Cerulean Jade Update: March 4, 2013

 

The filming portion of the music video, Done With Gravity, is now officially finished!  I was quite nervous about it, but it all went nicely.  I didn't even get the outfit until last weekend, when we finished shooting the video.  Since there is a space theme/futuristic aspect to the world we've created, we didn't want anything too modern, and yet too alien, for the shoot.  Luckily the top I found we got at Papaya for a super reasonable price; that was the first place we looked, and knew we couldn't find anything better.  The earrings, which my Aunt Tam found in the same store, was only $2 and matched perfectly.  Super, super lucky.

 Our fearless leader!  Robbie the director after the shoot.

All we got left are a couple more special effect scenes and getting the song polished in the mastering stage.  So close!

Where's the Good Witch of the North?

(Public Domain)

Next week, on March 8th, Disney's latest Movie, Oz The Great and Powerful, comes to theaters.  Being the huge L. Frank Baum fan that I am, and having grown up enchanted by the 1939 version, I've been looking forward to this.   I've read some of Baum's other works, so I thought I'd finally give the Wizard of Oz series a try.  Granted, this latest movie serves as a prequel and goes outside of what Baum original wrote; I wanted to experience Oz the way it was first imagined.

I'm not far into the story, only the fifth chapter, and I already feel as if my Oz World has been shattered.  Not in a bad way, but in a, "Wow, they seriously changed some things" sort of way.  Glinda The Good Witch, enchanting in technicolor pink, greats Dorothy when she literally falls into Oz.  That image will forever be in my mind, and Glinda standing on the yellow brink road while giving Dorothy advice is iconic.  But that's not in the book.

In the book it is the nameless Good Witch of the North, though Baum later named her Locasta in a 1902 stage musical, who greats the mistaken "sorceress" Dorothy.  The good witch of the north is described as a "little old women."  Nothing glamorous in that.  But with all movies, characters are typically eliminated or combined, as was the case here.  Glinda, the Good Witch of the South, was named the Good Witch of the North in the Judy Garland version.  Though why she couldn't just keep the South title is beyond me.  

(Good Witch of the North as pictured in Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Public Domain)

Then I realized something, I believe this character was once again eliminated from the new Disney version.  In the trailers they keep showing Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz, and Michelle Williams.  A little Old Women wouldn't fit in very well next to them.

Sarah

You Know A Book is Well Loved When . . .

The Princess Bride!  Amazing movie!  It's a classic, and anyone who hasn't seen it needs to.  So many great one liners, and it makes me want to learn sword fighting . . . with both hands, because becoming a right handed master swordsman isn't enough.

If anything it's a fantastic story, which I believe I became acquainted with the movie during my Sophomore year of High School.  My friends found the book a year or so later.  Since we went to school in California, in which all the schools are outdoor, there was this tree we ate lunch under.  It was our tree.  During our Princess Bride period we would pass the book around, reading out loud between bites of sandwich, giggling like crazy.  The Princess Bride is like that.  Giggle worthy, and it's a perfect reading out loud book.

The first chapter isn't in the movie at all.  It's there we learn the history of all the beautiful women before Buttercup, and so forth, and that Florin existed before Europe, but after Paris.  And we learn about boys:

"The boys.  The Village boys.  The beef-witted  featherbrained  rattleskulled  clodpated  sim-domed noodle-noggined  sapheaded  lunkknobbed boys." 

My friend Freda had that line memorized and would repeat it on occasion; that's because the line is true.

I seriously recommend everyone read The Princess Bride.  It's a great, fun read.  The movie's great, a lot like the book, only there's more in the book.  And you can see how often I've read it, because the cover fell off!  I've lent it out many times as well.

So if you need a little humor in your life, and a whole lot of literary fun, may I recommend The Princess Bride.

Sarah

Cerulean Jade Update: 2/25/2013

We are so close to finishing the music video to "Done With Gravity"!  I'm biting at the bit to see it finished.  Pictured above is what the cockpit to the spaceship looks like.  It's a little Tron-esq.  I haven't seen what it will look like when I'm placed inside.  Robbie's working on it.  I just hope it works out!  When he was directing me during the filming he told me where to place my hands, and I had to imagine the spot.  A little nervous to see this bit come together.  Fingers crossed!

Below is an example of what the pit looks like in computer model form.

 

Not nearly as exciting, but it shows the process.

 On February 10th I stumbled upon my Chinese Zodiac, and had a little bit of a laugh over it. It said:

"One of your dearest projects will be delayed. Don't blame the whole world for it. Remain patient and, above all, refrain from spreading yourself too thin; everything will come in time. Water down your conversations if you want to improve your social or family relationships. Your temperament will push you to committing food excesses; this may result in some nervous tensions or an increase in weight. If you want to be loved, just love -- sincerely and wholeheartedly."

Of course that was the week of Valentines, and the whole "committing food excesses" totally happened . . . discovering a fantastic new cupcake place doesn't help.  

We have a goal date in mind when we want to release the music video with an MP3 of Done With Gravity, which will be available for download.  The date is really soon, but I'm not ready to announce it quite yet :0)

Sarah

 

Some Wisdom About Christ from Benjamin Franklin

(Photo by Alvesgaspar. Source Info)

"We stand at the crossroads, each minute, each hour, each day, making choices.  We choose the thoughts we allow ourselves to think, the passions we allow ourselves to feel, and the actions we allow ourselves to perform.  Each choice is made in the context of whatever value system we have selected to govern our lives.  In selecting that value system, we are, in a very real way, making the most important choice we will ever make.  

"Those who believe there is one God who made all things and who governs the world by this providence will make choices different from those who do not.  Those who hold in reverence that being who gave them life and worship Him though adoration, prayer, and thanksgiving will make choices different from those who do not.  Those who believe that mankind are all of a family and that the most acceptable service of God is doing good to man will make many choices different from those who do not.  Those who believe in a future state in which all that is wrong here will be made right will make many choices different from those who do not.  Those who subscribe to the morals of Jesus will make many choices different from those who do not.  

"Since the foundation of all happiness is thinking rightly, and since correct action is dependent on correct opinion, we cannot be too careful in choosing the value system we allow to govern our thoughts and actions.  And to know that God governs in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayers, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him, is, indeed, a powerful regulator of the human conduct."

~ Benjamin Franklin (The Art of Virtue, 88-90)  

Movie Review: Beautiful Creatures

Rating: 2.75 out of 5 Stars

Somewhere in the American South is Ethan Wate, a boy trapped in a small town which few have escaped.  His only means of travel are through books and dreams.  Books aren't the issue, they're common enough, it's those dreams, an endless loop of a girl he doesn't know with a face he can't see.  He knows she's important, and he knows he needs to save her.  Then a girl shows up to school one day, just a few months before her 16th birthday, and the town is in outrage mode.  Her family has a secret, and Lena, the new girl, doesn't help her situation much when she mentally brakes the schoolrooms glass windows, harming many fellow classmates.

She's a Castor, blessed with magic and powers, and on her 16th birthday Lena will be claimed for either the light or dark.  There's no area of gray.  And in all this there is a curse, and constant flashbacks to the Civil War.

Beautiful Creatures is based on a set of popular young adult novels by the same name.  Book shelves have been filled with supernatural love stories ever since Twilight's popularity began, and Beautiful Creatures has managed to create quite a fallowing in the over-saturated competition for attention.  It seems now that Twilight is over, movie studios want to cash in, wishing to snag anyone having Edward vs. Jacob withdrawals.

Set in an interesting landscape with people who speak in thick accented drawls, Beautiful Creatures spins quite an enchanting tale.  The tone is darker then Twilight, and there were times I found myself whisked away in the narrative.

The two leads, Alden Ehrenreich and Alice Englert, playing Ethan and Lena respectfully, were fresh, and it's nice that this film didn't have to cast big names to fill the main roles.  Emma Thompson seemed to have fun with her role, as if she couldn't wait to deliver lines and get into character.  Viola Davis was captivating as always.

What I had a problem with was the special effects, which seemed cheesy at times, and plot lines I don't wish to spoil.  There was a moment when Ethan runs through the mansions front door, Lena sitting on the stairs, Uncle playing the piano, while two female relatives protect with magic.  The whole scene was over the top and jarring in what could be a sophesticated story, and the ending was far too convenient for my liking.

I haven't read the book, but through the whole of the movie I kept thinking "the book must be more interesting then this."  And even with seeing the movie I'm in no hurry to pick up the four novel series and see how it all ends.  I don't care enough for the characters to spend the time.

In the end Beautiful Creatures served its purpose, for I was entertained, but once is enough for me.


MPAA: Rated PG-13 for violence, scary images and some sexual material. 

I Can Be Biased Over Oranges . . .

Usually I just love eating fruit, not caring where it came from or if it's organic.  But when it comes to oranges I get excited.  What's sad is I can't even eat oranges for medical reasons, but seeing a box of oranges, and smelling them, makes me a little giddy.  It's the Central California gal in me, growing up in a city known for its orange agriculture.

Now, when my family picks out a box of oranges, I like to see where the oranges were grown.  Once, several years ago, the "from" stamp read "Porterville," which is my hometown.  Eating Porterville oranges in Utah was pretty epic.  The picture above is a box of oranges from Delano California, which is between Porterville and Bakersfield.

I'm sure the oranges from Southern California and Florida are perfectly nice, but the oranges from Central California are the best.

Safe Haven: Movie Review

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

This is one of those movies where I'm glad I didn't read the critic reviews before attending a showing of Safe Haven.  Rotten Tomatoes has Safe Haven with a 12% fresh tomato rating.  Not good at all.  And Roger Ebert is all but scathing in his review, but then he didn't like Thor either, and I saw that movie 3 times opening week.  To date I've seen Safe Haven twice.

My Mom gave the movie 4.75 stars out of 5, and she's super critical, more so then I, and my sister-in-law Krista gave the movie 5 stars out of 5, and then bought a copy of the book within an hour of seeing the movie.  Plus the audience was quite engaged during both showings I attended, gasping and smiling in all the right places.

I personally loved this movie, and enjoyed it just as much the second time as I did the first.

Safe Haven is about Katie, a girl on the run who finds herself in a quaint, seaside town of North Carolina.  It is in this town that she finds her "safe haven," and meets those who teach her to love and trust again.  Why is she running?  What is she running from?  And will she stay safe?  That would give away a crucial part of the story, as this movie is part sweet romance and part thriller. 

Julianne Hough plays Katie well, though there were moments when she felt disconnected.  Josh Duhamel, who plays Alex, the love interest, reminded me of his performance in Ramona and Beezus (awesome movie BTW), and the two have a sweet chemistry together.  The girl who plays Alex's daughter Lexie, Mimi Kirkland, was really natural in her acting, which is always a delight to see in a young actress.

At this point Nicholas Sparks, the author of the book, is starting to come off formulaic.  I was nervous that this movie would mirror "The Lucky One" too closely, but I enjoyed Safe Haven so much more.  The ending of "The Lucky One" was a bit annoying and too convenient.  I've yet to see The Notebook, which may seem like a travesty to some purist.

Yes, this movie is a sappy love story, and guys out there will find aspects of the plot a bit corny, but I like a little corny in my life now and then.  And the scenery used to show off North Carolina was breathtaking.  If I ever need to find a Safe Haven, I want to go there.

MPAA: Rated PG-13 for thematic material involving threatening behavior, and for violence and sexuality.  The sex scene is short, but doesn't leave much to the imagination.  

Hearts Knit Together

I saw this video a couple weeks ago and was touched deeply.  Hearts Knit Together is a group of women in their 80's and 90's who get together to knit, crochet, and put together welcome kits for women and children.  The kits look nice, and they're always accepting donations.

One of my friends is in the video below.  The foundation is called Now I Can, and they help children become strong.  It's amazing what they do :0)

There's still so much good in the World.

I Get My Good Looks from my Great-Grandmother

 My Great-Grandmother, Wilma Angeline, was an incredible women.  If I could describe her in one word it would be "Love."  She had the most amazing ability to love everyone.  She was full of it, and you could see it in her eyes.  Even when she lost her memories through Alzheimer's, and she at times didn't remember me, I knew, regardless, that she loved me.  If there was one thing I could inherit from her, I would like it to be love.  Of course I'm still working on it, because forgiving others, as well as myself, is an ongoing battle, but I'm lucky to have had her in my life as an incredible example.

(With my Great-Grandmother when I was a Sophomore in High School)

I'm lucky that I take after her in other ways.  I got her smile!  In her 1928 High School yearbook, she was listed as the girl with the most beautiful smile.  She was also in the school play and loved to act; her yearbook lists her as most likely to become an actress.  She didn't become an actress, instead becoming a teacher in a single room school house, but she was always photogenic and expressive with those 

big blue eyes of hers.

She's amazing, having lost all of her inheritance during the Stock Market Crash and Great Depression; she was a farmer's wife and mother during the second world war, turning butter and doing other jobs we modernly take for granted.  She was fugal, practical, and hardworking. 

And if all those qualities weren't enough, my Great-Grandmother was also beautiful.