I urge anyone who cares about justice to read this. It was written 41 years ago but believe me, it's as timely as ever.

Perfect statement from Iris Murdoch

Shakespeare's people, enduring individuals known all over the world, are like icons, secure inhabitants of an art which comprehends human nature from its deepest evil to its highest good, together with its funniness, its happiness & its beauty.

 -Metaphysics as a Guide to Morals

Why the Kurds are Paying for Trump's Gift to Iran

The Kurds are an incredible people. Historically, they have suffered terribly and unjustly. Currently, they have done more to defeat Isis than any other fighting group. They have been betrayed by every country that has dealt with them.

I Did Her Wrong

I Did Her Wrong slated for the Alexandria Film Festival.   

Working on this project was a unique experience. Since all of the dialogue was improvised by Catalina Lavalle and me it was especially challenging.

European Release for King Lear

My film of King Lear screening in English across the European continent.  Details here.

Poster

A new poster from my film I Did Her Wrong.

King Lear Released

My film has been released in the United States, the United Kingdom, and in libraries throughout the US and Canada.  The 15 episode version of the film is also available worldwide.
 

 

www.kinglearfilm.org

A Q&A about the film

Interview with Alexander Barnett for the film The Eyes of Van Gogh

On Filming The Eyes of Van Gogh

The opening shots of The Eyes of Van Gogh are of the grounds of the asylum at St. Remy in May of 1889.  The head of the asylum, Dr. Peyron, escorts Vincent through the park.



Narrow eye-level view as the camera moves slowly along the path through the park, skirting from left to right.  Through Vincent's eyes we see numerous thick trees, open areas and benches scattered throughout the park, but much of the vegetation is dense and overgrown.  Upkeep is obviously not a main concern. 
There is a fog in the air that lends a haunting, dreamlike quality to the scene.  Things that we see seem to appear suddenly and unexpectedly.  As the camera continues through the park we see brief glimpses of isolated patients.

Although their afflictions are different, their commonality dominates.  All the patients appear to be stranded in space.  Any prior understanding or clarity is frozen inside them.  The policy of the Asylum being what it is, they have absolutely no distractions, nothing to do and nowhere to go.  They have no direction, no focus, no purpose.  But being human there is a reflexive search for them.  They don't live, they exist: eating, sleeping and digesting. The result is an atmosphere inundated with silence; a screaming silence.  It is truly the home for the accursed.

One stands in the bushes looking around fearfully, suspecting everyone of spying on him.  He searches ceaselessly for the evil presence that is trying to destroy him.  One sits on a bench, shaking his head frantically in disapproval and carrying on a silent argument with an invisible person.  
One lies on the ground, his body tight, withdrawn, trembling with fear. One stands near a tree and scans the Park, his eyes glowing and a vicious smile on his face.  One imagines he is being chastised by voices from on high.  He shakes his head, fretting nervously, pleading for the voices to leave him in peace: all to no avail.
One sits on the ground, motionless, his mouth hanging open, studying a tiny, invisible spot. 
One is on his knees, frantically pounding the ground. 

King Lear in US and UK Libraries

I am very pleased to learn that Hoopla Digital has ordered the 15 episode series version of my film of King Lear. 

Hoopla Digital is a North American streaming media service.  It allows users throughout the United States and the United Kingdom to borrow digital movies, music and eBooks with their library cards.

It should be available from libraries sometime in October 2017.

Kent (Peter Holdway) tries to console Lear (Alexander Barnett)

Stills from my film of King Lear

Trailer King Lear

My film of King Lear will be released in the fall.  In the meantime, here is the trailer.




There are photos on the website -- the IMDb page -- and Facebook

Another reason to keep Taiwan out of China's reach.

Breaking News: Taiwan bans the trade in dog and cat meat · A Humane NationThis week, our fight against the global dog meat trade got an enormous lift with Taiwan’s legislature amending its anti-cruelty law and banning the trade and the…blog.humanesociety.org

Cries from Syria

This searing documentary is extraordinary both for the astonishing footage that was captured and its utter indictment of Assad and Putin. They are war criminals. Watch it -- difficult though it may be. http://www.hbo.com/documentaries/cries-from-syria

Seal Hunting Continues

This is disgusting. http://www.northernpen.ca/…/seal-hunt-to-reopen-by-early-ne…
Although unfortunately it is not hard to believe that anyone could this, it shouldn't be hard to think that anyone viewing it would not insist it stop. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1E_X6c4c6A

King Lear Cast

Some new production stills of the cast of my upcoming film of King Lear are posted on the website http://www.kinglearfilm.org/king_lear_cast.html.

Press Photos

I enjoyed working with photographer Charles Butler very much.

 

Charles Butler with Alexander Barnett.

· Yesterday at 12:37pm ·

Instagram

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I had the pleasure of shooting #press photos of #actor #AlexanderBarnett For the feature film @ididherwrongmovie . He had such an #expressive face full of #character, I couldn't resist doing some #stylized #artistic edits. @union206 @camposlopez

Obama's Shaky Legacy

Most unfortunate, but true. I wonder if it troubles him.

King Lear on stage

These are 4 scenes from the Classic Theatre International tour of King Lear - the first American production of a Shakespearian play to tour Europe.