TWO OF A KIND: Diane Keaton and Edna Purviance

The recent passing of Diane Keaton has prompted me to seek out her work, both in films I fondly remembered, as well as ones I had never seen. Along the way I became distracted by her natural talent, her intelligence, and that infectious personality which shined through, not only in her performances, but also in her many televised appearances on a variety of talk shows.

Upon watching her, though, I couldn't shake the feeling I'd seen this personality before. And I had. In fact, the whole world had - a generation before Diane Keaton was even born.

Long before Woody Allen had an on screen / off screen leading lady, Charlie Chaplin had one as well. Her name was Edna Purviance, and she starred opposite Chaplin in over 30 films produced between 1915 and 1923.

But the similarities among the two go further than sharing the screen with a popular funnyman of the time. And they begin with their appearance.

EDNA PURVIANCE

DIANE KEATON

Looking at photographs, as well as the films of both actresses, they look eerily similar - almost as if they were mother and daughter. They weren't. But their lives seemed oddly connected as both women would often change the subject when asked about themselves, as if perplexed on the notion that anyone would have an interest in them.

They also shared the demands and scars of image. Diane Keaton openly talked of her struggles with Bulimia, while Edna Purviance's weight strongly fluctuated between each film. Two strong independent women, they both ignored the expectations of society. Purviance married late in life - age 43, but never had children, while Keaton never married but adopted two children after the age of 50.

In comparing their careers, Diane Keaton was more prolific, versatile, and had formal training. She met Woody Allen when they were part of the cast of the Broadway comedy, Play It Again, Sam, whereas Edna Purviance met Chaplin in a coffee shop where the up and coming funnyman offered the non actress a screen test.

CHAPLAN AND PURVIANCE

KEATON AND ALLEN

While Diane Keaton and Woody Allen were more like collaborators on their various film projects, Edna Purviance and Charlie Chaplin worked within the old fashioned model of student and teacher, with both women attaining the same results within the realm of the time periods they each inhabited.

And while Keaton and Purviance excelled in comedy, they both showed their critics a dramatic range with controversial films - Keaton as the teacher of deaf children by day and a bar hopping promiscuous woman by night in Looking for Mister Goodbar, and Purviance as the innocent young woman who becomes the mistress of a wealthy man in A Woman of Paris.

EDNA PURVIANCE in A WOMAN OF PARIS

DIANE KEATON in REDS

In Kevin Brownlow's documentary, Unknown Chaplin, we see glimpses of Edna Purviance's radiant charm through various outtakes. Even without ever hearing her voice, one can't help but be smitten with her carefree playfulness among her castmates, just as we are equally enamored with Diane Keaton in viewing many of her early interviews.

And just as the inexperienced Purviance was thrust into Chaplin's world of knockabout English Music Hall cronies, Keaton, a student of the famed acting teacher Sanford Meisner, found herself in the foreign world of Woody Allen's zany intellectual self depreciation. And both women fit right in, naturally.

No longer lovers of Allen or Chaplin, Diane Keaton and Edna Purviance continued working with the men that made them famous as the two comic director/performers successfully ventured into more mature comedies and dramas.

Unless you're a Chaplin enthusiast, Edna Purviance is virtually forgotten today, while Diane Keaton has bypassed Woody Allen in both popularity, and versatility. Both Allen and Chaplin have credited these two women with the success of their early directing careers proving without a doubt the old saying, "Behind every successful man is a woman."

Writing During Times of Chaos

The truth is, times have been better. And probably safe to say it's hard to focus on writing when feelings of fear and anger are on a consistent internal brew. We are not alone. In fact, we've never been alone.

Every century people have lived through times of apprehension and rage. And risen from the depths of upheaval have been some of the most cherished writing the world has ever seen. A society of harmony would have never produced Jane Austen, James Baldwin, George Orwell, Rod Serling, Toni Morrison, and the list is endless.

And though many of us will most likely never be linked with the writers above, our voices can still inspire, enlighten, educate, motivate, and most importantly, matter. Even if it's to a selected few. It all starts with writing, and our talents are desperately needed.

Today determines what tomorrow will bring. We all know writing is not easy. Especially now in this era of chaos. But the world needs us - even if our efforts are strictly for entertainment. So pen to paper, fingers to keyboard, we have obstacles to conquer, and stories to tell. And the sooner we start, the closer we'll be to a better tomorrow.

Peace.

Ego - Don't Start Without One

Actors William Kephart and myself from the Web Series, Up the Creek.

Face it. If you didn't have some sort of an ego, would you really want to be an actor? Whether you admit it or not, we all have one, and the sooner you can come to grips with this, the better actor you'll become.

Now an ego doesn't mean throwing tantrums or making unrealistic demands of your director, cast or crew. No, save that for the diva's that have lost touch with the starving artist they once were.

In my book, an ego means confidence. In other words, knowing in your heart that you can step inside your characters shoes and wear them like you belong there. This comes from not only trusting the people around you, but also believing that you are the best actor to play this character.

Of course there are some actors (and quite good ones) that will often show no sign of an ego. They might be humbled on the outside, but trust me, they are driven internally to knock the ball out of the park.

Inner confidence is the first step toward giving an honest and real performance. But it takes work to get there, for confidence without effort is arrogance. And arrogance is shallow, which is something you don't want to be when you are creating a character.

Advice on Reading and Writing Resolutions

I used to have reading and writing new years resolutions. They were usually something resembling, "I will read 30 books and finish my novel." However, after years of rarely hitting my goals I have discovered something that actually works.

Now, instead of resolutions, I have benchmarks I aim for each month in reading and writing. And if there is a resolution at all, it is to get within a good range of those benchmarks as many months as I can.

Try it. I think you'll find yourself more productive. It has worked for me. I hope it will for you.

Dogs in Quicksand

Back in the early 1990's I landed a great job as Operations Manager for a video production company that specialized in producing industrial films. I figured with all of the access I had to professional equipment and crews, I should make a feature length film. So I did. The result was a mixed bag of art and insanity called Dogs in Quicksand. And yes, that's me on the video jacket.

I had been making short films my entire life, starting around the age of 12. Using my dad's World War II Bell and Howell 8mm movie camera, I would gather up the neighborhood kids and together we would make impromptu little movies.

Eventually I figured out that I needed professional equipment, as well as the ability to write an actual script in order for the finished product to be enjoyed by more than just my friends and family. And after years of making short films that were either too long or just not very good, I figured out what elements to include in my script and what should be left out.

Many years into adulthood, my short film, The Story of Mommy and Daddy, was nominated for a Vision Award, sponsored by Sony, and the American Film Institute. And since Francis Ford Coppola and Steven Spielberg's long time producer, Kathleen Kennedy, were on the nominating committee, I felt I was ready to write a feature length script. And that's when Dogs in Quicksand was born.

And even though the movie managed to get a distributor, the now defunct Sub Rosa Studios, I made little money, along with mixed reviews which were far from glowing. My shot at success had been handed to me and I blew it, or so I thought.

This actually turned out to be the turning point of my writing journey. It's an adventure that has given me more failures than successes. But as I dabbled in screenwriting, playwriting, short stories, and novels, I have begun to realize we're all nothing more than a work in progress. And it's our efforts, not our rewards, that control our destiny.

ADDENDUM

Twenty-Five years later, Dogs in Quicksand has been picked up for Blu-ray distribution by New Jersey based, Saturn's Core, in partnership with Vinegar Syndrome. The Blu-ray includes a 25-years later featurette, as well as a slew of my older short films. And although it doesn't have the cult status of Rocky Horror, it has developed a fan base that appreciates its low budget roots, as well as my sense of humor.

What the World Needs Now

Living in the Midwest, I, and many others, experienced yesterday 40 mile an hour winds, blowing and blinding snow, below freezing weather, a dangerous driving environment, and basically, blizzard like conditions all day long.

Having to be out in the weather driving for a portion of the day, I noticed how everyone on the road looked out for each other. After all, we were all in this situation together. People were friendly and helpful to their neighbor and there was peace and good will - at least on the roads.

During all of this, race, religion and political views were never an issue. It was just one day of helping our fellow neighbor without making judgements or having opinions.

Maybe the world needs a good old-fashioned snow storm to remind us that we're all in this together, and hatred, war, and gridlock is not good or helpful to anyone.

West Falls Revisited (A Book Review)

Covering multiple generations of the small town of West Falls, this book takes the reader on quite the journey. At times devasting, often relatable, and oddly optimistic. This is one solid, smart read that defies genre. I can only categorize West Falls Revisited as FANTASTIC.

Indie author, D.H. Schleicher has another novel, Then Came Darkness, which I hope to read soon, as well as two books of short stories.