#but there was also an ACTOR who acts in christmas movies the younger sister watched

[obstinaterixatrix]

air put on a cheesy christmas movie and I honestly really liked it. it’s about two sisters who get isekai’d into a christmas movie plot and the younger one’s having the time of her life while the older one hates it so bad. the thing is the older one ends up having a romance with a resident of christmas world and. the guy gives the impression it’s his first week being alive. he does not give the impression of being a real human man. and the thing is he does some stuff that the older sister specifically does call out as being stalkerish and creepy, but it’s written and acted in a way where I’m not immediately like Kill Him which honestly? impressive. the older sister goes like ‘you gave me a hand-drawn card of me sleeping, do NOT watch me sleep and draw me that is WEIRD’ and he’s like ‘oh! got it!’ later he gets isekai’d into the real world with them and when the sisters wake up he just pops up from the kitchen, presumably just lying on the floor, and is like ‘you asked me not to watch you sleep! so I didn’t!’ really really funny. I also like the older sister because she’s a bit of a grouch and is very annoyed at being the side character of her little sister’s christmas movie plot lol

[hctirdle]

I came across this Declan Hannigan interview from a couple years ago and did a quick translation, enjoy.

How did you end up in Hungary?

I come from a little fishing village in Northern Ireland. I visited Budapest for the first time in 93, just after the regime change. I was traveling with friends and I was captivated by the city's beauty and culture. Then I ended up meeting a Hungarian girl in Dublin, even though there weren't many Hungarians living there at the time. I immediately started learning Hungarian and it wasn't long before we moved to Budapest. That was 15 years ago.

You're a writer, screenwriter, and actor, but in what order?

Actually I call myself a "filmmaker", that covers everything. I must have been around 6 or 7 when I asked Santa for a typewriter for Christmas. My mother was a tv editor, she's still writing novels to this day, so writing came naturally to me. I wrote my first play as a schoolkid. My grandfather and great-grandfather were fishermen, so was my father. My grandfather was a great storyteller, he created a tradition in the family. My affinity for directing probably comes from my father, since he was captain of his fishing boat.

How did you end up making movies?

I was 20 when my younger sister asked me to accompany her to an audition. Unfortunately she didn't get chosen, but I did. It was a Hollywood indie production (The Secret of Roan Inish) based on an old Irish tale about a seal-girl who turns into a beautiful human girl and must stay with you forever if you steal her skin... It was a great experience, that's where I met legendary cinematographer Haskell Wexler and director John Sayler, both of whom impressed me with their work. It was also there that I learned that a director can also be soft-spoken and nice, he had a huge impact on me. From then on my goal was to work in the film industry.

Is being nice that important?

Yes. Besides going to auditions as an actor and writing screenplays, I also work as a communication trainer. When my daughters ask me about my work, I tell them I teach people how to be nice to each other.

In contrast, you play quite the controversial character in Curtiz...

I admit that I find it more exciting to play villains. What I found interesting in this role is that despite seeming like a real American hero in the beginning who takes the poor girl under his wing, my character causes an unpleasant surprise in the end. I really hope the movie will be a hit. Casablanca is a classic, and it's really interesting that the movie was directed by a Hungarian. (The movie's about the making of Casablanca.) Not to mention that it's bilingual and black-and-white, which really creates a period atmosphere. It was a pleasure to work in such a familial environment, with so many talented people.

Are you more of a writer or more of an actor?

I enjoy acting, I like focusing on a single character, but that's only one part of filmmaking. Writing, however, is a lengthy process, it can take years to finish a project. I've been writing a sci-fi story for 5-6 years, for which I've been studying the work of Hungarian Harvard professor Albert-László Barabási. I think science is a part of culture, I'd like my movies to be educational.

You've also starred in a Hungarian series... and you've even written one?

There are a lot of opportunities here in Budapest. Of course I tend to get mostly English language offers. Shooting the AMC show The Terror was a great experience, but I also played an aging Swedish rock star on the Hungarian show 200 első randi (200 first dates). I can safely say the latter was the longest and hardest script of my life, because I had to speak Hungarian. [laughs] I wrote a pilot for RTL's contest called "A hentes" (The Butcher), starring Imre Csuja, Eszter Földes, and Éva Kerekes in the main roles. It's a noir thriller, I hope it premieres on tv soon.

You also star in some Hollywood productions...

I feel very lucky. I played Charlize Theron's driver in Atomic Blonde, and I recently starred in the Netflix show The Witcher. Swords, magical creatures... some say it could be a worthy successor of Game of Thrones. I like watching the pros work, I always learn a lot from them. My experience as a director often gives me an advantage in auditions. For instance, I deviated from the script at my Witcher audition and the director really liked it.

What can we know about your personal life?

I married Zsófi Lévai a year ago. We have very similar interests. She's a fashion designer focusing on the intersection of science, technology, and fashion. We really complement each other, she helps me a lot whenever I'm doing research for my writing. Also, her family is a huge motivating factor in my language learning. Sunday lunches are really difficult, between having to decipher my father-in-law's sophisticated speech and my brother-in-law's local slang. My daughters are 5 and 7 years old, at school and pre-school they just shrug and go: "Nah, Dad doesn't speak Hungarian" even though I've been trying even harder to learn since they were born. [laughs]

Where do you feel most at home?

I like living here. Whenever I travel for work and the city comes into view on the plane ride back, I'm filled with this familiar feeling that this is home. My daughters are here, this is where I've lived the most. My parents visit me often, my mother likes looking for inspiration for her novels in Budapest.

Any hobbies?

Besides my work being my hobby, I play the guitar, and like most writers, I read a lot. I also have this weird pastime, we take breakdancing classes with my younger daughter who's perpetually in motion. I enjoy it a lot more than running miles on the treadmill in a gym...

[surveys-at-your-service]

Survey #519

“i can already see your name disintegrate from my lips”

How did you usher in the new year this year? I slept, lol. Didn't even have a drink like I usually do. What was the last thing you ate that was spicy? I want to say boneless hot wings. Do you enjoy watching Christmas haul videos on YouTube? No. Are you subscribed to any doctors on YouTube? No. Do you like peppermint? I do. Have you ever talked about your period with a guy? Were they okay with it, or grossed out? I've mentioned being on it with two boyfriends, and neither were grossed out because they're men and not boys. How many people do you know with the name Ashley/Ashlee? Funnily enough, my sister as well as Girt's sister. Jason's girlfriend after me was also named Ashley, but I never actually knew her. Have you ever been to an Asian (any type) market? If so, what is the closest one to you? No. How would you feel if your significant other had tattoos? Bitch I fuckin love tattoos, that'd be awesome honestly. Where was the last place on your body that you felt physical pain? My knees. Can your significant other/crush sing? He's actually quite the good singer. Can you honestly tell the difference between DiGiorno and delivery pizza? Absolutely. What do you do for work? I don't work. What would you ideally like to do for work? I'd love love love love to be a wildlife/nature photographer, but... I don't think it's going to happen. My body just can't handle almost anything. I have to do something about that if I want to achieve that. It'd be nice to be an artist too, something I could do right from home, but I also don't think I'm talented enough to make money off of that. I kinda see my only option as being a housewife, but holy shit I don't want that. What are you doing in order to achieve this? Fucking nothing. What do you think is the worst being on the planet? I cannot fucking fathom how rapists and child molesters live with themselves. Which do you think is a more valuable being, a human or an animal? Neither is more important, imo. Life is life. I don't believe because we're further evolved that that makes us more worthy of an existence that we didn't choose. What, in your opinion, will cause the end of the world? Probably global warming, ultimately. What does your mother do for work? Given how severe (very nearly fatal) her cancer was and her body will never fully recovered, she's considered disabled. What about your father? What does he do? He's a mailman. Have you ever been jealous of your siblings? I'm pretty envious of them both, especially my younger sister, because she's so successful and making a real life for herself. Would you rather live off government benefits or earn your own money? I desperately want to earn my own money. If you have a Facebook, what do you use it for? Keep up with people I care about, look at cute videos, and also see plenty of memes, ha ha. If you have a Twitter, what do you use it for? I've literally only ever used it for very rare raffles that I'm very interested in. Oh wait no, I also check Mark's Twitter now and again to like his stuff, ha ha. Do you think your parents are proud of you and what you do with your life? They act like they believe in me, but I really feel like they're ashamed of me. Who is the most badass woman that you can think of? The first to come to mind was Harriet Tubman. She was pretty fucking metal and insanely brave. Have you ever seen the television show The Munsters? Yes, I actually grew up watching it sometimes with Mom! She loves that show. Have you ever written one of those ‘Roses are red…’ valentines? Pretty sure no. Would you/have you spent more than $200 on any one person for a holiday? I think I'd only ever do that for an s/o, or maybe my mom. Do you have a favorite Robin Williams movie? I really loved Night At The Museum as a kid; I think he played Teddy very well. He was just a great actor in general, rest his soul. Were you ever afraid of the Bogeyman? No. Thoughts on Slenderman? Have you even heard of him? "Have you even heard of him"... lol I think everyone has at least once. I think he's a pretty cool character, and he'd definitely be pretty damn scary if he was a real thing. Unpopular opinion, but I liked the movie, too, and so did my dad (we like going to watch horror movies together). Did you ever have a Sega Genesis? I did not. What would you call yourself the King or Queen of? Panicking over anything and everything. :^) If I paid for you to take karate lessons, would you? Nah. What do you think the world would be a very lonely place without? Animals. Like sure, having other people around is great and pretty much mandatory for a species as social as humans, but can you imagine how alone we'd feel as the sole species? Especially without pets, just... yikes. Does the room you’re in have painted walls or wallpaper? Just painted walls. If given the chance to be a spectator at the Olympics, would you? No. Have you ever had a UTI? I've had lots over the years because I don't drink and never have drank enough water. I've gotten better about it and haven't had one for quite some time, but yeah. I once had one so bad that I had intense kidney pain, so never neglect that stuff. Would you rather go to the dentist or the doctor? Dentist. I think doctors are more boring, take longer in waiting times, and I'm always afraid they'll discover something bad. I always feel better coming out of the dentist, too. What do you spend most of your money on? Historically, tattoos. Is there an ice-cream flavor that you strongly dislike? Which one? Strawberry is so disgusting to me. Do you own any books with an image of a cat on the front cover? I think so; I'm pretty sure I still have my Warriors collection somewhere. Has anyone ever walked out of your life with no explanation? Yup. An old best friend, for that matter. She just... stopped talking to me and deleted me off Facebook. Is there anyone who sends you messages to say good morning/night? Girt usually messages me a good morning message. What fictional character do you have the biggest crush on? Darkiplier could call me disgusting a thousand times more and ruin my life & I'd thank him for it like god fucking damn- What “most likely to” superlative would you be most honored to receive? To succeed. What one thing would you be most disappointed if you never got to experience it? Having a good career that I thoroughly enjoyed. If you could have been a child prodigy what would you have wanted to be skilled at? Drawing. If Earth could only have one condiment for the rest of time, what would you pick to keep around? Ketchup. What Jeopardy! category would you clear, no problem? Shit, none. I'm not that smart. What is something you’re superstitious about? Nothing. Do turtles make you happy? Well sure, they're very cute. Name one person who snores in their sleep. MY DAD. Or at least, he did when my parents were together, but I doubt he just... stopped. Do you like Hershey’s chocolate bars? Hell yeah. Do you like cows? I adore cows. They are SUCH precious animals. They make me feel horrible for eating beef lol. What is your opinion on blueberries? I like many things flavored blueberry, but I'm actually not that big on real ones. What is one phrase that you hate hearing? "All lives matter" is incredibly ignorant imo. Like, in essence, yes, but you're missing the point. I also really hate toxic positivity phrases like "good vibes only," "just think positive," etc. Does your door have a dead bolt on it? Yes. Do you get along with your significant other’s family? I don't know any of them. How many times have you read your favorite book? Just once. I don't re-read books. How old do you think you’ll be when you move out on your own? I have no clue. Do/did your parents fight often? They fought all the damn time. Do YOU fight with them often? No. Would you say that you're respectful? Yes. Do you think "friends with benefits" relationships really ever work? No. Someone's getting hurt. Do you or have you ever known a drug addict? I knew a couple. Ever ran away from home for a long period of time? No. What show/movie/song makes you cry every time? Show, I'm sure. I just don't watch enough. As for movies, The Notebook has never not gotten me. Songs have the greatest potential to make me cry, and I don't know if any could beat "Eternally Yours" by Motionless In White. Do you ever watch TV shows or movies on YouTube? No. Have you ever worn something your parents wouldn’t approve of? My mother has told me to change tops really only for the peace of mind men wouldn't look at me. I have literally never cared, but she can get persistent. What do you hear right now? I have "Third Day of a Seven Day Binge" by Marilyn Manson on atm. One of the catchiest songs ever imo. How many colleges did you attend? Three. Who do you think impacted your life the most? Jason. If you could do anything right now, what would it be? Hm. Idk. I'm sleepy rn so am honestly pretty content being in bed. Have you ever had a crush that you tried to stop having? See also: years after The Breakup. Which cartoon character would you want to keep as a pet? Maybe Courage the Cowardly Dog. He's always been super cute to me. :') Oh, and don't forget an Eevee! Small and cute and seems super cuddly and soft. Did you ever really believe in Santa Claus? I did as a kid, but I eventually came to doubt it. I wasn't surprised when I learned he wasn't real. What’s the greatest/most influential song you’ve ever heard? "Life Won't Wait" by Ozzy Osbourne. It gives me chills and just makes me want to truly live. Have you ever been on a mechanical bull? No. If you could adopt 3 unique pets, what would you get? A Brazilian black tarantula, a woma python, and a western hognose morph. What were your favorite things to draw when you were a lil kid? I don't know about a tiny kid, but I sure loved drawing meerkats as soon as I discovered Meerkat Manor. Imagine you’re a stranger looking at yourself. What things would immediately catch your eye? Um, idk. Nothing about me is all that unique or demanding of attention. What is one thing you know about your family history you’re proud of? I dunno, nothing in particular. Who depends on you the most? My snake. I'm still responsible for Roman, but Mom could surely help if needed. Meanwhile, she's uncomfortable around/kinda scared of snakes, so she wouldn't be able to properly care and provide for Venus. Who is the last child that you took a photo with? Um, I genuinely don't think I've been in a photograph with a child since my youngest niece Emerson was born. I really, really should take more pictures with the kids, I just hate being in photographs so much. Would you ever get a nature tattoo? Most certainly. I know with certainty I want a meerkat tattoo one day, and I think making flora some fillers in some areas would be nice. Is anyone in your family sick at the moment? Not that I know of. Whose birthday is coming up? Besides mine, my aforementioned niece's! She'll be two. (: Have you ever ordered from an informercial? No. When, where, and why did a needle last pierce your skin? Maybe like, three weeks ago at my doctor's office for blood testing. What’s your favorite Coke product? Coke itself. Are your fingernails currently short or long? They're always short. Have you ever thought of how you would give your kids “the talk”? Well no, because I don't want any. If you were married, and your spouse’s parents became ill, would you let them move into your home? Of course I would. Have you screamed into a pillow before? Yes. What’s worse, having someone mad or disappointed in you? Disappointed. Do you have a favorite bromance? From TV or a movie. No. Do you find flea markets and thrift stores enjoyable? Yeah! Never know what you're gonna find.

[szopenhauer]

When was the last time you cried and what was the reason?: family issues

Do you believe in ghosts?: maybe

If you could live on the moon, would you?: almost all of it belongs to Tom Cruise so no 

What is your favorite time in history to learn about?: I just like many interesting history facts in general

When is the last time you felt discriminated against because of your gender?: not sure which situation was last

What race are you?: caucasian, white, european, polish, slavic

What is your favorite sex position?: I’m not into sex tbh Have you ever lost your SO to another person?: yup

Have you ever had a thing for a friend’s parent?: no

Have you ever believed in Santa Clause? from what I remember

Have you ever thought you were getting a surprise party, but you really weren’t? nah and I don’t like surprises so I’m glad I never really had a party like this

Have you ever forgotten someone’s birthday? I suck with dates

Has a friend looked bad in a profile picture and you didn’t tell her? it was my opinion but if they liked their pic then it’s their problem

Does it take forever for your internet to load websites? sometimes

Have you ever pretended to listen to someone but you really weren’t? yeah :x

Are you a bad driver, or do you know someone that is? I know some that are bad yet say they’re oh so awesome at it ugh!

Have you seen the animated movies Tarzan? sure

Have you actually called 911 for an actual emergency? If so, what was the emergency? not me but my parents

Do you sleep in the living room a lot? I never do

Did you enjoy watching The Flintstone’s growing up? yep

Do you wish you were born in a different year? kinda wish I was born after war and die before 2020 or even live in another time period 

What do you buy more: Movies or candy? neither

Did you used to eat chapstick when you were younger? ewww, noooo, not even toothpaste

What made you pick up the last book you started reading? I was watching a movie and heard that book has a different ending so I had to see for myself Have you received any bad or troubling news lately? shitload When was the last time you were relieved about something? I wish I was... What about your life concerns you the most? my health related issues mostly but also money and fam, love life, religion etc. Is there a common thing most people seem to do without trouble, but it scares you (talking on the phone, driving, interviews, etc)? When was the last time you had to do one of these kinds of things? there are, recently

Describe a time when you were there for a friend? were there in person? When was the last time you went somewhere for the first time? days or weeks ago What is a situation that makes you feel especially confident? umm... Hypothetically and generally speaking, how would you go about breaking up with someone? Is there anything you would make sure to say, or perhaps not say? depends Would you say you’re easy or difficult to offend? I guess I’m easily offended Is there a belief you have that most others around you don’t have? Do you share this belief with others, or do you tend to keep it to yourself?  sure, might talk about it if asked and in the mood  If you’ve moved out from home, what was the scariest thing about it? What was/is your favorite thing about it? I didn’t move out yet but there are dark scenarios I imagine that could happen and they concern me What are your thoughts on “forgiving” murderers or rapists? Do you think it’s even possible to forgive these people? I wouldn’t forgive a rapist but particular murders can be justified If you could learn about anything without the stress of grades or cost, what kind of classes would you take? who cares about grades and cost when you have no possibility/talent/ability anyway?... Last item of clothing you purchased - do you wear it often? didn’t wear it yet Has anything made you feel nostalgic lately? lots What was the last chore you completed? I just helped mom around kitchen and bathroom - przynieś/podaj itp.

Which of the Seven Deadly Sins do you commit the most? sloth?

Has anyone ever told you that you’re incapable of whispering? nope, my mom is incapable, she whispers louder than when she’s normally talking to someone

Who was the best kisser you’ve ever dated? I’ve only kissed one person in my entire life

When was the last time you watched a YouTube video? yesterday

this one

and I plan on doing smth similar

Do you personally think Wikipedia is a reliable source? one of the most reliable sources that are available for free

When you were a child, did you ever want to become a wizard/witch? meh

Do you want to repaint your walls? I prefer to move out 

Would you rather have hardwood floors or carpet? hardwood

Who would you say is the most selfish person you know? majority of society

Have you ever made out in a movie theater before? waste of the movie

How old were you when you got to go on your first date? dunno what I can count as one

Would you call your parents over-protective or under-protective? weirdly protective

Did your parents ever let you play in the pits of those multicolored balls? never had a chance to

Has anyone ever called you a good kisser before? I had my moment

Have any of your siblings ever had a crush on your significant other? she’s into men so...

Do you know someone who cares about themselves more than their child? it seems that most of parents act this way

What’s your favorite hairstyle you’ve had so far? hmm...

How many dogs do you have, if any at all? 1

Do you think biting is weird or sexy? biting hard is very dangerous and I’m not into being bitten but I might/can bite a little

Would you rather be called hot or beautiful? neither but I'll “believe” slightly more in being beautiful than hot I think

Have you ever had a pet turtle before? yep

Do you still sleep with your parents when you’re scared sometimes? just once I had a bad night and my dad was working overnight so I went to my mom’s bed but then I left in the middle of the night anyway as she was snoring, not that it usually bothers me 

Have you ever met someone with two different color eyes? saw pics on the internet only

How many surveys on average would you say you’ve done in your lifetime? shitload

Do you enjoy going school shopping? tiny bit as I enjoy shopping in general?

Do you think Pug dogs are adorable or just plain ugly? adorable

Have you ever met someone who completely resembled their pet? lookalikes

Has anyone ever knitted you something before? sure

Do you think there is a soulmate out there for everyone? then why some ppl die single?...

Do you like short or long surveys the best? it’s not about length, I need interesting questions

Have you ever bought fake money and tried to make it pass for real? I didn’t try to make it pas for real wtf

Are your siblings nice the majority of the time? *rolling my eyes*

How many uncles do you have? don’t know nor care as they don’t give a shit about me

Do you freak out when a thunderstorm comes along? nah, sometimes I feel physically bad because of it tho

How often do you shower? basically everyday

What is the absolute worst thing about high school? from my personal experience - stress

How many sodas do you usually drink in one day? I don’t drink soda for years

Have you ever met an annorexic pregnant woman? woah I can’t imagine that

Have you ever simply looked at someone & could tell they were homosexual? oh well...

Do you have the ability to read someone without even knowing them? sometimes

Would you rather eat or sleep? sleep

Are you one of those die hard Twilight or Harry Potter fans? am not, especially Twilight - I didn’t read/watch it because it sounds awful

Have you ever cried while watching a movie trailor? yes 

Have you ever learned that someone had lied to you all along? sadly

When was the last time you had a physical injury? this ending week

Have you ever wanted to be a lawyer? not really

Have you ever had to bail someone out of jail before? nope

Is there anyone in your imediate family who was adopted? no

Do you know anyone who doesn’t have any common sense? I meet many ppl like this often on the streets or online

Do you think you look anything like your parents? I know I do

Who is the skinniest person you know? Is it because of a disease? when it comes to look or weight? disease though

Is this year the best one you’ve had so far? r u joking?...

What color is your significant other’s hair? natural or dye? XD

Are you ashamed of anyone in your family? yeah The best Christmas gift you ever gotten? The sims 2 as I dreamed of it and didn’t expect my poor parents will afford and give it to me ever, I was so moved that I cried and my sister was jealous and angry 

Who is your favorite actor or actress? can’t decide

What is cuter: kisses on the forehead of the cheek? I don’t consider them cute when I receive them but kind of awkward actually but giving them is a different story

Do you believe in evolution or creation? smth in between, it’s complicated 

What group would you say you’d normally fit into the most? I feel that I wouldn’t really fit any

Are you better at drawing things or painting? drawing

Have either of your parents ever called you a failure before? I am a failure

How long have you been on the computer right now? too long, about 6 hours Name three black things that you can see? celphone, pendrive, necklace would you perfer to do the dishes or hang washing/laundry? dishes

[phoenix43song]

My Reviews and Thoughts on Little Women and the Many Adaptations

To start off I have been reading the Little Women series since I was 8 I think, and I’ve been watching the 1994 version since I was 6. It wasn’t until recently that I finally watched the 1949 and the modern 2018 adaptations ( I watched the  BBC/PBS mini series last year, and I do re-watch it every now and then). I still have to watch the 1933 version, which I plan to do when I find the time. I have also been re-reading the books because I am excited for Greta Gerwig’s adaptation even though I am not a fan of some of the stuff she’s been saying about a couple of the characters (but some of my fears have been relieved! Yeah!). In this long post I will post my thoughts on the novel(s) themselves, Louisa, and the adaptations that I have seen. 

I will start with the one I am very familiar with: the 1994 version! I have loved this movie since the first time I watched it. It’s a tradition to watch it multiple of times around the Christmas season with my mom, and every now and then I will watch it whenever I feel like it. Since I graduated as a theatre and film student watching films and analyzing characters, their world, decisions, the themes and motifs have been really eye opening. I’ve been devouring books since I was a kid, trying to write my own novels, and I’ve made a couple of short films. When it comes to adapting a screenplay from a book there are a lot of decisions to be made: what to keep, what to cut, what to condense, does the order of things need to be changed, and what original creative content can we put in? 1994 is a really, really good adaptation of the novel, with some minor flaws, a questionable original content decision, and how the screenwriter and director put Louisa into Jo. The cinematography and music is gorgeous, the house looks lived in, and the whole atmosphere screams late American 19h century. 

The acting, for the most part, is right on character and Winona did such a great job as Jo! Trini did wonderful a Meg and I liked how we got more of Meg because she’s important too. Claire Danes was a fabulous Beth (though she looks older than 14; I always thought she was 16 or 17...), while Kirsten did a fun, spoiled Amy...but she did ham it up a bit too much at times. Samantha...I did not like one bit as older Amy. Laurie was great in the first 2/3 of the movie but once he hit Europe I didn’t like how they [tried] to develop his character. His romance with Amy fell flat, which I was sad to see. Gabriel was a really good Fritz...I just didn’t like how they made them date while Jo was in New York. I understand it because the proposal at the end of the movie makes it really romantic, but the whole purpose of Jo/Fritz and Jo falling in love was that she was blind to it: she falling in love with a man. They start off as boarding house neighbors, then student/teacher, which quickly turns into friendship of equals, and it’s not until Jo is at home missing Fritz that she begins to realize her feelings. And when Fritz comes to court Jo she blushes! Despite this I’m a sucker for romance and still love Jo/Fritz despite my feelings on the adaptation choices. Marmee and Aunt March were on point and I loved how the actresses were their characters. 

Now moving onto the 2017 mini series. I like this adaptation, and have watched it a few times, but there are things that just bug me and drive me crazy, and moments that I love. This is the only adaptation that does not have have Jo’s plays or the Pickwick society. I hate this and it was a poor adaptation choice in my opinion. This series really should have been at least 6 episodes and not the measly 3 that it was. Despite this the series did include moments from the book that either haven’t been adapted before, or it was just mentioned. I love how we see Beth get the courage to go to Mr. Lawerence to play the piano and their relationship. They really should have gotten a young Amy and an older looking Beth: the girls look the same age from episode 1 to 3, which especially doesn’t work for Amy. Maya did a good Jo and it’s actually impressive for her first screen role, but she did lack some of Jo’s qualities (she is way better as Robin in Stranger Things). Emily did a good job as Marmee. Anne was another really great Beth, and I have to say her freckles seem to give the character substance. Kate’s Amy was good but like Elizabeth Taylor in the 1949 version, she was not believable as young Amy. (I’ve heard Florence Pugh is amazing and a scene stealer but even if she can act like young Amy (and based on the clips she can), her womanly body will not let her be believable).

I like how Beth’s kittens made a lot of screen time (I love kittens!) and how they did the Hummel’s house: it was just like how the book described it. All of those little children did a great job at looking hungry, cold, and scared. Makes me wonder about Mrs. Hummel’s husband (I need to find that part and re-read it). I loved how the included Camp Laurie, Cousin Flo, and Laurie trying to kiss Jo. The wedding between Meg and John Brooke was sweet, esp Aunt March giving her the pearls. I crack each time I see Aunt March’s parrot (was that in the book? Man I haven’t gotten far into my re-reading of the whole book; it’s been awhile), and how we got to see how close Jo and Beth are. They tried their best in portraying Amy/Laurie, and Mark Stanley as Fritz: he was Fritz from the book! (He looks a lot younger without that bushy beard though; that’s the one thing about Fritz I can’t stand haha). It’s too bad that Jo/Fritz was so rushed in episode 3: their relationship and Fritz was barely developed. (Though they did include a lot from the book like the Weekly Volcano and Jo’s poem that brought Fritz to her). Laurie in general was not Laurie; maybe in the Laurie who wants to play all the time but that’s it. Not Laurie. 

Now onto the 1949 version. I fell in love with this adaptation, flaws and all. It was very charming, had some great acting, however a lot happened off screen, some characters/moments were rushed, and I can’t believe June was 31 years old! And that Elizabeth Taylor was pregnant. It doesn’t bother me that they made Beth the youngest because Margaret did such a fabulous job as Beth. I loved all other scenes, her relationship with Jo and Mr. Lawerence in particular. This is the only version I’ve seen where the sisters buy Marmee gifts with their 1 dollar bill, and I liked how it was  a surprise and quite moment. The actress who played Marmee was amazing and Aunt March cracked me up. I didn’t care for Laurie in this version either. And like I said with the 2017 mini series: they really needed to have an actress play young Amy. Elizabeth did a really good job, don’t get me wrong, but she definitely seemed way older. The hot Italian actor as Fritz was sure an interesting choice. I wish they would’ve just made Fritz Italian and just changed his name slightly (I believe Greta made Fritz French in her version since Louis Garrel is French), and I also wish he could’ve been in the movie more! Since he was close in age to June I just wanted to see them on screen more. Yes he doesn’t look one bit like Fritz in the book, and call me shallow, but I honestly don’t care in this version. Back then - and sadly to this day - Hollywood cares about looks. That’s why I love Mark Stanly as Fritz in the 2017 because he physically is Fritz. But still...anyways I am going slightly off topic. 

So. The 2018 modern adaptation. This should have either been a Hallmark movie or a Netflix movie. This movie should have never been released theatrically and that’s why it bombed horrible. I mean it bombed horribly in a lot of aspects and areas, but it does have some great scenes! It’s all in the detail. They have their castle’s in the sky for one. All of Jo’s plays and the Pickwick society and how it changed to be of a platoon. I just love the attic scenes in this movie. I also love how Jo is writing fantasy stories and a fantasy novel and it’s sad that she can’t be taken seriously because there are great fantasy novelists! Tolkien, JK Rowling, G RR Martin for example. That really bothered me. I do like how Fritz is an actual professor at a university and becomes Jo’s editor and mentor, how that develops into friendship, but to me the romance aspect of their relationship falls flat somewhat. I like how they had a younger Amy and an older Amy, but I honestly got confused at first because there were younger versions of all the sisters (and it’s unbelievable that three of them would look the same with the 13 year gap). This version did a flashback style so it will be interesting to see how Greta did hers. The editing for this movie was all over the place and chaotic. I didn’t like Lucas as Laurie one bit, I get how they would go to parties but I hated those scenes (it was a good wake up call for Meg though). Beth fell short in this movie and so did Amy to an extent. You don’t really get to know John Brooke, or even their Marmee all that much. And really, Marmee? In a modern adaptation they should’ve just stuck with Mom. I did like how Jo buzzed her hair off in support of Beth (there is a good graphic novel that came out recently that’s set in the modern world and there are few similar choices. There’s also a book called Meg and Jo - Amy and Beth will come out later next year - that makes some interesting choices to say the least when adapting the novel into modern times. Anyways...), and how they had their father over seas in the army. I honestly need to watch this movie again to really critique it, but I honestly think it could’ve been a great movie...the script needed more rewrites, it needed a director who knew what they were doing, a better editor, and honestly some better actors. The potential was there, it has it moments, but it fell. 

To conclude this rather blog like post (and kudos to all who have read the whole thing) I will take just a little bit on my views on Louisa herself and Greta’s version. Louisa didn’t want to write a book for children, and when she did she wrote a semi-autobiographical novel that she leaves on a cliff hanger. In my mind she meant to continue the story, but she wanted to see what the reader’s thought. She did put the story out of her mind for awhile, until the book had to go into reprints and she got hounded with fan mail and fans in general. Yes she didn’t want Jo to marry because she herself never did (from what I’ve read she did have one sided crushes and probably a few second romances that didn’t last long, but she also never saw herself as desirable; she comes across to be as maybe being aromatic asexual, demisexual, or bi). She was a bit of Germanophile, along with Europe in general, and that’s why from the first few pages of LW there’s German everywhere. Which this means that Friedrich Bhaer was probably planned in one way or another. Louisa never wanted Jo to be with Laurie because they were close like siblings and loved each other that way. Laurie thought himself in love with Jo, but Jo does bring up good points: they would quarrel and end up being unhappy because he honestly didn’t like her scribbling. Amy makes Laurie grow up and those two match each other perfectly. Fritz is a perfect match for Jo because he treats her like an equal, he helps with her writing, and she gets to be apart of a society she loves. 

I have been relieved from my fears (for the most part) about how Fritz will be portrayed and the Jo/Fritz romance. We do meet him right away since we start in the present before going back and forth between past and present until the timelines match up. Greta is the only person to adapt the New Year’s Dance, which I am really excited to see. I haven’t been told if Fritz’s nephews are mentioned or seen. I know he gives her advice, but not if he teaches her his language (which I assume to be French in this version), that they do get into a fight, and that he comes to court her at her house. I was worried the umbrella proposal scene was going to be changed, but I’ve been told it’s in and it’s romantic. And then there’s Amy/Laurie! I am so glad that this relationship seems to be fully developed. I can’t wait to see everyone as their character and how Greta did the back and forth. 

I am worried though about a few things: how if one isn’t familiar with the story they get confused at first with the back and forth, some of the costume choices, the acting in certain scenes, some scenes or moment being cut or condensed for time because this is a movie not a mini series, and I just wish that Fritz - Louis - could’ve been in the trailers more with more promotion. I understand why...at least Louis understands his character. Greta mentioned something that Fritz basically had to be a prize to be won and oh boy: no one is a prize to be won. And putting a lot of Louisa into Jo...I’m worried about that. Sure the 1994 version had  a Louisa quote that Jo’s says about voting, but this seems like it might be too hammered in. I guess once I see the film I will finally know (and write my review and thoughts), because I can read all the critic reviews, interviews, Q and A’s I want but it’s up to me on whether or not I’ll like it or love, and I sure hope I’ll love it. 

The is the end. Thanks for reading. Let me know your thoughts. 

[kristasclassicfilmereview]

What to Watch this Holiday Season!

Life can get a little busy for all of us this time of year. Some of us may find it a little difficult to get into the holiday spirit. Most of the time I find watching a Christmas film or show helps to boost the spirits. So I have compiled a list of film suggestions that I have compiled and continued to watch every year.  For me, I watch a lot of these films when I making my dozens upon dozens of Pizzelles during the Christmas season. 

Please keep in mind there is no ranking system to this list, it is just a list. Some films I have already written about previously. Others I have watched but not have written. Also, like my thanksgiving list, I do have an honorable mention section as well. So here is my list. 

1. White Christmas- 1954: For me, this film has been one of the first films I watch right after Thanksgiving, normally Black Friday or during the weekend. To be honest I think it is mainly because of the music.  Most have heard of this musical, and even listen to songs during the holiday season but if you have yet to watch it, the story is a song and dance team become involved with a sister act who help out an owner of a failing Vermont Inn Owner who was their commanding officer. This film has an all-star cast; Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, & Vera-Ellen.  A fun fact about this film this is not the first time the song White Christmas has appeared on film and sung by Bing Crosby. The first time Bing Crosby sang White Christmas was during the film Holiday Inn in 1942.

2. Miracle on 34th Street-1947: The first time I watched this film was probably when I was 10 or 11. Yes, I was 10 or 11 watching a black and white film! It always came on right after the parade. When a nice old man who claims to be Santa Claus is institutionalized as insane, a young lawyer decides to defend him by arguing in court that he is the real thing. I don’t know if it was Natalie Wood, Maureen O’Hara, or Edmund Gwen who made me a believer in Santa when I was young, but this film has the potential to make even the Grinch a believer.

3. It’s a Wonderful Life-1946: Growing up this film has always been a Christmas Eve Tradition in my family. This the one film I never watch before Christmas Eve. I am happy to say this tradition continues to live on even as we have gotten older. Some may say this is the number one Christmas movie of all time, which they are probably right. It is just a wonderful film. For those who have not seen this film, the synopsis is an angel is sent from heaven to help a desperately frustrated businessman by showing him what life would be like if he never existed. This film was directed by Frank Capra and stars Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed, and Henry Travers. 

4. The Shop Around The Corner-1940: If you search through my blog you will find this is one of my favorite films. Also, some may realize this film has since been remade with You’ve Got Mail. This is a fun romantic comedy starring Jimmy Stewart and Margaret Sullavan. The story goes two employees at a gift shop can barely stand each other, without realizing they are falling in love through the post as each other’s anonymous pen pals. You may wonder why a film such as this has made my list, well the gift shop is gearing up for the Christmas rush and the film concludes wonderfully at the end with sweet Christmas present. 

5. Christmas in Connecticut-1945: Again if you search through my blog you will find a more detailed write-up. But this film is great on so many levels. This film gives us a look into what Christmas was like in the mid-’40s. Somethings may have changed, but some things have stayed the same. The synopsis is A food writer Elizabeth Lane (Barbara Stanwyck) who has lied about being the perfect housewife must try to cover her deception when her boss (Sydney Greenstreet) and a returning war hero (Dennis Morgan) invite themselves to her home for a traditional family Christmas.  

6. The Man Who Came to Dinner-1942: imagine its weeks before Christmas and you have your favorite radio personality coming to dinner at your house. He slips and hurts his hip, and cannot travel until after Christmas. Well, this is what happens in this film. Sheridan Whiteside takes up house and runs the show for the duration of the film until his personal secretary gives him a run for his money. 

*Fun Facts about films 5 & 6 cast Fun facts about the cast, most of the actors have all acted previously together in other films. Sydney Greenstreet and S.Z. Sakall was in Casablanca in 1942 with Claude Raines and Paul Henreid who both were in Now Voyager 1942 with Bette Davis who was in The Man Who Came to Dinner 1942 with Reginald Gardiner who played John Sloan who is Elizabeth’s love interest in Christmas in Connecticut.*

7. Love Actually-2003: a great British comedy. This film follows the lives of eight very different couples in dealing with their love lives in various loosely interrelated tales all set during the month before Christmas in London. The 

8.Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer-1964: this is a Christmas classic for young and old. We all know the songs and who Burl Ives is. 

9. Charlie Brown Christmas-1965: Another classic for those young and old. At times we all feel lost and we all want to find the true meaning of Christmas. I am sure most of us continue to watch this multiple times through the Christmas season as I do. 

10. Polar Express-2004: It happens, heck to some of us it happened way too early. We stopped believing in Christmas.

11. The Bishop’s Wife-1947: Again if you search through my blog you will find a more detailed write-up. This film stars Loretta Young, Cary Grant, and David Niven. Julia Brougham (Young) is a woman of great strength, who longs for the days she can spend with her husband Bishop Henry Brougham (Niven). The Bishop is so bogged down with financial woes because of building a new Cathedral, in the beginning, he feels his wife doesn’t support him and that causes a strain on their relationship. Dudley (Grant) is an angel who is sent in human form to help both Julia and the Bishop. Without giving too much away, Dudley doesn’t cause trouble, but the Bishop doesn’t quite understand what Dudley is doing and what caused him to show up. This film definitely gives me the heartwarming feeling of the holidays. It’s a film that you can curl up on the couch with a cup of cocoa, and blanket while watching or curl up on the couch with a glass of red wine and blanket like me.

12. A Christmas Story- 1983: let’s face it we all wanted that one thing that is equivalent to the Red Rider BB Gun. It’s just a fun movie. 

13. National Lampoons Christmas Vacation-1989: This is another film that comes with a little tradition as well. My father had me watch this film for the first time when I was like 12. This film takes the idea of family coming in for Christmas and puts a complete 360-degree spin on it. Everything that could go wrong does.

14. Elf-2003: Whimsical films are always welcome. Deep down we are all a little kid on the inside

15. Scrooged-1988: there are a lot of adaptations and remakes of a Christmas Carol out there. Scrooged is the most comical version I have seen. A selfish, cynical television executive is haunted by three spirits bearing lessons on Christmas Eve.

16. Meet Me in St.Louis-1944: Again if you search through my blog you will find a more detailed write-up. Some people consider this a Christmas movie because of Judy Garland’s rendition of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” She sings to Margaret O’Brien at night time on Christmas Eve and it makes Margaret and the rest of us think of better days ahead.

17. Holiday Inn-1942: A great musical starring Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire. At an inn which is only open on holidays, a singer and a dance vie for the affections of a beautiful new performer. This film also marks the first appearance of the song White Christmas sung by Bing Crosby. 

18.Home Alone-1990: This film has always been a childhood favorite of mine. I remember when my brother and I got it on VHS and we immediately watched it. An 8-year-old boy must protect his house from a pair of burglars when he is accidentally left home alone by family during Christmas Vacation. This film has always been a favorite of mine and I am sure it will be in film rotation soon. 

19. It Happened on Fifth Avenue-1947: this is a heartwarming film that still holds up today. It provides a look at the class systems in the ’40s through the eyes of the rich and the poor. A homeless New Yorker moves into a mansion and along the way, he gathers friends to live in the house with him. Before he knows it, he is living with the actual homeowners. 

20. Jingle All The Way-1996: Like Home Alone, this is another childhood classic. I first watched this film when I was younger at my babysitter's house. A father vows to get his son a Turbo Man action figure for Christmas. However, every store is sold out of them. He must travel all over town and compete with everybody else in order to find one.

Honorable Mention: 

As you have already read this list is quite extensive I couldn’t list all the films. However, here is a couple for those in-between times where the film may not be on tv or you may have gotten overruled when using the main tv. So here they are.

1. The Santa Claus Movies (1,2,3) 1994, 2002, 2006: I think a lot of people underestimate these films or forget these films do fill the holiday spirit. 

2. Santa Claus is Coming to Town-1970: We all need to reminded of the story of Santa Claus as told by Fred Astaire. 

3. Holiday Affair-1949: We all need a little Christmas romance starring Janet Leigh and Robert Mitchum. A young widow is romanced by a sales clerk who she inadvertently got fired. 

[pabloimagines]

Title: PYT Pairing: Pablo x Reader Rating: PG-13, for language.  A/N: This is gonna be a 2-part fic, but I wanted to get at least a LITTLE something out there for you, nonny, so you didn’t think I’d ignored your request! Also, apparently short fics aren’t a reality where I write from. Also to anyone from West Bend, no disparagement of your town was meant in the production of this fic. Word Count: 2,114

Rural Iowa was about as far from Hollywood glamor as one could get, and West Bend made the distance all the more noticeable. Surrounded by farmland as far as the eye could see, it was a drive-thru town with one main road, bifurcated by the train tracks that cut diagonally across town. West Bend had four restaurants, and one barely counted as it pulled double duty as a general store. Not a McDonald’s for miles or any semblance of the green mermaid beloved by everyone and their mother in Los Angeles. It was, in many ways, a town stuck in simpler times, something which you had never enjoyed. It was the entire impetus for why, at 18, you’d moved first to New York, then Los Angeles in the pursuit of your dreams.

Fast forward, and now, after years of staying out of town and either skipping family holidays on account of work, or flying your immediate family out to LA’s sunny coasts, you had been backed into a corner based on one stupid family tradition. No matter who they were, or where they came from, any and all first serious significant others had to meet the family on home turf and the home of the person dating said significant other didn’t count. Only the old two-story farmhouse that had raised no less than four generations of farmers, truck drivers, and one accountant would do. You’d tried to argue your way out of it, citing the need to be in the city in case you needed to take a meeting about the new show you’d just been cast in, but your mother wasn’t having it. Either you came through with your man in tow for Christmas, or neither your mother or father would ever approve of the match, should your dating lead, as it tended to, to marriage.

While you loved your family, there were certain things you kept from them; Hollywood’s seedy underbelly and your many brushes with it, your instagram account, and, as of the last three years, your boyfriend. It wasn’t from shame, but rather the fear of your parents’ disapproval that kept you from sharing pictures, vacation photos, or even any identifying information. The one time he’d come up in conversation had been your mother mentioning how much she disliked a certain character he’d played in her favorite TV procedural.

“Boys like that aren’t right in the head, y/n. I can’t even begin to imagine what it must have taken for that man to become that...that monster!”

It was a gripe your mother shared with many of his fans, one that you saw nearly every time he put up a new picture on Instagram. I don’t know if I can like you, because of what you did on ___, but you’re hot in this! You’d seen it so often, you could honestly write an essay on the subject. But, you did your best to stay out of the comments, knowing reading them at best killed brain cells and at worst turned you into the next UFC fighter, ready to take on anyone who badmouthed him even the slightest bit.

While you’d originally planned to fly in together and rent a car to make the three hour drive from Minneapolis-Saint Paul International into West Bend, he’d been held up because of reshoots, leaving you to not only have to deal with your two  brothers in your dad’s cramped F-150 for three hours, but to now--two days later--have to sit and listen to your entire family gossip about the man who was due through the front door any minute.

“10 bucks says he has that really annoying California surfer accent.”

“$20 says he’s blonde. And probably shorter than you, Jacob.”

“$30 says he’s got a bunch of tattoos to freak out mom.”

“$40 says he’s shorter than, y/n. Most actors in Hollywood aren’t even average height! They just make them look taller in movies with camera angles and stuff.”

“100 bucks to shut you both up! Jeeze.” You huff, pulling out your wallet and snatching out the bill you’d meant to break at the airport but had forgotten to in your rush to catch your brothers before they hijacked your luggage.

Your older brother, Matt, snatches the bill out of your hands, folding it crisply before putting it in his pocket, one eyebrow raised. Though he’d officially turned 30 a month ago, he still acts 12, and there are days when you can’t decide who’s more childish; him or Jake.

“I should get a bigger cut, seeing as how you get paid above SAG rates now, sis,” he jokes, and you punch his arm before you can stop yourself, only setting off a peel of laughter from both him and your little brother, the two having far too much fun with the notion of you finally bringing someone home.

“Boys, leave your sister alone and go set the table. Y/n, I’m sure he’ll be perfectly lovely, no matter how many tattoos he has. Just so long as you don’t mar your pretty skin, then he can have all the tattoos in the world.” You close your eyes to keep from rolling them all the way back into your skull. Your mother means well, but she’s about as out of touch with the rest of the world as a person can be and her words backfire as they send your brothers into a barrage of silent mimicry, your frustration with them growing by the second.

“You boys listen to your mother, and make sure you wash your hands before you touch the plates. Save your energy in case we have to kick his ass to the curb for your sister.” Your father’s voice comes through the back door, and you relinquish all hope, letting your head fall into your hands even as he passes you, still smelling faintly of corn despite having showered, changed, and switched from his work boots to his house shoes.

“Dad, no one’s getting their asses kicked. Please be nice to him. He’s a good guy, I promise.” You mutter into your folded arms, refusing to lift your head from the nest you’d made between the kitchen counter and your forearms.

“I’ll be the judge of that, thank you v--” Your father’s interrupted by the doorbell ringing, and almost immediately, your mother turns down the volume on the Michael Jackson record she’d been playing non-stop since she started preparations on Christmas dinner. He’s her favorite artist to listen to, mainly because she can dance around between the stove, the counters, and the fridge as she cooks and on top of everything she knows all the lyrics from when she was younger.

Steeling yourself for your family’s reaction, you swivel on your stool and watch as your father squares up his shoulders and puffs out his chest, ready to intimidate the only man you know he doesn’t stand a chance of intimidating in the slightest. Your dad swings open the door like he’s Saint Peter and Heaven is full and you have to press your lips together to keep from outright laughing. Even from your vantage point, you can tell Pablo’s going to have to duck through the door to get in. You trap your bottom lip between your teeth as you watch your father’s eyes widen as he shuffles aside to let Pablo in.

“Dad, this is my boyfriend, Pablo. Pablo, this is my dad, Travis,” you speak up, a smile that’s all fondness and pride crossing your lips as you watch Pablo effortlessly shift a bouquet of flowers and his carry-on from one hand to the other in order to properly shake your father’s hand. There’s snow on his coat and in his hair, and you can’t help but feel that same little flit in your stomach when you realize he looks like every Hallmark Movie boyfriend ever. It’s a good look, one you know he chose with care, but it doesn’t even come close to showing the type of man he truly is. It’s just a polished exterior to make meeting your family a little easier after all the stories you’ve told. If you had your way, you would’ve had him show up in his old motorcycle jacket and boots, but you knew it would scandalize your parents beyond the point of understanding. Both of you had to take baby steps.

“Pleasure to finally meet you, sir.” You’re almost mouthing the words right along with him, and though you hadn’t exactly rehearsed what he was going to say upon first meeting your dad, you did warn him to keep it short and to the point and not try to compliment him too early on, as it would bristle his mustache.

When your father nods in his usual gruff manner, you let out a breath you didn’t know you’d been holding, finally letting yourself take a peek at the rest of your family. Your brothers had stopped dead in their tracks, and you’re amazed Jacob hasn’t dropped the plate he’s holding. Both he and Matt have eyes wider than your father, and it’s only when Pablo approaches that Matt snaps out of it and kicks Jake’s knee, pulling his brother back to the present, even though neither of them can really close their mouths.

“Tanto?” Jake stammers out before you can even introduce them and you mentally let out a long string of cuss words, knowing any chance at normal conversation is over because of course your little brother recognizes him.

“Tanto’s Native American, sweetheart!” Your mother calls and you look for the nearest hole to crawl into, eyes closing in misery.

“No, Ma--Not that Tanto!” Jake says in annoyance before all but grabbing for Pablo’s hand, shaking it vigorously. You’re beyond grateful that Pablo is one of the chillest humans you’ve ever met, otherwise, you aren’t sure your brother’s fanboying would be nearly as well tolerated. All he gets is a smile and chuckle for his exuberance, Pablo seamlessly moving on to shaking Matt’s hand as you remember to make introductions.

“The fanboy is Jake, the old one is Matt. Boys, Pablo.” You say, your voice purposely flat when introducing your brothers, making them both turn and give you narrow-eyed glares. You only make a face back, your eyes moving back over to Pablo, the two of you sharing a secret smile. He knows all about your brothers’ antics and while you weren’t aware any of the men in your family had watched anything with him in it, you know the biggest hurdle is yet to come. Your mother has watched him, judging by how shocked she looks,  and you know full well she recognizes him from a very different role.

“You’re...You...Oh my,” she sounds as flustered as she looks, and for a moment, even Pablo’s face mirrors the worry you’re feeling, a quick glance back at you a silent request for help.

“Mom, he’s not that guy,” you warn her softly, and with quick shake of her head and a smoothing of her apron, your mother switches into ‘mom mode’ and plasters a bright smile to her face, accepting Pablo’s bouquet with the appropriate amount of pleasant surprise.

“These are lovely, thank you so much,” she says, carefully setting them on the counter before she finds her hand wrapped up in one of Pablo’s big mitts. “Mom, this is Pablo, Pablo, this is my mom, Kate.” You smile, watching your boyfriend butter up your mom with a kiss to the back of her hand, Pablo having quickly figured out why she looked like she’d seen a ghost.

“Is there anything I can help you with, ma’am?” he asks, even as he moves over to where you sit, his smile growing just as fond as the one you’re wearing, a reminder that no matter how crazy dinner gets, things will be alright, because he’s here with you. Tipping your head up, you can’t help but scrunch your nose as he cups your face in both hands and kisses you tenderly.

“Missed you,” he breathes as he pulls away, and in that moment, the farmhouse disappears, leaving the two of you to speak volumes with only a look at one another. Reaching up, you stroke your hand over his cheek, tugging gently at his beard, not missing the fact that he’s gotten a trim since the last time you saw him. “Missed you too,” you whisper, any romance interrupted by the sound of Jake pretending to throw up by the dinner table.

“Welcome to West Bend Farm,” you say, plastering on your own sickly-sweet, slightly murderous smile. It’s going to be a long Christmas.

[brod-anthropology]

This weeks watch

-Twilight

banging, absolute masterpiece, the best one in the franchise.

-Rebecca

Incredibly good! It’s a classic story and they really stuck to it, they didn’t deviate too much and it was well acted. It was just really well done! The costumes were great and unexpected, like they were period accurate (as far as I can tell) but they weren’t the normal drab and dreary that they could’ve easily gone for. And honeslty OOF!! I could go on about how beautiful it was, the cinematography was *chefs kiss*. It helps that they had a great set but even so, the angles, the way they used colour and lighting, so good!!! Would defintily recommend.

-Megaconda

It was uhhh, interesting. Enjoyable. A classic in its own right, but maybe not the highest quality one. But no in all seriousness it’s not a serious film, it’s not even a B movie it’s like a C movie- but it’s fun! And that’s what counts, it was enjoyable and even if the camera work was terrible and the graphics, editing, acting, writing and story all left much to be desired you can’t really blame the film itself, it’s not serious and I enjoyed watching it!

-Sharknado

Now if we’re talking about masterpieces, you’ve found the right film. Alright camera quality, terrible continuity and downright awful but incredible acting, it’s the film of a generation. It’s fun and stupid and silly and it doesn’t really make sense, the plot is one entire plot hole but it’s enjoyable! The ridiculousness makes it worthwhile, if not for the terrible CGI and A+ plus action scenes. Really not a serious film but defintily a classic to watch, it really speaks for itself- it’s literally a film about a tornado full of sharks, what do you expect from a film with such a banging plot.

-Sharknado 2: the second one

It’s just Sharknado 2. That’s it. This time he’s in New York not LA and they try and give some backstory, but it’s just Sharknado 2. Actually I lied, Billy Ray Cyrus plays a surgeon for all of 4 minutes, and it’s the performance of his lifetime, and it’s not so painfully dominated by Cis White men (though they still have a govern, VERY heavy presence).

-Bearcano VS Nazi Sharks

Really, you don’t want to know. Not the best thing to ever be made.

-Black books

Classic! Favourite series! It’s about an Irish alcoholic who owns a bookshop and his best friend who runs a shop next door and the guy that he hired to help around, it’s a lot funnier than it sounds I promise, there’s nothing spectacular about the editing or the shots but it’s hilarious and it’s my favourite comedy series and defintily a comfort- the writing and visual gags are banging. it’s not particularly serious but has a certain early 2000s charm that I don’t think would be allowed to be written into a show nowadays. But yes! Bill bailey and Dylan Moran!

-Treasure Planet

Classic childhood film! Watched it with Ellie, she’d never seen it!! Honeslty I remember it being great as a kid and if anything it’s only better now I’m older and I get more of the references, I think it’s one of those hidden gems from that experimental period dreamworld and Disney had (you know like the prince of Egypt, Atlantis, ferngully, etc...). It’s just crazy cool! The attention to detail is amazing and so is the worldbuilding, the animation and cinematography is crazy and honeslty it deserves a live action remake so much more than the Lion King or the Jungle Book and you can’t convince me otherwise.

-the grinch

This is actually one of the few Christmas films I’ve seen and I watched it with Ellie whilst having our little farewell Christmas decoration meal thing together. It’s just a classic really, there’s not much to say- the costumes are amazing, I feel sorry for Jim Carrey for the hell he went through for that look, and the whole design of it is phenomenal.

-home alone

Never seen it before Ellie showed me and it’s surprisingly good! For some reason I’ve never seen it and my family avoided showing it to me but?? It’s not bad!! I see why people like it so much, I can imagine if you watched it when you were younger it would’ve had a real big nostalgia feel to it and it does stand the test of time fairly well. The writing is decent and the gags are funny, and it’s a bit of a feel good so it ticks all the boxes for an alright Christmas film.

-Staged

Very good! Another favourite! David tenant and Michael Sheen try and rehearse a play over zoom in lockdown, it’s very witty and well written and it’s very very cool to see how well they managed to work with the limited filming options and adapt it to actual zoom calls and such, like there’s very little in person bits and even then its clear that it was done on like a phone (or at least not a professional camera) and I just think it’s cool how well they managed to adapt a narrative to not only fit around how awkward working over video calls is but make the entire plot essentially be that. Plus I think its kind of a testament to how good the acting and writing/plot is, like the fact that it’s so good and about 85% of it happens via video calls just kind of shows that you don’t need flashy cameras and sets and costumes, they made it good just by focusing on the narrative and acting out what they could in character (I know they don’t play characters in the show but they’re like caricatures or characterised versions of themselves you know)

-the Christmas chronicles

Surprisingly! Another good Christmas film. Santa’s a bit if badass won’t lie, and it has very thing you need: Santa in a leather coat, an annoying brother sister duo, a car chase scene involving the police, a dead dad, and elves that look like if rats developed into humans and not primates. It’s really a festive classic. (I know this sounds scathing but this was actually quite an enjoyable watch it was just a very weird plot,internally the brother and sisters dad is dead and that’s killed the brothers Christmas spirit and then the sister decides to video record Santa on VHS even though it’s set in 2017 and then they accidentally stow away in his sled and cause him to crash, jeopardising Christmas- that’s the exact plot). It was actually well done, the kid actors weren’t the best but again they’re child actors but overall the plot was interesting and it was well choreographed and shot, it’s a Christmas film it’s not a masterpiece but it was enjoyable!

-Disenchantment

A rewatch but still good, thought the 3D perspective in 2D animation does make me queasy soemtimes but we’ll ignore that. It’s very funny and quite tongue in cheek but what do you expect from the dude who made the Simpson’s and futurama, it’s quite a smart play on merging modern culture and references into a fantasy medieval setting though sometimes it does come across like they’re trying too hard, but don’t we all try too hard sometimes. It’s well made, not incredible but it’s well thought out, well written and well planned and it’s a real fun and easy watch and Im rewatching it so clearly it’s at least alright

-Hilda

Incredibly good!!! So so good!!! Like I literally can’t sing the praise of this show enough! I ya on Netflix it’s like a kids animated show it’s about a girl and her pet deer fox and they move to the city, and it’s like her with her friends going on little adventures and being a scout and whatever except it’s set in a world where like folklore and stuff is real- it’s more Scandinavian folklore so it’s like giants and vittra and trolls and druegens but it’s so cool!! The writings kind of simple because it’s aimed for kids but it’s still solid and the plots are crazy cool, the characters are very loveable and oddly well-rounded and they develop as the show goes on, the storylines are also super cool and interesting and they have really good continuity. And I really can’t tell you how cute the animation is, it’s really simple and Patel but it works so well for the theme of the show and the actual sequences are so fluid and dynamic it’s so cool! Cannot even describe how much I love this show and how happy I am season 2 just came out!

[bringbackmaes14]

I found this “About Me” template here on Tumblr. I’ve reblogged it on my account if you wanna see the blank one.

1: Name - Gracie

2: Age - 19

3: 3 fears - The dark, heights, and spiders

4: 3 things I love - Ducks, math, and singing

5: 4 turn-ons - Being dependable, a good listener, funny, and artistic

6: 4 turn-offs - People who are messy, narcissistic, only care about looks/like me for my looks, and ignorant

7: My best friend - My sister, Caroline

8: Sexual Orientation - Panromantic Demisexual

9: My best first date - I saw Black Panther and got ice cream with my boyfriend

10: How tall I am - 5’8”

11: What do I miss? - South Carolina

12: What time was I born? - 7:57 a.m.

13: Favorite color? - Purple

14: Do I have a crush? - Do crushes on fictional characters count? If so, my current crush is Fatgum from My Hero Academia

15: Favorite quote? - “Surround yourself with people who are smarter than you, and don’t be afraid to be the dumbest one in the room because that gives you the most potential to learn.” - Markiplier

16: Favorite place? - Lexington High School

17: Favorite food? - Ambrosia

18: Do I use sarcasm? - Frequently

19: What am I listening to right now? - My cat purring

20: First thing I notice in a new person - Probably their hairstyle

21: Shoe size? - Women’s 13

22: Eye color? - Hazel

23: Hair color?  Dark Brown

24: Favorite style of clothing? - Graphic Tees or Dresses; there is almost no in-between

25: Ever done a prank call? - Nope.

26: Meaning of my url - My URL (BringBackMaes14) is based on one of my favorite animes, Fullmetal Alchemist (Brotherhood is better you can fight me) and one of its characters, Maes Hughes. His death was the first anime character death I experienced, and he died in 1914 which is where the 14 comes from.

27: Favorite movie? - Robots (2005)

28: Favorite song? - There’s a Platypus Controlling Me from Phineas and Ferb

29: Favorite band? Panic! At the Disco

30: How I feel right now - A little bit tired, and my back hurts, but my mood is good

31: Someone I love - My sister, Caroline

32: My current relationship status - Single

33: My relationship with my parents - My relationship with my dad has always been bad. He was pretty abusive. My relationship with him is okay right now, now that I don’t see him but once a year. I’ve always been really close with my mom, and a big part of that is I’ve been disabled my whole life and so I’ve always needed her by my side, so we’re just together all the time. Things are a little rough right now though.

34: Favorite holiday? - Thanksgiving. It has all the same big meals and family gatherings as Christmas, but I don’t have seasonal depression then or gifts staring at me from under a tree for three weeks, driving me mad with anticipation.

35: Tattoos and piercings I have - My ears are pierced

36: Tattoos and piercings I want - I want a rubber duck tattoo, probably just a small one on my shoulder

37: The reason I joined Tumblr - To look at anime memes

38: Do my last ex and I hate each other? - No, things ended on good terms. We’re still friends and we talk occasionally

39: Do I ever get “good morning” or “good night” texts? - No

40: Have I ever kissed the last person I texted? - No

41: When did I last hold hands? - It’s been a few weeks

42: How long does it take me to get ready in the morning? - On a regular morning? Maybe 10 minutes. On mornings that I shower? About 45 minutes

43: Have you shaved your legs in the past three days? - I haven’t shaved my legs in 19 years

44: Where am I right now? - In my living room

45: If I were drunk and couldn’t stand, who would be taking care of me? - Probably one of my sisters

46: Do I like my music loud or at a reasonable level? - I only turn songs way up when they have great bass

47: Do I live with my mom and/or dad? - I live with my mom, my two sisters, and my brother-in-law. It’s my older sister and brother-in-law’s house. I have a brother who still lives back in South Carolina where I’m from

48: Am I excited for anything? - I’ve got a virtual Halloween party I’m going to this week

49: Do I have someone of the opposite sex that I can tell everything to? - No

50: How often do I wear a fake smile? - Not very often. I wear my emotions pretty openly

51: When was the last time I hugged someone? - Last night I hugged my younger sister

52: What if the last person I kissed was kissing someone right in front of me? That’s none of my business really. We never actually dated and I don’t talk to her a lot anymore.

53: Is there someone I trust even though I shouldn’t? - Not that I can think of

54: What is something I disliked about today? - It rained while I was in the middle of going on a walk.

55: If I could meet anyone on Earth, who would it be? I’d like to meet J. Michael Tatum. He’s a voice actor in a lot of animes that I’ve watched and I really like his voice.

56: What do I think about the most? - Probably myself

57: What’s my strangest talent? - I wouldn’t call it talent but I can make a really disturbing horse-like noise.

58: Do I have any strange phobias? - I’m afraid of swingsets and trampolines

59: Do I prefer to be behind the camera or in front of it? It doesn’t really matter to me. I don’t take a lot of pictures of myself, but it doesn’t have to do with not liking having my picture taken

60: What was the last lie I told? - “I’m not in a lot of pain.”

61: Do I prefer talking on the phone or video chatting online? - I actually prefer video chatting. It seems more personal.

62: Do I believe in ghosts? - Yes. I’ve seen my twin sister’s ghost several times in my life.

63: Do I believe in aliens? - Yes

64: Do I believe in magic? - No

65: Do I believe in luck? - Yes

66: What’s the weather like right now? It’s 60 degrees Fahrenheit and cloudy

67: What was the last book I read? Mother Knows Best: A Tale of the Old Witch Best by Serena Valentino

68: Do I like the smell of gasoline? - No

69: Do I have any nicknames? - Boo, Gracie Pie, Dot

70: What was the worst injury I ever had? - I broke my spine when I was 16

71: Do I spend money or save it? - I tend to spend it but I’m trying to save it right now

72: Can I touch my nose with my tongue? - Yes. I can also touch the bottom of my chin with my tongue

73: Is there anything pink within 10 feet of me? - Yes, there’s a pillowcase and a blanket

74: Favorite animal? - Panda Bear

75: What was I doing last night at 12 a.m.? - Sleeping

76: What do I think Satan’s last name is? - I don’t know, Smith? We’re probably all overthinking it and it’s something much more simple than Morningstar

77: What’s a song that always makes me happy when I hear it? - Flashy by GameBoyJones

78: How can you win my heart? - By not judging me based on my past and my disabilities

79: What would I want to be written on my tombstone? - Quacked to Death

80: What is my favorite word? - Feshnickit - the act of consuming alcohol until a point is reached where an individual is unable to function normally

81: My top 5 blogs on Tumblr - lady-raziel, just-shower-thoughts, plus-ultra-writings, drawing-prompt-s, and writing-prompt-s

82: If the whole world was listening right now, what would I say? - What that tongue do? (Idk I think it’d be really funny if the whole world just randomly heard that in their heads). If we’re talking like I’m on tv and broadcasting to the whole world and I’m not just telepathic/mind reading, then I’d probably say something about rights for women, colored people, and LGBTQ+ people

83: Do I have any relatives in jail? - Nope

84: Superpower of choice? - The power to affect probability. What’s the probability that I’ll ace this test? 100% What’s the probability that it will rain on my wedding day? 0% What’s the probability that my dad will shit his pants every time he hears the word “dragon”? 80%

85: What would be a question I’d be afraid to tell the truth on? - Have you been handcuffed before and if yes, then why?

86: What is my current desktop picture? -

87: Had sex? - No

88: Bought condoms? - No

89: Been pregnant? - No

90: Failed a class? - Yes. I failed IT twice and Java Programming once.

91: Kissed a boy? - No

92: Kissed a girl? - Yes

93: Have I ever kissed somebody in the rain? - No

94: Had a job? - It wasn’t an actual paid job, but I worked as a student aid in my school’s library in my senior year of high school.

95: Left the house without my wallet? - Yes

96: Bullied someone on the internet? - I’ve bullied people in real life, but not on the internet.

97: Had sex in public? - No

98: Played on a sports team? - I played basketball with a church league for 6 years

99: Smoked weed? - No

100: Done drugs? - I take prescription drugs for my disabilities, but I’ve never “done” drugs, no.

101: Smoked cigarettes? - No

102: Drank alcohol? - No

103: Am I a vegan/vegetarian? -  No

104: Been overweight? - I currently am

105: Been underweight? - No

106: Been to a wedding? - I’ve been to 4 weddings

107: Been on the computer for 5 hours straight? - Yes

108: Watched TV for 5 hours straight? - Yes

109: Been outside my home country? - No

110: Gotten my heart broken? - Yes, but not in a “I got dumped or turned down” kind of way. Someone close to me told me something really devastating.

111: Been to a professional sports game? - I once went to a Clemson Tigers vs University of South Carolina Gamecocks game, which was a pretty big game for South Carolina

112: Broken a bone? - I broke my L5 vertebrae

113: Cut myself? - Never on purpose, but yes. I sliced open my thumb knuckle once and had to get 3 stitches.

114: Been to prom? - I threw my own prom at home my junior year of high school because my school’s actual prom was 3 days after my spinal surgery so I wouldn’t have been able to go. I went to my school’s prom the year after and the theme was Emerald City from The Wizard of Oz

115: Been on an airplane? - No

116: Flown by helicopter? - No

117: What concerts have I been to? - I once went to a concert at my church for a Christian barbershop quartet called Soul’d Out

118: Had a crush on someone of the same sex? - Yes

119: Learned another language? - I took Spanish classes for 3 years and French for 6 years

120: Worn makeup? - I’ve worn makeup before for stage performances but I don’t like to wear it regularly. Every once in awhile I’ll wear some mascara.

121: Lost my virginity before I was 18? - No

122: Had oral sex? - No

123: Dyed my hair? - I’ve dyed my hair purple, and blue. I liked it better purple.

124: Voted in a presidential election? Voting day for the 2020 election is in 8 days, and it’s the 1st presidential election I’ll be old enough to vote in, but I don’t think I’m going to vote.

125: Rode in an ambulance? - Several times. I had a lot of seizures when I was a little kid. My longest one lasted at least 2 hours.

126: Had surgery? - I’ve had 2 major surgeries: I had my gallbladder removed and I had a spinal surgery to fix my broken vertebrae where they screwed 3 of my vertebrae together and used part of my hip to make a bone graft to cover it.

127: Met someone famous? - Unless the guys from Soul’d Out count, I don’t think so.

128: Stalked someone on a social network? - Definitely not (and if I had, I probably wouldn’t tell you guys)

129: Peed outside? - Do Porta Potties count?

130: Been fishing? - Yes. I went once when I was maybe 8 years old, and I was the only one of my siblings to catch a fish. I caught it by the eye socket though and its eye fell out. I’m still not sure exactly how that happened.

131: Helped with charity? - Yes. I don’t remember what the charity was called, but I worked in a warehouse once to collect shoes for homeless shelters

132: Been rejected by a crush? - Yes, but it was when I was 11 so I don’t know if that really counts

133: Broken a mirror? - No, but I’ve punched a hole in a wall before

134: What do I want for my birthday/Christmas? - The number one thing on my list is some Artemis Drawing Figurines. They have adjustable and interchangeable hands, and they come in both male and female shapes.

[blschaos3000-blog]

Its 3:52 pm

Welcome to “8 Questions with…..”

In doing this series and especially of late,I have been really blessed to be able to talk to a lot artists that I have on a “wish list”. These are people whom I really want to talk with but I don’t think I’ll get a chance to. Ashley Kate Adams was on the list. I first was introduced to Ashley Kate and her talent when the cheetah and I watched a excellent film called “1 Message“. Its a story about a young woman who gets breast cancer amd who is slowly falling into a deep depression. When the young woman meets a man online while tracking down her family tree,the connection changes her life on so many levels. This is a movie that I loved quite a bit and I thought Ashley Kate Adams did a great job in what I found later was her feature film debut and she was only 21 when she filmed it. Since then I have been following her career and chatting once in a while on Twitter. Last week I decided to take a chance and ask Ashley Kate for a interview and to my surprise answered “Yes,I do” within 5 minutes. While we were talking,I asked about her new big project,”Boy Hero” which is set during the 1954 Senate Comic Book Hearings and where publisher Williams Gaines and his legendary EC Comics were grilled because of the content.  It was also during the height of McCarthyism and the Hollywood blacklisting,a dark and despairing time (as well as a forgotten period). As soon as we as a society are allowed ,Ashley Kate is kicking “Boy Hero” into high gear and we’ll be posting updates on how the film is progressing. * As you can see,Ashley Kate is a woman on the go,go,go!!  I am so happy that we got a chance to catch her in mid-stride so she could slow down enough to answer her 8 Questions…….

Please introduce yourself and tell us about your latest project?

Hello! My name is Ashley Kate Adams & I am an actress, producer & writer living in NYC! Right now we are so excited to be introducing Frankie! The Musical Cast Concept Album to the world. It releases this Friday, May 29th, on Broadway Records and will be available everywhere music can be streamed. Frankie! The Musical (@frankiemusical) is written by 16-year old Composer and light, Elise Marra. The album is produced by AKA Studio Productions & Mitchell Walker!     Our other main project is “Boy Hero”, a feature film inspired by the Comic Book Trials of 1954. I wrote the 1950’s period film which was inspired by a panel I saw called “When the American Librarian Saved Comics” by Carol Tilley. The film is rounding out development and will be Produced by AKA Studio Productions, Pigasus Pictures & AR Productions and will film in Cincinnati! Please follow us (@boyheromovie) for more exciting updates on fundraising development and production of the film. 

(Michael Kushner Photography)

How have you been coping with Covid-19 pandemic? How are you staying creative and focused?

   I have been thinking a lot about this recently. I’ve been coping with Covid-19 productively. I think many things prepared me for this, the main being thing being the sudden loss of my father in 2016 to cancer. During that time I had to learn to balance many things in conjunction with being completely gutted out with grief. During that time I turned to creating to heal myself and process my emotions so during this pandemic I have followed suit. I’ve actually been working at home with my production company since 2011 so that routine feels like a continuation. We were very lucky, we had just gotten many incredible projects like Frankie! in the can before it felt as if the world froze. Now these projects are able to bring joy to others during this time. On Friday’s I’ve been going LIVE with #BYOP to lead conversations on Grief & Productivity for the Creative @ashleykateadams on Instagram. It’s been important for me to try to help folks navigate this time! 

 When did you first catch the acting bug and what was the reaction like with your family and friends?

I don’t know if I ever caught the acting bug I was kind of just born into the industry. It is what our family does as our family business. You know some families might have a restaurant or a heating & cooling company, we are performers. My parents, who also majored in musical theatre in college (that’s how they met) were VERY honest with me about how hard my future was going to be to move to NYC and pursue this full-time but they knew it was what I was called to do. And I got to make space here for my sister 10 years my junior, Audrey Belle Adams, who recently began her adult career also based out of New York City. 

 How did you land the lead role in your first feature film “1 Message”? What three things did you take with you from the experience? How important is faith to you?

I actually landed my role in “1 Message” thanks to my father. He pitched me at a dinner meeting where the director happened to be. I then auditioned and got the role. That film taught me a lot. The first was that leading a film and being on camera 14 hours a day, 6 days a week is an extremely challenging job. Which leads me to the second thing, I learned how to treat actors on set. The “1 Message” experience is one that seeded in me the need to become an independent film producer to make sure I was always taking care of my actors in an extremely supportive way. Environment, transparency & discernment are everything on a project. The third thing I learned was how strong and aware I was even at a younger age on set. Faith is important to me. It is important to me to believe in something much bigger than yourself. 

(Michael Kushner Photography)

   Which do you like more? Doing TV/film work or live theater and why?

I love both equally but for different reasons. Right now I am very much falling deeper in love with film. I love learning and because I was raised literally at a theatre, in film there is still so much to learn for me. I love each new project on any side. It’s a blast to me navigating each nuance! 

(Michael Kushner Photography)

 What  have been the three pieces of advice given to you in regards to being a performer?

Wow! Great question. “Your best secret weapon is yourself”. That was taught to me by the head of my musical theatre program at CCM, Aubrey Berg. He was correct. I would say the next is to “Be a kind person who people enjoy working with” from Sandra Rivera of Dancensation Studios and the most recent from this past winter break  to “Keep saying yes to the right things and keep expanding” from one of my high school mentors, the great Gail Benedict. 

(Michael Kushner Photography)

 What roles challenge you most as an actress and how do you adapt to make the role yours?

Wheeew. For me the biggest challenge of my actor life was doing “A Christmas Carol(e)”, a one- woman show, directed & written by Alex Freeman. It was terrifying because it was only me on stage for 70 minutes. All I could do to survive it was to walk through it and continue to adapt. Every. Single. Second. I had to be truly present without a fourth wall. There was no protection, no sheen. I love hiding behind characters. I revel in it. It allows me space for courage to be more vulnerable. I’m a weirdo, my prep is usually reading, researching and then I adapt my breath and body. Everything else just kinda happens. The magic of acting! 

 How did the idea for #BYOP come about? What makes a good producer in your opinion?

#BYOP (Be Your Own Producer) came from seeing the need for it. As a producer, actor and creative I can only take on so many projects full time at once but #BYOP allows me to be available to you and your project on an hourly basis. It also teaches content creators how to producer so they can become sustainable and independent! During the pandemic it expanded to teaching these intentions in a group digital setting. The brand is continuing to grow and diversify. In development are many exciting new pieces, perhaps something you could listen to and something you can hold. Stay tuned and be sure to follow @ashleykateadams for updates! ! ; ) 

(Michael Kushner Photography)

You created a one woman show called “A Christmas Carole” for the theater, where did you come up with the idea and how hard is doing a one person production on a nightly basis?

I helped to create the show but I cannot take credit for the idea or writing on that one, that was my creative partner in crime, Alex Freeman. We put it up in 6 days with the help of our two amazing stage managers. It’s exhausting and exhilarating doing a one person production. I lived like a nun during the day to stay calm and preserve all of my energy for the performances. I still can’t believe I did it! 

 How important are awards to you as a performer?

Awards are not important to me as a performer, but the respect and nod that comes because of them is appreciated. I got my first best actress award in 2018 for Alex Freeman’s two-hander “Love” at the New York Theatre Festival. It’s hard being a woman in the business on every side. Especially as a Producer. So when a group of people decide not only that you  “did well” but that you should be “acknowledged”, that is nice. 

You love to sing,what makes a good song and which three Broadway scores would you love to sing if given a chance? Who is your favorite singer/band at this moment?

I do love to sing! It’s a part of my identity even though I’ve been more internal as of late with my creativity. I would say three Broadway scores I would love to sing through would be “Waitress”, “Sunday in the Park with George” and “The Sound of Music”. My favorite singer is my sister, Audrey Belle Adams @abelleadams, always and forever because she has the most flexible vocal instrument I have ever heard and my favorite band right now is M.N.O.P. @MNOP_music. They have rockin’ folk punk music, a kick butt lead female singer & a really cute drummer : ) 

 How important is self-promotion to you and your career? 

Self-Promotion is a large part of a creative career. In the age of social media & “influencers”, it has to be. I have not always been good at it. I had to learn to produce others to get comfortable producing & promoting myself. 

 What do you like to do on your down time?

In my downtime I like doing yoga, going on walks, listening to true crime podcasts, reading, taking class and spending time with my loved ones. 

 The cheetah and I are flying over to watch to you in “A Christmas Carol(e)” but we are a day early and now you are stuck playing tour guide,what are we doing?

If A Christmas Carol(e) played NYC and there was a day off I would say to spend the morning in Central Park, afternoon around Bryant Park popping into the Strand Book Store & the Bean coffee shop and to spend the evening in the theatre district enjoying an OPEN Broadway. Late evening in the village hopping venues and listening to live music! 

(Michael Kushner Photography)

  I want to not only thank Ashley Kate for chatting with us but also for being inspired to make “Boy Hero”. I cut my fanboy teeth reading EC Comics growing up. When I read William Gaines bio and found out just how close that comic books were to being banned,it was shocking. Without Gaines and a slew of others,including many librarians fighting this censorship,there would no “Star Wars”,Marvel or DC or many cultural icons we take for granted today.     Like I wrote before,this is a forgotten piece of American history and much respect to Ashley Kate and her production team on making this film to hopefully remind us of what we almost lost.

Ashley Kate has several different ways that you can keep track of her and her various projects.

You can follow Ashley Kate on her InstaGram page. You can check out Ashley Kate’s next project via her IMDb page. You can also follow “Boy Hero” on InstaGram as well. You can also visit Ashley Kate’s personal website by going here.

Thank you for reading and supporting (and sharing) Ashley Kate’s interview. Feel free to drop a question below and stay tuned for updates about “Boy Hero”. You can also read past “8 Questions” interviews by going here.

8 Questions with………..actress/producer Ashley Kate Adams Its 3:52 pm Welcome to "8 Questions with....." In doing this series and especially of late,I have been really blessed to be able to talk to a lot artists that I have on a "wish list".

[filmista]

Stranger Things (Season 1)

“If anyone asks where I am, I’ve left the country.”

As a  lot of you know I usually review films and not tv series. ‘Big Little Lies’ has been the big exception, although that’s a mini-series and thus an easier to cover than a series with more than one season.

But I wanted to make another exception and cover another series that I’ve discovered lately, really gotten into and thoroughly enjoyed: it’s the hype of 2016 ‘Stranger Things’.

Now you can’t be a regular Netflix or Tumblr user and not have heard of ‘Stranger Things’. The hype definitely got to the cave I live in, I’ve had people ask me if I’d seen it and recommend it to me. As always I eventually caved. Because you do start to wonder if it’s acceptable to venture out in public and not have seen it... 

But as is usually the case, I’m always late to a hype and don’t get into it until much later. I thought it wouldn’t be for me because I thought it would mostly be an homage to 80’s cliches that I’m not too big a fan of.

Also, I have to admit that I’ve never been that big of a fan of the government is doing, secret, fucked up shit in some top secret lab… it has a tendency to go really big and stray too much from subtlety for my liking.

 Although one day I was home sick from school and had an entire day of couch sitting ahead of me, and the film I picked was ‘Super 8’ which judging from its storyline, should by no means have been something I’d enjoy. But I ended up quite liking that film, because of it’ focus on friendship. And a large chunk of the morning past with it.

Much the same happened with ‘Stranger Things’, I had heard of it but I never thought it’d be something for me, yes admittedly basically because of preconceived notions about it.

Eventually, curiosity did get the better of me and I decided to read up on it a little bit, and all the mostly positive reviews convinced me that there must be something to it.

“Joyce, this is Hawkins, okay? You wanna know the worst thing that’s ever happened here in the four years I’ve been working here? Do you wanna know the worst thing? It was when an owl attacked Eleanor Gillespie’s head because it thought that her hair was a nest.”

So skip forward and there I was on the sofa watching ‘Stranger Things’, that same afternoon I watched the first two episodes, in less than a week I was done with it. And even though I didn’t love the first two episodes, I liked the atmosphere enough and there was enough tension at the end of the episodes to keep me watching.

I had conflicted feelings about the show at first, on the one hand, I actually thoroughly enjoyed the episodes and I wanted to watch the next one, but I also was always left a bit underwhelmed. It didn’t feel like nothing I hadn’t watched before to me.

‘Stranger Things’ is definitely a beautiful show, with all kinds of aesthetic wonderfulness, but its quality goes deeper than just the surface. While it does borrow heavily from 80’s films, there’s also a lot of nods to one of my favorite horror writers: Mr. Stephen King, I can’t be the only one that got ‘Carrie’ ( I love Carrie) vibes from Eleven.

It’s more than just about paying homage, to some of the sci-fi and horror from the 80’s, though it starts as a murder mystery and eventually goes full-fledged sci-fi,  it does without getting too overbearing kudos to that!

The creators of the show The Duffer Brothers clearly know the era they were working with and know their stuff, but the most important thing is that their love for the era and it's films, even it’s music shines through.

We all love some music, books, and films from the 80’s, though it is safe to say that not that many of us would like to live in it now being conscious of how hideous the fashion was, it really was…

So the Duffer Brothers took the 80’s and weren��t afraid to create something build upon existing elements of that time. But as I said ‘Stranger Things’ is much, much more than just a pretty show.

It’s well written, well acted, and man does it have fantastic music! (the soundtrack is my new to go to put on in the background while I’m working for class).

It’s acting is above the level of a lot of tv series, all of the actors, the child actors too give very strong and nuanced performances, they build their characters into so much more than just their 80’s archetypes.

Also how cool is it that 80’s and 90’s icon Winona Ryder is in this?! It builds around elements from known 80’s movies and it pays the era a loving, nostalgic glance.

“Yeah, that’s right! You better run! She’s our friend and she’s crazy!”

Stranger Things is set in the 80's in a small town in Indiana, Hawkins. A typical  “we all know each other town”, where really nothing ever happens. Until a boy, Will disappears without a trace one day. 

His three best friends are determined to find him. However, during their search, they do not find Will, but a mysterious girl. Without name but with supernatural powers. Meanwhile, Will’s mother is also convinced that Will still lives, despite the fact that every indication seems to prove the opposite- 

And believe me, there are still a lot more strange things happening in Hawkins. Like in many films and shows from the time, adults and children, coexist but it is seemingly in opposing planes, a lot of the parents are unaware of their children’s internal world.

This is especially so with some of the teens and their parents, the show illustrates that time when teens and adults begin to grow a little apart, beautifully. 

But in this show, a supernatural mix is also thrown into the equation, super secret shit of the government went wrong (when does it not?) and now there’s a dark, alternate version of the town within the town, inhabited by a monster (The Demogorgon)  that smells blood from miles away and feeds onto the inhabitants.

The people in the town that went missing get into this alternate version of the town called the upside down. Now the group of children figures this out sooner thanks to their mysterious new friend Eleven, Eleven true to the cliche was experimented on because of her supernatural powers, by the government in their evil, top-secret lab.

The younger people of the town are onto the truth much faster than some of the oblivious adults, and some adults also are sooner than others, some just stay oblivious to what goes on around them, like boring “enjoying your chicken Ted” the only one in the show, to never shed the skin of his stereotype and mutated into a more interesting one. 

Ryder’s character is one of the first adults that experiences that something supernatural is going on in the town, she doesn’t give up on her son, and comes to believe that he makes contact with her through the Christmas lights, and is thus still there.

Though of course in accordance to the cliche, she questions her own sanity first, but still, holds on to that beacon of hope no matter how ridiculous. And while some say Winona Ryder pulled some serious overacting here, that may be so but how would someone react if they lost their child?

She has others around her question her sanity, but the character that eventually comes to believe her and one of my favorite characters in the show overall: Chief Hopper.

It’s implied that Chief Hopper and Joyce somewhat have feelings for one another. And hopper himself lost his daughter, so he feels a lot of empathy and sympathy for Joyce, and is in the end always there to support her.

Now what I loved about chief Hopper, is that he’s not an overly macho policeman, he’s a very kind and sympathetic man, with a somewhat nervous disposition because of his past. 

He’s also an alcoholic of who we perfectly understand why he became one, but underneath all of that, there is still the same kind, loving man. And as a coffee lover, I love anyone that would say “Mornings are for Coffee and contemplation.”

There’s the group of kids, all perfectly played by the child actors.They illustrate perfectly that childhood friendships are some of the strongest we have in our life, but they also face disagreements. Though the star of all the kids is arguably, Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven.

She delivers an insanely nuanced and emotional performance for her age, she never falters in the role and stays strong throughout,  I can predict now (and I’m probably not the only one) that’s she’s going to be big one day.

Then there’s the teens and the adults. The show is in this regard mostly focused on two families, The Wheelers and The Byers. All of the adults in the Wheeler household are blissfully ignorant of the events happening in the town, except eventually teenage daughter Nancy (who’s my favorite character but I’ll get to her).

And the Byers household. Now Joyce’s son Jonathan, who’s the brooding, quiet kid, that’s discovered photography (another cliche) at first doesn’t believe his mother and thinks that she has lost her mind.

“Maybe I am a mess. Maybe I’m crazy. Maybe I’m out of my mind! But, God help me, I will keep these lights up until the day I die if I think there’s a chance that Will’s still out there!”

Until he too is confronted with the events. And later teams up with his crush Nancy to fight the Demogorgon. Now Nancy (played with brilliant subtlety by Natalia Dyer) who’s hideous layering style, I find secretly wonderful.

Nancy at the beginning of the show doesn’t really start out as a character that we love. She comes across, as the very shallow, somewhat bitchy older sister, that’s just found popularity, she’s dating in true 80’s fashion, an enormous douchebag.

She drags her best friend, the shyer Barbara to a party she really didn’t want to go to, chugs beer, ignores all of her friend's advice, and further ignores her to give into her hormones, and lose her virginity to the douchebag her friend warned her about.

But the really interesting thing about Nancy is that she grows, and eventually evolves from that storyline. Like in classic horror movie she would have died after this, only this show doesn’t do that her and gives her another chance- 

She realizes she made a mistake with her friend and sets out to repair the damage she made. In the meantime, she also befriends the kid, who’s not popular.

And she just becomes one of the biggest badasses in the show, being the first to willingly go into the upside down, and the first to devise a plan to kill the monster. Guys I just love Nancy. 

“I don’t think my parents ever loved each other. They must’ve married for some reason. My mom was young. My dad was older, but he had a cushy job, money, came from a good family. So they bought a nice house at the end of the cul-de-sac… and started their nuclear family. Screw that.“

Which leads to the very cool moment of her training with a baseball bat a scene I love, she and Jonathan stocking up on stuff to face the monster with, and eventually fighting it. 

And she also moves away from her grumpy older sister image and restores her relationship with her younger brother. 

Perhaps the only decision she makes that some people would be bothered by, is her choosing Steve over Jonathan (at least in this season) but she still didn’t change her personality that much, she stayed true to who she is.

And Steve arguably was redeemed a bit in the end, as he tries to make up for his mistakes, and ditches his utterly awful friends.

Overall Stranger Things is a show with a great binge-ability factor, a clear love of and an ode to the 80’s, but that goes deeper than just becoming a copy of classic 80′s sci-fi and horror. 

But anyway what makes it great, is that as deep as it can be after you’ve had a deeper look at it (it took me a while to really warm up to it) you can also just enjoy it as you spent an entire afternoon watching. 

‘Stranger Things’ is probably one of the best-crafted shows on Netflix though, truly one of those shows, that transcends the quality, of what’s usually expected of it and becomes a true phenomenon. It was the most popular Netflix in 2016 in America, and with this outdid ‘Orange Is The New Black’ now that is a feat. 

It’s in quality just as good as any film. It builds up its atmosphere brilliantly, not only is at pretty and pleasant to look at (there are some great special effects and just beautiful use of colors and lighting) but it’s also all believable and makes sense.

Its atmosphere is dark throughout, it’s almost like an inverted fairy tale, it’s not every day that Christmas lights become something so dark and sad. But it also knows when to be lighter and let the audience breathe, so we get some very intense, sometimes slightly frightening scenes (this depends on how easily you scare I think though). Alternated with moments that are funny, or heartwarming.

It’s got a love of all things nerdy as well, the most important characters in it are huge nerds, and where these people would usually be the victims, here they’re the heroes and they get to stand up to their bullies. 

It has acting, that’s at the level of some films, no overdramatic, soap-like acting, everyone delivers strong and confident performances. And then there’s as I said that wonderful soundtrack, a true 80’s synth soundtrack.

In conclusion, I’d say ‘Stranger things’ is indeed worth the watch, though I like some people had some difficulty with the first two episodes. But once past those two, it consolidated itself into something with a high nostalgia factor, while still managing to become unique.

I for one, like I think many other people am all set to enjoy season 2 when it arrives on October 27th. Whereas for all the influences; there’s a great deal of them, Spielberg’s films being one of them, but all of those you can find plenty on the internet. 

[softsnuper]

[TRANS] 170528 Lee Youjin V Live Broadcast (PD101S2)

Lee Youjin, one of the eliminated trainees from Produce 101, held a live broadcast on Namoo Actors V App channel last night! He answered fan questions and talked about his time in Produce 101 so here are some highlights about what he said about the other trainees.

Fan Questions:

The trainees he was closest to were his roommates at the start of the program! He roomed with Yoon Jisung, Kim Sihyun, Lee Hoorim, Kim Hyunwoo from YG K+. He couldn’t give Jisung a call bc he was probably busy (the only one left on the show).

He talked about how he was the leader twice during (for Be Mine team 2 and Rhythm Ta). He thought being leader would be easy bc he only needed to guide and lead the other members but it was a lot more difficult than he thought.

For Be Mine, he couldn’t really help the other members with learning the dance so he felt sorry towards them. Maybe if he had chosen an easier song they wouldn’t have had such a hard time. “Truthfully i couldn’t be of any help to the others, but through our struggles we got closer and did well.“

He really likes Park Jaebum’s (Jay Park) style so that’s the reason why he chose some of the concepts that he did on PD101! He wanted to be sexy like him (t/n: I think he’s talking about his performance evaluation)

The staff played Pick Me in the background but since he was caught off guard, he was able to dance only part of it. He said the trainees practiced it so much he could do the dance in his sleep.

He promised to try and call Taewoo later! He’s in a group chat with Taewoo and Taemin so they talk a lot. They’re really fun and interesting.

A fan commented “add me to the chat too~” so he said “send us your ID (t/n: kakaotalk ID)” lol

A fan asked “Who is the most handsome in PD101″ and he said “Everyone is handsome!”

He showed off the headphones he got for completing the first stage of maboy.

Youjin’s Pick Corner! 

The staff set up a bracket board to see who Youjin’s pick was among his fellow contestants on PD101. When he saw the board he said, “Wow, this is like picking for the World Cup.”

First Round:

Lee Woojin vs. Kim Yongguk vs. Jung Sewoon (he said Woojin is cute but Sewoon really helped him with the hardships of being a leader. Even though they weren’t close, they talked and texted so he was really touched. That’s why he picked Sewoon)

Lee Insoo vs. Hong Eunki vs. Kang Daniel (he chose Daniel bc he was the leader for 열어줘 and taught them a lot. Youjin said everyone in the group was already good so he had to match them well)

Kim Donghyun vs. Im Youngmin vs. Joo Jinwoo (he depended on Youngmin a lot during Be Mine and is very thankful towards him)

Kang Dongho vs. Takada Kenta vs. Kim Taewoo (he picked Taewoo bc he’s funny, sings well, and is bright. He got really close to him during the show)

Lee Kiwon vs. Yoon Heeseok vs. Kim Seonglee (he picked Seonglee and said he had enough skills to compete in any program. During practice he would lift the mood and make the trainees happy but it wasn’t broadcasted)

Lee Gwanghyun vs. Park Sungwoo (he picked Sungwoo and pet the sticker with his face on it lolol. Although Sungwoo endured a lot, he was always by Youjin’s side. They were together for Be Mine and also for 열어줘 before being eliminated. Even though Youjin was having a hard time too, he felt sorry for not being able to help him)

Second Round:

Jung Sewoon vs. Kang Daniel

Im Youngmin vs. Kim Taewoo (he chose Taewoo bc they both fell down the ranks together(?) lol)

Kim Seonglee vs. Park Sungwoo (he chose Sungwoo bc he went through a lot of hardships)

Third Round:

Kang Daniel vs. Kim Taewoo

Park Sungwoo (automatic win)

FInal Round:

Kim Taewoo vs. Park Sungwoo (when he chose Taewoo, he put his sticker on the #1 spot and pat it several times; “It’s a pity that it’s not broadcasted but he’s really funny. We practiced a lot together.”)

Note: I’ll be subbing this segment and posting it on YouTube soon! I’ll link it here when it’s done and uploaded.

Update: here is the subbed segment!

More unrelated PD101 things are under the cut! Translation by @softsnuper (may not be 100% accurate)

Youjin felt a little shy and embarrassed bc he was filming V Live alone and there were a couple Namoo staff members watching him.

He has a lot of white clothing, even white shoes.

A fan asked about the meaning of his username nay_kid and he said it meant something like “live a sincere life.” Another way of saying “no” was “nay” and “kid” is to remind him of his dreams when he was a student.

He was drinking coffee throughout the broadcast. He loves americano.

When he reached 50k hearts, he got really shy from all the love.

A fan asked if he was okay and he said yes, he’s okay and will even get checked up at the hospital so do not worry!

He has 7 self-composed songs so far! He has a lot more songs he wants to make but he doesn’t have a room for it. He wants to upload 2 songs in one month on his soundcloud.

A fan asked “you know you’re handsome, right?” and he said no, he didn’t find himself handsome but he does like how he looks and personally thinks he’s cute!

A fan asked if he was thinking about releasing an album but he said that although he wants to, he wants to work on the quality of his music a bit more and in order to release an album, he needs the support of the public/community so he’ll just upload the album on soundcloud. That way, it’s free for everyone to listen to!

A fan commented “Remember to drink a lot of water!” and he replied with “I only drink a lot of coffee.”

A fan asked “Is pressing hearts important?” and he replied with “I don’t know but please press a lot!!”

He wasn’t good at aegyo before but now he’s a lot better.

A fan asks where he learned to be so talented (?) and he said “Maybe it’s in my blood.”

He has two sisters, one older who cooks well and one younger by 6 years. He’s a bit cold like his father but his mother and older sister like to take care of him. He never fights with his sisters. Since his younger sister is still young, he hopes she studies diligently and doesn’t drink alcohol. His and his older sister’s hair looks similar. He wants to care for his younger sister too but he doesn’t really know how.

Someone asked about his taste in music but he made a pass on the question bc his answer would be too long LOL

He’s holding an event where he’s giving away items that he uses often, these includes a tracksuit he wears (for girls it may be a bit big but it’ll be warm! size 100), sunglasses, and some signed selfie polaroids.

He showed the viewers the items one by one. The sunglasses were in a case with a zipper and when he opened it the zipper fell off LMAO he kept saying it wasn’t fake, the zipper just happened to fall off bc he pulled too hard and kept laughing lololol

He had the viewers guess who his favorite artist was and promised to gift them the tracksuit! He said even tho he’s worn it, he’ll keep it very clean.

His favorite artist is Giriboy! He said when others are stressed, they may drink but he listens to Giriboy’s music instead. He really admires all of his music, it inspires him. He can sing all of his songs; his favorite by him is called “All Day Long” but not many people know it.

The second prize was the sunglasses. There’s a play he always watches every year ever since the 12th grade, he wants to participate in one bc of it. (t/n: the fans were able to guess what is was but I couldn’t really catch the name of it, sorry)

Third prize was a signed polaroid selfie! When he took the selfie and waited for it to show up on film, he kept shaking it and when he realized he wasn’t supposed to shake it, he got embarrassed.

He wrote one of his songs after watching a specific movie (t/n: I couldn’t hear the title sorry) but the song is called “Why Don’t You Call Me”.

He had a lot of fun doing the V Live bc he knows how it feels to be a fan of another person and watch their broadcasts, now he can be the one doing the broadcast and it’s fun!

He wants to take on a high school student role in his acting career bc when he’s older he won’t be able to act as a student.

He eats alone and doesn’t have a favorite food but the foods he can’t eat is tomato sauce and mustard.

His least favorite season is summer bc he dislikes mosquitoes. He likes winter bc there’s snow and Christmas. It gives him a warm and cozy feeling.

When he was younger he really liked Harry Potter, his favorite part of the series was Chamber of Secrets! (This was another quiz question for the viewers, he gave away another signed selfie polaroid)

He wants to communicate with fans more but he can’t do V Live whenever he wants and he doesn’t have a fancafe :(

[onlinemarketinghelp]

Working In Creative And Liberal Arts To Afford A Bachelor Degree http://bit.ly/2JOU5NH

Writing has always been my passion. My parents impacted this interest by helping me develop a love of stories as a child through reading books to my sisters and me and through taking us on frequent library trips.

Inspired by the stories I read or watched in movies, I often led my two younger sisters in telling tales of our own with our abundant supply of stuffed animals, and as I grew older, I traded our cuddly companions for a pen and paper as my storytelling mode of choice and have been writing ever since.

My dream is to pursue a degree in English in order to become a writer or an editor. My family has not only played a large role in shaping this dream but has also influenced my desire to graduate from college debt-free.

From a young age, my parents established the principles of industriousness and financial wisdom in me by stressing the importance of saving money and by encouraging me to work hard in order to purchase things I wanted for myself.

As the fourth child, I was also able to watch the examples that my older sisters set as they held two jobs while attending college; thus, the idea of working, sometimes multiple jobs at once, to afford one’s education has always been a familiar concept to me. Because of this foundation from my parents and my sisters, I have always sought ways to pay for my own college expenses and have worked several different jobs and side hustles as a result.

Joining The Family Business

My journey into the world of employment began when I was around seven or eight. My parents own a photography business, Brenham Portrait Gallery, and they needed people to help with different events they offer throughout the year, like live bunny photos, Santa portraits, and school pictures for the private schools in our town.

Because the required tasks were simple, such as wrangling baby rabbits or ensuring each child was photographed with his name for identification, my parents decided to let my sisters and me help, and I started earning some money working for the family business.

As I grew older, I transitioned into my current responsibilities for the business, which include handling money for Santa and bunny photos, posing over six hundred kids on around sixty different teams for little league and soccer pictures, and performing other tasks around the studio, including using my writing skills to author Facebook posts that reached over 2,500 people.

I particularly enjoy helping with Santa pictures because I have been able to see them grow from a one-weekend event in December to a sixteen-day undertaking in November and December that has become a tradition for many families and that was even mentioned on the television station of a neighboring city a few years ago when we celebrated twenty years of partnering with the same Santa for pictures.

Helping my parents is not just a way for me to earn a little extra money but has also showed me how to interact with customers and, by allowing me to observe my parents and obtain hands-on experience, has taught me much about operating a business.

Starting To Write

In my sophomore year of high school, I discovered another potential source of income through my writing abilities when I earned an honorable mention in a national poetry contest for homeschoolers.

Although the prize amount was not very much — only fifty dollars — it inspired me to enter other writing contests. While I obviously did not win them all, I did earn first place in a few different categories for a contest offered by my town’s junior college in my senior year of high school and again in my freshman year of college.

Similarly, I have used my literary skills for a side hustle by co-authoring a children’s book with my father. He has always had ideas for stories but was never particularly skilled at writing, so when I was in seventh grade, I helped him transform one of his ideas into a full-fledged children’s story called Lily Helps Her Dad.

A few years later, my father found a local artist to illustrate it, and finally, after much research, we self-published the book in my senior year of high school. It is available in our town’s local bookstore as well as on our website, www.thebookhill.com, and it was even in the BookPeople bookstore in Austin for a while. Unfortunately, this venture has not produced much profit, but it has been a useful learning experience and has given me more practice writing stories.

Becoming An Assistant Stage Manager

Working for Brenham Portrait Gallery and entering the occasional writing contest remained my only sources of income until my first semester of college, when I received an unexpected job offer from Unity Theatre, my town’s professional theater. I had taken a homeschool acting class at Unity the previous spring when I was still in high school, and my teacher was going to direct the theater’s production of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.

Because she had been impressed with my commitment during the class, she recommended me to the stage manager to be his ASM (assistant stage manager) for the play. I had never been involved with theater before the class, but since I had always enjoyed watching plays growing up, I decided to give the job a shot to earn some extra money.

While it was a somewhat daunting task helping to manage a production with nearly forty actors, around thirty of whom were kids, I soon fell in love with the job, and when Unity offered me the position of ASM for another play the next spring, I jumped at the chance. Since then, I have served on crew for one show and, when the theater’s 2018-19 season ends in July, I will have worked as ASM for ten plays in the course of two years.

I also had the opportunity to be onstage in Unity’s production of the comedy The Savannah Sipping Society, when I had a cameo as a ninety-one-year-old lady who dies of shock when her granddaughter throws her a surprise party. While the job can at times be challenging, my hard work and attention to detail have impressed even long-time professional actors and have encouraged the theater to continue hiring me for play after play. I love getting to contribute to making each production a success, all while meeting amazing people and gaining valuable leadership experience, and the fact that I get paid to do so is an added bonus.

Freelance Writing

The final side hustle I have undertaken to pay for my education began the summer after my first year in college when my father suggested that I try helping at the local newspaper, the Brenham Banner-Press, to see if journalism is a career in which I would be interested. After talking with the paper’s publisher, my freelance writing side hustle commenced. I only wrote one or two articles a month, but I enjoyed being paid to write about different topics in the community, such as Unity’s plays, my church’s most recent mission trip, and the lives of veterans at a local nursing home.

Then, this January, eager to save more money in preparation for transferring to Texas A&M University this fall, I asked my publisher if the paper had any available positions and thus turned my side hustle into a part-time reporting job. This job has been a wonderful opportunity to learn from professional journalists and to practice writing and editing as I have authored articles about people, events, meetings, and other occurrences in the county.

I even recently interviewed U.S. Congressman Michael McCaul, the chairman emeritus of the House Committee on Homeland Security! These experiences have allowed me to develop stronger connections in my community and to gain confidence in myself as I have continually stepped outside my comfort zone, all while earning some money to afford my education.

What's Next?

So, what’s next for me? I’m currently taking a semester off after receiving my Associate’s in English from Blinn College this past fall, and I plan on working at my current jobs until the end of August, when I’ll be transferring to Texas A&M University to earn a Bachelor’s in English with an emphasis in creative writing and a minor in journalism (hopefully with extra financial assistance from this and other scholarships I’m applying for).

Unfortunately, these plans mean saying goodbye to Brenham Portrait Gallery, Unity Theatre, and the Banner-Press. Of course, I’ll still help my parents with their business whenever I’m home for a weekend or during the Christmas and summer breaks, and I might work at Unity during the summers, but for the most part, moving to College Station means moving to other jobs.

While I’m not entirely sure what they will be yet, I hope to obtain a job that involves writing, whether it’s reporting for A&M’s newspaper, tutoring students in English, or putting my talents to use in any other way. But one thing’s for sure: I’ll continue to work and side hustle my way to making my dreams a reality.

Love this story? Share it on social media to vote! 

Check out the other finalists here: 2019 Side Hustlin’ Student Scholarship Results Page.

The post Working In Creative And Liberal Arts To Afford A Bachelor Degree appeared first on The College Investor.

from The College Investor

Writing has always been my passion. My parents impacted this interest by helping me develop a love of stories as a child through reading books to my sisters and me and through taking us on frequent library trips.

Inspired by the stories I read or watched in movies, I often led my two younger sisters in telling tales of our own with our abundant supply of stuffed animals, and as I grew older, I traded our cuddly companions for a pen and paper as my storytelling mode of choice and have been writing ever since.

My dream is to pursue a degree in English in order to become a writer or an editor. My family has not only played a large role in shaping this dream but has also influenced my desire to graduate from college debt-free.

From a young age, my parents established the principles of industriousness and financial wisdom in me by stressing the importance of saving money and by encouraging me to work hard in order to purchase things I wanted for myself.

As the fourth child, I was also able to watch the examples that my older sisters set as they held two jobs while attending college; thus, the idea of working, sometimes multiple jobs at once, to afford one’s education has always been a familiar concept to me. Because of this foundation from my parents and my sisters, I have always sought ways to pay for my own college expenses and have worked several different jobs and side hustles as a result.

Joining The Family Business

My journey into the world of employment began when I was around seven or eight. My parents own a photography business, Brenham Portrait Gallery, and they needed people to help with different events they offer throughout the year, like live bunny photos, Santa portraits, and school pictures for the private schools in our town.

Because the required tasks were simple, such as wrangling baby rabbits or ensuring each child was photographed with his name for identification, my parents decided to let my sisters and me help, and I started earning some money working for the family business.

As I grew older, I transitioned into my current responsibilities for the business, which include handling money for Santa and bunny photos, posing over six hundred kids on around sixty different teams for little league and soccer pictures, and performing other tasks around the studio, including using my writing skills to author Facebook posts that reached over 2,500 people.

I particularly enjoy helping with Santa pictures because I have been able to see them grow from a one-weekend event in December to a sixteen-day undertaking in November and December that has become a tradition for many families and that was even mentioned on the television station of a neighboring city a few years ago when we celebrated twenty years of partnering with the same Santa for pictures.

Helping my parents is not just a way for me to earn a little extra money but has also showed me how to interact with customers and, by allowing me to observe my parents and obtain hands-on experience, has taught me much about operating a business.

Starting To Write

In my sophomore year of high school, I discovered another potential source of income through my writing abilities when I earned an honorable mention in a national poetry contest for homeschoolers.

Although the prize amount was not very much — only fifty dollars — it inspired me to enter other writing contests. While I obviously did not win them all, I did earn first place in a few different categories for a contest offered by my town’s junior college in my senior year of high school and again in my freshman year of college.

Similarly, I have used my literary skills for a side hustle by co-authoring a children’s book with my father. He has always had ideas for stories but was never particularly skilled at writing, so when I was in seventh grade, I helped him transform one of his ideas into a full-fledged children’s story called Lily Helps Her Dad.

A few years later, my father found a local artist to illustrate it, and finally, after much research, we self-published the book in my senior year of high school. It is available in our town’s local bookstore as well as on our website, www.thebookhill.com, and it was even in the BookPeople bookstore in Austin for a while. Unfortunately, this venture has not produced much profit, but it has been a useful learning experience and has given me more practice writing stories.

Becoming An Assistant Stage Manager

Working for Brenham Portrait Gallery and entering the occasional writing contest remained my only sources of income until my first semester of college, when I received an unexpected job offer from Unity Theatre, my town’s professional theater. I had taken a homeschool acting class at Unity the previous spring when I was still in high school, and my teacher was going to direct the theater’s production of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.

Because she had been impressed with my commitment during the class, she recommended me to the stage manager to be his ASM (assistant stage manager) for the play. I had never been involved with theater before the class, but since I had always enjoyed watching plays growing up, I decided to give the job a shot to earn some extra money.

While it was a somewhat daunting task helping to manage a production with nearly forty actors, around thirty of whom were kids, I soon fell in love with the job, and when Unity offered me the position of ASM for another play the next spring, I jumped at the chance. Since then, I have served on crew for one show and, when the theater’s 2018-19 season ends in July, I will have worked as ASM for ten plays in the course of two years.

I also had the opportunity to be onstage in Unity’s production of the comedy The Savannah Sipping Society, when I had a cameo as a ninety-one-year-old lady who dies of shock when her granddaughter throws her a surprise party. While the job can at times be challenging, my hard work and attention to detail have impressed even long-time professional actors and have encouraged the theater to continue hiring me for play after play. I love getting to contribute to making each production a success, all while meeting amazing people and gaining valuable leadership experience, and the fact that I get paid to do so is an added bonus.

Freelance Writing

The final side hustle I have undertaken to pay for my education began the summer after my first year in college when my father suggested that I try helping at the local newspaper, the Brenham Banner-Press, to see if journalism is a career in which I would be interested. After talking with the paper’s publisher, my freelance writing side hustle commenced. I only wrote one or two articles a month, but I enjoyed being paid to write about different topics in the community, such as Unity’s plays, my church’s most recent mission trip, and the lives of veterans at a local nursing home.

Then, this January, eager to save more money in preparation for transferring to Texas A&M University this fall, I asked my publisher if the paper had any available positions and thus turned my side hustle into a part-time reporting job. This job has been a wonderful opportunity to learn from professional journalists and to practice writing and editing as I have authored articles about people, events, meetings, and other occurrences in the county.

I even recently interviewed U.S. Congressman Michael McCaul, the chairman emeritus of the House Committee on Homeland Security! These experiences have allowed me to develop stronger connections in my community and to gain confidence in myself as I have continually stepped outside my comfort zone, all while earning some money to afford my education.

What's Next?

So, what’s next for me? I’m currently taking a semester off after receiving my Associate’s in English from Blinn College this past fall, and I plan on working at my current jobs until the end of August, when I’ll be transferring to Texas A&M University to earn a Bachelor’s in English with an emphasis in creative writing and a minor in journalism (hopefully with extra financial assistance from this and other scholarships I’m applying for).

Unfortunately, these plans mean saying goodbye to Brenham Portrait Gallery, Unity Theatre, and the Banner-Press. Of course, I’ll still help my parents with their business whenever I’m home for a weekend or during the Christmas and summer breaks, and I might work at Unity during the summers, but for the most part, moving to College Station means moving to other jobs.

While I’m not entirely sure what they will be yet, I hope to obtain a job that involves writing, whether it’s reporting for A&M’s newspaper, tutoring students in English, or putting my talents to use in any other way. But one thing’s for sure: I’ll continue to work and side hustle my way to making my dreams a reality.

Love this story? Share it on social media to vote! 

Check out the other finalists here: 2019 Side Hustlin’ Student Scholarship Results Page.

The post Working In Creative And Liberal Arts To Afford A Bachelor Degree appeared first on The College Investor.

http://bit.ly/2YU8Lyy June 01, 2019 at 10:16AM http://bit.ly/2wxYw6V

[justsoyoudonthaveto]

I have to confess that I am really, really, really, just a smidge, maybe, over the Christmas movies on Hallmark. So much so that I have deleted a few off my DVR, with the idea that maybe I’ll get that Hallmark app on Prime and be able to watch a Christmas movie in May or June. But before we get there, it’s January 5 and I’m watching Christmas in Grand Valley, saved from deletion because it’s one with our girl Danica McKellar, and co-starring Kevin’s dad from The Wonder Years. It also has that guy who has been in several movies, including a few with her, Brennan Elliott. I’m not a fan of his, but let’s see how this one goes.

We open at a very overly decorated cityscape (city unknown) and then Danica is walking down the street when her phone rings – she reaches into her severely empty purse to pull out just her phone. It’s her Dad! He owns a diner! She’s an artist on the way to meet with her agent about getting her own art show! Can we have any more exclamation points! They convey the excitement on Danica’s face, and we find out from Sassy person who works with dad that her name is Kelly. The next thing we know, is that Kelly didn’t get her own show, and apparently we’re in Chicago. Kelly now has painter’s block, second guessing herself about what to paint and how to paint and all that crap. Older Son has just whispered that she’s not Bob Ross, and if that’s not a curse and a commendation all at once, I don’t know what is.

She needs to get inspired, so she heads home to Grand Valley for Christmas and goes right to her dad’s diner! Sassy Person has got a flirt on with perennial 2nd banana blonde actor who has been in several of these movies and who always loses the girl to someone else. He’s Kelly’s cousin, Mikey, and he just got promoted to be Manager of the Lodge, but the Lodge apparently is under performing and he might then lose his job and there is so much plot in these 2 seconds I feel like my head is going to explode. Mike begs Kelly to help at the Christmas Kids Lodge thing, because of course there’s a Christmas Kids Lodge thing. There’s a VIP guy coming to judge the Lodge and its profits and they have to impress the socks off him.

We go to VIP meeting of hotel guys, and Brennan Elliott is there in a purple tie with ties of his own to the Lodge in Grand Valley – he’s got sentimental feelings about that Lodge, and before we can know his name, he’s being sent to Grand Valley with his kids for a working vacation. He’s got kids? And Kelly’s going to do something with kids? SYNERGY. That’s what we call it, folks.

No, not this kind of Synergy.

So hero’s got kids, but his sister takes care of them, so it seems that his wife is dead. Kids are happy to go on Christmas vacation. Then we head right back to Wyoming, and why Kelly is having an art existential crisis about her art, and her cousin Mikey has the dumbest moustache. It’s like dust just landed on his upper lip. Please, please, please, shave that off before the end of the movie.

Brennan Elliot’s name is Neal, and he’s arrived at the Lodge. His kids are named Max and Emma and they get their own cabin with a roaring fireplace. Kids are suitably happy, and Max is obsessed with horses and that’s his character trait right there, except he looks like Ralphie from A Christmas Story.

Next scene, Neal and kids meet Kelly on the street, and there are a gazillion trees lining the shops, and they are all decorated with ornaments and I do not believe that is a thing anywhere in Wyoming because of all snow that happens to fall. All those ornaments would be destroyed. This was clearly thought up by some screenwriter who lives in California. Anyway, each tree is decorated by a person in the town, to showcase their family traditions. And another tradition? Christmas Tree Lighting! We get a convenient Christmas Countdown  – it’s 9 days to Christmas, and we also get to hear that on Christmas Eve, everyone comes down to the big tree and puts MORE ornaments on the tree in the square.

Next day, it’s the first day of Kids Christmas Camp (Shouldn’t it be Kids Kristmas Kamp?) at the Lodge – and the day is chock full of things to get the kids out of the parents’ hair. I dream of such a place sometimes, especially on Saturday mornings, when kids like to fight over video games and who makes the tea. Yes, that’s something we fight over at this house. Emma’s character trait is that she wants to be an artist, and Kelly has a bonding moment, and then she has a major about face against Neal when she finds out that he’s there to judge the financial stability of the Lodge. No one does wounded righteousness better than Danica McKellar. Neal is kind of annoyed that Kelly is so righteous about the Lodge, but that doesn’t stop him from subtly trying to get his flirt on despite being rusty because his wife died.

Neal and Mike have to talk about the Lodge, and Neal does it by taking over Mike’s office and sitting behind Mike’s desk. That is such a dick move, but he does offer some help – they need to do more Excel in order to see if the Lodge is worth saving. It’s all about the math. Then we cut to to the Kids making snowmen that are so obviously fake that I think they’re on a green screen.

Dang, Wyoming is gorgeous. And Kelly is inspired by these magic perfect snowmen, and then Neal shows up and they have more flirt on in the snow and it’s weird. Neal’s kids are getting way too attached to Kelly way too soon, and they are just begging for The Sad Times. But Kelly is all inspired by the Kids Camp and how kids make art fun. And Mike arrives to say hi, and maybe it’s not a bad mustache, it’s just 5 o’clock shadow just on his upper lip.

Sassy Person at the Diner has money troubles – she bought a new car but can’t afford it, so Kelly says come work with her at the Camp…but if a hotel is having money troubles, can they really afford to hire another person? But Kelly asks Sassy Person about Mike – and Sassy Person says he’s never asked her out, and Kelly says maybe she should ask him out and it’s like their roles are reversed and Kelly is the Sassy Friend just for a moment. But we also get the thought that Kelly doesn’t think her life in Chicago is worth it anymore. Another movie where life in the big city is the worst thing in the world, and the only life worth living is a small town life in a town far, far, far away from any kind of city.  As someone who has worked in a city, and who lives in the suburbs just 40 minutes from a major city, shut the F up, Hallmark. There is nothing wrong with suburb or urban life, despite the fact that we don’t have Christmas Festivals every season.

Neal and the kids show up at Frank’s diner, and even though Max just ate, he’s still hungry, and he’s now just like Younger Son. Frank offers to make them pancakes, and afterwards, Kelly is so fired up by the fact that Neal can’t see the magic of the Lodge because he’s so focused on math. She doesn’t realize that he is not the one who owns the company who owns the Lodge, he’s just the one who has to do the math.

Kelly and Neal and family are walking back to to the Lodge and they run smack dab into a Christmas Festival with carolers. We get exposition about how they both live in Chicago but had to come to Wyoming to meet. Kelly went to the Illinois Fine Art College (which I googled, and is not a thing) and he’s worked at the Resort Company who owns the Lodge forever. Neal also finds out that Mike is her cousin, so he knows that there’s no one in the road ahead of him. But she also gets stuck on the fact that his job has to do with math, and she’s got a thing written into this movie where she walks 3 feet away, then turns back and gives him a set-down. She’s not very understanding about the fact that Neal is just doing his job, which he needs to do to take care of his kids, as his wife is dead, and someone has to bring home the dental. I guess artists have to worry about finer things? She’s bugging the crap out of me.

Sassy Person and Mike meet up at the Lodge to stare longingly at each other. Props that Sassy Person and Mike are a potential couple.

Kids have bought a tree for their cabin, and have invited Kelly to come over and help decorate it – which means that they just shelled out a bunch of money for ornaments and decorations and stockings and everything. They even bought Kelly a stocking. Then Kelly overhears Neal on the phone with his boss, and storms off in a huff of righteousness because Bossman wants to know if the Lodge is ok or not to sell to developers who will make a shopping center or a bunch of condos out of it. Anyone with a working set of eyeballs can see that by Neal’s exhausted sigh and face rubbing that he doesn’t like this idea, but Kelly can’t get passed the idea that he’s the big bad wolf coming to blow the Lodge down.

I think Sassy Person’s name is Lucy? She offers to babysit Neal’s kids so he can burn the candle at both ends, and he finally tells Kelly that he’s trying to keep the Lodge open, and I guess now she can stop acting like he’s got the Plague. Sassy Person calls it that they like each other and I think I’ve been calling him Neal but that his real name is Leo. Just googled and yes, his name is Leo. Oh well. I’ve been pausing this movie every 3 minutes to referee video game and fart fights between Older and Younger Son so no wonder I didn’t hear correctly. Younger Son is currently eating Oreos very loudly, as well, and the volume remote is all the way on the other side of the couch.

Leo and Kelly have a moment while she is sadly painting the Lodge – Christmas wouldn’t be the same in Grand Valley without it, you guys. But Leo tells Kelly he’s on her side to save the Lodge and they stare at each other for a second to long.

Now we go ice skating! Props to anyone who can balance on a blade on frozen water is amazing. Max falls, and Leo goes immediately into over-protective father mode, which makes me think that mom died from hitting her head, but no, that’s just my mental problems coming out.

Leo and Kelly walk down the street and have a very important conversation about how they like each other without coming out and saying they like each other. He loves her painting, and her painting styles keep adapting to whoever in the prop department is doing them.

Leo confesses that he doesn’t really like his job, because it’s all about math and not about customer service. He wants his job to be more personal.

Max and Emma are going to move their perfectly decorated cabin tree to outside Frank’s Diner. And Leo and Kelly are there to flirt subtly while Frank looks on and smiles. Then we get a nice Wonder Years Flashback while dad and Kelly discuss the state of Kelly’s heart.

Leo and Kelly are back at Leo’s cabin – he asks her out when they get back to Chicago, and she would love that, but she thinks she’s going to move back to Grand Valley, and she wants to be an art teacher. Leo is very understanding about that, even though that means he gets no booty call in the Windy City. They are going to make the most of the time they have left, before Leo has to go back to real work.

Kelly tells her dad that she’s moving home, and my goodness, can all dads look like Dan Lauria in these movies? He’s fabulous.

There’s a store in Grand Valley that is just Christmas decorations, and we get Leo’s heretofore undocumented talent of playing the accordion. Brennan Elliot plays the accordion, and I feel like that was written into the script in order to showcase it.  Leo then asks Sassy Lucy to watch his kids again in order to take Kelly out to dinner. Sassy Lucy takes the kids to go see White Christmas and Mike gets to come along and Sassy Lucy and Mike are on their way to coupledom.

At their date, the restaurant is decorated in white Christmas trees and ew. Kelly has great hair – she points out that she spent half an hour on it, so they are more than friends. Kelly is wondering if it’s a good idea to be all lovey dovey when they’re going to say goodbye after Christmas, but he’s all like let’s seize the moment. And after a walk down the street we get a pre-ending kiss and there’s not even mistletoe involved!

Sassy Lucy and Mike get to be a couple but it’s off screen, so we’re not distracted by Kelly and Leo.

Leo and Mike and Frank have coffee at the Diner and Leo is so happy to have boy time over coffee, and Leo tells Frank he likes Kelly and Frank is ok with that. Then he goes to see Kelly, and in order to save the Lodge, he’s going to take her paintings and put them on the Lodge’s website and his company’s website as well, so in a way, she gets her own art show. But it doesn’t help the cause for the Lodge and the corporate bottom line because Bossman don’t care, even if it does attract Kelly’s agent and gets her excited.

Santa Wagon Ride in town! Kid who likes horses is amazed, and the kids are entranced by everything and they want to come back next year, and that means that Leo feels really guilty about his boss being such a craphead. They walk down the street like a family, and the whole town stares after them in silent admiration.

Sad Times for Leo because he’s got to leave and Kelly is going to stay home. Mike points out that Leo can always get a new job, and it’s like Leo has never, ever, ever thought about that thought yet. He immediately calls his boss with a proposition. But we don’t hear what the proposition is, because Kelly just got a call from her agent that she gets her own show at a Chicago gallery. But Kelly has to be in Chicago to do it.

Leo just bought the Lodge! Kelly can’t tell him that she has good news too, because that means she’s moving back to Chicago. WHY????? This is soooooooo dumb. You can visit Chicago and then LEAVE it, you know. What about her art teacher dream? Leo is understanding because it’s not like they’re really dating, but Oh my GAWD I am so annoyed right now. Sad Time for everyone, including me.

Sassy Lucy has to point out that Kelly’s thinking is whack, and Frank is like, yup. Sassy Lucy and Mike have a little moment where they also agree that Kelly is acting dumb. Because secondary characters don’t have anything else to say unless it’s about the main characters.

Kelly is now so upset about everything – she’s going to miss everything, and she loves Leo’s kids, and is trying to psych herself up to go back to Chicago. She needs someone to tell her what to do, instead of finding out by herself and FINALLY she gets there in a speech that I just said 2 paragraphs ago. MY GOODNESS WHEN WILL THIS MOVIE END?

She immediately has to go tell Leo that she’s staying home, her truth is that she needs to stay home. Her heart is right in Grand Valley and with Leo and yay kissing by the fireplace.

Mike and Sassy Lucy get half a minute of resolution and a little peck on the lips outside on the street as they walk to trim the town tree. The kids are remarkably ok with moving to Wyoming, and something tells me that they haven’t figured out that they’re going to leave all their city friends and their schools and everything. But whatever, happy families in Grand Valley and we’re DONE.

Oh this made me so annoyed. While the acting was all fine, and Dan Lauria is a national dad treasure, I could have gotten the last 120 minutes of my life back doing ANYTHING else but watching this movie. Anyway, I got it done, just so you don’t have to.

Almost done with Christmas movies for the year. This one has Small Towns, Trees, Angst, and Dan Lauria! All That, plus Righteous Anger and Lots and Lots of Painting. I watched Christmas at Grand Valley, just so you don't have to. I have to confess that I am really, really, really, just a smidge, maybe, over the Christmas movies on Hallmark.

[myhappypilloppa-blog]

Oppa’s Information : Lee Joon Gi

Stage Name: Lee Joon Gi /  이준기

Real Name: Lee Jun Ki

Profession: Actor, Singer, Model

Birthdate: April 17, 1982

Birthplace: Busan, South Korea

Weight: 66 kg.

Height: 178 cm/ 5’10’’

Blood Type: B

Zodiac Sign: Aries

Talent Agency: Namoo Actors

Education: Seoul Institute of Arts

Year Graduated: He wasn’t able to graduate because of his poor studies.

Net Worth: 70 million US Dollars

Siblings: Younger sister

Related People: He is in a relationship with actress and Joseon Gunman co-star, Jeon Hye Bin

Social Media Account: instagram

PRE-DEBUT LIFE

·         He became interested in the performing arts as a high school student after watching a performance of Hamlet.

·         He moved to Seoul with a dream to work in the entertainment industry rather than getting into college.

·         He worked at various part-time jobs before he got accepted into Seoul Institute of Arts.

CAREER TIMELINE

2001

·         He debuted as a model for a clothing brand, “So Basic”.

2003

·         He appeared in MBC Nonstop 4.

2004

·         He was cast in the film The Hotel Venus which was produce in Japan and Flying Boys.

·         He got a role in the TV Series, Drama City: What Should I Do? and Star’s Echo.

2005

·         He landed in his first major acting role in the film, The King and The Clown.

·         The producer of the film explained how he chose Joon Gi for the role by just seeing him handstands saying, “Just because of handstands, Lee Joon Gi became the person he is today.

·         He became an “icon” of the South Korean “pretty boy” trend.

·         He was cast in SBS’s My Girl alongside Lee Da-Hae and Lee Dong-Wook.

2006

·         He had his follow up film, Fly, Daddy,Fly.

·         He was reportedly paid 100 million won, relatively low given his rising popularity. This is because the contract was signed in early December when Joon Gi was still an unknown actor.

·         His follow up movie garnered attention among Chinese viewers.

·         He was cast in a cameo role in The 101st Proposal.

·         At the same year, he released an album entitled, My Jun, My Style. It consists of three songs: One Word, Don’t Know Love and Foolish Love.

·         He won a Popular Star Award for King and The Clown in the 27th Blue Dragon Film Awards.

·         He won a Best Couple Award with Kam Woo Sung for King and The Clown at the same event.

·         He awarded as Best Actor in a Music Video for the MV of Grace by Lee Soo Young in the 8th Mnet KM Music Festival.

·         He won as Best New Actor for King and The Clown in the 5th Korean Film Awards.

·         He won as Best New Actor, Popularity Award and Overseas Popularity Award for King and The Clown in the 43rd Grand Bell Awards.

·         He won as Best New Actor for King and The Clown and InStyle Fashionista Award in the 42nd Baeksang Arts Awards.

·         He won as Bes Actor for King and The Clown in the Max Movie Awards.

2007

·         He filmed a joint Korea-Japan movie entitled, Virgin Snow with Japanese Actress, Aoi Miyazaki.

·         The movie was a success, it was placed as 9th at the box office chart and set a new ticket admissions record for Korean film released in Japan.

·         He participated in the film May 18, which based on the events surrounding the Gwangju Massacre of 1980.

·         He took on his first drama leading role in MBC action drama, Time Between Dog and Wolf.

·         He received an Overseas Star Award in the 10th Annual Shanghai International Film Festival.

·         He received a Rising Star Awards in the 27th Hawaii International Film Festival.

·         He won an Excellence Award for Time Between Dog and Wolf in MBC Drama Awards.

·         He was awarded as South Korean Artist of the Year in China Fashion Awards.

·         He received a New and Superior Star Award in the Andre Kim Best Star Awards.

·         He won as Most Popular Actor for Fly, Daddy, Fly in the 43rd Baeksang Awards.

2008

·         From April to July, he played a titular role in SBS’s Iljimae.

·         The final episode achieved a rating of 31.4% viewership. It was also aired in Japan on the channel TV Tokyo.

·         July 29, 2008, he was chosen as ambassador for the 2008 Seoul Hallyu Festival.

·         He was also appointed the first Honorary Legal System Officer since the Constitution of the Government Legislation Agency to commemorate their 60th anniversary.

·         September 2008, he had a contractual dispute with his agency, Mentor Entertainment, whom he was signed to since March 2004 in an exclusive contract for five years. He was being sued for 500 million won for breach of contract and for supposedly hiding 1 billion won in an attempt ti established his own agency in association with his manager.

·         He won as Most Popular Actor for Time Between Dog and Wolf in the 3rd Seoul International Drama Awards.

·         He won a Top Excellence Award, Netizen Popularity Award and Top 10 Stars for Iljimae in SBS Drama Awards.

2009

·         August 5, 2009, he was appointed promotional ambassador of the Korea Tourism Organization.

·         He starred in a comedy-action drama, Hero.

·         He did a documentary together with Kim Ha-neul entitled World Special “LOVE”- Indonesia with Lee Joon Gi and Kim Ha-neul which was aired for a week in tvN.

·         He appeared as guest in Golden Fishery and Family Outing.

·         He released an album entitled J Style consisting of 5 songs: J Style, Soliloquy, I’m Ready, Selfless Dedicated Tree and a Japanese song Fiery Eyes.

·         He won a Popularity Award for Hero in MBC Drama Awards.

2010

·         Upon the expiration of his contract with Mentor Entertainment, he signed with a newly established independent agency, JG Company.

·         May 3, 2010, he was enlisted to serve a mandatory military service. He underwent a five weeks of basic training at Nonsan military training camp and was later drafted into active duty.

·         He had initially applied for a postponement because he was in the midst of shooting Grand Prix with Kim Tae Hee and was cast to star in a TV Drama, Faith. However, Military Manpower Administration declined and sent a final notice for enlistment, leading him to pull out of both projects.

·         He served within the public relations department of the Ministry of National Defense.

·         He was chosen to represent Korea as a goodwill ambassador at the 20th Shanghai Expo.

·         On August, he co-starred with fellow actor Ju Ji Hoon in military musical, Voyage of Life to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Korean War. It was co-produced by the Ministry of National Defense and Korea Musical Theatre Association and was shown for 8 days in the National Theater of Korea.

2012

·         After serving for 21 months of active duty, he was discharged on February 16, 2012 from the Defense Media Agency at Yonsan-dong, Yonsan-gu, Seoul.

·         He held a fanmeeting, “Reunion JG” at Sangmyung Art Center, Seoul.

·         It was followed by fan event tour of Jpan, titled Coming Back in Nagoya, Yokohama and Osaka from March 16 to 19.

·         In May 2012, he co-starred with Shin Min-a in period horror-romance, Arang and the Magistrate. This was his first project after military service.

·         He sang one of OST of Arang and the Magistrate, One Day.

·         On September 12, 2012, his reality show Lee Joon Gi’s JG Style was shown on Mnet Japan.

·         He released his third album, Deucer. It consists of four songs: Together, The Rain, Born Again, and Sweet Memory.

·         He received a Grand Prize, Korean wave category for Lee Joon Gi’s JG Style in the Skapa Awards.

·         He won a Best Couple Award together with Shin Min-a for Arang and the Magistrate in MBC Drama Awards.

2013

·         He starred in the action-thriller, Two Weeks.

·         His second reality show, Lee Joon Gi’s JG World was shown in Mnet Japan.

·         He appeared as guest in Healing Camp and Happy Camp.

·         He released two albums, the CBC / Case by Case which was released on January 29 and My Dear which was released on December 10. CBC/ Case by Case consist of five songs: The Answer (Intro), Tonight, Case by Case, Closer and Lost Frame. My Dear consists of five songs also: Fever, My Dear, Fiery Eyes (New Ver.), Foolish Love (New Ver.) and Selfless Dedicated Tree (New Ver.).

·         He won as Outstanding Korean Actor for Arang and the Magistrate in 8th Seoul International Drama Awards.

·         He won a Top Excellence Award for Two Weeks in 2nd APAN Star Awards.

2014

·         He signed in with a new management agency, Namoo Actors.

·         He starred in the period drama, Gunman in Joseon.

·         On November 21, he released a new album, Exhale. It consists of six songs: Ma Lady, U, For A While, Bring Da Beat (ft. Yoo Seung-chan), Ma Lady (Inst.) and For A While (Inst.).

·         He won an Excellence Award of Actor in a Mid-length Drama for Gunman in Joseon in KBS Drama Awards.

·         He won a Best Couple Award together with Nam Sang-mi for Gunman in Joseon in KBS Drama Awards.

2015

·         He starred in the vampire romance, Scholar Who Walks the Night.

·         He was cast in his first Chinese movie, Never Said Goodbye.

·         He appeared as cameo in a drama series, She Was Pretty.

·         He received an award for Outstanding Korean Actor for Gunman in Joseon in the 10th Seoul International Drama Awards.

·         He won as Top 10 Stars Award for Scholar Who Walks the Night in MBC Drama Awards.

2016

·         On January 2016, he was cast in the lead role in Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo. A Korean remake of the Chinese TV series, Scarlet Heart. The 20-episode drama, budgeted at 13 million US Dollars.

·         On November 1, he hosted a free fan meeting titled, My Love Lee Joon Gi where fans are able to watch the final episode of Moon Lovers with him.

·         On October 2016, he signed as a new model for Lotte Duty Free Shop.

·         On December 3, he released a new album, Thank You. It consists of three songs: Thank You, Now and We Wish You A Merry Christmas.

·         He co-starred in a promotional web drama, First Seven Kisses.

·         He will be making is Hollywood debut with an appearance in the sixth and final installment of the Resident Evil series titled, Resident Evil: The Final Chapter which premiered on December 23, 2016 in Japan.

·         He appeared as guest in Running Man together with co-star, Hong Jonghyun and Kang Haneul.

·         He won a Top 10 Stars Award, K-Wave Star Award and Best Couple Award with Lee Ji-eun (IU) for Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo in SBS Drama Awards.

2017

·         His Hollywood debut movie, Resident Evil: The Final Chapter was released internationally on January 27, 2017.

·         On March 2017, he was a cast member of the second season of tvN’s variety show, My Ear Candy together with Park Min-young.

© DramaWiki, Wikipedia, FrostSnow, Sanaunet

[wellimhavinga3outof10day]

Lost Lullabies - Chapter Sixteen

Description: Mickey Milkovich, former child star turned action movie star, runs into his old co-star, Ian Gallagher, out on the street in the middle of a winter night. When Mickey takes him in, he doesn’t realize that Ian has the power to completely turn his new life upside down.

Chapters: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

Read on AO3

Ian walked in through the backdoor of the Gallagher house and was immediately assaulted by half a dozen people yelling his name. He did his best not to drop the gifts he’d brought as Debbie wrapped her arms around his middle. Kissing her on the head, Ian greeted her and handed off the presents to Fiona who was always ready to step in so a disaster could be avoided. Debbie pulled away so Carl could take her place, his hug a little more formal, his disastrous impulses now mostly sated by his military training. Liam grabbed onto Ian’s leg as well and, for a moment, Ian found it impossible to move.

           After his younger siblings had finished with him, Ian shrugged off his coat and took a seat at the kitchen counter. Fiona scrambled around from the fridge to the cupboards as she tried to cook several dishes at once.

           “Need any help?” Ian said.

           “You’ll just slow me down,” she said, not even a hint that she was joking in her tone. As she bent down to check on the turkey in the oven, she added, “Where’s Mickey? I thought you said he was coming.”

           “He wanted to take a later train,” Ian said. “Something about Milkovich Christmas Eve tradition being getting wasted as fuck.” He shrugged and dipped a finger into the mashed potatoes before licking it off.

           “That’s disgusting.” Fiona winced as the sound of a crash came from the other room but ignored it. The one good thing about all the kids being old now – with the exception of Liam – was that she could trust them to sort out their own shit every once in a while. “How is it working with Mickey again? You know, especially after all that stuff that you told me a while ago.”

           Ian laughed, shrugged. “It’s pretty good, actually. He’s... he’s happier than he used to be.”

           Fiona raised an eyebrow. “Anything happen between you two?”

           “You really want to know?”

           She shrugged. “Spare me the details, I am still your sister, but if I’m seeing your boyfriend instead of your incredibly homophobic crush, I gotta act different.”

           “Let’s say you’re meeting my incredibly homophobic and closeted boyfriend.”

           “That sounds like a recipe for disaster.”

           Ian didn’t know how to respond to that, so he didn’t. He watched Fiona cook for a little longer before slipping off his stool and heading into the living room where the rest of his siblings waited. Liam was sitting in front of the Christmas tree, shaking presents one by one. Carl sat slouched on the couch flipping from Christmas cartoon to Christmas cartoon to Die Hard to Christmas cartoon. And Debbie stood at the back of the room with Frannie in her arms, cooing at the girl.

           Ian walked over and kissed his niece on the cheek – it’d been four years and he still found it weird that he had a niece. As he spoke to her in sweet, soothing tones, the front door opened. He looked up to find Lip walking in, unravelling a scarf from around his neck.

            Ian stiffened and watched his brother, waiting for him to look up. To say their relationship was strained would be a bit of an understatement. Ian had thrown his life down the drain and dragged Lip with him. Even though Lip had pulled himself out – he had taken courses to boost his high school grades, gotten a couple scholarships and went off to college – he still blamed Ian for his life being further behind than it should have been. And he had every right to.

           But when Lip looked up and saw Ian, he only smiled and pulled his brother into a hug. “Hey, man,” he said with a laugh. He clapped Ian hard on the back. “You’re looking good. Like really good. How long have you been clean now?”

           Ian shrugged. “A little over two months.”

           “Wow. I’m proud of you. Real proud.” Lip stepped back and took off his jacket. “Can’t believe you went back to acting though. I vividly remember your exact words being ‘not even if those Disney fags suck my cock.’” He raised a brow. “So, who did the sucking? Was it Manning? Because I’d really like to see that prick get on his knees.”

           “No luck there.” Ian laughed. He lingered awkwardly in the middle of the living room as Lip went to sit down beside Carl. He felt out of place in the house even though he’d lived there his entire life. Maybe he finally got why Mickey never came back to the Southside. After movie sets and constant drug tests and safety, it felt like a trigger bomb just waiting to explode.

           Ian forced himself to settle and took up a spot on the arm of the couch. He made it through half the Rudolph movie before the doorbell rang. Jumping up, he went for the door and opened it to see Mickey and Mandy on the other side. He couldn’t help himself. His heart leaped in his chest. Grabbing Mickey by the back of his neck, he pulled him into a heated kiss and backed right into the living room without letting go of him.

           When he pulled off long minutes later, he smiled and whispered, “Merry Christmas.”

           “Merry Christmas,” Mickey replied, his voice low and sultry in a way that made Ian’s blood rush downwards. Mickey cocked an eyebrow. “I didn’t know my present to you was coming out to your entire family.”

           “Sorry.” Ian bit his lip. “I’m just happy to see you. You mad?”

           “Not at all.” Mickey pressed forward and kissed him again.

           They broke apart to Mandy’s laughter. Ian let go of Mickey to hug her, kiss her on the cheek. “It’s good to see you again,” he said. “When you moved to New York, I thought we’d lost you for good.”

           “You would’ve too if I could have only gotten a ring on my finger.” Mandy shook her head and sighed. “But now I see my brother’s already stolen you from me?”

           Ian laughed and got the Milkoviches settled in to the living room. He ended up sitting practically in Mickey’s lap – not that that was an accident at all – and whispered most of what he said into Mickey’s ear. The entire time Mickey kept shooting him glances that mixed affection with worry, an expression that turned Ian’s stomach, but he was too high on life to let it bother him. Mickey could be worried. Hell, Mickey could think he was on drugs for all he cared. If he got to sit on Mickey’s lap, nibble on his ear, and play his fingers across his chest, he didn’t care if Mickey thought he was involved in a terrorist plot.

           Fiona came out of the kitchen thirty minutes after they arrived. She hugged Mandy and gave Mickey a slight wave, a smirk brimming on her lips. She got the party started with quick efficiency, getting Liam to hand out the presents, and ending all childish arguments about who got to go first. She even pulled out a camera to make memories. Ian gave Mickey a huge kiss on the cheek when she turned the camera their way and the end result was a Polaroid picture of Mickey laughing like a maniac.

           With all the presents open and the crowd going back to their own business, Ian leaned his lips close to Mickey’s ear and said, “I got you something really special back at my hotel.”

           “Mmm,” Mickey murmured. His eyes were half-closed like he was sleepy drunk without having had a single beer. “Is that what’s stuffed in your closet?”

           “Maybe.”

           “Ian...” Mickey sighed and Ian tensed. Mickey let his hand rub smoothly up Ian’s leg, a comforting gesture as he looked up with serious blue eyes. “I need to talk to you about something. And I don’t think you’re gonna like it.”

           Ian nodded, slow. “I get it. You wanna stay in the closet for your image. It’s not a big deal. I can—”

           “Ian, this isn’t about me. It’s about you.”

           “I’m not on drugs.”

           Mickey shifted out from under Ian and got to his feet. He grabbed Ian’s hand and pulled him out the front door, stopping on the porch. He turned to look Ian in the eyes. “We need to go to the clinic.”

           “What?” Ian said. “Because I didn’t use a condom? Look, sure, I haven’t been tested in a while, but I’m usually safe and I haven’t shot up since the last time I was tested, so I’m sure there’s nothing to worry about.

           Mickey let out an annoyed exhale. “No, Ian. Not that.”

           “Then what?”

           “I think you’re manic.”

           Ian blinked. “What?”

           “You’ve been off the rails lately, Ian. And if you say you’re clean, then I believe you, but you’re still not sleeping and who knows how much shit you’ve bought to stuff that closet and you’re still talking way too fast and... I Googled it. They may all be drug symptoms, yeah, but they’re also bipolar symptoms. And your mom—”

           “I know what my mom had,” Ian snapped. “Fuck, Mickey.”

           Mickey grabbed his elbow, stopped him from turning away. “I know you don’t want to hear this,” he said, his voice just a little unsteady. “Fuck, I don’t wanna be right about this, Ian. But you know the kind of shit your mom used to do. And I’ve been looking it up and the drug abuse... a lot of bipolar people use drugs and alcohol to cope. I don’t want you backsliding because there’s something else going on other than addiction.”

           Ian met Mickey’s eyes and softened a little. There was nothing but concern in the other man’s eyes. “Fine,” Ian said. “We can go to a clinic.”

           He stepped to go back inside but Mickey stopped him, again. Mickey said, “I think we should go to the clinic now, Ian. Hopefully get this all sorted out before we start filming again.”

           “And when the studio gets word of this? They were wary of hiring me in the first place, Mick. And I can’t hide this from them when they’re testing my piss every week. Sure, they’ll be fucking confused as to why I’m using Lithium to get high, but if you think—”

           “Ian. You are the best actor on that set.” Mickey’s eyes were bright like fire. “Anyways, they can’t fire you for having a fucking mental disorder. It’s unethical and you could sue their asses for it.”

           Ian nodded.

           “So, the clinic?”

           “Fine. Whatever.”

           Mickey let go of him and waited. With a sigh, Ian headed down the front steps and started down the road. He knew where the community clinic was. Between having every one of Debbie’s pregnancy check-ups there and Ian having ended up there high off his ass more than once, the route was seared into his mind. It sent chills through him to be back there. He hadn’t been back in a while.

           He walked through the glass door, leaving Mickey to catch the door on his own. The nurse at the front desk looked up with a smile. “Mr. Gallagher,” she said. Ian tried to remember her name, failed, and glanced down at her name tag. Nancy. “How nice to see you again. What can I help you with?”

           “I, uh...” Ian dropped his eyes to the countertop.

           Mickey nudged him in the ribs, gave him a curious look.

           Ian shook his head.

           “He thinks he might be bipolar, like his mom,” Mickey said, his voice low despite the fact that the place was empty. “We were hoping you guys had some tests you could run or something?”

           Nancy nodded and stood up. “Of course. Mr. Gallagher, do you want this man to come in with you?”

           Ian shot Mickey a glance and then shook his head, quick. He looked down at his feet while Nancy rummaged for the right paperwork. With a smile, she ushered Ian out of the waiting room and down a long white hallway that he knew too well. As they went, she chattered on about the weather and staff gossip and asked him innocuous questions about his life. Then she stopped beside a white door.

           “You’ve dealt with Dr. Charles before,” she said. “You spent quite a bit of time talking to him about addiction when you were a teenager. Do you remember?”

           Ian nodded.

           “All right. He’ll be with you in a minute.”

           Ian entered the small room with a tight weight in his stomach. He took a seat in one of the two armchairs, tapped his fingers against his knee, and looked around the room. The walls were white and bare. The only other furniture in the room was a small desk with a computer on it, the Windows logo bouncing around the screen. Ian started to regret not asking Mickey to come in with him but he didn’t know what Dr. Charles would ask and he didn’t know what he didn’t want Mickey to know.

           Dr. Charles entered a few minutes later, a smile on his wrinkled face. He’d seemed to age two years for every year Ian had been away from him. “Ian,” he said as he took his seat, resting his clipboard on his knees. “What a pleasant surprise to see you again.”

           “Don’t doctors kind of hope they won’t see their patients again?”

           “We both know you stopped coming to sessions against my wishes,” he said but he didn’t seem upset. “Can you tell me what’s brought you back?”

           “I, um, well,” Ian began. He took a deep breath and spoke to his feet. “I might be bipolar.”

           “Bipolar?”

           “My mom has it and I’ve been... I’ve been really fucking happy lately and I don’t see why that’s a problem but my... friend thinks it’s an issue and with my family history, it’s just... he wanted me to come.”

           “Ian.” Dr. Charles waited until Ian looked up at him. “I want you to know that having a mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of. No matter what we figure out here today, you have to keep that in mind.”

           Ian nodded.

           “Now, let me pull up a little questionnaire and we’ll see what we find, okay?”

           Ian nodded again. He waited for Dr. Charles to wake up his computer and find the right sheet. Then he started with the questions. The first ones were easy – name, date of birth, height, sex, weight – but then they started to get a little harder. He had to describe his symptoms and really, he just started listing off the things Mickey had said he was doing. He hadn’t even realized most of it. Sure, he knew that sleeping three or four hours a night wasn’t normal and that he’d been wasting his money, but he thought it was all the hype of the movie set. Even when the director told him to speak slower, he always thought it was his nerves getting the better of him. He didn’t think he’d ever done anything like Monica, nothing worthy of having people compare him to her.

           “Hypersexuality?” Dr. Charles said.

           “What?”

           “Hypersexuality,” he repeated. “Having a higher sex drive than normal.”

           Ian stared at him for a long moment, nausea curling in his stomach. He’d been on Grindr way more than usual. He’d jacked off maybe seven times yesterday to the thought of Mickey. How many times had he told Mickey he’d just wanted to be friends only to crumble under the weight of his lips? Had that all been the illness? Had none of that been his feelings for Mickey? Was it just about sex? He thought he might start hyperventilating. He didn’t want his first time with Mickey to have been about an overblown libido, didn’t want to go on meds just to realize he’d never wanted Mickey at all.

           “No,” Ian lied. “Nothing like that.”

           Dr. Charles typed it in. A few questions later, he finished the questions and turned to Ian. “Well, Ian, it takes more than a cursory assessment to properly diagnose bipolar disorder. Furthermore, there are different types and which one you have won’t become clear without more therapy.”

           “But?”

           “From what you’ve said to me today mixed with your family history, I would say there is a strong chance you are bipolar.” He held up a hand to stop Ian from interrupting him. “I’m going to start you on a low dose of Lithium and I’ll need you to talk to Nancy at the front desk to set up weekly appointments. It’s all right, Ian. We’ll get through this together.”

           Ian was too numb to even nod. He got up from his seat and let Dr. Charles lead him back to the waiting room. Mickey stood immediately but Ian was already moving. He barrelled out the door, breathing hard, and only stopped two blocks away to catch his breath. A few minutes later, Mickey caught up with him.

           “What the fuck, man?” Mickey sounded out of breath. “You okay? What happened in there?”

           “Forget it,” Ian said.

           “You just burst out of there like a fucking race horse and you want me to forget it?” Mickey grabbed Ian’s shoulder and turned him to face him. “What’s up? What did the doctor say?”

           Ian bit his lip hard. More than anything, he wanted to shake Mickey off, yell at him, and walk away. He didn’t want Mickey to know. He didn’t want Mickey to worry. And he definitely didn’t want Mickey Googling more shit just to find out that Ian’s sex drive had nothing to do with him at all.

           “Ian,” Mickey said, soft. “I’m here. Whatever’s going on, I’m here.”

           “He said maybe.”

           “Maybe?”

           Ian shrugged. “It’s hard to diagnose apparently, but he wants me to come to therapy and start Lithium and... fuck. Mickey, I can’t do it.”

           “Sure you can. Maybe not here, but we’ll get you a therapist closer to work and—”

           “No, Mick, I can’t fucking live like this. I can’t be bipolar. I just can’t.”

           Mickey’s eyes widened a little. “What are you saying, Ian?”

           Ian shook his head, tried to blink back the tears. “I’m just... My family already thinks I’m Frank. I can’t be Monica, too.”

           “You’re Ian,” Mickey said. He stepped closer and wrapped his arms around Ian, holding him tight. “Fuck your family. And fuck what they think of you. You are not your parents, Ian. You are you and you’re a lot fucking better of a person than they are.”

           “You sure about that?”

           Mickey nodded and pulled away. “Now, come on. Let’s go back there and book those therapy sessions, okay?”

           “Okay.” Ian reached out for Mickey’s hand and wrapped their fingers together. To his surprise, Mickey let him and didn’t pull away for the whole walk back to the clinic.

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