4th Annual Yazzie Pumpkin Party Invite.

Love this invite whipped up by none other than my Snuggle Bunnie.  This is my favorite invitation he's made to date.  And there's been some good ones, so that's saying a lot.

Pumpkin Patch.

Friday was Yazzie date night.  We went to the corner pumpkin stand and picked our prize gourds.  We love our tradition of carving pumpkins and making home made chili.  Fall is such a magical time of year. 

Most Rentable: Broken English.

I want to take this film out on a date, and kiss it.  Parker Posey is a personal hero of mine.  I aspire to her career of captivating independent films.  This movie was just another affirmation of why I admire her acting chops.  She's funny, she's fascinating, she can hold a film, and she breaks my heart.  Brilliance I tell you.  The plot focuses on Nora, a women in her thirties, dissatisfied by her life cards dealt.  She wants to be in love, and experience satisfaction and happiness. But nearly everything frightens her.  One fateful night she steps outside her personal parameters and attends a co-worker's party.  Her deep brown eyes fall upon the embarrassingly handsome Frenchman Julien.  And you'll have to rent the film to find out what happens.  P.S. even if you hate the film, you'll go ape over Nora's clothes, and the apartment inspiration!

Spice Shop: Silverlake.

Chef Jorge recently sent me to pick up some fresh spices at the Spice Station in Silverlake.  It's pretty darn magical.  The shop is lined from floor to roof with large bottles of spices.  It smells like Christmas.  A gent in front of me made a fascinating inquiry.

Guest:  "Do  you carry paprika?"

Shop Clerk:  "Why yes we do.  We're running a special on paprika right now.  You can get a pinch for $15.00, or a gram of Spanish Paprika for $33.00."

Wow!!!  Forget my idea for selling steroids at muscle beach.  I need to start pushing spices.  I can't wait to return.  They have a tea room in the back.  And you know that would be bombastic. 

What I Wore Wednesday: Blue Skirt.

Today I'm in an oddish sort of mood.  I feel tres blase.  Not blue, not green not apple, marine.  I'm wedged some where in between the color wheel.  I feel like I'm waiting for my train to come in, as it were.  I've been mulliing over acting too frequently.  And the business is enough to make one crazy.  I have a sneaking suspicion that I need to have some fun.  I'll work on that.  

Ingredients:

Checkered Blouse:  Forever 21 $22.00

Blueberry Skirt:  Thrifted $5.00     

Charred Belt:  Thrifted $2.99

Flower Pendant:  Antique $8.00

Dorm Checks.

Creativity Tuesday: October Edition.

It has come to my attention that it is fall.  I feel that my indoor experience should corroborate with that of the outdoors.  Hence the transformation of my mid-century buffet.  The theme was that of a deranged English professor.  I love the dramatic volume of the palm branches {a find on one of Soba's walks.}

One question at a time; yes those are chicken feet tied to a string, yes that is a fox tail, and yes that is one of my childhood favorite reads, OLD BLACK WITCH.  It's about a witch that coexists with new tenants, and her remarkable knack at blueberry pancakes.  

Miss Maya.

"My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do
so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style"-Maya Angelou

Interpol.

Know this: last night's concert at the Greek Theater was dreamlike.  The band was seemingly ablaze in the endless black of Griffith.  Melodies rising from the earth up to the celestial bodies above.  A musical offering, fit enough for Zeus himself.  Interpol was such a hootenanny.  That was the swiftest hour-and-a-half of my entire life.  Bunnie was pleased as banana cream pie.

This Just In.......

Husband just found out that he received the promotion of all promotions; he landed the creme de la creme store in the L.A. district....Space 1520. It's an Urban Outfitters but on steroids.  No crack.  Make that meth. I'm just kidding. But, seriously. The store is incredible. It has a gallery, eatery, a pop up shop that is updated monthly, and a courtyard where they have concerts and festivities. We are over the moon happy. I cried when Bryan called and told me the news. Because when he wins, I win. I love you Bunnie. Well done!

Rentable: Son Of Rambow.

The preface is nestled in the center of England in the 1980's.  Pop music is insatiable.  Crazy hair and loud outfits run rampant.  And little kids everywhere are exposed to the phenomenon which is Rambow. Two school aged boys make an unlikely alliance to film a prequel to Rambow. Through their general naughtiness and playful imaginations, the film slowly grows into an epic. This screenplay also reminded me that in every naughty boy there is a good boy buried within, and in every good boy there is a naughty boy waiting for his big moment. Definitely add this to your ever growing list.

New I-Phone App.

Bryan bought me a new photo application for my phone. It's high definition.  I quite enjoy it!  It really gives a color pop and dimension to photos.  For the photo above I used the application, then filtered it through my Shake It Up app.  Love it!

Oh. My. Word.

Imagine walking into a Parisian apartment that hasn't been opened since 1940.  The above pictures are from a woman's flat that was paid for, but never lived in for seventy years.  She recently passed on, and the doors were opened to find wondrous treasures within.  The auction houses are going nuts over all of the valuables inside. For me, it would be a playground {I wanted to be an archaeologist when I was little.}  photos via apartment therapy. 

My Best Friend Is Pretty Amazing.

Amber Ford bought herself a plane ticket one week ago.  In a month she will be flying with a small crew to aid a remarkable woman named Thao.  Their common goal is to build a proper library.  The Purpose Project will warm your heart, and make you want to take action.  This journey of love will be simultaneously made into a documentary.  Check out the website {here.}  The project still needs books on the shelves.  Please donate a little cash if you can.  Twenty dollars will bring the world of Harry Potter to someone who hasn't had the chance to ever read it.  I so very proud of you Amber. 

Quintessential Los Angeles.

"I normally live in Los Angeles, if you can call it normal living." -Morrissey

Ain't It Grand?

via design sponge.  

Most Rentable Classics: NORTH BY NORTHWEST.

I'm a theater major, who's thrown herself into the film world.  I studied theater history, not film history.  For that reason, I have taken it upon myself to study cinematic classics.  For a few years now, I've been checking off selections from the AFI Top 100 Films of All Time.  My recent selection was Hitchcock's NORTH BY NORTHWEST.  Click {here.} for the list.  It's fascinating to see where all the original ideas for the thriller, suspense mystery genras came from.  Hint:  It wasn't The Bourne Identity.  This classic has it all; a buxom blond, a handsome leading male, pyrotechnics, an airplane chase, a national monument, and microfiche....naturally.  Put this thriller on the top of your queue, and vary your cinematic pallet with the classics!

Only Los Angeles......

Spotted:  Too cool for school art gallery in West Hollywood, displaying roosters. Or were they pheasants?  Let's go with birds.  Two stuffed birds wearing dickeys, top hats, vests, pockets squares, and a crevat boasting a diamond.  What?!  Is this hot or not?  For me, the jury is still out. 

What I Wore Wednesday: A Shirt Dress.

I love basics.  They never go out of style.  You can dress them up, or dress them down. Then the accessories set the tone for the theme.  Love. Basics. This is a dress I bought five years ago from from Forever 21. It still looks great.  {Tip:  only hand wash cheap clothes!}  It literally can take me to church with some heels, to mocktails with some distressed boots and fun tights, to errands as it will today.




Ingredients:

Mrs. Shirtly Dress:  Forever 21 $32.00

Woven Belt:  Thrifted $3.00

Mustard Mary Janes:  Urban's $38.00

Slouchy Carry All:  H&M $22.00

Creativity Tuesday: Where's The Fire?

I'm feeling slightly uninspired today.  I've been ruminating on the Los Angeles friendship scene.  Why is it so darn tough?  I recently had a friend relate to me a sad incident.  For her 30th Birthday dinner nine people no-showed her party.  To add insult to injury, the venue was a swanky place that required advanced reservations.  It made me feel sick.  No one showed up to celebrate with her.  Luckily her sweet boyfriend was there to console her.  But why are people consistently flaky here?

I've lived in the South West, Mid West, and West Coast.  And no where in the United States but Los Angeles have I encountered such flaki-tude.  It happens to me all the time.  You can't just, "hang out" here.  Which is what I'm looking for.  One must make painstaking appointments for weeks, sometimes months in advance.  People pull out their planners and Blackberries to find time.  After the appointment is made, I'll send a reminder e-mail, then the reminder text.  Then invariably, the day of the event I'll receive a flood of responses, "Sorry, can't come,  my cat is depressed, something came up....."  It's an epidemic in this town.  So here's my friendship want ad. 

Wanted:  One radical friend that is NOT flaky

The ideal candidate should be exciting and fun.  She should reside in central Los Angeles.  She loves adventure and wants to try every restaurant in town.  She enjoys, and frequently attends theater, film, concerts, and art shows.  She's an original.  She laughs all the time.  She enjoys going out, but also loves staying in to make dinner, watch old movies, and listening to records.  She shows up unannounced, just to say hi.  She's kind.  She's a great listener.  She inspires me to be a better person.  And last of all, best of all....she's not flaky.




Compensation:  Cupcakes, rides to the airport, and a shoulder to cry on.

Fall Gratitude List.

1. Pumpkin bread


2. Creamy pumpkin soap


3. Walks 


4. My first IMDB credit


5. Sound, resonable advice


6. A plan


7. Exciting possibilities


8. My hunky husband


9. Amber's amazing adventure


10. Being spiritually fed

Family Walks....

are pretty much the best thing ever.  I love my boys.

Most Rentable: The Princess Frog.

When there aren't kiddos in your life, you don't necessarily make it a point to see every animated movie.  But Disney movies usually pay off.  After a lousy day last week, I watched THE PRINCESS FROG in the wee hours of the morning.  I love the idea of being a worker bee, but making time for fun and love.  If you haven't seen it....make it happen.  It's magical.

Street Art.

What I Wore Wednesday: Feathers.

It's rainy day schedule in Los Angeles.  Time to blow the dust off of our umbrellas.  I welcome this stranger we call precipitation.  Unfortunately, it does make for dark, grainy pictures in my apartment.  And yes. I do combine brown and black....a lot.  It's a rule that can be broken when done correctly.  Ingredients:



Silk Feather Shirtlet:  Vintage $5

Black Denim:  BDG $35

Waist Belt:  Vintage $14

Rocker Boots:  Aldo $135 {5 years old}

Studded Cuff:  Forever 21 $3.99

Creativity Tuesday: Finding David the Gnome's Village.

I think I finally found David the Gnome's Village.  There was no sign of David's fox friend "Swift." But I have a feeling they were on an adventure.  No doubt some where in the forest together. 

What Happens On Set For Independent Films?

On Friday I was on set for filming SWEET APPLE PIE.  For my friends and family that aren't in the industry, I thought it would be fun to share the production process.  Weeks of advanced work occurs prior to ever setting foot on set.  Auditions for talent, script writing, set design, lighting design, equipment wrangling, and securing locations and permits.  The night before the shoot, I receive a call sheet that states the time I'm supposed to be present.

I woke up at 6:00a.m. to get ready, and gather all of my things.  I was picked up at 8:20am and taken to the location; an apartment.  The crew was already present and working on finishing set design.  They had already painted the walls and arranged much of the furniture.  I was swiftly sent to hair and make-up.  Dolly and Kelsey were the magicians on set.  They are so very talented.  They communicated heavily with the director regarding visual concepts for my look.  I had to look bruised and disheveled for my character.  All the while maintaining the integrity of the 1950's aesthetic.  Dark full brows, false lashes, and a full, pouty, red lip. 

By the time I was done with hair and make-up, the other actors showed up for their call times.  While they were in the chair, I started filming.  Much of film is sitting and waiting, waiting, waiting.  The technical aspects are key to success.  The lighting for example is very scientific.  I had a scene in the kitchen that caused a huge snag.  They required a mid-morning look, and it was looking too mid-day.  Also, there were camera shadows to consider that must be masked.

The budget for this film was $200.00.  And 3/4 of the money was spent on paint for the set.  Fortunately the director and crew are in film school, so they have access to amazing equipment.  However, they don't have it all.  Big budget films have a top notch dolly for the camera to pan in for close up shots.  We didn't have that luxury.  Creativity serves as an independent film maker's best friend.  Our camera man balanced the tripod on two skateboards to achieve the same feeling. 

Another set secret:  the apartment we used was from the 1940's.  And there weren't any traditional closets in the space.  There were several scenes centered around the wife being tied in the closet.  They created a faux closet by taking the bathroom door off of it's hinges and placing it in the living room door well.  Next they took a shower curtain rod, placing it in the hallway.  Then hung coats and shirts to make it look as if it is a closet.  Brilliant and creative.  It totally worked. 

For ultra low budget indies and student films there isn't much of a budget for wardrobe.  The red dress I wore, and the yellow dress the wife wore were provided.  But everything else was from our own closets.  My shoes, jewelry and apron were all from my own collection.  It's fortunate that I'm in love with the fifties to early sixties era.

Big budget films have several cameras to film from different perspectives.  Those perspectives are key for the editor to piece together the story effectively.  We only had one camera on set.  So, we had to stop and film from numerous perspectives.  It's important to keep set pieces and blocking routine to maintain consistency.  After filming is done, it's off to the editor to piece together the footage and add music.  The editor makes the true magic happen.  I'm realizing that more and more, as I'm pursuing film.  I hope you enjoyed this sneak peek into my world.