THE LAST LION

I’m proud to say that I am from the Kennedy era.

The assassination of President John F. Kennedy is forever etched in my memory. It is one of those incidents that happen during one’s lifetime, like 9/11 or the moon landing, that you know EXACTLY where you were and how you felt. I was glued to the TV from my living room in Grove City, Ohio, watching the funeral procession march down Pennsylvania Avenue. And there was John-John dressed in his ‘little man’ suit saluting his slain father.

I can recall when ALL magazines on the newsstands, including movie mags like Photoplay and Modern Screen – before People magazine, if you can believe that! – were splashed with Jacqueline Kennedy’s elegant face.

I remember when Robert Kennedy was shot at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles; I remember when Eunice Kennedy Shriver started the Special Olympics; I remember when John Kennedy Jr.’s plane crashed to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. The Kennedy Dynasty has shadowed my entire life.

As a journalist, the closet I’ve come to interviewing a Kennedy clan has been Bobby Shriver, Eunice’s son; Maria’s brother. Bobby started the RED campaign with Bono.

I currently have an interview request in for Caroline Kennedy.

http://aumag.org/coverstory/March07cover.html

I admired Ted Kennedy’s positive attitude and his zest for life. In his last testament he stated he wanted a “Celebration of Life.” When I depart this earth, I request the same. I want nobody crying at my death. I lived a full, vivacious life – celebrate for me -- because I’m finally outta here and have peace!

It remains to be determined if anyone from the Kennedy camp will emerge and take over the torch. I hope so . . .

FUGARD FOREFRONT

The A&U August issue is currently on the newsstands with my cover story on Athol Fugard. And don't miss the July issue with my story on Twilight's, Justin Chon.

CHIP OFF THE OL' BLOCK

I was recently in the beguiling Santa Ynez hills, yes very near Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch, and popped into Solvang's PSCPA [The Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts] Theaterfest’s lively production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.

I was so captivated with MICHAEL SKY MOON's [love that name!] portrayal of Chip Tolentino, that I invited him to be interviewed. The charming performer will surprise you with his revealing answers. It's upcoming in A&U magazine.

HERO

I paid a home-visit to a Hero today.  That is, Ando from NBCs series, Heros, JAMES KYSON LEE.  Not only has he made a PSA for the Banyan Tree Project, but he's also involved with other charities as well. "Anytime I'm needed for an AIDS benefit, I go," he says.  I guess the AIDS community certainly has a hero in James.  Asian Pacific AIDS Intervention Team [APAIT] recently bestowed upon him their "Unsung Hero" award.

James showing me his tatts

Shots from his modeling days....

My associate, Terry Ray.  Watch Terry and James as I filmed them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRfpqHC7uYs

Watch for the interview in an upcoming issue of A&U magazine. 

James talks about what motivates him to help others and how HIV/AIDS has affected him.

He also reveals what makes his heart skip a couple of beats and what his favorite physical asset is below the waist.  Also learn what his all-time favorite TV show is and where he goes to recharge his batteries.

INSPIRATIONAL DAY

Yesterday, I had the extreme pleasure of spending the day with "the greatest playwright of the last century" [Time magazine].  I interviewed Athol Fugard at the The Fountain Theatre then  saw the matinee of the West Coast premiere of his newest play, Coming Home.   Fugard is probably best known for Master Harold .... and The Boys, which starred a young Matthew Broderick [it's currently being turned into another film] and the 2005 Academy Award winning, Tsotsi.  After the production of Coming Home there was a Q&A with Fugard, which was quite moving, as is the play itself.

Mark Bennington working his magic

link

In deep conversation with Fugard's "partner," Marianne McDonald

A group shot taken on the Coming Home stage.

L to R:  My associate, Jilly, art historian Ron 

Steen, Fugard, myself, and Marianne

Fugard will be the A&U August cover story

A ROSE OF A ROSENMAN

HOWARD ROSENMAN:

The the face of a man who has lost over 2000 people to AIDS and has attended over 50 memorials. 

I interviewed Howard Rosenman yesterday at his home in West Hollywood.  Howard is the producer of such films as The Family Man, The Celluoid Closet, Paragraph 175, The Main Event, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, the stunning, Resurrection with Ellen Burstyn, and he won an Academy Award for Common Threads. 

Howard was one of the founders of Project Angel Food and in the early shades of the epidemic, helped create a space at Cedars-Sinai for PWAs and their families to congregate, and has served on several AIDS organization boards throughout the years.

Howard's only acting job to date has been playing Advocate publisher, 

David Goodstein in this year's hit, MILK.

Look for the article about Howard in the September issue of A&U magazine. 

Thanks to my associate, Jilly Roberts. 

[Black & White photo of Howard by Renee Jacobs:  link to website]

NEVERLAND NEVERENDING

Last week while watching Larry King Live broadcast from Michael Jackson's Neverland, I reminisced about my trip there -- only to the gates!! -- two years ago.  My friend, Jimmy and I were on a get-a-way trip to Solvang and decided to tour the Sideways location shots.  As we lunched at one of the sites, The Los Olivos Cafe where Jack [Thomas Hayden Church] asks Miles [Paul Giamatti], "Did you drink and dial?," we decided to be more adventurous and find Neverland.  We asked a real estate agent for directions and learned that it was a mere five miles from The Los Olivos Cafe.  It was a stunning drive and what a tranquil region.  To say that this area of the Santa Ynez mountains is exquisitely beautiful is such an understatement.  

We hung out there for a half an hour and just fantasized what it was like inside, and what it would have been like to be a guest there. 

Oh, how I wished I could have interviewed Michael at Neverland!