Bradley Cooper looking sharp on the set of Valentine's Day
Following this assortment of carefully-selected news items, interested readers can find a refreshing pic of a hot man in underwear after the jump. Yes, we're serious.
- Folks already anticipating Bradley Cooper (above) playing gay in the upcoming romcom Valentine's Day had reason to be happy when these pics of Cooper on set turned up.
- During a panel at Los Angeles' Outfest film festival, out director Todd Holland advised gay actors to stay in the closet if they want to get work. After gasping collectively, the gay blogosphere said, "He did not just say that!"
- James Franco UCLA commencement speech rehearsals have surfaced on Funny or Die. Said Franco of his role in Milk:
"As you go out into the world, it's important that you take a few
chances and try new things. For example, let me tell you a little story
about myself. Last year I did a movie called Milk. Well, imagine my surprise
when I found out that Milk was the name of a guy, and not my favorite
drink. I mean, I love milk--the drink. Chocolate milk. But never
strawberry milk. And I did the movie anyway, and now gay people can have
jobs as doctors, teachers...."
[offscreen voice] "That's not just because of the movie."
Franco:
"Well, the movie had a lot to do with it. It really did. Maybe there
was like one or two gay doctors before the movie. But now -- I want a gay
doctor? It's really easy to find one.
- The 20th season of Survivor is going to be another season of All Stars, but not only is Richard Hatch not going to be able to participate, it looks like there apparently won't be any gay contestants at all.
No need to thank me. Just watch the show!
- Former NFL star Terrell Owens isn't afraid to display his assets if it gets us to pay attention to his new reality show.
- Ryan Reynolds is playing the Green Lantern? In a skintight green outfit? Okay, I forgive him for The Proposal.
- In Friday's BGWE, I mentioned a new reality show in Australia called Australia's Perfect Couple which includes a gay couple. Turns out their names are Robbie and Dan and they are foster parents to a 12-year-old girl. Here's a preview. Is it just me or do Robbie and Dan get kind of short shrift?
And today's Briefs are brought to you by...
This guy!
Uh, yeah...
Robbie and Dan definitely get screwed over in that preview. It makes me wonder why they even bothered to add them in.
So the Green Lantern is going to be played by a gay man. Nice! Huh? What do you mean, married to a woman? Yeah, sure, whatever you say. That reminds me. He looks better with a 'beard'.
"Stay in the closet"
Uh, no he's not
Does the name Neil Patrick Harris ring a bell?
How about Ian McKellen ?
Holland is a disgrace.
David...be realistic
Does the name Neil Patrick Harris ring a bell?
How about Ian McKellen ?
Holland is a disgrace.
Both came out AFTER they were in the spotlight. What about the countless gay actors that never got a shot because they were stopped at the gate?
David, you're not being realistic if you can't see some truth in what he said. As much as I'd like to disagree, what he says is for the most part correct.
However, I think his advice is wrongheaded and negative. It's time for the closet doors to be opened and talented gay actors to fight for the parts they deserve.
I'm being perfectly realistic
Here's hoping...
Sorry, I have to disagree
Sorry, I have to disagree with you here. Neither Jackson nor Evans have the chops to transition into big screen roles.... yet. Maybe someday (probably not) but definitely not yet.
They both have the LOOKS for it, of course, but neither has demonstrated the kind of depth and range that makes a movie star.
Um...
Sorry, but, I'd say Evans has demonstrated as much depth and range as, say, Matthew McConaughey or Hugh Jackman (and those are actors I like!).
God, I am SO sick of negativity from people.
Peace
Hey, Joseph, peace man. I'm not being negative, just disagreeing with you buddy. It's all good.
Sorry, but i can't buy that
there are a lot of A list actor who are far from being good actors at all. Sometimes it's just a question of luck or marketing, more than actors skills.
Behind most blockbusters there are handsome guys, but most of them are average actor (and some or them are painfully bad).
I think, it depends of what you want, if you want to be the next hollywood baby, you need to stay in the closet. If you don't mind being a supporting actor (some of the best roles are in the supporting role), being gay doesn't matter that much, specially if you came out after show how good you are (and better have theatre experience, because in broadway being gay is not such a big deal)
I agree, there are several
I agree, there are several A-list actors who aren't really good at their craft. But even those people had some kind of "it" factor that made them get as far as they did, and I honestly don't see "it" in either Scott Evans or Cheyenne Jackson. ESPECIALLY Jackson.
That's not to say either of them are BAD actors... just perfectly suited for what they are currently doing. That's not a bad thing. Evans would be a GREAT career soap actor. He's got the chops and the charisma and the professionalism to do that. Cheyenne's a career theatre actor.
Neither of those things are bad.
Confused
Are you talking about "chops", i.e. skills/talent, or "it-factor"/x-factor?
Any decent theatre actor can easily transition to acting for camera. Competent film actors with no theatre experience frequently struggle in a live stage setting.
THey've already proven him wrong
TO
Conflicted
I'm not sure about Todd Hollander's advice, but I can see where he's coming from. There's a young British actor who was attracting massive levels of attention in Hollywood a couple of years ago. He got the whole billboard and star-making process for his film and briefly was The Next Big Thing.
However, he's gay and doesn't make any big secret about it. He's never openly said he's gay, but he lives a gay life (walking down the streets of Soho - London's big gay district - with his boyfriend and drinking in gay pubs, etc.). If any journalist actually asked him 'are you gay' I suspect he'd answer 'yes' and go from there. I don't think he's a hypocrite - he's been living a fairly open life for a long time now and if anyone wanted to make an issue of his sexuality, I get the impression that he'd regard himself as an actor who happens to be gay rather than a gay actor. It's not that he's ashamed of being gay, it's more a case that he doesn't see it as relevant to himself as an actor.
The slightest bit of journalistic investigation would show that he lives a lot of his private life on the gay scene and he's not ashamed about it. But no-one has asked him directly about it.
Luckily (perhaps) for him, this actor's career didn't catch fire to make him a star. He's still attracting enough work to keep him financially successful, but he's not making the millions (yet) that were initially predicted for him.
I know there's an 'out' or 'not out' binary opposition that happens for gay actors, but I think we have to move beyond that. Of course I'd like actors who are gay to say so openly, But as a human being I have to acknowledge that people can have an enirely different philosophy of life - and I should respect that,
I don't know that I agree with Hollander's conceptss as a philosophy, but I think his ideas should be taken seriously as an option.
Pig tails intactus
I agree. Todd Holland's in a better position than any of us to judge what it's like being gay in Hollywood. We still don't have an A-list actor whos is out--on either side of the pond. I think the good news is that there are so many openly gay directors!
"The mountain has wings."
If you mean the UK,
then I think it's fair to classify John Barrowman as A-list. He's had broad mainstream success in the last few years - from TV lead, to panto star (siginificantly, as the romantic male lead and not a "dame"), to live concert draw.
In terms of out celebrities, Europe leads the way and will contine to do so, I think. Take for example, up-and-coming actor Russell Tovey's openness about his sexuality in both gay and mainstream press. There was no media hoopla. If, say, Thomas Dekker were to do the same, I highly doubt the media reaction would be as non-plussed.
Jack be nimble
But ubiquitous and A-List are two different things. A-List actors in the States include George Clooney and Brad Pitt. I would think it would be much more difficult to attain A-list status in Britain--Jude Law? James McAvoy?--but maybe we're talking apples and oranges. Hollywood is where the money is.
"The mountain has wings."
Oh, and Orlando Bloom
No idea
He wasn't the actor I was thinking of.
I know that some of the people who were at drama school with Bloom had a lovely description of him as 'not being one to overly bother the ladies'. Whether they were suggesting he was gay or shy or not considered particularly good looking I'm not sure, but the description seems to cover a range of possibilities.
Yeah, he went to Guildhall,
A Wolf of Kromer
Might "X" = Lee Williams? His star should have shone brighter. I don't believe he has officially come out, but I've seen references to a "partner." The world is never kind to ex-models.
"The mountain has wings."
I had to look up Lee Williams,
but I recognised him from the last series of "Teachers".
I don't think he fulfils the criteria: "a young British actor who was attracting massive levels of attention in Hollywood a couple of years ago. He got the whole billboard and star-making process for his film and briefly was The Next Big Thing."
My guess is Ben Whishaw - "Perfume" was mean to blast him into international movie stardom, but didn't. He's a very good actor, from what I've seen (BBC's "Criminal Justice"). And the "Gay?" thread on his imdb forum is 15 pages long (gotta love those fangirls!?).
LOL - Again, not as far as I know
Nope I wasn't thinking of Ben Wishaw, either. Although, I would love to speculate: he's an an exceptionally attractive man - far more attractive in life than he is on film.
No, the guy I was talking about has only been in four films that have been released thus far. One American and three British. And from my opinion, the least of his films - the one of which no-one has heard - is far-and-away his best so far.
Ahh, I'm never going to guess
Gay actors
The reason why gay actors have to stay in the closet is because casting directors don't hire them. All relevant gay roles are played for straight actors.
But stay or not stay in the closet is a question of what you want as actor. If you want to be a hollywood star, is pretty obvious that you must stay in the closet. If you want to be a good actor, and play interesting roles, is not necesary. If you play a blockbuster obviously you'll be in a supporting role, but Hollywood in not the only way to be an actor, there's theatre, tv, and independent films.
Even with that, i think it's a good idea come out when you have a career behind you, or at least some relevant roles that show that you are good at your job
I'm Afraid Mr. Holland Is Right.
As long as the closet-case casting directors continue to have a stranglehold on Hollywood, you don't have a snowball's chance in Hell openly gay.
Sure, Neil Patrick Harris got lucky with How I Met Your Mother. But, for the sake of arguement, what happens if the show ends tomorrow? Probably the same thing that Chad Allen is now experiencing, now that Doctor Quinn - Medicine Woman is no longer the CBS staple.
Makes my blood boil; well, I should say!
I think NPH will be just
I think NPH will be just fine, actually. Chad Allen is nowhere near his same league, so that's comparing apples and oranges.
NPH has demonstrated a flexibility and charm that transcends his sexuality. He's an actor first, a "gay actor" second. And that's the way it SHOULD be.
Actually, leaving HIMYM right now would probably be the BEST move for his career. He could easily carry another show or transition into a RomCom lead. He's got a similar path ahead of him as Tom Hanks, if he plays his cards right.
Let us see, zanefan. . .
. . .and hope you are correct.
But let us not slag Mr. Allen to brighten up Mr. Harris; both started in the business as child actors and both have had different roads of opportunities.
And that's not to mention Brodway
Sondheim would write musical for him in a New York minute. What I'm hoping for is that he adapts Those Who Love Me Can Take the Train, casts NPH as Francois, David as Louis, and gives Victor Garber the Jean-Louis Trintignant role.
Claiming that actors can't have careers if they're out is Pure Unadulterated Internalized Homophobia.