King Lear Film - Act 2 Scene 1

King Lear Film - Act 2 Scene 1

Stream on Amazon Prime - Episode 4 

Edgar and Edmund are both fighting for their lives. Edmund may be the orchestrator of these fraught circumstances, but he is risking his life in doing so.  Even as his plan unfolds accordingly he does not take for granted that it could easily collapse at any moment, causing him to lose everything.  

Edmund is excited to be actively pursuing his desires, rather than just scheming in anticipation.  He does not let the pleasure of deceit overwhelm and undermine him, instead funneling that energy into his performance: there is always a kind of truth in his deceptions.  He uses his frenetic urgency to disorient and engross Edgar, convincing his brother he has no choice but to run, before he even has the chance to process what is happening to him, thus confirming all suspicions of guilt.  Even after Edgar has fled, the stakes are no less dire for Edmund; if Edgar is found alive it will become one brother’s word against the other.  Each success does not bring relief for Edmund, but further fuels his drive and focus.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern

I have directed several productions of Hamlet.  Here are some miscellaneous musings about the characters Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.  

Guildenstern seems more intelligent and (not warm) but warmer and more patient than Rosencrantz.  Also he has more humor and is more of a leader.  In the early scenes, he is definitely in charge (though not in a pushy way).  Rosencrantz seems more physical and rougher…and potentially more cruel. 

As Hamlet makes his complete break with them at the end of Act lll, Sc. 2 (the play scene) Rosencrantz starts to take over – Guildenstern’s last time in charge is when he believes the message from Gertrude to Hamlet that she wants to see him.  As reason and patience (Guildenstern) fail, force and brutality (Rosencrantz) take over. 

In the following scenes Guildenstern is almost silent and all we hear is the ominous tone and threats of Rosencrantz.  Obviously, they have worked out strategy and concomitant ramifications following each altercation with Hamlet and Guildenstern ultimately prevails.  

In the end, through their actions, we see them for what they really are: two educated thugs willing to carry out their lord’s orders even if it means murder.  We should feel little sympathy for their impending deaths.

https://www.alexanderbarnett.com

The Closet Scene: Gertrude and Hamlet (Alexander Barnett)

Macbeth Revisited (A Rebuttal)

I caught an interesting and depressing Charlie Rose interview with Liev Schreiber discussing Macbeth.  Mr. Schreiber was taken aback by Rose's referring to Macbeth as evil.  Schreiber them proceeded to explain the typical age-old argument of Macbeth as a good (And to many, a great) man gone wrong who kills Duncan to please his wife and who, ultimately, greatly regrets having done the deed because he is a man of deep conscience.  This is after all a tragedy and therefor requires the fall of an individual of great stature and/or position.

Wrong!

King Lear Film - Act 1 Scenes 3-5

 Stream on Amazon Prime - Episode 3

Alexander Barnett as Lear; Aaron Strand as Fool; Peter Holdway as Kent

1.3

         As Goneril informs Oswald of her intentions to put an end to Lear’s careless and erratic behavior, we see the true extent of her ambition. Goneril is indeed resentful of Lear for favoring Cordelia and disgruntled having endured a lifetime of his rule, but that is not why she acts. Nor does she wish to punish him for the rowdy behavior of his knights as she claims to in the next scene; the reasons she states are excuses. The knights are a nuisance, but she sees them merely as obstacles, not adversaries. Goneril is fed up, but it is from having to hold herself back. Her eagerness to render Lear impotent and cast him out of the kingdom comes first and foremost from her inner drive and ardent desire for power and independence.

New review for "The Eyes of Van Gogh"

The Eyes of Van Gogh - I appreciate the kudos for the film. https://gravelmag.com/vincent-van-gogh-movies/

The 2005 drama tells the story of Van Gogh’s time in an asylum. If you have read his biography, you know he voluntarily entered himself into the Saint Remy asylum for 12 months. That was when his epilepsy started to interfere with his life. Director Alexander Barnett does a great job with this movie. It shows exactly how Van Gogh experienced the world during his time in Saint Remy. The movie is not just a biopic movie, but also tells the story of what it is like to enter a state of madness.       

www.theeyesofvangogh.com  Streaming on Amazon Prime  http://bit.ly/EyesofVanGogh     

New Review

From https://culturacolectiva.com/cine/ --- " In ' The Eyes of Van Gogh ', Alexander Barnett acted, wrote and directed the story of Van Gogh, which focuses on the painter's mental health problems between hallucinations and recurring panic attacks. This film is one of the darkest on the list because, far from being a romanticization of the artist's depressive crises, it shows them in all his terror."

Another Lie from Amsterdog Rescue - Please Share

Amsterdog is listing Frost as having been "adopted."  She was not adopted.  She had to be euthanized while with me on a trial basis since she was so dangerous. 

Do not use this shelter

Amsterdog.org - Please Share

Do not use Amsterdog.  Deborah Dilorio, the owner, did not give me the complete history on the dog I had on a trial basis - in particular she did not tell me the dog had a bite history.

The person who was fostering the dog at the time also did not tell me, and lied outright saying the dog never started an attack, but would only defend herself.  Utterly false.  I got a very dangerous dog that caused huge amounts of pain and suffering and many thousands of dollars in medical bills.  Because they did not tell the truth.

Oscars 2022 - It's Official

 Very pleased to note that a recent film I did, TIKKUN OLAM, is an official entry for the 2022 Oscars.

Oscar Buzz

I am pleased to report that a recent film I did, Tikkun Olam, has been accepted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for Oscar consideration and is streaming now for nominators.

You may be interested as well watching Ziauddin Yousafzai, Malala Yousafzai’s father, react to “Tikkun Olam” after screening at the 2021 Birmingham Film Festival.   “A remarkable film of love and compassion for our coming generations". 

https://youtu.be/kMg8se8qd50

Trailer: https://vimeo.com/544468379

Playlist Alexander Barnett

 Film Clips

Clips from films directed by and/or starring and/or written by Alexander Barnett.

A scene from the film: THE EYES OF VAN GOGH with Roy Thinnes and Alexander Barnett

KING LEAR Film Episode 13 Act 4, Scene 7

Playing Cordelia - KING LEAR

WINDS WAY - Film Clip

COLOR OF LOVE: Film Clip

NO DEPOSIT NO RETURN Clip 1

NO DEPOSIT NO RETURN Clip 2

NO DEPOSIT NO RETURN Clip 3

NO DEPOSIT NO RETURN Clip 4

THE FINAL RESOLUTION: Film Clip

THE ACTOR AND THE AGENT

MR. VINCENT Film Clip

SQUID INK

A CAREER OFFENSE

 

Another Best for Tikkun Olam

Tikkun Olam wins Best Short Film at The 2021 American Presidents Film and Literary Festival, giving this film its 7th Best Short Award.

King Lear Film Act 1 Scene 2

 Stream Episode 2    Exclusively on Amazon Prime

  

Failing to secure his fortune on the road, Edmund intends to steal his brother Edgar's inheritance and usurp his father Gloucester's authority, killing both if necessary.

1.2 

Edmund is confident, charming, and incredibly shrewd, but remains hindered by his status as the illegitimate son. He is contemptuous of his station in life, but does not act rashly out of hatred; rather he is fiendishly thoughtful in his ambition. He is willing to risk everything to deceive his father and brother and gain power for himself, and therefore takes nothing for granted. Edmund’s monologues are not complaints, nor are they boasts. He is superior, but does not seek praise or admiration for his cunning, lest he hinder his success. Instead, he meticulously works through his own thoughts, planning for every eventuality, and sarcastically expressing contempt for society in the process. He is not plotting revenge against Gloucester for unwittingly humiliating him in the opening scene. His decision to pursue his father’s title has been made prior to his return to the kingdom. His father behavior only makes him more eager to finally carry out what he has so carefully planned for. 

King Lear Film Act 1 Sc. 1

Stream Episode 1     

After 60 years as King, Lear commits the most fatal, consequential and disastrous act of his life.  

ACT ONE   1.1 

The film begins where it ends: a bleak image of death and devastation, shrouded in fog as the survivors look towards an uncertain future.  As the story opens, however, Lear’s castle is lively with anticipation of a future that has been prearranged. Lear's plan to divide the kingdom is not hasty or mad. The details have been carefully thought out and discussed with each of the Dukes. Kent is optimistic, excited by the prospect of Cordelia in control of the largest and most influential share. Likewise, Cornwall and Albany acknowledge their approval and look forward to receiving their own shares. Lear acts out of well-intentioned generosity, desiring neither rivalries nor war, though both eventually follow.

Alexander Barnett in Tikkun Olam Sedona and WDC Int'l Film Festivals

 

June 16 and 18: Click here for “Tikkun Olam” tickets at the Sedona International Film Festival.

Sedona ranked “Top 10” in the world.

 

June 4-8: Click here for “Tikkun Olam” tickets at the Washington DC International Film Festival.

60 films selected from around the world, representing 35 countries.

 

 About “Tikkun Olam”

A young boy in Washington, D.C. encounters a homeless veteran, with an unexpected outcome. The film is inspired by the director, Bob Ahmed’s own experiences while living in Washington, D.C. – a city which has the highest homelessness rate in America.The Daily Times describes the film as "an urgently needed story of hope in our broken world today" with "blistering performances" and that "Ahmed's short film is not just about the innocence of childhood but about the kind-hearted child within us all". Voice of America says this is "a unique film on an important topic". Views and News describes the film as "a rare, polished gem" with "riveting" performances. Tikkun Olam was one of four films selected globally for the 2021 Global Annual Seema Summit. The film is selected for the 35th Washington, D.C. International Film Festival, the 27th Sedona International Film Festival, and the 19th Garden State Film Festival.Click here to watch the trailer (01:30). www.filmtikkun.com

The Eyes of Van Gogh on DVD

Do you prefer a DVD of a film to streaming?  In addition to streaming, The Eyes of Van Gogh is available in DVD format from Amazon for a limited time only.

A Brief History of Van Gogh Films

I am very pleased to note that my film The Eyes of Van Gogh has been included in smART Magazine's article on films about Vincent van Gogh.  

King Lear Film Act 1, Sc 1

 Watch on Amazon -  Episode 1  http://bit.ly/KingLearAmazonPrime

Winner Best Short Film - Madrid Art Film Festival

Winner Best Short Film - Madrid Art Film Festival  

Tikkun Olam is also an official entry in the The 35th Washington DC International Film Festival, June 4-13  

Trailer for King Lear

For more information about the film please visit www.kinglearfilm.org 

"Tikkun Olam" selected to play at Seema's Annual Global Summit

"Tikkun Olam" has been selected as one of four films to play at Seema's Annual Global Summit this Saturday, March 13. The other three films are Obaid-Chinoy's "A Girl on the River" (Academy Award winner, 2016), Smritri Mundhra's "St Louis Superman" (Academy Award nominated, 2020), and Madhur Jaffrey's "Mr Cardamom".

Seema Film Festival. Four short films curated by icon of South Asian performing arts, Aroon Shivdasani. Followed by Aroon’s interview with filmmaker from each film. March 13, 9pm ET. This event is part of Seema Network’s Annual Global Summit for Womens Day. (www.seema.com) 

The Eyes of Van Gogh in an Academic Course

 I am very pleased to learn my film, The Eyes of Van Gogh, has been added to the curriculum of UC Davis.

https://cpe.ucdavis.edu/course/four-van-goghs-comparative-study-performances

Petition to End Wildlife Killing

 Please join. It's urgent. This barbaric practice must be stopped.

The Plight of the Uyghurs Is a Wake-Up Call

The title says it all. We must do everything to stop the suffering they are enduring. In some ways this is a reminder of what the Japanese did to the Chinese in the 30s.   https://www.nationalreview.com/2021/02/the-plight-of-the-uyghurs-is-a-wake-up-call/

 

The Wanting Mare is Released

I enjoyed working on this film very much and congratulate director Nicholas Ashe Bateman on a string of wonderful reviews.  https://www.indiewire.com/2021/02/the-wanting-mare-review-matrix-1234615127/

New Film Tikkun Olam

 The poster and first review for my latest film. 

 

'I was devastated'

The man who invented the World Wide Web has some regrets. Tim Berners-Lee has seen his creation debased by everything from fake news to mass surveillance. And now he's got a plan to fix it.

US Ice officers 'used torture to make Africans sign own deportation orders'

Please read this and then write to Biden and his people and plead with them [yes, I said plead' ] to appeal to congress or whoever might be able to stop these people from being deported. If they are deported they will be tortured and murdered. These are innocent people. Immediate action is necessary. Remember, Trump still has TEN MORE WEEKS as president.

 

 

theguardian.com

US Ice officers 'used torture to make Africans sign own deportation orders'

Cameroonians say officers choke

 

Very Good News on Police Reform

 Police reform coast to coast. San Francisco voters passed a measure to increase oversight of the city’s sheriff department. San Francisco Examiner They also voted to abolish mandatory staffing levels for the police. The Appeal Voters in San Diego endorsed the creation of a new police review board. KPBS Voters in Columbus, Ohio, overwhelmingly approved more civilian oversight for the police department. Columbus Dispatch So did voters in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette In Portland, Oregon, voters, by a large margin, passed a sweeping police reform measure. Willamette Week In King County, Washington, voters appeared to back a restructuring of the sheriff’s office. Seattle Times

Change comes to some DA offices around the country. George Gascón’s win in the high-profile race for district attorney in Los Angeles suggests a faster pace of reform there. Los Angeles Times In Oakland County, Michigan, Democrat Karen McDonald prevailed over Republican Lin Goetz for prosecutor. Detroit News Some incumbents were re-elected. In Chicago, Democrat Kim Foxx won another term as Cook County Attorney. Chicago Tribune And in the race in Arizona for Maricopa County Attorney, Republican incumbent Allister Adel had a small lead over Julie Gunnigle, the Democratic challenger. Arizona Republic

Georgia on their mind. Voters in the Peach State elected three black sheriffs to office—in Cobb, Gwinnett and Henry counties. All three will be the first Black occupants of the office. WSB Other races: Patrick beat Jerry in the battle of McDermotts in the sheriff’s race in Norfolk County, Massachusetts. MassLive Republican Bob Gualtieri won a third term as sheriff of Pinellas County, Florida. Tampa Bay Times Sally Hernandez won a second term as sheriff of Travis County, Texas. Austin American-Statesman Ed Gonzalez won a second term as sheriff in Harris County, Texas, which includes Houston. Houston Chronicle

Decarceration comes to New Jersey. State corrections officials released more than 2,500 prisoners Wednesday—those whose sentences were going to end anyway within a year—to stem the tide of the coronavirus behind bars. The New York Times More: “It’s over, baby,” said the sister of a woman newly released from a halfway house in Patterson. In a single day, the state’s prison population drops 15 percent. NorthJersey.com “The best birthday present I could ask for,” said a mother in Hunterdon County awaiting her daughter’s release. NJ.com

KING LEAR: Film Trailer

The film from award-winning director Alexander Barnett is streaming in the US http://bit.ly/KingLearAmazonPrime, UK, http://bit.ly/UKKingLear, Europe http://bit.ly/KingLearMovie, and libraries http://bit.ly/HooplaKingLear in the US and in Canada. https://www.facebook.com/KingLearFilm 

IMDb http://bit.ly/KingLearMovieInfo #Shakespeare #ShakespeareFilms

 

Wonderful story.

 From Munich terror attack to Voyager space mission: How an Olympic image achieved immortality.

 https://edition.cnn.com/interactive/2020/09/sport/voyager-olympics-munich-spt-intl/

 

Jesmyn Ward

 Great writer.  Devastating story.

Behind the Scenes: The Eyes of Van Gogh

 Here are some behind the scenes stills from the film The Eyes of Van Gogh.

  Alexander Barnett (Vincent) and Roy Thinnes (Dr. Peyron) in Vincent's room at the asylum.

 

 

 

Keith Perry (Theodorus Van Gogh) Alexander Barnett (Vincent)

Director Alexander Barnett and DP Ian Dudley

Director Alexander Barnett and Keith Perry (Vincent's father)

 

Camera set-up Alexander Barnett director

Police Punish the ‘Good Apples’

Law enforcement needs to protect those who prioritize their sworn duties above loyalty to their peers.

 "Even as bad cops evade punishment for wrongdoing, those who stand up to corruption, report negligence or abuse, or decline to comply with bad orders are frequently marginalized, demoted, or outright fired," by Musa AlGharbi from the Atlantic

The Protests and the First Amendment.

 Don’t forget in this season of demonstration that you have a right, in most cases, to keep your phone and the video you’ve taken of police activity when the cops ask for it. The Washington Post More: How the NYPD “weaponized” curfew restrictions. The Intercept

Notes from the Field

Superb work from Anna Deveare Smith. Given what is happening today it is even more distressing that the play was done in 2015. Profoundly disturbing on many levels but a must see.

https://www.hbo.com/movies/notes-from-the-field

Kudos for The Eyes of Van Gogh

I am very pleased that my film The Eyes of Van Gogh has been included in this list of the 5 best movies about Vincent van Gogh

Watch the film on Amazon Prime.