Ya-Ya Gumbo

Time to shake the rust off!

2009-01-16T18:12:00.000-08:00

Over a year and a half with no posts. Can it really be that long? Has my life really been that crazy? Wow, time really does fly!!!!

2009 is starting off as a really interesting year.

In Praise of Friends

2007-07-07T02:55:00.000-07:00

It occurs to me, after a great evening with an amazing group of people that are more family than just friends, that I am one of the luckiest people on Earth. I have my blood family back East, my extended family (by marriage (also back East)), and then I have my "surrogate" families out here on the West coast. It is not just one group of people - for how can we truly find everything that we need from just one individal, or just one group of people? It is many varied individuals that form a cohesive whole in my world, from which I draw my energyy, my inspiration, and my perseverence through the small setbacks of life.

It is through the mother of my daughter's best friend - who is battling a daily war with Leukemia, a blood borne cancer, yet who is THE most active volunteer at the childrens' elementary school. Her name is Kaia, and she is truly a wonder to behold. She gives everything of herself, and asks so little in return. She knows that there is no definitive cure for her cancer, yet she does not succumb - she LIVES!

It is Natasha - my dear friend and spirit sister. She is younger than I, but wiser in so many ways. She keeps me balanced - she is there every day to pick me up when I fall down - she is my rock.

It is Jennifer - my closest friend and soul sister. We have been friends since childhood when we were backdoor neighbors, and although months may sometimes go by between our conversations, the instant the first syllable is spoken, it is as if we never skipped a single moment.

It is Kim & Jeannie - sisters-in-law to each other - havens of the heart to me. They are my safe harbor; there are no boundaries that are taboo, and no earthly problems that cannot be overcome in their company.

It is Meigs and Caide - my heart, my soul, my reason for getting out of bed each day. My children keep me balanced and keep me sane - I live for them and I would die for them - it is as simple as that.

It is Rocky, my husband - he stands by me through my worst tirades, he picks me up from my lowest depressions. He is the energy that keeps my going even when reality comes crushing in from every side. He is the foundation that keeps me pursuing my dreams, and that motivates me to do everything that I can to help him achieve his dreams as well.

It is my Grandma Dottie, my Great Aunt DeeDee, Ruth, Mrs. Maxwell, and yes (maybe a childish thought, but even...) Elvis - my guardian angels. The ones that I ask for guidance through the darkness. The ones that represent my "gut instinct". The ones that help me go on when it feels like everything and everyone else has failed.

It is Mitch - the best boss that I have ever had, or ever will have. I admit that I have a little "hero-worship" for him - he believed in me when no one else did. He took me under his wing and taught me about the entertainment industry. He is, above all else, honest, respectable, and a man of his word who takes care of his team better than any other person that I have worked with before or since. I am forever in his debt.

It is life - to be embraced - to be challenged - to be LIVED!

Wicked!

2006-12-30T16:09:00.000-08:00

More than a month of no posts -- but came across a couple of new quotes as I was reading "Wicked" by Gregory Maguire:

"When the times are a crucible, when the air is full of crisis, those who are the most themselves are the victims."

"The interior doesn't change, except by self-involvement. Of which be not afraid, and also beware."

"Nothing is written in the stars. Not these stars, nor any others. No one controls your destiny."
--(all from a conversation between Princess Nastoya and Elphabala)

"

An Insomniac's "Midnight Quote Therapy"

2006-11-14T23:15:00.000-08:00

These just about sum up my current mindset:

"I'm not afraid of storms, for I am learning to sail my ship."
-Louisa May Alcott

"You are not in business to be popular."
-Kirstie Alley

"If you just set out to be liked, you would be prepared to compromise on anything at any time, and you would achieve nothing."
-Margaret Thatcher

"Aerodynamically the bumblebee shouldn't be able to fly, but the bumblebee doesn't know that so it goes on flying anyway."
-Mary Kay Ash

"The penalty of success is to be bored by people who used to snub you."
-Nancy Astor

"Work is either fun or drudgery; it depends on your attitude. I like fun."
-Colleen C. Barrett

"We are not what we know, but what we are willing to learn."
-Mary Catherine Bateson

"Invest in the human soul. Who knows, it might be a diamond in the rough."
-Mary McLeod Bethune

"There are two ways of meeting difficulties. You alter the difficulties or you alter yourself to meet them."
-Phyllis Bottome

"If what I do prove well, it won't advance.
They'll say it's stolen, or else it was by chance."
-Anne Bradstreet

"Authority without wisdom is like a heavy axe without an edge; fitter to bruise than to polish."
-Anne Bradstreet

"Striving for excellence motivates you; striving for perfection is demoralizing."
-Harriet Braiker

"Look twice befoer you leap."
-Charlotte Bronte

"A strong, positive self-image is the best possible preparation for success."
-Dr. Joyce Brothers

"Truth is always exciting. Speak it, then; life is dull without it."
-Pearl S. Buck

"If human beings are perceived as potentials rather than problems, as possessing strengths instead of weaknessess, as unlimited rather than dull & unresponsive, then they thrive and grow to their capabilities."
-Barbara Bush

"You just don't luck into things as much as you'd like to think you do. You build step by step, whether it's friendships or opportunities."
-Barbara Bush

"Common sense is perhaps the most equally divided, but surely the most underemployed, talent in the world."
-Christiane Collage

"To have a good enemy, choose a friend; he knows where to strike."
-Diane de Poitiers

"You can stand tall without standing on someone. You can be a victor without having victims."
-Harriet Woods

"If you do not tell the truth about yourself, you cannot tell it about other people."
-Virginia Woolf

"Just don't give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don't think you can go wrong."
-Ella Fitzgerald

"The worst part of success is to try to find someone who is happy for you."
-Bette Midler

"My grandfather once told me that there were two kinds of people: those who do the work and those who take the credit. He told me to try to be in the first group; there was much less competition."
-Indira Gandhi

"Don't wait for your ship to come in, and feel angry & cheated when it doesn't. Get going with something small."
-Irene Kassorla

"I cannot and will not cut my conscience to fit this year's fashions."
-Lillian Hellman

"The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience."
-Harper Lee

"With increased opportunity comes increased stress. The stress comes from multiple conflicting demands and very little in the way of role models."
-Madeline Hemmings

"Security is not the meaning of my life. Great opportunities are worth the risk."
-Shirley Hufstedler

"Everyone has talent. What is rare is the courage to follow talent to the dark place where it leads."
-Erica Jong

"Do not follow where the path may lead. Go, instead, where there is no path and leave a trail."
-Muriel Strode

"You can't build a reputation on what you intend to do."
-Liz Smith

"Just go out there and do what you have to do."
-Martina Navratilova

"Life is what we make it; always has been, always will be."
-Grandma Moses

"I'm tough, ambitious and I know exactly what I want."
-Madonna

...and that, as they say, is that! =)

Magical Moments...and other updates!

2006-11-12T21:46:00.000-08:00

I haven't been "on site" in a while - life has been a little hectic and crazy lately (but more on that later)...

Last weekend, I took my children + one of my daughter's friends to Disneyland for the day. It was the friend's first visit, ever, to "the parks", and it was a delight to see her reactions to things. Every ride, from Pinnochio (the first ride of the day) to Peter Pan (the final ride of the night) was greeted with the questions "Does it go fast?" - "Does it go high?" (thank goodness she never asked "Does it have any big drops?" or I could have never gotten her on Splash Mountain!) Everything was fresh and new, and wonderful to her, and "seeing things through her eyes", for the first time in a while I didn't even notice the chipped paint from handrails, and the trash accumulated in the shrubs or stashed in odd corners of the queue lines. It didn't phase me that I was congested beyond reason, or that I was a little woozy from my cold medicine - we arrived at 9:15 in the morning, and left at 11:52 that night. We packed in with all of the other "cattle" to get a good viewing spot for the fireworks show (celebrating the 50 years of magic that Disneyland has provided) - and I had tears in my eyes as I allowed that magic to sweep me up and carry me along on it's shoulders. I have so many wonderful memories, from my childhood and from taking my own children to the parks over the years, that are wrapped up in a bright "Disney" bow - it is totally geeky, and also totally cool!

On the work front - things are (overal) really good. My department is understaffed right now, so that means loads of extra work for myself, and the person that I split the daily responsibilities with - but we are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, and should be able to breath a little easier within a few weeks (I hope!). I've also started on my first official Producer gig - working with an amazingly talented group of individuals to create our own independent animated short. Again, it means loading on more work, but it is SO worth it. I can't say much about it yet - but we may do a blog or website to track the progress (stay tuned...)

I'm reading (actually re-starting to read, for the 3rd time) William Goldman's book "Adventures in the Screen Trade" - what a great gem of a resource for insight on the machinations (both good and bad) of the industry. It is a little dated (written and published in the early 80's) but so much of the information is still relevant today. I keep picking it up, and then getting distracted 1/3 of the way through - but I am determined to finally finish it this time! I love Goldman's quip about "Nobody Knows Anything" - basically that there is no way to truly predict what is going to be a hit, and what is going to sink lower & faster than the Titanic. Audiences are fickle, and they are smart (a fact that seems to get lost in the melee of dumbed down, FX driven crap that gets churned out over and over). Big Star plus Big Budget does NOT alway equal Big Box Office (a fact that I believe some studios are finally starting to acknowledge).

My husband forwarded me a link to a great article/blog in 2 parts over at - http://artfulwriter.com/ - "A Widening Chasm, Part 1" and "A Widening Chasm, Part II" that has caused a bit of a ruckus with up and coming/hopeful writers. It's worth a read, so if you have the time, please check it out. It's a really interesting article on the widely varied perspectives that agents, writers, unions and studios have for how this business is, and potentially should, be working.

That's it for now - my mind is a bit muddled these days, but I hope that everything gets sorted very soon!

Quote for the day: "If I'm not always happy, that doesn't mean I'm doing something wrong; it means I am doing something real"
-Laurie Seligman

Freeway Follies!

2006-10-09T07:23:00.000-07:00

Did you see that crazy person cruising down the freeway this morning at 6:15am? The one with the windows down, blasting "Y-M-C-A" by The Village People and waving their hands in the air/"car dancing" along to the music? Did you hear them singing at the top of their lungs as you drove past? Did ya?

...yep - that was me!!!!

(C'mon, you know that The Village People songs make you giddy!)

HappyMonday!

Slinkies...

2006-09-12T21:59:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure where this quote originated - but I saw it on a writer's website and it made me laugh, really hard, so I thought I'd share:

"Some people are like slinkies,
they don't really have a purpose
but they still bring a smile to your face
when you push them down the stairs."

Go ahead and giggle - you know you want to!

=)

Excerpts...

2006-09-06T21:34:00.000-07:00

...from I, Elizabeth:

(an excerpt from one of Elizabeth's lessons):
"The might of Rome in those days was so great that many evil men plotted to grasp for themselves the supreme sway. Among them was Catiline, a man of many virtues, but fallen to a great hunger and greed for power..."

(observations upon being summoned to court by her father, King Henry VIII):
"At the window, ...a small fly buzzed helplessly against the greeny glass. ...In a corner of the window frame a great black spider, its web newly spun, glistened for the fly. Sensing her peril, she flapped more frantically against the glass until at last, through her own fear, she tangled herself in the fatal threads. Now the spider uncranked his long black hairy legs and began to move up for the kill.

Domine, conserva me..."
----------------------

Hmmmm - sounds a little like daily life in the modern day Production arena (and a lot like a project that I worked on in the past). The best advice I can give is to not get into this industry if you don't have a thick skin. You will be praised and villified, exhalted and belittled, challenged and rewarded. It's a bit like being schizophrenic.

If the "top dog" (and industry darling) really sucks, you can bet your ass that they are going to hang everyone else out to dry rather than look themself in the mirror and admit that they just can't cut it - wasting millions upon millions of dollars, and ruining careers along the way. -- If the "leadership" couldn't find their ass with two hands and a flashlight, you better not try to help them navigate because that calls attention to the fact that they have no clue where they are going, or what they are doing, and they will crucify you for it. It's better to just watch the train wreck, or try to escape.

I'm not saying that everyone is an idiot, or that this industry consists of nothing but evil people just waiting for the opportunity to screw you over - but after 13 years "in the trenches", I have several battle scars that serve as witness to an interesting adventure. To be fair, I have worked with some great people over the years (even a few on that horrible project); and the current team that I'm working with, from top to bottom, is one of the best groups that I have EVER worked with (equal to the group that I worked with in live action television - an experience that I never thought could be matched). There are wonderful people in this industry that honestly want to help their fellow artists/crew members to be the best that they can be; that genuinely give a damn about you and your family; that make you smile at the thought of coming to work each morning. THAT is what keeps you going - even when you have to deal with the handful of idiots that never seem to go away or to get what they deserve.

Each day in this ball game will bring lots of unexpected "curve-balls", some good and some bad. You have to be quick on your feet, and ready to problem solve a million little things at once. Attention to the little details makes all the difference in the world - I REPEAT: Attention to the little details makes ALL the difference in the world - and as management/support, get ready to slog some shit (it's tops on the job requirement list!) If you don't want to slog shit, you should probably look elsewhere for employment. Lazy, self-important slugs need not apply... but if you are ready for adventure, and have your own shovel for slogging, climb aboard for the ride of your life!

------------

I've re-read some of my past "rant" blogs, and I realize that I sound like a major bitch. Believe it or not, I'm actually pretty friggin' jovial most of the time. I just have NO patience for assholes and injustice. I know that not everything is "equal" and "fair" in the "real world", but my gosh - wouldn't it be much easier to be nice to each other?
I don't have great industry skills/insights to offer (like MK), or great artwork to show (like MK, MC, RS, PB, etc), or great writing samples (like JA, TE, TR, RS), so... I vent my frustrations here amidst a hodge-podge of personal interests and attempts at creativity. Thanks for checking it out....

Lost Souls

2006-08-29T21:15:00.000-07:00

Earlier today, as I'm driving down Beverly Blvd and stop at a redlight - on the corner, directly beside me is a cozy little coffee house. There is, what looks like, a fairly large blood stain on the sidewalk - right beside a plastic milkcrate with a few filthy items inside, and a dirty shirt or small jacket bunched up beside it. My heart beat faster - I admit that I panicked at the thought of what might have befallen that person. My eyes filled with tears - of anger, and sadness. What happened? Where is the owner of this stuff? Is he, or she, one of the millions of those who are forgotten - as if they never walked the earth - never breathed the same air as us - never mattered? What brought them to this point? I wondered what it would be like to walk a mile in their shoes....
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

It's cold out here in the dark
Voices all around me,
in my head, in the air.
I can't think clearly - is this real?

I need a drink,
to make the voices stop;
to get some sleep.

This looks like a good place to rest;
among the scraps of other people's lives,
the hard cement under me,
no blanket, no pillow - no safety.

Will I die tonight?
Will a pack of ignorant teens
with a wad of money in their pocket
and cruising in "Daddy's car" find their entertainment in beating me?

Will I die tonight?
Will the temperature drop so low
that my heart slows
and I can no longer move?

Will I die tonight?
Will my spirit break beyond repair
so I lack the courage
to face another empty day?

Will I die tonight....
and will anyone remember me?

I was once an athlete,
a scholar,
an honor graduate.

I was once a friend,
a lover,
a child.

I had a future.
I had dreams.
I had love
- but it is all lost now.

Now I have conversations
with myself,
and people cross the street
to avoid me.

Now I smell of urine
and filth;
I cannot control
the simplest functions.

Now I am alone.
Now I am forgotten.
To you I do not matter.

Do not think ill of me,
this is not who I chose to be;
this is not how I saw my life;
this is not my heart.

Please look beyond the surface;
see ME,
not this haggard body and mind.
Don't let me fade to nothing.

Please remember me.....

(For Reed - I love you, brother! I thank God that you have an amazing family that cares for you, so you will never be "forgotten".)

Producing...

2006-08-27T17:12:00.000-07:00

"Producing something - coming up with an idea, developing the plan, solving the problems - is the source of true Joie de Vivre and achievment. No one ever won a medal for being in the audience..." (Unknown)

Folks...

2006-08-22T20:05:00.000-07:00

"I think there's just one kind of folks. Folks."
- Harper Lee

We just watched "To Kill a Mockingbird" - a film, starring Gregory Peck, based on the Harper Lee novel of the same name. I'm not sure how I made it out of Honors English in High School, or through my college Literature courses without ever reading this gem of a book (OK, I still haven't actually read the book yet, but I'll be picking it up at the library during lunch one day this week). I watched the "making of" bonus feature on the DVD, and reportedly this adaptation is really true to the original work, so I can't wait to pick it up.
Certainly, I knew about the book - but by title only; I never knew what the story was about. I knew it was a classic that should be read - if not for enjoyment, then to "broaden my horizons" on popular literature. Well, time and a million other things kept me "putting it off". I had no idea that it was like taking a slice of life from a small Southern town, and putting it under a microscope for a brief time. The film is based in the 1930's, in a small Alabama town (Maycomb), which is not unlike Monroeville, Alabama where Ms. Lee grew up - and not unlike Palatka, Florida, the small Southern town in North Florida where I grew up.
As I watched Scout, a young Southern tomboy/girl (the lead character), I couldn't help but think of how much her, and her brother's daily activities were the same as things that my brother and I did. I couldn't believe that things wouldn't have changed very much from the 1930's South, to the 1970's South. I remember going to my Grandmother's house and playing in the canal, climbing huge oak trees, swinging and rolling across the yard in old tractor tires, or running through the potato & cabbage fields - while our parents & grandparents, aunts & uncles, and my grandparent's neighbors enjoyed cold iced tea and games of cards, or just sitting on the front porch talking. My grandparents lived on a farm, and there was always adventure to be found when we went to visit.
Much like Calpurnia took care of Scout and Jem, we had a lady that took care of us during the day while my parents were at work. Her name was Ruth, and she was the most wonderful lady that I have ever had the honor to know! She practically raised me (she took care of me from about 6 months old through 10th grade). She was always there for me to ask questions of, with a hug when I was sad or had scraped my knee, and with discipline when my attitude needed a little adjusting. She taught me a great deal about wrong and right, and how to be a good person. I credit a lot of who I am today to her (not to take anything away from my parents, but to supplement the things that they taught me). Ruth was all about unconditional love - something that is missing from so many people today. I hope that she is watching over me, and that I'm not disappointing her
too much...
Racial prejudice was just as prevalent in the 1970's as it was in the 1930's in a small Southern town. It never really touched our house - at least not that I was aware of as a child - but it existed in the town. I never really understood that - aren't we all human beings? Why did it matter who your friends were or who you played with at the park? I guess that I've always been inclined to like a person for who they are as a human being, not for the color of their skin, their religious upbringing, or their level of education -- it doesn't matter how "well connected" a person is, what matters is who they are on the inside. Are you nice? Are you genuine? OK, you can stay and "play".
It was interesting to find out that the "Dill" Harris character from the book/movie was based on Truman Capote as a child (he and Harper Lee were childhood friends, and remained close thereafter). There was also a real life case of the "Scottsboro Boys" that happened when Harper was a little girl that influenced her "Tom Robinson" case. (Thankfully, nothing like the "Tom Robinson" trial from the movie ever touched my hometown. Things were actually pretty quiet.) So much of Harper is in this novel and the character of Scout, and in so many ways it was like looking through a magic mirror to my own childhood.
The movie is a little slow to start, but that is exactly how it should be - a slow summer afternoon, sitting on the front porch and sipping a tall glass of iced tea; taking in the world around you, seeking a little adventure, (hopefully) making the right choices and being a good person....

"A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song."
-Maya Angelou

Desideratum

2006-08-18T13:19:00.000-07:00

"Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead." --Louisa May Alcott (1832-1888)

Life is about to get really interesting, with a lot of hoops to jump through and hurdles to cross. We are taking on a huge challenge and testing our "5-year plan" to it's limits; stepping completely out of our comfort zones on so many levels and putting some pretty intimidating plans into action. From time to time, I'm sure that I'll rant about frustrations - but I'm also looking forward to posting progress reports and stuff for general feedback (even though there are probably only 3 people who actually read this....)

In the meantime, enjoy the quote from Louisa May Alcott - one of my favorite authors. It's amazing how just a few words can lift your heart & spirit, and give such a feeling of hope & endless possibilities!

Black Dahlia

2006-08-14T21:31:00.000-07:00

Wow! Just finished watching the trailer for "The Black Dahlia" (check out the link, but be patient - it may take a while for the trailer to load):

The Black Dahlia

....it looks pretty friggin' good!

Based on the trailer, it feels a lot like "Mulholland Drive" meets "L.A. Confidential" - dark, edgy, on the fringes of (old) Hollywood, and centered around a tragedy that causes controversy within the police department's investigator, and political, ranks.
"The Black Dahlia" is based on actual events that took place in California in 1947 -- the gruesome murder of Elizabeth Short.
Some described Elizabeth as "the girl next door"; a beautiful young girl from back East that came to Hollywood because she wanted to be a "star". Others would describe her as "a confused chick who ran with a bad crowd", or "a driven girl, but afraid of running into herself". She was last seen alive at the Biltmore Hotel (still a beautiful hotel located in downtown Los Angeles - 506 South Grand Ave) - which she left with a gentleman. Her body was later found (I'll leave the gruesome details for the movie...) in the Crenshaw District (in a vacant lot at the intersection of 39th and Norton), near Hollywood, on January 15th.
The case was front page news every day for almost 2 months - the coverage was intense; the public's interest insatiable.
The case has never been solved. There have been more than 50 bogus confessions where mentally ill people, or people with ulterior motives, have claimed to be, or know, the killer -- all have been proven false. There is a 5-drawer file cabinet, plus indexed files and over 5,000 pages of documents related to the case locked away in the LAPD Homicide Division in downtown Los Angeles. The case is still open, and looks to remain that way for an inestimable amount of time. Although there have been times where a deceased person has been named as a killer in such a case, the odds of this case ever being closed seem very low.
So who did kill Elizabeth Short? I'm sure that the movie will have some interesting theories of its own to add to the mix.

On the "industry side" - the film is directed by Brian DePalma (Carrie, Dressed to Kill, Scarface, Wise Guys, The Untouchables, .....and other greats). The screenplay was written by Josh Friedman (he also wrote "War of the Worlds", but I won't hold that one against him - I'm willing to bet that his script was much better than the final product!). Josh is really good friends with John August (someone that Rock brought to my attention) and that's good enough for me! Check out Josh's blog at http://hucksblog.blogspot.com/ -- it is definitely worth a read. -- And check out "The Black Dahlia" movie (starring Josh Hartnett, Aaron Eckhart, Scarlett Johansson, Hilary Swank, and Mia Kirshner as the ill fated Elizabeth) when it opens in theaters on September 15th!

Lessons Learned

2006-08-12T17:27:00.000-07:00

"...I've learned, the hard way, that some poems don't rhyme, and some stories don't have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it without knowing what's going to happen next. -Gilda Radner (1946-1989)

Art & Passion

2006-08-12T14:10:00.000-07:00

Man, I LOVE artists! I love being surrounded by them every minute of every day! I work with some of the most talented artists in the world at my job; my husband is an artist; a lot of my friends are artists - I wish that I was an artist! (I can manipulate things in Photoshop, but I can't create an original piece of art -- I couldn't draw a straight line out of a paper bag to save my life!). But really, the word "artist" covers more than just illustration, animation, graphic design, etc. - being an artist means having a vision, and doing everything that you possibly can to bring that vision into reality. (OK, maybe I could be considered an "artist" then).
Artists get me REALLY excited! (OK horn-dogs, that isn't what I mean!). There is such a great energy in the artistic community; such quirkiness; so much passion and so many eclectic views -- there is never a lack of stuff to talk about. That's part of the reason I chose this industry to work in. I'm way too funky and creative to put on a suit everyday and navigate the waters of "corporate America" - I'll take the shark infested waters of the trenches of the entertainment industry, thanks! Seriously - at the end of the day, even if it has been a really crappy day, I'm happy to have worked with the crews and on the projects that I'm working on. At the end of the day, it is the people and the experience that make you want to come back and do it all over again. At the end of the day, it is the creative process - the hope of something truly original and amazing - that makes the mundane stuff worthwhile!
I am humbled and honored to know (99.8% of) the amazing artists that I have worked with over the past 13 years in this industry. I have worked in Publicity, Television (both live action and animation), and Feature Films (both live action and animation). I've worked with some real jerkwads (don't get me started) on some fantastic projects, and some WONDERFUL people on some not so great projects, and a variety of other combinations inbetween. I'll always go for the experience being wonderful - at the end of the day, that's what is going to keep you going.

"I don't want life to imitate art. I want life to be art!" -Carrie Fisher

"Art is one thing that can go on mattering once it has stopped hurting" - Elizabeth Bowen (1899-1973)

The Soapbox -

2006-08-11T21:04:00.000-07:00

People never cease to amaze me! Sometimes in a good way, but generally not.

Why are people given promotions to really high positions when they are totally inadequate in their jobs. Then those same people treat their crew/team like total shit - demeaning, degrading, insulting - condescension oozing from every pore until the air is thick with it. Their method of leadership is "false power by intimidation". They nearly cost some people their careers, others their self esteem - for some, it is both. NO ONE likes working with them, and would rather quit the company than get stuck working on their project. ...and yet, they are STILL there! Why?!

Why do people promise to do things that they know they aren't going to follow through with? "I'll (insert verb: call, write, help, take care of that for, see...) you soon." Really? Don't say it if you don't mean it. I HATE uncomfortable situations!!!! There are so many false people out there....

...and a lot of those false people are co-workers trying to climb their way to the top on the backs of the good people. So many co-workers just keep screwing each other over, manipulating situations to make themselves look better by taking the credit for something that they know they didn't do, and generally pulling each other back down - just like crabs in a bucket! Why? Why can't people be secure enough with themselves to celebrate one another's successes, and to help pick up the pieces after a failure? Why do people have to talk shit about someone that gets a good break, and revel in another's sadness over a mistake? Is it worth it?

I was at a party at a friend's house recently, and there was a conversation going on about various artists in this medium or that one. There was a lot of hero worship going on for some not so nice people - not just loving the art, but thinking that the creator was some icon of "wonderful human being" simply because they created the enviable art. Guys, worship the art, not the person - get to know the person first and then make up your mind.

If you are going to give someone a present to say "Thank you", it shouldn't have strings attached. I've known a person that got their boss to give presents to some of the staff that might not get as much appreciation & credit as they truly deserve. "What's wrong with that?" you ask. The whole motivation behind giving the gifts was NOT to say "I appreciate you", it was to butter the underappreciated staff up in case the boss/assistant might need a favor from them someday - that day came about 1 week later. "Boy, I'm sure glad that we gave (insert name) that gift last week; it really paid off when I had to call in a favor today!" (C-U-Next-Tuesday!)

Only genuine people, please!

Why do people feel the need to drive RIGHT on the bumper of the car ahead of them, and then get really pissed when they have to slam on breaks to avoid hitting them. Then they throw a hissy-fit, yell & scream, and honk their f'ing horns like the person in front of them did something wrong, simply because they slowed down for the young mother that is just finishing crossing the street, pushing her infant in front of her in a stroller?! Get over yourselves - try enjoying the drive for once!

Why do people no longer feel it is proper courtesy to say "Please" and "Thank you"? I have been appalled at the lack of kindness in so many people today! And it isn't just young kids - there are plenty of old jackassses out there that SHOULD have been raised better based on their era. Would it really hurt you to give the checkout girl/guy, the cashier, the waiter/waitress, etc. a smile, a nice greeting, and to thank them for helping you with your task? God forbid you pay them a compliment! What is it with so many people today? Is everyone just bitter, angry, depressed? What's the point - being mean to someone else isn't going to make your day any better - and will probably make it worse. I guess there are some people that revel in that crap - please go see a psychiatrist! I remember reading somewhere that "You can tell someone's true character by the way they treat their waiter/waitress". It is SO true!

..."Bitter - Party of 1"...

OK, OK - there are some great people in this world too. I'll do a rebuttal to this one, I swear. I'm just really irritated right now!

Restraint

2006-08-09T21:39:00.000-07:00

If nothing good can come from
1. a conversation
2. a meeting
3. an interview
4. a confrontation
then don't have it!
-Linda Obst

...good advice that I should probably follow more often!

Bits & Pieces

2006-08-09T01:16:00.000-07:00

I'm reading (and re-reading) a plethora of things right now - it's hard to not get everything jumbled in my head sometimes! Currently perusing: "Making Movies" by Sidney Lumet - what an amazing book! This is the 3rd time that I will have read through it, and I pick up something new every time. "Film school in a book" is a pretty accurate description. It is a great refresher! (Thanks, Rock, for originally recommending it!) -- "Life Magic" by Susan Bowes - "The power behind "life magic" ...rests in its celebration of all that enriches life, with an emphasis on the importance of connections and relationships..." What a great little book that makes you think and discuss; "Hello, He Lied and other Truths from the Hollywood Trenches" by Linda Obst (Producer) - she has seen and done so much. This is a great book for an aspiring producer - stripping away the "rose-colored glasses" and presenting some of the real and challenging people & situations that might be encountered in this crazy industry; Cinefex 104 (King Kong/Chronicles of Narnia/Corpse Bride) - 3 fantastic movies that we can all learn so much from! I really admire everything that Peter Jackson has done (although I believe that he did some things with the "Lord of the Rings" films because he COULD, not because he SHOULD!) I would give my left arm to work directly with him and Richard Taylor! I fell in love with the ape Kong when I was a little girl, and my adoration has not diminished! This Kong is beautiful! His mannerisms are spot on for a silver-back gorilla, his transformation/humanity is so easily seen in his eyes & face, his "acting" (done by Andy Serkis with mo-cap and transformed to what we see on screen by the animators) is some of the best work that I have EVER seen! WOW - this film took my breath away! -- "...Narnia" was great - I loved it and so did my kids! I love seeing Kiran (one of the little people used in "Lord of the Rings" as a double for the hobbits) in a "face role". Even so, there were a few moments where I was taken out of the movie by the costumed characters in the battle. -- "Corpse Bride" was as quirky as ever a Tim Burton film has been. I loved the visuals (sets, character designs, etc.) even though I didn't quite connect with a few of the scenes (the bar song distracted -- and WHY could the main characters not easily return to the surface early in the film, and then later they seemed to have carte blanche? I prefer "Nightmare Before Christmas" - but still really liked "...Bride"

Be Persistant!

2006-08-08T02:37:00.000-07:00

Quote for the day: "Press on. Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unrewarded talent. Education alone will not; the world is full of educated failures. Persistence alone is omnipotent.

-Calvin Coolidge

Adventure Awaits...

2006-08-07T00:08:00.000-07:00

Wow - Chinese proverbs are groovy! The year I was born was the year of the monkey, and the main thing that sticks with me from the description of "Monkey" is: "Monkey needs change". -- I tend to not be settled for long with any routine. I love adventure and trying new things. Life is WAY too short to be sealed in a box - it is for living, and loving, and exploring! There is so much out there to experience; there is no way that life should be allowed to pass by while leaving us as mere spectators.
So, what will this blog site end up being for me? I'm not sure -- I'm going to figure it out as I go along. I hope it is an interesting journey! For me personally, nothing is worth doing if it doesn't push some boundaries, break some rules, and challenge me creatively. I've been told that I'm WAY too passionate about things - but I take that as a compliment. I've been told that my language is a bit too "graphic" - well, it is what it is; I don't apologize for it (usually) since it is a part of who I am. Passion makes us more intersting, and I agree that I have more passion about the things and people that interest me than I probably should - but I wouldn't change that for anything in the world!
-- Here's to a lifetime of fun and adventure; I hope that you'll join me for the ride!!!

Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all. Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature. -Helen Keller (1880-1968)