It’s Tom Hanks, novice author
Actor speaks at benefit about his newest gig
Bay Area author Dave Eggers and actor Tom Hanks had an engaging conversation Monday, April 24, in front of a full house at Bimbo’s 365 Club, discussing everything from movies and literature to recent developments in Bay Area sports.
But the best — and most revealing — question during “A Night With Tom Hanks” came from 11-year-old San Francisco resident Noel Marquez, who wanted to know how the two-time Oscar winner felt about publishing “Uncommon Type: Some Stories,” his first collection of fiction stories.
“It’s petrifying. It’s horrifying,” Hanks responded. “Every time you read it, as it (gets) closer to being published, you still want to change that and alter this. You think, ‘Why in the world do I have the word “skate” twice in the same paragraph. Is there another word for skate?’ … I have never been more fearful of public opinion than I am now.”
Hanks was engaged and
entertaining, occasionally going on humorous minirants during the benefit, which between ticket sales and an auction raised more than $500,000 for 826 Valencia, a national writing center, and ScholarMatch, a program that pairs collegebound students with donors and resources to help further their education. Both are San Francisco-based nonprofits founded by Eggers. The actor’s proclamation about the Oakland Raiders moving to Las Vegas was fantastic.
“The only good thing that is going to come out of the Oakland Raiders leaving — and there is nothing good that will come out of that, by the way — is that the Oakland A’s might get their own ballpark,” Hanks said.
Amid the fun banter, Hanks briefly plugged “The Circle” — the movie starring him and Emma Watson, based on Eggers’ novel, which comes out on Friday, April 28 — and previewed one of his stories.
Following eighth-grader and Valencia 826 regular Axel Bautista, who read a poem about sushi during a smaller VIP reception, the actor read a story from his planned October book release. The narrative about a casual bowler thrust into fame had a cinematic quality, with a rousing climax balanced with themes revolving around the drawbacks of stardom.
And yet the evening never strayed too far from the young people who were benefiting from the effort. The event was ultimately a dialogue between children who are entering their creative lives and a man who took a winding road to artistic success.
The children offered powerful testimonials and asked Hanks thoughtful questions that prompted the actor to talk about his Bay Area upbringing. From moving to San Mateo, then to Oakland, to Alameda, to Castro Valley in his youth, Hanks insisted he was no one’s “most likely to succeed.”
He also once again paid tribute to Rawley T. Farnsworth, his Skyline High School drama teacher who helped inspire his love of the craft during his time in Oakland. Farnsworth is the man he thanked onstage after receiving his first Academy Award for “Philadelphia” in 1994.
Hanks gave advice both deep and glib, and got the crowd to erupt in laughter when he revealed that all the chocolates in his “Forrest Gump” box were identical — during each take, he knew exactly what he was going to get.
But his final message tied back to the event, coming out of a recent conversation he had with former President Barack Obama:
“If you really want to change the world as well as rock it,” Hanks said, “go to the school that’s just across the street and offer your services or your funds or your care.”
The event was ultimately a dialogue between children who are entering their creative lives and a man who took a winding road to artistic success.