The fanclub was lucky to have one of its California members attend the Friday nite Pan African Film Festival screening of MacArthur Park. Below is her take on Director Billy Wirth in her own words. Ruthie was also able to purchase photos from the event and is sharing them with the fanclub. Ruthie also attended the Taos Festival and covered Mill Valley Festival for the club.
By now most of you who have not seen the first full feature film, McArthur Park (MP), directed by the multi-talented Mr. Wirth, have at the very least read several reviews on it over the past year, as it made it's way through the film festival circuit. These reviews have been well worth the read and very much on the mark, so I assume you've put together a fair assessment of the story line. The film is well done in every aspect. I personally was pulled in and moved by the definition of the characters. That said, I'd like us to take another look at what this film and very possibly Mr. Wirth is attempting to convey. MACARTHUR PARK - 2002
The homeless, the insane locked up in themselves, the addicts, (whatever their addiction)...do we ever really look at them? Do we ever stop and talk to them? I mean, "really" talk to them. How do we treat them? Most of us probably ignore them, cross the street or avoid eye contact. Why I wonder? Do they make us feel uncomfortable? How often do we actually seek them out? People are down on their luck for various reasons. It doesn't always have to do with drugs.
Having viewed MP several times and caught the Q and A's, each time thereafter...I began to see this Director, Producer, Writer, Artist, Musician, without all the trappings of the imposed titles. Mr. Wirth is an individual, like you or I, nothing more, nothing less, nothing else....and what he has done here speaks well of his spirit. Something we are all capable of achieving.
He helped an individual, and possibly unawares, several more along the way. Such is the "power of one". If each of us were to help just one, think how much better a place this would be. If we'd just continue to hope, believe and be there for someone, a family member perhaps. If we would not give up on them, they might one day find the courage to find their way back. Granted, some may not want to change...they like living on the street. We may not understand it, but it's their prerogative. We need to respect that. But there is one thing we all need and that is to be loved.
I know a bit about the homeless. I knew someone who lived on the streets. He lost his wife to cancer and the woman who raised him the following year. He couldn't deal with it and turned to drinking and living on the streets. His family couldn't get him to go home. His sister would spend her lunch hours driving around the city, attempting to find him and at the very least give him some food, money, or a jacket. It broke her heart every time she'd see him huddled around some trash bin with his friends or eating cold scraps at some park while avoiding the authorities and those up-right citizens who found their presence distasteful. She couldn't even begin to count the times she cried herself to sleep wondering where he was during a rain storm, a freezing cold night, or if he'd had anything to eat that day. All she could do was helplessly stand by and be there whenever he was ready.
It wasn't necessarily a noble deed, you see, he was my brother. I loved him like I've never loved another human being. And so, consequently when I see the homeless, the humbled and downtrodden I am still moved to do something, because - they are my brother.
Leo Tolstoy, the great Russian writer, tells of the time he was walking down the street and passed a beggar. Tolstoy reached into his pocket to give the beggar some money, but his pocket was empty. Tolstoy turned to the man and said I'm sorry, my brother, I have nothing to give." The beggar brightened and said, "You have given me more than I asked for...you have called me brother."
There is a particular scene in MP where Cody the lead character stops to purchase a watch for his son from a street vender. Money is not easy to come by, so when some street hoods rip the bag with the "prized $5 watch" from his hands and stomp it into the ground, they not only crush the watch, but his hopes, dreams and his ability to go to his son with something - anything that says; "See, I'm not a total loser." I've re-lived that scene a hundred times...having seen my brother go through that over and over in his life. Dreams shattered, hopes crushed, never able to show-up and be proud he'd brought something worthwhile to the table.
Mr. Tyrone Atkins related once how he'd approach Billy for some cash, and Billy would try to talk him into going straight, getting back into rehab, etc., finally frustrated Mr. Atkins would just say; "Are you going to give me the $20.00 or not?" God, how I could relate to that! I'd experienced that exact scenario with my brother countless times. It's not easy. It takes a lot out of you. It wears you down. Tough love...it's exhausting.
What Mr. Wirth did for Tyrone was give him that helping hand and then stick by him through it all. It goes to show the kind of stuff your "star" is made of. He didn't have to help Tyrone any further. He could have paid him a lump sum, taken the story and in good conscious moved on to rewrite this 360 page manuscript and produce MP. Instead Billy brought Tyrone along and included him in the journey. That speaks volumes of the individual you are a fan of. During a Sundance interview referencing MacArthur Park Billy said:
"MacArthur Park has been around for a long time and over the years it's evolved into this place where the homeless congregate"... Then referencing his film he goes on to say: "It's really about hope and not giving up on a loved one. If we turn away from drugs, violence and gangs and not deal with those issues we're not going to be able to heal as a whole society."
You may have started out being a fan of Billy Wirth because you thought him attractive or loved a particular character he played, but those of you fortunate enough to have met him know...he's more than "eye candy". Personally, I'd never heard that term before, but now that I know what that means, I couldn't agree more.
Mr. Wirth is a caring and compassionate individual. He conveys it in the way he speaks and shares of himself, even when he's exhausted and he usually is after some of these sessions...yet he remains always and forever gracious and attentive. It does not cease to amaze me how those of you who have met him and yet not met each other, come away with the same experience..."he has presence." I know exactly what you speak of. I didn't know it then but now I realize that I saw "Him" in his eyes.
On occasion, in just the right light, he reminds me of someone I know...the Nazarene Carpenter.
Ruthie, U. C. 2002
built mm 2002
Multi Pages Photos & Billy's New Look
Ruth's Mill Valley Part 2 | Home Page|MacArthur Park Central Links