Gay and lesbian film festival greets its 15th year

Durham Herald Sun
Gay & Lesbian Film Festival announces August lineup
07.07.10 – 09:20 pm
From staff reports

DURHAM — Comedy writer Bruce Vilanch will perform at the 15th annual North Carolina Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, to be at the Carolina Theatre Aug. 12-15.

Vilanch is best known as the joke and gag writer for the Oscars, the Tonys, the Grammys and other awards shows. His life and often requested skills as a joke writer were the subject of a 1999 documentary titled “Get Bruce!” Vilanch was an entertainment writer for the Chicago Tribune, an assignment that put him in touch with Bette Midler, who in 1970 hired him to write jokes for her.

He continues to write for Midler. He also has contributed material to comedians Lily Tomlin, Joan Rivers and others. His extensive writing credits include the television shows “Donnie and Marie,” “The Brady Bunch Hour,” and Dolly Parton‘s variety show “Dolly.” He played the role of Edna Turnblad in the touring show of the Broadway production of “Hairspray.”

Vilanch will perform at the festival at 9:30 p.m. Aug. 13.

The four-day festival is dedicated to screening films that reflect the many voices of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. The 2010 festival will present 73 feature and short films from the United States, Canada, Argentina, India, Israel, France, New Zealand, Peru and Colombia.

In other festival highlights, director Robert Gaston will present an exclusive North Carolina sneak peek of his new film, “Flight of the Cardinal,” filmed entirely in North Carolina.

“Howl” is a documentary about the late poet Allen Ginsberg and the making of his ground-breaking Beat Generation poem of the same name. It was produced and filmed by Academy Award-winning documentarians Rob Epstein (“The Times of Harvey Milk“) and Jeffrey Friedman. It includes animation by Ginsberg collaborator Eric Drooker that captures the essence of the poem.

“Edie and Thea: A Very Long Engagement,” a documentary from the makers of “The Brandon Teena Story,” tells the story of two women who met in the early 1960s and shared their lives and their love for the next 42 years. “Gen Silent,” from director Stu Maddox, director of “Bob and Jack’s 52-Year Adventure,” is a documentary about elderly LGBT people who go back into the closet to survive in the health care system. Maddox will lead an audience discussion after the screening.

The festival will have three short film programs for women, four programs of men’s shorts, and a program of five transgender shorts.

The 2010 festival Plaza Party takes place at 8 p.m. Aug. 14 with partial proceeds benefiting the LGBT Center of Raleigh. A VIP Reception and party for filmmakers, sponsors and festival donors takes place at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 13 in the Connie Moses Ballroom.

Tickets for the festival 10-Pass, Bruce Vilanch and the Plaza Party 2010 go on sale at 11 a.m. Monday. The Festival 10-pass is $75, $63 for Star Members. Tickets for Vilanch are $37, $27 and $22 for Star Members. Tickets for the Plaza Party are $10 in advance and $13 at the door.

For information on the VIP Reception and party, call the box office at 560-3030. Tickets may be purchased online at www. carolinatheatre.org and www.ncglff.org or call the box office at 919-560-3030 or toll free at 1-888-241-8162.

Tickets for individual films are $9 and $7.50 for Star Members and go on sale at 11 a.m. July 28.

For more information and a complete list of films, visit www.ncglfff.org.

South Florida Gay News
Vincent de Paul: Doctor, Actor, Sweetheart
Sunday, 11 April 2010 23:06
Written by A. Sebastian Fortino

The multi-faceted Vincent de Paul will be back on his beloved South Beach this week to begin shooting a new film. “Walk a Mile in My Pradas” promises to be a hit with gay audiences, and anyone with a love of whimsical films.

“A lot of films don’t have much heart, but this one does. It spoke to me and I knew it was right,” de Paul said from South Beach, during Miami Fashion Week. “Bruce Vilanch plays a character who has these magical powers that can turn 1 straight man gay and 1 gay man straight in Beverly Hills. It’s pure magic and set during Christmastime.”

The film is written by Rick Karatis. Jason Priestly, Erhys Cooper from Mama Mia, and Tom Archdeacon headline the cast in addition to de Paul and Vilanch.

De Paul is no stranger to whimsical films. He got his start in his native Baltimore in John Waters’ “Hairspray.”

“I didn’t even know who John Waters and Divine were. I was in an Italian folk dance group in Baltimore and they were looking for kids who could do 1960s dances.”

After doing the Mashed Potato for choreographer Ed Love of Alvin Ailey de Paul was booked. The decidedly whimsical way in which he ended up performing would not end there. His modeling career came about when he was on South Beach and was approached to model for Gianni Versace, by Versace himself.

Had he not been approached that day by Versace he would have stayed in his initial profession, working with not so lively characters. His family was in the funeral home business back in Baltimore. The dashing de Paul initially embarked on a career in mortuary science at Mt. Sinai Hospital.

Despite his jet setting ways, he is a good old-fashioned Italian boy at heart. “I try to get back to Baltimore to see my family quite often, every holiday. I also still work with independent producers following in the Baltimore tradition of John Waters. I believe in the work of small producers. I’d love to find the next Precious,” says de Paul.

In addition to having fame, talent, a medical degree and an amazing body, de Paul possesses a genuine personality that can only be called simpatico. The time spent interviewing de Paul was refreshing, like talking to a Baltimore native over soft shell crabs. His insights into his career never came across as boastful. His modesty was delightful, and implies he knows the “now” is not what makes an actor. It is the ability to befriend his public and focus on craft—not celebrity.

Among other projects de Paul has been involved with is—a remake of one of the gayest movies ever made. Here’s a hint, “But you are Blanche! You are in that chair!” He assures our readers Bette Davis will not roll over in her grave.

“It was so much fun! The detailing was so meticulous to recreate 1962.” Billy Clift, gay icon and screen legend Montgomery Clift’s nephew, “wrote and directed it. He was amazing to work with, one of the creative types that I love to be around.”

He plays Bill Kovax, a detective who has caught Baby Jane’s eye. The film is an official selection of Frameline34, San Francisco’s LGBT film festival, June 17-27. It will be shown at what de Paul describes as the “magnificent, old, Castro Theater.” You can view trailers on imdb.com.

Whether he is modeling swimsuits for Keva, supporting the community in an AIDS walk, starring in a film, or merely talking to a now star-struck editor, Vincent de Paul’s career will only continue to grow. Why? Because his personality is as winning as his very talented outward appearance.

OY VEY! MY SON IS GAY! movie trailer

A romantic comedy featuring a Jewish family who struggles coming to terms with their son’s non-Jewish and gay boyfriend. When the gay couple adopts a child and it makes headline news, their families come to defend them and realize how much they love them.

Starring: Lainie Kazan, Saul Rubinek, Vincent Pastore, John Lloyd Young, Jai Rodriguez, Bruce Vilanch, Shelly Burch, Slava Medvedenko and Carmen Electra.

Director: Evgeny Afineevsky

Duration : 0:2:23

New Photos of Bruce at the Los Angeles and New York premieres of “Oy Vey My Son Is Gay! : Click Here

New photos added under Sightings and Special Events for Mr. Vilanch’s attendance to “Peepshow” in Las Vegas and his participation in “Meet The Composers II” Honoring Marc Shaiman in Beverly Hills. Have a look-see in the photo gallery.

Love, Mister D

Honolulu Bulletin
Taste the rainbow
May 20, 2009

For its 20th anniversary celebration, the Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival breezes back into town this week with films from l2 countries, dance, music, a “gayla” with tiki bar and two special guests: Oscar-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black (Milk) and writer-performer Bruce Vilanch (Hairspray, the Oscar ceremonies).

The fest opens at the Doris Duke Theatre/Henry Luce Pavilion with a performance by Peter Espiritu’s Tau Dance Theater, a film short, Clapham Junction, a feature from the U.K. (see review on page 20) and a Q&A session. Closing night will feature a keynote speech by Dustin Lance Black, film awards, two short films (one by a Hawaii filmmaker), and Best Picture nominee Milk, which won Black his Writers Guild of America Best Writer award.

Closing night will also see the re-creation of an old-time tiki bar, replete with live music and stand-up by Bruce Vilanch, longtime comedy writer and star of Hairspray on Broadway. “It might be hard to recognize him,” fest director Jeff David told the Weekly. “He’s just lost 83 pounds.”

It’s a mixed bag of mostly excellent films this year, screened as matinees and evening showings Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Among the highlights are Ke Kulana He Mahu (Hawaii), Trinidad (U.S.A.), When Kiran Met Karen (India), Soundless Wind Chime (Hong Kong/Switzerland), Ferron (Canada, World Premiere), Finding Family (USA), Shank (U.K.), and Lightswitch (Australia). There will also be guest appearances by some of the filmmakers, fest officials said.

“It’s been a long, interesting time,” one fest old-timer told the Weekly.

“Twenty years ago we couldn’t find a printer who was willing to work on such a controversial event. And news coverage was either scant or nonexistent. Fortunately, [founder] Jack Law could provide a venue for us. But from the first year, the audiences were there–and they’ve kept on coming. We’ve got one of our best programs ever this year.”

Law is stepping down as president of Honolulu’s Gay & Lesbian Cultural Foundation this year, but Jeff Davis continues as film fest director.

Dustin Lance Black

A screenwriter and producer, Dustin Lance Black is in pre-production for his feature directorial debut, What’s Wrong With Virginia. He has just wrapped his third season writing for HBO’s Big Love series, and wrote the screenplay for MTV’s Pedro. He and Milk director will re-team for the film The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test. He received both an Academy award and Writer’s Guild of America best screenplay award this year.

Bruce Vilanch

An Emmy award winner (for writing), stand-up comic and actor (Broadway’s Hairspray), he began his career as a journalist and then as a comedy writer for Bette Midler, Whoopi Goldberg and Billy Crystal. He appeared at the Honolulu Gay & Lesbian cultural festival several years ago, uttering the immortal lines: “I just finished reading Liliuokalani’s book and I thought, ‘at last, a place that appreciates a fat queen.’”

Fat no more, Vilanch recently lost 83 pounds on a reality TV show. He was one of the writers on this year’s Oscar show, and is at work on a screenplay.

More info and a full program of events available at [RainbowFilmFestival.org].

From the Los Angeles Times
THEATER
Tony winner, movie stars to perform for AIDS charity
March 13, 2009

John Lloyd Young, who won a Tony Award for his portrayal of Frankie Valli in the original Broadway production of “Jersey Boys,” is among the performers who will pay tribute to the music of George and Ira Gershwin at the 25th annual Southland Theatre Artists Goodwill Event.

All proceeds will go to AIDS Project Los Angeles.

Other entertainers scheduled to appear include Stefanie Powers, Carole Cook, Lucas Grabeel, Bruce Vilanch, Vicki Lewis, Pat Marshall, Shoshana Bean, Michael K. Lee, Dee Wallace, Linda Michele, Sam Harris, Ian Abercrombie and Loretta Devine.

Performances are at 8 p.m. March 21 and 3 p.m. March 22 at the Wilshire Theatre Beverly Hills. They are open to the public, with tickets starting at $50. Information: (866) 679-0958 or www.stagela.com.

Veteran Oscar scribe Bruce Vilanch spills secrets
The Associated Press
Friday, February 20, 2009

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the third story in this year’s Oscar Insider series, a behind-the-scenes look at the Academy Awards.

(By SANDY COHEN)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Bruce Vilanch is sitting at a folding table in a windowless room at the Kodak Theatre. “Writers Room,” reads a piece of yellow paper taped to the door. Another, with the veteran Academy Awards writer’s name, is taped above his makeshift workstation and laptop.

The only view into the theater is a flat-screen monitor in the corner of the room.

Not all that’s Oscars is glitter. For the Academy Awards show writers, who have been working furiously since nominations were announced last month, it’s crunch time.

Vilanch, who is taking on his 20th Oscar gig this year, leads the team.

Wearing one of his trademark tongue-in-cheek T-shirts and bright pink glasses, the 60-year-old writer briefly traded the writers’ room for the retro-themed green room down the hall — which in true Hollywood fashion features a picture window with a fake view of downtown L.A. — to talk about Sunday’s 81st Academy Awards.

___

AP: Where are you in the writing process?

Vilanch: There’s a complete script and it gets changed every hour on the hour. It will continue to get changed every hour on the hour until we go on the air, and then it will get changed again as the show unfolds and we begin coming up with stuff for Hugh Jackman to do to react to things that have happened on the show.

AP: How many Oscar traditions did you cast aside to make room for the show’s much-touted shake up?

Vilanch: There’s no standup comic hosting it. Hugh is going to come out and say a few things, but he’s not going to do a 10-minute monologue… He’s going to be doing a lot of musical stuff, so that will have a different feel to it. The show’s got a narrative line this year, so all the awards are grouped around that. The sequence in which they’re given is dictated by this narrative. There are different people doing groups of awards instead of a different set for each one, so all that stuff kind of makes it different. But, you know, it’s still the Academy Awards, and there are 24 of them to give out.

AP: How does working on the Oscars differ from your other writing jobs?

Vilanch: I’ve done a lot of other awards shows and the Oscars, of course, are the biggest of them and the most problematic. You’ve got 24 awards — only four of them the public really cares about — and everything else has to be kind of dressed up to maintain people’s interest. It’s not like … the Golden Globes, where you have 28 acting awards. You don’t have to have any jokes because in a few minutes, someone famous will stagger up on stage and do something drunk.

AP: What excites you about the Oscars?

Vilanch: The movies change every year, so there are new jokes to make about the different movies and world events. It’s an interesting amalgam of what’s happened the last year in the world as seen through the eyes of the movies that have been made in the last year and released, and that’s always fascinating. Look at “Slumdog Millionaire,” which is essentially a “Rocky” that’s been outsourced to India, like everything else.

AP: How much does the current economic situation affect the show?

Vilanch: We know everybody is suffering, so we have to acknowledge that, but you don’t want to dwell on that because it’s a downer… In a year where people are constantly worried, they want to see some glamour, they want to have some fun. The goal this year is to make it a party the way it used to be.

AP: What do you think about all the secrecy this year?

Vilanch: Every year they announce the names of the stars that are going to be on the show and the ratings keep going down. This year they’re not announcing the names, let’s see if the ratings go up. It could go either way. When (the producers) told me what they were going to do, I said, look, if it works, you’re geniuses, and if it doesn’t, you’re the putzes who sank the show.

AP: How do you deal with the stress of Oscar season?

Vilanch: I kind of roll with the punches. I like it. It’s fun. I’ve done it for so long that I know what to expect. This year, so much of what I’ve been doing is nanny-ing, because the producers are new, the directors are new, the host is new. So a lot of it is about guiding them through because I’ve been around.

AP: So after 20 years, you still love the Oscars?

Vilanch: It’s the greatest show on earth. It’s the biggest show in the world. Short of the Super Bowl, it’s the most gigantic thing. Everybody shows up. People who don’t go to the movies watch it. People who don’t watch television watch it. It’s kind of a cultural watershed, so it’s tremendous to be a part of it.

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On the Net:

http://www.oscars.org

http://www.oscar.com