My fellow LAMB member Nostra at My Film Views hosts Life, Love and the Movies with Karamel Kinema. Here is my entry for their sixteen-question blogfest.
LIFE
1. What was the first movie you saw in the cinema and what do you remember about that visit?
My mother took me and my brother to see “Hocus Pocus,” which is earliest movie theater visit that I can remember making.
2. Are there any movies you have very strong memories of which are not because of the movie (for example something which happened at the time you were watching it)?
When I went to see “Sex and the City 2” at a small independent theater, the movie was already playing before the scheduled Showtime. One of the owners offered a free item from the concessions stand to make up for me missing a portion of the movie, to which I obliged and was happy to munch on some Twizzlers.
3. Which movies had a big impact on you and changed a (small) part of your view on life?
Nobody knows how long he or she has on this earth and “Million Dollar Baby” heightened my awareness of living in a manner that allows you to accept your own mortality. The movie speaks to an importance of living life on your own terms and giving it everything you have in a way that allows no regrets at the end of it all – which had a big impact on me.
It is not often that a movie changes my view on life or any aspects therein but “Blue Valentine” did just that. After watching “Blue Valentine,” I am no longer in favor of abortion as much as I once was and it’s all because this movie brought to me an understanding that sometimes it’s best to follow my heart and other times I’ll have to follow my head but either way, it won’t be easy.
4. Do you have any comfort movies which you return to because you are in a specific mood (for example if you are feeling down/nursing a heartbreak)?
I tend to watch “Mona Lisa Smile” at times when I’m feeling like womanhood is a curse, when I’m just lacking direction, or when I’m seeking hope for the future. The three circumstances are oftentimes mutually exclusive.
5. If a movie would be made about your life, what type of movie would it be and who would you like to portray you?
While it’s difficult to gauge what type of movie would fit a portrayal of my life, I suppose some hybrid of a suspense drama could work.
Ideally, actress Jurnee Smollett would star in such a movie. An old friend once told me that I take life way to seriously; I think Smollett would be able to pull it off.
6. Which existing movie best represents you?
Man, I don’t know how to answer this question.
7. If you knew you would die tomorrow, what would be the last movie you would want to see?
I want to say “Million Dollar Baby” but that is way too easy. If you must go, then you might as well go out with a bang -- so, I’d want to watch “Gladiator.”
8. If you can spend your life working in the film industry, what would you be and why? (you know, director, producer, actor, cinematographer, costume designer, sound designer etc?)
Funny you should ask, because, well – I am an independent filmmaker who wears many hats as a writer, producer and director. If I had my way, I would just direct but writing and producing has gained more traction, so that’s may be the direction I go in.
LOVE
1. Did you ever have a first kiss with someone while at the cinema and if so which movie was playing?
Nope, I haven’t engaged in a kiss with someone while at a movie theater.
2. What is your favorite movie relationship and why?
There are several movie relationships that I favor and of the two that immediately came to mind, I’ll name the most passionate one – Aragorn and Arwen in the Lord of the Rings film series. The unwavering loyalty shared between these two, even through times of uncertainty and war, makes them a badass couple.
3. When did your love for movies start and how has it grown?
Um, let’s see – I think my love of movies started when I wrote short stories and screenplays as a child and then it grew when I received my first video camera for Christmas.
4. If you have to choose one film to watch with your loved one, what would it be and why?
It would be “Love Jones” because the main characters fight for what they want and also learn how to get out of their own way when going after the things they desire. I also like how the characters were able to realize their goals and share these things with each other without playing down their own place in the world.
5. If you can choose one character from a movie to be your significant other who would it be and why?
I would choose Aragorn from Lord of the Rings to be my significant other because he is the shit!
6. What was the first movie that made you fall in in love with film and cinema?
My memory is fuzzy on this, so I’m thinking – maybe “Commando” or “Schindler’s List.”
7. How did your passion for movies turn you into a movie blogger?
Since I didn’t have a website that I could update regularly, needing a place to showcase my movies is how I got into blogging.
8. What is your favorite date from a movie?
For some reason, I don’t recall any dates in a movie that stood out to me, at this time. The gardening scene in “The Town” where Doug tells Claire about his mother missing is about as close to a favorite movie date that I can think of right now.
If you want to participate in this blogfest, Nostra’s instructions are as simple as pie:
- Write a blog post about it
- Include one of the blogathon logos from My Film View’s announcement page in your post
- Add a link to the blogathon announcement, so others can participate as well: http://www.myfilmviews.com/2014/01/20/announcing-LLM-blogathon/
- Leave a comment at My Film Views with a link to your post
Special shout out to Sydney Aaliyah who was the source of how I found out about Nostra’s blogfest!