Wendy's Post #3509
FROM WENDY CREWSON
Ladies..I'm breathless and weak-kneed. Your love of the movie
is stunning, but your contributions to the ALS Society have astounded me. Imagine the call I received from them
this morning, inquiring about the sudden flood of donations pouring in from all over the U.S. (I'll
leave the scripting of that conversation to Torifan 'cause she's got the humor to do it justice) Are they loving you
guys or
what? Almost as much as I am! Okay, we're all loving you.
Do you know how wonderful it has been to be involved in this project? It is an amazing group-The Lee
Rose Repertory Company-and it's a huge privilege to be part of...because damn she's got taste! Margo Martindale,
Alison Pill, Brent Spiner, Christine Ebersole, Elizabeth
Franz, Irma P. Hall-and of course my darling Leslie-the most honest, forthright, beautiful talent you could
ever hope to work with. And oh, getting lost in those blue eyes... But the best part has become you. This
board is such a force-the
stories, poems, songs...There's one thing I really want to
share with everyone. Oh hell, there's lots I'd like to share, but this is pretty remarkable and
you should all hear it. It's part of a letter I received last week.
"I am a born-again Christian and I am so thankful that the
Lord used your movie to radically soften my heart. I was so harsh and judgmental towards gays, but your portrayal
softened me considerably. I don't understand that lifestyle, but you have taught me to love people and have
compassion. Thank you".
As Lee says-changing the world, one person at a time.
Much Love,
Wendy Crewson
Wendy's first post was 1987 - and what a winner it was:
FROM WENDY CREWSON
First things first. You guys are FABULOUS. You have become
a part of my day now..an amazing circle of new friends. My dishes too have piled up and nobody
here has any clean clothes. I don't care...I'm hooked. I love your revelations, your opinions (good and Bad) your
confessions, your humor (the queer duck tale is great) and
of course your beautiful stories. I have been so inspired by your courage, so moved by the love and
support you give to each other, to yourselves and to us. It's overwhelming..oh one thing I want to set straight
(no
pun intended) Is all this luvin coming at us weird? Are you
kidding? IT'S SPECTACULAR...smart, funny, articulate, brave women adoring yoy? IT'S THRILLING.
I must confess there's a new swagger in my step at the grocery store now. And here's the best part...you've
found your new hero in Lee. She's the real deal. She has all the super hero qualifications..fearless...true
blue...heart full of love and able to leap tall building of bigotry in a single bound. She's a warrior for the
cause...so when things are looking gloomy...you can take comfort in her commitment and love. Alright she's a
bit bossy, but hey, it's all part of the wonderful package. When do we start the presidential
campaign? Les and I are really lucky. Approval from your
audience is a rare and gratifying thing...you have awed us with your love...I send you mine...with
all of my heart.
Wendy Crewson
I love you guys...now go out this week and tell someone who
you really are...and not on this board and now...WENDY CREWSON
Wendy's post l988
from Wendy Crewson
Sorry about any spelling mistakes below on my post...but
hell...had to type fast to be 2001....we did it!
Wendy
[I think this was post 500]
Thursday, March 28
thanks from Lee, Wendy and Leslie
Yes we all have been reading your e-mails...and you are spectacular
people. As the writer/director/producer of "An Unexpected Love" you have made the journey of making this movie
rewarding. To all of you, keep speaking out, keep following your hearts, never give in to prejudice, which
is only stupidity and ignorance slightly veiled. We are pioneers with stories to tell...speak out...tell them
to anyone who will listen. I have in many of my movies tried to put a face on things that people don't
understand...and every time I do, a few more close minded people have opened their hearts and minds. All of you
who have supported the movie have touched our hearts with your posts. Wendy and Leslie have been incredibly
moved by them. To answer a
couple of questions, both Wendy and Leslie are straight...
sorry...I'm sad about that too...but they did this movie because they felt it was the right thing
to do and that people need to be understanding. They are two brave actors...and I adore them. To the girl who
thought that
suicide was an option...it is not. We are put here to take
our rightful space on earth, as who we truly are, whether we are gay, straight, black, red, catholic, Christian...or
any other number of things. We are all loved by the same god...if we are decent and seek the truth...seek
your truth, find out who you are...never take the easy way out...you probably have a huge amount to give to
the world,
don't deprive the world, or us from what we may learn from
you someday...and you see...you've already touched our lives, we were listening...and you thought nobody was.
We have been touched by all of you...in more ways then you'll ever know...and we thank you.
Lee Rose
Wendy Crewson
Leslie Hope
Leslie's First Post #1917
Wow, I was so proud of myself thinking I just sent a looong
message giving a shout out to all the gals and I think I completely buggered it...anybody know
if I sent my first message and it went to lifetimekaren will it eventually end up here where I meant it to go?
Help, I'm a computer dope!
Leslie
Leslie's Post after reaching 2000, #2016
Hey girls (and guys for that matter),
Well, let's see if this works after my trial run early this
morning...I sent out a big shout out at one am- but off to
lifetimekaren instead of here. I'll try and remember the
jist, so here goes...
Holy f****ing cow! You are all amazing. I have been reading
ALL of your posts except for the bigoted hateful ones with ideas like "Lesbians are sinners". Life's too
short right? I have to admit though, that those people really challenge my own tolerance level and it's required
huge restraint not to go after them, but so far so good :-)
Now to answer some of your questions.
Some women have raised the issue if the overwhelming reaction
to Wendy has made me uncomfortable or jealous-the opposite! I am so proud of my beautiful talented friend
and am in awe of her sublime acting. It was an honour to share a scene with her and a great joy to spend all that
time with her. I went to work feeling lucky and grateful that I was sharing my days with her. "Swimming
lessons" has also been mentioned-this is a movie I have been trying to get off the ground to direct and as it's to
star none
other than the divine Ms. Crewson, I couldn't be happier
that she now has even more die hard fans. I was also really pleased to see some people recognise Allison
Pill-
yeah, wasn't she great!
Somebody asked recently if we had been at different points
in our careers if we would have still taken the job. I can't speak for Wendy, but know that
the best advice I ever received was "follow the writing". That's what I'm trying to do and did do, I think,
with Lee's lovely script.
Somebody else asked about my dopey little skip/hop. I like
to think I added that in deliberately, a gesture stolen from my son, but those that know me well may
beg to differ :-) Mmm, what else? A pal of mine did up a website for me-it's lesliehope.com.
Like I said, I've read all the posts and am blown away! I
used to think that if you believed all the 'good reviews' you should believe all the 'bad'
ones too. I've decided to suspend that judgement after I read that on top of being an 'ugly straight loser' I, eek!,
'had no marketable job skills!' What? No marketable job skills! Ouch...lol
Oh, and to those of you who may not be able to discern my
tone through an email, I'm kidding:-).
Last but not least, thank you again for all your amazing
posts. I feel honoured to have been a small part of something that seems to have touched so many
people. Thanks to Lee and Wendy for letting me take the ride with them and thanks to all of you for watching.
Hoping this will post.
All my very best,
Leslie xo
Post #4992 from Lee Rose
FROM LEE ROSE
YOU DID IT TWICE! THE GIRLS REDUX!!....and this is my lost
message
You have all made me very proud for once to be a part of
the human race. The love on this board has made the fear and hate and bigotry run screaming from this
site. You call me your herobut the truth is you have become mine.now to my story. My Mother was
a minister so like a lot of you, it took me years to come out to herout of fear of her Godfear of her rejecting
me, just plain fear. But what I've learned is you can't lose that which you never
hadif someone loves you, they will always love, you no matter
what. The end of the story is that she did love me until
the day she died a year agoand beyond death. The movies I write are my debt to society...for
wasting so much timethat we don't have. I love you all.
Lee
Post #4993 from Lee Rose
FROM WENDY CREWSON
5000!!! AGAIN!!!Keeping up with you this weekend was a roller
coaster. As your stories, descriptions and locations continue to come in, I'm so impressed with the portraits
of courage that emerge. The old guard-and you know who you are-keeps me laughing-but what really amazes
me is the number of first timers that, after having followed this board for so many days, feel safe enough
to reveal themselves. And the love and support you give is divine. Daisychick-listen to the group-everyone's
here for you. Kristen-I'm so sorry about the loss of your Mother and am thinking about you through
this difficult time. Reverend Al-welcome! Torifan-move your car-you're blocking my
driveway
And speaking of love and support
Got the ALS update this morning-over $5000 in donations!
You are all too spectacular! I'll get the list of contributors from Susan so I can write to thank
each of you. There have been huge breakthroughs this year in research for a cure and I know your support
at this time
is motivating and so appreciated. I think the next donation
you make should be to yourselves (i.e.some great silver bracelet or ring?) You deserve it!
(Or maybe that should be a part of the AUL convention gift baghmmm?)
Love you madly,-Wendy
P.S. Don't watch those dumb old movies I did-yikes! It's
mortifying!
Post #4994 from Leslie Hope
FROM LESLIE HOPE
Hello all you fabulous creatures!
I'm sending this post via Lee from London.
Believe it or not I was surfing around last night catching up as best I could, but the lines are jammed as
I try now and I'm unable to get through. The honorable Ms. Rose will be passing this on for me. Well! Who woulda
thunk it? What an amazing response- amazing in the fact that it just doesn't quit and even more amazing in its
content! I'm curious myself as to what beans Lee's going to spill this afternoon, but because of the time difference
I won't be able to get to it tomorrow. Hmmm. What's she up to? :-) I thank you all from the bottom of my
heart for your support and generosity of spirit. It's overwhelming. Lee had warned me that there
could be a widespread reaction to the film but I simply had
no idea... I can only hope that your response will inspire filmmakers, and perhaps more importantly,
EXECUTIVES, to make more movies that reflect your lives and your stories. I think I said this before, but it
bears repeating: it was a privilege to be sharing the screen with the fabulous Wendy Crewson, and it was a thrill
to go to work on
Lee's great script "This Much I Know"-oops! I meant "An Unexpected
Love". Okay, okay that was my own little joke. Lee's original title was "This Much I Know" which I personally
loved, but that's another story...maybe Lee will share it when the numbers get to 6000. Yup, it's this kind
of pot stirring that gets me into trouble. Again, a big shout out to all of you. Thanks for watching. Thanks
for
sharing your stories.
xo from London,
Leslie
P.S. I am hesitant to even bring this up as I in no way want
to dilute the flood of donations to ALS, but more than one person did ask what charity I am involved with. It's
Habitat. I'm not involved as a "celebrity"-just a regular person who sends as much cash as I can. Having said
that, I don't imagine there is a charitable organization out there that couldn't use some help.
Post #4995 from Alison Pill
FROM ALISON PILL
I can't believe the response to this movie. I think it is
absolutely amazing to see such a huge community arise
from one film, it just shows what a small gesture can do in people's lives. But I think the message
is universal and it's obvious that we can all relate. At the end of the day, it's wonderful to see
any movie where love is at the center and where a happy ending seems so utterly believable. Thank
you to everyone for loving and supporting the movie, and
thanks to Lee for writing such a great story. I am so proud to have been a part of it.
Love,
Alison Pill
Post #4996 from D. W. Moffett
FROM D.W.MOFFETT
For me, the key to understanding "An Unexpected Love" is
honesty. How much honesty are you willing to accept?
How much do you trust in that? Do you think hiding the truth will be harder, or easier? How honest are you
willing to be with yourself? With others? With your children? All of these questions have a direct bearing
on our movie. They make up the window I looked through as an actor and you look through as an audience. Hopefully
it will make us all look at our lives and grow and learnand to live them more honestly.
Love,
D.W.Moffett
Post #4997 from Elizabeth Franz
FROM ELIZABETH FRANZ
It was an unexpected pleasure to get to work with Lee again.
This makes my fourth time with Lee. I've worked in theater, film and tv all over the world
and Lee is one of the few who always makes everything right. The whole project, from the script to the actors
everything. I guess maybe it's a girl thing.
Much love,
Elizabeth Franz
Post #4998 from Christine Ebersole
FROM CHRISTINE EBERSOLE
I am not a right wing, holier than thou, republicanalthough
I play one on television. I am a Mother, a wifeand friend to manyand the fact that we have
touched you with our movieand then you have touched us with your wordsis what makes life worth living.
We love you,
Christine Ebersole
Post #4999 from Irma P. Hall
FROM IRMA P.HALL
Life
Life is a trip
No Matter how
you make it,
And some folk
flip,
Cause
they just can't take it.
When you open up to it
Life can
be a ball,
But life
without love,
Is no
life at all.
The pleasure is exquisite
If you
have felt the pain,
As the
sunshine is more brilliant,
At the
end of every rain.
Love and pain are part of life,
They're
neither right or wrong,
The love
gives us ambition.
The pain
makes us strong.
ByIrma P.Hall
Post #5000 from Wendy Crewson
NEW FROM WENDY CREWSON
Post 5000 take 2.girlsthank god you're back. Lee's
been in such a state. I actually had to spend the last
two days calling her "THE GREAT ONE"just to keep her calmI'm feeling a little nauseousbut I did get my housework
done. Another chance to thank you for all the wonderful love and support you've given us and of course the ALS Society.
YTUCHME2 had the fabulous idea of donating clothes/etc. to a woman's shelter.and since we've reached your
target for
ALSlet's spread the love around.
Hugs and Kisses,
Wendy
Post #2333 on AUL II from Leslie
Thank you!
Hey you fabulous creatures, Thank you so much
for your birthday wishes. You have overwhelmed me with your kindness and consideration. You are a remarkable
collection
of amazing folk! Thank you, thank you, thank you.
xoxo Leslie
Post #2563 on AUL II from Wendy
FROM WENDY CREWSON
I received the most fabulous postcard album today! How the
hell did you guys pull that one off?? Ethel, you are obviously super-human and unbelievably well
organized (oh right...you're a woman...). It was so
sweet and amazing- and I loved seeing all those familiar
screen names finally personalized. It has seemed a little unfair that all of you have cool monikers
and I'm stuck with Wendy...I want to list everyone but I'd sound like the teacher on Romper Room,
looking into her mirror. Sorry-that reference may be specifically Canadian and it certainly ages
me. And speaking of aging - all those beautiful
birthday wishes -I feel absolutely terrible that I forgot
to mention that I'M NOT HAVING A BIRTHDAY THIS YEAR AND ALL THESE LOVELY GREETINGS ARE MAKING IT REALLY HARD TO
IGNORE IT. Though I must say that all your affection has somehow made turning 47 not as awful as it could have
been. (I think everyone should get a book full of messages from their friends on their 47th...) Many, many
thanks- you
fill my heart....
Wendy
