you haven't already, can you draw Tawnypelt? she's a favorite of mine and I love your designs^^

Tawnypelt

Intermission

Donatellos in Untitled Goose Game:

It was a lovely day in New York City...therefore statistically, something horrible will happen. There is a bush in Central Park, and in that bush, a honk sounded. Out popped a Goose with a purple bandana tied around its neck. He looked left, then right, then gave out two honks. Two goslings popped their heads out and they each gave out an affirmative honk. The Goose emerged from the bush with its goslings tumbling and waddling after him. It was a lovely day in New York City...and the Donatellos are horrible Geese.

“Oh fuck, it’s the horrible Goose and its spawn,” groaned a vendor of the gardens. “It’s just a goose, how bad can it be?” “When you see it in action, you’d take back those words” Riri and Cass were having a staredown across each other. Their respective counterparts looked at each other, then at the girls, then at Sunita eating nachos on a bench in between the two booths.

Sunita shrugged, “When it comes to cookies and brownies it’s serious business with those two”.

Riri grit her teeth and forced a smile, “At least I’m selling cookies for a cause. TO SAVE TREES CASS!” Cass smirked and thumped her chest, “HAH! When I take over the world with these brownies, WE WOULD  BE ABLE TO SAVE MORE TREES BY FORCE”. Lillie and April squinted at the Caseys. Casey shrugged as CJ carried over more boxes of brownies, “At least she’s enthusiastic”. April was about to comment back when she felt a tug on her pant leg. She looked down to see a little gosling with a little violet cape happily waddling up and down and honking at her now he has her attention. “Aww!” Both Lillie and April cooed. April set down the box of cookies and picked up the gosling. “Hey, there little guy! Oh my gosh. His little cape! So cute!”. The gosling preened at the attention. “He’s a very enthusiastic baby for something with a broken wing,” observed Lillie. The gosling honked and wibbled its tail feathers. Lillie smiled, “Aw cute baby! Riri get over here! Look at this cutie pie”. Riri came over to see what the fuss was about. Cass grinned, “Not that they’re distracted, we’re gonna crush these sales!”. She then turned to her brothers to see them huddled over something that was hiding under their booth. “Guys?” CJ was the first to surface with something cupped in his hands, “Look Cass, the little guy was stuck on our tablecloth” A sad, quiet honk came from the little gosling with red eyes and a lavender ribbon loosely tied around its neck in CJ’s hands. It trembled fearfully. Cass dropped the box she was holding and rushed over to CJ, “Oh no! Poor thing! Where’s its mama?” So busy were the Caseys and Aprils with the two goslings, no one noticed the Goose took a box of cookies from the Aprils’ table, casually waddled over to the Caseys’ booth, and swapped a box of cookies with a box of brownies. He then waddled back to the cookie table and placed the box of brownies on it. No one even noticed the switch.

No one but Sunita, eating her nachos in amusement. The Goose waddled over to her side, settled there, and then gave a loud honk. The two goslings honked back and scrambled back to the Goose. The red-eyed gosling buried itself under its parent’s feathers, the caped gosling took its time, honking and twirling in glee to the joy of everyone witnessing it. There was a screech and then, “THE HECK IS THIS APRIL!? Why did you sneak your wares into mine? That’s playing DIRTY !” Riri pounded her fist on her table, “Pot calling the kettle dirty, Jonesy? What about this box of your brownies mixed in with mine!?” “I DIDN’T DO IT!” “NEITHER DID I!” “HAVE AT IT O’NEIL!” “PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS JONES!” April and Lillie looked at each other, then at the Caseys. Oh no.

Sunita watched the ensuing carnage then eyed the Goose. “Good job raising hell guys,” she divided her nachos and gave the non cheesed bits to the Goose and its goslings. The goslings happily snack on their hard-earned loot. The Goose gave a hjonk of thanks toward Sunita’s way and waited for its children to finish before it ate.

They need the energy to cause more mayhem and the day is long. --- It was noon. Foot Brute and Foot Lieutenant surveyed the city from their vantage point. “Well Brute, what is our agenda for today?” The Brute smiled and said, “The same thing we do every day, sir. Try to take over the world”. The Lieutenant smiled, pleased that his partner and daughter were still in the business, despite their initial struggles. Leading the Foot Clan is exhausting without backup. There was a tiny honk in the vicinity of their feet. They both looked down to see a gosling with red eyes staring at them. “Aww”, Foot Brute cooed. He picked it up gently and asked, “Where’s your parent, little one?” A scream curdled the air and they looked down to the streets to see their daughter screaming her lungs out being chased by her friend...and chasing after them some kind of robot. Foot Lieutenant sighed and massaged his temples. “Oh, Casey… what now?”

Foot Brute put down the gosling in a safe place, “I’m sure your parents will find you little one. Stay put”. He then followed his husband and easily hauled a large contraption upon his shoulders. They did not notice another gosling hopping off the contraption proudly holding a screw in its beak. Out of the shadows, the Goose emerged. The goslings regrouped on their parent’s back and the Goose fluttered down to a staircase. There were more denizens of New York to bother. ---

Baron Draxum stared down the pest of New York City, the great Goose of Central Park, as screams erupted all around them. The Goose narrowed its eyes at the sheep yokai and raised its wings in a threatening manner. They were at a standstill. “NOT THE FACE, NOT THE FACE!!!,” pleaded Warren as a gosling with a cape cackled in glee over the worm mutant. “Darling, hold still, please! I’m trying to not harm you and the little one,” Hypno said nervously as he tried to grab the little dramatic gosling.

“Well, if you don’t do anything fast, I’M GOING TO GET EATEN!”

Draxum looked to the side to see Todd gently picking up the red-eyed gosling that had outsmarted Repo Mantis and Meat Sweats from a pile who were now screaming at each other. Draxum glared at the Goose who seemed to radiate smugness back at him. “If I give you what you need, will you and your children leave this human-mutant soiree alone?” The Goose seemed to think about it. It lowered its wings. It agreed. Draxum sighed. Can this day get any weirder ? ---

“Oh my, my! What a delightful treat to watch!,” Big Mama clapped her hands excitedly as three of the Mud Dogs tried capturing the Goose, who was nonchalant about the damage it was doing.

It popped up behind Heinous Green and honked. The oni stiffened then slowly raised his fist to grab it. The Goose then jumped as Heinous’s fist connected to his face. Mickey and Leonard both made a grab for it and slammed their faces together for their efforts. The Goose plopped around Big Mama’s office in search of something. Danny raised a perfectly trimmed eyebrow at Big Mama. “Are you sure you don’t want me to let this creature out of your office, Ma’am?” Big Mama put a finger to her chin. “Absolutely. Not until I find out what it’s looking for”. Danny shook his head and then looked down to see two goslings hiding behind a potted plant watching their parent cause chaos. Ah . That explained it. He kneeled and reached inside his suit to take out a couple of crackers to give to the goslings. The caped one gleefully grabbed a cracker and began munching. The red-eyed one with the ribbon fluffed up its feathers and began to cry. At once, the Goose hurried toward him, put its children behind it, and hissed at him. Danny put his hands up, “Easy. I know why you’re here. I got kids too, a tiger cub and a kit. You can leave after we give you food, right?”. The Goose had bared its terrifying numerous sawed teeth, then it stopped. It huffed when it noticed that its other gosling was also eating. Danny offered the Goose the wrapped package of crackers. The Goose narrowed its eyes at him. Then it honked and took the crackers from Danny. The Goslings climbed up their parent’s back and the Goose plopped out the office with its beak in the air. Danny sighed. Those crackers were for his little Alopex and Tigerclaw, damn it. Big Mama patted his shoulder with a small bag of unicorns and gold. “Well spotted. I too have children, four teenage boys to be exact, and I do know how they get hungry easily. Buy your children a good meal instead of light snacks, yes?” ----

“It is a wonderful evening in this rooftop garden, Master Splinter,” Splinter said arranging a potted plant on the ground. “It is, Master Splinter,” Lou agreed, sitting crossed-legged on the ground with a tea set in front of him. Next to him was the Goose with a purple bandana around its neck, sitting peacefully, eyes closed. Splinter sat in front of them and poured himself a cup of tea. A few meters away, the two goslings were trying to scale a miniature tower. In the background, screams of despair rose as mild annoyances cropped up across New York. Splinter raised a brow, “You were busy today, Goose-san”. The Goose did not bother to answer. The caped gosling hauled its brother onto a platform and used itself as support so that the red eyed gosling can reach the bell at the top of the miniature tower. “Incredible display of acrobatics from your children, Goose-san. We prefer this to your usual method of pecking the base of the tower until it topples over and you can reach the bell. It is very expensive and time-consuming to keep rebuilding the tower”. The Goose opened its eyes and stood up, welcoming its children for their victory, the red-eyed one holding the bell in its beak and the caped one hopping up and down and around them. The Goose waddled away from the garden with its children and Lou waved, “See you next week, Goose-san!” More screaming and wailing can be heard in the background. ---- The Goose of New York carried the bell to their little neck of the park. It carefully hung the bell on their security, which was a long line of yarn and bells hanging on it. The Goose gently put its sleeping children under their favorite bush. It stared at the lights of New York City. The silence of their little spot was quite calming and the Goose decided it was done for the day. It was a beautiful night in New York City and the days that follow will be beautiful as well. The Goose thrummed pleased at the day's events. But not for long. Peace was never an option.

alright here’s ma thoughts on that flick I mentioned

we hatewatched a*my of the dead because we were CONVINCED “zombies in las vegas” would be an impossible concept to screw up, but in so assuming we obviously invoked a holy wager with the universe and got reminded, once again, that hoping for improvement from someone who’s dependably put out bad art is never a wise choice 😐

but we were honestly kinda roped in by the marketing??? and expected a goofy fast-paced flick with the odd traditional undead metaphor thrown in, framing some sort of relationship drama maybe or hell even nothing at all! we’d have taken pure indulgent storytelling, idk italian job with zombies in las vegas, I don’t know fucking anything but??? whatever this was???? spoilers below for it is time for One Of My Rants

I mean the main reason I really want to write all this and complain. this film here probably has the most unappealing cinematography I have ever experienced in my life and that is saying something. who the fuck signed off on that CONSTANT shallow-ass depth of field that imprisons your eyeline and turns every shot into bokeh paste???? and I mean every shot almost!!!! I promise if you think I am overreacting just throw a dart at the seek bar and watch twenty seconds from wherever it lands. it is horrifying to look at. at least it gave my girlfriend a good visual shorthand for what it’s like when I lose my glasses

why was sean spicer in this movie. did they pay him to be here. was sean spicer paid hollywood money for his scene in this film because fuck everyone who was involved in that decision

the legitimately baffling hints at the extraterrestrial origins of the infection that went absolutely nowhere and had no dramatic or plot-level bearing. we love to see the franchise sprouts fellas

yet another big budget waste of everything hiroyuki sanada has to offer. and bautista too I guess? I like him but man was this an odd career move

what was the crux of his conflict/resolution with his daughter btw. I understand it was rooted in miscommunication over their forms of grief irt mom but uhh… it was all rather clunky and didn’t land for me. I tried I really tried to buy in but something was wrong fundamentally with the groundwork there, it did not click and their catharsis felt unearned. I know there’s massive amounts of tragic baggage being projected there from the author so I’m not slapping any judgment down really;

but again it would be an easy thing to wave off if they just had a vibrant cast of lovable simpletons with good chemistry and the kinetic sense of plotting the trailers promised (and this premise never discounts good drama, either). but instead it was just two and a half (!) hours of meandering into situations the filmmaking instincts had no idea how to flow in and out of

to wit. I know talking about “bad pacing” is associated with armchair bullshit but consider the example of the scene were dieter does an out of nowhere little dance after childishly screaming but then still-killing a zombie, with the film framing this as a micro character triumph, and not a second later the bg soundtrack instantly fades into an orchestral score dramatizing a nearby mcguffin reveal, completely 180 degreeing the tone without a semblance of deft insert shot stitching or even I dont know a fucking jump cut maybe. now imagine this whiplash for 2.5 hrs uninterrupted

I will keep complaining about the length yeah because this was not a story requiring this much real estate to be told. Uhh in my humble and personal opinion, of course

[man sees zombie tiger] “this is crossing the line!” you can in fact write dialogue that is not utter nonsense that falls apart once you drill down its single fickle layer of referential meta winking. what line are you talking about. you have rules in this insane situation you’re in? total nitpick moment I know but it got burned in my brain for some reason. like a microcosm of the mismanaged dramatic instincts paired with weird writing that dots this movie. I am sure the director calls this either satire or genre deconstruction. I am SO sure

tumblr domino meme that goes from “dude getting sucked off while driving” to “entire las vegas literally nuked”

tig notaro is always great to see but once you know she’s been filmed as a separate greenscreen plate months after photography wrapped - cause she had to apparently replace some abusive asshole but that’s a whole other pig not worth fucking - it becomes impossible to unsee her odd detachment from everyone else in the movie lmao. it doesn’t really “ruin” anything on its lonesome but it is hard to unsee

why. was. sean. spicer. in. this. movie

a very simple key ingredient missing from fully turning lip service sympathy for main uruk hai dude into actual empathy that would generate meaningful conflict with hero family would be to spend a bit more time articulating what he internally wanted the most. because he was obviously trying to do something here with pointed agenda. a family, to have kids, build a caste system, save his wife’s head, return to his planet??? all of these could represent the bigger context in his psychology that spurred his vengeance but none of them are dramatically emphasized long enough for you to cheer him on. I’m not asking too much I promise. Articulating interiority of a mute character is pretty doable with deft cinema language, just gotta linger and hold a shot here and there for a few seconds, frame as his POV, donezo. I know this is also one of those like. “who cares” moments but the movie does, very evidently so, in making this guy an actual character. you can kinda piece it together and create a framework of sympathy for him, sure, but then again he ultimately becomes a foil to be killed and not defeated, so. Ehh whatever

quarantine zone stuff was not a wildly childish covid allegory quarantine zone stuff was not a wildly childish covid allegory quarantine zone stuff was n

the rooftop helicopter fakout at the end was such an ass-backwards, manufactured moment of what could be a simple setup/payoff it just pissed me off??? you gain nothing by giving sad dad five seconds of pointless crisis that flips right back to previous status quo ANYWAY, except for a weaksauce waste of runtime, which could be used instead to get inside notaro’s head and actually SHOW the remorse form as she took off, literally maybe even a frown playing on her face as she’s headed for safety right before we cut back to drax and the kid. just a simple-ass, minimal, momentary setup for what is the most basic filmmaking trick of creating macro catharsis moments. Just???? g o d if you can’t even land that shit why are you even doing any of this

that lil run final pam did was very very charming and super choreographed in a way that was the tiiiniest bit overdone

the whole intro with the simul-backstories and posing with family photos was just… oddly motivated. what was the goal? “here’s what we’re fighting for” vignettes? why? it’s not a functional setup in that vein. what was all that

also I am sorry if this is insensitive but the reasons most characters end up articulating to justify going back into the hell that destroyed their lives makes them sound seriously insane

I dont like complaining about CGI (honestly) but so much of it in modern movies can achieve higher fidelity if the animation is simply subdued. Do not overengineer and over-apply 2D cell methodologies and kinematics to each tiny twitch and movement in a hyper 3D model and I promise you. it will look a thousand times more natural. look at thanos in those last two movies. your rendering and detail are absolutely perfect with the tiger you just have to let stuff sit instead of constantly simulating swaying hair strands and firing off all facial muscles at once. great moment at one point where makeup zombie horse and CG zombie tiger are both in one shot together and just by unnecessary amounts of movement alone you can tell who doesn’t belong. again; detail, rendering, compositing, lighting, all picture-perfect; but y’all just gotta let the animation breathe sometimes, and chill it out

plot holes don’t really matter to me but it was kinda funny how lilly decided not to mention the enormous wrinkle in intel pertaining to an actual territorial tribe of intelligent zombies that require human offerings to let you pass, just so that reveal could play out in real time through the joyous punishment of the cartoonishly misogynistic dude

total chad move for mister uruk hai and final pam to rule from a rusted swimming pool complex

the ending with vanderohe oh my god. with the. cash stacks at the airport register. and specifically them working in his favor. that is literally something you do to get arrested under suspicion of theft. it was almost played for laughs and I respect that. coulda been goofier. make these movies goofy ya dorks

anyway, weird, weird movie. bad marketing. message unclear (something something sins of the father???), baffling editing instincts, literal worst-looking cinematography I ever laid eyes upon. Confidently dying on that last hill

So I have all OUAT choices.. Choose between:

Elsa and Emma friendship or Emma and Ruby friendship?

Peter Pan or Cora?

Arthur or Nimue?

Aurora or Philip?

Mulan or Merida?

Oh, quite the collection of choices!  Thanks, Nony!

Elsa and Emma friendship or Emma and Ruby friendship?

Gotta go with Elsa and Emma.  While Emma and Ruby had potential to become friends (and I think it goes without saying that Ruby would have been Emma’s godmother if things had gone the way they should have gone had Regina never cast the original Dark Curse), it sadly never developed.  I can’t really remember them interacting much after the curse was broken and everyone got their memories back.  Not that they had much of a chance to do so, as Emma got trapped in the Enchanted Forest shortly after the curse broke, and then she had to deal with the whole Neal was Rumpelstiltskin’s son thing, followed by Henry being kidnapped.  By the time Emma had the opportunity to really rekindle the friendship she had started to build with Ruby in S1, the character in question was suddenly nowhere to be seen.  Because she’d gone off on some soul searching quest we only found out about a season and a half later.

Elsa and Emma, on the other hand, were actually allowed to interact and form a legit friendship.  It’s just a shame that Elsa never showed up again after the Frozen arc ended, because I consider her to be the first real friend Emma made.  Well, apart from Killian of course.  While it could be argued that Emma and S1 Mary Margret were friends, the fact that Mary Margret was actually Emma’s mother the whole time kinda complicates matters.  (Particularly since that relationship went downhill once we reached S4.)

Peter Pan or Cora?

Ugh, that’s a tough choice.  Honestly, I detest both of them!  As far as the show’s Big Bads went, these were the two I had absolutely no sympathy for at all.  (Well, them and Cruella, but that’s another story entirely.)  Pan was a despicable father who chose to abandon his son in favor of age regression.  Not even the reveal that he became that way after the way he lost Fiona, who he clearly loved, was enough to excuse his behavior.  After all, he could have chosen to treasure his son as the only thing he had left of his wife.  Instead, he blamed Baby Rumpy for Fiona going off the deep end.  And he was downright creepy as Pan.  As horrible as it might sound, I still feel he deserved the River of Lost Souls treatment.  And Cora was even worse.  I can’t even pretend to have a drop of sympathy for someone who would leave their newborn baby in the middle of the woods to die when there was nothing stopping her from simply leaving Baby Zelena with a kindly peasant couple.   Yeah, I get her situation was not ideal, as she was a single unmarried mother in a medieval style world.  But even that was kinda her own fault.  I still feel that if she had came clean with Prince Leopold when she was given the chance to do so, he probably would have still married her.  After all, he did seem to sincerely care about her.  Instead, she continued to lie to him.  And that’s what caused him to dismiss her.  And then she went and became mentally and emotionally abusive to her second daughter, to the point where she murdered her boyfriend in cold blood because said daughter wasn’t willing to go along with her social climbing agenda.  However, I guess I do have to give Cora a little bit of credit because she seems to have seen the error of her ways at the end and redeemed herself enough to cross over into whatever this show called Heaven.  That probably should count for something.

Arthur or Nimue?

Also a tough choice, as neither of them were that likable.  Especially when they allowed themselves to become what they became.  But like with Cora, at least Arthur seemed to realize that he had been wrong in the end.  (Unfortunately, not before he had a chance to properly apologize to Guinevere and everyone else he essentially subjected to his sick mind control.)

Aurora or Philip?

Probably going with Aurora here.  Simply because we actually got to know her as a character.  Aurora was clearly the prissiest most girly-girl princess on the show. But despite that, she was still shown to have the makings of a strong leader and ruler.  Case in point that time when Cora tried to convince her to betray the rest of the Princess Squad. Instead of giving into Cora’s manipulation, Aurora had the fortitude to stand up to the older woman.  I rather liked that, particularly as a feminist.  This was a woman who was feminine and strong at the same time!  Phillip, on the other hand?  Did he even do anything in the show?  All I can remember him doing is turning into the Yagwei, lifting the Sleeping Curse on Aurora, getting killed by the wraith (before being somehow saved from the wraith off camera- I’m still upset we never found out how they did that) and then turning into a flying monkey.  Yeah, Phillip was mostly there as a plot point.  Not much character development there.

Mulan or Merida?

Mulan.  Hands down.  She was a likable and interesting character, and my only complaint with her is that we never saw her get a happy ending/beginning.  Obviously, her unrequited love for Aurora was never going to go anywhere, but then there was a missed opportunity for her to find love with Ruby, with the writers deciding Ruby would instead enter into an arguably rushed True Love relationship with Dorothy.  (Eh, at least that leaves things open for my headcanon ship of Mulan/Tiger Lily).  As far as Merida goes, however?  Uh-uh.  I HATED OUAT Merida.  In fact, her characterization in the show actually ruined Brave for me.  I can’t even think of that movie anymore without feeling utter rage.   I’m afraid I’ll never get past that one scene where she was threatening to shoot an arrow at Dark Emma, despite the fact that Dark Emma was pretty much restrained and powerless at the time.  That moment was the final nail in the coffin for me.  Yeah, Dark Emma was not exactly nice to Merida.  But when you get down to the nitty gritty, what Dark Emma did to Merida wasn’t too dissimilar to how Merida treated Belle in Camelot.  (Remember how Merida kidnapped Belle to force her to help her out in freeing her brothers?  And then justified it by pretty much saying ‘I didn’t think you’d  agree to help me if I’d asked?’  How is that any different from what Dark Emma did?  I am asking.)

The Santa Trap but for Tigers (Drabble)

T'was the night before Chrismizzle and all through the hizzle, not a hero was stirring, except for the students, because they were definitely awake. They weren't supposed to be really, yet here was the trio, a small group of kids whose mission was that of a standard Christmas movie plot: Capture Sasha the Christmas tiger.         ... Okay, that wasn't a standard movie plot mission, but it was certainly close. This year, they'd just decided to, well, catch a Christmas tiger, because apparently Santa was going on a global warming strike, so now they had a Christmas tiger to deal with.         "Got the steaks?" Archie whispered to her friends, only to then watch as Psycho reluctantly held up two cooked steaks from the day's dinner. He still couldn't believe he was going along with this, but at the same time, he'd never gotten to do one of these holiday shenanigans, so of course he'd want in on it. He was just concerned by the fact that Archie had convinced poor Jupiter that they were actually going to meet a real freaking Christmas tiger.

        "Don't worry! We'll be fine! I've rigged up an amazing security barrier around our chosen watch spots as well as the tree!" Archie reassured the group proudly, though considering her tone, Psycho was pretty sure she was just saying that to brag more than anything.         "We have it around two chairs, right?" Jupiter nervously questioned, the boy fiddling with his hands as he watched Archie set the steaks on a plate on the counter.         "Yep! Take whichever chair you want! They're both the same size! Actually now that I think about it, I'm kinda jealous. You're the smallest out of all of us," the girl pointed out with a snicker, only to then decide that her placement of the steaks was perfect enough to leave it alone. After that though, she then pulled a devise out from her pajama pockets before pointing it at the ceiling, the girl firing away and watching a small slick ball stick to it quietly. "Perfect. Anyone gets near this baby, and it'll stop em in their tracks! Guaranteed!"         "Uh... We can still move without setting it off, yeah-?" asked Jupiter meekly, Archie then holding up a remove as she gave him a nod.         "Yep! Haven't activated it yet, so we're good! Now let's get to the chairs!" With that, the young genius quickly slid on over to the chairs, the girl allowing Jupiter to pick his recliner before the other two settled for the remaining one, each with their own large blankets. Archie of course took some time at first to settle down though, mostly because she had to set up some devices around the chairs to create what she called an insta-forcefield, but soon, she was curled up right by Psycho, who'd already begun dozing off as they waited for a Christmas tiger to show up. Despite Archie's excitement, however, she too fell asleep after waiting for too long, leaving Jupiter alone and awake with his thoughts.         Unlike the other kids in the group, he'd never done anything remotely close to this. He'd never stayed up late waiting for gifts. He'd never put out goodies for a freaking Christmas tiger to come in and consume them. Was that even safe? Would the tiger even be able to get in? Security in the school was top notch, even without Archie's traps. And none of Archie's traps seemed capable of really stopping a tiger, at least in his opinion. Or maybe he just had the wrong idea on what a tiger was? He'd never seen a tiger before, but he'd heard they were big... Oh boy. He just hoped nothing went wrong...         For thirty minutes or so, Jupiter waited, the boy hoping to catch a glimpse of this mysterious Christmas tiger. Unfortunately, sleep had begun creeping up on him, and slowly, the boy was beginning to drift off... That was what would've happened, but it didn't, for suddenly, a glow lit up the center of the room, and that quickly got Jupiter's attention.         The glow in question had come from a red swirling vortex, one that Jupiter didn't recognize right away. It was late after all, and he was very much tired, but it eventually dawned on him that this was a portal. A Quintellex portal.         Someone from Quintellex Alliance was coming back to the school, and they were going to be exposed to Sasha the probably-incoming Christmas tiger.         Fearful of whoever it was getting injured, the boy nearly leaped out of his chair to run over and warn the incoming hero. However, instead, he stayed put, the boy even more fearful of what may happen to him if he were to step out of the recliner Archie had put protective barriers around. Hopefully whoever came through didn't get too badly hurt by everything... And hopefully they wouldn't be mad, though that depended on the member, and unfortunately, luck was not at all in his favor.         The person stepping out was one Jupiter quickly recognized to be Arma, the one and only mentor to Archie, and also the scariest member of the Quintellex Alliance, and for good reason. The guy was tall and suffered from resting bitch face, not to mention the fact that he happened to be a scarred up cyborg. This man was not one to be messed with, and Archie's security system was about to find out why.         Sensing the motion in the room, traps quickly went off, red lights locking on and firing nets at the man. Arma, surprised, didn't know how to react and was hit, though not before trying to dive out of the way and even shooting at the firing devices. The firing of course quickly woke up Archie and Psycho too, Archie looking like she was about to laugh until she saw who'd gotten wrapped up in her little trap. And what made it worse? A certain agent the children knew had suddenly entered the room, all decked out in a Santa costume: Richard Longhorn.         "Arma-?!" The agent seemed very much distressed by the state of his friend, or maybe he wasn't distressed by that. Maybe he was more afraid of the fact that there was a chance the man might try and attack him. Granted he did point his blaster at the human, but upon processing who it was, the man powered it down and began trying to remove himself from his predicament.         "Functional," the alien grumbled, only to then look around the room with his one artificial eye. And quickly, that eye had locked right onto the trio. "As are some students."         Once Arma had spotted them, Longhorn had as well, and it didn't take long for the festive-looking man to start demanding an explanation. "What are you doing out here?! And more importantly, why are there traps everywhere-" He couldn't help but cut himself off after remembering literally half of the Christmas movies he'd watched over the years. Were they...? "Don't tell me you three were trying to catch Santa Claus."         "Not Santa!" Archie replied. "We were trying to catch Sasha the Christmas Tiger! You know! The tiger standing in for Santa while he's on a global warming strike? The daughter of the Grinch and Tony the Tiger? She's pretty famous."         "...What-"         "These traps are insufficient for a supposed Christmas tiger," Arma commented, the man having broken his robotic arm through some of the nets as he began to remove himself from them. "The size of these nets is not enough to properly capture a tiger. Netting is also less sufficient. It appears more like you were attempting to capture a human or a being close to one."         Arma's reply, while clearly just him making remarks, did cause Archie to laugh nervously, the girl scratching her head while Psycho let out a sigh.         "...That's alright, Psycho." Ah. Psycho must've sent a mind message to Longhorn it seems. "But there are better ways to watch out for Santa or... Christmas tigers. Understand?"         "Yeahhhhh." Archie sounded like she agreed with the statement, but also like she was still rather bored with the explanation. Basically, what Jupiter was taking away from this was that she wasn't sorry. Mostly.         "Now, head off to bed, you three. Santa can't deliver gifts when everyone's awake, and I'm sure the same rules apply to the... Christmas tiger." Seems Longhorn still found this new character weird, but he was trying to play along at least; this was kind of new for him after all.         "Do we have to...?" asked Jupiter, the boy rubbing his eyes as he looked at the two men in the room. Well, one man. He wasn't looking at Arma. Arma was too scary for him, so.         "Yes. Now come along. Arma can escort you to your rooms." Longhorn's statement quickly earned a worried look from Jupiter and Archie, though Psycho didn't seem surprised in the slightest. Arma also didn't seem all that happy, but once the man took into account just how Longhorn was dressed and just, well, decided to go with it.         "...Very well. Archie, disarm your traps." Once ordered, Arma then watched the girl stretch before pulling out her remote, the girl clicking a few buttons before sliding out of the recliner she and Psycho had been sleeping in with a quick, "Got em."         "Good."         "Are we in trouble? I didn't mean to do anything..." That was what Jupiter mumbled as he got to his feet, blanket wrapped around him as he hung his head. "I don't think we meant for a hero to get attacked either."         "Oh trust me. That wasn't on my agenda," the supposed genius replied, only to then give Arma a nervous smile. "Guess we have to turn in for real now though. Happy gifting, Teach!"         Despite the fact that Longhorn was still a little annoyed by all of this, he did look towards the two and respond kindly to Archie's comment. "Thank you. Merry Christmas to you too, now please get some rest. We still need to celebrate tomorrow, and you will need to pick up all of your deactivated traps."         Ah. There was the punishment.         "Yes sir-!"         "Good. Now please get to bed. Santa and Sasha are waiting to give gifts. Best not keep them waiting." And so, after that comment from the agent, the children were then herded out of the room by the older hero, thus leaving Longhorn to stash the gifts he had under the tree. Ah, what a strange Christmas indeed.

Meet the SLH Marketing Team

A creative think tank of travel experts specialising in luxury brand positioning, we’re proud to be a small yet mighty team of independently minded individuals. Each with our own unique skill-set, from illustration, graphic design, content creation to copywriting, our marketing knowledge spans across three continents and the same number of decades. Here’s a little bit more about the people behind the brand…

Richard Hyde – Chief Operating Officer

Three fun facts about yourself…

On a work experience week at the Amstel Hotel in Amsterdam a guest called to complain about the soap not soaping. He didn’t realise it had a thin plastic wrapping. That person was Bill Gates.

My first job was advertising microwave ovens. We put a massive billboard on the Cromwell Road with a 25 ft rubber chicken. Within 24 hours it had disappeared, never to be found again. But someone in Earls Court must have it.

I am a big reindeer fan. On a visit to Lapland to see Father Christmas (he does exist), I befriended a reindeer with one antler called Nobby. I paid for his upkeep for a year and got an ownership certificate. If you enjoyed the Chernobyl series on Sky, spare a thought for all the wildlife in Scandinavia, which caught the brunt of the radiation fall out. Another sad fact, there are no wild reindeer left in Scandinavia. Every single one is accounted for and tagged.

Which destination is top of your bucket list?

I’ve always wanted to cycle from New York to San Francisco, but apparently it is better the other way due to the prevailing wind, but it’s not same to end 6 weeks of pain in the East River rather than the Pacific Ocean.

The one SLH hotel you’d like to visit, and why?

A hard question but I’ll say the new Kontiki Yacht experience around the Galapagos.

Where is your happy place?

In a large double bed with the family, watching an old Sophia Loren movie and Jennifer Lawrence whispering bed time stories in my ear.

Your most memorable travel experience?

Going on a moped tour of Lahore in Pakistan. Just the friendliest people and most exotic markets. Shame it’s ruined by internal strife.

Abi Tottenham-Smith – Head of Social Media

Three fun facts about yourself…

I am a big musical theatre fan and love nothing more than a cheesy musical. I have been dancing since I was a kid and still like to do classes and workshops every so often now to get my fix!

I have worked and lived in both Singapore and NYC for a few months each. Even though I have bought a flat in London and have a dog, I still have an urge to live somewhere else for a short period of time – anyone in NYC want to house swap?

I studied Fashion Marketing at university and always thought I wanted to get into the fashion industry – particularly mens fashion. After a short stint in the fashion industry and then the world of beauty, I moved into travel and couldn’t see myself anywhere else now!

Which destination is top of your bucketlist?

I had a trip to South Africa booked to visit friends before lockdown which sadly got cancelled so I am desperate to re-arrange that as soon as possible! I am also craving a wilderness escape in Canada and it would be a dream to one day visit Bhutan – it sounds like a truly magical country and it still seems like it is relatively untouched by tourism.

The one SLH hotel you’d like to visit, and why?

There are far too any and I had already mentioned in my previous interview that I was desperate to visit Sikelia, Trout Point Lodge and Petit St. Vincent but now on top of these I love the look of Hôtel Crillon le Brave in France, Villa La Madonna in Italy and Villa Geba in Montenegro.

Where is your happy place?

On Compton Beach in the Isle of Wight. I have been going there with my family since I was a child as my grandfather bought a small coastguard cottage on the island at an auction in the 1960s. My parents now rent it out during the summer but we try to go down as much as possible when its available. It’s the one place where you can truly relax, go on long beautiful walks, play board games by the fire and turn off from city life!

Your most memorable travel experience?

We arrived on a tiny island in the Philippines in the middle of the night and had to get to our accommodation on the opposite side of the island. We managed to find a lovely man who took us in his tuktuk – little did we know the roads meandered through thick woods and hovered over steep cliffs and our new pal was a maniac on the road… two hours later we arrived shaken but unscathed and hiked down to the little hut we had booked. We had no idea where we were or what the surroundings were like but woke up in the morning to the most incredible view over a river, in the middle of nowhere. We ended up staying there for three nights and enjoyed swimming in the river, hiking the cliffs and relaxing in the hammock (mostly psyching ourselves up to take the journey back again!)

Maddy Morgan – Director of PR Worldwide

Three fun facts about yourself…

I once went to circus school to learn how to be a trapeze artist.

In the 90s I was a clog dancing champion and went on tours of Europe and the US.

I have visited pretty much every corner of California – it’s my specialist subject.

Which destination is top of your bucketlist?

It’s not a destination so much as an experience – I would love to take an extended trip with my family and follow the sun and the surf around the world. No fixed agenda just pure freedom and the opportunity to take forest school to the next level for my kids!

The one SLH hotel you’d like to visit, and why?

Brazil has been on my wish list for a long time so Kenoa – Exclusive Beach Spa and Resort near Maceio is top of the list. It describes itself as an eco-chic design hotel where luxury is defined by earth given beauty – I feel relaxed just thinking about it!

Where is your happy place?

For me it’s Portugal – I spent a lot of time there growing up and then studied at university in Coimbra. I go at least once a year and love the fact that when I’m there I feel completely at home and not a tourist. The smell of pine trees will always be one of the most evocative scents for me and takes me straight back to hot summer days in Algarve.

Your most memorable travel experience?

I worked at an orphanage in rural Sarawak for a year when I was 18. The locals were incredibly generous taking us on trips to visit their families in nearby longhouses and including us in special occasions like weddings – it’s a cliché but there really is nothing like a totally immersive travel experience. One of them who I hadn’t seen for 20 years just sent me a video message out of the blue for my birthday in June which was the most amazing present. If I’m allowed a second one it would be filming on Alcatraz and being left alone in the cell block while the crew went outside to shoot the sunset. I’m not sure many people get to experience that and it was terrifying!

Dana O’Malley – PR Director Americas

Three fun facts about yourself…

I used to live three blocks from the White House.

I was on the field for an AC Milan v Chelsea match.

I’m half Trinidadian, half American (by way of Eastern Europe).

Which destination is top of your bucket list?

Japan has been on the top of my bucket list for a few years now and I’m determined to get there soon! I’ve always been infatuated by the culture and food, and can’t wait to explore the cities and further afield.

The one SLH hotel you’d like to visit, and why?

I would love to visit Dar Ahlam in Morocco. It’s a very special retreat situated near the Moroccan desert which caters to your every whim.

Where is your happy place?

Anywhere with my husband! We’re always ready for an adventure and experiencing new things, especially with our young daughter in tow.

Your most memorable travel experience?

Pimalai Resort & Spa in Koh Lanta, Thailand holds a special place in my heart. We spent our honeymoon at the resort basking in the sun, enjoying private dinners on the beach and taking a boat tour to visit nearby islands.

Juliana Tan – PR Director Asia Pacific

Three fun facts about yourself…

I take care of Public Relations in Asia Pacific, and live on the sunny shores of Singapore.

During my free time, I enjoy photography and jewellery making.

I have recently taken up gardening too, inspired by the farm-to-table concept that I see at many SLH hotels.

Which destination is top of your bucket list?

North America! I have travelled to almost every part of Asia Pacific, but have not ventured to the Americas yet. I was supposed to visit this November, so that is definitely top of my list for 2021.

The one SLH hotel you’d like to visit, and why?

I would like to go to Hacienda Zorita Wine Hotel & Organic Farm Hotel in Spain. I love to eat, and just reading up about the hotel makes me hungry – for their fine Spanish cuisine and culinary adventures at their organic farm and vineyard. I am especially looking forward to meeting their special residents who live in the 30-hectare evergreen oak tree forest – the indigenous Churra sheep, near extinct Verata goats and endangered woolly Mangalica pigs. The hotel is committed to preserving indigenous, rare and endangered species in the Duero Valley. If the place is good enough for Christopher Columbus (who reputedly once visited, restored and modernised the 14th-century Dominican monastery), Hacienda Zorita Wine Hotel & Organic Farm Hotel is definitely good enough for me to explore!

Where is your happy place?

Cliché as it sounds, the Kingdom of Bhutan warms the cockles of my heart. I was intrigued by a place which seems to have stood still in time, by their very colourful culture and historic architecture. Beyond The Tiger’s Nest and Dzongs, there’s so much more to explore in Bhutan, like staying in a farmhouse, making your own buckwheat noodles from scratch and ending the day with a hot stone bath (you can try a luxurious version at Gangtey Lodge and Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary). Most of all, the sincere and welcoming hearts of the people I met left the deepest impression, so much so I started to read up on the Kingdom after I returned home, and I am planning to go back again soon.

Your most memorable travel experience?

My first safari to Botswana was an eye-opener, literally. Being a city dweller, the concrete jungle with its gaudy lights, deafening noises and rushed footsteps were what I was used to. During the week I was on safari, I was greeted with glistening sunshine accented with the happy chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves as wildlife walked alongside. I learnt to stay still and just observe the animals, thoroughly enjoying the antics of the young. The entire experience enhanced my senses – by day three, I was able to clearly see the vast plains lit solely by the moonlight and interpret the calls and footsteps of wildlife; our safari guide (interestingly, his name was Fish) taught us well!

Jessica Sparkes – Head of Digital Performance

Three fun facts about yourself…

Recently, I reignited my love for musical theatre, completing a beginner course and singing ‘I dreamed a dream’ in the end show.

I have a little Maltipoo pup called Gus. We like to do tricks together, currently we are learning to dance.

I’ve tried every last minute holiday diet available.

Which destination is top of your bucket list?

Argentina Wine Trails, Cambodia and the Philippines.

The one SLH hotel you’d like to visit, and why?

There are far too many to choose from! Finca Serena for the ultimate, European, countryside escape. Huvafen Fushi Maldives – you just need to view the hotel gallery to understand why! And Le Barthélemy Hotel & Spa because I absolutely love the Caribbean and this is another beautiful location to tick off my list.

Where is your happy place?

The minute I buckle up my seat belt on a plane out of here! The happiest of places is when I have my toes in the sand, face in sunshine and reading a book.

Your most memorable travel experience?

I did a sunrise climb of Mount Batur in Bali a couple of years ago. I had absolutely no idea what to expect and probably for the best. A pick up time of 2am, three hour trek in the thick darkness of the night with head torches and then climbing towards the top on my hands and knees! Once you have made it to the top of the volcano, you see the most incredible views across Indonesia with the sun rising over the horizon. There was also a guitarist singing “Hotel California” – such an incredible experience.

Laura Bizayi – Senior Digital Campaign Manager

Three fun facts about yourself…

I was born 11 weeks premature and weighed just the same as a bag of sugar.

I have a 6 month old Pomapoo called Luna, so we have the same initials (LB).

I once took part in the world’s biggest egg and spoon race at school.

Which destination is top of your bucketlist?

Maldives. Philippines. Mykonos. I’m more of a sun searcher, I admit.

The one SLH hotel you’d like to visit, and why?

Kenoa – Exclusive Beach Spa & Resort. New to SLH and looks completely lush. I haven’t travelled to South America yet and this is the perfect excuse!

Where is your happy place?

Honestly, anywhere (mostly) abroad where I can appreciate the beauty, locality, food and culture of a destination. I genuinely love travelling, so my happy place changes. Besides this, anywhere with my Pomapoo puppy Luna, she’s my forever happy place.

Your most memorable travel experience?

I loved South Africa. I visited Cape Town and Johannesburg. The thing that topped South Africa as potentially my favourite holiday is the beauty – the driving routes are absolutely incredible (but scary, the cliff-edges terrified me every single day!), while Cape Town as a place is eye-opening, particularly post-apartheid, and more so since I was travelling with my husband who is African. I’m particularly happy we now have some new hotels in this destination, and would certainly go back and drive the Garden Route to see more of the country and visit The Cellars-Hohenort, The Plettenberg, and The Marine.

Sorry, I also have to mention Bali. We visited for our honeymoon so it’s got to be top of the list. Balinese hospitality is just so lovely and not like anything I’ve experienced before. We stayed at Viceroy Bali and it’s a true gem!

Jemima O’Lone – Digital Content & Design Manager

Three fun facts about yourself…

I used to be a chef and for the last six years I have made hand-painted cakes for weddings and events.

I adore skiing and winter tends to revolve around when and where I am going.

Like many others in my team, I love dogs and always have my eyes open for my own – I’ll know when the right one comes along.

Which destination is top of your bucketlist?

Bhutan for this once in a lifetime itinerary.

The one SLH hotel you’d like to visit, and why?

Halcyon House for interiors and Dar Ahlam for the experience – apparently it is life changing.

Where is your happy place?

Meribel, France – where I lived for three winters. I try to visit every year and this year I was lucky enough to visit Le Coucou, a super stylish ski-in ski-out hotel. Look out for the beautiful mural of owls on the ceiling of the reception.

Your most memorable travel experience?

Touring the local cafés and eateries of Mumbai – my favourite city because it is so vibrant and full of life.  A must visit is Café Leopold, which is still littered with gunshot holes from the famous scene in the book Shantaram, unsuspecting Café Olympia where you will eat the most incredible food for £1 and Chowpatty beach for Pav Bhajis.

Chloe Frost-Smith – Digital Image & Content Executive

Three fun facts about yourself…

I was born in Hong Kong and spent my early childhood in Tokyo, Japan – my first holiday was to Bali when I was six weeks old (wish I could remember it!)

I studied Classics at university, which means I can read as many ancient languages as I can speak modern languages (in fact, I am probably more fluent in the ancient ones – useful, I know.)

I am an Advanced PADI scuba-diver and qualified shark specialist with dives logged all over the world, including the Maldives, Turks & Caicos islands, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, Egypt, and Greece.

Which destination is top of your bucketlist?

It’s impossible to choose just one, so here are my top three:

Iceland – to ride ponies across black beaches with volcanic views.

Morocco – to shop the souks of Marrakech, and explore Chefchaouen (the Blue City) or Ouarzazate in the High Atlas Mountains, the gateway to the Sahara Desert.

Egypt – I still haven’t seen the pyramids (despite writing my dissertation on Cleopatra) and would love to take a trip down the Nile.

The one SLH hotel you’d like to visit, and why?

It would have to be Castello di Reschio – I dream of watching the weekly dressage performances in their Teatro Equestre, and would love to ride around the ancient Umbrian estate, followed by making my own pizza in an authentic alfresco class. I would also love to experience the Wild West at one of our American ranches, Rawah Ranch and Riverview Ranch both look incredibly rustic and rugged. In fact, any of our horse riding hotels would top my wish list.

Where is your happy place?

Underwater, on a horse, or on the slopes in a pair of skis (or one if you catch me after après hours…) When I’m on dry land, I am happiest on the beach in Southwold sharing fish and chips with my boyfriend and our new family puppy, Truffle.

Your most memorable travel experience?

Spotting a mother bear and her cub from a chairlift while skiing with my sister in Whistler, coming across dolphins on a cliff-walk off the coast of Ireland with my boyfriend, watching the sun rise over the temples at Angkor Wat in Cambodia, taking part in the early morning alms-giving ceremony with the local monks in Luang Prabang, swimming with sea turtles in the Tobago Cays, milking a buffalo in Laos in an all-white outfit (this did not end well), a beachfront yoga session on Petit St. Vincent, and living out my Gertrude Bell fantasies horse riding across the desert in Morocco with my father – sorry, there are too many to choose from!

Becky Underwood – Senior Marketing Manager

Three fun facts about yourself…

At the age of 14, I completed a World Challenge expedition to Tanzania, which involved climbing to the summit of Mount Meru, roaming the safari plains of the Ngorongoro Crater, dancing with the Maasai whilst learning about their customs, and completing local community projects such as rebuilding a primary school. This was a transformative experience as we were totally immersed in the culture, living alongside the villagers.

I’ve always been fascinated by architecture and property design and hope to be able to build my own house one day, perhaps I’ll even make it on to Grand Designs. For the time being, I’m still on the hunt for the perfect plot of land!

Back in 2009, I was awarded by Nottingham University for a piece of research carried out on the tourism industry and turtle conservation. A whole eight years later I planned my first trip to Costa Rica and was able to experience turtle conversation in person in Tortuguero National Park. It was magical observing newly hatched turtles dig their way to the surface of the nests and scuttle across the beach to the surf of the sea.

Which destination is top of your bucketlist?

I love the thought of completely switching off and escaping to the rugged and captivating scenery of Norway with just a backpack. In summer I’d explore by rail, kayak or boat, taking in the colourful towns and waterfalls dotted along the Fjords. Come winter I’d cosy up in a boutique hotel in front of a log burner or fire, master a snowmobile and experience my first taste of reindeer!

The one SLH hotel you’d like to visit, and why?

It’s close to home, but The Fish Hotel in the Cotswolds has been on my to visit list for a long time. Perhaps it’s the child in me, but I am desperate to escape back-to-nature and relax in one of their quirky hill-side huts and treehouses. For me the perfect stay just wouldn’t be possible without a soak in the outdoor bath or hot tub. Plus, it’s impossible not to be intrigued by a hideaway hut named ‘Boaty McBoatface’, which comes with its own private lake and island.

Where is your happy place?

There’s something that soothes my soul when I’m by the British coast. The waterways, small inlets and little villages surrounding Chichester are close to my family home, so I often escape to Bosham and Emsworth. The Deck is a great little restaurant overlooking a working yacht harbour, where you can settle in for hours over fish and chips or a coffee and cake. Then swing by the fishmongers to pick up a catch of the day for dinner.

Your most memorable travel experience?

The views from Santorini will never leave my memory. Whether it was an early morning breakfast on our balcony, or a lazy afternoon dip in the infinity pool, I was never able to divert my gaze away from the view of the Aegean Sea. So much so we took the caldera-edge pathway walk to Oia, over rough trails, to admire the captivating sea view. A particular highlight was the sunset boat ride we took in a traditional sailing boat, a great way to enjoy nature’s spectacle and to escape the crowds.

Clive Ritchie – Design Consultant

Three fun facts about yourself…

I brew my own kombucha, play keys and can walk with my feet pointing backwards.

Which destination is top of your bucketlist?

The remote atolls of the Pacific.

The one SLH hotel you’d like to visit, and why?

Pacific Resort Aitutaki, Cook Islands – I’m fascinated by remote islands and this ticks all the boxes.

Where is your happy place?

The lakes behind a town called Sedgefield on the Garden Route, near Cape Town where I spent my summer holidays as a kid.

Your most memorable travel experience?

A few days of bliss anchored at Tobago Cays in the Southern Caribbean on a catamaran – snorkelling around the reef and exploring nearby islands.

The post Meet the SLH Marketing Team appeared first on Small Luxury Hotels.

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Hello fellow boozie readers!

Sam’s Update:

What a week. Work was shit but I had so much social fun time and I feel invigorated. This extrovert needed her people time. It’s also Medieval-a-thon!!! Check my TBR here.

What Sam finished this week:

The Simoquin Prophecies by Samit Basu: Good LORD this book took me entirely too long and I’m not happy about it. It’s not that bad I just wasn’t in the mood and then the potential wasted was disappointing.

What Sam’s reading now:

  Medieval-a-thon Cape: Kingdom of the Blazing Phoenix by Julie C. Dao: This is the follow up to Forest of a Thousand Lanterns. Linz reviewed this second book here. I’m enjoying this far more. I didn’t like FoaTL because the MC was so so very unlikeable and not in the good way. Following Jade is far more interesting. Though, I feel like we’re going to get the repetitive gotta-catch-em-all trope but we’ll see. –

Medieval-a-thon Sword: The Heartwood Crown by Matt Mikalatos: I am about halfway through this book and I’d forgotten what an ABSOLUTE DELIGHT this world is. I loved book one, here’s my review of The Crescent Stone.

Ginny’s Update:

Hi everyone. I’m super tired because it was a good weekend and I got a lot done but this week might hurt a little bit. Luckily a bunch of good things have happened so at least it’s happy rambling.

Currently Reading:

  Becoming by Michelle Obama: I put this book on hold like six months ago. I am fucking pumped! Michelle Obama has this beautiful lyrical way of writing and I can’t wait to read more.

The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep by H.G. Parry: This is a book that Sam picked up and let me read before her (hahaha) because we have been flooded with books which is really the best problem in the world to have. Charley can read fictional characters into the world. Rob, his older brother, feels responsible for helping him put them back. But it turns out there are a bunch of fictional characters living out in the world and there’s a mysterious evil force too. I’m enjoying this so far. I’m pretty sure I know what the twist is gonna be, but I’m looking forward to getting there.

Finished: (Editor’s Note: Good lord Virginia…. )

  The Brazen and the Beast by Sarah MacLean: I’m not going to bother with a summary here. I like the way the heroine goes about getting her independence and really enjoyed her as a character. I felt the Whit was a perfectly fine hero unless he was talking about his creepy brother. That as a plotline didn’t super interest me. I liked the (relatively) diverse representation in this book and enjoyed the world building. 3.5/5 

After the Crown by K.B. Wagers:  The first half of this book was a little bit rough, but the second half took off like a shot. I’ve written a review of this one. Keep an eye out for it!

All Systems Red by Martha Wells: This is one of the murderbot books and I know both Sam and Parker have read them and loved them so it should come as no surprise that I loved it too! This book is all from the point of view of a cyborg that has been leased out to an exploratory group as security. They realize partway through that ‘murderbot’ is partially human and might freak out. Meanwhile there are some weird things going on and boy way this fun. Still might write a review but this was definitely a 5/5

Magic For Liars by Sarah Gailey: Imagine Harry Potter if the teenagers were more realistic dicks and everyone was pretty damn hormonal. As a murder mystery this functioned really nicely, I liked the blend of traditional ‘noir’ tropes with magic and the fantasty tropes that tend to show up there. Planning on writing a review so keeping this short.

The Governess Affair by Courtney Milan: This was a novella and was super short, but it added a little bit of background to one of her existing series. It was fun to watch the way the propriety of the past could be used as a weapon in both directions. Very fun, and the way consent was handled was ridiculously great. 4/5

The Bride Test by Helen Hoang: Gotta admit, I’m still not super sure how I feel about this one. I really enjoyed the Kiss Quotient (Linz reviewed this!) and was really looking forward to this. It’s mostly, I’m not sure I really truly believed the love story between ‘Esme’ and Khai. I enjoyed their individual story lines (the fact that Khai getting better about recognizing his own emotions being tied back to family really got me) but I felt there was a lot of telling rather than showing in the deeper emotional moments. Still, it was a perfectly fine read. 3.5/5

DNF

The Mars Room by Rachel Kushner: I don’t even remember when this book went onto my TBR. Honestly, the beginning of this book reminded me of the Goldfinch which won a ton of goddamn awards and was a fucking slog to get through. I’m not the biggest fan of misery for miseries sake. And that’s probably a harsh description of this book. All I know is that the back and forth through time storytelling aspect didn’t work for me when multiple vignettes include characters who were mind-numbingly frustrating. Between Bookcon and ALA I have so many books I desperately want to read and not nearly enough time. I didn’t feel the need to push my way through this one.

Minda’s Update:

Work trip this week then the lovely Sam’s birthday trip, so this may or may not be a big reading week, but here’s what’s on the agenda!

What Minda finished:

Wilder Girls by Rory Power – This book is pretty gruesome and descriptive, but in a good way. Just make sure you are in the mood to have your skin crawl! Release date is July 9—so be on the lookout. 

What Minda is reading now:

  Tiger Queen by Annie Sullivan – A retelling (I know, another one but I’m really into them rn) of the famous short story, “The Lady, or the Tiger.” Honestly haven’t read it, but I saw her panel on YA females in power at ALA and added it to the list!

Gravemaidens by Kelly Coon – Received the ARC on Netgalley dropping in Oct. It’s a duology featuring three women, one of whom is determined to save her sister from death. Looking forward to starting.

Linz’s Update:

Whyyyyy the fuck did I host two book clubs this weekend?

What Linz read:

  Swipe Right for Murder by Derek Milman – I’ve been seeing this pop up a LOT on social media, probably because ARCs abounded at BookCon. I’ll be reviewing, so I don’t want to say a lot, but  It’s kind of like The Fugitive, featuring The Gay Agenda.

Brazen and the Beast by Sarah MacLean – I did NOT care for Wicked and the Wallflower, but Ginny is a fan of her books and told me to give MacLean’s latest book a shot. I didn’t care that much for this one either tbh. MacLean’s writing isn’t bad by any means, but I think her style of romance novels just isn’t for me.

The Beholder by Anna Bright – Boy will I ever be reviewing this alt-history debut novel about a girl who needs to find a husband to become the next leader of her people.

What Linz is currently reading:

  The Heartwood Crown by Matt Mikalatos – awwwwwwww this book. Loving this sequel to The Crescent Stone

We Regret to Inform You by Ariel Kaplan – an overachieving high school student gets rejected from every single college she applied to, and she’s left struggling to figure out her next step. I already hate this book in the best way – it takes place in DC, and the mother and daughter share a car to school/work, and my PTSD is kicking in from the memories of learning how to drive on the Beltway with my mom.

Until next time, we remain forever drunkenly yours,

Sam, Melinda, Linz, and Ginny

Weekly Wrap-Up: June 24-30, 2019 Hello fellow boozie readers! Sam's Update: What a week. Work was shit but I had so much social fun time and I feel invigorated.

high scores: a tom holland music-al love story // part two

welcome back! glad to see you again

here’s part two!!!

again...please please spam me with feedback or hellos i’ll take anything and want to hear from you people

contains: language

part two

If there was one sound I could send to hell, it would be that of my alarm going off on the day I’m meeting with hollywood’s best and brightest to discuss how I’m supposed to turn their movie into a success. Can she do it? The world may never know.

Now, to say I’m just average and incapable of the job would be an understatement, even coming from me, my own worst critic. I went to Berklee on a full scholarship, graduated at the top of my class, and already had performed in Carnegie Hall (every musician’s most fantastical wet dream). I was approached by a handful of independent movie contractors who wanted my talent in the music in their films. So, I’ve done well for myself thus far. And I’m confident that if I can do it once, I can do it again. However, there have never been so many potential people to hear what I have to say (or compose), and that alone scares me shitless. What if the world hears it? What if the world doesn’t like it? I’m only 23. Will my career just end right then and there? At the premiere of Growing? I started thinking about all the horrible things that could happen once I open myself up to the possibility of bad reception by the public and ended up with not only fear, but soap in my eyes by the end of my shower.

I just wanted to do right by this movie. It was on track to be such a hit, a gut punch to the audience that leaves every watcher pondering their own existence and what they can do to make sure that the world doesn’t come crashing down on themselves and their future children and grandchildren. It’s really pushing an amazing save-the-earth agenda hidden inside a star studded blockbuster flick, which I couldn’t love more. And better yet, everyone starring in it has their own personal agenda to help better humanity by either being an advocate for conservation, lobbying political groups, or running charities of their own. No pressure, Emma. You’ve also donated your time to great causes -- you used to volunteer for the animal shelter that one time in college.

I put my best effort into a relatively professional casual and headed out to start my interviews.

After interviewing some walking icons such as Tom Hanks and Mark Ruffalo, my head was spinning. Here are these incredibly well regarded actors, with so many successes trailing behind them, talking to a relatively recent college graduate with little to no fame to her name. I was able to take some notes after getting over the nerves, and hopefully some of what they said will come back to me later when I’m composing (it fucking better).

After a few interviews Leah and I grabbed lunch and talked about the next few I had coming up, the most notable one being with Tom Holland. I couldn’t tell you why I was so amped up about it, either. This guy is probably the least accoladed person on this cast list. But Leah was able to play therapist and help me work through some of what was going through my head.

“Emma, it makes sense. He’s the only actor you’re interviewing who’s your age. And he’s hot.

“Walk in there with enough confidence to convince him that you’re not just an assistant setting the table before the real movie composer comes in. You are that movie composer. That head bitch.” 

She always knows just what to say.

After lunch I swigged some mouthwash in the bathroom, tried to pass it off as a breathing technique, and walked into my office to wait for Tom to get there. He was my last appointment of the day, and then it was off to writing for me. I passed by a friendly face and said hello, entering the office, face turned down the hall. I immediately walked over to my desk and checked my phone before putting it down, not even noticing that there was definitely another person in there with me. It lit up right before I set it on the desk.

*text from Leah*

go get em tiger!!! drinks later at Sav?

*insert tiger and wine emojis*

I laughed at the thought of a tiger sipping on a glass of wine a little too audibly.

“Do I get to see what you’re laughing at over there?”

I whipped around and saw him sitting on a chair in the corner of my office, smirking at the sight of me giggling to myself over a text.

My worst fear has just been realized.

“My god, I’m so sorry, I had no idea you were sitting there--”

“Not a problem,” he laughed. “I’m just here early for a meeting.”

I decided to see how much fun I could have until he figured out I was the one he was meeting with. Leah was right, I definitely didn’t look like anything more than an assistant.

“Who are you meeting with?” I asked.

“Uh, I think her name is Emma...? She’s writing the songs for the film. I guess I need to give her some tips on how to write music, I dunno,” he chucked.

I can write music just fine, asshole. I got a little annoyed, but my own subconscious cut itself off. That accent makes me want to melt.

“Well, if you’re ready to start, I just have a few questions up front--”

he cut me off.

“Doesn’t she need to be here? Is this just preliminary stuff?” he looked confused as to why the receptionist was about to interview him.

I walked over to the door, and said “Sorry, Emma will be right in.”

He nodded and turned to his phone. I walked out the door, and then walked right back in.

“Hi, you’re Tom, right? I’m Emma, it’s nice to meet you. I’m the film composer for Growing, the movie you’re starring in.” I stuck out my hand. “I hope I’m not taking up too much of your time, I just needed some help because I forgot how to read music and I heard you can play guitar and therefore would be able to help me.”

His cheeks turned bright red and he stood up and shook my hand. “It’s, uh, nice to meet you for the very first time.” He shook off the embarrassment faster than expected and threw my sass back at me with some good old fashioned charm. “I can tell we’re going to be fast friends.”

It took everything in me not to roll my eyes. We sat down and got started with the interview.

“So, I’m basically talking to you to get a feel for how you’re putting your own personality into your character, which will help me translate just what type of feeling I want my music to lead with in your scenes,” I started. Tom didn’t know what to say.

“You want me to act out a scene for you or something?”

Why is he so snarky?

“Only if you feel so inclined.” I said, not looking up from my paper as I jotted down some unimportant notes just so I could be busy with something, anything other than participating in this horribly uncomfortable conversation.

“Listen, I’m just trying to do my job. I can’t just write generic music for a sad movie scene if I don’t know what kind of emotion is going into it. Music is a lot more complicated than you may think. If the score doesn’t perfectly mesh with the message you’re portraying on screen, it will throw off the whole overarching feeling and message of the scene, and will be lost on the audience. It can disfigure entire movies when the music isn’t right. I’ve had single phrases actors have told me inspire me to write entire compositions for their scenes. Therefore, I’m relying on you to take what the instruments behind your words are sounding like just as seriously as you take learning your lines.”

I didn’t realize I had essentially just given the poor boy a lecture. He looked at me, eyes wide, clearly just now realizing that there is actually way more thought to put into this than he would’ve expected.

“I never thought of it that way. You’re completely right...I’m sorry to not have taken it more seriously.” Tom said quietly. 

While I had proven my point, our relationship in its current state was not everything I’d hoped it be. I needed to figure out a way to mend the conversation, but I had literally no idea how. His phone went off- his agent was calling him. The ringtone was a soft piano melody that I hadn’t heard before. And then, it hit me. I waited for him to get off the phone, and held my hand out.

“Come with me, I want to show you something.” 

He hesitantly took my hand, looking confused as ever, and I led us out the door, down a series of hallways and stairs, until we arrived in the big wooden coffin that was the music chambers. The baby grand piano I had already become very close with sat untouched, waiting for me. I closed the door behind us and sat down on the piano bench, while Tom stayed standing by the door, clearly not understanding why I’d brought him in here.

“Generic song for a generic death of a main character in any given movie. No context.” I said as I started to play a tune that I had written ages ago for a midterm exam (yes, we have those in music school). Minor chords followed by more minor chords, an eerie and unified sound rung out from the inside of the piano, filling the empty room with an overarching feeling of sadness. I couldn’t see his face, but Tom slowly started walking over to the piano, and then sat down on the bench next to me. We exchanged a fleeting glance as I continued to play through the simple melody. With every changing note I could feel him becoming more and more enthralled by the song. Then suddenly, I stopped. He fell out of his trance and looked at me expectantly.

“Is it over?” he asked.

“Now,” I started, “A song for the death of a beloved main character who is losing his battle to cancer, surrounded by the family he created and loved more than anything, his youngest daughter holding his hand.”

Tom looked confused. I started to play again, slower this time. Somehow, these minor chords echoed out even sadder, even more profound than those before it. This time, the melody was different. This time, you could truly envision someone you care for dying. As I continued to pour out emotion into this piece, Tom’s breathing slowed, his eyes glossing over. I could see the emotion flowing through him. I ended the song on an unresolved note, turning to catch his gaze as I did. His mouth was slightly agape; his words caught in his throat.

And that’s the power of music, ladies and gentlemen.

“Do you see the difference between knowing the story and knowing the characters within it?”

He silently nodded, trying to regain his playful composure.

“Did you write that?” he asked.

“Yes, while I was in college.”

“It’s...it’s incredible.” 

Blush.

“I want my scenes in Growing to evoke that much emotion in the audience.”

“Well, let’s get talking,” I said. Without another word he got up and walked out of the room.

Where the hell is he going?

I was sure I had just blown my chance to get to know this cute asshole.

The door didn’t even fully swing shut when he came back in, big smile on his face, running his fingers through his hair, approaching me, still sitting at the piano. He stuck out his hand.

“Hi, I’m Tom. You must be Emma? I heard you’ll be writing the scores for this movie, and I’m so excited to help.”

I cocked my head to the side and looked at him, puzzled.

“I’m starting over,” he leaned in and winked at me.

I reached out to shake his hand.

“Hi, Tom. It’s so nice to meet you for the very first time.” I tried to hide how happy I was.

“So, we’ve got a lot of work to do. When do we start?”

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

and that wraps up part 2! I hope it was worth the read. Let me know what you thought/any directions you think I should take the story in!

Screen Queen: Fall 2018

Won’t You Be My Neighbor?

For over 30 years, national treasure Fred Rogers welcomed kids who felt different to his “neighborhood.” Maybe you were there, enchanted by the trolley and talking puppets. Maybe you, like me, felt like you didn’t fit in with the other kids, and maybe, again like me, Mr. Rogers made you feel more at home in this big, scary world – for 30 minutes every day during his longtime PBS children’s show Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, anyway. Uncertain, divisive times like ours call for another soul-soothing balm, and documentarian Morgan Neville, who rightfully won an Oscar for 20 Feet From Stardom, delivers just that with his Rogers-centered doc Won’t You Be My Neighbor?. Perhaps most surprising to those watching his show as a child: Rogers was a quiet gay and civil rights activist, demonstrated by the casting of gay, black actor François Clemmons, who portrayed Officer Clemmons.

In the doc, Clemmons extols Rogers’ no-barriers-for-love inclusiveness and compassion for everyone, recalling his special bond with Rogers, whom he considered a father figure. Beyond interviews with Neighborhood cast members and Rogers’ kin, as well as archival conversations with Rogers himself, vintage footage dating back to the show’s 1968 premiere is featured, including an early episode with Rogers as his alter-ego cat puppet, Daniel Striped Tiger, expressing through song feelings of inferiority. It’ll wring your eyes dry, but save some tears for the rest of this moving trip down memory lane, a tightly constructed tribute to Rogers’ philosophies on love and kindness for a world still trying to grasp both. Love, Simon You can think Love, Simon isn’t enough because it isn’t. Not yet, anyway. Gay culture has long reveled in queer art-films with niche-queer narratives, where societal pressures befell closeted cowboys in Brokeback Mountain, and where homosexuality and blackness intersected in Moonlight. Comparatively, Love, Simon is one serviceable but slighter-in-scope pop bop. But if you saw it in a theater with crying teens and their crying moms, like I did, then you know the movie’s banality alone – finally, gay people get their John Hughes film – is groundbreaking.

Directed by Greg Berlanti from a script based on 2016’s young-adult bestseller Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, I didn’t expect Love, Simon to deliver high-brow gay cinema – not if its first order of business was to let queerness live in many of the same rom-com conventions as any Sandra Bullock or Jennifer Garner lovefest. And on that same massive level, in wide release on the big screen, where gay teen Simon miserably navigates out-gay life at high school as he searches for “Blue,” an unidentified, closeted schoolmate he’s confided in through an emotionally invested email exchange. The proceedings are richly gay and heartwarming and nostalgic: a Whitney Houston musical number, a shamelessly ’80s-by-way-of-John Hughes sensibility and an affirming tearjerker of a mom speech from Garner herself. I cried lots, and its cathartic sweetness – being the great love story it promised to be – charmed me and the Simon I once was. A deleted scene featuring actor-slash-dreamboat Colton Haynes is among the Blu-ray’s special features, which also includes more deleted scenes, a Berlanti commentary and a book-to-screen featurette. Also Out A Raisin in the Sun Even after Lorraine Hansberry adapted her 1959 play A Raisin in the Sun – the first play by a black woman to be performed on Broadway – for the silver screen, the 1961 film, directed by Daniel Petrie, preserved the theatrical simplicity of the source material. The story’s familial and racial tensions also remained fraught with complications: A money-strapped black family, the Youngers, living in close quarters in the Chicago slums in the 1950s contend with how to best spend a $10,000 life-insurance check – their chance at a fresh start.

That fresh start looks different for single mother and grandmother Lena Younger (Claudia McNeil), her daughter Beneatha (Diana Sands), her son Walter (Sidney Poitier), plus his wife Ruth (Ruby Dee) and their son Travis (Stephen Perry). Tremendous performances – particularly Poitier and McNeil as the family’s willful rock, which she inhabits with true grit and grace – are the touchstones of Hansberry’s moving portrait of a black family hoping to rise above the economic and cultural forces against them, and the firsthand destruction it causes when they can’t. But joy – find it, the film suggests, even if the world won’t let you have it. Criterion Collection’s Blu-ray restoration of the classic gleans an array of well-rounded supplemental material, including interview features with Hansberry and Petrie. Blockers

Here’s what the Blockers trailer tells you: three teenagers are on a mission to get laid on prom night and their parents are freaking out. What it doesn’t tell you is that one of those, Sam (Gideon Adlon), is a closeted lesbian. Cue the supportive dad, Miles (Ike Barinholtz), who suspects his daughter will be the only boy-averse girl of that girlfriend group, while the other parents, Lisa (Leslie Mann) and Mitchell (John Cena), have a parental meltdown and embark on a mad chase to cock-block their kids.

Desperate to shut down their impending sexcapades after decoding a series of suggestive emojis, which is funny because watching parents try to figure out modern-day technology will forever be funny, Lisa, Miles and Mitchell go to raunchy extremes to save their children’s virginity. I laughed plenty at the ridiculous gags (one involving Gina Gershon playing naked Marco Polo with her husband), but what threw me was the film’s sweet, emotional through line, set in motion in the beginning when Mann, perfect in scenes where heart and humor collide, desperately tries to pretend to be OK with her college-bound daughter leaving the nest. Something else to celebrate besides Mann: sex comedies with high schoolers where one just so happens to be a lesbian. Yes and thank you, Hollywood.

from Hotspots! Magazine https://hotspotsmagazine.com/2018/10/18/screen-queen-fall-2018/ from Hot Spots Magazine https://hotspotsmagazine.tumblr.com/post/179180151655

Screen Queen: Fall 2018

Won’t You Be My Neighbor?

For over 30 years, national treasure Fred Rogers welcomed kids who felt different to his “neighborhood.” Maybe you were there, enchanted by the trolley and talking puppets. Maybe you, like me, felt like you didn’t fit in with the other kids, and maybe, again like me, Mr. Rogers made you feel more at home in this big, scary world – for 30 minutes every day during his longtime PBS children’s show Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, anyway. Uncertain, divisive times like ours call for another soul-soothing balm, and documentarian Morgan Neville, who rightfully won an Oscar for 20 Feet From Stardom, delivers just that with his Rogers-centered doc Won’t You Be My Neighbor?. Perhaps most surprising to those watching his show as a child: Rogers was a quiet gay and civil rights activist, demonstrated by the casting of gay, black actor François Clemmons, who portrayed Officer Clemmons.

In the doc, Clemmons extols Rogers’ no-barriers-for-love inclusiveness and compassion for everyone, recalling his special bond with Rogers, whom he considered a father figure. Beyond interviews with Neighborhood cast members and Rogers’ kin, as well as archival conversations with Rogers himself, vintage footage dating back to the show’s 1968 premiere is featured, including an early episode with Rogers as his alter-ego cat puppet, Daniel Striped Tiger, expressing through song feelings of inferiority. It’ll wring your eyes dry, but save some tears for the rest of this moving trip down memory lane, a tightly constructed tribute to Rogers’ philosophies on love and kindness for a world still trying to grasp both. Love, Simon You can think Love, Simon isn’t enough because it isn’t. Not yet, anyway. Gay culture has long reveled in queer art-films with niche-queer narratives, where societal pressures befell closeted cowboys in Brokeback Mountain, and where homosexuality and blackness intersected in Moonlight. Comparatively, Love, Simon is one serviceable but slighter-in-scope pop bop. But if you saw it in a theater with crying teens and their crying moms, like I did, then you know the movie’s banality alone – finally, gay people get their John Hughes film – is groundbreaking.

Directed by Greg Berlanti from a script based on 2016’s young-adult bestseller Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, I didn’t expect Love, Simon to deliver high-brow gay cinema – not if its first order of business was to let queerness live in many of the same rom-com conventions as any Sandra Bullock or Jennifer Garner lovefest. And on that same massive level, in wide release on the big screen, where gay teen Simon miserably navigates out-gay life at high school as he searches for “Blue,” an unidentified, closeted schoolmate he’s confided in through an emotionally invested email exchange. The proceedings are richly gay and heartwarming and nostalgic: a Whitney Houston musical number, a shamelessly ’80s-by-way-of-John Hughes sensibility and an affirming tearjerker of a mom speech from Garner herself. I cried lots, and its cathartic sweetness – being the great love story it promised to be – charmed me and the Simon I once was. A deleted scene featuring actor-slash-dreamboat Colton Haynes is among the Blu-ray’s special features, which also includes more deleted scenes, a Berlanti commentary and a book-to-screen featurette. Also Out A Raisin in the Sun Even after Lorraine Hansberry adapted her 1959 play A Raisin in the Sun – the first play by a black woman to be performed on Broadway – for the silver screen, the 1961 film, directed by Daniel Petrie, preserved the theatrical simplicity of the source material. The story’s familial and racial tensions also remained fraught with complications: A money-strapped black family, the Youngers, living in close quarters in the Chicago slums in the 1950s contend with how to best spend a $10,000 life-insurance check – their chance at a fresh start.

That fresh start looks different for single mother and grandmother Lena Younger (Claudia McNeil), her daughter Beneatha (Diana Sands), her son Walter (Sidney Poitier), plus his wife Ruth (Ruby Dee) and their son Travis (Stephen Perry). Tremendous performances – particularly Poitier and McNeil as the family’s willful rock, which she inhabits with true grit and grace – are the touchstones of Hansberry’s moving portrait of a black family hoping to rise above the economic and cultural forces against them, and the firsthand destruction it causes when they can’t. But joy – find it, the film suggests, even if the world won’t let you have it. Criterion Collection’s Blu-ray restoration of the classic gleans an array of well-rounded supplemental material, including interview features with Hansberry and Petrie. Blockers

Here’s what the Blockers trailer tells you: three teenagers are on a mission to get laid on prom night and their parents are freaking out. What it doesn’t tell you is that one of those, Sam (Gideon Adlon), is a closeted lesbian. Cue the supportive dad, Miles (Ike Barinholtz), who suspects his daughter will be the only boy-averse girl of that girlfriend group, while the other parents, Lisa (Leslie Mann) and Mitchell (John Cena), have a parental meltdown and embark on a mad chase to cock-block their kids.

Desperate to shut down their impending sexcapades after decoding a series of suggestive emojis, which is funny because watching parents try to figure out modern-day technology will forever be funny, Lisa, Miles and Mitchell go to raunchy extremes to save their children’s virginity. I laughed plenty at the ridiculous gags (one involving Gina Gershon playing naked Marco Polo with her husband), but what threw me was the film’s sweet, emotional through line, set in motion in the beginning when Mann, perfect in scenes where heart and humor collide, desperately tries to pretend to be OK with her college-bound daughter leaving the nest. Something else to celebrate besides Mann: sex comedies with high schoolers where one just so happens to be a lesbian. Yes and thank you, Hollywood.

source https://hotspotsmagazine.com/2018/10/18/screen-queen-fall-2018/ from Hot Spots Magazine https://hotspotsmagazin.blogspot.com/2018/10/screen-queen-fall-2018.html

Screen Queen: Fall 2018

Won’t You Be My Neighbor?

For over 30 years, national treasure Fred Rogers welcomed kids who felt different to his “neighborhood.” Maybe you were there, enchanted by the trolley and talking puppets. Maybe you, like me, felt like you didn’t fit in with the other kids, and maybe, again like me, Mr. Rogers made you feel more at home in this big, scary world – for 30 minutes every day during his longtime PBS children’s show Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, anyway. Uncertain, divisive times like ours call for another soul-soothing balm, and documentarian Morgan Neville, who rightfully won an Oscar for 20 Feet From Stardom, delivers just that with his Rogers-centered doc Won’t You Be My Neighbor?. Perhaps most surprising to those watching his show as a child: Rogers was a quiet gay and civil rights activist, demonstrated by the casting of gay, black actor François Clemmons, who portrayed Officer Clemmons.

In the doc, Clemmons extols Rogers’ no-barriers-for-love inclusiveness and compassion for everyone, recalling his special bond with Rogers, whom he considered a father figure. Beyond interviews with Neighborhood cast members and Rogers’ kin, as well as archival conversations with Rogers himself, vintage footage dating back to the show’s 1968 premiere is featured, including an early episode with Rogers as his alter-ego cat puppet, Daniel Striped Tiger, expressing through song feelings of inferiority. It’ll wring your eyes dry, but save some tears for the rest of this moving trip down memory lane, a tightly constructed tribute to Rogers’ philosophies on love and kindness for a world still trying to grasp both. Love, Simon You can think Love, Simon isn’t enough because it isn’t. Not yet, anyway. Gay culture has long reveled in queer art-films with niche-queer narratives, where societal pressures befell closeted cowboys in Brokeback Mountain, and where homosexuality and blackness intersected in Moonlight. Comparatively, Love, Simon is one serviceable but slighter-in-scope pop bop. But if you saw it in a theater with crying teens and their crying moms, like I did, then you know the movie’s banality alone – finally, gay people get their John Hughes film – is groundbreaking.

Directed by Greg Berlanti from a script based on 2016’s young-adult bestseller Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, I didn’t expect Love, Simon to deliver high-brow gay cinema – not if its first order of business was to let queerness live in many of the same rom-com conventions as any Sandra Bullock or Jennifer Garner lovefest. And on that same massive level, in wide release on the big screen, where gay teen Simon miserably navigates out-gay life at high school as he searches for “Blue,” an unidentified, closeted schoolmate he’s confided in through an emotionally invested email exchange. The proceedings are richly gay and heartwarming and nostalgic: a Whitney Houston musical number, a shamelessly ’80s-by-way-of-John Hughes sensibility and an affirming tearjerker of a mom speech from Garner herself. I cried lots, and its cathartic sweetness – being the great love story it promised to be – charmed me and the Simon I once was. A deleted scene featuring actor-slash-dreamboat Colton Haynes is among the Blu-ray’s special features, which also includes more deleted scenes, a Berlanti commentary and a book-to-screen featurette. Also Out A Raisin in the Sun Even after Lorraine Hansberry adapted her 1959 play A Raisin in the Sun – the first play by a black woman to be performed on Broadway – for the silver screen, the 1961 film, directed by Daniel Petrie, preserved the theatrical simplicity of the source material. The story’s familial and racial tensions also remained fraught with complications: A money-strapped black family, the Youngers, living in close quarters in the Chicago slums in the 1950s contend with how to best spend a $10,000 life-insurance check – their chance at a fresh start.

That fresh start looks different for single mother and grandmother Lena Younger (Claudia McNeil), her daughter Beneatha (Diana Sands), her son Walter (Sidney Poitier), plus his wife Ruth (Ruby Dee) and their son Travis (Stephen Perry). Tremendous performances – particularly Poitier and McNeil as the family’s willful rock, which she inhabits with true grit and grace – are the touchstones of Hansberry’s moving portrait of a black family hoping to rise above the economic and cultural forces against them, and the firsthand destruction it causes when they can’t. But joy – find it, the film suggests, even if the world won’t let you have it. Criterion Collection’s Blu-ray restoration of the classic gleans an array of well-rounded supplemental material, including interview features with Hansberry and Petrie. Blockers

Here’s what the Blockers trailer tells you: three teenagers are on a mission to get laid on prom night and their parents are freaking out. What it doesn’t tell you is that one of those, Sam (Gideon Adlon), is a closeted lesbian. Cue the supportive dad, Miles (Ike Barinholtz), who suspects his daughter will be the only boy-averse girl of that girlfriend group, while the other parents, Lisa (Leslie Mann) and Mitchell (John Cena), have a parental meltdown and embark on a mad chase to cock-block their kids.

Desperate to shut down their impending sexcapades after decoding a series of suggestive emojis, which is funny because watching parents try to figure out modern-day technology will forever be funny, Lisa, Miles and Mitchell go to raunchy extremes to save their children’s virginity. I laughed plenty at the ridiculous gags (one involving Gina Gershon playing naked Marco Polo with her husband), but what threw me was the film’s sweet, emotional through line, set in motion in the beginning when Mann, perfect in scenes where heart and humor collide, desperately tries to pretend to be OK with her college-bound daughter leaving the nest. Something else to celebrate besides Mann: sex comedies with high schoolers where one just so happens to be a lesbian. Yes and thank you, Hollywood.

from Hotspots! Magazine https://hotspotsmagazine.com/2018/10/18/screen-queen-fall-2018/