Somehow it Gets Lit

Marcia Lucas was the editor on 1983’s "Return of the Jedi" and the pre-"Star Wars" George Lucas-directed films "THX 1138" and "American Graffiti."

She was also part of the editing team for director Martin Scorsese’s 1970s films "Taxi Driver," "Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore" and "New York, New York."

Marcia Lucas was often called the unsung hero of "Star Wars," the original film that after sequels, prequels and spinoffs has come to be known by its subtitle, "A New Hope."

She convinced husband George that he should have Obi-Wan Kenobi, played by Alec Guinness, in his light saber battle with Darth Vader and become a spirit guide to Mark Hamill’s Luke Skywalker.

And she had to make sense of the raw footage that could’ve been a mess in the wrong hands, including the climactic rebel attack on the Death Star.

[....]

M - a masterpiece by a master filmmaker, this drama of a community coming together to stop a pedophile. Haunting as it is stunning in cinematography and acting.

Nanook of the North - considered to be the first ever documentary film, a true historical artifact of its time.

Black Orpheus - the story of Orpheus but told by the black community of Brazil during Carnival. For surrealism and meaty realism combined, you can’t do better. If you’re a fan of great films or even just like Hadestown, watch and be transported. On and entirely different note, consider watching

Brazil - a 3 hour epic, it is hard to stream with the original ending in the US. So grab this and watch both versions.

12 Angry Men - a play will do you just fine for this but I find the performances by the actors to be stunning.

3:10 to Yuma - I prefer the original that the Croterion has but some say the remake is better. Still, this is one of the only films that has the entire thing happen in real time. An incredible feat.

Black Girl - you can find where I discuss this film on my blog earlier. Incredibly important film. Make sure you are not suicidal before watching.

Blow-up - what if you made gothic horror in 1960s London? The main character is a fashion photographer and in many ways this is a film about the medium of film.

The Fantastic Planet

Ever After

This is a PSA in case you're like me and have been living under a rock about all the cool free services you can get through your local public library. (Thank you, @dulcedeusex, for informing me!) Kanopy is a FREE on-demand and ad-free streaming platform with a fantastic catalogue of mainly independent, classic, and documentary films from across the world. Depending on your library, you can watch anywhere between 5-15 movies per month. All you need to do is make an account using your library card.

I believe title availability varies but there are soooo many goodies here. Just look at some of the award-winning and classic queer films on there—anyone want to do a watch club? 😂

Neptune Frost (Rwanda) - trailer

Pelo malo (Venezuela) - trailer

Funeral Parade of Roses (Japan) - trailer

In Between: Bar Bahar (Palestine) - trailer

Joyland (Pakistan) - trailer

Weekend (U.K.) - trailer

The Blue Caftan (Morocco) - trailer

Twilight's Kiss (Hong Kong) - trailer

Portrait of a Lady on Fire (France) - trailer

Fire (India) - trailer

Vive L'Amour (Taiwan) - trailer

A Woman Walks Home Alone At Night (Iran, U.S.) - trailer

Farewell My Concubine (China) - trailer

Destiny: Dakan (Guinea)

The Wedding Banquet (Taiwan, U.S.) - trailer

Egoist (Japan) - trailer

Stranger by the Lake (France) - trailer

[part two of the two-part ask]

Additionally, Marilyn herself is incredibly smart in her timing and quips throughout her filmography as a “dumb” despite being scripted into a beauty in all her roles.

Text via Daily Art Fixx

“Jason deCaires Taylor was born in 1974 to an English father and Guyanese mother, spending the earlier part of his life growing up in Europe, Asia and the Caribbean. Educated in South East England, he graduated in 1998 from Camberwell College of Arts, University of the Arts London, with a B.A.Honours in Sculpture and Ceramics. He is also a fully qualified diving instructor, underwater naturalist and award winning underwater photographer, with over 14 years of diving experience in various countries.

In May 2006 he gained international recognition for creating the world’s first underwater sculpture park in Grenada, West Indies. His underwater sculptures, designed to create artificial reefs for marine life to colonise and inhabit, embrace the transformations wrought by ecological processes. The works engage with a vision of the possibilities of a sustainable future, portraying human intervention as positive and affirmative. Drawing on the tradition of figurative imagery, the aim of Jason de Caires Taylor’s work is to address a wide-ranging audience crucial for highlighting environmental issues beyond the confines of the art world. However, fundamental to understanding his work is that it embodies the hope and optimism of a regenerative, transformative Nature.

The sculptures are sited in clear shallow waters to afford easy access by divers, snorkellers and those in glass-bottomed boats. Viewers are invited to discover the beauty of our underwater planet and to appreciate the processes of reef evolution.

Jason is currently resident in Mexico as Artistic Director of the new Cancun Underwater Museum.”  (bio from artist website)

Rachel Ann Bovier is a Pittsburgh legend who has been publishing her poems in city newspapers for decades. In more recent years, she started putting up these bill boards along major roads. For what reason? I have no clue. But I would often pass them on my way to Oakland for therapy. They never failed to cheer me up.

As a young trans writer, they gave me this precious little spark of joy. There was someone like me, a writer, a Pittsburgher, a trans person, who was confident enough to put their face on a bill board! I would always smile as we passed by and my mom took note.

Fast forward a few years and it’s my 21st birthday. My mom has been super excited about my gift and teased me about it over and over again. She said it was the best gift she’d ever gotten me and in many ways she was right. It was a custom poem she commissioned from Miss Bouvier! It congratulated me on my birthday, my academic success, lots of little stuff. It was simple and sweet and perfect.