About Last Night

Review of An Englishman in New York

Last night I saw the premier of An Englishman in New York at the Tribeca Film Festival. After the movie there was a question and answer time with John Hurt, Richard Laxton, Linda Moran & Cynthia Nixon. I'm not the best at expressing myself in a public forum but I did want to ask a question...and regret not standing and voicing it at the time.

I did enjoy the movie overall. I don't know a lot about Quentin Crisp. I do know that he was a Character here in New York, lived here for many years and is seen as an icon of sorts to many.

Near the end of the movie, Quentin is discussing with the other characters about the possibly of going back to England for a performance. They express their concerns that perhaps that would not be good as his heart is so weak, etc... but then he does somehow travel down to Tampa Florida (of all places) and he is giving one of his question and answer dialogues... and I do admit, he does say some very wise things with his usual take on life and advice.. but then the movie suddenly ends and words come up on the screen saying he dies in Manchester and his ashes were scattered over New York City!

Did you run out of film?

The only reason there are words at the end of a movie is because they either ran out of money, or ran out of film. .. or (perhaps) to clarify or update us on some points of concern.

But this ending just seemed odd and "chopped off" for me. Couldn't you have just put in ONE MORE MINUTE? Maybe show him collapsing in Manchester and then have an airplane fly overhead here in NYC with some ashes spewn about? I'm not looking for a 'tidy' ending,, it's just that what was put in words could have easily been shown to us in film. And after all this talk in the movie about not going to England and then at the end you type out "he dies in Manchester"? And after 30 odd years living here in New York City the last scene is him in Tampa? How DID he die? How DID they throw his ashes about?.. Please finish the film.. or is there going to be a sequel?

Bubble Lounge

amfAR Around Town:
An Evening with the Tribeca Film Festival

Tonight, I'll be attending a champagne reception at The Bubble Lounge in my neighborhood. The reception is for the North American Premiere Screening of An Englishman in New York.

From amfAR: Join us for a night of food, fun and film. An Evening with the Tribeca Film Festival is the latest installment of the amfAR Around Town event series. Blending social and substantive activities, amfAR Around Town aims to fight complacency and to deliver the information on HIV/AIDS that young people need to stay informed and stay safe.

About the movie:: Picking up where the 1975 classic The Naked Civil Servant left off, John Hurt reprises his role as Quentin Crisp. This entertaining and poignant film explores the last 25 years of Crisp’s life, tracing his journey from an easily shocked London to a fabulously shocking New York.

About the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR): Founded in 1985, amfAR is dedicated to ending the global AIDS epidemic through innovative research. With the freedom and flexibility to respond quickly to emerging areas of scientific promise, amfAR plays a catalytic role in accelerating the pace of HIV/AIDS research and achieving real breakthroughs. more...

TOAST WEEKEND

For just this weekend, I transformed my small New York City studio apartment into an art gallery "Salon Style". I participated in the Tribeca Open Artists Studio Tour artwalk event for the first time and I really enjoyed the experince.

In spite of this weekends record breaking 90° temperatures, the show went well. I had a few dozen art lovers show up for each day and the energy was great. I met some wonderful people and was able to show my art, have good conversations and relax and share a bit of wine and cheese. I not only made several good sales, but I was happy how my space transformed into a gallery setting equal to any SOHO flat. Thank you New York~!

Now that I know the 'ropes' of TOAST, I look forward to doing this next year in an even grander way~!

Tribeca "Family" Film Festivasl

If it's April, it's time our little neighborhood swells by thousands for the Tribeca Film Festival.

I remember my first year in the neighborhood and how impressed I was with the street festival that ran along Greenwich Street the second weekend. All the major films had tents with information and promotions. There were street artists, entertainment stages and all of the restaurants along Greenwich Street had outdoor takeaway food stands. Really great stuff.

But a few years ago, they changed their theme from "Film" to "Family". Now the street festival is billed as the Family Festival. So, in comes the strollers and thousands of kids and parents and all the clowns and messy craft stands; sticky candy and painted faces, games, crap after crap after crap all for "the kids".

I don't understand what an adult film festival has to do with kids and families. Huh? What used to feel like "Cannes" now feels like a bad tailgate party in the parking lot of Disney.

Spreading the T.O.A.S.T.

The TriBeCa Open Artist Studio Tour is a free, self-guided tour of approximately 100 artists' studios throughout TriBeCa. Bringing artists and the public together, it provides an opportunity for visitors to interact with the artists and see their artwork at the source, the artist’s own studio...

Today I took my bundles of T.O.A.S.T. pamphlets and hit up all of the independent coffee shops in the neighborhood. ..and the library.. and anywhere else I could drop off a few dozen or so. The Tribeca Open Artists Studio Tour this year is the last weekend of April. I will be one of the participating artists this year for the first time... opening up my small studio on Duane St. Saturday and Sunday, April 25th and 26th. Here is a map of all of the studios.