Saturday, October 29, 2011

Viva Van Story Halloween Shoot





My photos from Viva Van Story Photography are in! Just in time for Halloween! It was great fun to do and I hope you all enjoy them!!






Thank you all for your support! I would like to especially thank my husband who supports and cheers me on-you are the best hunny! I would also like to thank my sponsers; Rocio Vega, Nick Winser, and Jennifer Lynne Foxell. A special thanks to Lucy Anne and Lisa for joining me on this adventure and for giving me a ride-you girls are the sweetest!! And last but never least, I would like to thank ME for those long hours selling at the yard sales in order to make this photo shoot happen and for stepping out of my comfort zone and trying something new and scary. Thank you all for your continued support and friendship!!

xox

Friday, October 28, 2011

Weekend Cinema Spotlight: Night of the living dead


"Night of the living dead" (1968)


George A. Romero changed the face of horror films forever with his 1968 classic zombie flick, Night of the living dead. Made a super low budget in Pennsylvania with a main cast of seven people who are stuck in a rural farmhouse because the dead have come back to life and they came back hungry for human flesh! What a concept! Pure genius!

The film begins when Barbra played by Judith O'Dea goes to a cemetery with her brother Johnny played by Russell Streiner, to visit their father's grave. Johnny begins to tease Barbra who is uncomfortable being in a cemetery but uttering the now famous words, "They're coming to get you, Barbra!" Afterwards Johnny and Barbra are attacked by a zombie (known as the Flesh Eater) played by Bill Hinzman. Hinzman is the first EVER zombie to grace the silver screen-now how cool is that! Unfortunately, Johnny is killed by that Flesh Eater zombie and Barbra begins a journey of the unimaginable and unthinkable----having to fight off the living dead!

Trailer for "Night of the living dead"

One of the most magnificent aspects of this film was not just the concept and writing but also the casting of the first African-American male lead in a horror film. That honor and title goes to the late-Duane Jones, whose performance was breathtaking.

Duane Jones

The beauty of this film is that its not just about dead people eating human flesh but about the removable of labels and barriers. It's not about being a woman or man, straight or gay, black or white but about being a living human and an undead human. Romero brought it back to basics, making it about people being people.

Part One of "Night of the living dead" where you
get to see both Hinzman and Streiner's performance-Golden!

So much happens when Barbra receives refuge in that farmhouse. Ben (Duane Jones) becomes the leader of the group and tries his best not only to keep them safe but to find a way out of that mess. I saved this film for last for my Weekend Cinema Spotlight because when I thought long and hard of one of the best horror/thriller classic films I just kept thinking about this one. This film just came from left field and no one expected such ideas to leave a long lasting effect on the movie industry and beyond.

I had the pleasure of meeting both Hinzman (Flesh Eater) and Streiner (Johnny) at a Chiller Theatre Expo and a  Fangoria Convention, respectively. They were both sooooo super nice. I must say that people in the horror world are some of the nicest people you will EVER meet!
"Johnny" (Russell Streiner) and I at the Fango Convention in 2006.
He actually said to me, "They're coming to get you (my name)"
Omg he was so nice-so neat to meet him!!


"Flesh Eater" (Bill Hinzman) at the Chiller Theatre Expo
in 2006. I think he got me!! Ahhhhhhhhh!!!! LOL

So, before you watch any other zombie films which includes the t.v. show, The Walking Dead, watch the first ever zombie film and be prepared to be spellbinded! Remember without the success of this film there would be no zombie films, no "The Walking Dead" show, or "Day of the dead". Basically, we would have never even heard of the term zombie used in the fashion that Romero created on film. And there wold be no Zombie Apocalypse to be preparing for either. (Awww shucks!)

So, thank you Mr. Romero for introducing to humanity the mind bending concept of "the living dead".

Happy Halloween Everyone!

xox


Thursday, October 27, 2011

Pinup Girl of the Month: October: Yvonne De Carlo


The stunning, Yvonne De Carlo


Most of you may remember this beautiful woman as the matriarch of  The Munsters. There is no doubt she left her mark not only in classic cinema but also in television. Yvonne De Carlo was born Margaret Yvonne Middleton in 1922. Her most well-known roles were during the span of the 1940's and 1960's.

In 1956 she played Sephora in The Ten Commandments and in starred along side Clark Gable in the film, Band of Angels.



A little background information on Lily Munster


Her most infamous role and the one that is ingrained in all of our memories is the one of Lily Munster. Lily was an undead vampire whose father was Sam Dracula and whose mother was "Grandpa's 166th wife! She marries Herman Munster in 1865 and they adopt her niece Marilyn Munster in the 1940's. Sometime in the 1950's Lily and Herman have their only child, a son named Eddie Munster.

The Munster Family


Lily Munster can be a sexy pinup too!


De Carlo had a successful career as an actress and lived a full life. She married a stuntman named Robert Morgan with whom she had two sons, Bruce and Michael. She continued to act into the early 1990's and on January 7th, 2007 at the age of 84 she passed away due to natural causes.


A tribute to Yvonne De Carlo


De Carlo was not only an amazing actress but incredibly gorgeous. Looking through her photos I wanted to add all of them to this blog post. Even as she aged she seemed to do so gracefully and looked impeccable all the time--as so many men and women of that generation still often do. (A lesson that we can all learn and practice I think!).

To me Lily Munster will always be the ultimate ghoulish mother and De Carlo's performance as Lily will burn brightly in all of our hearts for many years to come!


xox


Wednesday, October 26, 2011

On the Mamafront!




It's been a long time since I have shared anything mama-related so I figure now is as good of a time as any. *smile* People often ask me, "how do you do it?", I assume they mean with three babies and a husband who works two full-time jobs. Honestly I look at some other mothers and I say the exact same thing....how do they do it?

I think each mama has her own story and her own way of sorting through the problems and the challenges of day-to-day living. Mamas who work outside of the home have different challenges than mamas who work inside the home. But in the end we are all mamas. And whether we have one baby or many, we are all tired, busy, and struggling to be a better mother tomorrow than we were today.

My mama world has been busy as always. My four year old is loving school but still finding it difficult to listen properly. Its something I know I will be working on with her for the rest of her life and mine as well. Its just who she is. My two year old takes off his clothes and diapers every chance he gets. His obession with mix matched socks is still alive and well. My almost one year old has four teeth coming in at the top and having difficulties with the "potty" ever since we switched him to milk. So needless to say I have been super busy.

Sometimes I wonder how am I going to get a blog done or work on the baby's birthday party or will I ever get back into scrapbooking, but you know what I do? Honestly its all one day at a time. Sometimes its one hour at a time. Yes, sometimes I feel like I am losing my mind but I tap into my inner dialouge with myself and I get myself through it most days.

And like most mamas I have my ever growing and always changing to-do lists. Writing down my lists actually helps me remember things. I think being a busy mama you have to not only have a routine with your children but also get things accomplished when you can the best you can. For example, I am making a few things for my papito's first birthday party. I have to be craftier and more creative than ever but I have almost no time. Sleep is precious to me and I know that if I don't tend to myself I cannot keep going and doing for them. His party is less than two weeks away but I know I will get it done. How do I know? Its simply because I say I am.

I think my lists, my focus, and my determination get me through the small and big challenges. Like right now I have a screaming and crying baby who refuses to sleep on his own. I hope it is the teething and growing pains but nevertheless, mama duty calls. And now I must end my blog post LOL Hope those of you who are mamas remember that to keep your sanity you really need to just take it one day at a time. The rest really does fall into place!

xox

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Find your niche!


Vintage Pinup doing Cheesecake Modeling


The Pin-up girl was first created in the late 1800's and still continues to this very day. The term was first used in the English language in 1941. It has a long and rich history and has never truly lost its popularity. Today, it is more popular than ever, for many reasons. Some people want to celebrate and emulate the early part of the 20th Century, while others simply love the hair and style of the decades past.

Whatever the reason is, pinup photography and modeling is very popular. Many styles of pinup modeling have emerged through the years from the standard Cheesecake and Hollywood  pinups to Modern, Alternative, Rockabilly, Rockachola, Chola, Tiki, Retro (which I assume means Vintage), and a few others I may have forgotten about. The point is that there are divisions within divisions and nowadays you have girls who are doing classic pinup poses with hot pink hair and piercings all over their face. Nothing wrong with that but just trying to create an image of your mind on how much it has evolved through the years.


Modern Pinup doing Cheesecake Modeling


What I admire about girls who do Modern Pinup modeling is that they embrace the past and with their tattoo's and piercings, while celebrating the joy and beauty of doing Vintage-inspired pin-up work. I think its fantastic!

The more I get into this industry the more I have realized just how many women/girls are out there doing pinup. With that being said I truly believe that if you really want to make your mark in the pinup world you should perfect and specialize in one form of pinup modeling. I do think it is both fun and important to try as many different forms of pinup as possible to not only learn but also to try new things. But if you want to STAND OUT from the rest, perfect one style and make it your own.

I have heard some people make comments about not wanting to be confined to one form of modeling over another. I have to disagree. I think its vital to learning to try out and experiment with different styles of pinup modeling  but if you want to be seen and known it would be wise to immerse yourself into Cheesecake or Alternative or Vintage modeling--whichever one you love the most and suits you the best.

The models that are well-known in the industry are known for one specific style-whether its 1950's Rockabilly, early 1960's Jayne Mansfield inspired, or latex fetish; they are all known specifically for a certain type of genre of pinup/modeling. I won't name names because this post isn't about promoting those models but if you are in the industry I am sure you know who I am talking about.

Basically, what I have learned and it can be applied to anything you are aspiring to be----if you want to be known, to be the best, or to leave your mark somewhere----be the BEST that you can be in what you are doing. You don't have to show the world your goodies to do so either, you can do it without compromising your values or beliefs.

So go out there---if you want to be a pinup model then do it and when you find your niche celebrate it and make it your own!

xox

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