#also just an appreciation for joe's insane talent truly! | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

inquisition-curations-blog · 5 years

Photo

Black Library: Damocles by ukitakumuki

artist’s commentary:

Black Library: Damocles

Check out the e/book here! : www.blacklibrary.com/warhammer… Illustration © Games Workshop Art director/producer: Karen Miksza ++++++++++++++++++++++ The brief for this one was a three-way melee between Kor'sarro Khan of the White Scars, Tau Commander Shadowsun, and Captain Kayvaan Shrike of the Raven Guard, amidst a mixed-force battle of White Scars, Raven Guard, and Cadian IG versus the Tau fighting atop a rocky promontory with jungle. The main focus of the show is Shadowsun, whom according to the reference and specs sent to me, often fields two shield drones. I thought that could be a perfect excuse to not end up in an awkward “2 on 1” prong attack. So that resulted in our assault marine captain Shrike pulling off a DFA and Kor'sarro timing a strike to take out her shield on one side. Given the hardback template/format I decided early on to have two back to back crisis suits behind the main trinary to visually frame the action and hopefully some narrative link to what was going on in the background. While sketching in comp ideas I was thinking of World in Conflict FMVs (yeah I watched a compilation vid of the different sequences but set to just Audioslave’s Shadow on the Sun… how apt for our Tau commander ) which inspired that jungle crossfire for the back cover (left of image), along with some physics logic I thought should be observed such as “if plasma based weaponry gets spammed in the general direction of a forest, there should be a moderate to high chance of a forest fire occurring” which kinda explains why we see the charred dirt and branches and hints of trees on fire in the back. Other favourite points of interest that I recall from half a year back: -Singed/scorched Imperial armour versus cracked/gouged tau armour -Drones buzzing a tree (near the sun) -Devastator Raven going head on with the battlesuit turned away from us, armour in the process of being seared off chunk by chunk. -White Scar reading poetry on the lawn in an admirable last stand -Unfortunate IG, now literally half the man he used to be. Courtesy of being in the open when Tau heavy artillery drops.

Check out the e/book by Joe Parrino here! :

www.blacklibrary.com/warhammer…

Illustration © Games Workshop

Art director/producer: Karen Miksza

++++++++++++++++++++++

This piece is, in my own way, dedicated to two very unique creatives whose achievements and trust in me have both inspired and helped me take my work to higher levels. Ghislain Barbe(

NOT because he is coincidentally now the art director on Eternal Crusade at BHVR

, but because when I was a kid I played a PC game called Heavy Gear by Dream Pod 9/Activision, and along with it came a printed game manual with wonderful mecha illustrations and diagrams that blew my little mind, and he was the illustrator of my favourite designs in the book.), and Peter Cooper(an incredibly kind and talented writer/director who years ago offered me the opportunity to do the illustrated set pieces for his HALO fan-film, Operation Chastity). Moreso because I think they might appreciate certain aspects of this image in their own capacities, like the pew pew lazars. Ok really its just about the lazars and the airburst munitions.

And my special thanks and apologies to my truly professional and patient producer, Karen Miksza, for enduring and evaluating a chickenscratch-sketch of mine that resembled more of a Rorschach exercise than anything. You rock!

As for the artwork:

Reading the brief, and visualising the narrative and technical approach, made me want to crawl under a rock somewhere and just go into a coma. But it dawned on me it was really about huge battlesuits and powered armour on bikes in a desert--the very stuff my favourite SF childhood memories were made of. So I put on some Bubblegum Crisis tracks to remind me of what I felt was special about the genre and what I would like to see happen again, and got back to work. "Say Yes!" by Maiko Hashimoto in particular, really helped bring back those memories.

Bearing in mind this is meant to be a triple-fold/paneled illustration; I was to illustrate a White Scars Stormseer fighting a Crisis Battlesuit with a tulwar on the front cover(rightmost third of image), looming Riptide in center third, and miscellaneous combatants filling up the remainder. The White Scars were to seem joyous in the midst of their hunt, armed with lances or tulwars in addition to the bolters on their bikes. All this was to take place on a dusty plain. I immediately thought that a scene showing a breached frontline would work best, to help put across just how fast moving and aggressive the White Scars are known to be, and for all the long distance planning of the Tau once up close and personal with Space Marines on bikes, it can quickly descend into unmanageable chaos. Troops having to divert their attention from the front to acquire stray bikers without hitting their friends, and crisis suits engaging their thrusters to quickly manoeuver along the ranks and train their guns on the bikes. Crisis suits... in a crisis of their own... aha..haha..h-

As a Chinese guy, I felt it got really hilarious at one point painting Fu Manchu 'roid mongols in sun-bleached white armour going to town on the Tau. So I just rode that wave as best I could Having my own front row seat and getting into the mentality of what it means to create a 40K flavoured illustration is making me more and more of a fan of what I think the franchise represents on different levels. When I say I find 40K really insane, I mean it in a sincerely optimistic way, and I think I am finally getting better at understanding where that balance point between grimdark outlook, cautionary tale/social commentary, and outlandish spectacle sits.

This reflection of what 40K meant to me, had me throwing out the idea that maybe in order for the Stormseer to even be in close combat with a Battlesuit twice his height, required he be presented in a way that could rival the nuttiness of the idea to begin with. So imagining a narrative, I assume these guys could have force-lances that they could also throw, using that as a medium range large-caliber stopping weapon (illustrated at bottom right) and then move into closer combat with their shorter range tulwars. (This of course sets up the visual excuse for the flapping blood-soaked hair plume on the end of the lance up front.) The stormseer would realise that his bolters might be ineffectual at getting him within close enough range so he would opt to just pop a wheelie off the frontline Tau and use the bolter riddled chassis of the crisis suit as a landing ramp and shield to buy him precious seconds to plan his next move. They're Space Marines. Seemed legit. "SAY YES!"

Other favourite details:

-Please excuse the slightly overdone prismatic effect on the Riptide's shield. I still think it looks nice and it makes some sense. Just riffing off similar idea in the previous Tau codex supplement. I also wanted to illustrate how the hexa-projection areas might be linked to individual projection nodes, and we would see how individual 'tiles' pulse under stress as opposed to having a continuous 'texture pattern'.

-I keep reading in the fluff how much advanced targetting tech the Tau pack, technically a Fire warrior would have onboard sensors and targetting aids, that eventually gets meshed with higher level networked data from sensor drones, add on to that markerlight data and more... basically it just sounds like a Tau shooter could be drunk, falling over, and still hit a fly in between its eyes having accounted for atmospheric disruption from 600 meters away. So that I felt gave me the right to imply that they can shoot incoming rounds out of the sky. Which we can see to great effect in the background and right behind the Stormseer. There of course is the consideration for fans who think its unreasonable, so they also look like they could be randomly hit because the relatively slow moving missiles are travelling through a firestorm of plasma. But I just wanted to say what the original intent was Also to the left is a inverted Phalanx-CIWS looking burst cannon drone that seems to be in charge of clearing the skies for ground troops (when I saw that design I almost stood up and clapped at the screen). And for those of you who absolutely do not buy any of that, there's this:

warhammer40k.wikia.com/wiki/Ai…

-Poor Tau loses his head in the background-The bikes were initially block-modelled in Sketchup to help me give a sense of their geometry and what I could do with them.This took over a week to do, the longest I've spent on any of the illustrations to date and burnt a weekend or so (gladly so) getting it done. I hope it makes the Tau and White Scars fans amongst you happy and rooting for your favourites and for mech heads in general

#warhammer 40k #40k #tau #space marines #imperium #raven guard #white scars #battlesuits #ukitakumuki #combat

141 notes · View notes

gr-ogu · 5 years

Note

When you get this, you must publicly post something nice about at least 5 different people you follow, then copy and paste this in each of their ask boxes

Okay so, I got like three of these asks, and for the sake of not spamming people’s dashes I’m just gonna do one post and tag many people and put it under a read more!!!!!!!

I would like to say there are SO many people I could put on lists like these so pls don’t think I don’t care about you if you’re not here!!!!!!! I have a lot of love to give but I can’t put everyone here in one go sdjfhjdfhjd!!!

@mikewheeler @elhoppers @scooptroops @lucascsinclairs @milevenhearteyes @milliebbrowns @fatechica @ericasinclairs @robinbuckleyy @milevens @martygalwrites @serendipitousrambles @summer-in-hawkins @mikeswheeler @sadiesinkt

@mikewheeler ally is LICH RALLY the nicest and most understanding person on the planet. I can tell her ANYTHING and she has honestly been one of the kindest friends I’ve met on my time on tumblr!!!! She’s the warm hug you need after a long day and I know I could call her 25/8 and she would be there if I needed her which honestly means the WORLD. She makes everything seem better even in the worst of times, and I can never thank her enough for that. 11/10 would die for her. Also I ruin my sleeping pattern every night for her so she loves me ;) THE MOST TALENTED GIF MAKER AND ALL AROUND WONDERFUL PERSON. LOML TBH WITH YOU.

@elhoppers SARAH. MY LOVE. MY LIGHT. I feel SO lucky to have met such a bubbly, thoughtful, positive soul in person. I could talk to Sarah for HOURS about anything and everything. Truly a comrade for life and she knows what I’m thinking even if I haven’t said it, which is useful bc sometimes my Thoughts should not be shared out loud ksdhfjkdfhjdfh. We have SO much in common and she’s so fun to talk to and scream with. Always down to overshare with this gal bc we get each other on a level. TWINS SEPARATED AT BIRTH TBH. also her gifs KILL me she always comes in swinging, especially where our daughter el or mileven is concerned!!!!!!!

@scooptroops omg how do i even BEGIN to describe my love for mady tbh? the funniest, wittiest, sluttiest and BEST human being i’ve ever met. not only is she fiercely loyal but she’s a true Baddie who always has my back. I love Mady so much I regularly talk about my love for her to people who don’t even know her, bc that’s just How It Be. this girl has me laughing until I cry with her hilarious memes and also crying with Pain at her beautiful gifs. She makes?? The best art?? On the planet?? Truly the full package and joe keery would be LUCKY to date her (sorry @ mady’s bf skdjfhjkfhfjdgh). I know I can talk to her about anything and I love Mady so so SO MUCH. Bestie and sister-wife for LIFE

@lucascsinclairs ohhhhh the ways i could describe jazz. GORGEOUS (inside and out), the most hilarious, supportive, understanding, caring, intelligent friend. I’m so so lucky to have someone in my life who is simultaneously so level-headed she can calm me down in an instant, and also engages in THE most crackhead-headassery with me AT ALL TIMES. insert *we irritating* meme right here. love this gal to DEATH. like i would literally die for her. 10/10 memes. 10/10 face. 10/10 EVERYTHING. I ALWAYS smile when I see Jazz pop up and I would be lost without her at this point!!!!!!!! LIVE for all our long chats and rants, Jazz is honestly one of the most interesting people I’ve ever met!

@milevenhearteyes ELLIEEEEEEEEEEE. MY BABY! Even though she’s older than me but don’t mention that ;) ;) ;) hands down, one of the sweetest, most genuinely caring and understanding people I’ve ever come across. But also the most SAVAGE oh my god she will sass you to the moon and back and i am HERE FOR IT! One day Ellie and I are going to meet and it’s going to be the summer of love and we’re going to have deep chats about what an influential and strong woman she is AND ALSO ABSOLUTELY SCREAM THE LYRICS TO TANGLED. CAN’T WAIT!!!!!!!! LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!!!! EVEN IF YOU HATE SOL I STILL LOVE YOU!!!!!! ;)

@milliebbrowns what can I say? 20/10 obsessed with this insane woman since the day I met her. Literally in awe of everything she does, especially her gif making talent. ALWAYS comes in with the tea, which……. I OOP I LOVE. One of the funniest people I’ve ever spoken to and I am always here for her Vaguely Chaotic and Loving Energy!!!!!!!!! will talk to me about anything and everything and never bullies me bc she loves me too much!!!!!!!!!! ;) LOVE THAT FOR ME. also go and talk to her about joe jonas but NOT nick………………… don’t even think about it. if you do you WILL be blocked on sight, although you’re probably already blocked because? colleen just knows these things? LOVE YOUUUU

@fatechica Julie - my absolute DARLING! Not only is she an absolutely incredible writer, she is a dear friend. I am constantly blown away by her talent, drive and ambition. NOT TO MENTION WE ARE BRAIN TWINS!!!!!!!! IT’S ACTUALLY KINDA SCARY BUT I LOVE IT. SO supportive and absolutely is here for all my crackhead, meme-loving, sluttiness and honestly, how could anyone ever compare to that? Gives THE best advice and is always telling it how it is, which I appreciate more than anything. 10/10 QUEEN who i adore and i can’t wait for the joint fic we’re going to write one day ;) ;) ;)

@ericasinclairs VAL. MY ANGEL. MY STEVE-LOVING PARTNER FOR LIFE. Honestly any time Val speaks I get excited because she always has something interesting, adorable or hilarious to say. LITERALLY MY GO TO SOURCE FOR EVERYTHING ST RELATED, LIKE THAT GIRL WORKS FOR THE FBI I SWEAR! IT’S INSANE! Out here making me laugh with the best memes and wowing me with her clever and gorgeous gifsets, like for real. This girl could run the world if she wanted to. 10/10 provider of the rares too, for which I owe her my life ;) honestly val is just a genuinely hilarious, talented, kind sweetheart whomst i adore

@robinbuckleyy ANNA! MY LOVE! MY BABY! LITERALLY ADORE THIS GIRL SO SO SO MUCH. Luckily she was introduced to my joe/steve-loving ass right off the bat so she puts up with my crazy ways and just laughs because she loves me for who i am ;) THE PRETTIEST, MOST INSIGHTFUL BEAN EVER WHO WRITES THE MOST AMAZING FICS!! SERIOUSLY!! GO AND READ THEM IF YOU HAVEN’T!! I am constantly in awe of her because she is SO mature and level-headed and I can’t believe what an excellent human being she is and how much she’s going to BOSS whatever she does in the future, because I KNOW she will!!!!!!!!

@milevens kate!!! a darling!!! a babe!!!!! i have loved stranger things since it first aired but kate was my first ever true interaction with the fandom, when i read one of her mileven fics and the rest was HISTORY! an insanely creative and talented gif-maker and writer, like she out here running a blog for the DECADES. I LOVE IT! I don’t know where I would be without kate’s work, tbh. Probably sad? Mileven stan for LIFE and I fuck with that. so looking forward to getting to know her better !!!!!!!!! and also the insanely generous person i have to thank for this ICONIQUE url she gave me, like could your fave ever?

@martygalwrites oh my god. marty is actually SUCH a legend i stan her so hard? we didn’t start speaking until recently but she’s so quickly become one of my favourite people???? writes 11/10 amazing fics, like how could anyone NOT cry at her talent? ALWAYS coming in with the hot takes and realness, and a TRUE joe hoe at her core. ALWAYS APPRECIATES MY MEMES AND VALIDATES ME BECAUSE SHE IS SUCH A KIND, LOVING PERSON. genuinely in awe of how articulate but also downright funny this woman is. literally just radiates Cool Energy like how can I be you tbh? can’t wait to come and stay at her house so we can go to a djo concert together

@serendipitousrambles oh my gosh, not only does jess write the most AMAZING FICS AND DRABBES THAT KILL ME ON THE DAILY, SHE’S SO ELOQUENT AND PATIENT AT RESPONDING TO PEOPLE?? EVEN WHEN THEY’RE RUDE TO HER?? a truly thoughtful and supportive friend, who I’m so lucky I got to meet !!!!!!!!! her obsession with ST and HP parallels mine so that when you KNOW you’ve found a good one. ALWAYS comes in swinging with her mileven analysis and headcanons, like i swear she’s just out to attack me Personally at all times??? a wonderfully funny and talented human bean

@summer-in-hawkins Kaisa!!!!!!! an actual angel!!!!!!!! her gifs are SO good like she regularly blows me away with her talent and her creativity - it’s unparalleled. Not only is she one of the sweetest people ever, she’s so genuinely calm, rational and insightful, I am in awe? she works SO hard and I always smile when I see her speaking and speak to her because she always has something fascinating to say! truly so passionate about whatever she’s doing which means she can do ANYTHING she sets her mind to; kaisa has so many qualities people should want to embody because she’s honestly a ray of light on a cloudy day!! amazing human!!!

@mikeswheeler KYY!! A QUEEN!!! ALWAYS SLAYING ME WITH HER GIFS AND MOODBOARDS TBH!!!! I don’t get to talk to her as much as I’d like, but when I DO? WOW. One of the most supportive and encouraging friends ever, 10/10 will always be there to hype me and I could not be more grateful for that. Also I love to make her lose her mind with all my crazy steve and joe tags, because the answers I get in response are absolutely HILARIOUS. just an all-round funny, helpful, lovely person who i am so lucky to know!!! like seriously!!!! brilliant human alert!!!!

@sadiesinkt ughhhhhh tuva is a BABE like no words to describe this darling of a human!!!!!!! firstly, her graphics? absolutely STELLAR like teach me your ways lend me your creativity pls!!!!! honestly i cry every time i look at them they’re so so SO good. secondly, she’s such a kind and giving person - we haven’t spoken too much but whenever we do i am struck by how thoughtful and authentic she is!!!!!! has my back and i could not be more thankful for that!!!! possessor of some ICONIQUE urls and just an overall amazing human!!!!!!!!!

#ily all very dearly #sorry for any typos this took like 10 years and i haven't read it back sgfhgdh #BUT IT COMES FROM THE HEART #Anonymous #asks

27 notes · View notes

thefilmsnob · 4 years

Text

Glen Coco’s Top 10 films of 2019

2019 was one of the better movie years I’ve experienced. It was no 2007 or 2013--we all know that--but it was pretty damn good. People who say ‘they just make crap nowadays’ probably aren’t really into movies and are definitely out to lunch. Dammit, now I want lunch. Anyway, here are my picks for the ten best films of 2019 which, as always, follow my runners-up and the traditional bonus track...There’s always a bonus track.

Runners-Up

-Bombshell

-Booksmart Full Review: https://thefilmsnob.tumblr.com/post/185427895290/booksmart-out-of-5

-Ford v Ferrari

-The Irishman

-Joker Full Review: https://thefilmsnob.tumblr.com/post/188571262775/joker-out-of-5

-Parasite

-The Peanut Butter Falcon

-The Two Popes

And here are my top 10!

#10b. (Bonus Track) Avengers: Endgame

Director: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo

Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, the rest of Hollywood

Maybe, like some people in the industry, you don’t consider Marvel films to be ‘cinema’. Well, that’s a legitimate and long debate for another time. But, you can’t say that weaving a narrative through 22 related films isn’t an impressive feat. That’s what Marvel Studios did and with the help of the Russo Brothers, and despite the countless moving pieces, they ended this chapter of the franchise almost perfectly with just the right balance of action, human drama, twists, turns and some surprisingly poignant moments. If you didn’t get goosebumps--and maybe even pee your pants a bit--when those portals opened up at the end, bringing to mind Gandolf’s triumphant entrance into the Battle of Helm’s Deep, then maybe movies just aren’t for you, my friend.

Full Review: https://thefilmsnob.tumblr.com/post/184694412545/avengers-endgame-out-of-5

#10. Marriage Story

Director: Noah Baumbach

Starring: Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson

Ironically, Marriage Story is actually about a divorce. But, writer/director Noah Baumbach imbues this civil-turned-nasty separation with all the complexity and aggravation that come with being married with child. He treats the divorce like the grueling process you’d expect it to be, one which involves real, flawed people whose needs and desires don’t align, making the situation increasingly distressing for all parties involved. In turn, Driver and Johansson make this distress increasingly palpable for the audience until it feels like we’re in the room with them during one of their several heated arguments. Both actors give some of the best work of their careers, yet it still may be overshadowed by Laura Dern and Ray Liotta who shine as the two ruthless lawyers representing them. Baumbach has been churning out these gems for years, but his latest, which may be his most accessible, may also be his best so far.

#9. Jojo Rabbit

Director: Taika Waititi

Starring: Roman Griffin Davis, Thomasin McKenzie, Scarlett Johansson

What do you get when you mix Nazi Germany, the ghost of Hitler and a poor Jewish girl trying to survive the second World War? You get one of the funniest and most touching movies of the year, of course. The surging writer/actor/director Taika Waititi, who specializes in quirky films filled with quirkier characters, hasn’t made the typically grim melodrama about Nazi Germany nor is he doing anything close to promoting Nazi culture. Instead, he uses the tale of a young boy who attends a Hitler Youth training camp to highlight the absurdity of this horrible movement while promoting tolerance. He delivers this powerful message by introducing a young Jewish girl who seeks refuge in the home of Jojo and his mother, played by Scarlett Johansson (who clearly had a good year). This leads to Jojo’s crisis of conscience which is complicated by his imaginary friend...who happens to be Adolf Hitler! Yes, the movie is different.

#8. Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood

Director: Quentin Tarantino

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie

It’s no surprise that Quentin Tarantino would make a film about 1960s Hollywood starring one of the most prestigious celebrity trios in the business; the guy’s passion--obsession even--for film is unmatched. Here, he uses the medium to take a horrific moment in history like the murder of Sharon Tate at the hands of the Manson Family and gives it the stereotypical Hollywood happy ending. In doing so, he showcases the wish fulfillment of the movies and their power to comfort us with optimism while simultaneously warning of their ability to shelter us from our cruel reality. DiCaprio and Pitt give brilliant performances as characters who add to the perception-vs-reality theme, DiCaprio playing the huge movie star full of anxiety and doubt in real life who relies heavily on his stunt double, Pitt, who’s the actual confident hero. All this and much more takes place in a meticulously recreated Hollywood of the ‘60s that sweeps you up in nostalgia and immerses you in a world of make-believe.

#7. Knives Out

Director: Rian Johnson

Starring: Ana de Armas, Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Jamie Lee Curtis, Christopher Plummer

Yes, there have been many murder mysteries. No, Knives Out isn’t just like the rest of them. Writer/director Rian Johnson does a masterful job at crafting a labyrinthine story that’s just complex enough without overwhelming and strikes a perfect balance of suspense and comedy. Featuring one of the greatest casts assembled in 2019 playing a dysfunctional family of despicable yet intriguing individuals of means, the story is full of truly surprising twists and turns and, more crucially, some well-integrated and astute social commentary. This isn’t a two-hour lecture, though; the film is undeniably entertaining. The stand-out here is detective Benoit Blanc, played by Daniel Craig with a delightful southern drawl and an attention to detail that rivals Sherlock Holmes. Craig transcends his James Bond persona while the film itself transcends a genre.

#6. 1917

Director: Sam Mendes

Starring: George MacKay, Dean-Charles Chapman

If this were a few years ago 1917 would be, without question, my #1 pick. However, as the long, uncut tracking shot has become more common over the years, it’s also lost a bit of its luster; 2014′s Birdman, one of the best films of the decade, also had the appearance of a single take. Nonetheless, to make a war film, with all its tricky choreography and pyrotechnics, look like one long take is still a phenomenal achievement and an absolute marvel to behold. And, although it obviously couldn’t be filmed in one shot, Sam Mendes and master cinematographer Roger Deakins still had to shoot long takes and stitch them together digitally while stealthily hiding the seams. It all helps tell the story of two young soldiers tasked with traversing treacherous territory to warn a Battalion of British soldiers about an impending German ambush. We follow the pair in real time amidst a story of remarkable bravery, enhanced by the fact that we’re with them every step of the way, at once experiencing everything they do up close while being reminded of how removed we really are from the danger they face.

#5. Uncut Gems

Director: Benny Safdie, Josh Safdie

Starring: Adam Sandler, Kevin Garnett (hey, why not?), Julia Fox

There are several talented actors in Hollywood who’ve gained a bad reputation for poor career choices. Ben Affleck and Will Smith come to mind. Perhaps the king of this group is Adam Sandler. He’s excelled sporadically in movies like Punch-Drunk Love and The Meyerowitz Stories, but he gives a truly Oscar-worthy performance in this--ahem--gem. As Howard Ratner, he’s a gambling addict who runs a jewelry store in New York’s Diamond district when he gets his hands on a rare Ethiopian black opal which he hopes will help pay off his many debts. In fact, he owes so much to so many people that he struggles to keep track of it all and we cringe every time he does. The tension builds to an almost unbearable level as a host of dangerous men seek payment. If that’s not enough, he’s on the verge of a divorce as he continues seeing a mistress who’s also his employee while owing $100 000 to his own criminal brother-in-law. If you were stressed just reading that, try watching the movie...or being Howard himself. The Safdie brothers don’t let up either, filming it like a documentary to add to its realism and immediacy...as if it needed that extra boost.

#4. The Lighthouse

Director: Robert Eggers

Starring: Robert Pattinson, Willem Dafoe

The first thing you notice watching The Lighthouse is that half the screen is missing; Robert Eggers, who also wrote and directed The Witch, shot the film with a 1.19: 1 aspect ratio, making the picture square, like an old-timey photograph. It feels limiting at first until you fully appreciate the feelings of confinement and anxiety it evokes. That’s important in a film about two lighthouse keepers, or wickies, who are forced to live together in insanely grungy and cramped quarters of a lighthouse on a remote island off the coast of New England. Considering the harsh conditions and the fact it’s a horror film, they soon clash and seemingly lose their grip on reality which manifests in macabre images and supernatural occurrences. Or does it? Ha! This is one of the most unique and beautifully filmed movies of the year with the grainy black and white 35mm making it seem like it was made closer to the late 19th century, when the film takes place. Like many recent horror films, this one relies more on mood and imagery than jump scares and is buttressed by only two actors who give award-worthy performances. Alright? So, go to hell; Pattinson can act.

#3. Little Women

Director: Greta Gerwig

Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh, Emma Watson, Timothee Chalamet, Eliza Scanlen, Laura Dern

You might assume that Little Women is a stuffy period piece and even unnecessary considering it’s the seventh adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s iconic 1868 novel, but the prodigious actor-turned-writer-turned-director Greta Gerwig is too adept in her craft to settle for conventional story-telling. She gives this classic story a fresh, modern take with a non-linear approach and a feminist angle that enhances without overwhelming. Like her work on Lady Bird, she keeps scenes brisk and to the point with decisive cuts. She also adds her unique wit and snappy dialogue. Every conversation, no matter how superficial, leaves you enraptured. So, too, do the characters; it’s a pleasure following these complex girls through the ups and downs of their lives as women of little means and even fewer rights. They’re portrayed by a stellar cast, particularly Jo March who’s played by Saoirse Ronan, perhaps our greatest sub-30 actress. This may be a little movie about little women, but the payoffs and sheer enjoyment are truly grand.

Full Review: https://thefilmsnob.tumblr.com/post/190231754125/little-women-12-out-of-5

#2. Us

Director: Jordan Peele

Starring: Lupita Nyong’o, Winston Duke

I know it’s blasphemous, but I might be the only person on Earth who not only thought Get Out was a tad overrated, but that Jordan Peele’s second feature, Us, is the superior picture. It’s easy to look at this film as merely a unique take on the slasher genre, but it’s so much more than that. Like any good horror, it’s creepy as hell, but it’s also brimming with foreshadowing, symbolism and metaphor. There are three or four ideas that Peele sets up at the beginning that seem disconnected to the story, yet they each have a specific purpose and when that becomes evident, it’s incredibly satisfying. Even more impressive is how Peele turns a movie about a vacationing family encountering their doppelgangers into a brilliant commentary on the current state of America, specifically in regards to class division and its relation to the Nature vs Nurture debate. And the movie’s neat twist at the end isn’t just added for shock value; it’s actually the final puzzle piece and essential in conveying the film’s message. I struggled with ranking Us at #1 or #2, but its over-reliance on slasher film action around the mid-point (a minor flaw) was the deciding factor. It’s near-perfect, nonetheless.

Full Film Interpretation: https://thefilmsnob.tumblr.com/post/184073868405/interpreting-jordan-peeles-film-us

#1. Midsommar

Director: Ari Aster

Starring: Florence Pugh, Jack Reynor, William Jackson Harper, Will Poulter

If there’s one thing for which the 2010s should be known, it’s great horror films, a refreshing development after decades of mediocrity. But, just like movies in general from the ‘New Hollywood’ ‘70s, horror films are more creative and ambitious than they’ve been in ages thanks to a handful of visionary filmmakers. Three out of the top five entries are horror movies and that’s saying something.

Midsommar is a mesmerizing horror film that hearkens back to the 1970s when the genre relied more heavily on atmosphere and pacing and sheer creepiness than on jump scares and gimmicks. It takes one hell of a talented writer/director to make a movie shot almost entirely in daylight feel so utterly sinister, but Ari Aster, who also made the acclaimed Hereditary, does just that with ease. What’s more, the film contains no monsters, nothing supernatural and an astonishingly minimal amount of violence, yet when we do see bits of blood and gore, it’s a complete shock to the system. What Aster does rely on is his mastery of lighting and framing to produce images that are unexpectedly eerie.

This is a movie that starts with a group of anthropology students looking to take part in a once-in-a-lifetime festival at a commune in the Swedish countryside and ends in an unspeakable nightmare. It’s a long and sometimes grueling experience that steadily snowballs into horror, but that slow burn is crucial for this delightfully nerve-wracking series of events. Oh, and it’s also a breakup story...possibly the scariest breakup story of all time. It’s certainly the best film of 2019.

#2019 films #top 10 of 2019 #movies #movie review

6 notes · View notes

quarantineroulette · 5 years

Text

Minor Disappointments’ Least Disappointing Releases of 2018

Preamble: I had a bit of a low (not Low, although that would’ve been preferable) period in 2018 that went on for several months. I didn’t really listen to music during that time, and so I missed out on a lot of things. I’m kind of too scatterbrained from holiday hysteria to really take in anything new. So these lists probably don’t designate “the best”, but they’re decent documents of what I wasn’t too distracted or down to take serious notice of.

Secondly, my own band released an album this year, and that occupied a large amount of time normally reserved for listening to other bands. I won’t rank it because I don’t want to be that conceited...but if you want to check it out for yourself, the highlights for me are “For the Rest to Rest”; “Open Up the Ways”; “Screen Test”; and “Suspend Disbelief”. One of my favorite reviews of it described our sound as being a “unique blend of post-punk, brit-pop, indie, and a little post-rock too.” and said we’re “one of the smartest bands to come out of Brooklyn in a very long time.” This is both why people should listen to it and also why they might not.

Thirdly, one of the things I listened to the most this year was Protomartyr’s Consolation EP, but I’m refraining from listing it as it’s not a full-length. That said, I think it’s as good as nearly anything I’ve heard this year, Protomartyr are the best and both of their live sets I caught were my favorite gigs of 2018. TLDR: Protomartyr = good. Most other things on this list = equally good but not Protomartyr. Let’s get started shall we?

10 Songs That Were Good:

10) Neko Case & Mark Lanegan - Cures of the I-5 Corridor. How has a Neko Case / Mark Lanegan duet not existed until 2018?? No matter the year, something this gorgeous and heartbreaking is always worthy of making the cut.

9) Lana Del Rey - Mariners Apartment Complex . I remember Spencer Krug tweeting something kind of snarky about “Venice Bitch” a few months back, then deleting it, and damn well he should’ve because both that and “Mariners Apartment Complex” are blinders. “Venice” may be the most low-key epic ever, but the way “Mariners” takes hints of Leonard Cohen and Lee Hazlewood / Nancy Sinatra and places them in a pop context is perhaps even more admirable. It’s truly inspiring to hear mainstream music this nuanced.

8) Parquet Courts - Tenderness . I love the jaunty piano, and how Andrew Savage’s vocal take is simultaneously forceful and lax. But most of all I love how all its elements converge to create a sense of hard-won optimism.

7) Iceage - Thieves Like Us . Iceage do a swamp cabaret song and I just can’t love it enough.

6) MGMT - Me and Michael . Yes, it’s ridiculously ‘80s, but you would have to be a very dour person to not smile whenever that opening synth riff kicks in.

5) Shame - One Rizla . Riff of the year. Hands down.

4) Bodega - Jack in Titanic . One of the great things about 2018 was witnessing Bodega’s success. To me, they’ve always been one of the few up-and-coming indie bands with the charisma to be actual stars, and it’s been a joy seeing the rest of the world take note of this. From the moment I heard “Jack in Titanic”, I just knew it was destined to show up on a BBC Radio 6 A-or-B list at some point in the near future (and it did!). And yeah, they’re my good friends, but even if they were strangers I’d appreciate the smartness, melodic hooks, and sexiness all the same:

youtube

3) Preoccupations - Disarray . Click on that link because the song is really good, but be warned -- the vocal melody is never, ever going to leave you.

2) Protomartyr - Wheel of Fortune . This song has everything: a nerve-wracking stop and start guitar part, an at-once badass and terrifying refrain, Kelly Deal, and the exact sense of urgency that’s needed right now. Powerful, timely, and a rare example of a song that puts its guest star to highly effective use.

1) Janelle Monae - Make Me Feel . This song combines about five different Prince songs but Janelle Monae’s personality is so strong that the end result is something wholly her own. And if the song weren’t a blast on its own, the technicolor video is almost lethally fun:

youtube

10 Albums That I Loved A Lot:

10) Arctic Monkeys - Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino . I really loved this album but I’m ranking it as 10 just because it’s the Arctic Monkeys and I can’t believe I enjoyed anything they’ve produced *this* much -- especially a lounge album about a casino on the moon. I find Alex Turner overrated as a lyricist and cosplaying a Bad Seed isn’t endearing to me, but he obviously loves Scott Walker a lot so I guess he gets some sort of pass.

9) Moonface - This One’s of the Dancer and This One’s for the Dancer’s Bouquet . The only reason this isn’t ranked higher is because I haven’t been able to give it the attention it deserves. This is a concept album where some songs are sung from the pov of the Minotaur and others from Spencer Krug, and both these creatures are enigmatic are too enigmatic to be given mere surface reads. This all said, I’ve listened enough to glean that, as always, Spencer’s lyrics are awe-inspiring, the marimba is implemented well, the alternate version of “Heartbreaking Bravery” is excellent, and comparing and contrasting its themes with those found on Wolf Parade’s 2017 release Cry Cry Cry is a fun past time if you’re me or seven other people. Looking forward to delving deeper in 2019.

8) Janelle Monae - Dirty Computer . To be honest, I *was* a little disappointed in this. It’s not as cinematic or stylistically adventurous as Monae’s previous full-lengths, but I think Monae herself is extremely talented and I wish she was a much bigger star. Furthermore, when considered against the drek of the general pop landscape, this is still a bold, unpredictable, and intelligent pop record from a true enigma.

7) Luke Haines - I Sometimes Dream of Glue . Like “Kubla Khan” if it had been written after huffing a river full of glue, but instead of Xanadu it’s an English village full of miniature people having a orgy:

youtube

6) Parquet Courts - Wide Awake! . No other song better captures the frustrations and anxieties of living in NY in 2018 than “Almost Had to Start a Fight / In and Out of Patience”, and for that alone this album would make the year-end cut. But it also happens to be brilliant start to finish, with the two closing statements, in the form of “Death Will Bring Change” and “Tenderness” respectively, being among PC’s best.

5) Low - Double Negative . Mimi Parker’s voice emerging from a sonic cocoon on “Fly” is one of the most gripping moments of Low’s fantastic career. This album challenged me the most in 2018, but it’s also one I frequently returned to, determined to crack its code.

4) Preoccupations - New Material . I suppose some would dismiss this as too trad. post-punk, but holy hell - these trad. post-punk songs have got some hooks! And there isn’t quite another singer like Matt Flegel, who somehow manages to channel Bowie and Mark Lanegan at the same time. I’ve listened to this so much that New Material already feels like a well-loved classic.

3) Gazelle Twin - Pastoral . I would argue that Pastoral is the closest anyone’s come to making something comparable to PJ Harvey’s Let England Shake. An electro-pagan examination of Britain’s heritage and history (and the whole Brexit thing) that manages to feel thorough despite only being 37 minutes long, Pastoral moves beyond being just “a record” and becomes something closer to contemporary art. Elizabeth Bernholz’s vocals, whether warped or unconstrained by processing, are remarkable throughout. A mash-up of folk traditions and modern beats that somehow works shockingly well:

youtube

2) Idles - Joy as an Act of Resistance . Boyfriend / bandmate James and I have discussed this album more than any other this year, and it’s been a pleasure hearing his love for it and forming my own appreciation of it in the process. What sealed it for me was James’ description of “Idles” as pagan, and how the band’s use of repetition and simple melodies (as well as their bacchanalian stage presence) created an air of ritualism. In their primalness, they even remind me of The Birthday Party - a “woke” Birthday Party, but a Birthday Party all the same. My favorite musical moment of the year may very well be Joe Talbot’s first shout of “UNITY!” in “Danny Nedelko”, primordial, raw, unpretentious, and completely punk. We *need* these guys right now:

youtube

1) Suede - The Blue Hour . There is a joke in the TV show 30 Rock in which Jack Donaghy -- Alec Baldwin’s network head character -- says he attended Harvard Business School, where he was voted “Most”. The Blue Hour could be considered “Most” -- it’s meant to be taken as one piece, it’s insanely grandiose and, like its predecessor Night Thoughts, listening to it makes everything in my life seem 18 times more dramatic and tragic. I don’t know how, but this bizarre mashup of Kate Bush, Jacques Brel, Pink Floyd, Scott Walk, Gregorian chanting, classic Suede, spell books and (of course) David Bowie somehow seems bizarrely in step with 2018. Seeing as this top three consists of albums that are arguably “pagan”, and folk horror’s representation in popular 2018 films like Hereditary, The Blue Hour feels accidentally on trend. It’s crazy to think that a band whose first release happened 25 years ago could still be relevant in 2018, but Suede somehow are so please give these dads a hand and then listen to The Blue Hour’s glorious closing trio of songs a lot, because boy are they “Most”.

3 notes · View notes

wrestlinghasmelike-blog · 6 years

Text

Monday Night Raw-April 30th, 2018: First Hour

Hey what’s up, fam? Happy Monday to y’all. I had a stressful and anxious, but productive day. I hope you guys had a better day than I did, and I hope that we’re all ready for Raw!

Also, this week is going to be a busy week for me, so I don’t know when I’ll have my G.R.R thoughts up, or when I’ll get a chance to watch it. When I do, you’ll know!

Please let me know what you thought of the show! What was your favorite match? Favorite segment? Leave some comments, I’d love to hear from you! Please share the posts if you have a moment!

Opening- Roman Reigns

Wow, what a not warm welcome at all for Roman tonight. That was a massive amount of boos for Roman. I’m a little shocked, to be honest. I mean he’s not my favorite, but with all the shit he’s been going through with Brock and the company lately, I think he deserves at least some appreciation.

...when are we going to get our full-time champion? I’m not waiting another year for a new champion.

Canada really does not like Roman oh dear. This is what happens when you force a guy to be the face of the company when no one wants him.

Samoa Joe came on the screen so suddenly it scared me honestly. He and Roman will be facing off at Backlash this Sunday, one-on-one. I’m predicting that Roman will walk away with a win. WWE needs to build him up again, make him a strong force again.

Jinder is now confronting Roman, claiming that he will beat Roman tonight? Are they fighting? Can they not?

SAMI ZAYN IS OUT AND THAT POP HE GOT HAS WARMED MY HEART I ADORE THIS MAN

AND NOW KEVIN OWENS IS OUT AHHH THIS IS ALSO ANOTHER AMAZING CROWD REACTION AHHH

I live for Kevin and Sami speaking French to the crowd and them chanting French back to them.

They’re all fighting about who’s gonna face Roman, but I know as well as everyone else that this will somehow turn into a tag match.

Bobby Lashley has come to the aid of Roman, as well as Braun Strowman.

...I smell a 6-man tag, don’t you...

Elias vs. Bobby Roode

Apparently, the newest rumor surrounding Elias is that he is on his way to being the newest boy to get a push. I have mixed feelings on that, honestly. He can get behind all the other guys who deserve the push more than he does. Like Finn, as I keep saying. Where’s his push dammit?

Roode is doing okay on Raw thus far. He’s pretty much won every match he’s been a part of, except the loss to Elias last Monday, but he is a title-picture guy, not a mid-card competitor. WWE needs to treat Bobby appropriately, or they’re going to lose a great athlete.

Bobby just landed a picture perfect dropkick to the jaw of Elias. Bobby is so goddamned calculated with his moves. Dropkicks, blockbusters, Bobby will nail them every time. I think he’s being paired with Elias right now so Bobby can rub some of his veteran skills off on Elias. Elias is coming into his own as a wrestler, if he could only move away from the guitar a little bit.

Elias has taken the momentum away from Bobby in the match now, literally chucking Bobby all the way across the ring. Elias’ aggressive personality and in-ring work could help him if he gets a push, but I don’t know if he’s ready for the Universal Title push. Like he could beat Brock anyway, but still.

These guys are putting on a better match than I anticipated. Bobby and Elias were given time to fight, they’ve used it well, and this is a great match. Bobby is bringing the fight, but he can’t get too frustrated, or Elias is going to take that control back, like he just did.

A small package sequence led to Bobby being thrown into the ring post neck first by Elias, and he just bounced off the post and flew onto the floor, clutching his neck and chest in agony. I hope that this is not a true injury to Bobby, because he’s honestly selling it so well I cannot tell. The ref never really counted out Bobby, but Elias took a microphone anyway and announced himself as the winner. Elias is a good heel and all, but let’s actually finish a match for once, shall we?

Authors of Pain vs. Local Talent (Jean-Paul and Francois?)

Ugh, alright.

Stop with the local talent, and give AoP the tag titles now.

AoP slammed these guys. Next!

Seth Rollins

Well, in what I heard was a pretty good match last Friday, Seth retained the title and Finn was very upset and got a really bad cut on his eye. My brother texted me that Finn was bleeding really badly and I was ready to lose my shit at work. But congrats to Seth anyway, if Finn can’t get the title, then I’m glad Seth can.

It’ll be Seth vs. Miz, who is on Smackdown now, this Sunday. I can’t help but wonder if Finn will insert himself in that match at all. If he isn’t, he won’t have anything for this Sunday, and I absolutely hate that.

Seth is hyped up tonight. He is the true champion of Raw, and the greatest one we have right now. The crowd is so behind him, it’s insane. The crowd is truly amazing tonight, I wish I was there in person, but I’m feeling the emotion through my screen, and it’s amazing. As much shit as the WWE gives us, these are the best moments.

Finn is out now, sporting a black eye that just breaks my heart. And he spoke French! I’m dead!

FINN CHALLENGED SETH FOR THE TITLE TONIGHT GODDDDD

FINN JUST FUCKING SAID I LIKE THAT BUTT BUT HE MEANT BUT OH MY GOODNESS THIS SHOW

The title match is set!

The Miztourage is out now, presenting Seth and Finn with a new “business opportunity” to become the new four horsemen of the WWE.

OH MY GOD FINN SNEAK ATTACKED SETH IS THIS PRINCE DEVITT WE’RE SEEING PLEASE GODDD PLEASE

I can’t wait for the title match now.

Sasha Banks vs. Ruby Riott

I am very exhausted with Sasha Banks. She was never a favorite of mine, and currently, I think she’s losing her pull with the fans. She’s got to step up her game somehow and win the crowd back, or at least turn heel and rewrite the character a bit.

I’m also feeling a little exhausted with the Riott Squad and Absolution alike. They bring the exact same things to the table, and they show no originality in their respective groups. I get excited with these women factions for a good while, but when they become stagnant like this, I lose interest. They cannot do the same things every week.

The crowd seems more into the match after a commercial break, and it looks like Ruby brought out some aggressiveness to bring Sasha down a bit.

This match has a lot of false finishes, it’s...getting to be too long.

Ruby just did this awesome backwards cannonball jump off of the top rope it was so cool! Sasha also kicked out of that how in theeee helllllll

With the help of Sarah Logan and Liv Morgan, Ruby was able to overwhelm Sasha and kick her off the top rope and pin her.

That wraps up the first half of Raw. An interesting show for the time being, and that Finn/Seth segment oof my heart. The crowd is awesome tonight. I’m excited for that title match later!

3 notes · View notes

auburnfamilynews · 5 years

Link

@mikethetiger

How to navigate a weekend of college football through an Orange and Blue lens

Greetings Tiger fans! Today is one of those special fall Saturdays. Everybody sleep well last night? Especially enjoy that cup of joe this morning? The cool, crisp air is all around us for the first time all season. And on this blessed Saturday, we all get to enjoy the rarest of moments in the season...a reprieve from the anxiety and stress we uniquely identify with as proud supporters of our Auburn Tigers.

It’s not that we don’t enjoy this. It’s our birthright as fans, after all. But today, while we enjoy a much needed break, standing at a respectable 5-1 on the season, let me take this opportunity with a handful of games both in and around the SEC to hopefully figure out where our rooting interests should lie today. First, a few things to keep in mind...

Of course I’m always pulling for Auburn.

I’m looking at this as a “what ultimately benefits our cause” perspective

I’m always are going to pull against Georgia

I’m always are going to pull against Alabama...***UNLESS***

Alabama is playing Georgia with a national championship on the line*

*About #5...I’m not here to pretend like I haven’t gotten just a little bit numb to Alabama winning a national championship. It is what it is. But I will never yield ground to that school to the east who wants to pretend like they’re God’s gift to football. This is a group of people who spit on me and many other Auburn folks in Athens in 2014 and 2016. This is a group of humans who choose to bark like animals at other people. I can not, and will not, find reason to ever hope for anything but the worst kind of despair and disappointment for those people. They have managed to make Alabama the lesser of two evils by their actions, and they should never be forgiven for it.

Now, with that out of the way, onto this weekend’s slate!

Florida at LSU

I know what you’re thinking. A Florida win serves to benefit Auburn both in the hopes of an SEC West Championship, a potential rematch with Florida in Atlanta, and may expose LSU before we travel to Baton Rouge in 2 weeks. Plus, Florida doing well should, on paper, make us look better. I’ve thought the same thing this past week! But let’s think this one through for a moment:

An LSU win here, and an Auburn victory in Baton Rouge negates any need for us to care about a loss to Florida helping our resume

Florida ain’t getting back to Atlanta with Georgia on left on the schedule, and probably another loss hidden in that schedule somewhere (look at their record against Missouri the last few years!)

We need LSU to hang in there for now in the West standings with us and Alabama left to play. Let’s say we beat LSU and they somehow beat Alabama for the first time since 2011. We’re going to want them to win a tiebreaker against Alabama if we can’t win out and take another loss between Georgia and Alabama.

For these reasons...Geaux Tigers. Also if we’re being honest my bitter Auburn heart ain’t gonna pull for a team that had one of the dumbest wins over us in a hot minute.

Play it. Play it early, play it often. Make the Valley shake and unleash hell.

Texas vs. Oklahoma

Admittedly I am LOVING watching Jalen Hurts this year! I finally get why Alabama people cherished him so much. For the life of me I can’t understand why in the world it took me until this season for me to finally come around and appreciate him and his talent.

These two teams are most likely to play twice, and I want Oklahoma in the playoff. Why? Because I don’t want 2 SEC teams in the playoff. For us to make it we’re going to have to win out, so no sense in pulling against a team when a loss could open a door for a non-SEC Champion Alabama or Georgia to get into this thing without earning it.

Jalen Hurts’ story is truly one that we should all be able to get behind and be happy for him. Plus the idea of him winning a Heisman, winning a showdown with Alabama in the playoff, and a national championship will drive them insane.

BOOMER SOONER!

Florida State at Clemson

Clemson ain’t as good as they were a year ago...yet. Seems they do this every year where they take until November to figure it out as a fully-charged super weapon.

We need Clemson in the playoff for the same reason that we need Oklahoma in the playoff. We don’t need 2 SEC teams in this thing. Matter of fact, if it’s not us, we don’t need any.

Clemson is one of the few teams in America that is capable of doing the dang thing against Alabama or Georgia.

Florida State, despite having a head coach in Willie Taggert that I like, doesn’t deserve to ever have anything good happen to them again. If you need to know why then you’re on the wrong website.

C-L-E-M-S-O-N!

Mississippi State at Tennessee

So here’s the thing...we need Tennessee to figure out this whole football thing again. As long as they’re the only other school in the conference to play Georgia and Alabama every year, we need this program to find some semblance of life and get on the right track. With that in mind, we need Mississippi State to win this game. Why?

Tennessee is past the point of no return on this season. If Pruitt loses his job over it, maybe they’ll finally get it right with the next hire. Don’t give this group of people reason to practice patience when they’ve got a coach who is absolutely going to get fired at some point. Pull for them to go ahead and pull that trigger.

Joe Moorhead is 100% in over his head in Starkville, is no Dan Mullen, and it would be super nice to give them reason to have a tad more patience with him after BLOWING IT last season with the nation’s #1 defense.

In summary...CLANGA!

Alabama at Texas A&M

Texas A&M is the weirdest group of people I have ever seen. Don’t let the “Howdy!” greeting fool you. Members of their last national championship team were in their 60’s the last time Georgia won a national championship. And that was THIRTY-NINE YEARS AGO. This group of people worship a collie and have partaken in drinking $75 million worth of Kool-Aid on an overrated head coach who is going to perpetually lose 3-5 games a year. AND IT WOULD ABSOLUTELY INFURIATE ALABAMA PEOPLE TO LOSE TO THEM. It goes without saying who we are pulling for here, because, while this ain’t happening, there is nothing that could happen this weekend that would be more hilarious. GIG ‘EM TEXAS AGGIES! (Sorry Crow)

BONUS ROOTING INTEREST!!!

Tide fans having to endure a game with 60 degree temperatures and being vastly underprepared due to them being conditioned to their greatest rival...the heat.

South Carolina at Georgia

SPEAKING OF THINGS THAT WOULD BE HILARIOUS...this...this ain’t happening. Although, the year Muschamp got fired from Florida, this happened.

I think the Nature Boy sums up my feelings perfectly...Go ‘Cocks!

Ole Miss at Missouri

Don’t need Ole Miss to be a resume building win for Auburn

Definitely need Missouri to continue to get better in case they’ve got a shot at Georgia later this year

Ole Miss needs to hurry up and fire Matt Luke and make a huge mistake by hiring a Saban assistant who isn’t ready away from Alabama since they won’t hire RichRod or Mike MacIntyre since they’ve done absolutely nothing to show they should be considered for the job.

M-I-Z! Z-O-U!

is a place that calls you back with a simple, familiar tune. Dear old varsity, here's to you. #MIZ108HC | #ShowMe pic.twitter.com/m14EHWNwEA

— Mizzou Football (@MizzouFootball) October 10, 2019

Arkansas at Kentucky

It would be easy to think we shouldn’t care who wins this game because Gus Malzahn is going to bring the annual hand of God slap to Arkansas next weekend, but this is a team that has gotten better, even in defeat. The last thing I want to see is them having any semblance of hope going into next weekend. I want a half-full stadium for a breakfast game next weekend so they’re demoralized when we step on the field.

C-A-T-S CATS! CATS! CATS!

(Never forget that this happened. Ever.)

UNLV at Vandy

Non-conference game for an SEC team. By default, I’m pulling for UNLV. Anything good happening to anyone else in this conference is ultimately not good for Auburn.

VIVA LAS VEGAS!

Check back in the future for more tutoring on exactly how Auburn fans need to view important games of the weekend!

from College and Magnolia - All Posts https://www.collegeandmagnolia.com/2019/10/12/20910753/rootability-index-vol-1

#IFTTT #Blogger #auburn #auburn fast #wareagle #AuburnFamilyNews #war eagle #sec #football news #aubu

0 notes

thepapermixtape · 6 years

Text

A Los Angeles Guide for Rising Musicians: My Journey as a Manager

By: Astrid Hernandez

To become a musician takes talent—maybe that talent is something one works towards over the years, or maybe it’s something they’re born with. Nonetheless, having the ability to make and play music for people is a dream many musicians have, but how easily can it be obtained? Throughout my life, I have met many talented people who wish to pursue a career in music; however, one person who has stood out to me is my friend, Joseph Aleshaiker. I met Joe a little less than a year ago, and right off the bat his charisma and determination to pursue a career in music was astonishing. Having been playing music since he was nine years old, Joe brings together rock elements inspired by bands such as Muse, Queen, and Nirvana while incorporating the Spanish flamenco style guitar to create a hauntingly beautiful sound.

In the couple of months before school ended last year, Joe wanted to get even more serious about his music and decided that over the summer he was going to perform as much as he could. However, as a previous performer he knew just how hard it can be to get gigs. Up until this point I was giving Joe small bits of advice here and there on his sound, merchandise, how he desperately needed a website, and places I’d come across that were offering gigs. Seeing his passion radiating through him, I decided to take on the challenge of being Joe’s manager over the summer and help him get gigs. I figured if a person with no ties to the industry could help a musician perform in front of crowds, then anyone who’s willing to put in the work can do so as well.

With a determined mindset, I notified Joe of my plans and began my journey as a manager. I remember first thinking, “How am I going to do this?” I didn’t know any places that would have musicians come in to play live music. To be quite honest, I was very lost at first, but as time went by it became easier. When I first started I dedicated around six hours a week to solely researching coffee shops, restaurants, and bars that offer live music. By the end of the summer, I was dedicating around two hours a week to the task, simply because I knew exactly what to do to find what I needed. One of the first gigs I found for Joe was a small one at The Republic of Pie in North Hollywood. I remember attending and seeing the 20 people sitting near the stage watching Joe as he played—it was nowhere near a large stage or a full-on concert, but it was a very close and personal gig. We all enjoyed some good food and great music, and that’s how it went for a while.

When I first started sending Joe gigs I wasn’t doing him much of a favor by sending him bigger venues such as Hotel Café. We received rejections and silence from many places. I could occasionally see how it affected Joe, but this only made me more determined to find him places that would give him a yes. However, rejection comes in different forms—a simple silence is more bearable than an email saying, “No thank you, we’re not interested”, and an email is more bearable than performing somewhere three times only to then have them tell you they wouldn't like to have you back. Unfortunately, Joe went through all of these forms of rejection, standing strong through the first two, but having the last form take a toll on him. Hearing someone tell him they wouldn’t like him to return lowered his self-esteem as a musician and caused him to make the decision that he needed a short break from performing. Rejection is a stepping stone all musicians have to stumble upon as a point in their careers, and it’s okay to let it hurt—it’s even okay to take a break, as long as you come back stronger.

Joe ended up playing at Holy Grounds in Pasadena, Tony’s Deli in Anaheim, Nite Light in LA, and The Mint in LA over the course of two months leading up to one of his favorite performances at 626 Night Market. As a person who attends 626 Night Market nearly every year, I knew that the musicians were given actual stages and tend to draw fairly large crowds. I am almost always a person in one of those crowds supporting rising musicians. That day Joe was on an actual stage five feet off the floor looking down at his crowd rather than straight at them like he was used to. His experiences with his smaller gigs had led up to this, and he killed it. With a one hour set and an insane amount of energy, he did his set and radiated energy every second he was jumping around the stage. This is as good as it gets, we thought, a good way to end the summer. However, prior to summer starting I had Joe audition for This is Bruin Life, a huge show at the beginning of the school year designed to welcome UCLA students back to school. When he was accepted to perform in the show, Joe realized he was going to be playing in Pauley Pavilion a little later than he should have. Joe originally thought what he auditioned for was a much smaller event than what I knew it was. So, when This is Bruin Life arrived, Joe performed in a nearly full stadium with around 7000 people in attendance. It was after this performance that we realized this was where we wanted to end the summer. From coffee shops to stages to stadiums, the three month journey in which I set out to be a manager was complete, and the progress Joe made in his performances spoke for themselves.

This summer made me realize just how rough performers have it in LA. While it seems like a huge city, the options for performers aren’t as abundant. Every other week I’d find myself looking into towns on the outskirts of LA because, in reality, there aren’t many places that give rising musicians a chance. I almost always emphasized how I could only find a couple venues at times. A typical email I’d send Joe would read along the lines of

Hi Joe Joe,

I only found 3 more venues this week but hopefully, they end up working out for you! One is more of a music festival and two are venues, so let me know what they say.

Echo Park Rising : Locations Vary - Check out the website before you sign up. This is more of a festival type of thing.

Hi Hat LA : Located: 5043 York Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90042 Some free shows, some you have to pay for, so shoot them an email and see what they say. Oh, check out the website too. [email protected]

Resident : Located: 428 S Hewitt St, Los Angeles, CA 90013 Some free shows, some you have to pay for, same as Hi Hat. “If you’re interested in booking a show at Resident, please [email protected] ”

As always Best wishes,

Almighty dictator

the girl with anger issues

who's also stressing over life... Astrid!

Since we were such close friends, I’d make sure each email had something funny incorporated in it, to which Joe would reply to in a couple of days with a hilarious comment and an update on which places said yes. I’d note every yes on a Word doc in which I’d keep all his potential gigs listed. I truly became invested in this experience. This whole journey truly proves that it is completely possible to perform in front of crowds without the help of a label or a professional manager—all you need is a laptop and a couple of hours to spare. Reach out to other musicians and see how they land their gigs. What is most important is that you have the passion and determination to play no matter how many people are in front of you or how big your stage is.

While I may have been the one emailing Joe on a weekly basis with places he could play at, he got them to take a chance on him based on his talent. When this summer came to an end, so did my job as a full-time manager. However, Joe’s job as a performer hasn’t ended in the slightest. He is still performing and giving his all at following his dreams to make them a reality, pushing through the low moments when they come and performing and enjoying the highs. His next gig is on the 24th of October at the Fowler Museum at UCLA.

Want to play some gigs yourself? Try out these venues I found during my experience as a manager:

Republic of Pie – NOHO

“If you are interested in performance opportunities send an email including a description, availability, and sample links to [email protected]” – joe got a gig here

Holy Grounds – 5371 ALHAMBRA AVE

“You may contact Mark via email [email protected] to book a spot on a future date. **Please include links to your music and/or social media as we do promote musicians on our platforms* -joe got a gig here

The Mint LA : Located: 6010 Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90035 (Joe got a gig here)

so far sounds : it’s always a different venue!

peppermint club : located: at 8713 BEVERLY BLVD. WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA 90048

The Viper Room : Located: 8852 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069

Nite Light: Located: 8967 Sunset Blvd West Hollywood, CA 90069

For Booking Contact: [email protected] (Joe got a gig here)

hotel cafe : Located: 1623 1/2 N. Cahuenga Blvd. Los Angeles, Ca 90028

The Fifth : Located: 1650 S Harbor Blvd g, Anaheim, CA 92802

send them an email. [email protected]

626 Night Market : Located: It’s at the Santa Anita race track – Joe got a gig here

Zebulon : Located: 2478 Fletcher Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90039

“For booking inquiries, please send links to music and dates of interest to: [email protected] Thank you for contacting us. We appreciate your submissions. We receive many inquiries about performing at Zebulon. Please be patient. Please no phone calls. Thank you!”

Echo Park Rising : Locations Vary

Check out the website before you sign up.

Hi Hat LA : Located: 5043 York Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90042

[email protected]

Resident : Located: 428 S Hewitt St, Los Angeles, CA 90013

“If you’re interested in booking a show at Resident, please email [email protected] ”

Kibitz Room : Located: 419 N Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90048

“For booking inquiries please contact [email protected]”

Molly Malones : Located: 575 S Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, CA

0 notes