Archive for the 'arts and literature' Category
Truthfully, there are three HotDocs 2010 documentaries I’d been most eagerly awaiting: “And Everything is Going Fine,” on monologist Spalding Gray, “Anne Perry - Interiors,” about the crime writer’s murder past, and “Blank City,” an exploration of punk rock in 1970s New York.
So far, I’ve caught only one out of the three films — “And Everything is Going Fine,” Steven Soderbergh’s tribute to Gray using interview clips and excerpts from performances. Using the timeline of his life to tell Gray’s story, Soderbergh captured him in many introspective moments, some in which one would imagine the man would want to be left on his own. He was, however, a poetic journalist, as he put it — always documenting everything for the public to see.
read comments (1)Casting Director Audition Tips
Author: caroline
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 »
A visit to the MOMA: American Stories: Paintings of Everyday Life
Author: caroline
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.
Writing for the love of it
Author: caroline
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 »
Deconstructing: Globe and Mail article on the TIFF boycott
Author: caroline
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.
Movie directors I’m fond of and more
Author: caroline
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 »
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 »
Eye Weekly CMW Showcase at the Gladstone
Author: caroline
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 »
Slumdog Millionaire review, a prettily painted picture
Author: caroline
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.
Lives of Others movie review
Author: caroline
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..