Trailer Review: Movies for 2010

Here I am on Christmas Eve, alone in my room, alone in my house... and what am I doing?

First I was listening to Christmas music while surfing the Internet. Then I reminded myself that I wanted to watch some Movie Trailers for upcoming films. So here are my reviews of the trailers and kind of what I hope to expect from the films.

The new Garry Marshall film, VALENTINE'S DAY has an all-star cast and looks like it could be a 'Love Actually' film for the February holiday. "A day in the life of love." It looks absolutely cute and I am hoping it is more like 'Love Actually' and less like 'He's Just Not That Into You.' I have always loved intertwining stories and how they get woven together to form a whole story. I am excited to see this film, one reason is because they filmed on the WB lot and I got to see Mr. Marshall walking around outside Stage 19 where most of their scenes were filmed. I also saw Hector Elizondo heading to set in a golf cart and Anne Hathaway heading to set on a pink Vespa. I hope it's good, but then again I do like pretty much all Garry Marshall films.
In theaters February 12, 2010


The new Tim Burton film, ALICE IN WONDERLAND, starring Johnny Depp looks dark, disturbing and very Entertaining. From the trailer, it looks like what I expect from a Tim Burton film: the music and the cast are very familiar. Along with the askew look of things: the bright colors, the big heads, the cinematography. I look forward to see this adaptation of such a classic Disney film.
In theaters March 5, 2010


I am definitely excited to see THE BACK-UP Plan starring Jennifer Lopez and Alex O'Loughlin. The trailer makes the movie look very cute. I want to see the movie for O'Loughlin and for the fact that part of the movie was filmed on the WB lot this past summer (I work on the lot). I also hear that O'Loughlin is an extremely nice guy and I want to support him as an actor. And he's pretty cute and Australian. So I have some good reasons to go see this film.
In theaters April 16, 2010


Might I say, IRON MAN 2 looks pretty AWESOME. It looks just as entertaining as the first one. Robert Downey Jr. makes playing the role of Tony Stark look like a lot of fun. I am, however, very bummed that Terrence Howard will not be reprising his role of Rhodes. He played the concerned, annoyed friend very well and I will miss him in the new film.
In theaters May 7, 2010


The new ROBIN HOOD film starring Russell Crowe, I am not so sure about. It is directed by Ridley Scott (whom directed Crowe in Gladiator) and to me the 2 films look very similar. But I might have to see it to support Scott Grimes, whom was very nice when he was on ER. But on another note, I am also very fond of Kevin Costner as Robin Hood Prince of Thieves. It was one of my favorite movies when I was little.
In theaters May 14, 2010

SEX & THE CITY 2, I am not so sure about this sequel. Let me first admit, I saw the last film after I had only seen 1 episode of the TV series. I was lost. So I went back and watch all 6 seasons and then re-watched the movie. I liked it much better the second time around. But as for the sequel, even when watching the trailer, I felt like I had no idea what the plot was for the film. I will probably see the sequel because I know the basic background stories for all the characters involved and I'd like to see how Big and Carrie end up, but I am a little nervous for fear of the film bombing miserably.
In theaters May 28, 2010

DEXTER Season 4 Finale Party

On Sunday, December 13th, 2009, I attended an exclusive DEXTER Season Finale Party at the W Hotel in Westwood. AH-MAZ-ING!!!!


Scheduled to appear were Michael C. Hall, John Lithgow, Julie Benz, James Remar and CS Lee. Unfortunately for me and my friend, NK, Michael C. Hall did not make an appearance and if he did it was very, very low key. We did however, get pictures taken with Masuka, and we spotted Julie Benz giving interviews in her lovely dress, as well as exiting the party right before the episode aired. John Lithgow attended and might I add that he is tall.


It was an Awesome event and thanks to me, my friends and I were able to attend. After every DEXTER episode, I head over to the SHOwtime website and check out any videos that might be available or any info I might find about upcoming episodes. It was at this website that I found out about the exclusive finale viewing parties around LA and NYC.


I mentioned it to a couple of friends and BAM!!! We had a group. 5 of us in total went. It was a rainy night, not down pouring but raining just enough to bring out the jackets. Mac, Nirv and I carpooled over to Westwood and arrived around 7 PM, about 2 hours before the event was supposed to start. Two of my friends, Mute and Crowe were already there holding our places in line (for we had the RSVP confirmations under my name).


As soon as we got there, we were let in. Unfortunately for us, we got there a little to late for the fun door prizes (which included Dexter DVDs, Blu-rays and Action figures).


As soon as we got our bearings set and figured out where everything was, we took over an "L" shaped couch, right in front of a nice big flat screen TV, close to a bar, underneath heaters, and well within range of seeing who might be arriving and leaving. We lounged in this area for a little bit, getting up every so often to scope out the surrounding areas. You know, see what we could see.


Free DEXTER themed cocktails were going to be given out starting at 8 PM, so most of us waited until then to start drinking. The themed cocktails included: the Blood Drop, Harry's Code and the Dexter-rita.


C.S. Lee aka Vince Masuka arrived first and was nice enough to take pictures with us. At first, it kind of seemed like he didn't want to be there but he ended up staying until after the show was over. And he was still mingling with other DEXTER enthusiasts when we left the party.



Nirv and I made our way around the restaurant and bar many times. Scoping out the sights, making sure we didn't miss Michael C. Hall. We heard that John Lithgow had arrived and we could see him making his way back to the VIP Lounge area. We tried to snap a pic, but he was moving to fast. Never got a pic of him, they all came out too blurry, so we settled with spotting him from time to time. Next on the arrival list, was Julie Benz aka Rita. She looked lovely in her dress (really filled it out). We got some pics of her. Nirv and I saw her leave before the show officially started. She signed a few autographs. Took a few pictures and told her fans: "Hope you enjoy the show."




Our little "L" shaped couch became a target of many people. The five of us completely lounged over the area. We didn't want to give up an inch, however, when the show finally started we allowed people to join us in our area, because we didn't want them standing in our way. We wanted to be able to enjoy the show without people standing in front of the big screen TV.



The DEXTER finale began promptly at 9pm to the shouts and cheers of all the DEXTER enthusiasts, me included. We all sat there on the edge of our seats throughout the entire broadcast. It was fun to be in an all-around collective audience. To experience the nail-biting season finale as a whole. To listen to the cheers, the gasps, and the sudden quiet as the show's Season 4 finale came to a breath-taking stop. To glance around and realize that NO ONE saw that coming. To see all the tear-stained faces and the sadness of what happened.




But I must admit, it was by far my favorite season of the show yet. John Lithgow did an amazing job creeping out America for a couple months. He was superb as the Trinity Killer. And Michael C. Hall put in one of his most intense performances. It was a KILLER finale and I look forward to what's to come in the next season of DEXTER.

An Interesting way to spend Halloween

Here's an interesting way to spend your Halloween... Go to the Hollywood Forever Cemetery and watch the movie "Halloween" starring Jamie Lee Curtis. Sound a little sacrilegious?


I hadn't planned on going. I felt like I couldn't afford the $10 fee to get into the cemetery. But, my friend finally convinced me to go.

We got dressed up (you could wear costumes). My friends Mute* and Crowe* went as slashing victims from a horror movie and I dressed in black sneakers, jeans and a white tee with a little green Merlotte's logo on my left breast and I had 2 fang marks on my neck (all those Vampire fans out there know who I was).

We went to the store to get snacks (you could bring snacks). We also went into a Subway and got sandwiches (you could eat and drink there).

It felt a little odd.

We pulled into the cemetery in our costumes with our bags of food and our blankets to sit on and we each paid the $10 fee and Mute paid the $5 parking few. And then we made our way in the car to a parking spot alongside the rows of headstones. We were very lucky to park near an exit gate.

We got out of the car with all our things and then headed towards the sounds of music and the lights and the palm trees (only in LA). As we were making our way over to the grassy area, the DJ (yes, they had a DJ for about an hour and a half), he put on the song "Thriller." Now how fitting is that... to be walking through a cemetery on HALLOWEEN and to hear the song "Thriller." I sort of felt in place, like I belonged where I was on this Halloween. That song got me in the mood and I kind of hoped that Zombies would start to appear and make their ways down the paths and start to dance in unison (No Such Luck).

It really was a thrilling experience. We walked down a dirt path towards the sounds of music and towards the spotlights, shining up into the air. As we approached the grassy knoll, we found a spot just on the outside edge. With tombstones behind us, we laid out a blanket and sat down, and ate as we waited for the show to begin.

Only in Los Angeles could people get away with hanging out in a cemetery on Halloween. Everyone was in the full spirit of the night, all dressed up in costume. The movie started at 7 PM. It was entertaining to watch a movie outdoors with hundreds of people and watch and listen to the crowd as the corny and cheesy lines were said. And the with "why are you doing this" statement being said aloud by many. And the cheers and the gasps at the triumph or the stupidity of the lead characters were being shown.

All I can say, is only in LA...

**Names have been changed to protect the 'undead.'

One year of SoCal Living...

It's been one year since I've moved down to Southern California. A year of living outside the City of Angels. Some people didn't believe I'd be able to last a month down here. But I surprised them. I surprised many by my decision to move to Southern California. "Why?" They kept asking me, why there?

Well, it was simple in my mind. For as long as I can remember I have had a fascination with movies and television. I have always loved to go to the movies. I have always loved the behind-the scenes aspect of filmmaking. And now I am working at one of the world's largest television and movie studios. Sure, I haven't actually made the move into the business of the TV/film industry but I am one step closer than most and one step closer than I was last year.

I have survived being evacuated twice because of fire. And now 1 year after my move, there is yet another 85,000 acre fire. Luckily, I didn't get evacuated.

Besides the job interviews I had right after I moved down here last year, I did experience a little adventure the second week living down here. September 2008...



I went with my then roommate, Cole* to a bar called the Bridge because he had a gig there. After my other roommate, Giff*, got off work, he joined us. We drank a little and after we realized Cole would not be playing and I was sober enough to drive; Giff and I headed home in his car. When I was pulling out of the parking lot, I noticed that Giff's fuel light came on and he assured me that he could drive 40 miles with the light on. When we were almost to the 5 freeway, his car started to slow and all the lights went on, on the dashboard. His car had run out of gas!!!



Luckily we were near an off-ramp and I coasted the car down the ramp and came to a stop at the stoplight. Within moments of stopping there, we had red & blue lights behind us. Just my luck! The one night I actually drink, I was sober but fearful. A Highway Patrol car had pulled up behind us. Two officers got out, one came to my window (the driver's side) and one to Giff's (the passenger side). The guy on Giff's side asked if we had been drinking. Giff told them he had and I hadn't (I had one drink over 3 hours before). They asked me if everything was all right. I told them we had run out of gas and that Giff was calling a friend to come get us. They informed us that they were going to push us off the ramp. And sure enough they did. Talk about having a freaking heart attack!


I volunteered last year for AIDS Walk Los Angeles. I made friends and it gave me something to do while I was unemployed. It got me out of the house, a couple nights a week and kept me socializing with the outside world.


Also in September of last year, I went to a Movie Premiere. Though let me be the first to admit that all I did was stand across the street from Grauman's Chinese Theater and take pictures of the cast arriving for the event. I was so excited to be able to just stand there. I found out that it was going to happen and I drove myself to Hollywood & Highland just to watch it. It was very cool and fascinating to me.

I pursued the job that I now have. From the first interview to the day I got the job, it took about 6 weeks. I think I might have been a little bit of a pain in the butt to the recruiter but I wanted the job and I constantly kept in touch with him and now look where I am.



I have gotten to experience so many cool things from working at Warner Brothers. I have gotten to stand behind the camera and watch the filming of some of TV shows that film on the lot. I have made friends with editors, caterers, drivers and crew.



By working at the WB, I was invited to my first professional Basketball game, now granted it was the LA Clippers, but I still got to experience it and it was from the WB box seats. I also got invited to my first Dodger Game, again in Box Seats.



I have been fortunate enough to watch some of the WB's major films before they were released to the general public (Harry Potter 6, Watchmen, My Sister's Keeper).

In the past year, I have met a lot of interesting people and a lot of them I can call friends. I have been very fortunate with the friends I have made. Friends that have been kind enough to drive me to and from work when I was having car trouble. Friends that have been good to me. Friends that share a lot of the interests that I have. Friends who have introduced to me the wonderful events and experiences that I have gotten to do in the past year.



I think I have done very well within the past year. I think I have managed to survive on my own, and I think that the year to come will be full of new and exciting things.

My First Dodger Game!

I went to my First Dodger Game on Monday, August 17th. It was Game 59 against the St. Louis Cardinals. Unfortunately the Dodgers lost 3 to 2.

But I had a wonderful time. And that is probably due a lot to the fact that I was in good company, I had GREAT seats and all I had to pay for was my Dodger Dog. My first game, and I was a bit spoiled. I don't know if I am going to be able to top that experience. I got tickets from my work, Warner Bros. The seats were in a box, overlooking the first base side.

We had nachos and both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Unfortunately the nachos ran out about a third of the way into the game and we never got refill chips until the 9th inning when all the toppings were bad. But I can't complain, I went over to the other side of the floor and got my first Dodger Dog, which was very good.

The experience was amazing and I was glad I got to experience it. Hopefully, I will be able to go again.

The Perks...

I love where I work. I love the perks of where I work. I love being able to walk around the Warner Bros. lot. I love being able to watch a scene being filmed over and over again. I love just being there.

If I am having a bad day or if I just want to clear my head; I will walk down New York Street which was used as Metropolis in Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, or has been the city of Chicago for ER. Or walk through Embassy Court which houses the building that was used as the morgue in Pushing Daisies. I LOVE being allowed to walk between the sound stages of The Mentalist and Chuck. Yesterday, during my lunch I sat in the grass of the fictional town of Eastwick. It's a new show for fall based on the movie, The Witches of Eastwick. I think the tag line is "Desperate Housewives meets Charmed."

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Oh, how I love the perks of being a Warner Brothers Employee. My most recent perk included receiving a free Family Screening Pass to see Harry Potter 6 on Saturday, July 11th, 2009. Four days ahead of the worldwide release of the movie. And one even better, was that fact that my screening was held at the world renown Grauman's Chinese Theater situated in Hollywood. We were also given a free soda and a bag of popcorn.

I was fortunate enough to find true Harry Potter fans to go with me. We all wore red and gold to show our support for Gryffindor. They were just as excited as me to be seeing the movie early. Unfortunately for me, I had to use the restroom during the middle of the movie and for some reason the bathrooms in Grauman's feel very far away, so it seemed like forever before I made my way back to my seat. I missed the kiss between Harry & Ginny. I knew the moment I stepped behind the curtain that I had missed it.


****MAY INCLUDE SPOILERS****
I enjoyed the movie, especially if I separate it from the book. If it had not been based on a book, then it was a very good film, but because it was based on a book, there were some let downs. I was bummed that certain things were taken out of it. But I know they can't put everything in the movie. I just wish, I just wish they had left the battle at Hogwarts in the film. And the invisibility cloak in the end of the film.