Musicals

Been busy lately, especially last weekend. Friday after uni and after doing some work on a presentation I had this Monday, I headed down to Ness’. We did a night of drinking, with Brett. We played a drinking game to RV. It’s a fun movie drink to actually. Then we did the obligatory WW episodes. –We might need to start branching out soon in terms of the eps we watch. –Maybe we should retire season 1 for next time….or not. :p

Saturday night, after getting home from Ness’ and spending the afternoon working on my presentation more, it was off into the city to see Chicago (the musical, not the band – in case you were confused) We were split 3 and 3, Me, Nick and Kay, and Ness, Brett and Vicky in the cars, those from the east, and those from the south. We had dinner at The Spaghetti Tree before the show. It was good food and nice to eat out together as a group. Then we went over to Her Majesty’s Theatre where it was playing. We got our mandatory programs, and headed to our seats. I was on the aisle, and Ness was next to me, and then Nick and so on. I liked our seats, we had pretty good vision. The show was a lot of fun. There were some parts I simply loved and others that were a little disappointing. But I didn’t let them ruin the good parts.

We couldn’t help compare it to the movie. In the end some I liked better on stage, some better in the movie. I really liked Gina’s voice, but I felt her big number should have had more movement in it….they didn’t always use the stage as much as they could have.
I loved Roxie. I thought she was excellent, very funny…even if she is scary tiny. My favourite part might have been the part in ‘Roxie’ where she takes the conductor’s baton and starts playing around with it.

After the show Ness and I went over to the stage door and got Gina Riley (Mama) and Sharon Millerchip (Roxie) to sign our programs. Gina was lovely and went to the effort to sign to us by name. Sharon did too; she was very nice and friendly and drew little pictures. We also enquired about the commotion that stoped the show in the first act…someone up on the balcony had some sort of medical attack or something. But the show went on after a little while.

After the show we went and found the rest of the gang…who had gone missing when we dashed off to the stage door. –We turned around to tell them we’d meet them later, but they were gone. We got drinks and/or dessert back at the Spaghetti Tree afterwards. I had hot chocolate with yummy marshmallows!
Then it was home again.

I’m a little sad now cause that means I’m out of musicals in Melbourne. I’ve seen everything proper that has been out in the last year really – ‘cept for Rocky Horror which I don’t think was really my thing. It started with Wicked back in July 08. The first proper, and by proper, I mean big production with biggish stars and in the big theatres, show I’d seen in years. Before Wicked, I had seen Phantom of the Opera not long before that, and then before that was Oliver…sometime back when I was in High School I think.
In the last year I’ve been musical crazy. I saw Wicked…a few times…I saw Billy Elliot, Jersey Boys, Avenue Q, and now Chicago. As far was as I know there is nothing coming for a while. There is a short run of Cats, which if I have the money I wouldn’t mind seeing maybe. I’m not sure about Mamma Mia. I’m not too fussed about it. And then there’s Mary Poppins coming out sometime which I’ll have to see, as long as they cast good people. I think that was my problem with some of the shows between Oliver and Phantom…the stories were good, but casts were annoying. Now I’ve become pretty familiar with some good Aussie theatre talent. I’ve even got people to follow now. –Story of my life: another person to pay attention to. I value talent and am loyal to those who I think have it. –They’re MY people.
….I’m absolutely hopeless. But so what?! It’s really too late now to start worrying about it.



-Carlie

Celebrity Stalker

So....I technically wrote this days ago, but blogger was being rude...

In the last couple of weeks, I seem to be being stalked by people who resemble actors. -I'm starting to wonder if its that I am semi-subconsciously looking for people who look like actors, or if they actually do just happen to look like them.

Since I started Uni, I have seen a guy that I think looks like Will McCormack - I think the fact that the guy is usually dressed in a suit like Will's character in In Plain Sight helps...but he does seem to have similar facial features. -I've seen him twice now, once at the station in Camberwell, and once at Starbucks in Hawthorn. Of course if I was to go up to him (which I wouldn't) and say 'you know you look just like this American actor...', he'd think I was a nut and also would most likely have no idea who I was talking about....as I imagine most people don't know who Will is unless they really like IPS or Brothers and Sisters.

Also the other day I passed a guy that looked like a young Peter Krause...

I'm starting to think my brain works even more weirdly than I'd thought. -Especially after I started dreaming my own tv shows, or movie, or whatever that was..it was slightly unclear.
But essentially I'd cast Jason Isaacs and Janel Moloney in a weird story that was a lot like Brotherhood...what with the guns and the violence whatnot.....yet it was not their Brotherhood characters....

The FanVid Process

So....I not sure how or why I decided it would be a good idea to make a Josh and Donna fanvid, but I did...and I found programs and am now in the very very slow process to putting the episodes into files on my computer, and then cutting them down for just the scenes I want.
The compiling phrase so far is pretty much taking anything I MIGHT use...that is anything that relates to Josh and Donna...or about Josh and Donna...
Now I might not use it for the music vid...there might be others or different kinds of vids later on, that I just want to keep the footage around for.

I figure its better to have too much, than not enough variety later on.

Something I am finding really interesting, is that since I'm not usually listening when I cut out the scenes...you find yourself simply watching....and I forgot who said that the most interesting thing is to watch the person who isn't speaking...but its totally true. I find I am watching the background more, or people's reactions. Its very interesting. A lot of stuff you don't pick up on when actually properly watching the episodes.

I am also finding that I am hearing different sounds on the computer files, than in the episodes...okay well not different sounds, but more background sounds. There is a whole scene at the end of 17 People which I don't recall actually hearing what everyone was saying. It was cool.
I think it probably has something to do with the audio layers or something...or the fact that I'm extra close to the speakers. Who knows.

So far I have done most of season 2....sans a few unimportant eps. Plus a random lot from seasons 1-6...I'm leaving season 7 for a while. I am trying to do things in a sort of order now. Its just easier.


I'll update when I have more.


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Carlie

Running Out The Clock

So.....I've been slack....Uni started back, and thats not at all whats been keeping me busy.

Yes. My tv time has taken a HUGE hit.
But I'm doing okay with that...I've finished The West Wing, just over half done with Arrested Development.
I actually have a fairly decent schedule. I still work monday arvos, I go straight from uni...with time for lunch and/or coffee between them.
Then I have wednesday and friday arvos off, which means I get to go home for lunch and watch some tv...or if I need to do something else, I have that time. -I also get thursdays off completely which is fun.

I also don't have any early early starts. The earliest is 9:30am. Which is fine. And the latest finish is 3:30pm. -Also good.

Other than uni...I'm not doing much. I'm barely getting by with the 1 shift I get at Safeway...but at this point its kinda not really worth looking elsewhere...maybe...I'm this close to being able to work full time..or at least fullish time, and working on my actual career...whatever that may be.
I've been looking out there..and there seems to be some stuff I could be interested in. I don't think I really have a dream job...I think I just want to be involved in something media related. We'll see how things go.

In the meantime...I'm having fun. I'm enjoying my free time. I'm sure I'll run out of it soon...with more readings and assignments to do.

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Carlie

Wicked

So its been a while since I’ve written anything. I guess I haven’t technically been busy with anything overly important. I’ve been working on doing other things that take up a lot more time and computer space, like my Josh and Donna fan-vid –which may or may not happen depending on whether I can solve the software issues I’ve been having. But that is an issue that can wait for now.

It’s been a rough few days for me. Sunday was the end of Wicked in Melbourne after 13 months, and going to the last performance made 6 times in 13 months for me (and Ness). Each performance was different from the rest in someway or another. The last show – I was both really looking forward to and dreading at the same time. But it did not disappoint. I didn’t cry, mostly because I was laughing too hard – at the messed up lines, and silly things they were doing, and also I was cheering and whooo-ing too much. Every time a character made their entrance the crowd went wild! And Lucy who never gets a cheer normally when she comes down in her bubble, broke character and it was really sweet.
I did get slightly teary in the 2nd half, but then the story always makes me get that way too.

We went to the stage door afterwards (after planning to the last few times we saw it), and it was packed with people. We made our way through the crowed and slowly got closer to the door. It’s a very dangerous spot…right on Flinders Lane and trucks and cars were coming down and getting very very close to people. A few times we thought about leaving cause it was SO crowded, we thought we’d never see anyone. But boy were we glad we didn’t, because in the end Bert walked straight by us, and Lucy was behind him. –I know its silly, or stupid or whatever, but I found it cool that Lucy was actually quite tiny…she wasn’t much taller than me I’d say. (The best Glinda’s are short :P)
I wasn’t quick enough to pull out my ticket to get Lucy to sign. –Something that is gonna bug me for a long time…its just one of those things…But by the time Amanda came by I was ready and got her to sign my ticket.
-This just means I’ll have to stalk Lucy in the future :P ….(see further down)

I couldn’t sleep for ages that night, and when I did, I had very disturberating dreams, just about things relating to the night. I also think part of not being able to sleep was that my ears were still ringing, and I was also emotional.

I’d waited so long for Wicked to get to Australia…after first hearing about it back in 2004 at the Tonys. Then after watching Bewitched, and seeing RENT promoted on The View. I was so excited when I heard it was starting in Melbourne. I bought the soundtrack a few weeks before I saw it. I sat down and listened to it all, the night it officially opened in Melbourne and new I would love it. Then a few weeks later, I saw it and knew (possibly by intermission) that I HAD to see it again. That 2nd time turned into a 3rd, 4th, and 5th. I’d collected a T-shirt, Hoodie, Mug, Drink bottle, Keyring, the Grimmerie, and 2 Ozmopolitan glasses.
I’d discovered the amazing talents of Lucy Durack and Amanda Harrison (and all the others), and will most likely see anything they do here. –They’re my people now, and are on my watch-list.

And like with most things lately…I can blame almost all of it on Kristin Chenoweth. Since July 2008, things haven’t (and never will be) the same.

De-stress Update

Not a lot going on lately...I've got 2 weeks left of holidays, then its back to uni, and then out into the semi-real world after that.

Other than watching a bunch of movies and tv...I haven't done a whole lot lately. Okay...So I did go shopping the other week, and manage to get a new jacket cheap -which was worth it anyways cause I've worn it heaps since. My search for kneehigh boots however was very unsuccessful.

Saw Jersey Boys a few weeks ago. LOVED IT!!!! We sat in the 2nd row, and even though spent most of the show looking up their noses, enjoyed every bit of it. They boys were excellent and kinda adorable...breaking character occaisionally during the extra long applauses. We also got 3 of them to sign our programs afterwards. -I've been listening to the soundtrack OVER and OVER again.

I'd also like to give an update on what is currently on my De-stress/sleepmix playlist.
1. Body and Soul - Billie Holiday
2. Bang Bang - Dizzy Gillespie
3. The Way You Look Tonight - Michael Buble
4. Wonderful Tonight - Michael Buble
5. Home - Michael Buble
6. White Horse - Taylor Swift
7. Love Story - Taylor Swift
8. The Best Day - Taylor Swift
9. Kissess and Cake - The P.S I Love You Score - John Powell
10. Way Back Into Love - Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore (Music and Lyrics)
11. I'd Rather Be With You - Joshua Radin
12. Only You - Joshua Radin

Not a lot else to report....except..oh yeah. We got a brand new spanking tv. Very shiny..and I think I've finally figured out how it works properly....or at least what makes my dvds look the best.


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Carlie

Winter Cleaning!

So while checking my hotmail account today, I realised I had a heck of a lot of old emails lying around. So I started going through some of the old ones, and through the folders....some of the emails go all the way back to 2005. SCARY!

Here is what I have learned from reading some of them...

• Ness and I were always this way...now we just have more frequent interaction (you know..in the real world)
• We really did start watching Studio 60 because of Matthew Perry...and becaues Lauren was in it for a bit.....If she wasn't...we might not have started watching. SCARY
• I seem to talk about Pop Tarts WAY too much :P
• It took about 2 years...be Ness and I finally got ourselves organised in terms of being online at the same time...regularly
• WHY oh WHY did I think it would be a good idea to tape over the emmy tapes?!
• M&M's have always been the snackfood of choice for any group occaision
• I don't think words did justice to how excited I was about 90210 coming out on dvd
• Its funny when the reason to meet up with your friends is entirely based on discussing a TV show
• Making up your own words...or using other people's made up words is fun...spectabulous- Will Smith said this on the Golden Globes red carpet arrivals and absotootley- one of the characters on Everwood made this up
• Thank god for USBs....What a waste of time waiting for a full disc worth of episodes was!
• GWOH! is never going to stop being funny....and is pretty much just as funny typed/written as it is heard.
• 2 years later and I still don't think we've had a group trip to the Melbourne Zoo!
• There are rules for TV shows...and can be found in most in way
  :1. The "in a box" or burried alive episode. 2. The hostage or quarantine episode, pretty much anything where the characters are forced to stay in the one room for the episode. 3. The trapped in a store overnight episode. Not as common but still a good one:) 4. Someone has a baby 5. There is a wedding
• It is way too easy to rewatch Studio 60 over and over
• The plan to stay away from The West Wing spoilers never really worked very well...

More to come!