~La Dama Y La Muerte~ [Nominado al Oscar 2010]

Cortometraje Nominado al Oscar 2010



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KK1jjxka40c&hl=en

Joe Mcelderry - Chances of Winning the X Factor

If you are wondering what chances Joe Mcelderry has of winning the X Factor in 2009 then I think I can help you out. I've done quite a bit of research on him recently as I really want him to win as Joe has been my favourite act since the start. So what chance has he got of winning.

Inside information tells me that in the 4th week he narrowly missed out on the bottom 2, one of which left. He only missde it by something like half of a percent. Except for this every week it has been clean sailing for Joe But the thing is, it has been like that for quite a few acts. There are a lot of guys left in the competition that Joe is competing with who are very good.

Joe Mcelderry has some things that make him stick out from the other though. The first one is the fact that he comes across as a genuinely nice guy. Most people will vote for a nice guy going through a rough patch rather than an amazing singer who is a horrible person.

He has a great smile and good looks. He always looks like he has fun on the stage even if he has a bad performance. This makes people feel good about themselves. Secondly, Joe Mcelderry is a pretty decent looking guy on most accounts. You have to take into consideration that most of the shows audience and target audience are women of all ages who will vote because they fancy the pants off Joe.

He has high competition from other acts like Danyl though but he is the only act who has not really had a bad week so far so my vote is going for him to win X factor 2009. I think second place behind Joe Mcelderry will go to Olly Murs becase he is brilliant too.

I'm willing to bet that you're looking online for information about Joe Mcelderry on X Factor if you are , then click here for Joe Mcelderry

(c) Copyright -Richard D Shelmerdine. All Rights Reserved Worldwide

Grammy Noms 2010: Kings of Leon

Nathan Followill from Kings of Leon is at the 2010 Grammy nominations and talks to TV Guide about their noms for Record of the Year for 'Only The Night' and Song of the Year for 'Use Somebody.' They are also nominated for Best Rock Performance of a Duo or Group and Best Rock Song for 'Use Somebody.' He also gives props to his fellow Nashville native Taylor Swift's nominations and let's us know where the rest of his band is.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blJd1tPocU8&hl=en

Cars 2 Trailer 2011 from Disney Pixar, Christoph Waltz, Oscar Nominations 101

Cars 2 Trailer from Disney Pixar plus concept art from the upcoming film! Find out what's in store for Lightning McQueen and Mater in Cars 2! Then learn what's next for Christoph Waltz as he stars in The Green Hornet, Water for Elephants, The Three Musketeers in 3D and God of Carnage! And if you're wondering how the 2011 Oscar Nominations are chosen, take a look at this case study of Michael Douglas! All that and a look at the weekend box office as host Grace Randolph gives you an inside look at Hollywood with an industry perspective!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G98RBE1wLfM&hl=en

Documentaire inédit : Un Prophète, succès sans préméditation

Le film de Jacques Audiard, Un prophète est nominé 13 fois aux César. A cette occasion, 13ème RUE diffuse un documentaire inédit revenant sur la sucess story de ce long métrage. Ce documentaire décline et décrypte les clés d'une unanimité aussi bien critique que publique, grâce aux interviews de ceux qui ont travaillé de près ou de loin sur ce dernier film de Jacques Audiard, " Un prophète ". Tahar Rahim l'acteur principal, Abdel Raouf Dafri le premier scénariste, et bien d'autres reviennent sur la success story de ce long métrage qui a reçu le prestigieux prix Delluc, nominé 13 fois aux César et sélectionné dans la catégorie " Meilleur film étranger " aux Oscars.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACgZFkMhpxY&hl=en

Grammy Noms 2010: Maxwell

Maxwell talks to TV Guide about his 6 nominations for the 2010 Grammys. He's nominated for Song of the Year for 'Pretty Wings,' Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for 'Love You' and Best Pop Instrumental Performance for 'Phoenix Rise.' Plus, Best Male R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Song for 'Pretty Wings' and Best R&B Album 'Black Summer's Night.' He's been out of the loop for 8 years and now he's back with a vengeance. His comeback comes with a great appreciation.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lmfd0z10oYg&hl=en

10 Movies You Must Watch Before You Die

Dying very soon? Are you on a death toll? Well, before you die, there are 10 great movies that you must watch first. How did I know that this is worth your time? I watched it, and so must you, to prove that I am right.

Due to boredom and got nothing else to do, I decided to have a movie marathon by myself. I went to my entertainment room and selected 10 movies that I love the most. It took me 15 hours just watching them. Here are my top 10 greatest movies of all time. I started with:

1. The Goonies - a 1985 movie that was directed by Richard Donner and a story made by Steven Spielberg. A ragtag group of young misfits are what they call the "Goonies". These "Goonies", who were from the "Goon Docks" neighborhood of Astoria, Oregon, started to go on an adventure to find the buried treasure of One-Eyed Willie, a legendary 17th-century pirate, hoping to save their homes from demolition.

2. Never Ending Story - is the 1984 film adaptation of the German fantasy novel by Michael Ende and the production was directed by Wolfgang Petersen.

Starring Barret Oliver as Bastian Balthazar Bux (named only "Bastian Bux" in the movie), Noah Hathaway as Atreyu, and Tami Stronach as The Childlike Empress.

The story began when Bastian started reading the book "The Never Ending Story". And his adventure started when he started reading the book. To be able to save "Fantasia", Bastian should rebuild the entire world through wishes and imagination.

3. Kids - a 1995 American film written by Harmony Korine and directed by Larry Clark. The film is focused on a day in the life of a group of teenagers in New York City and Disturbing, dark, low-budget independent film about teenagers growing up in poverty in New York City.

The story focuses on Telly (Leo Fitzpatrick), a teen who has a goal to de-flower as many virgins as he can. When one of his old encounters discovers that she is H.I.V.-positive, after only one encounter with a guy, Telly remains undaunted. (http://www.imdb.com/)

4. The Godfather - a 1972 crime film based on the novel of the same name, The Godfather, written by Mario Puzo. The movie was directed by Francis Ford Coppola, with screenplay by Puzo and Coppola. The Godfather was initially ranked as the third greatest film in American cinematic history. The story spans ten years from late 1945 to 1955 and chronicles the life of the Corleone crime family.

5. The Godfather Part II - is a 1974 motion picture directed by Francis Ford Coppola from a script co-written with Mario Puzo. The Internet Movie Database ranks it as the third best movie of all time with the movie's predecessor, The Godfather, ranked as #1, and the American Film Institute lists it as #32. Considered by many, they all say that "The Godfather Part II" is the greatest sequel of all-time. This sequel is nominated for 11 Academy Awards and winning 6, including the Best Picture Award and the Best Supporting Actor Award.

It is considered by some critics to be even better than the original. The film is both a sequel and a prequel to The Godfather, chronicling the story of the Corleone family following the events of the first film while also depicting the rise to power of the young Vito Corleone, played by Robert De Niro.

6. The Godfather Part III (1990) - is the third and final film in the Godfather trilogy written by Mario Puzo and Francis Ford Coppola, and directed by Coppola. It completes the story of Michael Corleone, a Mafia godfather who tries to legitimize his criminal empire. The movie also weaves into its plot a fictionalized account of real-life events - the mysterious 1978 death of Pope John Paul I and the Papal banking scandal of 1981-1982 - and links them with each other and with the affairs of Michael Corleone. The film stars Al Pacino, Diane Keaton, Talia Shire, Andy Garcia, Eli Wallach, Joe Mantegna, George Hamilton, Bridget Fonda, and Sofia Coppola.

7. Good Fellas - is a 1990 film directed by Martin Scorsese, based on the book Wiseguy by Nicholas Pileggi, the true story of mob informer Henry Hill. The film stars Ray Liotta as Henry Hill, Robert De Niro as Jimmy Conway (based on Jimmy Burke), Joe Pesci, who won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as the sociopath Tommy DeVito (based on Tommy DeSimone), Lorraine Bracco as Hill's wife (Karen Hill), and Paul Sorvino as Paulie Cicero (based on Paul Vario).

8. City Of God - is an Academy Award-nominated 2002 Brazilian film, released in its home country in 2002 and worldwide in 2003. It was adapted by Bráulio Mantovani from the 1997 novel of the same name written by Paulo Lins which, both the film and the book, are based on a true story; the war between Knockout Ned and Li'l Zé is based on their real life counterparts. It was directed by Kátia Lund and Fernando Meirelles.

The film received four Academy Award nominations in 2004: Best Cinematography (César Charlone), Best Directing (Meirelles), Best Editing (Daniel Rezende) and Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay) (Mantovani). Before that, in 2003 it had been chosen to be Brazil's runner for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, but it was not nominated to be one of the five finalists.

In October 2002, a spin-off television series, City of Men, premiered on Rede Globo.

9. Y Tu Mama Tambien - (literally "And your mom, too", released in English-speaking markets under the original Spanish title) is a 2001 Mexican film written by Carlos Cuarón and directed by Alfonso Cuarón. The film chronicles a coming-of-age story of two teenage boys taking a road trip with a woman in her late twenties. The film is set against the backdrop of the political and economic realities of present-day Mexico, specifically at the end of the uninterrupted seventy-year line of Mexican presidents from the Institutional Revolutionary Party, and the rise of the opposition headed by Vicente Fox. The film achieved great success in its native country and received awards and critical acclaim in foreign territories.

10. Amores Perros - is a Mexican film directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu in 2000. It is an anthology film, containing three distinct stories, which are connected by a car accident in Mexico City. Each of the three tales is also a reflection on the cruelty of humans towards each other, showing how they end up living darker and more hideous lives than the dogs around them. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2001.

The film was released under its Spanish title in the English-speaking world, although it was sometimes translated as Love's a Bitch in marketing. In a 2001 interview on National Public Radio, Iñárritu pointed out that an American English idiom, Love's a Bitch is not a satisfactory translation of the title. (http://en.wikipedia.org)

There you have it, my top 10 greatest movies. Anyone who share same interests as mine, feel free to comment, or you could also suggest some movies that I should also watch before I die. Enjoy!

I am a fan of shoes and films. I am striving and an aspiring director. I know what I like and I try very hard to get them. I don't like people who are content with what they've achieved, I want to be surrounded by people who dream big, and act to achieve their goals and dreams. You can visit my blog http://scoot30.vox.com for more articles about life, entertainment, movies, and a lot, lot more.

From Hannibal to Philanthropist - the Many Roles of Anthony Hopkins

It's but one glance at those ice blue eyes, cutting through you like a dagger. One stealthy turn of his now balding head, one smile like the crack of a bullwhip and you instantly know you are looking at none other than Anthony Hopkins.

He ranks among a generation of actors as steadfast and serious as their steely gazes. Men like Sean Connery and Jack Nicholson, actors who can deliver stellar performances with an unmatchable grace and air of professionalism. A man who is preceded only by the characters he has portrayed, decades of roles that have created an unshakeable career. Instantly recognizable in his Oscar winning role as one of the most maniacal, mentally perverse villains Hollywood has ever encountered, Hannibal Lecter, a role which he revisited two more times in the 2001 film, "Hannibal" and 2002's "Red Dragon". In 1984 Hopkins showed his remarkable flexibility to take on any role when he depicted an entirely different kind of criminal. None other than Adolf Hitler in the film "The Bunker", a gripping look at Hitler's last days on earth as the end of World War 2 loomed on the horizon (for which Hopkins received an Emmy nod).

Taking to controversial roles like a fish to water, Hopkins is easily identifiable as the man who portrayed Richard Bruno Hauptmann in "The Lindbergh Kidnapping Case", and William Bligh in "The Bounty". He is the face many filmgoers tie to the screen versions of John Quincy Adams, Othello and even US President Richard M. Nixon.

Off screen Hopkins has stepped up to the altar three times and is tied to a string of other women - like so many of Hollywood's leading gents. With an almost implausible number of roles under his belt (one hundred plus and rising), stints into film direction and composition, as well as a forthcoming role as an executive producer for the 2005 film "Bobby", that will look at the 1968 assassination of Senator Robert Kennedy. Like many in the spotlight of fame he is involved with various philanthropist causes, though unlike many who simply sign cheques, the causes Hopkins helps out often tie directly into his own life. Evident in the work that he does for numerous charities both in his childhood stomping grounds, the UK, and his current homeland of America (he became a naturalized American citizen in 2000). In Wales, where Anthony was born he has donated over one million pounds sterling to the Snowdonia National Park. As well Hopkins regularly contributes his time and well-honed skills to teach young actors the craft at the Ruskins School of Acting in Santa Monica, California.

Anthony Hopkins has made an unforgettable career made of harsh characters, British personalities, wise men and troubled souls. Yet beneath the gruff, and at times secluded manner, the undeniable wit and personifying charm that only a Welsh fellow can offer, Hopkins is a man who, like so many of the roles he has portrayed, has lead a life of personal struggle, a journey to overcome his demons and perhaps a desire to be known for more than just his astonishing acting skills.

Jessica Cander is a full time freelance writer who loves to stay on top of up-to-the-minute entertainment trends, including stars such as Anthony Hopkins. For the latest information, gossip and hot facts, Jessica recommends Answers.com.

NOEL TORRES CORRIDOS 2010 - SOUND CHECK TV

NOEL TORRES CORRIDOS 2010 EN SOUND CHECK. THEMOVIEMAKER3000 COMANDO DEL DIABLO, NO ME FALTEN AL RESPETO, CORRIDOS NUEVOS 2010



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ch4F_5DW-ow&hl=en

Earth Focus: 2010 Environmental Film Festival

Watch more at www.linktv.org This episode of Earth Focus takes you to the 2010 Environmental Film Festival in Washington, DC, with excerpts from exciting new feature films on environmental issues impacting our world. Veteran film producer Bill Benenson speaks about his new film "Dirt: The Movie", which looks at the importance of topsoil. Also, producer/director Ana Sofia Joanes tells us why we need new alternatives to our industrial food supply; her film "Fresh" profiles innovative new approaches to farming. And in the film "What's on Your Plate," two young New Yorkers discover what they didn't know about food.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dnIMetrVJM&hl=en

How to Campaign For an Academy Award the Right Way

The Academy Award is one of the most prestigious awards in the world of motion pictures. Along with BAFTA and Golden Globe, the Awards provides a platform, where filmmakers, actors, singer, technicians and other people who work to bring a motion picture to the viewers are felicitated for their amazing work in this regard. Over the years, with the growth in the popularity of the motion pictures, academy awards have become all the more popular as well. It is perhaps due to this reason that almost every one who is involved with motion pictures, dreams of winning the awards.

The Academy Award is also popularly referred to as the Oscars, and is presented every year by AMPAS, i.e. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Another interesting fact about the Academy award is that it is also the award ceremony in the field of media. The AMPAS was conceived by Louis B. Mayer. The first Academy Award ceremony was held on May 16, 1929. The event took place in Hotel Roosevelt and honored outstanding achievements in the film industry during 1927 and 1928. Douglas Fairbanks and William C. DeMille hosted this event. This event was attended by an audience of around 270 people. Initially the awards were aired on radio and thereafter with the advent of television; the proceedings began to be aired on television. The academy awards feature a number of films from various genres. So, you will find Award winning documentaries, Best horror films, Tim McGraw movies, as well as top indie films.

Voting in regard to the awards is conducted by The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has a voting membership of around six thousand people. Voters largely constitute actors, in regard to the composition. The votes are certified by PricewaterhouseCoopers. All the members are invited for the voting procedure, by the Board of Governors. New membership applications are considered on an annual basis. The membership is not revealed publicly.

When it comes to winning an academy award, campaigning plays a very important role. Although these days, Oscar campaigning is associated more or less with mudslinging campaigns, such a practice doesn't actually help. The idea in regard to such a campaign should focus on ensuring that all the members watch your movie. This would provide you with a fair chance. You may also go ahead promoting your movie on the newspapers, television and the internet, generating support and bringing it in the forefront.

As it is, the academy awards are definitely one of the most prestigious events. So, best of luck for your campaigning.

For more information:

http://www.indiegeniusprod.com

Indie Genius Productions has been around since 2001 and worked on award winning films documentaries and best horror movies. Films include Thoth, Your Mommy Kills Animals and American Drug War. Tim McGraw movies, Nkki Finke and the Native American sunrise ceremony are things we are interested in. One of the films THOTH won the Academy Award in 2002.

http://www.indiegeniusprod.net

9 By Shane Acker

This is the video 9 which will be made into a feature film by Tim Burton and Shane Acker. This video is fairly interesting and I found the version without the wierd sounds at the beginning.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IQcMeNh7Hc&hl=en

Miley Cyrus & Liam Hemsworth - Teen Vogue Cover Shoot 2010

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWdsFNJmLeU&hl=en

Comic Movies - What Are the Good and Bad Ones?

Comic book movies have graced the big screen since 1966, when Adam West and Burt Ward starred in "Batman: the Movie." For years, directors struggled on how to adapt the graphic novels into a palpable product, and we have seen a number of different takes. For instance, the earliest "Batman" movies used comical sound effects and a humorous edge to draw the line between make-believe and reality.

By contrast, "Superman" is a much more serious story, full of action but devoid of the humorous overtones. More modern adaptations have played with special effects and character development. "Sin City" is a more serious film noir that's narrated very true to the comics, using black-and-white cinematography and very little splashes of color to give accent. "X-Men" presents very in-depth character portrayals that delve into the past, present and future psyches of all its complex anti-heroes.

The comic books DC put out seemed to enjoy more big screen success throughout the 1980s and 1990s, with "Superman II, III, and IV," "Swamp Thing," "Batman," "Batman Returns," "Batman Forever," and "Batman and Robin." Warner Brothers released all these films relentlessly, with a new debut each year it seemed. The 1989 Batman movie, directed by Tim Burton and starring Michael Keaton as Batman and Jack Nicholson as the Joker, was the second-highest grossing comic book movie until "The Dark Knight" (2008) knocked it down a notch.

The sequel "Batman Returns," the third-highest grossing film of 1992, again starred Keaton as Batman and featured directing by Tim Burton but added Danny Devito as the Penguin and Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman. Writer/Director Kevin Smith called 1992 "the summer of the bat," when Batman merchandise filled every store and sold with amazing efficiency.

While DC Comics dominated the 1990s with their "Batman" series, "Spider-Man" vied for top superhero status in the new millennium. Until Christopher Nolan's "Batman: The Dark Knight" (earning $522,106,180 at the box office) reclaimed the winning spot for the caped crusader, Sam Raimi's "Spiderman" trilogy was considered #1 (with $403,706,375, $373,585,825 and $336,530,303, respectively), as far as comic book movies were concerned.

All three Spiderman films set opening day records in the US, were the top 3 Marvel Comic movies ever made and were the most successful films ever produced by Sony/Columbia. Stan Lee was actively involved in the scripting and filming of the movies to ensure success. Marvel's "Iron Man," starring Robert Downey Jr. was the fifth most successful comic book box office hit, bringing in $318,223,785.

"You could tell having seen Iron Man and having seen Batman, that the writers and producers and directors now know how to treat these movies," Marvel Comic creator Stan Lee said. He added that comic book movies will continue to get better and better with new technology and adaptations. Coming up in 2009 is Marvel's highly anticipated "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" prequel, starring Hugh Jackman, in addition to another "Punisher" movie. "Iron Man 2," "Thor," "The Avengers," "Spider-Man 4" and another "Captain America" are also reportedly in development for subsequent years.

As for DC, "The Spirit" and "The Watchmen" are set for release in 2008 and 2009, the latter of which has many comic book fans talking. Several more movies have been in development for the past few years, including: "Superman (reboot)," "The Green Lantern," "The Justice League of America," "Wonder Woman" and "Batman 3."

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The Biggest Loser Rules

Rules form an integral part of every kind of activity. Unless you would not have made some fundamental as well as some common rules, you can not find the ultimate goal of any project. Similarly there are some particular rules and regulation for the biggest loser. The biggest loser rules are based on the whole working criteria and strategies of the contest.

The biggest loser rules consist of many conditions and it is totally up to you that these rules fit to your diet or not. There is no as such rigid rule that you will not be allowed to participate in it if you are not losing the required weight. Participants having less than 100lbs weights to lose are put in the group of similar participants and even then they will be given the opportunity to compete with their seniors on their desire. All will be given chance to play and compete comparatively. Once you get registered for biggest loser rules, you will be placed on the team formed for you. Just after your enrollment in the biggest loser you will be given directions which are the basis of it.

In the biggest loser rules you will find unlimited excitement. Everyone associated with the biggest loser will be related in a centralized way to each other. Although it is not easy to make any sudden change in routine life but once you become a part of the biggest loser rules then it is not a big deal to cope up with it. No extra fees or any other type of charges are associated with this competition. Moreover, there are additional benefits which can be availed by you if you are weighing within particular time period according to standard set of rules. When your weight is 2 Ib and standard lowest weight is 5 Ib then even if you gain weight you will not get any dough, unless you touch the lowest limit.

There is another rule that if you find yourself unable to weigh on one day then it will be your responsibility to weigh in prior or in the following day. In fact the biggest loser rules are based on the loser who undergoes the biggest percentage of original weight lost. All the data related to weight lose will be collected every fortnightly and at the last day of each month. So it is the one of the most important rules of the biggest loser, to inform your whole weight lose report every fortnightly and also at the end of month. When the rating is out then you will be able to see that what your position is. For preparing your report you can use spreadsheets, notebooks, calculator, or any other means which are approved as per the rules of the biggest loser.

The biggest loser rules are equivalent for all participants. There is no place for partiality in the biggest loser rules as these are reviewed from time to time. Similarly all participants are supposed to follow these rules of the biggest loser equally without any break up.

These rules are in conjunction with the basics of losing body fat, so do a little research by discussing your fat loss program with your doctor and doing some online research to help you find what works best for you. The following link is a great way to get started. Click Here to get your FREE diet plan and body composition profile!

Antonio Banderas - A Gift From Malaga

As the voice of Puss in Boots in the series of Shrek films, Antonio Banderas' accent is becoming just as recognisable as his easily identifiable face.

Hailing from the Spanish city of Malaga, Banderas started his acting career in Spanish films and TV shows in 1982. It wasn't until 1993 that he made his first appearance in a major English-spoken film - The House of Spirits, alongside Meryl Streep, Jeremy Irons and Winona Ryder.

Banderas originally wanted to become a professional footballer but an injury when he was 14 put paid to those dreams, but his heart was set on stardom and aged 19 he started working in Spanish theatre productions; however, it's his career in Hollywood that has put him on the celebrity map.

After The House of Spirits, Banderas appeared in the Oscar-winning Philadelphia. He went on to play the lead role in Robert Rodriguez' Desperado alongside Salma Hayek. As a precursor for his part in Shrek, Banderas narrated Evita - starring Madonna, Jimmy Nail and Andrea Corr - before starring in the 1998 version of The Mask of Zorro. He would later play the lead role in The Legend of Zorro opposite Catherine Zeta-Jones.

In 2001 he again worked with director Rodriguez, appearing in the children's action adventure film Spy Kids, as well as being cast in the sequels.

By now, Banderas' name was known the world over and his appearance in Imagining Argentina alongside Kuno Becker would lead to a high profile name-drop. When Becker went on to play Santiago Munez in the 2005 film Goal!, the player was eventually accepted into the Newcastle ranks because the sister of Hughie McGowan - villain of the squad - fancied Munez, which McGowan explained by saying "she thinks you look like Antonio Banderas".

Banderas has also tried his hand at directing with two films to his credit - 1999's Crazy in Alabama and the more recent El camino de los ingleses (Summer Rain in English speaking countries) in which he cast his wife, Melanie Griffiths, and their daughter Stella del Carmen Banderas.

Although based in Hollywood, Banderas still spends a lot of time in his home country taking flights to Malaga to see his family and childhood friends.

As well as visiting Malaga, Banderas also stops off in northern Spain where he owns a vineyard producing red and rose wines under the company name Anta Banderas - although it is always his acting that people will remember Banderas for, no matter how versatile his career becomes.

The information contained within this article is the opinion of the author and is intended purely for information and interest purposes only. It should not be used to make any decisions or take any actions. Any links are included for information purposes only.

Victoria Cochrane writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.

Talk to Yourself in the Mirror!

Don't tell me you never stood in front of a mirror as a child and made funny faces at yourself. If like me you had a private penchant for acting, you probably had conversations with yourself too. Some people say it's the first sign of madness. In my case they'd probably be right. But you know what, when you're in the business of reading to children, talking to yourself in the mirror has tremendous advantages. For instance, you can see what sort of expressions you're wearing. You'd be amazed at how many people think they have a smile on their face when actually it's a blank look, or at most a smirk. Check it out for yourself. No prizes for guessing that reading stories to kids with that kind of expression won't win a lot of rave reviews.

I never used to think of myself as a professional story reader when I read to my kids, but I read MobiStories digital picture books for a living now, and there's no doubt in my mind that those 14 years were a perfect training ground for my current career. And guess what, my moments in front of the mirror before brushing my teeth were almost as helpful! A common problem for anyone, especially these days when we all seem to be trying to deliver information more quickly, is to abbreviate and slur our words in conversation. Inevitably this malaise has spread to reading out loud as well. But for kids listening to a story being read, clarity is of vital importance. They are hanging on every word you speak as the illusion of the story coming alive unfolds in their heads. One missed word is like a movie suddenly stopping in the middle.

Watching yourself speak, as well as listening to your diction as you view yourself in the mirror can help these issues tremendously. Grab one of your kid's most exciting picture books, and when no one else is around, station yourself in front the bathroom mirror. Read the first couple of pages. Then stop and ask yourself: "Was I having fun?" Read it again, this time with a bit of a smile on your face - check in the mirror to make sure it's there! Good. Now, read it again and this time I want you become an actor. Use your free arm to gesticulate a bit. Imagine you're giving directions in Italian. Don't forget the smile. Excellent. We're almost there. Next time add some funny facial expressions and read in a more animated fashion. You are the story's ringmaster and you must also become each of the characters. And then finally, be sure you're having at least as much fun as your child. Play out those two pages without looking at the book, just glancing at yourself in the mirror. The transformation is complete!

Read on Storyteller! Watch the excitement on your kids' faces as you bring their favorite stories to life. You've done it - you've successfully made their bedtime experience one you will all want to repeat night after night. Happy reading!

Christopher Kennedy - Operations Director, Recording engineer, Voice over artist, music editor of MobiStories, Virtual Books for Kids, http://www.mobistories.com

Responsibilities at Still Motion Media include overall audio concept for each book; sound quality control, recording narration, sound effects, composing, music editing and text proof-reading.

He has over twenty-five years experience in the Motion Picture Film Industry working in all areas of Sound Supervision, Sound Editing, and Music Editing; achieving more than sixty Screen credits on films, made for TV movies and TV specials.

Nominated for three Golden Reel Sound Awards for: "Unfaithful," "De-Lovely" and "Rameses."

Collaborated with film composer, Jan A.P.Kaczmarek on the Oscar winning score for "Finding Neverland."

Operates from his studio, Maple Hill Productions, in Doylestown, PA.

Narrates audio books, and provides voice-overs for online training programs, commercials and industrial projects.

Education - studied English, French, Spanish, Music and the Arts at Bradfield College in England.

Contact: ckennedy@stillmotionmedia.com (818)486 4113.

A Jew-y Moment at the 2010 Oscars

See post here: www.jewlicious.com Israeli film Ajami got stiffed. A Serious Man got stiffed. And the Only Oscar won by Inglorious Basterds was given to the Jew hunting Nazi. I thought we controlled Hollywood?? Right. Anyhow, here's the one slightly amusing Jewy moment at the Oscars brought to you by host and funny man, Steve Martin.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHE8CrZYgyA&hl=en

Oscar's No Award Winner

Movies have gotten much worse since in the last several decades. I went to the movies three times last year, and after watching the dizzying kaleidoscopic scene changes every two seconds I pledged never again to torture myself by going to see another "new" movie.

Chances are you are among the one billion people around the world who watched the 65th Academy Awards on ABC-TV Tuesday night. And, if you're like most people who've tuned in over the years you probably found it a little long and a little boring.

Personally, I rarely watch the show anymore largely because I rarely go to the movies these days. I prefer to watch the great old movies from the '30s, '40s and '50s -- you remember, the ones without the frequent off-color remarks, obscene gestures and explicit sex scenes.

But, because my spouse opted to videotape the TV spectacle -- despite the fact that neither of us had seen even one of the movies nominated for the awards -- I skimmed through the more than three-hour show, mostly on fast-forward. The way I see it, why should I waste time watching movies I do not like (I've seen enough to make that judgment over the past 30 years) when I have dozens of titles I like on videotape such as Bing Crosby's titles including "Pennies From Heaven" and "Going My Way," as well as "Gunga Din" and "Beau Geste" -- well, you get the idea.

Actually, I like Clint Eastwood well enough; he certainly deserves kudos for his acting accomplishments. The problem is that we heap praise on Hollywood's finest (including the legitimate theater and, now Cable TV) by contrived means; contrived because the awards are calculated to build up the box office so the actors and moguls can make even more dough than they do now. Perhaps the original awards were meant to honor the work of the actors and others, but today it's just "show business."

If Hollywood can do it, why can't everyone else? I'll bet that, if pressed, you could single out some long unrecognized co-worker for doing a yeoman's job. I know that here at The Hour there are people in every department that deserve commendation for Best Reporter, Best Editor, Best Pressman, Best Advertising Person, Best Circulation Promoter, Best Computer Operator, Best Manager and Best Office Worker.

The truth is that I have little respect for most awards anyway, not because the people who win them are less than deserving, but rather because of the people who do not receive them -- often those who are not even considered. Awards, generally, are given primarily to promote something other than those who receive them (If you're in the insurance business and want to boost profits in the casualty business, give an award to a safe driver -- it helps promote the industry and perhaps will reduce accidents and claims.

Just think. How many awards have you received? How about your fellow workers who toil without recognition? Sure we all get salaries, but so does Clint!

If we are going to give awards, with the accompanying hoopla, why not give them to people we can hold up as examples of a worthy ideal for which we would all wish to strive?

Doctor, lawyer or Indian chief, we all need recognition. But if we can only honor a few, let's honor those who reflect our best and truest values. Let's not forget the little guy.

I am a retired newspaper reporter and editor having worked for The Hour newspaper of Norwalk, Conn., for 32 years. I am a 1964 graduate of New York University where I majored in journalism and minored in marketing under a public relations program. I served three years in USA Army in Public Information in Germany and Colorado, 1954-57. I currently hold the position of Adjutant with the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Robert F. Garrison Post 3350 in East Rockaway, New York. I am a lifelong fan of Bing Crosby, the greatest singer of the 20th Century and an Oscar-winning movie actor.

I am a hubpages.com author who writes on a wide variety of topics, including politics, government, crime, transportation and entertainment. You will find my opinions and commentary on current events at my new Blog at this address: http://torpeyhour.blogspot.com/ For more of my work, please visit my Profile Page at the following address: http://hubpages.com/_wwft/profile/William+F.+Torpey.

5 Men Sexier Than Hugh Jackman

Hugh Jackman is a sexy, sexy man. That's what People magazine believes at least. The celebrity mag picked the Australia star for its coveted title, previously held by the likes of Johnny Depp, George Clooney, and Brad Pitt. While Mr. Jackman definitely sets our hearts fluttering we can't help but think that there are sexier men who could easily fill Hugh's shoes.

We're not alone. Entertainment Weekly feels Jon Hamm was denied type honors, and comments on the site tout the sexiness of everyone from Gale Harold (Desperate Housewives) to Jonathan Rhys Meyers (The Tudors). After hours of searching through hot celebrity photos, YourTango has come up with a list of 10 men who are sexier than Hugh Jackman.

Jon Hamm (Mad Men)
It's easy to think that Don Draper's stylish suits and effortless charm is why we're hot for Hamm, but it's the promise of what's to come that we find so sexy. We've only just discovered this 37-year-old and his recent turn as host of Saturday Night Live has us thinking he's primed for transition to the silver screen, just like former TV vets George Clooney (ER) and Alec Baldwin (Knots Landing).

Robert Pattinson (Twilight)
Twilight is not a good movie (trust us), but we thank the producers for bringing the brooding Pattinson to our attention. His brief turn in the Harry Potter series didn't prepare us for his sardonic smile and tortured personality. We know we can't fix him, but we're willing to try.

Jensen Ackles (Supernatural)
There are many reasons to tune in to the CW's cult hit Supernatural, but our favorite reason is Ackles' just-back-from-hell Dean Winchester. Always ready for a fight, a steamy romp in the back of a car, or just about anything you throw at him. Need more reason to lust after him? Ok, he's 6'1", hails from Texas, and his roommate is Jared Padalecki which means sleepovers at his place would be twice the fun.

Javier Bardem (Vicky Christina Barcelona)
What's that you say? You only know Senor Bardem from last year's Oscar winning film, No Country For Old Men? Then get thee to a computer screen right now and Netflix some of his sultry Spanish films. You won't need subtitles to understand the heat that comes out of his performances in Between Your Legs or Mouth to Mouth. If you're looking to be swept away, then rent The Sea Inside and watch as he uses only his eyes to communicate love as a paraplegic suing the state for the right to die.

Clive Owen (Elizabeth: The Golden Age)
It could be his piercing eyes or his chiseled features, but we think the sexiest part of Clive Owen is his voice. Somewhere between a whisper and melodic lullaby, it's certainly the last thing we'd like to hear before we close our eyes at night.

Jeffrey Dean Morgan (Grey's Anatomy)
Nominating JDM as a sexy man does not validate the ridiculous ghost sex storyline that brought back the doomed Denny Duquette to Grey's Anatomy this year. However, it's nice to see Morgan on our TV screens every week, even though he's been hard to miss thanks to turns on Supernatural and Weeds. Like so many on others on our list we're drawn in by his dreamy eyes, but we stick around for the entire retrosexual package.

This article is an excerpt from YourTango.com. Click here for the the complete list of men sexier than Hugh Jackman.

Best Zombie Movies

If you're looking for the best zombie movies available, I've saved you the trouble of tracking them down. The following five films are as good as it gets, no matter if the featured undead are shuffling about or running at full speed. Before you can call yourself a true fan of zombie movies, you need to see each and every one.

Dawn of the Dead (1978) - According to the poster for the film, "When there's no more room in Hell, the dead will walk the Earth." And that's exactly what happens (well, except maybe for the part about Hell), as the dead rise up and begin to spread panic and infection throughout the still-breathing population. Within a short time, society is ready to crumble, and a mismatched group of survivors (including Ken Foree, Gaylen Ross, David Emge, and Scott H. Reiniger) seek refuge in a shopping mall abandoned by all but the undead. George A. Romero made sure to throw in plenty of social commentary to go with all the gore, and the battle between our heroes and a marauding band of bikers is one of the film's many highlights. While it may not have started the genre, Dawn of the Dead undoubtedly had a major impact on every zombie film that followed. And unlike many other movies about shambling corpses, Dawn brought in praise from critics as influential as Roger Ebert.

Dawn of the Dead (2004) - Zack Snyder directed this remake of the Romero classic, and once again a group of desperate survivors find themselves trapped in a mall with ravenous zombies outside. But this time the zombies can run, making them far more deadly than the slow corpses in the original version. The soundtrack adds nicely to the mood of the film, and the cast is filled with recognizable names such as Ving Rhames, Sarah Polley, Mekhi Phifer, and Jake Weber. Also keep an eye out for cameos from original cast members Ken Foree, Tom Savini, and Scott Reiniger.

Shaun of the Dead (2004) - Combine a zombie flick with a British comedy, and you'll get this hilarious film from director Edgar Wright. Simon Pegg stars as Shaun, a lovable loser who's just been dumped by his girlfriend, Liz (Kate Ashfield). But when the zombie apocalypse hits, he and chubby pal Ed (Nick Frost) must mount a rescue effort of Liz and her wacky roommates (Lucy Davis and Dylan Moran). Try to spot all the subtle tributes to previous zombie films, and enjoy the solid supporting performances from Bill Nighy and Penelope Wilton. If you see only one romantic zombie comedy this year, Shaun of the Dead has to be the one.

28 Weeks Later (2002) - Danny Boyle is a versatile and Oscar-winning director who's worked on comedies, thrillers, dramas, and even science fiction films. But this time he turns out a tale of an England overrun with zombies and the bicycle messenger (Cillian Murphy) who awakens from a coma to find the world gone suddenly mad. Some would debate that the creatures aren't really zombies, as they're actually infected by something known as the "Rage Virus." Personally, I don't care, as they certainly seem close enough to zombies for me. The score by John Murphy adds an appropriate level of dread, and Murphy's strong performance is complimented by turns from Naomie Harris, Brendan Gleeson, and Christopher Eccleston. A successful sequel, 28 Weeks Later, would follow five years later.

The Return of the Living Dead (1985) - Freddy (Thom Mathews) is the newest employee at a Kentucky medical supply warehouse. In an effort to impress the young man, Frank the foreman (James Karen) shows him sealed containers in the basement containing human corpses. According to Frank, the events in Night of the Living Dead were real, and the reanimated dead bodies were shipped to their warehouse by mistake. Of course, the two bumbling fellas accidentally unleash the contents, and before long unstoppable zombies are running amok. This doesn't sit well with their boss (Clu Gulager), and Freddy's punk rocker friends soon find themselves under attack while waiting for him to get off work. Boasting a clever script, lots of unique characters, and genre favorite Linnea Quigley as a punk with a fetish for old men (and going topless), The Return of the Living Dead still ranks as one of the most entertaining zombie movies ever made.

These are the best zombie movies out there. although films like the original Night of the Living Dead (and its remake) also rank very high. If you're a longtime fan of the genre or just beginning to explore the adventures of the hungry undead, the above films are the place to start.

Do The Celebrities Live Up To Their Goddess Birth Sign?

Christina Ricci Born 12 Feb 1980 Goddess birth sign Hathor

Hathor women have the gift of shape-shifting -- reinventing themselves for fresh inspiration. And there is no better example of this energy manifesting itself than with Christina Ricci -- she has, after all, been quoted as saying "I certainly hope I'm not still answering child-star questions by the time I reach menopause."

Breaking free from the danger of being typecast as a child-star (The Addams Family and Casper), Christina ditched her cutie doll image and successfully reinvented herself into a cutting-edge vixen in risqué roles. Subsequently she has attracted new fan bases with each shape-shift.

Her image, attitude and philosophy gets a regular makeover, but with Hathor guiding her natural instincts, she will continue doing so with aplomb.

Kristin Davis Born 24 Feb 1965 Goddess birth sign Oshun

Goddess of universal love and sensuality, Oshun women are generous with their time for themselves during a tidal "ebb", and for others during a "flow". We all saw this trait in action through Kristin's character Charlotte (Sex And The City), but how true does the Oshun character ring in real life?

Kristin is a unique balance of strength and innocence - she succumbed to alcoholism before finding the strength to deal with the demands of Hollywood and facing it (sober) head-on.

She is at once innocent, batting her eyelashes and giving an enigmatic smile in the face of sauciness; and sexy, comfortable in her own skin with a 'less is more' approach to make up thereby 'keeping it real'.

Sarah Jessica Parker Born March 25, 1965 Goddess birth sign Athena

Born leaders, powerful and zesty, Athena girls are feisty and resourceful. But sometimes they are too much so and could do with directing their courage towards asking for help.

Sarah Jessica Parker is the classic Athena archetype - strong, independent and a warrior princess. The downside to this strength is she'd feel ashamed to ask for help in case it made her appear weak.

No-one is going to think any less of her if she asked for time out to look after herself for a while. In fact, she'd be doing herself a favour if she asked someone else to do it for her! After all, even Athena couldn't protect Athens 24/7 - sometimes warrior princesses need to rest their sword too!

Michelle Pfeiffer Born 29 April 1958 Goddess birth sign Juno

Juno women seek stable relationships, material security and an enriched home life. And as though it weren't enough that she has a rewarding private life with husband David E Kelley and their adopted children, Michelle Pfeiffer has worked hard to ensure that she is an entrenched part of our lives as a household name as well.

Thanks to her Juno grounding, Michelle was able to maintain her dignity when rumours surfaced of her husband having a fling with Ally McBeal's Calista Flockhart.

Rather than relying on others for her happiness, Michelle drew on her birth patroness' energy to strengthen the relationship from within, thereby ensuring a strong family unit.

Nicole Kidman Born 20 June 1967 Goddess sign Persephone

Vital and intelligent, innocent and fickle, Persephone gals have an amazing capacity for self-empowerment. They can make the most of a rotten situation and turn it around to their benefit.

This is certainly the case with Nicole who grew up lanky and awkward with pale skin prone to freckling under the fierce Australian sun. She escaped her insecurities through drama and the arts, where involvement with Jane Campion led her to understand acting was her future.

Just as Persephone married the all-powerful Hades to ease her way, Nicole married Hollywood's "king", Tom Cruise, despite a natural aversion to public scrutiny. She adopts an ice-queen facade to mask her panic attacks, which she especially suffers on the red carpet. This is where Persephone really cuts loose and lets her presence known by dancing wildly in her Solar Plexus, the chakra that Nicole needs to nurture the most.

Liv Tyler Born 1 July 1977 Goddess birth sign Diana

Powerful and protective, Diana rules over nature, fertility, children and providence. Hippy-raised Liv is the manifestation of Diana's energy with her ethereal looks and nature-loving, egalitarian approach to life.

She is well known for her off-beat roles that win international acclaim, a laid-back character and high-profile boyfriends... these attributes all stem from a deeply loyal and loving relationship with her celebrity parents.

From her first day at school as a chubby kid with braces to the inevitable rise to fame, Liv remains level-headed and grounded in the face her celebrity. Even her occasional foray into a alternative fashion is further proof of her Diana-inspired conviction to 'keep it real'.

Anna Paquin Born 24 July 1982 Goddess birth sign Pele

Full of passionate energy, Pele gals love being the centre of attention and the life of the party - when they come out of dormancy, that is.

Anna Paquin was a 10-year-old schoolgirl when her Oscar- winning role in The Piano catapulted her to fame. That she hides her Oscar in her closet out of consideration to others is an indication of the self-control and inner power that lies beneath a calm surface.

She might wear conservative clothing to industry functions, but occasionally she reveals a glimpse of a fiery nature - at the Drama Desk Awards last year her Pele side came to the fore when she unleashed her feminine power in a hiked-hem provocative dress. Watch this space for her full power to come gushing to fruition!

Cameron Diaz Born 30 August 1972 Goddess birth sign Hestia

Hestia girls are creatures of habit and organisation, purity, sincerity, sanctity and safety. One only needs to look at the tight and private relationship she has with toy-boy Justin Timberlake to know that Cameron values honesty and integrity highly in relationships.

According to industry insiders, the sweet and innocent Cameron that you see on screen is a glimpse of the real-life girl that is ruled by Hestia.

She was a sex-bomb in her early movies, but is now better known for her sweet girl-next-door roles that have become her signature.

As Cameron's inner Hestia values a fruitful home life above all, don't be surprised to hear news of her stepping across the threshold with her man in tow...

Susan Sarandon Born 4 October 1946 Goddess birth sign Venus

Venus women have a sense of style and appreciation for acts of love, pleasure and romance. In this respect, Susan Sarandon leads the way in redefining the image of 'dignified Hollywood woman'.

In true Venus style, Susan can balance her love for the good things in life with her concern that others get the chance to experience it too - ie, if everyone is happy the Venus gal is happy too. Her active support for issues that affect her fellow Americans (even leading to her arrest some cases) and her role as Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF is proof of this.

Some of Susan's film role choices reflect her Venus core - sexy groupie, seductress, Rocky Horror tart, witch, bloodsucker, nun, fun seeker and suicidal rebel... I can't wait to see the next decadent "wild side" this Venus gal chooses to explore.

Demi Moore Born 11 November 1962 Goddess birth sign Bast

Courageous, strong and fearless in the face of vermin, Bast girls show an abiding patience in seeking vengeance for wrong doings. By far this attribute is evident in her micro-bikini clad role in Charlie's Angels -- who'd want to be at the other end of one of her weapons of vengeance?!

You don't need to be a villain to feel the sting of Demi's wrath. When critics questioned her nudity in films, they felt her snakes bite in her comment; "There's this idea that if you take your clothes off, somehow you must have loose morals. There's still a negative attitude in our society towards women who use a strength that's inherent -- their femininity -- in any way that might be considered seductive."

So watch out ;-) While she is fiercely loyal to her children and lovers, she'll be quick to show her claws if you step out of line!

Lucy Liu Born 2 December 1968 Goddess sign Rhiannon

Welsh goddess of fertility and rebirth, transformation, wisdom, and magic, Rhiannon girls seek adventure and travel. Lucy cannot be a better role model for Rhiannon gals. In her pursuit of assertive and feisty roles where she can really get her teeth into unleashing her inner adventurer, Lucy proves that Rhiannon's energy is raging within.

Patroness of voice, Rhiannon guided Lucy through her difficult high school years where she suffered an identity crisis thanks to her English and Mandarin speaking background. She taught Lucy to ask for what she really wanted, and today we see where this got her - she has risen above the stereo-typed Asian roles and is respected by Hollywood as a serious actress worth her weight in lapis lazuli, cats-eye and exotic Revlon products.

Diane Keaton Born 5 January 1946 Goddess birth sign Demeter

Just like their patroness who scoured the earth and Under World for her kidnapped daughter Persephone, Demeter gals stop at nothing to achieve their goals.

Champion of causes, Diane gained attention in her first major stage role (in the rock musical Hair) by not stripping off.

Diane's fashion inclination towards unisex clothes tells the world she is ready for action and she is going to do it her way. This Demeter attitude extends to her family situation also - she has never married but has two children, Dexter and Duke.

Find out what your own goddess birth sign is at Goddess.com.au.

Anita Revel is the creatrix of the stunning "i Goddess" meditation movie that can be viewed at http://www.igoddess.com . She is also a columnist for United Press International, and has written hundreds of articles pertaining to women's wellbeing.

2010 Oscar Winners and Nominees Rise to the Top 10 DVDs For Sale List

The top 10 DVDs for sale available right now are filled with the 2010 Oscar winners. The movies that win Oscars and even the big nominees that don't win always end up as extremely popular films to take home and buy for yourself. This year is certainly no different, and there are some great best selling DVDs from this group of winners and nominated films.

The big winner from the 2010 Oscars was The Hurt Locker. It had been on the list of the most popular DVDs before but had fallen off over the weeks and months. However, as the huge winning movie from the Oscars it has now skyrocketed back to the top of the heap.

The movie ended up winning Best Picture and Best Director amongst other awards. The Best Director award signified the first time that a female took home the honors, which is very exciting as well. It's a great thrill ride of a movie with some intense drama, and a unique perspective on war and the solders who live it out.

Sandra Bullock won Best Actress and now the Blind Side is one of the top 10 DVDs for sale as well. For Bullock, it was a perfect performance and the movie is a great, true story. Follow the rise of a young man from the lowest of lows, no place to live, all the way to the top of the world and great success. A well deserved award for Bullock to be sure, and this is one of the most popular DVDs that everybody can enjoy watching.

Up in the Air had been nominated for all of the big awards but didn't end up taking any of them home! It must be a big disappointment for George Clooney and company, but even though it didn't win at the 2010 Oscars it still was a great, fun movie that's both smart and funny. It's been scheduled for release and immediately jumped into the pile of the top 10 best selling DVDs. Inglourious Basterds didn't win much either, however the Best Supporting Actor award did go to Christopher Waltz, and this has been on the best selling DVDs list for months on end, and of course continues to be there now.

Finally, don't forget about Precious, which is an amazing and touching story. All of the actresses and actors were exceptional, whether they made you hate them or love them. Mo'Nique took home Best Supporting Actress, and with its pending release it will certainly been one of the top 10 DVDs for sale for quite some time into the future. It immediately jumped to one of the top spots in the top 10 DVDs for sale list.

Here's the entire top 10 DVDs for sale list as of right now:

1. Twilight New Moon
2. The Blind Side
3. Law Abiding Citizen
4. The Hurt Locker
5. Up in the Air
6. Precious
7. Princess and the Frog
8. Inglourious Basterds
9. The Hangover
10. 2012

Don't worry that the 2010 Oscars are over, because all of the winners and nominees are now available and prominent amongst the most popular DVDs for sale. Take a look at the current top 10 DVDs list today to take home these great movies and more, all of the big Oscar wining movies and the big-name nominees made a splash with thier debut.

At DVDsonSale.net you can find great prices on all of the top 10 DVDs, including all of these great 2010 Oscar winners and nominees. When you want to buy cheap DVDs online, DVDsonSale.net is your number 1 resource and you'll find big sales and discounts on the best selling DVDs for sale.

7 Tips For Reading Children's Books Out Loud

There is nothing more satisfying than reading to your child out loud and transforming the text in the book into something that feels like a living experience to your kids. How do you do that? Sounds like it's simple, but it's not! My first experience with stories was with my own Dad. A larger than life personality, he would not simply read me stories, he would add me to them as well! He had a tremendous talent for improvisation and was capable of making the story soar way above any writer's dreams for their books.

Me? Not quite as talented! But I've read to my two boys for a total of 14 years, and one of them was based back in England. That one provided quite a challenge! Phone calls were a dollar a minute back then. I bought a cheap microphone and plugged it into my old cassette recorder and literally read the picture book from start to finish. I then sent him the finished cassette along with the paper book and waited to hear the screams of dismay from my ex-wife as she was tormented nightly by my voice!

Now, I create digital picture books for kids, and as such, I have supervised and engineered the recording of more than 30 online picture books and have even narrated some as well. On top of that, I have guided many adults and children through the recording process. My job is to get the perfect performance out of everyone. So if you've ever wondered why your kids don't pay quite as much attention to you reading a story as they do to Uncle Jim, listen up! I'm here to help. Here are a few easy to follow tips that will change everything!

7. Reading out loud is not the same as reading to yourself. That is probably the biggest mistake people make. You are now the court jester! You have to pack as much energy into the story as possible. Make it live!

6. Practice a few books without the kids present. Yes, you heard me, PRACTICE! Take a book into the 'loo' (rest room) and act it out. Sounds great because it echos! Pretend you're on stage. Let it go!

5. Enunciate your words clearly. Don't slur or mumble. Every word must be understood.

4. No monotony! Be animated. Go beyond your normal boundaries. Read with verve and excitement. Ad lib a little - you can even change one of the character's names to be that of the child you're reading to!

3. Get into the characters. When you're reading dialog, imagine you're that person speaking. Try to make each character different in some simple way.

2. Don't rush. Making mistakes will pull the kids out of the imaginary world you're putting them in. Take your time, but allow your eyes to run a little ahead of your lips, that way you'll know what's coming and can put the right emphasis on it.

1. Imagine you're the kid you're reading to. Imagine the eager look of excitement on that kid's face as the plot unfolds. You are creating a movie in the kid's head! Have fun with it. Be it. They will always remember storytime with Mom and Dad.

So to wrap it up, let your hair down, allow your inner kid to emerge, be a little looney, make some silly faces and noises, ad lib a little and just watch the reactions as the kids become totally involved and clamor for more when you're done.

Good luck and happy reading!

Christopher Kennedy - ckennedy@stillmotionmedia.com

Twenty-five years experience in the Motion Picture Film Industry working in all areas of Sound Supervision, Sound Editing, and Music Editing; achieving more than 60 credits on films, made for TV movies and TV specials.

Nominated for three Golden Reel Sound Awards for: "Unfaithful," "De-Lovely" and "Rameses."

Collaborated with film composer, Jan A.P.Kaczmarek on the Oscar winning score for "Finding Neverland."

YouTube preview of MobiStories narration

MobiStories Website

Tango (1998) - Foreign Film Review

Synopsis: Mario Suarez (Miguel Angel Sola) is a filmmaker trying to cope with life after breaking up with his former lover, Laura (Cecilia Narova), who also happens to be one of the lead actresses in his latest film.

Tango is a story about the making of Mario's film, and we see his thoughts, desires, emotions, and view of life expressed through various stages of the film making process.

When a beautiful young dancer, Elena Flores (Mia Maestro of Alias fame), soon joins Mario's cast, he finds his passion for life renewed, and begins falling for her. However, she is the girlfriend of Angelo Larroca (Juan Luis Galiardo) one of the film's major investors with possible mob ties. As the situation unfolds, the line separating real life and the fictional world of film begins to blur.

The Good: Set in Argentina, it's easy to interpret the "blending of reality and fantasy theme" as a reference to author Jorge Luis Borges, one of the most famous figures in Argentine literature.

Even though the story takes place in the modern world, Tango often displays a fantastical twist in both production design and story development, which may lend itself to comparisons to magical realism (a genre Borges was well known for exploring).

Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1998, Spanish Director Carlos Saura's film could have easily been a "movie about nothing," a hollow script interspersed with good dance sequences.

But it isn't.

Saura keeps things on track as mainly a character piece focusing on Mario. The many emotional facets of the dance provide insight into Mario's emotional state of mind as he simultaneously creates his film and examines his life.

That being said, there are a good number of dancing sequences in this movie and they don't disappoint. Juan Carlos Copes, informally known as the "Godfather of Argentine Tango," and the many other dancers in this film are a joy to watch.

Not only was Copes one of the film's dance choreographers, he also plays the role of Mario's dance choreographer within the context of the story.

Set lighting probably isn't the first thing we look for when watching movies, but it's difficult not to notice the incredible way in which Oscar-Winning cinematographer Vittorio Storaro illuminates each scene. Storaro, you may know, was also the cinematographer for Apocalypse Now and The Last Emperor. And to see his expertise at work on a film about dance is a visual treat.

The Bad: Arguably the ending. Don't get me wrong, but when taking on a dramatic "film-within-a-film" idea, the blending of reality and fiction is pretty much the only way in which it can go. Yes, Tango does some creative things with this formula, but its conclusion can be seen either as a:

A) testament to the power of films and how they draw us in emotionally, and will make you think about everything you just saw, or

B) simply a cop-out because they didn't know how to end it

It's not good for such a carefully crafted film rich with visual metaphors to lend its ending to such a broad range of interpretation. Granted, the ending doesn't kill the whole movie but it could have played out differently.

Who would like this movie: Tango dancers, of course. But if you don't tango (shame one you :), I recommend this film if you have a taste for visual aesthetics.

But the most detailed recommendation I can give is that this film is good if you want to appreciate the unconventional sensibilities of an art film minus the "weirdness."

The movie is slow-paced but isn't boring, and it's deep enough to get you thinking but won't leave you scratching your head (until maybe the very end).

(3 out of 4 stars)

Made in: Argentina

Language: Spanish

Director: Carlos Saura

Starring: Miguel Angel Sola, Cecilia Narova, Mia Maestro, Juan Carlos Copes, Juan Luis Galiardo
Year:1998

Joe Yang is a freelance film reviewer specializing in foreign films. You can find more of his reviews at his new website: http://www.foreign-films-for-you.com

The site is often updated- please visit often!

The Nutcracker 3D - Trailer 2010

In theaters: November 24th, 2010 Genre: Family, Drama Director: Andrei Konchalovsky Cast: Elle Fanning, John Turturro, Nathan Lane, Charlie Rowe Synopsis: From the imagination of acclaimed Russian director Andrei Konchalovsky, the cherished story of The Nutcracker will be brought to life in spectacular 3D this holiday season. THE NUTCRACKER IN 3D follows nine-year-old Mary (Elle Fanning) whose dull Viennese Christmas is suddenly filled with excitement and adventure following the arrival of her beloved Uncle Albert (Nathan Lane) and his gift of an enchanted nutcracker. On Christmas night, Mary's new friend, The Nutcracker (Charlie Rowe) or "NC," comes to life and takes her on a wondrous journey into his magical world of fairies, sugarplums, and other Christmas toys which come to life. Mary soon realizes that this fantastical kingdom is facing danger from the tyrannical rule of the evil Rat King (John Turturro) and his devious mother (Frances de la Tour). When NC is taken hostage, Mary and her newfound toy friends must uncover the secret of the Rat King to rescue NC and his kingdom. Based on the story that inspired acclaimed Russian composer Piotr Tchaikovsky to create the music for the iconic ballet, the film includes eight exciting new songs penned by Oscar-winning lyricist and librettist Sir Tim Rice (The Lion King, Evita, Jesus Christ Superstar).



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ud2t2k7dZqU&hl=en

Whatever Happened to Helen Hunt After Making What Women Want?

What Women Want - 2 Stars (Average)

What Women Want is a romantic comedy light enough to float away.

See What Women Want for entertainment only and do not be fooled by its story line, which has Mel Gibson (Nick) as a chauvinistic advertising executive who after an accident can suddenly hear what women are really thinking.

Gibson is paired with Helen Hunt (Darcy) who gets the promotion that Nick (Mel Gibson) covets. Darcy is more talented and Nick fancies himself as a ladies man, not a good combination for Nick, who plans to use his newfound talent to sabotage Darcy by stealing her ideas and claiming them as his own. Nick, of course, does not succeed as love gets in his way.

The director of this film is Nancy Meyers who was also the writer/director for Something's Gotta Give. The writing in What Women Want by Josh Goldsmith and Cathy Yuspa is no better than what Nancy Meyers penned in Something's Gotta Give, so the film effort remains average at best despite its entertainment value.

Hunt is a real talent with real hardware and seemed so on top of her game after the release of What Women Want in 2000.

When she left the Mad About You sitcom opposite screen partner Paul Reiser she had earned 4 consecutive Emmy Awards (1996 through 1999) and became the highest paid TV actress in history, earning $1 million per episode.

Hunt is the only actress to win a Golden Globe Award (she has 4), an Academy Award (Best Actress in As Good as It Gets) and an Emmy Award in the same year (1998). Hunt is also the only actress to win 4 Blockbuster Entertainment Awards.

Heck, I figured, move over Julia Roberts and hello Helen Hunt as America's newest sweetheart, but Hunt did Cast Away with Tom Hanks and then returned to Broadway. Big screen's loss became Broadway's gain. I believe that the two rising stars today are Reese Witherspoon and Hilary Swank.

Witherspoon won a Best Actress Oscar for her performance as June Carter Cash in Walk the Line opposite Joaquin Phoenix as Johnny Cash. She won 10 other Best Actress awards for the same performance. I knew Reese Witherspoon was the real deal and on the rise when I saw her in Sweet Home Alabama three years earlier.

Swank's presence on the star scene has become enormous. She took a huge chance in Boys Don't Cry (a great performance in a crummy movie) in 1999 and won a Best Actress Oscar, and then picked up another Best Actress Oscar in 2004 for Million Dollar Baby (another difficult role, this time as a female boxer) in Director Clint Eastwood's Oscar winning film.

Both of these young actresses (Witherspoon at 30 and Swank at 32) have become bankable with a capital B. If you ignore their relationship problems, life is good when you are the center of attention and making it big time.

After all, this is the acting profession, where the stars can switch partners faster than cell phone numbers and e-mail addresses.

Copyright © 2006 Ed Bagley

Ed Bagley's Blog Publishes Original Articles with Analysis and Commentary on 5 Subjects: Sports, Movie Reviews, Lessons in Life, Jobs and Careers, and Internet Marketing. My intention is to inform, educate, delight and motivate you the reader.

Read my movie reviews on Broadway musicals: "Camelot", "Chicago", "Fiddler on the Roof" and "The Phantom of the Opera". These are all excellent films.

Find my Blog at:
http://www.edbagleyblog.com
http://www.edbagleyblog.com/MovieReviews.html

SS10 Pringle of Scotland - Tilda Swinton / Ryan mcginley Film

The historic and creative brand Pringle of Scotland have taken the bold move forward to present the Spring Summer collection in the form of a film, created by art photographer Ryan mcginley and starring the Academy Award winner Tilda Swinton. The short film explores iconic elements of the Scottish terrain whilst delivering beautiful images of the clothes themselves on the captivating and bewitching actress.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkzrpUEwH70&hl=en

'Robin Hood' TV Spot SuperBowl HD (2010)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ban3TFDUYBA&hl=en

Coast to Coast AM 1/10/2010 [7/15] 'Star Trek' Memories

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDGt64wqDeY&hl=en

Hollywood's Most Perfect Actress Had Beauty, Fashion, Grace and Humility

Breakfast at Tiffany's - 3 Stars (Good)

Was there ever an actress who combined these four timeless qualities-beauty, fashion, grace and humility-better than Audrey Hepburn? I think not, especially when I see her again in Breakfast at Tiffany's.

Even an actress who could come close (and I can think of none) would in no way match the humility of Audrey Hepburn. We shall not see another like her in our lifetime and by then the film industry may be on the way out when some newer, better technology unknown to us today arrives.

All the more reason to purchase her five most memorable movies in DVD now while they are still available.

First would be her Oscar winning Best Actress performance in Roman Holiday opposite Gregory Peck, which was also her first starring role in an American film.

The next four would be her Best Actress Oscar nominations for Sabrina, The Nun's Story, Wait Until Dark (one of the two scariest movies I have ever seen) and Breakfast at Tiffany's (the Oscar went to Sophia Loren for Two Women).

Breakfast at Tiffany's had two great assets, Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly, the young New York socialite (we say socialite because this movie was released in 1961, 45 years ago), and Director Blake Edwards, whose deft, sensitive handling of Hepburn's character (a high-priced prostitute) could not have been done better.

Holly Golightly's beauty, sense of fashion and pure innocence prohibit me from thinking of her as a woman of the night. She is so inherently stylish. God has not made a woman that could wear clothes better than Audrey Hepburn. She has Holly Golightly floating around in Givenchy gowns with matchless grace and glamour.

Breakfast at Tiffany's is based on Truman Capote's novel with the screenplay by George Axelrod, who also garnered an Oscar nomination. Henry Mancini (music) and Johnny Mercer (lyrics) teamed up to win an Oscar for the Original Song "Moon River" while Mancini earned another Oscar as well as a Grammy for Best Musical Score.

The story line has the two romantic interests dependent upon others for financial support, Holly as a lady of the night and Paul Varjak (George Peppard), a wannabe writer who is kept by the married and wealthy Mrs. Failenson (Patricia Neal). Eventually Holly and Paul experience some personal growth and find love together.

There are matchless moments in this film that find places forever in your heart. One is Hepburn sitting on the fire escape plaintively singing "Moon River," especially when you remember that the theme of your high school senior prom was Moon River, and that you were with the girl you wanted to spend the rest of your life with. It is a rare opportunity to hear Hepburn sing in the movie.

She recorded singing vocals for her role as Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady only to discover that professional "singing double" Marni Nixon had overdubbed all of her songs. Hepburn was not nominated for a Best Actress Oscar in this film, but her love interest Rex Harrison won the Best Actor Oscar for his role as Professor Henry Higgins.

The "little black dress" worn by Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's was designed by Givenchy and sold at Christie's auction this year (2006) for $920,000 with the proceeds going to aid underprivileged children in India. It was not the one worn by Hepburn in the movie. The only two dresses she wore are now in the Givenchy archives and the Museum of Costume in Madrid, Spain.

In Audrey Hepburn's performance there are times when we are delighted by sweet innocence in a woman. You cannot imagine how difficult this is to find in today's world.

Audrey Hepburn became a beauty and fashion icon, and although she did enjoy fashion, she placed little importance on it, preferring casual and comfortable clothes away from the bright lights and cameras.

I do want to give Breakfast at Tiffany's an Excellent rating but cannot because of too many flaws in the film. I can easily give Audrey Hepburn an Excellent rating for her performance as Holly Golightly.

After 15 years as a highly successful actress Audrey Hepburn chose to lead a quieter life far away from Hollywood. She was married twice, first to actor Mel Ferrer and then to Italian doctor Andrea Dotti and had a son with each.

Hepburn was Belgian by birth and would grow up with her mother in The Netherlands, nearly starving to death during the Nazi occupation in World War II when the Dutch food and fuel supplies were cut off. Tragically, she suffered through watching her uncle and cousin being shot to death for being part of the Resistance movement.

She rose from the horrific atrocities of her youth to find fame and fortune in America and in the last four years of her life (1988 to 1992) became a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF (the United Nations Children's Fund).

Only four months before her death from abdominal cancer she went on a mission to Somalia and was devastated to see the nightmare of famine and carnage.

Audrey Hepburn was the picture of beauty, fashion and grace but never for a minute let her success go to her head, and most certainly never led a Hollywood lifestyle of overblown debauchery so much in evidence in moviemaking and Tinseltown today.

See Breakfast at Tiffany's because Audrey Hepburn became an important contributor to our time and culture. She not only represented the best in professional growth but made her life a legacy with her personal growth. She was a model of grace and humility in a world with little of either.

Copyright © 2006 Ed Bagley

Ed Bagley's Blog Publishes Original Articles with Analysis and Commentary on 5 Subjects: Sports, Movie Reviews, Lessons in Life, Jobs and Careers, and Internet Marketing. My intention is to inform, educate, delight and motivate you the reader.

Note: Read my movie reviews on Broadway musicals: "Camelot", "Chicago", "Fiddler on the Roof" and "The Phantom of the Opera". These are all excellent films.

Find my Blog at:
http://www.edbagleyblog.com
http://www.edbagleyblog.com/MovieReviews.html

Greenberg - Official Trailer

Greenberg brings actor Ben Stiller together with Academy Award-nominated writer/director Noah Baumbach (The Squid and the Whale) to tell the funny and moving tale of Roger Greenberg. Focus Features releases Greenberg in select cities on March 12th, 2010. Roger Greenberg [Ben Stiller], single, fortyish and at a crossroads in his life, finds himself in Los Angeles, house-sitting for six weeks for his more successful/married-with-children brother. In search of a place to restart his life, ...



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-5r8mg4HEM&hl=en

On the Red Carpet

On the Red Carpet ... On the Red Carpet dress dresses oscar fashion police entertainment channel celebration celebrate new 2009 2010 mode la world beauty beautiful star stars hollywood cinema golden globe actress actresses jennifer aniston angelina jolie nicole kidman Penelope Cruz VS. Salma Hayek movies award awards celebraties photo photos pic picture pictures gallerey album حفل توزيع جوائز الأوسكار الاوسكار مشاهير ممثل ممثله



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQ3-FonfbqA&hl=en

The Wolfman (2010 film)

Benicio Del Toro stars as Lawrence Talbot, a haunted nobleman lured back to his family estate after his brother vanishes. Reunited with his estranged father (Oscar® winner Anthony Hopkins), Talbot sets out to find his brotherand discovers a horrifying destiny for himself. Lawrence Talbots childhood ended the night his mother died. After he left the sleepy Victorian hamlet of Blackmoor, he spent decades recovering and trying to forget. But when his brothers fiancée, Gwen Conliffe (Emily Blunt ...



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0R07dUxjZ4&hl=en

Street Fighter Movie: The Legend of Chun-Li 2009 (part 1 of 9)

Based on the popular video game franchise, female fighter Chun Li embarks on a quest for justice. Watch it for free here: www.downloadjuggler.com Chun Li | Box Office Flop | Thailand | Open Air Market | Watching TV Cast: Kristin Kreuk... Chun-Li Chris Klein... Charlie Nash Neal McDonough... Bison / Vega (Japan) Robin Shou... Gen Moon Bloodgood... Det. Maya Sunee Josie Ho... Cantana Taboo... Vega / Balrog (Japan) Michael Clarke Duncan... Balrog / Bison (Japan) Pei-pei Cheng... Zhilan Edmund ...



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-UMHldxiJ4&hl=en

Will Smith - The Famous Hollywood Actor and Producer

WILL SMITH has enjoyed success in a career encompassing hit films, his own television series and multi-platinum records. He earned his first Academy Award nomination and a Golden Globe nomination for his portrayal of boxing legend Muhammad Ali in Michael Mann's acclaimed biopic Ali. Smith more recently starred in and produced the critically acclaimed, true-life drama The Pursuit of Happyness. His performance brought him his second Academy Award nomination, his fourth Golden Globe nomination and a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award nomination for Best Actor.

Smith most recently starred in the blockbusters I am Legend, directed by Francis Lawrence and Hancock, directed by Peter Berg. He will next re-team with the director and producers of The Pursuit of Happyness for Seven Pounds, an emotional drama about a man who will change the lives of seven strangers.

In 2005, Smith starred in and produced the hit romantic comedy Hitch, directed by Andy Tennant. The year prior, he starred in and executive produced the sci-fi smash I, Robot, adapted from the book by Isaac Asimov and directed by Alex Proyas. Also that year, he voiced the central character of Oscar in the blockbuster animated feature Shark Tale, opposite Renee Zellweger, Angelina Jolie and Robert De Niro.

In July 2003, he reunited with Martin Lawrence for Bad Boys II, the sequel to their 1995 hit Bad Boys. Smith had earlier starred in two blockbusters that topped the box office in back-to-back summers. In 1996, he took on alien invaders in Roland Emmerich's science fiction actioner Independence Day. The following year, he starred with Tommy Lee Jones in Barry Sonnenfeld's sci-fi comedy Men in Black, for which Smith also recorded the Grammy-winning title song. In 2002, Smith, Jones and Sonnenfeld reteamed for the sequel Men in Black II.

Smith was already a Grammy-winning recording artist when he made his successful transition to acting in television and films. Following roles in the movies Where the Day Takes You and Made in America, he received widespread critical acclaim for his starring role in the drama Six Degrees of Separation, with Stockard Channing and Donald Sutherland. In 1995, he was named ShoWest's Male Star of Tomorrow. His film credits also include Enemy of the State, opposite Gene Hackman; Wild Wild West, for which he also recorded the hit title song; and the title role in Robert Redford's The Legend of Bagger Vance.

Smith began his career in the music industry while still in high school. Teaming with his friend Jeff Townes to form DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, Smith became a chart-topping rap artist.

Together, they recorded several platinum and multi-platinum albums and won numerous awards, including two Grammys and three American Music Awards.

As a producer, Smith is partnered with James Lassiter and Ken Stovitz in Overbrook Entertainment, which has produced such projects as Ali, I, Robot, Saving Face, Hitch, ATL, Hancock and The Pursuit of Happyness. Under the Overbrook banner, Smith and his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, also co-created and produced the popular television comedy series "All of Us," which recently concluded a four-year run. Smith's upcoming projects as a producer or executive producer include, in addition to Lakeview Terrace, Seven Pounds, directed by Gabriele Muccino and The Human Contract, which marks the feature directorial debut of Jada Pinkett Smith.

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*Single Sivasli Tarik K -Son defa Söz Müzik : Ismail Yk

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53oBV8wT13Q&hl=en

"Toy Story 3" - Official Teaser Trailer

Buzz and our favorite gang of toy characters in "Toy Story 3." Lee Unkrich (co-director of "Toy Story 2" and "Finding Nemo") directs this highly anticipated film, and Michael Arndt, the Academy Award®-winning screenwriter of "Little Miss Sunshine," brings his unique talents and comedic sensibilities to the proceedings. Hits theaters June 18, 2010 in Disney Digital 3-D. ... Toy Story Teaser Trailer HD Lee Unkrich Tom Hanks Woody Tim Allen Buzz Lightyear Pixar Up Wall-E Movie 2010 June ...



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k61dBc9gr58&hl=en