tuckergurl

Why the camera adds 10 pounds?

I have always wondered this. Here is an excerpt from a Slate article:

The camera's perspective—how objects in a two-dimensional field express depth—can also distort a person's size. Telephoto lenses, which have a long focal length, compress the space between the foreground and the background, making distant objects appear closer. Up close, they shrink the distance from your nose to your ears, resulting in a diminished proboscis and more balanced features. (That's why paparazzi use telephoto lenses—for flattery as well as magnification.) Wide angle lenses, which have a short focal length, do just the opposite, making a person in the center of the picture appear both wider and taller. At the extreme, these lenses can also make people at the outside edges of a group photo look fatter.

Robin Thicke! I just had to admit that. This article reminded me of it as does my iPod which constantly is playing his cd. I even have a crush on his wife. Many of you know this but telling the general public useless information is exactly what a blog is for.

Gregory, South Dakota #55
Originally uploaded by tuckergurl.

OK, I didn't but I've always wanted to title something that. A sort of tipping of my hat to A Tribe Called Quest.

I am now at 31 states in my goal to go to all 50 states. Next month my trip to Austin will bring me to 32! At first I was sort of grumpy about a trip to South Dakota in the WINTER but I gotta say, I have not seen anything like the places I saw in my three day whirlwind tour. It was for probably my last round of Deadline screenings for a while. Next time I come to South Dakota, I want to go to Western South Dakota and see the Black Hills, the Badlands, Deadwood and Mount Rushmore.

A filmmaker friend is making a film about this town in South Dakota (It's a long, long story what it is about and I won't get into it. Plus, filmmakers are pretty tight lipped about their projects.) In a random turn of events, I ended up going to this town. She asked me to take some specific photos because she wanted to see them in the winter. It was fun to have an "assignment" especially since I never take enough pictures when I travel. Here is my favorite. (There are many more on my Flickr page.)
It is a replica of the homestead that Oscar Micheaux lived on for many years all by himself in the middle of nowhere. I can not imagine being out in this field in 30 below weather all alone. I am just not cut out for it.

I was going to write a really, really long comment on L. Britt's blog but then I just figured I would post one on mine. This is in response to her analysis of Grey's Anatomy this week.

So I got off the plane, got in a cab, got home, poured myself a glass of wine, sat down and watched Grey's online. I'm with you L. Britt. No, it was not the greatest episode in the world. I think the golden days of Grey's were last season but Shonda knows how to keep your attention. I even knew that Ellis was going to die (Thanks by the way. I should have never read your blog before I saw the episode!) and yet I was totally into it.

Saundra Oh is amazing! I feel like I finally get her deal now and that is a long time comin! Plus, they left a bunch of storylines open: Addison and Mc. Steamy (who needs a personality btw) and Alex and the pregnant lady. I think she is comin back. Hmmm...

Izzy is a tough one. The thing I love about Grey's is that they fully play story lines out. Izzy mourned and continues to mourn even though you kind of want her to get over it and stop being a brat. But that is how it goes. She is kind of a miserable person right now and that makes sense for that character. It is just kind of annoying to watch but hey ...

God bless Shonda the romantic. She really believes in love. I read an interesting interview with Partrick Dempsey where he confessed that he was happy in the role of McDreamy but admits that these are really fantasy men and it can be a bit dull to play. I completely agree. Sometimes it is ok but this episode it was a bit over the top. I think Denny is hot and everything but man, give that guy a halo. And Derek too for that matter. I believe that a few of these men exist but to have so many hanging out at Seattle Grace is much. It was good to see Denny and Dylan (the bomb squad guy) though. (I get my fix of Dylan aka Kyle Chandler on Friday Night Lights so I am good with him.)

Oh, and I do think the ex-Dawson's Creek girl did get some work done which is insane because there is no way she over 30! Eek!!

Dandelion
Originally uploaded by romiphoto.

I had not been to flickr in a while and today saw some beautiful photos that my friend, Romi had posted. I am always amazed at how the internet brings people together in the funniest ways. Enjoy this lovely photo!

I am reading this book that I am completely surprised that I am loving, Eat, Pray, Love. I was away last February and it was lovely and warm! This cold weather is a bit depressing. I have a hard time with it. Reading about someone in India, Italy, Indonesia, it just helps somehow. Plus, I want to write something like this so it is helpful from a writing perspective. It makes me feel like it is possible.

This weekend I did not do that much but just stayed close to home, cleaned my house, did some yoga, fixed my computer (I reinstalled everything and got rid of a bunch of stuff from my hard drive. Lulu, my laptop, was pulled from the brink. Go me, I rule!!! ) And yet I felt like I was supposed to do something more. Instead of being pleased with all of the serenity I felt, I felt like I should be writing or I should be going to some lame party trying to meet my future husband. I am obsessed with outcome. Obsessed with it. I never really thought about it before until recently.

Then I came across this quote in the book, "At some point, you gotta let go and sit still and allow contentment come to you."

Usually, I do not believe in this kind of stuff but when mercury is in retrograde, I try not do anything new.  I accept that everything electronic is going to break down.  Everything breaks.  I hate the fact that I am travelling a lot during this time.  My flight both to and from Montreal were significantly delayed.  Who knows what is going to happen on my trip to South Dakota this week?  Some other examples:

• My personal computer crashed.  I am dealing with Apple so keep your fingers crossed.  I am backed up but it sucks.
• The light in my bathroom went out again.
• Computers at work are breaking left and right.
• My mailbox lock broke.

It supposedly ends on March 8th.  Thank goodness.  I am keeping a low profile until then.

notredame church @ montreal
Originally uploaded by mariana_dias.

It is not as cold as people say. I mean, it is cold but it's cold in New York so it's not a shock to the system or anything.

I have been before but I always went with a friend of mine to visit her family. I did not go out to that many restaurants. This time I went to a bunch of restaurants.

I went for a market. These are kind of hard to explain. Basically, broadcasters and producers from around the world, in this case mainly France and Canada, come together to sit through panels and pitchs of new documentaries. The goal is to get broadcasters to come in early on your film. The US never does. They want to see the finished product. Our government does not give enough money for the arts. I could rant about this for hours!! Some countries are into really nebullous topics. A made up example: "I want to make a documentary about wicker. People who use wicker. What is wicker?" There are bidding wars for films like this.

I really earned my producer stripes this trip. I had to pitch in front of about 300 people. They had little earphones because most of the folks were French and had to listen to the translators, who were in the room with you. It was like the UN. We pitched an idea about a documentary version of a book we optioned called The Cheating Culture. The idea is that cheating is on the rise. And by cheating, we mean cheating professionally, academically, financially. But why? We would explore that idea through interviews with various cheaters, experts. I could write a bit more specifically but you get the point.

I tried to engage the audience by putting them into various situations and seeing whether they would cheat or not. Would you steal cable? If your daughter was sick and you had no health insurance, would you use someone else's insurance if it was offered to you, even though it is illegal? Most people would do both of these things. (I am not saying these two situations are the same by the way. They are different.) I had some good meetings. I have a lot of follow up to do. This business is all about meetings. The real work is making something concrete and real out of it.

I think the same can be said of relationships. I had a flirtation in Montreal. Just a flirtation.

I visited my friend's parents and went to this church. It was so beautiful. I am sad I did not bring my camera. Luckily someone else did. It was good to see them.

Finally, and this is not related, I have no problems with Valentine's Day, even though I'm single. I mean, whatever. It's never really been my "thing" when I am in a relationship. It is a day of too much pressure. But as an overall concept, it is fine. There is chocolate.

Valentine's Day is actually the holiday that I miss my brother and my Dad the most. Not Christmas or Thanksgiving. They would both give me flowers, candy and cards every year. My Dad, like me, was pretty unsentimental about most things but Valentine's Day he would buy me some cheesy card. I would just laugh at what a goofball he was but now I miss it. I have most of the cards they gave me. I kept them and for longest thought that I should throw them away because I have way too many papers in my closet. Now I am glad I did not do that. Maybe subconsciously I knew that I would want them someday. Who knows?

I have much blogging to do about my trip to Montreal but in the meantime, I wanted to share the new Justin Timberlake video. I am um, curious to see your thoughts. Read mine after you've watched it.

OK, done watching? My deep analysis:

1. I hate videos with talking in the beginning. My assumption is that the actors improv the dialogue and well, it's not like the best actors in the world are in music videos so the dlalogue is always bad, bad, bad.
2. Despite what Hollywood wants you to think, charisma does not = acting ability. I am just throwing that out there.
3. Scarlett is hot.
4. I used to think she was a decent actress but I don't know now.
5. Samuel Bayer's videos are usually epic videos with a bit of edge. For a really great video of his, check out this one.
6. This video is pretty.
7. So the moral of the story here is that your punishment for cheating on your boyfriend with his best friend is to die in a car crash. I guess "what goes around, comes around." Whatever.
8. If this song is not about Britney Spears, I will eat my hat. (I don't really have a hat but that's the saying.)

It has been announced: Election Day, a film that we have been working on for years, will premiere at the SXSW Film Festival in Austin, Texas! I am so excited. SXSW is a great festival and on a personal note, I have never been to Austin before and can not wait. Our film is a Spotlight Premiere which, to be honest, just makes us look cool. I mean, to have our film next to Judd Apatow's film, Knocked Up, rocks!!!

Here is the trailer for Knocked Up btw. I've been itching to see this film.

I am off to very cold Montreal!

I have a hard time letting things go. I think it is my worst quality. I wish I was not like this. I am trying hard to change. It is not easy.

The thing I have a hard time figuring out is what things you really should get over and what things you really do not have to get over. I can hold grudges with the best of them. I can write someone off for bad behavior in a second.

I am starting to realize that part of the reason that I am like this is because I hold things in. I used to consider myself pretty confrontational but that is not really true. I am great at confrontation if you do not matter to me. The moment you do, I have a hard time. This leads me to keep things in for too long and then, when we finally have our first intense moment, I am through with you. It would be a lot easier if I just said something the first time someone hurts my feelings. The first time we have a confrontation.

I am trying hard to change but it is not easy.

So Crushing On ...

Robin Thicke! I just had to admit that. This article reminded me of it as does my iPod which constantly is playing his cd. I even have a crush on his wife. Many of you know this but telling the general public useless information is exactly what a blog is for.

I Left My Wallet in South Dakota

Gregory, South Dakota #55
Originally uploaded by tuckergurl.

OK, I didn't but I've always wanted to title something that. A sort of tipping of my hat to A Tribe Called Quest.

I am now at 31 states in my goal to go to all 50 states. Next month my trip to Austin will bring me to 32! At first I was sort of grumpy about a trip to South Dakota in the WINTER but I gotta say, I have not seen anything like the places I saw in my three day whirlwind tour. It was for probably my last round of Deadline screenings for a while. Next time I come to South Dakota, I want to go to Western South Dakota and see the Black Hills, the Badlands, Deadwood and Mount Rushmore.

A filmmaker friend is making a film about this town in South Dakota (It's a long, long story what it is about and I won't get into it. Plus, filmmakers are pretty tight lipped about their projects.) In a random turn of events, I ended up going to this town. She asked me to take some specific photos because she wanted to see them in the winter. It was fun to have an "assignment" especially since I never take enough pictures when I travel. Here is my favorite. (There are many more on my Flickr page.)
It is a replica of the homestead that Oscar Micheaux lived on for many years all by himself in the middle of nowhere. I can not imagine being out in this field in 30 below weather all alone. I am just not cut out for it.

Grey's Anatomy - Some Kind of Miracle

I was going to write a really, really long comment on L. Britt's blog but then I just figured I would post one on mine. This is in response to her analysis of Grey's Anatomy this week.

So I got off the plane, got in a cab, got home, poured myself a glass of wine, sat down and watched Grey's online. I'm with you L. Britt. No, it was not the greatest episode in the world. I think the golden days of Grey's were last season but Shonda knows how to keep your attention. I even knew that Ellis was going to die (Thanks by the way. I should have never read your blog before I saw the episode!) and yet I was totally into it.

Saundra Oh is amazing! I feel like I finally get her deal now and that is a long time comin! Plus, they left a bunch of storylines open: Addison and Mc. Steamy (who needs a personality btw) and Alex and the pregnant lady. I think she is comin back. Hmmm...

Izzy is a tough one. The thing I love about Grey's is that they fully play story lines out. Izzy mourned and continues to mourn even though you kind of want her to get over it and stop being a brat. But that is how it goes. She is kind of a miserable person right now and that makes sense for that character. It is just kind of annoying to watch but hey ...

God bless Shonda the romantic. She really believes in love. I read an interesting interview with Partrick Dempsey where he confessed that he was happy in the role of McDreamy but admits that these are really fantasy men and it can be a bit dull to play. I completely agree. Sometimes it is ok but this episode it was a bit over the top. I think Denny is hot and everything but man, give that guy a halo. And Derek too for that matter. I believe that a few of these men exist but to have so many hanging out at Seattle Grace is much. It was good to see Denny and Dylan (the bomb squad guy) though. (I get my fix of Dylan aka Kyle Chandler on Friday Night Lights so I am good with him.)

Oh, and I do think the ex-Dawson's Creek girl did get some work done which is insane because there is no way she over 30! Eek!!

Dandelion

Dandelion
Originally uploaded by romiphoto.

I had not been to flickr in a while and today saw some beautiful photos that my friend, Romi had posted. I am always amazed at how the internet brings people together in the funniest ways. Enjoy this lovely photo!

I am reading this book that I am completely surprised that I am loving, Eat, Pray, Love. I was away last February and it was lovely and warm! This cold weather is a bit depressing. I have a hard time with it. Reading about someone in India, Italy, Indonesia, it just helps somehow. Plus, I want to write something like this so it is helpful from a writing perspective. It makes me feel like it is possible.

This weekend I did not do that much but just stayed close to home, cleaned my house, did some yoga, fixed my computer (I reinstalled everything and got rid of a bunch of stuff from my hard drive. Lulu, my laptop, was pulled from the brink. Go me, I rule!!! ) And yet I felt like I was supposed to do something more. Instead of being pleased with all of the serenity I felt, I felt like I should be writing or I should be going to some lame party trying to meet my future husband. I am obsessed with outcome. Obsessed with it. I never really thought about it before until recently.

Then I came across this quote in the book, "At some point, you gotta let go and sit still and allow contentment come to you."

Mercury In Retrograde

Usually, I do not believe in this kind of stuff but when mercury is in retrograde, I try not do anything new.  I accept that everything electronic is going to break down.  Everything breaks.  I hate the fact that I am travelling a lot during this time.  My flight both to and from Montreal were significantly delayed.  Who knows what is going to happen on my trip to South Dakota this week?  Some other examples:

• My personal computer crashed.  I am dealing with Apple so keep your fingers crossed.  I am backed up but it sucks.
• The light in my bathroom went out again.
• Computers at work are breaking left and right.
• My mailbox lock broke.

It supposedly ends on March 8th.  Thank goodness.  I am keeping a low profile until then.

Montreal Tales

notredame church @ montreal
Originally uploaded by mariana_dias.

It is not as cold as people say. I mean, it is cold but it's cold in New York so it's not a shock to the system or anything.

I have been before but I always went with a friend of mine to visit her family. I did not go out to that many restaurants. This time I went to a bunch of restaurants.

I went for a market. These are kind of hard to explain. Basically, broadcasters and producers from around the world, in this case mainly France and Canada, come together to sit through panels and pitchs of new documentaries. The goal is to get broadcasters to come in early on your film. The US never does. They want to see the finished product. Our government does not give enough money for the arts. I could rant about this for hours!! Some countries are into really nebullous topics. A made up example: "I want to make a documentary about wicker. People who use wicker. What is wicker?" There are bidding wars for films like this.

I really earned my producer stripes this trip. I had to pitch in front of about 300 people. They had little earphones because most of the folks were French and had to listen to the translators, who were in the room with you. It was like the UN. We pitched an idea about a documentary version of a book we optioned called The Cheating Culture. The idea is that cheating is on the rise. And by cheating, we mean cheating professionally, academically, financially. But why? We would explore that idea through interviews with various cheaters, experts. I could write a bit more specifically but you get the point.

I tried to engage the audience by putting them into various situations and seeing whether they would cheat or not. Would you steal cable? If your daughter was sick and you had no health insurance, would you use someone else's insurance if it was offered to you, even though it is illegal? Most people would do both of these things. (I am not saying these two situations are the same by the way. They are different.) I had some good meetings. I have a lot of follow up to do. This business is all about meetings. The real work is making something concrete and real out of it.

I think the same can be said of relationships. I had a flirtation in Montreal. Just a flirtation.

I visited my friend's parents and went to this church. It was so beautiful. I am sad I did not bring my camera. Luckily someone else did. It was good to see them.

Finally, and this is not related, I have no problems with Valentine's Day, even though I'm single. I mean, whatever. It's never really been my "thing" when I am in a relationship. It is a day of too much pressure. But as an overall concept, it is fine. There is chocolate.

Valentine's Day is actually the holiday that I miss my brother and my Dad the most. Not Christmas or Thanksgiving. They would both give me flowers, candy and cards every year. My Dad, like me, was pretty unsentimental about most things but Valentine's Day he would buy me some cheesy card. I would just laugh at what a goofball he was but now I miss it. I have most of the cards they gave me. I kept them and for longest thought that I should throw them away because I have way too many papers in my closet. Now I am glad I did not do that. Maybe subconsciously I knew that I would want them someday. Who knows?

The New Justin Video

I have much blogging to do about my trip to Montreal but in the meantime, I wanted to share the new Justin Timberlake video. I am um, curious to see your thoughts. Read mine after you've watched it.

OK, done watching? My deep analysis:

1. I hate videos with talking in the beginning. My assumption is that the actors improv the dialogue and well, it's not like the best actors in the world are in music videos so the dlalogue is always bad, bad, bad.
2. Despite what Hollywood wants you to think, charisma does not = acting ability. I am just throwing that out there.
3. Scarlett is hot.
4. I used to think she was a decent actress but I don't know now.
5. Samuel Bayer's videos are usually epic videos with a bit of edge. For a really great video of his, check out this one.
6. This video is pretty.
7. So the moral of the story here is that your punishment for cheating on your boyfriend with his best friend is to die in a car crash. I guess "what goes around, comes around." Whatever.
8. If this song is not about Britney Spears, I will eat my hat. (I don't really have a hat but that's the saying.)

The Secret Is Out ...

It has been announced: Election Day, a film that we have been working on for years, will premiere at the SXSW Film Festival in Austin, Texas! I am so excited. SXSW is a great festival and on a personal note, I have never been to Austin before and can not wait. Our film is a Spotlight Premiere which, to be honest, just makes us look cool. I mean, to have our film next to Judd Apatow's film, Knocked Up, rocks!!!

Here is the trailer for Knocked Up btw. I've been itching to see this film.

I am off to very cold Montreal!

The Grudge

I have a hard time letting things go. I think it is my worst quality. I wish I was not like this. I am trying hard to change. It is not easy.

The thing I have a hard time figuring out is what things you really should get over and what things you really do not have to get over. I can hold grudges with the best of them. I can write someone off for bad behavior in a second.

I am starting to realize that part of the reason that I am like this is because I hold things in. I used to consider myself pretty confrontational but that is not really true. I am great at confrontation if you do not matter to me. The moment you do, I have a hard time. This leads me to keep things in for too long and then, when we finally have our first intense moment, I am through with you. It would be a lot easier if I just said something the first time someone hurts my feelings. The first time we have a confrontation.

I am trying hard to change but it is not easy.