The Xanax of My TBR Pile: Companion Books to Spike Lee Joints!

Jeff Balsmeyer's storyboard from Do the Right Thing: A Spike Lee Joint; companion book to the Universal Pictures film.Popping a Xanax -- the miracle chill pill for symptoms of stress and anxiety -- will dissolve all your worries, according to NYMAG. Although I’m no medical expert, I would argue that listening to music is also an effective alternative solution for those of us trying to get out of the funky mood we find ourselves dealing with from time to time. Speaking of alternative remedies, reading books can be just as beneficial to combatting periods of stress and anxiety, as music.

Besides being cheaper than Xanax, books last longer and have more user-friendly side effects. This is one of the reasons why I look forward to each title in my (growing) TBR pile, such as books written by famous director Spike Lee; chronicling what it took to get a number of his films including She’s Gotta Have It, School Daze and Malcolm X off the ground. I’m currently working my way through one of them and enjoy Lee’s journal entries about how the movie characters were developed, viewing pages from the storyboards for a major scene and learning about the impact that making his film(s) had on actors.

• Spike Lee’s Gotta Have It: Inside Guerilla Filmmaking (1987)

• Uplift the Race: The Construction of School Dace (1988)

• Do the Right Thing: A Spike Lee Joint (1989)

• Mo’ Better Blues (1990)

• By Any Means Necessary: The Trials and Tribulations of Making Malcolm X (1993)

At times on this blog, I’ve been clear about my frustrations with the experiences I’ve had so far pursuing a career in the film industry. Sometimes just the mere thought of going through the stages of production budgets, casting, location scouting, post-production, etc. again makes me want to hurl. That’s not to even mention the uncertainty that comes when a movie is in the can and there’s another uphill battle of distribution, promotion and all that comes with getting people to watch it. So, I have a good feeling that reading the companion books to Spike Lee joints will help me take a step back to understand that every single film production comes with its own sets of challenges.

Something borrowed...For some reason when I read about other people’s movie making journey, especially someone as accomplished as Spike Lee, there’s a new sense of excitement for how they put a film together out of ideas in their heads and legal pad scribblings.

Suddenly, movies don’t seem too far out of reach and are fascinating again like they once were before I was logging hours of video footage into a cohesive document for the editing stage, and sitting in empty movie theaters.

Thanks to people like Spike Lee who pull back the curtains on show business from time to time, I have a good reminder that movies -- although a grueling undertaking from start to finish – are a powerful medium when treated as such. So the next time I’m feeling bad about filmmaking and the many challenges that come with this path, it’s nice to know there’s relief at the library or bookstores like Barnes and Noble rather than the nearest pharmacy.

X is for Xanax

How many books are in YOUR TBR pile?

Regardless of genre, what movie would YOU recommend to cure stress and anxiety?

From Texas to Shanghai - Sydney Aaliyah Michelle on Tattoos, Multiplex Theaters and Life after Law

If binge watching movies on iTunes was a sport, Georgetown University graduate Sydney Aaliyah Michelle has an early training advantage over her would-be opponents.

This contemporary romance writer from Texas, who got a tattoo commemorating her first novel “Another New Life,” is on my Mighty Minion Bureau team for the 2015 Blogging from A-to-Z Challenge. I recently promoted her to Special Agent – (the top “Asset” aka “Operative” among my helpers), as its Sydney’s third year assisting me in the April Blog Hop.

You can find this self-employed event coordinator enjoying Lobster Ravioli and Sidecar cocktails.

After learning that Sydney climbed the Great Wall of China, I invited her to give us the scoop on how life has evolved since her days as a lawyer.

The Madlab Post: What advice would you give to single women who are traveling abroad for the first time?

Sydney Aaliyah Michelle: I truly enjoy traveling alone especially to a new place. It allows me to explore on my own agenda and my own timetable. Before I travel someplace alone, I do a lot of research. Read about the place your visiting, have an agenda and follow it.

When I travel alone, I don’t skimp on hotels or transportation late at night. I may walk everywhere during the day, but I don’t take any chances putting myself in situations that could be dangerous. Use common sense and you’ll be fine.

Sydney's tattoo story features her love of lotus flowers and the idea that beauty can emerge from less than ideal situations.Did any stigmas of being tattooed ever have an impact on your relationships or career?

When I got my first tattoo, my parents weren’t thrilled, but I was 21, not much for them to say.  My second one, they helped me design it. They don’t love them, but they’ve accepted them. Men love my tattoos, they are all sexy and feminine, so no issues there.

I paused for a minute before getting my most visible tattoo on my left wrist, and my current boss tried to have an issue with it. My tattoos are a part of me, but don’t effect who I am or my abilities, so if someone fired me or didn’t hire me for having tattoos, I wouldn’t want to work for them anyway. 

What area of law did you practice?

I had always wanted to go to law school, but I like the idea of being a lawyer more than actually being a lawyer. I practiced law for about 9 months working for a huge law firm doing bankruptcy litigation. I sat in a small room with 10 other people 12-14 hours a day, 6 days a week reading documents on a computer. It wasn’t the kind of life I wanted to lead.

If you were a broke, ramen noodle eating artist who needed to relocate immediately, where would you move to get back on your feet? 

I would move to Singapore. I could be a beach bum and still have enough access to modern amenities to live comfortably with not a lot of money. It is an inspiring place as well, so it would feed my creative soul. Great mix of cultures. 

How many foreign languages are you fluent in?

With all of the countries I have visited and lived, I still only speak English fluently. I have some conversational Chinese and a few words slip out when no English word can quite convey what I am trying to say.  These are my three favorite Chinese words:

Hau zho bu jian – Long time, no see.

Bu zhidao – I don’t know.

Bu ming bai – Understand.

Can you tell me about your adult contemporary romance novel "Another New Life"?

Sydney released two novels, 'Hope for Her' and 'Hope for Him,' since the debut of 'Another New Life."

Here's the book blurb...

When Miranda’s talent wins her a piano performance scholarship to the University of Texas, she arrives on campus determined to experience everything college has to offer and to keep her secrets in the past where they belong.

An easy task, until the first guy who catches her eye happens to be someone, she’s known all her life.

Eight years have passed since the last time Miranda and Troy saw each other.

Can Miranda focus on her future with Troy while preventing her past from tearing them apart all over again?

Why is The Joker from "THE DARK KNIGHT" your favorite movie villain?

Heath Ledger’s performance was incredible. If it has to be our lasting image of him, I couldn’t think of a more pivotal role to immortalize his talent.

Plus, the Joker has one of my favorite lines from any movie and he delivered it brilliantly...

 “If you’re good at something, never do it for free.” 

Where do you prefer to watch movies?

I prefer to watch movies at a big, stadium seating, surround sound theater. If it’s a blockbuster, epic, anything with an 'AVENGERS character in it, I have to watch it at the theater first. Day-to-day movie watching comes from iTunes rentals. Even though I have 30 days to watch them, it’s pretty typical for me to watch three movies in a row on the final few days of the rental period.

You’re stranded on a desert island and can only have one movie and one book...what would you request?

This may be cheating a bit, but I would probably request the "LORD OF THE RINGS" Trilogy – that counts as one long movie, right? I find something new every time I watch it.

The book I would request would be “Under the Dome” by Stephen King. I think it’s pretty brilliant writing and I might find some new found kinship with the characters being stuck somewhere. 

Thank you Sydney Aaliyah Michelle for riding with me for three years straight on the alphabet wheel!

Now, for everyone else, tell me...

How many movies could YOU watch in a row?

Which cities or countries have YOU visited more than once?

Deniz’s Soft Spot for Welsh Actors and ‘The Chronicles of Narnia’

Moosehead Lager. J.J. BurkeAny illustrated dictionary showing examples of what it means to live life to the fullest, would be best to include a photo of Deniz Bevan at The Girdle of Melian and Simple Scarf. She frequently volunteers, travels and uses her skills and talents to help community-based initiatives while working as a freelance writer.

Deniz, who ate pide with salad and rice pudding for lunch every day for an entire year while living in Turkey, is one of my Mighty Minion Bureau assets that I got to know a little better while interrogating debriefing her on what it’s like to be a bourbon-flavored snowballs lover who reads “LORD OF THE RINGS” every year. Here, she dishes on Canadian beer, the key ingredients for best-selling homemade lip-gloss, the impact that cats have on her work and the tastiest way to get tipsy during holiday celebrations.

Who is the sexiest actor you’ve ever seen in a movie?

This is going back a ways, but Ioan Gruffudd in “SOLOMON AND GAENOR” always sticks in my mind as the ultimate in ooh-la-la!

What are some of the biggest challenges you face as a freelance copy writer?

Lately I’ve been doing more copy editing and beta reading, but even with that I’d say the biggest challenge is always to juggle work and social media promotion. It helps me to designate certain times throughout the week for social media, and to avoid it (if possible!) at all other times.

What inspired the title behind your novel, THE FACE OF A LION?

The scene that inspired the book was the image that came to me of a boy, Austin, and a cat walking towards Ephesus, from Kusadasi, Turkey. As they walk, the sea comes up behind them, and I knew that meant they were travelling back in time and that somehow it was the cat’s doing. The cat isn’t really a cat either, but takes that form in order to befriend Austin. When the cat is angry, he can appear almost lion-like in his fierceness.

Of course, it was also a slight nod to Aslan, the lion in “THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA.”

What are the best Canadian beers/brewers? – Are there any we should avoid like the plague? 

I’d say go with any and all craft beers or Canadian-owned beers, like Moosehead, and avoid those that have been bought out by multinational corporations!

Deniz Bevan's cat modeling one of her knitted hats.How old are your cats, what breed/gender are they and where did you get them from?

Aww, kitties! They’re 9 and 10, regular “domestic” (i.e. “whatever!”) breeds. We did get them from a pet store, I have to admit, but I desperately wanted kittens and the SPCA had only adult cats at the time! They were a bargain at 15 and 20 dollars :-)

What garments do you enjoy knitting most – scarves, hats or socks?

Scarves, definitely! And blankets! If I can memorise the pattern and knit it over a long term without having to constantly count stitches, I’m happy. Though I do have an adorable pattern for a ruffled baby hat that I’ve given to every expecting mother I know!

If you brought a piñata to a New Year’s Eve party, what would it be filled with?

Mm, chocolate... Let’s say liquor-filled chocolates, in honour of New Year’s Eve!

Deniz Bevan preparing to setup her wares at a craft fair.Do you have any tips for artisans who want to sell their wares at craft fairs or other events?

One thing I learned at the last craft fair I attended is that it helps to have a small pile of minimally priced items. In my case it was homemade lip gloss in cute glass jars, for 25 cents each. More people commented on that than on the knitting!

Do you have a recipe for homemade lip gloss that you can share with us? 

It was my sister-in-law who taught me how to make it – Vaseline, a tiny drop of food colouring, and a couple of drops of whatever flavour you’d like (vanilla, mint, etc.). You can heat up the Vaseline in the microwave a bit to make the ingredients easier to stir. Next time I make it, I’d like to try something more organic. Maybe cocoa butter. Mmm...

Check out Deniz's A-to-Z Challenge photos!

Also, get up to date on my previous Mighty Minion Bureau feature about Dale's Movie Theater Nightmare, where he causes us to wake up and smell the bacon!

If you're looking for my most recent #atozchallenge, post, read Kill Your Babies! A Lesson from Kevin Smith, and stay tuned for what I have in store for Letter L.