|
||||
|
||||
|
Monday, Oct 06, 2008
|
||||
|
|||||||
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|||||
Interview with Richard Ganoung on 1986 film Parting Glances |
||
 |
||
| Interview with Richard Ganoung on 1986 film Parting Glances | ||
|
Pristine print of film to be screened at 2007 Lesbian & Gay Film Festival by Don Paulson - SGN A&E Writer Parting Glances is a Gay cinema classic. It's funny, sad, but never preachy. More importantly, it's true to life; following a vibrant group of Gay friends in 1986 New York. It's well written, well acted and well directed by Bill Sherwood. Plus, there are outstanding performances from the likes of Richard Ganoung, Steve Buscemi, Kathy Kinney and John Bolger, among others. Why the recap? The 2007 Lesbian & Gay Film Festival will show a remastered version of the film at SIFF Cinema (321 Mercer St., Seattle) on Thursday, October 18, at 7 p.m. The film has been blown up from the original Super 16mm negative to an archival 35mm preservation negative and features a restored soundtrack, thanks to the handiwork of the Outfest Legacy Project, which is dedicated to preserving LGBT film. Richard Ganoung, who played Michael in the film, will be on hand for the unveiling of this new pristine 35mm viewing print. A few years ago, I spoke with Ganoung about his role in the making of the film and his more recent career endeavors. In honor of the Parting Glances screening, I have submitted my interview for re-publication. Don Paulson: Parting Glances has been called one of the best Gay films ever made, agree? Richard Ganoung: Yes. As our director always told us, "I am not making a Gay movie. I am making a movie about relationships and the people in those relationships happen to be Gay." I agree. It was kind of amusing because we had straight actors playing Gay roles and Gay actors playing straight roles with Gay and straight behind the camera. It got to be a huge joke, who was who. They told us at the beginning that the movie will have Gay content but it certainly hasn't hurt our careers any. DP: How did you get the part? RG: I auditioned a few months after graduating from Circle in the Square Theater School. I thought, "Oh God, now I have to audition for film - I'm theater, Shakespeare, not film." I auditioned and I was horrible! At the audition I said, "Shit, I'm sorry and left. I actually heard the words, "Don't call us, we'll call you." After a few call-backs Bill gave me the part, saying, "Michael would have acted the same way in that situation." Even though I was awful, when I read the part I was Michael. DP: Parting Glances was filled with wonderful intimacy that was never artificial. Was there any uptightness on set, especially from the straights, like handsome John Bolger who played your lover Robert? I don't know if he's Gay or not, but he played the role well. RG: No uptightness and no, John is not Gay. He was so wonderful about the touching and kissing. It was more difficult for me, laying next to this hot straight guy. I got nervous and upset and Bill the director kept cutting and saying, "Richard, you're blushing!" "I'm sorry," I said, "But John is touching me and making me blush. You try to lay in bed with a gorgeous straight man and not get excited!" DP: I noticed one of John's methods to get into the love scenes was to tickle you. RG: Oh yes, that and kissing my neck and nibbling my ear and then a full-blown kiss! At one point in the film Robert and I were laying on the bed to make love. The script called for just the sound and visual of our clothes being removed and tossed on the floor. Bill said, "Okay, start taking off your clothes." It got pretty hysterical just standing there stripping down to our ?Jockey underwear. DP: Steve Buscemi played your ex-lover Nick. You called him amazing. RG: Amazing because his creative energy and his improv skills were incredible and he was not uptight about playing a Gay man. In fact, he said that Nick is his favorite role in all the movies he has done. He was a Brooklyn fireman during the filming and is the sweetest and nicest guy ever. Kathy Kinney had the biggest crush on him. DP: How were Kathy and Bill to ?work with? RG: Kathy was wonderful, so creative and good at improvising and in the film the quintessential female Gay 'man pal.' Bill was the kind of director who listened to his actors for ideas and insights. He encouraged improvising. Sometimes I got upset - I'm a competent actor, give me the script, tell me what to do. DP: There was a scene in the park where you and Robert had a big fight and you said you got so emotional that it took many takes before you got it. RG: Yes, I was losing it. The tears kept coming. I had no idea why. I had to stop and focus - why am I so frustrated, why am I so mad, why am I crying so hard? Suddenly I had this revelation and I said to Bill, "I love Nick more than Robert." Bill said, "What? That isn't in the script." I said, "Yes, I'm upset that Robert is leaving for his new job in Africa but what is ripping me off is that I love Nick more than Robert." Bill thought about that awhile and agreed that it added another dimension to the relationship so I kind of changed the course of the film, if you will. DP: Was there something in your life that made you so emotional in the first place? RG: Well, yes. Okay, this is personal. I had a "Nick" in my life before I met my partner Norman. He was my best friend growing up and my first love but he was so confused about his sexuality. He made attempts at relationships and finally married, but I did not get an invitation to the wedding, which would have ended it; but I don't think he wanted to end it. He said, "I am not attracted to men, only you." It wasn't a clean ending and when I met Norman I said, "I do love you but you have to remember there is an unresolved issue in my life, my first love." So in that scene in the park it all came out in tears. DP: There is another heavy but very tender scene with Nick. RG: Oh yes, my commitment to him. Again I kept screwing up the scene and Bill was getting short tempered; "You've screwed up on 23 takes. I want you to nail the next take and on the last line I want you to cry." I was so emotionally exhausted I said, "You bastard!" Bill said, "We're starting now, roll the tape!" DP: It's a beautiful scene. RG: To me that's one of my favorite scenes. When I look back on that final take I have to say sometimes that God smiles at you when you're an actor, but sometimes you have to go through the paces first. DP: There was an odd scene where you were urinating and Peter (Adam Nathan) came into the room to give you his phone number and you said, "I can't do it when someone else is in here." Some men are sensitive about that - I know of two straight men - was that in the script? RG: I don't have that problem, but yes it was in the script. DP: Are you in touch with (Twinkie) Adam Nathan? RG: He was a Russian Major at Columbia, supposedly straight. We butted heads a lot, he was doing the "actor" bullshit, the STAR trip. The last I heard he was waiting tables in Los Angeles. DP: And the rest of the cast? RG: I don't see much of anyone because we travel in very different circles, but it's so sweet when I do. Steve and I got together at a coffee house and the first thing he said, "How is Norman?" I said. "How is Jo?'" (his wife) "I have pictures." "I have pictures, too," Steve said. It was so cool. Unfortunately, Bill died of AIDS two years after the movie. DP: You starred with Sean Hayes in Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss, with Brad Rowe. How was Brad to work with? RG: Brad was always surrounded by women; what more can I say? I haven't seen Sean since the movie. To be honest I don't appreciate Will and Grace. I support Sean as an actor and friend but not his stereotype in the TV series. I look at Will and Grace as Amos and Andy. DP: How was Parting Glances important in your life? RG: It was revelatory in my life because now I had to be honest about who I was. I know I just want to be the best person I can be and only live by example. I want to continue being Gay in films and theater. I'm proud of what I do and I'm good at it. DP: What do you think is the message of Parting Glances? RG: It has to be what's important about relationships. Parting Glances is just a brief and fast look at these people's lives - at our lives - like Grand Opera, so much happening in a short amount of time, no more than a parting glance but with deep messages. DP: What are you doing now, Richard? RG: I'm working in Regional Theater with an emphasis on Shakespeare. I have a passion for other people's words. Long live theater and film! |
||
 |
||
|
|
||
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 post your own information on the Seattle Gay Blog |
copyright Seattle Gay News - DigitalTeamWorks 2007