The 50's are calling, they want "Dear Future Husband" back.

On March 16th, singer Meghan Trainor released yet another romanticized 50's-era music video titled "Dear Future Husband". Trainor has a number of other well-known songs such as "All About That Bass" and "Lips are Movin". While many of her songs are very catchy to most listeners, I believe that the video representations of her songs are wildly ineffective and go against all progress that women have made in the past 60 years. It was not only her choice of lyrics, but the artistic choices in the video made that were a bit off.

I can see why some people might like the video; there are a lot of fast cuts and a billion costume changes, but I think all those elements were just a distraction from the fact that the song is really really terrible. There are a lot of pop-y colors that don't look good together at all, and overall the video is just one big clusterf*ck of old-school romantic gestures and Trainor bopping around from side to side. I just want to ask the director why they think Trainor going out with all these guys who do something the teensiest bit wrong calls for her to dump them? The storyline of the music video just doesn't make sense at all.

The lyrics are also very confusing. Just an example of some of the lines from the song are, "take me on a date, I deserve it babe, and don't forget the flowers every anniversary / Cause if you treat me right I'll be the perfect wife, buying groceries, buy-buying what you need". These lyrics are just bringing back themes women were forced to follow mid-century, because that was the "norm".
According to an October Rolling Stone interview that her newest album is all about how she wants to be treated with respect by her future partners. While this is a very relevant theme for women all over, her latest video regresses to 50's-era ideals of everything being about the man first.

Throughout the video, Trainor is shown doing various "housewife" activities, such as washing the floor, cooking, and waiting in the bedroom; all for her "future husband". A number of things are wrong with this picture. First off, this girl is only 21 years old and singing about her future husband. You're young, successful, and well-known! Go and write some songs about women deserving equal pay and not needing a husband, instead of this bullcrap about everything your future husband needs to do. You are a popular celebrity in the 21st century and you have the power to make a difference through your creations.

If you so desire, watch the music video yourself and see what I mean.

Southcliffe

Southcliffe is a Netflix mini series that came out in 2013 and stars Rory Kinnear, Sean Harris, Shirley Henderson. This series is very strange in my opinion and after watching the pilot episode I am still not sure how I feel about the show. It leaves the viewer rather clueless to what is going on and ends rather abruptly. That being said it is common of TV shows to do this to keep the viewer coming back for more however this was a little different. the first episode ends with a very long shot on a field with only natural sound, and it was very confusing.

I personally liked the cinematography in the show. The shots were abstract and long but there was something beautiful about it. my issue with the show so for is just the lack of information given to the viewer. Also the lighting in Southcliffe seems to rely very heavily on the cool side. almost every shot was lit at around 5600k (that I noticed). While this is not necessarily how I would choose to light something, I found it very intriguing.

The show only has four episodes which are around 45minutes long and if you are looking for something twisted and strange I would recommend this, however if you are someone who likes conventional methods of filming I don't think this would be for you.

Green screen sweeping the nation

With the technology that we have in todays society there is a lot of cool things people can do to make their vision come to life. I never really noticed how many shows were shot in a green screen. Not only you can create a virtual set but It also can be an easier way to get the shot you desire. Green screen is also a budget saver because if you are shooting something that is "on the moon" you don't actually have to go there or try to mimic it by creating it. All you have to do is have an image or a video to put it behind the subject, and they are there! Badabing badaboom.

Technology is truly amazing and the capabilities that we have achieved in the film industry has created a whole different playing field with films then the past. We went from silent films to what we have now. 

Films and Tv shows need to be visually pleasing and sometimes getting permission to shoot in a specific area is impossible so the next best thing or even the better thing is doing it in green screen. After watching this video (http://www.rightthisminute.com/video/bet-you-never-knew-these-scenes-were-filmed-green-screen) It amazed me how many shows and films used a green screen for things you wouldn't even think of having, Just a single scene was shot in green screen from Ugly Betty and it just made me realize that everything is shot in green screen. It is just crazy how you would think that it is just on the street of NYC but in reality, they are not outside, not in NYC and in a green screen studio.

What We Do in the Shadows

What We Do in the Shadows is a comedy horror styled mockumentary film that was just released in February of 2015. Directed by both Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi, this film follows three vampires that live together in a flat located in the Wellington suburb of Te Aro. We follow these three roommates, all coming from different periods and locations in history, as they try to adapt to the very different and confusing 21st century culture. Unable to travel outdoors during the day, due to the fact that vampires burn up in the sun, they are restricted to out door travel only at night. Literal creatures of the night, most of the films plot and comedic effect comes alongside their struggle to fit in and live successful lives while they are unable to experience day life.

Jemaine Clement, most famous for his work in the New Zealand musical duo Flight of the Concords, brings his amazing sense of comedy to life on the big screen. Not only did Taika Waititi  and Jeamaine create the film but they also did an amazing job on screen, alongside Jonathan Brugh. The acting in this film was phenomenal. Each character added a lot to the progression and dynamic of the story; however, if it had not been for the cast the delivery would not have been nearly as powerful.

This film is unlike any other mockumentary I have ever seen before. Going into this film I had no idea what I should be expecting but I definitely came out pleasantly surprised. The cast was extremely entertaining to watch, the set and production design was interesting and eye catching. The only complaint that I could possibly have about this film is that the comedy did not go far enough. If you are to take anything away it is that the comedy stylings were unique in every way, which made it interesting throughout. I would recommend that everyone take the time to this film because everyone I have spoken with has walked away with a different opinion.

Akira

I first saw Akira over winter break last year in a movie theater near my home town. It had been over twenty-five years since its original debut in Japan but after seeing it for the first time, I understood why it is so critically acclaimed to this very day. Not only was the animation far ahead of its time, Akira revolutionized the genre and allowed more animation like it to be localized to a western audience, specifically the U.S.A.     

The story takes place in the year 2019, where the original Tokyo has been destroyed in nuclear war and has been rebuilt as Neo-Tokyo. The plot revolves around Shotaro Kaneda, the leader of a motorcycle gang, and Tetsuo Shima, his best friend. Throughout a series of strange events, Tetsuo is transferred to a top secret government facility where they run tests on him and discover that he has the potential to use unbelievable psychic powers. Consumed by his own incredible strength, Tetsuo goes on a rampage, destroying everything in his path. He learns about a being that is very similar to himself named Akira, who has been locked away by the government and goes on a mission to confront him. Meanwhile, Kaneda must try to talk sense into his friend before the entire city is destroyed again and millions of lives are lost.  

Akira pretty much set the standard for Japanese animation after its initial release in 1988. It is action packed, over the top, and a hell of a lot of fun. It is very bloody and violent which some people say distract from the complex story that is going on around it but I disagree. It might be because I have developed a strong stomach for gore over the years, but I thought the violent scenes, especially the most brutal ones, really complimented the movie overall as it is an epic animated science fiction thriller. The animation is still breathtaking to say the least. In a time where animators didn't have the luxuries of the advanced technology we have today, it is unbelievable how much work and dedication went into creating this movie. From intense fight scenes to serene pans of landscapes and environments, Akira really nails it in every sense of the word.    

Overall, Akira is a classic in Japanese animation and it's hard to think what animation would be like today if this masterpiece was never created to inspire thousands of animators working today.

Sons of Anarchy- Season 1, Pilot

Sons of Anarchy is an American crime drama television series created by Kurt Sutter, about the lives of a close-knit outlaw motorcycle club operating in Charming, a fictional town in California's Central Valley. The show focuses on protagonist Jackson "Jax" Teller (Charlie Hunnam), initially the vice president of the club, who begins questioning the club and himself, especially after reading a book his father wrote and left for him in a storage unit.  

Sons of Anarchy premiered on September 3, 2008, on cable network FX. The series' third season attracted an average of 4.9 million viewers per week, making it FX's highest rated series ever, surpassing FX's other hits The Shield, Nip/Tuck, and Rescue Me. The season 4 and 5 premieres were the two highest-rated telecasts in FX's history.  The series finale premiered on December 9, 2014.

During the first episode of the show, a rival gang steals the Sons' stockpile of assault rifles, while Jax's ex-wife's drug overdose leads to an emergency c-section and life-threatening surgery for their baby.  This is already an action packed show within the first 15 minutes.  Jax grows weary of the increasing lawlessness of the motorcycle club.  His life becomes more unstable when he discovers his late father's true vision for the Sons of Anarchy, and his crank-addicted ex-wife gives birth to his son.  He begins to realize that there might be more peaceful ways to handle the gang's affairs and to avoid conflict.  His stepfather disagrees and believes in the violence.  We find that our characters have a lack very soon in the show.  Jax needs to find a way to make the gang his father's vision and also find a way to help his poor son that was born in very serious conditions.  

In November 2013, Kurt Sutter indicated that he was in talks with FX to make a Sons of Anarchy prequel set in the 1960s.  I hope that this comes out soon, I miss watching this amazing show! I would encourage anyone that likes action, drama, and badass Californians to watch this show! Conveniently, it is available right on Netflix! 

Man Seeking Woman

    Everyone should try Man Seeking Woman, a new comedy series on FXX. It's the weirdest and most unique show on television right now and is an interesting blend of romantic comedy and surreal story telling. 

    The show is created by Simon Rich, an SNL writing alum and Pixar staff writer before his 30th birthday, and based off his book The Last Girlfriend on Earth. The show stars Jay Baruchel, of This is the End and How To Train Your Dragon, who plays helpless lovetorn loser Josh Greenberg. Supporting cast include Eric Andre, of the already hyper weird Eric Andre Show, and Britt Lower, who plays Josh's overachieving and over-supportive sister. 

The pilot begins with Josh being dumbed by his girlfriend of six years. It only gets weirder after that.

     The first episode Josh goes on a blind date. As thoughts and concerns creep into his head that maybe this girl his sister set him up with will be ugly. Turns out his blind date is a troll. Not an ugly girl, an actual troll.

         

      The show isn't surreal like the Twilight Zone, it's unique. Instead of all the characters thinking it scary or strange that there's a troll present, everyone thinks it's completely normal. It's the opposite in fact, everyone thinks it's very rude that Josh is so opposed to a date with a troll. Later in the episode everyone gives Josh a hard time that he is uncomfortable with being at a party with Hitler. Like real Hitler; he's 126 years old. 

    It's the surreality that makes the show incredibly unique. It does watch a little like a book reads, the scene changes dramatically and all the characters are completely on board with that. This creates for a lot of heightened drama for a romantic comedy. In one episode Josh's mother tortured him ala 24, in another Cupid is going into rehab.

     The show is well produced and has attracted big name comedy guests for such a little known show, such as Bill Hader, Vanessa Bayer, and Tim Heidecker. The directors are important tv comedy directors, Jonathon Krisel and Ben Berman. Simon Rich clearly has the respect for his peers and it's no wonder; the show is new and creative and different than anything else.

     The performances are great and the show seeks the general in the strange particulars. The characters are relatable and emphatic even in such strange situations. I think the show is something audience should keep an eye on, as network tv starts to fall shows will become more personalized. Maybe this show is just for me but it's something everyone should test out. It's a hodgepodge of shows and styles and executes them all incredibly. It's theme, man seeking woman, is relatable to the core.

   

Indie Game: The Movie

After looking over my Netflix viewing history last week, I realized that I almost exclusively watch 2 types of shows: dramas like House of Cards and The Walking Dead, or comedies like It’s Always Sunny and Archer. In an attempt to broaden my horizons, I decided to check out the documentary category and see what it had to offer.

I was pleasantly surprised with the documentary I chose, titled Indie Game: The Movie. This film gives and inside look at the production of indie video games, or in other words, games created by one or a few artists not affiliated with any company. While it did touch on some successful indie games like Braid, Indie Game: The Movie mostly followers the developers of the games Super Meat Boy and Fez from early production to post-release. It identifies the challenges that independent developers face and the type of stress that they go through in the years it takes to create and market a successful video game.

After watching this movie, I felt almost obligated to buy both games on Steam. The first game I bought was Fez, and I was overwhelmed by the thought that a single designer, Phil Fish, could create a masterpiece as complex and well thought out as Fez. Most of my previous gaming experience came from games produced by big companies like Bungie or Bethesda, and knowing that hundreds or thousands of people worked on the game takes away some of the awe I was struck with while exploring the world of Fez. In the game, a 2D character named Gomez lives in what he thinks is a 2D world, until he is given a fez hat that allows him to change his perspective and see the world as 3D. While this is a cool concept, it’s the execution that really makes the game amazing, Each playing platform basically consists of four 2D surfaces that Gomez can rotate between, each drastically changing the world based on a 2D perspective. Indie Game: The Movie shows how Phil Fish created this world, and how the production of all the artwork was done. Although it took Fish five years from start to finish and a multitude of missed deadlines for play testing releases, the game is a masterpiece and well worth the wait that many of the game’s original fan base underwent.

Fez Trailer: Click here

The other game featured in Indie Game: The Movie is Super Meat Boy. Super Meat Boy is a platform game in which a boy with no skin tries to save his girlfriend (who’s made of bandages) from an evil fetus whose goal is to kidnap her. In the documentary, creators Edmund McMillen and Tommy Refenes discussed how they create games not based on what players might want, but as an expression of themselves. This is really what sets indie game development apart from complex games from big companies like Call of Duty or Battlefield. McMillen talks about how the character of Meat Boy came to by, and why Dr. Fetus likes to flip off the players. Without the restrictions of any big company and their rules, McMillen and Refenes wanted to push the borders of what inappropriate content they could put into a game and still have it be successful on Xbox and Steam. They also model the characters after themselves and their experiences in life, so when people play their game, it’s almost like people are playing the game representation of the creators’ childhoods. 

According to McMillen, Dr. Fetus is allowed to flip the bird
however often he wants because he only has 3 fingers.

As a computer science student, I have tried my hand at making simple games before. While I never put anywhere near the amount of thought and effort into my games that these developers have put into theirs, Indie Game: The Movie really put into perspective just how tough it can be for indie game developers to get by financially, and to compete with big development companies. Despite certain points in the film which i didn't care for a whole lot (e.g. McMillen's girlfriend's obsession with cats), it overall was a well put together piece and i was entertained throughout. For the first documentary I have watched in a long long time, Indie Game: The Movie was an interesting watch and I would absolutely recommend it to anybody interested in gaming or digital art. 

The First TIme

The First Time is a perfect, cliché teenage love story for when you're bored on a Friday night. The story follows Dave (Dylan O'Brien) is an incurable romantic in love with the hottest girl in school, Jane (Victoria Justice). Unfortunately, she only thinks of him as a friend - without benefits. Through a chance encounter, Dave meets Aubrey (Britt Robertson), an alluring girl from a nearby school, at a party, which sparks a flame that soon becomes a red-hot romance filled with all the angst, missteps and awkwardness of a first time love.

The thing that draws me to this particular film, rather than just any other teen romance movie, is its streak of honesty. Though it does take place in the time span of a weekend, it's not just another Romeo and Juliet love story. The characters never declare their love for each other, they don't treat it as they've known each other for more than a short time, and they're not starry-eyed lovers like other films. 

The films honestly portrays the idea of falling quickly for someone, and it wraps up with a monologue about how they know they're not perfect for each other, but if they're both willing to try, that they can figure it out from there. Yes, they end up together, but instead of being the usual, mushy "I love you, we can do this" ending, it is portrayed more like a realistic relationship. That if they're both willing to put in the effort to make it work, then they'll take the rest as it comes. The film also adds a good dose of sass to its humor, which is a personal favorite of mine. This is definitely a guilty-favorite of mine, and I would absolutely recommend it.

Rachel Getting Married

"Rachel Getting Married" is a drama film, released in 2008. It stars Anne Hathaway as Kym, a relapsing drug addict who has been trying relentlessly to get clean. At the start of the movie, she returns home to attend her sister, Rachel’s wedding. Upon arriving, there is still the unresolved tension from Kym’s previous conflicts, one of which ended in the death of her brother. It is evident that her family still weighs heavily on the fact that her drug abuse led to her killing her brother in a car accident. Aside from family tragedies, there is also a war going on for which of the sisters gets the most attention. Rachel is sick of Kym getting fussed over, just because of her drug problem, and would like her parents to focus on her for once, since it’s her wedding. While Kym claims she hates the attention, she’s almost always finding some way to bring the spotlight on herself and her own recovery

“Rachel Getting Married” seemingly aims to illustrate how much havoc a drug addict can have on a family. However, the movie seems quite choppy at times, and has a lot of distractions, which results in it becoming more like a soap opera than a movie. The characters, I felt, were not as developed as they could have been. The family confrontational scenes were far and few in between. The wedding, dancing, and the well-wisher scenes went on and on and on, perhaps taking up almost half of the movie. Adding to the damage is the film’s handheld camera effect. Perhaps it was used to create an authentic feel, however it mostly makes for a dizzy and distracting sequence.

Empire has Taken over the Television

So over the break besides the long periods of sleeping and not thinking of homework or anything of that manner.  My roomie convinced me to watch this show:

May I just say a round of applause to the writers, producers, directors and every other aspect of this show.  This show has reached a potential that I have never seen in any other show. It has the music, the plot twists and most important the talent to pull off such an amazing production. So worth while!

Empire was picked up on FOX in May. It is a musical drama television series, that centers around hip-hop music and an entertainment company---EMPIRE ENTERTAINMENT. The show was created by Lee Daniels and Danny Strong and stars Terrance Howard and Taraji P. Henson.

Rapping up this seasons finale this Wednesday. With an astounding amount of flips and turns, punches and blows. Leading someone to do some time...... 

According to Vulture.com---

**With the season finale it probably topped those number all together**

This is an amazing mind blowing show that continues to accomplish it's goal in pleasing their audience every week. I look forward to season 2 of EMPIRE ! 

Like Lucious Lyon said "This isn't over!

The Fosters

Okay, I have so much to say about this show. But, what I want to start with is the fact that it is so important. For those of you who don't know it, it's an abc Family TV show, focusing on the life of Callie Jacob, portrayed by Maia Mitchell, and her life in the foster system in the past, and the founding of her and her brother, Jude's (Hayden Byerly), forever family. So What? 
I knew when I started watching it that it was already striking major political sensitivities, seeing as the parents of the foster family were two females. I was so up for that, a lesbian couple being shown from a normal family stand point, showing that it was no different whether someone's parents were straight or gay. I was hooked on that, I had no idea that it was going to end up being so much more.

But let me tell you, the lesbian parents was just the base of the complicated, progressive show that has become The Fosters. It points out faults in the foster system, deals with rape, it portrays criminal teens in a new light, sheds light on relationships having ups and downs and not being completely perfect to be good, showed a transgender teen trying to go through a change and struggling, it stands the hell up for feminism, and gives a shout out to the young LGBT community for people who think they're "too young" to know who they do and don't like, and shows how the coming out process can be difficult for these teens. There are those and so much more, I could probably go on for days. This show is so ground breaking, it's so important in a world that's trying to be more progressive. I really hope younger viewers are paying attention. Because this show has everything that I want in the world. The most recent episodes are really hitting the nail on the head. They've raised controversy over having two thirteen year old boys kiss and somewhat pursue a relationship, slashed sexist views with a knife, and nicely wrapped up a story line that had been going on since the beginning of the series.
The relationship of Jude and Connor, portrayed by Gavin MacIntosh, has been a long time coming. They started out as friends and just progressed beautifully as the two of them discovered feelings stirring within each other. There were some downs, some fights and arguments, and Connor's father telling him they can't be friends, but it still made it to this point.

I think that this could have a powerful impact on young people in the LGBT community. It shows they aren't alone, and they it's okay to be who they are. It could also show people who don't necessarily understand, how much these teens struggle because of people like them who refuse to accept them for who they are. Whether the relationship lives on, or the two remain friends, I still think the fact that they are both at terms with who they are is a really important thing for the show to have. 

The next thing I was cheering for was Mariana's, portrayed by Cierra Ramirez, slam on sexist views. When Emma, a member of her dance team, decided she had to quit because she didn't want to be treated differently for acting sexy, Mariana didn't let it go. She says "I know you say that's how things are supposed to be, but no, I don't accept that. If things aren't the way they're supposed to be, then you have to change them," when confronted with the idea that girls can only be one way or another. She just shuts it down, not for a second letting her friend believe the way boys are leading her to believe. This is great because it's time to show girls that they can be whatever they want to be, that they should do what makes them happy instead of what they're "supposed" to do or how they're "supposed" to act. I'd really like to see more of this happening. 

Finally, the recent episodes finally let Callie deal with her demons. She finally got justice and was able to put her rapist behind bars. No, not for rape, but still so he couldn't hurt her or any other girls ever again. It was a long time coming and it finally happened, I can almost taste the beautiful justice. 

This show is very important to society right now. Everyone, even if they don't watch it, should get behind it's views. They're so kick ass, and could really make the world a better place. It really is amazing and it's already impacted me so much, I can't wait for future episodes and seasons. This show is so important. 

Transgenders in the Media

Over the years, there have been controversies with depicting transgender people in the media. Many people are not accepting of the fact that some people cannot strictly identify with being male or female, and people are very discriminatory against this. In the media, transgender people have hit many milestones and have been celebrating their acceptance coming to life. Teen YouTube star, Jazz Jennings is getting her own TV show called "All That Jazz" which will give us an insight through the eyes of a transgender youth. This teen drama will be appearing on TLC, according to an announcement made last week. Jazz may be young, but she is an author and an activist for transgender people that is turning heads to how people view them. Even though Jazz was born a boy, she knew from the beginning that she was meant to be a girl. Having gender dysphoria at such a young age was obviously a struggle but Jazz made the most out of her childhood by not letting the teasing get her down, and became a very important advocate for the debate on transgender youth. She was even signed on as Clean & Clear's face for the "See the Real Me" campaign which shares a touching video describing the trials of being a transgender youth.

In addition to Jazz's incredible accomplishments, transgender people have been portrayed significantly more often on television than in the past. There are many shows that feature transgender actors such as Orange Is The New Black, and Discovery Life's New Girls on the Block. There are also shows where actors play transgender people such as in ABC Family's My Transparent Life or the Golden-Globe winning comedy, Transparent. Even though there has been a significant shift in the way some people view the lives of transgender humans, there is still a long way to go. There will always be hateful comments against people that are seen as different or out of place, but they deserve just as equality as everyone else does. The shows where actors are playing transgender people are great, but there are plenty of real transgender actors in the field that could have taken on those specific roles. Overall, the advocacy campaigns that have been pointed towards transgender awareness should be taken seriously, and even though they have completed certain milestones, there are many more mountains to climb for equal representation in the media.

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt!

Let me tell you about the wonderful show that is The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. From the creators of 30 Rock (Tina Fey & Robert Carlock) this new Netflix original series has been quite the hit so far. The whole show is centered around Kimmy Schmidt, (Ellie Kemper, The Office) a woman who is rescued from an underground doomsday cult in Indiana and restarts her life in New York City.

The show also features Kimmy's crazy landlord Lillian (Carol Kane), roommate Titus Andromedon (Titus Burgess, The Little Mermaid the Musical), and affluent boss Jacqueline Voorhees (30 Rock alum Jane Krakowski). Later on, other special guest stars include Jon Hamm as the Reverend (who kidnapped the women), and Tina Fey even makes a cameo. All of the actors' performances were spot on, especially Ellie Kemper, whose natural bubbly disposition made the part of the "I survived living in a bunker for 15 years and am confused about today's technology!" very believeable.

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt started out kind of slow, but the pace picked up by the third or fourth episode. After that I could not bring myself to stop watching, and finished many episodes in a single sitting. This is really the kind of show that will make you laugh out loud because the dialogue is so witty and straight up ridiculous.

30 Rock was (and always will be) one of my favorite shows, so when it was announced that a new Fey & Carlock series was in the works I was very excited to see the product. And Kimmy Schmidt is very similar to 30 Rock in terms of style; most of the characters were very stereotypical and over-the-top, while conveying a bigger social message.

For this show, the social issues addressed are ones regarding equal treatment of women, and homosexual men battling stereotypes. While most of these issues are usually expressed in a joking manner, you can tell that it was Fey putting in her two cents of blatancy.

The show has received a lot of mixed reviews, from "this is what has been missing from comedy the last few years" to "how did this get funding for thirteen episodes." But everyone whom I have spoken to really enjoyed the show and cannot stop quoting it! Granted, all of them were college-aged, and I have found that most people our age really enjoy the type of quirky, out of this world humor. People of other generations maybe don't enjoy Tina Fey's style of writing.

If you're looking for a show that will brighten up your day, definitely check out The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, all episodes streaming only on Netflix.

Take a look at this trailer about the series!