Drew Barrymore: Child Actress Turned Huge Success

Few names in film history ring truer than Drew Barrymore. She’s right up there with greats like Lucille Ball, Julia Roberts, and Halle Berry. Drew’s timeless look, exceptional acting chops, and even her troubled past, have made her “America’s sweetheart.” Drew Barrymore encompasses all that women in film should seek to attain: beauty, fame, triumphant, and classic appeal.

Drew first captured our hearts when she debuted as a young child in the movie “E.T.” Her wide eyes, adorable smile, and sweet voice immediately drew her into the audience’s circle of love. She became the girl that everyone in the country loved. Plus, her acting, especially at such a young age, was simply astounding. Her immediate rise to fame from “E.T.” led her to star in many more films. As is common with many child actors and actresses, Drew’s quick rise to fame led to her almost as quick of a downfall.

Not even in her teens yet, Drew Barrymore found herself addicted to drugs and alcohol. At a time when most children are worrying about what dress to wear to the prom or applying to college, Drew was in and out of alcohol and drug treatment centers. Many people in the film world considered Drew’s career over. American nearly wept at the loss of such a young talent because of her draw to drugs and alcohol.

But, it was Drew’s sheer determination that helped her rise from the absolute bottom back to the top. She cleaned up her life and found herself the star of the big screen again. Since her days in treatment centers, she has starred in films like “50 First Dates,” “Charlie’s Angels,” and “Music and Lyrics.” She’s also made a name for herself as a talented director.

For those who love film and the movies, Drew Barrymore is certainly one who has captured our hearts.

Women’s Cinema: Defined

It’s an assumption of actresses, the screen sirens and Hollywood beauties — with images carefully crafted, meant to withstand all public scrutiny. The notion of women within films has been shaped to simple expressions. Most believe an entire gender to be limited to playing roles in front of the camera, never stepping behind it, never defining the intentions of cinema.

This is neither true nor reasonable.

Instead the movie industry has forever been influenced by women — from Alice Guy-Blaché and her accomplishment of the first narrative (La Fée aux Choux) in 1896 to the modern triumphs of Kathryn Bigelow (the first woman to win an Academy Award for direction). And understanding films demands a more precise explanation of this.

Simply defined, women’s cinema is the efforts of all female directors, screen writers and cinematographers. It’s not a reflection of acting, as so many deem it to be. Instead it details the power wielded by women on the set of a movie. These individuals are the driving forces of projects, crafting them as needed.

Women’s cinema is not, however, meant to include the efforts of costume designers, make-up artists or similar careers. While these roles are vital to the completion of any film, they’re not considered the defining factors of them. The purpose of this genre instead is to seek out those who are responsible for the entire process, rather than just a specified part of it.

And all must be aware of this term — if only to finally abandon the notion that all women are meant to act and nothing more. Too long has this philosophy remained, with all efforts of female directors and writers dismissed (simply because they weren’t even thought to exist). While none could deny that the cinema remains a male dominated field, none should also deny that women have contributed much to it.

There’s more to discover in films than simple acting. There’s instead true creativity, determination and power.

Quick Beauty Tips for Those on the Go

Woman applying cosmetics to her lips.
Image via Wikipedia

Everyone is so busy nowadays that they don’t have time to sit around for hours doing their hair and makeup. That doesn’t mean that they don’t want to look their best for that day’s business meeting or school event, it just means that the thought of waking up hours before to get ready doesn’t appeal to them.

If you are like one of those people who don’t have the time to devote hours to getting ready in the morning then you might be in luck. There are a handful of quick beauty tips that any woman on the go can use to make herself look professional, presentable and shining every day.

While there are dozens of social media software programs devoted to changing a person’s look quickly, the quick on the go tips won’t be as easy as clicking a button for a new look. Instead, these tips will require some habits to be changed and some pre-planning to put into effect.

Here are two helpful on the go beauty tips that any woman can use.

Drink water. It might sound a bit odd but if your skin is properly hydrated then there really isn’t a need to wear a massive amount of make up. Properly hydrated skin will glow with a radiance that makeup will only cover up. So drink up that water and there will be no need for makeup!

Lip Gloss, Mascara and Go. If you are really in a rush, there are only two items that a woman needs to put on—lip gloss and mascara. The rest can be left for another time or not at all. These two items will bring out the lips and eyes and leave the rest of the face looking just as great. Always carry a lip gloss container and mascara pen and you’ll be good to go if you ever leave in a rush!

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Persevering: Women in Film

A door opens, revealing the crowded corners of a room, the nervous rustle of resumes: it is an intimidating sight, with desperate directors all vying for the same position. Only one can claim it, but all will try. And you hope to be the one who provides the most appealing ideas, the budget conscious solutions. This is a small film (independent and without the studio sanctions) but you wish still to offer your support. The script appealed; the premise intrigued; and you’ve already generated endless possibilities. You merely need the chance to prove them.

That chance isn’t offered.

Because — despite your impressive notions, your eagerness to please — the production team decides to favor someone else: a director of far less caliber but far easier masculinity.

The sad truth of cinema (from the tiny productions to the grand Hollywood events) is that women are often overlooked, deemed inferior by simple virtue of their gender. There is a stigma linked to females, branding them too indecisive and too incapable of creating films. They are thought to be competent only with the traditional roles — such as acting, costumes and design. They’re too often refused positions of power.

And this is enough to make many women consider fleeing the field entirely. They assume no rewards will be offered, that no values can be found. But, despite the difficulty of breaking the cinema standards, there have been victories throughout the years; with females contributing much to direction, production and screen writing. There are chances to succeed.

Women must simply persevere and seek them out.

It is an too easy thing to quit, to believe all hopes are gone; but females can achieve power in the world of cinema. They must merely devote themselves to searching for it, refusing to give in to the assumptions of gender. All triumphs will be earned… and perhaps will be more satisfying because of it.

Prepare for a challenge. Prepare for diligence.

Reinvented: Dinner and a Movie

The dinner and a movie approach to the first date is classic. Even as the times change, the date has remained the same: conversation over a nice meal and testing the waters of closeness in the theater. However popular this first date ritual may be, some individuals are taking a new approach to the dating ritual and throwing out tradition.

The decision to go to dinner and then enjoy a movie on the first date is common. Many people believe that the casual approach to the first date offers insight into the person they are with. During dinner, the conversation helps to discover common interests, have a few laughs, and test the comfort level. When the lights go out in the theater, the conversation doesn’t really end. By paying attention to body language, you can tell a lot about a person through their small gestures. When it is time to leave the theater, the topic of conversation is mostly about the movie, but conversations can take different twists and turns. These off-topic turns can reveal little things about the other.

The classic dinner and a movie date is effective, but some are changing it up. Instead, they’re going to the movies first and dinner afterward. Some believe that by going to the movie first, it is easier to get comfortable with the other person without having to carry on a conversation. Having to sit next to each other silently takes the awkwardness out of the conversation over dinner. When it is time for dinner, the talk over the movie offers a nice icebreaker into other topics. Getting off topic is a good way to get to know another person. Either way you choose, the dinner and a movie approach to the first date is classic, but don’t be afraid to spice up an old tradition with a new twist.

Looking for the Perfect Kitchen for Cooking?

Cooking is a very personal skill for many people. Some people love to prepare complex feasts that take hours to prepare and even more hours to enjoy. Other people go for the easy in and easy out version of cooking and limit their expertise to microwave meals that are ready in minutes and as tasty as the cardboard packages they arrived from the market in.

In other words, you either love cooking or you don’t. There are few who enjoy some sort of middle ground on-again, off-again love affair with cooking. The people who love cooking though are the very people who believe that a grand meal should be prepared and served in rooms that are equally grand. This means that great kitchens are a priority in the homes they buy, lease, or rent.

Of course, not everyone has time to drive around searching for the perfect kitchen for prepping meals of all kinds to suit all tastes. This is where a great property management service like Long Beach Property Management come into play. They can take the guesswork out of your search for the perfect kitchen.

Here are a few things you might want to have in mind before you turn to a property manager to aid you in your search.

1) How much money are you willing to spend each month on the property and corresponding dream kitchen?
2) Are you cooking with gas or electric? Hey, it matters!
3) Do you need space for cooking and entertaining indoors, outdoors, or both?
4) Are there features other than a kitchen that matter to you? Are there any more important than the kitchen (not that this is even possible in a perfect world)?

Asking the right questions of your property manager will ensure that you get the kitchen (and corresponding property) that is best suited to your needs, wants, and tastes.

Great Women Film Maker Hitting Film Festivals

Anne Hathaway at the Palm Springs Internationa...

Great Female Film Makers hit Film Festivals

Film festivals are receiving more and more great films from female film makers from around the world. Its adding a lot of spice to the film festival scene. Take for example, the amazing film, Bless is the Match, directed by Roberta Grossman. This film received accolades at several 2009 film festivals. Some of the film festival awards, it received, included Best of Fest List at Palm Springs International Film Festival and Audience Awards at Pittsburgh Jewish Israeli Film Festival and New Jersey Jewish Film Festival.

This film is the amazing and sorrowful story of Hannah Senesh. She was born in Budapest, Hungary in 1921, emigrated to British-controlled Palestine at the age 17, and was very involved in the Zionist movement. She became a volunteer of the British Army and parachuted into rescue European Jews. This volunteer mission was the only one of its kind ever undertaken to try and rescue Jews during World War II. She was captured, tortured, and killed. During her torture, Hannah Senesh never revealed important radio codes given to her by British intelligence.

Bless is the Match Makes Film Festivals More then just Recreation

Films like, Bless is the Match, make attending film festivals more then just a recreation. This is where movies educate and uplift. They go beyond the recreation aspect that so many films barely hit.

This powerful film has gone on to receive an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Music Composition by Todd Boekelheide in July 2010. Another amazing point is that this film is not only directed by a women, but Lisa Thompson (Producer), Marta Kauffman (Executive Producer), Joan Allen (Narrator), Dyanna Taylor (Cinematographer),and Sophie Sartain (Writer/Co-Producer) were also all females who worked on the film and played very important roles in its creation. Going to prove, that women film makers are making their very permanent mark on the movie industry and doing it with very high quality thought provoking work.

Women’s Film Festival with International Flair

Eureka! I’ve found a film festival that celebrates women film makers and has some international appeal. The festival is preparing for its 6th year and is called the Annual Women’s International Film and Arts Festival. It’s scheduled to start on March 30, 2011 and runs through April 3, 2011. This festival will be held in Miami, Florida.

Film Festival Appeal with Recreation for Women

This festival offers 5 days of great film viewing, along with recreation that women love. This recreation includes movies and fashion. This film festival pays homage to the great women made films but also pays homage to the fashion side of things. Most women love fashion and movies play an important role in fashion’s portrayal to the masses. So, this film festival mixes both film and fashion together. The festival includes a Pool Pajama Film Party and a family day. On family day, families attending the festival can watch films and enjoy family activities together. Attendees can also attend workshops and glitzier events that include fancy clothes and red carpet. This festival offers those interested in film a wonderful opportunity to see international films made by women and actually meet and discuss the films with their creators.

The Annual Women’s International Film Festival was started in 2005 as a one day event. Since that time, the festival has continued to grow in popularity. Many consider it now the best film festival in the Miami area and it continues to gain notoriety and more star power every year.

Movies and a Great Vacation

This festival offers great women made films and a great vacation. Attendees can enjoy Miami’s wonderful 70 degree spring weather and amazing hotels. There are even discounts available if you stay at the hotels helping to sponsor the event, The Opera Suites, Marina, or Betsy Hotel. The 2011 line hosts more than 60 films from around the world including India and Asia.