no time

SANTA BARBARA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

2008-01-21T15:13:00.000-08:00

Good news. Best Wishes For Tomorrow will be part of the Santa Barbara Film Festival. The director, Koizumi-san is coming in from Japan for it. There are two screenings. Saturday, February 2, at 4:45PM, and then on Sunday, February 3 at 11:15 AM. Both will be at the Metro 4 on State Street. I'll be onstage with the director, and my fellow American cast members, Bob Lesser and Fred McQueen, after each screening, conducting a quick Q & A. Please make it if you can, and meet the director! The link for the festival is at sbfilmfestival.org

Tokyo International Film Festival screening Best Wishes For Tomorrow

2007-11-09T08:55:00.000-08:00

So my second trip to Japan, for the special premiere screening of "Best Wishes for Tomorrow" at the Tokyo International Film Festival, was quite a whirlwind.

Of course the first screening was a bit nerve-wracking; but then it's hard to watch myself and the film objectively, without remembering viscerally the actual filming experience.

The film has a wonderful period look, and a solid emotional point of view. People were very generous in their impressions, crying, obviously moved by the picture. It's rhythm is poetic and like Koizumi-san's other films it shares a dream-like quality.

It is as if director wants to say to the viewer, here is a slice of a remote time, a moment of very intense goings-on, relax - come on this journey - in the end you'll realize that things happen for a reason: life can be hard, but if the struggle, to be honorable, honest and spiritually expressive is undertaken - tomorrow is inevitable.

It's a very zen film in many ways. Though the military backdrop can appear so seemingly mundane and stiff, Koizumi-san has made it very human and thus tragic.

Our schedule was intense: the film, onstage greetings with brief speeches by us 5 key leads and the director, followed by a brief cocktail party and buffet - extremely brief, then we were whisked away to another side room where there were 200 or so journalist/still and motion photographer types, and us sitting in chairs on a makeshift stage to field questions.
I spoke a couple of times about how poetic the film is and how it demands the viewer to slow down and really be engaged, and that the General's message at the end of the movie is more poignant than ever - that despite the grimness and prospect of today's times, we now must, more than ever, fight for peace and spread the message of the film, that there is no good that comes from war. You can see a clip of our stage greeting if you click Film Festival site.
After that we were whisked off to our dressing room to await our turn for a TV interview for a cable show, Wow,Wow. Then back to the hotel for just a moment and then to gather together for dinner, with the director and some of the production company.

I spoke to the director a lot, told him how I thought the sound of the movie was perfect (we saw each other before the screening and he voiced concern of the quality in the 1600 seat or so theatre). There was no sound problem. Also the music was very good. The lead Actress, Ms. Fuji-san was beautiful, and though she never spoke on camera, only with some voice-over, she retained a powerful and moving presence.

We spoke about the possible future of the film (it's due to open nation-wide here March 1st). His first film played at the L.A. film festival, his only time in L.A., and I encouraged the idea of submitting it there as well as to N.Y.

Then I rejected a cab, and walked in the rain back to the hotel - maybe 2 miles through a crowded sea of umbrellas. I loved it. Really the best part of the day. I really miss the rain living in L.A.

From Bill Viola to NutriSystem

2007-10-13T06:11:00.000-07:00

So here is the NutriSystem infomercial I completed last year. We definitely got the job done!

World Premiere 'Best Wishes for Tomorrow’ Tokyo International Film Festival

2007-10-03T15:45:00.000-07:00

So, I've been asked to return to Tokyo, along with my American comrades, Bob Lesser and Fred McQueen for the world Tokyo International Film, October 27th. Pretty exciting. If there's any chance you'll be in Tokyo at that time, I'd love to see you there. You can also check out the trailer.

Right now, they have me leaving on Thursday Oct. 25 to return the following Thursday, Nov. 1. So, all in all, with travel and time changes that will add up to five crammed days of PR work. Not bitching about it. I'm flattered that they've asked me back, and I'm excited to reunite with all the wonderful people I've met there. This time I will bring presents! I had a suitcase full of gifts, including fans, saki, pictures, even a samurai sword (which was nearly impossible to get through customs!) that were endlessly bestowed on me before I left Japan.

Yes, I look forward to seeing the film, also a bit nervous about it. I have a very hard time watching myself act, without being the most ruthless of critics, mercilessly ripping my performance to shreds. In this case especially. The film has such a pedigree of talent involved, with Koizumi-san, the director, and the wonderful Japanese actors - I just want it to be well received.

My one regret really is that I'll be missing Halloween with Olivia, my 6 year old daughter.

Here are some more production stills that were recently sent my way.

Me in Bill Viola video in Venice

2007-10-02T11:29:00.000-07:00

While looking up the location of the Viola video at the Biennale for a friend on his way to Venice, I came upon this youtube video featuring my performance.

check it out!

You can also see people's comments on youtube.

Days off

2007-06-14T11:55:00.000-07:00

I've been taking full advantage of my time off. Wednesday I traveled to majestic Mt. Fuji, and went to a natural hotsprings spa at the foothills of the mountain. I had an okay one hour shiatsu - but the hot water and cold plunges were wonderful.

Tuesday I went to a museum in the Ueno section of Tokyo. I saw some very interesting contemporary art at the Royal Museum. Then I went back to the Asukasa section (getting pretty proficient riding the rails here) to buy kimonos for Randi and Olivia.

On Tuesday night, director Koizumi-san took us out to dinner at the Kurosawa restaurant (owned by his son), with Kurosawa's daughter and grandson (our film's wardrobe designer, and supporting actor). Kind of a Hard Rock Cafe to the film legend - with his original storyboards, and various memorabilia all over,e.g. posters, photos of Mifune and Kurosawa hanging out, etc., according to his daughter they were huge whiskey drinkers.

Hanging here, working, it's pretty amazing. Would love all this work to continue when I return to L.A. - must stay positive -Ya mon!

Best Wishes - little more than one week left.

2007-06-09T07:20:00.000-07:00

Here I am as Col. Louis Rapp, president of the military commission. When I first arrived in Tokyo we traveled to Yokahama to see the real courtroom - the art department has expertly duplicated the original.

Things are going well. Yesterday was a very long day, an unusually long one. Took almost all day to shoot one scene, with some complicated choreography with all the various players.

Can't believe there's little more than 1 week left. I have 2 days off next week starting on Tuesday. Plan to go to Mt. Fuji for one of them. It'll be great to actually experience a bit of nature.

Japanese press about the film, Best Wishes For Tomorrow

2007-06-08T05:12:00.000-07:00

Shohei, personal assistant to the Americans working on the film, was kind enough to e-mail this article my way.

http://www.cinemacafe.net/news/cgi/report/2007/06/1978/

Perhaps you can check out the full article and let me know what it says? Hope it's good.

Best Wishes For Tomorrow - Work and Play in Tokyo

2007-06-07T09:19:00.000-07:00

Since my arrival on May 26th I have been having an incredible time. Right from the start, beginning with a Zazen 45 minute meditation at a temple with the cast, the experience has been unique and gratifying.

Early on the work schedule was pretty easy, 7:30 - 3 or 4, with lots of downtime. The director shoots very few takes, and he's using three 35mm cameras simultaneously for every scene.

I've been told that the Japanese actors are the cream of the crop and they're all super nice. The elders, Makota Fujita and Sumiko Fuji are practically National Treasures. One recent 4 page scene involved a young actress, Yu Aoi, who won the Japanese equivalent of the Academy Award here last year. And another day we worked with Yoshiko Tanaka, who's quite well-known, and was part of a very successful girl group in the 70's, The Candies, so she was like the Japanese Posh Spice. She was very good.

And the director, Takashi Koisumi, couldn't be nicer.

It is a bit like working with a zen monk - he is such a peaceful, meditative fellow. He gave me a few of his previous films to watch. His first was an adaptation of a story by Kurosawa - a very beautiful little Samaurai story. He told me yesterday morning, that Kurosawa comes to visit him in his dreams alot, so in the middle of the night he often regresses back to being an A.D., running around like crazy, but that night he stayed a director without a visit from his old boss.

While things started out slow for me, recently my scenes have a bit more bite and I've felt more actively involved. That is really satisfying.

All in all I'm really enjoying the total work and play experience. I've met nothing but wonderful, wonderful people. Soooo gracious and friendly. Wish I could work on this film forever.

Here are a few photos of the people I'm working with -

Off to Tokyo

2007-05-24T18:22:00.000-07:00

So I'm off to Tokyo for a month. I have a role in a film titled "Ashita e no Yuigon (Best Wishes for Tomorrow)." The director is Takashi Koizumi.

The film, which starts shooting on June 2, concerns the postwar trial, in Yokohama, of Lt. Gen. Tasuku Okada, former commander of the 13th Area Army in the Tokai region (the area centered on the prefectures of Aichi and Mie). Nineteen of the general's subordinates were also on trial with him.

I play Col. Louis Rapp, president of the military commission. It should be a very interersting experience.

To tell you about the film, I will summarize and quote from an article I read on line by Roger Pulvers, a co-writer on the film with director, Koizumi. "The court proceedings stemmed from the last months of World War II, when giant American B-29s carried out relentless and indiscriminate bombings of the region, using high-explosives, napalm and other incendiary ordnance. Tens of thousands of civilians, including women and children, were burnt to death.

Thirty-eight American aircrew who parachuted out of their planes were captured, summarily tried and executed as war criminals in June and July 1945. The war ended with the Emperor's capitulation on Aug. 15, 1945.

The subsequent Yokohama War Crimes Trials garnered much less publicity than those held in Tokyo. For one thing, the latter dealt with alleged Class-A war criminals, such as wartime Prime Minister Hideki Tojo. The trials in Yokohama were for alleged B- and C-Class war criminals.

Also, by the time the Yokohama trials were under way, the people of Japan, like the Allied Occupation forces governing them, were turning their attention to reconstruction and away from retribution.

Nonetheless, the claims against Okada and his cohorts were grave. They were that the American airmen had not been given fair trials, and they could hardly be held responsible for merely following orders.

Therein lies the crux of the film. What is a war crime and who is responsible for one when it occurs?" *(http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20070520rp.html)

That's all I know for now, but if you're going to be in Tokyo during June or have any suggestions for my rare days off - drop me an e-mail.

See you in July,

Ocean Without A Shore

2007-05-24T17:39:00.001-07:00

If you are going to be in Venice, Italy anytime between June 10 & November 24, 2007 be sure to check me out in Bill Viola's new work, 'Ocean Without A Shore'

'Ocean Without A Shore' is to be presented at the 52nd International Art Exhibition La Biennale di Venezia. It is a three screen High Definition video and sound installation inspired by its setting - the 15th century intimate Venetian church of San Gallo.

'Ocean Without A Shore' presents a cyclical progression of images that describes a series of encounters at the intersection between life and death. Located near the Piazza San Marco the church of San Gallo was formerly a private chapel, and Viola directly incorporates its internal architecture into his piece, using the three existing stone altars as video screens. Of the work Bill Viola states, "'Ocean Without A Shore' is about the presence of the dead in our lives. The three stone altars in San Gallo become transparent surfaces for the manifestation of images of the dead attempting to re-enter our world."

"The video sequence describes the human form as it gradually coalesces from within a dark field and slowly comes into view, moving from obscurity into the light. As the figure approaches, it becomes more solid and tangible until it breaks through an invisible threshold and passes into the physical world. The crossing of the threshold is an intense moment of infinite feeling and acute physical awareness. Poised at that juncture, for a brief instant all beings can touch their true nature, equal parts material and essence. However, once incarnate, these beings must eventually turn away from mortal existence and return to the emptiness from where they came."

Over 24 performers and a technical team of 20 participated in the creation of 'Ocean Without A Shore'. Kira Perov, Viola's wife and long time collaborator, Harry Dawson, director of photography, and Brian Pete, editor, made essential creative contributions to the production. You can check it out:

http://www.haunchofvenison.com/en/index.php#page=london.exhibitions.future.bill_viola_venice

It was very exciting to get to work with Bill Viola and while I may not get to see the piece, would love to hear your impressions.

My Other Life

2007-04-11T20:43:00.000-07:00

In my other 'work' life (when I'm not acting) I'm:

Richard Neil, LMT, CMT

Richard Neil is a licensed, certified massage therapist. His technique of healing bodywork incorporates the various modalities in which he’s been trained: deep tissue, Swedish, shiatsu, acupressure, reflexology, and kinesiology. The “recipe” of the massage is defined by the individual client’s needs. The overall goal is a calming, enjoyable experience, one in which the client will walk away feeling more energy, more flexibility, better alignment, and relief from muscular tension and mental stress. Richard also incorporates his training in kinesiology and muscle testing to strengthen specific organs with accupressure and meridian alignment, creating better circulation and a stronger lymphatic system.

Richard is a graduate of The Pacific School of Massage and Healing Arts in Gualala, California where he studied with the master, Dr. Fred Mitour. He also attended The Massage School of Santa Monica furthering his knowledge of Deep Tissue work with Marcel Salomon, and sports injury massage with Marko Yrjoruori, the trainer for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Richard also practices the healing art of Sacred Hot Stone massage, which brings the healing qualities of heated basalt stones into a specialized deep tissue massage. For this, he has been trained and certified by the Institute for Therapeutic Massage.

"Pain, stress, disease, are all symptomatic of imbalance within the human organism. A realignment toward balance must integrate the structural, chemical, psychological, and spiritual components of a person. The massage experience brings us back in contact with ourselves. It helps us tap into the natural order of the universe and our own inner security. As a result, our breath becomes deeper, our minds become clearer and calmer, and we are reintegrated as whole people."
Give me a call or send me an e-mail to schedule an appointment.