At the age of 73, Chaplin films have been in my life for a long time but it wasn’t until my later years, when I began to really write, that I allowed his creativity and direction sink in. As his films have begun to be restored and remastered it has opened up his early work to being streamed and shown in theaters that specialize in silent films. Even film channels such as Turner Classic Movies has shown his films so anyone should be able to enjoy his work.
-Do you think that today Charlie Chaplin’s cinema can be understood by younger generations?
They can be understood by any generation. They are simple yet very complex. It’s a matter of whether the younger generation “wants” to take the leap to understand his work. Every cinema student has their own “nitch” for their writing and film making. Different genres and styles are of the greatest importance and any Chaplin film can be interpreted several ways. Remember, Chaplin had virtually no dialogue to write, and what dialogue he did insert into a film was more of a story line direction setter. He had a story line, emotion and movement which is what every film today has, but now we have actors with dialogue to firm up the film in other ways.
As he moved forward in his career there came talkies which changed his process, but his underlying abilities stayed the same. As you can see, change in film is a given but those underlying abilities remain the base in everything he did.
Any generation can learn so much from his work if they look into what’s happening on the screen. Camera shots and lighting were different during his period. Hell, even cameras were different because they used film. No digital shots to adjust on a computer during editing. I don’t think they even teach film usage these days unless there is a special course in vintage film making. I personally feel younger generations of film makers should be required to study everything about Charlie Chaplin’s skills. If they’re smart, they’ll do it on their own because it will open their eyes.
-The pacifist monologue we can see in “The Great Dictator” is still very relevant today, as unfortunately, there are still many wars in the world. WILD FILMMAKER has a dream, which may remain only an utopia: our dream is to create Article 0 for all the constitutions in the world, in which to insert Chaplin’s pacifist monologue. Would you agree with this?
While it is a grand dream, is it really a possibility? Everyone has their own definition of what a utopia could or would look like. Maybe I’m a pessimist, but even if the world started over, there is always the rebirth of individuality which no one, even twins, are guaranteed to share. Today we have many definitions of what God should be and require us to do in service, and that in itself is the #1 cause for the most of the non-utopia issues in the world. With that, it is used as a power to control many.
Utopia is an individual thing. You must find your own utopia and never require anyone else to share it with you 100%. You can legislate it but never obtain a “single” utopia. It sounds silly but I love homemade potato salad with no apple cider vinegar and my closest friend hates it without the sharp tart flavor of vinegar. Simple-minded as an example but serious in all things that matter. We recently went to see Daniel Craig’s new film, QUEER. I thought it was controversial and thought provoking and he hated the film and started texting half-way through. I love Fred Astaire musicals others don’t. Chaplin is fascinating in his films while others may not understand him or enjoy his films. Individuality is inbred.
That said, the monologue is, in some ways, the same words that started WWII because of the reason for their use and by whom. There is always individuality involved and it may not be for everyone. If everyone has the same utopia, every film would be exactly the same. There would be no need for difference or thought provoking scripts. The characters would be the same, doing the same thing because they must be in an over-all utopia. It is an illustrious dream but, is it really possible? Would it truly be happiness?
-Charlie Chaplin was a revolutionary poet. How much has his art inspired you?
Revolutionary is an understatement. Once you’ve witnessed his works and styles, it has to inspire you in some way. It has me. My genres are multi and my writing styles in each is different, as was his. As I believe he did, I see every moment of each of my scripts. I see the character speaking each line and where they are as I write them. In The Taste Of Rain, I feel the rain as the lead character, Roman Barkley, stands in the rain or spirals during his flashback episodes. I see him at the Eiffel Tower drinking champagne with Voleta as he falls in love. I truly believe that is how Chaplin created. That is his effect on me, deep in my creative soul.
Producer/Director Michelle Arthur, Sr Assoc Producer Jeff Vernon, Composer R. Kim Shultz,
DP Andrew Giordano
* Best Director — Michelle Arthur
* Best Original Screenplay — Screenwriter Michelle Arthur, Contributing Writer Stacy Newton
-2023 — 8 & HalFilm at NYC (2nd Edition) Wins
* Best Picture — Producer/Director Michelle Arthur, Sr. Assoc Producer/Film Editor Jeff Vernon, Composer/Sound Designer R. Kim Shultz, DP/1st AD Andrew Giordano
* Best Producer — Exec/Producer Michelle Arthur, Sr Assoc Producer Jeff Vernon, Associate Producers Jayme Butler and Maureen Mahon
* Best Soundtrack — Composer R. Kim Shultz,
Singer Songwriter Nina Kruse
2023 — 8 & HalFilm at American Film Market
(1st Edition) Wins
* Best International Filmmaker —
Producer/Director Michelle Arthur
* Best Screenwriter — Michelle Arthur
* Best Picture — Producer/Director Michelle Arthur, Sr. Assoc Producer/Film Editor Jeff Vernon, Composer/Sound Designer R. Kim Shultz, DP/1st AD Andrew Giordano
THE WISTERIA MANOR 🌿
-2022 — 8 & HalFilm Wins
* Best Actress — Michelle Arthur
* Best Original Screenplay — Screenwriter Michelle Arthur, Novelist Scott Nixon
Patrick Stalinski, Linney Allen, Kathleen Randazzo, Maria Bobeva, Jeff Vernon, Karen Sharpe, Kat Kramer, Sherwin Ace Ross, Roosevelt Palafox, Armando DuBon Jr., Silviya Belcheva, Stacy Newton, Michelle G. Stratton, Maksim Leonov, Elena Nesterova, Surinder Bamrah, Gopal Nunemacher, Dan Kennedy, Pamela Francesca Rubino, Justice Joslin, Edythe Davis, Oliver Stafford
-2024 — Wild Filmmaker/8 & HalFilm
Special Edition in Cannes Wins
* Best International Indie Feature Film —
Producer/Director Michelle Arthur
* Best Arthouse Picture — Director Michelle Arthur, Film Editor Jeff Vernon, Composer R. Kim Shultz
* Best American Actress —
Lead Actress Michelle Arthur
* Best Indie Production Company —
Producing Crew of Michelle Arthur, Surinder Bamrah, Maureen Mahon, Todd Tetreault, and
Jeff Vernon
FATE’S SHADOW (short) 🌹
2024 — Wild Filmmaker/8 & HalFilm Awards
Indie Filmmaker Hall of Fame Awards Wins
* Best International Indie Narrative Short —
Producer/Director Michelle Arthur
* Best Producer — Executive Producer/Producer Michelle Arthur, Executive Producer Surinder Bamrah, Associate Producers Natalie Rodriguez and Jeff Vernon
Robert Bolt, Rod Serling, the Epsteins and Howard Koch for CASABLANCA for screenwriting; James Joyce, Herman Melville, and Shakespeare for the written word.
-What is the main challenge you encounter while writing your work?
Trusting the original concept even if I have doubts about how the story will roll out. If it’s there thematically, the details of plot eventually follow. Just have patience and never stop thinking about it. Funny how the brain continues to work even when fingers do not.
-Is there someone you always turn to for their opinion as soon as you finish writing?
Although there have been others, Robert McCullough, who started Santa Barbara International Screenwriting Competition, is my go-to guy on all of these projects. He has a special talent for spotting errors of all kinds and a keen sensibility of what works and what doesn’t.
-Are you currently working on a new screenplay?
Currently working on a three-act theatrical play, a comedy, set at at a pool deck in a famous Palm Springs hotel. It pokes fun at the city, the residents, hoteliers, kitsch art, and tourists. (This one I didn’t want to do at the start of 2024 and suddenly all three acts are almost ready for Robert McCullough to review. So, somehow I believed in the original concept).
-If you had to describe your writing style?
Persistent, positive, and patient. (stuck in the “P’s” not intentionally)
-Who is Barış AKBULUT? I am Barış AKBULUT, a traveler and photographer dedicated to exploring life and capturing the essence of different cultures through photography. I have had the opportunity to visit many cities across Turkey and over 20 countries around the world. The landscapes, cities, and stories of the people I encounter on my journeys inspire me deeply. My journey in photography began with the desire to immortalize these moments during my travels; now, each shot reflects the soul of the places I’ve visited and the unique atmosphere of that moment.
–What inspired you to become a photographer? The biggest inspiration for my photography has been the diverse landscapes and people I encountered on my travels. Every city, every country, every culture tells its own story, and I wanted to capture these stories and share them with others. From a lone figure walking along the shore to children playing in a historic street, each detail allows me to rediscover the world in a single frame.
-Do you think cinema can bring about change in society? Absolutely, cinema is a window into different cultures and a force that brings people together. Watching a film allows us to witness the lives of people living in other countries or cities and to feel their emotions. I try to capture this cinematic effect in my photographs as well; through images taken in different countries and cultures, I aim to remind people that shared emotions exist all around the world. Like cinema, photography is a powerful tool for fostering this understanding
-What would you change in the world? I would love for more people to travel and experience different cultures and people. Traveling has helped me to understand different ways of life and perspectives, which has fostered a greater sense of tolerance and empathy. If more people explored the world and appreciated cultural diversity, I believe it would lead to a more peaceful and connected world.
-Where do you see the film industry going in the next 100 years? In the coming years, I think the film industry will become richer with technologies like virtual reality and interactive experiences. However, I also believe that films and visual storytelling must retain their ability to create an emotional connection. As in photography, cinema should both entertain and provoke thought, allowing people to better understand their own world and experience different cultures.
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Not Without Gloves
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Luzinete
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Calm Lake
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E. Hemingway, Jack London, E. Remarque, Diana Springfield.
-What was the main challenge you faced while writing your work?
Good editors are expensive, and I’m a retiree. I’ve only been writing scripts for 4 years, and professional feedback is very important to me.
-Every screenwriter needs feedback after completing a project. Is there someone you always turn to for opinions as soon as you finish writing?
First, I share it with my son, daughter, and husband. I take their comments into account, make adjustments, and then give it to an editor for the main and final revisions.
-Are you currently working on a new script? If so, could you tell us more about it?
I’m currently working on three scripts: a story about three sisters in love with the same man, and two fairy tales – _”The New Adventures of Baton the Cat”_ and _”The Snow Queen’s Bracelet.”
-If you had to describe your writing style with three adjectives, which ones would you choose?
