Boy Cheerleaders

In a UK dancing-themed day, after seeing Jig, I watched Boy Cheerleaders.
The documentary follows an all-boy cheerleading team as they prepare for their National Championship competition. Again, not a novel concept for a film, however unlike Jig, I felt as though this one fell short. Again, we got to know a couple of the boys on the team, their stories, their sacrifices, their families, their hopes and dreams, but with this one, I will say that I thought that it was an on-the-surface film.
With both films, it was clear that the intention was to create a film about people. Sure, we get to know about each sport, but it's the people and their stories that the filmmakers are really interested in (Sue Bourne said it herself in the Q&A for Jig). So, for Boy Cheerleaders, one particular part of the boys' stories that could have been further examined was the fact that each of the boys that were followed (not everyone on the team was followed) had no father figure in their lives. Each of them were raised by a single mother and each of those mothers comment on their own struggles growing up. Although it was eluded to, I would have thought it would be interesting to delve a little bit more into how this team helps the boys find their footing, and if/how the male coach of the team provided a positive male influence to them.
That being said, it wasn't a horrible film. It was cute. It did everything that a film should do, but of course I'm so demanding and critical that I wanted more (especially after just having seen Jig).
I wished the director, James Newton, was in attendance for a Q&A, but that didn't happen. This film would also be a great one to have a follow-up about. There was a mini pay-off at the end of the film, but a real follow-up would have been better. And since I felt as though so many of the characters in the film had so many challenges in their lives (sorry, it's the educator in me coming out), I really yearned for that follow-up. I suppose the director did a good enough job that I felt connected to the characters, or maybe you can say that he didn't do a good enough job that I was left unresolved. You could argue either way.
So, a nice film. Something that I would watch if it was playing on TV (it did in the UK), but probably not buy a ticket to watch on the big screen for wide-release. I did enjoy the section about "facials". Oh, the world of cheerleading...

- picture courtesy of www.hotdocs.ca

Jig

After an unsuccessful Rush attempt to see El Bulli - Cooking in Progress (note: After failing at two Rush attempts for food docs - last year, I didn't get into Kings of Pastry - I need to remember that Torontonians are more fanatical about food than I thought), I was back on track with Jig.
Jig (official website here) is a film about the world of Irish dancing and follows various competitors as they prepare for the World Irish Dancing Championships. It's not a novel idea for a documentary (following competitors and learning about their sport/families/etc.), but apparently Irish Dancing is notorious for not allowing cameras and stuff like that into their world.
I LOVED this doc. I know nothing about Irish dancing (well, I know a couple steps and some of the superficial stuff about the outfits and such), so I didn't have that extra investment in the movie. Of course, I can relate as someone who has a passion and someone who's prepared for important competitions, but I would think that most people who have something sort of similar (even if not on the same scale). I thought the director, Sue Bourne, did a great job at picking a variety of dancers and really getting to understand their personalities, their stories, the whole bit. A common sentiment that I have about documentaries is that they're too on-the-surface, but although I can't figure out what this film did more than the others, I really thought that this one gave me as much of the story as I wanted. I wasn't left wanting more. I thought the timing, the weaving, the depth, the pay-off, it was all really really great.
I also loved the music. I don't know if most people notice music during movies, but I do, and I seem to comment on it quite often. I remember thinking that, of course the Irish music was very suitable and enjoyable in general, but that it was well timed and the type of music selected for each section was perfect. And as the credits rolled, one name stuck out. Patrick Doyle. A-ha. Kudos.
In the Q&A, Sue Bourne mentioned how fortunate she was to snag Patrick. She couldn't afford him, but had asked him to recommend someone. He watched the film, loved it, and then signed himself on instead. She was also able to give updates on all of the characters of the film (the doc leads up to the 2010 Worlds and the 2011 had just taken place a month ago) and they were good stories. I won't tell you, because you have to watch the film first.
Anyway, needless to say, I would highly recommend this film.

- picture courtesy of www.jig-the-film.com

More Zermatt!

Another whole episode of the Amazing Race in Zermatt.
And a big doggie to meet them at the pit stop...Schön!

POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold

Hot Docs is underway!
Once again, I've decided to go budget and take advantage of the free daytime screenings for students. There are plenty of films that I want to see, and more than enough to fill the free time that I have outside of my regular day-to-day commitments during the festival. There is one film, however, that I'm particularly interested in seeing that I can't attend during the day. So depending on how I feel, I might end up buying a ticket for the evening screening of the film.
As a Student or Senior, any screenings before 6pm are free. The catch is that you can only get tickets the day of. So, if the film has already gone Rush, you need to wait in that Rush line. I'm not opposed to it, but it just means being prepared for it.

Today, I Rushed POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold (official website here).
In this documentary, director Morgan Spurlock (of Super Size Me fame - I still haven't watched this film) makes a film about product placement and corporate partnerships with product placement and corporate partnerships.
It was a nice, lighthearted movie to get the festival started. Unfortunately, Morgan wasn't in attendance for the screening (he was at the screening last night - this was the festival's opening film) as he needed to be back in New York to continue to promote his film.
This film actually appeared on my radar after seeing his appearance on the Conan Show. On the show, he talked about the premise of the show while wearing a custom-made sponsorship suit, accompanied by a small pony. The punchline of the pony involvement was probably my highlight of the film itself.
As for a review of the film, well, I thought it was okay. I enjoyed it, I laughed out loud, but it was a relatively on-the-surface documentary. I wasn't surprised by anything that I saw, but I'm not sure that it was meant to be anything more than that. There was a nice mixture of advertising spots and documentary, and of course the whole product placement aspect of the film. I admit that I got a little bit of product placement fatigue by the end of the film. The punchlines were so obvious that it wasn't annoying per se, but by the end, I kind of wished that he had somehow taken it to the next level. I mean, for the first while the audience would chuckle anytime there was product placement on the screen, but by the end, there wasn't much of an audible response, and I would think that as a filmmaker, you want to have your film build towards the end, and although there was a small payoff there (yes, a very predictable one), the meat of it kind of fizzled in my opinion.
Again, that's not to say that it was a bad film. I laughed, and that's probably the most important thing. I do think that he did a good job of poking fun at the whole idea. I also kind of wish that he somehow made more of the final credits (although there are a couple great moments there too). I do like how he weaved in his process of putting together the film as well as the obligatory doc-type interviews with notable/credible people in the field. Maybe not the "Greatest Movie" I've ever seen, but it still works. The concept is pretty hilarious and witty in itself, so it can't help but be good.
Oh, and on the way out, we got a small bottle of POM Wonderful.
Nice.

- picture courtesy of www.sonyclassics.com/pomwonderfulpresentsthegreatestmovieeversold

Summer, soon?

Ontario Place is celebrating it's 40th Anniversary this year, and to celebrate, admission for the season is free!
It might be nice to be on the grounds for the events with fireworks - but that would mean beating the crowds. Could be worth it - we'd just need to plan it out. Or get lazy and watch it from the comfort of my balcony again.
I'll try to take a walk down to Ontario Place this summer. Might as well. Most of the stuff there, you have to pay for anyway, but it'll still be nice to walk around, I'm sure.

Always nostalgic

I get nostalgic very easily. I have a lot of very fond memories of everything that's happened in my life - my life is amazing, what can I say?
Yesterday, I was back in Scarborough visiting some schools and happened to be near Cedarbrae library. It's gotten a make-over. At first, I thought it was just an extra addition to the building, and even though it sort of is just a face-lift, it's still very very different. I went inside to re-live some of my childhood memories of the place, and while I was still able to see some familiar corners, I was completely stunned by the new space. This library was like no public library that I have been to in my lifetime. We're clearly in a different generation and I'm so happy that this new generation has access to these wonderful facilities, but I do still miss that old space.
Changes.
Sigh.

Take five...

And watch this.
Here's the same program just a couple months earlier if you need some English commentary.
I had the privilege of watching clips of the program as it was being created. We watched Patrick run through the SlSt (the last part of the program where he doesn't do any jumps and spins, and just does edges and turns) over and over again. He would wipe out and bail because the steps and changes of lean are so difficult. But he'd get right back up and do it again. And again. And again.
It's not just the 'big tricks' that are hard to do.
Lori Nichol is a genius.
And Patrick's amazing too. I still remember him as a wee-tyke being jokingly scolded by Kurt Browning at needing to always thank Mr. Colson for his wonderful coaching. And then judging him as a Pre-Novice skater at a Sectional event a couple years later. I was still a rookie judge and was nervous about being on the stand, but I did know his name. A wonderful judging colleague psyched me up for the event and told me I was in for a treat as without naming names (no pre-judging!) he said there would be a skater that would amaze me and just be a delight to judge.
Sometimes, being on that stand is painful, but when a skater has that magical skate (no matter the level), you feel so lucky to be a part of it.

Nostalgisch

The folks from The Amazing Race were in Zermatt. While some of them were chowing down on fondue (not my fav), some were running around delivering luggage to hotels that I stayed at or had a drink in their lovely lounges.
I've realized that I like the vibe of those kinds of places over bars. Maybe I should just stick to those here in the city.
And now, back to the show.

P.S. Zermatt is amazing. I miss the little taxis. I miss the mountains. I miss the chalets. I miss the shops. I miss the skating rink. I even miss the Coop.

I'm already dreaming of all of the things that I'm going to do when I'm back in Europe this summer.

Dance off with the Star Wars stars

Ha ha ha ha ha.
There's a Part 2.

No. Way.

Grey's does not equal Glee.
To take a cue from the young-ins on facebook, dislike.

Blam-o!

Comps - PASS!

Now if I could just get my act together and finish up that proposal. Yeah, I'd originally thought that I could submit by December 1st. 2010. Oops. Meh, I'm still on track with my long-term plans, so it's all good.

Also, I'm so glad my comps were nothing like the comps that I know other people had to endure.

Music trends

I don't follow current music trends. I don't own an i-pod. I don't watch MuchMusic, MusiquePlus, nor MTV. My radio is tuned in to Classical 96.3FM.
But I do go to dance class. And in these classes, I have the chance to hear some current stuff. We've recently been on an Oh Land run.

Gaga on Google

I know nothing about Lady Gaga. Well, I know she wears zany outfits, puts on shows and sings songs that get stuck in my head...but that's it.
I pass no judgment about her. Seriously.
I watched her appearance at Google and I'm quite impressed.
Slightly awkward interviewer, but great interviewee.

Yum

Droooooooool

All good things must come to an end

By the end of the week, I will have seen three ballets within three weeks. First was to see future stars at the Erik Bruhn Prize (Orchestra, 5th row - center), then to watch fiesty Sonia in Don Q and gobsmack at her amazingness in the pas de deux that everyone waits for (Orchestra, 4th row - center), and finally, a good across-the-face slap with a pair of gloves in Onegin (awesome seat at a great price, shazzam!).
National Ballet FTW!

Have learned, must practice!

Le lezioni sono finite. Italia - attenzione! Ma parlare lentamente, per favore.
Domani, i capelli ... chop chop chop!
Una sorpresa attende.

1,2,3...5,6,7...

My classically trained pianist wrists are sabotaging my salsa advancement.
Bah.

It's all about self control

See, the reason I probably won't be getting an iPad anytime soon is because then I wouldn't have any reason to get the Hermes iPad case. But it is tempting. The iPad and the case, of course.

Wee update

I have been busy. And sick. So less of the posting business has been happening.

Nonetheless, I have two things to say (whoa - I just flashed to this song all of a sudden):

1. I was in a flash-mob dance party. Of sorts. It was more of a planned and non-secret flash-mob, but it was lovely. I had a blast. We danced to Dirty Bit by the Black Eyed Peas.

2. There's a student in a Grade 3/4 split class wearing a Threadless shirt right now. Kids are cool.

WORK!

In love...

I just set the irobot Roomba loose for the first time and...swooooon! I need to give it a name. This is most definitely the beginning of a beautiful relationship.