I fille in over the years for different Seymour's that would go on vacations. So that was that. My wife directed it all over the world. And then there was a production in Florida that was Broadway bound about 12 or 15 years ago, and I played Mr. Mushnik in that. So I have played Mr. Mushnik. But I did not come. It came to Broadway but I did not come in with it for all sorts of different reasons. But I would like to play this. I'm certainly old enough. JOHN GASPARD 34:38 Yes. It's finally time. LEE WILKOF 34:44 It was 35 years ago, it was just about now. We were in rehearsal. 35 years ago, we opened the end of April or the beginning of May in 1982. And it was you know very, it was very profound for my career. Because it was a huge hit. And it got me. You know, people came to see it. And I met my wife on it. So it was it was very significant. You know, people say to me, what's your favourite thing you've ever done? And they all think I'm going to say Little Shop of Horrors. And it's Assassins. Assassins is, is the greatest experience I ever had. It was not a huge smash hit. But I was, you know, I was in A Sondheim musical, which is a gift that I got. And the cast. I loved the cast. And for me a lot of doing it any show is who I'm doing it with. Of course, you know, the material is really important, but I, it was just a great cast. And the part was really challenging. I think that was a show like the director didn't know what the hell to help me do and I was kind of on my own and I kind of, thank God, found my way.I don't have a lot of stories except we did the album. Nowadays you do a cast album, you do it in like, you get one take. On Assassins, we had three days. And the first number up was the number that I had the most singing. My character really did monologues and didn't sing. I played this guy Sam Bick, who tried to kill Richard Nixon by crashing an airplane into the White House. He was shot in the cockpit. But anyhow, he did these like rants. He did these taped rants. But I had the song that I had to sing and it was the first number up and I was nervous and I was tight. And Steve Sondheim had a broken ankle so he couldn't come in like to the studio. He was in the in the control room. And I was I was just struggling with it. I came in during a break to hear it and Steve Sondheim said to me, yeah, it's tough for you guys that can't sing. And, you know, I wanted to disappear. But we finally got it. They told me to try to sound like Jack Nicholson. And I think it's who I tried to sound like.And then years later I did another thing with Steve Sondheim, this workshop of thing called The Frogs. And I did have a number and I sang. And he forgot that he told me I couldn't sing and he was very complimentary. So, in the presence of him was just like, the most intimidating, the most. It was, it was thrilling, but he's very intense. It was just a great experience. My greatest joy and the thing that I cherish the most. [SOUND CLIP FROM LITTLE SHOP] JOHN GASPARD 38:20 Thanks to Lee Wilkof—heard here performing my favourite song from Little Shop of Horrors, Mushnik and Son—for taking the time to talk to me about his movie, “No Pay Nudity,” which is available now for home viewing. I recommend that you track it down. If you liked this interview, you can find lots more just like it on the Fast Cheap Movie Thoughts blog. Plus more interviews can be found in my books, Fast, Cheap And Under Control:Lessons Learned From The Greatest Low Budget Movies Of All Time, and its companion book of interviews with screenwriters, called Fast, Cheap And Written That Way. Both books can be found on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, Google, and Apple books. And while you're there, check out my mystery series of novels about magician Eli Marks and the scrapes he gets into. The entire series starting with The Ambitious Card can be found in paperback hardcover eBook and audiobook formats. Well, that's it for episode 103 of the occasional film podcast. Produced at Grass Lake Studios. Original Music by Andy Morantz. Thanks for tuning in, and we'll see you occasionally.
New York City, the 1990s: A mouse, caught in a glue trap, causes three roommates to discuss the meaning of life, death, yuppiedom, karma, and the harsh reality of their place on the food chain. Cast (in speaking order): BOYD GAINES reading Stage Directions VINCENT RODRIGUEZ III as Ford BRANDON MICHEAL HALL as Norris JOSH JOHNSTON as Hunter with SAM TSOUTSOUVAS, the voice of RPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
“You're only the new kid in town once. I disagree with that. You're the new kid in town every six months because everyone has a short memory.” - Josh Johnston. Happy 2022, everyone! Born into a theatre family, Josh Johnston has a perspective on the industry fresh enough to start the new year right. One of the best things Josh promotes is his use of boundaries, something we all can implement more, especially since we've been so available thanks to the use of social media and Zoom. “Sometimes I think we all need that space to decompress or find out Zen,” says Johnston. “I don't do yoga and I don't meditate. So, mine is just getting away from the phone and popping back into people's lives when I'm around. And it's a big ask for a friend to just be cool with that. I like wiping my feet at the door. I don't like constantly being ‘on' and having to go to sleep and wake up with my thoughts on what I need to do to survive and be creative everyday.” Josh is a self proclaimed superfan of Dear Multi-Hyphenate and can quote many of the guests in previous episodes. He has a factual brain full of memories, facts, and statistics. I've tried to get him on the podcast before, but he's declined until now, thanks to him entering a part of his career where he is actively producing, writing, and performing – especially now that his Radio Play Revival featuring Samuel L. Jackson, Jessica Chastain, Boyd Gaines, and more has been released. On this episode, we follow the themes of doing what you know, understanding who you are, establishing boundaries to protect yourself and your art, making an art out of a trade, studying and applying craft, moving from coast to coast, and Josh's wild relationships with for now jobs – like working the National Hot Dog Eating Championship. And students of the theatre listening to this episode? There are a lot of good nuggets to take away! “I cannot sing Golden Age musical theatre eight times a week,” says Johnston. “I would be putting hundreds of people at risk. I'm wasting their time and their money and resources. There are better people for that job than me… and I know that. There are other things I can do.” Josh Johnston's Radio Play Revival features great American actors performing great American works of literature. Performed by both established and new-and-emerging performers, musicians, and writers, Radio Play Revival pays homage to the golden age of radio, in the now-second golden age of audio. Josh Johnston is an actor and a writer, and now producer and director. Onstage, Josh toured with The Acting Company in their 40th season (Hamlet; Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead (directed by John Rando)), and has worked regionally; selected regional works include: The Merchant of Venice & Henry VIII at Valley Shakespeare Festival in Connecticut, The Cradle Will Rock in NYC (The Acting Company benefit at The Jacobs Theatre), and 5 shows at The Ravinia Festival in Illinois, including Passion, A Little Night Music (professional stage debut back in 2001!), and Annie Get Your Gun, all 5 Ravinia shows directed by Lonny Price. Josh is also a musician, playing bass at various Duplex Cabaret Theatre shows downtown, and subbing in for Billy Magnussen on guitar and vocals in Billy's former band, Reserved For Rondee, at Rockwood Music Hall in NYC. During the pandemic, Josh moved to LA where he began pursuing work in TV and film; he most recently played a supporting role in the film TO LESLIE (post-production), directed by Michael Morris, and in the past, has worked on Season 1 of the show Benders, on IFC. Josh writes screenplays and TV scripts when he is not acting, because he cannot dance or coach singers or wait tables. He's bad at all 3 of those things. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Northern Alabama, The Civil War: A Confederate farmer stands on a bridge, a noose around his neck. He contemplates his life, and the choices that led him to this moment. What follows is his breakneck escape from an impossible situation.Cast (in speaking order):BOYD GAINES as The NarratorRYAN MAC as Peyton FarquharROB NAGLE as SoldierALEX AQUILINO as Lieutenantwith SAM TSOUTSOUVAS, the voice of RPROriginal music by HARRIS OWENS
Laura Benanti dreamed of one thing and one thing only- performing on Broadway so winning a Tony Award for her role in Gypsy was the most amazing dream come true and one of the happiest moments of her life. What people may not know is that early on in the rehearsal process she walked out feeling unsupported by the process and it wasn't until she had a deeply honest conversation with it's director, Arthur Laurents, that she returned and from that moment on it was the most joyous professional experience of her life. Find out how the two worked it out and why co- starring with Patti LuPone and Boyd Gaines was such an extraordinary experience on this episode of And The Award Goes To... Hosted by Ilana Levine, Produced by Alan Seales, part of the Broadway Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Current Productions (5:10) Working on the second sleeve of the Aumangea Pullover by Aroha Knits in Malabrigo Rios “Pearl 10” and “Pines” Kevin frogged and restarted his Payne pullover by Helena Bristow in Mountain Colors Twizzle in “Headwaters” Made more progress on the 2nd Pride Sock in White Birch Fiber Arts Self-Striping Sock in “The Full Monty” Cast on for a Slide Socks by Cookie A in Black Cat Fibers Nomad Sock in “The Texas Incident” Cast on and finished the Looped Loop Cowl by Kirsten Johnstone in Lemonade Shop Yarns Classic DK in “Toxic Hippo” Cast on and finished the Treppenviertel Cowl by Nicola Susen in Onyx Fiber Arts DK in “Veronica” Events (20:10) Updated list from Knitty with cancelled fiber events as well as links to vendors who we can support Bay Area Fiber Fair runs from July 17 through October 15 Fiberworld 2020 August 19-23 SBMT E-Studio Events all located on the SBMT eStudio Facebook Group located here and their website Stitches at Home - September 5, 6, 12, 13 Hey Look Me Over (25:27) Kevin talks about the challenges of starting a knitting and theatre podcast during a pandemic, and reviews the 2015 production of Driving Miss Daisy starring Angela Lansbury, James Earl Jones, and Boyd Gaines, as well as talking about the 1989 film adaptation. Little Known Facts (41:45) How the segment titles of the 42nd Stitch Podcast got their name. Ragtime Wildcat You're a Good Man Charlie Brown (1999 Broadway Revival) Miscellaneous (47:04) Ravelry update: project pages will continue to be created on the podcast website until the site is safe for everyone. Ravelry group for the podcast is now LIVE for those who would like to join and it is safe to do so.
Host Leah Walsh and her husband, actor Frankie J. Alvarez, are joined by actors Kathleen McNenny and Boyd Gaines to discuss the ups and downs of parenting in the arts, the necessity of community, keeping things in perspective, making decisions to fuel your creativity as well as support your family, and the importance of patience. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Pais Estados Unidos Dirección Clint Eastwood Guion James Carabatsos, Dennis Hackin, Joseph Stinson Música Lennie Niehaus Fotografía Jack N. Green Reparto Clint Eastwood, Marsha Mason, Everett McGill, Moses Gunn, Eileen Heckart, Bo Svenson, Boyd Gaines, Mario Van Peebles, Arlen Dean Snyder, Vincent Irizarry, Ramón Franco, Tom Villard Sinopsis El sargento Tom Highway, veterano de las guerras de Vietnam y Corea, vuelve a los Estados Unidos para llevar a cabo una misión nada fácil: instruir a un grupo de novatos desmotivados e indisciplinados para convertirlos en auténticos marines.
Larry Clarke is an actor, director, and writer with 80 credits to his name. He is also a husband, father and, according to his wife Fielding Edlow, a ballerina. Larry grew up primarily in the suburbs of Maryland. His mother, Dolores was a teacher and an activist. His father, Emerson, was a ballistics engineer at Aberdeen Proving Ground. He is the youngest of 5 children. Larry attended Towson University where he majored in Theater. His professional stage debut was in David Hare's "A Map of the World" at Baltimore's prestigious Center Stage theater. He performed there for two seasons. The highlights there working with Boyd Gaines in Hamlet and in Wallace Shawn's "Aunt Dan and Lemon". He then moved to New York. He worked with The Barrow Group theater company and got his first big break in the movie, "In and Out". The next year he landed the recurring role of Det. Morris LaMotte in “Law and Order”. More recently, you know him from “Contagion”, “You & Me”, “Twin Peaks”, and “The Secret Life of the American Teenager”. Currently, he is working and acting with his wife, Fielding Edlow in their own series, “Bitter Homes and Gardens”. His great love is the New York Stage where he has performed throughout the years most notably as the lead character in the premiere of David Rabe's "The Dog Problem". Larry left New York and moved to Los Angeles in the winter of 2002. He currently resides in Hollywood, California with his wife, Fielding Edlow.
Lift up your head, wash off your mascara, and get ready to be entertained by the original Seymour from Little Shop of Horrors, Tony nominee Lee Wilkof. While audiences are familiar with Lee's counltess stage appearances in such shows as Little Shop of Horrors with Ellen Greene, Sweet Charity with Debbie Allen, Assassins with Victor Garber, She Loves Me with Boyd Gaines, Kiss Me Kate with Brian Stokes Mitchell, The Odd Couple with Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick, Lee is also a familiar face on screen having appeared in Delta House, Law & Order, Private Parts, and Before The Devil Knows You're Dead and, behind the camera, as the director of the fabulous No Pay, Nudity. Lee pulls back the curtain on his career to discuss how his performance as Seymour won him a trip down the aisle, what it was like collaborating with Howard Ashman, and why Brushing Up His Shakespeare led him to tears and a Tony nomination! Also, Lee shines the spotlight on Nathan Lane, Kathleen Marshall, and Norman Lear! Become a sponsor of Behind The Curtain and get early access to interviews, private playlists, and advance knowledge of future guests so you can ask the legends your own questions. Go to: http://bit.ly/2i7nWC4
Young men and women audition for coveted spots at the New York High School of Performing Arts. Those who make the cut discover that it takes a lot of hard work to become a star and sometimes difficult decisions have to be made. The youngsters grapple with heavy issues such as homosexuality, abortion, attempted suicide and illiteracy. On top of their unique struggles, the students must deal with the mundane pressures of adolescence like homework, heartbreak and rejection. Stream online: https://amzn.to/34MASnt Become a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/mfrbooksandfilm?fan_landing=true
Young men and women audition for coveted spots at the New York High School of Performing Arts. Those who make the cut discover that it takes a lot of hard work to become a star and sometimes difficult decisions have to be made. The youngsters grapple with heavy issues such as homosexuality, abortion, attempted suicide and illiteracy. On top of their unique struggles, the students must deal with the mundane pressures of adolescence like homework, heartbreak and rejection. Stream online: https://amzn.to/34MASnt
On the eve of his fourth Tony Award win, actor Boyd Gaines talks about his busy year, including "Journey's End", "Pygmalion" and both the Encores and Broadway runs of "Gypsy". He also describes his early training and extensive work in regional theatre, both before and after his years on the sitcom "One Day at a Time"; his breakthrough role in Wendy Wasserstein's "The Heidi Chronicles"; his first Broadway musical experiences in the first Broadway revivals of "She Loves Me" and "Company"; how the dance musical "Contact" was developed; and what it was like to step into Henry Fonda's shoes in "12 Angry Men". Original air date - June 27, 2008.
On the eve of his fourth Tony Award win (for the 2008 revival of Gypsy), actor Boyd Gaines talks about his busy year, including Journey's End, Pygmalion and both the Encores and Broadway runs of Gypsy. He also describes his early training and extensive work in regional theatre, both before and after his years on the sitcom One Day at a Time; his breakthrough role in Wendy Wasserstein's The Heidi Chronicles; his first Broadway musical experiences in the first Broadway revivals of She Loves Me and Company; how the dance musical Contact was developed; and what it was like to step into Henry Fonda's shoes in 12 Angry Men.
On the eve of his fourth Tony Award win, actor Boyd Gaines talks about his busy year, including "Journey's End", "Pygmalion" and both the Encores and Broadway runs of "Gypsy". He also describes his early training and extensive work in regional theatre, both before and after his years on the sitcom "One Day at a Time"; his breakthrough role in Wendy Wasserstein's "The Heidi Chronicles"; his first Broadway musical experiences in the first Broadway revivals of "She Loves Me" and "Company"; how the dance musical "Contact" was developed; and what it was like to step into Henry Fonda's shoes in "12 Angry Men". Original air date - June 27, 2008.
Performers Bryan Batt (Saturday Night Fever), Kristin Chenoweth (Wicked and Tony winner for You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown), four-time Tony Winner Boyd Gaines (for The Heidi Chronicles, She Loves Me, Contact and Gypsy), Marin Mazzie (Kiss Me Kate), Tom Wopat (Annie Get Your Gun) and Deborah Yates (Contact) discuss working on preview performances, how audiences can vary wildly, the pros and cons of live music and amplification, reconceiving shows for revivals, and stories from their stage experiences.
Performers Bryan Batt ("Saturday Night Fever"), Kristin Chenoweth ("Epic Proportions"), Boyd Gaines ("Contact"), Marin Mazzie ("Kiss Me Kate"), Tom Wopat ("Annie Get Your Gun") and Deborah Yates ("Contact") discuss working on preview performances, how audiences can vary wildly, the pros and cons of live music and amplification, reconceiving shows for revivals, and stories from their stage experiences.
With a national tour of the classic jury room drama "12 Angry Men" about to embark on a national tour, stars from the original company -- Boyd Gaines and Philip Bosco -- talk about recreating the overheated atmosphere of Reginald Rose's much adapted drama for its Broadway debut. Original air date - January 28, 2005.
With a national tour of the classic jury room drama "12 Angry Men" about to embark on a national tour, stars from the original company -- Boyd Gaines and Philip Bosco -- talk about recreating the overheated atmosphere of Reginald Rose's much adapted drama for its Broadway debut. Original air date - January 28, 2005.
With a national tour of the classic jury room drama "12 Angry Men" about to embark on a national tour, stars from the original company -- Boyd Gaines and Philip Bosco -- talk about recreating the overheated atmosphere of Reginald Rose's much adapted drama for its Broadway debut. Original air date - January 28, 2005.