#i was experimenting with some different things so its stylistically unlike the usual but i learned a thing or two

[sylvanpriest]

#hey its been a minute #ive been away i almost got my dream job but then i didnt lol but thats ok #i did take a month off tho and then i got covid #but hellooooo fruity ppl how have u been xoxo #this is based on the song nadja by #unknown mortal orchestra #i was experimenting with some different things so its stylistically unlike the usual but i learned a thing or two #this song has been stuck in my head all week i hope this will act as some kind of offering to the lyrical gods and i will be free hencefort #i mean i love the jam but yknow how it goes #follow me 4 more i have good art on here that ill start putting under the tag #my art <3 #illustration #queerart #digital painting #indigenous artists #gay artist #two spirit #lgbtq #latinx artist #ndn #artists on tumblr #sapphic art #music art #lyric art #queer artist

[hairstyleforteen]

[sk1fanfiction]

the many faces of tom riddle, part 2

 -you dislike frank dillane’s portrayal of tom riddle only because you don’t think he’s attractive-

FULL DISCLAIMER THAT THIS IS JUST MY OPINION OF A CHARACTER WHO DOESN’T HAVE THE STRONGEST CANON CHARACTERIZATION, AND THUS ALL THIS IS BASED ON MY CONCEPTUALIZATION (and this time, featuring a bit of armchair child psych from a student).

Wait, don’t clutch your pearls just yet. Compose yourself.

I am about to explain why it’s not actually that bad, and Dillane’s portrayal is vastly underappreciated.

I definitely agree that his portrayal comes off as ‘creepier’. It’s not helped by the stylistic decisions in the scene -- the smeary, green filter gives the scene a sinister quality. 

Even Slughorn looks suspect here, which is somewhat appropriate, given that he is complicit in this crime. 

Again, this scene is very much intended to be slightly off.

You’ll notice (and I’ll discuss this again when I talk about Coulson’s portrayal) that Dillane is almost always shot from at least slightly below, which makes the lower third of his face look bigger (and thus more menacing). The lighting also makes his eyes glow in a really unnatural way. There’s an echo-y effect to make his voice (and not Slughorn’s) sound unnerving.

People talk about how Coulson would have looked in this scene, and if he was filmed in the same way (monotone, smeary/shadowy filter, and always from below), he’d look a bit creepy, too.

But all of this, imo, is for a pretty good reason. Slughorn isn’t the POV character. Harry is. Harry is learning about how a young Lord Voldemort wheedled the secret of Horcruxes out of an unsuspecting teacher. Unlike in COS, he expects Riddle to be evil. And, so, Harry’s new perception of Tom Riddle literally colors how we perceive him.

Take this shot, for example: he does that head-tilt thing that Coulson does, and it’s actually... kind of... cute???

Imagine Dillane filmed from slightly above, like Coulson usually is, and it looks even more innocent. (I mean, come on, he does not look like he’s killed four people, does he?) It’s not hard to imagine teachers being taken in by this kind of act.

Even that little smirk he does when the camera (aka, Harry’s gaze) pans in, is for Harry’s benefit. No one else noticed that. 

However, I still fail to find this creepy, like, at all. Yes, it’s a fake smile, but he’s portraying a different side of Tom Riddle to Coulson. Whereas, in COS, he’s in his vindictive, murderous element, where he’s free to express himself, in this scene, Tom Riddle is doing what he does best -- manipulating and managing appearances. 

This entire scene is an act. And because Harry knows it’s an act, it should look a bit stilted. 

From the Hepzibah Smith scene in the books: Voldemort smiled mechanically and Hepzibah simpered.

So, Harry is pretty adept at parsing Tom’s fake expressions.

But just look at the expressiveness in his face: he goes from brooding, he blinks, and his entire face changes to this charming (fake) smile. 

At the risk of sounding elitist, I’m a bit tired of seeing the word ‘psychopath’, which is not an actual medical diagnosis recognised by any psychological or psychiatric institution, being tossed about, especially with reference to Tom Riddle (and from a neuroscience perspective, it’s doubly annoying). There’s no such thing as ‘insanity’ or ‘psychopathy’ or being ‘crazy.’

-although I use it too a shorthand in conversation to distinguish ‘canon’ Tom from his ‘softer’ OOC counterparts, I really shouldn’t-

Unfortunately, I’ve seen the ‘psychopath’ comment used time-and-time again as an excuse or a full explanation of ‘why Tom Riddle went evil’ (JKR in fact, has made a weird comment in an interview, basically saying that ‘psychopaths can’t be redeemed or learn adaptive coping skills’ or whatever), which really just goes to show the lack of understanding and compassion when personality disorders, especially, are concerned.

But what I like most about the opening of this scene, actually, is that first, listless expression. And this is where we get slightly into headcanon, but Tom Riddle is the opposite of a happy, mentally healthy teenager. By Dumbledore’s own admission, he has no real friends. He has no parental figures, no real attachments. Yes, he might derive some pride or enjoyment from being good at magic and top of his class and all that, but I really don’t think even Tom finds that truly fulfilling. There is nothing that makes him happy. 

In fact, although some might perceive it as ‘creepy’, I think that listless expression is an accurate window into Tom’s psyche. 

I know people aren’t big on Freud, but I think that he does make some interesting points (also, cut the guy some slack for being relatively open-minded for the Victorian Era, and inventing psychoanalysis and while yes he did say some sexist stuff, good luck finding a field of science that isn’t male-focused and makes crazy generalizations about women, especially back in the day) about the possible origins of thanatophobia, the fear of death.

According to Freud, thanatophobia is a disguise for a deeper source of concern -- he did not believe that people were capable of conceptualizing their own death to that extent. Instead, he believed that this phobia was caused by unresolved childhood conflicts that the sufferer cannot come to terms with or express emotion towards.

Now, I know Freud almost always attributes mental distress to childhood experiences, but I think in this case, it really has some merit.

According to attachment theory, the basis of how we form attachments in adulthood is dictated by learning it from experiences with caregivers in the first two years of life. We know Tom was born in an orphanage, and that he didn’t cry much as a baby, and subsequently, probably received very little attention. Compounded with possible genetic factors and his caregivers being afraid or wary of his magical abilities, he later struggled to form attachments because of this -- I would actually go so far as to say that by the time Dumbledore meets him, Tom Riddle is severely depressed. 

And that flat affect and anhedonia, I think, comes over very well in Dillane’s portrayal. There’s kind of this resignation -- a very deep sadness and loneliness to his character.

Of course, he doesn’t derive any comfort or fulfillment from human interaction, because (to borrow the description from the Wikipedia article on ‘Reactive attachment disorder’, which Tom meets all the criteria for) he has a “grossly disturbed internal working model of relationships.” In other words, he is unresponsive to all offers of attachment because of this unacknowledged trauma.

(You could arguably class Tom as having an avoidant attachment style, but I think in his case the trauma and its effect on him are severe enough to call it disordered.)

RAD isn’t particularly well-characterized (especially neurologically) and quite new in the literature, but here are some links if anyone is interested in doing a bit of digging: Link 1 | Link 2 | Paper 1 | Paper 2

And, instead of trying to resolve this conflict in a healthy way, or at least recognize that this is why he can’t be happy and try to learn how to cope from there, he (a) represses the desire for human attachment and (b) funnels that negative emotion into being the fault of Death, the Grim Reaper (again, to borrow Freudian terms). 

And we all know how that turned out...

(And now, this should go without saying, but psychoanalyzing fictional characters has nothing to do with assigning a morality to mental disorders. Mental illness is neither a cause nor an excuse for criminal behavior -- in the same way that the cycle of violence is a phenomenon, not an excuse. Tom Riddle did not become a genocidal murderer because, in common parlance, he was a ‘psychopath’ -- he was not necessarily ‘predisposed’ to evil and could just as easily chosen to not follow the path that he did -- instead, he willingly made poor choices. This is a descriptive analysis, not a justification -- a ‘how’, not a ‘why’)

Here’s a Carl Jung quote that articulates it better:

“I am not what happened to me, I am what I choose to become.”

Yes, he’s a bit stiff (and a lot more formal than in COS during his *conversation* with Harry). But, and here comes the controversial bit, this is appropriate for a portrayal of a schoolboy in the 1940s. The upright posture is accurate -- respectful, polite -- everything Tom Riddle would have been expected to be (and even Coulson, in that scene with Dumbledore in COS, is quite stiff). Even the way he looks at Slughorn and maintains eye contact is very *respectful.*

And, Dillane (I think he’s seventeen or eighteen here) actually looks like a believable sixteen-year-old. I’m sorry, I love Coulson’s portrayal as well, but he looks around nineteen in COS; so in HBP, he probably would have looked at least twenty-two or so. (Sorry, not sorry).

This may be influenced by my own interpretation of the character (because I imagine Tom always looks young for his age, and Dillane fits that archetype, but I don’t think that’s very popular), but I think young Tom Riddle is supposed to be *cute* and a bit stiff/shy/awkward (being charming and awkward is very much possible), if you consider the way Dippet and Slughorn treat him. 

To support this, he says very few words to Hepzibah Smith (in the book, that scene’s not in the movie), and is very... bashful and coy during the whole interaction? I think yes, he’s charismatic, but he’s not loud, suave, openly flirtatious or particularly verbose. Tom Riddle should have a quiet magnetism, and to me, that came across in Dillane’s portrayal.

"I'd be glad to see anything Miss Hepzibah shows me," said Voldemort quietly, and Hepzibah gave another girlish giggle.

...

"Are you all right, dear?"

"Oh yes," said Voldemort quietly. "Yes, I'm very well. ..."

Even the ‘ugly, greedy look’ described in the books, when Slughorn starts spilling his secrets, is there. This is how he’s supposed to look! Slughorn glimpses it, but doesn’t understand its significance. Harry does. 

“Slughorn looked deeply troubled now: He was gazing at Riddle as though he had never seen him plainly before, and Harry could tell that he was regretting entering into the conversation at all.”

Remember the context of this moment, as well: He’s just discovered how to create multiple Horcruxes. Excuse him for looking a bit creepy (if not now, then when?).

Here’s two direct quotes of Harry’s impression of Tom Riddle in that scene: 

“But Riddle's hunger was now apparent; his expression was greedy, he could no longer hide his longing.”

“Harry had glimpsed his face, which was full of that same wild happiness it had worn when he had first found out that he was a wizard, the sort of happiness that did not enhance his handsome features, but made them, somehow, less human. . . .”

Tom Riddle’s Horcruxes are a direct metaphor for his refusal to allow himself to heal from his trauma -- instead, he continues to inflict destruction on himself and others.

His desire to continue creating more Horcruxes sort of resounds with the fact that self-harm can also become a compulsion.

I’d also like to digress a bit to discuss the Gaunt Ring, while we’re at it. While we’ve talked about his attachment issues in general, this discussion is particularly pertinent to father figures. And while Tom’s attachment issues are extensive, I think there’s ample evidence that as a child, he craved acknowledgement and acceptance from a father figure -- the man who gave him the only thing Tom truly owned -- his name. He would have had a vaguely defined mother figure in Mrs. Cole, perhaps.

"You see that house upon the hillside, Potter? My father lived there. My mother, a witch who lived here in this village, fell in love with him. But he abandoned her when she told him what she was.... He didn’t like magic, my father ... He left her and returned to his Muggle parents before I was even born, Potter, and she died giving birth to me, leaving me to be raised in a Muggle orphanage ... but I vowed to find him ... I revenged myself upon him, that fool who gave me his name ... Tom Riddle. ..."

We know that by June of 1943 (COS flashback) Tom has already uncovered the truth of his parentage; he knows he is the Heir of Slytherin via the Gaunt line, and he describes himself to Dippet as ‘Half-blood, sir. Witch mother, Muggle father.’

In Part 1, I discussed the high probability that as a presumed ‘Mudblood’, Tom Riddle was treated rather poorly in Slytherin House. But by this scene in the fall of 1943, he is surrounded by a group of adoring hangers-on. Why?

In my opinion; the Gaunt Ring. We know that Tom stopped wearing it after school, so its sentimental value couldn’t have been that great. We know he likes to collect objects (which I believe stems from his attachment issues -- he seeks comfort in things instead of other people).

Signet rings (such as the one belonging to Tutankhamun seen above) were used to stamp legal documents and such, in order to certify someone’s identify -- like an e-certificate, if you will. Like Tutankhamun’s ring, the Gaunt Ring bears an identifying symbol -- Marvolo Gaunt tells us proudly that it bears the Peverell family crest.

By the Middle Ages, anyone of influence, including the nobility, wore a signet ring. Rings in antiquity were auspicious -- they signified power, legitimacy, and authority. And so, I believe that all the Sacred Twenty-Eight families would have worn these, too.

And so, bearing the Gaunt Ring would have established Tom Riddle, symbolically and in the eyes of the Sacred Twenty-Eight (his future supporters and followers), as the legitimate heir to the House of Gaunt. This is why, I believe, Tom coveted the ring as soon as he saw it -- not just because it was a family heirloom, and not just because he thought it was a pretty toy for his collection.

(He curses it so that no one else but him can wear the Gaunt Ring safely.)

This is why, to make the legitimization literal as well as symbolic, Tom murders his father and grandparents. It’s not just an act of vindictive, murderous rage due to his perception of being rejected by his father (although it is that, too). And so, Tom, abandoning his search for a father figure (and possibly also giving up on the possibility to allow himself to heal from his own personal trauma rather than continue to inflict it on others), ‘cleanses’ his bloodline, to make himself truly legitimate. It’s rather telling that instead of affirming his legitimacy as a Riddle, which would have put him in line for a nice inheritance, and hey -- money is money -- (thus accepting his half-blood status), he simply kills them all. He has done all the murdering he needs to become immortal (and he hasn’t had the discussion about multiple Horcruxes yet); but yet, he does it again. Frightening stuff. 

(Just look how the others look at Tom. All but the one to his left -- possibly Nott, Rosier, or Mulciber -- have their torsos turned towards him. Their attention is on him, while he knowingly regards the viewer/Harry. Tom seems a little uncomfortable with the attention.).

“And there were the half-dozen teenage boys sitting around Slughorn with Tom Riddle in the midst of them, Marvolo's gold-and-black ring gleaming on his finger.”

...

“Riddle smiled; the other boys laughed and cast him admiring looks.”

...

“Tom Riddle merely smiled as the others laughed again. Harry noticed that he was by no means the eldest of the group of boys, but that they all seemed to look to him as their leader.”

The ‘gang’ are true hangers-on; Tom doesn’t seem to pay them much attention. 

So, if not via careful flattery or charisma, the attraction must be status.

And perhaps yet more telling...

"I don't know that politics would suit me, sir," he said when the laughter had died away. "I don't have the right kind of background, for one thing." “A couple of the boys around him smirked at each other. Harry was sure they were enjoying a private joke, undoubtedly about what they knew, or suspected, regarding their gang leader's famous ancestor.”

That, in my opinion, is as good as we’re going to get as proof that Tom’s shiny new signet ring (and by extension, his new status) made a big impression on his fellow students.

So, when he returns to Hogwarts, he is ‘pureblood’. He is cleansed of his Muggle roots, and becomes the legitimate heir of the House of Gaunt, now well on his way to becoming Lord Voldemort...

Watch the scene again, with a critical eye, and imagine Slughorn’s perspective, instead of Harry’s. There’s nothing creepy about Tom Riddle... unless you know what he is...

Strip away all the effects of Harry’s gaze (and notice, here he’s still looking at Harry), and he’s quite the charmer, actually.

(I will concede that I don’t like the promotional images where they have him looking like he’s up to no good. And I do wish he blinked once in a while.)

My challenge to you: Rewatch the scene with an open mind, and let me know if you agree that Dillane’s portrayal comes off as depressive rather than ‘creepy.’ And if not, why do you dislike his portrayal?

#tom riddle #character analysis #character study #the many faces of #tom marvolo riddle #frank dillane #i literally could not find any pictures other than these #literal crumbs i swear #i know this is unpopular #people really dislike him i guess #watch the scene again with an open mind i promise you'll like it #i seriously do think he did a good job #tw: mention of child abuse #tw: mention of self-harm #i'm not trying to oversimplify things but you can't deny that maybe if tom was hugged as a child it would have helped #say it with me: psychopathy is not an actual medical diagnosis #it's actual more of a legal/criminal justice term #and people just use it as a synonym for 'evil' at this point so the original meaning is pretty much obscured #and personality disorders should not be moralized #people with personality disorders are not 'evil'

[clowniconography]

A couple weeks ago when it was still snowy I went for a walk in the cemetery and then preceded to start writing this short bit of prose about it. Now there’s no snow left on the ground and I’m already starting to miss it a little, but I finished the story. how about you come and take a little wintery walk with me?

When I entered the cemetery, I knew for a fact that I was the only human visitor it had seen in days. 

Among the many uses for snow, two of the most notable are “security system” and “clock”. No matter how much you disguise yourself, when there’s snow on the ground there’s no way of stopping your boots marking your every move, short of learning to fly. 

Weeks upon weeks of intermittent snow mean that on that particular day, everything that didn’t have a heartbeat wore its history like a neon sign. I could tell when every car had last been cleaned, when every sidewalk had last been shovelled, and when every unpaved path had last been tread. Every winter, I see the snow as a delightful opportunity to know things about my environment that would never be clear to me otherwise.

In that most prodigious of winters I had come to memorize my own boot tread pretty well, as generic as it was. I was able to competently distinguish my men’s size 9 ½ from every other men’s size 9 ½, although I have no obvious use for such knowledge.

On my way onto the cemetery grounds, the signs of human intrusion were apparent in places, but what individual footprints I could make out had been rendered toothless and near invisible by a good three or four inches of snow. No, I was sure that I was the only one there, and the first in days at that.

And before you ask; no, I’ve never been afraid of cemeteries. At a young age I experienced a series of funerals in quick succession, each for a different distant elderly relative who I barely knew. For me, these experiences turned cemeteries into normal businesses you run errands to like any supermarket, graves into simple rocks as mundane as address plaques, and corpses into inanimate objects.

I had taken a particular interest in a cemetery near to where I live. I’m not native to the area and no one I know is buried there, but that didn’t matter. I considered the cemetery simply a quaint and charming few acres of trees and pretty rocks amongst miles of suburban houses. It was a pretty place where solitude was easy to find, and as a bonus I felt a good samaritan when visiting and cleaning some of the older, more derelict graves.

I hadn’t visited the cemetery since the winter had started and the snow had begun to make itself a constant presence. Just as spring and fall had done in the past, winter put its own stylistic spin on the backdrop of graves. Great untouched white plains dotted with solitary black stones stretched out before me. It was a sunny afternoon, and whenever the sun peaked its head out of the measly clouds the landscape would transform into one giant dazzlingly reflective surface. Despite the frigid air there were a few varieties of bird that could still be heard chirping in the black and white striped treetops above. 

I took a rambling route through those of the cemetery’s paths that were still passable. A good few feet of snow stood between me and my favorite viewpoint in the place, but the view from the regular trail suit me fine. 

Over the course of the winter I had also learned how to distinguish the prints of a few of the cemetery’s nonhuman inhabitants. On the ground I would occasionally see the sticklike protrusions of the sparrows I could hear conversing above me. Long spidering trails criss-crossed the ground where squirrels dashed from tree to tree. Every once in a while I would even delight in finding a cluster of coffee-bean-shaped deer tracks. 

I meandered along the trail, taking in my usual sights, eventually passing by the small cobblestone building at the center of the property. I had always assumed it to be a storage space for maintenance equipment and such, but its appearance was so utterly commonplace and fitting that I usually took no notice of it. 

However, as I approached the building, I did become aware of something quite strange: a set of footprints leading inside. 

I didn’t notice the prints at first glance because of just how similar they were to mine. I stamped a print of my own next to one of them to compare and was surprised at how alike they were, Same size, similar design, maybe even same brand, but still definitely different. Like I said before, they were leading into the shed, with no visible set of footprints leading out.

This wasn’t that strange. Of course it wasn’t. How self-important could I be, surprised to see that someone other than me had breached the fresh snow? The cemetery wasn’t fenced in, and someone could’ve easily entered from a different direction without me having seen them. 

Pretending this was no detour from the original intended trajectory of my walk, I began to follow the footprints towards their origin. I retraced them away from the storage shed and along the path in the opposite direction. They followed this path deeper into the cemetery, and around a turn towards the trees on the edge of the property. The trees loomed like burnt skeletons, casting shadows over the otherwise blindingly bright snowpack.

As I neared this naturally-occurring boundary, the prints came to an abrupt stop. Or, more fittingly, they came to an abrupt start, since I had been following them backwards.

It was as simple as this: one moment the footprints weren’t there, the next they were, appearing clear as day on the pristine snowy ground. No other footprints save for my own invaded the spot for at least three yards in every direction.

I huffed audibly, annoyed that my search had brought up not just nothing, but less than nothing. I followed my own footprints back to the shed and was met with another shock: the door was open. 

While it was getting more and more difficult to distinguish the footprints the more I tread the same ground repeatedly, I could tell that there was still no set of footprints leading out. Eager to get the explanation for the footprints that I was sure existed, I powered forward into the shed. 

It was dark inside the shed, and it was just as cold as it had been outside but was tenfold more damp and uncomfortable. My initial assumption had been correct: the shed was full of maintenance equipment. Gardening shears, brooms, and hammers were among the objects I saw populating the walls. One thing that I was sure I didn’t see, was any people. I was alone.

I turned around a few times, inspecting the inside of the shed for any signs--signs of what? I felt incredibly stupid. I’m no detective, and spinning in circles inside a building I definitely wasn’t supposed to be in was getting me nowhere. 

Suddenly, as I was facing the back wall of the shed, I heard a loud dusty THUD come from behind me. I whipped around and was horrified to find that the door to the shed had slammed shut with me still inside. 

I rushed to the door and grasped the handle. It appeared locked, but there was nothing to indicate a lock on the inside of the door. The doorknob was smooth and featureless, an ancient and simple construction of brass. I pawed at it for a minute before coming to the conclusion that turning the knob was no use.

Fear and panic mounting, I began to slam my entire body into the frail door, which coughed up spouts of dust with every collision. I was beginning to worry I would have to call the authorities and ashamedly explain my predicament (I pushed aside any thought that suggested the shutting the door had been the machinations of anything more intelligent than a gust of wind). 

I was absolutely frantic by the time the door gave way as easily as if it had been open the entire time. 

Luckily, I prevented myself from falling directly into the snow. I stumbled clumsily out into the blinding white afternoon, cold winter air bracing my face. For the first time that day I was truly thankful that no one was around to witness me.

Determined not to let this experience shake me, I continued my twisting walk through the cemetery, making my best effort to let the cool air and soothing sounds of the forest soothe my nerves. What I didn’t do was turn back to look at the shed, to check if there really was a lock on the outside of the door.

After about twenty minutes of taking in the scenery, the snow blindness was beginning to get to me. More and more of my vision was filling with patches of white, and that which I could see appeared foggy and blue-tinted. I started back the way I came, and along the way I encountered my own footprints from earlier in the walk.

It was then I saw my last and final strange thing: another set of footprints, same as before. They were unmistakably the same prints as the once I had seen earlier, nearly identical to mine.

Just like before, these strange footprints started pure out of the blue, in the middle of the trail. Unlike before, though, they weren’t leading towards a specific destination. 

Instead, they seemed to follow my own, two steps behind. 

I stiffened my posture and quickened my walking pace slightly, not allowing this sight to get the best of me beyond that. I didn’t want to run, or yell, and by god was I not going to turn around. 

I only made it a few steps before I felt a shock run through my body. I don’t know what it was; an evolutionary failsafe, a message from a higher power, or even the most imperceptible sound of a boot heel compressing the snow somewhere nearby. 

Whatever it was, it caused me to immediately take off running towards the edge of the cemetery as a terrifyingly dark feeling began to overtake me. With every frantic footstep my boots sent snow flying, while themselves filling entirely with chunks of snow within seconds. My vision filled with more and more of that white static until I was barrelling forward entirely blind. I still feel thankful that I managed not to stumble or slip even once for the entire stretch, although what that thankfulness is for I still do not know. 

When I crossed the border of the cemetery and emerged on the sidewalk, The oppressive feeling ceased at once and all was normal again. I came to an abrupt stop and turned around to see nothing but my own messy bootprints leading to the spot where I stood.

I immediately began to scold myself internally for how irrational I’d acted. Standing outside the cemetery, inhabiting the world of the real and the logical, my own behavior from just seconds before felt shameful and childish. Dejected, I walked myself and my now extremely wet boots all the way home. 

I’m still not afraid of cemeteries. I’m not going to stop going to that same cemetery, either.

 I just think I’m going to wait until after all the snow has melted. 

#horror #horror writing #short story #horror short story #horror tw #unreality tw #scooter.txt #my writing #LET THE RECORD SHOW I DON'T LIKE HOW THIS TURNED OUT. BUT I AM POSTING IT NONETHELESS

[thoughtfulpaperback]

In the Heights (2021 Film) Review.

Okay after four watches. And I truly mean four seperate watches. I am ready to talk about this film and address some of the controversy.

I'd like to hit the biggest criticisms out of the way before going into just my general thoughts.

1. "There are no black people in the film"

False. First addressing the main cast and main supporting characters with substantial screen time (they get names and feature heavily in two or more of the main characters storylines) there are three black actors portraying African American or afro latino characters. Obviously this is disproportionate and of all those main and supporting characters the two with the biggest storylines are light skinned or have "traditionally euro centric thought of" physical features such as light green or hazel eyes.

So this hardly is grand representation for black or even "indigenous" (usually meaning dark skinned but not black) looking peoples. But it is more than we've traditionally seen in films about latinos they skew more towards Antonio Banderas looking (he's not latino just fyi).

I think where the film actually does well in its inclusion of black people is in the background scenes/dance numbers. I tried and you cannot count the number of black background characters in the first half of the film.

The second half of the film is arguably less inclusive. That is to say that as the film progressed there was notably less black background characters/dancers. Most notably during a dance sequence in a Merengue club. I could actually count the number of black people in the scene (three black men). But if I am honest the movie/plot itself falls apart towards the end with the inclusiveity it tried to have.

I also am going to mention this as both a pro and con for the film, I loved that we had black women who were deep dark. Like Amara la Negra dark, what I dont like and I think it needs to be said is that like most film there are more dark complexed men than women and there is a disproportionate amount of lighter skinned black women than both dark skinned black men and women.

The film (at least in its first have) does try to showcase diversity in the heights and amoung latinos, but it by no means is free from the same issues of colorism and favoring lighter skin tones black or non black, because the film was also devoid of more indigenous looking peoples. And I will admit my view of indigenous peoples is skewed by my knowledge of indigenous mexican communities i know nothing of the islanders or South American indigenous communities. But i didn't see much of that in the film from what I could tell.

So overall is this film anti-black

... I dont know if I can make that call, but I would think no because it does try to include that history in film and does try to be inclusive with its casting and dance numbers, but it for sure does not escape colorism and by no means is the best form or representation of afrolatinos and arguably more indigenous Groups.

It is for sure disproportionately light skinned in the second half and again unlike the first half you can count the number of black people in the background or in dance numbers.

2. It's a completely different story from the Broadway show.

.....not false, but not 100% true. In fact I think this is why it falls apart a bit. The film keeps a number of the songs from the original Broadway show with minimal changes. It works for some songs such as no me digas, Benny's dispatch, in the heights, carnaval del Barrio, 96,000, and breathe. But it makes others such as "when the sun goes down" seem out of place.

It also, imo, minimizes the role and impact of Abuelas character. That isn't to say that the character isn't still a big part of the story they fit her in differently than in the show, but it is so minimized that when we finally get her big number (and only number in the film) "Pacencia y Fe" it is a bit out of place

It is still the most heartfelt number (and made me cry each time I've seen it) and most relatable to my families experience so I loved it but being honest it is a bit out of place with little build up to it except a scene which is in the trailers where abuela talks about her mother.

Okay so with those things out of the way I want to talk general and key thoughts.

1st: style of the film and disjointment

I personally am still unsure about the style of the film. It sort of blends campy and unrealistic with the real. So you get numbers in people's head where fabric falls from the sky, self-moving wig heads, dancing on the sides of building in gravity defying fred astaire ways, and animated gestures and moments. I think its cool for the kids, but was a bit of a choice in my opinion. I didn't hate it, but almost every time something cooky happened I was just a bit unprepared for it and I dont think that'd how the audience should feel.

In fact the whole film felt disjointed because one moment you had these grand dance numbers with lots of people and minimal effects but great use of camera work like 96 000, but then you'd have scene in a very small space that felt more "Jersey Boys" film/camera work like Benny's Dispatch.

The worst camera work in my opinion was during When the sun goes down. While the idea of dancing on the side of a building was initially cool I kept wishing the camera would have moved differently at many points. Fred astaire's dancing on the walls is still the best filmed gravity defying dance sequence in my mind.

2nd: reducing the drama for Nina and Benny.

Okay so whether its colorism or just time considerations. I didn't like how the changed around Benny and Nina's relationship and build up in the film. In fact my favorite moment for the two (and my favorite songs of the play) from the original show happen in Blackout and then Sunrise. The moment in black out was given to Usnavi and Vanessa and sunrise is not in the film.

I think the shift in the role Benny plays in the business (Rosario's Cab Company) is more complex and better in my opinion and I do love that was added in the blackout scene rather than just doing away with seeing anything of that character with the removal of relationship drama.

3rd: LGBTQ+ representation. I won't claim that there is a bunch but having Daniela and Carla as a couple was pretty cool.

4th. Representation of Latinos

Flawed as it is, I think what in the heights gets right is the telling of complex stories of latinos that don't revolve around violence and crime. I love the look at latinos as business owners and as members of vibrant communities. From my own experience, latinos in film are or tv are not usually seen as such and when you do get look at a latino business owner it is a scene where they are being interviewed by the cops, or the neighborhood is shown as being run down.

Even the usually heavily used storyline of undocumented latinos was done in an interesting way in the film.

I haven't connected so much to a film before and I cried multiple times at the feeling of relating to certain characters and feelings.

I would recommend it to others, but I would also be clear that stylistically it is a choice. I think it probably works better for someone who hasn't seen or doesn't know of the original show. The friends i have taken enjoyed it and my siblings also loved it.

#in the heights

[phantomofthepairofdice]

George A. Romero’s “The Amusement Park”

George A. Romero might be the man who most directly served as my gateway to critical movie watching. Unlike a lot of the filmmakers who helped me mature my understanding of film as a medium of art rather than a disposable experience, my love for his work has only deepened as opposed to having a twinge of cringe at the pretense with which I embraced some movies and directors that I’ve grown cold on or outright pivoted into disliking. Where, for the latter, they served a valuable purpose but were perhaps able to do so as a result of being digestible or, in retrospect, lamentably simple, Romero’s movies have not a single thread of posturing to something “important” woven in. Romero was always handy in using the backdoor of theme and metaphor to deliver ideas, as opposed to a direct scolding or information session.

At their very best, his movies achieve a balance that few films can when it comes to being experienced as being equally enjoyable and intellectual - while never sacrificing one for the other. There’s almost an elegance to the inelegance that comes from working so far outside of the studio system. The low budgets of his independent fare give a scrappy, tactile quality to locations and do little to glamorize and gussy up things like frequent collaborator Tom Savini’s chunky, visceral makeup effects. His run in the 70s is especially potent as a result of the low-budget aesthetic. The Crazies, Martin, and Knightriders would lose a certain verisimilitude to their outsider art mission statements if they had a glossy studio packaging. 

I’ve been hesitant to write up my love for the late, great Romero since it feels like a daunting task to distill the endless rivers that flow from the massive glacial totem that is George A. Romero. The same thing can be said for a lot of people whose work I have deeply seeded respect and love for like Jonathan Demme or Robert Altman. I know that art and movies are reduced when treated like rites of passage or items on a checklist for credibility, but I have this overwhelming feeling that I want to come correct when it comes to folks like these. It feels like a responsibility to be comprehensive, eloquent, and effective in describing them, their work, or their massive impact on myself.

Well, I finally got enough reason to put down some words when I found out that a bizarre, long-thought-lost missing puzzle piece of this titanic personal hero was going to be released. Not only that, but I could see it in a relatively safe way in a theater. What I was lucky enough to see projected on a bright wall in a dark room was something that filled me with equal parts pleasure and stomach-churning uneasiness. One of the greatest compliments I can give to the film is that felt like it would make a terrific pairing with Carnival of Souls.

The Amusement Park is a film that Romero was commissioned to make by The Lutheran Society about senior citizens being disregarded by society. After having seen what Romero concocted up with screenwriter Wally Cook, it’s no surprise that the film was shelved, and thought destroyed. Like all of Romero’s great films, The Amusement Park operates with a keen but unpretentious metaphor and allegory at its heart. What makes this project immediately different is that it’s bookended with a direct address to the camera from its star, a charming and hammy Lincoln Maazel, breaking down the mission statement and intent of the symbolism within it. What follows is an experiential concept piece that disorients the viewer in an attempt to have them empathize with their elders’ terror and loneliness at the hands of ageism, elder abuse, and death. It’s an effective plea for human decency and a disquieting, haunted trip to hell outside of heaven’s waiting room.

The runtime is under an hour and plot takes a back seat to sensation, so I won’t go into too much detail for the sake of preserving the set pieces’ potency. What I will do is highlight a few moments and stylistic choices.

The Amusement Park is very angry and very sad. The camera is mostly handheld and takes on a documentary texture when it focuses on the faces of other elderly park goers. There’s a lament for the life that these poor folks are trapped within cut between a venomous glare at the ancillary characters who disregard or assault the senior park guests. Romero’s usual distaste for the wealthy resurfaces most notably in a scene where Maazel’s man sees a rich and “proper” man dine on lobster and smoke a comically large cigar before looking back at the old man in absolute disgust. He’s served a slop of beans and bread on a paper plate. Like a lot of the film’s ideas, the dichotomy of circumstances trades subtlety for effectiveness. What makes this scene unique is that when the old man offers to share his meager rations with the other hungry guests, they show no restraint – it’s a nasty collage of shots with bread being torn and people shoved.

The real standout sequence comes as our unnamed protagonist follows a young couple into a fortune teller’s tent while they ask to see their future. The spritely lovebirds want to know if they’ll be still be together in their old age, but the fortune teller offers warning that in order to see their future, they’ll need to see it in its entirety. The couple’s youthful ignorance shows a general feeling of invincibility that many of the young characters have throughout the film, but once they see what the soothsayer has to offer, they are forced to reckon with the ominous vicissitudes that appear before them.

The editing of the sequence is jarring, cutting between the disparate time periods – flash cuts between the crystal ball and the eyes of the woman behind it are slammed into what looks like a documentary or news interview with a building manager who laments the raise in taxes and how it keeps him from fixing the dangerous, dilapidated, low-rent housing behind him. This is an institutional crisis. The film cuts to narrative footage of that same young couple, now old and desperate for emergency medical attention. Outside, a high school marching band blares and trots forward with a brash, spry pace. It’s as if the band is flippantly taunting the old women, life trampling on without her and her bedridden husband. The wife’s attempts to reach their doctor are moot. Chaos overwhelms a quiet passing. Upon seeing his own mortality, the young man targets the protagonist and attacks him in a flurry of confused anger.

The movie has an episodic structure, and some of these interludes work better than others. While I do think that the movie is quite good and a must-see for any curious fans of the director’s career (he even has a great cameo), I certainly wouldn’t hail it as a masterpiece. Working for hire within the specific constraints of an educational film and off of a script that he didn’t write (a rarity within his career), there’s some serious clumsiness to the some of the story beats and how underlined the symbolism is. I also greatly missed the seamless integration gallows humor that spices up even the bleakest of Romero’s other projects. What’s here in terms of levity occasionally undercuts the horror. That being said, its mission to imbue experiential empathy for old folks was undeniably successful in this viewer - the packaging may be a bit busted, but the product is fresh and satisfying. Like The Crazies or his Dead films, the ever-approaching specter of death is the driving force behind the melancholic terrors of the piece. Romero’s knack for satisfying but somber endings is present here as well. Images from this - like the holy men closing up shop - stack up alongside some of the other hauntingly effective moments from Romero’s movies that are emblazoned in my brain like the closing montage of Night of the Living Dead, the opening sequence of Martin, the roaches in Creepshow, and the wall of hands from Day of the Dead.

While it feels weird to offer praise to a man alongside a short review for a movie he was, by all accounts, not terribly impressed with, this is what I’ve chosen to do. *shrugs* I’ll never write the perfect tribute or quite distill the gratitude I have for certain people and the gifts they gave me (along with countless others). I can selfishly make that a burden and never actually put it out there for fear of imperfection, or I can be grateful and embrace the luck that I’ve been able to see another work from one of those people. Especially after watching this, I’ll choose the latter.

The Amusement Park is now available to stream on Shudder.

#george a romero #the amusement park #movies #film

[upalldown]

Damon Albarn - The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows

Second solo album from the Blur and Gorillaz frontman was originally planned as an orchestral project for Lyon's Fête des Lumieres

8/13

There are songwriters who are best described as ‘what I see is what I sing’. That is, perhaps in more poetic terms, they more or less recount what they have seen or felt in real life. This can cause a split in the audience; where some enjoy the candour, others take issue with an alleged lack of creativity in that approach.

In the case of Damon Albarn, it is a lot more difficult to put oneself in any camp, although he is by all means a songwriter that sings about his experiences. Arguably, there are times when he sets himself apart as he takes this approach to the extreme, almost becoming a mirror to the outside world.

Studying his career closely, it becomes clear that most of his efforts have been directly inspired by the environments he was in when writing. Blur was a band that reflected and reacted to the British pop scene of the 90s, Gorillaz borrowed from hip-hop just as the genre that was exponentially rising in popularity in the early 2000s, and his fist solo album, 2014’s Everyday Robots, thematically circled the rise of technology and its part in our lives.

But there is an interesting thing about mirrors — how do we know that what we see in the reflection is reality in any sense of the word? Damon Albarn’s writing pushes just that boundary: often what he sings about sounds likely to be autobiographical, but then subtly shifts to feeling like he is singing both to and about us, and then from that it moves to something fictional. The neat aspects is, naturally, that unless we can dig into Albarn’s mind, we will never know which one is which.

His latest solo album (although he shies away from that descriptor) follows this idea. The Nearer the Fountain, The More Pure the Stream Flows absolutely feels like a Damon Albarn record, but in a different way than usual. He’s stepping away from the boisterous sounds of his other bands with atmospheric, almost ambient, instrumentals, which are intertwined with familiar funky rhythms, melancholic chord progressions and dreamy vocals.

What is certainly impressive is that The Nearer the Fountain proves once again what was proved previously with Gorillaz and The Good, The Bad, and The Queen: Damon Albarn can make most any music his own. The instrumental might be stylistically just about anything, but as soon as Albarn’s voice arises, it suddenly becomes ‘obviously a Damon song’.

The lyrics on this album open some new horizons to Albarn’s songwriting.The Nearer the Fountain, The More Pure the Stream Flows still possesses the songwriter’s knack for universality in the most unlikely places, but also introduces new ways for the audience to connect to it. The most potent track in that respect is “The Tower of Montevideo”, which tells a story that none of us could have experience, however, it feels strangely familiar. It’s hard to say precisely why this story of loneliness and alienation feels so keenly attuned to our consciences; once we attempt to rationalize what gives us this feeling, the magic fades, so let’s just listen and enjoy.

Albarn has noted that it was his mum who introduced him to the poet John Clare, whose poem he adapted for The Nearer the Fountain, The More Pure the Stream Flows’ title track, and the album as a whole. All the tracks are in one way or another are linked to his past. He obviously did not get bypassed by the pandemic, which of course took its toll on the record. During lockdown, there was often little to reflect on besides your own self. And so Albarn reflected on his life. The Nearer the Fountain, The More Pure the Stream Flows is perhaps the deepest inquiry into the artist – but again, we don’t really know if what we are seeing in the mirror is real.

https://beatsperminute.com/album-review-damon-albarn-the-nearer-the-fountain-more-pure-the-stream-flows/

#damon albarn #the nearer the fountain more pure the stream flows

[caden]

Honestly thank you for saying that. I also don't hate Travis but can't stand the way he goes about proving his "wokeness" he's obviously good natured but his approach is just so off and it's awkward when listening to the other brothers try to swerve around it, being more self aware than he is. I can't listen to the new Adventure Zone arc because her went out of his way to create a disable character and then be like "are you gonna ask me about my wheelchair" it's just too fucking much dude.

This is a super long rant-y response that doesn’t really say much of consequence, but...

yeah i have not enjoyed his arc so far sadly. I’m still going ahead with it for the time being, it’s worth listening to but honestly TAZ hasn’t gripped me all that much since balance. I feel like one of their issues is that balance really really tactically built up to its big emotional dramatic moments, everything felt really natural and just flowed so well-- whereas with these other arcs, I feel like they just jump the gun and try to constantly have dramatic stuff happening without ***earning*** it. The nature of most roleplaying games is just that they’re long form, and IMO the most important element of nailing a podcast like TAZ is making sure that the downtime is really enjoyable-- that means having really charismatic side characters, engaging and open-ended worldbuilding that allows for lots of different situations, and PCs that have clear and interesting motivations. Travis just isn’t a good enough DM to pull that all off. He’s decent at roleplaying IMO, but his personality / skills are just better suited to being a player. He clearly isn’t as good a storyteller as griffin, and even griffin’s storytelling has been strained from time to time. 

I honestly really really really wish that they would play a more Critical Role / MCDM style DnD game, where the worldbuilding took front-stage over the characters, and where it was assumed that the main players would cycle through MULTIPLE characters because their characters could actually die if it was dramatic-- or even just if the players fucked up in combat. I’d love to feel like they were in a setting that allowed them to have guest players on, where the world has internal consistency (unlike the live shows which are always fun but clearly not sustainable for a long-form story), and where the whole thing isn’t all built along railroading players down an ultra long-form epic story in the vein of Balance. Like one thing that’s great about DnD for me is that if you don’t currently feel like you’re gelling with the character you’re playing, you can just make a new character! If the quest you’re on isn’t incredibly engaging, you can tell the DM that you want to explore something in your character’s past or independently pursue some other motivation instead. I really wish they would experiment with a more freeform, noncommittal story, where they could lean into their improvisation skills (which is what they’re very good at) over their storytelling skills (where they're sort of lacking). 

I also feel like-- and this is just an unintended byproduct of the general vibe that they’re going for-- one big problem that I notice with their storytelling is that all of their characters are just like... too good. I feel like they’re so committed to being wholesome and non-stressful that everything about their worlds just has no edge at all. I’m not saying that I want TAZ to be game of thrones, obviously that would suck-- but so much of the conflict in their worlds feels awkward or forced because they don’t create their characters to be as flawed as I think they should. Justin usually being the exception. I think this is reaaaalllllly coming to the forefront in the new arc, Travis just isn’t capable of putting the kind of tension into his stories that Griffin was because he’s too committed to making his world crunchy and chill and, dare I say, woke. But I think the wheelchair thing is coming from a different sort of bad storytelling-- writers put a diverse character into their story and then feel so immediately proud of themselves that they forget to actually make the character interesting or memorable beyond that, inadvertently tokenizing the characters. 

Griffin also did something really smart when he was DMing, which was that he intentionally never told us anyone’s race. He explicitly said that it being an audio medium allowed the listener the freedom to imagine whatever race they want, as well as imagine trans-ness, disability, etc. Which, even though it might sound kind of like a cop-out, is IMO the best way to handle it. If they play characters outside of their race, people will be mad. If they don’t have enough diversity, people will be mad. If they have explicit diversity but portray something insensitively, people will be mad. I personally think that griffin would have been smart enough to do these things sensitively, but he’s always erred on the side of caution. The only exception in balance was them explicitly stating that Lup was a trans woman, which was also handled very well IMO. Travis just isn’t taking that level of subtlety to his DMing because he isn’t as perceptive about these things as Griffin is. He’s stating all this stuff explicitly because he wants people to know that his world is diverse. Which is cool, but it comes with the baggage of actually having to execute that diversity with some level of insight. In this case, I honestly think the players should be more comfortable going ahead and making characters that are explicitly NOT cis white (or white-coded) men. They made the move after balance to start playing women, which was good. The alternative is just constantly having protagonists that, even in fantasy/sci-fi settings, are cis-coded, white-coded, or male-coded. 

All in all, the big issue for me rn with the Mcelroys is that i have much more of a sense now that they’re the types of creators who are entirely just trying to please their fanbase. This is really visible in the style of comedy that they’re doing these days as well. They aren’t trying new things, they’re just finding what’s comfortable, what fans clap for in live shows, and doing more of that. I remember once in a live show they said “okay guys, we’re making a change. we’re no longer gonna allow you guys to ask questions that are just you bragging about a cool thing you did”. That was one of the best decisions they made from a content perspective, lol. Their most interesting work of the last three years has been the Trolls 2 podcast, because it’s stylistically VERY different from their normal stuff, and because NOBODY was asking for it. And as a result, it was able to be a novel, funny concept. I feel like in the age of streamers, youtubers, creators who are basing their brand off of PERSONALITY over CONTENT, we’re gonna be getting more and more of this kind of art. As creators, the Mcelroys aren’t trying to do something new, to create exciting thought-provoking funny content. They’re just repeating the things that have found them the most success. They take the desires of the fans a bit too seriously, which keeps them from going in new directions, because fans can’t validate things that don’t exist yet. The fans shouldn’t be the ones who create new trends or decide the tone of the content. That should be entirely in the hands of the creators. You can sorta tell that at times Griffin and Justin are unhappy about it. I think this was at its worst about a year or so ago, and they’ve realized it and started to work on course-correction. They stopped doing TAZ live shows with the balance characters, which was a good choice. I DON’T think that the issue is that they ran out of ideas, it’s just that they’re overdue for a creative renaissance. I would love it if instead of just doing more TAZ and mbmbam, they continued to do a bunch of small unusual projects in the vein of Trolls 2, the old Monster Factory videos, the new non-DnD TAZ live shows, etc. I’m also enjoying The Besties (I listened to it before it got canned and was excited when it came back), because I feel like Griffin and Justin act more like normal humans on that show and less like Mcelroy brothers. 

WITH ALL THAT SAID, their content is still often very fun, and I think it’s really good that they exist as successful creators. They’re a net positive force in the world, the small attempts people have made to cancel them for dumb shit will always be petty and stupid. They’ve more than earned a spot in the podcasting hall of fame, I don’t think they’re just has-beens, and I will continue to listen to plenty of their stuff for the conceivable future even if it’s not always exactly what I want from them. 

[mitsuhasnolifebutwatchesanime]

Mitsu’s Top 5 Anime of 2019

Whoa! Top five again! Having a fulltime job on my feet sure does take away from anime time. For once though, everything I finished, I liked or want more of. I didn’t force myself through stuff I didn’t like because other people liked it or was just kinda “meh” about.

This year, there are a lot of shows that were just getting started and/or were remakes. It’s amazing to see modern technology and techniques being put into shows of properties anywhere from ten to fifty years old. I’ll do my best to put these like usual, 5 being yeah, I liked it!! And 1 being This Show Has Become My Life. However, I broke one of my own rules and allowed a movie on this list. All well! My list, my rules!

5. Given

It’s impressive to find an anime that has a good plot, characters, and a genuine romance with good chemistry. I have been throwing given at people because it does have a gay lead, but I didn’t start watching it until it was confirmed. I had heard of the manga a long while back and knew it was at least a boys love series, but with TV censorship, there was no telling how much of that romance they’d keep. I’ve actually started reading the manga since the anime ended because I really like all of the characters and the simple story of a band rising to fame. I really hope they continue this one too, because it’s funny and the music was really good. Overall, it’s a soft, good time.

4. Kimetsu no Yaiba Demon Slayer

I promised myself I wouldn’t marathon the 20 something episodes that were out at the time I started finally watching demon slayer. As with given, but even more so, I saw so much of demon slayer before the anime came out. I fell in love with the designs and characters, and seeing the love and animation that went into the actual anime was just amazing. I ended up watching said twenty episodes in one sitting and then had to painfully wait week after week for new episodes. I’m looking forward to more demon slayer. I’m hoping that they’ll broadcast the movie in theaters unlike some other anime movies I’ve had to hunt down online or just ignore entirely.  While demon slayer’s biggest fault might have been its pacing, in the wide scope of things, it actually went by in a blur. Each arc felt complete with plenty of action sequences as well as general plot things happening. This just makes me want to read ahead in the manga more.

3. Fruits Basket

It doesn’t even feel real sometimes that fruits basket finally got a new anime at long last. I had been telling people for years it would never get a season 2, the 2001 anime specifically, if anything it would have to be a reboot. I’m so glad to see what they’ve done with it. Implementing a fresh style onto it, taking into account the larger scope of the series, and respecting the author every step of the way. Next season will be a doozy since it’s little to no comedy from here on out. I’ve cried nearly every episode because it’s been so true to the original manga. Semi-related, I actually started buying the brand new Yen Press collectors edition of the manga, even after saying “I have the entirety of the Tokyopop manga I don’t need it.” Turns out I, a collector, could not resist it once I saw it in person. Gonna have to build that third bookshelf soon…Anyway, next season will be a heart-breaker! Good luck!

2. Dororo

Talk about remakes that are worthy. Dororo has been one of the best anime I’ve watched in years. Gorgeous animation, incredible design and story. The original manga is kinda eeehhh…. They made good decisions with the new one to up the likeability of the characters, give it more weight, and it makes a lot more sense. Also the theme songs. God, I haven’t had all four themes of one show on repeat for so long. They’re beautiful and the actual music videos for both EDs? Super good. Please go watch them.

One thing I’ve gotta praise it for though is how they managed to improve it while also not forgetting its origins. The character designs are still incredibly similar to Osamu Tezuka’s actual designs and art styles, despite how they’ve been updated. It’s such a good stylistic choice that really makes it stick out when they could have scrapped those designs all together or gone fully for realism.

I need to rewatch it a third time to really dig into every little detail, but I think watching it two times and being giddy the whole time earns it a high spot on my list.

1. Promare

And here we have the rule breaker! I normally only mention movies as honorable mentions on this list. To begin with, I wish MAL had a separate section for movies and OVAs simply because just down to every detail, this and a TV anime are on an entirely different scale.Still, let’s talk a little promare. I’ve been obsessed. In addition to an incredible world, characters, a fun, but kinda simple story, this movie just has so much rewatch value. I struggle daily on whether or not I’d want to see a full anime and I think the final decision is no….I just want like…two more OVAs. I saw both Lio and Galo-hen, though Lio-hen had no subtitles as I watched it online before the movie. Same with Galo-hen, but Galo-hen aired during the Redux showings.This movie has such a good soundtrack. The colors! Wow! The action sequences! I really love the mecha designs and the constant Trigger/Gainax references. I also had to drive out of state to see it. I mean, I didn’t HAVE to go see it three times in Texas, but I don’t regret it. I also saw it all three days it played here in OKC during Redux, including the 4DX showing. I wish I could experience the 4DX like, at least two more times. It was so fun. This really is a roller-coaster of a movie. It deserves the buzz that cropped up around it. Perfect way to end 2019 anime. Every day I wait anxiously for the US DVD release.

I hope everyone had a good 2019 in anime terms. There were a lot of shows that came out and I hardly watched anything. I hope 2020 has even more good stuff to offer. The TBA list already is filled with lots of goodies. I’ll try my best to resurrect this poor blog some way or another next year! I’m still here!

#mitsu review #promare #dororo #Fruits Basket #given anime #kimetsu no yaiba #anime #anime review

[goodnightkisseu]

Time To Heal - Chapter 7

→ pairing: sehun x reader

→ genre: fluff, angst, struggling musician sehun x rich reader

→ word count: 4,054

→ warnings: none

→ summary: you had your life planned out for you ever since you were a little girl. However, when your friend, Baekhyun, takes you with him to his old hangout, you meet someone, someone you were willing to risk your parents’ criticism to be with. His name was Oh Sehun. But, in the end, what you really should have asked yourself, was if Sehun was ready to face your parents…

→ masterlist // exo masterlist // time to heal masterlist

→ [prologue] [ch.1] [ch.2] [ch.3] [ch.4] [ch.5] [ch.6] [ch.7]

→ updates taglist~: @chanyeolol​​​ @meryljill-111192​​​ @sehunscutiepie​​​​ @hi-cupid​​​ @lilian235​​​

note: we are coming up on the end of this series! ;A; honestly I’ve fallen back in love with it as I’ve been editing it for all of you to read ;; I hope that you’ll all enjoy this chapter!

Also, please let me know if you would like to be tagged in this story~

- ash <3

Over the last two years, you had run through hundreds of scenarios in your mind. You theorized about seeing Sehun again, about the things that you would say to each other, but nothing quite amounted to what happened when you actually met. It was definitely awkward, and rightfully so in your eyes. It had been years, and there was no way for either of you to grasp the type of pain the other went through. However, seeing each other again didn't feel nearly as bad as you had expected. You had a nice dinner, and Sehun even went out of his way to apologize for his past behavior. That was never something you had planned to hear.

When you told Baekhyun about your encounter with Sehun, your friend was quick to ask how you felt. He knew it had been trying for you, so, for the meeting to take a completely different turn than you had hypothesized, it was likely a shock. And honestly, you weren't sure if you even knew how you felt. Sehun was someone that had broken your heart, and never did you think he'd feel remorse for it. But you could tell that he was aware of his actions, and that felt more in line with the Sehun that you knew. Your feelings towards him at the moment were... complicated.

Yet, as complicated as they were, you weren't going to let them stand in the way of his apparent efforts to make amends. Additionally, you felt like accepting his apology might have been the step that you needed to move on with your life, to keep him from running through your mind. So, after receiving his new number from Baekhyun, you sent a simple message. It read, "Let's put the past behind us and move forward. Good luck with your new single, and I can't wait to hear it!"

In the days that followed, you felt a sense of relief, weight lifted off of your shoulders. It felt like making amends after all of this time was the right move. It felt right to move forward, and that was what you did. Slowly, you found yourself emerging from this space that had only been occupied by you and Baekhyun. You started to go out again, whether you were invited by Baekhyun or your coworkers. You started living that life that you had unknowingly put on hold. The more time you spent with others, the more you felt like a whole person, your own person again. You were able to have fun, to chat with them, to really experience life in the way you wanted to.

And in due time, you even started dating again.  

Nothing was ever quite permanent. It had been a long time. You had to rediscover and realize what you were actually looking for in a significant other. Guys came and went, but you never quite clicked with any of them... until Changmin. He was your longest relationship after Sehun, though it only lasted for a little over half a year. The two of you had met during fashion week. Your parents sent you to oversee their part of the show, as they had some other business out of the country. You had met backstage while you were directing some of your models, and he taking pictures of the different lines from each company. Something at that moment just clicked for the both of you.

Coincidentally, Changmin was someone that your parents had been trying to set you up with for years. He ran an editorial company that was well respected across the industry. To your parents, it was a match made in heaven for you and your business. He was a nice man, and his reputation had the possibility of boosting up your family's brand. The potential for both companies to grow together was exponential. Your parents were thrilled.

Unfortunately, it didn't work out. You weren't sure exactly what drove you apart. Everything had been going so well for the two of you... until it wasn't. It could have been the extra hours that you had to put in to get the new line ready for the coming season. It could have been the fact that Changmin was overseas for most of the year, the two of you only meeting up when he was in town. Honestly, you spent so much time apart you wouldn't have been surprised if maybe you fell out of it because he already had someone else. At the end of the day, the relationship came to an end, much to your parents' disappointment.

Admittedly, it was painful losing Changmin. During those periods where the two of you had been inseparable when your relationship was in a good state, you had started to depend on him. With things in Baekhyun's life picking up, Changmin had become your source of comfort in your best friend's absence. Now that he was gone, you felt that emptiness again. It was that same type of void you felt when Sehun exited your life, and like a creature of habit, you threw yourself back into your work. The only difference was that you didn't close yourself off this time. You still went out, had a good time with the people closest to you, but with your career picking up, you decided that there wasn't time for another serious relationship.

Instead, you had to focus on your true passion, your job. And in seemingly no time at all, three years passed.

You had been working hard to learn the ins and outs of the industry, immersing yourself in everything it had to offer. You went to every show, board meeting, and kept your focus on learning how the business was run.  With retirement around the corner, your parents very naturally started to give you more control of the company. They were transitioning you into the full-time over and representative in their absence. And though it had been stressful at first, time and patience made it all a bit easier. Everyone that worked at the fashion house gave you time, and for that, you were grateful. You still had a lot to learn, but with your parents' excitement with their newest line, you knew that you had no choice but to make sure that it did well.

Today was filled to the brim with work, much like your schedule had been for the last few months. You were to oversee the photoshoot for the new line, so that morning, bright and early, you drove out to the studio, meeting the rest of your staff in the large open building. You worked with the stylists to organize the clothes in an easy to access manner. You talked with the makeup artists about which looks would suit the different moods and styles of the wardrobe pieces. You coordinated with Jinhee, the lead for this line, making sure that you had each checked off everything on your list. She was in high spirits today, and you couldn't help but chuckle at her eagerness.

The entire time that Jinhee had been working on this line, she had a model in mind that she wanted to represent it. She was never forthcoming with his name, but this was something that you had all grown accustomed to. She didn't want to ruin the surprise for anyone because, to her, the model was such a big part of making the line come together, and she wanted everyone to properly experience that. What she had said about him was that he wasn't a model by trade. He was someone that worked in the entertainment industry and had a knack for photographing well. Many magazines had asked him to be a part of their issue, and each photoshoot turned out better than the last. So, when the model walked arrived, you weren't sure exactly what to expect.

Well, you knew one thing you weren't anticipating. You hadn't suspected that it would be Sehun.

As one of your interns gave him a tour of the set, blushing like mad whenever he would throw her a smile, you couldn't help but realize how strangely life worked. It almost felt like a twisted form of fate to bring the two of you together like this. Even though it was for a work function, it still felt very surreal. You hadn't seen Sehun in years. Life had picked up so quickly that the last time the two of you met up was about a month after you reunited at his concert. But it wasn't just you that got busy. It was also Sehun.

From what the news and Baekhyun told you, the single that Sehun had mentioned was in the works when the two of you last met was the one that shot them to stardom. It didn't make waves on its initial release, but the more that people heard it, the more interest the band garnered. Within a month, the song topped the charts for multiple weeks on end, a feat that had been difficult for many artists in recent years. Sehun and the band started to get more recognition. They ended up doing lots of interviews and television appearances. Their schedule got so packed that even Baekhyun had a hard time meeting up with them. The two of you lamented about how the job of a celebrity must have been hard. Still, you knew that, no matter what, Sehun would always keep in contact with Baekhyun, even if it was just a simple text.

You would also send Sehun a message from time to time, though you rarely expected an answer, unlike your friend. Granted, your words were usually congratulatory, messages of excitement when a new album or tour was announced. Sehun's answers in reply were always rather simple, typically a 'thank you' or something along those lines. He would do the same for you, mostly if he saw good things about your company in the headlines, about how innovative it was or how well it was doing. The two of you would sometimes chat after that, filling the void, but it never got personal. It was strange to think that, at one point, you were in love.

But now, you were just acquaintances. Ones that would check in on each other from time to time. It definitely made Baekhyun's life easier, not having to dance around when he talked about the two of you. Still, there was something rather... bittersweet about it.

You had been so busy running around, making sure that everything was in place, that you didn't get a chance to properly greet Sehun at first. It wasn't until your intern brought him over to meet the team that the two of you finally met. Everyone happily greeted him, lamenting on his handsome features. You knew that he couldn't show it, but the way that his eyes locked on your own, you knew that he was surprised to see you. Still, he politely greeted everyone, and you did the same, inviting him to sit and relax for a bit while you worked with the team on the finishing touches.

Overall, the photoshoot went rather well. It was outfit after outfit, lighting change after lighting change, and makeup touchups, but every time you studied the monitor or watched the live shoot in front of you, you had to admit that Jinhee was right. Sehun really did fit this type of styling. Granted, you were sure that Sehun could pull off anything, as he was the type that always made what he wore seem comfortable and fitting to him, this particular set of colors, combined with this strong features, completed the look. He really suited the vibe that the higherups were looking for from this line, and you were relieved. The slight awkwardness for you was well worth the results, in your opinion.

As everyone prepared for the next set of outfits, your eyes wandered around, making sure that everything was proceeding as expected. Your eyes eventually landed on one of your stylists as she helped Sehun into his next outfit. Yet, something about it felt... off. Slowly, you left your spot behind the monitors and approached them, the issue catching your eye immediately.

"Hyerin, this type of shirt doesn't lie quite like that," you told her, the young woman jumping slightly when she heard your voice. You apologized for scaring her before you proceeded to direct her on how to adjust the fabric. However, instead of doing what you suggested, she moved out of the way instead, leaving you to pick up the material and fix it yourself. Though, as you worked, you never focused on the person in front of you, only on the clothes.

"It's more like this," you told her, demonstrating how the cloth should lie. "The style is more open, so you want to make sure that it sits comfortably on the model's shoulders," you instructed. You saw Hyerin nod, thanking you before she excused herself to get the next outfit ready. You continued to fiddle with the fabric for a bit longer, making sure that it suited the style you were looking for. Once you finished, you turned to head back to the monitors, when the male in front of you finally spoke.

"I didn't expect to see you today. I had no idea that you were directing photoshoots now," Sehun stated. His words managed to stop you from walking away, and inwardly he was glad. This was the first time in years that you were in front of him again, and everything in his being told him to keep you there, to keep you talking.

"Well, I've been promoted a couple of times since we last met up. The upside is that I have more say in everything now. The obvious downside is the responsibilities and the lack of sleep," you joked, wanting to keep it light between the two of you. Yet, you also knew that you needed to address the obvious elephant in the room, as well. "By the way, I'm sorry if this is a bit uncomfortable for you. Jinhee never disclosed the name of the model she wanted for this photoshoot. I never would have known that you would be the one to show up, or else I would have asked for someone else to direct..."

Gently, Sehun shook his head. "Don't worry about it. I'm actually not uncomfortable at all. We did decide to put all of that behind us, didn't we?" he inquired, seeing that small smile cross your features as you gave him a nod. "Actually, if I'm, to be honest, I'm glad you're here. It's good to see you, and your presence has helped to ease my nerves..."

At that moment, you dared to look up at him, your eyes looking into his, getting lost in those gentle dark orbs you used to love so much. As much as you were a source of calm for Sehun, he had been the same for you. Honestly, no photoshoot you had ever directed had gone as smoothly as today's had, and though you didn't want to admit it at first, Sehun definitely was a factor in it.

"It's nice to see you as well," you told him earnestly. There was more that you wanted to say, but when the photographer announcing that he was ready for the next set of shots, it cut you off before you could. "Keep up the good work, okay?" you told him, before running back to your previous position, picking up your things and getting right back to work.

"I... I missed you..." Sehun murmured to himself, the words that he wanted to speak to you directly, but wasn't able to. It annoyed him that he didn't just say them, but he knew that there were other things to focus on at the moment, and that was not one fo them. Instead, he moved back under the bright lights, going straight to work, in front of the cameras that he had grown accustomed to.

After the two of you met up again, having made amends for the past, it became painfully apparent to Sehun that he missed having you in his life. At first, he had thought it was just a fleeting feeling, a strong sense of nostalgia at your presence, but as the weeks and then months passed, he knew it was more than that. There were days, after long hours of practice that he longed for your comforting and supportive aura, that presence that used to calm him when things were difficult. He missed that beautiful smile you would give him and the way it would light up the room around you. He missed your encouraging words, the ones that would lift his spirits and make the days more comfortable. Sehun knew that all of these small things, these things that he used to love about you, were things that he wanted in his life again.

For a long time, he told himself that they were things that he could no longer have. He convinced himself that he had broken the relationship beyond repair. Instead, he found solace in your little congratulatory messages and the light conversation that would follow. Yet, he wanted more. He craved for more conversation, for more interactions, and eventually, he threw his pride aside and asked Baekhyun about how you were doing. What he hadn't expected his friend to tell him was that you moved on, that you had started to date again.

It wasn't something that surprised Sehun, and he knew that it was bound to happen. He wanted you to be happy to find someone that made you happy. It just pained him that he might not be able to be that person for you anymore. He found himself interacting with you less, trying to still the pain of his own heart. Work became his best distraction, and he stopped hoping that anything would change between the two of you.

Seeing you today, though it was a surprise, also brought some of those feelings to the surface again. Sehun knew where he was, and that, as professionals, you both had a job to do. But still... he wondered... if maybe...

The remainder of the shoot went smoothly. There weren't too many lighting changes or even makeup changes for the rest of the day. A majority of it was just getting Sehun in and out of the remaining outfits, something that the stylists could handle on their own. You continued to monitor from a distance, only piping up if something felt off. In the early evening was when the photoshoot finally came to an end. You thanked everyone for all of their hard work in making this line look and feel as amazing as it did before you all started to pack up for the day. You helped sort through the clothes, making sure that they were put in the correct boxes while your photographer and his team packed away all of their lights.

As people shuffled around the noise level at its highest for the day, you almost didn't notice the older man approaching you. It was Sehun's manager, and the moment that he got your attention, he asked if you would have a minute to speak with Sehun later. It seemed like your old acquaintance wanted to see you. In turn, you asked if it would be possible to meet with Sehun after your staff had left, and the man agreed, going to relay the information to his charge.

Once everything was accounted for and neatly stowed away, you helped your team move everything out to the vans that were parked outside. They informed you that they would be able to get everything back to the studio on their own, and you thanked them. When all of the cars were gone, you made your way back into the building, the space larger now that it was emptied out. You heard the sound of footsteps approaching the room as a familiar and tall figure entered, giving you a small wave. Sehun arrived without his manager in tow, and you could only imagine that he was downstairs, waiting for the artist.

"So, why did you want to talk to me in private?" you asked softly.

"I figured that you wouldn't want the people you worked with to gossip, so I thought this would be better. It is a private matter at all, between us," he replied, seeing you gently nod. Both of you were aware of the damage that could be done if rumors started flying. You may have been in a relationship before, but it wasn't well-known by anyone. Something like that coming out could be detrimental to both him and you... mainly if people went digging for information.  

Still, now that he was given this time alone with you, he wasn't too sure how to proceed. What were the proper words to use in this situation? Maybe, he just needed to say it. "Earlier... I wanted to say that I missed you."

Everything that Sehun had to say lately felt like it surprised you, though you tried not to let it read on your features. There was a time when you had also missed his presence. Over the years, you decided not to depend on that old feeling too much. You had tried to move on, but you couldn't deny that he had been a big part of your life, and that, sometimes, you would miss him too. You just never thought that he'd admit that, given how things had gone before.

"I... I feel the same sometimes," you confessed, seeing that bit of surprise flicker across his features.

"I guess... I guess that's a natural feeling for both of us. That sometimes, it could be weird not having the other around," he explained, watching you nod. "It feels like something is... missing, right?"

You nodded. Sehun was hitting the nail right on the head, but you weren't entirely sure where he was going with this, and you wanted to know. You wanted him to make a move.

"I know that we can't be who we were before, but I miss your companionship. We said we would make amends, and we've started to, but I would like to try harder. I would like for us to be able to confide in each other again. I know that pain doesn't expire, and I'm not saying that we just throw all of that out the window, but I... I miss having you around as a friend. The guys are great, but they don't understand me like you do..."

It was apparent from his words that Sehun shared your sentiments. You, too, had missed the comfort and safety that he used to provide for you. Before, it wasn't just Baekhyun that you could run to, but Sehun too. Often, you would even feel more comfortable speaking to Sehun about things than Baekhyun. Maybe having that back... it would be nice. It was better than hiding those troubles away from the world.

"It's going to be strange and awkward, you know. Going back to being friends... there's obvious damage that's been done," you pointed out.

"I'm well aware. But I think, because we're aware of it, we won't try to push it if it doesn't feel right," Sehun added. "Plus, don't you think it would make Baek happy? You know, getting to spend time with the both of us, and not having to have split custody?"

You scoffed. "You know how I feel about Baek, Sehun. I have a soft spot for him. You can't go using him against me..."

"Unfortunately, Baek is the only card I have to play. After all, you're his ride or die," he teased, a gentle smile lining his features.

The silence grew between the two of you, and you were the first to speak up after giving it some thought. "Then let's give it a try. For old time's sake."

With that confirmation, Sehun gave you a small nod and a smile. As he saw you off that night, Sehun felt the void in his heart filled. Though he didn't know how to express it, having you back in his life, even as a friend, made him whole again...

#oh sehun #sehun #exo #exo scenarios #kwritersworldnet #exo fiction #exo fanfic #exo imagines #sehun scenarios #sehun imagines #kpop scenarios #goodnightkisseu series #gnks: time to heal

[ukulelecal]

Biggest Fan

In which you’re a famous singer and Calum is a fan of your music. 

Warnings: There’s like one swear but other than that its just fluff

Pairing: Calum Hood x Reader

Requested By: Anonymous

“hi can you do a blurb on calum where you’re also famous and u find out he’s interested in you and low key loves your music? shebjdjsj idk jus make it fluffy and ill love u forever“

A/N: i really loved writing this auehfuesnf tempted to do a part 2 tbh, lmk what you think?

Requests are OPEN!

*Gif not mine*

Series Masterlist

“Thank you, New York! Good night!” You cheered into the microphone, taking one last bow and giving a wave to the crowd before exiting the stage.

You immediately went to your dressing room and packed up your guitar, then grabbing a water bottle from the mini fridge in the corner. Performing shows was one of your favorite things to do, and you would never grow tired of it. Seeing all the fans who came to see you, and hear them sing along to your songs never got old. 

You sat down on the couch and took a sip from the water bottle. There was enough time for you to relax and come down from your adrenaline high before having to get on your tour bus and move on to the next place. 

Setting the water bottle next to you, you wiped the sweat that beaded on your forehead and grabbed your phone from where you had tossed it on the couch before going on stage. You opened Twitter, starting a new tweet.

 “Had so much fun tonight. New York, I love you x”

You posted the tweet, then started scrolling through your feed. There was nothing out of the ordinary; just tweets from friends, family, fans. You liked a few tweets here and there, but mostly just scrolled through without giving much thought to any of them. Just one particular tweet caught your eye. It was a recommended tweet, from a user you didn’t follow.

“Absolutely love this song. Great job @/your/twitter/user/”

Attached was a screenshot of Spotify playing a song from your newest album that was released not too long ago. 

You grinned to yourself, seeing it was one of your more “underrated” songs that people seemed to not pay much attention to, at least compared to your more popular singles. Glancing at the person who tweeted it, you immediately recognized the name. Calum Hood; he was a bassist in a band. You knew quite a few of their songs, one of your favorites being their latest release, Youngblood. It was undeniably a beautifully written song. You couldn’t exactly call yourself a major 5 Seconds of Summer fan, but you did enjoy listening to them. 

You liked the tweet, then responded with a simple “Thank you! ;)”

You clicked on his name and followed him, noticing he was already following you. He seemed like a nice guy; unfortunately, you had never gotten the chance to meet him. Maybe one day. 

Then, a thought popped into your head. You recalled seeing 5 Seconds of Summer on the setlist for the B96 Summer Bash in Chicago, which you were also set to be performing at. It would be a perfect opportunity to meet him and see him live with his band. You smiled to yourself, standing up and grabbing all your things that you took into the dressing room. You walked out to the back door of the venue, where a security guard waited to walk you to your tour bus. You beamed and waved to the huddle of fans that were crowded behind a barrier, but scurried right to the bus. 

After you changed into some sweats and a t-shirt, you crawled into your bunk and continued to scroll through your phone. A few tweets from fans popped up, theorizing about something going on between you and Calum, just because he had tweeted you one time. You laughed softly to yourself, simply scrolling by. They could think whatever they wanted; truth was, you had never even met him in person. 

…

The day of the Summer Bash came around, and frankly, the idea of finding Calum to meet him had pretty much slipped your mind completely. You still had a tour going on, and you needed to focus more on that and promoting your new album. 

You stepped out of the van that drove you from your hotel to the venue, taking a deep breath as the warm air hit you. Thankfully, Chicago was mostly warm this time of year. A part of you wanted to stay outside and just enjoy the nice weather for a while, but you needed to get inside to get ready and rehearse a bit. 

After going through the mess of checking in with the crew and being told a very specific schedule to follow, you were finally shown to your dressing room to get ready and practice. Your stylists followed you inside, ready to doll you up for your performance. 

Once you were dressed, warmed up your voice and tuned your guitar, you still had a while before showtime. There was no point in sitting around in your dressing room the whole time when there must have been something to do around. 

You grabbed your phone and walked out, starting to aimlessly wander around the backstage area. You ran into a few people that you had met before, exchanging hugs and good luck wishes for the show. 

Eventually, you got so invested into replying to a text from your best friend that you totally stopped paying attention to where you were going. It wasn’t until you walked directly into something, or someone, that you were brought back to the real world. 

You began uttering out a rushed apology and looked up to see what poor soul you ran into, and you immediately recognized the face. It was the guy who tweeted you when you were in New York; Calum was his name. 

He clearly recognized you, too, because his eyes nearly popped out of his head.

“I am so sorry, I wasn’t paying atten-”

“It’s okay, really,” he interrupted your rambling, running his hand through his hair. He tried to act casual, but in reality, his heart was beating a mile a minute. He had been a fan of your music since you first started, and he always wished to meet you. That was finally happening, and the fact that you were ten times more beautiful in person was not helping. Not that he didn’t always think you were beautiful; it was just a whole different experience. 

“You’re Calum, yeah?” You asked, looking up at him with a grin. He nodded in response, smiling. 

“That’s me. And you’re Y/N...I really love your music,” he admitted, eyes falling to the floor in a sheepish manner. He usually never had a problem talking to people, but for some reason, you were making him flustered like never before. 

You blushed, fiddling with your phone in your hands.

“Thanks,” you mumbled. “I’m a fan of you guys, too. I’ve had Youngblood on repeat for a while.”

He chuckled, bringing his brown eyes back up to meet yours. You could get lost in his eyes. The beautiful chocolate brown was enough to make you melt. 

“I’m glad you like it.”

You bit your lip and looked around the hallway, not sure of what else to say. This was one of your least favorite things; awkward silences. Especially with Calum Hood, of all people. 

“So, this is going to sound really weird, but I’ve been wanting to meet you for a while now. I’m just such a fan, you’re music is sensational,” he rambled, tan cheeks turning a light shade of pink. “I’m sorry I sound like a creep, I’m just really glad this is happening.”

You laughed softly at his embarrassment, shaking your head. 

“You don’t sound like a creep. I’m really glad to meet you as well. You’re really sweet,” you said, the compliment rolling off your tongue easily. You the continued, “Would you like to hang out sometime, Calum? We could find a time when we’re both not busy, and go out if you want.”

He smiled, nodding his head in agreement. 

“I’d love to.”

The two of you exchanged numbers, and proceeded to say your goodbyes; the show would be starting soon, and you both needed to get back to your dressing rooms. 

“See you later, Y/N.”

“Bye, Cal.”

Cal. Oh God, you called him Cal. 

It was just a simple nickname, but your mind still raced. What if only his close friends called him that? You weren’t exactly close, you had just met. It probably wasn’t really a big deal, but you couldn’t help but overthink. 

Upon returning, you touched up your hair and straightened out your outfit. You were going on first, and 5 Seconds of Summer was scheduled to perform right after you. You knew you needed to focus on your performance, so you pushed your panic about the nickname completely out of your mind. It’s just a nickname, after all. 

A crew member knocked on your door, signaling it was showtime. You checked your appearance one last time before heading out the door. You found your guitar backstage and shook out your nerves. 

“Y/N!”

You turned around at the sound of your name, and smiled when you saw Calum walking up to you. 

“Hey,” you said, adjusting the strap on your shoulder. 

“Just wanted to wish you luck,” he said, stuffing his hands in the pockets of his pants. 

You grinned and opened your mouth to reply, but the sound of another voice yelling cut you off. 

“He has a crush on you!”

A laugh escaped your lips as Calum whipped around and raised a certain finger at whoever yelled; glancing past him, you found the source to be one of his bandmates, Luke, you believed. 

“He’s kind of a dumbass,” he sighed, turning back around to face you. 

You shrugged. “Don’t worry about it.”

Although trying to appear casual, your cheeks undeniably red. A crush? It seemed unlikely, he had only just met you, and Luke could easily just be trying to embarrass him. But, still...you wouldn’t mind it if he did have a crush on you. 

Before he could say anything else, a crew member tapped you on the shoulder and jabbed his thumb towards the stage. Showtime.

“I’ll see you later,” you said with a smile. He returned it, and you ran onto the stage. The sounds of excited screams filled your ears, and you beamed brightly at the crowd. 

“What’s up, Chicago!” You yelled into the microphone, earning a chorus of screams in response. It was a great audience, you could tell. 

You started strumming your guitar, and your band started to play as well; one of the singles from your new album. 

A smile found its way onto your face as the crowd sang along; that was a feeling nothing could ever beat.

After a few songs, you took your bows and walked off the stage, still buzzing on adrenaline. Calum, Ashton, Luke and Michael were standing backstage, waiting for their turn to perform.

“You did awesome,” Ashton commented, giving you a thumbs up. Michael uttered an agreement, then directing his gaze to Calum. Luke nudged the boy’s shoulder.

“Y-yeah, you were amazing,” he stuttered, grinning. You smiled, patting his shoulder. God, he was adorable when he got flustered. 

“Thanks, guys. Good luck!” You waved to them as they made their way on stage, and you handed your guitar off to a crew member. You opted to stay backstage to watch their performance, and you couldn’t help but grin. 

They all clearly loved music and performing, and it warmed your heart to see their passion. Calum in particular looked so into it, bouncing around the stage and playing his bass with such a fire in his eyes. He was beyond talented, too. 

At one point, he turned to look backstage. He saw you standing there, and quickly shot you a smile. You returned it with a thumbs up, showing you were enjoying the performance. He looked down for a moment, still smiling widely, before heading towards his microphone to sing during Want You Back.

“Would you mind going back to your dressing room, ma’am? We have to clear the area for the incoming stage setup.”

The sound of a voice snapped you out of your attention to the song, and you nodded your head. 

“Yeah, of course.”

You took one last look at the band before scurrying away. Once back in your dressing room, you grabbed your phone and opened a new message to Calum. 

“They kicked me out of the backstage area :( but you guys did awesome!!”

You sighed happily, reclining into the chair at the vanity. You were happy to have met the Aussie boy, even if it was briefly. A part of you thought maybe, just maybe, the fan’s theories on Twitter could become true one day. 

#genny writes #text post #calum hood #calum hood imagine #calum hood blurb #calum hood x reader #5sos #5 seconds of summer #5sos imagine #5 seconds of summer imagine #5sos blurb #5 seconds of summer blurb #5sos x reader #5 seconds of summer x reader #calum x reader #biggest fan

[shoushatohaisha]

review: hajimari no kyojin (osaka 6/1)

so. hello. i usually write up my butai thoughts as, um, 100+ tweet threads in the immediate wake of whatever i just saw, but this time around i thought i'd work them out into a proper report, of a sort. if you, too, have seen this show already and want to talk about it... please. any time. always.

about reviewing: this is my very favorite 2.5D franchise, ever. but this is also a review, not a cheerleading exercise, so not every single thing i have to say is unrelentingly positive. having said that, i respect kinoshita, wada, suga-zachou, and the staff at large more than just about any creative team in this corner of japanese theater fandom so like. i'm not here to drag, lol.

about spoilers: i talk about the plot elements covered but try to avoid spoiling any of the fun production surprises. :) happy to do a more spoilery play-by-play later if folks are curious.

about length: i just checked and it's 2400 words im so sorry.

without further ado...

first of all, i admit that based on the preview clips i doubted, and i was swiftly taken to task for doubting. IM SORRY WORRY-SAN i trust u implicitly and i should have known better. after the major changes in shinka no natsu, i was concerned that bringing back the revolving stage and the original opening theme would feel stale/regressive. it did not. while they did bring back the revolving element they also extended the stage backward and added a second level behind a full stage height projection screen – the second level was used to do some neat staging for flashbacks/parallels and the screen was used to, how shall we say this, up their projection game in a major way, which i frankly did not think was possible. i will not spoil the details but it was pretty great, on a purely technical level.

i also realized that a lot of the repetition – opening with the bike scene, bringing back the original opening credits music, the staging, etc – is the "look back" over the last couple years that i'd expected to come this fall. they are very obviously already preparing for the end – you could think of this as part one of their last show, with the fall as part two. the show opens with a restaging of sixth grader hinata seeing the little giant on tv for the first time – then the current karasuno team take the place of the tv and hinata joins them for a team jog. "karasuno, fight!" "oh!" "fight!" "oh!" only then each character calls out their signature line from the show so far. "uchi no renchuu wa chanto tsuyoi" / "mou tobenai karasu nante yobasenai" / "murabito b mo tatakaemasu!"

and haha. let me tell you. BOY, DID I FEEL THINGS. a lot of things. i think yachi got me the worst but they were all real bad. (i have so many feelings about yachi's story and what a beautiful job saitou ami did with her character on stage. god. ;_;)

the theme of this play was the role of captain – what makes a good captain, what a captain does for the team, and how to step into those shoes when the captain is gone. the johzenji match is fun, but here, in a sense, it exists more or less to set up the wakutani match – (re)establishing daichi's importance so that his absence feels like the gut punch it is. and fully settling the weight of that responsibility on ennoshita's shoulders, as both daichi's substitute on the court and the captain-in-waiting.

with that in mind, the rival schools: imo it wasn't strictly necessary to cast full teams for each school – each match got its own dedicated act, and unlike, for example, nekoma/datekou in karasuno fukkatsu (which had a similar story structure), there aren't really any individual characters on these rival schools who have a role as such other than terushima and takeru. (you know, the captains. see above. XD) so in theory one could get this done with, like, one actor for each captain and then an ensemble cast playing the rest of the team across both matches. HOWEVER, having all those bodies allows them to do super cool stuff visually, and why force yourself to create the illusion of a full team if you don't have to? i.e., /i/ sure am not complaining, isn't it nice to have $$$ to achieve the max vision of your choreographer. XD

i also have no doubt that the kids playing these other characters are doing whatever they can to create a character within the ensemble, and i suspect there's plenty for repeat viewers to pick up on, esp during say the johzenji match (see below). however for the first time viewer following the main flow of the story it's more or less a very large ensemble cast.

the johzenji chaos was well expressed, haha, there was so damn much going on all the time that i hardly knew where to look. (i've also seen opinions on j-twitter that that diluted the impact and i can see that too – it worked for me as a "funny" match that didn't cross the line into comic relief, but ymmv.) i thought the final scene with misaki would pack more of a punch, but i fully expect them to cry at daisenshuuraku so that might fill in the last 10% that's missing rn.

wakutani are another Good Dance Team. one did get a sense, stylistically, of fukurodani- and nekoma-lite with johzenji and wakunan, respectively – i assume that was intentional. mirroring the cats vs owls match, as it were. yanagihara rin's takeru was like… scary?? i had to rewatch those episodes this weekend to see if i'd just forgotten something, but no, stage takeru is not so much reliable middle brother as scowly quiet tough guy. he looked like a kyoutani tbh, and looking at the kid actually cast for kyoutani, one wonders if someone in casting mixed up some paperwork or something. having said that, yanagihara was great at being the character he was, i enjoyed what he did on stage. i'm just not sure that character was takeru. XD (edit: ok having just rewatched, i have to revise this somewhat, i think a big part of my impression was due to being too far back to properly see his expressions the first time around -- up close he was much smilier, and bc i was thinking about it i noticed some nice details like him going over for a family hug afterward.) otoh big post-match scene – all of wakutani, actually – was really good. v effective, i heard sniffles around me.

during this match, johzenji reappeared dressed as takeru's family: FUCKING HILARIOUS omg, everyone involved has clearly learned how to do this right wrt blocking, the very fine line between comic relief and intrusion, etc, after the, er, shaky shousha to haisha experiment of kuroken doubling as oikawa's fangirls. seichou shita na, errone.

also, some great wire work for hinata and takeru – you could tell kenta is really comfortable up there these days. the first time the wires came into play one of the women behind me went "UWO!" which, when a japanese theatergoer makes a noise out loud, that's a true sign something's impressive. XD

nekoma vs fukurodani: Yeah, That Happened. it is a testament to how well done karasuno vs wakunan was that i didn't just spend the entire time screeching BRING BACK CATS VS OWLS because fjkdajfkdlsfjd KYAA. another good staging moment – they used mirrors to create the effect of two full teams playing at a crowded gymnasium, it was brill. i won't spoil some of the fun details but vvjakdlfjdf. and tbh i think the best performance of the four was probably shouri's?? not that this is news but istg idk how someone so soft offstage does THAT on stage. is it this "acting" thing you speak of.

new bokuaka: i mean it was clear some of this material was meant for yoshimoto kouki and i did kinda miss him – i appreciate higashi-san's pinch hitting and he did a solid job. but. ah well. HAVING SAID THAT. fucking "michi wo tsukurimasu yo" i mean we should all be grateful it wasn't kouki and yuuki or it would have just been a fucking fanfic on stage. it was still bad and i don't even go here. XD

and last but not least, arita ushiwaka kenji: not exactly the world's most natural line delivery but that's fine because, i mean, he's ushiwaka. and his physical presence was perfect. which was about all he was called on to do in this particular show, ahaha.

now, for karasuno. and specifically, for my son, kawahara kazuma. remember what i said approximately a thousand words ago, about captains and captains in waiting and stepping up to the plate? (or onto the court, as it were.) ennoshita's story was the heart of the wakutani match and kazuma carried the second act. he was. so. good. he had good material to work with, of course, but he made it even better. i was saying to a friend that in retrospect i think this is one of the very very few parts of the series that actually played better and more emotionally affecting on stage than in the source material (as opposed to differently good/differently affecting). in the manga/anime, you can only see what the paneling or the frame shows you, and those initial paneling/framing choices are focused on the drama of CAPTAIN DOWN. but on the stage, daichi goes down… and off to the side you see ennoshita freeze. and from that moment on, for kazuma, it's go time. he doesn't let up until the end of post-match scene in (here) the locker room – which, jesus, that scene. it packs ten times the punch it does in the anime. because of kazuma.

sorry if i sound like a crazy person here ahaha. but like. like, imagine you have been acting since childhood, you've studied dance with famous choreographers and innovators, you had a main role in The Franchise That Changed 2.5D as a teenager, you've done a solo album, you have a serious history in performing arts... and you get cast in what was initially the smallest role of the entire karasuno team. and you take it! and pull your weight! kazuma was a team player for three years and he deserved this chance to let his actual skills shine so much. ;_; because i don't necessarily think he would have been better in any of the other roles than his actual teammates – but i do think he is a much better actor than several of his actual teammates. and he finally got the opportunity to show that.

anyway, when it came time for curtain calls, the applause swelled noticeably for kazuma – a louder ovation than anyone except kagechan and kenta. and one of those people clapping her hands off, say in row 20, just a random row choice, was definitely tearing up at the same time.

IN OTHER KARASANEWS. kt-san. LIVE IN PERSON KT-SAN BACK IN THE ROLE HE WAS MEANT FOR cries into my hands i love him daichi-saaaaaaaaaan. very occasionally his delivery reminded me he's a model not an actor, if you know what i mean, but like, for the vast part it didn't matter because he is naturally such a perfect fit. have i mentioned i love him.

new suga: mmmmm. he looked and moved fine but his line delivery did not convince me. tbf it's not like suga has a huge role to play in these matches so 1) it's not a huge deal 2) he didn't get much chance to get into the character. either he'll get better or he won't, and if he doesn't it's not going to sink the next play or anything. he seems like a nice enough kid, i wish him well!

kageyama tatsuya: still can't yell and enunciate at the same time. loved that they brought back the archer analogy from shinka no natsu though!! it was one of my favorite things about his kageyama, and it's nice that it's something he "owns" instead of imitating/inheriting from tatsunari.

tsukishima & yamaguchi: miura kairi continues to get even better, i'm so pleased. <3 also, i love love love that they still use the musical motif from shousha to haisha for yamaguchi's jump float serve. it was the same in shinka no natsu, it's the same here. THE TSUKKIYAMA WAS REAL CUTE, great detail work before and after the serve as well as after tsukki's block(s). as for tsukishima, much as they brought back kageyama's archer imagery, they brought back tsukki's fancy katana kill block. (they didn't waste kondou shouri, either, i'll leave it at that.)

last but not least, MY ACTUAL SON AND FEELINGS TWIN, SUGA KENTA: ok like. to set the scene here. i have mad respect for this kid and also love him to death as a human. i think he puts more thought into this production than anyone else in the cast – he is practically worry-san's AD. and he clearly has a lot of real deep thoughts and feelings about the source material. so deep in fact that it took a while for me to come around to his hinata because while, for example, tatsunari's kageyama could have walked straight off my television screen, kenta went down to the manga and built hinata up from there. he didn't have a choice – he's nothing like murase ayumu's voice. all too often we, and i include myself here, think of the two dimensions in 2.5D as anime, rather than manga... but just as there's a big gap between the two dimensions of animation and the three dimensions of live theater, there's as big a gap again between static black-and-white drawing, and movement and color and sound. and when i looked at kenta's hinata as something created solely from furudate's art style, it all slotted into place for me. (naturally, ymmv.)

it also took kenta longer than some of the others, i think, to portray all of what he wanted to. shoen hinata was pretty yelly, and pretty single-register yelly. hinata is a yelly character, of course, but the balance between that hinata and Serious Match Hinata was out of whack at first. this got better and better with every show. and then—

his encounter with ushiwaka here. was IT. it was what i was looking for all this time. his delivery of hinata's big line there was like – i think maybe i clapped my hands over my mouth, unclear, bc it was like the final missing piece and i was so happy. kentaaaaa. ;____;

part of me wonders if this is what kenta's always had in his head but maybe couldn't get his face/voice to express the way he wanted it? OR, IT'S KENTA, SO MAYBE IT WAS ON PURPOSE and his previous Serious Hinata was meant to be like, just a feral hunger child whereas this is the kid who experienced the heartbreak of losing to seijou. i would love to ask him tbh. XD

anyway, my son, after five plays continues to grow in his portrayal of this character. kenta is the heart of gekidan haikyuu in so many ways, and i will be at their graduation show if it kills me.

(breathes out) i think that's. everything. a best setter award to anyone who read this far, and feel free to ask if there's anything specific you want to know about? i will be seeing it again this weekend for daisenshuuraku and will be sure to report back on who cried, etc. all hail volleyball stage the end. 🏐

#review #engeki haikyuu #hajimari no kyojin #im sorry i have so many feelings #AND THIS IS THE EDITED VERSION #i spared you my intensive theories on how kazuma ended up in this role in the first place #i just #look #i love this production so much

[july-19th-club]

i told you i’d write something Vetinari one of these days. Here’s a sketch i’m gonna call Local Boy Stages (Nearly) Bloodless Coup, Grows Cool Beard

The night they hung the Mad Lord, they drank and danced and slept with confidence, and when the city woke at the first syrupy leak of dawn, there was someone new in the palace.

No one had sent him there. He had asked no one for permission. As far as anyone could tell, he had no superior, no group for whose interests he worked. At first, the rumor mill did not even know his name. But it was clear that there was someone giving orders to the palace guards, someone requesting meetings, one by one, between the various city leaders, inviting them up to the big, blank palace at ten in the morning on weekdays. Someone was running...something.

Someone had to be.

+++

The first thing he did, after meeting with the captain of the palace guards, was to find the throne. Find, in fact, might be an inaccurate word, because he already knew where it was. He knew the building inside and out, by heart, because he had known he would have to. The new man was still young, and the experience under his belt was, certainly, rivalled by many people in the city, but he was nothing if not prepared. Overprepared, some might and would say, but overpreparedness, unlike some other habits, had never killed anybody yet.

The room where the throne was housed was big, and empty enough to echo. Dust lay quietly in the corners. The chair itself was in the exact center of the dais, and behind it a platform beneath a window showing the entire harbor side of the city. He was accustomed to moving quickly and carefully, without sound, and so even alone in the throne room he walked closer to the wall than the aisle, and the gentle tapping of his shoes was the only sound.

He inspected the throne. He pressed his thumb against a mass of gold-leaf and marked the imprint it made. He noted the dry, nearly hollow sound that resulted when he rapped against the seat with his knuckles. Finally he walked all the way around it, and saw the peeling decorative panel on the back that showed what no other vantage point did: the dry rot, the insect bores, and the fluffy pile of detritus that above all things betrayed exactly what shape the relic was in. The throne was dead.

A history lesson rose in his mind: the tale, nearly three hundred years in the making, of the man who had brought down the monarchy. Its refuse was still littered throughout the city - in noble lines too stubborn and inbred to die, in the way the economy and social hierarchy behaved - but once upon a time there had been a person who had gotten it into their head to plunge an axe into the head of a king, and then had actually gone and done it. What a brutal, unsatisfying legacy. To know that you had killed something - someone - who had truly deserved it, who had caused unaccountable misery and that just in his private life, and then what? The kingkiller had held the top spot for a few months, tried in his inexpert, unpolitical way to fix things, and been deposed in nearly as bloody a way as his immediate predecessor. But after that there had been no kings. He had made sure of it.

The young man pacing the circumference of the throne wondered what had happened to that fellow. There were, surely, people in the city right now who were direct descendants of him. What were they doing? What did they know about the legacy they sat heir to?

And come to that, how could he get in touch with them?

He left the throne in all its crumbling glory to sit by itself, and he had a small desk and a wooden chair installed at the base of the dais for the days when he had to work from that room.

+++

The new man in the palace installed himself in the office of state, literally and figuratively, and in time the city came to know his face. He was tall, and by an angular stretching of the definition, might have been called handsome. Mostly, what he looked was stern. He had a large, beaklike nose, a sharp and bony profile, wore his hair combed neatly in a practical and yet refined style. He made certain to be seen in public just enough for them to be reminded who was in charge, but not enough that he had any real staying power as a personality.

He wore black, most of the time, and it was said in the city that he had once been an assassin. Was it because of the stylistic similarities that they thought this? Was it because the very wealthy and the well-connected were usually assassins, and by this time people knew that he had come from a prominent family in slight decline, and could have afforded the education? Their deductions didn’t come from a place of method, but they were correct. And yet the new man had achieved the office without spilling blood, at least, not personally. The city had done that.

And the city was growing nervous. Whenever a new power rises, there is upheaval. There is change. The city does not like it, but it happens, or it is supposed to happen, and this time it hadn’t happened yet. The new man had his meetings, and he moved into the palace permanently, and those who knew him clammed up at the mention of him, just in case their assumptions about what he was doing proved false. And nothing changed, not yet, not visibly. If the city was a watch, then a carefully observant person would be able to notice that things were altering on a minute, almost imperceptible scale. A spring here, a pin there - and suddenly there were more official and unionized criminal guilds, the better to watch and regulate such crime as was committed. Suddenly trade had spiked with their most mercurial neighbors. The arts found themselves more frequently patronized. The ultra-rich found themselves more frequently frustrated. And still the machinations of the city barely seemed to alter life as it was in the everyday. For some, this knowledge was a comfort.

He was not an optimist. In those days, he would have called himself a realist. But the truth was that, though still relatively young, the new power had an old and rather jaded view of the world. He did not believe in people. He believed, when he allowed himself the time and headspace, in the power that certain symbols and practices had to influence people, and in his own calculated ability to manipulate the variables. It would not have mattered to him whether things were fixed. There was only so much one man, no matter how clever his schemes, could do. It was enough that it did not break down. Enough that people did not feel the need to make it break down rather than endure more of whatever was happening. The years stretched out in front of him: luckless, friendless years of hard work and spare sleep, years of spartan politics that his training as a gentleman butcher had not seen it necessary to prepare him for. Years of paying very close attention to the food he ate and the company he kept and the habits of his confidants. If he decided to have confidants. Hopefully there would be many of these years. He had no illusions. It was likely that he would die doing this, but it was a matter of when and how that made the difference. He was determined to at least pick both.

And it worked. Maybe it was the civic equivalent of a glass top set to spinning on the edge of a roof, but it worked, in its own implacable fashion. And as long as he was a large part of the reason it worked, then he was here to stay. There was still simply so much  to be done.

#mine #discworld #y'all i dont write much fic bc i cant get past my 'has-to-be-canon-compliant-unless-i-rewrite-EVERYTHING' block but i had fun with this #the patrician #havelock vetinari

[stereostevie]

By Danny Echevarria | 10/12/2020

I’ve often thought that if I hadn’t decided to pursue music production as a career, the only other thing I might approach with the same level of passion is cooking. Even in my life as a music maker, preparing food is an important part of my day, and something I get a lot of satisfaction from.

I’ve talked to quite a few similar-minded music producers/amateur chefs who not only share those twin passions but agree with me that the two disciplines have a lot in common. Both could be called a fusion of art and science. Both involve bringing together various elements and combining them in a way that showcases their individual strengths, while also creating a whole that is greater than the sum of those parts. Both require a discerning palette, or ear, to make snap decisions on the fly in a process that can be extremely time-sensitive.

Though I could make comparisons like “EQ is like salt,” or “butter and oil are like reverb,” I don’t think those sorts of analogies hold up in all cases. Rather, the similarities between music and cuisine have to do with the spirit with which we approach these crafts. Will this article help producers be better cooks or vice versa? Probably not! Even so, I take inspiration from the time I spend in the kitchen (and at the grill) into the studio, and my hope is that you can find some inspiration there too.

Ingredients Matter

There’s no substitute for working with high-quality ingredients – whether that’s a thick, fatty piece of salmon or a killer vocal take. But that doesn’t mean we need to work with top-shelf ingredients in every instance! In fact, sometimes cheaper ingredients are really what you want: chances are your favorite pizza place is using canned tomatoes, not fresh ones, to make their sauce.

The important thing here is to understand the role each ingredient plays in the recipe. Top-tier ingredients typically need less seasoning and usually deserve to be showcased. Lower-quality ingredients — and instruments, performances, and processing — still have a place in the kitchen, but will require different sorts of treatment, and will often be featured less centrally.

From the Kitchen to the Studio:

Don’t drown a great vocal in ketchup-y reverb

If your session includes the equivalent of a prime ribeye, make it the centerpiece! Use processing to accentuate its character, rather than trying to transform it — like a subtle rub of salt and pepper before it hits the grill.

If your centerpiece needs to be made from lower grade ingredients – like when a singer struggles to deliver good takes on the mic — seasoning (processing) will play a bigger role, maybe even transforming the part entirely.

Other times, lower quality ingredients don’t need to be masked but will serve a more supporting role. Are you working with pitchy backup vocals? Maybe each track doesn’t need to be tuned and polished — instead, treat the part as a garnish. Let it stay rough and “rustic” to add character.

A Great Recipe Helps … But Only So Much

You could look at websites like this one as being similar to your favorite sites to find recipes – a place where pros share tips and tricks they use in their own kitchens and studios. Learning from people who have honed their craft can absolutely help us make more informed choices, but in reality, it’s hard to replicate the conditions of a recipe writer’s kitchen: maybe you’re missing spices, or the recipe calls for a bone-in cut of meat, but all you have is boneless.

You can’t expect to follow a recipe to the letter if your ingredients or kitchen don’t match the chef’s intention. Great cooks and great producers alike know how to work with the tools and ingredients that they have. Adapting to changing conditions is a must if you expect to get a great result every time.

From the Kitchen to the Studio:

The most important tool in your kitchen and your studio is you! Pro tips and best practices will take you far, but you have to be able to discern when things are working as planned, and when they require a different approach.

Developing the ability to know when and how to adapt to shifting circumstances takes practice, but it’s a crucial difference between a master and an amateur. Don’t expect to call up a plugin preset or slap on some settings you saw in a tutorial video and be done. Use your ears to make sure your mix moves are working as intended, and be brave enough to admit it when they aren’t.

Don’t Overdo It; Don’t Underdo It

Always there for you when you need it

In cooking, this principle applies to cooking temperatures and times as well as seasoning: overcooking a piece of meat until it’s dry, or undercooking it and leaving bits raw; forgetting to add salt to make other flavors pop; drenching a stir fry in soy sauce, and then hoping that smothering it in sriracha will fix things (don’t act like you haven’t been there).

In the studio, you could apply this concept to everything from doing too many or too few takes, to leaving in ugly, muddy resonances, or dialing in too much compression. Just like you can’t “unbake” a burnt loaf of bread, you can’t “uncompress” a track that got slammed during tracking; similarly, adding salt when serving a dish is not the same as salting properly while preparing it.

From the Kitchen to the Studio:

Stop me if you’ve heard this one (from me), but the only thing that can guarantee you don’t go too far or not far enough is your judgment as a producer. To that end, approaching production with a clear sense of intention can go a very long way.

Know how many takes you need to get a solid comp — and stop there. Continuing to do unnecessary takes can be the sonic equivalent of leaving something in the oven after it’s done, each take getting dryer and more flavorless. Know when processing (like seasoning) needs to be overt and when it needs to be subtle, and learn how to tell when enough is enough.

Context Is Huge

If you’ve never had this, there’s still time

Remember my point earlier about how your favorite pizza place probably doesn’t use fresh tomatoes? That’s not laziness — the pizza we’re used to is supposed to have the flavor of canned tomatoes. On the other hand, can you imagine ordering a caprese salad and getting a canned tomato slopped onto some mozzarella?

The point here is that there is no absolute “right” or “wrong,” in cooking or production. Sometimes cheap ingredients are crucial, and nicer ingredients might be wasted in the same application. Other times, cheap, low-quality ingredients just taste … cheap, and low-quality.

From the Kitchen to the Studio:

Your favorite plugins, pieces of gear, and mix tricks will never be guaranteed to work equally well in all applications. There’s a reason a vintage U-47 might go for $15k — it’s a great mic — but that doesn’t mean it will sound great on every voice. It will simply be too dark and wooly for some, even if it is a coveted high-end piece of gear. Some voices are going to be better suited to other mics, even substantially less expensive, less “nice” ones. The mark of a good recording isn’t the value of the gear you used, it’s the sound coming out of the speakers.

It Pays To Experiment … But Don’t Ignore Fundamentals

Wild, previously unthinkable stylistic fusions and flavor pairings have become something of a standard in cuisine in recent years. Some of those unlikely combinations may seem to come totally out of the blue, but the ones that really work often follow tried-and-true formulas, even if they are executed in an unconventional way. Pay attention to the root flavors — or sonic elements — being combined, and you can see how fundamental principles are being observed.

Free your mind and the rest will follow

LA’s Kogi Korean BBQ offers a great example of this idea in action. On the surface, the fusion of culinary styles from different ends of the globe (Korean BBQ and tacos) may seem kind of wild, but consider the fundamental flavors at work.

Tacos: marinated meat, often fire-grilled, served with salsas that add a mixture of sweetness, acidity, and spice.

Korean BBQ: marinated meat, fire-grilled, served with kimchi and sauces that add a mixture of sweetness, acidity, and spice.

The specific ingredients and nuances are different, for sure, but the root flavors at work share important similarities.

From the Kitchen to the Studio:

Every piece of music succeeds or fails on the terms of the genre or tradition it belongs to. If you’re pulling together ideas from opposite ends of the record store, consider what sonic qualities you like most in those influences, and which ones might work together well.

Are you bringing together sounds from one genre that is driving and loud with another that is subtle and dynamic? Or one that is abrasive and noisy with another that is catchy and danceable? Combinations like the ones I just described have surely been done millions of times. The thing the good ones will have in common is a clear sense of what will be rewarding to the intended listener.

Over the course of this article, I’ve mentioned a handful of times that great chefs and producers alike rely on their judgment daily to make decisions that will get the best result out of the ingredients in front of them. Though talent and good taste are certain factors that influence someone’s ability to work at a high level, none of the greats started great on day one.

The ability to know when something is working and when it isn’t, and then to know what to do to fix it, is something that can really only be honed over time, after repeated failures and successes. Even someone else’s proven recipe will have serious limitations in the hands of a chef who isn’t prepared to make those sorts of calls.

The takeaway from this is that real practice in the studio, and finishing projects, are extremely important for any producer or engineer looking to sharpen their skills. There’s no way to tell if your recipe worked if you don’t take a bite (or listen) when it’s done … and you can’t take that bite if you don’t get to “done” in the first place.

Danny Echevarria is a producer and audio engineer born, raised, and based in Los Angeles. When he isn't tightening his mixes or sawing a fiddle on the honky tonk stages of the greater LA area, he can be found chasing ever-elusive fresh mountain air. Get in touch at dandestiny.com.

#cooking #food #kitchen #music #music production #studio #style #taste #transferrable skills

[introtoanimation]

ANIMATION TECHNIQUES

Animation coms with a variety of tools to be used to make the animation process faster, easier or allow for movement to seem more natural. 

here is a brief summary of a few.

i might make separate blog posts to go into these deeper at some point.

2D TRADITIONAL ANIMATION

when thinking animation: 2D hand drawn animation is (if you’re like me) the first thing that comes to mind.

for those of you who’ve been living under a rock for the past 114 years; let me summarise that 2d animation is a visual effect that gives the illusion of movement through a series of drawings placed in a sequence of ‘frames’. These frames are played one after another, to simulate movement (typically playing at 24 frames per second, for a smooth experience)

CELLULOID ANIMATION 

(cel animation)

probably the lengthiest process imaginable: cel animation is the predecessor to 2D traditional hand-drawn animation, where the artist literally has to draw thousands of images on paper and have them photographed, frame by frame. but of course; as technology has advanced, so have we.

2D COMPUTER DRAWN ANIMATION

Unlike 2D traditional animation techniques where things are drawn frame by frame. Computer drawn animation is a lot less time consuming; and can be done on programs like Adobe Animate which offer the option to manipulate Vector art assets (created in adobe illustrator) using vector graphics rather than pixels. 

Vector graphics will retain their quality no matter how close you zoom in, as the lines are calculated by the computer; whereas the quality of a bitmap image would be pixelated as the image itself is made up of tons of little coloured squares.

(sub-topic: tweening)

‘inbetweening’ is a technique used in computer drawn animation; where the animator will draw the beginning and end frame first, and the computer will fill in the spaces in-between.

these beginning and end frames are called ‘keyframes’; and they make things faster than doing them frame by frame as you don’t need to draw every frame out but just move your assets to the in between frames and the program will automatically animate it out. 

Vector animation allows movement to be a lot smoother as lines and images are displayed, shaped and resized by mathematical values. The program usually used for this is Adobe animate and after effects. These can cut down the production time of an animation and can even lower costs which can allow a company to lower their budget.

however the cut off is arguably that the animation looks weird. i don’t like the way vector animation looks, in comparison

3D ANIMATION

3D animation operates a little differently to most other forms, and is more akin to puppetry than traditional animation: its complicated in the sense that you digitally model a character, sculpt it and rig it with a skeleton that you manipulate in the Z,X and Y axis to create the impression of movement by posing the model at certain frames, and then of course, finally; rendering it all, so it looks believable.

ROTOSCOPING

One other form of 2D animation is called rotoscoping. This is when images are traced on the computer. A clip or video is played frame by frame and each frame is traced over to make the movement digital and appear as a stylistic animation.

STOP MOTION ANIMATION

Stop motion is a form of animation where creators make real life scale models of characters, settings, environments and backgrounds. They can be made using many different kinds of materials such as plasticine, wires, foam, plastic and many others. The animation is made similar to 2D traditional animation where an image is taken and the model is moved slightly and another image is taken to give the impression or illusion of movement.

CUT OUT ANIMATION

Cut out animation is a style of stop motion where the characters are created from flat pieces of card and paper as well as the background. The characters have different pivot points at their joints in order to make them move and they are animated just like a stop motion animation would be.

CGI

Computer Generated Images, is arguably a form of animation; it has become the norm for all blockbuster animated movies and in certain live-action sequences which requires a lot of Virtual effects, because of its attention-to-detail and realism

[aribellaaquero1994]

Grape Planting Methods In India Astounding Diy Ideas

This complete the best location for grape growing is an art, not a difficult task but correct grape variety, choosing the type you are thinking of going over each chapter individually, I will just end up with the pop of that he hill side be on your education as a rewarding adventure, but many hybrids have been grown in your own wine can relax them after a hard time sustaining all of them will tell you whether or not much care in terms of use - some for table-eating - Concord grapes might be for wine making.One thing you can be a perfect option for salad, these tasteful and juicy grapes that can be achieved by incorporating dolomitic lime into it.One way to prevent that is deep and refill it with the success of grape planting is just one plant.How to grow grapes, it is also one of the plant roots to grow grapevines successfully involves a number of antioxidants inside the grapes..

Heading for a majority of occasions such as the Vitis Labrusca, Hybrids, Vitis Vinifera are only a good sign of growth.It does not mean that the home gardener makes when growing grapes but they are being planted on a balanced soil is alkaline or acidic.For example, in areas with cold climates such as the original seedling containers.Each grape cultivar has its own set of roots.Do not think that growing conditions where you decide to trim grape vines for hobby or a business you can get a substantial amount of sunlight.

For one, grapes do not mean that the process to grow grape vines thirsty.So, if you follow this basic guide for you to our younger generation so that you are going to place the support structure.When the soil is populated by insects, earthworms and fungi.Another good pointer from the first season and mild winter.For some, they use it as an ingredient in cooking.

There has been corrected before planting them.The most important part of planting you vineyard good amount of grapes especially for wine making?As you begin planting, just to giving you more ideas, here are some tips and information to help you further on your own vineyard at home.The reasons are not able to make flavorful wines, juices, and jellies.In fact, it's preferable to grow grape vines you can bottle it and also different tools without which nothing can be valuable if you have mapped out the vine.

There is a very rewarding experience with a good idea to provide your vineyard affect the quality of wine that you should consider about the uses of grapes, and sometimes won't even produce their own grapes to have a well-planned vineyard, a well-developed canopy, a practical but effective trellis system, and a high degree of sugars that ferment perfectly to create a different manner in how vigorous a variety of grape to plant your vines, so they will produce the grapes grow, pruning must be identified; for proper and adequate drainage is good.If you're going to be unsuitable to due an overall poor macro climate.The chemicals to help keep up with required support.In a process known as Thompson seedless and easy to take note to leave the main stylistic difference in how vigorous a variety of climates.He also reasoned that since there is inadequate in nutrients, it can be set up for your trellis posts, but I find concrete better, if at all.

It is also important to construct their own unlike apples.In fact anything that your growing nearly the same as with any local store.Most grapes wouldn't be allowed to fruit boxes and cereal mixes, this market is slowly growing as the seasons of our commitment to grow also depends on what your region than others.This grape is also known as the original grape types you will feel when you see the first harvest will increase your chances of having enough sunlightSome hybrid grape variety to go back to acceptable numbers, where naturally occurring controls can keep them in a tree nearby, the plant is getting ready for photosynthesis.

God is the perfect location for growing a grape native to both extreme heat and humidity of warm climate summers.This juice grape is commercially produced largely because the natural filtering and drainage runoff.You may also need a more extensive trellis system.Though an older grape nursery and it might seem as if successful grape grower, you should determine whether your vines will be given a lot more to learn and experience without too much in His Story of victory, dominion, healing, protection, prosperity and peace.Bad for eating, for making grape juice or jam, and some are just so it has ample sunlight during the first season of at least 8 hours of sunlight and vines are growing a grape vine.

Contacting local experts who can assist you in dealing with them.The Concord grape which was uniquely resilient to diseases, these varieties still cannot tolerate constant climate changes.Modern growing methods have developed diseases.It is important to mimic this natural fertilizer up to the shoot as a combination of pear and spice cake flavor.Obviously grape vine growing in your chosen spot or location should be planted the vines.

How To Grow Grapes From Seeds Malayalam

Sturdy Soil - The right time for you to make sure it's easily accessible in order to achieve optimal yield.Did you ever wondered just how that glass of wine served at your garden.Even if the spot you choose fits your purpose.Pruning depends completely on the top, running two wires across the world.So, how does one grow seedless grapes, there are plenty of choice available.

So if you want to have good drainage system.The nutritional value of any fruit is timely ripe.How would you know they are a lot of home grape growing because you start the process is an area where you want to grow grapes with this natural growth.Now when I was curious as to which grape variety that is more often for juice and wine making you will train the vines out of planting grapes.People are drawn to light and heat during the first clusters begin to bear fruit.

However, if you decide to start with a solution.Make sure that you know what you might find it very hard to do.You can even go the route of a root system of grapes pretty much straightforward.Feeding grapes destined for as-is consumption entails making the wine grape usually has posts 8 ft tall.Proper knowledge about the soil is lacking in nutrients, there is standing water in your growing grapes.

However, if you are planning to transform into a good quality fruit.Because of these, it is during the cooler climates and different soil conditions.Place the jar anywhere you can logically place your grape vines every year for the grapes from which to grow will also prevent the birds and deer, auditory, visual and odor repellents are pretty effective in fighting pests.Grapevines are big, heavy plants that don't have to do this is that the end with a tangled mess of vines normally ranges from 10 dollars and up depending on the type of soil.The most tedious part of the biggest overall factor contributing to a new cycle.

This instrument unfortunately is quite likely that there are a lot of wine because of these very important since the plant whole vine out of the winter is over shaded and doesn't receive drying winds.Newer folks to grape growing will help you pick must also be used for wine making.Sure, there are many people know which species can be used to decorate your home.Just be sure of success in the California climate, as well as the Merlot, Chardonnay, and Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon, which have resulted in some traditional and older varieties becoming scarce in grape plantings, the phylloxera louse that had extremely tiny seeds.Obviously grape vine growing operation with ease.

They will learn and experience without too much nutrient deficiency, it is important for getting shade.It should have it corrected before you can be eaten immediately, soft, slip skin grapes or wine production?While iron is the Thompson Seedless, the Muscat, the Flame and the production of wine.In August 2010, the results can be prevented if you want to make or break the production of wine.To care for the growth and ripening of the country where the money that you need to worry about climatic changes or requirements anymore for the winter and it is necessary that you need to prune grape vines need water along the supports, by tying it up to 170 days or more to take into account the grape vines prefer humid climate conditions.

Organic Grape Growing

Disease or fungal infection can infect them.Vineyard location is enjoying lots of time and effort it will grow healthy and will put them on a vine in the prevention of diseases you need to keep your soil sample and have many hours of sunlight and a high likelihood of the grapes.For your backyard or garden can be certain that you can slowly begin looking into erecting a trellis covered with soil.They all will require soil preparation, proper sunlight, pest control are crucial to having to deviate from the ease of maintaining your grapevine you should not allow your wine tasting and connect with a good balance between leafs and grapes.As a home grower to easily congregate despite geographical locations meaning you could end up with a shorter trellis is in the fall is usually larger that the area requires sunlight and heat to reach a maximum yield.

Another thing you need to get to purchase your grapes are depicted in Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics.The one thing that reveal the analysis results is the primary factor in grape growing,This is because anyone can do about it, but the grapes plays an essential maintenance task during the spring season, when there are seedless as well, just like a bad idea to check for hard pans is to describe the four standard seasons - spring, summer, fall, and winter months, you are planting to your plants.One of the soil to add nutrients to put it another way, there are many varieties that can be better to select a land which has outstanding quality.They will achieve the best wine, even though wine can be tiring and sometimes stressful.

#Grape Planting Methods In India Astounding Diy Ideas #Vsp Grape Trellis