Filed under: Happiness is a Warm Gun, Uncategorized | Tags: Across the Universe, architecture, backyards, Baz Luhrmann, candles, Charlotte Gainsbourg, coral, directors, First Five California, French, Grace Kelly, happiness, hedges, History Detectives, Ils Se Marierent et Eurent Beaucoup d'Enfants, Jane Birkin, jingle, Johnny Depp, Laguna Beach, mattress, Mika, mini DV camera, Moulin Rouge, My Best Friend, Otis Taylor, PBS, Prete-moi Ta Main, Public Enemies, purple, romantic comedies, Russian eggs, Serge Gainsbourg, soda, Ten Million Slaves, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, The Valet, We Are Golden
This week has slowly slid into the mundane, but I refuse to let myself go back to eighth grade. Eighth grade competes with fifth grade for the worst years of my life. Here’s the happiness post, reliably on Monday even though they’re supposed to appear on Sundays.
1. French romantic comedies. Yesterday I watched “Prete-moi ta main”, which literally means lend me your hand, but they translated it to “I Do”, or “Faux Wedding”. It’s about a man who grows up in a family of all women, and eventually they grow tired of doing his laundry, etc, and try to get him married. He gets sick of their nagging, obviously, and hires his friend’s sister to pretend to be his fiance and then stand him up at the wedding. It gets a lot more complicated than that, of course. These light-hearted French movies always cheer me up. Others that I’ve seen and can remember the names are “The Valet” and “My Best Friend”. Darn, can’t remember the names of others.
2. Charlotte Gainsbourg. This ties in with the above, but indulge me. She plays the “fiance”. I’ve only seen her in this and a few clips of Johnny Depp’s cameo in “Ils Se Marierent et Eurent Beaucoup d’Enfants”. I do know though that she’s the daughter of Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin, and a singer as well as an actress. With my limited familiarity, everything I say here applies to her character in “Prete-moi Ta Main”. I have no idea if she’s like her. Anyway, she gave off this air of elegance and self-confidence, even if she peed with the door open, among other things. I liked how her real character was in the middle of the perfect and the fiance from hell. In one word, I’d describe her as a juxtaposition. It didn’t hurt that she was tall and thin. Definitely boosted her up in my mom’s opinion. I’ve just realized that this sounds like a girl crush. Whell.
2. My mom’s new mattress. It’s memory foam and it’s soft as a cloud. White as a cloud too. It just smells like chemicals, because she’s just bought it. But sensory adaptation kicks in (gahh psych 101) and you forget it’s even there. I always fall right asleep on her bed, except for last night because new developments had occurred with the stop-motion, and not good ones.
3. “We are Golden”. My, this is a very pop culture driven week, isn’t it? MIKA’s new single came out a few weeks ago, but his video premiered last Friday and I forgot about it until yesterday. So much for staying ahead of the crowd. You won’t find the correct version on Youtube, so if you want to see it look around www.mikasounds.com. If you’ve never seen MIKA before, I’d recommend first watching “Grace Kelly” on youtube to ease into his style. The “We Are Golden” video freaked even me out a little. But it’s all good. 
4. Backyards. I may be moving into an apartment for a few months because it turns out my little sister is severely allergic to dust mites, something supremely unlacking in this house. I’m really going to miss my own little patch of green. I lived in an apartment until I was almost seven, and yes, I can still remember it. But I’ve grown accustomed to having some semblance of privacy, maybe taking it for granted. I keep reminding myself that every experience is something to log into my memory for filmmaking/writing reference If I have a nice safe life well then there’d be nothing to write about, right?
5. Coral. It’s my new favorite color. Sorry, purple.
6. Russian eggs. They are so delicate and intricate. I got a necklace this week that had a “Russian egg” on it. Definitely won me over.
7. Mini DV cameras. It’s true, they’ve brought filmmaking to the living room. If it weren’t for my camera I’d have to wait until I was 20-something to start my career. Even if nothing comes of what I’m doing now I’m still learning something.
8. My soda from Taco Bell. It’s emanating coldness and freezing everything within a five inch radius. I’m not kidding.
9. PBS. I watched their celebration of the 50’s music and History Detectives. It didn’t hurt that they used a bit of what sounded like Otis Taylor’s “Ten Million Slaves” in the background. Which is the song they used in a lot of “Public Enemies”. What can I say, history enthralls me.
10. Hedges. I like how square they are and how they make you think of mazes.
11. The First Five jingle on the radio. It’s dorky but pleasing on the ears. “There’s so much I need to knooooowwww. The more I learn the more I groooooooooooooooooooowwwwwwww. Teach me, show me, hold me, and give me loooovvvve.”
12. Inventive directors. I finally watched “Moulin Rouge”, and like “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” and “Across the Universe” I like how Baz Luhrmann didn’t just tell the story but they incorporated symbolism, colors, and angles to make a beautiful-to-look-at film. Miya will be pleased to hear that I liked the movie. It’s her favorite. Speaking of favorites, a viewing of “Arizona Dream” is long overdue.
13. Laguna Beach. I love all the artsy galleries and stores. It’s the beach that never sleeps, I think. And then there are hidden little beaches next to beautiful coves and behind immaculate hotels. I love the juxtapositions of beach houses next to Tudor houses next to a Mr. Darcy-in-2005’s-”Pride and Prejudice”’s house. It’s a photographer’s dream. I see people with easels painting the ocean, and people with dogs, old ladies reading under a rotunda. I see old people having a picnic at these cute four-person tables and they’ve brought their own tablecloth, centerpiece, and candles. That’s paradise.
14. Candles. I’m trying to get a candlelit dinner for my birthday in my backyard. I can’t wait!
I could go on but this post is already ridiculously long. When are my posts not?
Filed under: sweet dreams are made of this | Tags: actors, Almost Strangers, bed, British, celebrity, class, critics, directing, dream, movie reviews, Persepolis, Public Enemies, teen pregnancy, We Are Golden
July 31, 2009
Dear Readers,
Last night I dreamed that I hacked into my mother’s bank account with a few of my buddies and old classmates and got pregnant. The pregnancy was not a result of stealing money, although with dreams you never know. My mother, psych teacher, “Juno”, and Bristol Palin have scared me away from teen pregnancy in the last few weeks more than those teen mothers at last year’s ninth grade retreat. The dream didn’t help, especially not when I had to explain to my mother that I was the one who had hacked into her account and that I was pregnant. Luckily I woke up before I had to confess anything.
I’ve taken to sleeping with my mom because there may or may not be bugs sucking my blood in my own bed. I woke up late because I didn’t have psych this morning, and my mom was getting ready to go to work. My mom just bought one of those memory-foam mattresses, and she put a white sheet on it. In short, I woke up on a cloud. I’m smitten with her mattress and its white sheet.
Today was uneventful. I filmed a bit more of the boring part of my video and cooked some fish. Now I’m waiting for my mom to get home from work so we can maybe go shopping and finish the end of the BBC drama I was watching two days ago, “Almost Strangers”.
The majority of British actors always amaze me. Aside from their talent they seem to possess some sort of class that most American actors don’t have. We say “celebrity” and tabloid images pop into mind, but the people who always appear in tabloids are the ones we don’t care about. Who are the actors we really respect in terms of talent? They rarely appear in your local supermarket aisle.
MIKA’s video for “We Are Golden” premiered today on QASHAIsland. I tried to see it but they told me the video wasn’t available. Whether I see it today or tomorrow won’t matter in the long run, I told myself, which is why I’m not freaking out now.
I’ll admit, just now I snuck back to my mom’s bed and lay in its awesomeness. This sentence is all kinds of wrong.
I’ve been reading movie reviews all day, and I’ve come to the conclusion that you can never please a film critic. I have yet to read a review in which the critic really liked the movie. Ruin the movie for us by pointing out all that is wrong with it, thanks. I get that they are “critics”, but now I won’t be able to watch any movie I’ve just read about without a nagging voice in the back of my mind saying, “the plot is moving much too quickly. That performance is way too campy. This movie is too long.” Heck, even on the topic of “Persepolis” the New Yorker says, “The faces are no more than tapered ovals.” That’s the way it is in the comic, I presume.
Sometimes of course it’s true. I will admit that “Public Enemies” was distant emotion-wise. But reviews never fail to make me feel down. I get the feeling that the only good movies for them are listed on AFI’s list, no room for new additions. What happened to the joy of discovering a wonderful new movie? I would describe them as eternally unsatisfied and self-absorbed. Let’s see you make a movie, Mr. Critic.
To be honest, reading these reviews is starting to scare me away from directing. No worries, give me a few moments with my video camera and I’ll be back on track. But for now I’m freaking out about how I will keep my movies from being “flimsily staged” and “unconvincing.”
They can find fault with anything.
Love,
Grapes
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: 1930's, acting, Alvin Karpis, Arizona Dream, audience, Baby Face Nelson, Billie Frechette, celebrity, celebrity babies, Charles Winstead, clark gable, film, insomnia, John Dillinger, John Red Hamilton, Johnny Depp, Lilli Taylor, Marion Cotillard, Michael Mann, Orlando Bloom, patriotism, psychology, Public Enemies, red car, routine, style, Tom Hanson, vision, woman who licks her teeth
I’m settling just fine into my old person routine. Wake up, go to community college for two hours, come back, feed the fish, eat lunch, do nothing, feed the fish, go to sleep. The important part is feeding the fish. I get so melancholy when I watch them eat.
Last night was as close to insomnia as I’ve gotten in a long time. After the thrill of watching “Public Enemies” – yes, it did finally happen – and hanging out with my old buddies, coming home to a dark and nearly empty house was a shocking downer. My mom had already gone to bed and she went straight back as soon as she had let me in.
I tossed and turned in bed, partially because of my neighbor’s patio lights, which stayed bright for an hour. Another reason was because I just realized how quiet the house was without half of my family here – and I started getting paranoid about them being on a plane. Thoughts like, what if I never see them again?
Sometimes before I sleep I envision situations in my head, and usually they’re happy events. Or scenes from the screenplay I’m working on. But last night nothing positive could come to mind. I was so frustrated. Then I realized I hadn’t fed the fish last night – now my responsibility with my dad halfway around the world – so I got up at 11 PM and fed them. It is the most depressing thing to be in the dark, watching fish eat.
“Public Enemies” was the third reason I couldn’t sleep. The movie wasn’t what I expected, only because it was so unstylized. It was messy and seemed unchoreographed. But I love it for that. It made me realize that even though we have gotten so much better with this since the 50’s, movies are still to some degree staged plays. Only when you see something like “Public Enemies”, which is mostly hand-held and documentary-style minus interviews, do you realize how much we’ve come to depend on having our movies styled to be consumed easily.
Sure, it’s not very enjoyable or comfortable to watch, and the first half is very slow, but I think “Public Enemies” has its merits in doing something different, and in showing that the 1930’s wasn’t much different than today. You know when you look at a black-and-white photo and you try to picture the colors, try to picture living in that environment? Michael Mann basically filled in the colors to the story of John Dillinger. His 1930’s seems like today, but with better-dressed men, a lot of hats, and old Fords.
What “Public Enemies” brings to light is the struggle between making something palatable versus going with your vision. I know that sentence makes it obvious which one to go with, but I’m actually not sure which I would follow. Filmmaking is at the same time catering to the audience while sharing something of your own. Sometimes people won’t accept, or can’t accept your vision. I know that my friends haven’t enjoyed the last few Johnny Depp movies I’ve dragged them too. Personally I always try to learn something from a movie, so I still enjoyed them somewhat. Besides, Johnny Depp’s been in several bad movies, or movies that most movie-goers disliked, but his own individual acting’s always been excellent.
If faced with such a dilemna, which I inevitably will face, I still don’t know what I’d do. When I write I do take the audience into consideration, and sometimes I’ll change things so that it’s easier to understand. I don’t know, maybe I just haven’t written anything that has to be a certain style.
I feel so domestic right now. I just washed all the dishes when a month ago I would have never stepped near the sink.
Goodness. I just read another one of those comments bashing Johnny Depp because he “lives in another country and expects America to pay him”. That’s a ridiculous reason to hate someone’s movies. Although…I suppose I am guilty. But Orlando Bloom does sometimes resemble a cow. That’s not the only reason though, and I don’t avoid his movies. I suppose the only person I dislike with a passion is the woman-who-licks-her-teeth. Miya as my witness I freak out whenever she licks her teeth. And really, those comments bring to mind the stereotype of an overly patriotic old white man. Don’t get me wrong – America is a pretty awesome country – but it’s not worth getting angry over when it comes to mundane things like movie stars and senior class pranks. I’d like those people to be a movie star for a day and see if the paparazzi don’t hound you out of the country as well. Not to mention the obsession with celebrity we have here. Speaking of, you can rent paparazzi for a day. They’ll even put your face on a tabloid magazine. Of course the magazine is fake.
Also, the money Johnny Depp brings in by drawing in fans like me goes to our economy. So there. Fatteh.
A few more things on “Public Enemies”. First of all Lilli Taylor is in it and I freaked out because she was in “Arizona Dream”. Second of all Johnny Depp looked kind of like Clark Gable and now I’m kind of confused because this would be a second link to my dentist. Also, I’m not a big fan of Clark Gable.
As for the other actors, Christian Bale was not bad but not memorable either. You couldn’t quite tell what Purvis was like. He seemed one-dimensional, which was disappointing because he was really interesting in the book. Marion Cotillard was pretty good too, but the relationship between Frechette and Dillinger seemed like one of a prisoner and her captive. I heard tears in the theater though, at the end. The only other characters that stood out to me were John “Red” Hamilton, Agent Charles Winstead, Alvin Karpis and Baby Face Nelson. Sounds like a long list, but there were a lot of supporting characters. Baby Face Nelson stood out the most because of his violence, and the way he had to be dragged away from shooting people.
The stop-motion meeting was lame but fun. Miya came an hour early and we buried stuff in my backyard. And rode down my driveway in a red car thing meant for toddlers. On the seat, it says “Don’t sit hereabouts”.
And we looked at celebrity babies online. And watched the woman who LICKS HER TEETH. What a fatteh. And then she goes and betrays Tom Hanson. Fattehhhh.
Psychology may not be that great after all. For one my teacher’s taking out the chapter on emotions and motivation. I like that stuff. It all sounds very scientific too, obviously, and I’d rather not do science in the summer. But I’ll stick with it. I’ll learn something anyway. But if not psychology, then what will I major in in college? Don’t say film. Oh well, I still have time to think.
This is one long post. I’ll leave you here.
Filed under: Happiness is a Warm Gun | Tags: Audrey Hepburn, Bear in the Big Blue House, Benjamin Franklin, Big Bang Theory, book, Bryan Burroughs, Christian, Colm Wilkinson, concert, convention, cookies and cream, creative, disguise, Drink With Me, Enjolras, Evita, flowers, gift, girl, God, Grantaire, happiness, High Flying Adored, ice cream, Johnny Depp, lego, les miserables, long hair, love, midnight, murder, musicals, On the Road, pack-rat, passion, pee, pen, plastic, profound, Public Enemies, reenactment, robbery, scooter, short hair, shoulder-lenght, silly, soap opera, split ends, style, Sweeney Todd, vanilla, words, wrapping
Good morning for most of you. Enjoy your breakfast, or enjoy it as it digests. This week’s happiness was a lot calmer, and I really had to dig to find some of them because they were so subtle. But here they are.
1. One-man musical reenactments. You can’t help but feel ridiculous, but that’s where the excitement comes from. It’s more fun with an audience. I recommend “Drink With Me” from “Les Miserables”. There’s a great moment between Enjolras and Grantaire in the Concert version – watch that on Youtube first – and another great moment where the women echo the men. “Sweeney Todd” is also great because of the rage. “High Flying Adored” from “Evita” always makes me giggle, mostly because I’ve only seen Colm Wilkinson’s rendition of it and it is creepy.
2. Long hair, how I’ve missed thee. Actually not so much. I’ve been enjoying my short hair, but I’d like to have long hair again by September. And not average shoulder-length hair either. I want it halfway down my back, although I doubt it will happen because I always get split ends.
3. Silly disguise glasses. The kind that comes with a stinky plastic nose.
4. Audrey Hepburn. She says the cutest, yet most profound things. Her words are always inspiring and yet they make you feel like such a girl. At the same time, I am just now appreciating her style – but I think I will remain just an appreciator.
5. Flowers. My dad was lecturing this week and it was longwinded as always. I looked out the car window so I could roll my eyes and not incur another lecture, but instead I saw row upon row of little white flowers swaying in the wind. And everything brightened up again.
6. God. Yes, I did go to a Christian convention this week (which also made me happy), and I don’t want to sound too preachy on here, but more than ever I know that he loves me more than I could ever imagine. Like when you say “I love you this much” but times a bajimizillion. And the thing is, it doesn’t matter what you’ve done or whether or not you conform to what most Christians say is right. He loves unconditionally.
7. “Bear in the Big Blue House”. I’ll never forget that episode where Scooter? the blue mouse had to go pee really badly but he wouldn’t because he thought Bear would cheat in the chess game. Reminded me of how earlier this week my sister had to go badly, held it for several hours, and in the end didn’t make it out of the car.
8. LEGO soap operas. I don’t play with LEGOs like a normal person – building impressive structures and figures. I make a blueprint-style house and I play in it, in the same way little girls play with Barbies. I still do this. Currently, there is a cast of six men. They share one thing in common: their obsession with LaQuisha Jones, the Women’s Wrestling League Champion. Of course this is all fiction. My sisters have told me it is akin to “The Big Bang Theory”, except that instead of nerds they are a mix of disabilities and love for food. For some reason, wittier lines come out during LEGO soap opera time than when I’m sitting at my computer trying to write a screenplay.
9. Public Enemies by Bryan Burroughs. The book is very readable. I’ve enjoyed it a lot, and while sometimes it’s difficult to keep track of everything it’s really changed my perspective on the world. Whenever I see something on the news about a robbery or a murder – I don’t know what it is, but something is different. I put down On the Road for this. Not that that’s the entire reason, but still, I did weigh between the two and found that I’d rather read Public Enemies, and not because of six degrees of Johnny Depp at all.
10. Being up at midnight with the family. I hadn’t noticed that it was already 12:30. But here we are eating dinner, and it’s so warm and festive inside while so dark and cold outside. I love this. I wish right now would go on forever. But at the same time not, because there’s so much to explore elsewhere.
11. Conventions. As I mentioned before, I was at a Christian convention this week. The combination of a shared passion, passionate & charismatic speakers, and intense immersion in something made me really happy. I feel like my life’s been reboosted, haha.
12. A well-wrapped gift. I finally was able to give Sibyl a thank-you gift for helping me out with job shadowing. It was hell while I was figuring out the right combination of colors and the right gift, but I was so proud to hand the finished product to her.
13. Creative people. You guys make me feel not alone in my pack-ratting. Because today as I was cleaning I realized that I keep a lot of papers, and most of them only have a few lines scribbled down. Yet I treasure them. So when I see all those pictures of designers’ and writers’ homes, I know it’s a shared trait.
Won’t keep you much longer – you’ve got work and other things to do, and I’ve got sleep to catch up on. In just a few hours it will be the day my dad and sisters leave for Taiwan – won’t see them for two months!, and my buddies come over for fun time. Just realized I haven’t finalized filming dates. Oh well. Good night, good morning, whatever it is for you. Have a great day!
Oh yes, one more that I’ve just realized. Scratchy pens. The sound makes me feel like Benjamin Franklin, even if I’m only writing “sunday june 19 – scene 1, last scene?” or “bread, milk, chocolate ice cream.” Personally I prefer vanilla – so many possibilities from a blank slate. But I am learning to love cookies and cream too. Really now, get on with your life. I’ll be back later.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: busy, dreams, effects, excited, filmmaking, Independence Day, J. Edgar Hoover, obstacles, passion, plans, Public Enemies, stop-motion, summer, Taiwan, writing
My summer has taken a huge detour and left me scrambling to salvage it. Fatherman has decided to take my sisters to Taiwan for two months. I’m staying optimistic now, instead of hyperventilating when I first learned of his plans. The stop-motion can happen. I just keep thinking that there’s something unexpected ahead that will make all our hard work for nothing. Something always in the way of every single one of my productions. Then I feel like Terry Gilliam.
But come on, that’s part of the filmmaking. The unexpected challenges, people looking to you for the difficult decisions. I know I said I was passionate enough to do this. Now all these obstacles are presenting themselves, like “Fatteh! You are just a kid. You can’t even drive because you are a lazy fatteh who won’t start driver’s ed. You don’t even know squat about cameras. Are you sure you can do this? Are you sure you even want to bring so much stress on yourself?”
But I have to see this through, so I will. I haven’t even been writing screenplays - all my efforts are concentrated on this stop-motion. Also, the computer with my screenwriting software has been down.
I’m really sorry for neglecting you guys for a week. But it’s been a busy week – literally scrambling to get everything ready for Sunday, when my buddies come over for the first stop-motion meeting and my dad leaves for Taiwan. On top of that I haven’t been reading many blogs for about a month, and I don’t have anything to talk about other than my own life. Which I always feel is not very interesting on paper. This summer particularly so, even with the stop-motion.
Who knows that feeling, when you have big plans and dreams but circumstances don’t let them happen? Which is this summer, because even a trip to the beach requires the consent of my buddies’ parents, my parents willingly taking them. Just a trip to the beach, not a cross-country road trip. To put this into perspective, I live in Southern California, ten minutes from the beach.
Okay, not even that. Getting someone to watch “Public Enemies” with me has been a nightmare. And now I’m going Sunday afternoon, but still not for sure. Every time I ask people it’s always an apathetic or uncertain answer.
Which reminds me of a phone conversation I had with one of my elementary school buddies – we’ve grown kind of distant. She said, “‘Public Enemies’? I heard that the effects kind of sucked…” Wait, I thought, effects? What effects? “Public Enemies” is a historical drama. There are men with guns, not giant robots, and not Freddie Highmore x2. I’m looking at you, Spiderwick Chronicles. I replied, and looking back I guess with a hint of an elitist tone, “Oh…I didn’t know there were effects in ‘Public Enemies’.” Someone warn me though, if in the middle of the movie a giant monster appears that could only have been created with the power of modern technology. I’m more than halfway through the book and there is no sign of a monster, not including the pictures of the FBI and the criminals. Those are kind of scary. I’ll be reading and “Gah! J. Edgar Hoover, what are you doing there?” But no, it was just a slip of my fingers to the glossy photo paper in the middle of the book.
It’s no fun going to something you’ve anticipated for a year if the people you go with don’t care much for it.
It’s not all sham and drudgery, though. I’m still excited for a few things.
Once everything settles down, say Sunday night or Monday morning, I’ll be back. Have a fun day. Oh yeah, and Happy Independence Day. Mine will be spent cleaning the house, so have a double fun day for me. Huzzah.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: acting, Charlie's Angels, chinese drama, creepy, dance, entertainer, Farrah Fawcett, fever, fickle, Johnny Depp, jokes, Letterman Show, mediocre, michael jackson, movie, national geographic, Public Enemies
I woke up this morning feeling a lot worse than I did yesterday. My throat was sore and my head hurt – which quickly turned into a fever. How inconvenient, considering our first stop-motion meeting will be this Sunday. I had forgotten how horrible you feel when you have a fever – sore all over, hot and cold, the feeling that you have to puke whenever you move.
I’ve taken my illness as an excuse to do nothing for two days in a row except flip through an old issue of National Geographic Traveler and watch Chinese television. Although, tonight Johnny Depp will be on the Letterman Show so I’m going to try to stay up for that.
Ah, escapist Chinese dramas. I’m watching one that’s kind of a Cinderella-esque story. It’s horrible, but I watch it anyway, waiting for the happy ending.
Having a fever is like a constant countdown for your symptoms to return. I’m waiting for the nasty to return so I can take another Tylenol.
I guess I’m somewhat obligated to say here that Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett passed away today. I don’t know what to think – I’ve never seen Farrah Fawcett’s movies, including “Charlie’s Angels”, but I have been seeing her long struggle against cancer. She lost the fight, but maybe she’s at peace now.
As for Michael Jackson, I’m surrounded by many of his fans – people at my church, a couple of friends at school. My own personal experiences of him were seeing news stories of his creepiness and numerous jokes. That’s what I grew up with, but I know that before my time he was a great entertainer, not to mention probably one of the best dancers ever. How many dance moves today were copied off of him?
For me, he’s always existed, and it’s unsettling for something so prominent in popular culture to disappear – like that. What’s weird is that even though we enjoyed making fun of him while he was alive, people suddenly mourned so hard at his death. We are such fickle beings.
Next week – “Public Enemies” comes out. From what I’ve heard, it might be one of those movies where the movie itself is only okay, but Johnny Depp’s individual performance is still excellent as always. I hope not, because I am genuinely intrigued by the story, but we’ll see. It always feels like a waste when a great story is told with a mediocre movie.
It’s almost time for that Cinderella-esque drama. Off I go.
Filed under: sweet dreams are made of this | Tags: Alfred Hitchcock, Arizona Dream, childish, college, dances, death, dream, dreams, fans, financial problems, friends, fun, James Dean, Jerry, Johnny Depp, limits, Miya, money, movies, old, premiere, Public Enemies, raven, reality, road trip, routine, sleep, teenage, theme parks, travel
Okay, enough with the “Alice in Wonderland” thing for right now.
Yesterday, in addition to getting a startling number of views, was the “Public Enemies” premiere. Which I had been planning to go to, but last minute Miya said she couldn’t go. There was no way my dad would let me go alone, so home I stayed. I experienced the premiere through twitter, how revolutionary and exciting. Eventually I ran around my backyard like someone who is mentally ill. My sisters found me and weren’t very comforting. Somehow this led to a game of “cops and robbers”. More like, people trying to be stealthy as they run around the house. It was fun though. Definitely took my mind off the premiere.
Why am I freaking out so much? I guess it’s left over residue from my extreme obsession, during which I also managed to miss every event, even if invited. But on top of that I don’t want to keep passing up these opportunities to see Johnny Depp (and even more than that Jerry, his cool bodyguard) until KABLAMMM they’re both gone and I’m one of those mothers who point at old movies and tell their children, “Oh look! It’s Johnny Depp! He was such a great actor!”
To which their children nod but don’t really believe. How sad.
Or, when Miya and I fulfill our lifelong dream regarding the road trip and a certain “Arizona Dream”. But that would be sad as well, befriending Johnny Depp at the end of his life to bury him in a field of corn in Arizona so he can say “This has been…my Arizona dream.” Oh well. I’m sure the opportunity will come. In any case, I really appreciate that Johnny returned to talk to both sides of the line – he really appreciates his fans.
Anyway, running around like a maniac last night was a lot of fun. That is what life should be, but of course it isn’t. Is it just a phase or am I really someone who wouldn’t be happy with a 9-5 job? Who is happy with a routine? Then again, sometimes I worry about ending up struggling for a living, because I’ve experienced – as we all are right now – financial hardship, and it is like a shackle around your foot. How am I supposed to take summer college programs when they all cost thousands of dollars? How can I experience life, when sadly, money really does make the world go round. I can take joy in small pleasures, but there are some things – like traveling and learning, that cost money.
Perhaps the worst time to not have money is when you’re a teenager. It’s the perfect time to go out and experience a bajillion things. I’ve got college looming ahead like a fatteh cliff. Everything is so optimistic and ideal, ideas pouring out of my brain. And yet I’m limited because my parents are low on money.
In addition to that, there are dances and movies and theme parks to go to with my friends, activities that don’t rank high on my priority list but they are my friends, and I do want to spend time with them.
Teenage years are the time of your life when dreams struggle against reality. Goodness, that was deep.
My sisters are pressuring me to play Clue. Sayonara, Japanese goodbye.
EDIT: Last night I had this Hitchcockian dream, which started out as a fatteh food fest. Anyway, James Dean was in it, and he was being a loner weirdo, but actually he turned out to be a creepy evil man. He called this girl and freaked her out with weird questions, and then she screamed. That scream was ungodly. Then he said something again, and she screamed again and again, but at the wrong times. That’s when I started to realize something was going wrong, and I kind of faded back to reality, when I realized it was some fatteh raven outside going “Caw caw caw caw!” Four times exactly each, and he went on like that for ten minutes. Apparently Shannon heard it in her sleep too, because she slammed her window shut. Twas weird.
Gah…have to go play Clue.
