Films Worth Writing About

I lived in NYC for a little over a year, (I left Los Angeles, Jan. 2012)prior to moving here in Wilmington, NC.  I was very fortunate in that time to have been on the SAG Awards Nominating Committee, invited to numerous screenings of the films of 2012 which always included a Q&A with the cast and producers/directors of the films.  This included ARGO, Zero Dark Thirty, Le Miz, Life of Pi, and the list goes on.  I learned so much from the folks who made these films and enjoyed the privilege of receiving screeners which I'll have with me always. (Well, I did give a few away to my family.)  As circumstances would arise, I had to leave NYC, go to Florida for 2 months but then I found myself setting up household in Wilmington.  A whole different world.  

I love film, I want to make films, write the screenplays, produce, direct and act in them.  After arriving here in NC, I made a short film for the Cucalorus Cough Syrup Film Festival called I Was A Teenage Cough Syrup Junkie.  I hooked up with some great folks and not so great ones.  Suffice it to say, with a very difficult time dealing with the DP/Editor, and not taking control (my bungle), the film isn't what I hoped it to be, but whatever.  It was a good growing experience.  I followed with writing my 2nd screenplay, Lumina Love, about the entertainment pavilion that existed for 70 years in Wrightsville Beach.  You can read a news article about my endeavor.  http://bit.ly/1g98zCa

Acclimating to a new home, not knowing the lay of the land, etc., (a bit of culture shock) I found myself living in Leland, which ironically is referred to sometimes as LA.  I'm in a building where I don't honestly think I'll stay for long.  It's for 55+ active seniors but sometimes I feel I'm in a nursing home.  I do have to leave soon.  Most likely get back to LA, the big one in California.  But I've met a wonderful gal here named RaeMarie, who does a mean haircut and turned me on to Solar.com online to see all the latest films.  I did go to the theater to see Gravity and Blue Jasmine (I'll get back to them later) but all the other films that have been released recently I've been able to see online.  The Butler, American Hustle, Thor, and most recently Dallas Buyers Club. 

I had no idea what this film, with the most praise-worthy acting, was all about.  Not a clue.  I just knew that Matthew MacConaughey and Jared Leto lost a lot of weight to play their roles.  In the beginning you find yourself at a rodeo, lots of swearing and profane behavior.  Ummm, am I going to like this film?  So I let it unveil and the more I watched, the more I was intrigued and impressed.  Mr. M was almost  unrecognizable but even more so Mr. Leto.  Then to see Jennifer Garner who I do think is very underrated as an actress complete this most fascinating trio of magnificent performers.  The movie is about the Aids virus set in the 80's and how one person was determined to reverse his diagnosis(he was given 30 days to live) but also help hundreds of others who were plagued with the same disease.  I know this film was based on a true story and I recall hearing in the news about how the FDA worked hand in hand with Drug companies to undermine the healing of patients but I'm sure there was also a lot of artistic license incorporated.   With the desperation of the victims of this disease, they were willing to try anything.  So much mis-information was floating around at that time, and MM's character was trying to get to the bottom of it all.  The arc he traveled as an actor was so moving and realistic.  Talk about getting into character and losing 40 lbs to make sure it was real.  I highly recommend this film to everyone.  It's educational but also very entertaining.  I don't like listening to a lot of swearing, bigoted remarks and homophobic insults but for some reason it was all so necessary to tell this story.  I love and admire good storytelling, acting and filmmaking and this has it all.   So don't miss this example of great work for the screen. I'm certain, come awards time, both these men will receive much deserved prizes for their commitment and talent. 

 Now for our female leads, there is nothing more amazing than Cate Blanchett and Sandra Bullock in their respective vehicles, Blue Jasmine and Gravity.  If you haven't seen either one of those films I also highly recommend them.  But in all fairness, I do believe Emma Thompson, in Saving Mr. Banks, rules the roost as Best Actress of the year.  Maybe I'm just partial to Brits, or maybe it's because we share the same birthday, April 15, but I would watch that movie again just to see what she does with a very difficult and demanding role.  Wow, I have to say, it's going to be a tough Oscar race this year in the ladies category.  I haven't seen Philomena yet and I hear Judy Dench is pretty amazing.  As for secondary roles, I did like Oprah Winfrey in The Butler but had a difficult time watching the film because I've always been a civil rights activist and the way the those folks were treated just makes my skin crawl and I can get very angry at my own race.  How could people be so egregious?  

I did miss not being able to go to all the screenings this year like I did in the previous one and especially missed out on having my pic taken with celebrities.(winking here)  I call them my peeps.  I'm as passionate as they are about the medium of film, and like I mentioned before, I may just get back to Los Angeles very soon to be around that creative energy.  We'll see. Everything's a trade-off.  Since NC is losing it's tax incentive for films and it's a right to work state.  I don't think I have much reason to stay here.  As a SAG/AFTRA union member, I don't have opportunities available or being compensated fairly for my work as an actor and admittedly, I'm a California girl thru and thru.


So go to the theater and see some good films soon.  Some are 
worth your hard earned cash and others not (or you can find them online.)  I would think twice about American Hustle,  another film they can title, Much Ado About Nothing.  There are a lot of those out there.  About Time and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty are pure fantasy and a lot of fun. A bit of fluff for your viewing pleasure.  I'm forgetting something I know but I can always come back and edit this blog. Actually, I just remembered the film that didn't seem at all interesting to me when it first came out but turned out to be a very exciting and absorbing tale (true) which is Ron Howard's Rush.  With both actors turning in remarkable performances.  I really enjoyed watching Hemsworth and Bruhl!  I know there are many films I've missed and please feel free to recommend ones you've seen and think are viewing worthy.

Someday, my book How I Survived the Sixties will be made into a film, God-willing and I'll get involved from the very beginning, the process, the production and see it to it's completion.  As an astrologer once said to me way back when, "you will work in film and don't ever give up."  Yikes,  I almost did but until there is breath in me, I'll trudge forward and see what manifests.  I do believe in destiny but above all, I believe in miracles!