The TV Intro...

One of the most overlooked parts of a television show but happens to be one of the most important pieces of the entire show's puzzle...the forgotten opening credits. When we sit down to wach television we are trying to vacate our terribly long work days and unwind so it is easy to understand why the intro to our favorite tv show is often not payed attention to. We are in anticipation for our show, the characters we've grown to the love, the drama or the funny lines that are about to be delivered; We are not focused on what is happening before that, an eyelash not batted at it. However, at a closer look I've realized that the intro is so pivotal and one of the main reasons that I like a lot of the tv shows that I do. It pulls us in, and makes us want to see what is going to follow it. The images and music used for a television series often defines it and makes it what it is. So people, let's stop overlooking the intro and pay it some much needed respect!

Here a few openings that I absolutely LOVE and think that you will too!

Veronica Mars Season 3


True Blood



How to make it in America

Ellen continues to be Generous

Ellen is not only known for being a famous talk show host, she is also known for her kindness. She continues this on a daily basis. Most recently, she decided to contribute $30,000 in scholarship money to a gay teen who is in a battle with her school over canceling prom due to the fact that she wanted to bring her girlfriend. Hopefully, now that people with such large voices like ellen and the ACLU have gotten involved this young woman's voice will be heard and the school down south will change it's mind.
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E-ONLINE:

It's Miller Time

Mac Miller thats is. This local talent certainly reps the 412 on a whole other level. What I like about Miller is that he's not just rapping about anything. He seems to rap with a purpose and a message. Miller has a clear vision of his life and where he wants to take his career, which is pretty impressive for being so young. I saw the video for "Live Free" the other day and was blown away! The video is beautifully done with breath-taking scenes of New York, but there is also something wonderful about the simplicity of the video's concept as well. Check it out:

Can Rob Pattinson really act??

So the star of the Twilight saga Robert Pattinson has a new movie coming out, Remember Me. Although the trailer is not a one hundred percent indication if this strapping young lad who makes all the ladies swoon and causing to form huge public mobs circa 1990 Backstreet Boys era can really act; It certainly shows that he has potential.

The return of the music video with a concept

With video's lacking cool concepts and a specific artistic vision I thought the music video should be redeemed. Here are some recent videos that have caught my eye as well as some blast from the past which show that music videos can have a lot beneath the surface, be fun to watch and serve as a mini movie.

Drugs destroying Hollywood

So I log onto my twitter account just like any other day and as my eyes scroll down the updates they don't get too far before coming across "R.I.P. Corey Haim". After seeing this, I googled Corey to see what could have caused this tragic event to happen. To my dismay although there is no evidence of illegal substances there is speculation of an accidental drug overdose. At the young age of 38, Corey Haim the star of one of my favorite 80's movies Lucas had passed away. I absolutely loved Corey in his role as a geeky wannabe cool guy, battling for the affection of the new girl in school. His smile really lit up the screen. Sadly, Haim is one in a string of recent celebrity deaths due to drug overdose.; Heath Ledger, Dj AM and Brittany Murphy. Now, I love the entertainment industry as much as the next person but not when it is taking the lives of its young talent. The lesson needs to be learned here that drugs and actors should not have a direct correlation! The only point that such terrible events can serve is to hopefully educate the new, young, members of Hollywood to steer clear of harmful substances.

2010 Oscars:The Academy Finally Gets it Right

As someone with a deep appreciation and passion for film, there is nothing that I anticipate more each year than the Oscars; This year more so than ever. Having viewed only a handful of the films nominated such as The Hurt Locker, Up in the Air, Inglourious Basterds, Avatar and District 9, I still felt as though this was the best batch of films nominated in a long time! But what really had me excited about this year was the idea that for the first time EVER a woman could win the award for Best Director! Toward the end of the night this was realized and so deserved. Kathryn Bigelow, director of The Hurt Locker made the perfect film in my opinion; Every shot counted and the end result was the textbook definition of what a great film should be. The crowd that I watched the 2010 Oscars with at the annual party called "Lights, Glamour, Action!", held by the Pittsburgh Film Office certainly seemed to share the same sentiments that the 2010 Oscars were the best in a while, with Hosts Steve Martin And Alec Baldwin making a great comedic duo and deserving films and actors receiving their accolades, such as Jeff Bridges and Sandra Bullock. Needless to say the with the great stars, great people and the amazing August Wilson Center venue in downtown Pittsburgh that this years Oscars were a complete success!

Pictures from the 2010 Oscars:









































Pics from "Lights, Glamour, Action!" at the August Wilson Center:











In case you missed it, a complete list from e-online of Winners from the 2010 Oscars:

Best Picture: The Hurt Locker

Director: Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker

Actor in a Leading Role: Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart

Actress in a Leading Role: Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side

Actor in a Supporting Role: Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds

Actress in a Supporting Role: Mo'Nique, Precious

Original Screenplay: The Hurt Locker, Mark Boal

Adapted Screenplay: Precious, Geoffrey Fletcher

Animated Film: Up

Foreign Language Film: The Secret in Their Eyes (El Secreto de Sus Ojos, Argentina)

Original Score: Michael Giacchino, Up

Original Song: "The Weary Kind," Music and Lyrics by Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett (Crazy Heart)

Art Direction: Avatar

Cinematography: Avatar, Mauro Fiore

Costume Design: The Young Victoria, Sandy Powell

Makeup: Star Trek

Film Editing: The Hurt Locker, Bob Murawski and Chris Innis

Documentary Feature: The Cove

Documentary Short Subject: Music by Prudence

Animated Short Film: Logorama

Live Action Short Film: The New Tenants

Sound Editing: The Hurt Locker

Sound Mixing: The Hurt Locker

Visual Effects: Avatar

Governors Award: Lauren Bacall, Roger Corman and Gordon Willis

Veronica Mars: Out of this World good

Just another simple and stupid teen show that the CW has mass produced and spit out right? Nope. Not even close. Veronica Mars which debut in the fall of 2004 on the UPN network which later became the CW is a stroke of genius. The show was originally intended to be a novel collection by writer Rob Thomas but opted it to be a tv series instead. Also, the protagonist was meant to be a male but Thomas later decided that the teen PI would be more interesting from a female point of view and I couldn't agree more; In my mind is no other choice. And there is also no other person who could play such a mix of sassy and sweet other than Kristen Bell. Who I believe along with the writing carry this show. Bell may have given her best performance ever with this series. Veronica Mars takes place in the fictional town of Neptune California where as Veronica says "Your parents are millionaires or your parents work for millionaires. Neptune California, where there is no middle class." A year and a half after the murder of her best friend Lilly, Veronica and her family become outcast due to the fact that her Dad, who is the Sheriff, blames Lilly's family for the murder. However, both Veronica and her father have not given up on finding Lilly's real murderer even though someone else has already confessed. Finding Lilly's killer catapults you through the first highly acclaimed season and you will not be able to take your eyes away.



And if the trailer isn't enough to convince you; You can watch the first season of Veronica Mars online.