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Brad Pitt Scores with Moneyball, while Dream House is Anything But

Mike Peros
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Brad Pitt, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Jonah Hill contribute sterling work in Bennett Miller’s Moneyball, an intelligent, engrossing drama about taking risks and using the odds to succeed–by going against the accepted wisdom.

It’s the end of the 2001 baseball season, and the Oakland Athletics not only lose to the New York Yankees in post-season play, but face the defection of several key players to teams with deeper pockets.  General Manager (and former glowing prospect) Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) hires Peter Brand  (Jonah Hill) away from the Cleveland Indians because of Beane’s belief in Brand’s radical ideas about assessing players’ true value through their on-base percentage.  This puts Beane in conflict with his players, scouts, and most of all, scowling veteran manager Art Howe (Hoffman)— and for a while, it looks as if this strategy will not yield the desired results, until…well, if you’ve seen enough—or any–sports films, you know what kind of turn the film will take—and this movie earns that turn. Bennett Miller’s Moneyball manages to convert the marriage of baseball and statistics into compelling film fare, much like The Social Network succeeded in finding the drama in people at keyboards staring into computer screens. There are several reasons for this, one which I’ve alluded to: a very strong script, courtesy of Aaron Sorkin (of Social Network) and Steven Zaillan from Michael Lewis’ book. Scenes with Beane taking on his scouts, who are insulted because they’re not being consulted, build slowly and surely, aided by Miller’s assured direction; Beane’s confrontations with his resentful manager achieve a high level of quiet intensity; the relationship between Beane and his young protégé Brand is also nicely developed, as both prod and encourage the other to take some leaps of faith. Another reason is some very fine work from all the players—major and minor.  Hoffman plays Howe as a knowledgeable veteran who is embittered because of his lack of job security and Beane’s cavalier treatment of his expertise; Hill is spot-on as the quiet, nebbish-like statistics expert who slowly grows a backbone.  Above all, Pitt creates a finely etched portrait of an intense, calculating-and likable individual haunted by past failures and driven to do whatever it takes to make his team-and himself-a winner.

I guess a review of the would-be horror thriller Dream House invites some inclusion of the word nightmare, such as “Dream House is a nightmare to visit…” and so on and so forth—but I will not be party to that. Suffice it to say, in this malodorous mélange of elements pilfered from Shutter Island, A Beautiful Mind and In Cold Blood (to name but a few),  Daniel Craig (lost without his Bond) leaves his job to stay with his lovely family (including real-life lovely wife Rachel Weisz) in their new home so he can work on his book   And then the hits start happening: comely next door neighbor (a wasted Naomi Watts) eyes Craig with suspicion; belligerent neighbors threaten harm—while the police supply no assistance; and neighborhood kids set up a shrine in the cellar—to the murdered family (supposedly by the father) that occupied the house previously.  If you’ve seen the ads, you know the plot twist that comes halfway through—and which only leads to several illogical scenes, wildly improbable plot developments and a climax which is jaw-dropping on several levels—you can’t believe it as you’re watching it—you can only wonder if the actors believed it as they were playing it.  The film was directed by Jim Sheridan and written by David Loucka—since there is enough blame to throw around, why leave them out.

INTERVIEW with Audrey M. Singer Owner/Producer Actors Forum Theatre

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INTERVIEW with Audrey M. Singer Owner/Producer Actors Forum Theatre

Audrey M. Singer founded Actors Forum Theatre almost four decades ago, and as one of the first of thirty-five theatre companies founded in Los Angeles, Actors Forum Theatre has been and remains a mainstay and a creative groundbreaker in the Los Angeles theatre scene.   Ted Ryan’s dramedy PULLING LEATHER directed and produced by Audrey M. Singer, will have its world premiere and run weekends for five weeks at Actors Forum Theatre, October 1 through October 30, 2011.

audrey m singer - actors forum theatre north hollywood noho arts district

How did you get started on stage?

I’ve been performing ever since I can remember. It was the thing to do.

When did you open Actors Forum Theatre?

In August of 1975, a group of eager actors, some of whom were originally from New York where theatre was part of the creative tapestry, and I founded Actors Forum Theatre. The group was looking to put up a production of “DYLAN” and couldn’t find an appropriate venue in which to produce it.  My husband, the late Mike Singer, and I found just the right space in Hollywood on Cahuenga Blvd. West, across the street from the Hanna Barberra Animation Studios.  This space later became Actors Forum Theatre’s permanent home, and remained so for almost two decades, providing opportunities for actors, directors, writers, producers, and theatre artists to perform and work on their craft in a safe and nurturing environment.

audrey m singer

What made you decide to open a theatre in NoHo?

The Cahuenga building was sold in 1994, and the new landlord was asking too much money for the space.   So, based on conversations we had had with David Cox, who ran the American Renegade Theater (where the NoHo Arts Center is now), Mike and I decided to check out NoHo. David was very excited about the emerging NoHo Arts District.  We started looking for a building in NoHo and while driving around the area, we noticed a storefront we thought would work.  We purchased the building at 10655 Magnolia Blvd. that had once been a furniture store, and converted it into a theatre.  Mike and I wanted to make sure that our audiences would be comfortable in the new space, so we added central air and heat, as well as wheelchair access to the theatre.

What have been some of your favorite plays produced at Actors Forum?

Actors Forum Theatre has been honored many times over the years, with excellent reviews and numerous awards, and I have many favorite productions.  The breakout hit “BOX 27” comes to mind.  This was the Los Angeles premiere of a new play that examined the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, looking at homosexuality in a different light.   Actors Forum Theatre also housed Fritz Coleman’s first solo outing, “IT’S ME, DAD”, which played to sell-out audiences for about a year.  Other favorites productions of mine include “THE GREAT SEBASTIANS”, “THE BOY FRIEND”, the astounding magic of Falkenstein and Willard in “FIREFLIES – – WIZARDS OF MAGIC”, “A HATFUL OF RAIN”, Julie Sheppard’s “JUDY GARLAND – – A NIGHT IN THE LIFE”, and Don Scribner’s solo show “TWO ROOMS IN THE VALLEY”.

What is the best piece of advice you can give a young actor?

Never give up!

Since you have been in the NoHo theatrical community seventeen years, what do you feel needs to still happen in the district?

I’d like to see better communication and cooperation within the NoHo theater community and more often; some meetings and get-togethers so that the theaters really get to know one another.  For instance, I was able to pass a play that was submitted to me at Actors Forum Theatre, to Zombie Joe at ZJU, that I thought would be more appropriate for his theater.  He ended up getting in touch with the playwright and producing the play.  Had I not met Zombie Joe at a theater meeting, that play might have gone unproduced.  I’ve also lent set and prop pieces to theaters local in NoHo.

I have had rental productions referred to me by sister theaters who thought Actors Forum Theatre might be the best place for a particular production.   This was the case with Kate Burns Randolph’s production of THE BELLE OF AMHERST.   Avery Schreiber Theatre’s Linda Fulton suggested to Kate that she contact me, that Actors Forum Theatre might be the perfect theatre for her production.

Last but not least…tell us about the new show you are producing?

The young actor/playwright Ted Ryan, who participates in the Actors Forum Tuesday Night Workshop, did a reading of PULLING LEATHER with the hopes of having it produced here.   At the time, the play didn’t catch my attention.   Later, Ted approached me again, and we worked together on developing the piece as a play.  I love to work with new plays and emerging playwrights, so working on PULLING LEATHER with its intriguing characters, was right up my alley.  PULLING LEATHER is about a professional bronc rider who faces a much tougher challenge than a bucking bronc when he loses his nerve in the rodeo ring and he is forced to confront both a romantic challenge and a deep, dark secret from his past.   PULLING LEATHER will have its world premiere at Actors Forum Theatre, October 1 through October 30.

PULLING LEATHER runs October 1 through October 30, Friday & Saturday at 8pm with a Sunday Matinee at 2pm.

General Admission – $20; Seniors/Students/Groups – $15

Ticket Purchase/Information: https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/869535 or (323) 822-7898

Actors Forum Theatre is located at 10655 Magnolia Boulevard, NoHo Arts District  91601.

AFFAIRE IN THE GARDENS

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ART SHOW TOURS, ‘MAGICAL REALITIES’ EXHIBIT, LAAA SPECIAL EXHIBIT, AND MORE ARE HIGHLIGHTED AT THE AUTUMN BEVERLY HILLS ART SHOW – AFFAIRE IN THE GARDENS

OCTOBER 15 & 16


Art by New Media Photographer Andrew Mosedale

The Beverly Hills Art Show – Affaire In The Gardens will take place Saturday, October 15th to Sunday, October 16th, 2011 in historic Beverly Gardens. General Show hours are 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and admission is free. The Art Show is located along four garden blocks of Santa Monica Boulevard, from Rodeo Drive to Rexford Drive. Parking is available and inexpensive in many City parking structures – http://bit.ly/bhartshowpkg – located just south of Santa Monica Boulevard.

Insider art tours of featured artists each day at 2 pm, special exhibits, Plein Air art demonstrations, live music, food trucks, wine and fine beer gardens, and art projects for children along with art by more than 200 artists are included. For more information, please visit www.beverlyhills.org/artshow or call 310.285.6836.

Art tours will take place throughout the show, at 2 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. An Artist’s Highlight Tour of select Affaire In The Gardens artists will be conducted by seasoned Los Angeles art professionals. As well, a new I phone application, featuring permanent works in Beverly Gardens by internationally celebrated contemporary artists, will be introduced by a representative of the Fine Art Commission of Beverly Hills. These show tours are free and informative, and visitors can call 310.285.6836 to sign up. Tours will start at the Main Information Booth between Beverly and Canon Drive.

The Magical Realities Exhibit debuts at this semi-annual show: it will showcase, at booths throughout the park, ‘pop surrealist’ artwork from artists who creatively examine parallel universes and alternative realities. Magical Realities features New Media Artist Tanya Doskova from Burnaby, British Columbia; Ceramicist Gerrit Grimm, who hales from several states throughout the U.S. as well as Germany; Mixed Media Artist Jocelyn March from Los Angeles, CA; Draughtsman Stephen Taylor from Long Beach, CA; Photographer Andrew Mosedale from Santa Barbara, CA; among other artists. All participating artists will be available in their booths to answer questions about their work throughout the two-day event. Magical Realities artists will be interspersed throughout the four-block art fair.

Hundreds of affordable one-of-a-kind paintings, sculptures, photographs, jewelry, ceramics and traditional prints will be on view from more than 200 vetted artists from across the nation.

A second special exhibit curated by the Los Angeles Art Association (LAAA) will also take place at the fall Affaire In The Gardens. The LAAA exhibit series, which began at the spring art fair, showcases artworks by select emerging artists from the Los Angeles area. Artist Ya Ya Chou will create a faux underwater environment complete with whale balloon at the fall event in Beverly Gardens. The Los Angeles Art Association will also feature New Media artist and Photographer J.T. Burke, as well as sculptor R. Matt, in the LAAA space at the show.

The Affaire In The Gardens award ceremony will take place on Sunday, Oct 16 at 2 p.m. at Beverly Gardens Park, under the Beverly Hills sign, between Beverly and Canon Drive.

Also featured are wine and fine beer gardens, food trucks specializing in Mediterranean, French, American, Italian, and Vegetarian/Vegan fare, live ambient music, and a children’s art area for families, where everyone can make a masterpiece. The Affaire In The Gardens’ charitable partner is the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. Artworks by children will be for sale in the Children’s Hospital booth. All proceeds of their sales will benefit the hospital.

Lincoln, Affaire In The Gardens’ exclusive Automobile Sponsor, will also invite guests to get behind the wheel of their latest luxury vehicles for a personal driving experience through the exclusive dwellings of Beverly Hills and provide an opportunity to win the 2012 MKZ Hybrid!

The Affaire In The Gardens is produced by the City of Beverly Hills. Event Sponsors include Lincoln, Alexia Foods, the Beverly Hills Courier, KPCC-Southern California Public Radio, Zach Goldsmith of Beverly Hills Hilton and Hyland Real Estate and Wyndham. Event partners include the Los Angeles Art Association and Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles.

For more information, please visit www.beverlyhills.org/artshow or call 310.285.6836. For media inquiries, please contact Agnes Gomes-Koizumi at agnes@agkmedia.com or call 323-937-5488.

Does 3, 500 calories equal a pound?

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It’s been tossed around for years throughout the fitness industry, the notion that for every 3,500 calories you burn you’ll lose a pound of fat. As a personal trainer, though, I often see people pushing through week after week of running, walking, lifting, whatever-workout designed specifically to reach that 3,500 calorie per week mark-only to weigh exactly the same when it’s over. Argh, all that work and no results!

The problem with that old weight-loss formula, researcher’s now say, is that it doesn’t take into account what might be happening when you’re not exercising: the calories you would have burned anyway, the calories you’ll add from overeating after overtraining, and the ones you won’t burn the next day because you’re too sore to move.

The old weight-loss math assumed that your body was like a block of marble and that by systematically chiseling away at it with exercise you could gradually get rid of the undesirable stuff and end up with perfect abs. But your body’s not a block of marble, it’s in a constant tug-of-war between consuming and burning calories, whether you’re eating, sleeping, reading, or watching TV. So the calculus for getting rid of that pound is far more complex than just subtracting the “calories burned” number from your weekly goal at the end of each workout.

The bottom line: Consistant dynamic workouts and understanding your daily calories, portions, and meal frequencies.

Cheers,

Jack Witt
Lifestyle Fitness Coach
818-760-3891 Main
310-562-5629 Cell
www.getfitwithWitt.com

NEXT FALL

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Written by Geoffrey Nauffts
Directed by Sheryl Kaller

Nominations for:

2010 Tony Award – Best Play
Drama Desk Award – Outstanding Play
Outer Critics Circle Award – Outstanding New Broadway Play

“Artful, thoughtful and very moving.” – The New York Times
“A potent piece of political theater.” – Variety

As timely as it is touching, NEXT FALL exposes the fundamental truth that we love family and friends both because of – and in spite of – who they are. For more info, log on here.

Confucius Say Drink Coffee

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Well North Hollywood,  September 29 is both Confucious Day and National Coffee Day. So obviously we are going there:

Confucius Say Drink Coffee!

According to nationalcoffeeday.net, “There are 111 million of coffee drinkers around the world consuming more than 440 billion Cups of Joe every year. And the numbers keep rising.”

How are you going to celebrate National Coffee Day? Some chains like Dunkin’ Donuts, 7-11 and Krispy Kreme’s are doing freebies. Starbucks? Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf?

Did you know?

According to the mainstreet.com article on the The Most Coffee-Dependent Jobs in America, here’s the Top 10 List:
1. Scientist/Lab Technician
2. Marketing/Public Relations Professional
3. Education Administrator
4. Editor/Writer
5. Healthcare Administrator
6. Physician
7. Food Preparer
8. Professor
9. Social Worker
10. Financial Professional

One of our favorite little videos celebrating coffee, disco Italian style. (Video courtesy of Nelson, Fra e Bru)

Drink up North Hollywood and enjoy #NationalCoffeeDay!

Follow NoHo Arts District on Twitter: @OfficialNoHo //  #IloveNoHo

**** For information on Los Angeles theatre, tickets to theatre in North Hollywood’s NoHo Arts District, theatre reviews, the NoHo Event Calendar, restaurants, news and local businesses in NoHo, bookmark www.nohoartsdistrict.com

Artist: Ed Sheeran Album: + Rating: 7 out of 10

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Ed Sheeran is without a doubt one of the most hyped UK artists around at the moment; with the recent release of his debut album ‘+’ there was some serious expectations to live up to.

When I first listened to the album I wasn’t that impressed, it seemed like he had given up some of his quirky style to get the album made, and also a lot of the tracks on the record were already well known, so it seemed to lack anything that new and exciting. On the second listen however I was blown away. The vocals on tracks such as ‘Give Me Love’ are comparable to those of Damien Rice and the lyrics in ‘Kiss Me’ are some of the most poetic songs I’ve ever listened to and stood out as my favourite on the album. What I liked most about the album was the fact that even though there are tracks that have been floating around for a while he has completely reinvented the songs to make them brand new ‘U.N.I.’ and ‘Wake Me Up’ are just a few examples. This man has the poetic ability and guitar skills of Jason Mraz, whilst creating love ballads that can relate to listeners of all ages.

However he isn’t a one themed musician, he covers varying subject matter from love songs, to up beat songs to the more serious ‘The A Team’ telling the story of a young homeless girl who was pushed into prostitution, he even does a version of the old Irish folk song ‘The Parting Glass’.

If you are a fan of the acoustic troubadour then this is definitely an album for you. He is your traditional acoustic singer/songwriter with a twist.

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52 Films/52 Weeks in NoHo

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52 Films/52 Weeks in NoHo

Here’s yet another reason why North Hollywood folks deserve a round of applause, a snap with a twist. OK, NoHo, meet 11:59 Films who will present 52 Films in 52 Weeks. Three local filmmakers, Samantha Simmonds, Javier Ronceros and Renee Ronceros will write, direct, produce, shoot, edit and score a film every week for an entire year. There will be two surprise guest directors who will write and direct a few each, so stay tuned!

Based on a writing exercise, this project with take a full year to complete with three filmmakers working 365 days to make it come true. The stories will be chosen from original short stories written by Javier Ronceros and then adapted by the three filmmakers into three-minute films. The three filmmakers will then divide the directing, writing, producing, editing and composing chores to bring to life 52 films. They will need and use the help of countless artists in every area of the filmmaking community to make this dream a reality. Filmmaking is a collaborative art form and no film is made alone. With an almost non- existent budget and the blood, sweat, and tears of the folks involved, their hope is to bring you stories that will touch your heart. Stay tuned.

The NoHo Team had the pleasure of interviewing 11:59 Films on their 52 Films/52 Weeks project.

How did you form the film company 52 Films/52 Weeks?

We have known each other for years. The film company already existed. Javier and Renee had made some short films, instructional films and a feature. Samantha lived in the UK originally, lived in LA for many years, moving back to the UK in 2004 to pursue an academic career. After discussing possible projects with Javier and Renee while she was there, she moved back to the US in August of 2010 for pre-production for 52 films 52 weeks.

So tell us about the talented 52 Films/52 Weeks team!

Samantha Simmonds
 Samantha’s first love has arguably been music, but filmmaking and screenwriting are catching up quickly. Born in the County of Kent in England, she has lived in a castle and sailed yachts around the world. She arrived in America in 1990 and, after starting a family, she produced her first film in 2000, “Soledad.” Afterwards, she returned to her native England and began a colligate career and ended up getting a 1st in her graduating class at Bath Spa University in Creative Media Studies. She is back in America ready to take on the world with 52 Films/52 Weeks. She has a strong sense of visual storytelling and prefers smooth steady shots with long takes, but she’s not afraid to push the envelope all the way to the edge. She is a writer, producer and director and her main role in the project is producing and booking crew and locations.

Javier Ronceros
 Javier was born in Mira Flores, Peru and came to America when he was quite young. His earliest memories can be attributed to black and white movies from the 40s and 50s and from the silver age of television. Even as a young boy, he was creating scenarios and exaggerations of reality on a daily basis. Nothing has changed in his adulthood. Starting out as a tennis professional, a musician, a martial artist and finally an actor, the next logical step was making films. Together with his two collaborators, he believes this project will be the most satisfying filmmaking experience so far. Javier wrote the original short stories on which all the films are based. Because of his 20-year-career as an actor, his connections in the film industry and his understanding of the business have made him the central figure of this project.

Renee Ronceros
 Renee was born in the Pacific Northwest. Her love for nature and water first inspired her creative side. She moved to California when she was a teenager. Renee started her entertainment career in photography and as a singer in a rock and roll band. Her love for imagery and movies led her to an eventual career as a cinematographer and now a director and producer. Her cinematic vision tends towards a hand-held reality, but not too shaky style. She loves movies with happy endings, love stories, horror films and crime dramas. Her main goal with 52 Films/52 weeks is to bring across to the masses stories built around the human condition. She is a task master and is willing and has done in the past, all the work that is necessary to make a film a work of art. He strong connection to the camera and her love for cinematography have ensured that she acts as DP in almost every film.

What made you decide to do 52 three minute videos about the “the human condition?”

We have known each other for many years, and had made some independent films together, some shorts and a feature. In April 2010 we were discussing what projects to do next, we were all very keen on making short films again. But we discovered over the years that is takes a little more than just another short film, even if it’s excellent, to get some attention as film makers. And since none of us spring chickens, we wanted to do something that would bring us some attention and also showcase our talents as writers and producers. The market has changed so drastically in the last 10 years and especially in the last five, with online distribution and pay-per-view with almost everything, it’s hard to raise money from investors for projects when in a sense we are giving everything away. So giving ourselves something that we can managed ourselves financially, and that had no real expectation of income released us from that labyrinth of “but how can we make money out of this’.” The films are all adaptations of original short stories written by Javier. We decided that each of us would choose 15 or so stories of his 400 or so catalogue to adapt into screenplays and then direct. That way each film, although they all originate with Javier’s stories is very much the vision of each filmmaker.

What are some of your favorite films?

We have 35 films released so far this year, and it’s very hard to pick a few favorites.

I think our favorite films are probably the ones we have the fondest memories of making.

“The Robbery” because it was our first and it had the highest production value. Everything was new and we had no idea what we were doing. We had to shoot the opening scene with Renee balanced backwards on the back of Javier’s motor bike, very James Bond!

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“L’amour est un Jeu Dangereux” because it was an almost word for word adaptation and it extols the pain and virtues of true love, and it’s shot entirely in 18th century France, which was a lot of fun.

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“Gustavo the Great” because of the strong adaptation written by Samantha who added a glorious twist to a wonderful story. It was shot at night in a camp ground in the San Gabrielle mountains. We had 20 cast and crew camping for the weekend, it was a wonderful experience.

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Once all 52 videos are produced, what does the future look like for you all?

We would love to take this project much further. 52 Films/52 Weeks England? Or Canada? Or anywhere? We also think that because it’s such a spectacular way of learning how to write, produce, direct and edit films, it would be a terrific addition to a film school, or maybe we can start our own? The films themselves would make a great TV show, either as they are with commentary, and behind the scene additional material, or in their extended form. Some of them could easily be edited into six- or even 10-minute cuts. So we are open to suggestions…

What made you shoot everything in North Hollywood? We love the idea.

Well we do live in North Hollywood. But actually our first film was shot in Lancaster. So when we started shooting here it wasn’t by necessity, but by choice. It’s just an interesting mixture of architecture and design. The parks are quiet, and there are some lovely abandoned stores and alleyways. We have shot all over the place in this city, on the street, in apartments, houses, parking structures, parks and theaters. The whole city is like one big film set.

Where do you see the company in five years?

We have several projects in development, two features and a mini series we would love to produce next year.

What we are hoping is that these films will show investors that we can write produce, film and most importantly, complete interesting and compelling mini feature films on basically 0 budgets while being consistent in that. We would hope that this project gives us the opportunity to expand on some of these films and make longer versions, either in a ‘Twilight Zone’ anthology type series, or develop them into their feature length versions.

What advice would you give aspiring filmmakers?

Make films. Pick up a camera, any camera, get your friends to help and make the films you want to see. Everything is so available now, editing software has become easier to use and cheaper to buy, you can do everything on your laptop. The story is the most important aspect to a film, and if that can be told compellingly and with integrity, if the lighting isn’t perfect and the sound a little off, we will forgive. Films and television are so slick these days, we forget sometimes that what holds our interest is the story and how it touches us, not a cool crane shot or even a movie star. If you are a painter, you paint, a musician, you make music. A filmmaker must by definition make films, and you truly can. If we can then anybody can.

If you could shoot a video about NoHo in 2025, what would it look like?

I don’t imagine that it would look much different to how it would look now. I imagine that life will be much the same. But I’d love to think there would be hover cars and robots shopping for us… Probably less parking! I think NOHO needs more music in the air, so some wonderful live music leaking out onto the sidewalk from cafes would be nice, that way when we shoot a film, chasing through the streets of NOHO on our hover camera, our soundtrack would already be in place!

How can someone get involved in 52 Films/52 Weeks?

Since our project is entirely self-funded we are always trying to fit in some fundraising activities during our ridiculous schedule, to very little effect mostly to be honest. We are offering your viewers the opportunity to get involved with our project, become producers and even appear in films, in return for small contributions.

They can get involved, offer locations, audition for roles or give any kind of help by visiting the website and writing to us from there. 52films52weeks@gmail.com

Website:  www.52films52weeks.com

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11:59 films

Lose Weight walking Backwards!

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If you’re stuck at your bodyweight or body fat percentage and want to break through to get better results try walking backwards on the treadmill.  Yes, that’s right…BACKWARDS. Start off slow, around 1-2 mph at a 2-3 incline setting and don’t hold on to the rails.

You’ll feel your core and balance kicking in and lots of muscles in your calves, quadriceps and hips being activated. Try this for at least 5 minutes. When you feel adjusted increase the speed by .5 per mile increments. Many individuals, depending on their fitness or coordination level, will quickly be up to 4 mph without holding on to the rails. Make it more dynamic by lowering your center of gravity into a one-quarter squat position, keep your back straight and don’t lean forward. Walking backwards on a treadmill can burn up to 20 percent more calories than forward because your pushing your body to do something that it isn’t used to and forcing it out of it’s comfort zone…and that’s the way to get past your plateau!

“It takes courage and control, but you start by letting go”

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Off to university and thought this was an apt song by Brandon Boyd, to see me on my way…

“It takes courage and control, but you start by letting go”

The song deals with a common theme that Brandon Boyd often talks about, (both in song and in interviews) which is allowing yourself to live a life of expression and freedom of fear of how others might judge you.  It can be easy to let this fear control every aspect of your life, from the petty things like how you dress, to more major decisions like what you do for a living or where you live.  Without even realizing it, many people make these decisions based on what they feel is expected of them rather than what they may have done if no one judged them.

check it out…

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Contagion is Worth Catching, While Albert Brooks Speeds Off with Drive

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Contagion
It could be the end of the world as we know it as Gynneth Paltrow has the misfortune to be “patient zero” in Steven Soderbergh’s earnest, intense all-star thriller Contagion. Poor Paltrow spends but a few minutes onscreen, having returned from China to the U.S, (by way of a quick illicit rest stop in Chicago), and succumbing to a mysterious virus that she may well have brought over. Paltrow’s grieving (and immune) husband Matt Damon tries to protect his surviving daughter from infection while health official Lawrence Fishburne uses his expertise (and extensive staff) to try to come up with a vaccine. In the meantime, scientist Kate Winslet looks for answers stateside while Marion Cotillard ‘s WHO investigator looks to China, and the fate of the world might just fall to two dedicated doctors, Jennifer Ehle-and Elliott Gould. Lest you think that this worldwide outbreak only inspires acts of altruism, there are disturbing passages of mankind running amok in scenes of looting, home invasions and killings. Soderbergh presents these episodes with a degree of restraint, but it’s no holds barred in the graphic depiction of the effects of the virus (only beginning with Ms. Paltrow). In addition, Jude Law is on hand as an unscrupulous blogger who uses the outbreak as a chance to promote himself -and some dangerous conspiracy theories. The movie’s solemn, almost clinical tone gains emotional impact as it goes on, and all the actors do convincing work; however some key players disappear from the proceedings in a not so credible manner (and I don’t mean by dying), while some plot developments are dropped abruptly. In spite of this, Contagion is worth the trip-just don’t forget the hand wipes.

DRIVE
If you crossed Michael Mann’s 80’s crime films with the French New Wave cinema, and then tossed in some Sergio Leone references and soaked them all in a Sam Pechinpah-style bloodbath, you’ll have something resembling Nicholas Winding Refn’s Drive, a somewhat unconventional thriller with its roots in well-known (primarily Hollywood) conventions. Ryan Gosling is a Hollywood stunt driver– and occasional getaway driver– with no name: steely, calm, taciturn, with a disarming smile he trots out on occasion, especially in the company of innocent neighbor Carey Mulligan and her young son. When his boss Bryan Cranston introduces Gosling to a shady ex-producer (Albert Brooks) with money to invest, the future seems momentarily bright. But as we’re in the land of film noir, the inevitable complications arise in the form of Mulligan’s ex-con husband, a heist gone awry, double crosses and some mighty bloody (and I do mean bloody) confrontations with some very dangerous characters. While the movie’s plot outline may not hold many surprises, there are many pleasures to be had throughout: the car chase sequences work on a visceral level; Gosling and Mulligan make an appealing pair; Christina Hendricks is fine as a calculating moll while Ron Perlman is an imposing presence as a gangster with hidden interests. However, when all is said and done, Albert Brooks steals the show. He plays the role of an ex-producer turned murderous gangster as if he were waiting for this part all his life. In the movie’s early sections, he displays hints of menace, along with the usual witty displays of Brooksian neurosis that is a hallmark of his own work. He makes this shady character likable, believable, and very dangerous, up until-and way past—the moment when he uses his fork for something other than to twirl spaghetti.

The type of food you are craving could reveal something about you

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The type of food you are craving could reveal something about you

Food Craving

So, you have a sweet tooth? Maybe you love munching on salty foods? The various kinds of foods that we crave and think about could mean that we have some emotions and feelings that we need to harness, understand, and control.

Meat: Could mean that you are angry. 

Sweets: Might be a sign of depression

Ice Cream: Might mean that you are anxious

Salty Snacks: Could mean that you are stressed

Pasta: May signal loneliness or sexual frustration

Being in tune with yourself and your emotions is important. Make it a point to do at least 20 minutes of silent meditation per day. This helps us to pay attention to our mind-body, and be more in control of emotions and stressors that derail us from enjoying and getting the most fullfillment out of every day.

2011 Valley Artists Studio Tour (VAST)

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2011 Valley Artists Studio Tour (VAST)

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The San Fernando Valley Arts Council will be hosting their annual Valley Artists Studio Tour on Saturday, October 1 and Sunday, October 2, 2011. Tour is from 10:00am to 5:00pm on both days During this two-day event 24 Valley artists will be opening their studios to the public. Among them are artists like Valley Village artist Evans Webb whose vibrant portraits of the world are described by mathematics, or reflected in telescopes and microscopes; Sherman Oaks artist Susan Manders-U.S.Olympic artist with narrative expres-sionist paintings, limited editions, jewelry and ceramics; Valley Glen’s Charles Knecht whose impressionistic paintings expresses the essence of romanticism in landscapes; Studio City artists: Sylvia Hamilton Golden whose paintings, monotypes and mixed media, capture movement, energy and emotion; Clara Berta whose colorful mixed media art integrates recycled materials, photos, and playful textures and Michael Culhane who has developed large garden kinetic sculptures as well as interior conceptual film industry art in alloy metals.

Other participating artists are Calabasas artist Lyn Gertenbach recognized for her impressionistic, plein-air oils of landscapes, seascapes, figurative works, and portraits; West Hills Christina Lynn John who fuses glass with vibrant colors in addition produces realistic, tranquil watercolors; Reseda artist Steve Lenchner who is acclaimed for his fused glass and frit painting for tiles, windows, room dividers, counters, tableware and jewelry,and Diane Nelson Gold who renders Nature’s vibrant color and design in plein-air oils, photography, and jewelry.

vastAn elegant reception featuring food, wine and live music will be held Saturday evening, October 1, from 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. During the evening, Kathleen Sterling, publisher of the Woodland Hills based Valley News Group publications-The Warner Center News, Valley Vantage and Los Virgenes Enterprise- will be honored as the first recipient of the Sterling Award in recognition of her years of dedication and support to the Arts and Culture of the San Fernando Valley.Each artists has graciously submitted a selection of their work to be sold, with 30% of the proceeds donated to art education programs and scholarships for San Fernando Valley art students. Reception attendees will choose the Peoples Choice Award.

Tickets: $20 each purchased in advance, Groups of 5 or more $15 each and Children 12 and under are free. Tickets purchased at the door are $25. Tickets are good for both days. To purchase tickets online (credit card or Paypal) go online to www.sfvartscouncil.com.

You can preview Artists work on Sundays: September 10th, 17th, and 24th from 1:00-5:00 p.m.at the WESTFIELD TOPANGA, 6600 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Canoga Park, CA

Celebrate the Restoration of the Longest Mural in the World –

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Join us at the Great Wall of Los Angeles Community Picnic

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On Saturday, September 17, 2011 from 3pm to 6pm the public is invited to celebrate the restoration of the Great Wall of Los Angeles Mural – the largest monument to inter-racial harmony in America today. The Social and Public Art Resource Center (SPARC) is presenting a three-hour celebration featuring keynote speakers, musicians and poets. The Great Wall of Los Angeles is located along the Tujunga Wash Flood Control Channel on Coldwater Canyon Ave, between Burbank Blvd. and Oxnard Street, just north of the 101 Freeway in the L.A. community of Valley Glen.  Over the past few years SPARC has led the complete restoration of the mural with support from the California Cultural Historical Endowment, the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, County of Los Angeles Flood Control District and Prudential Social Investments. {youtube}BlR1Y5XBh6A{/youtube}

Great Wall visionary and SPARC’s Founder/Artistic Director and Distinguished UCLA Professor Judith F. Baca, Los Angeles City Councilmember Paul Krekorian, Los Angeles City Controller Wendy Greuel (former Second District Councilmember) and California State Assemblymember Felipe Fuentes will be present at the re-dedication ceremony. Additional community partners for the event include UCLA, The City Project, NoHo Arts District, KCET Departures, the Greater Valley Glen Council, and wHY Architecture. The community is welcome to bring a picnic, blanket, and chairs.  A variety of food trucks will also be available.

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About the Project: The Project was created and directed by California Chicana muralist Judy Baca, SPARC’s Founder/Artistic Director.  The Project involves restoring and preserving “The Great Wall of Los Angeles” mural, a half-mile long monument and a landmark to the history of America and California from prehistoric times to the 1950’s.  Begun in 1976 and completed over five summers, the Great Wall employed over 400 youth and their families from diverse, social and economic backgrounds working with artists, oral historians, ethnologists, scholars, and hundreds of community members.

“The Great Wall” is painted on a half-mile section of the concrete retaining wall of the Tujunga Wash in the San Fernando Valley.  In addition to restoring the mural, SPARC will also be constructing a new solar-lit “green” bridge with interpretive stations, and constructing five additional stations along the wall to provide access to the historical content of the mural.  SPARC is collaborating with wHY Architecture to make this bridge a reality.

Restoration Phase: Over the last thirty-five years, the mural has suffered extensive damage due to sun exposure and lack of restoration funds. The restoration plan included reconsolidation and reattachment of loose paint, removal of surface oxidization for color revival, and the application of ultraviolet protective coatings that will extend the life of the mural for additional thirty-five or more years. Aesthetic recovery also includes repainting the disappearing sections of the mural.

About SPARC: Creating Sites of Public Memory Since 1976

SPARC is a community-based non-profit arts organization founded in 1976 by muralist Judith F. Baca, filmmaker Donna Deitch, and artist Christina Schlesinger. SPARC is dedicated to producing, presenting, and preserving public artworks in Los Angeles, nationally, and internationally.

Contact Information:

Felipe M. Sanchez, Operations Manager

Tel.#: (310) 822-9560, ext 10 Email: felipe@sparcmurals.org

For more information about SPARC visit www.sparcmurals.org or call 310/822-9560

Live/Work in NoHo

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Live/Work in NoHo

Looking for Creative living and work space? Lofts at NoHo has what you want!

LOFTS @ NOHO COMMONS 11136 CHANDLER BLVD, NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA 91601

LIVE/WORK
NOHO LOFTS


#131 – 1497 sf – $3875 (with polished concrete floors)

LOFTS AT NOHO

LOFTS @ nOHO

#132 – 1496 sf – $3875 (with polished concrete floors)

LOFTS AT NOHO COMMONS

#126 – 1217 sf – $3025 (Hardwood floors – dark wood)

NOHO COMMONS

NOHO COMMONS

#113 – 1470 sf – $3495 (dance studio set-up – mirrors, with designated reception area)

noho lofts

noho lofts

*Specials: 1 month free, prorated over the lease term

*3 parking permits per Live/Work (in the residential area)

*Short term leases available (prices vary depending on the term — MUST speak with the Business Manager for details)

________

AMENITIES:

*Fitness Programs, complimentary to all residents (inluding Live/Work): Pilates, Yoga, Ab Class

*OnSite trainer availalbe on-site

*Cleancierge: 24-Hour Pick-UP Online Dry Cleaning Service

*Online Portal for Residents: Pay rent online, submit service requests, contact the leasing office

*24-Hour Courtesy Patrol

*Professionally managed

*Heated Pool – All year; Jacuzzi

*Gated Residential Garage

And more…. http://www.noholiving.com/

Colombiana Delivers the Goods, but The Debt Doesn’t Quite Pay Off

Mike Peros
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Vengeance is Beautiful, says the ad for Colombiana,  and this isn’t false advertising, especially as embodied by Zoe Saldana as a lovely assassin who wants to kill the men who murdered her parents in Colombia. As the movie opens, we see a criminal tell his crime lord that he wants to leave the business, after dropping off the “only” copy of an incriminating disk—you know, the kind of disk that can blow the top off the Colombian underworld.  Clearly, this criminal is unaware that you can’t just resign from a high-paying position in the underworld the way you would resign from a corporate job on Wall Street (although some might say the positions are similar).  Anyway, even this criminal/family man realizes his boss is mighty angry (as evidenced by the hordes of machine-gun wielding hoodlums who storm his home and kill everyone (most of the carnage takes place off-camera—but that’s the last time it does)—everyone that is, except the young Cataleya (an intelligent, driven Amandla Stenberg) who escapes  (with a flash-drive)  from the killers in an exciting chase sequence and makes her way to Chicago to live with her criminal uncle.  Naturally the uncle is aghast when his niece wants to learn the trade of killing people (although the first time we see him, he’s beating up a chair-bound individual—la familia!).  In any case, the young Catelaya  morphs into the dangerous assassin Colombiana (Saldana) who kills only bad people in order to flush out her parents’ killers.  If I seem to make light of the plot machinations, the movie does no such thing.  Everything is played straight—occasionally leaning to the overheated—and it’s all thoroughly entertaining.  The scene where we first see the adult Colombiana show her wares  in a jail is fast-paced and tightly edited, likewise her infiltration of a major criminal’s compound (complete with a pool of sharks).  The only miscues are the “domestic” scenes with Colombiana’s boyfriend, a sincere, but clueless artist (a bland Michael Vartan)—these try to show Colombiana’s humanity but only drag the movie down.  Other than that, Saldana is a powerhouse, and this latest empowered female action flick from Luc Besson (the directing credit belongs to Oliver Megaton, but this is Besson’s baby) is more than worth the trip to your local cinema.

I wish I could say the same for John Madden’s The Debt, even though it boasts a powerhouse cast led by Helen Mirren, Tom Wilkinson and the suddenly ubiquitous Jessica Chastain.  In a nutshell, retired Mossad agent Rachel  (Mirren) is forced to confront her past when her daughter writes a book glorifying her exploits—namely the capture and execution of an escaped Nazi war criminal Dieter Vogel (Jesper Christensen).  As we see in a series of flashbacks, all does not go well for Rachel and her team, the earnest, dedicated David (Sam Worthington) and the  self-assured Stefan (Marton Csokas)—and now an older Stefan (Tom Wilkinson) urges the older Rachel has to “fix” things.  There are a number of things that work here: the opening scenes that interweave the protagonists in the 1990’s and their younger versions in the 1960’s have a hint of menace and foreboding; Vogel’s scenes where he quietly taunts his captors; the older Rachel searching for a name and address, trapped in an office with some amorous workers, while reliving a fateful moment with David.  However, this would-be intelligent thriller moves a little too slowly—it spends too much time on the romantic complications introduced in the mission—and) the older Rachel’s mission only makes sense if you—oh heck, it doesn’t make sense.   Rachel’s actions, anyway you slice them, would only focus attention on the errors of the past—not erase them, as is everyone’s goal.  Without revealing everything, the final confrontation reminded me of the climactic square-off between Laurence Olivier and Gregory Peck in The Boys From Brazil.

Artist: Marmalade Sky EP: British Boy Rating: 8 out of 10

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Marmalade Sky are a four piece British rock band from Bristol, their newest EP is quite rightly titled ‘British Boy’. Whilst the band is unsigned, anyone who takes the time to listen to them will be greeted with true great British rock and roll with influences such as The Rolling Stones and The Who.

The main strength of the album is the vibe it gives out, when you listen to it you really do hear this sound that has been missing in the music for a fair few decades now and it just shows that the guitar is not dead and true rock and roll is still around and making a comeback. The record contains everything that is good about in British rock and roll, with powerful guitar riffs, distinct vocals and that certain loudness. The track British Boy is one of the strongest on the EP and what makes it so special is its acoustic version gives it a completely different tone and meaning.  It is hard to pick out any negatives and I don’t think any could be pin pointed unless you don’t like this genre of music.

The band has put some serious hard work into the recording of this EP and it has paid off, it is truly a rare gem in the music market.  If you love rock and roll then this is for you, this band seems to definitely have a big future ahead of them.

Give them a listen by clicking the link below:

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http://www.myspace.com/MarmaladeSkyBand

BREAK A BAD HABIT IN 30 DAYS!

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Most of us are creatures of habit. It is estimated that out of 11,000 signals we receive from our senses, our brain only consciously processes 40. Habits, good or bad, make you who you are.

Research shows that it takes 30 days to break a bad habit and/or get into a good habit. So if you’ve been thinking about excercising more, eating better, taking up meditation, whatever it is, it’s time to create a 30 day action plan to reach your goals! Keep your goals specific (ie: don’t eat late at night vs. eating better), realisitic (lose 15 lbs. this month vs. lose 100 pounds this month), and focus on one goal one month at a time. Before you know it, breaking one bad habit leads to better habits in other parts of your life.

Click here to access and print your 30 day Action Plan: 30dayactionplan_Onepage.pdf

Tip: Give a friend $100 with the condition to return it to you only when you’ve completed thirty days without fail. Who knows, if they are a great friend, they’ll pay you back with a little interest added on!

Using a Foam Roller to get the knots out

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It’s cheap, it’s easy, and it’s like a getting a deep tissue masage. It’s the Foam Roller.For something like $20 you can pick up a foam roller at a sporting good store or order online.

What it does is called Myofascial Release in your muscles. Essentially, it’s a form of soft tissue therapy that is accomplished by relaxing contracted muscles, increasing circulation and lymphatic drainage, and stimulating the stretch reflex of the muscles and the overlaying fascia (soft tissue).So taking a few minutes each day and doing this self myofascial release using the foam roller can help your muscles rejuvinate and help your body as a whole function optimally.

Using it is easy and most foam rollers come with instructions on how to engage various muscle groups in your body. It’s important to remember to take it slow, and when you feel a “soft spot” in your muscle, hold it there for about 10 seconds and let the roller work it’s magic. It may be a bit painful at first, but it feels oh so good after you are finished.

Now that’s how I roll! I hope you will to!

Blockbuster Time with Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Mike Peros
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First the Academy Awards–tomorrow the world!  Not content with wreaking havoc with his hosting gig at the Oscars, James Franco has now set his sights—on all mankind.  In another cinematic case of man meddling in things he should have left alone, Rupert Wyatt’s Rise of the Planet of the Apes casts Franco as a dedicated scientist earnestly looking to cure Alzheimer’s by testing an experimental serum on chimpanzees. While the results are questionable for humans (such as Franco’s Alzheimer’s-afflicted father John Lithgow) the serum does result in greater intelligence for the chimps, especially Caesar, who has been raised by Franco after an unfortunate earlier incident results in the killing of Caesar’s mom.  
Now I could go into more details about how Caesar ends up at a primate facility under the brutal care of Brian Cox and son Tom Felton (Draco of Harry Potter fame and evolving into a dead ringer for Anthony Michael Hall)—as well as the unintended effects of the antivirus– but what you want to know is—how goes it with the action—and the ape effects?  Well, it goes very well.  The scenes of the primates plotting their escape from captivity (under Caesar’s guidance) are fairly suspenseful, and the revolt against their bestial masters (echoes of Conquest of the Planet of the Apes) packs a punch, as the apes extend their rebellion to the chemical lab, and ultimately the streets of San Francisco.  Lithgow, Franco, Cox, Felton and Freida Pinto (as the veterinarian love interest) acquit themselves well, but this is Andy Serkis’ show.  His Caesar is a marvel of vulnerability, angst and ultimately power.  You won’t soon forget his yearning to go “home.”  As for Franco and his (character’s) role in endangering life as we know it, see the film–and watch for the sequels.

Cowboys and Aliens

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Cowboys and Aliens

Jon Favreau’s entertaining genre hybrid Cowboys and Aliens casts Daniel Craig as an amnesiac fast-drawing westerner (come on, Errol Flynn also rode the Old West) who comes equipped with a mysterious device on his arm.  Dang if he doesn’t know where he got it.  Harrison Ford is the town boss who’s a bit miffed that his wastrel son (Paul Dano) has been given a very public shellacking by Craig—and has subsequently been arrested for shooting a deputy.  Meanwhile, the lovely Olivia Wilde hovers in the background as a very mysterious young woman–and then the aliens come attacking.  Craig’s device proves very useful in repelling the attack, but not before the aliens take some very high-profile hostages including Dano and Sheriff Keith Carradine.  After all the (somewhat negative) hype, I’m pleased to say the movie plays it fairly straight.  The opening scenes convey a dusty flavor and an air of foreboding, while the subsequent melding of genres (complete with Indians and cowboys forging a tentative truce to fight a common enemy—albeit an indestructible enemy with a seemingly impregnable spaceship) provide the opportunity for several exciting, well-staged action sequences. Ford does good work as the tyrannical rancher with heretofore unseen soft spots, while Craig is suitably heroic and tortured as the man with a past—that he can’t recall.  Sam Rockwell does his customary good work as a put-upon townsperson but Paul Dano doesn’t impress as Ford’s son–and it would be nice to see more of Carradine—his presence lends a quiet authority to the proceedings.  As for the busy Miss Wilde, her role is in many ways the key role, and she mostly pulls it off (no pun intended).  Worth the ride.

GO AHEAD AND YAWN..IT’S HEALTHY!

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Yawn. Yawn some more. Don’t be bashful..yawn even more! Newberg and Waldman call yawning “one of the best kept secrets in neuroscience” for both relaxation and heightened cognitive awareness. It helps you stay focused, as well as more introspective and self-aware. Waldman says that studies of deliberate yawning at Moorpark College are producing surprising results. Students who yawned before taking tests raised their grade point averages; Cs moved up to Bs, and Bs to As. He also asks his “profoundly anxious” therapy clients to yawn and has found that it reduces their anxiety by a significant amount

Source: Science of Mind

Artist: Alex Clare Album: The Lateness Of The Hour Rating: 3 out of 10

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Alex 9

Alex Clare is a musician based in London; he recently released his debut album ‘Lateness Of The Hour’. The record is a bag full of surprises, containing soulful voice comparable to the likes of John Legend and James Morrison, he also presents some pretty deep lyrics that will touch the listeners. However all this is shrouded with generic dubstep beats, which have become all too common to today’s music listeners. Now this isn’t to say that there is something wrong with dubstep as a genre, but this kind of feels like an attempt to grab extra fans, which is a shame as this album had some real potential.

Whilst there is clearly very brave experimental thought that has gone into creating this and that can be appreciated, it is far too drastic sounding and comes across rather sloppy. Music wise listeners can expect to hear a similar, but slightly more mature Magnetic Man feel; which incorporates that crossover between talented singing and dubstep.

However there are still a few positives about the album. The vocal ability of Alex Clare is not to be missed, he has an extraordinary range.  There are a few tracks which the mix beats and vocals work very well, such as ‘Too Close‘  and ‘Treading Water ‘ these are the few tracks on the album which really flow, perhaps because the general mood of the songs are dark and the bass goes well with that. The main drawback of the record itself is the song ‘When Doves Cry’, this classic originally by Prince is a hard one to cover and while Alex Clare does have the ability to do the song justice, and that can be heard in his voice,  it is ruined by the backwash of the music going along with it.

There have definitely been worse things released this year, it is just sad that a guy with such potential couldn’t reach his top level. It is yet another example of raw talent that succumb to the music industry’s idea of ‘good music’ in search of stardom.

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Tales of Heroism with Captain America, The Guard and Sarah’s Key

Mike Peros
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Post image for Captain America (2011)

Captain America: The First Avenger is a stirring, old fashioned, and highly enjoyable preamble to the highly anticipated 2012 Avengers movie.  Set (mainly ) after America’s entry into World War II, Joe Johnston’s action-packed adventure boasts  a sincere and appealing Chris Evans as Steve Rogers, the perpetual 4-F weakling  who willingly becomes the subject for a military top-secret  body enhancement experiment because it will give him the chance to fight those nasty Nazi bullies.  
It is to Evans’ credit that we understand what scientist Stanley Tucci (complete with German accent) sees in him—the opportunity to maximize both physical strength—and moral, selfless character.  This transformed Captain America eventually goes mano a mano with his evil redfaced Nazi counterpart  (Hugo Weaving), who becomes so power-crazed that even his fellow Nazis think he’s  over the top (and when was the last time you saw that happen?).  There is a lot of fun to be had here, from the patriotic bond rallies that Captain America is at first maneuvered into joining, and then gradually enjoys ; the banter between  Cpt. America and a reluctant General Tommy Lee Jones(who doesn’t want this pretty muscle-boy  gumming up the war works-at first);  the smartly sketched camaraderie among the members of Captain America’s team , including his best friend Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) and the attactive, independent heroine Peggy Carter (winningly played by Hayley Atwell as the anti-damsel in distress); and some well-done action sequences with a fairly good use of 3D.  If you stay after the credits, there’s a surprise cameo or two –which may not be a surprise to those who have seen Ironman or Thor…

The Guard, from writer-director John Michael McDonaugh, is in limited release but if the movie gods are smiling, it will get into many more theaters.  It is a  dark yet highly amusing crime movie set in a small village in ireland—starring the mighty Brendan Gleeson as a cheerfully profane, politically incorrect police constable who gets unwillingly involved in a murder investigation that dovetails with the hunt for a drug-smuggling ring.  Enter Don Cheadle as the FBI guy who wants Gleeson’s help,but will have to wait until Gleeson enjoys his day off (“it’s my day -I have plans”)-a turn of events that leads to an amusing sequence of Cheadle interrogating the locals, who frustrate him by speaking nothing but Gaelic–and a jaunty meaningless sex romp for Gleeson that might wind up having more meaning than he desires.  The mechanics of the criminal investigation take a backseat in McDonaugh’s witty script to the banter between Gleeson and Cheadle (who plays a good straight man in what is essentially a supporting role).  At the first the two don’t know what to make of each other—Cheadle doesn’t conform to Gleeson ‘s stereotyped (“I’m Irish—racism is in our culture”) view of blacks, while Gleeson confounds Cheadle by appearingto be a slow-witted complacent lug—but who might be capable of more than he lets on.  In addition, the three drug smugglers (Liam Cunningham, David Wilmot and Mark Strong) are more than standard-issue movie badguys.  They fret about the difficulty of meeting the right woman (given their trade),  the distinction between sociopath and psychopath,  and the ludicrousness of trying to rip off those police officers they’re trying to bribe.  There is so much to like to about this small movie you may be willing to watch it again with your mates—and that’s more than I can say about many a big-budget spectacular.

Sarah’s Key is half of a really good movie.  Gilles Paquet-Brenner’s film alternates between the past and the present, as modern journalist Kristin Scott-Thomas, living in France, looks into her house’s history and discovers that a Jewish family had lived there during World War II—and specifically that the family had been arrested in the Vel’ d’Hiv roundup, a shameful episode in France’s history wherein thousands of Jews had been herded into a stadium, and then separated from their families and eventually brought to concentration camps.  In flashbacks we see the young Sarah hide her little brother in a hidden closet -a frantic, well-intentioned attempt to protect him from arrest-then Sarah’s realization that somehow, someway, she must go back to release him, even if it means risking her life.  The scenes at the stadium and at the camps are devastating and gut-wrenching-Melusine Mayance will tear your heart out as the young Sarah; later there are affecting turns by Niels Arestrup and Dominique Frot as an aging couple who take Sarah in—at no small risk to themselves.  However, there is still the modern section,  in which the stubborn journalist tries to get at the truth and remind the world-and her family- of the enormity of what has taken place.  The exposition is rather clunky (“you don’t know about Vel’d’Hiv??” “I’m sorry-I must be too young to know.”) and the journalist’s family problems feel rather contrived.  In spite of this, there is some emotional power in the final sections as the present intertwines with the past to reveal Sarah’s fate-and her effect on those who came after.

As a side note, the movie does give you a chance to view two different sides of Kristin Scott Thomas. As the bilingual journalist, Thomas does her clamped down, toneless American accent when speaking English which keeps the audience at a distance—but when she speaks French it is as if she is a new actress, strong yet emotional, occasionally vulnerable and extremely expressive.  In the end, despite its flaws, Sarah’s Key  is worth a look.

HOW DO OTHERS PERCEIVE YOU UNDER STRESS?

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You telegraph feelings and behaviors to others under stress that you may not be aware of. Which one of these are you? If you are outgoing and what they call a “type A” personality, you may be perceived as being: ABRASIVE, CONTROLLING, OPINIONATED If you are outgoing and a “people pleaser”, you may be perceived as being: OVERLY CONFIDENT, POOR LISTENER, TALKATIVE, SELF-PROMOTING If you are introverted and a “people person”, you may be perceived as being: POSSESIVE, STUBBORN, INSENSATIVE, DETACHED If you are introverted and “like to follow procedures and not make mistakes”, you may be perceived as being:PERFECTIONIST, STRICT, DEFENSIVE, HARD TO PLEASE Contact me today if you ‘d like to take a personalized behavior assessment and discover more about yourself, your strengths, and limitations.  Jack@getfitwithWitt.com or call  818-760-3891

The Vaccines – 8 out of 10 stars for new British indie band!

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The Vaccines

The Vaccines are the latest craze in the ever-increasing British indie music scene. The release of their debut album What Did You Expect From The Vaccines? was welcomed to widespread acclaim, reaching number four in the UK album charts, not bad for a band that released their CD only ten months after forming.

The band claims to have many musical influences, such as 50s rock ’n’ roll and C86, and have also had comparisons drawn with the likes of The Ramones. These different musical styles can really be heard throughout the different tracks. One rather strong point on the record is the vocal ability of lead singer Justin Young, who not only has one of the most distinctive voices in the industry at present, but is also slightly reminiscent of White Lies lead singer Harry McVeigh.

The album itself is a prime of example of good indie rock, full of catchy guitar jingles and dark lyrics all strung together with an upbeat tempo. However it shouldn’t be treated as yet another commercial indie record. It is well thought out, and what make The Vaccines really special is that they don’t rely on just a single aspect of the band’s skills to make it worth listening to. Instead, each song switches its strongest point from good, meaningful lyrics, such as the song “Post Break-Up Sex,” which shows the bands more hard-hitting emotional side, with lyrics that many who have had break-ups can relate to, to the fast-paced, rhythmic song “Nørgaard,” which shows the airy classic indie talents the band possess and will get stuck in your head for days on end. This is one big positive about the record—the rich amount of variety the CD contains. It really separates the band from the rest. No two tracks are quite identical and will evoke a different emotion in their listeners. There is only one small negative to the album, but it is one that can be seen with many artists today, and that is the length. The album is only around thirty-five minutes long. With such good music, it really does make you wish it was just a bit longer, but nevertheless, you can just keep it on repeat.

Overall, it is a magnificent effort for a debut album, and it is easy to see why this band have literally blown up and are being booked left right and center for concerts and festivals all over. If you haven’t heard the band or album before, definitely take the time to give them a listen. If indie music is your thing, then you won’t be disappointed.

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Strict Parenting=Chubbier Kids

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Are you the kind of parent who regularly chides your kids about what they eat? A new study in the June issue of the journal “Pediatrics” suggests that parents who favor a strict parenting style may actually contribute to weight gain in their own children.

After observing four parenting styles (authoritative, authoritarian, permissive and neglecting) among 872 first graders, researchers identified a correlation between obesity in children and lack of flexibility in parents.

“Among the four parenting styles, authoritative parenting was associated with the highest risk of overweight among young children,” the study authors concluded. “Understanding the mechanisms through which parenting styles are associated with overweight risk may lead to the development of more comprehensive and better-targeted interventions.”

Poetry and Spoken Word the Same Thing?

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The staff at NoHoArtsDistrict.com surveyed 40 people in the NoHo Arts District and none of them knew the difference between poetry and spoken word.  So, we decided to go to the “Source” for anything poetry or spoken word.  That place is the Bakery Poetry Lounge, right here in North Hollywood.  We got the answer from Marcus J. Fort, founder and creator of the Bakery Lounge  “The difference between spoken word and poetry is that spoken word is performance poetry with rhythm/music deriving from rap culture giving the audience that visual/animated aspect rather than poetry being more abstract sometimes with no rhythm or rhyme.”  Marcus went on to say “Spoken Word has always been looked over for many years but thanks to Russell Simmons DEF POETRY there has been some light shed on the poetry community causing many poetry lounges to be created such as the Bakery Poetry Lounge.”

The Bakery Poetry Lounge calls NoHo PAC its home (11020 Lankershim Blvd).  It is the type of place that makes NoHo a very unique place. Since the Bakery Lounge opened on Jan 13, 2011, it has featured poets such as  Red Eye, Matt Sedillo, Mr. Poetic, Sarah Winters, William Catlett, Derrick Waddell and April Rose. With musical performances by HipNott Records hip hop artists Convinced and Raven Sorvino. And also special appearances by Dj Mark1, Cypher lounge radio host Hassahn Phenomenon and Dasha Chadwick, comedian Luke Curry, actress Megan Good and Oakland Athletics’ Coco Crisp.

At the Bakery Poetry Lounge in North Hollywood you will always find something fresh and something new, whether poetry, live music or comedy. It’s home for any fan or artist.  Marcus put it just right “Here at The Bakery Lounge we do not judge or criticize, we appreciate the arts.”  “My experience with spoken word and poetry is that through words you can connect to many people on a spiritual level.  Also that the words that are spoken are words the others don’t have the courage to say.”

The Bakery Lounge is one of the best poetry venues that Los Angeles has to offer and it’s right here in North Hollywood.  They offer the stage to anyone who is willing to tell their story/art . Experience the new and fresh vibe that is thriving in the heart of the NoHo Arts District.

You can capture the hard work and persistence from Marcus and The Bakery Lounge team the 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month.   Check it out…pure enjoyment.

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WWW.thebakerylounge.com

Facebook.com/TheBakeryLounge

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**** For information on Los Angeles theatre, tickets to theatre in North Hollywood’s NoHo Arts District, theatre reviews, the NoHo Event Calendar, restaurants, news and local businesses in NoHo, bookmark www.nohoartsdistrict.com

PJ Harvey – Let England Shake

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PJ Harvey is a well known English Singer/Songwriter, a veteran in the music scene making her professional debut in the 1990’s. Harvey has been known for changing sound with each new album she releases as to not repeat herself twice. Her newest eighth studio album ‘Let England Shake’ is no exception; we see a very unique idea for an album, one that can only be described as courageous with an artist that has a big following.

The album, which was recorded over a five week period in a church giving a slightly airy feel to it, entered the UK album charts at #8. Harvey sticks with one main theme throughout the CD and that is the sense of ‘English Pride’.

It contains strong undertones of patriotism; with one of the titles itself named England. You really do get this sense of English pride from the album, without the pretentious ‘we are better than everyone’ attitude. The artist claimed she researched historical conflicts whilst creating the record, this influence is made very clear by tracks such as ‘The Glorious’ with bugles playing in the intro. On the whole it seems to give off a slightly more upbeat and less folksy Laura Marling ‘I Speak Because I Can’ vibe. On the downside the album does start to get a bit repetitive as it nears the middle, and transcends from an individual and bold CD of Glorious England into one long list of why England is good.
This record has added some very interesting aspects to the current music market, such as the new and refreshing concept tied in with the strong vocals and wide range of instruments used. However the general lack of variety cannot be ignored, with the one tone theme of ‘English Pride’ it becomes very bland and boring and unfortunately morphs into one long song. Perhaps if it had other sub-themes it would do a better job of keeping listeners keen. Overall it has too little variety to make it truly enjoyable to listen to the whole thing.

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Artist: Samuel Bazan Album: Slow Down Location: North Hollywood

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Samuel Bazan is an unsigned singer/songwriter from Olympia, WA; now living locally in NoHo, who recently recorded his debut album ‘Slow Down’.  With many unsigned artists who release their first album, wonderful things can’t really be expected, but Samuel does a very good job of bridging the gap between amateur and quality, recording some catchy alternative rock tracks on the record.

The album, which was self-produced by Samuel, is full of well thought out love songs, with a vocal style and lyrics that will remind his listeners of a young Rob Thomas and guitar skills that are Santana-esque. Some stand out tracks on the CD are ‘Tell Me’ and ‘Forgiveness’ which I think set the general feel of the record. One thing that really stood out above the rest was the lyrics. There are no sound effects or pretentious ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ that you find in so many pop songs; just a man and his words with a good firm musical beat to back him up.

Samuel has certainly made a very solid album and the passion and hard work that has been put into making it can be felt. With more coverage he could have the potential to revive what seemed like a forgotten market in the industry, and with talent like that it is hard to imagine why this guy isn’t signed.

I urge everyone to give this Samuel Bazan a listen, just click the link below:

http://www.facebook.com/samuelbazanmusic

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