Hey, curmudgeon, see the movie, and you'll feel better about all three. I've never brought the subject of Winedale up with Owen. Didn't think of it. Will now do so the next time I see him and see what he says. If he throws something at me, I promise to throw something bigger back at him. m ----- Original Message ----- From: Mike Godwin [mailto:mnemonic@gmail.com] Sent: Thursday, May 26, 2011 04:12 PM To: weeklong-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org <weeklong-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org> Subject: Re: [Weeklong-l] Midnight in Paris Famously (or infamously in our circles), Owen Wilson was a Winedale student very briefly in the summer of 1989. (Madge and I were both there that summer.) He opted to leave rather than learn his lines -- we handled it. It's hard not to feel a bit ambivalent about him even now (in case you were wondering how long I hold a grudge), but he has shown some great charm in some of his movies. (Of course, people feel ambivalent about Woody Allen too. And even about Paris!) --m On Thursday, May 26, 2011, Maggie Megaw <maggie(a)bizaffairs.com> wrote: _______________________________________________ Weeklong-l mailing list Weeklong-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/weeklong-l

Then I will not say a word. ----- Original Message ----- From: James Ayres [mailto:jayres@cvctx.com] Sent: Thursday, May 26, 2011 06:33 PM To: mnemonic(a)gmail.com <mnemonic(a)gmail.com>om>; weeklong-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org <weeklong-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org> Subject: Re: [Weeklong-l] Midnight in Paris A Paul Harvey thing here, "the real story" about Owen. He arrived one day and left the next. I provided, demanded, the exit once I discovered (from his mother and the UT police) that he was using Winedale as a hideout from families and legal authorities seeking him for getting a girl pregnant. Nothing at all to do with lines. Only moral responsibility. The folklore about his connection with Shakespeare at Winedale should dissolve, disappear. He was never there. Doc On May 26, 2011, at 4:12 PM, Mike Godwin wrote: _______________________________________________ Weeklong-l mailing list Weeklong-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/weeklong-l

I believe the "F" part. c On May 26, 2011, at 8:06 PM, Mike Godwin wrote: Clayton Stromberger Outreach Coordinator, UT Shakespeare at Winedale College of Liberal Arts, University of Texas at Austin www.shakespeare-winedale.org cell: 512-363-6864 UT Sh. at W. office: 512-471-4726

I want to make a couple of things clear. (1) I harbor no ill feeling for Wilson. I must admit that I was a bit startled to learn that he did not prepare for the summer session and hear from him and his mother what was happening. We did have a talk about the dilemma facing him--the dilemma he explained, that is. He did not want to stay. He told me that he should go back and face consequences. I told him he would have an F in the first part of the course (you will recall that Sh at W was two courses, the first preparatory to the Winedale session) but would give him a clear drop in the second because he was leaving. He understood. I told him that I agreed to his decision to return home. In my earlier letter I said I "demanded" he leave. That was an exaggeration. I provided him a way of leaving. (2) After reading Mike's letter (below) I began to wonder whether I was hearing the "real story" after all. But I accepted everything he told me as true. When you get right down to it, there really are not many facts at all. He was not prepared with poem or lines. He brought an overnight bag for the six-week stay. Gloria did receive a call from his mother. I did talk to someone who said she was his mother. That's all, folks. (3) I am pleased that he has done well in film. I have never seen him act, however. My only experience with his work is listening to his red car voice. So Michael, you know him better than any of us it seems. Just tell him old Doc Ayres said hello. There are many lessons to be learned from all of this I suppose. Curious that all of this should come up just after I read Rebekah's prize-winning essay on Sh's Romances, which explore systems of belief, and our forthcoming Camp Sh session on The Winter's Tale. The 9th summer of Camp Shakespeare begins June 5! The Taming of the Shrew. Second session: The Winter's Tale. I'm once again fortunate enough to have Bob's daughter, Jessica Pees; Clayton's son Augie; Jeff Larsen's son, Will; three of my grandkids, Kaitlyn, Paxton, and Ethan; and Bruce's Gillian and Bekah (as Junior Counselor/Assistant). Another "First": Camp Shakespeare "tour." We have been invited to perform The Winter's Tale at the Crystal Theater in Gonzales on July 7. Cheers to all, Doc On May 26, 2011, at 6:06 PM, Mike Godwin wrote:

Please, let's get off this subject. From: Mike Godwin [mailto:mnemonic@gmail.com] Sent: Friday, May 27, 2011 03:32 PM To: James Ayres &lt;jayres(a)cvctx.com&gt; Cc: weeklong-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org &lt;weeklong-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org&gt;rg>; Barker, Michael Subject: Re: Mythology Worth mentioning (as an attorney) -- it's plainly possible that Owen's account of events years later is more fabulated or more self-serving than the versions Doc and I heard in 1989. We'll never know, and it's probably fruitless to speculate over what the truth is. (Not impossibly, Owen himself couldn't tell you now what truly happened -- people construct narratives for themselves as well as for others.) I think he's done some good work, starting in the 1990s. I have every reason to believe the new Woody Allen movie counts as some of that. And of course I'm happy for Michael that he has gotten to be involved in yet another small film that seems to be turning into a big success. Wilson is reported to have lived through a suicide attempt a few years back. That he's come back from that, and has produced good work since then, is good news for him and for us. --m On Fri, May 27, 2011 at 3:40 PM, James Ayres <jayres@cvctx.com<mailto:jayres@cvctx.com>> wrote: I want to make a couple of things clear. (1) I harbor no ill feeling for Wilson. I must admit that I was a bit startled to learn that he did not prepare for the summer session and hear from him and his mother what was happening. We did have a talk about the dilemma facing him--the dilemma he explained, that is. He did not want to stay. He told me that he should go back and face consequences. I told him he would have an F in the first part of the course (you will recall that Sh at W was two courses, the first preparatory to the Winedale session) but would give him a clear drop in the second because he was leaving. He understood. I told him that I agreed to his decision to return home. In my earlier letter I said I "demanded" he leave. That was an exaggeration. I provided him a way of leaving. (2) After reading Mike's letter (below) I began to wonder whether I was hearing the "real story" after all. But I accepted everything he told me as true. When you get right down to it, there really are not many facts at all. He was not prepared with poem or lines. He brought an overnight bag for the six-week stay. Gloria did receive a call from his mother. I did talk to someone who said she was his mother. That's all, folks. (3) I am pleased that he has done well in film. I have never seen him act, however. My only experience with his work is listening to his red car voice. So Michael, you know him better than any of us it seems. Just tell him old Doc Ayres said hello. There are many lessons to be learned from all of this I suppose. Curious that all of this should come up just after I read Rebekah's prize-winning essay on Sh's Romances, which explore systems of belief, and our forthcoming Camp Sh session on The Winter's Tale. The 9th summer of Camp Shakespeare begins June 5! The Taming of the Shrew. Second session: The Winter's Tale. I'm once again fortunate enough to have Bob's daughter, Jessica Pees; Clayton's son Augie; Jeff Larsen's son, Will; three of my grandkids, Kaitlyn, Paxton, and Ethan; and Bruce's Gillian and Bekah (as Junior Counselor/Assistant). Another "First": Camp Shakespeare "tour." We have been invited to perform The Winter's Tale at the Crystal Theater in Gonzales on July 7. Cheers to all, Doc On May 26, 2011, at 6:06 PM, Mike Godwin wrote: For what it's worth, Doc's account is consistent with what Owen said at the time. I don't pretend to know what the truth is, but I know that witnesses often lie, and, retrospectively, I think Owen was fabulating some or all of his situation. Of course, it doesn't actually matter what the explanation is -- the underlying fact is that Owen couldn't/didn't even learn his poem for Day One. And he explained away his discomfort with the situation by telling a story about this girl he supposedly got pregnant. I believed him at the time, but I've dealt with a lot of dissembling witnesses since then, so I think he may have fabulated his problems in the hope of getting sent home with no penalties. Here's an abbreviated version of his current account of the events on IMdB: "Not Shakespeare. In college I took a Shakespeare class because I was an English major, and they had a Summer program called Shakespeare at Winedale, which is out in the German Hill country in Texas , where you go out and live for two months and then you perform three plays at the end of that time. And people from Austin drive out and see it. I was supposed to be one of the two gentlemen of Verona . And I got out there and I just could not stand being out there. There were also so many lines to memorize that it was just overwhelming for me. So I ended up going home and I got an F." You should believe as much of this as sounds credible to you. --m On Thu, May 26, 2011 at 4:36 PM, Barker, Michael <Michael_Barker@spe.sony.com<mailto:Michael_Barker@spe.sony.com>> wrote: Then I will not say a word. ----- Original Message ----- From: James Ayres [mailto:jayres@cvctx.com<mailto:jayres@cvctx.com>] Sent: Thursday, May 26, 2011 06:33 PM To: mnemonic@gmail.com<mailto:mnemonic@gmail.com> <mnemonic@gmail.com<mailto:mnemonic@gmail.com>>; weeklong-l@lists.wikimedia.org<mailto:weeklong-l@lists.wikimedia.org> <weeklong-l@lists.wikimedia.org<mailto:weeklong-l@lists.wikimedia.org>> Subject: Re: [Weeklong-l] Midnight in Paris A Paul Harvey thing here, "the real story" about Owen. He arrived one day and left the next. I provided, demanded, the exit once I discovered (from his mother and the UT police) that he was using Winedale as a hideout from families and legal authorities seeking him for getting a girl pregnant. Nothing at all to do with lines. Only moral responsibility. The folklore about his connection with Shakespeare at Winedale should dissolve, disappear. He was never there. Doc On May 26, 2011, at 4:12 PM, Mike Godwin wrote: _______________________________________________ Weeklong-l mailing list Weeklong-l@lists.wikimedia.org<mailto:Weeklong-l@lists.wikimedia.org> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/weeklong-l _______________________________________________ Weeklong-l mailing list Weeklong-l@lists.wikimedia.org<mailto:Weeklong-l@lists.wikimedia.org> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/weeklong-l

Yes, happy that Michael Is involved with this project, which all the early returns say is going to be a critical success. I was impressed but unmoved by Branagh's technical virtuosity in "Celebrity" in channeling Woody Allen. Casting Wilson at the outset means you're necessarily going to get something different from what Allen himself or Branagh-playing-Allen would give you. --m On Thursday, May 26, 2011, Matt Kozusko &lt;kozusko(a)mac.com&gt; wrote:

I think this has to be right, Michael. I've known plenty of people who were doing great in the rest of their lives, but who couldn't figure out how to deal with the Winedale experience. For some of us, the struggle is harder than for others, and I respect that. (And as a multiple-summer participant, I totally get that some periods -- especially when you're young -- are going to be tougher than others. The fact that Owen did good work later (I enjoyed the feature version of "Bottle Rocket", for example) doesn't exonerate him (in my mind) for committing to summer of '89 and then (effectively) not showing up. --m On Thursday, May 26, 2011, Barker, Michael &lt;Michael_Barker(a)spe.sony.com&gt; wrote:

I just got and read all these emails this morning and I have to say I'm been tickled to death by the Owen Wilson tales and just the whole thread of the conversation. Midnight in Paris got lovely reviews from the London papers reporting on the Cannes and I know when I see the movie I'll be so caught up in the art of it, I won't remember one single personal thing about Owen or Woody for good or ill. As for Almadovar's film "the Skin I'm in," another film Michael was supporting, the the papers here say it would have gotten more recognition from the judges but didn't because this year happened to be one of the best and strongest years in memory for film at the festival. Quite the compliment. There's more controversy about the lack of women director's being represented there, but we know what Michael is doing in that regard. So thanks to all for this funny interesting email conversation. I love it that Mike had all the gossip, Doc had the truth, and I laughed so hard at Clayton's last word about what Wilson deserved --that succinct "F." Thanks Maggie for starting it! I love you! I love you all Terry Ps about the memoir -- along with all the Winedale emails, I got another email via Facebook notification that made me laugh out loud. I don't know who this woman is, but of course, I'm going to have to love her, too. Debbie wrote: "I got your book yesterday and started reading it late at night after my son, who was installing my new computer, went home. Well, I could not put it down until 5 AM and I can't wait to finish it - although I hate to see it end! Thank you for this treasure even though you are ruining the health of this 79 year old OLD LADY ;^)" -----Original Message----- From: susan todd &lt;skippytodd(a)gmail.com&gt; To: weeklong-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org Sent: Fri, 27 May 2011 5:30 Subject: Re: [Weeklong-l] Midnight in Paris Yes! Owen Wilson is superb in The Minus Man. You won't find a more lost soul. Can't wait to see Midnight in Paris. --Susan On Thu, May 26, 2011 at 11:13 PM, Barker, Michael &lt;Michael_Barker(a)spe.sony.com&gt; wrote: Owen is far better with Woody's lines. He's a natural at playing a lost soul. From the comments here today, this seem to be a state he understands well. ----- Original Message ----- From: Mike Godwin [mailto:mnemonic@gmail.com] Sent: Thursday, May 26, 2011 08:57 PM To: weeklong-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org &lt;weeklong-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org&gt; Subject: Re: [Weeklong-l] Midnight in Paris Yes, happy that Michael Is involved with this project, which all the early returns say is going to be a critical success. I was impressed but unmoved by Branagh's technical virtuosity in "Celebrity" in channeling Woody Allen. Casting Wilson at the outset means you're necessarily going to get something different from what Allen himself or Branagh-playing-Allen would give you. --m On Thursday, May 26, 2011, Matt Kozusko &lt;kozusko(a)mac.com&gt; wrote: _______________________________________________ Weeklong-l mailing list Weeklong-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/weeklong-l _______________________________________________ Weeklong-l mailing list Weeklong-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/weeklong-l -- "It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye." (Antoine de Saint-Exupery) _______________________________________________ Weeklong-l mailing list Weeklong-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/weeklong-l

What Mary said, I say, too. Big love to all, Gail ________________________________________ From: weeklong-l-bounces(a)lists.wikimedia.org [weeklong-l-bounces(a)lists.wikimedia.org] On Behalf Of Mary Collins [mmcollins50(a)yahoo.com] Sent: 27 May 2011 11:28 To: weeklong-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org Subject: Re: [Weeklong-l] Midnight in Paris Cher Michel, Felicitations! Former French major here cannot wait to see your movie. One of the things I admire in you, Michael, is that you love movies and the people who make them so much that, notwithstanding all the players' foibles and all the stories, some of which you share, your admiration and support of them just shines through. I think you are full of love. Big kiss, Marie --- On Fri, 5/27/11, Barker, Michael &lt;Michael_Barker(a)spe.sony.com&gt; wrote: From: Barker, Michael &lt;Michael_Barker(a)spe.sony.com&gt; Subject: Re: [Weeklong-l] Midnight in Paris To: &quot;&#39;mnemonic(a)gmail.com&#39;&quot; &lt;mnemonic(a)gmail.com&gt;om>, &quot;&#39;weeklong-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org&#39;&quot; &lt;weeklong-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org&gt; Date: Friday, May 27, 2011, 12:13 AM Owen is far better with Woody's lines. He's a natural at playing a lost soul. From the comments here today, this seem to be a state he understands well. ----- Original Message ----- From: Mike Godwin [mailto:mnemonic@gmail.com</mc/compose?to=mnemonic@gmail.com>] Sent: Thursday, May 26, 2011 08:57 PM To: weeklong-l@lists.wikimedia.org</mc/compose?to=weeklong-l@lists.wikimedia.org> <weeklong-l@lists.wikimedia.org</mc/compose?to=weeklong-l@lists.wikimedia.org>> Subject: Re: [Weeklong-l] Midnight in Paris Yes, happy that Michael Is involved with this project, which all the early returns say is going to be a critical success. I was impressed but unmoved by Branagh's technical virtuosity in "Celebrity" in channeling Woody Allen. Casting Wilson at the outset means you're necessarily going to get something different from what Allen himself or Branagh-playing-Allen would give you. --m On Thursday, May 26, 2011, Matt Kozusko <kozusko@mac.com</mc/compose?to=kozusko@mac.com>> wrote: _______________________________________________ Weeklong-l mailing list Weeklong-l@lists.wikimedia.org</mc/compose?to=Weeklong-l@lists.wikimedia.org> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/weeklong-l _______________________________________________ Weeklong-l mailing list Weeklong-l@lists.wikimedia.org</mc/compose?to=Weeklong-l@lists.wikimedia.org> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/weeklong-l

Susan, That book is dynamite! Also writers are now asking me if I realized our movie Incendies was a great feminist work. I said, yes, as a matter of fact, my friend Susan told me that following the first screening at SXSW. A few pieces are being written on the subject as we speak. mb From: susan todd [mailto:skippytodd@gmail.com] Sent: Thursday, May 26, 2011 08:57 PM To: weeklong-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org &lt;weeklong-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org&gt; Subject: Re: [Weeklong-l] Midnight in Paris Omigosh! I'm love ending my long day with this conversation. I feel like we're all together, just sitting around the parlor. Congrats to Michael. Also, Terry, a confession: I'm only just now reading your book. It's wonderful... makes me at once feel you're right here and makes me miss you terribly. I miss all of you, in fact. Here's a health. Much love, Susan On Thu, May 26, 2011 at 10:37 PM, Matt Kozusko <kozusko@mac.com<mailto:kozusko@mac.com>> wrote: The 1997 class also lost a *Two Gents* student to early departure, though the particular circumstances were quite different. But it was a humbling summer, all around. Yet additional congrats to Michael! On May 26, 2011, at 7:36 PM, Barker, Michael wrote: _______________________________________________ Weeklong-l mailing list Weeklong-l@lists.wikimedia.org<mailto:Weeklong-l@lists.wikimedia.org> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/weeklong-l -- "It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye." (Antoine de Saint-Exupery)

Wow! That’s fantastic. Very happy for you. May the picture have loooooooong legs. --Maggie maggie megaw | business affairs, inc | 2415 main street santa monica ca 90405 | ph 310 954 8440 | fx 310 362 8707 From: weeklong-l-bounces(a)lists.wikimedia.org [mailto:weeklong-l-bounces@lists.wikimedia.org] On Behalf Of Barker, Michael Sent: Thursday, May 26, 2011 4:28 PM To: &#39;weeklong-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org&#39; Subject: Re: [Weeklong-l] Midnight in Paris Thank you, Maggie. It's the biggest opening weekend of my career and Woody's career as well! Feel very fortunate. m From: Maggie Megaw [mailto:maggie@bizaffairs.com] Sent: Thursday, May 26, 2011 04:00 PM To: weeklong-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org &lt;weeklong-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org&gt; Subject: [Weeklong-l] Midnight in Paris Meant to write on Sunday after seeing the picture Saturday night—9:30 screening, sold out, as were the two preceding screenings. Loved the movie—full of charm and smitten with Paris. Most fun out at the movies in a long while. Congratulations, Michael. xxxm maggie megaw | business affairs, inc | 2415 main street santa monica ca 90405 | ph 310 954 8440 | fx 310 362 8707 This message contains information that may be confidential and/or privileged. If you have received this message in error, please advise the sender and delete this message immediately.