Thanks & Goodnight Sydney!

Sydney Pollack has shuffled off his mortal coil, and I felt the need to join in the chorus of well-wishing as this big soul prepares his next production in the heavens. I never had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Pollack in the flesh, but like many other film buffs and actors, I regarded him as one of the giants. He was a favorite before I even had a grasp of what a director did, all I knew was that the name accompanying the title "Director" of a couple of the pictures I loved was Sydney Pollack.
I remember enjoying the study of "Three Days of the Condor" in one of my film classes in college, not because it was new to me, by then I'd seen the film at least 4 times ("Jeremiah Johnson" at least as many times before high school was done), but because de-constructing the work illuminated the director's hand in making such a tightly suspenseful entertainment. For starters, the script is excellent, but it is, in my opinion, Pollack's trust in his actors that elevated the film to timeless classic.
Sydney Pollack studied with Sanford Meisner at the Neighborhood Playhouse, and penned the introduction to "Sanford Meisner on Acting", an excellent book about the technique that I studied over 17 years ago. My teacher, Martin Barter, was Sandy's right hand for a time (as Mr. Pollack was once) and I was lucky to meet Mr. Meisner as he was best man at Marty's wedding. Marty used to say (in keeping with one of Sandy's teachings no doubt) that, "...it takes 20 years to become an actor. "

I think of these things now, because of Sydney Pollack's passing, but mostly because I'm dusting off sensations that were shelved 5 years ago in a miscalculated effort to be a diligent spouse. My love for the crafts of acting, directing, writing, the theatre, cinema, & respect for the rich traditions are directly attributable to teachers/examples like Sydney Pollack, Sandy Meisner, and especially Marty Barter. Because of their respect for art, and the humility with which they were able to share knowledge, there are thousands like myself who will always be grateful, and maybe just a little more aware of the real effort that goes into making memorable works like "Tootsie" or "Out of Africa".
Remembering the greats, and keeping a healthy respect for the creative process seems a bit dear in this age of instant celebrity and fame.
????Why???? bother working for 20 years on becoming an artist when you can just eat bugs on TV, or bounce a skanky ass in front of a webcam during a perfunctory screw: these are the efforts that earn book and film deals now...

"Love the art in yourself, and not yourself in the art"
This is one of Marty's quotes that I never had to write down in order to remember. I'm guessing that Sydney Pollack practiced some variation of this, and that is why 20 years down the road we'll still appreciate his life's work, while struggling to recall the names of what passes for "talent" today.
As there's not much else I know how to do (kudos to Brian- writer/wit/friend who so eloquently summed up an artist's secret motivation), I resume seeking the art in myself, and I vow to shelve the skanky-ass-on-webcam plans...