Time for a break

Time for a break from uni that is! Not blogging, think I've had too much of that!

It's that time of year when schools finish, university students catch the break that they've been looking forward to and that time of year that moods improve and purses and wallets empty pretty fast.

It's Christmas Time of course!! I got home on Saturday, and to be perfectly honest all I've done is slept. Slept a lot. 

For the last four/five weeks I have been on placemen. I was working for a Christmas Carol at the Lakeside Arts Theatre in Nottingham. I really enjoyed the placement and to be perfectly honest after working solidly on it for four/five weeks and now having finished, and gone home, I am on a bit of a low. 

This last week was the tech week, meaning long hours and quick work needing to be done between breaks! As busy as the first few weeks were, I don't feel like they were as tiring as the last week, something drained my energy, that's for sure! Regardless, with the energy I used for the last week I feel that it was probably the best week of my time spent there. Seeing things come together is one of the things I love to witness and find most satisfying, and like magic everything everybody had been working towards, came together! 

Yes, there was a few technical hitches and problems, but soon sorted with a bit of elbow grease from everybody! Yes, there was a lot of things to do in such a short amount of time. And, yes, things it was so satisfying to see things take shape and form!

The show it's self I'll tell you about in another blog, I couldn't possibly say it all in this post, it wouldn't be able to save the entire thing! So for now, I will leave it at that, I thought it might be of use to give you a quick update on where the hell I've been for the last few weeks. Keep an eye out for the Christmas Carol post!! 

xx

Film | Ever After: A Cinderella Story

Production Year : 1998
Certificate (UK): PG
Running Time: 121mins
Directors: Andy Tennant
Cast : Drew Barrymore, Anjelica Huston and Dougray Scott, for more on this film click here.

http://www.imdb.com/media/rm137010688/tt0120631

'Once upon a time there was a young girl who loved her father very much' is how most fairytales begin. This one however begins with an elegant old lady, talking to two young men, she proceeds to inform them of the 'real story' of the glass slipper. 

Our tutors asked us to read some books over the summer and one of the books was called.... Collection of Grimm Tales by the Brother's Grimm. It is one book with several versions of lots of different classic fairy tales. The Cinderella story in the book however is called 'Ashputtle'. 

Cinderella is a strong character, not meek or polite as we would probably expect in this film. Drew Barrymore, plays Danielle de Barbarac, is smart, polite, loyal and strong. In fact the first time she meets the Prince she infers that he is 'arrogant'.  A very different meeting than Grimm and Walt Disney's interpretation. Although it does have a slight playfulness to it Cinderella is more witted and far less 'girly' and 'meek'.

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/471752129687157599/

 The Prince is put across to us quite differently again. He is introduced quite early on, he is the one who is in the wrong place at the wrong time, slightly accident prone. One main aspect of this film that interests me most is that the Prince seems to be as big of a character as Danielle de Barbarac (Cinderella). Regular fairy tales seem to introduce the Prince later on in the film, show him as a small part of the story and he is really, properly shared with the audience once the female character grows as a person and realises she can do things for herself, instead of for others. 

'Ugly Step Sisters', 'tweedle dee and dum' as some have referred to them as, are slightly different from what we would expect. For example in this story there are a few variations for the stories we all might have heard  1. they aren't ugly, 2. they are as thick as how they are portrayed in the books and 3. they aren't the same in personality, one is more sympathetic and kind whilst the other seems to have gained all the jealousy and 'ugly' heart. Marguerite is favoured by her mother, perhaps this is why they are different in personality. Jacqueline is a fresh relief for this story, she appears to have a better understanding than her sister and even her mother. Jacqueline isn't blind to her mothers actions, she appears to be a bit sympathetic to Danielle. 

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/181410691209799294/

I feel that the way in which this film has been taken is rather enjoyable, I enjoy the twist on the classic fairy tale. It is stuck in a time zone however which I feel that Walt Disney's version isn't restricted too. I love the concept of this Cinderella and think it is a good balance to the character. The costumes were beautiful, even when Cinderella wear's her servants clothes.
I like the film and I could sit down a watch this again, however I do not feel, for me anyway, that it is a film I could watch over and over again. I would watch it again but instead of having it on DVD I'd rather enjoy it whilst it's on TV.


The pictures are not my own, the links as to where I found them can be found below the pictures as a hyper-link.

Lottie xo

Film | The Breakfast Club

Production Year : 1985
Certificate (UK): 15
Running Time: 97mins
Directors: John Hughes
Cast : Emilio Esteves, Judd Nelson and Molly Ringwald, for more on this film click here.


Last night we watched the much heard of; The Breakfast Club. Now anybody that knows me, knows that I am useless when it comes to popular and classic films. I studied Film Studies back at school and quickly realised how little I actually knew about film or about the films that almost everybody else has either watched or knows of.

The Film Society is probably one of the easier choices that university life offers. Another thing that people who know me, also knows that I really struggle with sticking to things and let be honest if I can't stick to this, well that just super lazy and I need to get my act together.

Anyway.... The Breakfast Club (1985)

http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2294979840/tt0088847?ref_=tt_ov_i

A group of teenagers, all from different stereotypes in school, brought together on a Saturday , for a day of detention. (Naturally we should all be able to picture the scene so far, I'm sure.) The group commit to there stereotypes, looking down at those not in their clique. 

They soon find out that they aren't all that different and that they have more in common than they'd ever thought. 

It was a simple idea, I personally do not think that the trailer for the film did it justice. I wasn't not particularly interested by my first look at the trailer, however, sticking to it and watching it from beginning to end changed my mind. I enjoyed the film, looking into the lives of the characters and it made me smile, thinking back to my time in school. I recommend the film, perhaps, if you are like me, maybe sit down and watch it, on like a rainy day and when you know you have the time to enjoy it. 

Sit back and relax, pop your popcorn and remiss. 

Picture is not my own, from : http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2294979840/tt0088847?ref_=tt_ov_i

Lottie xo

A 24 Hour Musical

Picture from http://www.justcauseproductions.co.uk/

So moving to Aberdeen was a huge move. And my tutors at university asked us to 'go out there and try and see as much theatre as you can!' Well I would have loved to but unfortunately it all costs money, and time and that was a tight thing over the past four months. We moved up in April, but unfortunately we couldn't get the house we originally wanted, so we ended up staying in holiday cottages and cabins for three months but moving about every week. We finally got our house we have now and we were able to take more advantages and explore a little more. So as a surprise my parents had booked tickets to see 'Strictly Confidential' which I LOVED! and you can read more on that here. 

Well, I decided to book something I had never heard about before. I though the concept was interesting, and on some level didn't quite believe it. A 24 Hour Musical? Could that happen?? Well apparently it can, and it can go really well. I have experienced working as part of a theatre group for 6 years and we lucky enough to be able to direct five nights of performances. It was only an amiture theatre group but to be able to direct was a dream I had ever since I went to my very first show by the very same group, which I later joined, once I built up my confidence to join of course.  

So the group I was apart of took all summer to audition, learn more about the characters, learn the lines, rehearse in the auditorium, build and paint the set, collect together the casts costumes, and of course find the props. That is just the things the older members of the cast worked on, the directors had to deal with buying the scripts, raising the money for the renting of the rooms, learn the locking up and of course design, order and pay for the programs. It was quite a big thing for me, I really enjoyed it and looking back I can't believe myself and my co-director did all that at 17! Again I repeat this took an entire year to organise and a summer to rehearse and perform to a paying pubic! 

Well this 24 Hour Musical... After talking to the director of the group I found out, the cast learnt the name of the musical at 7:30pm on the 9th of August 2013, rehearsed all night and right up until 7:30pm on the 10th of August! To think that a lot of the cast probably didn't get much if any sleep before the show, and it was a 2 act performance, I felt the cast did extraordinary well! The first act was really good, and enjoyable, the introduction to what they were performing was made (High School Musical by the way) and of course I grew up with HSM so naturally, I knew all the words haha (should I be ashamed? It was a good film for my age when it came out! & who doesn't love Zac Efron?) 

The cast definitely had the adrenaline and so did the audience! There honestly could not have been a better vibe in that auditorium. The second act held a few pauses, a few forgotten lines but it just made the audience laugh, it was accepted, which it should be with only 24 hours practise. 

The dancing, the singing, the set, costumes, everything was well done, even down to Sharpy's pink locker. I haven't anything horrible to say about the entire night! Well, ok I have one thing... unfortunately it was the last 24 hour musical that the group are doing. I wish I moved sooner! I am a bit gutted that I never got to see any of the other performances of 'Anything Goes', 'Grease', 'Oklahoma' or 'Hello Dolly'. 

I enjoyed the whole experience, would love to sit down and enjoy another one, and I think the idea of a '24 Hour Musical' is fascinating. If another theatre group start doing this kind of thing anywhere else in the country, I would definitely consider going and watching it! 

To find out more about this or the people behind it visit http://www.justcauseproductions.co.uk/

The picture is not my own.

Lottie xo

Strictly Confidential Shhhhhhh

Picture from :http://aecc.co.uk/events/strictly-confidential/

Craig Revel Horwood's Strictly Confidential gives it's audiences the chance to get up close and personal with some of the stars of the BBC1 television series Strictly Come Dancing!

So the new school year rolls around and you can damn well expect two things to be on the fore front of tv thinking in my household. Dr Who and of course Strictly Come Dancing! We have always watched these two shows come september. They are both well loved and defiantly a family sit down time slot.

When I was in school, I loved fashion and textile lessons and Strictly was an absolute inspiration. The elaborate, beautiful, colourful costumes were stunning to me and I also wanted to be behind the scenes, seeing how they were created and learn more about it. All those rhinestones and sparkles, how could you not be enticed! 

So when I got home for the summer from university, I told my parents that our tutors asked us to see as much theatre and public performances as we could! They surprised me by producing Strictly Confidential tickets that they brought earlier on in the year! Coming up to the day of the performance I was excited but a bit unsure of what to expect. 

The arena wasn't the best, the seats were not the comfiest to sit down in for 3 hours and the next day left us with pretty sore bottoms and backs. The only other thing which wasn't brilliant, which probably wouldn't bother anybody else but me, was that nobody informed us with a time limit for the interval, the first part of the performance just kind of ended and we were left guessing, which would be fine in a normal theatre because we, as an audience hear the five minute bell to inform us to plonk our bottoms into our padded seats.  But this performance was held at the AECC which is a big place. So some people had to jog back to there seats when the lights dimmed and the music played once again.  Well that's all that was not to top notch for me so I will stop with the negativity now, promise.

I didn't know anything about how this would play out, what it involved, all I knew was who to expect to see. This year involved Lisa Riley, Artem Chigvintsev, Natalie Lowe and Ian Waite as well as an amazing instrumental group and dancers. The audience connected to the stars and the atmosphere was great, loud, alert and lively! To be honest if this was to take place in a theatre I don't think the building would be able to take the noise! Ears ringing, hand sore from clapping and apples of my cheeks tingling from laughing, smiling and cheering, it was a really good matinee performance that everybody enjoyed.

It was really interesting to find out more about the stars and the program was quite informative, giving details about the stars back stories and of course a whole double page on the costumes, from fabric and thread to swirling on the dance floor.

It isn't exactly Strictly Come Dancing, but it is more of an insight into the whole story, the things behind the scenes and just the general excitement of the celebrities and dancers. I enjoyed my experience and I would love to go along to one of the live shows, even more so now I've seen into the show a bit more. An excuse to get dressed up for an evening? Well who would say no to that?

To find out more about Strictly Confidential visit http://aecc.co.uk/events/strictly-confidential/ 

Picture is not my own.

Lottie xo

Film | Inception

Image from IMDB.com

Production Year : 2010
Certificate (UK): 12A
Running Time: 148mins
Directors: Christopher Nolan 
Cast : Ellen Page, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ken Watanabe, Leonardo DiCaprio, Marion Cotillard, Sir Michael Caine, Tom Hardy for more on this film click here.








With yesterday's rainy evening my family decided to sit down and watch Inception, and since its release on DVD I continue to ponder the idea that it leaves you with. 

If you have been living under a rock or just didn't want to watch Inception, well you are and were missing out! It is a great brain teaser, you either accept the challenge or you don't. Unfortunately somebody on my facebook revealed the plot to every bodies home page, and you can NOT unread what you have just read! So naturally my mind is now remembering what they declared to the world (well the people they know) and I am sat here waiting, watching out for it. Very annoying. But before I knew what I know now, I really enjoyed the film and the little game it has with it's audience. 

I think that the idea behind the plot, is a great one, I have never experienced a plot like this, or if I have seen a film with the same kind or similar plot, it obviously wasn't worth keeping in my memory.
I remember going to see this film in cinema, and the group of friends that I went with were all blown away by this film! I could not have imagined what was going to happen from the title (which I my opinion is great) and I can normally see how a film is going to end or what is going to happen next, but to be perfectly honest with you, I was so captivated by the idea, that nothing but the film was in my head at the time, just the film, I could not be disconnected from the big screen at all. Even when someone gets there phone out in the cinema, and you can see the bright glow of the screen, well normally I would be so distracted by that, that I'd miss a lot of the film! 

The only thing however, is to sit down and watch the movie at home, as a family, you kind of have to be in the right mood. The different levels in the film can be quite challenging to get your head around if your shattered and not really feeling it.

Altogether I've loved this movie, and because it isn't a film you want to watch over and over again continuously, you forget how the movie plays and it seems like you are watching it for the first time each time you press play. 


Image from IMDB at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1375666/ . It is not my own.

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