Author: Kanayan Tamar

Q&A: ‘BREAKING DAWN’ COSTAR ANGELA SARAFYAN ON FINDING HER ‘AMERICAN ANIMAL’
By Matt Patches

NextMovie

May 18 2012

Angela Sarafyan is on top of her game and playing the field. In
the last couple of years, the young Armenian-American actress has
dipped her toe in TV (costarring with Colin Hanks on the short-lived
Fox series “The Good Guys”) and big-budget tentpoles (she’s Tia in
“Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2”). She’s currently filming
James Gray’s “Low Life,” in which she plays Marion Cotillard’s sister.

In the new indie “American Animal,” Sarafyan is Angela, a friend
of Jimmy’s (writer-director Matt D’Elia) who, along with Jimmy’s
roommate and her friend (also named Angela), becomes sucked into a
madcap world of pop culture and personal torture. It’s part comedy,
part drama and like nothing you’d expect.

Sarafyan talked to us at last year’s SXSW about the innovative process
of working on “American Animal,” along with details on why shooting a
“Twilight” movie isn’t that different then a tiny, micro-budget indie.

How did you become involved with “American Animal”? Matt D’Elia says
you were his first choice for the role.

What happened was that my manager sent me the script, and I read the
first 10-15 pages and immediately called him back and said, “I really
want to meet this director.” The way he wrote the script reminded me of
“Waiting for Godot” … I never read a script that was written in this
way before. You don’t know where it’s going, what’s going to happen,
even with very simple things happening at the beginning of the film.

We arranged a meeting with Matt and spent several hours just talking
and talking and talking, and I had read the script by then and was
very excited to be part of his process. The way he wanted to work on
it gave a lot of freedom to actors. It was exciting.

The film bounces from funny to horrifying to sad, oftentimes in only
a matter of minutes. Were you able to picture the finished project
before you started?

I had no idea what it was going to look like, besides the philosophy
and what was written on the page, which was fascinating. I didn’t know
what he was going to do, how he was going to shoot it. I knew he wanted
to shoot it in one place and that it was about the relationships. Based
on conversations about “Carnal Knowledge” [Mike Nichols’ 1971 film]
and how these characters intertwine — that’s what I knew.

Throughout the filmmaking though, it was incredible. I told Matt, it
was as if reality and the filmmaking process became one. It’s a very
strange thing and can be a luxury for actors to be able to do that.

Some of our relationships were very much like the script. We were
influenced by certain traits of the script; Matt and I really would
get into fights and arguments —

Oh no!

[laughs] It was unpredictable. But a lot of fun, because it’s based
on reality. But that was so much responsibility. I could see how
much work and focus it took Matt … I just remember not being able
to process how he was doing all of it. If he would scream at me I
would just scream right back. It was fun. It was a good challenge in
testing my own sanity and my own views on life.

Are there influences or inspirations that sent you down this career
path, and more specifically, ones that made “American Animal” a film
you wanted to make?

God, I love John Cassavetes. Throughout my acting career and continuing
to be an actor and grow, I think there have been so many outstanding
actresses, and I hope I can live up to the things they created and
continue that on. I think Gina Rowlands is an amazing actress. [I’ve
seen] her in a lot of Cassavetes’ films like “Opening Night” and
“A Woman Under the Influence.” The list could go on and on.

And I love Meryl Streep in the “Deer Hunter.” I don’t know, I could
make an endless list, even actors, like Robert De Niro, Al Pacino
and Anna Magnani — so many out there.

Summit How different is the experience of shooting a big, Hollywood
movie like “Twilight” as opposed to a smaller film like “American
Animal?” I imagine they must be two ends of the spectrum.

It’s funny you say that because it was quite the opposite from what I
expected. It’s a very big, big film and you’d think it would be filled
with pressure and … it’s not at all like that. It’s very intimate.

Easy to do, somehow. The people I work with are so helpful, kind and
welcoming. It’s been fun to go to work with those kind of people,
especially under very extraordinary circumstances.

It doesn’t feel as big as you’d think, which has been good for me
as an actor. I get to play around and create things and have fun in
the moment. We’re only one part of it as actors, because the special
effects and visual effects all come in [after] … It’ll be a huge
surprise at the end, [laughs] I don’t know what it will look like!

WITH SARKOZY GONE AND MERKEL WEAKENED, TURKS RESUME EU ENTRY BID
By Amiel Ungar

Arutz Sheva

May 18 2012
Israel

With Sarkozy gone and Angela Merkel weakened, Turkey is counting on
a more favorable reception in Brussels.

The elections in France ousted from power one of the leading opponents
of Turkish accession to the European Union- Nicolas Sarkozy.

Although the new French President, Francois Hollande, ruled out the
possibility of Turkey entering the European Union during his five-year
term the Turks are optimistic enough to reopen their entry bid.

There are three major reasons accounting for the renewed Turkish
optimism.

Turkey viewed Sarkozy as the main stumbling block, due to domestic
political considerations, part of his desire to win over voters from
the extreme right. Turkey’s European affairs minister Egemen Bagis
commented: It worked in 2007, he added, “but I think it did not work
in the second election.”

Sarkozy also sought the Armenian vote by pushing through a law that
would criminalize denial of the of the Armenian massacre by the Turks
during the First World War. The law was overturned by the French
constitutional court.

Hollande was the beneficiary of Moslem votes during the election
and appointed three Muslim ministers, including the government
spokeswoman. The Socialist victory was celebrated at the Bastille
square and at that celebration Moroccan and Algerian flags nearly
outnumbered the French tricolor.

For the Turks, this at least means that the new government will be
more sensitive to Moslem voters and cannot give the appearance of
excluding Turkey on these grounds.

The Turks also see a weakening of German Chancellor Angela Merkel as
a result of recent state elections in Germany. The main opposition
party, the Social Democratic Party, is on record as favoring Turkish
entry into the European Union. The most that Merkel would’ve granted
the Turks is a privileged partnership, something the Turks reject as
second rate status.

Turkey would like the Social Democrats and the Greens to replace the
current government, but even a grand coalition between the Christian
Democrats and the Social Democrats could soften German opposition to
Turkish entry.

A third factor that is encouraging to the Turks is the deteriorating
status of the traditional enemy – Greece – within the European Union.

Particularly over the Cyprus issue, Greece and Cyprus have been
blocking progress of negotiations between Turkey and the EU. As the
Greeks are far from the flavor of the month, Ankara may conclude that
Greek opposition could prove less influential.

Obstacles would remain, with the most important one being the state of
democracy within Turkey that has been recently in retreat. Perhaps the
Turks are counting on sentiments such as that expressed in a recent
op-ed in Bloomberg “without the active pull of the EU negotiations,
Turkey’s development as a free democracy has stalled”.

In other words, the EU has to restart negotiations even before
Turkey has demonstrated its democratic bona fides in order to check
anti-democratic trends.

37TH HOMENETMEN NAVASARTIAN GAMES OFFICIALLY KICK OFF

asbarez
Wednesday, May 16th, 2012

Homenetmen scouts march with the flags

Mr. & Mrs. Gagik and Madine Gevorkian Named Honorary Presidents;
Maro Kechichian named “Exemplary Homenetmen Member”

ENCINO-A series of events officially kicked off the much-anticipated
37th Annual Homenetmen Navasartian Games on Saturday, May 12. Standing
before the Holy Martyrs Armenian Apostolic Church, Rev. Razmig
Khatchadourian commenced the opening by blessing the Navasartian torch,
which was then handed to a team of athletes, representing Homenetmen
chapters, by Regional Executive Vice-Chairperson Pierre Manoukian.

Alongside Manoukian, Regional Executive Board member Vicken Dakessian,
who is heading the Navasartian Organizing Committee; Exemplary
Homenetmen members; chapter representatives; athletes, parents,
and guests gathered in enthusiasm to support the start of another
exciting year of Navasartian games.

Honorary Chairs Mr. & Mrs. Gagik and Madine Gevorkian With the
Navasartian torch raised high, the athletes carried it to Birmingham
High School, where the opening ceremony would be held. Suzy Ohanian
MC-ed the program, which began with a call for a moment of silence
to honor the memories of departed Homenetmen members. A flag ceremony
led by Homenetmen Los Angeles Chapter scouts ensued by marching with
the American, Armenian, Republic of Artsakh, State of California,
Homenetmen, and Navasartian flags.

In her welcoming remarks, Ohanian paid special mention to the
importance and impactful nature of the Navasartian Games. She then
recognized the guests in attendance, including Rev. Fr. Gomidas
Torossian, who attended on behalf of His Eminence Archbishop Moushegh
Mardirossian; Homenetmen Central Executive member Viken Tavitian;
ARS Regional Executive Vice-Chairperson Carmen Libaridian; 2011
Exemplary Homenetmen Member Roupen Gourjian; honorary presidents and
exemplary Homenetmen members from years past, as well as executive
and chapter members.

The team of athletes delivering the Navasartian torch entered the
grounds with loud applause from attendees and passed it to Regional
Executive Chairperson Garnik Abrahamian, whose acceptance of the
torch marked the official start of the Navasartian season.

2012 “Exemlary Homenetmen Member” Maro Kechichian On behalf of the
athletes, who will participate in the forthcoming games, Homenetmen
“Azadamard” member Alik Marselian and “Shant” member Shant Ohanian
recited the athlete’s oath. Following this recitation, Abrahamian
made two special announcements. He declared Mr. & Mrs.

Gagik and Madine Gevorkian as Navasartian’s Honorary Presidents
this year and Maro Kechichian as Exemplary Homenetmen Member. Both
announcements received a warm and wholehearted response from the
audience. (Informative articles regarding the title recipients will
be published separately)

Although Mr. & Mrs. Gevorkian were unable to attend the ceremony, Maro
Kechichian addressed guests and expressed her sincere appreciation
for being bestowed with the honor. She spoke of the opportunities
awarded to her through Homenetmen to be able to help re-establish
chapters in Armenia, the collaborative efforts that contribute to the
organization’s success, and in her closing remarks expressed promise
to continue serving in Homenetmen with strength and vigor.

Abrahamian delivered the Regional Executive Board’s remarks and
highlighted that the start of Navasartian coincided with the 20th
Anniversary of the liberation of Shushi and Mother’s Day weekend. He
stressed that Homenetmen will continue to bring together Armenian
youth in order for them to remain drawn to their community and to
persist as the driving force of the organization.

After Rev. Fr. Torossian delivered his blessings, a series of
all-star games followed, which were dedicated to the memory of Rima
Abedi-Sagherian, a former member of the Homenetmen Regional Executive.

ARMENIAN PEACEKEEPERS TO PARTICIPATE IN MILITARY TRAININGS IN MACEDONIA

news.am
May 18, 2012 | 18:42

SKOPJE. – A peacekeeping brigade from Armenia~Rs MOD consisting of
39 peacekeepers left for Skopje, Macedonia on Friday in order to
participate in the Cooperative Longbow ~V Lancer 2012 exercises in
the framework of the NATO Partnership for Peace Program.

The Cooperative Longbow is the exercise command phase, during which
participants will gain skills in staff procedures and operations
management and governance issues, starting from the reception of
military command, its application in headquarters, and the distribution
of tasks between units.

The field exercise phase is called Cooperative Lancer. During this
phase of training peacekeepers will master patrolling, accompanying
vehicles, maintaining control checkpoints and other skills.

The Armenian peacekeeping brigade will return to Armenia on May 30.

AZERBAIJAN’S STATEMENTS IS EVIDENT ATTEMPT OF TERRITORIAL ENCROACHMENT AGAINST ARMENIA AND PROVOCATION AGAINST MINSK GROUP: HAYK KOTANJYAN

ARMENPRESS
18 May, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, MAY 18, ARMENPRESS: Chairman of the Political Science
Association of Armenia, Doctor of Political Science Hayk Kotanjian has
reacted to the statement of the head of Political and Public Affairs
sector of Azerbaijani President’s Administration Fuad Akhundov, made on
May 11, 2012, on the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs’ recent visit to Baku.

In his statement Fuad Akhundov noted that today’s Armenia has been
created on the base of the historical lands of Azerbaijan, and blamed
Armenian authorities for annihilation of “the samples of Azerbaijani
historical, cultural and architectural heritage”.

The Azerbaijani official has also stressed that the historical facts,
the ancient sources and geographical maps prove that there has never
been an Armenian state in Caucasus.

As the Political Science Association of Armenia told Armenpress, the
statements reads as follows: “The current Azerbaijani administration
continues the former Azerbaijani Government’s policy of historical
facts distortion that is obviously based on anti-scientific approaches.

“Taking into account the fact that the regime in Azerbaijan is
tyrannical, Political Science Association of Armenia is convinced that
Akhundov’s statement was made with the knowledge of the Azerbaijani
President.

Thus, the Association qualifies this announcement as an evident
attempt of territorial claim against the Republic of Armenia and
a deliberate provocation of the Azerbaijani authorities aimed at
discrediting the OSCE Minsk Group and destabilizing the region. Such
statements undermine the efforts of the international community to
form an atmosphere of trust between the parties to the conflict, create
prerequisites for justifying a new aggression against neighbors, once
again put into question the implementation of Azerbaijani government’s
international obligations, and display the non-constructive position
adopted by the Azerbaijani authorities in the negotiation process,”
the statement reads.

OATH OF HIPPOCRATES SACRIFICED TO EUROVISION-2012

Azerbaijani politician Elhan Sahinoglu has informed an interesting
fact in Facebook social network, which shocked the residents of Baku.

ArmenPress informs making a reference to a news website, his relative
was taken to Semasko hospital in Baku with an open stomach ulcer
causing severe pains. They were told in the hospital they cannot
receive patients because of Eurovision-2012 to be held on May 22-26
in Baku. “We were ordered to keep wards empty in order to receive
patients in case of a terrorist act during the contest,” the hospital
coworkers said.

“Asked what in that case the patient having such severe pains should
do, they told to call the ambulance service in case of bleeding. This
is all the help. As they say, comments are senseless. The oath of
Hippocrates was sacrificed to Eurovision -2012 song contest,” the
Azerbaijani website informs with anger.

PAPER: ARMENIAN PRESIDENT DRUNK AT RPA MEETING?

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 18, 2012 – 13:39 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – According to Haykakan Zhamanak daily, Armenian
President Serzh Sargsyan attended the ruling Republican Party of
Armenia (RPA) executive body meeting in high spirits, “probably a
little drunk.”

The meeting, however, did not address issues related to formation of
collation and government, with “uncertainty continuing to dominate
in Armenian domestic policy,” the paper says.

ARMENIAN PEACEKEEPERS PARTAKE IN NATO EXERCISES IN SKOPJE

armradio.am
18.05.2012 18:17

Thirty-nine Armenian peacekeepers left for Skopje, the capital of the
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, today to participate in the
“Cooperative Longbow and Cooperative Lancer 2012” joint military
exercises of NATO member and partner countries.

The exercises aim is to educate, train delegations of armed forces
of selected partner nations in order to promote interoperability
with NATO land forces. About 1,000 peacekeepers from 13 countries
are expected to participate in the drills.

Cooperative Longbow is an exercise designed to train brigade-level
headquarters operating within the framework of a NATO Crisis Response
Operation.

Cooperative Lancer is a training exercise, which aims to improve
capabilities in selected tactical tasks in support of crisis
prevention, conflict resolution and post-conflict peace building.

AMBASSADORS OF IRAN AND RUSSIA IGNORED ANTI-ARMENIAN EVENT ORGANIZED IN AZERBAIJAN

ARMENPRESS
18 May, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, MAY 18, AREMENPRESS: Azerbaijani Deputy Prime Minister,
chairman of the State Committee of Refugees and Forced Migrants Ali
Hasanov declared that regardless the invitation Ambassadors of Russia
and Iran to Azerbaijan did not attend “Lachin” film presentation.

The event organized by the Azeri side was dedicated to the 20 th
anniversary of Lachin corridor opening by NK defense forces.

At the course of the event Hasanov stated that that regardless
the invitation Russian and Iranian Ambassadors did not come, Iran’s
Ambassador representative was solely present, Armenpress repots citing
“AzeriPress” news web site.

Nagorno Karabakh defense forces split the blockade of Shushi-Goris
in 1992 May 18. Regardless the fact that Azerbaijani Army was of
great quantity it was defeated. Just after the opening of Lachin
humanitarian corridor the people of capital Stepanakert were provided
with hundreds of tons of humanitarian cargo, food, medicines and
other essential goods. This saved the population from starvation,
which was the aim of Azerbaijani authorities.

EXPERT: 40 % OF TURKISH POPULATION DOES NOT WANT TO LIVE WITH THE CHRISTIAN NEIGHBOR

18.05.12, 17:50

Today head of the Armenian science department of “Noravanq” educational
foundation, expert on Turkey Alistakes Simavoryan and expert of the
same foundation Vahram Hovyan met journalists and referred to the
topic of religious intolerance against Christians in Turkey.

According to A. Simavoryan now 120.000 Christians live in Turkey now
and 59.000 of them are Armenians. There are also sects in Turkey,
for example, witnesses of Jehovah and Mormons. There are Armenians
among them as well.

As the expert noted Turks are afraid that their country may become a
Christian state, but according to him it is not possible. According
to the speaker Turkey will lead anti-Christian politics in coming
30-40 years as well and it will be especially directed to the Armenian
Community.

“The social inquiries in Turkey show that 40 % of the population does
not want to live with the Christian neighbor. And 58 % of them does
not want to live with Jew neighbor”, Simavoryan noted.

Expert also noted that Armenian community is on the eve of vanishing in
Turkey as a result of the intolerance attitude. According to him media
is very active in this issue. “Every action by the Christian Church
is presented as negative action. Even the churches are presented as
terrorist organizations”.

Expert of the “Noravanq” foundation Vahram Hovyan announced in his
turn that the attacks and pressure against Christians are held both
by the government and by the Turk extremists.