If you can possibly drag yourself away from the film festival (I may not be able to), then come on up to the upstairs bar at Triumph Brewery. Chat with the local filthy liberal hippies and enjoy food and drink specials from 6:00 to 9:00, or maybe even a little later.
Triumph Brewery is at 117 Chestnut Street in Old City. It's conveniently SEPTA-accessible via the Market-Frankford El (2nd Street station), all the buses that turn around at or near Penn's Landing (5, 12, 17, 21, 33, 42, 48), and a few other buses that pass nearby (9, 25, 38, 40, 44, 47, 57, 61).
Tonight's topic: I'm writing this post on Saturday evening. I've been doing so for the past few weeks, and I've had a bad run of commenting about news or weather that has ended up becoming bizarrely outdated by the time the post is published. So, tonight's topic: FREE NELSON MANDELA
"Come for the beer, stay for the check"
P.S. I have an afternoon commitment and may be late. Please leave some of the "Gothic Ale," which everyone loves so much, for me.
31 March 2009
30 March 2009
2 more from the film festival
Saving Grace B. Jones - Stunning. That is, so stunningly bad that I was shaking for a good 20 minutes after I left the theater. I had nearly recovered myself when writer/director Connie Stevens came into the lobby, surrounded by a passel of handlers and adoring fans. There was also a video interview crew and a very bright stand light in the corner. As I stood in line for the next film, a 6'4" guy with Los Angeles hair and a tie that I think I gave my boyfriend for his birthday in 1987 nearly knocked me and some other people over. He had been carrying what looked like a white leather photo album with a brass label reading "CONNIE STEVENS" on it. He and Connie seemed to be together, though in retrospect, at least the way I've described it here, he sounds more like her "number one fan."
Mostly I'm disappointed that I didn't catch the attention of a film festival pal of mine who does guest services volunteer work every year. She'd brought Connie Stevens in, but she must have had another assignment after the film started, because I didn't see her afterward. I'm sure I'll run into her for real sometime in the next week.
Sun Dogs - Very good American independent film from New Orleans. A little flawed (apparently there are only 2 black people in New Orleans) and unfortunately filmed in DV, which is what happens in a country with no real arts funding. But it's a quality example of what you can get, even on no budget, with solid writing and decent acting. Worthwhile.
Mostly I'm disappointed that I didn't catch the attention of a film festival pal of mine who does guest services volunteer work every year. She'd brought Connie Stevens in, but she must have had another assignment after the film started, because I didn't see her afterward. I'm sure I'll run into her for real sometime in the next week.
Sun Dogs - Very good American independent film from New Orleans. A little flawed (apparently there are only 2 black people in New Orleans) and unfortunately filmed in DV, which is what happens in a country with no real arts funding. But it's a quality example of what you can get, even on no budget, with solid writing and decent acting. Worthwhile.
29 March 2009
Acquitted (dateline: Kansas)
A jury in Kansas has acquitted Dr. George Tiller of criminal misdemeanor charges of failing to get an "independent" second opinion in a number of abortions he performed. I don't have a copy of the Kansas statute in front of me, so I don't know exactly what it says, but I can guess the law's consequences. Requiring a doctor to get an "independent" second opinion before performing an abortion is problematic in at least 2 ways. First, it makes the procedure more expensive, obviously: you have to pay 2 doctors instead of just 1. Second, it introduces a delay, possibly over and above the 24- or 48-hour waiting period (again, I don't have the Kansas abortion statute in front of me, but I'm assuming that Kansas has a waiting period. I could be wrong). With any "luck," the patient will be forced into the next trimester of the pregnancy, making the abortion more hazardous, more expensive, and "hopefully" impossible to obtain in the jurisdiction.
An early surgical abortion is a relatively simple and straightforward outpatient procedure. A medical abortion requires little more than an office visit. I'm not even sure what the second opinion is for. "Why, I agree, doctor. According to the color of the test paper you dipped into the patient's urine sample, I am also of the opinion that she is, indeed, pregnant"? Imagine if the law required your doctor to get a second opinion to look at a lab culture to diagnose your strep throat, or look at your test results to diagnose allergies. What a waste of time and money (both the patient's and the doctors'). But I've said it before and I'll say it again: all you have to do to make an abortion restriction stick nowadays is to convince 5 mostly white, mostly Catholic men across the street from the Capitol that the law will help a woman not regret her abortion afterward.
Immediately after Dr. Tiller's verdict was read, the state medical board said it was going to investigate him again for the same type of conduct. If he's found to have violated the rules this time, I guess he wouldn't face jail time, but he still stands to lose his license to practice medicine. Could be worse, I guess -- Dr. Tiller's clinic has been bombed, and he's a gunshot survivor.
Sometimes I wish I'd gone to medical school, just so I could perform abortions and train others to perform them. Then I think about Jane, the clandestine, pre-Roe D.I.Y. network.
An early surgical abortion is a relatively simple and straightforward outpatient procedure. A medical abortion requires little more than an office visit. I'm not even sure what the second opinion is for. "Why, I agree, doctor. According to the color of the test paper you dipped into the patient's urine sample, I am also of the opinion that she is, indeed, pregnant"? Imagine if the law required your doctor to get a second opinion to look at a lab culture to diagnose your strep throat, or look at your test results to diagnose allergies. What a waste of time and money (both the patient's and the doctors'). But I've said it before and I'll say it again: all you have to do to make an abortion restriction stick nowadays is to convince 5 mostly white, mostly Catholic men across the street from the Capitol that the law will help a woman not regret her abortion afterward.
Immediately after Dr. Tiller's verdict was read, the state medical board said it was going to investigate him again for the same type of conduct. If he's found to have violated the rules this time, I guess he wouldn't face jail time, but he still stands to lose his license to practice medicine. Could be worse, I guess -- Dr. Tiller's clinic has been bombed, and he's a gunshot survivor.
Sometimes I wish I'd gone to medical school, just so I could perform abortions and train others to perform them. Then I think about Jane, the clandestine, pre-Roe D.I.Y. network.
28 March 2009
Coming up for a breath during the film festival
Rumba - If L'Iceberg wasn't your bag, then skip Rumba, because it's more of the same aesthetic, but sadly not done as well. The artists have a live performance deal that I'd like to see in person someday, though.
Moon - On the way out, I overheard some SF fandom types complaining about some set details, and I mean really tedious complaints; also I heard some others bragging about how early they'd figured out the twist. Whatever. Maybe I don't get out much -- and truly I don't go out for mainstream Hollywood or even genre SF films much at all -- but my disbelief was suspended quite well and I didn't think the twist was obvious. In fact, the only real gripe I have about it was that I thought the opening titles were too gimmicky. But really, any film that can channel Dark Star, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and Dr. Strangelove, all within about 10 seconds of one another, is not going to hear too much criticism from me. Worthwhile, and will probably see general distribution to your friendly neighborhood multiplex.
Eldorado - Metaphorical narrative in the genre of an odd couple road trip. Through Belgium. (You know it's Belgium and not France when they're speaking French but they say septante for seventy.) Worthwhile.
Back Soon - I never knew Iceland was so big. I would like to hereby take the opportunity to brag that I guessed almost immediately where the cell phone had gone. This is not a complaint. Worthwhile.
Race to Witch Mountain - Uh, not part of the film festival; I took my daughter to see it on Monday because she was on spring break but I wasn't. We had nearly a private screening at our matinée, except for the guy who came in about 5 minutes after the film started, sat in our row (natch), and then left 20-odd minutes later. Entertaining for the kids and told well enough to keep the adults entertained, including surprise appearances by some actors, and possibly a vehicle, from the original film.
Off to get some dinner and then head to the I-House.
Moon - On the way out, I overheard some SF fandom types complaining about some set details, and I mean really tedious complaints; also I heard some others bragging about how early they'd figured out the twist. Whatever. Maybe I don't get out much -- and truly I don't go out for mainstream Hollywood or even genre SF films much at all -- but my disbelief was suspended quite well and I didn't think the twist was obvious. In fact, the only real gripe I have about it was that I thought the opening titles were too gimmicky. But really, any film that can channel Dark Star, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and Dr. Strangelove, all within about 10 seconds of one another, is not going to hear too much criticism from me. Worthwhile, and will probably see general distribution to your friendly neighborhood multiplex.
Eldorado - Metaphorical narrative in the genre of an odd couple road trip. Through Belgium. (You know it's Belgium and not France when they're speaking French but they say septante for seventy.) Worthwhile.
Back Soon - I never knew Iceland was so big. I would like to hereby take the opportunity to brag that I guessed almost immediately where the cell phone had gone. This is not a complaint. Worthwhile.
Race to Witch Mountain - Uh, not part of the film festival; I took my daughter to see it on Monday because she was on spring break but I wasn't. We had nearly a private screening at our matinée, except for the guy who came in about 5 minutes after the film started, sat in our row (natch), and then left 20-odd minutes later. Entertaining for the kids and told well enough to keep the adults entertained, including surprise appearances by some actors, and possibly a vehicle, from the original film.
Off to get some dinner and then head to the I-House.
27 March 2009
Friday jukebox: Flight of the Conchords
The non-sequiturs are bizarre enough, but just wait until 1:41:
24 March 2009
Driberally tonight
Once again, the Center City chapter of Drinking Liberally is set to meet at Triumph Brewery for drink and dinner specials. Come join us in the upstairs bar from 6:00 to 9:00! The weather is warming up, at least a little, and before you know it we'll be able to open up the windows and let the fragrant breezes of the east end of Chestnut Street waft on in.
Triumph Brewery is at 117 Chestnut Street in Old City. It's conveniently SEPTA-accessible via the Market-Frankford El (2nd Street station), all the buses that turn around at or near Penn's Landing (5, 12, 17, 21, 33, 42, 48), and a few other buses that pass nearby (9, 25, 38, 40, 44, 47, 57, 61).
Tonight's topic: President Obama's prime-time press conference (8:00) will be shown on a projection screen, either behind the upstairs bar or in that conference room with the long table, where we watched the address to Congress. Shhhh! People are trying to listen!
"Come for the beer, stay for the check"
Triumph Brewery is at 117 Chestnut Street in Old City. It's conveniently SEPTA-accessible via the Market-Frankford El (2nd Street station), all the buses that turn around at or near Penn's Landing (5, 12, 17, 21, 33, 42, 48), and a few other buses that pass nearby (9, 25, 38, 40, 44, 47, 57, 61).
Tonight's topic: President Obama's prime-time press conference (8:00) will be shown on a projection screen, either behind the upstairs bar or in that conference room with the long table, where we watched the address to Congress. Shhhh! People are trying to listen!
"Come for the beer, stay for the check"
23 March 2009
Monday art house: Truffaut
The opening title sequence from Les Quatre cents coups (The 400 Blows):
I can't think, offhand, of too many other opening sequences that better set up their films. These titles tell the movie's whole story in 2:30. Note, first and foremost, how the pictures are shot from a child's perspective -- that's obvious. But there's more. The object of the viewer's interest ends up not being the vehicle's ultimate destination, and it always gets taken out of view. Yet the viewer keeps seeking it; he desperately wants to get to the landmark, but he's thwarted again and again. Then, even when he finally gets there, he's taken away. The vehicle doesn't pause; it hardly slows down long enough for you to see the meta-storyteller's name. The viewer is powerless, dragged along by forces he can't control, forces that don't know or don't care what he wants.
Now dig the the last scene and see how the tables are turned.
I can't think, offhand, of too many other opening sequences that better set up their films. These titles tell the movie's whole story in 2:30. Note, first and foremost, how the pictures are shot from a child's perspective -- that's obvious. But there's more. The object of the viewer's interest ends up not being the vehicle's ultimate destination, and it always gets taken out of view. Yet the viewer keeps seeking it; he desperately wants to get to the landmark, but he's thwarted again and again. Then, even when he finally gets there, he's taken away. The vehicle doesn't pause; it hardly slows down long enough for you to see the meta-storyteller's name. The viewer is powerless, dragged along by forces he can't control, forces that don't know or don't care what he wants.
Now dig the the last scene and see how the tables are turned.
22 March 2009
"rule of recognition"; "trap street"
For several months now I've been trying to recall the legal term of art for "legal conventional wisdom," or the general understanding that something is the law, even though it was never codified and has never developed as common law. The phrase I was looking for was rule of recognition. Yay, me!
For almost as many months, Mithras has been trying to remember the term for the deliberate errors that mapmakers introduce into their maps to catch copyright violators. The term is trap street. Yay, Google and Wikipedia!
For almost as many months, Mithras has been trying to remember the term for the deliberate errors that mapmakers introduce into their maps to catch copyright violators. The term is trap street. Yay, Google and Wikipedia!
21 March 2009
Scrapplefest at Reading Terminal Market today
Scrapplefest! at the Reading Terminal Market, 10:00 - 4:00.
I, uh, have other plans, so I'm afraid I'll have to skip this year.
OK, see, the deal is I've been a vegetarian since the mid-1990s, though now I'm merely mostly vegetarian, since I'll eat seafood every once in a while. That said, I was not a vegetarian, by any stretch of the imagination, when I was a kid. That said, I didn't spend my formative years in the Philadelphia area -- so I was never properly introduced to the putative epicurean glory of scrapple until I was old enough to ask what it's made of, and then say, "You have to be kidding."
I, uh, have other plans, so I'm afraid I'll have to skip this year.
OK, see, the deal is I've been a vegetarian since the mid-1990s, though now I'm merely mostly vegetarian, since I'll eat seafood every once in a while. That said, I was not a vegetarian, by any stretch of the imagination, when I was a kid. That said, I didn't spend my formative years in the Philadelphia area -- so I was never properly introduced to the putative epicurean glory of scrapple until I was old enough to ask what it's made of, and then say, "You have to be kidding."
20 March 2009
19 March 2009
"Girlcott"
"Girlcott"? Seriously?
That's even more irritating than "herstory."
Neither boycott nor history is etymologically derived from a term that had a masculine origin to its meaning. Boycott is a genericism of the last name of a person who was a victim of a concerted popular shunning. History is from the Latin -- and the noun form, historia, was of the feminine gender.
Using "girlcott" (or "herstory") is distracting at best, inflammatory at worst, and childish in any event. And I'm speaking as someone who hasn't bought a Nestlé product since about 1988.
That's even more irritating than "herstory."
Neither boycott nor history is etymologically derived from a term that had a masculine origin to its meaning. Boycott is a genericism of the last name of a person who was a victim of a concerted popular shunning. History is from the Latin -- and the noun form, historia, was of the feminine gender.
Using "girlcott" (or "herstory") is distracting at best, inflammatory at worst, and childish in any event. And I'm speaking as someone who hasn't bought a Nestlé product since about 1988.
18 March 2009
Audio clips from Bill O'Reilly's pornographic, obviously self-referential revenge novel
Alan Scherstuhl at the Village Voice has digitized some clips from Those Who Trespass, Bill O'Reilly's pornographic, obviously self-referential TV journalism revenge novel. You know how audiobooks are often read by famous screen actors or radio personalities? Well, O'Reilly performed his audiobook recording by himself.
"Off with those pants!"
"Off with those pants!"
Diesel buses are a tool of Satan
Six cities in the United States resisted Satan, however, and refused to abandon their streetcars altogether. Let their names be entered in the rolls of God’s elect: Boston, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, New Orleans, and San Francisco.Dr. Boli on trolleys.
17 March 2009
Driberally tonight
Ah, sure and the luck o' the Irish be with ye at Triumph Brewery this evening! Faith an' begorrah, the Center City chapter o' Drinking Liberally will be a-gatherin' for the wearin' o' the green and the enjoyin' o' the drink and food specials.
Triumph Brewery is at 117 Chestnut Street in Old City. It's conveniently SEPTA-accessible via the Market-Frankford El (2nd Street station), all the buses that turn around at or near Penn's Landing (5, 12, 17, 21, 33, 42, 48), and a few other buses that pass nearby (9, 25, 38, 40, 44, 47, 57, 61). Bonus! No strike!
Tonight's topic: ethnic stereotypes and the jumpin' o' the shark.
Also: I won't be able to attend, because of a childcare conflict. See you next week!
"Come for the beer, stay for the check"
Triumph Brewery is at 117 Chestnut Street in Old City. It's conveniently SEPTA-accessible via the Market-Frankford El (2nd Street station), all the buses that turn around at or near Penn's Landing (5, 12, 17, 21, 33, 42, 48), and a few other buses that pass nearby (9, 25, 38, 40, 44, 47, 57, 61). Bonus! No strike!
Tonight's topic: ethnic stereotypes and the jumpin' o' the shark.
Also: I won't be able to attend, because of a childcare conflict. See you next week!
"Come for the beer, stay for the check"
16 March 2009
Celebrity sighting: Danny Bonaduce
I would relate the story of how I watched Danny Bonaduce walk back and forth past my neighborhood coffee shop this afternoon while I was sitting inside, minding my own business, and reading some Ibsen, but the story is not nearly as interesting as it would have been if he'd actually come inside to get some coffee himself.
15 March 2009
Glomarization's Philadelphia Film Festival plans
The film festival approaches. This year, I'll actually attend, making it the full-contact sport for myself that it should be. Last year I was a really busy 2L, and the films were all "whiny group of whiny 20-somethings whines about how real life after university is whiningly hard." This year, the films are all "young boy comes of age in era that may or may not be the 21st century." Since we took care of the coming-of-age story with My Life As a Dog, I've had to scrounge to put together the following schedule for people who want to stalk myself:
Fri 27 Mar
Rumba, 4:30, Ritz 5
Moon, 7:15, Ritz East
Eldorado, 9:30, Ritz East
Sat 28 Mar
Back Soon, 2:30, Bridge
Rocky Balboa Picture Show 2 (shorts program), 9:30, Int'l House
Sun 29 Mar
Sun Dogs, 2:45, Prince Music Theater
Mon 30 Mar
Stone of Destiny, 2:15, Ritz East
Thu 02 Apr
White Night Wedding, 7:00, Ritz East
Fri 03 Apr
Institute Benjamenta, or This Dream People Call Human Life, 9:15, Prince
Sat 04 Apr
A Quay Brothers Sampler, 2:00, Prince
Philly Style: Exploring the Philadelphia Filmmaking Aesthetic, 4:00, DIVE at Shooters Post & Transfer (Curtis Building, 601 Walnut St)
Best of the Backseat Film Festival Showcase, 9:30, Prince
Sun 05 Apr
Julia, 2:15, Ritz East
Sita Sings the Blues, 5:00, Ritz East
Fri 27 Mar
Rumba, 4:30, Ritz 5
Moon, 7:15, Ritz East
Eldorado, 9:30, Ritz East
Sat 28 Mar
Back Soon, 2:30, Bridge
Rocky Balboa Picture Show 2 (shorts program), 9:30, Int'l House
Sun 29 Mar
Sun Dogs, 2:45, Prince Music Theater
Mon 30 Mar
Stone of Destiny, 2:15, Ritz East
Thu 02 Apr
White Night Wedding, 7:00, Ritz East
Fri 03 Apr
Institute Benjamenta, or This Dream People Call Human Life, 9:15, Prince
Sat 04 Apr
A Quay Brothers Sampler, 2:00, Prince
Philly Style: Exploring the Philadelphia Filmmaking Aesthetic, 4:00, DIVE at Shooters Post & Transfer (Curtis Building, 601 Walnut St)
Best of the Backseat Film Festival Showcase, 9:30, Prince
Sun 05 Apr
Julia, 2:15, Ritz East
Sita Sings the Blues, 5:00, Ritz East
14 March 2009
The beard lifts 40 pounds!
Have you been following ThingsMyBeardCanLift.com? My long-time internet acquaintance Eamon Daly has been challenging himself to raise money for a kids' charity in Chicago by lifting increasingly heavier objects with his beard, every Friday. The weight is determined by the current running total of money he's raised for the charity.
This week, Eamon traded in his forehead sweatband for a chef's toque and lifted an industrial-sized mixing bowl and paddles from the local bakery that's offered to be the official cupcake sponsor of The Beard. Watch -- if you dare:
The more you donate, the more weight Eamon will lift next week!
This week, Eamon traded in his forehead sweatband for a chef's toque and lifted an industrial-sized mixing bowl and paddles from the local bakery that's offered to be the official cupcake sponsor of The Beard. Watch -- if you dare:
The more you donate, the more weight Eamon will lift next week!
Roger Ebert on "only 3 lines, but what lines"
Roger Ebert discusses the 3 lines that made me quake in my adolescent boots in 1985:
"Don't move."Actually, the article isn't about Out of Africa; rather, it's about 3 new releases. But damn, I need to rent me some Out of Africa now.
"I want to move."
"Don't move."
13 March 2009
Harry Reid = bad Democrat
Brendan kicks Democrat ass and takes names in a commentary in support of the Accountability Now PAC:
Nice tie!
Nice tie!
12 March 2009
Ari Fleischer continues the lie that Saddam had anything to do with 9/11
WTF?! "[A]fter September 11th, having been hit once, how can we take a chance that Saddam might not strike again? That's the threat that has been removed . . ." Ari Fleischer, White House press secretary from 2001 to 2003, on Hardball:
Republicans lie. Every last one of them, all the time.
Republicans lie. Every last one of them, all the time.
Film festival tickets acquired; program discussed
Film festival tickets have been acquired!
I am unsurprised, but still disappointed, to notice a lot of features missing from the festival this year: animation programs; a major child-appropriate Saturday matinée (e.g., the program of Laurel & Hardy and Buster Keaton shorts from a couple of years ago); a new print of a brilliantly restored golden oldie (e.g., Piccadilly, starring Anna May Wong, in 2004 or '05); a full slate of panel discussions; Philly Pitch!; and the Festival of Independents cabaret. Man, did I have some good timez at the Fest Indies cabaret for a few years. But I digress.
Maybe it's better that there's no animation show, anyway. The programs tended to include quite a few unfinished pieces by CalArts grads who were clearly jockeying for jobs at Disney or Pixar: unimaginative pratfalls and gross-out jokes with characters that looked like they stepped out of Bambi or Monsters, Inc. I think the curators were just phoning the programs in after a while. The filmmakers, too.
Well, actually, all that said, there is an animation show this year: the Quay Brothers sampler. But they're here for an award, and it's selections of their previous work. Surely there's something along the lines of The District! that's come out since 2004/2006. Sigh.
There are a couple of shorts programs on offer this year. But one is part of Danger after Dark, the horror genre series. Another is part of the Festival of Independents, so the focus is local and the quality will be uneven -- though I'll be attending since 2 good friends of mine are showing films. And another is the Best of the Backseat Film Festival, the less said of which the better -- though I'll be attending for the train wreck appeal. Previously, the festival showed Oscar-nominated shorts (live-action and animated) and a program or two of international shorts as well. I'm a huge fan of short films, so I'm particularly disappointed here.
I'm of 2 minds about the addition of an African-American-centric list of films ("Fade to Black"). Reelblack is one of the sponsors and curators of the program. Michael Dennis, Reelblack's founder, has done a lot of work in Philly since 1999 with his Reelblack Presents series and the organization's other work. And you still don't see much integration in movie casts, even in freakin' 2009. So it's important to highlight African-American cinema. On the other hand, now, when I had a short experimental piece in the Fest Indies several years ago, it was lumped into a program of short films by women filmmakers. It wasn't a women-themed film; it wasn't a feminist film; it wasn't a film with any actual people in it at all. It was non-narrative and didn't belong in a program that included only narrative (and mostly documentary) films. It killed me that the curator put it in a program of women's films, even though it really belonged in a program of other experimental, non-narrative films -- and there was at least one program during that festival where it would have fit better, if it had been curated according to its content, not according to its creator. So with that in mind, I wonder how many of the "Fade to Black" films will lose audiences because they're classified by their directors and stars, not by the nature of the films themselves.
But what do I know? There are 700,000 black people in Philadelphia, yet I tend to see about 20 black people at film festival screenings -- over the course of the entire festival. Maybe we will see more black attendance this year if the festival is perceived to be reaching out to an ignored audience and underrepresented voice in cinema.
As for the catalogue itself: stapled instead of perfect-bound, and bulked up with glossy paper rather than slimmed down with newsprint. When I went through and made my initial wishlist of films to see, I had zero time conflicts. This is a lightweight festival. Oh, and for the love of christ would they get a copyeditor sometime?
Will post myguide for stalking Glomarization during the film festival list of picks sometime soon.
I am unsurprised, but still disappointed, to notice a lot of features missing from the festival this year: animation programs; a major child-appropriate Saturday matinée (e.g., the program of Laurel & Hardy and Buster Keaton shorts from a couple of years ago); a new print of a brilliantly restored golden oldie (e.g., Piccadilly, starring Anna May Wong, in 2004 or '05); a full slate of panel discussions; Philly Pitch!; and the Festival of Independents cabaret. Man, did I have some good timez at the Fest Indies cabaret for a few years. But I digress.
Maybe it's better that there's no animation show, anyway. The programs tended to include quite a few unfinished pieces by CalArts grads who were clearly jockeying for jobs at Disney or Pixar: unimaginative pratfalls and gross-out jokes with characters that looked like they stepped out of Bambi or Monsters, Inc. I think the curators were just phoning the programs in after a while. The filmmakers, too.
Well, actually, all that said, there is an animation show this year: the Quay Brothers sampler. But they're here for an award, and it's selections of their previous work. Surely there's something along the lines of The District! that's come out since 2004/2006. Sigh.
There are a couple of shorts programs on offer this year. But one is part of Danger after Dark, the horror genre series. Another is part of the Festival of Independents, so the focus is local and the quality will be uneven -- though I'll be attending since 2 good friends of mine are showing films. And another is the Best of the Backseat Film Festival, the less said of which the better -- though I'll be attending for the train wreck appeal. Previously, the festival showed Oscar-nominated shorts (live-action and animated) and a program or two of international shorts as well. I'm a huge fan of short films, so I'm particularly disappointed here.
I'm of 2 minds about the addition of an African-American-centric list of films ("Fade to Black"). Reelblack is one of the sponsors and curators of the program. Michael Dennis, Reelblack's founder, has done a lot of work in Philly since 1999 with his Reelblack Presents series and the organization's other work. And you still don't see much integration in movie casts, even in freakin' 2009. So it's important to highlight African-American cinema. On the other hand, now, when I had a short experimental piece in the Fest Indies several years ago, it was lumped into a program of short films by women filmmakers. It wasn't a women-themed film; it wasn't a feminist film; it wasn't a film with any actual people in it at all. It was non-narrative and didn't belong in a program that included only narrative (and mostly documentary) films. It killed me that the curator put it in a program of women's films, even though it really belonged in a program of other experimental, non-narrative films -- and there was at least one program during that festival where it would have fit better, if it had been curated according to its content, not according to its creator. So with that in mind, I wonder how many of the "Fade to Black" films will lose audiences because they're classified by their directors and stars, not by the nature of the films themselves.
But what do I know? There are 700,000 black people in Philadelphia, yet I tend to see about 20 black people at film festival screenings -- over the course of the entire festival. Maybe we will see more black attendance this year if the festival is perceived to be reaching out to an ignored audience and underrepresented voice in cinema.
As for the catalogue itself: stapled instead of perfect-bound, and bulked up with glossy paper rather than slimmed down with newsprint. When I went through and made my initial wishlist of films to see, I had zero time conflicts. This is a lightweight festival. Oh, and for the love of christ would they get a copyeditor sometime?
Will post my
11 March 2009
Profoundness: on 8-celled embryos
As usual, I'm a day late and a dollar short commenting on the reversal of the ban on funding for stem-cell research -- but nevertheless, a few questions to the people who oppose stem-cell research because it destroys embryos:
Do you also oppose the fertility treatments that create the embryos? Are you offering to implant those embryos, carry them to term, birth them, and adopt the resulting babies? How many embryos and blastocysts are in cryopreservation right now in the U.S.? What are you proposing to do about them?
Do you also oppose the fertility treatments that create the embryos? Are you offering to implant those embryos, carry them to term, birth them, and adopt the resulting babies? How many embryos and blastocysts are in cryopreservation right now in the U.S.? What are you proposing to do about them?
10 March 2009
Attorney lay-offs in town
Morgan Lewis has laid off 55 attorneys and 160+ support staff, and they're deferring this year's new-graduate hires not to January 2010 but to October 2010. But let's be clear: this isn't "deferral"; this is "no new hires for 1 year." (Inky).
Holy moley.
The Inky article states that Morgan Lewis did not clarify how many of the 55 and 160+ have been let go from the Philly office; Morgan Lewis has offices around the country.
The deferees can ask for a $5K/month stipend if they get public-interest work. Great! More competition for me, who wouldn't have been a candidate for the Morgan Lewis types of firms in the first place.
Holy moley.
The Inky article states that Morgan Lewis did not clarify how many of the 55 and 160+ have been let go from the Philly office; Morgan Lewis has offices around the country.
The deferees can ask for a $5K/month stipend if they get public-interest work. Great! More competition for me, who wouldn't have been a candidate for the Morgan Lewis types of firms in the first place.
Driberally tonight
Once weekly, local liberals gather in Center City to drink. Or is it that local drinkers gather in Center City to be liberal? It's a distinction without a difference. But a tasty, thirst-quenching distinction, with drink and food specials, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. every darn Tuesday night at Triumph Brewery's upstairs bar.
Triumph Brewery is at 117 Chestnut Street in Old City. It's conveniently SEPTA-accessible via the Market-Frankford El (2nd Street station), all the buses that turn around at or near Penn's Landing (5, 12, 17, 21, 33, 42, 48), and a few other buses that pass nearby (9, 25, 38, 40, 44, 47, 57, 61).
Tonight's topic: WTF, possible transit strike after the 15th? And me without a personal rickshaw driver. Talk about "beware the Ides of March"!
"Come for the beer, stay for the check"
Triumph Brewery is at 117 Chestnut Street in Old City. It's conveniently SEPTA-accessible via the Market-Frankford El (2nd Street station), all the buses that turn around at or near Penn's Landing (5, 12, 17, 21, 33, 42, 48), and a few other buses that pass nearby (9, 25, 38, 40, 44, 47, 57, 61).
Tonight's topic: WTF, possible transit strike after the 15th? And me without a personal rickshaw driver. Talk about "beware the Ides of March"!
"Come for the beer, stay for the check"
09 March 2009
08 March 2009
Free screening: new, local, short film Unmasked
Please come out to support local filmmaking and small business by attending the free screening of Bob Tronieri's Unmasked, a film about a brother and sister who "find themselves tied to chairs in a warehouse about to be snuffed out, fighting over whose actions put who there."
Fun!
21+
At Tattooed Mom's, 530 South Street. First show is at 8:10, second is at 9:10. No cover!
Fun!
21+
At Tattooed Mom's, 530 South Street. First show is at 8:10, second is at 9:10. No cover!
07 March 2009
3 men talk about how to reduce the number of abortions in America
Chris Matthews, some guy from Slate, and some conservative talk over each other about how best to reduce the number of abortions among "thoughtless" women and girls in America:
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
06 March 2009
Feminist Law Professors blog attempts sarcasm
Over at the Feminist Law Profs blog, they're joking about how many students lie about a grandparent passing away so they can get out of finals or papers:
Oh, har har. As a matter of fact, my paternal grandmother, who was my last living grandparent, did pass away during my 1L year. Happily enough for my professors, conveniently she died during Thanksgiving break, so I didn't have to approach my professors and have them suspect that I was lying to them, thereby giving them an opportunity to joke about it on a blog.Have you ever noticed that at about this time in the semester, law students’ grandparents, with whom they are "very close," seem to die at a rate faster than just about any other segment of the population?This is something that the Center for Disease Control might want to study for the next issue of its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Certainly we should keep track of these sorts of events on a per law school basis, so that when the grandparent shows up happy and healthy at graduation, we can share the family’s joy.
Why I want to be an entertainment lawyer
Because I'll be able to enter into agreements with talent, with titles like the following:
"General Legal Representation Services Including Shopping"
Including shopping, people.
"General Legal Representation Services Including Shopping"
Including shopping, people.
05 March 2009
Overheard at the career development office
Smart, Skilled, Qualified 3L in Top 20% of Class Who Will Graduate in 3 Months: "So, Dean [REDACTED], what can I do to improve my job search? I've gotten no bites on any of the 50 resumes I've sent out."
Dean [REDACTED]: "Don't bother. No one is hiring."
SSQ3L: -blink-
Dean [REDACTED]: "Don't bother. No one is hiring."
SSQ3L: -blink-
04 March 2009
Tailgate protest at the home of Eagles' owner and CEO
Attention, Brendan! I found the following action alert on a local anarchists' mailing list:
In the midst of budget cuts to Philadelphia libraries and health centers, the Eagles owe the city of Philadelphia $8,000,000! ACORN is demanding that they pay up! Join us for a Tail-Gate Action at Jeffrey Lurie's (Eagles owner and CEO) house on Thursday March 5th.
Buses are leaving the Philadelphia ACORN office [846 N Broad St, Phila 19130 -- halfway between the Girard and Fairmount stations on the Broad Street Line] at 4:15pm and going to Jeffrey Lurie's house at 312 Llanfair Rd, Wynnewood, PA 19096 by 5:15pm.
You are welcome to ride the bus with us or meet us at his house. Call Philadelphia ACORN at 215-765-0042 to researve a seat on the bus.
15-year-old girl beat down by cops in Seattle area
On 29 November 2008, King County, Washington, police picked up this 15-year-old girl, who was traveling in a car her parents had reported stolen. The officers appear to have asked her to take off her shoes. When she got "real lippy" with the deputies and flipped one of her sneakers at one of them, they went postal on her:
As an eyewitness to King County and Seattle police brutality in Seattle during WTO in 1999, I wasn't too surprised at the conduct in this video. What did surprise me is that the cops didn't take the beat-down out of the room, because surely they must have known that there was a camera recording the encounter.
As an eyewitness to King County and Seattle police brutality in Seattle during WTO in 1999, I wasn't too surprised at the conduct in this video. What did surprise me is that the cops didn't take the beat-down out of the room, because surely they must have known that there was a camera recording the encounter.
03 March 2009
Driberally tonight
Deep in the heart of Old City there is a brewpub. It's a brewery and a pub. That's why they call it a brewpub. And tonight, the Center City chapter of Drinking Liberally will be meeting in the upstairs bar for drink and food specials and lively conversation.
Triumph Brewery is at 117 Chestnut Street in Old City. It's conveniently SEPTA-accessible via the Market-Frankford El (2nd Street station), all the buses that turn around at or near Penn's Landing (5, 12, 17, 21, 33, 42, 48), and a few other buses that pass nearby (9, 25, 38, 40, 44, 47, 57, 61).
Tonight's topic: There hasn't been much news in the past several days, so we should probably continue last week's pet theme and talk about the new White House dog tonight.
You'll have to try to enjoy yourselves without me tonight; I have another commitment and will be very late, if I can attend at all.
"Come for the beer, stay for the check"
Triumph Brewery is at 117 Chestnut Street in Old City. It's conveniently SEPTA-accessible via the Market-Frankford El (2nd Street station), all the buses that turn around at or near Penn's Landing (5, 12, 17, 21, 33, 42, 48), and a few other buses that pass nearby (9, 25, 38, 40, 44, 47, 57, 61).
Tonight's topic: There hasn't been much news in the past several days, so we should probably continue last week's pet theme and talk about the new White House dog tonight.
You'll have to try to enjoy yourselves without me tonight; I have another commitment and will be very late, if I can attend at all.
"Come for the beer, stay for the check"
02 March 2009
On the perils of pre-publishing blog entries
Naturally, I composed and pre-published the immediately preceding post a few days ago, before anyone was forecasting today's nor'easter.
I would post or link to a local photo, but so far the online Inky staff has been publishing only images from Jersey.
I would post or link to a local photo, but so far the online Inky staff has been publishing only images from Jersey.
Profoundness: on the arrival of spring
Spring must be approaching; the 2 cats are shedding enough daily that I could make myself a new cat.
01 March 2009
Vampire advice
It has been suggested that I invite a new advice columnist, a vampire who would give advice to non-vampire letter-writers.
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