Hollywood and the New Year
By Mary Beth Gentle
New Year’s Resolution lists begin the same way every year; Start that long overdue exercise routine. Tackle the dreaded diet. Spend more time with Family and Friends. And everyone in Hollywood, from the super elite to the lowly cube dwellers, want the same thing, a fresh start. Each New Year holds the promise for a chance to begin again. It is the chance to wash away the mistakes of the past year and to set out on a new path. Whether we believe we will be able to achieve everything that we write down on our list or not, we cling to the hope that it just might be possible.
I can only begin to guess what the Hollywood Elite have put on their New Years Resolution list. I am sure that the one thing topping the Studio Executives list for 2010 is to be the lucky Studio to have a hit like Avatar. I can almost guarantee that there have already been a multitude of meetings to figure out how to achieve this goal. Entire Studio conference rooms are no doubt filled with writers pitching their epic Sci-Fi love stories to overly eager creative teams. Production executives are busily analyzing the new technology trends to see what they can imitate. And Finance Executives are plotting out budget scenario after budget scenario.
And I am sure the Hollywood talent roster has the same type of list going, although since most of them already live and breathe salads and sit-ups, theirs will probably start off with hopes of being on the short list for the Oscar worthy material making its way around town. Or they could be hoping to star in the next big hit movie or TV Series so they can be even bigger mega-stars than they already are.
But here in the lowly Hollywood Cubicle, the lists are a little more down to earth and I think realistic. When I sat down to write my list this year, I decided that I wanted it to be something I could actually achieve. So this year I left off the big grand goals of winning the lottery or jetting off to Paris on a whim and I decided to get down to the bare roots of what I wanted to achieve in a years time. I started off with the required three resolutions:
1. Get myself to the gym at least three times a week.
2. Stick to my Diet and eat healthier.
3. Spend more time with my Family and Friends.
With the standards out of the way I really dug deep to see what mattered and what I thought I could achieve:
4. Sit down at the computer and write a few articles a month (something I a sure your Editor will appreciate!)
5. Organize my photographs – I have boxes and computer files full of them. (This one is tedious but totally achievable)
6. Pull out the novel that I have been working on for years, dust it off and get it finished.
Okay. That was the one that got me. That was the one that mattered. And that was when it hit me – I could do this. This list was something I could put up on my cube wall and make happen. And then because lists are no fun without at least on big grand goal I wrote down one more:
7. Get my book published.
And that was it, my list was complete and I was ready for the New Year. If you haven’t made your New Year’s Resolution list yet, it’s not too late. You never know what you can achieve until you try – Imagine the possibilities! Happy 2010 everyone!
Friday, January 15, 2010
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
La Cucina on DVD!!!
Out on DVD and BLU-RAY TODAY from the wonderful Writer AW Gryphon!!! Order your copy now! You can also rent from Netflix!
A triple-award winning film starring Christina Hendricks ( Mad Men breakout sensation) in her film debut opposite international star Joaquim de Almeida ( Three Rivers, The Burning Plain, 24 ), supermodel-turned actress Rachel Hunter ( A Walk in the Park ) and Showtime s L Word pin-up girl Leisha Hailey, La Cucina is a brief slice of life about the ways in which we search for love. In the kitchens of neighboring apartments, two conversations go late into the night. Downstairs, young successful Lily (Hendricks) squares off in an emotional duel with the dashing and sophisticated older man, Michael (Almeida). In the kitchen above, the very pregnant Shelly (Hailey) is terrified that becoming a mother will drive away her husband and has turned for advice to her lesbian friend Jude (Hunter),sure that this magnificent cook who s been in a long-term relationship has it all figured out. Through the night, as they cook up culinary delights, they share dreams and fears, argue, and reveal their darkest secrets, as they try to figure out what makes a relationship work. Delving into the tangled web of attraction, lust, commitment, marriage, betrayal, insecurity, affection and hope, La Cucina also reminds us, in mouthwatering detail, that food and love go hand in hand.
The Valley Wire -12/4/2009
Hollywood and the Holiday Movie
By Mary Beth Gentle
Candy canes hanging on the Christmas tree. Sugar cookies baking in the oven. Burl Ives belting out a classic tune on the radio. These are just a few of the holiday traditions that I look forward to every year. But, the one thing that always makes my holiday season complete is sitting down and deciding which of the big studio movies will make it onto my Christmas movie wish list. And this year without a doubt, my top three holiday picks are Walt Disney’s The Princess and the Frog, James Cameron’s Avatar and Universal Pictures It’s Complicated.
The Princess and the Frog is Walt Disney Animation Studios return to 2D Animation. It is the real thing; it is old school hand-drawn animation that we have not seen from Disney for quite some time. Christmas came early for me this year, I was lucky enough to attend an advanced screening and the one thing I can say is that Disney has delivered classic family fun, complete with an unforgettable soundtrack in The Princess and the Frog.
The story is set during the Jazz era in the heart of New Orleans. A young woman named Tiana works three jobs to fulfill a dream born out of the love for her father and the many hours spent cooking in the family kitchen. She plans to save enough money to open her own restaurant to make those dreams come true. When the young and handsome, jazz-loving Prince Naveen of Maldonia comes to town, he gets into trouble with a shady Voodoo Doctor in the hopes of making money the easy way. But, the Voodoo Doctor sees it as his own chance to make a fortune and turns the Prince into a frog. That is when the classic tale takes a turn for the worse and the fateful kiss from the beautiful girl, Tiana, turns her into a frog instead of turning the young Prince into a human again. The story quickly takes the two young frogs on an unexpected adventure through the bayous of Louisiana and the excitement of the New Orleans Mardi Gras as they learn to dig deep to find the true meaning of life and love.
In the story of Avatar, Oscar-winning director James Cameron takes us to a world beyond the imagination. Set in the future, paraplegic war veteran, Jake Sully is sent to the moon called Pandora where he will become an Avatar. He will regain the use of his legs as he is transformed into one of the indigenous people on the planet. In his new body, he will embark on an epic adventure to save a race of people and a planet from its human invaders. It took James Cameron over five years to bring his vision to the screen and as VFX Editor, Christopher Marino, who has worked on the movie for the past three years says, “Avatar promises to deliver the goods on December 18th!”
It’s Complicated is the third movie on my Holiday movie wish list. It stars Meryl Streep as Jane, the mother of three grown children and the owner of a thriving restaurant. After a decade of divorce, she has formed an amicable relationship with her ex-husband, Jake, played by Alec Baldwin. But, when Jane and Jake find themselves out of town for their son’s college graduation, emotions and old desires get out of control. The complication begins as we learn of Jake’s remarriage to a much younger woman and Jane’s involvement with Adam, an architect played by Steve Martin. Should Jane and Jake move on with their lives or do they give love a second chance? Thus the title, It’s complicated.
The Princess and the Frog leaps to the screen on December 11th, Avatar lands in theatres on December 18th and It’s Complicated hits the screens on Christmas day. Three weeks of what promises to be top-notch entertainment and the perfect gift this Christmas. I hope you all get the opportunity to sneak away from the Office party, skip out on one trip to the mall or maybe turn a family holiday outing into a trip to the Cineplex for at least one movie this busy Holiday season. Happy Holiday’s from the Hollywood Cubicle, to one and all!
By Mary Beth Gentle
Candy canes hanging on the Christmas tree. Sugar cookies baking in the oven. Burl Ives belting out a classic tune on the radio. These are just a few of the holiday traditions that I look forward to every year. But, the one thing that always makes my holiday season complete is sitting down and deciding which of the big studio movies will make it onto my Christmas movie wish list. And this year without a doubt, my top three holiday picks are Walt Disney’s The Princess and the Frog, James Cameron’s Avatar and Universal Pictures It’s Complicated.
The Princess and the Frog is Walt Disney Animation Studios return to 2D Animation. It is the real thing; it is old school hand-drawn animation that we have not seen from Disney for quite some time. Christmas came early for me this year, I was lucky enough to attend an advanced screening and the one thing I can say is that Disney has delivered classic family fun, complete with an unforgettable soundtrack in The Princess and the Frog.
The story is set during the Jazz era in the heart of New Orleans. A young woman named Tiana works three jobs to fulfill a dream born out of the love for her father and the many hours spent cooking in the family kitchen. She plans to save enough money to open her own restaurant to make those dreams come true. When the young and handsome, jazz-loving Prince Naveen of Maldonia comes to town, he gets into trouble with a shady Voodoo Doctor in the hopes of making money the easy way. But, the Voodoo Doctor sees it as his own chance to make a fortune and turns the Prince into a frog. That is when the classic tale takes a turn for the worse and the fateful kiss from the beautiful girl, Tiana, turns her into a frog instead of turning the young Prince into a human again. The story quickly takes the two young frogs on an unexpected adventure through the bayous of Louisiana and the excitement of the New Orleans Mardi Gras as they learn to dig deep to find the true meaning of life and love.
In the story of Avatar, Oscar-winning director James Cameron takes us to a world beyond the imagination. Set in the future, paraplegic war veteran, Jake Sully is sent to the moon called Pandora where he will become an Avatar. He will regain the use of his legs as he is transformed into one of the indigenous people on the planet. In his new body, he will embark on an epic adventure to save a race of people and a planet from its human invaders. It took James Cameron over five years to bring his vision to the screen and as VFX Editor, Christopher Marino, who has worked on the movie for the past three years says, “Avatar promises to deliver the goods on December 18th!”
It’s Complicated is the third movie on my Holiday movie wish list. It stars Meryl Streep as Jane, the mother of three grown children and the owner of a thriving restaurant. After a decade of divorce, she has formed an amicable relationship with her ex-husband, Jake, played by Alec Baldwin. But, when Jane and Jake find themselves out of town for their son’s college graduation, emotions and old desires get out of control. The complication begins as we learn of Jake’s remarriage to a much younger woman and Jane’s involvement with Adam, an architect played by Steve Martin. Should Jane and Jake move on with their lives or do they give love a second chance? Thus the title, It’s complicated.
The Princess and the Frog leaps to the screen on December 11th, Avatar lands in theatres on December 18th and It’s Complicated hits the screens on Christmas day. Three weeks of what promises to be top-notch entertainment and the perfect gift this Christmas. I hope you all get the opportunity to sneak away from the Office party, skip out on one trip to the mall or maybe turn a family holiday outing into a trip to the Cineplex for at least one movie this busy Holiday season. Happy Holiday’s from the Hollywood Cubicle, to one and all!
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
The Valley Wire - 10/30/2009 Column
Hollywood and the Spookiest Time of the Year
By Mary Beth Gentle
Blood curdling screams. Nightmares come to life. Hearts pounding in fear. And those are not just the sounds coming from the offices of studio executives as they react to the latest box office flop, but clear signs that Halloween time has come to Hollywood. No one, except maybe the real ghouls themselves, can do Halloween quite like Hollywood. From the frighteningly real make-up to the edge of your seat Visual EFX to the spine tingling soundtracks, Hollywood has spent years perfecting the fine art of fear.
Every year we fill up our movie viewing time with our favorite scary movies. If it’s classic horror that you are after, you can try a chilling line-up such as Psycho, The Birds and Rosemary’s Baby. If it’s tales from your nightmares that make your Halloween complete you can watch a title or two from one of the famed series such as, Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm Street or Halloween. Or maybe it’s just plain spooky family fun you are looking for with It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, Hocus Pocus or The Nightmare Before Christmas.
I grew up trick or treating, eating caramel apples and watching It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown every Halloween. And even though age has insisted that I stop trick or treating and calorie counting has ruined the fun of a chewy sugary caramel apple, I still sit down every year and watch Charlie Brown and the gang set out to fill their trick or treat bags and convince Linus that there is no such thing as a ‘Great Pumpkin’.
The Peanuts special first aired in 1966 and has captured many hearts since that time. And every year I tune in to see the kids prepare their costumes, see the excitement in Charlie Brown’s face when he gets invited to the big Halloween party and watch Linus’ unending faith in the Great Pumpkin. And even though I know the story by heart, I still hope that poor old Charlie Brown is going to get more than just a rock in his goodie bag.
But, when it comes to Halloween in Hollywood, the big and the small screen is not the only place to see the spooky holiday come to life. I just have to walk across the Studio lot on the big day to see the real fun begin. There is always one guy whose cube looks like a scene from Tales from the Crypt, clearly he knows someone in the Prop Department. Then there is the woman a few cubes over who looks like she just might be the Wicked Witch of the West. And a trip to the Studio commissary at lunchtime is like walking onto a set of The Living Dead.
I have been in this business long enough to know that it is all make believe. I have been on set with the fake monsters and watched the make-up artists work wonders with tubes of fake blood. But, even knowing all of that, my imagination still gets the best of me. So even though there is quite a list of fright filled movies to pick from, I will probably opt for yet another viewing of Charlie Brown this year.
By Mary Beth Gentle
Blood curdling screams. Nightmares come to life. Hearts pounding in fear. And those are not just the sounds coming from the offices of studio executives as they react to the latest box office flop, but clear signs that Halloween time has come to Hollywood. No one, except maybe the real ghouls themselves, can do Halloween quite like Hollywood. From the frighteningly real make-up to the edge of your seat Visual EFX to the spine tingling soundtracks, Hollywood has spent years perfecting the fine art of fear.
Every year we fill up our movie viewing time with our favorite scary movies. If it’s classic horror that you are after, you can try a chilling line-up such as Psycho, The Birds and Rosemary’s Baby. If it’s tales from your nightmares that make your Halloween complete you can watch a title or two from one of the famed series such as, Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm Street or Halloween. Or maybe it’s just plain spooky family fun you are looking for with It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, Hocus Pocus or The Nightmare Before Christmas.
I grew up trick or treating, eating caramel apples and watching It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown every Halloween. And even though age has insisted that I stop trick or treating and calorie counting has ruined the fun of a chewy sugary caramel apple, I still sit down every year and watch Charlie Brown and the gang set out to fill their trick or treat bags and convince Linus that there is no such thing as a ‘Great Pumpkin’.
The Peanuts special first aired in 1966 and has captured many hearts since that time. And every year I tune in to see the kids prepare their costumes, see the excitement in Charlie Brown’s face when he gets invited to the big Halloween party and watch Linus’ unending faith in the Great Pumpkin. And even though I know the story by heart, I still hope that poor old Charlie Brown is going to get more than just a rock in his goodie bag.
But, when it comes to Halloween in Hollywood, the big and the small screen is not the only place to see the spooky holiday come to life. I just have to walk across the Studio lot on the big day to see the real fun begin. There is always one guy whose cube looks like a scene from Tales from the Crypt, clearly he knows someone in the Prop Department. Then there is the woman a few cubes over who looks like she just might be the Wicked Witch of the West. And a trip to the Studio commissary at lunchtime is like walking onto a set of The Living Dead.
I have been in this business long enough to know that it is all make believe. I have been on set with the fake monsters and watched the make-up artists work wonders with tubes of fake blood. But, even knowing all of that, my imagination still gets the best of me. So even though there is quite a list of fright filled movies to pick from, I will probably opt for yet another viewing of Charlie Brown this year.
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