13

Jun

Fredrick The Hedgehog

If you haven’t seen Fredrik Eukland on Bravo’s Million Dollar Listing, you’re missing out. This guy is like sonic the hedgehog selling up all the money parcels in NYC. He makes me feel really lazy. In fact, I decided to write this blog about him (breaking my 3 week lazy non- writing streak) just because he makes me feel really bad about myself!

Seriously though, here’s a guy that knows what he wants, perfected his craft, zones in, and seals the deal. Because he believes in himself, others come right along with him and the momentum is unstoppable. He rakes in  commissions of $50-200k per sale, and usually hits a few per week. His net worth is somewhere around 4 MM. I actually think it’s much higher than that number…

I want to be this good when it comes to my passion, but I realized I put in about 1/10th the energy into my goals in comparison to him. I’m not saying he’s the nicest guy in the world, in fact he’s a teensy bit egotistical, but  heck…. living a life with a perfect physique and focus is nothing to laugh at. There’s something to be said about going out there and getting er done!

I need to stop thinking things are just going to happen suddenly. I’m probably one of the more driven people I know, but I’ve been sitting on the sidelines too much lately. Fredrik just kicked my ass in gear. Time to start revving things up again. You create your future……

Over the years I’ve discovered that most of us have what it takes, it’s really just whether you really want it bad enough. Persistence wins!!

 

 

6 days ago Short URL Comments

Featured/TV Reviews

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11

May

Pabst Blue Ribbon On Ice

My friend Jennifer told me I should really listen to Lana Del Rey’s entire album. I scoffed at it…I hated “Video Games” partially because it was overplayed and also because she was terrible at singing it live. She seemed contrived and superficial. However, a few weeks later I saw her album and decided to download a few of the popular ones- except for Video Games (ugh).

I’m pleasantly surprised people. Her songs are really pretty damn good. I’m now listening to it a lot when I’m working on my scripts. Blue Jeans, This Is What Makes Us Girls, Summertime……Born to Die… they are all really good. So, if you haven’t listened to her and you tend to enjoy Zero 7, Massive Attack, Tori Amos, Sia, Amy Winehouse, etc— You’ll like her. She’s not hard to look at either so I’m sure most of the guys have already been following her!

 

 

39 days ago Short URL Comments

Existential Moments/Featured

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11

May

Francesca Woodman

I recently watched a documentary about Francesca and I had no idea she even existed before I saw it on Netflix. I think most photographers know of her, but since I’m not in that world I was ignorant. She’s basically a young girl who was brilliant but unrecognized and very mentally ill. In order to do the type of work she did, she had to constantly be raw and in process – going somewhere. When her life put a stop to things temporarily it’s like the wheels came off of her car and she killed herself. Her pictures became very popular among photography hopefuls. She’s got this vibe that advertisements strive to be now, way before anyone else caught on.

Here are some snaps:

 

 

39 days ago Short URL Comments

Existential Moments/Featured

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06

May

Silver Linings Playbook Review

 

I love movies that really focus on people that live in the mental cracks of society; quite possibly the most beautiful area to live in. We all know there are tons of people walking like mummies who have no spark left in their body, yet appear perfect on paper.

Those who ultimately feel so much they seem out of touch with reality, might be the most important people in the world and consequently, the most emotionally capable people. And certainly, a great match for another “crazy” person.

I’ve often thought about this in relationships. I think I want someone who’s perfect on paper, but in all honesty, it’s the ones who really think and feel more than usual that attract me. I love hearing emotions and what makes people tick. That raw capacity makes life worth living and certainly fuels creativity.

This isn’t a movie proving the existence of “crazy” or what makes people crazy which is totally refreshing. This is a movie about realizing you don’t have to squash all your crazy and you can still have a life worth living.

Another movie you should check out in this vein is “Safety Not Guaranteed ”- loved it.

What I loved about Silver Lining’s was the effortless script in a pretty slow paced film. That’s not easy to do and it kept my attention. I also loved how they surrounded the film with this idea of a “dance” they have to perform together. This is like Dirty Dancing except with prozac and family arguments. Wait… hmmm… they both have that.

Anyway, Jennifer Lawrence is intoxicating in this film and Bradley Cooper’s scenes with Robert DeNiro are reasons to see the film. I really felt for the characters as they struggled to get closer together, yet not suffocate each other. It really represented a lot of family strife in a beautiful and simple way. In this type of film I’m not expecting a huge twist at the end because it’s about relationships and what life’s about as opposed to some horror film or epic action movie.

Silver Linings Playbook is a solid good film. I don’t think it’s the best film ever done, but it just happened to luck out this season of the Oscar’s (in my opinion).  Another film that was similar to this was up at the Oscars not too long ago starring George Clooney: The Descendants. 

 

44 days ago Short URL Comments

Featured/Film Reviews

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06

May

MOMMY, MOM, MOM, MOMMY, MAMA!

Oh yeaaaaaaa! Another horror flick to watch. I love horror movies. I must be sick in the head. I just like the challenge of scaring myself. It’s not easy to do because I’ve built up quite a tolerance. I laugh in the face of demons and missing limbs!

If you’ve seen Pans Labyrinth, which is a brilliant and dark fairy tale out a few years ago, then you’ll know the type of style this Director has. It’s very similar…. very real and creepy.

This movie is about two young girls who end up alone in a cabin where they have to fend for themselves. Except, there is something else helping them out…. MAMA! I’m not giving it away because that’s the trailer.

Here’s where the film was a big win: cinematography, pacing, lighting, writing–overall direction and acting. You can’t go wrong with Jessica Chastain. I have a girl crush on her and Shakira.

Here’s where the film was a miss: I wasn’t entirely surprised by anything in the film. But on the other hand everything was really well done, perhaps better than anyone else could do.

I really wanted to see a twist that I didn’t see coming. If they could have delivered upon that in this film, it would have been a huge smash. But hey, that’s my opinion as a writer. Some of you reading this might say, COME ON, they did twist it up. Eh….. I watch a lot of movies and I felt like I knew what was going to happen very early on.

If I was given this script and told, make sure it’s a huge mega hit….. what would I have done? To be 100% honest, I’d end the film with the ghost living with them permanently like a 5th family member. Something really creepy and weird.  Could you imagine making dinner and this thing floats in and stares at you? Geezus. I also feel it would have disarmed the feeling in my gut that I was watching The Ring all over again.

All in all this was an excellent showing and I’d love to see where Andres takes his talent next.

All horror fans should definitely rent it because the Director is brilliant here…. worth the time. Look at the motion test for the creepy ghost lady!!  http://www.blastr.com/2013-1-29/creepy-screen-test-mamas-ghost-will-make-your-hair-stand-end

 

 

 

44 days ago Short URL Comments

Featured/Film Reviews

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04

Apr

Why American Idol Ratings Are Falling…

Who cares!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It’s probably because Mariah Carey is the Queen of England and Nikki is too ghetto. But that’s my guess!

76 days ago Short URL Comments

Featured/TV Reviews

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