#Michael Shaeffer

[cloudyfacewithjam]

SAS Rogue Heroes - Season 1 Episode 2

[camyfilms]

BODYGUARD 2018

The thing is, David/Dave, I don't need you to vote for me, only to protect me.

[elenatria]

Putting all these high res beauties in one place.

[getoutofthisplace]

Dear Gus & Magnus,

Yiayia stayed with you two tonight so Mom and I could go to an event at M2. Among other cool things we liked, Milkdadd had a mock studio set up so we could watch her work, Michael Shaeffer had a booth set up, and the couch area in the photo was set up to look like one of Lisa Krannichfeld's "Interior" series paintings -- this picture didn't do a good job of capturing the experience, but when you ask someone to take a photo for you, it's hard to be picky about the angle.

Mom's work friend Neesha (and her second-date date who grew up with Tara Walls) ended up coming as well. We left the show and went for a round of cocktails/mocktails at Rock Town Distillery with them before going home.

Dad.

Little Rock, Arkansas. 9.8.2023 - 8.16pm.

[joshuamyra]

Jesus Christ Superstar VHS

Description

Jesus Christ Superstar VHS Product Description Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Jesus Christ Superstar first exploded onto the London stage in 1971 and it was clear that the musical world would never be the same again. For the first time ever, Jesus Christ Superstar has been specially filmed for video. Shot at Pinewood Studios, this brand new filmed stage version starring Glenn Carter, Jerome Pradon, and Rik Mayall captures one of the best scores Andrew Lloyd Webber has ever written and is packed with hit songs including "I Don't Know How to Love Him," "Gethsemane," and "Superstar." The cast: Jesus Christ: Glenn Carter Judas Iscariot: Jerome Pradon Mary Magdalene: Renee Castle Pontius Pilate: Fred Johanson King Herod: Rik Mayall Caiaphas: Frederick B Owens Annas: Michael Shaeffer Simon Zealotes: Tony Vincent Peter: Cavin Cornwall

Online Ordering: https://www.mercari.com/us/item/m21027641789/

[moviereviews101web]

Saint Vassily (2024) Short Movie Review

Saint Vassily – Short Movie Review Director: Masha Egieva Writer: Masha Egieva (Screenplay) Cast Hugh Ross (Trainspotting) Michael Shaeffer (Rogue One) Billy Gunnion (Hamlin) Jake Neads (The Critic) Plot: USSR, 1982. Preparing for Orthodox priesthood, a self-righteous theological student’s integrity is tested by a KGB agent. Runtime: 13 Minutes  There may be spoilers in the rest of the…

[a-cheerful-zucchini]

[clevervonskelli]

The Liberator (2020)

I have been excited about this project since the very first hints about it were released, so in full disclosure I have to admit that I approached this with high hopes. I also have to disclose that – despite being a huge military history nerd and a fan of reading source material before adaptions are made – I have not had a chance to read The Liberator: One World War II Soldier's 500-Day Odyssey from the Beaches of Sicily to the Gates of Dachau by Alex Kershaw, so I cannot speak to how accurate anything is, nor can I comment on the quality of the original material either. Here are my thoughts on the visual choices, the characterizations and narrative structure, and the approach to diversity and representation. 

The hybrid-animated style is something that I was a bit surprised by because even after watching the trailers that were released my poor grad-school-addled brain processed it as a marketing choice just for promo. Everything looked like a comic page done by an awesome colourist and it I was :O but also :D Since I love comics, especially those that use muted palettes and a realistic style, I think I adapted to watching something that didn’t look like every other war drama out there a lot faster than my parents, who were watching with me. Comics and war (and WWII in particular) have a fascinating and interconnected history, so although it is a unique way of styling the show it also fits it so well! At times I did find myself wanting to see the characters faces in a bit more detail but, in fact, closeups were better than farther shots. Facial ticks and micro expressions came through well in most scenes and I was impressed all over again with the work the animations teams must have done as well as by the voice work and performances by the actors. I’m so familiar with Bradley James’ face and movements that I was never worried about missing something in his performance because of the show’s visual aesthetics and I feel like all the other cast members were just as transparent to me despite having never had the pleasure of watching them before. Overall, the visual style of the series gave it a certain charm and I imagine it helped to mitigate effects costs on what I don’t THINK was a project with a big budget.

The story itself is one that I really enjoyed. The character Felix Sparks is such a central hero, and I can certainly see how he could come off as too good to be true. The same can be said for most of the characters, from Sergeant Sam Coldfoot’s tenacity and escape from death to the German soldiers who show mercy and do not shoot Sparks while collecting his dead and wounded men from the mountain. **[This in particular seemed odd to me since they were from an SS unit and those dudes were generally some of the nastiest Nazis to ever serve but maybe its from the book, idk. It also underlines the “ugh, officers, ammirite? Except you Sparks, you’re an okay guy” vibe that is so common for military dramas by showing that on both sides there are men who are just soldiers being soldiers. Similar to the events in Aschaffenburg and at Dachau, we are purposefully reminded that there are good and bad people on both sides].                                                                                                                      I think that the heroic portrayals of the characters (while a tiny bit one-dimensional) mostly speak to what the real men must have been like. Or, perhaps more relevantly, to how they have been remembered. This is where I think the source material and how it is used becomes a big factor. Kershaw’s book uses historical research and interviews with Sparks, some of his men, and even some German soldiers. As I said, I have not read it but knowing his style a lot of the elements in the show that feel quite ‘all hail the conquering heroes’, or that are so focussed on the brotherhood of the unit, likely come from his narrative choices. I’m willing to believe that the members of the Thunderbirds were brave and caring men who did what was best for the outcome of the war and for each other, regardless of the personal cost or the expectations of the American military/society at large. We see some of their ‘faults’ in the series – something that is often only possible when it comes to accounts of small-unit fighting – and they are not actually perfect; it just happens to be that those faults have favourable outcomes or are mediated in the particular context of WWII, especially when we are looking back on them decades later. If the character’s representation largely reflects how they have been remembered it seems simplistic to forsake stories expressing awe and hope for daring to do so when the limitations or biases inherent to memory are also at fault. I believe it will always be important to tell the stories of individuals who inspire us to be better, which I think The Liberator does in a few different ways. All the same, having more time to dig deeper into the characters would have made them much more dynamic and would have been amazing.

On that note, it is important to be critical of how the ethnic/racial differences were addressed. The focus of the series narrows quite a bit by the end of the first episode to follow Sparks. I believe that the Kershaw book uses him as a primary interviewee, so that plays into it, but this is also where having the series be longer would have made a difference. Following a central character is a model of historical narrative that works and has worked for quite some time. It is essentially a safe bet for a project like this that I’m sure did not have the luxury of taking chances, but it didn’t allow for us to really dive into the other characters beyond what see of them through Sparks’ eyes. As the 2ndLt and later Captain of the battalion I think it’s fair to have a significant portion of the story told from his perspective or with him as a focal point because his position affords him the most information to share, but adding more variation of voices could have been so good! Instances of other characters talking about him in the series are great moments that give the other characters more ‘screen-time’ and also nicely back up the claims of brotherhood and togetherness that the overall story is making about the men. Having them speak about themselves too would have been even more awesome. The elements of simplification or Nationalism that can be felt when Sparks whips the men into shape and they become a fine fighting unit made up of usually segregated Native American/Indigenous, Mexican American, and white cowboy soldiers would be mediated by this more equal sharing of perspective. I have little doubt that the real men came together in an unexpected but inspirational way that discarded (most) of the prejudices that existed outside of their little bubble in order to fight a common enemy – at the very least their strategic accomplishments and survival would suggest as much. The portrayal of their coming-together would benefit from being a tad less contrived or solely laid on Sparks’ shoulders.

Overall, I really enjoyed the series and I hope more people watch it. It’s not perfect by any means but it does do a nice job of making a small but important chunk of history more accessible and it attempts to provide a realistic representation of events that border the unimaginable.

I would love to hear what anyone else thought of it.

[litttlesilkworm]

Dear Comrades! 🥳🎆🥂 After breaking our brains over it since at least January, it is my distinct pleasure to announce that we now have a definitive answer to the Misha mystery - the presumed deleted scene of the KGB agent (a.k.a. Misha) exiting his Volga and heading towards Valery’s building in daytime. I sent Craig Mazin a letter asking about it, and he graciously explained the missing scene to us!

I decided not to post his private reply in full here (please message me directly), but the truth is, the answer HAS been with us all along! It was our @elenatria​ who has been 100% right about the purpose of this scene - and Misha’s clothes were indeed the #1 clue.

It turns out, it was, indeed, a deleted scene at the very end of Episode 5, which took place in the morning following Valery’s suicide. Concerned about Valery not emerging from the building in the morning, Misha decides to go into the apartment to check on him. He was the one who found him.

Craig also confirms that after watching Valery for a number of months, Misha does end up caring for Valery and his well-being to an extent.

To think of it, it is nice to know that when Valery stood there on the sidewalk at 1 am and breathed in the April air for the last time, someone was there to look at him in that very moment with worry and concern.

[oneofusnet]

Screener Squad: The Liberator THE LIBERATOR MINISERIES REVIEW Some say it was our greatest war, exemplifying one of the shining moments in the history of the United States. Others say World War II was a complex conflict unlike any other: with valor and cowardice, heroes and villains. Could the truth be encompassed in one man’s singular wartime experience? Join… Read More »Screener Squad: The Liberator read more on One of Us

[jayfinch]

Chernobyl

[geekcavepodcast]

The ABC Murders Trailer

John Malkovich stars as Hercule Poirot in the latest adaptation of Agatha Christie’s The ABC Murders. 

Amazon Prime’s three-part miniseries also stars Rupert Grint, Andrew Buchan, Anya Chalotra, Eamon Farren, Jack Farthing, Tara Fitzgerald, Shirley Henderson, Bronwyn James, Freya Mavor, and Michael Shaeffer.

The ABC Murders, directed by Alex Gabassi, hits Amazon Prime on February 1, 2019.

[ubyr-babaj]

[elenatria]

Chernobyl deleted scenes

Scenes that we know for a fact were filmed.

Ulana reading reports from the Chernobyl victims, freaking out and deciding to convince Valery to, well, avenge them. 

If you ask me, it would have made way more sense if that scene was not left out. It would give us a glimpse into Ulana’s psyche, the reasoning behind her actions, her own pain and guilt. Then she wouldn’t just serve as the voice of Valery’s conscience. She’s hurting, that’s why she did what she did even if she regretted it. She’s not just demanding justice for all. She wants justice for herself. 

Look at her body language, she’s in the brink of tears. Now how much more humane would that have made her?

Ulana photo found by @litttlesilkworm​

Garanin and the May parade phone call.

Initial source.

Dyatlov hallucinating about his dying son.

This part *might* have been included here.

“Omitted.”

Alternate evacuation scene from which we’ve heard some dialogue where Boris mentions “marriage” and “finance”.

Pavel greeting the new recruit.

VIENNA.

Last but not least.

Misha’s final assignment.

Finally, a tidbit from Alex Ferns on the accents.

[getoutofthisplace]

Dear Gus,

You stayed with Yiayia and Papou tonight so Mom and I could allow ourselves a date night--something we haven’t had time for in a bit. We kicked things off with an opening of Michael Schaeffer’s work at Argenta Gallery. It was good to get out and feel social, but of course we were glad to come back home to you.

Dad

North Little Rock, Arkansas. 8.11.2017 - 6.42pm.

[buttonpoetry]

Over the next couple weeks, we’ll be highlighting some of the poets competing at the 2017 Rustbelt Poetry Festival.

Michael Shaeffer is an Alaskan teacher and playwright, Mike has 7 tattoos, 3 siblings, 2 cats, one published book of poetry, bees, and an 87-year old skeleton.

Come check out Michael Shaeffer perform at this year’s festival in Minneapolis, MN, June 2-3.