MASTERCLASS: THE SEALED ORDERS OF LIV ULLMANN (TV)
Summary
One in this nine-part series of made-for-television documentaries featuring famed individuals and their work with groups of aspiring artists.
This episode examines actress Liv Ullmann's national youngARTS program workshop with five young actors: Adam Blodgett, Caleb Carlson, Matthew Richards, Analisa Velez, and Miriam Schwarz. As the production opens, the students watch clips from Ullmann's films and comment on her talents, which also they realize have been made evident in her writing, directing, and theater ventures.
Ullmann is shown at work on a production of Tennessee Williams' "A Streetcar Named Desire," having been asked by actress Cate Blanchett to direct her in the role of Blanche DuBois. Blanchett describes Ullmann's presence as "vital," and Ullmann quotes philosopher Soren Kierkegaard to say that she thinks that all people are born with "sealed orders" and must take life opportunities as they come.
Upon arriving, Ullmann hugs the students and says that she has been "in a master class" for most of her life and looks forward to learning from them in the next two days. She then sets up a scene from "Streetcar" in which Blanche tells her would-be suitor Mitch about her disastrous first love, and plays them some blues music to set the mood, saying that it "tells the truth." They discuss the slower speaking style of the Southern characters, and she provides them with material about daily life in the 1940s, when the play takes place. Next, they head to a vintage clothing store to find their characters' costumes.
As there are two boys and three girls in the group, they decide to perform the scene with all possible combinations of Blanches and Mitches. As the students rehearse the scene and prepare to show Ullmann, Blodgett notes the "needy and insecure" nature of both characters, particularly the awkward and overlarge Mitch. Afterward, Ullmann comments on their performances. Velez debates whether Blanche is attempting to seduce Mitch in the scene, and Ullmann notes that Velez "remains hidden" during the monologue about her first husband.
Ullmann advises Carlson to make Mitch less intelligent in his demonstration of his love for Blanche, and the students observe the "misunderstandings" within the scene and the importance of Mitch genuinely listening to Blanche, as no one else does. Schwartz comments on her enjoyment of playing Blanche against three different versions of Mitch. Ullmann praises Richards' version in particular, pointing out his use of humor in the beginning of the scene and shift to a stronger demeanor by the end while still displaying vulnerability. She compliments his choice to move a candle between himself and Blanche and tells him she plans to "steal" the idea for her production with Blanchett.
Ullmann explains to the students that acting is "teamwork" and stresses the importance of close friendships and generosity, saying that self-centeredness makes one lonely. She becomes emotional as she explains how the workshop represents what she wanted to be in life and calls forth memories of her early acting days. Before the students leave, Ullmann tells them a sentimental story about a conversation that her daughter Linn had when she was young with her father, director Ingmar Bergman.
Details
- NETWORK: HBO
- DATE: April 25, 2010 5:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:36:19
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 100645
- GENRE: Documentary
- SUBJECT HEADING: Theater
- SERIES RUN: HBO - TV series, 2010
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Lin Arison … Executive Producer
- Karen Goodman … Producer, Director
- Kirk Simon … Producer, Director
- Carol Wilson … Associate Producer
- Wendy Blackstone … Music by
- Ingmar Bergman
- Cate Blanchett
- Adam Blodgett
- Caleb Carlson
- Søren Kierkegaard
- Matthew Richards
- Miriam Schwartz
- Linn Ullmann
- Liv Ullmann
- Analisa Velez
- Tennessee Williams