James Spada's Blog, page 6

BARBRA STREISAND'S EUROPEAN TOUR KICKS OFF TOMORROW!

Appearing for the first time ever in Israel, Cologne, Amsterdam and returning to London for the first time in over six years, Barbra Streisand Live promises to be a magical evening of timeless hits, combining her elegant voice, with self-deprecating humor and charming banter. An additional date has also just been added in Berlin.

Barbra Streisand's “Back To Brooklyn” Concert On PBS This Fall

PBS ARTS FALL FESTIVAL: GREAT PERFORMANCES “Barbra Streisand: Back to Brooklyn”
The legendary Barbra Streisand makes a historic homecoming back to Brooklyn at the new Barclays Center arena, marking the superstar’s first Brooklyn concert since her childhood years. Joined by special guests Il Volo and Chris Botti, Streisand performs an extensive selection of songs from her five-decade career, including a touching duet with her son, Jason Gould. Friday, November 29, 9:00 p.m. ET
Also of note this PBS season:
AMERICAN MASTERS “Marvin Hamlisch: The Way He Was”
By age 31, Marvin Hamlisch had won four Grammys, an Emmy, three Oscars and a Tony. His famous singles and scores made him the go-to composer for film and Broadway and the go-to performer for every president since Reagan. When his unprecedented streak ended, he fell into despair. With a rich archival legacy, collaborators from Liza Minnelli to Steven Soderbergh and complete cooperation from his family, this documentary has a wealth of material to tell Hamlisch’s rich, bittersweet story. Friday, December 27, 9:00 p.m. ET

BEN STILLER ON BARBRA STREISAND

Ben Stiller joined many others in paying tribute to Barbra at the Chaplin Award ceremonies in New York last week:

This is a little known fact. I had to cold call Barbra Streisand to get her to do “Meet the Fockers.” The director, Jay Roach, said he talked to her and she was on the fence and he asked me to try and persuade her ... So I called and a few months later when Barbra eventually returned, it was weird—I was talking to Barbra Streisand. So I broke the ice by telling her that “The Main Event” was better than “Raging Bull.” She agreed. Then she asked me why she should do it—why she should do “Fockers,” you know? It's not really easy to give Barbra Streisand career advice. Just ask Donna Karan. So I finally resorted to bending the truth a little bit and telling her that I was the world's biggest “Funny Girl” fan. I said I knew every song, I had posters on my wall as a kid. I even played “Nate Arnstein” in high school ...Then she told me it was “Nick.” And I said I was confusing it with “Guys and Dolls.” And then she said ‘What are you talking about?’ And I pretended it was bad cell reception and I hung up on her.
But, finally we worked out the creative details—or as she calls it, money. Luckily she did it and I'm very proud to have worked with her.
Barbra, you're an incredible director, you're an incredible person, you're a force of nature, and I'm very happy I'm your cinematic son.

BARBRA SPEAKS!

Advertise on NYTimes.comThe 6 People Streisand Wants at Her Dinner Party MGM/UA via Kobal CollectionBarbra Streisand in “Yentl” (1983), which she also directed. She said it was hard to finance the films she wanted to make. More Photos »By THE NEW YORK TIMESPublished: April 21, 2013 FacebookTwitterGoogle+SaveE-mailSharePrintReprints At a gala on Monday night Barbra Streisand will receive the Film Society of Lincoln Center’s Chaplin Award for lifetime achievement. The society cited in particular her work on “Yentl,” the first movie to credit a woman as director, writer, producer and star, along with other big-screen turns behind the camera (“Prince of Tides” and “The Mirror Has Two Faces”) and in front of it (“Funny Girl” and “For Pete’s Sake”). Multimedia Slide ShowBarbra Streisand in Pictures Enlarge This Image Columbia Pictures, via Kobal CollectionBarbra Streisand in the 1974 film “For Pete’s Sake.” She is receiving the Film Society of Lincoln Center’s Chaplin Award. More Photos »Before the gala Ms. Streisand answered readers’ questions, and hundreds took to the ArtsBeat blog to declare their affection and post their queries. Amid a few invitations to dinner and to sing at weddings, readers touched on a range of topics — the cinematography on “Yentl,” potential new projects (like “Gypsy”), Ms. Streisand’s years at Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn, the recent Duck Sauce hit song named after her. Here she answers those questions and more: Q. I’m sure you heard about people naming the six people they would want at an intimate dinner party. You are always on my list, along with Jacqueline Kennedy, Buddha, Mary Magdalene, Martha Mitchell and David Hockney. So, my question: Who’s at your dinner table? OLDE WACHOVIAN, New York A. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Albert Einstein, Edward Hopper, Gustav Klimt and Fanny Brice. Q. What’s the biggest public misconception about you? DEB, New York A. It takes a lot of time to answer a question like that. At the moment, I’m not that interested in myself. Q. At the premiere of “Yentl” Steven Spielberg famously said it was the most auspicious directorial debut since “Citizen Kane.” I expected that to mark a turn in your career toward directing, but you have only directed two films since then. Was directing just too all-consuming, or was it hard to get funding for the kind of films you wanted to make? MARK, Key West, Fla. A. The latter. I tried for 25 years to get funding for “The Normal Heart” and couldn’t. My latest project about Margaret Bourke-White and Erskine Caldwell was also very hard to finance. Q. One of the most wonderful things about “Yentl” (among many) is the gorgeous cinematography by David Watkin, your director of photography. My favorite scene is when Yentl arrives at the yeshiva and we hear “This Is One of Those Moments” as the light streams in through the windows and pours over the books and tables in the library. Can you tell us a little about your collaboration with Watkin in terms of how you arrived at your vision for the lighting and the look achieved in the final film? It’s absolutely sumptuous to watch, especially on the big screen. Many congratulations on your well-deserved Chaplin Award. And please keep making movies. INWOOD 207, New York A. Thank you. David Watkin was wonderfully talented. I showed him Rembrandt paintings as an example for the look I wanted. Then I flew to see those Rembrandts at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. I wanted to see up close how black the blacks were in order to decide what film stock to use. Q. I really enjoyed your direction and acting in “The Prince of Tides.” What are a couple of the specific challenges when a person both directs and acts in the same film, and in this case is also the producer? How do you retain objectivity in carrying out all these different roles for one film? JONATHAN, Tamarac, Fla. A. It’s actually easier to direct and act — takes less time, fewer people to debate with. Producing allows you to weigh decisions based on the financial versus the artistic, which can lead to interesting creative choices. As for being objective, I am very objective about myself. It is always “her” up there and never me. Q. I remember you screened “Yentl” for a class of University of Southern California cinema students back in the ’80s. As I watched from the audience, I thought “Yentl” might help open the doors for women in film. What are your impressions about the industry today? Do we find fewer women assuming those major roles — director, producer, writer and star — because the jobs are so specialized, or are there other factors? CAROL, Atlanta A. After all these years I don’t think women have come far enough in the industry. When it comes to assuming more than one major role on a motion picture, it’s something men are admired for. However, it seems that women are still perceived as a threat. Q. The world is coming to an end and the artistic treasures of the world are being sent out into the universe in a space capsule in hopes some civilization in the future will retrieve and preserve them. There’s only room in the capsule for one of your movies. Which one do you want to save? RSB56, Evanston, Ill. A. Probably “Funny Girl.” Q. Thanks for being an inspiration to so many. Obviously you love films. What specific films have inspired you the most over the years as a person and filmmaker, perhaps from your early childhood to today? Include movies you never tire of watching or have in your DVD collection. Heartfelt thanks and please make more movies as a director or actress! BRUCE ROGER, suburban Philadelphia A. “The Hairdresser’s Husband”; “Sunshine” with Ralph Fiennes; “Mrs. Brown”; and “On the Waterfront.” Q. How do you feel about Duck Sauce naming that disco hit after you? Appalled? Flattered? Indifferent? MARY, New York A. Flattered!! Q. Wondering, in your long, great career, what’s your biggest regret? Something you did and fell flat, something you didn’t get to do. BAPPLE30, New York A. I always loved “Up the Sandbox.” It was a complete flop, but I still love it. What do I regret not doing? “Cabaret,” “Klute” and “Julia.” I was offered those roles before such wonderful directors were attached. If I had known that the directors were going to be Bob Fosse, Alan J. Pakula and Fred Zinnemann, I would have said yes immediately. But I’m glad my girlfriends Liza Minnelli and Jane Fonda delivered such strong performances. Q. Barbra, you recently returned home for your concerts in Brooklyn. As far as I’m concerned there is one more homecoming you should make: a return to the Broadway stage. Have you given thought to bringing your career full circle with a return to the theater? DOUGLAS CURTIS, St. Paul A. If I only could do four shows a week! Q. I am a native New Yorker and a lifetime fan of your music! What is your fondest memory of Erasmus Hall High? My dad is a fellow alum. LISA, Vancouver A. The architecture and the Choral Club. Q. Are you still planning to play Momma Rose in “Gypsy”? Please say yes! JIM C., Seattle A. Yes. Q. Hubbell Gardner or Nicky Arnstein? Why? L. BEZOZO, New York A. It’s like choosing between your two kids ... . I can’t! Q. During 1965 I sat at a desk in my earth-science class at Erasmus, which had the following carved into the desk: barbra ’59. I always wondered from that time on if it was really you who wrote that? LINDA KLASSEL, Baltimore A. I would never hurt a piece of furniture!

Barbra Pays Tribute to Deceased Fan

Barbra on the passing of Allison J. Waldman. APRIL 16, 2013, 3:39 pm I was very saddened to hear of Allison Waldman's passing Monday. She had been struggling bravely for many years to beat cancer.
I knew Allison over the years as a very good writer and a kind and loyal fan of mine who created and wrote "The Barbra Files" magazine and "The Barbra Streisand Scrapbook"... she was always wonderful to me. She was dedicated to the accuracy of the news she conveyed, and she shaped her stories with great style.
I was so happy to finally get to meet Allison at my Brooklyn concert this past Fall and to be able to thank her personally for her encouragement and dedication.
I extend to her family and friends my heartfelt sympathies. She will be certainly missed by all of us.
Barbra Streisand.

Motion Picture Academy unveils new drawings for film museum

Motion Picture Academy unveils new drawings for film museum

By Nicole Sperling -- Los Angeles Times

The current architectural rendering for the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. (©Renzo Piano Building


The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences has unveiled new concept drawings for its film museum ­ including a giant, domed theater structure ­ to open in 2017 at the historic May Co. building on the LACMA campus at Fairfax Avenue and Wilshire Boulevard.

The plans will require the demolition of a back portion of the building, which was added on in 1946, to make room for the orb-shaped, glass-topped structure that will be connected to the original building and will feature a 1,000-seat theater and a terrace with an expansive view of Hollywood. As announced Monday, the theater will be named for David Geffen, who has donated $25 million to the museum.

Italian architect Renzo Piano called the new structure a "soap bubble," a "dirigible," "a sphere" and said it reminded him of "a spaceship landing" in a conversation with L.A. Times editors and reporters Thursday to discuss the museum project.

"I want it to feel that it's about the wonder of cinema-making," added the Pritzker Prize-winning architect, who is working with fellow architect Zoltan Pali on the design.

The academy will hold an "Inaugural Celebration" this evening at the May Co. site to thank donors to the museum, for which it hopes to raise $300 million for construction. More than half of that has already been collected.

Los Angeles Country Museum of Art owns the building, and the academy has taken out a 110-year lease on the property.

According to Heather Cochran, managing director of museum project, the organization is about to embark on the Environmental Impact Report process, which should last 12 to 18 months.

Cochran said the construction process could last 30 months, and academy CEO Dawn Hudson is hopeful the museum will open in 2017.

The academy says the museum will feature six levels of exhibition and programming space, including more than 30,000 square feet of "flexible exhibition galleries." A 15,000-square-foot landscaped public piazza will serve as a gathering space for visitors and connect the museum with the LACMA campus. Piano was quick to point out that much of the ground floor of the museum will be free and open to the public.

In the past few years the academy has acquired a few iconic pieces of memorabilia that are likely to be featured in the museum's permanent collection, including a slew of historic movie posters and the ruby slippers from "The Wizard of Oz."

In the academy's program for Thursday evening's event, there is special thanks given to Michael Eisenberg for his donation of iconic movie costumes and to Dr. Gary Milan for the mahogany-colored statuette of the Maltese Falcon and the piano from Rick's Cafe Americain from "Casablanca."

Academy officials said entrance fees for the museum would likely be $12 to $15 a ticket. They plan numerous interactive exhibits highlighting the behind-the-scenes of movie-making.

Lis Smith on Marilyn's "Bra"?

Saw an item the other day that reported Marilyn Monroe’s brassiere from “Some Like It Hot” sold for nearly $30,000, at Julian’s Auction House in Beverly Hills. I asked my old friend and MM expert Denis Ferrara about this. He said: “Her bra? If anybody has ever seen “Some Like It Hot,” you know she didn’t wear a bra. And naturally not a girdle. By the time filming ended. she was about four months pregnant and showing.” (She would miscarry shortly after.) Denis continued: “In her last three completed films, ‘Hot’, ‘Let’s Make Love’ and ‘The Misfits,’ she has clearly thrown her bra away. Lots of ‘movement’ in those movies. I wasn’t there, but if she wore a bra, it had to be made of tissue paper and string.”
And such is the stuff of film history.

From Matt Howe's Barbra Archives

Streisand Directing By Year's EndDeadline is reporting that Barbra Streisand will direct her version of the Margaret Bourke-White/Erskine Caldwell love story. Deadline says “casting is underway with an eye to shoot before the end of the year. Streisand is currently overseeing the screenplay for the project. She had previously sought to film the story, but that production did not come to fruition. This is a new take.”
Behind the scenes, Deadline says “Mark Manuel’s Kilburn Media will finance the film and Aldamisa will handle worldwide sales. Aldamisa’s president of international sales & aquisitions, Nadine de Barros, will serve as a producer.”
I have no idea what this means for Gypsy ... although it looks like the Bourke-White love story will be Streisand's next project, as she is concertizing in Europe in June.
UPDATE 4/5/13: The Independent's story on Stephen Sondheim (lyricist for Gypsy) has the following tidbit: Barbra Streisand, meanwhile, remains committed to a fresh screen take on Gypsy...
It's also interesting that Deadline does not mention the Skinny and Cat title (the previous script about Bourke-White that Streisand had worked on) nor Cate Blanchett's involvement (she was previously announced as attached to the Skinny and Cat project.)

REVIEW OF NEW PLAY "MARILYN--MY SECRET"

Two months from today Marilyn Monroe fans will celebrate what would have been her eighty-seventh birthday. It’s hard to imagine her at such an advanced age, considering her beauty, vivacity, and girlish manner. Her death was indeed tragic, but it has left us with an image of Marilyn with her charms undiluted by advanced age.     Since her death, there have been innumerable books, several movies, and a number of stage plays about her. Her latest stage incarnation is on view in “Marilyn—My Secret” at the Macha Theater in West Hollywood, which opened March 30.      The play, co-written by its producer/director Odalys Nanin and Willard Manus, is a short (eighty minutes) and mostly enjoyable two acts that take place in Marilyn’s Brentwood home after her death in 1962. (We’re seeing Marilyn reminisce in heaven, apprently.) The writers have done their research about Monroe, but several times they succumb to the understandable temptation to run with the most sensationalistic assertions about the woman—twenty abortions, a baby at 14, a long and meaningful lesbian relationship with a drama coach, flings with Marlene Dietrich, Elizabeth Taylor, and the most celebrated stripper of the late forties, Lili St. Cyr, who teaches Marilyn how to be sexy. None of these rumors has come close to being proved. (The play introduces St. Cyr [played by Katarina Radivojevic] with a complete strip routine, which I found gratuitous and overlong, especially since St. Cyr is a minor cog in the play’s machinery.) Even more controversial will be the scene in which Marilyn performs fellatio on Bobby Kennedy.    Those reservations aside, the central question is, Does the actress who plays Marilyn do a convincing job? Here I have more positive things to say. She’s Kelly Mullis, a veteran actress and acting workshop director at the Complex Theater. Her program notes say she has been a Marilyn fan since she was nineteen, and her affection for Marilyn shows. In this nearly one-woman show (she’s the center of attention for seventy-five of the eighty minutes), she gives us a multi-layered sexy symbol, conveying Marilyn’s highs and lows, her sweetness and her guile, with equal sympathy. She sings a number of Marilyn’s songs, using her own voice, and it’s close enough. Whether acting or singing, she rivets the audience’s attention every moment, just as Marilyn did on screen, and that’s the definition of a star.      If I have one complaint about the performance it’s that when Marilyn is delighted by something Mullin gives a short, high-pitched squeal that reminded me of Jayne Mansfield in Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? Marilyn never did that, on or off screen.      This is a multi-media show, with the stage backdrop being a screen that frequently shows us clips and photos of the real Marilyn, as well as one Photoshopped image of Marilyn with JFK, something else that will displease some. There are two supporting actors who supply most of the evening’s laughs. Monique Melissa Lukens plays both Natasha Lytess, Marilyn’s first acting coach, and her last, Paula Strasberg, wife of Lee. Paula is amusingly covered in black, including head scarf and sunglasses, which isn’t that far from the way Paula often appeared, being the avatar of serious drama. Jamie German plays Bobby Kennedy and a cowboy Marilyn picks up for a one-night-stand while in disguise. The athletic I-cant-wait jump he does on top of the couch on which she lies brings the evening’s biggest laugh.    Some Marilyn fans will have serious qualms about this show, but I would urge those wondering whether or not to see it to attend a performance and decide for themselves.

SAD .LETTER FROM MARILYN TO LEE STRASBERG

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AP
NEW YORK - Marilyn Monroe's letter of despair to mentor Lee Strasberg, and Dwight D. Eisenhower's heartfelt missives to his wife during World War II are among hundreds of historical documents being offered in an online auction.
Monroe's handwritten, undated letter to the famed acting teacher is expected to fetch $30,000 to $50,000 in the May 30 sale.
PHOTOS: STARS WHO PLAY MARILYN MONROE
AP The first page of a handwritten letter from Marilyn Monroe which expresses suicidal thoughts to her mentor, Lee Strasberg. "My will is weak but I can't stand anything. I sound crazy but I think I'm going crazy," Monroe wrote on Hotel Bel-Air letterhead stationery. "It's just that I get before a camera and my concentration and everything I'm trying to learn leaves me. Then I feel like I'm not existing in the human race at all."
The 58 Eisenhower letters, handwritten between 1942 and 1945, range from news of the war to the Allied commander's devotion to his wife, Mamie. They are believed to be among the largest group of Eisenhower letters to survive intact and could bring up to $120,000, said Joseph Maddalena, whose Profiles in History is auctioning the items.
RELATED: MARILYN MONROE LINE HITS MACY’S
AP The Monroe letter is among a collection of historical documents to be sold at an online auction by Profiles in History on Wednesday, May 8, 2013.
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/auction-marilyn-monroe-john-lennon-letters-article-1.1302327#ixzz2Owlbumkr