Merry Merry Christmas!

It's hard to believe, but Christmas is upon us again. I'm lucky to have loved ones around me, health, and a blossoming career....

It's amazing. I don't remember a Christmas in Toronto that has been this mild. Though as children, major snowfalls were the norm, in the past few years, odds of snow for Christmas seem to be 50/50.... but plus 7 degrees celsius!???? It's like we're in Vancouver or something. Believe me, I'm not complaining....

Best Wishes to all and I'll be back to my updates soon enough. I've got some major shoots coming up in the New Year that need some attention. But, for now, I'm going to relax and eat some good food.

xoxo
Tatyana

WONDERBOOTY!

Still haven't finished my Chicago updates but the world is moving fast.... can't believe we're days away from Christmas!! Uncanny!!

So I've been doing my usual Google perusing (yes, I need a hobby) and just came across some articles announcing that in the UK, Wonderbra sells WONDERBRAS FOR THE BOOTY. :) Wonder how these "wonderbootys" are selling? Wonder why they're only available in the UK? Who would have thought in our thin-obsessed and eating disorder ravaged society, a major brand would make the move towards booty-plumping! Cheers to that!! And cheers to me for not needing one.... the Wonderbra, on the other hand, will always be my best friend.

A day of Chi-town Scenics

Ahhh Chicago!!
Didn't bump into any Greeks, but hey, the city still rocks!

(check out that skyline!!... and also the fact that it's December and I'm not wearing a coat!!!)

You know what I love about winter? When it's just cold enough to skate outdoors, but warm enough that you're comfortable in a thick sweater or light coat. We drove around to grab scenic shots today so after getting a gorgeous skyline shot, we headed to Millenium Park.

(there's a fabulous booty-like mirrored sculpture in the park that I had to have fun with!)

(random shot of an apartment building, but isn't it weird how the parking lot is set up? looks like the cars could just fall off the sides....anyways.....)


That's it, that's all.

Teaser-photos

We got some spectacular footage from the Burlesque show in Chicago I attended.


Someone split the beans and promoted that there would be a CANUCK film crew in the house tonite so a large group of Canadians living in Chicago decided to show up and show their pride... which translated into many many Canadian flags and much screaming! Never a dull moment in the world of burlesque.



It was a great show, really, really great! And I can't wait to start working with the footage.


Because I didn't want to jeopardize valuable video footage, I shot some pics sans flash...




(I love the colour and movement even with the blur....)




(hey, it's the Ghost of Christmas Present!!!! I can't believe how excited I was, front row and all!!)


What I learned on this evening:

- Though, in the moment, you might be laughing your butt off at their antics, enebriated patrons do NOT make the best subjects for streeter interviews.... :)

Booty Burlesque?

I'm totally loving Chicago! The weather is awesome and it basically feels like a larger Toronto. I've been getting stir-crazy in Toronto and eager for adventure, perhaps to move onto a new place. But I'm not adventurous enough to move somewhere that is drastically different from my hometown -- which would be anywhere beyond North America at this point. Even L.A....

I want to feel like I COULD be in Toronto, but I'm not.... it FEELS similar to home but the streets are all new and there is so much to explore... Chicago seems to satisfy this need for change for me..... now if only I could get a green card....

We started off our day filming at an amazing yoga studio called Nature Yoga. As I watched the vinyasa yoga class, I realize how much I MISS yoga. The heated room, wonderful incense, stretching out every inch of my body and clearing my mind.... I'm long overdue to get back into it. Maybe over the holidays when things are quieter for a second....
Out of all the people I've filmed with so far, Michelle is the gal I've connected with most. Not quite sure why -- we're very different. Maybe it's as simple as we're both ambitious creative women around the same age? Regardless, I had an amazing time getting to know her and as I looked at all of the things she has on her plate, and the upcoming projects too, it made my head spin. I might not be the multitasker that I think I am. Here I am, working on ONE FILM and having trouble seeing past it and beyond.... but it's the perfectionist in me.

(funny picture of the 'boom in shot'. Even though I've been working with location sound for so many years, it appears as though I'm still daunted by the boom mic above my head. :) )


The other special treat on this trip has been the addition of a really lovely young lady, native to Chicago. She was hired as a PA but she's actually an amazing filmmaker and photographer. Lucky us! I have to say, as much as I love my crew, introducing a little estrogen into the mix is a welcome change!!!

(a silly pic of us mugging to the camera)

But the real excitement today was my first ever burlesque lesson. If you know me, you know I love to dance. But for me, dancing= moving without choreography or thought when I'm drinking at a bar. Preferably with Justin on the soundsystem.

Lessons are a first. Never had lessons. Ever. I was majorly daunted -- with choreography, dancing can become something really beautiful but also it makes something fun into WORK! Regardless, after sitting through an "advanced" burlesque class, I wanted to look sexy and move like that too! I was curious enough to shake off my shyness and join in! It helped that there were a few other first timers in the room. All in all, the choreography was quite basic. I could tell that Michelle was trying to get us comfortable with moving and looking sexy as opposed to bogging us down with complicated moves. I got the moves down more or less... but I found it REALLY HARD to check myself out in the mirror. Think back to how much you get the music in your body and move uninhibitedly on the dance floor. Seeing yourself can spoil, at least for me, that blissful reverie.

But I was here to learn -- so I had to sneak a peek every now and then of my reflection. And I looked.... ok!

But what I was unsuccessful at in this class, was LOOKING sexy, from the neck up. I am in utter awe at Michelle's ability to turn on the "minx" in her eyes and expression at any time. When I try to intentionally look sexy, I just feel like a droopy-eyed, little-kiddie-pout mess. I suppose sexiness is a state of mind and if you feel it, you'll exude it. Clearly, I haven't gotten there yet...

(the "anonymous" class)

So half of the class was warm-up, stretching and basic moves to get all loose and sexy... Then, we all had to grab canes to work on a mini-routine. Props are fun! They allow you to focus your attention on them and away from your body (which you might still be self conscious about). We danced to Esthero's "If Tha Mood" -- perfect song to put you in the mood! So after laughing and sweating through an entire class, I felt good by the end. Not sexy necessarily, but more confident. Burlesque is addictive!

(Working the pole, er--CANE)

With my lesson out of the way, I was now able to focus on directing and capturing the essence an life of this magnificent goddess who had welcomed my crew and I into her life....

More to come....

T

Chi-Chi-Chi-Chitown...

First ever trip to Chicago. Apparently a lot of my "people" (read: Greeks) live here.... so I should be terribly excited, right? (My people also include the Polish as well, FYI).

In a freaky turn of events, the weather is almost BALMY for this time of year. Helped a bit with my luggage at the airport as I wasn't packing the thick knit sweaters. So I'm in Chicago for burlesque. To meet and work with the QUEEN of burlesque in my world... she's got a booty that does the duty (what on earth does that mean? I just made it up)

We had a few hours to ourselves after we landed so I marched right out onto Magnificent Mile and walked.... and walked and walked. Basically window shopped for 4 hours. I was in my usual traveller's daze and didn't take advantage of this precious free time to actually purchase some Christmas presents. But I did see some amazing holiday light displays and got a major workout!
I'm loving the hotel decor but hating the pushy employees. The valet guys literally jump into your car when you pull up and the bellmen almost grab your luggage even though you look (as I do) totally capable to handle the task yourself. But the interior is really cool and the hallways run around the perimiter of the building with glass dividers that look over into the atrium where they serve breakfast/happy hour drinks.

Pretty cool, eh?

So tonite I met up with my "subject" and her partner at a smoky bar and realized quickly that second-hand smoke would be my enemy for the first time in what feels like eons. That aside, all is good -- we're starting to film tomorrow!!