tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72024026591731673482011-07-08T09:59:44.423-04:00Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.comBlogger631100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202402659173167348.post-73506701292902792002009-09-13T03:14:00.003-04:002009-09-13T03:19:51.733-04:00

Tragically, I have fallen out of the habit of blogging lately and most of the posts that I've started writing in the past few months have gone unfinished. I wanted to start fresh with a new blog and a new focus on daily entries rather than only posting a few times a month. Daily entries means shorter average post length ('cause there will be more of 'em!), but in many ways, the new blog will be

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.com39tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202402659173167348.post-19390204877997982132009-07-10T22:31:00.002-04:002009-07-15T22:41:51.821-04:00

Last Saturday, my boyfriend Matthew and I walked our first of several planned city walks, exploring the neighborhoods and parks of the Upper West Side. We mapped our 12.5 mile walk with Google Earth, and the composition below features some photographs I took along the way. Click on the map for an expanded view.I will post again with pictures from our next Manhattan adventure!

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202402659173167348.post-91685640025164229172009-05-15T21:09:00.012-04:002009-05-20T02:07:36.159-04:00

This is completely random, but also kind of hysterical ...As I'm preparing to begin a film producing career at the indie level, the next step is incorporating as an official company. And logically, every next step begins with a Google search for the question that needs to be answered, such as, How much does it cost to get an LLC in NYC?"At the top of the Google search list below the sponsored

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202402659173167348.post-32385039427569120832009-04-30T08:25:00.030-04:002009-07-25T23:31:21.530-04:00

Last month, the wonderfully talented Andy Hallett died of congestive heart disease at the age of 34. Andy was best known for playing the singing host-with-the-most, Krevlornswath ("Lorne"), on Joss Whedon's sci-fi drama Angel for four seasons. Lorne is a green-skinned demon from the music-less dimension of Pylea. After he is sucked through a portal to Los Angeles, Lorne establishes Caritas, a

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202402659173167348.post-3559461234656003362009-04-23T23:40:00.007-04:002009-08-24T00:43:24.586-04:00

Here are another ten cliff-hangers being consumed this month by literary enthusiasts on the F train during the commute between Manhattan and Brooklyn. Enjoy the sneak peek!2666The novel is divided into five parts and begins with the adventures and love affairs of a small group of scholars dedicated to the work of Benno von Archimboldi, a reclusive German novelist. They trace the writer to the

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202402659173167348.post-48642333118919368872009-03-24T23:14:00.014-04:002009-04-07T00:26:07.800-04:00

My boyfriend and I have recently begun taking walks through Prospect Park to the Central Branch of the Brooklyn Public Library. I'm not much of a library gal, mostly because my love affair with books is rooted in a materialistic and possessive need to own and display everything I've read, without the burden of overdue fees. Add that to the fact that most libraries are closed on Sunday (the best

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202402659173167348.post-3074917622795561832009-03-20T23:07:00.004-04:002009-03-26T22:54:18.397-04:00

Ten Random Songs from my March PlaylistShimmer Like a Girl Veruca SaltComplainte De La Butte Rufus WainwrightAccidentally In Love Counting CrowsPaperback Writer The BeatlesAcross the Universe Jim SturgessHandle With Care Jenny LewisTurn Into Yeah Yeah YeahsFront Row Toby LightmanShine Like a New Pin Camera ObscuraBizarre Love Triangle Frente!

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202402659173167348.post-88398317323426342432009-03-14T18:38:00.005-04:002009-03-22T20:55:31.429-04:00

My last post featured 10 books that have recently engrossed F train readers during their morning commutes on the Manhattan-bound subway out of Brooklyn. I was considering making this a monthly feature (and perhaps I may still), but a wait of three more weeks proved too long as I was unable to resist the temptation of discovering new works of literature, more-or-less under my nose.As subtly as

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202402659173167348.post-40452383071588875852009-03-04T23:24:00.021-05:002009-03-12T01:24:28.053-04:00

The Manhattan-bound F train out of Brooklyn has been sucking lately. There's more delays than ever with severe overcrowding during rush hour, and best of all, if the proposed MTA fare hikes go through, we B'klyners - and all other NYC subway riders - may soon have to pay 25% more for our unlimited Metrocards, raising the monthly bill from $81 to a sickening $103.Mother $%&#s!But we F train

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202402659173167348.post-70341175129435888342009-02-28T16:41:00.031-05:002009-03-12T01:25:25.413-04:00

Last year in my post, Reading vs. Listening, the Debate Begins, I expressed my disinterest in "reading" a book by listening to it on audiotape. While I think it's great that audiobooks exist for people who have difficulty reading due to disability and for habitual multitaskers, especially individuals who find themselves on the road for significant periods of time, I personally can't imagine

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202402659173167348.post-69396264881273588552009-02-21T22:14:00.004-05:002009-02-22T22:22:24.435-05:00

10 Random Songs* from my February PlaylistSong for You Alexi MurdochThe District Sleeps Alone Tonight The Postal ServiceNovember Azure RayFavourite Worst Nightmare Arctic MonkeysBe OK Ingrid Michaelson3rd Planet Modest MouseSunbeams The ConcretesLet Me Know Yeah Yeah YeahsHangin' on the Line Ladybug TransistorSweepstakes Prize Mirah*Recently purchased with an iTunes giftcard, huzzah!

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202402659173167348.post-18530651138363621112009-02-17T01:19:00.012-05:002009-03-12T01:34:14.465-04:00

I stumbled upon the Hugo Award-winning Coraline at the Strand Book Store a year ago, shortly after reading Stardust, a charming introduction into the magical worlds of author Neil Gaiman.It's easy to forget in the current Disney-fied, PC-obsessed 21st century that a modern day fairytale can be as dark as it is enchanting, and that moral lessons come in all shapes and sizes, from easily-resolved

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202402659173167348.post-83890200901156332532009-02-14T22:36:00.016-05:002009-02-16T14:03:52.763-05:00

Along with a delicious homemade dinner from my boyfriend, I received another Valentine this week - the opportunity to meet two of my personal heroes. Yippee!On Monday, February 9th, I began work at a new full-time job in mid-town Manhattan. It just so happens that one of my coworkers is friends with Chris Baty, the crazy man who began National Novel Writing Month, and Chris was in the city that

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202402659173167348.post-31012079149412173062009-02-03T21:16:00.018-05:002009-03-02T00:39:54.992-05:00

I can't believe it's already February, 2009. Seriously, where did January go? And why am I still signing dates with an "08"?It's kind of funny remembering that ten years ago, we were all pretty sure we wouldn't make it to 1/1/00, and now we're a full 9 years past, and much closer to the next apocalypse, 12/21/2012. Personally, I think the date looks more binary than ominous, but I'm sure there

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202402659173167348.post-81597485802948889752009-01-26T00:14:00.004-05:002009-01-27T15:37:33.950-05:00

Ten minutes ago I finally published my disturbingly long review of the YA novel Twilight, which I read a couple of weeks ago. It took me almost as long to write the review as to read the book, and honestly, I could have said more, but my fingers were exhausted.I have recently become obsessed with making music videos (or video remixes, whichever is more PC), for no goddamn reason other than I

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202402659173167348.post-64669945544147348262009-01-26T00:10:00.011-05:002009-04-12T00:51:10.745-04:00

I apologize in advance for the size of this Twilight review, which can only be described as pre-historically mammoth. Stock up on food and water, and enjoy.It took me a while to get through Twilight, the best-selling YA novel by Stephenie Meyer; a full two weeks, much longer than expected. Despite its 500 pages, the word count is a moderate 118,000, much shorter than any of the last four Harry

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202402659173167348.post-49692708378071157912009-01-20T13:13:00.020-05:002009-03-02T00:49:14.665-05:00

In September of last year I wrote an entry celebrating the indie rock band Rilo Kiley, with a top-ten list of some of my favorite songs (Rilo Kiley = Awesomeness). The list and albums are below.1. With Arms Outstretched, The Execution of All Things2. Spectacular Views, The Execution of All Things3. Portions for Foxes, More Adventurous4. The Good That Won't Come Out, The Execution of All Things5.

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202402659173167348.post-4096835255753023602009-01-11T17:53:00.018-05:002009-03-02T00:45:55.474-05:00

Last night I attended a rather unconventional performance of the most famous Shakespearean play to not involve star-crossed lovers. You know, it's the one where the Danish Prince Hamlet discovers that his uncle Claudius killed Hamlet's father (the king - now a ghost) so that he could shack up with Hamlet's mother (the queen - now a skank), and Hamlet meticulously exacts his revenge, and

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202402659173167348.post-78360470783980042442009-01-09T17:27:00.001-05:002009-01-11T17:35:37.549-05:00

10 Random Songs from my January PlaylistMy Hero Foo FightersI Me You Jim NoirSummerbreeze Emiliana TorriniBallad for Dead Friends Dashboard ProphetsThe World is Not Enough GarbageChoke The CardigansWandering Star PortisheadSo Much for the Afterglow EverclearCapturing Moods Rilo KileySwallowed in the Sea Coldplay

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202402659173167348.post-43765339060381175902009-01-04T23:16:00.001-05:002009-01-09T14:44:11.197-05:00

While on vacation from the perils of adulthood (rent, taxes, and reality), I like to keep myself busy, hoping that the more I accomplish, the longer my vacation will feel. It's possible that this is faulty logic, but it's the only logic I know.If I were to do real work (n: employment, as in some form of industry, esp. as a means of earning one's livelihood), then the week would no longer

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202402659173167348.post-2103832036495965822009-01-01T23:40:00.011-05:002009-04-18T14:38:23.582-04:00

*Drumroll, please*Announcing Valderi Valdera's 2009 booklist (Barnes and Noble, here I come)! And yes, half of these are carry-overs from Booklist Aught 8. I read just over 40 books last year, but I cheated a bit and six of them were re-reads of books not on the list. Will have to try a little harder to make it up to the big 6-0!First up this year is Stephenie Meyer's Twilight. And yes, you

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202402659173167348.post-77346558070312846092008-12-28T17:27:00.009-05:002009-03-02T00:56:27.959-05:00

I watched The First Wives Club for the umpteenth time on cable last week. I saw the film a number of times in the late nineties, enjoying the kooky capers of a cast-off lot of revenge-seeking first wives, but this was my first viewing in the 21st century. It's a silly, good-natured comedy showcasing lots of grrl/womyn power in the female leads, with talents ranging from Diane Keaton to Goldie

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202402659173167348.post-29507846329158501852008-12-06T17:50:00.015-05:002009-01-01T23:22:00.198-05:00

In the wee-hours of the morning while channel surfing for something other than infomercials, I'm grateful for the USA network and its late-night programming. While other cable channels are running 6 Week Body Makeover and Cash Flow Generator ads as early as 2am EST, USA's programming often runs until 5am or, even better, all night!I enjoy most of USA's original programming - Monk, Psych, The

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202402659173167348.post-71487779235178183422008-12-02T07:49:00.001-05:002008-12-06T19:22:20.028-05:00

10 Random Songs from my December PlaylistBuilding a Mystery Sarah McLachlanHoliday Green DaySave Me Remy ZeroThe Dark Night of the Soul Loreena McKennittSugar Water Cibo MattoDangerous Type Letters to CleoTrapped in a Box No DoubtChariot Gavin DeGrawMy Lover's Gone DidoPay Attention The Eames Era

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202402659173167348.post-51473194044716752152008-11-28T01:39:00.025-05:002009-01-13T22:59:02.586-05:00

On Monday, I received an email from a desperate friend who, after seeing Twilight opening weekend, was already suffering serious Robert Pattinson-related withdrawal symptoms and the desperate need to see the film again ... 24 hours later.I wasn't actually planning on seeing the movie. Well, that's not true. I had decided if the Rottentomatoes critics rated the film very highly (> 70%), I

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202402659173167348.post-74531911773317843312008-11-12T08:52:00.006-05:002008-12-06T19:22:33.954-05:00

10 Random Songs from my November PlaylistAt the Stars Better Than EzraPortions for Foxes Rilo KileyCherry Lips GarbageBlue Angie HartCommissioning a Symphony in C CakeSuch Great Heights Iron & WineLucky Bif NakedFools in Love Inara GeorgeAmerica JewelVideo Killed the Radio Star Presidents of the USA

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202402659173167348.post-43901230276900410152008-11-04T17:08:00.017-05:002008-11-23T23:27:59.412-05:00

THE PANDA SAYS NO!I'm seriously considering boycotting TNT - the cable network, not the explosive device. Is my boycott part of a cable-wide protest of the switch from analog to digital television? Or perhaps I am objecting to the "questionable" content of some of TNT's original series?D, none of the above.I'm boycotting TNT because their new tag line, "More Movie, Less Commercial" makes me want

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202402659173167348.post-1429329712610645752008-10-26T18:22:00.008-04:002008-11-02T19:07:58.781-05:00

My trip last weekend to see Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist was my first movie theater outing since catching Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight back in July (there just hasn't been much of interest this movie season). I didn't feel a need to write a review on The Dark Knight as it has been done to death, and I hardly have anything new to offer.My review in two sentences? The Dark Knight is

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202402659173167348.post-20820223944646763392008-10-12T22:22:00.011-04:002008-11-02T20:03:03.355-05:00

Anne Bishop is one of my favorite fantasy writers, but when compared with fantasy's top names - J.K. Rowling, George R.R. Martin, Mercedes Lackey, and of course, King Tolkein - she is an unknown. And thus deserving of an ode (sans the stanzas, lyricism, and poetic structure)!And So it begins ...In 2001, I read Anne Bishop's romantic fantasy series known collectively as The Black Jewels Trilogy

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202402659173167348.post-10637833570240847932008-10-04T16:12:00.010-04:002008-11-01T16:48:50.883-04:00

Sarah Palin Debate Flow Chart Like millions of other politically-conscious Americans (and bored Canadians), I watched the one-and-only vice presidential debate on Thursday night ... the only difference is that I watched it from 35,000 feet in the air while flying from an extremely liberal blue state to a hard-core conservative red one. My plan was to order a cocktail to drown my political

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202402659173167348.post-66671133216408588812008-09-19T10:53:00.005-04:002008-12-06T17:58:00.699-05:00

I was first introduced to the indie rock band Rilo Kiley in 2003. My freshman year roommate had this annoying tendency to play their song "The Frug" several times every morning - on a loop. I wasn't particularly fond of said roommate and our relationship ended six weeks later when I got the hell out of there, switching dorm rooms, and never looking back. I thought I would end up loathing "The

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202402659173167348.post-64463879836296882452008-09-12T10:13:00.003-04:002008-09-12T10:17:19.499-04:00

I read a lot growing up - on the bus, at the playground, while not paying attention in class. I tended to strongly dislike, on principle, the books that were required academic reading (with a few notable exceptions - The Giver, Number the Stars), but that didn't stop me from discovering other, much beloved literature outside of the grade school system. Below are some of my favorites from

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202402659173167348.post-9126806129575449202008-09-10T22:38:00.009-04:002008-09-17T17:31:47.772-04:00

During my most recent foray into marathon television via Showtime's killer original series, Dexter, my heart opened - somewhat unexpectedly - to the arrogant asshole, Sergeant James Doakes (played in spectacular archetype fashion by Erik King).In Dexter, the titular Dexter Morgan is your run-of-the-mill, likable sociopath whose day job with the Miami Metro Police Department is in blood spatter

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202402659173167348.post-22958788344023296892008-09-01T02:09:00.005-04:002008-09-01T12:31:04.081-04:00

Having previously created half a dozen Miis based on popular Buffy the Vampire Slayer characters, it didn't seem right to stop there. What about the rest of the cast? Cordelia? Tara? Even annoying little Dawn? It's only fair that they become Miis too. And thus, I present Buffy the Vampire Miis - Part Two.In this entry: Willow, Oz, Cordelia, Faith, Dawn, Tara, and Principal Wood. Notice the

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202402659173167348.post-3247731797359067472008-08-31T00:23:00.012-04:002008-08-31T02:55:21.007-04:00

Dear Dr. Horrible,I recently watched the three acts of your sing-along blog. It was brilliant, of course; filled to the brim with Whedonesq wit, melodrama, and ridiculously entertaining sing-along bits. I am tempted to buy the series from iTunes, but I think I will hold out for the official DVD which should be stocking-stuffer worthy around Christmas time. *fingers crossed*Having now embraced

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202402659173167348.post-52153006236658926892008-08-23T20:36:00.005-04:002008-08-31T03:12:35.233-04:00

As the end of August nears, a very important month looms in the distance. It is a month of tribulation, trials, and tears, where patience will be tested and carpel tunnel syndrome intensified. Thirty fitful, sleepless nights, and thirty bleary-eyed, exhaustive days.It's not the holiday shopping that will ultimately do me in, it's the writing. And I'm looking forward to it.Last November, I

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202402659173167348.post-49633511603347564172008-08-17T18:55:00.010-04:002008-08-17T20:58:24.666-04:00

Along with a billion other people this week, I've had my eyes glued to the Olympics ever since the overblown (and amazing) opening ceremony on 8/8/08. And like a billion other people, I've cheered for the athletes and their accomplishments, rooting for my home country and other outstanding athletes from across the globe - the flawless Jingjing Guo of China, the ecstatic Richard Thompson of

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202402659173167348.post-53343931480595878422008-08-16T19:38:00.008-04:002008-08-18T11:13:53.952-04:00

Tropic Thunder, a war movie satire has just premiered in theaters this week ... and I won't be going to see it.Tropic Thunder follows a trio of hot-shot action hero stars who wind up in the jungles of Southeast Asia, facing real dangers while shooting a war movie. The buzz on the film prior to its release was the controversial plot line involving Robert Downey Jr.'s character, a white actor who

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202402659173167348.post-51503792376814505882008-08-13T22:31:00.009-04:002008-09-01T12:29:42.162-04:00

A friend and I had a bit too much 2 o'clock in the morning fun a few months back, creating these Buffy the Vampire Slayer inspired Miis ... We'll have to finish the rest of the cast eventually, but in the meantime, enjoy!In this entry: Buffy, Angel, Xander, Dark Willow, Giles, Spike, Anya, Drusilla, and Joss, the man himself. Notice the similarities?And the man who inspired it all ...

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202402659173167348.post-11667407249059038872008-08-10T21:21:00.013-04:002008-08-17T18:50:03.261-04:00

After seeing and really enjoying the charming fairy tale Stardust at the theater last year, I was inspired to read Neil Gaiman's original illustrated novel that inspired the film's story and visual design. A few months ago while browsing the shelves at Strand, I stumbled upon another Gaiman original - the slim children's novel Coraline. Coraline (NOT CAroline, as the youthful protagonist

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202402659173167348.post-48922972663224832022008-06-15T19:27:00.013-04:002008-08-11T17:07:00.456-04:00

Television has gotten good in the past few years - so good that many original network and cable series are, on average, significantly better fare than the middling drivel Hollywood has produced lately (Meet the Spartans, Fools Gold, Prom Night, the list goes on).The best thing about television being so good these days is that now there's more outlets available to watch the shows you miss first

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202402659173167348.post-10300457791433144222008-04-17T23:42:00.011-04:002008-08-10T20:35:15.161-04:00

Alas, I will shortly be going on hiatus from blogging. I've tried to keep it regular the past few months but there are more pressing commitments for my time and I must bid adieu. But I will leave you with this:I'm not much of a YouTuber, never have been. Mass consuming micro bits of entertainment has never really interested me or been able to hold my attention. I'd rather watch full, 22

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202402659173167348.post-26999177272250698042008-04-07T01:15:00.010-04:002008-04-07T18:45:53.309-04:00

This is the first time I'm embedding video in this blog. This video is pretty funny, but I think the humor was largely unintentional.Recently I watched a commercial for ClearPlay, a new DVD player that allows parents to filter objectional material from ordinary DVDs. I was intrigued by the concept so I did a little bit of online research. In theory, the idea is a great one. I'm not a parent,

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202402659173167348.post-72903735794365631302008-03-30T11:11:00.009-04:002008-04-07T18:46:56.864-04:00

For the past few months I have been shipping my undergraduate senior film to festivals all over the country, and when I heard that one of my former NYU professors, Sharon Badal, had just published her first book, Swimming Upstream: A Lifesaving Guide to Short Film Distribution, I picked it up and began to read.I am halfway through the book now which is a collection of short conversations with and

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202402659173167348.post-42540904164861097852008-03-17T00:45:00.009-04:002008-04-07T16:13:44.099-04:00

I saw the Tony-winning Broadway musical Avenue Q for the third time today. As always, the show was brilliant, the puppets and their puppeteers as lovable as ever and well-deserving of my newest blog entry.For anyone who grew up watching Sesame Street (or watched their kids grow up watching Sesame Street), we have all been conditioned to associate puppets with kids learning life lessons, from

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202402659173167348.post-28715094863331342852008-03-10T18:16:00.008-04:002008-03-10T19:18:53.414-04:00

Inspired by the success of NaNoWriMo - the National Novel Writing Month competition held every November since 1999, the Office of Letters and Light began a new writing challenge in June of 2007: Script Frenzy.And what is Script Frenzy exactly? Well, if NaNoWriMo is a month-long challenge to burgeoning writers and old pros alike to write a 50,000-word novel, then Script Frenzy is - you guessed it

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202402659173167348.post-75877533923973544192008-03-02T21:34:00.016-05:002008-03-04T02:01:50.059-05:00

I recently finished reading Why Buffy Matters: The Art of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, a collection of critical essays on Joss Whedon's hit television series, written by Buffy scholar Rhonda Wilcox. In what was the most entertaining, consistent, and accessible Buffy essay collection I've read so far, Wilcox focuses on the psychology of the series (perhaps overreaching a bit with all of the

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202402659173167348.post-74036837836352680442008-02-25T22:01:00.012-05:002008-02-28T00:08:52.661-05:00

This weekend I watched Kiki's Delivery Service (1989), an animated film by acclaimed Japanese director Hayao Miyazaki, and found myself succumbing once again to the charm and enchantment of one of Miyazaki's quintessential heroine-driven films. Like Chihiro in Spirited Away and Sophie in Howl's Moving Castle (based on the Diana Wynne Jones book of the same name), Kiki is an independent young

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202402659173167348.post-25538231589772115662008-02-24T00:25:00.010-05:002009-01-01T23:49:55.877-05:00

In early January I posted my 2008 Booklist, a list of 50 random books I am committed to reading this year - classics, fantasy, young adult fiction, etc. As of now, I am finishing up book #11 ("Why Buffy Matters", the inspiration for a future blog entry), and of course, since restricting myself to a mere 50 titles, I have already discovered some glaring omissions from my list, novels that I so

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202402659173167348.post-20893202752315789932008-02-17T22:22:00.014-05:002009-03-01T20:08:06.451-05:00

I've often engaged in the age-old debate over the merits of literary adaptation. Which is better, the book or the movie? (akin to the equally inconclusive, which came first: the chicken or the egg?).I most often side with the book as it is the book that inspires the movie to both recreate and reimagine a story that is (hopefully) worthy of being retold. An excellent book may become an excellent

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202402659173167348.post-31975649356069185312008-02-13T15:37:00.015-05:002008-02-18T17:59:57.283-05:00

I haven't really watched the Academy Awards since The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (2003) swept all eleven categories it was nominated for in an unprecedented victory (and one that kind of made everyone feel bad for the other films nominated that night). Every year there's at least one movie that excites me - Finding Neverland (2004), Hotel Rwanda (2004) or Pan's Labyrinth (2006) - but

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202402659173167348.post-30698449778510367152008-02-09T16:32:00.006-05:002008-02-13T15:54:42.136-05:00

This is a continuation of The Producer's List - Part One, a bullet-point list of big and small details that might get overlooked, particularly by independent filmmakers working in major cities like NYC.Regardless of the size of the production, there's always the chance that some important detail will be overlooked, unless the producers have their eyes open and their toilet brushes in hand, for

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202402659173167348.post-5168487132283094522008-02-06T11:40:00.001-05:002008-08-17T18:51:47.342-04:00

With the Academy Awards looming and all of the films marketing Oscar campaigns having debuted at the end of 2007 or holding off for summer blockbuster season '08, the early winter months are known for being sorely laking in quality entertainment.27 Dresses is the latest in a series of mediocre romantic comedies to have debuted in the last two years (with Fool's Gold appearing to be the next). A

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202402659173167348.post-83672449815584734092008-01-31T09:01:00.002-05:002008-02-13T14:38:22.833-05:00

A producer's responsibilities are many and varied, regardless of what medium they are working in, whether they are producing a film, television series, or an art exhibit. Producers must macro- and micro-manage, overseeing the big details - assembling the people, the places, the how and the when - and they must also look out for the small detail specifics, planning for every potential Murphy's

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202402659173167348.post-42967281550108321332008-01-25T00:11:00.001-05:002009-03-02T02:02:24.677-05:00

I went to see Beowulf in 3-D for $9 at a theater in Louisiana (about half the price of New York tickets!), and I was surprised to see that the theater had posted a sign stating that Beowulf, officially rated PG-13 by the MPAA, was not recommended for viewers under the age of 17.PG-13 - Parents strongly cautionedSome material may be inappropriate for children under 13.According to the MPAA,

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202402659173167348.post-54645425634734545242008-01-19T22:57:00.003-05:002009-03-14T13:28:49.400-04:00

Like Napoleon Dynamite in 2004 and Little Miss Sunshine in 2006, Juno (2007) is the little independent film that could, chugging up from oblivion and into the hearts of millions of movie goers across the nation. In classic indie fashion, Juno's slice of (slightly surreal) life is filled with quirky characters, off-beat dialogue, and a 1:1 ratio of pop culture references to minute of film.It's

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202402659173167348.post-37961055088379675292008-01-15T00:05:00.004-05:002009-03-02T01:51:14.819-05:00

Last summer, I began watching the sitcom Scrubs in syndication, catching as many as four episodes per day in no particular order - season one, season four, season two, they were all funny. The series is brilliant, featuring an outstanding ensemble cast, ridiculous daydream vignettes courtesy of narrator John Dorian, and a musical episode aptly named "My Musical".In the Scrubs musical episode, a

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202402659173167348.post-22702359014852603232008-01-06T17:06:00.008-05:002009-03-02T01:41:13.595-05:00

I love books in every way that it is possible to love books (legally, that is). I love wandering aimlessly in Barnes and Noble, drawn from spine to spine, analyzing titles and covers and back blurbs and inside jackets. I love buying books and carrying them around in my oversized purse - anywhere from one to three at a time. I love sitting (standing is more of a challenge) on the subway reading

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202402659173167348.post-14446681936918851632007-12-28T20:00:00.001-05:002009-03-02T01:24:01.665-05:00

There's only one two words that can really describe Tim Burton's film adaptation of Sweeney Todd (a musical by Stephen Sondheim): relentlessly intense.Bloody good would be appropriate as well, but only if you are in a punning mood.I've been a fan of Sondheim since I first discovered Into the Woods my sophomore year of high school. I was introduced to Sweeney Todd four years later at a university

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202402659173167348.post-7941289263535710862007-12-19T00:44:00.001-05:002009-03-02T01:17:47.284-05:00

Back in July, when I adopted my first ever kitten, I made one huge mistake. Actually, I made two mistakes. The first mistake was assuming that the kitten would love being picked up and cuddled and kissed all the time. Or ever. The second mistake was assuming that the kitten would actually want to play with "cat" toys purchased from Target and Petco.I was naive, but I have since learned the

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202402659173167348.post-17547964551664550162007-12-12T21:55:00.002-05:002009-03-02T01:16:03.925-05:00

*I won't be going into the controversy surrounding this film and the very excellent trilogy that inspired it, as that would make this a very, very long post, and I am just too tired to write that much now. Maybe later.*** Side note: I read the His Dark Materials trilogy for the first time in 2001. I loved the first two books so much that I rushed to buy the third book shortly after publication,

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202402659173167348.post-3309240938893550632007-12-10T00:04:00.001-05:002009-03-02T01:06:43.271-05:00

If Enchanted hadn't gotten such unanimously rave reviews from critics, I probably wouldn't have dropped $12 to see it last weekend. From the previews, the premise definitely seemed to have potential (animated princess becomes REAL princess, lost in NYC), although the story looked pretty standard, likely to fall within the "mediocre" range of a lot of Disney animated/family films post-The Lion

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202402659173167348.post-16270535859513661552007-12-07T22:40:00.003-05:002009-03-02T01:02:03.892-05:00

In November 2007, I participated in a little writing challenge called NaNoWriMo (an awkward acronym for National Novel Writing Month), in which participants are challenged to write a novel ... in a month. Granted, the challenge is really just to write 50,000 words in 30 days - a rather short novel - which you don't even have to finish. And it doesn't have to be any good.You just have to write

Valeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16125482991913004103noreply@blogger.com0