There are three things I would change in Hollywood were I ever to have such far reaching power as a Goldwyn, or a Zanuck did in the golden age.
1. Writers - PLEASE never use the phrase "....so what are you saying?". I am so sick of being treated like a numbskull who can't understand it the FIRST time it is said and this mechanism of having some information repeated drives me nuts. Did The Three Stooges ever have to resort to this? I am a beginning blogger who never took a writing course and it has become obvious to me.
2. On the other side of the coin is the phrase "it's complicated" which explains NOTHING. Now it is even the title of a movie and I can only assume it is a movie about nothing, and that I pray does not use it in the dialogue over and over.
3. Why are MOST Sandra Bullock movies about a character who experienced some sort of tragedy as a child and is a lonely loner who builds walls between herself and the world. I have not seen her Oscar-nominated performance this year because a white family rescuing a black character just seemed too Clarence Thomas-like, and also a bit retro in this day and age. Movies where she plays these damaged characters would include "The Lake House", "The Proposal", "While You Were Sleeping", "Miss Congeniality", "Murder By Numbers", "The Net" and probably others, but I am not checking her IMDB page. I LOVE Ms. Bullock, and when she has ventured away from these characters I love her even more.
So please, Hollywood, elaborate on the complicated details in a plot..... but only once, we'll catch on, and if not we will replay it ..... and Sandra - please depict characters in either all out comedy, drama, horror, or whatever genre you choose, but please, with no lurking childhood trauma.
I am tired of being unable to enjoy any movie or TV show once it has used the two phrases mentioned above, though I must admit to Ms. Bullock, it has become almost catnip to me to go see your movies and find out if the damaged childhood cliche is there. So I guess kudos you in in a way.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Signage
I love to look for interesting use of words, odd combinations, oxymorons and I am a stickler for correct word spelling and pronunciation.
I admit in elementary school to taking out the largest books I could find on Library Day - and once getting home to find out upon finally looking at the titles, that I had checked out two of the same book based on the thickness alone. I have since become overly focused on words and content as a result.
Just recently I have been horrified to find that I have spelled and pronounced a word incorrectly all my life. It is so difficult now for me to correctly talk about or write the Gershwin composition "Rhapsody in blue" when for 50 years or so I was convinced the word was "Rhaphsody". I don't know why something like this bothers me so, but it is like being followed around by someone scratching their nails on a chalkboard when I think of it. All is not right with the world.
I walk around town daily and I love to read the signs put up announcing events or just the names of shops, and the juxtaposition of these words. The other day I saw that a new after school program with the big sign "KIDS AFTER SCHOOL" had opened its doors right next to a shop selling items one might expect to come across at Hogwart's, named "HEX". So one storefront filled with felt boards and phonetic posters, desks and AV materials stands next to the storefront with, to name a few items, candles, voodoo dolls, and books of spells. Interesting choice of locations for both establishments.
Also saw a clever upcoming event poster for "Churchapaloosa" and a bumper sticker stating "What if the hokey pokey really IS what its all about?" I imagine people who write these are similar to those who also write greeting cards and T-shirt slogans, spending hours to find the exact fit of words to item in a sort of "Mad Men" minimalist style.
However, my all time favorite signage occurred by pure geographic chance. It is on a street in the metrowest area of Massachusetts and at the end of that street, there are two signs placed one directly above the other announcing "BLIND DRIVEWAY" - "DEAF CHILD". I wonder if the Department of Public Works employee who put those signs there as part of his list of jobs for the town, thought anything of it.
I would never be able to excel at such wordplay, but I sure do enjoy it, and for now, I guess I will sign off.
I admit in elementary school to taking out the largest books I could find on Library Day - and once getting home to find out upon finally looking at the titles, that I had checked out two of the same book based on the thickness alone. I have since become overly focused on words and content as a result.
Just recently I have been horrified to find that I have spelled and pronounced a word incorrectly all my life. It is so difficult now for me to correctly talk about or write the Gershwin composition "Rhapsody in blue" when for 50 years or so I was convinced the word was "Rhaphsody". I don't know why something like this bothers me so, but it is like being followed around by someone scratching their nails on a chalkboard when I think of it. All is not right with the world.
I walk around town daily and I love to read the signs put up announcing events or just the names of shops, and the juxtaposition of these words. The other day I saw that a new after school program with the big sign "KIDS AFTER SCHOOL" had opened its doors right next to a shop selling items one might expect to come across at Hogwart's, named "HEX". So one storefront filled with felt boards and phonetic posters, desks and AV materials stands next to the storefront with, to name a few items, candles, voodoo dolls, and books of spells. Interesting choice of locations for both establishments.
Also saw a clever upcoming event poster for "Churchapaloosa" and a bumper sticker stating "What if the hokey pokey really IS what its all about?" I imagine people who write these are similar to those who also write greeting cards and T-shirt slogans, spending hours to find the exact fit of words to item in a sort of "Mad Men" minimalist style.
However, my all time favorite signage occurred by pure geographic chance. It is on a street in the metrowest area of Massachusetts and at the end of that street, there are two signs placed one directly above the other announcing "BLIND DRIVEWAY" - "DEAF CHILD". I wonder if the Department of Public Works employee who put those signs there as part of his list of jobs for the town, thought anything of it.
I would never be able to excel at such wordplay, but I sure do enjoy it, and for now, I guess I will sign off.
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