EL SEGUNDO HERALD March 26, 2015 Page 3 School Spotlight Film Review By Ryan Rojas for CINEMACY Young hands hover over the tiniest gap of air above the weighted keys of a grand piano: softly, a fine, classical piece takes audible shape to fill a silent and small New York University theater space, where Conservatory students and Professionals alike are present for this Master Seymour Bernstein and Director Ethan Hawke in Seymour: An Introduction, a Sundance Selects release. Photo courtesy of Robin Holland. class. The heartrending romance in the music is lovely, entirely beautiful, and is stopped. Seymour Bernstein has a note for his student. Where today’s success-driven culture is measured in madness-driven metrics for total perfection, where new-age Tiger Mom whiplash parenting is accompanied with seeing the big-screen wallopings laden out by the likes of J.K. Simmons’ salivating drill sergeant of a music teacher in Whiplash, Seymour Bernstein offers a different sort of strive for perfection–a spiritual one. It’s this distinctness that separates himself from other teachers, musicians, and really, the new American society altogether. It’s this distinctness that inspired actor Ethan Hawke enough to direct a feature-length documentary (also the actor’s first attempt at directing a feature-length documentary), acknowledging, “I never set out to make a documentary. I met Seymour Bernstein at a dinner party and See Film Review, page 15 See School Spotlight, page 14 Police Reports Dodger Stadium Express now – Service from Harbor Gateway Transit Center and Union Station. 15-1676ps_sby-ie-15-010 ©2015 lacmta Crenshaw Construction Construction on the second underground station for the Crenshaw/LAX Transit project has recently begun. If you are planning on traveling in the Crenshaw Corridor area, check metro.net/crenshaw before venturing out to avoid delays. The 8.5 mile Crenshaw/LAX Line will eventually connect the Green Line and Expo Line and is scheduled to open in 2019. Eat, Shop, Play Crenshaw Metro had a great turnout for the Eat, Shop, Play Fest in Leimert Park this past Saturday, March 21st. The public enjoyed delicious food, live music and fun activities. Many pledged their support to shop at participating businesses along the Crenshaw corridor and quali>ed for a chance to win great prizes – including up to $1,000 cash! Find out how to pledge, win cash prizes and learn of future events at metro.net/crenshaw. VetsGo511.com VetsGo511.com is a one-stop source for veterans and others in the military community to get help with transportation options, housing, employment, healthcare and more. To learn more, visit VetsGo511.com. Metro ExpressLanes Low-Income Assistance Plan Qualifying residents of Los Angeles County will receive a discount of a one-time $25 credit when they open a FasTrak® account (proof of eligibility required). This credit can be applied to either the transponder deposit or pre-paid toll deposit. The monthly $1 account maintenance fee will also be waived. To learn more, visit metroexpresslanes.net. metro.net @metrolosangeles losangelesmetro The Sacramento Safari By Cece Stewart, Sophomore at ESHS Last week the El Segundo High School PTA sponsored two sophomores, Thomas Lynch and Bellsy Hale, to represent ESHS PTA in a conference called the “Sacramento Safari.” The Safari is intended to give students an opportunity to represent their school’s PTA, and to empower them to learn more about the process of legislation and advocacy. In total, around 16 students from the 33rd district in California attended, two of which were our ESHS delegates. The 33rd district is currently represented by Democrat Ted Lieu. Lynch and Hale were selected by interview with the PTA. Linda Lynch, Thomas’s mother attended as the chaperone for ESHS. I enjoyed learning about the trip from Lynch who told me that “they could walk to the Capitol building, and that it was fully paid for by the PTA.” Thomas also told me that “The trip was meant to aid in our understanding of the process behind the passing of bills, and to be able to meet with, and hear from, various guest speakers about current education issues.” Participants meet with California State PTA advocates and a variety of knowledgeable speakers. Speakers include state and local legislators or their staff members, and representatives from the California Department of Education. Appointments are set up for small groups to meet with individual legislators in their offices in the capitol building. It’s an exciting, information-packed three-day experience. Monday, March 16, 2015 Two male adults were arrested at 1222 hours from the 9300 block of Wilmington Avenue in Los Angeles for assault with a deadly weapon and conspiracy A burglary (residential) report was taken at 0729 hours from the 500 block of West Acacia Avenue. Unknown suspect(s) entered the victim’s open garage and took a bicycle An annoying/molesting a child report was taken at 1015 hours from the 1400 block of East Imperial Avenue. The incident occurred between 1100 hours on 07/17/14 and 1200 hours 07/20/14 A traffic accident (without injuries) occurred at 1308 hours at Douglas Street and El Segundo Boulevard, vehicle versus vehicle An online identity theft report was taken at 1708 hours from the 800 block of Main Street. Unknown suspect used the victim’s social security number to file their income taxes An online lost property report was taken at 1655 hours from the 1500 block of East Mariposa Avenue. Two passports were lost at the location An online lost property report was taken at 1917 hours from the 200 block of North Douglas Street. A wallet was lost at the location Tuesday, March 17, 2015 A found property report was taken at 0358 hours from the 600 block of Richmond Street. Found was a vehicle key with remote One male adult was arrested at 0041 hours from the 200 block of Standard Street for public intoxication Wednesday, March 18, 2015 One male adult was arrested at 0238 hours from Highland Avenue and 32nd Street in Manhattan Beach for misdemeanor DUI and driving without a license • ‘Seymour: An Introduction’ is a Master Class in Happiness found myself completely hypnotized. . . . There are profound lessons inside Seymour’s piano teachings that are relevant to how we approach our daily lives. His simplicity has much to offer.” Founded by a consuming sort of curiosity over this man’s life and mind, in the aptly titled Seymour: An Introduction. Of course, Bernstein himself was once an internationally acclaimed concert pianist prodigy; a handful of onscreen news clippings and reels circa 1930 and ’40 are enough to educate the common viewer who might not be as well versed in their classical music history. A broad-stroked biography of the musician’s career might be enough for a kind of documentary, or at least one day’s worth of syllabus in Music History 101, but beyond his wondrous talents as a preeminent musician, Bernstein spins his intrigue and mythos further to our head-cocked confusion, as we learn that he retired from concerts, effectively, as a public performer altogether, and at the height of his career. Like all things, such as stopping the beautiful music on this day’s class to make this singular note to his student, he did it quietly, gracefully; humbly, but purposefully. What sort of event would have to happen, then, for a renowned pianist to retire at the ripe old age of 50? What self-tortured anguish must he have experienced to give up what would be assumed to be his life’s calling, the thing that one would think all serious musicians aspire to get to and hang on for dear life when you get there? For Seymour Bernstein, he merely decided that he would give up performing to teach his students and himself about music, happiness and the power of detaching satisfaction from success. It’s as simple as that. This singularly charming man, displaced in this hustling and bustling express lane-living of a culture, proves so fascinating to watch See School Spotlight, page 14
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