Behind The Scenes with Kate Voegele: The Interview.

After seeing Kate Voegele & Green River Ordinance at the Norva earlier this month, I had the pleasure of interviewing both Kate, and Jamey Ice from GRO. See  my previous post for my interview with Jamey. I interviewed Kate over the phone the next morning while she was on the bus heading to the next city. For the full story check out my article here on Examiner.com!

The vivacious Voegele is not simply a singer. She is also an actress. She plays the part of Mia, a musician, on the popular show One Tree Hill and is able perform her own music on almost every episode. As if full time musician and part time actress isn't enough, that isn't all Kate is. She's also a college student, enrolled in The University of Phoenix's program, taking online classes while she's on the road sharing her tunes. Her latest album, A Fine Mess, features the emotionally gritty song "99 times" and the soothing "Sweet Silver Lining". 

Cherylyn: How old were you when you started singing and playing the guitar?

Kate Voegele: "I've been singing for my whole life. I've always enjoyed it. I really started writing songs and playing guitar when I was 15. My freshman year of highschool."

C: Did you know then that you wanted to play music for a living?

KV: "I never thought then I'd be doing what I'm doing now. At my highschool, being on the girls soccer time was the cool thing to do, but that was definitely never going to happen for me. So I played music, not because everyone thought it was awesome, but for the love of it. It was a release, a way of dealing with life because everything's a big deal when you're 15. School, clothes, boys. So I channeled all these things into writing and singing. I kind of realized then that this is what I was going to be doing for the rest of my life."

C: If you weren't pursuing your musical career what do you think you'd be doing?

KV:  "I'm in the back lounge of my bus now and I have a couple of canvases I'm working on. I went to college for two years for fine arts, so I think I would be doing something artistic if I wasn't singing or acting. Everything I do comes from my artistic background."

C: What inspires you?

KV: "Everything inspires me, Everyday life. Touring, traveling and meeting people. Touring is not always glamorous. It's so cool, you're not always playing in big cities and a lot of times you're in these hole in the wall places. The every day adventures are inspiring, not just the crazy, earth shattering ones."

C: How do you balance life as a musician, an actress, and a college student?

KV: "It wasn't easy to manage at first. I like to challenge myself. It's not that I would get bored, if I wasn't doing all these things, but there are just so many things that I'm curious about. It's cool to have 3, 4, 5 things you love that are in your life."

C: What degree are you working on right now?

KV: "I'm working on my psychology degree right now with the University of Phoenix. Psychology is perfect. I'm studying the same things I write about as a song writer, human emotions and behavior. University of Phoenix has been so supportive. I've been taking one class at a time, slowly working on it. We help each other out. I tell their story and in turn they sponsor my tours. Things are crazy and I'm so busy, but I'm still able to manage taking classes. That's what the University of Phoenix is for!"

C: Do you enjoy the songwriting/recording process or the touring and performing live more than the other? 

KV: "The songwriting/recording process and performing and touring are both intriguing in different ways. Being on the road is like campout. I'm the only girl. The guys in my band are like my big brothers. It's definitely an adventure, but it can be a nomadic lifestyle. It's good to get in the studio to write songs and build the projects that you are going to tour around. Songwriting is what I love."

C: Tell me about your experience on One Tree Hill!

KV: "I never thought acting was something I would do. My manager told me that I should try out for the part of a musician. It was only supposed to be a few episodes, but the character stuck. I said, "I'll do it. I'll try anything." I think that's why I got the part. I wasn't nervous because I didn't think I had a shot. One Tree Hill is the paramount reason that I can play big crowds like I do now. They have just been amazing at exposing my music."

C: Are you friends with the rest of the cast? How do you like working with them?

KV: "The cast is so cool. I'm really lucky. All my preconceived notions were completely shattered. Nobody's too "hollywood". Everyone is friends. Everyone is really cool. I work mostly with Bethany & Hilarie at the record label. Stephen Colletti is my boyfriend on the show. He's a really great guy!"

C: Do you think One Tree Hill will lead to more acting in the future?

KV: "I would love to do more acting in the future, but I won't just take any role. If I connect with a role that I'm offered, I'd love to do more acting. I want to be in front of people no matter what the avenue, but I think primarily I'll just always be a songwriter and a musician. But who knows!"

C: Do you have any hidden talents or quirks?

KV: "Do I have any quirks? That's a good question. I can lick my elbow. I know that's supposed to be impossible, but I can do it!"

C: What is your main goal as a musician? 

KV: "My main goal as a songwriter is to make something that inspires people. To write things about my life that people can relate to. Whether it's a whole record or just one song for someone, I hope it can do that for them. Knowing that I have the ability to do that is inspiring to me!"

____________________________________________

Interview with Jamey Ice [guitarist of Green River Ordinance].

Texas rockband Green River Ordinance made a stop at the Norva this October on their tour with Kate Voegele. Green River Ordinance (GRO) has been charming crowds with their mesmerizing melodies and honest lyrics since they were in highschool. Since then they've opened for Bon Jovi, Mutemath, David Cook, Needtobreathe, Collective Soul, Hanson, and many other well known bands. Their debut album, "Out of My Hands" released in February 2009 and reached #10 on Billboard's Heatseeker's chart.

I met their guitarist, Jamey Ice & interviewed him for an article I wrote for my college newspaper. I posted the story on my Examiner page. Read the full story here.

1. When did you start playing music? When did you realize that singing was your passion?

Jamey: Started playing music in middle school. We played sweet home alabama for our middle school talent show. I am tone deaf and can't sing. : )

2. You mentioned meeting at school. Did you all meet at college? How did the band start?

Jamey: Geoff and I are brothers. Josh and Joshua, we all met and started playing together in Highschool when we were 15. We met Denton our freshman year of college.

3. If you weren't playing in Green River Ordinance (or pursuing your musical career) what do you think you'd be doing now?

Jamey: Would probably be back in school. I am 18 hours short of a philosophy degree. Or living on an island treasure hunting.

4. Do you have any other hobbies or passions?

Jamey: Love reading, studying, theology, & Philosophy.

5. What inspires you?

Jamey:God, beauty, life, love.

6. Do you enjoy the songwriting/recording process or the traveling/touring/perfoming more than the other? Or do you love both equally?

Jamey: Love different aspects of each. Recording because its stationary and creative. Touring because you get to meet people and play shows.

7. What has surprised you most about life? How has life changed most drastically for you since your music career has started?

Jamey: That a bunch of friends from highschool get to play music for a living. That God constantly opens doors and has always taken care of and provided for our band. You make a lot of sacrifices being constantly on the road. It's hard to keep up with friends and family. You miss out on alot at home, but you are getting to do something beautiful and exciting.

8. If you could collaborate or tour with any other musician in the world who would it be? Who has been your favorite to work with so far?

Jamey: U2!! It's been fun touring with David Cook and Collective Soul!

9. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

Jamey: Wish I didnt always think about myself. Would love to be less selfish.

10. Do you have any hidden talents, interesting quirks, or something that most people don't know about you?

Jamey: I want to wrestle an alligator.

11. What is your advice for aspiring musicians?

Jamey: It's a buisness. You have to work hard. Its not just about the music. You have to be just as on top of the business and marketing side as the music.

12. How do you get most of your song ideas?

Jamey: Life.

13. Do you have a favorite quote?

Jamey: "If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world." - C. S. Lewis

"You have made us, O Lord, for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you." – Augustine

14. How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard of you before?

Jamey: If Tom Petty and U2 had a baby.

15. What's next for you? More touring? New album?

Jamey: Lots more touring!

________________
Stay tuned for more interviews & articles & check out Green River Ordinance's music!

Interview with Felicia Barton: Local American Idol [9.22.09]

Felicia Barton was a top 36 contestant on this year's American Idol. She's captivating on stage & even sweeter off the stage. She lives here in Virginia Beach & I recently interviewed her for my college newspaper, The Marlin Chronicle. 

You can read the full story here: 

Examiner.com/CherylynEbertz

1. Cherylyn: How old were you when you started singing and when did you write your first song? Do you play any instruments? 

Felicia: My brother says I probably came out singing. In other words, I don’t remember when singing and music in general wasn’t a part of my life! I took piano lessons for about a year and can pick around on a guitar, but only enough to get myself in trouble!

2. Cherylyn: If you weren't singing what other career or interests would you pursue? 

Felicia: Probably songwriting...which I think is something I will be pursuing along side being an artist.  I think writing for other people is a challenge and a lot of fun!

3. Cherylyn: Who are your musical influences? Who are your favorite bands/musicians to listen to? 

Felicia: I grew up listening to a lot of gospel music so early on that was my influence. CeCe Winans but since then it has been a lot of different styles...The Fray, Natasha Bedingfield, Alicia Keys, Israel Houghton, Celine dion.

4. Cherylyn: How would you describe your music/sound to someone who has never heard you sing before? 

Felicia: Organic pop...kinda a Natasha Bedingfield with some Alicia Keys, however I love all styles so you will hear a little Motown in some songs and a little rock in others.

5. Cherylyn: What ultimately sparked your decision to audition for American Idol? 

Felicia: I want to pursue this as  a career and American Idol is the largest stage and an outlet for a lot of people to get in front of some of the biggest people in the industry. In other words, why not? I didn’t want to be 40 and look back and say I wish I had!

6. Cherylyn: How has your life changed most drastically since your American Idol journey? What has surprised you the most?

Felicia: The biggest surprise was having fans all over the world! I think being recognized has changed my life, also, just making a decision to pursue this full time. It has meant a lot of traveling and being on the road so much is a definite change!

7. Cherylyn: What or who inspires you the most? 

Felicia: My family. I want to teach malachi (my 2 year old) how to chase his dreams, and the best way for him to learn is to see mommy chasing her dreams!

8. Cherylyn: If you could collaborate with any other musician in the world who would it be? Who has been your favorite person to collaborate with so far? 

Felicia: I have a dream to do a few duets...Celine Dion, Cece Winans, and Josh Groban. I would love to collaborate with Justin Timberlake. This answer is endless.

9. Cherylyn: How do you balance life as a wife, mother, and a musician as you're traveling back and forth between Nashville and Virginia Beach working on your record? 

Felicia: I try to bring everyone with me as often as possible! This is a journey and it wouldn’t be worth it if I did it by myself!

10. Cherylyn: Have you sensed (or planned) any reoccurring themes in the songs you've been writing? Do you have an idea of when you will release your first album or does it depend on a record deal?  

Felicia: As of right now that depends on a record deal. I just want all of my songs to speak to people where they are and be positive!. I am pretty exhausted by negative lyrics.

11. Cherylyn: What is your ultimate goal? Define "Success" for you. 

Felicia: Success in life has to do with happiness, family, and living your dreams! I am also a big believer in faith and know that without it, life on earth is eternally not going to matter much, so keeping faith, keeping family together, and living my passions!

12. Cherylyn: Are you more passionate about performing live or the songwriting and recording process? Or do you love both equally? 

Felicia: Loving both pretty equally right now.

13. Cherylyn: Do you have any hobbies, passions, hidden talents, or something interesting that most people don't know about you? 

Felicia: Ha!!! Not really. I mean I like to shop, watch movies, and take lots of family days!

14. Cherylyn: What has been your favorite thing about growing up and living in Virginia Beach? 

Felicia: I love this city!  Everything about it.

15. Cherylyn: If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? If you had to change everything about yourself, but were able to keep one quality that you possess, what would it be? 

Felicia: Well, Im not going to cop out on this question. I think if I had to pick one thing to change it would be my  sloppiness...i hate cleaning. I do it because I have to. In fact, when I finally have extra money, I will be hiring a house cleaner! On the other side, if I had to change everything about me but could keep one quality, it would be my love for music. Music speaks to people on so many levels and with this love I believe you can help people through whatever they may be going through.

16. Cherylyn: Do you have any advice for aspiring musicians?  

Felicia: Don’t give up! Take every gig possible. Don’t think that the industry big wigs of the world are going to find you...go find them! Practice practice practice! It's what the professionals do.

17. Cherylyn: Is there anything else that you want the world to know? Any last words? 

Felicia: My favorite quote is “Don’t ask yourself what the world needs, and do that. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and do that, because the world needs people who have come alive!”- John Eldridge

Buy Felicia's Limited Edition EP.

Felicia's myspace

Felicia's Facebook

Felicia's Twitter

"Flying"- Help me re-write my screenplay treatment.

     For those of you who don't know, I am majoring in communications/media at Virginia Wesleyan College. Two semesters ago, I took my first moviemaking class. I wrote a script about a girl who uses a magical map to travel across the country. She folds the map so that the city & the ocean, & the countryside are next to each other. Eventually she reunites with her boyfriend. My screenplay was picked & we made the movie.

     This semester I'm in advanced video production. Once again we were asked to write an idea for a screenplay. Because I was already buried in an avalanche of academics last week, I spent about ten minutes writing my treatment. Inspired by my lifelong dream of being able to fly, being close to all of my friends & family across the country & around the world, and the two photos below, I wrote a silly little story about a girl who tries to fly.

     After turning in my idea, I received this email from my professor:

"Oy oy oy.  This is really frustrating.  I thought the first half was

great.  I also love the second half.  But here's a problem: the second half is completely unfilmable.  When I read the bit with her trying to

catch the birds, I thought, "It won't work, but it will be easy enough

to come up with an alternative."  But then I read the the last scene

of the film.  It really is a nice ending, but how on earth are you

going to shoot it?!  If you can think of some alternative ending that

can actually be shot, I'll be really happy because I love the core

idea of the story, and I think there is a lot of great visual

potential."

This is where YOU come in. I need you to help me re-write the parts of my screenplay that are unrealistic to film. [If i had an unlimited budget, a couple of years, could hire stunt doubles, and was skilled in special effects, i could probably pull all of my ideas off.] 

I am posting my treatment below. The parts in BOLD are the things that need to be changed. PLEASE, friends, if you have any advice, suggestions, or ideas leave me a comment... i don't care how off the wall your ideas are... i know i have creative, imaginative comrades out there who could help turn this ridiculous story into something magical. THANK YOU, in advance.

Flying

A young girl with a vivid imagination wants to see the world and visit all of her friends and family scattered around the globe. She has always secretly dreamed of flying. She closes her eyes, her arms out to the side, and pictures herself flying through the clouds. Then she begins to get creative.

     She makes her own wings. Running near the shore at the beach she leaps in the air, hoping the feathery appendages will help her to defeat gravity. Dejected because her attempt to fly is a failure, she devises another plan. 

     She scrambles up into the branches of a tall tree, carrying a white sheet with her as she ascends to the top. Perched on on a branch like an oversized bird, she adjusts her helmet, takes a deep breath, and then takes the plunge. Despite holding the sheet above her head like a parachute, she quickly hurtles towards the ground. Before she falls to her demise, the sheet is caught on a branch near the ground. She dismantles the faulty parachute, examines her scrapes, and dreams up a less dangerous scheme.

     She trudges up a green, grassy hill, holding a kite. She runs across the hill, and sends the kite up into the blue sky. Excited by the strong breeze she sprints even faster as the kite whips wildly in the wind. She is swept off of her feet and lifted into the air for a few sweet seconds, but as the wind dies down, she is dragged across the grass. The kite dives to the ground, and she is tangled hopelessly in it's string, laying at the bottom of the hill.

     Bedraggled, she extricates herself and tugs the torn kite all the way back home. Feeling hopeless, she comes to the conclusion that she will never be able to fly. As she walks along the path, she stumbles upon a large flock of birds taking a break from their migratory travels. In a frenzy of spontaneity, she lures several of the birds to her with food from her pockets. With swift movement she ties the kite string to the birds' ankles, holding on tightly and waiting for them to take flight. As they furiously flap their wings in frustration, trying to catch up with the rest of their flock, they manage to lift the little girl a few feet off the ground. She is thrilled to the core, but soon tumbles to the ground below. She is left tightly grasping the string, forlorn, as the birds disappear into the sky above, free.

     With a bruised body and a broken spirit she wanders into her backyard. To distract herself from her disappointing day she offers to help her mother decorate for a garden party. She volunteers to blow up balloons; using all the breath she can muster, she makes the colorful balloons as gargantuan as possible. Feeling lightheaded and woozy, she begins to tie the balloons to the arm of her lawn chair and sits down to rest. She feels even more dizzy as she closes her eyes, hoping that the world is no longer topsy-turvy when she opens them. She shrieks, first with fear, but then with glee as she takes in the scene before her eyes. She is hovering above her backyard. As the wind carries the chair and the balloons away she waves to her mother, who is carrying a cake. The lanterns in the yard become tiny, twinkling lights below and she floats farther away. Carried by the breeze, the chair passes the tree, the grassy hill, and soon drifts above the ocean and out to sea. 

The End.

My Life in pictures: Summer Edition.

As the summer winds down, I'm thankful that I had lots of adventures, but wish that I had more than 3 days before classes started again. I've had many frustrations and complications, but these are the bright spots of July & August:

I spent all afternoon at the Little Creek naval base pool with the Dowdys & Leslie. There were water slides galore & we had a blast & a half.

I spend lots of time at Mt. Trashmore, walking around the lake & the hills with tantalizing tunes in my ears.... thinking & reflecting. A few days ago I had an almost psychedelic experience while strolling; the clouds were so fluffy & gargantuan. The most 3D, heavenly, glorious clouds i'd ever seen with a beautiful cerulean blue peeking out from behind the white puffs. I felt like i was trapped in a sphere of globular sky. And then they turned into these dark, grey rainclouds.


 I had the pleasure of celebrating my dear friend Leslie's 20th birthday on Saturday. Food, fun, festivities, and Filipinos! ;] Monika & I were the only un-Filipinos at the Filipino fest. We watched Coraline & it is a delightfully creepy film! [Last week, we also went to see 500 Days of Summer with Leslie & her sister & it is one of the best movies i've ever seen!]

Speaking of birthdays, We journeyed to Williamsburg to celebrate Sarah's 27th birthday! We spent the evening at Busch Gardens, riding coasters... thrilling as usual, to say the least. We kicked it up a notch with some funfetti rainbow chip cake, gift giving, and then hanging out at the pool the next afternoon.







One of the biggest highlights of my summer was my birthday! "MORE birthdays!?", you say. Yes indeedy appleseedy. Our friend Becky, who just happens to be a flight attendant, flew to Virginia Beach to visit. Two of our Tennessee friends, Adam Agin & Stephen Gordon, traveled across the east coast sharing their music in each city... one of their stops was here in VA. So we invited them to my little birthday bash, along with Tashia, Leslie, and Sarah! We had a little dinner & the boys played us some of their stellar songs by the lake as the sun was setting, followed by a nighttime walk at the beach.
Stephen Gordon:

Adam Agin:

The next morning we had a fun photoshoot in the hotel parkinglot & then at pancakes at Ihop before saying goodbye to the boys. 

We took Becky to the mall & she went on a mini shopping spree before we dropped her off at the airport. It's so sad saying goodbye to friends who live so far away. I can't wait for more adventures in the future!

The last week of Busch Gardens' summer concert series featured Tobymac, Brandon Heath, & Mandisa... so we hitched a ride to Williamsburg with our friend Delia, her brother, and friend. 


These photos are courtesy of Sarah, because it was SO crowded that Monika & I couldn't see a thing, due to being wee in stature.

We spent a day at the delightful Dowdy household when Tashia's marvelous Mexican boyfriend, Josué was in town. He made us an amazing meal: enfrijoladas. DEELICIOUS. we watched WallE & played wii for hours. Tashia & Josué are hula hooping extradordinaires.

I FINALLY got some hair hacked off after a year of letting it grow wild & free. I got five inches cut off and looked 5 years old for a couple of weeks. 

Monika got her hair cut too.

We stumbled upon this glorious red & white chair in the mall & it reminded us of Jason Perry from Plus One.

Yet another fab Busch Gardens adventure was had with Leslie & Sarah. We rode every single ride in the park several times until our hearts were content and our heads were spinning. 

Riding coasters are a stress reliever for me. LOVE it.

One of the most epic moments of my summer/life was the night we met Tyler Burkum! Monika & I have been waiting to meet him for YEARS. Each time we saw Audio Adrenaline, we were never able to meet him. We hung outside the NorVA until midnight, since he is touring with Mat Kearney, and finally after a decade, met Ty; and a glorious conversation we had! I felt honored that he know who we were before we officially met!

While waiting outside the venue, we made a new friend, Annie, who was filming an audition video. [She was going to submit her video to the local Face of Fox competition, coincidentally, we knew two of the finalists who made it into the top ten!] She was a such a doll & I hope we run into her again.

After running into Leslie at the gym, one afternoon... we spontaneously decided to meet for some delicious Skinny Dip & then played baseball in her street. I felt like i was 10 years old, but it was amaaaazing. 

We got caught in summer downpour while on the road. Thunder after lightning... that's the way storms go.

We spent July 4th with the Kellers, as usual... since this is our Independence day tradition. Balderdash is the game of the century! our favourite. good times indeed.

... And the beat goes on. 

Dear Fall, 

Please don't disappoint me.

Love,

Cherylyn.

International Film & the movies that moved me.

In honor of college classes starting again on the 24th, I thought I'd rewind to last semester, to my favorite class that I've ever taken since starting college: International Film. It was such a fun, eye-opening, intriguing experience. I learned so much about the world, individual cultures, history, film style and technique, symbolism, specific directors and actors, different film industries around the planet, and the way that films/the industry affect society.  I also gained a huge appreciation for Bollywood films & music during our study of India & a documentary about Bollywood. I would LOVE to take another class like this again, but it's back to movie making for me this semester! These are the films that we watched... some I could watch over & over again, and others I could have lived without EVER seeing.



1. From France: Amélie. This movie has easily become one of my favourite films of all time. I had already seen it before my class, but loved it even more the second time! Amélie was filmed in 2001. Audrey Tautou plays a shy, but whimsical waitress in Montmartre who decides to impact the lives of those around her, including random strangers, as she struggles with loneliness and isolation. The filming style/color is breathtaking and the story is so quirky. I am enamored with the character's wild imagination & the ability of Jean-Pierre Jeunet to bring such a colorful plot to life! There are so many sub-plots and small, beautiful moments and I find it hard to stop smiling while watching this movie. There are a couple of scandalous moments thrown in, but this film is so glorious, that these few short scenes should not deter you from watching. It is a phenomenon and hands down my favorite film of the semester! 

2. From Italy: Bicycle Thieves. LOVED this movie. This Italian neorealist film was filmed by Vittorio De Sica in 1948 and surprisingly was one of my absolute favourite movies that we watched this semester. The story is marvelous, but sad; it takes place in the post- WWII depressed economy of Italy and is a tale of survival, the relationship of a father and his young son, and the realization that when faced with desperation, all humans are capable of dastardly deeds.  

3. From Germany: The Lives of Others. INTENSE. One of those "I'm on the edge of my seat" movies. Very captivating and extremely interesting! Director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck says the theme of the movie is "Change and the capacity of people to change." The German secret police, The Stasi, monitor, spy, and use surveillance, on those of the cultural scene in East Berlin who might have pro-Western Sympathies. This takes place in 1984, during the reign of the socialist regime. For me, the characters made this movie. Each one of them was strong in their own way. All the little moments are important. The tiny pieces accumulate and finally coalesce in the end to paint the big picture. 

4. From Soviet Union/Russia: Battleship Potemkin. Filmed by  Sergei Eisenstein in 1925, this  was my least favourite movie of the class, plot-wise. It was a silent film, the oldest movie we watched. The film tells the tale of a 1905 mutiny that occured when the crew of the Russian battleship Potemkin rebelled against the oppressive officers of the Tsarist regime. It as known as one of the most influential propaganda films of all time. I am fascinated by the fact that we can watch footage from almost a century ago and so blown away at how film/photography allows us to capture moments in time. I imagine the people in these old films, and what they were like in real life; humans, with the same thoughts, feelings, dreams, from another century, forever encapsulated on film. Imagine people 90 years from now,watching the movies we've made... wow. 

5. From Denmark: The Passion of Joan of Arc.
This is one of the most moving movies i've seen...ever. Another older film, directed by Carl Theodor Dreyer in 1928, this is definitely a masterpiece. It is silent, with captions that explain the plot and dictate what the characters are saying as the movie unfolds. Background music has since been added, although Dreyer intended it to be watched in complete silence. This one, may be challenging for those who are really not into slow, thoughtful films, but Maria Falconetti's portrayal of Joan of Arc is considered one of the greatest performances ever recorded on film. There are alot of parallels to Christ's trial and death. The whole movie is filmed in close-up shots of the actors' faces to place emphasis on their expressions. It is a very powerful experience and is still emblazoned on my mind months later. 

Fun Fact: The original version of the film was lost for decades after the master negative was destroyed in a fire. Dreyer died, thinking his original cut was lost forever, but in 1981 it was discovered in a janitor's closet in an Oslo mental institution. This is the version that is available on DVD these days.

6. From Latin America/Brazil: City of God.
GEEZE LOUISE. This movie was one of my favorites of the semester, but it was extremely intense and very heartbreaking. City of God was directed by  Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund, and confronted the realities of poverty, the drug empire, and bloody violence in Brazil. Set in the 60's-80's, it depicted the the growth of organized crime in the Rio de Janeiro suburb of Cidade de Deus. To see the struggle of people stuck in this life of crime, drugs, and war, and their inability to rise above it, (even the ones who dreamed and desired to be free of it), was haunting. "Fight and you'll never survive..... Run and you'll never escape." It wasn't easy to watch, but it was very eye opening and made me beyond thankful to live where I live, to be free, and to be as blessed as I am!

7. From Japan: Ugetsu Monogatari. This was my 2nd least favorite of the semester. To sum it up, it was a weirrrrd, creepy Japanese ghost story. Set in 16th Century Japan this movie was directed by Kenji Mizoguchi in 1953. Ugetsu Monogatari, translated as "Tales of the Moon and Rain" is regarded as a masterpiece of Japanese cinema, but it kind of just creeped me out. It is the story of two peasant couples who set off on a journey to better their lives and earn money in another town. Everything goes downhill when one man runs off to become a samurai warrior and later finds out that while he was gone, his wife has become a prostitute so that they do not lose all their money. The other husband, is seduced by a ghost who convinces him to marry her after she pretends to be impressed by his pottery. He abandons his son and wife to be with this ghost mistress, but then realizes that he should be at home with his family. A whole bunch of creepiness ensues, and when he finally journeys home, he finds out that his wife has died in his absence, but she visits him and their son as a spirit and is "always with them." So, I wasn't a huge fan of the story, BUT the filming style was wonderful, and I appreciated the culture and history behind the movie. 

8. From China: Raise the Red Lantern. WOW. another sad movie. Every once & awhile, I enjoy a happy ending with a little closure, and this film, didn't deliver that for me! This bizarre movie was filmed in 1991, and directed by Zhang Yimou and starred Gong Li. Set in the 1920's of the Chinese Warlord Era, a young woman becomes the fourth wife, a concubine, of a wealthy man. The four wives are in a constant competition for the husband's attention and affection, vying for his love. Each night the husband chooses which wife he will spend the night with by lighting bright red lanterns; the wife of his choosing receives a foot massage, chooses the menu at mealtime, and gets the most attention and respect from the servants. The main character, Songlian, realizes that she is happier in solitude and that the women are merely like robes that the husband can wear or get rid of whenever he chooses. The film is teeming with lies, deceit, drama, and death, and eventually leaves Songlian suicidal, emotionally traumatized and insane. The idea of women living this way, is sickening, but the movie was super interesting and the colors and visual scenery are beautiful and vivid.

9. From Denmark: Dancer in the Dark. I wrote my final paper about the Danish director Lars Von Trier, an extremely experimental filmmaker, and watched this movie so I could analyze it in my research. It is a quirky, fun, colorful, tinged with darkness drama/musical film. Icelandic singer Björk is the star; she is incredible and delivers quite the dramatic, emotional performance. I kind of felt like i was punched in the stomach by the end of the film, but I loved it anyway. Filmed in 2000, this movie tells the story of a Czech immigrant, Selma Ježková, with a degenerative eye disease that will eventually cause her to go blind. She works in a factory and saves all the money she earns in a tin can. She vows to use this money towards an operation on her son Gene's eyes so that he will not have to suffer the same fate as his mother. Selma is in love with musicals. She often slips into daydreams throughout the movie, and all of the people and circumstances around her transform the scene into an elaborate musical number, filled with dancing and singing. The film turns tragic after misconceptions, secrets, and murder thread their way into the plot. The music stirred my soul and the scintillating scenery graced my eyes as the story unfurled and left me in tears, with a wrecked heart.

10. From India: Pather Panchali. (Song of the Little Road). This was the last movie of the semester. Directed by Satyajit Ray in 1955, and inspired by Italian neorealism, such as Bicycle Thieves, this was the first in a trilogy of movies. Pather Panchali depicts the childhood of a little boy, Apu, growing up in rural Bengal in the 1920s. His family, impoverished, depend on his father who is a poet to provide income for the family. When he cannot find work and provide for his family, the father journeys to another city to find work, promising to come back with the means to improve their lives. While he is away, however, the family sinks farther into poverty, and Apu's sister becomes ill and passes away. When the father returns, he realizes that he lost his only daughter and despairs. This film explores the realities of poverty, life, death, and relationships, from the viewpoint and perspective of a child. It was very slow, and thoughtful, but it made the themes more apparent and meaningful. I appreciated the fact that the roles were played by mostly amateur actors and made by an inexperienced crew; proof that a successful film does not always need to rely on the prestige of its actors and a huge budget. Simple reality is a beautiful thing. 

Read my articles on Examiner.com!

Dearest Friends & Family:

     A couple of months ago, I started to write articles for Examiner.com. 
Examiner.com is essentially a huge conglomeration of articles and resources about every subject you can possibly imagine across the country.

From breaking news to entertainment, local restaurants, clubs, and bars, careers and business, Family and parenting, fitness, food, and health, travel and culture, religion and politics, pets and hobbies, to music and movies; Examiner.com covers it all.

     My job is to write about local events, such as concerts, festivals, charities, contests; and happenings galore in the Hampton Roads area. When I first joined Examiner, Virginia Beach wasn't a city on the list, so I chose to represent Norfolk, Virginia since it is the closest to where I live. Even though Virginia Beach is my home, my official title is the "Norfolk Events Examiner". I write about anything interesting happening not just in Virginia Beach and Norfolk, but also in Hampton, Chesapeake, Newport News, & Williamsburg too.

     As most of you know, this summer I've struggled with finding a job. I've submitted LOTS of applications, had several interviews, and the hope of being hired multiple times BUT to no avail. I am still jobless. The chance to write for Examiner.com has made me more aware of local events, given me the opportunity to perform a public service, helped me sharpen my summarization skills, and earned me a few cents as a bonus. The problem is, I only earn ONE penny per page view, article view, or each comment I get on an article. That's where you come in! I would love and appreciate your help more than you know. If you would just add my page to your favorites and visit the site once a week to read my articles it would make a world of difference for me. Even if you don't read my articles, especially if you don't live in Virginia and the events don't affect you in any way, just clicking on my page and articles will earn me a penny or two. If you actually find my articles helpful or interesting in any way, please leave me a comment. Or just leave me a comment for the heck of it. :]

     I would be honored if any of you visit my page even once! Thankyou for your help and for all your love. My life is brighter because of all you lovely people.

Love,

CEE.