#My Magazine Sharing Network

[ryanguzmansource]

September 27, 2024

Ryan Guzman is currently filming his next thriller: Midnight and, in his talk with Xmag, he takes a tour of his professional career. Despite his current international projection as an actor, Ryan Guzman did not plan to dedicate himself to acting at first. The American actor and model began to get interested in mixed martial arts when he was only seven years old and, after winning his first black belt when he was ten, he was a mixed martial arts fighter in Sacramento until 2010. A shoulder injury prevented him from continuing with his dream and he redirected his career working as a model in various magazines and brands such as Abercrombie & Fitch, Affliction and Reebok. Everything completely changed when he got his first starring role in Step Up: Revolution. “It changed the direction of my life. It was as if I was launching myself into a world that I had only seen in the distance.” The dance franchise was an international success and Ryan tells us about the process he followed for the films, which, according to him, has always been the same over the years. “I try hard at something new without fear of failure. I do it this way because I know that I can fail at the beginning of anything I try. The goal is to learn from my failures and be open to new ideas when it comes to acquiring and perfecting a skill.”

His career as an actor continued in 2015 with the psychological thriller The Boy Next Door, which as Ryan explains, gave him "an invaluable perspective on the business side of the entertainment industry.” In the film, he shared the limelight with Jennifer Lopez and Ryan tells us about his experience working on the film and what it was like working with her. "Jennifer's life is something that most people won't be able to comprehend because it involves A LOT. She's a superstar. He has a million things going on at the same time. I had a great time collaborating with her and the director, Rob. They both made me feel very comfortable. It was so much fun playing the bad boy!” From a psychological drama about a woman who falls in love with her younger neighbor, Ryan jumped to play Eddie Diaz in the police drama series 9-1-1, which tells the story of a Los Angeles rescue group willing to attend to any emergency. The series underwent a big change after its transition from the FOX network to ABC and Ryan explains how that has affected his character. "Eddie's character has evolved a lot since his introduction into the 9-1-1 universe. As in any great evolution, destruction must occur in order to rebuild something new. The transition from FOX to ABC came at a perfect time for my character and I was able to represent that evolution through destruction just before another defining event in Eddie's life. Season eight is about Eddie making peace with his demons and finding self-love.” Being a series that deals with extreme and challenging situations, Ryan describes how he prepared physically and psychologically for those moments. "Empathy is the key. I draw from what I've experienced and my understanding of it; then I use the truth of those encounters to connect with the character. As for my physical fitness, I keep practicing martial arts." Recently, one of his latest projects has been the fictional comedy The Present, starring Isla Fisher and Greg Kinnear. Ryan explains that the possibility of working with these two actors was one of the reasons I chose this film. “The moment I saw that Isla Fisher and Greg Kinnear were involved in the film, I joined the project. These are two actors I've always wanted to collaborate with. Working with Isla was a dream, she gave me a lot of love and knowledge and Greg is someone who I have always enjoyed watching perform. Also, the theme resonated deeply with me, as I was going through a divorce at the time, which made the story especially relatable.”

Right now, the American actor is involved in the filming of the thriller Midnight. "I received the script from writer Lamont Magee and when he asked me if I would be interested in one of the roles opposite Rosario Dawson, he didn't have to say much more to capture my interest. 'Midnight' was an opportunity to show action in a way that I haven't been able to do as much as I would like as an actor.” According to Ryan, the thriller promises to be an intriguing story and one that will surprise the spectators. "I think seeing Rosario Dawson come face to face with Mila Jovovich is intriguing enough, but then you add the layers of her sister's character, played by Alexandra Shipp and the truth is that the audience is about to discover a lot of twists and surprises.” As immersed as he is in his work, Ryan ends the interview by expressing how grateful he feels to have a community of fans and followers who have always been supporting him. “I cannot fully express the depth of my gratitude to those who have found my work entertaining and have continued to support my career over the years. THANK YOU!”

[technofeudalism]

i made a long post about how traditional media coalescing around Trump is scarier than social media for me and i included some news/media sources i recommend at the bottom. here they are (plus some additions) in a shorter post so that it is easier to share.

the objective is to build a network of local, national and global sources that you can count on. preferably completely independent and free from editorial or corporate oversight.

note: all media is flawed, including the ones below. never rely on one source. do not immediately accept something as the truth from any single source. everyone is capable of accidentally getting a detail wrong, or even deliberately misleading. the fact is that even reading something as inflammatory as Fox News can give you information you wouldn't be able to get anywhere else, the key is not to take any of it at face value.

Dropsite News - ran by Ryan Grim, Jeremy Scahill

The Intercept - sadly running out of money, alleged CIA ties

Democracy Now! - more center-left, better domestically

Jacobin - wide variety, sometimes shitty takes, Alex Press is great

The Grayzone - this one is controversial (mainly just to liberals) and they make no qualms about being committed to reporting from an anti-imperialist view of the world

Black Agenda Report - perspective from Black leftists. founded by Glen Ford (RIP), a Black Panther and accomplished investigative journalist

Hasan Piker - hate him, love him, neutral, doesn't matter. he's the largest independent political commentator on the left (by far), covering news and misinformation 9 hours a day. you can think he has shit takes, but he's still a reliable source and has been insanely accurate with his opinions

The Majority Report - been around forever, Sam Seder & Emma Vigeland are amazing, once home to the incredible Michael Jamal Brooks (RIP)

International Viewpoint - monthly English-language magazine of the Fourth International

Left Voice - socialist news site and magazine

It's Going Down - news, opinion, podcasts and reporting from an anarchist viewpoint

Sludge - investigative journalism on lobbying and money in politics

Socialist Alternative - democratic socialist news organization.

Socialist Project - Toronto-based organisation that supports the rebuilding of the socialist Left in Canada

The Progressive - leftist magazine operating since 1909

Truthdig - independent source for original reporting from a progressive viewpoint

Workers World - marxist news organization run by Workers World Party

Breakthrough News - untold stories of resistance from poor and working-class communities

Labor Notes - media and organizing project amplifying union activism

Ben Norton @ Global Political Economy

Erin Reed

Caitlin Johnstone (AUS)

do not rely on "media bias" sources like Ground News. they are part of the problem with making false equivalencies between left and right. this insightful blog post published a few days ago proves my point: "The data collected here shows that left-leaning stories tend to have far better sourcing than right-leaning ones, and are less politically polarized. The process for selecting, grouping, and summarizing these stories does not seem to take these differences into account, and there is little transparency into how that process works. This leads the platform to publish dodgy stories from the right, with the appearance that they are just as valid as high-fact reporting from the left or the center."

[aerinmoriarty]

So, a couple hours ago, a fairly well known Gaylor creator on TikTok, SidneyBG, posted a screenshot of NFL on CBS, the official IG account of NFL games broadcast on that network, which depicted Travis Kelce at prom with a man. I assume it was quickly deleted as it’s no longer present insofar as I can see, but a few people mentioned seeing it and Sidney is usually pretty reputable.

(I want to make it clear that the NFL THEMSELVES do not run that account; the network prob has an intern or something who does, but there are likely agreements and stuff on how they’re allowed to represent the NFL and I do wonder if the Gaylor Intern at CBS may have Tross’d too close to the Sun and it was promptly removed when noticed. They usually get a decent number of likes, so Sidney’s screenshot only having 741 likes likely means he saw it soon after posting)

The photo is authentic, and is a crop of one from Travis’ own IG that was also shared by People Magazine in 2023, that originally depicted him with 2 men.

Now obviously… people get photographed with their friends at Prom. People go to their Prom with friends. But it is interesting that this is the only photo from his Prom we have seen, and not one with his Mom or Jason or a GF/female friends.

This is not any level of smoking gun.

But it is a bullet that showed up near the crime scene, so it should be bagged up and documented for further investigation.

The timing on all of this is certainly interesting, esp in light of everything going on with Travis calling Backgrid on himself while he’s topless and the very next day a Blind Item about his roommate liking his hairy back came out…

This is *also* amidst the recent claims that “Travis said ‘we’ when talking about his living situation so he must be living with Taylor,” which with a little digging, it’s easy to find reports that he’s actually living with Ross Travis and a childhood friend who is his personal chef as he tries to get in shape for the upcoming season.

And *also* also amidst all the furor of interest around the AMAs and a lot of people thinking they’re getting Rep.

I have said many times that the best way for Taylor to come out and to not leave her hetero fans feeling deceived, is to increasingly point more and more at the holes in her own story in ways that encourage fans to critically think about the circumstances.

Audiences don’t like being deceived, but if they figure it out on their own and THEN are told about it, they’re more likely to accept the concept because they feel validated in “figuring out the trick.”

Over the past few months, that has seemingly happened. Taylor ghosting the end of Super Bowl while Travis and Ross both wear gold roses. Conflicting reports on where she’s at. Bringing attention to who Travis has been living with (and the fact that this is a living situation that seems to both predate Taylor and also be in place the entirety of their relationship).

Now (possibly) this prom photo?

Interesting things are afoot at the Circle K my Friends.

[endiness]

With a successful pilot, a television producer could employ actors, directors, writers, and crew for as many as thirty-four episodes over a single season. After a string of successful seasons, the producer could sell the show in foreign territories, screen it in other formats (DVDs, video on demand, airplanes), and eventually syndicate it for reruns. All these sales produced residual payments: shares of the profits for the writers, actors, and directors who worked on the show. Residuals had been a fixture of Hollywood since the collapse of the studio system in the 1950s, providing job security for tens of thousands of professional artists. But streamers, which by 2014 included Hulu and Amazon, saw residuals in a new light. They had no intention of rebroadcasting their shows on linear television networks, in foreign territories, or on planes. [...] “The philosophy of the guilds was always, ‘If you reuse our material, and you make money off the reuse of our material, then we should be compensated for that,’” a former Writers Guild of America officer told me. The officer recalled a 2014 conversation he had had with a studio executive about streaming. “His response was, ‘I don’t pay my plumber every time I flush my toilet.’” [...] While A-list showrunners like Shonda Rhimes and Ryan Murphy signed nine-figure streaming production deals, everyone else saw their salaries shrink. Writers who were paid per episode noticed that Netflix’s varying season lengths really meant shorter seasons and smaller paychecks overall. Without residuals, small jobs that used to generate reliable income for years became worthless. Some actors learned they were making thirty times less than they would have on a network show. Five years before the WGA and SAG’s historic overlapping strike, which in part sought to redress the streamers’ elimination of back-end payments, LaPorte concluded what it would take major newspapers and magazines years to report: streaming had brought about “the death of Hollywood’s middle class.” […] Despite harvesting large troves of data on users’ viewing habits, Netflix for years refused to release any of it — not even to the producers, directors, and stars of its supposed “hit” movies and shows. Keeping talent in the dark proved to be a useful negotiating tactic when the streamer renewed a television show or green-lit a movie sequel. (via nplusonemag)

just in case anyone needs a reminder of why shorter tv seasons exist

[mossybee-exe]

Solaprunk Worldbuilding 1 - Eco-Cities

I've been working on worldbuilding a solarpunk setting for a slice of life story I'm writing and thought I'd share some of my ideas to maybe inspire other people!

In this world there is no government, no rules, no pressures or bad people. Just society working together after a global crash. A second chance to do things right this time.

(Mind the spelling mistakes)

Although far and few in between, big cities and towns still exist in this universe. However, they've all worked hard to keep it as eco-friendly as possible and still choose to live alongside and work with nature rather than fight it.

Trash and recyclingcans can now be found almost everywhere, giving no one an excuse to litter. Community composters are also a thing.

Skyscrapers, now skeletons of the old world, are draped in thick ivy vine walls, native flowering vines, moss panels, and vertical hydroponics that wrap around the metal and glass bones. These help regulate temperature, absorb CO2, and create habitats fors birds and insects.

Former office buildings and shopping centers like malls have been repurposed into shared living spaces, community markets, workshops, and event areas. Floors have open walls and breeze tunnels to reduce reliance on cooling systems. Those can be shut during colder months.

In taller districts, tree houses extend from reclaimed buildings, blending organically with planted rooftop forests. Rope bridges and wind-activated elevators made if recycled parts help people travel between vertical spaces.

Cities are completely walkable and don't require transportation. Streets are narrow and shaded with plant canopies. Most paved areas are soft permeable cobblestone or moss-tile paths that allow rain to soak through instead of pooling or flooding.

Painted murals double as maps - bold, hand-painted designs show landmarks, walking trails, tram routes, and local art projects. Updated regularly by volunteers.

Giant sculpted trees or mushrooms function ad rainwater collectors, solar lanterns, or even mist sprayers during hot days. Children often climb on them or gather nearby to play. They can also provide shade.

Metal "bike trees" hold dozens if free-to-use bikes, all maintained by volunteers. Bikes come in all colors and sizes, some decorated with flowers or art to reflect the community's personality.

Solar Trams glide quietly on narrow tracks. They're sleek but not flashy, designed with recycled metals and glass. Inside, seats are made from reclaimed wood, each with a small solar lamp or charging port. Solar Buses work in a similar fashion.

Public Plazas now have eco-escalators that are powered by pedaling like on a bike.

Interactive screens at intersections and stops show local events, weather and climate, community votes or messages, and tutorial videos on composting, repair, herbal medicine, or art-making. Digital marketing and advertisements are no more.

Most people carry small, solar-powered devices that have replaced phones called "Data Stones" - slate-like digital notebooks that sync to the city's mesh network. People use them for Journaling, mapping, music, or community messaging, but never for mindless scrolling. Digital use is intentional, not addictive.

The internet exists, but it's localized. Instead of one global net, each town or city has a mesh intranet. Communities upload and share stories, tech guides, magazines, songs, and documentaries- all accessible for free.

At every city node is a "Commons Booth"-a repurposed phone booth now used for small trades, gifts, or lost-and-found. You might find a hand-knit hat, seeds, poems in a bottle, hand-bound journals, or a small bag if dried herbs for tea.

Public parks host weekly workshops: mushroom log inoculation, fixing Guardianers, upcycling old tech, dyeing fabrics with natural materials, and crafting musical instruments from trash.

Fireflies are protected and welcomed into urban life with dedicated "nightlight gardens"- small glowing sanctuaries that bloom under moonlight (usually a mix of regular and bioluminescent plants). People sit quietly here, reading or singing. Festivals are celebrated not with fireworks, but light dances, candlelit parades, or bioluminescent art. It's also a romantic place for a date.

Children and adults alike use "Learning Loops"- open-air circles of benches and tree stumps near gardens and community spaces where mentors teach based on skills, not age. There's no formal school system. Learning is woven into life.

On a certain day each month, citizens volunteer to teach something for free-sailing knots, solar repair, compost chemistry, storytelling, mediation, bird language. The city slows down that day. It's treated like a holiday.

In addition to tire-posted Little Libraries (where people can take a book and leave one in it's place), entire alleys have been converted into "Book Gardens"- free libraries under pergolas or vines, surrounded by reading hammocks and native wildflowers.

Local businesses and shops are still a thing, but are not kept up by money. Money has no use in this world anymore. Businesses upkeep it themselves and will happily trade their wares for something in return. For example, a bakery can trade a cake for something in return like a jar of jam or something else. It's like that everywhere.

Citizens enjoy solar-charged cooking stoves, clean water from centralized purification systems, access to upcycled tech, 3D-printed tools, and digital artist hubs.

Markets overflow with herbs, handmade instruments, mushroom leathers, fermented goods, and hand-bound books from across the region. Some city dwellers specialize in creating high-tech eco-dafe goods to trade with the countryside.

Most people live in co-housing clusters or share entire floors of old skyscrapers converted into lush indoor gardens and social spaces. They might not know everyone, but each block has caretakers and community gatherings.

They're alive with creativity and innovation. Mural projects, street musicians using windows instruments powered by movement, and holographic poetry displays powered by pedals or solar generators.

With more people comes more variety in skills. It's common to find classes in herbalism, robotics, or solar carpentry happening daily in public courtyards.

The ideas are free to use for whatever you want or use for inspiration! All I ask is that you CREDIT ME! And feel free to send me an ask on more details to this lovely world :)

[librarycards]

do you have any tips on becoming a better editor? i've always wanted to work at a literary journal / start my own but i feel like im not quite there in terms of how to objectively read my own work and others—it doesn't help that i'm quite a picky reader

i can try! first and foremost, read this ask i answered about starting a journal.

generally, here's what i suggest doing before you're ready to start a journal:

write, work on your craft. share with friends. submit. get rejected, get accepted, revise, keep submitting. get familiar with the process, how acceptance/rejection/revision/collaboration feel. think about what you like and dislike in an editor, and why.

this can happen at the same time as bullet 1. join a reading team for a lit mag you like. sometimes, you'll find some that are actively seeking readers. chillsubs, a lit mag newsletter, puts out a specific newsletter with links to open reader positions. for small magazines with only a few staff, try emailing their contact email and asking if they're looking for readers.

in the meantime, while looking for reader positions, try reading entire lit mags that you like. including the pieces you're not a fan of! consider the mission of the mag. the themes. the other pieces. can you figure out why a given piece was published based on those other observations?

let's say you get a reader position. you're going to read a lot of absolute steaming garbage. like, how could anyone submit that and not die of shame level bad. you'll build up a tolerance to it. you'll learn to give 'gentle' feedback, and, if your editors are generous, potentially get the chance to write some.

after a decent amount of time reading, and hopefully also writing/submitting/publishing, you have a few options. you can look to a position at an existing mag, and/or you can try to start one of your own. (keep in mind that neither of these things are required - the majority of people in the lit community don't edit or start mags, and that's fine!).

i recommend joining an existing editorial team as a genre editor first, to get a sense of what it's like to be more in charge of a set of submissions, feedback, and possibly other readers. having an EIC and managing editor as backup can be a huge help, and also provide a great mentorship opportunity.

if you have a strong community actively interested in your magazine idea, you can try your hand at starting a mag. i don't recommend doing this until you've been in a community for several years, have a group of writers you can solicit for early-issue submissions, and have a solid social media presence with reach. independent magazines are hard to sustain, especially in this age of oversaturation. it's not impossible - my mag, manywor(l)ds, is going strong after almost 2 years - but it does require a lot of support from readers, writers, artists, and lit friends who will promote you.

tl;dr. practice writing and reading, and BUILD A NETWORK. join a reading team and test the waters, and when you feel really comfortable in that position, consider moving to something editorial. your tastes and tolerances will expand as you grow, but these things take time. i started submitting in 2016, editing in 2020, and my own mag in 2023. i'm really glad it took that long, and i learned so many crucial lessons along the way.

[tales-from-nocturnaliss]

Just read an utterly demotivating thread about how to make money off your writing and just... all the avenues mentioned? Like magazines and local conventions and shit?

Great. Sure is great when you're not autistic and executively dysfunctional/exhausted by life and already struggling every day to have the energy to get up from bed.

Now imagine the utter agony of adding on top the for-you inhuman effort of scouring for opportunities that may not exist since you live in a tiny country and the world is getting less and less international and when you even but succeed at submitting anything anywhere, then you're most likely to get rejection?

Do you even understand that ONE rejection to my brain is an end of the world? That it is destruction? I mean I ran into that one thread and felt myself breaking apart at the prospect of being, in essence, screwed out of a future.

Didn't even mention that you'd likely have to tailor your writing to the place you're submitting to. Sorry I write from a place of personal joy that is my own world. That's where my inspiration lies.

Don't even get me started on networking. I. Like people. Lack the energy to reach out to people.

Now, all that said: my biggest personal hurdle is still that I don't share anything, or much of anything, because some part of my brain just plain refuses. It's that "nobody will care" safety. It hurts less when I don't share and nobody cares. Can't care about what you don't know exists. And I simply don't have the energy to go out there and mingle. I also don't like mingling for the sake of returns. Though I've been so unselfish my whole life (this is not a flex btw, I hate that I put myself last, it's proven itself bad for my health over and over) that I could use a 180, but nature is nature.

I had more to say but today is the wrong day for a long post, no time left and I'm one stressor away from breaking down crying. WHOOP THERE'S THE STRESSOR, thanks husband

[badlymadedndsideblog]

The ultimate mix and match qucik bread recipe:

if something is beautiful it should be shared and cherished, and this banana bread recipe is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. It’s a formula for making quick breads/muffins from a Food Network Magazine from like 2012 and it works miracles. It’s so flexible and delicious. Also ignore the part where it says to only use 1 fruit or vegetable type, I’ve mixed and matched to get to 1 cup. My all time favorite is banana zucchini bread. And it’s scalable!! I love using it to use up produce thats about to go bad. Its a very flexible and adaptible recipe/ recipe framework. Recipe in text form:

Choose a Flavor: Prepare one cup of fruit or vegetable (1 kind) such as pear(shredded and squezzed dry), apple(shredded and squezzed dry), banana(mashed), carrot(shredded), or zucchini(shredded and squezzed dry) *Note from me: I have used mixtures of multiple of these fruits/veggies adding up to one cup like a mix of zucchini and banana with great results. I have also had sucess using 1/4 cup cut up dried fruit (such as raisins) mixed with 3/4 cup warmed up applesauce*

Pick Your Mix-Ins: Choose up to 1 3/4 cups total of the following ingredients (use no more than 3/4 cup nuts). Toast and chop any nuts; chop any large dried fruit: walnuts, pecans, almonds, hazelnuts, pistachios, dried cherries, dried cranberries, dried currants, raisins, dried figs, dried apricots, pitted dried dates, rolled oats, chocolate chips, shredded coconut. *Note from me: I never add oats, but if you do add a lot of them you may have to decrease the amount of flour you use slightly*

Prepare the Pan: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly butter one 9-by-5-inch loaf pan or three 6-by-3-inch mini pans. *Note from me: you can also use muffin or mini muffin tins*

Make the Batter: Mix 1 1/4 cups flour, 3/4 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon each baking powder and salt, and 1/2 teaspoon each baking soda, cinnamon and nutmeg in a large bowl; add your dry mix-ins (from step 2). In a medium bowl, whisk 2 eggs, 1/2 cup cooled melted butter or vegetable oil, 1/2 cup plain yogurt or sour cream, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and 1 teaspoon citrus zest (optional). Stir your fruit or vegetables (from step 1) into the egg mixture, then fold into the dry mixture until just combined. *Note from me: you can use any mix of white & brown sugar, and you can use AP flour or a mix of AP and whole wheat flour, also playing around with differnt seasonings and flavorings is fun*

Bake the Loaf: Spread the batter in the prepared pan/pans. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 55 minutes for a standard loaf, 35 to 40 minutes for mini loaves. Cool 30 minutes in the pan(s) on a rack, then turn out onto the rack to cool completely. *Note from me: check at like 15-20 minutes for muffins*

Make a Glaze: Prepare a glaze, pour on the cooled bread and let set, 15 to 20 minutes. Chocolate: Whisk 1 cup confectioners' sugar, 2 tablespoons cocoa powder, 2 tablespoons milk, 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract and a pinch of salt. Vanilla Bean: Whisk 1 cup confectioners' sugar, 1 tablespoon milk and the seeds from 1 vanilla bean. Brown Butter: Brown 3 tablespoons butter over low heat; cool slightly. Whisk with 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar and 1 tablespoon milk. Use immediately. Citrus: Whisk 1 cup confectioners' sugar, 1 tablespoon each milk and citrus juice, and 1 teaspoon citrus zest. Cream Cheese: Whisk 1 cup confectioners' sugar, 3 tablespoons softened cream cheese, 2 tablespoons milk and 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract.

Happy baking and enjoy!!!

[ivanttakethis]

Introducing Vant (sona) for Alien Stage Season 10! @alnst-sona-season

Guardian: Vanitas

Personality: Introverted, creative, anxious, good sense of humor, and an overthinker

Notable Attributes

———

Vant has canine teeth that are sharper than the average pet human

Her pupils are naturally dilated, making her more sensitive to bright lights, but also make her eyes appear more “cute” and “doe like”

She has a keen sense of hearing, even for vibrations

Her neutral resting face tends to discourage strangers from approaching her

She wears glasses or contact lenses to correct her poor vision

Weak immune system, chronically ill, prone to getting sick

Her brand is on her inner left forearm (the same place as Ivan’s).

(More on Vant’s background below!!)

Background

Early records of Vant’s existence prior to her adoption are scarce, but it is believed she is the product of an illegal pet human factory. As a result, her exact age isn’t known.

Based on average human development, she is estimated to be in her early 20s.

She doesn’t remember anything about her life before being adopted.

When Vant was a baby, segyein used to ask Guardian Vanitas all the time if Vant was a real human or just a doll.

Guardian Vanitas found Vant as a lone stray in the slums, frail and somewhat sickly, and took her in.

She made a list of names for Vant using the letters of her name and allowed Vant to pick her own name from the list.

Other possible names were Navi, Sai, Tia, and Vana.

Giving Vant part of her own name was a show of vanity for Vanitas.

Guardian Vanitas has big plans for Vant.

She wants to create a legacy. It’s an obsession of hers.

Vant is her diamond in the rough. She even calls her “My Diamond” as a nickname.

Guardian Vanitas comes from a long line of wealthy and famous segyein who made names for themselves in the music industry.

One of their ancestors’ pet-humans even competed in the first season of Alien Stage, though they didn’t win.

Vanitas wants Vant to win for bragging rights, and to establish their own legacy as having succeeded where those before her failed.

Vant has appeared in magazines before, though nowhere near as prominent as some of her peers.

She’s camera shy when it comes to paparazzi, but when they do manage to snag a photo of her out in public, Vant is always wearing her mask. Partially because she gets sick easily, but it also affords her some anonymity.

Though she despises “networking”, Guardian Vanitas is constantly forcing her to meet new people who could avail her to greater opportunities.

Vant wants to make a legacy for herself that differs from what Vanitas wants.

She wants to get out of her guardian’s shadow, but it’s hard to do when you’re named after them and raised to be their prized possession. It often makes her anxious.

She spends a lot of time in music studios and has taken a shine to music production.

Vant has even worked with some of her former classmates on songs for them.

Beyond that, Vant is a very private person. Much of her life is a mystery to the public.

She’s not the type to share if you don’t ask her directly.

Vant does not want to compete in Alien Stage, but she has no choice.

[eisforeidolon]

"Oh you guys just don't understand Misha's humor!" [X]

No, actually, we do very much understand Misha's "humor". We've heard him intermittently talking shit about Jared, about Jensen, about the writers, about SPN, about the CW, about magazines that don't feature him as equal to the leads, yadda yadda yadda. Where it has very often been framed as "a joke" to give what he's saying a thin veneer of deniability. If anybody that matters notices and calls him on it? Well, it's just so very easy to brush it off with, "Haha, can't you guys take a joke?!" or "Sorry you didn't get my humor :(" or "Oh no, who could have guessed the fans would take me seriously?!"

Except his "jokes" bleed the exact same jealous bitterness that whining about not getting a trailer the size of the ones J2 had (when he was working a fraction of the time they were) did. Along with the same entitlement as being astonished he'd still have to audition for roles after having one recurring support role as a non-human on SPN did. As well as the same ungratefulness shit-talking the show and the network when they kept him continuously employed for an unreal span of time considering his quote unquote talents did and does.

Which does not even get into how there is a very clear motive consistently behind said "jokes" of pandering to the various conspiracy narratives of the only people still credulously buying into his bullshit. Who share a belief he (and they) are victims for not actually being entitled to things just because they want them.

Which is an absolute joke, but not in the sense his stans mean.

[buffyfan145]

Don't know how I didn't know this till today but A24 and "The Iron Claw" director Sean Durkin made a Zine that features so much about the real family and how they made the movie but also they have posters in each one of Zac, Harris, and Jeremy done in the style of posters that Kevin, David, and Kerry actually did for WCCW!!! 😀 They look so cool and similar to the ones my Dad saved as he's got a whole bunch of those old wrestling magazines he saved from back then. Sharing a few Tweets of the posters.

Also wanted to let those who watched the movie there's also an episode of "Dark Side of the Ring" that was all about the Von Erich's and it was first time Kevin opened up about it. I finally was able to watch and it went into so much detail and things that were left out or slightly changed in the movie. Also I've seen Kevin's sons Marshall and Ross wrestling lately on AEW/ROH but in this doc they were getting their start and realized how much his sons resemble his brothers, especially Marshall with David and Ross with Kerry (more so Ross clean shaven as he's got a beard lately). Which again I'm hoping AEW signs them soon and since they'll be back in Texas next month.

Also curious if Zac, Harris, Jeremy, and Stanley are going to show up on AEW too instead of WWE as I saw A24 signed a new deal with WBD so their movies will go to Max/HBO for streaming/TV and they own the networks AEW airs on and MJF played Lance (as did a few other AEW wrestlers as others in a few scenes too). So if they show up on a wrestling show it'd be there especially if they sign Marshall and Ross. 😏

[erikwiese]

I Directed the new Peanuts Musical! Coming July 18!

So thrilled to finally share this! I directed the brand-new Peanuts musical special coming to Apple TV+ on July 18, 2025! The announcement came out through all major media outlets. Especially stoked to see it in The Hollywood Reporter, Animation Magazine, and Animation World Network. 

This is the first Peanuts musical in 35 years—and my directorial debut in the Peanuts universe. Truly a dream come true.

We had the amazing Ben Folds writing songs (yes, really!), with additional music by Alan Zachary & Michael Weiner, and a gorgeous score by Jeff Morrow. The script is by Craig and Bryan Schulz, and their longtime collaborator Cornelius Uliano—all of them brought so much heart to this.

Huge love to the entire team at WildBrain—what we’ve made is a celebration of everything people love about Peanuts, with a fresh new musical twist. I can’t wait for you all to see it. 

More to come—but mark your calendars for July 18!

#Peanuts #Snoopy #PeanutsSpecial #PeanutsMusical #Musical #AppleTVPlus #ErikWiese #BenFolds #AlanZachary #MichaelWeiner #BroadwayMusical  #AnimationDirector #MusicalSpecial #PeanutsGang #WildBrain #2Danimation #AnimationNews #CharlesSchulz #PeanutsForever #HollywoodReporter #AnimationMagazine #AnimationWorldNetwork

[thollandneedy]

Diamonds are forever- Nathan Drake

A/n: Literally the cutest. I'll try to write more cause my college vacations are on, baby!

Warnings: None actually

Summary: Nathan meets a rich model, and try to get her giving her presents. But, sometimes, we just need love.

Don’t forget to share, like, comment and leave your ideas here

Bellah’s Masterlist 🪻

Y/n L/n could be considered a patrician, and had many eyes in the media because of her beauty and how her luxuries were supported by her modeling career. Like many men wanting to have her, Nathan was no different.

The two had met at a betting party for famous paintings in Barcelona, where they had exchanged only a few words. Nathan could be considered a private guy on his social networks, not letting the girl know much about him, but what she did know was that he was rich. If he wasn't, what would he be doing at an auction?

What intrigued her most was that his manner was different from the other men she went out with. They squandered their wealth, arriving at her doorstep with the loud sound of sports car exhausts or even taking her to the most expensive restaurants where a plate with just one piece of meat could be the minimum wage for an entrepreneur. The truth was that Y/n, as much as she was a woman who liked to be pampered, had also come to appreciate simple outings, and apparently Nathan was the kind of guy who felt the same way.

During the week in which she was taking photos for her first magazine cover, Y/n received a notification on her cell phone that vibrated on her thigh. The woman opens her eyes, removes the moisturizing mask that was on her face, and sees the screen glow with: “Nathan_Drake1999 followed you”.

Y/n smiles sideways

It takes so long to find your Instagram

The girl slides the tab of her cell phone up, going straight to his social network and following him back. Not even 30 seconds later, a message appears on the top flap of her pink phone.

'Sorry for the delay. I wanted to play hard to get.

Y/n laughs to himself, replying:

'I thought that was my role.

'In reality, your role is just to be pretty and agree to go out with me tonight. What do you think?

'I think you find me too easy if you think I'm going to agree to go out with you straight away. Try to win me over a little more, Nathan boy.

Nathan takes a deep breath for himself, looking at Y/n's last message once again, realizing that she had been deactivated from Instagram after sending the message. The brunette ran one of his hands through his tangled hair, as it was early in the morning and he had only just woken up. The sun was already shining in the open sky, but the curtains in Nate's apartment didn't allow the sun to greet him yet. Doing a quick search, he tried to find Y/n's address on Google, as many celebrities had their addresses displayed on gossip sites, but it wasn't Nate's luck. If he wanted to surprise her, he'd have to put his ego aside and ask for her address, but there was a bigger problem.

What do you give someone who already has everything?

'What's your address now?

The message vibrated once again in Y/n's hand, who had been expecting a message from him.

'234 Vellyview Street, New City Building.

The telephone in Y/n's apartment rang loudly, while her ordinary feet took her to the kitchen, where she answered the door internally, hoping that Nate would come to see her in the morning. The model couldn't help but admit to herself that her doorman wasn't tired of receiving men proposing to go out in the morning, afternoon and evening, considering everything that was sent to the apartment by the brands that partnered with her.

'Miss, Y/n. There's a dark-haired man with a huge bouquet of flowers here, and he says they're for you. May I let him in?

'Is he handsome?' Y/n spins the white phone line on her finger, looking down at her bare feet.

'Um, yes?' The doorman looks once more at the dark-haired man in a black shirt, dark jeans and a black leather jacket.

'Go ahead' Y/n hangs up, glancing around his kitchen one last time before checking himself out in the mirror.

His dishes were washed, the windows clean and open, showing the immensity of the colorful city. There were several small cacti on his worktop, adding a splash of color to the white room with planned wooden cabinets, a large grey fridge and an island in the middle of the kitchen that also served as a dining table. Y/n's father had taught her that it's much better to live in a simple place and travel more, than to have a big place that will give you a headache later on. Even so, she wouldn't give up living in a place where each floor had only two doors because of the size of the blocks.

The woman pushed her hair to one side, moving towards the door like a puppy waiting for its master. She didn't want to show that she minded Nate's visit, but she did. As soon as the doorbell rang, the woman looked in a small mirror at the side of the corridor leading to the front door of her apartment, checking that her natural make-up really did look natural. Opening the door, her attention was drawn by what seemed to be countless red roses, and soon a voice behind them called out to her.

“Can I put them on the floor?” Nate asked with effort in his voice.

He was finally hearing it again

“I thought you were stronger than that.” Y/n retorted, leaning her body against the door frame and crossing her arms, resting on her freshly manicured nails.

It was nine o'clock in the morning and he still looked impeccable. His innocent eyes managed to take in his hot body, leaving even a hint of curiosity as to how big his muscles were under his shirt.

“How do you manage to look flawless on a Tuesday morning?” Nate looked her up and down, respectfully returning to meet her challenging but sweet gaze

“I have my model beauty tricks.” Y/n comments, looking at the roses once again. “So, what was your plan?” She faces him, turning her head to the side as she asks, allowing him to come up with a less intrusive alternative to the other men who thought they could buy her for simple things.

“Breakfast if you were in the mood.” Nate replied, as if waiting for an answer that wouldn't come any time soon, until he gave her a better option. “Or I could leave. I know you have afternoon work to do. By the way, congratulations on the magazine cover. I don't know much about fashion, but if you're on it, you're certainly right.”

Y/n couldn't give up, even though her first thoughts were of a casual fuck in the morning to calm her nerves.

“I've already had breakfast.” She lies.

“Well, I'll be going then.” Nate agrees, giving a toothless smile.

“But thanks for the roses. They're really beautiful. Could you put them inside my house?” Y/n asks, immediately receiving a silent 'yes' from Nate.

The man carries the flowers once again, flexing his arms and legs to carry them into the girl's living room, who closes the door behind her, following him into the room. As soon as he puts the flowers down once more, his eyes are drawn to the various valuable items he has in his living room, including one of the paintings he was reading that was auctioned off the day they met. Turning his torso to look at the details of the items, Y/n sat down on his white sofa, watching Nathan mentally comment on everything that was there.

Paintings, famous montages, a chandelier with small diamond stones, a flat-screen TV, a large lamp next to a glass table with a green flower positioned to give the house a more natural look. Everything was minimalist, but could easily be worth more than several thousand dollars.

“Do you like it?” Y/n adjusted her pink bell-sleeved sweater.

“You have good taste.” Nate comments, still overwhelmed by the apartment and the view from above.

“Thank you. I'm trying to add more color here. I feel like there's too much white, but now there's going to be a lot of red too. Luckily it's my favorite color,” Y/n comments, looking at the large bouquet of roses on the floor. ‘Do you want to see everything?’ Y/n asks the man, who finally turns his attention to the woman curled up on the sofa.

“Of course. It would be a pleasure.” Nate removes his coat, placing his jacket on the sofa.

Y/n gets up from the sofa, pulls up his gray sweatpants and walks past the explorer, showing him each room as if he were in a museum. Throughout her passage, she could see various pieces of art and technology in the house, including a small television in the bathroom for when she was too bored in the bathtub overlooking the hills. Even his closet had a collection of shoes, bags, jewelry and sunglasses. In fact, everything he had thought of giving as a gift to impress Y/n was a total failure, so if he wanted a trophy wife, he would have to give her something she deserved.

(…)

A week after Y/n's big cover debut, the city's events gallery was packed with photographers, models and potential brands that would like to partner with those present. Nate had been unusually invited to be part of the private party, which was also a decoy event so that he and Y/n could see each other again during the time they were talking.

The venue was sophisticated, with a clear sky and plenty of stars to enhance the evening. Fortunately, that day a rooftop had been welcomed so that there were dj's playing on the mixing bench near the main entrance to the elevator, while some waiters passed back and forth trying to serve the influencers. Nathan looked with curious eyes at the image of Y/n, which seemed to be far away due to the number of people passing in front of it. Around her, there was apparently a queue of tall men in suits, who presented her with a gift, seeking her attention.

“Congratulations on your breakthrough, Y/n. I hope you like it.” One of the men commented to the woman in the white midi dress.

“Oh! You shouldn't have, Drew.” The woman stares at the man's hands, which are holding a Swarovski pen.

“Now you can sign lots of autographs so that when they see you in magazines, they'll say: Is that you?” The man laughed forcefully, as if he wanted them to look at the gift he had given.

It was a competition for Y/n's attention, and that much was clear. As a beautiful woman, Nate couldn't lie and say he wasn't impressed by the number of men queuing up for her to accept their gifts. The brunette straightened his navy blue dress shirt, walking among the people until the eyes of the woman in white met his. Y/n smiled, causing those who didn't understand who she was smiling at to wonder.

“You came.” Y/n smoothed back the lock of hair on either side of her bangs.

“Well, you called me.” Nate says hello with a smile. “The party's great. I didn't know you'd done an interview for them too.”

“I didn't mean to brag.” Y/n gestures modestly, smiling without showing his teeth. “What have you got there?” Y/n points with her eyes.

“Well, since the flowers didn't seem to be enough, I decided to put in a bit more effort.” Nathan hands Y/n the heavy bag, attracting the curious glances of the men and women who were already with it before the adventurer arrived.

Y/n carefully opens the orange Louis Vitton bag, causing her pupils to dilate at the sight of a beautiful diamond and white gold dantelle necklace. The woman puts one of her hands to her mouth, then looks at Nate and once again at the necklace.

“I didn't know what to get you, since you have a bit of everything, and diamonds are forever, right?” Nate comments.

“Nathan… that's…” Y/n tries to find words, closing the necklace's box and putting it back in the box before giving the brunette a warm hug, who drops his hands to the woman's waist and holds her tight. “Let's go outside. I want to talk to you.” The woman said into Nate's ear, who silently agreed, being guided by the model's soft hands.

They were both outside the penthouse, near some plants and a sofa without armrests. Y/n sat down, adjusting her dress and saying:

“I love it, but I can't accept it.” Y/n says, causing confusion in the young man's eyes.

“Why not? Isn't that enough?” Nate frowns.

“It's too much, and that's why I can't accept it.” Y/ explains. “You know, if you had been more romantic than just sending me a message on Instagram and then sending me roses without even saying good morning first, I would have agreed to go out with you. Not everything in my life is about money, and that's certainly something I want you to understand. I don't need 200 roses or a necklace worth over 800 thousand dollars. I need a partner who can take care of me in the little things.” Y/n says, placing one of his hands on Nate's leg, staring into his chocolate eyes.

A moment of silence hangs in the air, no matter how loud the electronic music behind them. Nate tilts his head down, agreeing and feeling bad for allowing his conquering side to override the affection and attention that Y/n needed.

“I'm sorry.” Nate exhales. “I was an asshole and a million dollar necklace wouldn't be enough if I didn't treat you like enough too.” Nate comments.

“The necklace is worth a million?” Y/n is amazed. “What do you do for a living?” Y/n asks, still not believing the price of the necklace.

“We can talk about it on a date.” Nate comments, drawing a silly smile from Y/n. “Can you eat Mc Donald's?” The brunette asks, remembering that models usually have a strict diet.

“I can, and I haven't eaten in years, actually.” The woman stands up, holding out one of her hands to the brunette. “Let's go before they find out we've gone. I can't stand eating canapés and drinking champagne any longer.”

“You're really not what I thought.” Nate comments, holding Y/n's hand.

“That's good, because the media is fake.” The model smiles, receiving a kiss on the top of her hand and heading out of the event.

As much as diamonds last forever, love would always be the best gift you could receive from someone. Because the body corrodes, but love is forever.

[storiesfromgaza]

Greetings, everyone

Ever since the inception of this blog, a persistent question has been haunting me: Will any of this truly make a difference? I swiftly brushed it aside, reminding myself, 'Why should I concern my mind with this? I'll focus my abilities on doing everything within my power without fixating on the outcome.'

With this in mind, I embarked on the path of translation and article writing with unwavering dedication, telling myself that if I could reach just one individual and dispel the darkness that media relentlessly tries to cast over their eyes, veiling their spirit, that would be fulfilling enough for me.

And now, a mere five days after the creation of this blog, I felt compelled to write this message to you because I understand that this question plagues your thoughts as well. Does any of this hold significance? Does any of this create a meaningful impact?

This is a comment from a woman on the video of the elderly couple who were carrying a lifeless child (their son or grandchild) after they brought him out from under the debris.

This is just one example of a woman who heightened her awareness and began harnessing everything within her grasp, investing it in any opportunity to help, from offering support to educating herself and sharing her knowledge with those around her, including her family.

Today, and just five days after the creation of this blog, we have reached 10,871 people. which I'm asking you not to treat it as a mere number; because each one of them represents an individual, a person with an identity, a life, a story, a family, friends and an impact on society, no matter how small. Each one of them is a human being, just like her. Even if we assume that only a quarter of this number are people who have increased their awareness and shared the truth with those around them, we're talking about 2,717 people! A significant number in a short period, just five days.

The second noteworthy point is when Gaza was completely cut off from the world, with internet, communication networks, and even electricity severed, after the uprising in which everyone, including you, participated. The internet was restored to Gaza after only two days.

Furthermore, a literary magazine that focuses on multilingualism contacted us, asking to publish the stories and articles we've translated here in their upcoming issue, which will expand their reach to a larger audience.

All of this, thanks to God, happened in less than one week (five days) after creating the blog. Now, after all this, have you received an answer to your question?

#2- many of you are asking about is how you can help? In reality, there are several ways, with the Blaze feature offered by Tumblr being a prominent one. This feature allows the audience to promote any post they choose on the blog to a specific number of viewers, constrained by the amount of Blaze.

With only 5 dollars, the smallest amount of support, you can promote a post to 2,500 people! 2,500 Human!

25 dollars your chosen post will reach 7,000 people! 7000 Human!

65 dollars will result in the chosen post reaching 20,000 people, 20,000 Human!

and for the maximum support amount, which is 150 dollars, your selected post will be delivered to 50,000 people, 50,000 Human!"

Promoting posts with Blaze won't only increases the reach of the specific post but also directs more traffic to the blog itself, as those who see the promoted post are likely to visit the blog and explore other stories and articles. So, it's impact not limited to a single post.

Furthermore, you can choose the audience of the country you want to target using the Blaze feature, such as Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and the United States. You can do all of this by clicking the Blaze button below any post you want to promote.

If you are able to support with any amount, it will make a significant difference in reaching a larger audience and increasing awareness. If you find it difficult to select a specific post or story to use the Blaze feature on, I will provide some suggestions here that would be beneficial to promote and reach a wider audience:

The video of the elderly couple carrying a child's lifeless body, with the man's face adorned with a thousand years of sorrow, helplessness, and despair, while the woman continues to weep beside him. [https://www.tumblr.com/storiesfromgaza/732477157492834304/two-elderly-people-the-mans-face-adorned-with?source=share]

The video of the woman carrying her child's body, weeping and asking her father to leave her child in her embrace, and then requesting them to bury her with him. [https://www.tumblr.com/storiesfromgaza/732437085371432960/after-losing-her-child-to-the-shelling-a?source=share]

The story of the suffering of the girl Saba [https://www.tumblr.com/storiesfromgaza/732282818040872960/saba-my-cousin-is-in-the-third-grade-in-2019?source=share]

The story of Emad's only son. [https://www.tumblr.com/storiesfromgaza/732168563115409408/i-sat-with-emad-on-the-corner-of-the-street-he?source=share]

The story of Majd's little sister. [https://www.tumblr.com/storiesfromgaza/732160503297769472/my-little-sister-in-the-midst-of-everything?source=share]

The child Yussuf. [https://www.tumblr.com/storiesfromgaza/732146206757830656/what-is-the-worst-nightmare-for-any-healthcare?source=share]

Your support will make a significant difference, and for those who cannot provide support, simply sharing the content here and on Instagram (@amrshater), following and engaging with it, and sharing it on your own accounts' stories will also make a significant impact by reaching a larger audience.

In the end, Alhamdulillah (praise be to God), and thank you all.

[hooked-on-elvis]

okay, hiiii! so ahem, I’m not too sure if you’ve watched elvis’ “stay away, joe,” and if you haven’t you really should. although it’s kinda…iffy, he’s so damn fine in there 😮‍💨🫠

I’m really curious about one of his ladies in the film! Quentin Dean, do you know anything or any info as in if they’ve had a bond, or any outtakes?

She randomly popped into my head after watching the wh0rehouse scene in the ‘68 comeback, bc susan henning lowk looked like her in it?!?! lol I think it’s the bangs or sumthin’

But please and thank you, I gotta know!

Hi, Lexy! I'm so, so sorry for taking so long to answer your question, dear. Thank you for reaching me out for information on Elvis' movies, I feel honored you'd think of me for this, really. If there's something I love to talk about, concerning Elvis' career, this is it, his movies — even if it's not always I am lucky finding satisfying info on them, like in this case. 😣

I've spent a long, long while trying to find anything about Quentin Dean and her relationship with Elvis during making of Stay Away Joe (that's why I took so long so answer you) - from Youtube videos to movie magazines articles, but unfortunately I still haven't.

Strangely, Quentin Dean retired pretty quick from Hollywood, after only 4 movies done and very few one-episode appearances in some Western TV shows.

Her acting career (TV and movies) lasted from 1967 to 1969, two years, and it's just bizarre since she was nominated for a Golden Globe Awards for Best Supporting Actress due to her first role on the big screen on the Oscar winner movie (Best Picture) 'In the Heat of the Night' (1967). This movie was released the same year Quentin filmed Stay Away Joe with Elvis (filmed from October 9 to November 27, 1967, released on March 8, 1968).

Quentin Dean prepared for her screen test for the Academy Award Winner movie In The Heat of the Night (1967).

Curiously enough, other than the movies, one of the few TV shows Quentin worked on was The Virginian, created by - guess who! - Charles Marquis Warren, director/producer/screenwriter of Charro! (1969 *updated for minor correction on date -- 'Charro!' was filmed during July and August of 1968 and released in 1969*). Quentin appeared in only one episode of that show, but even so, why would she give up her acting career so fast? She surely had good network in Hollywood... that's just weird. What's worse is that it seems she rarely gave interviews during her acting career and/or denied interviews after retiring from Hollywood, which would explain why her interviews are so hard to find.

1968. Quentin Dean as Saranora on The Virginian (TV Series, 1962–1971) S7. E1 "The Saddle Warmer".

I really tried to find any interview with her, and there must be some, but with a career as short-lived as hers the journalists' interest for details on her acting career is not that big, therefore there aren't modern articles online (that I have put my eyes on) and the existing vintage 60s printed ones weren't scanned and shared online so far, I suppose. 😣 What a shame!

I am confident (or just hopeful) there must be some kind of information concerning her work relationship with EP in books specifically dealing with Stay Away Joe making of, such as "Elvis: Behind The Scenes Speedway & Stay Away Joe" by Erik Lorentzen. I haven't read this book yet, unfortunately. I'm so sorry for not being helpful for now, dear. I tried. I wish I knew something. :( If any friend reading this have already read this book and know something helpful, please, feel free to share what you know with our community. ♥

Well, since we're talking about it already, if you ask me I'd say Elvis and Quentin had a pretty good professional relationship but not as close as Elvis and some of his other leading ladies had. This is pure speculation on my part, but I have a reason to think so. This if one of the movies Elvis did (this one and 'Kissin' Cousins', maybe a few others too, not sure) that Priscilla -- as well as some of the wives from the Memphis Mafia guys -- was right there watching Elvis work in the filming set. I'm not implying Elvis would have had any intimate relationship with Quentin if Priscilla hadn't been there on the filming set or anything but, speaking on friendship matters, it makes sense Elvis would have spent more of his time on set, during breaks from filming, with his gang than with the other actors. Not sure but if so, Quentin wouldn't have many opportunities to get better acquaintance of him, I guess she wouldn't have much to say about him as a person because of this.

What I can say is: below is a "behind the scenes" picture [on the right], not a publicity shot for what I've read. Judging from their faces, Elvis and Quentin had fun working together. ✨ I know, I know... this is not specific but this is what I can share for now.

I'm gonna keep trying to find some information about Quentin's career, and hopefully on her accounts over working in Stay Away Joe. I really wish I could understand why her acting career was so short and what she has done afterwards in her life, so maybe in interviews she shared something about it.

For now, I'm humbly gonna share some of the pictures of Stay Away Joe. And, yes, I've watched it! I've watched all of Elvis' movies.

Stay Away Joe didn't catch my heart at first but little by little it grew on me. Now it is one of my favorite Elvis movies, even tho I still think it's an extremely noisy and a little messy-looking movie too. LOL. Even so it's a good movie... here and there I re-watch it. ♥

Elvis Presley (Joe Lightcloud), Joan Blondell (Glenda Callahan), and Quentin Dean (Mamie Callahan) in Stay Away Joe (1968)

And, to make all of us a little happier, our man:

Stay Away Joe (1968 released, filmed in late 1967)

[librarycards]

hi! i’ve had a lifelong interest in reading and writing as a craft and a skill, and owing to my friction with many systems that demand hegemony (i’m a black mad fat trans man from the global south) i enjoy writing and sharing my work related to these topics, as it is incredibly cathartic for me and simultaneously i want to share experiences that disrupt people’s perception of the world around them. i preface with this as i would like to begin submitting my work to magazines on a larger scale. while i have been lauded with my deftness with words (this is not to gas myself up or anything, this is just me being frank), i recognise that honing my talent would be incredibly beneficial to me and help me grow my abilities as a writer, which i am really wanting to do. thus ive started reading yours and others’ book recommendations, and i have a few questions related to that. firstly, do you think that going to university for creative writing/english provides a benefit that cannot be acquired otherwise? if not, what would be your best advice for acquiring those skills, as someone who is getting eir phd? do you have advice on developing the skill of dissecting a prose piece or poem to understand the techniques the writer has used? particularly prose, while i did well with analysing poetry when i took a (one) university course in english, i struggled significantly more with prose, even as it is what i write more of (particularly creative nonfiction). and finally, while i have read your writing tag and seen your advice related to submitting to literary magazines, do you have advice on finding and getting opportunities for intensive writing focused courses/accolades (like residencies, fellowships, contests and the like)? and when should you start seeking out those sorts of things? this is quite long sorry, but id love any advice you have at all!!

ty for the message! i'm going to tackle these questions one at a time; let me know if i missed anything!

do you think that going to university for creative writing/english provides a benefit that cannot be acquired otherwise?

in short, yes, though with nuance (keep in mind also that i do not have any actual creative writing degrees) you don't need to pursue a BA/MFA/PhD in creative writing to be a successful writer by any measure; however, college is a tool with both academic and social/career benefits.

as an undergraduate, creative writing courses will generally give you 1:1 access (at least a little) to professors who have publishing experience, the ability to workshop pieces with peers, and the opportunity to get direct feedback on assignments specifically designed for relative beginners. you will also be able to read texts and analyze them on the level of craft rather than just content, which is new for a lot of undergrads who have only ever taken literature-based english courses before.

as a grad student, the main things an advanced degree will give you are 1) time (typically 2 years ish for an mfa; 6+ for a phd) to devote exclusively to a writing project, and 2) networking access. at the institution where i'm getting my phd, I've taken some MFA courses for my own edification, and am struck by the tight-knitness of cohorts as essentially micro-generations of future writers who have regular contact in class, at readings, and while workshopping. there really aren't any other situations in which you have license to drop everything and spend years on a project with others also obsessed with their projects. grad school is a very singular environment, and i can say that with confidence.

where the nuance comes in: as i said, none of this is required to be a good writer, a well-read person, or someone proficient in literary/craft analysis. people without any formal education at all are capable of that! the benefits that are not transferrable are the intangibles: time, individual attention, community, structure, and, of course, a dedicated space to go, ask questions, and learn in a dedicated environment.

if not, what would be your best advice for acquiring those skills, as someone who is getting eir phd?

going off of my previous answer, my #1 tip is to join some kind of reading group, or simply find a study/reading buddy. you can learn a lot self-studying a work, but at some point, you need to talk to someone else about it - there's no point in theory, writing, etc. without communication. maybe you seek out someone who is studying some of this in college/grad school; maybe you get together a group of autodidacts willing to share the challenge of difficult work. maybe you find a text that has already had quite a bit written about it and assign yourself/your comrades secondary material, too, as your own makeshift course syllabus.

here are two examples from my time in grad school:

i was the most advanced member of a disability justice reading group a few years ago. other members picked some texts, and every week, in addition to refreshing my memory on them, i'd look up some pieces with relevant themes and suggest them to the group. when we discussed, people would share their thoughts and connections, and i was there to provide further context/further reading (and also to learn new insights from members!)

I was definitely NOT the most advanced one in a reading group in which we slogged through Capital vol. 1. We built a shared zotero and read 1-2 chapters per week; the more advanced/econ-focused members (some of whom had read it before) made study guides, a rotating member took notes, and we were each invited to contribute our thoughts on the chapters of that week. Every week, we'd connect something we read to a current news item and sometimes have a supplementary news reading. I didn't speak much in this group, and felt out of my depth a lot. But I learned so fucking much!

do you have advice on developing the skill of dissecting a prose piece or poem to understand the techniques the writer has used?

the best way to do this is also, i think, the best way to learn a new math technique: find some problems (pieces) with solutions (analyses) already written - stories/poems/other texts that might be a little older, or are very popular/well-cited. first, go in for a few read-throughs, annotate heavily (even if you think your notes are "wrong"), take a breather, come back and do it again. think about who the author was, their identities, when and where they lived, and how that contributed to the construction of the text.

think about where it was published, and if you want, do some research into events happening around the same time. take note of techniques, even if you don't know the words for them: repetition? a particular poetic structure? were there allusions to something biblical or mythological? what is the role of color, or family, or nature, or other common images; can you think of other texts where they have also appeared, whether contemporary or historical?

once you've exhausted these ideas, hop onto jstor or google scholar and see what others are saying - who/what is this text being analyzed in conversation with? what are analyses arguing, and do you agree? what else has the writer of the piece you're analyzing written, and are there any pieces out there talking about themes from their oeuvre overall? these are some questions that propel me when I'm still forming my thoughts on a particular writer's work/technique. every question is also not necessary every single time you read, ofc, and as you practice, it gets easier to find themes intuitively.

do you have advice on finding and getting opportunities for intensive writing focused courses/accolades (like residencies, fellowships, contests and the like)? and when should you start seeking out those sorts of things?

yes! ChillSubs is...a complicated platform, but they have a regular newsletter with opportunities. BOMB does too, and Poets & Writers, and Hyperallergic. I also recommend following writing folks on social media and seeing where they go/where they advertise workshops! I've found some great opportunities just seeing where my favorite writers are teaching.

I think there's no bad time to start looking. Opportunities open up all year-round. One thing to note is that most will involve some cost to you, whether the opportunity itself has a fee, or if there's an application fee, or if you simply need to pay to travel there, or 2+ of the above.

Also, keep in mind that some opportunities are geared toward mid+ career writers (those who have published 1 or 2 books or more) and/or those who may have a certain amount of teaching/editorial experience. These will be stated clearly in the application guidelines, and don't worry -- there are plenty of opportunities for early career writers, too, including those with no books.

if you're definitely interested in pursuing some of these, i recommend starting with what you already plan to do - submitting work to magazines! this way you'll also have an archive of polished work and more credits on your CV to put you in the best possible position when applying to fellowships, residencies, and the like.

i hope this very long and unwieldy response helps!