“How I learned to love Richard Gere.” A diatribe on the allure and burden of fame.

Whilst at the recent ‘Hamptons Film Festival’ this scallywag had the good fortune to sit down and talk with the director of the UK premiere short; “How I learned to love Richard Gere,” Detsky Graffam. Written by and starring his equally affable partner Michael Spicer. As I sat down with them I learned trying to make it as an actor, a star (as the character of the short tries to do) often comes with sacrifices and sometimes unintended results…….

SCV; What inspired this film?

Michael; The allure of making it and the reality that we don’t always make it.

SCV; Except…….?

Detsky; If one is willing to go to the other side.

SCV; You mean sell out?

Michael; That’s a bit drastic.

Detsky; More like figure out the guise that will help you get there.

Michael; At the cost of your integrity …..at least in the short run.

SCV; As opposed to the long run?

Detsky; Well, it all depends how much you want something and what you’re prepared to do to get there.

SCV; How prepared were you to get there?

Detsky; I moved to Berlin, away from London.

SCV; Why Berlin?

Detsky; Because London is about institutions and icons and Berlin is about breaking down those institutions and icons.

Michael; Or at the very least reinterpreting them.

SCV; As long as one is lucky enough to do it before they break you down.

Michael; You have to be inspired, committed, learn to laugh a little.

SCV; Which means laughing a little at yourself once in a while too, like your character in the film.

Detsky; That or fight off the tears.

SCV; Is the allure of fame and stardom really worth it?

Michael; In my character’s case it was.

Detsky; Yes but it also became a burden.

SCV; Talking of which. How are you handling yours?

Detsky; Like an Englishman, with a stiff upper lip.

SCV; Even if you are half German. And in your case Michael?

Michael: As you can see with all the sparkling attention and gin tonics ‘quite well.’

SCV; Talking of which you got another smoke?

Michael; At least another packet.

SCV; So what happens now?

Detsky; We go on to the next project, a full length feature film.

SCV; That’s right. You took first place at the short film awards at “Cobravision Awards” in London for a short called ‘Peace of Mind,’ and second place for Berlin 7 – ‘Going Underground,’ in 2008.

Michael; You need a light?

SCV; Yes please. (brief pause) Final question. Is fame an allure or a burden?

Michael; Definitely a burden.

Detsky; Yes, I agree.

SCV; One that you’ll nevertheless both engender in your pursuits for fame and stardom.

Dexter; We’re English. It’s all about keeping a stiff upper lip.

Michael; And a little sense of the diabolical.

SCV; Yes I thought so…….