Yo! What up, interwebs? My name is April and I enjoy nintendo, oxymorons and Agyness Deyn's eyebrows. I wish I could work a suit like Jarvis Cocker. And I will do terrible things for coffee and cigarettes. I'm a cockney bitch, I'm a young ragamuffin from the streets. In my spare time, I make cynical observations, write movie reviews, steal the neighbours wifi and do things I probably shouldn't. Or simply must. Like building a time machine back to the 90's so I could whip out my cassettes and wear a "lamestain" tshirt. I'd be a closet MC Hammer fan because there really was no better time than hammer time. Maccas 30cent cones would actually cost only 30cents. And I could be the loser sitting alone in class being pelted with paper planes and spitballs while I wrote depressing, beautiful lyrics about materialism, conformity and sports jocks. Oh and Billy Corgan would still be cool.
This is Lo. She is leaving for an exciting adventure to Paris and London and today was the last time I’ll get to see her until she returns in 3 weeks! Sniff, sniff! Au Revoir, presh! I shall miss your happy spirit!
While I’m in no fit state to hop a plane (well, my wallet at least), I’m pumped for the German Film Festival hitting Sydney from the 21st April - 2nd May! Very much looking forward to watching The White Ribbon, I’ve heard nothing but great things!
In the meantime, Im eating lollies, avoiding homework and grooving along to a slinky mix cd that Shaun made me. Stevie Wonder makes the rain that much more pleasant.
I’ve always appreciated the Italians for their amazing art, food, language and above all, film. What a delight it was to spend 2 hours in class learning about World Cinema, with a viewing of Martin Scorsese’s ‘Il Mio Viaggio In Italia’. The documentary covers the Neo-Realism movement that heavily influenced his own film making techniques. His passion is contagious! Tears crept to my eyes when it played a segment of The Bicycle Thief, a favourite of mine. It also covers the works of Rossellini, Visconti and Fellini. Ah! Buy me a copy of this and I will love you forever!
It was so drizzly and cold… all I wanted to do was shop for fabulous things I didn’t need. I bought an a copy of Inside Film, an amazing skirt and bag (and tights! Oh! Addicted!) then sat with Luke in his empty apartment. He’s moving and we were waiting for the carpet cleaners... so we ate hot chips and discussed big dreams.
Today was alot of fun. I spent it dancing around to Florence + The Machine, drinking chai tea (im obsessed) and doing more filming in class. I am trying to perfect the aperture technique to use a pull focus smoothly.. it's a little tricky! But who doesn't love a good challenge?
Yesterday shift was very long and tiring and all I wanted to do was go home, or see somebody or eat cookies. I watched The September Issue while eating dinner when my phone rang. It was Vigne and Nathan, two very good friends of mine asking me to visit. Sometimes, I swear it, we are on the same wavelengths.
I was entertained with silly cartoons and disturbing videos, jokes involving bow ties and laughing about our worst dates. They always make me smile.
I'm feeling a little off colour today. I've taken a break from the usual scene and hung up my dancing shoes. Sometimes you need a quiet night in by yourself. And I suppose it really doesn't help to mention I watched Bronson this evening. As artistic and bold and drastically fantastic it is, watching a film about a man who spent 30 years of his life in solitary confinement did little to curb today's bout of loneliness.
I think I will sip my Chamomile tea and give the books a break for now... which is an easy feat considering I've spent much of my study time today playing with my new camera.
If you were around in the 80's, or have totally bodacious taste in films and pop culture of that era, you probably would have heard of dynamic duo 'The Coreys' consisting of Corey Feldman (left) and Corey Haim (right.)
They were the Paris and Nicole of the devil's playground and starred in eight films together including The Lost Boys.
News has spread that Corey Haim has died of a drug overdose this morning. Fans were not oblivious to the boys history of drug dependancy, propelling Haim from stardom to a very public demise. An addict by his early teens, filing for bankruptcy at 25 and in and out of rehab for the remainder of his days, Haim's short life may not be new to the Lindsay Lohan generation but it's a jarring reminder of the Hollywood monster's notorious ability to suck you in and spit you out.
It's that time of year again! The 82nd Annual Academy Awards are looming.... and this time, it's personal!
What is usually five nominations for Best Picture has expanded into ten and the race is overshadowed by two distinct players.
Amongst the refreshingly diverse list that includes Up In The Air, The Blind Side and District 9, are two action films following U.S militants in foreign lands.
James Cameron's Avatar took 5 years and $200million to make and is said to be head to head with The Hurt Locker which, if it succeeded, would be the lowest grossing film to ever win Best Picture.
Though both films explore war, Time magazine has hinted at the Academy becomming biased, possibly preferring The Hurt Locker as the film portrays the US army as patriotic, whereas Avatar sees them as destructive as they invade cultures and destroy ecosystems. (Vol. 175, No. 6)
Did I mention that The Hurt Locker is directed by Jame's ex-wife Kathryn Bigelow?
"Oh back to school... I got my lunch packed up, my boots tied tight. I hope I don't get in a fight."
So Monday saw the return of my University days and I'm pretty much squirming about some of the major works that I'm expected to have completed by the 1st of June.
Amongst other things, I have to make two short films. I am absolutely excited *slash* scared shitless! So much so, that I've already come up with a few ideas.
I wanted my feature documentary to focus on something that I would have access to but is still somewhat underground. What instantly came to mind was the hobby my eldest brother spends an insane amount of time indulging in; Flatland.
After making the curious discovery many years ago, Ben (seen in the video), has devoted his time to riding and perfecting his moves, entering in Tournaments and buying expensive parts as he relentlessly modified his bikes (and covered his bedroom floor with specially imported titanium whats-it's and do-dads in the process).
He was able to meet a group of likeminded riders from flatland forums who come from all over the world, proving that, despite it's ability to leave most people wondering, is a lifestyle very much alive and well, steadily climbing in popularity and novelty.
Still, the criteria for these works are yet to be revealed. And who knows? Maybe this idea will have to be pushed to the side if it's too ambitious. But for now, I've already begun storyboarding, constructing interviews, camera set ups and compiling tracklists.
old fashioned film countdowns, the word 'orchestral', Don Draper's icy stare, pop culture, crackling gramophones, pin ups, worn out cliches, op shopping, brutal honesty, dusty bookstores, tattoos, cities with buzzing neon signs, art galleries, zine fairs, pasta, live bands in small venues, indecency, adventures, gritty polaroids, nerds, strange accents, blogging, hating the word 'blogging', canned laughter and snooze buttons.
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