I recently attended the screening of Downsizing at Paramount Studios thanks to Alexander Payne and The Nebraska Coast Connection. Downsizing is about Norwegian scientists that find a way to shrink humans down to five inches in height. Six percent of the global population decide to do this to offset climate change and to live better financial lives. During the Q&A, Payne answered questions about his new film and his journey as a filmmaker. He and actress Hong Chau discussed the selection process for the role of Ngoc Lan Tran. Payne praised Chau’s performance and how she truly embodied her role every second of the day. They didn't have to do many takes even during one scene which Payne described as one of her most memorable close ups. The character Ngoc Lan Tran, played by Chau, lives her life guided by her heart and not by her ego. Her performance covers a complex inner spirit, courage, and the compassion she has for the poverty stricken and sadly forgotten community. Chau deserves an Oscar for her performance! Matt Damon is brilliant in his performance portraying the "nice guy" with a big heart! Deciding to do what is socially acceptable he chooses to become part of the downsizing population hoping to make the world a better place. With lots of twists and excitement throughout the film, a lovely dynamic occurs with new found friendships. My Thoughts on Alexander Payne Like Payne, I was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska and have admired his worldly mid-western revolutionary vision for filmmaking. I have had the opportunity to work on some of Payne’s films as an extra in Citizen Ruth, Election and as a production assistant for About Schmidt. In my experience working with Payne, it was refreshing to see that he always treated the extras with the same respect that he would treat well known celebrities. What I admire the most about Payne is his ability to discuss controversial political topics such as abortion, addiction, and mental illness through his films. He portrays the inner dynamics of not only the human race but the collective consciousness of possibilities as well. The hope for humanity is a common thread that exists in all of Payne's films but this one by far is the best! Everyone should see this film because it helps you laugh at yourself. The world needs laughter and joy right now and if you find yourself struggling with societal pressures verses following your heart, this film shows you that you are not alone. Downsizing is the uprising to the perfect holiday spirit of joy and laughter. Go see this film on the big screen you won't be disappointed!
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If your looking for something free to do while expanding your mind, imagination, and culture then I highly suggest you check out these three art galleries in Los Angeles, CA. 1. Urban Lotus; 417 Wall street, Los Angeles, CA 90013 This gallery opened up in the summer of 2015 with its debut show featuring the artistic works of Jasser Membreno; Jasser Membreno Website. This show featured Jasser's surreal yet awe inspiring art on display and a television with his animated e-book; The Collection of "Thoughts" (Pensamientos) for everyone to view as well. The latest artist now on display at Urban Lotus is the watercolors of Victoria Hunt-Finlan. Victoria's watercolors range from showcasing the beauty of a voluptuous female body to abstract to yonic. The artistic works that are chosen to be featured at Urban Lotus are talented at being so extremely detailed that the viewer is mesmerized by the amount of time that one can view the art while noticing something new every minute. The Urban Lotus space is intimate and small but perfect for encapsulating exquisite art that is best viewed in silent solitude versus crowds hovering around. And during the shows and events you can mingle with other art enthusiasts on the rooftop featuring an amazing view of downtown Los Angeles, drinks, music, and vendors that are selectively chosen based on the artist. If you are interested in scheduling private viewings of the art on display or future events you can find Urban Lotus online at Urban Lotus Facebook or Urban Lotus Instagram Come see why the name Urban Lotus perfectly fits the art and ambiance of this space. 2. TASCHEN Gallery; 8070 Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90048 You may have seen or heard of the amazing collection of Taschen published art books that are for sale at this Los Angeles gallery and many eclectic bookstores around the world. The show that was thankfully extended due to its popularity, Mick Rock: Shooting for Stardust. The of Rise of David Bowie & Co., to October 30th, 2015 is a display of nostalgia that you don't want to miss! Listening to "Space Oddity" playing in the background while peering into the history of David Bowie's transformation and trust of Mick Rock to not only photograph his stylistic planned events but his socializing with Iggy Pop, Queen, and Lou Reed is a trip that I didn't want to end. A historic timeline mapping out the life events of both Mick Rock and David Bowie are center stage for all the fans to read as well as original framed photos on the walls, photo-book, and signed prints to purchase. David Bowie quotes, "Mick sees the way I see myself". It is obvious in Mick's work that the teamwork between them is magical, destined, and transcendental. "Initially I was inspired by his music, and then I was fascinated by his aura. I felt hypnotized by all the mutating and shifting around. In truth the persona interested me more than the personality, coupled with the naked ambition." stated Mick Rock when asked what he found so appealing about David Bowie. Looking at Mick Rock's photos while listening to David Bowie is an inspiration to any artist that is questioning their inner calling to an artistic medium that bridges the gap of time and space. 3. Hive Gallery; 729 South Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90014
When I attend the downtown Los Angeles Thursday night art-walk (Downtown Art Walk ) I always stop into the Hive Gallery on Spring street. I love how it feels as if your walking into a never-ending hall of neo-pop modern art featuring many different local artists. There is also an artist made items gift store with items under $50 towards the entrance/exit of the gallery. The Hive Gallery’s website quotes, “ We seek to break down the quiet, traditional, art-on-white-walls, viewing experience and create a gallery atmosphere that is as equally alive as it’s artwork.” Openings usually include 5 featured artists, up to 100 group show artist, live painting, and more. The October 2015 featured artists are the movers and shakers of the animation industry. This exhibit is open to the public on Wednesday to Saturday from 1pm to 6pm and Sunday-Tuesday by appointment. This exhibit gives its viewers the chance to see the secret art that these artists began and continue doing in their spare time while working as model makers, directors, producers, character fabricators, stop motion animators, storyboard directors, and publishers of animation. Suffering from Monday night blues due to work and yadda-yadda-yadda? I was able to rid those blues away with numerous laugh out loud giggling moments thanks to Kat Aagesen's stand-up set, "The Kat House" at The El Cid! Kat's style of stand-up is casual, chill and most importantly hilarious! Her line-up included, talented comedians; Bill Dawes, Will Weldon, and Jeremy Bassett! Each show also includes one newbie because Kat personally feels that once she started doing stand up comedy, it changed the course of her life in a positive way and to be able to give that chance to other aspiring comics is an added plus! On this particular night, Kat selected Anastasia Kaufman to be the virgin showcased comic! Great choice! I was impressed with how all of the comics played on each others sets beautifully. Gifted at knowing how to read the audience, all the comedians did their part in raising the energy on a dreaded MONDAY night no less! The flow & style of each comic made the audience feel as if they were just chatting it up with you over a drink. I say that because they all did such an excellent job at interacting with the audience while uplifting them at the same time. The ability to captivate an audience comes from years of experience! "I've been doing stand up for two years. I've performed in 2 festivals and various clubs, bars, and stages around LA. I've been a hostess in restaurants for 7 years, so I figured hosting a comedy show would be a logical fusion of my field of expertise and interest." ~ Kat Aaegesen. "The Kat House" is a regular show at El Cid, every 3rd Monday of the month. It has been listed on SceneStar.com and TheComedyBurea.com. If you are seeking a way to swiftly shed your Monday blues away, The Kat House is the place to be! Friday night I attended the release party of Amber Allen's new song HOOKED! As soon as I entered The Falls Lounge in downtown Los Angeles I could feel Amber's infectious soulful voice captivating the room! Hooked, will literally have you hooked on catchy, upbeat lyrics with uptown funk beats! Amber Allen is a singer/dancer/artist #TripleThreat that inspires her audience to rejoice in the love they are feeling! If you're looking for a new original song to either work out or dance to, then I highly suggest you download Hooked! Get "HOOKED" and listen now!I recently saw Pixar's latest addition to their magnificent collections of films, Inside Out. Not only will this film turn you inside out with laughter and tears but teach you a lot about the fascinating complexities of how the human brain works. As a former psychology student I was intrigued with Pixar's vision of how our emotions operate as separate entities with personalities while they would explore the other cerebral cortices. The most interesting dynamic was the relationship between the characters Joy and Sadness. The film starts off with them having to work together but not exactly knowing how or why they need each other. Eventually through some hilarious mishaps they begin to figure it out. Amy Poehler as the voice of Joy, was spot on with her reactions to Phyllis Smith as the voice of Sadness. These two embodied the characters completely in their voice! The animators and writers of Pixar once again kept me sitting on the edge of my seat wondering how they were going to be able to understand why they need each other. If your wondering if this film is simple enough for children to understand, be entertained, and learn from, then my answer is yes to all of the above! Take your children, nieces, nephews, or any children you know that can benefit from learning not only why it is important to express your emotions but also how to channel them for everyone's greater good! Hi I'm Auntie Bridgey! Well that's the nickname my pet-sitting client families call me. Cat-sitting in LaLa land has become quite a journey in my life especially recently due to one of my little furry friends; Buster, becoming famous overnight. He was on My Cat From Hell this month because he wasn't cool with affection or close interaction with strangers. When I first met Buster I would play with him a lot. I learned this from watching My Cat From Hell for the last two years. Playing with an aggressive frightening animal shows them that your only interest is to entertain them which strengthens the intimate friendship bond you are trying to form with them. Another trust exercise that I learned from Jackson Galaxy on his show, My Cat From Hell, is the slow blink technique. When a cat is staring you down growling, hissing, and usually there eyes will widen as it they are ready to attack, you must gather all the strength you have, take a deep breath, look the cat straight in the eye and blink slowly at least twice. If they blink back that means they got the telepathic message that you are willing to trust them as long they give you a chance as well. The change in Buster since his meeting with Jackson Galaxy has been a complete 360 degrees! I must say. He now lets me pet him, will sleep close to me at night, meows at me to communicate, and even purrs sometimes meow. This book that he wrote as well titled, Catification, is also a must have for cat owners, cat sitters, or anyone that is dating a cat owner/lover. Not only does it give excellent suggestions for making your space a win-win situation for you and your cat(s) but also tricks for behavior issues such scratching your favorite furniture and cat body language. I feel like Buster is evening telling me telepathically to shoot and post videos of him more meow. You can see these videos on my Instagram BRIDGEYBOH Typical actors lol. Carpe diem meow. ;-< |
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Bridget's Bio Bridget Bohuslavsky was raised in Omaha, Nebraska by a
Czechoslovakian farming family. She was always fascinated with the
outdoors, animals, and sustainable living but felt more at peace cycling
around the urban city of Omaha, Nebraska. Her passion for arts and
progressive growth is why she moved to Los Angeles over ten years ago.
She loves exploring cities on her bicycle, supporting the arts, and
learning more about the benefits of a holistic lifestyle. |