Harpy Newr Yerr everybody! punch! PUNCH! punch!!!!

Boy have we got some great punches ahead. K.O.'s, T.K.O.'s, snogging.. Agnus...thongs and all that fun stuff in a bag, we'll punch your christmas lights out! (which will be convenient if mom and dad forgot to take them down and the month has somehow skipped to june) ...we're judging you, parents!

Anywarz, i've been playing a lot of Wii at home with my Mii, a befreckled friend who is my exact in the virtual world. Madison has one as well, and it looks EXACTLY like here. hilar (if only i had a screen shot to show of it!) one day perhaps. If you ever want to challenge me to brain academy, I'd be down. Because My brain is Quite Massive according to the little peanut headed teacher with a moustache. Visual please? Ta-Da!

As far as movies go, I saw Sherlock Holmes two days after it's debut on Xmas and thought it was a decent take on the infamous literary detective (though not As exciting or innovative with the twists as I had hoped for), anything with RDJ surpasses the soggy waffle criteria (which goes: soggy waffle, wet noodle, mac 'n cheesy, shepard's pie, to pumpkin pancakes--the all-star highest rating). Yes, I just made that up. But truly, it put on a good show and Mr. Cheated With the Maid- Law was a lovely and smart addition to the film.

Moving on to the tele- lots of Mr. Bean, Friends, Iron Chef, Launch My Line and, well, let the following speak for itself.

At home I've been frequenting "The Disney Channel" as per usual, hovering specifically around "The Wizards of Waverly Place" trying to decide if David Henrie is gay or not. According to "Cha Cha.com" a site that is quite unreliable and sketchy, the answer is No. but one can't be sure. All in all, my favourite still remains Raviv Ullman. I've definitely blogged about this before, but he's still a highlight of people to befriend in the near future. Madison...any comments?

Lots of good thoughts and feelings for the coming of 2010, and especially due to it being the YEAR of Graduation (which has finally arrived, godsavethequeen!). Life proves once more to be cyclical, though most would argue that it is linear what with the creation of 'time' and such--something we've come to learn I don't really buy into. I wonder at which point we will all end up regenerated cells.

We, brains, moving our bodies. Multiple cells tiny microscopic organisms, bacteria, molecules, etc. and 'spirits' making up our human life forms. After having read "The Calcutta Chromosome" (and Hemingway's "A Moveable Feast" which I recommend greatly) as well as attended my first Hindu wedding, I am beginning to think that reincarnation isn't so farfetched. Because if we are just matter, mind, and 'spirit' then we will easily live on, forever, in a different way, and all of our friends and family who've left us (and so many have in the recent times) are also more alive than they ever were before.

FTWolf - Kimberley

expanding madison's struggle

In response to Madison's blog--it's true. Too True. 2-2ru. this is an interesting point and i'd like to expand on it a bit further, let it soak on an applicable 'fieldwork' basis. Everytime i'm at an audition for so-and-so commercial (Coca-cola for example) and i'm in the lobby next to fellow (and often older) actors and actresses, we engage in a light chitchat. Some call this the part in which each actor tries to psych the other out by talking incessantly about their careers and how far along they've come and asking how many auditions they've been on, if they've booked, etc (industry gossip). i would say this is the 'struggling' part of my 'currently in progress' career. And then they get to asking YOU questions. Cool. I often respond with "well, great. I just got a callback for so-and-so director, currently doing the acting thing but still in school, about to graduate, exciting stuff ahead..blahblahblah", just something kind after my curt introduction, and then i'll get back to memorizing my sides and prepping individually.

And then 'reality' hits. These mid-20 to 40 yr olds are trying to book this commercial to pay the rent while I am a college student AND actress just dipping my feet around before fully plunging into it [the madness]. I think it is safe to say that everyone is struggling "IN THESE ECONOMIC TIMES", but maybe we use entertainment careers as an excuse. For example, by telling people how exclusive it is, how hard the 'struggle' is to get in, we are inadvertently strengthening the perception of "prestige" in the business and thereby hopefully lessening the competition into said career (by disheartening our fellow actors and screenwriters etc.). I feel like entertainment is just as accessible as any other job (though this is only from having met a lot of people in the business). If you really want to do anything, you will do it regardless of how hard it is.

I kind of really believe this. Especially with all of the interviews of industry professionals that I have been conducting over the past two yrs of college. Once you hear their opinions and stories of 'how they made it' you realize it's not really about "the struggle" or pursuit. And it's definitely not listening to the downside of 'entertainment careers' because there are downsides to every career. It's about figuring out what you want and being confident in it.

I can't say that acting is any more difficult to book jobs in than journalism or medicine. A low-paying job as a writer is probably equivalent to Extra work (no one really likes doing it, but its a job). Perhaps I'm disillusioned, insane, or really out of my league here (at least my parents would say so), but I firmly believe that if you really are passionate about something, anything (be it job, or living situation, etc) you will pursue it. Change what you don't like. "Life is what you make of it"...yada? I know, I'm a genius.

Anyway, I absolutely find it ridiculous when the actors 'banter' about in the pre-audition lobby for whatever reason..it's just so unnatural the way they (we?) speak to one another. But secretly, I love how so many different people, different ages, etc. are present, and how many stories they have to tell (actors, take it from me, have so many stories. Sometimes i make mine up). They've got agents. They've made it to the audition. And even if they seem so unlikely to succeed in the business (who are we to judge?) they know what they want, and they keep going on these auditions regardless of whether or not they book (that's the first step). There's just something so incredibly exciting about acting (for me) that I know i'll always be doing it.

Here's to booking in the New Year! *champagne clink*
-Kimberley

One more thing: It's very strange that people assume you will perform for free, whenever, instantaneously. When they find out you're in entertainment they want to judge immediately: "you do improv? let's see you improv!" What am i a monkey? Nay' suh! For a pretty penny, perhaps. but would i ever ask a surgeon to show me how to perform his surgery? A magician never reveals his tricks.

the struggle

hi it's me. maddie.

where did the term, "struggling actor" or "struggling writer" come from? Why is nobody a "struggling plumber" or "struggling doctor"? huh?

Most people in LA are struggling "whatevers."

"yah, I'm working at starbucks, but what I really wanna do is write. I guess you could say im a "struggling writer" haha gotta put bread on the table, you know how that is..."

Imagine this conversation as follows:

"Well I'm living at home and collecting unemployment, but I'm hoping to be a dentist one day. My family calls me the "struggling dentist" of the family. I guess I'm the black sheep. hah."

Why is an artist in pursuit of their career allowed to be "struggling"? Why does that preface make it somehow a psuedo-career whereas everyone else is just unemployed until they reach their desired occupation? Why are some careers allowed to struggle for the first few years?

Because the "struggling" preface is only paired with actors, writers, artists, directors (maybe)...it is highly reflective on the "LA" lifestyle.

I like to categorize LA people as unemployed elitists. Angelenos are self-aware yet undeservedly pretentious. Mind you, I consider myself a part of this superifcial culture and can lash insults as a part of this in-group. The LA person thinks too highly or him/herself and this self reverence is unwarranted especially because most of us are "struggling" to "make it" i.e. unemployed or working at restaurants.

Because so many of us are quote-un-quote struggling, we should be alot more humble. When asked "what do you do?" why can't we answer honestly and say "my parents pay my rent currently so I can write screenplays on my laptop." Real talk, yo. Instead of the answer we do give, "Oh, I'm a 'struggling screenwriter'..." C'mon Los Angeles. Let's all stop thinking so highly of ourselves??

Now, I'm not condoning that you stop pursuing you're dreams. Not at all. And when asked what you want to do with your life, tell people you want to be an actor and not just that you work at a coffee shop.

But for realsies? Who began coining the term "struggling"? Let's just classify the entire 22-28 year old age bracket as "struggling professional person" and eliminate the confusion.

career got you down? yah, me too.

Oh, happy holidays.

mads.

back from Sandy Eggo

now that i'm back (me being Kimberley, hi there!) i think it is an appropriate time to seize the day (seize everything!) . i drove from LA-SD back to LA in a span of 3 days, i've eaten at the infamous "hash house" which is potato-hash madness, and i've watched the baby seals bounce along the sandy beaches whilst the sun set in the b.g. alongside my good friends Robbie and Matt..and Madison. We had a bff-bff day, essentially.

to move from the topic of the San Diego to more important news (a.k.a. bragging about premiere-going) right after my last in-class final on Wednesday the 9th, 2009 i went straight to the premiere of NINE featuring Nicole Kidman (who had crazy hair), Fergie (I don't think this is something to be proud of), and Penelope Cruz (who is beautiful in-person as she is on-screen. and que!). Other celebs were meandering in the audience including the agent from Entourage, Jeremy Piven, etc. etc. The reason why I write of said event is mainly to warn you that it is not a very good movie. I felt (being a trained musical-theatre aficionado) that it was sub-par and decent at best. The music was nothing original, the lyrics were mostly about the women singing about their love for "GUIDO" repeatedly, and the entire plot was quite cookie-cutter Hollywood.

It wasn't 'Moulin-Rouge'-crazy or even 'Evita'-good which I had been expecting. The acting was just o.k. Marion Cotillard was the best, and the main character, whatshisface ...Daniel Day Lewis, did not pull of an Italian accent. And as much as I love Judy Dench, the dame, her French-accent was horrid. Could they not have hired a real french actress for the role? GAGZ

This was the only good number show-wise (and fergie had a pretty good voice in her song):


but WAIT! I couldn't help thinking of this song. They sound Quite similar except Kate Hudson in 'Nine' tended to speak more than she sang. Also, I prefer Madonna to Kate anyday. anyway.


Ciao Bellissima/Bellissimo!!

ps. if you're bored: young chevy chase or 13-yr old fashion blogger TAVI

Christmas Anecdote

Kimberley here. Kimberley there. and then there's the bear...

From when I was about 5-8 every Christmas my family and I would go to Bermuda to stay with our grandparents who owned the “New Queen Restaurant”, a popular Chinese food stop for local regulars, Asians, and rich, white people looking for fine Asian cuisine. To my brother and I, Bermuda Christmas' meant unlimited servings of lemon meringue pie, fresh fish and chips, and anything we asked the cooks to make us. It consisted of fun trips to the Botanical gardens, fishing for sharks, and dozens of presents supplied by my grandparents, aunts, uncles, & as they’d have us believe, “Santa”. I was convinced that I must’ve been pretty up on the “Nice” list due to my ample gift supply, which, compared to my brother’s, was at least 6-7 presents more.

My favourite gift of all was a stuffed bear sporting a red striped shirt and patchy jean-overalls. I named him “Beary”, we became inseperable. The cool thing about Beary was that he recorded and repeated sounds when I pressed his hand. So, during a late-night karaoke party, I decided it would be fun to record my grandmother. Like magic, Beary could finally sing… Or screech, depending on how you like Chinese opera. I showed all of Bermuda my new best friend--the waiters, the hotel workers, and flaunted especially to my brother, who was super envious of my cool new toy. On the plane back to Canada, after giving an impromptu Beary concert to showcase his talent to the rest of the cabin, my mother took him away from me. And when she finally gave him back, I pressed his little hand. Nothing. I tried again but again, no sound came out of him. Beary was dead.

A Prime example of Chinese Opera for the fearless:

This is a true story,

Princess Kimberley of the Bermuda Triangle

Other gifts included: doodle jean-bear (he came with fabric markers), christmas wreath earrings, christmas bell earings, a cat with an egg-shaped christmas ornament pendant that sung "joy to the world" upon pressing a little button, red velvet dress, more stuffed animals (a rabbit, a Bermuda treefrog with a camera), stocking filled with stuffer-gifts, an advent calendar (of which i proceeded to eat upon realizing that it was already the 24th), and some more that i can't remember off the top of my head

tweets

fictional tweets from famous people!

Barack Obama:
with @firstladymichelle and the girls, about to get dinner. Just balancing the budget and watering the lawn. Anybody know where I can get good fried chicken in DC?

Al Gore:
Taking the prius to the dealership. Someone broke in and stole the stereo = lameee.

Spike Jonze:
Rethinking the marketing strategy for #wherethewildthingsare. I'm now getting recognized too often, but only when I'm in Silverlake???? The studio said the demographic was 12 year olds?

Santa Clause:
sooo drufnkstz, lololololol. eigg nogg FTW!!!!1

sincerely yours,

Madison Leigh.