"Toy Story 3"

I'm often skeptical when sequels come out. I believe in the saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." When those brilliant Hollywood studio execs decide to remake a TV classic into a movie, I cringe. When they commission an SNL movie, I shudder. When they demand sequel after sequel, I gag. I was nervous about the third installment of TS, but I was pleasantly surprised.

I missed some of the toys, including Bo Peep, but I enjoyed Jesse and Bullseye. Once again, a supposedly cute toy is a vaillian. However, there were more laugh-out-loud moments in this movie than I expected, including the moment when Mr. Potato Head becomes Mr. Latke. I enjoy Estelle Harris a great deal and loved it whenever Mrs. Potato Head had a line.

TS3 was very sad, but I think it's a nice conclusion for an epic saga. I really hope that this is the end because to do future installments would do a huge disservice to the movie's premise (not to mention the fans). Good job, Pixar! Maybe you'll pick up on Oscar for this movie.

"Grey's Anatomy"

My neighbor came over last night, and we watched a few season 2 episodes of "Grey's Anatomy": episodes 16 and 17, "It's the End of the World" and "As We Know It." Though GA is still on, I never had an interest in watching the series (though I've read the articles surrounding the cast departures of Isaih Washington, Katherine Heigl, and T.R. Knight).

I have to admit that these episodes were very good because the A, B, and C plots were neatly tied together, and while there was tenuous drama, it was not overdone. The actors stayed true to their characters (from what I could tell), and the writing was pretty good. The patients were realistic as were the doctors (though I'm aware of the controversy surrounding the show because of how it tends to stray away from some proper medical procedures).

Will I continue to watch the show? I don't know. I might watch a few episodes online, but I don't think I'll be watching religiously in the fall. That's not happening until "Desperate Housewives" returns.

"Videocracy"

Italian television has been revolutionized for over 30 years, but perhaps not for the better. Silvio Berlusconi, television magnate and president, created a vast empire full of obsessive wannabes who devote their lives to becoming silent pin-up models for Italian television hosts. Based on what this documentary portrayed, the majority if Italian TV is female-centered. Most of the time, these women are half or fully naked and parading around lavish sets for the pleasures of millions of viewers. Auditions are a public experience with people cheering aspiring models.

"Videocracy" follows several subjects: a young man who is a TV wannabe (his mom is absolutely hilarious); Silvio Berlusconi; Fabrizzio Carona, the chief of paparazzi famous for taking pictures of celebrities in compromising positions and selling them to celebrities (i.e. extortion, which he is arrested for) and who enjoys attention, money, and fame; Lele Mora, the pupeteer of Italian television and close friend of Berlusconi who prides himself in discovering Italy's freshest talent; and Marella Giavonnelli, Berlusconi's neighbor who is the main photographer at all his events.

This documentary generated a lot of emotions. It was so candid yet not one-sided. "Videocracy" is an appalling but honest look into the world of Italian TV. Berlusconi and all the other subjects are so shallow and vain that it's painful. I have contempt for the majority of people profiled in this film. At times, I felt like I was watching a Hollywood movie because this reality in Italy is so unreal. I've never felt more angry after watching a documentary--and this is a good film. Everything I learned in my documentary class last fall is now coming to light; I'm experiencing what I'm supposed to and reacting in ways I never thought imaginable.

When "Videocracy" gets a more widespread release, I recommend checking it out. If you want to see a documentary that will provoke your innermost feelings and cause much debate, "Videocracy" is therefore the film for you.

"Crimes and Misdemeanors"

I've always been a fan of Woody Allen films because I appreciate his sense of humor and the Jewishness played out by every character in every scene. While "Crimes and Misdemeanors" is not a comedy per se, there are a lot of funny moments. Overall, this is a more serious film dealing with the implications of morality. Tonight, I had the opportunity to screen this film as part of Temple Israel's Summer in the City learning series.

I remember seeing C&M once before and enjoyed it as much then as I did tonight. The interesting aspect about tonight's screening was focusing on the movie's metaphor: eyesight.

*SPOILER ALERT*

Judah, an optometrist tries to help a Rabbi regain his vision while the Rabbi tries to help Judah deal with having a two year affair with a neurotic mistress and Judah's decision to have his brother hire someone to kill her. Both men fail to adequately help one another "regain" their "vision." This metaphor plays out in other aspects of the film: Woody Allen's character is blind to the fact that the affair he wants to have can never happen despite his feelings for his crush. His documentary film subject, an esteemed psychology professor, is blind to the positive opportunities that life has and consequently kills himself.

Until tonight, I never thought about watching the movie this way, but it was an amazing opportunity to see the film (and questions of Jewish morality) in a whole new light. The discussion following the film was dynamic in the differing opinions on ethics, each individual's moral code, Woody Allen's stance on the issue as the writer and director, and addressing other related ambiguous questions.

If you haven't already seen "Crimes and Misdemeanors," I highly recommend you check it out.

"I Am Love"

One of the perks of being a college student living in Boston during the summer is keeping up to date with all the events happening in the city. Thanks to e-mails from going.boston.com and JewishBoston.com, I've been on the go for the past week traveling to screenings, exhibitions, and social events. Tonight, I attended another screening at the MFA with a friend: "I Am Love," an Italian romance film that will be released in a few weeks.

"I Am Love" stars Tilda Swinton as Emma, a married woman in Milan who struggles over her identity as a mother and housewife when she meets her son's friend Antonio. I don't want to give the plot away, but I do want to comment on the elements that made this film so spectacular. The director (Luca Guadgagnino) favors high angle shots. At first, I couldn't understand why he insisted on using them, but once the ending is revealed, his shots make sense because they deeply penetrate into Emma's psyche, and her actions and motivations become increasingly clearer.

The acting itself was top notch, and Tilda Swinton is extremely convincing as a Russian-Italian housewife. She has a strong command of both languages and is really enveloped in her character. Moreover, she seemed very calm and in touch with her character during her nude/love scenes. Comfortable with her body, Tilda has no shame baring all, and her love scenes were tastefully done.

Though the movie is in Italian, the translated writing is strong and poignant. The characters are cleverly written and develop nicely over the course of the film's duration. Special effects, clever editing, and fantastic lighting also contribute to the magnificence of this movie. I strongly suggest people see it when it's commercially released.

Commuting

As much as I love my internship at WGBH, my commute isn't so wonderful. I used to go from my apartment to Park Street, switch to the red line to Harvard, then wait for the 86 bus to drop me off near the station. On a good day, it would take me up to 1 hour and 15 minutes to get to work. Luckily, I learned that there is a free shuttle that takes employees directly from the Coop in Harvard and near BU in Kenmore.

I decided to travel to Kenmore because it's a bit closer to my apartment. Granted, I could walk 30-40 minutes to get to the location of the shuttle, but I'm in no condition to do that much walking in the morning (especially in the afternoon ). Even by taking the T one stop to Kenmore, it's still a 10-minute walk to Hynes, a 3-minute train ride, and a 5-minute walk to the shuttle (followed by a 10-15 minute ride to WGBH).

I'm glad I found an easier way to commute, but I'd rather find a way to apparate to work everyday.

Great Internships

Tonight's post is going to be short, but I wanted to take a moment to write about my internship at "Antiques Roadshow." I've only worked there a few days, but I love it so much. The people I work with (and for) are extremely nice, down to earth, and appreciative of every task I do for them. What's also great is that they don't want to reduce the interns to doing grunt work--and that includes making coffee (though it is a plus).

I don't mind stuffing envelopes, sitting in front of the copy machine for eons, or fetching mail twice a day. My internship is exciting because it's production season. On Thursday, everyone leaves for the first production in San Diego (the executive producer and some staff members will fly out Wednesday). I'm so excited for them and really wish I could accompany them. Alas, someone has to stay in the office to hold down the fort. Although there is another intern who comes in on Thursdays and Fridays (when the crew normally flies out), I also have a pay job that I enjoy just as much.

I hope the good times keep coming at AR.

Harlan: In the Shadow of Jew Suss

The Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) is currently screening some of the best selections from November's Boston Jewish Film Festival. This afternoon, I had the opportunity to watch a documentary on the director of "The Jew Suss," a highly controversial and anti-Semitic film made during the Third Reich.

Veit Harlan was commissioned by the Nazis to make a movie depicting Jews in the most negative light. Harlan's wife, Kristina Soderbaum, co-starred in the film as a woman who drowned herself after the Jewish banker (Oppenheimer) raped her. Clips from "The Jew Suss" were included in the documentary, and consequently, it was very hard to sit through those scenes.

"Harlan" contains interviews with the director's immediate family: sons and daughters from different marriages as well as nieces, nephews, and grandchildren (including Stanley Kubrick's wife). Most of the interviewees expressed their varying degrees of shame over what Harlan did, and the documentary chronicles their struggles and how they came to feel the way they do. There is tension throughout the film because siblings respond to each other's interviews. I found Jessica Jacoby to be my favorite "character" because of how she renounced her grandfather and proclaimed that he should've been found guilty for war crimes (Harlan was tried and acquitted twice over abetting Nazism during the war).

I enjoyed the film overall and highly recommend that everyone see it. There is discord among the family members, including son Thomas who publicly denounced his father. It's a film about shame, guilt, history, and different definitions of family. It's a part of our history as well.

Keeping Up Appearances

"The Bouquet residence, lady of the house speaking!"

I love "Keeping Up Appearances," as well as many other Britcoms. I owe my appreciation of these classic shows to my grandmother, who first introduced them to me a few years ago. In addition to KUA, I also enjoy "As Time Goes By," "Fawlty Towers," "Waiting for God," and the Inspector Morse/Lynde/Miss Marple mysteries. One day, I want to start watching "Upstairs, Downstairs."

KUA, though 20 years old, doesn't age. I just hosted a marathon with a friend last night, and we were laughing at every episode. Hyacinth's determination to have her name (Bucket) be pronounced Bouquet and to mingle and become a part of aristocratic society is sheer gold because Patricia Routledge plays her with comic genius. All of the characters are great, including man-hungry Rose, clumsy Elizabeth, and Hyacinth-fearing Emmet.

I hope Patricia Routledge is around for a long time; I would love to do a scene with her. While I own all the KUA episodes, I'm grateful that PBS continues to air the series weekly.

Rue McClanahan Died Today

I recently read the sad news: Rue McClanahan, better known as Blanche Devereaux on "The Golden Girls," died this morning from a massive stroke. It's really sad because Estelle, Bea, and Rue all died within a year of each other. Thankfully, Betty White is still going strong and will continue to remain in good health. I hope we can get her to host the Oscars next year!

Rue acted in a lot of programs, including "All in the Family" and "Mama's Family." A few days ago, I caught an episode in which she played Grandma Irene on "Charles in Charge." Rue displayed a charm when she acted, and she clearly had a presence on screen and on stage (you should check out a clip of her performing "Nunsense" in 1996; it's on YouTube).

RIP, Rue! I'll be holding a "Golden Girls" marathon this weekend to celebrate your wonderful life!

Laughter

I like laughing. I bet you do, too. After coming home from a long day at work, it's nice to kick back and find entertainment. In my case, I have Hulu, YouTube, and a stack of Golden Girls DVDs as my source of entertainment. I love laughing at loud because it makes me become more of an active participant with the show. It's also a great stress reliever (not that I have any, but it's a good distraction from cleaning the apartment or making my lunch).

Here's to many more years of the funny stuff!

Education

I value the importance of education. Curiosity is an essential part of being human, and I believe it is important for us to embrace curiosity and our desire to learn more. What fascinates me is that education does not stop after you graduate high school or college. There are times when I find myself looking up miscellaneous facts about calculus, chemistry, or a book that I wish we read in my British literature class but didn't. I read through AP and SAT exam prep books just to learn more about these subjects (and at times often wonder what it would have been like to take more advanced classes).

For the longest time, I wanted to be a teacher. History enthralled me the most because there are many ways to connect the past, present, and future by examining economics, primary sources, historical documentaries, and learning how to understand how previous events shape current policies. I always preferred European history because of the continent's unique cultural developments. I enjoyed public speaking and jumped at any opportunity I had to deliver a presentation. Challenging my peers to think critically was invigorating because it was as much of a challenge for me as it was for them. I wonder if teachers experience this on a daily basis.

I am also aware of the fact that children in particular are very impressionable. Anyone can call him or herself a teacher and impart "knowledge" to someone else. What exactly are we teaching each other, especially the younger generations? Now that I'm legally an adult, I often think ahead to when I have children. In addition to a standard curriculum of math, science, English, and physical fitness, I want my kids to know that it is okay to be different, to embrace individuality, to treat everyone else with equality and respect, and to embrace differences of opinion. I want my children to be aware that there are multiple sides to every issue, and I would encourage them to examine each argument and come to their own decisions.

Going into television, I realize that I have the power to educate and entertain, to shape and to alter. Storytelling gives me a platform to impart my views and opposing opinions, to showcase the real emotions of real people in real settings, to fixate on the interplay between personalities and philosophies, and to ignite debate over controversies. Reactions will vary, but it is my goal to force audiences to think about their lives and to reflect on reality and even the "What if?" scenarios. If teachers have the power to influence students in classrooms, then I also have the same power as a teacher in a visual medium to influence my audience, my classroom.

This is part of an ongoing and exciting adventure.

New Beginnings

After a six week hiatus, I'm back, fully recharged, and ready to begin what is bound to be a fantastic summer!

I have an internship at "Antiques Roadshow" that I'm very excited about. Due to a new load in schedule, I won't start until Wednesday. But I'm still excited nonetheless! My basic responsibilities will be logging and dubbing footage as it comes in from the road (the show goes into production over the summer), archiving older tapes, and ensuring that all talent release forms are signed. I read the biography of the executive producer, Marsha Bemko. She's a highly respected individual, and I hope I have the chance to meet her!

As many of you know, I intend to outline and begin my sitcom pilot this summer. What's it about? Well, the premise is still formulating, but it will be easier once I put it down on paper and make sense of everything. What I do know is that it will involve three 20-somethings living in Queens (a fictional town within the borough): one guy and two girls. The guy's neurotic mother lives in the same building a few floors down. The relationship between the mother and son is a unique love/hate one, as the two tend to play off of each other. The building's landlords (an older couple, most likely in their 70s) frequently interact with the other characters. The comedy will come from the characters and how they get themselves into messes each week. Moreover, the show will focus on the psychological framework of each character, his/her ethical views, the conflicts derived from a clashing of personalities, and will attempt to showcase how even the most dramatic moments in life can be touched by humor. Physical comedy will also play a large part over the course of the series.

This is as much as I know. I hope to start outlining tomorrow and even come up with names and backstories for these people! After all, that's the first step to creating a show...

Picture Locked but Far from Done

We finally did it! After several weeks of delays, additional cuts, viewings, notes, and more cuts, my team finally accomplished picture lock. This means that all cuts and edits to the video (sans credits) are completely finished. While my team can take a few short breaths, my job is far from over; I'm only 1/3 of the way done.

Getting to picture lock was the main hurdle of post production. Now, I need to make sure the audio editor accomplishes the sound edit, the head mixer gets a DVD of the show, the show gets to Mix One (the audio post production house), we get the final master on time, DVD graphics are delivered on time, menus are delivered to the DVD production facility, and that the correct amount of DVDs are manufactured--on time.

It's a lot of work being a post production supervisor. My main jobs are scheduling, following up with deadlines, meeting those deadlines, and ensuring that everything is essentially "honkey dorey" among my team members, both video and audio. We hit some snags along the way, and yes, things definitely could've gone better. But for what it's worth, I think we did a great job of learning from our mistakes, moving ahead, and getting the project done well and on time.

This is certainly an experience I will never forget, and I mean that on a very positive level.

My Other Ambition

I still want to be a television executive producer; that would be the most exciting and adventurous career I could ask for. However, I've also harbored a second desire, one that most people don't know about: I want to own my own cable network.

Syndication is something that has always fascinated me--at least the rerun aspect. 95% of the shows I watch are reruns of classic television shows (such as I Love Lucy, The Golden Girls, Roseanne, and Mama's Family, just to name a few). Something has always bothered me about showing reruns on American TV, and that's the annoying chopping of three minutes per episode to make room for additional commercials. The reason this is an issue is because some shows (such as ALF, Mama's Family, and the first seasons of The Cosby Show, Roseanne, and Third Rock from the Son) were released to DVD in their syndicated formats--these masters haven't seen the light of day since these shows' original broadcasts.

If I had my own network, I would show sitcom reruns 24/7 of all the classic shows from the 1950s to the present. Now, "classic" is very subjective, but I'd say that the shows mentioned in the 100 Greatest Sitcoms of All Time would end up on my network. My goal is to scrounge, save, and hire a competent entertainment lawyer to procure the rights to air the original masters. I would even go so far as to purchase some original commercials (a la TV Land's "Retromercials," back when the network was watchable) to throw them into the mix. Further, I would purchase some older TV specials and short-lived sitcoms to air as weekend marathons.

My philosophy is this: If Oprah can do it, so can I.

Garyisms

This is one of my favorite posts. A few years ago, my parents coined the term "Garyism," which refers to when I say something innocently that ends up being funny because I never realized how silly it was at the time. I hope these Garyisms provide you with as much laughter as it does for my friends and family. Enjoy!

“Turn around, and show me the pictures.” Turns all the way around (360°)

“That woman looks just like Mama Cass except for her face.”

Dad: “How tall is she?”

Gary: “She’s my height, give or take a few inches.”

“I don’t have to explain myself to me!”

“There must be a vacancy in my mind.”

“Oh, that’s bridge under the water.”

Mom: “What’s that thing on your mouth?”

Gary: “What mouth?”

"MIMIMIMIMI!"

"My dinner is like a ferry boat going through my stomach."

"So how are you Kelly?" (in a menacing voice)

"Purse, purse, reimburse."

"I'm a flaky barnakle!"

BEST CONVOS EVER!

Gary: I'm a little feather duster.

Justin: Short and stout?

Gary (to Justin): How'd you hurt your ankle?

Kelly: He was playing HAND ball.

(after a failed "thats what she said" from Gary)

Kelly: NO! She didn't! She's mute!

Gary: She's saying it in sign language!

Kelly: You're deaf and blind! You can't hear or see anything she does!

Pre-Madonna vs. prima donna

"They should create feet warmers. Oh wait, those are slippers!"

Time Machine

I wish I could go back in time and undo some of the things I've done in the past. Sometimes, it involves retaking a test and other times, I would use the time machine to go back and react differently or just prevent myself from doing something. Unfortunately, there are no take backs in life. If you mess up, you need to own up to it and prevent that mistake from happening again. Life is one big learning experience; however, not all of these moments are pleasant. At times, people aren't so forgiving if you botch something up, and that's a shame. Yet, you need to focus on the present and future and not on the past. Stay positive and remain solution-oriented. People will appreciate that, and you will, too.

The Weather Outside is Weather

Whatever the weather is, it sucks. I hate the rain because it gives me headaches. Even if there's a slight shift on the weather front, I feel it. I wish Mother Nature would make up her mind and stick to one thing for awhile. I'm a child of spring, and thus, that is my favorite. It should be sunny and in the 70s all the time. Anything that would give me an excuse to relax in the Common or the Fens would work for me!

Roseanne

Last night, I had another weird dream--and I should clarify that I tend to have a lot of bizarre dreams. This one placed me in the heart of the Conner household. The Roseanne Conner that began to talk to me looked like the Mrs. Conner from the Roseanne pilot: blue sweatshirt and frizzy brown hair. Surprisingly, she wasn't sarcastic and didn't make jokes at anyone's expense. Dan Conner was unusually quiet, though Darlene and DJ were definitely in character. Where Becky Conner was, I had no idea. I remember interacting with DJ quite a bit, and he was a real brat. Darlene was, well, Darlene. The part that got really strange was when Roseanne took me upstairs and told me to stay in Darlene's room. Somehow, that bedroom was huge--I could've sworn it was the master bedroom. There were wooden floors, wooden dressers, and Darlene evidently had a Queen bed. All I remember was standing speechless and momentarily wishing I was related to Roseanne Conner.

Well, that was just a dream. As bizarre as it was, the dream does reflect my interest in Roseanne. When TV Land reran the show incessantly last summer, I thought to myself, "Oh God, it's that crazy fat woman." But I began to watch the show, and I started to enjoy the zany one-liners and controversial plots. Seasons 1-5 are definitely the show's best with the peak occurring during the third and fourth seasons. The plots and rhetoric were convincing because they reflect real people and real lives. I could barely put the remote down after each episode and was really intrigued by the nuances of each character. Once I started watching season 6, however, I began to lose interest; Roseanne Conner became a selfish diva, and the characters started to morph in different directions. Jackie in particular became more bizarre (though I later found out Roseanne wanted the character to be a reflection of Barnie Fife). Don't even get me started on season 9: the premise was interesting (the Conners win the lottery), but the writing was awful. The show stopped being funny because Roseanne turned into a man-hating feminist, Becky turned into a Barbie doll, Mark became dumber than President Bush, and even Dan started to become unlikeable.

Overall, the show is really good, and despite my not liking the later seasons as much, there are some token gems from all seasons (especially "Girl Talk" from season 7 and "Heart and Soul" and "Fights and Stuff" from season 8). If you have the opportunity, definitely watch Roseanne; if anything, you'll at least be presented with a realistic and truthful point of view.

A Night to Remember

Last night, I had the amazing opportunity to attend the dedication of the Kevin Bright Screening Room at the newly renovated Paramount Theatre in downtown Boston (which Emerson College proudly owns). Being at that ceremony made me feel even more honored to be taking this sitcom class. I've always admired and respected Kevin, but after seeing the documentary on Jackie Bright and talking to Kevin after the screening, I knew more than ever that I belonged in that class and that it was my destiny to make sitcoms. The event made me realize how important comedy is and how the genre can do so much good in enabling people to laugh at life's fodders. We need to laugh more often and at the right things.