Every year at Christmastime, I make it a point to find a really fun live show to enjoy with my girls. It's one of our favorite traditions and it has become kind of a big thing.
We start searching for shows and tickets early in the fall. And we fret and argue and try to choose a really fun show. This is what happened the year when Amy Kikita didn't believe she would enjoy the show I chose.
This year we were out-of-our skin delighted to find that our very favorite A capella group, Straight No Chaser was going to be in town. (Well, technically they were going to be playing in San Diego, and even if it's not in our area code it was on our coast, but that's not important right now.)
So we traveled down to San Diego to the Balboa Theater and were treated to the most wonderful evening of amazing music. They are super talented and hilarious.
This is a photo the guys took from the stage and posted on their Facebook wall and asked the audience to tag themselves. Isn't that genius? (You should totally go like them on Facebook.)
After the show they stayed to sign autographs and meet the audience. As if we didn't love them enough before....
We shook their hands and loved on them and they signed our CD and we were happy delirious.
And we listened to their Christmas CD all the way home.
Inspired by their awesomeness, and playing their Holiday Spirits Christmas CD non-stop, I chose their incredible version of The 12 Days of Christmas for the opening of our family Christmas video.
The pictures I used were ones we took last year in our Nochebuena Photobooth. The word, "Cucufate" means a total screw up. Hence our name, Cucufate Pictures. ;-)
We will show the video on Saturday night at our annual Nochebuena Celebration. Here's a sneak peak....
I hope you are all loving the Cuando Sali de Cuba stories as much as I am. I feel so honored that I can give so many of you a place to share. It is my hope that the stories of how and why we are exiles will finally be told and get some traction.
The films I'm giving away today are a must-see for Cubans everywhere. Please visit the Voices from Mariel website to learn more about Dr. Jose Garcia and his family's exodus on the Mariel Boatlift. Or follow Voices from Mariel on Facebook for more information on upcoming screenings of the film.
These two winners will each receive a copy of the Voices from Mariel DVD.
For more information about Carlos Montaner and The Grandchildren of the Cuban Revolution film, please check out their website or follow them on Facebook. Prepare yourself! It's quite an eye-opening film.
The Grandchildren of the Cuban Revolution goes to:
Please send me an email with HEY, MARTA! I WON STUFF ON YOUR BLOG! in the subject line (so I don't accidentally delete it) along with your snail mail address so that I can send the DVDs out to you ASAP.
Muchos besos to you all and thank you for sharing your stories!
I just realized that the title of this post works on multiple levels.
Dreamworks Pictures' Real Steel is a winner of a film (in the best possible sense) and I've chosen a winner for the prize pack giveaway. (I crack myself up.)
I suppose you could say this is a win-win situation then, but that's not important right now.
And the winner is......(drum roll, please.)
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Congratulations, Maria! I think Tremendo Hierro would be an awesome name for a fighting robot! LOL!
Please send me an email with HEY, MARTA! I WON STUFF ON YOUR BLOG! in the subject line so that I don't accidentally delete it. Send me your snail mail address and please tell me what t-shirt size you would like, so that I can forward your information to Dreamworks so that they can get your Real Steel goodies out to you ASAP.
This happens to be my very favorite scene in the movie:
Thanks for playing! I think you'll all enjoy Real Steel as much as we did.
The following movie review is brought to you by Lucy R. Darby:
If anyone asked you if you’d like to go to Walt Disney Studios to see a pre-screening of the new Dreamworks Pictures movie, Real Steel, starring Hugh Jackman…
It would behoove you to say yes. (Thanks, Dreamworks!)
Based on the trailers, I nostalgically dubbed it the “Rock ‘em, Sock ‘em Robot Movie.”
The magic of wandering around the Disney back lots like VIPs and actually being close enough to touch one of the original multiplane cameras that was used to produce classics like Pinocchio was still fresh when we entered the theater.
Jon geeking out over the Disney multiplane camera.
May I say a few words about Hugh Jackman?
We love him. Even when he’s playing a character so unlikeable, unmotivated, greedy, contemptuous, and impatient, we can’t take our eyes of the screen. And we were rooting for him to finally become the dad we knew he could be. (I hope that didn't give anything away.....)
Synopsis:
Charlie Kenton, former boxing champion, has turned to training fighting robots and is desperate for money. In a less than ideal turn of events, he agrees to take care of his estranged son, Max, for the duration of the summer. Immediately, we see the conflict between them, as well as the similarities. They’re both stubborn, cocky, and they end up working together to guarantee the success of a newly discovered robot, named Atom.
Constantly struggling to make a living and trying to mend the relationship with his son, Charlie is forced to overcome his arrogance and his past mistakes.
And while Hugh Jackman is arguably the eye-candy in this film, the stars who totally steal the show are Noisy Boy and Atom.
And now, a few words from Jonathan Darby:
“It was a mix between… I guess, a really great action movie and the classic Disney template. It was epic. I almost cried.”
For a movie about futuristic fighting robots, the fight scenes weren’t excessive or repetitive. Jon was practically jumping out of his seat to encourage the imaginary machines. Not to spoil anything… but Mom did cry at the end.
As I was sitting in the theater, watching the credits scroll, I was silently hoping the words “based on a true story” would appear on the screen. I was disappointed.
But definitely not with the film. Go. See. It.
~Lucy Darby
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Marta here. I don't want to give away any spoilers, but, as Lucy said, it was a very enjoyable film. The fight scenes between the robots were violent, but hello? They're fighting robots. I think it's more suitable for tweens and teens rather than very little kids. And of course, anyone who loves video games. But trust me, you're going to want to see Real Steel.
And, okay....maybe I cried....just a little.
My one-day-I'm-going-to-be-a-filmmaker son cuts loose on the Disney back lot.
The folks at Dreamworks Pictures were gracious enough to let me offer a giveaway that ties in to the film. Of course, I am greatly pleased.
The prize pack from Dreamworks Pictures includes all of these:
• REAL STEEL t-shirt in adult sizes of S, M, L, XL
• REAL STEEL bottle opener
• REAL STEEL stickers & temporary tattoos
So, to enter this drawing, please answer one or all of the following questions:
Have you seen the trailers for Real Steel?
What would you name your own fighting robot? ;-)
Remember that if you want to enter the drawing for the Dreamworks gift pack, you must leave a comment on this post and I'll choose a winner onThursday, October 6th, 2011 at 10 am PST.
Dreamworks Pictures' REAL STEEL opens in theatres everywhere this Friday, October 7th.
You should make plans to go see it. Take your favorite geeky gamers. =D
Back in 1994, I took Amy and Adam to the premiere of the Disney film, The Lion King at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood. This was obviously before Lucy and Jonathan were born. We all loved the film so much that we couldn't wait to own it when it was released on VHS. (Yes, this is waaay back in the day.)
A few years later, when we added two more little ones to our family, our love for The Lion King never diminished.
When my son, Jonathan, was very little, he loved watching Disney's The Lion King on our VHS player. He's almost 16 now and I imagine that like most of his generation, they grew up watching Simba grow from cub to king and knew every moment of the film and every song by heart.
In the first scene, when all the animals come to the presentation of Simba, Jonathan would stretch his arms out for someone (usually me - Wait! Would that then make me the monkey??) to pick him up and "present" him. He would usually signal his older siblings to bow down, and to my endless astonishment and to their everlasting credit, they always did.
We've also enjoyed watching the live musical production of The Lion King. Seriously, so much love for this movie and show.
Last week I had the opportunity to attend a preview screening of The Lion King 3D at the Walt Disney Studio Lot with my friend, Jana (The Summer House).
We were wide-eyed and amazed and feeling sooo accidentally cool to be visiting the Walt Disney Studios. You can imagine what that was like for a Disney-uber-geek like myself. (Pinch me!)
First of all, the film itself (even though I knew every line by heart) stands the test of time. It's completely as fresh and funny and poignant as it was so many years ago. The 3D effects make the scenes just that more thrilling (particularly the wildebeast stampede, but that's not important right now).
Having the privilege of seeing it at the Walt Disney Studios just gave me another thing to put a checkmark next to on my Bucket List. (I'll have to tell you all about it in great detail, but that's a post for another day.)
Do yourself a favor and GO. SEE. THIS. FILM. It's only in theaters for the next two weeks. In 3D, people! (Not the roller-coaster-stomach-churning 3D, the very cool-modern-the-characters-look-so-real 3D.)
Take your kids who were so little when it was released in theaters the first time, so they can enjoy the full effects. Encourage your teenagers and young adults to go see it again on the big screen so they can relive the magic. Seriously. You'll thank me.
As for Jonathan, who wants to one day be a film maker, well.....he just can't wait to be king. ;-)
Do you have some good memories of The Lion King? Please share.
**The following post was written and brought to you by the one and only Kikita. Marta and the rest of the big, fat, Cuban family are currenty cruising to Puerto Rico**
Mami, Marta, has been collecting your Cuando Sali de Cuba stories for quite some time now getting ready for Hispanic Heritage Month. What better way to kick off the month than with a screening of the film that kicked off the Cuando Sali de Cuba story sharing?
And now, at the start of Hispanic Heritage Month, there will be a couple of special screenings of this incredible documentary in select cities.
If you're in Miami, you can go see "Voices From Mariel" next weeked, September 9, 10, & 11 at: O CINEMA 90 NW 29th Street Miami, FL 33127 (305) 571-9970 Click here for tickets and showtimes
If you're reading from New Brunswick, New Jersey there will be a screening for you, too!
On September 25th, "Voices of Mariel" will be part of the screenings offered in the New Jersey:
New Jersey Film Festival Location Voorhees Hall #105 71 Hamilton Street/College Avenue Campus Rutgers University New Brunswick, NJ (You have to be sure and arrive about 30 minutes early to get your tickets at the door, though)
All of these screenings are fantastic, but a movie isn't really a movie until it's seen in LA, right? Of course, right.
So, on September 10th at 8pm, as a part of Cuban Cultural Night at the MACHA Theatre in West Hollywood, there will be a special screening of "Voices of Mariel" complete with a Question and Answer session with some of the makers afterwards. ("The Makers" being Dr. Jose Garcia - the creator, Rob Tritton - a producer, and Steven Bauer - a totally awesome actor and if you don't know who he is I - Kikita - might be worried about how Cuban you really are!)
There are plenty of people who don't know anything about the Mariel Boatlift beyond Scarface or that one Pitbull album, those are the people you should bring with you to this event.
And, afterwards, please come up and introduce yourself to me.
Let's take a picture. And you can tell me your Cuando Sali de Cuba story, or ask for tips on how to get your Taka Taka just right. ;-)
I hope to see you all on Saturday, September 10th at 8pm! MACHA Theatre 1107 North Kings Rd West Hollywood, CA 90069 Click here for tickets
If you haven't submitted your Cuando Sali de Cuba story to Mami yet, there's still time! Go ahead and send her an email. (600-700 words with photos.)
If you can't make it to any of the screenings because they're not in your area, there's only one thing to do: find a way to have a screening in your city! Go ahead and send me, Kikita, an email and I'll make sure you get in touch with the right people.
What a great beginning to Hispanic Heritage Month, no?
Thank you again for your willingness to share your stories. (And for letting me share mine!)
If you must know, my very favorite character, especially in the film, was Celia Foote. I loved how she totally disarmed Minny with her innocence - or was it ignorance?
Please send me an email with HEY, MARTA! I WON STUFF ON YOUR BLOG! in the subject line and your snail mail address so that I can forward to Dreamworks and get this cool stuff out to you ASAP.
Thanks again to all of you who played with me. And seriously.....GO. SEE. THIS. FILM!
When I was a small child in Cuba B.C.* my family had "Help."
(*Before Castro)
Pita (pronounced in Spanish - PEE-TAH) was the family chauffer. He was a beautiful, old mulato that took us everywhere. Well, he took my mom and us kids everywhere. My dad drove himself to work and back. It fell to Pita to take us shopping and to the movies and to the beach. As he drove he would always tell us fantastic stories of his life. I remember him being hysterically funny and I remember that he and my dad were sit-around-the-back-porch-and-smoke-together friends.
Fausta was The Cook. We in turn adored and were terrorized by her. She was a very large woman and my memory gives her credit for the very best frijoles negros (black beans) that I will ever eat in my life.
Then there was Vicky. Her real name was Emildonia, but she made us call her Vicky. Our "manejadora," or nanny. She was beautiful and patient and kind. And we loved her desperately.
We left these beloved folks when we left Cuba in early 1961. They were very much a part of our family and it hurt to say goodbye. I often think back to those people and wonder about them and their stories. You know how much I like stories...
Fast forward to present day. (I promise you this ties in.)
Did you ever read a book and want desperately for it to be made into a movie? We bibliophiles spend a lot of time loving and hating on that premise.
We love the idea that our favorite literature may be coming to the big screen. We clap at the previews but then when we finally see the film are usually (at least mildly) disappointed in the way it was done. (I'm talking to you, Peter Jackson.) Am I right?
Such was the case with the book, The Help. Set in the south in the 1960's. From the press release for the movie:
It's about three women who build an unlikely friendship around a secret writing project that breaks societal rules and puts them all at risk. From their improbable alliance a remarkable sisterhood emerges, instilling all of them with the courage to transcend the lines that define them, and the realization that sometimes those lines are made to be crossed—even if it means bringing everyone in town face-to-face with the changing times.
I was invited by Dreamworks Pictures to a pre-screening of the movie, The Help a few weeks ago and then again this last week while I was in San Diego for BlogHer 2011.
Can I just tell you how much I loved it? In fact, I loved it so much the first time that I was delighted to get a second chance to see it. (Thanks, Dreamworks!)
I was not at all disappointed. The characters came to life almost exactly as I had pictured them. The story was funny and poignant and breathtaking.
As I watched the plot unfold, I remembered our own "Help" back in Cuba. I connected most to the character of Skeeter who wanted to use her gift as a writer to help these women tell their stories.
And I definitely reached for my tissues more than once, but that's not important right now.
I am in love with this film. Seriously. And not just with the story and characters, but with the look and feel of it. The cinematography is brilliant.
So I was triply (<--Is that a word?) delighted when the generous folks at Dreamworks were gracious enough to let me offer a giveaway.
1) The prize pack from Dreamworks Pictures includes all of these:
- THE HELP t-shirt in adult female sizes of S, M, L, XL (The winner can let me know their size.)
- THE HELP pocket jotter & pen
- THE HELP fan
- THE HELP nail file/mirror
2) I also have an extra copy of the book, The Help by Kathryn Stockett. (This is my own to give away. You're very welcome.)
So, to enter this drawing, please answer one or all of the following questions:
If you read the book, do you have a favorite character?
Did you ever have "Help?"
If you have not read the book, have you heard good things about it?
Remember that if you want to enter the drawing for the Dreamworks gift pack and the book, you must leave a comment on this post and I'll choose a winner on Wednesday, August 10th, 2011 at 5 pm Pacific. (That's also the day the movie comes out in theaters, Go. See. It.)
- I already wear glasses and it's a pain to have to wear the 3-D ones on top. So, I don't enjoy the movie as much since I'm always fidgeting with my glasses x2
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Please send me an email with your snail mail address and HEY, MARTA! I WON STUFF ON YOUR BLOG! in the subject line and I will forward your address to the generous folks at Disney who will get those DVDs out to you immediately.
In 1969, while waiting at the airport for the plane that would take me and my parents to our new life and saying our last goodbyes, I noticed I was the only one who wasn't crying. I was six years old and though my parents had been honest with me when I asked when we would see our family again ("We don't really know, hopefully not too long"), I was certain that, at most, it would be a couple of years.
I didn't understand why my only cousin, who was more of a sister to me, clung to my mother's skirt and sobbed. I suppose that, being a little older, she was less idealistic than I. I didn't know then that she would succumb to Hodgkin's disease and we would never see each other again, or that three of my four grandparents would die without having shared in my small triumphs or great joys.
Please send me an email with your snail mail address and HEY, MARTA! I WON STUFF ON YOUR BLOG! in the subject line and I will get a copy of this beautiful film out to you immediately.
Thanks again, to all of you. I'm quite humbled by your everyday brand of courage. Cubans continue to amaze me and make me proud every single day.
And thank you to the filmmakers who were so generous to make this available to my readers. Gracias!
For those of you who are interested. The Voices from Mariel DVD is available for purchase here.
My Big Fat Cuban Family: A Cuban-American Blog
My Big Fat Cuban Family is all about my Cuban American life. Enjoy my ramblings on my blog about my Cuban family, Cuban heritage, Cuban culture, Cuban life. And some decent Cuban recipes with pictures, too.
