Eikenberry & Tucker's Documentary to Play NewFest, 6/8

Jill Eikenberry and Michael Tucker's documentary Emile Norman: By His Own Design, which the acclaimed actors produced, will be shown as part of the NewFest Gay & Lesbian Film Festival on Friday, June 8th at 5:30pm at the AMC Theaters on West 34th St. (between 8th & 9th Aves.). 

The documentary, which is directed by Will Parrinello, recently won the Audience Award for Best Documentary, sponsored by HBO, at the 9th Annual Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival.

"Emile Norman -- By His Own Design is a portrait of the self-taught California artist, Emile Norman, who, at age 87, is still working with the same passion for life, art, nature, and freedom that inspired him through seven decades of a changing art scene and turbulent times for a gay man in America.  Emile Norman's art – from his four-story window on the Masonic Temple in San Francisco to the bronze sculpture of Isak Dinesen in the Copenhagen National Gallery, his intricate wood inlay animal sculptures, and his pioneering use of  plastics in fine art – has been compared to the murals of Diego Rivera and the inventive design of Charles and Ray Eames. This year the Oakland Museum of Art will hold the first retrospective exhibit of his work," state press notes.

Emile Norman -- By His Own Design tells the story of his independent spirit: how it developed from his early days on a ranch in the San Gabriel Valley; brought him success in New York City in the 1940's and 50's; and gave him the confidence to leave the New York art scene and find freedom in Big Sur where he and Brooks Clement, his partner of 30 years, built a house and created a haven for a circle of friends that is still growing today. None of this came without struggle. From the beginning Emile's natural talent and love of art came into conflict with the conventional ideas of  his parents. His sexual drive had to be hidden at a time when 'gay' meant 'sissy.'  The film shows Emile's work glittering in Bergdorf's windows, on chorus girls' headdresses in the Fred Astaire movie 'Blue Skies,' and winning rave reviews at gallery shows, but even then he had to be portrayed as 'the California rancher turned artist.'  It wasn't until Emile met Brooks Clement that - as his long-time friend, costume designer Willa Kim says - 'He didn't just come out of the closet, he burst out!'"

Eikenberry has appeared on Broadway in Onward Victoria, Watch on the Rhine and Summer Brave, among others.  Off-Broadway credits include A Picasso, Lemon Sky and Uncommon Women and Others.  She won Obie Awards for her performances in Richard Greenberg's Life Under Water and Lanford Wilson's Lemon Sky.  She has appeared in many plays regionally, and her many film and TV credits include Between the Lines, A Night Full or Rain, Arthur, "Strong Medicine" and "Judging Amy."

Tucker's Broadway credits include The Goodbye People and Trelawney of the 'Wells.'  Off-Broadway, he has appeared in such plays as Based on a Totally True Story, I'm Not Rappaport and Measure for Measure.  His many film credits include Radio Days, The Purple Rose of Cairo, Network, and Mighty Ducks II. He has also performed extensively in regional theatre, as well as appeared on such TV shows as "Family Law" and "The Practice."

Together, the actors (who are married) have been seen on Broadway in Moonchildren, in films such as An Unmarried Woman and on the popular series "L.A. Law," for which Tucker (who has been on the show for 8 years) received three Emmy nominations and two Golden Globe nominations and Eikenberry received a Golden Globe Award, four Emmy Award nominations and two Golden Globe nominations.

Living in a Foreign Language, a new book by Tucker, will be released by Atlantic Monthly Press on July 17th. "From award-winning actor Michael Tucker comes a lush and delicious memoir about food, family and finding home in a faraway place.  In the tradition of Frances Mayes and Peter Mayle, Living in a Foreign Language encapsulates a dream come true of leaving the frenetic city life and moving to a new and exotic slower place. Written with delight, Living in a Foreign Language is a celebratory book that paints the portrait of a thriving marriage," state press notes.

Visit www.newfest.org for more information.  Visit www.tuckerberry.com for more on Eikenberry and Tucker.

Photo - scene from Emile Norman: By His Own Design