In the last few months, I've really started getting into touch with my hobbies and passions. Filmmaking is among the top of my list. While I haven't worked on any official projects (other than freelance editing for institutions) of my own for years, I still haven't lost that desire for filmmaking

I plan to begin brainstorming again because  I definitely need to brush up and improve upon my skills.

But for now, I leave you with my first ever "professional" project that I made during my high school junior summer at NYU TischSOA film program. It has a lot of shortcomings, but it has managed to encourage me to get back to the storyboard and begin another film.

It's titled Pour Danser and was filmed in various places in New York. While the bare bones (anorexia in a teen) of the story has been done many times before, the various elements incorporated are taken from various influences in my life. For one, both my mother and sister suffered from anorexia nervosa and both were dancers (my mother did ballet while my sister did hip-hop). The french dialogue was chosen because my roommate (and main actress) Bethsabee felt it would be easier to deliver her lines. While there are so many more little tid bits I could share, I don't want to bore you.

So on with the movie!

I am an avid fan of classic cinema, and since it's Academy Awards season, I will be posting films and related videos in honor of the past winners and current nominees.

One of my favorite actresses from the classic cinema period is Sophia Loren. Her striking features and strong performances always struck me when I was a kid. I looked up to her (and still do), as a role model for how a strong woman should behave and look like.

Of her many film roles, my favorite is her work in La Ciocara (two women). Thankfully the film is available for download at http://www.archive.org/details/LaCiociaraTwoWomen1.

However, if you are just in the mood to watch it rather than download it, you can see it here:



Sophia Loren gave the performance of her lifetime in this role and as a result she became the first Italian woman to ever win the best actress award.

You can see the subsequent parts by clicking on available links after part 1 is done.

I live in what is considered to be one of the San Fernando Valley's/LA County's "worst" areas. Yes, the train tracks next to my house, which act as a thin barrier between us and the projects, look like they came out of your quintessential "hood" film.

However, after I graduated high school, I realized that those same train tracks and urban decay that I once thought of as a plague I had to escape from, are really just embellishments to a different type of beauty rarely seen.

I decided to wake up this morning and get some shots of said train tracks in hopes that I could show you some of the beauty that is sometimes hidden beneath a curtain of urban demographics.

  

  

all photos © michelle aguila 2010

I am Mexican-American. Born and bred. However, I think it's the most beautiful thing in the world to be exposed to different cultures and attitudes and view points. While I will still be "me" afterwards, I will have had the ability to have diverse experiences. Much like this past Sunday. I had the pleasure of witnessing two of my Sikh friends practicing their Kirtan.

Kirtan is a Sikh sacred hymn. Sikhism is a northern Indian religion that was founded in the 16th century by Guru Nanak.* Sikhism was light-years ahead of the later equal rights movements of the 20th century, as the religion rejected the caste system of India and believed in equality among males and females.

My friend Rimmy (she plays the harmonium and sings) is perhaps one of the most passionate people I know. Her devotion to Sikhism and to her culture is something I can only stare in awe at. Thankfully, I was not only able to stare in awe, but I was also able to take some pictures as well.

I've posted some of the photos below. I plan to write more about my experience hearing them play later (I'm still a bit busy, but I wanted to post something), but I'm hoping that through these pictures, you're able to get a glimpse of the beauty of these hymns much like I did.

 

  

  

 

 



*http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Sikhism


all photos © michelle aguila 2010

So, I am currently in the process of getting my schooling in order. It's a pain, but I'm hoping it's all worth it the moment I am back on some college campus. School has a way of charming you,  regardless of the hours of work you're forced to put in.

Anywho, here is a video of the last couple of photo trips I had the pleasure of going on (the video fits on the screen when you play it).

Cheers.

video  © michelle aguila 2010