Wow, that was fast! Evidently, my trivia questions are too easy. Must make it harder next time.
Congrats to Julien, Allison and EireGo for being fast on the trigger and the first three to get it right. Scripts have been emailed. Thank you FFBUFF8, ScriptPimp and ShelleyP for also participating. ShelleyP gets extra credit for knowing the name of the role. Do you watch All My Children in Australia and France or did you find the answer on the Internet? 🙂
I’m happy to see the interest in this movie. It doesn’t have a big budget but it’s good filmmaking. Rent the DVD then come back and let me know what you think!
18 Comments
ShelleyP
February 11, 2009 at 7:52 pmHi PCN!
Thanks for the extra credit, but I have to confess that I researched it! Ive never watched All My Children. Actually, I’m not sure that it’s ever been shown on Aussie telly – not the commercial stations, at least. {Anyone else out there know?}
I confess to a severe Days of Our Lives addiction in the late 80s but after one too many Roman/John Black reincarnations, I gave myself a severe talking to and successfully went cold turkey.
Julien
February 11, 2009 at 9:27 pmFunny comment, Aussie girl! 😉
Oui, ça va, thanks for asking, mate!
And another extra credit for your French words!
(You should teach us some Australian English colloquialisms!)
Miss PCN, thanks for the script!
Well, OK, let’s be honest, I found the answer on the Internet, but I have mitigating circumstances: the soap “All my children” has never been broadcast here (except for only 4 episodes in 2003, said Wikipedia!).
I can’t wait to watch “Frozen river” (next Monday as I said before!). I’m pretty sure I’m gonna like it!
Elyse, you were asking me about “Doubt”. Well, I’ve not seen it yet, it was only released 2 days ago here! The French reviews are rather negative, which surprise me cause it seems to me that the movie was received very favorably in most countries (I may be wrong about that)…
I would like to watch it anyway, hope I’ll get some time for it (I still have to go and see Slumdog and I definitely wanna get my own opinion of Benjamin Button!).
Well, that’s all for now!
Best thoughts from France to you guys! 🙂
popculturenerd
February 12, 2009 at 1:06 amJulien,
Doubt got mixed reviews here, too. It’s a flawed film, comes across at times like a play but the performances are very, very good and deserving of the nominations. I would love to hear your opinions about this and the other movies you mentioned.
ShelleyP
February 11, 2009 at 10:41 pmG’day, Julien {and Elyse, of course}…
Thank you – next time I will be less lazy and make sure I copy and paste from my word symbols to put in correct French accents and so on 😉 But my vague recollections of school girl French will be no match for your command of English, Julien!
I’ll probably share some Aussie slang without even trying. Some of the stereotypical ones make me cringe, though. {‘sheila’ = woman and I’ve yet to meet an Australian woman who enjoys being called a sheila. Except perhaps for those whose names really are Sheila! I still have nightmares over a ‘Love Boat’ episode years ago that was based in Australia and they riddled the dialogue by Australian characters with every ockerism under the sun … urghhhhh. }
But we have some cute ones, too! Like calling chickens, “Chooks”. {Kiwis (New Zealanders) like to lay claim to that one as well.} I thought I’d give you that one now since chook isn’t likely to come up in the normal course of Pop Culture discussions!
I’m hopelessly behind on my movie watching but hope to catch a few more before Feb 22nd.
À bientôt!
popculturenerd
February 12, 2009 at 1:22 amShelleyP,
I love the Aussie slang and how you know French, too! French was actually my second language before English but I’ve here lived a long time and haven’t kept up with my Francais. Does it count if I say I used to read Tin Tin, Asterix and Obelix, and Benoit Brisefer as a child? I loved those books and still have a few, though I can’t read them anymore.
I like the term chooks because one of my favorite words is chicken. It’s one of those words that you can insert into any sentence and instantly make it funny (example: He likes taking pictures of chickens!). I’m glad you shared it because now I’m going to steal it (but give you proper credit, of course). I second Julien’s suggestion that you share more Australian colloquialisms. They’ll be useful to me and I’ll tell you why.
Couple years ago, I was traveling in Europe when someone found out I was American and was very rude to me. I would get bad service in hotels and restaurants. I guess Americans weren’t very popular over there at the time. So I put on an Aussie accent and passed myself off as Australian. I was trying to come up with Aussie slang to make myself believable and realized how limited my knowledge was (though my accent was apparently okay since I met Australians who believed me). You’d be happy to know I never, ever once called anyone a sheila or uttered the phrase “put a shrimp on the barbie.” I didn’t like lying; I only wanted to get decent service in restaurants!
ShelleyP
February 12, 2009 at 1:37 amPCN, your French will be miles better than mine, I’m sure! You know that saying, “I’ve forgotten more than I knew…” I’m most impressed with your childhood reading, by the way.
And even more impressed that you avoided sheila and shrimp and pulled off our accent. {Especially because we call them prawns here, not shrimp – there was much controversy in Australia over that ad at the time!} Well done! I’m so used to our language here that I don’t stop to think about what’s unique to us. I’ll try and come up with some more useful ones for you… though chook is hard to beat!
popculturenerd
February 12, 2009 at 2:12 amShelleyP,
I met Australians once who kept saying their meal was “gorgeous” when we would say “delicious.” Is that common? We usually use gorgeous to describe the beauty of a person or object, but not the taste of food. I found that interesting.
ShelleyP
February 12, 2009 at 5:01 amI’ve had to think about that one, Elyse. “Gorgeous” is used a lot here, but not especially so with regards to food… I’d be curious to know what state they came from, as we have some regional habits as well.
popculturenerd
February 12, 2009 at 2:18 pmI met them in Thailand and didn’t even think to ask what state they were from. I just started chatting them up in the buffet line in the hotel restaurant and they kept saying, “The ice cream is gorgeous” and “Wasn’t that soup was gorgeous?”
Regarding the accent, I’ve been fascinated by it since I was small. My favorite singer was Olivia Newton-John and I loved everything about her singing and speaking voice. I would try to emulate her. Nowadays, I love listening to Simon Baker, Hugh Jackman (whom I got to see in person), Naomi Watts and Nicole Kidman speak in interviews. Of course, I like looking at them, too, because they’re all so pretty!
Julien
February 12, 2009 at 5:58 pmHi again sheilas! 😉
Thanks to you both for your French references!
PCN, I didn’t know about you having learnt French, how great!
But what is your native language if it’s not English (that you speak totally perfectly!)?
Bravo for your childhood readings! Actually, I had never heard of Benoit Brisefer before! I searched on the Internet and discovered this character was created by the Belgian cartoonist Peyo. The guy is mostly known for “Les Schtroumpfs”, an other series of comic strips, translated as “The Smurfs” in English (very nice by the way!).
Waow, you saw Hugh Jackman in person, lucky you!
There are plenty of other talented Australian people! I really like Guy Pearce, Heath Ledger, Russel Crowe, Cate Blanchett, Emilie de Ravin, Rose Byrne, Sia Furler, Kylie Minogue…
Tina Arena is a very famous singer here in France.
And I’m a huge fan of Toni Collette!!! I know she works as a singer too, I even bought her album from an Australian seller on ebay!
That reminds me that Shelley ‘s “chook” (love that word too!) was the name of the groom in the beginning of “Muriel’s wedding”, one of my favorite comedies!
Have you seen that one?
*Australia rules!* 🙂
popculturenerd
February 13, 2009 at 12:18 pmJulien,
My first language is Vietnamese. I went to a private school in Saigon and was taught French starting from kindergarten. But I was only in second grade when we had to leave and then I had to learn English once we got to the States and eventually, regrettably, forgot most of my French. At one time, I was able to sing along to Francois Hardy records! (“Tous les garcons et les filles…”)
When I was a child, Herge and Peyo were my heroes. I loved everything Peyo did, including Les Schtroumpfts. I also read Johan et Pirlouit but Benoit was my favorite. I just loved how strong he was and he’s so cute in his beret and scarf!
Yes, I got to see Hugh Jackman in person, on the day he was announced Sexiest Man Alive, and he was dressed in black leather. I’d say they got that title quite right! My husband even worked with him briefly on a project. My husband said when he first met Hugh, Hugh stuck out his hand to shake my husband’s. My husband flinched ’cause he thought steel knives might flick out from between Hugh’s fingers and slash his hand off!
I agree there are plenty of talented Australians. I’m a fan of all those you mentioned (except Tina Arena and Sia Furler; have to research them), especially Cate Blanchett. I’ve seen her in person a few times and she’s impossible gorgeous with golden hair and poreless skin. I’ve seen Muriel’s Wedding several times and think Toni Collette can play anything. Muriel’s was directed by another Australian, P.J. Hogan, who directed yet another Aussie, Isla Fisher, in Confessions of a Shopaholic, which I’m seeing today. Will report back on how it is.
ShelleyP
February 12, 2009 at 8:24 pm{Julien, if you ever call us ‘sheilas’ again, I shall hop on a plane to France via LA where I will pick up Elyse and we will take turns beating you with a wet lettuce leaf 🙂 }
I’m always very proud of Aussies who make it overseas. Yes, I’ve seen Muriel’s Wedding – it’s a classic. If you ever spot The Castle, do hire it. It’s funny and endearing. And I’m rather fond of Tina Arena. I think it’s so cool that she lives in Paris. She nicked {stole} my fantasy life.
PCN: Like Julien, I am very envious that you got close to Hugh Jackman. But I think I’d faint if you breathed in the vicinity of Simon Baker! Hubba hubba – what can I say.
popculturenerd
February 13, 2009 at 1:01 pmShelleyP,
I’ll hop on that plane with you and bring some wet noodles, too!:-)
I noticed you said “hire” The Castle. Is that another colloquialism? We’d say “rent.” Ha! I picked up another one!
I had a chance to see Simon Baker in person but I wasn’t available. Isn’t that nuts? A friend of mine wrote and associate produced a new movie starring Simon (here’s the film’s website) and invited me to the set in New Mexico. I happened to be in NM for a few days on other business but the scheduling didn’t work out for me to squeeze in a set visit. Drats!
ShelleyP
February 15, 2009 at 11:49 pmElyse, you are observant {but we already know that}. I’ll have to check all the time to make sure odd things I say are Australianisms, not Shelley-isms! We use both hire and rent when talking about going to the video store.
What a shame you weren’t able to go on set … that’s fantastic about your friend writing and co-producing it. I’m a real chicken {in this instance, we say ‘chicken’ not ‘chook’!} when it comes to creepy/spine tingling/scarey movies, though, so I don’t think even the lure of watching Simon Baker for a couple of hours will be enough to have me watching this one!
As for Hugh … well, sigh.
Julien
February 18, 2009 at 7:21 pmWell, I finally had a chance to go and see “Frozen river”, I thought I had to tell you about it!
I was pretty sure it would be a good one… and it was!
Great casting, beautiful pictures, captivating story!
Melissa Leo will probably not get the Oscar, but she totally deserves her nomination. She’s very touching playing this strong and rough woman who can do anything for her family.
PCN, I read somewhere that you liked Tom Tykwer, so do I!
I’m surprised that you know this German director and even more surprised that you know “Run, Lola, run” (his “Perfume” is more famous on the international level).
I can’t remember much from his “Heaven” (yet starring Cate Blanchett and Giovanni Ribisi) but I really enjoyed “The Princess and the Warrior” (with Franka ‘Lola’ Potente), which I recommend!
Didn’t know you were from Vietnam, by the way! I don’t know which age corresponds to second grade, but your English is totally perfect.
And quoting Françoise Hardy is a real feat, nice one!
Do you still speak Vietnamese too?
For the record, I work as a translator, that’s why I’m always interested when it comes to languages (thus my questions to our Aussie friend)!
PCN, you met Hugh Jackman and were invited to a big film set (is your friend Tomas Romero?), I’m impressed! What else did you not tell us?! Make us envious! 😉
You may end directing, writing or playing in one of those movies! How great would that be, huh?!
ShelleyP (I was going to write SheilaP, just for fun, but oops, I don’t want a lettuce leaf spank!), I watched “The Castle” trailer and it made me want to watch the whole film!
Guess how frustrated I was when I dicovered it had never been released here in France, neither in theaters nor on DVD… Dammit!
Talking of Aussie movies, has anyone of you heard about or even seen a movie called “The black balloon” with Toni Collette?
The trailer is good and the reviews too. Not sure it will be released on a large scale…
And about Toni Collette (as I said, I’ve been a huge fan of her since “Muriel’s wedding”!), I recently learnt she was part of the casting of “Towelhead” a.k.a. “Nothing is private” directed by Alan Ball! Any opinion about this film? We’ll have it in July over here, I can’t wait to see it (“Six feet under” probably is the most clever series I’ve ever seen!).
Well, that’s all for now, guys!
Best thoughts from France! 😉
popculturenerd
February 18, 2009 at 10:42 pmJulien,
I’m really glad you liked Frozen River! It’s a small movie that deserves to be seen. It obviously didn’t have a big marketing budget to I’m trying to do my part in spreading the word.
I’m very much a fan of Tom Tykwer. Run, Lola, Run is such an awesome movie. I’ve also seen The Princess and the Warrior and Paris, Je T’aime, in which he directed a segment. Many years ago, I shot a film in Berlin for two months and picked up a bit of German while there. I got to work with Martin Semmelrogge from Das Boot, Ingo Naujoks and Nadeshda Brennicke. Don’t know if any of those names mean anything to you.
Yes, my friend is Tomas Romero. I’m very happy for him that his script got made with Simon in the lead! As for me, I’m too shy to boast about some of the things I’ve done (this might change over time :-)) but let’s just say I started this blog partly to share fun “insider” tidbits.
You’ll find this a funny coincidence but I sometimes work as a translator, too! There’s a need for Vietnamese interpreters here (yes, I’m still fluent) in the social services/court system so I help people when they go through hearings or arbitration or just to a doctor’s office. I’m also fascinated by languages (at one point, I spoke 6) and that’s why ShelleyP’s Aussie-isms interest me.
Thanks for reporting back on your Frozen River experience. I’m still waiting to hear what you think about Doubt and Benjamin Button!
ShelleyP
February 19, 2009 at 1:06 amOh, now I am simply in awe of you both!
Translators? {Aha! No wonder your English rocks so well, Julien!} Six languages, Elyse? Sacre bleu!
Sorry to hear that The Castle isn’t available in France, Julien. Elyse, have you seen it? It’s a little gem and it would definitely add to your Aussie vocabulary 🙂 .
Sorry, I haven’t seen The Black Balloon or Nothing is Private, though apparently both were released in cinemas here. You sure are a Toni C fan, Julien!
I hope you do brave it and share more of your own experiences, Elyse {without getting into trouble 😉 }. You write so beautifully, I’m sure you can find a way of doing it without feeling like you are blowing your own horn. I will hang from your every word! {As will Julien and your other loyal followers, I’ll bet.}
popculturenerd
February 19, 2009 at 6:22 pmShelleyP,
You are too, too kind. I really appreciate your comments because while I love what I do, I’m horrible at promoting myself. As I get more comfortable, I promise I’ll share any interesting stories I might have.
I haven’t seen The Castle but will look into it if it’ll help me speak Australian!