this new year

Welcome to the tens, Each year I act as though things will be different because the clock and the calender done changed. As though it's a a new day! Rather than a continuation of the old, nothing stops and starts in life, rather we change, and in a slow methodical way... That being said I like the illusion. I need the illusion.
This segment of my life will be the same but different, lots of risks are for the taking, and taking i want to do. so hang on. please come out to see my shows, which will be posted for your entertainment. The need to produce work in the theatrical and visual and performative arts is on an all time high for me
stay tuned. I want to thannk the folks a the MAI in Montreal for pushing our show"Terminal Terminal" it was fantastic for both Deborah and myself. also please stay tuned as i will post the entire show ,in segments in the coming months....

responsibility and the desire for Art

Just last night i watched a piece of theatre/performance, that at the same time intrigued me and left me feeling somewhat alienated. heres the deal, myself and Deborah Forde had lead a workshop on diversity. talking with a group of new university students who wish to create art, we talked about the need to represent the diversity that is in the world they live in rather than to create work which is exclusive. this is the goal of the TDEV program at Concordia University(One that i am very proud of being part of. i think we made some head way. I spoke abouit the need to create work that talks to the world we see on the busses the subways, in the stores. Try to work with peoples who become invisible, once there is a picture to be made. Back to the theatrical bit, it works on the mundane, the everyday life, and I was wondering, is it the "priviledge" of some to actually make their daily quotidian existence "ART?" It bugged me no end to sit and watch. Those comfortable in the status quo treat their idle chatter as worthy of viewing. even if i love the people doing it. theres something,,,, talk to me, am I a art snob or just bitter.

Terminal Terminal

Its winding down to a few weeks before the opening of terminal terminal, and I have to admit, i am pretty excited about the whole thing. i have been looking all over the place for different information about Merhan, but it has hit me that i don't want to know anymore. I know it sounds really crass, but i find that i have an agenda, one is to tell some of his story, but the other is to look and figure out in a theatrical way, what would posses a man to sit in a place for that long, sure call it craziness! but that is not a logic. what is it that sends him over the edge? what running from or feels the need to be sheltered from?

as this is a work in progress please feel to comment, suggest,and offer any suggestion where i can perform this piece.

remember its in montreal at the MAI 3680 Jeanne-Mance, november 26,27,28

simulacra

It doesn't surprise me in the least when I get tangled up in what is real and what is not. I get snowed by the representation of the thing rather than the thing. Swayed by the press. More bark than bite. This is where "TerminalTerminal" kicks off. Imagine someone trapped in an airport for 16 years and then a big holywood preoducer shows up and begins to make a movie about it. except it ain't about it! it about something, but not his story, to say "based on a true story" is so bogus.

I was intersted in the man stuck in an airport, but I must confess my own use of his story to benefit mine, or for the greater good, what is this greater good? stay tuned i'll speak on it some more..
please remember

the MAI November 26 27 28 th 2009

TERINAL TERMINAL

*photo Althea knight

I THINK I MENTIONED IT BEFORE, BUT IT IS GETTING REALLY CLOSE TO THE TIME I THOUGHT I MIGHT MENTION IT AGAIN. THE ONE MAN PLAY "TERMINAL TERMINAL" WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY BRYAN JAMES AND DIRECTED BY DEBORAH FORDE,, WILL BE at the MAI (Montreal arts interculture) on these dates
November 26, november 27 and November 28;

please come out and support.

But Bryan, whats this thing about?
well, imagine, a man stuck in an airport for , well, a long time. imagine, well don't. imagine come and see the representation of the representation of the almost real thing.

Terminal Terminal

I was watching the news the other day, yesterday, and there was a bit on the CIA and its use of torture. This is not new. They and others have always had the "men in darkk suits who do the work we don't want to know about". what has this to do with Merhan Nasseri, the real "terminal man" well it seemed as though the CIA have helped in creating torture and death squads all over the world. In the case of Merhan, the CIA helped create SAVAK the secret police, which helped to crush all opponents of the shah, and according to Sir Alfred Merhan's book "The Terminal Man" Torture and interrogation methods in SAVAK prisons include but are not limited to; electric shocks,whippings beatings,inserting broken glass into a persons body, the forced extraction of teeth, the forced extraction of fingernails, the forced extraction of toenails,tying weights to the testicles, and pouring boiling water into the rectum."

I am writing about his life WILL BE performing his days in the airport.

"Terminal Terminal"

Just a big heads up, to let you all know that Bryan James will be performing his wonderful funny ,insightful one person play"TERMINAL TERMINAL" in Montreal, it will be Directed By the wonderful Deborah Forde.

the production will take place at the MAI( Montreal Arts interculturels)
3630, rue Jeanne Mance. November 26,27,28. 2009

i will be posting all the latest on the project and all the wonderful rehearsal moments.