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BRUSH WITH GREATNESS

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David Brandler - Lincoln Center Tribute
Joan Butryn - Lincoln Center Tribute
Joan Butryn - The Resistable Rise of Arturo Ui
Chrystyne Scotto - Lincoln Center Tribute

 

 

Joan Butryn - "The Resistable Rise of Arturo Ui"

All photos are courtesy of Joan Eugene Butryn, Copyright JEB Productions,
and cannot be used elsewhere without express written permission from JEB.

Check out Joan's page Scriptscene/RWA for great interviews/essays on writing
including an interview with screenwriter Richard Price (Sea of Love)


Al getting into his car.


Lou, Joan and Al


Joan and Charles Durning
(he co-starred in Dog Day Afternoon)

 


Chazz Palminteri


Joan Butryn, Chazz Palminteri
and Crystal


John Goodman
(he co-starred in Sea of Love)


Joan and Steve Buscemi

 

 

Chrystyne Scotto - Lincoln Center Tribute

Wow, the Tribute was fabulous! I was sitting in the fifth row back on the left...very close to the podium and right under Al who was in the first balcony. The seats couldn't have been more perfect.

Al was sitting next to his daughter, Julie, and next to Julie was Bev. Also in the balcony were the people who gave speeches during the Tribute...Kevin Spacey, Michael Mann, Alec Baldwin, Sidney Lumet, Chris O'Donnell, Diane Venora and Jerry Schatzberg...I'm sure I've left some people out too. There were so many people and it was so exciting...I was trying to remember everything, but you know how that goes under those kinds of circumstances!

Everyone gave a very nice speech about Al and the best part was being able to look right up at him and see his reactions to what people said. I was surprised at how much he seemed to be really enjoying the whole thing. I know what a private person he is and usually doesn't like people *fussing* over him like this. I did notice a few times he was looking down when the movie clips were shown... he may not have enjoyed watching himself on the big screen. But as far as the speeches given, he thoroughly seemed to enjoy that. At the end, when he gave a speech himself, I was amazed at how easily the words seemed to come out of his mouth and how much he truly seemed to be enjoying himself! He's so shy that I had the feeling he would feel uncomfortable, but it was as if once he got up there he really enjoyed it and was basking in the admiration of everyone there.

The applause was incredible when Al gave his speech! He went up to the podium where the others had spoken before him. I will have to get my thoughts together to give you a good description of what he spoke about...it was one of those situations where it was so exciting I actually have to sit down and think about it. But here is a brief synopsis: I do remember it was the one time I have ever heard Al refer to God, and how God has always helped him through the trying times in his life, which I thought was very nice; he thanked his school teacher (I can't remember her name right now) who went to his house to tell his grandmother of his talent and that he should go into acting, which he says literally saved his life; and, of course, he talked about his mother and grandparents who raised him.

I must say Al looks fabulous in person (I wasn't that close, 20 to 30 feet away, but the others who met him in person will agree!). He actually looks much more handsome in person and radiates and incredible energy. It's hard to believe he turned  60! His hair was on the long side and his got rid of the *full* beard he has been wearing lately and had that incredibly sexy goatee. Great look for him! And Beverly looked beautiful...she also looks much prettier in person than in movies or pictures. His daughter was adorable. She's only 10 but she was wearing her hair up and looked so cute in her dress. She, like Al and Bev, looks much prettier in person than in pictures.

It was a spectacular event! Unfortunately, I didn't get to meet him in person, but I know there will be other opportunities for that...after all he lives very close to me. There were others on this trip who have much more to tell about than me. I know you'll enjoy their stories.

Ciao for now,
Chrystyne

 

 

 

 

David Brandler - Lincoln Center Tribute

I went to the Lincoln Center tribute. It was a great night. I had nosebleed seats but again who cares.

The festivities started around 8:20. Pacino was dressed in a black suit and his hair was very messy. He was there with Beverly D'Angelo and his daughter.

The people who spoke on his behalf were Kevin Spacey, Alec Baldwin, Diane Venora, Martin Bregman, Sidney Lumet, Michael Mann, Harold Becker, Jerry Schatzberg, Anne Strasberg and Chris O'Donnell.

I knew O'Donnell was going to be there. I knew the worst actor to ever appear opposite one of the greatest actors of our time wouldn't refuse such an invitation. And boy was his speech terrible.

It was your basic awards show- speeches every few minutes followed by montages and film clips. Most of the speeches were boring although Spacey had a very funny story about Looking For Richard.

Strangely enough Pacino's speech was interesting and I say that because he is usually a boring public speaker. That's what makes these people such great actors because half of them are either shy or recluses in real life.

I was surprised that a lot of people didn't show up. I can't believe no one representing the Godfather was there. I mean c'mon. I realize that most of these people probably live on the west coast but so what? This was a special ocassion.

In addition to the people I mentioned above, some of the other stars I spotted with my Tasco binoculars were Christopher Walken (who kept yawning and looked very bored. I think also at one point he noticed some yucklehead in the balcony staring at him with binoculars. I got excited!)

Dianne Weist, Stanley Tucci, Mikhail Barishnikov, John McEnroe, Michael Nouri. Nouri was the only person I was in close proximity with and I almost went up to him to tell him that I liked him in The Hidden and also Cliffhangers, an old 70's television show. But his limo pulled up and off he went.

There were probably more stars but that's all I saw. It was a great evening. I will never forget it. As I was watching the film clips I realized how much fun watching his movies are.

As we exited Avery Fisher Hall a slew of Town cars and limos were waiting outside. And then it was time to go home.

I was so happy that Pacino thanked everyone for being there last night, not just the people in the industry that helped him rise to stardom.

 

 

 

 

Joan Butryn - Lincoln Center Tribute

All photos (except where indicated) and text are courtesy
of Joan Eugene Butryn, Copyright JEB Productions, and
cannot be used elsewhere without written permission.

Check out Joan's page Scriptscene/RWA for great interviews/essays on writing
including an interview with screenwriter Richard Price (Sea of Love)


Joan and Al




photo courtesy of
Lisa Wollney

Courtesy of Suzanne & Michelle Headlights, we all had a fancy champagne toast together to start off our evening before leaving to go down to Our Limo. We arrived in style! Everyone was looking to see WHO WE were getting out of the Limo!! It was the greatest fun!!! And "we were only just getting warmed up!!!!

I had figured they would not let people approach him while he was eating dinner, so I didn't go up to his table until after dessert was served. He had a plate of those little dessert cakes on it in front of him.

The blonde hair in the upper left hand corner of the first two pictures is me talking to Al, and he's looking right at me. I didn't realize he had given me such full attention like that!! Guess I was kinda in a little bit of a daze! It's just so darn exciting being in Al's presence!! I think he was still holding my hand because I shook his hand, too.

I just told him I had been a fan of his for a long time, and that he so much deserved this award because of all the great acting  work he has done. Then I wished him a very Happy Birthday and gave him a kiss on the cheek (his cheek was soft and warm -- I do completely remember that part!!!!!!!!).

To be honest, despite the occasion and the many other well wishers, I did feel that I was invading his private space a little bit by kissing him, but, he was very gracious about it. I am glad I took the opportunity to do it because I will cherish the memory always.

When I turned to walk away from Al, Kevin Spacey was sitting right there at the next table, amazingly, with no one round him at the time!! I went over, shook his hand, and congratulated him on the Oscar win telling him my thoughts about his performance. He was very gracious -- I've met Kevin quite a few times now. Then as I was trying to push my way through the people crowding around Al, I turned around right into a tall guy's chest, when I looked up at him, it was Christopher Walken! I also shook his hand and told him how much I've always admired his work. Got pictures of both of them, also.

 

 

 

 


Christopher Walken


Kevin Spacey




 

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