Starting a new job is like...

...reading a new book. At first, you are introduced to the new characters and they all welcome you into their world. Then, with time, you become acquaintance with these characters, you learn to love some and despise others. The plot develops, you become part of it and, one day, you finish the book and start reading a new one... Sometimes, the previous book will have a better plot and the other better characters, or viceversa.

That's sort of how I felt today as I was meeting my soon-to-be coworkers...

The Smexy Narrator

Grave Robber, the Smexy Narrator

Played by Terrance Zdunich

Did you know...Terrance has played the Grave Robber in every single version of Repo!?

Age: 28
Motivation: "to rob...GRAVES!" Getting and selling Z
Type of character: Static

The "G-Rob" is the modern troubadour of our story. He is a gentlemen; you know, trying to help Shilo, protecting her and making sure she got back home. Sure, he has a weakness: Amber, but that doesn't make him any less likable. Geneco agents have been trying to catch him, but haven't been succesful, which only proves that he is very sneaky and clever! He has a greyish, sarcastic quality to him that make him a complex and unique character. (Yes, by greyish, I mean "grey area", as in blurred limits between right and wrong.)

Opinion: Beloved Grave Robber, we adore you! It's kind of funny how someone said that he was the "Zac Efron" of Repo! However, I do see a point, he is the sexiest man in the movie.

Best Songs: Zydrate Anatomy, 21st Century Cure

Things You Might Have Missed

Maybe you missed these little details...I know I did!

Joan Jett's cameo in "Seventeen"

Marni's dead body in the middle of the stage during "Genetic Emancipation"...

...the reason is in a deleted scene.

Bling Mag, the MAGnificent (written with Niimita in mind)

Blind Mag, the MAGnificent voice of the future

Played by Sarah Brightman

Did you know…Blind Mag’s full name is Magdalene Defoe?

Age: 41
Motivation: Bonding with Shilo, Freedom, Making peace with her past and fate
Type of character: Dynamic

Mag is just another innocent, a victim of GeneCo. Poor Mag, she just wanted to improve her life and ended up with a death sentence! She is a mother figure in the movie, in fact, the only present mother figure there is. This is very clear in the scene at the Italian Renaissance, when she scolds Luigi for stabbing the "Gopher", even when Amber argues with her and, more evidently, in the "Chase the Morning" scene with Shilo. She is caring, sweet, very talented, and -I'd dare say- the most ethical character in the whole movie.

Before I actually read anything about Repo!, I thought that Blind Mag was a seer, haha! But actually, I wasn't thaaaaat wrong - in "Chase the Morning" Mag says, "it's too late for me", as a sort of foreshadowing.

Opinion: If Sarah Brightman was the second choice for this role one really wonders who the first choice was since Sarah definitely nailed this part! Perhaps, they had a different storyline for Mag and, upon casting Sarah, changed it.

Best Songs: Chase the Morning, Chromaggia (both nominated for the Oscars!!)

The Bratty Addict Heiress…

I recently watched Repo with Niimu and ever since we’ve been sort of addicted to it, haha! I can’t seem to get it off my mind, so I’d like to analyze the movie. There are so many aspects that one could use to approach said analysis, but I’ve decided to restrict mine to characters.

Here’s the first one of hopefully many:


Amber Sweet, the Bratty Addict Heiress…

Played by Paris Hilton

Did you know…Amber’s real name is Carmela Largo, but she changed it because she wanted a stage name?
...that in the original version Amber was named Heather and she was Luigi's daughter?

Age: 27
Motivation: Attaining physical perfection
Type of character: Static

Amber is a spoiled young woman who gets everything that she wants, from money for surgery to being given the chance to perform in the Genetic Opera, even though she can’t sing well. I won’t say that her voice is awful because it isn’t, it just isn't up to opera standards. In fact, I think that her voice is perfect for the character. It transmits a sour/sweet quality, whinny sometimes, raspy others; it shows Amber’s range of emotions very well. She actually reminds of a character in the story “Delicious” from the manga “Petshop of Horrors” (read it if you haven’t, I highly recommend it.)

As Terrance Zdunich said in an interview, Amber and Shilo are meant to be parallel characters, giving contrasts between: daughter figure/dark daughter figure, freedom/confinement, craving/having too much.

Amber is slutty, envious, manipulative, and vengeful; yet, she looked so cute when she went out of her dad's office skipping!

Opinion: I can’t believe that Paris was nominated for a Razzie for this role! Either the judges don’t get the character or they just have a personal vendetta against her! I don’t think that Amber is supposed to be a likeable character, but she has her momentsl; like her constant whining (especially the cute one in “Bravi!”,) or when she peeks from behind the sofa in that lovely dress in “Who Ordered Pizza?”

Best Songs: Zydrate Anatomy (nominated for an Oscar, what an oxymoron!), Happiness is not a Warm Scalpel

Maturity...

Yesterday a very nice lady came over to the "hospedaje" for a small chat about maturity. I think that it was very interesting and it made me think a lot. I think that with every problem that raises before us we mature a little more and, like she said, we'll be maturing until the day we die. I just thought it'd be nice to post here the points we discussed:

* Vision of Reality
Seen things for what they really are, not through a pink veil or trying to turn everything around for our own benefit.

* Acceptance of ourselves and others
It's about being able to accept your flaws, but also about realizing that it doesn't matter whether we are tall or short, asian or black, Catholic or Muslim... and learning to not criticize others because they might be different.

* Taking responsiblility for our actions
If you didn't do your homework, don't blame the dog! (LoL ^_^) No, really, this one is about knowing that there are consequences to every choice you make. This makes me wonder...were Adam and Eve mature? I think not, otherwise Adam wouldn't have blamed Eve and Eve wouldn't have blamed the Serpent, eh?

* Have a goal in life
This one's easy; mature people have goals - not something like getting money to buy that new CD, cellphone...but something more like getting a job, a degree, etc.

* Sense of Community
Realizing that everything is not about you, there's a whole world out there! You're not the only one that suffers, you're not the only person that goes through "bad" times...

* Deep interpersonal relations
Having people that you can honestly rely on, not just the "part-ay" friends, but people that are there for you. Take into consideration that not every so called "friend" falls into this category, it will usually be just one or two.

* Sense of humor
What is life without a good laugh? taking things too seriously is not good for anyone, laugh a little, live better.

* Creativity
Creativity is needed to solve problems and to amuse. Are you one of those that's always saying: "I'm bored...there's nothing to do"...be a little creative, find useful ways to spend your time.

So, are you mature, on your way or nowhere near it? Don't feel bad, we have the rest of our lives to mature :)

Seven reasons why I love being short

1. Unlike some of my coworkers, I don’t hit my head with the chicken decoration that hangs from the roof, teehee OvO
2. I don’t make people feel inferior because of my height.
3. Everyone thinks I’m younger than I actually am.
4. People find me cute because I don’t look menacing ^-^
5. I don’t have to stoop when going under a small door or something, muahaha!
6. I should be able to go lower if I actually tried to play Limbo…right?
7. I simply do, so shut up, heehee ^_^

Happy 2009!