Representation

Film is representations fingerprint in histories database. Film offers a way to distinguish time, events, feeling, value, birth, death, being, doing...Visuals and sounds both play into the identification process. They're so many ways to expound on this topic and the one that is pushing these thoughts to the surface is the movie Stripes. I just watched this movie yesterday for the first time in years. I couldn't believe that my husband claimed to have never seen it when it had been such an integral part of my childhood. Watching it as an adult put a different twist on it that I can't put my finger on. I feel kinda sad that I was bored by it this time...I mean I have always loved this movie. Did I like it before just because my parents did, or was I just too young to understand movie plots, or have I just gone overboard on watching movies...? It was suggested that maybe I've seen too many things that have pushed the envelope, and so this looked so timid. Well, that could be, but I didn't feel that way about The Birds when I watched it a couple years ago; actually I liked it more than the first time I saw it. My husband had never seen Stripes before yesterday and it wasn't even at all what he expected, he thought it was a serious war drama, and he had no idea of the cast which includes some of the big ones like Ramis, Candy, and Murray. He recognized many references of humor, style and casting that were relevant in many following movies.

The more I thought about movies, actors, timing and reference in honor of representation I truely felt the accord of my movie affliction and analyzation. Movies aren't a waste of time, they are time. They're conversation, coping and cultivation. Stripes was a groundbreaking film not only in it's genre, but also in it's politics. They actually got Ft. Knox, KY army base to let them film the movie right there, wow!!! The world must have been pretty bored itself at the time to have let "hollywood" muck around it's campus. Now that I think about it, war was not a prime suspect in politics at the time, and this is well represented in the story. The army was represented as a joke, a place for losers to go when all else fails; a mockery of discipline...and yet a statue to finding yourself and the honor to go forward honestly. Once I really thought about war and war movies, I realized that comedy and war don't commonly mix. South Park always finds a way to relate to me somehow. There's an episode around the 5th or 6th season that discusses war, and the moral of the story is that we need both sides: the hard asses that want a built tough army and attitude that doesn't let anyone else push us around, and the other side that protests the war and suggests peace and walkouts...one side or the other may claim that they're way is better or more "American", when the reality is that we need both sides to keep each other balanced. Another South Park episode talks about joking about AIDS...that we're allowd to make fun of things if they've been around for 20 years. These thoughts jumbled together to help me realize that I have grown expedentially in the last few years. Sometimes I feel that I've wasted too much time watching other things and talking about other things, but in all actuality I have been learning in the ways that are fit for me.

In honor of Stripes lessons, I would like to emulate style. Hair, make-up, music, foly, lenses, angles, punch line timing, word choice, people...all represent a single strand of history that intertwines with the next and the next and the next...The importance of this factor is not wheather or not it is good or bad, long or short, popular or not...but moreover are you paying attention to how your own heart, mind and soul are responding. AND are you willing to process this sensation enough to share it with the world in your own way.

Film Review

RIZE with commentary by filmmaker David LaChapelle

MY PERSPECTIVE AT TIME OF VIEWING
I watch movies while I work. I sit with my laptop and edit baby pictures as I view stories of all kinds on my home computer. The action of editing is so ingrained in my arm and my brain that I need something in the background to not go insane. Baby pictures pay some bills as I work toward my ultimate goal of surviving financially off of my entrepreneurial ventures in art and health. When I chose to watch this film with commentary the time space continuum seemed to open up and propel my heart into possibility. It was a mathematical equation of work doldrums, deep rooted artistic ventures, human conditions, and grandiose ideas that brought this magical experience into balance.

STORY
No script, no stage set-up, no experts, no celebrities, no narrator, no embellishment and no judgement were used to create this film. The story was indeed life itself. For me the most important aspect of moving my soul was hearing David LaChapelle describe how this story came to exist. He speaks from his heart no doubt. He explains that he had an idea. Quite simply, he heard about crumping in LA and wanted to know more. He wanted to do this documentary but didn’t want to tell anyone about it because of fear of sounding too grandiose. The story that unfolds naturally exposes many truths about art programs, dancing, ghetto local, fast food, oppression, energy, passion, cops, belief, family, competition, confidence, ancestry, nature, comfort zones and intuition. The story that LaChappele exposes about himself is about determination, truth, surrealism, and the obsessive components of artistically creating something out of pure passion and love. Mutual trust was formed between the subjects and the creator exploding, 2 ½ years of work into a beautifully uplifting film.

ACTING
LaChapelle chose not to use celebrities. He states that “these people are celebrity enough…there’s a star in everybody. An artist wants to share their work with the world. When you’re a singer you don’t want to sing in the shower, you want to sing for an audience.” The result of delving into the world of crump dancing exposed many “actors” ranging from little kids to middle age. The creator and subjects alike just wanted to share a beautiful moment with people, and it worked.

SOUND
There’s a raw sensation when watching this film. When people are talking we listen to them. When people are dancing there is music. Even though I was watching the film for the first time through LaChapelles commentary, I could still sense the power and emotion, and realize the amazing editing. There’s no foly, but there is the issue of the background noise of life when filming. Musically I was brought to tears. LaChapelle structured the documentary like a musical film: music and dance numbers coinciding with a story that showcased a climax involving a dance scene at the end. Irony was created by putting gospel, pop and other realms of music besides the typical hip hop to these dances and was then transcended by a 90% original score.

PHOTOGRAPHY & DIRECTING
Hello. This is a world renowned photographer here. More than that, he meant to create something because he wanted to, not just because it was a job. David LaChapelle claims in his commentary that this was the most fulfilling project he had done, it gave so much back; and this shows tremendously. Rize is about color, life, music and surrealism. The lighting and perspective are beyond compare especially when it comes to documentary films, but also any other major production. Reality comes in the form of ghetto homes, beads of sweat, facial expression, timing, truth, energy, and simplicity. Visually the dance was broke down to “see the clarity”. His “job was simply to record what he was seeing and to make sure it was being recorded properly.” He did not embellish or art direct, he formed relationships and used his photographic expertise. Rize excelled from both ends of the spectrum, those in front of and behind the camera. I feel the reason for this is the intent from all parties: there is an alternative to bling, bling, that living is not about buying what’s being sold or making as much money as you can, but more about living the idea and spirit of art.

Reliv

Since childhood I have suffered with the chronic symptoms of bi-polar disorder. I realized this as a senior in high school, where my journey of survival and wellness truly began. I have sat in many clinics, doctors offices, hospital waiting rooms and dark rooms where hope was hidden…I have taken many kinds of drugs, supplements, teas, and therapies…I have seen many relationships with others and myself suffer during the vain waiting period of better life. Somehow I have always savored a sprinkle of hope that I was destined for something big. Not just manic good, but pure historical recognition for helping others like me. Underneath my peril of doubt and confusion lies a true artistic humanitarian. I have traveled through life with one reigning characteristic: Always keep an open mind. I love people, and have made it my life’s work to know as much as I can about them and concert a perspective of understanding humanity. My vehicles driving me toward this effort have been art, photography, writing, observation, music, and a determined work ethic. My goals have become creation – of pieces that coagulate the polars of life. I have many books written in my mind, many exhibits waiting to tour, and many days of life to offer others. So, what has been the wait for these pieces to be published?

The answer to this riddle could ultimately be bi-polar, but I also contribute my savory traits to this as well. I feel the most significant answer to my insignificant existence is insecurity. I have spent working time being a chump for change. I have spent the few dollars I have made on the world of medicine, travel, music and people. Even though I absolutely suck at financing, I have always followed my entrepreneurial spirit. It is incredible what can happen in honor of open minded passion for life, even when suicide is tugging at the pant leg of daily doldrums.

Early in 2003 I was eager to change my eating patterns. I had no money, no health insurance, no sleep, and no clue besides common sense…what I did have was determination. I was on a mission to control the breakdowns I was consistently having (1-2 per week), and to find a way to stop getting shingles on an average of twice per year. I made a vow to not get back onto prescribed or un-prescribed medications for at least one year, I carried three books about food around everywhere, and I spent at least one day a week going to health food stores. I was working three jobs and truly hated working for other peoples businesses while I went broke. One day in April the attentiveness of my ears and heart paid off. I was dropping some eaves, and I heard a woman say – “blah, blah, blah Balanced Nutrition, blah, blah, blah…” I nearly attacked her for information. I am so happy that I did.

What I found on that day was Reliv International. From that day since I have more control over symptoms of bi-polar than I could ever imagine. I started sleeping better right away; to this day I don’t have nightmares or night terrors, I don’t sleep walk, and I don’t wake up every hour with stinging in my brain. I no longer nod off during the day and am more productive than I can ever remember. Even though I got really excited right away, it took a couple of months to truly comprehend what I had a hold of. Reliv is a food science company that has products like no other. Reliv is the purest form of balanced nutrition available. When the body gets the nutrients it needs, it knows what to do with it. More importantly, Reliv is a company that cares about people. Everyone works together from our scientists, to our president, to our corporate office and distributors world wide. I not only found some salvation in my wild wellness journey, but also the entrepreneurial dream I have been looking for. I have saved thousands of dollars by not using medications or going to doctors for sickness (Aleve also lost a major customer), and I have earned thousands of dollars that has helped my debt situation working part time. The most significant thing I found is that I am not living an insignificant existence. I have found what I want to be when I grow up, and that is to share Reliv with everyone while I experiment with the many mediums of art.

I have the ability to help as many people as I want and that want it in return. I have never in my life imagined that a company could be so extraordinarily successful and simultaneously care so much about families across the world. I have proudly adopted Reliv’s mission to Nourish the World. We are leading a volunteer army that is helping people pay bills, pay tuitions, help family and friends, spend time with children, and become wealthy and healthy. Reliv is not a cure, it is not an easy avenue to wealth, and it is not a pyramid. Reliv is about self discipline, hope, help, success, equality, health, financial security and no boundaries. It’s all one world in the eyes of Reliv, and that comes straight from our president, founder, and CEO Robert Montgomery.

I’ll end with this statement from Zig Ziglar’s book See You at the Top which I believe corresponds with Reliv’s mission:

We believe that this is “the end,” or at least the beginning of the end, of negative thinking, negative action, and negative reaction; the end of defeatism and despondency; the end of settling for less than you deserve to have and are capable of obtaining; the end of being influenced by little people, with little minds thinking little thoughts about the trivia that is stock and trade of Mr. & Mrs. Mediocrity. In short, it is the end for you of the world’s most deadly disease – “Hardening of the Attitudes.”

Welcome to The Richer Life.

Write me a message if you are looking for family freedom, financial security, better health, or if you love helping other people and want to be part of what I and many others feel is the coolest company in the world.

rthstl@yahoo.com

No Gnewes is Good Gnews

I am a blogging virgin...until now. I love to talk, I love to write, I love to share so here I am. Today I will share one of my earliest and fondest memories of film.
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