Category Archives: Cinema Scope

For the love of movies, and not just the musicals

My Time as a Resurrected Corpse

Posted on September 12, 2025 by dannyashkenasi

Adventures in Acting in Short Films As previously stated I have been cast in a number of short films lately. One of the more fun and “bloggable” shoots was for “Resurrection”, which filmed in Ithaca. I play a recently deceased … Continue reading →

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Me as Poe (or) Poe as Me (or) The New Musicabre

Posted on August 12, 2025 by dannyashkenasi

A Little Sneak Preview at Coming Attractions I just got my hair cut, finally. The length it had before had been uncomfortable in the summer heat. But I couldn’t cut it earlier because I needed my hair long for my … Continue reading →

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I Take the Colbert Questionert

Posted on August 5, 2025 by dannyashkenasi

Now that the Cowardly Broadcasting Service has caved to “economic” AKA political pressures and cancelled the Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the chances of me ever taking the Colbert Questionert on the air are close to nil (they never were … Continue reading →

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I’ve seen 95 of the 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century

Posted on June 27, 2025 by dannyashkenasi

The New York Times compiled a list of the 100 greatest movies of the 21st century. More than 500 filmmakers, stars and influential film fans were asked to vote for the 10 best movies (however they chose to define that) … Continue reading →

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Film Shoot in an Upper East Side Townhouse

Posted on April 24, 2025 by dannyashkenasi

I have been busy acting in several handfuls of short films (and other projects) lately. One of the short films shot early March in an upper class Upper East Side townhouse. It was a night shoot. I played a sleazy … Continue reading →

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Screenplay Awards for “Prelude to a Death”

Posted on March 31, 2025 by dannyashkenasi

This lovely glass trophy came in the mail last week. I almost didn’t expect it even though I’d been notified of the win. But the Vienna Script Awards operated differently from most awards bodies and film festivals I know by … Continue reading →

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Tell-Tale in Beloit

Posted on March 15, 2025 by dannyashkenasi

“The Tell-Tale Heart – a musicabre” at the Beloit Film Festival The official festival run of my first Edgar Allan Poe musical short film adaptation “The Tell-Tale Heart – a musicabre” ended years ago, but lately there have been invitations … Continue reading →

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Excerpt from Jane Fonda’s Speech You Must Read

Posted on February 23, 2025 by dannyashkenasi

Jane Fonda received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the SAG Awards tonight. She concluded her speech with a rousing message that speaks to the perilous times we find ourselves today. I will quote this conclusion in full here: “Make no … Continue reading →

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Return to NOSFERATU with the NOSFERATU Gang

Posted on February 13, 2025 by dannyashkenasi

The other day I was happy to “succumb to the darkness” yet again for a revisit to Robert Eggers’ “Nosferatu”, this time with members of the “Nosferatu” gang, fellow actors in a stage production of “Nosferatu” in which I played … Continue reading →

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Playing the Notorious Nathan Leopold

Posted on February 6, 2025 by dannyashkenasi

Nathan Leopold 1924 March 1 Live On-line Performance of “In the Aftermath of Mercy” I’ve been cast as Nathan Leopold, the lead character in the new play “In the Aftermath of Mercy”, which Virtual Arts will be broadcasting as a … Continue reading →

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Return of the Tell-Tale Heart

Posted on January 11, 2025 by dannyashkenasi

NYC Repeat Screening of “The Tell-Tale Heart – a musicabre” 2/25 My first short film Edgar Allan Poe musical adaptation “The Tell-Tale Heart – a musicabre“, recipient of over 60 IMDb.com recognized awards, has long concluded its official festival run, … Continue reading →

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Tell-Tale’s Original Script?

Posted on November 25, 2024 by dannyashkenasi

When a very faithful adaptation gets an award for originality… Recently my first Edgar Allan Poe musical short film adaptation “The Tell-Tale Heart – a musicabre” received an award for Best Original Screenplay from the East Village New York Film … Continue reading →

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Queer Movies Under the Radar

Posted on November 17, 2024 by dannyashkenasi

Nine Fine Films to Keep an Eye Out For Last month we took in a variety of LGBTQ films via the Newfest film festival. Some higher profile films like “Emilia Pérez” and “Bird”, which I saw in Cannes and just … Continue reading →

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Espy and Fly By Norman Mooney Sculptures

Posted on October 29, 2024 by dannyashkenasi

Explorations in shapes, materials and reflections

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11/3 FREE SCREENING of PIT & PENDULUM in EAST VILLAGE

Posted on October 21, 2024 by dannyashkenasi

“The Pit and the Pendulum – a musicabre” screens this Sunday 10pm at Under St. Marks UPDATE: This event has been rescheduled for November 3, 10:30pm – the following information has been updated accordingly: My musical short film Edgar Allan … Continue reading →

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GORDON PARKS captures INGRID BERGMAN at a fraught time

Posted on October 3, 2024 by dannyashkenasi

This Spring I was enjoying a sprawling exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum featuring select works of many African and African-American artists, when I came upon this photo of Ingrid Bergman. A photo that by itself vibrates with meaning and emotion. … Continue reading →

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