Monthly Archives: October 2011

19th Raindance Film Festival Highlights

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After Fall, Winter is a sexy love story about a French dominatrix who falls in love with a New York writer in Paris. It is directed by Eric Schaeffer and has the talented Rebecca Jameson in a smaller role. Well worth a watch.

Some of my favourite films that I saw at the Raindance Film Festival were short films.

Death of A Pop Star was an impressive short about A personal physician and the characters in the home of an ailing celebrity. 

Dying Everyday was a wonderful slice of life short from Spain, a short that managed to entertain the audience despite the fact not much happened.

Gin & Dry is a booze heist film set in an old people’s home at Christmas, Oscar Plewes short is funny and entertaining.

Ketchup was a very good film with a tragic ending.

Russell Harbaugh’s Rolling on The Floor Laughing is a high end short film about two grown sons who return home for their widowed mother’s birthday, only to find themselves competing with her new boyfriend for her attention. A well made film that’s worth watching.

Jeremy Craig’s Terrebonne is a visually stunning film. The lead actress is Jessica Heap is a beautiful actress destined to be a movie star.

The Potential Wives of Norman Mao and Exit were also good short films.

I went to the UK Premiere of Bonsai, directed by Cristian Jimenez. The film is from Chile and I thought it was brilliant. Cristian couldn’t be there but filmed an introduction for the film. It tells the story of young writer, Julio, who turns to the romance he had 8 years earlier with the beautiful Emilia when both were studying literature in Valdivia when he gets dropped from writing for a famous author because his asking price is too high. We’re told from the beginning that Emilia dies and Julio remains alone, but don’t let that put you off. It is a wonderful, sensual film. Catch it if you can.

After Bonsai was the closing night gala after party, I bump into Rory O’Donnell and I met some other talented people. I didn’t get home to 2am, can’t wait until next year.

One To Watch: Leoni Kibbey

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On Wednesday 5th of October I attended Short Film Premieres. A premiere of five short films at BAFTA; In the Can, Taken, Ellie, The Unknown and Bird Brain. The short films were well-acted, well-written, well-directed with very high production values.

 

All of the films had a running theme: Leoni Kibbey, she either acted, produced, wrote or cast them. She’s a one women film industry. She is Frost’s One To Watch this month not only because she is talented – the world is full of talented people who do nothing- but because she takes that talent and does something with it, she is one of the hardest working people I know, and she is a working mother! Frost also got a thank you on the Bird Brain credits – which proves Leoni is a classy lady.

 

I previously worked with Leoni on Love Tourettes, a comedy web series I am part of and Frost interviewed her last year. http://frostmagazine.com/archives/688

 

Check out Leoni’s IMDB http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3156365/

The Cursed Crusade – Game Review

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Take a dark period of thirteenth century history, mix in generously some supernatural elements, now whisk in some of that ‘buddy genre type thing’ and turn up the combat engine to about 89 degrees centigrade. Now pop in the oven with some decent cut scenes. Add a sprinkling of Darksiders, a dessertspoon of Dantes Inferno, a gallon of blood.

What do you get?

 

A dish that looks good, tastes good, but ultimately could have stayed in the oven just that little bit longer.

 

The dish in question is none other than The Cursed Crusade, the latest game from French seasoned PC Games developer Kylotonn Entertainment. A game, I might add that has had so many delays that not even ‘Game’ knew when it was coming out. It also sports the now familiar ‘reduced’ price tag of £32. Make of that what you want, the reality is The Cursed Crusade is nowhere near a bad title, it’s just not a great one and it could do with more, a little bit of a lot more refining.

 

Young Templar Knight Denz de Bayle is the hero of the piece. His dad has gone missing, his family’s land seized and his mother killed. All knights of the crusade have committed unspeakable acts, but those who have carried out true evil atrocities find that they are befallen with a curse. A curse that will follow their bloodline and damn their souls to hell. Denz is heir to this curse; what’s more, Death wants him and will stop at nothing to take him personally to the hot house.

 

So begins the story. Denz de Bayle is a more than capable fighter but like many tales of this genre like Ghost Rider he can use this curse to his advantage. He can switch between this world and the cursed parallax of hell almost at will. Think Constantine but with horns and glowing eyes and screams. In the hell world he is stronger, can move faster, attack quicker and has access to more power and more areas but it comes at a price – energy and then health, not to mention also providing death with easy access to your soul and he cannot be stopped.

 

Denz is joined on his generic quest by Esteban Noviembre, a wise-cracking Spaniard, tried, tested and formulaic. Esteban has the curse as well so together they form a partnership and it is their camaraderie that flows throughout the game.

 

Combat is what this game is all about. If you look at other games of this genre it is really hard to escape the ‘old chestnut’ of repetitive gameplay. However The Cursed Crusade gets around this with a deep enough combat system. Thanks to the directional controller you can carry a combination of swords, axes, shields, double handed swords, maces, with either one in each hand or, if the weapon is big enough just one. Blocking, parrying and dodging is built around timings of button presses with enemies flashing a certain colour if they are about to attack. Points are awarded at the end of every stage which you can use to build up your combos and finishers to make you even more of a formidable fighter.

 

The scenarios themselves never vary too much from the reliable old staple diet of ‘go here’ ‘do this’ ‘meet this person’ ‘fight that person’ but the nature of the storyline and their friendship is strong enough to carry it through. More often than not the enemy just runs towards you and then take it in turns swinging their swords in your direction and at first you don’t need to think about your parries and protecting your self. But later when preserving your health is a requisite to survival you find yourself drawing on all your skills and Death really doesn’t give a damn how he gets you so hopping in and out of hell to get a one up on your foes is not always the answer.

 

Did I mention the game is bloody? Well be warned, true to its historical origins heads roll, maces can be used on either side to flatten a head to a pulp, axes chop people in two. I like the way the game developers opted to define each and every limb so that you can remove each one from the torso with deadly blows each one splattering blood on impact.

 

All of this sounds pretty good and indeed like the first mouthful of Diet Coke it actually tastes really good. I found myself drawn into this game quite quickly; rapidly building combos and cutting swathes through my opponents learning new skills all the time. However there were a few things that the game can’t shake.

 

Firstly the camera angle is dreadful. Why oh why did they opt for a floating camera when it would not know its way through a paper bag? Even with the right analogue stick being used as a last resort to control it gets stuck behind trees, buildings and walls. In the early stages this is not so much a problem but later, when you have tough enemies you cannot do anything other than block and watch as your life is ebbed away by an enemy who will tag team you into oblivion.

 

Secondly there is a real lack of direction, there are a few times where it really is not clear what to do or where to go. You spend ages aimlessly running around when if they had incorporated it into the ‘hell self’ or even done as LA Noire did where you could ask your partner for guidance the game would have flowed better.

 

Finally the game tends to sporadically save at the end of the level which means that if you die; even at the end of a stage you have to do the whole thing again and this includes the cut-scenes of which; take it from me, there are many. Just incase you are thinking to yourself – hey I have done Demon Souls and there is no way this game can be tougher than that, then hats off to you and you are right; this game isn’t tougher but the enemy tends to infrequently jump in difficulty and with the camera angles not being as solid you should expect to lose lives.

 

My Verdict

 

With a thrilling action packed story not to mention blood guts and gore and a reduced price tag The Cursed Crusade is not a bad title at all. However it does suffer from faults that set it back from being a decent enough purchase especially in light of the competition which is going to be huge in the run up to Christmas. It is competent and satisfying enough and no where near a bad title just not a great one. Try before you buy or Wait until the price drops further before you splash your cash.

 

7.5 / 10

 

 

How does this game compare to others in its genre?

 

 

Equal to: Quantum Theory

 

Better than: Wet, LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game, Disney Universe

 

Worse than: Enslaved, Castlevania, El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron

 

 

 

Wendy's baby diary – Six months! – Guilt, isolation and men

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Six months old

Dillon was six months old on Monday the 3rd October 2011. A lot has happened in this first six months including his christening , baby swimming classes, health centre visits and weigh ins, the
dog eating the midwifes shoes, the whole experience of giving birth, going to University, starting my website http://www.femalearts.com, being off work, weaning the baby, his milestones including Dillon getting his first baby teeth, sitting up, rolling around on the floor, playing with his feet, smiling and laughing and interacting with objects and people.

I’d like to thank Catherine Balavage at Frost Magazine for offering me this blank canvas to write about Dillon. I wanted to document these moments so that in the future I can look back (hopefully Dillon will also read it) and have a record of this wonderful, life changing time.

It’s been a brilliant six months but it’s also been tiring, stressful and a lot of hard work. I’ve said in my diary about how the baby is progressing, the goods, toys and clothes we have bought for him, what activities he is enjoying and how he’s developing but I don’t think I’ve said so much about my feelings. The following topics have been on my mind recently…

Men with babies

Recently there has been a couple of TV Doctors with babies – Doc Martin has a baby, James Cordon was left holding the baby in Doctor Who – portraying what it feels like for the dad to be the primary carer –the Doctor Who story was about panic and fluster with the conclusion that dads
are actually protective loving individuals and the mums are competent women who make lists and mother both their partner and baby.

Nothing is that clear cut and I’m not sure there is a big gender difference in the way we are parents, it may just boil down to the amount of physical time spent with the baby = the more you know them = the more competent you become at dealing with them.

The only thing that aggravates me with stories on TV about dads coping alone with babies is that there aren’t an equivalent number of stories about mums coping alone with babies. Because it isn’t all confident list making and natural mothering instincts, it’s often panic, confusion, stress,
isolation and guilt.

Isolation

It’s lonely being a stay at home mum. Even though it is through choice I miss chatting to colleagues, I miss talking to my husband, I miss my family, and I miss my friends. Having another adult in the house during the day (e.g. when relatives have come to stay and at the weekend when the baby’s dad is at home) makes so much difference to my life. All the bags of stuff needed
to carry around for the baby, all the preparation that’s needed before I can leave the house, all the attention and love and care that Dillon needs – is so much easier when it’s shared.

Recently I have realised I need to make more of an effort to see my friends – especially friends who are available in the daytime. Getting out daily with the dog and the baby for walks and taking baby to classes or shopping is something but it’s not the same as being with people who know and care about me, who I can have a proper conversation with.

I can see why going back to work begins to look appealing because you can start to be yourself again and have adult interaction without constantly thinking about the baby’s needs and their safety. But employment means childcare. Which brings me onto my next subject – guilt.

Guilt

As a parent there is one thing you can be certain of – a steady almost constant feeling of guilt. I think it stems from conflict between personal needs/wants and that of your child.  My current guilty feelings are – guilt for using formula, guilt for starting weaning before six months, guilt for not weaning successfully, guilt for not establishing a pattern (of eating/sleeping), guilt for trying to establish a pattern, guilt for not living up to other people’s parenting expectations, guilt for not
returning to work yet, guilt for arranging childcare, guilt for doing my master’s degree, guilt for not being sure, guilt over baby’s eczema not clearing up, guilt for letting the dog spend time with baby, guilt for separating dog from baby, guilt for daily dressing of baby in babygro’s in attempt to stop skin contact with whatever is causing the eczema, guilt for not taking enough photos of baby, guilt for not posting all the thank you cards yet, guilt for not buying enough things for baby, guilt for spending so much money, guilt for wanting my boobs back, guilt that he cries a lot, guilt whenever I let him cry before going to him, guilt that I’m spending time writing this!

There’s too much guilt, worry, anxiety and the only consolation is the thought that other people may be feeling the same way.

Self-Medication

One of the best ways to cope is summed up with a quote from my friend BenJohn’s facebook update.

“Youngsters, you probably think booze is for enjoying and having fun. Let me assure you it is a medicine for those with children to let them relax in the gaps when they’re asleep.”

© Wendy Thomson 2011

Wendy Thomson is the editor of www.femalearts.com an online publication which promotes women in the arts and in business.

Kendra Wilkerson Spotted Flirting.

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Kendra Wilkerson was spotted flirting with Quinn (that’s not her hubby Hank). As you can tell she enjoyed her time with him and proved to everyone that AXE Deodorant Body Spray is the smell ladies love!

Kendra Wilkinson flirts with Quinn, the AXE mannequin in Los Angeles, CA.

Rugby World Cup Fans Face Hotel Hike.

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RUGBY WORLD CUP FANS FACE AVERAGE HOTEL PRICE HIKES OF 29%

Impact of major sporting events on room rates revealed in Hotels.com new HPI

British rugby fans travelling to the World Cup in New Zealand are facing steep average price increases of 29% for hotel rooms, according to the latest Hotels.com Hotel Price Index (HPI).

The booking demand for the six-week tournament in the first six months of the year contributed to the sharp rise with the average room rates in the host cities of Wellington up 29% to £73 per night and Auckland up 11% to £68 per night. The overall rate in New Zealand itself also rose 14% to £70.

As well as big rugby showpieces, the Hotels.com report reveals how Formula One Grand Prix racing can affect prices and occupancy rates in venue cities with the sport being one of the factors behind a 22% jump in Melbourne to £96 and a 5% rise in Barcelona to£102.

Sports fans also helped to boost the price of a room in London by 3% to £113 with the city at full occupancy for the Wimbledon tennis tournament.

The latest HPI also charts how prices can fall dramatically after a major sports event such as the football World Cup in South Africa. The country saw its average room rate tumble by 17% in the first six months of the year to £105 with host cities Cape Town down 20% to £100 and Johannesburg down 13% to £111.

The statistics could provide a pointer to what could happen in London before, during and after the 2012 Olympics with some industry insiders already predicting rates could jump as high as 50%.

Alison Couper of Hotels.com, said: “Prestige sporting events are key drivers of hotel prices and can lead to double-digit percentage increases as many rugby fans have found.

“What is happening in New Zealand and what happened in South Africa could provide a foretaste for what might occur in London next year. It is expected that several thousand additional hotel rooms will be available in the city in the run-up to the 2012 Olympics. However, despite the extra capacity, we would urge people thinking of coming to London next summer to book their accommodation as soon as they can as the demand and prices could soar the closer we get to the event.

“London is always popular with both domestic and foreign travellers but the Games are set to take that popularity to a new level.”

The impact of other non-sporting, one-off events on hotel prices could also be seen in the report. Dublin witnessed a 7% increase in the average cost of a room to £73 with the visits of the Queen and Barack Obama in May enhancing the city’s profile and appeal. Dusseldorf also saw an increase by 17% to £100 after the German city hosted the Eurovision Song Contest in May.

The Hotels.com HPI tracks the real prices paid per hotel room (rather than advertised rates) for 125,000 properties around the world. The latest HPI looks at prices in the first half of 2011 compared tothose in the first half of 2010.

Visionary Steve Jobs Dies At 56

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‘Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose’

Steve Jobs, 2005

The world mourned today as Steve Job lost his eight year battle with cancer. He was only 56.

Steve Jobs was called a ‘visionary, who had changed people’s lives’ by President Obama and Mark Zuckerberg praised his ‘mentor and friend’.

The internet was flooded with tributes within minutes of his death being confirmed. His family thanked ‘the many people who have shared their wishes and prayers during the last year of Steve’s illness’ and Apple’s board of directors released a statement saying; ‘We are deeply saddened to announce that Steve Jobs passed away today, ‘Steve’s brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve’.

The Apple founder died yesterday, six weeks after stepping down as Apple CEO and a mere one day after the new generation iPhone was launched.

Apple’s homepage is a full-page image of Jobs with the text, ‘Steve Jobs 1955-2011.’

Jobs leaves behind a wife, a son and two daughters.

His family released a statement saying that he had ‘died peacefully today, surrounded by his family.

‘In his public life, Steve was known as a visionary; in his private life, he cherished his family. We are thankful to the many people who have shared their wishes and prayers during the last year of Steve’s illness.’

Carolyn Schulz On Making Good Jewellery. {Frost Interview}

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When did you start making jewellery?
When I had my son, 25 years ago, I wanted be a stay-at-home-mum but needed to work, so I worked from home representing an American bead manufacturer by looking after their key accounts, in particular, giving support with training and education. I was trained in jewellery techniques as well as how to teach and train others. Teaching and sharing my love of beading is what I enjoy most!

How did you get into designing jewellery?
I think I fell in to it accidentally! Once I had learned the various techniques, I found myself looking at the jewellery other people were wearing or what I saw in the shops. I would mentally take them apart to work out how they were made and then I would go home and try them out with my own beads. I like to mix techniques and I enjoy making jewellery to go with specific outfits that I wear. Sometimes I want something to compliment what I am wearing. Occasionally I want something to draw attention to my jewellery – not my clothes! But when I am designing jewellery to inspire others to create jewellery, I take into account the current fashions in style, beads, colour, textures and fashion accessories in general.

Where do you get your inspiration from?
I love to travel and I spend a lot of time looking at both the components available and the styles and trends of people in other countries. I love the flamboyancy of the Italians. I love the simple use of natural elements that I found in the Hawaiian Islands. I love the rich combination of colours that I found in Mexico and South America. Wherever I travel, I try to visit bead shops and if possible I take a class or two. I learn so much by making friends with the shop assistants and teachers. What are their hot sellers, what do the locals like, what do the tourists like, etc.

Tell me about your show on QVC
My Creative Jewellery Show on QVC UK gives the creative jewellery maker, whether a beginner or experienced, lots of opportunity to use their initiative and creativity but with lots of support with good technique demonstration and a wide range of finished samples to inspire. We offer very few complete kits. By that I mean, we don’t have many kits that make a specific piece of jewellery. Mostly we sell bundles of product, whether beads, tools or findings. For example, we will have bundles of beads and bundles of everything you need when using a specific technique. Some of our best selling bundles include our assortments of real turquoise (large and chunky or small and dainty), basic findings and tools such as the spinning seed bead threader and the Thing a ma Jig! I think the success of the shows is the excellent value for money and variety in addition to the technique support and design inspiration.

Do you prefer designing or teaching?
I don’t think I could have one without the other – but I get the most satisfaction from teaching. I love to share what I learn and I get the biggest kick out of seeing a student create something fabulous – often, much better than mine!

You have a book out soon, tell us about it.
This is my 4th book and it is aimed at women between 18 and 35 with limited experience of beads and beading. It will include more than 25 beading projects with an Asian element. Six of the chapters each has a different technique with a number of variations using that technique. I am already half way through completing the projects. Each chapter keeps growing because when I start designing – I find it hard to stop!

What are your tips for making good jewellery?

* Firstly, attitude – give it a chance!! It is like most things, it take a little practice to learn and perfect techniques.
* Secondly – start with simple techniques. With 25 years of learning and then teaching, I have developed my own fool proof way of learning, where one technique builds upon another.
* Thirdly – be observant! Notice the jewellery other people wear, that you see in the shops, or in books and magazines. Question what it is that you like. When you see things you don’t like, work out what it is you don’t like. You will soon start to build up some personalised design criteria.
* Finally – enjoy it!

You are an American in Britain, what do you love about the UK?
I love British culture. I love the British countryside. I love British history. I even love the British weather!!

What’s next for you?
I want to carry on as I am now – mixing it all up with writing books, travelling, time with my family (I have 3 gorgeous granddaughters!), travelling, presenting on QVC, travelling, teaching, travelling, travelling, travelling.