THE BEGINNINGS & ORIGIN STORY OF "OPERATION:CAPSTONE"
Hello, all! In looking at the date of the previous blog post, I am now realizing how ambitious keeping up a blog can seem, and can eventually be. In reviewing 'THE GODFATHER' (1972), I found a new niche that I had had an inkling existed for me, but did not truly understand the influence it could have over my life. I love film, and I love to perform; thus, character analysis is something that is near-second nature, and almost subconscious. Additionally, over the summer, I was preparing for a role that I eventually took on in late-September in Marquette University's mainstage production of Larry Shue's comedy "The Foreigner." The role required me to master not only the Standard British Dialect (how you might hear John Cleese or an edUcated British person from Cambridge speak), but another foreign dialect to be employed almost interchangeably. In talking with the late-Phylis Ravel, who was the original director of this production and the one who cast me in the role, she suggested I delve into the deep, and often complex, career of the late comedian from the 1950's, 60's, and 70's Peter Sellers. Sellers, she said, was a master of dialects, and renown the world-over for his ability to take on different characterizations and improvise on a whim. She said I would understand once I began to watch him, and that all would become clear.
And she was absolutely right.
Peter Sellers has become a sort of idol of mine. I have read two biographies of his. I now own four of his movies. I have discovered he was revered by more contemporary comedians who I also admire, including Eddie Murphy, Robin Williams, and Sacha Baron Cohen ("BORAT"). His commitment to character, intelligent brand of comedy while still retaining innocence, and pension for physicality has only nurtured my appreciation of his career.
Enter ENGLISH 3210: Advanced Composition - a class required for my major of Writing Intensive English at Marquette University. This was a class I had not originally planned to take this semester, but at the behest of my advisor, I decided to swap it in for "Astrology." In hindsight, while I do regret not being able to explain a constellation to my younger cousin Alex over Labor Day Weekend 2012, overall, it has proven to be awful, monotonous, and counter-intellectual.
Just kidding! It's been an amazing class, and has actually highlighted with a bright yellow hypothetical tool my strengths and weaknesses as a writer. The semester has been wonderfully rewarding and conducive to my growth not only as a writer, but as a more informed student in the Marquette University community. The growth was mostly allowed because of the independent emphasis of the class curriculum. Our professor - Dr. Fishman - created a class where, much like writing, the focus has become finding our voice, and becoming independently accountable. The epitome of this independent focus is this project, and the premise of the project. In essence, we (the class) were tasked with choosing any assignment that had to do with lengthy writing, that could be accomplished over the course of approximately a month. In deciding upon my own topic, I admit that I found myself to be lost in the semantics of the assignment. This resolved itself quickly, however, once I logged into my Twitter account, and viewed my own page; at the top, where one's personal website's link can be listed, I re-discovered this blog. And VUOLA!... err.. Well, not quite. I then had to decide what to write about. There, however, there was no confusion or any vague notions. After the experience I had over the summer with not only watching Peter Sellers films, but films of many other film heroes of mine (Daniel Day-Lewis being chief among these), and eventually filling out the "Cinephilia" bubble in future medical examinations, I decided to write about the style of Peter Sellers and Daniel Day-Lewis. I found that simply having the inspiration to write about these men shows how they have influenced me profoundly, and I wanted to nurture appreciation of artists in a world where physical profile, re-makes, and shallow dialogue have become the "de facto" norm amongst a great majority contemporary film. I have personally felt that the role of film as an artistic outlet and escapist form of entertainment for people the world-over has become a lost ideal. Through the completion of this project, I hope to inspire forward thinking, and maybe, the assertion of artistic technique within the world of performance.
The project I will be completing over the course of the next couple of weeks will profile each of these men and their similar approach to acting, despite the different genre focus. Peter Sellers is widely regarded as one of the most iconic character-comedians in the history of film and radio, and Daniel Day-Lewis has quickly set himself apart as an intensely talented and dedicated dramatic character actor - one of the most talented to ever live, in fact. Each man's commitment to character is not only similar, but near-identical, as each dedicated themselves to staying in character even whilst the cameras were "not rolling." With each actor, I will do the following:
(A.) Profile their early lives and upbringing;
(B.) Review a film of theirs that I particularly enjoyed;
(C.) Provide a character profile of my "favorite" (which will be defined in each appropriate section) character each portrayed;
(D.) Provide a final comparison of the two;
My argument I hope to portray throughout the completion of this is that without intense dedication to character, film loses authenticity and credibility, and character acting (or "method acting") is not specific to a specific genre as a result. The corollary to this argument is that, without the performer finding a voice for the character and the uniquely individual characterization necessary to portray the message the playwright/screenwriter intended, much like writing, much is lost in translation.
I will be beginning with Peter Sellers, his background, his beginnings, and his early radio and film work. I will more than likely include my review of "THE PARTY" (1968) within the same blog post, too, for any of you crazily anal people (not that there's ANYTHING wrong with that!) who will call for my extremities if I don't adhere to my own guidelines.
Until then, thank you for reading, everybody! I welcome comments below, and abbreviated chatting on Twitter in 140 characters or less; my identification for doing so is @chris_0reilly
Also, enjoy:
Peter Sellers on "Dean Martin Variety Show"
Daniel Day-Lewis as Bill 'The Butcher' in a scene from "GANGS OF NEW YORK" (2003)
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