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Alan Del Rio Ortiz: Filmmaker
31 JanAlan Del Rio is a filmmaker. Why I am I blogging about him? Because he ONLY made a series of short films documenting St. Vincent’s 2009 Winter tour.
He also filmed Glasser’s promotional video. I saw Glasser at the Black Cat and it was amazing. It’s great to see how Glasser and her band came up with their unique and resonant sounds. Just a preview – a real electric guitar can sound like marimbas and piano. Check out Alan’s vid.
Based on his website info, Alan’s films span commercial advertising, documentaries, music videos, and broadcast media. He is also currently working on a series of videos that profile contemporary artists for thisartist.tv.
Dogtooth
29 JanI need to watch this satire! The trailer is pretty disturbing…how enticing. F.Y.I. Dogtooth is also nominated for an Oscar this year.
“I hope your kids have bad influences and develop bad personalities. I wish this with all my heart.”
Black Swan
27 DecI saw Black Swan yesterday, and I dare say it was impressive. As expected, Natalie Portman’s acting was striking and her delivery did not disappoint. This Indie flick is pretty awesome… you HAVE TO watch it…something for everyone – ballet, perfectionism, lesbian fantasies, psychological bewilderment, and secret crushes on older male authority figures.
Inspirations – Marilyn Monroe: A Birthday Tribute
1 JunToday would have been Marilyn Monroe’s 84th birthday.
Marilyn was a role model of mine since I can remember. I grew up watching her movies, especially Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, The Prince and the Showgirl, Niagra, Let’s Make Love…ok, I grew up watching ALL her movies and idolizing her thanks to my aunt’s collection of Marilyn memorabilia. I dare say I’m in love with vintage jewelry, Chanel, and jazz because of Marilyn. Behind all the glitz and the glamour was an intelligent and lovely woman. What was it about her that captivated the world? Surely, many women before and after her have equaled her beauty and talent, yet Marilyn Monroe has remained an unforgettable icon, a legend. Something about her air and manner is indescribably captivating and entrancing. In honor of her birthday, I would like to share with you a taste of some of my favorite peices from the Personal Property of Marilyn Monroe. These items were auctioned in 1999 at Christie’s New York.
Vintage Dresses and Jewelry
- A Simulated Diamond and Faux Pearl Brooch
- Couture Cocktail Dress by Galanos: Tag inscribed “Miss Monroe” and dated 6/22/56. Worn at London press call with Laurence Olivier and Arthur Miller.
- A royal blue halter-neck dress labeled Ceil Chapman
- Black silk crepe dress, with deeply cut front and rear (unlabeled). A brooch with 19th century inspiration.
Household Items
- A neoclassic style green and colorless glass and gilt metal chandelier
- Marilyn’s copy of The Fall by existential philosopher Albert Camus, 1959
- Marilyn’s first edition copy of Jack Kerouac’s On the Road, 1957
There’s so much more to Marilyn than these few dresses and trinkets, more than I can depict in this blog post, a book, or a volume. I especially love that she owned books by Camus and Kerouac because she wasn’t just a sex goddess and a muse, she was an intelligent, deep thinker. Happy Birthday Marilyn!
A French kind of weekend…
19 Apr
This weekend, at least for me, had a very French theme. To start the weekend off, I enjoyed a wonderful dinner at Bistro Bis. The escargots are to die for, and the steak frites – PERFECTION! The next day, I brunched at the wonderful Cafe Bonaparte. I enjoyed a delicious egg, ham, and cheese croissant. Then I attended a DC Film Festival screening at the the French Embassy. I saw Louis-Michel…lets just say you HAVE to see it. It is inappropriate, and one definitely thinks “this is wrong on so many levels” at various instances throughout the movie, but it’s definitely worth seeing. After adventures with Louis et Michel, the French embassy hosted a marvelous little reception plein de cheese and wine. J’aime un weekend français ! Perhaps I can relive this French kind of weekend again. Luckily, Georgetown will be holding its French Market on April 23rd & 24th! They boast cafe, crepes, croissants, shops, galleries, and boutiques. Je suis excité.
DC International Film Festival
16 AprIt’s time for the DC International Film Festival. It is hard to not want to see each and every movie on this exhaustive and incredible list of films from all over the world. Below is a list of movies I’d love, and will try, to see. For more information about films, times, and locations, check out http://www.filmfestdc.org/.
- VIDEOCRACY - A documentary about Italy’s prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, who used sex, scandal and reality TV to get rich. Friday at Goethe-Institut, 812 Seventh St. NW. Wednesday at Avalon Theatre, 5612 Connecticut Ave. NW.
- 25 CARATS - A thriller set in Barcelona about thieves, hookers, crooked cops and two people trying to get by. Director Patxi Amezcua will be at both screenings. Avalon Theatre, 5612 Connecticut Ave. NW.
- LOUISE-MICHEL – In this revenge comedy, women from a closed factory pool their money to hire a hit man to kill the factory owner. A wine and cheese reception follows Sunday’s screening at the Embassy of France, 4101 Reservoir Rd. NW. $20. Tuesday at Avalon Theatre, 5612 Connecticut Ave. NW
- NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT PERSIAN CATS - A lightly fictionalized tale of two Iranian alt-rockers seeking to emigrate to Europe in order freely perform their music. Landmark’s E Street Cinema, 555 11th St. NW.
- PUCCINI AND THE GIRL - Composer Giacomo Puccini’s wife punishes their maid when she becomes jealous of their relationship. Directors and producers Paolo Benvenuti and Paola Baroni will be at the screening. Avalon Theatre, 5612 Connecticut Ave. NW.
- THE HOUSE OF BRANCHING LOVE 6:30 p.m. and April 24 at 7:30 p.m. A vindictive couple in the process of getting a divorce are forced to continue living with each other in this dark comedy. Landmark’s E Street Cinema, 555 11th St. NW.
- BEYOND IPANEMA - A film about the cycle of discovery of Brazilian music in the world. Why does Bossa Nova still lure DJs 50 years after it was created? What makes the Tropicália movement resonate so deeply with names like Beck and Devendra Banhart? How could Samba take over a public school in Harlem in 2009? Beyond Ipanema explores these and many other questions about the Brazilian music experience outside of Brazil through interviews with David Byrne, Devendra Banhart, M.I.A., Os Mutantes, Seu Jorge, Thievery Corporation, Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, and many others. Artists, producers, DJs, and critics analyze how the crosspollination of musical styles, augmented with sampling and globalization, have helped Brazil secure a unique position in global culture. —SXSW Film Festival http://www.filmfestdc.org/locations.cfm#14
