10 Things I'm Loving - #1

There are those things that you just can't wait to get to after a long day.
There are those things that bring you comfort when you're down or lost.
There are those things that inspire you to be better, if not greater that you ever thought possibly.
And right now....these are my Top 10 things.

The Music of Ryan Star

Working for a record label, you can easily become so immune and jaded to new music. Being fed soooo much of the same cr@p breaks you down, that unless you go looking for good music - you run the risk of becoming numb to anything decent.
Luckily I'm aware enough to do this.

Currently touring with American Idol David Cook, I first took notice of Ryan Star when he was part of the reality show Rockstar Supernova.

After his performance of Paint It Black, i was hooked for life. Then I started following his career online, and starting seeing his orginal stuff.
Man oh man...brilliance.

As an aspiring script writer his music speaks to me in a way that i can visualize EXACTLY what story I want to tell. (and hey, this guy is the reason i bought a Hillary Swank movie on DVD!- just to get one song of course)

Last Train Home is a phenomenal track that really should be a huge hit.
(vote for it here to help it in a Radio poll)

Check out some of his stuff here:
http://www.myspace.com/rstar
http://www.rstar.net
http://www.twitter.com/ryanstar
http://www.youtube.com/rstar

and some of his videos on YouTube
"We Might Fall"
"Right Now"
and my current favourite song being used in a few tribute videos "This Could Be The Year"
And this brilliant use of "Last Train Home" for a Slumdog Millionaire trailer

I can tell you now, when I'm finished this script i'm working on, I'm sending it to one Mr. Star and BEGGING him to do some music for it...
Hey... a guy can dream can't he? Someone get this guy to South Africa!

Have a listen and look guys, and let me know what you think!

Born to Be Famous

come on....don't tell me that young kid doesn't have star written all over him....I think thats Tom Cruise on the poster behind me

Burg's Oscar Predictions 2009

I love the Oscars.... i really really do.
People complain that they don't mean a thing these days... but I can guarantee you that for anyone who is involved...its a big damn deal still.

This year is a big one for me... and once again I feel so personally involved... for no reason other that my love for the business and the medium of film.
On that note... let me jinx the evening my making my predictions for later tonight...

Best Motion Picture of the Year

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire

Slumdog ends the evening on a high.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role


Richard Jenkins for The Visitor -
Frank Langella for Frost/Nixon -
Sean Penn for Milk -
Brad Pitt for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button -
Mickey Rourke for The Wrestler -

You know Rourke winning would send me into hysterics...its a dream come true.
BUT.... 3 possible outcomes....
Penn wins.
Penn & Rourke tie.
Richard Jenkins steals the evening... (and as disappointed as I would be... Jenkins flat out deserves more recognition.)
I go for the tie.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role

Anne Hathaway for Rachel Getting Married -
Angelina Jolie for Changeling -
Melissa Leo for Frozen River -
Meryl Streep for Doubt -
Kate Winslet for The Reader -

Too soon for Hathaway... but don't be surprised is Winslet doesn't win... she should of got the nominated for Revolutionary Road to make it a sure thing...could be a surprise... but lets play it safe for now.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role

Josh Brolin for Milk -
Robert Downey Jr. for Tropic Thunder -
Philip Seymour Hoffman for Doubt -
Heath Ledger for The Dark Knight -
Michael Shannon for Revolutionary Road -

Downey Jr. wins, chaos ensues. We all wake up from the dream and Ledger gets a deserved award. Why oh why did James Franco not get a nom for Milk though????

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role

Amy Adams for Doubt -
Penélope Cruz for Vicky Cristina Barcelona -
Viola Davis for Doubt -
Taraji P. Henson for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button -
Marisa Tomei for The Wrestler -

Kate Winslett not getting a nod here opens this category wide open. I'd love to see Tomei win it, just to quash the stories that she was incorrectly announced as a winner back when she won for My Cousin Vinny...gut says Cruz though... not a bad alternative at all.

Best Achievement in Directing

Danny Boyle for Slumdog Millionaire -
Stephen Daldry for The Reader -
David Fincher for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button -
Ron Howard for Frost/Nixon -
Gus Van Sant for Milk -

TDK snub makes no difference as Danny Boyle walks this one.

Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen

Frozen River -
Happy-Go-Lucky -
In Bruges -
Milk -
WALL·E -

Who doesn't want In Bruges to win? not Me.

Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Doubt
Frost/Nixon
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire

Loved loved loved Q&A, and even gave it a 5 star review back in my heat magazine days. So I gotta go with it here too.


Best Achievement in Editing

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button -
The Dark Knight -
Frost/Nixon -
Milk -
Slumdog Millionaire -

The 'dog takes this one.

Best Achievement in Art Direction

Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
The Duchess
Revolutionary Road

Button gets one of its few wins.


Best Achievement in Costume Design

Australia
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Duchess
Milk
Revolutionary Road

Not enough variation in this category... means The Duchess gets the nod.

Best Achievement in Makeup

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Hellboy II: The Golden Army

I'd REALLY love to see Hellboy II take this one... but would the academy really show like to the devil's boy? probably not. TDK wins for Ledger's makeup.

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Defiance
Milk
Slumdog Millionaire
WALL·E

The 'dog wins again.


Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song

Slumdog Millionaire ("Jai Ho")
Slumdog Millionaire ("O Saya")
WALL·E ("Down to Earth")

Springsteen got snubbed.... so i don't really care. Random pick says Peter Gabriel.


Best Achievement in Visual Effects

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button -
The Dark Knight -
Iron Man -
TDK all the way. Iron Man was overated, and Benjamin is too artsy for this award.

Best Animated Feature Film of the Year

Bolt -
Kung Fu Panda -
WALL·E -

The buzz seems to be on WALL -E... and since it was in with a chance of getting a Best Picture nom, i'm pretty sure it will take the next best thing. Plus I think if a Miley Cyrus movie wins an Oscar...there will be a Riot

The Blank page

This is what i am staring at now
A blank page... and i have the freedom to start it any way i want.
The pressure is building
doo doof doo doof doo doof
oh...thats me making the sound of my heart by the way
....and this is what my heart loves most...
writing...

Which of my gazillion ideas will renew my passion...

The Good News Phone

As the changes keep rolling in... the next addition is a brand new cell phone and number.... ah it feels so good... a fresh start so to speak.

This will be the first phone in almost 10 years that i will actually NOT have on silent... the sound of a ringing phone for me has always been the source of bad news... but not this one. This number will only be given to sources that will bring me good news (more on that to follow).

Its a phone of simple needs...and will be used for simple purposes.

It's charging right now... so i don't want to disturb it...its probably going to need all the rest it can get... its got a big week ahead of it...

Soon...

It's time to start over.... to remember the dream, to rediscover the desire, to live the passion... and to find the belief.

No longer shall i fear the failure... or the judgment of others.... the signs have been there... now its time to listen to them.

The fire still burns... and my mind is clearing...

The Re-Burg has begun....