Venice 71: Film Festival
– Heaven Know What – Josh Safdie and Benny Safdie.Heaven Know What directed by the Safdie
brothers Gosh and Benny stars, Arielle Holmes, Caleb Landry Jones, Buddy
Duress and Eleonore Hendricks. “We met Arielle as a temp assistant in the
diamond district while we were doing research for another film. She was the
most uniquely beautiful girl we had ever seen, with such a harsh jersey accent
and an original vibe. We had to know more about her. We met a week later and we
slowly realized she was a homeless girl (19 at the time) with a heroin
addiction and a mysteriously evil boyfriend named Ilya. We met with her weekly,
learned more and more about her exciting and self-induced dramatic life. Then,
she disappeared for a few weeks after we got her a job in a music video, which
she didn’t show up for. It was very concerning and confusing. Turned out she
was in a psych ward at Bellevue Hospital for an attempted suicide. Soon after,
we commissioned her to write about her life, which she did in various Apple
Computer stores throughout NYC. The result was a 150+ page document filled with
some of the most original writing we had ever read. A detailed account of what
it’s like to live on the streets of modern NYC with a drug habit, a wild
boyfriend and yearning for romantic drama. Never a dull moment, because a dull
moment meant death! We adapted those pages into a screenplay and hit the
streets casting all the great street kids we could find and added actor Caleb
Landry Jones (who immersed himself into the scene in an almost dangerous way)
to play her boyfriend. We chose Caleb for his reputation of obsessive immersion
into the characters he plays. We knew we were going to have Caleb surrounded by
real street kids at times and there was no safety net, often our cameras were
hidden far away, we needed his dedication, his appropriation of the street. The
goal was to sculpt the production into something that could be shot
sequentially on the streets of NYC blending real actors with bindlestiffs, and
street legends.” The directors stated.
Above. Directors Benny
Safdie (bowtie) and Gosh Safdie (beard) with the cast.
Heaven Know What. Gosh Safdie and Arielle Holmes
Heaven Know What. Caleb Landry Jones and Arielle Homes.
Venice 71: Film Festival.
–Qin’ai de (Dearest) – Peter Ho-sun
Chang.The Chinese film Qin’ai de
(Dearest) directed by Peter Ho-sun Chang, starsZhao Wei, Huang Bo, Tong
Dawei, Hao Lei and Zhang Yi. The director Stated “When I saw the news documentary
that my movie is based on, I was in awe of how life is so much more powerful
and unpredictable than most fiction. I knew immediately that I have to make
this movie. This kind of calling and urgency seldom happened to me. The
incredible journey of two parents in search of their abducted son and their
eventual encounter with his foster mother, the film takes us into multiple
layers of contemporary Chinese society’s changing landscape. I believe this is
not just a Chinese story. This is a story that is relevant to rapidly growing
economies all over the world. Upon reading the script, the actress Zhao Wei
called me and said, “Peter, you have a great deal of social conscience”. But I
told her I have none. I was simply touched by the story and the characters. But
I guess if the movie can touch the audience the same way the documentary
touched me, then maybe, this can be a movie with social conscience.”
Above. The director Peter
Ho-sun Chan with the cast at the Venice Film Festival premiere.
Venice71 - Film Festival –
The Goob - Guy Myhill.We're in the
middle of a heat-wave in Fenland, England. Goob Taylor has spent each of his
sixteen summers helping Mum run the transport cafe and harvest the surrounding
pumpkin fields. When Mum shacks up with swarthy stock-car driving supremo and
ladies' man Gene Womack, Goob becomes an unwelcome side thought. However Goob's
world turns when exotic pumpkin picker Eva arrives. Fuelled by her flirtatious
comments, Goob dreams of better things. For the last ten years Guy
Myhill has worked extensively in film, television, theatre and media
education. The Goob is his
feature debut.
Above.Sienna Guillory, Liam Walpole, director Guy Myhill and Sean
Harris.
The Goob.Liam Walpole in his first part for cinema as Goob
Taylor.
The Goob. Paul Popplewell and Hannah Spearritt.
The Goob.An emotional Sean Harris who plays Womack and is an incredibly scary
presence throughout the film.
Venice71
- Film Festival: Before I Disappear – Shawn Christensen.Before I Disappear is
written, directed and stars Oscar winner (short) Shawn Christensen along with
Paul Wesley, Fatima Ptacek and Emmy Rossum. At the lowest point of his life,
Richie (Shawn Christensen) gets a call from his estranged sister, asking him to
look after his eleven-year old niece, Sophia, for a few hours.
Above:
Paul Wesley takes a Selfie of himself, Fatima Ptacek and Shawn Christensen.
Photograph
courtesy La Biennale di Venezia
Before
I Disappear – Shawn Christensen. Director and star Shawn Christensen in the
role of Richie. Both Christensen and 14-year-old Fatima Ptacek in the role of Sophia reenacted their
roles from the Oscar winning short entitled, Curfew. The Oscar enabled the
former musician to recruit a stellar cast for his feature debut, comprising
Emmy Rossum, Paul Wesley and Ron Perlman.
Venice71
- Film Festival: Birdman or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance - Alejandro Gonzalez
Inarritu.Birdman or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance is directed by
Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, starring Michael Keaton, Zach Galifianakis, Edward
Norton, Andrea Riseborough, Amy Ryan, Emma Stone, and Naomi Watts. The film is
a black comedy that tells the story of an actor (Michael Keaton), famous for portraying
an iconic superhero, as he struggles to mount a Broadway play. In the days
leading up to opening night, he battles his ego and attempts to recover his
family, his career, and himself.
Venice71
- Film Festival – One on One – Kim Ki-duk.One on One, South Korean film Kim Ki-duk,
staring: Ma Dong-Seok,Kim Young-min and Lee Yi-kyung. On
May 9th, a female high school student was brutally murdered. There are 7
suspects and 7 shadows that terrorize them. Who are they and which one of them
is you? “This film is his tribute to the late president Roh Moo-Hyun.” Noted
Kim Ki-duk.
Veneto - Follina: - Music-Style – An Impromptu Recital in a Brewery. During a drinks party in a seventeenth century farmhouse surrounded by Prosecco vineyards, in the Veneto hillside, an impromptu recital was decided on, seeing the amazing musical talent“on hand”.The venue was the Gregoletto’s brewery space, S.U.V., (Spazio del Uva e del Vino or space for grapes and wine), used for the first time, for a musical event. The stars of the show the esteemed flautist Wendy Hancock and the soprano and One of Britain’s most versatile performers Sara Stowe.An electric harpsichord keyboard and a foldable music stand were set up in a the corner of the brewery, in front of a wall covered with original posters, designed by various artists, all relating to the world of wine, commissioned by Giovanni Gregoletto.
Above.The multi-talented soprano and harpsichordist Sara Stowe engaged us with her beautiful voice and charismatic interpretations, sometimes accompanying herself on the “harpsichord” though mostly accompanied by the magic flute of Wendy Hancock. The repertoire was early Baroque and Medieval music, most of which was taken from Anne Cromwell’s Virginal Music, a manuscript of keyboard compilations dated 1638. Though both artists had never played alone together, they both make up the female parts of the Early Music groupGalliarda.
Music-Style.Though not in theme with the rest of the music, by special request, Amazing Grace was movingly played by Wendy Hancock and beautifully sang by Sara Stowe. The hand written musical score was especially adapted for voice and flute by Sara.
Music-Style – Wendy Hancock.Wendyis a Baroque flute, recorder and viol-player. She is also a performer, lecturer, teacher and writer on music and related subjects. She is playing on a copy of a Grenser 1770s flute, especially made by Anthony Arnold.
Music-Style – Sara Stowe. Sarais a soprano, percussionist and One of Britain most versatile performers. As a British Council awardee she studied the voice in Milan and worked with noted Italian composer Luciano Berio. Her ability to characterize her voice in so many different styles has led her to perform and record with a wide range of new and Early Music groups. She engaged the audience in the chorus of the love ballad, The Lass of Richmond Hill, written by Leonard McNally, music composed by James Hook in 1789.The song was a favorite of George III.
The Lass of Richmond Hill
On Richmond Hill there lives a lass,
More bright than May-day morn,
Whose charms all other maids' surpass,
A rose without a thorn.
Sweet lass of Richmond Hill,
Sweet lass of Richmond Hill,
I'd crowns resign to call thee mine,
Sweet lass of Richmond Hill.
Music-style – Anthony Arnold.Maestro Baroque flute and recorder makerAnthony works in Nottingham and has been coming to the Veneto for decades.“I make late Baroque flutes after Rottenburgh and Grenser. They have adjustable registers and corks so that they will work well with a variety of pitches and embouchures. The Grenser flute above is made in Blackwood and Vigoplas and has a register and an adjustable screw cork. The sound is bigger, and the top notes seem easier to play in tune.” He explains.
S.U.V. - Birra Follina. In the brewery, host and gracious hostess, Giovanni and Virginia Gregoletto stand in front of the beer making section. The other half of the space is devoted to a “wunderkammer” which he calls Spazio del Uva e del Vino, everything dedicated and related to the world of wine making. The space is also used for book launches, events, exhibitions, and now music. The Gregoletto winery is nearby and the family is known especially for its still Prosecco DOCG. In fact one of the wineries famous customers, the late great Italian actor Marcello Mastroianni used to order 1000 bottles a year of Prosecco tranquillo for his various homes.In his own right the eccentric Giovanni, amongst his many schemes and activities, has also branched off by himself and produces not only a sparkling Prosecco called Ombra, along with his latest venture beer, Birra Follina and, a book, soon to be launched, about his greatest passion, wine.
S.U.V. – Birra Follina. Guests were invited to taste the new Birra Follina after the recital. It is a special artisan-inspired Belgian-style blonde Abbey ale, pure malt, fermented in the bottle, therefore, unfiltered and unpasteurized.
S.U.V. – Birra Follina. As artisanal beer is “never precise” – Mai Precisa, you can choose between one made with high pressure or low pressure.
London: Word-style.American born Betsy de Lotbiniere is a poet, writer and curator living
in London. At home she is surrounded by
words and phrases which inspire her. Here are some of the stories, memories and
inspirations behind them. “I say a thousand words are better than any
picture.” She states. Her latest essays
can be read in, This Is Not A Book About Gavin Turk, edited by Rachel Newsome.
The Dining Room - Mantelpiece - I
am a picture poem postcard. This poem came to me one rainy night when I saw two
identical twins at a bus shelter. About 16 years old, these gangly boys were
wearing the same striped t-shirt and black jeans. One twin took out his
phone and started taking flash photographs of his twin, the other twin laughed
then took out his phone and was taking flash photographs of the other twin. As
they kept doing it, they became more and more hysterical in their laughter,
exchanging phones, snapping and trading back again and you had a feeling their
souls were merging into one.I wanted to
capture that feeling of disorientation, of loosing track of where one thing
ends and another begins. Also what it’s like to have grown up in an
analogue world, where you had to wait for image results, now living in a
digital world where everything is instant.”
The Bull. My sun sign is Taurus. My
friend, the brilliant artist, Victor Pimstein, who lives in Spain is also
Taurean. We get a lot of teasing for being bullish. But then
everyone goes quiet when you mention the top two Taureans: Shakespeare and the
Buddha. Victor, who lives in Barcelona, gave me the bull for Christmas
and is always really pleased to see it on display when he visits.
The Dining Room – The Boxes of Art
- No Place Like Home. “How soulful a place is can be measured by how many
objects made by the hands of its inhabitants surround you. These
beautiful boxes were made by my daughter Fausta. She is also a writer; she
produced her first play, Shallow Breath, this year.”
I was born, lucky me
In a land that I love
Though I am poor, I am free
When I grow I shall fight
For this land I shall die
Let her sun never set
The Dining Room – Framed Posters.“These posters were given away at
the Frieze Art Fair in London several years back. I’m ashamed to say I
can’t remember the artist’s name. I just adore the power of what may seem
like a very strong, positive, almost innocent message about national identity,
yet when applied to the Holy Land, in three different languages, the result is
deadly. Reminds me of the Bob Dylan's song, With God on Our Side.”
The Drawing Room – No Smoking in the
Courtroom sign. “The last place I lived in America was in an apartment on 7th
Street between Avenues A and B. At that time (early 80’s) the East
Village was a very rough and tumble place crammed with artists and small galleries.
You could get plenty of cocktails and some groceries but you couldn’t buy
anything useful, like a hammer or a pair of jeans. Each street had a
different drug associated with it. 7th was a cocaine street which meant
you had a lot of jumped up Puerto Ricans and Cubanscleaning their cars with
vigor and gusto to blaring Salsa music at 2 in the morning on a summer’s
night. I found this sign on a skip. It’s been making me laugh for
30 years.”
The Kitchen – Fridge Magnets. “I was
given a bunch of fridge magnets with Shakespearean insults. Keep Calm and
Write On, helps me when the anxiety of writing sends me to the fridge.
Reminds me to shut the door and go back to the computer.”
The Stairs. “I love sitting in
window seats and I wanted to encourage other people to do so too. So I wrote this
poem:
Moments
flying
faster than
thought-
Sit
-and catch
Now
I always meant to carpet those
stairs but I never have the money and anyway I’m sentimental about covering up
that memory.”
Ring Bell if you
feel Love
The Stairs:Landing – Blackboard.“There are two bells. One has
a clapper and the other one doesn’t. A kind of a Zen joke. Like the
one about the tree falling in the wood and if no one hears it, has the tree
really fallen? It’s always a nice thing when you’re downstairs sitting in the
drawing room and you hear the bell ring because it means one of your
friends is happy.”
The Bathroom. Let’s Get Lost
poster.“I was freshly married and we
were living in Rome when this Bruce Weber film was being shot and our
friend, the late, great, Kermit Smith was their distributor. Being huge
Chet Baker fans we were thrilled to be invited to the wrap party outside of
Rome which Bruce Weber shot and put in the end. Chet Baker died falling
out of a window in Amsterdam the year the film came out. He was only 59.”
The Bathroom. Mirror - Yankees
Ticket.“We were lucky enough to go to
one of the last games played in the old Shea Stadium in New York City. It
was one of those glorious summer days where everything hums with heat.
Jeter was playing and the game was good.”
