#and they were playing taylor - specifically stay beautiful which is an AMAZING choice

[titsthedamnseason]

it’s enough. we need debut taylor’s version NOW!

#i’m literally crying i stepped out of my room and my roommates had all decorations on the door and the living room #and they were playing taylor - specifically stay beautiful which is an AMAZING choice #mine #taylor swift #and i turned 20 and they wrote on my mirror ‘have i known you 20 seconds or 20 years’ THEYRE SO CUTE

[punninglyswift]

I could stay.

Every album has come at the perfect time in my life when I needed it most and because of that the albums make me remember those times, maybe just in flashes, but even if it’s a not so great flashback, I look back on it with happiness and that I genuinely believe is thanks to you, @taylorswift

Since I was a sophomore in high school when Red came out I think I really can explain what I said above for the past 3 albums more clearly...but it goes for debut through Speak Now as well. Let’s do each album, shall we?

Taylor Swift - the album had been released a bit by the time I heard songs from it. I was performing in my school’s talent show and this meant 2 performances because my very catholic elementary school made us audition to see if what we were doing was appropriate and to plan out the order I guess. I was playing classical piano, which I’ve done since I was 3. There was a girl named Carly who was 2 years older than me and she was auditioning with a song I’d never heard. It was called Our Song and it was catchy as HELL. (My fifth grade self knew what was UP) She sounded great too, so she got into the talent show but rumor had it they didn’t want the word “kiss” in a song that was to be performed (remember the “very catholic” part? Yup.) - so I heard another catchy as hell song but this time it was one where my mind AND my heart went, “wow....that’s how I feel about life” and it’s still accurate to the way I feel about that PERFECT song today: that song was A Place in this World. I was going into middle school. Middle school, high school...we can all agree we see their problems...bullying is unfortunately real. With your self titled debut album I finally had songs I discovered on my own, nothing against the music my brothers always played for me (Coldplay, Green Day, the Foo Fighters, The Lonely Island - yes I’m on a BOAT, motherf****** I’m sorry I get really into it) - I had anthems thanks to you, I also thought HARD about love cause even at that age I crushed on guys a lot but all in my head because boys are weird. Still are. Onto Fearless....

Fearless. Soon after the talent show, I mean a year or two, my mom got me Fearless after a piano jury. I flipped through the lyric booklet. It was like reading a prize winning book. (Ayyy Grammys foreshadowing) and the SONGS...I was in middle school. 7th grade I believe...and guys would play stupid but hurtful pranks on me and I had a great group of friends but the hurt definitely got to me...but I had an album telling me that yeah sure- “they might be bigger, but we’re faster and never scared..you can walk away, say we don’t need this; but something in your eyes says we can beat this”. I had an album that gave me a song my mom and i smile so big during cause without my mom and without our little mom & daughter trips downtown (dc) or to New York in the holidays, or just taking a walk or browsing in random stores, I don’t know where I’d be but I know my happiness wouldn’t exist. I again had anthems as well as slower songs that taught me about love. And little did I know Fifteen would be THAT song I needed for the high school journey that was growing closer and closer.

Speak Now. That powerful fairytale of an album written entirely only by you, Taylor. I was about to enter high school - an all girls high school. Also around this time I started watching SNL every week thanks to your time as host AND musical guest during the Fearless era and watching that show is a favorite Saturday night activity now. I used to (i still kinda do this) have to convince myself whatever feelings i felt re: mainly crushes were valid instead of just thinking they were. I always thought I was being irrational. I’d think up scenarios in my mind of spilling the feelings and having it go perfectly. Those scenarios never happened in real life. I guess I told myself I wasn’t good enough for whoever I liked to like me back. Unfortunately that mindset still exists...I tend to go, well this kind of guy would never...and it hurts. And I’m hurting myself by doing that. So Speak Now was the epitome of you, Taylor, being the person who can perfectly illustrate whatever feelings we all have, but using your own examples. I’d need TED talks on feelings and owning your heart and Speak Now was that 24/7 TED talk. Especially with Enchanted. “The words I held back” there are so many words I want to say to honestly every guy I’ve had an actual crush on. (I specify “actual” because one of the first crushes I had turned out to be a douchebag! Fun!!!) and then again with Mean, that helped me and still does when I encounter bullies. I encountered bullies (and cyberbullies! FUN!!) in middle & high school a LOT. But I did grow to be “big enough so they can’t hit me” - I’m still quite short, but you get my point. And Never Grow Up was again a reality check for me growing up, and the lyrics were so real that sometimes I couldn’t listen to it when it came on shuffle or on the CD because sometimes you can’t deal with that reality. But it’s a favorite song and I’m forever grateful it exists. Long Live is the song that is a full on letter to the friends and family members who have helped me grow and become who I am and weren’t temporary and didn’t make me feel bad about myself. They all have crowns in my opinion. (Lover - Out August 23) Speak Now was also the first TOUR of yours I attended and I remember being speechless seeing you rise out of the stage. And hearing your voice telling me “I don’t think you should wait, I think you should speak Now” - truly those words are the reason I have in the past several years told guys how I’ve felt. It’s never worked out but telling them lifted weights off my shoulders and it’s never been a negative experience. Seeing that tour live in all its theatrical, magical goodness made me the happiest person ever.

Red. I have a weirdly clear memory of driving to target with a friend after school let out in 2012 to buy a copy of Red before rehearsals started for Hairspray, the show we were doing that fall. I didn’t have a way to listen to it at school yet so I just kinda held it and stared at it. True story. To me, Red was the Speak Now that dealt with bullies and was better for it and came out stronger than ever. Red again was like wow does Taylor know exactly what I’m feeling? It wasn’t even a QUESTION. I Almost Do - again with the speaking now. And the line in Treacherous - “I can’t decide if it’s a choice, getting swept away” is everything I feel all the time SWEPT into a BEAUTIFUL SENTENCE. And with your words since the very first album I’ve felt like wow she seems like my best friend. And it’s beautiful.

1989. While it goes for every album, this was the first time I remember having a lightbulb moment of holy crap I needed this album at this moment as a 17 year old driving to college with my mom. At least..i heard Shake It Off while attempting to listen to the livestream on my phone. That’s kinda what college is, or what it can be - shaking it off, a new you but the same you. Literally though - you shaped that beautiful album around finding yourself when you didn’t have to necessarily in love in a big city. My city was Chicago, but the sentiments are the same. (Go ramblers!!!) It was tough, adapting to a big school and making all new friends - and I didn’t really have an actual group of friends until sophomore year. Now I can’t get rid of them and that’s the best thing, I love em with my whole heart. 1989 still helped me be like oh these feelings are valid, and like “god I’ve felt that way more than once...thank goodness for Taylor” - referencing specifically I Wish You Would - cause I didn’t have in depth conversations about anything like that with anyone. 1989 gave me dancy, positive, self confident vibes and I rode that positivity train through college.

reputation. Speaking of riding a positivity train through college...there were low points along that journey. reputation came in 2017, during my senior year of college. Going out into the “real world”. The year before was 2016 - a year that gave me unforgettable study abroad experiences and honestly helped me grow so much in happiness and in general - I actually spent that summer canvassing and phone banking for Hillary Clinton, I was so fired up. That fire went out for a brief, heartbreaking moment in November 2016. I cried all night, and then each night after that for 3 days; sometimes calling my mom and grandma, sometimes just remembering how hopeful I was. And how far it felt like we had to go. The fire came back, and I was angry but empowered. Cue senior year. I was taking all the classes I loved and writing kickass papers about political violence as well as the amazing book Gabriel by Georges Sand which challenges gender norms, and I felt ready but also not ready for whatever was next after graduation come May 2018. November 2017, réputation came into our lives. Like 1989, it was a well rounded story I needed to propel me through whatever came next, but different...I knew I needed to have more of a “take no shit” attitude and rep really helped me with that. Hell, I definitely credit listening to I Did Something Bad on my way to a morning class with helping me be brave enough to raise my hand because I KNEW what I had to say and I KNEW it was good enough and I just HAD TO be BRAVE enough to say it. “I’m doing better than I ever was...” = same way I felt and honestly that’s in a large part thanks to you.

So now I’m not in school anymore, I graduated in May 2018, and I’m still trying to find a place in this world. I live with some of my best friends in Chicago, I’m trying to work on a campaign soon, currently working retail at a crafty store, and when I don’t think I’m going anywhere I remember that I have to own who I am and embrace my creativity and my passions - and take the occasional break to help plan my friend’s 23rd birthday party which has themed everything so gotta get to work on that. And Lover? There’s NO doubt in my mind it will be any different in terms of coming at the perfect time in my life. And I know this: it’ll be magical. Thank you Taylor. Sorry this is an actual essay, I love you always.

- Isabelle

@taylorswift

#lover #the archer #you need to calm down #1989 #taylor swift #fearless #reputation #speak now #red

[pennylanefics]

“Why do you hate me?” - Ben Hardy | part 4

this is sort of a filler chapter. nothing major will happen until part 6 :/

Warning: making out? i got a little carried away 😂 nothing too dirty, but it does get ‘steamy’

Ever since that day, you and Ben have spent every single day together. Whether it was on set, during breakfast, lunch, or dinner, or at night in his trailer, you were always by his side. The others caught on to how you were acting towards each other, but you didn’t care. You had feelings for Ben, and you weren’t going to push him away because people told you to. You went with your heart after seeing how sorry Ben was about everything, and you didn’t regret it.

Three months later, filming was coming to a close soon. Everything was turning out great, the boys doing such a great job portraying the band, and you couldn’t believe how amazing the Live Aid shot turned out. Although you weren’t needed on set anymore, as you had finished all of your filming, you stayed to hang out with everyone. Specifically Ben, Gwilym, Leila, and now Joe

One day about a month after you and Ben made up, you were sat in his trailer, cuddling and helping him run through his lines for the day. His arm was resting around your waist, lifting your shirt up slightly so he was stroking your skin, his large hand bringing warmth throughout your body. Your head rested on his chest, the script held in his other hand as you two looked at it. Without knocking, Joe stormed in, telling Ben they were ready to start shooting for the day.

“Uhm, what’s going on?” Joe asked, dumbfounded at the site in front of him. You blushed a deep red and stared at your hands.

“She was just helping me with my lines,” Ben muttered, glancing up at Joe shyly. Joe crossed his arms, a bored look on his face that said ‘oh really?’

“When I run lines with (Y/N) we don’t cuddle.” Ben sighed and looked to you for help, so you told him everything.

“Ben and I have feelings for each other. About a month ago, he sent me roses with a sweet note, and I came here. We walked around for about ten minutes before he led me back here. His bed space was converted into a fort, he eavesdropped my conversation with Leila over what my perfect date looked like, and copied it exactly. We watched movies, talked, and cuddled. He asked me to be his girlfriend. I said yes, but the next day we both decided it was too rushed. So, we agreed to wait until after filming is finished to start a relationship.” Joe listened closely and brought you in for a hug, shocking you at first.

“I’m so sorry for telling you how to live your life. I just didn’t want you to get hurt. I now see how much Ben means to you, so I will support whatever decision you two make. I want you to be happy, and if you’re happy with Ben and forgiven him, then I’m happy.” A smile broke out onto both yours and Ben’s face, thanking him for being so understanding.

Since then, Joe has kept quiet about your guys’ choice. But now, you didn’t care who knew about your feelings towards Ben. You guys were always together, it was obvious there was something going on between you two. You were always flirty towards one another, sometimes obvious, sometimes low-key. Gwilym would always catch you guys hugging, and it was actually starting to annoy everyone at how close you had become. They just wanted you two to date already. But, Ben kept his promise and has continued to wait for you. He knew you wanted to get to know each other a lot more, so you spent every single night for the last three months in his trailer; yours was eventually taken over by some other minor character since you were released from filming, and you had essentially “moved in” with Ben in his. You would either sit in his trailer when he was filming, or you would join him and the others on set. Every single night after dinner, you two would talk for hours, eventually falling asleep in each other’s arms. You were so happy with how understanding and patient Ben was with this.

Today was the last day of filming, so you of course were going to accompany the cast on set with them while they filmed the final scene. You woke up in Ben’s trailer alone, a little piece of paper resting on his pillow next to your head.

I let you sleep in, we don’t begin filming until 12, but I had to be there early. You looked so peaceful and beautiful, I didn’t want to wake you. Come see me when you get this.

Love you lots,

Ben ♡

Your heart soared as you read through the note over and over. You checked your phone and saw it was 11:45, fifteen minutes until they began filming. You jumped up and quickly got dressed, staying in your sweats, but changing your shirt to one of Ben’s laying around. You also slipped on a hoodie of his, since they had become your favorite thing in the world. You grabbed your phone and ran out the door, making your way to the set. Today, they are filming the scene where Freddie first joins the others and they perform Keep Yourself Alive for the first time with him. So, the set was some tiny space transformed into a dingy-looking bar, the fake stage placed ten feet away from the makeshift bar.

You arrived in less than five minutes and made your way over to Ben. He had his back turned to you, talking to Gwilym, who noticed you right away. He kept a straight face, focusing back on Ben. You slowly crept up on him, placing your hands on his waist. He jumped a little from the sudden touch and turned around to see who the culprit was. A smile lit up his features when he noticed it was just you, bringing you in for a hug. Your arms were still around his waist, softly rubbing his back.

“Last day, are you ready?” You asked when he pulled away to get a good look at you. He was decked out in an early 70s Roger look, which was a very tight, red patterned shirt that defined his muscles, especially his biceps, and a pair of black pants. His wig was switched out for one that was straighter, a little bit longer, and darker than the one he had worn for the majority of the film.

“Yeah, very. I’m so ready to be done so everyone can finally see and enjoy it. Although I am nervous about what people are going to think of me as Roger. Because-” You reached up to cover his mouth and shook your head.

“We’ll talk about that later, alright? Focus on finishing everything and celebrating with everyone on your guys’ success.” He nodded and hugged you again, continuing to rub his back knowing it calmed him down a lot. You knew something had been off with him recently. You pushed your thoughts away and left Ben for a second to talk to Gwil and Joe for a little. Ben couldn’t stand being away from you for too long, so he of course joined, this time resting his hands on your waist as he stood behind you. He didn’t join in the conversation, but instead admired how well you got along with them.

The director announced it was time to start, so Ben leaned down to press a kiss to your cheek before strolling over to his drum set. You stood in the same spot, a blush creeping up your neck as you then moved out of the way to a small isolated area. You could seen Ben at his drum set clearly, which made you happy because you love watching him play. He told you the many stories of him practicing hard for the part, of course after he lied about being able to play them. He literally spent weeks preparing for the first day, locking himself in his trailer for six hours to practice.

The cameras started rolling and everyone took their places. “ACTION” was yelled, so Gwilym started the scene with his line.

“We have some new fresh faces. This John Deacon, our bass player. And our new lead singer, Freddie Bul-bulsara. Freddie Bulsara.”

“That’s right,” Rami nodded.

“And Roger, of course. Biggest member of them all.” Ben smirked at the crowd, catching your eyes. You didn’t want to sound selfish or crazy, but you could’ve sworn that it was directed at you. They continued on, beginning to play Keep Yourself Alive. You tapped your foot along to the beat of Ben’s drumming, staring straight at him the entire time. You always knew how handsome and cute he was, but dressed as young Roger Taylor, damn, he was attractive. He played through the song, giving Rami weird looks as he changed the lyrics like he was scripted to. He rolled his eyes at one point, and you couldn’t handle it anymore.

You still wanted to wait to start a relationship, but that didn’t mean you couldn’t kiss him, right? The shooting continued with ease, going through it a couple more times to perfect it. The four were starting to get anxious to finish, so when the final shot started, they put their all into it and tried to make it their best.

“AND CUT! THAT’S A WRAP EVERYONE!” The director yelled, causing everyone in the small set cheer loudly and celebrate, including you. Ben left his drum set quickly and pulled the other three into a huge hug. They all stood there for a few seconds, probably talking privately to each other and let out their emotions. You stayed put, letting them have a moment, they all have grown so close these past six months. They broke apart and went around, hugging and shaking hands with members of the crew, and finally Ben spotted you, a grin on his lips, running towards you immediately.

He reached you and picked you up, spinning you around as you giggled loudly. He set you down, the grin still on his face, his hands resting on your waist again.

“I’m so proud of you, Ben. You did it!” He chuckled and nodded.

“I’m proud of you as well. You were so amazing for your first movie.”

“It was the smallest part. I was only in two scenes. And I didn’t have any lines,” you shook your head.

“Hey, love. Look at me,” he lifted your chin with his finger so you could look into his eyes.

“Weren’t you saying months ago you’d be happy if you were an extra in the crowd?” He whispered. You nodded a little, still looking into his eyes.

“What happened then?” You shrugged, finally averting your eyes to the floor.

“How about we go back to my trailer and just talk?” He suggested.

“Isn’t everyone going out to celebrate the end of filming?” You knew they were supposed to, and you didn’t want to take him away from the group.

“It was changed to tomorrow, we figured everyone would be exhausted after today, and switched it.” You nodded and grabbed his hand, asking him if he wanted to meet with anyone else before you left. His eyes widened and apologized, saying something about forgetting to say goodbye to one of his favorite crew members who helped him with his drums.

While you were waiting, Gwilym and Joe came up to you. You congratulated them both, giving them hugs and talking for a few. Ben soon returned, interrupting your conversation. You said bye to the two and left with Ben on the way to his trailer. He dropped you off and quickly ran to change out of his costume. You made yourself at home, lying back on his bed and closing your eyes, enjoying the peace for a few moments. You must’ve dozed off for a little and when he finally returned, he immediately started apologizing on how long it took. He stopped once he noticed you cuddled up with his pillow, light breaths escaping your lips. He smiled and kicked his shoes off, unzipping his jacket, which left him shirtless. He tried not to wake you as he laid down next to you, but he failed when you stirred and sleepily looked up at him.

“How long was I asleep for?” You whispered, moving to cuddle into his chest.

“Not long. You must’ve fallen asleep while I was changing out of my costume. I’m sorry it took so long, I got carried away talking to the crew there, thanking them for making me look my best,” he joked, wrapping an arm around you.

“Ben?”

“Yeah?”

“Why are you scared people aren’t going to like you as Roger?” You asked, bringing up the comment from earlier. He sighed, his chest rising with the action.

“We look completely different. Gwilym is literally an exact copy of Brian, there’s only a few differences between John and Joe, and Rami played Freddie so well, there were times I actually thought it was him. But me? I have such broad shoulders, my thighs are huge, my eye shape looks nothing like his, and our voices, don’t get me started. And I couldn’t even play the drums. I bet drummers all over London and America auditioned, probably look more like him than me. I-”

“Ben, shut up! There’s a reason they chose you to play him. They thought you looked the most like him out of anyone that auditioned. Sure, there are some appearance differences, but there are some with the whole cast and the band. Well, except for Gwilym because he really is an exact copy, it’s scary.” He laughed lightly at your comment and stared into your eyes. He still didn’t say anything, so you continued.

“But, there were times you looked just like Roger. Like during Doing All Right, when Smile performed, you looked exactly like Roger, it was crazy.” He gazed at you lovingly, his green eyes sparkling in the sunlight beaming through the windows.

“I love you, (Y/N),” he whispered.

“I love you too, Ben.” You leaned up and your lips quickly met. He sighed softly as he had been thinking about kissing you all day. Little did he know, you were thinking the same thing.

His tongue slipped past your lips, meeting yours as the kiss deepened. He moved his body so he was now above you, his forearms laying right next to your head, and your hands trailing up his back. He put so much passion into the kiss, you didn’t know why but you didn’t care. He pulled away, breathing heavily, but continued. His plump lips traveled down to your neck, pressing soft, open-mouthed kisses all over. He stopped at one spot to suck lightly, which of course left a mark.

He made his way back up to your lips, proud of himself for ‘marking you.’ You two made out for a little while longer before he finally pulled away. Your tried catching your breath as Ben continued to press small, light kisses all over your face.

“You’re being very affectionate tonight,” you commented. You two have never kissed for this long before, it was always short and sweet kisses, usually before you went to sleep.

“Just wanted to show how much I care about you, and always will. No matter what. I promised I would wait until you’re ready to start a relationship, and I wanted to remind you again that I intend on keeping that promise.” Your eyes watered a little as you looked up at him. He was staring at you so tenderly, which made you melt.

“I know, I trust you. I love you, and I’m so thankful you are willing to wait,” you breathed out, your hand reaching up to stroke his cheek.

“You’re worth the wait, love.”

part 5

#ben hardy #ben hardy imagines #ben hardy imagine #ben hardy x reader #bohemian rhapsody #bohemian rhapsody imagines #borhap #gwilym lee #joe mazzello #rami malek #roger taylor #brian may #john deacon #freddie mercury #imagines #imagine #fanfiction #fanfic

[basicshadowhuntersstuff]

This super-sized roundup covers the last two weeks in news, updates, sneak peeks, and behind the scenes. All the stuff you need to stay up to date.

Official Promotion

Harry (Magnus) accepting his People’s Choice Award.

Behind-the-scenes photos of Matt (Alec) playing piano of seasons 2 and 3. 

Kat (Clary) accepting her People’s Choice Award.

Worth staring at in traffic. #Shadowhunters

Happiest of birthdays to shining star @Kat_McNamara. #Shadowhunters

Cheers to each and every one of you. Happy Thanksgiving, #Shadowhunters family. 

ShadowhuntersTV shared a special message from Freeform Santa.

TFW you realize the long weekend is almost over. #Shadowhunters // @Kat_McNamara, @DavidLCastro_ @arosende 

Reunited. Maia & Simon behind the scenes of #Shadowhunters Season 3B. 

What are these two up to?  Behind the scenes of #ShadowhuntersSeason3. 

We'd know those shoulders anywhere. #Shadowhunters 

Some Maia to brighten your day.  #Shadowhunters 

Our first gift of the holiday season is a 4 second behind-the-scenes video of Kat (Clary) and the announcement of #25DaysOfTeasers: And welcome to December! Now through December 25th, we're celebrating #25DaysOfTeasers in which we'll be sharing new content from #Shadowhunters every day. Starting with this gorgeous snow angel. Thanks for being the best fandom, #ShadowFam.

Shadowhunters In The News

MEAWW (interviews, articles, and fan features): Matthew Daddario and Dominic Sherwood interview; The cast of ‘Shadowhunters’ commend fans; three features on Katherine McNamara; fan features from Tasha Adamski  and Amelia Gormley;  #SaveShadowhunters; Malec; and Harry Shum Jr.

Pop Hearts TV (video interview): Katherine McNamara talks Shadowhunters coming to an end, what the finale might have in store for fans. 

Conventions France (video interview): Are Katherine and Will true fan of Shadowhunters ? You’ll have the answer in this interview! 

Cosmopolitan (article): The Definitive Ranking of the Best TV Ships of 2018.

E! News (article):  Harry Shum Jr. Pays Tribute to Touching Shadownhunters Fanmail After Winning People's Choice Award.

Zarata Events (Convention): Pandemonium Con announces Kat (Clary) as their final guest.

Cosmopolitan (article):  Everything to Know About ‘Shadowhunters' Season 3B and Finale Event.

Film Daily (article):  #SaveShadowhunters: Here’s why the #PCA’s were a huge victory for the #Shadowfam

Matt Carter Media (article): Shadowhunters Season 3 Finale Update.

ShumdarioNews shares their exclusive Friday photo of Matt (Alec).

Esquire (article): Harry (Magnus) is featured in The Best-Dressed Men Of The Week

Grumpy Magazine features Kat (Clary) in their Fall 2018 issue.

E!News (article):  Celebrate Katherine McNamara's Birthday With All Her BTS Pics From the Shadowhunters Set

WatchMojo.com (video):  Top 10 TV Cancellations That Upset Us in 2018

Matt Carter (article):  Shadowhunters season 3 episode 11 preview: What should be next?

Just Jared Jr. (poll):  What Is the Best TV Show of 2018? Vote Now!

Film Daily (article):  #SaveMalec: Why Harry Shum, Jr. is our renaissance man

Teen Vogue (article):  "Riverdale" and "Supernatural" Are the Top Live-Action TV Shows of 2018 on Tumblr

Tumblr released 2018′s Top Ships and Top Live-Action TV Shows.

Shine On Media (video interview):  Katherine McNamara Teases ARROW, "Twisted" SHADOWHUNTERS Finale & Dream Role

TV Insider (article):  'Shadowhunters': Go Behind the Scenes of the Final Episodes (PHOTOS)

You’re So Beautiful Now (video interview):  EXCLUSIVE VID: Katherine McNamara Gives Emotional "Shadowhunters" Interview

Red Carpet Report (video interview):  Katherine McNamara interviewed at Netflix premiere of Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle #Netflix #Mowgli

Miami Living Magazine (interview): Katherine McNamara is on Fire

Brief Take (interview): Interview: Arrow’s Katherine McNamara

SyFy Wire (article):  Ranking the sexiest werewolves on television

Basic Stuff Magazine (photos): Shares photos from the Italian Institute Shadowhunters convention from back in July 

Basic Stuff Magazine (article and photos): MCM Comic Con London Shadowhunters panel recap (SATURDAY), and photos (SATURDAY/SUNDAY)

Social Media Stuff

Harry (Magnus) selects the winner of his #MassiveMagnusFan contest. 

Kat (Clary) tweeted: Vulnerability is uncertain, its strange and scary, but share it with the right person and it becomes an unexpected gift. Open up. Be fearless. It’s never too late to take that chance to live and love. #MondayMotivation. 

Isaiah (Luke) shared a throwback photo with Matt (Alec) from New York Comic Con 2017.

Kat (Clary) will be on the cover of Avante Magazine in December 2018

Will Tudor (Johnathan Morganstern/Sebastian Verlac) will be on the cover of Man About Town Magazine’s Winter 2018/Spring 2019 edition.

Folks VFX (VFX team) tweeted: Philippe, our VP and VFX Supervisor for @ShadowhuntersTV geared up for the show's last VFX deliveries #vfx #shadowhunters #WednesdayMotivation

Todd (showrunner) shared a photo from the viewing party for the season 3 finale event with the caption: The last mix. The last day in the shadow world for ⁦me and @DSwim⁩ and it was a glorious day. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts #castlikenoother #crewlikenoother #fanslikenoother #shadowhunters #ShadowhuntersLegacy

Darren (showrunner) tweeted a response to Todd’s viewing party tweet: It was amazing to watch the completed finale movie along with the members of cast who were in town. A perfect way to go into Thanksgiving. So much to be thankful for. 

Bryan Q. Miller (writer) tweeted his feelings about 3B: It's a ride, gang #ShadowhuntersLegacy 

Lindsay Wolfington (music mupervisor) tweeted: #Shadowhunters music team ready to mix the finale!!! @jackwallmusic​ 

Luke Baines (Johnathan Morganstern) tweeted:  Saw the finale today, and wow. Start sending love letters to @toddzer1 + @DSwim because they have done you so proud - it’s better than anything I could have imagined. I cried three times. And twice, it was out of happiness

Kat (Clary) tweeted:  Beautiful, bittersweet, and bloody good - final mix of the @shadowhunterstv series finale #TheFinalHunt. Angels, start stockpiling tissues now - you’re gonna need em. Thank you to @toddzer1 and @DSwim for this gift to the #ShadowhuntersLegacy.

Isaiah (Luke) celebrated Thanksgiving as Freeform Santa.

Arianna (Madzie) tweeted a birthday message to Kat (Clary).

Luke Baines (Johnathan Morganstern) replies to fan questions about crying during the 3B finale.

Kat (Clary) responds to birthday messages from Zelda Williams and Lisa Berry (Sister Cleophas).

Lola Flannery (Young Seelie Queen) tweeted a birthday message to Kat (Clary). 

Harry (Magnus) celebrated his sixth anniversary with wife Shelby Rabara.

Luke (Johnathan) tweeted Thankful to the #Shadowhunters’ fans who have welcomed me so wholeheartedly, and specifically to those who donated and posted about Pasha - his operation was a success and he’s on the mend. Thank you today and every day.

Kat (Clary) tweeted Cheers to you, angels! I am eternally grateful for this amazing, warm, accepting, loving, passionate fandom.  Forever yours, Fray

Kat (Clary) shared a photo of herself taken by Will Tudor (Johnathan Morganstern/Sebastian Verlac).

Luke Baines (Johnathan Morganstern) answered fan questions on Twitter. 

Kat (Clary) tweeted a hiking photo:  Not sure if it’s the sunshine or time well spent with this lady, but today’s hike sure put a smile on my face...  #regram @arden_cho

MCM Comic Con tweeted a video:  What was your first fandom? @ch8i of @ShadowhuntersTV tells us his live from #mcmcomiccon Birmingham! Come join us! #WeAreTheFans

Kat (Clary) shared a photo from her Grumpy Magazine cover feature.

Chai Hansen (Jordan Kyle) shared a photo from MCM Comic Con on Instagram: Can’t remember what the joke was... but we were both in stitches lol

Brian Hui (makeup artist) tried to clear up a rune mystery:  Hiya! I only joined S3 so I was aware of the mystery of the double Angelic runes! Now our man Jace has a Flexibility, NYX and Stamina on his chest. The double Angelic...only the Angels know the reason!

Kat (Clary) tweeted about Pandemonium Con:  LONDON BABY! Here I come! #PandemoniumCon @ZarataEvents! Can’t wait to see you all there! #ShadowhuntersLegacy

Alberto (Simon) shared a photo on Instagram: Hard saying goodbye, I’ll see you at Christmas! #BellaRosende

Kat (Clary) tweeted:  I see it now! The Adventures of Papa Wolf and Kiddo!   @isaiahmustafa #ShadowhuntersLegacy

Isaiah (Luke) shared a behind the scenes photo with Alexandra Ordolis (Ollie) on Instagram.

Sydney Meyer (Helen Blackthorn) gave us a sneak peek of her runes and hinted at one very special rune.

Joshua Butler (director) let fans know where they can find the outside of the Institute in Toronto.

ShadowhuntersTV tweeted:  The beautiful @Kat_McNamara has arrived at the World Premiere of @FreeformTV’s #LifeSize2.

Harry (Magnus) did some picturesque (and mildly dangerous) one-wheeling.

Kat (Clary) tweeted photos from the Mowgli premiere: Sometimes all that glitters is gold...  @YSL for @MowgliMovie  @netflix 

Kat (Clary) tweeted a sneak peek of her new role on Arrow, Maya.

ShadowhuntersTV tweeted: .@Kat_McNamara making some new friends at the world premiere of #MaryPoppinsReturns.

Sweety High shared a video of Kat (Clary) at the Mary Poppins Returns premiere on Instagram.

Hollywood and Highland shared a video on Instagram of Kat (Clary) at the Mary Poppins Returns premiere discussing why Mary Poppins is her favorite character in the movie.

Kat (Clary) tweeted:  A spoonful of sparkle for #MaryPoppinsReturns in @YSL. @DisneyStudios 

TechWithTolentino shared some photos of Harry (Magnus) meeting video students at the Hawaii International Film Festival.

Darren Swimmer (showrunner) tweeted:  Keep an eye on @ShadowhuntersTV during the month of December for #25DaysOfTeasers. #Shadowhunters

Brian Hui (makeup) shared a behind the scenes photo of Kat (Clary):  “Oh the weather outside is frightful but ⁦@Kat_McNamara⁩ , you’re so delightful!”

Taylor Mallory (writer) tweeted:  Fun fact: I wrote this, and originally it was “student body president.” But it was too autobiographical so I changed it. (Also Simon’s such a VP.)  #charm

Other News

TV Line (article):  Arrow First Look: Katherine McNamara Gets Punchy as Street Fighter Maya 

Just Jared Jr. (article): Laura Marano Celebrated Her 23rd Birthday at the 'Mary Poppins Returns' Premiere with Katherine McNamara!

#shadowhunters #bss news roundup #save shadowhunters

[brentwatchesmovies]

Top 10 Movies of 2017

Another year is behind us, so that means it’s time for everyone’s ‘my favorite ________ of 2017’ lists. This year, I’m folding to peer pressure and changing the ‘top 8’ favorite movies to ‘top 10’ because honestly, there were too many awesome movies and I originally only did it because that’s how Tarantino narrowed his picks and I wanted to seem cool or something. (On a quick related note, I can’t believe this is my 8th year of doing one of these dumb things. Crazy.) On a personal level, 2017 has been a wild year for me. I got married to my best friend, started a much better and satisfying job, and found out we’re going to be parents this year. It’s going to be an incredibly busy and life-changing 2018, and I can’t wait for it.

In terms of the past year in cinema, it’s been amazing as well. I wanted to see as many movies as I could before finalizing my favorites, and was pretty successful, with a few exceptions. I wasn’t able to see Phantom Thread, The Post, The Florida Project, The Emoji Movie or Coco, to name a few (not seeing the new PTA and Spielberg movies before writing this KILLS me). A lot of the choices on my list might be predictable, especially if you follow me on Twitter, or read movie sites/blogs. Twitter has kind of taken over my actually writing posts for this blog anymore, and maybe one day I’ll get better at coming back here and putting thoughts down (probably not though). Like I’ve said in previous years, these really don’t have a ranking, unless I specify it’s my ‘favorite’ over the others. This is a 100% subjective list, based on an incomplete sampling. The movies listed below either moved me in a huge way, were a complete blast, and/or stayed with me long after I saw them. That’s enough preamble though, let’s get to my favorites of 2017!

In my eyes, this whole reboot-prequel-whatever trilogy is a cinematic miracle. This series, on it’s surface is a very campy, B-movie concept. What Rupert Wyatt and now Matt Reeves have done here is a staggering directorial achievement. This entry further fleshes out the already relatable and complex characters, and continues to add emotional depth that the originals could never even touch. In my eyes, this is what makes this the best movie trilogy since The Lord of the Rings. War Apes (what I find to be the best shorthand for this entry) is the ‘Return of the King’ equivalent of this trilogy. It takes Caesar’s story in darker, more unexpected places, and in a perfect world, would net Andy Serkis an Oscar nomination for best actor. If you’ve slept on this series because it seemed silly, or not really your jam, definitely take the time to catch up with it, it’s most definitely worth it.

This was one of the last movies I saw before making this post, and having just seen it a few days ago, it’s the movie I’ve been thinking about most. In a year that I think a lot of people would call ‘complete awful garbage’, (or something similar), Guillermo Del Toro’s love story of the ‘others’ in society; the forgotten and the disenfranchised, hits home. I’m still working through my thoughts on all of it, but it’s up there with my favorites of his filmography. I don’t think GDT has ever made a movie so unapologetically ‘him’. A sequence near the end of the movie is one of my favorite things I’ve seen all year, and I thought to myself during it that nobody other than this one enigmatic, creative and strange man could make something so unique and beautiful. This one definitely isn’t for everyone, but if you like GDT’s movies, I have a feeling you’ll be on board with this one as well.

From this point forward, if Taylor Sheridan has a new movie coming out, I’ll be there to see it. The previous writer of such films as Sicario and Hell or High Water makes his directorial debut with Wind River. It follows a standard neo-western trend of his previous films, but this time moving the story to snowy Wyoming. Setting the location on an American Indian reservation allows Sheridan to bring up timely themes as well, such as the incredibly high rate at which Native American women disappear on reservations, and how few are ever actually found. It’s an incredibly moving and intense story that plays out after the initial murder/mystery is established, going to some of the most intense places thematically that I’ve seen in a movie this year. The cast all around is stellar, and Jeremy Renner specifically has never been better than he is in this movie. If you’re a fan of neo-westerns or Sheridan’s other movies, Wind River is absolutely worth checking out.

I had been anticipating this movie since I heard about it, having been a huge fan of ‘The Indoor Kids’ podcast, hosted by Emily Gordon and her husband Kumail Nanjiani. It’s a video game podcast that they ended a few years back, but every now and then, they would hint at how they met. This movie is how their eventual marriage came to be, and it’s a beautiful love story, which just so happens to fit the mold of one of the best romantic comedies ever made. Not only is it a great comedy, but also dramatically complex due to Emily’s time spent in a coma at the beginning of their relationship and Kumail’s meeting of her two parents. Everyone in this movie gives it their all, with Ray Romano and Holly Hunter standing out as Emily’s parents. The movie also tackles what it’s like to be the child of an immigrant in America, and that perspective was fresh and eye-opening for a big Hollywood movie. This is definitely one to watch with the family.

*potential spoilers for mother!*

If you read my post I wrote about ‘Noah’, you’ll probably understand why I love this movie so much. This is the second film by Darren Aranofsky that explores the morality of not only God, but of the entire bible this time around. Something about that intent clicks with me. Maybe it’s being raised in church until my late teens or the religious cynic inside me, but I love when he tackles these issues. The fact that this religious interpretation is only one of many possible ways to read this movie is what makes it fascinating. Is it about climate change and how we’re destroying the earth? Is it a dramatization of the Bible and God’s relationship with humanity? Or is it about the relationship between artists, the things they create, and the audience? On top of these questions, Mother! Is beautifully shot, acted and constructed. I was pretty much in shock for the entire last third of the movie and that’s more than I can say for almost any movie I’ve seen this year.

Y’all probably knew this was coming, right? I’m so in the bag for Star Wars movies that any objectivity is completely out the window at this point. I also understand that many people REALLY do not like this movie, and I’ve been grappling with that and processing it since I saw the movie a couple weeks ago. Unfortunately I haven’t been able to see the movie a second time, so this is based entirely off my first time seeing The Last Jedi. This movie was everything I wanted and more. It absolutely has faults worth talking about, but to me, the highs of TLJ far outweigh the lows. There were moments in this movie that I yelled in joy, smiled ear to ear and also cried on numerous occasions. For the first time since watching the original trilogy as a kid, I felt like I was watching a true Star Wars movie, with the original series characters, and the great new ones established in VII as well. The prequels have their moments, and Rogue One and Force Awakens were fun diversions in fan fiction, but to me, this movie felt true to what I love about Star Wars. I can’t wait to watch it again.

Sometimes I just think to myself, “it’s really damn cool that I’m around at the same time as Christopher Nolan.” The guy will go down as an all-time great director, and I love that with Dunkirk he proved that he doesn’t need a high concept idea and a ton of exposition to sell it. All you need to tell a gripping story is a camera and a story with baked-in drama, like the evacuation of Dunkirk. The movie is almost a silent film with how little dialogue there is, relying solely on Hoyte van Hoytema’s beautiful cinematography and Nolan’s adherence to old-school film techniques, with as little CG as possible. Dunkirk makes for the most intense theater going experience I’ve probably had all year, and I fear that seeing it at home can never reach the levels of seeing it on the big screen. Regardless, Dunkirk is possibly Nolan’s best film yet, an exciting evolution of his directorial skill, and one of the best war films of all time.

In my opinion, there was no greater surprise at the theater this year than Jordan Peele’s ‘Get Out’. A social horror film in the vein of such classics as ‘Rosemary’s Baby’ and ‘The Step-ford Wives’, and on the same level of quality as well. I’d also have to say that Get Out epitomizes the state of our country the best of any other movie I’ve seen this year, perfectly nailing racial tensions much more nuanced than your typical racist-redneck-murder-family horror movies ever could. I rewatched the movie again over Christmas (this and the Witch make great Christmas movies btw) and it reaffirmed how tightly written, acted and directed it truly is. Every setup has a fulfilling payoff, every character a great/exciting/terrifying moment, and it has one of the most subversive, ingenious endings I’ve seen of this, or any year.  Get out is a certified horror classic, and easily one of the best movies of the year.

Coming-of-age stories are very often ‘my jam’, as I’m sure you could surmise from any number of posts on here from the past. What I loved so much about Luca Guadagnino’s ‘Call me by Your Name’ is the sincerity and honesty in every one of the characters in the movie. The two leads (played by Timothée Chalamet and Armie Hammer) wear their hearts on their sleeves, and soon find themselves in a summer love affair. What this movie captures so well is that feeling of young ‘love’, or at least infatuation with amazingly believable ease. It also features a moment between Timothée Chalamet’s character and his father (played by the always great Michael Stuhlbarg) that crushed me. It hit me right in the nexus of all my dad baggage, past and present, and turned me into a weeping mess. I aspire to be the kind of loving, understanding and wise father that Timothée Chalamet’s character is blessed with in this movie.

Alright guys, time for my favorite movie of the year, and it’s easily Denis Villeneuve’s science fiction masterpiece: Blade Runner 2049. No movie transported me completely like this film did. The entire run time of the movie was almost like an out of body experience. It was surely aided by seeing it on the massive downtown IMAX screen, but when myself and a couple friends walked out of this movie, we were practically in shock. I’m sure I sound hyperbolic right now, but in my eyes this movie is a top-to-bottom cinematic masterpiece. It expands and even improves on themes and ideas that the first film only flirted with. It deepens the philosophy of the world in interesting ways, and does all this with a far more emotional core than the first ever had as well. I’d be remiss not talking about how beautiful this movie is as well. If Roger Deakins doesn’t win his first Cinematography Oscar for this film, somebody should get 25 to life. The second this movie ended, I knew it was my movie of the year, regardless of what else I saw in 2017. It’s a sequel for the ages, and a science fiction film that people decades from now will look back on with intrigue and wonder.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Thor Ragnarok

Brigsby Bear

Brawl in Cell Block 99

Okja

Baby Driver

Your Name

Logan

John Wick: Chapter 2

Spider-Man: Homecoming

I, Tonya

That’s going to do it for my top films of 2017, thanks so much for reading! If you have thoughts or opinions on my list, hit me up on Twitter or Facebook and let’s talk about them (unless it’s a bad Last Jedi take, those won’t do). It was incredibly hard to cut out some of the honorable mentions but overall I’m extremely happy with my list and all of the movies I was lucky enough to see this year (and lucky enough to have an awesome wife who understands and accepts my movie-going addiction!) Share this post with your friends if you’d like, and I hope you have a great 2018!

#movies #movie review #movie reviews #2017movies #film #blade runner 2049 #the shape of water #guillermo del toro #ryan gosling #the last jedi #reylo #star wars #get out #jordan peele #the big sick #kumail nanjiani #baby driver #thor ragnarok #margot robbie