<body>

Wednesday, February 28, 2007

SO - YOU SAY YOU DON'T KNOW WHO KEVIN & SCOTTY ARE . . ...THIS IS FOR YOU


A couple personal pictures. . . Above is
Jon, my son, when he was at Moses Brown School.
He is now a freshman at Northeastern University in the Engineering School.
I have a thing for hats. . .
At Rockport, Massachusetts

The next five pictures are of the actor that I wanted Jon Robin Baitz to select for Kevin's next "beau" friend. Ioan Gruffudd (yo'wahnn griffith). He has synergy with Matthew Rhys as he is good friends with him and bought a house with him at one time, where they shared a residence for 10 years. Oh, Well...I'm not getting my wish, but here is the beautifully handsome and photogenic Ioan Gruffudd who is currently starring as William Wilberforce in Amazing Grace, the movie. Just an excuse to include him here, before they announce who is going to be cast as the new love interest for Kevin Walker - Todd McCallister.





Oh, well...he is beautiful. And like I said, he is photogenic. You should see the other pictures I have stored in My Pictures folder of Ioan Gruffudd. They are fabulous. He is a year older than Matthew Rhys in real life. But then, Matthew Rhys is two years younger than his character, Kevin Walker.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


This picture was taken at the same time as another picture I included on another posting and it gets so many hits, I decided to add another from that set of pictures.


OKAY, This is the beloved Kevin, aka Matthew Rhys, in Julie Taymor's Titus in 1999 as Demetrius, hanging upside down, I do believe. He can play tough, so let's see it, Kevin. Get an idea of what you'll put up with and how to keep 'em once your magnetism brings 'em over to you.
We want this, you "bonehead". That is meant in most endearing way, of course : )


In episode, "Something Ida This Way Comes" unwelcome guests from Kevin's opinion of Senator McCallister
while preparing for Nora's 60th birthday party. Kevin is in charge, here.
Kevin wanted to be on a date with Scotty, but Mom was able to manipulate him with guilt. This was before he has been obviously working out for the torso shots that have come after this was taken.
Kevin has been asked by his brother Tommy to let him and his wife use his sperm to have a baby (Tommy is sterile) and Kevin is the ONLY sibling, as well as including Scotty in that persuasion, who thinks this could present problems for the child, as Kevin put it "whose father is his gay uncle". And the subject has been brought up at the dinner table by sister Sarah.



<::<::<::<::<::<::<::<::<::<::<::<::<::<::<::<::<::<::<::<::<::<::<::<::<::<::

Okay, just in case you are one of my international readers, have gotten your interest piqued and can’t get my beloved television show Brothers and Sisters where you live, I am including two youtube montage videos made for your and my pleasure by

http://www.youtube.com/bgcv1234

And since youtube has been removing these Brothers and Sisters videos recently, check them out now, while they are still available to us. Personally, I think it is unwise for this to happen with the removal of music and videos on youtube. It just make me more interested in the artists and the shows, therefore causing me to buy their music and watch the television shows. It’s good business to allow it. But that’s just my small opinion.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Kevin & Scotty (Brothers & Sisters Episodes 1-5) - Part 1
……………………………………………………………………………………
Kevin & Scotty (Brothers & Sisters Episodes 1-5) - Part 2
<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<::<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:
Luke MacFarlane plays the role of Scotty Wandell, Kevin's beau friend, that I am hoping is woven back into Kevin's intimate love life in the future. But after Kevin is ready enough not to wreck it all considering Scotty's integrity, dignity and self-respect.
<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<::<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:
Luke MacFarlane’s Fan Web Site:
http://movies.groups.yahoo.com/group/lukemacfarlanefans/

<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<::<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<: <:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<::<:<:<:<:<:<:<:<:
Remember to stay informed about the Darfur genocide:
Never missing an opportunity to spread the word to STOP the GENOCIDE IN DARFUR :

http://www.Savedarfur.org
http://www.ajws.org/
www.sudandivestment.org/
http://www.genocideintervention.net/
http://www.standnow.org/


“Peace will not work if just one man alive is unjust if one man alive is ignorant or hungry or crazy or ashamed For we have seen, if only one of us decides to pull the plug, the millions of us can kiss the world good-bye whether we like it or not.” From Joseph Pinauro’s little book “to believe in man”, illustrated by Sister Corita Kent :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Use your loose change to free slaves around the world. To be a part of the Amazing Change Campaign "Loose Change to Loosen Chains",
PLEASE
,
sign the petition of Amazing Change Campaign

http://www.theamazingchange.com/abolish.html


Zach Hunter, the fifteen year old, who wants to end world-wide slavery: contact@theamazingchange.com

Zach Hunter’s website:

http://www.myspace.com/amazingchange :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

The movie “Amazing Grace” website is fabulous and
has wonderful clips of the movie for your pleasure:

http://amazinggracemovie.com/

>::>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>
Regarding the Darfur Genocide this is Plan B of

http://www.Savedarfur.org

Request President Bush to do the following immediately.

Dear President Bush:
President Omar al-Bashir continues to ignore diplomatic efforts to pressure him to end the genocide. More than 400,000 Darfurians have already lost their lives and over 2.5 million have been displaced.
The time for the consciousness-building you proposed in your State of the Union address has passed; it is time for effective American leadership to end this genocide now. I urge you, President Bush, to please take the following steps immediately:
* Enact and enforce targeted sanctions against the leadership of the regime in Khartoum, including sanctions against the companies used by the leadership to finance the genocide.

* Implement all sanctions and measures for which you were given legal authority when Congress enacted, and you signed, the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act, including blocking from U.S. ports those ships that have transported Sudanese oil.

* Engage at the United Nations and with world leaders to enact the strictest targeted worldwide sanctions regime against Sudan’s leadership.

* Develop and implement, with our NATO allies, of a no-fly zone covering Sudanese military flights over Darfur. This could be accomplished by immobilizing Sudanese planes known to have taken part in illegal bombing missions.

* Engage with the United Nations to prepare and deploy a protection force for civilians in eastern Chad and the Central African Republic.
* Prepare for the deployment of a credible and effective international force to Darfur to protect vulnerable civilians and ensure conditions for effective humanitarian aid. This should include a request to Congress to pay the U.S.’s full share of UN peacekeeping dues.

* Produce a military contingency plan to respond to the potentially cataclysmic collapse of security and humanitarian aid networks in Darfur.

* Begin building camps and barracks for phase II of the AU-UN hybrid force, for which $50 million has been included by Congress within the soon-to-be-passed FY07 Continuing Resolution.

Contact Information

President Bush
Phone: 202-456-1111
email: president@whitehouse.gov

Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice
U.S. Dept of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20520
USA
website: www.state.gov/secretary/

The Honorable Ban Ki-moon
Secretary-General
United Nations Secretariat
Rm 3800
New York, NY 10017
USA


>::>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>::>>: >:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:Use Your Voice:>:>:>:>:>:Use Your:>:>:>:>: Presence:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:> to Stop and Prevent:>:>:>:>:>:>:>::>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>: >:>:>:>:Genocide:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:ThankYou:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>: >::>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:


Labels: , , , , , , , , , ,

Tuesday, February 27, 2007

MATTHEW RHYS' KEVIN WALKER FINDS HIS WAY OUT - THANK GOD























BROTHERS and SISTERS
My Favorite Television Show and a scene to break Kevin and Chad up.

I happen to love an American television show that began September 24, 2006. It airs on Sunday evenings, on ABC at 10:00 p.m. The show, Brothers and Sisters, is the creation of Jon Robin Baitz. Robbie Baitz is openly gay and committed to himself and to the viewers that he would not avoid dealing openly and honestly with all of the characters on the show which includes one adult gay male as a part of a large family. Kevin Walker is the character who plays the man who shows us into Robbie’s journey. He is played believably and exceptionally well by Welsh actor Matthew Rhys (pronounced rees). For many of us Matthew is our favorite actor on the show although the entire cast is richly talented. Kevin is an attorney. I know, I for one, love Kevin because of how Matthew Rhys portrays Kevin. Though Kevin is not gay in real life, he has no problem with all that is required to sincerely come across as gay with his acting and willingness to commit to all that Kevin is. Kevin was introduced to us last fall as having an ex-boyfriend’s picture in his law office, while meeting his new beau friend, Scotty Wandell. I love Kevin and Scotty together because they seem to have warmth that exudes from themselves to the other. It’s a kind of magical charm that sends sparks out from the television screen. There is a synergy between Matthew Rhys, who plays Kevin Walker, and Luke MacFarlane, who plays Scotty Wandell – where the sum of what each is becomes another whole entity when on the screen together. Sadly, Kevin and Scotty had some quirky little arguments and they have been estranged from one another except for one night when they had been set up as a blind date one for the other. However, this was also during a time when Kevin had been dating another man who was not openly gay and was squeezing Kevin back into the dreaded “don’t ask, don’t tell” invisible existence. And it hurts Kevin. Chad is soon to rock Kevin’s world. And NOT in a good way.

Below I have written (in a about 15 minutes) a fan fiction of the scene that Chad and Kevin take their tattered loose ends of a relationship and cut the ties that bind them. Falling in love is the easy part. Breaking up is the cruelest part of a love and life affair that built you up to let you down. I have two songs included here from Youtube that I have selected. I have included the lyrics for you to read how appropriate the song is for this multilayered chapter of Kevin’s love life. Of course, it is difficult to find a song with the right pronouns, you know, "he" in place of "she", so you’ll have to substitute in your thinking “he” for all of the “she” pronouns. But either one of these songs works for me, as background music for this little scene of emotional pain and dis-ease. I’ve been “there” more than once in my life. It just plain sucks you lifeless in one way and yet if you feel the pain – you KNOW you’re alive. So in that sense, I learned to be grateful for feeling the pain.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::







"I'm Gonna Find Another You"

by John Mayer

It's really over, you made your stand
You got me crying, as was your plan
But when my loneliness is through, I'm gonna find another you

You take your sweaters
You take your time
You might have your reasons but you will never have my rhymes
I'm gonna sing my way away from blue
I'm gonna find another you

When I was your lover
No one else would do
If I'm forced to find another, I hope he looks like you
Yeah and he's nicer too

So go on baby
Make your little get away
My pride will keep me company
And you just gave yours all away
Now I'm gonna dress myself for two
Once for me and once for someone new
I'm gonna do somethings you wouldn't let me do
Oh I'm gonna find another you

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Just ignore the video of the SVU TV show and simply use the music as background to the scene.






“Dreaming With A Broken Heart”
by John Mayer

When you're dreamin with a broken heart
The wakin up is the hardest part
you roll outta bed and down on your knees
and for a moment you can hardly breath

wonderin was he really here
is he standin in my room
no he's not, cuz he's
gone gone gone gone gone

When you're dreamin with a broken heart
The givin up is the hardest part
he takes you in with his cryin eyes
then all at once you have to say goodbye

wonderin could you stay my love
will you wake up by my side
no he can't, cuz he's
gone gone gone gone gone

Now do i have to fall asleep with roses in my hand
do i have to fall asleep with roses in my hand
do i have to fall asleep with roses in my hand
do i have to fall asleep with roses in my, roses in my hand
baby would you get them if i did
no you wont, cuz your
gone gone gone gone gone

When you're dreamin with a broken heart
the wakin up is the hardest part

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
The Scene: It’s Over

Chad calls Kevin on Friday afternoon, when they had plans to go to dinner and spend the night together. It’s a rainy, very, very windy and gray day with ominous clouds. A storm is brewing.

Chad: Kev, I-I have to talk to you before tonight. Something is wrong and I … I don’t… want to hurt you.

Kevin: What, Chad, you’ve changed your mind.

Chad: It’s not that simple.

Kevin: Yeah, Chad it’s simple. Truth is truth. You’d rather run from it.

Chad: No. No. Kevin. I…I just have to sort things out. I’ve never felt this way before. And you’re the rea-

Kevin: Just… stop, Chad. You take my heart, work it around in your hands like I’m putty. Chew me up and spit me out. Look, Chad…

Chad: Kevin, don’t do thi-

Kevin: Don’t do what…tell you the truth?

Chad: I have real strong feelings for you.

Kevin: You’re rich Chad. What you have is confusion. Confusion on who you are. I know because, I’ve had my times. But…

Chad: Kevin, can I see you and talk this through.

Kevin: (firmly, with resolve) No. I wanted to love you. But the you I want to love is not there. You’re floundering around playing around with what Chad to be and while you’re doing that you’re playing around with my heart.

Chad: But Kev…

Kevin: Look, Chad, I hope you find the man inside you and let him out. I can’t take this stuff from you or anyone else anymore. It’s over Chad.

Silence

Chad: Kevin, are you sure that’s wha…

Kevin: Yeah…Chad. I’m sure.


Saturday morning, Kevin’s apartment. Kevin’s lying in bed after a restless, sad night under the covers. We see his face, which says it all… the frozen in emotional pain, looking like the life has been sucked out of him. A tear starts to well up in his eye, and slowing moves down his face as he lays on his side. The music has started of “I’m Gonna Find Another You” by John Mayer

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

This excerpt just below is from a love letter written in the book, Soul on Ice, by Eldridge Cleaver to Beverly Axelrod a San Francisco lawyer while he was in Folsom Prison. I think it is beautifully expressed as to how and why it is difficult to put ourselves out there on the limb to really give and take love.

“…The reason two people are reluctant to really strip themselves naked in front of each other is because in doing so they make themselves vulnerable and give enormous power over themselves one to the other. How awful, how deadly, how catastrophically they can hurt each other, wreck and ruin each other forever!...Better to maintain shallow, superficial affairs; that way the scars are not too deep, no blood is hacked from the soul. You beautifully – O, how beautifully!! – spoke...of ‘What an awesome thing it is to feel oneself on the verge of the possibility of really knowing another person...’ and...I do not believe that a beautiful relationship has to always end in carnage. I do not believe that we have to be fraudulent and pretentious,...I know that sometimes people fake on each other out of genuine motives to hold onto the object of their tenderest feelings. They see themselves as so inadequate that they feel forced to wear a mask in order to continuously impress the other. I do not want to ‘hold you’, I want you to ‘stay’ out of your own need for me. ...It takes time and deeds, and this involves trust, it involves making ourselves vulnerable to each other, to strip ourselves naked, to become sitting ducks for each other...I am vulnerable and defenseless and I make myself a duck for you. ...And it is not a fraud, forced out of desperation...”
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
And from one of my own poems, titled
In Risking

Accept me as I am,
Don’t require me to be
Anything I’m not…
…I’d rather take the probable consequences
and possible discrimination,
if necessary, for me to be myself.
If I’d be any other way
for whatever reason
I would have to face a hypocrite
in my mind’s constant mirror.

There is no altenative,
I am me.
..My ideas are not borrowed.
They are j u s t mine,
fused conglomeration.

I try to love others for what they are
Not for what I can make them up to be.

My hope is that
you can accept me
as I, alone, am.
If you cannot, then words be silent
and we will part,
going our own separate ways.
Peace.

For those of us who can meet
the beautiful of earth is ours
in infinity
We will stop no where.
All in us is open
and all is open to us.

We dare to step out
into this world of infinity
aware of the possible hurt
but knowing we must become so vulnerable.
We have no other way to go.

The arms of our souls are long,
The depth of our warmth
penetrates beyond physical imagination.
And we cling to each other,
in peaceful trembling.

ilovemylife
Sandra Hammel

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Labels: , , , , , , ,

“……AND YOU STILL HAVE PASSION. THAT MATTERS MORE."



At

http://amazinggracemovie.com/

download "The Story of Amazing Grace"

I did. I enjoyed it very much.




This is a painting that I did using a photograph from the Oprah website of when she went to
South Africa
for the Christmas Kindness show. It is a water color and I won Honorable Mention at a juried art show with the Portsmouth Arts Guild in Portsmouth, Rhode Island.


Visit the Amazing Change Website



Lines from the movie, Amazing Grace:

“……and you still have passion. That matters more.” Barbara to William Wilberforce


“Great men are spoken about when it’s to do with violence, such as Napoleon and return to pomp. Rarely do they speak of men of peace. William Wilberforce, however, will return to his family with head on pillow, knowing the slave trade is no more – making a better world.….” Thomas Clarkson

I love this movie, AMAZING GRACE, so-o much. The cast, the story, the acting, the music. I majored in music because of what it does to my soul. I have my B.S. and M.M. in music. And it is not the degrees that I have, but the power of music that reaches in and takes a hold of me like nothing else. I remember as a young person sitting in church and sometimes I didn’t listen to the sermon, but the songs were what grabbed a hold of my spirit and moved me. And it’s no different today. I love, love, love music. I am the music and the music is me. I know that I am a passionate person. More than others. People let me know this continually by their reaction to my passionate way of emoting and being. Some may not feel . . . I don’t know, maybe, comfortable around such passion – but others seem to be drawn to it. I can’t be any other way.

I love who I am and my passionate way of living my life is a huge part of that. I am speaking at the Unitarian Universalist Channing Memorial Church March 18 and yesterday I met with the two who are in charge of planning the entire service for two hours after a very interesting all music church service. This is a Unitarian Church so the music included songs such as Embraceable You, Imagine, Standing in the Need of Prayer, Over the Rainbow, Take Five, Catch a Falling Star, Nine Ma Tov and a trumpet solo playing Taps! Anyway, I will be the guest speaker on the 18th of March and the topic is Darfur and the Genocide. My passion was seemingly too much for one of the participants, however I have witnessed her in an altered state of excitement at one time, so I’m not sure what it all meant that she didn’t welcome my spirit of joy. I am so happy in my life and it shows. When I left I heard myself softly say to myself, “Well, I don’t care if she doesn’t like my happiness, I like my happiness.” I am doing what I feel destined to do in speaking out against the genocide and when aligned with the universe, I think the happiness just comes from the well of just-being-all-right-with-LIFE.

I found this wonderful Youtube video tonight. I have been looking since I saw AMAZING GRACE last Friday, February 23, opening day of the movie here in the United States for a special video of this song. See if you like this.




The photos of Ioan Gruffudd above are from

http://lost-for-jack.livejournal.com/179922.html

If you want to read some very interesting reviews or interviews regarding this film, AMAZING GRACE and Ioan Gruffudd check out this link:

http://s177430995.onlinehome.us/amazing_grace/newsite/community/viewtopic.php?t=21


Here is the link to My Topic, “Did you see AMAZING GRACE opening day? Did it move you?” at the Amazing Grace movie website:

http://www.amazinggracemovie.com/community/viewtopic.php?t=62



<:<:<:<: "The strong can not expect the weak to placate >:>:>:>:

them and call it healing."
........Sandra Hammel, aka ilovemylife


Don’t let weeds grow around your dreams.
........From H. Jackson Brown, Jr.’s
........Life’s Little Instructon Book. Volume 2

<:<:<:<: “We are All the Keepers of Justice. <:<:<:<:
OR not.”
........Sandra Hammel, aka ilovemylife

peacepeacepeacepeacepeacepeacepeacepeacewillnotworkif
justonemanaliveisunjustignoranthungrycrazyashamedJosephPintauro
:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:
"The Glory of God is Man Fully Alive." St. Irenaeus of Lyons
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
"We think of religious activity as directed toward God - instead of man.

We believe in someone divine rather than in ourselves.

Maybe we have turned religion inside-out." Please Touch Edwin M. McMahon & Peter A. Campbell

>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>::>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:

Labels: , , , , , , , ,

Sunday, February 25, 2007

AMAZING GRACE “WE WERE APES, THEY WERE HEROES.”



My Topic of Discussion at the website for Amazing Grace

http://s177430995.onlinehome.us/amazing_grace/newsite/community/viewtopic.php?t=111



William Wilberforce played by Ioan Gruffudd

www.ioanonline.com


"I wish I could remember their names. . . their beautiful African names.
We call them with just a grunt, noises.
We were apes,
they were heroes."

John Newton to William Wilberforce

Cast of “Amazing Grace”

William Wilberforce
played by Ioan Gruffudd

Barbara Spooner
played by Romola Garai

Olaudah Equiano
played by Youssou N'Dour

John Newton
played by Albert Finney

Pitt the Younger
played by Benedict Cumberbatch

Lord Fox
played by Michael Gambon

Thomas Clarkson
played by Rufus Sewell

Lord Tarleton
played by Ciaran Hinds

Duke of Clarence
played by Toby Jones

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

John Newton died in 1807.

Three days before William Wilberforce died he saw slavery abolished in England.


_____________

For Still Pictures from the film go to
http://www.amazinggracemovie.com/gallery.php

___________________________________________



Meet William Wilberforce

Harriet Beecher Stowe praised him in the pages of Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Novelist E. M. Forester compared him to Gandhi. Abraham Lincoln invoked his memory in a celebrated speech. In the houses of Parliament, Nelson Mandela recalled his tireless labors on behalf of the sons and daughters of Africa, calling Britain "the land of William Wilberforce—who dared to stand up to demand that the slaves in our country should be freed." The cat in residence at 10 Downing Street between 1973 and 1987 quickly earned a "Wilberforce-ian" reputation for catching mice, and as such was given the name Wilberforce and served under four prime ministers.

William Wilberforce (1759-1833) led the twenty-year fight to end the British slave trade, a victory now regarded as He finally succeeded in March 1807 and continued to fight for abolition until, days before his death in 1833, he saw the institution of slavery abolished throughout the British colonies. Not limiting himself to just abolitionist work, he dedicated his life to what he called his "two great objects:" abolishing slavery in the British Empire and what he called "the reformation of manners [society]." To this end, he advocated for child labor laws, campaigned for education of the blind and deaf, and founded organizations as diverse as the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) and the National Gallery (of Art). "Good causes," it has been said, "stuck to him like pins to a magnet."

- Wilberforce biographer and Amazing Grace lead historical consultant, Kevin Belmonte


__________________________________________

About Ioan Gruffudd

Ioan Gruffudd will reprise his role as Mr Fantastic in The Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, based on the Marvel Comic Superheroes, starring alongside Julian McMahon, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans and Michael Chilkis, following the success of the last year's blockbuster The Fantastic Four.

Ioan began acting in his teens in his home town of Cardiff. He enrolled in the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and immediately began work upon graduation. He starred in the Welsh language Academy® nominated romantic drama Soloman and Gaenor.

He first found fame in the title role of the award-winning television series Hornblower. Other recent television successes include the popular miniseries The Forsyte Saga, with Damian Lewis and Gina McKee; the lead role in the adaptation of Tony Parson's bestselling novel Man and Boy, and the role of Pip in Tony Marchant's Great Expectations, starring alongside Charlotte Rampling and Justine Waddell.

His film profile continued to rise with recent leading roles in 102 Dalmations, co-starring with Glenn Close and Alice Evans and TV Set, starring with David Duchovny and Sigourney Weaver.

Above from:

Some thoughts of my own:

The wonderful actor who portrays William Pitt and such a dear, precious friend of William Wilberforce is played by Benedict Cumberbatch. He is simply marvel - ous in this role.

ALL of the relationships with William Wilberforce were engaging all by themselves. They include Barbara Spooner, Richard, William's butler, Thomas Clark, Lord Charles Fox, James Stevens, Olaudah Equiano, even the little twerp, Duke of Clarence who in the end had a line something akin to

"Even a Noble man must recognize the virtue of an exceptional commoner," once the bill had finally passed. WHAT a scene! What a sorry thing that such a triumphant act took so much persuasive energy and articulation. And time. While human beings were being treated worse than plants and animals.


I went back and combed through my scratchings of notes that I wrote down during the second viewing of the movie - on paper that already had writing on it - so these notes are difficult to decipher and found the following of Francis Bacon's quotes via Richard, William Wilberforce's butler:
From the scene of William and Richard sitting on the wet grass at William’s house:
“It is a sad fate when a man is known to everyone else but he is unknown to himself.”

Said at the feeding/reception of many people, I think immediately following Barbara and William’s “both impatient and prone to rash decisions" marriage
“Great changes are easier than small ones.”

I simply and deeply loved the scene where William falls to the floor in the arms of his beloved and pregnant wife. What beautiful acting, indeed! William’s line just before he falls to the floor: “I can’t even enjoy the moment of this victory…” Oh to live such passion and to have the convictions to grant you such passion and to have the relationship with your partner that we were witness to in this WONderful film.

OH, and that speech which I don’t have down perfectly in my chicken scratches, “Great men are spoken about when it’s to do with violence, such as Napoleon and return to pomp. Rarely do they speak of men of peace. William Wilberforce, however, will return to his family with head on pillow, knowing the slave trade is no more – making a better world.….” Thomas Clarkson, I believe delivers this speech. Please correct me, if I have that wrong. This isn’t the exact wording and it isn’t complete, but those of you who saw the movie KNOW what I am referring to. Wasn’t that speech just delectable and so true!!!

I loved the scene where we see William Pitt and William Wilberforce running barefoot in the fields of Wilberforce’s house.
William Pitt:
“…….at least they would know we mean business.
......Why is it that you only feel the thorns on your feet when you walk on them slowly?"

William Wilberforce: "Is that a metaphor for …? "

William Pitt: "Yes, it means you should move fast."

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Miscellaneous lines I love:

Wilberforce:
“First step, we are talking about the truth…”

Lord Charles Fox arrives
Wilberforce: "Oh, God, dear God."
Fox: "Well, almost."


Barbara to William Wilberforce: “……and you still have passion. That matters more.”

I couldn’t agree more.

Lovingly submitted,

ilovemylife
http://ilovemylifebrothersandsisters.blogspot.com/


PLEASE
, sign the petition of Amazing Changes Campaign
http://www.theamazingchange.com/abolish.html

Let's do more than love this movie. Let us be inspired to act. To act with our own "will" and "force" of passion, conviction and knowing the truth.

“Loose Change to Loosen Chains”
Use your loose change to free slaves around the world.

Email to let Zach Hunter, a fifteen year old who was a slave, know what you are doing in your community to end slavery:
contact@theamazingchange.com

His website:
http://www.myspace.com/amazingchange


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


My trailer:

“…unless we all have plenty
one of us will become a thief and the thief will make you angry
you will hurt him

this will hurt his children
they will punish you
this will hurt your children
they will punish his children
and that’s how it begins

to believe in man is to know
peace will not work if just one man alive
is unjust
if one man alive
is ignorant
or hungry
or crazy
or ashamed
FOR we have seen if only one of us
decides to pull the plug, the millions of us can kiss
the world good-bye
whether we like it or not.”

........From Joseph Pintauro’s little book “to believe in man”
........Illustrated by Sister Corita Kent

"The strong can not expect the weak to placate
them and call it healing."

........Sandra Hammel, aka ilovemylife

Don’t let weeds grow around your dreams.

.......From H. Jackson Brown, Jr.’s
........Life’s Little Instructon Book. Volume 2

“We are All the Keepers of Justice. OR not.”

........Sandra Hammel, aka ilovemylife


________________________________________________________________

This John Newton documentary video is wonderfully done. I love this one.









CAST




William Wilberforce


Ioan Gruffudd

Barbara Spooner


Romola Garai

William Pitt


Benedict Cumberbatch

John Newton


Albert Finney

Lord Charles Fox


Michael Gambon

Thomas Clarkson


Rufus Sewell

Olaudah Equiano


Youssou N’Dour

Lord Tarleton


Ciaran Hinds

Duke of Clarence


Toby Jones

Henry Thornton


Nicholas Farrell

Marianne Thornton


Sylvestra Le Touzel

Richard the Butler


Jeremy Swift

James Stephen


Stephen Campbell Moore

Lord Dundas


Bill Paterson

Sir William Dolben


Nicholas Day

Hannah Moore


Georgie Glen

Harrison


Nicholas Woodeson

John Ramsay


Tom Fisher

Speaker of the House


Richard Ridings

Lord Camden


David Hunt

Beggar


David Toole

Heckler


Alex Blake

Marjorie


Angie Wallis

Edward Hope (Quaker)


Harry Audley

Michael Shaw (Quaker)


Chris Barnes

Physician


Tom Knight

MP 1


Andrew Whipp

MP 2


Andrew Neil

Maid


Estelle Morgan

Camber


Philip Dunbar

Parliamentary Clerk


Adam Woodroffe

Newton’s Secretary


Joseph Traynor

Young Parliamentary Officer


Simon Delaney

Old Parliamentary Official


Neville Phillips

Young African Woman


Eki Maria

Delivery Coach Driver


Daniel Naprous

Delivery Assistant


Peter White


Labels: , , , , , , , , , ,