The man who teaches us revisionist Shakespeare and plays a variety of other eccentric characters is also a prolific filmmaker whose short comic videos have won a small but devoted cult following on the internet. He has now used this medium to take the old-fashioned boy-meets-girl scenario and turn it into a work of post-modernist seduction — the stalker as documentary filmmaker, if you will.
The premise is simple enough: Every day at exactly the same time, he would notice the same woman pass through the pedestrian tunnel linking Westmount Square to the Atwater metro station. One day, the smitten actor finally summoned up the courage to break the ice and speak to her — with his trusty video camera pointed straight at her the whole time.
The resulting conversation, which lasts the full duration of their long walk together through the deserted tunnel, is a masterpiece of discomfort, for the poor girl is clearly not cool with being singled out and chatted up by a six-foot six-inch bald man wielding a video camera.
Talk about pushing the boundaries! True to his cutting-edge style, Cutler thumbs his nose at contemporary taboos and plunges boldly ahead through the treacherous waters of stalking and harassment, putting his own irreverent spin on an otherwise serious issue. The viewer understands he means no harm — but the girl doesn't.
Though Cutler titled his video 'Life Before Stalkers', it could very well have been called 'How I Met My Girlfriend'. Yes, believe it or not, this outrageously unorthodox pickup technique may have actually worked, for Cutler is now dating Evelyne Soulard, the unwitting subject of his risky video experiment.
Reaction to the video has been largely incredulous; the two must have staged the whole thing. It had to be staged, you think — until you see the actual video. Soulard is not an actor, and she is genuinely creeped out, big time!
Is 'Life Before Stalkers' a scripted performance piece, complete with the inevitable Citizen Kane shot as they pass those facing mirrors in the pedestrian tunnel, or an honest example of quirky cinema-verité, Keir Cutler style? You be the judge. The video is posted on the Just For Laughs website at: http://www.justepourrire.com/videos/show/9014-life-before-stalkers?
Tunnel of love
Tunnel of love
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- Published on December 8th, 2008
- Published on Febuary 6th, 2010
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Wayne Larsen
Media column
Keir Cutler is best-known as an acclaimed stage and TV actor who makes us laugh each year at Fringe festivals across the country. But now, thanks to computer technology, he has yet another distinction — pickup artiste extraordinaire.
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Comments
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- Luc Rolland
- - February 17th, 2010 at 14:18:08
Yes I did have my doubts when I first viewed the video, since I am a fan of Keir's videos, I knew he actually could set up something that great, but after the 3rd or 4th time watching it... I was.... oh to say... Ok, maybe a little jealous, way to go Keir, I'm so happy for you. Luc
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- - February 17th, 2010 at 14:18:06
Hi I am Keir's friend from Detroit. From back before I think he was called all those things you are calling him in this article. It was 1991 or so. I never actually met him but actually watched a video he recorded of my friend's wedding. It was silly and that's how I met Keir without ever meeting him and he looks the same!
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- Luc Rolland
- - February 10th, 2010 at 12:55:37
Yes I did have my doubts when I first viewed the video, since I am a fan of Keir's videos, I knew he actually could set up something that great, but after the 3rd or 4th time watching it... I was.... oh to say... Ok, maybe a little jealous, way to go Keir, I'm so happy for you. Luc
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- - February 10th, 2010 at 12:55:35
Hi I am Keir's friend from Detroit. From back before I think he was called all those things you are calling him in this article. It was 1991 or so. I never actually met him but actually watched a video he recorded of my friend's wedding. It was silly and that's how I met Keir without ever meeting him and he looks the same!
