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18 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2016 DT Feature Films on writers •Mahmood Sadi Hollywood loves making movies about writers – apparently there is nothing more cinematic than watching an unwashed nerd sit in front of a computer and think really hard for the next lines. For aspiring young writers, such films portraying the lifestyles of writers-their struggles, inspirations and the need to come up with beautiful narratives can act as an impetus. Weekend Tribune prepared a list of films, depicting writers. by Meryl Streep. The novel itself concerns the story of John Laroche (played by Chris Cooper), a smug plant dealer who was arrested in 1994 for poaching rare orchids in the Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve. As Kaufman struggles to write the script, his troubles are compounded by the presence of his twin brother, Donald (also played by Nicolas Cage), who is Charlie’s exact opposite: reckless, carefree, over-confident and perhaps even a bit dim. The script for Adaptation darts back and forth between different moments in time, either chronicling Kaufman’s screen writing exploits or Orlean’s experiences in writing her novel. Here Kaufman shows his mastery in destroying the line between reality and fiction. endless possibilities. In Wonder Boys, Michael Douglas plays Grady Tripp, a distracted and downtrodden professor who is suffering from an epic case of writer’s block. Life’s little surprises and academic politics aren’t helping the creative process either. Every writer has been there: when life seems to be wildly spinning away from you, the only thing you can control is your writing. Wonder Boys thus asks the question, what happens when you lose control of the writing too? A lot occurs in Wonder Boys, and the plot is very labyrinthine, although it never becomes confused and always keeps its cool. The characters are perfectly defined and cast. Their intentions and motives are clear and developed with shape and gradual effectiveness. Director Curtis Hanson pays close attention to each separate character, giving them dimensional qualities, intelligence and depth. It’s a complex, yet a feel good movie. Deconstructing Harry (1997) If one director’s name is being picked for portraying writers in movies, then it should be Woody Allen. In almost every Woody Allen film there is a writer character, but it’s with Deconstructing Harry, where Woody is at his best in portraying the eccentric lives of writers and it’s not a pretty sight. Arguably Woody’s best film of the 90’s, Deconstructing Harry is a study of a hopelessly immature and narcissistic novelist (played by Woody himself) who leaves a wake of misery and heartbreak among his friends and family as he loses the inspiration to write. As a result, he becomes ‘unfocused,’ entangling himself in fact and fiction (ie, he interacts with his own characters). “You expect the world to adjust to the distortion you’ve become,” Harry’s analyst tells him. What follows is a series of skits that interact with the past and present and the real and imagined – it’s kind of like watching a Kurt Vonnegut story edited by Quentin Tarentino. Adaptation (2002) Adaptation is another masterpiece by the director Spike Jonze. But here the real credit goes to Charlie Kaufman, the screenwriter. Much like Federico Fellini’s classic 1963 film - 8½, from which Kaufman almost certainly drew inspiration, Adaptation tells the story of its own creation. Nicolas Cage plays Charlie Kaufman, the lonely, insecure, and socially awkward screenwriter who is hired to adapt The Orchid Thief, written by Susan Orlean, who is portrayed Naked Lunch (1991) Films about writers and the creative process are not generally action-packed, but this unusual piece has plenty of incidents. The action takes place largely inside the mind of William Lee (William S Burroughs), whose first book Junkie: Confessions of an Unredeemed Drug Addict, dealt with his struggle against heroin addiction. The Naked Lunch, set in the early 1950s, could be described as telling how that book came to be written. Lee tries to write but suffers from frequent hallucinations. He imagines his typewriter is a giant speaking bug whose mission is to act as his “interzone” spy force controller. He becomes involved with another expatriate literary couple, Tom and Joan Frost, and imagines that Tom is trying to kill his wife. Then he discovers he has a taste for gay sex. Finally, somehow, the book gets written, and Hank and Martin show up just as Lee is in psychotic despair. They help him piece it together and head off back to New York, leaving Lee to “interzone” and his hallucinations. It takes a bit of discipline to watch this film - never has the creative process looked quite so destructive of the writer. Yet the whole thing has a lightness of touch about it. Wonder Boys (2000) Writer’s Block always has been a favourite subject of both the screenwriters and the directors because as a film subject ‘writer’s block’ is complex, multi-dimensional and has Photos: Internet Barton Fink (1991) Another film focusing on writer’s block, this time by the great Coen brothers. Barton Fink is termed as the most audacious film about the writing process. For me the clue to understanding this film was the line “I will show you the life of the mind,” and I feel that is just what this movie is about. It’s about the creative process of writing. It shows how the mind of an artist works. Set in the Hollywood of 1941, struggling playwright Barton Fink (John Turturro) has had huge success with a play he penned that he despises. Barton is a man who wants to write material that appeals to the common man. And when he receives an offer from a Hollywood film studio to write a script about a wrestling picture, he doesn’t like the idea of “selling out,” but the offer is too good to turn down. When he arrives in Hollywood, he checks into one of the most bizarre hotels. Trapped within the confines of his tiny room, Barton became a prisoner of his own imagination. He was struck by a severe case of writers block. There can be nothing more horrifying to a writer than a blank page. And that endless image of a blank page slowly starts to drive Barton mad. It is similar to Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining. The Coen brothers are known fans of Kubrick’s work, but I have to say, Barton Fink is a much better film than the one the Coens’ idol came up with.•
Biz Info 19 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2016 DT | contest | International photography competition by ThirdEye • Saqib Sarker Bangladesh International Salon 2016 has just been successfully completed. Unfolded on December 22 this year, the curtain was closed on December 25, at Drik Gallery, Dhanmondi, Dhaka. ThirdEye Photographic Society organised this Salon in 2016, which had joint patronages of PSA and ThirdEye Photographic Society (TPS). A total of 83 awards were declared and distributed among the participants. Sayeeda Khanam, advisor of ThirdEye Photographic Society and one of the first female photo journalists of Bangladesh was the chief guest in the opening ceremony. Syed Shakhawat Kamal, the newly appointed Country Membership Director of Photographic Society of America (PSA) presented the award giving ceremony on the final day. A truly international event, the completion received over 4000 entries from than 400 plus entrants from across the globe. The judging was completed in two rounds, where nine judges participated. Out of nine judges two judges were from USA, one judges from Saudi Arabia and the rest of the six judges were from Bangladesh. ThirdEye Photographic Society has established the tradition of “national photography conference in Bangladesh. This was the 2nd time ThirdEye organised this event in two consecutive years. At the same time it has introduced the “Photographer of the year” award for the first time. “It was an overwhelming success for the first event with PSA and TPS patronages,” said Syed Shakhawat Kamal. ThirdEye Photographic Society has pledged to continue their effort in promoting photography in Bangladesh. In their effort, they will work closely with PSA and promote PSA in Bangladesh. When Sheihk Md Atiqul Kabir received the photographer of the year award the audience cheered with tumultuous applause. Kabir gave a moving acceptance speech where he related the story behind his capture that won him the award. An educator by profession, Sheikh Kabir manages time for his passion of photography in addition to his regular professional engagements. “It’s difficult for me to express how I feel right now,” a tearful Kabir said to the audience. “I was in my hotel room the day I took the picture. It was raining and I was hesitant whether I would go out for a shoot. But I thought to myself that that is why I was there. So, I grabbed my rain coat, covered my camera and got out,” he continued. Kabir’s photo captured a fisherman struggling to pull in his boat near the shore against the strong tide. In beautiful monochrome the photo displays a silhouetted yet clear image of the scene. The photos in the contest covered a wide array of subjects including struggles of daily life, rural Bangladesh, rivers, and wildlife among others. • Photos: Courtesy | celebration | New Year celebrations at Dhaka Regency special New Year’s Eve celebrations will kick off from 6pm onwards with live DJ at Club 13 to make the night memorable. Dhaka Regency is also offering a special room package for the night of the 31st including a wide spread of buffet breakfast for two persons at the Grandiose Restaurant. Guests can enjoy the package only at Tk9,999. The valued members of Dhaka Regency Premier Club can avail the same package at Tk8,888. The New Year’s Eve festivities are very popular among the people of Dhaka. Keeping this in mind, Dhaka Regency has planned to celebrate this night in an alluring, yet conventional manner. • Photos: Courtesy | meeting | Dhaka Regency and Resort holds 9th Annual General Meeting People can celebrate New Year’s Eve with their family at the Dhaka Regency Hotel and Resort, where they promise this will be a night to remember. All the outlets of the hotel will have a bit for everyone on this night. The hotel’s most popular and largest rooftop restaurant Grill On The Skyline will be welcoming guests with their family and kids where they can enjoy the luxurious ambiance and mouth watering Live BBQ with music. For music lovers, Photo: Courtesy The 9th Annual General Meeting of Dhaka Regency Hotel and Resort Limited was held on Sunday, December 29 at the Rendezvous Lounge of Dhaka Regency. The meeting was presided over by Musleh Uddin Ahmed, Chairman of Dhaka Regency Hotel and Resort Limited. The meeting was also attended by Kabir Reza, Managing Director, other Board Members, Executive Director, Company Secretary, respected shareholders and other Senior Officials of the company. The shareholders thanked the board of directors and the management of the company for the success and notable growth during the year. •
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