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Through Creative Life and Other Fancies, I seek to inspire and inform people about living as a creative person. Here you will find my successes, failure, and best of all, attempts. Enjoy!

Sunday, January 30, 2011

And the nominees are...

The Oscar nominations are in!  And surprise, surprise "The King's Speech" tops the noms.  I haven't seen this movie yet but can't wait to see it.  I have loved Colin Firth's work in almost everything I've seen him in so it doesn't surprise me that the Academy (and evidently every other major award giving body) is acknowledging him for this performance.


Then, of course, there's "Black Swan".  I tried desperately to go see this film at TIFF in September but given the buzz around it then and now, I should not have been surprised to find it sold out.  For those of you that know me, it shouldn't be shocking that I would want to see a ballet thriller, psycho-drama.   Natalie Portman, like Mr. Firth, is just awesome and has been for years.  While the majority of my age group in high school and early university were going on about current hearthrobs and the Lindsay Lohan's of the day, I loved Natalie and her talent.  So it's really about time she wins!


Now when it comes to the actual Best Picture category, I have a hard time playing favourites.  I loved "The Social Network" and "Inception" blew my mind like everyone else.  And the Academy loves true story dramas so "127 Hours" could take it too. I also haven't seen "Toy Story 3" but I love the fact that an animated feature made the list.  Perhaps Woody and Buzz deserve it too.


It's a hard call but one that I enjoy getting into every year.  At least there aren't any blue, cat-eyed people this year.


Happ creating!






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Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Goals, Goals, GOALS: An Update

So I'm booked to do some filming already!  Or will be in the near future.  Thanks universe...oh and my dear friend and filmmaker extraordinare.  More to come!

Monday, January 24, 2011

Goals, goals, GOALS!!!!

As you all know from a previous post, life has changed for me.  I'm now a Monday to Friday person with two consecutive days off.  I've got a ton more time than I used to which I'm happily using for my creative endeavours.  My artist soul is jumping for joy!


So it's now time to look at those goals and adjust them a teeny tiny bit.  And to really put it out there, I'm taking a page from a follower blogger (thanks Tyler!) and putting those goals out there on the worldwide interweb.  Here they are:


1) Finish my production company's first short film and get it on the festival circuit.  As many of you know, I've dreamed of running my own company for a few years now and I've finally started taking steps towards this.  Look for some great things in 2011 in this regard!


2) Write more.  Writing has always been a big part of my life and unfortunately over the last few years, it has constantly been pushed to the back burner.  So more blog posts, short stories, and maybe a novella in the year to come.


3) Act more.  Yes, yes, yes.  This is always a goal of mine and always will be.  Acting is like a drug to me and I can't do without it!  To clarify what I mean here, I will seek out more acting opportunities either by creating them myself, getting more parts through traditional auditioning, or reaching out to the contacts I have to see what projects they are working on.  Anyone need a cute redhead for a part?  :)


4) Be more financially fit.  I suck at budgeting.  Really, really, REALLY suck at it.  But I swear and cross my heart that I will get better at it.  Debt, I'm coming for you.


5) Be more physically fit.  Showbiz is all about image and a girl's gotta keep at it to keep in it!  I usually love working out but I'm pretty sure our household is about to become addicted to it.  Kinect, anyone?


So those are the biggies.  There are more little ones but that's a good start.  That's me, putting it out there.  How about you?  Any goals you want the world to know?  The web provides great accountability!


Happy creating!

Monday, January 17, 2011

Women in Film

I'm not normally a huge feminist.  Yes, I believe in equal opportunity and salary for all and I love my right to vote but I also love the occasional opening of doors and covering the bill.  What I am passionate about is women in Hollywood and getting more major female players on the scene.


Hollywood is a man's town, from actors to producers and directors.  Name five big name male producers and directors.  Now do the same for the women.  Yeah.  Harder, right?  This is why I was so excited to see this post on Women in Hollywood about a female producer funding a female director's project.  You've probably heard of "The Hurt Locker" by now.  It won the Oscar for best picture last year.  A few cool things about this film;


1) Awesome independent film.  You can tell when you watch it that it's not a studio film and that makes it even better;
2) It tells a great current war time true story;
3) It was directed and produced by a woman.


Kathryn Bigelow is slowly becoming my hero.  Honestly.  She was passionate about this story and this script and got it made.  And now she's doing again for her new project.  No title as of yet but it's going to be another true war story, possibly based on an black ops mission to capture Osama Bin Laden.  And she's found financing through another female player in Hollywood named Meagan Ellison.


What I love about this is that it provides inspiration to those of us who are trying to do the same.  Stories like this show that it is possible with determination and creativity.  It may take years of toil but it is possible.  I also love the fact that Kathryn is directing war/action/drama films.  She's breaking the mold and not doing another dating movie starring Katherine Heigl.  Don't get me wrong.  I love Katherine Heigl and a great rom com but I  what I like even more is women taking chances and doing it well.  And I especially love when women back up women.  Too often are we catty and mean to each other as we try to get ahead (sit in an audition waiting room and see what I mean) so when I see instances of us actually lending a hand, I get warm fuzzies.


You go girls.  Keep breaking down those doors.  The rest of us are waiting to come too.


Happy creating!

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Tough Choices

It's a new year and it's already been a month of tough choices.  Remember that blog post about finding time and doing what you love?  Well, I up-ed the ante on that one a little bit.  I changed jobs completely.  Now don't get me wrong.  I loved my old job.  I loved the people.  Loved, loved, loved.  Actually, still love the people and hope to do dinner and drinks some time soon.  But it was time to make the call between work and life and health.  So I did and here I am doing what I preach.


OK.  Deep breath.  Get ready, set, go.


To be continued...