Top 10 Motion Pictures of 2014: Survival, Anger Issues, and Superheroes

            It’s that time of the year, where I get to write a blog post with a “Top 10” list of what I consider to be the best motion pictures of 2014. Last year was full of surprises. As I’ve been mentioning for the past couple years, my list consists of movies that I consider to be technically and artistically beautiful. These ten pictures have impacted me in different ways. They’ve scarred me, they’ve activated my brain in thought and philosophy, they’ve made me cry, they’ve made me laugh, they’ve challenged me; most importantly though, they opened my mind as a filmmaker, movie geek, and individual.

10. Nymphomaniac (Dir. Lars Von Trier, Melancholia)

The Film Journal International couldn’t be more right when it said, “Who needs 50 Shades of Grey when you have Lars Von Trier.” The provocateur offered me the most challenging movie to watch of 2014. It is raw, intense, mind bending, but most importantly, a rule breaker. Dalai Lama said, “Know the rules well so you can break them effectively,” and I can’t think of a quote that better fits this movie. From the fact that it’s divided in two volumes (Does that make my list a “Top 11” instead?) to his cast choice. From the storytelling done in chapters to the abrupt change in music style. This movie, which is for a limited audience, deserved to be on my Top 10 from the moment I saw both volumes earlier this year at the Nuart Theatre in Los Angeles.

09. The Grand Budapest Hotel (Dir. Wes Anderson, Moonrise Kingdom)

Here’s another film from early 2014 that breaks the rules and has a stamp signature by its director. This “moving painting,” as I like describing it, is quirky and beautiful to observe due to its hurricane of a cast, bold colors, art direction, and the composition of the shots. It feels effortless even though it is such an elaborate and grand piece of work.

08. Interstellar (Dir. Christopher Nolan, The Dark Knight Trilogy)

Some loved it, some hated it, some didn’t get it. This was probably the most emotional film I watched last year. Beyond the outstanding visual effects and suspenseful moments, this movie has heart and does a great job grabbing you instantly and taking you through a black hole (Literally!) 

The soundtrack by Hans Zimmer is tremendous and Jessica Chastain once again proves why she is Hollywood’s “It” girl. She definitely got snubbed this awards season.

07. Lilting (Dir. Hong Khaou)

I had the honor of watching this limited release independent film at Outfest Film Festival in Los Angeles. What a treat! It’s a compelling story about a traditional Chinese mother (Pei-pei Cheng from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) who goes to Great Britain to pick up the belongings of her son who passed away, only to discover that he had been in a loving relationship of many years with another man. The language barrier between Cheng’s character and her son’s boyfriend, portrayed magnificently by Ben Wishaw (Cloud Atlas, my favorite of 2012) makes it much more interesting and there’s an amazing 360 shot that will require you to watch the movie if you don’t want me to spoil it! As a supporter of diversity in film, this had to be my movie with LGBT leading characters for my list. Sorry The Imitation Game!

06. Foxcatcher (Dir. Bennett Miller, Capote)

This very slow-paced movie won me over as it kept moving along in the middle of the second act and last act. Those last thirty minutes made it all worth it! Another project by the genius Megan Ellison that is cold, twisted, and heartless and gave me the ability to empathize with the main character, no matter how insane he was.

05. X-Men: Days of Future Past (Dir. Bryan Singer, The Usual Suspects)

I had been waiting for this movie since I watched the first X-Men movie fourteen years ago. This was the best treat for the child in me, to bring Bryan Singer back as a director, a big chunk of X-Men characters from past movies in a thrilling and adventurous movie that has soul and tones of social issues that are current in today’s world. Where else can you go watch a movie consisting of a cast with three Oscars, six Golden Globes, one BAFTA, two Emmys, two Tonys, five Oliviers, and one Cesar award?

04. Unbroken (Dir. Angelina Jolie, In the Land of Blood and Honey)

I had the opportunity to attend the LA premiere of this film at the Dolby Theatre and it was an unforgettable experience. This is a great example of why I appreciate historical pieces. I got introduced to a character I was not aware of, who was able to persevere, forgive, and live to tell his story besides the horrible atrocities of war, the shameful situations he was put in, and the obstacles he faced that determined whether he would live or not. Angelina and cinematographer Roger Deakins did an amazing job representing this person and the scenario he was put in. It’s a shame the movie was underrated and didn’t do well this awards season.

03. Mommy (Xavier Dolan, Tom at the Farm)

A 25 year-old director envisioned this? My respects to Xavier Dolan for directing two strong female characters, a rebellious teenager with anger issues, and for breaking aspect ratio rules. Now I can see why he won the Jury Prize at Cannes. This film made me smile each time a song would come up. From Dido’s “White Flag,” to Alfil’s “Blue,” to “Wonderwall” by Oasis, this film was sort of like Boyhood on steroids. I’m so sad it didn’t get any love in the foreign language film.

02. Whiplash (Dir. Damien Chazelle)

Whiplash was the most thrilling film I watched last year. I was on the edge of my seat most of the time! Who would think that a movie about a college drummer could create such reaction, right? J.K. Simmons and Miles Teller are terrific together, the way the music merges with the pace of the edit is outstanding, and the fact that it was shot in 19 days made have even more respect for the film. This is one of those movies you want to keep watching over and over again.

01. Birdman or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance (Dir. Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu, Amores Perros)

If you know me well, don’t say anything before I clear my case. I know Iñárritu is my all-time favorite director, and no, that is not the reason why this monster was my favorite film of 2014. Birdman is so phenomenal that I don’t dare to write anything about it. It is genius! It destroys critics, Michael Bay movies, and YouTubers. So many things about it are true. I enjoyed the mix between real life, the play, and the mind of Riggan/Birdman. And of course, my respects to Chivo Lubezki for that amazingly choreographed cinematography.

Let's Create a Generation of Gratitude

            Last night I had the pleasure of attending the opening night of Pop 2 Action, a collection of original artwork inspired by pop culture and mass media influences. The event took place at the Hero Complex Gallery in Los Angeles and was organized by Dana Ashmore (Mob City) and Laura Bousman (The Devil’s Carnival).

            These amazing ladies are the founders of Gratitude Collaborative, an organization with the mission to generate art that serves a purpose. The goal of this weekend’s exhibit is to raise money to teach art classes to kids, purchase school supplies, feed the hungry, sponsor after-school programs, and support young playwrights.

            I found out about the event on Twitter through Darren Lynn Bousman. The director of Saw II, Saw III, and Saw IV is a fellow alumnus from my alma mater, so I figured it would be great to support his wife and this great cause.

            There were several pieces that really struck my attention. One in particular by artist Tou Vue. His painting portrays a couple laying on the ground with their backs to each other and holding a cell phone. The artist used this as a way to express how technology and social media is a double-edged sword; it brings us together but at the same time it separates us.

            There was art inspired by Kill Bill, The Wizard of Oz, Pokemon, and much more, but I ended up acquiring an amazing painting of Morpheus from The Matrix. It’s basically Morpheus’s face wearing a set of 3D glasses, which represent the red and blue pill that he presents to Neo. The artwork is titled Red Pill, Blue Pill and was created by Lord Byron Bradley.

            If you are in the Los Angeles area make sure you swing by the gallery this weekend, check out some art, and support this great cause. They are located on 2020 South Robertson Blvd. In the words of Dana and Laura, “Let’s create a generation of gratitude.”

Sharing a moment with Laura, Dana, and her husband Shawn Ashmore

Help Us Adopt

            Hello my friends, happy hump day! I hope everyone’s having a great week and is taking advantage of the season changes such as sweater weather, pumpkin beer, or orange leave-filled streets. Several days ago I had the fortune of supporting Becky Fawcett and Help Us Adopt at their second fundraising event in the Los Angeles area.

            Help Us Adopt is a non-profit organization that was launched in 2007 by Becky and her husband Kipp Fawcett, who are adoptive parents of two kids. The goal of the organization is to overcome the financial obstacles of adoption to build everlasting families, regardless of religion, marital status, race, or sexual orientation.

            Something I’ve learned since meeting the crew of Help Us Adopt is that adoption is a lengthy process that many families can’t afford due to the high cost. “It’s not only about the kids, but also about the parents,” Becky said at the second LA event that took place at Everson Royce Wines on October 9^th. Here’s a brief Q&A with Becky. If you’re interested in learning more feel free to click here and help spread the word.

How important is it to have a presence in the media for the growth of the organization and how has it made a difference?

Media coverage has been essential to the growth of Helpusadopt.org for several reasons: 1) We are a national organization and media coverage helps us extend our reach into markets that we serve but where we don’t have a physical presence. 2) It has helped us reach members of the adoption community. Believe it or not, in general the adoption community doesn’t readily identify itself. 3) Authenticity.  Having coverage like The Today Show, CNN, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal helps a young organization like ours establish its authenticity and credibility to those that don’t know us personally. 

What's your dream news channel, talk show, etc to appear on? Why?

We’ve gotten an amazing amount of media coverage since our launch in 2007 and for that I am extremely grateful. But there is one name missing: OPRAH.

What is your goal and vision for the organization specifically in LA?

I believe there is a real opportunity for Helpusadopt.org to establish a solid support system in the Los Angeles area. Our mission of family equality resonates in Los Angeles and really means something to people. Family is Family. 

Where do you see Help Us Adopt in ten years? 

In ten years? I imagine we will have some amazingly strong fundraising events in the Los Angeles area (as in hundreds of guests/donors). I also see that we will be raising several millions of dollars a year and giving away most of that in adoption grants. That kind of significant financial growth will impact our adoption grant program with the growth we need to help more children find the forever families they so rightfully deserve. I would also imagine in ten years and hopefully MUCH sooner, that we develop a very strong celebrity following. Celebrities that have been touched by adoption or care about saving the lives of children who need homes could really impact our work in such a positive way. We need their voices!

What do you think has to be done to facilitate the process of adoption? There are clearly thousands of families waiting to be formed, yet, why is it such a lengthy process and what are some ideas to ease it? 

I wish I had the magic answer and I hope someday I come up with it because the number one obstacle standing in the way of millions of children being adopted into loving homes is the fact that adoption is expensive and most families are challenged by the lump sum payment of $30, $40 and sometimes $50,000+. In the meantime, you are asking the wrong person this question. I didn’t write the adoption laws and I certainly didn’t set the bar for the fee structures. I am simply a mother who saw a void in the world of adoption and a group of people who needed help, that’s why I created Helpusadopt.org. Your specific question needs to be addressed to the adoption professional community.

Keith Blau (Supporter), Ricardo Ramos, Becky Fawcett (Founder) and Sidney Jackson (Staff)

An Electric Night with Mexican and Latino Filmmakers

            Hello everyone, I hope you all had a great weekend and had some time to read my previous blogpost. I’m writing to share that I had the opportunity to attend the opening night gala of the Guadalajara International Film Festival in Los Angeles at the Egyptian Theatre on Friday. The festival showcases a compilation of the best films screened at the Guadalajara festival over the summer.

            The night kicked off with an introduction to the festival and the contributions it has made for cineastes in Mexico and Latin America. There were also awards presented in different categories to some of the top films showcased in Gudalajara this summer. Then, the “Arbol de la Vida” awards were presented to Emmy-winning reporters Ruben Luengas and Gabriela Teissier, and Academy Award nominee Demian Bichir (A Better Life, The Bridge). The award, which literally translates to “Tree of Life,” is presented to people in the industry who have made significant contributions in their fields.

            Following the awards, the film Las Horas Contigo (The Hours With You) was screened. This feel-good dramedy is about family, growing up, and forgiveness. Presented by La Banda Films, it is produced by Roberto Sneider (Frida, Arráncame La Vida) and serves as Catalina Aguilar Mastretta’s directorial debut. I was lucky enough to meet Sneider and interact with him briefly; unfortunately for us, there was an amazing live group performing some salsa and merengue with the volume a little too high, so it was a challenging to engage in conversation. Regardless, it was great meeting people with my friends Marco Molina from Veva Entertainment and Isabel Echeverry from Olmos Kontakto.

            It made me so happy to be part of such an electric night with Mexican and Latino filmmakers and fans. It’s comforting to know there’s such a great community of artists that are hungry to tell new and compelling stories. I feel lucky to have expanded my network and I look forward to keeping in touch and potentially collaborating with some of the people I met. In the meantime, make sure you check out Las Horas Contigo if it’s playing in your city, you’ll be in for a treat.

Demian Bichir accepts his "Arbol de la Vida"

Write About Things You Know

            Hello everyone, please forgive my hiatus from this blog! It was a busy summer shooting a new sitcom and I just started working in a new Reality show, both of which I’ll write about in the near future.

Last night was definitely one for the books. I got to attend “The Writer’s Room” at the DBA Hollywood. Moderated by Reza Aslan, the discussion panel featured one of my idols, Academy Award winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black (Milk, J. Edgar), and Academy Award nominee Craig Borten (Dallas Buyers Club).

            The evening started off with a glass of wine and some house music, followed by a stand-up act by a funny man whose name I can’t remember. Anyway, the main event commenced with Mr. Aslan introducing the gentlemen.

            So many things were covered. From screenwriting methods, getting started in the industry, issues that ranged from lgbt rights to religion, and pressure to keep momentum after working on Academy Award winning films.

            “The most important thing about the story is not an event or a place, it’s a person,” said Dustin Lance Black. He stated that stories are compelling not because they revolve around events, but because they happen to a person. “The king of note cards,” as Mr. Aslan called him, said that even though his stories are based on true events, they are tweaked in a way to provoke the present and spark a bomb that will help change things for the future. For example, he thinks documentaries are interesting because they are informative, but his goal when writing a movie based on true events is to make it applicable to current events so that it can inspire action by people. Something else that Dustin said that really stuck with me was, "Write about things you know."

            It truly was an inspirational night. I’ve been a huge fan of Dustin Lance Black’s work since 2008 and getting to sit in the front row and listen to him speak was definitely a highlight of this year. I also had an opportunity to ask him a question during the Q&A at the end of the discussion panel. I asked, “What is the biggest mistake you’ve made in your career that you don’t regret because you learned from it?” He thought it was a difficult question and it took him a while to think about it, but he gave me good advice. Black thinks it’s important to place your projects in good hands and to be on top of everyone and everything. He recalled an earlier project that didn’t come to fruition the way he expected because he let others take too much control of it. Borten also added that it is much better to let producers make creative decisions instead of actors. Now, go write something that moves you!

Olympic Diver Tom Daley

My Experience Working on La Voz Kids

            Hello everyone, I hope you all have a great week! I’m taking this time to share with you my experience working on La Voz Kids. Even though the second season of this Spanish/Kid version of The Voice started a few weeks ago, I waited until today to write about it because I worked on the “Battles” portion of the show, which concluded last night. The show, which airs on Telemundo Sunday nights, had three episodes (April 27, May 4, and May 11) of “las batallas” where 18 out 54 kids made it through to the live portion of the show which starts next week.

            I worked as an assistant on the contestant management department, so I dealt directly with the kids and their families. Throughout the week before rehearsals and the tapings began, I made sure they were on time for their meals, their tutoring hours, voice or dance practice, etc. Once rehearsals for the tapings began, I was in the soundstage coordinating they’re arrival to the holding area before it was their turn to go up and perform. At the same time, I also managed to assist the audio department micing lavs on contestants and two family members. Once the actual tapings began, it was pretty much the same drill, except it got crazier but more exciting, since it’s shot as if it was live. The kids were divided in groups of three, totaling eighteen groups. Only one kid per group made it through, so it got pretty intense. It was pretty much “Hunger Games,” as I like calling it.

            I must say this has been one of the best, if not the best, work experience so far. One of my dreams came true, which was to work on a singing competition show. I got to be back in Orlando for almost two weeks, which meant I had the opportunity to catch up and work with friends and colleagues, I swinged by my favorite local spots, and I visited my alma mater and spoke to students about life after college and LA. I got to work on a new department and I learned a lot from both the people above me and even the contestants. It was also nice seeing these three episodes on TV after going through that process with my colleagues, the contestants and their families. I wish the best of luck to everyone on the live portion of the show.

My First NOH8 Picture

            Hello everyone, are you wearing pink today? I am, and I promise it is pure coincidence. Not only is it Wednesday, but it is the tenth anniversary of the theatrical release of Mean Girls. On another note, I am writing a slightly different blogpost than usual to share my first NOH8 picture and my experience with the campaign since I started volunteering back in December of 2013.

            For those who aren’t familiar, the NOH8 campaign is a photographic silent protest that was started in direct response to the passage of Proposition 8 in California back in 2008. Founded by photographer Adam Bouska and Jeff Parshley, the mission of this charitable organization is to promote marriage, gender, and human equality through education, advocacy, social media, and visual protest. Since its inception, over 30,000 portraits have been taken around the world. Many politicians, athletes, and celebrities have joined the cause, including Larry King, Cady Heron (sorry, Lindsay Lohan), Shailene Woodley (The Descendants), Josh Hutcherson (The Hunger Games), Bryan Singer (X-Men), and even The Power Rangers.

            My personal reasons for posing are to raise awareness for voiceless victims of bullying, violence, and hate simply because of the color of their skin, their beliefs, the person they’re in love with, or for being different. As someone who is in the early stages of a Film and TV career, I also pledge to keep producing my own content that represents the voiceless in a respectful and honorable way, such as Know Your Status and Vicissitude, and I'll continue to do so until eventually I’m able to create material for a global audience.

            Being involved with the campaign is a great way to be part of something bigger than yourself. I am also grateful because I’ve had the opportunity of meeting amazing people the last times I’ve volunteered, including Adam of course, whose work I’ve been following since high school, Rachel Crowe from Season 1 of The X-Factor, and Keith Blau, someone I can now call a great friend and who has been of great advice when it comes to important career decisions. He's an entertainment lawyer at Universal who's been volunteering with the campaign for four years. 

To my friends in Orlando, don’t miss the opportunity to get your picture taken on May 6th, and to my local friends, there will be a photo shoot in West Hollywood on May 10^th. I’ll be volunteering, so swing by!