Martin Firrell and Nathan Fillion's Super Secret Thingy

http://www.martinfirrell.com/supersecretthingy.html

I heard about this project some time ago, but the details were just released a few days ago. The actual title of the work is Hero: the future of gods, icons and heroes, and what's on the web site is just a preview of a larger public art project to be shown sometime later, likely in London. (Martin Firrell works exclusively in London. I'm not sure exactly why.)

Firrell proposes a "new model for male behaviour" in an audiovisual presentation, an ideal that eschews violence in favor of gentleness and compassion. He shows Fillion in slow motion from the neck up and projects light patterns onto his face. The piece is accompanied by a cappella female voices and the phrases "Thought before action," "Strength without force," and "Clear light in the sky." The last phrase is kind of cryptic, but the gist is that in order for modern society to survive, men must take it upon themselves to create peace. In a time of war, terrorism, and continued violence among men (and especially against women), it's more important than ever to empower men to become part of the solution, rather than just viewing them as a problem.

At risk of gushing about Nathan Fillion--I've been in love with him since Firefly, and even more so after his portrayal of the sweet Dr. Pomatter in Waitress--I'm so glad Firrell chose him to play the new hero. It's especially meaningful because Fillion has primarily been known as an action star in the past. Ironically, I think it's his background as the violent hero in Firefly, Serenity, and SLiTHER that gives him the masculine credibility to portray a new kind of ideal man without being perceived as too effeminate. I wonder if the Firrell piece will change the public perception of him as an actor, as by all accounts he's an incredibly kind and warmhearted person off screen.