July 27, 2024

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Do you recall a few years back when I wrote in my official blog my experience working with the Hollywood Legend and Oscar Award Winning actor, Faye Dunaway as an extra, in a film she was producing and directing called "Master Class" in Detroit back in the mid 1990s? Faye played Bonnie in the cult classic film, "Bonnie and Clyde" along with Warren Betty.  She also played Joan Crawford in the controversial film, "Mommie Dearest," which I thought she also deserved another Oscar for such an outstanding performance, for it was the type of role that demanded excellence to pull off Joan Crawford's range of raw emotions.  Do you recall I said that although I was disappointed that the film was never completed, I was excited anyway because out of all the extras on set in the war protest scene (filmed Downtown Detroit, on Woodward Ave at Grand Central Park), I was lucky (actually, I don't believe in "luck") to actually meet Faye when she decided to come say hello to me and the extra I was paired with.  She kindly made small talk with us, saying hello, as well as giving some direction and encouragment.  I recall this moment being special because that scene required many re-takes and the thight, high heeled 60ish boots I was wearing were killing my feet, and one of the camera men was picking on me about it, trying to poke fun at Faye for taking so many retakes of a scene she wanted performed to her level of vision / performance.  Meeting her made those long re-take scenes more than worth it.

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The good news (at least for me) is that you can now get a glimps (and I do mean a glimps of about several seconds) of me in that war protest scene shown in the 2024 HBO Original Documentary "Faye: The Many Lives of Faye Dunaway."  It's playing now on Cinemax and HBO.  At about 1hr and 21 minutes into the documentary, Faye decided to use the war protest scene footage which I'm also featured in.  I guess I'm just "lucky" again, as she could have seleted another scene fpr this documentary.   At 1hr and 21 minustes, right were you see a guy holding a sign that says "Stop the War," look just north of him, to the right, and you'll see me at the top of the screen wearing a pink butterfly collar shirt, a brown sued jacket, and some light blue jeans, on the left side of a policeman on a horse.   I couldn't believe it!   23 years later, and I there, in the 2024 HBO Original documentary about Faye!  Haha!  Not to mention that I would strongly recommend inspiriing actors to watch Faye's documentary and all of her films for detailed insight on playing complex , dramatic characters.  Faye is a classic performer who brings her characters to life, and in your face.  I'm a huge fan of some classic films, and seeing myself on screen next to a living Legend is priceless, and an experience no one can detract from.  Read more about the documentary here at Warner Brothers.