“There’s a view there, but I’m not too sure how good it will be.” View? I was all about the view. That was the reward for a difficult hike. That was the explanation I gave to my mother who could not understand “why anyone would want to walk up a mountain”… Read full post »

When I was packing up to move out of my now ex-fiance’s condo, I went through all of my stuff and got rid of everything I didn’t love. I could probably still eliminate half of what I did keep, but I figured that since I had to get a storage unit… Read full post »

When I was on summer break from college one year, I went to visit my friend Melissa on her family’s farm. It was more like a house in the country than an actual farm, acres of land with a big garden and some chickens and goats. They were celebrating her brother’s… Read full post »

Over five million Americans are estimated to be living with chronic viral hepatitis. Up to 1.4 million have hepatitis B and over 3 million are infected with hepatitis C. With the observance of World Hepatitis Awareness Day on May 19, I’m reminded of my own screening experience six months ago.

I… Read full post »

“Lenin, Partiya, Komsomol!”

It was so unlike me to be yelling in public – and somewhat disrespectfully at that - particularly in a crowded public place. In 1989, I was a quiet, polite, rule-abiding straight-A student doing a semester abroad in Moscow, Russia. At least I had been,… Read full post »

On our second and main day of shooting, it started raining as soon as we reached Simi Valley. I had checked the forecast ahead of time, so I was prepared. Michael wasn’t. Granted, we live in sunny Los Angeles where rain is practically unheard of, but the chance… Read full post »

 “There’s no one I ever gave a can of spray paint to who didn’t become addicted.”

 I try to imagine myself with a can of spray paint, decorating a blank wall with my signature, with the most creative expression to identify myself that I can think up.… Read full post »

My friend Karin and I always think up a catch phrase for the new year. When we both found ourselves recovering from holiday breakups (mine – December 27, hers – January 1), 2008 became ‘two thousand great.’ I attacked the new year with a positive attitude bordering on vengeanc… Read full post »

“Imagine a world in which everyone has an electric smart car. As drivers are about to leave work, their cars ask them whether they will be making any ancillary stops or going straight home. Based on that answer, the cars will decide whether powering up is necessary, and if so, where… Read full post »

Before I married my ex-husband, I had a lot of doubts about whether I should stay with him. My friend Bert offered a litmus test. “Do you have a great time together? Do you have more fun with him than with anyone else?” I paused. “It’s not that hard, Mar!” she… Read full post »

A common film myth is that early moviegoers were terrified by the approach of a train in the 1895 Lumière film L'Arrivé d'un Train, confusing the images for reality. I had a similar experience recently, and while I didn’t duck under my seat (and I doubt any of those original audie… Read full post »

I believe that the feelings we have inside us can be misleading. Sometimes it is the most uncomfortable feeling we have that can be the true answer.  

I met my last boyfriend through an Internet dating site. We had an amazing connection over email and talked for five hours our first… Read full post »

The film opens with a potted plant sitting on a sill overlooking a calm blue sea spread out like a movie screen in front of its lone spectator.  We sense the light breeze, practically feel the mellow sunshine.  It could be paradise if it wasn't marred by a slight nagging pity/… Read full post »

At a Writer’s Guild panel discussion of screenwriters nominated for this year’s WGA Awards, Dustin Lance Black told about working with Sean Penn on Milk. “He’d call for more research. I’d give his assistant binders, transcripts, huge piles of stuff, and the next morning… Read full post »

I’m a monkey. According to Chinese astrology, this year of the ox is supposed to be a very good one for me financially. Given the lousy state of the economy in America and worldwide, I find it hard to believe that everyone born in 1968, approximately 72,898,000 of us, will have… Read full post »

tolerate (L tolerare, to bear):  1 to allow  2 to respect (others’ beliefs, practices, etc.) without sharing them  3 to bear (someone or something disliked); put up with 

On one of my early visits to LA, before I moved here, I met a bitter, disillusioned television editor, a little older than I was, who said he was from Pennsylvania. I’m not sure what tipped me off (maybe the mullet, maybe the 80s-style glasses), but I just knew he was… Read full post »