Fighting the Flow: Emma Thompson

As a quick refresher, Emma Thompson is a two-time Oscar awarded actress and scriptwriter, hailing from England. Some of her more prominent roles include:

-Professor Sybill Trelawney (from Harry Potter)

- Elinor Dashwood (Sense and Sensibility)

- P. L. Travers (Saving Mr. Banks)

Emma Thompson is also a friend of actress Hayley Atwell, best known for her role as Agent Peggy Carter, from MARVEL....

So much so that one night she invited Hayley over to her house for dinner, a while before they both started filming in a movie called 'Brideshead Revisited' (which is a story full of sex and nudity, so I would not recommend it, but anyways). Midway through the evening, Emma noticed that Hayley wasn't eating much. At first, she let it slide, then, as her concern and frustration peaked, she asked Hayley why.
Hayley replied that the film company who had hired her told her, who was already of a rather slender build, that she needed to lose weight for the film.
 The next day, the company got a call from a very angry Emma Thompson.

Under threat that one of their stars would resign, the producers relented and left Hayley alone, and she appeared perfectly healthy in the film and at the red carpet after.

Applause for Emma!

Quote of the week

(Normally I don't have much interest in Mozart, but I rather like this quote)

Positive Picture Day

Hey, guys! Sorry it's been a while, my blog access center and my online college kept colliding in unpredictable ways so that I couldn't log in directly, but now I'm back, and ready with a whole menagerie of pics to brighten up your day!

Just a rant.

Hey guys. I didn't know what to post today, so I'm just going to say something of my own.

Life is tough. People are tough. I'm the type of person who finds people very hard to understand, but develops very deep compassion and affections for people, though I don't always say it out loud, because I'm scared of scaring them away. I hate that about myself, that I can't find the right words, or that they sound sappy whenever I say them. I care about people. But I also need people to care about me. I get lonely. I get sad, and I don't know why. I overthink everything and can't stop. I'm not sure if I have a mental disorder or not. Sometimes I get scared of my own thoughts, but I just can't stop thinking about them, because what if it's a really important subject, or what if I've made a great theological mistake?

This blog helps. Hearing about all these different people, overcoming their own challenges, or helping others who can't help themselves, it makes me smile. And I just want to be that sort of person for others, and to encourage others to do the same. Because we are all secretly not okay. We may look it, we may sound it, but inside, there is something bothering all of us. And we all need to smile every once in a while. We all need to know from time to time that there is something to smile about, that there is someone doing something good in the world, that there are people who care. And that one day, you'll meet that one person that cares that much for you. And they'll take your arm and help you to stand. And they'll never let you go. They may stumble from time to time, just like we all do, they may ask for you to help them, but you'll give each other strength. Because you know that you've got to keep that hope, that goodness alive.

We are all broken. We are all struggling. But we can all be heroes. Some people may not see us as that at first. They might hate you or scorn you while you live, then applaud you after you've died. But that doesn't change the fact that what you did was good, and you knew it, and you didn't give up.

So just hold on. Don't stop. Help is coming. In the meantime, don't stop helping others. Because you might be the help they're looking for too.

I mean, we're not Jesus, we can't solve all the problems, and we're not divine, but every little bit helps. We've got to get through life together. What's the harm in giving someone a hand and a smile?

White Christmas fun

Okay, sorry it's been so long guys, but I have a good excuse! I was helping out with a local theater's production of Irving Berlin's 'White Christmas', and getting home at very late hours, thus very drained for the week. I'm still recovering, but I thought you guys might like some trivia about the musical and the film to liven up your week before Christmas!

- According to Rosemary Clooney, the actress for Betty in the 1954 film production, Bob and Phil's rendition of 'Sisters' was not originally part of the script, but was added in when Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye were playing around on set.

- Bob laughing at Phil's antics during the 'Sisters' reprise are genuine. Bing Crosby couldn't keep a straight face at Danny Kaye's antics, so they reshot the scene with him better prepared, without laughing. Ultimately the first take was favored and is shown in the film.

- The actresses of Judy and Betty, though not related, are from the same area of Cincinnati, Ohio.


- Though it is implied that Betty is older than Judy, Rosemary Clooney was seven years younger than Vera-Ellen.

- In the musical's version of 'I wish I was back in the army', one of the wartime entertainers mentioned is Bing Crosby. This line had to be changed in the film.

- The original name of the song 'Snow' was 'Free', and contained different lyrics. Irving Berlin rewrote the lyrics and title for the film.

- Irving Berlin wrote 'Love you didn't do right by me' as a personal tribute to a friend of his.

- Bing Crosby was 51 when the film was shot. He was even a few months older than the actor of General Waverly.

- 99% of Vera-Ellens' songs were dubbed over, but she did all of Judy's dancing herself.

- If you look very closely at the end of 'The best things' dance number, you can see Vera-Ellens trip on Danny Kaye's foot. However, neither actor betrayed any faltering or shock.

- Irving Berlin is best known for composing 'God bless America'. However, most people don't know that he himself was an immigrant from Belarus.

Pick-up Picture Dump

Monday Morning Quote

"You know, sometimes I think there should be a rule of war saying you have to see someone close up and get to know them before it's okay to shoot them."
- Colonel Sherman Potter,
M*A*S*H