Category: Published

DEATH OF A SALESMAN REVIEW AVAILABLE ON WEEKEND NOTES

Posted on by Lloyd Marken

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I was 17 when I first read Death of a Salesman in my senior year of English. Our teacher got to crux of the story when she asked a quarter of us to stand up and advised the rest of us would most likely become unhappy with how our lives turned out. At 17 I remember the disappointment and reality of Willy’s story resonating with me and that it was all too real a possibility to not have your life turn out the way you wanted it too. The idea of that has always stayed with me and grows more real every year.

Watching the play again 20 years later I found new things caught my attention. Willy has a house paid off, a wife who adores him and a friend willing to help. Biff his son is less broken by the revelation of his father as he is confused by his priorities. The tragedy has become more complex and more saddening. At 17 I understood Willy’s dreams, at 38 I know all too well his insecurities but I can also see he has more to be grateful for if he can just get out of his own way. I have no doubt I could see it a different way in another few years. This is a very rich text that continues to speak to us.

Karen took me to see the play last week done by Queensland Theatre and I have been fortunate to have a review of it published with Weekend Notes here https://www.weekendnotes.com/death-of-a-salesman-playhouse-qpac/ Let me know what you think.

Weekend Notes are a growing online magazine with a wealth of contributors based out of several cities across the United Kingdom, Australia and New York. Articles are leisure related and can include a wide variety of subjects from rainforest hikes to cultural festivals, from what hot new play is on at your underground theatre to a ultra trendy eatery. Writers are paid for their work based partly on how many views their articles get so please feel free to stop by and show some love.

-Lloyd Marken

ALITA: BATTLE ANGEL REVIEW AVAILABLE ON SCENESTR

Posted on by Lloyd Marken

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I was lucky enough to attend a preview screening of Alita: Battle Angel the other night to review it for Scenestr magazine with a cinema full of people. With the film’s release having been pushed back, middling reviews and a expensive budget has the narrative of being dead on arrival. Yet there is lot to recommend about it even if there are some criticisms I have, I hope it finds an audience. You can read my review here http://scenestr.com.au/movies-and-tv/alita-battle-angel-review-20190212

I’ve been intrigued since the original teaser trailer back in 2017 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gu1vBQXazOQ

Produced by Eyeball Media Enterprises Scenestr is an online national magazine with local offices around Australia. Celebrating 25 years in 2018 of publishing history they’ve excelled at moving into the digital realm but they remain at heart from the streets. They still publish magazines in print for Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, Queensland and now Victoria! every month too.

-Lloyd Marken

ON THE BASIS OF SEX REVIEW AVAILABLE ON WEEKEND NOTES

Posted on by Lloyd Marken

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Karen took me to a preview screening of On The Basis of Sex and I was lucky to have a review of it published on Weekend Notes. The film starring Felicity Jones covers the period of Ruth Bader Ginsburg that was particularly formative for her later achievements. The film has not received universal strong reviews but Karen and I enjoyed it quite a bit. As formulaic as the structure may have been I found something admirable in the slow burn nature of the performances and the balance between the domestic and the professional. You can read my review here https://www.weekendnotes.com/on-the-basis-of-sex-film-review/167825/

Weekend Notes are a growing online magazine with a wealth of contributors based out of several cities across the United Kingdom, Australia and New York. Articles are leisure related and can include a wide variety of subjects from rainforest hikes to cultural festivals, from what hot new play is on at your underground theatre to a ultra trendy eatery. Writers are paid for their work based partly on how many views their articles get so please feel free to stop by and show some love.

-Lloyd Marken

INTERVIEW WITH ‘OUR TOWN’ DIRECTOR CLARE WATSON AVAILABLE ON SCENESTR

Posted on by Lloyd Marken

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I love the play Our Town, I think it captures the essence of life in all its tragedy, beauty and humour so effortlessly that it never surprises that as it ages it remains timeless. The Artistic Director of Black Swan Theatre is a fan too and getting the chance to talk to her about her production of it was one of the most fun interviews I have ever had. The kind of ones where you lament having to put it to a set word limit because it can’t possibly cover the scope of the artists’ passion, thoughts and ideas. Yet you try, because you want to be worthy of the opportunity to speak to such people.

The production sounds like a winner, set outdoors in the theatre courtyard they’re going to have a reflective surface for the stage which will capture the long beautiful Perth sunsets and then the night sky. Those familiar with the play will know what an important part the changing sky can play. There’s going to be a wealth of locals, real Deliveroo drivers and doctors along with three talented actors Ian Michael, Abbie-Lee Lewis and Shari Sebbens who are all First Nation. Sebbens I saw give a particularly strong performance in the film Australia Day (2017) most recently. Given the importance of small town turn of the century America to the story its exciting to think of the possibilities that immediately come up when casting with such a focus on Perth locals and actors whose heritage predate white settlement in Australia. This particular production of Thornton Wilder’s classic shouldn’t be one to miss for fans old and new. You can read my interview with the delightful and talented Ms Watson here http://scenestr.com.au/arts/our-town-seeing-beauty-in-the-ordinary-in-perth-20190124

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Produced by Eyeball Media Enterprises Scenestr. is an online national magazine with local offices around Australia. Having started in 1993 they’ve excelled at moving into the digital realm but they remain at heart from the streets. They still publish magazines in print for Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland every month. This interview was published in print on page 19 of the 38 page first WA issue for 2019. You can read a digital version of the printed Western Australia edition here http://scenestr.com.au/read/WA/2019/23-WA/scenestr-WA-23.html#p=18

-Lloyd Marken

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INTERVIEW WITH COMEDIAN HEATH FRANKLIN AVAILABLE ON SCENESTR AGAIN

Posted on by Lloyd Marken

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Another milestone was reached recently in my writing career when I got to interview an individual for the second time in promotion of their latest show. Having the opportunity to speak to such a talented comedian like Heath Franklin was a thrill the first time around and I feel very fortunate to have been able to do a second round of questions. Franklin came to national fame on the sketch TV show The Ronnie Johns Half Hour and his Chopper Read bits quickly became a mainstay. The tour of the latest Chopper stand-up show continues but he is getting to do more dramatic work.

You can read the interview here http://scenestr.com.au/comedy/heath-franklin-is-faithful-to-his-chopper-s-religion-20190123

Scenestr129.jpgProduced by Eyeball Media Enterprises Scenestr. is an online national magazine with local offices around Australia. Having started in 1993 they’ve excelled at moving into the digital realm but they remain at heart from the streets. They still publish magazines in print for Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland every month. This interview was published in print on page 37 of the first QLD issue for 2019. You can read a digital version of the printed Western Australia edition here http://scenestr.com.au/read/QLD/2019/1113-QLD/scenestr-QLD-1113.html#p=35

-Lloyd Marken

INTERVIEW WITH ‘BLANC DE BLANC’ DIRECTOR SCOTT MAIDMENT AVAILABLE ON SCENESTR MAGAZINE

Posted on by Lloyd Marken

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I was very fortunate to get to write the cover story for the Christmas-New Year Western Australian print issue of Scenestr, my sixth cover story for the magazine in the past 12 months.  I got to interview Scott Maidment who directs Blanc de Blanc which is showing at Fringe World in Perth this month continuing a two year tour throughout the world to sell out crowds. Maidment has a passion for what he does, originally a performer who founded Strut & Fret Production House which now produces shows that combine cabaret and circus in these fantastic productions. I discussed with him what he sees as his responsibility as the director and getting to work with Madonna amongst other things. It was an absolute pleasure and you can read the interview here http://scenestr.com.au/arts/blanc-de-blanc-sets-its-sights-on-perth-for-fringe-world-20181220

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Produced by Eyeball Media Enterprises Scenestr. is an online national magazine with local offices around Australia. Having started in 1993 they’ve excelled at moving into the digital realm but they remain at heart from the streets. They still publish magazines in print for Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland every month. The cover story on Blanc de Blanc features on pages 10 and 11 of the WA print issue. You can read a digital version of the printed Western Australia edition here http://scenestr.com.au/read/WA/2018/22-WA/scenestr-WA-22.html#p=10

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It is the third Cover Story this year I have done for the WA mag. My first cover story for Scenestr was a year ago and also for the last WA mag for 2017 being issue #9 where I interviewed Jascha Boyce from the circus group Gravity and Other Myths. I followed it with 3 cover stories for WA in 2018, issue #11 interviewing SNL star and stand-up comedian Michael Che, #15 covering Chuck Norris coming to Supernova and now issue #22 about Blanc de Blanc.

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To have done one cover story means a lot to me and to have interviewed such fascinating people remains one of the scariest and most fulfilling things I have dared to do these past two years. Whatever 2019 brings, I will always be grateful for this. If you’re in Perth I would strongly urge you to check out Blanc de Blanc, clearly a show not to be missed made by very hard working and talented people.

-Lloyd Marken

INTERVIEW WITH FLICKERFEST DIRECTOR BRONWYN KIDD AVAILABLE ON SCENESTR MAGAZINE

Posted on by Lloyd Marken

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On assignment with Scenestr magazine I interviewed the director of Flickerfest, Australia’s largest short film festival with Academy accreditation and BAFTA recognition. You can read the interview here http://scenestr.com.au/movies/flickerfest-2019-a-different-way-of-storytelling-20181219

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Produced by Eyeball Media Enterprises, Scenestr is an online national magazine with local offices around Australia. Celebrating 25 years in 2018 of publishing history they’ve excelled at moving into the digital realm but they remain at heart from the streets. They still publish magazines in print for WA, SA, NSW, Vic and QLD every month. This interview was published in print in the Christmas-New Year issue for New South Wales on page 28 which is always a thrill for a GenX guy like myself. A digital copy of that issue can be viewed here http://scenestr.com.au/read/NSW/2018/32-NSW/scenestr-NSW-32.html#p=29 If you’re into music they’re a great read but they do cover all of the arts including festivals, stand-up comics, fashion, theatre and film. I feel very fortunate to get to write for them.

-Lloyd Marken

LLOYD’S RECAP OF THE FILMS OF 2018 AVAILABLE AT HEAVY

Posted on by Lloyd Marken

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New Year’s Eve I was scrambling to get a submission in for HEAVY Magazine which I have been contributor for since April 2017. I’m not always able to be as prolific as I would like but a chance to contribute as one of their film reviewers to a recap of the year’s films was too good to miss out on. Similar to how I feel honoured to contribute to end of year countdowns for X-Press magazine. I’ll of course be putting together my annual Favourite Films of the Year later on in 2019 but this will give you an idea of who is in the running at the moment for a Top 10 entry. You can find the post here https://heavymag.com.au/a-re-cap-of-the-films-of-2018/

I hope you enjoy and feel free to comment or give any social media love.

Heavy is an independent magazine and website that is all about the music and specifically heavy music and supporting the Australian music scene in general. Fortunately for me they do cover film as well and I have been fortunate to have a few things published there.

-Lloyd Marken

COLETTE REVIEW AVAILABLE AT X-PRESS MAGAZINE

Posted on by Lloyd Marken

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It was a thrill to be on assignment for X-Press Magazine attending a preview screening of the film Colette a couple of weeks ago, my second for the magazine following a preview screening of Tully earlier in the year. Sadly while I think Colette is made with the best of intentions and is very relevant to our times, I can’t say I was greatly entertained by the film. You can read my review here http://xpressmag.com.au/colette-gets-6-10-the-hand-that-holds-the-pen/

This wraps up my first year writing for X-Press with 15 posts featured. I look forward to working with them in 2019.

X-Press Magazine was established in 1985 and at one point was Australia’s highest circulating free weekly entertainment publication with over 40,000 copies reaching 1,0000 outlets every week.  On the 24th May, 2016 Issue 1527 hit stands. Like many publications of its ilk X-Press Magazine is now foremost an online magazine engaged globally and making the most of the possibilities that new digital technology offers. It’s roots though are tied to its home city, love of local artists and productions and music which it supports wholeheartedly. Perth a capital city most isolated from all the other capitals is continuing to grow and develop culturally and artistically with its own identity and talent. X-Press has always been there to capture this growth and will continue to do so.

-Lloyd Marken

‘VICE’ REVIEW AVAILABLE ON SCENESTR

Posted on by Lloyd Marken

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I am a big fan of director/writer Adam McKay so I was very happy to get to review his latest Vice for Scenestr magazine. I attended a preview screening with Karen at New Farm cinemas with the customary meal afterwards at the nearby Pig’n’Whistle pub. Such evenings have occurred enough that they’re becoming a habit, a fact I hope continues am very grateful for. I also ran into someone who I knew years ago as a teenager at an after school drama group. He’s since become a reality TV star and is heavily involved in media and attending all kinds of social engagements around town. He’s doing well and it was nice to get to talk to him.

As for the movie, I think this is a less flashy follow-up to The Big Short but cut from the same cloth. You can read more of my thoughts here http://scenestr.com.au/movies-and-tv/vice-review-20181219 I was really keen to see this film and so look forward to hearing your thoughts. The trailer that got me so excited is below.

Produced by Eyeball Media Enterprises Scenestr is an online national magazine with local offices around Australia. Celebrating 25 years in 2018 of publishing history they’ve excelled at moving into the digital realm but they remain at heart from the streets. They still publish magazines in print for Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, Queensland and now Victoria! every month too.

-Lloyd Marken