Dreaming of Montreal

My trip to Montreal was almost a month ago now, but it feels like yesterday. I find myself daydreaming of Montreal and Quebec. The food was scrumptious and the architecture was breathtaking. I find myself craving croissant and raspberry tarts.

The underground mall was really cool; it's a great feature during the winter months. Buffalo should really take note of that. While walking around Montreal in the summer heat it was hard to imagine the city covered in snow drifts come December.

After I got home I was doing a little research and I had no idea how many movies were filmed around Montreal. Catch Me If You Can, Abandon, I'm Not There, The Fountain, Wicker Park, The Aviator, The Day After Tomorrow, The Notebook, The Terminal, The Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and Noel were all filmed in Montreal. Movies are often filmed in Canada because it's cheaper and the scenery is gorgeous. Old Montreal is especially popular because it resembles a European city.

How is the economy changing fashion?

“In difficult times fashion is always outrageous.” Elsa Schiaparelli

Outrageous fashion is definitely developing. I'm seeing unconventional materials and really far out designs. I was just reading an article on Ecouterre about Emma Kaywin, a designer who makes dresses out of expired condoms. The dresses look really interesting. I'm loving the texture created by the layered condoms. Emma said some people find them interesting while others are disgusted by them.

Due to the challenging times we're encountering fashion is definitely changing along with everything else. Customers are more thrifty, but it's also making customers smarter with their purchases. Each purchase is a vote for what you support. For example, if you choose to go see a movie in the theater - that's a vote. More movies like that film could be made because of that experience.

My advice is to designers is be bold, go for it! My advice to customers - choose wisely. Did you know that shopping locally can help boost your local economy? Say no to chain stores and restaurants.

A Struggle that Inspires

Whenever I watch a movie I love to do some research after (or sometimes during). I enjoy reading the writer/director's biography, film locations, and info about the cast.

Recently, I watched the movie The Last Seduction. The main character is a femme fatale who steals from her husband, runs from NYC, finds a guy outside Buffalo, NY who she attempts to seduce into killing her husband. The movie was very dated in a good way(80s/90s) - old answering machines, women wore short skirts with long jackets, women curled their hair on the bottom. I first heard about this movie because it was mentioned on the pilot episode of Sex and the City. Samantha adores the femme fetal Last Seduction character for having sex like a man. What I found even more interesting than the movie itself was Steve Barancik's honest biography. It's so rare to hear honesty these days.

http://www.best-childrens-books.com/steve-barancik.html

In the above link he writes about his failures and success - dead end jobs, working as an adjunct professor, trying to make writing a career, writing a screenplay, writing children's books and pizza delivering. There's nothing I enjoy more than a story about a person struggling, overcoming circumstances and making something of himself. It's a story all artists, writers, musicians, etc can relate to. Thank you Steve!

Patricia Field

I've been following Patricia Field's designs since she was the costume designer for the series Sex and the City. Patricia went on to work on such films as Confessions of a Shopaholic, Sex and the City (the movie), and The Devil Wears Prada. Her costume decisions for her characters are usually a unique combination of fabrics, colors, and textures. Her designs break the rules of matching accessories and clothing.

I'VE BEEN BITTEN

Guess what? I finally saw the movie Twilight and I'm hooked. I know, I know...it took me long enough and yes I plan to read the book too. The film appeals to both men and women because of the balance of romance and action scenes. Twilight is action packed!

Vampire movies never really struck a chord with me until this one. I first heard of the novel Twilight on Sunday Morning about a year or so ago. Stephenie Meyer's story of how she wrote the novel is what interested me the most. Stephenie, a wife and a mother of three, woke up from a reoccurring dream of a teenage vampire falling in love with a human. She sat down and wrote the novel in one summer. The words just poured out of her.

Twilight had a Donnie Darko feel about it, since they both share the thriller, scifi, romance categories. The cinematography, music, and scenery were great. Washington state was an appropriate setting with its cold, wet, misty climate and lush vegetation. It added to the creepiness. The dialogue was simple, but it's mostly high school kids talking. At least it was more realistic than Dawson's Creek dialogue. I loved the actors. The chemistry between Bella and Edwards was amazing. The meadow scene was my favorite. The vampires jumping around and climbing trees was strange, but I guess they had to do something to make them different from humans.

I really wasn't really sure what to expect, but I now understand all the talk about Twilight. I'm one of those people now! I plan to read all the books. I saw the trailer for New Moon and it gave me actual chills. I can't remember the last trailer that caused that sort of reaction. Countdown to Nov. 20, 2009...

AT THE CINEMA...

I'm very behind with my movies these days, so I thought I'd see what's hitting the theater soon. It looks like there's a lot of interesting films coming out. Coco Before Chanel looks good. I love her style in the film! I'm sure the Annie Hall look will be everywhere this fall!

http://www.apple.com/trailers/sony/cocobeforechanel/ I always enjoy biographical success stories. People who become famous usually say the struggle was the best part of their journey. I always find that interesting.

Julia & Julia also looks great! Meryl Streep is by far one of my favorite actresses. Where The Wild Things Are should also be good. I'm curious to see the costumes, the scenery, and how the book translates to film.