Hollywood History: The Days Go By So Fast

Back to Los Angeles...now where were we?
Life in Los Angeles was a pretty big adjustment for a girl who had spent her whole life in the Northeast. I was lucky, though; being in school gave me a built-in way to meet new people, to have new experiences, and to basically make the transition easier. That being said, it was a personal photography project that really made me feel more at home. It gave me a purpose. I fell head over heels in love with the history of "Hollywood." I had always loved it from afar, but there it was, right in front of me. I could smell it, taste it, and feel it. What was left of it anyway. See, in my humble opinion, Los Angeles has a lot of history for a city that's so relatively young. Unfortunately, it failed to recognize that unique history. When you grown up in a city like Boston, every other building has a plaque and is a historical landmark. Not so in Los Angeles. I made it my mission to treasure hunt around the city, searching out historical buildings and locations, and then photograph them. Sometimes the buildings no longer existed, so I photographed a parking lot or a mini-mall. Most of the movie palaces downtown were now evangelical churches or swap meets and were in states of disrepair. Very few buildings still retained their original grandeur. I did so much research! Each location had its own index card with fun facts and figures and up in the corner I listed the Thomas Guide coordinates so I could find it (this is before GPS - people in LA couldn't live without their Thomas Guides). In the end, I created an amazing book that I still continue to photograph for when I visit LA. I even still travel with my index cards.

The Los Angeles Theater opened in 1931 with the premiere of Charlie Chaplin's City Lights. It has a six-story lobby and could hold 2050 people.


The Bradbury Building was built in 1893 and seems to be one of the only downtown buildings Los Angeles felt was worthy of preserving. You can see it all the time in current movies. For instance, it just showed up in The Artist.




This what truly broke my heart. The following photos are of The Ambassador Hotel. It opened in 1921 and was demolished in 2006. Howard Hughes and Jean Harlow lived there. Marilyn Monroe got her start at the modeling agency located inside the hotel. The hotel hosted six Academy Awards shows. F. Scott Fitzgerald stayed there. Presidents Hoover, Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon stayed there. Kruschev even stayed there. And let's not forget the Cocoanut Grove! Bing Crosby, Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, and even Barbra Streisand all performed at the Cocoanut Grove. The hotel was also where Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated after giving his victory speech in the California primary in 1968. And with a few swings of the wrecking ball, all of that is gone. I'm convinced that one day, Los Angeles will open some sort of Ambassador tribute hotel, maybe at Disney California. A total slap in the face if you ask me!













I've mentioned a lot of this before in earlier posts, like HERE and HERE. I'm definitely passionate about my Hollywood history! Once I get started, it's hard to stop me. But hey, a little passion never hurt anyone! For whatever reason, I've just been thinking about it lately. My time in Los Angeles, photographing on film sets and around the city, played a pivotal role in my becoming a photographer. I know I've shared some LA photos before, but I thought it would be fun to share a few of my 35mm photos. And there are plenty more where these came from!

PS- Do you like the layer of smog hanging over the city in that first photo?!

Old Film Photos: Got This Dance That's More Than Real

A lot of people ask me how I got started in photography (a natural question, of course). I've always loved taking photos and I grew up with a photo-taking father, but I never even considered creating a life out of photography. Don't get me wrong - I also never considered a career in anything useful, either. In college, I majored in American Studies and minored in Creative Writing: Poetry. That's right - I'm a poet by trade. During my American Studies coursework, I discovered that I could be a student of movies. Of radio. Of TV. Of culture. With a little help from some amazing Colby professors, I turned my American Studies major into a study of pop culture. It was awesome. So much of what I learned is actually directly applicable to my everyday life and how I read and process the world around me. However, this was not going to get me a job. At least not in any direct way. What it did, though, was get me into one of the best film schools in the country. Ta-dah! I studied silent movies, World Cinema, documentaries, feminist theory, Westerns, and pretty much everything under the sun. Birth of a Nation to Maid in Manhattan.

In addition to my nerdy film classes, I was also required to take a semester of production. Groan. Never had I actually wanted to make movies, but here I was, forced to make 4 short films over the course of a semester, plus take classes in acting, directing, cinematography, and sound. There was a long-standing history of friction between the School of Production and the School of Critical Studies that existed not just between students, but was even perpetuated by faculty (I may have written a nasty letter to my sound professor, Tom Holman). In a typical production class, there would be a couple of crit studies students and then a boatload of production students. I was totally outnumbered. I lucked into an awesome group of people, though, and we made some great movies together. One of these days, maybe I'll screen my directing debut, "Bedlam," the story of a reluctant bed on moving day (this is the kind of movie one makes when they have two days and one of them is moving day).

However, as much as I didn't want to be a production student, I still LOVED being on set. We would do exercises where we had to recreate scenes from movies and students would have different roles. We actually shot scenes from Thelma & Louise in the actual motel they filmed in! I would be a boom operator one day and the director the next. I always brought my camera to set, though. I loved grabbing all of the behind-the-scenes photos, capturing my friends working hard. And back then, it was all on film. Eventually, I was hired to do the still photography on a production student's thesis film. My first official photography job. I loved having the midnight call time and having the opportunity to watch all the pieces come together. It was amazing. It was then that I knew that I wanted to be a photographer.

Our scene from Thelma & Louise.




Our scene from The Accused.


Some photos from Streakers.






And a friend of mine working on her short film.


So, this was the start of it all! While I'm feeling inspired, and more than a little nostalgic, I'm also going to try to post some old film photos from a personal project I started in Los Angeles. Hopefully that will keep me up-to-date with my blogging! Of course I still have plenty of weddings and food photos and family sessions I can post, too. Never a dull moment!

Live from The Oscars in My Living Room

It's Oscar night! I usually don't blog the red carpet, but I thought maybe I would do it off & on while I sit here with my glass of wine. Doug is in the kitchen preparing the food, which I can't wait to munch on. As my wise friend Luke said, "This is your superbowl, buddy!"

RED CARPET
Jennifer Lawrence is the first to arrive. I haven't seen all of her dress yet, but it looks pretty and age appropriate. Am I going to eat my words?

Kelly Osborne has a wacky Bride of Frankenstein hair-do and her lipstick is suddenly rather purple. It was much more subtle in the pre-pre-show.

Melissa Leo looks great. This dress is much better than the one she wore at the Independent Spirit Awards. People are definitely starting to arrive. Are the people on the red carpet aware of commercial breaks? It's weird that they have to adjust their red carpet schedule so they can talk to people on camera. I guess it's all about promoting yourself, though. No screen time, no movie/TV show/designer plug.

While Ryan is interviewing James Franco & Anne Hathaway, let's talk about them... Are you looking forward to this hosting team or dreading it? I'm inclined to say James Franco is a loose canon and I'm a fan of that, especially at the Oscars!

Do my eyes deceive me or was that Daphne Zuniga??

In case you're wondering what I'm wearing for the Oscars, I've got on a clearance sweatshirt dress thing from Macy's that my mom bought for herself and then handed down to me. I'm guessing I look like my grandmother in one of her housedresses, but I'm comfortable. And I'm wearing leggings. And slippers. It's hot. Or a hot mess.

Hailee Steinfeld - adorable, age appropriate, oddly well-spoken. She would be good on Dawson's Creek or Gilmore Girls. I actually really enjoyed True Grit. I happen to enjoy Westerns (I guess I owe that to my dad and grandmother), but I think it crosses genres. She helped design her Marchesa gown?! Awesome!

I think Michelle Williams took Busy Phillips as her Oscar date. If you don't watch Cougar Town, it's so funny and Busy Phillips is a riot!

Okay, it looks a little less "wardrobe malfunction" than I previously thought. Mila Kunis will probably stay in her dress tonight. Sorry, everyone!

I actually enjoy Mandy Moore. Tangled was wicked cute. And she's surprisingly tall. Russell Brand brought his mom. Adorable.

Michelle Williams' dress is beautiful! It makes her look tall and I don't think she is. I have come to the conclusion that it's so much easier for tall people to look sophisticated than for short people. Actresses may be the exception, but that might be because everyone is tailoring their clothes for them.

MIchelle Williams is wearing Chanel. Not being super fashiony myself, there are definitely designers whose clothes I consistently like. Oh, to be able to afford Chanel! Also, interesting that Busy Phillips stayed in the background there. Unless I'm wrong and it's not her. But I think it is.

To anonymous who commented that I'm out of my mind, indeed I am! At least on Oscar night! I like to pretend that people are actually reading this while they're watching. My imaginary adoring fans!

Zachary Levi! I love Chuck! He's going to be singing at the Oscars? Awesome! That'll make the musical numbers more interesting.

I love Amy Adams' dress. SO far, no one has stuck out as bad. Maybe Jennifer Hudson. I'll have to see her up close. And I guess I wouldn't say it was bad, just my least favorite.

Every time I see someone with a pixie cut, I get so jealous! I wish I could wear my hair that way! But my hair is curly and my face is too fat.

Do we dare talk about the J. Lo Venus razor commercial? Weird thing to be a spokesperson for. I actually just watched El Cantante the other day. She was pretty good. And although I am pretty sure Marc Anthony is just a walking skeleton, he wasn't nearly as repulsive as I thought he might be. I literally expected to have to turn the movie off because he freaks me out, but he wasn't bad. And that's pretty amazing praise coming from me! At least about him.

Mandy Moore's dress is Monique Lhullier - no wonder I like it! She's one of my favorite wedding/Oscar dress designers!

Mark Ruffalo is with someone named Sunrise. I don't think I need to say anything more.

Here's my first controversial statement of the evening - I really dislike Jesse Eisenberg. He seems like a jerk. That's not to say he isn't a good actor, but he seems cocky. He talks about not owning a tv, etc, but frankly, if you're an actor, you SHOULD own a tv. If I was an animal trainer, you would want me to actually study animals, right?

Geoffrey Rush was amazing in The King's Speech! I want to say that was my favorite movie of the year. Honestly. SO surprisingly compelling!

I think Cate Blanchett is having a puppet show where her chest should be! She's wearing a dress and there's a curtainy thing going on at her torso. Hm. I'll need to see it again before I cement my decision.

Jennifer Hudson looks gorgeous! I mean, in general. Her dress is nicer closer up than it looked when I saw the wide shot. I'm not wowed, but it's pretty.

Giuliana & Kelly are saying that they love Cate Blanchett's dress. What do you guys think? I'm just not sure. It looks so rigid around the outside and then pleated. Hm. Thoughts?

Jeremy Renner. Now all I can think about is the gossip about Christina Aguilera crashing his birthday party, getting trashed, and passing out in his bed.

Ooh. I like Scarlett Johannsen's look. I may have spelled that incorrectly. My bad. I like her casual hair.

I'm in trouble - we've got another hour of the red carpet and I've already written this much. Ridiculous. Oh well. Hopefully you'll all stick with me. Hopefully I'm saying what you're thinking. Or, feel free to chime in if you disagree!

Somebody needs to fix Helena Bonham Carter's bangs! We saw her in England and she looked wacky. I know that's her schtick, but still.

Hilary Swank - ruling is that they've softened her up a bit!
Just got a glimpse of Mila Kunis - she's the first potential wardrobe malfunction I've seen. She looks gorgeous and shiny, but she's definitely precariously poured into that dress!

Celine Dion - age-appropriate, pretty dress. Penelope Cruz just had a baby - insane body! And Sandra Bullock! Awesome! Now everyone is arriving!

Nicole Kidman is my worst-dressed for the evening right now! Why would you want to look BIGGER than you actually are?!

Uproar in the house! Reese Witherspoon's PR person looks horrible chewing gum on the red carpet! Someone should fire her!

How can you not love Sandra Bullock in her gorgeous red Vera Wang dress?!

Natalie Portman looks awesome! Love her dress. Adorable.

Tim Gunn! He's the only reason to watch the network red carpet. Otherwise it's pretty lame.

Less than a half hour to the actual broadcast!

Keith Urban is wearing tapered tuxedo pants. I think that's a definite DON'T. WTF? They remain my worst-dressed.

We're ready for the show to start now! They're just about to start! Are you all with me??

OSCARS!
Good intro! But we were hoping for appearances by Michael J Fox and Christopher Lloyd. And yes, Anne Hathaway is wearing a different dress than the one she walked in wearing!

Moms are standing up in the audience! And grandmothers, too! His grandma is on you tube!

Gone with the Wind! Where's Olivia??

I'm so confused as to what they're referencing! Gone With The Wind, Titanic, Tom Hanks!

Art Direction: Alice in Wonderland! That rules out the intro's trifecta. But if a movie is going to win Art Direction, that's a good one!

Did that guy just put a mini hat on his Oscar?

Cinematography: Wally Pfister for Inception. He should do something else with his glasses. And I'm actually surprised at how young he is. I expected him to be older for some reason.

First commercial break! So far, so good.

Kirk Douglas! He looks good! Pretty mobile. And people are standing! He's presenting Best Supporting Actress! The dude is 94!

Best Supporting Actress: Melissa Leo! That would have been my guess!
"You're much more beautiful than you were in The Fighter." - Kirk Douglas to Melissa Leo

It's amazing how awe-stricken someone can genuinely be when they win. Melissa Leo has won just about every Best Supporting Actress award out there this year, but she is still floored by this honor. It makes people that much more attractive. That humility. That sincerity.

It's 9:00p!

Best Animated Feature: Toy Story 3! No big surprise there. Of course, it's also nominated for Best Picture.

Best Animated Short: The Lost Thing
I saw every Animated Short nominated and it totally should have gone to The Gruffalo! The Lost Thing was one of my least favorite ones!

Adapted Screenplay: Aaron Sorkin, Social Network. Not a surprise.
Original Screenplay: David Seidler, The King'S Speech "My father always said I'd be a late bloomer." Saw him in London after the BAFTAs!
Cutest Couple so far - Javier Bardem & Josh Brolin. They look like they're ready for Communion.

A song for Hugh Jackman??

I expected James Franco to be skinnier than he is. He's pretty boxy. "She's a dame."

I love Helen Mirren! She's beautiful!
Best foreign film: In A Better World, Denmark

It's now 9:28p. The verdict is that we're going to be here all night.

I love Reese Witherspoon's dress! She's definitely rocking the hair extensions, though.
Best Supporting Actor: Christian Bale. He totally deserves this award. The category is full of awesome performances, but he just disappeared into the role. And it's always funny to hear his accent because you can never detect it in his roles!

Anne's next costume change!

Original Score: Trent Reznor, The Social Network
Who knew Trent Reznor would end up an Oscar winner?!

Sound Mixing: Inception
No matter hor dirty Matthew McConaghey might be, he's still hot!

Sound Editing: Inception

So far, no upsets and nothing really exciting. It's all gone according to plan. I think the most "interesting" part has been Kirk Douglas' presentation. I'm not blown away by the hosts- I don't think they're doing that much better than anybody who came before them. Although Anne Hathaway has a pretty good voice.

Scientific Awards. Happy for the winners, but this tends to be boring.

Makeup: The Wolfman
That guy just said, "Crikey."

Best Achievement in Costume Design: Colleen Atwood, Alice in Wonderful
It's Colleen Atwood's 3rd win and 9th nomination. Not a bad career.

I'm so glad Barack Obama has time to make a snippet for the Oscars. Is Randy Newman's mic working? He sounds really quiet.

Zachary Levi and Mandy Moore are adorable! It's nice to see that he's really singing.

Best Doc Short: Strangers No More
I am one degree separated from the makers of the doc "Sun Come Up" so I was rooting for that one!

Live Action Short: God of Love

OOOOOOPRAH! You get an Oscar, you get an Oscar, you get an Oscar....

Best Doc: Inside Job
That movie made Vanessa angry. I didn't get a chance to see it, but I have a feeling it would give me serious agida. And the first political speech of the night!! Someone was going to have to do it!

Billy Crystal! The best thing to happen to this telecast all night! He got a standing ovation and Oprah didn't!

Visual Effects: Inception

Editing: The Social Network
Did I mention I really don't like Jesse Eisenberg. Sorry.

We like Florence Welch. She's not the original singer. Rumor has it that Dido is the original singer but she couldn't attend. We'll take it. I'm still upset about the fact that Bruce Springsteen wasn't nominated last year.

Best Original Song: Randy Newman, Toy Story 3. This dude has been nominated 20 times and this is only his 2nd win! Doug and I are huge fans of the Monsters, Inc song!

Is this the dead people? Yup. It is. I know some people like find this segment boring, but I really like it.

I think I like Anne Hathaway's blue dress. Slinky.

Best Director: Tom Hooper
Upset!! First upset of the night! I was pulling for Aranofsky, but thought David Fincher was going to win. Wow!

I like Annette Bening's dress - pretty color and seems very old Hollywood to me!

It's 11:07p.

I love Eli Wallach! He's so great!

Oddly, I think the show will be over by 11:30p. Will wonders never cease!

Is James Franco stoned?

I love love love Jeff Bridges! I also love how much he still loves his wife. Vanessa & I saw him in concert this fall (yes, you read that correctly) and he was great, but a little sweaty.

Right now, Jennifer Lawrence looks pretty California, Baywatch. Marked difference from her character in Winter's Bone.

Best Actress: Natalie Portman!
Her fiancee just helped her up the stairs. I love a gentleman!
She is thanking EVERYONE. But I like her.

Anne Hathaway seems to be doing a lot of the hosting on her own. What is James Franco doing? Waiting to lose his Oscar?

I'm cheering for Colin Firth for Best Actor!

He won!! Best Actor: Colin Firth
He is soooo cute! He's a favorite among the ladies. It may have something to do with Bridget Jones. I'm just saying. If you haven't seen The King's Speech yet, definitely go see it!

One last dress for Anne! And now Steven Spielberg!
Best Picture: The King's Speech
For a while it seemed like The Social Network was the frontrunner, but I'm glad this movie pulled ahead! As much as I liked The Social Network, I wasn't rooting for it. I was rooting for this movie. Everyone was amazing! The movie was just so cool to watch - very interesting visually, which isn't obvious.

Okay, time for Jimmy Kimmel and bed! Maybe I'll recap tomorrow!
Thanks for reading!

***Wow! That was quite the night! Here's what I have to say about it all in the light of day...
1) Overall, quite pleased with the winners. I loved that The King's Speech pulled ahead there and took top honors. I can't say enough about how much I enjoyed that movie. Maybe it's because I didn't have the highest expectations. I'm not a "Royal Watcher" or anything. The acting was great, the plot was great, but I was really fascinated with the visual choices they made. Sometimes I felt like I was watching an Alice in Wonderland type movie. They used interesting angles and interesting locations/sets. There was a visual creativity that was unexpected.

2) Definitely disappointed by the hosts. Anne Hathaway was a bundle of energy who couldn't get it quite right and James Franco seemed stiff and disinterested. I really thought this was a chance for silly to reign at the Oscars, but even when they had him dressed up like Marilyn Monroe, it all fell flat. Now, all the blame can't be put on the hosts - there's a team of writers coming up with all that schtick. Maybe instead of getting younger hosts, they need younger joke writers.

3) Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban stayed my worst-dressed couple of the night.

4) Where is George Clooney? I do not like it when he doesn't grace us with his presence.

5) I liked the ending where the kids sang and all the Oscar winners were on stage. That's a new one. I loved that Melissa Leo was totally singing along.

6) I know people get bored by the lifetime achievement awards & such, but I wouldn't have minded hearing some of those people speak. They've earned it. But I'm that rare breed who doesn't change the channel for the lifetime awards or the "people who died this year" montage. Speaking of the "People Who Died This Year," they left out Corey Haim and Maria Schneider (from Last Tango in Paris). Yahoo was already abuzz with the omissions this morning!

7) I was hard on Jesse Eisenberg. I was told that you can study acting without owning a TV. Fine. I still don't like it.

8) Although I liked the references to past Academy Awards, they did not integrate them well into the broadcast. I do know want a holograph of Bob Hope introducing Josh Brolin and Javier Bardem (or whoever it was he introduced). That's just weird. The connections they made were so thin - it just seemed clunky.

9) No Banksy at the Oscars. Do you think they voted for Inside Job just to avoid the potential?

Okay, maybe that's all I have to say about the matter for now! I had seen all the nominees for Best Picture and they rounded the category out nicely. Now I get to go back to the movies! Feel free to add to the comments. What did you think about the hosts? Who was the best dressed? Who was the worst? You must have an opinion, right?

Funny How Fallin' Feels Like Flyin' For A Little While

Hello my Hollywood peeps! It's just about time for the Red Carpet coverage to begin and here I am, on my sofa, with a glass of wine, ready to watch the Oscars and live blog the fun! Hooray! The first couple of hours might be a bit sporadic, but come 8 o'clock, we're on for good. Should be an interesting evening - 2 hosts, 10 Best Picture nominees, George Clooney... Will the madness ever end?

- Sam Worthington from Avatar is the first interview. His real accent is much sexier than his movie accent (which was "American" with Australian peeking through). He'll be in Clash of the Titans coming out soon. Not sure if we'll be able to see if he can actually act in that movie either. Zac Efron? I used to dislike him greatly, but after seeing Hairspray, I liked him a little. And then of course, I liked him in 18 Again. He's growing on me.

- What does arriving early say about these actors/actresses? More interview time? People starting out who don't mind the media obstacle course?

- Are actors saying that Avatar was awesome because they want to be in James Cameron's next film or because they really like the movie? Because as far as acting went, it wasn't great. (Although I love Zoe Saldana)

- Anna Kendrick was great in Up In The Air, but she will lose to Mo'nique (who rightfully deserves the award. She was amazing in Precious). Mariska Hargitay is gorgeous. I love how you can see her mom in her features, even though they have totally different coloring.I like Tina Fey's dress. Better than some of her other choices, but Vanessa and I wish she would embrace more color.

- Paula Patton is looking like one hot pregnant lady!

- There's my lady Mo'nique! She really finds good dresses for her body! If you haven't seen Precious yet, see it once and then you can move on. It's not really a multiple-watch movie.

- It's pouring rain in Hollywood but we had a GORGEOUS day in Boston today! The irony.

- Mariah Carey looks so much more respectable tonight than she has before. Maybe the Oscars really do class the joint up.

- Okay, first sort of negative dress is Zoe Saldana's, even though I love her. It looks like she's wearing two different dresses - the top is beaded and gorgeous. Bottom is a little weird, definitely don't like the slit up the front. I love her in Center Stage.

- Joel Madden & Nicole Ritchie.

- James Cameron's wife, Suzy Amis, looks so gross. She definitely needs to gain about 20 pounds and possibly dye her hair. And I'm not usually one for dying hair to get rid of greys, but she needs something. Really.

- Vera Farmiga is up against her co-star, Anna Kendrick. She was also great in Up In The Air, but will also lose to Mo'nique. It's pretty much the only acting category I'm sure of. Dress color is beautiful, looks great on her, but a little weird. Not my favorite.

- Who doesn't love Ryan Reynolds?! He's so hot! And adorable. Jason Reitman looks so much like his dad (who I saw when I was last in Los Angeles). James Cameron, matching his pocket square to his wife's dress - nice touch. Gain weight, Suzy Amis! Seems like he has a good relationship with Kathryn Bigelow, but it doesn't seem as friendly with Linda Hamilton, judging from a recent interview with her, Weird. Maggie Gyllenhaal looks great and her husband Peter Skarsgaard looks handsome, too. They are a good couple, but they have very difficult last names to spell. He was amazing in An Education. Elizabeth Banks in gray. How do we feel about that?

- I see you Tom Ford, sneaking behind Elizabeth Banks. Not only is he hot, but he's a pretty good director. See A Single Man with Colin Firth! It was excellent! Every scene is a fashion spread that I would LOVE to replicate in still photography.

- Sigourney Weaver looks beautiful. Sexy and age-appropriate, and some women definitely miss that mark. And I see sexy Lenny Kravitz standing behind her. With his daughter. He was awesome in Precious, too. Totally a burst of light in a pretty dark film.

- Carey Mulligan can carry off a pleated dress because she weighs 50 pounds soaking wet. But I love her hair. I wish I could have a haircut like that. And Sandra Bullock looks great. Especially the top of her dress. I think Diane Kreuger is not on my best dressed list. She had a fashion misstep at the Globes, too. But the important question is, where's Pacey (aka Joshua Jackson)?!

- Miley Cyrus needs better posture! She's doing the America's Next Top Model broken look! Jake Gyllenhaal is adorable. Doug was in a movie with him way back in the day, before we reconnected in Los Angeles. Morgan Freeman is creeping up in the background... "Ryan Seacrest, don't you know I'm god?!" Miley Cyrus looks like a housewife from Orange County. Her mother is even worse. And Miley's head is about 3x the size of her mom's. Scary. She never had a chance with parents like that.

- I want SJP's dress to connect the front to the neck piece. But I still like them. GEORGE IS HERE! He needs a haircut but I'm willing to overlook it. Kathryn Bigelow is a gorgeous tall woman and only the 4th to be nominated for Best Director. I'm hoping she wins tonight! Stanley Tucci is awesome in absolutely EVERYTHING he is in. If you haven't seen Julie & Julia yet, rent it! He is great in it. Charlize Theron has satin flowers for boobs, At the moment, I am not a fan.

- Just noticed we haven't seen any 360 degree views or glam cams! What kind of statement is E! trying to make this year? I guess this really is a year of Oscar changes!

- I'm glad Matt Damon shaved his porn 'stache. He is always so well-spoken and put-together. We've been a fan of his forever. Doug says George Clooney's long hair is for the Facts of Life reunion. That's not really happening. Colin Firth is the best! Clooney's girlfriend needs to tuck her nipples in - we don't want to see them in this household! Queen Latifah rocks - she's fantastic! George says be is surrounded by stunning women, but I know a few who are sitting on couches who would love to be there with him!

- Skeletor! I like J. Lo's dress, structured on one side, fitted on the other. You can see her curvy shape, so it's still flattering, even though there's a lot of fouf on one side.

-"If fashion was porn, this dress is the money shot!" - Gabourey Sibide (I'll be calling her Gabby.) She is a frickin' burst of sunshine. So funny and bubbly and a breath of fresh air. I love watching her on interviews - so funny on Conan O'Brien.

- Are you loving or hating the Cervical Cancer perfume commercials?

- Jeff Bridges is head-over-heels in love with his wife - his very appropriate, beautiful, classy wife. Love it! He was amazing in Crazy Heart and the music was awesome (and I don't normally like country music). I would say he's the frontrunner for the Oscar, but the E! poll is saying Clooney. Interesting. I guess we'll find out!

- Cameron Diaz just said she arrived late so she didn't have to talk to anyone! I knew it! But she looks beautiful. I love her dress. Sparkly and gold. We're just about to switch to ABC for their coverage of the Red Carpet. Are you ready?!

- Sherri Shepard is hosting this red carpet coverage (along with an odd-posing Kathy Ireland). All the Best Supporting Actresses in one place! Anna Kendrick looks almost midget-like among all those women. Is Kathy Ireland promoting Unnecessary Roughness 2? I am laughing at her. She's not very good at this. I just got a text from my brother that said, "Kathy Ireland looks like she's never been on TV before." True dat, double true.

- Even though I am a sucker for an uplifting sports movie, I didn't see Invictus. Oh well. Helen Mirren & Christopher Plummer look awesome! I can't believe this is his first Oscar nomination! The man is 80 years old! He is 20 yrs older than Helen. They look amazing!

- Morgan Freeman's daughter is named Morgana. Okay, George Foreman. Also, he needs to spit out his gum apparently (thanks for the tip, Jillamina).

- Is it just me or is the ABC coverage a totally different color than the E! coverage?! I'm pretty sure J. Lo was wearing a white dress, but now it's lavender.

- I would like to turn MY genius into a dream come true. Thanks, Kathy Ireland.

- There ceremony is about to begin and the food just came out of the kitchen! Total chaos! I want to eat, but I have to type! Argh!

- All the actors AND all the actors? Are they going to break out in song? How much do I love that Gabby just struck a pose?! Meryl looks great.

- Neil Patrick Harris?? I LOVE IT! What a nice surprise! No one wants to do it alone. What a fun intro. He's on top of his game right now. Plus he's wearing a sparkly tuxedo jacket. Vegas dancers? Who needs to be a WPPI when I can watch a Vegas show from my couch?

- Is this better or worse than Tyra bot? Just kidding - definitely better! Two charismatic men hosting. What could go wrong? :)

- So far it seems very old-school, but I'm enjoying it. Some random jokes. Very schticky. Avatar CGI. Sam Worthington didn't laugh.

- George Clooney isn't laughing. And the consensus seems to be that his girlfriend looks like a man.

- Penelope Cruz is presenting for Best Supporting Actor. I think it's going to be Christoph Waltz. I was right! One down, a million hours to go! If you haven't seen Inglourious Basterds yet, it's worth seeing. He's amazing and the opening scene will live in your mind!

- Ryan Reynolds is presenting The Blind Side. You know, because he was in The Proposal with Sandra Bullock. The movie didn't make me cry and it should have, so I'm not voting for it.

- Interesting pairing. Cameron Diaz and Steve Carrell. I like the animated film intros. Awww. Ed Asner. We love Ed Asner!

- I think it will be Up! I was right! 2 for 2! Of course, this means it won't win Best Picture, for which it is also nominated. Up! was an emotional roller coaster of a film. Doug & I cried three times in the first 20 minutes. For real. If you haven't seen it, rent it. Plus, my friend Alex the Girl worked on the soundtrack.

- Grody to the max to Miley Cyrus. Amanda Seyfried is not that far ahead. I didn't realize Randy Newman had gotten so old. Could this random French song squeeze in for the win? I pick "The Weary Kind" from "Crazy Heart." That gets my vote. I was right! 3 for 3! The whole soundtrack from this movie rocks - very folksy, not so twangy. It's awesome. I hope Doug loves me more than rainbows. That's clearly real love.

- People should not chew gum at the Oscars!

- Best presenters: Tina Fey and Robert Downey, Jr. For the win? The Hurt Locker! I did not have a pick for that one. Vanessa voted for Inglourious Basterds. Oh well.

- Molly Ringwald & Matthew Broderick! Know what this means?! John Hughes! She looks like a deer in headlights and she sounds a little sad. Ferris! Who doesn't want a John Hughes Tribute?! I think a John Hughes movie marathon might be in the works. Who wants in?

- This was a MUCH BETTER tribute than the one done at the Critic Choice Awards! All the actors! Oh my goodness - this is awesome! Judd Nelson needs to go back to the Wild West. This is a super well done tribute! Awesome!

- Samuel Jackson makes even Up! sound badass. Until you remember that it's the saddest movie ever. In fact, I bet even Samuel Jackson cried during the first 20 minutes of the movie.

- We are enjoying the credit being given to the short films (both animated and live action). It's nice to see who has won and where they have gone.

- Logorama looks like it would have been funny! It won! I think it's funny he just thanked the 3000 unofficial sponsors of the film.

- Hm. Music By Prudence. We didn't see these, but that's not the one we would have voted for in this household. You know, just based on the synopsis. Does anyone know who this woman is? She just bumped the other guy out of his speech. Awkward. He looks a little stunned. She's the new Kanye.

- The New Tenants won best Live Action Short. I didn't see this one but I do like Vincent D'Onofrio. Something tells me this is when they start to play people off the stage. And, there they go.

- Ben Stiller makes a great Na'vi. I see you. Does James Cameron find this funny? I hope so!

- Avatar isn't even nominated (because the make-up is CGI, of course). The winner is - Star Trek! "We" love Star Trek in this household. I think Young Victoria has a better chance of winning Best Costume.

- Why is Jeff Bridges presenting A Serious Man? Because he's the Dude? It just seems weird since he's up for an award for a totally different movie. That clip just made A Serious Man look pretty good. It's still my least favorite nominated film.

- Best Adapted Screenplay? Doug is voting for District 9. Winner - Precious! That might have been a bit of an upset. Up In The Air has been winning, although I guess Precious won an Independent Spirit Award last night. Where's Oprah? I think this movie should have been called "Tyler Perry's Precious based on the novel Push by Sapphire." Lee Daniels did a great job directing, but he's a little scary.

- Lauren Bacall?! Why couldn't she have been on tonight?! She's awesome! Oh yay! She's in the audience! They should be standing up! It's Lauren Bacall, bitches! Thank you!

- Best Supporting Actress? No contest. Mo'nique. Penelope and Javier, together in public. Maggie was just crying at her own performance. I can't even watch the clips from Precious. This movie was gutwrenching. GUTWRENCHING! She won! The audience is giving her a standing O (and a lot faster than they stood for Lauren Bacall). Who would have guessed that Mo'nique could have won the Oscar? But really, she deserves EVERY single award she's won this season.

- Colin Firth is introducing An Education, I don't understand how they organized these presenters! He's also nominated for a different movie this year.

- Art Direction. This is where it's okay for Avatar to win awards if that's what has to happen. And it won. One down for Avatar. I'm okay with it winning technical awards, since clearly it's a beautifully made technical film. "This Oscar sees you." No, he didn't! And that guys is talking about almost not surviving. Awkward silences and awkward clapping.

- Best Costume Design. (We haven't been seeing a lot of the hosts - is that a good thing or a bad thing? What do you think?) Yay for Young Victoria! She looks like she deserves a Best Costume Design Oscar - very confident and super stylish! I like her speech, too.

- Charlize Theron. Precious. Vanessa and I are debating the "uplifting-ness" of the movie. Anybody who's seen it, do you have an opinion on this?

- A special tribute to horror movies. Sort of enjoying the Baldwin/Martin sleeping footage. Was that supposed to be Paranormal Activity?

- Kristen Stewart needs to learn how to smile and cover her mouth when she coughs.

- I wouldn't have categorized a lot of those movies as horror.

- Morgan Freeman doing voiceover. Love it! Sound editing and sound mixing is hard stuff. Tom Holman is crazy. He was my sound professor We didn't get along. So who'll win these awards?

- The Hurt Locker won for Sound Editing. That dude has scary hair.

- Sound Mixing: The Hurt Locker! Yay. Things are looking good (knock on wood).

- The Academy's Sci-Tech Awards.

- John Travolta presents Inglourious Basterds. That makes sense. What doesn't make sense? The fact that he seems to be wearing jeans. To the Oscars.

- Best Cinematography: Avatar won. Hm. It's weird they didn't show clips for this category, considering it's an award for visuals. It's funny to me that Avatar would win for cinematography, but I think that's just showing my own ignorance for the technical side of moviemaking

- Demi Moore looks beautiful! We're wondering how no woman has taken a digger on that stage tonight. It looks treacherous. James Taylor paying tribute to those we've lost! He's singing the Beatles' "In My Life." I don't like it when they show us the stage. We just want to see the footage. The applause seems to be pretty reserved. No overwhelming amount for any one person, which I guess is nice. I love James Taylor!

- So I wouldn't normally comment on the commercials, but how gorgeous is Cindy Crawford? How gorgeous are her kids?!

- Best Original Score. Doug says Han Zimmer. V says Michael Giacchino. Is NPH one of the league of extraordinary dancers?

- I thought we got rid of interpretative dance after the whole Rob Lowe/Snow White fiasco? No?

- Michael Giacchino for the win! Good speech! I loved the music from Up!

- Is it me or do Gerard Butler and Bradley Cooper just look like trouble? Like guys that are sexy but that you definitely don't want to date Trouble with a 'T'.

- Avatar for Best Visual Effects. I'm hoping Avatar wins all these technical awards so that it doesn't win any of the big awards coming up. They're doing a great job thanking people. A very good speech from that guy.

- Jason Bateman introducing Up In The Air - he's actually in the movie. This is the first movie introduced by one of its actors. What kind of tricks are you trying to pull, Oscar? Are you wondering if we're paying attention? Because we are!

- Best Documentary? I pick The Cove. Yay! I was right! Fisher Frickin' Stevens! What the what?! He was never going to get on the stage by acting! And that one guy dropped his statue.

- Best Editing (yay, double snuggie!): The Hurt Locker!

- And now we know why Keanu was on the Red Carpet - he's introducing The Hurt Locker. And the connection is? Anyone?

- Pedro Almodovar and Quentin Tarantino in front of a lot of little lamps in lampshades. We just got a vote for Pedro playing Robert Downey Jr's father. Anybody out there see that?

- Best Foreign Film. And the winner is? El Secreto de Sus Ojos! The movie from Argentina (the only foreign film country I've been to). He made a joke about Avatar being a foreign language film. Haha. That's funny. He ended by saying, "To our brothers in Chile."

- Kathy Bates is always great. She's presenting Avatar, even though she was in The Blind Side. This is starting to really frustrate me.

- Who are these people? Why are they grouped together? They are each going to talk about one of the nominees. Okay, I get it now. Jeff Bridges just has such a genuine smile. You want to give him a hug. He looks like he's about to cry a little. What a touching tribut by Michelle Pfeiffer! Now Vera Farmiga on George Clooney. He does have a crinkle in his eye. Sigh. He's so dreamy. Julianne Moore talking about Colin Firth. I love him, too. Everything from Bridget Jones' Diary to What A Girl Wants to A Single Man. Tim Robbins on Morgan Freeman. I like that the newly single Tim Robbins is laughing at his own joke. Morgan Freeman has some crazy teeth. Never noticed that before. Colin Farrell introducing Jeremy Renner. This is actually really touching. I like this way of presenting the nominees. Now Kate Winslet to actually give the award. The frontrunner is Jeff Bridges. And he wins! Hooray!

- Big standing ovation for him. He's so full of love. T. Bone Burnett makes me giggle. He just flashed a horizontal peace sign.

- Time for Best Actress. WIll there be some sort of upset? Meryl and Sandra have been neck and neck with Sandra maybe edging out ahead. However, could there be a dark horse. Oprah is the only non-man introducing a Best Actress nominee. Forrest Whittaker looks skinny. I think it's really touching for the nominees to hear themselves spoken in this way by their colleagues. Michael Sheen speaking about Helen Mirren. She's gorgeous! She has a spiderweb tattoo? You can see all the nominees start to tear up as their coworkers speak about them. It's wonderful. Peter Skarsgaard introducting Carey Mulligan. I loved her in An Education! Oprah for Gabby. Deep breaths, Gabby! She really holds her own against her "competition." Stanley Tucci introducing Meryl Streep. I love him!! She really does radiate humility which makes her so likeable!

- Sean Penn to give the award. What? Huh? What's he talking about? Who was neglected two years in a row? The winner is.... Sandra Bullock!! What on earth do you think Jesse just whispered in her ear?! Hooray for her! Well, Julia Roberts, Reese Witherspoon, and Marisa Tomei had their moments - this was Sandra Bullock's year! I want George Clooney to throw me in a pool!

- What a nice tribute to her mom. It's making me cry. She didn't thank Jesse, but I don't think she had to. They're playing The Way We Were right now. Oh, well apparently it's because Babs is coming on the stage.

- Barbra Streisand introducing Best Director. Kathryn Bigelow! Here's hoping! Or maybe I should specify and say Not James Cameron! Who is it going to be??? Kathryn Bigelow!! First woman Best Director in Oscar's history! It's about gosh darn time. And it's fitting that Babs gets to give it to her! She is sooooo tall! One more award left! "I am woman, hear me roar!" Nothing like being super cheesy Academy Awards!

- Tom Hanks. Everyone loves Tom Hanks. The Hurt Locker!! No build up at all for that award. Man oh man, they didn't even re-list the nominees. Time constraints? I'm glad the actors get to go up on stage. I bet that producer is pretty pissed he got banned from the ceremony now! Take that, soliciting producer! Mark Boal is manhandling Kathryn Bigelow - totally gripping her arm. I think she might faint.

- Ladies and gentlemen, that concludes our program. Steve & Alec come out at the end. After all the coverage the broadcast received, we barely saw the 2 hosts. Were they underused or used just right?

- Why were the Best Song nominees not sung, but we got interpretative dances for the Best Original Score nominees? They could have cut some fat out there. And no Farrah Fawcett in the tribute. Is that because she was really just in TV and TV movies?

Okay, I am DONE for the night! There is nothing short about the Oscars, for sure. If I have any random thoughts, I'll make sure to add them in. For now, it's time for bed! And tomorrow, I'll start planning for next year!

Raise Your Hopeful Voice

This past week we celebrated Doug's birthday and for his present, I got him tickets to see The Swell Season at Radio City Music Hall. I don't even know where to begin; we had such an amazing New York City adventure. Radio City Music Hall was exquisite. The inside was so opulent - every little detail spoke to its history. I was in Art Deco heaven. I had been there before, once, when I was a kid, to see the Christmas Spectacular, but not since. I would go back again in a heartbeat! Imagine my surprise when our tickets landed Doug & I in the 6th row! Amazing! The show was fantastic. If you haven't heard of The Swell Season, I highly recommend doing a little research and checking them out. They won the Best Song Oscar in 2008 for "Falling Slowly" from the film "Once," which they starred in. During a break in the show, I started chatting with a man who ended up inviting Doug and I to the afterparty. WHAT THE WHAT?!!?! We weren't sure how legit the whole situation was, but we decided to give it a go. So glad we did! Not only did we get in to the party and hang with supercool people, but we got to meet Swell Season's lead singer, Glen Hansard (such an amazing voice)! Not only that, but actors Bobby Cannavale and Edward Norton were also hanging out. Granted, I never spoke with them, but I stood pretty close to them, and that's a start! Needless to say, as we walked back to our hotel in the wee hours of the morning, along the quiet Manhattan streets, we were 100% happy.



In an effort to be less critical of myself in photos, this is SOOC. Over the years, I have learned it is impossible for me to be both cool and excited at the same time. In moments like this, excitement always wins out. Hence the crazy-person smile. Now go out and buy some Swell Season on iTunes!

I've Seen Your Picture, Your Name in Lights Above It

Phew! That crazy night is over! One of these days, I'd love to attend an awards show. At the very least, it would be fun to sit on the red carpet and watch the stars walk in. Yes, I do think that would be fun. I love movies. It's that simple. Some thoughts on the Golden Globes (in no particular order).

1. Thank God George Clooney was there. He makes everything better.
2. Mo'Nique totally deserved to win. She was my one bet for the evening.
3. Mo'Nique's speech was great, but also a little sad and creepy. Also, it's funny to remember that when all this Award Season buzz started, she was all, "I don't care about awards. I want money."
4. Mariah Carey needs a better stylist. Her boobs need their own stylist.
5. Best dressed? Sofia Vergara, Drew Barrymore, Toni Collette, Anna Paquin, Kate Winslet
6. Worst Dressed (that stuck in my mind)? Amy Adams (very matronly - she should talk to Catherine Zeta-Jones and Cate Blanchett about hot awards season maternity wear), Mariah Carey, Tina Fey (I love her, but I do not want to go to there), Cher (doing her best Morticia Addams), and all of the porcelain-skinned ladies who felt the need to wear dresses the same color as their skin (although Christina Hendrinks is a fave of mine regardless).
7. Biggest guy trend? BEARDS! Did you see William Hurt rocking his? Awesome! And props to Daniel Day-Lewis for not wearing something wacky.
8. Did anyone else notice how HORRIBLE the camera work was? The operators had no idea where they were supposed to be or who they were supposed to be filming, which led to a lot of jerky movement and cuts. I think I heard the sound of people being fired.
9. Best sense of humor in regards to himself? Mel Gibson! I loved that he followed Ricky Gervais' drunk comment by speaking with a "drunken slur" when he started to present his award.
10. Worse sense of humor in regards to himself? Paul McCartney. Although maybe he had no idea he was being talked about. It was a pretty funny joke though.
11. Overall, I thought Ricky Gervais did a fine job. I was hoping he'd be a little more risque, but that's cool. He seemed underused for a host, though. What's the point of having one if he's not going to be out there? I think one of the great things about the Globes was that they weren't slowed down by a host. Ricky Gervais didn't slow the show down, but he didn't raise the bar, either. The show would have been just as good without any host.
12. Felicity Huffman flubbed her lines, but was adorable doing it. That's what live TV is all about!
13. George Lucas was there, sitting right in front with Marty Scorsese, but for the life of me, I couldn't figure out why. Anyone know?
14. Know who wasn't there? Brad and Angelina! Made for a very pleasant evening.
15. I might get a little criticism for this, but I thought the ribbons for Haiti were a bit too much. I think it's great that people "care" and are getting involved and donating money, but there's a twinge of insincerity to it all. I couldn't quite put a finger on it, but my friend figured me out. I think it's that so few of them genuinely cared about Haiti before the earthquake. Now it's the crisis of the moment, so everyone wants to take part and show their support. That's great, but Haiti could have used some help before this.
16. Ah, NBC, you really screwed up with this Late Night debacle. Even movie stars are taking sides. Publicly. At the Globes. Which were on NBC.
17. Speaking of which... Hooray for Julianna Margulies! I love The Good Wife and was happy she won. I also loved her speech and her mention of the 10p drama. I also loved that she kissed George Clooney on her way to the stage. Lucky lady!
18. Nurse Hathaway and Dr. Ross 4 eva!
19. How funny was it when Jon Hamm walked up on stage after Mad Men won and there were no other cast members up there? He was just up there looking like a fool until the rest of them showed up! Hilarious.
20. Robert Downey, Jr. had a funny speech. Drew Barrymore had an unfocused one (although I liked that she said she had been coming to this since she was 7 and that these people were her family. In a way it was very sad.).
21. Martin Scorsese gave a great speech. Very genuine. The man has done so much for film. His movies have paved the path for the future, but he has also reached out to save the past. The man eats, sleeps, and breathes movies. It's inspiring. I love people who love movies.
22. Glee over Modern Family. Thoughts?
23. I get James Cameron for Best Director, but not Avatar for Best Picture/Drama. I was disappointed with that win. The Oscar race should be interesting this year. They don't separate Comedy/Musicals and Drama, but this year they are allowing 10 Best Movie nominations. Should make for an interesting category.
24. I think if George Clooney met me, we would fall in love.
25. Jason Reitman loves his wife and his parents. That makes him awesome. Ivan Reitman was actually my one celeb sighting when I was in LA last spring. Yes, I am aware that very few people would recognize Ivan Reitman.
26. Loved Sandra Bullock's thank you to her husband. He has her back.

Now that the results are in, I can narrow down the movies I still need to see. I think Crazy Heart needs to be seen and I'll probably want to see A Single Man (just because). Oh, and White Ribbon, which I heard is really good and won the Best Foreign Film Globe. The Oscar nominations come out 2/2 (also the season premiere of LOST - very busy day for me), so I'l get back to business for that. I know there are other things I should be mentioning in this post but am forgetting. What were your thoughts - on the wins, losses, broadcast, red carpet - anything? Do you agree with me? Disagree? Please share!

El Pollo Loco, here I come!

Like A Perfect Scene From A Movie Screen

Milena is one of those very organized brides who first met with me over a year before her wedding, which was great because it gave us that much extra time to communicate! It was so easy to fall into a friendship with her and Kevin. They were fun, nice, and easy to be around. I knew from the very beginning that theirs would be an awesome wedding to photograph!

This is my film noir shoe shot. I guess it would be more noir in black and white, but I'm leaving it in color!


The flowers were done by A Whole Bunch Flower Market in Burlington.


The bride, looking totally gorgeous!


The ceremony was at St. Barbara's Church in Woburn, MA.


This photo was taken without using a flash and the ceremony started in the early evening! I love my camera!


The happy couple!


I love this photo of the cake! It's made by Montilio's Bakery, one of the big Boston bakeries (that's a lot of b's).


Ah, the dancing! Let me tell you, this couple, and their guests, knew how to tear up the dance floor! It was great getting to watch them, and if I'm honest with you, participate just a little bit. I can't help it - when I hear music, I want to dance. The reception was held at the Hilton Hotel in Woburn, which is a great hotel. This is the second wedding I've photographed there, and it's always nice to work at a venue that has great outdoor space and great indoor space for photos!




The whole wedding was so much fun! Milena & Kevin, thank you for being so great, and for being so patient for your blog post! I haven't been very prompt. If you want to see the slideshow from the wedding, all you have to do is click here.

Since the title of this blog post also applies to movies, here are a few more little reviews for you...

It's Complicated- It was funny. Really. Laugh out loud funny. I thought the kids were the weak links, specifically the son, but the rest of the cast was great. John Krasinski played his part a little slapsticky at times, but I thought overall it worked. Steve Martin could have been put to better use, but he worked with what he had. I enjoyed the complexity of the main characters. And I won't give it away, but I really liked the ending. With a title like "It's Complicated," it couldn't exactly be a nice neat ending all wrapped up in a bow, right?

Sherlock Holmes - The best thing about this movie was the relationship between Holmes and Watson. I thought Robert Downey, Jr. and Jude Law played off each other so well, but we never really see the origins of this friendship. They have this wonderful little bromance going, with all the banter of a traditional romantic comedy, which makes the dialogue between them sharp and fast and fun. The movie could have been shorter. I liked the explanation of the crimes at the end, and the way it's told. I didn't like Rachel McAdams. Her character was blah and her clothes were ill-fitting. How hard could it be to make her look good? For what it's worth, this is also a Guy Ritchie movie and at times, it really seems like it.

Brothers - I was reluctant to see this movie because it looked so depressing. And it was. But it was also better than I expected it to be. It's raw and honest and terrifying. I happen to think (and so does my movie-going companion) that the best acting in the film came from Bailee Madison, the little girl who played the oldest daughter of Tobey Maguire and Natalie Portman. She's nominated for a Critic's Choice Award because they acknowledge "juvenile" actors and it would be pretty cool if the Oscars gave her a Best Supporting Actress nod, but I'm not holding my breath.

Okay, that's all for today. I haven't been to the movies since Saturday, so I need to see a few more so I can review another bunch for you!

Butterflies Are Free To Fly

Now that it's January and the holidays are over, as are all the weddings, I'm finally going through all my busy season shoots to find the sessions I never blogged. This little baby killed me with how cute she was!





When you get to play with babies and dress them up in fun hats, it's so easy to love your job!




I went to high school (and junior high) with this baby's mom, so it was such a blast to hang out and catch up. As I'm writing this post, I don't have a title for it yet. I'd really love to figure out a song that has a school bus lyric since we used to ride the bus together, but that might be wishful thinking. Being a photographer keeps me in touch, and puts me in touch, with so many wonderful people. I tend to be hard to get rid of, but I'd like to think that's a good thing.

Now here's the movie section. People have been asking me for some reviews, so here goes nothing...

Avatar-If you're going to see it, definitely see it in 3-D. Since the entire movie is based on the visual, I recommend seeing it in the best format possible, and at a good theater. James Cameron spent over a decade creating a new technology and this new universe and it's really gorgeous to look at. However, I feel that spending all that time on those things detracted from the script. The plot is pretty basic, which I don't mind. It's very similar to "Dances With Wolves" and a myriad of other movies. Some of the lines are just so cheesy, though. Really. And the plot had some decent-sized holes in it. I forsee Avatar winning technical awards, and maybe even Director, but I don't think it deserves anything else.

Precious- Very moving, traumatic movie. We've all seen movies about abuse and what elevates this one from the level of Afterschool Special/Lifetime movie, is the acting. Gabourey Sidibe and Mo'Nique are pretty amazing. If I could choose only one to walk out of the season holding a statue (or statues), it would be Mo'Nique. Her performance blew me away. Mariah Carey did a pretty good job, too, which is amazing considering "Glitter." And, of course, Lenny Kravitz is adorable, but I expected nothing less.

A Serious Man-This is a Coen Bros. movie, so I feel like often you either like their movies or you don't. I didn't really like this one. Out of all the movies I've seen this season, this is my least favorite. For the Golden Globes, it's nominations are in the Comedy categories, and although there are funny parts, this is far from being a comedy. It might take a second viewing for me to really get it, but I'm not sure I want to sit through it again.

Young Victoria- The film is beautiful, especially the costumes. I thought Emily Blunt did a great job (and I love Jim Broadbent), but it definitely left me wanting more. Dare I say the film could have been a little longer? I mean, if Sherlock Holmes can run over 2 hrs, this one should be able to do that, too. At the end, you get the requisite written epilogue to fill you in on the rest of Victoria's reign (you know, when she's Old Victoria), but there was so much writing! Don't tell me, SHOW ME! Also, they didn't really show her making any big governmental decisions, really taking the reins of her country. I wanted a little more action. I was lucky to be viewing the movie with an anglophile who was able to fill me in on all of the British monarchy details. I recommend if you see this movie, you bring your own anglophile friend with you so you know exactly what you're watching. Not only will it enhance the movie, but it will explain the written parts at the end.

Okay, that's enough reviews for today! Maybe I'll come back with more for tomorrow!
(PS- I opted for a butterfly lyric since that was the motif in the baby's room)

You Give Me Something

Their first engagement session was rained out, so Marietta and Pete brought it in full force when we were finally able to get their shoot in. I mean, these two, who claim to be un-photogenic, were working it hard core, whether they realized it or not! Hopefully they realize now what good models they make! Even though we met in the early evening, the heat was pretty unbearable, as were the bugs. Oh, New England, how you keep us guessing!











I just loved the way these two interacted and had fun with the shoot. It was such a great experience. Thankfully, Doug came to help us out and used the reflector as a giant fan to keep us all cool! The wedding is in about a week and I know it's going to be a blast. Rich from Pizzuti Studios is going to second shoot with me, so I know if will be an adventure!

In the meantime, I'm just editing away. Weddings, boudoir sessions, family sessions - they're all piling up and waiting! I've also still got all those movies to watch. Doug and I have only managed to get through one since Tessa left. Here's my review:

Great Buck Howard - Starring John Malkovich, Colin Hanks, Emily Blunt, Steve Zahn. Very endearing. Funny. Colin Hank is choosing pretty decent roles (another one being Mad Men). Tom Hanks makes a strong cameo. Worth watching if you get the chance. I'd like to think we'll get a movie in tonight, but we'll see what happens Right now I am consumed by the awesomeness that is The Incredible Hulk (Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno) on TV. Man, talk about crazy! The effects are hysterical!

Everybody Cut Loose

So, in case there's anyone out there still playing the Kevin Bacon game, I totally recommend you see (or at least study up on) the movie "Loverboy." "Who's in it?," you ask. Well, Kevin Bacon, Marisa Tomei, Kyra Sedgwick, Campbell Scott, Oliver Platt, Sandra Bullock, and Matt Dillon. You film buffs may also recall that Kyra Sedgwick, Campbell Scott, and Matt Dillon were all in the seminal 90s film "Singles."

Since Tess has been staying with us, we have watched a lot of movies. Now, granted, I watch a lot of movies on my own, too, but it helps to have someone else partaking. The other day I found a flyer on my car advertising my local video store. As you can imagine, video stores aren't doing so well these days. However, the one in Winchester Center was recently purchased by a family who hopes to preserve the sense of community that our local video store offered. Normally, I am pretty peeved by people who leave flyers under my windshield wiper, but i found this one to be pretty heartwarming. I like being part of a community. I love that I walk down the street and get to wave to multiple people. So, when the flyer mentioned the video store was going to close for a couple of weeks for renovations and they were trying to get rid of some inventory, Tess and I took advantage. You could rent one movie, get one for free, and keep them for 2 weeks. So, I might have gone in there and rented 10 movies. Hey, I'm supporting local business!

Here's what we've watched so far:
The Rocker -stars Rainn Wilson, Christina Applegate, and a host of other people. Surprisingly funny with surprisingly catchy music
He's Just Not That Into You - stars Everyone. Not bad, but not great. I could probably write an entire essay on it, but I'll spare you from that. If only Kevin Bacon was in this one! The options would be endless!
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas - stars two amazing little boys. Pretty heartbreaking. I think it was good that I was finishing up some editing while it was on, or I would have been a mess. Good, but definitely better as a rental.

We still have 7 more movies to go, but Tess is only here for a few more days. Not sure we'll make it through all of them, but it could be a nice personal challenge!

Never Need A Reason, Never Need A Rhyme

This weekend, I created my very first photo booth. If you read a lot of photography or wedding blogs, like I do, you know that these are the new big things to have at events. Frankly, they are tons of fun. Who doesn't want to wear a wacky hat and a boa and make silly faces at the camera? Anyway, I thought I would post one of my favorite photos from the night. Love it.

In other local news, Doug and I bumped into this guy on our way to CVS:


So, for a little more explanation, as we were walking down the street, I notice a guy dancing in front of Starbucks and singing (loudly) the words from "Step In Time," one of the Mary Poppins songs. He's got like three toddlers dancing with him and they're all going in a circle like a little mini-parade. I'm thinking, "Man, this dad is shameless! How awesome is that?!" As we get closer, something strikes me, like, hey, I think I recognize that guy. That's not necessarily an out-of-place feeling in my town, especially since I grew up here. But, no. It wasn't anyone I knew personally. It just happened to be Tom Cavanaugh from tv shows like Ed, Scrubs, Love Monkey, Eli Stone, and Trust Me. And yes, I have a total crush on him. And yes, I was slightly starstruck. It's not every day I get to see someone from television singing "Kick your knees up, step in time, kick your knees up, step in time" while leading a small band of children around in a circle in front of my local Starbucks. It was as if he was put there just to buoy my energy. It was phenomenal. I have no idea why he was in town and I don't care. If only everyone could have a Sunday morning like that!

They Paved Paradise And Put Up A Parking Lot

I'm not going to lie; I've been composing this post in my head since the day I took these pictures. But it couldn't be just any post. It had to be important. I wanted to be able to say everything I wanted to say without going overboard. Some of these things you've heard me say before (if you've read my posts), but this time, the circumstances were totally different.

A couple of weeks ago, I was in Los Angeles, living it up in the sun and the smog and the gridlock. I spent a lot of time traversing the city on the surface streets, visiting friends and sightseeing. I had a stack of index cards with me, notes I had taken on Hollywood landmarks years before. I had addresses (with their Thomas Guide coordinates) and all the bullet-pointed notes. This is how I spent my days. I spent the weekend staying at The Biltmore, hoping to sponge up some of the lavish Hollywood history. I mentioned in my previous post that they wouldn't really let me photograph the interior of the hotel. They made me show my room key a couple of times and it was clear people were keeping their eyes on me. I think being in Los Angeles has made them super sensitive and I'm guessing they were scrutinizing my actions because I had a "fancy" camera and not a point-and-shoot. I left The Biltmore really disappointed with my stay. That was on Sunday. Monday was a whole different story.

On Monday, The Annenberg Community Beach House opened in Santa Monica. It's a place for the public to go to swim, play volleyball, and hang out, without needing any sort of pricey membership. More importantly (to me anyway), the Beach House stands in the footprint of what used to be Marion Davies and William Randolph Hearst's Santa Monica mansion. This is the view of the original structure, from the beach:


All that remains of the original design are the guest house and the swimming pool, both of which are now open to the public. I couldn't believe my luck - the space opened the weekend I was there which meant I got to go visit. I can not explain to you the exhilarating feeling of being able to walk around this space. The city of Santa Monica has done an AMAZING job of honoring the land's past. They restored the guest house and a docent will take you on a tour of the inside of this 9100 square foot guest house. Another docent will take you on a tour of the whole space and talk with you about the history of the land and what happened when Marion Davies had to sell the mansion. Here is what the space looks like now:

This is the guest house.


This is the beach house. It stands where the mansion once stood. The pillars integrated into the design of the beach house are in the exact same places as the pillars of the original beach house. The pool in this photo is the original pool; much of the design is the same as at Hearst's pool at San Simeon. So, when you take your little kids to the community pool in Santa Monica, they are swimming where Winston Churchill, George Bernard Shaw, Charlie Chaplin, Cary Grant, Joan Crawford, and Louis B. Mayer once swam!

As our tour was finishing up, we were standing on the top floor of the beach house, looking out at the water. The docent was talking about the changes in the beach and the ocean and as were watching the waves, we saw a dolphin. It was the perfect way to end our tour.

I just loved these sand castles; they were built right on the beach in front of the Marion Davies guest house.


There was only one other person on my tour, Louise. She lives in Santa Monica and took the tour because she was curious about what was happening in her neighborhood. Turns out, she's a movie lover, too. After our official tour ended, we decided to walk together and tour the "Gold Coast" of the PCH. Back in the day, all the big stars had houses right along the PCH. Most of them have been renovated, added onto, split in half, etc, but the addresses are all still there. It's not exactly the safest thing to do, but we walked along the PCH, checking out the addresses and standing for a moment in the footprints of Harold Lloyd, Mae West, Norma Shearer, and many more. Of course, the diamond in the crown is the home of Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford. Louise and I were standing in the driveway, looking up at what was essentially the garage, just marveling at it all. And then the unimaginable happened - we were invited in! I have now stood in Douglas Fairbanks' home. To me, it's an amazing thing. After having such a miserable time trying to explore The Biltmore, to spend the day at Marion Davies' house and then at Douglas Fairbanks' was mind-blowing. It really proved to me that there are people out there, even in Los Angeles, who want to remember, and honor, their past. It was a day I will never forget!

If You Think You Might Come to California, I Think You Should

This post is going to have a lot of photos. I traveled to Los Angeles in April to attend my good friend Tara's wedding. Tara and Dave have been together even longer than Doug and I have! They complement each other so well. As long as I've known Tara and Dave, they've been together. I can't imagine it any other way. I love picturing them happy, together, whether it be in Silverlake or Abu Dhabi. I was not the official photographer for the wedding, but I managed to squeeze some shots in. Tara and Dave hired Michael Chan of The Image Is Found, so I knew they were in GREAT hands! Dave and Tara arranged for guests to stay at The Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles. Even though I had friends in the area I could stay with, I knew I wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to stay at the Biltmore. Here are a few fun facts about the hotel:
1) It opened to the public in 1923.
2) The hotel has hosted the Academy Awards eight times.
3) In 1960, JFK used the hotel as his campaign headquarters.
4) The Biltmore was the last place actress Elizabeth Short (Hollywood's notorious Black Dahlia) was seen alive.
While we were staying there, they were filming something for America's Next Top Model. I didn't see anyone related to the show, but some of the other wedding guests claim they rode the elevator with Jay Manuel. That would have been pretty cool. The hotel is located in downtown Los Angeles, which is often overlooked by travelers. It's seen better days, but it seems like they are working hard to bring it back to life. In the few years I lived there, they built the Walt Disney Concert Hall and they've been revitalizing it ever since.

Now, on to the photos. Tara, her mother, and her aunt (and me) put together the wedding bouquets. They got their flowers from the Flower Market the morning of the wedding, which means that they had no idea what kinds of flowers they'd be using until they got there. Tara had ideas, but they were dependent on which flowers were available. In the end, the bouquets were gorgeous!














The wedding took place at the Los Angeles River Center and Gardens which was gorgeous! They had a bridal suite where Tara could get ready and the girls could all hang out before the ceremony.



The light during the ceremony was crazy! I loved the way it hit Tara.


Yay for being married!




The wedding was beautiful! Tara and Dave's awesome friends gave a bunch of mini-speeches throughout the night that were amazing. So funny and natural. I guess it helps that a lot of them have theatrical training. Congratulations you two! You did it!