COVID Dystopia: Unemployment

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With millions dead and millions disabled due to Long COVID, businesses are having trouble finding able bodies workers. The animation in this scene works fine. I could animate someone in the background pulling their mask down, but that would be overkill.

Today COVID Dystopia will screen at the Babylon Theater in the Berlin Short Film Festival. It will not be shown on the large screen in the historic 1920s theater, but on a smaller screen in the back of the theater next to the orchestra rehearsal room.

Charlie Chaplin‘s Modern Times will be shown on the big screen with a live orchestra. I would really like to see that screening but it will be happening at the same time my film will be shown. Pam and I have explored much of East Berlin already and we will be heading to the Museum Island for a day of exploring the museums before going to the film festival tonight.

 

Yesterday This Was Home: A Future of Civil Rights

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The 12 year old boy morphs into a man while seated on the Greyhound bus seat. Sam explains how his experience on the bus helped fuel his further protests in high school. It was the beginning of his continued efforts to stand up for his rights. I decided to end the film with an iris out much like the ending of a silent era movie. I had Charlie Chaplin‘s, Circus in mind.

I learned a lot doing this film. I came to realize that at most I can produce 10 seconds of animation a day which usually amounted to one or two shots a day. The animation might go smoothly but then late at night I would be painting each individual drawing. I saved so much time by doing rather clean storyboards which I then re-used as the backgrounds for each shot.It turns out I really love animating when there is a compelling story to be told.

Each day during the pandemic I plan and execute on illustration which tells a story about the news of the day. It was nice to take a whole month to tell one story with action narration and music. Animation is really the ultimate art form which ties together all the artistic disciplines.

This film is now on display at the Orange County Regional History Center (65 East Central Blvd Orlando FL) for the new exhibition, Yesterday This Was Home, about the 1920 Ocoee Voting Day Massacre. The exhibition is open until February 14, 2021. The 1920 Ocoee Massacre in Orange County, Florida, remains the largest incident of voting-day violence in United States history.

Events unfolded on Election Day 1920, when Mose Norman, a black U.S. citizen, attempted to exercise his legal right to vote in Ocoee and was turned away from the polls. That evening, a mob of armed white men came to the home of his friend, July Perry, in an effort to locate Norman. Shooting ensued. Perry was captured and eventually lynched. An unknown number of African American citizens were murdered, and their homes and community were burned to the ground. Most of the black population of Ocoee fled, never to return.

This landmark exhibition will mark the 100-year remembrance of the Ocoee Massacre. The exhibition will explore not only this horrific time in our community’s history but also historical and recent incidents of racism, hatred, and terror, some right here at home.

The content will encourage reflection on a century of social transformation, the power of perspective, and the importance of exercising the right to vote, and will ask what lessons history can inspire moving forward.

To promote safe distancing, the museum has implemented new ticketing procedures for this special exhibition. For the run of the exhibition, the museum will have extended operating hours to create a safe viewing experience for a greater number of people. On Sundays the museum will open two hours earlier at 10 am. and stay open two hours earlier until 7 p.m. And on Thursdays, we will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

 

Bass Pro Shops

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I needed a new pair of hiking boots. The soles of my old set had literally started to flap loose. I was beginning to look like Charlie Chaplin‘s Tramp. Before getting the boots, I decided to get a sketch of the large fish tank in the middle of the huge Bass Pro Shops warehouse store. Bobcats, deer and bears roamed above in a taxidermy diorama. Water cascaded down the false rocks into the tank. Behind me, rows of guns were for sale, but I’m not in the marked for an assault rifle.

While working on the sketch, a friend from Boston called whose back had seized up, making it impossible to get out of bed. Someone had to go over and help with getting dressed. It was apparently an awkward scene. Being on my own, the thought of not getting out of bed and staring at the ceiling was a rather terrifying thought. On the other hand, I was in the middle of the sketch and wanted to get back to it. I listened, but kept my hands active. That evening I sent several get well presents. My friend made a full recovery.

I found the boots I needed and went to the register. My credit card didn’t work. I asked the cashier to try a second time. I had to leave bootless. That evening I was contacted by my bank. My identity had been stolen and someone had tried to make purchases with my card out of state. The bank had canceled my card. Thankfully the incident didn’t cost me any money, but it was a major inconvenience. This was the second time my identity has been stolen. Last year someone filed a tax return in my name and got a refund. In this digital age identity fraud seems to run rampant. I have turned to using cash,which is a solid, old school analog way to make a purchase.

Dance Theater of Orlando Presents Touch.

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I went to a tech rehearsal for Dance Theater of Orlando‘s presentation of Touch, The Human Experience. The Dance Theater of Orlando is funded by ME Dance a not-for-profit organization founded by Marshall Ellis in 2011. The ME Theater is located at 1300 La Quinta Drive Orlando Florida which is 2 short drive so of the Florida Mall. I arrived just as Alex Schudde Ellis was opening the theater. The dancers stretched in preparation of the run through of the show.

Touch follows the lives of twelve people who are dealing with their vulnerable lives in various loosely interrelated tales all set during the Great Depression. In the pre-show, video was projected of a UPA era cartoon that encouraged people to invest in the stock market. What followed was a montage of black and white photos from the Great Depression. The minimal set gave hints of a shanty town. A narrator related the history as President Roosevelt created New Deal programs to help raise the country from it poverty.

As the story unfolds, we are first introduced to Billy (Abram Garcia)
and Diamond Jackie (Alex Schudde), the lead couple whose story is
interwoven throughout the show to showcase how they handle their
relationship struggle through trying times after Billy develops a
fascination for the Fish Lady (Sara Rose Smith). The dynamic chemistry
portrayed during their introductory dance will have the audience fall in
love with these characters and cheer for the recuperation of their
relationship throughout the struggles, but only time will tell what will
become of their relationship.

As the show continues, the audience is continually introduced to a
cast of new characters who all hold endearing traits that
evolve through the show as they each try to figure out how to survive
the Great Depression and find their true selves. The wide assortment of
personalities include: Vibes Man (Christopher McKenzie) who is searching
for his lost soul; Frank and Mary (Nathan Greenberg and Lauren
Sherwood), the wide-eyed, innocent and bashful coming-of-age couple in
the countryside; and many others who represent different social and
economic classes.

As all of their lives come together, there is one inevitable factor
that continues to motivate them to push through: the human touch. Despite their own
struggles, they make an effort to help raise each other up it ultimately
leads to each character reawakening. Each song from Bruce
Springsteen is specifically selected to represent the emotions and
current hardships of the characters, which creates a smooth, consistent
transition between all of the different stories as they blend together.



Charlie Chaplin as The Dictator filled the theater with his speech that stressed peace and compassion. After seeing so many images of suffering during the depression his speech stressed that war is never the answer.  I have seen the Dictator on TV, but seeing it larger than life certainly makes an impression like OZ’s visage in smoke.

By the last number, it becomes clear that love conquers all. All twelve dancers  filled the stage with their energy. Lauren Sherwood leaped and flew with endless grace supported by a male dancer. This is when dance seems magical as it defies gravity’s pull. Couples united and hope endured as Springsteen’s music roared it’s approval.

Mark Your Calendars. 

Touch, the Human Experience runs…

March 4-6 at 8:30pm and March 11-13 at 8:30pm

ME Theater 1300 La Quinta Drive Orlando FL 32809

Tickets are $20

The Marble Bar in Sydney is a popular retreat for locals.

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In Sydney Australia Terry found the opulent Marble Bar (488 George Street Sydney NSW 2000) where we relaxed over several drinks between our tourist rushes. The bar was first built in 1883 in the former Adams Hotel on Pitts Street. The entire venue was painstakingly dismantled and moved to it’s present location at the Hilton Sydney. The original George Adams Bar was built for the then astronomical price of 32,000 pounds. The money was secured through the Tattersall Sweeps, one of a series of horse races held in New South Whales at the end of the 1800s. The decoration of the bar followed the traditions of the Italian Renaissance with Corinthian columns capped by solid brass capitols. 100 tons of marble were used from the best Belgium and African mines. Decorative stained glass panels can be found everywhere giving the room a warm magical glow.

A few people were curious as my sketch progressed. Locals are proud of this historic bar. A women stopped to tell us the bars entire history. I ordered a tasty Charlie Chaplin simply because I like the silent era comedian. The Charlie Chaplin Cocktail was one of the premier drinks of the Waldorf-Astoria prior to 1920. It has an equal mix of lime, apricot brandy and sloe gin and is documented in A.S. Crockett‘s The Old Waldorf-Astoria Bar Book and it’s a nice, gentle mix, which is sweet and tasty.

A huge party of well dressed patrons soon filled the bar. They might have been from a wedding or business group, I couldn’t decide.  The dress code of the bar is “smart casual” and Terry and I might not have met the code since our dress code wan “casual tourist.” We and I returned upstairs to the busy modern streets of Sydney stepping from the romance of this historic time capsule.

Tippi Hendren

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On April 12th at 7:30PM as part of the Florida Film Festival, there was a screening of Alfred Hitchcock‘s “The Birds“. I was the very last person to enter the Enzian Theater for the sold out screening. The last seat was in the front row right in front of the seats where actress Tippi Hendren was going to be interviewed after the film. I’ve seen the film before on TV but it is much more impressive on the big screen.

Barry Sandler acted as the moderator asking Tippi questions to get things started. She praised Hitchcock’s film making genius and was thankful for all the acting tips he gave her. She also worked with Charlie Chaplin who would act out the whole scene himself and then ask the actor to repeat it. There were several truly fanatical fans in the audience who would shout out in delight to Tippi’s responses.

In the middle of the interview she spoke at length about Hitchcock’s dark side. He became sexually obsessed with her and asked her to do things that she refused to do. In the birds Tippi had seagulls and crows tied to her in the attic scene and for five days, they threw birds at her. The crew grew concerned for her safety but Hitchcock was unrelenting. She was pretty good at deflecting the birds, but after so many takes the birds got quite cranky. One cut her cheek just below her eye. A doctor advised her to rest for a week. After shooting “Marni”, another Hitchcock film, Tippy had to get away from him.  His advances became more brazen. If she broke her contract, Hitchcock vowed to ruin her career which he did. Other directors wanted Tippi to be in their films but Hitchcock would always say she was busy.

Tippi’s daughter is Melanie Griffith. Tippi was shocked when Melanie told her that she got a part in a movie. She should have had some ides of how difficult it is to work as an actress. You are always looking for work and the hours are horrendous when you are working. That didn’t stop Melanie.

Now Tippi is involved in an organization that hopes to save wild cats like tigers and lions from captivity. Some people assume she is rich from starring in Hitchcock’s films. She was paid just $500 a week when making the birds. “That money is all gone” she assured us. She is desperate to raise money  through Shambala to protect these wild cats. Hitchcock may have ruined her  acting career, but he certainly didn’t break her spirit.

My Funny Valentine

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My Funny Valentine, hosted by Bryce West and the Friends of the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra featured a preview performance by Michael Andrews and Swingerhead.  The event began at 7PM at the home of Bryce West. Parking was at the First Baptist Church Windermere, Lakeside Campus (8464 Winter Garden Vineland Rd, Orlando, FL).

When I got to the church parking lot there was a shuttle bus waiting. I climbed in as the only passenger and the took off down a dirt road. We arrived at a gorgeous lake side mansion and after I picked up a name tag, Bryce showed me some of his art collection. He had a portrait of a cleric by Gainsborough in the dining area where food was ready for guests. Another portrait of Marquis Drogheda was by Reynolds. A mysterious dark Dutch painting by Petrov Van Schenbel depicted skaters in a moonlit landscape. The light from a chandelier caused the oil glazes to glare making the painting hard to see.

I set up pool side to sketch the staging area. By the time Michael Andrews performed, the sketch was solidly blocked in. My Funny Valentine will be a concert featuring Michael Andrews, his band Swingerhead, and the Orlando Philharmonic on February 9th at 2PM and 8PM at the Bob Carr. Michael explained to the audience that many of the songs were by Marvin Hamlisch for a new musical of “The Nutty Professor“. The play has been seven years in development. It was just performed in North Carolina and is Broadway bound once the producer gets the finances worked out. Michael has been working with Jerry Lewis to bring this musical to the stage. Michael said he got into entertainment because of Jerry Lewis and now the 86 year old is his mentor. Jerry’s mentor was Charlie Chaplin who took the young comedian under his wing.