MY MEMOIR NEEDS YOUR HELP!
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For the last 2 1/2 years I have been burrowed away-hard at work penning my memoir WHEN YOU WISH UPON A STAR.
Well what makes this story unique/interesting you ask? Well...Like Zelig, I have historically been in the right time and place. Even in the wrong times I have tried to make them right. This book follows my odd odyssey. From coming of age in the streets of 70's San Francisco; to my personal battles with HIV and addictions; to my 20 years producing star-studded extravaganzas at the famed Castro Theatre- it is both an insiders view of decades of LGBT activism and film history, and a personal tale of struggle and redemption.
I have now finished a 1st draft and well into the 1st edit. Writing is free (minus the blood, sweat & tears.) But publishing costs money. I now need to raise money for a copy editor, a content editor, design, photos, a publicist and most likely self-publishing. So I am humbly asking for your help.
About the memoir-
WHEN YOU WISH UPON A STAR unfolds in 2 parts
Part 1- Chasing Rainbows tells the tale of my show biz upbringing; my magical journey to San Francisco on the legendary Green Tortoise; my life with the Angels of Light free theatre; co-founding the first Gay Film Festival at Harvey Milk's camera store; making the new wave/punk rock cult classic Whatever Happened to Susan Jane; becoming one of the first generation filmmakers documenting San Francisco's historic response to HIV/AIDS, climaxing with the release of SEX IS...
Part 2 - Dancing With Stars explores my reinvention as the "impresario of the Castro Theatre." It shines a spotlight on 20 years of feting such screen legends and luminaries as Debbie Reynolds, Patty Duke, Jane Russell, John Waters, John Cameron Mitchell, Tony Curtis, Ann Miller, Ann-Margret and daughter dearest Christina Crawford. Included are on-stage interview highlights as well as often incisive, sometimes laugh out loud memories of behind the scenes magic of these once in a lifetime events.
(Estimated Street Pubication date - Late 17/Early 18)
(photo by Steven Underhill)
(Cover Montage by Ronald Toby Wiggin, photo credits include Rikki Ercoli, Steven Underhill, Jim Norrena, Rick Gerharter,Marc Huestis, Bill Jankowski, Greg Cruickshank, Lulu.)
BIO- Marc Huestis is an award winning filmmaker, camp impresario and social activist. He was one of the founders of the SF LGBT Film Festival (Frameline) now the oldest and largest gathering of its kind. His films include Unity, an elegiac memory piece about the persecution of gays in Nazi Germany; the camp classic Whatever Happened to Susan Jane; and the acclaimed Chuck Solomon: Coming of Age (1986), one of the first generation AIDS documentaries dealing with the AIDS crisis from a gay perspective. He is best known for his motion picture Sex Is… winner of the Teddy Award for Best Gay Film at the 1993 Berlin International Film Festival and his in-person tributes/benefit events feting celebrities from Hollywood’s Golden Age at San Francisco’s Castro Theatre. In 2010, Huestis was awarded the coveted Lifetime Achievement GOLDIE Award by the SF Bay Guardian, the oldest and largest alternative weekly in the Bay Area and he is a co-winner of the 2001 Frameline Award in Recognition as Co-Founding the SF Frameline LGBT Film Festival.
Marc Huestis' Castro Celeb-rations include: -THE UNSINKABLE DEBBIE REYNOLDS (July, 2005) - A TRIBUTE TO TONY CURTIS (Nov, 2008) -LADIES & GENTLEMEN PREFER JANE RUSSELL (July, 2004) - AN EVENING WITH ANN-MARGRET (Feb, 2002) -SPARKLE, PATTY, SPARKLE with Patty Duke Live (July 2009) - A VICTOR/VICTORIA VALENTINE with Lesley Ann Warren hosted by Coco Peru (Feb, 2011) -ROMEO & JULIET WITH OLIVIA HUSSEY LIVE! (Feb, 2008) -ROMEO & JULIET WITH LEONARD WHITING (Feb 2015) -MILDRED PIERCE WITH ANN BLYTH LIVE! (July, 2006) - PUTTING ON THE RITZ with RITA MORENO LIVE! (March, 2014) - A SALUTE TO MISS MITZI GAYNOR (July 2008) -I DREAM OF BARBARA EDEN (July 2011) -BAD BOYS OF PROJECT RUNWAY (July 2007) _A TRIBUTE TO NATALIE WOOD (Nov 2012) -AN EVENING WITH ANN MILLER (July 2002) - I BOUGHT A BLUE CAR TODAY with ALAN CUMMING IN PERFORMANCE (July, 2010) - A JOHN WATERS X-MAS with noted director John Waters (December 2003, December, 1996) -ORIGIN OF LOVE a Valentines Celebration with JOHN CAMERON MITCHELL (Feb, 2009) - A HEDWIGGED OUT X-MAS (Dec, 2003) -ORIGIN OF LOVE with JOHN CAMERON MITCHELL (Feb 2009) - MISS COCO PERU "She's Got Balls" (April, 2012) JUSTIN BOND:CLOSE TO YOU (Feb 14, 2010) -JOEY ARIAS: LOVE SWINGS (Feb 14, 2013) - A JUDY GARLAND CHRISTMAS with Margaret O'Brien (December, 2004) - SUMMER BEACH PARTY with Troy Donahue & Sandra Dee (July, 1998) - NEW YEAR'S BLOW-OUT ON THE SS POSEIDON with Carol Lynley & Stella Stevens (Dec, 2000, Nov 1995) - VALLEY OF THE DOLLS with star Barbara Parkins (July, 1997) - CHRISTMAS WITH CHRISTINA CRAWFORD with Christina Crawford live. (December, 1997) - MOTHER'S DAY WITH MOMMIE DEAREST with Rutanya Alda ("Carol Ann") Live (May, 2012) - THE COLOR PURPLE with MARGARET (SHUG) AVERY - (Feb 2014) -JOAN BAEZ & RENO TOGETHER AT LAST!- With Performance by Baez & Reno (March, 2003) -- HO DOWN WITH KAREN BLACK (July, 2000) - LINDA BLAIR LIVE! with Linda Blair (Oct. 2001) -POLTERGEIST with JoBeth Williams Live (Oct, 2010) - THE BAD SEED Patty McCormack in conversation with Michael Musto (July, 1999) - A JUDY GARLAND CHRISTMAS with Lorna Luft (December, 1999) -TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD with "Scout" Mary Badham Live interviewed by Armistead Maupin - GYPSY ROSE LEE'S HOME MOVIES presented by Erik Lee Preminger (Nov. 1998) - A CARRIE WHITE CHRISTMAS with Piper Laurie with greeting by Sissy Spacek (Dec. 1998) - A TRIBUTE TO BILLY WILDER with Edie Adams & participation of Jack Lemmon (April 2000) -CREATE PEACE (July 2003) An All-Star Benefit With Janeane Garofalo, Hector Elizondo, Mike Farrell - HEAT with Sylvia Miles (May, 1996) - THE NUTTY PROFESSOR with Stella Stevens (July, 1996)
(photo Steven Underhill)
(Connie Champagne & Patty Duke-photo Steven Underhill)
(Matthew Martin, Jane Russell, Jordon L'More -photo Rikki Ercoli)
(John Waters, Polyester photo by Rikki Ercoli)
(Jan Wahl, Tony Curtis, Marc Huestis- photo Steven Underhill)
(Marc Huestis, Karen Black)
(Ann Miller, Marc Huestis)
(Marc Huestis directs Lulu in UNITY, 1978- photo Dan Nicoletta)
(Tommy Pace, Lulu- Whatever Happened to Susan Jane)
(Strange Fruit Poster- 1978)
My Youtube channel has had almost 2 million hits
Highlights:
Patty Duke interviewed by Bruce Vilanch at Marc Huestis Presents Sparkle, Patty, Sparkle (2009)
Debbie Reynolds at Castro in 2005 (Note sound is archival)
Olivia Hussey interviewed in 2008. this clip has had almost 750,000 views
UNITY (1978) - My award winning short on the persecution of gays in Nazi Germany
Well what makes this story unique/interesting you ask? Well...Like Zelig, I have historically been in the right time and place. Even in the wrong times I have tried to make them right. This book follows my odd odyssey. From coming of age in the streets of 70's San Francisco; to my personal battles with HIV and addictions; to my 20 years producing star-studded extravaganzas at the famed Castro Theatre- it is both an insiders view of decades of LGBT activism and film history, and a personal tale of struggle and redemption.
I have now finished a 1st draft and well into the 1st edit. Writing is free (minus the blood, sweat & tears.) But publishing costs money. I now need to raise money for a copy editor, a content editor, design, photos, a publicist and most likely self-publishing. So I am humbly asking for your help.
About the memoir-
WHEN YOU WISH UPON A STAR unfolds in 2 parts
Part 1- Chasing Rainbows tells the tale of my show biz upbringing; my magical journey to San Francisco on the legendary Green Tortoise; my life with the Angels of Light free theatre; co-founding the first Gay Film Festival at Harvey Milk's camera store; making the new wave/punk rock cult classic Whatever Happened to Susan Jane; becoming one of the first generation filmmakers documenting San Francisco's historic response to HIV/AIDS, climaxing with the release of SEX IS...
Part 2 - Dancing With Stars explores my reinvention as the "impresario of the Castro Theatre." It shines a spotlight on 20 years of feting such screen legends and luminaries as Debbie Reynolds, Patty Duke, Jane Russell, John Waters, John Cameron Mitchell, Tony Curtis, Ann Miller, Ann-Margret and daughter dearest Christina Crawford. Included are on-stage interview highlights as well as often incisive, sometimes laugh out loud memories of behind the scenes magic of these once in a lifetime events.
(Estimated Street Pubication date - Late 17/Early 18)
(photo by Steven Underhill)
(Cover Montage by Ronald Toby Wiggin, photo credits include Rikki Ercoli, Steven Underhill, Jim Norrena, Rick Gerharter,Marc Huestis, Bill Jankowski, Greg Cruickshank, Lulu.)
BIO- Marc Huestis is an award winning filmmaker, camp impresario and social activist. He was one of the founders of the SF LGBT Film Festival (Frameline) now the oldest and largest gathering of its kind. His films include Unity, an elegiac memory piece about the persecution of gays in Nazi Germany; the camp classic Whatever Happened to Susan Jane; and the acclaimed Chuck Solomon: Coming of Age (1986), one of the first generation AIDS documentaries dealing with the AIDS crisis from a gay perspective. He is best known for his motion picture Sex Is… winner of the Teddy Award for Best Gay Film at the 1993 Berlin International Film Festival and his in-person tributes/benefit events feting celebrities from Hollywood’s Golden Age at San Francisco’s Castro Theatre. In 2010, Huestis was awarded the coveted Lifetime Achievement GOLDIE Award by the SF Bay Guardian, the oldest and largest alternative weekly in the Bay Area and he is a co-winner of the 2001 Frameline Award in Recognition as Co-Founding the SF Frameline LGBT Film Festival.
Marc Huestis' Castro Celeb-rations include: -THE UNSINKABLE DEBBIE REYNOLDS (July, 2005) - A TRIBUTE TO TONY CURTIS (Nov, 2008) -LADIES & GENTLEMEN PREFER JANE RUSSELL (July, 2004) - AN EVENING WITH ANN-MARGRET (Feb, 2002) -SPARKLE, PATTY, SPARKLE with Patty Duke Live (July 2009) - A VICTOR/VICTORIA VALENTINE with Lesley Ann Warren hosted by Coco Peru (Feb, 2011) -ROMEO & JULIET WITH OLIVIA HUSSEY LIVE! (Feb, 2008) -ROMEO & JULIET WITH LEONARD WHITING (Feb 2015) -MILDRED PIERCE WITH ANN BLYTH LIVE! (July, 2006) - PUTTING ON THE RITZ with RITA MORENO LIVE! (March, 2014) - A SALUTE TO MISS MITZI GAYNOR (July 2008) -I DREAM OF BARBARA EDEN (July 2011) -BAD BOYS OF PROJECT RUNWAY (July 2007) _A TRIBUTE TO NATALIE WOOD (Nov 2012) -AN EVENING WITH ANN MILLER (July 2002) - I BOUGHT A BLUE CAR TODAY with ALAN CUMMING IN PERFORMANCE (July, 2010) - A JOHN WATERS X-MAS with noted director John Waters (December 2003, December, 1996) -ORIGIN OF LOVE a Valentines Celebration with JOHN CAMERON MITCHELL (Feb, 2009) - A HEDWIGGED OUT X-MAS (Dec, 2003) -ORIGIN OF LOVE with JOHN CAMERON MITCHELL (Feb 2009) - MISS COCO PERU "She's Got Balls" (April, 2012) JUSTIN BOND:CLOSE TO YOU (Feb 14, 2010) -JOEY ARIAS: LOVE SWINGS (Feb 14, 2013) - A JUDY GARLAND CHRISTMAS with Margaret O'Brien (December, 2004) - SUMMER BEACH PARTY with Troy Donahue & Sandra Dee (July, 1998) - NEW YEAR'S BLOW-OUT ON THE SS POSEIDON with Carol Lynley & Stella Stevens (Dec, 2000, Nov 1995) - VALLEY OF THE DOLLS with star Barbara Parkins (July, 1997) - CHRISTMAS WITH CHRISTINA CRAWFORD with Christina Crawford live. (December, 1997) - MOTHER'S DAY WITH MOMMIE DEAREST with Rutanya Alda ("Carol Ann") Live (May, 2012) - THE COLOR PURPLE with MARGARET (SHUG) AVERY - (Feb 2014) -JOAN BAEZ & RENO TOGETHER AT LAST!- With Performance by Baez & Reno (March, 2003) -- HO DOWN WITH KAREN BLACK (July, 2000) - LINDA BLAIR LIVE! with Linda Blair (Oct. 2001) -POLTERGEIST with JoBeth Williams Live (Oct, 2010) - THE BAD SEED Patty McCormack in conversation with Michael Musto (July, 1999) - A JUDY GARLAND CHRISTMAS with Lorna Luft (December, 1999) -TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD with "Scout" Mary Badham Live interviewed by Armistead Maupin - GYPSY ROSE LEE'S HOME MOVIES presented by Erik Lee Preminger (Nov. 1998) - A CARRIE WHITE CHRISTMAS with Piper Laurie with greeting by Sissy Spacek (Dec. 1998) - A TRIBUTE TO BILLY WILDER with Edie Adams & participation of Jack Lemmon (April 2000) -CREATE PEACE (July 2003) An All-Star Benefit With Janeane Garofalo, Hector Elizondo, Mike Farrell - HEAT with Sylvia Miles (May, 1996) - THE NUTTY PROFESSOR with Stella Stevens (July, 1996)
(photo Steven Underhill)
(Connie Champagne & Patty Duke-photo Steven Underhill)
(Matthew Martin, Jane Russell, Jordon L'More -photo Rikki Ercoli)
(John Waters, Polyester photo by Rikki Ercoli)
(Jan Wahl, Tony Curtis, Marc Huestis- photo Steven Underhill)
(Marc Huestis, Karen Black)
(Ann Miller, Marc Huestis)
(Marc Huestis directs Lulu in UNITY, 1978- photo Dan Nicoletta)
(Tommy Pace, Lulu- Whatever Happened to Susan Jane)
(Strange Fruit Poster- 1978)
My Youtube channel has had almost 2 million hits
Highlights:
Patty Duke interviewed by Bruce Vilanch at Marc Huestis Presents Sparkle, Patty, Sparkle (2009)
Debbie Reynolds at Castro in 2005 (Note sound is archival)
Olivia Hussey interviewed in 2008. this clip has had almost 750,000 views
UNITY (1978) - My award winning short on the persecution of gays in Nazi Germany
Organizer
Marc Huestis
Organizer
San Francisco, CA