Zero for Conduct

I used to spend a lot of time doing behind-the-scenes documentaries on feature films.  Since I was working mostly for low-budget independents, the BTS stuff often dropped off the priority list – no one actually used the footage after I handed them the tapes.

But there’s a notable exception: Barry Levy’s The 40,000, which is a full-length documentary produced with footage I shot for his feature film Spook.  It’s about the 40,000 Canadians who served in Vietnam, either by being drafted for their dual citizenship (!) or by volunteering.  Spook is the dramatized version, and The 40,000 is the doc which illuminates the film.

I was fascinated while shooting, and now I’m transported back to that time by seeing the doc.  The real vietnam vet who narrates much of the doc has had his identity obscured to protect him.

Last night I had the chance to shoot Theatre Terrific‘s production of The Glass Box, a play about sexuality and disability.  It’s a mind-blowing show, mostly because of the honesty of the content, and the fact that its such an unusual and fascinating topic.

VANCOUVER, BC: Theatre Terrific is pleased to present its new work, The Glass Box, a voyeuristic glimpse into the secret lives of people and their passions. Fresh from its debut in Victoria, The Glass Box opens in Vancouver Feb 18 – 28.

The Glass Box follows a 54-year-old wife and mother, a 23-year-old woman living with quadriplegia and a 32-year-old man with Down Syndrome who find themselves trapped in off-beat talk show. They are given the chance to be the iconic figure of their fantasies. The icons answer dangerous questions with hilarious abandon, as Cleopatra unrolls from her carpet, Sophia Loren sways through her famous striptease and Brad Pit lands the big fish.

This article by Charles Adler is nonsense in form and content.

It’s just wild ramblings trying to vaguely connect the Liberal party leadership handover to a criminal influence-peddling scheme.

Never mind the addled writing style. It’s just plain smear, no real substance, just an excuse to wander through sentences that connect Dion, Ignatieff, Rae, and the Liberals to this new crime by a governor in another country.

It is the Conservative party that has the whiff of election hijinx about them; they were the ones who got raided by the Election feds – like Governor Dead Meat.

But even that would be a vague connection at best. Please don’t write stuff if you have nothing to say.

-Flick Harrison

Enjoy and share!

I thought it was high time we all remembered the crazy old days when Stephen Harper was baiting the public service, muzzling his subordinates and generally NOT wearing warm fuzzy sweaters. The new ad in which he talks about cracking down on crime in a soft, throaty voice reminded me of the Godfather, but that’s another cartoon entirely.

CLICK HERE to see the cartoon…

And make your comments below.

Theatre Terrific is a great little company in Vancouver that produces activist shows – both by working with performers and addressing issues that surround disability.

After I made this video for them to promote House of Seikilos, a show that combines the story of Agamemnon with Arthur Miller’s little-known, abandoned, mentally-handicapped son, I was singing the song for weeks. It happens to be the oldest fully-documented piece of music in history.

From the Theatre Terrific site:

The House of Seikilos is a contemporary twisted family voyage that bridges a Greek tragedy with a true modern tale of fateful decision. In Aeschylus’ The Orestaia, Agememnon the king had to choose to sacrifice or save his daughter in order for his army to sail into war. In the modern world, famous playwright Arthur Miller was gaced with a choice ti deny ot accept the disabled son at his birth. Based on these leaders’ dilemmas, The House of Seikilos explores the choice between embracing public honour or choosing the private honour of family.

Here are excerpts of a work-in-progress presentation, May 2, 2008 at the Vancouver Japanese United Church. The House of Seikilos cast are: Nigel Vonas (father), Tallulah Winkelman (mother), Nathan McNamee (child), Marylin Blandford (elder), Greg Labine (son), Cindy Angel (daughter). Auditions will be held in the Fall for the chorus.

The House of Seikilos premieres April 21 – 26 at the Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Centre.

Promo video by Flick Harrison

Are you folks following the Canadian tax credit censorship issue? Anyone looking for Harper’s secret agenda need look no further!

Bill C-10, an amendment to the income tax act which runs hundreds of pages long, has 13 words in it that give the government the right to cancel tax credits for film productions unless

“(b) public financial support of the production would not be contrary to public policy.”

In a Conservative majority situation, this could cut out films that depict violence, homosexuality, underage drinking, etc. Are the Conservatives really more interested in protecting Canadian morality than Canadian jobs?

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The Saskatoon Star-Pheonix published this rare and silly defense, by Les MacPherson, of the RCMP’s taser attack on Robert Dziekanski, the Polish guy at the Vancouver airport.

Man’s lack of co-operation necessitated force

I wrote him this email in response:

Mr MacPherson,

Your definition of resisting arrest is novel. Walking away = violent.

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I’ll be making video for the Bella Luna theatre project Futuristi at the Frederick Wood Theatre at UBC, opening Oct 11!

It’s a theatre collage piece based on the writings and manifestos of the Italian futurists.

FUTURISTI!

OCTOBER 11, 12, 13, 2007
BellaLuna with Theatre At UBC present a theatrical celebration of the ITALIAN FUTURIST MOVEMENT of the early 1900’s at UBC’s Frederic Wood Theatre (Vancouver, BC).

BOLD MANIFESTATIONS.
ABSURDIST COMEDY.
AVANT GARDE EXPRESSION.
PROVOCATIVE REALISM.
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Gwynne Dyer reviews the new movie of Frank Miller’s 300.

That’s all, I haven’t blogged in a while ‘cos I’m too busy.

I’m calling it: The Bloc pulls the ripcord (rejects the budget) within 24 hours either way of the Quebec Election. I.e. before the vote to throw the race and take a free news-cycle on No-campaiging-allowed final day, OR, after the race to destabilize the Quebec Parliament and keep the PQ in permanent war mode – provincial vote, federal vote, second provincial vote, referendum.

Now that I’ve found the limits on pandora.com (“we are unable to let you skip any more songs this month due to licensing agreements.” Huh!?!?!) I have time to post other business.

Here’s some pics from the premiere of Monkey Warfare at Empire cinemas in Vancouver, handed over by Ifny but shot by David Repa. This is Ifny of Pedal Revolutionaries (who has just posted her podcast of the MONKEY WARFARE INTERVIEW), Alan MacInnes of Discorder’s Cinema Aspirant, Reg Harkema, the director, and me, Flick Harrison.
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