Becoming Wilkinson

J Craig Fong  is a recovering attorney.  It is not clear whether an attorney ever truly recovers.  A graduate of Yale and the University of Pennsylvania, J has been a corporate attorney and a civil rights advocate. J served as the Director of Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund and also as the Board Chair of Asian Pacific AIDS Intervention Team in Los Angeles.  In recent decades, J was an immigration attorney with offices in Hollywood, Pasadena, and Palm Springs, focusing primarily on family unification cases and visas.  Currently, he serves as a Commissioner on the Palm Springs International Airport Commission.  He lives in the Cathedral City Cove, with his two cats Benji and Merlin, and with his husband Andrew.Email J at: jcf@fongaquino.comPhoto: Copyright Wilkinson/2023Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Craig Chester is an award winning actor best known for his roles in the movies “Swoon”, ”Grief”, “Frisk”, “Kiss Me, Guido”, “I Shot Andy Warhol” and as the Birkin Bag Guy on “Sex & The City”. He transitioned to a successful career as a television writer when St. Martin’s Press published his memoir, “Why The Long Face? The Adventures of a Truly Independent Actor”, writing and producing three seasons of LOGO’s “Big Gay Sketch Show” and HBO’s smash hit, “True Blood”. He is currently working on a new memoir and “Adam & Steve 55+”, the sequel to 2005’s “Adam & Steve”, which he starred in and also wrote and directed. He lives in Palm Springs, CA. Craig's Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/mrcraigchester/Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2023Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

BENNETT YELLIN Born and raised in Los Angeles, Bennett received his B.A. in fiction from U.C.L.A.  Still not ready to enter the real world, he enrolled at UMass in Amherst for an M.F.A. in fiction. It was there — on the first day of school — that he met and befriended Peter Farrelly. On a lark, they tried writing a comedy together and this spec script ultimately got into the hands of Eddie Murphy and the Zucker Brothers, creators of Airplane and The Naked Gun. Both Murphy and the Zuckers asked the duo to write movies for them, and their career was off and running. Yellin wrote exclusively with Peter for years until they asked his brother Bobby to join them. The three went on to write a number of unproduced features together until they created Dumb and Dumber in 1994 and reunited in 2014 to co-write the official sequel chronicling the further idiotic adventures of Harry and Lloyd, Dumb and Dumber To. In 2007, the Farrelly Brothers branched out on their own and Yellin partnered with James Robert Johnson to create a professional writing duo that has endured for sixteen years. Among the plethora of projects they’ve tackled during their career — some produced, others not — the two have co-written Let’s Scare Jessica to Death for Paramount Pictures, the Fox situation comedy Unhitched, the direct-to-DVD thriller Joy Ride 2: Dead Ahead, Paramount Pictures’ Hotel For Dogs 2, the Anchor Bay action-thriller In the Blood with Gina Carano, the 20th Century Fox family film, Santa’s Little Helper, and the Warner Brothers re-boot of the Police Academy series, Police Academy: Takin’ it to the Streets. More recently, Yellin and Johnston have co-written a live action family stage show adaptation of the hugely popular Angry Birds IP, and the two are currently at work creating an original pilot for a new animated show.Bennett's Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/bennett.yellinPhoto: Copyright Wilkinson/2023Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

GAMÉLArtist's Statement:"In 2020, I left the tech industry and moved to Palm Springs to pursue my passion for art full-time. During this time of adjustment, I worked on a painting titled  "The Other Side",  which proved to be prophetic. In January 2022 I experienced a personal tragedy when my mother passed away from COVID-19. In spite of this sorrow, I found solace and purpose in my artwork which helped me to cope. My works are unique in their use of color, space and materials, drawing on influences from the Renaissance period as well as 60's Pop Art and 21st Century design. The themes explored in these pieces reflect my struggles with life experience and strive for self-alteration. My works often combine hyperreal painting with a variety of materials such as acrylic, oil, steel, wood, transparent resin and Plexiglass to create an immersive viewing experience for the viewer.By August of 2022 I opened my own gallery in Palm Springs where I exhibit these pieces. In my continual pursuit of self-expression, knowledge and experiences, I am constantly challenging myself to create pieces that are distinctively my own. My aim is to produce artwork that tells a story of resilience and what it means to be human, ultimately striving to evoke an atmosphere of eternal search or hunger for meaning. Through this work I have found healing in the midst of tragedy and hope in spite of life’s struggles. I believe that art is a powerful form of communication and I strive to create pieces that are both informed and individualized, reflecting the depths of my soul for all to witness. My journey continues with each canvas and every brushstroke as I work towards a brighter future. Thank you for joining me in this exploration".                                                                                                 Gamél/Palm Springs, CA/September 2023Web:  https://www.jongamelart.comInstagram:  https://www.instagram.com/jongamelart/email: jon@jongamel.comPhoto: Copyright Wilkinson/2023Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Cherlyn Lanning, costume designer:With over 30 years experience dressing the stars as a Costume Designer in Hollywood, Cherlyn Lanning has stories!She has worked in the film industry for 32 years. She began her career at Western Costume (the world’s largest costume house). Her mentor was costume designer Theadora Van Runkle, (the most notable costume designer of the 21 century) who taught her illustration, costume design and construction.  Over the years, she has worked with well-known actresses such as Faye runaway, Shirley McClain and Debra Winger.  Cherlyn worked on many films such as “Pirates of the Caribbean”, “Little Women” and “Ed Wood”.  Now living in the Coachella Valley, she is the Costume Designer for The Bent Theatre in Palm Springs.Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2023Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Paul Hietter This is Paul's second visit as a guest on my podcast.  This time we discuss aging as gay men in Palm Springs and a few of life's learned lessons.Paul is a true renaissance man - having worked in a number of industries, with his favorites of being a caterer and event planner to the stars and a new thought minister. He is always happiest when he is of service and learning something new.   Overcoming life’s obstacles seems a good hobby and with hiking, working out, being a Chef and humanitarian, there is never a dull moment.  Currently single, and a cat daddy of Rumi and Leo,  Paul lives in Palm Springs, CA. He may be reached at 760-567-5820 or PaulHietter@icloud.com. Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2023Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Nathan SerratoAs an ICF Certified Life Coach, Reiki Practitioner, Yoga Instructor, and Master Practitioner & Trainer in Time Line Therapy®, Hypnotherapy, and NLP; Nathan Serrato helps queer leaders and visionaries in their journeys toward deeper intimacy, spiritual reclamation, and purpose driven living so that they can fully embody their authentic, gifts and savor the joys of the queerdom along the way. Website: queerconscious.com/soulconfidenceInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/queerconscious/Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2023Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Originally from Boston, for the last decade, Alan Carvalho has been semi-retired in Cathedral City, CA. He continues shooting videos throughout the valley with his company: Cambridge Video.He's been with his partner for 50 years and they've been in a 3 person relationship (throuple) for 28 years (they all live together).  And now they're ready to conquer the next stage of retirement!Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2023Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Bill MarxWilliam Woollcott Marx (born January 8, 1937) is an American pianist, arranger, and composer. He is the adopted son of actors Harpo Marx and Susan Fleming.Marx was placed in the Children's Home Society in Los Angeles by his birth parents when he was eight months old, and four months later he was adopted by Harpo Marx and his wife, Susan Fleming. He attended the Juilliard School, where he studied composition and he studied with composer Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco. He began working in entertainment when he was 12 years old, when he was put in charge of his father's props for shows, including his harp. At 16 he became arranger and musical conductor for his father. Marx's compositions include concertos for alto saxophone, flute, harp, piano, and violin.] He also composed symphonies and scores for films, including the score for the film Weekend Pass (1984). Marx transcribed music that his father composed, because the elder Marx did not read music. The two worked together on two albums that Harpo recorded in the early 1960s. He also composed and arranged for recording artists in both jazz and popular music. In 1961, Marx signed with Vee-Jay Records. His projects there included arranging cover versions of music for four albums by the Castaway Strings. In 1967, he began writing music for commercials. In the 1970s, he composed for several low-budget horror movies, including Scream Blacula Scream, Terror at Red Wolf Inn, and Count Yorga, Vampire. For these projects, he often collaborated with lyricist Marilyn Lovell. He continued his work on films outside the horror genre throughout the 1980s, such as arranging music for John Cassavetes' Big Trouble . As a performer, Marx has played in jazz clubs, lounges, and theaters In the late 1980s, Marx and harpist Carrol McLaughlin toured the United States, giving performances and promoting Harpo Speaks, his father's autobiography. In the early 1990s, Los Angeles magazine named Marx the most popular lounge pianist in that city. In 2002, he received a star at 265 S. Palm Canyon Drive on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars.                                                           (Adapted from wikipedia). Buy the books:Bill's book: https://www.amazon.com/Son-Harpo-Speaks-Bill-Marx-ebook/dp/B00INB1JLW/Harpo's book: https://www.amazon.com/Harpo-Speaks-Marx-ebook/dp/B06XWDPNB4/Susan's book : https://www.amazon.com/Speaking-Harpo-Susan-Fleming-Marx-ebook/dp/B09XTJ1KC6/Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2023Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Gina Zollman grew up in Southern California, always singing in choirs and being in shows. She graduated from UCSD with a BA in Linguistics and a minor in Music. Her choral career extended way beyond college, culminating with performances at Carnegie Hall in NYC and at the Nokia and The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in LA.After being trained on Wall Street and establishing herself as a successful stockbroker in San Diego, Gina moved back to the LA area and worked as an executive in her family’s business, but soon show biz called and Gina pivoted to what she’d always longed to do. Soon she was a SAG member and putting on one-woman shows at nightclubs and bistros across the Southland. A highlight was selling out the Hollywood-Roosevelt Cinegrill, receiving 3 standing ovations, her name emblazoned on the 30-foot marquee. Gina has also performed extensively in Palm Springs, appearing at The Arthur Newman Theatre with her one-woman show, appearing with Derrik Lewis and his “It’s Better With a Band” series, various nightclubs, and guest starring at Jazzville, at Agua Caliente Resort this past November.Gina recorded her first CD “Anywhere With You” and released it at Catalina Jazz Club in Hollywood in March of 2023, to critical acclaim. She is poised to appear in 3 musical theatre productions at The Palm Canyon Theatre’s 2023-2024 season and has 2 one-woman shows she is booking in the US and Canada: “Love, Loss, and What I Weighed” including comedy as well as all the songs from her CD; she is also starring in a brand new “Anne Murray Tribute Show.” She has been called a “song stylist par excellence” and excels at getting to the heart of her carefully chosen songs, mostly from the Great American Songbook, sprinkled with original material and arrangements.Contact Gina at: http://www.ginazollman.comPhoto: Copyright Wilkinson/2023Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com