MY LIFE INSIDE THE BOX - THE LAVENDER BOX

This past weekend I had the privilege of sharing the stage with a wonderful ensemble of actors. We were backed up by an amazing creative team of makeup artists, hair stylists, technicians and stage management and designers. I call it the little production that could. We raised a nice amount of money for an upcoming 12-step convention this spring.

THE SHOW: MISFITS
ME: "CHARLIE IN THE BOX"

And true to the original source which is Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer, I believe we came pretty close to doing a hysterical parody of this wonderful classic children's cartoon.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudolph_the_Red-Nosed_Reindeer_(TV_special)

In my past life, I too like Charlie use to wait for someone to come along, turn my crank so I could pop my lid and hold my arms out in a gesture that says: "LIKE ME, LOVE ME, PLEASE."

It's nice to not be in the lavender box anymore! LOL

What's it like in the box?
I said the serenity prayer each rehearsal and performance as I was being wheeled across stage. I just asked God to help me "not screw up the words to the damn song!"
I always trusted that my three sexy elfs (weren't they cute in those shorts?) wouldn't wheel me off the stage. Now that would have been a show!

Being in Charlie's box this weekend reinforced in me just how far I have come this year.

And it was a beautifully built box. Thanks to Adam Pardonek's design and construction skills we had a life size replica of the Lavender box that hosts the very "fey" Charlie. Hopefully I did my best to pull up on that side of myself that I don't like to acknowledge, the one I was made fun of in high school for having. Call it "fey" or "Queenie" or "queer" or "Nelly" or effeminate" or "sissy" this weekend's show helped me to really have fun and stretch my range as an actor by doing the best interpretation of this iconic character that I could.

After all, I was in front of an audience that remembered from their collective childhoods this character. The Rudolph TV special has been shown at holiday time continuously since it first aired in 1964.

We can all identify at one point or another in our lives with being a "misfit."
We never quite fit in and like Rudolph were not asked to "join in any reindeer games."

But with the group of wonderful "misfits" assembled this past Sunday night, I fit right in.
And collectively we created a wonderful evening that hopefully left the audience wanting more.

What a joy to perform on stage again. And what an honor to be entrusted with recreating an iconic character for all you grown up "girls and boys."

May this holiday season for all of you be bright, and to all of you a good night.

Peace and blessings,
G

THE GOLDEN GLOBES ANNOUNCED

Okay so I admit it. I've been a little out of it for the past couple of days.
For anyone who knows me, you know that I am a "live" awards show JUNKIE!!!
I worked in post production of the Oscars, AMA's and my favorite THE GOLDEN GLOBES.
This was back in my dick clark days. I had the pleasure of working on the GG's for several years in a row. This was before the Beverly Hilton was renovated. That ballroom is still tiny but within the lower seating area is the whole of the Hollywood Box Office elite. The only night when FILM & TV actors get to mix it up on the red carpet. Where actors who do both can feel comfortable and sit and have a cocktail. The party starts at 3PM always on a Sunday afternoon.

Since I am a Producer's Guild of America member I have been invited to many, many screening this season and also have the priviledge of receiving a large number of screeners from the studios. The OSCAR race is on but the first hurdle is a Golden Globe nomination.

(Make note all you people who do office/party pools for Awards shows. Don't ask me why I know the winners, I just do. A combo of intuition and the blessing of seeing all the performances.)

For the sake of time tonight I have only made a few comments in certain categories.
More details as I see more screeners.

Here are Gerry's predictions for this years winners:
(List below taken from http://www.goldenglobes.org/nominations/index.html#)

Best Motion Picture - Drama

The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
Warner Bros. Pictures and Paramount Pictures; Warner Bros. Pictures and Paramount Pictures

Frost/Nixon
Imagine Entertainment, Working Title, Studio Canal; Universal Pictures

The Reader
Mirage Enterprises; The Weinstein Company

Revolutionary Road
An Evamere Entertainment BBC Films Neal Street Production; DreamWorks Pictures in Association with BBC Films and Paramount Vantage

Slumdog Millionaire
Fox Searchlight Pictures and Warner Bros.; Fox Searchlight Pictures and Warner Bros.

I'm shooting for SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE, but BENJAMIN BUTTON could surprise us.

Slumdog is an amazing movie but Button is supposed to be a wonder.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama

Anne Hathaway – Rachel Getting Married

Angelina Jolie – Changeling

Meryl Streep – Doubt

Kristin Scott Thomas – I've Loved You So Long

Kate Winslet – Revolutionary Road

This just might be Kate's year. But don't underestimate Angelina! The dark horse in this ladies race is Anne Hathaway making up for not being nominated for Supporting Actress in Brokeback Mt. Anne gives an amazing performance. Too bad Debra Winger who plays her cold mother in the film wasn't nominated for Best Supporting Actress.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama

Leonardo DiCaprio – Revolutionary Road

Frank Langella – Frost/Nixon

Sean Penn – Milk

Brad Pitt – The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button

Mickey Rourke – The Wrestler

Mickey Rourke is the dark horse in this race. I expect a screener now that there are two nominations. Brad is up again the working man's actor Frank Langella who gives a career performance in Frost/Nixon. However, Sean could come out of nowhere with his performance as Harvey Milk.

Best Motion Picture - Musical Or Comedy

Burn After Reading

Working Title/Releasing Company; Focus Features in association with Studio Canal

Happy-Go-Lucky
Summit Entertainment, Film4, Ingenious Film Partners, Miramax Films; Miramax Films

In Bruges
Blueprint Pictures; Focus Features

Mamma Mia!
Relativity Media, Playtone, Littlestar; Universal Pictures

Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Mediapro; The Weinstein Company

So sue me. I loved Meryl in Mamma Mia, but I bet you Vicky Christina Barcelona walks away with this award as an upset. Hysterical movie and Woody Allen at his best.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy

Rebecca Hall – Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Sally Hawkins – Happy-Go-Lucky

Frances McDormand – Burn After Reading

Meryl Streep – Mamma Mia!

Emma Thompson – Last Chance Harvey

I want my Meryl to win just for interpreting "I Don't Want To Talk." Rebecca Hall is amazing however in VCB.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical Or Comedy

Javier Bardem – Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Colin Farrell – In Bruges

James Franco – Pineapple Express

Brendan Gleeson – In Bruges

Dustin Hoffman – Last Chance Harvey

James Franco for Pineapple Express. Who the hell got paid off to vote for him in this? And no nomination for MILK, really missy! I have not seen In Bruges, Dustin is Dustin and marvelous in Last Chance Harvey (so is Emma Thompson) but I will walk through doggie doo doo and broken glass just to hear Javier read from the phone book. (Yes, he really does it for me ya'll.) Let's hope he wins.

Best Performance by an Actress In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture

Amy Adams – Doubt

Penélope Cruz – Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Viola Davis – Doubt

Marisa Tomei – The Wrestler

Kate Winslet – The Reader

Amy is good in Doubt, but I doubt a win for her. Viola is amazing. Kate is really the leading actress in The Reader and was great. I want Penelope to win because she actually looks like Sophia Loren in this movie and I would be Hetero for her in a heartbeat! But I think Miss Marisa Tomei is taking home this prize. And they finally got it right. Marisa is an amazing character actress and will always win in the supporting actress category. FOR the OSCARS I have my Marisa Tomei syndrome theory. I'll explain it later at Oscar Time!

Best Performance by an Actor In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture

Tom Cruise – Tropic Thunder

Robert Downey Jr. – Tropic Thunder

Ralph Fiennes – The Duchess

Philip Seymour Hoffman – Doubt

Heath Ledger – The Dark Knight

They laughed this morning when Tom Cruise's name was called. Yes he was funny dissing all the studio execs that he had to "suck" up to all of these years. But let's face it HEATH is the winner of this category. Period.

Best Animated Feature Film

Bolt
Walt Disney Pictures; Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Kung Fu Panda
DreamWorks Animation SKG; Paramount Pictures

Wall-E
Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation Studios; Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Best Foreign Language Film

The Baader Meinhof Complex (Germany)
The Country of Germany
(DER BAADER MEINHOF KOMPLEX) Constantin Film Produktion GmbH; Summit Entertainment, LLC

Everlasting Moments (Sweden, Denmark)
The Country of Sweden and The Country of Denmark
(MARIA LARSSONS EVIGA ÖGONBLICK) Final Cut Productions Aps; IFC Films

Gomorrah (Italy)
The Country of Italy
(GOMORRA) Fandango; IFC Films

I've Loved You So Long (France)
The Country of France
(IL Y A LONGTEMPS QUE JE T’AIME) UGC YM/UGC Images/France 3 Cinema/Integral Film; Sony Pictures Classics

Waltz With Bashir (Israel)
The Country of Israel
Bridgit Folman Film Gang/Les Films D'Ici/Razor Films/Arte France/ITVS International; Sony Pictures Classics

Best Director - Motion Picture

Danny Boyle – Slumdog Millionaire

Stephen Daldry – The Reader

David Fincher – The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button

Ron Howard – Frost/Nixon

Sam Mendes – Revolutionary Road

Best Screenplay - Motion Picture

The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
Written by Eric Roth

Doubt
Written by John Patrick Shanley

Frost/Nixon
Written by Peter Morgan

The Reader
Written by David Hare

Slumdog Millionaire
Written by Simon Beaufoy

Best Original Score - Motion Picture

The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
Composed by Alexandre Desplat

Changeling
Composed by Clint Eastwood

Defiance
Composed by James Newton Howard

Slumdog Millionaire
Composed by A. R. Rahman

Frost/Nixon
Composed by Hans Zimmer

Best Original Song - Motion Picture

"Down To Earth" – Wall-E
Music By: Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman
Lyrics By: Peter Gabriel

"Gran Torino" – Gran Torino
Music By: Jamie Cullum, Clint Eastwood, Kyle Eastwood and Michael Stevens
Lyrics By: Jamie Cullum

"I Thought I Lost You" – Bolt
Music & Lyrics By: Miley Cyrus and Jeffrey Steele

"Once In A Lifetime" – Cadillac Records
Music & Lyrics By: Beyoncé Knowles, Amanda Ghost, Scott McFarmon, Ian Dench, James Dring and Jody Street

"The Wrestler" – The Wrestler
Music & Lyrics By: Bruce Springsteen

Best Television Series - Drama

Dexter (SHOWTIME)

House (FOX)
Heel and Toe Films, Shore Z Productions and Bad Hat Harry Productions in association with Universal Media Studios

In Treatment (HBO)
Sheleg, Closest to the Hole Productions in association with HBO Entertainment

Mad Men (AMC)
Lionsgate

True Blood (HBO)
Your Face Goes Here Productions in association with HBO Entertainment

Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series - Drama

Sally Field – Brothers & Sisters (ABC)

Mariska Hargitay – Law & Order

January Jones – Mad Men (AMC)

Anna Paquin – True Blood (HBO)

Kyra Sedgwick – The Closer (TNT)

Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series - Drama

Gabriel Byrne – In Treatment (HBO)

Michael C. Hall – Dexter (SHOWTIME)

Jon Hamm – Mad Men (AMC)

Hugh Laurie – House (FOX)

Jonathan Rhys Meyers – The Tudors (SHOWTIME)

Best Television Series - Musical Or Comedy

30 Rock (NBC)
Universal Media Studios in association with Broadway Video and Little Stranger Inc.

Californication (SHOWTIME)
Showtime Presents in association with Aggressive Mediocrity, and Then…, Twilight Time Films

Entourage (HBO)
Leverage and Closest to the Hole Productions in association with HBO Entertainment

The Office (NBC)
Deedle Dee Productions/Reveille/NBC Universal Television Studio; NBC

Weeds (SHOWTIME)
Showtime/Lionsgate Television/Tilted Productions, Inc.; SHOWTIME

Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series - Musical Or Comedy

Christina Applegate – Samantha Who? (ABC)

America Ferrera – Ugly Betty (ABC)

Tina Fey – 30 Rock (NBC)

Debra Messing – The Starter Wife (USA)

Mary-Louise Parker – Weeds (SHOWTIME)

Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series - Musical Or Comedy

Alec Baldwin – 30 Rock (NBC)

Steve Carell – The Office (NBC)

Kevin Connolly – Entourage (HBO)

David Duchovny – Californication (SHOWTIME)

Tony Shalhoub – Monk (USA)

Best Mini-Series Or Motion Picture Made for Television

A Raisin In The Sun (ABC)
Sony Pictures Television, Storyline Entertainment, and Bad Boy Worldwide Entertainment

Bernard And Doris (HBO)
Trigger Street Independent Productions in association with Little Bird and Chicago Films and HBO Films

Cranford (PBS)
A Co-Production of BBC and WGBH Boston.

John Adams (HBO)
Playtone in association with HBO Films

Recount (HBO)
Spring Creek/Mirage Productions in association with Trigger Street Productions, Everyman Pictures and HBO Films

Best Performance by an Actress In A Mini-series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Judi Dench – Cranford (PBS)

Catherine Keener – An American Crime

Laura Linney – John Adams (HBO)

Shirley MacLaine – Coco Chanel

Susan Sarandon – Bernard And Doris (HBO)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Ralph Fiennes – Bernard And Doris (HBO)

Paul Giamatti – John Adams (HBO)

Kevin Spacey – Recount (HBO)

Kiefer Sutherland – 24 (FOX)

Tom Wilkinson – Recount (HBO)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Eileen Atkins – Cranford (PBS)

Laura Dern – Recount (HBO)

Melissa George – In Treatment (HBO)

Rachel Griffiths – Brothers & Sisters (ABC)

Dianne Wiest – In Treatment (HBO)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Neil Patrick Harris – How I Met Your Mother (CBS)

Denis Leary – Recount (HBO)

Jeremy Piven – Entourage (HBO)

Blair Underwood – In Treatment (HBO)

Tom Wilkinson – John Adams (HBO)

SLOW DOWN AND ENJOY THE RIDE

DRIFTER KNOWS THE WAY
There is a lot to be learned when you're on the back of a horse. Especially a former "wild mustang" tamed to give "kids" at camp a ride around the meadow. This past Thanksgiving weekend the group of "kids" was a bunch of grown men attending the California Men's Gathering. Hosted by the San Diego chapter, this all volunteer group of guys put on a great three days of workshops, talent show and events that helped me to finally have that kid camp weekend that I never experienced.

Actually, I had a blessed childhood. My dad sent us to Idaho to stay with my grandmother Mary Alice. She and my grandpa Warren Dye lived in Firth, Idaho.
I visited Idaho 3 times.
Once as a family on vacation in 1974.
The summer I turned 14 in 1976.
And the next summer after my mother's death in 1977.

Now since I am from Kentucky the land of Thoroughbred horses you would think that I am an expert rider. Alas I am not. While on vacation the in Idaho in 1974, my dad threw me on the back of the horse with him and we took off down the road. I nearly DIED! I had no stirrups to dig into and I wasn't even on the saddle with my dad. I was told to hold on and I did for dear life. I bounced so hard on the back of that horse I hurt my boys. They're sensitive when you are 12!

So this past Sunday when I mounted the saddle on top of "Drifter" I had a little anxiety but realized we would not be taking the horses above a slow walk through the Ponderosa Pines.
Actually I really enjoyed the slow pace following in line with the other riders as we took a slow stroll around the ranch property. The horses have done this route a thousand times. To our right were the other small "ranches" next to "PATHFINDER RANCH." A flock of llamas came to greet us and see what the fuss was all about. They batted their long lashes at the horses and looked at us people with a sideways glance.

LESSONS ON THE BACK OF A HORSE/LESSONS FOR LIVING LIFE
Stay in line.
Stay on the saddle.
(If you feel it slipping, just lean to the other side until you center yourself.)
Follow instructions.
For God's sake take in the scenery and breath in the clean air.
Enjoy the ride, you may never travel through this way again.
In other words be in the moment.

I talked to Drifter. He just snorted back at me several times before settling into his steady pace.
When we got back to the stables I thanked him for the ride. He just wanted some hay and to have that saddle off his back.

I feel like that today.

Peace and blessings,
GM

MEET THE CAST AND CREATOR OF DOUBT

Academy Of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences on November 18, 2008 in Beverly Hills, California

Miramax president Daniel Battsek,
John Patrick Shanley (MOONSTRUCK) along with the film's stars: Viola Davis, Meryl Streep,
Amy Adams and Philip Seymour Hoffman.

This film is EXCELLENT.
Most of the talent behind the camera and in front of the camera are Oscar winners.

DOUBT won the Pulitzer Prize and a Tony award for best Play in 2005.
It garnered actress Cherry Jones a Tony for Best Actress in a Play that year as well.

THE AFTER PARTY IN THE LOBBY OF THE ACADEMY
One of the many benefits of being a member of the Producer's Guild of America is attending a variety of fall film screenings. There is always one film that gets screened by the PGA at the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater. I was fortunate enough two years ago to attend a screening of THE QUEEN. Helen Mirren was present that evening and is a stunningly beautiful woman.

My friend Dave Bass joined me for last night's screening and reception. I was trying my best to look good in a blue pinstriped suit, a bald Bond if you will. Trying my best to look cool and aloof, yet on the lookout at all times.
(I'll be buying that Tom Ford 007 James Bond suit soon.)

Hey if it works for Daniel Craig it could work for me?

The PGA always hosts an amazing evening at the Academy and I was a little star struck by all the other recognizable faces in the audience who had been invited to the event.

Last night I was about 10 feet from Meryl trying to look casual sipping on my Diet Coke.
She was talking to Tracy Ullman and then to a number of people around her.

In my head I am thinking, I love these two funny women!!!!
But I decided to try to look cool and aloof, you know like Bond.

My friend Dave called me over to him out of my strategic position next to Meryl.

Dave: "I was watching you from across the room and that's why I called you over here."
Me: "I wasn't looking cool and aloof like Bond?"
Dave: "No dude, not a chance."

We went for another soda and then raided the dessert table a second time.

While heading for the bar, we cruised past Amy Adams looking amazing, along with Viola Davis.
Outside in the closed off terrace was Phillip Seymour Hoffman smiling and talking to friends.

This cast of four is amazing in this film.
What a joy to witness actors working with this amazing material from John Patrick Shanley.

Sadly I missed the production of DOUBT along with Cherry Jone's Tony Award winning performance last year at the Ahmanson Theatre.
So for me, this film is my first exposure to this amazing piece of work.

I wouldn't even attempt in this blog to write a review of this film.
I'll let the experts do that. For now I just have one recommendation....

GO SEE THIS MOVIE!

Gerry's Golden Globe/Oscar Predictions for DOUBT?
Nominations out the wazoo for both GG's and Oscars.
Oscar Best Adapted Screenplay for John Patrick Shanley
We'll have to wait until all the films are screened to see if anybody can top Ms. Streep this year.
For now she's in the lead....as usual.

(How do you honor an actress who is in a category all by herself?)

BOND IS BACK

Forgive me.
I am a huge Daniel Craig fan.
Not only is he an amazing specimen of a man, but my GOD the man can act!
I love this new series of Bond movies starring Daniel Craig.
They're much grittier, raw and intense. Daniel Craig delivers the goods in this latest installment of Quantum of Solace. His co-star Olga Kurylenko is stunning as well. Not your "average" Bond girl. Olga can kick ass right along side her co-star and just like Craig, she can be vunerable in the next second. Truly this new installment is a departure from the past few.

Of course I loved all the other Bonds. No one compares to Sean Connery or Pierce Brosnan or my personal heartthrob Timothy Dalton. (Hey he wasn't that bad.)

I even paid full price late Friday, opening day. I would not recommend seeing it at the Century 8 in the valley but when one is desperate, one will go anywhere to Daniel Craig kick some ass.
Enjoy.

GM

LOSS FROM THE FIRES HERE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

It's been quite a weekend.
I could write about the amazing No On Prop 8 rally/protest/march we had on Saturday afternoon in downtown LA but it wouldn't feel right. The city was burning down all around us.
I looked to the south of us and saw smoke and thought to myself that the smoke from the Sylmar fire had really traveled. Once I got home that afternoon and turned on the TV did I learn that the smoke I was seeing was actually the City of Brea and Anahiem Hills burning in Orange County.

FRIENDS LOSE A HOUSE
Two of my friends Craig and Dennis lost a house on Friday night in the SYLMAR fire.
There is nothing left of the house.
And in the words of my friend Dennis, "it's just stuff."
They have each other to get through this temporary setback.
The amount of help pouring in from friends and family is amazing.
We wish them well as they rebuild their lives.

MT. CALVARY IN SANTA BARBARA BURNS
Also on Friday night the Montecito fires moved all the way into Santa Barbara.
I didn't learn of the destruction to the beloved Mt. Calvary Monastery and Retreat House until Sunday afternoon.

I have attended for the past several years a retreat at Mt. Calvary. It happens at Thanksgiving.
When I got the email from Adam who is our group leader for this event, I just told him to donate my fee for the retreat to the Monastery. See the link below. Included on the flickr site are the photos of the devastation as well as some before photos.

This is one of the few places in my life that I have felt a peace beyond my own comprehension.

One afternoon sitting in my room overlooking the Pacific ocean, I actually quieted my mind long enough to experience the feeling of being one with everything around me.

(For those of you who know me, to quiet my mind, much less my MOUTH for more that 5 minutes is a miracle!)

The monks will rebuild but gone are the old hand carved chairs, the 1,000's of books in every room and the PRICELESS artifacts. What does remain is the stone labyrinth that you can see to the right in the aerial photos. Amazingly the iron cross statue and the circle of grass surrounding it look like they are almost "untouched" by the fire. The back hall next to the mountains and labyrinth was left standing as well.

On Thursday night when the Montecito fire broke out I thought to myself that Santa Barbara and Mt. Calvary was far enough away to be spared. Mother nature had another idea. The fires burned right up and over Mt. Calvary.

They will rebuild. The monks at Mt. Calvary and my friends Dennis and Craig.
It's going to be a process for both but we will be there to celebrate will all of them when the work is done.

Peace and Blessings,
GM



HERE'S THE LINK TO THE MT. CALVARY PICTURES

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mariya_umama_wethemba_monastery/3035944653/in/set-72157606067631588/

HOW TO MAKE A PROTEST SIGN FOR YOUR LOCAL RALLY ON SATURDAY?

FRIDAY NIGHT BEFORE THE BIG NATIONWIDE PROTEST OF PROP 8.

I have a dilemma. I know what I want to say on my protest sign but need some advice on how to make them....FABULOUS.

I decided to call my new best friend MARTHA and ask her....MARTHA how do you make the perfect protest sign for the biggest civil rights protest since the 60's?

She advised me and here is what I learned.

4 Easy Steps for making the perfect protest sign:

Start with your art kit that you have been preparing all summer long for all of your exciting fall craft projects for the holidays. Recycle those leftover items from your Halloween costume.
EX: Glitter makeup, black eye liner, Sarah Palin/Tina Fey glasses and pants suit.

Gather up the following supplies:

POSTER BOARD
Florescent Pink and Green make a lovely background for your slogan. It helps your message to pop out in a crowd. (White poster board is fine. Enhance lettering with a black outline.)

YARD STICKS FROM HOME DEPOT
Not only is the finish nice to hold while marching for an hour to your city hall, but you can recycle it for use later with your art kit for next week's Thanksgiving craft night.

(It's always a good thing to have a long, hard yard stick around the house.
Good for a few things I can't mention here in this blog.)

MASKING TAPE (PAPER)
If you don't have this in your art kit, then it is a must buy.
(It might come in handy at the protest to tape the mouth shut of the counter protesters.
Those people who voted YES On Prop 8. Martha would probably not approve of this but I do.)

STEP ONE
Take your large florescent poster board and cut in half.
Average poster board is 22" x 28".

This will leave you with two 14" x 22" vertical signs to be taped together around the yard stick.
The idea is to make a two sided sign that you can put clever and witty slogans on, thereby doubling your sign capacity.

OR

You can simply choose to fold it in half. This will help later with giving your protest sign greater stability. Something one wants when chanting and marching with thousands of others.

(If you require a larger sign don't cut or fold your poster board. Please note that your protest sign will be a little bit flimsier unless you go with thicker card stock or more expensive art board.)

STEP TWO
Take a pencil and sketch out your slogan first. This gives you the opportunity to space and center your slogan before actually writing on the poster board(s).

Take your large black marker (a must for every art kit) and begin to write your slogan on the poster board.

You can choose to outline the letters and fill in with coloured markers, glitter or even fabric left over from that bad Sarah Pallin pants suit you wore on Halloween night. It's all up to you.
(Glue sticks are a marvelous thing for one's art kit.)

Some sign suggestions for tomorrow's protest comes from this website below.

http://jointheimpact.wetpaint.com/page/Protest+Signs

Here are a few of my favorites:

2-4-6-8
How do you know your kids are straight?

NO H8

No More Mr. Nice Gay

I HELPED ELECT THE FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT
AND ALL I GOT WAS THIS LOUSY MARRIAGE BAN!

and finally my favorite...

CHICKENS: 1
GAYS: 0

STEP THREE
Now that your signs are all written and decorated, you are ready to assemble.

So that you can recycle your Home Depot yard stick, take your masking tape and double it over.

Use less tape by doubling over the masking tape in 3" to 4" sections.

Tape Tip:
Start the tape sticky side up in the palm of your hand. Hold the end with your thumb and roll the tape roll around your four fingers until it joins again. It's the perfect piece of tape.

Place on the yard stick and apply the back of the sign.
Repeat this on the other side of the yard stick.
Then place four similar pieces on the corners of the back of the sign.

Press together firmly and you will have the perfect double sided protest sign for you Nationwide protest!

STEP FOUR
Go out and use the sign and meet up with your friends at your local City Hall or State Capitol building.

Have a peaceful and safe march and let's all make history!

Peace and blessings,
GMAN

MARTHA, MARTHA, MARTHA!

VROMAN'S BOOKSTORE - PASADENA, CA
3PM Sunday, November 9th, 2008

Me and 350 other fans of Martha with numbered tickets have lined up to meet the "Domestic Goddess of Love" in person.
(I am one of only 2 dozen men standing in line. Hummmmm.)

I don't know what it was last Sunday that got me all crazy to meet MARTHA STEWART.
In all my years of working in TV here in LA, I have run into my share of "celebrated people."

Shows like the Golden Globes, The Academy Awards, The American Music Awards and oh yeah Celebrity Boxing 2 for FOX,

Maybe it was because I was meeting a woman who was an actual brand.
I don't think I would feel the same meeting oh let's say Kathy Ireland who does home furnishing or Kenneth Cole. (I don't buy his stuff anyway.)
But for some reason I was just a little vehclempt standing there in line.

The ladies all around me were just as excited to meet her. My line mate Laura is 8 months pregnant. All the ladies around us urged her to grab a cafe chair and sit for awhile. When the line started to move, we moved the chair for her so she could rest. The woman at the Vroman's Cafe wouldn't let us drag a chair around the corner. Laura had to stand in line for the next 2 HOURS! Laura was a trouper and when we finally got upstairs, she along with several of the other ladies in line were kind enough to take pictures.

Maybe it was the excitement of getting Martha's autograph on a couple of books that are my surprise Christmas presents for my step-mom Gloria and her good friend Paula.
They both LOVE Martha Stewart.
Martha Stewart's Cooking School: Lessons and Recipes for the Home Cook.
The books are HUGE and they weight a ton.
I rehearsed in my head what I would say to this icon of home interiors/cooking/modern day etiquette. I felt like Ralphie in A CHRISTMAS STORY as he approached Santa. I didn't want to screw it up. God help me not to screw it up in front of Miss Martha.

My father once created a "Martha Stewart turkey" for Thanksgiving.
AS GOD AS MY WITNESS....this was the most beautiful, tasty, moist and delicious turkey I had EVER tasted in my life! So I rehearsed this little story in my mind until I knew what I wanted to say to this true "maverick." This woman who served jail time for something that now looks like petty theft compared to what the "boys" down on Wall Street did to our economy.

The line moves quickly. Martha is being gracious but is firm in what she wants done at this book signing. And Vroman's staff did an amazing job of keeping it all organized and moving.
No personal notes, only her signature on her "new" book, no signing of other "memorabilia."
So when I finally got to the table I had to let Miss Martha know the following facts.

Our conversation was brief but memorable.

ME: Miss Martha good afternoon.
MARTHA: Good afternoon.

ME: My father back in Kentucky was inspired to create a Thanksgiving day turkey from your recipe that was amazing.

MARTHA: Really? Your father? (Genuinely surprised, then thoughtful...)
Did he use my basic recipe?

ME: He brined the turkey. It was the most delicious turkey I have ever tasted.
These books are going to make wonderful Christmas presents for my parents and their neighbor Paula.

MARTHA: Well thank you and enjoy.
ME: Thank you Miss Martha for you time.

And with that I was out of there. Laura my line mate took some photos along with some of the other ladies in line. Let's face it, this woman has made a career/life/empire out of gracious living and being gracious.

Given the crazy times we live in...I think we all can be reminded to be a little kinder to each other. It's the little things that make a difference, like a hand written note or letter sent to a friend or family member. How about fixing dinner for a small group and entertaining at home. It's really less expensive that everyone going out. And in these economic times it makes sense. Look for my homemade soup recipes in the coming weeks. You'd be amazed how many people you can feed for less that $20.

Just remember after all these years... IT'S STILL A GOOD THING!"
http://www.marthastewart.com/

What did you do last Saturday night? Oh I protested and then went for Mexican at El Chavo

When in Silverlake, dress the part.
I found myself to be one of the few men actually wearing leather this past Saturday night at the protest march in Silverlake. (A lovely leather vest over tan long sleeved shirt, tight blue jeans and black motorcycle boots. Tom of Finland would have approved.)

For those of you not from Los Angeles, the Silverlake, Sunset Jct area of LA was known in the past for a number of "levi/leather" bars. I think its all come down to one bar now THE EAGLE. My friend Bill and I followed the crowd down "little Santa Monica Blvd" and past the Eagle.


Some of my friends that passed by asked me a few questions.
"Hey, did you just come out of the bar?"

(I was standing there holding two lit candles and a protest sign. My friend Bill had made a pit stop to use the bathroom.)

"No honey, I'm not doing a hot wax demonstration tonight at the Eagle. I am protesting just like you."

They laughed and when Bill joined me we stopped at his car which is now blocked in by the protest and sat on the back of it watching all the cute guys marching by.

I discovered there are benefits to being political.

But seriously folks...what amazed me were the number of "straight couples" and some with their kids. Gay couples with kids, grandparents, and a huge number of "kids" under the age of 30 that were out there protesting. Makes a middle aged guy like me so proud.
(Yeah I finally admit it. LOL)

I don't know if I will ever get married but I certainly want the same DAMN rights as oh let's say Britney Spears. She famously married her friend from High School to have sex with him and then got it annulled 3 days later. If that "pop tart" can get married just to the deed, then why can't a lesbian couple that have been in a committed relationship longer than Brit's been alive, get married as well?

IT MAKES NO DAMN SENSE!

After Bill and I rounded the corner of Sunset and Vermont we realized there was a growing faction of protesters pushing the line to go west on Sunset. The protest route was a big loop to end back at Sunset Jct. We chose to not push the line west and went back toward Sunset Jct and stopped at El Chavo Restaurant. Marching and protesting had left us starved for some dinner.

When we finished an hour later Sunset Blvd was just opening back up but the protesting was still going on. I walked Bill to his car back down by the Eagle. He could finally get out and go south to avoid the protest traffic. I walked past the Eagle and thought about going in. But since I don't drink anymore, I really didn't want to go into a crowded bar with a bunch of thirsty protesters who would be site seeing.
(Besides, baby don't stand in no line at a bar. The last time I did that was 1988!)

I went back up to Sunset Jct and ran into one of the guys I know from the California Men's Gathering. It's a social group located in SF, SD and LA. I now attend a few of their functions specifically because they are non-alcohol/drug events. We chatted for several hours watching the crowds from the balcony of the store ROUGH TRADE.

(For those of you not in LA, this is not just your average T-shirt store if you know what I mean. It's sort of the MACY'S of leather gear/adult fun items etc....you get the picture.) I personally didn't make any purchases but my friend from the CMG had a good time.

I walked him back to his car. I guess he felt safe just because I had a leather vest on?
(Hey I can look butch when I want to!)

Never at any point in the evening did I feel unprotected or unsafe. The LAPD was there to literally "Protect and Serve" the community. Others have reported that most of the officers male and female were just there to do their job. Most were very polite.

I don't think any protesters got out of hand and the evening ended with our message getting out to the media.

WE are NOT going to take this PROP 8 passing lightly.

Walking back to my car alone through the old neighborhood on Hyperion, I reflected on how the times have changed in the 15 years I have lived in LA. We went from people dying of AIDS, through an Internet revolution, to a new generation of gays that are out and proud and demanding equal rights.

I felt a sense of peace and satisfaction that I had shown up to do my part, that I had participated.
I can't help but think that a few of my friends who died from AIDS were walking right there beside me throughout the night. I feel blessed that for some reason I am still here to witness.

A Trailer Park: Somewhere between Little Rock, AK and Branson, MO.

Mama and her son Buddy Lee ponder the future of Arkansas' youth.

Mama: Hand me my cigarettes sweetie.
(She lights two and hands him one.)

Buddy Lee: Those GD, MF Evangelicals have done it again mama!

Mama: Keep your voice down. The Gunderson's next door might here.

Buddy Lee: I don't give a good GD if they do! (Inhale/Exhale) You know what really frightens me mama? Do you want to really know what frightens me?

Mama: Spending the rest of your life sewing sequins onto the costumes at the Dixie Stampede in Branson?

Buddy Lee: Well that frightens me, but seriously mama?

Mama: (Inhale/Exhale) Yes baby.

Buddy Lee: What frightens me the most for the youth of Arkansas, is the thought that my sister and her right wing Republican, born again, self righteous, holier than thou husband could actually get to foster or adopt a child
.
Mama: That is frightening. (Inhale/Exhale) And just wrong on so many levels.

Buddy Lee: We both know that he ain't right.

Mama: You can say that again.

Buddy Lee: He ain't right. (Inhale/Exhale) I thought about moving to California to find me a man.

Mama: Oh now why do you want to go and do that. They ain't nothing but trouble.

Buddy Lee: I was real hopefully, but it looks like I can't get married there or in Florida.

Mama: Think of all the money they would have made at Disneyland AND Disneyworld off all of them gay weddings. Sad.

Buddy Lee: I wish every florist, hairdresser, dress maker, wedding planner and caterer who is gay would just refuse to do another straight wedding from now until next June.

Mama: That is cruel and unusual punishment. (Inhale/Exhale)

Buddy Lee: That would be some ugly bitches.

Mama: Would get their attention.
They'd think twice next time before legislating all that hate, huh baby.

Buddy Lee: You got that right mama. If we can't get married, then fuck 'em.

Mama: Amen to that honey! (Inhale/Exhale) Hand your mama that bottle of Scotch baby.

PROTEST RALLY NOV 5th, 2008 West Hollywood, CA

Sick or not, last night after seeing my chiropractor I jumped in the truck and sped up and over Coldwater Canyon and went to the protest rally being held on San Vicente in West Hollywood. I had been notified on Facebook about this event. (How did I ever get along with out it all these years! LOL) Coming from the valley, there was little traffic going back into the city. All was quiet in Beverly Hills as I turned down Rexford and headed toward Santa Monica Blvd/Doheny. IN other words the Edge Of Beverly Hills. That magic line between the city of Beverly Hills with it's perfect rows of overly redone houses in what is commonly called "the flats," to the gritter rows of designer showrooms, gay clubs and hamburger joints butted up again new coffee shops vying for some of Starbucks business.

I finally found a parking space down on Beverly next to the building that houses Relativity Media where I temped several summers ago. I get on the phone and call my friend Tim P out in the desert and inform him that I am going to the rally in the middle of Weho. "Look for me on the 11PM news honey!"

Once I get there most of the crowd is up at the corner of Santa Monica Blvd and San Vicente. I felt the need to get there and to be a part of other historic moment in the gay movement for equality. I had been there back in the early summer when the California Supreme Court had ruled that gay and lesbian couples could wed. The celebration had been an amazing thing to be a part of and last night I just felt like I needed to bookend the experience by attending the rally.

Such mixed emotions over the past few days. FINALLY an "African-American" President elect.
(My sister likes to point out that he is actually a man of mixed race....hello. A fact that nobody seems to want to point out.) But really what does it matter. He is was and always will be the absolutely right man at the right time to take over the mess that the former COKE WHORE/ALKIE named W has left this country in.

(Don't get me started with the Republican Party! Every one of them needs to go to an AL ANON and a DA meeting!)

But I got off the subject...THE RALLY.

I got down front and hugged my new pastor from MCC Church, Rev. Dr Neil and we heard the Gay Men's Chorus sings a couple of songs. After the first one the crowd was really ready to get their frustration off their chests. And finally we did.

As Lorri Jean the director of the Gay & Lesbian Center lead off the evening I felt myself finally calm down. Earlier in the evening I had felt an almost insane rage building in me as I targeted the guy in front of me on the freeway with the YES On Prop 8 bumper sticker. He had a metallic door sign with his number on it. I wanted to call and just scream at him.....HATER! But I thought twice about it and also decided that running him off the road really wasn't the "solution to my problems" today!

The rally was almost surreal. It helped to be in a group of people who felt the same way as I did. Sad, alternating with mad. I thought through the months that I had been working off and on supporting the NO on Prop 8 people. I thought to myself...could I have done more? Given more money? Worked on writing some better commercials for the campaign? What if I had emailed my Mormon cousins and told them a vote YES meant a vote to discriminate against their "big gay cousin" in LA? As the various leaders of our community spoke I was amazed that I actually knew two of them personally. Councilmember John Duran got out of bed and came with hoarse voice and all and addressed the crowd. Having Chaired Equality for All I want to see this man go on to the state level and knock some heads around. (He finds time to do all this and sing with the Gay Men's Chorus. He did not sing last night but what a guy!) I went up to him later and told him he had to not speak for at least a day or two. His work is done here. Time to rest.

Then there was Rev. Dr. Neil Thomas. Okay, I admit it. I have the tiniest little crush on this Brit who is the head of MCC LA. He is a dynamic voice and I love his sermons on Sunday. I will be there this Sunday as he offers us all some words of comfort from this temporary setback. He is helping me with prayer for some health challenges that I have been through these past few months.

(I started going to MCC about three weeks ago when I started my "34 days of Radical Healing, Pray and Meditation." At some other time I will elaborate on what this means to me personally but the end of the 34 days in November 20th and more will be revealed at this time.)

Rev. Dr. Neil and his boyfriend were standing at the back of the flatbed truck that served as the temporary platform for the speeches. I thanked him for his service to the community and then saw a few friends around the area.

After it was all over I treated myself to some food at TANGO GRILL. Still after 15 years of living in LA one of my favorite restaurants in West Hollywood.

On the drive back over the hill to my 1970's studio in Valley Village, I couldn't help but think about all the gay folks in Arkansas who got shot down, along with Florida and Arizona. I am grateful that I live in California with such a large GLBT community. But the real work now begins. This country just elected its first "African-American President." Truly a milestone. Again was I hoping too much that we could progress enough to let couple who have been together for decades finally get the chance to legally wed?

Is it too much to ask for God?

Peace and blessings,
GM

We won the war but lost the battle in CA.

So I've been sick the past few days. Yes, sick of all the political ads and all the work on No on Prop 8 that I have done. But seriously sick with a sinus/ear infection that has had me down for the count for several days. It didn't stop me from getting up at 5:30AM on Tuesday November 4th to go and stand in line on a cold morning here in LA. (Upper 50's in the valley, rainy is cold to those of us who make southern California our home.) I parked my truck on Laurel Canyon Blvd. It's one of those busy valley main arteries that flows north to south. As I came around the 4 Square Church and parked the truck I saw the line of 50. As I walked up the line was around the corner onto Califa street. It was a diverse group of people reflecting the diverse little pocket that makes up my neighborhood, Valley Village. I called my daddy back in Kentucky and we talked about voting and what he had experienced back in his little polling place in J-town, KY. It took me about a 1/2 hour to get through the experience. Sinus infection or not I was going to be there to cast my ballot for Obama/Biden. Then I finally got to Prop 8 and I dabbed the ink pen to make my vote a big, fat friggin' NO! I almost cried when it was done. No seriously I was that emotional. Maybe it was the lack of sleep over the past three nights, the mental exhaustion of having to listen to ONE MORE stupid Yes On 8 ad that was targeting Hispanic woman and using children as bait or was it the relief that it was all finally over in that moment. And once I was done I knew that it was up to a power greater than myself to decide this outcome.

SO with OBAMA as the new President elect I sat and cried on my bed.
Honestly I did. An amazing moment in America's history. It has taken us 40 years to go from the Civil Rights movement exploding in this country to electing the first African-American President. Was I being too hopefully that history would change for us gay and lesbian American's with the defeat of Prop 8 that would ban us from being able to legally marry?

Granted I have made many jokes, improperly at the expense of my recent ex, that while I can't seem to find a man to marry me, it doesn't mean that I don't defend your right to get married. The truth is that I have always wanted to get married. I have always wanted to not pay as much in taxes just because I will always be considered a "single" man even if I do have a partner. There is something to being "accepted" under the law as one half of a legally married partnership.

Maybe it is too much to ask at this time?
It wasn't that long ago that they came into gay bars and rounded us up and took us to jail. It was in 1973 that the APA removed homosexuality from it's list of mental disorders. When AIDS hit we fought through it and moved forward to save lives with the help of groups like ACT-UP. Am I being too hopefully to want to finally be considered an equal citizen in the United States?

I THINK NOT.

I hope that people will continue to go to the courthouses in California
(Pronounced: Cal ee forn ee ya) and ask for marriage licenses and then sit in until they are given one or arrested. Hell if I had a man I wanted to marry I would be there doing it myself. I find that I will have to support this movement for equality in another way, through writing something hysterically funny and popular so that the next time this thing rolls around people will think twice before they press their blotter down and vote to discriminate against me.