A chat w/Paris Barclay at the DGA Awards...

I had such a long and busy day Saturday between the DGA Awards at night and the DGA directors symposium in the morning. But it was the kinda day well-spent because you get to meet brilliant and talented people and celebrate their work. One such person, and a real highlight for me, was talking to Paris Barclay who was honored with the 2007 Robert B. Aldrich Award for his service to the guild. He was the only high-profile person who called for the firing of Isaiah Washington after his use of gay slurs.
We didn't talk about Washington on this night. Here is some of my red carpet chat with the immensely talented Barclay who has won a slew of awards as a director of various television shows (NYPD Blue, Law & Order, CSI, The West Wing, Dirt, Cold Case, House) and has accomplished it all as an out and proud gay man.
GREG: Has being an openly gay director made it harder or easier for you?
PARIS: It used to be harder, now it's gotten easier. It was harder when I cared about what people thought of me. Now I figure, everybody got to know I'm gay and if they don't want to work with me, they won't call and if they do want to work with me they will call and if they don't care they will call. So I'll end up with the best people and the best company and that's exactly what's happened.
GREG: With your proven track record, does it matter less anyway?
PARIS: It seems to matter less. I seem to get more chick things which I like because they figure a gay person can deal with the chicks better. [laughs]. I'm also just working with people who I love like ["West Wing" Producer] John Wells who gave me my first job in television. I've done five shows with him because he's totally not about that. He's all about the talent and if everyone was like him in Hollywood, it would be a very different place."
GREG: Do you want to see more actors come out?
PARIS: Oh boy, do I ever. I think it would help us all if more actors came out. I'm not gonna name names, but there is a very big star I'm thinking of right now, if he were [out] it would change the whole face of what people believe is a gay person. It would have an enormous impact and I hope he will come to that conclusion without Perez Hilton helping him along."