It’s been a while since I’ve seen a movie quite like DOPE. The last time I saw something similar, about the plight of a young black man, was Clockers and Boyz N The Hood.
This story gives you a different perspective on how a group of friends overcome the obstacles of their poor neighborhood in Inglewood, California {Tyra Banks grew up in Inglewood}. This coming-of-age story about three geeks who are obsessed with 90s Hip Hop, 90s clothing, and the 90s lifestyle, have their own band, are at the top of their class, and are kids that just can’t do any wrong.
Sure, they either lose their shoes or get beat up, but they also work together to defy the odds set against them.
Writer/director Rick Famuyiwa throws every single stereotype of a young black person in the inner city at you. But it also makes you think twice about the story if you take color out of it. What if this was just a regular honor roll student defying the odds of his situation? Would Harvard immediately put his application at the top of the pile if he, a high school senior, managed to make a company $100,000 in three weeks? Isn’t that what Ivy League schools want?
So what if he made that $100,000 by selling drugs? He wasn’t out on the street corner dealing. He was just a kid that got stuck in a very, very bad situation and had to do something about it. He used his smarts. He used technology. He beat each and every system placed before him. He refused to be another statistic. He and his friends set out to beat a system that was always working against them. He used his brains to beat every single thing working against him and his friends.
At the end of the movie you question what would happen if you took this inner city kid out of the neighborhood, stripped him of his skin color, his socio-economic status, his lack of heritage, and take away all of the stereotypes, and made him just human on paper. Are the things he was able to do with the tools he was given enough to get into a school like Harvard?
There are two ways you can tell the story. You can tell the story from the perspective of a group of poor black kids from the inner city, or the story about three young human beings that were defying the odds placed against them since day one.
If you want to know who the next big up and coming actors are, watch this film. Shameik Moore (Malcolm) does a phenomenal job in this role. [On a side note, after watching this film, I walked out into the hallway of the screening theater and Moore was standing right outside the door. It was a definite pleasant surprise.]
Zoë Kravitz (daughter of Lisa Bonet and Lenny Kravitz) also stars. Tony Revolori (Jib) and Kiersey Clemons (Diggy) also star in the film. There are guest appearances by Rick Fox and Chanel Iman (the model, this is her first film). Forest Whitaker also has his hand in this film as well.
For those who want a modern take to the old classic of Boyz N The Hood, you have to see this. It’s a movie that will make you think twice about the story. It will even make you think twice about how you viewed the movie up until the end.
My favorite part of this movie was the choice of songs. I knew every single song because they were songs that were popular when hip hop first started to gain rise in the 90s. The way a drug dealer on the street could brilliantly talk about music, it made you realize that Famuyiwa was breaking down another stereotype that all drug dealers are uneducated and unintelligent, that they lack heart or are always trying to pull people down with them. In other words, he is preaching again and again: never judge a book by its cover.
The film is due out in theaters Friday, June 19, 2015. This is one of the most important films you need to see this summer. It will make you think twice…and then still leave you thinking long after you’ve walked away from the film.
Applause all around.
This review from The Verge is spot-on and a must read supplemental.
On Twitter:
Shameik Moore: @meaksworld
Rick Famuyiwa: @RickFamuyiwa
DOPE: @DopeMovie
New York – It’s not so often that you find out that one of the most popular actors for the last 30+ years is not just an actor but a musician, too. Kevin Bacon and his brother Michael Bacon (The Bacon Brothers) stopped by the Cornell Club on Monday night for a talk and performance.
There was a rather huge attendance for the event at the Cornell Club. Between Cornell alumni and Hudson Union Society members, you had to get there early if you wanted a good seat.
You can hear the half hour conversation with Michael and Kevin Bacon in the audio clip below. For those who ever wondered what Kevin Bacon thought of the Seven Degrees of Kevin Bacon, he talks about it in the audio clip. Unfortunately, you will not hear the actual music performance. I wanted to leave that for the Youtube video (i.e. something that they put out themselves).
This photo below is my favorite of the bunch. It’s also a photo I plan on adding to the Rockstar Collection of photos I’ve been taking over the last few years.
This is another favorite (below) that will go into the Rockstar collection.
[All photos by Michelle Kenneth]
You can find the Bacon Brothers on theirwebsite, Twitter: @baconbros and @kevinbacon, and on Youtube.
After the New York City International Film Festival, the award winning short “Family On Board” made a trip to Cannes, France for the Cannes Film Festival. Now, the film is heading to Hollywood! The film short is headlining the HollyShorts Monthly Screening Series on June 25th at the TCL Chinese Theatre.
Tickets to the series are currently on sale. You can purchase them for $15 HERE. If you share the event with your friends at checkout, you can get $2 off your order.
For those actors in Hollywood looking for work, you may get a chance to be in the upcoming full feature film. Here’s how you can be considered:
Pogatsia is sticking to his motto that actors and filmmakers should champion each other. All LA actors who come out to support Family On Board at HollyShorts will be given special consideration when casting begins for the feature (in development). Hashtag #FamilyOnBoardmovie to any of Family On Board’s social media accounts with a photo of yourself with your ticket stub at the event. Academy Award-winning director John G. Avildsen (Rocky) is interested in directing.
Here’s the full press release:
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If you’re in LA, I highly recommend going to see this film. It is a film you will never forget. If you’re in the business, this is definitely a film you want to be a part of.
While I would normally do a general review of a film, “Testament of Youth” will be a little different because this film hit very close to home for me.
Synopsis – This film is based on the memoir written by Vera Brittain (played by Alicia Vikander from “A Royal Affair”). This young woman’s sole desire was to go to Oxford, just like her brother. Her father wanted her to remain home. As a consolation, while they were out swimming with a friend, her father purchased a piano for her. It was enough money to pay for one year at Oxford.
When she arrived home to discover this, she was angry. As she’s telling her father that she will never marry, not ever in this lifetime, the man she would fall in love with walked into the house. Roland Leighton (played by Kit Harington from “Game of Thrones”).
This was right before World War I began.
Her brother managed to talk their father into letting her take the entry exams at Oxford. SPOILER ALERT: She got in.
As she prepared to go to Oxford with her brother, Roland and friends, the Great War began. All of the boys decided to sign up.
During the summer before the war, Roland and Vera started to fall deeper and deeper in love with each other. When Roland broke the news to her that he had enlisted, it was on the day they should have been heading to Oxford to begin school together.
As more time went on, she decided she had to do something, so she took leave from Oxford to work as a nurse. She started in the hospitals in Britain before later heading to the front.
War changes people. Roland was no exception. He tried to put the walls between them, but she refused to allow him to do it. That was when he proposed to her, promising to marry during his next leave.
SPOILER ALERT: He died. On the day they were to wed, his mother called the hotel to inform her that he had died.
He wasn’t the only one that died in the war. Her brother died, as well as their friend, Victor. She lost all of the people she grew up with and loved to the Great War.
After the war had ended, she became one of the greatest female pacifists in history and a writer.
Close to Home
If I’m going to be honest, I almost got up and left several times. It wasn’t because the film was bad. Quite the contrary. It just hit a little too close to home for me.
Before Roland died, I knew it was coming, because like Vera, those moments of reflection reminded me of having those moments. You remember their skin jutting out from their shirt sleeves, the way their hair tossed in the wind, the way they looked at you, the way they smelled, or the way their heart beat against their chest. You remember how it felt when they touched your skin. You remember that pure, untainted love.
These are the memories that stay with you forever. These are the memories you create with your soulmate. Roland and Vera were soulmates.
There were so many elements to what happened in this story that was just like my life story: the need to know exactly what happened when he died, the writings he left for her, being separated due to choices, being taken away at such a young age. All of these elements to Roland and Vera’s story gave me goosebumps. It made me remember my own soulmate. He killed himself just two weeks before my high school graduation.
You have to learn how to live after your soulmate dies. There was a quote in the movie that stuck with me: “We are all surrounded by ghosts. We just have to learn how to live with them.”
The director really communicated what that loss felt like. There were even moments where Kit Harington (with his clean cut) reminded me of those memories I had made with my soulmate.
For those who have felt that great loss of losing your soulmate, you can begin to understand why she took the stand for humanity…to say no to war. War was what took the people she loved deeply away from her.
Her stand against war was about those who have lost loved ones due to war. It wasn’t about politics. It was about humanity. Each side is sending their fathers, brothers, fiancés and husbands to fight in a war. Each side is losing those very people. Each side feels that loss just as deeply as the other side. Her pacifism was about protecting human lives, not about where those lives came from or whose side they were fighting on.
As each person approaches the end of their life, they’re not talking about killing the enemy. They’re calling out to the people they loved.
I’ve been in Vera’s shoes. I’ve been in them for 20 years now…the part where I’m learning how to live with those ghosts. The end of this movie was very important. It was about remembering and honoring those men she lost. When you lose your soulmate and people you were very close to, you can sometimes be on the brink of insanity. You try to forget them in order to survive another day. There were times where Vera almost completely lost herself in her grief.
Vera’s choice in the end was not to forget them. What she did was take that pain and suffering and turn it into something better. The truth is, the reason why people try so hard to make others happy, or advocate for peace like Vera did, is so that others will not experience the same loss they have gone through. They know what it feels like to be destroyed by that loss. They don’t want other people to experience what they’ve experienced. Even if they put a smile on their face to distract others from seeing their own unhappiness, it’s only in an effort to make sure others never go through what they went through. Some pain and suffering need not be repeated. People will do anything to protect others from experiencing that same suffering. Vera spent her life trying to do just that as a pacifist.
Quotes from Kit Harington (Roland) and James Kent (Director)
Kit Harington speaks to the audience about his new film “Testament of Youth.”
Tribeca – Kit Harington and James Kent stopped by after this special screening to talk about the film on Wednesday night.
“She spoke for a generation, because they were the survivors and they needed that time to have the courage to go, ‘No, no more.’ Hitler was beginning to come to power at that time and there was a real fear that Europe could be sliding into something unsavory. I think [Vera] does speak for the lost generation.”
The reason why Harington worked on “Testament of Youth” was because he had read about it in school and knew the story well.
Kit Harington:
“I knew this text quite well, actually…I studied it at school, both the history and for English literature, studying the war parts. I knew the formidable person Vera Brittain was from her books, from her memoirs. I think that sounds a little bit wishy washy and wanky… Sorry. What I really learned was through Alicia [Vikander’s] depiction of her, I felt it was so accurate, so beautifully done by her that I thought I was talking to that person. In the movie, I thought I was talking to that person, the Brittain I knew very well and loved. That was kind of amazing to experience.”
James Kent:
“I would hope if [Vera Brittain] came back and saw this film, and watched this film in this day and age, in this audience, that she would see a huge difference in who she was.”
Kit Harington:
“One thing that really scares me about my generation is that we are not as active as [Vera] was. Our discussion is a hard one. In some ways, you can argue that we, with social media, have a greater voice. In some ways, it’s completely dumb’ed down. I think, to me, it’s a very important discussion that has to be had. To my shame, I have never been in a political march in my life. I should have done it.”
Kit Harington:
“When I first read [Testament of Youth] in school, it actually triggered a real interest in this period for me. I had already been taken to the the Northern War graves, the French War graves, by my father, kind of a right of passage. I think he thought it was important that me and my brother go and see the consequence of war. There’s no better visual consequence than seeing those graves, those names on the wall. I read it at school and it kicked off a far greater interest about that period, about the literature surrounding that period. So when this came through the door, it was important to me that it was done well. Juliette (Towhidi) actually wrote it. I instantly knew when it was halfway through, it was doing it great justice. She had imagined the scenes around the ones that were in the books. They were written and respectfully done.”
On deciding on Kit to play the role of Roland, James Kent:
“What he has is the X-factor, the extra thing, which is a sort of soulful kind of intelligence, intellectual curiosity…a really soulful practical side. It was so important to get Roland right. If you got him wrong, it diminishes Vera as well. That she chose him and fell in love. She wore those dried flowers that you see that he sent her from the front, around her neck in a locket for the rest of her life. She married and she still had these flowers around her neck.”
James Kent:
“It’s very important to me that at the end of the film, she goes out into that pool of water again, because she’s trying to regain the conversation that she had with Roland in the woods where she says she wants to be a writer. He said that you need some experience first. She goes back to that lake with all that experience and finally by going into the water, it’s a baptism. It’s a renewal. It’s a purging. She can make that promise to the boys. I now got what Roland advised me to get. I can now enshrine your story for generations to come. And that’s exactly what you’ve experienced [with this film].”
The film is due out in US theaters on Friday, June 5th.
There are very few films that come into existence that becomes one of the most important films you need to see in your lifetime. “Winter” from Heidi Greensmith is one of those movies that should be on your list of things to see before you die.
This film premiered as the finale at the New York City International Film Festival. It was adequately placed at the end of the festival because it would have blown all of the other feature films out of the water.
Tommy Flanagan (“Gladiator” and “Sons of Anarchy”) stars in this heart-wrenching tale of a man who has lost his way. The film begins with a drunken man that could easily be mistaken as a homeless man. He’s not homeless, he has a home. It’s his son, who deferred a fellowship with Columbia University for two years, who tries to bring his father out from underneath this gloom that has consumed him.
At first, you may think this film is about an alcoholic father who is abusing his kids and has lost the rights to see his youngest son (who is in foster care). No. That is another mistaken assumption.
This story is about a family who lost a wife and a mother to a very violent crime. It’s the story of a man who is broken and blaming himself for his wife’s death. As a result, he falls into an abyss of mental illness. This artist is trying to get his kid back, and his eldest son is just waiting for his dad to return to normal. He sacrifices so much trying to help his father get back on his feet again.
Heidi Greensmith and Tommy Flanagan win for “Winter.”
The amazing thing about this story is that it teaches you not to judge a book by its cover. This man’s mental illness came about because of grief and regret. His son put it perfectly. His dad was not crazy. His heart was just broken.
It is in this man’s healing that he returns to painting again, but in a whole new light. He’s a different man working out his demons and creates complete and utter genius. His eldest son saw this from the beginning. He saw the man his father truly was. To him, this story is not about an abusive alcoholic father that has fucked everything up for their family. This story is truly about a man that had a broken heart and lost all sense of himself the day his wife died. He just needed time (and help) to find a way out of that grief.
I believe this quote from Lisa See’s “Snow Flower and the Secret Fan” adequately describes the journey this man takes out of sorrow.
Only through pain will you have beauty. Only through suffering will you find peace.
This incredible tale makes you re-evaluate how you look at life and at people who are going through a difficult time in their life. On the surface, we instantly stereotype them as drunks, alcoholics, abusive/neglectful parents, homeless, mentally ill, etc. All of those labels are incorrect. This man is an artist who is waiting for his next inspiration. He’s waiting to discover his own genius that is inside of himself.
Sometimes it takes a life-changing event to discover the genius within. That is the journey this artist was on.
Tommy Flanagan’s role was phenomenal. The way his various emotions were captured on his face…it is a moment of beauty and brilliance. This role opens your eyes to see how incredible of an actor he is. I would say, one of the best in the business after seeing him in this film. He brought his A+ game to this film and his performance is Oscarworthy.
In the story, the eldest son tried his best to keep the family together and help his father at the same time. He is the real hero of the story. The way he saw who his father was deep down inside, most children are not that perceptive. They would have cowered in fear, be mortally wounded with each derogatory word yelled at them. Not this kid. He was just waiting for the genius he saw within his father to emerge. What he was willing to sacrifice for his father to discover that, shows just how much he loved him.
Heidi Greensmith, Director of “Winter.”
Heidi Greensmith has brought this thought-provoking tale to the screen. Most importantly, you need to note that she is a female director. There are very few in the business. She’s also a mother and a wife and despite her other duties, she was able to make something this brilliant.
The film picked up an award for Best Drama Film at NYCIFF. Tommy Flanagan picked up the award for Best Actor in a Leading Role. Heidi Greensmith picked up the Best International Director award.
Congratulations to everyone from “Winter.” This film was brilliance.
The New York City International Film Festival hosted their Sixth Annual Awards on Thursday night, where they also announced that “Family on Board” and “Malan Breton: A Journey to Taiwan” would be submitted to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for an Academy Award consideration.
Closing out the festival was the film “Winter” by Heidi Greensmith, featuring Tommy Flanagan.
Here is the list of a few of the winners from NYCIFF’s website. It is not the complete list.
You will find a special thank you video from William Shatner posted on their site. Shatner won multiple awards for his film “Chaos on the Bridge.” Sebastian Roché also picked up the Matthew Cowles Award for acting.
THE NYCIFF 2015 AWARD WINNERS
BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM
THE SINKING OF SOZOPOL – BULGARIA
*****
Cast and crew of Phantom Halo.
BEST USA FEATURE FILM
PHANTOM HALO
*****
BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
TOMMY FLANAGAN FOR WINTER – UK
*****
BEST DRAMA FILM
Heidi Greensmith and Tommy Flanagan win for “Winter.”
WINTER – UK*****
BEST INTERNATIONAL DIRECTORHEIDI GREENSMITH
*****
BEST USA DIRECTOR
ANTONIA BOGDANOVICH
******
BEST INTERNATIONAL NARRATIVE SHORT FILM
IT’S ME – LEBANON
*****
BEST INTERNATIONAL ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
ASSIL AND JAD By BANE FAKIH – LEBANON
*****
BEST NARRATIVE SHORT FILM – USA
Gino Cafarelli and George Pogatsia of “Family on Board.”
FAMILY ON BOARD
*****
BEST DIRECTOR IN A NARRATIVE SHORT
GEORGE POGATSIA – FAMILY ON BOARD
*****
BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE IN A SHORT NARRATIVE FILM
GEORGE POGATSIA – FAMILY ON BOARD
Wallis Murphy-Munn wins for Best International Actress.
*****BEST INTERNATIONAL ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE IN A SHORT FILM
WALLIS MURPHY-MUNN – SANDBOY – USA / IRELAND
*****
BEST USA ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE IN A SHORT FILM
ELISABETH JAMISON – FALLING TO PIECES – USA
*****
BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT
Malan Breton wins for his film “Malan Breton: A Journey to Taiwan.”
A JOURNEY TO TAIWAN – USA/TAIWAN by MALAN BRETON
*****
BEST INTERNATIONAL ANIMATED SHORT
MYRIAM OBIN – ÉLOÏSE, LITTLE DREAMER – QUEBEC / CANADA
*****
BEST USA ANIMATED SHORT
YVONNE GRZENKOWICZ – ARCHAEOLOGY – USA
*****
BEST TV PILOT
TOPSY MCGEE – USA
*****
BEST MUSICAL VIDEO
STELLA – UK
Congratulations to all of the winners. Many of these films are heading to the Cannes Film Festival.
(Courtesy of George Pogatsia, Director, Writer and Star of “Family On Board”)
Gino Cafarelli and George Pogatsia of “Family on Board.”
The big news coming out of the New York City International Film Festival (“NYCIFF”) is that “Family on Board” and “Malan Breton: A Journey to Taiwan” were submitted to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for a 2016 Oscar consideration.
“Family on Board” won in every category the short film was nominated in. It picked up three NYCIFF awards for Best Narrative Short Film USA, Best Director in a Narrative Short, and Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Short Narrative Film.
You can read more about the short film Here and Here.
Congratulations to everyone that was a part of “Family on Board.” If you get an opportunity to see it, it is a must see. This short is the type of production that sticks with you long after you have seen it. You will constantly be wondering about the fate of Mike Petito. It will leave you with questions on whether a hero trying to save someone deserves to be thrown in prison. It will also teach you a life lesson about staying true to yourself no matter what the circumstances are.
Kudos to George Pogatsia. He created a masterpiece which (hopefully) is the beginning of a much bigger masterpiece down the line.
We’ll keep you updated on the film’s journey to Oscar night.
Philadelphia – M. Night Shyamalan is at Wizard World Comic Con talking about his upcoming TV series “Wayward Pines.” My good friend, Russ Cohen, is covering the event for Culture Burst. Video from the event can be found here: M Night Shyamalan at Wizard World Philadelphia.
During its opening night gala, with actors and directors out on the red carpet for the launch of the festival, the two main features were a film short called “Family on Board” directed by George Pogatsia and the feature film “Phantom Halo” directed by Antonia Bogdanovich.
On the second night of the festival, William Shatner graced himself on the red carpet to showcase his new documentary “Chaos on the Bridge,” the chaotic tale of what it took to bring “Star Trek: The Next Generation” to a television screen.
Fashion designer Malan Breton was also in attendance both nights. He’s at NYCIFF to present his new film “A Journey to Taiwan.”
Family On Board
Tony Sirico (“Sopranos”) stars in “Family on Board.” He was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award. Matthew Cowles, who also stars, received the award posthumously.
George Pogatsia not only directed, but also starred in this sad tale about a misjudged hero. He was in attendance at the gala on Thursday night.
Here is a clip from the film:
[youtube=https://youtu.be/xOCOjkLUqos]
The film leaves you with a lot of questions about more than just what happened. It makes you question whether it’s right for a hero the court has deemed as a vigilante to end up in prison just for saving someone’s life. It’s also about a hero staying true to who he is no matter what the circumstances are.
This short film is a must see.
Phantom Halo
Cast and crew of Phantom Halo.
Phantom Halo stars Sebastian Roché (“The Originals,” “Supernatural,” “Once Upon a Time”), Thomas Brodie-Sangster (“Love Actually,” “The Maze Runner”) and Rebecca Romijn (“X-Men”).
Sebastian attended the gala with his wife Alicia Hannah. Clare Grant (who also stars), Antonia Bogdanovich (co-writer, director) and Anne Heffron (co-writer) also attended.
[youtube=https://youtu.be/XHRFzHJiEsw]
Here are a few takes from the Q&A:
The story is very reflective of the co-writers childhoods and upbringing.
There is a reference to a ‘pound of flesh,’ but don’t mistake it for a “Merchant of Venice” reference, even though Shakespeare quotes appear throughout the movie, it is purely Anne Heffron’s take on people calling her Asian daughter ‘Chinese,’ when she’s actually Korean.
Heffron is a master of writing male lines.
At the end, Roché and the panel discussed what acting means in an independent film. You’re not doing it for the money in an indie film. You are doing it for the pure passion of what you love, so you bring your A-game to every scene. It’s about the passion of the art.
Gbenga Akinnagbe is not African (like his name would suggest). He is an American, born in Washington, DC. He spent some time living in Mexico. He was not originally cast in the role of Roman. There was another actor cast, but he did not work out.
Roman uses an English accent (like Roché does), but this was a fluke. Roman was not originally a British character. It came about after they were messing around on set.
Even though Thomas Brodie-Sangster speaks in an American accent, it was very important to Bogdanovich that they cast a British actor.
Chaos On The Bridge
William Shatner arrives on the red carpet.
William Shatner’s newest documentary is “Chaos on the Bridge.” A movie about the chaos that went into bringing “Star Trek: The Next Generation” to life and into the homes of every American.
If you are a Star Trek fan or even a TNG fan, this is a must see. It will give you a whole brand new perspective of what it meant to create TNG…the chaos that went into it is just unbelievable. Not only is it visually stimulating, but it is absolutely hilarious as well.
Shatner was in attendance both on the red carpet and after the feature to do a Q&A.
Here’s a glimpse at his new film:
[youtube=https://youtu.be/t4UAInrMiT4]
Shatner’s next project includes taking a little road trip on his new motorcycle and filming it. NOTE: This isn’t just any kind of motorcycle. You really need to see it.
Malan Breton
Fashion Designer Malan Breton.
Fashion designer Malan Breton was in attendance for both the opening night gala and Shatner’s film on Friday night. The designer was at NYCIFF to showcase his new film “Malan Breton a Journey to Taiwan.”
He showcased many of his beautiful designs prior to the film, which was shown prior to the gala on Thursday night.
As you can see in the pictures here (from William Shatner’s night), he wears one of his designs.
Here’s a glimpse of his moment at NYCIFF:
[youtube=https://youtu.be/3TfMFw63IEQ]
Other glimpses from NYCIFF
Here are a few pictures from the first two days at NYCIFF.
Alicia HannahFashion Designer Malan Breton.Sebastian Roche and Alicia Hannah.Sebastian Roche and Michelle Kenneth (Perfectionist Wannabe “PW”).William Shatner presented his film “Chaos on the Bridge” at NYCIFF.Sebastian Roche with his wife Alicia Hannah.PW dress by Ralph Lauren, J Crew cardigan, Blue by Betsey Johnson shoes.PW on the red carpet.Tony Sirico receives a Lifetime Achievement Award.
New York – Director Thomas Vinterberg (“The Hunt”) stopped by the Walter Reade Theater at Lincoln Center to speak to the Lincoln Center Film Society members about his new film “Far from the Madding Crowd.”
Based on the book by Thomas Hardy, Carey Mulligan (“The Great Gatsby”) and Belgian actor Matthias Schoenaerts (“The Loft”) star in this tale of a young, independent and headstrong woman who attracts three very different suitors (a farmer, a soldier and a landowner).
Along with Vinterberg, Schoenaerts stopped by as well to discuss the film.
Here are a few pictures from the evening.
Some notes on the talk:
While shooting the final scene of the movie, Carey Mulligan fell off the horse and concussed herself.
Schoenaerts is heading to Cannes Film Festival for another film he starred in called “Maryland.”
When Schoenaerts met Vinterberg for the first time, he was waiting for him in the lobby of a hotel. Based on the past work Vinterberg had done, as well as his long history in film, Matthias thought he would be meeting a much older gentleman. When Thomas walked up to Matthias, he thought this was Vinterberg’s son. When he realized it was Thomas himself, he couldn’t believe it. He did not expect someone so handsome and young, but then it made sense, because Thomas was 28 when he hit the first wave of stardom of his directing career.
The most important scene in the entire movie was the kiss at the end.
ENDING SPOILER: Originally, Vinterberg wanted Matthias’s character to leave on a ship to America and not turn back. Instead, he was asked to keep the ending with the kiss and he stays.
An American in Paris is playing at the Palace Theatre on Broadway.
The classic show “An American in Paris” is back on Broadway. Before they had their Opening Night, I was able to see the show during previews and I have to say, it literally blew me away. It is no surprise at all to see that “An American in Paris” tops the nominees for the Tony Awards, receiving 12 nominations.
Let me explain what was so fabulous about “An American in Paris.” First, for those who do not know, the show is a musical ballet. What made this show absolutely breathtaking was the prima ballerina Leanne Cope (Lise Dassin).
In the scene where she is trying out for a role in a ballet company, she is not allowed to rehearse with the other ballerinas after arriving to the rehearsal late. At one point, she goes ahead and sneaks in and starts dancing with the others before taking off to dance on her own. It is this moment that is particularly breathtaking because you not only see a phenomenal performance, you see Cope’s passion in her dancing. It is this passion that set her apart from any other character in the production. Her awe-inspiring performance throughout as a ballerina was like watching a ballerina in heaven dancing before your eyes. That was how perfect she was. You could get lost watching her dance. Her passion for ballet could be seen in each step she took. That is what made her so incredible. That is what makes any actor so incredible…their ability to come up with a spectacular performance because they are doing what they love.
I knew nothing about the background of the musical, so I was surprised that there were a few numbers I grew up with like “I Got Rhythm,” “‘S Wonderful,” and “Shall We Dance” that were in the show.
The costumes throughout were absolutely gorgeous. I wish I could add all of the dresses into my wardrobe. They were so beautiful.
The story is about three men who are in love with a young ballerina. There’s the composer who writes an entire ballet to immortalize her. There’s the rich man who wants to marry her because that’s what his parents want him to do. Then there is the soldier who steals her heart, but her obligations to the rich man prevent her from being with him.
These three men…just so happen to be friends and they are all in love with the same girl.
Who does she choose? Well, you’ll have to see the musical for yourself. Here’s a sneak peek…
If you’re in NYC looking for deals to shows, use the Today Tixapp. You can scroll through and find the cheapest tickets available and purchase them through the app. A Today Tix representative will meet you at the theater half an hour prior to the show to give you your tickets. You just grab the tickets and go. One of the simplest processes of getting your theater tickets. It beats waiting in that long TKTS line (plus, it’s cheaper). You can also take $20 off by using the code: KCZJB.
Kyle Mosher with 2 of his paintings: Pharrell & Kanye.
As a first in the artist spotlight series, artist Kyle Mosher takes a moment to do an exclusive interview with Diary of a Perfectionist Wannabe.
1. Tell us a little about yourself.
Nothing like an ice breaker to get us going here! My name is Kyle Mosher and I am originally from Canada. I moved to the States when I was about 7. My entire family still resides in Canada and I go back and fourth quite frequently. I would spend part of my summer living with my grandparents going to hockey camp at Standstead College in Stanstead, Quebec until I was about 15.
I grew up in New England, but I’m currently residing in Charlotte, NC.
2. How did you get into art?
Being the only child of Canadian parents, art was never seriously encouraged. I always had a natural eye for being able to render though. I would draw a lot as a child, but stopped probably around high school when I made my varsity hockey team. The team was a very competitive Division 1 school. Our sophomore year we were the 7th rank public team in the US and were state champions. So I really had to focus on hockey. Don’t get my wrong, I loved hockey, but it got difficult the older I got and it really stopped being fun in University. I couldn’t stay healthy and my injuries started to take their toll on me, not just physically, but also mentally. I had to stop playing because of injuries. I had a lot of down time and started to read and reflect. I took a serious look at my life and made the decision I have too much of a wild spirit to make it behind a desk and I was too broken to do physical labor so I decided to leave the University I was at and enroll in an extremely traditional Fine Arts institute. My parents had no idea. I took a summer drawing class at a community college on my own dime and told the teacher, “I need you to condense 20 something years of everything I missed into this one class.” I then took my “portfolio” to the NH Institute of Art and somehow managed to get in! As I look back at it now, it’s pretty crazy. I guess it was just one of those things that was meant to be.
3. Having interviewed hockey players for the last 7 years, I know how hard it is to move your life in a different direction. Was it difficult to focus on an art filled life instead of a hockey life?
I was very resentful of hockey for a long time. Walking away was easy. I was really trying to separate myself from that person and that life. I wanted to be my own person and carve out my own life. I spent a lot of years searching for who I was without hockey. It was very therapeutic and allowed me to exorcise a lot of demons. I really liked the person that I have become. I’m proud of what I was able to do and I did it 100% by myself with no support. No one really gave me a shot doing this art thing, but I used all the negative energy to push me. I am definitely very mediocre in terms of talent with art, but my passion and drive is what has allowed me to become a full-time artist. I would describe myself as a 3rd or 4th round draft pick that just worked my ass off, ha! It’s funny because I have so many great memories from hockey. I traveled all over, won championships, lost championships, and formed a brotherhood with some amazing friends. [They’re] memories I’ll cherish forever, so I really miss it now. Looking back there are a million things I would’ve done different, but I’m comfortable with my life. I’m just grateful and thankful I was able to play hockey for as long as I did. I wish I could’ve done it on my own terms though without the pressures from my family.
Kyle Mosher in his studio.
4. What was the first painting you ever sold? How did it feel to sell that first piece?
I think the first painting I ever sold my mom bought, haha! Typical mother! The first painting I ever sold to a client was….not until four of five years after I graduated college. I spent those first few years bouncing around from one shitty job to another (the typical artist story). I actually stopped making art for almost a year. I had another life changing moment and decided I didn’t want to be another statistic, so I kicked my ass into gear and really started focusing more on how to make it as an artist. Life was very humbling after college. I can really appreciate now all the hardships I was dealt. It made me a stronger person, a more humble person, and definitely made me a better artist.
People can view the art on my website. If they are interested in purchasing a piece they can shoot me an email: Me@KyleMosher.com, with the piece they are interested in or I can send them the list of available pieces with other details. I also have a “Rent-to-Own” program, which, is an honor based payment plan that allows people to make a down payment, have the painting hang in their home, and they make payments at an agreed upon amount and frequency. Alternatively, I am currently accepting commissions, but there is a 2 month wait list.
6. What are your favorite pieces you’ve created thus far?
Such a difficult question! I hate this question, because I really love them all. The Kanye and Pharrell pieces hold a special place in my heart because they really set it all off for me. They are definitely 2 of the crown jewels in my collection and the pieces most people associate me with. My most recent series, Heist and Showroom, are really rad. I love the direction I went with those and had some major breakthroughs. I really can’t pick a favorite though!
7. What work are you most excited about sharing right now?
I’m working on an epic painting for Andrew Ference (captain of the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers). I’m not giving away any other details other than it’s going to be epic! It’ll be finished in a month or so. I also befriended a really well known gallerist and art-critic based in NYC. He’s taken me under his wing and we are working on some really exciting paintings. Probably the most difficult paintings I’ve ever worked on. I say paintings, but we aren’t even really in that phase yet. I’m still in the planning phase of sketching and conceptualizing. I usually have insane amounts of clarity when it comes to my work, but he’s really pushing me, which, I love, and putting me in this uncomfortable space I’m not used to. The idea is create more dialogue, rhythm, and intrigue, and also more sophistication to my work.
You can find Kyle Mosher’s works at www.kylemosher.com
8. Your work focuses on a lot of branding from hip hop artists to commercial items. Can you explain your appeal to these subjects?
I love pop-culture. I’ve always been really into music and I joke a lot about that being my real calling in life. Music really inspires almost more so then visual art does. I’m inspired by the stories I hear of musicians who “make it” so that’s why I like to portray them. I dig the “rags-to-riches” story as I can relate. More so the rags, not yet the riches, ha! Believing in yourself and putting your all into your dreams and overcoming adversity is a beautiful thing. In terms of the logo and branding, I started as a graphic design major when I was at the liberal arts university so graphic imagery also holds a special place in my heart. When I would work contract design jobs, companies always had these brand guidelines, which specifically stated, “DO NOT EDIT OR CHANGE THE LOGO IN ANYWAY.” There are 2 things about that which intrigue me: 1. I’m rebellious so immediately it’s like the forbidden fruit, and 2. I am very much drawn to the idea of taking well-known logos or branding and putting my signature look on them. I am my own biggest fan. 100% I love my work so to create a “mock” marketing campaign or a piece of fine art using my signature style is very much self-indulging, haha. Plus, I think these companies could leverage my signature style and learn a thing or two from this rebellious artist!
9. What do you do when you’re not creating masterpieces? What are some of your other passions in life?
I fumble around with music, but I am far from a musician. That would be an insult to musicians. I like staying active, go to the gym and such. I’m into fashion so I like staying up on that. I aggravated another major injury a couple summers ago playing pick up with my college buddies so I’m still saving to get my second shoulder surgery. I’d love to eventually start playing hockey again. I haven’t played in over a year, probably the longest I’ve ever gone without skating in my life.
10. Any exciting announcements or projects you want to share?
Lots of exciting things in the works! I signed a few NDA’s so I cannot go into anything specific, but I’m in talks with a few major brands to do some cool work with my signature style. The Ference painting is really rad and the new series I’m working on for the NYC gallerist is going to be really different from anything I’ve ever done, but still in line with my brand. I’m constantly working, always pushing myself, and always pushing my art. There is no Plan B so it’s just about finding ways to make it happen as an artist, but never compromising the morals I have as an artist or as a person.
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You can find Kyle on Instagram and Twitter (@TheKyleMosher) and on his website.
For those who would like to purchase a Mosher painting or print, email him, follow him on Instagram and Twitter (sometimes he has flash sales), reach out to him and work a deal using his Rent to Own program, or you can commission a piece with him. You’ll find that the majority of artists out there are looking for ways to get their artwork out there, and they realize that not everyone can afford art. You never know what you can afford from the artist unless you ask. You’ll find a lot of times they’ll work with you to make their work more affordable for you.
You can read more about Buying and Acquiring Art here.
I’m always on the lookout for great work by artists. I’ve found that the Hannibal collective has some of the best artists around. Their work is so amazing, I’ve purchased a few items already for my home.
Currently on my radar is Dori Hartley. I follow a lot of Hannibal fans on Twitter, so when I saw this tweet, I knew I had to take a look at what this starving artist has given to our fandom.
She has been currently using her Twitter to sell her work. I have to say, I love this platform she has offered to people to purchase her work. From canvas to prints to pillows to note cards, she offers a variety of ways for an art admirer to purchase her work. Here are just a few pieces she has to offer:
There are various characters she’s painted and posted up at Fine Art America for sale. If anything, read her biography. This is someone that has done many, many things in life already…and they were massively awesome things.
I plan on purchasing the purple Mads Mikkelsen to add to my wall next to the Borbay painting.
If anything, please take a look at her work and consider purchasing a piece to help her out.
As the days of October wind down to the big finale (HALLOWEEN!), many throughout America celebrate the season all month long. Each of us recognizes the holiday in various ways. Some throw parties, others get dressed up and take their kids out trick or treating, while others take in as many scary flicks as they can.
For me, I like to take in the classics…like Dracula. This month, Dracula: Untold featuring Luke Evans hit the big screen. It was definitely well worth seeing more than once this month. While it’s not scary at all, the special effects watching Vlad turn into a whirlwind of bats and then back into himself was spectacular.
While the guy next to me was freaking out every time they showed silver (Did he think he was a vampire or something?), it had some of its unbelievable comical points…that is, if you’re watching the movie with someone that laughs at that stuff. I’m a serious person, so I take things very seriously. But when I realized that some of the stuff was actually comical because of its predictability, I actually wanted to punch the guy next to me for laughing. In other words, don’t laugh at Luke Evans when he’s not in a comedy. It’s ruining the film for me.
For those who enjoy American Horror Story, I’ve been watching each of the seasons in its entirety on DVD. I can’t decide which is my favorite, but Asylum is the only one that really scared me and left a lasting impression.
The only movies that really scared the hell out of me was Evil Dead and House of a 1000 Corpses. Some of you may be chuckling over the former. I was watching the movie alone and had no idea it was supposed to be comical. All I know is that it scared the hell out of me. I have yet to watch it a second time. The later movies that branched from Evil Dead were comical from the get go.
Speaking of Evil Dead…how about Evil Dead: The Musical? Don’t ask me how I stumbled upon that, but it’s showing in Cleveland, Ohio, which ironically is where Ebola case #3 cropped up.
As for Rob Zombie’s first movie, in the words of the woman who was on the other side of the theater when the credits started rolling, “That was fucked up.” I remember sitting there in complete and utter shock, unable to move from my seat. The only thing that brought me out of that freaked out trance was that woman yelling at the screen.
I had nightmares for the next three months after watching that movie. I had to have cartoons on all night just so I could dream in cartoons instead of dreaming in Rob Zombie’s fucked up world.
The reason why this movie traumatized me…and traumatized is the correct word here…it was because in college, my boyfriend at the time was taking a serial killers class. I read his text book while I sat in his office (he was a police officer). Every single case of serial killers were put together in one movie…Rob Zombie’s movie. It’s one thing to read about these cases, quite another to see it flashed before your very eyes and you know these things really did happen.
Everything from the lampshades being made out of human flesh to sex with corpses…it was in that book. I felt like Zombie had read the same text book and decided to put every single case of serial killers into this one movie.
Thank God for The Devils Rejects. I almost didn’t watch the film, but after I saw it, it brought closure to House of a 1000 Corpses and allowed me to sleep peacefully at night.
While there are movies that have scared me to death over the years, there are also the movies I watch every single year because you need to embrace the kid inside of you. I’ve been watching the Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Hocus Pocus every year since I was a teen. They’re not scary at all. They’re scary stories geared towards children.
These days, Sleepy Hollow is just a short train ride away for me. What’s great about this old town is that they celebrate their history made famous by Washington Irving [see previous link]. This month, they are offering so many different ‘scary’ things to do as tourists go down the historical supernatural Sleepy Hollow lane. If you really like the Fox TV show (like I do), this would be a great day or weekender trip this month (or next October). They cater to children ages on up to adults. I’m considering heading over next Saturday to partake in their festivities.
Like Hocus Pocus, catering to the stories that make Halloween what it is today, The Book of Life is a great way to get kids to learn about different cultures and how they celebrate the dead. That movie comes out tomorrow (October 17, 2014). If you’re in NYC, you can see it tonight.
What I love about October beyond the weather officially turning into fall weather, being able to wear sweaters again, apple picking and pumpkin carving, the leaves starting to change its colors as some of the most colorful and magnificent sunsets appear on the Western horizon in NYC, this is the month you can dive into culture and have fun with it. I’m talking about that demonic, scary, supernatural, witchey culture that religions told us to stay away from.
But here in America, those stories of witches and ghosts are a part of our history. Old towns like Salem, Massachusetts and Sleepy Hollow, NY (formerly Tarrytown, NY) keep the tradition going. It’s not just about folk tales; it’s also about our history.
So take some time to dive into some culture and learn about our scary history. It will leave you in wonder.
If you’ve become engrossed in this season’s American Horror Story: Freak Show, then you’ll be happy to know that a couple of freak shows are coming to Broadway in New York City.
From Playbill.com. Photo by Joan Marcus.
The first show, Side Show, will begin on October 28, 2014 at the St. James Theatre (246 W. 44th Street). As you look at the photo, you’ll see it is very reminiscent of AHS:FS. The show is based on a true story about two sisters joined at the hip and their quest for first love.
If you take a walk through Schubert Alley just a few steps away from St. James, you’ll find another theatre decked out in the old time carnival style. Here, they are housing the Elephant Man starring Bradley Cooper (Silver Lining Playbook, The Hangover I, II, and III) and Patricia Clarkson (The Maze Runner, Simply Irresistible).
From NY Daily News
What is interesting about the Booth Theatre is that they are all decked out and ready for the Elephant Man to hit Broadway on November 7, 2014. In the last 10 years of walking by this theatre every single day, not once have they ever been so incredibly decked out as they are now.
Even the flyers they mailed out to subscribers were fantastic. Here’s a glimpse at what they sent out to everyone:
How beautifully done is that placard? I hope that their posters look like this because it’s definitely one that will look amazing up on the wall.
So if you’re in New York City later on this month (and next month), get a peek at these amazing and fantastic creatures as two freak shows grace Broadway.
Fall 2014 is definitely the year of the Freak Show.
I’ve been in NYC for a decade now and one thing I always wanted to do prior to moving here was go and see Broadway shows all of the time. But that ended up going to the wayside because who wants to drop over a hundred bucks all of the time for 2.5+ hours of your time?
Granted, I joined a Broadway club, which doesn’t meet as frequently as I’d like it to. Our last outing was back in April.
I’m always looking for deals to shows where I don’t wait in line at TKTS like the tourists do.
Now, there’s an app that puts all of my needs at my fingertips.
I was able to get tickets to Matilda for $27 ($37 ticket + $10 fee – $20 off coupon=$27).
Find the show you want at the price range you want to pay (they usually list the lowest price for the show in the corner of each banner).
Look online for a voucher code before submitting payment.
Plug in the voucher code and pay for your ticket through the app.
You’ll get an email confirming your purchase (or letting you know if they were not able to secure a ticket for you), as well as the location where you will meet the concierge (which is usually near the theatre).
30 minutes prior to the show, find the concierge at the designated location, pick up your ticket(s) and go to the show.
It’s such a simple process. No lines at TKTS. Just order the tix through the app, meet the concierge near your theatre, pick up your tix and go. You don’t even have to spend time in line at the box office to pick up your tickets.
If you’re in NYC looking to see a show, use the Today Tix app, and the code KCZJBto get $20 off your order. This is a special code they gave to me to share as a thank you for using their app.
As for the show, it was a lot of fun. Not all of the elements from the movie were in it, which was fine.
I think my favorite part was Matilda’s storytelling. She came up with the most ridiculous story, but in the end, it wasn’t such a ridiculous tale she was making up to tell the librarian. Matilda is definitely the master of cliffhangers.
These kids are so talented. The adults threw in so much character. They all did an amazing job. It is worth bringing the family to see. The show is around 2 hours and 20 minutes (plus a 15-minute intermission). All of the kids around me really enjoyed the show.
Just make sure to unplug yourself from your devices during the production. There is nothing ruder than to turn your phone on when the production is going on. Save your texting, tweeting, Instagraming, or whatever the hell else you use your phone for, for the intermission or before/after the show. If you must text or call someone, excuse yourself from the area and use your phone in the hallway. Do not use it in the theatre. The screen distracts everyone that can see it, which, at any given moment, is everyone sitting behind you and to your side. That’s a lot of people you’re pissing off.
If you cannot unplug, you should probably not go to a theatrical production. It is also a sign that you have a problem.
I also wonder what manners you’re teaching your children when you take out your phone and use it during a theatrical production when you know you are not supposed to have it on.
That’s my mini rant.
At any rate, if you can and know how to unplug yourself from your devices, try out the app if you’re wanting to head to a Broadway show. No waiting in line, and better prices than TKTS, Playbill or any other discount site is offering (plus they have voucher codes)!
I’ll be using Today Tix more often now, because I have a long list of shows I’ve been wanting to see. I’m thinking Cinderella or Hedwig & the Angry Itch as my next show.
Monday, I headed down to Borbay’s studio to get a look at the completion of my new art acquisition.
Mads Mikkelsen painting by Borbay. Commissioned by Michelle Kenneth.
Isn’t he beautiful? Jason goes into detail on the process of creating Mads Mikkelsen’s “Hannibal” HERE.
What I enjoyed most about this painting is the input I was able to put into the piece (like the color scheme, and photos). The artist has his own input into the madness that makes Hannibal Lecter, Hannibal Lecter. While most people will think, “Why is this or that in the painting?” I have an actual cheat sheet where Jason explains why he chose those elements.
There is one word in the painting that represents the buyer (ME) and that is the word “DEVIL” because I cover the New Jersey Devils.
I’ve bought artwork before that has a very important meaning to me, but not one that brings together several different elements…the artist, the subject, the madness and the buyer. The ‘madness’ portion is a bit synchronistic because it represents a project I’m working on right now.
What’s also pertinent in the subject matter is that Hannibal Lecter’s perfectionism intrigues me. That perfectionism is why this site is called Perfectionist Wannabe. There is a beauty masked in that constant state of perfection, a state which also lingers on the precipice of madness. That’s what I love about the suit. His suit represents the madness he carries.
So Mads as Hannibal is my latest art acquisition…which is on layaway (a Christmas present to self).
If you love what Jason Borbay has done, I highly recommend sending a commission his way. You can choose the canvas size, subject matter, color scheme, etc. You can even do like I did…lock him in at a price and pay as you go according to what you can afford. When you’ve submitted the final payment, you get your art.
Coffee table books, especially large books of art, are never cheap. Finding the right one for your home when there are so many to choose from may seem a little daunting at first. Then when you’re at the bookstore and find just the right book, it’s either too big to carry home or the price tag doesn’t match your budget.
In the picture, you can see the large Manet and the Tissot. In the background, there’s a Bernini and Rubens. What you don’t see is the big book from the Louvre, another on Italian architecture and another on Flemish music. Either I have a love for large books or I found them on sale.
Trust me, it was the latter. My library has seasonal book sales where people in the community donate books they don’t want (including the area schools). I picked up all of these art books for $2 each. It was just luck that I happened by when they were unloading so many art books.
I picked up books from my favorite artists, and artists I wanted to know more about, like Bernini and Tissot. I chose books that had large illustrations, but also had plenty of details in the narrative where I could learn more about the artists.
Out of all books I’ve found on artists, this book is my favorite from David Sylvester on Magritte: Magritte: The silence of the world. I loved it so much the first time I saw it, I didn’t return it to the library until it was 6 months overdue. I couldn’t justify spending $100 on one of my own. Luckily, it went down to $30 (guess what I’m getting for my birthday), because there is a newer version (published in 2010): Magritte
Finding the right book is all about what you want to take from the story of the artist. Does his work speak to you? Does the artist’s story speak to you?
The reason why Magritte’s book was very meaningful to me all surrounded the story of the artist and why he chooses to hide the face of the subject in his paintings. His story brinks on the form of madness, the loss of someone he loved, and disconnection.
I’ll spoil the story for you…Magritte’s mother committed suicide when he was a child. She drowned herself. When they pulled her out of the water, her nightgown was over her head. That’s how Rene Magritte saw his dead mother. That’s why he paints faces like that.
After having lost someone dear to me, I understood Magritte’s loss and how, at times, it can force you to the brink of madness…the memories. I think, for myself, I related to Magritte because someone I loved had committed suicide when I was younger. I understood how he felt and I could see his loss in his paintings. I could feel that same sorrow, but I also saw the great beauty and bigger understanding of the universe as a whole in his paintings.
Discovering an artist you can relate to and finding the right book that tells the story in a way that moves you, THAT is the right art book for you. Many of the art books I own are both decorative and they also help me to learn more about the artist.
Magritte’s story by David Alexander is told so well…like I said, I had a hard time parting with the book. You may think I had a hard time parting with the book because I love Magritte’s work…that’s not true at all. I actually don’t like his work at all. His artwork haunts me. To me, his artwork is my definition of insanity, but at the same time, his artwork is like a ball of memories for me…and yes, that ball is a symbolism in his artwork.
Find an artist that speaks to you in ways you can’t even imagine, like Magritte speaks to me. His work comes from a very dark place in the psyche. For those who have lost someone they loved to suicide, his work explains things that cannot be explained with words.
There are plenty of artists and books out there that help people to heal. Magritte was my way of healing and understanding. For the next phase in my life, who knows what artist’s story will define me and my life. When I discover that book, it will be when I need it the most.
Besides the Eiffel Tower, the one thing that everyone thinks of when they think of Paris are the museums and the artwork. The Louvre houses Leonardo da Vinci’s greatest work La Jaconde, or simply, the Mona Lisa. Musée d’Orsay houses many of the French art pieces from 1848 to 1915. For those who love impressionism, you’ll find many impressionist artists’ works at this museum. Monet, Van Gogh, Gauguin, Manet and Degas all find a home for their masterpieces within the walls of this old train station.
The first time I ever laid eyes upon a Degas original was in the d’Orsay when I was 16 years old. At the time, the Degas exhibit was under renovation so there were only a few paintings on the walls. Sheets of plastic from the floor to the ceiling covered the entire area to be renovated.
As I was walking by, totally bummed that I only got to see a few Degas paintings and not the ones I was hoping to see…it was then that I saw her.
via Tumblr (original photographer unknown)
She was inside the walls of plastic standing so majestically and untouched by the drama of construction around her. Her stance was so tall. So confident. She was literally the most beautiful girl I had ever seen. She took my breath away. This was Degas’ statue of the Little Dancer at 14 years old.
I walked around the plastic walls, hoping to find an opening so I could see her more clearly. I had walked to the far end of the room and couldn’t find an opening. Just as I gave up and was starting to walk out a different exit, I found an opening and stopped.
There she was. No plastic to skew my view. Her skirt, made of fabric. Degas made her skirt out of fabric! I was so amazed that he had put a real skirt and a bow on a statue. It left this young teenager in awe. Degas was something else.
The artists that left a great impression on me were the impressionists. They saw beauty the way people sometimes stop and look at the world in wonder and amazement. They were able to capture those moments of wonder and incorporate it into art.
In a way, impressionism is like seeing beauty skewed…like there’s something separating you from the true beauty. It’s like seeing Degas’ Little Dancer through a sheet of plastic. You know that moment of wonder is there, but our vision is skewed from seeing the true beauty behind that wall. We can’t see it clearly. Instead, the entire moment of beauty is in seeing it skewed by seeing the message in a much bigger picture.
There is always something that separates us from seeing the raw, nakedness of beauty. Even in this day and age, we can’t get to the true beauty. On women, there’s layers of makeup, clothes and products galore. For painters, they have to use layers upon layers of paint to create their design. Most of us spend so much time looking at our devices for beauty in a picture that is manipulated through Photoshop or the color doesn’t come out clearly through the screen. Sometimes the lens doesn’t pick up the true colors when the photograph is taken.
We’re not seeing that true moment of raw beauty in front of us; not in the way the naked eye sees it in the moment’s rawest form. We are seeing the beauty skewed.
This is the way mankind has been looking at beauty for a long time. If anything, impressionism is proof of that.
Maybe next time when you see a flower blooming, you’ll stop to admire it in ways that will make you appreciate beauty in its rawest forms. In this day and age, looking up from our devices and appreciating the beauty around us is a rarity. The world chooses to not stop and smell the roses. But trust me, you do want to stop in your tracks every once in a while and take in that raw beauty.
Since I started this week off discussing art, we’re going to continue this week’s worth of posts on artwork. Today, we’re going to discuss acquiring and buying art.
Young Girl Reading by Jean Honore Fragonard
I love art. I think one of the first paintings I ever fell in love with was Young Girl Reading by Jean Honore Fragonard. My great uncle had given me a print of it when I was young. It was the first piece of art (even though a print) I ever owned.
In my adult years, I started looking to buy my own original art. There were the Goodwill purchases at the start or those street vendors selling their wares in cities around the world. {My favorite was an artist selling his work on the sidewalk in Venice Beach.} Later, came artist friends. One friend was the sister of an NHL player who was heading back to her home country and needed to unload her paintings. She sold two paintings to me for $400.
Later came a painting I found at my grandfather’s home. It was painted by an elephant in Thailand. Since my grandfather and I have a connection when it comes to travel, I took it home and had it framed. It’s one of my favorite paintings.
I started painting on my own, but it had more to do with color than subject matter. Why shop for artwork to match my room when I already have enough paint leftover from my DIY project? Granted, my artwork wouldn’t sell for pennies. It’s just for my own convenience.
Today when I shop for art, it’s a mixture of a lot of things: old 18th and 19th century drawings picked up at yard sales and antique fairs, my own photography, and now I’ve commissioned a Borbay painting I can call my own.
Antihero #4 – Tony Soprano by Borbay
Jason caught me on a day I was on a Hannibal shopping spree. I was buying new home decor items that were Hannibal themed fan artwork. He approached me about doing a Hannibal painting similar to his most recently finished Tony Soprano painting.
Hannibal (the Mads Mikkelsen version) was on his list of Antiheroes he was going to paint. Now, he has a buyer, so we treated this as a commission so that I could get my hands on it first (and it be in a size that I could live with since I am lacking wall space these days).
Jason is a friend, so owning one of his pieces, while I can still afford it, is going to be a huge investment for my art collection, because my favorite artwork that I will enjoy for the rest of my life always comes from a friend. Now that his painting of Michael Jackson is on the cover of Michael Jackson, Inc.: The Rise, Fall, and Rebirth of a Billion-Dollar Empire
by Forbes Senior Editor Zack O. Greenburg, his work may be more expensive in the months and years to come. In other words, invest in the artist now before his work skyrockets and you can’t afford it.
He wrote this interesting piece on his blog about buying art over time. For those wanting to commission a piece of artwork, his post discusses the importance of locking in the price now and paying over time. If say in 5 years a base commission is $50,000 for a small Borbay painting, you’re going to wish you were able to lock him into that $4,000 price, paying over time, before he became uber-famous.
Just take a look around his website and you’ll see that there is great promise and his work will only be more in demand as the years progress. {He’s got the credentials is all I’m saying. Just look at what major news outlets have featured his work, including Forbes.}
I decided to take him up on his suggestion and we worked out a canvas size, price, and the payment plan. Over the next six months, he’ll be creating a painting using this photo of Mads Mikkelsen.
What I’ve noticed is that with each new collage painting he creates, it’s better than the last one. Considering the last collage of Tony Soprano looked amazing, I am confident in knowing that Hannibal will look even more amazing than Tony Soprano.
Jason always shares the process of creating each of his masterpieces. Here’s the latest post on the process for creating Tony Soprano.
How to Begin
Buying art is a gradual thing. Start at places like Goodwill or The Salvation Army. Stop by artist tables when you see them out on the street trying to sell their work (especially when you are on vacation). Find young artists that are still fresh and new to the scene. They do need to eat.
Find art that speaks to you and you don’t mind looking at it for the rest of your life. If you know an artist and love their work, don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for a commissioned piece on a subject matter you love or want to cherish for the rest of your life. Ask if they can set up a payment structure like some artists offer.
If you have a friend that’s an artist and you love their work, invest in them and their talent. Sometimes you can work a deal with them, especially when they are making a life change (like moving to another country or across town).
From Hunger Games: Catching Fire.
I have another friend that is amazing at knitting. I fell in love with the Katniss scarf (which is not available for sale anywhere). She found the pattern online, I bought the yarn and she’s now making this scarf for me…and she’s enjoying this challenge immensely. Not only am I getting this awesome scarf that is not available for sale anywhere, but I’m able to recycle a few t-shirts I’m not using anymore (who knew that to make the coils, they needed to use a shredded t-shirt!?). So now those NHL t-shirts are being recycled into something new and better.
When you know someone (a friend or a family member) that has an amazing passion, hobby or talent (or that talent is their profession), invest in them. Some of the most amazing things you will ever own come from those you know, because what they are creating for you will have a story and you are connected to the story, making it more personal for you.
Believe it or not, over Christmas I received a bunch of children’s drawings from Jersey Cares. Kids drew what they wanted for Christmas and it was my mission to go out and create a Christmas for these kids who wouldn’t have a Christmas. Those drawings from the kids were probably the best Christmas present I’ve received in a long time. I gave them Christmas, they gave me art. In that little piece of paper, they drew their dreams, hopes and wishes for a simple toy that Frosty would give to them. To a child, that wish means more to them than an adult wish. We’re used to disappointments by now. For a child, though, one who has faced enough disappointments, failures and neglect at such a young age, just being able to put a dream down on a piece of paper of what would make them happy and for me to be able to provide them with that little piece of happiness…that’s why that piece of art means so much to me.
Parents and grandparents know what I’m talking about. Sometimes the best artists in the world are the little ones right under our noses.
It’s been a while since I’ve seen a movie quite like DOPE. The last time I saw something similar, about the plight of a young black man, was Clockers and Boyz N The Hood.
