Sometimes you get BS

Tuesday morning...

Last night I attended the opening of THE MUSIC TEACHER, a so-called "Play/Opera"...and then went to the opening night party at BOXER'S on West 4th Street.

THE MUSIC TEACHER opened at the Minetta Lane Theater and was presented by THE NEW GROUP, with words by Wallace Shawn and music by Allen Shawn...

The Music Teacher: A story of creation and sexual obsession in which a younger teacher and his brilliant female student conceive and perform a new opera.

The Music Teacher's cast, directed by Tom Cairns, features: Mark Blum, Kellie Overbey, and singers Jason Forbach, Wayne Hobbs, Jeff Picón and Sarah Wolfson, along with Ross Benoliel, Elisa Cordova, Lauren Jelencovich, Kristin Knutson, Stefanie Nava, Rebecca Robbins, Kathryn Skemp, Bobby Steggert and Kristina Valada-Viars.

I can't really say that I was thrilled. The play had its moments. The Opera part of the show felt like it was NEVER going to end. Certain segments could have cut in half and still served the show efficiently. The cast of young students was a very talented group...but there were parts of the story that just didnt work for me.

The party as BOXER'S was semi-okay as well...I did see Mary Stuart Masterson...she sat behind me at the theater and Kristen Johnson (She's TALL) from 3rd Rock From The Sun...they both looked great...made their rounds...smiled for the paparazzi...and slipped out...the party had LOTS of free food...wings and pasta...and cake...free booze...free booze and cake..a lethal combination...the party wrapped up with most of the kids...the younger cast members and their respective posses making a last stand for last call.

And I slipped out...

Just when you thought it was over...Theres more NYTALENT chatter today on Sunday night's Academy Awards:

I was just as surprised as anyone. And I did enjoy Brokeback. But homophobic? Honestly, that's stretching it.

Ang Lee won for best director for? a gay themed film.

Phillip Seymour Hoffman won best actor for? portraying a gay character

Brokeback, Heath, and Jake were nominated.

Felicity Huffman was nominated.

Where's the phobia in that?

I do not disagree that homophobia may have been an issue -But, PEOPLE PLEASE!

Since when have the acadamy awards been wholly (or even partly) about the "best" anything?

And like Clooney said, how do you define "the best" art, anyway?

I agree, Crash left a bad taste in my mouth. I am still not sure why, exactly. But for once I am trusting my instincts. I didn't like it.

But -

I mean was Out of Africa really a "better" film than the Color Purple? Was Forrest Gump "better" than The Shawshank Redemption? Gladiator "better" than Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon? And how do you look at the Lord of the Rings, Lost in Translation and Mystic River and pick a "winner"?

I couldn't I loved all three. Differently. And remember - we still live in the same country that thought Bush was the "best" choice for president. At least once and quite possibly twice.

Please remove me from this list.

Thank you.

Wow...in case you were unaware...NYTALENT is a large group of entertainment professionals...actors, agents, casting directors and more..all who send and recieve daily email postings pertaining to current issues and member inquiries...Most of the time there is alot of really good information being passed around as well as proper debate...then again...sometimes you get alot of BS...

I'm still in the middle of the time consuming and tedious job of writing postcrads to inform every casting director in town that I am now a member of SAG...so I must go...I've got shit to do...

It's HAARD out here for a PIMP

YOU KNOW IT'S HAAAARD OUT HERE FOR A PIMP....

Monday morning MANG...the Ocsars are done...the smoke has settled...and its still so HAAARD out here for a pimp...MANG

I got back to the city last night just in time to catch the awards...I missed best supporting actress MANG...Shoulda been Michelle Williams MANG...but how how can you not be excited watching dem boys from 36 MAFIA...MANG...it's that kind of excitement that makes it all worth it..

I predicted Phillip Seymour Hoffman for Best Actor, I correctly picked Reese Witherspoon for Best Actress. I got Best Foreign Film right with TSOTSI. I havent even SEEN that one but TSOTSI managed to get SO much press in the past few weeks that I knew it had to be the one. I'd heard and read NOTHING on any of the other foreign films. I got Best Picture WRONG, as I think MANY others did as well. I have mixed feelings about CRASH...and I dont really think it had BEST PICTURE written all over it...BUT...I rarely think the film that wins Best Picture was worth of the honor. Sometimes you get a film that is UNDENIABLY the best...but CRASH was not one of those films. Here is some immediate online chatter on CRASH, heard through the NY TALENT group:

Crash could have been great if I didn't always feel like I was being beaten by a giant aluminum "morality" bat. A little ham fisted, wasn't it. Sad since there were so many great little moments in the film. Good actors popping out of crap direction and heavy handed story telling. Sad.

I saw CRASH recently, was deeply moved and thought it was incredibly well-crafted. Despite the warnings and opinions I'd read here on NYTALENT (or perhaps because of them -- I'm a bit of a contrarian), I didn't have a hammers over the head viewing experience. I also saw it as a modern day Morality Play, much in the same vein as Shanley's DOUBT. It's about essential human truths and flaws and doesn't wrap anything up neatly. I saw alot of subtlety and humanity within a very effective, thoughtful structure, which made it artful.

I also thought CRASH was brilliant...in every way!

Crash won Best Picture Oscar. I hate to think that it comes down to homophobia, but doesn't it?

So if CRASH hadn't won, would it have been because of racism? To me the biggest tragedy of the night was not about CRASH winning, but the fact that, unless I missed it, the camera never once focused on the brilliant mind who actually created the stir about BROKEBACK - Annie Proulx. Ang Lee mentioned her specifically, yet the camera didn't point her out. And it is because of her that BROKEBACK will be remembered long after the triteness of CRASH disappears.

Oscar night is always a major event in my life as an actor. One reason is beacuse its a night to appreciate the absolute best in the field and to honor hard work, commitment and passion as well as the struggles that come before me. Its a time for reflection and it's a time to kick yourself in the ass, to get up the morning after and get to it...make art...make magic...

If you'd like to make a donation...help support the arts...help support a hard working artist in New York...The funds I collect through donation go towards producing my films projects as well as a few stage projects that I'm trying to put together...small donations are most common..5 bucks...even 2 bucks...it all adds up...you can visit the DONATION page of my website:


WWW.JAMESCLIFTONHUFFMAN.COM

HEY...it's a beautiful afternoon here in Fairfax. Virginia...I'm down here visiting with my tragically beautiful and tragically terrible two nephews, Keller and Casey...There are few better sounds than the words UNCLE JIM being screamed to me throughout the house.

On Thursday i finally joined the Screen Actors Guild...James Clifton Huffman is officially mobbed up...i mean...officially SAG'd up...The name James Huffman is currently taken so my official professional name is as this website dictates...James Clifton Huffman.

I joined because it's time. Its time to be taken more seriously...its time to make more money...gone are the days of shooting a national commercial and getting paid a lousy $400...Paying petty cash to actors who are producing work that is AS good if not better than any union actor out there...is criminal. I'm riding a new bus now...I hope it's express.

Enjoy the weekend...