PEN Festival Reading List

The 9th Annual PEN World Voices Festival wrapped last week and left me longing to learn more about many of its featured writers. The festival's focus was on works that possessed bravery--either in form or content. Some of the writers in attendance displayed a valiant political spirit while others showed boldness in their writing style. All the writers I was lucky enough to see proved to be courageous in their ability to openly share their thoughts and communicate their creativity to an audience.

There were so many wonderful speakers at this year's PEN festival and I'm excited to learn more about them and their literary works. Here's a short but punchy list of recommended readings from writers who attended the festival:

-Adania Shibli's Touch

-Joy Harjo's Crazy Brave

-Shahrnush Parsipur's Kissing the Sword

-Shane Bauer's Mother Jones article "Solitary in Iran Nearly Broke Me. Then I Went Inside America's Prisons."

-Earl Lovelace's Is Just a Movie

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Non Habebis Meum Sanguinem

Roger Ma, author of The Zombie Combat Manual, is out with a new book to help you fight another undead deadly foe. Like Ma's previous manual, The Vampire Combat Manual: A Guide to Fighting the Bloodthirsty Undead is another helpful survival guide that's especially essential for every Buffy-loving, Edward Cullen-wary fangirl.

The Vampire Combat Manual offers pictured combat tutorials and individual testimonials, while also addressing common myths and misconceptions about vampires and classifying the different types of vampires.

Ma's new manual is a great reference book to keep all year round but makes for a particularly great read around Halloween. The Vampire Combat Manual may prove to be your best weapon against those bloodsuckers during this spooky season (after a stake of course).

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PEN World Voices Festival 2012: New Technology & Conventional Literature Strike a Balance

I had the total lit-nerdy thrill to attend some exciting events during the 8th annual PEN World Voices Festival of International Literature. PEN American Center is the American chapter of International PEN, which is a literary and human rights organization that fights for the freedom of expression of writers all over the world. This year, PEN American Center's festival celebrated the ways in which literary expression expands across multiple artistic and technological mediums. The festival took place in various New York venues, from April 30th through May 6th, and included such authors as Martin Amis, Margaret Atwood, Jennifer Egan, Tony Kushner, Marjane Satrapi, Brian Selznick, and Salman Rushdie (who served as the Festival Chair).

From Margaret Atwood arguing for the internet as a useful literary tool, to Jennifer Egan discussing how Power Point worked conceptually and structurally in her novel, the festival events I attended proved that literature is evolving with (and not being destroyed by) new technology. The festival also showcased writers like Marjane Satrapi and Brian Selznick who are breaking literary conventions with their genre-challenging and medium-crossing narratives.

Highlights from my experience at the festival, after the jump.

Margaret Atwood © George Whiteside

Thursday night, I kicked off the festival by attending a discussion with author Margaret Atwood and editor Amy Grace Loyd, at the New School, about how the internet is changing literature. While Atwood discussed her concern over how limited privacy and security are online, she also championed the web as a place for artistic and political communication and assembly. Furthermore, she argued that technological advancements in communication—like the internet—can coexist with conventional storytelling and even influence literature in plot and style. Proving Atwood’s point, Jennifer Egan discussed her use of Power Point in A Visit from the Goon Squad, also at the New School, on Friday. Egan initially found Power Point formally appealing but was able to make it function within her novel contextually. Using the “cold” aspect of Power Point in a section of her book where she felt the narrative to be sentimental, allowed her to strike a tonal balance. Both Egan and Atwood were as engaging and entertaining in person as their printed words. Atwood especially entertained with her playful dry, frank humor and her witty dynamic with Loyd. I was proud to raise my hand when Atwood asked her twitter followers to put up their hands!

Jennifer Egan © Pieter M. van Hattem

Another (but totally different) sense of pride came over me during the Marjane Satrapi event at the MoMA, also on Thursday night. As an Iranian-American, I love how Satrapi expresses her own cultural hybridity and embeds Iranian history in her art. I was ecstatic to see her speak before screening her new film Chicken with Plums (which I will review in full, in a near future post). Satrapi, in discussion with graphic artist and editor Francois Mouly, talked about her visual and literary work. She argued that the graphic novel was not a genre but its own unique medium where images can both replace and work with words to create “a really specific language.”

© Sony Pictures Classics

Brian Selznick is also an artist creating stylistically unique narratives with books like The Invention of Hugo Cabret. Martin Scorsese’s Hugo was my favorite film last year and listening to Selznick on Saturday at the New School, in discussion with fellow writer David Levithan, was a beautiful way to wrap up my first PEN festival. Although he had been writing children’s literature up until it, he stated that he didn’t set out to create a children’s book with The Invention of Hugo Cabret. What began as a novella and a fascination with George Melies grew into a novel where illustrations work as “purely visually narrative work.” Influenced by both silent films and the late Maurice Sendak‘s wild rumpus pages in Where the Wild Things Are, Selznick wanted visuals (illustrated pages) to guide the plot forward, without having text constantly move the story along for readers. Although Selznick was weary of a film adaptation, he was pleased that John Logan’s script retained the importance of books. Selznick believes the film adaptation “inverted” his novel, which “celebrates movies but is about the importance of books” by “making a movie that celebrates books…but ultimately…(is) a movie about the importance of movies.” This thematic inversion was logical to him since it reflects the medium shift from book to film.

© Scholastic Inc.

Overall, the festival presented a hopeful stance about the future of literature, in the face of new technology. The discussions and events proved that literature was evolving with, and transitioning into, new mediums while still being able to retain the attention of readers with extended narratives within the more conventional medium of books.

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PEN: A Festival of International Literature in New York City

Literary geeks of New York! The PEN Festival, which promotes international literature, will be held in our great city from April 30th through May 6th. Commemorating the 90th anniversary of the PEN American Center, the festival will have tons of excellent events featuring a diverse group of artists. The events include discussions, performances, and screenings, all celebrating contemporary works and topics in literature. Two events that stand out to me are: Opening Night—The Kronos Quartet: Exit Strategies, a collaborative performance exploring the relationship between music and literature; and a film screening and discussion with the multi-talented Marjane Satrapi, Marjane Satrapi: Persepolis and Poulet aux Prunes (Chicken with Plums).

You can find out more about the festival's events, ticketing information, and the PEN America Center here.

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The World of Downton Abbey: A Companion Book Done Right

As any fan of the British sensation Downton Abbey will tell you, the idea of waiting a whole year for new episodes (or 6 months if you're okay with that whole illegal downloading thing) is unbearable. So what to do while we wait? HOW TO FILL THE GAP?! Sure, similarly themed shows can help, but that's not the kind of filler I'm talking about. When I finished Season 2, I just wanted MORE, more of the world, more of the characters, more of the costumes, more of the Dowager Countess saying badass things, and the list goes on. Even the DVD of season two only has a half hour of extras! So what is the answer?! HOW DO WE GET OUR FIX?!

Fear not! Solution! Though it was released at the end of last year, no American dared to lay their eyes on companion book, The World of Downton Abbey until this past week, when the second series, spoiled even on the cover, had come to an end. But now that we're all of us on the same page (at least until September, when suddenly places like tumblr and twitter become a hotbed for major spoilage) I highly recommend picking up this book to make the time between now and then easier and in the process, make yourself appreciate what Downton Abbey has accomplished even more.

This companion book, by writer, editor and niece of Julian Fellowes, Jessica Fellowes, is the real deal. This history textbook meets coffee table photo book meet meets art book meets featurette meets interview meets quote book clocks in at almost 300 delectable pages. Unlike some other books for review that have landed on my desk recently, The World of Downton Abbey finds the perfect balance between being chock full of information, yet a breeze to read. It is divided into nine chapters - Family Life, Society, Change, Life in Service, Style, House & Estate, Romance, War and Behind The Scenes, plus at the very end there is a complete cast list and recommended further reading. The pages are colorful, filled with sidebars, photos, quotes and more to keep the eye engaged as well as the mind. This also allows for the option to read every word of the entire book, or if you're a guest in someone's home, or showing it to a friend, the ability to flip through, reading just side bars, excerpts from the teleplays, and quotes, and still get a sense of what the book is trying to teach.

Details after the jump!



The World of Downton Abbey has all of the regular trappings of a companion book in that respect. There is a whole section about the behind the scenes experience, accounts of a day on the set, quotes on what it's like for the actors to play these characters and play off of each other, costume sketches - the usual. But where this book really makes itself stand apart is how in depth it goes into the historical context of the show. Sure, watching it, you get a sense of, okay, clearly the Dowager Countess doesn't like how things are changing, clearly everyone has important reasons for not wanting Sybil to get involved in the suffragette movement, clearly it's absurd that Cora wouldn't get to pass her money onto her women, but it's also clear that it simply isn't an option, clearly some of these servants have aspirations beyond washing clothes, and so on. The show definitely let's us know where the conflict in class and change is, but as someone who isn't particularly educated in the massive changes Britain sustained from the turn of the century to World War II, I never had any real context for what was going on. But this book takes everything you might need to know, from the extremely relevant, like what the exact jobs of each person in the house might be, a full explanation as to why the Earl of Grantham would have an American wife, and the prominent danger of certain militant suffragette groups, to the less exactly topical but still completely important in world building, like how the cinema had evolved and when the first non stop transatlantic flight was completed. The book is littered with numerous one lines from the Dowager Countess, always relating to what is being discussed on that page, and after learning all about David Lloyd George,who would soon become PM, I suddenly understood the exchange,

Grantham: And Mr Lloyd George's new insurance measures will help"

Violet: "Please don't speak that man's name, we are about to eat."

What was a superficial understanding before became a complete one.

The book ends up useful as a manual of sorts as well, for Halloween costumes, a Downton Themed party, or if the SCA has an early 20th Century Britain division. Not only does the book go into incredible detail on the inspiration for the costumes, and how they were made or acquired, but there are sample menus for dinner or garden parties, receipies for food, shoe polish and shampoo, a guide to properly washing silver, helpful household suggestions, a breakdown of how every day would work, for both the calm upstairs and the bustling downstairs, details on the decor of the house, and what exactly each room would be used for, particulars on hair and makeup, and tips on word pronunciation.

And for those most concerned with the goings on off camera, aside from the numerous quotes from the actors, creators and production on what the experience is like, in the behind in the scenes chapter, we also get the whole story of how Downton was conceived, amazing shots of the cast shooting scenes as a cameraman moves on the dolly surrounding the dining table in a perfect circle, models of the downstairs set, which stands at Ealing Studios, and production tidbits like the reasons why we never see the characters eating at dinner Here we also get my favorite fun fact of all - that Maggie Smith has the entire cast "in stitches" whenever they are on set. I was also fascinated to learn that since the upstairs and downstairs are shot on different sets - Ealing Studios vs Highclere Castle, life imitates art in that some of the actors playing servants rarely if ever went to the castle, or when they did, suddenly felt a real life change in status that helped inform their performances. Plus did you know they often have historian Alastair Bruce on set to make sure everything happening is accurate? Or that Winston Churchill was born to an American mother who came over to Britain for an English husband who would accept new money, the way Cora did? Or that upstairs is mostly shot smoothly and downstairs handheld? Or that married women in that time got to have breakfast in bed? Or that all the actresses playing the daughters have only sisters in real life? I could go on for days. There are so many fun facts in this book. I LOVE FUN FACTS.

As you can probably tell by now, this book has A LOT to offer. Reading it not only brought me great joy, but helped me have a much more comprehensive understanding of Downton Abbey's historical context, something I was desperate for and having it all laid out, complete with parallels in the show and information on the figures that inspired particular characters was a wonderful treat. This is an absolutely must own for any fan of the show and will definitely take at least some of the sting out of waiting so damn long to find out what happens next in the world of Downton Abbey.

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Armie Hammer, Finnick Odair And The Fan Hive Mind

Cross-posted on Film.com

Casting fan favorite properties has always been a beloved past time of mine, and I know I'm not alone. Especially when it comes to expansive universes (Game of Thrones) or casts that need actors of such a specific age that the best folks for the job are in constant rotation (Marvel's Runaways). Growing up in a media heavy environment, I am one of those folks whose brain tends to cast an actor immediately, if possible, to aid with the storytelling process when I'm reading. I know fans who disagree with this notion and don't even see adaptations so as not to tarnish their personal vision of who the characters are. Although I don't function that way, I admire that staunch loyalty to the written word. But for the fans out there who live to see something they love brought alive on the big screen, casting is major, and it's rare that we all universally agree that it has been done correctly. Even though most Captain America fans are on board with Chris Evans now, that was certainly not the case when he signed on. Same with Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss in the Hunger Games.

Which brings me the strange Hive Mind experience that occurred as I was finally reading Catching Fire this past week. There I was imagining Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Huchinson, Elizabeth Banks, Woody Harrelson, Donald Sutherland in their respective roles, doing a great job, surrounded by mostly faceless blobs representing the other characters, my brain not finding it necessary to cast anyone particular yet, when all of a sudden I got to the character of Finnick Odair. The dashing charmer with a touch of cheese, the prince charming-ish looker who everyone assumes is a player, the classically beautiful golden skinned hunk. For some reason, my brain immediately went to Armie Hammer. Armie Hammer? He doesn't necessarily have golden skin. He certainly doesn't have bronze hair, though I suppose that could be fixed. But my mind had made its decision. Finnick would be played by Armie Hammer in my imagination and nothing could stop that. So I continued reading. And man, was Armie good. His build was perfect, so tall and muscular, his voice and eyes seamlessly making the transition from smooth and pompous to genuine and heroic. It felt so right in my bones.

So naturally, I took to Twitter to see what other people thought. Simply asking the question "Who did everyone cast as Finnick when reading Catching Fire?" and I was surprised to see multiple people respond, you guessed it, Armie Hammer. This was baffling to me. He doesn't really have golden skin or bronze hair. And yet so many of us went straight to his face. And then, the kicker. I was directed to this Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ArmieForFinnick. Yes, that's right. Completely unbeknownst to me when I randomly cast Armie Hammer as Finnick, there is already a Facebook movement going to get him cast. Not only that, but any Finnick page I could manage to get to while still avoiding spoilers, had Hammer in the profile picture or taking up a lot of space in the "Who should play him" section, easily more so than anyone else.

What does this all MEAN? Why did so many of us see someone, THIS someone, in this role immediately? Mirror Mirror, in which Hammer plays a prince, hasn't come out yet, and even if it had, when we first meet Finnick, we don't think of him as a genuine hero, we think of him as kind of smarmy. It's not like Hammer's role in The Social Network had anything in common with Finnick except, what, being popular? Normally if something like this happens, it's at least because the actor in question had just played a role of the exact same type. But this is not the case here.

To me, this is no doubt an example of the Hive Mind. Of course, unlike the Borg, we fans have our own individual identities and lives, but somehow, in this particular case, our brains linked up and decided collectively who should play the role of Finnick Odair in The Hunger Games. In all my years of being a fan and fantasy casting, something this peculiar and specific has never occurred before. The closest I've seen is Zach Levi circa Chuck season one for Yorick in Y: The Last Man, but that was because Chuck practically *was* Yorick, and in any event, that ship has long sailed. Perhaps none of this seems that bizarre or interesting to you, readers, but experiencing all of this myself hasn't happened before and I think it's pretty damn cool.

So this leaves me with one simple plea to whoever is casting Catching Fire. Though he may not seem totally right for the role, I encourage you to at least audition Armie Hammer for Finnick Odair. You don't want to see the Fan Hive Mind angry.

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Holiday Gift Guide: Music, Book & Theater Edition

It's the giving season again! And if you're a procrastinator like me, then you're still trying to get your holiday gift shopping list together. So let me help you expedite that process! Here are my top gift recommendations for the art lovers in your lives:

Music:

Florence + The Machine's Ceremonials

Florence Welch is a rock-pop machine and Ceremonials is one of my favorite albums of the year. While lacking the raw, punk-like energy of the bands first album, Lungs, the new album is a more polished and whole achievement. All the songs sound connected and they flow to form a broodingly beautiful album that still makes you want to dance and sing along with at the top of your lungs. It's my wonderfully odd dark, upbeat soundtrack to the upcoming winter season. I couldn't recommend it to you more--buy it as a gift for yourself and your moody loved ones!

Books:

The New York Times Magazine Photographs

Aperture and The New York Times Magazine present this awesome photo book that surveys the photography published by the magazine over the years. The New York Times Magazine Photographs is this holiday season's ultimate coffee table book.

The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides

From the Pulitzer Prize winning author who gave us Virgin Suicides and Middlesex comes a new novel about Madeleine--a 1980s college student deconstructing 19th Century English novels with marriages at the center of their plots. She finds herself examining not only fictional marriage plots but also modern love and relationships. As an English major, this is the book I bought as a holiday gift for myself to read over my winter break. But if it's anything like Eugenides' previous novels, I suspect that it'll be popular with a diverse range of readers.

Theater Tickets:

Tickets to live shows make for the best gifts; you're giving entertainment and helping to create singular memories. So this year, consider giving the gift of theater! Already seen Sleep No More (a few times)? Looking for another off-Broadway gem? Go see New York Theatre Workshop's production of Once, a musical based on the film of the same name. This insanely popular show has been recently extended to January 15th. Get your tickets before they sellout!

Once
Based on the Film Written & Directed by: John Carney
Directed by: John Tiffany
Book by: Enda Walsh
Lyrics by: Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová
Movement by: Steven Hoggett
Featuring: David Abeles, Claire Candela, Will Connolly, Elizabeth A. Davis, Steve Kazee, David Patrick Kelly, Cristin Milioti, Anne L. Nathan, Lucas Papaelias, Andy Taylor, Erikka Walsh, Paul Whitty, J. Michael Zygo

For tickets, performance schedule, and more info, go here.

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On Sale Today! Geek Girls Unite: How Fangirls, Bookworms, Indie Chicks, and Other Misfits Are Taking Over the World

We're very excited about today's release of Geek Girls Unite, a fun and informative reference book of sorts, meant to inspire geek girls everywhere to be proud of who they are, gain insight in other areas fellow ladies are geeking out over, and feel motivated to seek out like minded women. Despite some quibbles I may have had with certain sections, ultimately, the book succeeds. And I'm extremely honored that our little blog, All Things Fangirl, is featured as suggested web reading in the Fangirl Geek section. Completely unsolicited and beyond appreciated, it's a gesture we won't soon forget. For anyone who finds us thanks to this book, we hope you like what you read and enjoy becoming a member of our community.

My full review of Geek Girls Unite can be found later today on Film.com

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Book Review: Crazy4Cult Cult Movie Art

 (crossposted on Film.com)


The Big Lebowski. Fargo. Edward Scissorhands. They Live. Shaun of the Dead. Back to the Future. Jaws. Blue Velvet. Beetlejuice. Blade Runner. Planet of the Apes. Tron. The Warriors. The Evil Dead. Office Space. Donnie Darko.


If I just listed any of your favorite movies, then brace yourselves, an art book is being released by Titan this week that is going to make you lose your mind.

Gallery 1988's Crazy4Cult Cult Movie Art is a collection of art based on, you guessed it, cult movies, that has been displayed in four different shows at Los Angeles' Gallery 1988 over the past couple of years. I've had the good fortune to have attended two of these showings and the better fortune to have picked up some art prints before they sold out at said showings.

The idea is brilliant - tell a bunch of uncommonly talented underground artists to create a piece or multiple pieces based on their favorite cult movies. The results are beautiful, gruesome, clever and comfortingly nostalgic. I've salivated over some of these pieces for years and am thrilled that I now own all of them in a 175 page coffee table book, the cover of which features crazy eyed, Pulp Fictioned Sam Jackson, surrounded by bullet holes, pointing a gun in my direction. My living room just got a whole lot happier.

The book begins with a forward by longtime Crazy4Cult supporter, Kevin Smith, a third of which is appropriately one long penis joke. I wish there had been more background information on Gallery 1988, on Crazy4Cult, on the artists, on the artists' relationships with the filmmakers whose films these pieces were inspired by, but the focus of this book, like every showing I've been to, is simply the art speaking for itself. As Smith says in his closing paragraph,

"No words I use here can prepare you for what you're gonna see inside: artists painting other artists. Andy Warhol would be so proud."

And to a certain extent this is true. I suppose my knowledge hungry mind can take to the Internet if I wish to learn more about the process. My only other small gripe is wishing there was an index in the back of the book with page numbers beside each artist, but perhaps aware of an overall lack of context, a more digital age friendly road was taken, listing the artists' websites beside their names instead.

But on to what works in this book, because the introduction and index are really the only weak points.

The layout is spot on, flowing easily from one movie to the next. Right before Smith's introduction is a haunting Shepard Fairey piece inspired by They Live, which upped the film's want-to-see factor for me ten fold. After the introduction, the first collection of pieces are, naturally, based on Kevin Smith joints, my favorites of which were specifically inspired by Mallrats. The book then moves into some stunning takes on true classics - Dracula, Metropolis, The Wizard of Oz, and Nosferatu (Seriously, Maria, Dorothy Who, and Snowfall Over Poppies became instant favorites, based on the artwork alone) before going Full Cult, delving into Pink Flamingos, Clockwork Orange, Harold and Maude, Dawn of the Dead and all too long section on Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory aka the most terrifying movie of all time. The book continues jumping from film to film until concluding 170 pages later on The Big Lebowski.

One of my favorite things about having each movie grouped together is noticing each artists take on characters' specific costumes. This is especially fun with The Goonies, comparing the cartooned take of Goonies Never Say Die with the detailed paper doll like series consisting of their costumes paired with memorable quotes.

Even just casually flipping through the book, one can't help but notice the true artistry at work from all directions. Each person who contributed to this book has such an incredibly distant style, that no two pieces even begin to look alike. If an artist created more than piece, you instantly recognize the style, but because each of these films has such powerful imagery on its own, the book doesn't become the slightest bit redundant. It's absolutely fascinating to see how each film triggers each artists' imaginations.

I loved seeing how one person would be moved to create a simple, beautiful portrait like (The Big Tourist) Marla, from Fight Club, The Eraser Guys Are Coming from Eternal Sunshine, or Mathilda from The Professional, another compelled to fit entire plots of the movie into one painting like Self Respecting Consumers from Mallrats, or Back To The Future Part 1/Back to the Future Part 2, others inspired by one moment or one image like Temptresses from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Come Play with Us from The Shining or I Can't, Eddie and Hold Me...I Can't, three works inspired by the same moment in Edward Scissorhands, and some who took characters and created something completely new like The Parking Ticket from Star Wars or River Tam and the Fireflies from Firefly.

And of course, we can't forget about the mash-up, one of the stand out delights of Crazy 4 Cult, a novelty that now appears regularly in apparel from companies like RIPT, Tee Fury and Threadless. We see them here in all the Crazy 4 Cult posters as well as 8 Bit Beach Party, a piece I was happy to have the chance to dissect again and LA Plays Itself, a take on a postcard that combines multiple movies set in Los Angeles.

It doesn't stop with paint on canvass. The book shows off mixed media sculptures, stuffed dolls, 3D paper collages, figurines of all kinds and matchbook sketches. While neat to see photographed in the book, they aren't quite the same as seeing them in person and act as a strong motivation for making your way to Crazy 4 Cult 5...or 6....or 7...if you weren't convinced already.

But more so than having the chance to admire the artists and creative teams behind the films, the book is a must own for the feelings it engenders and memories it brings back for the reader. A Goonies inspired map, entitled In Pursuit of Willy, took me back to elementary school, when I would draw elaborate maps filled with obstacles set in Fantasy worlds instead of paying attention in class. Sweets for the Sweet, a Rocky Horror inspired piece, caused me to recall the first time I saw the film in high school and felt simultaneously hip and depraved for loving it as much as I did.

The movies depicted in Crazy4Cult Cult Movie Art were selected because of the gut connection audience goers (no matter how few saw the films upon the initial release) developed to them over time. They are about the weirdos, the outcasts, the unlikely hero, they are quirky, horrific, filled with joy, they are filled with characters we relate to, and characters we want to relate to, they are atypical, they are special and for all of these reasons, I've always adored what Crazy4Cult has done and continues to do, and am thrilled to see a collection like this available for those who don't live in Los Angeles and have never had the chance to attend a showing.

If the book, available now, simply isn't enough for you, Titan is also releasing a Crazy 4 Cult calender next month. If you do live in Los Angeles, Crazy 4 Cult 5 is opening Friday, July 8th, at Gallery 1988, and will run until the 30th.

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Summer Reading List

As a Literature major, I don't have enough time to read unassigned books or to read contemporary literature during the school year. But now that I'm on Summer vacation I'm excited to read new(er) works purely for pleasure! Check out my Summer reading list below (I'm gonna try really hard to avoid laziness and read at least half of these great books). Hopefully there's a book on my list that strikes your interest. Also, feel free to suggest titles to me!

Just Kids, Patti Smith
Oh this memoir sounds so cool.

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, Michael Chabon
I know, it's ridiculous that I haven't read this already. Whatever, don't judge me!

2666, Roberto Bolaño
This book sounds like surreal, postmodern awesomeness and I've been meaning to read it for years.

Daughters of the River Huong, Uyen Nicole Duong
A novel that combines family history along with the turbulent and rich history of Vietnam.

Jane was Here, Sarah Kernochan
A mystery thriller novel from an Academy Award winning screenwriter and filmmaker.

Sinister Resonance, David Toop
This book examines the presence of sound and listening throughout numerous texts and artworks. Really though, it sounds fascinating.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, JK Rowling
Clearly, I've read this one before. I'd just like to reread it in preparation for the final film!

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Book Review: Whedonistas! A Celebration of the Worlds of Joss Whedon by the Women Who Love Them

To be truly considered a formidable geek, one has to have experienced a mind altering, bridging on unhealthy, obsessive love for at least one movie and/or television show before reaching an age where one is cognisant enough to understand that it may not be "cool". Something that cemented in one's psyche the idea that loving a piece of fiction is not only valid, but something to be celebrated, something that isn't full of shame, but pride. And fandom doesn't ever come down to one artist or one universe. Fans of all ilks bond because of a mutual understand that loving a property - any property - enough to be compelled to dress up as characters, write fan fiction, own way too many collectibles, watch every episode multiple times, so on and so forth, is totally, 100% acceptable and awesome. It's why I've always loved conventions so much. We're all there because of how much we love a genre property, and whatever that property is, we support each other, sans judgement. If your specific corner of fandom overlaps with someone else's, than hey, even better.

For me growing up, my first loves were the original Star Wars trilogy (a tale of profound obsession that I will save for another time) and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Buffy aired during the exact years I was in middle school and high school and while I took fandom vacations into other things like Xena, The Matrix, Scream and Spiderman, Buffy was my constant. At age 12 I had a life goal to own every piece of Buffy merchandise every created, and between seasons 1 and 2, I think I actually did accomplish that, for a few months at least. Between seasons 2 and 3, I met the whole cast at Comic-Con and wrote a poem about it. I loved Xander, Oz and Spike. I wrote fanfiction. I listened to "Once More With Feeling" until I knew every word to every song. Buffy was always there for me, no matter what I was going through and I'm still grateful to Joss Whedon for giving me characters to look up to, a group of friends who would die for each other (and have) to remind me that just because I didn't have it yet didn't mean I never would, and love stories of all shapes and sizes, all meaningful, whether born out of friendship, initial attraction, hate, respect, common interests or zero common interests, I learned from each one. I wanted to be successful to get the chance to one day be a part of something like Buffy. It was the impetus for so much in my life - *all* positive.

But I don't think about this often. In fact, I hadn't thought hard about Buffy in a while, not since rewatching the first two seasons with my roommates at the time 4 years ago. But last week I got my hands on a copy of a new book, Whedonistas: A Celebration of the Worlds of Joss Whedon by the Women Who Love Them and it awakened something in me. Here is a book filled with essays, an "eclectic and exciting collection of essays that touch on nearly all aspects of the shows, the fandoms and the people to whom they made a difference", written by writers, artists, and fans alike, that flooded me with memory and emotion of my time watching Buffy. And while the pieces on Buffy connected with me the most on the surface, every essay, no matter the subject, felt familiar, like a part of my brain being explained and explored. I haven't even seen all of Firefly, yet I found myself tearing up during Dae S. Low's "The Browncoat Connection", in which Low details finally finding a group of people to connect with in her fellow Portlandian Browncoats.

More after the jump



This is a recurring theme in Whedonistas - finding connections through Whedon fandom. In one of my favorite selections, "A Couch Potato's Guide To Demon Slaying: Turning Strangers Into Family, Buffy Style",  Heather Shaw details the comings and goings of roommates and how the roommate dynamic seemed to always parallel the ever changing family dynamic on Buffy, and how this eventually led to Heather meeting her husband. In "My European Vacation, A Love Letter/Confession", Kelly Hale writes how fellow Buffy fans were the only ones there for her when her life fell apart and gave her the strength to get back up on her feet.

While many of the writers are women who have careers as authors and credit Buffy and their own Buffy fanfic as a gateway drug (seriously, it's fascinating how so many of these women, myself included, note that Buffy was the last genre work that provided them with an overwhelming sense of needing to write fanfic, to get into the characters heads, to play with the already established themes and dynamics), there is also the librarian who suddenly found her job something to be proud of, the ordained minister who made me rethink the snap judgements I have often held for those who work in religion and the aerospace engineer who sees such great inspiration in Firefly's Kaylee that it made me appreciate Mal's "mei-mei" even more than I thought possible.

Aside from the personal stories, including one that brought me to tears as the author details how "The Body" almost single handedly got her through the day her brother-in-law committed suicide and how relating to Buffy's depression in "Once More With Feeling" was what began to pull her back into normalcy, there is plenty of theory, including analysis of how Mal Reynolds fits into the myth of the old west, a feminist defense of what happens to Penny in the third act of Dr. Horrible, how Buffy is best to watch during a time of education, of growth and constant changing, and Angel is best to watch during those aimless years, post college, how Buffy altered the landscape of romance fiction, why monsters go good and why good guys go dark, how Angel plays with the notions of masculinity. how the varied characters of Dollhouse represent the many stages found in adolescence through adulthood and so on. There is even insight into what it was like to be a fan of Buffy and Angel, living in the UK, where the episodes weren't readily accessible, a tracing of Dr. Horrible fandom, from the beginning of the writer's strike to the release of the DVD and a detailed account of what it was like to work on the first Watcher's Guide, the author receiving more or less unlimited access to the Buffy set, cast and crew, before things like publicists and success got in the way. Not satisfied? There are interviews with Jane Espenson and Juliet Landau as well.

It was a thrill to read each and every one of these essays. I especially loved seeing which themes/moments got the most mention (found family, real world femininity, Buffy's table-turning opening scene, The Shanshu Prophecy from Angel, Kaylee's shindig dress, Dark Willow flaying Warren) as well as which episodes were most frequently referenced (Buffy's "The Body" and "Earshot", Angel's "Not Fade Away" and "A Hole in The World", Firefly's "Out Of Gas" and "Objects in Space"), and which characters were most often mentioned as favorites (Wesley?!). One of my favorite themes was that of the "non-believer" discovering the Whedonverse. Early-dismissal-turned-devouring-of-seven-seasons-in-two-weeks-straight is the technical term for this, I believe. Despite having been a Buffy fan from the beginning, I still very much relate to this, as my best friend mercilessly made fun of me throughout all of middle and high school for watching Buffy, but is now one of the biggest Joss Whedon fans I know and can't believe herself that there was a time she doubted.

With a book like this, a collection of essays, you could easily pick and choose which ones to read. You could go straight to the ode to Oz ("We're Here to Save You") or directly to the bit about Illyria giving Wesley closure before his death, ("The Kindness of Monsters") although careful, you may cry and/or gasp with reminder of that episode's brilliance, but I recommended reading each one in order. Much like a successful mix CD, there is a flow that feels specific and cohesive. And even if you were only a huge fan for one of Joss' creations, I guarantee that won't stop you from enjoying the essays about his other work. Sure didn't stop me from loving every minute I was reading this collection and getting to know the women behind it.

These women are younger, older, gay, straight, professional writers, amateur writers, from all over the country and a few from across the pond too, but they all have one very big thing in common - Joss Whedon has affected their lives with his creations. Whether emotionally or practically, he made a difference. No one who contributed to this book of essays would be the same without Whedon and neither would I.

If you feel like re-falling in love with the Whedonverse, if you're still in love with it and miss it, if you want to get jazzed up for the Avengers, if you want to get a fellow a fan a gift they will eat up, I cannot recommend this book enough.

Whedonistas! A Celebration of the Worlds of Joss Whedon by the Women Who Love Them
Edited by Lynne M Thomas and Deborah Stanish
Mad Norwegian Press
Released March 15, 2011
Buy a copy here

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The Hunger Games and Jennifer Lawrence: Is This Going To Work?

Commissioned by and crossposted on Film.com



On the heels of the announcement that Jennifer Lawrence won the role of Katniss in The Hunger Games has come a lot of discussion as to whether or not the naturally blond, 20 year old actress is right for the role of the 16 year old, olive skinned brunette. Many fans (mostly purists, natch) are complaining that Lawrence is poor casting for these reasons. But how much does it matter that Lawrence is four years older and has the wrong complexion? Is it really warranting all this uproar?

I too was bothered when I first heard the announcement, but not because of Lawrence's hair or hue of skin, the cosmetic aspects aren't a huge deal as far as I'm concerned, they can be altered easily. What did made me uncomfortable was her age. Part of what made The Hunger Games so harrowing for me to read was imagining a 16 year old - a Nicola Peltz, a Hailee Steinfeld, someone who is young enough to still *look* like an actual teen - forced into Katniss' situation. Part of the reason the upcoming Hanna is so effective is because the teen assassin is played by a 16 year old. It's difficult, yet thrilling to watch. Imagining the images coming alive as I read, I feared for Katniss, was amazed with Katniss, wanted to protect Katniss. Casting a 20 year old, even a 20 year old who just played a 17 year old, as Lawrence did in Winter's Bone, immediately does away with all of that. When I imagine Jennifer Lawrence in the part, I am suddenly not concerned for Katniss' safety, I'm not questioning her ability or moved by the fact that someone so young only knows how to do what she can do because of the poverty she was raised in that forced her to grow up so quickly. Instead, I see a woman. A young looking woman, sure, but a woman nonetheless.


However, these were the thoughts I had when I had only read two thirds of The Hunger Games.

A few days after the announcement that Lawrence got the part, I sat down to finish The Hunger Games with only part three of the first book, entitled "The Victor," to go. And boy did that change things. Imagining Lawrence and rumored contender, Hunter Parrish, in the roles of Katniss and Peeta during the last third of the book just about sealed the deal for me that when it comes to casting, The Hunger Games may not in fact be an epic fail. The Jennifer Lawrence and Hunter Parrish in my mind have *amazing* chemistry, you guys. And it made me think of something no dissenters seem to be discussing.

While casting actual teenagers would certainly provide an audience with that unique, frightening feeling of seeing children, more or less, forced into an awful situation like the hunger games, something important would be lost: the relationship between Katniss and Peeta. The sexuality. The romance. The chemistry. The maturity. It's the reason all "teen" shows are cast with twenty somethings. No one wants to watch an actual fifteen year old make out with another fifteen year old. That's when something that should be exciting to see come to fruition becomes sweet at best, child porn at worst. Do you really think there would be however-many-thousand videos dedicated to the kisses of Chuck and Blair if the roles were played by high school juniors? Are you telling me you don't feel even a little dirty watching the younger characters on Skins? How many people are going to watch 90210 if the "hot new sophomore" who sleeps with someone's thirty year old sister is an actual sophomore? Have you seen an actual high school sophomore lately? If sexuality is important for the characters to posses, the casting will skew slightly older, plain and simple.

I didn't realize how important chemistry would be until finishing the first book, but now I can't imagine having anyone younger than eighteen in the role, and even most eighteen year olds look too young for me to want to watch them have chemistry with anyone. Even Logan Lerman, who I think is adorbz town central, has too much of a baby face for me to want to see him in any sort of sexual situation. In a few years, sure, but not right now. And I can safely say I do *not* want The Hunger Games film to shy away from the violence or the romance.

Which brings me to Katniss' counterpart. Obviously if our leading lady is to be played by an actress slightly older than teenage years with a maturity way beyond teenage years, the actor playing Peeta must have a similar sensibility. Lawrence's casting immediately rules out actors too much younger than she is. Aside from Hunter Parrish, Alex Pettyfer is apparently under consideration. But let's nip that in the bud before producers put an offer out, shall we? While Jennifer Lawrence is blond and no longer a teenager, everything else about her is Katniss. We know she can be tough, we know she can be vulnerable, we know she can look like dreck, we know she can look drop dead gorgeous, we know she can skin an animal and we know she can cry. And to hear the way director Gary Ross talks about her audition, you know Lawrence will bring it and subsequently kill it. Still not convinced? Here's an except from author Suzanne Collins' letter on the casting, published in EW (If you've read the first book, read the rest of the spoiler-tastic letter here),

“Jennifer’s just an incredible actress. So powerful, vulnerable, beautiful, unforgiving and brave. I never thought we’d find somebody this amazing for the role. And I can’t wait for everyone to see her play it.”

Which is why I worry about all this Pettyfer talk. The ALREADY notorious jerkface (trying to keep my language clean here), after only TWO studio films, could not be more wrong for the role of Peeta. Pettyfer reads as mean as he is rumored to be, as well as cold, stiff and humorless, the opposite of everything Peeta is supposed to embody. And despite being three years younger than competition Hunter Parrish, he looks about five years older. Let me tell you, the Jennifer Lawrence and Alex Pettyfer in my head have zero chemistry. Zip. And if we're going the route of casting slightly older so the audience is invested in the romance, whether or not this film will work now relies entirely on who gets cast as Peeta.

I like the idea of Parrish so much because of his natural warmth and sweet sexuality. He isn't classically handsome, he's unique, bridging on goofy, but tall, built and good-natured, exuding sort of a "you simultaneously want to make out with me and cuddle me" sort of vibe. I can buy the necessary vulnerability and I can buy the necessary snark. Blandy McDoucherson Alex Pettyfer? Not so much.

With a movie like say, Let the Right One In and its American take, Let Me In, casting actual 12-14 year olds was essential because the film hinged on the vampire trope of an older soul stuck in a pre-adolescent body. At the start of Marvel's Runaways, most of the characters are 15 and while there is a kiss between two of them at one point, sure, the important relationships don't happen until a bit later, so there is some freedom to actually go the young route, to see what it looks like when real teens are fighting super villains and let them grow into young adults with feelings and sexuality and romance over the course of the films a la Harry Potter. But because so much of the first Hunger Games book really does focus on the relationship between Katniss and Peeta, I ultimately am in support of this casting and recommend re-reading the book with them in mind. You may be surprised with how naturally you can imagine them in the roles.

So to answer the question if this going to work, I say if it doesn't, Jennifer Lawrence won't be the reason. Her casting is actually a great sign that despite the fact that The Hunger Games is technically a Young Adult novel, this movie will be leaning more on the side of an adult sensibility than that of kids or tweens. Now we just have to cross our fingers and hope the rest of the casting falls into place. And you know, the script and direction and production design and special effects....But I'm optimistic for now.

What do you think of Jennifer Lawrence at Katniss? Who would be your preference for Peeta? Looking forward to your thoughts, readers.

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The Second Annual Fangirl Award Winners!

The results are in! Our Fangirl Academy, now 87 members strong, both nominated, then voted for their favorites from 2010. You can find all of the nominees, honorable mentions and winners below.

If you like a little suspense with your awards, watch the videos below! Note: We only have 9 categories to offer you in "suspense" form. A few videos were having trouble uploading, but should be up for your viewing pleasure later today.

After the videos, you'll find all the winners typed out, once again, following Nathaniel R's method of highlighting first place in gold, 2nd in silver and in some cases, 3rd place in bronze. Thanks to the fangirls who participated in voting and in presenting! I hope next year we have an even bigger academy and even more fangirls presenting :). Sign up to be a voting member for next year's awards, by clicking here.

Best Picture

Black Swan

Blue Valentine

Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows Part One

Inception

The Kid's Are All Right

The King's Speech

Scott Pilgrim V. The World

The Social Network

Toy Story 3

True Grit

Honorable Mentions: The Fighter, Shutter Island, Easy A

Best Actor

Colin Firth - The King's Speech

Leonardo DiCaprio - Inception/Shutter Island

Jeff Bridges - True Grit

Jesse Eisenberg - The Social Network

Ryan Gosling - Blue Valentine

Honorable Mentions: James Franco - 127 Hours

Best Actress

- Show quoted text -


Julianne Moore - The Kids Are All Right

Natalie Portman - Black Swan

Haliee Steinfeld - True Grit

Jennifer Lawrence - Winter's Bone

Michelle Williams - Blue Valentine

Annette Bening - The Kids Are All Right*

Honorable Mentions: Emma Stone - Easy A

Best Supporting Actor

Geoffrey Rush - The King's Speech

Joseph Gordon Levitt - Inception

Christian Bale - The Fighter

Andrew Garfield - The Social Network

Mark Ruffalo - The Kids Are All Right/Shutter Island

Honorable Mentions: Jeremy Renner - The Town, Matt Damon - True Grit, Keiran Culkin - Scott Pilgrim

Best Supporting Actress

Helena Bohnam Carter - The King's Speech

Melissa Leo - The Fighter

Amy Adams - The Fighter

Barbara Hershey - Black Swan

Mila Kunis - Black Swan

Honorable Mentions: Marion Cotillard - Inception, Olivia Williams - The Ghost Writer

Best Director

Christopher Nolan - Inception

Darren Aronofsky - Black Swan

David Fincher - The Social Network

Edgar Wright - Scott Pilgrim V. The World

The Coen Brothers - True Grit

Honorable Mentions: David Yates - Harry Potter GHP1, Danny Boyle - 127 Hours, Debra Granik - Winter's Bone

Best Adapted Screenplay

Danny Boyle & Simon Beaufoy -127 Hours

Aaron Sorkin - The Social Network

Joel & Ethan Coen - True Grit

Edgar Wright & Michael Bacall - Scott Pilgrim v. The World

Michael Arndt - Toy Story 3

Honorable Mentions: Harry Potter DHP1, Winter's Bone, The Town

Best Original Screenplay

Mark Heyman, Andres Heinz & John McLaughlin - Black Swan

Christopher Nolan - Inception

Lisa Cholodenko & Stuart Blumberg - The Kids Are All Right

Scott Silver, Paul Tamasy & Eric Johnson - The Fighter

David Seidler - The King's Speech

Honorable Mentions: Blue Valentine, Please Give

Best Score

Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross - The Social Network

Daft Punk - Tron: Legacy

Hans Zimmer - Inception

Alexandre Desplat - Harry Potter: DHP1

Clint Mansell - Black Swan

Honorable Mentions: Danny Elfman - Alice in Wonderland, A.R. Rahman - 127 hours

World I Most Want To Visit

The Wizarding World - Harry Potter: DHP1

The Grid - Tron Legacy

Underland - Alice in Wonderland

The Dreamscape - Inception

Stylized Toronto - Scott Pilgrim V. The World

Honorable Mentions: Berk (How to Train Your Dragon), Narnia (Dawn Treader)

Best On Screen Animal

Pascal - Tangled

Maximus - Tangled

Toothless - How To Train Your Dragon

Little Blackie - True Grit

Hedwig - Harry Potter

Honorable Mentions: Cheshire Cat, Secretariat, Reepicheep

Best Chemistry - Romantic - Film

Amy Adams & Mark Wahlberg - The Fighter

Drew Barrymore & Justin Long - Going The Distance

Carey Mulligan & Andrew Garfield - Never Let Me Go

Rupert Grint & Emma Watson - Harry Potter DHP1

Natalie Portman & Mila Kunis - Black Swan

Anne Hathaway & Jake Gyllenhaal - Love & Other Drugs

Michelle Williams & Ryan Gosling - Blue Valentine

Annette Bening & Julianne Moore - The Kids Are All Right

Mark Ruffalo & Julianne Moore - The Kids Are All Right

Michael Cera & Mary Elizabeth Weinsted - Scott Pilgrim V. The World

Honorable Mention: Ben Affleck & Rebecca Hall - The Town, Gwenyth Paltrow & Robert Downey Jr - Iron Man 2, Steve Carrell & Tina Fey - Date Night

Best Chemistry (or is it?) (Mostly, yes) - Platonic - Film - TIE for Bronze

Colin Firth & Geoffrey Rush - The King's Speech

Daniel Radcliffe & Emma Watson - Harry Potter DHP1

Tom Hardy & Joseph Gordon Levitt - Inception

Michael Cera & Keiran Culkin - Scott Pilgrim V The World

Hailee Steinfeld, Jeff Bridges & Matt Damon - True Grit

Andrew Garfield & Jesse Eisenberg - The Social Network

Will Farrell & Mark Wahlberg - The Other Guys

The Mad Hatter & Alice - Alice in Wonderland

Nicholas Cage & Chloe Moretz - Kick Ass

Emma Stone, Stanley Tucci & Patricia Clarkson - Easy A

Voiceover Performance

Steve Carrell as Gru - Despicable Me

Tom Hanks as Woody - Toy Story 3

Zachary Levi as Flynn Rider - Tangled

Mandy Moore as Rapunzel - Tangled

Jay Baruchnel as Hiccup - How To Train Your Dragon

Honorable Mentions: Tim Allen - Toy Story 3, Kristin Schaal - Toy Story 3, Craig Ferguson - How To Train Your Dragon

Epic Fail Movie - Genre

Clash of the Titans

Jonah Hex

The Last Airbender

Twilight: Eclipse

Nightmare on Elm Street

Epic Fail Movie - Non-Genre

Sex and the City 2

The Bounty Hunter

Grown Ups

Yogi Bear

How Do You Know?

Best Characterization of an Established Figure

King George VI - The King's Speech

Scott Pilgrim - Scott Pilgrim V. The World

The Mad Hatter - Alice in Wonderland

Tony Stark - Iron Man 2

Mark Zuckerberg - The Social Network

Honorable Mentions: Sherlock & Watson - BBC's Sherlock, Rapunzel - Tangled, Al Capone - Boardwalk Empire, Dicky Euckland - The Fighter

Best Fight/Battle Sequence

Scott/Ramona/Knives/Gideon (Final Battle) - Scott Pilgrim

Arthur's No Gravity Hallway Fight - Inception

Hit Girl Infiltrates Mob Building (Final Battle) - Kick Ass

Scott Pilgrim v. Exil Ex #1 - Scott Pilgrim v. The World

Scott Pilgrim v. Exil Ex #3 (Vegan) - Scott Pilgrim v. The World

Black Widow Hallway Takedown - Iron Man 2*

Honorable Mentions: Scott Pilgrim v. Exil Ex #4, Final Fight - The Fighter, Final Fight - Red, Rooster & Mattie v. Ned - True Grit, Snow Fortress Attack - Inception, Light Cycle Race - Tron: Legacy

Guiltiest Pleasure - Film

Burlesque

Twilight: Eclipse

Tron: Legacy

Salt

Machete

Splice*

Honorable Mentions: The Losers, Step Up 3D, When In Rome, Red, Morning Glory

Best Animated Film

Despicable Me

How To Train Your Dragon

Megamind

Tangled

Toy Story 3

The Illusionist*

Best TV Show - Drama

Mad Men

Fringe

Dr. Who

Lost

The Walking Dead

Honorable Mentions: Boardwalk Empire, Caprica

Best TV Show - Comedy

Glee

Modern Family

30 Rock

Community

The Big Bang Theory

Honorable Mentions: How I Met Your Mother, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

Best Actor - Drama TV

Jon Hamm - Mad Men

Steve Bushemi - Boardwalk Empire

Andrew Lincoln - The Walking Dead

John Noble - Fringe

Bryan Cranston - Breaking Bad

Honorable Mentions: Hugh Laurie - House, Michael C. Hall, Dexter, Matthew Fox - Lost, John Slattery - Mad Men, Terry O'Quinn - Lost

Best Actor - Comedy TV

Don Glover - Community

Chris Colfer - Glee

Jim Parsons - The Big Bang Theory

Ty Burrell - Modern Family

Joel McHale - Community

Honorable Mentions: Alec Baldwin - 30 Rock, Steve Carrell - The Office, Eric Stonestreet - Modern Family, NPH - How I Met Your Mother

Best Actress - Drama TV

Christina Hendricks - Mad Men

Elisabeth Moss - Mad Men

Katey Sagal - Sons of Anarchy

Anna Torv - Fringe

Kelly McDonald - Boardwalk Empire

Honorable Mentions: Juliana Margulies - The Good Wife, Connie Britton - Friday Night Lights, Polly Walker - Caprica

Best Actress - Comedy TV

Alison Brie - Community

Sofia Vergara - Modern Family

Julie Bowen - Modern Family

Jane Lynch - Glee

Tina Fey - 30 Rock

Honorable Mentions: Amy Poehler - Parks & Rec, Heather Morris - Glee, Alyson Hannigan, HIMYM, Kaley Cuoco - The Big Bang Theory

Best Chemistry - Romantic TV - TIE for Bronze

Eric/Sookie - True Blood

Chuck/Blair - Gossip Girl

Chuck/Sarah - Chuck

Marshall/Lily - How I Met Your Mother

Pam/Jim - The Office

Beckett/Castle - Castle

Boones/Booth - Bones

Roger/Joan - Mad Men

Olivia/Peter - Fringe

Dexter/Lumen - Dexter

Best Chemistry - Platonic TV

Abed/Troy - Community

Jack Donaghy/Liz Lemon - 30 Rock

Neal/Peter - White Collar

Don Draper/Peggy Olsen - Mad Men

Amy/The Doctor - Dr. Who

Peter/Walter - Fringe

Al Capone/Jimmy Dormety - Boardwalk Empire

Casey/Morgan - Chuck

Pam/Eric - True Blood

"The Gang" - It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

Guiltiest Pleasure - TV

Glee

Gossip Girl

Pretty Little Liars

Vampire Diaries

True Blood

Actor I Most Want To Marry 2010

Joseph Gordon Levitt

Tom Hardy

Andrew Garfield

Ryan Gosling

Jon Hamm

Nathan Fillion

Ryan Reynolds

Robert Downey Jr.

Mark Ruffalo

Matt Damon

Honorable Mentions: James Franco, Leonardo DiCaprio, Rupert Grint, Jesse Eisenberg

Woman I Most Want To Marry 2010

Emma Stone

Christina Hendricks

Natalie Portman

Mila Kunis

Michelle Williams

Olivia Wilde

Carey Mulligan

Julianne Moore

Scarlett Johansson

Keira Knightly

Most Overrated

Glee

Twilight: Eclipse

Toy Story 3

Lost

Anne Hathaway

Honorable Mentions: Olivia Munn, The Black Eyed Peas

Most Underrated - TIE for Silver

Caprica

Fringe

Friday Night Lights

Shutter Island

Archer

Supernatural*

Honorable Mentions: Flipped, Raising Hope, Going The Distance, The Town

Best Graphic Novel

Scott Pilgrim's Finest Hour

Xed Out

Batwoman: Elegy

Richard Stark's Parker: The Outfit

The Shepherd's Tale

Honorable Mentions: Return of the Dapper Men

Best Comic Series

Buffy Season 8

The Unwritten

The Walking Dead

American Vampire

Batman & Robin

Honorable Mentions: Chew, Daytripper, Uncanny X-Men, Invincible Iron Man

Best Video Game

Halo: Reach

Red Dead Redemption

Call of Duty: Black Ops

Mass Effect 2

Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood

Honorable Mentions: Fable 3

Best Villain - TIE for Bronze

Sue Sylvester - Glee

Voldemort - Harry Potter DHP1

Gideon Graves - Scott Pilgrim v The World

Clu - Tron

Ivan Vanko - Iron Man 2

The Man In Black - Lost

Lotso - Toy Story 3

Bellatrix LeStrange - Harry Potter DHP1

Subconscious Mal - Inception

Russel Edgington - True Blood

Honorable Mentions: Cheney - True Grit, The Rock - 127 Hours, Cooper - Red, Van Alden - Boardwalk Empire

Best Musician/Band

Arcade Fire

Mumford & Sons

Daft Punk

Vampire Weekend

Girl Talk

Honorable Mentions: Katy Perry, Eminem, Amanda Palmer, Broken Bells, She & Him

Best Book

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Just Kids by Patti Smith

The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest by Steig Larsson

Freedom by Jonathan Franzen

A Visit From The Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan

Extra Lives by Tom Bissell*

Honorable Mentions: Full Dark, No Stars by Stephen King, Room by Emma Donohuge

Most Romantic Line EVAR 2010 - TIE For Bronze

"You were my new dream." "And you were mine" - Tangled

"You were the only thing that got me through. If it wasn't for you I would never have made it back. You saved my life" - Fringe

"Kiss me, James" "You got it, Blondie" - Lost

"I'm in lesbians with you" - Scott Pilgrim v. The World

"The deluminator. It doesn't just turn off lights. I don't know how it work but Christmas morning, I was sleeping in this little pub, keeping away from some Snatchers, and I heard it. A voice. Your voice, Hermione. You said my name. Just my name. Like a whisper. So I took it, clicked it and this tiny ball of light appeared. And I knew. It flew towards me, the ball of light, right through my chest and straight through me. Right here. And I knew it was going to take me where I needed to go." - Harry Potter: DHP1

"You're waiting for a train. A train that will take you far away. You know where you hope this train will take you, but you can't be sure. But, it doesn't matter. Because we'll be together." - Inception

"In my experience, the prettier a girl is, the more nuts she is... which makes you insane. You're probably nutty coo-coo crazy." - Blue Valentine

"If I meet the true death without at least kissing you, Sookie Stackhouse, that will be my biggest regret." - True Blood

"You're my home, Chuck. You always have been." - Chuck

"When I'm around you, I kind of feel like I'm on drugs. Not that I do drugs. Unless you do drugs, in which case I do them all the time. All of them." - Scott Pilgrim v. The World

Best Fan Outreach

 Scott Pilgrim v. Comic-Con

Networks/Studios Using Twitter In Q&As (Syfy Fridays, Community DVD, etc)

Firefly References on Castle

ElecTRONica at Disneyland

Tron at Comic-Con (Flynn's Arcade/End of the Line Club/Panel)

Marvel at Comic-Con (Avengers Assemble! Panel, Dealer's Room Booth)

Walking Dead Campaign - Comic-Con, NYCC, Win a Walk on role, etc.

Mad Men Yourself Twitter Icons

@ThatKevinSmith's Twitter Account

Machete Taco Truck

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