Hypothetical Casting for Esmeralda; Hafsia Herzi

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Hafsia Herzi, picture image

Hafsia Herzi

A really good option for an actress to play Esmeralda would be Hafsia Herzi. Herzi is a French actress of Algerian and Tunsia decent.

Hafsia Herzi, picture image

Hafsia Herzi

She defiantly has a good look for Esmeralda but more than that she is a very good young actress. She bring a lot of depth, maturity and subtly to her roles. She also has one trait that an actress playing Esmeralda should have; she has a natural sensuality. I think she could either bring a new facet to the character or pull off Esmeralda persoanlity in the book while still being likable.

Hafsia Herzi as Rym in The Secret of the Grain picture image

Hafsia Herzi as Rym in The Secret of the Grain

She has also played some one named Esmeralda one before in The Source. And she performed a memorable Belly Dance in The Secret of the Grain.

Hafsia Herzi, picture image

Hafsia Herzi

Personally, I think she is a really good choice to depict La Esmeralda but what do you think would Hafsia Herzi make a good Esmeralda or do have another choice for the role?

Horoscope 5/15/13

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Esmeralda using the Barnes and Noble Book for see into the Future picture

Esmeralda using the Barnes and Noble Book for see into the Future

Today we’ll look into the novel of the Hunchback of Notre Dame to gain an insight into your future.

“But usually all insults were unheeded by both priest and ringer. Quasimodo was too deaf and Claude too great a dreamer to hear them”

 

The way is clear, don’t listen to ideal prattle today it could get in the way of your dreams.

Wishbone; Intro

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Wishbone, picture image

Wishbone

Wishbone was show on PBS that ran from 1995 to 1998. It starred a Jack Russell terrier named Wishbone who drew parallels between the events of his owner, Joe and his friend to classic literature. The show would have to stories happening on would the events of Joe and his friends and the other would the classic story where Wishbone would play the lead role. Since the show was 30 minutes and there was two stories occurring the classic story would be very abridged. However it didn’t shy away from the sadder material. The show won a lot of awards including four Emmys.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Wishbone, picture image

The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Wishbone

Only a handful of the episode were released for home use and one episode was Hunchdog of Notre Dame. So how is this episode? What situation did Wishbone relate to The Hunchback?

Wishbone as Quasimodo with a Gargoyle-Dog, The Hunchdog of Notre Dame, picture image

Wishbone as Quasimodo with a Gargoyle-Dog, The Hunchdog of Notre Dame

Next Wishbone Article – The Plot of The Hunchdog

Wishbone, The Hunchdog of Notre Dame, picture imag e

Wishbone, The Hunchdog of Notre Dame

More Notre Dame de Paris in 2013

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So Notre Dame de Paris will return to Crocus City Hall November  2013. Performances will be on the 8th, 9th, 10th, 15th, 16th and the 17th.  There will be two performance a day. It will be in French. No word so far on casting (as far as I could find).

Source – http://www.crocus-hall.ru/en/events/notre_dame_15_2013

Source – http://shachnev.com/en/

Source – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fOLXixunAE

Source –  http://www.notre-damedeparis.ru/index.php/component/content/article/2-newsheader/85-notre-damereturninmoscow.html

The performances of this seems to have been canceled.

 

There will also be A Victor Hugo Musical Gala Concert in Seoul on May 24 through 27th. Notre Dame de Paris Alumni  Matt Laurent, Nadia Bel, Richard Charest, Robert Marien and Bruno Pelletier will be performing.

Source – http://www.mattlaurent.ca/

Source – http://www.brunopelletier.com/calendrier/concerts/liste.html

Fan Art Friday 5/10/13

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Today’s Fan-artis by floriaiglenoir. It’s a rendering of Esmeralda from Notre Dame de Paris. It’s  an oil painting I love how beautiful she looks but there is an understated sultriness to her. I also love the swallow and Frollo hidden off to the side.  I love this painting is very beautiful and  color scheme is gorgeous.

Detail III of Notre Dame by floriaiglenoir

Detail III of Notre Dame by floriaiglenoir

 

http://floriaiglenoir.deviantart.com/art/detail-III-of-Notre-Dame-244337292

Check out more of floriaiglenoir work here

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quasimodo’s Hair Color

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Garou as Quasimodo Notre Dame de Paris image picture

Garou as Quasimodo Notre Dame de Paris

A question that comes up a lot is about Quasimodo’s hair. Why does he have red hair? I recently saw this asked on http://notredamedeparisfans.tumblr.com/. Quasimodo in both Notre Dame de Paris and Disney version is depicted as having red hair. Other version also have him with red hair.  And the answer is very simple, it’s in the original novel. Quasimodo has red hair in the book. In Book 1 chapter 5 entitled “Quasimodo” It says “…..A huge head, bristling with red hair….” as part of Quasimodo description. It’s on page 50 for those who have the Barnes Nobel version.

Quasimodo Hunchback of Notre Dame Disney picture image

Quasimodo’s Reveal Hunchback of Notre Dame Disney

So why did Hugo pick red for Quasimodo’s hair color? Well the reason could be that there was a medieval belief that red hair marked a beastly sexual desire and moral degeneration. Or it makes him more of a social outcast than if he had a blond, black or brown hair.

Anthony Hopkins as Quasimodo from the 1982 version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, picture image

Anthony Hopkins as Quasimodo from the 1982 version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Though why Esmeralda in Notre Dame de Paris sometimes has red hair is a different question. I mean I the first person cast had black hair (Noa), Helene Segera has brown but against the red light looks reddish. Then when Julie Zenatti was cast she got the red hair as well as France D’Amour. Since then of the more than a few other opted for red hair.

Frances d'Amour as Esmeralda in Notre Dame de Paris picture image

Frances d’Amour as Esmeralda in Notre Dame de Paris

The Art of The Hunchback of Notre Dame; Review

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The Art of the Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

The Art of the Hunchback of Notre Dame

One of the best companion pieces to the Disney version of the Hunchback of Notre Dame is The Art of The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Disney Miniature).

Concept art of Quasimodo saving Esmeralda from the Art of the Hunchback , picture image

Concept art of Quasimodo saving Esmeralda from the Art of the Hunchback

It’s for all intended purpose thisis an art book. It has tons of concept art, production stills, sketches, illustrations from the novel, and art by Victor Hugo. (Hugo’s own art work is gorgeous). However the major flaw with it is its size. It’s tiny for something that is an art book. Here’s a picture of it compare to my Final Fantasy IX art book (I had this book for a while).

Size comparison of The Art of the Hunchback of Notre to The Art of Final Fantasy IX picture image

Size comparison of The Art of the Hunchback of Notre to The Art of Final Fantasy IX

The Hunchback art book is 5.6 inches by 4.3 inches compare to the art Final Fantasy IX which is 11.8 inches by 9.3 inches. However I think this isn’t suppose to be a true art book as much a more in depth look behind movie’s creation.

Concept Art for Esmeralda Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Concept Art for Esmeralda Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

The book has a ton of information about the background on the book, characters and a lot of how the movie art plays with light and shadows. It’s a very interesting read although Stephen Rebello does make one big generalization. In the Quasimodo chapter page 57, he writes ” Victor Hugo probably never imagined his malformed, melancholy creation breaking forth into song.” Hugo himself wrote a libretto for Louise Bertin’s opera La Esmeralda . Making Hugo the first person to adapt the novel. Considering Hugo wrote Quasimodo an aria, I think it’s safe to say that he did imagine him breaking out into song. On a side note, that aria  was only piece people liked from the opera. You can listen to it here

Concept Art of Quasimodo from the Art of the Hunchback of Notre Dame, picture image

Concept Art of Quasimodo from the Art of the Hunchback of Notre Dame

Anyway despite that generalization it is well researched and an interesting read with lots of great artwork. I would highly recommend it for fans of the Disney movie.