Once in a Blue Moon in 2010

Wishing you all a happy new year as the blue moon is over Point Mugu. It is remarkable to see the moon, which is 290,000 miles away, and the palm trees, only 30 feet distant, in the same photo.

A Triple Feature

It was my birthday...spent the whole day seeing films at the new Muvico Theater...great choices...Caesar salad in the second feature...glass of wine and sliders before the final movie...(and, never left the building); felt totally involved in the action with those big wrap-around screens, great sound systems and divan-like seats; started late in the morning and emerged after dark...having had a fulfilling day!

Merry Christmas to all...

This tree greeted us at, Frank Gehry's, Disney Concert Hall when we attended our first Gustavo Dudamel concert.

Winter's Eve

I took this photo from the beach on the eve of Winter, 2009. The islands on the horizon are the Channel Islands (off Santa Barbara...an hours and fifteen minutes from here).

The Young Victoria

"It ain't easy being Queen"! That was my first thought after seeing the advance screening of The Young Victoria in Hollywood. Many childhood fantasies about the wonders of being a Princess, and finally Queen, were shattered. Amid all the opulence, being the person in charge of the fate of a country and it's people weighs heavily against the lush life.

Though we all think of Queen Victoria as the architect of the rigid Victoria life, she was capable of great passion, humor and spirit in her youth. Her companion in this romp of young love is Prince Albert. He returned her love by learning to waltz... (that is all it took to impressed me).

Chinese Scholars House

This Chinese Scholars House was disassembled in China and then reassembled on the grounds of Ventura Farms in Thousand Oaks.

"NINE"

The special advanced Screen Actors Guild screening of the movie, "NINE," last night at the Directors Guild of America theater was followed by conversations by the directors and actors. Rob Marshall, Nicole Kidman, Penelope Cruz, "Fergie," and John DeLuca appeared, in person, for questions and answers.

The genius behind this dazzling film version, Marshall, claims that musicals are "in his blood;" it is "what he loves." Cruz had never sung before on film and described it as having been the "most happy experience...making a film." Kidman had brought her six-month-old baby with her to the set...and, had an unforgettable time when filming a scene at 3 a.m. in a small Italian village with Daniel Day-Lewis. Stacy Ferguson (Fergie), when committing to her character, voluntarily gained 20 pounds. The discomfort did not end there. She and the dancers who did the production number in a sand pit went home every night with sand in every part of their bodies (even their eyes). All of the performers alluded to how "safe" they felt when working with Marshall. Johnny Depp can now have that experience when making his next "Pirates..." movie. He and Marshall will be working together on that project. Can't even imagine what might come from that collaboration?

Rob Marshall is creating a new genre of baroque film making. His films are an "operatic musical theater." When in that darkened theater, my every sense was invaded until I almost couldn't stand it!

A Rose Garden in Hidden Valley