Updates on Tea (10.28.16)

Of all the fun emails I've received about my current transition in life, I felt the need to address it clearly. Since people would rather check my blog as opposed to talk to me, here it is:

No, I'm NOT quitting as a writer/director in the entertainment industry. I will continue in my calling as a filmmaker and I'm happy with it. Yes, I was on hiatus this summer due to the passing of someone I deeply loved... and yes, his passing somewhat impacted me negatively... but because filmmaking was his passion, to continue living out my dreams would honor his memory. So... though I might take a more indirect approach, I will still be working hard at the craft at which I am honing my skills in, continuously and faithfully.

Yes, I am going back to school. I'm applying for my Masters in Library and Information Sciences. It was the path I was on before I discovered AiCaH and am returning to it because of my own wishes. Just think about it... I'll have the world of books at my fingertips... I can hunt down stories, origins, read the authors of our times past, ugh... how wonderful does that sound? I can research for hours and days and not come up for anything other than water. Life would definitely be different, but I see it as richer and much more lush than before. Ain't life grand?

I AM NOT GOING ANYWHERE. I'm not sure how this rumor started. It's funny because the MLIS course is online and my job is still in the LA area. So, where I am now, unless I move to a more comfy place, I'm staying where I live. I do have the hopes and dreams of one day moving into my own town house where I can see green forestry, walk to the local shops, eat amongst familiar strangers, and work in my home office... we'll see if that happens any time soon?

I am single but dating. Oh, of all the tragic and fun events of these past few weeks, the most fun has been meeting new people, networking, chatting, discovering chemistry, and gaining a better sense of the world around me. I am someone who needs people from time to time, so, of course, I will go on the occasional date, but I'm hoping for a consistent lover who will hold my hand in public, kiss me in secret, hold me close whenever possible, and love me as I adore him in return. I want that final companion that will make my life complete, and until I meet him, I am on a journey to him... that's how I see it. And I'm meeting great people along the way. Some become lasting friends, others temporary lovers, but all in all, God has me and I'm good with that.

"The Collector", as great as it was, is over. I have chosen to absorb 3 inactive projects into one to make a more lush and dense, interesting, story. I'm not sure where I'm choosing to distribute it yet... but it will be set to either Hulu, Amc, Amazon, or etc. There are many outlets, just have to find our niche and stay there, I guess. You know how it is... But my cast and crew are waiting, loyal, and patiently keeping busy. I feel the "Recycled"  talent is necessary and I'm excited to see how it moves and where it goes!!

The two main Producers I'm working with are both foreign with many international and domestic connections. VM is looking to bring me on to stories based on true stories, so lots of research there. JJ is looking to fix our feature so that investors will like it and all will be made. How exciting that we are moving forward at this time!! There are others like HH and EG and GP but those are at different stages... as usual. Haha... Se la vi! But still very exciting!!

I still have many projects in the works. I've been meeting guys and girls everywhere just to listen to their stories (good and bad) about dating, life, traditions, shockers, and sex. It's always interesting gathering information and new materials but I have faith that life can keep going as it was...

Questions? Comments? You know how to reach me.

Much love ~ T.

New Meditations (07.14.16)

I'm taking part in the new meditation series hosted by Oprah and Deepak... It's intense and taught me that I'm a terrible meditator because my brain wanders like a baby Ibex on a cliffside looking for water. I'm a good breather but my brain wanders, that's all it is. And, I've noticed just how stressed I am. Dude, I am so bad at this... but I'm getting better... this new self I'm inventing at the moment. Woot!

But, man, HE IS GOOD! Well, God is good, but this man, wow! Deepak from Getting Unstuck is really awesome. I was pissed this morning, angry because... well, the awards shows always had the issue of being TOO WHITE and though the Emmys are including Black people now, they're forgetting there's a SPECTRUM OF PEOPLE out there between Black and White. It's never been the issue of White people against Black people, it's ALWAYS been the issue of a colorblind Hollywood and entertainment industry.

I had a friend who asked, "Why don't the Asian people just try harder for the roles?"

...

MOST ASIAN ROLES ARE CAST TO WHITE PEOPLE for BUDGET purposes. Just because there hasn't been a popular Asian show doesn't mean they won't be popular. It probably means that when there is a good drama out there, they will WIPE OUT ALL COMPETITION because they are more determined to succeed!! And I've been in cable networks pitching rooms... THEY KNOW IT and yet, they're too scared to be the first. Even AMC, which took a risk with 'Mad Men'...

So... there's nothing left to do but to keep writing and pitching and pray that my AWESOME shows can be picked up. Because, I CAN GUARANTEE a steady audience and high ratings... cuz I'm THAT MUCH MORE determined to succeed.

Ya feel me?

Fuller SPOILER Thoughts From This Review House (02.26.16)

There are SPOILERS in this blog post. So if you don't want anything ruined for you prior to your viewing experience, STOP READING FROM HERE ON OUT!!

To tell you the truth, I've been holding off on blogging until after I've either watched a new movie, started a new series, or fish ed a cat out of a hat. And though I haven't watched a new movie yet, I decided to buckle down and watch the Pilot episode of "Fuller House" (Netflix).

Daniel Tanner ... Who is that woman?! What is she doing here?! Why is she here?! Is she the new step-mom? So many unanswered questions that I don't like asking without getting answers. Introducing a brand new character in the Pilot of a reboot? SO NOT COOL!! But Danny was fun and loving, as usual. Not as funny as the past, but I suppose age does wear one down.

Joey Gladstone ... Silly, big-kid, and as loving as always. Not too sure... is he a clown or a magician or a comedienne now? Nothing is really clearly noted, but he is still lots of fun an that's what's important, right? A definite keeper and ringer for the past. Truly wonderful, and I still want an Uncle like him in my life!!

Uncle Jesse & Aunt Becky .. As ageless as ever!! Love their chemistry and endless love. FOREVER!! Definitely was hoping they would stick around to make like more interesting!! And... did I read right as to why the "ship has sunk"?? Can't help but love their dynamic, regardless of how more gooey they seem. And their TWINS... Alex and Nicky... That was a bit strange. I know what I was expecting and it was NOT that!! Know what I mean? I mean, the twins were nice, family oriented, not dumb kids with helium in their brains. How did they turn into those duds??

DJ Tanner-Fuller ... Not sure if I like her just yet in this new 'Danny Tanner' role. Can she handle it? Will she be entertaining enough to fully uphold the funniness, sweetness, and unconditional love Danny Tanner had led us to expect from the show? Of course, it being a reboot, very much has been left to be desired, but I'm not sure if she is being portrayed true to her character.

Stephanie Tanner ... Wear a BRA! I was NOT comfortable with how much skin she was showing. Show off her wild and edgy life style in another way! Why are you accosting my eyes with view of her side boob and voluptuous figure?! Wow. I was not expecting that! But, at least, my impression of her can only go up from here, right?

Michelle Tanner ... M.I.A. -- The breaking of the 4th dimension wall was pretty cute on the show's behalf!!

Kimmy Gibbler ... WOW. The kama sutra knowledge was a bit too much, the separated from her husband was wildly weird, and somehow, her daughter, Ramona, seems too much not like how most children of strange mothers turn out to be like. If you get what I mean... Still, her humor does help ease the strangeness of the overall reboot, and adds a sense of familiarity to the already wild mix in that house... I just wonder how much of reality will she return to by the end of the series?

Steve Hale ... Why does he own Comet Jr. Jr.?? Why can't we see him want to be friend and then slowly have her turn to more in the relationship? Having him nearly beg for marriage right off the bat is strange. Has he been around during the first year she has been back in the house? Have they kept in contact at all since she got married and etc.? Again, more questions than answers... hate it!!

So, I guess, yes, this is just the Pilot so there won't be so many answers, but there ought not be so many questions as well, right? I mean... SERIOUSLY?!?! I was a bit disappointed, aggravated, annoyed, and over all, I felt my heart strings tug every time I felt an ounce of disappointment. This show is too awkward to carry the same weight of the show I watched when I was a kid. Not to mention, WHY ARE THEY ALL WHITE?!?! OMG... it started waaay back when and it continues!!

ADD SOME COLOR IN THERE, "FULLER HOUSE"!! Your rating will likely go up if you do so!

Final score based off of the Pilot for "Fuller House", I give it a weak but solid B. There's plenty of space for growth... They will either rise to the occasion or sink from the expectations.

Here's hoping for the best!! What did you think??

*A new episode of Umbrella Thoughts soon to come!!  Take a listen to our previous conversations!!

A Female Reminder... And Some.

I've learned so much about my cervix without knowing anything about my cervix! This girl, wow, brilliant and smart and, SO INFORMATIVE!! She's so young and yet... I've been schooled on my own body!!

I have to admit to not watching this episode of "Quantico" only because it has become too predictable! I guess I'm more willing to catch up next week, or once the season is over. A lot of the momentum has been lost in the "wait, what?!" and "OMG! Really?" of the show. So I'm skipping this week's and going to wait to see if next week's will bring me back in!

And then there was "Once Upon A Time"!! I mean, why is Emma doing what she's doing, and ALL THOSE DREAMCATCHERS!! So beautiful. Makes me want to shift my Bicycle card collection into dream catcher collections. With this strange twist with Arthur and Merlin, I'm still hooked and I want to know what brought them back, where is Merlin, and what's going on in StoryBrook! How exciting, what an interesting story twist that Emma is actually taking on the role of the Dark One... And I wonder how Hook fill find his way back to her.

For hurting Henry and some added heartache, I give it (8 of 10 Stars) for this week's episode!!

Okay! On to some more personal stuff, I guess. I'm paying for eHarmo which has gotten me nowhere. I'm on OkC and have turned 3 strangers into 3 friends, although I think the last one is about to bail because I won't give him more than friendship. I've just started paying for Match.com for 3 months but nothing is happening yet. Sigh. And it's the time of the year when people catch colds and I've caught a massive one!!

However, this hasn't kept me from organizing another Kpop music video reaction video shooting for this weekend! That's right, on Halloween, Ed, Sno, Moon, and I will gather in my living room and we will watch and react to some requested music videos, if not all! It's been quite fun lately, and I really feel like we're getting more comfortable being on camera... which is building us up for other stuff!

And here is CoTangent Episode #34!! Yay!!

TV and Dating and Love and Advice and... Reactions!

Sorry for not pressing "Publish" on this last post until today! What's wrong with me?! Haha, well, please enjoy!! 

“Quantico” was painful this week. Have they hit their peak already and are declining in story, power, and drama? I wanted to think of something better to write about but, alas, I am at a loss for words. Alex is… getting predictable, Booth and Natalie in a relationship?! Asher and Booth’s loyalties are questionable, and are we going to slowly figure out who before seeing how they were eliminated? If so, this is a TERRIBLE way to go about it!! I thought it was just a coincidence, and maybe they would change it up and keep us on our toes… and yet… I’m getting bored and I don’t want to get bored!!

S01 E03 scored a low (3 of 10 Stars) with me. Come on… bring it back up!!

“Once Upon A Time” was also somewhat of a drag. Sure, Snow and David are at it again, putting Emma first, while Henry has a date?! Whaaat?! Regina and Robin hang for most of the episode and while Hook and Emma are supposed to be all romantic, there were so many holes in the usual nice way life is wrapped up for everyone!! I feel like the answer is SO OBVIOUS and yet, life is made difficult by oblivious people. Where are the clever twists and turns that UOAT was known for?! Mr. Gold alive and awake, woohoo, but his conversations with Emma are just so awkward! I wondered how he would be and, this weird version of him is a bit unsettling. Also… boring.

S05 E04 scored just (5 of 10 Stars) with me. So sad… but still quite addicting…

"Brooklyn Nine-Nine" was AWESOME!! Peralta brings back Holt, Amy and Diaz are an awesome team. The Vulture is OUT!! And Boyle is adorable, as usual. Gina is funny... Terry is hilarious, and the other two are... somewhere there. OMG! After a boring week of TV, I LOVED this episode quite a lot! I just wish there was more story with Amy and Jake!

S03 E04 scored a whomping (8 of 10 Stars) with me! Keep going!!

***

Well, with all the deals and fun times of the Summer leaving us, the holidays and American activities are coming up. October rings in Comikaze at the Staple Center in LA. November hollers a Design event in Pasadena, not to mention the grandest slaughter of Turkeys! A time of thanks, indeed. And December hails the most traveling, where many cities in SoCal are emptied out as people travel home or to meet with other loved ones. Truly, a time to love and gather. January seeds the New Year events, along with the Lunar New Year! Lots to eat and many old faces will, surely grace your lives… Good luck with that!

I’ve always encountered a question as to whether or not one should move on with a new love or return to an old love that… wasn’t so good to them. This video says it all for me, I think.

Personally, I believe moving on helps you move on with life, grows your experience, and matures your perspectives as a person. But so many of my female friends return to their ex-boyfriends, swearing things will be different this time around. Somehow, that their ex changed so it’s fine, now. And I just wonder if these women realize that they are being manipulated? Can I say something about it or just stay silent? What is  the “good friend” thing to do?

Oh... and I'm trying this whole online dating thing and it's POOPING frustrating!! I'm currently on eHarmony, Match.com, OkCupid, and Christian Mingle. I got rid of Coffee Meets Bagel, How About We, and Chemistry.com because they were... not getting me anywhere. However, these sites are also not getting me anywhere. I wonder if I'm destined to being a spinster? ... Chris Pine!! Come save me!! (~.O)

And as a reward, Ed, Me, and Moon did another reaction video for fun... Comment please!! Thank you and much love!! Until next time!!

Once Upon A Time... Quantico met Brooklyn... Not Really!

I think I shouldn't try to figure out any clever titles anymore... It's not like anyone appreciates them... and I can't really think of much. LOL. -- As promised!! Here are my TV reviews for the most recent episodes! Enjoy the read and leave me a comment!!

"Once Upon A Time" Season 05 :: Episode 02

I’m relieved to see Hook very set on saving Emma and continuing his love for her. In the past and in the present, the two’s love story will torment viewers this season because of the inner darkness that threatens their lives in different ways. Somehow, though he was always the one to save her and help her, I feel this season’s turn of events will really test their relationship, and either make or break them. Oh, the great twists and turns of the Storybrook heroes!!

Getting on with it, I liked how Regina was knocked off her high horse when she realized she was a long way from redemption, even having claimed herself as the Savior. Snow and Charming’s protectiveness over Emma is sweet and, somehow, their parenting of Regina is also very well thought out of the creators. Henry is growing up, which makes me happy, and the dwarves and their usefulness returns in these episodes, I believe it!

This season opened with the signature memory wipe and as bits and pieces return to us, I want things to move faster, but the carefully wrought details in each and every scene of the show is captivating and very inspiring. From the form of the tree that Merlin is stuck in all the way to the rock and sword that Excalibur is stuck in, in the basement of Emma’s Storybrook house. I’m glad Hook noticed the door and lock, I wished he could have stayed with her a while longer so that I could decipher what their relationship was, but the creators have kept the mystery alive for so long and I do appreciate it.

I look forward to seeing how Rumplestiltskin or Mr. Gold will react when he wakes and meets Emma as the Dark One. Will he have any powers? How will the story progress? What an interesting thing to ponder on until he wakes, right?

My overall score for the show, given I felt it a bit slow, is 7 of 10 Stars. Slow and steady may win the race, but some races are won with speed without regard to beauty. So… here’s hoping… 

"Quantico" Season 01 :: Episode 02

I… expected more. There is a sappiness to the story that came out in this past episode and… I’m not liking it. Miranda’s revelation of Liam’s feelings towards Alex was a bit too much too soon. I did NOT appreciate it, especially since I’ve not seen anything at that point to corroborate that story. I’m enjoying the Natalie and Alex rivalry, also Ryan Booth’s struggle as to which one to focus on. Simon’s friendliness with Nimah is interesting, especially when he is being hit on by a cutie. Something about Shelby and Caleb really offset me and annoyed me. THEIR relationship is SUPER “high school” to me.

The editing style is a bit jarring. I understand the fast pace being important, but there needs to be more of a focus on what Alex sees and how it’s relevant for me to follow. Past shows like “Burn Notice” and “Leverage” did things very well, despite being in a cornier way, and the one that takes the cake on diligence to the art of film would be “Sherlock Homes” Guy Ritchie can do no wrong by me. SIGH! But if this show manages to harness this artful way of editing and super-stylized method of storytelling, then “Quantico” should be able to last at least a few more seasons.

My most favorite part of the entire episode is the ending, when Booth wakes and takes a call from Alex. There seems to be something still between them, perhaps cohorts, or did he already jump over to her side and Liam was the one who shot Booth? Who knows, but I want to see the next episode so I can figure out just WHO is pulling the strings and WHO is being puppeteered in the strings… and WHO is trapped in the strings. As of now, the show has it set up that Liam is the one pulling the strings, Booth is the puppet, and Alex is caught in the strings. For all intents and purposes, I believe that Alex will end up as the string puller, Booth remains in the middle, and Liam will fall into the entrapment of the strings.

I rate Season 01 Episode 02: 7 of 10 Stars. Here’s hoping the show gets better and not worse from this point on!

"Brooklyn Nine-Nine" Season 3 :: Episode 02

I LOVE the whole Jake and Amy relationship. Super down-played felt weird but now seems perfect for the type of show it is. There is such a sweetness between Terry and Captain Ray Holt, both of whom are wonderfully written characters. The Linetti-Diaz-Boyle triangle continues to make the episodes funnier and funnier, along with Hitchcock and Scully who are rather absent in this last episode. And, golly, I don’t like the Vulture! OMG! But I do hope Captain Holt will return to the Nine-Nine, Jake and Amy will keep on going strong, and someone for Boyle to love. It would also be nice for Terry’s issues to pan out and his mango yogurt be restored to the shelves, Linetti needs a steady lover as weird as she is, and progress between Diaz and Holt’s nephew would be a good touch of well-rounded family-feeling fun! As always, it’s nice to see everyone doing quite well, despite being at a funeral.

So, because this show is much lighter than the other two, I gladly rate this episode 8 of 10 Stars!

***

Agree with me? Disagree with me? Let me know in the comments below!! I love a good discussion!! Otherwise, look forward to more and enjoy this episode of CoTangent podcast!!

SOOOOOOOOO THE DRAMAS!! (SPOILERS!!!)

*Out of respect for audiences of all ages and professions, I must warn you that there are SPOILERS in this post!!!*

I don’t watch TV.

Let me rephrase that. 

I don’t own a television, nor have I cable and such. So, I don’t watch TV. Any show I watch, I watch through online streaming sites. I’m not proud of this, but the fact that most shows can be found online, I really don’t NEED a television, know what I mean? By the way... For television standard purposes, I rate on a 1-10 star scale. So… here we go!

'THE BIG BANG THEORY' Season 09 Episode 01-02 Review (8 of 10 Stars)

I love this show. I’ve watched the first until the last episode recently aired and I still love this show. It’s not an on-and-off again thing for me, but a watch over-and-over again show. Whenever a new episode is up, I hunt for it online and watch it. Otherwise, I cycle through the entire series until I need something else to drone in my ears as I type and write and work on other projects.

First of all, Amy Farrah Fowler is awesome for breaking up with Sheldon Cooper! OMG! I want him to feel the need and realize the love he has for her and a break up might just do the trick! I do wonder how their relationship will change when they get back together but I guess we'll have to wait and see about that, eh?

Secondly, I wanted Leonard Hofstadter and Penny to be married in a chapel of sorts... I wanted their family to be there and hoped to see the rest of his amazing siblings and who they would cast for them!! Also, maybe bring their group of friends to Nebraska for the wedding!! That sounds like fun and I think Sheldon could just about piss EVERYONE off, or be quite at home seeing the parallel it is with East Texas... LOL!! We all know how caffeine and alcohol affects him... that could be quite fun!

Third, I wonder when Emily Sweeney and Rajesh Koothrappali will jump onto the more officially together band wagon or will Raj drift away because Emily and Penny don't like each other? Maybe instead of this, the writers will make Bernadette pregnant?! Holy COW, that would be something, eh??

Lastly, I wonder what will happen to Stuart Bloom?? Will he finally find someone to connect with? Will he marry and open a cafe in his comic book store? Maybe have an open mic area for interviews with Will Wheaton and, maybe even, Stan Lee?? I think that would be a cool idea, and I think Stuart deserves love. HAHAHAH!! I once wrote a spec script with such a storyline, I guess it never reached them. LOL. It's okay, if they accept me, they'll have to start accepting other Asians into the mix and... we all know TV doesn't feel like changing all that much.

I'm a bit annoyed because the Asian population keeps growing and yet... no worthwhile representation on television. All we have are random techie and nerdie roles on sci-fi shows, or "Fresh Off the Boat", which is neither complimenting nor encouragement. *sigh* Wish I could break that glass ceiling... I wish... wish... 

'QUANTICO' Season 01 Episode 01 Review (7 of 10 Stars)

It’s not as bad as I thought it would be. Very much with the feel of “Burn Notice” mixed with “How to Get Away With Murder”, this show is quite heavily influenced by “Alias” and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” without the supernatural element. I was interested because of the trailer and because I was such an on-and-off again fan of “Alias”, but I found Alex Parrish so much more likeable and real than most of the doe-eyed strong young women in the shows up until now. Piyanka Chopra is strong, independent, honest, and quite a model citizen, just like Jennifer Garner in “Alias”. These two shows are quite similar, but the non-verbal “burn Notice” feel is also present.

Because this is a review, there will be SPOILERS!!! So, stop reading if you don’t want to hear about the spoilers.

The moment we “met” Alex, I liked her. She seemed so much a bad-butted female who took what she wanted and did as she pleased, all the while trying to do and say the right things. From lying to her mother about where she was going to the sexy encounter in the car with undercover Agent Ryan Booth,  to befriending Shelby Wyatt and comforting Eric Packer, the kid who shoots himself due to the instability of his own mind. (I TOLD YOU THERE WERE SPOILERS!!)

The scene I liked best was the interrogation/interview scene, when Nimah/Raina Amin questioned Simon Asher. The way she delivered it was so wonderful, the acting and blocking of the scenes was quite intense altogether. I enjoyed it and was pulled into the world much faster than I had thought I would be. The cutting, lighting, and overall tone of the episode was so attractive and well done from where I sat staring at the screen.

What I hated most from this first episode was when it was revealed that Agent Booth is on the other side that is framing Alex!! OMG!! NOO!!! I wish they held that information back a bit so that I would keep guessing about him. Somehow, from the trailer, I predicted that he would start on the odd end of things and then be turned onto her side. But to have it seem to be most likely to happen, I hated that it was revealed so soon. Why can’t they keep us guessing more? Oh, the sadness. And, thought I appreciate the jumping around of the editing because it keeps me on my toes, I DIDN’T like it too much because it made me dizzy to some degree.

Overall, I look forward to finding out about the nine months before the major explosion and about those who were involved in it. I have a sneaking suspicion that it might by Wyatt or the Amin sisters being blackmailed into such an act, but I guess I’ll just have to wait and see about how Joshua Safran writes and Marc Munden directs it.

It can only go up from here!!

***

Jumping back to my “The Intern” love, I actually really connected with Becky (Christina Scherer) because I’ve been there and done that. So, I tweeted her a question and she actually answered it! I was floored and so, I wanted to share it with all of you!!

I can't wait to see what movie she's in next!! She's so cute of an actor!!

HERE IS COTANGENT EPISODE 31