Production Diaries:
June 2004
July 2004
August 2004
September 2004
October 2004
Recent Entries:
HUNDREDS GATHER TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THE LATE MAKO IWAMATSU IN CAGES!
Wed, 14 Nov 2007
A SPECIAL TRIBUTE SCREENING OF MAKO!
Tue, 16 Oct 2007
Perles Acquires Cages Distribution!
Wed, 01 Aug 2007
"CAGES" RUNS 4TH WEEK IN THEATRES!
Fri, 13 Apr 2007
IT'S MY TURN TO FLY!
Mon, 09 Apr 2007
"CAGES" SURPRISES MANY AS IT ENTERS THIRD WEEKEND IN THEATRES!
Fri, 06 Apr 2007
"CAGES" ENTERS THIRD WEEK IN THEATRES!
Tue, 03 Apr 2007
LOYAL FOLLOWING TO THANK, AS "CAGES" ENTERS THIRD WEEK IN THEATRES!
Mon, 02 Apr 2007
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Developing Ethan
07/05/04
Developing Ethan has been a very interesting process. On the outside, Ethan seems like the “bad guy” if you will, but as an actor, I have been trying to find out is why Ethan is the way he is. This is part of an actor’s homework. There are clues in the script as to what he does, and when he does them, but as actors and as people, there are reasons for every action, thought etc. Our past experiences, thought processes, dictate those actions of today.
Having said that, I wanted to attack this discovery process from different angles.
The choice I first made was to become the artist that Ethan is. Everyone shows emotions in different ways, and most artists tend to show their thought processes or their life experiences through the canvas. Be it the strength of the brush stroke or the colors chosen or the subjects painted, all of this portray their life or enough of it to give the viewers a hint of what they are feeling and experiencing at that time. From the discovery process with Graham, Ethan’s art at this time in his life comes from a desire for sexual satisfaction. His gift for art is being used for the mere purpose of seducing the women he meets.
Why does he do this?
Well, from my investigation, he does this because at this time in his life, when he has tried “in his own eyes” to really do the art he wants to do, he is let down by the constant rejection that has been given to him from the art world. In a sense he now paints for temporary satisfaction, not what his heart desires.
Learning this technique has been an eye opening experience, not only in the character building, but also in the fundamental aspect that one should not paint what their eye sees, but the shapes, shadows etc that are actually there. Then and only then does the final picture come out the way you want it.
One way I have learned through Graham is to not paint right side up, but to paint upside down. If you hit a crossroad doing this, then you have the liberty of moving the canvas on it’s side, but never right side up until you feel the painting is complete.
What you realize in doing this is that you are simplifying the painting process, and in doing this you can create the most interesting, detailed paintings – that one might never be able to do otherwise.
I believe the process can also be used to create the emotional history of the character. Simplify it; break it down into a series of emotional moments that have shaped the character you are portraying. Then when you feel you have done the necessary work, put it together and see what you have come up with.
I know I have been surprised what I have come up with.
Roberto Tonelli
ETHAN
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