Between work chaos, prepping for the Film Fest, weddings, showers, traveling and attempting to enjoy every last sun shining day, I’ve disappeared. Thankfully, Jimmy Fallon has been delivering some much needed laughs with the crazy/fantastic things he does with his guests. And this week’s Lip Sync Karaoke continues to play daily here.
I’ll never forget the first time I heard the song, “If I Needed You.” It was in Stepmom and Julia Roberts sings it to Benjamin when he’s in the hospital after getting stitches. Ever since then, it’s a song that willingly pops into my head whenever I’m having a not so great day.
Yesterday, while listening to NPR’s World Cafe with Mumford & Sons, I got a sweet, sweet surprise. There, at the end of this fantastic podcast, is their rendition of the very song.
With the Film Fest going on, working and volunteering with Chicago Cares (all this week), it’s just what I need to keep myself going.
Note, I have no idea who this woman is featured in the film.
Despite the fact I’ve never had any desire to visit Norway, this commercial makes me want to hop a plane to see this scenery, wear sweaters and hang with Grandpa Norm. And of course, fly on Widerøe Airlines.
via AdFreak
Agency: McCann Oslo
Director: Marius Holst (Side note, he directed one of my favorite films from the Film Fest, King of Devil’s Island)
The 47th Chicago International Film Festival started last week and boy has it already been a whirlwind. After screening a plethora of films, I’m heading in to see others I missed.
Our Junior Board screened Take Me Home this past weekend and Director, Writer, Producer and actor Sam Jaeger made time to hang out in the Lincoln Lounge with all of us. His film was the first one I saw for the Fest and absolutely fell in love with it. Below is the synopsis I wrote for the film:
“Thom (Sam Jaeger, NBC’S Parenthood) just can’t win. After losing a job offer and getting evicted, he decides to buckle up as an illegal New York City cab driver. When he picks up Claire (Amber Jaeger), they embark on a trip neither one anticipated. This comedy finds solace in the back seat of a cab, the landscape of the USA, and even in a complete stranger. This classic road movie shows how a little cross-country drive can lead you to a different exit.”
Even got to present the film to the audience and conduct the Q&A afterwards. Not bad, clearly this Junior Board thing has its perks…
Aside from a great film, the music score is crazy good from a band called Bootstraps. They take all of your favorite Indie bands and roll them into one. Seriously hoping they tour and soon!
Exciting news! I’ve been selected to contribute write-ups for The 47th Chicago International Film Festival! I’ll be watching films billed for the festival and writing synopses and summaries for the schedule (what the public reads to determine what film they’ll see) and for the program guidebook (a 200-page book with a deeper summary of the films).
While this is quite exciting, it’s extremely daunting to take on while working full-time, seeing as you have to watch the films. And I’m going to have to take a break from the blogging world to devote to the films. Which is proving difficult seeing as I want to shout from the rooftops about the latest film I just wrote up and how much I loved it and the music and the actors and the script. Sigh.
Epic posts towards the end of September with my preview guide. Until then, my silence is golden. I’ll occasionally post about life and what not, but just a heads up for you loyal readers, it’ll be a quiet end to summer and beginning to fall.
Apparently, last week was Female Friendship Week. I’m not sure what that means, but I greatly appreciated spending loads of time with all of the great female friendships I have.
Mags and I continued our date night at the Film Fest on Monday with David Schwimmer’s Trust. It was hands down amazing. Some scenes were a bit hard to watch, but gosh, Clive Owen sure delivers as a distraught father who learns his daughter has been sexually attacked. The Q&A after with David was pretty stellar and Maggie and I talked about the film the whole way home. Then had nightmares. Which turned into dreams when Clive Owen rescued us.
Jessica just became the Windy’s latest resident, so we went to see the SURPRISE! film fest movie. You have no idea what’s going to play and then the film just starts. This year’s was super disappointing. I think everyone was kind of like ummm what? Don’t see The Next Three Days or Three Days Later, I don’t even remember what the stupid thing was called. But thankfully, Jessica and I just dead panned lines to each other all night. And we learned that Elizabeth Banks‘ jail hair in the movie is the exact same as my normal hair.
I recently just befriended some ladies at work, which was extremely exciting. Even joined a book club with Rochelle and all of her friends. So come Wednesday, Rochelle, Alex (my mentor from MW), Molly (from book club), Emily Meis and a few other gals joined us for the Cheeky Chicago bday celebration. It was stellar. Goodie bags galore, a photo booth, cupcakes…it was every man’s heaven: happy-go-lucky gals sipping cocktails and dancing. We met the owners of Cheeky Chicago, who were totally awesome and quite inspiring. It was just a fantastically fun filled evening that I ended with a chocolate milkshake.
In honor of Female Friendship Week, The Frisky came out with 25 Reasons Gal Pals Rule. And I must say, they are so spot on. So I thank all my great gal pals out there who have seen me at the worst and helped bring me to my best. Cheers. Coolage (a la George from My Best Friend’s Wedding).
Hanna (Non)Tana 