Rick Still Rocks
Local music legend Rick Springfield and friends hit the Malibu Screening Room, but a concert wasn’t the main event. It was a chance to check out a new flick called “An Affair of the Heart.”
The documentary profiles Rick’s long career as a musician, actor and best-selling author. The evening was emceed by original MTV VJ Martha Quinn.
Celebs like “General Hospital” soap queen Jacklyn Zeman and “Stand by Me” star Corey Feldman walked the red carpet and posed for pics before heading to the VIP reception and a 7:30 screening of the film.
Executive Producer Melanie Lentz-Janney told Malibu Seen a little bit about the project and how it got started. “I took my filmmaking partner Sylvia Caminer to a concert with me and the wheels really started turning,” she said. “I discovered there was this whole underground world of Rick Springfield fans who felt as passionately about him now as they did in the early ‘80s. We got in touch with Rick and his management team and by May 2010 we were shooting the film.”
Melanie says there’s a good reason why Rick’s popularity endures. “His music comes from the heart and his true life experiences. But he is way more than the guy who sang ‘Jessie’s Girl’ and was on a soap opera. Rick has been on the scene for 40 years.”
Melanie also explains what sets her film apart. “It’s not a typical documentary and it’s certainly not a puff piece. It’s a human interest story shown through the eyes of Rick Springfield’s biggest fans.”
At its Malibu debut, the film received a standing ovation. Since the crowd was already fired up, Rick couldn’t resist an opportunity to give them a musical treat. He tuned up for an acoustic set including favorites like “Wasted” and “I Get Excited.” Congrats Rick. Long may you rock!
A loving goodbye to Gil
It’s the end of an era in the local theater world.
Gil Cates, the talented and longtime producing director at the Geffen Playhouse as well as the man behind many of the most memorable Academy Award shows, died last week at the age of 77.
In a statement released by the Geffen, theater officials said, “Gil was many things to many people throughout the entertainment industry: to the Oscars, one of their longest running producers, to the DGA, their longtime president and chief negotiator, to UCLA, the founder of their school of Theater, Film and Television and to the Geffen Playhouse. He was our founder, our leader and our heart.”
Geffen Playhouse Chairman of the Board Frank Mancuso says Gil always referred to the playhouse as “his second family.” He added, “as a family we mourn this tremendous loss. Gil built this theater and he will forever be at the center of it. We honor his life by continuing the fulfillment of his dream.”
For Gil, there really was no business like show business and Mancuso says his old buddy would want nothing more than for everyone to go on with the show. “As my dear friend would no doubt say, “Onward and upward with the arts.’” He will be missed.