To Be Concluded

I know everyone has been dying to know the #1 most exciting thing happening in my life from my previous post. If you haven't read said post, please click here to peruse about my oh exciting life. But don't worry. It gets much better. So without further ado...

1) I'M LEARNING FANTASMIC!!!

For the unaware, Fantasmic is Hollywood Studios' nighttime spectacular. It's been my favorite show on property since I was but a wee CP back in 2007. I remember the first time I went with some of my training friends to see the show. It was unlike anything I had ever seen. The story, the effects, the performers. It all looked like so much fun! 

I'm really glad we
survived Zombie girl's attack

I went to see show A LOT back then. Ya know, when going to the parks was a new thing for me and the crowds didn't bother me. Whether hanging with my training group friends, taking my family to see it, or going to see the one and only Lizz James perform, watching Fantasmic was always a lot of fun. I have a ton of pictures but mostly of us goofing around in the audience before show. Ya know because that's how I roll.

We're awesome

There was one specific night that I was there with the fam and our best friend/might-as-well-be-sister Caroline. Emily, Caroline, and I were sitting behind these really annoying, super obnoxious girls who were way too hyped up on Coke or sugar or something. They were taking a lot of silly pictures, and this was in the days before smart phones. So they're sitting there taking pictures with their cameras upside down. Naturally we followed suit. Thus the upside-down Fant shot was born.

While attending the parks has lost its luster in the past few years, it is fun to go back to reminisce. I went to see the show a few weeks ago because it was my babe Christy's last performance ever before she moved up to D.C. I found myself getting a little choked up not only because I was overwhelmed with emotion but also because Disney has a sneaky way of cutting into you and breaking your ice cold heart.

Still doing it

That was the first time I had seen show since at least 2011 so it had definitely been a while. Unless you count when I saw Fantasmic at Disneyland with my family last summer. Many people prefer the Disneyland show to the one at Walt Disney World, and while I mostly agree with them (the Peter Pan segment is ten times better than WDW's stupid Pocahontas scene), it was really odd seeing Mickey pop up on Tom Sawyer's cabin rather than on an enormous mountain. 

I did feel realllly bad for all the Operations cast members. You see, at Disneyland, Fantasmic is set up right in the middle of Frontierland. There's no giant amphitheater separated from the rest of the park. Everyone just kinda files in and hopes to get a good spot to stand and watch show. Meanwhile Ops is trying to get everyone who isn't watching to get outta the way before the show starts. It was kinda stressful watching the scene. Once the show started, I quickly forgot about it all. I just wanna say, good for you Disneyland Ops. 

The "Joe Moore" smirk. Created at Fant.

Oh right. This post is about me learning the show! (It's a good thing this is a separate update.) I never in my wildest dreams expected to get the phone call saying I had rehearsals coming up soon. I almost asked if they had the right number. They did though! I just had my orientation the other day. It was really surreal walking around backstage and on the island. I couldn't believe I was standing on the stage of this show I've come to love. I'm incredibly honored to be learning a show that's been near and dear to my heart for many years. I cannot wait until I'm approved and performing for everybody. So you all better come see me ;) peace! 

Left Shark's Rad Assault

I just sat down to work on my screenplay. Then I remembered I'm having a serious case of writers' block. So I'll worry about that later. In the meantime I thought, "Why not post a blog update?" You are all very welcome.

This past week has consisted of many things. 

4) Hanging with new friends. 

Okay they're not new friends. I know them from the Jedi Training Academy at Hollywood Studios. It's just very rare that I see them outside work. So when I got the invite to play a Star Wars board game with them, I jumped on the opportunity! The game in question is Star Wars Imperial Assault, and I didn't play so much as watch the other guys play. It sucked me in immediately despite the fact that A New Hope was playing in the background. Joe Moore chose watching people play a strategy game over watching a movie? Better believe it! It was a fun night, and we should do it again very soon. You listening, JTA peeps? Good.

3) The Super Bowl.

I've never been much of a sports guy, but I have watched the Super Bowl every year since 2009. Kudos me. Thanks to my former roomie John for getting me hooked. I'm glad the game that year was a great one otherwise I probably wouldn't have this new(ish) tradition.

I may or may not have watched this year just because Katy Perry was the halftime show. For those who don't know I kinda love her. I love how over the top she is, and she doesn't apologize for it. She's fantastic, and her halftime show was fantastic. Especially the "Teenage Dream/California Gurls" scene. Yup, that bit with the talking palm trees, surfboards, beach balls, and those SHARKS. Those sharks were the true MVP that night. Of course Missy Elliot stole the show, but you did good, Katy Perry. Much better than those Seahawks did with that last call. Oy.

2) SNL Californians.

Yet me explain my latest obsession. The other day at work, my partner in crime was this totally rad chick from Marina Del Ray. Or somewhere from Southern California. I was too busy giggling to hear where she's from. I'm a really nice guy, I know. Anyway, her accent reminded me of the SNL skits with Fred Armisen and Kristen Wiig. So I watched said skits for the remainder of the afternoon. I sat there on the other end of the couch giggling to myself. I then proceeded to create a pretty epic picture using ClipArt. I'm no graphic design artist, but it's pretty hilarious if I do say so myself.

Look at this mirror. It's totally jammed.

1) What's number one, you may ask? Number one just so happens to be the subject of my next post. So keep an eye out! It's pretty exciting stuff. 

Journey to the Past

It's almost February. Like... what?!

I got Timehop the 1st of the year. I'm slightly behind the times I know. It's already taken over my life. It certainly has not helped my nostalgic ways. I do tend to linger in the past quite a bit.  I listen to music from my teenage years. I watch old ballet videos constantly. I look at pictures from 8 years ago, telling myself "Oh yeah that was last year". No. It wasn't.

I have my reasons for lingering in the past. I've decided the script I've been working on for years is set in the year 2005. That spring was the year I graduated high school. The script I'm writing is about a teenage boy who comes out of his shell during his senior year. So I feel it's only fair that I write in the time period I know. To assist me in my writing, I've been listening to a lot of the music that I (along with my sister and our ballet friends) listened to a lot back in the day. That includes some 80s new wave, music from movies such as Moulin Rouge and Garden State, and mostly alternative turn-of-the-century tunes.

Speaking of thinking about the past, this past month one of my very best friends moved with her fiancee up to D.C. They had a party at the nearest Ale House, and a TON of friends showed up. We reminisced about all our crazy times at work (whether good or bad) and house parties she and her friends threw occasionally back in '08-'09. There were a lot of evenings when she and I would chill at her place. We'd throw back a few Captain & Dr. Peppers while playing Wii Sports and Wii Fit. Oh yeah. We knew how to throw down.

So Christy, thank you for the years of shenanigans. Thanks for befriending me when I was a lowly CP, thanks for being there for me when I came out, thanks for all the fun times at work (whether it was the deathmarch or even Spectro), but most of all thank you for being you. An all-around awesome little gal. I hope you and Ryan have fun in D.C., and I cannot wait to come up and visit!!

Don't worry though. I don't only linger in the past. Other than music from my adolescence, I've been listening to the soundtracks for Into the Woods, The Guest, and Boyhood. Speaking of Boyhood, I'm obsessed with the awards season (of course), and I cannot wait until Oscar night of February 27th! Ugh. It's a still a whole month away. It needs to be now!! Don't worry I'll go further into detail in a later post. I have A LOT to say, which is unusual for me though not too unusual since movies are my life.

Peace out, girl scouts.

Such a Joe Moore Film

I know this is beyond late but...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Yes, 306 is awesome and very classy. Are we good? Moving on!

Every year or so a movie comes out that really speaks to me. A few years ago The Perks of Being a Wallflower was one such film, and a year after that Frances Ha completely blew me away. As per my buddy Joshua, both of these films are "Joe Moore films". Nailed it! 

I love coming-of-age stories. Usually the lead character is stuck in a rut in life and needs a boost in the right direction. I completely understand that feeling. For the past couple of years, I've realized I'm tired of going through the motions with my job. Don't get me wrong. I still love performing. It's one thing I do very well, and I'm blessed to have a full-time job where I can have fun. However, it's about time I move on with my life. I'm just not sure where to go next. These films make me feel better about where I am in life. They remind me that no matter the age, most everyone feels like this at one point or another.

You've probably seen the picture above somewhere around the interwebz for the past few months. It is from Richard Linklater's masterpiece, Boyhood. Linklater is the man behind such great films as Dazed and Confused, the Before trilogy (Sunrise, Sunset, and Midnight), and the decidedly mainstream but still very good School of Rock. 

Boyhood blew my mind. Linklater is a genius, and I hate him. He created the ultimate coming-of-age story. The film follows the life of the same kid from ages 6-18. Linklater shot with the same cast a little bit every year or so starting all the way back in 2002. What a wonderful use of the medium! I wish I had thought of that. Though in 2002 I was still a teenager. There was no way I would've even imagined making a film for the next 12 years or so. So good for you, Linklater. Jeez.

The great thing about the film is not a whole lot happens. Nothing life-changing. There aren't serious dramatic moments showcasing the actors' talents. (I will say Patricia Arquette totally deserves all the praise she's getting for her role as the boy's mother. What an amazing performance!) The scariest thing that happens is a vignette early on about an abusive, alcohlic stepfather. Other than that, the film remains pretty low-key yet manages to enthrall you during its nearly 3-hour runtime.

Even if the above paragraphs don't pique your interest, I urge every one of you to see this amazing film. It's on Blu-Ray/DVD so you can go rent it from Redbox, throw it on when you get home, and start doing other things. Though I guarantee you it will grab you, and in a few minutes you will be sitting on your couch (or at least cuddled up with your pet) wondering what happens next in the life of this boy and his family. I wouldn't mind if in 20 years a film entitled Manhood came out with the same cast shot in the same way. I wanna know what happens to these people!

Oh! I didn't mention the soundtrack. What's great about the soundtrack is it has hits from every couple of years as the story goes on. So in the first few scenes there's songs from Coldplay and White Stripes while later in the film some Gotye plays. The screenplay I'm currently writing is set in 2004, so I've been listening to some turn of the century alternative music to inspire me. I'm sure my roommate loves me oh so much. Love you too, Anderson!

Yes, Boyhood definitely inspired me continue working on my coming-of-age script. So if you see me at work, and I'm buried face-deep in a notebook with my earbuds in, I'm not being antisocial. I'm just working on my passion project. 

In 10 years or so, my film will come out, and people who know me will be like "that's such a Joe Moore film". Then they will see my name in the credits and freak out. Because it will be awesome. Not Boyhood awesome. Just Joe Moore awesome. And that's good enough.

Top 10 of 2014

It's already New Year's Eve? Where has this year gone?!

Irregardless! Here is Joe Moore's Top 10 movies from 2014. There are films I didn't have time to see (The Babadook, Into the Woods, John Wick) that unfortunately will not be on this list. Nor will there be many "Oscar bait" movies since I am but a wee peasant, and most award-caliber films don't get a wide release until the new year. There will also not be any Marvel flicks on this list, though a couple were definitely runners-up. So, ya know, here goes nothing!

10) Snowpiercer

I'm really glad this post-apocalyptic flick is accessible on Netflix because it's one of the best sci-fi movies to come out in recent years. Chris Evans is excellent going against type, but Tilda Swinton steals the show as always. Check it out!

9) The Fault in Our Stars

Yeah that's right. I loved the book, and this is a great adaptation. YA queen Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort share an amazing chemistry. If this flick doesn't leave you in tears, you have no soul.

8) Edge of Tomorrow

What is essentially Groundhog Day with aliens is one of the most fun sci-fi/action romps to come along in quite some time. Cruise plays up his image hilariously until his character eventually becomes the action hero, and Blunt astounds as the tough-as-nails war heroine. 

7) The Skeleton Twins

This is my favorite of many wonderful independent flicks released this year. Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig continue their great chemistry from their SNL days. Also I may be biased because of my love for 80s movies, but their lip synch to Starship is one of the best scenes of the year.

6) Interstellar

This is the 2001 of our generation. Even though I guessed a couple of the twists early on that didn't impact the overall experience. Nolan has crafted a wonderful film that I will treasure forever. The father-daughter relationship is the heart of the story, and what a heart it is.

5) The Grand Budapest Hotel

I'm convinced that Wes Anderson can do no wrong. Well except for Darjeeling, but we'll forget that happened. This is probably his most accessible movie to date, but that doesn't make it any less whimsical. The entire cast is great, but Ralph Fiennes is an absolute delight as the wonderfully eccentric M. Gustave.

4) Gone Girl

I've been Fincher-ized again! He and author Gillian Flynn have done the impossible and created a nearly perfect film companion piece to her thrilling novel. Affleck is great as Nick Dunne, but this is Rosamund Pike's show all the way. What an astounding performance!!

3) Guardians of the Galaxy

I knew this flick was gonna be great just from the soundtrack, but I don't think anyone expected the fantastic soap opera we got. I'd even go as far to say that this is our generation's Star Wars. That's how awesome it is. What a fun ride!

2) The Lego Movie

Everything really is awesome! This is my favorite family flick of the year. It abounds in imagination, humor, and toward the end, a whole lotta heart. I'm pretty convinced Phil Lord and Christopher Miller can do no wrong. They're 4 for 4 in my book. Bring on the sequel!

1) Birdman

What can I say about Birdman that hasn't already been said? It's a highly entertaining film that everyone should see. The ensemble cast is terrific. Everyone gets at least one scene to shine. This is Keaton's film though. It's so great to see him back on top. Oh and how about that cinematography? Somebody stop me before I talk about this masterpiece for hours. See it now.

Now for the turds. They're mostly flicks the studios dumped early in the year. I hated I, Frankenstein, Pompeii, and That Awkward Moment. Then Escape From Tomorrow disappointed. I realize it was made on a minuscule budget AND extremely privately. However it was just weird for the sake of being weird. I wanted more.

There you have it. Again I can't believe 2014 is already over. 2015 is gearing up to be an even better year. I'll see you at the movies!