Knightley Atonement

The Academy Award and Golden Globe Award-nominated Brit talks to us about her second collaboration with Director Joe Wright on the brilliant new film, ATONEMENT.
 
After winning the Bafta Award for Pride & Prejudice, director Joe Wright was intent on bringing the drama of Ian McEwan’s best-selling novel ‘Atonement’ to screen and welcomed the challenges of adaptation.  He was just as certain about his heroine. “In making a book into a movie, the story reveals itself to you as you make it.  You are questioning the structure, you are questioning points of view – and, for Atonement, we were questioning one single truth as opposed to multiple truths…I felt that Keira, who is such an intuitive actress, was ready to play Cecilia because the truth is that the part is a character role rather than that of the pretty leading lady. It’s a very complex role; Cecilia is not a particularly likable person to start with, but she is redeemed by her love of Robbie and by his of her.”
 
Knightley, a UK native appeared in her first television drama at the tender age of 6.  Since then, she has portrayed Jane Austen’s heroine Elizabeth Bennet for Wright in Pride & Prejudice and is known to audiences worldwide for her portrayal of another heroine, Elizabeth Swann, in Gore Verbinski’s blockbuster Pirates of the Caribbean trio. “I had a great experience on Pride & Prejudice,” she says. “Joe is a sensational director. He makes sure that every actor sees the story from their character’s point of view. After reading Christopher Hampton’s beautiful script, I knew I wanted to play Cecilia.”
 
There was also considerable appeal in playing a character so different from any Knightley has played in her career thus far, the type that conjures classic Hollywood. “The reason I liked this character is because she is a woman, of the kind Bette Davis might have played. She knows who she is, yet she doesn’t know which direction to go in, so she’s quite conflicted. She doesn’t realize that actually she fancies Robbie; she’s grown up with him, and at first won’t admit that there’s anything between them beyond a kind of brother-and-sister relationship. But, there is, and when we meet them they’re on the brink.”
 
Another departure was how Wright wanted the dialogue to be delivered.  “Joe would direct us to deliver our lines swiftly,” she says.  “He wanted the dialogue scenes to play as they did in classic British movies. He likened it to rain pattering down, or bullets firing. Doing that informed our performances and showed us who our characters were; it was exciting to play, because that particular style of speaking is now lost. It’s like doing an accent, yet it made everything easier.”
 
To which, her dashing co-star James McAvoy simply laughs, “Keira just flew with that style of acting. For the rest of us, it took a little bit longer!
 
Look out for more of Knightley in François Girard’s Silk, opposite Michael Pitt and the just-wrapped The Edge of Love, which also stars Sienna Miller, Cillian Murphy, and Matthew Rhys.
 
ATONEMENT (Focus Features) Photography: Alex Bailey
 

 

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Macy’s Passport 25th Anniversary

A crowd of 2,000 celebrated with celebs like Elizabeth Taylor, Jonathan Silverman, Jennifer Finnigan, Emmy Rossum, Constance Marie, Ali Landry, and the show-stealer, MAC cosmetics burlesque performer and spoke-siren Dita Von Teese at the Santa Monica Barker Hangar. The annual fund raiser for AIDS and HIV services, prevention and research has raised more than $27 million since its inception and chalked up another $2 million this year.

Taylor accepted the Humanitarian Award for her tireless work for the cause and bravely proclaimed, ““It’s hard to imagine that we’ve been here at Macy’s Passport events for a quarter of a century fighting ignorance and this vicious disease with your generosity and compassion. I was here for the first evening, I was here last year, and I will continue to be here to join you in this fight until we defeat the enemy of HIV and AIDS.”

The fashion show highlighted the best looks for fall from Macy’s lines, while adding in a theatrical flair with stunt unicyclists and motorbikes in guest designer Marc Ecko’s Adrenaline segment; a glimpse of “a day in the life” vignettes with Calvin Klein clothing exclusive to Macy’s; a throwback to the Ed Sullivan Show featuring 60’s-inspired shoe collections on dancers emulating The Supremes, Elvis Presley and Tina Turner; The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the song and dance troupe - Spirit of Uganda, part of the non-profit group Empower African Children. The members, ranging in age from 9 to 20 years old, are all AIDS orphans and performed a traditional dance during the show before joining forces with a group of American children for an upbeat, electrifying performance.

Mark your calendars for 2008’s celebration!
 

 

 

 

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SPOTLIGHT

 

PEPPER MASHAY While the music industry continues suffering ‘growing pains’, or for that matter an all-out growth stunt, there are voices that not only have something to say, but are worth listening to. With film, television, and writing credits rounding out her resume, Pepper MaShay’s voice has sung out loud and clear for the better part of the decade. Club-goers and dance music enthusiasts alike have indulged her request to “Dive in the Pool”, as well as taken notice of the writing behind the driving beat. Take caution, however, if you’re quick to pigeonhole this artist into one genre. Influenced by the Folk-Rock scene of the seventies, Pepper MaShay was planning a career as a Blues-Rock singer/songwriter before visiting a European nightclub and deciding on making the turn towards dance music. An upcoming project, "Sista Jean's Blues Machine", reflects that versatility. "I've always wanted to do Blues and it's something I'm finally going to do. The sound will be a mix of Rock, Soul and Blues that we grew up with as kids." Although her debut came in 1995, it was in 2000 that she scored with the aforementioned smash hit ‘Dive In the Pool’, which went number 1 on Billboard’s Club Play, was featured on Showtime’s ‘Queer As Folk’ and accompanying soundtrack, and went on to receive the Best Underground 12" Award at the Winter Music Conference. 2008 finds her currently promoting her new single ‘Got to Give the People (What They Want)’ and hosting her own TV show, Soundcheck with Pepper MaShay on ProudTV/WGAY networks (in Palm Springs and Key West, Florida). Despite the music industry's current climate, there's one philosophy that remains the same "No matter how long it takes” advises Pepper, “You can never give up your dreams”. As the dawn of 2008 continues, Pepper MaShay is ready to ‘give the people what they want’.   www.peppermashay.net www.myspace.com/frecklebandit   -Warner Alas

 

 

 

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SOUNDS

BREATHING UNDERWATER Karsh Kale & Anoushka Shankar (EMI) That Kale can do no wrong is a given to his fans. In this epic collaboration with Anoushka Shankar (daughter of sitar maestro Ravi Shankar), the results are nothing short of stunning. Featuring Sting, Shankar’s half-sister Norah Jones, and composer Salim Merchant among others notables, the album is intoxicating in its pathos and essential listening for any ear.
THE MUSIC OF STAR WARS: 30TH ANNIVERSARY COLLECTOR’S EDITION (SONY) is a sumptuously packaged collection of 8 CDs in a numbered box. 6 of them are mastered from the Expanded Editions versions of the soundtracks from the three Star Wars episodes, the seventh is a collection of the most popular themes from all six episodes and the eighth is a CD-Rom with digital artwork. A must-have for collectors!
BECOMING JANE Adrian Johnston (SONY) Piano and strings create a lush and romantic soundtrack that is enjoyable even without seeing the film. The composer was given access to study music books that once belonged to Austin and it’s easy to see how the period has influenced the work but without making it seem dated.
CHEB I SABBAH Devotion (Six Degrees Records) The musical, adventurer and global spiritualist pays homage to the Gods and our devotion to them in this flawless, more than hour-long album featuring renowned Indian singers like Shubha Mudgal and Anup Jalota.
KARUNESH Joy of Life (Watermusic) The German-born musician with an authentic “Indian” sound releases another poignant yet sensual album that blends haunting vocals, strings and violin to create an ethereal sound. Part Buddha Bar electronica, part spiritual, the album stands as one of the artist’s best works and is sure to remain an enduring favorite.
LOVE STORIES Gordon Chambers (Chambermusic) Not only has this talented R&B crooner written hit songs for the likes of Heather Headley, Aretha Franklin, Brandy, Anita Baker and Usher, but he also delivers a melodious and memorable album for himself. Tracks like 'Unfair', 'If It Wasn't For Your Love' and 'Violins' are masterful and will keep you coming back for more of this impeccable offering.
MORE THAN ENOUGH Bryan Hawn (Independent) Hawn is the pop-hunk with a voice reminiscent of Alison Moyet and the best of the "idols." The singer-songwriter proves good looks can co-exist with talent and has just released a soulful album filled with infectious ballads and pop hits. A feast for the eyes and the ears, you can discover Hawn at www.myspace.com/bryanhawnmusic

 

 

 

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