A defining moment in solidifying my love for Ron Swanson.

'Look how black the sky is, the writer said. 

I made it that way.' 

I've just finished re-reading Lunar Park by Bret Easton Ellis and this sentence has been pounding through my head since I read it a few days ago. I had genuinely forgotten almost everything about the book, having last read it back in 2007 so admittedly a reread was way overdue... and something I think I really needed.

One of my biggest struggles with any of my writing has been the constant inner battle between the wannabe journo who has to dispassionately relay facts, events, timelines and the writer desperate to emotionally delve as far as possible while doing so with some kind of lyrical grace. The battle between the adult trying to sensibly get through each day by being level-headed and not letting emotions cloud their judgement and the dreamer who can't help but see the moments for what they are, each their own fleeting tale of joy, pain, hunger, rage... the Realist versus the Idealist, round 1... the Journalist versus the Activist, round 2. 

In fact, it's not just in my writing that this discord keeps rearing itself. My general demeanour is one of optimism, cheer and openness. I like seeing the good around me and very often do. I also don't like to complain because despite my own troubles, I can't help seeing how starkly they pale in comparison to so many others. Not to mention the fact that constant complainers (read: fucking drama kings/queens) are among my least favourite people on the planet. I like to keep trying to move forward, however slowly - and in my case, it's often glacial - and I like to look around the world for all the wonder it has to behold. 

But that said, that wonder will always inevitably come with its share of drama and the creative part of me can't help pushing aside the rational part of me saying, 'get the hell over it already and move on' and wanting to pick it all apart, pull its guts out and splash it somewhere, even if only onto the canvas hanging off kilter inside my own head. It's this side of me that is drawn to the dark and the depressive, the pain and the anguish that is so intrinsically part of bouncing around on this insane rock. It was this side of me that obviously wanted to reread something written by the guy who came up with the reportedly (I haven't yet read it, although I have recently attained my own copy) vividly grotesque American Psycho. Even in Lunar Park, he refers to his writing American Psycho as 'an extremely disturbing experience', with Patrick Bateman haunting him at every turn till he was finally done. He even wrote the following: 

'But even years later I couldn't look back at the book, let alone touch it or reread it - there was something, well, evil about it.'

I do imagine this sentence was certainly dramatically tainted, but that being said, it's no secret that everything you write takes a piece out of you. Stephen King has spoken about how writing Pet Sematary was one of the hardest things to do because of the places he had to bring his mind to in order to complete it. Anyone who has read it can easily imagine why. Having attempted my own forays into the deadlights (ayup), the headspace into which you collapse can be overpowering and it can cripple the hell right out of you. A more recent attempt had me attempting to actually create a scenario that has remained one of my (and likely many people's) greatest fears and give it life (or death) on the page. I wasn't very far in when I had to shut my eyes and physically get the fuck away from my laptop. As is unfortunately my way, I never finished it, although the door is nowhere near closed on it. 

As a naturally sensitive person, navigating adulthood has involved a huge amount of personal change - or at least my trying to implement that change - with a varying degree of success. Unfortunately, what that has also come to mean is that I actively repress my creative side. I doff it in exchange for rationalisation of my non-existent right to complain when there's so, so much worse. While I'm happy to be happy, I do know we are all allowed to rant, bitch, rave and moan from time to time, but for the most part, the person I am now, the person I have become, the person I've trained myself to be, prefers to limit that allowance and try to see the good. The sad part is, it's when I'm really indulging that creative side that I feel alive. As in fully present. ME. 

And the notion of a balance between the two is so ridiculously difficult. Even now, I can hear Little Miss Sensible telling me to just get down to it, write, woman! Write! Stop trying to find time, just do it, get your ass in gear, do iiiit! Quit with all the analysis already! 

But the other part of me knows that this is who I am. This is all part of what makes me, me and I can't not try to know it, to dissect it, to figure it all out and to revel in doing so. 

But LMS is winning. Right now, having written all this, I want to wrap it up neatly by saying, make the time. That's it. Work when you have to work, socialise when you have to socialise and write and dream when you have to be. That's all there is to it. You know that. When you open your laptop and are sitting there staring at the page and that damned blinking cursor and you're wondering what in hell makes you think you have anything of importance to say and even if you did, what makes you think you have any ability to elucidate it, just do what you did just now. Start writing. Something. Motherfucking anything. And get wherever it is you have to go, as a journo, as an activist, as an artist or as yourself.  

Get writing and darken that damn sky.

To which I can only reply with, 'Ok.'

And to be honest, it's a bare victory. The very existence of this blog, technically a piece of exhibitionism that the anti-exhibitionist inside of me abhors, is proof of that. Yet, were it not, I would be defying my own words in my own article - words imploring everyone (myself) not to be too afraid to speak and be heard.

So up this goes in defiance of hypocrisy.

'Let my own lack of a voice be heard.'

He speaketh truth, that F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Anyway, just had to share this shirt. I want one.

Long overdue life update time...

My gosh, I am just the laziest. There is no excuse whatsoever for my having not posted anything more than a map and an anecdotal brain fart in the last month. Thus far all resolves to keep this thing alive have allowed themselves to sink below the waves of constant distraction. I would like to call it 'Life', the convenient fallback of choice, but it really is just sheer laziness. Discipline and I, we've never been all that chummy, bar the few times I get my head above water in a sea of TV, going out, timewasting online games and the sadly occasional book.

Ok, hold up a sec. Even I will have to concede that I may be being a tad harsher on myself than is necessary. This last couple months have been among my most creative in a very long time and for the first time in years, I actually feel more like a whole person again. I feel less like something is missing or that I’m not doing something I should, I actually feel like me. That is an amazing feeling. True, the genuine validation of my ability to express myself both eloquently and hopefully actually connect with a reader, along with some very, very kind encouragement from some truly awesome people, has been quite the boost! I guess what I should be lamenting is this place’s poor upkeep. Literary (I laugh) blog gardener, I am not.

Remedying now. Self-deprecating rant over, it’s update time. Prepare for long-winded rambling!

* Work-wise, I last updated this when I was still working at the DCRC and marvelling at the fact that not all offices are invariably inhabited by assholes. It was quite the eye-opener and now, having moved to NDARC, my amazement continues. I work full-time now, people, full-time! This was not something I would have considered ever doing again for a very long time, but the fact is I like working here so much, I decided that health and time could maybe take a backseat for a while as I attempted to, y’know, earn more dosh and do so at a place that didn’t make me want to kill myself (here I will disclaim Market. That place was awesome, it just wasn’t enough hours. If I’d had my way, I could very well have still been dealing with shitty farmers and loving every minute of it!). Honestly though, loving working at NDARC. Some of the loveliest people I’ve come across and I get to continue being the grand old dork I am which is awesome.

* Thanks to all that garble above (which essentially comes to, I’m steadily and somewhat securely employed again, yay for pera!), 2 things that I’d never really imagined myself doing were able to come about – my actually getting a mortgage broker and looking into real estate (hello, adulthood!) and my upcoming trip to Europe! Yeaaaah, son! Though both endeavours have come with their dramas, I’m still pretty excited all round. I feel I’m repeating sentiments I expressed back when I updated about planning for New York so hey, hurrah for the instances when life catches you off guard in a good way!

* So all that guff above about being more creative than ever lately, well, I’ve got quite a few writing projects going at the moment which is all kinds of awesome. I’m admittedly grunting my way through it at times, but that’s just a testament to how out of practice I’ve been! Meanwhile, in further aid of allowing myself more creative freedom, I’ve signed up for a couple of Voiceover e-courses. Acting sans audience – the dream! What I’ve done thus far has definitely been fun and actually helpful in its own right for helping me better brave and discover character voices, not to mention the voice exercises are just as useful for singing as they are for speaking clearly so woohoo! And of course, there’s the music. I’m singing and playing more songs than ever and coming up with more little tunes on my lovely, lovely piano (my baby) and actually remembering to record them! Cheers to the likes of Silvestri, Newman, Giacchino, Hisaishi et al for allowing me the opportunity to imitate and hopefully find something of my own sound among all the copycatting!

* Lastly, I’m glad I’m even bothering to update this thing. I hope to write more of substance but for now, it’s alive again. It’s breathing again. Sure, those breaths are a little halted – somewhat representative of the writer’s own erratically asthmatic existence – but hopefully this surprisingly and aptly short-winded shot of compositional Ventolin will keep it going. Here’s to!

USA... USA... USA... 2015

... well, hopefully anyway. 

A Brief Epistle to an Old Friend

Dear Old Back Fence,

Though our new fence is one that affords us a much higher level of security, I do still miss your quaint and haphazard old self. The photo above (of which I am inordinately proud) of the Tree Gone Too Soon would likely never have existed without you and your oh so open view of the world and for that I will always be grateful.

So here's to you and what used to be the biggest backyard ever. I'm certain the remaining Jacarandas miss you just as much as I do. I imagine the new fence and garden feel like a bit of a scene-stealer in their eyes and your humble acquiescence will always be appreciated.

Cheers for the peers in and out and for the sunset I got to capture without the aid of a chair or stepladder.

~Jel

A recent article I wrote for SO Magazine Australia

The Uses of Wonder - a talk by Bobette Buster at the Sydney Writers Festival 2014

In a world where we often prefer entertainment fast-tracked or easily digested in a 6-second vine or readily ‘lol’d at in a meme, we all still love a good story.

That we as humans are all hardwired to respond to a good story well told was the very essence of Bobette Buster’s presentation at the Sydney Writers Festival – The Uses of Wonder.

A highly respected Hollywood story consultant and lecturer for such studios as Disney, Pixar and Sony and a professor at the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts, Bobette spoke about the uses of enchantment in cinema and animation and her charisma, passion and insight proceeded to enchant the audience who had come to see her, myself included.

We were treated to an eye opening peek into the layers of cinematic storytelling behind such films as Finding Nemo, Toy Story 2, E.T. and Babe. Bobette also revealed the lesser known driving themes behind them, truths like the message of kindness and the ordinary becoming extraordinary in E.T. or the ultimate transformation of Rex the Dog in Babe as he humbles himself and gives away the much coveted spotlight to let Babe shine. Probably most piercing is the message of Toy Story 2 which shows us that people we love may very well ‘grow up’, leave us and forget about us, but, just like the toys left behind, we can still choose to love them anyway.

Insights like these are part of the staying power that is story-telling and cinema. As Bobette pointed out, though cinema is still a young story-telling medium, the use of story has long been an integral part of the human psyche.

Advancing from oral tradition, mythology and fables have maintained power over the centuries because they speak about the fundamental journey of being human. They appeal to our innate senses of courage, justice, forgiveness and hope and can even help prepare us and for whatever hardships the world may send our way.

Psychologist Bruno Bettelheim, while a Dachau inmate, observed that the children raised on Grimm’s Tales were better able to keep hoping despite their dire circumstances. One imagines that this hope of a better life was what Anne Frank harboured inside her, aided by a poster of film idol Sonja Henie on her wall, as she wrote in a diary that would end up inspiring millions.

Cinema is therefore an artform of transformation, a chance to go places we would never go, take emotional journeys with characters we’ve never met and see the world around us with clearer eyes. As Bobette stated, ‘truly great films show us how difficult it is to find those profound truths and they do so with dimensionality’ staying with us long after the last credits roll and allowing us to pass on a ‘baton of understanding’ from each generation in order to inspire and strengthen the next.

SO…

While movies and animation allow us to visit new worlds, learn about our world and about strength, courage and hope, it’s then up to us to open our eyes, take a good look at the world around us and see the extraordinary in the ordinary. We are surrounded by stories – those of our families, our friends, our community and most importantly, inside each of us. We are all creating our own story and it’s up to us to make it one that stands up and has an impact. And if you want to tell it, then do it. Don’t be frozen by fear – speak, write and be heard.

Give yourself a chance to be an inspiration.

- Jelynn Millare

On the notion that science is the only bearer of truth in today's world...

So, what's below was drafted I've no idea when, obviously while I was still attempting to complete my Grad Cert so we'll gauge it around mid to late 2011. I've no idea at all why I didn't post it in the end, likely excessive second-guessing as is my general way, however this is something I strongly believe so here you go, 2 and a half year old post, fly free!

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'Whilst ploughing through my readings for the new sem, I happened upon the following:

'Science, and the seeming certainty of scientific knowledge, have undergone vast changes in the past 100 years. After all, before Einstein, most educated people believed that Sir Francis Bacon had accurately and eternally described the basic actions and laws of the physical universe. But Bacon was wrong. Scientific inquiry in the 20th century searchingly explored a variety of physical phenomena, almost always uncovering new relationships, new areas of knowledge, and most importantly, new and expanding areas of ignorance. What modern humanity regarded as certainty of scientific truth has changed fundamentally in the last 100 years, and humanity has every reason to expect similar changes in this century. Science and certainty are not synonymous, despite our tendency to blur the two.' - Philip Patterson & Lee Wilkins in 'Media Ethics: Issues and Cases'

You only have to look at the so often flawed parameters involved in scientific measurement, alongside the potential for inaccuracy in conclusion, whether due to bias or outright human fallibility, to see just how true their words are.

Now, I'm certainly not attempting to claim outright that science provides us with no factual information, far from it. What I contest, along with Messrs. Patterson and Wilkins, is its apparent status to some as the most objective source of fact when in reality history hardly speaks for its steadfastness. Hell, one could argue that by comparison, ethical reasoning has a far more consistent history (and of course, P&W do).

Essentially, there will always be more to the world than what science tells us so we should never allow it to limit our understanding of said world.'

Reminder #2 for the New Year - Repost: Something I realised today...

Every single hour, without fail, I happen upon at least one thing that brings a smile to my face.

I like that.

Makes life just that much lovelier :)

Reminder #1 for the New Year - Repost: Memory

- The Potomac, Washington DC, October 2010

My dad’s cousin took this and I’m still amazed at the luck of catching that strange streak in the sky. Seeing as how planes over in the US always appeared to leave trails miles long, I might assume that it was a plane. Of course, I don’t know.

Seeing this picture is strange. Funnily enough, travel, though so amazing and so intoxicating, so easily fades into the distance just like most other memories. Standing on the edge of a sunset thousands of kilometres away from home is something you feel you’ll never forget… the feel of the wind, the reflection of the fading colours in the water, just the fact that you were there… at the time, you can’t even imagine forgetting a single detail.

But of course, that’s what happens. Memory requires practice and unless I decide to spend every day dreaming of where I was, then maybe it would be easier to at least let my imagination be there again. However, life and practicality demand otherwise and so, much like most slowly distancing memories, it is gradually buried… by time, by new experience, by new memories, until what’s left is a piece of diminutive cinema which, much like a movie, may or may not tell me the truth.

I hate forgetting. It only leads to unhappiness. If you could always keep in mind just where you’ve been, what you’ve been through, how hard you’ve worked and how much you’ve learned, how could you feel anything less than accomplished? There is a whole world of improvement waiting, to be sure, but that doesn’t take away from where you’ve been and ultimately, it takes nothing at all from the person you now are.

This picture is here to help me remember.

Remember a time when I did something that I never imagined myself ever doing.

Remember that I did it, in spite of all the pain and suffering of the months prior.

Remember that the world is nothing if not an endless source of beauty and wonder.

And most importantly, remember that there is nothing stopping me from going back.

Repost: What Do You Want To Do Before You Die?

Below is a repost but it still perfectly exemplifies why I love these guys so very much. When someone from some distant part of the world is able to genuinely help someone else without having ever met or even seen them, it is an amazing and powerful thing… Ben, Duncan, Jonnie and Dave have collectively been a source of inspiration, a soure of real good, for so many people, myself included.

By asking that one question, by deciding to grab what control they have over their lives and by living their dreams, they have succeeded in actually making the world a better place.

May we all take the opportunity to do the same in whatever ways we can, however ‘big’ or ‘small’.

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theburiedlife:

Good for you Meredith. We’re proud of you.

elamorquedestruye:

Thats it. I’m done feeling horrible about myself every day. I’m done cutting. Im done feeling suicial. Im done with being depressed. I don’t give a fuck. I want to actually live. I know I’m only aboout 14. But its so worth it. I’ve lost one of my bestfriend that was so good to me, so non-judgemental, so caring, so trusting. And I ruined it with all my stupid mistakes. I would do anything to have my one bestfriend back. Anything. I want to be happy. I want to be my awkward-self. I’m done with depression. I want to be a person again. Why? I got inspired. As cliche as that sounds, its true. How? There was this one how in MTV a while back called “The Buried Life”, it was about these four guys that lived with a motto, “What Do You Want To Do BeforeYou Die.” They havent been on MTV for a while, but I still keep up with them. And they made a list, a list of 100 things they want to do before they die. And with every thing they cross off on their list, they help a person do something they want to do before he/she wants to do before they die. If I ever got to meet them. Or even talk to them. I would be so thankful. They helped me, in a weird way? I dont know, but all I can say is thank you, for everything.

(Source: queenofmixedsignals)

C.S. Lewis on Reasoning to Atheism

I love this. Logic abound.

I would be genuinely interested in a well thought out response. It’s not often I can’t immediately imagine what it would be and here, the logic is simple enough that I wonder how much further you could nitpick, outside of arguing the nature of the ‘God’ in question.

Following from the above, I think it stands very well to reason that there had to be a first cause with actual intent, implying the presence of something greater than us outside of natural physical development.

I believe it to be God.

What would one who is certain of the absence of a god (as implied by atheism as opposed to agnosticism) believe it to be?

For Good... courtesy of the lovely, lovely Kristin Chenoweth and the delightful Anna Kendrick

Kristin Chenoweth and Anna Kendrick singing ‘For Good’ from Wicked. After a slightly shaky beginning, I’m so impressed with how Anna sang and especially next to Kristin. Their harmonies were lovely. I have had it on repeat all morning.

I was privileged to see Kristin in concert at the Opera House on Monday night. It was unbelievable. Just her arrival on stage was met with applause that lasted almost 5 minutes, bringing her to tears before she had even begun to perform. Though it was well deserved. Her voice was, of course, amazing. She sings with such power, clarity and purity of emotion and her range is phenomenal. But another standout aspect of the show was her humour. I’ve never really thought of anyone as having a sparkling or glittery personality before, but watching Kristin, the words suited perfectly. Bubbly, bright, articulate - and serious when the moment so called - she spoke of her background, her beliefs and poked fun at her love of shoes, even singing a whole song about it. Honestly, I’ve never had more fun even thinking about shoes.

The night had so many gems - her plucking the Australian cast of Wicked’s Glinda from the audience and singing ‘For Good’ with her having never even met before and taking on Elphaba’s part instead of her own; a hilarious cameo with Avenue Q’s Bad Idea Bears and Lucy T. Slut; her singing ‘Popular’ in German, Japanese and English; the double encore which led to her singing ‘Taylor the Latte Boy’ and causing the audience to have a downright fit - but one which stood out to me in particular was actually her singing a song from Les Mis - ‘Bring Him Home’. I nearly cried. I love that song and I love Les Mis and her rendition of it moved me in a way I could never have imagined. It wasn’t just that I have never even imagined a woman singing it, but she sang it so beautifully. I really nearly cried.

So let’s see, I laughed, I cried (almost) and I often wanted to get up and sing and dance. I’d say it was one hell of a night. An absolute privilege.

WWdN Love and RE-Post #1 of People I Boundlessly Admire Online

So I finally read Just a Geek by Wil Wheaton and it was one hell of a great read. The guy is warm, witty, honest and insightful and quite frankly what more could you want from an autobiographical account of one’s journey through post-childstardom? The man has done well for himself and it’s genuinely been a pleasure going along for the latter part of the ride as I’ve followed his blog, Wil Wheaton Dot Net, for the last 10 or 11 years. I couldn’t be happier that he not only discovered his calling to the Writerhood but was able to so wonderfully re-establish himself and his life in a way that has clearly made him a happy and fulfilled guy, particularly after everything he went through.

Seriously, read it and grab a copy of Dancing Barefoot as well. That collection of blog entry derived memoirs also makes for some very entertaining reading.

Meanwhile, I wrote what’s below almost 3 years ago now. Why the repost? Well admittedly, if you’re able to suppress the tl;dr urge inside you and get to the end, you’ll see that I was next planning to write about Wil Wheaton. Having touched upon that a little above, I actually found myself wanting to share about another onliner who has only continued to impress me over the years and having already articulated my admiration, I decided 27-year-old me could take the reins on that one.

So voila!

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Posted by MJ at 1:00 AM - Tuesday, July 27, 2010

So I’ve been doing the online thing for nearly 12 years now (which is, funnily enough, also how long I’ve been honing my writing skills… skills that will likely not make an appearance in this entry) and along the way - what with its ever widening reaches and its providing wonderfully artistic people with more tools than ever before - I’ve encountered some amazingly talented people during my billions of hours floating through cyberspace.

Whittling the list down so that this entry doesn’t end up ridiculously long won’t really be that easy, but I’ll do what I can. Some of them will certainly be familiar, while others will only have been known to select pockets of people with certain common interests (however dorky those interests may be. Or are). In order to simplify the process for myself, I’m going to approach this chronologically.

On second thought… I’ve decided I’ll make this a series of entries. I know I should reign in my inner rambler, but I just can’t and there’s so much to say.

#1 Nicky aka Silversun

Back in 2001, while attempting to find more info on a TV show that I had recently become rather obsessed with and that had been cancelled, I came across a place called Fanforum. The show was Young Americans and my friend, Mel, had introduced it to me and, despite the show’s complete lack of substance, talent or good writing (seriously!), we both kind of fell in TV love. It was genuinely pathetic (and only she and I will ever know just how far into the depths that pathetic plunged), however, in stumbling quite by accident upon the YA forum on Fanforum, I not only got to catch up on what Aussie TV had not bothered to air, but I also came across an amazing bunch of people and this marked the beginning of some of the most important friendships in my life.

As all this also marked my most thorough attempt at fanfic to date, an area left completely open due to a single season cancellation, I became acquainted with some extremely talented writers who had done incredible jobs of continuing a show that we hadn’t wanted to end. Nicky was one of those people.

Funnily enough, it wasn’t her alternate second season that made her catch my eye. In fact, it was a crossover fic she had written, combining YA with Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Pretty left field combination, huh? But it was so well done. Never mind how well this girl knew how to visualise scenes that sprang to life in my mind, but her representations of the BtVS characters were so on point, I could hear the dialogue so clearly in my head - Buffy, Xander, Willow… seriously, I couldn’t get over it. So, I told her so.

After that, we were in touch pretty often, reading each others work and sort of beta-ing them as well. She was one of the first people to read my then developing YA fic and her encouragement was one of the few things that got me to the 100 and something pages that I eventually punched out. I couldn’t have been more grateful, especially considering how delicate my life’s relationship with writing was at the time. In fact, she was one of the first people in my life to really encourage me to keep writing, and she did this all the way from where she lives in NZ.

Her work, meanwhile, never ceased to amaze me. She wrote each episode in prose, but with some minor cinematic direction, providing teasers, voiceovers and location changes. Her use of language never failed to impress me and, as I said before, everything she wrote lived and breathed in my mind’s little TV set. Not to mention her handle on plot and continuity and her grasp of character, something so often lacking in other fic writers’ works. Admittedly, an 8-episode season only provided the most basic of introductions to character, but she took those introductions and developed them amazingly. Furthermore, she kept in style to the genre, only ‘failing’ in that her characters swore, unlike their real TV-world counterparts. Not only did she ‘resurrect’ the show for those of us who missed it, but she made it her own, breathing depth and life into it that hadn’t actually been achieved by the original creators. She gained a substantial audience and even created new fans for the show, also managing to pick up a stack of online awards in the process.

Inevitably, as time went on and studies and life demanded more attention, both our communication and our writing slowly began to wane and, although I kept up with her work, we lost touch. Yes, the sad thing about online relationships of any kind… more often than not, they end up petering out in this very way.

A couple of years passed and one day, I decided to look her up again. I found that she had continued the series and had gotten to Season 4 so every so often, I would check it out, still marvelling at her writing ability and enjoying the way the ‘show’ had evolved. Then, I noticed she had a ‘Progress Journal’ on her site so I checked it out. It brought me to her Livejournal which allowed me a little insight into what she was now up to, aside from the writing and the study, and it was here, that I found her work in vidding. Her vids revealed that her talent for creating such vivid tapestries in her writing, also spilled into the realm of visual media and I discovered a whole new level of admiration for her creativity and vision.

Now, although my memory is a little hazy on this, I am certain that by this time, I had already seen some fan vids on other fansites and on a site that, back in good ol’ 2005, was still slowly expanding (You-what?). Fan vids, at the time, were gradually developing as a form of fanart, which prior to that point had mostly consisted of Photoshop artworks and animations, and I had seen a few - albeit a poorly edited and clunky few, mostly consisting of some cheesy song playing to some chopped clips. Some had certainly stood out (one that comes to mind was a vid exploring the Harry/Hermione relationship after the release of the third Harry Potter movie. It was to Everytime by Britney Spears, which might sound kind of lame, but actually worked well with the vid), but for the most part, they weren’t much to talk about.

Nicky’s YA-Think Twice vid blew my mind. While it may be overdoing to say I thought it looked like a professional vid, it was not far from that at all. She had created a study of the Scout/Bella/Sean conflict to Eve 6’s Think Twice (an awesome song that I’m happy she introduced me to) and her manipulation of those clips to the music and lyrics was phenomenal. She was able to not only create faux-flashbacks, but her transitions were all on beat, well paced and matching the rapidity of the drums. One section that completely slayed me had an overlay of rapidly changing scenes on one scene, all perfectly in time with the song building up between the bridge and the next verse. It was unbelievable. I had never, ever seen a fan vid quite like it.

Having found one vid, I, of course, sought out more and her other clips were all just as amazing and even better. I’m sure it’s safe to say that Think Twice was an extremely well done amateur production, but it only meant that she developed her skill and created even more amazing vids after. She had also linked to some other talented vidders, notably Becky of Tired-Eyes.net, and my appreciation of the art only grew. Vidders (and I mean REAL vidders, not those people who just lump a bunch of clips and effects together with a song, but people who actually delve into character studies and even tell new stories) are a group of little known talents who are, thanks to the growth of the net, slowly getting their due (check out Vividcon 2010). Nicky herself appears to have gained an even bigger audience (hell, she’s actually had people create vids for her writing. Yourstreetserenade’s vids are particularly awesome) and a stack of accolades and I couldn’t be happier for her. She’s incredibly talented and she deserves it all.

Anyway, if you’re up for checking out her work, just have a peek at the link above. If you’re a fan of the vastly developing world of online art, I highly recommend it.

Although I still haven’t actually attempted to get back in touch with her personally (due to a dillemma along the lines of the ‘Do I say hi or not?’ persuasion), I’ve checked back in to her work every so often over the years and have only continued to be astounded by her visiotivity (thanks Barney). I remember back when we used to email, I once told her that I reckoned she could have shot and directed the YA episodes better than the original creators.

I guess I was onto something there.

Coming up next: he portrayed a few of my favourite characters - Gordie Lachance, Wesley Crusher and Joey Trotta - and was the reason I even thought of starting a blog back in 2003.

A little (albeit year old) truth about me

'Thing is, I’ve been using my imagination my whole life. I have lived in world after world, life after life… the world of make believe is second nature for someone like me because I’ve just been doing it all this time. The difference is that now, I do it on my own. I used to have playmates, but seeing as their lives have progressed one way or the other, I continue on my games on my own, in my own head. The nature of the make believe has certainly changed, grown as I have grown, but it’s definitely still there. Writing and ‘acting’ have always been a part of that.

And you know, it’s a choice, but it’s also not… it is just something I do. It’s almost like breathing for me. It just happens. I’ve read too many books, seen too many movies, watched too much TV, seen too many productions… whatever the reason, my psyche has been tinted unendingly with the extra touch of fancy’s flight.’

Anne Shirley knows what I’m talking about.

Oscars 2013

Oscars 2013: Our Gut Reaction to the Nominations

Though I thought Argo was a hell of a movie, I'm not loathe to the notion that the other contenders in teh Best Director category may have very well left no room for Affleck's nod. If anything, I am happy to see it still up for Best Picture.

I really, really want to see Amour and Silver Linings Playbook. And maybe Life of Pi out of sheer curiosity.

Also, as Ethan mentioned, Will Tippett up for an Oscar? I'm not a Bradley Cooper fan but that is a hell of a tickler.

Also, a Simpsons short up for Best Animated Short? Starring Maggie? Be still my heart. Must watch, along with Paperman.

My list of movies to watch as soon as is humanly possible only keeps growing.

SUITS

‘When we first got to Toronto to shoot the show, Gabriel was planning to stay in a hotel. But we both ended up moving into my mom’s place. It was totally unplanned, just two guys trying to save money. Those 10 days ended up being one of the best things that happened for the show. By the time we got to set, we had a great rapport.’ —Patrick J. Adams

I FUCKING LOVE THIS SHOW. I can kind of see why critics weren’t so keen on the first season, but I blame legal drama/comedy fatigue. There are so many and there are have been so many that it takes a lot to stand out.

Personally, however, I love the sharp and witty script and nothing whatsoever beats how much I love every single one of the main characters. Harvey and Mike are great characters and their dynamic is so well executed by Gabriel and Patrick (not to mention, both of them are smoking hot, a kind bonus); I ADORE Donna’s quick-shot smartassery and yet again the dynamic between her and Harvey and Mike; Rachel is tough, but sweet and I love the balance of both in her character; Louis is perfect just the scoundrelly way he is and Jessica is one hell of a woman in control and she plays off of everyone else in the show flawlessly. Furthermore, their penchant for referencing movies I ACTUALLY KNOW is yet another little fun bonus for me.

All in all, a recipe for awesome.

(GIF Source: neptunepirate, via clayray3290 on tumblr)

Rapidly Aging Actors at the Emmys

justsuckmyduck:

'Are we just gonna ignore how Zooey Deschanel aged 50 years in that second gif or what'

Hahaha, this year’s Emmys were the first time I actively paid so much attention to the seat fillers!

Oh, and can I just say how AWESOME it is to see Max Greenfield up for an Emmy??? His adorableness has had me since Veronica Mars :D

(GIF Source: yolandawinstons, via televisionwithoutpity tumblrs)

Talkin' 'bout Book Art

Amazing Book Art courtesy of Fer1972 on Tumblr

I love me some book art. Look, I love books, wannabe writer and all, lover of stories, make-believe and all things so truthfully telling of the wondrous world in which we live.

This deep love in mind, once upon a time, I would have never dreamed of physically  destroying a book so. To this day, I can’t even dog-ear a book (although a friend did make a compelling case for dog-ears acting as miniature tales in themselves about a book’s previous owner… wait, which of us is the writer?).

But now, what I once saw as destruction, I now see as reconstruction and recreation of something new and most certainly beautiful in its own right. My sister’s artwork only enforced this as I watched her turn a stack of old encyclopaedias into some insanely interesting and eye-catching sculptures.

And now, I love books even more for showing me just how limited was my view of their real potential.

Isn’t it awesome when that happens?

Trailer Overload...

Man, 2012 has been an amazing movie year… and we’re only halfway through! The following movies could not possibly open soon enough…

The Amazing Spiderman

I will not deny the fact that a large part of why I want to see this is because of the ever-adorable pair that is Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone. However considering the better outcomes of reduxes in the recent past (eg. The Incredible Hulk with Ed Norton, X-Men: First Class…), I am more than willing to give this movie a go. I especially like that Andrew Garfield was a genuine Spiderman/Peter Parker fan growing up so it will be even more interesting getting to see what he is able to bring to one of his own favourite characters.

The Dark Knight Rises

Bale, Caine, Freeman, Oldman and Gordon-Levitt under the direction of Nolan. Uhm, why in hell would I NOT watch this??? Closing the trilogy ought to be intense and quite honestly, despite my utter lack of enthusiasm for her work as of late, I am looking forward to seeing how well Anne Hathaway handles the role of Selina Kyle, not to mention the likely fight scenes.

The Great Gatsby

I love just how much Luhrmann is ALL OVER THIS TRAILER. One of my all-time favourite stories, I can’t wait to see how he and the cast bring it to life because there is just so damn much to work with - the social, historical and geographical backdrop, the symbolism, not to mention so many moments of sheer character intensity - Gatsby’s romantic delusion, Tom’s assholery, the ultimate multiple deaths… do NOT let me down, Luhrmann.

The Bourne Legacy

Er… first, I need to regain my ability to breathe. I can currently think of few things, if any, hotter than watching Jeremy Renner in action.

Damn, damn, damn. Ok, as big a Matt Damon as I am (and I really am, I fucking love that guy), I have yet to watch The Bourne Ultimatum and I may have to finally do so before I watch this. That said, considering the obvious direction in story, I’m curious how well they’ll work with combining Aaron Cross’ storyline with that of the previous movies. Being a ‘legacy’ film, it ought to bring a lot together and that should be interesting. Not to mention, insanely awesome looking fight sequences aside, I love Jeremy Renner as an actor. The man can do intense like nobody’s business. Him and Ed Norton as adversaries ought to be mighty fun to watch.

Sittin' on the fence...

This is incredible, however the full article MUST ALSO be read here: Liberals Are Ruining America. I Know Because I Am One.

I am one of likely many ‘fence-sitting’ moderates out there (I may not be from the US, but let’s face it, ‘left VS right’ politics exists everywhere) in that I find no one entity on either side wholly espouses my personal convictions. I also find that nowhere near as contradicting as the pundits would make it seem. Quite honestly, I think that political parties end up so desperate to keep the party line that even if they agree on something, they’ll find some way to disagree/argue/extend the madness.

That said, they are the ones in power (regardless of the democratic process claiming we are) and we have to work with them as much as they have to work with one another. That, I think, is the best point made by Steve Almond’s article. Instead of running into issues determined to butt heads, people need to listen to one another and actually try to find common ground upon which to build solid foundations for real progress and problem solving.

However, take a look at the comments below the story. Already you can see who has gone in determined to find an agenda in the article that ‘undermines’ their own or to berate the author for his naivete, or simply further propagate the prejudices held on both sides via the typical name-calling.

Clearly, it’s not just the political parties who aren’t willing to actually listen to anyone other than the wingnuts, spectrum end regardless… and these people are just as loud. So basically, the loudest groups in any issue are the extremists and the people decrying (and therefore calling more attention to) said extremists while anyone suggesting any actual communication gets drowned out.

Mr Almond, it appears as though you ask too much.

But hell, I’m hoping right along there with you.

(article found via rtnt tumblr)

STOW

Winner: Sir John Sulman Prize 2012

Nigel Milsom

Title: Judo House pt 4 (Golden mud)

Medium oil on linen

Further information:

This work is from an on-going series based around the loose idea of gambling, whether it be with one’s life, money, career or simply in the day-to-day decisions we all make.

The actual idea for this painting came to me after meeting an old man at my local bus stop who told me he travels into a city leagues club every Saturday to drink and bet on the horses with some old friends. His wife had died and he lived a very solitary life apart from his Saturday social engagements.

In the painting I’ve tried to capture a kind of social loneliness. The word STOW is a reference to the late Australian writer Randolph Stow who wrote about fear and paranoia and how emotions seem to grip small, isolated communities in his novel The suburbs of hell. His name seemed apt for this painting as it creates a sense of mystery. - Nigel Milsom, 2012

***

I could stare at this painting for hours.

I am no art critic and my knowledge of style and history and significance pretty much covers the base of a teacup… but I know what locks my gaze and my attention. I can figure out the rest later. For now, all I can say is that for someone to be able to make my heart stop a moment with brushstrokes? Paint? No… there’s nothing but pure emotion in this picture - the artist took that moment with that old man and turned it into something not only beautiful, but tangible and entrancing.

What an amazing gift.

John Cheese on Science and Religion

John Cheese on Science and Religion

Read it. Right now. CLICK.

This is exactly what I think and I am tired of the idiotic assumptions made by either end of the belief spectrum. The sheer willingness to disdainfully dismiss someone’s opinion simply because it doesn’t happen to coincide with your own is only proof of a complete lack of intellect. Outside of those who have just blindly decided to adopt one mindset over another, most everyone has REASON for why they believe what they do.

Basic courtesy would at least require having the respect to ask WHY before mindlessly passing judgement.

Preparing to bid my twenties a fond farewell...

'Just remember, once you're over the hill you begin to pick up speed' - Charles Schulz

Dear 30,

As 29 and I currently acquaint ourselves (and smashingly so, by the way), your pending arrival remains both momentous and barely believable, thus warranting the need for me to say hey.

I’ve largely travelled through my twenties without so much as a thought of my inevitable departure but as the time draws nearer, I remain happily untouched by the tentative concern with which many I know approach you.

While they see thinning time, I see growing horizons in possibility.

While they see what they have not yet done, I am mindful of what I have done and I feel excitement about everything I’ve 

yet to see, learn and achieve.

While they see themselves age, I see what age has done for me and how much more it has to give.

While they feel old, I feel young.

Truth? I can’t wait to meet you.

But, for now, 29 and I are going to party.

Don’t wait up. I’ll see you in December.

Cheers sister,

Jel

The Family You Choose...

Without a trace of sarcasm or irony, I say this now - I damn well know how to pick ‘em.

After waiting so impatiently for December to chase November out of my life, only to have it end up yet another source of looming gloom, it ended up being one of the best farewells to a year I’ve ever had.

Though it was sad, at times painfully so, not having any family around over the holidays (particularly considering December is THE month for us), it allowed me the chance to see just how wonderful the family I have chosen really is.

I love every single one of you.

You were the most wonderful gift 2011 could have possibly ever given me.

One of the things I love about Hollywood...

... is observing career path trajectory over the years, most particularly of actors. Over the weekend, I was able to watch Rise of the Planet of the Apes in the cinema (which was incredible. I mean it. I certainly did not expect to like it as much as I did) and then the following day, I watched Never Been Kissed with Ma and my sister.

These two movies respectively marked the last and first time I ever saw James Franco in a movie.

Helluva journey, right? I mean, when I first saw Never Been Kissed back in high school... 12 years ago... I would have never imagined that the dorky looking douche from the 'cool group' who almost said NOTHING aside from 'rufulicious'... would ever become Oscarbait.

Seriously.

The same could also be said about that really odd-looking chick I watched years ago in 'The Next Karate Kid'. Honestly, when I first saw that movie, not only did I think it was a completely stupid addition the the Karate Kid series, but if I'm brutally honest, Hilary Swank looked to me like a dude in a wig and I did not, in any way, expect big things from her in the future. Obviously, I was wrong.

Now I know this is the nature of the business but I can't help but laugh when I think of my first impressions of these, now pretty impressive, people. Sure, there are the obvious ones...

* I never imagined Will Smith going from Fresh Prince and Boom Shake Shake Shake the Room to Bad Boys, ID4 to Ali, Pursuit of Happyness and basically Oscars-ville (true, he did do Six Degrees of Separation very early on but I actually didn't know about it till much later in his career so I couldn't have counted it).

* I really never expected that Johnny Depp guy from 21 Jump Street to become, well, Johnny Fucking Depp.

* I loved Ryan Reynolds' Berg from Two Guys and a Girl. Funny, yep! Cute, yep! Future International Sex Symbol? Uhm... huh?

But the ones I love most are the ones I just REALLY DID NOT SEE COMING (like James Franco)...

*Scarlett Johansson - really, first thing I saw her in was Home Alone 3 and she annoyed me shitless (not that I'm her biggest fan now though...). She was the mean, odd-looking (yes, I really am a bitch), nasal older sister to Alex D. Linz's character and really, again I was hardly expecting to really see her again. Then I started seeing her in more oddball stuff like Manny and Lo and Ghost World and thought, ok, bittie stuff, interesting... then in Lost In Translation, I admit I became more intrigued but much like her ex, at that point I would have still never imagined her soon becoming the object of lust for men the world over and moreover kicking some serious ass in Iron Man 2.

* In Twister, there was this hilariously crazy dude with long blond hair who loved to yell and listen to hardcore metal while he chased the tornadoes along with the others. Yep, first movie I saw Philip Seymour Hoffman in was Twister and I probably would have gaped rather unkindly if anyone had told me then that he would pretty much become a regular attendee at the Oscars and, y'know, win one.

* In terms of unflattering reactions, I would have definitely laughed out loud if anyone had tried to sell the idea that that kid from Even Stevens would ever become an ACTION star. Yeah, that's right Shia LaBoeuf, I'm talking about you. Yes, even after your OCD-ing stint on Project Greenlight, I did not see you getting big at all.

* Michelle Monaghan was, in my opinion, the worst thing about the TV show, Young Americans, when it came out in 2000. She couldn't act for crap (although the crumby writing probably did her no favours) and she was an extremely minor character who I assumed was being played by a bit actress who wouldn't appear much ever again, as was the case for most bit parts in teen shows. MI:3, Gone, Baby, Gone, Eagle Eye et al would beg to differ.

* Speaking of Young Americans, Ian Somerhalder came a close second for crap-ass acting. Now, I didn't really love him on Lost or anything, but I won't lie, what I've seen of him on Vampire Diaries makes me smile. I know it's been 10 years but I still think it's fantastic just how much he's improved.

* I first saw Amy Adams in an episode of Charmed and then in Cruel Intentions 2 (hahahahahahahahahahahaha!). Though she was lovely and adorable in Charmed, CI2 made me want to thwack her senseless with something blunt. It's now 11 years later and I freaking ADORE her and, so it would seem, so do award-givers. Yes, Kathryn Merteuil's crappy understudy version has certainly gone a long way.

Anyway, I know that Hollywood (and admittedly, the world in itself) is pretty much made up of these kinds of stories of surprising meteoric rises and such but these are just some of my personal favourites. I picture myself going back in time to past Me and outlining what was in store for each of those actors and the likely look of sheer skepticism is clear in my mind.

If anything, it's always pretty cool having your expectations blown away and it's even cooler just getting to see where these people's persistence and hard work have been able to get them over the years. Hurrah the 'Dream Factory', eh?

Now that I think about it, while I was in New York, I am not kidding, I encountered actors almost everywhere. On the Subway, in Washington Square Park, walking down the street... and of course, during my incredibly brief visit to the Tisch School of the Arts... and a few faces come to mind. While I wandered around the city, it became pretty common for me to overhear conversations about 'rehearsals' and 'scenes' and 'auditions' and 'so-and-so's directing capabilities' and I actually really loved it...

Here's to whatever they've got in store for my future entertainment!

It's August already! Craaaazy...

Random thoughts/updates/non-tweets...

* I love my piano. Really, really, really.

* I'm liking work at the moment. Nice role with people worthy of both respect and admiration (moreso emphasised by almost 7 years of past experience with people of very different stock). Go the DCRC!

* I kind of miss working at Market. Such a completely unpretentious work environment will never be found again (not even at DCRC although they come a wonderful second)... not to mention the incredibly alive atmosphere whenever markets were open. I miss my Friday $1.50 chips and drink run! Oh, 2007, you were so long ago now...

* Thanks to the Aroma Festival, I have now eaten Chocolate Fudge. As it was also sugar free, the taste needed to grow on me but it did and I whoohoo that. Yummm... my world continues to expand with possibility. Thank you, vegans. If I weren't such a meatlover, I would... still probably not be vegan, but I thank you for giving me one word to summarise my encyclopaedic menu requirements.

* Head's been in the 80s lately (blame 21 Jump Street [I'm kind of in love] and Inspector Gadget [Penny is my childhood hero] and my proclivity for excessive nostalgia) and one funny thing I can't get over was that people used to have to WRITE their bowling scores down. Hee. Oh, that and 'Oh Mr Hart! What a mess!' - yep, there was something unattainably cool about 80s Australian media. I really mean that. Watch the old ads and you will see. Oh and 80s TV Themes were the bomb. Especially the sitcom ones. Ref. Growing Pains, Family Ties, Who's The Boss, Valerie, Perfect Strangers... my mp3 player is graced by your existence.

* Loved the last Harry Potter movie, even the ending I was dreading which I think was better handled in movie rather than book. Admittedly mostly liked what didn't happen in terms of potential cliches in dialogue and scenes and excessive exposition and it was certainly a veritable eyefeast (I almost regret not seeing it in 3D. I said, almost). Worthy fare thee well to an awesome series.

Now I must re-read the series as part of mourning.

* Speaking of movies, I blame my sister for a hopefully temporary loss of sense after staying up to watch WTF?! Movie of the Year - The Accidental Husband. Stupid, pointless, nonsensical, infuriating. It will be some time before I trust Uma Thurman, Colin Firth and Jeffrey Dean Morgan again. I don't care if it was 2008. How could they? How??

* Babycakes NYC's tweets make me desperately miss NYC and it's array of fantastically Jel-friendly food. Oh, Whole Foods... how did I ever leave you? And it's not just the food... oh, TKTS with your excellently cheap and surprisingly close seats on Broadway!

* 2011, although you still currently hold the position of 'oddest. year. ever', I can't I say I hate you. I believe it's called 'tough love'. Much as I often want to beat you to death screaming 'merciless bitch', I have seen the moments of unbridled kindness and I know it's all for my own good so... hugs?