The past 24 hours - give or take - have seen an outpouring of grief at the sudden death of actor and comedian Robin Williams. Celebrated, much loved, kinetic, hilarious, legendary - all are terms that have been associated with countless tributes that have poured in from around the world. He was an actor of a generation, a pop culture icon (?), a figure of inspiration.
These are all fair assessments of a man who has entertained for nearly 40 years or more. His accolades are deserved - his legacy cemented. But there has emerged, for me at least, another picture of Robin Williams that, while not detracting from my view of him overall, serves to humanize him to a level that is worth exploring.
Last night, I downloaded a podcast from comedian Marc Maron. It was an interview that Maron recorded with Williams back in 2010, book ended with some up to the minute thoughts from Maron about the actor's death. In the roughly hour long interview, Maron and Williams discussed the latter's early career, his comedic beginnings, his successes on stage and on screen and the material rewards that stemmed from that.
They also canvassed the excesses of Hollywood in the 1980's, the vices that flowed to people like Williams as a result of success - the cocaine addiction and alcoholism and the mental illness. A fact that I certainly wasn't aware of before now was Williams was present the night John Belushi died. It was an enlightening and, admittedly, a sometimes disturbing insight into the perilous nature of success and excess that is not often talked about - though Williams has, in more recent interviews, been willing to discuss these in more detail. He didn't shy away from talking about the destructive nature of it all and how it shaped him.
The other alternate view of Williams came to me this morning via the comedy talk show Keith & The Girl. In it, host Keith Malley was quite forthcoming in criticizing the overwhelming expressions of grief on social media which he believed had gone way over the top in terms of a collective outpouring of emotion. He also broached - actually, he launched head on into - the subject of charges against Robin Williams that he was a joke thief. This, too was something that I was aware of in the past, though I wasn't prepared to give much credence to it. You always wish to see those you admire in the best possible light.
Without pointing towards specific charges or allegations - you can Google this for yourself - the internet does throw up a number of articles that tackle Williams' apparent joke thievery which cast the actor in a different light.
Malley's passionate argument around the faux grief and emotion poured into social media extended into his anger at certain comedians, whom he knows personally, who have pointedly criticized Williams in the past for joke thievery - yet they were in their on Twitter, on Facebook or wherever they could find a soap box, mourning, lamenting and telling the world how much of an inspiration Robin Williams was to them.
There is enough anecdotal evidence to suggest that Williams did in fact engage in a level of joke thievery. It's disappointing and saddening. But, in any posthumous examination of a person, particularly a figure as revered as Robin Williams, I think it's a necessary component of that examination.
I'll continue to watch his movies and admire him as a performance artist of incredible energy and talent. But, I will add these alternative view points to my own impression of the man that Robin Williams was...
Because, at the end of his day, Robin Williams was human...
DFA.
Showing posts with label Chemda Khalili. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chemda Khalili. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
The Rockstar Ballerina
The world has lost a light this night and she returns to the stars to shine brighter than she ever had before.
Where to begin...
I first met Rhian as a member of the Keith and the Girl forums, a community of listeners - fans - of the Keith and the Girl comedy talk show out of New York. It was around early 2007. I, like many at around that time, was still new to the idea of a forum community off the back of a podcast, but I quickly found my groove in the art of message board conversation - helped in no small part by Rhian. She welcomed me to this community with warmth from the get go and it was the beginning of a six year back and forth that was as enriching and as tangible as any friendship I have ever known.
So who was Rhian?
Rhian was a Canadian from Ottowa. A sunny and bright young woman, an extraordinary humanist who supported a variety of causes, an enthusiastic conversationalist and, as I was to discover, a passionate dancer who lived and breathed ballet. She learnt it, she performed it, she taught it. She brought dance to the most under privileged kids in her native Ottowa giving them inspiration and hope, a means of expression. But her love of this most visual of arts was cut short by illness in the form of the debilitating auto-immune disease Lupus.
Upon being diagnosed some time in 2007, Rhian took the positivity and energy she devoted to her ballet and focused it on conquering the disease. It was a battle that she fought with a courage that won her many admirers. She often spoke of her battle through her own podcast - Uncast, updating everyone on her progress, her fears and her hopes. She was confident of beating the disease. And through it all she remained one of the warmest presences around the community that has become known as the KaTG community. She was present at many of the official KaTG functions and meet ups, was a ubiquitous part of the fan community known as Team Drunk Ottowa and did much to advance the knowledge and love of Keith and the Girl around the world.
Rhian saw immense worth in everyone she met, no matter who they were. To Rhian, everyone was valuable, everyone had a voice she wanted to hear.
She was one of the earliest supporters of my first novel, back when it was merely a weekly blog and all I hoped for it was that the story would be complete. It might sound a romantic notion now, and I can't remember if it is true, but I think Rhian always sensed that the novel was destined to find a publisher.
But my fondest memory of Rhian was the support and friendship she gave me a couple of years ago when my daughter was pretty ill. At the time my wife and I did not know what it was that was afflicting our daughter and I recall discussing our fears and frustrations with Rhian who was always willing to listen, to offer words of encouragement, of grace and of love. She invented a little twitter hashtag for my daughter - #teamweepeanut - that we often used when speaking over that particular platform. Her steadfast positivity and care for our particular situation was a great.comfort and for that, I shall always remember her kindness.
These are just two instances of the small but important friendship I had with her. There are others who knew and loved Rhian far more than I did. But she touched me none the less.
I had a sense maybe a year ago that the battle Rhian fought would ultimately claim her. A string of setbacks, false hopes from clinics offering treatments that came to little and the progression of the disease itself was alarming and only gave weight to the reality of her situation. In the end the reality overwhelmed and consumed.
She died leaving behind her husband, her family and a global community of those who championed her, who loved her and were better for having known her.
She dances now, free from the burden of her mortality.
Rest In Peace Rhian.
Donations to Rhian's favorite charity can be made via the following:
DFA.
Where to begin...
I first met Rhian as a member of the Keith and the Girl forums, a community of listeners - fans - of the Keith and the Girl comedy talk show out of New York. It was around early 2007. I, like many at around that time, was still new to the idea of a forum community off the back of a podcast, but I quickly found my groove in the art of message board conversation - helped in no small part by Rhian. She welcomed me to this community with warmth from the get go and it was the beginning of a six year back and forth that was as enriching and as tangible as any friendship I have ever known.
So who was Rhian?
Rhian was a Canadian from Ottowa. A sunny and bright young woman, an extraordinary humanist who supported a variety of causes, an enthusiastic conversationalist and, as I was to discover, a passionate dancer who lived and breathed ballet. She learnt it, she performed it, she taught it. She brought dance to the most under privileged kids in her native Ottowa giving them inspiration and hope, a means of expression. But her love of this most visual of arts was cut short by illness in the form of the debilitating auto-immune disease Lupus.
Upon being diagnosed some time in 2007, Rhian took the positivity and energy she devoted to her ballet and focused it on conquering the disease. It was a battle that she fought with a courage that won her many admirers. She often spoke of her battle through her own podcast - Uncast, updating everyone on her progress, her fears and her hopes. She was confident of beating the disease. And through it all she remained one of the warmest presences around the community that has become known as the KaTG community. She was present at many of the official KaTG functions and meet ups, was a ubiquitous part of the fan community known as Team Drunk Ottowa and did much to advance the knowledge and love of Keith and the Girl around the world.
Rhian saw immense worth in everyone she met, no matter who they were. To Rhian, everyone was valuable, everyone had a voice she wanted to hear.
She was one of the earliest supporters of my first novel, back when it was merely a weekly blog and all I hoped for it was that the story would be complete. It might sound a romantic notion now, and I can't remember if it is true, but I think Rhian always sensed that the novel was destined to find a publisher.
But my fondest memory of Rhian was the support and friendship she gave me a couple of years ago when my daughter was pretty ill. At the time my wife and I did not know what it was that was afflicting our daughter and I recall discussing our fears and frustrations with Rhian who was always willing to listen, to offer words of encouragement, of grace and of love. She invented a little twitter hashtag for my daughter - #teamweepeanut - that we often used when speaking over that particular platform. Her steadfast positivity and care for our particular situation was a great.comfort and for that, I shall always remember her kindness.
These are just two instances of the small but important friendship I had with her. There are others who knew and loved Rhian far more than I did. But she touched me none the less.
I had a sense maybe a year ago that the battle Rhian fought would ultimately claim her. A string of setbacks, false hopes from clinics offering treatments that came to little and the progression of the disease itself was alarming and only gave weight to the reality of her situation. In the end the reality overwhelmed and consumed.
She died leaving behind her husband, her family and a global community of those who championed her, who loved her and were better for having known her.
She dances now, free from the burden of her mortality.
Rest In Peace Rhian.
Donations to Rhian's favorite charity can be made via the following:
The Shanty Royce Memorial Dance Fund
c/o Sarah Thomas: Client Care Manager
RBC Royal Bank of Canada
Carlingwood Mall Branch*
2112 Carling Ave.
Ottawa, ON
K2A 1H2
Email: sarah.thomas @ rbc.com (remember to remove the spaces in the email address).
Call: (613) 725-3119 or (800) 769-2511
DFA.
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Faces Of The Peramangk.
In crafting the story that has now become my second novel, "Gifts Of The Peramangk", I returned to the well worn practice of looking for people and faces who would inspire my imagination and give a face to the names of the characters I have created for the novel. Over a period of some time, I added faces to a collage that graced the wall of my office at home - faces who became imprinted on the characters I created. I added and subtracted to this collage many times - it was no easy task and it took me a long time to settle upon a group of individuals that would best represent the "cast" as it were.
The following is a veritable who's who of Australian and international public figures, stage and screen actors. They each possess a quality about them that enabled me to draw the characters in the novel vividly and with a sense of realism.
Of particular note is the physical representation of the dual protagonists Virginia and Ruby. I almost impossible to imagine them both separately as children and so I chose to imagine them as looking very similar across the two time periods that feature in the novel. I also want to make a special mention of songwriter and comedienne, Chemda Khalili, who formed the inspiration for the character "Khalili". Though Khalili is a male in the novel, I wanted to imbue him with the spirit of this wonderful woman who, in the seven or eight years I have been listening to her radio show, has taught me more about identity than just about any other person I know. She really is one of a kind.
New York singer/songwriter Chemda Khalili served as the inspiration for the character Khalili in the novel.
Having listened to Chemda's talk show "What's My Name" and "Keith & the Girl" for the past 7 years, I have come to admire Chemda's outlook on life, the skill with which she draws conversation from people and the message of love, acceptance and positivity she has shared with her loyal audience.
The following is a veritable who's who of Australian and international public figures, stage and screen actors. They each possess a quality about them that enabled me to draw the characters in the novel vividly and with a sense of realism.
Of particular note is the physical representation of the dual protagonists Virginia and Ruby. I almost impossible to imagine them both separately as children and so I chose to imagine them as looking very similar across the two time periods that feature in the novel. I also want to make a special mention of songwriter and comedienne, Chemda Khalili, who formed the inspiration for the character "Khalili". Though Khalili is a male in the novel, I wanted to imbue him with the spirit of this wonderful woman who, in the seven or eight years I have been listening to her radio show, has taught me more about identity than just about any other person I know. She really is one of a kind.
Young Virginia Crammond (Australian actress Everlyn Sampi).
Old Virginia Delfey Crammond (Lowitja O'Donoghue Australian Aboriginal Rights Advocate and Public Administrator).
Agatha Penschey (Australian actress Essie Davis).
The stateliness that Essie Davis carries in her character of Phrynie Fisher in the ABC TV series "Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries" was a perfect fit for the pivotal character of Agatha Penschey in the novel.
Ruby Delfey (Everlyn Sampi).
For the past two years, this is the image I've had pinned to my wall in my office which I used to help me visualize the central character of Ruby Delfey in the novel. Everlyn Sampi, who shot to world wide attention in Phillip Noyce's superb "Rabbit Proof Fence", was always the image I had in my head of Ruby.
New York singer/songwriter Chemda Khalili served as the inspiration for the character Khalili in the novel.
Having listened to Chemda's talk show "What's My Name" and "Keith & the Girl" for the past 7 years, I have come to admire Chemda's outlook on life, the skill with which she draws conversation from people and the message of love, acceptance and positivity she has shared with her loyal audience.
Rex Delfey (Australian actor Aaron Pederson).
Virginia Delfey's son / Ruby Delfey's uncle Rex Delfey was crafted early in the writing of Gifts of the Peramangk and his role in the story became important if uncomfortable. Australian actor, Aaron Pederson (The Circuit/SBS TV) served is the visual inspiration for Rex.
Belle Delfey (Australian actress Lisa Flanagan).
Celebrated stage actress Lisa Flanagan served as the visual inspiration for Ruby's outwardly callous aunt, Belle Delfey. This image in particular struck me as a perfect embodiment of a woman struggling to keep her fractured family together. As we shall see in the story, Belle's exterior hides torturous secrets...
Jeremy Delfey (Australian actor Luke Carroll).
Ruby's fiercely loyal but extremely troubled cousin Jeremy Delfey became a prominent character in 'Gifts of the Peramangk' after spending a good deal of time on the peripheries. Australian actor Luke Carroll who shot to prominence in 'Australian Rules' served as the physical basis for Jeremy in the novel.
Asher Delfey (Australian actress Marissa Gibson).
Minty Delfey (Australian actor Brandon Walters).
Vernon Penschey "The Pastoralist" (Australian actor William McInnes).
This might be a curve ball for some Australian fans who are familiar with him, but the inspiration for the brutal character of 'The Pastoralist' in the novel came from one of Australia's best loved actors William McInnes. His stunning performance in the mini series 'My Brother Jack' influenced my decision to write The Pastoralist with him in mind.
"Davo" (Australian singer/songwriter Dan Sultan).
DFA.
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Be In Love - There Need Be No Other Title.
I've had quite musical banquet in the past couple of weeks and it has led me to some new aural discoveries which are always welcome to my ears.
I took my serioso to see Feist for her birthday at the 'Thebby' in Adelaide back on the 9th and I made the comment at the time that I would renounce my Australian citizenship tomorrow, just to become a Canadian and have the opportunity to see Feist live a lot more. She was, in a word, sumptuous.
But in all of my gushing about Feist and Canadians being the most beautiful people on Earth, I received a new Twitter follower who instantly caught my attention and had me eagerly checking out her website and her music. As such, I just had to add her to my growing list of "There Need Be No Other Title" entries.
Amanda Abizaid, though not immediately recognizable to me, is a songstress and composer of formidable talent and one who has amassed a seriously impressive portfolio since she first emerged onto the scene in the late 90's.
Born in Beirut, Lebanon and migrating to the U.S. in the middle 90's, Amanda has worked as both a model and actress garnering critical success for her work but it is to her music I am drawn and her vocal talent in particular which is truly something to behold.
Her body of work as a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist (piano, guitar, and flute) Amanda is best known as the captivating vocalist on the theme song “A Place In Time” from Paramount’s The 4400, the featured song “Dreams in Ashes” from Lifetime Television’s Odd Girl Out, as well as other lead vocal appearances in songs appearing in Smallville, Ed, One Tree Hill, Felicity, and Charmed. Amanda has also contributed compositions for feature films such as 3 Below, 13th Alley, and an independent short film, Facing the Lion, by writer director, Joe Plonsky, and executive producer, Scott Spiegel, in which she has a starring role.
"Be In Love" is Amanda Abizaid's latest solo release, an eight track EP that show cases Abizaid's wide ranging vocal talent, her skill across a number of instruments and her ambitious fusion of a number of musical styles.
Abizaid's voice has a smoky, sensual and passionate sensibility which is incredibly attractive and she has quite a range too, which allows her to vary her ability effortlessly across the six vocal tracks. Her Middle Eastern roots shine through which adds a earthy texture to her voice and I have to say that I am a sucker for these influences. I have been listening to a number of artists who have drawn from Middle Eastern musical styles - both Chemda Khalili and Lisa Gerrard come to mind instantly - and I'm happy say Amanda Abizaid is a beautiful addition to my catalog.
Her music fuses those Middle Eastern rhythms and instruments with an urban flavor that floats from jazz to world music to even a little bit of hip-hop. It has the potential to get a bit messy but here, on each track of the EP, it totally works. It sounds effortless and well polished. You will be bouncing your head after a while, I guarantee it.
Thematically "Be In Love" speaks of love and life and personal growth from Amanda's perspective and it has been influenced largely from her life thus far, growing up in Lebanon and migrating to America. It feel is positive and reflective and it's a refreshingly individual work, created with a lot of care and constructed meticulously.
At $5.99 "Be In Love" is a worthy addition to your library and one that connects you directly with the artist - avoiding the various middle men/women along the way. As with previous entries to my "There Need Be No Other Title" series, I am pleased knowing that 100% of my hard earned goes directly to artist.
Amanda Abizaid is one of those gems that you find when you least expect it. And they are truly the best ones.
DFA.
I took my serioso to see Feist for her birthday at the 'Thebby' in Adelaide back on the 9th and I made the comment at the time that I would renounce my Australian citizenship tomorrow, just to become a Canadian and have the opportunity to see Feist live a lot more. She was, in a word, sumptuous.
But in all of my gushing about Feist and Canadians being the most beautiful people on Earth, I received a new Twitter follower who instantly caught my attention and had me eagerly checking out her website and her music. As such, I just had to add her to my growing list of "There Need Be No Other Title" entries.
Amanda Abizaid, though not immediately recognizable to me, is a songstress and composer of formidable talent and one who has amassed a seriously impressive portfolio since she first emerged onto the scene in the late 90's.
Born in Beirut, Lebanon and migrating to the U.S. in the middle 90's, Amanda has worked as both a model and actress garnering critical success for her work but it is to her music I am drawn and her vocal talent in particular which is truly something to behold.
Her body of work as a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist (piano, guitar, and flute) Amanda is best known as the captivating vocalist on the theme song “A Place In Time” from Paramount’s The 4400, the featured song “Dreams in Ashes” from Lifetime Television’s Odd Girl Out, as well as other lead vocal appearances in songs appearing in Smallville, Ed, One Tree Hill, Felicity, and Charmed. Amanda has also contributed compositions for feature films such as 3 Below, 13th Alley, and an independent short film, Facing the Lion, by writer director, Joe Plonsky, and executive producer, Scott Spiegel, in which she has a starring role.
"Be In Love" is Amanda Abizaid's latest solo release, an eight track EP that show cases Abizaid's wide ranging vocal talent, her skill across a number of instruments and her ambitious fusion of a number of musical styles.
Abizaid's voice has a smoky, sensual and passionate sensibility which is incredibly attractive and she has quite a range too, which allows her to vary her ability effortlessly across the six vocal tracks. Her Middle Eastern roots shine through which adds a earthy texture to her voice and I have to say that I am a sucker for these influences. I have been listening to a number of artists who have drawn from Middle Eastern musical styles - both Chemda Khalili and Lisa Gerrard come to mind instantly - and I'm happy say Amanda Abizaid is a beautiful addition to my catalog.
Her music fuses those Middle Eastern rhythms and instruments with an urban flavor that floats from jazz to world music to even a little bit of hip-hop. It has the potential to get a bit messy but here, on each track of the EP, it totally works. It sounds effortless and well polished. You will be bouncing your head after a while, I guarantee it.
Thematically "Be In Love" speaks of love and life and personal growth from Amanda's perspective and it has been influenced largely from her life thus far, growing up in Lebanon and migrating to America. It feel is positive and reflective and it's a refreshingly individual work, created with a lot of care and constructed meticulously.
At $5.99 "Be In Love" is a worthy addition to your library and one that connects you directly with the artist - avoiding the various middle men/women along the way. As with previous entries to my "There Need Be No Other Title" series, I am pleased knowing that 100% of my hard earned goes directly to artist.
Amanda Abizaid is one of those gems that you find when you least expect it. And they are truly the best ones.
DFA.
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