FILM FRIDAY NOW YOU SEE ME

i don't usually pick blockbuster movies for film fridays, but i saw now you see me this weekend and it both angered and entertained me. this is not a review of the movie, i don't want to discuss a spoiler alert and i'm not a film critic. i am going to share my experience as an audience member.

one of the premises of now you see me is 'slight of hand'. we all know that magic centers around spectacle and distraction, so this theme isn't new. however, in lieu of what's happening in our culture, with reality shows, honey boo-boo, the kardashians, the bling ring, fame, celebrity, tv shows, and yes, even movies....we have become totally distracted while magicians do their tricks. we watch the spectacles: war, tv, our political dramas, while corporations rob us of our money, the government robs us of our rights, our liberties and our democracy. and this movie shows us how they do it! check out chris hedges aptly titled book: empire of illusion: the end of literacy and the triumph of spectacle.

another theme in the movie is 'the closer you look, the less you see'. this runs throughout the movie, a bit overused i would say, but in the end it pays off. the idea of being too close to something naturally closes off other possibilities, wider versions of what is really happening. like a horse wearing blinders, we see what we can in our narrow view of things, and miss the rest of the picture.

i am giving this movie a lot of credit where credit might not be due. it's an action-packed summer film, with lots of cool special effects, and it doesn't go much deeper. but the themes of the movie, the storyline that we are being tricked and deceived is accurate and serious. i couldn't help thinking about how we are all being duped as i watched this movie. let me know what you think!!

blessings, xoxoxo

FILM FRIDAY TELL THEM WHO YOU ARE

i'm a huge fan of documentaries. and a huge fan of beautifully shot movies. so the documentary tell them who you are, about cinematographer haskell wexler, is right up my alley. this film is directed and shot by haskell wexler's son mark wexler, a photojournalist and filmmaker in his own right, and it centers around mark's relationship with his oscar-winning father. haskell wexler is a dynamic lead character; talented, obsessed, handsome, ego-driven, political, iconic and controversial and mark navigates his father's work and personal life with bravery and honesty. i learned a lot about haskell as a filmmaker and even more about him as a husband, colleague and father. and although the movie explores the life of an artist, it is ultimately a father&son story. make sure after you watch the film, watch the special features section where haskell watches the completed movie for the first time.

FILM FRIDAY LUNCH HOUR

"the most important film for an american to see if you have a child or know someone who has one." louis psihoyos, oscar winning director of 'the cove' 

lunch hour is a feature documentary by actor/filmmaker/activist, and all-around foxy, great guy, james costa. the film examines america's school lunch programs. gasp! and how we, as a society, expose our children to some of the most unhealthy foods imaginable. does anyone remember corned beef hash with gravy and how it looked like barf? and bright yellow pieces of day-glo cake? jello that tasted like chemicals?

kids have no choice of what to eat in school, like in prison, and they're given foods that serve business interests and not health interests.  it's about time someone took the veil off of these 'socially acceptable foods' that our schoolchildren eat, and filmmakers james costa and todd spradlin do just that!

it's not hard to feed a kid decent food. it might be hard to feed them great, healthy, organic foods, but why can't we feed our schoolchildren decent, healthy food? to find out, watch this doc! send this to your friends, and their friends, and their friend's friends. 

FILM FRIDAY WASP

short and oh so wonderful. today's film friday is the oscar winning short film ‘wasp’ by the most amazing director andrea arnold.  it's 20 minutes of raw, truthful and heartfelt storytelling. 'wasp' follows a day in the life of a young mother with four kids, without much money or emotional resources, who reconnects with an old boyfriend. it’s heartbreakingly lovely. the kind of film i want to write, the kind of film i want to make. the kind of film that stays with you for a long, long time. do yourself a storytelling favor and watch the film here.

FILM FRIDAY THE WAR PHOTOGRAPHER

in lieu of the horrible events that have occurred in boston, afghanistan, texas and syria this past week, my film friday post is about war. specifically about one man's journey to show us the realities of war so that we may see our insanity and stop hurting each other. the war photographer is an incredible film. it is an accurate portrayal of one the world's best photojournalists, james nachtwey. he is, as far as i'm concerned, one of the most powerful forces in the anti-war movement. his photos expose the true nature of war, it's randomness, it's devastation and the costs in terms of pain, suffering and exploitation of innocent victims. it is a fascinating documentary, and watching james nachtwey navigate war-torn situations with such calm and focus, sets an example of how we can all face this evil with the assurance of a master. "I have been a witness, and these pictures are my testimony. The events I have recorded should not be forgotten and must not be repeated." James Nachtwey.

i am praying for the victims of these horrific bombings in boston and praying for the perpetrators who have caused such damage. and as saddened as i am that this has happened, i am grateful every time i see one of james nachtwey's photos, that someone is still out there fighting the good fight. may we all learn that war is not the answer. to any of our conflicts. war is never the answer.   all photos: james nachtwey

FILM FRIDAY SI PUO FARE

in keeping with an italian theme, i was invited to a screening at the italian film festival this weekend where i saw giulio manfredonia's film si puo fare(translated as 'we can do that'). si puo fare is a perfectly delightful movie.  the movie is based on an amalgamation of true stories about mental institutions and the mentally ill in italy during the 1980's. in the late 80's italy closed down many of their mental institutions releasing thousands of mental patients into society without training, support or preparation.  si puo fare follows a group of mental patients(think 'one flew over the cuckoos nest') as they navigate life in the 'normal' world. this film is a lovely examination of mental illness and the medicalization of groups of people. it's worth seeing if you can find it....check here for rest of sd festival or here to find an italian film festival in your town! xo, annette  ps. the soundtrack is fantastic!  if anyone can find it please let me know.

FILM FRIDAY (MONDAY) NIGHTS OF CABIRIA

i watched this film again this weekend. in honor of roger ebert, and in honor of great films. fellini's nights of cabiria is such a lovely movie, and it's the film where i fell in love with gulieta masina.

FILM FRIDAY THE IMPOSTER

 

it's hard for me to recommend this documentary. i say this because of the subject matter: a missing child and a con-man lead character. it also sheds light on abuse and neglect and it's devastating effects on children. however, because it received such great reviews everywhere, i decided to watch it on netflix. and i'm glad i did. sort of. the imposter is very well structured, and anyone writing a thriller or who-done-it-movie should watch and learn. the true story is unbelievable, and the filmmaker's telling of this crazy story is a study in tension and structure. at first i was bracing myself for a disturbing experience: an american, blue-eyed boy missing from his home in texas, a family in shock and grief, and three years later the missing boy shows up in spain, with a french accent, brown hair and brown eyes. as you can guess by the title of the movie, this boy is an imposter! but what follows next, when the family meets their missing son...is unbelievable. it's really hard to fathom that this is a true story, but apparently it is.

FILM FRIDAY BARK

my short film 'bark' was just accepted to the international bare bones film festival. yea!!! we are beyond thrilled it got in. i'll keep you posted as it does the festival circuit. so happy for my talented team. blessings xo, annette

FILM FRIDAY WOMEN FILMMAKERS

i'm posting some of my favorite women filmmakers in honor of international women's day! a day where we celebrate all women, everywhere, in all languages, of all religions, in all socio-economic classes, of every age and every color! the world will be changed for the better by the power and intelligence of women.

here's to more women filmmakers:
andrea arnold's fish tank
mira nair's mississippi masala
lynee ramsay's we need to talk about kevin
lucretia martel's the headless woman 
sofia coppola's virgin suicides 

                                                   
debra granik's winter's bone
lisa cholodenko's the kids are all right
penny marshall's big
penelope spheeris' wayne's world
and lauren greenfield's the queen of versailles 

of course there are so many more amazing, truly amazing documentary, feature, tv, animated, short, music video filmmakers out there! so here's to seeing more women making movies and telling their stories!

FILM FRIDAY THE INVISIBLE WAR

one of the better films i've seen this year. a must-see for all filmmakers who want to effect change. i thought i wouldn't be able to watch the invisible war as it focuses on rape and sexual assault in the military, but the filmmakers did a great job balancing the specifics of each assault, with how these women & men are rebuilding their lives and fighting for justice. definitely a movie worth watching. check out dates and places for the invisible war. it's also on netflix instant streaming. xoxo, annette

FILM FRIDAY BILLY THE KID

billy the kid - the documetary, is one of my all-time favorite movies. i really fell for this film and it's lead character billy price. at first billy seems like a typical small-town teenager, struggling to find his way in life, but soon we see that billy is quite unique. he looks at the world in a candid, honest, vulnerable way, a way that most 16 year old boys would never do. one of my favorite quotes from the film references billy's understanding of his own personality, making no apologizes for his 'differences.'

"I'm not black, I'm not white, not foreign...just different in the mind. Different brains, that's all."

FILM FRIDAY FEAR EATS THE SOUL

this is one of my favorite movies: fassibinder's fear eats the soul. this little gem of a movie is one of fassbinder's best works and this is a clip where emmi, the leading lady, breaks down because all her friends and family have judged and abandoned her after she falls in love with a much-younger  Moroccan man.  i have always wanted to do a remake of this movie and recently started a short version of the film. we begin shooting this spring, so keep checking back for updates, photos and maybe a clip or two. blessings, xoxoxo am

MY FILM IN LONDON

calling all londoners...our film 'perfection' will screen in the uk, february 9th at the rio cinema! click on our facebook page to like us and get updates...and of course, spread the word to support independent films and filmmakers. if you attend the screening in london, please introduce yourself to the director, christina beck since i can't go, she would love to hear from you! xoxoxox, annette

NATASHA LAW

looking for artwork for our new home and i came across these gorgeous pieces by natasha law from the very cool dealer blaire clarke. have a look at blaire's collection of artists, they are quite interesting and good!

FILM FRIDAY JIRO DREAMS OF SUSHI

jiro dreams of sushi is a lovely movie to curl up on the couch and watch. jiro ono is 85 years old and after finding his dream job(sushi chef) at a very young age, he embarked on a journey to become the best at making, serving and preparing sushi. the film traces the history of this true artist and explores jiro's family life and his current success at being the highest-starred chef in japan. he continually strives to become better and better, and after 60 years of putting fish on rice he says 'even at my age, in my work, i haven't reached perfection.'  i mean what more can a person learn after 60 years of making sushi? but in this film, we see how even the most simple, mundane, dare i say boring activities of one's job can take on a magical quality when attention is given it. being present and taking care with each activity of one's work and service to the world.

i was fascinated by jiro and his approach to his work. i hope you'll give this film a look-see and tell me if you like it. xoxoxo ps. i have to give a shout out to producer kevin iwashina. he is one smart cookie and all-around great guy.

WELCOME 2013!

what an amazing year this has been! the world didn't end. we didn't fall off the fiscal cliff. the election and all it's insanity won't come for another few years. and we are still alive and breathing. god bless this crazy, fantastic, difficult, precious, moment-to-moment life. it has been a most lovely year for us; we moved into our new home with the most amazing ocean view, we weathered a lot of travel, donated money to causes we believed in, took care of those around us, stayed clean with our bodies and mind and worked hard to be present and kind. i am grateful for a year of change and am looking forward to the next 12 months. i hope you all have a wonderful and safe and memorable evening....see you in 2013! xoxoxo, annette

FILM FRIDAY ALL THAT HEAVEN ALLOWS

first off, i love this title: 'all that heaven allows'. i wish i would've thought of it for my film, or novel or short story...it's perfect in so many ways. 'all that heaven allows' is a great film for the holidays. it's directed by douglas sirk, who on the surface seems like the typical technicolor-studio-director, but when you go deeper, it's obvious that sirk is much more than a feel-good, tear-jerker storyteller. sirk explores real issues in his movies, like difficult teenagers and lonely wives and taboo relationships. i came upon this movie via fassbinder's film 'fear eats the soul' which was influenced by 'all that heaven allows.' i watched both movies and fell in love with sirk and his work. i won't say too much about this snowy, cozy movie, except that it could be the original cougar storyline(though not really) as it centers around a middle-aged woman who falls in love with a younger man who happens to be her gardener! oh the shame! anyhow, it's worth watching for sure. and check out fassbinder's interpretation as well. fantastic film! xoxo, am

photos: criterion contraption

'TIS THE SEASON TO SUPPORT ARTISANS

my favorite bowls, pottery and cups are from heath ceramics. when my best friend asked me what i wanted for my birthday this year, i said 'a set of heath mugs please' and donate money to a great charity. if you want to give the coolest gift, give a heath mug or pitcher or set of plates, they are gorgeous. and check out these cute tea towels from these gals: skinny laminx and sarah elizabeth. they'll make perfect housewarming or holiday gifts for friends or co-workers. xoxo, annette

'TIS THE SEASON TO SUPPORT ARTISANS

my second post on holiday shopping. if you must shop this year(and that is a difficult habit to curb and break) here is another artist to support:  mt. washington pottery!  i am so smitten by these magical bells. check out both of these websites to see how to order them. xoxoxo, annette photos: wendy polish and mt. washington pottery

FILM FRIDAY CHASING ICE

another doc on my film friday list, chasing ice.  chasing ice follows the photographer james balog as he photographed disappearing glaciers over a period of years to show the world what is happening to these amazing natural structures. the photography(and cinematography) in this movie is stunnung. anyone interested in nature cinematography needs to see chasing ice on the big screen, and the director jeff orlowski did a great job focusing the story on both global warming and the life of an artist. james balog is a man on a mission. he is a poet and photographer out to change the world by showing people the reality of CO2 emissions on our planet. the movie is also quite dramatic. not so much in the structure of the film, but in the story of a protagonist(balog) facing obstacle after obstacle, mostly in the form of nature's powerful, unpredictable weather, to achieve his goal. in that sense it's a good example of a lead character's heroes journey. lastly, the reality of what humans are doing to the very basic foundation of our earth is alarming, to say the least. watching icebergs crumble and tumble and melt away are images that are unforgettable. chasing ice is worth watching in the theater but if you can't, be sure to watch it any way you can! blessings and have a great weekend. xoxo, annette

'TIS THE SEASON TO SUPPORT ARTISANS

as my holiday protest against the mega-store, online, superchain stores(gap, shopbop, macy's, h&m, neimans, anthropologie, walmart, target, barney's...etc..etc...) continues, i've decided to post about artisans i love. some will be high-end, more expensive and others more affordable. so if you have the desire to contribute to the GDP this season, look at these artists and spend your hard-earned money with them.

the first artisan is: siemon and salazar. caleb siemon and carmen salazar make the most amazing hand-blown glass vases and lights. i have one of their vases and it is as stunning now as it was four years ago when i bought it(along with a piece by bill burch) at ok in los angeles. so if you want to get a gift for the person who appreciates beauty and luxury and timeless quality, a siemon and salazar piece is just for them! blessings and happy shopping. xoxo, annette  photos

FILM FRIDAY GREATEST MOVIE EVER SOLD

 

okay, the greatest movie ever sold wouldn't make my top ten docs. the structure was a bit all over the place and it could've been told in 40minutes, like morgan's tv episode shows(which are pretty good). however, morgan spurlock is smart and funny(playful and mindful as the brand consultant labels him), so for anyone interested in making movies, or independent filmmakers, anyone trying to raise money, any parent, or anyone who buys anything, this movie is for you! morgan takes us behind the scenes of big advertising agencies to explore the realities of 'product placement' in film & tv(and even in our school systems).  i'm not going to tell you my thoughts on the content but i will say i learned a hella-lot about how brands work, how ad agencies hold pitch meetings and how some films get financed. if you have the chutzpah to sell, sell, pitch, sell, pitch sell, sell and sell, watch this movie. maybe it will help you raise some much-needed dough for your film! remember: don't sell out...buy in. blessings to you all. and happy friday! xo, annette

1977

i remember when this song came out. i was in pre-production for SuperChicas and was looking for music, for female artists that had a unique sound. i couldn't believe my ears when i heard ana's voice. i watched the video and knew i was listening to a very cool sound and watching a very cool, unique artist. it seems like everyone is trying to be the same as everyone else these days. and these holidays really make it obvious. people are telling us what we should buy for under $100, or $50 or $1000. for our husband's, our kids, our friends. how about we search inside and see if we really want to buy anything this holiday season. but i digress. i love when someone breaks out and does something different! enjoy the holidays and enjoy ana tijoux's song if you haven't heard it yet. xo, annette

FILM FRIDAY W.E.

 

 

i just watched madonna's film 'w.e.' and it was really beautiful! i wasn't too interested in seeing it when it came out, but over the holiday weekend i went on a movie-marathon binge and madonna's film proved to be one of the more interesting ones. the costumes in 'w.e.' are stunning and the acting is wonderful(especially andrea riseborough who plays wallis simpson). abel korzeniowski did the soundtrack and he also did tom ford's soundtrack for 'a single man,' so of course, it sounds amazing. if you like history and beauty and great costumes and romance, this is a feast for the eyes and the ears...enjoy! xo, annette

YOU ARE SO BEAUTIFUL

i have been exploring the nature of beauty lately. what does it mean to be beautiful? who defines this for us? as women? as men? it is always difficult to step away from the herd; to speak out against something or speak out for something when everyone else is following the leader(s). it's wonderful that we're accepting different notions of beauty and different notions of families and different notions of sexualities and power structures. the world is changing. people are moving beyond unquestioned assumptions and waking up. they are telling the truth in work, in their relationships, within their families and with friends. tell the truth, whatever it is, tell your truth. how exciting this world can be! blessings, xoxoxo

billy hells

FILM FRIDAY KING OF KONG - FISTFUL OF QUARTERS

this is perhaps one of the best documentaries ever. if you want to watch a truly good movie, well-structured, with great characters, watch king of kong, you won't regret it! i promise. xoxoox
 king of kong trailer

THANK YOU FOR TAKING OUR LAND DAY

i love thanksgiving. i love getting together with family and friends and setting aside time to be grateful for this beautiful experience called life. at the same time, i am always reminded that the first peoples of our amazing country, the native americans, had their traditions stripped from them, their land taken away, their culture and their history re-written(or never told at all). so on this day of thanks and gratitude, i say on behalf of our ancestors 'thank you for helping us learn to live off the land, thank you for sharing your abundance with us, thank you for helping us survive in a land we knew nothing about. and we are sorry. sorry to have killed you, sorry to put you on reservations, sorry to have broken our promise ti you. still.' have a blessed day. xoxoxo, annette

first people u.s.   indian pictures

CROCODILE MADNESS

this makes me so happy! crocodile bags and shoes. so classy and so chic...and of course, no animals harmed because they're stella mccartney's. sweet! why can't all designers wake up to the fact that we live in a connected world, an innovative world, a world where animals aren't here for our exploitation, a world where the pollution and suffering of others does effect us even if we think it doesn't. we don't live isolated and in a bubble anymore. and yet...and yet...fashion designers(especially the big designers) still live in the past, like living with the belief that the world is flat. very few design houses have woken up to the reality that the world has changed, that we can't live the way we used to: unsustainable manufacturing practices, exploitation of workers, antiquated design materials like leather and fur. thank goodness for stella mccartney and other designers following in her footsteps: jill milan handbags, jeffrey campbell vegan line, cri de couer,  and more.  bravo for crocodile bags and shoes. i'm sure big old, scale-y crocodiles like them too. xoxoxo, am