Archive for category TV
MAD MEN: the fashion
Posted by Amy Steele in TV on May 7, 2013
Megan Draper [Jessica Pare] wears the best clothes– vibrant, hip, fun and lovely. Peggy Olson [Elisabeth Moss] has stepped up her look to reflect her career advancement. More professional and flattering. Better color choices. I also like some of what Trudy [Alison Brie] wears. Costume Designer Katherine Jane Bryant does a brilliant job bringing the 60s to the small screen on Mad Men.
MEGAN:
PEGGY:
TRUDY:
THE GUYS of MAD MEN:
Project Runway S11 Finale: RECAP
Posted by Amy Steele in TV on April 28, 2013
Project Runway Judges for the Finale
The designers work to make the changes that the judges suggested during the last judging session. They all make changes to styling. Stanley tries to “sex up” the make-up. Tim tells him that a few of his pieces look like they’re from vintage clothing stores. Michelle liked the hair in her last runway and still wants a disheveled look but more appropriate for the runway. The stylist is able to help her in that by tousling the hair and pulling it back so it’s bedhead but not too much so. Michelle also added a new piece in a bright yellow with studs. Patricia wants to use horse hair head pieces. She seems to have quite a bit of work to do. She tells Tim, “it’s not going to be as cohesive but it’s going to be more cohesive than when I started. But it’s progressing in a better direction.”
Amanda on Patricia: “I really get kind of excited that someone that out there got this far but there is something kind of hippy store in the mall.”
Michelle: “Stanley’s not just fitting, he’s actually constructing the garments on the girls.”
Michelle: “You know what’s really annoying? How under-prepared the other two designers in this room are. They’re patterning now. They’re trying to be cohesive now. It bodes really well for me but they could still pull rabbits out of hats.”
Patricia: “I have to put about 500 sequins on in order for the garments to make sense. Otherwise there’s no cohesiveness.”
Tim Gunn in the last gather round: “I want you to have this unconditional confidence. I’m so proud of you. I’ve never been confronted with a season with such extraordinary qualities of character. Someone’s going to win and as far as I’m concerned it could be any one of you. I love you all.”
Michelle: “I helped Stanley pack for Lincoln Center. He doesn’t have a little hem to do here and there. He has a mountain of sewing to do.”
It is unbelievable how unprepared Stanley is for this show. How did he manage to win so many challenges? Perhaps because he could delegate sewing responsibility to others. Remember the challenge where Tu worked with him and Stanley ordered him around?
Tim Gunn: “I am totally flabbergasted by what’s happening in Stanley’s dressing area: four dressers are sewing four garments. In the history of Project Runway, I’ve never seen anything like it.
Michelle’s collection: gorgeous, bold, lovely colors, designs and silhouettes.
Patricia’s collection: really pretty
Stanley’s collection: better than before but a bit aged for me
Zac Posen: “I’m so proud of all of you.”
“I saw very distinct points of view from all of you.” –Michael Kors
MICHELLE
“Fabric combinations, interesting and disparate but somehow melded together.” –Michael Kors
“I thought it was very cohesive from beginning to end. You play with shapes from beginning to end.” –Heidi Klum
“I think your clothing is beautifully made. I know who you are and you applied that on the runway.” –Zac Posen
“She’s aware of the zeitgeist.” –Zac Posen
PATRICIA
“I think this is fabulous. I love that you took the craftiness and took them to clothes that could work in the city.” –Michael Kors
“I’ve been a fan of yours since the beginning. I love that you make your fabrics. I think it’s different and I love that this is different.” –Heidi Klum
“I like when you take it to a more abstract place. I love this exploration into American heritage.” –Zac Posen
“We all recognize that you have incredible for bringing something to the table that is unique. There were a few piece in terms of silhouette that there was a real disconnection.” –Nina Garcia
“When I look at the work this woman does. Wow.” –Michael Kors
“She’s digging it out of her earth and creating it. I love it. It’s exciting. Her stuff is always going to be new and different because it’s handmade.” –Zac Posen
STANLEY
“This was a very dressed up collection. The white dress was beautiful.” –Michael Kors
“The beading was very effective. The choice of material was very dated.” –Zac Posen
“It almost looked like quick sewing. I noticed a lot of that.” –Heidi Klum
“It’s nice. It’s not special. He took a budget and had stuff embroidered.” –Zac Posen
“It looked like stuff out of a catalog.” –Heidi Klum
“There’s a stubborn quality to him. It’s not connecting to him today.” –Zac Posen
MICHELLE LESNIAK FRANKLIN IS THE WINNER OF PROJECT RUNWAY SEASON 11
I’m so happy Michelle won. She’s scrappy and talented and persevered. Patricia also exhibited a lovely collection at the end. Stanley, while talented, clearly needs extra help.
Project Runway S11.Ep13: RECAP
Posted by Amy Steele in TV on April 22, 2013
Final Four– Michelle, Stanley, Patricia and Daniel have gone home to create collections. They’ll be judged on three looks from their collection. Only three will be able to show at New York Fashion Week.
–I thought Michelle definitely had the best designs and vision. I liked her color palate and lone wolf theme. I’m not sure Patricia should even BE in the Final Four. She never won any challenges! I wanted Samantha in the finals. Daniel does design some outdated looks although he’s so sweet and enthusiastic about everything. Stanley’s been the threat from the beginning in his mind and according to other designers too. He’s been so confident throughout the show. He seems to have lost some steam here. We do find out on his home visit he tried out for PR three times.
Michelle
–inspired by lone wolf
“When I looked at this, I thought there’s a lot going on. And I like it.” –Heidi Klum
“I feel like you created a universe here. I like that it goes casual to more dressy.” –Zac Posen
Daniel
–inspired by moon, Germany, sting ray
“I’ve seen this dress from you before. It just doesn’t feel that sophisticated.” –Zac Posen
“I feel that when you are going to have an all-black collection it’s going to be able the shape or the drama. I’m worried that I don’t see any color or I don’t see any shape.” –Nina Garcia
“It’s too tame. It’s not unusual and I like you. It’s not interesting enough.” –Heidi Klum
Patricia
—encompass a lot of new materials I tried to use like horse hair. I find it a celebration of silhouettes that are very festive.
“My favorite piece here is the jacket. It’s rocking. It’s awesome. I also love this blue dress. My next question is how cohesive would your collection be?” –Heidi
“The details that are very special are being overshadowed by so much.” –Nina
“I don’t think she’s ready yet. There’s a lot of ideas. She needs to clean it up.” –Nina
“To me she has the most potential because the ideas are so original. I’m looking at something that combines history craft and originality.” –Zac
“It would be so sad for the people at home to see what else she’s made. I would much rather see her show than one of the snooze boys.” –Heidi
Stanley
—”I wanted to keep my simple shapes and apply simple textures upon textures. I built a loom.”
“I think you had the same problem as Daniel. I think you didn’t have enough ideas. Where is the wow.” –Heidi
“Your looks are cohesive. There’s a lot of texture to your collection. You need to inject texture to these clothes. But that’s just in the styling.” –Nina
“This is your one opportunity to bring your vision out to the world. It is chic banal.” –Zac
“I think his clothing is impeccably made. The proportions and styling is way off. From what I’ve seen from the rest of the season, he’s way off.” –Zac
“He needs some modern pieces.” –Nina
Daniel is OUT
Michelle, Stanley and Patricia will be showing at New York Fashion Week
CALL ME CRAZY [A FIVE Film]: movie review
Posted by Amy Steele in TV on April 19, 2013
Last year executive producer Jennifer Aniston and Lifetime started the FIVE film project which brought five female directors together to direct five short films about domestic violence. This year the focus switches to mental illness with films about bipolar disorder, depression, PTSD, schizophrenia and how the illnesses affect friends, family, partners and careers. Bryce Dallas Howard, Laura Dern, Bonnie Hunt, Ashley Judd and Sharon Maguire direct the films.
Lucy
Brittany Snow plays Lucy, a schizophrenic, in three of the films. In this film she suffers a breakdown during law school as she goes off her meds. She’s institutionalized and meets and befriends Bruce [Jason Ritter]. They spent quite a bit of time in group therapy and walking around on the grounds of this really nice rehab facility. Lucy’s quite shook up and doubtful about her intended career as a lawyer due to her mental health. A psychotherapist [Academy-award winner Octavia Spencer] convinces her to use her illness to her advantage. Snow’s quite talented. Very impressive and emotive in this role. Not too theatrical or flat. She’s just right. Truly convincing.
Grace
With a single mom, played by the venerable Melissa Leo, suffering from bipolar disorder her teenaged daughter [Sarah Hyland] must effectively become the parent. When her mom endures manic and depressive episodes, she hides them from her friends as it’s difficult to explain and embarrassing as a teenager to have an abnormal mom. One afternoon her mom takes her friends on a shopping spree and Grace witnesses her becoming frighteningly unhinged. Hyland and Leo have a strong connection. Director Laura Dern captures the manic and depressive episodes quite well with colors and camera movement.
Allison
When Lucy [Snow] returns home it’s to the dismay of her younger sister Allison [Sofia Vassilieva] who brought her boyfriend to meet her parents and never expected to see her sister who she considers unstable. She’s not very understanding or supportive to Lucy. Finally she says, “I’m not afraid of you. I’m afraid of becoming you.” It turns out that Allison’s been worried that she’d develop schizophrenia just like Lucy.
Eddie
Eddie [Mitch Rouse] is a comedian with depression. How could that be possible? He’s married and has plenty of friends too. Depression isn’t about one’s environmental situation. It’s about brain chemistry. Eddie’s in such despair and pain that he’s contemplating suicide. He’s become much darker than usual. Only his wife [Lea Thompson] recognizes this about him though.
Maggie
Ashley Judd directs Jennifer Hudson as a soldier returning home after repeatedly being raped by her superior officer. She’s suffering from PTSD and ends up having her son taken away from her. Lucy is back and she’s representing Maggie. When Maggie isn’t too keen on it being Lucy’s first case Lucy explains that she understands what it’s like for others not to understand about her mental health. Lucy says: “I have seen thousands of spiders running up my best friend’s face.”
There’s such a strong stigma regarding mental illness that makes it difficult for people to honestly discuss. Anyone who has a mental illness or knows someone with a mental illness will understand and recognize the struggles faced by those in the films. There’s constant maintenance and vigilance. It takes a support system and perseverance. For someone who doesn’t know someone with mental illness perhaps these short films will dispel some misconceptions.
CALL ME CRAZY airs SATURDAY, APRIL 20 on LIFETIME at 8 PM ET/PST
STEELE INTERVIEWS: Laura Dern
Posted by Amy Steele in Celebs, Film, Interview, TV on April 18, 2013
Laura Dern directed “Grace” one of the five short films which comprise CALL ME CRAZY: A Five Film. It airs on Lifetime Saturday April 18 at 8 p.m. This is the second film that Dern’s directed [her first film was a short back in the 90s]. She said she’s been contemplating directing for quite some time. Some of Dern’s films include Citizen Ruth, We Don’t Live Here Any More, Jurassic Park, Blue Velvet, Rambling Rose and October Sky. Most recently Dern starred in the fantastic series Enlightened on HBO.
Amy Steele: Hi Laura.
Laura Dern: Hey.
Amy Steele: I loved Enlightened by the way.
Laura Dern: Thank you Amy. That’s hilarious. Not that I’m saying there are any similarities, but every time I meet an Amy now I feel so close to them because I love the name so much because I love that character.
Amy Steele: So how did you prepare to direct?
Laura Dern: You know, I mentioned earlier it was really run and gun. We actually were finishing Enlightened in the middle of this, so it was a really insane time for me. It was literally a matter of days.
I got the call and they needed to start immediately. Mine was the first one up. So it was literally a matter of –I think– five days between, “hey can we send a script over” and needing to be on a set with a cast, a crew and a vision. So good news and bad news is I think I didn’t have time to even figure out what I needed to know. I just had to go for it.
I love working with actors. I’ve done it my whole life. I’ve been raised by them so I don’t have a lot of fear about that. It feels quite natural to me, I guess. I felt surprised by my awareness of where the camera should be. That seemed natural too oddly and luckily for me I had the brilliant DP, Gail Tattersall, who came and shot it. He and I were in sync about the vision as he supported me immensely.
The part that I think was hardest was just, you know, scheduling the day (time management), making sure actors had the time in something this emotional and shifting locations and all of that. Just the real producerial managing of getting your work done in a very, very short window is probably the area I learned the most from and had the most to learn about.
Amy Steele: There’s a clear difference between the manic and depressive scenes. Darker when she’s having depressive episodes and real quick scenes, brighter colors during her manic scenes when she takes the girls shopping and everything. What approach did you take for the different scenes?
Laura Dern: You know, relying on a totally brilliant actor like Melissa Leo. Really spending time talking through it before we started and spending time speaking to specialists and someone I know who has the disorder. Making sure that Melissa felt comfortable with really understanding the highs, the lows, and the in-between. You know, the medicated version which was important to me that when we did the un-medicated version, it’s not healed.
It’s all about degrees with the disorder and really trying to stay true to that, when someone comes off a manic episode like how they come down off of it. So in a very short time, there were scenes which dealt with every single one of those things, so I think it was more spending time with Melissa and making sure we knew exactly what that was and hoping to capture that in at least one take in each area so that people could really feel the differentiation.
NOVEL ADAPTATION NEWS
Posted by Amy Steele in Books, Film, TV on April 16, 2013
TV show based on Tom Perrotta’s novel The Leftovers
director/actor Peter Berg
Peter Berg will direct and executive produce an HBO show based on the Tom Perrotta’s best-selling 2011 novel The Leftovers. LOST co-creator Damon Lindelof will co-author the script with Perrotta as part of his three-year deal with Warner Bros. Television. If the show moves past development stage, Lindelof will serve as showrunner. The Leftovers centers on a group of people left behind after a mysterious world-wide disappearance. I interviewed Tom Perrotta about The Leftovers for The L Magazine in 2011.
Casting for This is Where I Leave You
Jason Bateman, Tina Fey, Corey Stoll and Adam Driver [GIRLS] will play siblings in This is Where I Leave You based on Jonathan Tropper’s 2010 novel about four siblings who spend a week sitting Shiva at their childhood home. Jane Fonda plays their widowed mother. Connie Britton [Nashville, Friday Night Lights] has been cast as his girlfriend.
Timothy Olyphant [Justified] plays Fey’s character’s high school sweetheart. Kathryn Hahn has been cast as Stoll’s wife. Rose Byrne will play Bateman’s love interest and Abigail Spencer his ex-wife. Ben Schwartz, best known as Jean Ralphio on Parks and Recreation, will play the family’s non-traditional rabbi.
Shawn Levy will direct This is Where I Leave You and co-produce with Paula Weinstein. Filming is expected to begin next month.
Stalkers: movie review
Posted by Amy Steele in TV on April 13, 2013
Constantly dismissed by the boys club and the judicial system’s indifference toward stalking cases, ADA Julia Winston [Jodi Lyn O’Keefe] sets out to establish a task force to track and prosecute predators before they hurt or kill their victims. A newly hired detective Diane Harkin [a bold Drea de Matteo], hiding her own domestic abuse trauma, finds herself facing similar resistance among detectives in her squad. When the two women cross paths on a case involving a woman named Jane [Lela Loren] stalked by her former lover [Mena Suvari] they join forces.
Kudos to Lifetime for showing a movie about a woman stalking another woman. There can be plenty of dangerous women out there, former lovers scorned. We’ve seen more about husbands and boyfriends in the news plenty of time, particularly using children as pawns as children for their power plays to grow stronger.
At the start of the film, someone says to Harkin’s partner [Henry Simmons]: “Your partner’s a real peach, is she always like this?” What a super sexist way to start. She rough handled the suspect and said, “Wipe that smirk off your face.” Her partner then begins a little lecture to Harkin with “Maybe your daddy wasn’t nice to you . . .”
Pretty sure women watch Lifetime films alone. Let’s not have these sexist jokes or comments in them. Not necessary. Although Lifetime films have gotten much better and attract quality casts, they’d be even stronger if screenwriters and directors were women. They’re films about women on a network for women so why not be written by and directed by women all the time. Am I asking too much?
Drea de Matteo turns in quite a solid and credible performance as Detective Harkin. Viewers aren’t immediately sure why she’s so edgy and personally motivated by the stalker case [besides being a woman] although that’s revealed soon enough. de Matteo and Suvari volley against each other exultantly. A bit more about the actual legal ramifications for this case would’ve been appreciated. The inspiration for this movie is Whisper of Fear: The True Story of the Prosecutor Who Stalks the Stalkers by Rhonda Saunders, a criminal prosecutor, who wrote the law on stalking in California.
STALKERS airs on Saturday night, April 13 at 8pm on Lifetime
Project Runway S11.Ep12: RECAP
Posted by Amy Steele in TV on April 13, 2013
CHALLENGE: CREATE A FASHION LOOK INSPIRED BY AN INTERNATIONAL FASHION CAPITOL
They have fashion assistants [and travel companions] again.
London
Stanley & Richard
Inspired by architecture.
Stanley’s never wavered from the confidence in his abilities and his basic frontrunner status.
“I’ve always gravitated toward things that are dark. I’ve decided to do something that’s very Stanley.”
Berlin
Daniel & Amanda
The Berlin wall brings Daniel to tears.
He also loves all the architecture. Amanda is a good match for Daniel because she’s helping him to design for a younger client. She encourages him to design a dress with a jacket.
They face some difficulties at the fabric store. No leather or silk. They end up with white vinyl. So a white jacket and dress.
Barcelona
Layana & Samantha
Layana also loves the architecture. She decides to do a leather jacket and skinny pants.
Paris
Patricia & Kate
How many people have been there for painting, sculpting and drawing and I get to be there for the experience?” Patricia says as she sketches by the Eiffel tower. She decides that she’s going to capture the gritty beauty of Paris. She of course focuses on the textile which is “layer upon layer upon layer” inspired by graffiti.
Patricia gets teary and says she’ll stay strong and never doubt her work again.
New York
Michelle and Tu
Michelle gets her second chance but she has to stay in New York. Tu is her assistant. She feels homesick and says she suddenly feels. She and Tu take a sightseeing tour.
“What’s inspiring me is the old buildings sandwiched in the new. I love the stains from old buildings and furnaces.”
Sketches in view of Statue of Liberty
“I’m spending $1000 on cashmere and leather. It’s the most I’ve ever spent on a garment.”
I still think Samantha shouldn’t have been kicked out.
Daniel’s design
“I love this jacket. I like very much what you did with the boots. The dress is very beautifully draped. Phenomenal.” –Nina Garcia
“I see Berlin. I think of creativity when it comes to architecture and I see that when I look at this design.” –John Legend
“I like this look too. It looks like a young modern hip girl. I see also the inspiration of Berlin. It’s quite hard and strong.” –Heidi
“He can be really good and he can be old-farty.” –Heidi
Stanley’s design
“What I loved the most was the glimpse of luxury.” –Nina
“The silhouette is simple but it’s very strong and simple.” –Heidi
“You captured the mystery of London.” –Zac
“He’s polished. He’s poised. He’s using historical references but he doesn’t feel dated.” –Zac
Layana’s design
“You made some smart choices in the materials. When I think of Barcelona I think of tile and lace.” –Zac
“Those sleeves. Why? Why? This outfit looks so old-fashioned. Barcelona is a city full of color and full of heritage and I’m not getting that coming from this.” –Nina
“She has the most commercial taste of all of them so when she has to do something more high fashion she’s going to struggle.” –Nina
Patricia’s design
“Trash couture. I’m interested in painting with fabric but it looks collapsed and dumpy and frumpy. I’m always happier for someone to take risks than to settle in the chic banal.” –Zac
“You went to one of the most inspiring cities in the world. I’m underwhelmed. There isn’t a vibe of the city at all.” –Nina
“She’s out there and she’s done some pieces that we’ve had some question marks over our heads but I’m always intrigued.” –Heidi
“I don’t think Patricia’s ready. She needs time to grow. It could be arts and crafts horror.” –Nina
Michelle’s design
“To me this is a comeback. You captured the city spirit. I am thrilled that you turned this around.” –Nina
“I love it. The combination of the two is unexpected.” –John
“I see the New York quality to it.” –Zac
“Michelle completely pushed herself today.” –Zac
“There’s something about Michelle. She’s very scrappy. She’s a street fighter.” –Nina
Layana is OUT
Final four competing at New York Fashion Week: Stanley, Michelle, Daniel and Patricia
Project Runway S11.Ep11: Recap
Posted by Amy Steele in TV on April 6, 2013
CHALLENGE: DESIGN AN EDITORIAL LOOK FOR JORDANA BREWSTER
–designers working alone but have sewing assistants to help them create editorial looks to be worn by actress and guest judge Jordana Brewster in the May issue of Marie Claire Magazine
Nina Garcia and Tim Gunn introduce the challenge
Michelle– Amanda is her assistant so she’s happy.
Stanley– Tu is assistant. Think he’s sorry he left Cambodia because Stanley has him back in a sweatshop.
Patricia– Richard is her assistant. Her worst nightmare. She changes her original design concept because she’s worried about Richard’s sewing abilities. There’s lots of drama and Patricia breaks down a few times. Says that she’s been paired with a sewing assistant who “can’t sew.”
Daniel– Samantha is assistant and it seems to go fine.
Layana– Kate is assistant and Layana’s very happy.
guest judge and client actress Jordana Brewster
Michelle’s design
“I am shocked how good you are with your sewing skills.” –Heidi Klum
“I do not think it is strong enough. I know I pointedly looked at all of you in the eyes and said don’t give me a t-shirt and pants. Right now I’m getting too much reality and not enough fantasy.” –Nina Garcia
“We’re getting a throwaway look a little bit.” –Zac Posen
Daniel’s design
“For me I see Victoria’s Secret. It’s almost too gimmicky.” –Heidi Klum
“I don’t think the look is working.” –Zac Posen
“I like the color. I would also like to see it with a skirt.” –Jordana Brewster
Stanley’s design
“It was smart of you to create three pieces because it gives us options.” –Nina Garcia
“It looks fresh. It looks elegant. It looks expensive.” –Heidi Klum
“It’s flirty but cool.” –Zac Posen
Patricia’s design
“You always bring an element of surprise. However I don’t think this would work for Jordana and I don’t think the shape would work. It’s almost tent-like.” –Nina Garcia
“Is it borderline Pocahontas or is it borderline cool?” –Heidi Klum
Layana’s design
“I’m really proud of you. I like that it’s architectural.” –Zac Posen
“It’s sexy. It’s bold.” –Nina Garcia “I love that she saw the Hearst tower and took inspiration for her garment from that.”
Stanley is the winner.
Michelle is OUT. and I can’t believe it. she’s more talented and edgier than Patricia. She deserves to be in the final four.
Project Runway S11.Ep10: RECAP
Posted by Amy Steele in TV on March 30, 2013
Challenge: CREATE A WORK OF WEARABLE ART AND A READY-TO-WEAR COMPANION PIECE
Using Guggenheim as an inspiration for the challenge/ 30 minutes to explore the museum. They’re designing their own textiles on HP touchsmart.
Winner of challenge gets $10K and HP Intel.
Stanley and Michelle
Michelle: “We’re both in the same head space.”
Patricia and Richard
Richard: “Our aesthetics are like oil and water.”
Layana and Daniel
Layana: I don’t like that Daniel is my teammate. I feel that it’s his time to go.
Daniel: “Layana to me is trying to control too much.”
WINNING TEAM
Michelle and Stanley
Michelle’s design
Heidi: “She created that print and it’s a beautiful print.”
Stanley’s design
Heidi: “I have to applaud him for using this bubble wrap. He was able to utilize that fabric in a whimsical way.”
SAFE
Layana and Daniel
Layana’s design
Rachel Roy: “It was so Southern Belle. What else do you want to put on this dress? That’s not avant-garde.”
Heidi: “I do think Layana thinks she’s the cat’s meow.”
Daniel’s design
Heidi likes Daniel’s design. She thinks it’s very flattering and sexy.
LOSING TEAM
Patricia and Richard
Patricia’s design
Nina:” I didn’t care for the veil she put on.[the print] feels like a circus awning.
Richard’s design
Heidi: “this skirt no one should be wearing.”
Stanley WINS
Richard is OUT
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About Me
Journalist/Critic/Writer. Medical Assistant. Vegan. Alternative Gen-Xer. Volunteer. Avid reader. Masters in journalism from Boston University. BA from Simmons College.
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