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Dianne Austin: If Clay Made it in the Movies. . . .
« on: June 04, 2004, 11:29:22 PM »
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If Clay Made it In The Movies - Possible Re-Makes With an Aiken Slant
By Dianne Austin
Now that 19 Entertainment will soon become a thing of the past for him, Clay Aiken can look forward to a healthy, multi-dimensional career that could encompass many different areas of entertainment. Of course, this is what he wants, although I’m sure that his intention is to very gradually enter the realm of T.V. and film acting with a cautious and humble attitude. He probably expects that it will take some time and education, but like all undertakings, he’ll dedicate himself, jump in and apply. And if you like him, you will want to see this happen for the kid from North Carolina. I’m sure that he’ll consider it to be a turning point, and although it must be exciting and somewhat scary, it’s got to be fun too. As well as fun for us to imagine what he would choose to star in, if given the opportunity to make some movies, somewhere down the line.
If you haven’t seen the movie “Big Fish”, which recently showed up in theaters several months ago, then go rent it on DVD. I watched it last night and was mightily impressed. Didn’t think I’d like it all that much; it’s a fantasy, and fantasies can be really strange and really bad if not written with imagination and a link to the everyday human condition. They have to be acted well, and done with just the right amount of special-effect wizardry. But, ooh ahh!, this one was!
So, we have a fantastic premise, that of a southern gentlemen that relates every big event in his life to that ‘bigger than anybody’s reeled in fish”, and an examination of how this man is going to handle that time in his life where he finds himself dieing. We are privy to the man on his death bed, with his family by his side, going back in time, and re-living various stories that he has been known to recount to everyone he has ever met, which includes his only-son, all along the way. Trouble is, the only-son never believed him. Oh, he loved his father, you can be sure, but he just couldn’t believe his tall tales, especially when the doubting boy reaches a certain age; somewhere around ten.
Ewan McGregor is the star. This man is divine. He has a wonderful look to his face; that serene and ethereal aura that can lift you up and sweep you away. He has that air about him, an ability, almost magical, that can take us to some really crazy place that we know doesn’t exist but becomes nevertheless, our reality for a period of ninety minutes. He did it for us in Moulin Rouge, and now he does it again. In this movie, he plays the father, Edward Bloom, when he was a young man, who steals us back in time. Yes, an Englishman! But he handles the challenge of creating this southern, sensitive, and love-struck man with aplomb.
Uh huh, Ewan McGregor. I only know of one other man with those same qualities that could possibly reproduce a similar effect. We’ve seen it before - beautiful yet strange, engaging and very fair, with classic Anglo-Saxon features. A man that has a lot in his heart and wears it on his face. Ewan McGregor is such a man, and so is Clay Aiken.
The movie is brand new. If a remake is ever made, it will not be for many years. Not a possibility, really for Clay. But if you just watch it, somehow you can see Mr. Aiken as the young Edward, who views his whole life as a fairy tale, and won’t give up on it until, and all the way through, the day he dies.
Clay has the same disarming way; that smile. It can make us believe that he visited a town called Spectre, and even though it seemed to be heaven on earth, knew that he wasn’t meant to stay there. He becomes the only person that has the guts and determination to leave and make a good life for himself out in the real world of lions and lambs. Just as Mr. McGregor handles it, we can see Clay in a role depicting a man that holds on to his principles laden with integrity and perhaps, a little naiveté. He does this
even when surrounded by the harsh black and white of the world around him. Clay is such a man; maybe he can be such an actor.
And he doesn’t even have to work on the southern accent!
But what about a romantic role? Could that be in the stars for Clay?
I recently watched an older film that was always a favorite of mine, and damn if I didn’t see Clayton Aiken in the lead part! But, hold on, we would have to update it. He couldn’t possibly play it as a man from that era. It just wouldn’t work; he would be too new for that. Right now we think of him in too much of a contemporary light. One has to work towards doing period pieces. But being an essayist, I have the ability to envision a re-write for this romantic story that originally was about a young college woman, who takes the problems of the world to heart, and feels the need to cure its ills single handedly.
And, yes you guessed it. The movie I’m recalling is “The Way We Were”, with Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford. Its one of those classically fabulous cinematic treatments that fill up your heart and take you away. If you haven’t seen it, you should find it and give it your full attention. Otherwise, get a recap somewhere, and read on.
And this is how it would go. It would definitely take place in the present. Instead of having it focus on a young college girl, we could do it so it features a young man, making his way in the music biz. He might be one member of a boy-band that’s on the up-and-coming, or a single pop-rock performer that hits it big, just like what’s actually happening for Clay. And yes, a lot of the elements for the story could be drawn from reality and Clay’s own life. We would see the small town boy, finding himself on a dizzying upward spiral that lands him in a big, sophisticated city where he must establish a whole new life for himself. And along the way, he must make sure that the man that he is, does not become the man that he used to be.
The girl that pops up and grabs his interest could be any one of a myriad of types, styles, and professional backgrounds, but she would have to be very different from him in a lot of ways. She could be Italian, black, Jewish, Persian or Hispanic, but she should be one of those. She could be extremely wealthy or very poor. The thing that matters most is that they look at life differently, and no matter how much they feel the attraction, no matter how much they hunger for one another emotionally, none of that matters, because they come from two different worlds with different values and a different take on life. And with all that goin’ on, I’m afraid it just ain’t gonna work.
I can see Clay Aiken in such a scenario. I can see it happening to him maybe, not just in the movies.
O.K., now a switch to a different genre. And this one may be the best yet; comedy. If you haven’t noticed, Clay is definitely a ham. Yes, I stick by that word; ham. He’s a goofball; he likes to “yuk” it up. Judging from some of the high school pics I’ve seen, and the comments offered by past acquaintances, I think he’s always liked the big joke. I’ve seen him take advantage of many a comedic moment. And lately, his sense of what’s funny has definitely become more sophisticated. Take a look at his quick and clever repartee with Leno, Ellen and Jimmy Kimmel. He is better with the fast and really funny retort than a lot of established mega-stars. Some of them just can’t measure up. I saw Clay in person on Leno when he appeared for the second time, and the audience laughed more at Clay’s responses to Jay, than to Leno himself.
Yikes, maybe that means he’s meant for hosting a late-night talk show, and we should forget the movies!
No, that isn’t any fun. We have to see him in the movies first. We want to see some close-ups.
O.K., so comedy. Here’s a fabulous idea that came from my 80-year-old mother. Don’t ever disparage the words of the elders, for they have the wisdom! She says the best movie re-make for Clay would be the old Jerry Lewis film, “The Nutty Professor”! And you know what? I think she’s right! Just think of it! The entire screenplay is perfect for Clay Aiken! The lead guy starts out as the geekiest, dorkiest, most doesn’t-have-a-clue for today, brainy professor. He discovers, in his chem-lab class after hours, a formula that will reverse this personality of his, and induce effects that change him into someone completely opposite. He drinks the potion, and out comes the most beautiful, cool, savvy, GQ guy you’ve ever seen. The only difference in this particular “Nutty Professor”, the one we’d have Clay star in, is that the innocence, depth and integrity we see in the geek, is still evident in the hunk. We can still see it’s the same person. That’s what I would change over from the first film. I always thought the first guy in Lewis’s treatment was sweet, and the second one was somewhat of an ass.
I don’t know if OMC could EVER be an ass! But wait, maybe if he turns out to be a really good actor . . .?
Oh, I know, Eddie Murphy already did the re-make of this movie. I’m sorry, that doesn’t count. It was funny, but he wasn’t believable as the geek. You must get someone that is totally believable as both. Jerry Lewis sort of made that transition in his real life, and then in the movie. And in real life, well would you look at that, so did Clay Aiken!
I just want you to picture it. Clayton Aiken, as he was when he walked out for that first taped AI audition in front of the three judges. But now, just give him about 10-20 more shots of dork accoutrements and voila, you’ve got the professor! Of course, that means messing up the teeth, doing something really bad with the hair, and finding the best geek clothes you can to transform him.
But I can honestly see him doing a scene in the movie where he falls off a platform or a ladder or something. He’s got the flailing-arm thing down perfectly already, as when we caught a glimpse of him during one of his tour concerts. Have you seen that 20-30 second film of him when he really did fall off the stage? Not that I should make light of what could have been a potentially dangerous situation for him, but gosh Clay, you really were hilarious when you were taking the fall! The sight of the skinny body with the arms flying up and back is a vision I will not soon forget. I have a good laugh over it each time I see it.
Sorry, don’t be angry with me. Hope you didn’t get any bruises or boo boos (she says with a sheepish look on her face).
All of that aside, this is where the acting comes in. It would have to be good, because all the right costuming effects in the world could still not solely create the dorky guy we’re looking for. What, you say? Does she actually think that Clay is not really a geek down there in the deepest part of his soul? And I’d have to tell you “no”. Right from the very start, I never thought he was a dorky guy. Sure he looked the part at that time. But dorks don’t usually have a lot of self-esteem, which comes through as confidence. Dorks don’t remain unruffled under pressure; they don’t stand up straight and tall, they don’t usually verbalize or express themselves well. No, to me, Clayton Aiken was never really a dork, even though the outward appearance at the time seemed to be begging for a makeover.
Therefore, he’s gonna have to be good in the ol’ acting department. But you must remember, he’s had some experience on the stage. Apparently, when he was in high school and college he did numerous musical plays, and this can count big-time in the experience department, because musical theater is definitely a huge starting point for the would-be serious actor.
Can he do it? What do you think? “I say yes. You have a great voice and you can work on your style.” Wait. That’s not right. Where did we hear that before?? I’m sorry; those familiar phrases still keep popping into my head. We all just have to remember; he’s done with AI. It’s time to move on.
And when we do, we can have some fun. There are lots of old movies to be remade with Clayton in the lead. Let’s see. “To Kill a Mockingbird” - no, he’s too young for that yet . . . Um, how about “Field of Dreams”? Yes, a good one for him! Then there’s those old Jimmy Stewart films like “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “Harvey”- Clay would be great for those!
But I know! This is the best one; the one to really consider. Did you know that “Phantom of the Opera” was a movie way back when? It was kind of scary and weird. But recently there was some talk about making the movie again, only this time, it would be the movie-musical, with the same score from the stage version used in the film. Now, that’s an exciting prospect! Yes, I definitely think we’ve got our “Phantom”. Do you agree?
Only trouble with that one is they’ll have to cover up his face with makeup and a mask! Forget it. Can’t cover the face.
But he’s got to sing those songs! I’ve just GOT to hear him sing “Music of the Night”.
Wait a minute; maybe we ought to take a look at the possibility of an upcoming professional stage career! There are so many plays and musical theater productions that are perfect for him. Clay will definitely want to consider doing the one that . . . . . . .
O.K., Dianne. Just hush.
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Dianne Austin is a homemaker, writer, dancer, former teacher and social worker. She lives in southern California with her husband, two children and two dogs. A favorite pastime is watching all kinds of movies and then critiquing them. Some day, she hopes to see Clay Aiken star in his first film, whereupon she would be one of the chosen critics to write the review. E-mail Dianne at
ddaustin@hotmail.comCopyright 2004 Dianne Austin. Printed with the permission of the writer.
