No need for stories in or about her art, says painter Suzan Frecon. “The more I looked at the paintings, the more I understood how they were painted. That is what mattered. I went with that understanding and direction forever.” – Hyperallergic
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Hollywood Goes Full-On With Streaming
The announcement that Wonder Woman 1984 would be opening in the U.S. on Christmas Day, in some theatres but mainly on streaming via HBO Max, was Hollywood’s true acknowledgement that streaming is the thing during the uncontrolled pandemic. (But what about measurements to come?) – The New York Times
As ‘Queen’s Gambit’ Shows, The Stories We Choose To Tell Can Change Lives
Chess sets are sold out all over the United States, and little kids (and adults) of all genders are suddenly very, very into chess. What if Queen’s Gambit had been the rage 50 years ago, instead of, or alongside of, stories about Bobby Fischer? – Los Angeles Times
Filming ‘Lovecraft Country’ And Training The Viewer’s Eye
Michael Watson began his career in the camera department and worked his way up – and his job in HBO’s Lovecraft Country wasn’t easy. “On a visual level, [it is] a really fascinating show that offers a lot of different creative challenges. It’s a period piece. It actually takes place in many different periods, but none of them are the present day. And it’s playing around with a lot of genres … like classic horror and H.P. Lovecraft and science fiction. I mean, there’s even a role playing game style dungeon crawl in one episode.” – Slate
China Increasingly Targets Muslim Writers And Readers
One publisher, who has fled and has seen 40 family members and friends associated with him detained or jailed, says, “The state only wants its garden to have one type of flower … the red ones. Green, blue or white flowers: if they are not red, they will be cut down.” – NPR
Why Did President Obama’s First Memoir Take So Long To Write?
The 44th president’s memoir was indeed much longer than he originally planned, and this is only volume one. “He writes in a very classic way. … He sits down with a pen and pad.” And that’s another way he differs from many former presidents: Obama writes his own books. – The New York Times
Can’t Travel, Can’t Go To Concerts, But This Irish Cellist On YouTube Is Bringing The Joy
Like many musicians, Irish cellist Patrick Dexter decided to post performances to YouTube during Irish lockdown. He thought, well, what the heck, now I have time to play music outside for other people. “The open-air recitals, shot outside his picturesque cottage in Mayo on the rural west coast, have been viewed millions of times.” – BBC
The Canadian Broadcasting Act May Be Changing To Benefit Indigenous Producers
The proposed changes to the act would require funding to Indigenous content producers – and require content be produced in Indigenous languages as well. Some producers are a bit wary: “Winnipeg-based Cree director, writer and producer J.J. Neepin said this bill would be a major recognition of Indigenous Peoples and languages but added that she feels it will be a slow process to get going.” – CBC
Creating A Campus Play When That Play Is ‘Spring Awakening’ And There’s A Pandemic On
Says a former theatre student of Baldwin Wallace University’s Victoria Bussert, “Theatres have shut down everywhere, and this woman is just like, ‘Fuck that! We’re doing a play, we’re doing theatre. Give me hoops—I will jump through them, but I will make it work.'” – American Theatre
Queensland Ballet Is Practicing For 2021, And One Of Its Principals Answers Questions
Lucy Green is deeply aware of her privilege right now in the world of ballet – to be employed, to be practicing, to be planning for performance, none of it can be taken for granted during a pandemic. When the interviewer asks her which famous people she’d invite for dinner, she keeps it absolutely real: “I’d much rather have dinner with my family and friends who live interstate/overseas and who I haven’t seen all year due to border closures.” – Ballet News