ELECTIONS AND ERECTIONS

Yep, that’s the name of his show!

Don’t miss South African’s political satirist, Pieter-Dirk Uys

[pronounced “Peter Dirk Ace”]

this weekend at The Redcat -- Disney Hall’s little theatre downstairs.

Ms. Evita Bezuidenhout, "the most famous white woman in South Africa"

In his hometown of Darling

I caught his performance this weekend at UCLA and it’s slap-your-thigh, stand-up-and-holler frolicking entertainment. This talented impersonator [even does an impeccable Bill Clinton and Desmond Tutu] who lives in the tiny town of Darling, is ghastly extraordinary and he does it all under the umbrella of HIV prevention. Pieter has been an AIDS activist from Day One and even travels around his homeland of South Africa carrying a dildo to schools teaching kids how to have sex properly. Yeah, Pieter! We need more like you . . .

I will interview Pieter once I’m back from my trip.

GERMANY JOURNEY

For the month of October I will be traveling as a guest of the German Tourist Board gathering stories that come my way in Munich, Stuttgart, Heidelberg [pic below], Cologne, Düsseldorf, and Berlin. One story will be with Michael Lohaus, the head of the Gay Games, which will take place in 2010, and a physician in Berlin who is on the cutting edge of the AIDS epidemic.

Fortunately, I will be in Berlin for the 20^th Anniversary of the Fall of the Wall. Unbelievable to think that it has been that long . . .

ONE MONTH BEFORE THE WALL FELL I was in Berlin, staying at The Grand Hotel on the East Side, feet away from the Brandenburg Gate. Little did I know when I returned to LA, that the cement would crumble into a gillion pieces!

While there in Berlin in 1989, I met a fascinating guy, Normie, in a Dance Club who was raised under Communist rule. I befriended him and, luckily, he drove us around the East taking us to his home in Caputh, where his family owned The Ferry House Restaurant located on a lake where ferry boats crossed. He also showed us Einstein’s summer home in Caputh and drove us nearby to Potsdam at the Cecilienhof Manor [former home of Crown Prince William and his wife, Cecile] where the WW2 conference was held with Churchill, Truman, and Stalin.

We also got to tour Schloss [Palace] Sans Souci, the summer residence of Frederick The Great in the 18th Century. It’s rumored that amidst his lavishly vast tree-populated landscape that he would have naked parties with boys and play hide and seek. Hmmm, I wonder if I hadn't been there in a former life!

It’s nice to report that Normie and I are still friends and that we'll partake in the "Fall of the Wall" anniversary festivities together.

UPSTANDING, NOT SIDEWAYS!

Interviewed VIRGINIA MADSEN several days ago at her hillside home near Thousand Oaks. Not to kiss her ass, but she certainly looks much younger in person! Her hair is naturally blonde, but currently brown due to just finishing up her latest film with Kevin Spacey, Father of Invention.

Honestly, I never really paid much attention to Virginia as an actress until Sideways rolled ‘round. From then on, I was captured. What a tender, moving performance she gives as waitress cum horticulturist, Maya.

Photographer Mark Bennington working his magic on Virginia

Virginia is a proud mom of fifteen year old, Jack, who we met that day, and his father is Antonio Sabato, Jr. Virginia has been very upfront with Jack about HIV/AIDS and they both are active in Elizabeth Glaser’s Pediatric AIDS Foundation.

My colleague and assistant, Kelly Danyluk

www.DannandKelly.com

Virginia explained the backstory to photograph below. This was their first scene on the production in the rolling hills of Santa Ynez mountains [California wine country] and not far from Michael Jackson’s Neverland. Alexander Payne, the director and then husband of Sandra Oh, gave them a picnic basket with a bottle of wine inside. “Go over there,” he said, pointing to an area near a tree. Abound with curiosity, all four actors do so. They walk quite a distance, far from Alexander and the cameras. Sitting, they all kind’a look at one another, like “What do we do now?” Sandra cups her hands around her mouth to make a megaphone and yells, “Do we start eating?” “YES!” yells Alexander. They grab a couple sandwiches, but still not sure what to do. Then they eye the bottle of wine. Sandra yells out once again, “ Do we drink the wine??” Alexander responds in slow cadence, “ Yes….drink…the…wine…and…have….a…picnic!” They did.

When I show Virginia this photograph during the interview she smiles, chuckles and says, “We all were so happy.” Then she adds, “We were all toasting because we were employed.”

At the end of our interview, Virginia gave us a “Hitching Post” bottle of wine that was given to her on the Sideways set. They filmed several scenes in the Hitching Post restaurant located just outside of Solvang, California.

Virginia will either be our December or January cover. Don't miss this one! She says some very provocative, interesting, and profound words . . .

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.