2010: A Year in Review

Man, what a year. I can't even describe how great it has been, how fast it has gone, and how much better it was than last year :P

....but I'll try. But first, as you know me, before I start reminiscing about the good times I've had over the course of the year, I have to define the year in movies and music, with my top ten lists (I had to get it out of my system right away!).

Top Ten Movies of the Year (UPDATED):

1. Inception

2. The Social Network

3. Blue Valentine

4. Black Swan

5. Kick Ass

6. Winter's Bone

7. Toy Story 3

8. 127 Hours

9. The Ghost Writer

10. Never Let Me Go

HM: The Fighter, Due Date

(Btw all of these films are now on DVD, except for Black Swan, Blue Valentine, 127 Hours - all in theaters)

When just thinking back over the best films of 2010 and 2009, 2010 clearly seems like a better year for movies, although I had more trouble coming up with a top ten for 2010. I could come up with nine easily, but ultimately had to include A Prophet - which I technically count as a 2009 film since it came out in France in 2009 and was submitted for the 2009 Oscars for Best Foreign Film, but didn't come out in the U.S. until early 2010. This will likely be solved once I see a dozen or so more films - some that I just missed and will have to catch on DVD, but the better of those films that would probably fill up my top ten and allow me to have honorable mentions/take A Prophet off are the ones that are in limited release now (i.e. Somewhere, Blue Valentine) that won't come to Tucson until some time next year. Once I see those, I'll update my list.

Overall I think 2009 had more films that I liked in general, but a lot of them were often unmemorable - very good films, but not great ones. 2010, on the other hand, while lacking in quantity vastly made up in quality. Don't get me wrong, there were some films from last year that are favorites of mine ((500) Days of Summer, Inglourious Basterds, A Serious Man), but this year I really loved almost my entire top ten, which had more masterpieces, while 2009 had simply more enjoyable films in general, but also more flawed.

Now:

Top Ten Albums of the Year (UPDATED):

1. The Suburbs - Arcade Fire

2. This is Happening - LCD Soundsystem

3. Teen Dream - Beach House

4. Treats - Sleigh Bells

5. Shame, Shame - Dr. Dog

6. Sigh No More - Mumford & Sons

7. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy - Kanye West

8. Write about Love - Belle & Sebastian

9. Plastic Beach - Gorillaz

10. Contra - Vampire Weekend

HM: Volume Two - She & Him; Crystal Castles (2010) - Crystal Castles

However, it was an undeniably great year in music, though not as good as 2009, which was one of the best years in music ever, with such a vast collection of music and so many great, new, rising artists coming out with their first CDs.

Book of the Year: Freedom by Jonathan Frazen

Now, the year in my life. It's amazing to think of everything that took place over the last year (and what could take place over 2011!). One year ago, Abdul, Ricardo, Nathan and I weren't good friends. We were friendly and acquaintances, but not the best of friends that we are now (awhhhh). In fact it was at the very beginning of the year that we first started spending time together. The first media project we made during 2nd semester (Intense Breast Cancer - the first of our collaborations) was the true beginning of our friendship. We spent time together working on that and as soon as you knew it, the four of us were hanging out often, and by sophomore year, practically every weekend. I got to know these four gentlemen very well, and I'm glad I did. I couldn't imagine my life without them. It would be a lot less interesting. And fun. And -- Ah, fuck it, I love those guys. There's nothing more to say.

Speaking of media projects though, I can't help but be astonished by all my work that took place over one year (and this past one!). Now this may not mean anything to you, but as I go through every project I've worked on it really illustrates how much time has passed over only 365 days. It doesn't seem like a long time in theory, and I remember it like it was yesterday, but it just seems like so much has changed since a year ago, and yet I don't feel that I've changed that much. Anyways, here's every film I made in 2010:

-(Jon Vogel's Bar Mitzvah - technically I started this in Dec. of 09 but I worked on it during '10 too)

-Intense Breast Cancer

-Crying Lightning

-Laura Video

-Life of Pi English project

(worked on "I'm in AQ" - not a work of my own (Douglas's), didn't edit it, but helped in filming and acting of it)

-Adopt a Pet PSA

-Imaginary Me

-The Intense Cabin

-Intense JTED Courses

-Highlights from Europe 1-3 (just edited; footage from 09)

-The Three Films I Made at Camp (Long Gone, A Super Story, Daydreams)

-The Intense Loft Cinema

-The Intense Cabin 2

-Salcido & Tamimi: Intensely At the Movies

-The Wojcik/Pence Wedding (which I'm still not finished with)

Even though most of those movies are less than 5 minutes, that still seems like a lot (20) for one year.

This summer was also amazing; One of those summers you always remember; The summers people write books about; The summer where you truly grew up. I can't even describe it. One half was Bonnaroo, which was such an amazing, incredible experience that was just so much fun. But also there was this moment after the weekend was over and we had seen all the shows and it was the last night and we were staying in the RV and everyone was just about to fall asleep and I sat there, just thinking. I can't even describe it, but it was like nothing else I had ever felt. I think it was because we were so busy that whole weekend that we never really got any time to reflect on how amazing or how much fun it all was, until that moment. It was just this grand feeling that literally swept over me and I just couldn't believe how happy I was and I wished that I could be this happy all the time.

And then there was camp. Of course there was the fact that the camp itself was great and gave me experiences and opportunities that I'd never had before, and the fact that I was able to live pretty much on my own for a month, letting me know that by the time college comes I will be ready (and I can't deny it certainly had an effect on me - I've been way more independent ever since), but let's face it. The best part of the camp, like the best part of life, was seeing Inception for the first time. But the second best part was the people there, and it's the people in your life that you meet and love that make life worth living and the people I met there were like no other people I've met - they were just like me. They lived, thought, and breathed film, and it was just nice to meet people like that, but the truth is they were also just a lot of fun and I got along with them really well and they were really great people that I'll never forget. I had so much fun at camp. The last night was the peak (after a long steady rise), but then the next morning I was so heartbroken to let it all go. For the next couple weeks, I couldn't stop talking about how great it was and everyone I knew thought I was really annoying. I loved camp more than I loved my life back home and I didn't know how my social life would live up to it. Yet somehow it did, and as I think about it, maybe it was just me all along. Maybe I had just learned to let go and be truly happy. Nahh, maybe somewhat, but I think I also just lucked out on my friends.

Other things I did this year:

-got my permit

-got straight A's both semesters (not that that's special)

-got my first paycheck

-travelled all by myself! (to NY! - got to visit my camp friends)

......um I guess that's it for measurable accomplishments. Wow.

But that's not to say it hasn't been a great year, full of growth, fantastic experiences, amazing friendships, and very memorable memories. In fact, I think this has to be one of my favorite years just in terms of growing up and living and experiencing and enjoying life, and what could be better than that. There is no greater accomplishment.

I mean a year ago I didn't even know who Ramtin or Haitham were. And now look at how close Ramtin and I are now. And I just got off the phone with Haitham at the Houston airport, who told me how much I meant to him as a friend and I told him how glad I am that he was a part of my life.

And Alison, assuming you're reading this (you'd be the only one ;) ), if you remember it was really a year ago when I posted a blog entry like this one, except reminiscing about the decade, instead of the year, that we started to become friends again. We were friends in 8th grade and from Mr. B.'s class and I had even known who you were since my brief time at Manzanita Elementary, but then once we got to high school and we didn't have any classes together, I didn't see you at all. But that was just the first semester. Sometime during the beginning of second semester I remember walking to Global Issues one day with Lucas, and hence you (and probably Douglas too though I don't remember exactly), and you had said to me that you had read my blog entry (about the end of the decade). I was astonished. I didn't write it expecting anyone to read it, especially considering I thought no one checked these blogs anymore anyways (except really just you and I, now). I had wrote it for myself, because I needed it, although one of my "New Year's Resolutions" was to write on my blog more - because I wanted to write more and I needed it. And really knowing one person out there was reading it probably helped me do so, as I might've stopped if I thought no one was reading what I wrote and then what was the point? But you kept me going, and though recently I've stopped a little (mostly because now I just talk to you in other ways and have facebook) I don't feel like I need it as much. I needed to write, but I didn't need this blog. Although through this blog, and thanks to Mr. B. who set these up with us in the first place! (thanks Mr. B. ;) ), I got to know you a lot better and we started to talk and our friendship blossomed. Looking at how close we are now, it doesn't seem like we were that close at all, but at the time I remember really looking forward to your posts and comments and discussing life with you. I found that you were someone else who saw the world as I did.

And that was just the first half of the year. After summer, when school started again, we became much, much closer and got to know each other extremely well, becoming the best of friends. Now, we practically talk to each other every day. Of course, I don't need to tell you this. But isn't it amazing to think that it all happened within one year, this past one. I remember exactly one year ago, on New Year's Eve, right at the end of the decade, my mom, sister, and I went to the Downtown Tucson thing they were doing to keep people safe and saw Ryanhood play and watched a couple of short movies at the Screening Room. We got home early (before midnight) and of course I stayed up till midnight, consciously awaiting the turn of the decade (the first one that I'd be aware of), and feeling very alone. I mean, it was New Year's Eve and not only that but we were entering a new decade and I had spent the night with my mom and my sister, and was now in my room all alone. That's where I was in my life. All alone. And now I can't believe how much that has changed. I feel so blessed at the number of great people I've gotten so close to and gotten to know and meet and love. I'm just happy to be here and lived through it all. Maybe it was fitting that I spent the last night of the '00s, bookending the time from when I was 5 to 14, with my family, and that by the last night of the '10s I'll probably be spending it with friends, bookending the time from when I was 15 to 24. The two different groups of people who were most important to me during those periods. I remember when the clock struck 12 and it felt like it should be such a momentous, grand, epic moment. It was a new decade, a new start. And yet the change didn't feel immediate. It was just another minute. But looking back on it now I can see the change and that night seems too good to be true, as if it belongs in a novel of my life. It means so much to me. I remember right before the year began I listened to Ryanhood's "The World Awaits You," which I'm listening to again now, and all I can say is "Man, I couldn't even imagine how much that's true."

Alison, I've figured you out...

:O

"Woody Guthrie's American Song" Review

Review of ATC’s Production of Woody Guthrie’s American Song

by Marc Hansen

If you’re the kind of person who loves traditional folk/country music, then I’m sure you would LOVE ATC’s production of Woody Guthrie’s American Song, as most of the production consists of pretty much just that. As someone who loves modern folk music, but isn’t particularly a fan of this style, I admire the play for its strengths, but overall it just isn’t the play for me.

Woody Guthrie’s American Song brings to mind last season’s Ain’t Misbehavin’, which coincidentally had the time slot as Woody Guthrie’s American Song this year. Like Ain’t Misbehavin’, Woody Guthrie takes a famous, defining musical artist in a given genre (Woody Guthrie of Depression-era folk, like Fats Waller of 1920s jazz) and performs a wide collection of their songs over the course of the play. The productions consists of mostly just that, though you also get a great atmosphere for the time period they’re trying to project.

The main difference with Woody Guthrie however, is that Ain’t Misbehavin’ was just Fats Waller songs, while Woody Guthrie actually tries to provide a plot within the play. That’s not exactly a bad thing, in theory; I was expecting the production to be a story about Woody Guthrie’s life, but as the play goes on, you become increasingly aware that it’s more about the music, with an underdeveloped story thrown in occasionally between songs. In addition, the story that’s there, maybe because it is so underdeveloped, isn’t captivating in the slightest. It’s dull and just plain confusing. I think you could certainly make at least a semi-interesting story about Woody Guthrie’s life, but this isn’t it. It’s especially brought down by the fact that the five actors in the cast constantly switch characters, which isn’t unusual for secondary characters, but even the main character of Woody Guthrie was juggled between the three male stars, all at various points in the play. This convoluted approach, I’m assuming trying to be unique or creative, just made me bewildered as to who was who and what was happening.

On the positive side, as I said earlier, the play really is more concerned with the music than the plot, and the music is great. Even for someone like me, whose particular taste doesn’t lean towards this style of music (I actually prefer the 1920s jazz of Ain’t Misbehavin’), I can’t deny that the music is great and is the production’s greatest strength. There is a reason Woody Guthrie was a defining artist of this genre, and by the time his magnum opus “This Land Is Your Land” closed the show, everyone in the audience was singing along. The three band members (Mark Baczynski, David P. Jackson, and David Miles Keenan) are all excellent multi-instrumentalists and I loved the opening number “Hard Travelin’” in which every cast member overlaps a monologue about their characters’ backstory.

The set was also fantastic, extravagantly large and vast, just like the Old West, (heightened by our balcony seating) and perfectly setting the tone and mood for the music that accompanies it. You truly have a sense of the time and place of Depression-era America. When it comes down to it, even with its pros and cons, how much you like Woody Guthrie’s American Song will be directly related to how much you like his music. If you despise it, you may not be able to appreciate the set’s beauty or the instrumentalists’ skill. And if you’re head over heels in love with old time country/folk music, you may be able to look past that horrendous attempt at a story. As for me, I found myself somewhere in the middle.

Overall Grade: B-