From: MercerMedia (email suppressed)
Date: Thu Dec 23 2004 - 08:22:00 PST
I promised myself I wouldn't get involved in this, but I have met so many
people over the years who claimed to be Jack's good friend, often people you
would be surprised who would even know who he was. I was told by many
sources that Jack would often keep his various groups of friends hidden from
each other, often playing one against the other to create his own little
dramas.
Seems like he's managed to do the same after his death.
I worked on Jill Godmilow's piece years back, which I found to be a
disservice to all involved (maybe not Roy Cohn), but especially Ron Vawter
(it could have been finished before his death, with his input. Plus I could
have gotten him to replace lines) and Jack Smith, by intercutting him
against Roy Cohn to make points that were ancillary to or fictions of the
original intent.
Following this experience I thought of making my own project on the life and
work of Jack Smith, especially since I never really got it. I met him in
passing once or twice (I think he was more interested in getting my friend
to come back to his place), I've seen his works and his appearances in many
projects over the years (most recently when restoring Ken Jacobs' "Star
Spangled to Death"), and talked to some of his close friends, so I have a
sense of his place in time. I really wanted to explore his life so I (and
some of the other non-choir members) could have a better understanding.
But, the thought of having to deal with to deal with Penny and Hoberman put
that right on the back burner. I'm glad to see that Mary Jordan and Ken
Wayne are trying. I'm hoping they will succeed in answering some of the
questions I still have and not just focus on the ugliness we have all
witnessed here.
Bill
MercerMedia
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For info on FrameWorks, contact Pip Chodorov at <email suppressed>.