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Cancun, 2024, Is In the Books - Weekly Wilson - Blog of Author Connie C. Wilson
This will be a stream-of-consciousness column from Cancun---sunny, windy Cancun, Mexico. This is either our 29th or 30th straight year of spending two weeks in Cancun at Royal Resorts time shares we purchased in the nineties. Last year was our last year at the Penthouse 9th floor digs (#4492) and the Royal Islander has been
Shaking It Up: The Life & Times of Liz Carpenter- World Premiere at SXSW on March 10th - Weekly Wilson - Blog of Author Connie C. Wilson
Liz Carpenter was a force of nature who, throughout her 89 years (1920-2010), was often front and center where history was unfolding. leaving her own indelible mark on events. She was a journalist, White House official, Women's Rights activist, best-selling author, and humorist. Directors Christy Carpenter, Liz's daughter, and Abby Ginzberg weave candid modern-day interviews
“Hacks” Season Three Premieres @ SXSW on March 9, 2024 - Weekly Wilson - Blog of Author Connie C. Wilson
The Premiere of season 3 of “Hacks” (HBO Max) took place at noon on March 9th at SXSW. It was truly an audience of devoted fans. The feeling in the Paramount Theater was equal parts anticipation and shared enthusiasm, which is not always the case at SXSW. Everyone there knew they were in for a
“My Dead Friend Zoe” Screens at SXSW 2024 on March 9, 2024 - Weekly Wilson - Blog of Author Connie C. Wilson
“My Dead Friend Zoe” was a crowd-funded first feature film from Army veteran Kyle Hausmann-Stokes, who served 5 years in Afghanistan and used his real-life experiences to craft this film that premiered at SXSW on March 9, 2024. He is co-founder of the nonprofit organization Veterans in Media & Entertainment. It is a plus that MY DEAD FRIEND ZOE, says the synopsis, is a dark comedy drama that follows the journey of Merit (Sonequa Martin-Green), a U.S. Army Afghanistan veteran who is at odds with her family thanks to the presence of Zoe (Natalie Morales, “Dead to Me”), her dead best friend from the Army.
“MoviePass/MovieCrash” Premieres at SXSW 2024 - Weekly Wilson - Blog of Author Connie C. Wilson
The very first day of SXSW 2024 a 96-minute documentary entitled “MoviePass/MovieCrash," directed by Muta' Ali, had its World Premiere at the Alamo Theater on Lamar Boulevard. It chronicled how two black entrepreneurs---Stacy Spikes and Hamet Watt---spent a decade developing a way to bring the masses back to the theater experience with a credit card-like
“Cuckoo” World Premieres at SXSW on March 14, 2024 - Weekly Wilson - Blog of Author Connie C. Wilson
The World Premiere of Writer/Director Tilman Singer’s film “Cuckoo” took place on Thursday, March 14 at SXSW. It’s a horror thriller that is innovative enough that the emcee handling the Q&A, an enthusiastic film buff, dubbed it “delightfully weird.” He went even further, declaring “Cuckoo” would become a classic in the future. PLOT The synopsis
“The Greatest Hits” World Premieres at SXSW on March 14th - Weekly Wilson - Blog of Author Connie C. Wilson
The synopsis for "The Greatest Hits," which had its World Premiere at SXSW on Thursday, March 14th said: "Harriet (Lucy Boynton) finds art imitating life when she discovers certain songs can transport her back in time - literally. While she relives the past through romantic memories of her former boyfriend (David Corenswet), her. time traveling
Billy Preston Bio-Pic “That’s the Way God Planned It” Has World Premiere at SXSW 2024 - Weekly Wilson - Blog of Author Connie C. Wilson
“Billy Preston: That’s the Way God Planned it” is a documentary from Paris Barclay ("In Treatment," "Glee"), whose own film accomplishments put him in a class that few can match. It was co-written by Cheo Hodari Coker. This is an outstanding documentary. It will go right up there with my favorite from last year’s SXSW,
“Plastic People” At SXSW Describes A Harrowing Future - Weekly Wilson - Blog of Author Connie C. Wilson
The Canadian documentary “Plastic People,” directed by Ben Addelman and Ziya Tong, had its World Premiere at SXSW on Saturday, March 9th, 2024. It is an absolutely terrifying piece of detective work, investigating how our fixation on plastic came to be and what plastic is doing to us. The synopsis said: “Plastic People is
“Bettendorf Talks” Screens at March 10th TV Pilots Program at SXSW 2024 - Weekly Wilson - Blog of Author Connie C. Wilson
The improv team of David Pasquiesi and T.J. Jadowski and Director Jack Newell attended the World Premiere of their television pilot, “Bettendorf Talks” at the Alamo Theater on Lamar at 3 p.m. on March 10, Sunday, Oscar day. I was rooting for them to hit a home run with a comic take on Bettendorf, Iowa.
“Audrey” Has World Premiere at SXSW 2024 - Weekly Wilson - Blog of Author Connie C. Wilson
First-time Australian feature director Natalie Bailey has crafted a tale of a dysfunctional family from a Lou Sanz script. It had its World Premiere at SXSW on March 10th, 2024. The synopsis for the film : “Self-appointed Mother of the Year, Ronnie has given her daughter Audrey everything, so when Audrey selfishly falls into a
TV Pilots Screen at SXSW 2024 - Weekly Wilson - Blog of Author Connie C. Wilson
Six TV Pilots screened at SXSW 2024 on Sunday, March 10th. Here are descriptions of four of them. “Marvin Is Sorry” was the story of 25-year-old YouTube influencer Marvin Weaver who accidentally kills one of his fans during the filming of a YouTube video. The stunt was part of Marvin Weaver’s Ice Cap Refreezing
“Resynator” Documentary at SXSW 2024 Showcases Electronic Music Pioneer - Weekly Wilson - Blog of Author Connie C. Wilson
Alison Tavel has directed a film about her father’s invention, the Resynator, one of the first synthesizers and a step forward into electronic music. Her father, Don Tavel, died in a car crash in 1988 when Alison was 10 weeks old. Don, a trailblazer in the field of electronic music, was, by all accounts,
TV Pilots Screen at SXSW on Oscar Day, March 10, 2024 - Weekly Wilson - Blog of Author Connie C. Wilson
The TV pilot section at SXSW went off at 3 p.m. at the Alamo Drafthouse on South Lama on Oscar Day (March 10th), with six TV pilot episodes shown, one after another. I did not realize that the program was comprised of all six of the entrants. I was originally focused on one entitled “Bettendorf
“Lions of Mesopotamia” World Premieres at SXSW 2024 - Weekly Wilson - Blog of Author Connie C. Wilson
One of the more riveting World Premieres of a documentary at SXSW was “Lions of Mesopotamia,” directed by Lucian Read. The film screened on Saturday, March 9th, at 7:15 at SXSW. It outlines the victory of the Iraqi National Soccer Team at the Asia Cup in 2007, a win over Saudi, Arabia. THE GOOD
“Stormy” Documentary World Premiere on March 8th at SXSW Is Cautionary Tale About Crossing DJT - Weekly Wilson - Blog of Author Connie C. Wilson
The documentary “Stormy” had its World Premiere on Friday, March 8th, at SXSW in Austin, Texas. Directed by Sarah Daniels and executive produced by Judd Apatow, the film was a sympathetic look at the Stormy Daniels saga. It was comprised of film that Stephanie Clifford (Daniels’ real name) shot previously in an attempt to do
“An Army of Women” Profiles Sexual Assault in Austin, Texas on SXSW Opening Night - Weekly Wilson - Blog of Author Connie C. Wilson
Norwegian director Julie Lillesaeter has directed a documentary about 3 Austin (Texas) women attempting to seek justice for their rapes or sexual assaults. Ultimately, the 3---Amy, Marina, and Hanna---join 12 other women in a groundbreaking federal class-action lawsuit. It is the first lawsuit to argue that sexual assault isn’t prosecuted enough, primarily because it is
“7 Beats Per Minute” At SXSW on March 8th, 2024: Cinematically Gorgeous - Weekly Wilson - Blog of Author Connie C. Wilson
7 Beats Per Minute (Canada) The documentary “7 Beats Per Minute,” helmed by Canadian/Chinese/Mongol director Yuqi Kang screened at SXSW on March 8th, Friday. The director of “A Little Wisdom,” which was named the Best Canadian Feature and is available on Amazon Prime, has done a cinematically gorgeous job with this World Premiere. The
“Secret Mall Apartment” World Premieres @ SXSW 2024 - Weekly Wilson - Blog of Author Connie C. Wilson
Jeremy Workman, the filmmaker responsible for the Grand Prize Winner for Best Documentary at SXSW in 2021 with “Lily Topples the World” (now streaming on MAX) returns to SXSW 2024 with “Secret Mall Apartment." His 2018 documentary “The World Before Your Feet” about Matt Green’s nomadic journey through New York City was interesting and
“Tired of Winning” by Jonathan Karl Tells It Like It Is - Weekly Wilson - Blog of Author Connie C. Wilson
Excerpts from "Tired of Winning: Donald Trump and the End of the Grand Old Party," by Jonathan Karl of ABC News: "He lacks any shred of human decency, humility, or caring," a former White House official wrote of Trump, the man he had served for more than a year. "He is morally bankrupt, breathtakingly
“Suncoast” Screens at Sundance 2024 - Weekly Wilson - Blog of Author Connie C. Wilson
“Suncoast’s” writer/director, Laura Chinn, had a brother, Max, who suffered from cancer. He ended up in the same hospice facility as Terri Schiavo, who died in 2005, and Ms. Chinn, in her directorial debut, dedicated the film to her late brother. “Suncoast” was the first of the eight Sundance films I watched. It held
Reflections on Barbra Streisand’s Autobiography “My Name Is Barbra” - Weekly Wilson - Blog of Author Connie C. Wilson
Has unresolved issues about her mother. Has issues regarding a “father figure.” Somewhat downplays the gift her voice has been to her life path. Seems to have OCD tendencies, even as to placement of flowers. Naturally curious. Seems to have built a “family” from those she found more supportive of her. Takes a few swipes
“Kneecap” Is Irish Docu-Drama at 2024 Sundance - Weekly Wilson - Blog of Author Connie C. Wilson
The Audience Award Winner at Sundance was a docu-drama about an Irish band, "Kneecap," that is working to preserve the Irish language (Gaelic) and enjoys sticking it to the British. The members of the real-life band "Kneecap" played themselves. To appreciate the film, it is best to know this history of the band (from Wikipedia);
“Little Death” Screens at Sundance, 2024 - Weekly Wilson - Blog of Author Connie C. Wilson
“Little Death” won the NEXT innovator award at Sundance, 2024. I was attracted to this film by the fact that Protozoa Pictures was involved (Darren Aranofsky) and that it had David Schwimmer, Gaby Hoffman, Jenna Malone and Seth Green among the cast members. The director was Jack Begert, who co-wrote it with Dani Goffstein. Another
DeSantis Backs Down, Despite Slogan “Never Back Down” on January 21, 2024 - Weekly Wilson - Blog of Author Connie C. Wilson
Wasn’t Ron DeSantis’ slogan for his campaign “Never back down”? Well, today (Sunday, January 21st) he backed down. I happened to be watching CNN when the live video of DeSantis---now back in much warmer Florida---kissed off the idea of being President in 2024. (Some sources say he’ll be back in 2028). As I watched Dana
Jesse Eisenberg’s “A Real Pain” Wins Screenwriting Award at 2024 Sundance - Weekly Wilson - Blog of Author Connie C. Wilson
All of the introductory pictures on the Sundance page featured this Jesse Eisenberg film, which he wrote, directed and starred in. The film won the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award at Sundance (some choice lines from the script to follow.) Jesse Eisenberg plays David Kaplan and Kieran Culkin is his cousin, Benjy. Following the death of
“In the Summers” Wins 2024 Sundance Grand Prize for Drama - Weekly Wilson - Blog of Author Connie C. Wilson
"In the Summers" won the Grand Jury Prize for Drama at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. Its theme is summarized this way on IMDB.com: "On a journey that spans the formative years of their lives, two sisters navigate their loving but volatile father during their yearly summer visits to his home in Las Cruces, New
“A New Kind of Wilderness” Is 2024 Sundance World Cinema Grand Prize Winner - Weekly Wilson - Blog of Author Connie C. Wilson
Sundance Film Festival is ending its 40th run on January 28th. I’ve been streaming many of the award winners, including these, in alphabetical order: “A New Kind of Wilderness” “A Real Pain” “Daughters” “In the Summers” “Kneecap” “Little Death” “Porcelain War” “Suncoast” [I'll be telling you about the above films in installments over the next
“Daughters:” Documentary at Sundance, 2024 - Weekly Wilson - Blog of Author Connie C. Wilson
David Ehrlich of "Indiewire" wrote of "Daughters," that it was "An enormously moving documentary" and that it had "as much ugly-cry potential as anything in recent memory." The film, directed by Angela Patton and Natalie Rae, gives us the background on a unique father-daughter dance for D.C.-area Black girls whose fathers are in jail. Ehrlich
“Porcelain War” Is Documentary Grand Jury Winner at Sundance, 2024 - Weekly Wilson - Blog of Author Connie C. Wilson
“Porcelain War” won the Grand Jury prize at Sundance 2024 and added to the ever-proliferating number of documentaries that are coming out of the horrific Russia/Ukraine War. The front-runner for an Oscar in the upcoming Academy Awards is “20 Days in Mariupol” from Ukrainian journalist Mstyslav Chernov. The “Porcelain War” is a joint project from
“Porcelain War” Is Documentary Grand Jury Winner at Sundance, 2024 - Weekly Wilson - Blog of Author Connie C. Wilson
“Porcelain War” won the Grand Jury prize at Sundance 2024 and added to the ever-proliferating number of documentaries that are coming out of the horrific Russia/Ukraine War. The front-runner for an Oscar in the upcoming Academy Awards is “20 Days in Mariupol” from Ukrainian journalist Mstyslav Chernov. The “Porcelain War” is a joint project from
“Little Death” Screens at Sundance, 2024 - Weekly Wilson - Blog of Author Connie C. Wilson
“Little Death” won the NEXT innovator award at Sundance, 2024. I was attracted to this film by the fact that Protozoa Pictures was involved (Darren Aranofsky) and that it had David Schwimmer, Gaby Hoffman, Jenna Malone and Seth Green among the cast members. The director was Jack Begert, who co-wrote it with Dani Goffstein. Another
“Kneecap” Is Irish Docu-Drama at 2024 Sundance - Weekly Wilson - Blog of Author Connie C. Wilson
The Audience Award Winner at Sundance was a docu-drama about an Irish band, "Kneecap," that is working to preserve the Irish language (Gaelic) and enjoys sticking it to the British. The members of the real-life band "Kneecap" played themselves. To appreciate the film, it is best to know this history of the band (from Wikipedia);
“In the Summers” Wins 2024 Sundance Grand Prize for Drama - Weekly Wilson - Blog of Author Connie C. Wilson
"In the Summers" won the Grand Jury Prize for Drama at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. Its theme is summarized this way on IMDB.com: "On a journey that spans the formative years of their lives, two sisters navigate their loving but volatile father during their yearly summer visits to his home in Las Cruces, New
“Daughters:” Documentary at Sundance, 2024 - Weekly Wilson - Blog of Author Connie C. Wilson
David Ehrlich of "Indiewire" wrote of "Daughters," that it was "An enormously moving documentary" and that it had "as much ugly-cry potential as anything in recent memory." The film, directed by Angela Patton and Natalie Rae, gives us the background on a unique father-daughter dance for D.C.-area Black girls whose fathers are in jail. Ehrlich
Jesse Eisenberg’s “A Real Pain” Wins Screenwriting Award at 2024 Sundance - Weekly Wilson - Blog of Author Connie C. Wilson
All of the introductory pictures on the Sundance page featured this Jesse Eisenberg film, which he wrote, directed and starred in. The film won the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award at Sundance (some choice lines from the script to follow.) Jesse Eisenberg plays David Kaplan and Kieran Culkin is his cousin, Benjy. Following the death of
“A New Kind of Wilderness” Is 2024 Sundance World Cinema Grand Prize Winner - Weekly Wilson - Blog of Author Connie C. Wilson
Sundance Film Festival is ending its 40th run on January 28th. I’ve been streaming many of the award winners, including these, in alphabetical order: “A New Kind of Wilderness” “A Real Pain” “Daughters” “In the Summers” “Kneecap” “Little Death” “Porcelain War” “Suncoast” [I'll be telling you about the above films in installments over the next
DeSantis Backs Down, Despite Slogan “Never Back Down” on January 21, 2024 - Weekly Wilson - Blog of Author Connie C. Wilson
Wasn’t Ron DeSantis’ slogan for his campaign “Never back down”? Well, today (Sunday, January 21st) he backed down. I happened to be watching CNN when the live video of DeSantis---now back in much warmer Florida---kissed off the idea of being President in 2024. (Some sources say he’ll be back in 2028). As I watched Dana
Reflections on Barbra Streisand’s Autobiography “My Name Is Barbra” - Weekly Wilson - Blog of Author Connie C. Wilson
Has unresolved issues about her mother. Has issues regarding a “father figure.” Somewhat downplays the gift her voice has been to her life path. Seems to have OCD tendencies, even as to placement of flowers. Naturally curious. Seems to have built a “family” from those she found more supportive of her. Takes a few swipes