Author: Rosalynn Try-Hane

First Look: Dark Tourism Documentary

There’s nowt so queer as folk” as the saying goes.

In a new documentary coming this May 2017, final year USW (University South Wales – Cardiff), Chris Lloyd examines the phenomena of Dark Tourism. Yes, there are people who actually travel around sites of mass murders like the site of Fred and Rosemary’s West now demolished house – 25 Cromwell Street, taking photographs etc. “A strange curiosity” is the term used in the pilot of the documentary. Also, briefly touched upon is a man who runs a suicide bus in Bridgend as the town has the dubious notoriety of having the highest number of suicides in Wales.

It may be a strange curiosity but then we visit historical sites of mass murders and suicides there are even plaques to commemorate them. What makes that different to the suicide bus in Bridgend, maybe it’s the passage of time? Hopefully this and more will be revealed when the full documentary is release later this year, May 2017.

The pilot is certainly intriguing.

Dark tourism (also black tourism or grief tourism) has been defined as tourism involving travel to places historically associated with death and tragedy. More recently, it was suggested that the concept should also include reasons tourists visit that site, since the site’s attributes alone may not make a visitor a “dark tourist”. Thanatourism, derived from the ancient Greek word thanatos for the personification of death, refers more specifically to peaceful death; it is used in fewer contexts than the terms dark tourism and grief tourism. The main attraction to dark locations is their historical value rather than their associations with death and suffering.

13th February 2017
Celebrities Take A Trip To The Mutant Lounge For Legion!

Mutants came out of hiding inn Wednesday night at The Mutant Lounge, a new cocktail bar and experience opening its doors for two nights only – to mark the launch of the highly anticipated U.S. drama LEGION only on FOX from Thursday 9^th February at 9pm.

Jonathan Ross, Bianca Gascoigne, Pascal Craymer, DJ Tim Westwood, Akin Solanke-Caulker (Made in Chelsea) and Sandi Bogle (Gogglebox) were amongst the shocked crowd to witness the mutants demonstrating their telekinetic and pyrokinetic superpowers, while enjoying a stunning recreation of the LEGION universe, complete with thrilling surprises and mind-blowing displays throughout the night. Consumers who applied for tickets across two sold out openings will also be able to take part in the immersive experience this evening.

Already named one of the must-see shows of 2017, LEGION was inspired by the character from Marvel’s X-Men comics, with British actor Dan Stevens (Downton Abbey, Beauty & The Beast) in the title role. The show is produced by FX Productions and Marvel Television, with executive producer Noah Hawley, an executive producer on the Emmy® and Golden Globe®-winning anthology series Fargo.

LEGION is the story of David Haller (Stevens), a troubled young man who may be more than human. Diagnosed as schizophrenic as a child, David has been in and out of psychiatric hospitals for years. Now in his early 30s and institutionalised once again, David loses himself in the rhythm of the structured regimen of life in the hospital: breakfast, lunch, dinner, therapy, medications, sleep – spending the rest of his time in companionable silence alongside his chatterbox friend and fellow patient Lenny (Aubrey Plaza, Parks and Recreation, Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates).

The pleasant numbness of David’s routine is completely upended with the arrival of a beautiful and troubled new patient named Syd (Rachel Keller, Fargo). Inexplicably drawn to one another, David and Syd share a startling encounter, after which David must confront the shocking possibility that the voices he hears and the visions he sees may actually be real. Visually stunning, blurring the lines between reality and fiction, witness the evolution of the unlikeliest of superheroes, as his struggle with reality could in fact make him one of the most powerful mutants ever known.

The series also stars Jean Smart (Fargo) as nurturing but demanding therapist Melanie Bird; Jermaine Clement (Flight of the Conchords) as her husband Oliver, a brilliant scientist; and Melanie’s team of specialists, including Jeremie Harris as Ptonomy Wallace, who can read the memories of others, Amber Midthunder as Kerry Loudermilk, and Bill Irwin (Interstellar) as Cary Loudermilk, a geneticist.

LEGION premiered on FOX (Sky 124, Virgin 157, Talk Talk 422, and NOW TV) on Thursday 9^th February at 9pm.

10th February 2017
Get Ready: BFI London Film Festival 2017 Dates

The BFI London Film Festival in Partnership with American Express® today confirmed the dates for the Festival’s 61st anniversary edition which will take place at venues across the UK capital from 4 -15 October 2017.

Submissions for the 2017 BFI London Film Festival are now open. Feature and short films can be submitted through the BFI London Film Festival website at www.bfi.org.uk/lff . The final deadline for short films and features is 5pm, Monday 12 June 2017.

Films entered through open submissions are eligible for Official Competition, Documentary Competition, First Feature Competition and Short Film Competition, provided they meet the other criteria for these sections and with priority given to European and World Premieres.

The 60th anniversary edition of the Festival last October presented 397 features and short films and achieved a 16% audience increase with 195,595 admissions, including satellite screenings to UK-wide cinemas for the Opening Night gala of A UNITED KINGDOM and Werner Herzog’s LO & BEHOLD (which was also presented, in a first for the Festival, as a virtual premiere). The Closing Night gala was the European premiere of Ben Wheatley’s FREE FIRE. In total, the Festival presented 587 screenings at 16 venues across the capital.

More than 800 international and British filmmakers attended the Festival to support their films in the programme, ranging from major global superstars and many of the world’s most established directors, to new talents making their first short film.

The Festival remains committed to agenda-setting debate on the future of the film industry, presenting the BFI Black Star Symposium which was launched with a powerful and rousing keynote from David Oyelowo, star of A UNITED KINGDOM and QUEEN OF KATWE.

2016’s prestigious BFI Fellowship, presented at the Festival, recognised the extraordinary talents of British director Steve McQueen, and the Best Film was awarded to Kelly Reichardt’s CERTAIN WOMEN.

10th February 2017
First Look TV Review: LEGION

X-Men never felt so stylish.

Legion is created by Noah Hawley who’s also behind Emmy award winning FARGO. Legion follows the story of David Haller (Dan Stevens) diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic.

The cinematography used in filming Legion is cinema quality actually it feels as if the cinema is now on the small screen confirming t.v. is really where it’s at. We meet David Haller in a mental hospital on an ordinary day accompanied by a frenetic patient called Lenny (Aubrey Plaza). His routine is annihilated by the arrival of Syd (Rachel Keller) who he falls in love with instantly except she cannot be touched. Noah Hawley has brought some other Fargo alumni: the most excellent Jean Smart as therapist Melanie Bird, and Jermaine Clement as her husband Oliver together and the remaining cast is stellar too.

Legion promises to be a great series although episode 2 is better than the pilot. I liked the stylish cinematography, dream like production that felt as if the fourth wall had been broken down is the viewer experiencing what David is feeling right there and then, merging reality and fiction. There’s a David Lynch feel about this – think Mulholland Drive and Twin Peaks. Legion is not only visual arresting but mentally demanding. Let me tell you right here and now you cannot reach for the phone or even chat to someone else, every scene is a filled with clues. You have to pay attention. The pilot does a good job of setting out the character of David Haller but what of the others – is Syd real or a figment of his imagination. I’m still not sure.

The reason why the pilot of Legion works so well is principally down to Dan Stevens he conveys through his convincing and thoughtful portrayal of the character coping with all the noises in his head, and the full spectrum of emotions from calm to all powerful mutant. Dan Stevens has come a long way from his Downton Abbey days.

Legion.

There are so many questions. You have never seen a series like this – there are no real battles apart from the one at the very end of the pilot. This a multi layered story: a love story of trying to love yourself despite what others say, trusting yourself, inner strength and finally a super hero story. I didn’t feel like it was too hard to engage although if you don’t quite get hooked stick with it episode 2 and 3 will take you into the labyrinth of madness and twilight zone. What is real and what is a figment of David’s imagination? Even now I am trying to figure that out!

Recounting the little known mutant to those who are not superhero aficionados of x-men. Legion appeared in the x men comics don’t you know – look out for the x symbols throughout the pilot. Noah Hawley’s series demonstrates the true meaning of diversity. The superhero genre is a well trodden path and there are a myriad of superhero television series out there: Flash, Gotham, Agents of SHIELD etc. Yet he takes a different angle on this genre and brings to life a story of mental illness and love and self loathing in Legion. Yes David Haller is a mutant but what of the man and where did it all start. It is an interesting perspective and one that should be applauded. It is taking this almost human standpoint that makes it easier for superhero novices, like myself, to engage with this intelligent and non-formulaic, refreshing series.

The drum and bass soundtrack at times can be a little wearing but only occasionally. There are so many roads to travel that will no doubt be unravelled as the series progresses…it’s a world within a world and it takes a master storyteller to tell it only time will tell if Noah Hawley manages to do so.

LEGION premieres on FOX (Sky 124, Virgin 157, Talk Talk 422, and NOW TV) on Thursday 9^th February at 9pm. The show is produced by FX Productions and Marvel Television, with executive producer Noah Hawley, an executive producer on the Emmy® and Golden Globe®-winning anthology series Fargo.

5th February 2017
Fox TV Opens First Ever The Mutant Lounge On 08.02.17!

FOX Opens Reservation Line for The Mutant Lounge – World’s First Ever Bar Staffed by Mutants with Superpowers!

The Grand Opening Marks the Launch of Highly Anticipated New Drama LEGION on 9^th February

February is that dull month of the year where nothing happens – broke January is over and Spring March is not yet upon us. Never fear because Fox tv is opening the first ever Mutant Lounge and you can drink with mutants on Wednesday 8 February.

The Mutant Lounge; a new cocktail lounge and experience opens its doors on Wednesday 8^th February to mark the launch of the highly anticipated U.S. drama LEGION only on FOX in the UK. The world’s first ever bar staffed by mutants with superpowers, members of the public can apply for free tickets to this extraordinary event.

Already named one of the must-see shows of 2017, LEGION was inspired by the character from Marvel’s X-Men comics, with British actor Dan Stevens (Downton Abbey, Beauty & The Beast) in the title role.

Created by Noah Hawley (Emmy-winning Fargo) LEGION is not your traditional superhero show, and reality may not be all that it seems at The Mutant Lounge. Guests will be able to experience a stunning recreation of the LEGION universe, complete with themed cocktails, canapes, and an exclusive advance screening of the pilot episode. Thrilling surprises will take place throughout the evening as the staffs’ superpowers are revealed.

Dan Stevens in Legion.

LEGION is the story of David Haller (Stevens), a troubled young man who may be more than human. Diagnosed as schizophrenic as a child, David has been in and out of psychiatric hospitals for years. Now in his early 30s and institutionalised once again, David loses himself in the rhythm of the structured regimen of life in the hospital: breakfast, lunch, dinner, therapy, medications, sleep – spending the rest of his time in companionable silence alongside his chatterbox friend and fellow patient Lenny (Aubrey Plaza, Parks and Recreation, Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates).

The pleasant numbness of David’s routine is completely upended with the arrival of a beautiful and troubled new patient named Syd (Rachel Keller, Fargo). Inexplicably drawn to one another, David and Syd share a startling encounter, after which David must confront the shocking possibility that the voices he hears and the visions he sees may actually be real. Visually stunning, blurring the lines between reality and fiction, witness the evolution of the unlikeliest of superheroes, as his struggle with reality could in fact make him one of the most powerful mutants ever known.

The series also stars Jean Smart (Fargo) as nurturing but demanding therapist Melanie Bird; Jermaine Clement (Flight of the Conchords) as her husband Oliver, a brilliant scientist; and Melanie’s team of specialists, including Jeremie Harris as Ptonomy Wallace, who can read the memories of others, Amber Midthunder as Kerry Loudermilk, and Bill Irwin (Interstellar) as Cary Loudermilk, a geneticist.

LEGION premieres on FOX (Sky 124, Virgin 157, Talk Talk 422, and NOW TV) on Thursday 9^th February at 9pm. The show is produced by FX Productions and Marvel Television, with executive producer Noah Hawley, an executive producer on the Emmy® and Golden Globe®-winning anthology series Fargo.

5th February 2017