Stuff & Things

Screenwriting Blog

2009-08-01T01:09:46Z

I've started one here: http://throwingink.blogspot.com/

Screenwriting

2009-07-29T21:32:32Z

I'm enjoying learning about the crafting of screenplays. It's interesting realizing how each story telling medium differs. Also, how once film is chosen as the medium, how the story eventually translates to screen, and the changes it goes through.

For instance.

I've read the screenplay to Back to the Future, Witness, and I'm currently in the middle of When Harry Met Sally.

Back to the Future, whoo boy! The movie is SOOO much better than, at least the first draft (as it's written at the top, though I don't know how a "first draft" is circulating the internet. You'd think they'd be a few drafts in before showing it to ANYONE). Anyway, it's different and the movie is so much more streamlined than the version of the script I read. The weirdest bits are the end.

Instead of the clock tower, lightning, and the delorean, they drive to Arizona so he can basically get blown up by a nuclear bomb at a test site while he stands in a leaded fridge powered by some sort of jiggery pokery and Coke. And when he returns to the future its all different. History is completely different, Doc's inventions became big so people drive Helicopters powered by Coke which replaces oil as a fuel at large, have robot butlers, use laser pens, and Rock and Roll was never invented.

Witness, I've seen the movie, at least 2/3s of it, and it's what I would call a Sunday Afternoon movie as I remember it. But the script is really good! It's pretty much exactly as I remember the movie being, but it was somehow better. Quite a good read. I was surprised. Also, SO DETAILED, visually.

I'm reading When Harry Met Sally, and I really like the movie. I do. It's a great romcom. The script is almost entirely dialogue though! After I kept reading things about how film is visual, and when writing a screenplay you have to keep that in mind, yadda yadda, this is an exception. Very character driven, 90%, at least, dialogue. It's quite good too in screenplay form. It's interesting, reading it rather than watching it. Harry is... Billy Crystal plays a great Harry and he was a big star at the time, but as someone who grew up later you can easily see someone else in the role and it changes the feel of the story in an intriguing way. Harry still has those annoying bits, but he's almost surprisingly charming and earnest in the script. It caught me off guard.

Sally is totally an AU Hermione by the way. It's funny. I don't know who Harry'd be.

It's cute, the script. Great dialogue (as it should be, its 137 pages of it, straight through!), I love it. Really good, clean, simple, writing. Interesting though, how little there is visually. There are only short, clipped mentions of scenery and half the time it's unsure. "At a table drinking coffee, or maybe wine." Very different from the last two I read which had so much detail. Back to the Future was practically dripping in details of Doc's machinery. It may have been extra distracting though, in how different the movie is. Who knows.

The screenplay makes me appreciate the movie more, though. You see the parallels in actions, catch the bits they say to each other differently. The scene where Harry is telling Jess (guy friend) about what happened with his wife, it's all exposition on a serious subject and the only additional thing the script says is that they're at Shea stadium, and every so often it will mention them going up and down in the Wave. Harry'll says something like "I ask 'don't you love me anymore?' and she says 'I don't know if I ever did'" and then they do a wave. But it's brilliant! Tiny, simple, touch that seems like a thoughtless detail makes that scene brilliant rather than awful. That tiny thing! It's mind blowing how effective it is. I cant convey.

In Improv they'd tell you, just do SOMETHING while you talk, it barely matters what and don't talk about what you're doing, or at least keep it to a bare minimum. In writing they constantly tell you to have the characters moving. But man. Those things that have been repeated to me for YEARS just got driven home by that scene. It's amazing. All ridiculously long exposition and they're just doing the wave, at a baseball game. You think I'm exaggerating but I'm serious. It blew my mind.

edit: OMG, it could be AU Draco/Hermione. Haha! Love it!

Why I am an abortion doctor

2009-06-17T15:34:23Z

I just wanted to share this article with you guys.

From http://www.nationalpost.com/scripts/story.html?id=283931

I have been an abortion provider since 1972. Why do I do abortions, and why do I continue to do abortions, despite two murder attempts?

The first time I started to think about abortion was in 1960, when I was in secondyear medical school. I was assigned the case of a young woman who had died of a septic abortion. She had aborted herself using slippery elm bark.

I had never heard of slippery elm. A buddy and I went down to skid row, and without too much difficulty, purchased some slippery elm bark to use as a visual aid in our presentation. Slippery elm is not sterile, and frequently contains spores of the bacteria that cause gas gangrene. It is called slippery elm because, when it gets wet, it feels slippery. This makes it easier to slide slender pieces through the cervix where they absorb water, expand, dilate the cervix, produce infection and induce abortion. The young woman in our case developed an overwhelming infection. At autopsy she had multiple abscesses throughout her body, in her brain, lungs, liver and abdomen.

I have never forgotten that case.

After I graduated from University of British Columbia medical school in 1962, I went to Chicago, where I served my internship and Ob/Gyn residency at Cook County Hospital. At that time, Cook County had about 3,000 beds, and served a mainly indigent population. If you were really sick, or really poor, or both, Cook County was where you went.

The first month of my internship was spent on Ward 41, the septic obstetrics ward. Yes, it's hard to believe now, but in those days, they had one ward dedicated exclusively to septic complications of pregnancy.

About 90% of the patients were there with complications of septic abortion. The ward had about 40 beds, in addition to extra beds which lined the halls. Each day we admitted between 10-30 septic abortion patients. We had about one death a month, usually from septic shock associated with hemorrhage.

I will never forget the 17-year-old girl lying on a stretcher with 6 feet of small bowel protruding from her vagina. She survived.

I will never forget the jaundiced woman in liver and kidney failure, in septic shock, with very severe anemia, whose life we were unable to save.

Today, in Canada and the U.S., septic shock from illegal abortion is virtually never seen. Like smallpox, it is a "disappeared disease."

I had originally been drawn to obstetrics and gynecology because I loved delivering babies. Abortion was illegal when I trained, so I did not learn how to do abortions in my residency, although I had more than my share of experience looking after illegal abortion complications.

In 1972, a couple of years after the law on abortion was liberalized, I began the practise of obstetrics and gynecology, and joined a three-man group in Vancouver. My practice partners and I believed strongly that a woman should be able to decide for herself if and when to have a baby. We were frequently asked to look after women who needed termination of pregnancy. Although I had done virtually no terminations in my training, I soon learned how. I also learned just how much demand there was for abortion services.

Providing abortion services can be quite stressful. Usually, an unplanned, unwanted pregnancy is the worst trouble the patient has ever been in in her entire life.

I remember one 18-year-old patient who desperately wanted an abortion, but felt she could not confide in her mother, who was a nurse in another Vancouver area hospital. She impressed on me how important it was that her termination remain a secret from her family. In those years, parental consent was required if the patient was less than 19 years old. I obtained the required second opinion from a colleague, and performed an abortion on her.

About two weeks, later I received a phone call from her mother. She asked me directly "Did you do an abortion on my daughter?" Visions of legal suit passed through my mind as I tried to think of how to answer her question. I decided to answer directly and truthfully. I answered with trepidation, "Yes, I did" and started to make mental preparations to call my lawyer. The mother replied: "Thank you, Doctor. Thank God there are people like you around."

Like many of my colleagues, I had been the subject of antiabortion picketing, particularly in the 1980s. I did not like having my office and home picketed, or nails thrown into my driveway, but viewed these picketers as a nuisance, exercising their right of free speech. Being in Canada, I felt I did not have to worry about my physical security.

I had been a medical doctor for 32 years when I was shot at 7:10 a.m., Nov. 8, 1994. For over half my life, I had been providing obstetrical and gynecological care, including abortions. It is still hard for me to understand how someone could think I should be killed for helping women get safe abortions.

I had a very severe gun shot wound to my left thigh. My thigh bone was fractured, large blood vessels severed, and a large amount of my thigh muscles destroyed. I almost died several times from blood loss and multiple other complications. After about two years of physical and emotional rehabilitation, with a great deal of support from my family and the medical community, I was able to resume work on a part-time basis. I was no longer able to deliver babies or perform major gynecological surgery. I had to take security measures, but I continued to work as a gynecologist, including providing abortion services. My life had changed, but my views on choice remained unchanged, and I was continuing to enjoy practicing medicine. I told people that I was shot in the thigh, not in my sense of humour.

Six years after the shooting, on July 11, 2000, shortly after entering the clinic where I had my private office, a young man approached me. There was nothing unusual about his appearance until he suddenly got a vicious look on his face, stabbed me in the left flank area and then ran away.

This could have been a lethal injury, but fortunately no vital organs were seriously involved, and after six days of hospital observation I was able to return home. The physical implications were minor, but the security implications were major. After two murder attempts, all my security advisors concurred that I was at increased risk for another attack.

My family and I had to have some serious discussions about my future. The National Abortion Federation provided me with a very experienced personal security consultant. He moved into our home and lived with us for three days, talked with us, assessed my personality, visited the places that I worked in and gave me security advice. In those three days, he got to know me well. After he finished his evaluation, when I was dropping him off at the airport, his departing words to me were "Gary, you have to go back to work."

About two months after the stabbing, I returned to the practise of medicine, but with added security measures. Since the year 2000, I have restricted my practise exclusively to abortion provision.

These acts of terrorist violence have affected virtually every aspect of my and my family's life. Our lives have changed forever. I must live with security measures that I never dreamed about when I was learning how to deliver babies.

Let me tell you about an abortion patient I looked after recently. She was 18 years old, and 18-19 weeks pregnant. She came from a very strict, religious family. She was an only daughter, and had several brothers. She was East Indian Hindu and her boyfriend was East Indian Muslim, which did not please her parents. She told me if her parents found out she was pregnant she would be disowned and kicked out of the family home. She also told me that her brothers would murder her boyfriend, and I believed her. About an hour after her operation I and my nurse saw her and her boyfriend walking out of the clinic hand in hand, and I said to my nurse, "Look at that. We saved two lives today."

I love my work. I get enormous personal and professional satisfaction out of helping people, and that includes providing safe, comfortable, abortions. The people that I work with are extraordinary, and we all feel that we are doing important work, making a real difference in peoples' lives.

I can take an anxious woman, who is in the biggest trouble she has ever experiences in her life, and by performing a five-minute operation, in comfort and dignity, I can give her back her life.

After an abortion operation, patients frequently say "Thank You Doctor." But abortion is the only operation I know of where they also sometimes say "Thank you for what you do."

I want to tell you one last story that I think epitomizes the satisfaction I get from my privileged work. Some years ago I spoke to a class of University of British Columbia medical students. As I left the classroom, a student followed me out. She said: "Dr. Romalis, you won't remember me, but you did an abortion on me in 1992. I am a secondyear medical student now, and if it weren't for you I wouldn't be here now."

Sex with Ducks and Self Esteem

2009-06-06T15:08:03Z

These are my favorite songs by Garfunkel and Oates. I wanted to share these treasures with you all. Enjoy.

I like this one a lot too.

Teabagging the White House

2009-04-17T15:29:20Z

Alot of people have laughed at how Fox News (the promoters of the Teabagging event) and the participants supposedly don't know what Teabagging is lingo for (putting one's balls in another's mouth, often as a practical joke). I really can't imagine that's true. They MUST know. Especially by now.

But teabagging is an appropriate name for the event, and not because of the call back to the Boston Tea Party, which.. you know, doesn't even fit. The right wingers at the top are basically teabagging the working class citizens they are tricking into participating in this ridiculous event. It really is some sort of practical joke. These people who watch Fox News, I feel, are constantly tricked by Glenn Beck and the like into thinking that going along with the rich right is the patriotic thing to do, that it holds onto traditional American ideals and ideas. And it does in some cases, but those are ideals that are better off left behind and often, were these masses to consider, step by step what it is they think they agree with, a good lot of them would start to realize this.

The Teabagging event is basically, supposedly, in response to Obama's tax changes. It's also supposedly in response to some Bailout things, which doesn't make sense because Bush did it first while he was still in office and they had no problems with it then. As for the tax stuff.

Obama raised taxes for those that make over $100,000 a year.

I doubt these people are making that much. The tax changes would help them, it lowers taxes for those under that $100,000 mark.

Those in the right media have probably considered that this tax raise is on "good hardworking Americans." Which sure, people making over 100k may work hard, but I think the right try and convince people that they are the "working man", you know the working and middle class. Which they are not. And I think that's where these people get confused, by the tricky words the Fox is using.

What's particularly hard to see though, is how this subconscious, or maybe not latent at all to some, racism gets stirred up in these citizens. Look at these signs.

It makes me sad. While I don't think the government now is anything great, that it's transparent or in my best interest, just as it wasn't under any other ruler... it's still sad to see what these people are being coerced into agreeing with and acting on.

I dunno. It's weird.

Shaming into Shaving

2009-04-06T20:05:38Z

The other day I saw this ad.

Depending on who you are, you may find it offensive, uninteresting, funny, think people who find it offensive are bereft of humor and too sensitive, or whatever.

I'm annoyed, and slightly angry, with a dash of being offended.

See, one can claim, if one doesn't find it plain funny, that they're being tongue in cheek or satirical. But not really, since they are selling, and intending to make a profit on the product they would be mocking. They would be instead profiting, through exploitation, on the very image they would be, supposedly, calling bullshit on. Therfore, I reject any notion of social commentary or humor in the commercial, and therein lay the offense.

What this commercial instead feels like is when one who hardly knows you insults you and tries to pass it off as a joke. As if you were to say something like "I'm single" and they were to respond with "Of course you are, anyone would find you too ugly, fat, dull, and stupid to give you the time of day," and then call you humorless when you are hurt/angry/bewildered by the sudden insult.

While I feel this way, I'm willing to acknowledge it as a product of stupid advertisers who are perhaps trying to ride the outlandish, bordering on offensive humor line and failing.

This ad however, is a TOTALLY different story.

http://www.wilkinsonbutterflyeffect.co.uk/#film1-watch

I can't embed it so you have to click.

This ad makes me outright angry. Seething even. From beginning to end.

The first scene is the giant billboard asking if you've shaven your legs this morning. Fine, typical ad crap trying to make you feel bad that you don't shave your legs every day and are thus failing in your womanly duty. What. ever.

Next is a guy who doesn't give a shit what the woman wants. On the bus, he's trying to engage in as much PDA as he can, going as far as he can, regardless of the fact the girl is clearly uncomfortable with anything more than some kissing and hand holding.

No ad guys, don't stop there, lets really try and show that girl her place.

Ignoring her verbal plea of "No, Stop It," the guy puts his hand on her legs, exclaims "EUGHWWW" and pulls his hand away as if he's been burned by her invisible stubble (seemingly resulting from only having shaved YESTERDAY morning, and having the audacity to skip it today). Now Shock and horror! So disgusted he throws his burnt by hell-stubble behind him, trying to flick off the disease off his hand and smacks into a woman drinking coffee. She needs it cause she had to wake up early this morning to seek-and-destroy all the hair on her body, minus her scalp.

The poor woman, just being smacked in the face spills her coffee on the man before in front of her, who is now burned. He jumps up in natural reaction, creating a domino effect of people being knocked into eachother and falling. Eventually, this leads to a man eating breakfast, trying to be healthy, choking on his apple.Keep in mind the falling people in the aisle however. They keep flashing to a good looking girl pinned under a man, front to front. She is holding everyone up by being bent over backwards and holding onto seat handles while having this guy on her chest, as well as most of the bus. She's also noticeably been keeping her mouth shut through it all. She eventually can't hold on anymore, collapses backward sending people flying which dislodges the apple from the choking man, which gets spit into the drivers face, who crashes into the original billboard.

Everyone tries to settle themselves, picking up their belongings when a woman glares at the original woman with the stubble from hell. She is very very ashamed with herself (as if it was her fault the asshole A. couldn't take no for an answer, and B. couldn't handle a little stubble on a leg). Embarassed, she pulls down her skirt as far as she can over her legs. While still running her hand on her face, noticeably upset, she gets a text message which says, "Hey, every wished U just stayed in bed?!"

It ends with the words on the screen "Life is smoother with Wilkinson Sword. Free your skin."

This sword will enable you to free your skin from the beast of hell that is female bodily hair! We've shown you what it can do - almost kill a busload of people, ALL BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T SHAVE IT ALL OFF!! If you don't groom yourself severely, as all women should, stay in bed, don't leave the house. Be ashamed of yourself.

I don't shave often. My yearly tally has pretty much been in the single digits my whole life. I don't care for it and only shave when my legs will be bared by skirt or other such device. Sometimes I do it if they won't be seen, because I want to feel better about myself, hoping it will make me feel more put together. But it's all because I'm shamed into it.

I fully recognize that if I don't shave and show my legs publicly I will not be seen favorably by society. It is something women are expected to do. Be delecate. If you can't be bothered to wear make-up all the way to look pleasing and pretty, at least wear make-up to cover an uneven skin tone - especially blemishes. Do your hair. Be slim. Be hairless. Some rules are more important than others. And I really think, while people will judge you for not wearing make-up or having nice hair or being fat, I really think, that on someone they otherwise find unoffensive, that having hairy legs or armpits is one of the more egregious beauty sins a woman can commit. And it's horrible.

No, I don't shave to free my skin. I shave so I may be treated like a human. And it's wrong. Thank you Wilkinson, for making me more angry at the patriarchy than I have been all month.

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day

2009-03-24T14:37:46Z

So, I watched this movie last night.

I remember it getting pretty "meh" reviews, despite the 5 stars in the poster. That may be a false memory however.

So, it had Amy Adams, (my girlfriend) Lee Pace (Pushing Daisies guy - my boyfriend), and Frances McDormand.

Amy Adams was weird in this movie. She reminded me of Nicole Kidman in this, when Nicole Kidman acts "cute". I suppose she was trying to play a cheery, girly, ditzy-on-the-surface, 1940s screen vixen, but... it was a little weak. Not very natural at all. In the latter half of the movie that persona lets a bit, and she's much better.

Also, I don't know if it was my TV, or purposeful sound editing to make it like stage/old movies but the sound was curious. I particularly remember one scene where everybody's footsteps were very pronounced. I imagine it must have been on purpose, because it was very distinct. Like a cartoon or something.

Lee Pace and Frances McDormand both had English accents in the movie, and both were actually quite good. I was particularly surprised with Lee Pace's. It seemed quite natural. If I hadn't known any of the actors in the movie, I might guess Frances McDormand could be American, but Lee Pace would have convinced me as a Brit.

Overall I enjoyed the movie well enough. It was a nice enough story and the had a large female cast. Besides Adams and McDormand, the leads in the film who are both female, there is Shirley Henderson (aka Moaning Mertle), and Christina Cole (Main girl season 1 of Hex). Henderson's role is probably on screen as much as Lee Pace, and more than any of the other men besides. Cole's is much smaller, her chracter is mentioned alot but has less on screen time and even fewer lines. In the end the cast is basically made up of 4 men and 4, maybe 5, women, which is good numbers for a Hollywood film.

In the end the two female leads are more or less swept away and rescued by men, which is unfortunate for a story with otherwise reasonably strong female leads. However, until then both are surviving on their own. Though it is true Adams survives a great deal through her relationships with men providing clothes/housing/food (although she herself has a job as some sort of lounge singer, her boyfriends still provide for her lifestyle), one can hardly blame her in 1938.

The screenplay was written by 2 men, but all things considered they treated the female leads well. It probably helps that the original 1938 novel was written by a woman so the characters are laid out for them already, but still, they did a fine job. Taking nothing away from the screenplay, this may be the type of movie that makes a much better book, as it played like a stagepiece. I'll probably read the book eventually.

Overall score. 7/10.

Not nice

2009-03-05T04:22:09Z

I've been wanting to post every once in a while, but seeing as Mo never reads it, Ani is over here, and that's 2 of 3 readers, I haven't. But since I like engaging with my only other reader, Sarah... I may as well.

Anyway, something I saw on Feministing.com. Here is this new ad for a product that is creepy in it's own right. A skin whitening product.

But then they wanted to make sure they properly covered all the basis... so they added a good dose of blatant sexism to their twinges of racism.

My initial reaction was that this was a nasty ad for an unfortunate product. Durfa durfa, she swallows guys! The hot, light skinned Asian chick fulfills all your sexist, ego stroking, misogynistic fantasies. She's exotic, but light skinned enough to be.. you know, "civilized," but not white enough to be "pasty" and "gross" and just as sexual as an "exotic woman" should. Like in South Pacific... but lighter.

I know that skin lightening is relatively common in various Asian countries (which is unfortunate but then again, people tan too so who am I to judge), but what got me was the byline/quote/bullshit. It makes me sad, now that I realize it, that it is made to seem as if the credited woman, Zoe Tay, says this herself. I don't know if she did or whether they just asked permission to make it seem as if she did and I don't know if that's the actual artist posing in the ad... but. Man.

A commenter on feministing mentioned that Asian skin lightening may have to do more with classism than racism, but I'm sure it's a combo of the two. But apparently large eyes and light skin were a beauty standard in Asia before it ever met the West, so... I dunno, something to think about.

.

2008-09-27T23:27:04Z

I'm sad and slightly heartsick.

Bway Songs Again

2008-09-17T18:04:59Z

So, in looking for more songs I've, of course, found more. I think instead of the Perfect Relationship song I'll do Everybody Loves Louis from Sunday in the Park with George.

And, so when I was trying to think of a replacement song during the drive from Chicago to Mo's here are other songs that popped into my head. I think they are candidates for next Singers Showcase, as I will be forced to sing in every one from now until I leave Columbia. Also, yes Andria, these are all songs in consideration. This post is declared Andria safe.

Without You (but solo version) from Rent

Originally I got excited though - there was a Ron/ Hermoine video to the song Without You , but it was a gross Nickelback song or something. So I posted a different video of the Rent movie to the cast album. Then I wrote about the Harry Potter version, then decided to search for Harry Potter vids to Without You to see if I'd find any, AND I DID! I think this is Rosario Dawson singing from the movie. Most of them used hers and not the original cast album, which I don't understand.

There were more and most were pretty crappy and scene to scene literal. One about Dumbledore may have been better than the one I posted, but I didn't feel like watching a second time.

Just One Step from Songs for a New World

Random singer's performance.

Uptown, Downtown from Follies

Start at 2:37

Palin/Clinton

2008-09-14T17:33:16Z

So, kind of in response to Sarah's Deepak Chopra essay, I'm posting the opener that appeared on SNL last night. It was a fun Palin/Clinton thing. While I wasn't a Hillary Clinton supporter, the sketch is fun and true.

ANYWAY

For those who may not know, the things Tina Fey says as Palin are things Palin has mostly said herself (including the Russia thing in response to a question from Charlie Gibson about foreign relations, and her not knowing what the Bush doctrine was (it's basically that U.S.'s foreign policy = U.S.'s mission to spread democracy throughout the world - and while I didn't know what it was before the Charlie Gibson interview, I'm an arts student and not running for VP).

And Tina Fey makes a very convincing Palin.

Songs (B'Way with Bonus Torchwood/Broadway crossover)

2008-09-13T17:27:55Z

I have to have a collection of 4 songs to sing at the end of the term for the Singers Showcase (It's kind of my final for Voice) that I need to start working on now. They need to have variety. So, here's what I'm thinking (not necessarily in this order):

"My New Philosophy" - You're a Good Man Charlie Brown (but, solo version)

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"Ain't Misbehavin' "- Ain't Misbehavin' (my teacher's suggestion)

"It's a Perfect Relationship" - Bells are Ringing

I'd like to do "Rainbow High" - Evita instead of the Bells are Ringing song, but that's a big song - maybe I should save it for when I'll need to do the Spring Singers Showcase. But here it is:

"Anyone Can Whistle" - Anyone Can Whistle

Now, I couldn't find a decent version on youtube, but I did find a version of John Barrowman (Captain Jack of Torchwood) singing. Apparently he has a cd of Broadway songs. Now, it sounds like his version he made it a bit easier, as the original has a lot of octive jumps and is a bit harder than what his sounds. His version also sounds the tiniest bit slower. But anyway, here's a Torchwood video with the song.

Also, just cause it's a good song - one of my favorites, here is "Agony" from Into the Woods. Rapunzel's Prince get's all the funny parts, but Cinderella's gets to be the wolf.

The second act Reprise when they're already married and going after Snow White and Sleeping Beauty

And "Hello, Little Girl" which is sung by the wolf, who is played by the Prince that goes after Cinderella. I like this song too.

Dr. Who doing What?

2008-09-10T22:29:36Z

So, as I told Andria, David Tennant hasn't signed on for the 5th season yet. Apparently, according to a news article in today's Telegraph he said he'll do it if they do a Doctor Who movie with him. The BBC is keen on the idea and have been planning on one anyway. Apparently though, *sigh* they're thinking of Catherine Zeta-Jones for the companion in the movie.

Ugh.

Not "ugh" at Catherine Zeta-Jones. More "ugh" at them choosing a Hollywood actress before I'm anywhere near Hollywood. I know she's of British origin but I don't really count her as British these days. So... *sigh*

The movie is a few years down the pike though, so all isn't totally lost on my side. *shakes fist at sky* I must at least be an extra in that movie!

Do Not Blaspheme! (spoiler free)

2008-09-08T15:20:39Z

I understand that what I am about to say will shock some, and scream "Sacrilege!" to others. However, I feel it must be said:

I love David Tennant as The Doctor.

I fell for David Tennant's tenth Doctor far quicker than I thought I would. I think I do like the second season better than the first but I think that has to do with writing, chemistry between Billie Piper and Tennant, and not necessarily the stylings of Tennant vs. Eccleston. But I'm not sure.

Tennant plays the weird quirkiness stronger than Eccleston did. Eccleston's Doctor was quieter and more distant. The Doctor will always stay distant due to his immortality, but it was different. I have to watch the seasons again to be sure, but I think so. It's like the 9th doctor is tired. I mean, I know he is of course, it's true; He's been the only one of his species for so long, his companions die far faster than him (I wonder about his non-human companions - or humans from farther in the future where they may have a longer life span) so I don't fault Eccleston for playing it that way. I just connect with Tennant's version more. But that, again, may be story and chemistry. I really do have to watch again and re-evaluate.

I was surprised with Tennant. I found myself very impressed with him at times. He has thse little genuine things he does. For instance, in one scene when he's kind of laughing at Rose he rubs his eye - but I can't help but be delighted with it. I find it brilliant, the way he does it.

So yeah, I just wanted to gush a little bit. And announce a new boyfriend. I love Eccleston, but there's just something about Tennant...

It's going to be very hard to contain myself from watching season 3 without Andria. I'll do my best to wait. But boy will it be hard. I guess I will be watching seasons 1 and 2 again and "re-evaluate."

edited to add: You know, sometimes I wonder about random people reading the livejournal and seeing all our "boyfriend/girlfriend" stuff... I think it must paint us as strange. Well, if anyone asks me about it in the future I'll just claim "inside joke," which is kind of what it is. Kind of...? mleh.

The Master

2008-09-03T17:17:05Z

Just to relive one of the best Dr. Who scenes, someone's extended version of the tv clip.

Edited to add: I need to see Life on Mars. John Simm, the guy who played the Master, is in it. He's my new boyfriend, btw.

HP - HBP

2008-07-30T15:42:02Z

Here's the new teaser trailer for HBP.
http://www.alltrailers.net/harry-potter-and-the-half-blood-prince-trailer.html

I recommend you ignore it and let it load all the way through before actually watching it. It took a couple minutes for me.

In all truth I find I've lost a good deal of interest in the series. The dissapointment of the 7th book kind of killed it. I kept hope alive that JKR might defy my expectations of her and actually do certain characters and plot lines justice but alas... she's JKR.

If the 7th book had been better or if I was still waiting for it I may be more eager for the movie. I'm sad that I lost the excitement and anticipation the release of these movies would bring me. It was fun.

Beer so good, that hot woman at the end of the bar will let you and your friends gang bang her

2008-07-28T17:23:13Z

So, boys, I know you're used to products telling you that their use will get women to notice you. Axe body spray will make them stampede over each other to get to you, a nice Bud will get them to give you a second, seductive look and a mere condom will turn you from a pig to a stud in their eyes. Really.

But none of those will coerce that hottie into letting you and your bros gang bang the shit out of her.

Guinness will.

(GHB, rohypnol, and ketamine not included)

edited to add: apparently this is a spec ad and not one Guinness actually made themselves. Disgusting, but at least I won't be seeing this on tv.

Why hello there, little cutie... I could just pinch those cheeks

2008-07-26T18:41:25Z

Men, have you been feeling that women need to be taught how to please you from early on? From the crib even? Women, do you wonder that if only you could have had shaplier looking calves as an infant you could just be the tiniest bit more attractive to your man today - maybe even keep his roaming eye at bay? Well dream no more ladies and gents, have I got the product for you!

http://www.heelarious.com/

Heelarious brand high heel styled shoes for ages 0-6 months! Hot pink and black not quite the right tone you want to set for your little girl's future in wifedom? We also carry leopard and zebra print! Yeah, those animals sure are fast, but fear not boys, heels are designed to not only keep their calves lookin pretty, but also to keep them from runnin'! *wink* You'll be able to have your will with them in no time.

Batman 3

2008-07-22T05:00:23Z

So, if a third Christopher Nolan Batman gets made this is what I think.

I think the story line could bring in Harley Quinn, maybe looking for some revenge over the Joker. But then maybe they'd want to avoid The Joker all together, as then you may need some flash backs and a new actor and that could be hard and not recieved well.

But there needs to be another girl in the movie.

They wouldn't bring in Catwoman since a Catwoman movie was done recently. Especially a Catwoman movie that bombed. And Ivy was in the Clooney Batman, so maybe that's too soon.

So... Harley, right? So I need to lose weight, bone up on my Batman tomes and pretty much prep myself for Harley to be my big break. And then I can creep C. Bale out with the Newsies references I won't be able to swallow.

So... I pretty much got a plan.

And I'm not lying about reading up on Batman. That's how I formulated my plan. The library has Batman books and I'll read them. I can be creepy and kooky and big boobed and so... I got Harley covered. Big Break. Done and Done.

Mamma Mia!

2008-07-21T22:48:37Z

I snuck into Mamma Mia after I saw Dark Knight and it took me a little while to get into it, but once I did I liked it. I thought it was done really cheesily, but it was entertaining. There were moments where I dunno if I was embarassed for the actors from the super cheese factor or it was just that they were doing something I hadn't seen them do (with it being Lilly Kane and Meryl Streep and Colin Firth, etc...), but a few moments I laughed really really loudly and was the only one in the theater laughing (it was a nearly empty theater anyway as it was a 10:15 showing, but still). I laughed like Mama at some scenes, and I think she'd like this movie alot.

I haven't seen the stage production of Mamma Mia, but I can only imagine the movie was extra over the top, but I can't be sure. I haven't seen the stage production of Hairspray but the movie still played like a musical, as if it were a stage production - with all the color and exaggeration that stage musicals can have - but put in a feature film, which is exactly what it was. For the Mamma Mia! movie it was kind of like a lot of the actors were just performing a musical at their own house, like they were playing around after having seen the musical. They didn't try to be serious with it - no, that's not quite right. They didn't- it's hard to explain, but it worked, I guess. I guess what I mean to say is that it kind of lacked a singular direction. I think there was maybe too many location changes and POV changes within each number. It made it kind of amateur-ish. I think that really must have been what it was, as the director is the same as that of the stage musical and I think she didn't know what to do with all the possibilities film allows.

Also, I heard such god awful reviews of Pierce Brosnan's singing and it wasn't that bad. No worse than anyone else's in the movie. I thought everyone's singing was average, for the most part.

I saw an interview with Lilly Kane and she and the interviewer were going on about when Meryl Streep sang The Winner Takes It All, and how great it was.

Here's the interview, there aren't anything I'd consider spoilers in the clip (I'd consider, for this movie, a spoiler of one of the big laughs a spoiler as the plot wasn't anything special), but you get to see a bit of Meryl Streep's scene.

Now I like Meryl Streep alot, especially after she no longer reminded me of Mama. I really do like her alot. But I don't think that performance deserves so much adulation. To me it looked kind of like she didn't know what to do with herself, and just tried her best. When singing there's a tiny line to balance on between moving around too much and not enough. I know because no one in my Musical Theatre workshop class could ever get it right, including me. I do think she emoted through her voice well, though - where her voice cracked and such.

Musicals can be hard to pull off. Movie adaptations while trying to simultaniously ignore and uplay that it's a movie and not on stage (I told you it's hard to explain) is probably extra hard. And while I was entertained I wouldn't include this among the best movie adaptations or consider any of the performances special. But I liked it. I'd buy it on sale.

The Dark Knight - Spoiler free!

2008-07-21T14:57:13Z

So I went to the movies by myself yesterday because I wanted to see The Dark Knight before going back to Chicago because I don't want to pay mucho monies for a movie. I saw Dark Knight, then snuck into Mamma Mia. I was going to have them both in one post, but TDK comments got too long.

Batman: The Dark Knight

This movie had some awesome posters.

I liked it alot. I wish I watched Batman Begins again before seeing this movie, not because there was anything in the movie that I needed back story for, but just because I like to do that.

I don't know how I feel about Christian Bale as Batman. I mean, I can't think of anyone better and he plays the playboy side of Bruce Wayne well (kept reminding me of American Psycho), so maybe it's the really plasticy looking costume I have a problem with. Also he does this gruff voice thing as Batman which is kind of silly. It makes sense, as otherwise people can identify him by his voice and I'd be going "don't they recognize his voice? That's so dumb," but it's still weird. I do like Christian Bale though, regardless of the way he holds his mouth strangely. I thought it was only when doing American accents, but I've seen it when he speaks in his British accent too, so... But C-Bale is still the best Batman since Michael Keaton.

Heath Ledger was just as great as Joker as everyone's said. It's kind of the only real acting I've seen from him, as everything else was along the lines of A Knights Tale, and 10 Things I Hate About You. I haven't seen Brokeback, but I can't imagine being floored as it tends to be Character Acting that gets me. However, despite how really awesome his Joker was, I can't imagine all the Oscar buzz would exist at all had he not had his unfortunate and untimely death. Comic Book movies don't get Best Actor nods. At least they didn't used to. Recently the Academy Awards have seemed to broaden their view as to what constitutes a "legitimate" film or role, though, so I may be wrong. It will be good to watch if they will soon include comedy actors beyond it's "Musical or Comedy" category along with the inclusion of comic book films. After all, these Graphic Novel films get so much critical acclaim, I can't help but believe that will include some sort of nods beyond the technical.

I need to read The Watchmen before it comes out.

Also, Johnny Depp got an Oscar nod for Pirates. I think he perhaps should have, but it still was very strange to me, as it wasn't the typical oscar role. It shouldn't be strange. He played it well and made an original character so again, the tide may be turning for the Oscars.

Heath Ledger would have been someone I started to watch more seriously after this film had he still been alive, so it's very sad that he's gone.

It was funny. I forgot it was filmed in Chicago until an action/chase sequence started and I was like "Hey! That's Randolph Station!" and I kept recognizing it all. Do businesses have to pay for coincidental adverts, like when you see their logo or sign on a city street very clearly?

Also, Eric Roberts.

Again, I enjoyed the film and it reminded me that I have to lose weight and audition for things, because the 20% tax free bill thing got renewed this year for Illinois and Chicago will keep getting movies. Also, Ledger kept reminded me of certain improv tricks I'd been told in creating a character and it reminded me to take improv seriously again and apply it to rehearsed acting.

Lastly, watching Ledger opposite Gyllenhaal just kept refreshing in my mind how unfortunate and narrow role choices are for women. The Joker is an AWESOME role and Ledger did great things with it. Rachel Dawes isn't. She's the throwaway female character love interest that is in all superhero movies. It also reminded me to be less critical of many female actresses, cause I am very critical. It's the writing and cultural convention that often leads to "bad" performances, and not necessarily the actress herself. I mean, there are bad actresses just as there are bad actors, but my heavy criticism is not an accurate reflection of the amount of bad actresses. True, more women than men are cast for looks (except in Taiwan where it seems to be equal) so perhaps it's not an even ratio to start with, but again alot of it is merely what is available for women to play. I should have recognized that long ago, when I was always wishing I could play certain male roles within the theater, versus the female roles I actually could.

It's a shame Katie Holmes got such flack for her Rachel Dawes. She was "fine" in the role and much of the criticism put on her was merely because of her kooky marriage to Tom Cruise. She wasn't bad, but she wasn't anything special either. Neither was Maggie Gyllenhaal in this film. It was the role, not the actor. I'm not saying Holmes and Gyllenhaal are the same caliber of actor, I'm just saying they were both nothing special, since the role was nothing special. I may be wrong, but I don't think any highly acclaimed actress could make something out of the nothing that is the female superhero love interest role.

But then again, Gordon is nothing special for Oldman either.

I still want to gouge my eyes out when seeing K. Dunst in Spiderman though. That's a different story.

Beijing Olympics = Alien Domination Plan?

2008-07-17T20:29:49Z

Submitted for your approval:

Beijing "stadiums" actually Alien space pods?

And "opening ceremony fireworks display rehearsal" actually Alien missile testing for complete planetary domination?

Bollywood

2008-07-17T13:33:50Z

This is the original Dhoom Tana dance from the movie. Joshua and Katee did their dance to this song in SYTYCD.

I wanna see this movie man, it looks fun. I want to start watching Bollywood movies. I've wanted to for many years, but haven't gotten to it. This movie looks like a good place to start.

Response to Ani SYTYCD 4

2008-07-17T13:20:02Z

You know, I was really annoyed every time the judges would say this season is so great, cause I didn't agree. But I'm not annoyed anymore. I'm not sure if I completely agree but I may:

- This season has included FAR MORE Broadway (Once every episode as opposed to the, maybe 3 times within the season)

- This season so far has included 3 new dances: Country 2 step, Bollywood, and Pas de Deux (it was like, contemporary done with ballet minus pointe) which is great cause it used to be 30% hip hop, 30% contemporary, and 30% ballroom with the remaining 10% revolving with Broadway, Disco, Jazz, Krump, a couple others. But they also used to have too much Disco, they've lessened it, which is good. But yeah, the dance selection is more diverse this year, which I highly appreciate.

- I kept getting annoyed when the "best season/most talented dancers" thing came up, but I realized the other day that this season has more dances that I desire to watch again later. Before, there would be a couple groups of GREAT dancers. This season there are more great couples, and the other weaker dancers are stronger than the weaker people before. So maybe they're right.

But, on to my favorite dancers.

You know, I like Joshua alot but it was in watching Andria's post that I started to really root for him. That's the thing about this season for me, I need to watch it in retrospect to appreciate it more for some reason.

But to add to the Joshua file, he does great contemporary too:

I loved that dance, and I loved the assisted run. Awesome. So, even though I didn't like the way Katee got on the show, she is one of my fav dancers on the show.

And Joshua and Katee's Godspell Broadway routine.

And since I mentioned it, their Bollywood

I've liked Mark TONS since the beginning, but this week he was really dissapointing. I blame it mostly on Kherington. I haven't liked her since auditions. All the criticism on the country two step was put on Kherington, which I was impressed with the judges but you can tell she was fuming with her eyes. She gave up on the second half of the Krump before... I don't know why she's still here. I'd like her to be voted off.

Will is good too, I never noticed him before because of Jessica, who I thought was really heavy on her feet and didn't like watching that much.

So my favs right now are the same as Andria's, but plus Katee. I think I want Joshua to win this year though. A hip-hopper has never won (have they even been in the top 4?) and I think Joshua really deserves it. He is GREAT in all the other styles. Really. Joshua for the win!

Over-Zealous Parents?

2008-07-16T19:36:10Z

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1035315/Father-branded-pervert--photographing-children-public-park.html

Father of 3 labeled "Pervert" when taking photos of own children in park.

I myself would never rush to assume someone with a camera at a park is a pedo, unless he wore a full length rain coat with creepy chest hair poking out. Or there were actual actions to make the suggestion beyond simple photo-taking, like he started talking to kids who didn't know him or kept adjusting his crotch or something.

I'm pretty positive few to no women would be faced with the same accusation. Well, let me rephrase, few to no conventionally hetero-looking women would be faced with the same accustation. Yeah, pedophelia is a problem and there is cause for concern but... it's going a little overboard to automatically accuse fellow parents at a park. I feel sorry for the guy. Parents shouldn't have to fear pedophiles are snapping pictures of their children at play, but at the same time fathers shouldn't have to fear perverted accusations - the fear may keep them from publicly interacting with their children, which would be a huge shame.