Tonight: Women in Film, Theatre & Television

Tonight on the show we interview Carol Whiteman, President & CEO of Creative Women Workshops Association. Carol organizes the Women in the Directors Chair Workshop to mentor and celebrate women working in film, theatre and television!



After our interview with Carol we’ll discuss the following recent events and issues:

• No jail time for rapist because victim “wanted to party” – The National Post, Feb 24, 2011
  
  Related: Do a tube top and high heels say, ‘Go ahead, rape me?’ – The National Post, Feb 24, 2011

• Anti-abortion billboards in New York and Los Angeles target Black women and spark outrage
  
  
  
  
• Protesters in 55 cities worldwide gathered for International Walk for Choice day on Saturday, February 26

Need Something to Cure That Hangover?

Queasy Pops from Three Lollies (of California) are a healthcare-professional-recommended treat manufactured to cure your upset stomach.

The formula combines all-natural essential oils with aromatherapy and may be perfect for fixing that post-crazy-evening hangover should you be so unlucky to have it.

Purchase the remedy for around $4 HERE.

VIMwatch: 2011 Academy Awards

The 83rd Annual Academy Awards (promoted oddly as "Oscar" this year) have finally happened and the fashion was, again, fabulous. Below see our top picks of tonight's stunners.

Ladies


Again, Mila Kunis stunned on the red carpet (she is killing it lately!) in a purple, lace Elie Saab Haute Couture gown. Kunis' accessories were from Neil Lane (jewelry) and Bottega Veneta (clutch).


A performer for the night, Gwyneth Paltrow, looked amazing in her metallic-gold — or silver, we can't tell — Calvin Klein dress (the metallic look is quite the trend this awards season — tough to pull off but quite beautiful when done right). Paltrow topped off her look with Brian Atwood heels and a gorgeous Louis Vuitton ring (among other lovely accessories).




Gents


When it comes to the Academy Awards, the men tend to play it safe, sporting the classic tuxedo look. This style was brought to perfection on the 2011 red carpet by the men of The Social Network who all looked awesome (and might we say are part of one of the sexiest casts ever). From left, we have Justin Timberlake and Andrew Garfield and below right is Jesse Eisenberg.


Russell Brand, who took his mother to this year's Oscars (as his wife is currently on tour), was a presenter at this year's awards and we love his funky take on the penguin look. He chose a plaid undershirt and navy blue color with black accents to spice up his look.

Feminist Flicks & Fundraiser!

rebELLES Calgary is hosting a screening of two feminist documentaries as a fundraiser for the Pan-Canadian Young Feminist Gathering!



What: Two documentaries: (1) Itty Bitty Titty Committee, and (2) rebELLEs: The Movie. Feminism Uncensored - a documentary of the Pan-Canadian young feminist gathering, Waves of Resistance, that took place in Montreal in 2008.



When: Wednesday, March 9, 7:00–10:00 p.m.



Where: The Good Life Community Bike Shop in Eau Claire Market



Cost: There will be a small door charge, as the event is a fundraiser for reBELLES Calgary. There will also be baked goods and merchandise for sale.



For more info: Check the Facebook event.

Quote of the Day: February 25

"I'm very careful about the things I buy because a year from now, I know I'm gonna look at a thing that I spent 30 grand on and say, 'What the heck was I thinking? I don't want a diamond skull.'"

—Miley Cyrus, actress/musician, on shopping to Marie Claire.

Mirrors, Mirrors on the Wall

Mirrors are a design element that can often be overlooked in spaces. Boring, stale frames leave mirrors hanging lifeless on walls.

Here we provide a different (cheaper!) way to dress up your mirrors:

Creating a collage offers a great way to mix different styles of art and can also work for mirrors. By purchasing different miror shapes, sizes and styles you can mix and match to create your own work of art. This idea works for all different types of spaces from modern to eclectic. It’s just a matter of picking out which mirrors work the best for you. If you place them close together, it will give the appearance of one large mirror; or, feel free to space them farther apart for more visual interest. Painting all the different styles the same color makes your mirror-collage more unified (avoiding the eclectic). Also, it creates more appeal and gives off the illusion that the room is larger than it actually is.

Say 'No' to the Seventies

We're usually quick to jump on-board with the most current fashion trends because, let's face it, who doesn't love a new look? But this year's most recent trend, which aims to bring back the style of the Seventies, is not our cup o' tea.

Stylish celebs Vanessa Hudgens and January Jones were recently spotted out and about sporting psychadelic, bell bottom chic.

Our response? Oh please no.

We prefer to leave the 1970s where they are and seek to remember them solely through photos and footage of Woodstock (and maybe in period pics).

Quote of the Day: February 22

"I was never raised to think that I was pretty. It’s not that I was raised to think I was unattractive, but it was just never something that was pointed out to me by my family."

—Mila Kunis, actress, on beauty to W Magazine.

Introducing... Sex at State

Good afternoon and welcome to my debut VIM column "Sex at State." Before diving into the many different issues that plague our East Lansing existence, I want to introduce myself (and warn you what you're getting yourself into). A lot of this column is "about me" and I find that I have had a number of typical college experiences (mixed with not-so-typical ones that you'll probably just be happy did not happen to you). I also have a number of friends who have helped me through it all and kept me sane, but who also provide me with great stories of their own ... especially when it comes to dating.

I think that I've dated almost every kind of guy there is in this small bubble of ours—the jock, the pretty boy, the rocker, the charmer, the list goes on. I am lucky enough to have had that life-changing relationship that most people are looking for, only to have my heart ripped out at the end of it, but that is a story for later.

My love for this school and its little city never falters, though it may sometimes kick my ass. I guess you could say that I've had a great time, bopping around, trying to figure out what the hell I'm supposed to do with my life. There are still a ton of things I don’t know, but I’ve found that I learn best from falling down and forcing myself to get back up. After all, college is the time in your life when you're supposed to make mistakes because later the "real word" is not going to be as forgiving.

So once a week, if you're up for some laughs, stories and life lessons, stay tuned…

…after all, I love a good story almost as much as I love a new pair of shoes.

Jennifer Aniston Debuts New 'Do

Jennifer Aniston and "hair" became synonymous when the starlet's cut during the second season of Friends was deemed "The Rachel" (a hairstyle the actress recently revealed that she hated *GASP*).

That said, Aniston debuted a shorter bob-style haircut this week in Madrid at a photo op for her newest flick, Just Go With It.

Thoughts?

Hot Jam: Go Outside

MTV Shows

Above is the new music video for "Go Outside" from indie pop artist Cults, signed to Lily Allen's label In the Name Of. The video stars actors Emma Roberts and Dave Franco, who just so happen to be related to even bigger stars, and is part of MTV's Supervideo project, pairing actors/filmmakers with artists for mini-movies.

We are loving the French/new wave theme.

A Word-y Pledge

Thanks to Readtheprintedword [dot] ORG, print lovers all over the world can now find and embed one of ten buttons to be used all over the Internet as a way of displaying their love of hand-held texts (no matter the form) and of supporting publishing in its most basic fashion.

We obviously love to read, not only as writers and publishers but as educated students. If you also love to read (and find this as neat as we do), feel free to choose your favorite image and embed it on your Facebook, blog, website or any other online tool you enjoy using and pledge to support printed words.

Adbusting at Market Collective

Last weekend, volunteers from Take Back the Night Calgary set up an ad-busting workshop at Market Collective. People were invited to flip through magazines and find advertisements, images and articles that they wanted to “bust.” Busted images were then plastered over the walls.



I organized this adbusting workshop, and I’ve been doing these for about 5 years now. I define adbusting as “Defacing images that are offensive because they portray unrealistic beauty standards, are sexist, classist, homophobic, racist, insulting or demeaning."

Here's what the adbusting workshop looked like:

The workshop drew large crowds and we received so much positive feedback. One woman came up to me and said, “Thank you so much. I really needed to see this.” I think that seeing busted ads helped to remind people that we shouldn’t passively accept images we see in media: we should be thinking about them, what they really mean, and what they’re really telling (and selling) us.



We received over 100 “busted ads” but I can’t post them all here, so below are some of my favourites.

Jennie's Picks: The Best Busted Ads from Market Collective

THIS is beautiful? But it's fake!

Who can compete with Photoshop?

I miss my Mommy

Did you see she has such pretty eyes?

There's more to life than being pretty

That's cool... I'll just wait over here

Women are food? Consume, dispose, repeat.

Remember what food tastes like?

Quote of the Day: February 18

"As an actor you have no control over the final product. It’s hard because you’re so involved in the pre-production process and the filming process, but as soon as that’s over, you’re not really a part of it anymore."

—Ryan Gosling, actor, on his craft to Interview Magazine.

Urban Curvz theatre explores the drama of a lesbian wedding

It’s a girl’s dream: a wedding day with all her friends there to support her. But when her friends are rapidly falling in and out of love with one another, and her wife-to-be is too busy keeping the peace to pay her any attention, the bride is ready to explode. The play is described as "a mix of physical theatre and high-stakes pillow fight."



Urban Curvz is an award-winning theatre company based in Calgary. Their work "reflects the wit and intelligence of the women in this city" and celebrates the female experience as a source of autonomous art.



Love(her)/Fight(her) at Lunchbox Theatre

February 17–25, 2011

Evening shows are at 8 pm, except Fridays which are at 9 pm.

No shows Monday or Saturday

Additional Sunday matinee at 2 pm.

For ticket purchase and information call 403.265.4292 or visit UrbanCurvz.com

Fair trade sweater sale supports Bolivian women

Last year we interviewed some lovely volunteers from a fair trade organization called Minkha Sweaters, and they're having a sale on March 12! Details below.



Canadian volunteers sell Minkha alpaca sweaters that are hand knit by a women's cooperative in Bolivia. All profits are returned to the Bolivian women through the efforts of Canadian volunteers.



Worldwide, about 70% of fair trade artisans are women. When women have the opportunity to earn an income, they gain increased control over their family's spending priorities. Studies show that when women earn money, they most often use this income to improve the lives of their children. This results in better schooling, healthier food and improved health care for families, which helps to directly end the cycle of poverty.





Minkha Fair Trade Sweater Sale

Saturday, March 12, 2011

10am - 4pm

Strathcona Community Centre

277 Strathcona Drive SW, Calgary

VIMwatch: 2011 BAFTAs

Ladies

If it hasn't been made obvious already, we pretty much adore Brown University sophomore and British actress Emma Watson. Last night, the Harry Potter hottie chose a one-shouldered, lace Valentino gown and absolutely stunned, putting many of the others to shame.

We simply couldn't come to a decision regarding our second choice so have decided it's a tie: The always lovely Amy Adams chose a salmon-colored Elie Saab gown for the event and the Fighter actress and mother wowed us from head to toe. Also, Harry Potter star and recently engaged young lady Bonnie Wright managed to create bohemian-chic for the red carpet in a creation from Clements Ribeiro.

Gents

Always a Spartan favorite, Gerard Butler looked dapper over the weekend as he sported a classic black-and-white suit and silk bow tie.

Second only to Gerard, designer Tom Ford attended the ceremony as Julianne Moore's date and looked ravishing in what we can only assume is his own, velvet coat creation. Work that red carpet, Tom.

Ways to Go 'Pink'

Pink isn’t just for Valentine’s Day anymore and can be a great way to brighten up your space, something that's always important during the dreary winter months. Even the smallest amount of color will draw attention and please the eye.

Scared of that much color?
Try using a muted coral or blush. From a piece of furniture to a single flower, pink can give life to any space you put it in.

In the Mood for Love

Whether you are or are not attached on this most loved (or most hated) holiday, we at VIM thought it more than appropriate to provide a list of our top picks for the best romantic films to date.
-----------------------------
1. Casablanca (1942)
A classic any time of year, this '40s smash involves the timeless story of a couple torn apart during a time when the world was as well. (Hint: It's centered around World War II.)

2. Titanic (1997)
If Leo didn't make your heart swoon in the late 1990s as a result of his portrayal of Jack Dawson (or you didn't convince your parents to let you go so you could see the fully naked Kate Winslet), we're not quite sure where you were hiding. One of the highest grossing films of all time, Titanic is the love story of a generation and will surely live on for many years. (Cue "My Heart Will Go On.")

3. (500) Days of Summer (2009)
While not your standard "love story," this indie flick (released in the summer of 2009) tells it like it is and involves the offbeat story of a man who falls for a woman who doesn't believe true love exists, featuring excellent performances from Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel.

4. The Notebook (2004)
Nicholas Sparks is undoubtedly the romance author of the times and the story that inspired this flick is perhaps one of the best novel-to-screen adaptations we have ever seen (we may even like it more than its prototype).

5. When Harry Met Sally (1989)
Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal star in this witty tale of two friends over the span of many years that continuously avoid romantic involvement, though it's obvious to nearly everyone else around them that they're perfect for each other. The notorious "will they or won't they" dilemma. We can almost feel the tension.
-----------------------------
Now you have all the makings to get together with friends (or lovers), curl up with some popcorn and enjoy these romance masterpieces.

Love yourself this Valentine's day!

For those of you who read my posts regularly, you're probably aware that my two favourite topics within feminism are (1) advertising/media, and (2) body image and self esteem. Since today is Valentine's Day, I wanted to share a quote about loving yourself from one of my favourite writers, Ayn Rand.

I believe that a lack of self esteem is one of the most serious issues facing North American women today. I won't get into too much detail here, but you can read my post The Absolute Importance of Self Esteem to find out why I think self love is critical to happiness and sucess in almost all aspects of your life.

So, this Valentine's day, you should definitely give props to the people in your life that you love, but also remember to love yourself first and foremost. Here is one of my favourite quotes from Ayn Rand (please excuse the masculine pronouns - it was written in 1964!).

"To love is to value. Only a rationally selfish man, a man of self-esteem, is capable of love—because he is the only man capable of holding firm, consistent, uncompromising, unbetrayed values. The man who does not value himself, cannot value anything or anyone."

- Ayn Rand in “The Objectivist Ethics,” The Virtue of Selfishness

VIMwatch: 2011 Grammy Awards

Ladies

Attending the award show to pay tribute to Ms. Aretha Franklin, Jennifer Hudson stunned in her navy, mullet-style Versace number. She topped off the look with jewelry by Neil Lane and some fabulous Louboutin shoes.

One of our fave stars, Jennifer Lopez, is on quite the comeback press tour with multiple endorsement deals and a new stint on American Idol. JLo, seemingly, can do no wrong and last night at the Grammys was no exception as she rocked an amazing Pucci mini, looking like the prettiest disco ball we've ever seen. To add to her look, Lopez carried a Cartier clutch and sported Louboutin heels.





Gents

The men of Glee blew all the other nominees out of the water last night...by a mile. Most notable (and perhaps our favorite characters) were Kevin McHale and Darren Criss, who each ditched the classic, black tuxedo look for less conventional (yet absolutely adorable) white and gray suits, respectively.

Quote of the Day: February 10

"I've learned that you can't predict or plan for [love]...Love is the one wild card."

—Taylor Swift, musician, on finding love to Glamour.

Obsession: Nixon's 'Rubber Player'

One of Nixon's newest creations, The Rubber Player, comes in a variety of colors and has our hearts aflutter.

Since early winter, we've become obsessed with rubber watches, not to mention oversized items, so this Eighties-inspired, color explosion fits our preferences to a tee (especially this green one!).

Purchase one of the watches for $150 HERE.

Hip Hop Doc to Premiere in East Lansing

MSU filmmaker, Matt Ortlieb is premiering his first-ever, feature-length documentary Respiration: Feel the City Breathing this Saturday, February 12 in East Lansing.

In honor of Black History Month, the event begins at 6 p.m. and will be held at the RCAH Theatre in the basement of Snyder-Phillips Hall.

Click here to view an extended preview of the film.
Check out the Facebook event here.

Quote of the Day: February 8

"People think, 'You’re an actor, you can afford clothes,' but I just try to take the clothes from (my movies), which makes the selecting of film projects that much more difficult, because you try to play characters that might wear something you’d want to wear."

—Jesse Eisenberg, actor, on his fashion sense to Interview Magazine.

Green Cleaning

Caldrea is a company famous for creating quality, earth-friendly cleaning products that smell fabulous and fresh.

The key is their method of combining essential oils with leading-edge cleaning know-how. Further, all Caldrea liquid products are biodegradable (and all packaging is recyclable!).

The Caldrea Essential Collection is now available at Target with prices ranging from $9 to $26.

Update on Tonight's Chat With Sunday Omony

Tonight we sat down with model, Humanitarian and all around wonder-lady Sunday Omony.

Such a lovely guest! During the program, we mentioned Sesame Street's "I Love My Hair" song, all about encouraging young girls to accept themselves (and their fabulous hair!). I promised I would post it for reference, so here it is!

The podcast of this episode will be available shortly. You can stream this and previous episodes here or subscribe via iTunes.

Tonight: Interview with plus-size model and humanitarian, Sunday Omony

Tonight we are excited to be interviewing Sunday Omony! Sunday was born in Uganda and her family migrated to Canada in 1991. Today she is a plus-size model and a humanitarian - founding her own non-profit organization and contributing to other charities that she is passionate about. We'll be speaking to Sunday about body image and plus-size modeling, as well as the causes that she's passionate about.

Image via Sunday Omony's portfolio

VIM Picks: Best Ads of Super Bowl XLV

There are two things to take away from the Super Bowl each year: the game itself (especially the champs—congratulations Green Bay) and the advertisements. Below is VIM's countdown of this year's top five ads. Let us know if you agree (or disagree)!

5. Doritos (House Sitting)



4. Chevy Cruze (Status)



3. Bud Light (Product Placement)



2. NFL (American Family)




1. Chrysler (Imported from Detroit)

Quote of the Day: February 5

"I'm a grown woman and sometimes, I might be a little fat, you know! Am I alone there? Not really!"

—Leighton Meester, actress/singer, on being judged to NYLON Magazine

Attention Aspiring Fashion Designers!

The recently opened Michigan Fashion Proto (MFP), 1305 S. Cedar St., Ste. 304, has been established for YOU, aiming to provide designers, established businesses and students with a fully functioning pattern and sample room for production and production-management functions. The MFP consists of industrial machinery, professional standard goods and highly skilled workers.

Owner Rebecca Clark, 35, of Okemos has more than 12 years of experience working in New York's fashion district and has worked with such fashionable presences as Vera Wang, Daisy Fuentes and Lori Goldstein.

Clark's Michigan Fashion Proto will be officially introduced to the public through an opening event that will celebrate Michigan's budding fashion industry on Thursday, Feb. 10 at the MFP studio.

Check out the company's website HERE.