14TH June 2010
The Black Actor Boom
The feature in Evening Standard, 18th May by Nosheen Iqbal celebrates the fact that there are currently three major productions with black lead actors, playing to packed houses in London. Are the days of token casting finally over she asks? The current plays including Jesus Hopped the A Train at Trafalgar Studios, Ruined at the Almedia in Islington and Eurydice at the Young Vic have all received critical notices. You can also add Meera Syal’s Shirley Valentine at the Chocolate Factory, a phenomenal one women show which played to packed houses.
Theatre has always led integrated casting and it is the place where we as television and film producers go to find talent both on and behind the stage. I saw Shirley Valentine and Ruined, within weeks of each other. Ruined, a drama that explores how the realities of civil war can provide the ultimate test for human spirit. Written by Lynn Nottage, an African American playwright, Directed by Indhu Rubasingham and music director Akintayo Akinbode, the production is indeed powerful. The stage was full of black actors who all seem to own the space and gave brilliant peorformances, led by Jenny Jules and Lucian Msamati Christian. Reading through the programme notes, I was struck that so many of the actors were of African origin. You could see on stage, in their performances, body movement, voice, an African sensibility. Watching the play, I was taken back to the early 80’s when Black Theatre was led by talented writers, directors and writers from the Caribbean. Today it is African talent which dominates our stage and screens. I think it is important to acknowledge this cultural change and not to categorise them as “Black Actors”. They are firstly actors and should be cast irrespective of the colour of their skin. But they also bring their unique cultural experience and perspective.
In the 70’s I embraced “Black as my political identity “and was part of the “Black movement” fighting for social and political for equality in the UK. We achieved a lot and there is still a lot to be done. However, now I do believe that talent of African origins in business, enterprise, arts, culture and media deserves to be recognised as such and not labelled as “black”.
Monday, June 14, 2010
BHUTTO
14th June 2010
BHUTTO
On Saturday 12th June I was invited to the UK Premier of BHUTTO, a feature length documentary film by director/ Produce Duane Baughman. The screening was attended by filmmakers and members of the Bhutto family including her son Bilawal Zardari Bhutto, the chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party.
BHUTTO is the first definitive documentary chronicling the life of one of the most complex and fascinating characters of our time, Benazir Bhutto. Benazir Bhutto was born into a wealthy landowning family, often referred to as the “Kennedy’s of Pakistan”, that rose up to become Pakistan’s dominant political dynasty.
Her epic life story is a tale of Shakespearean dimensions involving a woman battling for democracy, and equality with the most dangerous place in the world as a backdrop, Pakistan. Her father, the first democratically elected president of Pakistan, chose Benazir over his eldest son to carry his political mantle. Accused of rampant corruption, imprisoned, then exiled abroad, Bhutto was called back in 2007 as her country’s only hope for democracy. When she was struck down by an assassin, her untimely death sent shock waves throughout the world, transforming Bhutto from political messiah to a martyr in the eyes of the common people.
Benazir Bhutto was born into a wealthy landowning family, often referred to as the “Kennedy’s of Pakistan”, that rose up to become Pakistan’s dominant political dynasty.
With exclusive interviews from the Bhutto family and never-before-seen footage, the filmmakers have crafted a sweeping epic of a transcendent, yet polarizing, figure whose legacy will be debated for years to come.
After a breathtaking opening flashback, Bhutto serves up an eye-opening dose of Pakistan’s tumultuous 62-year existence, its frequent violent clashes with India, and Benazir’s own family history that runs deep in the DNA of Pakistan’s feudal past.
The film is a master piece in its use of archive footage and her recorded interviews provides the narrative of the film. The most powerful moments in the film are the interviews with her children Bilawal Zardari Bhutto, Bakhtawar Zardari and Asifa Zardari. The sound track of the film is a remix of Bakhtawar Zardari rap which she wrote as homage to her Mother.
The film is a master piece in its use of archive footage and her recorded interviews provides the narrative of the film. I was deeply moved by the film, despite its point of view which pays homage to the life if this extraordinary woman, totally devoted to her country and its people. The film features exclusive, heart-wrenching interviews with her immediate family, including widower President Asif Ali Zardari, son Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, daughters Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari and Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, and sister Sanam Bhutto, just three months after her assassination.
Other interviewees include: authors Tariq Ali (“The Clash of Fundamentalism”) and Christina Lamb (“Waiting For Allah”), Victoria Schofield (“Bhutto”) as well as former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, former President Pervez Musharraf, Benazir’s co-author and friend Mark Siegel, diplomat Peter Galbraith, Arianna Huffington, and Reza Aslan. The sound track of the film is a remix of Bakhtawar Zardari rap which she wrote as homage to her Mother.
The film has been released in Pakistan and playing to packed houses across the nation. This is the first time that people have paid to see a documentary film in the country’s theatres.
Bhutto, which was produced by Yellow Pad Productions in association with Icon TMI presents a Duane Baughman Film, directed by Duane Baughman and Johnny O’Hara. Produced by Duane Baughman, Arleen Sorkin, Mark Siegel and Amy Berg. Executive Produced by Glenn Aveni. Co-Produced by Pamela Green, Jarik Van Sluijs, and Darius Fisher. Written by Johnny O’Hara. Music by Mader, Hank Graham Jr. and “Dila Teer Bija” performed by Stewart Copeland and Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari.
BHUTTO will be released by Mara Pictures across the UK and I would urge you all to go and see this film. The film is clearly made with a western audience in mind and a fantastic introduction into the complex political landscape that is Pakistan. The next generation of Pakistanis, living in the west should see this film to understand and debate the future of this extraordinary country.
Parminder Vir OBE
Director
PVL Media Consultants
www.parmindervir.com
BHUTTO
On Saturday 12th June I was invited to the UK Premier of BHUTTO, a feature length documentary film by director/ Produce Duane Baughman. The screening was attended by filmmakers and members of the Bhutto family including her son Bilawal Zardari Bhutto, the chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party.
BHUTTO is the first definitive documentary chronicling the life of one of the most complex and fascinating characters of our time, Benazir Bhutto. Benazir Bhutto was born into a wealthy landowning family, often referred to as the “Kennedy’s of Pakistan”, that rose up to become Pakistan’s dominant political dynasty.
Her epic life story is a tale of Shakespearean dimensions involving a woman battling for democracy, and equality with the most dangerous place in the world as a backdrop, Pakistan. Her father, the first democratically elected president of Pakistan, chose Benazir over his eldest son to carry his political mantle. Accused of rampant corruption, imprisoned, then exiled abroad, Bhutto was called back in 2007 as her country’s only hope for democracy. When she was struck down by an assassin, her untimely death sent shock waves throughout the world, transforming Bhutto from political messiah to a martyr in the eyes of the common people.
Benazir Bhutto was born into a wealthy landowning family, often referred to as the “Kennedy’s of Pakistan”, that rose up to become Pakistan’s dominant political dynasty.
With exclusive interviews from the Bhutto family and never-before-seen footage, the filmmakers have crafted a sweeping epic of a transcendent, yet polarizing, figure whose legacy will be debated for years to come.
After a breathtaking opening flashback, Bhutto serves up an eye-opening dose of Pakistan’s tumultuous 62-year existence, its frequent violent clashes with India, and Benazir’s own family history that runs deep in the DNA of Pakistan’s feudal past.
The film is a master piece in its use of archive footage and her recorded interviews provides the narrative of the film. The most powerful moments in the film are the interviews with her children Bilawal Zardari Bhutto, Bakhtawar Zardari and Asifa Zardari. The sound track of the film is a remix of Bakhtawar Zardari rap which she wrote as homage to her Mother.
The film is a master piece in its use of archive footage and her recorded interviews provides the narrative of the film. I was deeply moved by the film, despite its point of view which pays homage to the life if this extraordinary woman, totally devoted to her country and its people. The film features exclusive, heart-wrenching interviews with her immediate family, including widower President Asif Ali Zardari, son Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, daughters Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari and Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, and sister Sanam Bhutto, just three months after her assassination.
Other interviewees include: authors Tariq Ali (“The Clash of Fundamentalism”) and Christina Lamb (“Waiting For Allah”), Victoria Schofield (“Bhutto”) as well as former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, former President Pervez Musharraf, Benazir’s co-author and friend Mark Siegel, diplomat Peter Galbraith, Arianna Huffington, and Reza Aslan. The sound track of the film is a remix of Bakhtawar Zardari rap which she wrote as homage to her Mother.
The film has been released in Pakistan and playing to packed houses across the nation. This is the first time that people have paid to see a documentary film in the country’s theatres.
Bhutto, which was produced by Yellow Pad Productions in association with Icon TMI presents a Duane Baughman Film, directed by Duane Baughman and Johnny O’Hara. Produced by Duane Baughman, Arleen Sorkin, Mark Siegel and Amy Berg. Executive Produced by Glenn Aveni. Co-Produced by Pamela Green, Jarik Van Sluijs, and Darius Fisher. Written by Johnny O’Hara. Music by Mader, Hank Graham Jr. and “Dila Teer Bija” performed by Stewart Copeland and Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari.
BHUTTO will be released by Mara Pictures across the UK and I would urge you all to go and see this film. The film is clearly made with a western audience in mind and a fantastic introduction into the complex political landscape that is Pakistan. The next generation of Pakistanis, living in the west should see this film to understand and debate the future of this extraordinary country.
Parminder Vir OBE
Director
PVL Media Consultants
www.parmindervir.com
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
“If you could take one memory with you to eternity, which one would you choose?
After Life, by Michael van der Aa at the Barbican, London
“If you could take one memory with you to eternity, which one would you choose, so After Life, an opera by Michael van der Aa at the Barbican invites you to share your memories. After Life examines what might happen if each one us had to choose a single memory to define ourselves throughout eternity.
After Life is set on “a way station between heaven and earth “where the dead are “processed “by being given three days to choose their memory, which is reconstructed for them on a film. Failure to do so means recruitment to the way-station staff. The director weaves into the opera, documentary footage of real people who he has asked to make the same choice. These are powerful moments as one is pained by her decision to leave South Africa during apartheid, another recalls her return to Holland after flight from the Nazis and wartime exile and teenage boy only wants to cuddle his beloved dog.
What would my moment be I thought as I was invited to travel with protagonists in the film and in the opera? The birth of my children, their first steps, my first walk up Snowdonia, trekking in the Himalayas with Julian, taking him to the Punjab to meet my Grandparents and to receive their blessing of our marriage, producing films on location in different parts of the world, the death of my elder brother, watching my Father take him in his arms to the hospital and then return, still in his arms, only he was no longer with us. Selecting one memory, is not easy as it’s the sum total of all the memories and experiences that defines my life. But there is one memory or rather image that stays with me. I am 10 years old and we are waiting in the departure lounge to leave India for the UK in 1965. The airport security was not what it is today because I recall going outside and looking up to the roof where my Grandparents are both still waiting. They encourage me to go inside, in the shade, saying it’s hot and that would be the last time I would see them from another 15 years when I would return to India. It would also mark the beginning of a new life and no return.
After Life is unlike any other opera, where the “subject and the music connect to the audience here and now”. The Barbican has set up a website: www.barbican.org.uk/afterlife and ask people to share their memories with them. These are some powerful memories from real life.
“If you could take one memory with you to eternity, which one would you choose, so After Life, an opera by Michael van der Aa at the Barbican invites you to share your memories. After Life examines what might happen if each one us had to choose a single memory to define ourselves throughout eternity.
After Life is set on “a way station between heaven and earth “where the dead are “processed “by being given three days to choose their memory, which is reconstructed for them on a film. Failure to do so means recruitment to the way-station staff. The director weaves into the opera, documentary footage of real people who he has asked to make the same choice. These are powerful moments as one is pained by her decision to leave South Africa during apartheid, another recalls her return to Holland after flight from the Nazis and wartime exile and teenage boy only wants to cuddle his beloved dog.
What would my moment be I thought as I was invited to travel with protagonists in the film and in the opera? The birth of my children, their first steps, my first walk up Snowdonia, trekking in the Himalayas with Julian, taking him to the Punjab to meet my Grandparents and to receive their blessing of our marriage, producing films on location in different parts of the world, the death of my elder brother, watching my Father take him in his arms to the hospital and then return, still in his arms, only he was no longer with us. Selecting one memory, is not easy as it’s the sum total of all the memories and experiences that defines my life. But there is one memory or rather image that stays with me. I am 10 years old and we are waiting in the departure lounge to leave India for the UK in 1965. The airport security was not what it is today because I recall going outside and looking up to the roof where my Grandparents are both still waiting. They encourage me to go inside, in the shade, saying it’s hot and that would be the last time I would see them from another 15 years when I would return to India. It would also mark the beginning of a new life and no return.
After Life is unlike any other opera, where the “subject and the music connect to the audience here and now”. The Barbican has set up a website: www.barbican.org.uk/afterlife and ask people to share their memories with them. These are some powerful memories from real life.
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