***MAJOR SPOILERS ahead if you haven't seen Game of Thrones ep. 9 of season 3 or if you haven't read the 3rd Game of Thrones book***
Let me start by saying I loved last night's Game Of Thrones. I hated it too. But I loved that I hated it. When I watched the first season of Game Of Thrones a few months after it had already aired, I was already aware that Ned Stark was going to die. Not because I read the books or because I had some super natural sixth sense, I knew because everybody and their brother posted about it online. So that blow came with a little bit of cushioning. However, nothing prepared me for what happened last night. Let me just break it down:
1. Robb Stark dies by getting shot in the chest with arrows then stabbed in the heart.
2. Robb Starks pregnant wife dies by getting stabbed repeatedly in the stomach no less.
3. Catelyn Stark dies by getting her throat slit after watching her son and pregnant daughter in law get murdered.
4. Robb's direwolf gets shot with 4 arrows with no way to defend itself because it is confined.
5. Hundreds, if not thousands? (IDK, this part was a little unclear) of Robb's men are slaughtered.
6. Arya was this close, THIS CLOSE, to being reunited with part of her family.
7. Frey's wife (possibly a child?) gets her throat slit by Catelyn Stark as revenge for the death of her son.
Did I get it all?
This "Red Wedding" scene was both invigorating and frustrating. It was interesting to me that something didn't feel right about the whole wedding situation from the get-go. Which I think should be a credit to the show-runners and director. They shrouded every scene at The Twins with unease. Subconsciously I think we all knew something bad was going to happen. Also, some credit should be given to whoever cast Argus Filch as Frey. I wouldn't have trusted that guy with a turd. So while I think the intensity of those last few moments add some drama and fuel to an already great show, it is also extremely disappointing to see such great characters go. These were characters I was rooting for. Robb and Catelyn aren't supposed to die. The Lannisters are the ones who need to die. And that just isn't happening...yet. While I haven't read all of the books, there is no doubt in my mind that every family in the world of Westeros will eventually get their comeuppance. But the structure of the show, and narrative, have us all rooting for the Starks. So why do we have to keep watching them die!? To be fair though, Robb Stark did screw himself. Not only by marrying that nurse girl and betraying the Frey agreement, but also by beheading that dude a couple episodes ago causing him to have to depend on Frey for more men. The irony of the situation is that Robb beheaded that dude because he killed the Lannister boys, causing him to have to depend on someone who was covertly working with the Lannisters. Then he gets stabbed in the heart because of his blind trust.
Alright, with that all being said, let us not give up on Game of Thrones. There are still plenty of awesome characters to root for. Particularly:
Tyrion Lannister: Yes, he's a Lannister. But he's sort of the anti-Lannister. And he's awesome. That scene in the bedroom with Sansa last week was one of the best scenes of the series so far.
Bran Stark: One of my favorite characters, even though his storyline has been a snooze-fest this season. Now he apparently has some supernatural ability to turn his eyeballs completely white and enter the minds of anything with a brain. He's got a bright future...I hope. I would say Rickon Stark is worth rooting for too. But the dude has had like 5 lines in the whole series.
Daenerys Targaryen: Wow, spell check does not like her name. Anyways, she can be pretty awesome, right? Sure she was super annoying in season 2. But she found some retribution in season 3. She frees all the slaves. Plus she's got some awesome dragons. She's hot. And she's smart. Granted, she can be a little manipulative at times. But that's how she gets what she wants. And she never manipulates someone who doesn't deserve it in the first place. The irony of her character though is that she would probably slaughter the entire Stark family if she had the choice. So we are rooting for someone who wants to kill someone we are rooting for. Mind blowing.
Jon Snow: I'm not into his character as much as the other three. Possibly because I feel like he has been on the outside for so long. He's a good guy though (subjectively speaking). So that's worth something.
Tywin Lannister: For those of you rooting for the villain. Shame on you! But he is pretty cool at being evil.
One last thing, can we talk about how harrowing Catelyn's position was last night? That look on her face when Robb was killed was so powerful. She had died inside before her throat was even slit. She died thinking her whole family was dead. She may have believed Sansa to be alive but she knew Sansa's life was not a happy one. In the back of my head I keep thinking, "Robb can't have died! He was supposed to avenge his father's death and rise to power!" But unfortunately that is obviously not going to happen. This plot twist just reminds us that nobody is safe in Game of Thrones. It's unpredictable, and I respect that. Now, let's kill Joffrey to make up for last night and all is forgiven.
Monday, June 03, 2013
Monday, April 01, 2013
10 Things I found wrong with last nights season finale of Walking Dead. WARNING: SPOILERS!
10. Why would you be dumb enough to corner yourself in a jail when you are in battle with the people who know the ins and outs of said jail?
9. Ugh, do we really need to make Carl any more unlikeable by making him rebellious? He's a child on a TV show, he's already got a lot going against him.
8. Um, that guy is going to die and turn into a zombie in like 2 minutes. Do you really think it's wise to sit there and have a conversation with him instead of trying to free yourself?
7. Speaking of, when that guy died and turned into a zombie why didn't Andrea just kick him back? Her legs were free. Then take the pair of pliers and stab him in the head with her one free hand. I don't know, I just didn't buy that she got bit. Sorry.
6. Why did that group of people all turn around and run from the governor instead of using their guns to counter attack? The show is making the governor invincible. He's not.
5. Can the governor really see well enough to nail a first shot to a guys head? He has one eye. No peripheral vision. Again, he's not invincible. He's not a super hero. He's just a jerk.
4. Wow, that battle scene was just...wow. LAME! Anticlimactic! I was like, wait, it's over?
3. Can you possibly make Michonne any lamer? She's supposed to be awesome, but she has about 4 lines an episode and no epic fighting scenes with anyone.
2. They brought back people from Woodbury? Did they interrogate these people? Weren't these the same people who weeks prior were having primitive fighting ceremonies in their town square where people fought to the death and/or were fed to zombies? There is just something inconsistent about the way the people of Woodbury think vs. they way they act.
1. The Governor lived! This is what I like to call pulling a Damien Lewis. You know you need to off a character but the writers/producers/whoevers don't because the character/actor is popular. So they sacrifice the integrity of the storytelling just to keep someone around. It's always a brutal mistake. The season was leading up to a showdown between the Governor and Rick (or whoever) and that didn't happen. The season built up to a battle which turned out to be LAME-O. It was just all around a let down of a finale and a season as a whole. Here's hoping season 4 improves.
One final note: The Game of Thrones premiere was awesome.
9. Ugh, do we really need to make Carl any more unlikeable by making him rebellious? He's a child on a TV show, he's already got a lot going against him.
8. Um, that guy is going to die and turn into a zombie in like 2 minutes. Do you really think it's wise to sit there and have a conversation with him instead of trying to free yourself?
7. Speaking of, when that guy died and turned into a zombie why didn't Andrea just kick him back? Her legs were free. Then take the pair of pliers and stab him in the head with her one free hand. I don't know, I just didn't buy that she got bit. Sorry.
6. Why did that group of people all turn around and run from the governor instead of using their guns to counter attack? The show is making the governor invincible. He's not.
5. Can the governor really see well enough to nail a first shot to a guys head? He has one eye. No peripheral vision. Again, he's not invincible. He's not a super hero. He's just a jerk.
4. Wow, that battle scene was just...wow. LAME! Anticlimactic! I was like, wait, it's over?
3. Can you possibly make Michonne any lamer? She's supposed to be awesome, but she has about 4 lines an episode and no epic fighting scenes with anyone.
2. They brought back people from Woodbury? Did they interrogate these people? Weren't these the same people who weeks prior were having primitive fighting ceremonies in their town square where people fought to the death and/or were fed to zombies? There is just something inconsistent about the way the people of Woodbury think vs. they way they act.
1. The Governor lived! This is what I like to call pulling a Damien Lewis. You know you need to off a character but the writers/producers/whoevers don't because the character/actor is popular. So they sacrifice the integrity of the storytelling just to keep someone around. It's always a brutal mistake. The season was leading up to a showdown between the Governor and Rick (or whoever) and that didn't happen. The season built up to a battle which turned out to be LAME-O. It was just all around a let down of a finale and a season as a whole. Here's hoping season 4 improves.
One final note: The Game of Thrones premiere was awesome.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Back again
K. I'm back again. Ugh. I have been horrible about updating this thing. Anyways, I'm currently in rehearsal for a kid's show with the Old Creamery theatre in Amana, Iowa. This year the show is about doing your personal best. Apparently teachers really want to focus on that topic even though kids apparently have no idea what that means.
I was fortunate enough to bring Lady with me this time and she seems to be enjoying herself. It's nice that she gets to come to rehearsals with me because she doesn't have to sit at home bored out of her mind. The company seem to really like her too. A couple of them have even been generous enough to buy her treats!
A few things I've done recently and I'd recommend:
1. War Horse.
Apparently several people hate this movie because of the sap and how contrived it is at times. But I guess I'm just a sucker for animal movies because I loved it. Sure it bothered me that the foreign armies all spoke English (why no subtitles, we can read you know), and it was a little on the boring side for the first 30 minutes but overall it was a great film. Beautiful cinematography (some haters think its over the top) and another great score by John Williams add to the appeal. It's a great love letter to all the horses who have sacrificed their lives in all the wars and battle this world has seen. It's message being one of hope and peace in a world of horrible things.
2. Tosh.0
I just started watching this show. Why did it take me so long?! It's hilarious! I want to be Tosh's friend. Just so he can make me laugh uncontrollably whenever I'm in a bad mood. Great premise too. Who doesn't want to make fun of all those idiots on YouTube?
I was fortunate enough to bring Lady with me this time and she seems to be enjoying herself. It's nice that she gets to come to rehearsals with me because she doesn't have to sit at home bored out of her mind. The company seem to really like her too. A couple of them have even been generous enough to buy her treats!
A few things I've done recently and I'd recommend:
1. War Horse.
Apparently several people hate this movie because of the sap and how contrived it is at times. But I guess I'm just a sucker for animal movies because I loved it. Sure it bothered me that the foreign armies all spoke English (why no subtitles, we can read you know), and it was a little on the boring side for the first 30 minutes but overall it was a great film. Beautiful cinematography (some haters think its over the top) and another great score by John Williams add to the appeal. It's a great love letter to all the horses who have sacrificed their lives in all the wars and battle this world has seen. It's message being one of hope and peace in a world of horrible things.
2. Tosh.0
I just started watching this show. Why did it take me so long?! It's hilarious! I want to be Tosh's friend. Just so he can make me laugh uncontrollably whenever I'm in a bad mood. Great premise too. Who doesn't want to make fun of all those idiots on YouTube?
Thursday, February 03, 2011
Memphis
I'm going to Memphis this weekend for the UPTA auditions. More info about them here. Basically, they are a unified mass audition where about 70 companies show up and about 800 (?? that's a guess) people audition for them. Then the companies have callbacks through out the weekend if they are interested in any of the performers.
This will be the third time that I have attended UPTAs. I actually have never gone as a performer. As a matter of fact, the only "mass" audition that I have ever attended as a performer was the OTA auditions in Columbus, OH. Those auditions have since moved out to Cambridge, OH. More on that later. Everytime I have gone to UPTAs it has been as a music director. So, essentially, I help the company I'm working for cast their current season.
The audition process can be somewhat grueling. Both for the performer and the person watching the auditions. Each performer has 90 seconds to give us their best. They can choose to do either a song and a monologue or two monologues. Although I have known many people who have done 2 songs or a monologue and 2 songs. Heck, I'm sure there have even been people crazy enough to attempt three songs. Regardless of the rules, they do what they want and they have 90 seconds to do it. There is a time keeper. The time keeper generally stands with about 10 seconds remaining so that the performer knows to "wrap it up". One rule of thumb at UPTAs: DO NOT EVER GO OVER THE 90 SECONDS. EVER. It will blacklist you. "Producers" (fancy word for the people watching the auditions, most of whom are not actual producers) will go so far as to blacklist performers who go over the 90 seconds, regardless of how talented they might have been. Their thought process basically goes that a performer should practice their audition so many times they know, without a doubt, that their audition is 90 seconds or less. I suppose I agree with that statement. You honestly can tell if you are going to be interested in someone with probably about 25 seconds of audition material. Possibly less. The actual "AUDITION" is going to happen in your callback. That is where the "producer" can see more and determine whether they want to hire you or not. Many producers merely hire based on a performers resume, looks and presence and can they carry a tune. This can all be determined in 25 seconds. Easy.
The grueling part for the performers is just the nerve wracking experience of it all. Stressing out about whether or not your audition is too long, are you wearing the right clothes, how hard is the dance call going to be, what if I forget the words, what if I can't make it to all my callbacks and where the hell are the callbacks anyways??!! The grueling part for the producers is, well, most of the performers really just aren't that good. Try sitting through hundreds of auditions where the performer is less than stellar, can't carry a tune or hold a pitch, forgets their words, is wearing a hideous dress, or bombs their monologue. It get's tedious and exhausting. I've known companies who have gone to the OTA auditions and not called a single person back. NOT ONE! Granted, there aren't nearly the amount of auditioners at OTA that there are at UPTA and the quality at OTA is even worse than UPTA, but still...none?? Crazy.
But at the end of the day, when all is said and done, UPTAs can be quite a fun experience. It's almost to the point where it's not only an audition but it's also a family reunion of sorts. I will be rejoined with dozens of old friends and acquaintances this weekend. I'm very excited about that. It's always so nice to reconnect. I'm wishing all of them the best this weekend during their audition too. I'm also sending good vibes to all those producers who have to sit through the auditions. God speed. I know what it's like.
This will be the third time that I have attended UPTAs. I actually have never gone as a performer. As a matter of fact, the only "mass" audition that I have ever attended as a performer was the OTA auditions in Columbus, OH. Those auditions have since moved out to Cambridge, OH. More on that later. Everytime I have gone to UPTAs it has been as a music director. So, essentially, I help the company I'm working for cast their current season.
The audition process can be somewhat grueling. Both for the performer and the person watching the auditions. Each performer has 90 seconds to give us their best. They can choose to do either a song and a monologue or two monologues. Although I have known many people who have done 2 songs or a monologue and 2 songs. Heck, I'm sure there have even been people crazy enough to attempt three songs. Regardless of the rules, they do what they want and they have 90 seconds to do it. There is a time keeper. The time keeper generally stands with about 10 seconds remaining so that the performer knows to "wrap it up". One rule of thumb at UPTAs: DO NOT EVER GO OVER THE 90 SECONDS. EVER. It will blacklist you. "Producers" (fancy word for the people watching the auditions, most of whom are not actual producers) will go so far as to blacklist performers who go over the 90 seconds, regardless of how talented they might have been. Their thought process basically goes that a performer should practice their audition so many times they know, without a doubt, that their audition is 90 seconds or less. I suppose I agree with that statement. You honestly can tell if you are going to be interested in someone with probably about 25 seconds of audition material. Possibly less. The actual "AUDITION" is going to happen in your callback. That is where the "producer" can see more and determine whether they want to hire you or not. Many producers merely hire based on a performers resume, looks and presence and can they carry a tune. This can all be determined in 25 seconds. Easy.
The grueling part for the performers is just the nerve wracking experience of it all. Stressing out about whether or not your audition is too long, are you wearing the right clothes, how hard is the dance call going to be, what if I forget the words, what if I can't make it to all my callbacks and where the hell are the callbacks anyways??!! The grueling part for the producers is, well, most of the performers really just aren't that good. Try sitting through hundreds of auditions where the performer is less than stellar, can't carry a tune or hold a pitch, forgets their words, is wearing a hideous dress, or bombs their monologue. It get's tedious and exhausting. I've known companies who have gone to the OTA auditions and not called a single person back. NOT ONE! Granted, there aren't nearly the amount of auditioners at OTA that there are at UPTA and the quality at OTA is even worse than UPTA, but still...none?? Crazy.
But at the end of the day, when all is said and done, UPTAs can be quite a fun experience. It's almost to the point where it's not only an audition but it's also a family reunion of sorts. I will be rejoined with dozens of old friends and acquaintances this weekend. I'm very excited about that. It's always so nice to reconnect. I'm wishing all of them the best this weekend during their audition too. I'm also sending good vibes to all those producers who have to sit through the auditions. God speed. I know what it's like.
Wednesday, February 02, 2011
Time Flies
Wow, Outside the Box. I have neglected you! I can't believe that I went a whole year without posting on my blog once! Where does the time go? I know we say that all the time. But seriously, where does the time go? I don't get it. It's already February, it seems like Christmas was yesterday.
It's true what they say too. Time gets faster as you get older. Obviously, it doesn't REALLY get faster. But why does it feel like it is? I did a little research and discovered a couple of interesting things regarding this.
This theory is interesting because it basically tries to say that time goes faster because we aren't processing as much new information. At least I THINK that's what it's trying to say.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122322542
Another theory from someone on Yahoo answers:
"I think the reason is what I'd read in a poem ages ago. It said that as we grow old, more and more of all those whom we knew and loved are taken away, and we become more and more impatient to meet them once more!"
Um, ok. Can't say that I agree with that one at all. But whatever. Another popular theory on another board was this:
When you're five years old, a year is one fifth of your life. That makes it seem like an impossibly long time, especially if you're five and have to wait until next year for something you really want.
In comparison, when you're 20, a year is only one twentieth of your life, and while the days don't exactly fly by yet, a year doesn't seem like the eternity it was at five.
By the time you're 50 and a year is only one fiftieth of the time you've experienced, a year whips by pretty quickly.
It's true what they say too. Time gets faster as you get older. Obviously, it doesn't REALLY get faster. But why does it feel like it is? I did a little research and discovered a couple of interesting things regarding this.
This theory is interesting because it basically tries to say that time goes faster because we aren't processing as much new information. At least I THINK that's what it's trying to say.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122322542
Another theory from someone on Yahoo answers:
"I think the reason is what I'd read in a poem ages ago. It said that as we grow old, more and more of all those whom we knew and loved are taken away, and we become more and more impatient to meet them once more!"
Um, ok. Can't say that I agree with that one at all. But whatever. Another popular theory on another board was this:
When you're five years old, a year is one fifth of your life. That makes it seem like an impossibly long time, especially if you're five and have to wait until next year for something you really want.
In comparison, when you're 20, a year is only one twentieth of your life, and while the days don't exactly fly by yet, a year doesn't seem like the eternity it was at five.
By the time you're 50 and a year is only one fiftieth of the time you've experienced, a year whips by pretty quickly.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Goodbye 20s Part I
Yep, it's tomorrow. The day that I turn 30. I'm just not sure how I feel about that. I won't be in my 20s anymore. I won't be the envy of everyone around me because I'm no longer young and hip with wide eyes and far-out aspirations. I'm kinda, well, old. Yeah, it's a little depressing. Where has the time gone...
I think back to when I was 20 years old and try to remember what I was doing at the time. I was still in college, I know that for sure. Ah, Otterbein, with it's quaint aura and liberal ideals. How I miss thee. I miss those drawn out choir practices in the afternoons. I miss the Thursday night parties at Pi Sig. Heck, I even miss those silly Phys Ed classes we were required to take. I miss getting up early to go to class during the crisp and beautiful Fall on campus. I miss Schneiders bakery and late night Big Bear alcohol runs. I miss choir tours and going to rehearsal for a show after spending a full day in class. I miss the teachers. I miss my friends.
I remember my 21st birthday. The night I turned 21 I went out with Carl Cain. I was with him at 12am when it became official: I could drink...legally! We were at Union Station. It was just the two of us. It was pretty laid back but Carl was mighty upset that his ex boyfriend Jim wasn't there to celebrate with us. Jim wanted nothing to do with Carl anymore. Carl just hadn't moved on. Ah, the drama of a 20 something.
My friends, Jim Cooney and Miguel Ortiz, threw me a surprise birthday party the next night at Miguel's apartment over at the Continent. When I went up to his apartment it was a little obvious that something was going on due to the party streamers hanging out of the cracks of the door. I was a little disappointed in the turnout. I don't remember there being an awful lot of people there but it was fun regardless. I was emotional I'm sure, after having a few drinks I always seemed to express myself a little too much. Being 21 and depressed just seems so silly in retrospect. What did I have to be depressed about? It is, to this day, the only surprise party anyone has ever thrown me...thank God.
I graduated when I turned 22. Even though I had big dreams for the future, I was never quite sure what I wanted to do. I knew that I wanted to be very successful. I wanted to prove myself to everyone including myself. That's what I needed. I remember my parents at graduation. They were so proud. Their son was the first one in their family to actually graduate with a Bachelors degree from college. I was planning on going to Indiana University shortly thereafter to pursue my masters, but things changed. Shortly after graduation I quit my job at Bravo! to move to Carrollton, OH to be an outdoor education at FFA Camp Muskingum for 3 months. Those were some of the best months of my life. I worked like a dog for very little money, but it was well worth it.
Next my life took me to Bearcreek Farms Country Resort in Bryant, IN, a place that would inevitably consume me for a good 3 years of my life. But my first time there I was only there for 3 months. I turned 23 at Bearcreek Farms. Afterwards, I moved back to Columbus. Sadly, I watched my best friend for 18 years pass away that summer. May Pepsi rest in peace. He's in doggie heaven now I'm sure. September of that year, instead of grad school, I decided to move to NYC. That's where dreams come true. Or so I thought.
To Be Continued...
I think back to when I was 20 years old and try to remember what I was doing at the time. I was still in college, I know that for sure. Ah, Otterbein, with it's quaint aura and liberal ideals. How I miss thee. I miss those drawn out choir practices in the afternoons. I miss the Thursday night parties at Pi Sig. Heck, I even miss those silly Phys Ed classes we were required to take. I miss getting up early to go to class during the crisp and beautiful Fall on campus. I miss Schneiders bakery and late night Big Bear alcohol runs. I miss choir tours and going to rehearsal for a show after spending a full day in class. I miss the teachers. I miss my friends.
I remember my 21st birthday. The night I turned 21 I went out with Carl Cain. I was with him at 12am when it became official: I could drink...legally! We were at Union Station. It was just the two of us. It was pretty laid back but Carl was mighty upset that his ex boyfriend Jim wasn't there to celebrate with us. Jim wanted nothing to do with Carl anymore. Carl just hadn't moved on. Ah, the drama of a 20 something.
My friends, Jim Cooney and Miguel Ortiz, threw me a surprise birthday party the next night at Miguel's apartment over at the Continent. When I went up to his apartment it was a little obvious that something was going on due to the party streamers hanging out of the cracks of the door. I was a little disappointed in the turnout. I don't remember there being an awful lot of people there but it was fun regardless. I was emotional I'm sure, after having a few drinks I always seemed to express myself a little too much. Being 21 and depressed just seems so silly in retrospect. What did I have to be depressed about? It is, to this day, the only surprise party anyone has ever thrown me...thank God.
I graduated when I turned 22. Even though I had big dreams for the future, I was never quite sure what I wanted to do. I knew that I wanted to be very successful. I wanted to prove myself to everyone including myself. That's what I needed. I remember my parents at graduation. They were so proud. Their son was the first one in their family to actually graduate with a Bachelors degree from college. I was planning on going to Indiana University shortly thereafter to pursue my masters, but things changed. Shortly after graduation I quit my job at Bravo! to move to Carrollton, OH to be an outdoor education at FFA Camp Muskingum for 3 months. Those were some of the best months of my life. I worked like a dog for very little money, but it was well worth it.
Next my life took me to Bearcreek Farms Country Resort in Bryant, IN, a place that would inevitably consume me for a good 3 years of my life. But my first time there I was only there for 3 months. I turned 23 at Bearcreek Farms. Afterwards, I moved back to Columbus. Sadly, I watched my best friend for 18 years pass away that summer. May Pepsi rest in peace. He's in doggie heaven now I'm sure. September of that year, instead of grad school, I decided to move to NYC. That's where dreams come true. Or so I thought.
To Be Continued...
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