Golden Globe Nominations were announced at 8:36 this morning - very exciting! Several of the nominated films are not even out yet (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button on Dec. 25 and Revolutionary Road on Dec 26)
Delighted that my current fave movie Slumdog Millionaire is nominated for Best Motion Picture - Drama, Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Original Score. Can't wait to see all the films and watch the GG on January 11th - 2009 is around the corner!!!
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Friday, December 05, 2008
Save the Date(s)!
Tuesday, January 20, 2009, 12:00pm
- Barack Obama is inaugurated as the 44th U.S. President
Thursday, January 22, 2009, 5:30AM Pacific (8:30am Eastern)
- the nominations for the 2009 Academy Awards are announced
Monday, January 26, 2009 10:00am?
- Canada's House of Parliament resumes.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009 3:00pm? - Budget Day
- ???
So we endured a needless 6 week Canadian election, squeezed right in the middle of an 18 month US Presidential Campaign. And in the end, the new President will be in office and we'll know who is up for an Oscar on February 22 but we won't know if we'll have a new Canadian government before the end of the month? This is ridiculous.
Is anybody else thinking about this?
*Remember to watch the Oscars LIVE on Sunday, February 22 at 5:00 PAC (8:00 EST)
- Barack Obama is inaugurated as the 44th U.S. President
Thursday, January 22, 2009, 5:30AM Pacific (8:30am Eastern)
- the nominations for the 2009 Academy Awards are announced
Monday, January 26, 2009 10:00am?
- Canada's House of Parliament resumes.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009 3:00pm? - Budget Day
- ???
So we endured a needless 6 week Canadian election, squeezed right in the middle of an 18 month US Presidential Campaign. And in the end, the new President will be in office and we'll know who is up for an Oscar on February 22 but we won't know if we'll have a new Canadian government before the end of the month? This is ridiculous.
Is anybody else thinking about this?
*Remember to watch the Oscars LIVE on Sunday, February 22 at 5:00 PAC (8:00 EST)
Thursday, December 04, 2008
Slumdog Millionaire
Danny Boyle's latest film Slumdog Millionaire is
A. an audience favourite B. multi award-winning
C. not to be missed D. pure genius
Finally saw Slumdog Millionaire on the last day of November at Varsity. It's fully 120 minutes long but is so brilliant that it flies by. Director Danny Boyle did Trainspotting, Millions and Sunshine but this film won the People's Choice at TIFF, and was named 2008's best film by the National Board of Review and the British Independent Film Awards.
Brilliantly constructed, the film shows breakout actor Dev Patel as Jamal Malik on the Hindi version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire. Accused of cheating, no one can believe a slumdog "chai walla" can know the answers to question after challenging question. More and more of Jamal's life story is revealed with each question, and we see how his life experiences point him to each "final answer".
Three orphans (Jamal, his brother Salim and their young friend Latika) stick together through thick and thin like the three muskateers. With 3 actors portraying each character at various stages of their lives, the resulting performances are gripping and poignant. I LOVED THIS MOVIE! Sure, there are queasy bits (torture, hardship) but the story is irresistible. Slumdog Millionaire will make you laugh, cry, hide your eyes, reflect on your relationship with your siblings and maybe even believe in redemption (if you don't already). See it today and generate even more Oscar buzz!
Slumdog Millionaire
Brilliant film by Danny Boyle
haikugirl's top pick!
A. an audience favourite B. multi award-winning
C. not to be missed D. pure genius
Finally saw Slumdog Millionaire on the last day of November at Varsity. It's fully 120 minutes long but is so brilliant that it flies by. Director Danny Boyle did Trainspotting, Millions and Sunshine but this film won the People's Choice at TIFF, and was named 2008's best film by the National Board of Review and the British Independent Film Awards.
Brilliantly constructed, the film shows breakout actor Dev Patel as Jamal Malik on the Hindi version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire. Accused of cheating, no one can believe a slumdog "chai walla" can know the answers to question after challenging question. More and more of Jamal's life story is revealed with each question, and we see how his life experiences point him to each "final answer".
Three orphans (Jamal, his brother Salim and their young friend Latika) stick together through thick and thin like the three muskateers. With 3 actors portraying each character at various stages of their lives, the resulting performances are gripping and poignant. I LOVED THIS MOVIE! Sure, there are queasy bits (torture, hardship) but the story is irresistible. Slumdog Millionaire will make you laugh, cry, hide your eyes, reflect on your relationship with your siblings and maybe even believe in redemption (if you don't already). See it today and generate even more Oscar buzz!
Slumdog Millionaire
Brilliant film by Danny Boyle
haikugirl's top pick!
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Don't believe the hype: Quantum of Solace and The Bank Job
Quantum of Solace - the latest Bond installment with Daniel Craig - was GREAT! Don't know why it got such bad reviews. Amazing action, stunning locations and the (often) cheeky dialogue kept me totally entertained for 2 hours. If anything, the villain (Mathieu Amalric of The Diving Bell and the Butterfly) left a little to be desired but Bond and M were superb. Loved Ukrainian hottie Olga - could do without (Strawberry) Fields (too much of a throwback to the old helpless Bond girls with her cowboy boots and wrinkled trenchcoat - puhleeze).
Enjoyed Bond on the big screen at our favourite local theatre Beach Cinemas then came home and watched The Bank Job on DVD. I had bought it as a Christmas present but we couldn't wait. Based on a true story - a bank heist in Britain in the early 70's - it was intriguing and worth seeing but did not live up to the HYPE I had been hearing from EVERYONE. Jason Statham is always wonderful and did not disappoint.
The Bank Job is good
old school British heist movie
with Royal scandal
Quantum of Solace
is GREAT - sexy Daniel Craig
and TONS of action!
Enjoyed Bond on the big screen at our favourite local theatre Beach Cinemas then came home and watched The Bank Job on DVD. I had bought it as a Christmas present but we couldn't wait. Based on a true story - a bank heist in Britain in the early 70's - it was intriguing and worth seeing but did not live up to the HYPE I had been hearing from EVERYONE. Jason Statham is always wonderful and did not disappoint.
The Bank Job is good
old school British heist movie
with Royal scandal
Quantum of Solace
is GREAT - sexy Daniel Craig
and TONS of action!
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Thank you Oprah! My moai is dope!
Happened to be timeshifting yesterday and caught Oprah's show filled with thrifty tips for the holidays. Great recipes for turkey, cornbread stuffing, and fun inexpensive gift ideas. She also made some music available for free on her website oprah.com. Follow the instructions to download 8 songs and make your own mixed CD. But only for 48 hours from Wednesday at 5pm (so do it tonight).
Also found a link to Secrets of the Blue Zones, areas of the world where people regularly live to be 100, with great quality of life. Everyone interested in vital longevity should check it out! Every time I haul bags of groceries home without a car I'll be thinking of those women hauling buckets of water. Or Uma hauling water uphill as part of her training in Kill Bill vol. 2.
Speaking of Uma and Japan, here are two words you need to know from longliving Okinawans: ikigai - "that which makes one's life worth living" and moai - which means you have a social support network.
My moai is dope!
Living long is the new black.
What's your ikigai?
Happy Thanksgiving to my American friends!
Also found a link to Secrets of the Blue Zones, areas of the world where people regularly live to be 100, with great quality of life. Everyone interested in vital longevity should check it out! Every time I haul bags of groceries home without a car I'll be thinking of those women hauling buckets of water. Or Uma hauling water uphill as part of her training in Kill Bill vol. 2.
Speaking of Uma and Japan, here are two words you need to know from longliving Okinawans: ikigai - "that which makes one's life worth living" and moai - which means you have a social support network.
My moai is dope!
Living long is the new black.
What's your ikigai?
Happy Thanksgiving to my American friends!
Saturday, November 01, 2008
Where in the world is haikugirl?
You may have noticed a dearth of posts on haikugirl's blog lately. That's because I've been busy making a movie! The saga is all on my OTHER blog: haikugirlmovies.blogspot.com
On Sunday, November 2 the films from the 48 Hour Film Project Toronto are screening at the Bloor Cinema at 4pm. Come out and join the fun, "see something new - raw and alive." - I'm not making that up - they actually say it in the FAQ - but don't just believe what you read - come and experience it!
I want to thank everyone on Team haikugirl for their generous collaboration this weekend, and even after the weekend! We really had a blast - some people are even talking about doing it again next year - definitely a good sign...
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Election Bozos and Scare Canada
Still amazed that our Prime Minister of Canada called a federal election on Tuesday, October 14, forcing Canadians to go to the polls after a family, fun and food filled Thanksgiving weekend. When he was elected, Harper passed a law to have a fixed election date in Canada (like they have in the US). Instead of the first Tuesday in November every 4 years, Harper chose the third Tuesday in October. Then 2 years into his mandate, he violates his own law by declaring in September that we would vote 5 weeks later on Tuesday, October 14th. After living through the past year and a half ordeal that has been the road to the U.S. Election, our PM squeezes in a big decision for Canada in the middle of the U.S. hoopla. And announces it during the filmfest? TIFF press conferences got more attention and coverage I can assure you. Harper and Dion are even campaigning today - this should be family time buddies. I am in rainy Winnipeg with my family for the Thanksgiving weekend so I voted in the advance poll and I can tell you I did not vote for any of those bozos.
Flew to Winnipeg on Scare Canada and it really was scary this time. We left 30 minutes late because the plane wouldn't start (I am not kidding folks). Some guy in a truck backed over a pylon (not inspiring confidence here) and had to BOOST the plane - I saw it all from my window. And it got so hot inside the cabin I felt I could barely breathe. It's like my friend Dori who had to boost her car so many times this week that she finally replaced the battery. ANYWAY, I finally saw Sex In The City movie en route and really enjoyed it, despite what the critics said. I will have to confer with my friends because I don't know how it ended - the plane was landing so they had to cut off the inflight entertainment.
Our turkey's in the oven and we will be having a delectable bird later this afternoon. I give thanks for my wonderful friends and family this weekend. Happy Thanksgiving and love to all!
Flew to Winnipeg on Scare Canada and it really was scary this time. We left 30 minutes late because the plane wouldn't start (I am not kidding folks). Some guy in a truck backed over a pylon (not inspiring confidence here) and had to BOOST the plane - I saw it all from my window. And it got so hot inside the cabin I felt I could barely breathe. It's like my friend Dori who had to boost her car so many times this week that she finally replaced the battery. ANYWAY, I finally saw Sex In The City movie en route and really enjoyed it, despite what the critics said. I will have to confer with my friends because I don't know how it ended - the plane was landing so they had to cut off the inflight entertainment.
Our turkey's in the oven and we will be having a delectable bird later this afternoon. I give thanks for my wonderful friends and family this weekend. Happy Thanksgiving and love to all!
Thursday, October 02, 2008
I LOVE Tina Fey!
I LOVE Tina Fey
2 Emmys for 30 Rock
Perfect as Palin
Actually, maybe I don't just LOVE Tina Fey, I want to BE Tina Fey (but that's just my inner star talking). Heard Julia Louis-Dreyfus was hunting down her Emmy at NBC on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Apparently "that clip is "unavailable at my location" on nbc.com. Don't know why. Maybe you can view and post comments?
Off to my first 48HFP meet & greet tonight. Should be fun.
I love Tina Fey. I love Tina Fey. I love Tina Fey. I love Tina Fey.
2 Emmys for 30 Rock
Perfect as Palin
Actually, maybe I don't just LOVE Tina Fey, I want to BE Tina Fey (but that's just my inner star talking). Heard Julia Louis-Dreyfus was hunting down her Emmy at NBC on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Apparently "that clip is "unavailable at my location" on nbc.com. Don't know why. Maybe you can view and post comments?
Off to my first 48HFP meet & greet tonight. Should be fun.
I love Tina Fey. I love Tina Fey. I love Tina Fey. I love Tina Fey.
Monday, September 22, 2008
48 Hour Film Project
The 48 Hour Film Project is a timed filmmaking competition in which teams have just 48 hours to script, shoot and edit a short movie. I have made documentaries in 5 days as part of the International Documentary Challenge (IDC). This is my first non-fiction film in competition. Been gathering my team and need to do more prep. You can't start writing the script till Friday at 7pm. Contact haikugirl if you are available and interested in joining me October 24-26. Here are the official rules and what 48HFP is all about.
The National Film Challenge (NFC), IDC's sister competition is also happening that weekend. Our goal: make 1 film and submit to 2 competitions. Wish us luck or come be a part of it.
Team haikugirl ROCKS!
make a movie in 2 days
have a ton of FUN
The National Film Challenge (NFC), IDC's sister competition is also happening that weekend. Our goal: make 1 film and submit to 2 competitions. Wish us luck or come be a part of it.
Team haikugirl ROCKS!
make a movie in 2 days
have a ton of FUN
Friday, September 19, 2008
blogging on the go
Out with Rich after work and using his new iTouch to post a blog entry. This is what the Internet's all about! Running 13K tomorrow. Hoping for a good movie on Pay per vu.
iTouch is AWESOME!
so sleek, sexy and gorgeous
get one for Christmas?
iTouch is AWESOME!
so sleek, sexy and gorgeous
get one for Christmas?
Monday, September 15, 2008
TIFF a bust | 13 days till Scotiabank Half
Ran 16K on Saturday morning before having breakfast at Fran's then saw RocknRolla, Guy Ritchie's new film. That last burst was the best of the fest for me, next to Les Plages d'Agnes and The Secret Life of Bees. I like the impressions of Agnes' film by a fellow blogger. More of haikugirl's reviews to come. TIFF '08 was frankly a bust. Now to see the ones I missed this fall (coming soon to a theatre near you!)
My half-marathon race is less than 2 weeks away and I fell behind in my training during the fest but back at it now. Have a look at the gorgeous marathon medals for this year's event. I'll be getting the silver antique finish one on the right... provided I run 21K on Sept 28th!
My half-marathon race is less than 2 weeks away and I fell behind in my training during the fest but back at it now. Have a look at the gorgeous marathon medals for this year's event. I'll be getting the silver antique finish one on the right... provided I run 21K on Sept 28th!
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
TIFF 2 for 3
For our 10th Anniversary year, TIFF08 feels like a washout. Saw Synecdoche, New York last night at the WinterGarden. Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Catherine Keener were there along with writer/director Charlie Kaufman who stayed for Q&A. Kaufman was the screenwriting genius behind Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (directed by the filmmaking genius Michel Gondry) and Adaptation (directed by gifted Spike Jonze). Synecdoche was Kaufman's directorial debut. In the hands of a visionary director, this film's premise could have been brilliant. Instead, it was a disappointing, endless piece that underutilized everyone in the cast except PSH and drove my friends crazy.
At the start of Q&A someone asked "Can you talk about the burning house?" to which he replied: "No." Then he tried to justify it by saying his interpretation doesn't matter, he did it for us and what matters is what we take from it. Later, a member of the audience asked: was it your intention to let the film spiral downward deeper and deeper into despair? Everyone laughed. Serves Kaufman right for refusing to answer the first question. I think even Cameron Bailey was surprised at the guy's 'tude during the Q&A.
Listen Charlie, being glib doesn't work with seasoned TIFF moviegoing audiences. The question was fair, and your response was arrogant and insulting, along with most of the rest of what you had to say. Your feeble attempt to backpedal at the end didn't win you any new friends. Stick to writing in your turret, find a publicist to handle questions and leave the directing to somebody else.
At the start of Q&A someone asked "Can you talk about the burning house?" to which he replied: "No." Then he tried to justify it by saying his interpretation doesn't matter, he did it for us and what matters is what we take from it. Later, a member of the audience asked: was it your intention to let the film spiral downward deeper and deeper into despair? Everyone laughed. Serves Kaufman right for refusing to answer the first question. I think even Cameron Bailey was surprised at the guy's 'tude during the Q&A.
Listen Charlie, being glib doesn't work with seasoned TIFF moviegoing audiences. The question was fair, and your response was arrogant and insulting, along with most of the rest of what you had to say. Your feeble attempt to backpedal at the end didn't win you any new friends. Stick to writing in your turret, find a publicist to handle questions and leave the directing to somebody else.
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
haikugirl works!
haikugirl is busy, busy, busy at Showcase Ontario downtown attending a FANTASTIC learning session on blogs, microblogs, podcasts and videoblogs. Her colleagues Sameer V and his co-host Cullen S are excellent facilitators and it's a great hands-on workshop! Now if we can just make it all work in the OPS! Learning a lot while checking out videoblogs and the new apple iPhone.
Tonight is our group pick at TIFF: Synecdoche, New York with Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Catherine Keener at the beautiful WinterGarden Theatre. First: dinner at the new Milestones at Yonge & Dundas' Toronto Life Square .
Tonight is our group pick at TIFF: Synecdoche, New York with Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Catherine Keener at the beautiful WinterGarden Theatre. First: dinner at the new Milestones at Yonge & Dundas' Toronto Life Square .
Thursday, September 04, 2008
I declare "Martini"
Martini: On-Set Term; the last shot of the day. Preceded by Abby Singer (the second to last shot of the day) and followed by the first drink of the evening.
For more cryptic expressions to impress your friends at the next TIFF cocktail hour, visit the Project Greenlight Movie Terms page.
For more cryptic expressions to impress your friends at the next TIFF cocktail hour, visit the Project Greenlight Movie Terms page.
Monday, September 01, 2008
TIFF Final Schedule
Box 9 was selected and we were Box 23 out of 78 so we managed to get all our first picks! Unfortunately, my Friday Sept 12 screening of New York, I Love You was inexplicably cancelled so I am seeing my second choice that day. My final schedule is:
Thurs Sept 4 - Run 5K
Fri Sept 5 - The Burning Plain
Sat Sept 6 - Run 12K then attend Linda & Tom's Wedding
Sun Sept 7 - The Secret Life of Bees
Mon Sept 8 - Run 5K
Tues Sept 9 (Group Pick) - Synecdoche, New York
Wed Sept 10 - Run 5K then dinner with Les Boys?
Thurs Sept 11 - Les plages d'Agnès
Fri Sept 12 - $9.99
Sat Sept 13 - Run 15K then see RocknRolla
Looking forward to all the fun, film and friends at the fest!
Thursday, August 28, 2008
TIFF Submissions
After 2 days of agonizing over what TIFF films to see with my 10 tickets, I finally have a plan! Here are my first and second choices:
Fri Sept 5
1st: The Burning Plain 2nd: Me and Orson Welles
Sun Sept 7
1st: The Secret Life of Bees 2nd: A Film With Me In It
Tues Sept 9 (Group Pick)
1st: Synecdoche, New York 2nd: The Brothers Bloom
Thurs Sept 11
1st: Les plages d'Agnès 2nd: 24 City
Fri Sept 12
1st: New York, I Love You 2nd: $9.99
Sat Sept 13
1st: RocknRolla 2nd: Genova
THANK YOU IVANA for kindly dropping off EVERYONE's completed picks this afternoon at the box office. You and Matteo ROCK!
We are in Box 23 out of 78. Wishing everybody good box karma! Update on Monday once TIFF sends us our final selections via e-mail.
Fri Sept 5
1st: The Burning Plain 2nd: Me and Orson Welles
Sun Sept 7
1st: The Secret Life of Bees 2nd: A Film With Me In It
Tues Sept 9 (Group Pick)
1st: Synecdoche, New York 2nd: The Brothers Bloom
Thurs Sept 11
1st: Les plages d'Agnès 2nd: 24 City
Fri Sept 12
1st: New York, I Love You 2nd: $9.99
Sat Sept 13
1st: RocknRolla 2nd: Genova
THANK YOU IVANA for kindly dropping off EVERYONE's completed picks this afternoon at the box office. You and Matteo ROCK!
We are in Box 23 out of 78. Wishing everybody good box karma! Update on Monday once TIFF sends us our final selections via e-mail.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
My Favourite Time of Year!
Just got back from Toronto Life Square on the NE corner of Yonge & Dundas. Picked up my TIFF 2008 Festival Programme Book and complimentary bag. It's better than a race kit - I even got a mini Stella Artois glass chalice. (They know me so well! ;)
Will have to sit down and read the book and film schedule and fit in my runs and other commitments. We MUST plan a 10th anniversary dinner and a movie with Les Boys!
Visit my TIFF archive for links to past festival blogs and check back here to see my evolving TIFF film schedule (final picks confirmed on Labour Day Monday!)
Will have to sit down and read the book and film schedule and fit in my runs and other commitments. We MUST plan a 10th anniversary dinner and a movie with Les Boys!
Visit my TIFF archive for links to past festival blogs and check back here to see my evolving TIFF film schedule (final picks confirmed on Labour Day Monday!)
Monday, August 25, 2008
Tropic Thunder
Tropic Thunder was fun. Ben Stiller was funny without being annoying (and his arms were pretty cut ;-) Robert Downey Jr. was totally hilarious - can't get enough of him this summer. Jack Black, Nick Nolte were en forme and Canadian Jay Baruchel (of Knocked Up) was a great straight man (smart guy foil?) Matthew McConaughey and Tom Cruise were great in their cameos. Perfect sendup of Hollywood, right down to Oscar night. Actor-turned-Screenwriter Justin Theroux wrote a hilarious script - great job! Tropic Thunder is worth seeing on the big screen because you're not quite sure exactly when it begins (and the fake trailers keep you guessing). Delighted to hear Jon Favreau is already working on Iron Man 2 with my fave Robert Downey Jr reprising his role and Justin writing the script.
Cagey TIFF VISA programmers
Seems TIFF has decided to recycle its best Roy Thomson Hall GALAS at the VISA Screening Room at the Elgin the next day (Burn After Reading, Rachel Getting Married). TIFF is also showing Che Part 1 and Che Part 2 on separate days. Hmmm, why not take a 4+ hour movie (258 minutes at Cannes) and screen it over 2 nights and we'll have 1 less movie to program. BRILLIANT! They have also put Darren Aronovsky (The Fountain, ugh!) and Ghost Town (c'mon) in this year's VISA lineup. Ghost Town? With Ricky Gervais? Saw the trailer yesterday when we saw Tropic Thunder and only Ricky Gervais thinks he is as great as he thinks he is. WHERE IS W. by Oliver Stone? Why don't this year's VISA subscribers get the privilege (pain) of seeing another high-budget Canadian co-production like Beowulf & Grendel which Ivana and I suffered through in 2005? It was so captivating we walked out after 25 minutes! Grrrrr TIFF programmers Grrrr. You'd better have some decent movies in the general schedule for me to use my 10 tickets for, or else I'll only be able to sign up for Tiburzi 2 and The Hips of JW Deux. We'll see tomorrow (Tuesday) when the complete film schedule is published. Stay tuned fair readers!
No VISA this year
Unless we pay forty bucks
Spend it at Winners?
No VISA this year
Unless we pay forty bucks
Spend it at Winners?
Thursday, August 21, 2008
TIFF 2008 is coming Mr. Anderson!
Just saw Jason Anderson's Festival fever article in this week's eye weekly. I just met Jason this weekend and after reading his TIFF sneak peeks I am looking forward to more TIFF recommendations. Ivana and I got our tickets straightened out at the Box Office and will have to submit our choices next week. TIFF has announced the full lineup of films and of course the best ones seem to be Premium tickets (i.e. Roy Thomson Hall GALAS or VISA Screening Room seletions at $40 bucks a pop) This year we can't use our tickets for VISA (a shocking first) but maybe we'll splurge if decide we can't live without seeing a top film or the sexy stars in tow. Like maybe Burn After Reading on Friday night after an awesome $$$$$ dinner at Reds or Canoe? It's our 10th Anniversary of TIFF with Les Boys so we will need to splurge at least once. Even the Closing Night Gala looks good this year and the cast is stellar (lately there have been some real dogs on closing night.) Mr. Anderson?
Sunday, August 17, 2008
A Midsummer Night's Run 2008
On Saturday night we ran A Midsummer Night's Run 15K and got a gorgeous Finisher's medal and technical shirt which I plan to wear to work this week. Thank God for my running partner Mary who stayed with me the entire distance! MARY YOU ARE THE BEST! We ran and chatted together for over 2 hours - our official chip time was 2:09:41 - and we finished in the dark (Gary was a STAR for waiting!) Richard finished with a great 1:32:49 chip time and we saw JM friends Karen and Lauren along the 15K route and Elizabeth who ran 30K - WAY TO GO EVERYONE! All of us in the race had to wear flashing reflective lights or we were not allowed to run. There were some great views of the city at dusk from the Leslie Street Spit at Tommy Thomson Park including the skyline and a gorgeous full moon. 15K is the farthest I have run this year! My Running Room coach even spotted me near the finish and took a photo (thanks Kathryn!) The race was fun and good practice for the Nike+ Human Race 10K in 2 weeks on Aug 31 and the Scotiabank Half Marathon on Sept 28.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Fastest Man | Not-so-Fastest Woman
Jamaica's Usain Bolt just ran 100m in 9.69 seconds making him the fastest man on the planet. Pretty amazing to watch. Tonight I am running 15K with my friend Mary and we will take over 2 hours, finishing after dark. We will have blinkers on but there are no lights on part of the trail. It's called A Midsummer Night's Run and it is an event co-organized by Tracey who was JeansMarines' coordinator last year and now has a new venture with her partner Steve: Red Thread Retreat a B&B and retreat centre east of Toronto near Brighton. Richard is running the race too (he'll finish way before me). Luckily the route is close to home - we can walk home!
Yesterday there was marble-sized hail in the middle of the afternoon. Today it's calling for clear skies, temps of 22C (26C with humidex) so not toooooo bad for running. Hopefully it will cool off a bit in the evening too.
Yesterday there was marble-sized hail in the middle of the afternoon. Today it's calling for clear skies, temps of 22C (26C with humidex) so not toooooo bad for running. Hopefully it will cool off a bit in the evening too.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
What's your Visual DNA?
Go to this site and you can check your Visual DNA by responding to a series of photos. http://DNA.imagini.net/friends
My Visual DNA Summary is:
Mood: Easy Rider
Fun: Escape Artist
Habits: Back to Basics
Social: Thoughtful
here is a link to my details - what are yours?
My Visual DNA Summary is:
Mood: Easy Rider
Fun: Escape Artist
Habits: Back to Basics
Social: Thoughtful
here is a link to my details - what are yours?
Thursday, August 07, 2008
Salut Beijing!
For the next 17 days I will be glued to my HDTV watching the Beijing Olympics because I LOVE all the inspirational sports performances and personal stories.
Just saw the Beijing 2008 Preview tonight on CBC - I will be up to watch the Opening Ceremonies LIVE starting at 7am on CBC - they should be INCREDIBLE. I am such a sucker for those massive spectacles and the bird's nest stadium looks GORGEOUS!
Just saw the Beijing 2008 Preview tonight on CBC - I will be up to watch the Opening Ceremonies LIVE starting at 7am on CBC - they should be INCREDIBLE. I am such a sucker for those massive spectacles and the bird's nest stadium looks GORGEOUS!
Lance Armstrong is my new best friend
...only he doesn't know it yet because we haven't met. But I hear his voice motivating me after my runs and boy does it feel great!
Now that I have been using my Nike plus (Nike+) system with my iPod I have been synching my runs and watching my progress online. It is motivating to see a chart of your run. I have also set challenges for myself (doing 12 runs in 4 weeks and logging miles to help North America win the Battle of the Continents and boost the mileage for the Women vs. Men). Just like those video game players who play with a headset at home against people around the world, you can "compete" with other runners virtually through the nikeplus.com website
The best part is whenever you finish a run, if you have improved Lance Armstrong comes on afterward and congratulates you. Yes, Lance Armstrong. Yes, wirelessly. It is the coolest thing. Even after my crappy run last Saturday, I ended my workout and suddenly heard: "This is Lance Armstrong. Congratulations! This is your longest workout yet!" And then today, I ran 4K after work with the Running Room and heard: "This is Lance Armstrong. Congratulations! You just achieved a new PR for the 1 mile distance." [Note: PR is Personal Record, the new term for Personal Best] I told my fellow runners: "Lance Armstrong just talked to me again. He told me I did a new PR for the mile." Apparently Paula Radcliffe comes on also. Can't wait! Yay me! Yay Lance Armstrong!
Now that I have been using my Nike plus (Nike+) system with my iPod I have been synching my runs and watching my progress online. It is motivating to see a chart of your run. I have also set challenges for myself (doing 12 runs in 4 weeks and logging miles to help North America win the Battle of the Continents and boost the mileage for the Women vs. Men). Just like those video game players who play with a headset at home against people around the world, you can "compete" with other runners virtually through the nikeplus.com website
The best part is whenever you finish a run, if you have improved Lance Armstrong comes on afterward and congratulates you. Yes, Lance Armstrong. Yes, wirelessly. It is the coolest thing. Even after my crappy run last Saturday, I ended my workout and suddenly heard: "This is Lance Armstrong. Congratulations! This is your longest workout yet!" And then today, I ran 4K after work with the Running Room and heard: "This is Lance Armstrong. Congratulations! You just achieved a new PR for the 1 mile distance." [Note: PR is Personal Record, the new term for Personal Best] I told my fellow runners: "Lance Armstrong just talked to me again. He told me I did a new PR for the mile." Apparently Paula Radcliffe comes on also. Can't wait! Yay me! Yay Lance Armstrong!
Monday, August 04, 2008
Movies, Movies, Movies - July
July was a banner month for movies, at home and away - check the [late] reviews:
Hancock: Loved it! Will Smith is perfect. Jason Bateman helps him make over his bad public image and Will plays along, learning to compliment people and improve his listening skills. The anti-hero superhero flick. Charlize delivers a surprising performance. Definitely worth seeing in theatres.
Wanted: Angelina is amazing in this and so is James McAvoy. Morgan Freeman turns up in this too (is he the hardest working man in show business today?) Unbelievable stunts and effects but a very, very violent film. Saw it with my brothers and Richard and then went out for dinner with a disappointingly long long wait.
The Dark Knight: Unlike Hancock who rules his movie, Batman is a supporting player in his own sequel. This film belongs to the Joker and Heath Ledger is incredible. Definitely an Oscar-worthy performance (and now he's nominated for a Golden Globe). He made me think of Jack Nicholson in The Shining (not in Tim Burton's Batman). This film is long and beautifully executed but ultimately I felt it had no soul. Replacing Katie Holmes with Maggie Gyllenhaal was barely worth the effort. Aaron Eckhart was good (how many aa's between them?) and Gary Oldman and Micahel Caine were solidly reliable in their reprise performances. Maybe the producers had the film recut after Heath's death to salvage every one of his brilliant on-screen moments? Or maybe Batman just isn't tough enough to overcome the maniacal Joker? It was great to hear a similar take on the film by the British reviewer on BBC's The Culture Show.
En route to Dublin they actually showed us Drillbit Taylor with Owen Wilson helping out a bunch of kids. Whaaa?? I didn't even bother plugging in my earphones for that one. They also showed Definitely, Maybe with Ryan Reynolds as the father of Abigail Breslin who tells her the story of how he met her mother, one of 3 possible women. (Kind of like Mamma Mia where there are 3 possible dads.) Rachel Weisz and are great and even Kevin Kline shows up as her older lover and former prof. Glad I got to see this perfect inflight movie free (instead of paying $6.99 on Pay Per Vu)
While in Ireland we saw really cheesy movies on RTE Two including Blast from the Past with Brendan Fraser and Alicia Silverstone. [Nothing could compare with the thrill of seeing Crime Spree (shot at the now closed Hargrave Pub) when we were in St. Martin in 2004.]
After finally enjoying some free wifi at Shannon Airport, we saw 3 movies on the way home:
1. The Other Boleyn Girl with Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson and Eric Bana. REALLY enjoyed it (despite having to dodge the head of the kid who kept jumping up in front of me). I'm sure the book was engrossing but now I don't have to read it. Amazing how true stories can be the most shocking, even though IMdb says there are a few historical inaccuracies in the film.
2. Fool's Gold with Kate Hudson and Matthew McConnehey was TOTALLY lame. Plus, because it included a plane crash they edited out the last key scene and jumped to a ridiculously pat ending.
3. Over Her Dead Body starred Eva Longoria as a ghost bride who tries to sabotage her ex-fiance's new girlfriend - a beautiful psyhic. The captain kept interrupting the dialogue and it didn't matter because it was pretty lame and predictible.
Hancock: Loved it! Will Smith is perfect. Jason Bateman helps him make over his bad public image and Will plays along, learning to compliment people and improve his listening skills. The anti-hero superhero flick. Charlize delivers a surprising performance. Definitely worth seeing in theatres.
Wanted: Angelina is amazing in this and so is James McAvoy. Morgan Freeman turns up in this too (is he the hardest working man in show business today?) Unbelievable stunts and effects but a very, very violent film. Saw it with my brothers and Richard and then went out for dinner with a disappointingly long long wait.
The Dark Knight: Unlike Hancock who rules his movie, Batman is a supporting player in his own sequel. This film belongs to the Joker and Heath Ledger is incredible. Definitely an Oscar-worthy performance (and now he's nominated for a Golden Globe). He made me think of Jack Nicholson in The Shining (not in Tim Burton's Batman). This film is long and beautifully executed but ultimately I felt it had no soul. Replacing Katie Holmes with Maggie Gyllenhaal was barely worth the effort. Aaron Eckhart was good (how many aa's between them?) and Gary Oldman and Micahel Caine were solidly reliable in their reprise performances. Maybe the producers had the film recut after Heath's death to salvage every one of his brilliant on-screen moments? Or maybe Batman just isn't tough enough to overcome the maniacal Joker? It was great to hear a similar take on the film by the British reviewer on BBC's The Culture Show.
En route to Dublin they actually showed us Drillbit Taylor with Owen Wilson helping out a bunch of kids. Whaaa?? I didn't even bother plugging in my earphones for that one. They also showed Definitely, Maybe with Ryan Reynolds as the father of Abigail Breslin who tells her the story of how he met her mother, one of 3 possible women. (Kind of like Mamma Mia where there are 3 possible dads.) Rachel Weisz and are great and even Kevin Kline shows up as her older lover and former prof. Glad I got to see this perfect inflight movie free (instead of paying $6.99 on Pay Per Vu)
While in Ireland we saw really cheesy movies on RTE Two including Blast from the Past with Brendan Fraser and Alicia Silverstone. [Nothing could compare with the thrill of seeing Crime Spree (shot at the now closed Hargrave Pub) when we were in St. Martin in 2004.]
After finally enjoying some free wifi at Shannon Airport, we saw 3 movies on the way home:
1. The Other Boleyn Girl with Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson and Eric Bana. REALLY enjoyed it (despite having to dodge the head of the kid who kept jumping up in front of me). I'm sure the book was engrossing but now I don't have to read it. Amazing how true stories can be the most shocking, even though IMdb says there are a few historical inaccuracies in the film.
2. Fool's Gold with Kate Hudson and Matthew McConnehey was TOTALLY lame. Plus, because it included a plane crash they edited out the last key scene and jumped to a ridiculously pat ending.
3. Over Her Dead Body starred Eva Longoria as a ghost bride who tries to sabotage her ex-fiance's new girlfriend - a beautiful psyhic. The captain kept interrupting the dialogue and it didn't matter because it was pretty lame and predictible.
Friday, August 01, 2008
Nike+ Human Race
I joined a 10K Clinic at the Running Room at their Commerce Court location (next to Jump) to help me prepare to run the Nike+ Human Race 10K on Sunday August 31st on the Labour Day weekend. Last summer I bought the Nike+ sport kit for my iPod but only successfully calibrated it a year later last Thursday night (July 31) at my clinic when I managed to run 4K. Not bad with a cold after vacation. My online training record shows only 3.26K but I ran 4K because the first .6K was spent calibrating my iPod. And my average pace for 2 runs looks pathetic (22 minutes) because my iPod wasn't calibrated the first time so it looks like I took 45 minutes to run 1.8K (NOT!)
Still, the Human Race is a cool concept. Nike has organized official runs in 25 cities around the world. Even though Toronto is not one of the official sites I can still participate because I have an iPod with the Nike+ system which tracks my mileage and syncs with my Nike plus account online. Wherever you are on Aug 31 you can run 10K and sync up your iPod so it adds your results to those of the rest of the world. Registration is free and I picked one of 3 charities to dedicate my kilometres to (the UN Refugee Agency like the Jolie-Pitts which will help nine million youth to learn and play. The Running Room will be running out of the Nike Lounge in Toronto (North of Summerhill station on Yonge St.) so it should be a good day. Even better if I win the trip for 4 to run the first 10K in Melbourne then back across the dateline to run 10K in LA all on the same day! Holy destination runs batman!!
Anyway, joining these challenges (Men vs. Women, North America vs. Europe) and seeing my results online (and sharing them with you and THE WORLD) will basically shame me into sticking to a program this month. See you on the road (or online)...
Still, the Human Race is a cool concept. Nike has organized official runs in 25 cities around the world. Even though Toronto is not one of the official sites I can still participate because I have an iPod with the Nike+ system which tracks my mileage and syncs with my Nike plus account online. Wherever you are on Aug 31 you can run 10K and sync up your iPod so it adds your results to those of the rest of the world. Registration is free and I picked one of 3 charities to dedicate my kilometres to (the UN Refugee Agency like the Jolie-Pitts which will help nine million youth to learn and play. The Running Room will be running out of the Nike Lounge in Toronto (North of Summerhill station on Yonge St.) so it should be a good day. Even better if I win the trip for 4 to run the first 10K in Melbourne then back across the dateline to run 10K in LA all on the same day! Holy destination runs batman!!
Anyway, joining these challenges (Men vs. Women, North America vs. Europe) and seeing my results online (and sharing them with you and THE WORLD) will basically shame me into sticking to a program this month. See you on the road (or online)...
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Ready for TIFF and TUFF
Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) tickets went on sale Monday, July 7 and I've bought my 10-ticket package for $167 (and one for Ivana when she gets back). This year, they're telling us we can't use our tickets to bid for VISA Screening Room movies, even though we've done that every year since 2002. VISA Screening Tickets are $45 (the 8-film package is already sold out at $350+GST) and I paid that last year for 2 individual VISA tickets but we will have to see how they lay everything out in the order form in August.
Every year TIFF increases its prices and adds more rules. Visit haikugirlmovies for my latest RANT about TIFF. I don't think the TIFF founders wanted this "people's festival" to become out of reach for the average Toronto filmlover. They are offering student and senior pricing this year and a new student daypass but what about the diehard non-students like haikugirl & friends who've been going and supporting this festival for years?
I also submitted my TIFF for TUFF 1 minute movie into the Toronto Urban Film Festival. It's a photo montage of the stars I've seen at TIFF through the years. Cross your fingers for me! If I'm a finalist you'll see my movie on the ONESTOP screens in most subway stations - over 1 million people can view it during TIFF in September and vote online!
Every year TIFF increases its prices and adds more rules. Visit haikugirlmovies for my latest RANT about TIFF. I don't think the TIFF founders wanted this "people's festival" to become out of reach for the average Toronto filmlover. They are offering student and senior pricing this year and a new student daypass but what about the diehard non-students like haikugirl & friends who've been going and supporting this festival for years?
I also submitted my TIFF for TUFF 1 minute movie into the Toronto Urban Film Festival. It's a photo montage of the stars I've seen at TIFF through the years. Cross your fingers for me! If I'm a finalist you'll see my movie on the ONESTOP screens in most subway stations - over 1 million people can view it during TIFF in September and vote online!
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
HBC Run for Canada
Ran 10K on July 1st in the HBC Run for Canada. I really like this event - it's a great way to spend Canada Day running along the lakeshore and we had gorgeous weather. After taking 1 hour and 20 minutes to do my 10K with Mary, I watched Tomas and Luisa run a swift 1K in the Kids Fun Run. After the races we headed into Ontario Place for a bagel and fruit then left Dori and her kids on the waterslides. Looked like fun but R and I headed home to chill and get ready for the BBQ.
Click this link to search race times. Richard finished in under an hour and I ran nearly 5 minutes faster than last year's HBC (2007 Chip time: 1:24:40, 2008 Chip time: 1:20:15). THANK YOU MARY for getting me through! Jean (founder of JeansMarines) and Jan (our coach from last year) were 1st and 2nd in the Womens 60-69 age group and my race partner Mary was 9th out of 17. WAY TO GO! Congratulations to everyone who finished and got the beautiful silver medals from the Royal Canadian Mint. Even the kids got medals with their T-shirts (so worth it for the $24 registration fee). Will post photos soon!
Click this link to search race times. Richard finished in under an hour and I ran nearly 5 minutes faster than last year's HBC (2007 Chip time: 1:24:40, 2008 Chip time: 1:20:15). THANK YOU MARY for getting me through! Jean (founder of JeansMarines) and Jan (our coach from last year) were 1st and 2nd in the Womens 60-69 age group and my race partner Mary was 9th out of 17. WAY TO GO! Congratulations to everyone who finished and got the beautiful silver medals from the Royal Canadian Mint. Even the kids got medals with their T-shirts (so worth it for the $24 registration fee). Will post photos soon!
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Runner's Martinis and a blistering month of June
Between work, running (I'm baaaaack), parties and present buying, I have had a MANIC month of June. The Euro 2008 has reached an exciting climax with Germany and Spain. VIVA ESPANA! As Rich says: Spain all the way! Check my other blog for a short clip of my young friend Tomas' Spanish pride.
I was also wowed by the piano-playing prowess of Tomas and Luisa when they gave me a concert on my piano on Father's Day. See their delightful performances on video.
On Tuesday July 1st I will be proudly running for Canada and collecting my rockin' medal then having a BBQ. Richard has decided to join me for the run (YAY!) and my friend Dori has signed up her two kids at my insistence. I was a STAR** bartender at Dori's shower for her sister Linda last weekend and will be making my signature POMMARTINIS on Canada Day. You can too: Just follow the recipe below (thankyou LCBO!)
Fill the bottom of a martini shaker with ice.
Pour in:
1 oz vodka (preferably Stoli)
1 oz pomegranate liqueur (PAMA - the POM juice just isn't the same)
4 oz Cranberry-Blueberry juice (buy Ocean Spray - there is no low sugar version of this but think how many anti-oxidants you're drinking!)
Shake vigorously and pour into large martini glasses.
Top with fresh blueberries and ENJOY!
You will enjoy this refreshing drink my friends. I think it's better than a Cosmo, and I will make you one if you come over this summer (since I now keep all the ingredients handy in the fridge or on the shelf). My friend Hardish says it's the "Runner's Martini" with all the anti-oxidant properties so I hope you will mix it up for yourselves sometime soon or come over and let the expert mix it for you!
This weekend I will: run 8K at 7am on Saturday, host an intimate BBQ for my departing friend Hardish on Saturday night, and set up our swing chair on Sunday for Tuesday's BBQ and maybe even see Get Smart on Sunday night. (Richard, you're on call!)
I was also wowed by the piano-playing prowess of Tomas and Luisa when they gave me a concert on my piano on Father's Day. See their delightful performances on video.
On Tuesday July 1st I will be proudly running for Canada and collecting my rockin' medal then having a BBQ. Richard has decided to join me for the run (YAY!) and my friend Dori has signed up her two kids at my insistence. I was a STAR** bartender at Dori's shower for her sister Linda last weekend and will be making my signature POMMARTINIS on Canada Day. You can too: Just follow the recipe below (thankyou LCBO!)
Fill the bottom of a martini shaker with ice.
Pour in:
1 oz vodka (preferably Stoli)
1 oz pomegranate liqueur (PAMA - the POM juice just isn't the same)
4 oz Cranberry-Blueberry juice (buy Ocean Spray - there is no low sugar version of this but think how many anti-oxidants you're drinking!)
Shake vigorously and pour into large martini glasses.
Top with fresh blueberries and ENJOY!
You will enjoy this refreshing drink my friends. I think it's better than a Cosmo, and I will make you one if you come over this summer (since I now keep all the ingredients handy in the fridge or on the shelf). My friend Hardish says it's the "Runner's Martini" with all the anti-oxidant properties so I hope you will mix it up for yourselves sometime soon or come over and let the expert mix it for you!
This weekend I will: run 8K at 7am on Saturday, host an intimate BBQ for my departing friend Hardish on Saturday night, and set up our swing chair on Sunday for Tuesday's BBQ and maybe even see Get Smart on Sunday night. (Richard, you're on call!)
Warren Macdonald
Had the privilege of meeting Warren Macdonald who delivered an inspiring presentation to our team at work on June 26. A double amputee, Warren still climbs mountains and inspires everyone - not just people with disabilities - to change the world by changing how we see the world. Truly a mind-shifting afternoon! Warren had special prosthetics developed to help him hike, climb mountains and even climb a frozen waterfall - truly amazing! So don't even think about complaining about that bad day, my friends...
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Hotel Indigo Haiku
After the wonderful experience flying Porter Air to Ottawa, our stay at Hotel Indigo on Metcalfe just south of the Parliament Buildings was equally blissful. The hotel has haiku posted everywhere... in English and French... how welcoming and convenient for haikugirl!! A perfect way to combine my passions of travel, blogging (using their free wireless internet) using my French and writing haiku! Here are a couple of mine followed by a collection of theirs:
Hotel Indigo
calm oasis with haiku
not just Ottawa
[A HAIKU FOR YOU]
signs were posted everywhere
enjoy these samples
[on the Room key card]
Your journey begins
First stop is relaxation
then inspiration
[on the Room key cardholder]
A landscape reborn
Flowers delight the senses
Now, enjoy the view
[on the drink coaster]
Beautiful Spring day
Take time to smell the flowers
Your drink can wait here
All of the hotel's haiku followed the 3-line, 17 syllable (5, 7, 5) structure except some of the French haiku were questionable for me. Like the first line of this one on the coaster which seemed to be one syllable short, unless you pronounce belle with two syllables like bell-uh, which you would do when reading a song lyric or poem. (Well, haikugirl, isn't a haiku a poem?)
Si belle journee
Pour sentir un jolie fleur
Le verre attendra
Haikugirl admits
Writing French haiku is tough
Comme c'est difficile!
Hotel Indigo
calm oasis with haiku
not just Ottawa
[A HAIKU FOR YOU]
signs were posted everywhere
enjoy these samples
[on the Room key card]
Your journey begins
First stop is relaxation
then inspiration
[on the Room key cardholder]
A landscape reborn
Flowers delight the senses
Now, enjoy the view
[on the drink coaster]
Beautiful Spring day
Take time to smell the flowers
Your drink can wait here
All of the hotel's haiku followed the 3-line, 17 syllable (5, 7, 5) structure except some of the French haiku were questionable for me. Like the first line of this one on the coaster which seemed to be one syllable short, unless you pronounce belle with two syllables like bell-uh, which you would do when reading a song lyric or poem. (Well, haikugirl, isn't a haiku a poem?)
Si belle journee
Pour sentir un jolie fleur
Le verre attendra
Haikugirl admits
Writing French haiku is tough
Comme c'est difficile!
Friday, May 30, 2008
Porter Air
What a treat to fly Porter Air to Ottawa (YOW). Everything is so simple and smooth - free shuttle bus from the Royal York, ferry to the Island Airport and a relaxing lounge with leather club chairs, free cookies and cappuccino and free wireless Internet access - whoohoo! Brought my laptop and was even able to draft this blog post before boarding.
Porter Air sublime
redefining civilized
Let's book our next flight!
Porter Air sublime
redefining civilized
Let's book our next flight!
HBO's Recount
Recount tells the story of an unbelievable time in U.S. history: the Florida recount following the 2000 presidential election. Chock full of A-List actors (Kevin Spacey, Tom Wilkinson, Dennis Leary, and Laura Dern playing crazymaking Katherine Harris among others) these performances are sure to be honoured at next year's Golden Globes. This film is gripping, shocking, and a sad reminder that sometimes, even when you win, you can't win.
Check out the Recount trailer and comments online and see this if you get a chance. Even though we know how it ends, it's stunning to relive the dramatic twists and turns. And despite the obvious point of view of Writer Danny Strong, you still learn more than you thought you knew, or at least get most of the facts with better packaging. Triumph of the rule of law my A**!
HBO's Recount
sure to be rewarded at
next year's Golden Globes
Check out the Recount trailer and comments online and see this if you get a chance. Even though we know how it ends, it's stunning to relive the dramatic twists and turns. And despite the obvious point of view of Writer Danny Strong, you still learn more than you thought you knew, or at least get most of the facts with better packaging. Triumph of the rule of law my A**!
HBO's Recount
sure to be rewarded at
next year's Golden Globes
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Drop Your Shorts 3
On Mother's Day I made the trek out to the west end to DROP MY SHORT at the Revue Cinema. I was there before 12 noon on May 11 because the first people in line could submit their short film to be screened as part of the 90-minute lineup at 7:00pm on Thursday, May 22 at the Revue Cinema, 400 Roncesvalles for the third instalment of Drop Your Shorts.
In 90 minutes we saw an interesting array of 12 films, all 15 minutes or less. I enjoyed seeing The Last Minutes of Alan Winters by my filmmaker friends from Ireland. It was great to meet the team from Scarlett Pictures - congratulations guys!
Sunday, May 11, 2008
SANTE Winemakers' Dinner @ Reds Bistro
Saturday night we were at Reds Bistro as part of the 10th Annual Sante Wine Festival (which we have been attending for the past 6 years). Hosted by our friends Bernard & Sylvie at Le Sommelier (sadly we missed them that night) winemakers Fred Howard of Australia's Dog Ridge Vineyards and Keith Nichols of California were on hand to talk about their wines as we worked through a delicious 5-course dinner. I was the proud winner of a bottle of Dog Ridge The Pup Chardonnay (yummy). Then R, S, C & I broke the bank and bought 3 cases of wine together. Carmen - let us know when it arrives! This will be my excuse to buy that wine fridge I have been craving...
Friday, May 09, 2008
Ironman ROCKS
Last Friday May 9, Sam stopped in TO and we went to see Ironman at the Beach Cinemas. Robert Downey Jr found the perfect comeback vehicle as billionaire scientist and arms maker Tony Stark who has an epiphany after being held captive in the desert. Director Jon Favreau even appeared in his own film as Stark's driver and Gwyneth was "Pepper Potts", Stark's trusty assistant. Jeff Bridges was almost unrecognizable as Stark's business partner (don't worry - I won't spoil it). Ironman rocked from beginning to end, the effects were FAB and the writing was note-perfect. Definitely 4Ms from haikugirl MMMM. Robert Downey Jr was TOTALLY HOT and there was no shortage of his trademark glib humour laced with sexy innuendo. I think that should be my new mantra for future communications ... (?)javascript:void(0)
Friday, May 02, 2008
Tony's Reflections on Hot Docs
My friend Tony just posted some photos and videos from last weekend's Doc Challenge Awards night at Hot Docs in Toronto.
Or just check out Tony's blog in general. I need to post my final hot docs reviews and pics. Probably my best fest yet!
Or just check out Tony's blog in general. I need to post my final hot docs reviews and pics. Probably my best fest yet!
Monday, April 28, 2008
IDC Screening at Hot Docs
Hot Docs is a wrap!
Great to meet the filmmakers
See you all next year...
Met fellow filmmakers from around the world on Saturday night April 26 at the Duke of York pub on Prince Arthur before heading to the IDC Screening at Innis Hall. Despite the sudden TTC strike, the house was almost full and it was great to see the diverse selection of 14 finalists. Enjoyed Bend and Bow by my friends at Team Profluence (about the Saw Lady of New York). I also really liked Click, Whoosh about Polaroid cameras by the Real Grrls of Seattle (they won the $1000 IDC prize), Ars Magna about the high art of anagrams and I=me2 by Year of the Rooster about 2 twin brothers who are also filmmakers (Kevin won best editing). Their film Dante's Massage won Best Sound Design in the 2006 National Film Challenge. Also great to met Tony, Dinah, Joanne & Evan from Team It Donned On Me and congrats to them for picking up 2 IDC awards for directing and cinematography. Their film Stick and Pound about Melanie DeMore and the art of stick pounding made us want to go out and try it (I think it would be a positive stress buster). Interesting to see Beholder by Eric Daniel Metzgar, a New York filmmaker and Independent Spirit Award nominee whose also had his feature doc Life. Support. Music. about Jason Crigler's miraculous recovery screen at this year's hot docs. Also liked Ghost Bike by Team GO! of Toronto. They had the same genre/theme of Art/Change as team haikugirl this year. The music for Ghost Bike was by Tim Vesely of the Rheostatics. Richard was very pleased to meet Tim on Saturday night and the music had a haunting quality that matched the film perfectly. Kind of like the way Curbside Lapse created the atmosphere for Marathon Women!
Visit haikugirlmovies for the complete list of 2008 IDC winners and CONGRATULATIONS EVERYONE!
Great to meet the filmmakers
See you all next year...
Met fellow filmmakers from around the world on Saturday night April 26 at the Duke of York pub on Prince Arthur before heading to the IDC Screening at Innis Hall. Despite the sudden TTC strike, the house was almost full and it was great to see the diverse selection of 14 finalists. Enjoyed Bend and Bow by my friends at Team Profluence (about the Saw Lady of New York). I also really liked Click, Whoosh about Polaroid cameras by the Real Grrls of Seattle (they won the $1000 IDC prize), Ars Magna about the high art of anagrams and I=me2 by Year of the Rooster about 2 twin brothers who are also filmmakers (Kevin won best editing). Their film Dante's Massage won Best Sound Design in the 2006 National Film Challenge. Also great to met Tony, Dinah, Joanne & Evan from Team It Donned On Me and congrats to them for picking up 2 IDC awards for directing and cinematography. Their film Stick and Pound about Melanie DeMore and the art of stick pounding made us want to go out and try it (I think it would be a positive stress buster). Interesting to see Beholder by Eric Daniel Metzgar, a New York filmmaker and Independent Spirit Award nominee whose also had his feature doc Life. Support. Music. about Jason Crigler's miraculous recovery screen at this year's hot docs. Also liked Ghost Bike by Team GO! of Toronto. They had the same genre/theme of Art/Change as team haikugirl this year. The music for Ghost Bike was by Tim Vesely of the Rheostatics. Richard was very pleased to meet Tim on Saturday night and the music had a haunting quality that matched the film perfectly. Kind of like the way Curbside Lapse created the atmosphere for Marathon Women!
Visit haikugirlmovies for the complete list of 2008 IDC winners and CONGRATULATIONS EVERYONE!
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Hot Docs - 2nd instalment
Tuesday: Saw Man On Wire, a fascinating doc about Philippe Petit who is a wirewalker (the coolest French word ever: funembule) who walked between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center on August 7, 1974. At over 450 metres, it's still the highest wirewalk in history. Director James Marsh succeeds in building the suspense before the walk with another filmmaker's old stock footage of the training sessions in France as well as B&W re-enactments using stand-in New York locations. It's amazing to see the people interviewed today and how young they looked in the old footage from 30 years ago. Marsh also used footage from the construction of the WTC whose empty base at the outset looks eerily like Ground Zero after 9/11. Petit is charming and engrossing as a megalomaniac who is consumed by the art of the act, nothing more. It's interesting how the team bonded and grew together to support the project, then dissolved after the event took place. Well worth seeing - the title is how they labeled Petit's crime on the complaint form filed with the Port Authority.
Wednesday: Saw FLicKeR about Brion Gysin, friend of Beat poet William S. Burroughs and the Dream Machine that Gysin constructed to create a hypnotic, hallucinatory effect without drugs. An interesting account of the times including interviews with many of Gysin's old friends. Like many of my TIFF events, the more people on stage before the screening, the more disappointed I usually am. Director Nik Sheehan invited 20 people up to the front in advance of this World Premiere and the end result was okay, even a bit draggy. Should show up on Bravo (co-funder of this doc) in time. Weird to see Bravo! a division of CTV onscreen (I know that's the story but it's still weird not to see CHUM). My friend Chris should see this as a philosophy PhD from McGill, everyone else wait till it airs.
Friday: seeing Waiting for Hockney then Saturday cheering for my friends at the IDC Screening and Awards presentation at Hot Docs.
Wednesday: Saw FLicKeR about Brion Gysin, friend of Beat poet William S. Burroughs and the Dream Machine that Gysin constructed to create a hypnotic, hallucinatory effect without drugs. An interesting account of the times including interviews with many of Gysin's old friends. Like many of my TIFF events, the more people on stage before the screening, the more disappointed I usually am. Director Nik Sheehan invited 20 people up to the front in advance of this World Premiere and the end result was okay, even a bit draggy. Should show up on Bravo (co-funder of this doc) in time. Weird to see Bravo! a division of CTV onscreen (I know that's the story but it's still weird not to see CHUM). My friend Chris should see this as a philosophy PhD from McGill, everyone else wait till it airs.
Friday: seeing Waiting for Hockney then Saturday cheering for my friends at the IDC Screening and Awards presentation at Hot Docs.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Boston Marathon Finishers: CONGRATS!
Exciting to see the 112th running of the Boston Marathon on TV. The weather was perfect (51F, clear, sunny skies) I know 3 runners who finished and I am SO PROUD of them!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
>>My work friend Jowenne Herrera, age 30, (bib# 2580) finished in 2:59:02 AMAZING TIME! (he was 1090 overall and about 8 minutes behind Lance Armstrong (bib# 100, 2:50:58, who was 488 overall). JOWENNE YOU ROCK!!!
>>Dr. Jean Marmoreo, founder of JeansMarines (bib# 18723) finished in 3:55:07 (that's 12912 overall, 4101 place among women) - a pretty awesome achievement for anyone, let alone a 65 year-old woman. YAY Jean!
>>My manager's father Don O'Donnell, age 62, (bib# 19516) came all the way from Ireland to run in Boston and finished in 4:01:21 --WAY TO GO Jenny's Dad!
You can check all the results at bostonmarathon.com
It was the second largest field in Boston Marathon history (over 30,000 runners). The Kenyan Robert Cheruiyot won the men's race for the 4th straight year in 2:07:46 and Ethiopian Dire Tune won a very tight women's race in 2:25:25 holding off Russian Alevtina Biktimirova only 2 seconds behind her. And great to see Kathryn Switzer doing the commentary (I KNOW her - and she signed a copy of her book for me). We also gave her a copy of Marathon Women last year.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL FINISHERS! Truly an inspiring day.
>>My work friend Jowenne Herrera, age 30, (bib# 2580) finished in 2:59:02 AMAZING TIME! (he was 1090 overall and about 8 minutes behind Lance Armstrong (bib# 100, 2:50:58, who was 488 overall). JOWENNE YOU ROCK!!!
>>Dr. Jean Marmoreo, founder of JeansMarines (bib# 18723) finished in 3:55:07 (that's 12912 overall, 4101 place among women) - a pretty awesome achievement for anyone, let alone a 65 year-old woman. YAY Jean!
>>My manager's father Don O'Donnell, age 62, (bib# 19516) came all the way from Ireland to run in Boston and finished in 4:01:21 --WAY TO GO Jenny's Dad!
You can check all the results at bostonmarathon.com
It was the second largest field in Boston Marathon history (over 30,000 runners). The Kenyan Robert Cheruiyot won the men's race for the 4th straight year in 2:07:46 and Ethiopian Dire Tune won a very tight women's race in 2:25:25 holding off Russian Alevtina Biktimirova only 2 seconds behind her. And great to see Kathryn Switzer doing the commentary (I KNOW her - and she signed a copy of her book for me). We also gave her a copy of Marathon Women last year.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL FINISHERS! Truly an inspiring day.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Hot Docs 2008 is HOT!
Been catching up on my movies since Hot Docs started.
Friday: saw Air India 182, an emotional film about the bombing. The director did a beautiful job weaving together the intrigue of the case and interviews with family members who lost relatives in the bombing. Everyone aboard (331 people) died, including 86 children. Over 270 of the passengers were Canadian so it was a huge tragedy for the country and an early introduction to the impact of terrorism. Don't worry if you missed it: CBC will air it uncut and commercial free on the anniversary of the take-off on June 22 (check local listings).
Saturday: Saw Altogether Now, a mesmerizing look at all the work that went into creating the Cirque du Soleil show LOVE using all original Beatles music. Amazing behind-the-scenes camera and interviews with Cirque director and members and the remaining Beatles and their wives. Interesting how Yoko Ono and George Harrison's widow both had so much input to Cirque along with Ringo and Paul. The crew shot 180 hours of footage and genius editor Heidi Haines whittled it down to an engrossing 2 hour movie. Director Adrian Wills was at the Bloor Cinema for the screening along with Giles Martin (son of Sir George Martin, who worked on all the original Beatles albums.) Giles is a hottie and very funny. Adrian's french is flawless. Uncle Wes and Marcella have seen LOVE at The Mirage in Vegas twice. I already have the soundtrack (natch) and told Richard he has a year to take me to Vegas to see it and that I want the DVD of the movie for Christmas. If you've seen LOVE, you need to see this movie; if you see this movie, you need to see LOVE. This has been my top pick of hot docs so far! Great to see it with our friends Tom & Linda - congrats on your engagement les amis!!
Sunday: Saw Talking Guitars about Flip Scipio who repairs and builds guitars. Both he and Director Claire Pijman were at the screening at Isabel Bader. Flip is a nice unassuming Dutch guy with an encyclopedic knowledge of guitars and tremendous skill with the instrument and love for it. He also happens to be based in New York and in demand by a very famous clientele, including Jackson Browne, Ry Cooder, Paul Simon, Carly Simon, Ben Taylor (son of James & Carly) whom we all see in the movie. A relaxing way to spend a Sunday afternoon listening to wonderful calming music and conversation. Lovely to have Hardish, William & Cassie join us.
Next screening on Tuesday: Man on Wire
Friday: saw Air India 182, an emotional film about the bombing. The director did a beautiful job weaving together the intrigue of the case and interviews with family members who lost relatives in the bombing. Everyone aboard (331 people) died, including 86 children. Over 270 of the passengers were Canadian so it was a huge tragedy for the country and an early introduction to the impact of terrorism. Don't worry if you missed it: CBC will air it uncut and commercial free on the anniversary of the take-off on June 22 (check local listings).
Saturday: Saw Altogether Now, a mesmerizing look at all the work that went into creating the Cirque du Soleil show LOVE using all original Beatles music. Amazing behind-the-scenes camera and interviews with Cirque director and members and the remaining Beatles and their wives. Interesting how Yoko Ono and George Harrison's widow both had so much input to Cirque along with Ringo and Paul. The crew shot 180 hours of footage and genius editor Heidi Haines whittled it down to an engrossing 2 hour movie. Director Adrian Wills was at the Bloor Cinema for the screening along with Giles Martin (son of Sir George Martin, who worked on all the original Beatles albums.) Giles is a hottie and very funny. Adrian's french is flawless. Uncle Wes and Marcella have seen LOVE at The Mirage in Vegas twice. I already have the soundtrack (natch) and told Richard he has a year to take me to Vegas to see it and that I want the DVD of the movie for Christmas. If you've seen LOVE, you need to see this movie; if you see this movie, you need to see LOVE. This has been my top pick of hot docs so far! Great to see it with our friends Tom & Linda - congrats on your engagement les amis!!
Sunday: Saw Talking Guitars about Flip Scipio who repairs and builds guitars. Both he and Director Claire Pijman were at the screening at Isabel Bader. Flip is a nice unassuming Dutch guy with an encyclopedic knowledge of guitars and tremendous skill with the instrument and love for it. He also happens to be based in New York and in demand by a very famous clientele, including Jackson Browne, Ry Cooder, Paul Simon, Carly Simon, Ben Taylor (son of James & Carly) whom we all see in the movie. A relaxing way to spend a Sunday afternoon listening to wonderful calming music and conversation. Lovely to have Hardish, William & Cassie join us.
Next screening on Tuesday: Man on Wire
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Under the Knife
haikugirl's been busy recovering from surgery so that's why you've seen no new posts for a while. Thanks to everyone for their support and concern - I am definitely on the mend but these things always take more time than you think. It's amazing how much we use our stomach muscles every day.
surgery went well
4 holes in my stomach and
5-inch fibroid gone
For more under the knife, I saw Nip/Tuck tonight (the Lulu Grandiron episode). Talk about night of a million stars (or should I say night of a million 80's has beens). This one included Donna Mills of Knot's Landing fame, a freaky-looking Joan Van Ark (who appears to have had too much low-budget plastic surgery in her real life) also a Knot's Landing alum, and even a handsome-looking Shari Belafonte. They were playing a group of Miami socialites who wanted Christian (the dreamy Julian McMahon) to do all their plastic surgery. It had a funny twist ending which I won't spoil. It just made me want to search IMdB to get all the names right. And I was wrong about who played Eden, Dr. McNamara's new love interest. I thought it was Kelli Garner of Lars and the Real Girl and Thumbsucker but it's AnnaLynne McCord. And Sharon Gless of Cagney & Lacey is the doc's lying agent. Could they cram more beloved has beens in one 42-minute hour? I think not.
ungraceful aging
how many 80's has beens
can Nip/Tuck cram in?
surgery went well
4 holes in my stomach and
5-inch fibroid gone
For more under the knife, I saw Nip/Tuck tonight (the Lulu Grandiron episode). Talk about night of a million stars (or should I say night of a million 80's has beens). This one included Donna Mills of Knot's Landing fame, a freaky-looking Joan Van Ark (who appears to have had too much low-budget plastic surgery in her real life) also a Knot's Landing alum, and even a handsome-looking Shari Belafonte. They were playing a group of Miami socialites who wanted Christian (the dreamy Julian McMahon) to do all their plastic surgery. It had a funny twist ending which I won't spoil. It just made me want to search IMdB to get all the names right. And I was wrong about who played Eden, Dr. McNamara's new love interest. I thought it was Kelli Garner of Lars and the Real Girl and Thumbsucker but it's AnnaLynne McCord. And Sharon Gless of Cagney & Lacey is the doc's lying agent. Could they cram more beloved has beens in one 42-minute hour? I think not.
ungraceful aging
how many 80's has beens
can Nip/Tuck cram in?
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Doc Challenge Finalists
Check out the list of 14 doc challenge finalists on haikugirlmovies.blogspot.com
You won't find Team haikugirl in the list but I like my friend Joe's philosophy:
Well, whoretoculture did it the first year, and haikugirl the second, but alas, neither of us made the cut in IDC's third year. Oh, well. At least your friends from Team Profluence did. I don't know them, but I'll be cheering them on for the big prize. Congrats on finishing another project, though. Can't wait to swap movies!
IDC's a wrap
14 Finalists this year
GO Team Profluence!
You won't find Team haikugirl in the list but I like my friend Joe's philosophy:
Well, whoretoculture did it the first year, and haikugirl the second, but alas, neither of us made the cut in IDC's third year. Oh, well. At least your friends from Team Profluence did. I don't know them, but I'll be cheering them on for the big prize. Congrats on finishing another project, though. Can't wait to swap movies!
IDC's a wrap
14 Finalists this year
GO Team Profluence!
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
movies, movies, movies
I am looking forward to this weekend's release of Run, Fat Boy, Run - missed it at TIFF and after running a marathon (and making a short marathon movie) I need to see how David Schwimmer directs Simon Pegg who decides to run a marathon to win his fiancee (Thandie Newton) back. I like the message in the trailer: "Relationships are like marathons. They require dedication, discipline and determination, of which Dennis has none." They also borrow the line: "It's not how you start, it's how you finish" which I first heard by Gerard Depardieu as Chef Didier in the delightful movie Last Holiday with Queen Latifah.
Also interested in a couple of films at this year's Cinefranco - the 11th annual French film fest in Toronto. Planning to choose between Toi on Friday, Crossed Tracks on Saturday, or Conversations with my Gardener on Sunday.
Also interested in a charity event on Friday night at the Dominion pub on King East. One of the subjects in my new video has donated a work of art for auction. Will there be time for sleep and a run this weekend??? Watch for reviews early next week.
Also interested in a couple of films at this year's Cinefranco - the 11th annual French film fest in Toronto. Planning to choose between Toi on Friday, Crossed Tracks on Saturday, or Conversations with my Gardener on Sunday.
Also interested in a charity event on Friday night at the Dominion pub on King East. One of the subjects in my new video has donated a work of art for auction. Will there be time for sleep and a run this weekend??? Watch for reviews early next week.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
hot docs and IDC short list
The 15th Annual Hot Docs Canadadian International Documentary Film Festival just announced its schedule of films from April 17-27. The International Documentary Challenge Screening is at 9:30pm on Saturday, April 26 and I will attend even if Team haikugirl is not a finalist (but keep crossing your finger for us). I'll also be attending a few other films as part of my Doc Soup pass.
Last night we heard that 96 teams (out of the original 122) made the cut and are eligible for judging and awards. That means we have a 1 in 8 chance of being a finalist and screening on April 26. Good luck to all teams and see you at Hot Docs!
1985 Media
2012
2HourFilms
2WARDS Productions
Alacrity
Allied Media Group
Anecdote Films
Appaloosa
Asian Mainstream Productions
Becaj Productions
Billo Billo
Blake House
Borderline
Boss and Coder 34
Breakfast For Dinner
Brevity
Cactae
Castparty Productions
Cingulate (fka EG Productions)
CKA Productions
delia's gone
Digital Alchemists
Doc Doc Revolution
DocTeam Vienna
docuNATI
Elvis Cocho
Fade to Grey
Fan Club 82
FILMA
fischer
Fly on the Wall
flycycle films
GEMINCA
Ghost Mountain
Go!
haikugirl
Higher Rock & Downward Spiral Productions
Homespun
Intuitive Eye Productions
It Donned On Me
Jane O'Holly Productions
JDX Studios Inc
KelJo
KTF Films
KYU
lexfilm
Los Indios
Lucky Shot
Masked Men
Middleway
MODindie
New Circle Productions
PDXFCPUG1
PDXFCPUG2
Playin' Possum Productions
Poco Loco Productions
Profluence Productions
Puppy Fight Productions
ReadytoRoll
Red Dog Productions
Reel Grrls
Reel Hard-Workin' Dogs
Rock Creek Productions, Inc.
Rotating Planet
Sawbuck Productions
SCAN of War
Scumberland Productions
Seattle Métier
Shields Films
Shoodhoo Amee
Slim Productions
Smoke In Mirror Productions
Smokeshow
Somatic Cinema
StaringStraight
Surge Media
Team August
Team Endicott
Team Impact
Team Juicebox
Team Nexus
team sour cream
Team Tombrowski
testigo
The Prosimians
Tislet Projects
TPX Productions
TUJ Films
Vegetated Circumstance
White Noise
whoretoculture films
wideshot studios
Willamette Valley Film Collective
Wink
Xian Studios
Year of the Rooster
Last night we heard that 96 teams (out of the original 122) made the cut and are eligible for judging and awards. That means we have a 1 in 8 chance of being a finalist and screening on April 26. Good luck to all teams and see you at Hot Docs!
1985 Media
2012
2HourFilms
2WARDS Productions
Alacrity
Allied Media Group
Anecdote Films
Appaloosa
Asian Mainstream Productions
Becaj Productions
Billo Billo
Blake House
Borderline
Boss and Coder 34
Breakfast For Dinner
Brevity
Cactae
Castparty Productions
Cingulate (fka EG Productions)
CKA Productions
delia's gone
Digital Alchemists
Doc Doc Revolution
DocTeam Vienna
docuNATI
Elvis Cocho
Fade to Grey
Fan Club 82
FILMA
fischer
Fly on the Wall
flycycle films
GEMINCA
Ghost Mountain
Go!
haikugirl
Higher Rock & Downward Spiral Productions
Homespun
Intuitive Eye Productions
It Donned On Me
Jane O'Holly Productions
JDX Studios Inc
KelJo
KTF Films
KYU
lexfilm
Los Indios
Lucky Shot
Masked Men
Middleway
MODindie
New Circle Productions
PDXFCPUG1
PDXFCPUG2
Playin' Possum Productions
Poco Loco Productions
Profluence Productions
Puppy Fight Productions
ReadytoRoll
Red Dog Productions
Reel Grrls
Reel Hard-Workin' Dogs
Rock Creek Productions, Inc.
Rotating Planet
Sawbuck Productions
SCAN of War
Scumberland Productions
Seattle Métier
Shields Films
Shoodhoo Amee
Slim Productions
Smoke In Mirror Productions
Smokeshow
Somatic Cinema
StaringStraight
Surge Media
Team August
Team Endicott
Team Impact
Team Juicebox
Team Nexus
team sour cream
Team Tombrowski
testigo
The Prosimians
Tislet Projects
TPX Productions
TUJ Films
Vegetated Circumstance
White Noise
whoretoculture films
wideshot studios
Willamette Valley Film Collective
Wink
Xian Studios
Year of the Rooster
Saturday, March 15, 2008
haikugirl.com, STITCH and Book Club
I finally had a chance to update haikugirl.com - the springboard to my media empire ;-)
I also have hundreds of photos I need to download. We need to send the IDC Producer our behind-the-scenes footage from the weekend so he can edit in Team haikugirl.
Last Thursday I was ON FIRE with ideas and energy. I was problem-solver extraordinaire at work and giving people marketing ideas in the evening when we went to Terroni for dinner and on to a play.
STITCH was an amazing opera that was more like a musical performance installation. Brilliant staging, music and lyrics. BRAVO to all the women involved! I told them to take it to the Edinburgh Fringe (or even Edmonton or Winnipeg) since it was really innovative.
PLUS we got a new title for our book club: Toronto, je t'aime. Written by Alison's neighbour Didier Leclair it won a Trillium Book Award and we'll get to read it in the original French. I thought maybe we could meet him for drinks whenever we discuss his book. On verra....
I also have hundreds of photos I need to download. We need to send the IDC Producer our behind-the-scenes footage from the weekend so he can edit in Team haikugirl.
Last Thursday I was ON FIRE with ideas and energy. I was problem-solver extraordinaire at work and giving people marketing ideas in the evening when we went to Terroni for dinner and on to a play.
STITCH was an amazing opera that was more like a musical performance installation. Brilliant staging, music and lyrics. BRAVO to all the women involved! I told them to take it to the Edinburgh Fringe (or even Edmonton or Winnipeg) since it was really innovative.
PLUS we got a new title for our book club: Toronto, je t'aime. Written by Alison's neighbour Didier Leclair it won a Trillium Book Award and we'll get to read it in the original French. I thought maybe we could meet him for drinks whenever we discuss his book. On verra....
Be As You Are
Just found these wonderful capri pyjama bottoms at Winners. They're made by a cool company out of DC - Be As You Are. I love what the tag says:
When you think of a slumber party, what do you think of? I think of a gaggle of girls chatting it up over popcorn and a movie - all wearing super cute capri pants. But maybe that's just because I am a pair of super cute capris and I want to be included in everything.
My capris say "There's plenty of fish in the sea" - like the boxers above. Can't wait to wear them. Maybe I'll buy a martini T-shirt online to go with?
Friday, March 14, 2008
Hot Docs
I am liking the selections on the early list of Special Presentations at hot docs. Films by Errol Morris, survivors of Alive (the Andes crash) and Sandrine Bonnaire's directorial debut. Very interesting stuff.
Although I idolize Dr. Seuss, I am NOT interested in seeing Horton Hears a Who until it's out on video. Why are Canadians (Jim Carrey, Mike Myers) always involved in Dr. Seuss on the big screen? Did you know Dr. Seuss was born the same year as my grandmother, AND he lived on Howard Street in Springfield, MASS (Rich & I lived on Howard Street in TO)
Lots of great videos are now available to rent so it's my chance to catch up before I see my next movie in theatres: Run, Fat Boy, Run with Simon Pegg. My next rentals are: No Country for Old Men, American Gangster, and Gone, Baby Gone. Which are your favourites?
Although I idolize Dr. Seuss, I am NOT interested in seeing Horton Hears a Who until it's out on video. Why are Canadians (Jim Carrey, Mike Myers) always involved in Dr. Seuss on the big screen? Did you know Dr. Seuss was born the same year as my grandmother, AND he lived on Howard Street in Springfield, MASS (Rich & I lived on Howard Street in TO)
Lots of great videos are now available to rent so it's my chance to catch up before I see my next movie in theatres: Run, Fat Boy, Run with Simon Pegg. My next rentals are: No Country for Old Men, American Gangster, and Gone, Baby Gone. Which are your favourites?
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Doc Challenge Judging Details
I checked Purolator and our package 9060053402 was received by IDC Producer Doug Whyte in St. Louis, Missouri. As films come in, they check paperwork and digitize the films to go in their on-line judges’ screening room. Round 1 Judges (30 documentary professionals from across the world) watch and rate all of the films (122 teams from 16 countries). The 12 top rated films from Round 1 will premiere at the Hot Docs International Documentary Festival in Toronto in April. Finalists will be notified by the end of march to make travel arrangements. The Round 2 Judges (3 influential international documentary professionals) will select the Grand Prize Winner from the 12 finalists and announce it at the Hot Docs screening. Each finalist will receive two free passes to Hot Docs (~$1,000 value) and the Grand Prize Winner will receive $1,000.
They're accepting late films until March 13 - they'll put them on the IDC website but not enter them in the judging. They are also accepting behind-the-scenes footage so they can make a Making Of film...
They're accepting late films until March 13 - they'll put them on the IDC website but not enter them in the judging. They are also accepting behind-the-scenes footage so they can make a Making Of film...
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
IDC 2008: WE DID IT!
Last night Erin and I finished our IDC video and got it into Purolator just under the wire to meet the competition deadline. We missed the FedEx cut-off of 7:30pm at the local depot and I called Purolator and they were open till 9:00pm. Only the woman on the phone gave me the wrong info and we drove to Yonge and Adelaide and found no location. The odyssey continued at the next nearby Staples Business Depot where Sandra at Purolator helped us complete the paperwork and get our essential store-generated timestamp. 8:45pm on March 10, 2008. HOORAY Team haikugirl! WE DID IT!!! AMAZING!!!
Videos must be less than 8 minutes long or they're disqualified. Ours is 7:06:18 including credits which is okay. And it reflects the genre and theme and includes the required time element. We think you'll like our film too, Team Profluence and friends. THANKS TO EVERYONE - friends and family - for your messages of support during an exhausting weekend. Erin and I were at for 36 hours straight (basically since my last post). I got only 45 minutes sleep Sunday night sometime between 5:00am and 6:00am. We were editing in tandem at the Ryerson Lab and using my new G RAID external hard drive with 1 TeraByte (TB) of space. That's 1,000 GigaBytes (GB) or 1,000,000 MegaBytes (MB) people. Enough to store a lifetime of photos and music (or at least a big feature film edit). It's so sleek, silver and sexy - and the perfect complement to my MacBook Pro and Final Cut Express - it makes me feel like a real filmmaker!
I am also lovin' the groovy music on the new album by Sia called some people have real problems. I am groovin' out on it right now after hearing and buying it yesterday at Starbucks. I especially like Track 10 - Soon We'll Be Found but really the whole album is great. I'm glad I didn't let Richard buy it on emusic.com because the album artwork is so playful and charming. Check it out and let me know what you think.
After we submitted our film, Erin and I went to The Rivoli to celebrate with martinis and dinner. She had yummy soba noodles and I had delicious STEAK, mashed potatoes and a delicious medley of grilled vegetables. We must plan more martinis with Team Profluence when (god willing) everyone is reunited at hotdocs in April.
IDC's a WRAP!
Thanks to Erin for her help
Watch for photos soon...
Videos must be less than 8 minutes long or they're disqualified. Ours is 7:06:18 including credits which is okay. And it reflects the genre and theme and includes the required time element. We think you'll like our film too, Team Profluence and friends. THANKS TO EVERYONE - friends and family - for your messages of support during an exhausting weekend. Erin and I were at for 36 hours straight (basically since my last post). I got only 45 minutes sleep Sunday night sometime between 5:00am and 6:00am. We were editing in tandem at the Ryerson Lab and using my new G RAID external hard drive with 1 TeraByte (TB) of space. That's 1,000 GigaBytes (GB) or 1,000,000 MegaBytes (MB) people. Enough to store a lifetime of photos and music (or at least a big feature film edit). It's so sleek, silver and sexy - and the perfect complement to my MacBook Pro and Final Cut Express - it makes me feel like a real filmmaker!
I am also lovin' the groovy music on the new album by Sia called some people have real problems. I am groovin' out on it right now after hearing and buying it yesterday at Starbucks. I especially like Track 10 - Soon We'll Be Found but really the whole album is great. I'm glad I didn't let Richard buy it on emusic.com because the album artwork is so playful and charming. Check it out and let me know what you think.
After we submitted our film, Erin and I went to The Rivoli to celebrate with martinis and dinner. She had yummy soba noodles and I had delicious STEAK, mashed potatoes and a delicious medley of grilled vegetables. We must plan more martinis with Team Profluence when (god willing) everyone is reunited at hotdocs in April.
IDC's a WRAP!
Thanks to Erin for her help
Watch for photos soon...
Sunday, March 09, 2008
Less than 30 hours to go!
Less than 30 hours remain in our weekend filmmaking competition the International Documentary Challenge. Saturday we wrapped our 3rd successful day of shooting after 2 great interviews and 2 awesome Bacchus rotis. The SNOW was UNSTOPPABLE! At least 30cm (12 inches) overnight and all day. Every 3 hours when we moved Erin's car we had to spend 10 minutes cleaning it off the accumulation was so bad! It took me over 30 minutes to walk from the Dundas West subway in all the snow to our first interview shoot. En route I saw a crime scene on Roncesvalles and got Lost in the Barrens trying to navigate the back alleys of the neighbourhood. If I froze to death at least they'd find my footage. Back at home at night I made some delicious broccoli soup (this weekend, it's all about the food!) and a few phone calls then settled down to capture footage but was falling asleep in front of the computer. Spent a moment chatting online with my friends in Team Profluence in New York and am sending positive vibes to Team Whoretoculture in DC. GOOD LUCK EVERBODY! SEE YOU IN TORONTO!!!
Sunday morning and I'm using OneZone, the largest WiFi zone in Canada, at my old familiar Starbucks at College & Yonge before I meet Erin at Ryerson to keep capturing and start editing. It's crunch time babies and we are gonna rock the edit lab! Our genre is ART and our theme is CHANGE and our goal today is to whittle 11 hours of tape into a compulsively watchable, award-winning short doc!
Team haikugirl ROCKS
AWESOME interviews and art
shooting in the snow
Sunday morning and I'm using OneZone, the largest WiFi zone in Canada, at my old familiar Starbucks at College & Yonge before I meet Erin at Ryerson to keep capturing and start editing. It's crunch time babies and we are gonna rock the edit lab! Our genre is ART and our theme is CHANGE and our goal today is to whittle 11 hours of tape into a compulsively watchable, award-winning short doc!
Team haikugirl ROCKS
AWESOME interviews and art
shooting in the snow
Thursday, March 06, 2008
STITCH!
Next Thursday I'm going to see STITCH! - a 45-minute a capella opera for 3 women and 3 sewing machines. Written by Alison's friend Juliet Palmer. Very excited to see this in an old converted factory space Lennox Contemporary at 12 Ossigton Ave. Read the Toronto Star Review and consider joining us or see it at another time during its limited run March 12-16, 2008. Tickets: $10 matinee, $20 evening performances. Advance tickets: tel. 416-973-4000 Click here for online ticket purchase and visit www.theatrecentre.org or www.urbanvessel.com for more info. GIRL POWER!
I used to drive a
sewing machine but now I'll
hear the opera
I used to drive a
sewing machine but now I'll
hear the opera
The Doc Challenge is ON!
This morning I logged into the secure IDC website and found out our genre assignments. I am taking the rest of the week off to work on this project with my new film partner Erin. Wish us luck and check back for updates!
Attention haikugirl! The 2008 International Documentary Challenge has commenced!! Following are your documentary film genre choices and your theme for the 2008 Doc Challenge:
Genre Choices: BIOGRAPHY/CHARACTER STUDY or ART
Theme: CHANGE
You must choose one of the genres listed above, Your chosen genre must be the predominate genre of your film. You can mix genres, but it should be obvious to the judges and the audience that your main genre is one of these:
BIOGRAPHY/CHARACTER STUDY
A full account of the facts of the life of a particular person, or closely related group of people (Biography) or an exploration of a single character's personality and current life situation (Chracter Study).
ART
Focuses in some way on art and/or artists.
Find all genre definitions on the IDC website.
The assigned THEME must be present at some point in your film. It can be either the entire focus of your film, or it can just be addressed briefly (as in one interview question, if you happen to have interviews.) Once again, it must be obvious to the judges that at some point your film addresses the theme of CHANGE.
Also, don't forget the required TIME ELEMENT. To ensure the films were made within the required time frame, each team must prove the date the film was made by adding a time element to the film or credits. Feel free to be creative, but make sure that it is obvious to the judges. If the judges have a hard time determining the time element, the film will be disqualified. An example of an accepted time element is having your main subject (if you have one) holding a newspaper and the date is large enough to read. This can be done in the credits of the film so as to not affect the flow of the film.
Don't forget to fill out all of your paperwork!!
Your finished film must be postmarked by Monday, March 10 with a store-generated label to be considered on time and eligible for awards. Outside of the US Fedex is your best bet.
Attention haikugirl! The 2008 International Documentary Challenge has commenced!! Following are your documentary film genre choices and your theme for the 2008 Doc Challenge:
Genre Choices: BIOGRAPHY/CHARACTER STUDY or ART
Theme: CHANGE
You must choose one of the genres listed above, Your chosen genre must be the predominate genre of your film. You can mix genres, but it should be obvious to the judges and the audience that your main genre is one of these:
BIOGRAPHY/CHARACTER STUDY
A full account of the facts of the life of a particular person, or closely related group of people (Biography) or an exploration of a single character's personality and current life situation (Chracter Study).
ART
Focuses in some way on art and/or artists.
Find all genre definitions on the IDC website.
The assigned THEME must be present at some point in your film. It can be either the entire focus of your film, or it can just be addressed briefly (as in one interview question, if you happen to have interviews.) Once again, it must be obvious to the judges that at some point your film addresses the theme of CHANGE.
Also, don't forget the required TIME ELEMENT. To ensure the films were made within the required time frame, each team must prove the date the film was made by adding a time element to the film or credits. Feel free to be creative, but make sure that it is obvious to the judges. If the judges have a hard time determining the time element, the film will be disqualified. An example of an accepted time element is having your main subject (if you have one) holding a newspaper and the date is large enough to read. This can be done in the credits of the film so as to not affect the flow of the film.
Don't forget to fill out all of your paperwork!!
Your finished film must be postmarked by Monday, March 10 with a store-generated label to be considered on time and eligible for awards. Outside of the US Fedex is your best bet.
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Autism: The Musical
Another snowstorm, another Doc Soup screening. Missed last month's screening of Up the Yangtze because of the massive snowstorm but plan to see it in theatres. This month: Autism: The Musical. This delightful doc follows a group of California kids with autism and how they scripted and performed a musical in 6 months. The work that Elaine Hall is doing with The Miracle Project is truly inspiring. A revealing, all-access portrait of participating families and their challenges. The five principal kids were very endearing and the parents were very candid about their lives and issues. I especially loved Henry (who has Aspergers) a hilarious charmer with an encyclopedic knowledge of dinosaurs. The Director Tricia Regan is equally adorable. She admitted she can't help choking up when she sees the film and her biggest thrill is to watch people experience it at screenings. A surprising 1 in 150 children will be diagnosed with autism in the U.S. this year (in 1980 it was only 1 in 10,000 children). Shot and edited with love, this doc shines the light on a growing issue, one that society can no longer ignore. See this with your family and laugh and learn together when it airs on HBO March 25
Sunday, March 02, 2008
Movie and Martini lovers UNITE!
Met Les Boys (Keith & Fidel) and Ivana & Antonio & baby Matteo for dinner at the Pure Spirits Oyster House (adjust your audio settings!) in the Distillery District on Sunday Night. Dinner was good but the service was uneven and the martinis were cloudy so kudos to Fidel for letting the manager know. After that, service picked up and our bill went down - hooray! It was so lovely to see everyone. Ivana looks FANTASTIC after giving birth only 12 days before. We have to start planning the festivities for this year's TIFF 2008 which marks 10 years since Ivana and I met the original Les Boys (Keith, Joe & Shawn) in line at Roy Thomson Hall at TIFF 1999. What a wonderful milestone! Such wonderful friends! Come to think of it, our friendship predates both of our weddings - here's to friendship, martinis & movies!!
Friday, February 29, 2008
Hilarious blog
A friend tipped me off about the blog stuff white people like. HILARIOUS! Especially the reams of online comments. I definitely agree with today's post (Multilingual Children) and enjoyed reading Michel Gondry, the comments about Barack and people threatening to move to Canada. If only haikugirl could achieve over 5 million hits (sigh!)
Thursday, February 28, 2008
NFB screening - thank you friends!
Thanks to EVERYONE who came to the screening of IDC videos at the National Film Board on Monday February 25th. Most of the audience were Marathon Women fans including 3 of the film's STARS (Mary, Hardish & Karen) and my co-director/producer Tamara. Thanks also to the lovely representatives of JeansMarines Men's Auxiliary (Gary, Dennis and Ray), my wonderful Rich, Jan from Vancouver, Marci & Greg, and Lesley and Angie who all came to show their support. I really appreciate it dear friends!
Interesting to see all 9 shorts from the Toronto area, including 3 of the 2007 finalists and 6 others never before screened.
State of Mind by Team Plasticine
Sumo Robot by Team Balidog
Forty Years, Hockey Nights by Team Trawna
The Bells of Old York by Team Moveable Feast
Marathon Women by Team haikugirl
Milk Matters by Team Pura Vida
Selling Faith by Team Toronto
Chantal Mukandoli: A Testimony by Ellipsis Productions
Outside The Box by Team 72Hundred
Really enjoyed "Forty Years, Hockey Nights" about diehard Leafs fans keeping the FAITH that their team will take home the Stanley Cup. "The Bells of St. James" reminded me that across the street at St. Lawrence Hall we had our wedding reception 6 years ago. Also reconnected with a friend who is now a Hot Docs Programmer. And of course we had to have a beer after. Shot of the gang at the Friar coming soon...
Interesting to see all 9 shorts from the Toronto area, including 3 of the 2007 finalists and 6 others never before screened.
State of Mind by Team Plasticine
Sumo Robot by Team Balidog
Forty Years, Hockey Nights by Team Trawna
The Bells of Old York by Team Moveable Feast
Marathon Women by Team haikugirl
Milk Matters by Team Pura Vida
Selling Faith by Team Toronto
Chantal Mukandoli: A Testimony by Ellipsis Productions
Outside The Box by Team 72Hundred
Really enjoyed "Forty Years, Hockey Nights" about diehard Leafs fans keeping the FAITH that their team will take home the Stanley Cup. "The Bells of St. James" reminded me that across the street at St. Lawrence Hall we had our wedding reception 6 years ago. Also reconnected with a friend who is now a Hot Docs Programmer. And of course we had to have a beer after. Shot of the gang at the Friar coming soon...
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
OSCARS - Two Degrees of Separation
There are two degrees of separation between me and a 2008 Oscar Winner. Cynthia Wade won for her documentary short Freeheld about a dying female police lieutenant who is fighting to leave her pension benefits to her domestic partner. Cynthia was a cinematography prof for my friends Ted and Dana at The New School University. What a thrill for Cynthia - congrats! And hers was the category announced by soldiers in Iraq and presented by Tom Hanks which is very special (not like Diablo Cody who picked up her Oscar from lame-o Harrison Ford!)
I'm really excited that Falling Slowly won Best Song for Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova. We saw them live at the Danforth Music Hall in November and it was a magical performance. I also thought Jon Stewart was sweet when he let Marketa come back to deliver her acceptance speech after the music cut her off. You go girl! (Marci's web research after the concert said she's 19, he's 37 and they're together.)
Overall I liked the Oscars - heard from several people they thought the show was boring. I thought the red carpet was boring this year but the show was okay. Some of those presenters are sure looking old tho' -
I'm really excited that Falling Slowly won Best Song for Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova. We saw them live at the Danforth Music Hall in November and it was a magical performance. I also thought Jon Stewart was sweet when he let Marketa come back to deliver her acceptance speech after the music cut her off. You go girl! (Marci's web research after the concert said she's 19, he's 37 and they're together.)
Overall I liked the Oscars - heard from several people they thought the show was boring. I thought the red carpet was boring this year but the show was okay. Some of those presenters are sure looking old tho' -
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Oscar Watch & Marathons
After dinner Saturday night with the M-Club at Jamie Kennedy Wine Bar, woke up to start watching all-day "Road to the Oscars" coverage, beginning with a great edition of Sunday Morning on CBS including a humorous comparison of the Oscar race to the 2008 Election. Most of my Oscar picks mirror the popular choices but I also like comparing "who will win" to "who should win". I agree with most of the Independent Spirit Award winners - and can't wait to see the fashions on the red carpet later today. In just a few hours, I'll be comfortably in my basement in my cone of silence watching the red carpet fashion parade on the new big screen. Hope you are able to catch all the festivities.
Then the excitement continues tomorrow night with the screening of Marathon Women at the NFB. Enjoy and send me your Oscar picks and pans!
Congratulations to the anonymous haikugirl reader who just completed a mountain marathon (see Comments). Don't worry - I'm told irritability is a common side effect of dehydration - my own Marathon Recovery was pretty manageable. Enjoy this encore link to the Flora London Marathon "day after the marathon" video and keep running!
Then the excitement continues tomorrow night with the screening of Marathon Women at the NFB. Enjoy and send me your Oscar picks and pans!
Congratulations to the anonymous haikugirl reader who just completed a mountain marathon (see Comments). Don't worry - I'm told irritability is a common side effect of dehydration - my own Marathon Recovery was pretty manageable. Enjoy this encore link to the Flora London Marathon "day after the marathon" video and keep running!
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Family Day was a real Family Day
Our first Family Day in Ontario was marked by the arrival of my brother Sam in Toronto. Sam (aka Semeon) has accepted a position with Phybridge in Oakville. He is excited about his new position as Vice President of Technology and jumped right into working this week after flying in from Calgary late Sunday. He has a long commute from our place (1 hour and 20 minutes) on the subway and GO train, so the hunt for suitable 905 lodging will begin soon. Best of luck Sam and Welcome to Ontario!
Sunday, February 17, 2008
The Number 23 and All Bets are ON!
Number 23
kinda spooky, kinda weird,
kinda lame ending
Saw this on Pay-Per-Vu and it was alright - a decent rental. Virginia Madsen looks pretty hot for most of the film and Jim Carrey does a pretty good job. I won't spoil the ending but it was pretty wimpy.
Out to Morton's on Friday night (to quote my lovely husband "Feb 15 is the new Feb 14"). A mighty dinner and bill but then he lost a bet (everyone knows it wasn't Katie Holmes with Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible III, it was Michelle Monahan, soon to be in Made of Honor with Patrick Dempsey). We made another bet on Saturday night while watching our Las Vegas Marathon on the PVR. Rich said: it's that guy from Survivor 2nd season and I said Whaa?? Anyway, Rich was right (this time) - it WAS Colby Donaldson playing a dog lover with a giant great dane (this is on Mystery channel folks so it is an old 2005 Las Vegas episode). I would never have remembered the guy's name (my Mom would - she's a die hard Survivor fan) so I had to IMdB him (like Larry Birkhead, whom Sarah just spotted at The Cove Atlantis) but I AM impressed that Rich plucked the reference out of nowhere. So he's getting dinner at the Keg (York St) this month. Congratulations Rich!
kinda spooky, kinda weird,
kinda lame ending
Saw this on Pay-Per-Vu and it was alright - a decent rental. Virginia Madsen looks pretty hot for most of the film and Jim Carrey does a pretty good job. I won't spoil the ending but it was pretty wimpy.
Out to Morton's on Friday night (to quote my lovely husband "Feb 15 is the new Feb 14"). A mighty dinner and bill but then he lost a bet (everyone knows it wasn't Katie Holmes with Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible III, it was Michelle Monahan, soon to be in Made of Honor with Patrick Dempsey). We made another bet on Saturday night while watching our Las Vegas Marathon on the PVR. Rich said: it's that guy from Survivor 2nd season and I said Whaa?? Anyway, Rich was right (this time) - it WAS Colby Donaldson playing a dog lover with a giant great dane (this is on Mystery channel folks so it is an old 2005 Las Vegas episode). I would never have remembered the guy's name (my Mom would - she's a die hard Survivor fan) so I had to IMdB him (like Larry Birkhead, whom Sarah just spotted at The Cove Atlantis) but I AM impressed that Rich plucked the reference out of nowhere. So he's getting dinner at the Keg (York St) this month. Congratulations Rich!
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Yay reds and friends! Boo ExpressVu :-(
I love reds bistro. I love those mini sirloin burgers. The snack platter and cod and flank steak with onion rings were also awesome! Tonight I met my friend Keith at reds and we shared apps and caught up and it was sooooo relaxing and fun. Then I met Rich at home and we watched what we had recorded on our NEW PVR - very exciting to be able to pause, get a snack and go back to the tv.
Too bad I almost lost my mind on Sunday dealing with the bozo installer from Bell ExpressVu. At 8am two men rang my doorbell and then walked around to the back to check the satellite on the roof. They seemed nice and professional but they needed a longer ladder so they called for someone else. At 1:00 the guy with the longer ladder shows up. At first he was just quiet but then he proved to be a real jerk. I'll call him Igor because he might as well have been in Eastern Promises which I finally saw the night before. Viggo was great in the movie. Igor was a complete ***hole in my life. He wouldn't confirm the work he was going to do, he interrupted and wouldn't listen. He even was swearing while trying to install his own cable. After getting it to go on the roof, he was going to run it all along the outside of our house when I had said I wanted it through the inside. He said: "I don't fish. Get constructor. I'm satellite installer, not constructor." "You mean contractor?" I asked. "Constructor, contractor, all the same, I no fishy." I said my husband would fish it through I just needed it inside. His continual interrupting and limited language skills meant he was stubbornly going to do it his way and wouldn't hear of anything else. He kept drilling holes in my house without asking and when I objected, he said I could cancel the job, someone else could finish. When I agreed to that, he started to take down all the stuff from the roof that he had spent the last hour and a half putting up - "it's my cable, it's my box". I was livid. I was pleading. His tone escalated and so did mine. I told him to stop right now and asked to speak with the supervisor. Only he couldn't get him on the phone and I couldn't get through to Bell. He just kept retreating to his truck and smoking and refused to look me in the eye. I was in tears with the frustration (Richard was unfortunately not around this afternoon). Dori, bless her heart, came to check on me and she called it: the guy wouldn't listen because I was a woman. Finally, the original guys showed up around 3:30 to finish the job. They calmed me down and explained everything and literally saved the day (and the account) and got things working by the time Rich came home. They were so much more helpful and caring and cooperative than "Igor". Thank you Tigram!
Sunday was certainly my worst customer service experience EVER. It's nice to have a PVR but it's hardly worth what I lived through. I logged complaints with Bell and they gave me a small credit but who cares - it cannot repair the post traumatic stress from this horrible, misogynistic man. They should not be inflicting this lowlife on anybody. SuperBowl Sunday is also a top-five contender for the Worst Day Ever award since, in addition to "Igor", I also cut my thumb with a knife (nice gushing blood for my guests) and gashed my knee on the stairs. Thanks to Dori and Ivana for their quick-thinking first aid treatment for my thumb and to Luisa for all her help in the kitchen. Merci les amies!! I'm on the mend. And of course, HUGE thanks to Antonio for all his amazing hard work on the shower downstairs. It looks awesome! I'll be posting an update on that shortly.
my PVR's HOT!
too bad Bell ExpressVu meant
my Sunday was shot
Too bad I almost lost my mind on Sunday dealing with the bozo installer from Bell ExpressVu. At 8am two men rang my doorbell and then walked around to the back to check the satellite on the roof. They seemed nice and professional but they needed a longer ladder so they called for someone else. At 1:00 the guy with the longer ladder shows up. At first he was just quiet but then he proved to be a real jerk. I'll call him Igor because he might as well have been in Eastern Promises which I finally saw the night before. Viggo was great in the movie. Igor was a complete ***hole in my life. He wouldn't confirm the work he was going to do, he interrupted and wouldn't listen. He even was swearing while trying to install his own cable. After getting it to go on the roof, he was going to run it all along the outside of our house when I had said I wanted it through the inside. He said: "I don't fish. Get constructor. I'm satellite installer, not constructor." "You mean contractor?" I asked. "Constructor, contractor, all the same, I no fishy." I said my husband would fish it through I just needed it inside. His continual interrupting and limited language skills meant he was stubbornly going to do it his way and wouldn't hear of anything else. He kept drilling holes in my house without asking and when I objected, he said I could cancel the job, someone else could finish. When I agreed to that, he started to take down all the stuff from the roof that he had spent the last hour and a half putting up - "it's my cable, it's my box". I was livid. I was pleading. His tone escalated and so did mine. I told him to stop right now and asked to speak with the supervisor. Only he couldn't get him on the phone and I couldn't get through to Bell. He just kept retreating to his truck and smoking and refused to look me in the eye. I was in tears with the frustration (Richard was unfortunately not around this afternoon). Dori, bless her heart, came to check on me and she called it: the guy wouldn't listen because I was a woman. Finally, the original guys showed up around 3:30 to finish the job. They calmed me down and explained everything and literally saved the day (and the account) and got things working by the time Rich came home. They were so much more helpful and caring and cooperative than "Igor". Thank you Tigram!
Sunday was certainly my worst customer service experience EVER. It's nice to have a PVR but it's hardly worth what I lived through. I logged complaints with Bell and they gave me a small credit but who cares - it cannot repair the post traumatic stress from this horrible, misogynistic man. They should not be inflicting this lowlife on anybody. SuperBowl Sunday is also a top-five contender for the Worst Day Ever award since, in addition to "Igor", I also cut my thumb with a knife (nice gushing blood for my guests) and gashed my knee on the stairs. Thanks to Dori and Ivana for their quick-thinking first aid treatment for my thumb and to Luisa for all her help in the kitchen. Merci les amies!! I'm on the mend. And of course, HUGE thanks to Antonio for all his amazing hard work on the shower downstairs. It looks awesome! I'll be posting an update on that shortly.
my PVR's HOT!
too bad Bell ExpressVu meant
my Sunday was shot
Monday, February 04, 2008
Juno
SEE JUNO!!!! The female contingent of our film club saw it on Fri. Jan. 25 and enjoyed it very much. I LOVED this movie. Ellen Page (from Halifax) is 20 and plays 16 year-old Juno, a pregnant teen who decides to give her baby up for adoption to a happy young couple: Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman. This was the second movie I saw in 2008 that involved a composer (Hugh Grant in Music & Lyrics and Jason Bateman in this). I bought the soundtrack and am inspired to write my own homemade songs, for her it seems as easy as baking cookies. Kimya Dawson of The Moldy Peaches writes most of the tracks on the soundtrack and I love her poetry and simple melodies. It puts a giant smile on my face every time I hear it and it lets me cruise along sidewalks and in elevators with a knowing grin (doesn't that always freak other people out??) My Oscar Prediction: Diablo Cody will win Best Original Screenplay for this gem of a movie but Ellen Page (as talented and deserving as she is) will likely lose to Julie Christie for Away From Her. Juno is a smartmouthed teenage girl and you wonder what makes her say all those funny, crazy things and she and the movie wouldn't be as unforgettable if she didn't say all those amazing things. Fresh, funny and totally satisfying - I want to encourage you to SEE THIS MOVIE (then post your reviews or comments here!)
P.S. Did you know her hamburger phone is the hottest selling item on eBay right now?
Juno is awesome
the soundtrack is wonderful
I hope you love it
Monday, January 28, 2008
SAG Awards
Saw most of last night's SAG Awards. The Screen Actors Guild is always a strong predictor of Oscar results and last night's winners are making me reshuffle my own Oscar picks. No Country for Old Men won for Best Ensemble Cast and Julie Christie won for Best Female Actor in a Leading Role for Away From Her. Daniel Day Lewis's performance in There Will Be Blood was hailed as "the performance of the century". A bit extreme but he gave a nice speech and dedicated his award to Heath Ledger. Will definitely be tuning into the Oscars on February 24th with my scorecard in hand. Meanwhile, SuperBowl Sunday is coming to my new big screen TV this weekend! Go Patriots!
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