History: Alexander Barnett

Alexander Barnett

   My Credo

To me,  theatre  and  film  without a lucid, exciting, urgent and passionate vision is like a story without a premise: rudderless and ultimately insignificant. 

The kind of work I believe in must educate and enlighten, inspire and motivate, excite and enthrall. 

I think we can rekindle dreams lost by our older generation and reshape and reawaken our young adults whose dreams have been obscured or put aside, but who yearn inwardly for inspiration.  We must educate and motivate them so that they, in turn, can help us to teach the young. 

Perhaps we will only reach a relative minority but, my God, what a minority it would be: thinking, feeling, striving and inspired human beings.  The kind of people, both young and old, who could reshape the world.

The Eyes of Van Gogh

My film The Eyes of Van Gogh is third on this list of the 10 best. Take a look.

The 10 best movies about Vincent Van Gogh - Discover Walks Blog

Poster for the film

Municipal Culture to Screen The Eyes of Van Gogh

I am pleased to announce that the city of San Luis Potosí in Spain is hosting my film The Eyes of Van Gogh calling it 'a film work that offers an intimate and deep vision of life and challenges that the iconic painter faced.'

Available on Amazon Prime www.theeyesofvangogh.com

SHAKESPEARE'S KING LEAR - A NEW FILM

Director's Vision

Today, wherever you turn, the world is erupting in violence: murder, torture, rape, carnage.  The list of atrocities seems endless.  More and more we see life treated cheaply, brutally, in such a meaningless way.  The pain and suffering are beyond belief.  In spite of this, as a director and filmmaker, I’ve always believed that artists can make a difference. Lear is a man at war with himself; his actions belie his essence. Emotionally induced madness is often brought on by an overwhelming accumulation of lies that the subconscious rebels against.  The manifestation of madness is the body’s and mind’s defense against total physical destruction.  Immoral actions do not induce madness in those whose essence condones them.  

The Terrifying Slope Gets Steeper

University appeasement  From The New York Times on UC Berkeley 

U.C. Berkeley Gives Names of Students and Faculty to Government for Antisemitism Probe

Now available on YouTube

King Lear Film Act 1 Scene 2 

Jared Dorek as Edmund and Eric Smith as Edgar

KING LEAR Film - Act 4, Scenes 3, 4, 5

Stream on Amazon Prime Episode 11  

ACT FOUR

4.3

Lear’s condition has degenerated severely since Kent sent his message to Cordelia prior to the storm. Now in the storm, circumstances are even more dire and Kent is eager to hear a report of Cordelia.  The First Knight does not just reiterate what has happened, but was so stirred by Cordelia’s reaction that he becomes entranced in the memory and relives the moment.  Despite the devastating exchange when they last parted, Cordelia is deeply moved by the news of her father’s failing health.  Both Kent and the Knight find relief and even hope in the fact that despite the betrayal, a loving bond still endures. 

4.4

When Cordelia receives the letter describing Lear’s madness, we witness her internal struggle.  She has become a Queen and is now preparing for battle against her own people.  She is strong in the first scene, but now has gained a different, deeper kind of strength.  She has gained maturity and gravitas through responsibility, yet we are also privy to her vulnerability as she is faced with news of her father's poor health.