[uprooted & relentless]

MIND THE GAP: ALL CHANGE PLEASE.

Wed, 15 May 2013 10:41:03 -0400

I’m following suit with my two other Uprooted ladies in taking to our blog once again, following a rather long silence. Mine has been entirely appropriate in a way for the theme of this blog, given that my absence has been down to feeling uprooted myself.

I’ve been back doing reshoots for the film I was on last year, which have been like two mini school reunions, with a crew of people unexpectedly back together once again. Given that we were a happy crew, it’s been a really fun experience, and I’ve enjoyed part two of the job almost more than the original shoot- helped by the fact it’s now spring and we can all get up at 5am in the light. As usual, even though we’re working, everyone’s mind is on what’s next. What have you been on? What are you going on to? Reassuringly, many people I spoke to have been in a similar position to me and aren’t sure what their next move is. I’ve been in kind of limbo for the last few months going through an interview process for a job I would have loved to get. On my final day of work yesterday I found out I hadn’t made the final cut. I was gutted, but begin quickly to realize that the feelings of powerlessness I’d been experiencing were easing. The decision had been made for me and I felt freed.

Yesterday ended up being a bombshell of a day and one I could never have anticipated waking up that morning. On my way down to the station, I walked within a foot of my ex-boyfriend who I haven’t seen in three years. He was my first love, the first man I lived with, and the relationship ended being a very destructive one that has taken the best part of the time since to recover from. I’ve always imagined what it would be like to bump into him, but nothing could have prepared me for the reality of what it would actually be like. Firstly I saw him in an entirely unexpected environment- my own turf. He was also with another woman. We walked passed each other like strangers, him up the hill towards the flat we used to share. I walked round the corner and stood dumbstruck and in shock for fifteen minutes, missing my train for work. So many thoughts went through my head. The most predominant one being- what the hell are the chances of that happening in a city as busy and large as London? What if I’d left the house ten minutes early when I should have? We could have been too small dots narrowly missing each other, with both being none the wiser. I personally don’t believe in fate or serendipity, but it was hard not to in that moment. I’d just experienced the thing I’d feared most for three years and it sent me into a tailspin.

I made the decision to ask to see him. Risky? Yes, given how poorly our post-break up attempts have gone in the past. I know that neither of us really got closure after our time together, and it’s something I’ve regretted. Cue 5.30pm as I walk to meet him. The experience was a surreal one. I was nervous, but I was also confident I could get what I felt I’d been missing. If you cut someone out of your life, I think it’s very easy when you think about him or her, to still think of yourself how you were then. I sat opposite the man I thought I’d wanted to marry and have children with and realized how much we’ve both changed and grown up/grown apart. I thought an hour wouldn’t be enough time to say all the things we had to, but in reality, there wasn’t a whole lot to be said, which did seem strange given how close we once were. I got the apology I’ve always needed, and he got forgiveness. We hugged goodbye and went in opposite directions. I feel like a weight has been lifted off my conscience and that I’d finally let go of the past that has haunted me in my life and my subsequent relationships.

All change. What’s next?

Yours, frankly,

Olivia

The Little Things

Wed, 08 May 2013 21:30:51 -0400

In the working world everything begins to feel like a routine. You pull yourself out of bed to go to work and slowly count down the hours and days until the weekend. This week I’ve really realized it’s the little things that make the day-to-day routine so much better. First of all, the sun has finally decided to make an appearance in New York City (besides the flash floods of this morning), which has significantly increased my spirits. Then there’s homemade chocolate chip cookies, the Yogurtland that opened an avenue from my apartment, an awesome postcard from Berlin from my dear friend Mary & partaking in inspiring and motivational conversations with friends and colleagues.

I’m closing in on my one year anniversary of living in New York and I must say the stress of the city is definitely getting to me. Exhibit A, my eye which has been twitching for over two weeks straight. And what did the optometrist say? “Relax, you’re just stressed.” But how can I relax when everyone around me in this city is thriving and succeeding and rushing past me, figuratively and literally. Well, let’s just say I’m doing my best to relax, which is quite difficult for me, and to enjoy the little things.

-Miraya Berke

Re-evaluating my gameplan-less wonder: The Quarter Life Crisis

Mon, 06 May 2013 03:16:00 -0400

Let’s be real, I’ve been talking about quarter life crises since I was 16. I clearly didn’t believe I had a long shelf life going for me then, but as I’ve recently settled into the strange thing they call my early twenties, I suppose “quarter” is finally almost appropriate. I have lately found that I have some trouble staying present, resulting in a quarter life crisis or two every few months.

One of my best and most brilliant friends from college got into a program in NYC and part of me wants to sign on and start school in the fall with her just to fulfill our life plan to live out there at the same time. It makes me a little anxious (read: VERY anxious) thinking about the fact that I can’t defer my offer again. If I pass on it again this year—I’m pretty sure I’m actually passing on it— as in saying I don’t want it — and prolonging the gameplan-less wonder.

Don’t get things twisted. I’m grateful for where I am right now. I live in a great city where family is only an hour flight away. I have a full time job with benefits—I get to work part-time for an NGO I really care about, work on my research project, and make music in the spare time. I’m generally quite happy and completely self sufficient of mom and dad. However, I don’t quite feel like I’ve made it and am instead, rendered an eternal work in progress.

Now ordinarily, that would be okay, but progressing towards what exactly? I’m almost a year out of graduation and I haven’t made the decisions I thought I would’ve yet. This time last year I thought I would’ve had a solid verdict on grad school and that I’d have a clearer picture of how I want to translate my life theories into praxis. I haven’t and I don’t, and I’m actually more confused than ever.

My current goals are nebulous and frankly, right now I feel over-interested, excited by too many things, and a little bit wayward. So I suppose the biggest indication that I’m not ready to go back to school is that I don’t feel all-in and ready to commit. But who ever really does? Not a rhetorical question, I’d like to grab coffee with you.

Just putting it out there.

-Elaine

claire-lee: Lombard Street, San Francisco Great shot. Lovely...

Sat, 06 Apr 2013 12:03:21 -0400

claire-lee:

Lombard Street, San Francisco

Great shot. Lovely place.

Moderation For A Foodie

Sun, 31 Mar 2013 22:25:25 -0400

Pizza at Roberta’s. Peanut butter and jelly donut from Donut Plant. Scones and sandwiches from Alice’s Tea Cup. Frozen yogurt, macarons, sushi, chinese food and the list goes on and on…and that’s just this week.

Needless to say, New York isn’t the city for moderation. This is the city of work hard, play hard. The city to work late during the week so you can go into extreme gluttony mode during the weekend. The foodie that I am, it’s hard to say no when there’s a grilled cheese festival or new cupcake shop to try. New York does not understand moderation nor dieting. While there are juice cleanse shops, yoga studios and stick models all around, I’ll be inspired for a week or two to go to the gym and eat salads, that is until I sink my teeth into a decadent chocolate chip cookie and think, screw moderation.

However, the rain and gloom may not represent the greatest spring ahead, but spring is here and that means soon enough it will be summer and skirt and dress weather. In preparation means the yoga mat and running shoes will be working overload and the sweets and treats will be on pause. Farewell macarons…well, at least hello moderation.

-Miraya Berke

Spring? Are you there?

Sun, 24 Mar 2013 20:41:11 -0400

London is currently an ice-box, with the odds of a white Easter, far greater than a white Christmas. And when I say cold, I mean in the minuses, can’t feel your toes, miserable soggy cold. It feels as if this winter has lasted a lifetime, and it’s hard right now to imagine it ever breaking. OK fine I may be being a tad dramatic, but a white Easter? I’m whinging, but this has played out to my advantage somewhat. I’ve got a hereditary issue with my hearing (that now makes it slightly more poignant that my bully name at little school was Dumbo) that’s required me to have an operation. Last Monday, I had my first general anaesthetic. The night before I asked my father (at the cool age of 24), “I’m not going to die tomorrow, right?” If I’m dramatic about the weather, then I was certainly going to go hell for leather on this subject.

I have a tendency to laugh in awkward/tragic situations. Tell me your grandpa has died and I will probably have to turn around to suppress a giggle. It therefore seemed completely natural to laugh my way all the way down the lift to the operating room. The poor polish nurse accompanying me thought I was a lunatic. After a prick, a surprisingly painful sensation of the anaesthetic moving up my arm, I was out. Three hours later I woke up faced by my anxious parents. All I could focus on was the chocolate biscuit on the tray in front of me. One of the most common side effects of my operation is a temporary loss of taste. As a massive foodie, this was much more traumatic a thought than full blown tinnitus. That might just have been the best chocolate biscuit I’ll ever eat. Hell yes I could taste, and wahey was I feeling loopy. What had I been worried about? Being knocked out for three hours being wheeled from one bed to another to a chocolate biscuit? I was living the dream.

I’ve spent the last week tucked up in bed at my parents house, which has been incredibly comforting. My old room, although renovated, boasts the comfiest bed on the planet, which my friend Zoe has aptly named, the bed of clouds. I finally got round to watching The Killing, (the Danish version). All I can say is thank god I’ve had the excuse of bed rest, because otherwise I would have done the exact same thing but suffered social judgement. If you haven’t watched it, WATCH IT (just make sure to cancel all other plans- seriously, all.) I’ve been visited by lovely friends, who’ve brought me copious amounts of ice cream. I’m thrilled that the operation was a success (yay- I haven’t gone deaf!). This date has been in the diary a while. I’m not allowed to work for a few weeks, but my brain’s ticking away wondering, what’s next? This time a year ago, I was so excited to graduate. It’s scary to think just under twelve months have gone by, but so much has changed, and I’ve learnt so much. I just need to get back in the employment game…tick tock (but hey baby, now I can hear the clock).

Yours,

Olivia

The Honeymoon Phase

Sun, 24 Mar 2013 08:13:00 -0400

A little over a month ago, I began to passively job hunt and attempted to wait out some gnawing feelings of life-purpose related discontent. Ultimately, the stars misaligned bad enough work/life-wise to show me that even if I was successful and doing well, no amount of waiting was going to sort it all out if I didn’t want to grow there. By the same celestial mojo, a job listing for a company I began following back in September started popping up in my Facebook sidebar, a refreshing change from the AT&T discounts or UCSF ads asking me to donate my “top-tier university eggs.” A cover letter, resume, and writing sample later, I definitively decided to quit my first salaried full-time job back here in the states.

Miraya was right on the money. Jobs are relationships. Applying to a new position while I was fully employed and still working for SIC felt like what I imagine cheating to feel like—more so did sneaking out to interviews under the guise of doctors appointments and aunts in need of pick-up from the airport (I did also have a doctor’s appointment but had no such aunt, and no car to retrieve her). Quitting was like breaking up with someone: awkward, and uncomfortable, with some generous euphemisms and futile bargaining, ultimately ending in the sad/happy truth of “I’ve found someone new who really just has more to offer me right now.”

“Two weeks notice” didn’t exist at my last firm, so with that I was unemployed—for a total of three days before I started my newest gig at a pretty delightful early-stage VC fund and innovation lab. I don’t mean to gush, but I like where I’ve landed. My job has me interacting with passionate creatives every day and I’m excited when I talk to them and learn how they are taking their concerns and making actionable and scalable plans from their ideas. The energy is good and the culture at my office makes me do a double-take everyday.

So if jobs are relationships, I’m clearly in the honeymoon phase. I’ve been here just a month now, but I see a future here and I want to stick around for a while. It’s a role where I feel myself getting scrappier by the minute; and it’s a place where I see myself growing into something, whether it be my position, the organization, a focus, or a passion—maybe and hopefully all of the aforementioned.

Plus they’ve serviced my love of Post-it’s and reusable water bottles. Some people just walk in the light.

Best,

Elaine

To Rome With Love

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 16:24:16 -0400

Phrasebook in one hand, and best friend Daisy in the other, we arrived in Rome on a Monday afternoon to full sunshine. We got our hotel (great on paper, a building site in person) and heard the words we all dread. “Senora, there has been a problem with your booking.”

In hindsight it turned out to be a blessing. We ended up in a hotel right near the spanish steps. The big hill that freaked me out in the cab on the way also turned out to be a life saver after ten ice creams and five bowls of pasta a day.

A quick change and we headed to Piazza Navona for prosecco, wine and a pizza to share. A casual few hours later we had dinner opposite the Pantheon. No doubt we paid a hell of a lot more for our meal here, but I had one of the best plates of pasta I’ve ever eaten, and the situation couldn’t have been more romantic or stunning.

The following day was a walkathon, as we went all round the churches and Spanish Steps. My eyes nearly fell out at the architecture of the Pantheon- Just how they built it, to quote Daisy’s word of the trip, is “UN-BELIEVABLE”.

The highlight of the whole trip, to satisfy my incredible geekdom, was a visit to the Shelley, Keats museum. The library has an incredible view of the Spanish Steps. You leave behind the hustle and bustle of the tourist groups and move into the peaceful calm apartment where Keats resided until his premature death aged 25. Standing in the room where he died, I felt surprisingly emotional. There’s something about the atmosphere of the house that feels preserved and unspoiled. In one of the display cabinets, there’s locks of hair given as gifts from Keats, Shelley and Trelawney. It was such a simple gesture and one that made me nostalgic for that time.

On our final day we hit up the coliseum, the ruins and the Vatican (pre the appointment of the new pope). We got soaked in the rain, and ate a beautiful homecooked Italian meal at Daisy’s grandfather’s. We were overwhelmed by the architecture, the beauty on every single street.

I’m already longing to go back…Please. Take me back.

Yours,

Olivia

Jobs Are Like Long-Term Relationships

Sun, 03 Mar 2013 23:43:10 -0500

So I’ve never been the best at long-term relationships. I’ve really only been in two real relationships, the longest of which was 9 months with a few additional months of undefined togetherness. I’m now realizing my same antsy feeling of being with a guy for too long can be applied towards jobs. Pre “real-world” I had one part time job and a few summer internships, each about 2-3 months. My first job out of college lasted a whopping 4 months. Now at my current job I’m at 4 and 1/2 months, a record for me.

And funny enough, although it hasn’t even been 5 month, I’m already at the phase where I’m getting a bit uneasy and ready for something new. Instead of learning the ropes, meeting new people and discovering new things every day, I’m more in the day to day grind. Sure, at a start up I’m always learning something new but what I’ve realized at start ups is that the day to day grind is that there constantly is something new and we’re always trying a new system or technique to see if it works and honestly, I’m bored of that.

Normally at this point in a relationship I’d be done. I’m not getting exactly what I want so I’d say what’s the point and cut the strings. I’ve always believed I’m too young to feel stuck somewhere. Unfortunately my resume wouldn’t look so fabulous with a string of 4 month jobs, so I’m in it for the long haul (or at least a year). I’m a positive proactive person so I’ve been doing a lot of thinking to figure out what I like about my current job situation and what I’m not so thrilled about.

The biggest missing factor from my job is the lack of company culture. While everyone there is in their mid-20s and totally awesome, we’re missing an outlet to express ourselves and have fun. When I think of cool startups I picture Google and Facebook with game rooms, snack fridges and silly sock days and I envy them. So the event planner/entrepreneur that I am thought, why can’t I help create this company culture at my office? This is what I’m planning to do. The sorority girl in me organized a “Culture Club” with other interested employees to host fun (and free) activities at the office and after work. I’m currently creating the March Social Calendar.

This all might sound silly and like sorority fluff, but I feel like by planning a few fun activities a month I will be more excited to come to work and will make a difference by giving others that same excitement. Company culture matters immensely in branding a business and recruiting/keeping quality talent. Just like long-term relationships, jobs have ups and downs. I’m currently in a down slump but instead of throwing in the towel as I’ve done in the past with relationships, I’m being mature and putting on my problem solving cap to come up with a solution that’s beneficial for all parties involved. And that solution is to do what I do best - plan events and activities (Exhibit A: The 20s Club) and bring people together to have some fun!

-Miraya Berke

My Big Idea (as featured on Harpers Bazaar UK online)

Sat, 02 Mar 2013 14:07:29 -0500

24-year-old Olivia Grant used to regard feminism as a dirty word. That was until she found misogyny and sexism are alive and kicking, and got her consciousness well and truly raised…

Up until I was 19, I thought that feminists were all hairy, butch man-haters. There, I said it. The last thing I associated it with was simple equality.

Then I found myself single after a whirlwind engagement and verbally abusive relationship with my first love. In an attempt to try and regain a sense of self, I ventured Stateside, to begin a year abroad at UC Berkeley. There, I enrolled in my first gender class.

The night before, I lay awake, mind buzzing. Was it acceptable to wear make-up to a class on gender? A dress? Would there be any men there? Would there be any straight people? Why did it even matter? I turned up (the only British student) in the Cal uniform - Berkeley sweatshirt, shorts, flip flops, my long hair pulled back and wearing virtually no make-up. All in all: neutral. The class was anything but. The first girl I met, Tracy, had a beard and breasts. Mark was wearing a blue dress and liked men. Anne was paralysed from her neck down. They’d been called freaks. They were the judged, and yet they were also the most open, fair group of people I’ve ever met.

After unofficially switching my major and taking as many gender classes as I could, I became a passionate feminist. I also made the decision to join a sorority, an institution some would argue is the polar opposite to feminism. This was not the case in my experience.

Living with 200 other bright young women in such a liberal community as the Bay Area was fantastic. They were ambitious, motivated, and most importantly supportive. Some friends from my gender class couldn’t understand my decision to become part of the “Greek community” as it’s known in the Sates. Sororities are known for choosing people partly on the way they look and are not renowned for their politically correct views. Could I still be a feminist and wear a short skirt to a frat party?

Returning from Berkeley to Norwich was a major culture shock. Where in America my gender classes had at least 40 students enrolled, here they had five - so few, in fact, the class nearly got cancelled.

While in the American political arena, a woman’s reproductive rights are being contested all over again, in Britain we tend to assume that women are finally having it all.

Yet I and my other four classmates were shocked to discover that our female lecturers were getting paid substantially less than their male counterparts. And we were told that no female faculty members were invited to a Humanities dinner held by our Chancellor. When they banded together and went anyway, he refused to shake any of their hands. Had this been done on the grounds of race, class or sexuality, there would have been uproar. In 2012, these professors were not invited because they were women.

So why has feminism become a dirty word in our culture? Maybe we need a new way to talk about striving for sex equality. But the first step is to not be ashamed of pushing for our rights, and most importantly, to make the F-word positive and open; to stop judging each other and putting “women’s rights” into an angry little pigeonhole no-one ever empties.

Perhaps it’s too strong to say that we’re betraying the legacy of women before us, but we’re certainly in danger of letting the cobwebs settle. At 24, I’ve graduated, I’m employed, and I’m on the pill thanks to the actions of women before me. So, come on girls, let’s pick up the ball and play. What’s next?

Yours,

Olivia

elinalin: Berkeley from above (the Campanile, 8/27/12) We went...

Sat, 23 Feb 2013 12:19:38 -0500

elinalin:

Berkeley from above (the Campanile, 8/27/12)

We went to the most beautiful school in the world, didn’t we friends?

Beating March Sadness: Upsides to Dating Yourself

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 12:38:00 -0500

I successfully celebrated my breakup-versary earlier this month by not remembering it [until I read my old journal entries last week—go figure].

Spotted outside my office Valentine’s Afternoon—possible submission to sadstuffonthestreet.com

I don’t know what it is about this time of year that tests relationships. It might be the pressures of Valentine’s Day, Salesforce’s new fiscal year, or something equally absurd but significant nonetheless. Regardless, the tail end of February seems to be break-up season—and its aftermath, the real March Sadness (because no one should be that upset about their NCAA brackets). This year is no exception as a few of my closest friends have recently split with their significant others and are seeking either 1) modes of reconciliation or 2) ways to move on.

I am not above either of these. Admittedly, the conscious observer would probably say something like “Who are you kidding with just March Sadness?” A year ago, I ran the bit of coping mechanisms through March, April, May, etc. I worked out a lot, went out a lot, threw myself into my work, journaled, talked about my feelings, read appropriate excerpts from He’s Just Not that Into You, had a rebound relationship, and even wrote a song about how much I hated myself for feeling like a crazy ex-girlfriend.

Somewhere along the lines things stopped hurting and a year since, I suppose it all worked out very well—I feel really good heading into this March. I ate, prayed, loved—whatever.

I am, however, by no means a self-love guru. And I’m clearly not invincible to heartache. I’ve just recently discovered a new life philosophy that’s seemed to serve me well lately. On a day trip to visit family at the start of this month, my mom and aunt asked me if I was dating anyone—to which I responded, “myself.” At the time, I was just being facetious. I’ve been on a few dates here and there, but whether I like it or not, I am incidentally so dating myself. I enjoy nice romantic walks around the city, take myself to concerts, open my own cab doors, buy myself presents and pay for my own lovely dinners. I also send drinks my own way at the bar. I’m apparently not a cheap date, but lessons on frugality are a whole other blog post. In all seriousness, I don’t mean to brag, but I’m probably the best partner I’ve ever had. Beyonce would approve.

Some of my Favorite Upsides to Dating Yourself of Varying Levels of Glib

You’re The One. Sometimes people are on this perpetual quest to find, date, and marry “The One.” They’re perfect, on a pedestal, somehow I know that everything about them is right, and I feel so comfortable with them, and I’d be honored if they chose me? Blah blah blah—when you date yourself, you’re “The One.” And all of the above really should apply.
You get a chance to sort out the things you really like and the things you don’t. And if you don’t like them, you don’t do them. As it turns out, I actually do like StarCraft and I no longer accidentally kill my own marines, but in my heart of hearts, 8 times out of 10, I’d still rather be watching a rom-com, listening to a podcast, or nerding out on a History Channel documentary. Good girlfriend that I am to myself, the choice is typically a non-issue.
Gifting yourself things like undergarments and bed sheets generally feels less creepy and inappropriate. Yeah.
You will always like spending time with your friends. There’s no need to worry about how you will get along with your best friends; you won’t sit awkwardly to the side and give off “can we please leave early?” vibes. So spend time with them. You’ll realize why they’re in your life and how there for you they are if you let them be.
You have a get-out-of-jail-free card on flirting. You’re not going to get jealous of yourself and since you’re cultivating a strong confident air about you, you might as well show off. It doesn’t need to be romantically intentioned. I just like talking to people and getting to know them—so my friends say I girl-flirt as well as I guy-flirt. Either way, chatting up strangers at a bar or the park or whatever shows you the mythical sea of interesting people out in the world that find you interesting too. So if someone catches your discerning eye, go forth with your A-Game because you’re playing for Team You.

Oh, and starfishing.

I suppose the moral of my story, is that there are upsides to reorienting your perspective and making the most of March Sadness. It’s the ultimate time to treat yo’self. After a breakup, it’s not that you’re left to do things alone, you’re doing them for yourself instead of with or for somebody else. Dating yourself shows you how much you do have and how you are able to fulfill your own wants and needs on your own—ironically, quite possibly the best preparation for dating someone else.

Get it, ya’ll.

-Elaine

Sundance Film Fest Cont.

Sun, 17 Feb 2013 21:52:11 -0500

10 movies is a bit overwhelming to review all at once, so as promised here are the reviews of the next five films I saw at Sundance Film Festival 2013.

Breathe In

Breathe In was written and directed by Drake Doremus who also wrote/directed Like Crazy starring Felicity Jones, who also starred in Breathe In. Long story short, Breathe In is basically the same film as Like Crazy. Felicity Jones is a British girl studying abroad in the US. The whole movie you cringe as she makes stupid decisions in the name of love. In Like Crazy she overstays her visa and decides to get married so she can return to America. In Breathe In she falls for her host family dad/music teacher and decides to run away with him. This movie had all the elements for a movie I would love (British accent, study abroad, young love) however was not one of my favorites.

A Teacher

Unfortunately besides The Meteor, A Teacher was one of my least favorite films this year at Sundance. It was a story of a female teacher having an affair with her student and to no surprise everyone finds out and her world as she knows it falls apart. Having just seen Breathe In, another story of a teacher hooking up with a student, right before seeing A Teacher, the story felt repetitive and a worse version of Breathe In. The music and camera angles were loud and dizzying, making the film overall difficult to watch. A perfect example of an artsy Sundance film that will screen in an Indie movie theater for a month.

The Spectacular Now

The Spectacular Now was a very charming film starring the very talented Miles Teller & Shailene Woodley. The story was very sweet of the popular boy and the nerdy girl finding unexpected love during their senior year of high school. They both help each other to face their fears and the real world. The Spectacular Now reminded me of a 500 Days of Summer unique love story and a Sundance gem.

In A World…

In A World was one of my all time favorites at Sundance this year! Also, I happened to be sitting two seats away from Joseph Gordon-Levitt during the screening, so hearing him laugh every few minutes made this film that much better. Lake Bell, writer, director and star of In A World was phenomenal! The story is about the voiceover industry and women finding their voices. Lake Bell’s character fights to make a name for herself in the voiceover industry and to help women rid themselves of the “sexy baby voice.” A joy to watch with an inspirational message for women.

Jobs

Jobs probably received the most hype out of any film at Sundance this year. It was the last film to premiere at the festival and during the whole time at Sundance the buzz around Jobs was palpable. When it did finally come out people weren’t all that impressed. However due to my flight cancellation I was able to squeeze in one last film so I went to see Jobs. With a similar tone as The Social Network, I definitely wasn’t disappointed with Jobs. I’m a striving entrepreneur and I always love to see how companies got their start. Steve Jobs, excellently played by Ashton Kutcher, had many similar personality traits as Mark Zucherburg - selfish, manipulative, visionary and obviously brilliant. Both were faced with dramatic lawsuits or times where others tried to take their companies away from them. Jobs was inspiring because Steve Jobs was just a regular hippie who didn’t wear shoes and started the Apple empire. This is a must see film for anyone who grew up with an iPod, iPad, iPhone or macbook (which is all of us in this generation).

Every year my parents swear that it will be their last year at Sundance. Then December rolls around and they start planning for the next year. So that’s all I’ve got for now…until Sundance 2014.

-Miraya Berke

Cupid's Bow.

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 12:31:19 -0500

Pink champagne on sale? This may be the best day of the year. In the absence of a man in my life, I threw a dinner at mine for my two best friends. Given that I’m currently unemployed and thus had the day to prepare, I decided to attempt to become a full on Nigella style domestic stay at home goddess.

Valentines is a day that people generally feel exists to make single people feel bad about themselves. I have to admit I had a momentary stomach flip of excitement as I woke up to the sound of the post dropping through my mailbox yesterday. The sight of a Domino’s pizza leaflet let me feeling somewhat dejected. But as the day progressed and I laid the table and cooked a meal for my friends, I felt incredibly happy. In the long scheme of our lives, society would tell me it’s unlikely that I’ll be single for the majority of my time on planet earth. In theory, I’ll get married and given that we’re all living longer, I could spend a good half-century off the market. Last night I got to spend the evening with two of my best friends on a day based on love. These two young women have been a constant in my life, they make me laugh and are fiercely loyal. There was no pressure. No, where is this heading? Are we official? We spent the night with delicious food (if I do say so myself, yes I do), many a bottle of rose, and ended it dancing round to Beyonce in our finest red dresses.

Who knows what will happen in the year to come, where we’ll all be this time next year, but it’s hard to imagine having a more fantastic time.

Yours,

Olivia

Happy Heart Day

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 19:24:35 -0500

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY from the Uprooted & Relentless gals! <3

Happy Sunday.

Sun, 10 Feb 2013 16:45:00 -0500

Caught up with Miraya for a little bit yesterday. A couple of things have respectively, had us feeling more relentlessly uprooted than uprooted and relentless. But nothing calms the nerves like commiserating with a good friend about the heavier things. We somehow breezed through our pity party portion of the conversation and seamlessly ended up laughing and catching up. I felt in less of a funk after the conversation and a little inspired to get things going. So while I do enjoy myself a lazy Sunday, I’ve so far used this one to catch up on some work things, do a little transcription for my research, and get started on some long term projects—and alright, I did nap. Only resolution for this lunar new year, bigger and better things however and whatever (maybe whoever) they may be.

-Elaine

In Memory of Nick Castle

Sat, 09 Feb 2013 17:29:43 -0500

I met Nick Castle during my first week at UC Berkeley. We were both applying for the same club, SUPERB. I was wearing a Spiderman shirt the day we met. We flirted with each other for an entire year until he finally asked me out. Our first date was to a Fleet Foxes concert at the Fox theater.

We dated for three months. It was a beautiful three months of movie watching, JD Salinger reading, fro yo eating, flannel wearing and so much laughing. Nick had an amazingly large heart. We were 19 and we were in love. We adventured through Berkeley, San Francisco, Brentwood and Santa Cruz hand in hand. While our relationship didn’t end on the best of terms I always hoped we’d end up being friends one day.

Yesterday Nick Castle died. He was only 23 years old and he was in China serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer, a dream of his for over four years. I hardly spoke to Nick at all our last three years at Berkeley. I wish there was something I could have done to amend our friendship but of course there isn’t anything I can do now. Nick was so smart, genuine, caring and thoughtful and he did not deserve to die at such an early age. He would have gone on to do great things. I’m grateful that I got to spend as much time with him as I did.

His death is horrible and unnecessary and it’s scary to think that those we care for could be here one day and gone the next. It’s a reminder and inspiration to make our time worthwhile, to stand up for what we believe in and to tell those we care about how we feel. Nick, you will always have a place in my heart.

Love,

Miraya

The Waiting Game

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 02:34:00 -0500

When you’re 22, you’re allowed a little bit of waywardness, right? You’re allowed to indulge in dates with destiny (and boys I suppose). You’re allowed disparate interests and different, yet equally viable life directions. No matter what your mother says, shifting is encourageable. Some degree of turbulence is not only welcome, but inevitable, right?

These are the things I’ve been telling myself this past couple of days to justify some of my gnawing moments of young professional angst. (I also made cauliflower quinoa about which my older sister referred to me affectionately as, “yuppie scum”—another reason for my own current general discontent.) My firm is undergoing some changes internally that have everyone a little rattled. Don’t get me wrong, what I do is pretty interesting and I love my co-workers. As I hoped, I’m gaining a bit of knowledge on how for-profit companies operate. I learn new technologies daily, meet interesting people to grow my network, and I’m learning to interview in my sleep. But as I get more and more candidates going through interviews for their next big jobs—I can’t help but wonder what and when my next big career shift will be too. Already.

This past weekend didn’t help with any of this. I was able to spend time with my co-workers and some volunteer alumni from the NGO I moonlight for, Support for International Change. Stanford’s SIC coordinators, with Kappa Kappa Gamma and Sigma Nu host an annual music festival called “Snowchella” to benefit SIC; and myself, my friend Rachel, my boss Lindsay, and SIC co-founder, Matt Craven all attended this year and served on a pre-concert panel.

I listened to Matt and Lindsay speak just as closely as the students when they detailed SIC’s history and why it does what it does and how it does it. I was a goob-illy proud SIC staff member, albeit humbled pretty quickly in the same breath. I was blown away by the things the original SIC alum are up to now: world-class doctors, educators, Forbes noted social entrepreneurs, policy makers, some are still out there in the field working for other organizations, hell—someone even made it pretty far on a season of The Bachelor among a million of her other successes. I had a mini quarter life crisis of the ”what the hell am I doing with my life?” variety.

Somewhere in between the panel and the PBR’s we toasted a little awkwardly at a frat party in our organization’s honor—a few definitives emerged for me that used to be “maybes.” I definitively want to do something where I feel like I can be creative and actually make a positive impact, you know, pay my rent back to the universe. And in the grander scheme of things, I do want to somehow be involved in public health and sustainable development indirectly or directly.

These over-arching definitives have been driving me a little nuts. While I’m on the phone talking with people about their most successful marketing pushes or their “average deal sizes” and how much they “W2’d in 2012,” I’ve lately been daydreaming about working in corporate social responsibility somewhere, conscious business models, volunteering at a women’s health clinic, getting my MBA/MPH or MD/MBA, ideas for my own nonprofits and social ventures, working overseas, entering the PhD-hood like my two older sisters…all of the above.

I don’t know if I’m just reeling off of SIC high right now, but something seems to have clicked in the way of my life trajectory which makes me worry a little about where I am now and if I’m getting in my own way.

How long are you supposed to stick with it to see if your gut starts to sort itself out? Or should you just flip the switch?

-Elaine

When Olivia Plays Critic For A Day: My Oscar Predictions.

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 13:27:04 -0500

BEST PICTURE

Silver Lining’s Playbook

As much as I adored Django Unchained, I came away from watching Silver Lining’s thinking this is the reason why people make movies, watch them, love them. To anyone who hasn’t seen it, GO GO GO. It was such a pleasure to see a movie that wasn’t reliant on a huge budget and explosions and naked girls. The dialogue is fantastic, and all the performances weave together to create a world, however messed up, you wish you were part of.

ACTOR

in a Leading Role

Bradley Cooper

Daniel Day Lewis you are a god, you are the greatest actor of your generation, maybe any generation. But could I keep my eyes open during Lincoln? I’m afraid not. I’ve watched Bradley Cooper since his Alias days to his surprise turn as the heartthrob in The Hangover. David O’Russell has brought out a brilliant performance in Cooper, which drives this fantastic film. I can’t wait to see the choices he makes in the next few years.

ACTRESS

in a Leading Role

Jennifer Lawrence

I seem to be on a Silver Lining’s theme here but this is character that just doesn’t come around very often, especially for a female actor. Jennifer Lawrence is simply stunning, hilariously funny and unbearably touching. As much as I love Jessica Chastain in everything, I think this has to be Jennifer’s year.

ACTOR

in a Supporting Role

Christoph Waltz

Spoilers ahead******

Django might have been my best picture choice had Christoph Waltz survived the whole movie. Why did he have to die?? The confidence of his performance makes its mark on the movie like a big red gunshot wound that sadly blows Jamie Fox out the water. Waltz manages to capture Tarantino’s black humor perfectly. I didn’t think it was possible to think he could get better than he was in Inglorious Bastards, but he’s done it again.

ACTRESS

in a Supporting Role

Helen Hunt

It’s now pretty much a given that this award will go to the pixie cropped Anne Hathaway who will manage to seem o so surprised and o so grateful to the Academy. Personally, while her performance is harrowing, Helen Hunt’s in The Sessions really made its mark in a film dealing with difficult subject matter.

ANIMATED FEATURE FILM

Brave

I went to see Brave with the twins I look after. They loved it. I loved it. They laughed, I laughed. I screamed, they…didn’t scream, but they did laugh at me for doing it. Brave has now become one of my favorite animated films, with its fantastic score by the amazing Patrick Doyle. It’s trying to do something different with the fairytale genre and hasn’t quite managed to go all the way…but it’s paving the path for a new kind of heroine for young boys and girls to look up to.

CINEMATOGRAPHY

Anna Karenina

Seamus McGarvey’s work on Anna Karenina is stunning. There’s not much more to say here.

COSTUME DESIGN

Anna Karenina

The same here. Jacqueline Durran is one of my favorite costume designers and her work here is luscious and pitch perfect. I went to see the costume exhibition at the V and A a few weeks ago, and one of Anna’s costume’s was on show. I had to stop myself jumping head first into it.

DIRECTING

Quentin Tarantino & David O’Russell

It’s a pet peeve of mine when a movie when’s best movie and doesn’t get best director. Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper wouldn’t have been as brilliant without the captain of their ship. The movie is paced perfectly, and for me is flawless. Having said that, Tarantino is a true visionary. His films belong to him and no other.

FILM EDITING

Argo

First of all, it has to be said, where the hell is Ben Affleck’s Oscar nomination for Best Director? The editing of Argo is brilliant and creates a tension that doesn’t dissipate from the second you sit in your seat till the credits roll.

WRITING

Adapted Screenplay

Argo

This is a dream premise where Hollywood saves the day against the baddies. The script managed to be entirely naturalistic, with brilliant tension. Structurally, this is the best movie of the year for me.

WRITING

Original Screenplay

Django Unchained

I would love to be in Tarantino’s mind to see how he dreams up a movie like this. While I don’t think this is as perfect as Inglorious Bastards, it feels like a truly original take. For me, the movie ends when *****spoilers ahead**** Christoph Waltz’s character dies.

Sundance Film Fest

Sun, 03 Feb 2013 19:55:00 -0500

One of my favorite family traditions is when my parents and I go to Sundance City Film Festival in Park City, Utah. 2013 marked my parents’ 10th year at Sundance and my 6th. We saw a lot of incredible films this year with stories ranging from murders to love stories to strippers to fictional babies. Here’s a review of five of the films, the next five coming soon.

Kill Your Darlings

Allen Ginsburg. Jack Kerouac. Daniel Radcliffe. Enough said. Kill Your Darlings was a terrific film about the story of the beginning of the Beat movement and how the influential friends met each other while at Columbia University. Kill Your Darlings investigates a murder this group of friends were all involved in that has been kept a secret until recently. The writers and directors have been working on this project for 9 years. All their hard work paid off as the film was amazing! Daniel Radcliffe was a very charming Allen Ginsburg and all the boys in the old fashioned preppy ivy attire was a big plus for me.

Sweetwater

As a big Mad Men fan it was epic to watch sweet Mrs. Draper (January Jones) act as a strong western woman putting the men in her town in place. I’m not usually an avid western film watcher but I was surprisingly pleased with Sweetwater. The directors, twins who used to play baseball and work at a car wash, were charming and passionate. The best part was that the writer/director twins cameoed in the film.

The Meteor

If you like artsy images, slow music and stories about prison you might like this movie. However, if you enjoy dialogue, character interaction and non-subtitle movies then this is not the movie for you. The story follows a criminal and how his time in prison has impacted his girlfriend and mother as well as the stories of a prison guard and another criminal. The big surprise - the characters never meet or speak and rarely do you even see a human face. This is a typical Sundance artsy fartsy movie that I definitely could have gone without seeing.

Afternoon Delight

Afternoon Delight was indeed delightful! A hysterical cast, witty script and interesting story, I greatly enjoyed this film. Jash Radnor (aka Ted Mosby), Kathryn Hahn, Jane Lynch, Michaela Watkins & Juno Temple were all a joy to watch. Michaela Watkins, who was also in another Sundance movie I saw, In a World, is my latest obsession and it’s now my mission to watch all her films and shorts. Jill Soloway, winner of the U.S. Dramatic Directing Award at Sundance this year, is brilliant and inspiring and created a joyous film.

Emanuel and the Truth About Fishes

This story was unique, the soundtrack was beautiful and acting was fantastic. As a big fan of the UK Skins, Kaya Scodelario aka Effy was terrific! The film is about motherhood, friendship and love. I don’t want to give anything away because this film has an amazing twist, but this film is a lovely must see!

Stay tuned for my next post, a review of the other 5 movies I watched at Sundance 2013!

-Miraya Berke