Christine_Devine's Blog

I met Brad Pitt! Of Brazil! The Brad Pitt of Brazil, that is! Fabio Assunção.



At least that's what some fellow female movie goers told me. (As I stood there with my boyfriend.)
And I didn't actually meet him. But he was standing right in front of me, speaking at the Brazilian Film Festival. Check this link for the Brazil Film Festival:

LA Brazilian Film Festival Website

It was the FIRST Brazilian Film Festival ever. And a coup for the Brazilian community. CONGRATULATIONS Ambassador Quintella! She has fought hard to paint a different picture of Brazil... to expand the vision beyond thong bikinis, sexy Samba dancers, and crazy Carnival!

I LOVE this lady. She was the first female Ambassador out of Brazil and has held posts in the Soviet Union, England, Spain, Argentina and is now the Consul General of Los Angeles. It's her last post before retiring to Brazil in May. When you talk to her your conversation is so intelligent... talk of fuels made of corn, Brazil's black population and the history of slavery, the favelas(shanty towns) where my mom used to work as a nurse in the Peace Corp.

In my continued search for my family roots the Brazilian Film Festival was a chance to connect "with my people." Okay, the people on my father's side. "My people" on my mother's side are in upstate New York. But since I've never my father I'm on a constant quest for anything Brazil. I was first in line for the free "Havaianas"... a popular plastic thong that's made it onto the national market. Havaianas Website Their signature promotion is to have a thong-making stand at events. You pick your thong color... and jewel to be hole-punched into the strap. I picked army green... a Brazil flag logo. I loaded up my plate with coxhina... a chicken dumpling.(so tasty when hot from a restaurant like Bossa Nova). Bossa Nova Website While the movie had subtitles I tried to translate on my own.

The film festival runs through Sunday at the new Landmark Theaters near the Westside Pavilion. It was great to see opening night sold out. The opening film, "Bellini and the Devil", is a 90 minute thriller directed by Marcelo Galvão and produced by Theodoro Fontes. The cast includes Fabio Assunção, Nill Marcondes, Luisa Curvo and Marilia Gabriela. Three of the main actors attended the premiere. I imagined what it must be like for them for the movie to show in Los Angeles. Is that not the dream of every film maker? Hollywood, here we come! One report says that over 100 films are made in Brazil each year. OK, Hollywood here we slowly come. I had wondered who would attend this red-carpet event? There were about four cameras. Hey, it's a start!! So, back to Brazil's Brad Pitt. Some female fans tell me he was a big soap star in Brazil, was married to a model. Was it fun for him to be in L.A? Unrecognized? Unknown? Will he long for the paparazzi of home? It all only added to the mystery and my fantasy of Brazil. I have yet to go there, but will one day soon.

I'd love to hear your stories if you've visited Brazil. Did you feel safe? That's always a concern of mine given the crime and the tragedy of Brazil's impoverished children running the streets. Any places you recommend? Any great vacation spots?

Obrigado,
Christine

Getting Oscar ready ain't easy!!!!!!!!!

For those of us working Oscar Sunday, we get a taste of the Hollywood pie.  We get to get all glammed up... our hair did... our bling on.  We get primped and pampered... manis, pedis, facials.  We fast, we rest, we spin... everything to squeeze into that great new gown.  You must of course have a great new gown!!!  One friend got hers at a RIDICULOUS discount at the Barney's sale, another borrowed hers from some fashion center, I got mine from a sale rack at my favorite outlet-type store.  The key here... you must look FABULOUS!!!... or at least something close to it.   The jewelry must dazzle... the shoes must represent... and the purse must matter! 

It ain't easy being Oscar ready.   Therapists are on stand-by as the reality sinks in.   Picture-perfect LA-LA land sets a largely un-achievable standard.(my friend "W" and I have already commiserated about being/feeling old)   I aim to look like Angelina... my jewelry worthy of Julia...  my skin as smooth as Salma's... my shoes as sexy as Charlize's.    Reality is... I'll pull some pumps from my closet.  I'll mix my own Murad facial.   I've got a cute matching clutch(and pray no one will notice the stones that have fallen off.)    Ok... scratch the pity-party.  I do have a jeweler loaning me some jewelry.  And my dress cost $1300(so says the tag from the outlet-type store.) I've not heard the name of the designer, so I hope I no one asks "what are you wearing?"   I'll have to say... "something I got from Loehmann's for $300... with my 20% off coupon."   

My day will start at 9:00am with some sort of ab tightening, flabby-arm removing exercise.(my dress is strapless).   I've eaten vegetarian much of the week to skinny-down.(except for the In-and-Out Burger on the way back from Wednesday's Child one day)   At noon, I'll drive into work and take advantage of the morning make-up artist... (praying my painted face will still be fresh at 9pm!)  I'll fly home to get my hair did at 2pm.(a Fox hair person is popping by on her way to work the night shift)   I must be dressed and ready to leave the house at 4pm.  At 4:30... we walk the red carpet!    I'm emceeing one of the big Oscar viewing parties.  Children Uniting Nations/Billboard party!   For just a night I will walk the red carpet like a SUPERSTAR!  I'll pose for pictures(praying there are no close-ups),  I'll be on the arm of my man(a musician who, to my surprise, loves ditching his jeans and t-shirt for a suit and tie.  I must say he cleans up well!)    My push-up bra is sure to make my breasts look ten years younger... 40 is the new 30... and as the emcee I feel the importance of any Oscar nominee... sort of.  

By midnight,  the vision of Cinderella at the ball will all come crashing down.  I'll take a Wet One to the face to remove the MAC make-up.   I'll drop the dress to the floor and throw on old comfy sweats.  Stilettos will be replaced by slippers.  And my up-do will be up in a scrunchy.  I'll watch my TIVO to see who was best-dressed.   I'll make the bed.  I'll read the morning paper.  Check in on Good Day L.A.   Get ready for the gym and go to work. Ah, the routine of it all!  Back to the daily grind.

But for a night... it will be Tinseltown royalty... and right up my ally.  My beau, being a musician, will fit right in at the Billboard party.   And Children Uniting Nations is a charity that mentors and advocates for foster children.  So... on Oscar night I will feel right at home... with my family fighting for the children in L.A. County care.

Whatever you do, where ever you are... enjoy your Sunday.  Whether you watch the Oscars or not.   I'm sure being at a party with hundreds of people I won't get to watch much at all.  Thank God for Tivo... and sweats.. and scrunchies... and chips and salsa.    Monday morning isn't looking so bad after all!
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Anyone have any Oscar favorites/predictions?  I aim to see as many movies as possible each year and am grossly behind!

Fellow fashionistas...and wannabes like me... take note... THE Barney's sale ends on Monday.   (yes, I know this is  frivolous topic!  Don't hate me!)

Anyway, my girls are gearing up for the major markdowns.  "D" has already been twice.  "J" is going back for round two.  And I may swing by with my guy.

Never been to the Barney's Warehouse sale???  Let me paint a picture.  Day one is a frenzy of fashionistas tearing through racks of expensive clothing ON SALE!   Women will fight you for their favorite shoe.   Men make the rounds looking for the best buy on a business suit.  And voyeurs lurk around secretly sneaking a peak.  There are NO dressing rooms!!!  Unprepared shoppers are left with no choice but to buy without a test drive...or rip off their clothes in an aisle and throw on the Barney's garment.... all the while, praying no one has snapped a cell phone photo of you in your Victoria's Secret finest.    I made the mistake once of showing up un-schooled.  I tried to hide in a rack of clothes and slip on skirt.  Hard to ignore the woman's husband near-by.(I'm sure he was helping her shop... and not looking for a free shot of half-naked women, half-crazed due to the hunt for a Barney's bargain.)   Now, I know what you're thinking.  Barney's and bargain should never go in the same sentence.  Barney's may be THE most expensive department store in L.A.  Perhaps that is why there is only one of them.    Perhaps that is why I've not bought anything there... ever.    My middle-class roots just won't allow me to go there.  The Barney's SALE... that's a different story.  Never miss it!   I went on day one armed with my wallet and dressed for combat.  I recommend you(ladies)  wear a comfy, big skirt, elastic waist.  That's best for pulling on a pair of pants, then dropping your skirt to the floor.  No one sees your Spanks. Fight your way into the front of the mini-mirror and check out your possible purchase.  Wear a tank top and you can easily slip into a shirt without having to expose your La Perla push-up bra.   Drop your skirt to try on a dress.  Got it?    Great!   Wear comfy shoes so you can power shop and so your feet aren't swollen when you get to shoes.  SHOES!!  I love Barney's shoes!    That's really why I go.    My colleague "D" likes to get a classic shoe.  She just bought a BEAUTIFUL Prada black pump.  My theory is that I can find a pretty black pump most anywhere.   It won't say Prada when I pull it off... and I won't have bragging rights.(you know anytime she gets a compliment on the shoe she's going to say "it's Prada!")    I'm fine with a black pump from affordable Nine-West or BCBG bought at Marshall's.   I'm going to Barney's for COUTURE!!!!    Where I grew up we never heard of couture.   I once watched a fashion show with my first L.A. boyfriend and screeched "who wears that stuff."  He shy-ly responded.  "I know girls who do."   This guy shopped at Barney's.  So, buying couture... (at a bargain price)...  is a major coup for me.   I just bought  a pointed platform shoe that I saw in a fashion magazine.  I'm ten feet tall in 'em... and the old me would have found them silly.  The new me has seen them in the magazine.  And when anyone asks... I'll proudly say... "they were in a magazine!!"  My sister would find them silly.  My mother would roll her eyes.  My guy would say I'm too tall.  My wallet will say... nice price.   I do have one disappoint.  I popped back by the Barney's Warehouse sale with "D" and I saw there was still a large selection of my pointed platform shoe-boot.  Apparently they are not flying off the shelf.  I could have gotten ANOTHER 25% off this week.  But who knew.  That's the way the Barney's sale goes.  If you snooze you may lose.   FYI... there were no more black Prada pumps in my size.  "D" scored.   In summation... the final days of the sale mean more markdown.  I once got a suit for $50.   A Barney's suit for FIFTY DOLLARS!   Do know... if I ever get a compliment I will be most excited to say "it's from Barney's!!!"   Do know, my middle class upbringing will chuckle inside knowing I got away with getting something from Barney's for fifty-bucks!

It's that season again where young singers aim for stardom... fans are glued to the tube... and the judges make or break a career(and some hearts)

My fiance' is a singer/musician and there has been more than a few debates over the show American Idol, its contestants and the fact that a contest can create a million dollar career.

Like my fiance, the winners have all been people tapped early on in life with the gift of a great voice and an ear for music.   I, on the other hand, am completely tone deaf and a horrible singer(my sister pointed that out in church early on in life.)  I'm is so bad we would laugh hysterically and I would purposely sing at the top of my lungs hoping she'd bust up laughing and get in trouble.

I've always said I would love the gift of a good voice!    I also know if I went on Idol I'd be torn to shreds by Simon, laughed out of the room, or highlighted on the bloopers reel.  Lucky for me and my ego that will never happen.  I have my sister to thank for not allowing me to even think I was a good singer.  I feel terrible for the bad singers who go on the Idol audition lacking that information beforehand.

My fiance' is convinced he can teach me to sing.  Easy for him to say.  He arrived in Hollywood at the age of 21 and two weeks later replaced a guy in a major band that already had a number one album.   In fact, this 2008 tour season starts this week!

Cheers to season seven of American Idol.   I enjoy my Kelly Clarkson songs on my I-pod, and also loved seeing former contestant LaToya London in "The Color Purple" at the Ahmanson Theater downtown.    "Dreamgirls" is re-running on cable and I just loved Jennifer Hudson.

Viewers were asked to email us with their thoughts on tonight's show.  Here are a few, and my responses afterward.

ONE SAYS:
    "It was cool it was the bomb it was crazy it was the best one i saw in my life!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(I missed the show due to work... so I'm counting on YOU to get me up to speed. )

    THIS VIEWER HAD ANOTHER OPINION:
    "It's getting kind of boring, because it's the same thing every season, but hopefully it will get better.
(Yes, it is the same every season, but I do enjoyed how varied the winners have been)

    AND THERE'S THIS:
    "It's ashame that they allow contestants to audition who ultimately aren't 'Idol' material and dash their hopes of fame and fortune."
(Better know now than waste time???  However, the judges can be quick and harsh! And truthfully, aren't some on the show knowing they are terrible and enjoying the attention?)

    AND FINALLY:
    "This is the first season I am trying to watch, it is fun! I felt bad for Temptress, though. Although, she can take out her aggressions on the football field probably."
(Again, I missed it.  Who is Temptress???)

CD

It is the latest reunion tour.

The Spice Girls.   Anyone planning to go? (The tour kicks off in Los Angeles December 7th)

And why is a serious news person writing about the Spice Girls?   I found it an interesting social study.     I'm fascinated by the ability of Posh Spice to hold onto a spot in the headlines.  I'm fascinated by the amount of money they're all making, MILLIONS!

The ladies in the group continue to make L.A. news.  The city is standing by for the Beckham's move here.    L.A. soccer should get a boost, if nothing else.   The tabloids will have new focus.  And the fashion industry.(did you see Posh's skintight leather outfit)

And Eddie Murphy will likely be making some child support payments after it was ruled this week he is the father of Scary Spice's baby.

Back to the tour.  As I wrote in Maria Quiban's blog on the "Police" reunion tour with Sting... I love a reunion tour.  You hear the group's very best songs.  With new artists you may only hear a few favorites and then the rest are unknown or unpopular.    I guess I'll have to dust off my Spice Girls cd... download it onto my Ipod.(I'm not likely to shell out the $200 for a ticket)  While I was never a huge fan I did like the fun upbeat sound of a few of their hits.

 CD


 

 

 

A MIGHTY HEART...  leaves a mighty message!

When you see the movie let me know what you think.   

It is the story of American journalist Daniel Pearl who was kidnapped and beheaded in Pakistan, because he was Jewish.  Angelina Jolie plays the part of his wife, Marianne.  

While I'm no movie critic, here are my thoughts on what I think you'll get out of the movie: 

I was moved, inspired and educated.   My heart was touched to the point that I called a loved one right away... and apologized for wasting time in life and vowed to push on with my own passions.



-it is wonderful insight into the country and lifestyle in Pakistan. So foreign from the United States. People should know of the unbelievable poverty, overpopulation and the segment of population with a religion based hatred of Jews... and Americans. My parents were in the Peace Corp. Mom in the slums of Brazil. Dad taught in Tanzania. I have a great appreciation for foreign concern.

-Daniel's story is history. We are at war and all Americans should keep this issue front and center.

-the movie gives insight you never saw in television news reports. It is like a re-enactment of a real event. I covered this issue daily and still learned so much of how it all went down. As a journalist, of course, I am always concerned about the well being of a fellow journalist. I wasn't aware of the extreme cooperation by the Pakistani police. I have a better appreciation for all of the arrests that were made.

-who wouldn't be moved by Marianne Pearl's story!

-I see every movie made by Angelina Jolie. With her personal international efforts I think she was the perfect person to play Marianne. She has witnessed poverty first hand, and obviously has an appreciation for foreign cultural. I'm sure she brought a tremendous reality to the movie.

-While everyone I saw walked away wiping tears... I appreciated the fact that the movie was not overly bloody or violent. We got the message without all that.

-I walked away from the movie empowered and inspired to continue my own efforts to make a difference. It left me disgusted with myself for wasting time on issue that matter little in life. I was glad for the motivation and more focused on my own commitments!
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Calling all Ipod experts. Help??!!!!

Its known that I'm a little behind the times when it comes to technology. John Beard is at the forefront. First John introduced me to the computer... then TIVO... and now the Ipod. He got fed up with me being outdated and bought me an Ipod Shuffle last week. Nice guy!!!!

I decided to hit the ground running and build an Ipod library. Within minutes I'd spent $35.00 downloading music. Its so easy to point and click... and spend.

I'd love to hear about your Ipod habits. I'm not sure when I'll use this. At the gym, I'm usually in a class or training with a friend. When walking I feel safer listening to the sounds around me. In the car... yes, I'm one of those often on the cell phone. I'm still learning about how all this works. I built my library yet it didn't go into the shuffle. Is that called "sync-ing up?"

And to sum it all up and reiterate the fact that I'm a little behind the times... let me point out that most everything I downloaded was music from the '80s. HELP! I need some recommendations. Tell me about your favorites and I'll try to check 'em out. Ok, I did download Maroon 5's latest, and some Kelly Clarkson. Next goal is to transfer from cd's. Except for the annual cd I get from Rick Garcia at Christmas many of my cds are also from the 80's. Anyone else into the hair metal bands or disco?????

Have a nice weekend!