Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Mark Travis Directing Workshop: "Working with Actors in Rehearsal, Staging and Performance."


Reel Inspiration is hosting an intensive weekend workshop with master directing instructor Mark Travis.

The workshop runs from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on March 21-22 at Artfare, 55 N. 6h Ave. Downtown Tucson, AZ. (third floor) The cost to observe for pre-registered directors and actors is $70 (with a $10 discount for APA, IFP, IFASA and NALIP members.) Students with school ID, are $40. The cost at the door is $80 where only cash and money orders will be accepted. *Lunch is available at a modest price at Artfare's restaurant.

Space is limited so don't wait to register. To get the pre-registration price register before March 16. Interested actors and directors, contact Jana for registration information at 325-9175 or reelinspiration@hotmail.com.

The workshop is sponsored by Artfare, the Tucson Film Office, APA Tucson Mariott University Park, and Reel Inspiration.

Mark is the author of the Best Seller, THE DIRECTOR’S JOURNEY: the Creative Collaboration between Directors, Writers and Actors as well as DIRECTING FEATURE FILMS. Mark has shared his techniques at The Directors Guild, American Film Institute, Pixar Animations Studios, UCLA Extension, and workshops around the world. Mark is a creative consultant to film directors Mark Rydell, George Tillman, Cyrus Nowrasteh, among others.

Mark Travis did his undergraduate training at Antioch College and his graduate training in Theatre Directing at the Yale School of Drama. Mark’s television directing credits include: The Facts of Life, Family Ties, Capitol and the Emmy Award-winning PBS dramatic special, Blind Tom: The Thomas Bethune Story. In 1990, he completed his first film, Going Under, for Warner Bros., starring Bill Pullmanand Ned Beatty. In 2001 he wrote and directed The Baritones (parody of The Sopranos)as well as the short documentary, Earlet.

DIRECTING ACTORS SCHEDULE

Working with the Actor in Rehearsal, Staging and Performance.

DAY ONE:

Mark Travis will introduce the entire group (8-10 directors and 20-30 observers) to the unique process of working with actors that is called The Travis Technique. This is a powerful and experiential way of exploring and exposing the characters that exist within the actors.

Mark will detail how this process works and why it is so efficient and will demonstrate this Technique by working with 3 or 4 actors.

Areas covered:

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE DIRECTOR, SCRIPT AND ACTOR
(9:00 - 10:30)
This is the Golden Triangle, the heart of every movie. It is the Director’s ability to understand Story and Script and how a script works that is so necessary prior to including Actors. Then the Director has to understand how Actors work, think and respond that is so essential to eventually eliciting powerful performances.

THE REHEARSAL PROCESS
(10:30 - 12:30)
The Director-Actor Relationship in rehearsal and performance. In this section of the seminar participants will learn how to work with Actors to create credible and powerful performances. This is the beginning of The Travis Technique. Participants will learn, in this Master Class approach, how to Rehearse with actors, how to stimulate the character and how to invigorate the relationships and bring each and every scene to life.

STAGING THE SCENE
(1:30 - 3:30)
Staging is one of the film director's most powerful tools. Used appropriately it can bring a scene to life illuminating the subtext and character relationships. Misused it can hamper the work of the actors. In this seminar Participants will witness the power of staging and see how you can actually stimulate specific emotions with the Actors (Characters) and in the audience. Participants will learn how to employ the techniques that Mark Travis had developed over many years of directing.


DIRECTING ACTORS
(3:30 - 5:30)
At the core of every film are characters in relationship and every writer and director must understand both the psychology of character and the techniques and tools of acting. In this phase of the seminar Mark Travis will take Participants through a wide range of approaches and techniques (all part of the Travis Technique) that are guaranteed to create the relationships, characters and performances desired.


DAY TWO:

On Day Two Eight (or Ten) Participating Directors will get an opportunity to work on their material with actors of their choosing under the guidance of Mark Travis. This is an opportunity for each director (and the actors) to explore and experiment with the Techniques they have learned in Day One. These rehearsals are an examination of the Process of each director. Each Director gets 40 minutes of Individual time (with the rest of the Participants and Observers watching the Process). The focus is not about the results but rather about the Communication with the Actors, the Effectiveness of Character development and the Efficiency of the Rehearsal Process.

Websites: www.travis-johntz.com
www.markwtravis.com

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Reel Inspiration Celebrates Oscar Nominated Films!


Want some films to root for at the Oscars? Reel Inspiration supported some great Oscar nominated films with our reviews. I don't know about you, but I will be cheering them on tonight!

The nominated films that were reviewed by Reel Inspiration, are in BOLD. I have also indicated which films were honored by Reel Inspiration's MOST INSPIRING FILMS of 2008 list and our Reel Member and friends poll. You can also read my thoughts on who should win after some of the catagories.

*If you don't like my choices or even if you do, it's not too late to vote for YOUR favorite inspiring films on the RI poll in the right column under "about me."

Movie blessings!
Jana Segal

Also, check out Josh's Oscar preview at:
http://indiebum.wordpress.com/2009/02/22/oscar-preview-predictions/

BEST ACTOR

*Richard Jenkins - THE VISITOR
#5 REEL INSPIRATION MOST INSPIRING FILMS 2008
*Frank Langella - FROST/NIXON
#3 REEL INSPIRATION MOST INSPIRING FILMS 200
*Sean Penn - MILK
#1 REEL INSPIRATION MOST INSPIRING FILMS 2008
#3 Reel Inspiration Friends Favorite Inspiring Film (so far)
*Brad Pitt - THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
*Mickey Rourke - THE WRESTLER

My top choice for Best Actor is Sean Penn for Milk. He lived that character and was just so likeable. I would also be delighted if Frank Langella won. He created empathy for a very flawed character. I also loved Mickey Rourke's performance. I believe he actually IS the character. (I didn't choose to review it for RI because this movie was a bummer for me.)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

*Josh Brolin - MILK
#1 REEL INSPIRATION MOST INSPIRING FILMS 2008
#3 Reel Inspiration Friends Favorite Inspiring Film (so far)
*Robert Downey Jr. - TROPIC THUNDER
*Philip Seymour Hoffman - DOUBT
*Heath Ledger - THE DARK KNIGHT
*Michael Shannon - REVOLUTIONARY ROAD

I am not a good judge of this category since I never got a chance
to see Doubt. But Philip Seymour Hoffman is one of my favorite
actors. Josh Brolin's supporting role helped make Milk
the great movie it is.

BEST ACTRESS

*Anne Hathaway - RACHEL GETTING MARRIED
*Angelina Jolie - CHANGELING
*Melissa Leo - FROZEN RIVER
*Meryl Streep - DOUBT
*Kate Winslet - THE READER

I didn't see Doubt because I didn't want to see Meryl in such a severe role. Certainly, Melissa Leo and Kate Winslet (one of my favorite actresses) gave Oscar worthy performances. But I am so impressed by the extra layer that Anne Hathaway added to her troubled addict. The subtext was love.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Amy Adams - DOUBT
Penélope Cruz - VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA
Viola Davis - DOUBT
Taraji P. Henson - THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
Marisa Tomei - THE WRESTLER

Unfortunately, I'm limited in my predictions here since I didn't see Doubt. But Penélope Cruz had the most passionate performance! I also just loved Marisa Tomei in the Wrestler. (Why didn't I review that again?)

BEST ANIMATED FILM

*BOLT
*KUNG FU PANDA
*WALL-E
#2 Reel Inspiration friends favorite inspiring film! (so far)

BEST ART DIRECTION

*CHANGELING
*THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
*THE DARK KNIGHT
*THE DUCHESS
*REVOLUTIONARY ROAD

Didn't see the Duchess. But I would say anything doing with the look
of the film or special effects goes to Benjamin Button.

CINEMATOGRAPHY

*CHANGELING
*THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
*THE DARK KNIGHT
*THE READER
*SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
#7 REEL INSPIRATION MOST INSPIRING FILMS 2008
#1 Reel Inspiration Friends Favorite Inspiring Film

COSTUME DESIGN

*AUSTRALIA
*THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
*THE DUCHESS
*MILK
#1 REEL INSPIRATION MOST INSPIRING FILMS 2008
#3 Reel Inspiration Friends Favorite Inspiring Film
*REVOLUTIONARY ROAD

DIRECTING

*THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
*FROST/NIXON
#3 REEL INSPIRATION MOST INSPIRING FILMS 2008
*MILK
#1 REEL INSPIRATION MOST INSPIRING FILMS 2008
#3 Reel Inspiration Friends Favorite Inspiring Film (so far)
*THE READER
*SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
#7 REEL INSPIRATION MOST INSPIRING FILMS 2008
#1 Reel Inspiration Friends Favorite Inspiring Film

Danny Boyle performs a near miracle balancing the tragedy and wonder in the world of India's Slumdogs. But the lived-in performances in Milk and Frost/Nixon are inspiring.

FILM EDITING

*THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
*THE DARK KNIGHT
*FROST/NIXON
#3 REEL INSPIRATION MOST INSPIRING FILMS 2008
*MILK
#1 REEL INSPIRATION MOST INSPIRING FILMS 2008
#3 Reel Inspiration Friends Favorite Inspiring Film
*SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
#7 REEL INSPIRATION MOST INSPIRING FILMS 2008
#1 Reel Inspiration friends Favorite Inspiring Film (so far)

MAKEUP

*THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
*THE DARK KNIGHT
(HELLBOY II: THE GOLDEN ARMY

MUSIC (SCORE)

*THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
*DEFIANCE
*MILK
#1 REEL INSPIRATION MOST INSPIRING FILMS 2008
#3 Reel Inspiration Friends Favorite Inspiring Film (so far)
*SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
#7 REEL INSPIRATION MOST INSPIRING FILMS 2008
#1 Reel Inspiration Friends Favorite Inspiring Film (so far)
*WALL-E
#2 Reel Inspiration Friends Favorite inspiring Film (so far.)

MUSIC (SONG)

"Down to Earth" WALL-E
"Jai Ho" SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
"O Saya" SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE

BEST PICTURE

*THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
*FROST/NIXON
#3 REEL INSPIRATION MOST INSPIRING FILMS 2008
*MILK
#1 REEL INSPIRATION MOST INSPIRING FILMS 2008
#3 Reel Inspiration Friends Favorite Inspiring Film
*THE READER
*SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
#7 REEL INSPIRATION MOST INSPIRING FILMS 2008
#1 Reel Inspiration Friends Favorite Inspiring Film

My heart belongs to Milk.

SOUND EDITING

*THE DARK KNIGHT
*IRON MAN
*SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
#7 REEL INSPIRATION MOST INSPIRING FILMS 2008
#1 Reel Inspiration Friends Favorite Inspiring Film
*WALL-E
#2 Reel Inspiration friends favorite inspiring films (so far)
*WANTED

SOUND MIXING

*THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
*THE DARK KNIGHT
*SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
#7 REEL INSPIRATION MOST INSPIRING FILMS 2008
#1 Reel Inspiration Friends Favorite Inspiring Film
*WALL-E
#2 Reel Inspiration Friends Favorite Inspiring Film
*WANTED

VISUAL EFFECTS

*THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
*THE DARK KNIGHT
*IRON MAN

I would say this is a no brainer - anything doing with the look
of the film or special effects goes to Benjamin Button.

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

*THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
*DOUBT
*FROST/NIXON
#3 REEL INSPIRATION MOST INSPIRING FILMS 2008
*THE READER
*SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
#7 REEL INSPIRATION MOST INSPIRING FILMS 2008
#1 Reel Inspiration Friends Favorite Inspiring Film

I didn't see Doubt, but Danny Boyle performs a near miracle
balancing the tragedy and wonder in the world of
India's Slumdogs. But the structure in Milk is inspired.
And both Milk and Frost/Nixon had me rooting for the heroes.

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

*FROZEN RIVER
*HAPPY-GO-LUCKY
#10 REEL INSPIRATION MOST INSPIRING FILMS 2008
*IN BRUGES
*MILK
#1 REEL INSPIRATION MOST INSPIRING FILMS 2008
#3 Reel Inspiration Friends Favorite Inspiring Film
*WALL-E
#2 Reel Inspiration Friends Favorite Inspiring Film

I didn't see In Bruges, But the structure in Milk is inspired
and the characters are flawed, yet sympathetic. You can just
feel Screenwriter Dustin Lance's love for the project.
Happy Go Lucky has some amazing scenes, but I found the writing
(improv) inconsistant. Of course,there is a reason RI friends
voted WALL-E #2. I believe both WALL-E and MILK have powerful
themes that are relevant to our times.

CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE!

Friday, February 13, 2009

"Rachel Getting Married"


In, "Rachel Getting Married," troubled Kim (Oscar nominee Anne Hathaway) gets out of rehab to attend her older sister's (Rosemarie Dewitt) wedding. Kim looks on as an outsider during hectic preparations for the big day and feels like a psychopath under observation. We've seen the premise of a wedding being interrupted by the appearance from the black sheep of the family before. But somehow director Jonathan Demme (The Silence of the Lambs, Philadelphia), writer Jenny Lumet and a brilliant cast make it fresh and painfully real. This family has been deeply wounded by a terrible tragedy and is finally grasping at a bit of happiness. The wedding festivities celebrate love and life with an eclectic group of friends and cultural traditions.

Demme draws you into this family's world. I wasn't watching from the outside, I was experiencing the discomfort at the idyllic rehearsal dinner when Kim raises her seltzer glass to make amends to her sister. I'm not sure Kim consciously tries to upstage her sister's wedding. She wants to be included in the celebration. When she discovers that her sister has chosen someone else to be the maid of honor, she gets angry and pressures her into giving her the role. Kim is desperate to be a part of the family again and to reconnect with her big sister. But her demons keep popping up - pushing them away. A fellow addict explains that the hardest thing after being in rehab is returning to your family. Kim has some serious issues to resolve and needs her family's support at this difficult time.

Kim becomes the catalyst for some painful revelations. Intentional and unintentional wounds are inflicted. What makes this story so moving is that despite the conflict there is love between these sisters. Genuine moments of tenderness. Where there is love, there is the chance for forgiveness. Everything is not wrapped up in a neat wedding package. There are still issues to resolve and new damage has been done. This is the beginning of a very painful rehabilitation. But there is hope too.

Move blessings!
Jana Segal
www.reelinspiration.blogspot.com