Self Made

Synopsis

A documentary recording a theatre project that artist Gillian Wearing initiated in London with a Method acting teacher, Sam Rumbelow. Together, they found seven non-actors - ‘participants’, via a newspaper advertisement and entered into a ten-day Method workshop with them, filming them as Rumbelow pushed them to explore themselves and act out their experiences. The film diverts from documentary in presenting five short dramatic films within the main film - ‘end pieces’, each starring one of five participants and each a reflection on their lives. One woman, Lian Stewart, who has a difficult relationship with her father, plays Cordelia in a short extract from King Lear (Act 1, sc 1 "the jewels of our father")

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Medium

Film

Technical information

Colour / Sound

Year of release

2010

Duration

83 mins

Availability

No archive copy or distributor known.

Credits

Director

Gillian Wearing

Producer

Lisa Marie Russo

Writer

Gillian Wearing; Leo Butler

Contributor

Sam Rumbelow

Cast

Tim Woodward	Lear
Lian Stewart	Cordelia

Additional Details

Production type

Documentary/Educational/News

Plays

King Lear

Keywords

Shakespeare, William (1564-1616); therapy; Untrained actors

Notes

Notes

Lian Stewart taking the role of Cordelia may be viewed on the film’s website (http://selfmade.org.uk/videos), accessed 7/2011).

History

First screened at the 54th London Film Festival 2010.