#nutcracker season 2022

[sariahgonzales626]

Baby sara

[notmrkillwolf666]

nice

Nutcracker Season 2022

Nov 30th - Meeting the Mouse King

One day I'll figure out how to draw Dragomir consistently. Still, Clara is in for a rough night.

—

Nutcracker Season 2022 prompt list by @artsynoova

[mightbewriting]

tis the season

hello friends! while i didn't have the time this year to participate in any seasonal fic writing (boo!), i did still want to celebrate my favorite season for fanfic somehow (yay!), so i've pulled together a short list of some of the seasonal fics i've enjoyed over the last few years. hopefully some will be new to you and/or fun jaunts down memory lane. either way, i wish you wonderful reading and would love it if you shared some of your favorite seasonal fics too!

(and don't forget, like every year, d/hr advent is ongoing, and an excellent place to start if you're in search of seasonal dramione vibes)

i'm never lonely when i'm with you & keep it like a secret by @pacific-rimbaud

new years resolution by @sodamnradd

and the bells were ringing out by @ifyouwereamelodymeg

once upon a december by peanutbrittles123

now is a gift by @senlinyu

the nutcracker pas de deux by @heyjude19-writing

not what it looks like & lattes and larceny by @eveningstruggle

in want of a wife by @ambpersand

the warmth at our backs by @malpal132

not safe for work by @eggbagelsjr

against sure winter by @skiitter

some collections to check out too: d/hr advent full collection (since 2011!!), cdc secret santa 2022, hp festival of stars (2022, 2023), winter wonderfics

happy reading everyone!

[thyme-in-a-bubble]

a list of some winter movies/series ❄️

hello! your friendly neighbourhood little organisation freak of a goblin is here again to give you a list of winter movies and series. this isn't a christmas focused list, just winter vibes, there's only a very very small handful of christmas centred stuff on here. as always, just close your eyes and point somewhere on this little list, or even put the numbers in a generator and go with whatever the result is ♡

spring | summer | autumn

🧣 ‧₊˚ ⋅ movies ⋅˚₊‧

star wars franchise (1977-)

the shining (1980)

edward scissorhands (1990)

beauty and the beast (1991)

the muppet christmas catol (1992) 

batman returns (1992)

the bodyguard (1992)

the cutting edge (1992, 2006, 2008)

while you were sleeping (1995)

titanic (1997)

anastasia (1997)

snow day (2000)

bridget jones’s diary (2001)

save the last dance (2001)

monsters, inc (2001)

peter pan (2003)

the day after tomorrow (2004)

family stone (2005)

ice princess (2005)

the chronicles of narnia: the lion, the witch, and the wardrobe (2005) 

the holiday (2006)

last holiday (2006)

eastern promises (2007)

the curious case of benjamin button (2008)

the time traveler’s wife (2009, 2022)

sherlock holms (2009)

black swan (2010)

inception (2010)

new year’s eve (2011)

the girl with the dragon tattoo (2011)

red riding hood (2011)

they grey (2011)

captain america: the first avenger (2011)

the vow (2012)

anna karenina (2012)

snow white and the huntsman (2012)

frozen (2013)

the wind rises (2013)

iron man 3 (2013)

snowpiercer (2013)

the drop (2014)

winter’s tale (2014)

the grand budapest hotel (2014)

carol (2015)

the age of adaline (2015)

the revenant (2015)

everest (2015)

krampus (2015)

split (2016)

phantom thread (2017)

wind river (2017)

murder on the orient express (2017)

atomic blond (2017)

the mountain between us (2017)

night hunter (2018)

hold the dark (2018)

the nutcracker and the four realms (2018)

alita: battle angel (2019)

anna (2019)

little women (2019)

five feet apart (2019)

last christmas (2019)

happiest season (2020)

the world to come (2020)

silver skates (2020)

spider-man: no way home (2021)

the mauritanian (2021)

black widow (2021)

something from tiffany's (2022)

ghostbusters: frozen empire (2014)

🛷 ‧₊˚ ⋅ series ⋅˚₊‧

criminal minds (2005-2020, 2022-)

downton abbey (2010-2015)

game of thrones (2011-2019)

orphan black (2013-2017)

peaky blinders (2013-2022)

critical role (2015-)

daredevil (2015-2018)

wynonna earp (2016-2021)

war and peace (2016)

godless (2017)

the punisher (2017-2019)

anne with an e (2017-2019)

the bodyguard (2018)

killing eve (2018-2022)

the mandalorian (2019-)

young royals (2021)

shadow and bone (2021-2023)

vikings valhalla (2022-2024)

the last of us (2023-)

masters of the air (2024)

[saturnnutcracker]

I’m reblogging this cause it’s my most favorite memory of it~

Nutcracker Season #17 Outfit Swap Ben isn´t sure about the heels, but he does like the cape Ivan belongs to @ivanandrainfall45

[dem-obscure-imagines]

Christmas/Holidays/New Year's Eve Masterlist

In the mood for some winter fluff? Look no further than these curated picks from my collection.

General Winter Imagines

Arthur Curry x Reader

Sweater Weather - Fluff

When it gets colder outside, the king of the sea loans you his sweater.

Jack Frost x Reader

Snowflake - Fluff, Soulmate AU

Your soulmark is a snowflake, and thus, winter easily became your favorite season. However, you have a good feeling about winter this year, a tingly feeling that makes your mark glow...

Tired of Gray - Fluff, Soulmate AU

It’s Christmas time and you’re just about sick of your gray, gray world. Luckily, your soulmate is known to visit in the winter.

Christmas/Holiday Imagines

Bernard the Elf x Reader

The Way it Was Before - Alternate Universe, Bernard exists during Escape Clause Plot, Magic!Reader, a light angst, a lot of fluff.

Something is VERY wrong this Christmas, and it seems you’re the only person in the world who remembers the way things were before. Well, almost the only person. It’s up to you and the Head Elf to save the day before Jack’s wish becomes irreversible.

Home for the Holidays - Fluff, Christmas, Santa’s Daughter!Reader

When you come home for Christmas, Bernard realizes that you’re the reincarnation of someone very dear to him.

All I Want For Christmas - Fluff, Christmas, Santa’s Daughter!Reader

Being Santa Claus’ daughter, it was only inevitable that you’d catch feelings for his head elf…

Dear Santa… - Fluff, Writer Elf!Reader

The writing department has been especially short on elves this year, and this means you find yourself responsible for writing a whole bunch of letters. Luckily, the head elf has his eye on you.

Druig x Reader

Merry Little Christmas - Fluff, Christmas, GN! Reader

Christmas with the Eternals is a little extra special this year because of a certain mind-controlling telepath…

Prince Eric (Barbie in the Nutcracker)

Real - Fluff, Christmas

After arriving back in your living room, you’re startled to find out that the previous night was real, Mouse King, Nutcracker, and all.

Home - Fluff, Christmas

The locket is supposed to take you home, but in your heart, you know you’re already there.

Steve Harrington x Reader

About Time - Fluff, Soulmate AU, Time Travel

You discover a time-traveling wormhole in your closet and a hot guy from the 80′s on the other side of it.

Steve Rogers x Reader

The Nutcracker - Fluff, Ballerina!Reader

When your winter recital finally comes around, Steve is more than happy to support you.

Warren Worthington III x Reader

Merry Christmas, Darling - Fluff, Christmas, Mutant!Reader, Gender Neutral!Reader

The Holidays are in full swing at the X Mansion, and as always, you are tasked with helping run the place. But things are a lot less dull with a certain winged mutant around.

Santa Baby - Fluff, Christmas

You use the power of invisibility to put a Santa hat on each of the X-Men. 

New Year's Eve Kisses

New Year’s Eve Kisses 2017 - Steve Harrington, Marty McFly, Edmund Pevensie, Thackery Binx, Wanda Maximoff

New Year’s Eve Kisses 2020 - Alex Vreeke (Jumanji), Jack Frost, Ben Tennyson, Diaval, Peeta Mellark

New Year’s Eve Kisses 2021 - Bernard the Elf, Bucky Barnes, Diana Prince, Killian Jones, Pietro Maximoff

New Year’s Eve Kisses 2022 - Eddie Munson, Druig, Kili, Neville Longbottom, Peter Pan

New Year’s Eve Kisses 2023 - Roronoa Zoro, Barbie, Jaime Reyes, Hank McCoy, Sasappis

[3416]

I have noticed the decline in good media content. And for me, it started to slowly decline last season. We had the Sobeys video which was a gem at the start of the 2023-2024 and Ryan Reaves scaring everyone. There was Leafs Blue Room but idk it’s just not it. Idk, I prefer leaf to leaf (the last time it happened was in the 2022-2023 season) which is when there was two players asking each other questions and playing games. I don’t know why they seem to focus on individuality instead on the team spirit. I also liked when they did a series where they would eat meals that were specific to a player’s cultural background. Also, I might be going crazy but the Blueprints seem more…. bland? I really think focusing too much on one individual makes it less enjoyable and I would like to sprinkle more teammates interacting.

It’s less fun for sure. They would never send another duo to go dance for the Nutcracker (throwback to 2018 when 16-34 did that). Or make a full fun video of two players working at Tim Horton (just like circa 2022 with Michael Bunting and William Nylander). Like they won’t do anything fun with multiple players unless it’s a commercial.

Forget about a Kniesy and Woller doing some kind of fun video together (they could really do something with those two and their friendship—for goodness sakes they went to a bee exhibition together at the beginning of the season). Or like Benny loves to cook and like he does a cooking show (add Woll and Knies who have talked about taking cooking lessons).

It’s just so bad and low effort. And even the instagram doesn’t post every goals (and I noticed that there was an inconsistency since last season). Some people need to be fired!!

i don't actually think it's the social teams fault for the way content is set right now. i think the leafs/mlse/whoever else has corporate interest probably have some pretty strict rules abt what can and cannot be shown and they probably have to get permission for stuff like walkin pics and that sort of thing. but that doesn't mean it doesn't suck, i just don't know exactly who or what is to blame for the steady decline.

i think blue room is wayyy weaker than leaf to leaf, but this year they're going back to the duo thing which is a bit more fun. i don't mind the blueprints with a more narrowed focus on individuals, they did that last year too (and had some individual based eps back during covid times too) and i love that we get to learn about the staff, the logistics have always been fascinating to me, but i just think what they're putting in them is so....... i'm sure it varies player to player abt what they're willing to share in terms of family life and outside hockey stuff, but also,, like i've been complaining abt, it's just a little lifeless to me. social media is definitely not the focus but some other teams are certainly lapping us in personality and behind the scenes stuff and trying to keep an online audience engaged. and i mostly just miss the fun loving extra stuff..... the sewer ball videos.... the tidbits of them fooling around in the locker room or celebrating each other for long and short blueprints... stuff like that. i don't blame them for not putting out like high effort stuff like giving the players their own shows that need backdrops and stuff, but i miss the personality in general, lol. maybe there's lots more to come that they filmed on media day and stuff that we don't know about but lol. doubtful.

[fruitcoops]

i just reread "big head" and laughed my ass off, will you do another ego award one pretty pleeeeeaseee? (only if you want of course :))

One of my favorites! Character credit goes to @lumosinlove <3

(Part 1: Big Head)

“The 2022-2023 hockey season has officially wrapped,” Talker announced as he walked backward down the hallway of Gryffindor Arena. “This team had a run for the history books and everyone is so proud—and so grateful—to have such outstanding fans there with us every step of the way. We truly could not have done it without you.

“As a ‘thank you’ for everything you’ve done for us this year, we’d like to continue a very special end-of-season tradition: the Ego Award. Some of you may recall our reigning champion, Heartthrob O’Hara himself, and his fabulously embarrassing stories from last year.” He paused just outside the locker room with a significant look toward the camera. “Those may be big shoes to fill, but rest assured we have found the one person who can literally and figuratively get the job done. Behold.”

He swept the door open with one hand and chaos spilled out in a rush.

“Read it! Read it! Read it!” half the room chanted.

“Eat it! Eat it! Eat it!” the other half cheered.

“I can’t,” came Leo’s distressed answer, red all the way from his ears to his neck as he gripped a wrinkled piece of notebook paper. “You guys, this is such a—”

“Gentlemen!” The room fell silent as Talker spread his arms with a wide smile. “Welcome to the 2023 Ego Award, hosted by yours truly and bestowed upon our sweet baby net angel, the Nutcracker.”

“It’s Knut,” Leo said miserably. “Like the lizard.”

“Hush, Crunchy Peanut Butter. Do you have your punishment prepared?”

Leo turned baleful eyes on the camera. He looked rather like a puppy that had been put outside in the rain, hunched in his stall and surrounded by his carrion-bird teammates. “Save me.”

“Saviors are for the humble. You, sir, were voted off that island. Read.”

“Oh, god,” Leo mumbled under his breath as he unfolded the paper. In the corner of the frame, Finn watched him with unhindered glee. “My name is Leo Knut, and these are my top five most humbling moments with the Gryffindor Lions. Because clearly I don’t suffer enough for this team.”

“Keep that up and you’re getting the Potty Mouth Award, too,” Talker warned.

“You can’t—” Leo rolled his eyes. “Fine. Number five: trying to drink out of the wrong side of my waterbottle.”

“How many times?” Finn prompted eagerly.

“Once.”

A chorus of protests rose up—Leo pressed his lips into a thin line.

“Nine times. Shut up. Number four: losing a kitten in my shirt when we had a shelter visit."

"Two kittens," Sirius corrected. "One went up your pant leg."

"Oh my god, can you not?"

“That one was delightful,” Kasey agreed, nodding along. “Just—honestly, one of my favorite memories.”

Leo smoothed the edge of the page, nose wrinkling like he had smelled something unpleasant. “Is it too late to eat the paper?”

Remus tsked. “We gave you a chance. Not our fault you chose the most painful path.”

A rogue socked foot came into frame and poked Leo on the shin. “Read, Butterball.”

“Number three,” Leo continued, tilting his face to the ceiling in a clear bid for strength. “Getting stuck jumping the boards, falling back onto the ice, slipping when I got up again, and only making it over successfully with the help of two different people dragging me over the edge.”

“Like hauling a bag of bricks,” Logan mused from his place on the floor.

Dumo nodded solemnly. “Or a dead bear.”

“Slip a disc about it, Grandpa,” Leo quipped before glancing to Talker. “If I read the next one without eating this paper, can I skip the last one?”

“No,” the rest of the team answered in perfect unison.

“We all go through trying times,” Finn said with a pat to Leo’s knee. “Look on the bright side: at least it isn’t me this year!”

Leo stared at him for a long, silent moment.

“You astound me,” he said at last.

“Thank you.”

“That’s not a compliment.”

“I’m taking it as one.”

“How did I end up with this award?” He looked around the team with a lost expression. “How is it not Ginger Spice every goddamn year?”

“Because we have to switch it up so we can trauma-bond over mutual humiliation,” Talker informed him. “Also, you’re a little fucker and you can’t hide it from the good people of Gryffindor forever.”

Leo shook his head, but turned back to his notes. “Number two: leaving the ice baths to get my Gatorade, then slipping and falling in my own puddle on the way back.” He closed his eyes. “And spilling the entire bottle of Gatorade on myself. And slipping in that as well.”

“It’s important to me that people know you just laid there for, like, five full seconds,” Kasey added.

“Thanks.”

“Any time, Honeynut Cheerios.”

“After I’m done, can someone bury me under the net? I want to haunt you all for making me do this.”

Several noises of assent followed and Leo nodded.

“Cool. Sweet. I love this for myself.” He cleared his throat and leaned his elbows on his knees. “Number one: I underestimated the weight of my new gear, sat on a stool, and fell backwards off it. I took six and a half people down with me like a bowling ball wrapped in Velcro and foam. Every second of it was caught on camera and replayed through commercial breaks, then late-night television. Harzy, will you do the honors?”

“Of course, Bodacious Nutacious.”

Leo held his arms up and Finn scooped him over his shoulder with a grin as the room erupted into whoops, hollers, and applause. The camera followed the stream of players out and down the hallway; Talker stepped into frame once more, craning his neck to watch Leo and Finn disappear around the corner.

“Thanks for joining us for another year, Lions,” he laughed. “We look forward to so many more. Stay humble!”

[balletomaneblog]

The Top Ten Female Vaganova Graduates of the Past Ten Years: Then and Now (Part II)

2020 - Anastasia Smirnova (First Soloist at Stanislavksy):

Another total no-brainer, she was the clear star of her graduating year, even though there were so many other strong graduates that year and there was no graduation performance due to COVID. At only fourteen she won the Diana Vishneva Prize at the Vaganova Prix and danced several roles with Mikhailovsky while still a student. After graduating, she joined the Mikhailovksy as a soloist, left to dance in the corps de ballet for six months at the Mariinsky, before returning and shortly afterwards was promoted to First Soloist. At the start of this season she left the Mikhailovsky again to join the Stanislavsky as a First Soloist. She also won 2nd prize at IBC Moscow in 2022.

Role I'd love to see her début: Esmeralda

Special Mentions: Lizi Avzanishvili, Valeria Bespalova, Anastasia Plotnikova

2020 (Masha Variation):

2023 (Grand Pas Classique Adagio):

2021 - Maria Chernyvskaya (Mariinsky Coryphée):

The 2021 graduating class was a more low-key class than in the preceding few years, but it still had quite a few strong graduates. Chernyvskaya finished at the top of her class and performed the lead role of Swanhilda in Act 3 of Coppélia at her graduation. She was promoted to coryphée after only a year and a half as the Mariinsky. Her biggest roles at the Mariinsky currently include Carmen, Rubies Soloist, Etruscans in Spartacus, and Queen of the Snowflakes. Chernyvskaya possesses sharp and fiery qualities that are rarer in the Mariinsky ranks, similar to dancers like Bulanova and Tkachenko.

Role I'd love to see her début: Myrtha

Special Mentions: Viktoria Mokrousova, Elena Lyskova

2019 (Napoli Pas de Six at 2019 graduation)

2023 (Guadalquivir in La Fille du Pharaon):

2022 - Maria Shevela (Mariinsky Corps de Ballet):

The 2022 class was largely overshadowed by the 2023 class in their graduation performances and Shevela was one of the few students of her class to be given a soloist role, where she performed Part 3 of Classical Symphony. She also danced numerous solo roles in smaller concerts and joined the Mariinsky after her graduation. She predominantly dances in the corps de ballet, but she also often performs in coryphée and smaller soloist roles. I personally really have a soft spot for Shevela, I think she's a lovely dancer and shows great technical ability. I particularly enjoy when she dances in trios with Ustyuzhanina and Lyskova as seen in the clip below.

Role I'd love to see her début: 11th Waltz in Chopiniana

Special Mentions: Anastasia Zinchenko

2021 (Variation in Spring Concert during 7th year):

2023 (Shyrin's Friends début in Legend of Love with Lyskova and Ustyuzhanina):

2023 - Maria Koshkareva (Bolshoi Soloist):

The 2023 graduating class reminded me a lot of the 2018 and 2015 graduating classes, with so much talent that many dancers who would have been clear stars of their class in other years were one of many in 2023. Koshkareva's had the most hype even among such a strong class since her performance in Conservatory in the 2021 graduation, and afterwards performed leading roles in the Nutcracker, Gioconda, Classical Symphony, and The Garden Scene of Le Corsaire during her last two years at Vaganova. She also won first prize in the junior category of IBC Moscow and was, along with Kuprina and Zinchenko, given a trainee position at the Mariinsky during her final year of schooling. After graduation, she joined the Bolshoi directly as a soloist. In my opinion, she had a slightly rocky first season due to how much was piled on her straight away by management, but now has really gained her footing with strong Kitri and Angela débuts this season. She also has greatly improved her Gamzatti and had a beautiful Masha debut last year. In all, I wouldn't be surprised if she received a promotion to First Soloist soon.

Role I'd love to see her début: Aurora

Special Mentions: Yaroslavna Kuprina, Sofia Valiullina, Daria Kulikova, Angelina Karamysheva

2023 (Medora variation at graduation):

2024 (Variation from Markitenka):

2024 - Alisa Barinova (Mariinsky Corps de Ballet):

Alisa Barinova performed as a beautiful Gulnare in Vaganova's 2023 graduation where she was one of the few younger dancers who was featured alongside such a dominant graduating class. She then had a strong final year at Vaganova, which she ended by performing as Aurora in Act 3 of the Sleeping Beauty in the 2024 show. I found that she showed great technical strength in a very challenging role. She has only been at the Mariinsky for a few months ago but she has already debuted several important soloist roles there, such as Prince's Friends in Swan Lake and Flower-sellers in Don Quixote.

Role I'd love to see her début: Almehs in La Fille du Pharaon

Special Mentions: Elisabetta Nalin

2024 (Aurora in Sleeping Beauty Act 3 during graduation):

[dance-world]

Shale Wagman - First Soloist, Bavarian State Ballet

Shale Wagman trained in Toronto and in Monte Carlo at the Académie Princesse Grace. He has received numerous awards, including the first prize at the Prix de Lausanne, the Rudolf Nureyev Foundation award for artistry in 2018 and the youth American Grand Prix (2014). He was the youngest guest ever invited to perform in a principal role (James in La Sylphide) at the Mariinsky. He has performed in many gala performances, including the International Ballet Festival in St. Petersburg Dance Open (2019) or the Gala de Danza in Los Cabos, Mexico.

His first engagement was with the English National Ballet in London under the direction of Tamara Rojo. He has performed in productions by Derek Deane (Swan Lake), Marco Goecke (Hungarian Dance No.1, created for him), Akram Khan (Dust), Russell Maliphant (Second Breath), Annabelle Lopez Ochoa (Frida), Jean-Christophe Maillot (Nutcracker), Christopher Wheeldon (Cinderella) and Wayne McGregor (Chroma solo).

Since 2015, Shale Wagman has repeatedly choreographed, including works for the Académie Princesse Grace, Les Rencontres Philosophiques de Monaco and the Gala de Danza, Mexico.

He has been engaged by the Bayerisches Staatsballett since spring 2021 and was promoted to first soloist for the 2022-23 season.

Bayerisches Staatsballett Bio

[sariahgonzales626]

[brian-in-finance]

Instagram 16 August 2024

Instagram 27 August 2024

Audio 🎧 from Instagram 9 September 2024

EXCLUSIVE: Apple and Skydance‘s youth empowerment tale Way of the Warrior Kid, based on the 2017 novel by Jocko Willink, has tapped 14-year-old Belfast breakout Jude Hill for its lead role, also bringing on three-time Emmy nominee Linda Cardellini (Dead to Me) for a role.

Hill plays Marc, a self-doubting boy who gets bullied and is hard-pressed to complete a single pull-up, with Cardellini as Marc’s mother, Sarah. As we were first to report, Chris Pratt also stars in the film directed by McG.

In Way of the Warrior Kid, Marc’s uncle, Jake (Pratt), an elite Navy SEAL, is injured on a mission and moves in with his sister for rehab. When he discovers his 13-year-old nephew is struggling academically, socially and physically, Jake takes on a new mission: using his SEAL Team training over three months of summer to help the youth find his inner warrior.

We were first to report on the package out of Cannes, as Pratt and McG came aboard, also sharing word of the $80M-$85M global deal Skydance locked in with Apple, where the company has a first-look deal. The film will be produced by Skydance’s David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Don Granger, alongside McG and Mary Viola for Wonderland Sound, and Pratt for Indivisible Productions. Additional producers include Ben Everard for Everard Entertainment, and Willink. Will Staples (Without Remorse) adapted the screenplay.

Cardellini is coming off her starring role opposite Christina Applegate on Liz Feldman’s acclaimed dark comedy Dead to Me, which ran for three seasons, bringing her a pair of Emmy nominations, among other accolades. Also a producer on that series, she’s set to reteam with Feldman on No Good Deed, a new dark comedy from Feldman first announced in 2022, which also stars Ray Romano, Lisa Kudrow, and Luke Wilson. Soon, Cardellini will be seen starring opposite Ben Stiller in David Gordon Green’s comedy Nutcrackers, a project we first reported on, which is set to open this year’s Toronto Film Festival. She’s also the female lead opposite Vince Vaughn in Nonnas, Stephen Chbosky’s forthcoming comedy for Fifth Season and 1Community, which we announced.

Hill made his theatrical debut as Buddy, the young lead of Kenneth Branagh’s Academy-Award nominated and BAFTA winning Belfast — a coming-of-age drama examining a boy’s experience coming of age in late ’60s Northern Ireland amid the conflict known as The Troubles. For his performance opposite Judi Dench, Jamie Dornan, Ciaran Hinds, and Caitríona Balfe, he earned numerous awards, including Best Young Actor at the Critics Choice Awards and Best Newcomer at the Hollywood Critics Association Awards. Reteaming with Branagh since then on his Agatha Christie adaptation A Haunting in Venice, Hill will next be seen starring opposite Nicole Kidman, Gael García Bernal and Matthew Macfadyen in Amazon MGM Studios’ thriller Holland, Michigan.

Other upcoming Apple Original Films produced by Skydance Media include genre-bender The Gorge starring Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy; Guy Ritchie’s Fountain of Youth, starring Natalie Portman and John Krasinksi; and the action-adventure film pic May Day with Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh in the lead.

Cardellini is repped by CAA and Jackoway Austen Tyerman; Hill by Berwick & Kovacik, UTA, and Markham, Froggatt and Irwin.

Deadline 27 August 2024

Instagram 9 February 2023 / Brian’s post

Remember catching up with Wee Jude?

[shoeboxasylum]

In case you have nothing to watch for the holidays, here are 41 Underrated and Obscure Christmas movies.

You're welcome~ 🍬🎄❄️

Family Friendly:

Life and Adventures of Santa Claus (Rankin/Bass 1985)

The Leprechaun's Christmas Gold (Rankin/Bass 1981)

Year without a Santa Claus (Rankin/Bass 1974)

The town Santa forgot (Rankin/Bass 1993)

Ernest Saves Christmas (1988) --- know what I mean, Verne? (I miss this man...)

Elf Bowling the Movie: The Great North Pole Elf Strike (2007)

Blue Toes the Elf (1988)

Olive, the other reindeer (1999)

Annabelle's Wish (1997)

Santa's apprentice (2010), Santa's Apprentice and the Magic Snowflake (2013)

The Tangerine Bear (2000)

Older kids and families:

Fred Claus (2007) — Hits different if your an older sibling

Elf-Man *starring Wee Man!* (2011) — Elf comedy

Santa Conquers the Martians (1964) Rifftrax version (2014)

Santa and the ice cream bunny (1972) Rifftrax Version (2010)

A Christmas Karen (2022) — cliche but kinda cute and funny

Nostalgic Honorable Mention Specials:

He-man and She-ra: A Christmas Special (1984)

Christmas Comes to Pacland (1982)

The Smurf's Christmas Special (1982)

Animaniacs: Wakko's Wish (1990)

Power Puff Girls: Twas the Fight Before Christmas (2003)

Ed, Edd ‘n Eddy: Jingle Jingle Jangle (2004)

Billy and Mandy Save Christmas (2005)

The best, worst and most underrated movies I can find so far:

Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984) — Santa slasher

Anna and the Apocalypse (2017) — Zombie musical for the holiday season

All American Christmas Carol (2013) — white trash Christmas carol

Scrooged (1988) — Bill Murray carol

Deck the Halls (2006) —Danny Devito and Christmas lights

The Big Gift (2022) —Egocentric Santa Vs. Parents

Rare Exports: a Christmas Tale (2010) — wtf Finland?

Cadaver Christmas (2011) — Hilariously low budget holiday zombie flick

Christmas Bloody Christmas (2022) — Robot Santa kill spree

Christmas Evil (1980) — Santa slasher

Monsters!:

Christmas zombies (2020) —elves and zombies

Santa claus vs the zombies (2010) — low budget fun

Werewolf Santa (2023) — self explanatory

Santa Claus is a vampire (2016) — self explanatory

Santastein (2023) — should be obvious

Krampus vs Bigfoot (2023) — christmas drugs are a hell of a sci-fi

Santa jaws (2018) ---Sharks. It's Asylum ‘nuff said

Jack Frost (1997) — Evil Frosty

Killing tree (2022) — it's literally a kill-happy Christmas tree

Nutcracker Massacre (2022) — cursed nutcracker slasher

[balanchine-ballet-master]

Nutcracker Kids Grow Up

Terry Trucco has a lovely article in Playbill about three current NYCB dancers who performed in The Nutcracker as children.

The Polichinelles in 1985. Photo: Martha Swope --------------------------------------------------------------------------

A hallmark of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker is its roster of 126 children, aged 7 to 13, in two alternating casts, who all study in the Children’s Division at the School of American Ballet (SAB), New York City Ballet’s official school. A small percentage of those students will eventually move up to the Advanced Division at SAB, and at the end of their studies, a few will be invited to join NYCB, achieving the total Nutcracker experience—returning to Balanchine’s quintessential holiday ballet to perform as adults.

That storied third group includes former NYCB Principal Dancers Peter Boal, Jennie Somogyi, Gelsey Kirkland, and Judith Fugate, among others, as well as current corps de ballet members Shelby Mann, Mckenzie Bernardino Soares, and Rommie Tomasini, who each enrolled in SAB at the age of 6. Now coming back to the production as members of the corps de ballet, which they joined in 2022, they shared their fond memories of those formative years performing in George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker.

Shelby Mann’s earliest recollections of being in The Nutcracker are of playing jacks, a favored pre-show ritual for young cast members, and of her trailing hairpiece in the Party Scene. “My memories of The Nutcracker are so heightened,” she says. “Every time I smell hairspray, it’s like I’m back in the lower concourse of the theatre during The Nutcracker.”

From her debut at age 7 in the Party Scene, Mann sprinted up the Nutcracker ladder, appearing as an Angel, a Polichinelle, a Mouse, and then, at the ripe age of 11, a Candy Cane. “We would all look forward to The Nutcracker each year. It was what defined our childhood and our winter,” she says.

Born into a dance-world family in Harlem—her grandfather Jacques d’Amboise, grandmother Carolyn George, and uncle Christopher d’Amboise all danced with NYCB, and her parents are acclaimed Broadway performers Charlotte d’Amboise and Terrence Mann—Mann discovered her passion for dance through the iconic holiday ballet. “I loved that in rehearsals, because you were playing a character, you got to build your performance. Being in The Nutcracker made me realize that this is what I wanted to do.”

Since joining NYCB, Mann has danced Dolls, Snow, Hot Chocolate, and Flowers, and her affection for Balanchine’s two-act masterpiece—and the camaraderie that develops naturally among the cast, no matter what age—remains undiminished. “I love how The Nutcracker connects to the holidays,” she says. “We all decorate our dressing rooms, have Secret Santas, and bring cookies.”

Left: Shelby Mann as a Polichinelle in 2013. Photo: Paul Kolnik Right: Mann in Waltz of the Flowers, 2022. Photo: Erin Baiano

During his childhood performances in The Nutcracker, Mckenzie Bernardino Soares made a point of watching the effervescent Hot Chocolate. “The music, the spice—I just loved it,” he says. “And I remember thinking, dancing this is all I want to do in my life.”

Fast forward to 2021. As a freshly minted NYCB apprentice, Soares landed his dream role and repeated it last year as a member of the corps de ballet. The verdict? “It’s always a fun time on stage, and you get to show your personality,” he says. “And if it gets a little repetitive sometimes, I just think, well, little Mckenzie would have loved to do this.”

Growing up in Danbury, Connecticut, Soares’ Nutcracker experience was punctuated by long hours in the family car, driving 65 miles each way to rehearsals and performances. “Being on stage made it all worth it,” he says. He also enjoyed supervising the younger dancers backstage during “the gap” when SAB students are too old for children’s parts, and he relished hearing advice from Company members backstage and in the wings. This season, Soares, who added Mouse King to his Nutcracker repertory last year, looks forward to using the roles he dances to expand his artistry. “It’s actually nice that the choreography is the same every day, so it becomes about what you bring to each performance,” he says.

Left: Mckenzie Bernardino Soares as a Soldier in 2012. Photo: Paul Kolnik Right: Soares with Shelby Mann in Hot Chocolate, 2022. Photo: Erin Baiano

Rommie Tomasini remembers begging her mother to let her audition for SAB, where her older sister was a student, and quickly discovering a love of dance. At age 7, she was cast as the Bunny in The Nutcracker. A season as a Mouse and a Polichinelle followed, and for two years, she was Marie. When the time came to begin pointe work, she decided that ballet was her future. “I didn’t want to do anything else after school, and I thought, This is a done deal,” she says.

Her earliest Nutcracker memory dates from her first dress rehearsal. “I was the Bunny, and I remember looking at all the mouse heads on the Mouse King’s crown and being too terrified to pull his tail,” she recalls.

Yet looking back, Tomasini, who grew up on the Upper East Side, marvels at how confident she felt on stage as a child. “I was never nervous. I was just so happy to be out there. I’m amazed at how much we learned about acting and artistry so young.”

Dolls, Snow, Hot Chocolate, and Tea are among the Nutcracker parts Tomasini has performed since she became an apprentice in 2021. But her recollections of being in a swarm of Nutcracker kids, scrutinizing the steps and making up versions of Hot Chocolate, Marzipan, and Coffee, remain vivid. “It’s mind-blowing that we’re now dancing the roles that we once pretended to do backstage,” she says.

Left: Rommie Tomasini as the Bunny in 2011. Photo: Paul Kolnik Right: Tomasini in Waltz of the Snowflakes in 2021. Photo: Erin Baiano

[balletroyale]

Asked and Answered: Royal Ballet (At long last)

Clara debuts for Bomin, Viola and Marianna! Thoughts?

Bomin and Marianna have always caught my eye so far, I'm really pleased with them. Viola I hadn't ever really noticed until that competition, and even then I wasn't terribly impressed. But hope she's improved since then!

Curious to see which cast will get the live cinema of Swan Lake for Royal Ballet. Also wondering if we will get any debut for Swan Lake

I am still not-so-patiently waiting for Campbell's debut in Swan Lake. I'm sure it won't happen but please, Kevin, shock me.

I think Swan Lake is probably going to be Naghdi/Ball or there's a slight chance of Kaneko. I'm really hoping for Lamb though; there's not a professional recording of her Swan Lake and she doesn't have too many left.

wild question just for fun - predict 1-2 future royal ballet principals from the current artists/first artists :)

Daichi Ikarashi, Bomin Kim

Osipova and why she only has 4 shows for fall season (theory/spectulation)

I don't want to be weird about her personal life, but I think there's a few reasons why Osipova doesn't have a lot of shows this upcoming autumn season (based on what I've read/heard):

1. She said in a 2022 interview (I think in the Guardian?) that she wants to have children. I'm praying she's able to conceive. It's going to be such big news in the ballet world if she does get pregnant/announces her pregnancy

2. She said she wanted to focus more as a director of her Bloom Dance project in the future rather than perform the same dance roles she's done so many times (Kitri, Odette/Odile). 

3. She's now 37 and embracing age, even said something like "I used to get 16 shows but now I get like 2, 3, 4 shows now." 

Basically I believe that she wants to focus more on her personal life now and have children before she gets older. 

I think all of this could be true but I don't think it's particularly strange she's only performing 4 times in the autumn. there are plenty of principals doing that, it just doesn't happen to all be in the same production. She probably isn't doing Nutcracker because she has to do two casts of Don Q into November and then is going to be filmed in Manon in Feb.

Do you happen to know why there is so much criticism about natalia osipova? In my opinion she's a true talent and definitively a ballerina that will go down in history for her amazing feats. And I just see people kind of brush her off like she's not the legend she is! I'd love to know if you have more information on this..

There's a few reasons, I think. Firstly, she isn't the type of 'trendy' ballerina we see today. This may be controversial but I see her much more like a Soviet-era dancer than a modern one. She is fast, she isn't too concerned about getting her legs as high as possible, and performance comes before technique. She is not long and graceful. I also think that people who see her in person have vastly different experiences seeing her in-person vs. on a video. She dances for everyone in the house. Her expressions are exaggerated in order to do this. In a video, this comes across as overacting instead.

[ronaldanthony4]

I drew this last year in 2022, and I couldn't wait for December's arrival at that time to draw this artwork. I found myself brimming with excitement as I embarked on a new artistic endeavour. The inspiration for this artwork came from the magical atmosphere that surrounds the holiday season. The vibrant colours filled me with a sense of joy and creativity, motivating me to bring my vision to life on canvas. It was time to create something special, something that would not only capture the essence of my dear friend Lovemarie but also showcase my growth and passion as a digital artist. And so, with a heart full of creativity, I set out to breathe life into another beautiful artwork. 

Ah, there it was, my latest masterpiece dedicated to Lovemarie, a mesmerising pastel fairy brought forth from the depths of my imagination. Her ethereal beauty was unparalleled, and every stroke of my virtual brush seemed to imbue her with an otherworldly charm. To honour her unique style and personality, I drew inspiration from an outfit she once wore in the virtual world of ZEPETO, where her digital avatar caught my eye and sparked my artistic inspiration. The vibrant colours of her ensemble perfectly complemented her radiant aura, and I carefully recreated every intricate detail, from the delicate lace on her dress to the shimmering jewels adorning her hair. As I added the final touches, I couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction knowing that my creation would capture Lovemarie's essence and bring joy to those who laid eyes upon it. 

To add a touch of magic to the artwork, I decided to incorporate a pose that was reminiscent of a scene from the classic film "Barbie and The Nutcracker." In that timeless moment, Lovemarie's fairy-like presence was beautifully juxtaposed with the elegance and grace of Barbie herself. It was as if the digital world and the enchanting realm of imagination had merged into one seamless tapestry. As I painted Lovemarie's avatar, I couldn't help but marvel at how technology had bridged the gap between reality and fantasy. The way her virtual persona effortlessly embodied the ethereal qualities of the film's characters reminded me of the boundless possibilities that exist within the realm of art. 

As I painstakingly worked on each detail, I couldn't help but marvel at the significance of every stroke, colour choice, and texture. Lovemarie's smile seemed to radiate warmth and kindness, making it an absolute joy to create. And then, there it was—the crowning jewel, a dazzling diamond placed delicately in the artwork, representing the virtual currency of ZEPETO, known as ZEM. It was a subtle homage to the digital realm that had brought us together, a symbol of the connections we had forged in the ever-expanding landscape of technology and art.

I stepped back, gazing at the finished creation with a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. Lovemarie's digital fairy was now complete, an embodiment of the friendship we shared, and a testament to the boundless possibilities of digital art. She was not merely a character on the screen but a reflection of the vibrant spirit and creativity that danced within us both. As we admired our creation, I couldn't help but feel a surge of gratitude for the power of collaboration and the way it had enriched our lives. The digital fairy seemed to come alive, almost beckoning us to continue exploring the limitless potential of our combined talents. 

As I shared my artwork with Lovemarie, I couldn't contain my excitement. "Look," I said, "I've created something special just for you—a tribute to your uniqueness and the magic you bring into my life. You are like a fairy, spreading joy wherever you go, and I hope this artwork captures that essence, even in the digital realm." Her eyes lit up with delight as she took in every detail of the pastel fairy, recognising her outfit and the familiar pose. "Oh, this is wonderful! You've truly captured the essence of my outfit, and I'm deeply touched by this thoughtful gift," she exclaimed with a heartwarming smile.

With that reaction, my heart swelled with happiness and a sense of accomplishment. At that moment, I realised the power of digital art—the ability to create, connect, and share meaningful experiences with friends and loved ones, even across vast digital landscapes. As we continued to admire the artwork together, the pastel fairy shared stories of her adventures and the memories she had made while wearing that outfit. It was incredible to see how a simple drawing could evoke such strong emotions and create a bond between us, proving that art truly knows no boundaries. 

As I continued to hone my skills and explore the realms of digital art, I knew that Lovemarie's pastel fairy would always hold a special place in my heart. It was a testament to the magical possibilities that lay within the fusion of technology and creativity—an ever-evolving journey that I couldn't wait to continue, one artwork at a time. The pastel fairy not only ignited my passion for digital art but also sparked a desire to push the boundaries of my creativity. Each stroke of the stylus became an opportunity to explore new techniques and bring my imagination to life, reminding me that there are no limits when it comes to artistic expression.