I Wanted To Go To There

The end is near and so 30 Rock faces the final curtain . . .

Let's put it this way, me and 30 Rock, we go way back, like spinal chords and car seats.

Back in 2007, I stayed up til 11pm to watch this new TV show in Channel 5 of all channels. I had spotted the mention of this show in a very small insert in Radio Times. I was intrigued, especially as it was written by the same woman who wrote Mean Girls.

This is what else I saw: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRvx38iBxlI

Watched the first episode. It was love at first laugh. That first laugh being that Alec Baldwin was in the show and was introduced by knocking a wall down. This was soon to be known as 'Jack Attack'.

I went to college the next day asking everyone, 'did you see this awesome show on last night?' and from every angle it was 'what are you talking about?'. Alas I had to enjoy this genius show on my own.  But then the DVD was released and I finally could share the show with my friends. They were hooked. 

Tina Fey became my idol and every time I talked about her I had to tell people 'she wrote Mean Girls' and then they knew who I meant. One of my new years resolutions is 'to be more like Tina' but of course I am waaaay off that goal.

I took 30 Rock to Uni with me, couldn't leave home without it. And like a drug I got some of my friends at Uni hooked on it! The 30 Rock love spread. Everyone was quoting it, talking about it, posting about it, it was amazing.

I still need to dress up as Liz Lemon as The Joker. The Batman rif episode was one of the best, not yo mention the reality show within a show, Queen of Jordon, the one reality show that I approve of and wish they had made more. Priceless wine throwing all round.

The show has given birth to some of the best characters in comedy, Alec Baldwin as Jack Donaghy, Tracy Morgan as Tracy Jordan, Jane Krakowski as Jenna (look her up on jennasside.com, say it out loud) Maroney and Jack McBrayer as Kenneth the every youthful NBC page who also doubles up as Leap Dave Williams (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkwZrm_UXPc). Characters you would not find anywhere or be employed by anyone but NBC at Studio 6H.

I couldn't believe it when they announced that season 7 would be its last and not even a complete one. There had been so many false ends where Alec Baldwin said he was leaving but didn't then when it was going to end he campaigned for at least a full last season. Alas, its time to say farewell to the amazing, award winning, ham demanding genius comedy that is 30 Rock.

For the last time everyone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20FAAZnKFH4
'I'm a star! I'm on top! Somebody bring me some haaaaaaaaaam!'

To celebrate there should be a party, in my case cheap drinks somewhere but us fans all know that there ain't no party like a Liz Lemon party coz a Liz Lemon party is mandatory!

Lemon out!

That Happy Place

Short but sweet.

Usually music keeps me distracted and helps me think of new ideas for stories or characters, but lately audiobooks (of all things) helps distract from hellish things.

I speak of the crowded trains/tubes/buses in rush hour.

Those few hours back and fourth from work or appointments are so unbearable sometimes. Music was always good but, as I don't like playlists and like to skip things, it wasn't ideal to change the song if I'm squashed up against a window or hanging on for dear life on a bus when some selfish person takes up two seats instead of one.

Music can also make me look a tad odd. Standing on the platform on Friday, I was listening to music that made me want to dance, like you do, so without thinking of where I was I started doing small dance moves to Safety Dance. I tried to style it out by making it look like I was moving to keep warm. I don't think I got away with it.

I thank the audiobook for the perfect distraction. Just like a film I am so absorbed by the story or person talking I start to not care about my surroundings. I can go to that happy place.

The Play's The Thing

Back in 2006 I was taking Drama GCSE. For part of the course we had were put into groups of 4/5 and were each given a play that we had to perform as part of our final grade. We also has to add our own parts to it as well as edit the existing script.

Most people in our year were given 'Shakers' to perform. The first act of a play about cocktail waitress'. A few others were given 'Metamorphosis', a stage version of Kafka's famous novella. Our group were the only group to be given 'Bazaar and Rummage' by Sue Townsend, a play about a group of agoraphobics who were holding a rummage sale in a church hall as part of their treatment.

Not to sound big headed but our play and version of it was amazing. We cut parts out, introduced each character with music and slow moment and incorporated flashbacks for each character. The music intros had started off as a joke but after we kept using them. We ended our performance with Electric Six's High Voltage. Why? Not for any reason in particular apart from that we wanted to. We all got high marks for that piece.

During college I sought out the rest of the play, seeing as I only had Act One but didn't actually read the rest of it until Uni. I have never had any desire to direct a play (mostly because I never have before, only films me) but this play would be perfect.

I have a year, roughly to sort out something, but I am really hoping to direct this play and see up on a small stage. There is perfect place for it seeing as there are only two short acts, both only one scene and it is set in a church hall.

This play is the thing!

Goodbye Old Friend

Sorry for the absence everyone!

When I heard that HMV, literally the last surviving high street shop that sells films, music and games went into administration, I was devastated.

When I was younger I loved going shopping, even though I had next to no money, it was a fun thing to do with friends. As I got older I hated it. I dislike clothes shopping now. Mostly because everything is 10 times as expensive, nothing fits or looks good, I have to search for anything decent through all the crap that is out in shops, the changing room queues are a joke and the only decent shops are up town. It ain't fun anymore.

Now my shopping, if I do go deliberately, consists of Waterstones (looking for that book I want to read), buying some tea/coffee syrup (I'm always running low), Paperchase (I have no reason) and saving the best til last HMV. This is my shopping stop off list, but with books being cheaper on Amazon, I barely buy from Waterstones, even though its one of the last standing bookshops. I buy my tea and coffee related things from Whittards but as we all know, they are always having sales and that is never a good sign.

The signs were there for the loyal customers to see. I remember a time when HMV had only three major sales each year, Spring, Summer, January sales. I used to bug my family/friends about the sale and if I had money I went straight to the shop. I had a good collection of videos, all bought on sale. But when the sales were extended, then year round, things changed. DVD obviously took over, then HD tried to make an impact, failed and moved over for Blu-ray. The HMV sale was still on throughout these changes. There was plenty of talk of HMV being in trouble, it went on for years and as I said I was devastated to hear they had gone into administration the other day. I was in there Monday buying some new releases.

I read a blog about the art of browsing (http://www.empireonline.com/empireblogs/empire-states/post/p1331) and it couldn't be more right. HMV is there is be browsed in. Every time I go in, its the same thing. I look at the sale, the chart, pick up a few things I want then I wonder around for an hour or so picking things up putting them back. I eventually buy something after carrying around several things. Sometimes I buy nothing, I save it for next time or for when I know a deal is coming up. The point is I may shop online, sometimes with Amazon (not play.com anymore, so unreliable) but mostly its old reliable HMV online.

HMV is the last good high street store standing on its last leg. I desperately hope they stay afloat. Of all the shops to close recently, HMV is needed the most.

Here is a link to an article below about the shops that closed/are closing.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2013/jan/16/blockbuster-hmv-jessops-high-street

It's an Awards Rant!

3 major snubs!!! As well as the usual boring nominations and some grossly overrated.

 No nomination for the documentary that was so popular and well praised it got extended screenings by month. It is the documentary that practically opened the gate for more docs in cinemas. The Imposter, one of the best films of 2012, no nomination.

No nominations, at all, for the amazing Rust and Bone. None for acting as the USA doesn't usually nominate foriegn actors, but I at least expected a Best Foriegn Film nomination.

And no best film nomination for The Master. This is also ridiculous because all the actors have been nominated and they make the film, so why no logical nomination for frak sake.

As usual I am annoyed about the nominations. All I hope is that justice is served and Joaquin Phoenix finally wins, he frakin deserves it and of course Wes Anderson for Best Original Screenplay for Moonrise Kingdom. That should go without saying.

Here is the list below. I have highlighted the ones I think should win for some of them. I have also highlighted in pink the ones that are ridiculous.

 

BEST PICTURE
Amour
Argo
Django Unchained
Les Misérables
Life Of Pi
Lincoln
Zero Dark Thirty
Beasts Of The Southern Wild
Silver Linings Playbook

BEST DIRECTOR
Life Of Pi - Ang Lee
Lincoln - Steven Spielberg
Amour - Michael HanekeSilver Linings Playbook - David O. RussellBeasts Of The Southern Wild - Benh Zeitlin
BEST ACTOR
Denzel Washington - Flight
Bradley Cooper - Silver Linings Playbook
Daniel Day-Lewis - Lincoln
Hugh Jackman - Les Misérables
Joaquin Phoenix - The Master
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Alan Arkin - Argo
Christoph Waltz - Django Unchained
Robert De Niro - Silver Linings Playbook
Philip Seymour Hoffman - The Master
Tommy Lee Jones - Lincoln
BEST ACTRESS
Emmanuelle Riva - Amour
Jennifer Lawrence - Silver Linings Playbook
Jessica Chastain - Zero Dark Thirty
Quvenzhané Wallis - Beasts Of The Southern WildNaomi Watts - The Impossible
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amy Adams - The Master
Anne Hathaway - Les Misérables
Helen Hunt - The Sessions
Sally Field - LincolnJacky Weaver - Silver Linings Playbook
BEST ANIMATED FILM
Brave
Frankenweenie
Paranorman
The Pirates! In An Adventure WIth Scientists
Wreck-it-Ralph
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Chris Terrio - Argo
Lucy Alibar, Benh Zeitlin - Beasts Of The Southern Wild
David Magee - Life Of Pi
Tony Kushner - Lincoln
David O. Russell - Silver Linings Playbook
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Michael Haneke - Amour
Quentin Tarantino - Django Unchained
Wes Anderson, Roman Coppola - Moonrise Kingdom
Mark Boal - Zero Dark Thirty
John Gatins - Flight

CINEMATOGRAPHY
Anna Karenina - Seamus McGarvey
Django Unchained - Robert Richardson
Life Of Pi - Claudio Miranda
Lincoln - Janusz Kaminski
Skyfall - Roger Deakins
COSTUME DESIGN
Anna Karenina - Jacqueline Durran
Les Misérables - Paco Delgado
Lincoln - Joanna Johnston
Mirror Mirror - Eiko Ishioka
Snow White And The Huntsman - Colleen Atwood
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
5 Broken Cameras
The Gatekeepers
How To Survive A Plague
The Invisible War
Searching For Sugar Man
BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT
Inocente
Kings Point
Mondays At Racine
Open Heart
Redemption
BEST FILM EDITING
Argo - William Goldenberg
Life Of Pi - Tim Squyres
Zero Dark Thirty - Dylan Tichenor, William GoldenbergLincoln - Michael KahnSilver Linings Playbook - Jay Cassidy & Crispin Struthers
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
Amour - Austria
Kon-Tiki - Norway
No - Chile
A Royal Affair - Denmark
War Witch - Canada
BEST MAKEUP & HAIRSTYLING
Hitchcock - Julie Hewett, Martin Samuel, Howard Berger
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Peter Swords King, Richard Taylor, Rick Findlater
Les Misérables - Lisa Westcott
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Anna Karenina - Dario Marianelli
Argo - Alexandre Desplat
Life Of Pi - Mychael Danna
Lincoln - John Williams
Skyfall - Thomas Newman
BEST ORIGINAL SONG
'Before My Time' from Chasing Ice
'Everybody Needs A Best Friend' from Ted
'Pi's Lullaby' from Life Of Pi
'Skyfall' from Skyfall
'Suddenly' from Les Miserables
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGNAnna Karenina
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Les Miserables
Life Of Pi
Lincoln

BEST ANIMATED SHORT
Adam and Dog
Fresh Guacamole
Head Over Heels
Maggie Simpson In "The Longest Daycare"
Paperman
BEST LIVE FILM SHORT
Asad
Buzkashi Boys
Curfew
Death Of A Shadow
Henry

BEST SOUND EDITING
Argo
Django Unchained
Life Of Pi
Skyfall
Zero Dark Thirty
BEST SOUND MIXING
Argo
Les Miserables
Life Of Pi
Lincoln
Skyfall

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Life Of Pi
Marvel Avengers Assemble
Prometheus
Snow White And The Huntsman

 

Happy Birthday Tintin!

Tintin, celebrates 84 years on January 10, 2013.

'Tintin, the amazing young reporter and sleuth with the unforgettable quiff created by Georges Remi, better known as Hergé, appeared for the first time in 1929, January 10 in the comic strip called “Le Petit Vingtième”, together with his loveable, trusted companion Snowy.'

Any excuse to celebrate Tintin! We all know how much I love Herge's creation.

(note: this was taken in 2009, bad hair . . .)

Hope you're enjoying any little celebrations which may or may not include waffles and beer.

 

 

Worthy Sequels

This year, like many others, will be the year of sequels. But not the bad kind that would have had you screaming at the screen 'WHY BOTHER!'. No these will be awesome sequels/continuations.

As mentioned in a previous post, Monsters Inc 2 or Monster University is out. I absolutely loved Monsters Inc and thought that there was no way you could improve on it but those Pixar genius' have done it. Make it a prequel and make the story about how Sully and Mike became friends! Much better than a possible reappearance of Boo. She annoyed me.

Then of course its second installments for trilogies, The Hunger Games and The Hobbit. But this year they will be known as; Catching Fire and The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. Both films are based on books and I have read both. So far The Hobbit has been faithful even though bits were added, nothing yet has been taken away (thank god). My favourite part will be in the film and a scene I am really looking forward to seeing with those beardy Dwarves. I speak of the barrel scene, where all 13 Dwarves are put in barrels when trying to escape some Elves, they have a long journey down a river where they are picked up in Lake Town. It's a great part of the story and from the photos and behind the scenes footage, it looks to be a marvelous set piece.

I fell in love with The Hunger Games, I thought books were brilliant and saw the film three times at the cinema. But Catching Fire is my favourite of the three for several reasons. Katniss and Peeta visit all the districts, go back into the arena (this time the theme is completely different, think water) and some major new and awesome characters are introduced such as Finnick, a past victor from District 4. What makes Catching Fire better I think is the major twist in the games, all the tributes must be picked from past victors. There aren't many, if any, stills from the production so far, except the announcement that we have to wait until November to see the film. I was hoping for at least a Summer release. But I did find this gem (below) it hints at what I have just hinted at. Also there should be some more productions shots floating around.

These were just released 10/1/13:

(By the way, I'll have none of this 'its just like Battle Royale' rubbish as it is nothing like it. The only weak connection people can make is, they're both children, but not in this sequal guys!)

Saving the best until last, after years of waiting and having to sit through The Spirit (terrible film), the myth is no longer a rumour, the rumour is no longer speculation, its true Sin City: A Dame to Kill For is finally being made!

More those who don't know me, Sin City is my favourite film. It is such an amazing piece of cinema and highly innovative when it was released back in 2005. No one had seen anything like it before, it blew me away. I am still in awe of it. Anyone thinking I'm crazy or over the top, think about your favourite film of all time, and wouldn't be talking about much you loved it in a strange way. Old cast members have been confirmed, mostly all the girls from Old Town plus some new faces, Joseph Gordon-Levitt will be playing a new character created or the film and Josh Brolin will play Dwight before his faced changed and became Clive Owen. Note, that wasn't sarcasm, that is really what happens.

I have the book the film is based on in my possession so that will calm my excitement while I wait for the date, October 4th. 

Sadley I don't have any artwork, just casting announcements (which are in links below) but you can bet your dirty Basin City boots when there is something released I will have another post for you all.

http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=36136

http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=36131

BAFTA Nominations 2013 - Really?

Oh BAFTA, I had such faith in you but then I saw this year's nominations and simply thought "really?"

As you can see below, the nominations basically consist of 5 films and its dull, very dull. Not to mention that several amazing films have no even been mentioned. The only thing I'm angry about is the lack of best film nomination for The Master, so I'm hoping Joaquin Phoenix will get the award as he deserves it. Also it's becoming a joke that doesn't matter what film Helen Mirren/Judi Dench is in they will get nominated for it, such a joke!! And the more I think about it, The Best Marigold Hotel was actually damn awful as there was way too much Dench and Nighy in the film, dull. Quartet was a far sight better. Last thing, the McCullin documentary that is nominated, I helped out on that film (prep for post, crowd funding) for a very short while. Just thought I'd add that.

And breath. I won't rant anymore, I'll say that for the Oscars nominations. Here is a list of the full nominations so you can have your own rant. I have also highlighted a few that I think should win, but I am most probably wrong in predictions.


BEST FILM
Argo
Les Misérables
Life Of Pi
Lincoln
Zero Dark Thirty
OUTSTANDING BRITISH FILM
Anna Karenina
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Les Misérables
Seven Psychopaths
Skyfall
OUTSTANDING DEBUT BY A BRITISH WRITER, DIRECTOR OR PRODUCER
Bart Layton (Director), Dimitri Doganis (Producer) The Imposter
David Morris (Director), Jacqui Morris (Director/Producer) McCullin
Dexter Fletcher (Director/Writer), Danny King (Writer) Wild Bill
James Bobin (Director) The Muppets
Tina Gharavi (Director/Writer) I Am Nasrine
FILM NOT IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
Amour
Headhunters
The Hunt
Rust And Bone
Untouchable
DOCUMENTARY
The Imposter
Marley
McCullin
Searching For Sugar Man
West Of Memphis
ANIMATED FILM
Brave
Frankenweenie
Paranorman
DIRECTOR
Michael Haneke - Amour
Ben Affleck - Argo
Quentin Tarantino - Django Unchained
Ang Lee - Life Of Pi
Kathryn Bigelow - Zero Dark Thirty
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Michael Haneke - Amour
Quentin Tarantino - Django Unchained
Paul Thomas Anderson - The Master
Wes Anderson, Roman Coppola - Moonrise Kingdom
Mark Boal - Zero Dark Thirty
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Chris Terrio - Argo
Lucy Alibar, Benh Zeitlin - Beasts Of The Southern Wild
David Magee - Life Of Pi
Tony Kushner - Lincoln
David O. Russell - Silver Linings Playbook
LEADING ACTOR
Ben Affleck - Argo
Bradley Cooper - Silver Linings Playbook
Daniel Day-Lewis - Lincoln
Hugh Jackman - Les Misérables
Joaquin Phoenix - The Master
LEADING ACTRESS
Emmanuelle Riva - Amour
Helen Mirren - Hitchcock
Jennifer Lawrence - Silver Linings Playbook
Jessica Chastain - Zero Dark Thirty
Marion Cotillard - Rust and Bone
SUPPORTING ACTOR
Alan Arkin - Argo
Christoph Waltz - Django Unchained
Javier Bardem - Skyfall
Philip Seymour Hoffman - The Master
Tommy Lee Jones - Lincoln
SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amy Adams - The Master
Anne Hathaway - Les Misérables
Helen Hunt - The Sessions
Judi Dench - Skyfall
Sally Field - Lincoln
ORIGINAL MUSIC
Anna Karenina - Dario Marianelli
Argo - Alexandre Desplat
Life Of Pi - Mychael Danna
Lincoln - John Williams
Skyfall - Thomas Newman
CINEMATOGRAPHY
Anna Karenina - Seamus McGarvey
Les Misérables - Danny Cohen
Life Of Pi - Claudio Miranda
Lincoln - Janusz Kaminski
Skyfall - Roger Deakins
EDITING
Argo - William Goldenberg
Django Unchained - Fred Raskin
Life Of Pi - Tim Squyres
Skyfall - Stuart Baird
Zero Dark Thirty - Dylan Tichenor, William Goldenberg
PRODUCTION DESIGN
Anna Karenina - Sarah Greenwood, Katie Spencer
Les Misérables - Eve Stewart, Anna Lynch-Robinson
Life Of Pi - David Gropman, Anna Pinnock
Lincoln - Rick Carter, Jim Erickson
Skyfall - Dennis Gassner, Anna Pinnock
COSTUME DESIGN
Anna Karenina - Jacqueline Durran
Great Expectations - Beatrix Aruna Pasztor
Les Misérables - Paco Delgado
LIincoln - Joanna Johnston
Snow White And The Huntsman - Colleen Atwood
MAKE UP & HAIR
Anna Karenina - Ivana Primorac
Hitchcock - Julie Hewett, Martin Samuel, Howard Berger
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Peter Swords King, Richard Taylor, Rick Findlater
Les Misérables - Lisa Westcott
Lincoln - Lois Burwell, Kay Georgiou
SOUND
Django Unchained - Mark Ulano, Michael Minkler, Tony Lamberti, Wylie Stateman
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Tony Johnson, Christopher Boyes, Michael Hedges, Michael Semanick, Brent Burge, Chris Ward
Les Misérables - Simon Hayes, Andy Nelson, Mark Paterson, Jonathan Allen, Lee Walpole, John Warhurst
Life Of Pi - Drew Kunin, Eugene Gearty, Philip Stockton, Ron Bartlett, D. M. Hemphill
Skyfall - Stuart Wilson, Scott Millan, Greg P. Russell, Per Hallberg, Karen Baker Landers
SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS
The Dark Knight Rises - Paul Franklin, Chris Corbould, Peter Bebb, Andrew Lockley
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Joe Letteri, Eric Saindon, David Clayton, R. Christopher White
Life Of Pi - Bill Westenhofer, Guillaume Rocheron, Erik-Jan De Boer
Marvel Avengers Assemble - Nominees TBC
Prometheus - Richard Stammers, Charley Henley, Trevor Wood, Paul Butterworth
SHORT ANIMATION
Here To Fall
I’m Fine Thanks
The Making Of Longbird
SHORT FILM
The Curse
Good Night
Swimmer
Tumult
The Voorman Problem
THE EE RISING STAR AWARD (voted for by the public)
Elizabeth Olsen
Andrea Riseborough
Suraj Sharma
Juno Temple
Alicia Vikander

It's a New Day, It's a New Dawn, It's a New Life For Me

Not quite a new life, this one looks very much like the old one, except that this one is trying to keep up my resolutions.

So far this year I have managed to almost fill out a form to join a new dentist surgery, attended a very good interview (but only time will tell) and I have sold a few things on Amazon. So three days in and its not looking too bad.

On the more fun side of things, and yes that means film/TV related, I finally watched Kung Fu Panda 2 and oh my is was sad. I though animation was more uplifting. I am really hoping there is another, love those kung fu animals. I went to see the Lord of the Ring trilogy in the cinema again (its become a yearly ritual). I watched A Team at least 4/5 times in a row. I think I left it on all night and kept waking up and watching bits. Watched Up with the family, only for Doug the dog, love that dog. Finally watched a documentary on Tove Jansson, creator of the Moomins and the christmas special of Downton Abbey, not happy with the latter at all.

But the main event I finished watching only a few hours ago. The final episodes of Haven season 3. I had waited almost two months for those episodes and not only were they totally worth waiting for but MY GAAAAAD it was a cliffhanger for the ages. (I am aware that I am exaggerating). Sorry to those who don't watch this 'sleeper TV hit' but it really is great, as the seasons have passed its only got better. I was literally screaming at the screen at what was going on. For my old Uni house mates they know what I'm like with TV and screaming at it, either in anger or excitement. It catches on I tell ye. Soon everyone will be yelling at TV shows that aren't sports related.

As its a new year I think maybe I need to do something dramatic, like last year, I shaved half my head. Now I'll spend all this year growing it out.  I had a few idea such as; go on a pilgrimage in my yellow boots, sell all my dvds/books/clothes then use the money to buy a car, a very cheap car, finally visit Finland and the Moomin museum, or go to Alaska and work with the seals. I think I'll have to keep brain storming.