Watch: Reading Of Dustin Lance Black's Prop '8' Play Featuring George Clooney, Brad Pitt, John C. Reilly, Kevin Bacon & More

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by Kevin Jagernauth
March 5, 2012 11:58 AM
2 Comments

With the election year in full swing, the gay marriage issue continues to be a major talking point, with the battle over defining the instution being critically discussed in both parties. But the battle has long been waging in California, where the right for gays to marry was recently overturned and constitutionally banned with the passage of Prop 8. It was a blow for basic human rights and equality for all, and it's a fight that continues in the state. Thus, it's no surprise that the issue has become a cause célèbre for Hollywood stars and they came out in full force over the weekend.

George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Martin Sheen, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jane Lynch, Kevin Bacon, John C. Reilly and more led a reading of Dustin Lance Black's "8" directed by Rob Reiner, who has been a vocal champion for the cause (he's a founder behind the American Foundation For Equal Rights). And thanks to the interwebs, it's now available to view on your computer. And though it's just a reading, the drama of the piece comes through and while we haven't had a chance yet to watch it all, the play covers the Perry vs. Schwarzenegger trial, which led to the gay marriage ban. Black was compelled to write the play after the decision was made to withold video recordings of the trial from the public.

Anyhow, give it a watch below. Could a feature film be around the corner? [Deadline]

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More: Dustin Lance Black, George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Jane Lynch, Kevin Bacon, John C. Reilly, Rob Reiner

2 Comments

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Matt | March 5, 2012 10:56 PMReply

I LOVE the creative decision to only use white people in this.
Kevin Klawitter | March 5, 2012 12:25 PMReply

The biggest difference in a staged reading vs a feature film is casting. Stage is much more flexible and stylized... People wouldn't bat an eye if the character played by Brad Pitt here were played by (as was the case in the NYC reading) Bob Balaban. Film is a much more literal medium, and people would insist the actors look like their characters rather than simply being well suited for them.