Smile of the Week: Marc Erlbaum’s Progress on “The Meaning of Life”

Posted on July 30, 2012 at 9:41 pm

I was delighted to get an update from Marc Erlbaum about what has happened since our interview about his new documentary on what people think about the meaning of life.  Here’s his latest, a sweet reminder that while we sometimes focus on all that is wrong so that we can work to make it better, sometimes it is just as important to focus on what is right.

And here is an interview with a man who wants to help us see what — and who — we over look.

I’ve added my support to this wonderful project and if you want to find out more and look at additional stories about what people find meaningful, check out lifemeanswhat.com

 

 

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Directors Documentary Smile of the Week Spiritual films

The Story of the Costume Drama

Posted on July 30, 2012 at 8:00 am

One of the greatest pleasures of costume drama is, of course, the costumes.  Stories set in different places and times invite us into their world and tell us about their characters through the details and artistry of the wardrobe.  Whether it is a real-life couple who were world-renowned fashion icons like the Duke and Duchess of Windsor in Edward & Mrs. Simpson or a legendary bawdy heroine like Fanny Hill, the costumes are an integral part of the story-telling.  Costume designers study fashion, history, and literature and actors often say that their performances are inspired by the feel of the clothes. Many work closely with costume designers to help create their characters.  Whether it is the high collars of the Victorian era or the high waists of Jane Austen’s characters a century earlier, from the exquisite hand embroidery on a lace-trimmed ball gown to the correct placement of the sleeve buttons on a soldier’s uniform, from the lacing on the corset to the plume in a hat and the starch in an apron, the costumes help make the story real and enthralling.  On this new DVD, the designers tell their stories, with comments and appearances from stars like Helen Mirren, Alex Kingston, Keira Knightley, Gillian Anderson, Jeremy Irons, John Hurt, Daniel Radcliffe, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Ioan Gruffudd, and Colin Firth.  This is an outstanding behind-the-scenes documentary that is sure to give you a better appreciation of costume drama and remind you of favorites from the BBC you want to re-watch and new series you want to try.

 

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Behind the Scenes Documentary
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