The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 19.0466  Friday, 15 August 2008

From:       Peter Babakitis <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
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 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For group and class discounts on ordering, send email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

_______________________________________________________________
S H A K S P E R: The Global Shakespeare Discussion List
Hardy M. Cook, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The S H A K S P E R Web Site <http://www.shaksper.net>

DISCLAIMER: Although SHAKSPER is a moderated discussion list, the opinions 
expressed on it are the sole property of the poster, and the editor assumes no 
responsibility for them.

Subscribe to Our Feeds

Search

Make a Gift to SHAKSPER

Consider making a gift to support SHAKSPER.