If you want to contact us, send an e-mail.
CLICK HERE
BACK , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , NEXT
27 MARCH 2007.- APOCALYPTO, THE CONTROVERSY BURSTS
I thought you all might be interested in a screening report of a showing of Apocalypto that Mel Gibson hosted at CSU Northridge. If not well, I’m writing this to sort out my thoughts of a very strange night, the pre and post screening seemed liable to break out into a Gangs Of New York style bloodbath at anarchy. I’m a student as USC, and started to hear some scuttlebutt suggesting Mel Gibson would be hosting a screening of Apocalypto at CSUN. Now this would be like The Rolling Stones headlining at the Tick Tock Inn, so I was a wee bit skeptical, still a few calls seemed to confirm it, and I decided to visit my country cousins in the valley. I arrived at CSUN around three to find a line had already formed for the 7PM screening, it formed around the lobby of CSUN’s cozy Armer theatre and the mood was jovial and friendly, no one knew the hammer was coming down and soon their friends and neighbors would become competitors who they would kill without a second thought in a sort of miniature version of the Monster Are Due On Maple Street. Meanwhile all the people who thought they where being crafty by arriving for the screening a mere three and two hours earlier where sorely disappointed, a line formed that circled the building and several fights nearly broke out. To say the mood was ugly was an understatement everyone in the line would have gladly stabbed the person in front of them to get one step closer to that sweet sweet candy. This went on for an ulcer creating two hours when me and the lucky thirty were let in as the rest of the students where turned away. As I went inside flashing my numbered card I was somewhat shocked by how lax the security was, no student ID’s no nothing; this observation to would turn out to be ruefully ironic. The head of the Armer came down and gave a genial introduction, in which he asked the students to limit their question to Mel Gibson’s films. A small chuckle ran up through the crowd, it seemed that Gibson’s past event wouldn’t be an issue at all. Well be careful what you wish for. The film started, was wonderful, and then Gibson came in to a standing ovation that lasted a long long time. The Q&A started innocuously enough with questions about the film’s difficult locations, Gibson’s friendship with the actors, his cinematic theories, and the techniques that made the film. Gibson was charming and easy going, dropping the F-bomb with sardonic glee. Gibson also talked about the controversy over the research he did on the film, citing his sources, his methods and his partners he ended it with a hearty statement of “They’re all full of bullshit.” He explained that Yucatan language really was that dirty and the subtitles like “He’s fucked” were not exaggerated. This last question was somewhat appropriate, because soon after a woman identifying herself as “The Professor” and three or four extremely pissed off looking Mayans stood up and got a hold of the microphone. Before she opened her mouth the faces of the faculty fell, they had ****ed up and they knew it. Not only had they not screened this person they had given her the God Damn microphone, they where screwed they had stepped up to the big leagues and had managed to hit a foul ball that not only flew into the parking lot and broke the owners windshield but also killed his baby in the backseat. And when the woman started to talk, well they began to look like they where attempting to figure out how to vomit, weep crawl away and slit their wrists all at once. The woman started calling Gibson “A racist” and “ignorant” while the other Mayans chanted in Spanish. Gibson insisted that she say her piece, interrupting her only when she called his potrayl of Mayan’s negative to which he replied “Oh you mean like the guy who loves his wife and son? Like the families and people trying desperately to survive?” and then he started by telling her about the people he read, then rapidly went ape shit with “Read a ****ing book.” And “Make your own fuckinging movie”. Gibson was cheered the protestors where booed and then forcibly removed. Now I’m no fan of racial profiling but when five Mayans come to a screening with STACKS of files under their arms, and the film you are screening has been under fire from Mayan groups, well you don’t assume they’re collecting for The Red Cross. But it’s a good thing that they let them in instead of you know some freaking students. Anyway, I have to give Gibson some real credit here, he could have cut the interview short or stormed out and no one would have blamed him. Here he is going to Podunk U, showing his personal copy of the film and the department fucked up big time. Instead he stayed for two hours and talked to the students for two more hours, and remained a gracious and cool cat. However, the protest did seem to unhinge him a little and as a result he started spouting out some crazy Dennis Hopper style stuff. The microphone was quickly given to a real Latina professor who proclaimed how much she loved the film with a desperate fervor as everyone else on staff nodded and prayed to not be crushed. Gibson started his first Awesome Rant saying that he toned down the real stuff the Mayans did, and then went to describe in gory detail the way a captured King would be tortured for nine years would have his organs removed, be driven insane and then rolled down the temple steps. This was the first of many awesome rants. Now say what you want about Gibson but it must be acknowledged that this cat is a charming, confident, frequently hilarious speaker who knows how to work a room like no ones business. Gibson would periodically punctuate his speeches with observations on Quantum Mechanics, philosophy, and a Doctor from Shanghai who once psychokinetically moved Gibson with energy from his hands and then levitated him. He ended that particular story with the remarkably cryptic “I’ve seen miracles man”. Gibson talked some more about Apocolypto including a touching story about the actor whom the film is dedicated to who died of cancer, the insane difficulty of the waterfall shot, his preference for practical effects over CGI and jumping off of buildings. Gibson also talked about film as well, Mel has apparently joined ranks with the likes of Michael Mann and Robert Rodriguez in the opinion that HD will crush film under its boot heel. He talked with wonder about scenes he was able to light simply through fire. At the same time he mentioned that he’d like to shoot a small film purely on 16mm. Gibson then went on to reveal that he’s writing another script with the writer of Apocolypto on, I shit you not, The Creation of The Oxford Dictionary. Gibson then was asked about George Miller, whom he talked about with obvious affection, congratulating him on his Oscar win, saying he loved Happy Feet, and saying he talked with him regularly, before dropping one of the most interesting bombshells of the night. Apparently Miller is still working on a Mad Max IV, which Gibson won’t be appearing in. The project has long been thought dead, but Gibson seemed confident that it will happen in the next two years. Mel spoke about becoming a director by accident when an unnamed filmmaker was too intoxicated to arrive on set before 6 PM forcing him to step into the role. The closest that Gibson came to addressing his DUI and subsequent mess came when Gibson talked about his long standing interest in filming The Book Of Macabees ruefully saying he might not be able to do it now. He then pointed at the audience with the exclamation “You do it!” Two hours flew by and Gibson soon left to a second standing ovation after graciously signing a few posters for the department. It was a wild night. Mel acquitted himself nicely and I strongly urge that if you ever have a chance to hear Mel Gibson speak, do so, and be sure to ask him about his Shanghai doctor.
Note: EVEN MEL GIBSON, THE STUDENTS, "THE EXTREMELY PISSED OFF LOOKING MAYANS", "THE PROFESSOR", "THE REAL LATINA PROFESSOR"...
|
|
27 MARCH 2007.- APOCALYPTO, THE CONTROVERSY BURSTS 3
"In the tradition of the cinematheque program of the Department of Cinema and Television Arts at California State University, Northridge, a filmmaker came to discuss his craft as a writer, director and producer. Two activists came to the event with the purpose of reading a political statement - in Spanish about the abominations committed by the Europeans against the Mayans. They were given the microphone and enjoyed the use of this amplification device, unhindered, for several minutes. They accused the filmmaker of intellectual dishonesty and character assassination. They did not mince words and purposefully offended the university guest.
It was a classic use of agitprop, with the objective of derailing the event. When this strategy became clear to those responsible for the evening, steps were taken by the university organizers to ask them to leave.
The activists were there to hijack the evening. And they do not seem to be done: Through the media megaphone, they demand an apology from Gibson. Why don't they make their own movie?
- Maria Elena de las Carreras, Ph.D." <
|
|
"In the tradition of the cinematheque program of the Department of Cinema and Television Arts at California State University, Northridge, a filmmaker came to discuss his craft as a writer, director and producer. Two activists came to the event with the purpose of reading a political statement - in Spanish about the abominations committed by the Europeans against the Mayans. They were given the microphone and enjoyed the use of this amplification device, unhindered, for several minutes. They accused the filmmaker of intellectual dishonesty and character assassination. They did not mince words and purposefully offended the university guest.
It was a classic use of agitprop, with the objective of derailing the event. When this strategy became clear to those responsible for the evening, steps were taken by the university organizers to ask them to leave.
The activists were there to hijack the evening. And they do not seem to be done: Through the media megaphone, they demand an apology from Gibson. Why don't they make their own movie?
- Maria Elena de las Carreras, Ph.D." <
28 MARCH 2007.- APOCALYPTO, THE CONTROVERSY BURSTS 4
Source: http://media.sundial.csun.edu
Gibson debacle harmful for all involved by Katrina Mossberger
After the insane fallout and the highly polarized sides to the Mel Gibson debacle, any amount of amusement from me is gone. Instead, I'm depressed as everyone involved has come out looking a little worse for wear.
I have not seen Gibson's film "Apocalypto" because by all accounts it was too violent for my tastes. When my roommate told me several heads roll down temple steps and a jaguar gnaws on someone's head, I said no thanks. He did tell me that the storytelling was very compelling and the cinematography was great, though. I also know that Mayan culture wasn't all violence and religious sacrifices.
So could his film be racist in its depiction of Mayans? Possibly, and in my opinion, probably, although I doubt he would consciously do so. But then again, it is a movie based on historical fact and as we should all know, filmmakers take liberties to make stories more exciting, compelling and to sell them better. No one should be looking at a Hollywood film and taking its content as fact.
While I agree that sources should be questioned and examined, especially in such a volatile depiction of a group of people, the event was originally intended as a showing and Q&A session for CTVA students about film-making. If that's the case, the main point of the event wasn't to question the content of the film, but rather to educate students on the methods used to shoot the film. So while the questioning of research is valid, I don't think an event on the facets of filmmaking, not film content, is necessarily the best place to raise these concerns.
Mr. Gibson made the mistake of losing his cool and dropping the f-bomb. Honestly, had he not cursed, I doubt this would be such a big deal. We wouldn't still be talking about it, and he would have come out of this situation looking quite good. "Gibson Keeps His Cool Under Criticism!" is not going to make any headlines. But he did curse, again sullying his reputation with slips of the tongue, whether he meant what he said or not.
Something to note that wasn't reported that GIBSON apparently APOLOGIZED TO THE AUDIENCE FOR HIS OUTBURST and continued the Q&A session. I would expect someone of his fame to leave after such a fiasco. HE ALSO ASKED FOR HER MICROPHONE TO BE TURNED ON AGAIN AFTER SECURITY TURNED IT OFF AND ASKED THE CROWD TO QUIET DOWN SO HE COULD HEAR HER COMMENTS. While this in no way justifies swearing at a faculty member, it does show that the entire event wasn't him on a tirade.
And then the audience members who shouted "This is America, speak English" are not doing CSUN any image favors. While, yes, the common and civic language of the United States is English, a diverse campus like CSUN is no stranger to the Spanish language. We even have a Spanish language newspaper and at least one journalism class I know of conducted solely in Spanish.
It's just very depressing that instead of an education experience for students, the night became part of the growing media circus.
---------------------
"This is AMERICA, speak ENGLISH". Great Idea!!! WE ALWAYS ADVISE PEOPLE TO LEARN FOREIGN LANGUAGES.
WHAT ABOUT SPANISH, GERMAN, FRENCH, IRISH, DUTCH, ITALIAN, PORTUGUESE, ETC ??? ESSENTIAL (and fron now on, why not compulsory???) IF THOSE KIND GUYS WHO SHOUTED WANT TO VISIT EUROPE, FOR INSTANCE.
LET IT BE! LET IT BE! LET IT BE LET IT BE!
|
|
Gibson debacle harmful for all involved by Katrina Mossberger
After the insane fallout and the highly polarized sides to the Mel Gibson debacle, any amount of amusement from me is gone. Instead, I'm depressed as everyone involved has come out looking a little worse for wear.
I have not seen Gibson's film "Apocalypto" because by all accounts it was too violent for my tastes. When my roommate told me several heads roll down temple steps and a jaguar gnaws on someone's head, I said no thanks. He did tell me that the storytelling was very compelling and the cinematography was great, though. I also know that Mayan culture wasn't all violence and religious sacrifices.
So could his film be racist in its depiction of Mayans? Possibly, and in my opinion, probably, although I doubt he would consciously do so. But then again, it is a movie based on historical fact and as we should all know, filmmakers take liberties to make stories more exciting, compelling and to sell them better. No one should be looking at a Hollywood film and taking its content as fact.
While I agree that sources should be questioned and examined, especially in such a volatile depiction of a group of people, the event was originally intended as a showing and Q&A session for CTVA students about film-making. If that's the case, the main point of the event wasn't to question the content of the film, but rather to educate students on the methods used to shoot the film. So while the questioning of research is valid, I don't think an event on the facets of filmmaking, not film content, is necessarily the best place to raise these concerns.
Mr. Gibson made the mistake of losing his cool and dropping the f-bomb. Honestly, had he not cursed, I doubt this would be such a big deal. We wouldn't still be talking about it, and he would have come out of this situation looking quite good. "Gibson Keeps His Cool Under Criticism!" is not going to make any headlines. But he did curse, again sullying his reputation with slips of the tongue, whether he meant what he said or not.
Something to note that wasn't reported that GIBSON apparently APOLOGIZED TO THE AUDIENCE FOR HIS OUTBURST and continued the Q&A session. I would expect someone of his fame to leave after such a fiasco. HE ALSO ASKED FOR HER MICROPHONE TO BE TURNED ON AGAIN AFTER SECURITY TURNED IT OFF AND ASKED THE CROWD TO QUIET DOWN SO HE COULD HEAR HER COMMENTS. While this in no way justifies swearing at a faculty member, it does show that the entire event wasn't him on a tirade.
And then the audience members who shouted "This is America, speak English" are not doing CSUN any image favors. While, yes, the common and civic language of the United States is English, a diverse campus like CSUN is no stranger to the Spanish language. We even have a Spanish language newspaper and at least one journalism class I know of conducted solely in Spanish.
It's just very depressing that instead of an education experience for students, the night became part of the growing media circus.
"This is AMERICA, speak ENGLISH". Great Idea!!! WE ALWAYS ADVISE PEOPLE TO LEARN FOREIGN LANGUAGES.
WHAT ABOUT SPANISH, GERMAN, FRENCH, IRISH, DUTCH, ITALIAN, PORTUGUESE, ETC ??? ESSENTIAL (and fron now on, why not compulsory???) IF THOSE KIND GUYS WHO SHOUTED WANT TO VISIT EUROPE, FOR INSTANCE.
LET IT BE! LET IT BE! LET IT BE LET IT BE!
28 MARCH 2007.- A LITTLE HOMAGE
UN PEQUEÑO HOMENAJE A LOS HISPANO-HABLANTES RESIDENTES EN EE.UU.
A LITTLE HOMAGE TO SPANISH SPEAKERS WHO ARE LIVING IN USA
"El catorce de enero de 1922, Emma Zunz, al volver de la fábrica de tejidos Tarbuch y Loewenthal, halló en el fondo del zaguán una carta, fechada en el Brasil, por la que supo que su padre había muerto. La engañaron a primera vista, el sello y el sobre; luego la inquietó la letra desconocida…" JORGES LUIS BORGES
"On the fouteenth of January, 1922, when she returned home from the Tarbuch and Loewenthal textile mills, Emma Zunz discovered in the rear of the entrance hall a letter, posted in Brazil, which informed her that her father had died. The stamp and the envelope deceived her at first; then the unfamiliar handwriting made her uneasy…" JORGE LUIS BORGES
---------------------------
"EL invierno se precipitó un domingo a la salida de misa. La noche del sábado había sido sofocante. Pero aún en la mañana del domingo no se pensaba que pudiera llover. Después de misa, antes de que las mujeres tuvieramos tiempo de encontrar el broche de las sombrillas, sopló un viento espeso y obscuro que barrió en una amplia vuelta redonda el polvo y la dura yesca de mayo…" GABRIEL GARCIA MARQUEZ
"Winter began suddenly one Sunday just after Mass. Saturday night had been suffocatingly hot. But even on Sunday morning no one had thought that it was going to rain. After Mass, before we women had had time to find the clasp of our parasols, there blew up a dense, dark wind, sweeping in a wide circle the dust and hard tinderwood of May…" GABRIEL GARCIA MARQUEZ
---------------------------
"La romería era muy tradicional; la gente se hacía lenguas de lo bien que se pasaba en la romería, adonde llegaban todos los años visitantes de muchas leguas a la redonda. Unos venían a caballo y otros en unos autobuses adornados con ramas; pero lo realmente típico era ir en carro de bueyes…" CAMILO JOSE CELA
"The romería was very traditional; people raved about the good time you had at the romería, which visitors from many leagues around came to every year. Some came on horseback and others is buses decked with branches; but the really typical thing to do was to go in a cart drawn by oxen…" CAMILO JOSE CELA
---------------------------
"Usted se ha puesto igual que la familia del Niño Padrón. Pero es que al Niño lo afusilaron en el setentaiuno. La madre me dice que busque un esqueleto grande y fuerte porque el Niño es grande y fuerte. Pero no aparece. Mire usted que yo he buscado ese esqueleto grande fosa por fosa…" NORBERTO FUENTES
"You´re acting just like El Niño Padrón´s folk. But the fact is they shot el Niño in `61. His mother tells me to look for a lage skeleton because El Niño was big and strong. But it doesn´t show up. See here, I´ve looked for that big skeleton grave by grave…" NORBERTO FUENTES
---------------------------
"Popeye Arévalo había pasado la mañana en la playa de Miraflores. Miras por gusto la escalera, le decían las chicas del barrio, la Teté no va a venir. Y, efectivamente, la Teté no fue a bañarse esa mañana. Defraudado volvió a su casa antes del mediodía, pero mientras subía la cuesta de la Quebrada, iba viendo la naricita…" MARIO VARGAS LLOSA
"Popeye Arévalo had spent the morning at the Miraflore beach.. You´re wasting your time looking at the steps, the neighbourhood girls said to him, Teté won´t be coming. And, as a matter of fact, teté didn´t go swimming that morning. Disappointed, he went back home before noon, but as he climbed Quebrada Hill he walked along seeing Teté´s tiny nose…" MARIO VARGAS LLOSA
DIOS OS BENDIGA
GOD BLESS YOU
UN PEQUEÑO HOMENAJE A LOS HISPANO-HABLANTES RESIDENTES EN EE.UU.
A LITTLE HOMAGE TO SPANISH SPEAKERS WHO ARE LIVING IN USA
"El catorce de enero de 1922, Emma Zunz, al volver de la fábrica de tejidos Tarbuch y Loewenthal, halló en el fondo del zaguán una carta, fechada en el Brasil, por la que supo que su padre había muerto. La engañaron a primera vista, el sello y el sobre; luego la inquietó la letra desconocida…" JORGES LUIS BORGES
"On the fouteenth of January, 1922, when she returned home from the Tarbuch and Loewenthal textile mills, Emma Zunz discovered in the rear of the entrance hall a letter, posted in Brazil, which informed her that her father had died. The stamp and the envelope deceived her at first; then the unfamiliar handwriting made her uneasy…" JORGE LUIS BORGES
---------------------------
"EL invierno se precipitó un domingo a la salida de misa. La noche del sábado había sido sofocante. Pero aún en la mañana del domingo no se pensaba que pudiera llover. Después de misa, antes de que las mujeres tuvieramos tiempo de encontrar el broche de las sombrillas, sopló un viento espeso y obscuro que barrió en una amplia vuelta redonda el polvo y la dura yesca de mayo…" GABRIEL GARCIA MARQUEZ
"Winter began suddenly one Sunday just after Mass. Saturday night had been suffocatingly hot. But even on Sunday morning no one had thought that it was going to rain. After Mass, before we women had had time to find the clasp of our parasols, there blew up a dense, dark wind, sweeping in a wide circle the dust and hard tinderwood of May…" GABRIEL GARCIA MARQUEZ
---------------------------
"La romería era muy tradicional; la gente se hacía lenguas de lo bien que se pasaba en la romería, adonde llegaban todos los años visitantes de muchas leguas a la redonda. Unos venían a caballo y otros en unos autobuses adornados con ramas; pero lo realmente típico era ir en carro de bueyes…" CAMILO JOSE CELA
"The romería was very traditional; people raved about the good time you had at the romería, which visitors from many leagues around came to every year. Some came on horseback and others is buses decked with branches; but the really typical thing to do was to go in a cart drawn by oxen…" CAMILO JOSE CELA
---------------------------
"Usted se ha puesto igual que la familia del Niño Padrón. Pero es que al Niño lo afusilaron en el setentaiuno. La madre me dice que busque un esqueleto grande y fuerte porque el Niño es grande y fuerte. Pero no aparece. Mire usted que yo he buscado ese esqueleto grande fosa por fosa…" NORBERTO FUENTES
"You´re acting just like El Niño Padrón´s folk. But the fact is they shot el Niño in `61. His mother tells me to look for a lage skeleton because El Niño was big and strong. But it doesn´t show up. See here, I´ve looked for that big skeleton grave by grave…" NORBERTO FUENTES
---------------------------
"Popeye Arévalo había pasado la mañana en la playa de Miraflores. Miras por gusto la escalera, le decían las chicas del barrio, la Teté no va a venir. Y, efectivamente, la Teté no fue a bañarse esa mañana. Defraudado volvió a su casa antes del mediodía, pero mientras subía la cuesta de la Quebrada, iba viendo la naricita…" MARIO VARGAS LLOSA
"Popeye Arévalo had spent the morning at the Miraflore beach.. You´re wasting your time looking at the steps, the neighbourhood girls said to him, Teté won´t be coming. And, as a matter of fact, teté didn´t go swimming that morning. Disappointed, he went back home before noon, but as he climbed Quebrada Hill he walked along seeing Teté´s tiny nose…" MARIO VARGAS LLOSA
DIOS OS BENDIGA
GOD BLESS YOU
"On the fouteenth of January, 1922, when she returned home from the Tarbuch and Loewenthal textile mills, Emma Zunz discovered in the rear of the entrance hall a letter, posted in Brazil, which informed her that her father had died. The stamp and the envelope deceived her at first; then the unfamiliar handwriting made her uneasy…" JORGE LUIS BORGES
"EL invierno se precipitó un domingo a la salida de misa. La noche del sábado había sido sofocante. Pero aún en la mañana del domingo no se pensaba que pudiera llover. Después de misa, antes de que las mujeres tuvieramos tiempo de encontrar el broche de las sombrillas, sopló un viento espeso y obscuro que barrió en una amplia vuelta redonda el polvo y la dura yesca de mayo…" GABRIEL GARCIA MARQUEZ
"Winter began suddenly one Sunday just after Mass. Saturday night had been suffocatingly hot. But even on Sunday morning no one had thought that it was going to rain. After Mass, before we women had had time to find the clasp of our parasols, there blew up a dense, dark wind, sweeping in a wide circle the dust and hard tinderwood of May…" GABRIEL GARCIA MARQUEZ
"La romería era muy tradicional; la gente se hacía lenguas de lo bien que se pasaba en la romería, adonde llegaban todos los años visitantes de muchas leguas a la redonda. Unos venían a caballo y otros en unos autobuses adornados con ramas; pero lo realmente típico era ir en carro de bueyes…" CAMILO JOSE CELA
"The romería was very traditional; people raved about the good time you had at the romería, which visitors from many leagues around came to every year. Some came on horseback and others is buses decked with branches; but the really typical thing to do was to go in a cart drawn by oxen…" CAMILO JOSE CELA
"Usted se ha puesto igual que la familia del Niño Padrón. Pero es que al Niño lo afusilaron en el setentaiuno. La madre me dice que busque un esqueleto grande y fuerte porque el Niño es grande y fuerte. Pero no aparece. Mire usted que yo he buscado ese esqueleto grande fosa por fosa…" NORBERTO FUENTES
"You´re acting just like El Niño Padrón´s folk. But the fact is they shot el Niño in `61. His mother tells me to look for a lage skeleton because El Niño was big and strong. But it doesn´t show up. See here, I´ve looked for that big skeleton grave by grave…" NORBERTO FUENTES
"Popeye Arévalo había pasado la mañana en la playa de Miraflores. Miras por gusto la escalera, le decían las chicas del barrio, la Teté no va a venir. Y, efectivamente, la Teté no fue a bañarse esa mañana. Defraudado volvió a su casa antes del mediodía, pero mientras subía la cuesta de la Quebrada, iba viendo la naricita…" MARIO VARGAS LLOSA
"Popeye Arévalo had spent the morning at the Miraflore beach.. You´re wasting your time looking at the steps, the neighbourhood girls said to him, Teté won´t be coming. And, as a matter of fact, teté didn´t go swimming that morning. Disappointed, he went back home before noon, but as he climbed Quebrada Hill he walked along seeing Teté´s tiny nose…" MARIO VARGAS LLOSA
DIOS OS BENDIGA
GOD BLESS YOU
29 MARCH 2007.- APOCALYPTO, YOUNGBLOOD 
Source: Los Angeles Times/Contacmusic.com
"Apocalypto" star Rudy Youngblood's Comanche roots are being questioned again as First Americans in the Arts, a nonprofit group that honors Native American accomplishments in entertainment, plans to award him its outstanding new lead actor award at its Beverly Hills soiree on April 14.
The controversy comes at a time when Youngblood is being courted by several producers. The actor, who is represented by Gibson's agent Ed Limato and Jim Osborne at International Creative Management. has received "numerous" scripts and is currently in negotiations on a new project.
Youngblood has spoken out about his heritage in interviews, affirming that his ancestors fought at Little Big Horn. But Comanche leaders and Native American historians are questioning his claims.
One historian, David Yeagley , tells the Los Angeles Times, "He has no Indian blood in him that anyone can validate." Youngblood admits he can't understand why Yeagley is questioning his heritage. The actor says, "It's very hateful and very negative. He stalks me like he knows me."
According to the actor's website, Youngblood hails from the Tahchawwickah (corr) Comanche family and is adopted Cree. In his defence, Comanche Nation spokeswoman JOLENE SCHONCHIN accepts Youngblood's claims to her tribe: "He does have Comanche blood... from his father's side." But even that is being questioned by members of theTahchawwickah family, who claim they've never heard of Youngblood, stating the actor wasn't among family members who attended tribe elder PRESTON TAHCHAWWICKAH's funeral in 2005. Youngblood claims Preston Tahchawwickah as his father.
Yeagley, whose attacks on Youngblood can be found at his website BadEagle.com, has infuriated many Indians with his endorsement of Columbus Day parades and the use of Indian mascots on campuses, something that many Native Americans find offensive. Yeagley's critics often vent against him on BadEagle.org, whose similar-sounding Web address is intended to lure surfers away from Yeagley's site.
The debate over Youngblood's ancestry highlights the complexity involved when determining what it means to be Native American.
Donna Talamantes, a trustee of the First Americans in the Arts group, said they have received e-mails and letters from Yeagley and his supporters protesting the group's plan to honor Youngblood at next month's Beverly Hills banquet.
But she says they have no plans to cancel the award.
"We went back and forth, and we believe him to be who he says he is," she said. "We've talked to family members and community members who will vouch for him."
Talamantes lamented that the flap has ensnared a promising young actor. "The sad thing is that as Native Americans, we are the only people in the country who have to prove who we are as native peoples."
|
|
"Apocalypto" star Rudy Youngblood's Comanche roots are being questioned again as First Americans in the Arts, a nonprofit group that honors Native American accomplishments in entertainment, plans to award him its outstanding new lead actor award at its Beverly Hills soiree on April 14.
The controversy comes at a time when Youngblood is being courted by several producers. The actor, who is represented by Gibson's agent Ed Limato and Jim Osborne at International Creative Management. has received "numerous" scripts and is currently in negotiations on a new project.
Youngblood has spoken out about his heritage in interviews, affirming that his ancestors fought at Little Big Horn. But Comanche leaders and Native American historians are questioning his claims.
One historian, David Yeagley , tells the Los Angeles Times, "He has no Indian blood in him that anyone can validate." Youngblood admits he can't understand why Yeagley is questioning his heritage. The actor says, "It's very hateful and very negative. He stalks me like he knows me."
According to the actor's website, Youngblood hails from the Tahchawwickah (corr) Comanche family and is adopted Cree. In his defence, Comanche Nation spokeswoman JOLENE SCHONCHIN accepts Youngblood's claims to her tribe: "He does have Comanche blood... from his father's side." But even that is being questioned by members of theTahchawwickah family, who claim they've never heard of Youngblood, stating the actor wasn't among family members who attended tribe elder PRESTON TAHCHAWWICKAH's funeral in 2005. Youngblood claims Preston Tahchawwickah as his father.
Yeagley, whose attacks on Youngblood can be found at his website BadEagle.com, has infuriated many Indians with his endorsement of Columbus Day parades and the use of Indian mascots on campuses, something that many Native Americans find offensive. Yeagley's critics often vent against him on BadEagle.org, whose similar-sounding Web address is intended to lure surfers away from Yeagley's site.
The debate over Youngblood's ancestry highlights the complexity involved when determining what it means to be Native American.
Donna Talamantes, a trustee of the First Americans in the Arts group, said they have received e-mails and letters from Yeagley and his supporters protesting the group's plan to honor Youngblood at next month's Beverly Hills banquet.
But she says they have no plans to cancel the award.
"We went back and forth, and we believe him to be who he says he is," she said. "We've talked to family members and community members who will vouch for him."
Talamantes lamented that the flap has ensnared a promising young actor. "The sad thing is that as Native Americans, we are the only people in the country who have to prove who we are as native peoples."
29 MARCH 2007.- BRAVEHEART BEER
Source: Contacmusic.com
Mel Gibson has succeeded in banning a beer from a small Danish brewery, because it was called Braveheart - the same name of his 1995 Oscar-winning movie. The Hollywood star was angry the beer from Midtfyns Bryghus was called Braveheart, and even threatened to sue for the brewery's use of the name. But the brewery's 72-year-old owner Keld Andersen initially refused to give in to pressure from Gibson, and only backed down after consulting with the Danish Patent and Trade Mark Council. Andersen claimed the filmmaker couldn't possibly copyright the name as a Romanian king from the 15th century was called BRAVEHEART and a silent film from the 1920s was titled BRAVE HEART. He says, "I was certain I had a good case against those big guys in Hollywood, but evidently it wasn't enough. " Gibson gets his way and the brewer admits defeat. "There's nothing we can do so we'll stop making the Braveheart beer."
|
|
Mel Gibson has succeeded in banning a beer from a small Danish brewery, because it was called Braveheart - the same name of his 1995 Oscar-winning movie. The Hollywood star was angry the beer from Midtfyns Bryghus was called Braveheart, and even threatened to sue for the brewery's use of the name. But the brewery's 72-year-old owner Keld Andersen initially refused to give in to pressure from Gibson, and only backed down after consulting with the Danish Patent and Trade Mark Council. Andersen claimed the filmmaker couldn't possibly copyright the name as a Romanian king from the 15th century was called BRAVEHEART and a silent film from the 1920s was titled BRAVE HEART. He says, "I was certain I had a good case against those big guys in Hollywood, but evidently it wasn't enough. " Gibson gets his way and the brewer admits defeat. "There's nothing we can do so we'll stop making the Braveheart beer."
30 MARCH 2007.- "DOBLECERO"
The April issue of the magazine "DOBLECERO" publishes an interesting report, "Actores con alma de director: Mel Gibson y Antonio Banderas" in which Gibson talks about "Apocalypto" and his future projects.
Source: Doublecero
"It has been more than four years since Mel Gibson appeared on the big screen and the rumours were rife. He´s fifty-one years old and many people believed that he had finally called it a day.
"There was any question of retirement," Gibson insists. It was simply that he wasn´t being offered anything he considered worth doing. The Deposition of Father McGreevy is the one jewel he has found in nearly four years of reading scripts. "I´ll tell you, it´s dry out there. I don´t know . Maybe the writers can´t find anything to write any more. But my big complaint is that the human element is beginning to disappear for the making of films. There are no icons any more. They´ve been replaced by monitors and technicians and computers."
Gibson himself, of course, has been an icon for most of his working life....."
|
Source: Doublecero
|
1 APRIL 2007.- III CONTINENTAL INDIGENOUS SUMMIT ABYA YALA
Source: "Hablaron los niños y adolescentes de Abya Yala" by CERIGUA.
Last Friday, the III Continental Indigenous Summit Abya Yala, which took place at the sacred ceremonial precinct of Iximche (some 80 kilometres from Guatemala City), approved the proposal that indigenous Peoples of the Americas should condemn "Apocalypto" and that the film director, Mel Gibson, should apologize publicly for having "offended" Maya scholars, academics, spiritual indigenous leaders and Mayan civilization experts who raised an objection to that film.
The event was attended by indigenous delegations from Alaska to Argentina with over 2000 participants.
Source: "Hablaron los niños y adolescentes de Abya Yala" by CERIGUA.
|
|
2 APRIL 2007.- SEVEN NEW WORLD WONDERS
Source: laopinion.com
Members of Mayan community in LA., which had tried for months to contact Mel Gibson in order to get his support in their campaign in favour of the candidature of Chichen Itza pyramid (Mexico) for one of seven new world wonders, have changed their mind after the incident at the CSUN.
"After the recent incident, the majority of our members decided that they didn't want anything to do with them," says Sara Zapata-Milares who's in charge of the Federation of Mayan, Yucatec Clubs in Los Angeles.
Arenas Entertainment affirms to understand their decision. They have also sent to Zapata-Milares a copy of an open letter published by LA Daily News last 27 March (see letter above) in which professor Elena de las Carreras wrote:
"It was a classic use of agitprop, with the objective of derailing the event. When this strategy became clear to those responsible for the evening, steps were taken by the university organizers to ask them to leave.
The activists were there to hijack the evening. And they do not seem to be done: Through the media megaphone, they demand an apology from Gibson. Why don't they make their own movie?"
Though Zapata-Milares believes that Alicia Estrada and her group just wanted to show the other side of the coin, the feelings of Mayan community, to Mel Gibson and to the audience.
The winners of the seven new world wonders will be revealed July 7 in Lisbon. They are 21 finalists.
Chichen Itza pyramid, Mexico, is the most famous Mayan temple city served as the political and economic center of the Mayan civilization; pyramid itself was the last, and greatest, of all Mayan temples.
|
|
Members of Mayan community in LA., which had tried for months to contact Mel Gibson in order to get his support in their campaign in favour of the candidature of Chichen Itza pyramid (Mexico) for one of seven new world wonders, have changed their mind after the incident at the CSUN.
"After the recent incident, the majority of our members decided that they didn't want anything to do with them," says Sara Zapata-Milares who's in charge of the Federation of Mayan, Yucatec Clubs in Los Angeles.
Arenas Entertainment affirms to understand their decision. They have also sent to Zapata-Milares a copy of an open letter published by LA Daily News last 27 March (see letter above) in which professor Elena de las Carreras wrote:
"It was a classic use of agitprop, with the objective of derailing the event. When this strategy became clear to those responsible for the evening, steps were taken by the university organizers to ask them to leave.
The activists were there to hijack the evening. And they do not seem to be done: Through the media megaphone, they demand an apology from Gibson. Why don't they make their own movie?"
Though Zapata-Milares believes that Alicia Estrada and her group just wanted to show the other side of the coin, the feelings of Mayan community, to Mel Gibson and to the audience.
The winners of the seven new world wonders will be revealed July 7 in Lisbon. They are 21 finalists.
Chichen Itza pyramid, Mexico, is the most famous Mayan temple city served as the political and economic center of the Mayan civilization; pyramid itself was the last, and greatest, of all Mayan temples.
|
|
|
|
|