By Steven C. Beer
Philip Seymour Hoffman 1967-2014
I received the tragic news about Philip Seymour Hoffman like a punch in the belly.
Unlike most celebrity deaths, the pain has lingered for days and has not diminished in intensity. I cannot remember the last time that friends and colleagues reached out to one another like this to connect and share their profound loss. Hoffman was our hero, a soldier at the vanguard of cinema — and like losing a family member, we are each seeking to find our own way to make sense of it.
We identified with and admired Hoffman. In many respects, he was one of us — committed to his craft while anchored by his family and his community. The sometimes dark and challenging roles that he brought to life spoke to us on a very intimate basis. Whether as an unscrupulous character in Scent of a Woman or an ostensibly insidious man of the cloth in Doubt, the pith of his characters prove able to transcend time and genre as they continue to reflect the turmoil and struggles within us. While these roles at times made us uncomfortable, we gravitated to projects in which he was involved for spiritual sustenance.
His focused dedication and commitment to independent film and innovative theater pushed the cultural envelope. Those who have dedicated their lives to any artistic field are all too familiar with the inherent struggles involved, and Philip Seymour Hoffman fought those personal wars on the creative battlefield. We learned from his experience, as an actor, director and artistic director. Time and again, Hoffman consciously chose to play complicated characters searching for their own path to survival and salvation. Part of his genius was the humor he brought to each role. Hoffman understood the power of comedy within the human spirit.
On a more personal note, I also admired that he was a dedicated family man and was often seen running errands in his neighborhood with his kids in tow. Despite his professional success, he seemed grounded and able to walk the tight rope of career and personal life. We can all empathize with Hoffman’s loved ones and hope they are surrounded by support during this trying time.
As we mourn a leader of our community and despair over the roles he had yet to play, we turn to the next generation of filmmakers to ask: Who can we lean on to manifest the kinds of characters Hoffman embodied? Who will step up and lead diverse artistic communities to tell new stories like the Labyrinth Theater Company? Where are the successful actors who, like Hoffman, are willing to commit to risky, low budget projects for the opportunity to explore the depths of the human condition?
Through his choices and professional commitments, Philip Seymour Hoffman was a selfless leader in the world of independent film. And as the show goes on, we reflect upon and remember his life. It is my hope that we will follow Hoffman’s lead, make courageous choices when given the opportunity and build an even stronger world of independent cinema. As a member of the film community here in New York City, I hope we can stay focused to increase the quantity and quality of cinema. And above all, I hope the future Philip Seymour Hoffmans to come will similarly assume the role as innovators, entrepreneurs and risk takers. The torch is passed — and it is up to all of us to keep it burning.
Steven C. Beer is a media and entertainment attorney and distribution consultant. He practices with Franklin, Weinrib, Rudell and Vassallo.
