Thoughts

Comments

Artistic License: The shape of arts today.

Thursday, September 04, 2003

My mind is filled with two thoughts:

First, a great Fringe show I watched this year entitled Checkpoint Charlie: a love story.  Written and Performed by Steve Weller, this one-act takes a look at 40 years of the Berlin Wall, and two spies who’s lives were affected by it.  Uncannily accurate, Mr. Weller is complimented on his historical research – along with his knowledge of how the world of espionage works.  A gorgeous young woman starting her career in the CIA as a field agent is assigned to an ‘exchange’ of captured spies.  Immediately she meets a charming, dashing – and practical KGB agent – and their life-long romance ensues.

Mr. Weller tackles the history of Berlin, Germany with the history of Communism and Democracy.  He mixes these ideologies with a human touch – how spies feel about each other, their personal views of their perspective governments and the truth behind James Bond.  Then he tackles as a more important feature – how do people feel about those they must work with.  Laurissa Kalinowski and Steve Weller as CIA and KGB make us realise that we are all human – and history is the only marker that we have ever been.  Through the entire show, one begins to think about what matters not to Church and State, or Ideology – but ‘what matters to me?’.

After thinking about the show, I came to realize HISTORY isn’t what changes the world – rather it is the history of individuals which shapes it.  A little change in one character alters the feelings in another and before you know it – 40 years has passed you by.  Checkpoint Charlie questions how spies play the game – and relates is perfectly with how people play their game… of love.

Ian Horobin, a director and actor in the city for 10 years has more knowledge of James Bond than he wants to admit – and when directing something so –dare I say it? – Intriguing! He pulls that back and examines the relationship between 2 people – and how they affect their environment.

An excellent piece of work!  Checkpoint is thought provoking, very well performed and directed with a boyish feel that leaves you wanting more.  My hat is off to this trio of performers – and my James Bond novels are kindly set-aside for something much for real.

The Second Thought:

Checkpoint Charlie was the only Fringe show I attended this year and I avoided the ‘festivities’ for a deliberate reason.  I avoided Fringe for the same reasons I avoided Heritage Days and A Taste of Edmonton. I also avoided the Street Performers Festival way back in June…The horrible monster I avoided?

Corporate Feel

Yup.  That ugly nasty SOB Corporate Feel.  I remember when the Arts Barns were closed (late last year) and many fellow actors and directors were thinking the rebuilding of the arts barns would be a great thing for the Fringe.  Sure, I said – for Fringe Theatre Adventures: Maybe.  What no one really anticipated (more probable it was false hope) was that the new facilities would still be affordable.  (Insert Laugh here)  I found out recently that the new facilities are costing more than $3000 per week.  Now, Edmonton has an abundance of ‘young’ theatre companies which are fast becoming staples in the arts community to supply jobs and for the development of new theatre.

This incredibly expensive Transalta Arts Barns – built using a kind donation from the gov’t – and MY FRIGGIN” TAX DOLLARS was meant to be rebuilt for local arts!  THAT AIN”T HAPPENING!  By increasing the rent on the new stage to ‘pay’ for the place stinks.  It also tells me the money coming in from the government had more ‘provisos’ in the contract than anyone has ever stated.  With this rental rate more than I have ever seen in a year – the corporations and idiocy of the government politicians and beaurocrats have shot the arts community in chest with a shotgun – loaded with lead, salt and iodine. They really want the arts to die a painful death in this province.  Well, Alberta always has been a rednecked, care-less, rather drab province anyway.  I strongly suggest all us actors pick up and move elsewhere.

Truthfully, what happened with the rebuilding of the Transalta Arts Barns (TAB for short) is the beginning of the end.  All the festivals this year have shown loss in attendance.  The Fringe has become a beer garden with fewer people than ever attending shows.  Sure, a ‘couple’ of productions nearly sold out – for for most of the productions, I was hearing of extremely poor houses… Hm.  Not all that art can be that bad.  And from what I have heard, This started happening last year.

Not only that, the Fringe is supposed to be a Festival.  The city and Fringe have decided in their wonderful ‘intelligence’ that to do this they must split the buskers from the ‘arts’ into two festivals at different times of the year.  Um, isn’t the whole point of a Festival to Celebrate?  And if the Fringe is a festival of the arts – where are all the artists?  As far as I know, buskers are performers too?  Or am I wrong?  And Painters? Hell, bring in the Arts Walk to the Fringe.

I keep hearing of business-men and women sticking their opinions in the arts with an attitude of ‘I know what’s best here because I’m investing the money’  No.  that translates into “I’m spending money to take control over art and thus become famous’.  What the business people need to stop doing is thinking – it ruins far too much and creates far too many problems.   The Art of Business and how to ‘make money’ overrides the Business of Art – which is developing culture.  As soon as the corporate world steps in SHIT is created.  Ever hear of Hollywood?  A perfect example of art gone bad because of business.

If the business community wants to invest and develop a marketable economically feazible festival – (and God forbid, even turn a profit!) they need to start learning about the arts… And I can say the same about artists.  Learn the business side of things. Both sides need to be open to negotiate. Hell, I’m learning how to be a business man with my own production company. I’m making mistakes, but I’m learning and I know I’m learning.  I jumped in to learn, not control.  And this is a warning to both sides.  Artists – develop your art – and be open to the ideas from the business world.  Corporations: you’re welcome, but you need to listen to what is best for the artists.

Charging $3000 a week to put up a show by a professional grass roots company?  That’s not harsh, that is insult.  Don’t turn this country, this city and our festivals into another Hollywood.  I’m doing my best to avoid that ‘happy accident of business and artistry’ – why don’t you?  If you are confused by the whole Hollywood statement – when did the film industry… from Hollywood, not NY or globally – develop a great piece of work?  I don’t remember.  Trash is all I’ve been able to see for the past decade.

There.  I have said my peace.  Maybe we all need to extract a little artistic license and begin to listen to each other – and be willing to work for each other rather than for money