Jason Stuart: When Opportunity Meets Talent – December 25, 2011

CFN –  Los Angeles based Actor/Comic Jason Stuart has written another piece on anti-bullying which he’s released in the Huffington Post  and chosen to allow us to release as well.

We are going to be doing a feature on Bullying shortly so I thought it was apropos to run his piece!

You don’t have to be Gay to appreciate the spirit behind much of  his writing.

I mean the whole idea of equality is that things apply to….all of us.

Kudos to Mr. Stuart and to learn more about Jason and what he’s up to visit his website.  LINK

He’s going to be appearing in Whistler BC shortly too for his Canadian fans!

WHEN OPPORTUNITY MEETS TALENT
By Jason Stuart
When opportunity meets talent, we can soar. This is what the SAG LGBT Committee is all about.  Our committee’s mission is to equal the playing field for openly gay actors by giving them opportunities to be considered for all sorts of roles, not simply ones defined by their gender or sexual preference.  I created it 6 years ago as a support system for my fellow actors, because  I cannot tell you how many times I have been told that I am not right to play this or that kind of role.

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I have had 35 years of people telling me the limits of casting me because I am gay, when really the limits are in their own vision.
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I recently went to a movie screening  of Pariah, the story of a young black women coming out to her family as a lesbian.  Kim Wayans gives a wonderfully deep performance as the mother of a young girl coming out as a lesbian to,  who uses religion to justify her prejudice against gays.  She is getting terrific reviews, and although people are surprised, it is not a surprise to me at all that she is wonderful in this role.  
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When we first met on the set of My Wife & Kids, I noticed what class and style she had – so different from many of the characters she did in her comedy.  Although she is known for playing sketch characters on the iconic TV series In Living Color, and was  laugh out loud funny on the show, she is talented enough to play dramatics parts too, when given the chance, as she has shown with Pariah. Kim was quick to give a supportive remark when I was shooting my scenes, and I am here to do the same for her.
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httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5XfeGnw5R8
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Decades ago, I went to the Beverly Center cineplex to see the movie Come Back to the Five & Dime, Jimmy Dean. It starred Cher.  Because Cher was then a very big variety tv performer and Vegas regular, I figured that as an actress she would give a  camp version of her TV persona and that I’d have a good laugh.  But when Cher’s character Sissy said, “Juanita, I just wanted to get me some orange crush… its so hot out there”, I was entranced.
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She began to use a napkin to dry her underarms and I thought to myself, I will never prejudge another actor on his or her abilities. The Cher I thought I knew disappeared for that 90 minutes.  Her career broadened after that, as people saw her as a bona fide actress .   But they never would have known had not Robert Altman been willing to open his mind and look beyond her singing-diva-wearing-outrageous-outfits persona.
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Earlier this year, I was filmed the prison drama K11 about gay people in the Los Angeles prison system. The part of the mean laundry trustee was offered to me by the casting director who gave me my very first professional interview, Pam Dixon. As I read the script, I assumed that my character was gay, since that is what is usually offered to me.  Pam told me that it was a straight character, and that he was actually homophobic!  I got a bit choked up as I thanked her for giving me the chance to play other types of characters.
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Don’t keep people in boxes.  Let them soar.  
A bit more about Jason:
When you think one of the most prolific character actors, who’s also an outrageous openly gay stand-up comedian, one name comes to mind…. Jason Stuart. Stuart has been making people laugh out loud with his hysterical performances all over the country since coming out in 1993. He has accomplished what few other gay comics have ever achieved: brutal honesty with humor in a world that’s not always kind. Not only is Stuart an all-out crowd pleaser, but he transcends the boundaries of race, gender and sexual orientation with his edgy comedic style. Stuart’s material about his experiences as a single Jewish gay man living in Hollywood is original, cutting edge and just plain funny.
(Comments and opinions of Editorials, Letters to the Editor, and comments from readers are purely their own and don’t necessarily reflect those of the owners of this site, their staff, or sponsors.)
Remax

14 Comments

  1. This’ll make a certain preacher’s head explode!

  2. “I mean the whole idea of equality is that things apply to….all of us.” Yes, God’s Holy Word declares that we are all equal –

    1Co 15:22 “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive”.

    Rom 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”.

    Rom 5:12 “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:”.

    We are all sinners in need of God’s appointed Saviour. Tit 2:11-12 “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world”.

  3. Just a reminder to Dr. Furtz – the Standard Freeholder deleted your offensive remarks directed towards me – “Christmas is not offensive”, so try to be a good boy on this post.

  4. Author

    Hopefully everyone will be good boys and girls. Derailing the content is not cool… Happy 2012 to all!

  5. “We are all sinners in need of God’s appointed Saviour” That is bloody offensive to a lot of people.

  6. “Derailing the content is not cool… ” If this comment is towards me, I was reinforcing your comment from a Biblical view point -“I mean the whole idea of equality is that things apply to….all of us”. Bullying occurs when one thinks, or believes they are better – pure Darwinism in practice. But the Bible says we are all equal – sinners, corrupt, slaves to sin.

    Rom 3:10 -12 “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one”. “No not one” – means ALL – equal.

  7. Seems to me that bible-thumping and preaching one’s own particular religion is a surefire way to derail any otherwise intelligent discussion. People who want to be preached at and read bible quotes go to church for that.

  8. Author

    Hi Furtz, Tom using the bible to make his argument may not be the most successful, but it’s his right to use that argument. Attacking him on it probably is as productive in the big picture because you’re attacking the form of the argument instead of the point trying to be made if that makes any sense.

  9. So if my god says that people who don’t believe in and accept The Flying Spaghetti Monster as their Savior will rightfully burn in hell, can I use that “truth” to hide behind while I trash anyone who doesn’t believe?

  10. Author

    Furtz, Furtz, Furtz….

  11. I’m serious.

  12. Would they really burn in Hell, Furtz? I would have thought being perpetually scalded in a boiling pot of Chef Boyardee canned pasta would have been more appropriate.

  13. Author

    Furtz I know you have a hard on for Tom; but if you always attack him the way you do you actually create sympathy and support for him. Not necessarily his ideals or opinions. Maybe take a step back. Consult your Pasta God and think about the greater picture? I just don’t like being in the middle of you two or having our viewers watch the give and go. It’s like reading the Free Holder….

  14. 10-4 Jamie. Let the preacher rip, and I will stifle myself.

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