What a Girl Wants

Proof- once again - that what men want and what women want are two different things. Even though this Heineken ad is in Dutch, you will have no difficulty understanding what you are seeing.

The Immediate Experience

Movies. What are they all about? The best ones are about the human experience. The immediate experience. Relationships. Emotions. Feelings. Comfort. Inspiration. Misery. They shed light on our own experiences. 

The best movies create the same feelings in you at the same point in the story every time you see them. So which are some of my favorites? 

Field of Dreams - despair, then hope and the magic that can come from a child-like faith, when "Doc" saves the little girl who was choking on a hot dog

E.T. - again, despair then hope, as E.T. lifts Elliott heavenward across the sky just as the Feds are closing in - a magical moment in film history

Schindler's List - transformation from selfishness to selflessness and witnessing that one person can make a difference

Casablanca - sacrifice of personal happiness for the greater good; "Here's lookin' at you kid."

It's a Wonderful Life - a life full of deeds of quiet heroism and generosity add up to "Here's to my big brother George. The richest man in Bedford Falls."

The Color Purple - when Celie and her sister are reunited and Celie sees her children for the first time in 20 years, your heart soars. Even the improbable can come to pass.

Why does it matter? Because there are more great moments at weddings than in even the greatest movie. And, those moments should be preserved - exactly as you experienced them - with a cheeringfamily, live music, and just a tiny tear glistening at the corner of your eye. A great wedding movie delivers the immediate experience.

Don't Tell the Bride

Have you seen the BBC television show, Don't Tell the Bride? 

The premise is that a groom gets $20,000 and has a month to plan a dream wedding for his bride. The catch is that they can have no contact prior to the wedding and the bride can have no input. As with any (un)reality TV show, you have to suspend your disbelief. Who would risk everything going wrong on their wedding day? And, it's been rumored that the producers purposely undermine the wedding day just enough to (gasp!) create tension which can result in a happy ending. 

I admit that I've seen parts of two episodes and there are some nuggets we can glean.

Lesson #1: The grooms do much better than you might imagine. Afterwards, they have a much greater appreciation of how much hard work goes into planning a wedding.

Lesson #2: The brides are more forgiving than you might imagine.

Lesson #3: The biggest sticking point seems to be selecting a wedding gown. Brides have definite ideas about what they want, and the grooms are usually clueless. 

One groom designed the dress himself, complete with RED boning on the corset bodice and red lacing in the back. It had a slightly goth flavor. His mother counseled him that ivory would be more suitable, and to his credit, he wisely took her suggestion. His bride still hated the dress when she saw it the day before the wedding. So, he scrapped his plan and bought the dress of her dreams. Good man. This marriage might last.

Lesson #4: Weddings are as expensive in England as they are in San Francisco and the $20,000 budget doesn't go very far. If the groom rents the castle (literally) of his dreams, there is very little left to pay for everything else. The invitations are likely to be flyers printed at Kinko's (but sealed with red wax), the decor will be balloons not flowers, the linens will be paper tablecloths not linen, the cake will come from a supermarket and the meal may be a BBQ. But the castle, horse drawn carriage, elaborate lighting and belly dancers will be great. It's always a matter of priorities. And goofy priorities make for lively reality TV entertainment. 

Lesson #5: In the end, it's all about how well the groom knows his bride's preferences and taste and how well both the bride and groom understand that starting with the wedding, marriage is all about compromise and pleasing the other person.

Lesson #6: Those British accents are so darned cute.

Worst Wedding Invitation

The folks over at BrideTide posted the worst wedding invitation. Tragically funny.

If Today Was Your Last Day on Earth

This is the season of graduations. We've all heard at least commencement speakers. Some boring, some inspirational. Sure, there was Ellen DeGeneres' Tulane speech last week, and President Obama's Notre Dame speech. But, we selected Steve Jobs' 2005 commencement speech at Stanford University. 

Why?

We as a species are story tellers and Steve Jobs spins a wonderful tale. He's not eloquent. He reads from his notes. His presentation isn't stellar. But, his words and thoughts are powerful. This speech changed my opinion of Steve Jobs. That's powerful - changing minds. 

At first I thought I'd watch this 15-minute piece for a few minutes, but gradually, I was drawn in and wanted to hear more. And I stayed until the very end.

Among other things, Steve said, "If you live every day as though it is your last, one day you will be right. If what you are about to do today is different than what you would do if this was your last day, then something has to change."

Something Borrowed, Something Blue

Brides are seeking creative ways to carry on through these troubled economic times and still have stylish weddings. So, in the spirit of having style on a budget, but still having the real deal, here's a suggestion.  

Celebrities who walk the red carpet borrow real jewels to accessorize their fabulous gowns. Although you are not likely to be able to waltz into Chopard, Harry Winston, or Fred Leighton and borrow a bauble, you can rent real jewelry for your wedding. 

The necklaces Adorn offers are worth from $1500 to $70,000; bracelets worth from $3000 to $20,000; and earrings are worth from $2000 to $20,000. You can rent these jewels for 3% to 5% of their retail value for a few days, from $90 each.

Just 'cause you're on a budget doesn't mean you can't be princess for a day.

Win an Alfred Angelo Wedding Gown

Here's a contest to win a bride's heart. For brides getting married in September 2009 or later, you can play a video game on the Get Married website and if you are the high scorer, you could win an Alfred Angelo wedding gown valued at up to $1800.

Timeless Beauty

Brides are more sophisticated and stylish than ever.  They have the desire and, thanks to the internet, they have the ability to research every aspect of their wedding. So what did brides do before the 1990's?  

Will You Be My Bridesmaid answers that question, at least in the realm of fashion. This unique blog showcases the fashions of the times in photos of bridesmaids from each decade starting in the 1940's. Many of the brides and their entourage were fashionable for the times. But in a few cases one wonders, what were they thinking? 

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

Danny Macaskill, Video of the Week

Who inspires us? Sometimes it is someone you've never met. You feel as if, as with Michelangelo's painting, the Creation of Adam on the Sistine chapel, that man is touching perfection. When you witness someone doing what they love and what they are so good at, you feel a special sort of joy. 

With a well-crafted movie, the content, the filming and the editing all help you feel the joy that the performer feels. So here is the Video of the Week of the amazing bicycle acrobatic skills of Danny MacAskill.

5 Whimsical Wedding Cakes

We've seen our fair share of wedding cakes. They've ranged from very simple white fondant icing with a wide ribbon  of the groom's family tartan at the base of each layer to Shinmin Li's I Dream of Cake and Sam Godfrey's Perfect Endings fantasy creations.

But honestly we haven't seen much whimsy or tasteful humor. So today...here come the whimsical cakes.

The first two create a fresh contemporary happy feeling. The last three take a turn for, well, for wedding hell.

For more unique cakes, visit the Austin Wedding Blog.

The Today Show Throws a Wedding

How would you like to be wed on The Today Show? 

Why would you do that? Because they would provide wedding attire for the couple and wedding party, the venue, the wedding cake, flowers, music, rings and honeymoon. 

Why wouldn't you do that? Because you would have no input on all those items, nor on the wedding date (week of July 15). The TODAY show and viewers will decide for you. You would have to agree to public appearances before the wedding, during and after the honeymoon. And of course, your wedding would be broadcast live to the world. 

If you are game, fill out the application, attach a photo of both of you, a 1-minute video and mail it by May 15 to TODAY Throws a Wedding at 30 Rockefeller Center in NYC.

Good luck!

Beauty in the Fog

San Francisco is so beautiful in all kinds of weather. So, when we filmed a wedding at the Legion of Honor a few weeks ago with the amazingly talented Michelle Walker, we were delighted to see the fog waft past the stately columns. 

On a wedding day, it's all about filming the action that's going on, so we had to let the fog keep rolling by. But, we wanted to capture some of that beauty so we returned to the Legion of Honor yesterday in the early morning hours to do just that. Here are a few still images. It was so quiet and serene.

Then, to our surprise, it was Free Tuesday. So we wandered the galleries of beautiful Rodin sculptures and were inspired by the special exhibition of Artistic Luxury: Faberge, Tiffany 

and Lalique (through May 31). The Faberge eggs are justifiably famous. They are exquisite miniatures creatively designed with fabulous precious stones, gold and platinum, enamels and pearls. Among European royalty it was the tradition to give the gift of a decorated egg to commemorate events such as the birth of a child, a wedding anniversary or an Easter or Christmas holiday.

There was always a surprise inside such as a hand painted 10-panel picture frame of the royal palaces where the Empress spent her childhood.

Or a miniature gold coach to commemorate the coronation of Nicholas and Alexandra. The coach has an imperial crown of rose diamonds on the roof, platinum tires, rock crystal windows and an imperial eagle on either door.

They really knew how to give gifts in those days!

In the Wedding Soup

Have you seen Liz Guthrie's Bay Area Wedding Soup? Liz, the creative mind behind San Jose Wedding Consultants, offers planning tips and introduces you to the San Francisco Bay Area's best wedding vendors week after week. And she does it so cleverly, by marching through the alphabet from A to Z. She never skips a letter - not even Q or Z!

Some of Liz' posts are informative:

"G" is for Gratuity: How Much to Tip your Wedding Vendors

"K" is for Kids at Weddings

"N" is for Name Change - a list of places you need to notify if you change your name

"Q" for Q&A - How much does a wedding cost in the San Francisco Bay Area?

Other posts help you find unusual services:

"B" is for Bagpiper

"C" is for Cigar Rollers

"F" is for Feng Shui

"T" is for Tarot Card Reader

Along the way, Liz dishes about behind-the-scenes in the Bay Area wedding industry. Thoroughly entertaining and informative. 

Savadelis Films was lucky enough to be featured this week. Thanks Liz!

Tribeca Film Festival: The Confession

The Tribeca Film Festival in lower Manhattan is just ending this weekend. It's one of the best-known film festivals which showcase independent films. Even if you can't get to NYC, you can view some short features online. One of the shorts is our Video of the Week.

Why does it deserve this distinction?  It is a well-paced 3-minute story which ends with a great punchline. [Caution: content is somewhat racy and definitely sacrilegious.] We've often said that a great movie creates emotion whether happiness or sadness. In this case, it is most definitely laughter.

A Thoughtful Note

We love what we do - every day! And some days, even more! Here's a note we received this morning. What a great way to start the day. If you're curious, here are the Quicktime and Windows Media versions of the movie trailer of Melissa and Paul's wedding.

We are still in touch with most of our precious brides and grooms for just this reason. As the years pass, the wedding movie we produced for them becomes more valuable. We remember and cherish each couple and are thrilled when they drop us a note about their lives. Thank YOU Melissa and Paul. 

"Dear Chuck and Jewel,   Paul and I just celebrated our 5 year wedding anniversary.  Time has flown and life has changed in many wonderful ways.  We still treasure the wedding movie you made for us.  Of all the many expenses of a wedding, asking you to make a wedding video for us has been the best investment.   You've allowed us to experience that wonderful day over and over again.   We have moved to southern California and have 2 little girls.  Catherine is 2.5 years old and Sarah Jane is 8 months.  We couldn't be happier.  Catherine just watched our video for the first time and she loved every moment of our fairytale, especially when Daddy puts his tie on! With many thanks, Melissa & Paul"

Jackson's Smile

Why is it that the most successful people are often the most caring? 

My friend, the talented photographer Lisa Lefkowitz, told me that she is participating in a wonderful online sale of some of her fine art photography. The proceeds benefit a precious little boy named Jackson who was born with a rare syndrome, Simpson Golabi Behmel, as well as cleft lip and palate. In his first year, he has had two surgeries and is facing more to address the various anomalies. 

The medical expenses are steep, already totaling over one million dollars. But due to the generosity of many people, Jackson an now eat, drink and smile. Simple gifts we take for granted. Jackson's Smile is a coalition of photographic artists dedicating their time, money and talent to Jackson and others like him a helping hand. 

At Jackson's Smile you can purchase fine art prints. Have a look. Buy a print or two. They start at a very reasonable $35. It will put a smile on your face.

Most Watched You Tube Video - Susan Boyle

Here is the Video of the Week. It is one of the most inspiring performances I've ever seen. Over 70 million people have watched Susan Boyle's performance on You Tube. So, why is it our pick of the week?

1. The content. The performance itself was stunning. From the first note, this singer touched almost every person in the audience.

2. The song. I Dreamed a Dream. Who in this wide world hasn't had a big dream that everyone scoffed at? What would you give to have triumphed in such a public way?

3. The reactions. The video was edited beautifully. The change of heart by the audience and judges was captured very well. It enhanced the video. And our reactions to their reactions amplify the thrill of Susan's triumph.

4. The complete story. Ultimately, this is a story of a person who dreamed a dream, had confidence in herself, but LOOKED like the most unlikely person to pull it off. She LOOKED like she would sing off key or forget the lyrics or do something kooky. The judges and audience weren't just neutral about her. They had active contempt for Susan. They were laughing, hooting and jeering.

But then, a miracle happened. She sang the first note in a pure and truthful way. Instantly the audience and judges changed their minds about her. And when they did, her dream came true. 

Only when you HEAR her performance, SEE her performance and witness the judges' and audience's change in attitude does the miracle occur. The video reveals the whole story. The difference is that in the photograph Susan Boyle is nothing extraordinary. 

In the video she is the personification of all of our inner most dreams come true. She inspires us to find a deeper meaning. To endure harsh critics with dignity and grace. To be vulnerable despite the doubts we hold in our hearts. To challenge superficial biases, prejudice and stereotypes in favor of fairness, courage and humility. This is why Susan Boyle has captured our attention and our hearts. And that's why this is our Video of the Week.

Cute Overload

Every now and again you have to take a moment. I found these on cute overload.  There are many more - all animal related.

San Francisco International Film Festival Rides Again!

It's that time of year again. Time for the 52nd annual San Francisco Film Festival, starting tonight, Thursday, April 23. Before the last reel is shown on Thursday, May 7, over 150 films from 50 countries will be shown, and Robert Redford and Francis Ford Coppola will receive awards and chat with the crowds.

Rumor has it that there are a lot of must-see films including:

Bluebeard - killing your wives is cheaper than a divorce

Adoration - a teenager blurs the line between fact and fiction when he writes an essay portraying his deceased father as a terrorist

Ferlinghetti - local filmmaker's documentary on San Francisco poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti including interview with Dennis Hopper, Alan Ginsberg and other bohemians

La Mission - filmed in San Francisco in just 26 days, the movie stars Benjamin Bratt of Law & Order fame, directed by his brother Peter Bratt. Both Bratts will be in attendance

The Lost World (hot ticket!) - A silent film accompanied by an original score performed live by Dengue Fever, a Cambodian/American rock, country and African fusion jazz band. Based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's sci-fi novel, a group of explorers make the fatal mistake of bringing back a brontosaurus from an exotic locale.

See you at the movies!

Monterey Bay Otters and Sea Lions

         Monday was a record-setting scorcher in the Bay Area. You can't do anything about the weather except find a solution. So Chuck and I went kayaking on Monterey Bay.  We traveled several miles along the coast to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. It was calm, a sunny sky, and just a hint of a cool breeze. Here are a few of our companions.

First, there was the "barbershop quartet of sea lions. Nicely lined up. Nice harmony. Hard to understand the lyrics.

Then, although it's hard to see, there was the mother otter (white) grooming her pup (brown). They looked a little scraggly and in need of a grooming. But they were adorable.

What's amazing is how close they will come to you. They are curious and playful creatures. What a joy to share the planet with them!