Due to various reasons I am currently a fixture upon the family sofa catching up on some missed film viewing. So far I have overdosed on marvel, star trek reboot and a few other worthy causes. But what has become blantantly obvious, is if you want a good guy, there are plenty of eye candy candidates, who seem to be recycled in multiple films. But if you want a decent bad guy, get a brit.
This is an age old tradition in big Hollywood blockbusters, notable mentions must go to the late greats, Christopher Lee and now Alan Rickman. Both were capable of playing both side of the coin, but they will always been memorised for roles where they stole the s re en being bad. Now a days this custom seems to have past the baton to Benedict Cumberbatch in Star Trek and Tom Hiddlestone in the MCU who totally steals it as Loki. It's not as if America is short of its own capable actors with this duplicity, Tommy Lee Jones, Williem Defoe and James Franco jump to mind as me than adequate, yet the studios seem to love to box us Brits into these roles. Why? Is it due to our ability to bring a shakespearin quality to a comic figure, or just our accents, we will never know.
Don't get me wrong I am not begrudging the quality of our actors or resenting them work, just the predictable pattern of Hollywood casting. I always remember the film critic Barry Norman summarising the remake of the fugitive, and how it would have been 10 times more dramatic had Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones swapped roles, thus making the audience actually doubt the leads motive. The same question would be made if they swapped the casting of say Loki and Iron Man in the MCU or god for bid, cast the likes of Chris Pine, the entire Hemsworth family or Chris Evans in a complete different role. These are all good actors who are being limited by the studios need for eye candy as a good guy.
Sure films are meant to be escapism, and in this day and age we need the fantasy as much as ever, but come on folks, we have a brain. We don't need to be treated like audiences of old, where John Wayne was always the cowboy with a heart, and Cary Grant would sweep us of our feet. Where all the women need rescuing by an godlike like creature, by putting the Brit back in his gaol. We are far more refined in our tastes, we need a puzzle to be caught up in, stereo type to be challenged, and maybe cheer when the good guy turns bad and the bad guy wins the girl.
Yes a lot of the problem comes from the business that the studios need to make money from what can be hugely expensive investments, but it also comes from the sidelines, the media hype of magazines and Internet feeding the audience glossy images of perfect men with their tops off and women who look like they never have a bad hair day. This always adds to the monetary value of turnover. But it devalues the skill of the jobs of acting and directing, by assuming that the audience wouldn't buy into the fact that these people could still charm and entertain if the roles were reversed. I mean think back to the first ever star wars film, the most charming character was Han solo, who right to the end of the film could have gone either way. The role made Harrison Ford's career, and thrust him into heartthrob status, yet he was far from the textbook hero, more rogue. The same quality that has totally revived Robert Downing Junior's career playing Tony Stark /Iron Man.
So maybe the studio system needs to embrace this, and mix up the casting a bit, give us less Hollywood hero vs British bad guy and just give us more dubious rogues.
Thursday, 21 July 2016
Saturday, 16 July 2016
Deep breath and pause
I suspect I may not be the only person in the world who really hasn't seen their bed or sleep for the last 48 hours. The only difference between them and myself is in most other cases they have no choice, where as I do. To be truthful I had to take myself away from all media for 4 hours earlier and enjoy the beauty of the countryside to reset my brain.
I for one, can not believe the actions of others resulting in violence in both Turkey and France in the last two days. The reality than some people put such little value on human life for some extreme belief. I don't know what others think but I am currently torn between constant tears and unbridled rage.
We are living in a world that is in a perpetual cycle of rage, extreme views and pure venom, but in reality we are destroying ourselves at an alarming rate. Crying out saying it is in the name of some faith or another is nothing more than an infected lie. No faith calls for such actions. And yes I do know the difference between the faiths of Christianity and Islam, because I actually bothered to go out and ask my local mosque to assist me understand, and in return they shared their time and beliefs freely, giving me copy of their holy book in both Arabic and English, so I could make my own educated conclusion. Due to their actions, and what I learnt, I plan to study the Hebrew text in the same way. Why? You may ask, well I believe tolerance is achieved by understanding and to understand you have to learn to see the other point of view.
All that has happened recently, well in the last 18 months especially, has been bed from intolerance, and I for one refuse to add my fuel to any fire with out being as educated and understanding as possible. What, however I have learnt so far, is none of the actions of any of the parties involved seem to match any religion I have read about. This unrest is political extremism, cloaked under a banner of lies to give it justification.
I am actually seething at it even being labeled terrorism now, because even terrorists usually have a fundamental belief that fuels their actions. But what I am seeing is random and ruthless killing, not caring who they kill to get media attention. Because in Nice last night and Paris, and Brussels, Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, gay, straight, bi and trans alike were killed the same. No one was given a chance to state their faith or sexuality. This means it is not religious terrorism but mass random murder.
So regardless of faith, belief, sexuality and nationality, we the public to make stand and start sending a clear and blunt message to these violent bullies and our governments alike, that this is not the world we want to live in, we want a world of equality and justice for all. If we don't starting to join together for this simple common goal we are all in danger of living in this turmoil of violence until some one hits that button that will wipe most if not all of us off the planet.
It's time to take a deep breath, pause and think. We are close to if not already in, the 3rd world war in less than 150 years. A war that if it's allowed to continue will destroy or least permanently damage this world. Is it worth it, based on the fact most of us are allowing it to happen due to our own ignorance and intolerance. I know that's not the legacy I want to leave behind.
Thursday, 16 June 2016
Voting to return the humanity
This week is the nearest I wish to get to hell. On an international scale it has been filled with pointless murder. Whether it is a single pop singer, a dedicated MP, a club full of party goers or a single teen at the vigil of that massacre, or a even a head policeman in bed with his wife, this week has seen it all. And that not counting the poor people drowning in the Mediterranean trying to escape being murdered, the unnecessary violence and injury at the Euro football and so on.
To be honest I have nearly broken my poor phone for its constant stream of depressing human behaviour, but fortunately I am too ashamed of human violence to even release mine in such a futile manner. We dare to call ourselves a civilised world, well I am struggling to find any civility,humanity or compassion this week. All I see is mindless violence being masked behind labels such as religion or politics. Well excuse my french, but that's bollocking, there is no excuse,it is nothing but mindless hatred. It's not a phobia or even fear it's hate pure and simply. In fact it is all based on hate fuelled by either jealousy or worse lies.
I can't stand intolerance of any kind, so none of these murderers, and that's what they are,, are getting an ounce of my sympathy. If you dislike a sexuality, religion or politics, so what ! Do what the rest of normal humans do, suck it up and move on.
Some of my longest standing friends and I disagree over politics and religion, we don't plan ways to kill each other, depending on our moods we either debate it out, or just other days don't even think about it. Maybe because most of our friendships were based at a time we had no understanding of such matters, we seem to be able to focus on other matters in life. But then that raises the question, hatred by default must be not necessarily created but instead fuelled by our nurturing. Not just in the family home, but by our eduction, political influences, media stream even the places we work. Just look at the behaviour at the Euro football, would these people be acting this way but for the banner they are meeting in. I very much doubt it, it is a group mindset that is fuelled by man encouraging man that this is acceptable behaviour.
Well I got new for you all IT'S NEVER ACCEPTABLE! It wasn't in the 70's when I grew up with the active threat of the IRA blowing us up. It wasn't acceptable in 60's when man was defined by the colour of his skin, where he could travel or live and it definitely isn't now. I don't want to be remembered as part of the generation that lived through the nearest thing to world war 3 I want to think about and allowed it to be fuelled by complacently. Sod it I would rather die, being shot it a club with fellow human unfazed by they sexuality or being attacked because I actually stood up and said what I believed in, than wimper in the corner to save my own neck.
I know it's easy to say but it's the only way forward. The only way these murders will every make sense is to not allowed these people to die in vain. People need to stand together and demand that this hatred and intolerance be a unacceptable to our society, our world even as other crimes we have fought for over the years. Don't hide behind any label but accept the one we all should live by, HUMANITY.
To be honest I have nearly broken my poor phone for its constant stream of depressing human behaviour, but fortunately I am too ashamed of human violence to even release mine in such a futile manner. We dare to call ourselves a civilised world, well I am struggling to find any civility,humanity or compassion this week. All I see is mindless violence being masked behind labels such as religion or politics. Well excuse my french, but that's bollocking, there is no excuse,it is nothing but mindless hatred. It's not a phobia or even fear it's hate pure and simply. In fact it is all based on hate fuelled by either jealousy or worse lies.
I can't stand intolerance of any kind, so none of these murderers, and that's what they are,, are getting an ounce of my sympathy. If you dislike a sexuality, religion or politics, so what ! Do what the rest of normal humans do, suck it up and move on.
Some of my longest standing friends and I disagree over politics and religion, we don't plan ways to kill each other, depending on our moods we either debate it out, or just other days don't even think about it. Maybe because most of our friendships were based at a time we had no understanding of such matters, we seem to be able to focus on other matters in life. But then that raises the question, hatred by default must be not necessarily created but instead fuelled by our nurturing. Not just in the family home, but by our eduction, political influences, media stream even the places we work. Just look at the behaviour at the Euro football, would these people be acting this way but for the banner they are meeting in. I very much doubt it, it is a group mindset that is fuelled by man encouraging man that this is acceptable behaviour.
Well I got new for you all IT'S NEVER ACCEPTABLE! It wasn't in the 70's when I grew up with the active threat of the IRA blowing us up. It wasn't acceptable in 60's when man was defined by the colour of his skin, where he could travel or live and it definitely isn't now. I don't want to be remembered as part of the generation that lived through the nearest thing to world war 3 I want to think about and allowed it to be fuelled by complacently. Sod it I would rather die, being shot it a club with fellow human unfazed by they sexuality or being attacked because I actually stood up and said what I believed in, than wimper in the corner to save my own neck.
I know it's easy to say but it's the only way forward. The only way these murders will every make sense is to not allowed these people to die in vain. People need to stand together and demand that this hatred and intolerance be a unacceptable to our society, our world even as other crimes we have fought for over the years. Don't hide behind any label but accept the one we all should live by, HUMANITY.
In or Out do we really have a choice
Before you switch off I am not going to use this to attempt influence a person's decision to cast their vote. It is more a question. How are we meant to make a choice when all the voting public has been given in information is nothing more than playground mud slinging.
The problem is it is no longer this referendum, but all elections, including the latest mayoral election in London. But it's even further effective the same thing is going on in the USA and their election. Where the mud slinging has been reduced to racial stereotyping and scoring points over their views on gun control, based on the painful massacre in Orlando.
So I ask the question not nationally but internationally, how can we justify our so called democracy when our election's are based on often guess work, or betting on the less evil. How come we can choice a party but in some cases not it's leader? How can election be deemed as a fair voice of the people when at times only a 1/3 of its population bother to even vote, and yet the result we all have to live with for years at a time. More interesting how come citizens but not residents can vote. People who are in the system, pay tax and social security, have indefinite leave to remain, but choice to keep their roots, they have no say in the country they live and work in?
To be truthful the whole thing stinks of corruption and can barely be called democracy. Any election that allows people to shout at it other in barges across the Thames, or in another country completely stereo type a person by their religion, and then call for a blanket ban on that religion, (especially when their so called land of the free is based on mass imigration). Sorry but it sounds to me like democracy is becoming as unworkable and as idealistic as true Marxism.
So while I am not going to tell you who to vote for,that's the whole point, it is meant to be YOUR choice, I am going to pass on a few points of wisdom I was given at high school about the voting process.
1. YOU HAVE A VOTE, so use it. If unable to vote in person there is postal voting, on voting by proxy. People of different demographic groups have had to fight hard over the years to get us the right to vote. We owe them that at least.
2 GET INFORMED. If you do see the answers to the questions that effect you , ask them to the relevant parties you are interested in. If they won't bother to answer you then do you really want that person or party representing you?
3 USE YOUR VOICE. Remember no matter what party the person who is elected for your area is, they still have to act for their area. If you need their assistance, even if you didn't vote for them, they are still obligated to act for you. If you're in doubt of their ability or ethical behaviour, question it.
At the end of the day we aren't getting the results with democracy, because we are becoming complacent about it. If you don't stand up and use your vote, you really have no right to criticise when it all goes wrong. We have got much of a choice at the moment, in a time when the world needs all the help it can get, but the only way we can change it is to start to use the system properly, and start making it work for the people and not the other way round.
The problem is it is no longer this referendum, but all elections, including the latest mayoral election in London. But it's even further effective the same thing is going on in the USA and their election. Where the mud slinging has been reduced to racial stereotyping and scoring points over their views on gun control, based on the painful massacre in Orlando.
So I ask the question not nationally but internationally, how can we justify our so called democracy when our election's are based on often guess work, or betting on the less evil. How come we can choice a party but in some cases not it's leader? How can election be deemed as a fair voice of the people when at times only a 1/3 of its population bother to even vote, and yet the result we all have to live with for years at a time. More interesting how come citizens but not residents can vote. People who are in the system, pay tax and social security, have indefinite leave to remain, but choice to keep their roots, they have no say in the country they live and work in?
To be truthful the whole thing stinks of corruption and can barely be called democracy. Any election that allows people to shout at it other in barges across the Thames, or in another country completely stereo type a person by their religion, and then call for a blanket ban on that religion, (especially when their so called land of the free is based on mass imigration). Sorry but it sounds to me like democracy is becoming as unworkable and as idealistic as true Marxism.
So while I am not going to tell you who to vote for,that's the whole point, it is meant to be YOUR choice, I am going to pass on a few points of wisdom I was given at high school about the voting process.
1. YOU HAVE A VOTE, so use it. If unable to vote in person there is postal voting, on voting by proxy. People of different demographic groups have had to fight hard over the years to get us the right to vote. We owe them that at least.
2 GET INFORMED. If you do see the answers to the questions that effect you , ask them to the relevant parties you are interested in. If they won't bother to answer you then do you really want that person or party representing you?
3 USE YOUR VOICE. Remember no matter what party the person who is elected for your area is, they still have to act for their area. If you need their assistance, even if you didn't vote for them, they are still obligated to act for you. If you're in doubt of their ability or ethical behaviour, question it.
At the end of the day we aren't getting the results with democracy, because we are becoming complacent about it. If you don't stand up and use your vote, you really have no right to criticise when it all goes wrong. We have got much of a choice at the moment, in a time when the world needs all the help it can get, but the only way we can change it is to start to use the system properly, and start making it work for the people and not the other way round.
Friday, 3 June 2016
My favourite reads
Having seen the last tread in top ten reads of various people in the public eye I thought I would share my favourites, some familiar some less so, and maybe people can share their choice reads in return. These are in no particular order and I am not restricting myself to ten as I am mixing up fiction, biography, poetry etc.
1. Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
One of many classics on my list. I don't know what drew me to this originally but it has become one of the few true love stories, that needs a social reality to add to its magic.
2. Alice in wonderland/ through the looking glass - Lewis Carroll I grew up on the poetry in these books, and as an adult became more aware of its complex themes. To the point I rarely go anywhere without a copy of this book.
3. Metaphysical poetry - various my introduction to complex poetry, being given this to read at 16 years old was one the biggest eye openers in my life.
4. Postcards from the edge - Carrie Fisher. The quickest wit I have ever read, its self depreciation at its best under the guise of fiction.
5. Nobody gets out of here alive - Jerry Hopkins, Danny Sugerman. I stumbled over this book in my late teens, when my own mortality was at risk, and something in this book clicked. As good a biography of Jim Morris on as I can find.
6. Different Seasons - Stephen King. This was the first king novel or novellas rather,I read and being broken into 4 stories makes it relevant to read what ever the mood. It has been made into three maybe four different yet successfully films for very good reason, every story has a depth unusual for such a short story.
7. The Stand - Stephen King. My other favourite novel by this author (although I have another two I am particularly fond of). This is your typical good verses evil novel, written in a world we can all relate to.
8. Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte. I never thought I'd truly understand this novel, until I spent a week on the moors, doing nothing but reading writing and filming. Suddenly the depths of this book became clear, beyond the romantic and into the study of nature.
9. Twelfth Night - Shakespeare. Humour aplenty, and a great introduction to the bards work. It was the second play I read of his and my favourite for so many reasons, with Taming of the Shrew coming a close second.
10. Actors Anonymous - James Franco. Rapidly becoming a stable in my choice authors this novel takes the glitz of Hollywood and strips it bare to show the reality in its maggot ride beauty.
11. Don Juan - Lord Byron. Little can be said about this, that hasn't be said before, but there is a verse for every man in this book.
12. North and South - John James. This is a 3 novel story about the American civil war from the points of two friends one of which is southerner the other a northerner. Romantic history at its best.
13. Siddhartha - Hermann Hesse. one man's spiritual journey, becomes a journey for you the reader.
14.The Matthew Swift series - Kathy Griffin. If it is possible to write a harry potter series for adults then this is it. Set in London it's reality makes the fantasy more acceptable.
15. Chronicles of Narnia - C S Lewis. I never could understand the fussy over The Hobbit when I had already read these. I just love the imagery and the hidden or not not so hidden sub messages.
This is my selection it's by no means complete but it's a good start.
1. Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
One of many classics on my list. I don't know what drew me to this originally but it has become one of the few true love stories, that needs a social reality to add to its magic.
2. Alice in wonderland/ through the looking glass - Lewis Carroll I grew up on the poetry in these books, and as an adult became more aware of its complex themes. To the point I rarely go anywhere without a copy of this book.
3. Metaphysical poetry - various my introduction to complex poetry, being given this to read at 16 years old was one the biggest eye openers in my life.
4. Postcards from the edge - Carrie Fisher. The quickest wit I have ever read, its self depreciation at its best under the guise of fiction.
5. Nobody gets out of here alive - Jerry Hopkins, Danny Sugerman. I stumbled over this book in my late teens, when my own mortality was at risk, and something in this book clicked. As good a biography of Jim Morris on as I can find.
6. Different Seasons - Stephen King. This was the first king novel or novellas rather,I read and being broken into 4 stories makes it relevant to read what ever the mood. It has been made into three maybe four different yet successfully films for very good reason, every story has a depth unusual for such a short story.
7. The Stand - Stephen King. My other favourite novel by this author (although I have another two I am particularly fond of). This is your typical good verses evil novel, written in a world we can all relate to.
8. Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte. I never thought I'd truly understand this novel, until I spent a week on the moors, doing nothing but reading writing and filming. Suddenly the depths of this book became clear, beyond the romantic and into the study of nature.
9. Twelfth Night - Shakespeare. Humour aplenty, and a great introduction to the bards work. It was the second play I read of his and my favourite for so many reasons, with Taming of the Shrew coming a close second.
10. Actors Anonymous - James Franco. Rapidly becoming a stable in my choice authors this novel takes the glitz of Hollywood and strips it bare to show the reality in its maggot ride beauty.
11. Don Juan - Lord Byron. Little can be said about this, that hasn't be said before, but there is a verse for every man in this book.
12. North and South - John James. This is a 3 novel story about the American civil war from the points of two friends one of which is southerner the other a northerner. Romantic history at its best.
13. Siddhartha - Hermann Hesse. one man's spiritual journey, becomes a journey for you the reader.
14.The Matthew Swift series - Kathy Griffin. If it is possible to write a harry potter series for adults then this is it. Set in London it's reality makes the fantasy more acceptable.
15. Chronicles of Narnia - C S Lewis. I never could understand the fussy over The Hobbit when I had already read these. I just love the imagery and the hidden or not not so hidden sub messages.
This is my selection it's by no means complete but it's a good start.
Tuesday, 26 April 2016
What is wrong with 2016
Is it just me or is there something going on? Every time I dare to brave the news (which is fairly frequently) I seem to be greeted with the news that yet another icon has died. So far this year I feel as if I have lost a good 30% of my own personal icons. Rickman, Bowie, Corbett, Wood and now Prince, it feels like everyone is checking out of planet earth.
But to be truthful, it isn't just celebrities that seem to be dropping like flies, it's in my day to day life as well, in January alone I ended up at 4 different funerals, some not unexpected, but some were too young, and heard of a further 3 connected with friends. It has me unnerved to say the least. I dread hearing news I know I can't deal with, but with this pattern I am half expecting it.
Which raises the question, what has gone wrong this year? Is it the backlash of weird weather culling the weak? Some astrological pattern as some papers have dared to report? Or even the rapture (check revelations). Or is it simply we are more in contact with the world and thus obtain the news with in an obscene amount of time from expiration. And yes I do mean it like that. Much as I like to be in tune with the world, some of the speed of reporting deaths of a celebrity feel to me like complete intrusion. We are almost notified the moment the poor person passes their last breath.
In some cases this is so sudden and unexpected that those around them don't even have the time needed to collect their own thoughts before half the world's media is camped outside their respective residents and demanding a sound bite. Hardly the most respectful way to conduct the report, or even notify what in many cases seems to be news of emotional influence.
While what seems to be happening this year is a major blow to the arts world, the way the media is choosing to document it feels like it is cheapening the whole situation. Whether you knew a person or not, their influence on a person can not be measured on mass. A song, program, play even film can hold quantifying memories to an in divulge, and to just throw out the news dead, without substance or quality reporting is to disregard any emotional investment. Now I am not saying we the paying public have rights on the private lives on anyone in the media eye, in fact far from it, but we have the responsibility and right to pay homage to the loss of talent without it becoming a media sandstorm of who has the best tag line. At the moment I raise my hat to the family of Prince, who have embraced the mourning fans and allowed them to share the grief of loss, whilst still managing a private cremation. Yet others haven't been so lucky and instead are overwhelmed by the news and media circus that seems to accompany it.
Like I said I follow the news as avidly as the next person, but having been touched by grief myself this year, I can't help but feel sick at the treatment the press are giving, to get the headline. 2016 seems to be a bad year for loss, and for that we can do little other than pay our respects regardless of who it is. Let's not also make it a year of greed, remember one persons headline, is another's grief and despair
But to be truthful, it isn't just celebrities that seem to be dropping like flies, it's in my day to day life as well, in January alone I ended up at 4 different funerals, some not unexpected, but some were too young, and heard of a further 3 connected with friends. It has me unnerved to say the least. I dread hearing news I know I can't deal with, but with this pattern I am half expecting it.
Which raises the question, what has gone wrong this year? Is it the backlash of weird weather culling the weak? Some astrological pattern as some papers have dared to report? Or even the rapture (check revelations). Or is it simply we are more in contact with the world and thus obtain the news with in an obscene amount of time from expiration. And yes I do mean it like that. Much as I like to be in tune with the world, some of the speed of reporting deaths of a celebrity feel to me like complete intrusion. We are almost notified the moment the poor person passes their last breath.
In some cases this is so sudden and unexpected that those around them don't even have the time needed to collect their own thoughts before half the world's media is camped outside their respective residents and demanding a sound bite. Hardly the most respectful way to conduct the report, or even notify what in many cases seems to be news of emotional influence.
While what seems to be happening this year is a major blow to the arts world, the way the media is choosing to document it feels like it is cheapening the whole situation. Whether you knew a person or not, their influence on a person can not be measured on mass. A song, program, play even film can hold quantifying memories to an in divulge, and to just throw out the news dead, without substance or quality reporting is to disregard any emotional investment. Now I am not saying we the paying public have rights on the private lives on anyone in the media eye, in fact far from it, but we have the responsibility and right to pay homage to the loss of talent without it becoming a media sandstorm of who has the best tag line. At the moment I raise my hat to the family of Prince, who have embraced the mourning fans and allowed them to share the grief of loss, whilst still managing a private cremation. Yet others haven't been so lucky and instead are overwhelmed by the news and media circus that seems to accompany it.
Like I said I follow the news as avidly as the next person, but having been touched by grief myself this year, I can't help but feel sick at the treatment the press are giving, to get the headline. 2016 seems to be a bad year for loss, and for that we can do little other than pay our respects regardless of who it is. Let's not also make it a year of greed, remember one persons headline, is another's grief and despair
Wednesday, 20 April 2016
Get interested
Since January I have been pushing myself to read even more than usual. Which apart from leading to an epidemic of books all over the place, has thrust a few people into my awareness. People that until last year I may have only had heard of in passing and they in turn have created a domino effect on my literature boundaries.
Let me be clear I have always followed the arts and written since I was aware of such things (which according to my family was aged 3). But some how I had managed to miss the surname Franco till this year. I don't know how either, but I have a feeling this is going to divide my audience in half as especially James Franco seems to have a marmite affect on people, they either want to bed him or gag him if you follow social media. But having read what seems to be a mini library of writing, there isn't just one artist in the family, they all are in various mediums, whether it's author, artist, actor or director, and in some cases all the above.
So having started with one book, it lead me to a collection of writing, then other authors in the family and now completely unheard of authors that were inspiration to the first works.. That said this trail has also lead me to u tube and no not a load or illegally ripped movies, but instead book talks, university lectures, q & a sessions and similar. All of which reminded me I have an unfinished degree (blame my health), and my own paper forest of unread work that is cluttering files and doing the sum total of nothing except collecting dust and tripping me up.
Now I don't claim to have the talent of the multi degree holding man, or for that matter the outlet to publish it, but I do have the right and possibly the responsibility to give it the chance to see light of day. I also now am able to look back on said work and realise just how my own style has changed the more I have read and the more I have been exposed to . Leaving me with the question is not art in any form the right any one of us has to document our journey and share with others? It may result in nothing, but then again it's not my call to make, but the audiences.
In four months I have had my mind blown by poetry not unlike from my own thoughts, seen art work I would happily hang on my wall and live with daily, I have also had my faith in the human race disintegrate as I see the abuse and constant analysis of one persons sexuality rather than discussion of their work. My views on sexuality are well documented, and I'll say it again, that side of their life has nothing to do with general public, as it doesn't define a person. All these points has left me in a quandary, whether or not to bite the bullet and send my own work out into a world, that in the one hand loves success, and yet in the other wants your very soul for the honour. I would love to share, to get my work seen and shared, even help someone via it. But I don't want the grief of my life blasted on social media for every troll to think they know better. That however is my decision to make, and I believe it is one that will be made in the next month or so.
What I have taken away from this little discovery is the very fact that we should never stop learning and growing. That what we are now is not all we are. If that was the case we would all leave school at our respective ages and just go through the routine of living till we died, no progression or development. It is the people who constantly push for more that history favours, those who ask the unanswered questions or take the uncomfortable path.Just because you are an actor doesn't stop you becoming an educator, a writer or a painter, or because I am stuck grounded by my own demons, doesn't stop me reaching further afield, wanting and fighting for more out of my life. I may not be a position financially to finish my degree, but I can keep reading and learning extending my own boundaries till I find a place that is right for me.
If you were to ask me now what the best thing I learnt in the last four months is, I would be hard pressed to narrow it down to just one thing, but if you ask me to share anything from what I've learnt it's the quote below. Love me or hate me for it I can honestly say I am very pro James Franco, in all his work, purely because he is an artist in all senses of the rules. A person who is prepared to take the rule book and shred it, which in reality is the real definition of an artist. Some one who makes you question your own viewpoint on life and society whether it be sexuality, equality, addiction whatever. If he makes you uncomfortable, maybe it isn't he the artist who is at fault, but you the audience who is too stuck in your ways.
What I do next, well that's to be determined, my discovery of self, but may I suggest a little trip outside your comfort zone could be very enlightening.
"You want to get interesting... get interested" James Franco
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