Jean Reno

Wow, I completely forgot, Jean Reno was Captain Bezu Fache in The Da Vince Code.

Jean Reno

O.K. I admit it. I love Jean Reno. At least I love his character in The Professional. And Natalie Portman is excellent. This was her breakout role at the age of 12. I know lot's of folks figure I'm a musical/romantic comedy film type, but give me an unusual action film and I'm all over it.

Alice Guy-Blanche

This woman rocks!!!!!

Alice Guy-Blaché (July 1, 1873 – March 24, 1968) was a pioneer filmmaker who was the first female director in the motion picture industry and is considered to be one of the first directors of a fiction film.

In 1894 Alice Guy was hired by Léon Gaumont to work for a still-photography company as a secretary. The company soon went out of business but Gaumont bought the defunct operations inventory and began his own company that soon became a major force in the fledgling motion picture industry in France. Alice Guy decided to join the new Gaumont Film Company, a decision that led to a pioneering career in filmmaking spanning more than twenty-five years and involving her directing, producing, writing and/or overseeing more than 700 films. [1]
From 1897 to 1906, Alice Guy was Gaumont's head of production and is generally considered to be the first filmmaker to systematically develop narrative filmmaking. In 1906, she made her first full length feature film, titled The Life of Christ, a big budget production for the time, which included 300 extras. That same year she also made the film La Fée Printemps (The Spring Fairy), one of the first movies ever to be shot in color. As well, she pioneered the use of recordings in conjunction with the images on screen in Gaumont's "Chronophone" system, which used a vertical-cut disc synchronized to the film. An innovator, she employed special effects, using double exposure masking techniques and even running a film backwards. During her life she directed close to 400 films.

WOW!

Women Directors

Kat got me thinking about women film directors. How many can I think of off the top of my head?

Let's see, Kimberly Peirce. Barbra Streisand, um...Sofia Coppola,...um...um... Penny Marshall (but i saw her on Kat's blog), ...There's an Indian Director who did Monsoon Wedding. I can't think of her name, hold on while I look it up, oh ya right, Mira Nair. Um.. of course Kat herself... and Stacy,... Now let's see. ,....um...Diane Keaton. I think she directed something (gotta look it up). Yup, she directed "Heaven." Argh, now I'm only thinking of actresses how are also directing, which isn't the same thing.

Wow! That's a small list. How embarrassing. Gotta do some homework. Will post more later.

Thankful

What I'm thankful for (not necessarily in order):
Last years Mother's Day gift certificate for a 90 minute massage, that I finally used today!
Finding a really awesome film that I haven't seen in a while.
The glass of red wine which it sitting next to my keyboard as I type this entry.
The story board that is constantly running through my head (note: sometimes this is distracting).
When Big Little guy, gets that he's supposed to do quality work, not just race through his homework.
When Little guy, puts his little arms around my neck and kisses my nose and cheeks (this goes for Big Little guy too, but his arms aren't little anymore).
The facial gift certificate from a concerned friend, that I'm going to use later this week.
That I have a real house,
and a car that works.
That I have friends who care and take me out for dessert.
For believing that no matter how hard it can get, there are always possibilities and hope.

My computer is not quite like its sweet ol' self. The tech guy took it away for a few days, changed it, cleaned it up and brought it back. So now it's the same, but also different. I think it had something equivalent to a computer lobotomy.
...I don't think it knows me very well anymore.

Computer is home safe and sound. oh, how I did miss thee....

cut off from everything... working through my phone... must ....survive, without ... home computer!!

All computers are in the shop, argh!

In the other room, Little Guy is playing the sweetest song on the piano. It’s one he’s recently learned and you can hear through his playing, how focused he is on the music. Each note is clear, the volume strengthens and softens, and the phrases build and fall. I could listen to him play that song all day. I’ve asked him to play it again, but he told me five times is enough and he’s ready to move on to the next piece. He might be ready, but I’m not. His playing has given me the most peace I’ve had all day.

Occasionally, huge fundamental shifts happen in life. You may see them coming or not. But when they happen, you are always surprised. Always.