BeauSoleil and Iris DeMent Visited CSULB Sept. 26

Michael Doucet and Iris DeMent at California State University Long Beach. Photo: courtesy of Carpenter Performing Arts Center.

Two Grammy-winning country-folk musicians, Michael Doucet and Iris DeMent, came to CSULB Saturday to entertain an audience of mostly middle-aged folks who were merrily clapping hands and snapping fingers along with the tune.

Right on the nose at 8 p.m. sharp, Iris DeMent, a middle-aged woman with red hair, a polka dot dress and cowboy boots came on stage with a guitar. She was not a typical Hollywood singer, but she was someone who wanted to share with the audience a handful of her songs, even about God. Her presentation on stage made sense because she came from a family of 14 children originating from “The Belt” ( Arkansas ) with typical parents who had very strong religious morals, according to her website, http://www.irisdement.com/.

DeMent left the stage with a wave of goodbye, then entered was the BeauSoleil band, starred by Michael Doucet and his entourage. Trying to draw a younger audience, this band is on MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/beausoleilcajunband), twitter and FaceBook(http://www.facebook.com/pages/BeauSoleil/74771399015) —especially to show their new Jan. 2009 release of Alligator Purse. “My duty was to bring this music back to the younger generation because it was so vastly disappearing,” Doucet said.

Photo logo: BeauSoleil's Facebook

Doucet was someone casually dressed in jeans with a white goatee, and he cheerily shared his duets, presented with a combination of zydeco, Tex-Mex, wesetern swing, blues, New Orleans , traditional jazz and Caribbean calypso, with the audience snapping, clapping and even dancing along with his tunes. BeauSoleil is different from other Cajun music because of Doucet’s emphasis on the fiddle. Fans can stay in touch with this band here: www.rosebudus.com/beausoleil/.

CSULB alumnus helped to make the film Fame a success

Alice (KHERINGTON PAYNE) practices a dance solo in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and Lakeshore Entertainment’s FAME. Photo by: Saeed Adyani
© 2009 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.

Dance students audition for enrollment at the New York City High School of Performing Arts in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and Lakeshore Entertainment’s FAME, in theaters nationwide. Photo by: Saeed Adyani
© 2009 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.

Jenny (KAY PANABAKER, center) and the students of the New York City High School of Performing Arts dance during lunch in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and Lakeshore Entertainment’s FAME. Photo by: Saeed Adyani
© 2009 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.

Photo: Courtesy of MGM Studios

One of the members on the Publicity Team at MGM, Mary Jo Salcido, graduated from CSULB in 2004.

Students perform at the high school Halloween Carnival in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and Lakeshore Entertainment’s FAME, in theaters nationwide. Photo by: Saeed Adyani
© 2009 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.

See clips of Fame here (all links courtnesy of MGM Studios)

http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi2986607385/

http://mgmstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o23/mgm/FameTeaser1_1080p.mov

http://mgmstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o23/mgm/FameTeaser1_720p.mov

http://mgmstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o23/mgm/FameTeaser1_480p.mov

http://mgmstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o23/mgm/FameTeaser1_240p.mov

Windows Media:

http://mgmstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o23/mgm/FameTeaser_1_700.wmv

http://mgmstudios.vo.llnwd.net/o23/mgm/FameTeaser_1_300K.wmv

Meet Meet the cast in Fame (2009) here:

http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi2986607385/

See my review of Fame here:

MGM's Fame was a dynamic film full of upbeat music, and its plot took the audience on an emotional roller coaster ride along with the students' ups and downs of becoming famous.

"What makes Fame unique is that it requires our cast to act, sing, and dance," Kevin Tancharoen, director, said. "These guys are really talented, real-life triple threats that make this film genuine. This is their shot at Fame."

Tancharoen did an excellent job not showing that becoming famous is an easy task. The film opened up with ordinary looking students auditioning to get into a private school that offered training in the Arts. Students auditioned as dancers, singers, musicians, and stand-up comedians after hours of practice.

The film also took the audience into intimate relationships and friendships between the students which showed typical dynamics that we all go through in life. The film closed showing how everybody turned out with their fame—as a dancer, comedian or such. Besides upbeat music throughout the film, there was also beautiful singing voices and orchestral music played by the students.

According to Kay Panabaker, who played Jenny in Fame, some of the shoots took place in Los Angeles while others took place in New York City. “I have loved working on Fame, whether it was rehearsing or shooting, in LA or in NYC. I liked being able to travel and still work,” Panabaker said on e-mail. Some of the shoots took all night, Panabaker said. “I actually love night shoots and get even more hyper, if that's possible,” Panabaker said.
In summary, if you are up to listening to music and watching someone perform, Fame is the film of choice—and it is under 2 hours.

The Queen Mary and the California Repertory Company Go Hand in Hand

The Queen Mary in Long Beach, Calif. Photos: Courtesy of The Queen Mary

California Repertory Company (Cal Rep) opened its 2009-2010 season Friday at The Queen Mary with David Eldridge’s Festen—and both parties developed a symbiotic relationship which is needed during the recession.

Anna Steers (Helene), David Vegh (Christian) and Josh Nathan (Michael) Photo by Keith Ian Polakoff via the California Repertory Company Public Relations

Eldridge based Festen on the film The Celebration--a Cannes Film Festival favorite. In it, Christian, who lost his twin sister to suicide, planned to revenge his father at his 60th birthday celebration in the presence of his entire family by unfolding hidden truths including how the father abused both siblings in the wealthy household.

Vegh with Jeff Paul (Helge) Photo by Keith Ian Polakoff via the Cal Rep Public Relations

Alex Levin (Lars), Jocelyn Hall (Pia), Steers, Vegh, Nathan and Deborah Lazor (Mette)

However, the play also had humorous scenes such as bedroom activities between couples as seen in the above photo.

CSULB’s Artistic Director Joanne Gordon directed the play. “It is important we see the play as both a domestic and political drama. The theme of confronting the past is as valid for a single family as it is for our entire country. We all struggle to accept truths because ignoring them can be comfortable,” Gordon said.

According to Marketing Manager at The Queen Mary, Erika Testo, someone introduced the Cal Rep to the Queen Mary because they needed a theater for their shows. The Queen Mary agreed to host the Cal Rep to boost their revenues especially during the recession when less people are traveling. As a solution, the ship focused its marketing to local businesses such as the Cal Rep. “We thought that the uniqueness and creativity of Cal Rep and their show calendar would prove a valuable partner for The Queen Mary,” Testo said. “We look forward to Cal Rep introducing new audiences to the ship, such as students.”

Ensemble including CSULB's alumnus Professor Emeritus Ken Rugg (Grandfather) on the far left. Photo by Keith Ian Polakoff

Festen Comes to the Queen Mary on Friday

California Repertory Company (Cal Rep) opened its 2009-2010 season Friday at The Queen Mary with David Eldridge’s Festen—and both parties developed a symbiotic relationship which is needed during the recession. Eldridge based Festen on the film The Celebration--a Cannes Film Festival favorite. In it, Christian, who lost his twin sister to suicide, planned to revenge his father at his 60th birthday celebration in the presence of his entire family by unfolding hidden truths including how the father abused both siblings in the wealthy household. At The Queen Mary, CSULB’s Artistic Director Joanne Gordon will be directing the play. “It is important we see the play as both a domestic and political drama. The theme of confronting the past is as valid for a single family as it is for our entire country. We all struggle to accept truths because ignoring them can be comfortable,” Gordon said.
According to Marketing Manager at The Queen Mary, Erika Testo, someone introduced the Cal Rep to the Queen Mary because they needed a theater for their shows. The Queen Mary agreed to host the Cal Rep to boost their revenues especially during the recession when less people are traveling. As a solution, the ship focused its marketing to local businesses such as the Cal Rep. “We thought that the uniqueness and creativity of Cal Rep and their show calendar would prove a valuable partner for The Queen Mary,” Testo said. “We look forward to Cal Rep introducing new audiences to the ship, such as students.”
Theater Arts Graduate student Anna Steers, who plays Helene said the experience rehearsing at the Queen Mary “has been a grand, big and wonderful atmosphere, and a great place to work and be creative because of the grand space.” According to Steers, last year the Theater Arts graduate students rehearsed at The Amory which was converted from a gymnasium into a theater. “However, this time at The Queen Mary they have a real stage and the whole rehearsal process has been so much fun,” Steers said. “There are new elements for the Cal Rep: a new play, a new theater and a new Theater Arts alumni, so I think the audience will be excited to attend the show there.”
According to Steers, the material in the play is heavy because it consists of intense conflicts between family members and adult content. “I think people from all walks of life should see this play, as it speaks to a basic human experience,” Theater Arts Graduate student David Vegh said. Vegh plays Christian which is one of the key characters in Festen. “I feel fortunate to be surrounded by a cast and team that is focused and committed to the work of trying to bring this rather challenging play to life,” Vegh said. Gordon has taken a highly theatrical approach to this material, according to Vegh. Cal Rep performances are in the Royal Theater aboard The Queen Mary. The production runs Tuesday through Saturday, September 25-October 17 (with the exception of Tuesday, September 29) at 8 pm. Tickets are $20 for general admission, $16 for students, military, and seniors (55 and older). Parking at the Queen Mary (www.queenmary.com) is $8 for patrons of Cal Rep performances, $6 for CSULB students, and $6 for patrons who have dinner aboard the ship. Long Beach Public Transit also runs directly to the Queen Mary. For tickets and information please call (562) 985-5526 or visit www.calrep.org. --END--

Brian Eno's 77 Million Paintings at CSULB

Brian Eno on the Wall at California State Long Beach's University Museum of Art (UAM)--until Dec. 13, 2009. Photo: UAM

Brian Eno came to California State University Long Beach (CSULB) on Sept. 20 to give a lecture about his 77 Million Paintings at the school’s Carpenter Performing Arts Center (CPAC). Tickets were as much as $100 each.

Brian Eno giving a presentation at CSULB. Photo by Megan Clancy

Eno is probably well known for his work on ambient music, a type of New Age music, since the 1970s—especially among older people, according to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambient_music. The British-raised artist has worked with U2, Grammy-winning Coldplay and David Bowie among many other artists as their musical collaborator, according to CSULB’s University Art Museum’s press release.

Eno, dressed in black, on a Sunday evening in Long Beach, opened his presentation with “Thank you for coming,” with a smile. “The purpose of the 77 Million Paintings is to see the combination of language and change,” Eno said. “I want people to sit back and look at the paintings evolve for hours.” He often joked during his lecture, making the entire audience laughing.

One of Eno's work is displayed at the UAM. Photo: UAM

Eno used computers to create the moving images by superimposing the images over each other—in which he used 400 separate images in his newest masterpiece—the 77 Million Paintings. Eno was fascinated with Generative Art because he wanted to show art that evolves. “I want people to come and see unfamiliar images which primarily use technology to create the art, even if the images do not make any sense,” Eno said. “I like to use different things in art, and to give people a constructed view.” He calls his art an experience.

To make 77 Million Paintings clear, Eno made sure that each image completed its stage before it evolves into an new image. “I want people to experience art in a wide space because this evolving art may not make sense in one spot while it could at a different point of view,” Eno said. Eno had an objective of showing his music in a visual way, using 77 Million Paintings as his opportunity, with music emanating from inserted auditory boom boxes. A trip to the mountains inspired Eno to create this new masterpiece. “I really love it and I want to show change because art and people change all the time,” Eno said.

Brian Eno next to a still image of his work. Photo by Megan Clancy