Alex Gildzen

Alex Gildzen is a poet and artist who uses film as the spine of his work. Two of his most important books are It's All a Movie (2007) and The Arrow That is Hollywood Pierces the Soul That is Me (2011). Gildzen began acting in high school but as an undergraduate at Kent State University served as drama critic for the school paper. Later in life he appeared in the Mabou Mines production of "Cold Harbor" (1985). And in 1994 he appeared in "Fool Moon" at Doolittle Theater in Hollywood. His first screen appearances were in the films of Richard Myers, particularly playing the dummy to the ventriloquist of James Broughton in "Jungle Girl" (1984). Gildzen has also appeared as an extra in "Santa Fe" (1997), "The Maniacts" (2001) and "Swing Vote" (2008). In 2013 he began appearing at festival screenings of the documentary "Big Joy" in which he is interviewed. For some years Gildzen was Curator of Special Collections at Kent State University Libraries where he cataloged the papers of poet/filmmaker James Broughton. During his tenure he acquired the archives of the Open Theater and the papers of its director Joseph Chaikin and playwright Jean-Claude van Itallie. He also brought in the papers of Group Theater veteran Robert Lewis, silent screen star Lois Wilson, Broadway actress Sheila Smith and film historians Gerald Mast and James Robert Parish. In recent years Gildzen has been making little films which he releases via You Tube.