Glee-“The New Rachel”

Finally, after a few months Glee is back on!  Just FYI I am a huge Gleek.

So we left off season 3 with Kurt not getting into NYADA, the seniors all graduating and going their separate ways, and Finn and Rachel breaking up just before she gets on a train for New York.

I’m going to start out by saying that I really did like the episode.  The first episode of new seasons are so crammed with info it’s almost stupid.  Not knowing what happened over the summer we have to get explanations from the characters (Tina and Mike broke up WTF!?), then we have to be introduced to new characters and get a small glimpse of who they are, and then they have to being setting up plots and arcs for the season. Done, done, done, and done.

There where parts of this episode i thought were amazing, and parts that made me angry, but I’ll get to all that in time.  First off I love the New York/NYADA stuff.  I think I mostly just like the change in pace and location, and I feel like the “grown up” quality the writers wanted from that location came across very well. I get the “Fame” feeling from it all. I know this is in episodes to come, but also knowing what Kurt is going to do in New York makes me very happy he didn’t get into NYADA. I think the path the writers are having him take now is much better (and one I want haha).

The Round Room

 

I am also excited about the new characters! Marley, I think (and hope), will have a really good story line.  Her story was already kinda gut wrenching from the get go and that will lead me later to the part i’m angry about. Jake, who obviously has anger issues, but also Puck doesn’t know he’s his brother….could be interesting. Kitty…hate her, new queen bitch. Wade “Unique” isn’t new, but Unique did have the best line ever after being slushied, on last nights episode, “Uniques eyes….are on fire”. Brody…well did you see the episode…did you see him get out of the shower?  And of course Kate Hudson’s character Cassandra.  I cannot wait to see how this character develops, she had just the right amount of bitch, has been, pusher, teacher, alcoholic. While Rachel hates her now, I think she will be the one to push Rachel the most to grow and be great.

As a side note, that first scene with Whoopie last night totally cutting that girl after she had barely started singing not only terrified me, it also awkwardly inspired me haha.

Now this episode was all about finding “The New Rachel” in both McKinley and New York.  Almost everything that happened back in Ohio made me angry, however, I can see where the writers were going with it.  The Glee club won a national championship, got a taste of popularity, and when the time came to either stick with what Glee was all about or go with the, “popular opinion” they sank like a rock. Let’s face it, this isn’t the first time this has happened (Biest anyone?). What made the situation even wore is that right after they make their snide remarks about the lunch lady (who is also Marley’s mother) we cut to her and Marley, and the very real fear that the school (and Glee Club) will find out she is Marley’s mom and therefore ridicule her, which apparently happened at the last school Marley attended.

I think more then anything I was just horribly disappointed by the attitude that the whole collective seemed to adopt. While not everyone said a comment, no one spoke out against what they were saying either, until the end when Marley was the one to say something. The New Directions where so caught up in their new popularity, and who would be “The New Rachel” that they totally lost sight of who they were and what the club was all about.

Speaking of who would be “The New Rachel”…are you kidding me!? Really by the end it was still who could get the most solos and who would be the star while the rest sing backup.  I take issue with the fact that Blaine was named “The New Rachel”.  Instead of focusing on that why not focus on the TEAM captains?  In that case it should be Tina and Artie for a few reasons: 1) They are the only two members left that started the club. 2) Tina has amazing vocals, and Artie likes to direct so they would make a great team. 3)…Blaine just shouldn’t be the captain.  I love Blaine, even though i’m not so sure about his character this season…, but I don’t think he can lead the team. Put him up for killer solos, good moves, and something to look at, but leave the hard decisions to Tina and Artie. That is my two cents about that.

While I had my moments last night, I overall loved the episode.  The ending to me seemed real, when Rachel was finally breaking down to Kurt about what New York was really like.  Honestly I know that feeling. You want to seem strong and that everything is great, but really you are in a park alone looking through old pictures not knowing how you are going to make it.  Lucky for Rachel, Kurt is there in the end.

I know a lot of people out there have problems with Glee, I’ve just taken it for what it is.  Are there plot wholes? Yes huge ones, and a lot of the time character story lines fall apart. But i deeply enjoy the show, love the actors, love the music, and just DGAF about all that missing stuff anymore.

The New Normal

Seriously, if you are not watching this show you are missing out. I haven’t seen all the new shows coming out this season, but this is by far one of my favorites. It has everything out need; humor, parenting moments, love, good looking cast, and Bebe Wood as Shania Clemmons is amazing, love her.

Allison Adler and Ryan Murphy you two make amazing TV!

BTW is tonight’s episode there is totally a Glee season 4 reference and it’s AMAZING…see if you can catch it.

 

Kate Weybret- Creative Professional

My very good friend, Kate, is at a very exciting stage in her life, and I wanted to share her amazing talents with all of you.

Kate and I met at Brooks Institute of Photography and found that we had much in common; Harry Potter, Mini Coopers, England, Music, those strange things you did as a kid that you thought no one else did…I mean really what els do you need to know to be BFF’s?  Well like everyone I was friends with at Brooks it was amazing to see Kate grow and find herself in her work, and how different her path took her from the rest of us.

©Kate Weybret

Kate has superb photography, excelling in travel and location images, but she found another niche in designing. Conceptualizing a photograph is one thing, you know you will have a person or a place or both, you will have a look, you will have clothes and makeup and hair that fits, but with designing Kate has a whole different level of conceptualizing to do.  Her most recent work was creating a Lost Luggage box for an airline.  Not only did she have to come up with the design of the box, she had to think of the packaging for the items inside, what she would include inside, and then how the box would work.  The finished product made me extremely jealous of her talent.

©Kate Weybret

©Kate Weybret

She also designed packaging, labels, and a beer holder for her cousins home brew “Blue Tandem”.  Lets face it, most companies would die for this type, and quality, of labeling.

©Kate Weybret

©Kate Weybret

Last Thursday Kate departed for London where she will be spending the next few weeks building a custom design portfolio and looking at different schools to attend grad school hopefully by next fall. Check out her blog and website kateemma.com , and follower her on Instagram kate_emma22 . Kate also has an Etsy store, Elephant & Castle , that you should check out to order some prints, or some hand designed cards. You can also check out the Facebook and blog that goes along with it here.

 

Have fun in London Kate! I know you will come back with amazing work!

 

 

MTV VMA Awards

There is a lot going on tonight! We got FNO, DNC, and VMA’s haha. Here’s a VMA winner list and run down.

Rhianna started things off with a killer performance, and then we got right into the award giving.

Kevin Hart was the host this year, and did a fairly good job.  Sometimes at these award shows I wish they would just get on with it, but he had some funny moments.

One Direction were the big winners of the night with three Moon Men. They won Best Pop Video, Most Share-Worthy Video, and Best New Artist.

Chris Brown won Best Male Video (not a fan).

Best Hip-Hop Video went to Drake ft. Lil Wayne.

Best Female Video went to Nicki Minaj.

Best Rock Video was awarded to Coldplay.

And the big award of the for Video Of The Year went to Rihanna ft Calvin Harris for “We Found Love”

Demi Lovato won Best Video with a Message and the DJ for the night Calvin Harris won Best EDM Video.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I gotta say i think i now love One Direction…I mean, there music was catchy and all, but come on…British accents and they have style. SOLD!

Pink’s performance of “Blow Me (One Last Kiss)” was awesome, and I loved how she got down in there with the fans. Frank Oceans performance was good, for some reason I was having 8th grade dance flashbacks and I couldn’t for the life of me tell you why…Speaking of 8th grade…Drake….sorry, I will never be able to see Aubrey and anything but Jimmy from Degrassi.

The One Direction performance was really good, and honestly i donno how those sound guys kept out most of the screaming that was happening at the stadium.

(Side note Rebel Wilson is amazing and i can’t wait for the three movies she’s in at the end of this year. Also Emma Watson is just amazing, and I cannot wait for Perks of Being A Wallflower.)

I”m super glad Green Day is coming out with a new album! They had a super awesome performance. The Alicia Keys performance that incorporated Olympic Gold Medalist Gabby Douglas was probably one of my favorite moments.  And the Taylor Swift finale killed it!

Great show, i’m just sad Fun. didn’t win an award.  They were nominated though, so that counts!

 

 

 

The Hollywood Reporter has a good Red Carpet photo gallery, check it out.

Instagram Comes to Life

A little while back, the concept prototype for a real life Instagram camera circled the web; to much buzz and longing from Instagram fans.

Well apparently the venture now has a backer, and the project is moving forward.  Check out the story here form Quiet Lunch Magazine.

Fashion’s Night Out 2012

It’s here! September 6th marks the annual Fashion’s Night Out global event.

So what is Fashion’s Night Out (FNO)?  Well, according to the official FNO Web Site,  “Fashion’s Night Out is an unprecedented global initiative created in 2009 to celebrate fashion, restore consumer confidence, boost the industry’s economy during the recession, and put the fun back in shopping! In the United States, the program is a collaboration between American Vogue, the Council of Fashion Designers of America, NYC & Company, and the City of New York.”

With multiple events happening in cities all over, you never know who you might run into.  The events are sprinkled with editors, movie stars, models, designers, and fashionistas of all varieties.  Take a look at the PSA video for this years event for just some of the people you might run into.

As a side note to this: there is a twetition going around for them to release Darren’s cover of Dress You Up used in the PSA on iTunes. You can sign it by following this link!

If you are a peruse of Vogue then you have no doubt seen the images taken by the wonderful Norman Jean Roy, and below are just a few of them.

The exclusive FNO shirts and bags have an added benefit.  Forty percent of proceeds raised from sales will go to the New York City AIDS Fund in the New York Community Trust.

So get out there and shop! You may just run into that celebrity you’ve always dreamed of meeting, or make some contacts! Happy Shopping!

 

Vogue Cover Shoot Videos

I am in love with these three videos from Vogue cover shoots.  Three amazing women. Check them out.

In somewhat related news, Lady Gaga announced some of the tour dates for the Born This Way Ball North American Tour.

 

Art is Free- A Very Potter Musical

Here is it, my very first real post on Bow Ties, Coffee, and Art.  I’m dedicating this first post to a totally awesome group of people I’ve been working with over the past couple of weeks.  This post is going to have a mix of photos, video, and music.  Enjoy!

What do you get when you combine the plots from all seven Harry Potter novels,  singing and dancing, an amazingly talented group of people, and a low budget?  Mostly you just get a stitch in your side and facial cramps from laughing so hard, but in this case we A Very Potter Musical.

My friend, Cassie Levy, started a group a while back called Art is Free; dedicated to sharing and promoting art to anyone and everyone for free.  It’s a free exchange of ideas and work between mostly local artist in our small community of Susanville.  Being a lover of Harry Potter and Team Starkid (@TeamStarKid-Twitter), Cassie decided that she wanted to bring A Very Potter Musical to life here in Susanville.  Together, with other group members and fellow thespians, they put their blood, sweat, and tears into making that vision a reality. The community also pulled together and generously donated time, money, and materials to the theater troop. Customer Talk generously printed a banner for advertisement, Mr. Ready donated walls and props from the High School drama department, costumes were donated from our local Best of Broadway producers, the City Council waived a $300 fee for using the park facilities, artists donated props, and I myself did cast photos that they used as a fundraiser at the end of the shows.

First off if you have never seen the StarKid YouTube videos….you are missing out!  Below is the link to A Very Potter Musical.  You might not recognize Darren Criss from Glee; He plays the bushy haired Harry Potter. A Very Potter Musical YouTube .

I saw the performance 5 or 6 times, and was rolling with laughter every single time. Some standout performances by Cayle O’Brian as Malfoy, Claudia Lopez as Snape, Matt Ngotel as Dumbledore, Ashley Morgan as Giny, and the Trio played by Barrett, Maytal, and Dakota. While those are the main players in the show, the whole cast was brilliant, and personally I found I laughed the hardest when they would go off script and improve some lines (something Matt was amazing at), or when they would add little things in here and there. The cast also had to deal with mother nature, and Lassen County’s overabundance of wind for almost every show, but they always pulled through and seemed to doge falling walls at a remarkably well choreographed pace. Along with the wind we have had some huge wildfires all around us filling the valley with smoke. This comment from Barbara France on the groups Facebook page was great to hear.

The final evening performance was my favorite.  The cast pulled out all the stops, added new amazing material, and they had the cheers and support of a fantastic crowd that night.  I know the people behind me had seen the StarKid production and were very entertained the whole time, and I had a few friends with me that night who were also Starkid fans, and no one left disappointed.

As I said before, I had the awesome pleasure of photographing these guys and girls for some fundraising signing material.  The thought Cassie came up with was to produce some sexy photos (originally for a calendar, but time got short), or as sexy as a musical about Harry Potter can get…needless to say it was a photo session full of laughter. (Click here or on the cast photo to see the full gallery.)

Directed by: Cassie Levy and Kym Antonucci

Cast:

Barrett Shepherd-Harry Potter             Dakota Brannon-Ron Weasley

Maytal Eigen-Hermione Granger          Ashley Morgan-Ginny Weasley

Caley O’Brian-Draco Malfoy                     Matt Ngotel-Albus Dumbledore

Claudia Lopez-Severus Snape                Hannah Hewitt-Quirrell

Zachary Korin-Lord Voldemort              Suzanne Kanavel-Bellatrix Lestrange

Kym Antonucci-Crab                                Holly James-Goyl/Rumbleroar

Ana Turrubiates-Pansy                            Jenell Murphy-Cho Chang

Frankie Fong-Lavender Brown              Heather Fortin- Cho Chang’s Posse

Jesse Toland-Cedric Diggory/ Cornelius Fudge

Mikayla Godman-Molly Weasley

And on a final note, Cassie made me possibly one of the best gifts in the world. Below is a hand carved wand that she made just for me…my own personal wand to add to my collection.  She’s going to still paint an stain it, and i’ll post another photo when it’s done, but this is totally awesome!

And here is some behind the production footage…it’s really bad quality sorry about that. Working on getting it all up on YouTube.

behind the production

It’s time for a change

Hey everyone!  Most likely if you are here right now you came over from my other blog (that I will still update until next year).  This is an exciting new adventure, and I hope you are all excited also.

So what is going on anyways?  Well officially I will be moving down to LA at the start of next year, and moving into not only a new chapter of my life, but also a slight change in profession. When I started this journey 5 or 6 years ago I wanted to work on the publishing side of things at a place like Condé Nast. During school, and I can’t exactly pin point when, I veered from that goal and thought, “hey, I like taking photos of people, why not just go into portraiture”.  So that was the path I went down, partly out of fear, and partly because I found something I felt I was good at.

Don’t get me wrong i have enjoyed these last two years for the most part, I have learned a great deal, and I have met and photographed some amazing people.  This just isn’t what I really want to do though.  While i’m not sure exactly where my journey in LA will take me, I know it will be a path towards what my end goal is going to be.  One way or another I will be working for Condé Nast one day.

Thus this blog was born.  It will be a lot more then just my work, and for me that is the most exciting part. My friends are incredibly talented people who produce amazing work, and I will be featuring that work here.  I’ll be doing movie reviews, book reviews, entertainment and pop culture updates, fashion blogging, site featuring, and the occasional food blog.  This is an exciting time and I hope you will all join me on this path with comments, input, spotlights you think I should do, and maybe even some guest bloggers!

“Wherever you go, go with all your heart.” -Confucius