Personal Gift-giving This Holiday Season

After recycling much of last Sunday's paper, I noticed one of those 'holiday gift guides,' endorsed by the newspaper. During the holiday season, it always appears that advertisers are doing their best to help clueless consumers find the perfect gift for other human beings they don't really know very well. Unfortunately, some of those people we don't know very well happen to be our relatives.

We think we know our parents; they think they know us. But when it comes to the holiday season, it becomes apparent that most of us could really use a little more time getting to know one another instead of wandering the malls on Christmas Eve looking at cheap wallets and packaged perfume and manicure sets.

The holidays is also when some products re-emerge from hiding from last Christmas season. The soda-maker, for instance. I don't understand what the allure would be to making your own soft drinks. Turn water into seltzer or soda! It's like magic. How is that fun? Or even necessary?

My brother wanted to know if I'd like one of those Keurig K-cup Coffeemaker things. Sounds good, but then what? I'm stuck paying through the nose for K-cups coffee shooters because that's my only option? I'm afraid the Keurig Coffeemaker would eventually end up sharing rent space with the wafflemaker and the dusty bread machine. Thanks for the thought.

In the aforementioned newspaper gift guide (under quirky and unusual ) they highlighted the book: Crafting With Cat Hair: Cute Handicrafts To Make With Your Cat. Originally published in Japan, the book shows how you can make handicrafts from all that cat fur that your pet leaves behind-- cat fur that, God forbid, would otherwise be wasted.

I give it an A+ for odd uniqueness, but really? Really? The first thing in there is a cat hair finger puppet. Let's imagine this for a second: you harvest the cat hair, carve out time in your day to make this puppet thing and then what? What are you going to do with that? Oh wait, you can give it back to your cat as a stocking stuffer this Christmas. How special.

I love the holidays, but I get turned off by the commercialism just as much as other people do. I'm all about the gift-giving, but I don't freak out about spending lots of money. I try to make it both fun for myself and as personal as possible for the recipient. Gift-giving is hard and it takes time to do it the right way-- that's why wealthy people have personal shoppers.

This holiday season, get to know the people around you. Make something on your own that's personally meaningful. I once gave my mom a heart-filled tin filled with strips of paper. On each piece of paper, I'd typed a story or a positive childhood memory-- as many as I could remember. It was more meaningful to her than any store-bought gift. I've also done drawings and collages and personalized note cards and books for people.

If you're not the creative type, support a local or independent artist or craftsperson. Purchase an independent filmmaker's film. Donate to a charity or cause that means something to you or the person you're gifting.


**Here are a few independently spirited artists, gifts, and sites I'd recommend**


Tiffany Miller Mosaics -- Gorgeously handcrafted mosaic art.


Rachael Owens - Los Angeles-based Singer/Songwriter


American Actor -- An independent film


A Boy And His Camera -- A storybook written and illustrated by me. (A little self-promotion never hurts.)

Jenny Mayhem's Album: Keep The Fire
Jenny Mayhem - Toronto-based Singer/Songwriter -- Acoustic/Folk



Kickstarter.com -- Help fund and support independent film.

Artbreak -- Discover up-and-coming new artists. Purchase original art and prints.


Donations And Charities:





The Film Foundation -- $1.00 preserves and restores one frame of film.

Film Streams -- Support nonprofit cinema.





The Make-A-Wish Foundation

UNICEF

©2011 by KLiedle

"The Artist" - When Silence Speaks Louder Than Words

Hollywood's witnessed many changes in its history: the advent of 'talkies', the invasion of television, and the emergence of the internet, piracy, and streaming technology. In each instance, technology has been both a threat (and an opportunity) to Hollywood and its players.

Michel Hazanavicius' film, "The Artist," explores how the introduction of sound film affects two artists' personal and professional lives. Although, it's a silent, black-and-white film-- a fact that may turn away even the most open-minded audiences-- I say, look beyond the facts. To truly appreciate the film, one has to submit to being transported into a different era entirely: An era when people went to the movies as often as they could for both escapism and entertainment. In the late '20s, individuals and families struggled to make ends meet as the stock market crashed and the Great Depression got underway. Hollywood was their escape, the place where dreams were made.

As the story unfolds, it's 1927 and George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) is hamming it up as a famed silent film star. Audiences love him and it's rather obvious that he adores being adored. Simultaneously, a young starlet, Peppy Miller (Berenice Bejo), starts strutting her stuff in the trenches of Hollywood. She's got a sparkle and a spunk that set her apart from the competition. She and Valentin cross paths and sooner than anyone thought possible, she rises from being an extra to a contract player to a full-fledged star. This puts her at the forefront of Hollywood as silent films are phased out. Talking pictures are the future.

By 1930, Hollywood stops making silent films entirely. Cinema orchestras, once an integral part of a silent film's presentation, are eliminated. Silent film stars are considered passe. George Valentin gets the dire news from the studio and soon finds himself unemployable. No one wants to hear a silent film star talk. They want fresh faces, new blood. He's shunned from the studio as a relic from the past.

Meanwhile, Peppy's rise to unfathomable stardom occurs just as Valentin begins a downward spiral. From their first chance encounter, Peppy and George keep tabs on each other, albeit secretly. George sees her rise to fame as a stark contrast to the momentous changes in his own life. Likewise, she feels guilty and somewhat responsible for his downfall as he forced to auction off his possessions.

One of my favorite sequences between Peppy and George was shot at the Bradbury building in Downtown L.A. Hazanavicius utilizes the grand series of staircases at that location as a metaphor for Peppy and George's relationship to each other and to Hollywood. Peppy is always ascending the stairs with her career on the up-and-up. George is always shown going down the stairs, further and further, until he disappears from view. It's a simple visual technique but showing the two characters in that way, speaks more than any words ever could.

I came to see "The Artist" with no expectations beyond curiosity and longing to see Old Hollywood lit up on the big screen once again. Hazanavicius' uses several techniques ( showing a film-within-a-film, angled shots of the stage and audience reaction shots) to make film audiences feel right at home, as though 1927, is just an arm's length away from where we are. A cinema orchestra accompanies the film presentation, as we're introduced to George Valentin. Music is primary for the remainder of the film, just as it was for all silent films. Within moments, I'd forgotten the black-and-white and the "silent" lack of dialogue. I was riveted to the antics on the screen.

It's surprising how funny "The Artist" is, without seemingly trying. All it takes is a gesture, a look, a stupid dog trick, a shimmy, and an occasional title card, and we know what's going on. But "The Artist" is also a tragedy, as experienced by George Valentin. It's ultimately his story. As such, we are limited to his silent world, even though there is "talking" all around us. When it finally hits him, that sound is the wave of the future, he's shocked to HEAR the CLANK of his own water glass on the table. Suddenly there is LAUGHING , WIND BLOWING, CLINKS and CLANKS, a world happening just beyond the reach of our senses. It's all too much for him. And then, the SOUND of SILENCE as George's world collapses around him.

Ultimately, however, "The Artist" is a love story about two artists. Entertaining is their passion; it's in their blood. Peppy and George recognize a bit of themselves in each other. Can only one of them be a star? Is there a way for the past and the future to co-exist, meet in the middle somehow? As a contemporary film, "The Artist" captures the Golden Age Of Hollywood with more success than any other movie I can recall. My grandmother lived during that era. She remembers Hollywoodland. She'd tell me stories about the old time movie stars. I'd flip through her vintage glamour and movie books and try to visualize what it must've been like... to experience Hollywood, be a part of Hollywood, during that era. "The Artist," in some small way, gave me that experience. It's pure entertainment, beautifully crafted.

"The Artist" was shot in 35 days in Los Angeles with an American crew for an estimated budget of $12 million [Imdb.com] Ever since its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, the film has been gaining awards buzz. As we head into Oscar season, it just may become the film to beat.

Starring Jean Dujardin, Bérénice Bejo, John Goodman, James Cromwell, Penelope Ann Miller
Written and directed by Michel Hazanavicius

Copyright © 2011 by KLiedle

A Bygone Era

The Hunt For Human Experience

“I won’t cry,” I tell myself. I hear a male voice address the crowd, but I can’t focus on what he’s saying. He sounds so far away. I look over and see a tear flowing down a classmate’s face. She’s eleven years old-- so am I.

I look away, but it’s too late. My face wrinkles up. I can feel my skin flush. Emotions start flowing. I can’t stifle the tears; they’re unstoppable. I remember Kleenex, a woman’s hand reaching toward me. I remember silence and stuffed animals. I peer into the casket and see my friend’s face. She looks peaceful, her hands folded in prayer across her chest. Maybe I don't believe in God, after all. Her face looks familiar, but seeing her like this is so foreign. I say goodbye.

****

People may say they go to the movies to be entertained, to escape the mundane realities of their own lives. While that’s often true, I’d say there’s more to it. People go to the movies to feel alive, to live vicariously through the lives of others. We seek human experiences and connections that may be lacking in our own lives. We seek to understand ourselves and our relationships just a little bit better. Looking at life through the prism of a movie, we allow ourselves to express human emotions that we may be afraid to acknowledge in real life.

Gross-out comedies. Sequels. Franchises. Merchandising. There’s a lot of schlock in Hollywood. Where have all the dramas gone? The tearjerkers? They may be harder to find, but they haven’t entirely disappeared. A handful of darker movies have been released recently. [More on the way this awards season.]

These movies reflect the emotional pulse of what people are feeling right now, given world events and economic times. These films fill a void that so many of us have tried to fill in other, less satisfying, ways. Audiences are hungry for good stories. They want films that fulfill them in ways that so many other things can’t. They want to laugh; they want to cry. They want to cringe with embarrassment on behalf of a character; they want to ponder situations they may face in their own lives. They want to leave knowing just a little bit more about themselves and the world at large. Dramas don’t have to be dark and downtrodden. Many are hopeful and inspiring. Many are funny and witty. Many are bittersweet.

I finally got around to seeing Rabbit Hole (2010). That film, based on a play of the same name, explores a marriage, a family, and previously disconnected characters that become linked by tragedy. Each of the characters handles the grief in his or her own way. Grief doesn't give you a schedule. There are no steps to follow. There is no "getting over it." You come out on the other end, forever changed. In Rabbit Hole, each character learns that to continue living in any meaningful way, he or she must move forward. Embrace one another, support each other. Acknowledge the past, but look to the future.

50/50 is another satisfying, human film. It’s rather amazing that the so-called “cancer film” was able to make it to the starting blocks, let alone get a full theatrical release. Those who haven’t seen the film may call that depressing; I call it progress. So many people are affected by cancer—directly or indirectly. And those of us who haven’t been affected by cancer worry about whether or not we might be…sometime in the future, when we’re least prepared for such news. 50/50 manages to capture both the dramatic and tragic elements of cancer diagnosis and treatment, while acknowledging that comedy can (and does) exist in those experiences, too. I’ve known (and lost) several people to cancer. There are moments when you cry and think about the possibility of living life without them. Then, there are times when you’re together and you both laugh heartily, inappropriately at the absurdity of it all:

"Your hair's growing back red and curly? How bizarre. You look like Bozo the clown!"

"But I have CANCER!" [Ahem, but you can still do your own dishes.]

These are the true moments of life. And these days, I think don’t think people want escapism as much as they want to live their lives in a real and meaningful way.

UPCOMING CHARACTER-DRIVEN FILMS:

Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011) - Haunted by painful memories and increasing paranoia, a damaged woman struggles to re-assimilate with her family after fleeing an abusive cult. UPCOMING CHARACTER-DRIVEN FILMS

Like Crazy (2011) - A British college student falls for an American student, only to be separated from him when she's banned from the U.S. after overstaying her visa.

Another Happy Day (2011) - A wedding at her parents' Annapolis estate hurls high-strung Lynn into the center of touchy family dynamics.

The Descendants (2011) - A land baron tries to re-connect with his two daughters after his wife suffers a boating accident.

The Artist (2011) - Hollywood, 1927: As silent movie star George Valentin wonders if the arrival of talking pictures will cause him to fade into oblivion, he sparks with Peppy Miller, a young dancer set for a big break.

© 2011 by KLiedle

Above film loglines from imdb.com

The Beautiful Challenge Of Short, Short Stories

Tell a story in exactly 78 words read the contest rules.

As a writer, I loved the challenge. I spend the majority of time hacking through a forest of words—the aftermath of an overwritten first draft. Everything takes multiple drafts. My brain battles with itself, the characters, the story, the whole idea I wanted to convey. I'm constantly asking myself questions:

Is this necessary? Is there another way to show this? Does killing this line make the scene more powerful?

I have to be brutal. My writing is not as concise as say, Sofia Coppola, but I’m getting better. Sometimes having constraints [whether it’s word count, budget, locations, shooting days, etc] forces you to be more creative. I loved the variety of Paris Je T’aime (2006), with its ensemble cast and eclectic group of international directors. Each of the eighteen directors had the assignment to shoot a film in a particular neighborhood of Paris. The catch was: They only got five minutes of screen-time. None of the participating directors said it was easy either, but all of them embraced the challenge.

I didn't win the contest, but no matter. As far as 78-word stories? Here are two I wrote:

Tongue-tied

Dad’s weekend. She couldn’t keep this ruse for long.

“Why so silent?” he asked.

She shrugged.

“School okay?”

The girl rolled her eyes.

“Your mom says you’ve been sneaking out. Better not be.”

“I’m not sleaking out.”

“Why are you lisping?” he demanded to know.

She stuck out her tongue. They both opened their mouths. Yelling, loud and clear.

That piercing would go! She stormed off. The door slammed. Dad had won the fight, but lost the girl.

Daisies

She smelled like Chanel. He tasted like salt. Intertwined under a comforter with daisies on it. Rays of morning light through the window. The rise and fall. One kiss had led them here. To happiness and daisies and morning light. Making love in a cheap motel.

“We can’t do this anymore,” she says.

“Sure we can. If we’re careful.”

She looks into his eyes and speaks two words:

“He knows.”

Someone pounds on the door. Room #203. Caught.

© 2011 by KLiedle

Directing In The Minority

When Jonah Hill mentioned his interest in directing, at least one person was completely baffled: Darren Aronovsky. As Hill says in this month's Esquire feature, Darren wondered why anyone would want to be a director; it's so hard.

And if you're female or minority, it's even harder. The Directors Guild Of America recently circulated their 2010-2011 TV Episodic Directors By Gender and Ethnicity.

The current statistics were less than stellar. As the report shows, 77% of TV episodes this past season were directed by Caucasian males. Caucasian females were given a chance 11% of the time, as were minority males. If you're a minority female that directed a TV episode this season? You were probably the only one-- only 1% of episodes were directed by a female of any ethnic minority. Some shows, notably Bored To Death and Curb Your Enthusiasm did not have any minority directors this season. Also at 0% hiring: Weeds and Hot In Cleveland. Ironic, since both shows have strong female leads and/or casts. On the flip side, Hung, about a basketball coach turned male gigolo, employed 60% of female or minority directors last season. I presume that having Colette Burson, a female, as co-creator of the series probably helped. Treme (45%), Mad Men (31%), and 30 Rock (30%) also fared well in their hiring practices for episodic directors.

Production companies who haven't hired minority directors have their reasons and excuses. Many are ambivalent about taking a chance on a new director. Like the rest of Hollywood, they're afraid of risk.
"But the truth is that the industry hires new directors all the time; it's just that most of them are white males," says Lesli Linka Glatter, Co-Chair of the Diversity Task Force of the DGA National Board.
Aspiring directors, filmmakers, and writers need role models to inspire them along the difficult path ahead. It's so easy to lose faith in the film and television industry, in particular, because the obstacles can seem insurmountable. Seeing a filmmaker of your own gender, ethnicity, or background get a foothold in the industry can help you stay focused on your own goals as a filmmaker.

It's also important to note that it's not just about fair hiring practices either. Filmmakers have a worldview that is influenced by their own background and circumstances, as well as their identity as individuals. Many audiences are often searching for themselves and seeking answers about life when they choose to see a particular film. They want to identify with the characters and the protagonist's plight. They want to see the world from a different viewpoint.

There seems to be a misconception that minority filmmakers can only be trusted with "minority" stories. For example, the consensus seems to be: Female filmmakers direct female stories and so-called chick flicks. Latino filmmakers direct Latino stories. This doesn't mean that a female director couldn't direct an action film or that a Latino or Latina filmmaker couldn't direct a big blockbuster. It means, they generally aren't being offered these jobs. That's a shame because, as much as we get tired of seeing the same A-list actors in every big movie, we get tired of seeing the cinematic world through the eyes of the same filmmakers in every big movie. Stories are as varied as the Earth's landscape. And so are filmmakers. It's important to remember that.

There has been recent progress, however. Movies featuring minority and strong female casts, such as Bridesmaids and The Help have surpassed expectations at the box office. The Kids Are All Right, directed by Lisa Cholodenko, made a domestic gross of $20.8 million. It was reportedly made for a paltry $4 million, and even at that level, financing nearly fell through. [ boxofficemojo ] Interestingly, Cholodenko turned around and directed an episode of Hung in 2010.

We Need To Talk About Kevin, directed by Lynne Ramsay, was getting early buzz at Toronto this month. (It premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May and is scheduled for limited release in the U.S. on December 2, 2011.)

Patty Jenkins, who wrote and directed the 2003 film Monster is currently in talks to direct Thor 2. According to Variety, Marvel has an "unconventional approach to offering its superhero tentpoles to filmmakers not necessarily top of mind when thinking of someone who might land an effects-laden summer actioner."

In other words, they're not afraid to take risks. And in so doing, they are offering chances to other types of filmmakers who would otherwise never be offered such material.

Blog content © 2011 by KLiedle

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Buckle Up, Relax, And Enjoy Your Flight.

I've flown a lot in my lifetime. Not as often as a business traveler, but probably more often than the average person. I got to experience the very tail end of the glamour era of flying-- back when kids still "earned their wings" on United and flights included not only snacks, but actual meals. As a kid, I loved playing around with the flight simulators at American Airlines headquarters in Fort Worth, TX where a family member worked. I daydreamed about being a flight attendant. Then, I got older and seriously looked into it, but I can't swim (which is a requirement in case of a water landing) and I didn't want the airline to pick where my home base was going to be. Then 9/11 happened, which sunk my interest entirely. And changed things forever.

Though the airline industry is far different now, I recently flew Delta Airlines and it reminded me of how things used to be. After the flight, I was e-mailed a survey asking for feedback on my travels. Normally, I delete those things. I don't want to take the time. Then I thought of how many people complain incessantly about airlines these days (for good reason.) There's the body scanners, removing your shoes, carry-on limitations, gels and liquids, baggage fees, overcrowded cabins...There's a lot to complain about. Since I had a surprisingly positive experience however, I felt the airline should know. Here's what I wrote:

"Flying has gotten a bad rap in recent years. I used to love to fly, now I dread it. However, I was pleasantly surprised with Delta! All 4 flights I had on my recent travels were comfortable, carry-on baggage was accommodated, even other fliers seemed to be more polite than usual. I think much of it was a result of the flight crew creating a community during our time in the skies with them. For ex: On one flight, the flight crew announced that it was our pilot's last flight; he was retiring. They passed around a framed plaque for all of us to sign. Flight attendants were pleasant and even appeared to be enjoying their jobs-- something I haven't seen in a very long time. My fellow fliers seemed to be actually enjoying the flights, too--something I also haven't seen much lately. I've flown every major airline: American, US Airways, United, Continental and several international carriers. There are some I'd never fly again, but Delta is a carrier I'll seek out in the future. I'm sure you get many more negative comments than good ones, but I'd like to say: Thank you for making my travels comfortable and enjoyable. Keep it up!"

For these reasons, I've been enticed by the the ads and billboards for the new ABC TV series, Pan Am, which is a period drama staged in the trendy world of the most famous defunct airline. I'm a huge fan of AMC's Mad Men, which jump-started the '60s nostalgia trend. That said, I have high hopes for Pan Am. I'm interested in the concept and the time period. It also stars Christina Ricci, an actor whom I think has been underutilized in recent years. I hope it's well-written. I hope the stars align and all the right elements are ready for take-off, but as with every show, the chances are slim. Maybe they won't pull it off as well as I would've liked. Maybe they're capitalizing on the resurgence of interest in the '60s. New shows, even the best of them, have a habit of disappearing into thin air. For Pan Am, I'll look to the skies and smile-- hoping for the best.

Buckle Up, Adventure calls. And thank you for choosing Pan Am!
Pan Am premieres tonight [Sept 25] 10/9c on ABC

Pan Am History

© 2011 by KLiedle

Photo credit: UW Digital Collections, Pan Am TV series promo

UPDATE:  It was announced today that Pan Am, along with many other shows, is cancelled.