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~ Drinking tea and writing stories in cafés

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Monthly Archives: January 2014

The secret life of Walter Mitty and Her – Sundance FF

24 Friday Jan 2014

Posted by Floreva in Entertainemt, Movies

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Cinema, film festival, Script

Well, well, well….

With the academy awards ceremony just around the corner, it’s the right time to hit the theaters and enjoy the inventive movies on offer. Rather that rushing to see “The Wolf of Wall Street” (Scorcese with DiCaprio, based on a true story, what could possibly go wrong? I’ll watch that later), I’ve chosen “Walter Mitty and his secret life”, because the storyline sounded appealing, and there was no dissatisfaction .

The film is based on a 1939 short story by James Thurber.  While some changes have been made in regard of the original story, namely since the action in the book is wrapped tightly around Walter Mitty and a single event as trivial and unremarkable as accompanying his wife to the drugstore. He stays for a smoke outside the shop while she proceeds with the groceries’ list. The essence of Walter Mitty’s rich inner life and  feats is pretty much interestingly translated onto the screen. Ben Stiller does a remarkable composition, a pleasant mixture for a contemplative character made of grace and reserve, the plot is maybe not fantastically inventive, but it flows nicely and the ties are well tied together, interwoven with clues we grabbed along the road to his own journey into the real world. Haven’t we all day-dreamt of delivering punching line to people who are as annoying as a dickhead, or to rude people or haven’t we fought that with a bit of increased audacity we would have done or said something bound to lead to a better situation, and kept for ourselves for various reasons? Sometimes, though, the only alternative is to harness that audacity and just…. well, dive into the unknown, because it feels right.

It is also a refreshing film for three reasons ; firstly in the sense that the filming locations are not somewhere in the States, pretending to be that particular area in the world where the action is supposed to be taking place. The crew did film in several part of Iceland (but they did not film the Himalayan part in real Himalaya though but in Iceland too, namely in Longufjorur on the Snaefellsnes peninsula, still, the magic works).

It’s refreshing too because the crush he has for his colleague finds a quiet and gentle materialization when he firmly holds her hand, and we are spare the too-often -seen lip-crashing kiss plastered all over the screen since Top Gun (1986), in big scale, which since then made every kissing moment look like its always raw desire on steroids that both the protagonists seem to be able to either perform or want. So a little change is very welcome, and here the apparent shyness makes it for a gentle breeze without losing its powerful implication. Out of Africa (1985) was the embodiment of that elliptically shown strong desire, and it never felt less powerful that a close-up on naked bodies rummaging together on a bed, against a wall, on the floor, warlike, and seldom necessary in such length or numerous occurrence.

Thirdly, ( no offence, please) it felt refreshing to have locals playing the characters of locals, and not some American again playing the foreigners, much to the weariness of the (European, shall I write?) audience. Ólafur Darri Ólafsson as a Greenlandic pilot is just perfect and he feels right too, just as the Chilean ship crew and the Icelandic/Greenlandic ship crew or the ticket agent (Rosamund Gundmundsdottir).

“The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” is a very pleasant film, which provides an enduring feeling of lightness and happiness and a sense of joy, The photography is fantastic and that alone should have the movie being qualified for the Academy Awards, along with a  perfect script. Ben Stiller proves again that he is a real creative bloke, he acts in and directs here a great film, whose qualities will better with age. (Unlike the absurd “Arthur Newman” , 2012, in which Colin Firth and Emily Blunt unconvincingly play 2 American con artists, lost in their own identity and tediously trying to escape their miserably boring lives, 2 appealing British actors along with the somewhat inconsistent Anne Heche. Result : greatly annoying film full of wearisome cliches ).

“Her”

“Her” is a surprise, emphasing on the loneliness experienced by humans  dwelling in this modern techie urban habitat. We follow the life of Theodore Twombly whose job is to write love letters for people who lack either the ability, or the  time to do so. Theodore is a loner, still grieving over his lost relationship to his childhood sweetheart. He enrolls on a program providing humans with a personal OS, a virtual companion, able to learn and grow human like feelings. What ensues id crystal clear : he falls in love with the witty software, which improves so rapidly in the field of emotions and psychological understanding that their relationship becomes (strangely) intimate and emotionally accurate. Of course, what underlines the script is that no such relationship can exist, since we are humans, and no machine, as much sophistication it can get/operate/create/develop/have , can rival another human being because there is a moment when feelings and closeness need to find their physical expression and materialization through those trivial things but unbeaten yet : the skin, fingers, lips and eye locking into another step of intimacy, different and yet complementary to the closeness of soul, mind and spirit.

Here, Spike Jonze signs a question-raising film regarding our human condition, the loneliness we can experiment even when surrounded by fantastic tools of communications and technology enhancing or facilitating our everyday life. In the end, the moral of the story looks like : to experiment human contact and togetherness, joy in being reunited and this sense of “belonging”, the simplest thing to do is to ring a friend, drag them out of their flat, and together, closely seated in the warmth of human bond (love, friendship), contemplate the sunrise, rekindling with our human capacity to marvel at the simple joys Nature has to offer, and that can never be replaced, even by sophisticated machine. Steel can never have goose pimple, whereas the human body can  express inner emotions through various changes, in temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, change in color of the skin, breath and fluids exuding its pores or tear canals.

A modern tale, sometimes funny, sometimes sad, with a mustached Joaquin Phoenix.

Everybody’s gathering to Sundance FF!

I heard the other day over the radio Matt Damon and Glenn Close… I think this once alternative and indie-prone Film Fest seems to be gradually getting transplants and defectors  from Hollywood and getting to be contaminated by Hollywood stars and spirit…..Or is it? Anyway, I recommend RAINDANCE film Fest, and other Indie Film Fest, less known and yest more innovative and out of the big machine circuits…

So fellow film lovers, oddjobbers, check those FF and let us keep cinema ALSO indie.

So long,

Floreva

VISIONFEST
FILM FESTIVAL
New York, New York – USA
May 14 to 18, 2014

Hurry, Last Looks:
– L.A. COMEDY SHORTS
– Chicago International Movies and Music Festival
– Fort Myers Film Festival
Exciting Earlybirds:
– Vancouver International Film Festival
– Guanajuato International Film Festival
– Napa Valley Film Festival
Circuit Gems:
– OFF PLUS CAMERA International Festival of Independent Cinema
– deadCENTER Film Festival
– Sunscreen Film Festival
The 5th Annual New Media Film Festival
Based in Los Angeles, the New Media Film Festival celebrates the ever-changing world of new media. Declared “worth the entry fee” by MovieMaker Magazine and hailed for making “the cutting edge accessible” by Huffington Post, the festival accepts Web Series, 3D, Apps, Digital Comics, Machinima, Made on Mobile/Tablet, Music Videos, New Media, Scripts, Shorts, Shot on RED, 30-second pitches, Socially Responsible Content, and Trailers among other formats. The jury includes reps from Pixar, Fox, and The Caucus, among others. A total of $45K USD in awards will be presented at the festival this June. Join filmmakers from around the world, hear industry leaders, and network…submit today!

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1st Book signing!

10 Friday Jan 2014

Posted by Floreva in Books

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book signing, writing.

Scheduled Saturday, January 25th in a Cafe/Patisserie…

Do I see stars everywhere?

Cheers!

F

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Being a writer is more than what you think…

09 Thursday Jan 2014

Posted by Floreva in Life in style

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writing.

Being a writer, apart from being a lonely job, seldom immediately rewarding or even bringing daily satisfaction is also about being able to reach out to get your work noticed, remarked, chosen, published, and ultimately, read. Because, we , oddjobbers, do not write just for ourselves, to answer our true nature or to find answers, or maybe because we want to temporarily dwell into a better place than the one we actually have to deal with,(or have had to deal with in the past), or to entertain others and ourselves, we must also tackle the task of putting that handkie on the shyness or unwillingness to get out of the study, and deal with the world outside and the readership that awaits us. It’s about becoming bolder, more self-confident and proudly starting to  talk about what we do, what we write and sometimes, (when asked) explain why we write and how our stories enter others’ mind, soul or thoughts, and how they mingle with their own life. Because it’s all about feeling that what happens or has happened was once experienced by others, thus allowing closure, joy, sadness, anger, a sense of empowerment in a way, to come to the surface of our souls underneath the polishing of society  (and how to behave in any circumstance). Then you find yourself talking to a friend or a stranger and sharing personal facts, and beyond the emotion that suddenly resurfaces, a bond emerges, and at that point, you know that your lonely hours of writing, fighting with yourself not to censor yourself too harshly, or precisely because it’s painful to revisit some memories, are not vain. You put words on situations and emotions and you allow others to speak up their soul because you gave them the words they were searching for. They can own those emotions because they can express them, because you gave them words, be it poetry, fiction, a song, an ode, a line in a play, a dialogue between characters in a script…

It’s a lonely task, to write, but you’re not alone.

And the next stop now is : marketing your talent, getting that readership that craves for your words. It’s time to have those bookmarks printed and the flyers and postcards too, to include in any correspondence (even bills, why not?) .

Time also to try that fancy cafe and propose and schedule a signing… They will be more than willing to host your signing event, trust me. I’m organising mine already  😉

Image

(picture copyright 2014 FVFOX, communication postcard)

Good day to you, fellow oddjobbers, keep up the good work!

Floreva

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Sante Fe Film Festival and upcoming film fest deadlines

04 Saturday Jan 2014

Posted by Floreva in Movies, Writing

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film, screenwriting, Script

Hello oddjobbers

new year means new set of resolutions and goals, excellence to strive for and schedules to be followed.

Image

Last year, I had the great opportunity (I worked  wisely to make it happen, though) to go to the Santa Fe film fest and I met several people, and discussed various topics related to filming, low/zero budget short films planning, production and so forth. I was invited to the wrap-up party and to date, this event is one of the most memorable events I’ve been too since I’m a US resident. Like many fellow harmony seekers, I have decided to set out a bunch of new resolutions (because health, work, achievements, personal bliss and family and friend  happiness are obvious resolutions to stick to, I don’t even mention that), and keep them in mind everyday during 2014 to follow through.

Since I’ve submitted script material to film fests, as a member, I happen to receive an update on every forthcoming film related events, fest, contests, etc. I’d like to post more about the subject, and I want to submit more material that I did last year.

I’ve gathered also information on a nearby Community Center to possibly enter a film-making program, whose founder and lead teacher  had his students qualify for Cannes film fest in 202 (and win!). I need my transcript and then I can proceed with the enrollment.

Ok ,so now that I’ve shared that with you there’s no turning back…

Here some film fest some of you might interested in, either to submit a doc, a short, a feature, a script.

Enjoy and best wishes!

ATHENS INTERNATIONAL (oscar qualifying)
FILM + VIDEO FESTIVAL
Athens, Ohio – USA
April 11 to 17, 2014

THE IRON MULE SHORT
COMEDY SCREENING SERIES
New York, New York – USA
Monthly Screening Series
Circuit Biggies and Oscar Opps:
– Los Angeles Film Festival
– Seattle International Film Festival
– Nashville Film Festival
– Aspen Shortsfest
– Bermuda International Film Festival
Regional Favorites:
– Sonoma International Film Festival
– Maui Film Festival
– Chicago Underground Film Festival
– Sarasota Film Festival
And More to Explore:
– The European Independent Film Festival
– Chicago International Movies and Music Festival
– Script Pipeline Great Idea Contests
– Rainier Independent Film Festival
Please click on each link to land on the film fest website.
Enjoy and good work!
F; inspired.

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January 2014
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Recentely brewed

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