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Babies and cinemas

Well, if you’re like me, combining the two major loves in your life can be a bit tricky. Mine are films and my family. Having recently had my second boy has re-opened the Mums and Bubs door. With my first nutter, I saw a few films and made the catastrophic mistake of seeing films that were too intense and complicated for my delicate post-labour brain. As a result, I fell asleep and cannot even remember what films they were. As I can’t prove my point, you’ll just have to believe me.

This time around, I’m going to choose more carefully. And shock of horrors, I might have to see films that are more mainstream than alternative. This could mean films with a more simplistic storyline, perhaps even bordering on predictability. Hmm, this of course, goes against my cinematic core and will be a massive adjustment, but to use a cliché, beggars can’t be choosers. I’m at the mercy of a few elements: sleep deprivation, brain drain, finding a babysitter for my toddler and local cinema offerings.

My first foray into this round of Mums and Bubs was to see Bridesmaids a few weeks ago. It went well; I snorted and guffawed my way through it. I stayed awake and my baby didn’t, it was perfect. I even ate chocolate. Wiig’s witty dilemmas amused and entertained me successfully. I’ll be doing it again soon, woo hoo.



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The next step

May 26th 2011 05:30


As you might’ve noticed, since having my first baby almost two years ago, both my movie habits and blog upkeep have been dramatically affected. In fact, you could say, sadly, my blog has been somewhat neglected. It’s a pity but seems to be a part of motherhood (and life in general), that sometimes something has to give. And really, it’s OK. It doesn’t mean I no longer love films or I no longer care about writing, it simply means that life has changed and for the time being, it’s hard to do it all. My zest is still there, as well as my intentions but for many reasons such as a basic lack of time, lack of brain power and some days, general oomph, the page stays empty. Hence, my blog remains quite untouched. I still see films thanks to downloads, DVDs and cinemas, but often the opportunity to sit and write is scarce.

So, just days away from my next reproduction experience, it would be easy to wonder if I can keep this blog going at all. Well, I’m going to try. It’ll be infrequent, short but hopefully still sort of sweet. And that’ll do for me.
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Tribeca Film Festival 2011


Nowadays, distance is not always the massive impediment it can be with the plethora of technology we have available to us. To highlight this occurrence, this year the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival (TFF) in collaboration with American Express, is giving its USA viewers the chance to watch feature and short films without attending the festival. The online screenings will happen at the same time as the physical screenings, heightening that feeling of almost being there.

The festival, co-founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff, aims to support growth and culture in Manhattan after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. With its emphasis on independent films, documentaries and shorts, it has become one of the world’s most important film festivals.

There are several ways a viewer can be involved: a blog, intimate Q&A sessions and interactive filmmaker feeds. While international viewers cannot participate in the films screening, they can engage with film-makers and industry experts through its Q&A component, blogs and other social media methods.

This online experience encompasses five main areas: Festival Streaming Room, Live From..., Tribeca Q&A, Filmmaker Feed, and the Future of Film blog.

In the Festival Steaming Room, from the 12th April, American Express members can reserve a ‘virtual seat’ for online screenings of this year's features and shorts, as well as a selection of award-winning shorts from the previous nine festivals. From the 18th April, it is open to the general public.

From 20th April until 1st May, the Live Action segment will show webcams that screen twenty-four hour red carpet events. This allows interaction with other online viewers and participants as well as inside viewing.

The Q&A sessions will allow audiences to submit questions to a pool of 20-25 film and new media experts such as Tribeca’s Jane Rosenthal, Geoff Gilmore and Nancy Schafer, actors such as Whoopi Goldberg and Brian Williams, and filmmakers David Gordon Green, and Zach Braff. Community members can vote on individual questions, and top-rated queries will be submitted for official response, which will then be made public.

The Filmmaker Feed section makes use of social media such as Facebook and Twitter where viewers can read biographies, updates, video updates and genenally remain up-to-date with any developments as well as interact with other participants. Here, viewers can comment and moan away about all their filmic desires.

And lastly, The Future of Film blog involves film and technology experts commenting on the evolving media environment in featured posts. Participants will be announced in early April once the blog begins, so I guess that will happen any moment now.

So while we Aussies can’t take part in the feature and short films screenings (yet at least), we can still talk to directors, learn inside information and generally feel closer to the festival. It’s not the same as actually being there, but it’s still something and who knows what might happen in the future.


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Sydney's Open Air Cinemas

February 1st 2011 05:05
St George OpenAir Cinema


Combining the cinema with Sydney's long and balmy evenings has become a bit of a tradition for many people over the last few years. It really is the perfect blend: peaceful and beautiful scenery, stars, company, food and a film. Plus, the settings offer the freedom to drink wine or even recline


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Christmas films, why oh why?

December 2nd 2010 22:19
Christmas films
Christmas films

It’s that time of year again. Christmas is looming and inevitably the usual tatty array of predictable festive tales are looming. Now I know I’m sounding Grinch-like but there seems to be a theme or assumption that these are the main kinds of films people want to see in this season. Well, what about me? Yes, I think it’s reasonable to assume that a massive corporation such as Hoyts or Greater Union will be concerned about the little folk like me. I understand the odd festive film, but to be continually and cinematically flooded with its tedious themes? Hmm, it’s a big ask.

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Under construction

October 1st 2010 00:30
Under construction.


My blog needs an overhaul and a facelift.

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Festive wishes

December 24th 2009 22:28
Festive lights


Even though I haven’t been around much this year, I still want to wish everyone a Happy Christmas. I’ve been more of a voyeur around Orble than a participant lately, but I’m aiming to change that in the New Year


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The Welsh Connection

November 9th 2009 06:45


It occurred to me earlier that one aspect of my life I only intermittently embrace is my half-Welshness. And why is that? Perhaps it’s something to do with their comedic lilting accent or society’s obsession to connecting them with sheep. Or perhaps it’s the robust urban myth that Welshies are a bit dim? I’m not sure, but I do know there are some good bits that are often not noticed such as, Welsh cakes, serene countryside, strong rugby skills and their ability to create and use a language without vowels and much spitting


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My life of verbs

September 10th 2009 21:42
My life of verbs - Tracy

Well, it’s happened, I’ve given birth, I’m now a mum. Well, if you want to be technical I was one for nine months but I think you might know what I mean. Tracy Junior popped out on the 28th July at 6.55am. The labour was arduous, slightly traumatic but worth it. Our boy is gorgeous, healthy and cheeky. For the sake of internet security, I think we’ll call him LJ.

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The other bits

July 16th 2009 23:32
Love and hands

Yes, I’m still burbling away but this time I decided I should balance my grumblings and tell you the parts of the pregnancy ladder I will never forget:

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Pregnancy fun

July 12th 2009 21:52
Feet and sunshine

I’ve been on Matted Leave for three weeks now and only have less than a fortnight to go and while pregnancy has been a brilliant experience, there are a few things I know I won’t miss:

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The mandala of life


1. ‘You know that you can’t have sex at all while you’re pregnant, don’t you?’ Week 6


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Movies and a life

May 24th 2009 22:51
It's good to be back


It’s been a whirlwind sort of couple of weeks, but it seems I’m back in my blog seat. It feels a little strange and slightly lumpy but I’m sure I’ll get used to it again. I really wasn’t sure what was going to happen and it’s been distressing. So distressing that sometimes I even used clichés to help me through the crisis. But I’m here now and I wanted to say a massive thanks to those bloggers who supported and helped me thorough the mess, both publically and behind the curtains. It meant a lot to me and kept me sane. Well, as sane as I’m ever going to be


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It's been a dodgy day

December 22nd 2008 05:57
Hat

It’s been a dodgy day, so far I've:

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Possible Worlds Canadian Film Festival 2008

The rolling around of the Possible Worlds festival each year reminds me how fast time plods along. Especially this year...I can’t believe it’s already time for the mass marketing frenzy of Christmas. Anyway, enough of my blabbering, I should get back to the facts.

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Mind the gap

October 23rd 2008 09:12
Mind the gap

Yep, I'm back in the land of snail-pace tube travel and sweaty armpits pressed too closely to my nose.

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Alba does election

October 3rd 2008 08:02
Only you can silence yourself - Alba


This is Alba’s poignant attempt at alerting American people to the importance of voting in ‘the election


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Video experiences - Men Behaving Badly

September 19th 2008 22:30
Men Behaving Badly

To celebrate the decision to have both a DVD player and a video in my life, and the revival of my Men Behaving Badly marathons, I thought I would share some vital moments with you.

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I’m going backwards

September 8th 2008 07:23
Video tape
It’s been coming for a while now, I tried to stall it but it’s definite...my DVD player isn’t working. It began with a jump, moved into an Olympic-hurdle sequence that ended with a grunt and thud. I took the hint and stopped shoving DVDs into it hoping it was just a technical quirk.

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