Spirited Woman Blogger Team

The King’s Speech and the Woman who Stopped Talking

The Oscar winning film The King’s Speech is about a man struggling to find his voice, even though he was, King George VI, the most powerful man in England.

Finding one’s voice is of utmost importance in life. I believe that every one of us has a voice bouncing around trying to be heard, whether through business, art, music, writing, or whatever has meaning for us. We all dream that someday we’d stand out like a patch of red among a vast expanse of green. However, unlike the king in the movie who worked so hard to gain a voice, I know a woman who deliberately tried to lose hers.

She was a nun who lived in Taiwan. Before she became a nun, she had, like countless other women, worked at boring jobs to help support her family. After her husband passed away and her children left home, she used her free time to study Buddhism. She began to meditate and as her practice deepened, she decided to leave the city for a remote mountain far away from the travails of this Red Dust. She lived a very simple life of meditation, chanting, and gardening.

Because of her devotion to Buddhism, she gradually became famous. Ironically, since her purpose in leaving the city was to be left alone to meditate,  reporters began to travel to her remote mountaintop to interview her. But the nun refused to grant any interviews and gradually stopped talking altogether. She also stopped eating, surviving only on soup and juice. But her asceticism only made her more famous. When the reporters tried to find pictures of her to print in their newspapers, they were surprised to find that she didn’t have any. Finally, one was found– her passport photo for the one time she traveled outside Taiwan.

For this unusual women, it was when she stopped speaking completely that she found her true voice. Because of her intense devotion, she came to be worshipped throughout Taiwan.

- Mingmei Yip, http://www.mingmeiyip.com
Click here to read more of Mingmei's posts.

Do You Have True Grit?

As the movie theater darkened one recent afternoon, I reached into my popcorn bucket and sighed. Earlier, the family had voted and I had lost. During the balloting and what seemed to be an unfair twist of fate, the dog had accidentally raised her paw when it was time to select the movie - innocently casting the deciding vote. Never a fan of westerns, I was now about to sit through a two-hour remake of True Grit. My husband touched my arm and leaned over to whisper in my ear, “Isn’t this great?” Westerns are his favorite—mine are comedies (obviously). My daughter moved restlessly in her seat next to me. Like me, she preferred comedies. So there we sat—my 16-year-old son and husband thrilled beyond belief while my daughter and I began looking for an escape route that wouldn’t set off the movie theater fire alarm.

But as 14-year-old actress Hailee Steinfeld (who played Mattie Ross) began to “wow” us with her amazing talent, we suddenly became enraptured with her character’s true grit as she began a journey across the prairie to avenge her father’s death with the help of two unsavory characters. As Mattie traveled into hostile Indian territory on horseback with only a drunken United States marshal and an egotistical Texas Ranger as her companions, she courageously faced one dangerous situation after the other. From gunfights to dead bodies hanging in trees to lethal snake bites, Mattie Ross surprised everyone—including all the men who surrounded her—with her seemingly endless bravery.

As the movie credits rolled, I began to think about all the times in my life when I had displayed true grit. It had bubbled to the surface on the top of a mountain in the California High Sierras one Memorial Day weekend when I was trapped in a blinding snowstorm, along with my boyfriend, with nothing between me and the elements but a thin sweater and a jean jacket. As we managed to find our way down the mountain, I dug deep, clenched my teeth, and found my will to live. My true grit showed itself again when I lost my second baby to a miscarriage at thirteen weeks. As I grieved during the months after my loss, I relied on my true grit to lead me out of the darkness to the bright light of hope once again.

The Woman Warrior

Most Americans know Mulan as the cartoon character in Disney’s animated movie of the same name. In China, she is a legendary figure who saved China from a foreign invasion one thousand years ago.

Mulan was the only girl and a weaver in the family, her brother was still a child and her parents old and frail. Therefore, when her father received the emperor’s order to fight on the battlefield, the whole family was plunged into a state of fear and misery.

Mulan decided to make a daring move. She would disguise herself as a man and go to fight in place of her father. Having no other choices, the parents agreed -- even though she had just been betrothed to Han, a young man who was mobilized to the same unit as Mulan.

For twelve long years, the two fought side by side without Han ever finding out that his brave comrade was in fact Mulan, his fiancée.

For many centuries, Mulan has been a role model for girls, especially in traditional China where women were expected to stay home to look after the household.

Imagine a young girl with no military training who could chase the ferocious invaders out of China, and who could fight side by side with men for twelve years without visiting her family once. If we have Mulan’s courage and determination, nothing is impossible.

- Mingmei Yip,  http://www.mingmeiyip.com
Click here to read more of Mingmei's posts.

Sex and the City 2 - From Manolos to Louboutins

The day has finally arrived…Sex and the City 2 is on the big screen. My girlfriend and I were discussing our feelings about the sequel because we both have some reservations about the actual story. Neither of us have seen it yet - but we both decided we will approach it as an adventure, a very stylish one. I remember when SATC first aired on HBO and although the "girls" were fashionable from the start, their ensembles weren’t so over-the-top. As the show progressed and evolved into two movies, we are given lots of fashion eye candy.

Patricia Field, SATC’s wardrobe stylist, pieces together bold and daring outfits that maybe 2% percent of women in the world would actually wear on a daily basis. I do love how Ms. Field celebrates spirited womanhood with her styling and gives us ideas on how to incorporate something exquisite or outrageous into our daily dressing.

One accessory that she put on the map and into women’s vocabulary is Manolo Blahnik strappy sandals. We watched Carrie Bradshaw charge up her credit cards or spend her last dollars on a new pair of Manolos. What Field brought for young women today is the message that you can dress up a plain outfit with fabulous accessories, especially if they’re Manolos. The two pairs I remember from SATC series are the turquoise blue suede strappies that Aiden’s dog Pete chewed on when he moved in with Carrie and the jeweled silver, open-toe d’Orsay’s that were stolen from Carrie because her friend asked her to take off her shoes before entering her home during her baby shower.

I remember those jeweled silver heels vividly because during that time of my life I could afford a $150 shoe but not a $495 heel. Luckily for me, Steve Madden happened to make a knock off of that particular Manolo Blahnik and I was happy to plunk down my money to emulate Carrie’s happiness. I wore those babies out.

Other designer names were introduced season after season on SATC like Jimmy Choo and Christian Louboutin. Louboutin mania seemed to spring up out of nowhere and every actress on the red carpet was donning Loubotin’s red sole high heel. Red carpet, red sole…coincidence or cleverness? I must admit, as soon as I could start affording Mr. Louboutin heels I went crazy. The very first pair I bought was in Saks Fifth Avenue in New York City while on business. Saks had just renovated their shoe salon and I couldn’t wait to breathe it in. Riding the elevator up to the fourth floor was heart pounding. As the doors slid open I heard music that one might hear when the gates to heaven open. I literally felt like I was having an out-of-body experience seeing all those gorgeous shoes.

SATC Designer Birthdays Bring May Flowers

I don’t know about all you women out there, but I’m secretly getting more excited to see the second incarnation of Sex in the City movie. Now that the new trailer is airing on TV and online–I’m loving all the spirited fashion ensembles that stylist Patricia Fields put together for the SATC women.

When the first SATC movie came out two years ago, I put together dinner and a movie on opening night. My girlfriends and I got decked out in our designer garb, got our tickets early and even had the local TV news film our evening from dinner to the movie. I was carrying a dozen pink and silver balloons as we walked to the theater to get our place in the already formed long line. We made an entrance receiving oohs and aahs, and tons of claps. We even had some women ask us if they could take our picture. It was the women’s equivalent of the super bowl.

April is a month filled with famous fashion designer birthdays that oddly enough had pieces featured in the first SATC movie. Remember Carrie Bradshaw’s montage of wedding dresses for her Vogue photo shoot? She was a lucky woman when she received a special delivery from April 8th birthday girl, Dame Vivienne Westwood with a note that read something like, “Congratulations Carrie, this dress is meant to be yours.”

Westwood was known in the early 80’s for her "punk style" fashion combined with bondage gear, safety pins, razor blades, bicycle or lavatory chains on clothing and spiked dog collars for jewelry, as well as outrageous make-up and hair. Essential design elements include the adoption of traditional elements of Scottish design such as tartan fabric. Her latest collection was themed "Gold and Treasure, Adventure and Exploration."

Kathryn Bigelow Makes Oscar History!

As just about every Spirited Woman knows, Kathryn Bigelow was the first woman ever at the Academy Awards (which was held last Sunday) to win the Oscar for best-directed feature film. After 82 years, she broke the mold!  Her movie, The Hurt Locker, also took home five other awards, one of which was for best picture.

Kathryn is quite the renaissance woman. Not only is she a director, but a very accomplished painter, who won a scholarship to the Whitney Museum's Independent Art Study Program at 20 years old. She also spent time at the San Francisco Art Institute. After receiving great praises for her work from the likes of Susan Sontag and other critics, she attended and graduated from Columbia Film School. Apart from The Hurt Locker, Bigelow has also directed Strange Days (1995) and Point Break (1991).

Funny enough, Kathryn was up against her ex-husband James Cameron the director of Avatar (also the largest grossing film ever). It could have been a very War of the Roses scenario, but Cameron seemed  genuinely happy for her. At the awards ceremony, he was conveniently sitting directly behind her - keeping the audience in suspense.

I was really surprised that Kathryn did not make mention of her monumental achievement for all women in her acceptance speech - actually she seemed more surprised that she was receiving her award from fellow director and actress Barbra Streisand. I bet most viewers did not even know that she was accepting such an honor. It was probably only until they saw the headlines the next day that they actually understood the significance of her win.

That said, it is clear now what a history maker Kathryn Bigelow is. I am sure she will continue to be a role model and inspiration for women all over, in every industry. Her win Sunday night proves that with guts, determination, talent, drive, and a little luck thrown in - anyone can achieve her dream.

- Elaine LaPersonerie - www.winkpr.com
Click here for more of Elaine's posts.

Spirited Actresses Hit the Red Carpet

Every year I look forward to awards season here in Los Angeles. Not because I particularly care who wins an Emmy, Golden Globe, Spirit Award or Oscar, I love watching the fashion come down the carpet before the award shows start. There’s a lot that goes into styling an actress for such an event. There are many fittings and lots of coordinating with a wardrobe stylist, makeup artist and hair stylist. It’s a production to get ready for the carpet walk and then while on the carpet, posing and taking beautiful photos for the world to see is another huge responsibility. Glamorously displaying designer creations from hair, makeup, accessories, dress and shoes.

It was definitely the year for spirited women in film with the Best Director and Picture going to Kathryn Bigelow for The Hurt Locker. Kathryn wore a sleek silvery gray dress, a unique color for gowns. There was an array of unique colors this year from cobalt blue, purples, grays, lots of red which was surprising and then the expected champagnes and blushes with all the glitz, and gold and silver mixes with tons of beading.

I was a bit disappointed this year with designers pushing their architectural couture gowns and actresses  with the predictable up do tresses but there were a handful of women who took it up a notch and pleasantly surprised me.

Elizabeth Banks wore a soft feather gray, strapless gown by Versace. This corseted bodice with bias-cut piping and beading hugged the hips then bloomed into a ruffled train. Elegant yet fashion forward. Maggie Gyllenhaal is a risk taker when it comes to her gown choices from 2009 Golden Globe Lanvin leopard print dress to this year’s water color motif by Dries Van Noten. She pulls off playful patterned dresses elegantly and effortlessly.

Everyone can’t stop talking about Sandra Bullock’s overall look, wearing a shimmery dress by Marchesa. The detailing in this dress is amazing from all the hand-sewn appliqués and beading, what a work of art. I also loved that Sandra left her hair down and wore simple diamond earrings and diamond bangle bracelet. She said all the jewelry she wore was her own given to her by her husband, Jesse James.

Home Movie Library - Our Favorites A Click Away

My fantasies and obsessions are not only my reality, but the stuff of which my films are made. -- Italian film director Federico Fellini

My husband and I are building a library.

Oh, I don't mean a brick-and-mortar library, I mean a library of our favorite films. It's going to be so wonderful! On a rainy Friday afternoon or a sunny Sunday morning, we can sit in our living room and immerse ourselves to our hearts' content in a movie of our choice.

With all the hype surrounding the Oscars yesterday, it occurred to me that sometimes the absolute latest whizbang technological innovation -- Avatar, or Alice in Wonderland in 3D -- isn't what impresses me about movies. What I love is a devilishly interesting plot (Hitchcock's Vertigo), or a pure delight (Cinema Paradiso), or a good laugh (Albert Brooks' writing and acting in Lost in America).

Last night we watched Federico Fellini's masterpiece, Nights of Cabiria, made in 1957. Fellini's wife, the actress Giulietta Massina, starred as the waif-like prostitute searching for true love and encountering only heartbreak. Her expressive face and poignant acting kept me riveted to the screen. Glorious!

Recently I've marveled at the early career performances of Karl Malden in Baby Doll and Streetcar Named Desire, the staggering power of Andy Griffith's ability in A Face in the Crowd, and the subtle range of acting skills shown by Johnny Depp in Donnie Brasco and Blow.

Sometimes I'm up to here with stress and anxiety about the unpredictable economy, and trying to cram what seems like 50 hours' worth of tasks into a 24-hour day. I've discovered that one of the things that deeply relaxes me is watching a movie that absolutely captures my imagination and won't let go.

Are you the same way? What are some of your all-time favorite films? What is it that intrigues you about them? Let me know.

Linda Jay Geldens, www.LindaJayGeldens.com
Click here for more of Linda's posts.

Sarah Jessica Parker - Fashonista, Mom, Actress, Business Woman, Icon

SJP, do those three letters mean anything to you? Well if you are a full-fledged fashionista they should but otherwise you may not realize that they simply stand for Hollywood super star Sarah Jessica Parker. I don't know about the press in the rest of the world, but in Europe and most particularly in the UK and France, you hardly ever see her whole name printed out, she is simply the iconic SJP.

A true fashion phenomenon, SJP is a role model for 30+ women the world over. Glamour in the UK recently ran an article about the chameleon like actress. They showed photos from the beginning of her career to today and it was fascinating to see how this modern day diva (but in a nice way) has constantly changed her looks to fit the times. Be sure to check it out for yourself here. 

Though Sarah Jessica Parker is famous from a very young age, I only truly discovered her when I saw her in Steve Martin's hilarious movie L.A. Story. She was simply a ray of sunshine in that movie. She seemed so full of life, so optimistic, you couldn't help but like her.  Now, yes I know that was her character but I tend to think that when you play a role really well, there are at least a few of those same characteristics in you.

In the late 90s, success with a capital S came knocking on SJP's door. Sex and the City was born and with it an international phenomenon for modern women the world over. The four principal actresses became household names nearly overnight but none more so than Sarah Jessica Parker. Carrie, her character, was so real, so flawed and yet so chic and friendly that you felt you just wanted to sit down with her for a New York city Sunday brunch. I certainly got hooked on the series and it remains on my favorites' list to this day.

"Avatar" Breaking Records at the Box Office - Many More Men See it Than Women

It's just a movie now but pretty soon there will be toys, stuffed animals, video games and an entire Avatar sub-culture. Avatar is currently ranked as the third highest grossing film ever and has raked in over 1 billion dollars. Most of its money has come from overseas - $731.2 million to be exact compared to the U.S.'s $367.5 million. The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King brought in $1.12 billion dollars and as of next week, Avatar is projected to cruise right past it. The highest grossing film ever, Titanic brought in $1.84 billion dollars - also directed by James Cameron. Although it is unsure and seems unlikely that Avatar will soar past the Titanic mark, director James Cameron can sleep easy knowing that he is responsible for the two highest grossest films in history.

Interestingly, 78% of all advance tickets were purchased by men according to the Hollywood Reporter. I wonder why women are not as inclined to see it. I"m guessing it has something to do with the trailer.  Sometimes, I fall victim to that sort of thing too - where I see a book cover or movie trailer and think "that is not for me". One of my resolutions for 2010 is to try everything before making any judgments!

For me, the futuristic Avatar was really impressive on all levels - especially the technical level. The film was made wonderfully; with amazing special effects and graphics and the story, although some claim was dull and boring, was socially conscious and moving. Some are saying that they felt the same way watching Avatar as they did watching Star Wars. It was an introduction to a type of film they had never seen or dreamed of.

But if you are a Spirited Woman still on the fence, here are a few reasons you should get out and see it:

- There is a love story with good on-screen romance. There is even a sex scene!               
- There are some women bad asses! Sigourney Weaver & Michelle Rodriguez play two strong and compassionate characters. One a scientist and the other a fierce fighter pilot.                                              
- There's a HOT alien! Even though Sam Worthington is in full animation - he is still kind of sexy. Definitely have a little crush on him.

Okay, you have to make up your own mind - but the movie is a force of accomplishment, a visionary's dream - and it clearly brings that part out in all of us. No matter what your sex or age.

- Elaine LaPersonerie - www.winkpr.com
Click here for more of Elaine's posts.