Girl Meets Winston Salem-The Soundtrack

Girl Meets Winston Salem- The Soundtrack

1. Girl Meets Winston Salem- "Home" Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

2. Farmer's Market- "La Vie en Rose" Louise Armstrong

3. Museums- "Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want" The Smiths

4. O'so Eats- Theme from "Zorba The Greek"

5. Parks & Trails- "Saturday in the Park" Chicago

6. Gallery Hop- "Last Friday Night"

7. Coffee Shops- "Taylor the Latte Boy"

8. Halloween- Theme from "Halloween"

9. Date Night- "I Gotta Feeling" Black Eyed Peas

10. Film and Festivals- "20th Century Fox Mambo" 

11. Favorite Things- "These are a Few of My Favorite Things" Sound of Music

1. Girls Meets Winston Salem- "Home" Edware Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

2. Farmer's Market- "La Vie en Rose" Louise Armstrong

3. Museums- "Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want" The Smiths

4. O'so Eats- Theme from "Zorba The Greek"

5. Parks and Trails- "Saturday in the Park" Chicago

6. Gallery Hop- "T.G.I.F." Katy Perry

7. Coffee Shops- "Taylor the Latte Boy"Kristin Chenoweth

8. Halloween- Theme from "Halloween"

9. Date Night- "I Gotta Feeling"- Black Eyed Peas

10. Film and Film Festivals- "20th Century Fox Mambo" From Smash

11. Favorite Things- "These are a few of my Favorite things" Sound of Music

GMWS- These are a few of my favorite things

I've shared with you 10 posts of different places to see in Winston Salem. Now let me share with you MY favorite places as the girl who met Winston Salem some years ago. Now these are not all places limited to only Winston, but more of things I discovered in Winston. 

a Set of frames I bought at Earthbound Trading Co. 

When I go shopping, I love to visit Earthbound Trading Co. at Hanes Mall. The endless choices of masquerade masks is what originally drew me in to the store. The little interesting knick knacks make for great gifts and just fun things to have, like my mustache mood ring. They also sell small packs of sage to bless a house. It's a cute house warming gift and I love buying gifts.

Teavana is a tea shop also in Hanes Mall with amazing tea. It's expensive but makes the best tea I've ever had. Pineapple kona pop blended with blueberry rooibus with rock sugar is my favorite. It's usually on display in the summer. 

When I'm in the mood for coffee and a date with a friend, I either go to Camino Bakery or Krankies.
Camino has made it's way into a few of my posts now for good reason. It's damn good. But it is expensive so be prepared.

When I go grocery shopping, I love going to Trader Joe's. Great quality and healthier options. There isn't a Trader Joe's in every city so don't take it for granted. If for nothing else, go for their daily free sample & coffee! That's how I discovered one of my now favorite snacks. 2 packs of TJ's frozen mac n cheese boxes with 1 jar of chunky salsa mixed together. Simple as that!

While I'm at Trader Joe's I take advantage of Dewey's bakery right next door and get a cake square or cheese straws. They also have samples so you know what you'll be buying. Another great idea for a unique edible gift.

My favorite place to ride my bike or walk is Salem Lake. It's beautiful and conveniently located in our city! It's less than a 10 minute drive from school and wraps around for just over 7 miles.

Swaims is my neighborhood bar. It feels homie and it's walking distance from my apartment. I recently took up Foosball at Swaims. I only wish they served food because bar peanuts sometimes are not enough.

When I need to find a place to eat, I go where I know. Mozelle's Poulet Rouge Confit Crêpes with fruit, I still think about and I had it a year ago. 

Nawab is the best Indian I've had. I split the sampler dinner platter with a friend and was introduced to some very tasty Indian food. The Vegetable Korma is by far my favorite and now the only thing I order. 

These are just a few favorites of mine here in Winston Salem. The list only grows as I continue to explore. 

Cucalorus Film Festival- Day 5

When I find something that works I stick to it, for example, for 5 days I've ordered a croissant and vanilla latte from Port City a Java. It has been such a great way to start the day. When I was in New York a couple of years ago, it was the latte with some Mallorca. If you've never had mallorca, you need to!

The Act of Killing - In a country where killers are celebrated as heroes, the filmmakers challenge unrepentant death squad leaders to dramatize their role in genocide. The hallucinatory result is a cinematic fever dream, an unsettling journey deep into the imaginations of mass-murderers and the shockingly banal regime of corruption and impunity they inhabit.

I don't know why I keep starting my days with such graphic and controversial films. Yesterday was the film about the youngest mother and today it's about these executioners who were so causal about what they did that Anwar ( the man the film focuses on) cha cha'd on the very ground where hundreds of communist Chinese were brutally killed. I can't get that image out of my head. 

It's time for lunch and the only thing we can all seem to agree on was the best sushi place in Wilmington, Nicki's sushi which is one of my favorite sushi places in the world. Well in the US really cause I've never had it anywhere else. 

We really took a chance today and attended the Secret Screening of Butter on the Latch. By the end of the film I had no idea what I watched. I did, however, have a terrible headache from the unfocused shots. They were unnecessary in my opinion. There were moments in the beginning that seemed hopeful with no pay off. I was stuck and couldn't leave. 

What's a visit to Wilmington without a walk downtown. It was in the mid 70s and Kilwans fudgery was calling my name. So was the filmmaker's Lounge where Brandon finally met us. We dined at Reel cafe which is a local Hollywood stop and rushed back to Thalian Hall to watch 

The guys are pooped!

Short Term 12 again. It was just as good the 2nd time around! But this time I was able to drag a few with me. 

The festival wrapped in such a fun way, Kareoke at City Stage. Everyone was in good spirits, and although I did not sing I had an incredible time. I met some really awesome people and saw some really great films! Until next year, Cuc!

Cucalorus Film Festival- Day 4

Day 4 11-16-13

Termitaria- Inspired by the actual story of one of the youngest mothers in Philippine history, this film follows the story of Krista, who at the tender age of 9 got pregnant from the sexual abuse perpetrated by her own father. What follows is a story of struggle and renewal. Krista's story is complex. She refuses to see herself as a victim. Despite her situation, she demonstrates an incredible level of resilience and determination to overcome the trauma of her past. Her mother on the other hand is torn between her love for her child and her love for her husband.

I think the description alone demonstrates the maturity I think is unrealistic for a 9 year old. I was really looking forward to this film but was a little disappointed in the lack of focus. I couldn't tell who's story I was listening to. 

The best part of this film was the woman who introduced it. She sang a Russian song called Moscow Nights. It was beautiful!

I'm so grateful for the filmmaker's lounge, whenever it's open, there's beer. Noon may have been a little too early for me. We had time to check out the Button Bush Shorts. Where, luckily, Blue played again! 

Austin Taylor was being interviewed at a restaurant near by so we decided to join him, and look who joined us! 

couldn't wait to watch Blue

I was so excited to convince everyone to get fondue after dinner at Hell's Kitchen (Where Dawson's Creek was filmed). 

Stranger By The Lake was not a favorite for the guys in attendance with me. It may be because there were more penises than there were film credits. It was basically the male version of Blue is the Warmest Color. 

Winner of the Queer Palm award at Cannes 2013, Alain Guiraudie's shockingly erotic exploration of death and desire takes place over nine days at an isolated lakeside gay cruising beach in Southern France. Franck is a regular at this nude beach, where he finds companionship both platonic and carnal. He meets Michel, a mustachioed Adonis straight out of the 1970s, who captures Franck's full attention. But his new paramourl turns out to be a love-'em-and-leave-'em type, in the deadliest sense... 

The Midnite Brunch party at Ziggys was fun because of the company. And the fact that there were more familiar faces on the screens than in person. Can you recognize that cutie patootie?

Almost 3 am, and I'm getting to do this all for one more day. Good nite!

Cucalorus Film Festival- Day 3

Day 3- 11-15-13
What better way than to start the day with a latte, croissant and really good film?!

Short Term 12- Sometimes I hate that I can't seem to write down how I feel. I'm more expressive visually, yet I'm not an artist in that sense. What I'm trying to say is that I really really loved Short Term 12. It's indie in the truest sense, so much so, I think it's become a genre. Subtle, quirky, and easy are the words I can think of to describe it. Brie Larson and John Gallagher had cute chemistry. Both, workers at an under privileged community. The kids in the community are all distinct characters as well that move the story along while being completely unpredictable. I cried maybe 5 solid times. It was such a great film all around.

With "Robot" from Death and the Robot

 2nd screenings of Sundarban shorts:

Blue
A fearful balloon must learn to put his fragile life in the hands of an unlikely friend. 

Voice Over
I-won't-tell-you-whose voice over guides us through three extreme situations which are actually the same. Will you survive?

Death and the Robot
Two lonely souls, bored of their safe havens, venture into new worlds and share an encounter that will nurture a friendship and an everlasting legacy.  

Bajo la Almohada (Under the Pillow)
Animated documentary which uses the voices and drawings of a group of children who live in a clinic in India. The guitar, the dances, a trip out to sea, the cats Sweety and Kitty, and the sisters who look after them are just some of the treasures and dreams which the children keep hidden under the pillow. 

Helpless
Trapped in the school library, two teens try to keep each other calm. 

After
After is a film about contemporary life in Auschwitz. In an observation from dusk till dawn, it portrays the theatre of everyday life around the grim confines and captures the energies and activities of a world fascinated by this former concentration camp.

America 6.1
A frame-by-frame crowd-sourced meditation on environmental media pollution. The film is about our relationship with time and the desire to capture experience. It is Sam's attempt to depict herself standing still while time flows around her. 

Building a Better Wilmington: Giving and Volunteering in the Port City
Volunteers from local nonprofit organizations, musicians, activists, and community leaders discuss topics such as the personal rewards of involvement, how to get involved, and the importance of giving and volunteering in Wilmington. The film aims to encourage student film making and to inspire participation in the community. 

Aqua!(Water!)
Guille and Alex don't know each other. Each of them leads their lives in their own way. They live according to how they have been taught and raised. Although they come from different worlds, they are united by something - their passion for swimming. And today, there's a competition.

How to Lose Your Virginity- A documentary exposing the ambiguity of the word virginity and virgin. It was interesting and provoking with interviews by 30 year old virgins and porn producers. It left me trying to answer what is virginity? It is lost at the first impure thought or the first moment of intercourse? Intercourse where? Think about it.

The Visual/Sound/Walls Comedy Hour was very unique. The comedians incorporated projections on screen to help in their story telling. The emcee shared photos of his roommate's cat and her asshole.
Good time!

GMWS- Films and Festivals

This week I am in Wilmington, NC for the Cucalorus Film Festival. I am so grateful to be living in a town that has a film festival because my hometown does not. This is my first time attending as a filmmaker and I intend to take full advantage!

Winston Salem is fortunate to have the The River Run International Film Festival- April 4-13, 2014

One of the premiere film festivals in the southeastern United States. I had the opportunity to attend the 2012 festival in my first year. It covers a lot of ground in Winston Salem, from downtown to UNCSA to Reynolda House. 

By 2013 I was volunteering. It was a very long festival but full of great films, short & feature length, including Mud Directed by Jeff Nichols. We screened the film at the Stevens Center downtown, which wasn't made for films but was still really beautiful.

I had the pleasure of speaking with Dale Polluck, a professor and previous Dean of the film school at UNCSA. I had one major question I wanted clarified because for the last 2 years I've seen Dale at every event for RR. 

Can you explain your involvement with Riverarun a Film Festival?

"I first brought RiverRun to Winston-Salem in 2002. I arranged for the festival, which had been started in Brevard, NC in 1998, to move to Winston-Salem, raised the money to mount the first festival, and ended up running it myself when we had to let the festival's founder go. I was the Executive Director of the festival for the first five years, now I am the only Emeritus Board member on the RiverRun Board of Directors. I no longer have a direct role in the programming of the festival, but I often do the major Q&A sessions with guest filmmakers and award recipients, and I also introduce classic and foreign films RiverRun screens. I also make at least a few contributions to the program booklet."

Films filmed in Winston-Salem

In 2012 I interned on the independent feature film, "Goodbye To All That" starring Paul Sneider 

This was such a fun experience. This post I blogged about applying and how excited I was. I was only an on set production assistant, but I got to see how smoothly a feature film can go (with planning). In the "real world" you plan it out in pre-production.

What a sweet guy!

The producer, Summer Shelton is a UNCSA alumni who brought this film to Winston Salem (which I totally intend to do if we renew our film incentive in 2015.) But don't even let me get started. 

Filmed in Winston Salem, NC:

• The Bedroom Window (1987) 
• Mr. Destiny (1990)
• Eddie (1996)
• The Lottery (1996, made-for-television adaptation of Shirley Jackson's short story)
• George Washington (2000) (UNCSA alumni- David Gordon Green)
• A Union in Wait (2001, documentary)
• Junebug (2005) (written by Angus MacLachlan who lives in Winston Salem)
• Lost Stallions: The Journey Home (2008)
• Goodbye Solo (2008)
• Leatherheads (2008) directed by George Clooney
• Eyeborgs (2009) directed by Richard Clabaugh who taught At UNCSA for a brief time, stars a Dale Gerard who teaches stunt work at our drama school
• You Are Here (2013) many UNCSA interns, some of it shot on our campus on a sound stage. 

Cucalorus Film Festival- Day 2

11-14-2013 (Thursday)
FYI- Port City Java offers a free cup of coffee or $1 off your order with a festival pass.

I head over to Thalian Hall where the Sundarban shorts are screening at 10am. Large groups of high schoolers are piling into The theatre as I start to get nervous. My producer on one arm and my packet of post cards in the other, I brave the crowd and enter.

The short films in this category were all incredible! The very first film, Blue, about a balloon, blew me away! (No pun intended). They are working on a trailer for it. 

Katelyn Bianchini & Rena Cheng

The screening of Helpless made me cringe, for a moment I felt like I was losing the crowd. Secretly I told myself that the ending would pay off. I was right. It was received so well! And I couldn't be more proud to have Austin Taylor next to us representing Death and the Robot!

Some fans of Helpless and future filmmakers!

 With the excitement and a little time to kill we decided to embark on a little retail therapy at my favorite Wilmington boutique, Planet. Then to the best pizza joint, Slice of Life. 

At TheatreNOW we had the privilege of seeing The Kill Team by Dan Krauss:

From Oscar-nominated director Dan Krauss comes a story about a young soldier in Afghanistan who attempted to alert the military to horrific atrocities being committed by U.S. soldiers, and who then himself became a target of one of the largest war crimes investigations in U.S. history. With extraordinary access to the soldiers who were convicted and the evidence used against them, this film takes us inside a story that was largely impenetrable to the media.Director Bio:Dan Krauss was nominated for an Academy Award and two Emmy Awards for his first film, The Death of Kevin Carter. The film also won prizes from the Tribeca Film Festival, the International Documentary Association and The San Francisco International Film Festival, among others. Krauss earned his Master’s Degree from UC Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism, where he is presently a lecturer in film and television production.Next on the agenda is the State of Slate panel.

This special panel presented by Entertainment Partners at the 19th Annual Cucalorus Film Festival will highlight the Film and Television production incentives tax structure and production resources that have made North Carolina an evolving filmmakers destination.

The panel State of the Slate panel was really informative and some really useful information for filmmakers in NC. I tend to just assume I'm moving to CA or NY and never consider digging roots in Nc and making films here. It's a great idea, but without the film incentive it will almost be impossible to afford compared to filming in a state where you get a percentage of what you spend back. It's like shopping on Black Friday versus shopping the day before christmas. 

Moderated by Joe Chianese, Executive VP of EP Financial Solutions, the panel will explore the current and future state of film and television production in North Carolina, highlighting recent productions including "Under the Dome", "IRON MAN 3", "SLEEPY HOLLOW" as well as Emmy Award Winning "HOMELAND".

Panelist Include: 
Aaron Syrett - DIRECTOR, NC FILM COMMISSION 

Susan Ruskin - DEAN, UNCSA SCHOOL OF FILM
Dale Williams - PRODUCER, PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR, and currently the UNIT PRODUCTION MANAGER of UNDER THE DOME 
Jason Rosin - BUSINESS MANAGER, IATSE LOCAL 491

Bill Vassar - EXEC. VP, EUE/SCREENGEMS STUDIOS


 

After the panel, Susan hosted a gathering for all UNCSA students and alumni. Brandon finally joined me as we had tapas and wine with some past graduates. I had some great conversations with people that went to UNCSA.

Still a little hungry we ventured to the Copper Penny before catching the Bangwelu shorts which featured Remy, Baldwin and The Virgins (all UNCSA productions). I am so exhausted and it's only day 2!!

Cucalorus Film Festival- Day 1

Cucalorus Film Festival November 13-17, 2013 

Day 1- 11-13-2013

This is my very first time attending a film festival solely as a filmmaker. I'm usually working the festival. This feels good. I picked up my pass ($300 value) with a couple of gifts, a bottle coozie, t-shirt, and tie sticker that needs to be worn in order to attend a party. A few students from UNCSA will also be attending. I was so excited to see that my film, Helpless is screening with an animated film made last year called Death and the Robot, that is by far the best film I've seen at my school. 

My first stop was the very first event, Dance-a-lorus at Thalian Hall. A communion of dance and film where Filmmakers pair with choreographers and dancers to create a piece. Below, dancers dance in front of a projected film about the process of choreographing this piece. 

After the performances I met up with Jeremiah, Andreas and Eduardo for some beers at Front Street Brewery. Below, Jeremiah enjoys a plate of homemade ketchup. 

The Opening Night Party was held at the Bellamy Mansion on Market street.  I love that everything is walking distance. It was gorgeous! With two huge floors and hundreds of people eating incredible food. This is such a great opportunity to mingle and meet other filmmakers.

We bumped into more UNCSA alumni and danced the night away! And took fun pics at the photo booth that always seems to be one of my favorite parts of a film festival!

Brandon was on duty and had a second to say hello! Just across from his boat, Sleepy Hollow was filming an episode of their show. You can see the carnival in the background of the photo below.

I feel right at home even surrounded by complete strangers. We all have one thing in common: a love of films. And I can't wait to start watching them! Helpless screens tomorrow morning at 10am. So I'm hitting the hay early tonight. Good night, Wilmington!

GMWS- Date Night (2010)

A Date in Winston Salem

I love entire days dedicated to a date not just a meal. It's so rare to find time to do anything fun and it seems I never get a little time here or there, it's more like an entire day. An entire day for a date can be fun because you have nothing else to worry about and nowhere else to plan to be. 

Here's a suggestion for a day out in Winston Salem with a significant other or even just a good pal. 

9:00 am rendezvous at Camino Bakery for a cup of Joe and a croissant.  They have some of the best pastries in town!

Starting the date with caffeine and the ambiance of Camino is a perfect start to any date. You'll get the energy for your adventure and take second to talk and get to know each other better. 

10:00 am- Head on over to Reynolda House to check out their current exhibit.

Students and Faculty= Free admission 

Reynolda House provides an amazing opportunity for interesting conversations. The kind where you day dream about how you want your future house to look like. Or to daydream about what it would be like to live there. 

12:00 pm- Lunch Time! Mozelles 

I had an incredible Poulet Rouge Confit Crêpes with fruit and coffee for brunch one day. It sealed my fate. This is one of my favorite restaurants in Winston Salem. Let's face it, people go to dinner or restaurants on dates to talk and get to know each other. Or at least they should, because movies force your attention on anything but each other for 2 hours. And activities like put-put give you the excuse to talk about, well....put-put. And holes...

2:00 pm- Time to digest lunch with a romantic scary movie matinee

2 movie tickets = $5

What better opportunity than a scary movie to get close and personal? It's my favorite genre of film, even the bad ones are at least funny! And after coffee and Lunch, I think it's time to stop talking and start screaming. 

5:00 pm- Afternoon snack, Dewey's bakery cake squares, if it's Monday, it's free! 

2 cake squares =  free

If you've never had the pink lemonade cake square from Dewey's bakery then you're really missing out! If your guest has never had one then you're in a great position to introduce them to something that will change their life. 

6pm- For dinner Oso's with portions big enough to split!

There is nothing wrong with eating your dessert, as long as you saved room for dessert again, because Oso's has incredible dessert. Okay, I may be biased, but I recently took a few friends of mine to Oso's and they were all blown away! Not one left without a full happy belly! 

If it's before 7pm, you should watch the sun set somewhere downtown. 

I shot this on the roof of a parking garage on Trade st. 

How you end your date is very important. With a long day behind you, if you've lasted the entire date, the last moments are crucial. You should know if it's gone well. And let me tell you. Silence is your friend. Your date has not had a chance to think about how it's been going and this is a perfect opportunity. Find a way to let them know that not talking right now is okay. And if the moment is right...