My View of Women and Their Role in Society

Santa Fe, NM—Let me begin with the confession I love women.  I adore elegance, grace, beauty and brains.

Some believe that since I despise Hillary Clinton I must be sexist. I despise most every politician regardless of sex because they are all corrupt, freedom hating control freaks.

I’m beyond disappointed that women are routinely programed to be second-class.  They are the wives, mothers, housekeepers and they make magic in the kitchen. Because of technology and work saving devices women have much more time and ability to break out of that stereotype.

Women unnecessarily miss out on a lot of life’s fun and excitement because they think some activities are somehow not feminine or somehow too masculine.

Creating videos with drones is something enjoyed by less than three percent of women.  Why I ask?   It’s easy, fun and creative.  The women I’ve seen using drones are more skilled than the men.  

Things are changing since women are filling our medical, dental and law schools. I say bravo to that.

Actress Angelina Jolie said she would much rather play James Bond than a Bond girl. Why has Hollywood not expanded heroic and masterful roles for women? 

My all time favorite film is the World War II film Black Book.   In this film based on fact a very appealing Berlin Jewish nightclub singer hides out in the Netherlands from the Nazis.  She becomes an accentual member of the Dutch underground and a hero.

That film has an all around great cast that was led by Carice van Houten who absolutely rocked.  It was truly a role of a lifetime for a woman.  The film was far more realistic and much better those Mission Impossible or the James Bond films. 

Women need never lose their femininity or dignity to lead rather than follow men. 

As a firearms instructor I learned a lot about women.  Usually they shoot better then men simply because they listen to the instructors.  Men think that being macho is all they need so they don’t listen.   I always separate couples in those classes for obvious reasons.

The only thing holding back women are the women themselves.  I cheer on any woman that wants to break through.  

Any woman that can break out of the gender-programming mold is more attractive and sexier.   

Somehow many women juggle being wives, mothers and superheroes at the same time.  Why settle for second place?  My advice?  Don't take no for an answer!

    

Carice van Houten to Play Leni Riefenstahl the beautiful actress, singer and Pioneer Film Director

Leni Riefenstahl

Carice van Houten

Berlin, Germany—I first talked about this last February when there was a tease article in Variety Magazine.

The Jessie Owens story is coming to the big screen.  The film titled, Race is starring Stephan James as Owens and he is joined Jeremy Irons and William Hurt in this film.  Stephen Hopkins is directing the film.  Shooting began this week in Berlin.

The multi-talented Dutch actress, Carice van Houten who happens to be my personal favorite has signed on to play the legendary German film director Leni Riefenstahl.

Van Houten was cast in the once in a lifetime role of the accidental Dutch resistance hero, Rachel Stein / Ellis de Vries in Paul Verhoeven’s film, Black Book (2006).   That’s still is my favorite film of all time!

Today, van Houten graces the Game of Game of Thrones cast as the Red Priestess, Melisandre.

Riefenstahl was a gorgeous dancer and actress and genuine contemporary of the late great Marlene Dietrich.  The events of 1933 in Germany would change her life. 

Riefenstahl was an incredibly talented woman who took advantage of an opportunity within Adolf Hitler’s emerging Third Reich to make films with virtually unlimited budgets.

Riefenstahl was not anti-Semitic or any kind of a racist.  She was an opportunist that simply rose to the occasion when she got her chance.

One of her trademark masterpiece films, Triumph des Willens or in English Triumph of The Will is banned today in Germany.  It’s filled with amazing camera shots both static and aerial that had never been done before in cinema.  

That film was an epic propaganda piece designed to make Germany love their new leader who promised them hope and change and during a very bleak period in German History.  

Riefenstahl matched her stunning images with music and the film became an undeniable hit.  Nazi propaganda aside Riefenstahl did exactly what film directors are supposed to do.

Riefenstahl’s greatest epic was her documentation of the 1936 Olympics. Hitler decreed that Blacks and Jews could not take part in this event but relented when Germany would not be allowed to host the event

We all know what happened with that legendary African-American track star Jessie Owens, to Hitler’s chagrin defeated all of the world’s greatest runners.

Riefenstahl’s spectacular film of Owens' victory has been seen millions of times and it’s still being shown today nearly 80 years later! Riefenstahl created the template that sports photographers everywhere still follow today.

Riefenstahl invented camera movements using aircraft, sliders, dollies and jibs that are being used by filmmakers everywhere today.  Imagine what she would have done with the multi-rotor camera drones in use today.

Riefenstahl was sought after by Walt Disney but her alliance with Hitler spoiled that.  She was nearly tried as a war criminal and found herself punished and precluded from doing what she preferred in Hollywood.

Riefenstahl became a documentary film maker that made groundbreaking films of African tribes and oceanographic scientific films until her death at age 100 in 2003.

Riefenstahl was also known for having a boyfriend some 40 years her junior! 

Okay i admit that I’m in love with van Houten’s amazing talents. I know this woman is exactly what the Oscar’s Best Actress Award is all about.  I love her singing too! I often listen to van Houten’s album, See You On The Ice as I drive around L.A.

I only hope that van Houten is able to book more of the blockbuster films she deserves.  If I was somehow van Houten’s agent, I’d make that happen!

My Music Copyright Infringement Dilemma is Troubling, There Must be a Solution!

Los Angeles, CA—Like most of my blog visitors I love music.  I have my favorites from Gershwin to The Doors.  The artists that have entertained me deserve all of the reward for their work.  Every musical recording is a labor involving numerous people that worked so hard to create.

The music industry exists because of intellectual property rights.  Without these rights so many of the hits we enjoy everyday may never have pleased our ears.

My video host YouTube has settled most copyright issues with the use of music within the USA.  Advertising and iTunes links have solved many of the problems.

There was also a surprising discovery made by the copyright holders in the form of increased sales when a video featuring their products was popular legitimate sales of the music increased too.  Old forgotten hits suddenly were reanimated into moneymaking popularity once again!

As many of my visitors know I’m into the camera drone technology.  My drones shoot amazing video but the natural sound is the annoying sound of the whirling rotors and motors.  I must replace the soundtrack with music or a voiceover.  Music is the obvious choice. 

There is lots of copyright free music out there but most of it sucks in a big way.  Of course I want to use my favorite material. The problem is that my videos are blocked out in Europe because of unresolved copyright issues.

I want so much to share some great music that matches the videos.  I’d be willing to pay a reasonable fee for the privilege to have these videos seen worldwide. 

I have many friends in Germany, Switzerland and The Netherlands where I can’t share these videos. 

I will give you two examples.

While I was in Carmel By The Sea I sent my drone up over the beach for the soundtrack I used my favorite actress on the planet.  She  is a multi-talented Dutch lady, Carice van Houten.  She sang this classic 1930’s American song in her terrific film, Black Book called 100 Years From Today. 

Late this summer I was asked to shot a scene in the Palmdale desert for a film for my film director friend, Pablo Lewin.  The film is in post production right now and I’m not sure what Pablo has in mind for the soundtrack covering my shot.

Pablo gave me permission to show this scene on YouTube and I immediately knew the music I wanted to use!  It’s from the film Baghdad Café but is sung by Patti LuPone and is called, Calling You.   How perfect it was! 

There has to be a way to solve this problem. 

Needless to say my European friends will not be able to see these.  

 Carmel By The Sea

The Palmdale Desert Scene:

Will Carice van Houten Finely Make the Hollywood “A” List?

Los Angeles, CA— My favorite film of all times is Paul Verhoeven’s, Black Book.  It’s a subtitled German/Dutch film primarily in the Dutch language that’s based on a true story.  The principal protagonist is a sexy Jewish nightclub singer, Rachel Stein that fled the Nazis in Berlin for the Netherlands during the war.  She somehow winds up in the Dutch Resistance for some incredibly dangerous adventures.  It’s also a love story.

The leading lady playing that character is my absolute favorite actress, Carice van Houten who won this role of a lifetime.  The role required acting in different languages, singing and some dancing.  Van Houten was magnificent.  This was Verhoeven’s best film ever and the entire cast and crew were absolutely awesome. 

Van Houten was jaw dropping terrific! There was no emotion she did not absolutely own in this thriller film.  That kind of talent takes years of serious discipline and hard work to develop and master.   

As a result of Black Book and other films Van Houten is a huge celebrity in Europe. She also won a coveted role in HBO’s, Game of Thrones playing Melisandre, The Red Witch.  She’s won five Golden Calf Awards in the Netherlands for her acting.  She also has a great music album on iTunes called, See You On The Ice.  Take a listen and you will like it.  I play it in my car as I drive around L.A.

Getting cast in what I’d call hefty roles in American films has eluded van Houten.  She was recently cast as the Female lead in a Blumehouse production’s low budget horror film, Incarnate.  She plays opposite of actor Aaron Eckhart.  The release date for that project has not yet been announced.  Blumehouse Productions has found serious box office success for their films and I certainly won’t miss this one.

This incredibly talented woman slips into L.A. and New York virtually unnoticed.  She quietly gets off planes taking the shuttle to a car rental agency like the rest of us and goes about her business.  She shops, goes to inexpensive L.A. health clubs to work out with little notice.  

If I have my way van Houten will have a major star’s entourage and bodyguards!  I want to see this woman on the Oscar Award's Red Carpet where she belongs! 

Twice in the last year, van Houten has walked Hollywood’s lesser Red Carpets.  Once for the Third Season Premier of, Game of Thrones.  The last time was at the SAG Awards where Game of Thrones was nominated for an award.  

As van Houten walked the Red Carpet alone and the reporters and photographers are clueless as to just who she is without her character’s huge red wig.   Thankfully my friend Frank Fastner from the German TV network RTL spotted van Houten grabbing her for the only interview (She gave it in the German language) that I’m aware she gave.  At least it was exclusive!

Somebody somehow failed to send an advance publicist on van Houten’s behalf to prepare for the press gauntlet.  This is routinely done for lesser known stars so when they arrive so the media members could ask her the right questions and give them proper face time on the entertainment shows.  Instead of seriously needed interviews van Houten had to settle for a few pictures.

Van Houten is represented by Tracy Brennan at the powerhouse, Creative Artist’s Agency and has a wonderful manager in Amsterdam, Janey van Ierland.   CAA should do better for van Houten before their competition snatches this major talent away from them.

Frankly I’m disappointed that this talented lady is not put up for the kind of roles we see given to Cate Blanchet or Sandra Bullock.  In case you were wondering van Houten’s English is flawless and when she’s acting she masks her accent really well.

I hope that on van Houten’s next trip to L.A. she will find the time to do a video interview with me for my blog.  I want my visitors to love her talent like I do.  More importantly I want every film producer, director and casing director to know that she really rocks! 

If you’ve not seen Black Book, you must!  Here is the trailer:

“Micro-Budget” Film May Be a Winner For a Terrific Dutch Actress

The multi-talented Carice van Houten

Los Angeles, CA—Carice van Houten is not well known yet in the USA.  She’s well represented at CAA by Tracy Brennan and managed by Janey van Ierland at Nummer19 in the Netherlands.  This very beautiful actress has both a pretty agent and gorgeous manager too!  I hope to meet this delightful trio someday!

Van Houten won the role of a lifetime in Paul Verhoeven’s film Black Book based on a true story.  That happens to be my all time favorite film about a young and sexy Jewish nightclub singer who was hiding from the Nazis in the Netherlands during the war.   Van Houten’s character by circumstances was recruited to join the Dutch Underground in this great thriller.  By all means get the film from Netflix or Amazon.com and see it.

Van Houten also landed a somewhat small but important role as Nina Von Stauffenberg, the wife of Tome Cruise’s character in the Brian Singer, Chris McQuarrie film Valkyrie.  Van Houten can be see in a meatier role as Melisandre on the HBO Series, Game of Thrones.  Van Houten can also be seen right now in theaters as Brigitta Jonsdottir in, The Fifth Estate

I leaned one thing early on about van Houten.  She absolutely rocks as an actress.  She is totally fearless as does complex and difficult scenes making them look so easy.  She never lets her ego get in the way of bringing the words of a script to life. Additionally van Houten's language and dialect skills are amazing!

Van Houten also has a great record album out on iTunes called See You on The Ice.  I listen to that as I drive around L.A.  All the songs are in English, my favorite being Particle of Light.  I also have the soundtrack from Black Book, which has a wonderful rendition of 100 Years From Today.

Van Houten just landed a lead role in a Jason Blume production of Incarnate.  Blume is a visionary filmmaker in that he makes so-called micro budget horror films.  His films have been incredible moneymakers because they are cheap to produce and they attract a large audience. 

The best example of a micro-budget film ever was George Romero’s Night of The Living Dead.  The cash register is still ringing for that old classic.

Blumehouse Productions has luckily landed van Houten to play opposite of Aaron Eckhart as the parents of a possessed nine year-old child.  This project was penned by script scribe, Ronnie Christensen and is being directed by Brad Peyton.  They are filming the project right now for a yet to be announced release date.  I wish the cast, crew and investors great success.

I hope to somehow land a video interview of van Houten someday soon if her manager or agent will allow her to do that with a smalltime blogger like me.  The only bigger thrill for me would be to dust of my Screen Actor’s Guild membership card to do a few scenes with her in some film.  I could play her father or perhaps boss. 

I actually wrote a script that is perfect for van Houten that’s been suddenly getting some needed attention lately.  All the stars would have to align before that happens and frankly the odds are somewhat against it. 

I’m hoping that American audiences will discover van Houten.  I was shocked to see media reporters and photographers asking van Houten what part she was playing at a Hollywood premier of the third season of Game of Thrones.  In fairness perhaps it was the missing vast mane of red hair Melisandre has that threw these guys off.  

Soon van Houten may be a Hollywood acting legend.  By the way van Houten has a project in development to play Gretta Garbo in a biopic film.  They do have an amazing resemblance. 

I will leave you with a couple of videos of van Houten in action:

Particle of Light from See You On The ICE

This was the German Premier of Black Book with director Paul Verhoeven, Carice van Houten, Sebastian Koch and others.  I speak German and know I missed a terrific event.

Take a Short Ride with Carice van Houten in Las Vegas!

Las Vegas, NV-While attending this years SHOT Show I took my inexpensive Panasonic Lumix digital camera and shot some video out the window.  I added a little music courtesy of my favorite actress Carice van Houten for the mood. Trust me she will put you in the mood!

100 Years From Today is an old song from the 1930’s that was used in the great Paul Verhoeven film, Black Book.  Van Houten is the undisputed star of that great 2006 movie based on World War Two reality. 

Carice van Houten at Sunday Night’s Heineken Music Hall Concert in Amsterdam

Amsterdam, NL—Okay, I’m obsessed!  I love the arts, theater and of course, music.   There are those artists that entertain us all.   God given talent and the ability to face the world and perform seems to be handed to a chosen few.  Carice van Houten is at the very top of my list of terrific performers.

Yes, people are born with talent but without hard work and serious dedication it may all be wasted.  Carice has incredible acting chops, best described by film director Paul Verhoeven.   Vehoeven said, “Carice is beautiful like Sharon Stone (Basic Instinct), but she can act!”  This was not really a slight to Stone’s ability but his recognition that Carice has a rare and special magic.   I certainly don’t discount Verhoeven’s ability to get all that an actor can possibly give in a performance.

To give a great performance an actor must forget the cameras, audience and simply put aside their ego.  They must actually live their part and avoid “performing”.  The great actors never imitate their characters but rather become them without losing their own voice and skin. 

Carice got my undivided attention in the Paul Verhoeven film, Black Book.  Carice was unquestionably the lead actor followed by a wonderful ensemble cast.  Unfortunately it’s all too rare when a film script offers a woman such a strong and commanding lead. 

Black Book was a fine example that a woman can be an action hero without killing anyone or losing her dignity or felinity.   Few actresses could have even come close to Carice’s great performance.

In this World War Two drama,  Carice spoke three languages, swam, danced and sang.  The role was as demanding as any you will ever see.  Unfortunately the film was never adequately distributed in the U.S.  The film can easily be obtained in Blu-Ray from Netflix or Amazon.com.  Black Book is a fabulous showcase for Carice’s amazing talents.

Carice just released her new CD called; See You On The Ice. It’s entirely in English There are some really well written songs I know most people will enjoy and Carice has a hit on her hands. Of Course you can sample and buy this music from iTunes and wherever music is sold today.

Carice gave a concert at the Heineken Music Hall in Amsterdam.  It was disappointing for me that I was unable to attend, however thankfully here are three videos attached below from the concert. 

I don’t know just where Carice’s career is going but we need to see much more of her in the United States.  Her impeccable English should not bar her from any role.   She’s got a top American agent who must get busy or risk losing Carice to another.   Carice belongs in big budget feature films rather than television. 

Carice has reportedly told tabloid publications she wants to do more music.  If you’ve not see Black Book, do so.  I have attached the trailer at the bottom after the others.

Sit back and enjoy the videos.  

Still I dream of It.

Particle of Light

Time

Emily

Particle of Light Official Video

The Black Book Film Trailer

Carice van Houten Turns her Focus to Singing

Amsterdam, NL—The incredibly talented actress Carice van Houten is apparently at an impasse in her life whether to continue acting or to take on a singing career.   At this juncture she’s told several publications that she’s having more fun singing.  She’s about to give her first concert with Rufus Wainright later this month in this beautiful city of the Dutch Masters. 

Van Houten is a terrific actress that has not really gotten a solid foothold in the U.S.  The Paul Verhoeven film, Black Book showcased the actress’ beauty and many talents.  The problem was the film was mostly in Dutch and subtitled.  It did not get the kind of distribution and promotion it deserved.  Of course in Europe it was a genuine hit.  For me personally, it was the best film I’ve seen to date.

Van Houten was given the role of Nina Von Stauffenberg in the film Valkyrie starring Tom Cruiz.  Unfortunately Valkyrie’s producers and writers did not give enough tribute to van Houten’s character.  That brave woman was sent to a concentration camp for her resistance activities.

Another film was made that has yet to see daylight here is Jacky.  That’s a film staring Holly Hunter with Carice van Houten and her younger sister Jelka van Houten.   This film was shot in New Mexico.  Hopefully does eventually get some promotion and distribution. 

Van Houten recently visited L.A. and tweeted a picture that seemed to indicate she also took a road trip to Tucson, AZ.  I know she visited her agent in L.A. but the purpose rest of her trip was a mystery, at least to me.   I suspect she was looking for new projects here.  Her Hollywood agent at CAA has to do a much better job of promoting her. 

Hollywood is loaded with nepotism and corruption of every kind.   It too often takes more than great talent to get cast into any film with a significant budget.   I hope van Houten's trip went well because she is a terrific and bright star America needs.

Van Houten is a dedicated actress that will never settle for a second rate performance.  She may make what she does look easy but countless hours of blood, sweat and tears goes into everything she does.  Her hard work and dedication pays of in her finished product.

Van Houten’s first CD; See You On The Ice can be obtained from iTunes and Amazon.com.  I found it very enjoyable.  I expect there will be more music from Van Houten.  Hopefully it will not be at the expense of her absence on the silver screen.   

Carice van Houten Rocks!

The lovely and talented Carice Van Houten ROCKS!

Amsterdam, NL—The amazing actress, singer and talented performer Carice van Houten has released a new music video, Emily.  This is part of an album, See You on the Ice, that’s being released and will be available very soon on ITunes.   

Van Houten, a multiple Golden Calf award winner simply owns her audience on everything she does.  She’s mastered her native language Dutch along with impeccable English and German.  I discovered her multiple talents in the fabulous Paul Verhoeven film, Black Book.

She is a regular performer in the Game of Thrones.  She can also be seen with Holly Hunter in a new film called Jackie.  

Carice is considering a film project right now that I’m involved with but, Carice is in demand everywhere.  The America audiences will soon be discovering her simply because she’s fearless and unstoppable! 

I hope to be able to interview that great lady on video soon for this blog.