November 15-Ode to the Muses

muse: a person or persona which inspires, whether in style, manner, spirit, etc.

a list of my most prominent muses, followed by why they inspire me. all have affected me as an actress, as an artist, and as a person

Johnny Depp (everything)

Audrey Hepburn (too hard to choose one thing)

Marlon Brando (A Streetcar Named Desire)

Clemence Poesy (her captivating beauty)

Julian Casablancas (so unflinchingly cool)

Nicole Kidman (Moulin Rouge)

Emile Hirsch (Into the Wild)

Keira Knightley (Pride & Prejudice)

Kat Dennings (Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist)

Leonardo DiCaprio (Romeo + Juliet)

Lauren Bacall (The Maltese Falcon)

Kirsten Dunst (The Virgin Suicides)

Natalie Portman (V for Vendetta)

Marion Cotillard (La Vie En Rose)

October 1-I WON

I WON THE SIDEWALK FILM FESTIVAL TEEN FILMMAKING CHALLENGE!
i won Final Cut Pro. yaaaaay!!!

September 27- SEE FILM RUN

Come on down!!
It's the 10th annual Sidewalk Film Festival in Birmingham, AL! 10 years of independents! This is a truly unique and special event and it's very close to my heart. I'm an aspiring filmmaker living in Birmingham, and I'm so lucky to have such a fantastically fun festival just minutes away.

Plus, this is my third year to have a film shown in the festival! (If you're in the area, it'll play on Sunday at 3pm at the McWane Center as part of the Teen Filmmaking Competition)

Last night was opening night, and the gloriously fun "Adventures of Power" played at the breathtaking Alabama Theater. Seriously, if you're ever in Birmingham, check out the Alabama Theater downtown. It was built by Paramount in 1927 and is literally a movie "palace". Plus, awesome bands play there all the time.
Anyways! As I was saying- "Adventures of Power" is a heartwarming indie directed by and starring Ari Gold (who came for a Q&A after!) along with Adrian Grenier and Jane Lynch. Totally cute!

42 feature indies are playing this weekend, many accompanied by their stars and filmmakers. Birmingham is such a cool scene and this is such a cool weekend. It is an amazing thing, so join us if you're in the area, or come by next year if you're not!

P.S. I'll fill you guys in if I win my competition!

August 12-Emile n' Jack, Genetic Mystery

Don't Jack Black and Emile Hirsch (my lover) look a heck of a lot alike???

August 8-Marry Me, Emile! <3

I watched Into the Wild last night (HIGHLY recommended, by the way), and have fallen deeply, head-over-heels in love with this man, Emile Hirsch ^

!!!

Who cares if he's 7 years older than me?! Who cares if he is shorter than me?! Who cares if I've just shared a moment with a man sculpted by the gods (Robert Pattinson, see below entry)?! Emile Hirsch is the ONLY man for me. What a dreamboat...

Take note: this is sixteen year-old-Hollywood-heartthrob-crushdom right here people!

August 6-OMG OMG Premiere Time

I went to the film premiere of Vicky Cristina Barcelona in L.A.! I also got free tickets randomly, haha. The woman in the center is everyone's sex symbol, Miss Scarlett Johansson. She is the next Marilyn Monroe if you ask me! (without the sleeping pills)

I also saw Woody Allen and Javier Bardem. It was a dream come true!!!

But possibly the most exciting part was at the end, when I accidentally shared eye contact with Robert Pattinson, who played Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and plays Edward in the upcoming Twilight film. He was polite enough to share a picture with me!:

July 11-The Heartbreaker

Say hello to W.A.L.L-E.

The absolute cutest, do-gooder, sentimental, and empathizable robot in real or fictional existence (besides, perhaps, his romantic flame E.V.E).

The film, W.A.L.L-E, though billed as a children's flick, is really for everyone and anybody. Much of the film is probably better understood by an older audience. I loved seeing this movie (twice now), but the hardest part of it was keeping a hold on my tear ducts. From beginning to adorable end, the audience wants to melt into "awww"'s as they watch W.A.L.L-E stumble around, in love with the modern, pristine robot E.V.E. Probably the best decision the filmmakers made was to have the robots basically speechless, communicating with jerky eye movements and, in W.A.L.L-E's case, squeaky wheels and un-oiled hinges as he dances and attempts to hold hands with E.V.E. It is simply incredible how touching this little box of metal is.

Before seeing the film, however, I dwelled on animation today. As time rolls on and entertainment must cater to children of this modern generation, Pixar and Disney have forged an alliance. Myself and all of my peers (and of course those before us) grew up on a healthy diet of The Lion King, Aladdin, The Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, Snow White, and so on and so forth. All of the unequivocal Disney, hand-drawn classics. These films carried such deep and unexplainable emotion that they could never be duplicated.

Then came The Incredibles, Monsters Inc., and Finding Nemo, Pixar's innovative new brainchildren. Pleasing to the eye, but didn't quite pull at the heartstrings the same way. Granted the films were well-made and emotional, they didn't have the Disney charm and child-like fantasy from before. Never had Sleeping Beauty tackled an overweight ex-superhero trying desperately squeeze into a spandex outfit. More and more sexual innuendos and adult jokes seeped into the character's mouths. Real-life problems were tackled rather than how to leave the ball before midnight.

And then W.A.L.L-E came along. A beautiful product with the heart and charm of Disney and wit and design of Pixar. With some light political and economical messages thrown in.

Go see it with the entire family. And get ready to "awwww"!

July 8-Goodbye Heath, Hello Oscar

I know, I know. Doesn't this image alone send shivers down your spine?
I remember when I first heard of this Australian heartthrob's untimely death. I was falling asleep in the back of my mom's car on the way home from school, and as soon as I heard, I didn't believe it. One second Heath Ledger is a new father, Academy Award Nominee, and budding star, and the next he's-dead?
But the Academy isn't done with Heath just yet. Or at least, I don't believe they should be.
On July 18, 2008, The Dark Knight will grace screens across the world as the next chapter in the star-studded Batman series. Ledger stars against Christian Bale's Bruce Wayne as the Joker, one of the most notorious comic book villains of them all. But there's something different about Ledger's portrayal. Something a thousand times more creepy than his predecessors...
Is it the makeup? Rendering this handsome hunk virtually unrecognizable under the front of a blind prostitute who can't get her face paint off? Or is it the fact that we are watching a spirit that has left this Earth, no doubt as the aftermath of preparing for this extremely challenging role?
Or is it just the fact that he's damn good?
I believe that we have a lot to expect from Ledger's final role, and I, and I'm sure many others, will be shocked to not find his name in the ballots once again.

June 19-Shine On

алло!
I just saw this film last night and fell completely, head over heels in love with it.
Directed by the master of eerie, Stanley Kubrick (A Clockwork Orange, 2001: A Space Odyssey), and based on the novel by Steven King, this film haunts and horrifies and leaves an indelible impression. The story is about Jack Torrance (played by the playfully demonic Jack Nicholson), a writer who takes a job as the winter caretaker of a huge, beautiful, and spooky hotel in the mountains of Colorado. With him, he brings his wife Wendy (played by the wispy, vulnerable Shelley Duvall) and his son, Danny (Danny Lloyd). In the first 30 minutes of the film, we are introduced to some cringe-worthy topics. The hotel's history, including the previous caretaker's murder of his wife and daughters, Jack's previous abuse of his son, Danny's imaginary friend "Tony", and a foresighted cook played by Scatman Kruthers.
This information haunts our subconscious as we watch the family dissolve into the horrors of the Overlook Hotel. We watch Jack give into his dark side, Danny surrender to the orders of his inner demon, Tony, and Wendy shrivel in fear. All without too much actual action or scene-change.
The fear derived from the film is all from the craft work of Kubrick. The music drives the film incredibly, with an Oscar-worthy score by Béla Bartók. The crashing percussion and urgent violins can make your heart race during some of the calmest scenes. The cinematography is exquisite, capturing the spooky vastness of the story's main set, the Overlook Hotel, with a sense of appreciation mixed with looming disaster. Even if you don't fully enjoy the film, the behind-the-scenes are worth watching. They include intimate moments with Jack Nicholson, a playful interview with the talented young star, Danny Lloyd, Kubrick vs. Duvall squabbles, and the joyous tears of Scatman Kruthers.
I have loved each and every one of Stanley Kubrick's masterpieces, but this is definitely my favorite. So wait until dark, gather your loved ones, and enjoy your week at Colorado's scenic Overlook Hotel...

June 15-Personal Entry #2

"claire de lune" makes me cry

June 10-Percipitation

Rain is so lovely.
The beautiful thunder rumbles comfortingly outside the window.
The babysitter said it was God bowling, but I never needed shelter from its strong explosion.
I love thunder and always have.
Then the rain starts, like hot tears that have been welling up in the clouds' eyes for days. The thunder has been chiding and offending the bruised clouds and finally they let go.
And it is lovely.
A good cry can drain out even the harshest emotions. So can a good rain.
Curl up on your bed, cover your head with sheets.
Be lulled by the unearthly percussion and the relieved sheets of fallen water.
Rain refreshes.
Rain, rain come back again, Go away another day.

June 9-Munny Munny Munny

Hey!

This is my newly decorated Munny from Kidrobot!!

It's a short white (or pink or blue) figurine which you can decorate with whatever your little creative soul desires. Perfect for a rainy day! And, for the more experienced graphic designer, a very versatile and inspiring prototype! Anyway you use your "Munny", it gives a futuristic and playful feel to wherever it sits.

To decorate mine, I used neon pink nail polish, and colored sharpies!

Where do you get a Munny?

For "mini Munnies" like this one, you should be able to find one for $10 at your local Urban Outfitters, or online at Kidrobot.com. The larger models are exclusively online.

HAVE FUN!

June 5-Personal Entry #1

Dia Ghuit!

So, it's summer for us hard-working highschoolers. Time to lean back and relax, right?
NOT
At least not for me. I recently started a job at a Rave movie theater, and it's draining me. I work from 5:30 p.m. to 10:45 p.m. standing in the box office punching buttons and wearily watching as large groups of uneducated, irresponsible, and immature 16 year olds buy tickets for "The Chronicles of Narnia" (yeah, I'm not stupid). I also need to make a film for my city's film festival and the Muse hasn't paid me a visit in a couple of months.
I'll be okay, I just felt like venting.

Thanks for reading if you did
:D

June 3-KIDROBOT TAKES OVER

EVERYONE VISIT KIDROBOT.COM!

just look around for a bit-i promise you will not regret it!

here's the link: http://www.kidrobot.com/index.cfm?cfid=7189863&cftoken=37462429

now go have fun!

June 2-Mein Liebe...

Hallo!

Sorry about the skips, I've been busy.

So I showed a picture in an earlier post of Bill and Tom Kaulitz of the German band Tokio Hotel.

Now this band is not my usual taste, as I've always been a fan of indie rock (DEATH TO THE MAINSTREAM!), however this group has fascinated me immensely.

The band includes four dashing young German "jungs", the singer, Bill (center left), the guitarist, Tom (center right), the bassist, Georg (far right), and Gustav (far left), the drummer.

Their music is definitley for the teen set, encouraging standing up for one's self, rebelling against authority, and ballads about fighting urges of suicide and preachings of love. No wonder girls can't get enough.

Their stage presence is immense, aided by their unique sense of personal style.

Look into their music and check them out on Youtube. They're a fun band and are sure to entertain and maybe even capture your special affection.

May 28-Suddenly

Bonjour!

Well, I think I realized today that I am fully an adolescent.

• easily frustrated with parents/authority figures: check
• increasingly interested in the opposite sex and/or sexuality: check
• seeking independence: check
• greasy hair/acne: check

Ah yes. Haha, the transformation is complete. I remember when I was little, my science class watched a video called "Teen Dreams", one of those videos that everyone watches at some point and whose images never escape the sub-conscience. I always thought: well I'm not going to be like that! Angry at my parents, obsessed with makeup. But it's really a transformation that's against your will. I don't feel like I've lost myself though. I still love my family more than anything in the world. I don't party or do drugs, and it disappoints me when my friends do. I don't have sex and I don't dress provocatively. I am ultimately an open, very creative person. I love the world around me, and I simply want to explore it more. Sure there are the rebellious teenagers out there, partying and "not giving a fuck". But there are a lot out there like me. Young adults with good intentions but way too big dreams.

Suddenly, we're who we never thought we'd be.

May 27-M.I.A-Bonafide Husseler

Hola!

Today's topic is everyone's favorite Sri-Lankan lady rapper, M.I.A.

I discovered her when I heard her song "Paper Planes" from her new Kala album in my friend's car. I immediately became infatuated. The thing about M.I.A is that you either see her, fall in love with her style, and THEN hear her music and fall in love with it too, or the reverse. That's how I came to know her first. M.I.A's style is intoxicating. She wears daily what we all wish we could indulge in. Shiny, neon outfits with everything from metallic Converses to candy-colored bangles. Even Marc Jacobs can't get enough of her playful charm, casting her in his latest photo shoots. Or maybe It's her London street accent that has us swooning, like that of Lily Allen or Lady Sovereign.

I believe that the most refreshing thing about M.I.A is her message. While Fergie and Mariah Carey seem to surrender themselves to pop culture's expectations of female artists, what with songs like "Fergalicious" (Everytime I turn around/Brothers gather 'round/ always lookin' at me up and down/Looking at my "uh") and the self-explanatory "Touch My Body", M.I.A raps about war and poverty. Two of M.I.A's music videos for Kala were filmed in poverty stricken-areas, "Boyz" in Africa and "Bird Flu" in India. Her song "Hussel" communicates with third-world refugees scrounging for survival. One of the most entertaining and insightful songs on the album is "Mango Pickle Down River" which features a group of amateur boy rappers called the Morganics.

But don't worry. If you're not in the mood to empathize with third-world civil wars, songs like "Boyz", "Jimmy", and "Paper Planes" should satisfy you're sugary pop appetite. And don't miss M.I.A's collaboration with Timbaland on the final track.

I recommend that everyone should have a healthy dose of the lovely M.I.A!

And yes-that is the Pixies song "Where Is My Mind" for the chorus pf "20 Dollar"

May 26-Personal Triumph

Salut!
Okay-Well since NOBODY reads my blog, I thought I'd post this to myself.
I did this through the Sims 2! I found a cheat online which explained how to make your sims paint your own photos. It took some maneuvering, and my sim's pregnant mother died during the process from neglect, but i made this ubercool product! It's Bill Kaulitz-Me-Tom Kaulitz.
I am very very proud :D

May 25-An Apple a Day Keeps Competition Away

Guten Tag!
So many topics were running through my head today, but I decided to focus on Apple's revolution in modern culture. Apple is currently the most popular electronic entertainment company in existence, and has a solid stake in both pop and business culture. I believe that one of the reasons for Apples's success is its subtle charm. Even with what must be an amazing revenue on their part, Steve Jobs, the mastermind behind the company, still shows up to demonstrate his newest electronic brainchildren in a black turtleneck and boot-cut jeans. The stores are streamlined, yet still personable, with helpful, resident geeks at the playfully named customer service desk called the "Genius Bar". If anything, it's Apple's witty and winning Ipod commercials that do the trick. Here are some of my personal favorites:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDFkRMNeZo4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cxp5kHEzv70
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKxGfLo7Cqo

Also, their funny and simple Mac (Apple's computer) vs. PC commercials.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQb_Q8WRL_g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PwiljBN5-8&feature=related

Tip to all musicians: have a song in an Apple ad. Indie bands like the Fratellis, the Ting Tings, Feist, the South American group CSS, and Israeli folk singer Yael Naim have all been aided in record sales by the geniuses behind the Apple advertisements.

Apple has three main products (the Mac, the Ipod, and now, the Iphone) and all are hugely popular.
Tip to rising entrepreneurs: take a page from Steve Job's book, and you'll be on the fast track to success.

May 24-Sweet Home Alabama

Hello!
I'm Anna (pronounced like Ana, like "ON-A table")
This is my first post on my new blog and I'm very excited to join the blogging community.
I'm 16 and I live in Alabama. Let me say a little bit about Alabama. Alabama is among the most prejudiced and ignored areas of the United States. I don't have a Southern accent, and neither do any of my friends. I'm proud to say that my father is from Ireland and my mother from Michigan. However, I am still proud of my state. Yes, some prejudices are still true. The majority of people in Alabama live in cheap homes or trailer parks, enjoy beer, barbecque, and NASCAR, and consider Wal-Mart clothing "high fashion". However, I'm sick of all this "Southern people are racists" stuff. African-Americans make up a huge percentage of Alabama's population. Montgomery is the home of Civil Rights. Southerners face the issue of racism everyday, and because of that, we as a whole have become a thousand times more tolerant. I have never met a racist Alabamian in my 16 years living here. I know they're out there, but from what I have seen, there are problems with racism in every state. Also, Alabama has a profoundly beautiful culture. The Gee's Bend Quilts (http://www.quiltsofgeesbend.com/) and musicians like Emmylou Harris are proud to call Alabama their home. Southern Literature is hugely prized, with world-renowned authors like William Faulkner (The Sound and the Fury), Tennessee Williams (A Streetcar Named Desire), Truman Capote (In Cold Blood), Mark Twain (The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn) and Harper Lee (To Kill a Mockingbird). I have met extraordinarily talented Alabamians, people who don't get any of the credit that they fully deserve.
Stop sneering at Alabama and consider that it has something to give. Because it does. There is a warmth (both physical and spiritual) in Alabama, that I have never witnessed in any other part of this Earth.

"The South. You can't understand it. You'd have to be born there."
-William Faulkner