So far we've been examining the play, line by line, scene by scene, all in an effort to gain a better understanding of what is taking place. Results have been fantastic with some rehearsals breaking out in song 'He's the one that I want...' and others have been heart warming. All in all it is a terrific experience and I cannot wait to see where it goes!
Friday, August 21, 2009
The Tempest Rehearsals
If you don't know, you should know, that Shakespeare in Paradise is happening October 5th-12th. At the center of this theatre festival is The Bahamian adaptation of Shakespeare's The Tempest. Dr. Nicolette Bethel, Reva, Dr. Toni Francis and myself adapted the play for the festival. Fast forward four months and rehearsals are underway and I am a part of the ensemble/spirit. Directed by Craig Pinder and Patti Anne-Ali - theatre veterans in the global sphere - is a treat in and of itself. Patti is due to arrive in the country tomorrow, but Craig has been holding his own with rehearsals.
Monday, August 17, 2009
District 9 damnit
It was a rush to get there, and we were late already. Twenty minutes late and our movie, "The Goods" wasn't showing anymore...what to do, what to do? Let's watch District 9 damnit. Yes, this post is about said movie - if you haven't guessed it. =p Most of you probably saw this movie, but that's not the point. The point is that this is perhaps the best movie of 2009. Dangerous statement? You bet your ass it is. What gets me though is that G.I. Joe - a movie based on the old Hasbro toy line and 90's pro war cartoon - is described by my peers as 'solid'. I'm not surprised, I'm just tired of the cycle about crappy movies about old toys/cartoons/shit. I know, I know, it all comes down to a person's preference and I read this incredible blog post about artsy movies needing the crappy/box office success to be possible.
Back to District 9, a movie where the aliens are eerily metaphors for our Haitian communities and perhaps those shanty towns present in the Middle East. Yes, someone, somewhere will study this movie for class someday soon.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
It's not over yet!
And so like lightening during a storm, BWSI has come and gone and I can't help but feel the sadness settle in. But what an event! Some of the greatest Bahamian writers has taught us - the future - and it was worth every meeting. Playwriting with Dr. Nicolette Bethel has been a blast, formally meeting Phillip Burrows was less painless than we anticipated and more of a treat. =p Thank you Dr. Bethel! Thanks BWSI for great memories and new experiences.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Bahamian Women are not stupid!
While that might be, the majority of the current generation are giving them a bad name.
After meeting Bahamian women like Lynn Sweeting, Nicolette Bethel, Helen Klonaris, Angelique Nixon, Krista Walkes and so on, I have a standard of which to judge other women by. As a male in a patriarchal society, it is up to me to become aware of strong female Bahamians, because most men don't know.
As a writer it is also important for me to understand the feminist movement here in The Bahamas and abroad. I find myself telling stories from male oriented perspectives with minor female casts. I've started digging within myself to determine why this is so and I've realized that it's partly because most women I meet are young, materlistic and sometimes brainless. While this is not true to all women I meet, I find myself unable to identify how and what they feel. What The Bahamas Writers' Summer Institute has done, is bring about a caliber of Bahamian writers - mainly female at this point - and a caliber of interested female and male writers. While the program is in it's third week, I've already began blogging and thinking about female identity separate from male identity - and that is a huge leap for someone who is always writing male stories.
After meeting Bahamian women like Lynn Sweeting, Nicolette Bethel, Helen Klonaris, Angelique Nixon, Krista Walkes and so on, I have a standard of which to judge other women by. As a male in a patriarchal society, it is up to me to become aware of strong female Bahamians, because most men don't know.
As a writer it is also important for me to understand the feminist movement here in The Bahamas and abroad. I find myself telling stories from male oriented perspectives with minor female casts. I've started digging within myself to determine why this is so and I've realized that it's partly because most women I meet are young, materlistic and sometimes brainless. While this is not true to all women I meet, I find myself unable to identify how and what they feel. What The Bahamas Writers' Summer Institute has done, is bring about a caliber of Bahamian writers - mainly female at this point - and a caliber of interested female and male writers. While the program is in it's third week, I've already began blogging and thinking about female identity separate from male identity - and that is a huge leap for someone who is always writing male stories.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Brave New World
So last night I went to the Bahamas Writers' Summer Institute’s second meeting at the Hub. The title, ‘To Blog or Not to Blog’ and well, here I am. So Nico, whenever you read this, it’s partly your fault!
Moving on, I guess this post-the very first of hopefully many- should mean something more than hi, hello. What it should be is beyond me, but I’ll get there. I guess this blog will be a great venture for me, in more ways than just sharing, but also in perfecting my craft. So here’s to something new and mysterious, dark and treacherous and all that crap.
Moving on, I guess this post-the very first of hopefully many- should mean something more than hi, hello. What it should be is beyond me, but I’ll get there. I guess this blog will be a great venture for me, in more ways than just sharing, but also in perfecting my craft. So here’s to something new and mysterious, dark and treacherous and all that crap.
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