Author: R. Petty

Blast from the Past: Actors Make Movie

On By R. PettyIn MoviesLeave a comment

We movie buffs talk a lot about casting. Was the movie cast well? Do the actors portray the characters well? And so on…

In Blast from the Past, the cast MADE the movie. Sure, it’s silly, funny, cute, and entertaining, but the actors made this movie much more than a story. Had other actors been in these roles, the movie would have flopped as so many have. The premise is a little out there, and if I had read the script, I don’t know if I would have thought it was a good idea, but these four characters made it work:

Christopher Walken – Is there anything more needed? It’s Christopher Walker. He plays a quirky, genius dad whose purpose is to protect his family. Walken plays a concerned dad who loves and trusts his family unconditionally. His character is just weird enough to not alarm audiences, and people can relate to his political views and paranoia. In fact, I’m sure many people in the 60s worried about the Cold War and bomb threats, and I know because I’ve talked with people from this era, and the threats were a real, terrifying thing. He’s a stereotypical “dominate” alpha male from the 60s, yet he has a soft spot for his family.

blast from the past parents
Photo: letherebemovies.com

Sissy Spacek – Even though she’s a minor character in some ways, she symbolizes a lot. Spacek is one of my favorite characters because she represents the strong female. She becomes depressed and discontent after being locked away but still supports her family. She pushed Fraiser to go up to the surface to gather supplies and gauge how bad life really was (her husband had been up once already). She believes in fresh air, nature, and beauty. My favorite personality traits include questioning others’ decisions and providing for her family. She shows that a mom can cook, clean, teach her son to dance, and challenge authority and norms when needed – a much needed role model is today’s time.

Brenden Fraser – I believe Fraser has to play specific roles in order to be good. I’ve seen several of his movies, but he performs best when he’s portraying a dork. Blast from the Past and Bedazzled are two of my favorite Fraser movies, and in both he played very similar roles: oblivious, dorky, innocent, and complacent. In this movie, he enjoys the things we take for granted (the sky, ocean, rain, everyday miracles) and helps us remember that life is more than money and possessions – it’s about the little things. Not may actors can portray that genuine sense of innocence and traditionalism. He helps take the audience back to a different time when things were simple and meaningful.

blast from the past
Photo: movies.about.com

Alicia Silverstone – Shallow, squealy, and gorgeous are my best words to describe her. Silverstone does an amazing job portraying a jaded, cynical woman who just wants to find “the one”. She’s a little crazy and doesn’t have her life together, but like so many, she’s not lost. She’s comfortable with who she is and uses it to her advantage. Her character complements Frasier’s well in that she’s the polar opposite, but they mesh well together. She teaches him about modern-day life, and he makes her appreciate the little things. Sometimes we need the person who makes us see things a different way.

I love this romcom for many reasons, but sometimes you have to give all the credit to the cast. I’m an individual fan of all of the above, so having them in one movie is a real treat. If you haven’t seen it or haven’t seen it in awhile, definitely check it out and pay attention to the little things we may overlook!

If You Want to Write: Novel Organization

On By R. PettyIn Writing for Web and TipsLeave a comment

“Consistency is the horror of the world.”

– Brenda Ueland

This chapter ranks as one of my favorites in this book. It’s all about how to write a novel, which as many know is one of the hardest things you’ll ever attempt.

Ueland encourages writers to “write the novel first, and plan it afterward.” When I read this, I immediately thought that she was crazy. How would you keep up with the story, characters, conflict, etc. if you don’t plan it?

Then I thought about my own book and how I work on it. I write chapters at a time and plan to put it all together once it’s done. As I write, I don’t think about where it will fit or the chapter sequence; I just write. Ueland recommends this technique because it allows the writer to write freely without bogging down on the details. She says you must tell the story first.

outline exampleHowever, novel organization depends on the writer and the story. Some writers need everything laid out so they stay focused, while others can just write. My book lends itself to writing freely because there’s no story arch or developing characters, instead it’s mini stories. If your novel has these things, you may want to consider organizing as little or much as you want.

Here are some ways to organize your thoughts:

1. Outline. Do you remember the Roman numerals? Here, you may actually use all those outlining lessons! Start with your topic and work your way down the page. Events you want to include, new characters and conflicts. You can even write an outline for each chapter or major event, and piece them together in the order you want. You do not have to finish all the outlines either. It may feel less overwhelming to start with one or two and write off those at first.

2. Index cards. You can buy a stack of lined index cards and plan anything you want. Group the index cards with paperclips, or you can buy different colors to represent different things. I like to use legal pads or spiral notebooks too because I can’t always work on a computer and may want to jot down the basics.

3. The snowflake method. Until this post, I was unaware of this method, but it seems interesting. You start with a one-sentence main idea, then turn that into a paragraph summary. Then you flesh out characters and start writing the narrative. Check out Randy Ingermanson’s site for the full process.

Of course, Ueland would advise against any of these methods, but some people need guidance and organization in order to produce. I could not sit down with an idea and say, go! I wouldn’t get very far. Also, what works for one may not work for another, so I encourage you to find a method that appeals to you and get to work – even if it’s only 30 minutes a week.

Additional links I found during my research:

http://writersrelief.com/blog/category/organization-techniques-for-writers/

Planning, Outlining, and Organizing Your Novel – Or Not!

And feel free to share your organization tips and processes below. Happy writing!

Special Topic: Bystander CPR

On By R. PettyIn OpinionsLeave a comment

Life is funny sometimes. You think you have everything figured out, and then something happens to throw everything off balance.
CPRI experienced one of those moments last year on vacation. We boarded a full plane in Charlotte, and all was well until a man a few rows up went into cardiac arrest. People began panicking, jumping seats, and yelling for help. Thankfully, there was an Army medic on the flight who laid the man on the plane’s floor and administered CPR. The medic and one other person performed chest compressions (bystander CPR) for nearly 15 minutes until EMTs arrived with a defibrillator to revive the man. The man was breathing when they carried him off the plane, but we don’t know if he recovered.

This experience was one of the most terrifying things I’ve ever witnessed. Most passengers couldn’t help, so we just stayed out of the way. We were helpless and worthless. However, it’s often situations like these that change us and make us take action.

This week, I participated in a hands-only CPR class to avoid that from happening again. And I learned that chest compressions are extremely labor intensive, so the more people who know how to do them, the better off we are in an emergency. Once I learned how physically challenging CPR is, I had even more respect for the medic who performed them for nearly 10 minutes without a break. In our class, we only performed chest compressions for 30 seconds, but it felt like much longer. I also realized I need to work out more and practice on a pillow because I’m not sure I’d last two minutes, much less 10!

As much as I hate to think of my life in someone else’s hands, we need to know what to do in this situation. This class was less than an hour and well worth the time. Now, if I’m in an emergency situation, I can help instead of sitting there doing nothing.

I won’t preach often, but this week reminded me that life is short, and we could go at any minute. Things change, we try to control everything, but there’s no controlling nature. I urge our RevPub readers to take a quick class and watch the video below. There’s no germ swapping. If you break a bone, it will heal. The important thing to remember is you may save their life – and one day you may need the same.

Feel free to share your experiences in the comments below!

Artist Spotlight: Meghann Shike (Part 2)

On By R. PettyIn ArtLeave a comment

Thanks to everyone who checked out Part 1 of our Artist Spotlight on Meghann Shike! We love to spotlight individuals who live their passions – whether it’s art, architecture, film or whatever else inspires them.

Here’s the second part of the interview, and if you’d like more info, feel free to contact Meg at megshike@kw.com!

Meg ShikeRev Pub: When did you decide to be a realtor and why?

I decided two years ago when I bought my first house with my husband to get into real estate because our home selling and home buying process was a nightmare. It was also the first year of our marriage and the first year running my previous business. We were so stressed out, and it lasted for almost a year!

Everyone in our process made a mistake. The problems started four days prior to us closing on our new “dream” home that the IRS did not have our taxes. What does this mean? My husband and I are both self employed. If the IRS doesn’t have our taxes, our lender can’t verify our income, which means we cannot buy a house. The house we were currently living in had already sold. It sold in four days!

So, my husband and I who both work at home (he works in the music business and makes a lot of noise every day), and we live with our five pets and had no place to live in four days. To make a very long story short, we eventually ended up in the house we were trying to buy. However, we do not feel like our realtor had our best interest at heart. Two years later, the home inspector appeared to have missed some things, and the contractors we hired to fix the roof, foundation, and completely gut and renovate two bathrooms was off by 40 percent on his estimate. Needless to say, two years later, some things haven’t been fixed, and we’re living in a house we wouldn’t necessarily have bought had we know it was all going to go down like this.

Rev Pub: What motivates you to help people buy and sell homes?

Today, I am on a mission to make sure your experience is the opposite of mine. When you buy or sell a home with me, your experience will be like riding in a limousine. I will plan and help you execute every detail of your loan, home sale, home buy, inspection, appraisal and closing. My job is to make sure everything goes smoothly, so you can ride along in your limousine enjoying your champagne and strawberries until we arrive at your dream home where you will walk inside, take a deep breath, and smile really big because you’re here, and it was so easy!

What motivates me to help people sell their home and buy their dream home is the stress I felt while selling our previous home and buying this house. Buying a home can be stressful, and it is always emotional. My job is to take good care of you. That means, I will manage all of the details while you dream about how you’re going to decorate your new home when you move in. I want you to leave your current house very happy with the price you received for it, and walk into your new house feeling relaxed and excited about the memories you are going to make in your dream home!

We send a big thanks to Meg for her time and look forward to spotlighting more passionate people!

Artist Spotlight: Meghann Shike (Part 1)

On By R. PettyIn ArtLeave a comment

This month, we’re featuring an artist who has two passions: writing and real estate. In order to do anything well, you must believe in what you do, and Meg is a great example of that. The first post will discuss her writing and the next real estate. Feel free to contact her at megshike@kw.com!

Meg ShikeRev Pub: When did you start writing and why?

I have been writing as long as I can remember. I grew up reading Stephen King and Michael Gruber’s, The Good Son, and watching all of the Nightmare on Elm Street movies well before I should have been allowed to be reading or watching any of these. These did two things for me. First, they scared me in the best possible way. Second, they allowed me to disappear into this world that someone else’s imagination created. That’s when I became addicted to writing. I have always wanted to be able to use my imagination to create a world so believable you can slip into it just by turning the pages of my book. Before you know it, hours have gone by and you didn’t even notice because you were so entranced by my writing. While I have been writing all my life, I really got serious about writing in grad school because I learned how to write a novel. I spent the next year after graduation writing my first novel, which is far more writing for my own pursuits than I have ever done in that short a time period.

Rev Pub: Who are your favorite authors and why?

Stephen King: His imagination is astounding and never ending. IT was a pivotal, formative moment in my childhood. IT helped me fall even more in love with Stephen King than I already was. Rose Madder is another one of his books that I really enjoy and feel is a complete world in and of itself.

James Patterson: At this point in time, James Patterson produces, on average, seven books a year. His books aren’t crap either. Believe me. I’ve read a lot of crap. These days, he’s writing all of them with a co-writer. They’re still fun novels and characters to jump in bed with for an afternoon, and when you finish, you only have to wait a month or so for another one. I appreciate that he’s got the creative and business sides of his business rockin! Not all creatives are capable of this.

J.K. Rowling: The detail she creates in her world is incredible. It’s so easy to slip into her imaginary world and live there until I run out of pages. Not to mention the fact that her books are just fun. They got adults reading more and got kids reading for the first time. Both of those deserve major respect.

Rev Pub: What motivates you to write?

What motivates me to write is a need and desire stronger than any other I have felt. Writing is what I have felt called to do since I started reading. I want to give people a world to slip into for an afternoon. As adults, we forget to use our imagination. Sometimes great authors remind us to stop and live a little. I want to be one of those authors. I want you to be able to pick up one of my books and disappear for in a world that is so real it makes you forget about everything on your to-do list.

Rev Pub: Do you have any advice to others on how to work in time to write?

My advice to others if you want to write or whatever your true passion is you just have to do it. If it’s that important to you, just do it. Everything in life that’s worth anything takes work. Writing is the same for me. When I wrote my first novel, it took a year and was my primary focus for that year. I got up every morning, worked out, and then sat at my dining room table/office and wrote for hours.

I will also say, if you want writing to be more than a hobby, then you need to consider it as important as your job. Good writing habits require discipline like getting good at your primary profession does. Also, you have to practice jumping into the writing mindset quicker and quicker. It used to take me hours to get into the mindset and get into the groove cranking out chapters. Today, it takes less and less time. You also have to welcome the moments of inspiration when they come. For me, this means when I see something on the news that’s particular grotesque or ‘effed up that might be inspiration for a future book, I stop and make a note to put with all my other notes. It doesn’t matter if I’m in the mood or if I’m at a party. If you want to write or do something creative, you’ve got to be ready to receive these creative inspirations whenever they come.

Top 6 Cellphone User Pet Peeves

On By R. PettyIn OpinionsLeave a comment

RavenRantPeople undervalue the importance of cellphone etiquette. Yes, there is such a thing. Because we are attached at the palm, we forget our manners when we are with other people, and many don’t think twice about it. Using a cellphone in these circumstances has become common practice, and I hope you will share this, so we can work together to stop the madness.

Here are my biggest pet peeves about people and their cellphones:

1. In social settings. If I go out to lunch, dinner, or whatever with someone, and they constantly use their phone, we won’t go again. I find it incredibly rude. If it’s a one-on-one situation, and you text someone else the whole time, you should go hang out with the other person. Plus, it’s boring to watch someone text or play on their phone. I will not bring myself down to their level and do the same. If you’re out with someone, you should respect them and try for an interesting, engaging conversation. If you can’t have one, then suffer through it and don’t go out again.

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Photo from txgrim.com

2. In a semi/public bathroom. Are you serious?! You can’t pee without talking on the phone? I overheard a woman have an entire conversation in a bathroom stall last week, and my initial reaction was to call her out. I considered flushing repeatedly too, so the other person would hear it and maybe say something. No one wants to hear your conversation, and there is no text that can’t wait. AND it’s unsanitary. Do your business, wash your hands, and leave. It’s simple.

3. While driving. It’s cool if you don’t care about your safety, but at least consider others’. People who talk and text while driving place everyone else on the road at risk. If it’s urgent, then pull over or wait a couple of minutes. Unless you work for an emergency responder, you should not be on the phone in the car. Ever. I told someone after being behind them on the interstate while they served and texted, that if they ever hit me, I would beat the #$%^ out of them. And if I survived a 70+mph wreck, I would.

4. At the movies/theater. Thankfully, I’ve seen improvement with this one the last couple of years. I’ve witnessed several people confronting offenders, and one guy kicked out for it. You’re in a movie – turn it off or leave it alone. If you don’t like the movie, leave. No one will care.

Photo by xoxorebecca.com
Photo by xoxorebecca.com

5. While hosting. If your family or friends come ever, stay off your phone. At that point, your primary purpose is to make them comfortable and entertain them. Find things to do and talk about. I will not text someone when they have company, and even though they may try to argue about it, I won’t respond. I don’t care if the company is texting – they shouldn’t either – but I can’t control that. I can control whether I contribute to the rudeness and disregard of social etiquette. If you don’t care for them (ie: holiday functions), either remove yourself from the gathering or deal with it. You’ll survive.

6. In the elevator. I enjoy this pet peeve because I like to make people feel awkward or hear their call drop. It’s a metal box, you probably won’t have reception. I love to hear people ramble on about something and then say, “Hello? Hello?” I smile every time. My favorite people are the ones who cannot ride four floors without checking their phone. People will check their phone to avoid speaking to someone else, even though there is no obligation to. I love to stand there stone still and stare at the mirrored doors. It makes the other person very uncomfortable.

 

Feel free to share your stories and pet peeves in the comments below!