Retro Hollywood Starlet

Queen For A Night

victoria@victoria-lane.com — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:07:50 GMT

An Intimate Look At Possum Walk

victoria@victoria-lane.com — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:45:41 GMT

A new article about Possum Walk appeared today.

It's by far my favorite for its daring and intimate insight.

A Night Of Play

victoria@victoria-lane.com — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:38:38 GMT

Tonight is one of those rare nexus points upon which many things are occurring. I had multiple invitations to many decadent events. I wanted to be all Hollywood about it and hit up as many as possible but that's simply not realistic as I regain my footing in the realm of nightlife creature.

Instead, I'm headed to the infamous H.Wood tucked into a corner of the Hollywood & Highland complex for the grand opening of Lucent Dossier's new residency with DJ Pumpkin of The Wandering Marionettes. As icing, it's been declared an official Metblogs outing and I will be accompanied by my beautiful girlfriend Esza Kaye.

There's more glamour about to happen but I'll save each little morsel for maximum enjoyment.

The Quest For Balance

victoria@victoria-lane.com — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 04:39:42 GMT

"Mastery does not come from dabbling. We have to be prepared to pay the price. We need to have the sustained enthusiasm that motivates us to give our best."
-- Eknath Easwaran

"Genius is only the power of making continuous efforts." -- Elbert Hubbard

I am in a very delicate place.

I'm nearing a kind of exhaustion that sends people to the hospital. I crave a vacation or a couple of days of decadent luxury. Both cost time and money, neither of which I have enough of to make these things possible. Given the tremendous amount of work I do, I should be capable of treating myself. That's part of the problem, though. Things are terribly out of balance.

It came to a point this weekend where I was convinced that I was about to drop dead in my tracks. I felt like a horse being driven across the plains by a relentless rider with an urgent mission. Just the simple act of drawing in air to my lungs felt laborious and my entire body vibrated with a tiny tremble imperceptible to the naked eye. It thundered through my body like an earthquake. I could not vanquish it in way. It's a warning sign. And I am heeding it.

I need to find a way to not work quite so hard while reaping greater rewards. I also need to feed my creative desires more consistently. Writing hasn't been cutting it. Writing, for me, is as natural as breathing. It's something I do because it's necessary to my core being. It doesn't give me pleasure or a sense of satisfaction in the way that performing arts do.

I could use a little miracle or a fairy godmother right about now.

Late Nights In Los Angeles

victoria@victoria-lane.com — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:39:26 GMT

Last night on my way home from LA Live, I was standing at a corner along side a hippy looking boy. We were happily ignoring one another in the social avoidance big city denizens so adore when a car drove past us while a guy screamed something out the window. Apparently, both hippy boy and I blinked in confusion.

"Did he say 'suck it' or 'sake'?"

I laughed at the question that destroyed our cozy little ignore session because I had been wondering the same exact thing. It was an important distinction, really. In one case, I'd rather not, thank you. In the other, I could understand the enthusiasm and would also like to partake so I might be as joyful.

If you are going to be one of those douches who yells out your car window at people, you must articulate your words so your terribly important message can be understood and taken to heart by all.

Proof Victoria Bowled (And Smiled)

victoria@victoria-lane.com — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 08:31:51 GMT

Final Tally For The Fund R@zors

victoria@victoria-lane.com — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 06:29:21 GMT

The grand total for the Fund R@zor team's efforts with Bowling For Boobies was...

$6,283

That's incredible given that it was accomplished in a little less than two weeks.

Fuck You November

victoria@victoria-lane.com — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:36:29 GMT

November started with the best of intentions and took a nasty turn without missing a beat. Fall is a total failure. I'm apathetic about it. I don't have the luxury of melting down because too many people around me are doing it. My goal is to not only survive it but find a way to thrive.

I felt better for a couple of days, which was nice. But that quickly ended. I have no idea what keeps returning my health to the nether regions of hell. At this point, I have convinced myself I have Whooping Cough. (Yay medical websites!) In the end, it doesn't matter what the hell it is because it doesn't change the fact that I am coughing constantly and I make most of my living by interacting with the public or talking. There is nothing attractive about a person who unpredictably goes into coughing fits.

The only thing remotely on the positive side for the moment is that I decided to stop toying with the novel idea I've fantasized about for the past five years and just get it out. I signed up for NaNoWriMo. I'm 3,000 words behind the schedule. As a professional writer with regular deadlines, I'm not too worried about it. I've done 10k in one day. The point is to get the novel out at any cost so it's there to fine tune and shop around. I need to be making some kind of creative progress every single day no matter how inconsequential. If it's just 333 words or a half finished top hat or an outline for a production, it's something.

Help Me! Is A Little Miracle

victoria@victoria-lane.com — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:53:11 GMT

I've had this Help Me! product by Philosophy for a few weeks now.

It does things!

I have these tiny white bumps just under my eyes. I have no idea when they appeared or what caused them but I was told by a very knowledgeable skincare expert that there was nothing I could do about them. She was wrong. Help Me! has slowly banished them.

I think it will take more weeks of cellular turn over to see fine lines fade. But, in general, my skin looks fresh if not better than it has in years, particularly on the day I use a pumpkin enzyme masque to peel off the dead skin from the retinol. I've also added the use of Hope In A Jar moisturizer.

I have yet to meet a Philosophy product that doesn't do exactly what it claims.

On my next adventure, I might try out the Vampire Facial that I've been hearing about here in Studio City. The idea of using a component of blood to replenish the skin piques my curiosity.

Chasing Two Rabbits

victoria@victoria-lane.com — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 23:26:55 GMT

"Not what we have but what we enjoy, constitutes our abundance."
-- John Petit-Senn

"The shortest way to do many things is to do only one thing at a time."
-- Sydney Smiles

"If you chase two rabbits, both will escape." -- Source Unknown

As feared, I spent the last week of October sick. I don't remember much of it. I valiantly marched through what I had committed to doing. And I slept quite a bit.

Neither __wolverine__ nor I ever captured that Halloween feeling. I made pumpkin soup and some game hens. It was probably the weakest 'celebration' we've ever had. I shut down any attempts at petulance because trying to get healthy was a worthy goal even if it meant sacrificing our favorite night of the year.

Of course, today is the first day in weeks that I've felt even vaguely human. I had a twisted notion it would turn out this way too. I'll take it. I have had some epic Halloween nights in my past and there will be others.

I realized, during all the hours I had in bed to rest, that the chaos of this past year was partially within my ability to tone down. Everything I've wanted in the past 12 months, I've made happen. The trick is wanting worthy things. I've wanted some things that turned out to be too small to nurture or grow me forward. Now I'm stuck with some circumstances that will be messy to exit. But I wanted some very big, difficult to attain things. And I flourished in those times.

It all comes down to the challenge of maintaining focus. As humans we are disturbed from our paths by financial issues, other humans with their drama, daily rotating personal demons and so forth. Learning to stay on an intended path leading to the places we want to be while also dealing with the minutia that comes at us is a skill to be desired, honed and mastered.

I just need a cure for the tedium or a way to survive those swaths of time without complicating my life more than necessary.

As The Night Darkens..

victoria@victoria-lane.com — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 02:52:57 GMT

Blessed Samhain to all!

~V

Hours Of Serenity

victoria@victoria-lane.com — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:10:16 GMT

No racing with clocks today. No appointments or deadlines. No sense of urgency. Nothing and no one requiring anything of me.

I can just be.

Once the sun sets, that will all fade. So, for now, it is absolute bliss.

Bowling For Boobies 2009 At Universal City Walk

victoria@victoria-lane.com — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:04:55 GMT

Los Angeles was blowing away last night as I made my way to the Universal City Walk. The place was like a ghost town in the blustery chill of a real Fall night. I didn't mind. It made finding my way to the upper level of Jillian's that much easier.

I entered just a little after six pm. I didn't expect to be among the last to arrive. It was probably just as well because there was an open bar. I have a very deadly relationship with those. While the venue was full it wasn't nearly as populated as I had anticipated. (I have no frame of reference for the Bowling For Boobies event save that it continues to steadily grow every year.) I didn't see any faces I recognized, which is unusual for me. Eventually I found a couple of my teammates in the bowling ball area selecting their weapons of choice.

The Fund R@zor team was made up of a great group of girls. And nephilim_child was there too as our cheerleader. We had fun. Half of the girls could bowl. The other half of us hadn't ever done it before. I wasn't all that worried about it. My goal was to have a good time. I didn't care about how I looked (and kept it very basic with my clothing). I had no intention of being the best bowler out there. I only wanted to come away with a beautiful memory.

It was the most fun I've had in months. Plus, it was great to spend time around Forest and nephilim_child while also meeting new people. I ran into a writer for Dread Central near the end of the night.

Thank you to everyone who helped us with donations! I wish you could have all celebrated with us last night too. It was a worthy ending to a very intense fundraising process. I can't wait to find out how many women will be supported with this years' final total.

Ingratitude

victoria@victoria-lane.com — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 22:03:19 GMT

I need to stop being so annoyed that of all my creative skills my ability to write is what opens the most doors. The point is... it OPENS doors, right? What I do once I am in that super special room is entirely up to me. If I want to break out some other lovely little talent, that's absolutely doable.

I guess I wish there was some of the same kind of magic in those other places I nurture.

The Final 24 Hours Of Fund R@zor-ing

victoria@victoria-lane.com — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:43:57 GMT

We're not quite at our goal and it's down to the wire. I know there are some checks that have been sent directly to the Busted Foundation which have not been added to our total. They will be included in the final count.

Pass this around. Send us a few dollars. This is a great little grass roots charity that helps support Los Angeles women who are currently fighting breast cancer.

Don't forget to drop by on Tuesday at Universal City Walk (Jillians) from 6 - 9 pm where we'll be bowling in the flesh! It'll be fun and, most likely, damn amusing. I've never bowled once in my life.

Still Ill

victoria@victoria-lane.com — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 01:37:23 GMT

There is nothing much to report. __wolverine__ and I are still deeply possessed by illness. We haven't left the house today and opted to do as little as possible save drink tea, take medications and rest.

I am concerned about making it through this final week of October. The last two weeks have been a feverish blur. I missed out on so many things. I have a great deal going on in these last seven days that I cannot miss (not to mention worked very hard to put together). I'd like to be able to enjoy it all rather than simply trying to survive it.

Here's to waking up Monday feeling human!

Somewhere In LA Coughing Up My Lungs

victoria@victoria-lane.com — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 01:37:36 GMT

Whatever flu I have continues to lay siege to my body. Some days are better than others. Some days, I have no choice but to ignore how tired and sick I feel. Welcome to the wonderful world of being an adult! Regardless of the trendy illness I have, the world moves forward and I am endeavoring to keep up with it as best I can while not driving myself into an early grave.

The Bowling For Boobies team made it to the halfway mark of fundraising toward 5K. At the moment, we are only 2K away from the goal - one I hope we blast past, if not bring an additional 1k if (or more!) with us on Tuesday to Universal City Walk for the event.

The Possum Walk trailer has been well received. Even a few of my actual friends have responded to it, which is rare. I've grown used to taking these creative trips alone and having to find pleasure within myself with regards to the work. I think many people are surprised that a first time filmmaker working on a low budget could produce something so polished. To me, it is proof that jayabusa was born to make movies and that everyone involved was exactly where they were intended to be. That, after all, is movie magic. It's an unpredictable convergence of just the right elements to create a miracle.

October is nearly over. I've been so incredibly busy with various projects and my battle with this virus that I haven't had time to enjoy it. I had designs on changing that this week but I've spent the last two days in bed hoping to win the war for my health. I had intended today to be 24 hours of guiltless October indulgence from a day of Halloween shopping to a night seeing the Wandering Marionettes perform. Instead, I have a date with some flu medication and my pillow. I desperately hope I can finally wake up Friday morning feeling like a human being again.

I may have to shove an entire month of celebration into this final week.

The Sky Is Not My Limit

victoria@victoria-lane.com — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:18:26 GMT

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Possum Walk Trailer

victoria@victoria-lane.com — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 04:19:55 GMT

The Possum Walk Theatrical Trailer Premieres On Fangoria

victoria@victoria-lane.com — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:40:15 GMT

You have been asking me for it and now you can finally see it for yourself!

The Possum Walk theatrical trailer premiered this past weekend at Crypticon and now it is premiering today on the internet at Fangoria.

I've played it a dozen times and I can't get enough of it!

Fund R@zor Progress

victoria@victoria-lane.com — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 02:00:50 GMT

Check it out! We've got a fundraising page now to track our progress and we're making some great headway toward our goal.

Please consider helping us out in any way you can. Give up coffee for a day. Send us a dollar. There is no such thing as 'too small' in this case. You'll make a huge difference in the life of a woman battling cancer.

Running On Empty

victoria@victoria-lane.com — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:54:48 GMT

My days have been so jam packed I haven't had much time for sleep.

I may not get to any writing until tomorrow.

I'd give anything for some rest!

A Screamless October

victoria@victoria-lane.com — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 05:25:44 GMT

This particular Saturday has been a nexus of much intention for at least a month. Originally, I thought I'd be out in Texas at a convention with the Possum Walk cast and crew celebrating the first public viewing of the official theatrical trailer. But that ended up not happening due to the ineptitude of that event. Then I went with my usual choice for this time of year - the Scream Awards. Until about 48 hours ago, that was the plan.

Out of nowhere, I had an opportunity come up I could not resist. I had the chance to interview Tim Robbins with regards to a creative arts festival being hosted by his theater company. I thought I'd be doing it yesterday during the early afternoon but our schedules didn't jive and I had to get on with the rest of my day. There was a slim chance he'd have time Saturday. I wasn't counting on it, though. I figured I had lost my shot.

This afternoon I heard back that I could meet up for a quick interview. I didn't think about it twice. He's a hero of mine for his career, the way he carries his personal convictions and how he navigates some of the bullshit trappings of Hollywood. I've been to the Scream Awards several times and there will be plenty more in the future. But a chance to work on something like this, promoting something I believe in, is not common for me. I didn't even care that I'd be traveling three hours in traffic for what would amount to ten minutes or less. It's just how things are here. A lot of prep and work goes into very small moments. But how sweet they can be!

I headed out to the theater during rush hour traffic and arrived as they were setting up for the Tenacious D fundraising event going down tonight. I felt like a total nerd. I was nervous. Somehow I managed to keep on track and only say a few totally idiotic things that I will kick myself for over the course of the next week because that's how I roll. But I have some great material that I think is different from the various other reviews already published online. He also made me think and struck several chords that I've been gingerly fingering for years.

Stay tuned to LA Metblogs for the impending piece. It'll go up tomorrow or early Monday morning.

My Corner Of The Digital Sky

victoria@victoria-lane.com — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 01:59:56 GMT

Social Networking

http://twitter.com/VictoriaLane

http://www.myspace.com/victorialane

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=666083359

Writing RSS Feeds

Personal Blog

http://feeds2.feedburner.com/RetroHollywoodStarlet

LA Metblogs

http://la.metblogs.com/author/victorialane/

Bowling For Boobies 2009

victoria@victoria-lane.com — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 22:03:06 GMT

I am participating in a local charity that financially supports women with breast cancer as they go through treatment. Bowling For Boobies has been around since 2004. It used to benefit one woman a year but with recent attention the organization has exploded in size and last year was able to help 8 women. This year, Bowling For Boobies is bi-coastal. We're doing it here in LA and out in Philly they are taking up the cause to help women out there.

My personal fundraising goal is 1K. Given that I have less than two weeks to do it, it's a fairly daunting one but I am hopeful I can make it happen with your help. Every little bit matters. You can click on the image above to find the Busted Foundation's paypal contribution page or you can mail a check directly to them. Be sure you include my name or that of our team - Fund Razors - so our team is properly credited.

Thank you!