Nate Milton "Feelings" Video

Being a fan of celebrating the loveliness of little things in life, you'll understand why I am equally in love with this sweet video I found on Vimeo by Nate Milton called "Feelings." In his words, "For three weeks, I wrote down any thought, image or memory that gave me a tingly feeling. I animated the list, and what it accidentally became was…" Enjoy! At the end of the clip above, there was a link to another video. Here is a gem of sophisticated canine humor (a category I just made up, but in light of the upcoming Oscars tomorrow night, one that the Academy should definitely think of including!)--I was laughing out loud! I'm imagining he took inspiration from the film "Amelie" as the French narrator says things like, "Orson detests the rain. He enters it to spite it and to piss on it." "Orson is depressed. He's been painting morose watercolors (omg-love it!) and thoughtless still lifes." This Nate Milton is a genius!

ACCA Music Awards (American Country Countdown Awards 2014) SOLD

You know, I put this on Facebook, but not on my sweet, little blog.  Sorry, little blog, that I didn't put you first.

Here's the background:  Last August I posted on FB and Twitter, a commission of Brett Eldredge singing "Beat of the Music." A few weeks ago, the digital team at Dick Clark productions, producers of the American Country Countdown Awards (ACCAs) held on Mon., 12/15 on FOX saw my art, invited me to participate in an art showcase, and said my piece may be digitally autographed by Brett and tweeted back at me from the ACCAs! That show was tonight, and Brett Eldredge ended up winning song of the year.  

Let me tell you, I think I really do believe those Academy Award Acceptance speeches where they say, "it's an honor just to be nominated" because that's the way I feel!  I have been on a little floating cloud for a few weeks, and I suppose even more so because this was something that I didn't apply for, "go after," etc., but rather something that was given to me as a gift from God and the universe.  What an exciting gift!  I'm forever grateful for a sign of being on the right path.

Here's my original posting (Blue Diamond Eyes) of the story, the painting, and the video.  Below that is the painting one more time. 

Day 258. Marion Dougherty Upon First Seeing Al Pacino

HBO recently showed a wonderful documentary called "Casting By" which featured the importance and influence of casting directors on the film industry.  The grand dame of these crucial role players was Marion Dougherty.  It is a testament to this woman's incredible gut instincts, who in a very real way, shaped many of the greatest films ever to come out of Hollywood.  Someone who rarely got her due--no single card credit in a movie's acknowledgements of talent nor honorary Oscar for her influence by the Academy of Motion Pictures as spearheaded and petitioned by Clint Eastwood and other stars in 1991.  However, hopefully this documentary, full of wonderful film clips, interviews with our greatest film stars, and other prominent casting directors, will help rectify the lack of credit Dougherty received in the past.

At one point, Marion talks about my favorite star, Al Pacino, who she went to see off-broadway in 1968 in "The Indian Wants the Bronx."  She said, "that he was so good, that the hairs on the back of my neck stood up."  She added that that had only happened to her 3 or 4 times in her entire life.  Ah, Al Pacino.  I will champion your acting brilliance to my death!

Here's how I imagine Marion Dougherty seeing Al Pacino back in the late '60's--electrified, by his sizzling performance! (-:

Here's a little film clip of the documentary:
http://www.hbo.com/documentaries/casting-by/video/trailer.html

Here's the NY Times article on many of the casting directors in the film:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/04/movies/casting-directors-get-their-due-in-hbos-film-casting-by.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0