Carolime Time

I met with a group of producers, actors and a cinematographer tonight for a project we’re working on together. We’ve all got high hopes for it as it’s already been noticed by a huge Canadian network. After getting through the business talk of what role each of us would have and production days, we all sat back for some chit chat on a more social level. As a side note, I always leave these scenarios feeling really insecure and unsure of how I present myself on a personal level — maybe it’s because their opinions matter to me, as much as my co-workers’  opinions matter to me in a media setting (as I mentioned in a previous article On Panics in the Workplace)..Though this meeting featured no entertaining panic attacks. LOL.

Anyway, one of the writers, who is also a cinematographer, was sitting beside me. I engaged him in a lengthy discussion on everything from feature film-making to documentary film-making (as you know this is the industry in which I work on a more regular basis) and acting. For his bread and butter (and what sweet, filling bread and butter it must be!), he works as the man behind the camera in those spaces we all dread and yearn for — the casting room. So he sees all the inner workings of  casting directors at auditions and, often, the director, writer, producer and their moms. This guy works for one of the top casting ladies in Toronto and I had some questions to ask him about what goes on behind the scene. Some of you might already know the answers to these things, but I thought I’d share some wisdom for the audition room: Read the rest of this entry »

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I visited the MOMA (Metropolitan Museum of Art) today and wandered around this massive building for almost three hours. We started with Egyptian art and mummies, moving on to the Byzantium period and then European art. We were not so into these exhibits, not till we reached, maybe,  the European Renaissance section.

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God, I miss writing for the love of it. I never make the time these days, not even to write to myself. And when I do write to myself, they’re mangled indulgences text messaged to myself, often observations, regularly my internal conflicts. I am not emotionally nor mentally numbed, no, but I channel it… Read the rest of this entry »

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As taken from the Globe and Mail: Signing protest letter was rash, Fonda says

I deconstruct the writing in an article from the Globe and Mail regarding the Toronto Declaration, the Toronto International Film Festival and the role of the Brand Israel campaign in TIFF 2009

My remarks are in italics. Please note the bold when reading.

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Sitting on the patio at O’Grady’s, in Toronto’s Church and Wellesley neighborhood, also known simply as the “village”..a friend asked me who my favourite directors are. Earlier in the evening, upon being reminded that I’m an actor, she asked me if I could cry on the spot. Now, this question is a crime in our religion (known as “performian” to those who practice:p), but I forgave D on the spot ’cause I like her and she has good intentions..so I decided to educate her on the “cry on the spot, now, actor!” command: never ask an actor to cry on the spot. Read the rest of this entry »

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On the Thursday night of Canadian Music week, I visited the Supermarket for the BC Music Showcase. On the Wednesday night, as discussed in an earlier entry, I went to the Eye Weekly CMW Showcase at the Gladstone.  Luckily, I had media access to all the Canadian Music Week shows.

I was quite pumped for this Supermarket show, in that I’ve been listening to opening guy Mani Khaira’s stuff NON STOP since I discovered him through the Canadian Music Week site. I decided to make his stuff my new infatuation. I go through this at times, where I listen to the same band over and over again, sometimes 6 or 7 times a day. I did this with Gabriel & Dresden, Fiona Apple, Alanis Morrissette and a few specific songs–The Fear (remix, Dresden & Johnston), You’re My Heart (Lionness), and several others I can’t think of at this hour. Read the rest of this entry »

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I was moved to write about my Canadian Music Week experiences while reading Sarah Liss’ CBC blogs on the Eye Weekly showcase. I attended this Canadian Music Week 2009 show at the Gladstone Wednesday night, and was equally impressed with the turnout. Read the rest of this entry »

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I just watched Slumdog Millionaire with my parents and brother(s).

It is referred to as the “feel good movie” of the year. As the winner of the Toronto International Film Festival’s Cadillac Award, with high ratings from pretty much every self-proclaimed movie critic I know on the ground, I went in with my expectations reined in. When I say reined in, I tried not to expect anything, but secretly knew I’d be fine.

Rightfully so, I was laughing and engaged within the first ten minutes. Off with a bang, the movie had my mom sitting upright. Having been brought up in Mumbai, she was immediately disgusted by the idea of a slum depicted on the big screen. “Chi, chi, what shit is this we’re watching?,” I heard her mumble when the lead character jumped into a pile of feces. I found this reaction particularly interesting, as I know there are Indians around the world from a generation before mine who have grown up in this place I’m not from directly. They are not as prone to pitying the slum kids without the charming texture of film, and are moreso desensitized to the poverty if not disgusted by it.

Using the timeline of a police interrogation and the popular TV show “Who Wants to Be A  Millionaire,” a young slum boy/chaiwallah is shown answering pop culture and general knowledge questions accurately and easily, one after another, much to the distaste of those in classes above him.

Directed by Danny Boyle, of Trainspotting fame,  the film plays on the current world fascination with Mumbai, India in general, and the exoticism of India’s scents and colours in pop culture. Like the speed of change in India, Boyle uses careening cars, trains, and chappal’d feet to tell the story of India’s race to success. The corruption, which every Mumbai’ite nods their head to, is apparent in Slumdog Millionaire, and those of us who are shielded from such harsh realities drop our jaws in awe. I was pleased to see my mother’s heartstrings sufficiently tugged. She was pulled in within a half hour as death, fire, and fighting struck the lives of innocent children. Truthfully, as I watched the film, I could’ve sworn I’d seen those same little girls and boys at my window and rickshaw openings in Bandra, asking for change or trying to sell me books. Really. I can’t tell the difference.There is so much truth to this film.

I guess this is Boyle’s modus operandi, in that he takes themes that are otherwise a harsh reality, jazzes them up a bit, perhaps glamourizes them to an extent to make them audience and ratings-friendly, and throws them out there to be gobbled up. It’s really prettily gift-wrapped and is told in the perfect Bollywood-esque style. And, like the Bollywood stories that are all the rage in India, Slumdog’s lead character is the object of much affection from all classes towards the end of the movie. One scene stood out to me in which the window of the slum-kid-turned-chaiwallah-turned-millionaire was being tapped on not for the sake of begging and getting some money, but to root for a slum kid on his way out and living what one may call “The Indian Dream.” ..to become a star, to be chosen from the masses, by chance, a city of 12 million or so people, and to have the opportunity to not only be rich but also famous.

I definitely felt good afterwards, although it’s obvious not all endings are so happy for the slum kids of Mumbai. You may as well hand one a hundred rupee note from your rickshaw and remind yourself that you’ve done your good deed for the day.

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I just watched Lives of Others, and I have to tell people to check it out…
It’s about state security surveillance of civilians, movers, and shakers in East Germany before the wall fell.
It plays out via the timeline of a romantic relationship and a bit more.
There are eyes everywhere in this film. Not just watching, but being watched. Watched, as they watch. By us, by each other.
The characters are in their bare minimums, at home, in their workplace, in their bedrooms. I guess that’s something that attracts us to movies in the first place. We want to watch others fall, pick themselves up, or sink further..as all humans are prone to doing.
The characters are meant to be taken in on a personal level here, I’d say. Not in a documentary form, where you know it’s a hard-edged truth..or when you gulp slowly and bear witness… When one finds themselves empathizing with numerous sides of a struggle, it must be admitted that the director is doing a damn good job illustrating the internal conflicts of all those involved. It wasn’t especially dazzling in its originality as a story, nor is it a wooden rollercoaster of emotions. No, I wouldn’t say I even fell in love with any one character. I was, however, peering closely to see what was in the distance of each shot. So I was immersed. I totally thought I was part of the government security, keeping an eye out on anything that seems out of place…But, of course, I’d probably fall hard for any person I’m told to watch full time. How could I not?

anyway………….i should probably get back to work haaah good night—
y’all better go watch this movie! i didn’t write this for fun!! it’s a wicked flick.. i almost cried AND I didn’t fall asleep!
Btw I was watching Benny and Joon the other night…I need to watch the rest of that movie sooooooon–i very reluctantly fell asleep in the first hour, and was really liking all the quirkiness…!! so yeah maybe i’ll recommend that next..
i’m also resisting all temptation to pause in my readings and paste further excerpts from ’shantaram’…i just got to the love part of the book and i’m entering carefully just because it’s so thick that i’m sure the rest of the book isn’t about love! it can’t be!!!

and so closes another play by play page from my memoirs..sigh..

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Listing the concerts I’ve attended..I can’t offer a synopsis or recollections of all, as some have faded..but I can note the ones that stood out most. Those with stars beside them mean I have something to say for that event. So stay tuned!

Alanis Morrissette (1996, Toronto) w. OLP

~at the tender age of 11, I was hoisted onto my father’s shoulders to sing along to Alanis’  honest and often crass lyrics. I recall energy and anger onstage, and hearing my first vocation to music. She was an excellent role model for young women, not afraid of voicing her opinions or screaming in order to be heard. I loved the way she swept the stage. My Alanis days were such that I’d spend hours in my bed, staring at the ceiling and listening to words I sometimes didn’t understand (a la “You Oughta Know”..go down on you in a theatre?! huh?) and other times felt all-too-well (a la “Forgiven”) It was at this show that I first saw Our Lady Peace perform, as well as the Wild Strawberries. I remember being impressed with OLP, pre-Clumsy, mid-Naveed.

Edgefest 98 (1998, Toronto)

~ though Edgefest these days barely makes a dent in my music-going plans, this show was THE initiation into Canadian music coolness, for me. I remember the suspense being high, and waiting outside at 6am to enter the show because we were so excited. Honestly, we were first in line and chatting with security. I mean, not only was it the biggest summer music festival in the GTA, but it actually had cool bands–like I Mother Earth (Edwin era), Greenday (the first album I ever bought with my own money–tape, of course), Moist, Matthew Good, etc. At the time, these were all very important bands to me. And hey, I might not think all of them are cool these days, but I think I was on a good start for a 13yr old! It’s funny how sometimes you go to these huge festivals and your radar totally misses one of the opening bands, only to find yourself obsessing about them a few years, nay, months later. This happened in the case of Edgefest, and even the above-mentioned show re: OLP. At Edgefest, I didn’t pay any attention to Sloan and in the aftermath have come to respect them as a tried, tested and true source of good Canadian music that doesn’t go stale. I’ve still never been to a Sloan show. Anyway, I remember the crowning moment of the night was not when Billie Joe Armstrong mooned us (I have a vague recollection of this moment, in fact, it may not have ever taken place) but when Edwin from IME sang David Bowies  “I’m Afraid of Americans.”

It’s too bad his stuff wasn’t so great post-IME, or maybe post-2000. I also am not fond of Greenday’s post-2000 music–I can’t stand the song “Time of your Life.” Other reasons this show did NOT stay on my mind is because I was not a fan of Bif (ew), Creed and Tea Party (at time time). It seems recent Edgefest sohws have been hit and miss, with some excellent bands like Metric, Stone Temple Pilot and Hot Hot Heat mixed with other less-than stellar groups like Billy Talent and Simple Plan.

Christina Aguilera (1999, Toronto)*** I’ll admit she has a great voice, we had fab seats (7th row ACC) cause my aunt hooked us up for free

Our Lady Peace (1999) It took me awhile to like OLP after Naveed. I thought it was too clean, too pretty. But after this show, I had to admit they are talented. Raine Maida is quite the crooner, and I think their music itself will appeal to just about anyone–from the rock-loving sort to the soothing alternative ballad. In later years, I grew very fond of the song he did with his wife Chantal, “Can’t Make it Good.” They harmonize really beautifully on this song, and it’s a bit eerie the sort of darkness the song induces. Using some sort of old record player recording effect, it sounds like it was taped in a vine-covered Victorian mansion way out in the country. I always found the lyrics to OLP’s poetry-like, story-telling music very enthralling. I used to sit there with their album lyrics and listen while reading, making up my own meaning to the words. The show was good but it was long ago. Free tickets again, score:)

No Doubt (1999 or 1997, Toronto)*** Gwen Stefani was super cool at the time, jumping on top of speakers, holding the mic out for all of us to jump in, doing everything a young girl wants to do but not getting in trouble for it. Platinum blond hair, outrageous red pants and cherry lipstick, she made the show. The Tragic Kingdom album was something for all of us going through puberty, as I think she herself was quite young when writing the album. It was like reading Seventeen magazine. She wrote honest, confessional songs about drummer Tony and her infatuation with him, she talked about beating the system with “Just a Girl”..these were all very motivational for the young soul.

Warped Tour (1998 or 1999, Toronto)

Silverchair, Foo Fighters (2000?, toronto)

Blink 182 (2000?, toronto)

Tori Amos (2003, August, Toronto)***

Common, Jean Grae (2003, September, Montreal)***

The Dears (2003-2004ish, Montreal)***

Nelly Furtado (2004, Summer, Toronto)

Curiosa Festival (2004, August, Toronto)***

Interpol (2005?, Club Soda?, Montreal)

Finger Eleven (2005, September, Montreal)***

Think About Life (2006, Summer, Toronto Harbourfront)***

The Stills (2006, Summer, Toronto—twice—once at Mod Club, another time we performed on the same stage!)***

Socalled (2006? 2007? February, Montreal)***

DJ Carl Cox (2006ish, Montreal, Stereo)***Held in Montreal’s legendary dance club, Stereo, this was off the hook for all the revved up dancers. Some were, of course, on drugs. But others were just high on this DJs hard, edgy take on up and coming house music.

DJ David Guetta (2008, March, Toronto)***I recall having one drink at this event, held at Toronto’s least favourite venue, Circa, yet dancing unstoppably. Considered one of the world’s best DJs , Guetta made a LOT of waves throughout 2007 and 2008. He times his entrances and exits well, and the crowds love him.

Jamie Lidell (2008, June, Toronto)***

Nomadic Massive (2008, June, Montreal)***Alright, I saw Nomadic Massive randomly in the summer of 2008. It was a delicious night, the streets were crowded for the Montreal Jazz Festival, but there was something going on in hidden folds of the Les Saints, at St. Catherine and St. Laurent.

Rock the Bells: Immortal Technique, Mos Def, Cool Kids, Nas, Dead Prez, 9^th wonder (2008, August, NYC)***

DJ Kaskade (2008, August, Toronto, boat cruise)***

Virgin Festival (Moby, Oasis, Yoav) (2008, September, Toronto Island)***

DJ David Dresden (2008, October, Circa, Toronto)***

~A good friend got us hooked up with line bypass and comps for this show (thanks Rubeel!!) at Circa. Truthfully, I had ulterior motives for planning this night out—I wanted to pass some of my music by Dresden, of former Gabriel & Dresden fame. I was quite speechless the first time I heard “Tracking Treasure”, a masterpiece in electronic house history if you ask me, and was convinced I could be the next Molly Bancroft on one of their albums. Of course, the now-defunct Gabriel & Dresden is not producing anything together these days, except for some side projects that I can’t seem to gather info on. Anyway, I got to the party and my whole goal was to pass on my demo. Along the way, I hit up the dancefloor, which was spinning with heavy beats. Dresden only went solo about 6months ago, in May of this year.  To be completed  

Chromeo, Jamie Lidell (2008, October, Toronto, MUZIK—Red Bull Presentation)***

~A deep respect for the versatile Jamie Lidell led me to a last minute decision one Thursday evening to watch this truly talented individual for a second time. Set in Muzik Nightclub, this was an unlikely show.

Traditionally, the venue is reserved for the likes of pretentious party airs, would-be debutantes and bottle service a la top 40 weekend clubbing. I was pleased to hear the show would take place here, though, as it actually is one of the more physically beautiful venues in the city. High, domed ceilings and tastefully decorated spaces meant a very trendy, sexy atmosphere.

I wouldn’t have expected Jamie Lidell to be paired with Chromeo, otherwise spokespersons for hipster whims. I find Jamie Lidell to be a purist musically, even with his use of electronic samples and a looper delay pedal. Of course, you will soon realize I have an affinity for any artist that uses a looper delay pedal. Lidell effectively creates a sound onstage, using his DJ’d mélanges of beatboxed layers and orally constructed sound. I obviously love this artist. He did seem a little uncomfortable in this venue, especially compared to his more intimate, less glitzy show at the Opera House just 4 months before in Toronto, where I believe he really shone. Read above for my recollections on that performance. This is not a bad venue for performers, but I do think Muzik should be reserved for a certain style of musician. Fellow artists like [chilli] Gonzales and Peaches would do well in performing at Muzik, as they are less vocally based and Lidell’s latest album is far more soulful and R&B-centered than some of his electronic ventures and electronic partners in crime.

As for Chromeo, to be honest, I was not at all moved by their music and never have been able to listen to a whole album straight…however, I had fun dancing and they have a bit of an iconic presence onstage. They had sunglasses at night, and the whole shebang…they were fun, and so was the crowd I was rolling with.  

Feist (2008, November, Toronto, ACC)

~after listening to this woman non-stop for months on end, sometimes playing on repeat the same song (usually ‘intuition’ or ‘let it die’ or ‘limit to your love’ or..really, i could name every song), i procured tickets to her concert. ok, truthfully, my ex bought them for my birthday and we considered getting back together just for that night due to the excess of coupledom at this show. Feist’s performance was the sort where you’d need a shoulder to lean on. ACC only used half the arena, which made the setting a lot more intimate than expected.

With extremely dimmed lighting, I almost didn’t know anyone was beside me till I reached out and needed someone beside me. It was not a dramatic performance, but I think given the poetic  deference proffered by Feist’s lyrics, a delicious silence was created in the otherwise huge and hollow stadium. Her voice is like whipped cream, the real kind, cool and refreshing and enjoyed by the spoonful in private and when no one’s watching. So dark in that room, no one would catch a downpour of tears.

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