William Shatner's Gonzo Ballet (2009)

William Shatner's Gonzo Ballet Poster

On a cold night in Milwaukee high art meets pop culture as award winning choreographer Margo Sappington (OH! CALCUTTA!, BILLBOARDS) premieres her latest ballet, "Common People", set to the music of William Shatner and Ben Folds from their album, Has Been. GONZO BALLET explores the genesis of this unique artistic collaboration by fusing the music, poetry, and dance of "Common People" with interviews of the creators, dancers, and audience members.

Overview
"William Shatner's Gonzo Ballet" is an unique documentary from 2009 that provides a fascinating crossway of a plethora of creative disciplines: music, drama, humor, and dance. The movie especially looks for to check out the partnership in between American actor William Shatner and Grammy-nominated artist Ben Folds. Together, they had produced an avant-garde album entitled 'Has Been', which served as the inspiration for the ballet.

Unusual Inspiration and Commendation
The movie centers on the ballet "Common People", choreographed by Margo Sappington to Shatner's album "Has Been". The contemporary ballet functions choices from the album, which itself is a cooperation in between the actor William Shatner and the musician Ben Folds. The creation of the ballet marked a special translation from spoken words to visual art, gathering evaluations that celebrated the strangely moving quality of the work.

The Documentary's Approach
The film takes a three-pronged approach to check out the genesis of this cross-disciplinary performance. It interweaves 3 associated stories to form a detailed narrative. To start with, it delves into William Shatner's profession, life experiences, and development as a musical artist. Secondly, it presents a not likely but motivating collaboration in between Shatner and Ben Folds that ushered in the not likely birth of the album 'Has Been'. Lastly, it catches the change of Shatner's musical pieces into a full-length ballet entitled "Common People", choreographed and performed with great finesse by Margo Sappington.

Excellent Performances and Resonating Theme
"William Shatner's Gonzo Ballet" measures up to its unique name with all its aspects - from the topic to the performances. The eponymous William Shatner appeals audiences with his stage existence, baring his soul through spoken-word efficiency. Ben Folds brings raw emotion to Shatner's words with his uniquely made up music. Margo Sappington, the choreographer, does an admirable task in echoing the music's emotional beliefs through the fluid movements of the ballet. The long-lasting theme of the production is the human experience - the ups and downs of life, love, loss, and laughter.

Acknowledgments and Acclaims
"William Shatner's Gonzo Ballet" was screened at numerous movie festivals like the Nashville Film Festival, where it won the Audience Award for Best Documentary. It has actually been commended for its extraordinary blend of varied artistic disciplines hence developing an innovative narrative medium. The film serves as an expedition of Shatner's spoken-word stylings and the distinct impact they have on its listeners and, in this case, audiences as well, with the added layer of ballet.

Conclusion
In sum, "William Shatner's Gonzo Ballet" is a statement to the power of human expression through numerous art types. It catches a distinct crossway of music, spoken words, and ballet, balancing them into an avant-garde display of human experiences. The movie showcases the not likely birth of an album, its transition into a ballet, and the emotional depth each art kind can stimulate. A documentary that resonates deeply with the audiences, it reveals the diverse creative capabilities of William Shatner and the remarkable imaginative connection he shares with Ben Folds and Margo Sappington. The movie has actually been extremely appreciated for its unique subject matter and the ingenious narrative medium it represents.

Top Cast

  • William Shatner (small)
    William Shatner
    Himself
  • Ben Folds (small)
    Ben Folds
    Himself
  • Margo Sappington (small)
    Margo Sappington
    Herself
  • Henry Rollins (small)
    Henry Rollins
    Himself
  • Michael Pink (small)
    Michael Pink
    Himself
  • Elizabeth Shatner
    Herself
  • Marc Petrocci
    Himself
  • Susan Gartell
    Herself
  • Jeanette Marie Hanley
    Herself
  • Jacqueline Moscicke
    Herself