Ramsay Seikaly
​Los Angeles -- If anyone today is synonymous with the legitimate stage, theater, television and film it is definitely George Chakiris.  He is by far one of the most creative consummate entertainers of our time, whose repertoire encompasses all facets of performance, spanning a half century, yet his vibrant outlook and Greek charm, inherited from his parents who were Greek immigrants from Asia Minor, instilled in him the passion, conviction and self confidence to pursue his interests with keen determination and insight.

I had contemplated writing my usual soft soliloquy, with the its never ending ubiquitous monologue but decided against it since this man's body of work is so well documented and so readily available that anything else is a rehash.  

Not one for a spoiler alert I did have a chance to speak to George a few years back when I was hosting a local radio program and writing a monthly column about Hollywood.  Back then as now I remained charmed by his humility, graciousness and the seemingly youthful appearance of a man who is in his eighties and doesn't look a day over forty.  

A true consummate professional whose gregarious nature has not only endeared him as an icon of our pop culture but  a successful entertainer parlaying his performance skills whether dancing, acting, singing and all of the above together into a living legend who continues to entertain us through his memorable insight and dramatic presence.

I told you it will be short and sweet.  George Chakiris will be the recipient  of the 12th Annual Los Angeles Greek Film Festival being held at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood this coming Sunday.  I hope you will join me as well as his peers, friends and admirers in paying tribute to an Oscar(R) winner and master consummate performer of our time, whose body of work is legendary and whose performances are memorable.

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Los Angeles --- For every action there is a reaction.  So it goes without saying when King Solomon penned his philosophical thoughts in Ecclesiastes, a constructive critique of human vanity and self indulgence. He coined a phrase that even then had a ring of truth as to the pitfalls that entrap us in our self delusional view of our place in the menagerie of human existence.  

"There is nothing new under the Sun."

​​And so it comes to bear without saying that this observation applies especially  when we are experiencing a phenomenal piece of art that has created such an impact that it leaves its influence and curiosity well past its initial release.  Questions begin to emerge from this human spirit of inquiry as to its origin, whether based on the truth or whether a creation of ones own imagination.  

​Yet even if we take the position of the latter  the question which still begs an answer is then what was or is the spark that birthed this concept into reality?

​I asked that question back in 1977 when as a young teen I went to see a new movie breaking box office records unlike any seen prior.  The movie was the galactic war picture that today is a world onto its own...none other than "Star Wars".

​We can go in so many directions with this but like everything especially story telling you have a beginning and an end.

​I guess I can summarize the origin of "Star Wars" as a Samurai Story set in a far away galaxy with a fascistic style of state sponsored hero worship.  We can dare say we have shadows of Leni Riefenstahl's "Triumph of The Will": from the perspective of time Hitler's visual seduction of the German people in preparation for the second world war. 

​The obvious was even clear to George Lucas the creator.  "Hidden Fortress" a samurai melodrama set in feudal Japan bears the quintessential hallmarks of the space opera.  I would even venture to say that "Yojimbo" ("A Fist Full of Dollars"), "Throne of Blood" ("Macbeth") and "The Seven Samurai" that would later be re made as "The Magnificent Seven" round out the triumvirate of "Star Wars" source material.  

​And one last thought:  Akira Kurosawa the famed Japanese director responsible for these magnificent films just mentioned along with George Lucas the master Jedi of the Star Wars Universe drew inspiration yet from another director, John Ford and his western classic "The Searchers".  How we all eventually come around full circle.

​Here then now is a series of videos that highlight the tenants of what I have just mentioned.

Los Angeles -- There was a time when movies were made for their message not just for the sake of cheap thrills.  

Such is the case with a vibrant veteran actor and filmmaker who has pursued the fashion of story telling into a personal passion where the message is the messenger, in double spades.  

A roller coaster ride where self righteous justice is relentlessly meted out by this modern day US Marshall, with a twist of espionage as an added spice for the deliverance of the goods...George Pan Andreas  crafts a visual tale of the quintessential white knuckle by the edge of your seat driven action-adventure, that is sprinkled with tongue and cheek dialogue, and a ruthless no holds barred battle royal car chase sequences in hot pursuit of the bad guy, Tiger. 

Hoping to score a package deal I caught up with George Pan Andreas at the American Film Market at the Loews Hotel in the seaside beach community of Santa Monica, California where he was showcasing not only Target but his other trailblazing pictures including his latest release The Matadors featuring an all star cast.  More about that later.  Back to Target.

You see in films like Target performers who would later be cast in perennial productions that define their iconic style and personality.  One such example is Jennifer Lopez at the dawn of her acting career.  She plays in a supporting role as one of the femme fatales.  But what really gives this Die Hard prequel of sorts its teeth is the tempo that never lets up on the action and carnage.  

As a matter of fact, as you  watch this so called "road like picture"  you are figuratively placed in the driver seat with this in your face non stop action thriller yet never lose sight of the plot and the drama of this modern day Greek Tragedy, minus the cannibalism...just kidding. 

What you have instead is an unabashed stylized vengeful justice clean up that makes this George Pan Andreas  production a "Walking Tall" in your face  rewarding experience.

Among other performances of note that are worth mentioning:
2017 The Matadors 
Zeus
 201 5Ghost Aliens 
Detective Jones
 2008 Work of Art (Video short) 
Chorus
 1985 Crime Killer 
Zeus
 1976 Kojak (TV Series) 
Nico Trifores
- The Forgotten Room (1976) ... Nico Trifores (as George Pan)
 1974 Fer-de-Lance (TV Movie) 
Torquale
 1973 Love, American Style (TV Series) 
Raoul (segment "Love and the Trampled Passion")
- Love and the Anniversary/Love and the Playwright/Love and the Trampled Passion (1973) ... Raoul (segment "Love and the Trampled Passion") (as George Pan-)
 1972 Search (TV Series) 
Abbas Mirzah
- Moonrock (1972) ... Abbas Mirzah (as George Pan)
 1963 General Hospital (TV Series) 
George (1983)G

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