Making Up Reasons to Post About Alphabeat

I'm not sure if this counts as making up a reason. But I'm certainly happy for any chance to talk about the Danish group Alphabeat. A few weeks ago I learned about them only to find out I could not purchase their music on iTunes. But it turns out that their albums are available on BRITISH iTunes. 

Basically, the moment I get to England, I'm switching to the UK edition and purchasing any and all music by this addictive and adorable Euro-dance-pop band.

Thought this was appropriate, given they're appearing on a Brit talk show and all!

The Ithacan: "The Secret Life of Bees" Review

I went all by my lonesome to see The Secret Life of Bees and review it. Though pretty cliche, it was still very heartwarming. Sometimes you need a film like that, and in that case I highly recommend Bees. Plus, Paul Bettany is pretty unrecognizable. I don't know why that fascinated me so, but it did. I mean, he convincingly portrayed a self-flagellating albino monk. 

Coming-of-age film is sugarcoated yet believable

By Anne Gould Northgraves Contributing Writer | October 30th, 2008

Touching acting balances clichéd dialogue in the recent film version of the best-selling novel, “The Secret Life of Bees,” so much so that it reminds viewers of the true damage that can occur while growing up under trying circumstances. The film follows a young girl searching for the truth about her mother as she seeks out answers in the places she least expected.
The film’s multilayered story line is evidence of the film’s history as a novel. The startling revelation in the first few minutes — that young southerner Lily Owens, portrayed by the talented and moving Dakota Fanning, accidentally killed her mother as a toddler — immediately establishes the main character’s tortured nature. It is typical for characters in emotionally charged coming-of-age films to have traumatic pasts. But Lily’s guilt and pain from the loss of her mother and the abuse of her father are presented with matter-of-fact palpability, rather than unnecessary gobs of misery traditionally used in tearjerker films to garner sympathy from the audience. 
A great deal of the credit for the appealingly unpredictable nature of the film goes to the star-studded, supremely talented cast. Jennifer Hudson is moving as Rosaleen Daise, a worker on Lily’s father’s farm, and Queen Latifah is powerful as August Boatwright, one of the women who takes Lily in when she runs away. A veteran actress at only 14 years old, Fanning’s tender performance is balanced by the stubborn strength played by Hudson, still a Hollywood newcomer. 
Oscar nominee Latifah exudes a tangible calm for most of the film, but her extreme sorrow during a horrific plot twist develops her character’s dimension. Her even delivery ensures the sentimental dialogue is easy to swallow. Fellow Oscar nominee Sophie Okonedo makes the most of her small role as the overly sensitive May Boatwright. Her character’s hysterics are understandable rather than laughable. 
The film’s true revelation is singer-songwriter Alicia Keys, in her third film role as the headstrong June Boatwright. Previously untested in dramatic fair, Keys’ June is a paradox. She treats her boyfriend Neil (Nate Parker) tenderly, yet coldly refuses to marry him. She devotedly prays with her sisters, yet does not always have faith in August’s decisions. Though the Boatwright sisters are much older in the novel, fans of the written work will not be disappointed by the quality of the performances. 
The supporting cast delivers as well. British actor Paul Bettany is particularly effective and nearly unrecognizable as Lily’s angry and abusive father, T. Ray. Though Bettany has little screen time other than periodic, irrelevant scenes that throw off the film’s pace, the character is not one-dimensional. T. Ray has his own demons and pain that shed light on his questionable actions, making his decisions justifiable. 
The film’s subtle style is like a golden layer of honey coating and sweetening the whole film. The southern locals are filmed under the guidance of writer and director Gina Prince-Bythewood and director of photography Rogier Stoffers, with strong attention to color and light. The sunlit scenes, full of colors that pop, like the Pepto-Bismol pink of the Boatwright house, appropriately showcase Lily’s increasing comfort in the Boatwright home. 
Though “The Secret Life of Bees” features the occasionally sappy dialogue and pacing issues of similar feel-good films, there is much more to the film than that. In the capable hands of a talented cast, a strong guiding story and beautiful cinematography, the film makes for a heartwarming movie-going experience. 
 
“The Secret Life of Bees” was written and directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood.

The Adventures of Kristyne-Koala: The Beginning

I'm already beginning to go through Kristyne-withdrawal. See, Kristyne is one of my bestest friends here at Ithaca, and I'll miss her desperately while I'm traipsing throughout Europe. 

But Kristyne and I had an idea while we were shopping this past Saturday when we saw a pile of classic Beanie Babies for $3.83 each at K.B. Toys. We got matching koalas (Mel the Koala, to be precise), each signed the tag of one, and gave it to the other.

Thus, I have a Kristyne-Koala! So while I'm in London - and seeing Europe during the semester as well - I will take Kristyne-Koala everywhere and take her picture at various famous places. I'm very excited for the adventures of Kristyne-Koala, and you should be, too! 

Of course, we have to have the first location visited by Kristyne-Koala. Guess where she and I are! Here's a clue:

Kristyne-Koala is very content.

Before long all her time will be spent

Traveling to many exotic places.

But for now she's in small spaces

Just room enough for two to live

In a town with many lessons to give.

There are gorgeous gorges galore

And a lake with miles of shore. 

The Ithacan: A Broadway Perspective

This was the first (and so far only) online-only article I wrote. It either didn't fit in the paper or couldn't be put in because of a lack of proper artwork (aka pictures). So that was unfortunate.

A Broadway perspective

New York casting associate shares insight on breaking into the business

October 30th, 2008

Bess Fifer, a casting associate with the Telsey and Company agency in New York City, has cast films such as “Sex and the City: The Movie” and the upcoming “I Love You Phillip Morris,” starring Jim Carrey. She has also cast Broadway shows, such as “Rent” and “In the Heights.” This weekend she will be working with young actors in Ithaca during a two-day workshop at Ithaca College that will examine the latest audition methods and resume tactics. Staff writer Anne Gould Northgraves spoke with Fifer about finding her dream job and the struggles young actors face today.

Anne Gould Northgraves: What does the job of a casting associate include?

Bess Fifer: I work on everything from musicals to straight plays to commercials to film. What we do is find and audition actors for whatever we have been hired to find, go out and look for the best actor for the part, bring it to our creative team, which usually consists of a director and producer, and offer them what we have found.

AGN: What brought you into this line of work?

BF: (laughs) Actually I was working as an office manager in a commercial real estate development firm [in Anniston, Ala.]. I’d always been in the arts but was just trying to get some business experience and I ended up taking a [career] aptitude test. “Casting director” popped up on the suggestions, and I had no idea what it was. I started doing some research and it just kind of hit me… That sounded like the coolest job I had ever heard of. I ultimately made the decision to move to New York, and that’s what I’ve been trying to do since I got here [in August 2004].

AGN: Had you been involved in acting or theater in high school or college?

BF: I actually have from high school. I did a lot of theater — music theater — in college and then I got involved in it once we moved to New York. I never was a New York performer — it was never something that I ever wanted to do. I moved here to pursue casting.

AGN: What makes you excited about your job?

BF: I really love performers. It’s amazing what they do, to really put themselves out there in the rawest state possible. I love working with them, trying to get the best performance out of them. I enjoy the creative process and seeing how the work we did in the room transfers to the stage or screen.

AGN: Have you ever been upstate to Ithaca before?

BF: I have been upstate but I have never been to Ithaca before. So I’m excited about that. I love small towns and college towns in particular because they have so much life and I’m really excited to get up there and look around.

AGN: There has been a lot of press about shows closing on Broadway, such as “Hairspray” and “Legally Blonde.” What are your thoughts on that, as someone who casts Broadway shows?

BF: It’s a very precarious time for all of us, you know? It just means that it’s going to be harder, [and there will be] more competition for the students [who] are getting ready to graduate. There’s even less [work] out there. You really have to be on top of your game. And you really have to want it. There’s really a blind sense of faith you have to have in yourself in order to really be able to go out there everyday.

AGN: Do you think the rumored upcoming strike of the Screen Actors’ Guild is going to happen?

BF: I would like to say I hope a strike doesn’t happen. But at the same time there is a lot of new gray area in actors’ contracts and a lot of that has to do with the Internet coming into play in ways it never has before. An actor’s product is themselves. They deserve to know how they are being used and that’s a very important part of the discussion. I hope it works out because everyone deserves to be supported.

AGN: It’s such an interesting time for actors. What would you say is an essential piece of information or advice you could give to aspiring actors?

BF: I think it’s really important to know yourself. I feel a lot of times people waste their time trying to go for something that they’re never going to be right for. I can’t tell you how many times I’m sitting there and someone walks in with a piece of music that they would never perform. And I get it, it means something to them, and that’s important too. But at the same time you want to show somebody what you’re right for, and to come in and present yourself in a way that is not right for you can be a drawback. There are definitely times when you can go in and change people’s minds. And you should do that. But at the same time you should be very aware of what and who you are.

“Audition Intensive: Working with the Pros” will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Whalen Center for Music. Tuition is $100 for students and $150 for non-students. Space is limited. Call (607) 273-8588 ext. 440 to reserve placement.

Yeah, I Did That!: New York City

Finally, I'm able to talk about the New York trip Morgan an I went on last Saturday (the 6th). We had to get up super-early for the 6 am departure. I napped fitfully until we finally got to the City.

We started out doing some shopping, getting stuff at H&M, and seeing the crazily packed Macy's, where they were displaying the crystal ball for Time's Square's New Year's Eve. We also saw the Empire State Building, which caused me to make continual references to King Kong, much to Morgan's dismay. Then we did some browsing in Bryant Park. It was so cool to discover it was named for my fav poet, William Cullen Bryant.

Aw, look, he's so festive! It wasn't all fun and games, though. Morgan had a scary encounter when a pigeon dive-bombed her head. 

I had never seen Central Park, so after Bryant Park we went to Central Park. We watched some adorable children ice-skating (I promise it wasn't that creepy!), but what I really had to do was find Balto's statue. I think Morgan thought I was losing my mind, especially when a bicycle cart driver came over to give me directions (probably hoping we'd hop a ride with him, only for me to say thanks and walk away). I finally found him, though!
Yay! He looked so heroic. 

What did we do after that? Something. I can't remember. We finally found our way to Broadway and the Eugene O'Neill Theater to stand outside the Spring Awakening stage door. I pretended I knew the show at all, Morgan got so giggly, and we got VERY close. 

We ended the day going to Rockefeller Center and saw the tree, which was so beautiful. And we got an awesome roommate picture. 
We got to the pick-up site early, but there was this adorable little pub, The Landmark Tavern, so we got a quick and pretty great dinner. 

And that was that. We did have to leave a little late and go back around the block to pick up some late people. Silly people! 

It was such a fun day, something I'll really miss while I'm in London. Well, I'll be having days out and about in a city basically every day, but not with dearest Morgan! Sigh. 

The Ithacan: "The Women" Review

Here's another one of my pieces from this semester. It appeared in the same issue as the Raiders: The Adaptation front did, so that was an exciting week. 

Stereotypes trump the truths of ‘The Women’

Mediocrity overtook a film with Hollywood alumnae and serious potential

By Anne Gould Northgraves Contributing Writer | September 18th, 2008

It is rare enough for a high-profile Hollywood film to be directed by a woman. It is rarer still for that same film to be written by a woman. And it is unheard of for such a film to feature a cast made up entirely of women. Yet the hat trick that is “The Women,” the recently released update of a 1930s classic about four friends, does not quite deliver, given the big names involved and the time it took to return to the big screen.

Take, for example, what should have been star Meg Ryan’s triumphant return to Hollywood glory. The role of protagonist Mary Haines is a mature and complex one. Mary is a woman who has to pick up the pieces of her life after she learns of her husband’s affair and deals with a friend’s equally painful betrayal. The role has potential for real depth, and it is plain Ryan is trying to evoke real pathos with every crinkle of her brow.

But overall Ryan portrays Mary as little more than the slightly quirky and pained romantic comedy character Ryan played to death in the 1990s. Somehow Ryan’s voice has gotten higher pitched since her last stint in the spotlight, which makes even Mary’s most meaningful comments feel almost too tartly sweet to be true. Her overly voluminous hair, clearly meant to emphasize her harried state, ends up looking strikingly similar to a certain Ms. Bradshaw of “Sex and the City.”

Mary’s best friend Sylvia is an equally well-conceived character: a successful, tough-as-nails magazine editor who is also dealing with self-doubt and questions of loyalty. But what makes Sylvia a fuller character than Mary is the masterful performance by Annette Bening. She is as capable of portraying serene and supreme confidence when declaring, “This is my face. Deal with it,” as she is able to contort that face into a taut and pained mask when hiding potentially friendship-breaking secrets.

While writer and director Diane English (who wrote the ’90s sitcom “Murphy Brown”) adapted Mary and Sylvia into modern and complex enough characters, the same cannot be said for the supporting roles of Alex Fischer (Jada Pinkett Smith) and Edie Cohen (Debra Messing), a pair of purely two-dimensional characters. Though hints of personality and character keep the audience interested, hardly any screen time is devoted to the duo, making it clear Alex and Edie are mere fillers.

Pinkett Smith scowls and growls her way through the peripheral role of Alex. The character, a writer who has been coasting for six years off the success of her first novel, has the potential for incredible drama. However, Alex is merely the little slice of sass in the group, both in terms of her tell-it-like-it-is attitude and the sexual and racial diversity she brings to the group.

Messing, meanwhile, does the best she can as the perpetual, and perpetually happy, mom of the group of friends. Her radiance provides a necessary levity in the film, but Edie lacks sufficient back story and emotional connections to the other three friends. If only Edie’s complexity was revealed before the last three minutes of the film, then the hilarious and climactic final scene — the only shining

moment for both Messing and Pinkett Smith — would not have felt overloaded.

A greater disservice has been done to Mary’s nemesis, Eva Mendes’ scheming, gold-digging character, Crystal Allen. One would hope every character in a film about complex, real women would have some measure of depth. But all Crystal provides is a tired stereotype — a scheming, money-obsessed cutthroat — and nothing more.

“The Women” could have featured fewer women and still expressed the truth of the story. All the high-profile names additionally flung about in the cast — Candice Bergen, Bette Midler, Cloris Leachman and Carrie Fisher — feel more like a ploy to entice ticket-buyers than a full cast of characters.

“The Women” is a promising story with some genuinely funny and truthful moments.

Unfortunately that aspect does not completely redeem the overabundance of meaningless, two-dimensional characters.

 

“The Women” was written and directed by Diane English.

What the Frick?!: My Fourth Attempt at Posting Pictures (Because Blogger Hates Me)

I just want to preface this post by saying: blogger, why do you hate me so? For a week I've been trying to post pictures on here from my fabulous trip to New York City with Morgan, and every time it does not work. At least this picture got up. I'll try the New York pics next. 

Anywho, there is finally snow in Ithaca! Huzzah! There had been a little before Thanksgiving Break, but between getting back on November 30th and this past Thursday, there had been none. Then we got TONS on the 11th. Which made me very, very happy. 

How did we celebrate? Playing in the snow, of course! For more than an hour around midnight we (Kristyne, Kelly, Casey Dwyer, Joanna, and Zach) frolicked in the winter wonderland of the Lower Quad. Oh, was it glorious! Now it feels like Christmas. 

The Ithacan: A Childhood Treasure

Here is the first article I wrote this semester for The Ithacan. It's about the screening of Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation that took place this September at Cornell Cinemas along with a Q&A with the films director, Eric Zala. I spoke with him a lot for this piece, and he was very nice and accommodating with all the follow up questions I had to call and ask about. 

A Childhood Treasure

Aspiring ‘Raiders’ unveil an adventure 20 years in the making

By Anne Gould Northgraves Contributing Writer | September 18th, 2008

Indiana Jones hangs on to a speeding truck for dear life, a cloud of dust rising around him. The musical score swells, as if encouraging Indy to hold on. The hero works his way back into the vehicle, forcing out the driver while flashing his characteristic grin as he navigates through the rough terrain.

The scene’s most surprising detail is that the archaeologist is not the grown and grizzled Harrison Ford — but a young boy with fake stubble and the gleam of real determination in his eyes.

The scene’s similarity to “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” is a testament to the seven years that three young Mississippi boys — director Eric Zala, producer and star Chris Strompolos, and cinematographer Jayson Lamb — spent creating “Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation,” a shot-for-shot remake of the 1981 classic.

Cornell Cinema is the latest to host the adaptation, with a screening tomorrow and Saturday followed by a question-and-answer session with Zala.

Christopher Riley, Cornell Cinema’s managing director, said he is excited to host the film and looks forward to learning more about the film process the boys endured.

“It’s sort of like one of Indiana Jones’ treasures,” Riley said. “I am personally interested in talking to Eric about his experience as the director, trying to put all this together.”

After seeing the original “Raiders of the Lost Ark” upon its release, Zala said he and Strompolos were inspired by the film. The two boys, at 11 and 12 years old, decided to make their own adaptation of the film.

“As director, I wanted to see what a shot-by-shot remake of ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ with teenage actors looked like,” Zala said. “The only way to find out was to make the movie.”

While Zala, Strompolos and Lamb began filming in 1982, the film was not completed until 1989.

“It consumed our entire childhood,” Zala said.

Zala said that the gargantuan task of realistically remaking “Raiders of the Lost Ark” was only possible because of the bonds the boys shared.

“[It was] the strength of the working friendship Chris and I had, and to another extent Jayson,” Zala said. “If you’ve spent five years and you quit, you let your buddies down.”

After shooting the film, the long process of editing began. A local television station let the boys use its editing equipment during the late hours of 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

“We lived like vampires for a summer,” Zala said.

They celebrated their finished product with a premiere in their hometown of Ocean Springs, Miss. After that, Zala only occasionally showed the film to school and work friends.

In early 2003, a copy of the adaptation got into the hands of Eli Roth, director of “Cabin Fever” and “Hostel,” by complete chance, Zala said. Roth passed along the copy to executives at DreamWorks Studios, who then showed it to Steven Spielberg.

The strong positive reaction to the adaptation brought Zala, Strompolos and Lamb’s childhood project into the spotlight. A proper premiere was organized by Tim League, a friend of Roth’s, in May 2003 at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in Austin, Texas.

Harry Knowles, writer for the popular Web site www.aintitcool.com,

attended the show and raved about the work of fandom. “Raiders: The Adaptation” began attracting massive attention on the Internet shortly after.

Riley said the press coverage following the Austin screening first attracted the attention of Cornell Cinema. The three men’s feat should serve as a model of success for young filmmakers.

“It is relevant especially to the film students at Ithaca College, who are trying to do things along these lines, trying to make great things out of very little,” Riley said.

In the five years since its Hollywood-backed premiere, the adaptation has been featured at more than 70 screenings across the world.

Sophomore Kristyne Fetsic, a cinema production major, is a longtime fan of the “Indy” franchise. Fetsic said she is planning to attend the  “Raiders: The Adaptation” screening at Cornell Cinema.

“They’re getting so much recognition for three guys that just decided to do this one day,” Fetsic said. “I really have a lot of respect for them.”

To Zala, showing “Raiders: The Adaptation” to film students is an especially meaningful part of the screenings.

“People seem to have taken a lot from our film,” Zala said. “We know the value of being inspired ourselves. We would like to give back a little bit, because we’re certainly grateful for all the attention we’ve received.”

Zala said the most exciting moment came when he, Strompolos and Lamb met Spielberg in February 2004.

“[It was] the most amazing thing going through these gigantic ‘Jurassic Park’ gates,” Zala said.

A 2004 Vanity Fair article about the adaptation made many producers, including Scott Rudin, producer of “No Country for Old Men” and “There Will Be Blood,” interested in making a film about Zala, Strompolos and Lamb’s personal story.

The three accepted Rudin’s offer. Zala said Daniel Clowes, writer of “Ghost World,” has written a script that has been favorably received.

The positive reception of “Raiders: The Adaptation” has led Zala and Strompolos to leave their corporate jobs and return to Mississippi, where they are working on a southern gothic adventure film set in contemporary times.

Zala said he hopes those who are inspired by his film the way he was inspired by the original “Raiders of the Lost Ark” take some important lessons with them.

“Push voices of doubt and self-doubt aside, push ahead and do it anyway,” Zala said. “Finish. Don’t take no for an answer. People don’t take you seriously when you’re young. Just keep at it.”

 

Both screenings will be held in Willard Straight Hall at 7:15 p.m. Student tickets are $4 and can be purchased both at the Willard Straight Hall ticket desk and at the door.

 For my first true newspaper article (I'm sorry, Ursuline Academy's Blazer doesn't really count), I was so happy with it. 

I Want to Grow Up and Write Like This One Day

Last Wednesday, Morgan and I were just in the room, doing work and watching TV. I completely forgot Life was on until Friday when I looked at my Hulu queue. Of course I watched it right away, and while the episode as a whole was rather confusing (definitely not the best one of the season) there was one gem moment. The scene at the dinner table was so well written and paced, at least in my opinion, I watched it three times in a row. 

Never Fear, Anne Is Here (For Once)

Whoa. So it's been a long time since I've written anything here. To recap my life in the past two and a half weeks:

Nov. 19th: I drove to Syracuse - 3 hours round trip - for a 5 minute appointment at the Immigration Office. "Why would you do that?" you might be asking? It's required for the London Visa (which I haven't received back yet, hopefully soon). It was actually pretty neat, I had my fingerprints and face scanned. 

Nov. 21st - Nov. 30th: Thanksgiving Break! I rested,  knitted,  had fun with friends, ate lots of food, found out I'm having a new cousin, saw Australia (which most people hated but I loved), played Rock Band for the first time, and drove 7 hours back to IC in horrible weather and traffic. 

That's it. It was more packed than it sounds, I swear. 

Also, I wrote a review of Australia. I pretty sure it's my last article of the year. Starting Sunday I'll post an article per day of all the material I've written for The Ithacan this semester. 

Expect some serious procrastination over the next week, and thus more posts! Now I'm off to bed.