sundries

[rm]

The new cat is coming home today. We may be changing her name from Claudette but haven't firmly decided on anythng yet. Yesterday we got food and treats for her, and a new littler box set-up so thigns won't just be ALL Pretty's territory and they will both have things to adjust to.

We have just watched Band Candy. "Do they have nachos here, Little Tree?" Man, that was priceless. The whole episode was proof of why, as an actor, you must have NO SHAME. Damn. It made me hate Joyce slightly less (I'm sorry, but the character is largely undeveloped, there just to be an obstacle and a hypocrite).

Also, Ethan is SUCH a wtf character. His main motivation seems to be boredom or being an irritant and I still can't tell if the way he's written is clever and smart or really craptastic gay stereotyping. But I care. A lot. The whole Ethan/Giles backstory, whatever it may be, interests me the same way the idea of Lucius + team Slytherin during their Hogwarts years interests me.

Also the current Xander/Willow situation? Breaking my heart. I keep wondering to myself if they feel grownup in the misery of their little non-affair.

And Angel's demise (such as it was)? Yes, very CoE, but hard to have an emotional response to when the guy later gets his own series, so you know it's not a permanent death.

Since we're on fannish things -- the guy who plays Lafayette on True Blood is a Dragon*Con guest this year. I'm so pleased.

And since we're on media things, let me be insecure about acting. Actually, it's let me be insecure about my looks. Let me be insecure about my teeth that are a wreck because of celiac disease. Let me be insecure about the fact that the first two pieces of advice I was ever given about acting were: "you gotta be able to sleep anywhere at any time" (I've got that down) and "never go to L.A. until they ask you to go."

Now I'm not going to L.A. for acting (upcoming trip is mostly fun and perhaps vaguely useful on some writerly fronts), but a lot of things going on in my life here in NYC right now is sort of the equivalent of going to L.A., in that they are a Big Deal and I don't know if I'm ready yet and no one really asked me to do these things, I just sort of banged on some doors really loudly and got people to do what I want.

But, you know, what if they think I'm a silly little girl who doesn't know what she really looks or sounds like? Industry people always thing chicks are in this business to be beautiful and then, from there, tell them they can't be in the industry because they are not beautiful in certain right ways. I know what I am.
I'm more than happy to play dying junkie whores, the undead, monsters and about anything else you want to throw at me.

Help me make enough money, and I'll buy the smile you want. But I am tense tense tense for a whole lot of mansplaining about my looks that I am NOT interested in. For those new to here an agent once asked me if I spoke French and when I inquired as to why he said, "in France, you'd actually be attractive."

Also, the correct response to this is not to tell me I'm beautiful. The correct response to this, if you feel impelled, is to tell me I have the force to be paid attention to regardless of the batshittery of this industry and the fact that I happen to have tits.

Mammograms and dementia

Patty found this amazingly depressing chart about health care spending and life expectancy.

Who's to blame for rape? Women point to the victims. OI. via ginmar

I am thinking of doing this or something similar.

In case you missed it, episodes are coming soon: tw_itallchanges.

Comments

[laughingacademy.livejournal.com]

"The whole episode was proof of why, as an actor, you must have NO SHAME."

Have you ever seen I &hearts Huckabees? Nowadays it's probably best remembered for the behind-the-scenes video of Lily Tomlin's and director David O. Russell's epic screaming match. Anyway, there's a scene where Isabelle Huppert and Jason Schwartzman are in a bog, smearing each other with mud and making out, which really brought home to me that an actor may have to be willing to do anything.

[redstapler.livejournal.com]

"Mansplaining" is my new favorite word.

It says so much.

I wish I'd had it in some discussions I was in a few years ago...

[taffimai.livejournal.com]

The problem with Joss is that he takes the characters you're perfectly happy not liking and makes you love them. Fair warning.

[smirnoffmule.livejournal.com]

Haha, this is so true. I love it when writers do that though, it's like, yes, okay, you really are quite a smart (see also George RR Martin and the writers of Lost).

[exbentley]

I've gotta say, it's pretty interesting watching you watch Buffy for the first time, though I keep having to bite my tongue because most of my reactions to your thoughts/ideas about characters are based on a thorough knowledge of the complete series.

But! I am pretty sure Ethan's meant to be a chaos-worshipper, therefore he has the advantage, as a villainy device, of not really needing a proper motivation outside of "boredom" and "annoying Giles".

Are you planning to watch Buffy S4 and Angel S1 correspondingly? (i.e. Buffy ep, Angel ep, Buffy ep, Angel ep.) I mean, assuming you've thought about it yet at all. A lot of the episodes mirror each other thematically or have plot carry over from one to the other, though that's only true for that season pair, then Angel goes and does its own thing.




Also, I think you definitely have the force to be paid attention to, and I think you're beautiful, so there.

[kdsorceress.livejournal.com]

though that's only true for that season pair, then Angel goes and does its own thing.

Ooo, really? That'll make it easier for me --I've been doing the back and forth and I'm a disc away from finishing both, but stuck at college since no one I know has Angel. If I could *just* watch the Buffy after I finish this season, I'd get done a lot faster. (Even if I do love Angel (the show, not the character) more)

~Sor

[bodlon.livejournal.com]

Sweet monkey candy, that is a terrifying chart. And a really difficult to read article about mammography/cognitive impairment. I sort of want to go hide now, but I'm not sure what from.

Though I may now want to emigrate to Canada. Or France. Or the UK.

I haven't seen Band Candy, so I don't know your specific example, but I think I understand the phenomenon you mean, where acting has to diverge entirely from self-consciousness and things that one would be uncomfortable with if one weren't currently someone else. Hm.

Hooray new kitty!

[rm.livejournal.com]

WAIT YOU"VE NEVER SEEN BUFFY?

Anyway, premise of episode -- all teh adults revert to surly oversexed teens.

[ladyofthelog.livejournal.com]

You have a presence. The fierceness of that presence transcends your teeth and any other limitations you may be concerned about.

Whomever these NYC big hats may be, just throw your best Jack at them and you will be fine.

[smirnoffmule.livejournal.com]

For those new to here an agent once asked me if I spoke French and when I inquired as to why he said, "in France, you'd actually be attractive."

The French are renowed for their good taste ;) This is such a bizarre, backhanded thing to say. I must admit though I kind of like the idea that somewhere, everyone is attractive. You, though - most places.

The Xander/Willow thing makes me want to say things about things you haven't got to yet. I found it really hard to watch just for the potential for hurt there, and I love Xander/Cordy, and while I empathise with Xander *a lot* and I love the character, there are many many times when I just want to kick him in the nuts and tell him to grow up and look at what he has, right here, right now, and this was one of those times.

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

The Xander/Willow thing makes me want to say things about things you haven't got to yet.
Yes, dear god, this...

Xander has always been that guy I really wanted to like, because he was part of the gang, but I seriously disliked the way he treated his friends for the fact that he was a guy surrounded by girls who did things better than him... it irked me...

[bethynyc.livejournal.com]

I loved Band Candy--absolutely loved Giles in this! And Oz is perfect!

You know, I was thinking about you the other day as an actor, and depending on union affiliations and production budgets and so forth, I would definitely want you to audition for a part in my play "Loving Cassie." The next time I have a production up, I will let you know.

The batshittery is totally crazy--my only hope is that NYC does NOT turn into La-La-Land. But you can handle it and more, and I think you will/do impress the suits with everything that you are.

[rm.livejournal.com]

My union situation is that I'm SAG but have not yet joined Equity (although I am elligible). I also haven't joined Aftra, because I know if I do SAG and Aftra will merge a second later.

I'm not supposed to do non-union work, but can do Equity showcases in a way that's cheap for EQuity producers since they don't have to give me the EQuity benefits/stipends. It's convoluted.

And I'd love to audition for you.

[laurashapiro.livejournal.com]

Re Ethan: You could make a case that he enjoys stirring shit up just because he worships chaos, but I think that only really applies in "Halloween". In "The Dark Age" he's mainly trying to save his own skin, having been one of the people who raised the demon years ago, but not the only one.

In "Band Candy" we see that he's a jerk-for-hire at this point; my sense is he'd take a job like that if it sounded like fun, and if it gave him a chance to needle Giles.

I do think there's a strong Ethan/Giles implication. In "The Dark Age" it's implied that he and Giles and the other members of their group enjoyed sexual shenanigans ("orgies" is the word), and there's just so much intimacy in the way Sachs and Head play with each other.

I don't find Ethan a gay stereotype, probably because everything I've ever seen Robin Sachs in, he's seemed a bit fey and often whimsical. Okay, not so much as the lizard guy in Galaxy Quest, but other than that...

[rm.livejournal.com]

Wait he was in Galaxy Quest? Who was he in Galaxy Quest? Was he the big bad?

I do like his whimsy. It what makes me keep coming back to the character/performance and being interested.

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

God, the summer of Angel's death was even worse than my summer after Ianto's because I was 14. It was a heady time.
Now I was better equipped to handle the grief, back then... not so much.
Back in the day I didn't see Etahn as gay... though now it's pretty glaring. I pretty much saw the queer with the incestuous vampires and with... other characters that I'll talk about when you talk about 'em.

Oh mansplaining... bleh.

If I may ask, why are you looking to to a genetic genealogy?

[rm.livejournal.com]

If I may ask, why are you looking to to a genetic genealogy?

Both sides of my family come from places that were conquered over and over again by people from different continents. Odds are, and if family lore is to be believed, my background is incredibly mixed and complex, and I'm curious, now that we have the technology so put proof to that or no.

[pocketmouse]

I think hammering on ahead is a fine way to go about things, because it also sends the message that you won't be pushed around. However, politics-wise, I don't know very much about the film industry. I'd hazard that in theatre, it might be slightly easier to get away from that line of talk. I don't know, I'm not sure. But seriously, don't let it stop you.

[rm.livejournal.com]

Yeah, theater is much more chill. I hate that I don't want to do it more. I enjoy it, but it's not what keeps me up at night.

[regyt.livejournal.com]

You're intense, in personality and in appearance. I think that will take you far.

The chart depresses the hell out of me.

[dulcinbradbury.livejournal.com]

And Angel's demise (such as it was)? Yes, very CoE, but hard to have an emotional response to when because the guy later gets his own series, you know it's not a permanent death.

Having watched Buffy for the first time only a in the last year? Yes... though because *she* believed in the demise, I still responded to it.

[atalantapendrag.livejournal.com]

I have sort of a love/hate relationship with Buffy... the things I love, I really really love, but the things I hate, whew! And I was never able to stand Joyce as a character either, but that's largely because of how much she reminds me of my own mother.

That genealogy thing is so cool. I've looked into it before, but at my income level there's just no way I could justify spending the money. I hope you find out something fascinating!

ETA: Yay for the new kitty! Be sure to post updates.

[kathrynrose.livejournal.com]

Yay for new kitty.

Was waiting for you to get to Band Candy. I need to go look at an index of episodes so I can anticipate some of my other favorite eps. This is like you reading about me watching TW and Dr. Who.
I'm making myself say nothing, which is hard.

I love love love Lafayette. Just sayin.

I'm pretty sure I've already said you're beautiful. Also striking, and if I haven't mentioned, strong, kick-ass, and brilliant.

Thanks for posting the geneology thing. I may do it. Since I found out my dad wasn't my biological father, and since my mom has dementia now and I can't find out the true story, something like this might give me some clue.

[elionwyr.livejournal.com]

I love Lafayette in part because season 2 lets us see his range - more of who he is and why he is that way and how damned stubborn and determined he is.

He is more than his gold lame' pants.

[forest-rose.livejournal.com]

Here from friends-of-friends - just wanted to say thanks for that dementia article. I'm a med student, and it has occurred to me that I don't actually know what happens with mammograms (and smear tests!) for severely cognitively impaired people here in the UK. I shall be asking tomorrow - conveniently, tomorrow is a teaching day about severe learning disabilities, so surely somebody will be able to give me a satisfactory answer.

Also, new kitty! *strokes her from afar*

[rm.livejournal.com]

Oh cool deal. Glad it was of use. Let us know what you find out?

[tsarina.livejournal.com]

I still always think of you as being six feet tall, despite evidence to the contrary.

[rm.livejournal.com]

Man, I would LOVE that.

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

For those new to here an agent once asked me if I spoke French and when I inquired as to why he said, "in France, you'd actually be attractive."

Wow. WOW. I knew that the Hollywood/acting/entertainment industry was harsh to women, but never having had an inside line before, I didn't realize HOW harsh. Someone said that to your face??

My hat is off to you for having the spine and self-assuredness to keep acting and keep yourself out there because it sounds like you get piled on MUCH WORSE than women in the workaday world do.

[rm.livejournal.com]

There's a lot of less interesting fucked up shit people have said to me that is way more upsetting. That was weird enough and I had the presence of mind to respond well enough, that I like to tell the story.

I also regularly get told to lose weight. While I believe I could always be in better shape (so not about numbers, but distribution or strength), I'm 5'6" and weight 110lbs (which isn't quite as extremely thin as it sounds since I'm ridiculously small boned). I wear a size 4. Which is too big in a lot of cases. It's absurd. It's also the thing that's casually said to get someone out of the office when people don't want to be bothered to give a real "no."

[cozzene.livejournal.com]

The DNAancestry project looks so incredible. It took very little research for me to figure out that my paternal grandmother was Russian and not Polish. So, I incredibly curious about what other bits I have floating around in me.

[melebeth]

I'm writing a whole chapter in my memoir about how it is not acceptable to be an actress and not think of yourself as beautiful, not present yourself as beautiful, and not strive to be more beautiful. You can not accept that you are a character type, or be willing to play ugly, without being heartbroken about it, because in this world beautiful is the most important thing there is... And every time someone says this shit to me it makes me want to throw in the towel. Not every character in the world is beautiful. Not every actress has to be. For fucks sakes let those of us who are NOT classically beautiful take the parts written for us instead of giving the pretty girls awards for being willing to let make up artists take them down a peg.

[rm.livejournal.com]

It's really maddening. And it's so not opting out or not being ambitious. It's called being strategic, but then, forcing women not to be strategic is right in line with the various people in this industry who are all "no one likes a smart actor."

[pineapplechild.livejournal.com]

I'm not a huge Buffy fan. Just doesn't light my fire, so to speak. But the Ethan/Giles interaction is one of my most very favorite things to read interesting things about in all fandom.

[rm.livejournal.com]

If I ever write fanfiction for Buffy it will be about them when they first meet. Hell, for that matter, if I ever do critical work related to Buffy other than mentions of it in the mourning-related project I'm doing, it will probably also be largely about them.

[austengirl.livejournal.com]

I read the BBC article about that survey this morning. What a craptastic start to the day. So. Much. Fail.

[weirdquark]

Also, the correct response to this is not to tell me I'm beautiful. The correct response to this, if you feel impelled, is to tell me I have the force to be paid attention to regardless of the batshittery of this industry and the fact that I happen to have tits.

It took until college for it to occur to me that I could possibly be interested in women because what the industry considers beautiful doesn't interest me. Force of personality does.

Will the industry recognize this? Don't know. Do you have the force to have people pay attention to you? You bet.

[kel-reiley.livejournal.com]

BAND CANDY! that is one of my fave episodes :)

[valarltd.livejournal.com]

I loved Band Candy. And Joyce does get better.

Of course, I was watching from the perspective of a mother of a tween. While I identified with Willow (she was me 20 years ago), I also identified with Giles and Joyce because they were closer to who I was at that point. Now that my tween is 17, I understand Joyce a great deal more.

The article on mammograms and dementia was excellent. My mother (age 64) doesn't get them. She's at the point in her life where she's marking time until death. She doesn't care how it comes. But she works with the elderly and the mentally ill and sees how detrimental tests they don't understand are to their well-being.