Valentines Day! If you are a fan of Nicholas Sparks' godawful movies , chances are you are loving today! You probably think sitting in a champagne shaped glass jacuzzi in the Poconos is romantic (It is anything but). There are people (usually men) who avoid it like the bubonic plague. Anything to get out of buying horrible chocolates last minute or scrambling to make a reservation. The teddy bear with the heart you got her from Rite Aid will let most women know that you truly don't know a thing about her, so the evening will be ruined anyway. And then there are hopeless romantics who live for this hallmark holiday (usually women). You can't wait to have your co-workers ask you what sad sack thing your lover did for you. Being that LatinoBuzz is for lovers we rounded up some of our fave Latino actors to share which characters they are akin to and their most epic wins and fails!
If I could choose any character in any movie that reflects my dating life, as cheesy as this sounds, it would have to be Drew Barrymore from the movie "Going The Distance". Her character and I are a couple of crazy hopeless romantics. I was in a long distance relationship with my boyfriend for a year up until last month, it was sooo hard at times but worth the wait. He finally took the plunge and moved to Los Angeles! A new beginning :). Soooo a few years back I had a huge crush on this one guy, and we went out one night to a karaoke bar with his friends. I wanted to stand out to him so I decided (after a couple of shots of whiskey lol) to jump on stage and sing my heart out! I sang "Girl Put Your Records On" by Corinne Bailey Rae. I actually sounded pretty damn good! I surprised myself and definitely impressed the guy I liked. I'd say I won that night :) Andrea Sixtos (East Los High)
When I was a little girl I was so shameless and passionate that I didn't care what other people thought of me. I was in love with this guy "Jose" and I used to chase him in kindergarden. I would always tell him that I loved him and that he was supposed to be with me, and even share my lunch with him... I remember that our conversations were always the same... I would say "Jose, who is the prettiest girl in the world?" (hoping that he would say: You!) and he always answered "My sister!" (he had a 6 month new sister). The best part was that I didn't care! I knew that he would realized that it was me. Well... years after I ran in to him as I was going to my ballet classes... he was short, fat and bald.
But the most Epic fail was years later when I was a teenager (not as shameless as I used to be), I had a boyfriend and wanted to tell him that I love him, so I composed a song... and thought for a week if I should sing it for him. I decided to do it... as he heard it, he blushed, told me - thank you - and we never talked about it again... I guess he didn´t like it... But, despite that we were together for 2 more years, happy ending! Francisca Walker (El Verano De Los Peces Voladores)
Although it was originally a musical, I would say that I am a less narcissistic version of Maureen from Rent. We're similar in the way that we are both open spirits, artists, we're strong, passionate, monogamists (considered by some to be serial-daters)... really when it gets down to it we want to be in love, but we won't sacrifice who we are... in other words "take me baby, or leave me." ;) Noemi Gonzalez (Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones)
In the Notebook. Too many men, which to choose, love or stability lol. Most Epic fail was trying to give an ex Mexican candies to win him back, his niece got to them before he even saw it. Should have left a card... Gina Rodriguez (Sleeping With The Fishes)
Well, the night I kissed my current girlfriend for the first time, I apparently farted. I was holding her hand and walking her back to her car. I had a couple drinks that night and don't remember this, but she swears by it! It must've worked because we've been together for nearly 4 years! I think that should be the test: fart around the person. Depending on how they react, one could decide whether she is a keeper or not. She didn't mind it too much, so I guess she was a keeper, and vice versa! She just also happens to be the most loving and accepting person I've ever met, so... :) Jorge Diaz (33)
I think my dating life is like Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and The City. She casually dates but when she's in a relationship, she's In a relationship. Plus she ends up with Mr.Big! Who wouldn't want to end up with their one true love!?!?! Chelsea Rendon (McFarland)
My Junior year in High School our English Literature teacher had us move desks around every couple of months to mix things up. From the classic row and column formation, to a giant inward facing circle and back again. We would physically get up and push our desks, which blanketed the room in cacophony for about 5 minutes. I had a crush on a boy in class and though I'm not sure where I got the gall, I slammed my hands down on his desk and shoved it up against him so he was pinned in his seat. The look on his face was priceless and in that moment I, too, was a little shocked (and stoked) by my prowess. Though I didn't say a word to him that day, he ended up being my first boyfriend. I have some epic fails too but we can save those for another day. Alexandra Metz (Once Upon A Time)
I would have to say the character that most represents my dating life is Jane from 27 Dresses. I've witnessed so many of my family members and friends tie the knot in just the last few years. If I had a dime for every one I might be able to buy a coffee. Regular of course, nothing fancy. Seriously though, I love the meaning of marriage and weddings. I think everything about them is so beautiful. I'm a sucker for romance and a great love story. As for myself, I don't really date. I'm always helping and taking care of other people that I tend to forget about myself. Similar to Jane, who puts everyone else first and thinks she has no time for herself. Janine Larina (East Los High)
Oh, son. Let me tell ya, I have a very Very epic fail to share. I was at a house party in college, wearing heels, and dressed to impress a certain cutie that lived at the house we were at. It was my first time ever meeting him, and as I sashayed down the stairs my heel got caught in a tear in the carpet and I went flying down the stairs Face First! I landed flat on my face at the bottom of the stairs and the entire party took a collective Gasp. Once I realized that I hadn't actually died from the fall (or the embarrassment), I remarkably got back on my feet with some help from nearby strangers, brushed myself off, and continued to laugh and dance like nothing had happened. When the sobering light of the next day came however, I was so embarrassed that I did everything I could to avoid my crush for the rest of the year until he graduated. Come to find out, Years later when we reconnected, that he was actually pretty impressed with how easily I laughed off the epic fall down the stairs, thought I was a cool chick, but didn't know my name or how to find me. Lesson learned: Best way to recover from an Epic Fail is to laugh it off!! And don't waste your energy being embarrassed by it - because you never know how other people perceived it. An epic fail could always turn into an epic Win when you least expect it. ;-) Marisa Quinn (The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2)
This one qualifies as the best fail - win ever so I have to tell. It was my birthday and he set up the most amazing night. Dressed up, special pick up, flowers, gifts, private room at the restaurant the whole deal! After the most amazing meal I still have ever had in my life, he has cupcakes with candles come out and he sings happy birthday. It was the one most romantic night I've ever had. I blow off the candles and he insists I have a bite. I dragged my finger through the icing and tried to put it on his nose being all cute and romantic like I see in those romantic wedding movies. But I was a little tipsy from the bottle of Moet we had just had and stuck the icing straight into his eye. It was so much of it he couldn't even open it! My God did that go wrong. I was so worried iI blinded him and not sure what reaction to expect. But he just laughed so hard that it made me laugh. Soon we were both on the floor out of breath trying to un-stick his eye. It was the best moment of the night. Even as we remember the story now we still giggle like little children. I never looked at a cupcake the same way again. Luciana Faulhaber (The Night Crew)
About two years ago when I first moved to Los Angeles I starter to dance with fire. So one night, after spending a beautiful day with this very special person, I invited my super talented fire dancers friends to come to my house and we performed for him. It was the best performance I've ever done and he was pleasantly surprised. Paola Baldion (Sin OtoÑO Sin Primavera)
I had a crush on a sports trainer in college and thinking I was pretty athletic myself, I thought I could impress him with my prowess. So I decided to join his 5:30 Am bootcamp. Basically, everything was going according to plan, Until one day I had the bright idea to go one morning when I was clearly still feeling a bit funny from the night/earlier that morning... and he made a work out circuit, called the "gut check," let's just say, I checked it...and threw up, A Lot... and never went back. Lindsey Morgan (The Hundred)
I was on a date with a girl when I was 13 during Halloween and went to a maze, I'm petrified of scary clowns and sure enough the end of the maze it was clowns, luckily she was scared also so we ran out with eachother. She dropped her phone while running and asked if I could go get it and she asked if I was scared, trying to be cool I said no. So walking back in, one of the clowns was holding the phone and I was holding my breath, and as soon as I grabbed it the clown screams on the top of his lungs and I peed myself. She wouldn't stop laughing at me. Andrew Jacobs (Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones)
Vicky Cristina Barcelona. 'Cause we all been in there and it's weird at times when they just broke up with their exes. There is that tension and if its too recent its worse. Fernanda Romero (Ghost Team One)...
If I could choose any character in any movie that reflects my dating life, as cheesy as this sounds, it would have to be Drew Barrymore from the movie "Going The Distance". Her character and I are a couple of crazy hopeless romantics. I was in a long distance relationship with my boyfriend for a year up until last month, it was sooo hard at times but worth the wait. He finally took the plunge and moved to Los Angeles! A new beginning :). Soooo a few years back I had a huge crush on this one guy, and we went out one night to a karaoke bar with his friends. I wanted to stand out to him so I decided (after a couple of shots of whiskey lol) to jump on stage and sing my heart out! I sang "Girl Put Your Records On" by Corinne Bailey Rae. I actually sounded pretty damn good! I surprised myself and definitely impressed the guy I liked. I'd say I won that night :) Andrea Sixtos (East Los High)
When I was a little girl I was so shameless and passionate that I didn't care what other people thought of me. I was in love with this guy "Jose" and I used to chase him in kindergarden. I would always tell him that I loved him and that he was supposed to be with me, and even share my lunch with him... I remember that our conversations were always the same... I would say "Jose, who is the prettiest girl in the world?" (hoping that he would say: You!) and he always answered "My sister!" (he had a 6 month new sister). The best part was that I didn't care! I knew that he would realized that it was me. Well... years after I ran in to him as I was going to my ballet classes... he was short, fat and bald.
But the most Epic fail was years later when I was a teenager (not as shameless as I used to be), I had a boyfriend and wanted to tell him that I love him, so I composed a song... and thought for a week if I should sing it for him. I decided to do it... as he heard it, he blushed, told me - thank you - and we never talked about it again... I guess he didn´t like it... But, despite that we were together for 2 more years, happy ending! Francisca Walker (El Verano De Los Peces Voladores)
Although it was originally a musical, I would say that I am a less narcissistic version of Maureen from Rent. We're similar in the way that we are both open spirits, artists, we're strong, passionate, monogamists (considered by some to be serial-daters)... really when it gets down to it we want to be in love, but we won't sacrifice who we are... in other words "take me baby, or leave me." ;) Noemi Gonzalez (Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones)
In the Notebook. Too many men, which to choose, love or stability lol. Most Epic fail was trying to give an ex Mexican candies to win him back, his niece got to them before he even saw it. Should have left a card... Gina Rodriguez (Sleeping With The Fishes)
Well, the night I kissed my current girlfriend for the first time, I apparently farted. I was holding her hand and walking her back to her car. I had a couple drinks that night and don't remember this, but she swears by it! It must've worked because we've been together for nearly 4 years! I think that should be the test: fart around the person. Depending on how they react, one could decide whether she is a keeper or not. She didn't mind it too much, so I guess she was a keeper, and vice versa! She just also happens to be the most loving and accepting person I've ever met, so... :) Jorge Diaz (33)
I think my dating life is like Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and The City. She casually dates but when she's in a relationship, she's In a relationship. Plus she ends up with Mr.Big! Who wouldn't want to end up with their one true love!?!?! Chelsea Rendon (McFarland)
My Junior year in High School our English Literature teacher had us move desks around every couple of months to mix things up. From the classic row and column formation, to a giant inward facing circle and back again. We would physically get up and push our desks, which blanketed the room in cacophony for about 5 minutes. I had a crush on a boy in class and though I'm not sure where I got the gall, I slammed my hands down on his desk and shoved it up against him so he was pinned in his seat. The look on his face was priceless and in that moment I, too, was a little shocked (and stoked) by my prowess. Though I didn't say a word to him that day, he ended up being my first boyfriend. I have some epic fails too but we can save those for another day. Alexandra Metz (Once Upon A Time)
I would have to say the character that most represents my dating life is Jane from 27 Dresses. I've witnessed so many of my family members and friends tie the knot in just the last few years. If I had a dime for every one I might be able to buy a coffee. Regular of course, nothing fancy. Seriously though, I love the meaning of marriage and weddings. I think everything about them is so beautiful. I'm a sucker for romance and a great love story. As for myself, I don't really date. I'm always helping and taking care of other people that I tend to forget about myself. Similar to Jane, who puts everyone else first and thinks she has no time for herself. Janine Larina (East Los High)
Oh, son. Let me tell ya, I have a very Very epic fail to share. I was at a house party in college, wearing heels, and dressed to impress a certain cutie that lived at the house we were at. It was my first time ever meeting him, and as I sashayed down the stairs my heel got caught in a tear in the carpet and I went flying down the stairs Face First! I landed flat on my face at the bottom of the stairs and the entire party took a collective Gasp. Once I realized that I hadn't actually died from the fall (or the embarrassment), I remarkably got back on my feet with some help from nearby strangers, brushed myself off, and continued to laugh and dance like nothing had happened. When the sobering light of the next day came however, I was so embarrassed that I did everything I could to avoid my crush for the rest of the year until he graduated. Come to find out, Years later when we reconnected, that he was actually pretty impressed with how easily I laughed off the epic fall down the stairs, thought I was a cool chick, but didn't know my name or how to find me. Lesson learned: Best way to recover from an Epic Fail is to laugh it off!! And don't waste your energy being embarrassed by it - because you never know how other people perceived it. An epic fail could always turn into an epic Win when you least expect it. ;-) Marisa Quinn (The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2)
This one qualifies as the best fail - win ever so I have to tell. It was my birthday and he set up the most amazing night. Dressed up, special pick up, flowers, gifts, private room at the restaurant the whole deal! After the most amazing meal I still have ever had in my life, he has cupcakes with candles come out and he sings happy birthday. It was the one most romantic night I've ever had. I blow off the candles and he insists I have a bite. I dragged my finger through the icing and tried to put it on his nose being all cute and romantic like I see in those romantic wedding movies. But I was a little tipsy from the bottle of Moet we had just had and stuck the icing straight into his eye. It was so much of it he couldn't even open it! My God did that go wrong. I was so worried iI blinded him and not sure what reaction to expect. But he just laughed so hard that it made me laugh. Soon we were both on the floor out of breath trying to un-stick his eye. It was the best moment of the night. Even as we remember the story now we still giggle like little children. I never looked at a cupcake the same way again. Luciana Faulhaber (The Night Crew)
About two years ago when I first moved to Los Angeles I starter to dance with fire. So one night, after spending a beautiful day with this very special person, I invited my super talented fire dancers friends to come to my house and we performed for him. It was the best performance I've ever done and he was pleasantly surprised. Paola Baldion (Sin OtoÑO Sin Primavera)
I had a crush on a sports trainer in college and thinking I was pretty athletic myself, I thought I could impress him with my prowess. So I decided to join his 5:30 Am bootcamp. Basically, everything was going according to plan, Until one day I had the bright idea to go one morning when I was clearly still feeling a bit funny from the night/earlier that morning... and he made a work out circuit, called the "gut check," let's just say, I checked it...and threw up, A Lot... and never went back. Lindsey Morgan (The Hundred)
I was on a date with a girl when I was 13 during Halloween and went to a maze, I'm petrified of scary clowns and sure enough the end of the maze it was clowns, luckily she was scared also so we ran out with eachother. She dropped her phone while running and asked if I could go get it and she asked if I was scared, trying to be cool I said no. So walking back in, one of the clowns was holding the phone and I was holding my breath, and as soon as I grabbed it the clown screams on the top of his lungs and I peed myself. She wouldn't stop laughing at me. Andrew Jacobs (Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones)
Vicky Cristina Barcelona. 'Cause we all been in there and it's weird at times when they just broke up with their exes. There is that tension and if its too recent its worse. Fernanda Romero (Ghost Team One)...
- 2/14/2014
- by Juan Caceres
- Sydney's Buzz
Hidden under the thick menacing fog of the frosty forest that covers the Chilean countryside lays Marcela Said’s first try at narrative filmmaking, The Summer of Flying Fish. The celebrated documentary-filmmaker makes the jump through a story that is partly a coming-of-age tale and simultaneously a subtle political statement about the socioeconomic conflict between the impoverished indigenous people and the affluent sector of the Chilean population who are mainly of European ancestry.
Presumably on her summer vacation, privileged teenager Manena (Francisca Walker) is spending time with her family in the land her father, Francisco (played by Gregory Cohen), owns in the south of Chile. The fragmented narrative structure Said utilizes unfolds slowly though a series of mostly unrelated vignettes that attempt to give insight into the divisive role the young girl plays. Pedro (Carlos Cayuqueo), is a local Mapuche boy, he belongs to the native community who has increasingly taken to more violent action against the greedy landowners who refused to give them access to the lands their ancestors lived in. His friendship with Manena, which can be assumed goes back to when they were young kids, is sort of a reverse Pocahontas’s scenario. She learns of the injustices his father commits against his people and valiantly communicates her discomfort to him only to be dismissed as nonsense.
Although not always focused, or designed to function in a traditional storytelling manner, the atmospheric tension that surrounds the characters’ every move makes for an evocative piece. Casually exposed in several conversations, the deeply rooted sentiments from both parties are presented. Francisco and his friends nonchalantly dish out their feelings about the indigenous people claims about the land and its assets, while her housekeepers, of Mapuche descent, are divided between those who think fighting for their territory is fair and others who see it as an aimless battle against the rich. The inconspicuous way in which the film reveals the conflict at the center of the story might not be instantly appreciated, but the social commentary embedded into Said’s frames is direct and defines a firm position on the subject.
The flying fish the title refers to are those expelled from the nearby lake by Franciso via explosives. The man refers to these carps as a plague that must be eradicated as they interfere with the other farming activities on his land. Throughout the film the ejected fish can be seen being buried under the mud or grasping for air as the amused visiting children watch. Outstandingly, their existence works as a powerful metaphor for the endangered livelihood of the Mapuche community for whom modern Chile seems to have no place. Perhaps the director’s past experience in the non-fiction realm helped her infuse the film with a sense of lyrical realism, one that doesn’t need to be overly dramatic or explanatory. It plays more like a sequence of humanistic sensorial images, unconcerned with outlining every part of the message for easy consumption. It instead paints a picture of a society, which, like many, finds its past as an obstacle for modern expectations of wealth, and it does so delicately.
Like a fish out of water, Manena seems not to comprehend the adult ambitions that harshly shape her environment. On the contrary, she serves as hopeful diplomatic force between her country’s past and her own comfortable status. The Summer of Flying Fish resembles Carlos Reygadas’ Post Tenebras Lux in theme, and to a lesser degree in style. Both films are concerned with the discrepancies between the indigenous economically disadvantage majority and a small group of well-off Westernized state owners. In both cases, the structure is of minimal importance; the message is conveyed by making crucial connections between the tangible perception of the situation and a mystical one that plays into the subconscious.
Said has created an important film not only for her people, but for a world that appears increasingly in a rush to erase old lifestyles in order to give in to a global standardize measure of success. Clearly, the extreme subtly of Said’s film will cause many to deem it vague or disconnected, but in the obscurity of its narrative there are hints to the profoundly emotional implications of the circumstances. Her film is certainly poetic, not widely accessible, but with organic performances and an entrancing cinematography, it is a an experience that lures in the viewers mind long after the fog has dissipated and the fish have died.
Read Sydney's Interview with Director Marcela Said Here...
Presumably on her summer vacation, privileged teenager Manena (Francisca Walker) is spending time with her family in the land her father, Francisco (played by Gregory Cohen), owns in the south of Chile. The fragmented narrative structure Said utilizes unfolds slowly though a series of mostly unrelated vignettes that attempt to give insight into the divisive role the young girl plays. Pedro (Carlos Cayuqueo), is a local Mapuche boy, he belongs to the native community who has increasingly taken to more violent action against the greedy landowners who refused to give them access to the lands their ancestors lived in. His friendship with Manena, which can be assumed goes back to when they were young kids, is sort of a reverse Pocahontas’s scenario. She learns of the injustices his father commits against his people and valiantly communicates her discomfort to him only to be dismissed as nonsense.
Although not always focused, or designed to function in a traditional storytelling manner, the atmospheric tension that surrounds the characters’ every move makes for an evocative piece. Casually exposed in several conversations, the deeply rooted sentiments from both parties are presented. Francisco and his friends nonchalantly dish out their feelings about the indigenous people claims about the land and its assets, while her housekeepers, of Mapuche descent, are divided between those who think fighting for their territory is fair and others who see it as an aimless battle against the rich. The inconspicuous way in which the film reveals the conflict at the center of the story might not be instantly appreciated, but the social commentary embedded into Said’s frames is direct and defines a firm position on the subject.
The flying fish the title refers to are those expelled from the nearby lake by Franciso via explosives. The man refers to these carps as a plague that must be eradicated as they interfere with the other farming activities on his land. Throughout the film the ejected fish can be seen being buried under the mud or grasping for air as the amused visiting children watch. Outstandingly, their existence works as a powerful metaphor for the endangered livelihood of the Mapuche community for whom modern Chile seems to have no place. Perhaps the director’s past experience in the non-fiction realm helped her infuse the film with a sense of lyrical realism, one that doesn’t need to be overly dramatic or explanatory. It plays more like a sequence of humanistic sensorial images, unconcerned with outlining every part of the message for easy consumption. It instead paints a picture of a society, which, like many, finds its past as an obstacle for modern expectations of wealth, and it does so delicately.
Like a fish out of water, Manena seems not to comprehend the adult ambitions that harshly shape her environment. On the contrary, she serves as hopeful diplomatic force between her country’s past and her own comfortable status. The Summer of Flying Fish resembles Carlos Reygadas’ Post Tenebras Lux in theme, and to a lesser degree in style. Both films are concerned with the discrepancies between the indigenous economically disadvantage majority and a small group of well-off Westernized state owners. In both cases, the structure is of minimal importance; the message is conveyed by making crucial connections between the tangible perception of the situation and a mystical one that plays into the subconscious.
Said has created an important film not only for her people, but for a world that appears increasingly in a rush to erase old lifestyles in order to give in to a global standardize measure of success. Clearly, the extreme subtly of Said’s film will cause many to deem it vague or disconnected, but in the obscurity of its narrative there are hints to the profoundly emotional implications of the circumstances. Her film is certainly poetic, not widely accessible, but with organic performances and an entrancing cinematography, it is a an experience that lures in the viewers mind long after the fog has dissipated and the fish have died.
Read Sydney's Interview with Director Marcela Said Here...
- 9/17/2013
- by Carlos Aguilar
- Sydney's Buzz
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