all things californian

Crazed imaginations.

California

is well known for its crazies that are publicly accepted as normal. This can be attributed partially for its plethora of subcultures. One subculture being the groups that perform nationally recognized cult classic film, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”. The Rocky Horror Picture show has been nationally documented as a cult classic and also documented as the longest running theatrical release. Every Saturday, or Friday (depending on the cast) at midnight, different theater groups gather at classic movie theaters to perform this 33 year old film. The performance is done on a stage while at the same time the movie itself is being played in the background. The uniqueness of this film comes from its interaction with audience members who shout “call backs” and use different props like squirt guns, newspaper, toast, balloons, playing cards, rice, confetti, and of course, toilet paper. Also, many people lured by their friends who have never seen the show are welcomed as “virgins”! The virgins get marked with red lipstick and are put through silly games as a right of passage before the show begins. In southern

California

alone, there are five casts that perform this movie weekly. The weekly performance attributes to the ever strong popularity among fans for classic cult movies. One of these theater groups is “Crazed imaginations”, who perform every Friday at midnight right here in Encinitas at the historic La Paloma movie theater. This kind of fandom of shear wackiness in

California

is a prime example of

California

’s strong tolerance to the simply outrageous figures that add colorful touches to its constantly changing image to the rest of the world. As Carey McWillams refers to the

California

scene as “a ringside seat to the circus” (23), a person can truly see the insanity that is constantly evident a much appreciated in

California

culture.

Crash

The Movie Crash counteracts the California dream of freedom. California is known as place of salvation and freedom for all who seek it. However the reality is quite the opposite. The movie Crash is about racism and how it is very much alive in the state of California. There are many main characters in the movie, they are black, Mexican, white, and Middle Eastern. In the beginning two black men are complaining about how people are so racist towards them and are expecting them to be criminals, they then put a gun to a white couple and demand their car. This situation is quite ironic and almost humorous in the film. The White couple that got their car stolen call a locksmith to change the locks in their house. The man that does the job is Mexican with a shaved head and tattoos. The white woman yells at her husband that she wants the locks changed again because she suspects that the Mexican locksmith will sell the new keys to his gang friends. The woman was accusing this man that she didn't know from Adam, her assumptions entirely based on a stereotype We later see this man at home with his young daughter. He is a very good father and a good guy all around. Both of these situations show that there is racism in California, some is justified, and some is hurtful and just ridiculous.

"THE" Dream...

The greatest Californian dreams ranging from hopes for riches and fame to those who wish the impossible, these dreams are mostly put in the head of younger children and teenagers. For not being the individual that the society in California wants, for example, not being financially empowered or the unwilling of a young teenager to receive an education, the creation of a machine has been molded. These examples are just two of many more of how the California dream has been created to benefit a small handful of people. Who might those people be? It might be those men and ladies living in big fancy houses that look down on the blue collar working class. The idea that California should be represented as the greatest place has created a world where all the wrongs and bad things such as drugs sexual exploitation crime or basically anyone who is not the owner of the big fancy house. In California the idea that every individual is molded into being a college student is unrealistic, ok the world does need educational leaders but the same world does need just as bad the working class. From plumber’s landscapers and anyone who may fit in between, these where the creators of the great land of California and in a sense California has lost the backbone in which it was created on. The selfish California dream is the real reason to why many pursuit all the great things on this golden state. If you take a look around almost everyone at this time is out to get theirs in a sense, what I mean is that we all do what we do in a selfish manner and that what I do will better me in a way. A teacher might say that he is in it for students but in reality he or she might just be happy knowing that "I" did something and now "I" feel better. My California dream of survival in an injustice world :)

This is all I was able to write after having writers block so yeah. . . (P.S. not intended to be offensive either)

Rags to Riches

                                        Arnold Schwarzenegger, a man who has sculpted his very own body and life into a work of art. He is well know for being Mr. Universe multiple times and also a big time movie star, but he wasn’t always the iconic figure he is today. Arnold was born in Austria where he was raised until the ripe age of 18. It is custom in Austria to serve in the military when you turn 18, so they of course accepted Arnold right in. Arnold would ditch his post to go compete in body building contests, not the most noble thing to do but it was his dream to compete as a professional body builder. After winning a contest it became obvious that he was going AWOL, seeing as you can’t be in two places at once. He later won the Mr. Universe contest which earned Arnold his ticket to the US where he started a brick laying company. When he first arrived he barely even spoke English and now he is a household name across the nation due to his career as a movie star and now as the governor of California. The dream that Arnold sought out in America had been found in California.
     Arnold’s older brother died in a car accident and their father blamed Arnold for the death of the “better” son. He has been living his life for the both of them ever since. Arnold has had to bare the blame for his brother’s death as he continued on to the US later on in life. Even though his father didn’t believe in him he believed in himself. Arnold is a modern-day embodiment of the phrase “rags to riches.” The California dream since the gold rush has been to strike it rich and he did just that. Arnold’s father was never a real inspiration to him but he always wanted to be somebody. Arnold always felt that he needed to be a rebel and not conform to what others were doing. He wanted to be different, unique, and somebody. Arnold shaped both his body and his life into works of art.

Loose Change Final Cut

    

In the early 1900 independent filmmakers broke free from controlling motion pictures studio by building their own cameras and moving to Southern California. Hollywood studios were created and overtime became extremely powerful. Today film studios are fading and modern technology is allowing filmmakers to produce independent films without huge budgets, expensive actors or oppression of expression.  Filmmakers can post their films on the Internet and gather a huge audience; a simple click of a mouse can forward a film to hundreds of people without the aid of costly advertising. Independent filmmaker may no longer need the studios, actors or advertisers but they still need "Hollywood".

Hollywood has cornered the market, long ago it claim it stakes and people around the world know that if you "want to make it big" you must go to Hollywood. Independent New York filmmakers Dylan Avery, Jason Bermas and Korey Rowe are following the footsteps of early filmmakers and have moved to California to "make it big". The documentary they have created has a huge cult following on the Internet and their dream is to reach the masses. Their documentary is getting allot of attention and will be released in theaters this fall, their film is titled Loose Change: Final Cut. This is the 3rd revision to the film previously released as Loose Change, it held the number one position for many months on goggle video in 2006. The film is a documentary about the events that occurred on 9/11. It contains eye witness accounts, questions the actions taken by our government before, on, and after the attacks and also digs further into the 9/11 commission report. Two main questions asked in the film are:   

1.Why did WTC 7 fall? It was never hit by a plane.

2. Where's the proof that a plane hit the Pentagon?

It's said that the "final cut" of the film is going to be narrated by Charlie Sheen and funded by Mark Cuban. Having a controversial movie star like Charlie Sheen can do wonders for a film because in Hollywood there is no such thing as "bad press".

I'm looking forward to watching and listening to this film. Californian's are known to be open minded, lets see if this holds up to be true when the film is released. What will Californian's do, go watch the movie or dismiss it and not give it a chance?

Blood Diamonds A.K.A Conflict Diamonds

I recently watched the movie Blood Diamond, starring Leonardo DiCaprio.  This movie focuses on the illegal diamond smuggling that goes on in Africa, set in the 1990's.  The focus is on a young diamond smuggler, Danny Archer (DiCaprio), from Zimbabwe.  In the beginning, he is caught trying to move diamonds accross the border of Sierra Leone and thrown in jail.  While detained, he learns about a local man named Solomon Vandy, played by Djimon Hounsou, who has found a very rare pink diamond, while working in a diamond mining camp run by the RUF (the rebble group).  The movie follows Archer and Vandy as they try to recover the diamond and stay out of reach of the RUF.  This movie is based on true events that take place even to this day in Africa.  Diamonds are smuggled out of conflict areas that are controlled by rebel groups and taken to peaceful countries, they then export them outside of Africa.  These diamonds cost people their lives.  Villages are raided by the rebel groups, where they take able-bodied men to work in their diamond mining camps.  These diamonds are referred to as "Conflict Diamonds".  They are mixed in with "Clean" diamonds when they buffed and cut, thus hiding their "true" identity and the price paid.  These diamonds are then shipped out to manufacturers around the world.  Californians live a life of luxery without having to worry about being taken from our home to work in a diamond mine.  We do not constantly live in fear of our family being taken away, or our whole towns oblitereated by rebels against the government.  We live the California Dream, something that those stuck in the African conflict can't even fathom.  So, the next time you go to buy a diamond, make sure that it is a "Conflict Free" diamond.  You can ask for a "Certificate of Origin", therefore authenticating the diamond not being a part of this African conflict.  I would reccommend this movie as a good wake-up call to Californians living our California Dream. 

Something New

I watched "Something New", for the 3rd time this weekend. "Something New" is a light romantic, comedy, that touches on the issue of interracial dating between blacks and whites. In the begining of the movie, Kenya McQueen (Sanaa Nathan) is getting married, in her dreams. She wakes up back into her reality. She is a successful black accountant for one of the top firms in Los Angeles. She recently bought her first house, she is from a affluent black family, yet she is single. She is living the Californian Dream. Success, owning a home and now all she needs is a family. She has this idea of her perfect man, to her IBM (Ideal Black Man). He has to have this, that, more of this and a lot more of that. Her friends says she is obsessed with lists and perfection. This year she should "Let go and Let Flow", and try something new.

One of her friends she getting married, and suggests that Kenya go out on a blind date with a friends of her, a landscape architect, name  Brian (played by Simon Baker). Brian is white and when they meet Kenya is appalled and and obviously embarrassed, and tries to play a "down sista" by talking random people, affirming her "downness". Brian catches on and calls her on it. She tells him, that she doesn't think that they would work out and ends it. Fast forward and by happenstance Brian becomes her landscape architect.

Romance ensues, between Kenya and Brian, despite her doubts and fears. She is afraid of letting anyone in her family know about Brian and she is afraid of what people will say. He on the other hand doesnt mind, nor care what anyone has to say.

The tensions between Kenya's friends and family about her dating a "white" guy, stresses her out. Brian's lack of support only, fuels her discomfort about them dating in the first place. Kenya feels that in her profession she is constantly being put to the test, and the "black tax" is being placed on her, to test her worth.

Brian is living in a world created for him, does not understand. He can not understand being a black, female, in a white world and Kenya is frustrated by this lack of understanding. He is also frustrated, because he does not understand, and tries constantly to prove that it is how you feel about somebody that matters not color. 

This harsh truth about the lack of acceptance of inter-racial between black and whites in California in her mind ruins a perfect compatibility. Brian tired of hearing her paranoia of the "black tax" leaves. But he returns, because he loves her and was willing  to overcome these things with her. She however, through her brother, meets her IBM. Her friends and family are enthralled, but what she finally realizes is that he is not what she wanted. She wants and needs Brian.

Basically, the contraction of Racial Harmony in California is called into question when the harsh truth of lingering tensions are still visible to the people who are stereotyped and commit themselves to inter-racial relationships.

The Big Lebowski

Last night, Tuesday, was bowling night.  This weekly routine reminded me of my favorite comedy of all time, "The Big Lebowski". Set in Los Angeles in or around 1990, the film follows an elaborate sequence of events stemming from the misidentification of "The Dude" played by Jeff Bridges.  The Dude's rug is mistakenly soiled, and he gets himself in a situation that is far too complicated for his care-free lifestyle. 

There are many interesting characters in "The Big Lebowski", including a Vietnam veteran played by John Goodman and a sex offender played by John Torturro, but I would like to talk about "The Dude".  He is a lazy man with simple pleasures: bowling, white russian's and marijuana.  Ironically, he lives in the bustling city of Los Angeles where most people live life at an accelerated pace.  The industry of LA actually works to his advantage because everyone else is consumed almost entirely with their own agendas.  This gives The Dude the ability to live his California dream of relaxation.  Well, at least until someone breaks into his house and urinates on his rug.  Demonstrating that even The Dude cannot realistically isolate himself from the problems of California.

I find myself sometimes wishing I could live an easy life like The Dude, but I doubt I would enjoy a life without challenges.  For the most part, the people of California enjoy the feeling of accomplishment that comes from putting in a strong effort.  However, if you'd like to lay back, relax and watch a hilarious movie I would recommend "The Big Leboski".  Be forewarned that the movie is rated R "for pervasive strong language, drug content, sexuality and brief violence".  Happy viewing!

Somehwere Over the Rainbow

We woke up yesterday morning and found the largest and most beautiful rainbow we had ever seen right outside our front door.  It was magnificent!

One of my very favorite songs in the world is "Somewhere Over the Rainbow."  I often get caught up in the thought that life must be better over the rainbow.  That "somewhere over the rainbow skies are blue, and the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true."  I'm sure that "someday I'll wish upon a star and wake up where the clouds are far behind me.  Where troubles melt like lemon drops . . ."

Seeing that rainbow outside my door reminded me that I don't need to wait for "some day."  We live in California - we are over the rainbow - our skies are blue, and if we do dare to dream, our dreams really can come true.  I realized that, just like Dorothy did once she was in Oz, there really is "no place like home."

The Death of Hollywood?

With award show season nearing its peak, the Oscars, everyone is wondering who will be the big winners this year. I've been thinking the same thing I do every year about this time, where exactly are the timeless classics on the list? It seems every passing year the nominees seem more trite then the year before.
The last seven years have been a wasteland at the Oscars, with winners like Chicago, Million Dollar Baby, and a Beautiful Mind. Now I'm not saying these are bad movies, because they aren't. I just can't imagine them standing up against the test of time. Even in the 1990's we had classics like American Beauty, Braveheart, and Schindler's List. Movies that can sit next to the Godfather or Casablanca without looking like a joke. Instead of looking for movies that will be watched years from now the academy seems to be caught up in movie trends, biopics and racy topics seem to be what has been winning them over.
So, has cinema reached its peak? I don't think so, but award shows like the Oscar's aren't looking in the right places anymore. Hollywood has run out of ideas, and unfortunetly they still pat themselves on the back for it. The place to look for classic movies is no longer the movie studios, but the independent filmmaker. The Oscars is a dying award show, I am just waiting to tune into a Sundance show, when they start putting that on television.