TERROR NULLUS: We attended the Gallery of Modern Art at 6pm Wednesday 17OCT2018 to watch a free but sold out screening of Terror Nullius. This “film” made me feel really old, I’ve always slanted a little to the progressive side of things but as I get older I found more and more my tastes, politics and views are more and more out of touch. As a fat middle aged white male I can’t help but sometimes wonder why is there so much negativity attached to those things and feel a little targeted even as I acknowledge the traditional disadvantage of those who were not those things throughout history. Even that sentence feels so little limiting though, I guess I hesitate at the politics of division but want to support new opportunities and new voices to be heard. To that end I’m happy that Terror Nullius exists, I’m happy there are people out there with this viewpoint who put films like this out there. If it is for youth and the fringe dwellers and if I’m neither one of those now then so be it.
BIFF 2018 Billboard near GOMA. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Q&A for Terror Nullius. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Gallery of Modern Art. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
BIFF 2018 Billboard near GOMA. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Outside GOMA after Terror Nullius. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
GOMA at night. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Arriving at GOMA after work. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Q&A with Soda Jerk. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Outside GOMA after Terror Nullius. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
GOMA at night. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Q&A with Soda Jerk. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Gallery of Modern Art. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Q&A for Terror Nullius. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
BIFF 2018 Billboard near GOMA. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
BIFF 2018 Billboard near GOMA. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Arriving at GOMA after work. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Terror Nullius is a cutting together of old archival footage to present a new narrative, it is intended to reinterpret conventions of storytelling, cultural norms and to provoke. It is also meant to entertain I hope. Yet I rarely laughed, I found it one note and while some moments resonated in how they cleverly spliced together things (Mel Gibson’s abusive phone rant cut together with Charlize Theron in Mad Max: Fury Road for one), for the most part it felt repetitive and unimaginative. Like a kid thinking they’re a freedom fighter because they wearing a Che t-shirt at uni rather than say fighting and dying in the jungles of Central America for a communist guerilla. As a former arts student who railed against the policies of a conservative Prime Minister it s interesting to reckon with the passing of time and the challenging of norms that come from a culture I grew up in that has evolved into something new. The makers interviewed at a Q&A afterwards seem like intelligent, thoughtful and hard working people with ideals. If you enjoy their work I am happy for you and I wish them continued success. Yet for me Terror Nullius was boring, disrespectful and for the most part a wank.
The Brisbane International Film Festival traditionally opens on a Thursday and runs over two weekends concluding on a Sunday. This invariably creates a hopeful and excited mood going into the first weekend and a reflective and wistful one going into the second. It was no different this year but as opposed to the films seen at BIFF 2017 Karen and I really enjoyed the ones we saw this year and so our moods were further lifted after the first weekend.
On Friday night we went to Event Cinemas at the top of CBD shopping centre the Myer Centre which is always sitting on top of a building shutting down as cinemagoers attend late into the evening. We were there to see the director’s cut of the latest film from Chinese director Jia Zhangke and starring his constant collaborator Zhao Tan – Ash is Purest White. While he is a well known Chinese sixth generation auteur I was unfamiliar with his work and interested to see how I would find the street level modern style he is well known for. I had concerns it would prove as fascinating but also as unstructured as say the Han Jie’s Walking on the Wildside from BIFF 2007. Instead I found a moving movie that reflected the changing economy of a booming nation through the prism of small time criminals and one incredibly strong woman. I was lucky enough to have a review I wrote of the film published at Weekend Notes and you can read it here https://www.weekendnotes.com/ash-is-purest-white-film-review-brisbane-international-film-festival-2018/
The next day Karen and I went to Reading Cinemas in the northern suburb of Newmarket not far from where Karen once lived with her sister for several years when we were dating. Reading only opened there last year and has quickly established itself as a first rate cinema with comfortable seats, great menus and most importantly large screens and hi-tech sound systems. We were there to watch Arctic from Iceland starring Mads Mikkelsen which almost served as a rebuke to the muddled The Mountain Between Us from last year and showed how you make a great survival yarn. Again I’ve been fortunate enough to have my review published with Weekend Notes which you can check out here https://www.weekendnotes.com/arctic-film-review-brisbane-international-film-festival-2018/ In short the Brisbane International Film Festival 2018 got off to a flying start with it’s first weekend.
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.
A new milestone was reached for me the other day in regards to my work for Scenestr magazine. I was lucky enough to cover the opening night of the Brisbane International Film Festival 2018 for Scenestr which I will cherish for a long time to come. This follows on covering opening night in Brisbane for the Cine Latino Film Festival 2017 and the Italian Film Festival 2018 and reviewing Australia Day for Scenestr at BIFF 2017 and two events at the Byron BayFilm Festival 2017. Given my fond memories and deep love for the BIFF though I think long time readers will understand why this was a particular highlight to take in.
On the red carpet. Copyright Lloyd Marken
Rosie and Lloyd at the party. Copyright Lloyd Marken
Director of ‘Celeste’ Ben Hackworth discusses his film with BIFF Artistic Director Amanda Slack-Smith.
Rosie and Lloyd about to watch ‘Celeste’. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
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.
Long time readers will recall the affection I hold for my hometown film festival. We lost BIFF for a little while there 2014-2016 and I planned to write of my fond memories of it when it suddenly came back last year thanks in no small part to Palace Cinemas. Now having gone out to tender, it is back this year with a new home base at the Gallery of Modern Art and a new Artistic Director in Amanda Slack-Smith but we will always owe a debt to the Zeccolas for their part in bringing BIFF back in 2017. Palace Cinemas are not venue partners for BIFF this year instead a wide range of cinemas are involved including New Farm cinemas which held the first Brisbane Film Festival back in the 1960s.
Seen recently at New Farm Cinemas. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Karen won tickets through local rag and BIFF Sponsor The Courier Mail to attend a special preview screening at GOMA the day before opening night. We were welcomed by the Artistic Director to watch Woman At War from Iceland. The whole event had that air of being let in on a little secret and getting a sneak peek of what was to come. The atmosphere was warm and friendly and full of mutual love for cinema. A perfect way to kick off the film festival before “kicking off” the film festival, whoever came up with the idea should pat themselves on the back.
At the entrance to GOMA. Copyright Lloyd Marken
Copyright Lloyd Marken
Karen and I before the movie. Copyright Lloyd Marken
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.
I am proud and happy with my review for the movie First Man and would love to hear what you think of the review and the film. I was lucky enough to get the opportunity to attend a preview screening two weeks ago for Scenestr magazine and I have been eagerly awaiting the publication of the review to see how it would go.
The Oscar race is amongst us and I’m not sure how First Man will fare as the race goes on and more contenders are released. The appeal of the film is tough to market too and may explain that the film opened this weekend below expectations box office wise. So I feel its important to get the word out in my own small corner of the internet that this film is good, damn good. You can read my review here http://scenestr.com.au/movies-and-tv/first-man-review-20181011 and if you like it please feel free to give it some social media love. God when did I become such a shill? But people sometimes tell me to be more confident so let me say with confidence I’m pretty happy with this one, yeah I was pretty happy with the Cher review too but that doesn’t always happen so let me know what you think.
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.
I was fortunate to attend the theatre recently on assignment for Scenestr magazine. The Curators and heartBeast Theatre had teamed up to produce a double bill of Shakespeare. Last year I was lucky to go see The Curators staging of Uncle Vanya for the first time in Brisbane in 86 years. Many of the cast from that production performed this time as well although most were in Julius Caesar which was put on by heartBeast Theatre and was first up. The second show The Third Beauty was an adaptation of notable female Shakespeare characters and performed by male actors. I found both staged impressively with very brave and honest performances. The location was the Spring Hill reservoir with the audience free to move amongst the old stone walls and explore the space as the actors too moved everywhere. I was particularly impressed and moved by Julius Caesar which I found easier to follow. You can read more of thoughts here http://scenestr.com.au/arts/heartbeast-theatre-and-the-curators-shakespeare-double-bill-brisbane-review-spring-hill-reservoir-20181008
Copyright Lloyd Marken
Copyright Lloyd Marken
Copyright Lloyd Marken
Copyright Lloyd Marken
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.
There are a wealth of thoughts that roll through my head when trying to figure out what to write here for this post.
I went and saw Cher.
In my first big concert review for Scenestr magazine I went and saw a legend who I am a fan of. For me the show got better as it went along but the icon delivered. That woman is a marvel. It really is that simply.
I went and saw Cher.
My wife beamed throughout the concert less inhibited than me and swept away by the music. It’s something special for a husband when you can give your partner true joy as a gift.
Copyright Lloyd Marken
Some of the Copyright Lloyd Marken
Copyright Lloyd Marken
Copyright Lloyd Marken
Copyright Lloyd Marken
Some of the Copyright Lloyd Marken
I went and saw Cher.
After the show I went home and wrote a review struggling with a cold I had been locked in combat with for the past few days. We had to get something up the next morning and I needed to give as much time as possible to my editor. I wrote my review and you can read it here http://scenestr.com.au/music/cher-brisbane-review-brisbane-entertainment-centre-20180929 and if you approve feel free to give it whatever social media love you can. I’m very grateful for the opportunity Scenestr gave me to go to the concert and I hope I’ve done right by them and by the legendary performer herself.
I went and saw Cher.
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.
I like to think everyone has a story and you’re looking to unearth the one that will connect during an interview. Playwright Future D. Fidel has some obvious examples in his dramatic past. An orphan, a refugee, an immigrant from war torn Congo. His past will always be with him and always of interest to others who have experienced safer childhoods with less loss. Yet Future is more than just this, he is an incredible talented artist and it was a privilege to interview him for Scenestr magazine in the lead-up to a national tour of his award winning play Prize Fighter. You can read the interview here http://scenestr.com.au/arts/prize-fighter-future-d-fidel-s-emotional-work-on-tour-20180918
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 October issue for Victoria on page 29 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/VIC/2018/02-VIC/scenestr-VIC-02.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.
The first time I went to the Italian Film Festival was in 2008 and I asked Karen to come see with me Giorno E Nuvole – Days and Clouds (2007). In the heady first weeks of dating Karen and I did not care for the film and did not care that we did not care for it. Just another date that’s real purpose was for us to be together. Centred around a well off middle aged couple declining to harder living conditions as the employment of the well establish husband is radically altered. Depressing and heartbreaking and all too real in the aftermath of the Global Financial Crisis. One thing that still remains with me years later is the power of the lead actress Margherita Buy.
In 2009 we decided to play it safer and went with Michael Winterbottom’s Genova starring Colin Firth as the father of two daughters and a widow who moves to Italy as an academic to provide a seachange. Well intentioned, with beautiful scenery and thoughtfulness it still proved for the most part unengaging to us.
Not trusting our own judgement we deferred to our friends in 2011 who had made good selections in the past for the French Film Festival and went to see Habemus Papum – We Have A Pope. Coming off a 10 minute standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival that moved director Nanni Moretti to tears something must have been lost in translation because I laughed nor cried but I did fall asleep on the lazy sunday afternoon screening we went to.
This is no reflection on the film festival itself, if you look at the programs for the years we went you will see universally acknowledged modern classics and crowd pleasers. It seems we just had a bad run of luck or made poor decisions for own tastes. Following the wonderful opportunity to interview Palace CEO Benjamin Zeccola last year for Scenestr magazine about the 2017 Italian Film Festival, I thought for sure I would take him up on one of his recommendations and see maybe a comedy like War for Love but alas circumstances kept us from the film festival last year too.
This year the opportunity to attend opening night for Scenestr magazine came up and having had such a wonderful last year at the Brisbane opening night for the Cine Latino Film Festival I couldn’t wait to take Karen with me this time. The film was Loro, directed by Paolo Sorrentino who made easily one of my favourite films of 2015 Youth along with the fantastic This Must Be The Place (2011) and The Great Beauty (2013), the latter I watched in anticipation of seeing Loro. Loro is easily the best film Karen and I have seen at the Italian Film Festival and an interesting film that holds your attention for the most part. It re-teams Sorrentino with Toni Servillo who gives a fantastic performance as the magnetic Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. The opening half an hour becomes tedious despite its fireworks visuals and editing as it focusses on another character but when Servillo arrives the film grips. Upon reflection thought it comes across as some great ideas but lacking in overall vision. I suspect this is intended but I can’t say that excuses the lack of discipline. You can read more of my thoughts here http://scenestr.com.au/movies-and-tv/loro-italian-film-festival-brisbane-opening-night-review-20180921 but I cannot deny that the film lingers and Sorrentino remains one of my favourite directors to watch.
Before the movie in foyer of Palace Barracks. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Karen! Copyright Lloyd Marken.
With my Italian silk tie from my sister. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
A view of the crowd. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Lavazza Italian Film Festival. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Palace Barracks Cinemas. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
As for opening night itself, Karen and I had a wonderful time. There was a cheese table that had many a party goer hovering nearby, a live band, much wine and tasty h’orduvres making the rounds as the 2018 Lavazza Italian Film Festival kicked off in style. Grabbing our goodies bag though Karen and I eventually had to make our way home for me to start on my review. Our luck at the Italian Film Festival is definitely improving and there are plenty of wonderful films to check out this year yet.
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. 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.
I have been fortunate to interview another talented stand-up comedian for Scenestr magazine. This time with Becky Lucas who has a new show Since Day Dot coming up at Sydney Fringe Festival with regular collaborator Cameron James. I really got to pick Ms Lucas’s brain about the art of comedy and her continuing success where she offered some great reflections. As is often the case you’re spoilt for choice with which quotes to use and how to craft the piece discussing the upcoming show but also revealing something about the talented and fascinating individual you’ve been given the great opportunity to talk to. I hope I’ve captured some of this with Ms Lucas. You can read the interview here http://scenestr.com.au/comedy/becky-lucas-teams-up-with-cameron-james-for-sydney-fringe-comedy-20180823
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 September issue for New South Wales issue 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/2018/28-NSW/scenestr-NSW-28.html#p=37 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.
Back to the Drawing Board Productions 