Sunday, December 7, 2014

Out Spotlight


Today's Out Spotlight is best known for writing, directing and starring in the cult classic film “Hedwig and the Angry Inch.” Today's Out Spotlight is John Cameron Mitchell.

While the story of Hedwig is not autobiographical, the sexually ambiguous character—the lead singer in a fictional rock band—does share some traits with her creator, who was born April 21, 1963, in El Paso, Texas.

 Like Hedwig, who is from East Germany and spent her youth craving the freedom of the West, Mitchell used to visit his military father in Berlin and became haunted by the Berlin wall.

Hedwig, like Mitchell, is a performer with an insatiable passion for the stage. Both are perennial outsiders making their own way—idealists who transcend labels.

Hedwig confounds male and female identities and Mitchell is an out gay man who believes gays are on the verge of selling out as they assimilate into society.

Hedwig and Mitchell teach us to distrust appearances because true character comes from the inside out.

In 2008 Mitchell established a New York nightclub called Mattachine. It was located at Julius, the nation’s oldest known gay bar. Mattachine was an homage to activists who convened at Julius in 1966 to hold a “sip-in” protest of the State Liquor Authority’s regulation prohibiting bartenders from serving homosexuals.

In 1998 Mitchell’s rock musical, “Hedwig and the Angry Inch,” debuted Off-Broadway and won an Obie Award. Mitchell played the lead role for seven shows a week. In 2001 he directed and starred in the film version, for which he earned the Best Director Award at the Sundance Film Festival and was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actor. The film garnered a cult following.

In 2014 a revival of “Hedwig” opened on Broadway with Neil Patrick Harris cast in the leading role.

Mitchell also wrote, directed and produced the film “Shortbus” and directed “Rabbit Hole,” starring Nicole Kidman.

6 comments:

  1. Jake was just nominated for a SAG award

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  2. I am telling ya SK he has a shot at getting a nom for best actor in the three biggies. SAG, Golden Globe and Oscar. You are correct though the win may be coming next year. Jake has arrived the black stain of Brokeback is gone and Jake is officially str8.

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  3. This is what he worked for. All the lies and deceit have been worth it. He should be very proud of himself.

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  4. I saw the original Hedwig when it was on Off-Broadway, and I saw NPH in it. I love the musical, and loved both of them in it.

    I'm not surprised at the SAG nomination for Jake.

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  5. All the lies and deceit have been worth it.

    Together, he and Austin survived and passed the closeted hazing.

    Now Jake has been rewarded and Austin reaps the benefits of the witness protection program. This will be interesting to watch as these two guys continue to weave themselves into acceptance by the Old Hollywood fold.

    I'm sure Jake's mother is most pleased. Maggie's pleased. Peter's pleased; he and Maggie have also played the game and protected Jake for the purpose of "protecting" their own careers.

    I will not be surprised by whatever we witness of these two guys from this point onward.

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  6. It's kind of funny to have that sort of reaction to a SAG nomination.

    1030 at night and to hear one or two children crying very hard somewhere outside is distressing. I think I heard one or two adults' voices as well but suddenly they're quiet. No little kid should be up at 1030 at night. I tried to look outside but couldn't see anything. Probably a domestic issue. And how does it get so deathly quiet so fast?

    #apartmentliving

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