Renaissance Red

Afterschool Awards Voting Reminder Email Sample

2011-07-28T15:41:00.000-07:00

Don't Forget to Vote Every Day!

June 23, 2011

Dear Afterschool Awards Voter:

It's time to start voting! From today until August 16th, people can vote once per day for their favorite Afterschool Awards contestants!

Twelve finalists have been selected by our judges: three in Sports, three in Community Service, three in Science and three in Music & Arts. This means people can vote for four different contestants each day, or one of three in each category. If you're a finalist, you can even vote for yourself!

Someone has to win, and YOU get to decide who! To vote go to AfterschoolAwards.com.

Anyone can vote. All that is needed is a valid email address. And guess what? Each time a person votes they are eligible to WIN PRIZES JUST FOR VOTING!!

Yes, really!!

We will be giving away a total of 20 JCPenney gift certificates valued at $100 each. In addition, every voter will get a free music download from NOW That's What I Call Music! To vote go to AfterschoolAwards.com. You can watch contest video entries and read all about contestants on their profiles.

During the voting period be sure to check in on on our Afterschool Awards Facebook Fan Page where you can have fun interacting with us to win even more prizes!

The more people vote, the more chances their favorite contestants will win, and the more likely they will win prizes too! So spread the word to get as many people to vote as possible! LIKE us on Facebook, and RSVP to watch the awards show August 19! We'll send you an email a few days in advance with show details.

Happy Voting!

The Afterschool Awards Team!

www.afterschoolawards.com

Fishman & Tobin, Inc. 34 W 33rd Street, New York, NY 10001

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Afterschool Awards Email Sample

2011-07-28T15:37:00.000-07:00

Created for Fishman Tobin, Afterschool Awards campaign.

Hurry! Afterschool Awards Deadline Sunday, June 12th!!

June 8, 2011

Dear Afterschool Awards Contestant:

After today, you have only FOUR MORE DAYS to update your Afterschool Awards entry and improve your chances of winning! The countdown stops at midnight June 12 Eastern Standard Time. If you have only filled out the basic entry form, it's time to wow us with your coolness by ADDING MORE to make your entry shine!

Simply log on to Afterschool Awards and upload one or more of the following (the more the better!):

• Photos - Of you, or you doing your activity. Show off your good looks and skills!

• Video - To give you a winning edge! Show yourself making that winning score, demonstrating your amazing science experiment, taking a dramatic bow after your grand finale, or profiling the community you support. Video and audio can be recorded with your phone, your laptop, or a digital video or audio recorder. You can always ask a parent for help.

• Audio - Narrate a little about your after-school passion. You can write what you want to say and then record it, or just improvise. Or record yourself playing your instrument or singing a song!

• Essay - This is an excellent way to tell us about your activity - it makes you look smart, too!

Check out our tutorial for ideas on how to make your entry stronger, or check out some popular entries featured on our Facebook Fan Page for inspiration. The more you add, the BIGGER your impact will be on our judges, your friends and online voters! Remember, you could win up to $20,000* in Scholarship money!

Log on and update today!

User Name:

Password:

Good Luck!

The Afterschool Awards Team!

www.afterschoolawards.com

* Students may enter one time in each category for the chance to win $5,000 per category!

Fishman & Tobin, Inc. 34 W 33rd Street, New York, NY 10001

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Good Days Complete: L Theanine

2011-07-28T15:25:00.000-07:00

Email for Midwest Center of Stress and Anxiety, May 2011.

Subject: The Secret to Good Concentration

Good Days...feel good, be happy

A Word from Dr. Fisher:

Let’s step back to consider how you felt before you started taking Good Days CompleteTM.

You lacked energy, you felt stressed and you found it hard to focus, right? But with the help of Good Days, today your energy is better, and managing stress easier. Even your concentration is sharper.

That's because the ingredients in Good Days CompleteTM are targeted to improve your energy, mood and overall health. But one ingredient goes further - making you more focused. It's called L-Theanine.

L-Theanine is an amino acid that increases the alpha "alertness" waves in your brain. It offers natural, sustained attention enhancement as opposed to the jittery, artificial boost of caffeine.

It’s just one more way that Good Days CompleteTM ensures that you feel alert and ready for whatever the day brings!

Top Tips for staying focused

1. Be Consistent! Continue taking your Good Days CompleteTM. Consider how much better you feel because of it! Don’t risk the chance of reversing all the energy, focus, and calmness you are experiencing.
2. Avoid Stimulants. What goes up must come down! Stimulants like caffeine and energy drinks make you a nervous wreak and then make you crash. They'll keep you up at night, too, which won't help your stress levels or focus!
3. Make a To-Do List. Break large goals into manageable steps. Put these in a calendar or datebook that you consult daily. This will help you prioritize your day. As you check off the items you finish, note the sense of accomplishment it gives you!

Morning Affirmation:

I am so happy and grateful now that I feel awake, focused and ready for a Good Day!

Spotlight Ingredient
L-Theanine, an amino acid, occurs in the leaves of the plant Camellia sinensis, commonly used to make black, oolong and green tea.(1)

L-Theanine has been shown to help with a number of neurological functions. In one study, subjects given L-Theanine showed an increase in alpha-wave activity indicating "a relaxed but alert mental state" compared to subjects who did not receive L-Theanine.(2) This important amino has a vital effect on the discharge of neurotransmitters similar to serotonin and dopamine. With the boost in the discharge of dopamine, L-Theanine influences positive emotions. The nutrient also helps to center the mind of people who constantly feel overwhelmed and running in several directions.

L-Theanine calms the mind, while enhancing concentration and mental clarity. That’s a prescription for less stress and a good night’s sleep. And it aids memory retention. It's nature’s answer to the foggy, stressed mind!

(1) http://www.livestrong.com/article/103022-benefits-using-l-theanine/
(2) http://articles.latimes.com/2009/may/04/health/he-theanine4

Good Days Complete: Vitamin E & 5HTP

2011-07-28T15:10:00.000-07:00

Email written for Midwest Center for Stress and Anxiety, May 2011.

Subject:
Two Secrets to Stay Happy and In Control

A Word From Dr. Fisher

Now that you’re deep into your Good Days Complete™ nutritional regimen, you are seeing the changes. You used to experience depression and mood swings, now you feel more contentment and control. Why? Two key ingredients: 5-HTP in the Positive Mood formula, and Vitamin E in the Omega-3 Heart and Mood formula.

5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) is a neurotransmitter that becomes serotonin, known as the “happiness hormone."(1) Vitamin E fights free radicals by protecting cells from oxidation,(2) which contribute to cellular damage and aging. It even protects the nervous system,(3) and prevents sleep disorders.(4)

These two remarkable Good Days Complete™ ingredients work together to improve sleep and increase serotonin in the brain. Free of depression and emotional extremes, you feel a sense of well-being and balance in everything you do.

Top Tips to Stay Emotionally Balanced

1. Maintain Your Healthy Routine - Continue taking your Good Days Complete™ to keep your mood more predictable and steady, day after day!
2. Reflect on the Good Things - Buy a beautiful blank book, something you really like, and give it a title like “Things Worth Remembering.” Every day write three good things that happened to you that day, or good things you did. Read these when you need some emotional support.
3. Test Your Newfound Control - Put yourself in a small situation that has been a challenge for you in the past, like sitting in the back seat of a car and letting someone else drive. Write about it in your journal. Compare your old response to the situation to how you respond now, and note the changes.
4. Free Yourself of Expectations - Practice not having expectations of people this week. This includes how they act, how they treat you, what they do or don’t say. In your journal, compare their behavior and yours without expectations. Note any changes.

(1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serotonin
(2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin_e
(3) http://www.livestrong.com/article/30301-vitamins-nerves/
(4) http://www.healthieryou.com/sleep.html

Morning Affirmation:

I release all fear and helplessness, and celebrate my new found control.

Ingredient Spotlight: 5-HTP and Vitamin E

5-HTP is an amino acid derivative of tryptophan that occurs naturally in the body and can be converted into serotonin, the body’s “feel good” neurotransmitter in the brain. When our serotonin levels rise, we experience positive emotions (a “Runner’s High” is actually a rush of endorphins and other "feel good" chemicals to the brain, including serotonin).(5) Through this transfer of 5-HTP into serotonin, you feel the benefits of a balanced mood.

Vitamin E is stored in fat and muscle throughout the body, with the highest concentrations found in the pituitary and adrenal glands.(6) It is a potent nutrient that supports the heart and nervous system, and a powerful antioxidant. Damaging molecules called free radicals are produced in our bodies during normal body functions -- and these free radicals contribute to aging and dysfunction.(7) Vitamin E helps combat the effects of free radicals by preventing cell oxidation and reversing its destructive power.

When combined, these two elements improve sleep and increase serotonin levels to the brain. Together they work to ease depression, lethargy, and extreme moods, and give you a more balanced feeling.

(5) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Runner%27s_high#Runner.27s_high
(6) http://www.bhia.org/articles/mental-health/supplements/vitaminE.html
(7) http://www.vitamins-nutrition.org/vitamins/vitamin-e.html

Playwriting Resume

2011-05-04T21:49:00.000-07:00

Published Works
The Trestle, Youthplays.com, 2010.
On the Edge: Challenging Short Plays for Teen Actors, an anthology including The Trestle.

Productions
Balancing the Moon (workshop production)
Zombie Joe's Underground Theatre, Playwright's Series, November, 2011

Tarzan and Jane Share Their Erotic Jungle Fantasies
The Three Rose Players' Writer Speaks '11, Love, Love, Love!, February, 2011
The Brick Playhouse, Independent Theatre (IT), April, 2003
The Brick Playhouse, Night of 1,000 Plays, January, 1999

Angel City
The Next Stage Theatre, Hollywood Stories, October, 2008

Teasing
The Brick Playhouse, Independent Theatre (IT), April, 2000
City Theatre Company, Delaware Ten Minute Play Festival, July, 1999

The Trestle
The Brick Playhouse, Night of 1,000 Plays, January, 1999

Last Wishes
The Brick Playhouse, Independent Theatre (IT), April, 1998
The Painted Bride Art Center, The Brick, Best of It, June, 1998

It’s a Scavenger’s Life
The Philadelphia Zoo Treehouse Troupe (repertory show), 1992-1995
Science Museum of Minnesota, Theatre in a Museum Setting, September, 1992

Commissioned Works
Haym Salomon, a Remarkable Man, Historic Philadelphia, Inc. (repertory show), 1998-2000
All the World's a Stage, Historic Philadelphia, Inc. (repertory show), 1998-2000
Bat Tales, The Franklin Institute, Fels Planetarium, May-September, 1995

Professional Memberships
Dramatist Guild, 2011
Alliance of Los Angeles Playwrights, 2003-Present

Education & Training
Meisner Technique, 2002, Joanne Baron/D.W. Brown Studio, Santa Monica, CA
Playwriting Master Class, Jeffrey Sweet, The Brick Playhouse, Philadelphia
Intermediate Playwriting, Michael Hollinger, The Arden Theatre, Philadelphia
Beginning Playwriting, Michael Hollinger, The Wilma Theatre, Philadelphia
M.F.A. in Acting, 1989, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg.
B.A. in Theatre, 1985, Millsaps College, Jackson, Mississippi.

List of Publications of Freelance Articles by Patricia Lamkin

2010-09-12T16:19:00.000-07:00

ONLINE

LA Stage Times
"The Phases of Balancing the Moon," Oct 28, 2011

Blogspot.com

The Playwrights Notebook - a playwright's journal.

Devil Bear and Friends - a whimsical family page about travel and childhood adventure from the point of view of a little stuffed bear.

Mahalo.com

“How to Read Tarot Cards,” March 2008

Losangeles.planjam.com - Los Angeles “Scenester”

“Patrick’s Café, Not Just Another Diner,” May 2008

“Kulov’s 8th Annual Valentine Tea Festival,” February 2008

“Tea at Huntington Rose Garden,” February 2008

“Exploring Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens,” January 2008

“A Romantic Hike to Griffith Observatory,” January 2008

“A Winter’s Hike to Switzer Falls,” December 2007

Restaurant Review: “Birds, Where the Locals Flock,” September 2007

Restaurant Review: “The Alcove: A Crazy L.A. Retreat,” September 2007

The213.net - Movie Reviews

“Daddy Day Camp,” August 2007

“The Ultimate Gift,” March 2007

Thisisby.us - Commentary and Humor

“Peeled People: Art or Science?” June 2007

“Fearless Color,” June 2007

Backstage West

“Talk Back: What Goes Up Must Come to Something,” June 14, 2007

Asia the Journal of Culture and Commerce
“The Diversity and Discipline of Terry Matsuoka,” March 6th, 2009
“Joy Luck Club Stirs Family Memories for the Holidays,” Dec 5th, 2008
“East West Players Bring The Joy Luck Club to Los Angeles,” Oct 17th, 2008
“Be Like Water at East West Players,” Oct 2008, email blast.
“An American Filmmaker Takes on J-Horror in Tales from the Dead,” July 4, 2008
“Tales From the Dead: You Just Crossed into the J-Zone,” July 4, 2008
“East West Players’ Pippin Has Moments of Pure Theatre Magic,” June 6, 2008
“Miss Saigon Captivates Redondo Beach,” May 16, 2008
“USC Conference Spotlights Chinese Film at 100,” May 16, 2008
“CNN Protestors Demand Truth in Reporting,” May 2, 2008
“On the Road with Jennifer 8 Lee,” April 18, 2008
“Professor Ginger Hsü Goes Beyond the Great Wall,” April 4, 2008
“Dengue Fever Share Their Musical Journey,” April 4, 2008
“Donna Ikkanda: A Pixel Paints a Thousand Words,” March 21, 2008
“Tea and Art Go Hand in Hand,” March 7, 2008
“Handicapped Actor Follows His Dream,” February 15, 2008
“Celebrate the Holidays with The Three Filipino Tenors at the East West Players,” December 7, 2007
“Dawn’s Light: The Journey of Gordon Hirabayashi, at East West Players,” November 16, 2007
“Profile on Don Nakanishi,” December 7, 2007
“Flower Drum Author Embarks on New Project,” October 17, 2007

The Design Magazine of the Beverly Hills Courier
“Designing an Estate Plan: Area Lawyers Discuss Accountability and Philanthropy,” August 2007
“Roses: Passion by Design,” May 2007

Backstage West
“Talk Back: What Goes Up Must Come to Something,” June 14, 2007

LA Family Life
“Crafting at Home: Decoupage Holiday Cards,” December 2005
“Hang It Up and Hike: Bouldering in Joshua Tree,” December 2005
“Hang It Up and Hike: Switzer Falls,” October 2005
“Crafting at Home: Making a Scary Jack O’Lantern Candle,” October 2005
“Hang It Up and Hike: Hiking Griffith Park,” September 2005

The 213 - Feature Film Reviews
“La Nina Santa (The Holy Girl),” June 2005, Premiere Issue.
“The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou, DVD Release,” June 2005, Premiere Issue
“Land of the Dead,” July 2005
“The Adventures Shark Boy and Lavagirl in 3-D,” July 2005
“Undertow,” July 2005
“The Island,” August 2005
“The Warrior,” August 2005
“The Baxter,” September 2005

"Joy Luck Club" Stirs Family Memories for the Holidays

2008-12-08T13:29:00.000-08:00

by Patricia Lamkin
Originally published December 5, 2008 in Asia the Journal of Culture and Commerce. Photo by Michael Lamont.

Mothers and daughters: Emily Kuroda, Jennifer Chang, Deborah Png, Katherine Lee, Karen Huie, Celeste Den, Elaine Kao, and Cici Lau.

East West Players could not have better timed their moving production of THE JOY LUCK CLUB, adapted by Susan Kim from the best selling 1989 novel by Amy Tan. The production, which opened on November 12th, comes on the heels of both religious and secular autumn celebrations - Halloween, Samhain, All Saints, All Souls, and the various Festival of the Dead observances that memorialize and acknowledge our ancestral bonds.

China, too celebrates the dead in their Ghost Festivals. This spirit, along with the culturally ingrained ancestral veneration teachings of Confucius and Laozi, are at the core of Kim's play.

The play unfolds through the eyes of four China-born mothers and their American-born daughters. The modern, free-spirited young women, (June Woo, Waverly Jong, Lena St. Clair and Rose Hsu Jordan) struggle to understand and often reject the traditional and seemingly out-dated ideas of their mothers, (Suyuan Woo, Lingo Jong, Ying-Ying St. Clair and An-Mei Hsu). As the mothers work through dark memories and share their own life struggles, the cultural and generational gaps begin to close.

The many introspective monologues of Act I make for a slow paced first act. Tan's broad-sweeping novel has been greatly condensed by Kim, but it is still a lot to take in even if one has read the book or seen the film. The audience is being introduced to eight-plus characters, and learning to identify each one. The strongest moments of Act I are the lighthearted ensemble scenes such as those around the Mahjong table. Here we are more grounded in the present, and the exposition is easier to absorb and more energized.

Composer Nathan Wang brilliantly opens with the floating sounds of isolated instruments that gradually blend together, beginning with a solo cello, joined by a flute and then a piano. These beautiful and lilting melodies reinforce the dreamy nature of revisiting old memories.

By the second act, with the major exposition out of the way, we can follow the stories and characters with more ease, and Wang's thematic music feels more grounded to each scene. Director Jon Lawrence Rivera's set and costume team likewise guide us along. Dori Quan's costumes help us put two and two together by pairing each mother-daughter set in matching color palettes. The magnificent set, by John H. Binkley, has an urban brick apartment wall with fire escape and balcony as a backdrop, offset by an ancient giant scroll that sprawls across the stage. Beginning high up on one side of the stage, the scroll comes down flat across the stage floor, and ends in a curl on the opposite side. A character name and title for each story is projected on the scroll, which further helps to keep track of the many flashbacks of the play. Flashbacks are always tricky, and Rivera handles them well, however it is not always clear how old the characters are or the time period of their memories.

The women of the cast offer strong, ensemble performances. Jennifer Chang's disturbingly weak-willed Rose is empowered by her long-suffering mother An-Mei Hsu (Emily Kuroda). Celeste Den is commanding as Waverly Jong, whose mother Lindo (Karen Huie) shines with Chinese common sense; Elaine Kao exudes quiet frustration as failed pianist June Woo, bucking under high expectations from her headstrong mother Suyuan (Cici Lau) until the revelation of a great family secret; and Ying-Ying St. Clair (Deborah Png) painfully teaches her daughter Lena (Katherine Lee) the value of worldly innocence. The men equally hold their own: Edward Gunawan is endearing as Tin Jong as he woos Lindo, and outrageously fun as the flamboyant Moon Lady. Ben Lin's Canning Woo delivers a profoundly moving monologue about his dead wife's lost daughters, and David Stanbra is the perfect embarrassment as Richard Shields who does all the wrong things when meeting his Chinese in-laws.

Despite the daunting time and location shifts, the emotional power of the stories is palpable; resonating long after the play is over. With Thanksgiving and the winter holidays around the corner, EWP's JOY LUCK CLUB does much to affirm a time of year in the United States in which paying attention to family matters most.

The run of JOY LUCK CLUB has been extended through Sunday, December 21, at the David Henry Hwang Theater at the Union Center for the Arts at 120 Judge John Aiso St., Los Angeles, CA 90012. Performances are on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, and Sundays at 2pm. For ticket information, call East West Players at (213) 625-7000 or visit www.eastwestplayers.org.

An American Filmmaker Takes on J-Horror in “Tales From the Dead”

2008-09-15T15:22:00.001-07:00

By Patricia Lamkin
Special to Asia

Jason Cuadrado loves horror film of the Asian persuasion, especially the genre known as “J-Horror” (Japanese horror). So he decided to write his own J-Horror script, and as the ultimate homage, shoot the entire film in Japanese. The fact that he isn’t Japanese, or can’t speak a word of the language didn’t stop him.

Cuadrado squirreled away over $40,000 for his low-budget indie, “Tales from the Dead” working as a web designer. Using Craigslist he found someone to translate his script into Japanese, and posted for his cast. By the January 2007 shoot date he had, “only 17 days to complete principal photography, a rapidly dwindling bank balance, a cast of thirty Japanese actors, and no translator on set," he said.

Director Jason Cuadrado discusses a scene with actor Sachiko Hayashi.

Most of the actors spoke English. But when they spoke their lines Cuadrado couldn’t understand them. He humbly credits them for making everything work. "I knew where they were by what they were doing,” he said, and even found certain advantages to this. “When you write and direct you can get so locked in on your words and how they should sound. And I didn’t have that," he said. He told them he could only offer the direction and the story. “I knew that the authenticity would come from them. And they were amazing," he said.

Despite its contemporary name, J-Horror has its origins in Japan’s Edo Period (1603-1868) in the ghostly folktales known as “kwaidan,” which tell of vengeful, earth-bound ghosts called yūrei. Traditionally yūrei are dressed in white - a burial practice still used in Japan today. Probably the most famous J-Horror yūrei is the terrifying girl who comes out of the t.v. in the 1998 nail-biter “Ringu,” (Ring) directed by Hideo Nakata. Other popular examples are “Honogurai Mizu No Soko Kara” (Dark Water), and “Ju-On” (The Grudge). All of these have been remade in the U.S. with major female stars like Naomi Watts and Sarah Michelle Gellar.

While fear is universal, there are cultural differences between Japanese and American horror. "[With] American horror you spend so much of your film trying to convince people you’ve seen something, and everyone thinks your crazy for like an hour," said Cuadrado. "In Japanese horror you would say, 'I saw a ghost' and they’d say, 'Of course you did. Let’s see what it wants.'"

"We’re just born with it, being Buddists," said actress Leni Ito who plays the medium Tamika in “Tales.” “We’re just born with 'oh, that’s a spirit, and the spirits are always with you,' so it was kind of a natural thing for me to get into the role," she said.

"Tales" will premiere at HBO’s 2008 New York International Latino Film Festival, July 22-27th. Cuadrado will speak on a festival panel about Latino filmmakers and horror. He’s excited about the premiere, but a little worried how a Japanese horror film will go over at a Latino festival. “They may just want to skewer me," he laughed, "because I’m going to have to explain why I made it in Japanese.”

For more about “Tales From the Dead,” and future festival showings, visit talesfromthedead.com.

Tales From the Dead: You Just Crossed Into the J-Zone

2008-09-15T14:52:00.000-07:00

Film Review by Patricia Lamkin
Special to Asia

Jason Cuadrado may call his first film, Tales From the Dead, a J-Horror homage, but it gives a nostalgic nod to his other fascination, The Twilight Zone. “It was so great!” Cuadrado said. “Bad things happen to bad people and good things happen to good people. J-Horror works with the same themes, so they seem like a natural match.”

Filmed in Japanese with an all-Japanese cast, “Tales” is an anthology of four ghost stories: Home Sweet Home, Chalk, The Dirty Business of Time and Shoko the Widow. The stories are introduced by the character Tamika, (Leni Ito), a young medium who can hear and see the dead. As the film opens, a disgruntled wife named Shoko (Nikki Takei) goes out to get away from her disappointing husband Jiro (Hiro Abe). Tamika picks up the hitchhiking Shoko who has become stranded in a remote wooded area due to a flat tire. As they drive in the night to the next town, Tamika tells each of the tales, based on her personal involvement, or what the spirits have told her.

A spine tingling, and engrossing drama, Tales happily foregoes the gratuitous gore and violence of low budget horror films today. “I didn’t personally approach this as a horror movie, or character,” said actress Leni Ito. Nikki Takei agreed. “What I liked about this script was in growing up in Japan, ghost stories are always a dark spirit with a grudge, ” she said, “but this is more about Karma.”

In the first tale, "Home Sweet Home," Tamika and her sister Manami (Kiyoko Kamai), investigate a haunting at the home of a couple (Eiji Inoue, Masami). The couple has been celebrating the return of their troubled runaway son Kenji (Daisuke Tomita), found mysteriously paralyzed in a hospital, unable to even speak. As Tamika walks through the house, she “sees” that the previous owners were murdered there, and are connected to the new residents by an ironic twist of fate. With J-Horror, “you always walk in, and it seems like a detached haunting,” Cuadrado explained. “Then as the story progresses, you realize there are people attached to the haunting, and the ghost is trying to say something, or get back at the person who caused it,” he said.

But Tales can be as much about complex characters as it is about ghosts. For example, in "Shoko the Widow" a woman is pressured by a "Widow’s club” to kill her husband. “My character wanted to step up in her life to marry someone who is successful and it didn’t happen,” said Takei. “So she’s not vicious, or evil, but she’s frustrated.”

The four tales resemble the short narrative format of “Zone,” but the hallmark feature is the framing story (Tamika and Shoko driving) shot in black and white, while the stories remain in color. Like Rod Serling, Tamika narrates with a resonating detachment, which Ito conveys disarmingly well, with a creepiness that defies her youth.

In the Faustian tale, "The Dirty Business of Time," a suicidal man named Yoshi (Yutaka Takeuchi) meets a stranger who offers to buy moments of his time for large sums of money. “Almost all of 'Dirty Business' was shot as if it were on stage,” Cuadrado said, emulating the Zone's fifties studio format. The classic story is balanced with gritty film noir acting from Takeuchi and Mark Ofuji as Ebisu, the Devil.

It's not just the innovative "J-Zone” blend, or A-film performances that make Tales From the Dead rise above the nihilistic chop and shock low-budget screamers that inundate audiences today. It's the character-driven, well-woven tales that are as much film noir thriller as they are horror. And they actually have a message. “The dead speak,” says the films tagline. I strongly suggest giving the dead of Tales a good listen.

Civic Light Opera for South Bay Cities Presents a Visually Stunning “Miss Saigon”

2008-09-15T14:50:00.000-07:00

By Patricia Lamkin
Special to Asia

It was a full house at the 1457-seat Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center for the Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities May 3rd opening of “Miss Saigon.” The production, which runs through May 18th, comes complete with a life-sized helicopter, pink Cadillac and a sizable cast of 31, half of which are APA actors. Based on Giacomo Puccini’s famous opera “Madame Butterfly,” Alain Boublil and Claude Michel Schonberg’s pop opera transfers the cross-cultural love story between an Asian courtesan and an American officer from 1890’s Nagasaki to the Vietnam War in the chaotic days leading up to the fall of Saigon.

Director and Associate Producer Stephanie A. Coltrin included several “Miss Saigon” alumni in her cast, from national tours and Broadway. Veterans Eric Kunze and Jennifer Paz, revisit their roles from the First National Tour, bringing some depth to their stock romantic leads. As the handsome G.I., Kunze breathes life into toy soldier Chris, while Paz’s powerful voice adds emotional punch to Kim’s defiant ingénue. Broadway vet Bonifacio Deoso. Jr. charismatically recreates the hard-hearted Thuy, yet still evokes our sympathy for the jilted cousin once betrothed to Kim. Misty Cotton, also coming from Broadway and the First National Tour, returns to CLO as Chris’ troubled wife Ellen. Cotton is well cast - the potency of her voice giving a slightly overbearing quality to her character. One of the highlights of the production is Kevin Bailey as the Engineer. Bailey maintains a consistently high performance level in a very demanding role, selling the French-Vietnamese barker with the shrewdness of a P.T. Barnum.

It was my first time to see and hear “Miss Saigon,” and it’s not my favorite musical. I found the recitative (sung dialog) at times onerous, and the overall score lacking the neatly woven leit motifs of Boublil and Schonberg’s predecessor, “Les Miserables.” Richard Maltby and Boublil’s prosaic lyrics at times venture into the cliché, like Chris’s declaration, “Christ, I’m an American, how could I fail to do good?” But memorable duets with counter melodies are plentiful, the highlight of this production being I Still Believe between leading ladies, Kim (Paz) and Ellen (Cotton).

While “Miss Saigon” may not be the perfect musical, it famously makes up for its shortcomings in spectacle, and the CLOSBC production serves up a feast for the eyes. Technical Director Christopher Beyries effectively coordinates the talents of Set Designer Lucky Cardwell, Lighting Designer Darrell Clark, and Sound Designer John Feinstein, to create a visually stunning theatrical experience. From the show’s convincing opening illusion of a helicopter flying over our heads, to the “real thing” appearing for the chaotic G.I. exodus in the Act I finale, the stage is always filled with vibrant color, texture and beautiful compositions. Despite some unpolished moments from the 18-piece orchestra, conduced by Musical Director Alby Potts, the dancers, lead by Dance Captain, Mark Oka, deliver the stylized movements of Choreographer Karen Nowicki with aplomb, whether performing the militaristic movements of the Viet-cong in The Morning of the Dragon, or the Vegasy glitz of the Engineer’s American Dream.

For Executive Director and Producer James Blackman III, “Miss Saigon” represents a return to the epic style shows CLO was once known for, and greener pastures since 9/11. “This is a very good show for us, and business is really good,” he said. “I couldn’t be happier with the quality, I couldn’t be happier with the cast, and for me, this has been a really long time coming.” Established in 1991, the Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities went on to become the largest civic light opera in Southern California. But after 9/11, audiences “disappeared,” said Blackman, because they were, “so terrified by Fox news screaming out orange terror alerts, and our proximity between the harbor and the airport – it really frazzled my market. It’s been a tough 6 years. This is the first time [since then] I’ve done something big, and broad and epic-y,” he said.

Blackman attributes the production’s success to Director Stephanie Coltrin’s vision, and proudly points out that she is the first woman to direct “Miss Saigon” in the United States. “It’s always directed by a man,” he said. “I think the estrogen point of view of ‘Miss Saigon’ is brilliant,” he said. In the seedy Dreamland Night Club opening, Coltrin, “moves those prostitutes as texture and negative opportunity, as opposed to sexually titillating,” Blackman explained. “The prostitution is looked at as a last resort, as opposed to, from a male point of view, ‘oh look, naked girls.’ Taking the familiar narrative of the Vietnam War, Coltrin, “emotionally played [it] one foot back, and the love story is played one foot forward. That’s where we get so much tenderness,” he said.

Tickets to “Miss Saigon” range in price from $40 to $60. For more information, visit www.civiclightopera.com or call (310) 372-4477. CLOSBC is a not-for-profit cultural arts institution dedicated to the presentation of uniquely American musical art forms.

Jennifer 8 Lee Goes “On the Road” for Chinese Food

2008-05-23T15:41:00.000-07:00

by Patricia Lamkin
Originally published in Asia the Journal of Culture and Commerce, April 18, 2008
Photo courtesy of Jennifer 8 Lee

“There are actually more Chinese restaurants in this country, than McDonalds, Burger King, Kentucky Fried Chicken and Wendy’s combined,” said Jennifer 8 Lee at a recent presentation in Pasadena. With that opening statement, and the aid of a projected photo documentary, Lee began sharing her amusing anecdotal journey across six continents, in which she uncovered Chinese culinary mysteries big and small. The result of her 18 months of travels and research: The Fortune Cookie Chronicles (Twelve Books), wherein Lee argues that Chinese food might be more American than apple pie.

Before beginning her talk, the New York Times reporter, dubbed as a “conceptual scoop artist" by NPR, held up her digital camera to add the audience at Vromans bookstore to her fortunecookiechronicles.com blog. Yes, now even we will be part of her story. Having covered such heavy topics as crime, politics, poverty, the environment, and technology, Lee takes on her latest– Chinese food - with as much passion and vigor.

Lee’s fascination with Chinese food began on March 30th, 2005, the day that the 110 Powerball players won second place. “It happened all across the country, not just in one locale,” she said, “so it wasn’t just like one group using the same number.” When the winners came to collect their money the next day, and were asked where they got their numbers, one after another, each revealed, “from a fortune cookie.” Lee was so intrigued by this that she decided, “I’m going to find the factory where that came from,” as well as the winners and restaurants.

And so she set out “on the road,” like a Chinese American version of Charles Kuralt, reporting the off-beat, small town encounters, chocked full of quaint tales life Americana, or oddball trivia of Chinese culinary history. For example, who was General Tso, and was “General Tso’s Chicken” really his favorite dish? The answer: He was a military hero who helped end the Taiping Rebellion, and no, he did not eat the sweet and spicy fried chicken dish that bears his name. In fact, explains Lee, in Tso’s rural hometown of Xiying in Hunan province, his descendants have never even heard of the dish. Why? It's American.

Lee found this to be a recurring theme with other dishes as well, and it became the message of her book. She wanted people reading the book to think twice about what it means to be American. “A lot of this food that we think of as exotic or foreign is in fact largely indigenous to America,” said Lee. “Chop Suey, General Tso’s Chicken, Fortune Cookies, Beef with Broccoli, guess what? Mostly served in America, Chinese people look at it and are very confused,” she said.

While Kuralt went in search of the unsung American heroes, Lee found a few of her own along the way, such as the Powerball winner in Wyoming who founded the International Elvis Presley Fan Club at age 16. “She actually has a lot of hand written letters from Evis from when he was serving in Germany,” Lee said. “And he is a very bad speller.” Then of course there was Steve Yang, the guy in San Francisco who actually single handedly coordinates the writing and printing of all the tiny fortunes made for fortune cookies in the U.S. He hires writers whose ideas come from American movies and popular culture rather than ancient Chinese proverbs. One of Lee's favorites: "Try not, do, or do not, there is no try," which is of course not Confucius, but the Jedi Master Yoda. Lee also celebrates the humble, colorful places she passed though, like Caledonia, Minnessota, population 2, 965, – a place Lee cannot resist revealing is the “wild turkey capital” of the state.

Born in New York City, Lee attended Harvard University, where she took after the rest of her number loving family and studied economics and applied math. But it was journalism that was her true calling. “I had an epiphany the summer between high school and college, that what I wanted to do for the rest of my life was to be a journalist,” she said. “It was a high school summer journalism workshop. I was interviewing a young guy who had tried to commit suicide twice because he was he was a young, gay, black teenager. And literally in the middle of the conversation as he was telling me about his attempts, I was like, ‘I could do this for the rest of my life.’

As for her obsession with Chinese food and quest for those fortune cookie makers, she explained that it was Freudian. “I realized that it was ultimately a journey to understand myself,” she said. “I am Chinese American. I get this question all the time, especially in New York City, where the taxi driver asks you, ‘Where’re you from?’ and I’m like, ‘I’m from here.’ And he’s like, ‘No, no, where’re you really from?’ I’m like, ‘I really am born and raised in Manhattan.’ And I know what they’re asking. Sometimes if I’m in a good mood I’ll give in, and I’m like, ‘I’m genetically Chinese.’ The point is, someone may look at me and think that I am foreign, but if you close your eyes you clearly hear someone who is American.” But with Lee, it is not just a matter of how she sounds, but all of those uniquely American things that appealed to her “on the road.” That for me said it all.

Dengue Fever Shares Musical Journey

2008-04-21T15:07:00.000-07:00

by Patricia Lamkin
Originally published in Asia the Journal for Culture and Commerce, April 4, 2008. Photo courtesy Tracy Blackburn.

Dengue Fever’s Cambodian rock is looming large these days. This rising alternative L.A. band has been touring, getting on film soundtracks and was recently featured on NPR. But the real fascination is their multi-faceted music, and its biggest influence: the sounds of 60's Cambodian pop singers Ros Sereysothea and Sinn Sisamouth, and their Khmer spins on Western rock favorites.

After the takeover by the communist Khmer Rouge in 1975, Ros and Sinn, along with many other Cambodian musicians were tragically murdered or died in labor camps. The bloody Pol Pot regime left an estimated 1.5 million people dead; music was banned and many recordings destroyed. Cambodia's musical traditions were virtually lost.

In the moving documentary, “Sleep Walking Through the Mekong,” director John Pirozzi traces Dengue Fever’s 2005 musical pilgrimage to Cambodia, where they honored the music they had come to love so well, by letting the people of Cambodia hear it again. Band members Ethan Holtzman, Zac Holtzman, David Ralicke, and Senon Williams attended a recent screening at the Echo Park Film Center, to talk about their musical influences, and Cambodian adventure.

“The whole film was shot in 10 days, and it was this intense experience because we were doing so much every day,” said Willliams, the band’s bassist. “The word spread that we were there, and the Cambodian culture is real warm, so for us it was just exciting, and like open arms.” “It was like making an elaborate home movie,” said farfisa player Ethan Holtzman.

It was during a six-month backpacking trip through Southeast Asia in the 90’s, that Holtzman first heard Khmer pop music. He loved it. When he got back to L.A., he and his guitarist brother Zac decided to form a band based on Ros and Sinn’s musical style. They contacted their longtime friend, Williams to sit in on auditions for the lead singer. Williams, too, had visited Cambodia, back in 1995. “I got this panicked phone call from Zac saying, 'oh man, we've got all these singers lined up, can you play bass?'” Williams recalled. “And the funny thing was that I knew the tunes already. I had collected stacks of tapes. Next thing you know, I'm sitting in, and next thing you know, I'm in.”

The singer who won the audition was native Cambodian Chhom Nimol, whose lilting voice had made her a regular performer for the Cambodian King and Queen back home. She also had musical ties to Sinn Sisamouth: her father had performed with the “King of Khmer Music” himself.

Like their Cambodian mentors, Dengue Fever has taken the traditional vocal and melodic elements of Khmer brought in by Chhom, and fused it with 60's American surf music, R&B and the haunting distortions of psychedelic rock. To this mix they add a hodge-podge of international and 60's styles. "We're all into 60's,” said sax player Ralicke, “Ethiopian music as well,” he said. The songs are written mostly in English, translated by Chhoml and a Cambodian musician in Washington D.C. they found on the Internet who speaks fluent English. “We'll send him English lyrics and then he'll translate them into Khmer,” Williams said, “and then Nimol will chop those up again, and there you have it - a song.”

As the Cambodian audiences in the film heard their old familiar songs, they joyfully sang along, “We played everything over there,” said Williams, “but I think it was the old Cambodian stuff that folks really reacted to.” Ralicke helped put this into perspective. “It's like the equivalent of our Beatles songs, you know,” he said. According to the documentary, the music is ingrained in Cambodian culture, and represents a time for the people when life was good and prosperous.

The devastation left by the Khmer Rouge is freshly felt in the film, as the band explores the city of Phnom Penh, and visits a music school devoted to preserving Cambodian musical traditions and dances. The school was located in a ghetto apartment building. “It was basically a gutted building where it was just packed,” said Williams. “People were cooking in the hallways, and we go into this room, and it's all these little kids that are singing amazingly,” he said. “I don't know if the movie fully captures what it was like at [the school],” said Ralicke, “because they performed for a while for us, before we did anything. It was pretty overwhelming. They were exceptional,” he said.

The film also shows the band playing with some of the surviving music masters of Cambodia. With the DVD release of the film will come a soundtrack album. “Not all the master musicians we played with are in the film,” said Williams, “there's going to be a lot more of our collaborations with them on the soundtrack.”

Now the band is gearing up for a European summer festival tour to promote their latest album, Venus on Earth. Each song is like a wonderful 60’s “flashback.” The droning guitar and farfisa organ of “Seeing Hands” is reminiscent of the Doors, with echoes of Henry Mancini in the guitar and sax combo of “Sober Driver.” The toe-tapping duet between Chhom and Zac Holtzman in “Tiger Phone Card,” conjures pleasant images of Frankie and Annette singing in a beach party film.

An audience member remarked about a Cambodian man in the film who said Dengue Fever should play in all the different provinces. “He was saying how it was very important for their county, and it's very healing,” said Zac Holtzman, “and we're trying to act on that - that was one of the most important lines in the whole film,” he said.

For more information on Dengue Fever’s upcoming tours, or screenings at Echo Park Film Center, visit: http://www.myspace.com/denguefevermusic, and
http://www.echoparkfilmcenter.org/

Handicapped Actor Follows His Dream

2008-03-15T00:40:00.000-07:00

by Patricia Lamkin
Originally published in Asia the Journal of Culture and Commerce, February 15, 2008.

Kama (Joseph Kim) and Keiko (Sachiko Hayashi) comfort Namiye (Mari Ueda) in East West Players premiere of "Voices from Okinawa," by Jon Shirota. Photo by Michael Lamont.

East West Players (EWP) has announced the World Premiere production of “Voices From Okinawa,” starring Joseph Kim, an accomplished actor who also happens to be hard of hearing. This will mark Kim’s first major role on stage.

Artistic Director Tim Dang was first exposed to Kim’s talent from his work in the workshop reading of “Voices from Okinawa” back in March, 2007, and was aware of his impairment during casting. "It was never a factor in the [casting] process,” said Dang. “He is a strong actor who plays the role extremely well and that is what matters. Because it was never an issue to him, it was never an issue with us."

Kim portrays the complex character Kama Hutchins, an American of one quarter Okanawan descent. “The character goes back to Okinawa to discover his Asian roots,” said Kim. “He's proud to be Asian, but his knowledge of his culture and [American-Okinawan] relations is just surface deep.” As Kama learns more about the Okinawa people, he is able to mediate between the two cultures. “This is exactly what happened to me when I went back to Korea. Even my aunt in the play is similar to my aunt back in Korea, whom I lived with. She is suffering from Alzheimer’s now and this play is dedicated to her.”

For Kim, who has been 40% deaf in both ears since birth, the experience with EWP has been, “amazing and professional,” he said. “Tim Dang is a master at the craft of directing, and I think this in part is due to the fact that he was also trained as an actor. The best directors were all actors,” he said, citing Elia Kazan as a famous example. In working with directors, Kim has learned that despite any preconceptions they may have about his disability, "if I make good strong choices from the beginning they'll know what I am capable of."

Kim doesn’t feel his hearing entitles him to special treatment. Letting people know about it is more out of courtesy to them. “I know from experience that it helps others to know that I’m not ignoring them if my back is turned to them when they speak to me,” he said. “I simply can't hear them and if they know this in advance their feelings don't get hurt.”

Despite the challenges, Kim has learned to work with his handicap as an actor, and knows he must raise the bar in what he brings to the stage. “I HAVE to pay attention more onstage due to my impairment,” he said. “This is just a reality.” For example, if he can’t hear his fellow actors, “I have to read lips or just follow the basic flow so I know when to come in with my line,” he said. “[But] I think it's made me a better actor and more grateful of the faculties I do have.”

Kim did not always pursue his dream of acting. He started out as a movie columnist and editor for the International Herald Tribune/Joonang Ilbo Newspaper based in Seoul, Korea. But he soon found out that journalism was not his true calling. “There is a book called ‘The Artist's Way’ that discusses the issue of ‘the career of our dreams’ vs. ‘the shadow career,’” he said. “When we're afraid to go into the career we ‘really’ want, we instead go into a career that mirrors our dream job, which is called the ‘shadow career.’ In my case, acting was my dream job, but I was too scared to go into it due to the lack of financial security. So instead I chose the next best thing, which was to write a movie column,” he said. But the monotony of rushing to meet one deadline after another only made Kim miserable. “Plus, I was terrible at writing,” he said.

It wasn’t until Kim joined a local theatre production of Agatha Christie's "The Mousetrap," that he realized how much he wanted to be an actor. “While onstage I felt an excitement that was so absent in my ‘shadow career’ of journalism. I quit the next day and moved back to the states to start training,” he said. Since then Kim has appeared on ABC’s Golden Globe nominated drama "Brothers and Sisters" and CBS’s Emmy Award winning soap, "The Young and the Restless."

Kim attributes much of his success to powerful role models in his life, especially a white-haired cop named George Hardman, who was his childhood karate teacher. “One day he pulled me aside and told me, ‘Joey, you're a good kid and you're damn good. Don't let anyone ever tell you that you’re not,’” Kim said. “Probably the most proud I've ever felt in my life. His encouragement gave me self-confidence,” he said, “but he also put me in my place when I got out of line. Self-confidence with humility are like peanut butter and jelly.”

Despite a Master of Fine Arts degree in acting from UCLA School of Theatre, Film & Television, Kim has strong feelings about graduate study for actors. For aspiring actors, he recommends a more nitty-gritty approach: “Acting has to be learned on your feet,” he said. “[Graduate school] is like having a ‘shadow career.’ Instead of taking the plunge and becoming a poor actor, we take the softer road and spend 3 years in a make-believe bubble.” Meanwhile those who took the other route, “already have 3 years more experience in networking, getting an agent/manager and booking jobs,” he said. “Real work and a side acting class provide the groundwork you need to get up and running.”

For Kim, those classes were with Los Angeles teachers Salome Jens and Lesly Kahn. Salome Jens, who studied under Lee Strasberg, is member of the Actor's Studio and, “a regular Broadway headliner,” he said. “Lesly Kahn is probably the most successful teacher in Hollywood today. Both of these women have been role models, and like my cop karate teacher instrumental in all my successes,” he said.

And for those who are disabled, who have a particular goal or dream they wish to pursue, Kim has some powerful advice: “I'd tell them the same thing a D.C. cop told a shy, angry kid so many years ago... ‘You're perfect just the way you are, don't let anyone ever tell you otherwise.’ Sometimes just hearing that we are is all we need to strive for greatness.”

“Voices from Okinawa” runs from February 13th to March 9th, 2008 at the David Henry Hwang Theater at the Union Center for the Arts, 120 Judge John Aiso St., Los Angeles, CA 90012. EWP holds an American Sign Language-interpreted performance for every production. The ASL-interpreted performance of Voices from Okinawa will be held, Sunday, March 2nd, 2008. Tickets are $20 for deaf and hard of hearing patrons. For tickets call East West Players at (213) 625-7000 or visit www.eastwestplayers.org.

Kama (Joseph Kim) and Keiko (Sachiko Hayashi) waltz as the students spy on them. Photo by Michael Lamont.

Dawn’s Light: The Journey of Gordon Hirabayashi

2008-01-11T10:21:00.000-08:00

Theatre Review by Patricia Lamkin
Originally published by Asia the Journal of Culture and Commerce, November 15th, 2007.
Photos of actor Ryun Yu by Michael Lamont

“Dawn’s Light: The Journey of Gordon Hirabayashi” now playing at the East West Players, is a moving, and often humorous one-man show which chronicles the true story of one Japanese American’s enduring fight for his constitutional rights.

With the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, an hysterical and fearful nation declares personal war on its Japanese citizens. First curfews are imposed. 24 year-old Gordon Hirabayashi is an American born citizen, and a fiercely patriotic student at Washington State University in Seattle when the upheaval begins. Deeply offended by this blatant racial profiling, one evening Gordon defies the curfew, staying at the library with his friends to study. Then the order comes that all persons of Japanese descent on the west coast must quickly liquidate their businesses and properties, and report to prison camps. Gordon refuses to go, citing that this request is contrary to his constitutional rights as an American citizen, in which he is granted the right to “secure the blessings of liberty,” and that no American can be imprisoned without due process. Charged with breaking curfew and refusing the camp order, Gordon is thrown in jail.

With faith in the protections of the Constitution, Gordon takes his battle all the way to the Supreme Court, which to his disbelief, unanimously sides in favor of the Government, upholding the military had just cause for its actions. Gordon is convicted and sentenced to serve two consecutive 90 day sentences.

One of the most poetic moments of the play is when Gordon requests to serve his term in an Arizona facility because it is semi-outdoors. His request is granted, but since there are no funds allocated to transport him there, he offers to pay his own travel expenses. And so he is actually released, freely hitchhiking and sleeping under the stars to enjoy the beauty of his America on his way to serve an unjust prison sentence.

Some 40 years later new evidence is found showing that the military threat from Japanese Americans did not justify imprisonment, The report had been illegally concealed from the Supreme Court proceedings. The landmark case is reopened in 1987, and overturned. The endurance of the American and human spirit even when all odds are against it is finally proven a worthwhile fight.

Based on actual letters written by Gordon that she found archived at the University of Washington, actor/playwright Jeanne Sakata effectively shapes the story, which spans Gordon’s lifetime, and interviewed the man himself twice for his personal recollections. Ryun Yu portrays Gordon, showing his disillusionment, alienation and steadfast conviction to his ideals with depth and humanity. As Gordon, Yu narrates, delightfully shifting into various other characters with believability and humor. The minimalist staging and projections designed by Maiko Nezu compliment Yu’s performance. Projections of the flag and preamble of the Constitution help bring Gordon’s experiences into the present, as we struggle with our current administration’s controversial decisions in Iraq.

“Dawn’s Light: The Journey of Gordon Hirabayashi” runs through December 2nd, with performances at 8 pm Wednesdays through Saturdays and 2 pm Sundays. For ticket information, contact (213) 625-7000 or eastwestplayers

"Flower Drum" Author Embarks on New Project

2008-01-11T10:07:00.000-08:00

By Patricia Lamkin
Photo of C.Y. Lee courtesy of Lilee Chang Ma
Originally published by Asia the Journal of Culture and Commerce, November 2, 2007.

I met the remarkable C.Y. Lee earlier this fall at a picnic for the Alliance of Los Angeles Playwrights. In an estate garden once owned by the Barrymores, the Royal Family of American Theater, the 90 year old Lee energetically shared how he came to write “The Flower Drum Song,” the best-selling novel that went on to become a Rodgers and Hammerstein hit Broadway musical, and revival by David Henry Hwang.

In that nostalgic setting it was as though theater history were coming alive among the lush greenery and tall lilies. Everyone at our table eagerly leaned in as Lee relayed how his writing career took a strange turn after an agent named Anne Elmo saw his play at Yale.

“She threw water on me!” he laughed, but he did not mean it literally. “She shook my hand and said, ‘never write another play!’ I asked her why she even wanted to see me, and she said ‘I saw a little sparkle in your play, and I thought you could be a good writer.’” The agent explained that plays with Chinese themes aren’t performed in the U.S., and that if he started writing short stories and novels, she could find a market for him.

“After that I never wrote a play,” he recalled, taking Elmo’s advice. “At the time immigration was trying to deport me because my student visa had expired. So, I committed a so-called crime: I took a job,” he laughed. “I went to San Francisco and worked as a reporter, everyday waiting for immigration to call me.” Someone finally did call. “Officer, I’m all packed,” said Lee answering the phone. “I’m not an immigration officer,” the man on the phone protested, “I’m the editor of Writer’s Digest. You won the first prize of our short-short story contest.” The prize was $750. And since Ellery Queen magazine had bought the reprint rights, Lee was to receive twice this amount.

Immigration then awarded Lee five more years in the U.S. and an application for citizen ship. Lee used the time to write his famous first novel, and it was San Francisco’s Chinatown that fed his muse. Not long after, Joseph Fields adapted the novel for Rodger’s and Hammerstein, for which Lee still enjoys royalties.

Twelve novels and as many short stories later, Lee has returned to playwriting, adapting his stories for the stage. Like “Flower Drum Song,” he continues to write about the Chinese American experience. In the comedy “House Guest from Xinjiang,” for example, a young Muslim Chinese student is hosted in the U.S by the Christian family of a California State professor. “To have a Muslim girl living in her home, there are cultural differences,” says Lee. “These are humorous differences, with a serious theme.” Lee is hopeful that a Cal State workshop will lead to a professional production at the Luckman Arts Center.

In addition, Lee has established The Bright Moon Performing Arts Institute in Los Angeles to promote the development of Chinese modern music and theatre. It is based on an organization founded 80 years ago in China by Lee’s musician brother Lee Jinhui. Lee is busy writing the Chinese libretto for “Peach Blossom River,” a modern day musical based on a song by his brother. “We changed the location to the San Gabriel Valley,” says Lee. “Peach Blossom River” is slated to premiere at Bright Moon next year, in cooperation with the American Chinese Performing Arts Theater in El Monte. Bright Moon will also offer courses for youth in dance and music.

Lee encourages new talent. For “Lady of Joy,” a musical adapted from his period novel “The Days of the Tong Wars,” Lee found an American born Chinese who is a singer/dancer to be the composer, and a lyricist who happens to be a physician. “I don’t care whether they’re a physician or not, a singer-dancer or not, as long as they’re talented,” says Lee.

Lee is also working on a Chinese translation of Joseph Fields “Flower Drum Song.” “We’re going to cast here, get the two plays in shape, and then we can have productions in Shanghai and Beijing and tour.” Except for its translation, the original Joseph Fields/Rodgers and Hammerstein production script already exists. “They even tell you how to direct it. God bless the three of them – they all are in heaven. Of the ‘Flower Drum Song,’ I’m probably the only one still living,” says Lee. His secret to longevity is simple. “I always say I’m sixty nine,” he laughs. “When you’re old your heart is not old. Mine is not old. And also: keep busy. It’s when you’re doing nothing that you decline - physically and mentally decline very fast. So I keep swimming, ballroom dancing, and working: writing – constantly writing.”

Birds: Where the Locals Flock

2007-09-12T13:10:00.000-07:00

Birds Rotisserie Chicken Café & Bar
Food Review for losangeles.planjam.com

By Patricia Lamkin

Located at the foot of the Hollywood Hills on Franklin Avenue, Birds is perched in the middle of a unique block between Tamarind and Bronson Streets, where Hollywood wannabes and stars alike flock to the sunny sidewalk cafés to hang out, talk industry, and see-or-be seen. Bird’s diverse and delicious menu is a one of the draws that keeps the locals landing. The featured entrée is rotisserie chicken, glazed in an original marinade and served with your choice of sides (steamed veggies, BBQ beans, roasted potatoes, cole slaw, Spanish rice, etc.). But if you’re not a big eater, they also have lighter fare in the form of California fusion “roll-up” sandwiches, chicken tacos, and their famous curly Q fries. Beef lovers will enjoy the old-fashioned burgers and sloppy joes. For even lighter eaters, salads come in half order sizes, (Caesar, Chinese Chicken, Mediterranean, etc.) and even these are meal-size portions.

While the other restaurants and shops on this block exude a young Hollywood vibe, Birds is hip retro: it’s name an homage to Alfred Hitchcock’s famous horror film “The Birds,” with décor that features giant photos and posters of the suspense master showing off his whimsical reserve and portly charm. Like the cinematic world of Hitchcock, the atmosphere inside Birds is dark, but only in terms of the lighting. The music is upbeat and the friendly wait staff provides excellent service.

After dining at Birds, there is plenty to see or do in just one short block. The Daily Planet newsstand and novelty shop, the Bourgeois Pig Café, the Tamarind Theatre (featuring the Upright Citizens Brigade), Harmony Gallery, and Counterpoint Records and Books are among the cool places here to check out.

Whether you want the “comfort food” of a full on BBQ chicken meal, or fresh lavash sandwiches with a California spin, Birds of Hollywood offers an affordable selection for a variety of tastes, in a breezy, off-the-beaten path locale.

Birds
Rotisserie Chicken Café & Bar
5925 Franklin Ave.
Hollywood, CA
(323) 465-0175
www.birdshollywood.com

Hours
Open daily 11:45am to 11pm

What Goes Up, Must Come to Something

2007-07-11T14:35:00.000-07:00

Published in Backstage West – June 14th

By Patricia Lamkin

It’s every actor’s worst fear: the mouth goes dry, the hands get clammy and--worst of all-the mind goes blank. The dreaded “actor’s nightmare.” If it happens in a show there are fellow actors to save the day. But what if it happens at an audition?

It was time again for the South Eastern Theatre Conference (SETC) preliminary auditions held at Hinds Jr. College in Jackson, Mississippi. In addition to a monologue, I decided to do a song, “As Time Goes By,” by Herman Hupfeld. The day before the audition, I found out that a girl from my acting class with the time slot before mine was doing the same song. Songs are often repeated at regional auditions, but back to back? I went through my sheet music for alternatives. “The Street Where You Live” from My Fair Lady? Tired and I did it last year. “Food Glorious Food” from Oliver? No, I’m petite and they’d only cast me as a kid. I had to use something I knew, had the sheet music for, and was in my key.

Then I got what I thought was a brilliant idea: since my classmate was starting with the intro, I’ll start with the bridge. I ran though it with the pianist, and it sounded pretty good: “Moonlight and love songs never out of date/Hearts full of passion jealousy and hate/Woman needs man and man must have his mate/That no one can deny.” I would finish with the last verse.

In theory it was a good plan. After all, I wasn’t changing songs. The trouble was, up until then I had been working solely on the prologue and first verse. That didn’t mean I knew the rest, no matter how many times I had seen Casablanca!

My moment to shine came. The monologue went great (a selection from Strindberg’s Ghost Sonata), the pianist vamped, and I started to sing. The first line came out okay, and then…well, I “went up”-- the words went right out of my head, gone off to Never-Never Land. I thought, “If I just keep singing, the words will come back!” They didn’t. What came out was pure nonsense that went something like: “Moonlight and love songs never out of date/People la-la-la…that we hate/Woman and man going on a date/ That’s the la-la-la.” I pretty much la-la-ed the rest, and somehow managed to sing the last line exactly right. Go figure!

It was difficult to show my face back in my audition class - many of my classmates had been to the audition - but I did. People were nice, said it was cute, but I just wanted to bag my head. I didn’t know what to say.

The experience got me thinking about what happens when we “go up.” At the time, Shirley MacLaine was in the news with her latest paranormal memoir. To be funny, I started telling people I had had an out-of-body experience. I played with this idea and wrote a comic monologue in which a Beverly Hills woman goes up in the middle of her audition, and then proceeds to tell the judges where she went: “I was summoned to a high mountain in Peru by my Guru Baba Zwingli-Bahingli (‘Barb’ to her friends), only to find that all she wanted was my recipe for Transcendental Tofu Pot Pie,” etc.

I tested the new monologue out in class and actually got some laughs! After grad school, I used that same monologue to get an acting job at the Philadelphia Zoo that lasted three and a half years. Even though I was still acting, I wrote and developed several plays for the Zoo’s Treehouse Troupe, in addition to three commissioned plays for other area museums, an award-winning one act, and several workshop productions.

That terrible nightmare audition not only got me an acting job, it got me started writing plays. But more importantly, it taught me that life experiences can be an endless source of creative fodder. Thankfully, the worst ones can be the most inspiring!

Designing an Estate Plan: Area Lawyers Discuss Accountability and Philanthropy

2007-06-22T12:20:00.000-07:00

For The Design Magazine of the Beverly Hills Courier, August issue

by Patricia Lamkin

Wills, revocable trusts, estate taxes…for most people the very thought of estate planning is fraught with dread. Who wants to face that ugly beast? Not only does it mean coming to grips with our own mortality, but making tough decisions about our property, or who should run the family business. Even more difficult, we must arbitrate these decisions while considering what is best for those we love, and the kind of legacy we want to leave.

Right, Virginia Robinson (in framed photo) willed her manor to the Los Angeles County in 1977 for the public to enjoy. Photograph by Randolph Scott.

Simply put, estate planning is a process in which one decides how, when and to whom their assets will be managed, administered and transferred in the event they become incapacitated or die. For affluent families this process can be complex. “Wealthy people need to make plans that will protect their children and future generations. They need to provide a structure to manage and grow their estate as well as minimize estate taxes,” says Beverly Hills estate planning attorney George I. Nagler. “Every individual has individual concerns,” adds John R. Morris, estate-planning specialist of Morris and Smith in Arcadia. “Certainly one of the most common concerns is the desire to minimize the amount of estate taxes paid.”

The Taxman

In ancient Greece, when someone died, it was customary to place coins on their eyes as payment to the boatman Charon to ferry them across the river Styx to the Land of the Dead. Nowadays, it takes more than a couple of coins to navigate the turbulent waters of estate taxes. As George Harrison cheekily warns us in the Beatles song “Taxman”:

And my advice for those who die,
Declare the pennies on your eyes!
Cause I’m the Taxman,
Yeah, I’m the taxman!

Unless there is an instrument such as a trust in place to defer the date of payment, estate taxes must be paid by your heirs upon your death. If your heirs don’t have the money to pay these taxes, most likely they will have to liquidate assets in order to do so. Needless to say, estate taxes are a “grave” concern for the wealthy.

People will go to great lengths to avoid burdening their families with estate taxes. A famous Los Angeles artist, for example, destroyed several of her works before alarmed friends convinced her to donate her collection to a university. But her fears were not unfounded: the value of her art collection would be taxable upon her death. And art appreciates: the greater the value, the higher the tax.

During his bid for the 2000 Presidential election, Steve Forbes, owner of Forbes magazine, advocated an end to the death tax declaring, “No taxation without respiration!” The IRS, however, does not ascribe to this catchy and well-meaning platform. With the coming election in 2008, it is likely the tax laws will change, but no guarantee the death tax is going away.

“There’s a real hypocritical sales pitch phone business about the estate tax that’s very angering,” says attorney Paul R. Kanin who runs a private firm in Beverly Hills. “People had been told it was to be repealed. A lot of people had made plans presuming it would be repealed. It goes away one year and then it comes back like a malignant cancer,” he says. Indeed the laws governing estate tax are downright strange. This year the first $2,000,000 of your assets are excluded from federal estate tax. In 2009 this will increase to $3,500,000. But if you are lucky enough to die in 2010, regardless of your wealth, you won’t owe any estate tax. That year death tax takes a “holiday”!

Though every situation is different, there are ways to reduce estate tax including, “the use of life insurance in irrevocable trusts, splitting up the ownership of assets and even developing a gift program during the parent's lifetime,” says Nagler.

A Sense of Accountability

There is a growing concern among the wealthy that too much emphasis is put on dodging the death tax instead of doing something meaningful with the money kept; that too often wealth is transferred without accountability; that money gifted to children is more often than not spent rather than invested. “This is an eminently valid concern,” says Morris, “since studies have shown that lump sum inheritances are often very quickly diminished by the recipient.”

To address this issue, estate planners suggest creating frameworks and criteria for gifting to instill a sense of accountability and responsibility in children by postponing their receipt of the money. “I had one client who had young children,” explains Nagler. “He provided that his children would receive their share of the estate when they reached age 40. Until then, they first would be encouraged to complete their education. Then, they would receive an annual bonus equal to 50% of what they earned each year. This way he hoped that each child would be encouraged to develop his earning potential by receiving the annual bonus amounts.”

Their Motivation

But developing the earning potential of a child is not the only goal. “I have a situation where through propinquity, luck and good investing, the kids trusts, while they are still young and college age, are worth an excess of 100 million dollars,” says Kanin, “and then the parents woke up one day and said, ‘wait that trust says they’ll get it all real soon, we need to preempt that because that will destroy their lives and take away their motivation.’”

Kanin cites his own life as an example. “If I had a lot of money when I came out of law school, would I have worked the weekends, the nights, and driven myself nuts and graded exams for a dollar fifty each? Somebody would want me to get a tax return done, I’d say ‘let me do it I could use another hundred dollars.’ I was willing to do whatever it took, to work, to find work...If I had a cushion, I would have just limited it to pleasant cases and nice people, and I probably would have never become much of a lawyer. Part of what gets you there is the struggle, the process.”

Attorney Sally Mihlon agrees. “Too often, children of wealth are protected from the harsh realities of existence. Their needs are supplied without their ever having to make hard ethical and moral choices.” Mihlon is Managing Attorney of Sally Mihlon and Associates, an estate, trust and tax law firm in Pasadena.

Left, Sally Mihlon of Sally Mihlon and Associates. Photo by Janell Mithani of Pasadena.

Role Modeling

But how can parents educate their children in good money management, investment planning, and philanthropy so that money will be used wisely and not spent frivolously?

“Children learn by example,” says Mihlon. “Parents can demonstrate how rewarding it is to make a difference in the lives of others by personal involvement in what one of our clients called in his estate plan ‘good works.’ This is more than just writing a check along with the monthly bills. It requires conduct enabling a child to develop a unique view of life, to learn tolerance and to care about the welfare of others.”

Right, Sally Mihlon takes the time to listen attentively to her own role model, her father David Summers, who has since passed away. Photo by Janell Mithani of Pasadena.

And parents need to remember, “that the skills and genetics and drives of the creators and accumulators of wealth is often times very different than their children,” adds Kanin.

And this scenario is not uncommon. If a child doesn’t want to run the family business, and wants to become a teacher, for example, the parents “should not make that child feel like a failure, or feel like they are less,” Kanin advises. Likewise the child should not feel he has to prove something to the parents in order to feel valued. “Too often the measure stick of success becomes either a money yard-stick or beating out the parents, both of which are not healthy,” says Kanin.

Mihlon suggests getting the kids out of their protective bubble, because there’s a tendency for advantaged teens to separate themselves from the their less advantaged peers. “Some private schools require ‘community service’ activities as part of their curriculum. This is a good start,” she says. “Only through direct personal involvement can young people develop a philosophy and world view which recognizes their own good fortune, while also giving back to the system from which their riches arose.”

Charity Begins at Home

It is easy to make judgments on the wealthy, and presume their philanthropy is motivated by tax write offs, but this is far from true. “Philanthropy is facilitated by tax benefits but is not the well spring of the desire,” says Kanin. “In other words, in a 45% death tax bracket, every dollar to charity reduces taxes by 45 cents BUT it also means 55 cents less for the beneficiaries. There are some techniques involving charities for tax savings, however, they still require a charitable intent. ‘Charity begins at home’…it is a persons values, goals, and sometimes ego that dictates charitable giving.”

Causes of Intense Interest

A good way to begin creating your legacy is to consider what you hope to accomplish with your wealth, and explore what causes interest you and your children. There are excellent non-profit organizations for this, such as the Jewish Community Foundation, which offers consulting services and information on charitable annuities and trusts, as well as the California Community Foundation.

“One need look no further than Bill and Melinda Gates, Princess Diana and the entire Kennedy clan for role models of hands-on giving, public service and awareness of the suffering of others,” says Mihlon. “The legacy of these individuals will continue for generations. All have personally furthered causes of intense interest to them.”

Planning Now

“The biggest mistake is to postpone making an estate plan because people expect the estate tax law to change,” says Nagler, which is why he says that estate planning should be revisited at least every five years, or when tax laws and life circumstances change. “Failing to plan is the functional equivalent of planning to fail,” says Morris.

It is important to select a lawyer who facilitates individualized planning. You may also want to consult a CPA, bank trust officer, or other related professional. Get referrals from friends, check professional certifications, experience, and make sure no one is trying to sell you unnecessary products like annuities or insurance packages. Most lawyers provide free consultations. This is your chance to interview a few and then pick the best candidate.

It’s not just about what color roses you want at your funeral, or who gets stuck with that ugly wedding china; it’s not even just about money. It’s about giving something meaningful to your children, a life value, and a legacy – which is how you’ll be remembered. Wouldn’t you rather get your “assets” in gear now, so they’ll have nice things to say at your memorial?

Roses: Passion by Design

2007-05-08T10:40:00.000-07:00

by Patricia Lamkin

(Originally published in a slightly different form in The Design Magazine of the Beverly Hills Courier, May 2007.)

Musicians and poets have praised it, contemplating its mystique. Tongue-tied lovers let it speak for them, when words were not enough. Gardeners lavish it with affection, despite its forbidding thorns. It is the rose, and for centuries its undeniable charm has suggested romance, beauty and love.

In the world of rose breeding, scientific terms like 'pollen parent,' 'seed parent,' 'cultivar,' and 'hybrid,' might contradict our romantic notions, but the rosarians who use them are quite passionate about what they do.

David Austin loves roses. A farmer turned nurseryman, in his youth Austin loved the opulent and fragrant Old Garden Roses: Gallicas, Damasks, Albas, and Centifolias, and set out to create a new version of the Old Rose which would have the same old fashioned fragrance and grandeur as the original, but with the repeated blooms and color variations of Modern Roses. The result of this vision was the English Rose, a “new rose in the old tradition.” In 1983 two of these roses, ‘Graham Thomas’ and ‘Mary Rose’ were an international sensation when they were introduced at the Chelsea Flower Show. Since then over one hundred and fifty varieties of English Roses have been introduced by Austin, making his nurseries one of the world's preeminent breeders.

World-renowned rose authority Michael Marriott has been with the David Austin UK nursery for 22 years as a nursery manager, garden designer, lecturer, and writer. As Technical Manager, Marriott knows firsthand what makes David Austin roses so spectacular: “David Austin has a very firm idea about what he wants his roses to look like, which includes...a beautiful bloom in the style of the Old Roses, a wonderful fragrance, good health and attractive shrubby growth."

"But the most important character is that it should have an overall beauty and charm," he continues. Yet with all of his technical expertese, even Marriott can't quite put his finger on what this is. "These last two characters are very difficult to define but easy to recognize and very much appreciated by gardeners."

Left to right: David Austin, David Austin Jr. and Michael Marriott.

Even hybrid roses express a romantic mystique. But how are they made? “By transferring pollen from one variety to another,” Marriott explains. When the parent plants are just ready to bloom, the young petals are peeled away revealing the stamens which are carefully removed. "They are kept at 70F overnight by which time the pollen has been released and can be used on the stigma of a flower of another variety,” he says.

The Subject Was Roses

Wilhelm Kordes is a fourth generation German rosarian whose family have been respected rose breeders since 1887. At a recent lecture series called "Great Rosarians of the World" hosted by Huntington Botanical Gardens in San Marino, Kordes passionately descibed this seemingly unromantic reproductive process.

Pollination, the old fashioned way.
Kordes explained that at his nursery, Kordes & Sons, the pollination process is done by hand. Pollinators wash their hands between pollinations so as not to mix up the pollens. The couplings are pre-arranged and charted, and once the seed plants (mothers) flower in May, they are pollinated and tagged to keep track of the pollen parents (fathers).

This process begins with 1400 mother plants, uses 2,000 pollination-flower combinations, producing 100,000 pollinated flowers. But that’s just the beginning.

The fruit of these labors are plump, red rose hips. “If the hip sets, it can be harvested several weeks later when it has turned red or orange,” said Marriott. The hips are filled with rose seeds. Though the numbers vary between cultivators, about 60 to 80,000 hips are harvested, making about 800,000 seeds, which become about 400,000 seedlings one year later.

When these seedlings flower, the ones not up to par are destroyed. Clair Martin, Curator of The Huntington’s Rose Collection, elaborated on this process. “A hybridizer like Jackson Perkins or David Austin will grow ¼ million to ½ million seedlings per year. Many of these die, they don’t do well, they get diseases, or they aren’t pretty – so they get culled out. In the first year, they scale down to about 100 roses, and then finally down to just a few.” Qualities breeders look for include disease resistance, frost tolerance, heat resistance, color, shape and fragrance.

To achieve these select few roses, groups of plants are grown in trial fields over 8 or 9 years. Yes, years. When all is said and done, only 5 or 6 varieties remain, the crème de la crème of the original seedlings, and they are, of course, gorgeous.

As for the parentage of these prize winning roses, at David Austin nurseries, that is a closely guarded secret. "We don't give out parentages at all, some breeders do, but not us," says Marriott. "It is a bit like Coca Cola giving out their recipe although that is a bit of an exaggeration."

The Name of the Rose

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet."

So says Juliet in the balcony scene in Shakespeare’s famous romantic tragedy, Romeo and Juliet. But this romantic notion translates into something else for rose breeders, for “that which we call a rose” must bow to sales and marketing.

Each new variety of rose is patented and trademarked so that the hybridizer gets royalties, and then assigned official botanical family and species names. But it also gets a marketable common name. As an appropriate example:
Species: Rosa, 'William Shakespeare 2000', Family: Rosaceae, 'William Shakespeare 2000' being the common name.

“A rose’s name is essentially sales driven,” says Martin, “Hybridizers make the name decisions, and this is based on price.”

While price is definitely a factor, David Austin seems to enjoy christening roses. He names them after characters from Shakespeare and Chaucer, "Othello" and "Wife of Bath" for example; and famous landmarks in Britain, ‘Winchester Cathedral." Several of his cultivars have been named after members of his family ("Lillian Austin" and "Pat Austin"), this being one of the perks of the job.

One of his newest varieties is ‘The Huntington Rose,’ is a deep pink flower with a many-petalled center.

"The Huntington Rose"
Photo courtesy of David Austin Roses UK.

This rose “of true Old Rose character,” is part of David Austin’s 7th collection for 2007, and is named in honor of Huntington Botanical Gardens. It will be the official flower of the Rose Garden's centennial in 2008. “This rose will become one of our leading varieties,” boasts Austin's US website. It was named in honor of Clair Martin, curator of the Huntington Library Rose Garden, because, "his continued enthusiasm for the English Roses has inspired many gardeners."

This comes as no surprise. Martin shares Austin’s passion for Old Roses, having written two books on the subject: 100 Old Roses for the American Garden and 100 English Roses for the American Garden. For the latter work, Austin wrote the introduction.

But even a rose as nobly named as the Huntington Rose might have a different name in another country. Martin himself compares it to the naming of cars: "When Chevy came out with the Nova, it didn’t sell in Mexico, because Nova means ‘won’t go’ in Spanish."

Case and point, in England, The Huntington Rose began as something else entirely. “We renamed it from 'Alan Titchmarsh,'” explained Marriott, “who is the best known gardening presenter in the UK. We thought that 'Alan Titchmarsh' as a name for a rose wouldn't go down too well in the US.”

Whatever their names may be, roses have been cross-bred through the ages, going back 5,000 years. Though the modern process is more technical and precise, the rose somehow belies this control, and maintains a romantic quality that even the greatest rosarians cannot put into words.

A Bonny Bunch of Roses

Like the creation of roses themselves, designing a rose garden is a rewarding labor that involves careful planning. Interior designer Alexandra Anderson of Alexandra Anderson Design Atelier in Beverly Hills explains that designing gardens and outdoor spaces involves creative cooperation.

“Ideally, the design of home and garden is like a symphony, and all of the designers are instrumental in creating the desire of the client. The architect, the interior designer, the landscape architect, and the floral designer all play a part in pushing the desired theme,” she says.

Recently Anderson worked with landscape architect Mark Beall of Mark Beall + Associates who designed an English-style rose garden in Holmby Hills using David Austin roses. Beall emulated the late 19th/early 20th century style of one of David Austin’s early influences. “Using Gertrude Jekyll as my muse, I attempted to design color-specific perennial borders within a formal structure,” Beall said.

Anderson found this 20th century marble dog for the garden patio. "I love when I find a wonderful piece to ornament a garden or an outdoor living space, especially when the element can surprise or delight,” she says.

Obediently welcoming outdoor dining guests, this pooch won’t beg for table scraps.

Anderson also helps clients choose the right fabric patterns for use on their terraces. “The fabulous weather in Southern California causes clients to want to take advantage of all aspects of their properties,” she says. “The innovations in outdoor furniture and fabrics have enabled the interior designers to create stylish, comfortable outdoor rooms that become as important as the rooms of the interior.”

I Never Promised You A Rose Garden

Our fabulous dry weather might be one of the biggest challenges for anyone wanting an English garden in Southern California. Because English gardens are seasonal, and use more annual plants, it is impractical to imitate them exactly. Trying to create a true English garden here would be “an irresponsible endeavor in our parched state,” Beall says.

“Here, English gardens tend to be more perennial than annual and we try very hard to make sure the gardens don't have a down time; we are so used to seeing things green year round. It is an enormously difficult task because everything has some form of downtime,” Beall says.

Luckily, English "New Wave" designs use CA natives such as Ceanothus, Fremontodendron, and Penstemon. Mediterranean plants like Lavender or Santolina, tropical plants like Cannas and Citrus, or exotics like Cordyline and Yuccas all work very well. “The English are mad about plants from all over the world,” says Beall.

One important rule of garden design is the use of layers. To achieve this, Beall focused on color in the borders, “a single color or gradations of color: yellow, orange, reds and magenta, the truest blues with white, etc.,” he explains.

Beall enjoys using roses in many types of gardens. “Mediterranean gardens especially,” he said. “Formal French Style gardens, modern gardens, Chinese gardens. I think just about anything could include roses but perhaps not used in the traditional sense.”

Stop and Smell the Roses

Tim Lindsey, Superintendent of Virginia Robinson Gardens in Beverly Hills, oversees the ongoing restoration and preservation of the grounds, and is also a teacher, historian, lecturer and landscape restorer.

The Rose Garden sits by a small tennis court. Hybrid teas, known for their sweet frangraces and traditional shapes, are the preferred rose in formal designs like this one. “The colors of these roses range from light pink to red,” said Lindsey. Blush pink is echoed in the tennis court wall, being a favorite color of Virginia Robinson.

Classical statues are a common motif of formal rose gardens: “During the winter months when plants are dormant, the statues provide visual interest,” Lindsey said. But from May to July, and October to November, the California blooming season, the statues add elegance and old world charm as they anchor our eyes to the floating drama of color around them.

Lantana interspersed with crocosmia makes a wonderful ground cover behind these pruned roses in the estate's cutting garden. In the background a tall hedge of eugenia provides a foil for the colors.

Repeating rose arbors create a sequential rhythm, and frames for viewing the far off landscape.

These arbors are covered with two types of climbing roses, in white and red, and it is no accident that they bloom at different times. The Sally Holmes blooms first, in modest white with a blush of pink in the middle. On Sally’s heels comes her nearly identical twin sister, the Altissimo in a jealous red. The blooms overlap for about two weeks with headstrong Altissimo getting in the last word: she blooms a few weeks longer.

In Greek myth, Chloris, the goddess of flowers, is said to have created the rose from a lifeless nymph she found in the woods. Her creation was such a delight that the other gods were inspired to help. Aphrodite the goddess of love bestowed on it beauty, Dionysus the god of wine gave its lovely scent, and the West Wind Zephyr parted the clouds so that the sun god Apollo could shine on it. Whether one's passion is creating roses or rose gardens, like the myth, everyone wants in on the project. The rose is a designers flower, and has been for thousands of years. What can be more romantic than that?

Matthew Jordan Smith direct mail sample

2007-05-07T10:39:00.000-07:00

I am writing to you on behalf of photographer Matthew Jordan Smith to invite you to visit his online portfolio-gallery at www.matthewjordansmith.com.

Exploring Matthew Jordan Smith’s collection of images is like watching a beautifully performed ballet, wherein the form and grace of each movement is executed with such seeming ease that we momentarily forget the highly technical and physical craft required to create it. Just as we forget we are in a theatre, the physical reality of the photograph falls away, and we find ourselves having an aesthetic experience without even knowing it.

Matthew’s profound level of visual communication via the photographic medium has brought him some high profile clients. His celebrity portfolio includes Oprah Winfrey, Christian Slater, Quincy Jones, Jennifer Connelly, Samuel L. Jackson, Tyra Banks, Jeff Goldblum, Cynthia Nixon and Jamie Foxx. Matthew uses a unique combination of light shaping tools to create his signature look. Each portrait tells its own story, and evokes the style, whimsy and charisma of the artists without pretension. Whether the portrait is direct, or simply a natural moment captured, we are timelessly drawn in, as if we were there when the photo was snapped, eavesdropping on a conversation, or a joke just told. We are made to feel the person is reacting to us, not for us, for they are uninhibited and at ease - a friend we’ve never really known until now. And it’s Matthew who lets us know them.

As a fashion photographer and designer, Matthew creates whatever mood is needed with artistry and sophistication. His playful designs can use shocking color, sharp lines, and dramatic textures, and he often explores the theme of symmetrical balance within oppositional forces, such as yin and yang, black and white, or giving and receiving. In addition to his lighting techniques, he also can create dramatic movement patterns in his photographs in which a single individual becomes a dynamic dance of many. Matthew’s advertising campaigns include Pantene, L’Oreal, Revlon and Olay.

Thank you for letting me tell you a little about photographer Matthew Jordan Smith. I think when you explore his site you will find that his images will bring you back again and again. It’s a very cool thing. See for yourself: www.matthewjordansmith.com.

Best regards,

Patricia Lamkin

Fearless Color

2007-04-25T12:30:00.000-07:00

By Patricia Lamkin

I have been coloring my hair at home for several years, and consider myself pretty good at it. I usually stick with the package directions, and go for a color that is close to my natural shade. Recently, however, I diverged from this boring (and recommended) routine. It was time to color my hair again and I wanted something different. I was going for the hair color of Spiderman's girlfriend, Mary Jane, (played by Kirsten Dunst in the recent films), because I liked the melon tones of her red hair. I did some research into what shades were available, but couldn't find that color. One day at the drug store, I made an impulsive purchase. The color on the box somewhat resembled Mary Jane's hair and was called "Fearless Color" shade #44, Radiant Ruby (deep red). Something about it didn't seem right, but I was in a fearless kind of mood, so the advertising won out over common sense.

After recovering from the initial shock of the clown red that resulted, I contacted the "color experts" number listed on the package. I told them all about Mary Jane's hair, and how it seemed to me that the picture on the box resembled the color I wanted. I knew what they were going to say - that the color result depends on your starting color. Mine was already a golden red - which intensified #44. The color expert put me on hold, presumably to consult with her associates on my dilemma. When she returned she told me to mix 1 oz of "Mocha Splash", 1 oz developer and 1 oz regular shampoo. She said to shampoo this concoction into my hair, and this would "tone down" the red. "But what about that Mary Jane look?" I asked. I was told that I would have to wait four weeks and let my hair "rest". I had a flashing image of my hair in Hawaii, lounging by a green sea in a polka dot bikini.

Somewhat disappointed, I went back to the drug store for the Mocha Splash and was alarmed at how dark it was. I called back the color experts, but got another associate - this time a man. As I painfully went back into my story, I quickly learned they already had a "color file" on me! "Won't this just turn my hair brown? I don't want brown hair," I asked with concern. No, he said. Just keep it on for the recommended time, and it will tone down the red. So I did. The result was that the very dark brown went to my drier ends, creating a "reverse skunk" effect. I now had blazing red hair with brown tips. Lovely!

I did not give up on my Mary Jane look, and after four weeks I called the color experts again, and was told to buy #108 (Golden Red) and #110 (Light Auburn), and mix 3/4 of 110 with 1/4 of 108. It helped a little, but did not diminish the brown tips. For that I had to get a haircut.

It's interesting to me how advertising can work on us. "Fearless Color" has a double entendre. On one hand it means it's "foolproof”. On the other, it taunts us to be daring, to go boldly forth into that fearless red night. It’s a brilliant slogan for packaged hair color. As a result of being influenced by these words, not only did I buy one box of color, but three additional boxes to rectify my original mishap. Even though the manufacturer offered discounts, the bottom line is I spent four times as much just to get my hair back to presentable. As for the “Mary Jane” look, I think I’ll just let my hair stay in Hawaii.

50 Cities of the World

2007-02-22T17:07:00.000-08:00

by Patricia Lamkin
Created for Vision Films Inc, February, 2001
For the Video Travel Series "Cities of the World"

TOKYO
Tokyo is a dynamic city of contrasts: the beautiful and precise dance and theatre traditions of Japans cultural past, juxtaposed with starkly modern skyscrapers, sophisticated elevated trains and traffic of epic proportions. Stroll along the Ginza, a walkway lined with shops, discos, karaoke bars, restaurants and famous for its kabuki theatre. Later take in some of Tokyo’s many ancient temples which still welcome the faithful: Yushima Seido, devoted to the 6th century sage Confucius, or the Meiji mausoleum, the most important Shinto temple in Tokyo. Nestled within some of the many formal gardens you will find tea pavilions, where the enjoyment of drinking tea is elevated in a ritual over 500 years old.

WARSAW
Experience the romantic melancholy of Chopin’s Warsaw, with it’s ornate churches, and monuments to past tragedies. You will tour the majestic Castle of Ujazdow, one of Warsaws many architectural wonders of the Italian Renaissance. In nearby Lazieky park you’ll find open air concerts, opera and ballet, and traditional Polish festivals with elaborate costumes of embroidery and lace. The “royal road” to Wilanow royal palace is lined with 17th and 18th century villas and baroque churches. Further south we find the Church of the Holy Cross, famous for it’s lavish altars and the urn that holds the heart of Frederick Chopin.

AMSTERDAM
Situated at the mouth of the Rhine, Amsterdam is a marvel of Dutch ingenuity, where dams have transformed once useless marshland into farms, residential areas, and lush fields of tulips and hyacinths. An excellent way to see the city is a boat ride on the canals, which flow under some 1,300 picturesque bridges, including the Magere Brug, among of the most photographed in Amsterdam. Quaint cafés, fragrant flower markets, ornate Dutch Renaissance buildings and charming windmills are among the many delightful offerings of this city. At the Rijiksmuseum, you’ll view renowned works by Dutch masters such as Rembrandt, Pieter de Hoogh and Vermeer. Courteous bicyclists abound along Amsterdam’s tree-lined streets, a testament to the unpretentious atmosphere of the European capital of all liberties.

ATHENS AND THE METEORS
When Athens was declared Greece’s capital in 1834, a neoclassical renewal movement by Danish and German architects revived the ancient look of the modern city. Buildings such as the National Library and the Academy of Sciences are inspired by the monuments of the nearby Acropolis, the magnificent citadel ruins of ancient Athens. In nearby Monastiraki Square, all eras of Athenian history are preserved: a Turkish mosque, a Byzantine church, Roman ruins, and the railway station. You will enjoy flea markets and shops of all kinds on the adjacent streets. The National Archaeological Museum houses the most diversified collection of ancient Greek art, and objects from the royal tombs of Mycenea. Precious vases, sculptures, and funerary stele scenes of everyday life demonstrate the height of the Greek Golden Age.

Not far from Corinth in the Peloponnese, are the ruins of the ancient cities of Argos, Tyrinth and Mycenea which hold archeological evidence that Homers mythic heroes of the Illiad did indeed exist. Other sites demonstrate the intelligence and beauty of ancient Greece, including the 4th century theatre at Epydaurus, still in use today because of its excellent acoustics, and the 5th century ruins of the temple of Poseidon at Cape Sunio, known as the “sacred point” in Homer’s Odyssey.

BARCELONA
Refurbished for the 1992 Olympic Games, Barcelona offers both the charm of an ancient settlement and the beauty of a thoughtfully planned modern city. Small squares and narrow alleys bustle with street artists and painters. Imaginative plazas and parks which were once abandoned factories are alive with statues, fountains, sculptures and mosaics by Catalan masters like Gaudi and Miro. The main arteries of the city converge on The Placa de Catalunya, a large plaza with a medieval quarter on one side, and spacious 19th century homes on the other. Here begins the famous Rambla, a shady pedestrian avenue filled with newspaper stands, cafes, flower stalls, and culminating in a seafront monument to Christopher Columbus. A visit to Barcelona is incomplete without a tour of the Sagrada Familia, (Church of the Holy Family) Antonio Guadi’s Neo-Gothic masterpiece, with its breathtaking spires, and numerous modernist steeples.

BANGKOK
Standing on the turns of the Chaophraya river, Bangkok or “the land of the wild prunes” was founded in 1782. Historically it has relied heavily on the river and its canals for trade, and still does today. Among the many busy markets you’ll find fresh foods of all kinds, and a wide variety of flowers – orchids, hibiscus, lotus and jasmine. Discover beautiful temples with ornately carved wooded doors, such as the ancient Wat Arun – the temple of the aurora, or the Wat Traimitr where a solid gold Buddha that weighs 5 and a half tons is carefully safeguarded. Bangkok is a very modern, hectic city, but off the main roads you’ll find the laid back, joyful and traditional atmosphere of an ancient people that have always known how to preserve their independence.

COPENHAGEN
Located on the straits that divide Denmark and Sweden, Copenhagen’s name appropriately means “trading port.” At the sea-front, called the Langeline, is the famous statue of Hans Christian Anderson’s The Little Mermaid, now an enduring symbol of Copenhagen. Browse through elegant handicraft goods in the Danish design shops, where the porcelain is internationally renowned. Walk along Stroget Street, filled with shops steeped in old Copenhagen tradition, like Larsen’s pipe and tobacco shop, and spilling into the beautiful gardens and fountains of the Old and New Squares. By day ride along the network of bicycle paths to explore the city’s many historic parks and famous sculptures, by night enjoy Danish beer while listening to live jazz at one of the many friendly night clubs.

BERLIN
An image of hope rises out of the wall remnants of Checkpoint Charlie, now covered completely with decorations, reminding visitors that today’s Berlin thrives on reunification and renewal. One of Europe’s top cities for entertainment, you will find Berlin night clubs continue to offer variety and irreverence, as they did in their pre-war heyday. On the lively Freidrichstrasse is the re-opened Grand Hotel, and theatres such the Metropol, and the Berliner Ensemble, founded by Bertold Brecht. The 19th century architect Schinkel, responsible for many of Berlins monuments, also designed the Altes Museum, the Nationalgalerie, and the famous Pergamon, with its artifacts from ancient Greece, Rome and Egypt. From the 18th century Castle of Charlottenburg, to the spectacular modern Telefunken skyscraper, the past and present are reconciled in the buildings and monuments of Berlin.

DUBLIN
Named for the River Liffey which flows into the bay, the Irish name Dublin means “black pond.” More like a giant village than a metropolis, this green city is filled with friendly people who daily celebrate their celtic heritage. Young and old join in the music on Grafton Street, where fiddles, flutes, accordians, banjos and Irish bodran drums permeate styles ranging from traditional to rock and popular folk. Grafton Street’s shops offer a variety of Irish crafts, wool sweaters, Waterford crystal, or fine linens. Founded by Elizabeth I in the 16th century, Trinity College is the most renowned Irish cultural institute, surrounded by greenery in a park with sculptures by Henry Moore and Arnaldo Pomodoro. In the famous library is the ornately illustrated Book of Kells, considered the most beautiful and precious manuscript in the world. At the end of the day, follow the local throng to one of Dublin’s 900 pubs, and savor a dark, heady pint of Guinness, James Joyce’s “wine of Ireland.”

CHICAGO
Chicago is the melting pot of the mid-west: Germans, Ukranians, Poles, Irish, Italians and Jews all settled here giving this city its distinctive cultural diversity and tenacious spirit. As the cradle of modern American architecture and ingenuity, Chicago is the city that invented the skyscraper, and the Sears Tower at 443 meters is the tallest building in the world. Art deco skyscrapers blend in with more recent towers of glass and metal in the area known as the Loop, the city center, and are grounded with huge mosiacs, pictures and sculptures. Chicagoans love football and baseball, as the many stadiums in the city will attest: Soldiers Field is home to the Bears, and Comiskey Park and Wrigley Field respectively serve baseball’s White Sox and Cubs. Contrary to popular belief, Chicagoans are art lovers. One of the most significant art collections in the United States can be found at the Art Institute of Chicago, known for its French Impressionists, Italian Masters and American Realist collections.

EDINBURGH
In the 1800’s, the costumes and music of Scotland were romanticized in the popular novels of Walter Scott - the woolen Tartan colors and kilts, and the sound of bagpipes carrying for miles. Today the flavor of that romance lives on in Scott’s land of lush green meadows, and rolling hills. It can be tasted in the whiskey distilled from the calcium-free waters that filter through Scotland’s rich peat bogs. Edinburgh is a city steeped in ancient legends and age old traditions, such as the firing of a cannon every afternoon from the ramparts of Edinburgh Castle, or the mysterious rise and fall of Mary Queen of Scots. Against the medieval silhouette of the Old Town’s castle towers, is James Craig’s New Town, with its wide 18th century streets, museums and fashionable private homes. Edinburgh is a highly cultural town. Art, culture and technology are celebrated in the 19th century Museum of Scotland. The National Gallery holds works by the English portraitists Reynolds and Gainsborough, and a famous self-portrait by Rembrandt. At the International Edinburgh Festival, contemporary works in theatre, dance, and music are presented at the world famous New Festival Theatre and other venues throughout the city.

SYDNEY - CANBERRA
Once a riotous city of convicts, violent deportees and drunken soldiers, the modern Sydney has risen high above its humble beginnings. The capital of New South Wales, Sydney sports plenty of green open spaces, skyscrapers, cultural sites, colorful bars and good beer. One of Sydney’s main attractions is the Rocks, an historic center whose small streets recall the times of the first settlers and buildings of the early 19th century. The remarkable Sydney Tower, at 305 meters, with a rotating restaurant at its peak, offers an outstanding panoramic view of the city while you dine. Nestled in Sydney’s beautiful port, is the famous Opera House. Designed by Danish architect John Utzon, it has four auditoriums, 5,179 seats, and has become a distinctive symbol of the city. Sydney nights are filled with concerts, film performances, and a lively entertainment district called Kings Cross, where bars, discos and “forbidden” attractions await you.

An hour away from Sydney by plane is Canberra, Australia’s capital and seat of the government. Surrounded by forests, Canberra is the largest city of Australia’s interior, with over 300 thousand inhabitants.

FLORENCE
The Renaissance home of Michaelangelo, Florence has an artistic heritage that makes it one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The harmonious balance of domes, towers and belfries, geometrical squares, and cloisters, reflect the Renaissance love of precision and proportion. The Baptistry, with its octagonal plan, colorful marble, and beautiful mosaic dome interior, dates back to Roman times and was restored in the 12th century. The Renaissance marriage between art and science are seen throughout the city in the works of Brunelleschi: the Santo Spirito, with its elaborate bell tower, and the Ospedale degli Innocenti. One of Florence’s greatest tourist attractions is the Ponte Vecchio, the Arno rivers oldest and most celebrated bridge. Across the Arno, along the quaint labyrinth of medieval back streets, collectors can find antique pieces and objects of great value in the markets and workshops of the city’s many craftsmen.

NEW YORK
At the center of the Hudson Bay stands the Statue of Liberty, once a profound image for 19th century immigrants arriving by boat, and now an enduring symbol of New York City. Ethnic sections like Little Italy and Chinatown are a testament to New York’s reputation as a “melting pot.” Even the familiar New York skyline reflects variety: the old style Empire State Building, the deco Chrysler Building and the geometrically simple World Trade Center. The red-bricked charm of Greenwich Village has long attracted artists and bohemians, but in recent years they have flocked to Soho, with its warehouse lofts and art galleries. In the middle of this bustling city is the vast green oasis known as Central Park where New Yorkers go to relax and play. On nearby Fifth Avenue the Metropolitan Museum of Art holds a collection that spans all of history. Across the park is the Lincoln Center cultural complex, home to the Philharmonic, the New York State Theatre and the legendary Metropolitan Opera House.

LOS ANGELES
A city that produces dreams on an industrial scale for the whole world in the form of cinema, television and music, Los Angeles is just like the movies: a glamorous and exciting façade. To better understand LA, take a trip to Universal Studios, a theme park that reveals the tricks of the movie trade, where visitors take part in the grand illusions of film and television. Huge Spanish styled villas with lush flower gardens protect the privileged residents of Beverly Hills from the invading outside world. At the center of Beverly Hills life is Rodeo Drive, with its exclusive, world famous shops. Along Hollywood Boulevard is the famous Mann’s Chinese Theatre, opened in 1929, where hand prints of movie stars are immortalized in the pavement. Various ethnic groups of the city can be seen at the seemingly out of place Farmers Market, known for its inexpensive fresh produce. With the reality of its artifice, the back-stabbing struggles to reach the top, the smog, the youth crime, and the massive traffic, it is comforting to know that the serene mountainous scenery and beautiful sunsets of Los Angeles are not made of cardboard.

JERUSALEM
A holy city for three religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, Jerusalem is an ancient city literally layered with cultures and monuments that span two milleniums. The Temple Mount is named for the great Jewish temple, destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D. On top of it is the El Aqsa mosque and the golden Dome on the Rock, Islamic monuments that have stood for centuries. At the “Wailing Wall” the Jews traditionally bewail their ancient temple’s destruction. In the Old City, Roman and Byzantium ruins have been excavated and restored - the “Cardo Massimo” or main street of Byzantine Jerusalem, is now a pleasant pedestrian walk with luxury boutiques. Christian processionals from the Mount of Olives end at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, dedicated to the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. Despite this city’s tumultuous modern history, the New Jerusalem is becoming a modern metropolis, with trendy cafes, restaurants, shopping centers and street musicians, leaning towards a youthful and relaxed atmosphere.

HONG KONG
Disneyland’s commercial spirit juxtaposed with frugal Asiatic ways, best describes the international trade metropolis of Hong Kong. Even the skyscrapers integrate technology and archaic tradition: instead of metal tubes, bamboo scaffolding is used. And within the crowded, electric energy of the commercial city machine there is an active Asian tradition. At the Academy Theatre, courses in traditional stylized dance are taught. In the parks, thousands of locals practice the meditative discipline of Tai-Chi-Chuan. Overlooking the monastery of Po Lin is a 34 meter high Buddha, the largest in the world. Seven million visitors come to Hong Kong each year, for business and pleasure with 90 ultra modern hotels to choose from. Rich Chinese cuisine in all its regional variations, reasonably priced open-air markets, exotic tea shops, and Asian bazaars are among the many attractions. Visitors will also enjoy the Hong Kong Cultural Center, the Ocean Park aquarium and the fashionable bathing resorts on Repulse Bay.

CAIRO AND THE VALLEY OF THE NILE
Mosque minarets and tranquil palms along the Nile are the first impression of Cairo, and stir the imagination to ancient civilizations, and myths from the beginning of time. But modern Cairo imposes a stark reality against this legendary backdrop: 16 million inhabitants – half of Egypt’s population, living in overcrowded, and often precarious conditions. Cairo is now the largest urban mass in Africa. The majority of the people are descendants of the ancient Egyptians. But the natives mixed in with their Arab invaders after 639, making Islam the predominant religion. Giza and the geometrically perfect forms of the pyramids, now engulfed by the suburban metropolis, are steadfast images of the monarch who was believed to be both man and god. On the site of what was once Memphis, the capital of the empire of the pharaohs for centuries, stand the funerary monuments of the pharaohs Cheops, Chefren and Mycerin which date back 45 centuries.

ISTANBUL
Situated on the narrow straits of the sea known as the Golden Horn, Istanbul was founded some 2700 years ago as a bridge between the European and Asian cultures. This city was the second Rome of the ancient world and the heart of the Byzantine Empire which stretched from the Balkins to the Middle East, and covered all of North Africa. The imposing Topkapi Palace is the imperial compound of elaborate palaces built by sultans at the end of the fifteenth century. Nearby is the remarkable blue mosque of St. Sophia, built for the emperor Justinian about 537, and one of the wonders of the world. The most important Roman monument in the city is the Hippodrome, where theatrical spectacles were once greeted by enthusiastic crowds. The taste for the theatrical is carried on in the cheerful and colorful street merchants today. You will find them in the Egyptian Bazaar of spices, where exotic aromas fill the air, and the Great Bazaar, a covered market that is an institution of Istanbul.

HAVANA
The romantic capital of the Caribbean, and once a flourishing base for Spain’s colonial expansion, today’s Havana is the place to go for historic forts, castles and a lively nightlife, but its future development is ill defined. Time has stood still on Havana’s streets, where the famous bars once frequented by Hemingway have not changed since the 1950’s. The enduring image of Che Guevara, who joined Fidel and Raul Castro in the fifties to fight the regime of the Batista dictatorship, is celebrated today on the city’s walls. Cigar affictionados around the world appreciate the rich, sweet, hand-rolled Cuban cigars created from the finely cultivated tobacco of Vuelta Abajo and the Vinales valley. The old forts such as the Castle de la Real Fuerza, and the Castle de los Tres Reyes del Morro are popular tourist attractions. On the Malecon, the beautiful seafront area filled with clubs, hotels, taverns and local color, a fusion of African rhythms and Spanish music influence the Caribbean sounds that make up Cuban music.

MADRID
Madrid, Spain belongs to a land of great conquests, where the joy of life and romance with death are enacted in traditions such as the bullfights and the flamenco. The Metropolis building with its angel, has become a symbol of the city. The Palacio de Oriente royal palace reflects the grandeur of Spain’s dogmatic Catholic history. The size and technical sophistication of the great ancient Roman aquaduct in nearby Segovia is mind boggling. Madrid is known for her theatres, but most famous is the “siglo de oro” where the great Spanish playwright Lope de Vega rose to prominence between the 16th and 17th centuries. The streets of the Old quarter are decorated with ceramic tiles, sweets, and pastries in baroque design. Winged horses and epic angels adorn the massive Ministry of Agriculture on the Calle de Atocha. It was on this street that Calderon’s story of an idealist knight named Don Quixote was first printed.

JOHANESBURG
Johanesburg is the greatest expression of South Africa’s diversity of African, European and American influences. The discovery of the Transvaal gold deposits here one hundred years ago gave rise to a mass migration and tumultuous growth which left cultural concerns behind. But the ramshackle huts and houses evolved into an acceptable urban center, and now Johanesburg is building modern museums, and theatres such as the Johanesburg Art Gallery and the New Market Complex, surrounded by imposing bronze statues. The tension between the ethnic groups here also gives rise to a sense of creative potential and originality, as seen in the busy market where the mix of races and social classes rub shoulders daily. Within the complex is Krippies bar, where visitors and locals take in good jazz, while the weekly craft market here offers traditional tribal dances.

KATHMANDU
The mountains around Nepal represent for the locals the many divinities of the Hindu and Buddhist Olympus, which perhaps explains why the people of this region live in religious tolerance and respect. Small fifteen-seater planes take explorers to the base camps for excursions into the snow-covered peaks, where climbers can find settlements up to 3500 meters. The effects of tourism has had little impact on the Nepalese, whose distinct languages and customs retain the qualities of either the northern migrants or the southern Indians that make up their Tibetan roots. Rickshaws and three-wheeled motor vans serve as alternatives to real taxis, and the chaotic traffic only stops for the occasional sacred cow that decides to sit in the middle of the road. Five miles from the center of the city is Bodnath stupa, the largest Buddhist temple, which stands at 40 meters tall. Inside the meditative rituals of the faithful include bell-ringing and the spinning of prayer wheels.

BERN, LUCERNE, FREIBURG
Precision clocks, delicious cheese, covered bridges, and the grand Alpen vista make up the world that is Switzerland. Travel past the forests and hills of the central plateau, and you’ll find the river Aare, which flows through the capital Bern, the city of the bear. According to an old legend, Bern’s name came from a bear that was killed by the Duke von Zahringer on the site where the city was built. On the main road of Bern is the Marktgasse, a clock tower built in 1530. This astronomical clock shows the hour, day, month and position of the Zodiac, and its humorous mechanical figures move in synchronized progression.

Viewed from above, Lucerne is recognizable by its ancient wooden bridges, and mass of pointed roofs and medieval towers. Around the city center are Renaissance and baroque houses like the Kornmarkt, dominated by the square tower of the Old Town Hall. Stories from local history are painted on the facades of the buildings, such as the Weinmarkets building with its biblical images of eve and the serpent on the Tree of Knowledge. These paintings date back to the 18th or 19th centuries.

On a bend in the Sarine river is Freiburg, a medieval city built on several levels and featuring a quaint covered bridge, Bern Bridge. Founded in the 12th century, Freiburg is the official center of Swiss Catholicism and is famous for its prestigious university. The Gothic cathedral of St. Nicholas bears a high tower with gargoyles overlooking the city. Abundant grazing lands contribute to the rich dairy products for which Switzerland is world famous, and between Lucerne and Bern, and south of Freiburg, famous cheeses are made, such as Emmenthal and Gruyere.

BRUSSELS-BRUGES
Opulent 19th century buildings, delicious cuisine, fine lace, and luxurious chocolate, are among the rich offerings of Brussels, the capital of Belgium. The elegant 19th century Place Royale and the church of St. Jacques are surrounded by neo-classical palaces. Colorful murals by modern artists adorn the walls of many buildings, and are reminiscent in style to Medieval and Renaissance Flemish painters. Some of the greatest masterpieces of Art Nouveau are found in Brussells: the Stoclet house, designed by the Viennese Josef Hoffman, and buildings designed by the Belgian Victor Horta. Meat, fish and game are among the gastronomic enjoyments, and well as unique pastries. Gueuze, Brussels’ rich flavored beer, is brewed with the care of French Champagne.

Much like Venice, Bruge is a romantic city of canals, narrow roads and gardens. Once isolated and in decline, Bruge was called “Bruges-la-Morte” by a 19th century writer, but today its perfectly preserved urban and artistic treasures inspire intellectual, spiritual and economic growth. In the historic center is the Burg, a square surrounded by historic buildings: the Town Hall, the Chancellery, and the Basilica of the Sacred Blood. Bright, warm colors characterize the Masterpieces of Flemish painting, and can be found in the Groeninge Museum, including works by Jan van Eyck, and Roger van der Weyden.

MEXICO CITY
Despite having the largest population in the world, serious environmental problems, and an unstable terrain, Mexico City continues to grow at an alarming rate. The lack of greenery, overcrowding, and chaotic traffic make the air nearly unbreathable for several months out of the year. A few parks serve to alleviate this problem, such as Alameda Central Park, with its huge trees and fountains. In the Zocalo, one the largest squares in the world, is the National Palace, built in red volcanic stone, where the head of state resides. Folklore Ballet performances, concerts and operas are shown in the nearby Palacio de Bellas Artes, one of the most outstanding buildings in the city. Spanish colonial architecture, costumed marachi players, and wall murals by Diego Rivera, contribute to the colorful scenes of this huge metropolis.

BUDAPEST
Many centuries ago on the Danube, two small settlements on the hill of Buda and the plain of Pest later became the metropolis of Budapest. From as far back as Roman times, the thermal waters here from hundreds of springs have been used for their theraputic benefits. At the start of the 19th century, the baths and cures were fashionable among the aristocracy and bourgeoisie, and thus spa tourism was born. The waters appear to have had a positive effect on the natives, who are friendly and relaxed. The flea market of Budapest has been a tradition since the 19th century, and the food markets are a fundamental of everyday life. A spa complex is located in Varosliget, the city’s park, and is also home to the fairground, the circus, the zoo, the botanic gardens and Vajdahunyad Castle. Various types of meat, onion, lard and paprika make up the popular dish known as porkolt, while goulash is actually a broth of potatoes and pasta.

LISBON
Situated on the estuary of the Tagus river, Lisbon developed as a trade city the end of the 14th century, at the height of Portugal’s Golden Age. Gentle hills give way to steep slopes, today climbed by trams and cable cars. From the summit of do Carmo Avenue you can see the 18th century sections of the city, and the maze-like Alfama quarter, the oldest part of Lisbon. Rising up from the Alfama is the Castle of St. George, built by the Visigoths, once made a fortress by Arabs invaders, and then modified again by the Christians. The sweet lilt of the fado can be heard along the narrow streets of the old quarter, and the rise and fall of alleys reflect Lisbon’s Arabian past. The ornamental motifs, caravelles, knots and Moorish symbols of Belam in the western suburb, reflect the Portuguese spirit of adventure and love of the extravagant.

BEIJING – SHANGHAI
Today’s Beijing is a metropolis of skyscrapers, neon lights, and heavy traffic. But traditional and ancient images and customs prevail. The Temple of the Good Harvest, built in the 15th century, is the most famous religious building in China. Adorned with 280 sculpted lions, the so-called Marco Polo Bridge was first seen by the Italian explorer in 1276, who described it as unsurpassing in beauty. Tian-anmen Square, associated with military parades and the national hymn, was finished in 1959 for the tenth anniversary of the Peoples Republic. Pedestrian trading alleys dominate the central quarters of the city, where shops and markets of Chinese artisans are found: silk, jade, lacquer, fans, traditional medicine and porcelain.

With a population that now numbers over 17 million, greater Shanghai is China’s main industrial and commercial center. At the end of the 19th century, this city opened as a port to international trade, and later became the European bridge into Asia. The most important and beautiful temple in Shanghai is the Temple of the Jade Buddha, built to house two jade Buddhas, one seated and one standing. Today Shanghai’s main streets are choked with traffic, but within the chaos is a strong sense of order allowing the throng of people to move among the hundreds of shops, markets and cars unconcerned.

MERRKECH – FEZ
Red and dark green compliment each other on the twelfth century walls surrounding Marrakech, the first color representing the Marrakech, and the second a symbol of Islam. A strong spirit of tolerance pervades this city, with its multi-ethnic and cultural influences. Coastal cities like Tangier, Casablanca have strong European influences, but the Rif and Atlas mountain ranges have protected the interior cities. Meknes, Marrakech, Rabat and Fez are the Moroccan cities richest in the Arab and Berber traditions. Spectacle and robust trade enliven the maze of alleys. The splendid green and red roofs and minarets of the mosques of Merrakech create a distinctive skyline: the Mosque of the Casbah, Sidia bel Abbes, and Bab Dakkoula.

Crowed with houses, mosques and markets is Fez, the cultural center of the country. Fez-el-Jedid or new town was founded in the 13th century and is the highest part of the city. The Palais Jamai, built at the end of the 19th century, is a legendary Moroccan hotel surrounded by a lush Andalucian garden. At sunset the red clay and brilliant green colors glow in the shadows of the minarets.

MUNICH
The historical capital of Bavaria, Munich is both a small country town and an international cultural center. Thanks to Ludwig I, the commissioned works by great architects like Von Fischert Klenze make Munich a “royal city” with spectacular monuments based on Italian models. Buildings in Bavarian baroque and rococo were inspired by the Theatinerkirche, built in the first half of the twelfth century. The greatest art collections in Germany are found in Munich. In the Alte Pinakothek, masterpieces of European art from the Middle Ages to the 18th century are on display. In nearby Ettal stands the fairytale Linderhof Castle, built by Ludwig II in 1870. The German capital of fashion, cinema, conferences and arts, Munich attracts visitors from all over the world.

STOCKHOLM
Where Lake Malar meets the Baltic Sea stands Stockholm, the “city on the island.” Stockholm has historically has a love affair with the sea, and it still retains the appearance of a bustling port. A kind of marine motorway runs through the center of the city, covered by bridges. The Vasa Museum offers a complete view of life at sea in the seventeenth century, highlighted by the restored Vasa warship which sunk in 1628. Dutch Renaissance buildings such as the Old Stock Exchange, surround a central square. An immense 18th century palace is the predominate ediface in the old town, with its sumptuous interiors and lavish throne room. Everyday, in front of the royal palace an elaborate changing of the guard ceremony is observed, with great pomp and circumstance.

ST. PETERSBURG
Dostoyevsky called St. Petersburg “the most abstract and premeditated city in the world.” When Czar Peter the Great conceived and planned this city, he was most inspired by Amsterdam, a city he loved and admired. The technical and political achievements of western Europe influenced the Czar’s desire for the city to be both practical and aesthetically pleasing, with easy access to the sea. From Puskin Square on Vasileivski island we can see the two branches of trhe river Neva, the Winter Palace and the fortress. Attached to the fortress is the Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul, with its tower that stands 122 meters high. and the spire of the Admiralty palace. In the Hermitage Museum are 100 rooms, about 15,000 paintings and 12,00o sculptures. Along with the Louvre , it is the largest museum in the world.

VIENNA
Once the capital of an empire, and gateway between east and west, Vienna today exudes a melancholy old grandeur that is alive with cosmopolitan culture and elegant traditions. The boundary of the old city is called The Ring, and in it are the largest and most important buildings, including the Opera, the Hofburg, Parliament, the University and the Burg Theatre. Once a popular spot for poets and writers is the Zentral coffee-house, one of many lively cafes where tourists and locals indulge in various forms of Viennese coffees and eat Sachertorte pastries. Before going on to establish his revolutionary 20th century theory of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud taught at the prestigious Vienna University. The Vienna Opera, famous for its dance school and annual ballet, is forever linked to the name of Mozart. At the Spanish Riding School tourists enjoy the spectacle of the magnificant Lipizzana horses. Today Vienna is awakening from a long sleep, and fast becoming an international exchange and meeting center.

VENICE
Gondolas drifting through narrow canals, 18h century cafes, and Gothic-Venetian architecture are all part of the dream-like romance of Venice, the water city. Built on many tiny islands linked by bridges and supported by tree-trunks driven deep into the sandy clay, Vienna has a magical quality with an atmosphere of festivity. The Rialto, a bridge dating back to 1592, crosses the Grand Canal in a single arch topped with a series of arcades. St. Marks Basilica, modeled after the churches of Constantinople, is adorned inside with mosaics, paintings and golden altar pieces by Venetian and Byzantine craftsmen. Legendary feasts took place in the palaces of Venice, and were an expression of the freedom of luxury that continue to make this city the capital of European entertainment.

SAN FRANCISCO
San Francisco is situated on a narrow peninsula at the end of a long bay that runs along the coastline. With its steep hills, urban transport in this metropolis was problematic, until an English engineer proposed cable cars specially designed to be pulled up steep inclines. These sometimes treacherous hills have become favorites of Hollywood film directors, especially Lombard Street, with its beautiful flower beds. Disappearing in and out the fog, the Golden Gate Bridge extends nearly 2 miles between the rocky coastlines. A team of 25 painters continuously apply an anti-rust paint to the bridge to protect it from the eroding salt of the sea, giving it its distinctive red color. The main thoroughfare of San Francisco is Market Street, the commercial heart of the city. Union Square serves as the city center with the large stores, famous hotels, and shops and theatres of Market Street nearby. At Fisherman’s Wharf, crowds congregate at the variety of bars and restaurants to watch the fishing boats depart.

ROME
The ancient past and everyday life are woven harmoniously together in Rome. All over the city are Roman monuments standing alongside later buildings. The Column of Marcus Aurelius stands at the Piazza Colonna, and is one of the most original creations of Roman sculpture. Baroque fountains and columns of old temples pervade everyday activities like dining or shopping at the market. The largest ancient structure of Rome is the Colosseum, the huge amphitheater that illustrates the power that was the Roman Empire. In the adjacent Roman Forum, civic and religious concerns were discussed by the citizens of ancient times. The colossal spa of Caracalla once held 1600 bathers at a time. Aqueducts built on arches carried water from the hills to the city, and their fragments are scattered throughout the city and in the countryside. Within the hallowed walls of the magnificent St. Peter’s church are incomparable works of art, like the Pieta by Michaelangelo

RIO DE JENEIRO
Beautiful, friendly, sensual and dynamic, Rio is a city of excitement and celebration. Copacabana beach with its elite party atmosphere is where sun worshippers of all shades and colors lounge in the sand. Rio’s annual festival is called Carnival, characterized by street dances and partys. In the Sambadome, spectacular Carnival parades by the various Samba schools can be seen. Music pervades the nighttime entertainments, pouring out of bars, and discotheques. After dancing, the biggest national passion is football, and the Maracana soccer stadium is the biggest in the world. Cut precious stones are in abundance in Rio, and inexpensive. The most important jewelers in the world are here: Jules Sauer and Hans Stern. The Churrascaria Rodizio is a culinary feast served in Brazilian restaurants, and the banquet-sized portions reflect the attitude that when in Rio, life is a celebration of carnal delights.

PRAGUE
Prague is the magical city of fairytale, with colorful squares, river views, mazes of alleyways, domes and golden statues. The Czech term for “door” is “prah”. According to an old city legend, the Princess Libuse dreamed that the city would rise in the place where a man appeared through a small door. Prague is the capital and cultural center of the old Bohemia-Moravia alliance, with Germanic and Slavic influences. Built in the Middle Ages, the Castle of Karlstein stands on the outskirts of the city. Concerts and beer-houses are popular nighttime haunts. Beer is the national drink, and Czech beer is considered the some of the best in the world. At sunset, with shimmering reflections off the gilded rooftops, domes and gold statues, it is clear why Prague is called The Golden City.

PARIS
Paris is a harmonious fusion of modern urban design and monuments to the past, and has been historically known as a city of transformation. Over the ages, great historical figures sought to illustrate Paris’ central role in the cultural world. Dating back to the 19th century is the Palais du Justice includes the famous state prison of the revolution where Marie Antoinette and Robespiere awaited the guillotine. Originally a fortress, the Louvre has been extended over the centuries and became a gallery during the revolution. The best known of all Gothic cathedrals is Notre-Dame, which took two centuries to build. Along the famous Champs–Elysees are cinemas, theatres, restaurants, bars, and hotels, giving it a cosmopolitan feel. This tree-lined avenue culminates in the Arc de Triomphe, which stands in the center of the Place de l’Etoile, designed by Napolean. While the effects of new ideas on this city has lead to the destruction of its monuments, Paris has never lost its unique character or its urban greatness.

LONDON
Situated on the River Thames, London was long considered a trading center. Today, in place of docks there are shopping centers, skyscrapers, theatres and new residential districts. Two neo-Gothic towers, each 65 meters high are what characterize the Tower Bridge, the symbolic entrance to the city. Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London, and the National Galley are some of the more famous sites. Industrial development of the early 1800s resulted in ugly, cookie-cutter working class housing. Large green parks such as Hyde Park and Regent’s Park added a fresh break in the scenery. The Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace summarizes a characteristic of London: it is a city of ironies, where respect and affection are given the monarchy, in a city that founded parliamentary democracy.

MONTREAL – QUEBEC – TORONTO – NIAGARA
Lying between the United States and Canada are Niagara Falls, the greatest natural attraction in North America. The rock face of Niagara is a limestone wall one hundred meters tall, where the waters from Lake Eerie tumble over in white cascades into the Niagara River, eventually arriving to Lake Ontario 56 kilometers away. Inspiring a huge tourist industry, the spectacle of Niagara Falls both overpowers and exhilarates.

Toronto is the capital of the province of Ontario and is one of the most important English speaking cities of the world. Recent architectural contributions in glass, metal, and cement have helped to transform the ordinary red brick buildings of this city into a vibrant metropolis. A large gallery and covered atrium are featured in the handsome BCE Place, a complex of two towers. The longest commercial street in the world, Yonge Street was designed to reach all the way to James Bay, 1900 kilometers away. In 1958 Finnish architect Revell created the new City Hall, which was the start of urban renewal in the city.

And then there is the other Canada, the French-speaking province of Quebec. Colonized in 1608, explorer Samuel de Champlain put his settlement on a narrow point of the river. In the Algonquin Indian language the word narrow is “kebec,” and so the city name was born.

DVD Copy for Jay Ward’s Parade of Classics

2007-02-21T14:56:00.000-08:00

by Patricia Lamkin

FRONT COPY
Jay Ward’s PARADE OF CLASSICS!

The Rightest of Dudley Do-Right of the Mounties.

FIFTEEN BRILLIANT EPISODES!
ONE STUPID MOUNTIE!

BACK COPY
Now for the first time ever in this known universe, from Parade Meister Jay Ward, the Grand Poo-Bah of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends, comes…

JAY WARD’S PARADE OF CLASSICS!

THE RIGHTEST OF DUDLEY DO-RIGHT!

Join the doltish, (but dashing) Dudley Do-Right along with his sweetheart-stealing side-kick Horse, the seemingly obsequious (but sweet), Nell, the ever-suspect Snidely Whiplash and the dour (but dutiful), Inspector Fenwick, in some of their best loved episodes, including, Mother Whiplash’s Log Jam, Niagra Falls, The Masked Ginny Lynne, Stokey the Bear and a log-rolling parade of others!

Don’t miss the Parade! Look for this spectacular procession of more classic Jay Ward DVD titles coming your way….

Fractured Fairy Tales – the Fairy Best
Aesop and Son’s Most Profound Platitudes
Peabody’s Most Hysterical Histories.

Restored, remastered, and really remarkable!

PONSONBY BRIT WEBSITE INTRO FOR JAY WARD PRODUCTIONS

2007-02-20T15:01:00.000-08:00

By Patricia Lamkin

Greeting fellow flounders, and wayward Ward web wanderers! Ponsonby Britt here to tell you that your surfing quest is over, done, finito, complete! For it is here, here it is, at long last, …at this cyber hoppin’, road stoppin’ exit on the vast internet highway, that you will finally find what you have been looking for: the official web site of Jay Ward Productions!

As you may well know, in my heyday, I was the Executive Producer of Jay Ward’s Rocky & Bullwinkle & Friends, and the Bullwinkle Show. Jay and I were very close – like brothers, really – since our wild days at Harvard. Oh yes, we had our differences, as you may have heard, indeed, a falling out of sorts - when I demanded creative credit for the whole lot (and was quite justified, I must say). When Jay had the nerve to tell me, “But P.B., you don’t even exist!” the whole thing got terribly ugly. I sued Jay, he sued me, and in all the confusion I accidentally sued myself! Be that as it may, before Jay went on to that great carnival in the sky, we were reconciled. In a moment of weakness, I conceded I really was just one of he and Bill Scott’s many clever inventions, born of their fertile (and often disturbed) minds. Jay consoled me by saying that it didn't matter because I would live on, ad finitum, (or finite addum) for great showmen never die, no matter how phony they are. "Look at P.T. Barnum!" he said.

Jay, too, was a great showman, but there was nothing in the least phony about him (aside from yours truly). He was the genuine article. It was his direction, his drive, his vision, and most importantly, his wallet, that gathered together the creative talents that collectively scratched and hatched the now legendary characters of Bullwinkle, Rocky, Boris, Natasha, Dudley, Snidley, Nell, Horse, Peabody, Sherman and a host of others!

Here you will find something old, something new, so now that you’ve stopped by, please feel free to explore our new cyber domain, and let us know what you think!

Cheers,

Ponsonby Brit, O.C.E. (Of Certain Existence)

DVD Copy for Jay Ward's BEST-LOVED SHORTS

2007-02-19T15:05:00.000-08:00

by Patricia Lamkin

FRONT COPY

Rocky and Bullwinkle, in Association with Classic Media, Jay Ward Productions, Inc, Bullwinkle Studios, and a rather uncomfortable arrangement with Ponsonby “Pongo” Britt, Proudly Present….

(Bullwinkle peeking out from the left side, holding a flag made of boxer shorts. The boxers have writing on them that say…)

OUR BEST-LOVED SHORTS!!

(Rocky peeking out from the right side saying in a cartoon bubble…)

ROCKY: All of the best short features of our friends originally seen on the Rocky & Bullwinkle AND FRIENDS show! Hey, wait a minute, Bullwinkle, not THOSE kinds of shorts!

BULLWINKLE: (Cartoon bubble): But these are my favorites!

(Ornate “silent film” style title frame around Dudley Lettering, which reads):

Disk One: THE RIGHTEST OF DUDLEY DO-RIGHT, or

NO DUDS ON DUDLEY!

(Image of Dudley in a mountain scene with nothing on but a pair of very silly boxer shorts and his mountie boots looking quite proud. The boxers have some fun design on them – like pictures of him, or maybe just hearts. Other characters look on in shock or surprise).

COPY FOR LATER DISKS:

Aesop and Sons’ Most Pleasant Platitudes,
Or
Don’t Get Your Shorts Tied Up in a Toga!

(Picture of Aesop and Son wearing extra large boxers tied on them like togas, with rope ties around their waists, smiling. Shorts decorated with scrolls or columns, or something “Greek” looking like that.)

Peabody’s Most Hysterical Histories,
Or
Wayback Wardrobe Faux Paws
(Alternate: The Best of Times with Mr. Smarty Pants)

(Picture of Peabody and Sherman and several historic characters all wearing very silly boxers, but looking quite serious, and people on the sidelines pointing at them and looking shocked or giggling. Or just Peabody wearing the silly boxers looking very dignified, and all the historic people and Sherman looking shocked or giggling – then on the back of this one have them all wearing the boxers happily, like they caught on to the trend.)

Fractured Fairy Tales – The Fairy Best
Or
Fairy Sports Her Coolest Shorts

(Picture of Fairy with wand, flying around proudly in her colorful boxers, which have sparkles on them.)

Clips

2007-01-15T19:19:00.000-08:00

Recycle Holiday Cards and Boxes Using Decoupage

2006-11-04T14:55:00.000-08:00

By Patricia Lamkin
(Originally published in L.A. Family Life Magazine, Dec, 2005)

It’s a lovely journey down memory lane to pull out the holiday decorations. But buried amongst the ornaments, candles and garlands are the ghosts of greetings past – leftover cards - sometimes three in a pack, sometimes five – and never enough to send! But today those remnants have a purpose: to be recycled and remade using decoupage!

Decoupage is a very old craft in which paper designs are cut out and lacquered. The earliest form came from Chinese peasants in the 12th century. But during the late 17th and 18th centuries, it was the upper crust of Europe who took up the practice. Many aristocratic ladies of that period, including Marie Antoinette, decorated fans and screens with ornate cut outs of flowers, birds and fancy borders. But not only women are drawn to decoupage. Over the centuries it has attracted the likes of Lord Byron and Picasso.

Needless to say, you don’t have to be a snobby queen or famous artist to enjoy decoupage. Today we have a much wider selection of materials to choose from, including photographs, magazines, clip art, and the internet. Decoupage can be applied to virtually any smooth surface. Lampshades and photo frames are some popular examples.

For this project, we will make holiday cards and gift boxes in celebration of Fall, Winter Solstice, Hanukah, Christmas, Quanza, etc. Make a unique card each time, or create one simple design that you can easily duplicate. Even if you have only one leftover card, you can color copy the image for cutting it out as many times as needed. So grab those old cards and shirt boxes, and let’s get started!

You will find most of your supplies at home, but one trip to the local craft store is required. These are the basic ingredients:

1. Leftover cards, gift boxes, magazines, wrapping paper, ribbon, or any other interesting remnants.
2. 8 ½ by 11 scrapbook paper, in white or cream.
3. Decoupage lacquer, in clear medium.
4. Inexpensive craft brushes (3/4” to 1” brush width, and smaller)
5. Waxed paper
6. Tape
7. Good scissors
8. Bone folder or butter knife
9. Over-sized envelopes to fit 5 ½ by 8 ½ inch cards.

In addition, you can embellish your designs with simple borders in acrylic paint. Pre-cut appliqués with seasonal themes can be purchased in scrapbook stores. Pretty handmade papers with flecks of gold or silver add warmth and texture and can be obtained from stores where fine papers are sold.

First we need to set up our workspace. A craft board is ideal for this. 20” x 26” is a good size. Cover it with a layer of waxed paper, and tape it down.

Go through your cards and cut out whatever strikes your fancy. For a Victorian feel, chose traditional scenes such as animals in winter or cozy fireplaces. You will find holiday borders in old November and December magazines. Snip away. You can cut around the picture, or cut with precision to show the detail. Either way looks great!
Figure A: Cutting out appliqués.

Use a bone folder to smoothly fold the paper in half to form a card. Open the card back up with the cover side facing you.

Arrange the cutouts until you are happy with your design. Brush a tiny bit of decoupage on the back of the cutouts and glue them down. If you want to use a decorative paper, brush a thin layer of decoupage onto the card and place the paper before adding the cutouts.

Figure B: Arranging the appliqués and cutouts.

For gift boxes, select a piece of plain wrapping paper - tissue paper is ideal because the lacquer gives it a crinkled effect. It’s best to just decoupage the lid or the box might not fit together. Trim the paper to cover the outside and sides of the box lid, leaving an inch to fold onto the inside. Overlap the corners slightly to avoid bulk. Apply a thin layer of decoupage onto the top of the box and place the paper, then do the sides (inside and out) and fold the paper carefully around. Decoupage the inside folds and corners so they will be smooth. Allow this to dry about 10- 20 minutes and then glue on the appliqués.

Figure C: Applying the decoupage.

Now you can add squiggles, stars and borders with paint. When the paint dries completely, apply a light, even coat of lacquer to the entire design. For added fun, sprinkle on some glitter before the decoupage dries! Add a second coat if desired, after the first coat dries. Personalize your cards on the inside with warm holiday messages.

Doing decoupage as a family project is a fun way to begin the holidays. But be warned: once you get started you may not be able to stop!

Resources: http://web.simmons.edu/~walkerj/decoupagehistory.html
http://www.decoupage.org/abitof.asp

Scary Jack -O-Lantern Candle Holder

2006-10-28T15:35:00.000-07:00

By Patricia Lamkin
(Originally published in L.A. Family Life Magazine, Oct, 2005)

Working with clay does not require master sculpting skills. In this fun family project, the most important ingredients are your hands and your imagination. As for the rest, go to the local art store, (Aaron Brothers, Blicks, Pearl, or Michaels), and pick up: DAS non-toxic air drying modeling clay (one 17.1 oz brick makes two pumpkins), and the cheap pack of plastic modeling tools (with "spoon," "knife" and "fork").

Now, from around the house, gather:
A handful of cotton-tipped swabs
A bowl with a small amount of water
Scissors
Plastic-wrap or wax paper
A smooth, hard, non-porous surface (a plastic cutting board, or a cutting board with wax paper taped to it will work)
A smooth edged paring knife (adult use only)
A tea candle

To begin, using the "knife" tool, cut off about 1/2 of the clay brick and put it on the work surface. Tape closed the remaining clay in its original foil pack, so it won't dry out.

Form the clay into a smooth ball by dipping your fingers into the water and working the clay. If it gets too wet let it sit to dry a few minutes. Squeeze and smooth away the cracks and folds. It doesn't have to be perfect.

Figure A: The clay ball.

Once you have a fairly smooth ball, put it on the work surface. Using your thumbs, push a hole into the top of the ball, letting the bottom stay at least a 1/2 inch thick. Keep the opening at the top small - but no less than 2 inches.

To control the shape, keep your thumb on the inside, and your fingers on the outside . Gently press your thumb and first two fingers together, working your way around the ball. We are hollowing out the pumpkin. But we don't remove the clay, we merely push it away to create the inside.

Figure B: Hollowing out the ball.

Try to keep the sides about 1/2 inch thick all around. Push out from the inside a little harder in the middle to create the fattest part of the pumpkin. Wet your thumb in the water if the clay gets too dry.

If the shape gets too wide at the bottom, push in and lift up all around at the bottom either with the spoon tool or your fingers.

Once you are happy with the shape, allow your pumpkin to sit and air dry about 2 hours. To keep him from sagging, cut cotton swabs in half and with the cotton tips up, use them as stints inside him as he dries.

Figure C: jack-o-lantern drying with stints inside.

After some drying time, use the finger-ended handle of the spoon tool and score lines from the bottom to the top of the pumpkin. The lines should be closest together at the bottom/top and widest apart in the middle. Now dip the ball end of the fork tool in water, and smooth over the lines. This creates the dented-in segments of the pumpkin.

Figure D: Scoring lines.

Let the pumpkin dry about two more hours - it should become firm, but not too dry.

Now, pick the best side for the jack-o-lantern face, and using the handle of your fork tool, make the face with dashed lines. Keep the design simple & traditional, because it will be very difficult to carve anything else. Make sure the mouth is high enough from the bottom so that when you carve it out you cut through to air on the other side. Temporarily remove the cotton-tipped stints on the face side.

The next part is just like carving a real pumpkin, only smaller. Carve out the face of the pumpkin using the paring knife. Use the finger tool to poke in and remove the carved pieces. Hold the ball-end part of the "fork" tool on the opposite side to support the face, rather than risk stabbing your fingers. The carving may get messy - don't worry about it. You can fix any mistakes later. But honestly, any mistakes will make the pumpkin look even creepier!

You may need to reshape him a little here. Put the stints back in. For carving mistakes, use the tiny carved out pieces of clay to do a patch job. Mash the pieces into tiny flat patches, wet them on one side, and put that side down on the place you want covered. Smooth the patches with one of the tools.

Let your jack-o-lantern dry thoroughly overnight. Then carefully lift him off the board, and turn him upside down so the bottom can dry. Let this dry another day. If you make a lid for your pumpkin, wait until he dries for the best fit.

Now, put a tea candle inside your new creation, and enjoy!

Bouldering Hikes in Joshua Tree

2005-10-08T10:12:00.000-07:00

By Patricia Lamkin, photos by Randolph Scott.
(Originally published in L.A. Family Life Magazine, Dec, 2005)

About two and a half hours east of Los Angeles, Joshua Tree National Park is a rock climbers dream. But for those who are not prepared to scale a vast rock face, there is still adventure at higher elevations.

With three distinct ecoregions, and six mountain ranges, Joshua Tree’s natural features are as varied as the plant and wildlife it supports. But the most compelling feature of all lies to the west, in the bizarre rock formations known as the Wonderland of Rocks. Here hikers can find more than just the ordinary.

It’s as if Salvador Dali designed these rocks, which twist, bend and reach up in a surrealist fusion of monoliths, dome obelisks and rocky spires. But it was millions of years of tectonic forces deep beneath the earth that sculpted these geologic marvels, assisted by the unseen artistic hand of erosion. Lucky for us, the final masterpiece just so happens to be ideal for bouldering.
“Bouldering” is what climbers call scrambling over piles of boulders, large rocks and rugged high terrain. If you want to forgo the helmet and harness of extreme climbing, this is an exciting alternative that will get your blood pumping. You will climb over, under and around rocks. You will discover amazing crawlspaces and small boulder caves with tiny springs. Bouldering is exhilarating and fun, but it requires strength, concentration, agility and commitment.

Though small-scale bouldering does not require any special equipment, a good pair of leather gloves with the fingers cut off (biker gloves work great) and sturdy hiking shoes are an absolute must. They allow you to grip the rocks with Spiderman-like ease. Long sleeve shirts and blue jeans protect arms and legs from rocky scrapes. For the more experienced, a thick, knotted rope of about 15 feet in length is recommended for helping your less experienced buddy out of crevices or up smooth walls. A rope and a buddy are just good common sense to bring along in case of emergencies. In addition, bring plenty of water, a jacket and sunscreen – temperatures here are 15 to 20 degrees cooler than Palm Springs, but there’s not a lot of shade!
If bouldering is new to you, the following trail hikes will give you the lay of the Wonderland, so you can see first hand what you’re dealing with.

Fortynine Palms Oasis Trail is three miles round trip and of moderate difficulty. Over 50 fan palms make up this natural oasis with its pools of water. This palm oasis is one of five in the park.

Willow Hole Trail is an easy hike of seven miles round trip and features large water pools and willow trees. The trail begins at the Keys West Backcountry board, and goes through a modest gorge surrounded by tall boulders.

Boy Scout Trail is a scenic sixteen miles round trip, along the western edge of the Wonderland of Rocks. It is moderately difficult. You’ll find the trailhead at Keys West Backcountry board a half mile east of the Quail Springs picnic area. It’s not a bad idea to make this a shuttle hike, with a car parked at both ends.

To get to Joshua Tree from Los Angeles, take the I-10 East. Go North on the Twentynine Palms Highway to your selected destination.

So if you aren’t quite ready to hang suspended from a cliff by a thin nylon rope over a deadfall drop of 1,000 feet, but you want a little adventure, you might try a “bouldering” hike. While your up there, enjoy a romantic picnic for two on a cozy pancake of granite, and see who can find the craziest creature shapes in the rocks!

For a detailed map of Joshua Tree with trailheads go to: http://www.desertusa.com/who/
PDF/JOTRmap.pdf. For more information visit http://www.nps.gov/jotr.

Switzer Picnic Area and Switzer Falls

2005-09-10T10:26:00.000-07:00

By Patricia Lamkin
(Originally published in L.A. Family Life Magazine, Sept, 2005)

Hidden deep in the cradle of the Angeles National Forest is a true hiker's dream: the rugged trails of Switzer's Falls.

Part of the Upper Arroyo Seco River Basin, Switzer's is located off the Angeles Crest Highway, seven miles north of interstate 210 above La Canada/Flintridge. The shady trail head features a generous picnic area, which includes picnic tables, charcoal grills, and restrooms situated along a gurgling, stony creek. Switzer's offers beginner to advanced trails, sunny mountain views, cool wooded glades, and the highlight of it all: the falls!

Prepare well for your hike. Wear sturdy sneakers or hiking boots, and leave the spangled sandals at home (you'd be amazed the number of sorry city people who don't)! You may encounter some thirsty gnats and mosquitoes, so pack some Deep Woods Off to abate the swarming pests. In the fall, a jacket is strongly advised - one you don't mind tying around your waist or wadding up in your backpack when you don't need it. Also be aware: hiking in the Angeles National Forest is not for the faint of heart. Elevations range from 1,200 to 10,064 feet. The views are spectacular, but bring along plenty of bottled water, a good hat and a bandana.

The best time to visit Switzer's is early Autumn, or after a swell of rain has replenished the creek, for this is when the falls are the most spectacular. During the hottest droughts of summer the falls can dwindle down to a trickle. Check the national forest web site or call ahead for conditions.

To get there take the 210 to the Angeles Crest Highway exit, (State Route 2), going north. To park you will need a National Forest Daily Adventure Pass (one per vehicle). These can be purchased for $5.00 at the Shell station on Angeles Crest Highway, near the junction for the 210. Continue north on Route 2 another seven miles up the mountain.

You'll pass a small ranger station on your right, (another place to buy an Adventure Pass), and shortly after you'll turn right at Mile Marker 34.2. This is the Switzer Picnic Area.

The hours posted at the gate are 6 am to 10 pm. Signs indicate that the gate is locked at 6:00 pm, but you will still be able to exit the park if you stay after dark. Drive down the curvy spur road to the parking area at the bottom. Take the footbridge over the creek, and you are on your way to the falls!

For the first leg, the trail follows the creek, and occasionally the trail will seem to end. When this happens, cross the creek and the trail picks up on the other side. The creek crossings are man-made but natural - large strategically placed boulders and rocks or "fallen" logs. Stick to the dry rocks and the sturdy logs and you'll be fine.

Eventually the trail will seem to dead-end at a natural stone wall. A sign with arrows will direct you here. Follow the arrow to Switzer Falls, which points you to a railed footpath that zig-zags up the rock face. Leaving the creek, take this to the top and continue on the trail.

Follow the signs to Switzer's. The trail will start going down into the canyon, and eventually will meet back up with the creek, which now becomes the trail. Follow the rocky creek-bed upstream until you reach the falls. Whew!

One of the perks after a long hike to Switzer's is taking a cool dip under the falls. These are popular swimming holes. Forgot your fashionable Malibu swim shorts? No worries - birthday suits never go out of style!

For more information visit http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/angeles, or call (626) 574-5200.

Film Review: The Baxter

2005-08-22T15:02:00.000-07:00

By Patricia Lamkin
(Originally published in 213 Magazine)

Michael Showalter's wholesome but choppy tribute to the screwball comedies of the 30's and 40's, tells the untold story of the guy who is always left at the altar; a guy Showalter calls "the Baxter."

Play-it-safe tax accountant Elliot Sherman has a long history of losing the girl to another guy. When Elliot finally becomes engaged to his dream-woman, magazine editor Caroline Swann (Elizabeth Banks), her hunky high-school sweetheart Bradley Lake (Justin Theroux) shows up triggering Elliots old Baxter fears. Meanwhile Elliots new temp, the adorable Cecil Mills (Michelle Williams), helps her boss examine his past Baxter patterns, and makes Elliot wonder who his dream-woman really is.

Showalter, who wrote, directed and played the lead in the Baxter, initially didn't want to do the latter two. "I wanted to be realistic," he said. But producers Galt Niederhoffer, Daniele Taplin Lundberg and Celine Rattray were very persuasive. "They saw how personal this film was to me... Convincing me to direct was easy. Playing Elliot was more of a struggle. I had envisioned someone a bit better looking in the part."

But Showalter's look was far less an issue than his acting style, which feels like the stagy sketch comedy for which he is known. Despite his identification with the role, Showalter offers up plenty of superficial facial expressions. And he repeatedly misses comic moments: the opening with Elliot left at the altar, staring blankly unfortunately sets the tone for his entire performance. He was right, he is clearly more competent in the roles of writer/director.

While Showalter may be lacking acting chops, his supporting cast help carry the film. Michelle Williams and Justin Theroux are both brilliant, with genuine performances. Williams has a certain Clara Bow/Audrey Hepburn je ne sais quoi. Theroux is a master of the comic cry - not since Meg Ryan or Holly Hunter have I seen this done so well, let alone by a man. Peter Dinklage is drop dead funny as the gay wedding planner Benson Hedges.

Though the structure over-relies on flashbacks and narration, the film has a certain charm and innocence that is sorely lacking in most of the crude, violent fair in theatres today. C+

Film Review: The Warrior

2005-07-25T14:39:00.000-07:00

By Patricia Lamkin
(Originally published in 213 Magazine)

A troubled warrior named Lafcadia (Irfan Khan) tires of being sent by his arrogant lord to murder innocent people in the villages of feudal India. During a typical raid to a village in Rajasthan over unpaid taxes, the conscientious warrior has a mystical experience, and renounces his violent life. Defying his feudal obligations, Lafcadia begins a long journey to the mountains in search of himself, joined by a teenage thief and a old magic woman. Arriving to a sacked mountain village, Lafcadia soon realizes that the same corrupt men who used to fight alongside him have pursued him, and are hiding there to kill him.

This extraordinary film was submitted by the British to the 2003 Oscars, but was disqualified because the film was in the Hindi language. However The Warrior went on to win "Best British Film" at the British Academy Awards in 2004. The director, Asif Kapadia, was British-born, but of Indian ancestry, and three of the co-producers were British companies.

Though this classic tale of a violent man trying to escape his past has been told in many film genres and countries, (Léon, Unforgiven, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon), the Warrior is a stand out with its breathtaking scenery, beautiful costumes and moving performances. A must-see adventure drama. A+

Griffith Park Trails

2005-07-24T00:00:00.000-07:00

by Patricia Lamkin
Photos by Patricia Lamkin
(Originally published in L.A. Family Life Magazine, Aug, 2005)

View of Griffith Observatory from Mount Hollywood.

The largest municipal park and urban wilderness area in the United States is right here in Los Angeles. With gorgeous views, California oak trees, wild sage, and 53 miles of hiking trails over chaparral covered hills, Griffith Park is a little slice of paradise in the city of fallen angels.

To avoid the crowds, the ideal time to go is a weekday. But weekends are quite doable - early mornings probably are best for families. If you are a beginner hiker, or have small kids who are not quite ready for serious climbing, I suggest a 2.5 mile hike to Mt. Hollywood and a fantastic view of the Hollywood sign.

From Western, enter Griffith Park off Los Feliz Blvd, turning left at the first traffic light onto Ferndell Drive. Drive past the Ferndell picnic grove, and go straight up the curvy road until you get to a T stop. You'll see a small parking area in front of you just to your right. There is also parking on the street (which goes to the Observatory). To the right of the parking area you'll see a steep and wide gravel path. Take this path.

Some friends enjoying a tree on the Ferndell path.

You will come to a small bridge that goes over the park tunnel. When you get to the bridge, there is a crossroads of paths. If you go hard right here you'll head towards the Observatory and you guessed it - lots of people. Instead I suggest you go left over the bridge and stay left on the main trail. This is a wide fireroad/footpath that curves around the mountain and takes you on a leisurely hike up to Captain's Roost, a shaded picnic area with a drinking fountain. Continue up and you'll reach the summit, called Mt. Hollywood, a square scenic overlook with picnic tables, at an elevation of 1,626 feet.

A longer version of this hike (5 miles instead of 2.5) is currently blocked due to ongoing construction at the Griffith Observatory. The construction is due to finish some time in 2007, but it is best to call the Ranger Station before you go to check on the accesibility of this trail. For this hike, after turning onto Ferndell Drive, go north and park in the large parking lot on your left. From here cross the street and take a small foot-bridge over the dell. The trail is behind the playground slide. Hike north along this canyon trail. When the trail splits bear right and hike until you get to the road which goes to the Observatory. After passing through the Observatory grounds, the trail picks up to the right. You'll see a plaque in memory of George Harrison. Past this is a grove of trees dedicated to Berlin, Germany, which is Los Angeles' sister city. Continue on this path until you see the same bridge that goes over the park tunnel described earlier. Keep to the left up the main trail and on up to Mt. Hollywood.

If you see a coyote, keep a respectful distance. They are like the celebrities of the Park, skittish, but always a thrill to see. If they don't see you as a threat they will go about their business. However, creep in too close, and they will retreat off the path. You may want to bring binoculars for watching them at a distance. Rabbits and coyotes are active just before sunset, and there is nothing like the sound of coyotes singing to each other.

As for rattlesnakes, I was hiking Griffith for 5 years before I ever saw one. But keep an eye out. Again, keep a respectful distance and let them be. If you provoke them it is only in their nature to strike.

Once you reach the summit of Mt. Hollywood, just relax and take in the fantastic panoramic view. From here you can see Hollywood, Pasadena, Glendale and even as far as Santa Monica and Long Beach! If it's close to sunset, the city lights will come on like a magical electric grid, and the view is spectacular.

View from Mount Hollywood.

Oh, and if you're planning on bringing your cell phone, don't bother. Chances are you won't get a signal up here. It's as if these mountains are reminding you why you climbed them in the first place. Listen to the mountains. They'll talk to you, and they won't charge you for roaming.

For more hiking information, contact the Griffith Park Ranger Station at 323-913-4688.

Film Review: Land of the Dead

2005-06-27T19:25:00.000-07:00

By Patricia Lamkin
(Originally published in 213 Magazine)

We all know the classic zombie formula: they're dead but not dead; they move slowly, but they're relentless; they hunger for human flesh, but this isn't brain food; and most importantly, the living work together to survive the undead. In The Land of the Dead, George Romero's latest installment to the genre, the very time tested formula that he created gets turned around: zombies work together to survive, and are more interesting to watch than the living.

In the wake of the zombie plague, the living try to lead normal lives in a fortified city protected by rivers and an armored tank called the Dead Reckoning. Millionaire and entrepreneur Kaufman (Dennis Hopper), now controls this decadent society, where the "haves" live in a high rise country club, and the "have nots" in homeless squalor. As the evolving zombies learn how to attack the city, commander Riley (Simon Baker) and a handful of soldiers, must stop an insane lieutenant Cholo (John Leguizamo) who now threatens the city in the very tank Riley designed to protect it.

Though Romero goes above and beyond this time with zombie gore and social commentary, unfortunately the living dead in Land of the Dead are the main characters. Dennis Hopper's evil entrepreneur offers up the best laughs with his deadpan delivery: "Zombies, man. They creep me out!" As for the good guys, we do not get as emotionally invested or even amused. Instead of coming from different walks of life, as in previous Romero films, the reconnaissance crew all are sprung from the same generic military seed. Even the prostitute Slack (Asia Argento) mysteriously has a military background. The rest have great potential to be interesting, such as Pillsbury, the giant Samoan (Pedro Miguel Arce), but he is barely used, despite his tremendous presence. "Everybody has a story," says Slack to Riley, but unfortunately Romero isn't interested in the human stories this time around.

However, if zombie carnage is more appealing to you than human stories, than for you Romero delivers with plenty of playful, dare I say it, "overkill." If that's your cup of tea, like your undead heroes, you are bound to "eat it up." B -

Film Review: The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3D

2005-06-25T12:16:00.000-07:00

By Patricia Lamkin
(Originally published in 213 Magazine)

Ten-year-old social misfit Max (Cayden Boyd) has finally made some friends. Unfortunately, they live in his dreams. After a fantasy filled school report highlighting his summer adventures with superheroes Sharkboy (Taylor Lautner), a half-shark karate kid, and Lavagirl (Taylor Dooley), a heart melting lava goddess, Max's teacher Mr. Electricidad (George Lopez) insists the superheroes aren't real. Class bully Linus (Jacob Davich) steals Max's dream journal and now Max's Willy Wonka-like world of childhood wonders, Planet Drool, is threatened. Sharkboy and Lavagirl enlist Max to save the day.

To create the fantastic story and characters of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3D, director Robert Rodriguez (Spy Kids, Spy Kids 2 and Spy Kids 3D) went to the source: the dreams of his son Racer Max. As a result of this father-son collaboration, the film has a child-like innocence which kids will love.

However, compared to other family features, such as the Harry Potter series, Freaky Friday, or the animated triumph The Incredibles, which blend realistically written characters and fantasy situations quite seamlessly, Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3D lacks this key combination which equals universal family appeal. When parents are paying $10 and up per ticket you need to throw them a bone, in the form of humor and depth. Luckily, kid audiences likely won't notice these "adult" complaints.

The fantasy dress of the Ice Princess (Sasha Pieterse), is gorgeous and believable. But for some reason the lead superhero costumes appear to be just that: rubbery, skin-deep representations. Not very logical considering Sharkboy and Lavagirl have no alter egos.

Where the lead costumes fail, the technical execution of Racer's dreams is wondrously realized, from the clever "plug hounds" to the cookie raft on a river of milk. Though the 3D has a muted gray tone, it still serves up fun eye-popping effects. The young cast does well with the green screen acting, which tries the abilities of academy award level talents the likes of Gweneth Paltrow. Supporting actors Davich and Pieterse give the strongest, most natural performances.

With exciting visuals and a far-out story which comes from the imagination of a child, Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3D is something kids should see. If you grown-ups are feeling left out, just remember the film's message: dreams can come true. This part is for you too. B+

Film Review: The Island

2005-06-18T14:07:00.000-07:00

By Patricia Lamkin
(Originally published in 213 Magazine)

In The Island, director Michael Bay (Armageddon, Pearl Harbor) creates a fast-paced and exciting sci-fi action adventure - one of the best of the summer.

Ewen McGregor (Star Wars Episodes I, II, & III, Moulin Rouge) portrays Lincoln Six Echo, a man who lives in a self contained and seemingly utopian facility of the mid-21st century where food, exercise, and even emotions are monitored to protect the inhabitants from outside nuclear contamination. Only those lucky enough to win the lottery are chosen to live on the Island, the last uncontaminated place in the world.

After discovering a flying insect thriving in a restricted area, Lincoln begins to question the contamination story, and soon discovers that the Island is a lie, and that the winners of the lottery are brought to a cruel and meaningless end.

When his friend Jordan Two Delta (Scarlett Johansson, Lost in Translation, The Girl with the Pearl Earring), wins the lottery, Lincoln rescues her and together they escape to the outside world. To protect his interests, facility owner Sean Bean (National Treasure, Lord of the Rings trilogy) hires a security force headed by Djimon Hounsou (Gladiator, In America) to hunt down and kill the escapees as they desperately search for help and answers.

Overall this is a well-made film with an excellent story, believable characters and amazing action sequences (including a vehicle reminiscent of the swamp speeders from Return of the Jedi). The second half of the film - when Lincoln and Jordon make it to the city - is the weakest and perhaps would have worked better as a sequel. Newly introduced characters and story lines are respectively one-dimensional and under-developed. The remarkable talents of Michael Clark Duncan, sadly underused in the first half of the film, could have been revisited here. But despite this, and the fact that Bay gets hoaky Hollywood with the final scenes, we can forgive him, for the ride getting there was well worth it. A -

Film Review: The Life Aquatic

2005-06-03T17:19:00.000-07:00

By Patricia Lamkin
(Originally published in 213 Magazine)

In the quirky underwater world of oceanographer Steve Zissou (Bill Murray), a cynical and depressed version of Jacques Cousteau, there are man eating jaguar sharks, whimsical and beautiful animated tropical sea creatures, and a delightful guitar player who sings David Bowie covers in Portuguese. Sound appealing? Well, yes... but it's all so very strange.

When crewman and old friend Estaban (Seymour Cassel) gets eaten by a supposed jaguar shark during filming of Team Zissou's latest documentary adventure, Steve Zissou is determined to find the mythical beast, film it's discovery, and then kill it for revenge. To complicate matters, joining the Belafonte crew are airline pilot Ned Plimpton (Owen Wilson) who may or may not be Steve's son, a pregnant journalist Jane Winsett-Richardson (Cate Blanchett) who has them vying for her affections, and a bond company stooge Bill Ubell (Bud Cort) who gets himself kidnapped. Meanwhile Steve's estranged wife Eleanor (Anjelica Huston), the brains behind Team Zissou, gets back with her wealthy ex, Alistair Hennessey (Jeff Goldblum), Steve's sea-fairing rival, whose high tech floating lab makes the Belafonte look like a retro junk heap. With the help of his eccentric Team Zissou crew, Steve must thwart Filipino pirates, humble his over-equipped rival, find the terrible jaguar shark, and learn the meaning of fatherhood.

Director Wes Anderson (Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums), known for his dry humor and oddball characters, creates a colorful and pleasantly bizarre film in The Life Aquatic, which has some entertaining moments, but ultimately feels like an experiment gone not quite right. The stop-motion animation of Henry Selick (The Nightmare Before Christmas) delivers exotic tidbits of fun. Equally strong is the chemistry between Bill Murray's gloomy Steve and Owen Wilson's country gentleman Ned. Cate Blanchett gives a memorable performance as the hard hearted British reporter who loses her composure for Ned, and Willem Dafoe is perfect as the pouty Klaus, the ship's Engineer who always feels left out.

By no means a simple comedy, especially in light of its mostly bitter bittersweet ending, The Life Aquatic is wondrously strange and at times amusing, but the dry points in between are tolerated at best. B -

Film Review: La Niña Santa ("The Holy Girl")

2005-05-13T20:18:00.000-07:00

By Patricia Lamkin
(Originally published in 213 Magazine)

Writer/director Lucrecia Martel walks in familiar territory for many women, who as adolescent girls have experienced sexual advances from older men. What is unfamiliar is the unusual twist in her tale, which strays from the stories most women tell. For in Martel's second film La Niña Santa ("The Holy Girl"), it is the child who ironically becomes the predator, not the man.

Set amid the decadent decay of a once elegant spa in Argentina, the story follows hotel co-owner Helen, (Mercedes Morán), a lonely divorcee who sparks the interest of the well-respected Dr. Jano (Carlos Belloso), during a medical convention. When Jano takes an unhealthy interest in Helen's religious teenage daughter Amalia (Maria Alché), groping her in a crowded street, he stirs sexual feelings in her, which become muddled with her spiritual convictions. Confiding the incident to her friend Josefine (Julieta Zylberberg), Amalia now believes it is her "mission from God" to save Jano from his sins, and begins to stalk him, touching his hand on a crowded elevator, and allowing him to continue his advances. His struggle and vulnerability is painfully clear at every opportunity she provides. Meanwhile Josefine, caught in a compromising situation in bed with her cousin, reveals Amalia's secret to remove focus from her own indiscretion.

With Jano's fall immanent, the final scene of the film leaves us hanging: key plot points are unresolved, character arcs are unfinished, and the climax of the film is unsatisfying.

The film is stylish, but often too fast to follow, with its quick and busy eves-dropped conversations, and fragmented scenes. Ultimately, the title character Amalia does not win our sympathies, for when placed against Belloso's brilliantly terrified Jano, she seems more seductress than saint.

While the characters may be disquieting, and the story development unconventional, the thematic symbolism of the film is quite powerful. The dreary peeling paint and corruption of the setting effectively seems to eke into the characters of the two girls, and even erode their religious studies. Overall La Niña Santa is a well-acted but dark coming of age film in which religious fervor is overshadowed by budding sexuality. If you don't mind style and subtlety over conventional filmmaking, you will enjoy this film. B

Film Review: Undertow

2005-05-07T18:12:00.000-07:00

By Patricia Lamkin
(Originally published in 213 Magazine)

David Gordon Green's UNDERTOW is a poetic, atmospheric thriller with touches of the surreal. After escaping his haunted past and settling deep in rustic Georgia, a widower, John (Durmot Mulroney) carves out a simple life with his sons Chris (Jamie Bell) and Tim (Devon Alan). With the arrival of John's estranged outlaw brother Deel (Josh Lucas), this image of Southern gothic unravels as the bitter convict seeks to rectify a deadly old grudge, and violently retrieve his half of their father's "cursed" gold coins.

Set in the 1970's, UNDERTOW is an homage to films of that era (Deliverance and Badlands). Even the tinkling score by Phillip Glass is reminiscent of 70's horror films. It heightens the suspense as the boys desperately tear through the woods with their reclaimed family treasure, the devilish Deel in hot pursuit. Here the story morphs into a coming-of-age film, as the once rebellious Chris is faced with taking care of his sickly younger brother.

Using simple, cinematic storytelling without the sterile polish of the Hollywood formulae, UNDERTOW embraces the grandiose classic themes of revenge, greed and murder, and humbly resets them in a green, idyllic world blemished with the pig stys and ramshackle houses of rural poverty. The quiet drama that unfolds is slow-paced, but thoroughly absorbing, supported fully by the superbly realized characters. Though it may not be the "feel good" movie of the year, Undertow is a well-made, well-acted film, and well worth seeing. A

Art or Science? A Dubious Exhibit Gets Under Your Skin (Part 2)

2005-04-03T12:37:00.000-07:00

By Patricia Lamkin
(Continued from Part I)

For me, the experience was not aesthetic. It felt more like going through the freak show tent at the circus with massive numbers of people allowed in at a time. That it was called a science exhibit was supposed to put it in a different context. But it didn't. What was once reserved for students in a medical theatre has now been packaged, marketed, and put on display to the general public, for the price of admission - and a discount with the purchase of an omni-verse film.

People preserved in plastic, now on exhibit. Our plastic society has finally come to this. This was once an idea of disturbing horror - of fiction. The House of Wax with Vincent Price. Still considered good horror, I think, considering Hollywood just remade it. Of course the "specimens" of Body Worlds were not murdered. They died of natural causes having donated their bodies to science. And perhaps the donors were informed that at the end of the exhibit, the viewer would be corralled through a gift shop to purchase souvenir post cards, books, mugs and refrigerator magnets that bear the donor's image? Or was that in the fine print of the donation form?

As I pushed my way through the crowd, numbly reading display cards, I hoped something might lift me out of the moment intellectually. Am I not reading enough of those quotes on the banners? I had trouble seeing them, for they were hanging too low, blocked by the crowd. Then I made out Shakepeare's homage to man from Hamlet:

What a piece of work is a man,
How noble in reason,
How infinite in faculties,
In form and moving
How express and admirable,
In action how like an angel,
In apprehension how like a god.

Strange. These great words never made me ill before. How many others feel this way, and like me, are enduring this exhibit rather than enjoying it?

The people who came to Body Worlds were an eclectic mix, including a handful of science lovers - intellectuals, biology buffs, and artists with sketchpads. But the majority were looky-loo tourists seeking shock entertainment, or parents looking for an educational Sunday outing with their kids, now caught in an awkward situation:
"Are those her real eyes, Mommy?"
"Oh, no, honey, those are marble eyes, they aren't real."
But they were real. To detach the child from the experience, the mother felt compelled to lie. There were no disclaimers or warnings that this exhibit might not be appropriate for children.

I was relieved that the taking of photos was not allowed. I imagined some of the more irreverent types posing with the specimens, in flamboyant group shots, jokingly throwing hats on the bare muscled heads. Clearly the exhibitors anticipated such behavior. But despite this restriction, the museum failed to assume the obvious potential of human behavior with regard to touching. While there were signs discouraging this, there were no ropes, no plexi-glass covers - for all practical appearances, touching was encouraged. And people did.

Glass cases of plastinated organs were impersonal enough for me to linger over and ponder. These showed the effects of smoking on the lungs, or what an aneurysm looks like, or the gradual effects of Alzheimer's disease. Another positive message the exhibit left with me is that we are all basically the same inside. All made of gristle, muscle, bone and cartilage. This exhibit might be required faire for every racist in America. Later I learned that von Hagens spent some time in prison, and his father was an active member of the Nazi SS. So much for that idea.

Von Hagen's attempt to make the displays "artistic" was the final straw for me. One example entitled, "Angel", was a small woman whose shoulder blades had been lifted up like "wings" to reveal the muscles of her back. Crowning her fleshless head like a halo was her real hair, which was a pale red shade, a feature left off most other displays. I didn't examine the amazing intricacies of her shoulderblade musculature. All I could think was, "Who was she?" "What was her life like?" But there were no answers of that kind. For this "angel" was not interred with her life story painted on a wall; she was not lovingly wrapped in sacred cloth with a rite to take her to the world beyond. Instead she was dipped in plastic, along with my heart.

Art or Science? A Dubious Exhibit Gets Under Your Skin (Part I)

2005-04-03T12:15:00.000-07:00

By Patricia Lamkin

And so it was they gathered to view the dead, the line so long it snaked around the cavernous, dome-topped room, with its colorful lights, and iconic banners to great men and women of science. But this is no funeral. No one is being memorialized for his life achievements. The dead at the end of this line are nameless. Skinless. This is Body Worlds: modern mummies of plastic, bone and muscle, called “specimens,” on display at the California Science Center .

When I first heard about the exhibit, I had no intention of going, until the enthusiastic encouragement of a friend persuded me. "You'll love it," she said. "It's important!" (thought she admitted she thought the "artist" Gunter von Hagens was a seriously disturbed man.) "Disturbed?" I was soon to see why.

Preserved in a revolutionary new procedure called plastination, von Hagen's Body World "specimens" retain extremely humanizing characteristics, such as fingernails, pubic hairs, and even more disturbing, intact faces and eyes. Like muscled mannequins they are carefully posed: kicking a soccer ball, throwing a javelin, playing chess or riding a skateboard. Others have been sliced and diced, cross-wise, length-wise, in geometric squares - reminiscent of horror films the likes of Hellraiser or the Cube. One of the most chilling specimens, "Man Holding His Own Skin," conjures horrific mental flashes of Jews being made into lampshades.

The question that plagues me is "Why?" Why do we need to see this? To educate ourselves about anatomy? We can look at a plastic model. To indulge our fascination with horror? We can see a film, where we know it is artifice. To have an aesthetic experience? A visit to an art gallery provides this. (CONTINUED)