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in-my-head-i-do-everything-right · 4 years

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Hallie - “you had it figured out since you were in school/everybody loves pretty, everybody loves cool.”

you’ve had it figured out since you were in school. everybody loves pretty, everybody loves cool

Part of the reason why Allie even sends in that self-tape for that Disney show is because Cassandra tells her not to. She’s feeling rebellious. She’s thirteen.

Only then she gets a callback. And then a skype call with a casting director. And then another call but with the creator of the show. And then she’s across the country, out in sunny LA (it’s December, and it’s snowing back in West Ham, and this shift in weather is really freaking her out).

She gets through one audition. And then two.

She gets the part.

And maybe the show won’t even last a whole season. Maybe it’ll be cancelled before it even airs. Maybe she’ll hate her castmates. Or just LA in general. And, God, she can’t sing. Does Disney know that? Do they expect a music career out of her? Maybe this is all she’ll ever be known for.

But then Cassandra tells her to go for it, and then her family packs up and moves across the country, and suddenly… suddenly this is it.

Post-Disney, the first film she does is this small budget indie thing that films on location up in Oregon.

There’s a definite learning curve.

First of all, craft services sucks. Which makes her sound like a snob, but God, she is so used to these mini chocolate croissants available at all times. Like, on the last day of shooting that Disney show, she asked what bakery they were from. One of her co-stars had laughed at her like it was some kind of joke which honestly hurt more than the show ending.

Second of all, nature. As it turns out, shooting outside and shooting on a lot is a very different experience. And shooting out in the rain, which it is always doing in Oregon—twenty-four seven—is an… experience. But a fun experience. Really fun. Makes her think that maybe she’s doesn’t need the job security that Disney provided. Like, fuck that.

And, last of all, Harry Bingham. He gets a whole bullet on this stupid list because he’s the guy who thinks he’s somehow better than her because he got an Oscar nomination or something for a film just like this one. And he was twitter’s white boy of the month, something he is way too proud of. Like, he can’t even remember his twitter password, so why the fuck does he keep bring it up?

It’s really late and dark and a little cold. They’re sharing a fuzzy blanket because they could only find one and they both wanted it and when someone on set suggests they just share it neither could come up with an actual argument as to that’s a bad idea.

“You know,” he says, sort of out of nowhere, “my sister watched your show. I think she might be in love with you.”

“Oh,” Allie says, and she’s smiling at him. Not for the first time because, sadly, because he is way too funny for his own good. It’s upsetting. It’s not fair. “So, unlike you, she has taste?”

He scoffs, but he’s smiling too, very brightly. Maybe she doesn’t need the blanket. “I never said I didn’t like your show.”

She stares over at him, not trying to mask that look of surprise taking over her face. She’s just trying to picture him actually watching the show… and it’s not easy. It was a Disney show. It was stupid and immature and Harry fuckingBingham was most definitely not its target audience. She’s trying to picture him watching those commercials, the ones where she’d draw the logo with the fake wand.

Finally, she says: “Honestly, I wasn’t a huge fan of it.”

Harry lets out this light sort of snort, more an exhale than anything else. “Why’d you do it then?”

Allie shrugs. “It was a job. It was an opportunity. It was a chance that wasn’t gonna pass up just because I didn’t think it was some revolutionary thing.” She pauses, wrapping herself up just a little tighter in the blanket. “My family moved out here after I got the job. I was fourteen, and they gave up everything just so I could do this.”

“You’re good at this, Pressman,” he tells her, softly, and it’s stupid how much those words mean to her.

“Thanks, Harry.”

When they’re called back onto set, she swears his eyes linger a second longer than they probably should. That means something to her too.

They film a kissing scene in the rain, and she swears her heart stop for a half-a-second.

The director yells cut, and Allie can’t help it, the way she’s blinking up at him, a bit like he hung the stars in the sky, or whatever other sappy bullshit you feel when you start to realize—

It just didn’t feel fake for a moment there. On Disney, everything felt fake. She’s just not used to things being this natural.

(There are two fuzzy blankets waiting for them off set. They still share.)

Shooting ends on a Tuesday, and they fly back down to LA together on a studio provided jet.

Harry spends the flight tossing popcorn at her while she tries to watch Notting Hill.

“You’re being obnoxious, Bingham,” she says, one earbud out, turning to glare over at him.

He grins. “Just trying to keep you from falling in love with Hugh Grant.”

“Not possible. I’m already in love with him.”

“He’s old now.”

“Still hotter than you.”

“Not possible.”

“Verry possible.”

He scoffs. “And living vicariously through Julia Roberts isn’t healthy.”

“Oh, you know from experience, don’t you?”

“I actually met her once, at the Oscars.”

“God, everything with you always comes back to that Oscar nomination, doesn’t it, Bingham.”

He lets out this sharp, surprised laugh. She bites back a smile.

“I’ll introduce you to her one day,” he offers, it’s softer, more genuine than cocky. They’ve never talked about any sort of future, any sort of friendship that follows them past this film. Her breath catches in her throat. Her heart stops once again.

“I think I’d like that.”

She has a tiny guest part on some broadcast television sitcom. Craft services has those chocolate croissants. She wraps herself up in a fuzzy blanket and eats three.

She asks Harry if he’d want to grab coffee sometime.

He texts back yes almost immediately.

She wraps herself up just a little tighter.

She sits on the couch in Harry’s childhood home and watches her Disney show with his little sister.

“You’re even prettier in person,” Sarah tells her, almost unabashedly, and Allie blushes a light pink.

From beside her, Harry grins. “The Bingham’s have taste,” he says, his voice almost a whisper in her ear, and that makes her blush a dark pink.

“Sarah’s my favorite Bingham,” Allie announces, and the girl smiles and laughs and leans her head on Allie’s shoulder.

This feels a lot like family, she realizes, the soft familiarity of it all.

She likes it. She likes it a lot.

The morning Oscar nominations are announced, she wakes up beside him in his bed, wearing an old shirt of his, something warm and soft.

They lay in bed and eat chocolate croissants and wait for the call. And the sun hasn’t even risen yet—it’s so fucking early—but there’s something like adrenaline keeping her awake. God, it’s so stupid to be this attached to an award, a little statue that means practically nothing, but…

Harry lays his head in her lap. She plays with his hair.

“And if I don’t get nominated?” she asks, softly, carefully.

He stares up at her. “Then you find another script to fall in love with and do it all over again.”

“And if I do get nominated?”

“Then we figure out how to sneak snacks in the Dolby Theater and you write into your acceptance speech what an amazing guy I am.”

She’s laughing as the phone rings, and he’s sitting up to answer it. And then he’s smiling, smiling so wide, and that means—

Allie’s crying and beaming, and Harry’s holding onto her like he’s trying to keep her anchored, trying to keep her from floating away, and—

It feels a whole lot like everything was worth it.

She’s happy.

send me song lyrics and a pairing and i’ll write you a drabble

#the society #drabble #hallie #yeah. i also don't really know what this is #a disney au?#actors au #idk i'm just complete shit at properly addressing prompts #also. it hit me while writing this that WE'LL NEVER KNOW HARRY'S SISTER'S NAME #and that hurts

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soul-music-is-life · 5 years

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I'm kind of with you on the lackluster Pilot episode of "The Perfectionists". I don't know whether or not I'm into it either. And not because of Emison (I'm more of an Emaya fan myself). I just thought it was cheesy and boring. I don't know if I should keep watching. What about you?

I have actually gotten several asks about whether I plan tokeep watching and why/why not. So I’m going to answer it here and just referback to it if it keeps coming up.

I don’t mind the asks at all. I love conversing, but because of the volume of asks about thisparticular opinion this is another long driveling post, and I’m sorry. You can mute my ass if you’re sick of me. I get it.

First of all OP, thank you for not ripping into me about notliking it. Also, Emaya had my heart. I loved them, too. Maya deserved better.

Second, this is a full-scale look at the show from a critic’svantage point. I watched the first episode twice because I thought maybe I hadn’tgiven it a fair shake the first time because I was in a weird mood. But even onthe second viewing I found a lot more that I disliked than I liked. Lots ofpeople are going to disagree, and that’s fine. Just don’t @ me. I’m legit notlooking for that. I’m just a girl (cue NottingHill music) standing in front her ask inbox asking those askers to love her.

Will I keep watching? I doubt it. Given that it only got a10-episode order and The Pilot wasn’t that interesting to me, I don’t see myselfsitting through it for 9 more episodes. My reasoning is two-tiered. Part of itis disinterest and the other part is the creative aspect of it in the media. Saddleup for my “truths” (I can’t remember who said that. Marlene maybe). I gave it afew days and considered it, and what I ended up with was this:

1) I’m just not into it. For the same reasons you (OP) stated.But I’ll also add that for me…it was predictable. I called the twists longbefore they happened. If I’m already doing that in The Pilot I can guarantee I’dbe doing that as the show went on. I’m like 93% sure I know exactly how it’sgoing to end this season. I tend to do that to myself. Being a writer suckssometimes. Because you see the way things are going to go from the beginning. You just have to decide if you want to go on the journey anyway.

2) While the characters were likable (I was surprised by howmuch I liked Ava), they are a bit one-sided and kind of bland (except I foundNolan’s duality extremely intriguing). There is the argument that can be madehere that they will grow, and I do agree with that. But when I watch a show’sPilot I need to care about at least one character to see what’s going to happenand where they are going to go (In PLL it was Em/Aria for me). None of the characters in TP did that for me (noteven Mona and Alison, which surprised me, because I’ve been super-hype for thisshow not only for them, but for the newbies, too).

3) The plot (so far) just feels like a rehash of everysingle YA mystery novel/TV show that is hot right now. And I am aware that thisis based loosely on exactly that (Sara’s series), but I think maybe I’ve justbecome desensitized to the same cheesy soap-opera-y murder mystery plots. Or perhaps I’m just desensitized to this particular kind of storytelling. It doesn’tfeel new and different to me and it was very strangely paced with too muchgoing on and not enough time to care about it. It just felt disjointed. Everythingabout the first episode just fell flat for me.

4) And lastly, yes, I’d say there is a tiny part of me…likemaybe…6% that doesn’t want to watch because I’m not about that off-screenEmison drama. I knew it was going to happen and I’m not mad about them beingsplit. I’m disappointed (hears “that’sjust ‘mom speak’ for mad!” echoing somewhere) that the marketing team isusing it for ratings. When you have decent writing you don’t need to play games like that to try andget viewers. It would be one thing to be decisive about what happened toEmily/Alison (Split them. Don’t split them. I don’t care. Just make a fuckingdecision because you’re creating a war between fans and you know it). It’sanother thing entirely to draw it out because you need people to watch and talkabout it.

I am also particularly bothered by hearing the excuse (several times by MK) that “Shay was busy”because Marlene literally planned the spin-off in season 6 (confirmed by bothher and Sasha). It. Was. Planned. I say this as a critic and not an Emison fan: Everything about the way they’ve tried to use Emison to generate buzz was underhanded. And saying shit like that opens the door for people to hate on Shay, and that’s really not cool.

Personally, I think it speaks volumes that the producers felt the need to addthe off-screen drama on top of the really decent plot they already had. Theycould have kept it unproblematic with simple writing choices and less inflammatorycommentary. They could have left the PLL drama in the PLL-verse and given thespotlight to the new drama. I don’tagree with creating old off-screen drama with zero chance of satisfactoryresolution all in the name of ratings. I hate marketing shit like that. It’s acheap amateur tactic and it turns me off.

I think the show could have been something special had theynot marketed it as PLL. But they did, so of course there was a certainexpectation. And of course there is some backlash. Because there are these twoworlds that have nothing to do with each other and so far I don’t feel likethey’ve blended it together well. For me, it was like watching PLL, but with less magic and less chemistry. If I had to describe it I’d say it feels alot like a recipe where you’re just throwing a bunch of ingredients into a bowlwith no idea what you’re making and you’re just hoping it’ll be edible by theend. Rather than focusing on the new universe the marketing team chose to focuson Ali/Mona’s new world and the drama that comes with them. And to me that almost says they don’t have faith that TPwould have been able to stand on its own without the PLL universe. Part of methinks I’d be more interested if this had been a completely fresh start. I wasactually more compelled by the newbies than I was Alison/Mona (though I adorethem, too).

That being said, I really wish the best for the cast/crew. I’llcontinue to watch the behind the scenes games/cast antics. I’ve been a fan ofSasha since I discovered PLL (everything about her seems very sweet and genuine andjust positive all around). And Janel as Mona was one of my favorite castingchoices of all time. In fact, I think my very first PLL post here was praisefor Janel. I’ve been following Sydney since she was a smol lil bean on theDisney Channel (and loved her in Tia’s Mowry’s show “Instant Mom”). Sofia seemslike a sweet girl, and I have enjoyed her other work. And Eli honestly justseems like he’d be a cool dude to kick back and have a drink with (is he evenold enough to drink? Jesus, they’re all babies). I love them all. In fact, I’veenjoyed the fun behind the scenes stuff more than I enjoyed the show. I’dwatch a reality show of them all day. That’s where I’ll get my fill. Watching them being goofy.

Final verdict: No, the show will not be getting my views. I’llprobably just watch the absurdity of Riverdale instead. Cheryl is fucking wild,y’all. And I’m kind of living for mean-dark-snarky Betty. And Sweet Pea is like…myfavorite character ever. My dumb asshole child.

As far as whether or not youshould watch it, I have no idea. I have a lot of people asking me my opinion onthat (which, I’m like the worstperson to ask, please don’t give me that responsibility. I don’t even likebeing responsible in the real world. I literally had a cookie and Cocoa Puffsfor dinner). I will say that if you’re only watching for Emison then I’d changethe channel. Because guaranteed it’s just going to make you rage. You’re not going to get anything out of it. Fill yourevenings with something more pleasant and positive for you.

And be nice to others on social media. At the end of the day, it’s only a show. You like it or you don’t.

#The Perfectionists #PLL #Pretty Little Liars #Emison asks

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jamesginortonblog · 7 years

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Metro UK Digital Edition, June 22, 2017

60 seconds James Norton

The Happy Valley, Grantchester and War & Peace heart-throb, 31, now pops up in new romcom Hampstead

by Larushka Ivan-Zadeh

Where are you today?

I am in Belgrade at the end of an eight-month shoot for a new drama series called McMafia, created by some of the people who did The Night Manager. It’s a look at the new globalised Mafia. We’ve been to lots of places but I am getting a bit homesick for London now.

That’s where your new film, Hampstead, is set. It’s being called the new Notting Hill…

It definitely has a similar feel and tone to Notting Hill. Hampstead is an area of London that has a villagey feel, like Notting Hill.

You have a small role. Was that because of TV commitments?

Yes. It was fortuitous because I was in between two jobs. The producer of Hampstead rang me and said, ‘You only have about three or four scenes but they are with Diane Keaton.’ And that’s a pretty big draw for any actor.

Is Diane Keaton like Annie Hall, her character in the Woody Allen film, in real life?

Yes! She is so bubbly and full of this wonderful lightness and I was taken aback by how so incredibly engaged she is with you. She was genuinely interested in what my mum was up to and how my girlfriend was. She was like that with every member of the cast and crew.

Which celebrity do you most get mistaken for?

I don’t get confused with anyone else, which is quite nice. Though someone came over to me recently and was like, ‘Can I just say that I love Endeavour, it is one of my favourite shows?’ She’d mixed up Grantchester with Endeavour and you don’t know if you should correct them and make them feel awkward or just go along with it. In this case I was very British and polite and signed my name ‘Shaun Evans’.

Hampstead has bathing ponds. Do you like wild swimming?

Yes I do, especially in the summer. In fact, swimming in Hampstead Ponds is one of my favourite things.

Is it true you started out as a kids’ entertainer?

Yes. I worked for [children’s party company] Sharky & George to keep myself financially afloat during drama school and loved it! It was perfect for a jobbing actor because you got to run around and shout and play. I still do the odd one on the side. I kind of miss it.

What’s your favourite party game?

There is just something about playing with the parachute, this huge billowing and colourful thing. I am still just a massive kid inside.

You were schooled by Benedictine monks, then studied theology at Cambridge. Did you ever contemplate the priesthood?

Oh no, no, no! I studied theology very much from an academic perspective. I was never destined to be in the Church. The closest I got is playing Sidney Chambers in Grantchester and he is a pretty rubbish vicar anyway. He means well but is pretty wayward and I’d be probably way more wayward than him.

Were you in the ‘luvvie’ set at Cambridge?

At school, it was all about rugby or sport and theatre was a little less cool. Once I got to Cambridge, I just wanted to do everything. I’d try to go to about four parties in a night and it meant I was sometimes a mad manic mess but that’s what university is for, I think.

You’re tipped to be the next James Bond. Fancy it?

The press and public love to speculate and it is very flattering to be part of that. As far as I know, Daniel Craig is going to do one or two more. I hope he does.

Your parents have been extras in Lady Chatterley’s Lover, Death Comes To Pemberley, War & Peace and Grantchester. Is this now in your contract or something?

No, it is not, but I bet my dad would love it if it was! It is something we did as a way for my parents to experience what I do because, in my family, no one is from this industry. My parents are both teachers.

What is your essential picnic item?

I am a massive fan of portable speakers. I’d also bring a Frisbee and fresh strawberries. You can’t get more English than that.

Hampstead is in cinemas now

#james norton #hampstead #metro uk

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ecotone99 · 5 years

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[RF] A strange encounter

I entered the cafe and there he was. Sun shining through the window onto his long brown hair, dappling as it hit the corrugated surfaces on an ancient and grubby fish tank in the corner. A dance, a festival of colours through a randomly placed square of stained glass, probably fitted to add character to what was otherwise a musty setting, but it just looked out of place.

My eyes were transfixed on him. It was only when he gave me a look of disdain from his amber eyes and went back to preening his hair that I came to. I blinked in surprise at my annoyance. Just who did he think he was sprawled out on the floor, his eyes half shut in the sun? Show off.

I took the last remaining table, squashed between the counter and a fake bamboo plant, picking up the first option on a teetering tower of expired magazines on a too small coffee table on the way. I turned it around nonchalantly as I sat down. Gah, Horse and Hound. But it was too late now. If I went back to change it I wouldn't look cool, and I had to look cool- I could tell he was watching.

I flipped through, mindlessly thinking to myself how long before I'd have to think of a new strategy. Would I engage the other girl close by, get a quick fire, scintillating conversation going before her other half returned from the loo? Let him hear how awesome I was by proxy? Or would I just go straight for the kill and walk up to him? Or maybe-? Focus, focus: you've got this magazine just work with what you've got for now.

I leafed through inanely: horses, horses, equestrian school, foxes, beagles; ah finally! It was the anniversary of the release of Notting Hill (Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts). The magazine was discussing it's feature in the famous interview scene all those years ago. I actually got engrossed in the article. And all of a sudden he was sitting at my table on the chair opposite me. I was stunned but I played it cool. I gave a pleasant, questioning look- and as I did for the since we met- I could feel the power balance tip in my favour.

I had intrigued him he said, and that didn't happen often. I looked at him blankly, but aloof as if this happened all the time. I decided the less said, the better. I'd let him talk. And he did. He told me, it was the magazine choice. All the other girls who came in spoke to him about all the things they thought would impress him- fish, birds. It was so overdone, but I was the first to brazenly come in and challenge him. I'd been nodding up until this point, but at the last statement I just stared at him blankly. As he could see he was losing me, he stared at the magazine and back at me again. I turned from Julia Roberts gleaming smile, to the article on the reverse page and it sunk in. I looked back at him this time fully comprehending what he meant.

And it all came spilling out, his aspirations. He wanted to strut around town with his red collar while I held him on a leash. He wanted to chase a pack of pigeons and really FEEL they were scared you know? He wanted to jump into a lake and actually ENJOY it rather than feel his life was flashing before his eyes. But most important of all- he wanted to howl at the moon and wail in faux fear at fireworks, to the point where police came to property because the neighbours had complained. He knew he could do all these things, but what he really needed to know was- could I handle it?

And then it happened. The stare down. It was probably no more than 30 seconds, but it was a life changing decision and felt like a lifetime. And then slowly I smiled, not too much, I had to let him know I was still in charge, followed by a curt nod. At this he fell into my lap elated, before jumping off & disappearing to the back. 2 minutes, then 3, 4, 5? What was he doing? And then he reappeared. With the leash. I want to start as I mean to go on he said, I cocked my eyebrows, impressed. He dropped it at my feet and I clipped it to red collar already on his neck. As he made his way ahead of me to the door I hesitated. Yes I would take it with me actually, it's what had clinched the deal for us. I took one last glance at the article before rolling the magazine into my bag, taking in the picture of beagles standing proudly under the caption "Be More Dog". This was going to be an epic adventure. We strutted out of the cat cafe, and I puffed out my chest- the new and proud owner of a cat who wanted to "Be More Dog".

[RF]

Would love feedback :)

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