![[title of show]](http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b285/ShephardSummers/titleofshowsm.jpg)
Monday, January 23, 2012
Awards & Memories
I remember the beginning moments of my blog... no readers, just me talking to the ethers.
Lots of silliness really. But it's going on 7 years now. I've outlasted the advent of Facebook.
(I blog in spite of Facebook, even)
I remember fondly those first few years, the camaraderie and daily check-in, getting to know everyone, and learning to trust (sometimes the hard way). But the thing I never expected was finding a kindred spirit in blogdom.
Almost all of that large blogging circle I participated in is gone now thanks to FB.
The best thing blogging has brought me: the enduring friendship and camaraderie of my sister-from-another-mister, Wendy. If not for blogging, we would never have met. We talk weekly, email daily, we have spent vacations together, we participate in each other's lives perhaps more than half our relatives do.
"Shephard, why the trip down memory lane?"
In early blogdom, we used to pass blogging awards to one another as a way to support, encourage and validate. I used to have a passel of them in my sidebar (I'm not really sure how many a passel is... ).
Out of the blue this week, I got one from my friend, *Elissa* , and it made me remember the early days a bit.
Very kind of her. :) And it's nice to be appreciated directly. And the appreciation is reciprocal. :) I'm also supposed to tell you all 10 things about me. Well, I have a link in the sidebar that tells you 100 Things about me. That tradition seems long lost to bloggers these days. But, here are 10 More Things...
1. I back-date posts sometimes. Often. Okay, a lot.
2. I have learned that awards are as much for the people who give them as get them (Oscars and Golden Globes included).
3. I am a published author. I am grateful. But I have a long way to go.
4. People say they blog for themselves, but I think most blog for readership. I'm no different. I blog for the opportunity to add positive voice to the world.
5. My favorite place I've ever been is still Venice, Italy. If you'd like to see some of the photos I took of this magical city, click *here* and *here* ... lovely memories.
6. I have a funny sign on my montior that says: "8 is Enough." This is a reminder that my blogging is about sharing, and if I manage to touch just 8 people with awareness or empowerment, then the blog is worth my time. It is not about comments on posts (tho those are nice too). 8 is enough keeps my priorities straight.
7. Even as a writer, I find it hard to describe the beauty I see in a single cat.
Like this photo of our little Oboe:
8. I share a deep and abiding love of potatoes with the person who gave me this award.
9. I have another sign on my monitor that says "Loud & Clear," and it reminds me that actions speak louder than words... "Pay attention, Shephard. Actions tell you what someone really thinks."
10. I finally met Ben Affleck. It was all I hoped it would be.
~Shephard
posted by Shephard @ 
Monday, January 16, 2012
Be a Squeaky Wheel
One of my biggest challenges is to allow people to believe what they need to believe, regardless of the facts. But after a couple decades, I learned when to speak up, and when it just wasn't important. Getting to that point was a long road, and my choices and beliefs were often as wrong as they were right.
I know where I got this need for definitive fact-checking. My father.
You see, my father lived in a mental fantasy of "if it sounds right to me, it must be true." Perhaps in a reasoning, logical person, this is not such a huge flaw, but my father had an 8th grade education and bible-thumping farmer-parents from Nebraska. So what sounded true to my father was often the furthest thing from it! (disclaimer: I'm sure that bible-thumping farmer-parents in Nebraska are much smarter today than they were 60 years ago).
(In other words, The Squeaky Wheel Gets the Grease)
When I learned how often my father was wrong, I became a person who questions everything he's told (to this day). Needless to say, that catapulted me in the opposite direction of blind faith and organized religion. And for my teachers at school, well, let's just say those who didn't like to be wrong were about as fond of me as my dad was.
I grew up in a family who stubbornly masqueraded opinion as fact. So, I personally tend to be less patient about that. But growing up with it was just about the best training for the real world. I learned how to deal with blind beliefs and poor fact-checking early on. But I also stepped on a lot of toes before I realized where the fine line was. I eventually discovered that I don't care what people choose to believe, as long as they're reasonable and respectful and compassionate.
Today is Martin Luther King Day, a day that reminds us that standing up for compassionate truth is important.
If you tell me the blue sky is actually orange, it hurts no one. If you are comforted by this, I am happy for you.
But if you tell me black people or gay people are second-class citizens, I will challenge your bigotry.
If you vote for politicians you think will be great for the economy but also knowing they will take civil rights from anyone, I will not quietly tolerate your looking the other way. Because no person who devalues civil rights is good for the country.
If you tell me that god exists, and you know exactly what he believes and thinks, I'm happy for you that you have found your truth... but if you tell me that anyone who disagrees with you is wrong... I will not validate your intolerance, because you do not have the right to decide this for anyone but yourself.
Today is Martin Luther King Day.
A day to remember that civil and human rights are inalienable rights not decided upon randomly by what a person chooses to believe. We owe all our freedoms to those who came before and fought so hard to preserve and win them. I wish I'd learned how important this is when I was younger. Imagine the choices I might have made. Likewise, imagine the choices a new generation will make if we choose not to forget.
~Shephard
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Dream-Casting "Into the Woods"
This post is for Elissa and Ellen and Jenni, because most likely, no one out there reading this will care unless you're a fan of Sondheim or theatre.
I read that Rob Marshall will direct the movie version of "Into the Woods" (Sondheim) for D*sney.
Well, I just about coughed up a lung. I was so surprised because I had heard that Sondheim was so particular that no one wanted to do this (... and yet.. .the disaster that is the movie version of Sweeney Todd).
I have very definite opinions when it comes to this post, because it's not only my favorite Sondheim musical, but my favorite musical period. This musical is brilliant. It could make an amazing film. It weaves the stories of Cinderella, Rapunzel, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Little Red Riding Hood etc, together, and delivers a complex morality of human nature: right and wrong, good and evil, society vs. the individual, parenthood and marriage; it's all there. And it's also very funny.
I'm not a purist.
I live in the real world.
This means that box office success is the point, otherwise why make the movie?
Hollywood will HAVE to get people in the seats.
And altho I could come up with a spectacular revival Broadway Cast, that cast would not likely translate to the big screen or motivate the general public to see the movie (US audiences are not fond of musicals, generally speaking.). So Mr. Marshall (who did the movie version of Chicago) will have his work cut out for him yet again.
I'm so excited!
The Cast
These movie versions almost always get cast with the hot-star-du-jour, sacrificing singing ability (thus, the aforementioned Sweeney Todd). But I still think there's a way.
I know they will miscast The Witch. They will go for a glamorous woman who isn't particularly funny or believable while she's playing the crone-half of the role. Ironically, this is what happened in the Bway revival... I do like Vanessa Williams a lot (saw this version twice), but she's not funny, and wasn't a very believable crone... too pretty. This will likely happen to the movie version as well.
Here's my Dream Cast with the caveat that it has to have Box Office Relatability:
The Witch: There is only one witch: Bernadette Peters.
There is no one who can do the witch like Bernadette.
But Julia Louis Dreyfuss or Megan Mullally both sing VERY well and are hilarious, and they can look glamorous. If only they were a bit more popular, I think they'd stand a chance of getting cast. But the problem is the witch role has to be a creepy, cranky funny crone (yet scary) who gets transformed into a glamorous witch later. Thus, I think they'll go for glamour, sacrificing humor and singing ability. I'm braced to be massively disappointed. But hopeful they can come up with someone who fits the bill.
Narrator/Mysterious Man: Robert Downey Jr. or Bryan Cranston or Jack Black.
Any of these would do the role justice, I think. I also thought of Alan Rickman, but not sure he could play the humor as well as Robert or Bryan or Jack.
The Baker: Paul Rudd or James Marsden.
Both sing well! Paul Rudd would be adorable as the fumbling baker trying to do it all on his own, lost in who he thinks he should be, trying to be the bread-winner (wink). James Marsden, same... adorable. Either would make me happy as a clam. They could also go the other direction with this role, with someone like Jack Black... and that would change my choices for both Baker's Wife and Cinderella. Chemistry is everything.
The Baker’s Wife: Gwynth Paltrow or Jane Krakowski. or Kristin Chenoweth.
This is so hard. She has to be strong and appealing, yet empathetic when she commits adultery. Hard balance. After the witch, this is the role I had the hardest time dream-cating. Kristin could be very funny. And she and Jane are the rare examples of Bway stars who can translate to Hollywood.
Cinderella: Mandy Moore or Anne Hathaway.
Both sing beautifully. Both appealing, and both would match up well with the Bakers.
Cinderella’s Prince/The Wolf: Zachary Levi or Cheyenne Jackson.
The movie version might split this role into two, but I think it would be a lot less funier if they were played by the same actor like in the musical. The actor therefore has to play arrogant but likable (prince) and lecherous and beguiling (the wolf).
Rapunzel: Reese Witherspoon or Anne Hathaway.
Unless they include the restored song "Our Little World" that she sings with The Witch, this is a light singing role at best. If they do, I think Reese would pair well with The Witches above. (you thought I was going to suggest Mandy, didn't you!).
Rapunzel’s Prince: Jason Segal or Will Farrell.
He has to be less confident, more put-upon and softer than the other prince, because he's stuck with a crazy wife whom he must endure. I don't think age matters as much in this role.
Jack: Darren Criss, Jonathan Groff, Neil Patrick Harris, Justin Timberlake.
This role has to have all the innocence in the world; he has to be very green, and coddled by his mother, and not so smart. I think any of them could likely do it justice.
Jack’s Mother: Dawn French or Megan Mullally or Christine Ebersole.
If they cast Dawn French, I would squeal. She would be perfection as the struggling mother with an inept and slightly simple child. And also would play the tragic end well. So would Megan and Christine. I pray they don't cast an actress who is TOO serious (Meryl Streep).
Red Riding Hood: Zooey Deschanel.
This character needs to be quirky and youthful, but she has a savvy edge to her. I really think Zooey is perfect.
I'll be surprised if any of my Hollywood "dream cast"get cast. Why? Because the producers and studio will go for stunt casting to get people in the seats. I guess I can't blame them.
This movie may not be the best vocal cast of these amazing songs. But there's hope. Not to mention... songs always get cut. I wonder which ones will get axed? I wonder if they'll even follow through and make this movie??
I would bet that of any of the names above, names like Justin Timberlake, Zooey, Jack Black, Zach Levi, Gwyneth, James Marsden, Jason Segal, Anne Hathaway, Neil Patrick and Reese are being toyed with. Or even some I didn't mention, like Gerard Butler, Ewan McGregor, Harry Connick Jr, Amanda Seyfried, David Hyde Pierce (thanks Elissa!) and Christine Baranski. I would be shocked if Robert Downey Jr. would even consider taking a role in a musical. Shame, cuz he could be very funny and appealing. And I bet we see some fun cameos in some of the smaller roles... like Sophia Vagara as one of the Step-Sisters (how fun!).
I hope it's a wonderful cast. To quote Cinderella:
"I wish!"
If you'd like to read my friend Elissa's equally fun and appropriate choices for this movie, click over to **Awesome/Fearsome** for more INTO the WOODS fantasy casting.
Okay, enough Theatre Geekery.
We now return you to your regularly scheduled blogdom.
~Shephard the Hopeful :)
Monday, January 09, 2012
The Future Finally Arrived
Magically, the other day, B and I realized it was his FIRST day of work in 5 years where he had no meetings, no scheduled responsibilities, no drive-by's, no check-ins, no screenings, pitches, directors lunches, story reviews, research interviews, press obligations, trips to recording or film studios or anything at all. Just a blank day to actually work on his own next film! And I said, "Holy crap, the future finally got here."
The last 5 years caused us to pare down dramatically and to let go of so much "filler" in our lives. We didn't want to let go sometimes, and therefore didn't always do so very gracefully. It was like lessening the load on an overburdened boat. Either get rid of it, or we sink!
But the future did eventually get here. And things are finally completely calmed down.
I look around and find myself finally on the other side, in a totally different life. I love our home. Each and every day. I can't get enough of our home, and B feels the same way. We just want to spend quality time here. Never had a home we truly loved before. What a gift.
I miss the little cats who had to leave us.
I cherish the friends who grew with us.
I love the adventure of exploring things with new friends.
We have our health and each other. So grateful for so much.
But the future doesn't look at all like I thought it would.
My desk is cluttered and I keep missing things that need completion and follow-through. We turned this corner and I just can't seem to clear the slate enough to breath. Have I forgotten how? I find myself saying... I'm still almost there. Life seems to be 86ing the distractions for me. Funny how life does that. I'll get there.
Hubby has a good year of quiet development time for his movie. Tonight, I'm going to see his 6 minute animated short, a sort of button to the last movie (you can see it shown in theaters soon, on the front of Be*uty & the Be*st). Can't wait to see it. It's very funny!
If you're wondering if we ever have to repeat this gauntlet, theorhetically no. These movies are not meant to be done in 2 years (and B had to do 2 films back-to-back in compressed 2 year blocks). These films need 3 to 4 years if you don't want to fry eveyrone on them. Though... I see The Mouse tightening the screws on other productions now, and I'm praying this isn't the new norm. B's real defense against this will be keeping his ears open, sharing the load, surrounding himself with other competant, talented people who also know what they're doing, and making solid story-telling choices. Something he's very good at, thankfully. If he can do this, we'll never have to go through that crunch again.
Whew.
I love The Future and I'm not going back.
~Shephard
Thursday, January 05, 2012
A Season of Screeners
My friend Lynn asked me: "Just curious. Does your
attention begin to waver after watching so many movies in a short time
span? You've watched a LOT of movies."
The answer is no!
Not even after we have watched 40+ films!
Oscar Screeners begin arriving in November and continue into early January, right about the time that there's NOTHING worth watching on TV. Perfect. You do get down to the dregs of the barrel after a while, but it's a fun journey.
These screeners are a blessing in so many ways, not the least of which is that B's job as director keeps him so busy that I don't know when we'd be able to see all these movies so he could vote on them. But there's that added serenity of us sitting together on the couch under a blanket, with a bowl of popcorn or dinner, and not fighting bad theaters, bad audiences, ill-taught children and all the other random movie theater factors that can mar the enjoyment of a film.
***THERE ARE NO SPOILERS IN THIS POST***
And to that I'll add... the remote control --a godsend when having to sit through:
I won't even write the title. But it was the most pretentious waste-of-film I've seen in decades! The tagline: Nothing Stands Still. Wrong. At 138 minutes, everything stood still. Whole species evolved in the excruciating time it took to slog through this convoluted, brooding film that was in love with its own symbolism and misfortune. So we were grateful for the remote control!
That said... nothing beats seeing a film on the big screen. Nothing.
Here are a few of our favorites.
If the movie isn't here, I either liked it but not loved it, loved parts of it despite the overall movie, didn't care for it, or was sorry I had to sit through it.
A b&w silent movie?? In 2011/12 ? Really?
Really. And we loved every minute of it.
For starters, there's that undeniable "Gene Kelly" quality of Jean Dujardin.
But in general, in a decade where you never know what unexpected decapitation or other such horrors are going to fly at you from the screen, it was just a relief to sit and watch a well-made movie, with characters we enjoyed spending time with, and to know that NOTHING gimmicky or startling was going to take us out of the movie. I got lost in this movie.
The clarity and beauty of the black and white is stunning.
And the actors are so much fun, so engaging. And surprisingly, I didn't miss sound at all.
The girl, bubbly and cheery, and the dog, adorable. The dog stayed with the guy every step of the way, almost like his own little Jiminy Cricket.
The movie is just charming.
But... sadly, I'll be surprised if it wins because there are no super-horses being vaulted through a war-field and lascerated by barbed-wire against all-too-obviously-preposterous odds. Still, stranger things have happened.
A bit of a sad film... her life was so sad. But Eddie Redmayne and Michelle Williams captivate from start to finish. He is so green and wide-eyed, and she is so forlorn and child-like. It's wistful and sweet and well-acted, and enjoyable from start to finish.
I wanted to like Beginners even more than I did, because the performances are SO good. The only thing holding me back is that I'm hardpressed to believe two characters are so utterly bewildered by life and relationships without the slightest clue as to how to say what they need or what they are afraid of. The fact that we live in a time filled with movies about relationships, reality TV, Oprah, Dr. Phil and self-help, and the sheer degree to which they wallowed in lostness... that makes it a bit hard to buy. That aside, it's worth it for every performance, and is genuinely sweet. Ewan. He's the reason to see it.
And then there's the fact that the rollerskating rink scene was filmed near where I live... Ewan was SO CLOSE, and I didn't even know it. ;)
The trailers made this seem like more of a comedy than it really was. It is still a movie about a young man dealing with cancer. But again, performances really made the movie. It's a quiet movie, with engaging characters, and after this and 500 Days of Summer, I think Joseph Gordon Levitt is one of the more under-rated actors. We both loved Seth Rogan in this a lot as well. There is a healthy dose of quirkiness thanks to Seth, but at its heart, the film is about friendship. Yet this film is not at all the downer you might think it to be.
Another George Clooney film to love so close after "Up in the Air." George is endearing in this film about uncovering the truth about his wife. A film about family and fidelity... set in Hawaii! It's quirky in places and we just loved spending time with these characters. Shailene Woodley as the daughter caught us off-guard. I loved the relationship between she and her father (George). Not what I'd call an upbeat film, but not a downer either. Another natural performance from George.
A real surprise, full of natural performances as well. I tell people it's a less glossy Hollywood-ized version of The Blind Side, about real and flawed characters.
Paul Giamatti was great, but we were both taken aback by how good Alex Shaffer (blond kid above) is. We did laugh several times, but it's not the comedy it is advertized to be. But it's a solid film, and we loved it.
Last and not least, my favorite film of the year.
Midnight in Paris is the only Woody Allen film I have ever thoroughly enjoyed. I will go so far as to say, I barely noticed any traces of Woody Allen...well, maybe in the fiancé and her friends and the parents.
Owen Wilson is so appealing and earnest. The film has a surprise that I won't mention, but once it kicked in, we were thoroughly engaged and wondering what is going to happen to tie all these characters together somehow!
At its heart, is the story about finding passion and fulfillment in your life and the world around you, rather than wishing it could somehow be some other world, some other time, some other way. And I loved that the message is repeated so many ways.
And it's Paris!
There was talk about how romantic and wonderful Paris is in the rain. I will add a touch of realism by saying, that having spent 6 rainy days in Paris, that can get old REAL FAST. But Paris is beautiful, and it's the perfect setting for this wonderful film about having the courage to seek fulfillment against whatever odds. I wonder if this film will even get nominated.
To the above, I will add the guilty pleasures of fun films that, while not adding anything new to the art of film-making, were a helluva lot of fun: Sherlock Holmes, Harry Potter/Hallows2, The Guard, Super 8, and Hanna.
Am I attached to what wins? No.
The Oscars are a total popularity contest, with bargaining and coercing and shaming for votes. Rarely do I love the winner as much as Hollywood wants me to. But the fact that B gets to cast his vote for something he feels is true, decent, substantial and well-made is a wonderful thing. If only the entire academy was made up of people who think for themselves with such careful dedication.
~Shephard :)