The Life and Work of Mark O'Brien

image source: Wikipedia

The film "The Sessions" received very favorable reviews when it was released last year, which included a Best Supporting Actress nomination for Helen Hunt. Based on the true life story of Mark O'Brien (portrayed by actor John Hawkes), I am reminded of another Academy Award connection, director Jessica Yu, in a blog entry I wrote on May 4, 2012.

Ms. Yu received an Academy Award in 1997 for Best Documentary, Short Subject for her film, Breathing Lessions: The Life and Work of Mark O'Brien.  As described from Wikipedia, "The documentary explored his spiritual struggle coping with his disability; he had to use an iron lung much of the time due to childhood polio."

image source: Lemonade Factory Press

A poet and journalist, Mr. O'Brien attended UC Berkeley in his iron lung, co-founded a small publishing house, Lemonade Factory Press, and was an advocate for the disabled. Despite his disability, he lived a very fulfilling life. Something many able-bodied people have yet to accomplish.

Mark O'Brien died in 1999 at the age of 49.

Jessica Yu and Mark Salzman

photo courtesy of worldclassarts.us

In today's edition of the New York Times, director Jessica Yu's documentary, "Last Call at the Oasis" (above video is the film's trailer) debuts in New York and Los Angeles.  For me, I can't think of Jessica Yu without her husband, Mark Salzman.  And I bet many of you don't know who either of them are.

Jessica is a Palo Alto native / fifth-generation American of Chinese ancestry who has directed numerous documentaries and TV shows.  In 1996, Jessica earned an Academy Award for Best Documentary (Short Subject) for Breathing Lessons: The Life and Work of Mark O'Brien.  Some of the TV shows she has directed include: Grey's Anatomy and The West Wing.

Mark Salzman is a writer, actor, martial artist and cellist.  I first found out about Mark after reading his book, Iron & Silk.  The book chronicles his experiences teaching English after graduating from Yale University (where he and Jessica met) at Changsha Hunan Medical College for 2 years.  The above video is Mark's latest work (e-book form only), The Man in the Empty Boat, a personal account of his struggles with writer's block and his sister's death.

While it might seem their Ivy League education and occupations could leave an impression that they're hoity-toity, they're not.  From a 1997 Los Angeles Times article, "On Hollywood entertaining: Yu and Salzman hosted a bad-review party where guests were instructed to bring--and read--their worst review. Fortunately, therapy was also provided: After reading, guests took turns whacking a film-critic piñata. 'It was very telling how each person hit the piñata.' "

Cool.  I'd love to be a fly on the wall at your next party.