Alan Rickman Guestbook

As far as the linguistic thread, lazy American tongue muscles aside, I think most people, putting forth an effort, could probably muster up a passable accent of almost any sort. Working on the accent and the correct way to pronounce and ennunciate was always a big part of my high school French classes. (Not that I would have ever been mistaken for a native or anything :) ) I just feel that they should at least try.

Brandeis--I've sent you personal e-mail...please inform if it hasn't arrived.

IS Michelle Pfeiffer an actress? I actually debated that once at lunch...and was persuaded she was. (I maintained that, in the absence of stage experience, she was a "movie star who acts". I was shouted down.) In any case, I offer, as a MUCH better example, the exquisite and very talented Diane Venora.

Now THERE's a co-star for Rickman...Diane Venora. The mind boggles.

(To those of you muttering "Diane WHO???"--check out "Heat". She also has an extensive stage resume, including a very nice turn as the Melancholy Dane himself...in New York, circa 1970-something.)

;-)

As re accents: ET does a very passable generic American accent...but it is generic, much in the same way most American actors offer a generic English accent. Are American actors "lazier" about their accents and their elocution in general? American actors spend far too much time delving into their own little psyches and far too little time crafting a character. (None of my opinions are humble, I'm afraid. I won't apologize for my opinions and I won't ask that you apologize for yours...can we leave it at that?)

I love the notion that Kevin Costner didn't have time to work with a dialect coach. Exactly how much time did he need--given that he had a good six months of pre-production time during which he might have been learning some kind of passable accent? No excuses...except that Costner isn't really an actor--he's a movie star.

Alan Rickman is an actor. Emma Thompson is an actor. Michelle Pfieffer is an actor. Tom Hulse is an actor. Jeff DeMunn is an actor. Sigourney Weaver is an actor. Which brings me to:

Brandeis: if you *were*--and I speak hypothetically--engaged in the creation of a piece of fiction that might--conceivably--be a film that might--stranger things have happened, we must agree--be a vehicle for oh, say, that lovely Rickman fellow...why not offer him a part he *hasn't* played before? Offer him a character faced with challenges that offer him a wide range of opportunities to express here-to-fore unexpressed thoughts and feelings.

Most movie stars can only repeat themselves. Most actors welcome the opportunity to take on something new. The only real danger is presented by movie stars who think they can act....

Since Karina is next door, (once again showing how much work she does) I want to thank her for making FOF possible. Now that the wedding night is posted, I will be much less in evidence at Flights of Fancy (but still here). FOF was/is an incredible experience.

Also, Brandeis: for the answer to your question, I suggest you check out the Flights of Fancy next door - once Karina has finished maintenance work. I think you'll find that the denizens of the FOF would definitely want a heavy emphasis on his h*nds, n'est-ce pas, Mrs. Gruber? I'd do German, but I don't know any.

Thought you'd like to know, I've added a guest book for your comments on the poems, stories or the page in general. It hasn't been used yet, so who is going to be first, and see if it works?!

Feed Them to the Cannibals Mon. 5th 2.30 This is a welcome opportunity to catch this documentary on the big screen, complete with footage cut from the T.V. version. The Australian Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is shown in all its glory with this unique view of a lavish event which takes us into all of the backstage organising and the on-stage antics. As actor Alan Rickman said, "Let's close down England for the day and all go!" (Dir: Fiona Cunningham Reid. Australia, 1993. 70 mins.)

http://www.iftn.ie/festivals/dlgff/gayfeatures.html

This is my first attempt to post a link, so if it doesn't work please be kind.

Chris, thank you so much for posting the photos. The site looks great!

I'll break the GB down when I get back home from Christmas. I didn't realize that I hadn't done it at the beginning of this month. oops..

I'm not sure what's with the dates. It does this once in a while. I'm not sure if it's my ISP doing something at his end. Maybe it's related to the GB being so big. Unfortunately, it too will have to wait til I get back home in a couple of days. Neit her my parents nor my in-laws have a separate line for their computers and I feel too guilty tying up their phones for more than a few minutes.

I hope to spend next week children and hubby and work being cooperative in updating and adding major stuff to the page so that the new and spiffy pages can be unveiled New Year's weekend.

I just checked TV Guide on line and found out the following:

Thank you all for coming and visiting and lending your individual touches to what has to be one of the most diverse, yet cohesive guestbooks I have ever seen.

I was surprised to read that "Dogma" has not started filming yet. There is a theatre here in Houston that has it listed as a coming attraction. Does anyone know if there is another movie by that name?

I'd also like to ask a favor: an old friend of mine was recently the victim of a hate crime--gay-bashing. Although he's out of the hospital, it will be a long time before he mends in body and in spirit. The favor? Say a little prayer--to the diety of your choice--that '98 brings a little more love to this sad old world. It's obvious that we could use it.

All good wishes, d

Nes Gadol Haya Sham . . . "A great miracle happened there."

And when I see how well all the guestbook denizens generally get along,considering the differences in age, nationality, background, etc.--I'd say a great miracle happened here too!

Happy Holidays,

Re: Nancy's poem, I said I choose Sinclair. But it occurred to me that an evening of listening to Brandon read poetry, bathed of course in candlelight, sounds awfully appealing.

I know AR's never reprised a role, which is probably smart, but wouldn't a whole movie about Ed, the Painter, be fun? That was such a great character, and we saw so little of him.

Hope everyone has a great holiday. I'm so pleased I found this guestbook at last.

I have to tell you that I too am married to one of those men. He is incredibly capable and masculine, loves the outdoors, teaches jr/sr high wood and metal shop, is a blacksmith and metal scuptor. He also does 90% of the cooking, 99% of the shopping, serves me breakfast in bed every Saturday morning, and cries openly at all the same movies I do. Take heart, they're out there, I met him totally by accident 10 years ago while visiting an out of town friend =)

nature or nuture? He is, by nature, kind, caring, funny and interested in people. I think his nuture was very important but not in the home. He spend formative years "growing up" as a "back to the land hippie" in the 70's. He has returned to his middle class roots but kept the best of those experiences with him. Nuture, then, can happen early *and* later. oops, hope I didn't gush too much. I *do* know many such men who have been attracted to the kind of place I live. Take heart, searchers!

I saw the following from Debora, "My lucky M7, I'm happy for you, but, sorry, the envy is stronger:may I poison your next tea?" and was saddened and stunned. Please rethink comments like that - they are incredibly hurtful even when meant in fun. Writing an entry into the GB is NOT the same as blurting a statement out - you have enough time to reconsider your thoughts. That's what the RESET button is for. Please, since this is Christmas Eve Eve (!!) and since Hanukkah starts tonight and all sorts of good times are kicking in, please be considerate of your fellow posters' feelings!

I just thought I would be a little off-topic and wish everyone on the GB a MERRY CHRISTMAS and/or HAPPY HANUKA (whichever applies)!!!

In fact, Ms Law's only worry was that their hypersynpathetic relationship would somehow interfere with the film, "Alan may have been concerned that we were too easy with each other to play the parts, she said, "that it would in some way affect us - we wouldn't have enough grit in the oyster"
But Mr Rickman, who also directed the play here at the Almeida Thater in 1995, said that casting Ms Law & Ms Thompson in the film had been simply "common wisdom".
"I wouldn't have dreamed of castin both of them if I had not had the greatest respect for them, separately, as actors", he said in a telephone interview. "But there are so many added bonuses, the things you really only see in editing, things like a turn of the head, the silent body language between two people who are very comfortable with each other."

I also consider my husband a remarkable man. He loves sports, has huge appetites of all kinds, suffers fools in neither gender, and appreciates women as people.

He had no unusual relationship with his mother or sister. No close childhood female friend. But he came of age watching the movies from the 30's and 40's on late night T.V. Movies with Rosaline Russell and Barbara Stanwyk and Myrna Loy as fiesty and intelligent partners for the men in their lives. He was always very sure that that was what he wanted from his mate.

Relevance to the GB?

I'll side-step the "nature v. nurture" argument for the time-being (believe what you like, but I'll take empirical proof, thanks), but there is an issue I'd like to address.

I am married to a man who genuinely likes women. Call him a "feminist"? You can, I suppose--no one would refute it, though it implies a politicization that may or may not be appropriate. However, there is no doubt that he likes women, respects women, and, to a great degree, understands women.

It has been my experience that many men love women, but few of them actually like them.

My husband's close friends are, almost exclusively,of the "female persuasion", and his friendships are deep and abiding. Why? He says that it's because conversations rarely turn to football or hockey, but I suspect it's something more. Ah--they're more verbal. (He's answering the question as I type.) (He says) he thinks that because society factors in a higher degree of emotional expression for women, they are more honest (with themselves) about their feelings...fewer facades. And they're more fun t o look at.

Ah. Well. Of course.

Did I mention his sense of humor?

I also have a very close friend (male) who prefers the company of women. A gifted and successful actor (you know at least the face and probably the name), he's also a phenomenal photographer. His portraits of women are astonishing, and they say as much about him as they say about his subjects. They are a kind of love-making.

There are many men who say they love women--and who am I to say they don't? But give me a man who *likes* women, who respects and appreciates us in conversation and in the workplace and in bed--*that's* the man for me.

Applause to you,

The Winter GUEST! My screen saver says The Winter GUEST!

Needless to say, all during the trip up to NY I kept imagining what the day might be like. I have to say it far exceeded my expectations. I envisioned waiting an hour or two in line for 10 seconds with Alan. Being able to stay there the entire time he was there, get as many autographs as we wanted, and get as many photographs as we wanted, not to mention getting a second chance to say something intelligible to him, was far beyond anything I imagined. I wholehartedly agree with Gilda: I WANNA DO IT AGAIN, I WANNA DO IT AGAIN!

For those who want them, here are a few more details:

We've mentioned that Alan sort of appeared suddenly out of nowhere. He stood there for a minute then walked behind the table. Before he sat down everyone in the line (or should I say the queue?) applauded, which was nice. He seemed to appreciate it.

The first time I went up for an autograph I believe I said "How are you?" and I believe Alan said "fine." I was in quite a fog at that point though, so I can't be sure of the exact words.

The second time I went up for an autograph I also mentioned to him that my screen saver at work says "The Winter Garden." It's part of my effort to encourage people from the office to see the movie.

As I've mentioned, Jean and I were seated on a bench to Alan's left for much of the time. Gilda kept coming over to sit down. A couple of times she almost made it, then she'd pop back up again and say "I can't sit down." She never could bring herself to sit.

1997 is certainly a year I'll remember. For several reasons it was not a particularly good year for me. I find it ironic (and wonderful) that it's ending with such a bang. In less than a week I saw my absolute favorite celebrity in the whole world, got a new job, and got a new pet, none of which I was expecting. I'm assuming this is a harbinger of what 1998 will bring.

Nancy, thank you so much for the poem. I love it! (I pick Sinclair.)

But I must credit the man with having the discipline and courage to stick with a career in the arts -- a dicey proposition at best. He didn't come out of the womb knowing what he knows, he had to train and study over a period of years. And I'd love to hear, someday, of all the auditions he failed. While some part of artistic talent, in my opinion, is obviously genetic in nature, the shaping, honing and disciplining of that talent is strictly up to the student himself or herself.

'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the lands
Not a creature was stirring - except for the fans
Of a talented actor of English persuasion ...
To be more descriptive, a tall male Caucasian.

The word had gone out from the jolly North Pole
That Santa, in his annual quest for those souls
Who best typify "Christmas" in this day and age
Had chosen the folks on Karina's Guest Page.

"You express yourselves well, with great humor and tact,
You soothe ruffled feathers, you're sticklers for fact,
You're a mini-U.N. of all races and creeds,
And yet you are mindful of each other's needs.

"Such worth merits pleasure, I'm sure you'll agree.
And so, by the power invested in me,
You will each spend a day (and a night, never fear!)
With a character from Mr. Rickman's career."

Indescribable scenes! Such sweet torment of choice!
Some didn't care which, "'cause they all have The Voice,"
But others were torn between hearing the cello
And the challenge of making Hans Gruber more mellow.

Some hankered for Marston, some wanted Sinclair,
There were ladies attracted to Mesmer's long hair.
And a right rowdy bunch would have paid any tariff
For an evening alone with the raven-clad Sheriff.

There were loyalists too, who'd made vows to their lads,
And even in fantasy wouldn't be bad,
So they planned a chaste night with the Colonel, good man,
As he waxed all rhapsodic about Marianne.

But as for the girlfriends who opted for Slope,
Hans, the Sheriff, Valmont and Rasputin - let's hope
That they know what they're doing - "a bit of the rough"
Is all very well, but enough is enough!

A dance with O'Hara, a tango with Sei,
A chance to tell Hamlet, "Now listen, I pray,
Leave Elsinore now, my sweet Prince, don't delay,
You'll spare your own life, though you may spoil the play."

A cough drop for Jamie, to save his young life,
For Sinclair, a faithful (and brotherless) wife,
The Ireland of his dreams for Eamon de Valera,
The return of his Stella to P.L. O'Hara ...

In a just universe it would happen like that,
But we're not quite there yet - so it won't - and that's that.
It was all just a dream, gone like sand down a gorge -
But you can't cancel Christmas (not even you, George),

To the M7: Thank you for all your wonderful pictures and your accounts of last "Glorious Sunday." And special thanks to Chris, for the many hours she's spent floating in the IRC! And especially for the poster!!! *sigh* :-)

Sunday morning: The trains were on time, and I'm bouncing happily down Park Avenue to Borders, but I see no line. "Well, they must be all huddled in the foyer..." Empty. What is this? KelClancy and Andrea finally make it about 30 minutes later (subways we ren't cooperating), and we mill around inside, looking for someone who knows what's going on. What was surprising to us was that for something "so big," no one could tell us where the thing was being held, how it would be conducted, and (we found out later) they didn't bring enough books! On our quest through the bookstore, we met Jean ("You're here for Big Al, too?"), then went off for some tea. We got back in some semblance of a line, yet there still was no "big" crowd until about 11:45.

12:30 finally arrived, and so did Alan, and we all were just flabbergasted that he arrived on time and looked so real! I mean, where were all those television lines I'm so used to seeing? We were already in some sort of line, and Jean and Michele went relatively first; we let "Nutcracker" Christine in ahead of us because she had to leave, though we wished she'd stayed because she was a lot of fun to talk to for that short period.

I was fourth in line, sort of shoved in there after I tried to get Andrea to go ahead of me; I was suddenly scared! I said, "Hello!" and he returned a sincere, smiling "Hello!" back. I said it was great to finally meet him and that this was such a treat, "thank you for doing this," was all I remember that I kept saying, which was so dumb! All the questions I considered asking just flew out of my head. Unbenknownst to me, KelClancy was snapping pictures left and right. When he went to sign my book, he asked my name and I said my name the way I pronounce it--"Jilda"--but I didn't want him to spell it that way. So I spelled it G-i-l-d-a, and he said, "Oh, like 'Radner.'" And I said, "Yeah," because I get that a lot. I blubbered something else about the Winter Guest and he said something back, but I'm still in a fog over how it went. I then gave him a small package with a proposal I worked up regarding the Almeida and told him the reason why I was giving him a copy as well as the theater was because he was my inspiration for it, which he smiled at and thanked me.

I walked out of the way for Andrea go up, but I didn't know there was anyone in the room at that point! As Michele said, we went up for seconds when we realized we could have the promo poster signed as well. It was just a dream. Somehow I became the resident photographer, taking pictures with other peoples' cameras, and I had the feeling he was thinking, "Why is she taking so many pictures?" We got together for the group shot, and there was someone behind me nudging me to get closer to him, but I couldn't manage it. The bookstore people were so great to us--allowing us to get our stuff signed, taking the group shot of us--and I can't thank them enough.