omplete QPORIT

Sunday, December 08, 2013

 

SNL -- DEC 7, 2013 -- HOST: PAUL RUDD with musical guest ONE DIRECTION

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE

 
SNL -- DEC 7, 2013


HOST

PAUL RUDD

  with Musical Guest 

ONE DIRECTION

http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/


Paul Rudd was a fine host with a nice ability to go full out with the action in every sketch. There were some very fine sketches in this show.

RECAP:

COLD OPEN: SOUND OF MUSIC - Kristen Wiig returned in this very funny parody of SOUND OF MUSIC.

MONOLOG: More SNL alumni, including the Anchorman and Steve Carell returned for a sing-off with the boy band One Direction vs the old-timers.

POLITICS NOW with AL SHARPTON: was sharp and funny.

ONE DIRECTION FANS: The young girls were terrific.

SONOS AD (A REAL ONE): Great style!

DIVORCE SETTLEMENT MEETING: A funny, interesting sketch. Great writing! Great faces on the lawyers reacting to their clients. Great line (answering the question, "Who would name their daughter 'Niece'"? ), Paul Rudd, in his matter of fact style: "A couple of parents with no siblings who always wanted a niece."

MUSIC: Nice sound. Why were they fiddling with their earpieces?

WEEKEND UPDATE: Great line on American students falling behind other countries... but the rest was just so-so.

SEPTEMBER 8, 1504: The model for the great statue of David complaining that Michelangelo made his penis too small in the sculpture (and on the Sistene Chapel ceiling).

WHITE CHRISTMAS - A BLACK HOLIDAY MOVIE FOR WHITE PEOPLE: This sketch seemed under-developed.

SANTA CLAUS (AFTER LOSING WEIGHT): A terrific idea for a a sketch, but it was somewhat lame and somewhat sour. Still... it came to life a bit when Santa suggested that reindeer is very healthy meat.

MEMORIES: A woman whose husband is "working late" remembers her past loves. A very nice sketch!

TO BILL BRASKY: Salesmen drinking at a bar. Funny. Great energy.

Goodbye... : An ad (a real one) near the end of the show announced that SPIDERMAN... TURN OFF THE DARK was going dark shortly after New Year's Eve. NOTE: SEE IT WHILE YOU CAN: IT'S A GREAT SHOW!


It was a fun show. And ONE DIRECTION FANS, DIVORCE SETTLEMENT MEETING, SEPTEMBER 8, 1504, and MEMORIES are well worth watching again on the SNL site!


Here are links to some other SNL stories on QPORIT:

SNL - NOV 16, 2013 - LADY GAGA with musical guest LADY GAGA
http://qporit.blogspot.com/2013/11/snl-nov-16-2013-lady-gaga-with-musical.html

SNL -- OCT 5, 2013 -- HOST: MILEY CYRUS with musical guest MILEY CYRUS
http://qporit.blogspot.com/2013/10/snl-oct-5-2013-host-miley-cyrus-with.html 

SNL -- MAY 18, 2013 -- HOST: BEN AFFLECK with musical guest KANYE WEST -- SEASON FINALE
http://qporit.blogspot.com/2013/05/snl-may-18-2013-host-ben-affleck-with.html

SNL -- MAY 11, 2013 -- HOST: KRISTEN WIIG with musical guest... VAMPIRE WEEKEND (Fun Show!) 
http://qporit.blogspot.com/2013/05/snl-may-11-2013-host-kristen-wiig-with.html

SNL -- APR 13, 2013 -- HOST: VINCE VAUGHN with musical guest... MIGUEL
 http://qporit.blogspot.com/2013/04/snl-apr-13-2013-host-vince-vaughn-with.html

SNL -- MAR 9, 2013 -- HOST: JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE with musical guest... JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE
 http://qporit.blogspot.com/2013/03/snl-mar-9-2013-host-justin-timberlake.html

 SNL -- FEB 9, 2013 -- HOST: JUSTIN BIEBER with musical guest... JUSTIN BIEBER
 http://qporit.blogspot.com/2013/02/snl-feb-9-2013-host-justin-bieber-with.html

 SNL -- JAN 26, 2013 -- ADAM LEVINE with KENDRICK LAMAR (Great show! & lots of clips!!)
http://qporit.blogspot.com/2013/01/snl-jan-26-2013-adam-levine-with.html

SNL -- JAN 19, 2013 --JENNIFER LAWRENCE with THE LUMINEERS
http://qporit.blogspot.com/2013/01/snl-jan-19-2013-jennifer-lawrence-with.html

SNL -- DEC 15, 2012 -- MARTIN SHORT WITH PAUL MCCARTNEY
http://qporit.blogspot.com/2012/12/snl-dec-15-2012-martin-short-with-paul.html

SNL -- DEC 8, 2012 -- JAMIE FOXX WITH NE-YO
http://qporit.blogspot.com/2012/12/snl-dec-8-2012-jamie-foxx-with-ne-yo.html

SNL -- NOV 10, 2012 -- ANNE HATHAWAY WITH RIHANNA
http://qporit.blogspot.com/2012/11/snl-nov-10-2012-anne-hathaway-with.html

SNL -- OCT 20, 2012 -- BRUNO MARS
http://qporit.blogspot.com/2012/10/snl-oct-20-2012-bruno-mars.html

SNL -- SEP 22, 2012 -- JOSEPH GORDON-LEVITT WITH MUMFORD & SONS
http://qporit.blogspot.com/2012/09/snl-sep-22-2012-joseph-gordon-levitt.html

SNL -- SEP 15, 2012 – SEASON PREMIERE! -- SETH MACFARLANE WITH FRANK OCEAN
http://qporit.blogspot.com/2012/09/snl-sep-15-2012-season-premiere-seth.html


 


SNL OFFICIAL SITE
http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/


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Friday, December 06, 2013

 

APHASIA... CONGRATULATIONS!


 Robin Rose Singer is a terrific, serious actress with a sense of humor.  She is also smart, nice, and beautiful: an actress to follow.

 Now she has written a short film, formed a small new production company to film the film, created an Indiegogo campaign to finance the film. AND... the Indiegogo campaign has just exceeded its target. Congratulations!

 (Note to readers... You have until December 6, 2013 23:59 (PT) to join the campaign and provide even more support to the film. -- $10K was the target, but every dollar makes it better. After Indiegogo, follow them on their website, on Facebook, and on Twitter.)

 The film is called APHASIA -- "A short sci-fi drama about the price of plugging in.


"... like The Twilight Zone or 1984.  

"(Aphasia is a communication disorder: the loss of the ability to understand or express speech.)

"Emily is your average 26-year old.  She texts her friends, talks to people on Facebook, orders things online, and uses GPS to get where she's going.  Until one day, suddenly, she comes face to face with the consequences of living a digital life. " 
Noting the irony, she turned to social media and crowd funding to finance and promote this film about the price of technology.

Robin Rose Singer
Photo by Eric Roffman

QPORIT has been following Robin for years. She has been excellent on stage and on screen.  Robin starred in KISSES, CHLOE, a Hamptons International Film Festival selection. She actually made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up in a Shakespearean role.  And I've seen her at work: she's the real thing.


Here's some more information:

THE APHASIA INDIEGOGO CAMPAIGN
http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/aphasia-the-film

THE APHASIA OFFICIAL WEBSITE
www.aphasiathefilm.com

A SMALL FIRE PRODUCTIONS - ON FACEBOOK
https://www.facebook.com/ASmallFireProductions

 TWITTER
@aphasiathefilm
@asmallfireprods
@robin_singer
@livbosek

QPORIT - ON KISSES, CHLOE
http://qporit.blogspot.com/2010/10/kisses-chloe-with-robin-singer-mikal.html

QPORIT - ON THE WEB SERIES, PUBLIC RELATIONS 
http://qporit.blogspot.com/2011/01/public-relations-webisodes.html

QPORIT/BOBOOBLOG - ON LABUTE'S SOME GIRLS
http://bobooblog.blogspot.com/2011/12/some-girls.html


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Thursday, December 05, 2013

 

BRATTON COMMUNITY & POLICE


William J Bratton, on being appointed as the new Police Commissioner by Mayor elect Bill De Blasio, gave an impassioned talk (that transcended the usual boilerplate) pledging to improve relations between all the communities of New York and the police department... a relationship that will promote free and friendly communication between the police and the people, to help keep New York safe. It was an inspiring short speech on the value and importance of the policeman as a friend to every New Yorker.

 WILLIAM J BRATTON ON WIKIPEDIA
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_J._Bratton



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Sunday, November 17, 2013

 

SNL - NOV 16, 2013 - LADY GAGA with musical guest LADY GAGA


This was one of SNL'S better shows. There were no duds. While there was little hilarity, every sketch was interesting and funny. The writing style seemed to be just a bit different from previous shows: more grounded and more nuanced, and notably avoiding "incompetence humor".

  
Here's a brief recap:

 COLD OPEN: Setting the tone for the night, the Mayor of Toronto was skewered, effectively, humorously, but not hilariously. (With a nod to 60 Minutes believing in the Mayor.)

MONOLOG: Setting the tone for her performances, Lady Gaga rocked with a perfectly executed, energetic tribute to cheap applause.

 FAKE COMMERCIAL - PAXIL: A treatment for second term problems. Lots of pills for medical insurance systems.

 WAKING UP WITH KIMYE: A not terribly interesting take on the Kardashian sound, and the Apple Store look.

 WAAT- THE WORST COVER SONGS OF ALL TIME: Some covers were funnier than others. I liked the Counting Crows hair do.

 LADY GAGA'S sets were energetic, crazy, entertaining, and fun! LOTSA ENERGY!

 WEEKEND UPDATE: Good jokes. The MR SENIOR video trying to save Thanksgiving from being crushed and forgotten in the rush from Halloween to Christmas was great. (But he missed the fact that Hanukkah starts ON Thanksgiving this year! -- Won't happen again for 70,000 years or so I'm told.) GETTYSBURG ADDRESS CRITIC had some funny moments.

 CO-OP BOARD INTERVIEW: A simple sketch leading to a simple punch line.

SPOTLIGHTZ- TEEN ACTING CAMP: Very true. Alas!

 REQUIEM FOR BLOCKBUSTER: A touching tribute to BLOCKBUSTER and those who gave their lives to serving there.

 TALENT PAGEANT: The parents in the audience cheerleading their kid in the talent show. Funny, but it could have gone even further into madcap.

 LADY GAGA IN 50 YEARS: A really interesting sketch with Lady Gaga at home in her apartment with smeared lipstick, a bent frame, lots of trophies, and the landlord not remembering her at all. In a nice touch, circling back to her monolog she has a clapping machine finish the sketch.

 ROSE ZONE: A show with the highlights of "reality" show mayhem. "HOT GARBAGE 24/7".
SNL OFFICIAL SITE
http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/


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Saturday, November 16, 2013

 

ALPHA HOUSE AT AMAZON


The new series of political comedy videos ALPHA HOUSE, starring John Goodman and created by Garry Trudeau (from Doonesbury) for Amazon are very funny. Very very funny. 

Some Senators, Democrat and Republican, are serious, intelligent, well-informed and valuable lawmakers.  The Senators in Alpha House not so much.

Three (roughly) half-hour episodes are available on Amazon now, free to all.  More episodes, coming once a week on Fridays will be available to subscribers of Amazon Prime.  (Given the other benefits of Amazon Prime, this may be the tipping point to join.)

 In addition to being very funny, the episodes are great to look at: expertly shot, acted and edited.  It's terrific.

 Note: Watch for Yara Martinez to break out from this show as a new young sexy very beautiful star.

 ALPHA HOUSE ON IMDB
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3012160/

ALPHA HOUSE ON AMAZON


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Tuesday, November 12, 2013

 

ANOTHER SILLY DATE POST


Today is another one of those interesting dates:

11/12/13

That's mm/dd/yy

And next month it will again be


11/12/13

That's dd/mm/yy.


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Monday, November 04, 2013

 

JULIE TAYMOR'S EXUBERANT MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM INAUGURATES TFANA'S NEW SHAKESPEARE CENTER


Julie Taymor’s entertaining, profound, beautiful, and often amazing production of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM inaugurates a terrific new home for Theatre For A New Audience.

THEATRE FOR A NEW AUDIENCE
Polonsky Shakespeare Center
INAUGURAL PRODUCTION

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE’S
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM
Directed by Julie Taymor
A MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM - TFANA
David Harewood, Tina Benko, Max Casella and Kathryn Hunter
Photo by Gerry Goodstein

 Shakespeare’s words are wonderful, but what provides exceptional grandeur to his A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM (MSND) is the opportunity to create magic on stage. Julie Taymor, in the new production inaugurating Theatre For A New Audience's new home, creates a wondrous, visually spectacular production.

 Perhaps the most amazing things in the production are the brilliant troupe of young performers; and the fabrics with exquisite projections that provide most of the stage design.

 The children (as fairies / “Rude Elementals”, animals, tree trunks, and even children) are infectiously enthusiastic, and skillful in their execution of brilliant routines with dancing, prancing, and even constructing the most evocative forest I’ve ever seen on stage. They are a physical troupe integral to the theatrical performance, not simply an embellishment.

 Fabric is used for many stunning moments throughout the performance from lifting characters into the sky, to being the medium which holds beautiful projections of images that set the stage or enhance the story. Aside from the creative brilliance, the technical achievement of getting these moving fabrics to hold high quality, beautiful images is astonishing.

 The production is inventive and also a reprise and re-invention of some of Julie Taymor’s signature theatrical devices, including the use of three dimensional space (height/air), variations on puppetry, visual projections, and the use of fabrics to organize the stage design.

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM - TFANA
Kathryn Hunter
Photo by Es Devlin

 Original music by Elliot Goldenthal nicely complements the action.
The acting is excellent, too!

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM - TFANA
Zach Appelman, Lilly Englert, Jake Horowitz
Photo by Gerry Goodstein


Still, while this production is superb, I do have some minor quibbles and one serious alert.

And one serious note:

* * *


Julie Taymor has done a brilliant job combining a stunningly visual production with a vocally clear and commanding presentation. It's a glorious production of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM that will be remembered as a classic and should not be missed!


JULIE TAYMOR
Photo by Eric Roffman

* * *


Jeffrey Horowitz is the Founding Artistic Director of the Theatre For A New Audience (TFANA), which began more than thirty years ago, in 1979. Up until now they have performed in a variety of theaters, but not their own. 

TFANA'S BEAUTIFUL NEW HOME
Photo by Eric Roffman
The Polonsky Shakespeare Center, the new, permanent home for TFANA, represents many years of development, planning and fundraising. It contains two theaters: the beautiful, highly re-configurable Scripps Mainstage, with 299 seats, and the Rogers Studio with 50 seats. It has attractive, comfortable meeting areas outdoors in an “arts plaza” and on the ground floor. There are plans to have a transmedia-capable electronic message board outside, and to have a café, and a book kiosk.

In addition to its own major, mainstage theatrical performances, TFANA has ambitious plans for training and other programs.

 MSND, running through January 12, 2014 is the first play in an exciting inaugural season. It will be followed by KING LEAR, directed by Arin Arbus, starring Michael Pennington, running from March 14 to May 4. Then, Ionesco’s THE KILLER, translated by Michael Feingold, directed by Darko Tesnjak, and featuring Michael Shannon will run from May 17 to June 29, 2014.

 The second season will feature THE VALLEY OF ASTONISHMENT, a “research” directed by Peter Brook and Marie Helene Estienne, Christopher Marlowe’s TAMBURLAINE directed by Michael Boyd and featuring John Douglas Thompson, and A DOLLS HOUSE, translated by Thornton Wilder, directed by Arin Arbus, and featuring Juliet Rylance.

 With a great start to an important addition to New York Theater, TFANA’s new theater is about a block away from the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM). Synergy between the venues is likely to enhance and enrich the Brooklyn neighborhood.

Reaching TFANA from Manhattan is not difficult by subway. Just off Flatbush Avenue, it can also be reached by car easily using either the Brooklyn Bridge or the Manhattan Bridge. (Note: the best approach to the Manhattan Bridge is from the Bowery. Be careful NOT to follow street signs to the Manhattan Bridge BICYCLE lanes.) There is ample parking less than half a block from the theater.

 This is a family-friendly show, a great introduction to Shakespeare for children. (Note that it would be helpful, both for children and adults to prepare before the show by knowing the story and even reading, watching a video, or listening to the play. Shakespeare only gets better, the better you know the play.)

 This is likely to be remembered as an historic production. Don’t miss it. In fact, with limited seating, limited runs, and terrific shows, grabbing season tickets for the entire inaugural season might be wise.

 This entertaining, profound, beautiful, and often amazing production of A Midsummer Nights Dream inaugurates a terrific new home for Theatre For A New Audience.

THEATER AND TICKET INFORMATION
(See below for links and references)
THEATER LOCATION:

 THE POLONSKY SHAKESPEARE CENTER
262 Ashland Street
Brooklyn NY, 11217
info@tfana.org
212-229-2819

 http://www.tfana.org/
(There’s a map here)
BOX OFFICE:

 Subscriptions for Theatre for a New Audience’s inaugural season are
$147 for a 3-play inaugural season package and
$294 for a 6-play, two-season package,

call (212) 229-2819, ext. 10.

Flex Passes are also available for $208 and include four tickets
to be used in any combination over the inaugural season.


For more information or to subscribe online, please visit
www.tfana.org

 Single tickets are $75.

Tickets may be purchased
online at www.tfana.org or
by phone at 866-811-4111.

 A Midsummer Night’s Dream runs through January 1, 2014


EVENING PERFORMANCES
Tuesday through Sunday evenings at 7:30pm and
Monday, December 23 at 7:30pm.

EXCEPT: THERE ARE NO 7:30PM EVENING PERFORMANCES
Sundays December 8, 15 and 22 and January 5.
Thursday, November 28;
Tuesdays, December 17 and 24; and
Wednesdays, December 18 and 25.



 MATINEE PERFORMANCES
Saturday and Sunday at 2:00pm. 
Tuesday, December 24 at 2:00pm;
Wednesdays November 27 at 2:00pm; and January 1 at 2:00pm.





THE SHAKESPEARE SOCIETY
will be holding a discussion about this production 
at the theater on Monday, November 18:
SPIRITS OF ANOTHER SORT
Nature, Art and Imagination in
A Midsummer Night's Dream


November 18 at 7pm
At: Theatre for a New Audience 
at the Polonsky Shakespeare Center

 To celebrate the opening of Theatre for a New Audience's new home and its inaugural production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, directed by Julie Taymor with music by Elliot Goldenthal, cast members David Harewood, Tina Benko and Max Casella will join celebrated Oxford professor Jonathan Bate for a lively evening of commentary, performance and conversation. Professor Bate, the award-winning author of The Soul of the Age and The Genius of Shakespeare, will lead a discussion of the nature of fairies in the Elizabethan world and in the play, and will explore how the "airy nothings" of magic, dreams, and imagination effect "translations" that grow to ultimate "constancy" in love and art.

TICKETS
 Shakespeare Society Members
Contact: Michelle Palmour (mpalmour@shakespearesociety.org) or
Call: (212) 967-6802.

Non-Members
https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pe.c/9833146?utm_source=TFANA+Nov.+18+Event&utm_campaign=Nov.+18+TFANA&utm_medium=email


LINKS AND REFERENCES

 SHAKESPEARE’S A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM – WIKIPEDIA
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Midsummer_Night's_Dream

 SHAKESPEARE’S A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM – FULL TEXT (MIT)
http://shakespeare.mit.edu/midsummer/full.html
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM ON AMAZON
THEATER FOR A NEW AUDIENCE – HOME PAGE
www.tfana.org

 THEATER FOR A NEW AUDIENCE – WIKIPEDIA
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theatre_for_a_New_Audience

JULIE TAYMOR – WIKIPEDIA
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julie_Taymor


JULIE TAYMOR ON AMAZON
ELLIOT GOLDENTHAL – WIKIPEDIA
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elliot_Goldenthal

 DAVID HAREWOOD – WIKIPEDIA
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Harewood

 MAX CASELLA – WIKIPEDIA
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Casella

THE SHAKESPEARE SOCIETY – HOME PAGE
http://www.shakespearesociety.org/




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Friday, November 01, 2013

 

ROMEO AND JULIET with CONDOLA RASHAD and ORLANDO BLOOM


ORLANDO BLOOM AND CONDOLA RASHAD

SHAKESPEARE’S
ROMEO AND JULIET

ON BROADWAY
DIRECTED BY DAVID LEVEAUX


Orlando Bloom and Condola Rashad
ROMEO AND JULIET
Photo by Robert Ascroft

Romeo and Juliet on Broadway with Condola Rashad and Orlando Bloom is a great, family friendly Shakespearean Broadway show.

 It begins with a bang: with terrific and energetic stage combat; and it continues with the entry of Orlando Bloom (as Romeo) on a motorcycle to screams from the audience. (They scream again later when he takes off his shirt to reveal quite a well developed upper body.)

Orlando is a movie star and Condola Rashad is a great Broadway actress. As Juliet, she conveys a spirit of youth and freshness, and with Orlando they make a convincingly loving young couple. The balcony scene is brilliantly staged and acted.


Condola Rashad
On the Balcony
ROMEO AND JULIET
Photo by Carol Rosegg

 The language is clear and understandable; the production continues with fire (literally) and spirit.

 The tragic climax (hopefully this is not a big spoiler) of the play seems somehow less tragic than usual, which may play well with the Broadway audience.

Geoffrey Owens, as Prince Escalus, begins the play with authority, trying to keep peace in a town hosting a notorious feud between the Capulets and Montagues; and he concludes the play as the warring families agree to reconcile after the tragic death of their children.

Indeed I found the ending of the play seemed to have more weight than usual - suggesting a parallel with current politics: I found myself hoping that the Congressmen warring on the government - with opposition to even its normal operations - would find a way to become a part of a constructive government process before some tragedy fully unfolds upon the US.

 Juliet (Condola Rashad) and her family are cast with black actors and Romeo's family with white actors. However, there is no attempt to equate the war between the Capulets and Montagues with any form of racial tension. (It does help to keep track of who's who -- something that can otherwise be difficult at times in Shakespeare.)

 In the play script, Juliet is perhaps 13; Romeo slightly older. And their sudden young teen crush is partly a justification for their rash and poorly considered actions: leading to their deaths by impatience. (A little waiting and everything would have sorted itself out!) Almost all productions, including this one, cast actors who are much older. Part of the reason being, of course, that it is very, very difficult to find actors capable of performing the roles of Romeo and Juliet when they are that young. Various methods of handling the age discrepancy between actors and characters have been tried over the years. In this production, both actors try to assume the personality of younger (kinda foolish) people. Orland's Romeo is very "romantic", and his head seems always in the clouds; Condola's Juliet is girlish, flirty and physically flighty, but very determined.

 All in all, if not a profoundly tragic Romeo and Juliet, this is an entertaining, clear, thoughtful, energetic and enjoyable production.


SHAKESPEARE'S ROMEO AND JULIET - WIKIPEDIA
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romeo_and_Juliet
SHAKESPEARE'S ROMEO AND JULIET - THE COMPLETE TEXT (FROM MIT)
http://shakespeare.mit.edu/romeo_juliet/full.html

ROMEO AND JULIET - OFFICIAL SITE BROADWAY PRODUCTION
http://romeoandjulietbroadway.com/
ORLANDO BLOOM - WIKIPEDIA
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orlando_Bloom
ORLANDO BLOOM - IMDB
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0089217/
CONDOLA RASHAD - WIKIPEDIA
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Condola_Rashad
DAVID LEVEAUX - WIKIPEDIA
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Leveaux


ROMEO AND JULIET - ON AMAZON

ORLANDO BLOOM - ON AMAZON



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Friday, October 25, 2013

 

A GIANT WAVE OF GREAT ACTING IN CURRENT AND COMING FILMS


Exceptionally fine performances enrich a large number of important films currently in theaters or coming soon.

 The spectacularly impressive 2013 NEW YORK FILM FESTIVAL NYFF 2013 and the intimately enjoyable 2013 HAMPTONS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL HIFF 2013 (which overlapped slightly in time and partly in film presentations) both coming just before the fall season begins, were showplaces for some of the film acting highlights of the year (with, as a major bonus to the film audience, access in Q&A’s to the stars and directors that made the films).

 Talking to the actors and directors of these films suggests a pattern for how great film performances are created: (Note: not all these factors apply to every shoot.)

• Tremendous preparation by the actors before shooting starts
• Improvisation before shooting and on set to help understand the characters and the relationships between characters
• Interaction and discussions between the director and the actors (especially if the director is also an actor)
• A strong, positive relationship among the actors off-screen (especially if the action in the film is toxic)
• Dedication, almost to the point of compulsion, to get both the action and the visual look exactly right in every scene
• Playing the scenes with a natural, moment to moment focus on the character’s actions.

 And

 • “Trust” by the director that the actors are ideally cast and can nail the performance
• “Trust” by the actor that the director will handle every aspect of the film’s creation other than the actor’s performance.

 While none of these elements should be surprising to anyone who has studied acting or film directing, what is evident is that the greater the effort in each of these areas, the better the result – and when the effort is much greater, the result can be much better.

 As an aside, one major difference between film acting and theatrical acting is that (usually, not always) film actors must do their own preparation before shooting starts (especially when working with directors who “trust” their actors – as opposed to those who improvise and rehearse on set), while stage actors usually develop their performance during extensive (but never extensive enough) rehearsals together with the other actors, and can then even refine their performance over time based on the reaction of the audience.
Here are some of the great performances – see just below for more details!

 Scott Haze -- CHILD OF GOD
Adèle Exarchopoulos & Léa Seydoux -- BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR
Ben Stiller & Kristen Wiig -- THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY
Bruce Dern & Will Forte – NEBRASKA
Samantha Morton -- DECODING ANNIE PARKER
Scarlett Johansson and Joaquin Phoenix (and Samantha Morton) – HER
Ralph Fiennes & Felicity Jones -- THE INVISIBLE WOMAN
Isabelle Huppert -- ABUSE OF WEAKNESS
Robert Redford -- ALL IS LOST
Chiwetel Ejiofor, Lupita Nyong’O and ensemble -- 12 YEARS A SLAVE
Domhnall Gleeson -- ABOUT TIME
Oscar Isaac -- INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS
The Kids: Liana Liberato & Amy Acres -- FREE RIDE
Tanaquil LeClercq -- AFTERNOON OF A FAUN

 And here’s some more about these fantastic solo, ensemble, nearly wordless, young, singing, dancing, romantic, courageous, loving, mad and body-less terrific performances:

Scott Haze
CHILD OF GOD

 Scott Haze -- CHILD OF GOD
NYFF 2013. Scott was one of Variety’s 10 Actors To Watch at HIFF 2013

The performance of Scott Haze in Child of God is one of the strongest, most amazing performances of this year or any year. Based on Cormac McCarthy’s short novel, director James Franco has created a compelling (and for some people a completely off-putting, horrible) story of madness, estrangement and seriously misdirected love. An almost impossible character to play, Scott has created a convincing and mesmerizing portrayal. Chosen by Franco because he believed Scott would commit fully to realizing the part, Scott, in fact, immersed himself in the world of the character for months, hanging out with moonshiners, living in a cave, studying the source material, and preparing himself so thoroughly that a film about his preparation would be a gripping film itself.


Adèle Exarchopoulos & Léa Seydoux
BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR

 Adèle Exarchopoulos & Léa Seydoux -- BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR
NYFF 2013. HIFF 2013. Adele and director Abdellatif Kechiche participated in a Q&A at NYFF.

In an unprecedented honor, Adèle Exarchopoulos and Léa Seydoux were awarded the Palme d’Or at Cannes, along with the director, for creating this supremely sensual portrait of a young woman’s sexual awakening and its aftermath. Filmed “eating scenes” are almost as memorable as the legendary one in Tom Jones. Making love in splendid sensuality, Adele is examined and revealed in illuminating detail, while Lea is the essence of attraction and rejection.
Ben Stiller & Kristen Wiig
THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY

 Ben Stiller & Kristen Wiig -- THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY
NYFF 2013. Ben and Kristen were on hand at NYFF 13.

In one of the smartest, most entertaining, romantic, and comedic romantic comedies in a long time, Ben and Kristen are terrific together, a classic film couple. This will be a great Holiday movie for the family.
Bruce Dern & Will Forte – NEBRASKA
NYFF 2013. HIFF 2013. Bruce Dern and Will Forte were on hand to talk about the film.

Winner of the Best Actor Prize at Cannes, Bruce Dern brings to life a brilliant character. He said (modestly) “It was all on the page,” but it was not until he gave it life that it was all in the film. He was assisted by a terrific supporting performance by Will Forte. Though the premise (a road trip to collect a “million dollar prize”) seems silly, this is a film that is nearly impossible to dislike.
Samantha Morton -- DECODING ANNIE PARKER
HIFF 2013. Winner of the SLOAN prize at HIFF.

In a fearless, totally committed performance, Samantha Morton brings to life the (lightly fictionalized) story of Annie Parker, a victim of the BRCA1 gene mutation that predisposes a person to the likelihood of cancer. Annie Parker, a real person, (who looked terrific appearing in person at the film’s screening) has struggled through a history of recurring cancers. Helen Hunt plays Mary-Claire King, a woman scientist who helped to reveal the role of the BRCA1 gene mutation in causing cancer.
Scarlett Johansson and Joaquin Phoenix (and Samantha Morton) – HER
NYFF 2013. HIFF 2013.

In possibly her best performance ever, Scarlett Johansson is the voice of a computer system that Joaquin Phoenix falls in love with. The performance of both Joaquin and Scarlett was created over an extended period of time, first with Samantha Morton working with Joaquin, then with Scarlett and Joaquin, with lots of reshoots and improvisations.


Ralph Fiennes & Felicity Jones
THE INVISIBLE WOMAN
Ralph Fiennes & Felicity Jones -- THE INVISIBLE WOMAN
NYFF 2013. HIFF 2013. Ralph Fiennes attended the premiere at NYFF, then flew out by helicopter to present the film at HIFF.

Two of the most challenging challenges in filmmaking are directing yourself, and making a credible period story of a passionate affair between an older famous man and a young woman. Ralph Fiennes does both. He described his method of working with (the terrific and beautiful) actress Felicity Jones as discussing the work in great detail and reaching a consensus with the actress.


Isabelle Huppert -- ABUSE OF WEAKNESS
NYFF 2013.

Isabelle Huppert created a great performance playing a version of the director herself, Catherine Breillat, who was herself involved in an episode much like the one filmed. Isabelle brilliantly portrays a woman who is the victim of a serious, physically debilitating stroke, and then loses the wisdom to resist a person she knows is a con-man. (In contrast to several other examples, especially the previous one, the actress and the director had almost no contact before the shooting began and did not, according to reports, interact very much on the set either – even though the actress was playing the director!)
Robert Redford
ALL IS LOST
Photo Credit Daniel Daza

 Robert Redford -- ALL IS LOST
NYFF 2013. Robert Redford and director J.C. Chandor came to NYFF.

Robert Redford is underappreciated as an actor because he is so natural in every role. In ALL IS LOST he is simply himself at sea. Alone. No one to talk with… and he simply sets himself the task of surviving on a doomed sailboat. He is unfailingly interesting. The situation is totally believable. He is completely natural.
Michael Fassbender as “Edwin Epps,” Lupita Nyong’o as “Patsey,” 
and Chiwetel Ejiofor as “Solomon Northup”
12 YEARS A SLAVE
Photo by Francois Duhamel

 Chiwetel Ejiofor, Lupita Nyong’O and ensemble -- 12 YEARS A SLAVE
NYFF 2013. HIFF 2013.

In this very trying piece of history, the director Steve McQueen keeps many strains of almost melodramatic evil and horror in play to tell the harrowing story of a free black man from New York who, in 1841, is kidnapped and sold into slavery in the South – a true story, based on a memoir by the victim. All the acting is exceptional: the ensemble of great acting is needed to keep the story in focus, credible, important and watchable. One key to the success of this movie is the exceptionally clear focus and desire of Ejiofor to escape from the hell into which he has been captured. This film and story is a reminder of the horror of slavery, and institutional evil, and how recent that was in our country. Indeed, with some small changes in detail and characters, and little change in plot, this could be a tale of sexual slavery trafficking today. Nyong’O, who plays a young slave woman is an exceptional actress that I first noticed a few years ago when she was charismatic in a TV special on Africa. She has since directed an interesting film, was a production worker with several great directors including Mira Nair, attended Yale Drama School, and is one of Variety’s Ten Actors To Watch this year.
Domhnall Gleeson -- ABOUT TIME
NYFF 2013. HIFF 2013.

Domhnall Gleeson again proves he is one of the great coming actors of our time. An alumnus of the Harry Potter movies, one of HIFF’s Rising Stars last year, he was a most convincing Russian in last year’s Anna Karenina, and here he is a flawless romantic, time travelling hero. Rachel McAdams is her usual delightful self.


Oscar Isaac -- INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS
NYFF 2013.

A film about the early years of folk music in New York features a singular performance by Oscar Isaac as the title character. It is a multilayered performance that catches the failure to be charismatic of a struggling singer. Oscar sings and acts, perfectly, and is in just about every scene. Oscar is one of Variety’s 10 Actors To Watch.
The Kids: Liana Liberato & Amy Acres -- FREE RIDE
HIFF 2013.

This small indie film features terrific performances by Liana Liberato as a teenager and Amy Acres as a pre-teen. Both performances are natural and eye catching. Liana actually was on the cover of the NYT magazine on June 4, 2006, in an article about children trying to make it in Hollywood.


And finally:

 Tanaquil LeClercq -- AFTERNOON OF A FAUN
NYFF 2013.

It’s not exactly acting in the usual sense, because this is a documentary, and the footage is archival, but Tanaquil LeClercq, a brilliant dancer crippled with polio at the height of her career, is a charismatic and extremely interesting personality.
Please follow us at www.QPORIT.com. We have many more photos, videos and stories to come about the actors and films above, and many other Film Festival films and events!

 Here are some stories about NYFF 2013 and HIFF 2013 currently in QPORIT:

 MAIN SLATE: NEW YORK FILM FESTIVAL 2013
http://qporit.blogspot.com/2013/08/main-slate-new-york-film-festival-2013.html

 21st HAMPTONS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (HIFF 2013)
http://qporit.blogspot.com/2013/10/21st-hamptons-international-film.html

 CAPTAIN PHILLIPS -- the NYFF Opening Night Gala film with Tom Hanks:
http://qporit.blogspot.com/2013/07/tom-hanks-stars-opening-night-in-2013.html

 HER -- with Joaquin Phoenix and the voice of Scarlett Johansson:
http://qporit.blogspot.com/2013/08/spike-jonzes-her-will-close-nyff-2013.html

 TRANSMEDIA AT NYFF 2013
http://qporit.blogspot.com/2013/09/transmedia-at-nyff-2013.html



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