Cinemania!

Raed Eltneg Redaer,

In these months preceding my departure from the Netherlands, I find myself becoming constantly engrossed in the world of film. Perhaps this is caused in part by my now frequent viewings of Inside the Actors Studio, or perhaps my flair for fantasy and alternate reality is coming up again.

I can't describe how much I love movies... they're like a mean: some are amazingly well balanced, with many courses that compliment each flavor and use the best ingredients, and some are like cheese-wiz on a ritz cracker at midnight. The celluloidal buffet is that big and broad! In watching great movies, great pieces of music and great choreographer, I've noticed that they all have one thing in common: Pacing. Flow. The tact to know how things are put together, what order they should be placed in and why.

Examples of good pacing are:

V for Vendetta
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Das Leben Der Anders
Children of Men
Munich
Casablanca ( !! )
Baraka

and the BEST paced film I've EVER seen......

Koyaanisqatsi. It dosen't even have a script, but its still grips you. IF you are the kind of person to be gripped by Ron Fricke's cinematography and about 80 swirling minutes of Philip Glass music. (which by the way, the Koy. score is considered to be his best work, along with Einstein on the Beach)

Film...! *claps hands together* ... wow! This recent delving into the world of cinema has also released my dormant passion for acting. Maybe you didn't know, but I was quite involved in the theater "department" in my old high school. We were known for putting on spectacular, college level shows, with elaborate props, scene changes, music, sound, lighting and sets (thanks to G MacD.) as well as some top rate acting from me and my peers.

As attractive as acting is, it is a dangerous area to get involved in... not edging on the chasm of cliché, but PLUNGING into it, SWAN diving off it, knowing full well that there are about 70,000,000 other 22 year old, dark haired, 5' 10", 1/2 Italian, 1/4 Scottish, 1/4 Hungarian young men with a fair amount of talent and a less then fair amount of training... Yes, as tempting and beautiful as it sounds, I am well aware of its perils. My sister tried the Hollywood actress thing, and has spoken ill of it ever since.

Maybe, in my learning ways, I should heed wisdom like that. Instead, I think it might be fun to join up in community theater. The Pacific Northwest seems to be a thriving place for it, and I would relish any opportunity to portray on stage/film. In fact, Kevin Spacey had an awesome story, that sounded EXACTLY like something I'd do:

Apparently (correct me if I'm wrong) he stopped going to acting school and was attending some kind of seminar or lecture at Alice Tully Hall in NYC by some famous British director or something of this nature, when sitting next to him he saw a sleeping old woman, who had a bit of paper sticking out of her purse. It happened to be an invitation to a post-lecture cocktail party, and, seeing that she was tired, he took the invitation and "swaggered" into the party. Once there, he saw a seat next to the directors chair, and V-lined straight for it. He started talking with the director and eventually explained his audition troubles (cause he couldn't get one) and the director said "Here, make sure your people talk to my people and we'll get you an audition." And so, through the act of theft, he landed his first film gig.

That story reminds me of ME, actually. I was in Alice Tully Hall, seeing the premier or some new piano music, and one of them happened to be a Philip Glass piece that was dedicated to the painter Chuck Close. After the show, I noticed there was some kind of after party going on, and even though there were a couple rent-a-cops "guarding" the entrance, I PLOWED through their reality, even as they tried to stop me, but I just looked so damn convincing with my Marlon Brando-esk smirk, and my 70's brown herringbone tweed blazer, I marched right up there and said hello to Chuck and Philip and talked with them for a while. I did not land a gig, but I did some plowing, v-lining and handshaking with people who with out plowing and v-lining, handshaking would not be possible, so, ok.

Anyway with all my research about breaking out of the system, creating your own reality and freeing your mind to the possibilities of goals and being a cause in the world rather then at affect, this kind of thing makes sense. The benefits of high character are manifested in those who we admire and hence, idolize. I believe imitation is a good indication of high character; unique traits and characteristics that are bare stronger weight and gravity then our own unique traits and characteristics. It is the basis of ALL human attraction.


Wow, this is turning out to be a lot more epic then i expected... ok, next point;

The James Lipton interview with Al Pacino was not so exciting, as Jimmy and Al reminisced off broadway theater directors from the 60's and 70's, and other "things". But back to Mr. Spacey, here's a clip of him doing some amazing impressions. (the Pacino is PRICELESS)





Be well, eat good food, and don't eat after 10PM (otherwise your body will be burning energy digesting and although your mind will sleep, your body will not recharge and you'll wake up tired)

love,

-e