Author, director fought over poKtical content By David Amutrong EXAMINER STAFF CRITIC

book "," BackSan Franciscoin 1937, injournalisthis best-selllngRanc^ Shilts wrote these prescient words: "Dont offend the gays and don't in¬ flame the homophobes. These were the twin horns on which the handling of this epidemic would be torn from the first day ofthe epidemic. Inspired by the best inten¬ tions, such arguments paved the road to¬ ward the destination good intentions inev¬ itably lead." Shilts was writing about AIDS, of course. But his words could just as well have been applied to his book, and now — six long, contentious years a^r the film rights were first sold — to Home Bos Office's movie version. The history of the $8 million docudra- ma is charged and complex. NBC snapped up the rights in 1987, but allowed its op- r* lSeeFIGHTuD-5] FRIDAY • SATURDAY SUNDAY

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(One gi't package with each S5.00 paid admission per each ad. This ad MUST be redeemed at tiiije o ♦ FIGHT from D-1 for sex — finm an effeminate gay Straight, middle-American tiswoode shot additional scenes ther. Shilts recalls that 'Svhen the ly people to go near 'Band.'" clerk. and went back into the viewers, Shilts says, could have de¬ editing book came out he would call me. Spottiswoode — who is making > A CDC interview with the fa¬ Author, director cided that immond gays had start¬ room. Finally, believing the issue He was trying to persuade me to a feature in Europe about the 18th mously promiscuous "Patient Ze¬ ed the epidemic and concluded settled, he went off on a 10-day trip like him. We spent hours on the century namesake of mesmerism, over ro" of Shilts' " fought book, in which the 'Those guys are going to get what to Europe. Five days into his trip, phone. Then, he'd give press inter¬ Franz Anton Mesmer, with the handsome airline steward stys he views tion to expire after an ABC movie they deserve.'" Spottiswoode remembers, HBO saying I hadnt talked to him. great British screenwriter Dermis doesn't know the names of his told him " more of the week about Rock Hudson's 'There's work to I had 3W hours of interviews with Potter — agrees. "Whatever my 2,500 conquests. The scene is in¬ do.' I battle with AIDS got low ratings. said, 'Well, can I do it?' They him. I played the tapes for him; beefs," he si^rs, "no one else made tact except for one line: "That's said'No.'" AIDS, the network execs decid^ by telephone from London, . then, he let up." the film other than HBO. My hat's part of the excitement — not was anathema to Middle America. Spottiswoode,pointed out that thespeakingsexual Documentary filmmaker Bill Actually, liie movie portrayal of off to them." knowing the names." Gallo could been even more scath¬ Shilts HBO Pictures picked up the scenes that Shilts and some activ¬ (Touturie, at HBO's behest, added says hell make a film ver¬ Additions, made at Shilts' re¬ the sion of his latest rights after NBC dropped them in ists objected to came directly finm film-closing clips. Spottis¬ ing. Also missing from the broad¬ book, "Conduct quest, include: woode cast a scene 1989. But it took four more years Shilts' book. "It siqrs he £dnt see the fin¬ version is of Alda-as- Unbecoming: Gays and Lesbians in > seemed inqrortant A caution by gay political liai¬ ished broadcast version until a few Gallo the U.S. to bring Shilts' fine-grained por¬ that one try to keep the film as trying to play French scien¬ Military," with HBO, too. son Bill Kraus (played by Ian tists trait ofpolitical duplicity and med¬ close to the book as possible, and I days ago because HBO didnt give against the CDC and, mo¬ McKellen) that one shouldn't con¬ him a ical sleuthing to the screen. feel we've done t^t," Spottis¬ copy of his film. "A jout^- ments later, the CDC against the clude that most gay men are pro¬ ist sent it to me," he French. movie of "The Screenwriter Arnold Schulman woode says evenly. says. Spottis¬ Mayor of miscuous just because some have woode we Castro wrote 11 drafts of the Of the deleted confesses he fell asleep late "What do need the French AS FOR THEStreet,"much-delayehis biogra¬ script, trying scenes, Spottis¬ to balance the anonymous sex in bathhouses. at night watching the tape, for?" a phy of conflicting impera¬ woode sighs, "I wish were but slithering Alda-as-Gallo , Slults says > A tender domestic scene be¬ they not tives of reel-life drama and real-life says, "I think it still works. So far, whispers. "Let's keep this ail- producer Oliver Stone plans to tween Kraus and his lover missing. I think they were inq)or- (played what Fve seen is very powerful" American." start pre-production in history. All this was before Roger tant We have to face the facts, we October. by BJ). Wong) after a tense mo¬ Shilts pronounces himself gen- Private They'll start Spottiswoode, the third director to have to tell the truth now, and let maneuvering, public de¬ shooting just after ment New have a crack at the project, signed the eraUy pleased with the film, and bate, NBC's cold feet, 18 drafts ofa Year's, Shilts reports, thoui^ > Another tender scene be¬ chips fall where they will." on. insists it is "still very tough on contested there is no Then, according to Spottis¬ For months, con¬ script, three changes of currently dire^r and tween Kraus and a friend in the Spottiswoode gays. It's not a puff piece." directors — and even more — no screenwriter. woode, Schulman wrote seven tinues, "Ran4y was doctor's office as Kraxis is saying the film Whether more drafts — 18 in all diag¬ gay activists will like had no positive gay characters in it, nearly kept "Band" from being Gus Van Sant nosed with AIDS. the final broadcast version remains ("My Own M- And that was before AIDS ac¬ which made at all On top of all that, the > A clearly wasnt true. We have vate Idaho," "Drug^re Cowbo3r") tivists and lengthy closing collage of to be seen. One of "Band's" most project no stars. Shilts, himself, paimed a vivid portrayal of a very positive had bankable had been set to direct the film for^ clips fit>m the AIDS quilt gay and public critics. Project Inform's Until, Shilts Spottiswoode's original director's gay person, BiU Kraus." recalls, he and Warner lesbian marches and ce¬ Martin Bros., but dropped out photos of Delaney, told Examiner Spottiswoode — they were still cut, passionately demanded liie point, Spottiswoode argues, over the summer. Shilts dorant lebrities who have di^ of the dis¬ Aidsweek columnist Lisa changes in the movie firom HBO is that "the film is Krieger speaking then — colla^ Richard ease. tough on every¬ and that the revised version was better (iere at an AIDS fund-raiser in San got them — over Spottis¬ one — the blood banks, the Reagan The changes dont turn Spottis¬ but still far from Francisco and asked him to "I think he's a good director, but woode's equally impassioned objec¬ administration, turf-conscious sci¬ perfect "The film be in woode's film inside out but should have been done as a he doesnt do tions. tiiey do entists." lengthy the picture. "We encountered Gere politics," Shilts says of Van Sant. The give it a different spin. It's either documentary or not at aU," Dela¬ on the sidewalk as he was about to "He's good for sme^, Examiner, obtaining a rare Even before changes were made, more sensitive and empathetic now ney said. get into the limo," Shilts personal, intimate films. 'MiEoror* is copy ofSpottiswoode's cut, tracked preview audiences — which iixslud- says. (Shilts' view) or more revisionist a key additions and deletions firom ed "Within a week, he signed on. political'story. All the gay activ¬ and many gays and some people ists wanted him what the British-bom director politically correct (Spottis¬ because he's gay, with AIDS — loved the fiM, ac¬ "Then, Matthew Modine sign¬ Jiut he has never done turned in to HBO. woode's). ed. anytl^g cording to Spottiswoode. "It got very likely to care for Lily Tomlin and Steve Ma^ Shilts told The Examiner he be¬ remotefy like this." Missing are; the highest audience rating HBO ONE"Band"VIEWERis theWHONationalis not volunteered they worked for scale. > An lieves AIDS patient, describing changes were essential be¬ ever had; 49 percent rated it 'excel¬ Cancer Institute's Dr. Robert Gal- I think agents were not telling their According to Shilts, Van Sant a wild party at cause Spottiswoode's original cut clients about the wrote a which he believes he lent,' another 35 percent *very lo. Gallo, as a project. They 12-page outline for Warner was portrayed vain and contracted the homophobic, "with every neg¬ didnt want them to have that the stucfio —- and Shilts —. AIDS-causing vi¬ good.' Eighty-foxir percent — un¬ devious opportunist by Alan Alda, anything rus, to a trick fix)m ative stereotype of gay people you to do with found refers "$50 heard-of It was extremely gratify¬ was forced to share credit for dis¬ gay themes or AIDS." wanting. "It was a very' Santa Monica Boulevard." The can think of." weird, weird ing." covering the virus with French re¬ One thing Shilts and Spottis¬ concepC says Shilts, scene is in the movie, but the line "I'm not without saying he knew it," Shilts remembers the previews searchers, after mitially claiming to woode still agree on is that HBO is elaboration, adding that isnt Shilts says of a "Warner was not Spottiswoode, heir differentfy: "Spottiswoode had all be its sole discoverer. Last year, a the place to make controversial going to give Gus ^ Shots of an erosexual filmmaker best known in $25 million" to make a on especially flam¬ these private acreeninp to drum U.S. D^artment of Heal^ and films, at least on TV. movie boyant queen a gay this country dra¬ the basis of 12 odd drag in parade. for his Sandinista up suiiqwrt for his film. A number Human Services investigation into "I dont think the broadcast net¬ pages. >■ An entire scene in which a ma "Under Fire" and Mel Gibson of gays went, and were furious GaUo's AIDS research concluded works can do these kinds of proj¬ But "Mayor" is still in the fu-^ Centers for Disease Control inves¬ star vehicle "Air America." "I just about what they saw. It wasntjust that he was guilty scientific mis¬ ects anymore," Shilts says. "The ture. "And the Band Played On" is tigator (pkyed by Glenne Headly) think a lot of straight people are me, it was a lot of people." conduct fundamentalists are organizing here. Viewers will know within goes into an adult bookstore and very insensitive about how things After a consultant on the Shilts, Gallo didnt like Shilts* scaldiiv boycotts of advertisers who are not days whether it's art, history or buys poppers — stimulants used play." movie, voiced his objections, Spot¬ portrayal of him in the book, ei¬ ..anti-gay enough. HBO was the on¬ bxmgled best intentions. to drop his pants in public for shock effect. Warren Beatty, that renowned heterosexual, was said to have offered himself to Tennessee Williams for a part. Do we think less of "High Noon" or "Reds" be¬ cause of these claims? Hemingway was, by all accoimts, a petty, over¬ sensitive tyrant. Do we re-evaluate his prose? Gandhi reportedly beat his wife. Picasso was a cruel and selfish misogynist. Martin Luther King, John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy — fornicators all. Thom¬ as Jefferson owned slaves, for god's sake. Do these personal failings in¬ validate their good work? Allen is both a teacher and a student of morality, even though he hasn't necessary learned his lessons well. In addition to making films about the difficulty of living up to high moral standards, he is also struggling with those issues in his life. Even if he doesn't conquer his personal troubles, he's still a first-rate artist, and no one can All Footwear BOGO take that away from him.

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Randy Shilts

USA Weekend Sept. 5, 1993

Leader of 'the Band' inarches on

Randy Shilts' best-selling book about the rise ofAIDS becomes an HBO movie this weci

act in a movie about AIDS? Randy Shilts. The Chronicle It almost didn't get Thesejournalistare pennedexcitingtheandrecentlytrying publishedtimes for made. HBO didn't want Con^a Unbecoming: Gays and Lesbians in the to make it without a lot U.S. Military before the furious debate over gays of stars in it, and for a in the military broke out. Shilts' groundbreak¬ while we couldn't get ing 19S7 best seller,the Band Played On, is anybody. Nobody would coming to life this week in a star-studded HBO go near it, because the special that includes Richard Gere, Lily Tomlin, agents and business Anjelica Huston, Steve Martin and Alan Alda. types were advising their But Shilts, who is gay, now is engaged in his clients to stay away from own battle with the disease that he chronicled anything to do with gays so passionately in Band. Shilts. 41, discovered or AIDS. Richard Gere he was HI\ -positive in 19S7, and now has AIDS. was approached at an Last January he spent 7''; weeks in the hospital AIDS fund-raiser last recosering from surgery to repair a collapsed year, and within a week lung. Months later. Shilts still was experiencing he'd committed to it. shortness of breath and fatigue as he padded When he and Matthew around his condo atop a San Francisco hill. Modine got in, every¬ But when he talks about his writing, society's body and their mother slow response to AIDS, and gays in the military, wanted to be in it. Shilts is reinvjgorated. His work is a pa.ssion that Q: How did you find out sustains him. and one that will outlast him. you were HlV-posttrve? I was tested in 1986, but Q: You've had a rocky relationship with sotrte people I told my doctor I didn't in the gay community as a result of And the Band want to know about it Played On. How have you dealt with that? until I was done writing .Ground 19S3-S4, there was a feeling that I was And the Band Played exaggerating the danger of AIDS in order to On. 1 was afraid it would sell newspapers. Even among people who were influence my writing — willing to accept the reality of the threat, there although, in retrospect, was a feeling that it would set back the gay I don't think it would movement. I would walk down the street, and have, because the facts people were literally yelling at rue, calling me are straightforward. The things like sexual Nazi, prude, moralist. I felt book was finished on March 16,1987, and I had a end up throwing a lot of death energy at yc That's when I to terrible. I'm very thin-skinned. I hate it when doaor's appointment that day. That's when I was decided stop telling peof people yell at me. Even now in the gay papers, told I was positive. It actually came as a surprise. about it. I still feel the content of what I wr they're still writing some bad things about me. Q: Why did you wait to go public with your condition? about is more important than anything about r Q: Were you involved with making the book into a Well, at first I told my close friends and my Q: But your condition is part of the story now, isn't r movie? And how do you think it turned out? editors at work. But then 1 told people I didn't Well, you get the great question that has be asked a number of times: "What is They showed me every script, and I've seen two know as well, and you just get these bizarre your pr edited versions There's not enough about what reactions, people saying, "This is terrible. This nosis?" YkTiy do people ask questions like ih. the gay community did right. But on the whole, is the worst thing you could have told me." They It's like they want to hear you say, "I'm goi it's wonderfully directed and acted. made me feel that I should be a lot more upset to die," and then start crying. I don't feel I Continued on next Q: Was it difficuit to persuade big Holiywood stars to about it than I was People mean well, but they CONDUCT UNBF.CO>;iNG cor.tin;;cd

Randy Shilts

USA Weekend Sept. 5, 1993

Conrinued from Page 12 thac. That's not where 1 am with it. Randy Shilts downplays When people write about me. they his own AIDS ofte n write about their own atti- diagnosis. '.".des toward moralit\'. 'People mean well, but Q: What did you think about the gay march on Washington, D.C., last spring? they end up throwing I think the most important impact death it had was on how people percei\ ed energy at you.' themselves. I think the hardest this is the policy we're stuck with. thing about being gay is a sense of No go isolation. A march like that can president is going to want to near this policy for many years. gi\e people a greater sense of self- Politicians hate issues where you'\e esteem and empowerment, and got even on that in turn makes them more likeh' numbers of people both sides, each with vehement opinions. to be agents of social change. Q: Do you ever worry about whether Q: Has it been strange for you to see a you'll be able to write another book? topic that you spent five years quietly Well, you get those sort of unhapp\ researching and writing about — gays thoughts from time to time. But it's in the military — suddenly become a not useful; it doesn't help. I've got huge national issue? more to to It was bizarre. When I started chapters add Conduct Unbecoming, and I'll be writing a working on this issue in 19SS. I just newspaper column and doing kept thinking that nobody [was] op-ed pieces. I don't have plans for going to care about this issue. another book yet. but it definitely Q: How do you feel about the mil'rtary's won't be about AIDS, and "don't ask, don't tell" policy? probably won't be about a gay issue. I feel It's really just a cosmetic change. I I've said evervihing I have to say on don't think there is a meaningful those issues. But I'll keep busy. If difference in the way it affects gays there's a good story. I'll do it. a in the military. The one exception is the proposed regulations on inves¬ tigations, which would probably LSA WEEKEND • Scpu-mh<'r >■}. IQV3 15 stop many of the witch hunts and the discharges of gays. But I think