Carolime Time

The Good Things, Dubai: Grocery Shopping

caroline — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 09:06:35 +0000

Yesterday was the first time I’ve gone grocery shopping in Dubai. Previously, I’d quickly grabbed snacks at Spinneys and stopped off at the Carrefour for necessities, but nothing more. And, though Spinney’s is apparently good for meats, the rest of the items are overpriced. So we headed onwards to Lulu Hypermarket and started picking at the oh-so-many goodies there. I was literally salivating in the fruits and vegetables section. (more…)

Casting Director Audition Tips

caroline — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 06:48:45 +0000

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: (more…)

A visit to the MOMA: American Stories: Paintings of Everyday Life

caroline — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 01:32:46 +0000

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.

(more…)

Travel Tips for Goa and maybe Mumbai, Cochin, Bangalore, etc.

caroline — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 16:27:40 +0000

Hey!It is Christmas Day and I’m writing a blog post! A lot of my loved ones and friends live in India or are visiting this winter, so I am reminded of my past travels to this region. I don’t wish I was there, but do remember good times spent on the streets of Mumbai, beaches of Goa and boats of Cochin. I don’t lay claim to being a pro on India, but these are the basic recollections I gathered about a month ago after a friend asked for suggestions on his trip. It’s about time I posted it on my blog!!!

(more…)

That ad series I love, forgot the company

caroline — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 04:51:51 +0000

My dad and I just realized we both love the exact same ad: The incredulous fat kid with the red truck! I love him! (more…)

caroline — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:52:24 +0000

most of the time, i;ve looked at her with envy. i blow her off in a fit of spite, while admiring her from the corner of my eye. she’s everything i;ve wanted to be she’s everything im not. she does all the things i wish i could do, says all the things i’ve been unable to put into words. She has me rapt not with love or affection but with shock and jealousy. i used to hate her cause i was nothing like her for she was everythoing i wished i could be. the way she looked at the sky, the way her footsteps made a sound, the way she walked with direction, making heads turn from all corners and in all angles. the first time i saw her, i watched her. she watched me, too. we looked at each other knowing that we could either be the best of friends or the worst of enemies. she was my greatest competition at my prime, but i soon fell to the wayside, her longing spectator never asking for the time of day from her, i lost track of my schedule and soon lived by hers.
i’ve seen her grow, and even when she fell, her bruises made her beautiful. in fact she came out stronger, and i faltered in her shadow. i have taken from her and i’ll admit this…i need her. she has thickened my quest for survival, birthed and hardened my fearlessness and brought me back to life after being pronounced dead on arrival. i live for the day that she will notice me and learn from me. till then, she is the force that lies behind my meager efforts at existence.

Writing for the love of it

caroline — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 07:48:20 +0000

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… (more…)

The contentious issue of 905ers infiltrating and infesting Toronto

caroline — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 03:24:55 +0000

Oh those 905ers. You’ve heard of them, you might know a few, you might have actually been one at some point…and they’re talked about far more than you notice. The term 905er has planted itself firmly in Toronto’s slang and in-the-cool jargon, especially in the downtown core. But what exactly is a 905er and why is the term not exactly an acceptable one, and therefore not one to be associated with?

(more…)

Deconstructing: Globe and Mail article on the TIFF boycott

caroline — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 03:30:26 +0000

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.

(more…)

Be Impeccable with Your Word

caroline — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 23:16:36 +0000

I’ve realized as a journalist and blogger that occasionally gets published and occasionally has readers, and as an actor that occasionally gets acting roles and occasionally takes classes, that it is important that I stay impeccable with my word. I came across this theory of being impeccable with my word during the class I’m taking with casting director Ron Leach, when I found my major weakness was memorization of words—something I’ve struggled with all my life, stumbling over Shakespeare and ruining countless *significant* auditions (i know, i know, all of them are significant.)

There are many ways to look at this theory of being “impeccable” with my word, the core of which is taken from the book “The Four Agreements” by Don Miguel Ruiz. Yes, it can be found in the self-help section and I did wear sunglasses when perusing this area of Indigo.. (more…)