social posts
A place where I share quick updates sporadically and post on the go, like a “social media” feed on my website. And for the times I deactivate all my social media accounts. Is it anti-social then?
Followers: 0
Principles from the AOC
If you've been keeping up with American news, AOC understands it can be overwhelming. In a recent IG live, now shared on YouTube, she goes over what has been going on up to this point and shares some key principles to those who want to mobilize and take action.
I've watched the entire live and took these down:
Self regulate. With everything going on, reading headlines, it can make people freeze. It can be overwhelming. Self regulate first.
Pick one or a few actions to take. Do what you can, and know what you can do is enough.
Educate yourself. It's not enough to just read a headline. Know how things work. Know how the system works. You can't do anything if you don't know where the vulnerabilities are.
Interpret what's happening through the lens of an important deadline happening this year: Broad tax cuts for billionaires and corporations were pushed through in 2017 and had a sunset period: 2025 to the amount of 4 trillion dollars. The billionaires need to find that money fast and they want to do it by cutting “waste” aka your tax dollars, medicaid, education etc.
Remember that we, the people, outnumber the 1% and the number of corrupt people. Corrupt people and authoritarians rely on their perceived power, but we must remember that we outnumber them.
When it comes to what you can do, you can resist and you can create friction in the system so they can not move as quickly as they want to. If we slow them down, the less they can break.
Get familiar with who your members of Congress are. Call your representatives, call your Senator, make them know you're pissed off. These representatives care about being re-elected. They need to know you're paying attention.
Yes this is a scary time, but do not give them your fear, this is a monster that feeds off of fear and people's paralysis. They want you to do nothing. Do not consent in advance.
Don't fall for the illusion that no action is too small. Again, remember: the slower we can make them go, the less they can break.
Know your rights. If you live in a community with a lot of immigrants, it is important that you know your legal rights. If you are an American citizen, you should know your rights. Here’s what you should know or you can visit AOC’s Official House of Representatives website for the rights listed there.
If ICE comes to your door, you don't have to let them in.
You ask them to show you a judicial warrant with a judge’s stamp.
You can ask them to leave.
You can stay silent. You don't have to share your immigration status, or any personal info. You can say: I don't have to answer that question.
You have a right to an attorney (New York and California) and if you're outside of these areas, say you want to speak to an attorney. You are not obligated to sign any document without an attorney.
a little mental health talk
What a year it's been - and we’re not even a month in. A lot of heavy things paired with constant reminders of my blessings. Over the past month and a half, I've been struggling. In a way that I haven't in a long time and I'm so grateful my loved ones are with me.
I'm no stranger to darkness but this time feels different. I'm learning more about myself, as an artist, as a mom, becoming witness to the emotions, the reactions, the lows of the lows.
It's been really hard, but I'm starting to feel like I'm going to love who I am (even more) when I get through to the other side.
How fitting it's the Year of the Wood Snake. A time to shed old patterns to embrace renewal. A period of transformation, introspection, and strategic growth.*
ps. Catch me more on my blog as time passes 💜
Local authors at the local bookstore
My friend and fellow filmmaker and I went to go check on our book stock at the Village Well in Culver City.
I found two copies of mine on the shelf, a perfect photo op.
To purchase a copy of Chicken / Manok from the Village Well, click here.
Christine is the author of Get Reelisms and the ABC’s of filmmaking.
To purchase it directly on her website, click here.
Me with my book in the ‘Local Author’ section.
Christine taking a selfie of us: me holding my book and hers behind us on the shelf.
Now reading: Autocracy, Inc.
Borrowed this from my local library on Libby.
For anyone that doesn't understand how truly difficult it is to make change these days, this book describes just how many people, across the world, that you're up against.
Autocracy, Inc by Anne Applebaum.
january things i like on the internet
A collection of things I discovered and found joy from on the internet in January.
The Community Brigades - surfers who trained to become volunteer firefighters. Read Article on Stab Mag.
“The Community Brigades program is the brainchild of local surfer/shaper Keegan Gibbs, who, after banding together with neighbors to protect houses during 2018’s devastating Woolsey Fire, has since worked with the Los Angeles County Fire Department to form officially recognized groups of civilians that are trained and equipped to assist professional firefighters during these far-too-frequent wildfire events.”
2. Dave Ramsey shares the 5 ultimate rules to handle your money like the rich. They are based on common sense and guarantee wealth building if implemented over a period of time. Just follow the rules — 90% can’t.
3. This brave Bishop speaks to the current President
Los Angeles wildfires
Below: photos from Venice Beach of Pacific Palisades fire, January 7, 2025.
Below: photo of Eaton fire and Altadena area, view from Baldwin Hills (January afternoon).
Below: photo of Palisades from Baldwin Hills.
Below: Venice sign (January 8) morning.
Below: View of Palisades smoke from Pico Blvd, Santa Monica. January 8.
Read: Just Kids by Patti Smith
I started this book over a year ago and finally finished from where I left off, almost 1/4 of the book to the end. Just Kids is poetry. I'm probably going to have to read it again since I can't remember everything, but also because it's just the kind of book you'd want to read over again.
After reading the book I lay in bed with headphones on and listened to her first recorded album, Horses, 1975.
I don't think I'd want to have heard this album before I did. Having been to New York to the place she writes about, seeking out Hotel Chelsea with my partner, having skateboarded at Redondo Beach, having read the book before and after visiting - it creates a certain kind of fondness for the album that wouldn't have existed otherwise for me.
After that album I listened to a few others: the Memorial Song for Robert, and my favorite, the Jackson song, a lullaby for her son.
I'll forever have her writing in my mind, the visual while recording live, Richard playing the last chords, Robert had fallen asleep and Fred, her husband, standing alone weeping.
Watched again: Porcelain War
Porcelain War, 2024 - Directors: Slava Leontyev, Brendan Bellomo
Logline:
Amidst the chaos and destruction of the brutal Russian invasion of Ukraine, three artists defiantly find inspiration and beauty as they defend their culture and their country.
Visually stunning and equally as heartbreaking.
Porcelain War is a reminder of how fragile and uncertain life is and the tragic impacts of war on an entire country and it's people, while examining how resilient the human spirit can be in the midst of horror.
It leaves you asking yourself, what would you be willing to do in the name of freedom and the safety of your family?
Learn more: https://www.porcelainwar.com/
Just read: Making a Scene by Constance Wu
Making a Scene, written by Constance Wu.
I started this at 10am this morning and finished it around 6:30pm. It's been a long time since I've laid in bed and given myself enough space to read a book from start to finish but I got this book a year ago and finally gifted myself time.
I'm so glad I did.
This book wasn't trying to be anything, it just is. Honest and beautiful. I cried three times reading it.
A genuine portrait of coming up in the film business from the perspective of an Asian woman with an identity crisis, and a desire for love, connection and meaning.
Just watched: Arab Blues
Arab Blues, 2019 - Director: Manele Labidi
Logline:
After years abroad in Paris, Selma returns to Tunis with the dream of opening up her own psychotherapy practice.
Just watched: Good One
Good One, 2024 - Director: India Donaldson
Logline:
During a weekend backpacking trip in the Catskills, 17-year-old Sam navigates the clash of egos between her father and his oldest friend.
December things I like on the internet
The 7 types of rest every person needs / Saundra Dalton-Smith, MD
TLDR:
Physical rest (passive and active)
Mental rest
Sensory rest
Creative rest (awe inspiring and art-full)
Emotional rest
Social rest
Spiritual rest
“In a scorching talk, marketing professor and podcaster Scott Galloway dissects the data showing that, by many measures, young people in the US are worse off financially than ever before. He unpacks the root causes and effects of this "great intergenerational theft," asking why we let it continue and showing how we could make it end. (Note: This talk contains mature language.)”
holiday time in Ottawa
Home town festive season vibes.
Christmas dinner
Apple crisp
Parliament of Canada with snowflake projection
Me leaning against window with Lebreton flats in the background.
Shawarma at Libnan Bakery
Cheese and Zataar pie from Libnan bakery
Favorite coffee shops
Little Victories
CC's Corner (Richmond, Ontario)
Seven Grams
Sawada Coffee
Northfolk Cafe (Perth, Ontario)
Menotti’s (Venice and Culver)
Sachi LA
Alana's
The Boy & The Bear (Culver)
Little Lunch (Venice)
Deus
Verve (DTLA)
Aperature (Vancouver)
Pilot (Toronto)
District (Vegas)
Federal
Driphouse
These are coffee shops that I have returned to on multiple occasions and make a point to go to when I’m in the area.
joyscrolling
It begins, my way of combating doom scrolling is to create a corner of this internet dedicated to joy - “joyscrolling” so it’s been coined according to reddit.
Above in that photo - those are my Los Angeles galpalz - all amazing women in film. From left to right, Carole (costume designer), Christine (writer/director), Jordyn (actor), and me during one of our lunch dates.