The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 19.0466  Friday, 15 August 2008

From:       Peter Babakitis <
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Date:       Wednesday, 13 Aug 2008 14:07:21 -0700
Subject:    New Henry V Movie Available on DVD

The new film "William Shakespeare's Henry V" is available on DVD from the 
official site:

http://www.henrythefifth.com

Cast:
Peter Babakitis, Sabaa, Phil Sheridan, Brian Narelle, Gwyneth Horobin

The director, Peter Babakitis, will be appearing at schools throughout the US 
for discussion and Q/A sessions about interpretation, production, and performance.

New Film of Shakespeare's Henry V Sheds Light on Controversial Warrior-King. 
Peter Babakitis's new film William Shakespeare's Henry V reveals a darker side 
of patriotic ambition. Peter Babakitis, Emmy award-winning director of the film 
Kuksu, has created a new digital film experience with William Shakespeare's Henry V.

"I was attracted by this play because I thought it would be fascinating to get 
into the mind of this rather cold-blooded killer who believes he's doing God's 
work." Explains Mr. Babakitis, "Shakespeare gives us a sinister underside to the 
glory of conquest; an aspect of the play that I thought was lacking in other 
productions that I've seen."

"He is an isolated character, a victim of his own competence as a leader, and of 
the faith placed by others in him. His midnight wandering on the night before 
the battle of the most interesting self-reflective writing in all of 
Shakespeare, revealing the emptiness in the eye of the storm that this man had 
created."

Directing and acting in the same, production proved a challenge to Mr. 
Babakitis, and he describes his routine: "I prepared physically for the role 
with aikido training, medieval broadsword practice, which is quite different 
from modern foil fencing, and hours and hours of horseback riding. I do a kind 
of yogic breathing exercise to be able to handle the long speeches. I  was also 
performing on stage in San Francisco in Frankenstein: A  Modern Prometheus 
during the course of the production as well, so I  found I was using a lot of 
that work, and the coaching given me by Robert Lundy-Paine, the director of 
Frankenstein, who Plays the duke of Orleans in Henry V."

"In the end, I think the play is written in such a way to support the  character 
of Henry; the other characters create a matrix in which Henry exists, so in a 
way -- and I think this is thematic -- he is defined  by those around him. He is 
profoundly lost, except for his responsibility to the endeavor that he has 
created -- and I think this is a very modern condition." "Other Productions that 
focus on Henry the patriotic hero miss this important aspect, but it's this 
moral ambiguity that I find makes him interesting."

To book a screening and appearance, send emails to 
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For group and class discounts on ordering, send email to 
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