Film As Inspiration

I believe films can carry a message more than just entertainment or moral values.  Movies have the power to inspire, to spark an interest.  Movies can be a form of learning (and I'm not talking about the boring Biology films from 7th Grade).  What I'm talking about is how a movie can inspire a person to want to learn more about something or to go out and do something.

A good example could be Dan Brown's book DaVinci Code.  How many people wanted to know if any of it was true?  Or, if it was based in some tangible event?  That novel might have inspired someone to do more research and learn about conspiricy theories and such.

National Treasure with Nicholas Cage and Diane Kruger inspired me.  The DVD actually came with a little book on American history.  I loved that little book.  The movie itself sparks an interest in American history.  Other movies that have the potential to have the same effect could include: 
-Pearl Harbor
-Hidalgo
-We Were Soldiers
-The Patriot
-Elizabeth
Really, the list could go on and on. 

But what I'm really getting at is inspiration from these movies could come from unexpected places.  Most recently I watched the movie Julie&Julia starring Meryl Streep and Amy Adams.  That movie hit me on two topics.  It makes me want to cook more and better and try new things.  It also makes me (miss) and want to go traveling again; to live in a place not quite my own but tlive there and make it my own.

Have you ever been inspired to do something or learn something?  New places of potential inspiration have spread wider than ever before.  DIY sites and articles and books, celebrity figures, Pintrest, artists, blogs, vlogs, and the internet in general generate many means to an end.  It is a host of information even if it is also a large waster of time more times than not.

What was the last movie or videa that inspired you??















Papilionaceous

An Early Blog

 

Don't die of shock, now.  I realize it's only been October for about a week, but here's a blog post! WOOOO! You're welcome!


So, a couple things (as usual).  We'll break it down into categories today.

TELEVISION
I'm not a huge tv person.  Well, I'm not very good at watching it on tv when it's being watched by everyone else on tv.  I watch a lot of Netflix and Hulu and stuff like that.  It's not that I don't like watching tv on tv, but I forget what day it is, or I have to work late or something.  Mainly I just forget.  But, I have been doing really well following two new shows on actual television. The first is Revolution.  Basically, since this show is on Mondays, if I miss it it's my own fault.  I have Mondays off and it would just be stupid to miss this show.  I really like the premis of the show and I'm interested to see what's going to happen.  I also like the characters and it's a nice mix of not knowing what the hell is going on and can't wait to find out.

The next show that I've been doing well with is Elementary.  I wasn't sure if I was going to like this show or not because as far as I know, this is the first female Watson I've seen.  However, I was pleasantly surprised.  The two main characters have a good chemistry (which is required for Holmes and Watson) and the story lines are pretty good.  I think the show has good potential to keep it up and running (fingers crossed). 

A show that I like but have never seen past the blind auditions is The Voice.  I like the concept and I like the talent and the judges, but twice now I've seen the blind auditions and then have no idea how the rest of the show goes.  Don't ask why but I just forget and then have no idea or reason to watch if I don't have connections with the contestants or anything.  Maybe one of these times I'll actually be able to remember to watch it and I'll love it.

GRAD SCHOOL
I'm applying to Grad Schools currently.  Quite widespread I might add.  I'm looking at a lot of places due to the very competitive nature of the degree I want to get in for: Creative Writing.  I'm applying to six schools in the U.S. and two in the UK.  I'm hoping against all hope that I can get in for next fall and see what happens from there.  I've also got a mysterious Plan B, but I'll not divulge that information until Plan A . . . well you know.

I'm very stressed out about Grad School as one ought to be, but at the same time I feel a little bit more stressed that perhaps is necessary.  I've had some set backs, emotionally I guess, and I just feel kind of defeated before the real battle has even begun.  But, now I'm feeling a tiny bit better because one of my Professors is awesome and willing to work with me a little on my applications and all that entails.  That is really helping and making me feel a little better.  Please keep your fingers and toes crossed, knock on a tree and send many many prayers that all my hard work can come together and send me in the direction of Grad School.

WRITING
I've started yet another blog (if you didn't know).  I don't think I've mentioned it on here yet.  So now I have for certain.  It's a weekly blog meant to keep my creative mind active . . . well more active.  Okay, active while the other creative part of my brain edits something else.  I can write short little stories, inspired by pictures, to keep my brain entertained while some of my longer writing projects are on hold for a while. (The pause button being due to mass effort on the Grad School front).  I'm creating a new story for every Monday (hopefully) and I've only missed one so far because I was kind of traveling and I was tired.  Oops.  I have three stories out right now and I'd love feedback on them.  So, head over and check it out and leave me a comment on what you think. Here's the link:  http://stories-about-pictures.blogspot.com/

THE WEDDING

Photo Courtesy of Bobbie Bell

I had a lot of fun at my best friend's wedding (I fit in my dress and could breathe!!!!) I did a lot of dancing at the reception and it was really just a fun time.  My biggest complaint was that I had to wear a pink dress, but I suppose I'll let it slide because the bride is basically my sister (in fact she is my Seester) and it was her day and not mine.
I ended my diet the morning of the wedding by celebrating with a Venti White Chocolate Mocha with Whip Cream on the way to pick up the Bride to go to the Church.  I actually spent the night at her house and then left and went back to get her.  Coffee was really important.  Though I was so excited I probably didn't really need the coffee anyways.






VACATION
The following morning after the wedding, my dad and I flew out to Arizona! It was a great trip!! We got to visit with my Aunt for a few days and then my dad and I had some proper catch up time that we probably haven't had in three years.  We've both been busy. 
We drove back a little truck he had out there and for the most part it was a smooth trip.  We stayed in Albuquerque, NM and then in Witchita, KS and then in Hannibal, MO because we wimped out and didn't want to pull another 9 hour plus day.  It's exhausting.  We only added about another half of a day to the trip by doing that and we got to stay in a great hotel.
We stopped at a few coffee shops that weren't Starbucks and I thoroughly enjoyed them as much as I like Starbucks.  One was in Albuquerque and one was in Hannibal.  We used my GPS on my phone to find these places.  That leads me to another point.  We named my GPS! It's a female voice and we just felt the need to have a name for her to refer to her as.  For some odd reason, we settled on Patty. It was really funny.
I love it out West.  All the deserts and mountains.  The drive back was beautiful and we had the good fortune to find good radio stations the whole way back.  Except for a stretch in Kansas where there were, I think, eight Christian radio stations most of which were talk radio and gospel.  Not very good roadtrip music.  Just going to throw that out there.  However, the best radio station we had lasted for ages and was out of Albuquerque.  So I'd just like to say thank you Albuquerque for having good morning show hosts and a far reaching station of awesome.

Well, I think that's it for this blog installment.  There's more to come, I'm sure.

















Vacancy