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