Future Camp!

Today  at Humber, we had something called Future Camp. It was a session where we all got together to discuss how we were going to capitalize on the amazing relationships that we have all built with each other during this semester.

We split ourselves into what area of PR we wanted to get into... I sat awkwardly between the Arts & Culture group and Media Relations...

Yes Ginger, I did steal your photo! (L-R: Deb, Ginger, Me, Amanda)
Side note: Those are Amanda's sunglasses... not mine!

Deb and Ginger rep'd Media while Amanda, Jordana, Anna, Eva, Sheree and Rachael rocked A&C. Jordana and Amanda wore fabulous Chanel Coco Rouge Lipstick... Mademoiselle #5 apparently.

Anyways, we looked into ways that we can make ourselves PR all-stars in the professional future.

I think that the best way to make our work exceptional is to collaborate with each other on projects... say for instance, I was working for some sweet film company- I would maybe call on Deb or Gingy to help me build some buzz. I know they do great news release and have amazing contacts. Why not build on that?

It would be really cool to team up with a PR department that a colleague worked at too. We know who is good at what, so why not pool our resources and make our projects extremely successful?

We are continually reminded about the importance of networking. The Humber PR program is essentially one 8-month crash course in it. We build these relationships and work really well together, so why not translate that into our professional careers?

Here are some ways we thought of for keeping in touch:

• Make hashtag for Why Not Wednesday (#YnotW).... I will admit I haven't gone to any of these yet... Fail.

• Keep up our Facebook page as sort of a way to share news, opportunities, etc.

• Hold bi-monthly get-togethers for no particular reason other than to catch up!

Sounds Good!

I would also recommend checking out Eva's post, as well as Ginger's blog on her experience

No blogging, just goodness

Rather than write a huge blog post tonight, I would like to convert you to team Charlotte Gainsbourg!


Here is her first single called "Heaven Can Wait" off the album IRM.

IRM, easily my favourite album of the year, was co-written and produced by Beck. He also lends vocals to "Heaven Can Wait".



Good Night!
-Brian.

Have you seen our Best Picture winner?

Tonight was the Genie Awards ceremony, which is Canada's equivalent of the Oscars.

I thought I would give a quick little shout out to Polytechnique, which dominated with a massive 9 wins including Best Picture, Director, Actress, Screenplay and Cinematography.

Polytechnique was the best Canadian film of 2009 by far. At a tiny 77-minutes, it gave a harrowing look at the 1989 Montreal massacre. I saw the film when it played back in June and it has stuck with me ever since.

Told in a similar style to Gus Van Sant's Elephant, this film beared much more weight because it was actually based on true events. The character's are doomed and its very upsetting to see these lives cut short.

Polytechnique didn't really get the release it should have. Yes, in Canada, we don't typically display many of our own films in theatres, but this captures an important and tragic moment in our history. It is a brilliant piece of work to be admired, not necessarily enjoyed.



I encourage you to see this if you haven't already.
Have a good night,
-Brian.

The Final Countdown! More 'Sweet Films to See'

Hey Everyone!

This is my last post in the Top Anticipated Films of 2010 for the Sweet Films to See series. The final 3 are an interesting bunch. I really think that these films will only appeal to select audiences, but I encourage everyone to at least take at look at what they have to offer.

After the jump, I share my extreme excitement for I am Love, Rabbit Hole, and The Tree of Life.

Foxy Criterion. Foxy.

Today was a tad stressful....

Anyways... after checking about 40 emails, I got to my newsletter for the Criterion collection that had this amazing teaser:

Take from it what you will, but to me that says that Lars Von Trier`s Antichrist is getting the royal treatment. If it`s a late November release, it will sure to be a Christmas present for some.

Whoop.

Thanks for making my day.

A Slice of Heaven...

 

"It could solve all the problems of the world, that pie...
[it's] a thing of beauty —

 how each flavor opens itself one by one, 
like a chapter in a book.
First the flavor of an exotic spice hits you,

 just the hint of it. 
And then you're flooded with chocolate, 
dark and bittersweet, like an old love affair.

 And finally strawberry, 
the way strawberry was always supposed to taste but never knew how”.

-          Old Joe (Andy Griffith)            

My favourite dessert creation is the Strawberry Chocolate Oasis Pie. If you've seen the movie Waitress, you'll remember that it was the ultimate satisfaction for both Jenna and Old Joe. I couldn't agree more. With its fresh strawberries, creamy center and just the right amount of chocolate, a slice (or two or six) of Strawberry Chocolate Oasis Pie can really solve all of the problems in your world.        

  
If you're feeling the heat right now, or just really want to indulge, continue reading for my first time ever sharing the recipe!

Sweet Films to See: The Sequel... aka Round 2!

I must admit that the following 4 films were tough to rank. They all could have been tied for number four, but that would have been a total cop-out.

Today's edition of the Sweet Films to See series highlights Biùtiful, Winter's Bone, Black Swan and Somewhere.

Click here to continue!

Better Late Than Never: Sweet Films to See (Round 1)

Hey Everyone! Apologies on the super-lack of updating. My bad.

I had been planning on discussing some sure-to-be sweet films for this upcoming year. Yes it is 1/4 over, but 2010 still has many (if not almost all) of its (hopefully) great movies coming out.

I have decided to break this up into a few posts. I was hoping to cut it down to 10, but I couldn't, so you'll get to read about 11 films I think you should keep an eye out for.

In this edition of the Sweet Films to See series, I discuss The Killer Inside Me, Splice, Margaret and Last Night. Click after the jump to continue!

Charity: Water Spreads its Message Online.

Charity: Water is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to bringing clean, accessible drinking water to developing countries. Its campaign thrives off the use of various social media platforms. To learn more about Charity: Water, Sheree has an in-depth discussion about it.

 The charity itself is the online campaign. The majority if its fundraising comes through donations made through various social media platforms. I looked into how Charity: Water makes use of its Vimeo account to generate awareness and raise funds.

Brian & Lizz's Adventures in Lobster Thermidor

"The only real stumbling block is fear of failure. In cooking you've got to have a 'What the hell?' attitude"

                                                                                                                    - Julia Child

Lizz and I have been wanting to make Julia Child's Lobster Thermidor forever. After putting it off so many times, we decided that when she was coming down this month that it would finally get done. Lobsters are such ugly creatures......... but they are so tasty!! I really can't remember the last time I had one. I rarely eat seafood except for my family's pre-Christmas party, so I was really excited for this to happen.

Thanks Twitter! (and Maple Pictures!)

So after my whole big hate on Twitter way back before I signed up for Humber, I've taken my enjoyment of it to an amazing level after recently discovered an awesome new way to use it: WIN FREE STUFF! I know, its sounds sketchy, like something I would never endorse (hey Brian, you're sending this stranger your mailing address and (s)he is going to send you an exciting package!...hypocrite).

Anyways, in the past two weeks I have won a short-film trilogy from the National Film Board of Canada, Season One of Nurse Jackie, AND a copy of the Academy award-winning film Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire!! Which is really exciting since it was one of my favorite movies of the year.

I haven't watched any of the NFB ones yet, but I rewatched Precious and started Nurse Jackie. I would highly recommend both. Precious will probably ruin your day because it is so devastating, but its totally worth it. Mo'Nique absolutely deserved every award she picked up. Also, Gabourey Sidibe was really the breakout actor of the year in my opinion. Anyways, if you haven't seen it yet, DO IT!

Nurse Jackie was something I had never really thought about watching. Thanks to Maple Pictures' sweet Twitter contest though, I'm hooked. The show is really creative. Think about all the shitty things you hate about other hospital shows and take them out. Although I've only seen 3 episodes so far, there are no ridiculous relationship stories (yes people are dating/cheating/whatever, but no one has been revealed to be their partner's old roommate's former neighbour's cousin-in-law's penpal's transsexual husband or whatever), or crazy unrealistic storylines (no bomb threats, terrorist attacks, plane crashes into the hospital). It's just a really well written show with real characters, a great theme about drug addiction and honest performances.  I definitely want to see where the show is going and catch up in time for season 2 (which starts really soon...).


So if it weren't for things like Twitter, I wouldn't have gotten some cute little cartoons, one of the year's best movies, and an awesome new show. At this time last year, when I was using it to pimp out bagels and coffee for Cogro, I would have told you Twitter was this completely useless idea. But now not only am I using it to communicate, I'm winning free shit (I know that's not the point.... )and discovering things that I wouldn't have put that much time into.

Have a good night! I'm gonna try and squeeze in one more episode of Jackie!
-Brian.

Oscar's Tomorrow!

The Academy Awards are announced tomorrow morning! So excited. Here's how I would like for them to stack up:

Best Picture:

1) Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire
2) The Hurt Locker
3) Inglourious Basterds
4) The Fantastic Mr. Fox (might happen?)
5) An Education
6) Antichrist (no way in hell)
7) Away We Go (not going to happen)
8) Bright Star (doubtful)
9) (500) Days of Summer (maybe)
10) Up in The Air

* I think my 5 sketchy ones will be replaced by Invictus, Up, Avatar (sadly), District 9, and Crazy Heart

Why "The Hurt Locker Matters"

Kathryn Bigelow made history Saturday night. She became the first woman to ever win the Director’s Guild Award for Outstanding Direction in a Feature Film. Her movie The Hurt Locker has been dominating the awards circuit for the past few weeks. Although Bigelow has been a critic’s awards favourite, James Cameron was expected to take the win for directing Avatar.

Her win for The Hurt Locker is important for several reasons. It breaks the feeling that directing is a ‘boys club’. Bigelow hasn’t made her career out of directing flimsy romances or period dramas. She has chosen to direct tougher fare- suspense thrillers and action movies, genres which traditionally are done by male directors. The Hurt Locker shows that she knows how to play their game and do it much better than most of them.

Director Kathryn Bigelow

It is worth mentioning that The Hurt Locker is an Iraq war film. This makes her win even more substantial. Out of the dozens of Iraq related films that have come out in the last decade, The Hurt Locker is the only one to have achieved any real critical and popular success (by which I don’t mean commercial, rather that audiences have responded well to it).

The Hurt Locker is also the lowest=grossing film of all the movies receiving major awards attention. It was given a poor limited release by Summit Entertainment over the summer. Most people are now discovering it on DVD due to excellent word of mouth. While Avatar has made nearly US$2 billion worldwide, Bigelow’s film has made about US$15 million.

The Academy Awards will be announced Tuesday. Bigelow is once again the frontrunner.

Back At It!

Hi Everyone!!

So I have resurrected the blog as part of an assignment for the social media class that I am taking while at Humber.

Feel free to take a creep from time to time.

-Brian.