Oscar Edition 2011 Updated!

So last weekend (thanks to another epic snowfall in C-Town) I managed to polish off four of the Best Picture nominees, bringing my total to six out of ten. This weekend, two more. Not bad eh? Let's break it all down...
Update: The last two movies have been watched, over a week ago, so yes, I'm behind on my blogging. I'm adding my reviews to this post so everything is in one spot. Less than a week until the big show - better figure out my other catagories!

Inception
I loved this movie when I saw it - smart, confusing, action-packed and filmed partially in Alberta. What's not for Oscar to love? Oh yeah, it came out months and months ago so it's wave of popularity peaked long ago. Plus the Academy seems to have some sort of grudge against Christopher Nolan. Sorry Mr. Nolan, sadly the best picture is typically the one with the best marketing push come January and Inception just wasn't played right.

The King's Speech
I saw this two weeks ago and it was lovely and mesmerizing. I'm a sucker for "stuffy English movies" anyway but this one had such humour and heart that it really deserves this chance on the podium. Some are saying this is riding the perfect wave to Oscar glory. Colin Firth carries the film beautifully and although some disagree with me I think Helena Bonham Carter gives an incredible performance.

The Social Network
I really wanted to hate this movie, there was so much hype and hoopla that really had me judging this before I'd even seen it. But that is why we see all the contenders so we can judge for ourselves what is worthy of the hype. I did find problems with this film, Justin Timberlake thinking he can act for one and the fact that the film seemed to drag at parts. For example, the regatta in England with the Winklevoss twins seemed a tad lengthy. I know it was necessary to reveal the twins final push into a lawsuit but really... and can I complain about the lack of strong female characters, aside from his ex-girlfriend, all the women were assistants or sluts or both... Overall though I enjoyed the story and characters and even the catchy music overlaying the scenes.

127 Hours
I did go into this movie with an open mind, after all Danny Boyle is a wonderfully unique director and Nic has so much faith in James Franco but... all I can say is that it was a good performance but I don't think he really captured the essence of Aron Rolston, no vocal changes, no mannerisms - that's always my biggest pet peeve about actors playing a real person - to me it was just James Franco with his hand crushed under a rock. And the beginning really seemed like he was trying too hard to get across how much the character LOVED the outdoors - it was a serious case of over-acting. I also found some of the hallucinations/flashbacks distracting but I also understand their purpose to keep the one man show interesting. Overall, a solid effort but not my favorite.

Winter's Bone
 Wow - a fascinating snapshot of a totally different way of life... it was confusing at times to figure out who was related to who and what was really going on but the acting was amazing. Jennifer Lawrence gave an effortless performance but I was actually more taken with the guy who played Teardrop, John Hawkes. I thought he was overlooked by Oscar but I just checked again and he's on there, phew! Only he's up against Christian Bale... I also thought the movie was interesting in it's use of female characters - where the Social Network has almost no relevant, strong female characters, Winter's Bone shows us some tough chicks who carry the movie through some of it's heaviest scenes. This movie will stay with you...

The Fighter
I really loved this movie - it grabbed me from the beginning and didn't let go until the credits rolled. I do love stories about the underdog and triumph against all odds (hmm, a lot of the best pic noms seem to have these similar themes) but the film adds this family element that is so complex and layered and, oh yeah, true! PS, James Franco you may want to ask Christian Bale for tips on how to embody a real life person because he nails it. And although Mark Wahlberg was pretty status quo he did make a nice balance to Christian Bale's larger than life antics. And the fight scenes (in and out of the ring) had me on the edge of my seat. I wish this had a bit more hype for the final show but it just doesn't seem to be a contender.

Black Swan
Oh boy, another strong entry for best picture. And Natalie Portman - wow! I honestly don't know what else to say... what was real, what wasn't real? There is really no way of knowing - we were in the character's head. Ms. Portman has the best actress award all but locked and yes, it is obvious now that she is completely deserving. The timid, reserved, perfectionist dancer that unravels into madness is pitch perfect. The finale performance was captivating although I really wanted to see what happened the day after...

True Grit
I love the Coen brothers - they have a style that is completely recognizable yet completely unexplainable. I enjoyed this movie but it isn't at the top of my list. One of my friends opined that Hailee Steinfeld's performance was one note and she was too unflinching for a 14 year old witnessing gruesome happenings. I somewhat agree but I think there were moments of softness and apprehension. I was actually most taken with Josh Brolin's performance - he was   unrecognizable... and Barry Pepper too was stellar. I'm still working on the Coen Brothers symbolism in this one but there is are definitely noticeable images and references to corpses and coffins. Watch for it.

Toy Story 3
I was probably the least excited for this one - maybe not as extreme as Precious last year but still, I felt forced into watching this one. I kinda feel like since the animated movies have been given their own category they should not be considered for the Best Picture but I know, that's not fair. Since foreign films can be cosidered for Best Picture, these should be too. Anyway, I digress, it was a cute movie, Pixar has a pretty good formula here, although I can't believe that some of the characters and situations weren't traumatizing for the kiddies... go ahead, google the image for the Big Baby character and tell me you think it's fine for kids... or is it just me? Another question, if the movie made it to Best Picture list, does this make it a guaranteed win for Best Animated feature?

The Kids Are All Right
I had heard from a few sources that this movie was a little slow moving but I didn't find a problem with the pacing. The acting from the whole cast was pitch perfect but oh, Annette Bening stole this show. I found myself suddenly torn for the Best Actress catagory. While I love Natalie Portman's performance I would argue that the very realistic acting style of this movie, portraying a "slice of life" if you will, is much more difficult to act than the showy style of Black Swan. Agree/disagree? I dare you to watch the dinner scene where Annette Bening's character does a 180 degree swing as she realizes she has been betrayed, and not feel every single emotion with her. Annette Bening teaches a master class, and although I don't think she'll be able to break Natalie Portman's streak, she is long overdue for her Oscar. How come they don't have ties anymore?

Other nominated movies I still want to see: Barney's Version, Blue Valentine, Rabbit Hole... hmmm, what else?

Reducing Franco

I was just perusing my favorite blog and I felt the need to share my own opinion, not so candy-coated... about James Franco.
It is almost time to get cracking on Oscar prediction tracking (speaking of... who is hosting our annual Oscar viewing party this year, I wonder?) and James Franco is going to be all up in our faces come Oscar time, as host and maybe nominee.
I'm afraid I've been swayed in my good opinion of James Franco by a certain cynical gossip blogger, so fair warning, this is what influenced his fall from grace...http://www.laineygossip.com/

At first I didn't want to believe that the ego of James Franco had taken over but this video (start at 20:25) was uncomfortable to watch... and the body language of the other actors around the table says that they were embarrassed for him too. Also, this is just a great video from an acting perspective... getting actors around a table talking about their craft is always fascinating.
And I think Nic and I can at least agree that we heart Colin Firth! Still friends, right?

Red Recruited Again...

It has been epically slow in C-Town on the acting front and I feel like I have been adrift with nothing on the horizon. I have received a few mass emails from my agent about non-union indie stuff that I can't do because "I work Actra". Great.

Sidebar: Why can't my agent create some simple email lists? Like union vs non-union or male vs female? Simple enough concept right? RIGHT?

And back in November my agent gave me some feedback about two radio commercial auditions from the auditioners that totally didn't match my experience with them. Talk about an ego blow. I mean I didn't bomb but the auditioners direction led me further away from what they wanted. I was also motivated to take an acting class but I chickened out. Yep, that's what I did... and it was too expensive and I couldn't decide which one would be more worthwhile. And hey, my life has been full and busy lately...

So imagine my surprise Monday to get a call begging me to teach a children's drama class for the next day! What, no, I couldn't possibly, it's been years, I'm not even an employee anymore, 8-10 yr olds - eek!!
But my sense of duty of course won out and I agreed. Who panicked? - not me... well maybe a little.

What happened, you ask? Well, just like riding a bike apparently... the class was awesome, I enjoyed myself - the kids loved me, they weren't little devils (some classes are full of them!)... I was tempted to offer to teach the full term. I only committed to one more week though - see how that goes.

Extra Red

I just finished three days on a film set in Black Diamond as an extra, hence the quiet blog. I actually didn't have long days since it seemed they didn't really want to pay us overtime but by the time I got home each day I was wiped out.

Here's the lowdown:

Day 1: Call time 6am so up at 4:45 to get ready and drive the hour. I arrived 15 minutes early, got into my CSI officer costume (pictures to follow hopefully) complete with CSI photo identification and got ready to wait. My CSI partner became a fast buddy since the rest of the extras were dressed up as fundamentalist polygamy folks and actually were in most of the shots, while we sat around. We stayed up at the location for most of the day, where there wasn't much shade until they brought up tents after lunch. We did not get to be in any scenes...

Sidebar: The hierarchy on film sets is crazy to observe. I am now an Actra Apprentice so technically I am considered "on voucher" so I can eat off the crew "craft" table but it's a very tenuous position because I am still just an extra... extras who usually get the scraps and have a separate snack area with only basic water and a few cookies. I wound up eating with the rest of the background rabble, who aren't "on-voucher" and are being paid about $10/hour because I didn't want to step on any toes... sigh - where's that backbone?

Day 2: Call time 6:30am so an extra half hour of sleep - wheee! I arrived 15 minutes early, as usual, got signed in, breakfast, costumes, hair, makeup and again back to waiting. This time I had a different CSI partner and he was a little... how should I put this nicely... full of himself and acting like he owned the set when really he was just an extra like the rest of us. We got sent up to the location but again didn't get in the scene and CSI dude convinced the wrangler to send us back to the holding area if we weren't needed, as if he was inconvenienced being on set. So we waited down at the holding area for the rest of our eight hours and then they sent us home, again without filming.

Day 3: Call time 10:30am woohoo! And another hour drive out of town this time with more traffic on the roads but of course I planned for that so I managed to be 20 minutes early... I figured they wouldn't call us back for an extra day if they didn't need/want us so I had a good feeling. And my original CSI buddy was back so I didn't have to put up with the other guy. We went through the procedure and settled in for waiting... lunch came and went... and finally about 4pm we were taken up to the location. And we waited again... and finally we got into our scene with the dead body. It was awesome - and it only lasted about 15 minutes but at least we got to see some action!

So three days of getting paid to eat and sit around... not bad work if you can get it. I'm hoping my CSI buddy comes through and emails the pictures from set!

Red TV (Pilot)

Last September I was cast in and filmed a local tv pilot. I was the uptight party girl at a "passion party"... and the show was all improv which I love! Tonight I attended a screening of the final product and I took my #1 supporter - my hubby, tired after a long day at work - what a trooper.

The show was good, I did not do horrible things with my face, so hooray. It was a pretty short scene and of course they had to edit out so much of the fun stuff we came up with. The show however hasn't been picked up by any networks so who knows when or if it will actually air. My fingers are crossed for all the guys who have been slaving over this for years!

http://www.downholers.com

Buggered!

I think I am incapable of blogging tonight - even though so much has happened and I am long overdue for a blog. But I've had about four or five false starts tonight and I just can't get anything out without deleting all of it and changing direction.
Should I talk about my exciting and busy week which saw me signing up to be an Actra Apprentice, seeing some theatre (Mob Hit's As You Like It), and babysitting my nephew successfully? Or perhaps my theatre review in detail? Or some book reviews?
Or my guilt at watching tv this afternoon instead of a host of other things I could have been doing?
Bah - I dunno... I think I'll just give up for tonight.

What Red Day is it?!

What day is it? Sunday already?! Friday and Saturday seemed to meld into one... I haven't blogged, practiced my guitar, cleaned the bathroom, finished laundry, etc and I forgot to go to a housewarming party last night, because I was still thinking it was Friday.

Friday Update:

I am not a union member... yet.

I went in on Friday to sign my life away and the gal I met with was super nice and said we could just put my sign up on hold until the other non-union gig is completed. So I called and accepted the offered role and hooray, I get to do both! I am still concerned about missing out on gigs once I go union but overall I think it's for the best.

My hair... oh my hair. And I have to tell the producer of my new gig that I cut it... so unprofessional of me!

Saturday Update:

It has been a very productive weekend - don't get me wrong.

I've worked on getting the pesky grass and weeds out of my garden and I planted the rest of my Creston plants that I purchased. Hubby and I made another trip to Home Depot and got samples for our house trim colour among other things for our reno project. We worked on the house and garden until about 8pm last night and then just crashed.

Back to work tomorrow? Already?

Sucks.

Red Haircut Lament

I've never cried over a haircut before, I don't think. And of course my haircut story will pale in comparison to Nic's nightmare haircut where she wore a hat for a month afterwards.

I went to my usual stylist Francesco (aka Frank) who usually does very good work with my thick, thick red hair. I just wanted a trim and as has happened before Frank talked me into going short. Not a big deal really, I've had a short bob before... It's just that I just usually work backwards. Long hair in the summer for any acting gigs that come up and short in the winter when I get sick of the long hair... well, now I have short hair for summer. This will be when all the calls come in looking for long haired actors.

Anyway, Frank said it would "brush my shoulders" and my bangs would just touch my eyebrows - no shorter! But Frank must have had an oopsie because my bangs are halfway up my forehead and the longest layer just barely touches my shoulders.

And of course he styled it afterwards flipped out with big volume... it looked like a helmet.

I like to feel like a million bucks after a haircut. Don't we all?

And I didn't.

And I lament my lack of backbone.

Woe is me.

A.C.T.RED

It figures.

I finally get my "invitation" to join the actor's union (see golden ticket commercial below) and in the same week I get a part offered to me in a non-union indie film. I auditioned Saturday, got my letter from actra Monday, booked my appointment to join (and pay) Friday. Just my luck!

Now, oh wise universe, how can I do both?

PS - this is the old vicious circle "I can't get a job because I have no experience, I have no experience because the union bans me from getting a job unless it's union rates"...

I'm hoping because it was a previous booking they will allow it but it's a long shot. I do plan to ask lots of questions on Friday - like why would they limit their apprentice actors who could be getting better experience on indie projects than some bit part in a big production. And don't get me started on how few and far between those are in Alberta.

This decision better get me more gigs than missed opportunities.

Stampede Redhead

My debut... I now exist in the viral video world. Weird!


Check out the rest of the "I Promise" commercials here:

http://www.youtube.com/user/CalgaryStampede1912#p/a

Red Eats her Words

Well now, my cynical actor had a good old vent last week and um, backpeddle, backpeddle... I got the part!! I guess despite the small pool of work and large pool of actors I did have just as good a chance as any.

Also of note, I even beat out the other redhead (she's super nice, confident, beautiful, always put together and acts for a living) who I see at most of the same auditions. I can confidently say I'm totally jealous of her and it was some sweet satisfaction to know that I won out.

I always say I am not good with commercial auditions but again I am eating my words because I have now filmed my first commercial. It's funny how sometimes things work out exactly too. The filming was set for Sunday which meant I didn't have to cancel anything or skip out on my full time job. Thanks universe!

Oh and one more confession, for Nic. My call location was the Holt. I didn't get to film there though but I did get to browse while I waited for hair and makeup... the shoes, my goodness, the shoes. I saw the same pair of Manolos from Sex and the City movie... you know the blue ones with the jeweled buckle? So pretty... so expensive!

And then I got to pick up fake poo about 50 times - it was awesome...

Seeing Red

Hello, my name is Red and... I am an actor. There, I said it. They say the first step is admitting it... and for some sad reason, admitting you are an actor is on about the same level as admitting you are a drug addict, maybe worse. Because a drug addict can rehabilitate.

And so I ask - why is being an actor so bad?

Let's make a list (I love lists)...

Top Ten Things People Think When I Say "I'm an Actor":

10. You are weird - who admits to enjoy playing dress-up as an adult?

9. You have no concrete skills, we bet you don't even have a job.

8. Oh great, another annoying waiter...

7. Your resume of two community theatre productions does not make you an actor.

6. We bet you have a giant ego and constantly talk about yourself.

5. Sigh, you are going to make us pay money to watch some atrocious performance piece that is three hours of you crying over a broken wheelbarrow...

4. ... And then you are going to ask us what it meant.

3. You are vain and are likely to succumb to an eating disorder or the dangers of long term botox usage.

2. You are an unrealistic dreamer whose bubble is going to burst one day - and we don't want to be around when it does.

1. No fair... we secretly wanted to be one so you can't be one.

As I write this I realize that perhaps the title should be "Top Ten Things I THINK People are Thinking When I Say "I'm an Actor"... so maybe that means I'm messed in the head and should stop ragging on myself. Anyway, we digress...

The point is, I am a professional actor trying to make it in the very, very, "small pool" of Calgary acting productions and yesterday I had a commercial audition. Wheee... sigh.

Another room full of some of the same faces - even another redhead friend (who is super nice and pretty and I am totally jealous of her) - and a room full of kids with their parents... and the chick in charge was actually asking the mothers if they wanted to audition as well. WHAT THE F#$%CK! As if we don't have a hard enough problem getting the attention of casting directors but you throw in some desperate non-acting mothers into the mix as well. Obviously they think any random person can spout off their cheesy one line into the camera, so why did I even bother showing up? But I did show up, working through lunch so I could skip out of the office and into the cattle pen. For the love of my craft...

Once in the room with my adorable matching kid, the casting director didn't even bother to introduce himself - why hello, Mr. I'msoimportantandyouarepoo. And speaking of poo - I then had to pretend to pick up dog poo right before delivering the gem of dialogue into the camera lens. It's going to be a doozy... let's hope I get it!