I Think I Missed Something: Reviewing Red Tails

Last night, I was happily invited along to join my friend Steph and her husband Ryan to watch a screening of Red Tails at the Fox Studios Lot.

 Geek out moment: The lot is AWESOME! My inner tourist wanted to run around every where snapping pictures of Moe's Cafe, the fake New York(?) street, the giant murals painted everywhere. SO.COOL. But I knew I had to keep my shit together, so I just walked around in awe grinning from ear to ear while trying to not look too eager. I'm gonna have to find a way to go visit friends who work there.

 Going into the movie, I was very excited. Coming out of the movie, I was bummed at how disappointed I was.

 To set the record straight, yup, I'm a white chick. Yup, I'm ignorant about a lot of history. But somehow, I was raised to know injustice when I see it, to believe that we are all equal, and that there is an infinite amount of power in the art of storytelling so that it connects us all. Storytelling is such a powerful tool, and when you use it to pay tribute to someone, to educate people who know nothing about another person's struggle, you're using it to help connect to something bigger than the individual. Personally, whether fictional or not, I want to see how we come out alive, how we survive, how we become better people. So when I walk into Red Tails, I want to know that George Lucas has spared no expense in the effects, or in the writing, the editing, or the casting. I want to know he hired a fantastic crew and cast to tell the story of the Tuskegee Airmen.

 I felt like George Lucas produced a fairy tale. Here's the Bad Guy. Here are the Good Guys. Here's their struggle. Here's every shot clean and beautiful and glossy. Here's the Happy Ending. It felt like watching the Special Edition of Star Wars - every thing was so sharp and crisp and clean, it no longer felt real. Yes, I know Star Wars is fantastical, but man did you feel like every single atom in the movie was textured, layered, and palpable. It's part of what drew me into the universe and the struggle of the characters.

 I loved the cast, even if they were given some badly written lines. I especially loved David Oyelowo, as Joe "Lightning" Little. But did every word out of Terrence Howard's mouth have to sound like an epic moment with the music swelling, each and every time? The action sequences were really great to watch, especially the train blowing up. But did every set up of a fight have to feel so campy?

 I didn't feel like war was hell unless we were in battle in the movie. But I thought every moment was hell. I thought soldiers fought every day, every moment to feel human in the indignities of battle. I feel like Lucas poured a hell of a lot of money into giving us a glossed over, pretty version of the experience of The Tuskegee Airmen and the men they fought to protect.

 I don't know - I feel conflicted. I wanted to love this movie. I wanted to feel proud of the homage paid to our WW2 vets. I wanted to know that I saw historical facts in play, and that I could learn and relate through the experiences of our protagonists. But maybe I'm over thinking it all. Maybe, if I really wanted to learn something, I should just get off my ass and do some research my damn self and just enjoy the entertainment in front me. Maybe if I'm looking to be moved by the subject matter at hand, I should just watch The Tuskegee Airmen with Laurence Fishburne from 1995. (Which Cuba Gooding Jr. was also in). I just feel that Lucas produced a bad film, and it's such a shame when the stories, the people, the situations are so rich in every element. The Tuskegee Airmen did so much for our country, I feel that they are owed at the very least, from my world of Storytellers, the best job that can be done of sharing an amazing story.

 Did I miss the boat? Was I supposed to know that I was watching a fairy tale from the very beginning? If that's the case, I still think something was amiss in the execution of said fairy tale.

Go see it and tell me what you think.

Ooh, More Trailers

I got a lot of war-type movies going on for this post. These movies are all about the highest stakes and what the characters have to do to survive, physically and mentally. War is hell, right?

1. Wrath of the Titans - I actually watched the Clash of the Titans remake last summer, and I gotta say, I really liked it. It was much better than I had thought, it was a good script. I'm excited to see what comes of this movie.



2. The Hunger Games - I can't wait to reread the books. I can't wait to see the movies. I really hope they don't screw it up, but this preview shows a lot of promise. This story is an intense one. I'm pretty sure that'll I'll be sitting on the edge of my seat, even though I know how it all ends. Eeeee!



3. Red Tails - I would be excited about this film no matter who was involved. I'm even more excited to see it now that my dad has met two Tuskegee Airmen. I get chills watching this. I'm pretty sure I'm gonna be an emotional wreck at the end. "We fight!"



4. Coriolanus - As a fan of Shakespeare, Ralph Fiennes, and Gerard Butler. I'm in. This ShakesNerd is eager to see this great cast be exceptional.



5. Act of Valor - I came across this trailer when I was at the cheap theater awhile ago. I had never seen or heard anything about it until then. What compels me most is that they're not using "actors", they're using active Navy Seals. I'm intrigued to see what comes of this combination.

Tripping Out on These Trailers

Some pretty exciting Trailers have been coming out recently. I have to say, I have always loved watching trailers when I go to the theater. And I've been known to while away some time over at the Apple Trailers page or IMDB's preview page. When I go into a theater, I squee with excitement when it's a really awesome movie coming. I always comment after each one, so whomever I'm with has to put up with my dorkiness.

In order of Squeeness, I give you my 5 currently favorite Trailers.

1. The Hobbit



I hate waiting.... But I'm SO excited!!

2. The Expendables 2



Fuck yeah. That's all I have to say. Fuck yeah.

3. The Dark Knight Rises



"When Gotham is ashes - you have my permission to die."

4. G.I. Joe Retaliation



This looks way better than the first one. WAY. BETTER. Maybe it's because Dwayne Johnson's in it, and I pretty much love watching that man on the big screen.

5. Men in Black 3



I might get a lot of flak for this, but hey, so far it looks as fun as the original two.  I'm in.

Some of you may be wondering, "what about The Avengers? What about Snow White and the Huntsman? What about...?" And yeah, I'm excited about those as well. But, these are the current beauties, so we'll leave it with that. This was fun. I might just do this again.

It's Snowing Muppets!

My friends over at Pop Culture Monster, got a treat from The Muppets! As they sadly have to wait for The Muppets to hit UK & Irish theaters in February, they were given an activity pack to help them get through the wait.

Visit their post here, and you can download a whole bunch of Muppets! You'll be able to print out pages to color, mazes, and stencils to make your own Muppet Snowflakes, as well as rings to go around your Christmas Tree or your Hanukkah Mantle. (Forgive the ignorant goy. I'm pretty sure you don't want to hang them around the menorah, right?).

So the above picture is my attempt at the snowflakes. I know it's not the best lighting, but it looks like Muppets snowing in the backyard. Yay! Animal turned out the best, Fozzie and Kermit weren't as good. My only regret is that I can't spent the whole day making more.

Happy Holidays!

My Dad Was on TV! He's so famous.

Back in September,  my dad made an appearance on a public access show called, "Living Longer, Living Better." They were taping a Veteran's Day episode and were fortunate it enough to have two Tuskegee Airmen join them, as well as my dad, (served on the USS Bon Homme Richard and another man who served aboard the USS Hornet.

Dad, aka Stephen T. Robinson, to all you folk, served his country from 1968 to 1971. He's very proud of his contribution. He was a boiler tender - he endured quite a lot of heat, to say the least. I'm very proud of him as well. I love hearing his stories about his experiences on board. Sometimes it's hard for me to process it all, so I take it in smaller chunks. (Kinda like if my mom wanted to tell me more about working in insurance. Or if Rocky wanted to tell me what it's like working in a TV studio as an Engineer, (he knows and does SO much!) I like hearing the experiences, but the technicalities sometimes just float on by). *kind pat of understanding*

Aww, isn't he handsome? 

 Dad's Caption: "I'm the one with his elbow hanging over, just above the K in deck. We're watching the Miss USA ladies wave at other ships."

As far as the show goes, I feel like the host didn't know what she was getting into, when she interviewed the Tuskegee Airmen. Boy, did I want to hear all that they had to say. I want at least a whole hour with them. From what Dad said, LeRoy is a firecracker. Dad was able to get their autographs and talked with them a bit. He was tickled, to say the least. Dad's in the second half of the interview, and he and his mustache do a fine job on screen. Ha! I'm also proud of him, in that he was himself. Truly, that's the hardest thing for me to be on camera! He wasn't frozen, he was calm, and came across really nicely. He's a natural at being natural. 

To note, Rocky did the voiceover for the show, and I'm pretty sure he did the editing. He probably even did some camera work. I don't know, he's all over the place with his talents and technical abilities. Let me tell you this, if you want someone to help out in any production for TV or film - you best want Rocky Robinson on your team. Okay, back to Dad and the show....

Enjoy!

Living Longer - Living Better Show 01 from Peninsula TV on Vimeo.

Things I Learned At Comikaze Expo

 I admit that I started to write this the day after I went to Comikaze Expo. I also admit that I then became distracted by lots of shiny objects, a pursuit of employment, Thanksgiving and many other things. Don't judge. I finally did it, and I am pleased. 

This past weekend I was lucky enough to attend Comikaze Expo's debut. The cast & crew of Awkward Embraces was asked to be on a panel, and we accepted! That meant I was extended a pass to attend the whole event. Wooo! All in all, a good time was had. Aside from a few inconveniences, (floor plan a little wonky, announcements that sounded like Charlie Brown's teacher), I would consider it a success. I look forward to the next year.

So here's what I learned. If I were you, I'd remember this for your next Con.

-Take Pictures

Lady Steam and Her Beau

Whether you use your phone or a nifty digital camera, take pictures. Even if you don't think you'll post the picture later, take it anyway. Half the fun is walking around and snapping pics with your favorite cosplayers. No, I didn't know them all of the costumes/characters, but it was still fun. My biggest regret? I never snapped a picture of a wee little Ghostbuster, complete with wee little proton pack. There were also several wee Captain Americas. Come to think of it, I believe the toddler cosplayers were my favorite.

He's Got a Towel, Now Jessica has try to Not Panic

-Budget Accordingly

Cool Stuff Here

Luckily, Comikaze believes in an inexpensive ticket price. ($12) But then there's the parking at the Convention Center ($12), the over-priced food, and most importantly - THE STUFF! So if you're on a limited budget like I currently am, bring your lunch, carpool, walk, take public transportation, so you can your monies for important things - LIKE COOL STUFF!




-Find Your Twitter Friends/A Con is Like a Big Party
Both days I came by the con all by myself, as I was staying in Manhattan Beach. When I walked in to the convention center, I was lost in a sea of people. And even though I had a map and Jessica texted me where she was, I couldn't find her! I couldn't enjoy the spirit of wandering around when I didn't have anybody to wander around with. But then, I found her:

And then, I found these lovely people:

That's right, I found the interchangeable Sarah Kuhn and Jenn from JustJenn Designs at the table for the League of Extraordinary Women. It was like coming home.

Once that all fell into place, it was like walking around a giant party all weekend. You find someone, you chit chat, you move on to the next panel and mingle some more.


And you know what else is great?
The panels I attended were always filled with friends.

It must have due to the fact that Jessica was on 5 panels, (and she even got pulled onto a 6th!), good people attract more good people, ya know. That's a fact.

Here are some pics from the Star Trek Q& A Jessica got to moderate. Garrett Wang was the first to join her.

The audience was packed just to hear the stories from Garrett, as well as Celeste Yarnell and Bobby Clark

-Being on a Panel is FUN!

 I admit to being nervous, but really, I was sitting a great group of friends. We're all goofballs and dorks. I think the Awkward Embraces fans were pleased.

A Friendly Audience!

Jessica & Our Lovely Moderator Stephanie Thorpe

Steven, Lyndsey, and I Try Really Hard to be Sexy. 

Candis Only Looks Nervous

 I wish our panel had been longer, it went by way too fast. Somebody else get us on a panel so we can regale you all with our hilarious hijinks. Please?

I also got a chance to find Twitter friends I had never yet seen in person. Bonnie Burton, Andre the Black Nerd, David Nett, and Taryn O'Neil. That's a thrill let me tell you. Silly me, I didn't get pictures with everyone. (See? Take Pictures!) But I did take a pic or two of Andre:

Two days of walking around with friends is just plain fun. It's why I like a good party, I'm a social butterfly, what can I say?

@chrissypedia, @TheBDAG, @Spytap, @ladimcbeth, @TheStephThorpe, @JenniferLanda, @SizzlerKistler

-Don't Take Yourself Seriously
I think a Con is just supposed to be fun, whether you're a fan, a Super Star, or a Co-Producer for a webseries. I think Comikaze Expo really allowed people to have fun on every level. Allow yourself to geek out whether you're on a panel, you're in the audience, or you're having lunch with your troupe of friends.

Barrett is Hotter Than Ever

My Dad Envies This Mustache

Beth and Her Sexy Polar Bear 

A Workshop With Christine Lahti

Tuesday night I was lucky enough to participate in a workshop with Christine Lahti. Actor Nerves were all a fright, as I haven't done any scene workshops in awhile. It appears that it went smoothly. I have to remember to write down the nice comments I receive when I act. It's always a nice reminder that I am good at it.

Anywhoo, please read what my friend Lynette wrote about that night. She took pics of the event, and there I am! Oooh.

Privatsky Insight: Director Christine Lahti: Working with Actors: Last night the Alliance of Women Directors held another super informative event. The featured presenter/ speaker was Christine Lahti. She di...