Wednesday 31 August 2011

An article from the village Voice

[Source]
Matt Bomer To Appear In Gay Play
By Michael Musto Wed., Aug. 31 2011 at 9:25 AM

​According to a source:
"They just finished final casting for the upcoming Broadway reading of Dustin Lance Black's 8 [a play about the fight for gay marriage].

"Joining Morgan Freeman, Cheyenne Jackson, Marisa Tomei, Anthony Edwards, and Rob Reiner, will be:


"John Lithgow, Bradley Whitford, and Matt Bomer.

"Bomer and Jackson will be playing real life husbands Paul Katami and Jeff Zarrillo, central litigants in the Prop 8 trials."

Well, Bomer certainly has the background for it. Reportedly, he's practically gay-married in real life!

Friday 26 August 2011

A partial article from AfterElton

One of my favourite actresses, Pauley Perrette.

It's no secret we love NCIS's Pauley Perrette around here. For someone who doesn't necessairly show up at GLAAD events and such, she's a consistent and loud voice for equality. She never misses a chance to speak out in an interview, a red carpet, or on Twitter.

An article from AfterElton

[Source]

Zachary Quinto to Play Gay on FX's "American Horror Story"
Posted by Chris Eggertsen on August 26, 2011

Zachary Quinto

It’s just been announced that AE favorite Zachary Quinto, best known for playing the villainous Sylar on NBC’s Heroes and Spock in JJ Abrams’ 2009 Star Trek reboot (the sequel to which Abrams promised us he’d consider adding a gay character to), has joined the cast of Ryan Murphy’s new FX series American Horror Story. The greatest part? He’ll be playing a gay character.

As reported by Deadline, Quinto will play Chad, the gay former owner of the haunted Victorian home that married couple Ben Harmon (Dylan McDermott) and his wife Vivien (Connie Britton) have just moved into with their teenage daughter Violet (Taissa Farmiga). His arc, which has him making friends with Vivien, will take place over at least four episodes of the first season, with his first appearance occurring in a special two-part Halloween episode.

The first part will air during the series’ regular Wednesday night timeslot on October 26th, followed by a second installment to air on Halloween night.

In other words: get those DVRs ready!

Wednesday 24 August 2011

An article from BBC

[Source]

24 August 2011 Last updated at 11:05 GMT
Gay kiss row ends with 'a hug'
A popular student bar in Cork in the Republic of Ireland has 'made up' with two gay men who were allegedly asked to leave for kissing in public.

The gay kisses at the Old Oak bar in Oliver Plunkett Street happened in the early hours of Saturday morning.

It is claimed that a member of security at the bar approached the couple and asked them to stop kissing.

Later as they kissed again on the dance floor, the same member of staff allegedly escorted them to the door.

The incident prompted a huge online backlash on Ireland's social media network and calls for a boycott of the pub.

But the pub owner Ger Kiely and the couple, who wish to remain anonymous, met up on Tuesday night and later issued a statement.

"After deliberation and discussions, both parties accepted and conceded that mistakes were made by all involved," the statement said.

"The Old Oak apologised for any offence which was taken, but stressed that no offence whatsoever was meant or intended as we are not and never have been anti-gay.

"Equally, the couple involved, who wish to remain anonymous, accepted that they could have handled matter in a better way. Both parties look forward to contuing good relations and custom."

Thursday 18 August 2011

An article from The Autistic Journalist (blog)

[Article from a blog, The Autistic Journalist]

Alpha and Omega

Photo by Justin Stephens, Syfy
Before I analyze my next story, I want to inform you that this blog is a finalist for Twin Cities CBS affiliate WCCO’s Most Valuable Blogger competition in the health/fitness/medical category. Click here to view all the entries in the category. Voters can select their favorite blog in each category once per day. The winner receives a $50 Amazon gift card.

Speaking of value, Jean Winegardner of The Washington Times explores the usefulness of an autistic character on Syfy’s new series, Alphas. The series focuses on people whose neurological anomalies give them special powers while simultaneously dealing deficits and difficulties brought on by their differences. One of the five main characters, Gary Bell, is a high-functioning autistic adult who can read a wide range of electromagnetic frequencies, including television, radio and cell phone signals.

Actor Ryan Cartwright, who portrays Bell, enjoys the complexity of the character that he believes extends beyond the autism diagnosis. Naturally, Gary makes little eye contact, his speech patterns are stilted and echolalic, he relies on rules learned by rote and carries a strict adherence to routines. All are common traits of autism spectrum disorder. However, the kicker is Gary’s sense of humor, giving him an extra personality to challenge mainstream notions that autistic people are humorless (an idea promoted in the days of Rain Man).

Much detail and care was included in the science portion of the science fiction show. Dr. Susan Bookheimer, a faculty member of UCLA’s neuroscience program, is a consultant for Alphas who reviewed each script for the show’s inaugural season while offering on advice on aspects of Gary’s presentation and symptoms. Cartwright’s research included consulting with people who work with autistic individuals, reading books by autistic authors Temple Grandin and Daniel Tammet along with blog sites created by autistic people (I wonder if he came across this one :-p) and watching documentaries on the subject. Cartwright credits this research for helping him understand the reasoning behind the attributes and difficulties of autistic people to create and not imitate the physicality of Gary. Cartwright’s biggest goal? Playing the person and not the disorder

With the story part reporting and part editorial, Winegarden expresses approval for the show introducing a complex character with autism as opposed to stereotypical characters that permeated mainstream media in the early days of autism exposure. Bookheimer concurs, as the show seeks to examine themes of neurodiversity as the topic itself becomes more embroiled in public dissemination.

Science fiction itself has always opened doors to addressing ideas and topics among current events that could never be extrapolated by media set in the present because of raw, impulsive emotional responses from segments of the viewing audience. Star Trek and its spin-offs before the 2009 reboot contained many allegories among its episodes and races, including Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, with a 23rd century version of Chernobyl and the end of the Soviet Union. Alphas may not be as futuristic, but the science fiction elements of neurological conditions leading to superhuman powers does communicate to viewers that disabled people aren’t so simplistic in real life. Several examples of autism in mainstream media used to place autistic individuals as “out there,” separated from the public domain. Recent portrayals, including a young boy with Asperger’s on the second version of NBC’s Parenthood and now Alphas, approach the condition with a mission to deconstruct what the public erected years ago about the condition.

Credit must also be given for Winegardner’s approach to the story. There are few indications of the article presenting itself as a column until the end of the story, when Winegardner analyzes the character of Gary Bell and the effort from Cartwright and the show’s production staff. While I doubt anyone would be critical of a column praising a television show for avoiding stereotypes, columns and editorials can sometimes fall into traps created by the writers (or pundits on television shows), where the writer eschews fact and reasoning for an egotistical nature. Winegardner’s structure is very similar to what a straight-up reporter would write, and prefaces her sense of encouragement with a behind-the-scenes look for a rookie series seeking to establish itself in the Syfy lineup, using both the actor and a consultant whose expertise is the science of the brain as sources for her analysis.

While an opinion is more blatantly expressed, opinion articles sometimes employ the tactics of more neutral stories that make up the front page of newspapers, as such work can carry the same effect in both instances. Thanks to Winegardner’s interviewing, she doesn’t have to rely solely on her own word even in a news environment where someone’s word is sometimes given more credence than traditional reporting. A positive side effect is the illustration of commitment from Alphas to accurate portrayals within its neuroscience surroundings.

As with any art form, television isn’t immune to subjectivity from the viewing audience, critics and advertisers, but even if Alphas joins the long list of “one-and-done” programs, expect future shows that tackle neurodiversity to draw inspiration from the latest work of science fiction.

Written by TheSportsBrain
August 18, 2011 at 9:47 pm

Wednesday 17 August 2011

Matt Bomer Joins 'Magic Mike'

[Source]

'White Collar's Matt Bomer Joins Steven Soderbergh's 'Magic Mike'

By MIKE FLEMING | Wednesday August 17, 2011 @ 7:01pm EDT

Matt Bomer, star of the USA series White Collar, has joined the ab-worthy cast of hunks who'll play male strippers in Magic Mike, Steven Soderbergh's next film. So far, Soderbergh has cast Channing Tatum, Alex Pettyfer and Matthew McConaughey. Magic Mike is a Saturday Night Fever-style coming of age story. Tatum plays the title character, who schools a young dancer (Pettyfer) in how to hustle on and off the stage. The inspiration was Channing's own experiences as a stripper when he was 19. Nick Wechsler is producing with Tatum, Gregory Jacobs and Reid Carolin. Carolin wrote the script. Soderbergh has called the film "sexy, funny and shocking" using Saturday Night Fever as a model. Bomer will next be seen in the Andrew Niccol-directed In Time, playing the pivotal role of a wealthy man who gives the protagonist (Justin Timberlake) a shot at a longer life. Check out that trailer:

Thursday 11 August 2011

An article from Los Angeles Times

[Source]

‘Alphas’: Misfits of science find the sweet spot
Aug. 11, 2011 | 7:13 a.m.

The most promising new sci-fi series on television? Our vote goes to “Alphas” on SyFy, which lives somewhere between “The Office” and “The X-Men.” The show gives us a “misfits of science” team of special-ability civilians (along with one grouchy FBI agent) who would fascinate Fox Mulder — they could use his help, too, to sort out the slow-reveal conspiracies that are taking the Monday night show toward its two-part season finale. The series has some intriguing guest stars in the mix (Lindsay Wagner, Summer Glau and Brett Spiner among them) and our Geoff Boucher recently sat down with the show’s head writer, Ira Steven Behr (executive producer on both “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” and “The 4400″) to talk about the sh0w’s ambitions.

Ira Steven Behr (SyFy)
GB: One of the key things for any show in its early life is to pinpoint the tone that will be its signature. What can you tell us about “Alphas” at this point?

ISB: One of the reasons I joined this little parade was for the chance to do a show that exists in the sci-fi universe but was clearly meant to be a character-driven show and was clearly meant to have humor as a major element — character humor as opposed to slapstick or farce. I think the tone of the show is interesting. It’s very fast-paced at times. One of the things we decided to do after the pilot was speed up the look of the show with lots of hand-held camera and a lot of energy in the scenes to make it as real as possible. OK, so people don’t necessarily have this level of ability in the real world — at least not yet although some seem to on YouTube — but we can keep it real and keep it natural as well as that sense that these are kind of the odd ducks doing a job that they are not meant to do.
A scene from “Alphas.” (Russ Martin/Syfy)
GB: Sometimes for a show it’s important to know what needs to be avoided. What does this show need to avoid to succeed?

ISB: Speaking only for myself, I’m not attracted to more procedural elements of the show. There are a ton of procedurals on the air; do we need another one on the Syfy network? It gives us a nice framework for the show but I don’t think we should get caught up into scenes or episodes that could be played on another series out there. One of the things that we’ve done so far [in the completed episodes that have not yet aired], we’ve managed to make every episode different than the one that came before. It’s definitely not cookie-cutter. That’s what really interests me in terms of being on this show; you’re giving the audience a wide range of storytelling. We’ve done an episode that is, in my view, a procedural show and then we’ve followed it with a very strong  character-driven episode where we put the humor in the foreground. We’ve had spooky, intense episodes and then something with a different feel completely. I’ve done this kind of [show] before when I did ”The 4400″ where originally it was going to be ”We’re going to do 4,400 episodes because you meet one of those people every week” but then the thing was, no, you really don’t want to do that. We played with the franchise literally every season. I’m not sure we’re going to have that kind of freedom here but I think that Season Two — if there is a Season Two – will definitely build on Season One in lots of ways but it won’t repeat Season One.

A scene from "Alphas." (Russ Martin/Syfy)

GB: The emphasis on improvisation and dialogue overlap, giving the show a nice crackle. You’ve had the cast to do it — people like David Straithairn, Ryan Cartwright and Malik Yoba  — but I’m wondering how their performances come back to you and tilt the characters that you write on the page the next time around. 

ISB: I spent eight years in the “Star Trek” universe where actors could not change a word. I’m not exaggerating. They could not change a word without a call to the offices. It was a lot easier, we were on the same lot [at Paramount], we could go down and talk. They were all pretty good about it; because of the whole 24th century thing, if they just on-the-spot changed a line it can make it slangy or too current. So what I’m saying is they knew that and it wasn’t a problem. But in that setting there wasn’t an opportunity to do what we’re doing with “Alphas.” And you’re right, it does require people that can do it and actually achieve it. If you can’t do it, stick with what’s written or else it will go sideways. Again, the naturalistic quality, the reality of an on-the-spot, living, breathing moment and the reaction to it is kind of cool. And you know we’re talking about two different things, too, when we’re talking about improv and the ad lib. The extra line that someone throws in at the end of a scene or to punctuate a moment, that creates that crackle and it’s a great button — that’s one thing. Then there’s the ad-libbing  within the written dialogue where people go “off book,” as we say. That’s the stuff you have to listen more closely to [at rehearsals] and hopefully work that stuff out before they hit the set because you want to make sure the intent and the information is still there even if it’s dirtied up and changed to come more comfortably out of the actor’s mouth. These guys are pretty great and we talk it over with them and we have writers on the set.

A scene from "Alphas." (Russ Martin/Syfy)
GB: I really enjoy the fact that the characters are conflicted about their abilities and uneasy about their place in the world – no one on this team would ever wear a cape and deliver a speech during a fight.

ISB: These people — with the exception of Bill Harkin, who is FBI [and portrayed by Yoba] — none of them really have a right to be doing what they’re doing.  And if [Straithairn's character] Dr. Rosen or anyone else was putting together a TV team of investigators and cops and muscle to work on cases and go after these powerful, dangerous people, this would not be the team you would pick. You’d be looking through the Alphas catalog and you would pick different people. They aren’t what you expect. And that’s the sweet spot for the show.
– Geoff Boucher

Paley Event: The Closer Interview with Phillip Keene

Friday 5 August 2011

GLEE AYH 2011 7 CDO BTY converted

It's awesome!
I love this song. "Don't Stop Believin' (Glee Cast Version)" sung by Glee Cast

Tuesday 2 August 2011

An article from The Washington Times

[Source]

He's not autistic, but he plays one on TV: Ryan Cartwright on Syfy's Alphas

Photo: Justin Stephens/Syfy


SILVER SPRING, Md., August 2, 2011—About halfway through the second episode of Syfy's new series "Alphas," Dr. Lee Rosen, played by David Strathairn, says, "[His] ability is an integral part of him, as is the color of a person's skin or you being left handed. You can't extract that."

Rosen is referring to a character with special neurological abilities and is basically talking about neurodiversity, but taken to the nth power.

"Alphas" is a science fiction series focused on exploring people whose neurological anomalies give them special powers—super strength or the ability to hyper-intensify one sense at a time, for example—at the same time that they deal with the deficits and difficulties brought on by their differences. These people are the titular Alphas.

It is fitting then, that one of the show's five main Alphas is Gary Bell, an autistic adult who can read a wide range of electromagnetic frequencies, including television, radio and cell phone signals. The inclusion of an autistic character brings an interesting layer of neurodiverse reality to a show almost entirely made of fantasy.

Gary, as played by actor Ryan Cartwright, is described on the show as a "high functioning autistic." Cartwright sees him as more complex than just his diagnosis and says, "I like that he has a voice, an attitude and a developing sense of humor. He's an innocent in certain ways, which makes him endearing, but he's also finding himself in a position of great appreciation and admiration for the first time in his life, so he's strutting a little."

Ryan Cartwright on Alphas
Naturally, the autism community carefully watches portrayals of autistic characters on television, something the show's creators seem to be aware of. "Everyone involved in the show is taking great pains to be sensitive to the autistic community," says Cartwright.

Interest in creating a realistic portrayal of autism started before filming began with Dr. Susan Bookheimer, a faculty member at the UCLA Neuroscience Program, who has served as a consultant for "Alphas," offering advice on aspects of Gary's presentation and symptoms. Bookheimer also consulted on each script as it was developed.

"I read the dialogues and gave input on how this character might have reacted, the kinds of things he would and wouldn't say, and generally tried to give insight into the inner life of a high functioning person with autism," she says. "I wanted to help make the character as genuine as possible, not a caricature, but a real person with many of the issues that an individual with autism has."

For his part, Cartwright researched autism in order to be able to play Gary as a real person. He says that in addition to consultation with people who work with autistic individuals, he watched documentaries and read books by autistic authors Temple Grandin and Daniel Tammet, along with vlog and blog sites created by autistic people.

"Reading about autism and neuroscience helped me understand the reasoning behind a lot of the physical attributes and difficulties of people with autism, which in turn helped me create, as opposed to imitate, a physicality for Gary," he says.

Cartwright has incorporated much of this into his portrayal of Gary. Gary rarely makes eye contact, something that is difficult for many—but not all—people with autism. ("It's quite relaxing to not have to look people in the eye all day," Cartwright says. "You end up listening and visualizing a great deal more.")

On the show, Gary's speech is convincingly stilted and echolalic (repetitive of others' vocalizations), which is even more impressive when you take into account the fact that in real life, Cartwright speaks with a British accent. The character's sense of humor adds an air of levity to the show and gives him extra personality at the same time that it challenges the idea that people with autism are humorless.

The show has deftly introduced common autism characteristics, such as Gary's reliance on rules learned by rote, his need to have idiomatic speech explained, and his extreme reliance on routine. There are other subtle touches, such as when Gary sits down in a chair, spies a fluffy pillow and starts to pick at its detail. Much of this takes place in the background of scenes, letting Gary's way of being permeate the atmosphere. "Alphas'" third episode features a secondary storyline that has Gary hearing a humming sound in the team's new offices that no one else can hear.
Watching "Alphas," it is clear that Gary's character was put together with careful thought. Of course, an autistic person is more than just a collection of symptoms, something Cartwright is aware of. "The character was a rough sketch to begin with," he explains. "The wonderful writers and producers on the show, along with myself, slowly connected all of Gary's traits and conditions until he was a balanced and believable individual."

Gary's interaction with the other members of the Alphas team is interesting in that while the team seems to like and respect Gary, some of them baby him a little and at least one team member is often openly annoyed by him. It will also be interesting to see how much Gary's disability is explored in its own right as it relates to Gary, and not just as a foil or a lesson for the other characters.

Yet even with all of the care put into Gary's character, the creation of a savant-like autistic character gives some observers pause. Many in the autism community are wary of portrayals that imply that autistic people are savants because while some definitely are, most are not.
Gary's repetitive hand gestures, or stims, are familiar to those who know people with autism, but in Gary's case, he is manipulating the electromagnetic signals he is able to receive. Is the fact that Gary has a sort of savant-like ability mitigated by the fact that he is surrounded by non-autistic characters who share similar powers? And should we assume that Gary's autism is responsible for these powers?

Warren Christie, Cartwright, Malik Yoba
 and Strathairn of Alphas
Cartwright says we can't make that assumption. He explains that "Gary's autism isn't necessarily linked to his ability to visualize electromagnetic waves and that the process of maturing while being bombarded with this perma-light show inside his brain has also affected how he behaves as an individual."

Bookheimer concurs, saying, "He isn't a shallow stereotype—he has a complex character. He is not defined by his autism. He, like the other characters, has a special ability, and he knows that he is special."

It is encouraging to see more and more non-stereotypical characterizations of autism on television, especially one that centers on a smart, funny, successful, but clearly quirky adult man, who needs extra help to get along in the world. It will be interesting to watch Cartwright and the creators of "Alphas" as they help Gary develop as a three-dimensional character, and as they hopefully explore more themes of neurodiversity.
It seems evident that the team behind "Alphas" has put good faith and care into the creation of the character. Cartwright himself seems protective of Gary—all of Gary. "I feel as though my first responsibility is to Gary as an individual," he says. "As I've said before, you want to play the person, not the disorder."

"Alphas" airs Mondays at 8 p.m. on the Syfy network. The full pilot episode is available to watch online. To read the full text of Ryan Cartwright's interview with Jean, please visit Stimeyland, Jean's personal blog.

 Jean writes a personal blog at Stimeyland and an autism-events website for Montgomery County, Maryland, at AutMont. You can find her on Twitter as @Stimey. Read more of Jean's work at Autism Unexpected in the Communities at the Washington Times.

An article from Stimeyland

[Source]

Tuesday, August 2, 2011
My Interview with Ryan Cartwright of "Alphas"

Ryan Cartwright as Gary Bell of "Alphas"
I am always interested to see how television shows use autistic characters. Thanks to a column I wrote for Autism Unexpected, I was able to conduct an email interview with Ryan Cartwright, the actor who plays autistic character Gary Bell on Syfy's new show "Alphas."

Ryan had some great answers to the questions I had about creating an autistic character for television. He was interested in seeing his full answers published, and I agreed. You can check out his work on "Alphas" on the Syfy network every Monday at 8 p.m. Don't forget to read my full story about the show as well: "He's not autistic, but he plays one on TV."

Check out what Ryan had to say, and be sure to let me know if you've watched "Alphas" and, if you have, what you think of it and its portrayal of autism.

Jean: How did you approach playing an autistic character differently than the other roles you've had in the past?

RC: I used the same approach—it was just the amount and specificity of the research that differed. I always need to feel as though I have earned a right to play the character, to the point where the character is actually playing me in a sense. I wanted to do as much research as possible to the point where I felt as though I could empathize with Gary as though he were a real person and not a fictional character.

What did you do to prepare to play Gary?

I watched a lot of documentaries, YouTube videos. Consulted with people who work with autistic people. The most helpful and interesting aspect was the literature I found. Some wonderful books by Temple Grandin, Daniel Tammet, Oliver Sacks et al; and some lovely vlogs and blog sites by autistic people.

Specifically, reading about autism and neuroscience helped me understand the reasoning behind a lot of the physical attributes and difficulties of people with autism, which in turn helped me create, as opposed to imitate, a physicality for Gary.

Also, I must mention that Gary’s autism isn’t necessarily linked to his ability to visualize electromagnetic waves, and that the process of maturing while being bombarded with this perma-light show inside his brain has also affected how he behaves as an individual.

Do you have any personal connections to autism in your life?


A good friend of mine is autistic and he gave me some nice little insights into his disorder, but that wasn’t something I drew from a great deal.

What was the greatest challenge you faced in preparing to play Gary?

The main challenge was correlating all the disparate bits of info I had for the character and then making him his own person with a decent amount of consistency. To be brief, the character was a rough sketch to begin with, and the wonderful writers and producers on the show, along with myself, slowly connected all of Gary’s traits and conditions until he was a balanced and believable individual (considering his circumstances).

A fun bit for me was creating all of his hand movements for how he guides himself through the wavelengths.

What are your favorite things about Gary?

I like that he has a voice, an attitude and a developing sense of humor. He’s an innocent in certain ways, which makes him endearing, but he’s also finding himself in a position of great appreciation and admiration for the first time in his life, so he’s strutting a little.

It’s also quite relaxing to not have to look people in the eye all day. You end up listening and visualizing a great deal more, which puts me in a different head space altogether, and we all know that’s never a bad thing from time to time.

Do you and Gary have any similarities?

Cheeky sense of humor. We both like sexy shoes on ladies (you’ll see ;)

What can fans look forward to in terms of Gary this season?

He is coming into his own as an individual. The team is helping him do this. It’s like he’s re-entering society in an appreciated role as opposed to his insular beginnings. Also a super fun episode called “Bill and Gary’s Excellent Adventure.” [Airing August 15]

What, if any, responsibility do you feel to the autism community to portray Gary realistically?

Obviously that was the reason I did so much research in the first place. As an actor and an empathetic person, I wanted to know that I was coming from a real place. I’ve been very touched by all the people who have expressed their appreciation of my portrayal thus far.

I feel as though my first responsibility is to Gary as an individual. As I’ve said before, you want to play the person NOT the disorder.

Everyone involved in the show is taking great pains to be sensitive to the autistic community, none more so than myself. At a certain point you have to let the character do their own thing, and I believe the worst thing you can do when portraying someone with a different lifestyle or manner of perceiving the world is to patronize by way of condescending with compassion. People who have faced great difficulties rarely want pity, and often find it offensive and misplaced. It’s not just autistic people who live on a spectrum, we all do. Everybody has an individual voice, and Gary is just expressing himself how he feels most comfortable.

What is your favorite thing about "Alphas"?


Nice location shooting. The stellar cast. Phenomenally talented and responsive writers. Super smart producers. The humorous character banter. Catering, and days off in Toronto. Big up!

Is there anything else you would like to let me know about your experience playing Gary? My readers tend to be parents of children with autism or autistic people themselves. Is there anything you would like them to know?

I just hope that they enjoy seeing Gary blossoming against his own adversity. I’m an entertainer, and that’s mainly what I hope Gary and the show as a whole does for everyone regardless of their life situation. We all deserve a little entertainment on Spaceship Earth, right?!