Basically every coffee company now has a subscription available. Some companies provide more than just coffee, supporting communities and sustainability. Here are some great coffee roasters to choose from, whether for yourself or as a gift: Counter Culture Fast Forward and Big Trouble are favorites, as well as various single origins. My recent favorite single origin was from Peru. They… Read more →
A View From the 20s: Bend It Like Beckham
Bend It Like Beckham was a movie about women playing soccer before players like Megan Rapinoe brought it to the world’s attention for unequal pay. The film also has an intersectional look at feminism, with the main struggle being that of Jess, an Indian girl who loves soccer, but also has the cultural expectations of her family to deal with.… Read more →
A View From the 20s: Underworld
When Underworld came out in 2003, it seemed like a feminist film. The reason was that the main character, Selene, played by Kate Beckinsale, fights a lot with big guns and kills the bad guys. Looking at a film today, however, that isn’t enough to make the film feminist. In many ways, the film could be seen as anti-feminist. … Read more →
A View From the 20s: The Mummy
The Mummy, which was released in 1999, was one of the first of the modern action films to feature an active female lead. In general, the main female character, Evelyn Carnahan, is treated as an equal person. She isn’t “othered” as the woman. This doesn’t make The Mummy a completely feminist film, however. For one thing, Evelyn is basically… Read more →
Avengers Analysis – The Feminist Evolution from ‘Iron Man’ to ‘Avengers: Endgame’: Doctor Strange & Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
Doctor Strange Sophistication of Story: Doctor Strange is an old story-telling trope put into the Marvel Universe. A man goes to the Far East in search of mystical powers. Contribution to the Overall Avengers Storyline: It introduces the Time Stone, which we will later learn is one of the most significant stones, as well as the idea of wizards on… Read more →
Claudia Yarmy Talks Amenadiel, the End of ‘Lucifer’ & Her Approach To Directing
Claudia Yarmy has directed some of your favorite episodes of Lucifer, including an important Deckerstar moment. She recently took some time to talk about her approach to directing an episode, whether she has any more episodes coming up, and how she feels about the series. Music In the Dark: How do you approach the look of a Lucifer episode… Read more →
Behind the Scenes: Eric Cayla Talks About His Time as DP on ‘Shadowhunters’ & the Challenges of Season One
I had the opportunity to talk to Eric Cayla, the Director of Photography (DP) on season one of Shadowhunters. His other work includes Haven, Bomb Girls, and Bellevue. Music In the Dark: How did you get involved with Shadowhunters? Eric Cayla: I got involved after shooting a series called Haven. I was strongly recommended by the producers to the… Read more →
Norman Buckley Talks Directing ‘Pretty Little Liars’ 10 Years After the Show Premiered
I recently spoke with Norman Buckley, the director of 23 episodes of Pretty Little Liars, on his experiences directing the show, which premiered 10 years ago. His other work includes episodes of Once Upon a Time, Jane the Virgin, Gossip Girl, Chuck, and The OC. Music In the Dark: How did you approach the look of a Pretty Little… Read more →
A Conversation With ‘High Rise’ Director of Photography
(Republished from 2015) I talked to High-Rise Director of Photography Laurie Rose about his experience working on the film shortly after they wrapped. Music In the Dark: What is a ‘day in the life’ like for a director of photography? I think many people aren’t very clear about what cinematography entails, especially as definitions can vary between the… Read more →
Best Podcasts to Accompany Your Binge Watch
A few weeks into quarantine and you may need someone to talk to about the shows you’ve been binge-watching. If you don’t know someone watching the same show, there are podcasts that can serve that purpose. Here are some of the best podcasts to accompany shows. All are fan-led podcasts other than the official ones. 12 Monkeys Talking… Read more →