Skins Series 1-3

The first and second series are based upon a group of nine friends Tony, Michelle, Sid, Maxxie, Anwar, Cassie, Jal, Chris and Sketch. Each of the episodes within the series is based upon either one or two characters lives. The series appears to represent teenage lives to an extreme as the characters go to endless parties/events, continuously have sex with one another, take drugs, get drunk all the time and yet still go to sixth form everyday and study for their a-levels. The relationship between Michelle and Tony seems somewhat one-sided at times as he constantly seems to be either putting her down or flirting with anyone and everyone. Whilst Sid, Tony's bestfriend appears to be totally smitten with Michelle but does not stand a chance with her as she soon tells him"I love you like a brother". Then theirs Cassie who has an eating disorder that she is able to hide from her parents through means of distracting them. Maxxie who is gay and wants to be a dancer but his father is encouraging him to follow in his footsteps, Anwar who is Maxxie's bestfriend and is completely obsessed with the opposite sex and the idea of losing his virginity.Sketch who is totally obsessed with Maxxie and is stalking him to ridiculous extremes to get close to him but is left heartbroken when he says him kissing her during the play meant nothing as he felt nothing. This does not detour her much as she dates his bestfriend Anwar who she encourages to dress like, do his hair like and dye his hair just like Maxxie, the relationship rapidly dissolves after that but the two remain friends. Jal who is utterly brilliant at playing the clarinet and is aiming to get a scholarship to university but falls pregnant by Chris who constantly takes drugs and the viewing audience later found out he has a human genetic disease that killed his brother when they were younger and later goes on to kill him. The series represents an illusion of being able to take drugs, drink and attend sixth form without any side effects or mishaps. That your able to do all these things and still lead a normal life. They do not seem to take in account that one or all of the characters could have a reaction to the drugs they are constantly popping or the weed they dabble with. It just paints a perfect picture of drugs and the amazing effects it can have on you.

"And... when I'm with you, I feel like a better person. And I feel happier, less alone... less lonely" Naomi.

The third series seems somewhat more realistic as we see the bad effects drugs can have. Within this series we have a complete new set of teenage students to follow, Effy, Cook, Freddie, JJ, Pandora, Thomas, Emily, Katie and Naomi. There's Effy who is Tony's younger sister from the former series. She seems like someone who is not bothered by anything but truth be told it's just that she is not coping to well with what is going on at home with her parents as her mother is having an affair with her fathers close friend. Freddie who is lives with his single parent family and sister as his mother has died and his father is doing what he thinks is best which in turn leads to his sister constantly getting her own way even at the expense of using her mothers death to try win a dance/singing competition. The identical twins Emily and Katie who are different in every possible way, they don't like the same music, they are not into the same things and they appear to have different sexualities as well. Naomi an only child who appears to be quite confident, assertive and says exactly whats on her mind but she is soon confused and becomes quite aggressive towards Emily when she realises she has a mutual attraction to her and does not know how to come to terms with the fact that she fancies a girl and could possibly be gay/bi-sexual or could just possibly like this one girl. Cook who seems to have to take care of himself as neither of his parents are around and he seems to rely on having sex with any and every girl as well as taking any drugs that he can get his hands on. Thomas who is only recently come to London from the Congo who lands himself in immediate trouble with a gangster within the area when he moves into one of his squats without his permission but he is soon saved by the help of his new found friends. Pandora an unique young girl who is completely obsessed with her bestfriend Effy and has to hide her rebellious and outrageous side from her overpowering mother who seems to want to her daughter pure and innocent but seems to be only further pushing her towards the corruptions she thinks she is shielding her from. JJ who has high-functioning autism, he seems to lack all social skills but has a close knit bond with Freddie and Cook who he has known from his childhood. He soon develops a somewhat close friendship with Emily and even sleeps with her but she soon lets him know that it was a one off as she is a lesbian and fancies someone else. This series shows a more realistic side to drugs than the first two, as we see Effy tripping over mushrooms when they go camping which leads to her clabbering Katie over the head with a rock after she tries to beat her up. We see the effects of Cook taking JJ's medication which leads to him first having a fight which JJ and Freddie have to join in to prevent him from being beaten to a pulp and then him telling Thomas that he has slept with his girlfriend Pandora. The effects of narcotics which encourage Naomi to make a move on Emily in the middle of the woods.

The Wives of Bath (Book) & Lost Delirious (Adaption of the Book)

The book 'The Wives of Bath' is primarily based on one girl Mary Bedford who later becomes know as Mouse the nickname was given to her by one of her room mates Paulie. The story is about Paulie, Mary and Tori, Tori is supposedly dating/in love with Paulie's brother which we later find out is just Paulie dressed up in boys clothes and copying their characteristics so that no-one will suspect it is her. As we follow the girls through their boarding school regimes we soon see that not everything is quite as simple as you may think, they have set times to everything within their days and if they break curfew they face serious consequences. Mary is given some leeway as she has a disability a small hump on her back which tends to make her tired quicker than the average person. She initially tries to hide that she has it but when the school nurse sees it she soon brings it to everyone's attention by encouraging Mary to wear special orthopaedic shoes which are obvious to everyone else that this girl has some form of a disability. Mary seems to settle into the school okay with the help of Tori but not Paulie who seems somewhat cautious of Mary as though she believes that Mary can not be trusted. The two soon become acquaintances when Paulie decides to take her under her wing and encourages her too dress like a boy too, this leads to their identities becoming known to a rival boy school and eventually murder and grieving when Mary's father suddenly dies.

Whereas with the film "Lost and Delirious" it's based on the same characters and relatively the same story accept there is no murder within the film and Paulie does not cross dress. The film is based upon Mary and her time at boarding school but also about Paulie and Tori the two girls she shares a room with. When Mary first moves into the room she sees the two girls friendship as nothing more as them missing being away from home, they seek comfort from one another through their overly intimate gestures. However as time goes on she sees that is not just merely them being friendly towards one another but that they are in fact in love/in a relationship. The three girls become extremely close as Paulie and Tori involve Mary in whatever they are doing, Paulie even goes as far as to give Mary the nickname Mary Brave rather that new girl which she was referring to her as. The trio are soon to split when Tori's sister walks in to find both Paulie and her sister in bed together and neither of them are wearing tops and seem to be embracing one another in a lover's embrace. The relationship rapidly dissolves as Tori tries to prove she is straight and that is was nothing with Paulie for the sake of her family, leading Paulie on a downward spiral of hate and self-pity. The film ends in tragedy as well but rather than anyone being murdered Paulie takes her own life as she can not bare to be without her beloved Tori.

I was able to relate to the story as it shows the lengths people in love are willing to go to, just to be accepted. For Tori loved Paulie just as much as she loved her but she was unable to freely show it so decided to deny apart of herself. She knew that her parents/family and maybe her friends would disown her for pursuing such a relationship and with a girl of all people. so she conformed to what is seen as right within society and the eyes of her parents and peers and began dating a boy.With my story however one of the women did not conform to what her family thought was right so has been disowned by her family, her family now is her girlfriend.

"No! I'm PAULIE in love with TORI. Remember? And Tori, she is, she IS in love with me because she is mine and I am hers and neither of us are LESBIANS!"

Thelma and Louise & The Colour Purple:~ Are they lesbians?

'Thelma and Louise'

With the film 'Thelma and Louise' you could presume they became lesbians because of the rape ordeal Thelma almost goes through. Then again the fact that Geena Davis as Thelma and Susan Sarandon as Louise is merely a presumption as there is no actual evidence. The intimacy between the two of them is merely a close-knit friendship/sisterhood. The kiss they share at the end of the film could be interpreted as a lesbian act but it can be acknowledged as their way of saying goodbye to one another as they know once they drive over the cliff they are not going to survive.

'The Colour Purple' 

The relationship between Whoopi Goldberg's character Celie and Margaret Avery's character Shug could have evolved due to Celie's tormented childhood. Initially she was continuously raped by her supposed father who went to father her only two children Adam and Olivia. We later find out that he was not her biological father. Just as she got over being used by her step-father she is forced to marry a man old enough to be her father, and who then took it upon himself to continuously rape her (as she never gave consent to have sex with him) and make her a slave to him and his unruly children. This may have lead to Celie's confused sexuality and infatuation with Shug. 

These two comparisons show how a friendship/relationship can be confused for the other. However the relationship shared between Shug and Celie in the book 'The Colour Purple' and the film 'The Colour Purple' portray two completely different relationships/friendships. With the film it is portrayed as merely a kiss between two friends and even then it is merely a peck on the lips. Whereas in the book it is a full blown love affair. The similarities between the two relationships lie with the initial first kiss, Shug helping Celie to find her letters from her sister Nettie and the fact that they end up living together again in the end when Shug is contemplating retiring and Celie's business is doing exceedingly well. However with the book you are able to establish that their relationship has once again just picked up where it left off from before Shug went away with Germaine. 

Annie on my Mind

'Annie on my Mind' is a tale of two girls who fall in love, we hear about their love through the letters that Liza keeps writing to Annie but never posts. The girls happen to meet in The Metropolitan Museum of Art as Liza hears someone singing and appears to follow where the singing is coming from until she comes across Annie. The two are instantly drawn to one another which neither of them can explain as neither one of them has ever encountered such a feeling/sensation and especially not with a girl that they barely know. The girls instantly become inseparable and initially it's just seen as they have each found someone they can finally be themselves around as in act silly and often play make believe. Their friendship/relationship appears to go through rough patches, awkward stages and the unforeseeable getting caught having sex at a teachers house by a fellow teacher/pupil from Liza's school. Just as it seems that Liza is never going pull her finger out and send a letter to Annie she goes and does one better.

This story was influential to me because I was able to see how such an intense love affair can appear in such a young teenage lesbian couple as well as out of nowhere because in the beginning it was just seen as an intense friendship but it rapidly turned into something else. Something confusing/exciting/misinterpreted situation between the two girls which only them seemed to understand and to others it just seemed like something wrong/awful something they should be ashamed to be apart of. However by talking to the right people both Liza and Annie are able to understand that they did nothing wrong they just merely fell in love with someone who is the same sex as them.

Hairspray

"Wow! Being invited places by coloured people!"

The film is set in Baltimore in 1962, when black people and white people were still be segregated but to make the black people with in the community feel welcome they celebrated 'Negro Day' once a month. Also in a time when generic miscegenation was hardly ever heard of. This film presents the audience with the ideology that if you were over-weight/an ethnic minority/or stands out in an way that is not known is unacceptable. However this is soon overcome by the likes Of Tracy Turnblad and the help of her friends Penny Pingleton, Seaweed and surprisingly her parents Edna and Wilbur Turnblad who encourage that anything/everything is in her reach as long as she fights for it. Initially her fight is to get on the 'The Corny Collins Show' then she goes on to get integration within the show as the show currently only allows black dancers on the show on 'Negro Day'. The audience follows Tracy through the trials and tribulations she has to go through just to be accepted with in socitey for being a teenage girl who is over-weight and seems to like the idea of integrating with people of other ethnicities.

There is also the issue of Penny and Seaweed falling in love and how their families will react to it. Seaweed's mother seems to accept it but warns the pair of them that their will be serious repercussions to face because others won't be so accepting, whereas it appears Penny's mother has a break as she seems the two of them kissing on 'The Corny Collins Show'.

"Oh, Seaweed, you do care! I was afraid the colours of our skin would keep us apart."

D.E.B.S

This film consists of 4 teenage girl agents, Amy, Dominique, Max and Janet. In order to be a D.E.B you have to have something unique almost special about you. The girls starts with the normal wake up call and they receive news on an ongoing mission about the deviant Lucy Diamond. They appear at the same restaurant that Lucy seems to be having an awkward date. 
Just as Lucy is making up an ridiculous excuse to remove herself from the date an interference occurs making it known to her that she is being watched severely by a large group. Lucy and Amy accidentally bump into one another during the whole commotion but rather than arrest her Amy ends up having a conversation with her which Lucy takes as a mutual attraction. After that Lucy keeps arranging for scenarios so they can meet up again, initially Amy

seems annoyed about it but only to turn around and admit that she fancies Lucy also but being attracted to women and a diamond thief they have being trying to catch. When Lucy pretends to kidnap Amy it all comes out when the D.E.B.S rescue team walks in on Amy and Lucy in bed together. Amy then tries to break it off feeling that she is doing the best for her and Lucy but in the long run she's only hurting the both of them. They eventually end up together at the cost of Amy and Lucy running away together the rest of the D.E.B.S girls lying for them and Amy finally getting her wings.

She's the Man

"Yeah. Yeah. NO. No playing. You have to forfeit. There's no girls in this league. Here, look in the manual."

She's the man is based around Amanda Bynes character Viola. Viola is a young teenage girl with a thirst for the sport football. At her school they had both a boys and a girls football team, due to cut backs at the school they dismissed the girls team. This comes as a surprise to the girls when they go to their practice and find the La cross team on the pitch. The girls in team suggest that they start training with the boys team which the coach laughs off claiming that it would not be fair as girls are just not as fast as boys. Viola then goes on an unbelievable journey to show/prove that girls are just as good as boy, with many mishaps on the way. This being because she has disguised herself as her identical twin brother Sebastian. It leads to all kinds of troubles, for instance Olivia falls in love with her, she in turn falls in love with Duke who she is currently sharing a dorm room with and there is the fact that she is trying to be convincing so that no-one will suspect that she is in fact impersonating her brother whilst he is bunking school to go play gigs in London with his band. However all hell breaks loose when the real Sebastian returns to school. With the help of her friends and a coach who is willing to give her a chance Viola proves herself to a rather good football player who can play for either the boys or the girls football team.

I was able to relate to this film because it shows how people are quick to judge others by ridiculous stereotypes and not let them try something they love and know they are more than capable of doing.

Imagine Me and You

Watched the film 'Imagine Me and You' which provided me with the idea of doing my major project on 'Lesbians in Film'. Preferably about the portrayl of women as in stereotypes (butch or lip-stick lesbian), the effect it had on the Hays Office and how the general public reacted to it? Are lesbians/hetrosexual women able to identify with the characters? Is it a realistic portrayl or merely a man/womans fantasy of what they would like to see happen? Is it in fact a film for the viewing audience or instead just a film for the screen/scriptwriter? The film 'Imagine Me and You' helped me to get to this conclusion because the story is based upon an accidental if almost an unaware attraction/affair. For Luce is an out lesbian who falls for supposedly hetrosexual Rachel who's wedding she arranged the flowers for. The unexpected twist comes when Rachel realises that she in turn has fallen for Luce and wants to pursue a relationship with her but not at the cost of hurting Hector her husbands feelings. This is soon resolved when she admits to a drunken Hector that she has fallen for someone else but won't leave him, forcing him to then decide whether or not to stay with her or let her be with the one she truly loves.Knowing that he could not and does not want to come between Rachel and her maybe true love he leaves her, giving her the freedom to pursue Luce.

'The Colour Purple' compared to that of 'Imagine Me & You' are completely different not only because of the natures of both the stories but also when it comes to the love affair between the women in both. This being because in 'Imagine Me & You' it is an instant attraction/connection, they both seem to be drawn to one another even though they both know it is wrong as Luce has only recently married Hector. Whereas in 'The Colour Purple' we have already witnessed that Celie has a soft spot/mild obsession with Shug due to the picture of her she carries around. Primarily Shug dislikes Celie for no other reason than the fact that she is married to Albert. This dislike rapidly dissolves and turns to appreciation, respect and then on to a very strong love. One that turns into a bizarre love affair between two women.

Corrina Corrina

I watched the film 'Corrina Corrina' the film is based around Molly Singer and her father Manny Singer. Within the beginning of the film it is made public knowledge that her mother has recently died, we are unable to know how but it is made relevant that it has had a severe effect on Molly as she has stopped talking since it happened. Manny being caught up with grief and the fact that his only child has chosen to no longer speak decides to hire a nanny to help him at home. He initially hires someone else who appears as an covert alcoholic who also attempts to seduce him to the dismay of Molly. He soon sends her packing when she tries to get in bed with him. He soon hires Corrina even though she has no references or previous experience but he soon witnesses that her and Molly seem to have struck a match between them maybe because Corrina if the first person who has come to the interview and actually acknowledged Molly and not just seen it as a job. Soon after working for Manny, Corrina seems to encourage Molly to come out of herself first through gesturing to her when she wants something and then on her own accord Molly begins talking to her. As the once professional relartionship between the Singers and Corrina becomes that of one where there is fondness on both sides and maybe even love, complications begin to occur as both Manny and Corrina know there will be many obstacles if they do decide to pursue it. Just as everything seems to go wrong and Manny fires Corrina as well as his father dying on the exact same day. Things appear to pick up again when he and Corrina decide to put aside their differences and attempt to pursue a relationship that neither of their races would or are willing to accept due to the times and the predujuices they are often subjected to.

"Manny, listen to me. A fish and a bird can fall in love, but where do they build their home?"

Avenue Q

I recently went to the theatre to watch the musical 'Avenue Q'. The story is based upon/around 8 characters living in Avenue Q, New York. It seems like a rundown neighbourhood where anyone and everyone lives. As the child star Gary Coleman lives there as as superintendent, christmas eve who came to America for opportunities and ends up working in a Korean Restaurant even though she is Japanese. Princeton has just completed university and is trying to find a job and somewhere to live, Kate Monster who is currently a teaching assistant but would love to open a Monster School for little Monsters, Trekkie Monster who is obssesed with pornography but has invested money in it so now has quite a large sum of money in the bank, Brian who wants to be a comedian and is engaged to Christmas Eve but recently got made redundant. Rod an timid/shy in the closet gay man who works as an investment banker who currently shares a flat with Nicky a rather messy and jobless flatmate.
This play proved to be quite comical because it goes against everything muscials usually abide by as they swear, there are a few explicit scenes within the musical. It seems it's a parody of many musicals as one of the songs is about porn 'The internet is for porn' and another is titled 'It sucks to be me'.
I was able to relate this musical to my short film/video because I was able to evaluate the character Rod and the way in which his friends reacted to his confession of being gay. As well as how he was portrayed as in was it a stereotypical way or in a covert manner.

I Can't Think Straight

After reading the book 'I Can't Think Straight' I then watched the film "I Can't Think Straight" which was identical to the book with a few minor changes but these changes had no impact/effect on the story being told.

I found this storyline helpful as it proved that their could be a non-stereotypical love story between two women and that neither of them had to die in the end or that the film ended with them not being together. It was quite a positive/influential influence on my major project.

"Slept with a woman while my fiancé makes wedding preparations? Nope, never done that before." Tala.

I Can't Think Straight By Shamim Sarif

I began reading the book 'I Can't Think Straight'.

The book tells the tale of two women who could not be more different from one another but they seem to share one thing in common they are madly in love with one another from the moment they meet.

Leyla is a timid muslim young woman, who is currently working in her fathers company. She is currently dating Tala's bestfriend Ali.

Tala is an outgoing christian young woman who is currently awaiting to get married to her fiance Hani in an elaborate and over-priced wedding arranged by her mother.

The two women are introduced by Ali as he wants his best friend to meet his girlfriend. The two have an instant simultaneous attraction to one another. Tala is more able to identify that it's more than wanting a close friendship with her, whereas Leyla is somewhat confused as she has felt things like this before in the past but it was always something she was unable to confide to anyone.

The close knit friendship swiftly becomes an intimate love affair, leaving Leyla heartbroken when Tala tells her it's not a way to live and that she can't hurt her fiance Hani. After the break-up with Tala, Leyla finds the confidence to tell her parents the reason she is not happy with Ali or any other man for that fact is because she is gay. Tala however returns to Jordan and awaits her looming wedding day.

Leyla stops working for her father so that she is able to pursue her writing career and she also finds a girlfriend. She does so well with her writing that she gets her writing published into a novel. While all this is going on Tala has called off her wedding to her fiancé Hani telling him that it would not be fair to him. Tala's mother whisks Tala back to London to avoid the embarrassment of yet another failed engagement.

Tala and Leyla accidentally come across one another at a talk given about Jordan which is being funded by Tala's family. But to Tala's disappointment Leyla has come along with her new girlfriend Jennifer.

Even though Leyla has a girlfriend her sister and Ali team up to try and reunite the two girls. The reunion initially seems a success but when Tala reveals she is not willing to make it public knowledge that she is gay, Leyla soon loses interest and leaves Tala alone in the restaurant.

At the book signing of Leyla's book, Tala appears and asks Leyla to write what would seem like a rather bizarre inscription to other passers by

To Tala, who finally had the courage to come out to her parents.

Leyla however writes

I love you.

With this they are able to live a happy, carefree life with one another, one in which they do not have to hide who they are with or love.

Disney Pixar's Up

I went to the cinema to see the new "Disney Pixar's Up". I was unable to see it in 3d due to it being sold out, but that did not change how comical or fascinating the film is.

The film is based upon the life and adventures of Carl Fredricksen. Primarily we are shown this young boy with rather large spectacles admiring his hero Charles F. Muntz.

He then meets well more like stumbles across Ellie Docter who is also a fan of Charles F. Muntz. The two soon become inseparable, the close knit friendship turns into a relationship with Carl proposing and he and Ellie getting married. We then see the happiness misfortunes they go through. We witness the excitement and pleasure as they buy the house they used as a clubhouse when they were children. As they renovate/decorate the house and add their own homely touches. But we soon become aware of the one thing that they really want they are unable to have...children. This does not stop them from having a fulfilling life together. Years pass by and Ellie unfortunately passes away leaving Carl all alone. But it appears not to phase him as he still talks to her as if she is there.

Carl's life is soon changed rapidly when he first accidentally assaults a construction worker who breaks his and Ellie's mailbox and meets young and bubbly Russell. Carl is supposed to be moving into a retirement home after he assaults the construction worker but he conjures up a cunning plan so that he can remain in his house and live out his and Ellie's childhood dream.

On the morning of him moving out of his house to the retirement home, Carl finally puts his plan into action. Carl has devised it so that his house has become a giant air balloon literally with thousands and thousands of helium balloons carrying his house via his chimney. The shock factor for Carl is that just as the house took off young Russell had been standing on the veranda.

The once one-sided friendship soon changes into a rounded friendship. Russell appears to both help and bring entertainment to Carl's adventure. But he also gets the male companionship he has longed for so long as his father and mother divorced, with his father re-marrying and not really have anytime for him.

From here on out the film presents the audience with witty anecdotes and various comical scenes, with a few touching scenes such as both Russell and Carl saving one another and the mishaps they encounter with their new found friends Kevin, Dug and Charles F. Muntz.

The film ends with a happily ever after ending but not one that you initially expect, Russell finally gets his assisting the elderly badge but from who his beloved father he wants to make proud or his new found friend/ male role model Carl?

The Colour Purple By Alice Walker

I read the book 'The Colour Purple' by Alice Walker. The book is based on the life of Celie Harris and all the mishaps she goes through in her life. As she gets older and becomes friends/lovers with Shug Avery her life begins to rapidly change for the better. The book goes into great detail about the love affair compared to the film which just briefly touches on the subject. Even though any form of affair is wrong especially when both parties involved are married , this one can be understood a bit more as it's Shug's way of showing Celie that having sex can be wonderful, that there are other people besides her younger sister Nettie that love her and that she thinks Celie is beautiful.

Walker Alice, The Colour Purple, The Women's Press/Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1983, United States of America/Great Britain.

Pg. 44

She look me over from head to foot. Then she cackle. Sound like a death rattle. You sure is ugly, she say, like she ain't believed it.

Shug was initially horrible to Celie for no apparent reason nevertheless as Celie continues to tell her story we find out it is because she is jealous of the intricate detail that Celie is married to Albert. This soon changes when she finds out that Albert has many faces and has only been showing her what he wants her to see, which is that he is a loving man.

Pg. 103

Nobody ever love me I say.

She say, I love you Miss Celie. And then she haul off and kiss me on the mouth.

Um, she say, like she surprise I kiss her back, say, um, too.

Us kiss and kiss till us can't hardly kiss no more. Then us touch each other.

This shows that their realisation of their love for one another was gradual not immediate. Celie sees herself as someone that no-one will ever love and that the one love she had her sister Nettie is either dead or is just not trying to contact her anymore. She is furthermore constantly used due to the treatment her step-father and her husband Albert subject her too. To them she is more like a servant/sexual object than a person with thoughts/feelings and a voice.