#that is well written acted directed and edited and also fun

[ellelans]

Just thinking maybe my brother told me about Blind Blake for a reason. Thinking about him lying in that morgue. Thinking I'm supposed to do something about it. Like what? I guess I'll find everybody responsible, and kill every last one of them.

Reacher 1x01.

[emailsfromanactor]

Do you like Hamlet? John Gielgud? Richard Burton? Theatre and film history? The process of putting on a show? Snarky, insightful, really entertaining commentary on all of the above? Then you're in the right place! Emails from an Actor is a (mostly) real-time readalong of John Gielgud Directs Richard Burton in Hamlet: A Journal of Rehearsals and Letters from an Actor, two books written about the 1964 Broadway production of Hamlet. Both have been out of print for decades, but I acquired PDFs, extracted the text, edited it, and now they exist in accessible form, woohoo! (Edit: Letters from an Actor is coming into print again on March 5! I'm still going ahead with the emails, but buy it when it's out!)

John Gielgud Directs Richard Burton in Hamlet: A Journal of Rehearsals by Richard L. Sterne, is, well, what it says on the tin! Sterne, who played the Gentleman and understudied Laertes, secretly tape recorded rehearsals, going so far as to hide under a platform for a private rehearsal with just Gielgud and Burton. The book summarizes and quotes heavily from those recordings. It also includes a prompt-script for the production with descriptions of the blocking and acting choices - I haven't edited that part yet, but I plan to.

Letters from an Actor by William Redfield, who played Guildenstern, is less objective but way more fun. I love it so much that when I first got it in 2006, I just about killed my hands typing up quotes to share on Livejournal. Redfield had an extensive career in theatre, film, and TV. He's best known for playing Dale Harding in the film One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, but if you happen to be a musical nerd, you might know him as Mercury in Cole Porter's Out of This World. (Also relevant to musical nerds: Alfred Drake as Claudius, John Cullum as Laertes, and George Rose as the Gravedigger!) The book is structured as letters to a friend, Robert Mills, who wanted to know about life in the theatre. Redfield took Mills from his audition through opening night on Broadway, relating thoughts and anecdotes about his profession along the way. As in Hamlet, Richard Burton plays a major role, with stories of his own and a glimpse into his life with Elizabeth Taylor in the days surrounding their (first) wedding. The rehearsal process was frustrating for Redfield, and with all the time he and his Rosencrantz spend feeling lost, the book kind of comes across as a Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead AU.

I'll be sending out the journal entries and letters on the days they were written and/or are about, with just a little bit of jumping around in time. Subscribe here! I made it private for copyright reasons, but don't worry, I'll approve everyone. The emails will start with some introductory material on January 24 and continue through an epilogue in mid-April. Follow this blog for some extras! And reblogs, if people end up talking about this! Tag me or use the tag "emails from an actor" if you want me to see something.

I'm so excited to share these books with people! But mostly Letters from an Actor. Seriously, it's so good.

[fuckyeahfightlock]

My scary movie for today was one my witchy friend Carrie has been recommending for years, The Love Witch.

Written, Directed, Produced, Scored, Edited, Set-Designed, Costumed, and just generally handmade by Anna Biller, The Love Witch is a feminist horror/comedy starring Samantha Robinson as Elaine Parks. Elaine is a witch determined to find a man to love her wildly and forever, but her love spells all go wrong in unexpected ways.

This film is a masterpiece. Shot on 35mm film and cut from the original 35mm negative (in 2016!) the film is a meticulous, loving homage to 1960s and Technicolor films, from the set design, costuming, and colour palette to the lighting, shot composition, and effects. The acting is stylized and presentational; the dialogue is genre-typically stilted in service to the plot; and the frame is always crowded with beautiful things to look at--drawing the viewer's eye away from the beauty of the female actors, serving a feminine gaze (what woman doesn't want to scan every inch of the kitchen that serves as the backdrop for a dinner-date?). The women are impossibly glamourous and gorgeous; the men are all trolls, even the "handsome" ones. There is full frontal female nudity, but only in shots that also contain full frontal male nudity; the film is an unapologetically feminist examination of themes of gender roles and expectations, feminine power (and male fear of it), sexuality and romance.

If you're a film nerd, this movie is a treat--the Herschel Gordon Lewis meets Valley of the Dolls vibes are immaculate--and knowing what an absolute labour of love and art it was for its filmmaker, who spent over a year making costumes for just one scene (among other feats), I will not say a single bad thing about it, even if I wanted to.

The stylized acting works well; Samantha Robinson's luminous beauty serves her role of Elaine perfectly, partly because about half the job is posing. The fastidious recreation of a circa-1967 film means lingering shots of people in transit from one mark to another within a scene, and lengthy dialogue pauses that would be fast-cut right out of a modern film; as a result the movie's pace is languid and its run-time is long (2 hours), but not a second is wasted.

Highly recommend this movie--which is not really a horror movie--because it is truly unique, and a lot of fun.

[coq-courage]

What are you most excited about that's coming up in your au's? I like your rabbit Marc a lot.

awwww thaaaaank ye i love Wonderland a lot too

uhhh lets see, in my AU's....

well today i was mostly messing with my akuma city one, but since we both like Wondieboi, lemme tell you about my current block with his story

okay so, i am torn in which direction i wanna take it, that is legitimately the only reason i haven't posted more about him, and considering he's a rabbit i could technically just like, do every route, show every possibility

A Few Choice Endings Below Read More

Really Happy Go Lucky Ending: Marc returns to his little parisian suburban cottage and forgives Nath for hiding things, they cancel the divorce, they live happily ever after....... its nice but like, it's not much of a story, its more of an already healed story and those are short and sweet

More Realistic But Still In The End Happy Ending: Marc returns after he calms down and they try to talk things out but he can't help but get angry again because he lost. his. sister. (non biological) because of Nath's inaction. And maybe there's a hatefuck or a crying fucking and they're just messy and all that. That's a good story, it's a relatable one (if you ignore the magic), you could include rebuilding of the world in there since ya know, no ladybug, could even throw a funeral if i wanted. This could easily turn into any ship.

Also More Realistic But In The End an UNhappy Ending: He doesn't calm down first. He throws the rings, he has a good cry in the burrow, and he's right back seconds later Nath's time, starting a fight immediately because how DARE you hold something so secret when you knew all of his secrets, how dare you not tell him when something was going on that he could have prevented. This story would hurt and you would enjoy it. Again, any ship possible. Could become a toxic yaoi with nath offering anything and everything to make marc feel better, could end with marc deciding he needed to turn his hate to marinette's actual killer, adrien, whom he's always had a crush on but never acted on because marinette had shown interest once

Much Less Realistic Version With Major Misunderstandings But Inevitably Happy Ending: Marc takes plenty of time to calm down and give nath time to calm down and a few months later, after running around timelines and worlds trying to find some joy, he returns to their cottage and he's ready to talk and he sees a small child in the garden and the child looks at him, brown hair, turns around and calls "Daddy! There's a bunny in the garden!" and Marc looks in the direction they called and sees a shock of red hair and he remembers his hair is black and yes Nath is trans but he had very clearly told him No Children once and Wonderland runs before Nath can get closer and he could see that it's an older Nath and he got out too far in the future. That would be a story of figuring out misunderstandings had happened, forgiveness had happened. It would be fun and you'd want to strangle the lad but its okay, he'll get there eventually.

And then....

My Realism Be Damned This WIll Be Unhappy For The Sake Of Ending: this is where I would introduce his evil rabbit self, a right and total bastard that well, you see.... at the end of the posted ficlet, bunny!Marc had THREE (and a half) Miraculous on him.

Rabbit

Black Cat

Half a Ladybug earring...

and the Butterfly.

The Mad Hatter is a Rabbit + Butterfly duo and I can easily edit his timeline to let him have the Cat too. Just imagine the destruction he could create

And his only goal? Destroy everything after taking everything from Nath, everything he ever loved or will love, and go back through his timeline from childhood on and just ruin him

All while working with older Mad Hatters, up until the oldest Mad Hatter. Presumably his plan works and the universe is destroyed and that's why there's no Mad Hatter older than a specific age

I've actually written quite a bit on this one if ya want?

[pauking5]

you know these days I have been ritually coming here everyday to check if the latest chapter of runaway has been released?? Imma wait, cook as much as you like. I am sure it’s already delicious af!

Oh btw what do you think about being Capricorn (sun sign), Pisces (moon sign) and Sagittarius in the rising? these are my main 3 signs..just curious on what you think on it ^_^

And lastly, through all highs and lows you alone are the who keeps going! (Kay it didn’t turn as cool as i hoped it to be, references are gojo’s ‘through heaven and earth I alone am the honored one’ and jimin’s ‘you nice! Keep going!’)

hi dear anon!

oh my, this made a smile appear on my face 🥺 i'm so sorry to keep you waiting so long. i myself kicked my arse for it. but in my defence, i just felt like taking my time with this one. there's no day or night in the past months that i haven't tinkered with it to get it right, and i can happily say it's finally on the final final edit. there's a few stuff i want to work on some more but not too much. also, no one told me i'm cooking before 😏 💅 so thank you sksjsndjjs *flips hair giggling kicking my feet to the moon*

i sure hope it is delicious. she's one big chunky 46k + baby (the most i've ever written god), so i truly hope she's not a bore. i know i asked about the 20k being a lot but yall didn't have an issue with it so have double the bickering and action 🤡 i had thoughts of cutting it open down the middle to make it a two part but i thought i should wrestle with the 1000 block limit some more until it gave me brain damage :). anyways, i am excited as hell for this one because i can prematurely say it's given me ideas for a sequel that kinda i already started working on 😉

now, runaway blabber aside. *flips whiteboard over*

on the astrology side of things, can i just say it's one interesting big three to see. now, this is just my own interpretation of it so take with a grain of salt, or sugar if it fits right. your sun is like your main source of direction, not typically a big area of concern unless the element of the sign manifests in other aspects. your moon is your inner most self, the one that reflects who you most are or your true personality i would say. your rising governs the way you act in regards to things and situations and usually couples with your sun or mars (the depth of your urges), or mercury (the principles and ideas you live by).

a first look at yours and i can tell it's really well balanced.

as a capricorn sun, you're probably a really straight forward person, but coupled with your sag rising i'll bet my cheerios that you're one hell of a planner and have a set way of doing things orderly. it's an earth and fire combo, so where the cap part of you is grounded, the sag part of you might be a little prone to impulsive tendencies.

on your pisces moon, i can already tell you i love you. as a libra, i'm drawn to water aspects a lot and pisces moon is a placement i admire. it gets you out of that monotonous rut of planning and the stress of decision making, acting like your stress reliever and the part of you that likes to unwind through art. you're probably an avid music listener, expressing yourself through making or creating some form of art that lets you be who you want to be in that moment. or you're just a big admirer of it. either way, it's your balancing sign that keeps you tethered to what's important to you first and foremost.

now, your big three is just a few aspects of what makes up the beautiful you an ore of discoveries waiting to be found. your full chart can tell you way more about yourself than just these three aspects. i would advise diving into it and if you happen to find it difficult to dissect, i am always happy to provide help. i have times where i start researching one random placement in mine that i thought less of until it unveils so much i didn't know that resonated with me, putting it in the words i could never find. that and it's really fun and eye opening to read more about yourself from someone else's perspective astrologically. so if you need help, feel free to pop into my dms anytime 🤗

lastly, i love the quote of motivation. truly inspiring if it comes from dear gojo (lord bless his heart). so in true fashion, i'll leave you with one that's helped me through a lot of hard times when i wanted nothing more but to stop.

when you think you can't give it any more, you can put in a little more.

hope you're having a good day or night, keeping healthy, rested and happy ❤️

[waitmyturtles]

do you prefer bls which are adapted from pre-existing ips (novel/manga/webtoon...) or do you prefer original bl works? specifically for thai bls, i feel like there's not many original scripted bl series out there, off the top of my head only itsay and mlc comes to mind. or even when it's original sometimes they'd release a novel version first too? (eg: never let me go, only friends, dangerous romance, last twilight...)

Thank you for the ask, Non! Such an interesting question to ponder.

I don't think I have a preference. I took this question back to my amazing BL elders circle, and we chatted about various states of provenance for canon material. What's particularly fascinating by way of trends now in Thailand is when a screenplay gets written first, and the Y novel gets written after, which I think has happened only extremely rarely in Japan and Korea. What's interesting about this phenomenon to me is the cultural "need" for a novel component to be associated with a show, as original Y novels were so very integral to the birth of the BL/Series Y genre in Thailand with the premiere and adaptation of Love Sick from an original novel. I happen to like the component that fans of a drama need a full-circle experience with a novel to accompany the process of being a fan of a drama series.

But all that being said, there are times when it's clear that a screenplay is based off a novel, times when it's clear that a script is original, and times when none of this is clear. When a drama is good, it's usually when the right balance of script, editing, and acting excellence has been hit, and I don't think that's necessarily always dependent on there needing to be a prior source material element. It should hopefully be as simple as that. I had my first full-circle experience with a drama and a novel when I watched, then read the source material for, I Feel You Linger In The Air, and the novel did indeed change how I felt about the drama (I want more sassy Jom, damn it!). But that process was a LOT of fun to go through, particularly because the novel's plot happened to be quite solid, and the show's director, Tee Bundit, futzed around with the plot in ways that indeed suited his vision for sad boyz, but also added drama and unexpected spotlights on other equity issues that I think made the drama a lovely piece of art on its own.

The Elders DID remind me that the second season of Minato's Laundromat was original, not based in manga canon, and that may have sunk the show -- without the direction of the manga, the screenwriters may not have known how to tie plot knots as well on their own. In the end, if a novel, a manga, a manhwa, or a drama series is great, I'm happy to celebrate that piece of art without putting pressure on it to influence other pieces of art. I just hope the time I spend watching dramas ends up being worth the payoff!

I hope this kinda answers your question, Non!

[tinylilvalery]

people are taking matthews quote from a recent interview out of context abt tomgreg (he said he didnt play it as romantic but thinks it's fun that the fans see it that way) and claiming it means tomgreg is dead and he hates it... i'm so frustrated with this goddamn fandom smh...

It's interesting that he said that (I haven't seen the interview) considering how he acted Tom, but also people gotta realise

1. It's shipping... You can ship things whether actors ship it themselves or not. Hell, William Shatner has said time and time again that Jim Kirk is heterosexual, and yet you can watch TOS and see how Jim interacts with Spock and like... I really don't need to explain, I'm sorry sksnsk. So I look at Tomgreg the same way if it's really true MattMac doesn't ship it (again, idk what he said, but if he did say that these are my thoughts on shipping even when an actor doesn't). I have very close friendships and I don't behave in the way Tom does with Greg, but that's just me 🤷‍♀️. To summarise I'd say, it's like death of the author actor, because the performance itself transcends the actor's comments on it after the fact.

2. Actors aren't solely responsible for the character and the characters relationships W others, therefore they can't really take full credit of the character. Yes they embody and bring them to life, but there's also the script (multiple writers), the showrunner, as well as editing and direction as all the other massive contenders as to who creates the characters and the relationships on screen. As a writer myself, I do find it really um,, like very irritating¿ that people keep anointing actors as the sole creator of a character. They interpret script and bring it to life with direction but they didn't write the character and so they didn't create it. Kieran Culkin's acting practice is that he doesn't like to know where his character is heading, so he lives in the present and episode to episode when acting Roman. What I mean by this, is regardless of Kieran, there was ALWAYS a set path for Roman as to where he was headed in each season, and it didn't matter what Kieran was up to, his plotline still existed despite not knowing it. Does that make sense? My point is, whether an actor knows it or not, things are written in by writers, and I consider Tomgreg VERY MUCH a part of the text and subtext of the show.

So to summarise, if MattMac really said he didn't play Tomgreg as romantic and doesn't see them that way he basically achieves Death of The Actor because his performance speaks louder to me than his comments about his approach to acting Tom. Tom looks at Greg with such adoration that I've never seen him look at another character, he speaks to him in tones that he doesn't speak to other characters in, so again, his acting transcends his post comments. And SECONDLY, MattMac's comments still aren't a ship killer to me because he didn't actually create Tom alone. He interpreted the character, brought him to life, and definitely would have had say + freedom in his performance considering what we know of Succ's production, but he didn't CREATE Tom. That credit is owed to the writers who literally wrote Tom, and wrote Tomgreg's scenes how they did. The credit is also owed massively to editors in how they edited all the many hours of footage to portray Tom and Greg's relationship as we saw it.

We all know Succession is an incredible show. There's so many undercurrents happening all at once that surface at various times in forms of parallels and callbacks. I think it's funny to think that despite the pedigree of Succession, something as massive as Tomgreg was some sort of shared hallucination. It wasn't. Tomgreg is part of the sauce, and they're an intentional ingredient.

[grcetxt]

GOS2 opening title analysis

spoilers ig?? idk

AAAAA S2 CONTENT YIPEEE

so, again, this is gonna be long, rambling, and will prolly make 0 sense so stick with me here I'm feeling a lot of feelings. im gonna go thru each thing in as much depth as possible so buckle up, this is gonna be like twice the size of my poster + hillywood dissection.

OK THE WAY CROWLEY LITERALLY CRAWLED UP FROM HELL TO MEET W AZ IS LIKE :((( and like on their way out from the tunnel thing I saw like a figure with wings?? I reckon it might be Micheal (the angel not the sheen) but I'm not 100% sure. whoever it is, they're holding a box or smth?? so do with that what you will idk

Im pretty convinced we might be getting Moses stuff, cuz the shining light at the top of the hill? seems like mt siani (sianai? idk) and the fact we haven't seen that type of light before and Moses is supposesdly the only person to have a direct face-to-face interaction with god makes me think we'll be getting stuff from that era (catholic upbringing coming in handy for knowing this stuff) ALTHOUGH, there are lots of animals, and they seem to be like in pairs as well?? so maybe more Noah and the arc? which like MAYBE ALL THE FANFICS ABT THEM COMFORATING EACH OTHER ON THE ARC WILL COME TRUE??? YIPEE!!

ok everything bursting into flames is a lil random but after a while of thinking, maybe sodom and gamora? (idk how to spell that either) which like, MORE SANDALPHON?? Don't get me wrong, hate the guy, he's awful and creepy, but he's SUCH a good villain. the actor doesn't get enough props online for how well he plays him. sandalphon had like 3, maybe 4 mins of screen time in s1? and from that, he's become one of the most HATED characters in the entire fandom. That is just like, wow, well done, I hate the character you play, but that's because your acting is amazing. ANYWAYS, sodom and gamora. aziraphales gonna be having some *feelings* about that, because why would heaven hurt all those people? even if they were sinners? similar to noahs arc situation with Crowley giving the most comfort this time <3

WOOOO GOTHIC SHIT!! the pickled herring cart makes a return and it is as confusing as ever. they're in a graveyard, so that's fun times. maybe more hell? cuz that's where they met up when the antichrist got delivered. anyways, does anyone know the period this is meant to be in? it's gone out of my head. anyways, I tried looking up pickled herring carts to see if they had any significance thru history but na. like they were there, and popular, but no, no huge significance. ALSO, in the graveyard, they go past a gravestone with 'every day' written on it??? girl wtf does that mean?? the running theories I have so far are that it's either like, the death of the everyday, meaning that what they used to do (hate each other??) isnt.. happening anymore?? idk?? or that it's just Neil being edgy and emo. my bets on the latter (love u mr. gaiman <3) ALSO ALSO OH MY FUCKING GOD?? Another one of the gravestones says JANE AUSTEN ON IT!! ARE WE GETTING JANE AUSTEN CONTENT??? OMFG??? YIPPEE!! maybe we'll get to see where az gets some of his first editions from :D aslo rq, religious imagery in the background, an angel carrying a cross, more heaven looming over Az?? ALSO HOLY SHIT?? I just accidentally paused it at onde of the graves and i swear it says 'here lies *insert another couple words here* BEELZEBUB?? HUHHH?? is that gonna be the explination for beelzebubs new corparation?? but that wouldnt make any sense?? idk atp but that gravestone DEFFIENTLY SAYS BEELZEBUB

(if you think this is long pls know we're 22 seconds into a 1:44 video, i want lying when I said this was gonna be BEEFY)

SO. HELL. WOOO!! more hell content which could go one of three ways. either we get more goofy Crowley giving more presentations, CAN I GET A WAHOO?? or we get him being given more assignments and we get more of an idea of the whole structure of hell, uncomfortableness but nothing horrendous. OR ALL THE ANGST FICS COME TRUE AND WE SEE CROLWEY GETTING BEAT INTO A PULP BY HIS SUPERIORS!!! maybe all three! can't wait to see :D but as much as my angst-craving self would love to see the last one, I think the reality is it's gonna be the first two. it looks like there's a desk and office chairs, so we'll probably be getting scenes that are like the equivalent to what we see of aziraphale and the archangels in s1

so we already knew we were getting more ww2 scenes but.. MORE WW2 SCENES WAHOO!! maybe we're getting post-church scenes? tender love confessions in the back of the Bentley? or maybe angst? maybe edosian orchids 901s (I LOVE THEM SM) fic about Crowley having a breakdown after being forced to report on the horrors of war will come true? or maybe one of them has to conscript cuz... idk dude just cuz. The bomber plane makes me think of the blitz so maybe Crowley is comforting Azi while they hide from the bombs in the shop? whatever happens, ill love it :D

a quick google told me fuck all about the ladies of camelot, just that theyre often overshadowed by the guys. WHICH LIKE WTF?? anyways, apparently its like king arthur times, so maybe we see the arrangement being born?? YIPEE. other then that, they seem to be like a dance group? so like, idk? could be suppourting acts maybe? could the merlin fandom help with this maybe? whats goin on with the ladies of Camelot my dudes.

MAGIC AZIRAPHLE MAGIC AZIRPAHLE MAIGIC AHVDSAKJ YAY!! I love the idea of aziraphale pulling a snake from his hat as part of the act and Crowley pretending to be pissed but internally freaking the fuck out because 'HOLY SHIT HES HOLDING ME HES HOLDING ME HES SO SOFT WHAT THE FUCK'

I HAVE. SO MANY. THOUGHTS. ON. SPACE. SO, SO HEAR ME OUT RIGHT, SO, the only time space has been mentioned really is when Crowley was talking abt how he made certain planets and the Alpha Centauri stuff. SO MAYBE WE'LL BE GETTING SOME PRE-FALL CROWLEY?? cuz like, the only thing close to space is heaven, but that's meant to be transcendent, and by definition exists outside of space and time. SO THEREFORE, PRE-FALL CROWLEY?? PLEASE?? NEIL IM BEGGING, IM ON MY KNEES, PLEASE!!

the... the hearts.. the love hearts.. the.. the hearts falling from the sky when they.. when the.. when... DNCBKHFVYEWIQUKLDWHJNX I'm feeling such normal feelings rn haha. anyways they're in love and :D the way they're sat on the roof together as well? like aw :( the jukebox and the vinyls (are those vinyls?) make me think more 60's content? and the Bentley as well? friendly reminder that Crowley goes too fast for him!! maybe we'll see him drinking himself into oblivion after he gets brutally rejected by Az :D oo or maybe him contemplating offing himself with the holy water! or maybe more lighthearted stuff, like the discovery of the queen curse :)

(also OO ninas shop!)

the lifts make me think more heaven content, which we knew was happening anyway but I'm thinking more Az giving reports and getting verbally abused and humiliated :D also, the steam makes me think industrial revolution for some reason? idk tho

THE ARRIVAL. is that the title for ep 1? Probably. but on the posters there's like a locked box? (getting fnaf 4 flashbacks) i've no clue what that means, like at all. but its prolly smth!

and thats it! this will probably be updated and edited, but these are all my thoughts as of the day it was released.

if you read this, there must be smth wrong with you mentally, but me too, me too. give me any thoughts you might have, ill be really interested to hear them! (these guys have consumed my brain)

friendly reminder that it'll be quiet, gentle, and romantic. and they like holding hands!

[sillygooseness]

My Playlist: Jimmy Kaga-Ricci Needs a Hug

A Song Analysis.

1. Hey Angel by One Direction- starting off strong with this one for multiple reasons. the one-sided dialogue with an angel reflects the religious imagery of the book and jimmy taking comfort in his religion by talking to god. the words also work really well if you imagine this as jimmy talking to angel about switching roles in life. also, the one direction larry stylinson situation very much fueled alice's idea for jowan, i think, the parallels are very clear.

2. Play My Music by The Jonas Brothers- a fun little jam about a boy just wanting to play his music

3. Salt by Bad Suns- the lead singer of bad suns wrote this song for his transgender friend, but i really would not have guessed that this was written by a cisgender person if i had not looked it up. phenomenal articulation of a transgender experience, obviously the song belongs here

4. Love Me by The 1975- the lyrics reflect jimmy's theme that it is silly to idolize somebody that you don't know

5. Social Cues by Cage The Elephant- another song about coping with fame and anxiety

6. Stressed Out by Twenty One Pilots- jimmy is very stressed, obviously, and reminiscent of when times were simpler

7. You’d Be Paranoid Too (If Everyone You Knew Was Out To Get You) by Waterparks- another song about his anxiety. this song makes me think about how he is so worried about somebody breaking into their apartment and his room. he is frequently worried about being in danger from others

8. Karma by AJR- a song from the perspective of a famous person in therapy. in a podcast explaining the making of this song, the lead singer explains that they edited multiple takes of the bridge together so that there would be no audible breaths in between lines, which heightens the sense that the narrator is spiraling into a panic attack. very much how i imagine jimmy finally in therapy

9. One of Us by Joan Osborn- alice said so and i agree

10. Starting Line by Luke Hemmings- this one is hard to explain, but it's essentially about feeling emotionally numb throughout life due to poor mental health and feeling like life is flying by without really experiencing any of it. i have multiple songs from this album sprinkled throughout all of my playlists for the ark boys, and this one just feels the most like jimmy

11. Only The Brave by Louis Tomlinson- i love that this song has been adopted by fans to be about lgbtq+ bravery. it has to be included

12. Lights Up by Harry Styles- really reflects how little sense of self jimmy has. the main line "lights up, do you know who you are?" really stands out because jimmy states multiple times in the book that he does not know who he is

13. Run Boy Run by Woodkid- maybe this one is a bit dramatic, but it's my running away song, so it naturally goes here

14. Laura Palmer by Bastille- gosh, i love this song. it's another one that's hard to articulate, but it's perfect. "you ran into the night, you can't be found. this is your heart, can you feel it? pumped through your veins, can you feel it?" jimmy runs away, finally acting on his own autonomy, and this song is perfect for it.

15. Make it Stop by COIN- another song about being anxious and overwhelmed. reflective of jimmy trying to put a hold on his chaos that is life by running away from it

16. Anti-Hero by Taylor Swift- this is how jimmy views himself

17. I Always Wanna Die (Sometimes) by The 1975- this song reflects the comments jimmy makes to lister in his childhood bedroom. you know what i'm talking about

18. Weight of Living, Pt. 1 by Bastille- what's this? another song about jimmy's anxiety and the weight of his fame and chaotic life? wow!

19. Earth To God by COIN- a great song narrating a one-sided dialogue with god. this song makes me think of the scene where he stops inside the church in kent

20. 2011 by 5 Seconds of Summer- this is THE jam-session-in-pierro’s-basement song, i don't make the rules. listen to the lyrics and tell me i'm wrong, i dare you. it's literally a band jamming out reminiscing on the days before fame when life was easier and they could just be innocent and play music for fun

21. Comedown by Luke Hemmings- 🎶it’s been a hell of a week🎶

22. Guys by The 1975- alice said so and i agree

23. Give Yourself A Try by The 1975- this just gives end of the book vibes. i hope jimmy starts to give himself a try after all of this

[h4iklvr]

❥->From the start💌

(Part two)

Kavetham/haikaveh fluff,some angst,mentions kaveh’s past,he also have issues with opening up cuz I do and I said so

Edit: I changed some of the parts again..

Academy au!

—★—

Every since that day Kaveh was always looking for chances to sit near alhaitham but not too close,sometimes asking about him when he was brought up but trying not be vague,glancing at him then quickly then looking away when he looks in his direction,although Kaveh did this he played it off as a ‘platonic interest’ and nothing more than wanting to befriend the man.

Though deep down he knew that he was crushing on him,purposefully gaslighting himself and pushing his thoughts away to deny it. He was afraid of love and the affect it could have on him,ever since his fathers passing and his mother moving away he was used to being isolated and strangly found comfort in it,he didn’t want to open up or lose someone again,trying to protect himself and prevent his heart from completely shattering.

He walked to the house of daena again expecting haitham to be in his usual spot or rummaging through the nearby bookshelves except he was no where to be seen,Kaveh stopped and looked around for a good minute.

‘He’s not here,huh?’ He acknowledged,a little sad that he wouldn’t get to see him,he found a spot and sat while he studied and noted a few things in the books.

As time went on he eventually forgot about alhaitham and focused on getting his work done,when he was done he checked to see if haitham had arrived and much to his surprise he still wasn’t there,after a few minutes he went to return the books when he heard a familiar voice-

‘Hello there,do you need help carrying those books?’ Kaveh looked up from the pile that was stacked all the way up to his chin,it was indeed alhaitham,he was a bit shocked but tried to keep his balance and composure.

‘Yes please.’ He accepted the help as haitham grabbed half of the books,Kaveh felt his heart race and his face heating up as he walked side by side with the gentleman and placed the books back.

‘You’re..alhaitham right? Nice to meet you.’ He managed to utter trying not to seem nervous at all but it was written all over his face and the way he was awkwardly standing there.

‘The pleasure is mine,senior.’ He smirked back at the blond,keeping a gentleman demeanor trying to seem confident,though he knew he was blushing so much.

The two sat together at a nearby desk,chatting and getting to know eachother when Kaveh finally got the courage to ask—

‘So..do you maybe wanna study together later?’ He casually suggested to him while smiling charmingly at the man while tilting his head a little to the side.

‘Sure,that’d be nice.’ Haitham answered Kaveh before giving him a warm smile.the blond was a bit shocked he accepted,since he didn’t have high expectations for it to work,not only his thoughts- but his heart was racing as well.

‘Alright then! let’s meet here tomorrow after classes.’ and after that one day they’ve met up for studies more often and eventually hanging out,going out to eat or just having fun in general,they were great friends,but Kaveh felt the weight on his chest grow heavier and he wanted to deny it so bad but it was near impossible when he’s clearly so Inlove with his dear friend that everyone could tell,though he couldn’t tell anyone directly because he wasn’t good at expressing it,he didn’t understand it himself anyway.each day he becomes more observant of alhaitham. What food he likes and dislikes,if he wants something Kaveh will save up for it,his slight gestures helped him tell what mood he was in no matter if he was putting on an act or not.as well as looking out for him,alhaitham’s hair was out of place? He’d fix it. Lint on alhaitham’s clothes? He got it. Forgetting something? Kaveh reminded him.

This made alhaitham fall harder for Kaveh,he always knew Kaveh was nice but seeing how he was always caring and attentive to his loved ones putting other’s needs before his own,not to mention whenever Kaveh made him forget the stress and made his day better simply by just being there,he truly appreciated kaveh’s existence and admired him so much..he didn’t admire him cuz he was a senior or cuz of his status or whatever. He admired him because he was Kaveh.

[mylifeincinema]

My Best of 2023: My Top 10 Films!

Finally! It’s time for My Top 10 Films of 2023! 2023 was another weird year for me in terms of film. As usual, I had a few I championed, but, yet again, a lot of the big guns didn't land the way I'd expected or hoped. As a quick reminder -  My Top 10 Films isn’t necessarily a list of the ‘best’, or ‘my favorite’, but rather a mix of the two that takes both sides of the A&E into as equal consideration as humanly possible. Definitely keep that in mind, especially the fact that how re-watchable each film is weighs in significantly. So, in terms of all that, this list nails my 2023.

First, here are some Honorable Mentions (in no real order), most of which spent at least a little time in the Top 10: Jonathan Glazer's The Zone of Interest (which really deserves that 10 spot, but it's about as far from re-watchable as it gets); David Fincher's The Killer; Sofia Coppola's Priscilla; Kelly Fremon Craig's Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.; and Takashi Yamazaki's Godzilla Minus One. Any of these could easily claim that 10 spot on another day. As for Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon? Sorry, y'all, but it barely cracked my Top 20. No matter how incredibly well-made it was, it was still a solid hour too long. And worst of all, it felt it!

Okay, without further ado, here they are…

My Top 10 Films of 2023!!

10. Danny & Michael Philippou's Talk to Me

Damn. This was fantastic. I’m still really pissed I missed it in cinemas. Such a super creepy, perfectly executed premise fueled by surprisingly good performances and genuinely terrifying moments, throughout. I especially love that it never heavily relies on jump-scares and just how brutal these spirits get. The desperation and hopelessness of the third act is just the cherry on top.

9. Greta Gerwig's Barbie

Hilarious. Bold. Heartwarming. And not at all subtle. Margot is perfection, which doesn’t always work in the film’s favor, but it knows and acknowledges that, and becomes more interesting by doing so. Gosling is hilarious and interesting and delivers one of the most absurdly audacious performances of the year. Gerwig’s vision, here, is dazzling not only in its use of practical effects, but also its brazen approach to the film’s message.

8. Christopher McQuarrie's Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part 1

Tom Cruise is out here doing the important work in a time when said important work is more essential than ever. This is a big-screen spectacle of an action film with exciting fights and chases and stunts that get more and more impressive, wild and outlandish throughout. As to be expected from the franchise, the cast all deliver rock-solid performances, and McQuarrie’s work behind the camera is every bit as good as Fallout, despite Fallout still probably being the better of the two films, overall. The plot, action, and editing here are all perfectly intense, working beautifully together to create a truly jaw-dropping piece of action cinema. Once again Cruise and friends prove decisively that popcorn flicks can be art, too, folks. Big, loud, crazy, fun art. So damn good.

7. James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3

Loved it. Every single moment is earned. The needle drops get better and better and build up to a joyous, cathartic, downright amazing moment at the end. James Gunn directs the hell out of his pitch-perfect script, allowing these characters to evolve in a manner as interesting as it is entertaining as it is organic. The Winter Soldier is still the best single film in the MCU, but this trilogy is its heart and soul. Finally… Cosmo is such a Good Dog.

6. Wes Anderson's Asteroid City

There’s good reason why Wes Anderson is one of my very favorite living directors. Asteroid City is a fine example of pretty much all of them. It’s visually stunning (How the f*ck did that production design not get nominated?!) , superbly acted, and written with as much quirky humor as it is raw emotion as it is perfectly balanced existentialism. I may still not quite be fully sold on the framing device, but all-in-all, this is a purely Andersonian oddity, and I loved every minute of it. Plus, I really want to be friends with that roadrunner.

5. Alexander Payne's The Holdovers

Genuinely hilarious and sneakily heartfelt. The tender moments play out so naturally that they pack an emotional wallop, then the brilliant Paul Giamatti or Da'Vine Joy Randolph lets out a perfectly delivered line that’ll absolutely floor you. And I just love the look of it, every single piece of this film looks and feels like it’s straight out of the ‘70s. So good. Probably my favorite Payne?

4. Yorgos Lanthimos' Poor Things

Despite being significantly overlong, Lanthimos' Poor Things is still just so damn good. I hate that Emma Stone’s odds are going down, as she delivers what will likely remain a favorite ‘til the end of the decade. Mark Ruffalo is also a blast, and is very much the upset I'm hoping for most come March 10. I honestly didn’t think he still had a performance like this in him. Dafoe is magnificently weird, and every time he graced the screen was a treat. Yorgos went off, here. This is probably his best work yet. It’s also one of the most visually interesting films of the year. I absolutely loved how this movie was shot. And it’s very easily better than the book. So, y’know, there’ that too.

3. Dos Santos, Powers & Thompson's Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

A masterful amalgamation of animation styles, narrative ideas and next-level voice performances. As visually breathtaking as it is emotionally ambitious as it is structurally exciting and entertaining. This is the exact type of comic book movie that still has me excited for comic book movies.

2. Wes Anderson's The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar & Three More

I'm kinda cheating, here, as this is technically a collection four individually released short films, and not the originally planned anthology feature. But I don't care. These are all fantastic; masterclasses in adaptation, blocking, production design and acting, the lot of 'em. I want so badly for Wes Anderson to just adapt Dahl's entire bibliography. Head HERE for my full thoughts.

And The Best Film of 2023 is…

1. Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer

A truly staggering achievement. As ambitious and bold a biopic as we’ve gotten in a very long time. Nolan understands the mechanics of this man and his story in a way that's so philosophically nuanced, and directs scene-after-scene of characters discussing physics and politics in a that makes it edge-of-your-seat shit.

Thank you for reading!

-Timothy Patrick Boyer.

More of My Best of 2023...

[shadowbunnydragon]

Question for you! (shadowbunnydragon):

What is your process for creating a story? How do you go from a rough idea/concept to the final written story? What are things you have to consider when writing a story, whether original or fanfic?

I struggle A LOT with creative writing and would love to hear how you do it for your stories. Thanks!

Oh gosh! That is quite the question!

Hmm, okay, well, first I come up with a fun idea, like one about a human boy finding himself in the world of Zootopia and following his daily life and the lives of others similar to him finding a home for themselves, or maybe about an isekai'd former human now in a world of magic and adventure as an OP anthro bunny girl, or maybe even one about a human boy who winds up turned into a mouse and living amongst a tiny hidden kingdom in the woods? (Coming soon! :3)

After coming up with said idea, I of course write it and all info about it I can think of, so I don't forget. I then like to think it over for a little bit, usually while out walking and listening to music or maybe doing something else where I can shut my brain off and just go with the flow for the idea. When I get a general idea for a larger story, and we're talking VERY general, a VERY rough and barebones idea, I add that to the idea concept I've already written down. Then, I like to take some time, maybe an hour, with some chillhop playing in the background, and write out a general outline for the story. How I want it to start, the overall direction I want it to go in, and how I'd like it to end. (It should be noted that any of these could change in small or even major ways during the course of writing. This is just to help focus the idea a bit.)

From there, I like to take a bit to just imagine the world and the characters I want in the story. Does this world have any history? What are its "rules"? What is this character's personality like? What is their motivation for doing the things they do? (A VERY important thing to keep notes on to track during the course of the story, as I have learned the hard way. While you want your characters to learn and grow and be shaped by their experiences, you also still want there to be a logic to it. Example: When writing about Judy, I try to think about her personality from the movie and how she would act in whatever random scenario comes to mind. How would she go about trying to solve X problem?)

I also personally have a love for world-building. I often enjoy listening to music and letting my mind drift as I daydream about these worlds and the things going on in them. You don't need to be as detail oriented as Tolkien, but you do still need to be mindful of the world and how it shapes and is shaped by your characters and events. That is especially true for original stories, but fanfics also can benefit from this as well.

Also, it helps to be open to constructive criticism, as there are a lot of insightful folks out there who can offer a helpful tip or insight. (Though you do gotta be careful to ignore haters and trolls, and also to remember at the end of the day, it's going to be YOUR story, so what you, the author, say ultimately is what goes.)

You should also remember that you'll pretty much be your own worst critic, so please try to remember to be kind to yourself. Any mistake can be edited, a section or even an entire chapter that just doesn't feel right can be partially or completely re-written.

You'll also want to pay close attention to words or phrases you may have a habit of using often, and consider looking up synonyms or trying to come up with different ways to say what you want to say, just to keep the writing from getting too repetitive.

Finally, the old adage practice makes perfect can be applied to creative writing as it can to everything else! This can all seem like a lot, and I'm sure I've forgotten about other useful tips when writing stories, but the more you take the time to work with them on your project(s), the more second-nature they will start to feel.

I hope that this was helpful!

(P.S. You should also try to remember that you are your own worst critic, and that the pursuit of absolute perfection one that, while it can push you to better yourself, can also keep you from actually getting the project done. So when working on a story, or art, or anything really, please try to be kind to yourself! I'm sure you'll write a great story!)

Thank you so much for asking!

[starseneyes]

i love your spapel metas and analyses so much! keep them coming please!

can i ask you if you are a film or media studies graduate? because your posts are so well thought of and formulated.

Hello, Anon! Thank you so very much, and I'll do my best to keep 'em coming.

My background is incredibly varied, but it definitely all feeds into how I write these.

It all started with Little Rachel growing up on sets. Not only was I a background/bit actor/commercial actress from a young age, but my mother was a hair and makeup artist.

Whenever I was bullied in school, my mom took me on set. And folks there were welcoming. Directors almost always invited me to sit over their shoulders so I could see the monitors. I'd help out at Crafty. I got to run lines with Michael Rooker, once, as he prepped for a scene.

When mom worked on this one 90's show in Wilmington, she was too tired to collate her scripts by the time she got home. I volunteered to stay up and do it, which gave me the opportunity to see how revisions worked.

Sometimes we got advanced copies of episodes, and I'd sit down with my mother to see how they translated from script to screen, and then how the editors changed the advanced copies to the final versions that aired. It was all fascinating to me.

By age 13, I wrote my first screenplay for fun for Star Trek: Voyager. And I was constantly on editing teams and video teams in high school.

At 16, I joined AFTRA as a Voice Over Artist, and made a decent chunk of change doing it until 2008 when things went sideways in the industry. Also, the Studio where I was a contract player changed hands, and the new owner cared more about shareholders than us peons.

In college, I chose to go after Communications, and both my degrees are in it (Bachelors in Communications - Mass Media, Masters in Strategic Communication). But my minor was Film. I directed, edited, story-boarded, wrote, acted, and lit so many projects. Nothing ground-breaking, of course, but I learned a lot in the practicality of it and used my knowledge of growing up on sets to help our work really shine.

I went into Journalism between Freshman and Sophomore year and did that for many years, working in Broadcast and online journalism as a producer and researcher. My first job at 19 in the newsroom was to watch Iraq War and 9/11 footage and mark which parts were airable and which were not.

I transitioned into theater for a decade, there, and my film side took a step back. I've worked so many different jobs and for so many different clients.

Written articles, a cook book, website content, helped with front-end app development, emails, print pieces, etc. Professionally, these days, I'm a Digital Marketer. Been working freelance for 6 years, now.

I dream of writing TV (and I was a finalist with a Pilot of mine in a contest last year), but the reality is that living in Virginia makes my options and opportunities small. Having a Special Needs child makes moving to California without a job lined up pretty impossible.

But, I'm not disheartened. Chances still exist. Someday, perhaps, I'll sell a script. Perhaps, I'll get to act, again, when the time is right.

And in the meantime... I write scripts. I participate in online table reads with friends. I write these Metas and have so much fun using that portion of my brain, again.

Because while I'm so stoked these Metas have been well-received, I'd write them even if nobody read them. I write because I must. Because I love it. And because no matter where my life takes me... these bits and pieces remain a core part of me.

Anyway, that's a long-winded response, but hopefully I didn't offend you since you've made it through the Metas! Again, thank you for reading and asking the question! I wish you well in all you do.

[tellthemeerkatsitsfine]

Edit: I wrote this post about three days ago and saved it in drafts because the Google Drive file hadn’t finished processing yet. I don’t know why it took three days, but it finally works, so here it is.

I wrote several posts last year about how much I enjoyed Comedy World Cup, a panel show hosted by David Tennant that ran for seven episodes in 2012 and then never again. I wish they’d make more of it, it was really entertaining and can’t be that hard to make. It had eight teams of three people each, and they competed against each other in a knockout-style tournament of quizzes about comedy.

One cool feature of the show is that each team was well balanced to have a mix of younger, up-and-coming comedians and older, established comedians. They seemed to mostly try for three generations in each three-person team - someone middle-aged, someone older, and someone young. Alan Carr with Clive Anderson and Sara Pascoe (who was quite new to comedy then, it was 2012). The Chuckle Brothers (old) with Jon Richardson (young, back then) and Andy Parson (middle). Omid Djalili with Daniel Sloss. Phill Jupitus (middle) and Barry Cryer (old) with Roisin Conaty (young). It was interesting to see the mixed dynamics generally, but particularly how they differed on a quiz that covered the last several decades of comedy. What stuff the older people knew because it happened when they were younger and paying attention, and what stuff they didn’t know because it happened once they’d gotten old enough to stop following new stuff. What stuff the older people didn’t know because they were too busy living it to commit it to memory, and what stuff the younger people knew because they learned it like history instead of experiencing it. What stuff the younger people didn’t know because it was before their time.

My favourite of this sort of combination was Johnny Vegas with Mick Miller and Josh Widdicombe, who weirdly played out an entire drama, a sort of sports movie with a bit of gangster movie thrown in (there is a mutiny of the leader at one point), throughout their three episodes. Many people have sat down to write scripts about how people from an older generation respond to a newer generation coming up behind them, and many of those scripts have not covered the subject as well as what unfolded on this panel show in 2012. One of the best sports movie tropes is the tension of an established athlete who starts to get overtaken by a younger talented athlete (that trope is the best in my opinion - an opinion that is mainly formed because in my years as a competitive athlete and coach, I can confirm that that situation is incredibly common and always that fucking dramatic), especially if they’re on the same team so they’re not supposed to be in direct competition but that competitiveness occurs anyway. When I first watched Comedy World Cup last year, I didn’t expect it to do that trope better than any sports movie, but here we are. The amount of drama in “older and established person who’s put in the years and earned their place of respect is threatened, maybe or maybe not justifiably, by a younger up-and-comer” apparently crosses through sports and into comedic panel quiz shows.

...I mean, they were joking. Obviously they were joking, the Comedy World Cup panel show didn’t have the genuine drama of actual sports. But they did a damn good facsimile of it. They were exaggerating for comic effect, particularly Johnny, as exaggerating this stuff for comic effect is kind of his whole thing. But still. I don’t think they were quite 100% joking, and even if they were, they played out that fiction better than a lot of people who are acting out actual pre-written scripts.

This weekend, I went looking for the best example I could find a fun comfort show to distract myself from, you know, the horrors of the world. And I ended up re-watching most of Comedy World Cup. I also decided that I want to be able to explain it to other people, so as I went along, I saved a bunch of relevant clips that featured the Johnny Vegas/Josh Widdicombe/Mick Miller team (Mick Miller’s main contribution to the narrative is you can watch how at first Johnny is mainly interacting with him because they’re the two who know each other and Josh is the new guy, while by the end they’ve worked out that Josh and Johnny are the two who know what they’re doing, and they pretty much ignore the other guy). From that, I made a video of their three episodes condensed into forty minutes, showing the evolution of the team. You get a form of Johnny Vegas’ belligerence that’s just a little bit more grounded in reality than it normally is. You get Josh Widdicombe showing off the fact that, age or any other factor aside, he really is the top comedy nerd. He is not kidding in all his stories about how he grew up in a place with nothing to do but watch comedy on TV (it is weird to me, though, that he knew everything else but did not know the colour of Kenny’s jacket on South Park or Hawkeye’s name on M*A*S*H, as I thought those would be easy questions). Josh, who manages to develop a catchphrase in only three episodes: “I know this.” And you get an arc of narrative tension, conflict and redemption, so satisfying that I think Peter Berg could write quite a good a five-season show based on it.

The compilation is too long to upload directly to Tumblr, and when I tried to put it on YouTube I got told it would be blocked due to copyright, but here it is on Google Drive, if anyone wants to spend forty minutes watching that:

Josh Widdicombe and Johnny Vegas on Comedy World Cup

[indigokashmir]

Original Shows and Movies from India

Original Movies and Shows from India that are Beautifully Made, Acted, Directed, with Excellent Production Design.

Here are some highly enjoyable and original Indian productions. They are all so captivating that it's difficult to pick the best among them. So, in no particular order of preference, here are our recommendations for this edition of IndigoKashmir from India:

Sir (2018): An optimistic and determined young woman from a remote village embarks on her new job as a live-in maid for the cynical son of a wealthy family. As time passes, they fall in love, but their relationship becomes forbidden. This film is one of the most beautifully written, acted, and filmed movies we've seen in a while. If you enjoyed 'The Lunchbox,' then 'Sir' is a must-watch. While it tells a simple story, it deeply moved us. 'Sir' is a thought-provoking film and has firmly secured a place among our favourite films. We cannot recommend it enough.

Tumhari Sulu (2017): Sulu is an ambitious housewife with a loving husband and a happy family. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she accidentally lands a job as a radio jockey, and her show becomes an instant hit. This film presents a cute and funny story about a Mumbai housewife with a "can-do" attitude. It's incredibly witty and charming, and we thoroughly enjoyed it. At the heart of its story, the film carries a valuable message. If you're seeking something lighthearted, positive, and fun, be sure to check it out.

Delhi Belly (2011): Three struggling roommates unwittingly become potential targets of a ruthless gangster. This film is one of the funniest we've seen in quite some time! While it can get a bit gross at times, in this comedy, NOTHING IS OFF LIMITS (as the title suggests). It's a very well-written, brilliantly acted, and expertly directed cinematic gem. We wholeheartedly recommend it; it had us in stitches.

Rocket Boys (2022): This is the extraordinary story of two remarkable men, Homi Bhabha and Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai, who not only made history but also shaped India's future. It's a phenomenal tale of exceptional individuals, captured with exquisite filming, outstanding acting, and masterful direction. We were so captivated by it that we binged the entire series on a rainy weekend. This show is not only thought-provoking, intelligent, and inspirational, but it also beautifully portrays real-life events.

If you enjoyed series like 'Manhattan,' then 'Rocket Boys' is a must-watch for you. The two lead actors, Jim Sarbh and Ishwak Singh, deliver brilliant performances. What's truly commendable is how the show remains focused on the scientists and avoids getting entangled in politics, allowing the story to shine through without distractions. (Season 2 arrived earlier this year and it was just as good as the first one).

If anyone knows who was responsible for the exceptional set and production design, please share! It added to the show's beauty. 'Rocket Boys' is a beautifully shot series that's truly worth your time.

Qarib Qarib Single (2017): Two contrasting personalities, Yogi and Jaya, connect through a dating app and embark on a journey to revisit their past, rediscovering themselves along the way. This film is a delightful, sweet, feel-good, and charming experience. It weaves a beautiful, heartwarming, and lovely story, all set against the backdrop of a road trip across India. We highly recommend it if you're looking for something easygoing, joyful—a film that will surely bring a smile to your face.

Let's also take a moment to remember Irrfan Khan; he was an extraordinary talent who left a lasting legacy.

Panchayat (2020): It is a comedy-drama that follows the journey of Abhishek, an engineering graduate who, due to a lack of better job options, takes on the role of secretary at a Panchayat office in a remote village in Uttar Pradesh. It's a positive, imaginative, funny, heartwarming, original, and endearing series. We absolutely loved every aspect of it and highly recommend it. (Season 2 was just as good and there will be a season 3).

This show carries a meaningful message at its core and remains refreshingly original. The cinematography and soundtrack are also phenomenal. A word of warning: it might inspire you to consider a simpler life in a village. The creators of this series display comedy genius, and in our humble opinion, comedy is one of the most challenging genres. It's easy to make people feel miserable, but it's much harder to make them smile. The simplicity of the village depicted in the show took IndigoKashmir back to the carefree days of childhood. Those were undoubtedly the golden years.

Andhadhun (2018): "Andhadhun" unfolds a series of mysterious events that alter the life of a blind pianist, forcing him to report a crime he never actually witnessed. This film completely blew us away. It's a black comedy, so be warned: if you're expecting slapstick or the usual style of comedy, it may not be for you. Instead, this movie seamlessly weaves a story within a drama, within a thriller, within a horror. It's an absolute masterpiece, and we cannot recommend it enough.

We'll be back with more original selections from India. We hope you enjoy these recommendations, and if you watch them, please let us know what you think!

[theharpermovieblog]

#HARPERSMOVIECOLLECTION

2023

https://www.tumblr.com/theharpermovieblog?source=share

I re-watched Magic (1978)

I haven't watched this one since I was a kid. A classic, if lesser known horror/drama.

A failed magician gets a career boost after incorporating a dummy into his act, but as fame gets ever closer so does the revelation of a dark secret.

Actor/Director Richard Attenborough is probably better known, to people my age and younger, as the man who welcomed us to Jurassic Park. But, he was a lot more than that. Attenborough was a great actor and filmmaker. He directed the classic Ghandi and acted in films like The Sand Pebbles and The Great Escape. Here Attenborough takes on psychological horror and directs a young Anthony Hopkins in a great role.

Hopkins is fantastic, and learned both ventriloquism and slight of hand magic for the film. ( I suppose nowadays it seems odd that a magician could use a ventriloquist dummy to boost his career, but this movie came out in 1978, so think back to a time before the internet and haul videos)

Burgess Meredith and Ann Margaret are also in this and doing a great job.

Maybe it's because Attenborough was an actor himself, but he definitely made an actor's movie with this.

When I first saw this it was on an old VHS tape and looked rather worn out. I was also young and couldn't appreciate Attenborough's shot choices, the DP work or the editing, which is all very well done. I also couldn't fully appreciate the well written script, as this is one of those 1970's "grown-up" horror films, and I preferred an abundance of gore and boobs. Which is a shame because this movie is really fantastic. While it's not the best representation of mental illness, it has a great character with an interesting bit of madness and everyone here is putting in their all.

One of those gems that nobody talks about enough.

I can't stress how good the acting here is. There are several excellent scenes, the best being between Hopkins and Burgess Meredith, as Meredith challenges Hopkins to a seemingly simple five minute challenge. It's so good and plays out so well.

Attenborough paces each of these scenes beautifully and it makes for one great movie.

The only not-so-great moments are the murders, which always involve the dummy. The second murder is especially a little sillier then scary, but it's fun.

I highly recommend this one.