Sate: November 2013

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Hollywood Remakes? Yuk!

I was watching TV when this movie ad came on with Vince Vaughn and was taken aback: Delivery Man! I had watched a movie earlier this year called Starbuck which had the same premise of a man who had donated sperm and was the center of a lawsuit because the fertility clinic made a mistake and he was the father of over 500 children. Starbuck was a French Canadian movie, most dialogue was in French but it was subtitled in English. I guess Delivery Man is the Hollywood version (in English, of course).

Then I called The Dinner Game, another Hollywood remake of a French movie. I had watched the original in French Diner de Cons, it was hilarious and I couldn't see how Hollywood could make it better. Les Visiteurs another famous French comedy also suffered a Hollywood remake. Yes, I really do detest Hollywood remakes of funny French comedies. So, what is the solution? Since people hate reading subtitles, the French should do like they do when American movies go to France.

A couple years ago, I studied in France and one evening while watching TV, I noticed that they dubbed over American shows. For instance, I was watching Golden Girls and Blanche’s voice wasn't Rue McClanahan but compared to the other girls, she had a similar intonation but in French. So when French movies come to these United States, they could still leave the movie in French with English subtitles (for the Francophiles) but should consider dubbing the movie in English and stretch the appeal to a larger audience. I only named three movies that I watched but there are many more so France and Quebec, Canada listen up: dub your movies in English and stop the horrendous Hollywood remakes!

my poem for the week

Here’s one of my over the top poems. Do you agree? Let me know in the comments.

poetry contest

Like2Love Miami Beach Poetry Contest. Details at http://www.miamibeachfl.gov/news/scroll.aspx?id=71222

The last day to send an entry is December 2, 2013.

POETRY AROUND TOWN

Poetry Club. South Regional/BC Library Multi-Purpose Room. Monthly, every 3^rd Tuesday at 6:30 pm.

Poetry & Spoken Word. Goddess Store n Studio. 2017 Harrison St, Hollywood, FL. Monthly, every 3rd Sunday. 6 pm.

Open mike (music, comedy, poetry). Gigi’s Music Café. 4385 NW 88 Ave. Sunrise, FL. Weekly on Wednesdays at 7 pm.

Some resources for poetry events include poetry.openmikes.org and meetup.com.

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CONFERENCES

30th Miami Book Fare International
When: November 17-24, 2013
http://www.miamibookfair.com/

10th Annual Palm Beach Poetry Festival
When: January 20-25, 2014
http://www.palmbeachpoetryfestival.org/

Saturday, November 16, 2013

Art Walk

I was looking forward to it. When the sky was crying, I was crying. Then it stopped and I crossed my fingers and hoped they didn't call off the art walk. So many venues, so much art. They didn't! My favorite was the nature photographs and I am still thinking of getting the 2014 calendar. Take a look on the Facebook photos and let me know if you agree: https://www.facebook.com/RhettButlerPhotography
So I am glad that I could make it to the Island City Art Walk this past Friday. Next art walk is 3rd Friday of next month - that will be my birthday and not sure how I will celebrate yet but if/when you go, tell me your favorite art or artist.

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Poem of the Week

Here's one I wrote even before I framed a poster of a Dutch artist work and placed on my wall.

Saturday, November 2, 2013

Films, Shakespeare, poetry and music

“If music be the food of love, play on…” Duke’s speech in Act 1 of Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare

Last Saturday night, I was volunteering at FLIFF and while speaking to some of the cast of “The Last Hit,” I recalled those lines from Shakespeare. Coincidentally, those lines appeared in a scene the next day in a film called “Chasing Shakespeare” when the father made a music room for his son. I had cold chills when I saw the words on a plaque above the converted barn. For me, William Shakespeare, although a playwright, this soliloquy by the Duke is an indication of early poetry and music interplay.

More recently, Rolling Stones magazine highlighted Bob Dylan as poet and songwriter. How many other songwriters are also considered poets? Bob Marley, Jim Morrison, Lou Reed and Janis Joplin comes to mind but surprisingly, not many. Bon Jovi, Heart, Lauryn Hill and Jewel are excellent examples of lyrics that may be poetry. When is a song so poetic? When is a poem so lyrical that it is a song?

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