Two New Audiobooks

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Hello Family and Happy Friday.

This weekend take some time to listen to our two new audiobooks on audible for free 🙂

Please enjoy one free audio review copy of Affirmations for Black Women & Girls for Beauty, Self Love, Career and Love, now available on Audible. Redeem the one-time use code below at https://www.audible.com/acx-promo

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Please enjoy one free audio review copy of Affirmationen für Frauen & Mädchen: Selbstliebe, Schönheit, Karriere und Liebe (German Edition), now available on Audible. Redeem the one-time use code below at https://www.audible.com/acx-promo

Liebe (deutsche Ausgabe), jetzt bei Audible erhältlich. Lösen Sie den untenstehenden einmaligen Nutzungscode unter https://www.audible.com/acx-promo en

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We would appreciate a review or comment so I can produce great audiobook content for you all! 🙂

Until next time,

Lauryn

Start Getting What You Want: The Fyre Festival Documentary

Blog, TV Shows

 

Netflix released a new documentary titled Fyre. But based on the series of unfortunate events, this music festival was anything but “lit.”

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Backstory

Billy McFarland and Ja Rule planned to create this epic Coachella-ish party in on this private island in the Bahamas. They posted their images everywhere, convincing everyone from Emily Ratajkowski to Kendall Jenner that Fyre was going to be the biggest thing since sliced bread.

To be honest, it first seemed that way. The Fyre App was first developed to serve as the “Uber” for booking talent. A little ambitious, I know. But I have to admit, it’s a cool idea. Who wouldn’t want to book popular artists at the palm of their hands? To build popularity for the app, the Fyre team decided to put on “The Fyre Festival,” an event to build their customer base while creating an amazing experience for people, artists, and celebrities/ influencers.

Simple forumla: Attractive people + tropical location + music + alcohol = $$

Sounds easy, but this simple math equation ended up being a nightmare. Promotional videoes paraded Instagram models in bikinis lounging in luxury cabanas, chef prepared food, and a great time.

But, its beautiful island location lacked the infrastructure for such a huge event. The Frye festival was trying to build a city within the city. Days leading up to the event, islanders were frantically building to create the epic party scene that was promised to thousands of people.  To make matters worst, people spent a ton of money. Like a ton.

According to the documentary, a total of $50,000.00 was spent on “luxury” villas. Collectively, ticketed guests paid up to 800K on the Fyre digital wristbands to have a “wireless experience” throughout the festival.

The day of the festival was similar to a “Lord of the Flies” nightmare: An overcrowded Island with no food, water or method of escape.

There are a couple of lessons we can see right away:

  • Piss poor planning = piss poor performance
  • Don’t spend thousands of dollars through an event you see on Instagram
  • Don’t trust people in general
  • Take accountability for your actions

Blah blah blah, yes it’s terrible.

But I think we are missing something really important. We can all learn from this because let’s be real, none of us want anything remotely similar to happen to us in the near future.

To do this, we can’t just look at the aftermath we have to look at the source. The Fyre Festival would not have received an enormous amount of media coverage if people weren’t behind the idea since its inception. The Fyre Festival mastered persuasion on a whole other level. How else do you get thousands of people to feed millions of dollars into a failing idea?

BIG LESSON: Get People to Do What You Want! Master the Art Bullsh*ting, Persuasion, or Whatever You Wanna Call It.

We can all use more persuasion in our lives. Persuasion is a life-changing skill that allows us to use our rhetoric, actions, and tone to get what we want! It is the heartbeat of the economy. Every day, we are faced with human interactions that are centered around getting what we want out of the people around us.

Now I know what you are thinking. A persuader is a manipulative, loud, pushy, and demanding person. But this is often not the case. Impact does not originate from fear. Rather, a persuader will automatically be trusted and influence others with integrity and respect.

Billy McFarland, Ja Rule and the rest of his team had an amazing ability to persuade people. The result? They were able to separate millions of people from their cash. If you are anything like me, I have a hard time spending money on things other than food. So to convince me that I need to drop 5K on a music festival takes a whole lot of persuasion or good looks. Given that Ja Rule and Billy McFarland are no Channing Tatum, thei art of persuasion have proved to be a powerful weapon.

Have it Your Way All the Time: Just Create the Cognitive Dissonance

Have you ever gone to the store to buy something like a TV or computer but end up spending way more money that you intended? You see an advertisement with a great deal that says “While Supplies Last.” So you hop in your car, drive to the local Apple or Best Buy store and when you get there…..all the sale items have sold. Lucky for you, the more expensive model is there so you end up spending an extra $500. Not what you planned, but you already committed to buying a new TV/ computer. You imagined setting it up, buying a new case, getting more storage, etc. You paid the extra $500.00 because you had  to act on your subconscious desire to connect your need for a new television with making a trip to the store.

To be a true persuader, we need to find the internal commitments of our peers, co-workers, family, friends, crushes, partners, spouses, etc. Once we have that, we can create “cognitive dissonance” in people. The Law of Dissonance says that people will naturally act in a way that is consistent with their beliefs, values, and attitudes. So when people step out of that, they are uncomfortable and more inclined to regain some mental and emotional consistency to shift back to who they really are.

When a person has mentally committed to a decision or item, they are likely to stay committed, even if the situation calls for change. This is probably why we join fancy exercise gyms, sign up for the classes, or put down our email for that free trial. We see something in products or experiences that reflect who we really are. Therefore, we do pretty much anything to regain that mental and emotional balance when we experience this cognitive dissonance.

This is exactly the tactic that Fyre Festival used to bring in thousands of people who were MENTALLY COMMITTED to going to a great party, spending time in a tropical location and taking pictures on Instagram to make everyone jealous. They created a vision that people wanted to see, selling an experience deeply rooted in aspirations that thousands of people: being famous, being wanted, going to big parties and having everyone know their name. 

Even if you don’t want to be “famous,” everyone wants some form of clout. You may want someone to address you as, Doctor, Director, Executive Director, Chairman, Shareholder, Trustee, the list goes on. Since we are committed to this idea, we are going to stay committed regardless of external factors.

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So the lesson is clear. To be a master persuader find what people value, look at their attitudes and discover their beliefs. Once you have this, create the tension. I know it’s not as easy as it sounds but I am still learning how to persuade as well. So come on, you can’t expect me to have all the answers.


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In other news….Fyre Festival 2.0?

Apparently, Ja Rule has plans to make a Fyre Festival 2.0……what did we do to deserve this!?

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I do not want to diminish any efforts made by the citizens of the Grand Exuma Island to make Fyre happen. Their diligence and commitment should not go unnoticed. If you would like to learn more or want to help out, the GoFundMe page is an excellent resource. (:


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Who’s Following You?

Blog, Law and Entertainment

The Social Media Black Market

The law has the vitality of an organism. Although it may seem like the law is developed through various social movements and stuffy political leaders, laws originate from purpose. Our social purpose. Without us spreading ideas we value most, there would be no change. Social change has many components. It involves me and you. Together, we work together to challenge the social and political dimensions– creating a direct impact on society. We may not feel it every day, but we have the power to make it happen. Today, you and I will address the issue of privacy and our social media identity. Let’s make change together.


We can all use more likes on our pictures, views on our Instagram story or just more attention in general.  But has it come to a point where we pay for it? Apparently so.

Money can’t buy you happiness but it can buy you…followers. As we will see, popularity and privacy have its price.

I know you saw the word privacy and probably thought of Facebook  or Cambridge Analytica.

Yes, your preliminary ideas of privacy may be correct. Unfortunately, there are more social media bullies out there. A lot more.

Who can blame them? In a world where we value Likes more than a spoken compliment, why wouldn’t someone develop a company to exploit our horrible priorities.

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Sounds like great business idea….   

Imagine the moderate-to-frequent social media user. Although he or she may like the occasional picture of their favorite actor or travel page, they use social media for its fundamental purpose. To connect. Liking pictures of their best friend, partner, crush or even their ex. Hey, I’m not trying to get all up in your business about what you do on social media but Devumi does.

Devumi, a social media marketing company, advertise their unique services: selling followers, likes, and views to celebrities, Instagram influencers, your co-workers, best friend, grandmother, basically anyone that wants to look like they have friends online.

It’s social media fraud people. The worst part, according to The NY Times, Devumi often creates a duplicate profile of real users. This includes but is not limited to using the same name, hometown and other personal details of a REAL person. These automated accounts known as “Bots,” promote just about anything. From the new cafe in town, to pornographic sites, there are no limits.

YOU MAY HAVE A DUPLICATE ACCOUNT AND YOU DON’T EVEN KNOW IT.

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Sorry, don’t mean to scare you. But hey that’s life.

To make matters scarier, Twitter does not require its accounts to be operated by a real person. Therefore, companies like Devumi can set up these automated accounts (called “Bots”) with little to no effort and make millions.

So why did I write this article. To scare you of course. But in all seriousness, there are a bigger issue here. This appears to be mass identity theft. But, regulation of social media lies in the grey area when it comes to the law. There have been many developments in protecting the collection and sharing of our personal information through The Global Data Protection Regulation enacted in May of 2018. But continued social media fraud can be dangerous. In today’s age, it is inevitable that our social media posts, followings and pictures are a reflection of our values often evaluated by our friends, co-workers and employers.

So what’s the solution? Let’s take a sociological perspective on the current issue: Athletes, TED Speakers, actors, executives, businesses, and Instagram models now have a common denominator. They are apart of Devumi’s enormous customer base of 200,000 people.

To get to the root of the issue, we have to be real with each other. What are we accomplishing with all these followers? Have we become so obsessed that we are willing to pay someone to develop a robot to like our pictures just so we can brag to Tina at Starbucks?!

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Newsflash Tina doesn’t care.

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Don’t get me wrong, we can develop a space where we all care about each other’s well-being. For example, I really love fashion, healthy eating and travel (I’m basic). So I choose to follow accounts that post these things as well.

There is nothing wrong with creating a social media platform to show the world who you are and what you love. In fact, I applaud you for your self expression. But, it is critical to examine when our motives reach a bifurcation point. When do our inspiration transform from passion into fame, popularity or constant approval from others? Exploitation of our misplaced values is where companies like Devumi thrive.

What can we do today?

Changes in the law are an indicator of the complexities of social change. For now, we should use the law as a catalyst, to propagate social change where there are blatant inequalities in our privacy and protection of our identities. For now, let’s be curious about our personal and digital privacy. It’s definately worth it.


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And The Nominees Are….THE SAG AWARDS

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Heyy Reel Family!

This year marks the 25th Anniversary of the Screen Actors Guild Awards! I’m so excited partly because I will be attending the viewing party on Jan 27, 2019! ( and they have free popcorn…#goals)

Be sure to follow me on Instagram @laurynrobinson to catch up on all the details! It is going to be an amazing night of awards, friendly faces and great food. Would love for you to be a part of it! (:

SAG-AFTRA is a combination of Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. Together, these two labor unions are a collection of actors, journalists, dancers, DJs, directors, hosts, singers, stunt professionals…you name it!

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TUNE IN JAN 27 8pm EST, 5pm PST on TNT and TBS!

 

In case you have been living under a rock out of the loop, I decided to give you A COMPLETE list of all the nominees for each category….with a spice of commentary. Enjoy!

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role

  • A-LIST CELEBRITY EMILY BLUNT ( MARY POPPINS RETURNS)
  • GLENN CLOSE (THE WIFE)
  • OLIVIA COLMAN (THE FAVOURITE)
  • LADY GAGA (A STAR IS BORN)
  • MELISSA MCCARTHY (CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME?)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role

  • CHRISTIAN BALE (VICE)
  • BRADLEY COOPER ( A STAR IS BORN)
  • RAMI MALEK (BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY)
  • VIGGO MORTENSEN (GREEN BOOK)
  • JOHN DAVID WASHINGTON (BLACKKKLANSMAN)

OH MY GOODNESS….THIS IS A TOUGH ONE. On one hand, Rami Malek was excellent in Bohemian Rhapsody. But Bradley Cooper is Bradley Cooper.

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role

  • AMY ADAMS (VICE)
  • EMILY BLUNT (A QUIET PLACE)
  • MARGOT ROBBIE (MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS)
  • EMMA STONE (THE FAVOURITE)
  • RACHEL WEISZ (THE FAVOURITE)

Emily Blunt did an excellent job in A Quiet Place. She was so good I thought she was actually in labor during the film!

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role

  • MAHERSHALA ALI (GREEN BOOK)
  • TIMOTHÉE CHALAMET (BEAUTIFUL BOY)
  • ADAM DRIVER (BLACKKKLANSMAN)
  • SAM ELLIOT (A STAR IS BORN)
  • RICHARD E GRANT (CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME?)

OH MY GOODNESS. I’m conflicted yet again. Mahershala Ali is literally one of the best actors I have seen. But…I bet everyone has a crush on Timothée Chalamet. Who else can rock floral suits and a sparkle harness-ish thing?

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture

  • A STAR IS BORN
  • BLACK PANTHER
  • BLACKKKLANSMAN
  • BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY
  • CRAZY RICH ASIANS

I can’t. Such amazing choices. What do you do when all the cast members were so charismatic and had wonderful chemistry on screen?! Ugh, can we just know already….

Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture

  • ANT-MAN AND THE WASP
  • AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR
  • THE BALLAD OF BUSTER SCRUGGS
  • BLACK PANTHER
  • MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE- FALLOUT

#WAKANDAFOREVER

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series

  • AMY ADAMS (SHARP OBJECTS)
  • PATRICIA ARQUETTE (ESCAPE AT DANNEMORA)
  • PATRICIA CLARKSON (SHARP OBJECTS)
  • PENÉLOPE CRUZ ( THE ASSASSINATION OF GIANNI VERSACE : AMERICAN CRIME STORY)
  • EMMA TONE (MANIAC)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series

  • DARREN CRISS (THE ASSASSINATION OF GIANNI VERSACE: AMERICAN CRIME STORY)
  • HUGH GRANT (A VERY ENGLISH SCANDAL)
  • ANTHONY HOPKINS (KING LEAR)
  • BILL PULLMAN (THE SINGER)
  • ANTONIO BANDERAS (GENIUS: PICASSO)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series

  • LAURA LINNEY (OZARK)
  • ELISABETH MOSS (THE HANDMAID’S TALE)
  • JULIA GARNER (OZARK)
  • SANDRAH OH (KILLING EVE)
  • ROBIN WRIGHT (HOUSE OF CARDS)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series

  • JASON BATEMAN (OZARK)
  • BOB ODENKIRK (BETTER CALL SAUL)
  • JOHN KRASINSKI (TOM CLANCY’S JACK RYAN)
  • JOSEPH FIENNES (THE HANDMAID’S TALE)
  • STERLING K. BROWN ( THIS IS US)

I hope Sterling K. Brown is a winner and gets a chicken dinner because every time I watch This is Us  I can’t help but spontaneously burst into happy tears.

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series

  • ALEX BORSTEIN (THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL)
  • ALISON BRIE (GLOW)
  • LILY TOMLIN (GRACE AND FRANKIE)
  • JANE FONDA (GRACE AND FRANKIE)
  • RACHEL BROSNAHAN (THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series

  • ALAN ARKIN (THE KOMINSKY METHOD)
  • BILL HADER (BARRY)
  • HENRY WINKER (BARRY)
  • TONY SHALHOUB (THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL)
  • MICHAEL DOUGLAS (THE KOMINSKY METHOD)

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series

  • THIS IS US
  • THE AMERICANS
  • BETTER CALL SAUL
  • THE HANDMAID’S TALE
  • OZARK

Can’t decide between Better Call Saul, Ozark and This Is Us….thoughts?

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series

  • ATLANTA
  • BARRY
  • THE KOMINSKY METHOD
  • BARRY
  • THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL
  •  

Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble In a Comedy or Drama Series

  • GLOW
  • MARVEL’S DAREDEViL
  • TOM CLANCY’S JACK RYAN
  • THE WALKING DEAD
  • WEST WORLD
  •  

 

That’s all! Thanks for scrolling down all the way to the bottom reading! Please feel free to comment on your thoughts, feelings, emotions, life goals, what you had for dinner, literally whatever (: Also, follow my Instagram @laurynrobinson and tune into the 25th Annual SAG AWARDS on JAN 27 8pm EST, 5pm PST on TNT and TBS!

 


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Let’s Create Change: A New Athletic Epicenter

Blog, Entertainment, Law and Entertainment


Happy reading!

Today I thought I’d shed some light on sports. The names of top male athletes come to mind easily: Lebron James, Cristiano Ronaldo, Tiger Woods, Lionel Messi, Roger Federer, Usain Bolt, Tom Brady….the list goes on.

Not only are these athletes incredibly gifted, but they have also become the epicenter of sports and entertainment. Don’t get me wrong, I have no problem with it. Sports have been the focal point of entertainment since the Olympic Games in Ancient Greece.

But how many of us can easily name 10-15 top female athletes? We all know Serena and Venus Williams. That’s an easy one. But do we choose to regularly follow the careers of Sloane Stephens, Dara Torres, Allyson Felix, Lisa Leslie, Simone Biles, Paige Tapp, Missy Franklin or Naomi Osaka?

I bet there are people who follow LeBron James so closely, they know what he had for breakfast this morning. That being said, the heart of sports and entertainment is male-dominated.

I am not using this as an opportunity to bash on male athletes, cause let’s face it….they are great to watch. 😉

Instead, let’s take a chance to admire all athletes while recognizing the male-female disparity in sports. Let’s create a new athletic epicenter. One that celebrates the accomplishments of both male and female athletes.

I hate to get all Miss-America on you. But I don’t care. I write to spark conversation, not to please you. ( Okay, okay. I tried to be all tough there, but I actually hope you like these article. Thanks for reading btw, your awesome).

This Brings me to Adidas.

As one of the largest sports companies in the world, Adidas launched the Here To Create Change Campaign to showcase female athletes. Director Doug Liman, known for Mr. and Mrs. Smith, The Bourne Identity, The O.C., and Jumper collaborated with Adidas to create an amazing project that I am humbled to be a part of.

Yes, I was featured in this commercial. Sorry, had to mention it. ( Don’t worry I get to a broader point).

The Adidas: Here to Create Change commercial was released this past summer. It begins an alarming statistic: Only 4% of all athletes presented in the media are women.

I’m shooketh. As a former Division 1 Athlete and school record holder, I’ve dedicated countless hours to relentless practices, unaccommodating coaches, cutting out sugar, and pushing myself to the limit during tournaments.

For the people who go to the gym 2-5 times per week and get your sweat on, I admire your dedication to health and fitness….

Literally everyone at the gym….

But it’s not the same. Athletes, like other professionals, work diligently to perfect their craft. Therefore, all athletes should be celebrated. Both men and women.

I am proud to advocate for female athletes. In front of the camera, actors have the chance to showcase powerful messages to various audiences.

In our own lives, we cater to unique demographics. Conversing with co-workers, chatting with friends, or getting your side hustle on through Uber or Lyft, enable small, yet crucial opportunities for all of us to be actors—to advocate for what we consider to be right and challenge what we consider to be wrong.

Let’s all make this commitment to ourselves and fulfill it.

Let’s be here to create change #CreatorsUnite


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‘The Upside’ Review: A Charming Bromance

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There is an old saying: Opposites attract.

The corky differences between you and another person make any relationship exciting, edgy, and dynamic. It’s true and we all know it. That’s why instead of dating that “nice” person from across the hall, you keep going back to your crazy ex. Not to mention, we all have that one person that makes us think, Hmm we’re an odd pair but hey, it works.  Don’t worry I am not judging you based off your life choices (except your choice to read this blog, which btw thank you). I can also name a couple relationships that were/are a bit odd. But let’s not get too involved in my nonexistent personal life.  

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The Upside, directed by Neil Burger ( Limitless) stars Kevin Hart and Bryan Cranston. The story follows Dell, an ex-con who is hired as a life auxiliary for Phillip Lacasse, a man who has been paralyzed from the neck down due to a hang-gliding accident.

We’ve seen this story before. The Upside is a modern remake of The Untouchables, one of the most profitable French-language films in the history of cinema (which, btw, grossed more than 400 million worldwide).

Oh good, now we know the real intentions of this remake: To make just as much money To tell a hart-felt story about life, a tragic disability and friendship.

The Upside is an unconventional film that pulls at your hart-strings (okay I’m done). The two characters are a lovely juxtaposition of personality and perspective that enlivens the relationship. Overall, writer John Hartmere developed a “hart-felt” story suitable for a wide variety of audiences ( I COULDN’T RESIST).

Although the plot line is a bit predictable, Dell and Phillip develop a friendship centered around a mutual interest: music. And no it’s not rap. Instead, Mozart, Giuseppe Verdi, and Aretha Franklin creatively linked these two interesting characters in a charming way. Kevin Hart’s genuine role is a refreshing look into his persona on screen. Job well done.

Some saw it as controversial, an able-bodied man portraying a paraplegic. But Bryan Cranston was brilliant in this role. Hands down. Cranston already showed us his amazing acting skills as Walter White in Breaking Bad. But this role was different. Filled with the complexities of playing a disabled man crippled by his physical and emotional obstacles.

Although their friendship is touching, the film managed to show nothing more than a stereotypical black man showing a millionaire that there is more to life than spending money and hang-gliding. So I guess the lesson is money doesn’t buy happiness? Debatable. Money manages to give Dell a hefty weekly salary, an upscale Manhattan apartment, and the opportunity to repair the relationship with his son and wife.

[Side note, Mark Frieberg, the production designer, did a WONDERFUL job with Phillip’s apartment. It is truly a piece of real estate heaven]

As a life-auxiliary, Dell has the opportunity to change his life, make new friends and discover a passion for opera. I don’t know about you, but after the movie ended the first thing I did was Google “how to be a life auxiliary.”  Although I am not particularly interested in a job centered around changing catheters and giving sponge baths, I would gladly befriend a new person and discover a hidden passion…..while living rent free of course.

On the other hand, maybe I’m really looking for a friend….

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Nah just kidding. I’m looking for free-rent.

When compared to The Untouchables, there are minimal changes made to the storyline. One of the main differences is location. Instead of taking place in Paris, The Upside is shot in New York.

Occasional pop-culture references will make you giggle. While Kevin Hart and Bryan Cranston’s chemistry on screen is a true bromance.

Awwwwwwwww
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The Upside:a film filled with life lessons, catheter jokes, and an atypical friendship. It’s a bit odd but hey, it works!


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Glass Movie Review: How M. Night Shyamalan Teaches Us How To Be Our Own Superhero

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*** warning this review contains a few spoilers about the films Split, Unbreakable and Glass 

Writer/Director M. Night Shyamalan is redefining what it means to be a superhero with an unexpected twist. It’s no surprise that Shyamalan is a fan of developing movies with a shared cinematic universe.  Together, Split, Unbreakable and Glass are the “Eastrail 177” Trilogy. It’s a new story. One that appears to be a psychological thriller but uses elements of a classic superhero movie to study the psyche of three very unique characters.

Bruce Willis is David Dunn in Unbreakable, a story about former football player turned unconventional superhero when he discovers his superhuman strength, invulnerability and the ability to see crimes others have committed simply by touching them. Later, the denouement of Split reveals that Kevin Wendell Crumb, the main antagonist, lives in the same world as David Dunn. 

THE ACTORS 

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Before we get into the storyline let’s talk about the characteristics of the film. Samuel L. Jackson and Bruce Willis were amazing!! But I cannot get over James McAvoy’s performance. OH. MY. GOODNESS.  I don’t know about you, but McAvoy’s ability to play 21 different personalities still gets me EVERY.SINGLE.TIME. Truly a top-rate performance. Homeboy even had a personality that spoke Spanish! Fue incredible y no me lo esperaba. My favorite personalities are Hedwig, Dennis, and Patricia. Dennis acts like he’s the boss. Hedwig’s dialogue is funny and relatable. While Patricia reminds us all that she’s really the HBIC. Although THE BEAST is supposed to give me nightmares, I couldn’t help but notice McAvoy’s abs and biceps. 

Every time he had to take off his shirt to become the beast I was terrified yet intrigued all at the same time….

M O O D
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I love how the film kept the original cast from the movies! That was an amazing detail and really helped tie all the movies together. There was even footage of Unbreakable that was used as a flashback! Once I saw young Bruce Willis on screen I screamed in the movie theater. “YESSSS THIS IS WHAT EVERY MOVIE NEEDS.” The “This” I am referring to is 1) young Bruce Willis <3 and 2) ACTUAL flashbacks.

*Note: I’m a loud movie watcher so if you ever hear someone screaming at a theater, its probably me. 

ROMANTIC INTEREST?!

When Kevin is placed in a mental institution, Casey Cooke, the sole survivor from Split, visits Kevin…and his 24 other personalities. During the visit, there’s a bit of chemistry between Casey and Kevin. Hedwig, one of the other personalities has a crush on Casey so naturally, he doesn’t like this. But to be real, Casey needs to back up off my man James McAvory. With his incredible performances in Split, Wanted and Glass, he’s shaping up to be one of the hottest actors in 2019. SO HANDS OFF.  

Getting touchy there…
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THE BIG TAKE AWAY: Don’t let the haters stop you from doing yo thang. EMBRACE YOUR INNER SUPERHERO

There are four Twists in the film:

  1. Kevin’s dad and David Dunn were on the same Eastrail 177 Train 
  2. Mr. Glass is responsible for the Eastrail 177 explosion, killing Kevin’s father.
  3. Dr. Staple is apart of a secret organization dedicated to eliminating superheroes and villains. 
  4. Kevin and Dunn were never supposed to make it to Osaka Tower


All of these are excellent twists in the film, but I’m going to focus on number 3. 

Dr. Ellie Staple is a psychiatrist that specializes in people who believe they are superheroes. Throughout the entire film, she is trying to convince Mr. Glass, Kevin, and David that they don’t have superpowers. According to her, David Dunn is a man with a heightened sense of intuition. Kevin, although he suffers from DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder), does not have the animalistic “BEAST” personality seen in the last moments of Split. 

But she’s wrong. 

We discover that the crazy Mr. Glass was right. They were all superhumans and Dr. Staple reveals that her organization is responsible for destroying these special types of beings. 

The message: believe in yourself and the superhero in you will rise. 

It sounds cliché, but why does it have to be? There are many times where we loose faith in ourselves. People question our character, ideas, identity and worth. In a split second, we have someone else tell us not to believe in ourselves… and sometimes we listen. We spend years developing the strength to be comfortable in our own skin and for what? Just to have some random person or even a close fake friend tell you something otherwise. I started reflecting. I have experienced some “Dr. Staples” in my own life. People who have tried to list some B.S. reasons why I am not super. Wanna know what I think?

Bish I am super. We don’t have to bust through walls, have 24 personalities or even one good personality for that matter. Embrace who you are and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. 

I know what you are thinking. This is a lot taken from a film. But you know what? I don’t care. You know why? Because this is who I am. And if you read this far obviously you like what I have to say.

(I appreciate you reading btw, you rock).

Moral of this superhero story: Don’t let the haters stop you from doing your thang. 


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Netflix’s You: No, it’s not Love, it’s an obsessio​​​n

Blog, TV Shows

** this entire article reveals some spoilers from the Season 1 Episode 1. I didn’t ruin too much. Besides the first episode is so good, you’ll probably just binge-watch the whole series anyway…so it’s perfectly fine to read the article (:


Dan Humphrey… you have some explaining to do. In case you missed that reference, Dan is a fictional character from a show that is near and dear to my heart: Gossip Girl. Only this time, instead of chasing after Serena Van der Woodsen, he is after another blonde girl in the big apple.

HOW DOES SHE NOT FEEL HIS PRESENCE?! I’m shooketh.  source

In Netflix’s You, Penn Badgley is Joe, a witty manager at a charming New York bookstore who has a crush on a girl named Guinevere Beck. But, his attraction quickly turns into something more. He plans a day “together.” And by together, I mean he lurks in the background of Beck’s life for an entire day as she is painfully blissfully unaware of his presence. How is he able to do this you ask? Through social media of course. If this was a subliminal message about the data privacy, this show nailed it. I’m 30 seconds away from putting all my accounts on private and shutting down this blog. Luckily, the Global Data Protection Regulation enacted in May 2018 has us kind of covered. As a law student, I have my thoughts on this. But I’ll elaborate later in the Law and Entertainment section.

I was hooked throughout the entire episode. Joe’s voice-overs were relatable. Real. Funny. And blunt with a splash of cockiness. Just how I like it. It’s edgy, mysterious and attractive. The perfect recipe for a Lifetime thriller.  

Joe Schmoe is reallll confident too. Especially when you see how homeboy gets into Beck’s apartment:

  • He finds Beck’s schedule and her address online;
  • Calls the gas company to inspect her apartment on her busiest day of the week and
  • pretends to be her boyfriend (power move) so he can enter the house.

I know this is completely wrong, but I’ve never seen trespass to land look so sexy.

My only problem is Joe’s attempt to blame his manipulative actions on ”love.” You would think that with all his time in a damn book store he would know the literary difference between love and obsession. But since he doesn’t, let’s start with a basic vocabulary lesson:

Love, according to the dictionary means “an intense feeling of affection” or the “deep romantic or sexual attachment to someone.”

While “obsession,” according to Google Dictionary means: “an idea or thought that continually occupies or intrudes on a person’s mind. “

To be honest, none of these definitions sound particularly interesting. But it’s the dictionary, not the romantic rhetoric of Paulo Coelho quotes. So just sit there and deal with it as I make my damn point.

There is a clear line between love and obsession. We crave this romantic love. I would say it’s not our fault, but it is. Unhealthy relationships and habits are engraved in our culture. You know this love too. It’s the one somehow makes fiery arguments, busting car windows, or burning him with your curling iron out of jealousy a display of “intense feeling or affection.” But let’s keep it reel ( see what I did there lol). Blaming another person for your own emotions is just an example of poor personal boundaries. Jealousy is demeaning to your partner and implies that he or she can’t control themselves. Making up after breaking up is always a fun time. But if your partner always tries to nudge you in a certain direction by using sex, then you won’t actually find what’s really bothering you. I’m not saying don’t have a good time. Find the root of the issue. If not, the behavior is nothing more than a murky reflection of your values. A partner is more than an asset, they’re a person, willing to engage in emotional support.

Blah blah blah with all this serious talk. Let’s get back to the interesting parts. Isn’t this why we watch TV in the first place?!

There is something about this “attraction gone wrong” storyline that is just SO DARN APPEALING! I know it sounds hypocritical. But I need to watch the drama unfold…but I definitely don’t want it anything remotely similar to happen in my life (* Note: this is what people in your circle think when you’re going through some shit but no one ever says it).

Although we’ve all seen it before, as an audience, we can’t get enough of this dangerous love affair. This is why movies like Obsessed,  The Perfect Guy, Single White Female, and Fatal Attraction continue to remain popular. But the show You adds its own unique twist and I am LOVING it. Even the character development is on point. Benji, Beck’s sleeping buddy? ex-boyfriend is a frightening conglomerate of the worst guys I’ve met, seen, and heard about in my own life. It’s captured perfectly when Benji says to Beck, ” It looks good on you….the extra weight” after Beck had terrible sex with him.

Overall, we learned a couple things from episode 1:

  • Joe Schmoe is a sneaky mofo. (The character’s name is actually Joe Goldberg, but I really wanted a rhyme.)
  • Beck needs to look up from her phone more often.
  • I should probably get some blinds on my apartment windows…

 

Lastly, episode 1 ends with Benji locked up in Joe’s dungeon underneath his bookstore and I SCREAMED at my laptop, OMG he’s gonna kill Benji!?!

I’m not going to spoil it for you. All I know is this: whether Penn Badgley stars as Dan Humphrey or Joe Goldberg, even if he does some sneaky CIA shit…THAT’S A SECRET I’LL NEVER TELL! I’m loyal to Gossip Girl and you should be too.

I’m a dedicated fan, with too much time on my hands…
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I know this post was a long one but Episode 1 had such great content so it really got me typing. Enjoy binging more episodes, you know I will.

xoxo, RR by LR

** I KNOW IT’S CORNY BUT I COULDN’T RESIST!!!!!!!

 


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MADE IN MEXICO

Blog, En Español, TV Shows

Un fin de semana, decidí ver algo nuevo en Netflix. Cuando vi la serie de televisión “MADE IN MEXICO” pensé que sería interesante. Así que, hice clic en él. MADE IN MEXICO es un programa de televisión español que sigue a un grupo de amigos que viven en la ciudad de México. 

source
Kitzia, Liz, Carlos, Hanna, Robby, Chantal, Pepe, Colu, y Shanik
[de izquierda a derecha]

Kitzia Mitre, es una mujer que vive en el ojo público porque proviene de una familia histórica mexicana. Ella es la bisnieta de Gustavo Baz Prada, un revolucionario mexicano y politiano. Estudia moda y trabaja como diseñadora. Kitzia está casada con Pedro Checa.

Roby Checa es el hermano menor de Pedro. Actualmente es soltero. Esto no es importante, pero es bueno mencionar (; 

Carlos Girón Longoria es un hombre de la intemperie muy conocido y guapo.

Shanik Aspe es una presentadora de televisión que recientemente decide perseguir su sueño como cantante. ¡Ella es una súper estrella!

Modela Columbia “Colu” Diaz es gracioso y agradable. Colu también es soltero. Kitzia quiere que ella tenga una cita con Robby. Pero…. ella le gusta Pepe. Casual. Debe ser horrible tener varios tipos que quieren que al mismo tiempo. 

Hanna Jaff es una chica ambiciosa. Ella ha completado muchos grados y tiene una lista muy larga de cosas para completar antes de que ella muera (esto es similar a un Bucket List). Hanna está muy lograda. Pero algo de ella parece estar fuera. ¡Con todos sus grados, usted pensaría que ella sería lo suficientemente inteligente como para mantenerse alejado de todo este drama!  

Liz Woodburn, una chica americana que se mudó a México después de casarse con su esposo, Carlos Olson. Ella trabaja como una bloguera de comida.  Chantal Trujilio es una bloguera de moda. Su estilo es asombroso. Finalmente, Pepe Díaz es un emprendedor inspirador. 

Quiero dar un análisis muy detallado de todas las personas en este programa. Pero, ¿cómo podría? Es un grupo de “fresas” (una palabra que es un estereotipo de la gente rica) gritando el uno al otro mientras que usa ropa costosa. Claro, hay un drama ocasional: familia, amigos, celos, triángulos de amor, secretos, mentiras. La fórmula perfecta para una serie de televisión básica. 

Hay momentos dulces ocasionales entre amigos. Pero la mejor parte del espectáculo es….. LA ROPA. Haría cualquier cosa para tener su estilo. Si quieres ver a los hombres guapos y la alta costura con estilo, este es el espectáculo adecuado para usted. 


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If Beale Street Could Talk: Q & A with Barry Jenkins

Blog

Love.

Mr. Barry Jenkins, recognized from his 2016 Oscar Award winning film Moonlight, adapted his incomparable skill of creativity in his newest film If Beale Street Could Talk. Mr. Jenkins was inspired to develop the film after he read James Baldwin’s novel If Beale Street could talk.

The movie centers around two childhood friends: Tish and Fonny.  As they grow up, their dedicated friendships transforms into a warm, deep love and commitment to each other. The film shows loving scenes of Tish and Fonny bathing together. Splashing water around freely and laughing unapologetically. Flashbacks of these moments throughout the movie remind the audience of their genuine respect for eachother.  A positive, pure view of black love.

As their love has become realized, Fonny is accused of rape and sent to jail. Tish’s world is turned upside down and as the audience we are taken on an Tish’s emotional rollercoaster as the love of her life is unexpectedly ripped from her life.

I love how Director Barry Jenkins, chooses to cinematically set the story from Tish’s point of view. Even at her lowest moments, the dialogue of the film brings us back to a positive reality.  

When Tish becomes pregnant with Fonny’s child, there is a scene where her optimism seems to be dwindling away. Regina King, (Golden Globe winner for Best Supporting Actress) leans over and says to her “ Love is what brought you here. And if you trusted love this far, trust it all the way.”

In a Q & A with Director Barry Jenkins, he responds that the fundamental aspect of the story is Love. I’m guessing he is a pretty big romantic himself  (I mean obvi so am I). Tish and Fonny look at each other in a way that is indescribable (Basically the way I look at food when I’m really…really hungry).  In a world where the institutionalization of the black male is crippling America’s black youth, against all odds, Tish and Fonny remain the same. Even at prison visits, they refer to themselves as “Husband” and “Wife” even though they did not formally become married.

The film’s paradoxes are interesting. Although there is a decent amount of profanity, a hint of nudity, and grim look at an oppressive racial climate, it’s a powerful love story that is appealing to all audiences.


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