Precious - film review

Clarisse Precious Jones, is not you ordinary teenager, far from it. Abused sexually by her father, and a mother herself with another baby on the way, Clarisse (better known as Precious), has to fight the tough things in life all by her lonesome.

Living in Harlem with her physically abusive mother she has no real leg to stand on, and she grows deeper and deeper into her own world in which she imagines she is a "movie star" and a singer and gets married to her light skinned boyfriend. Reality is something that is just too hard to deal with.

This movie is the first for lead actor Gabourey Sidibe and undoutably the first of many more to come. Other actors that appear in this film are Paula Patton (wife of Robin Thicke and acclaimed actor in her own right), Mariah Carey, Sherri Shepherd (from the view), and a STUNNING performance by comidienne and actor Mo'nique.

The film is a really compelling emotional drama that reflects very well what happenes underground in some families of society today. The tag line at the end of the film is dedicated to "all the precious girls" which i think is really encouraging. Who knows this film may help some young women who are in similar situations today find their voice and denounce their abusers.

The way the film was directed really allowed the audience to engage with the character, its no wonder Lee Daniels is nominated for an oscar in the best director category.

This film has recieved a large number of oscar nods and for a movie that was intended to go straight to DVD thats really quire something (much like slumdog millionaire actually)

So make sure you grab a friend and get down to your nearest cinema and go see the film. Its really worth it

Ty Fyffe competition... wanna be a star?

Queens based super-producer Ty Fyffe has developed his very own unique way of encouraging emerging artists to feature on his first of a kind project. Ty Fyffe Presents Raw n Uncut gives aspiring and established artists the opportunity to face off creatively and for a position on Raw N Uncut compilation album, which will be hosted by DJ Kayslay and will be heavily marketed and promoted online and to radio.

Urging MCs to take the initiative and use the platform he is providing, Ty Fyffe hopes that notoriety will follow for those who are selected to feature on the finished project. “The whole concept of this project was to give the true MCs out there a chance,” he explains. “It is not easy getting into this game now, so much politics involved but through Ty Fyffe Presents artists have the chance to get themselves out to a much larger audience, all the while rhyming & singing over production crafted by me.”

Working with a team of recognized professionals in radio, distribution and media. Ty Fyffe has secured the involvement of DJ Kay Slay who will be hosting the project and will premier the first single from the compilation on his Street Sweepers radio show. The album, upon completion, will be available for download on a variety of high profile sites and blogs with the first single being promoted digitally by coveted digital distribution powerhouse, Digiwaxx Media LLC.

Participating in Ty Fyffe Presents will give artists opportunities which some work years to procure. Each entrant will be able to record over production from the man who has crafted soundscapes for a league of A List artists including 50 Cent, Drake, Busta Rhymes, Jay Z, Eric Sermon and many more. If selected by Ty Fyffe to appear on the album, those successful entrants will recieve an exclusive track to use and submit for the final album.

The key selling points of this competition are not just the production or the publicity that artists will secure but also that it is available to artists globally. Acknowledging that both rappers and singers from the US have an abundance of things working in their favor, Ty is intent on giving artists from countries, that may not necessarily be as laden with opportunities, a chance with TY FYFFE PRESENTS RAW N UNCUT

“This competition is open to folks from all over the world, not just the US and it would be great to see the project attract artists from other continents,” says Ty.

“But as we are aware, Hip-Hop’s inception may have been on the streets of NYC but today it has no boundaries and I hope artists overseas see how being involved in this competition can put them in front of a totally different audience,” he concludes.

To find out more about the competition please go to www.tyfyffe.com or to request an interview with Ty Fyffe please contact Melanie@CriticalMMG.com

We are the world 2010

Yes Folks its that time again. After the single's 1st release in 1985 (before i was even born may i add) The single we are the world is back guys.

After the grammy awards last night stars such as Celine Dion, Lionel Richie, Lady Gaga, Eminem, Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake and Barbra Streisand have rounded up today in LA to record the charity single, the money it makes will benefit the victims of the haiti earthquake which happened on the 12th Jan this year.

The song was originally writen by Michael jackson and Lionel Richie. I am loking forward to listening to it, these charity singles by variuos artists are always a good un. Everyone has about 20secs to give the best of themselves. Competition... hum?

2010 Grammy awards-Celebrities

Wow the world of celebridom is really something isn't it? I just want to talk a little about last's nights 52 annual grammy awards. Now i haven't actually managed to see the awards show as of yet (it airs in the UK on wed after american idol on itv2), but i have watched some of the performances and i know the results and boy do i have a few things to say on the matter.

So just to set the scene i was watchin E! live from the red carpet last night with my boyfriend and we both seemed to be really shocked by what seems to be happening with people we deem to be "celebrities" now a days. I find it incredible (not to discredit her after all) that Taylor swift won the award for Album of the year, she was up against Black eyed peas, Beyonce Lady Gaga and Dave matthews band, all of whom are well reputed artists. It made me wonder really on what basis they grant these awards to people... because it defiently cant be on album sales.

Again today i was watching the fabulous life of on MTV and saw that Miley Cyrus is on her way to becoming a teenage billionaire, she is currently on the forbes list for the richest people under 25... thats acutally amazing for her... Madonna's net worth is currently in the region of $200,000,000 so if miley continues like this she will be worth way more before she is 50 But what is it that is feeding this pop culture? How can a country recording artists be classified as a pop artist? and how can a Rapper be classed as pop/RnB act? I think that it is defiently showing a fusion in music, but i can't help but wonder what this means for individual genres of music?

How can an artist stay true to who they are, and break into the commercial music scene at the same time? Its not really possible in my opinion. Those who stay true to their genre never seem to do as well, tell me how many people out there know who india arie is?...
Its just interesting to see what the world is turning into in terms of what is deemed commemorable music.

Alternatively though i have to say Pink's performance was AMAZING!!! (go check it our on youtube if you missed it), i saw Rene Angelil in the audience after and i am sure his mind was ticking about what Celine can do in her comeback appearences at Las Vegas next year lol.

I love music but i don't really like the politics behind it! I also have to definetly say a huge congratulations to Maxwell on his first EVER grammy wins ( can u believe it over a decade of maxwell and he is only recognised for his contribution this year), 2010 is the year to beat it seems

Anyways thats it for me...

moi

Writers block

There comes a time in every writers life where that have a "writers block", now i dont want to go on and say that i am a great writer and can therefore compare myself to the likes of J.Austin or Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, however when the pressure is on it is on. This particular post is going to have to do untill i find a gripping story to share with you all. This weekend (yesterday in fact) was my grandpaernts 50th wedding anniversary, so I as well as 70+ other guests travelled from different areas of the country, and headed for Liverpool for the commemorative event. It was a really nice evening, and was great to see alot of my family but the event and the build up to it had me thinking... wow... this is actually a real milestone. So many people wont make 50 yrs of marriage for various reasons, either they get married too late or they get married and then divorced or unfortunatley their partner passes away. I feel very privilledged to be able to say that i have two FABULOUS GRANDPARENTS that have reached 50 years of wedded bliss. 76 AND 78 and still going strong. It is a shame that there are not as many couples of this generation that dont view marriage in the same way people did in the 50's and 60's, now a days people just get divorced at the drop of a hat, if only people worked more on their relationships then maybe the society that we live in would function alot better. Britain needs a face lift.

Thats me
i shall be back soon with more fun news to share...
watch this space
;)

The dreaded question...

There comes a time in a students life when they will face the inevitable question from peers, lecturers, friends, family and even acquaintances. This tends to be in their final year a university or when they are a recent graduate. Its something that not many students feel they know but for some reason everyone else deems it necessary to drag the information out of them... yes you guessed it... "what do you want to do when you graduate?" (and cue screeching violins). People please please understand that unless someone is studying a specific course like Journalism, medicine or Dentistry.... most of us have no real concrete idea about what we want to do with the rest of our lives. Take me for example, a final year student studying Marketing and Management a university, my overall plan is to change the way black people are perceived in this country, get more adverts out to the general public about products used by black people, i also want to have my own events company, be in radio, film, and something to do with music wouldn't really hurt either... oh and also what about the idea of making film trailers?.. You see such a confused answer, because most of the time we are confused about what our short term plan is our self. Asking us what we want to do when we graduate when we have no clue or so many different ideas, only makes us more nervous at the fact that we aren't prepared ourselves... everyone has helpful suggestions or "words of wisdom", but lets face it more often than none its just what other people wanted to do but didn't get a chance to and they want to find a way of making it "work" for you. The answer is... I DON'T KNOW. Please let us deal with our finals and dissertation submission and other various deadlines to which we need to keep... When i have decided i shall shout it from the roof tops, the light bulb in my head will switch on, the clouds will part and the sun shall shine through, and in my head i shall hear a chorus of people singing "hallelujah"... but until then stop asking US the question lol. Find another ice breaker, point of interest...after all how annoyed are you when people keep on asking "oh so how is work going"

that's me
I'm out
Adios
Moi :p

A welcome to the world of blogging

Well where to begin? I am currently revising for a very important exam that i have on friday about international business management and then the though hit me... why don't i write my own blog? Now i know that this may seem a bit taboo, you girl wishes to write and can' find any other avenue to do so but to annoy people in blogging, but the truth of the matter is if you don't like it you wont read it so... there is no real problem:). If Julie can write a blog about all her experiences whilst cooking Julia Childs recipies then I to Christina, final year student at Newcastle university UK can do the same.
Yes onwards and upwards from here.
I am not etirely sure as of yet what to include in this blog, but fear not as all shall be unveiled over time. My dreams of becoming a budding journalist start here and there in the words of McFadden and Whitehead "aint no stopping [me]now...[i'm]on the move".
So i welcome myself To the blogging world and shall see what alll the hype is about. Will it really be a venue in which i can vent all the fustrations of a young student, girlfriend, friend,daughter and sister... or will it be another thing i give up on? Only time will tell... Who knows i may be the next...Perez...? no a little more sophistication (although who doesn't love a little gosip now and then)
For now its adios from me but fear not i shall be back with oh so much more
Your faithfully
Moi

Chrissy R :)