Sunday, February 24, 2013

The London Skyline of Sherlock

Saturday, February 23, 2013

A Visual History of Sherlock Movies by Time

http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1879848_1846213,00.html

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Cumberbatch With the "Cane"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFnFCrAuneI&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Reichenbach Falls

This is the locale where Holmes and Moriarty were supposed to meet their maker.

Solid background information can be found at
http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/ve/sherlock-holmes/moriarty.jsp

Current Exhibit

Toronto Reference Library
January 5 to March 10, 2013

“There is nothing like first-hand evidence.”

—Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes first appeared on the scene in “A Study in Scarlet,” which was published in Beeton’s Christmas Annual of 1887. One hundred and twenty-five years later, he is still going strong as the subject of books, movies, television shows and more. Everyone knows Sherlock Holmes—or do we? Holmes is a character of many faces. He exists not only as conceived by his creator Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, but also in the countless variations devised by other writers, actors, artists, and fans. Which of these is faithful to the timeless spirit of this enduring literary character, and which perhaps goes a little too far? We invite you to enter the gallery, get to know Holmes better, and decide for yourself. Rare and unusual books, manuscripts, artwork and more from the Toronto Public Library's Arthur Conan Doyle Collection will take you on your own adventure into the mysterious world of Sherlock Holmes. Come, the game is afoot!

125 years

Stephen Fry Celebrates 125th Anniversary Of Sherlock Holmes As First Edition Copy Of 'A Study In Scarlet' Goes On Display

The Many Faces

http://www.breaking-character.com/post/2012/11/20/The-Many-Faces-of-Sherlock-Holmes-A-Slideshow.aspx

Will new tattooed, drug addicted TV version of Sherlock Holmes turn off die-hard fans?

By Gretchen Van Benthuysen

Published September 25, 2012

FoxNews.com

In the new CBS show “Elementary” debuting 10 p.m. Sept. 27, Sherlock Holmes

has at least four tattoos, including a half-sleeve on his left arm. He wears a t-shirt that states “I am not lucky, I am good,” needs a shave and has sex with a prostitute that probably (gasp!) included handcuffs.

But regardless of looks and a move to New York City, in the pilot he appears to be essentially the same often annoying consulting detective Arthur Conan Doyle introduced to the world in 1887.

This contemporary Holmes, like the buff version Robert Downey Jr. played in the WB action movies, and the tech savvy version Benedict Cumberbatch essays for BBC’s “Sherlock,” is another creation for a public that can’t get enough of this eccentric Englishman.

But will it turn off die-hard fans, some of whom thought Downey Jr.’s version was nothing more than an action-packed thriller having nothing to do with Doyle's creation?

"Sherlock makes everything right with the world. He makes sense out of chaos. People enjoy getting escaping back to 1895"

- Sherlock Holmes afficianado Richard Kitts

“If the story is good we will overlook all the other stuff,” says Richard Kitts of Staten Island, a retired banker and one of only 350 members of the invitation-only Baker Street Irregulars, a Holmes fan club founded in 1934. “As long as Sherlock and (John) Watson are the focus, I will ignore the other stuff. A few might take exception, though.”

One who definitely takes exception is Susan Diamond, a Baker Street Irregular and Holmes traditionalist who lives in Chicago.

“I think Robert Downey should be shot,” she says. “He’s destroyed Sherlock Holmes. He’s turned him into a Victorian Iron Man. The plots are ludicrous. It’s all action and explosions.”

She concedes Jude Law is a credible Watson, but she finds the films offensive. And she doesn’t buy the idea they will encourage moviegoers to read the books. She does believe BBC's “Sherlock” might send people to the bookstore, but that’s more because the BBC respects literary properties and its show is a clever riff on the canon, but it’s not really about Holmes.

“The Sherlock Holmes books are one of the few mystery (series) you can read again and again,” she says. “Doyle is not that good a writer, but he created an incredible character.”

A character that obviously has staying power.

“The main reason Sherlock Holmes has lasted so long is it’s an escape,” Kitts says. “Sherlock makes everything right with the world. He makes sense out of chaos. People enjoy getting escaping back to 1895.”

With “Elementary” and “Sherlock” we don’t have to go back in time. We haven’t in a while. Gregory House from Fox’s “House” and Adrian Monk from USA Network’s “Monk” featured brilliant, socially challenged men each of whom has one real friend and solved impossible medical and criminal problems, respectively.

In the “Elementary” pilot, Holmes (Johnny Lee Miller) has just been released from a New York City drug rehab center. His father hires Dr. Joan Watson (Lucy Liu) as his sober companion.

That Watson is an Asian-American woman is thrilling to the Baker Street Babes, a year-old group devoted to all things Sherlockian.

“There are a ton of us all around the world,” says Lyndsay Faye who at 32 is one of its oldest members. The New York City-based writer’s books include the 2009 pastiche “Dust and Shadow,” a story about Holmes and Jack the Ripper. “We have more than 11,000 followers on Tumblr and 7,500 Twitter followers. More than 100,000 people have listened to our podcasts. We love to share Sherlock Holmes in all his various incarnations.

“The demographics for Sherlock Holmes fans are changing rapidly,” she says. “There is renewed interest and the BBC series and Warner Brothers films have attracted a lot of female fans. And where do you find them? Online. They are very enthusiastic.”

Male or female, old or young, she says if the writing in “Elementary” is snappy and the stories interesting, fans will watch like they did when they bought tickets to see William Gillette on stage as Holmes in the late 19th century, and Basil Rathbone on film in World War II-era English propaganda movies.

She said what keeps everyone coming back is the friendship between Holmes and Watson.

“These characters would take a bullet for each other. They are each so different, but together they make one functioning human,” Faye explained. “It’s the basis for every cop film ever seen. Who wouldn’t want a best friend who amazes you and involves you in thrilling adventures? It appeals to every gender, and can be adapted in countless versions.”

Five Journals

Set Design Journal Ms. Lindenberg

Create a journal that you will add to over the semester. You are expected to write all five journal entries. These will be marked and provide part of your overall mark.

Each journal response will be marked out of 20.

Journal One Due Date: Thursday February 28^th

People in our production bring certain specific strengths with them. Identify the artistic strengths you bring to this class.

What skills do you hope to get from this class?

Journal Two Due Date: Thursday March 21^st

What aspect of the set have you been focusing on so far? How have you been able to contribute to the overall design?

Explain, in detail, the research that you have done for your contributions. (set décor, props, hair makeup)

Journal Three Due Date: Thursday April 11^th

1. Now that you have had some time to learn more about the overall shape of the play, devise a plan to move the set pieces on and off the stage.

2. What colour scheme do you think would work best in Sherlock Holmes’ flat? Why?

Journal Four Due Date: Thursday May 2^nd

Explain how you have helped the production so far. What have your main jobs been?

What else do you need to finish before the show opens?

Journal Five Due Date: Thursday May 23^rd

What were the most enjoyable aspects of the Set Design process? How could you change it so it was better?

Give an honest assessment of the production values of Sherlock Holmes. What aspects of the set, costume, props, etc. really worked? What were you proudest of and what would you have changed?