by Sam Juliano
The brilliant Jay Giampietro’s “Best Picture” which features Yours Truly as the main character and narrator screened Sunday night as part of the 2019 BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music) Film Festival in front of a sold out audience in the showcase 300 seat theater of the Jay Sharp Building. The short focuses on this past March’s Oscar Party at Fairview’s Tiger Hose Firehouse. Adam Ferenz, Tony Lucibello, John Grant, Bart Talamini, Cliff Bernunzio, the Lampmanns and my family appear in the film, which received a thundering reception. I appear with Jay prior to the event in the theater’s lobby by the festival press boards; similarly with my entire family. This was an evening we’ll never forget.
His passing was imminent as he’s been ill for several years and recently turned 96, but Italian opera icon and film director Franco Zeffirelli is a maestro like few others. His 1968 “Romeo and Juliet,” lush and youthful is arguably the greatest film version of the popular Shakespeare play, and his 1973 “Brother Sun Sister Moon” is a rapturous work that was initially misunderstood but is now seen by many as a supreme masterpiece. His television mini-series “Jesus of Nazareth” is the best work of its kind and perhaps most of all his opera productions like La Boheme, Tosca, La Traviata and Turandot (all staged at the MET and seen by Lucille and I many times) remain the standards to this day. Zeffirelli was a controversial figure for sure, but what he gave to our culture will leave us eternally enriched. R.I.P. A mover of mountains, this great Italian……The past week also saw the sad demise of the great actress Sylvia Miles, whose supporting role in Midnight Cowboy will be forever unforgettable.
We spent the weekend in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, though we returned in time for our big film event. The Gettysburg trip is taken once a year.
Lucille, Jeremy and I flank the great friend and critic Farran Smith Nehme at showing of “The Story of Adele H.” at Quad on Tuesday evening.
“You Are Home” launching at Books of Wonder with author-artist Evan Turk
The spectacularly-talented young artist Evan Turk has yet again raised the ante with his newest picture book masterwork “You Are Home,” a ravishing ode to national parks. Lucille and I met up with our good friends Sam and Susan Hess this evening to witness a splendid presentation by Turk, who has made two appearances at Lincoln School to promote past picture book gems. (Evan and Susan flank me in photo taken by Lucille)
Farran Smith Nehme introduces Truffaut’s 1975 “The Story of Adele H.” at Quad Cinemas in Manhattan
Watching Truffaut’s ravishing mid 70’s masterwork on blu ray is a treat, but it is much better to see it on a big screen in 35mm. Best of all though is to have the film introduced by friend, critic and writer extraordinaire the lovely Farran Smith Nehme, whom Lucille, Jeremy and I met and chatted with after the film concluded in the lobby of the remodeled four screen landmark on 13th Street on Tuesday night. Photos of our group with Farran were taken in the complex’s lush red “U” theater where film was screened as part of the Pauline Kael tribute. Fab to meet Matt Blankman too, a new FB friend!
Italian directing genius Franco Zeffirelli
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Wow this sounds great. Would love to see Jay’s film at some point. Great honor Sam.
Thank you so very much my longtime friend and site colleague! I have sent you a link on AOL!! I’ll love to hear your reaction!
This has to be one of your greatest weeks ever. Of course the capper was your big event at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. You are all movie stars!
Thank so much Ricky! It certainly WAS one of the greatest weeks ever, in fact ONLY the week we spent is London in 2014 matches it in the nearly 11 year run of WONDERS IN THE DARK. While I wouldn’t think any of us are “movie stars” we did greatly enjoy this week’s brief time in the sun!!
Sam, it was only a matter of time before your great commitment became well known. Your generous involvement in fostering the powers of film deserves to span the globe!
Thank you so much Jim! Your kindness and positive energy every cherished day I know you (and Valerie) are a joy. The whole experience has been been so wonderful for all of us a d if not anything else it draws attention to that zany gathering we stage each and every year since the late 70s. I so much appreciate you Jim, more than I can express here!
Congratulations! What en epic achievement!
Thank you so much for the exceedingly kind words my friend. We has a really fun week!
Sam, congrats! Is “Best Picture” going to be streamed anywhere? I would love to see it.
Thank you many times over my longtime friend!! I am going to send you a link right now to your e mail address!!!!!!!!
Sam – What a week! So exciting to know a whole family of movie stars – but you’ve always been stars to me.
The passing of Zeffirelli is a real watershed moment for me. I was a teenager when ROMEO & JULIET first appeared in theatres, and my love for that film knew no bounds. I even have the LP of scenes and music from the film.
As for Sylvia Miles, I just wrote a short blurb on CROSSING DELANCEY in which I assert that she steals every scene she’s in. And she does! A fine lady.
Marilyn my longtime dear friend you are really a peach to call us all “movie stars.” LOL!!! But when you note we were “always stars” to you the sentiments reach my heart and I do deeply appreciate that as does Lucille who I show your comment here to at the school. Yes this was a wild and hectic seven day run taking us from the battlefield of Gettysburg to the Jay Sharp Building of Brooklyn’s BAM, with several events in Manhattan in between, one with your dear longtime friend Farran Nehme at the Quad.
I am with you lock, stock and barrel on Zeffirelli, who in large measure because of his opera productions has always been one of my top favorites of cultural in general! I adored his ROMEO AND JULIET and still am ravished by its design and music and count it as one of the greatest Shakespeare films ever from anybody. I am not at all surprised you love it so much!
I was so thrilled to add CINE-FILE to our sidebar, so now many of us will be able to read your stellar reviews for that site including the one you link to here!! The review which I have now read is so masterful but what else is new? I also though she was an inveterate scene-stealer in Midnight Cowboy!
Have a great week my friend! Thank you!
A remarkable week for you and your family Sam. The BAM Festival is a MAJOR so making it in in view of the thousands of submissions borders on miraculous. But having seen the film via the private message I have to say it well deserves the placement. Love the humor, the facial expansiveness, the talk about the chicken and how animated you all are when the winners were announced. I was wondering if the film might make more festivals!
As to everything else this week I salute you and your family. So sorry about your beloved Zeffirelli.
Frank, thanks one again for spreading the positive energy and for the astute observations and exceedingly kind words! As to the matter of “making more festivals” I think Jay is exploring his options indeed! Thanks too for your acknowledgement of the great Zeffirelli and my family. Much appreciated.
You have had a busy week! And it looks like a great deal of fun. Thank you for all the comments on my blog – greatly appreciate you kind words and opinions.
I WATCHED A MOVIE this week!!!! THE BIGGEST LITTLE FARM Wow it was so good and inspiring, I pre-purchased the DVD I wanted to share it with others!
Have you seen it. Very remarkable and very beautiful
Thank you so very much my very dear friend! Your own book reviews are a joy to read and I must continue to be enriched by them! I ADORED The Biggest Little Farm!! How fantastic that you saw it and how awesome we are on the same page with it!!! Yes that one is really a keeper and worth introducing to others!! I did see it of course and rated it two weeks ago on the Morning Morning Diary at this site and on FB. At that time I gave it 4.5 of 5.0 but I like it even a bit more now! It is close to a perfect rating. Have a fabulous week Patricia!!!
Sam, you have scaled peaks with this BAM Festival appearance. I know this particular festival is one of the most highly regarded on the east coast, and to get in is monumental. Congratulations to you and you family and to Jay Giampietro! And what a riveting cast of characters!
Peter, as always you know how to make one smile, thank you for the over-the-top compliments! But yes this is of course a banner festival in this area, one Jay has been honored by several times! A very great talent he is! Yes a cast of characters indeed! Ha! Thank you my friend!
Congratulations, Sam! I enjoyed every minute of Best Picture. Certainly something to take pride in. Regarding Franco Zeffirelli, I well remember standing in line with my little sister, snow falling all around, waiting to see Romeo and Juliet one Christmas evening long ago. I also envy you getting to see The Story of Adele H. in 35mm, Isabelle Adjani being one of my favorites. A remarkable week, indeed.
Thank you so much my great friend! So thrilled you enjoyed the short film!! Yes we are most proud of it and of Jay Giampietro, a director of exceeding talent. Amazing that you have such an acute memory of that long ago wintry viewing of ROMEO & JULIET, one of the best Shakespeare films ever. We are fully on the same page with THE STORY OF ADELE H. too! Can’t blame you for counting her as one of your favorites. Have a great weekend!
Sam — How EXCITING for you to be featured in “Best Picture” and then have it play to a sold out crowd! That is way beyond COOL!