Things to Do Instead of Meeting Your Deadlines

As a writer, one of my favorite things to do is procrastinate. Despite its actual meaning, procrastinating is one of the most productive things I do during the day.

I can get SO many other things done when I have a piece/essay/article/light bill due. My refrigerator is never cleaner than 3 hours before a deadline, my closet more organized, my records more autobiographically categorized.

Turns out though, editors (and the bank) do not care if your fridge is clean or if you can locate your Hollies album by remembering you bought it during the biblical breakup of 2012.

So write you must.

Ah, but what if, like me, you PHYSICALLY CANNOT SIT DOWN TO WRITE? The words won't come. The lighting in the room is wrong. The fan's too loud. The FRIDGE MUST BE CLEANED before you unleash holy genius onto an unsuspecting Word doc. WHAT THEN??

Don't worry, loves. I have figured it out.

You can simultaneously procrastinate AND meet your deadlines by watching movies about writing. Now wait - hear me out. I get that the physical act of writing is probably one of the most boring things ever to watch someone do. It's so solitary and singular in nature that even writers get bored writing. BUT. Writers are also fiercely competitive, with themselves or others and there's SOMETHING about seeing people writing on screen that drives you to your own work.

At least if you're me anyway.

So -- after extensive research backed by proven results (this girl has never missed her deadlines), I've curated this list of my favorite motivating movies about writers and writing.

Capote

Well, this list is off to a rollicking start. Not only is it phenomenally acted (cuz Phillip Seymour Hoffman, duh), it's also engaging and harrowing. You get to see writing as a process, how a story comes to exist in the cracks and crevices of people's everyday lives. And how that story is only as good as your connection with your subject. You also get to see what some people consider the birth of the nonfiction novel in In Cold Blood -- how real people's experiences can be as satisfying as any concocted tale. Also, you get to bear witness to some really phenomenal eyewear.

Secret Window

I don't know what it is about this movie that I love so much. Most people hated it. But to me, it's just everything a movie about writing should be. Tormented, askew, set in a place that's rainy and grey. It also stars Johnny Depp as Mort Rainey, a writer who's been accused by looney tune John Shooter of stealing his story. Wackiness ensues when Rainey assures Shooter that this just cannot possibly be. It's based on a short story by Stephen King and accurately portrays the real day to day that writing can sometimes be. You write something and determine that it's awful, eat some Doritos, talk to your dog, nap, lounge around in an awesome, tattered robe that you've worn for 5 days straight and then try and write some more. It's just eerie and unsettling and demonstrative of a really great story. And again, some spectacular spectacles.

The Help

God, ya'll. This is about so much more than writing, obviously. It's about social injustice, small town politics, classism, racism, sexism, courage in the face of adversity, inner strength. So many things. But at its heart, it's about how altering, liberating and beautifully subversive writing can be. How the power of story can change the course of history, how it saves people. All you have to do is be brave enough to put it on the page.

Almost Famous

This isn't usually included on these types of lists because it's so clearly about music. But I have such a vivid image of seeing Patrick Fugit, with his tape recorder and yellow legal pad, pounding away on his typewriter, and realizing with perfect clarity that that is me. I am William. I never wanted to write novels or poetry for a living, but the idea of telling real people's stories, asking questions, connecting to people and their lives, that has always, always, always appealed to me. And it's thanks in large part to this movie. Cameron Crowe is amazing, the lines are iconic, it's touching and it was one of the first things that illuminated to me what I wanted to spend the rest of my life doing.

The Paperboy

Chances are, you've never seen this movie. Chances are, when you do, you'll ask yourself, what in the hell am I looking at. But it's good. It's pulpy and good and Matthew McConaughey plays a journalist and Nicole Kidman has a Southern accent and Zac Efron is in tighty whities. Also, John Cusak is gross in this movie. Just, gross. I wrote about the insanity awhile ago on the blog, but seriously, just go watch it. Then take a shower.

Dead Poet's Society

Aw, poor little rich boys. No, but listen. Robin Williams is the English teacher we all wish we'd had in school. The one that understands how necessary language is, how critical it is to our development as people. The one who teaches it in a way that alters forever how we see the world. Dead Poet's Society makes you realize that some of the things least critical for our survival (words, literature, poetry) are the things that make us the most human in the end.

Sex and the City

Image via HuffPo

I'm sorry, I know it's not a movie (Oy, not a good one anyway). But guys. I could not make this list without mentioning this show. Carrie Bradshaw epitomized what I wanted to do and be when I was 21. And there's nothing more motivating than seeing her at her window, writing out her column on Notepad (which is still, to this day, what I do my work on) on her Mac laptop circa 1998. It showed me what ambition could look like, and unapologetic living. That maybe there was this giant world outside my teeny town where you could combine thrift store threads with a little Diane Von Furstenburg, throw in a pink cocktail or 6, and become the voice of a city writing a column for a newspaper. A real one. That that kind of a life was an option for me, no matter how far away from it I was. It's just. Ugh. It's just the best.

There are others. There are so many others (The Shining, Wonder Boys, Finding Forrester, Adaptation, Misery, His Girl Friday, All the President's Men). But these are the ones that, for whatever reason, really make me want to play with words. And at the end of the day, that's what counts. I don't care if it's movies, or baking, or hula hooping, or chanting or whatever, if it's what gets you to the page, it's what you should do.

Monday Night Movie Review - Double Feature - Argo and Hitchcock

I actually watched these movies last night in a vain attempt to leach out as much weekend as possible. But alas, Monday inevitably comes. Even when you stay up way too late watching great movies.

Hitchcock

"Style is merely self-plagarism."

I didn't hear much about this movie before I decided to check it out. But as a Hitchcock lover (yes, even Vertigo), I felt it was my cinematic duty to watch it. And I'm so glad I did. Anthony Hopkins is almost unrecognizable as Alfred Hitchcock and he plays the role with such a perfect nuance that it never occurs to you that it's Hopkins under all that rotund make-up. And the acting is at its best when Hopkins plays up that lesser-known Hitchcock humor. 

If I'm being honest though, and I usually am, the best part of the movie was Helen Mirren as Alfred Hitchcock's wife, Alma Reville. First of all, Helen Mirren is like, one of the classiest, sexiest ladies in movies. And she plays the role of wife to the renowned director with such impact that your mind is forced the divide the concept of starring role. Alma was Hitchcock's best friend, creative partner, soundboard, and most trusted confidant. Seeing their relationship, even in a semi-fictional portrayal, reminded me that such things actually still exist in the world. Her character is played to the hilt and she is never one-upped by her co-star or his namesake.

The movie is essentially the story of the making of Psycho and is based on the aptly titled book Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho. There are some cinematic embellishments, but the movie takes you from Psycho's conception (including a supposed bizarre obsession for Ed Gein, on whom Psycho is based, by Mr. Hitchcock) all the way to its cinematic debut and subsequent success. 

It was seriously so good. A little bit of history, a little bit of humor, and Scarlett Johansson as Janet Leigh. Boom. Go see it.

Argo

This is a long movie. But seriously, you don't even notice because it's so friggin good. Turns out Ben Affleck knows what the hell he's doing. 

Some of you may have already seen it in the theater, but I waited until it came out on Redbox because 

1. I'm too busy to go to the movies (not true).  

2. I'm cheap (super true). 

Anyways, the movie chronicles the true story of the CIA rescue of 6 Americans hiding in the Canadian Embassy, who escaped when Iranian revolutionaries stormed the U.S Embassy in Iran in the late 1970's. I obviously immediately fell in love with the set treatments and costuming, but I also absolutely loved the story. Everything built so slowly, so delicately. And its story delivered on every promise. Nail-biting. Intense. Late 1970's mustaches in full force. What more could a proud American, or anyone really, want in a movie? 

Creative liberties were obviously taken in terms of story, but I don't think it subtracted from the overall purpose of the film - which was to acknowledge one of the prouder (and those are getting fewer and fewer) moments in American and Canadian history. It highlighted a collaboration between national governments that was essentially free of ego and utterly successful. And it also made me seriously question the vastness of information we as citizens may never know.

Totally worth the time and money. And I would feel the same way even if I'd spent $12 to see it. Hey. Don't judge me. Do you know how much Nutella $12 can buy? A week's worth, at least. 

Happy Monday. 

xo. 

Update: I'd just like to mention that I'm sending nothing but love to everyone in Boston this afternoon. So, so sad. 

All images found via Google 

It's Friday, I'm in Love

with themed parties.

And lucky for me, I have friends that like to throw them.

Tonight, I'll be attending the Tarantino Throwdown - successor to Pajama Jam 2013. And obviously, the idea is to dress like a character from the amazing Tarantino oeuvre.

I have chosen the often referenced Mia Wallace as my costume and thought I'd share some of my inspiration with you guys.

(I wish I had the time to pull something off from Death Proof or Planet Terror, or maybe even locate some type of yellow racing unitard and a sword, but these are tough times, my friends. And a girl's gotta get creative on a budget.)

I hope you guys have a fantastic weekend, full of awesome, violent movies, good friends, maybe a couple beers, and jammin' dance moves.

I'd leave out the cocaine and OD-ing though, but that's just personal preference.

Happy Friday!

xo.

all images found via Google Image Search

The Paperboy

You guys. I watched the craziest movie last night. It's called The Paperboy.

Before I begin, let me say that I chose the movie based on the following things: John Cusack, murder mystery set in late 1960's, John Cusack, muted pastel color treatments, nice pulpy quality, Macy Gray narrates and finally, John Cusack.

These things all far overpowered the fact that Zac Efron was one of the lead characters.

The general premise is this: Matthew Mcconaughey is Ward Jansen, a reporter who's made it his mission to find out what really happened the night the dirty town sheriff was murdered, allegedly by Hilary Van Wetter, played by John Cusack. Ward's brother, Jack (Zac Efron) comes along for the ride and ends up falling desperately for Nicole Kidman, who's unfortunately fallen in love with Van Wetter via letters she's written to him while he was in prison. 

Nasty, sexy, vulgar, pulpy wackiness ensues. Seriously, there were scenes in this movie that made me more uncomfortable than the one with Halle Berry and Billy Bob Thornton in Monster's Ball. And much of it was hard to watch. Namely, John Cusack being a murderous, misogynistic dick. Granted, he was a well acted murderous, misogynistic dick - but I'd rather not see one of the loves of my life in that kinda light, ya know?

Also, Nicole Kidman's drippy, forced Southern accent barely veiled her actual Austrailan one.

But if you can get passed all that, it's actually not bad. The story line is juicy, the 60's-inspired clothes and set treatments offer a little eye candy, and seriously, by the end I kind of loved Zac Efron's character Jack. And not just because he spent a gratuitous amount of the movie in teeny tiny white briefs. Not to mention Macy Gray's character Anita was wonderful.

All in all, I'd consider it well worth the $1.20 I paid for it at RedBox.

xo.

Images courtesy of IMDB, Google Images, and tumblr