Get MILKed: Emile Hirsch & Cleve Jones discuss MILK

By Zack on November 26, 2008

From time to time I moderate Question and Answer sessions at local Universities – Georgetown and Maryland for example. On October 30th I was lucky enough to attend a screening of Gus Van Zandt’s newest film MILK and a subsequent Q&A with star Emile Hirsch and activist Cleve Jones. Along with Hirsch, MILK stars Sean Penn in the title role, James Franco, and Josh Brolin, and tells the story of Harvey Milk – the first openly gay man elected to public office in America.

Harvey Milk rose to prominence as a gay businessman, activist, and community organizer in San Francisco during the mid to late 70s. After numerous failed runs at City Board Supervisor and State Assemblyman, Milk broke through, and finally was elected as San Francisco Board Supervisor in 1977.

Sean Penn gives a stunning and spot-on performance that is guaranteed to garner an Oscar nomination - and will most likely be the heavy favorite. The film is well acted, inspirational, and dramatically engaging. Emile Hirsch, as intern and Milk protégé Cleve Jones, delivers an inspired performance in a role that is outside his traditional comfort zone.

I had the pleasure to meet with both Emile (for a second time) and Cleve during the screening in Washington DC, and moderate a Q & A with some Georgetown students afterward. Both individuals were friendly, candid, and insightful during the Q & A, offering college students a level of access that sums up perfectly what we do here at ThinkTalk.

Emile is a rare talent, with a stunningly frank and matter-of-fact approach to acting. I imagine he is a joy to direct as he appears to have unparalleled instincts and a see-then-do quality. I fully expect a best supporting actor nod, and a consistent presence in the film industry for a long time.

Emile's passion struck me hardest just before the screening ended. I mentioned that the film was going over great with the audience. His eyes lit up “Really, they like it?” he enthused. “It really is great isn’t it?” Emile went on to offer unbridled praise for the skill, talent, and hard-work of his co-star. Of course, Penn directed Hirsch in last year's INTO THE WILD, and Hirsch likened the experience of working first with Penn as a director-to-actor experience and now as co-actors to “playing a game of basketball with your coach. It’s weird.” I found that to be a particularly insightful analogy. Like Mo Cheeks running the floor with Andre Iguodala and Elton Brand. That's just strange.

Cleve Jones, post-Milk-era, served as the historical consultant on MILK, and is still an influential activist and communty organizer. He spearheaded the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt, has worked with numerous AIDS organizations, and currently works with Labor Unions in California.

During the Q & A Cleve easily won over the audience with his passion, humor, and wealth of knowledge. He commented on everything from the process of getting this film completed (a goal he has strived for since Milk’s death in 1978), his old-school activist mentality (and subsequent distaste for HRC), and his work with AIDS. He also touched on the unfortunate relevancy of the recent Proposition 8 initiative in California to some of the struggles during Milk's day. This event took place before the voting on November 6th, and subsequent passing of Proposition 8; an unfortunate reminder, as Cleve noted, that as far as the gay rights movement has come, it still has far to go - but he enjoys his work and will continue to fight for the cause he loves.

Before we began the Q & A, as the credits began to roll, I asked Cleve if seeing the film is difficult for him given his close relationship with Harvey. Penn's performance is so good, and the resemblance so uncanny, that I said it must have been hard. He said it indeed is, but that he is also happy and proud that after all this time he will be able to share the life of Harvey Milk with a new generation.

I am grateful for the opportunity to interact with such talented and passionate individuals. I do think the crowd and the students thoroughly enjoyed the access and insight into the inspirational, influential, and unfortunately tragic life of Harvey Milk. MILK - now showing in limited release - is a particularly relevant film during this Holiday season, and I highly recommend you take the chance to see it.

To see our interview with Emile Hirsch for Into the Wild, please go here.