Life Updates and Things

Hello guys!

Considering how busy I have been lately, it looks like I will be posting only on Sundays for now. But if  you would like more frequent updates, check Twitter (@Bookishbelle) or my Tumblr (zgulliksen.tumblr.com) for pictures about everything and nothing at all.

My work coffee mug & desk things

My new job at MoviePass is pretty amazing actually. I'm the Social Media & Events Director where I get to talk about movies all day long. I can't explain what we do JUST yet but you should be VERY excited. We launch in August but until then you should follow our Twitter (@MoviePass) and blog (blog.moviepass.com) both of which I am currently taking over. I will also be at SDCC this year to talk about it, so add me to your list of people to say hi to!

I also tried fondue for the first time with Spider writer Dan Slott. (@DanSlott) It all started because I told him that I had a dream that we went out for fondue and so we made it happen. It was quite ironic because we had it on the hottest day of the year so far, but nevertheless it was delicious. I mean, how can you say no to bread and cheese? We felt like Peggy Carter and Howard Stark =P

Currently:

Reading: Peter and the Starcatcher Annotated Script of the Broadway Play, Strangers in Paradise vol 5 by Terry Moore, and One Fifth Ave by Candice Bushnell. Okay so that last one is 100% a guilty pleasure. I need something to read on a train ride home and picked up this chick fiction at a train station bookstore that did not require a lot of thought process to get through. So far it has way too many characters that are fighting over a 20 million dollar apartment. I wish I had $20 million to fight with.

Strangers is brilliant as always, and if you haven't read this series, I suggest giving it a shot. For years I was reluctant to start it because I didn't quite like the art. Now I'm in love with not only the art but the complicated characters as well. Pick it up.

Peter is the script of the play I loved so dearly, and I was dying to get my hands on this book so I could have a mini speech Molly gives:

"And when I marry, I shall make it very clear to this person-that sentimentality is not on the calendar. He will have to lump it, or leave it. And if he should leave, I'll stay a spinster and pin my hair back and volunteer weekends as hospital. And I will love words for their own sake, like "hyacinth" and "Piccadilly" and "onyx". And I'll have a good old dog, and think what I like, and be part of a different sort of family, with friends, you know? -who understand that things are only worth what you're willing to give up for them."

My review of the book is going up on the Daily BLAM soon, so keep an eye for it.

Listening to: I made Barney's New Year's Eve Playlist from How I Met Your Mother on Spotify and it's been on repeat for a while. My favorites include "You Give Love a Bad Name" by Bon Jovi and "Sail Away"by Styx. 

Watching: This week I saw Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter and Brave. Although the writing for Abe was just awful, the cinematography was stunning and overall entertaining. Brave I greatly disliked though. The story was shallow and everything felt forced. This week I'm going to see Ted on Tuesday, another screening on Wednesday (which Pietro hasn't told me what it is yet) and then Spider-Man again on Thursday! I love working in the movie business. ^.^ I also have been having a Digimon: Season 1 marathon with my brother. We are amazed at how good it still is after all these years.

Wanting to: Mhmm. Get back into running shape. Start eating a more balanced diet. I'm a vegetarian, and often I don't get the nutrients and protein I need and as a result I feel lethargic and sick. So this week my goal is to eat MUCH better. I also want to do really well at my job and prove to them that I am invaluable. 

My goal this week is also to be more understanding with people. This next month will try my patience more than I'd like. In the past, when people become too much for me to handle, I simply stop talking to them. Instead, I am learning to just shut up and bear with it. Just because certain circumstances hurt me, I can't expect to be happy with everything. It's just life.

Things I Saw This Week:

Hellboy, Jersey style. As seen upon a train station garbage can

88 cent pregnancy tests, as seen at Wal-mart

That's all for now! I hope everyone is having a good afternoon, and I'll see you on Twitter!

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Sunday Updates: New Job & Roller Derby Teams

I've been up since 6:30 this morning, which is unheard of on a weekend (or any day,  really) for me. However, I am very anxious person and I'm feeling very jittery about my new job tomorrow! I view my anxiety as positive element though, and Pietro (@poni_boy) just reaffirmed this on the phone with me. He said that when I become nervous, especially in a work situation, I don't mess up- instead I perform even better than usual. So I raise my Calming Tea glass to being anxious. I thought waking up early would make me more productive, but all I did was stalk Tumblr and watch an episode of True Life on MTV. This is time I could have been snoozing.

Now for some Sunday Updates!

Currently:

Reading- This week I read "Promethea" by Alan Moore, courtesy of Kristin (@dramaqueen327). Novel wise I'm reading "False Negative" by Joespeh Koeing, a pulp fiction Hard Case story. I am LOVING it so much, however the "scandalous" cover has convinced my family I am reading "sex stories".

Listening To- This week I have been playing a Broadway Playlist that I made on Spotify that is probably driving this household bonkers considering I sing along quite loud. I also am tone deaf. Songs include "People Will Say We're in Love" from Oklahoma, "For the First Time" from Tarzan, and "On The Street Where You Live" from My Fair Lady. However, this morning I'm listening to Britney Spears' original album. Come on, "Baby More More Time" is a classic.

Watching- This week I watched The Black Dahlia  and New Year's Eve. Both movies are known for being terrible films, however I enjoyed them much more than I expected. The Black Dahlia's cinematography is stunning and was nominated for an Academy Award. However, the script was all over the place and unfulfilling. Thank goodness for 1940s culture and Scarlett Johansson. New Year's Eve was also not as bad as everyone said it was. Sure, The Ashton Kutcher/ Lea Michelle story line made me want to claw my eyes out from boredom/grossed out. But the rest of it was actually surprising and heart felt. I'm also a sucker for sentimental movies that take place in New York City.

Wanting To- Become a Roller Derby Girl. If you have been following my tweets this morning, you have seen that I'm bringing up my ridiculous dream to be a hell on wheels babe in a kick ass outfit. I wouldn't actually be good on a team though because I'm not aggressive/competitive and I have poor coordination. But I think I would look really good in weird outfit and I would very much enjoy skating around Central Park. I've talked to some girls on Twitter and I plan to start a team where we just drink milkshakes and skate on flat terrain. Super hero costumes also will be involved. Interested? Drop me a line.

New Job starts tomorrow, which is pretty surreal every time I think about it. For years and years 2012 was going to be when my whole life changed. I had three goals: graduate from college, land an awesome job in the city, and then finally move to the city. Well 2 out of those 3 have been accomplished and all I have left to do is move out of Jersey at last! Hopefully this time will come sooner than later.

That's all for now, tootles!

-Zoë 

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*wish*

Many people have asked my what the story is behind my *wish* tweets they have seen so often. I've given quick responses but I think it's high time that I write up the full back story, just in time for Father's Day. 

My dad used to fly airplanes. When he was a kid his neighbor, Mr. Fitzgerald, was a pilot for Pan Am and would take my dad flying. As he grew older, my dad wanted to be a professional pilot, however he couldn't support a family on the salary so he took a job working in Manhattan wearing a suit and tie. 

Many years ago my dad gave mea book called "The Man Who Ate the 747" and it was signed by the author, Ben Sherwood. This book is a very simple tale about the lengths a man would go to prove his love, and the people who are affected by this devotion. My copy is currently packed away for my impending move this summer, but one of my favorite quotes is found all over the Internet:

“We chase wild dreams and long for all that eludes us, when the greatest joys are within our grasp, if we only recognize them.”

This book made an impact on me, as did my love of flying from my dad. The number 747 represented what I loved most about planes: the adventurous notion of being able to fly anywhere you want. The romance of air ports. The thrill of take off during a flight. Proof in a metal contraption that men can indeed fly. The number 747 went on to mean a lot of things to me, including inspiring my favorite year: 1947. In the beginning this number just represented WWII, a time period and culture that I'm obsessed with. However, that year has gone on to mean so much more.

The DC Comics character Black Canary first appeared in August of 1947. It was also the year of the infamous Black Dahlia crime, when Miracle on 34th Street premiered in theaters, when the Polaroid Camera is introduced in New York City, and Stephen King was born. Many Captain America comics also take place during this year.

The Boeing 747 plane was first introduced by Pan Am in January 1970. All of these things are what drive my love of the number 747, as well as my passion for Pan Am history. Most people wish when they catch 11:11 on the clock, however I will tweet a simple *wish* whenever I catch 7:47. It represents adventure, seemingly impossible dreams, true love, and a desire for something more.

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Movies I've Seen in 2012 (So Far)

I realized that last year I saw so many movies, and one of my goals for 2012 is to keep track of all movies I watch for the first time. Here is my list so far:

Shame*
What's Your Number?
The InnKeeper's
Haywire*
Ocean's11
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
Harold & Kumar Christmas
Casino Royale
Paranormal Activity 3
Just Friends
Transformers Dark of the Moon
Puncture
Tower Heist
Like Crazy
In Time
Armageddon
The Artist*
Young Adult
Footloose (2011)
Bounce
Hunger Games*
SDCC Documentary
Chinatown
The Big Lebowski
Rock of Ages*
The Black Dahlia
The English Patient
The Nanny Diaries
Falling Up
The Amazing Spider-Man*
Seeking a Friend for the End of the World*
Avengers*
If You Only Knew

* saw in theaters

I might be missing a few, but those are the ones I've remembered to write down. At the end of the year I'll do a full list!

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Catching Up, New Job, & Fan Art!

Hello everyone!

I know it's been much too long since I've written a blog post, but I was on a long over due mini vacation from the world. I graduated from Rutgers University with a degree in Creative Writing and Organizational Leadership in May. (No more writing 20 page term papers on Prostitution in the 17th Century!) I also left my regular job at a Barnes and Noble on campus, so I spent a month being productive! I got things done! I woke up every morning at seven! I ran 5 miles a day!

okay, no I didn't. Honestly I slept a lot, watched TV (I mean really Dick van Dyke back in the day was a stud), hung out with my friends in the city, and applied to jobs like no tomorrow. I wrote a library of cover letters and devoured sites such as Indeed.com and SimplyHired.com searching for a job in New York City that I would love to go to everyday. The sleeping a lot part was great, but the job market is fierce! I busted my ass off though, applying to no less than 20 jobs a week. 

To my surprise, the difficult part wasn't finding someone to hire me, it was finding a job that paid more than $10 an hour! So many companies want to start you off as an intern and then "maybe" (more than often not) hire you after your time is up. It was extremely frustrating to say the least.

However, I am very happy to say that I found my dream job in Manhattan and I start this up coming Monday. I can't say much about it yet, except that its a social media and event planning position for MoviePass.com Thank you so, SO much to everyone who has helped me with the job search and gave me such outstanding references! 

So what else is going on? 

With Kristin & Len

I've recently befriended one of my favorite writers, Len N. Wallace who wrote Love Buzz. This book has always meant a lot to me and it's pretty insane that we're friends now! He even had brunch with Kristin and I the other weekend where we swamped books and movie recommendations. By the way, have you guys met Kristin yet? She's the Gwen Stacy to my MJ, Tinkerbell to my Wendy! Kristin (@dramaqueen327) is the coolest geek girl in New York and my future roommate in the city. We are already planning on having the geekiest apartment this summer.

BEA after party hosted by DC Comics!

Kristin and I also attended BookExpo America with Cassie (@yrchmonger) and Pietro (@poni_boy) where we all took home bags and bags of free books! Pietro and my dad are huge fans of the author Lee Child so we waited in a very long line to meet him. The signed book for my dad was too good of a Father' Day present to wait until this weekend to give to him. For once I was able to surprise my Dad with a gift he thought wasn't the typical cheesy gift.

I know my Twitter has been down for about a week now. It's because my account was accidentally mixed in with a bot sweep, but as of the latest email I received, it should be up and running quite soon! HUGE thank you to everyone who has tweeted at Twitter support and apparently started #SaveBookishBelle. Seeing that hashtag made my heart melt.

There are a few other adventures that I found myself in during the past month, but those will have to wait to be told. Instead I will leave you with an incredible drawing my dear friend El Hino did of me as a pin up Captain America!

Isn't it just beautiful? He has done many other sketches of me, but this one is for sure my favorite. You can find his other work at http://el-hino.deviantart.com/

Until next time, Tootles!

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MOVIE REVIEW: COMIC-CON EPISODE IV: A FAN’S HOPE

As published on TheDailyBLAM.com: During 2010's San Diego Comic Con, famed documentarian Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me, The Greatest Movie Ever Sold) teamed up with comics industry icon Stan Lee, director/producer Joss Whedon and Kevin Smith to create an honest behind-the-scenes look at the world's biggest pop culture event.

I am going to give an honest fan’s review of this documentary instead of a professional critique because I am too emotionally invested in the material to offer an unbiased opinion. That being said, I loved this film. When I heard about this project two years ago I fully believed in the message it wanted to bring. However, as the geek world has been continuously expanding, I grew steadily hesitant. More people are looking to explore and represent geek culture in mainstream media with TV shows such as Comic Book Men on AMC and Geek Love on TLC (neither very well received), I was afraid that once again my community would be put in a less than appealing light.

This film, however, is one of the first honest looks into what different kinds of people around many demographics comprise the vast geek culture. Within the first ten minutes I was able to connect with the main “characters” in the film and cared about their journeys because these people were very similar to some my own friends. They share the same goals and big dreams of making an impact in the industry that we have. Two men want to be comic book artists, a girl and her friends build the most elaborate costumes I’ve ever seen, and others are just trying to make it in the comic book retail business. I know people just like them, and so do countless geeks around the world. The producers chose ideal personalities to focus on in their film, and without them it would not have worked as well.

One of the best parts of this documentary is the collection of segments with geek celebrities such as Robert Kirkman (The Walking Dead), Kevin Smith (Clerks, Green Arrow) as well as Joss Whedon (Buffy, Serenity, The Avengers). Up until now we haven't been able to see these icons of this niche industry talk about their experiences at conventions and the many times they themselves have geeked out over celebrities they’ve met. By showing audiences this side of these big name talents, they are suddenly human again. Fans will stalk Whedon, wait in line for days, just for the chance to shake his hand. And yet here we are able to see him act the same way over someone he is fan of. It's a true rarity and and will be considered by many the most priceless moments of the film.

My only less than stellar comment is on the production value. It was obviously filmed on a tight budget, giving it a reality TV feel rather than the film quality I felt it deserved. Thankfully, the music was powerful and at times overwhelming, setting the mood for the entire viewing experience with perfection. One of my favorite parts was seeing the celebrity talent acknowledging the fact that Comic Con is no longer centered around comics, but now has a heavy emphasis on the movie industry. I’m glad they did not brush this aspect aside and were open about the negative sides of the world famous convention as well.

I will admit that I cried through many, many parts of this documentary. San Diego Comic-con is a powerful event that happens only once a year has the ability to bring together people who otherwise may feel ostracized in their day-to-day lives. This movie is a proper homage to Comic-con that only true geeks could have made. I would be proud to show this film to my parents, family, and friends that aren’t able to understand this side of my life. I believe in the message and the people that made up this film, and it makes me proud to consider myself a part of their culture.

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WWII Female Captain America Cosplay!

Convention season seems to come about so quickly every year! Free Comic Book Day is the first Saturday of May and I was also asked to participate in Rutgers University's First Annual Geek Week, which also requires a costume.

I've been debating how to design my female WWII Captain America costume, and my good friend Kristin (@dramaqueen327) designed this one for me!---->

I've already acquired the lovely red boots for the costume, now all I have left is to find a suitable dress, corset and gloves for the costume!

I have a custom made WWII shield and helmet already in my possession to use, and @GonkDroidBlues on twitter suggested that I do my hair in 1940s pin curls to complete the outfit! I wont wear a wig because I think the costume is elaborate enough without a crazy blonde hair to throw it off.

Super super super excited about this costume! I didn't even think I was going to dress up this year due to time and money constraints. But geek magic works in mysterious ways ^.^

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Take Me Back to Manhattan

I am counting down the days until I can live in New York. It's been my dream for the longest time to find a job that I love and be able to wake up in my favorite place in the whole world every morning. I want to be able to wake up in an apartment, throw on some clothes & sunglasses, walk downstairs and get a cup of coffee to drink while walking down the city streets.

I don't need a lot in life. I don't need a big apartment or a high class job. I just want to be able to enjoy my life, have people I can get ice cream with on the weekends and be in walking distance of a coffee shop or bookstore.

I would never survive in a country town where the closest store is fifteen minutes away. I never learned how to drive, and I will be perfectly okay if I don't at all. I can feel my life teetering on the edge of change and I am so willing and excited to jump right into the middle of it.

I know I haven't written in a couple of weeks, I'm actually too busy being present in my real life for once, instead of in my online life. I've been working out nearly every day, eating healthy, and focusing on school/ the job search. I'm changing my life and I'm happy. =)

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Jay Baruchel Encounter, Johnny Wander Meeting, & CulturSHOCK News!

Hey guys!


This has been one of the craziest and most exhausting weeks I can remember. Those from Twitter may recall the horrendous professor episode on Tuesday (where for no apparent reason a professor told me in a meeting that I was not competent enough to pass the 7 classes I'm taking) but that was quickly dealt with after filing a complaint to a dean. 

I always look goofy in celeb pictures

I also finally met my biggest celebrity crush, Jay Baruchel! My one on one interview was combined with a bunch of other journalists, which was unfortunate but actually for the better. About 15 journalists sat at a conference table with Jay Baruchel, Liev Schreiber and Sean Williams Scott for their new movie Goon. As the talent walked in the room, Baruchel sat down, looked around and noticed me right away from across a crowded room! He made eye contact, grinned and said, "Hey! It's you!" I practically melted and just grinned like an idiot. He recognized me from talking on twitter all these months (I guess cause I'm a stalker *sigh*)

JAY BARUCHEL

The conference mostly centered around hockey and less on the movie, which meant that I was a bit lost, but it was alright because I honestly was so star struck that I could not trust myself to ask a question without faltering. I was shaking more than when I talked with Spielberg in December! After the conference was over, I waited while other journalists hounded the talent pictures and such. Baruchel then came over, gave me a hug and said we needed to take a picture together!  So we did and he signed my Fanboys DVD and the special edition comic on the inside while I attempted to appear normal. Other journalists tried to intervene but he ignore them =) Of course I could HARDLY SPEAK AT ALL. I was speechless. A fangirl mess.

Bathroom Shot!

You can dress me up in professional clothes, give me questions to ask, and put the intellectual glasses on my silly face but you cannot take the fangirl out of me. And so Baruchel gave me another huge hug and took another picture with me and my life was made. I was shaking for the next two hours. In fact I'm shaking now as I'm typing this because it was so amazing, minus me being a mess. For YEARS on the internet I've been known for my massive crush on Baruchel. The amount of fangirling and money I've spent on this crush is well....rather absurd. 


However I know he and I will cross paths again! After all, he's in my comic book so I have to ask his permission to use his name & likeness =) Speaking of which, I hope you all have seen the first page of my new comic, "EPiC"! (Just look one post below this one) The last panel of the page is currently the background on my computer, SO PERFECT.

Friday night I also had the honor of co-hosting the Midtown Comics Book Club with writer Ananth Panagariya and illustrator Yuko Ota of the webcomic Johnny Wander of www.johnnywander.com. It was crazy seeing them walk in the store because they look EXACTLY like their characters (as they are meant to) and it was very surreal. They even brought along their room mates and fellow characters in the book John and Conrad, who in turn commented on behind the scenes adventures of a bunch of the stories in the book. If you guys haven't checked out this comic, RUN! GO READ IT NOW! No seriously, its a great collection and they are fantastic people, so I give my stamp of approval.


And now just a normal Sunday listening to the Tony Bennett cd I bought yesterday, which was the greatest purchase I made all week. I love the hell out of his other albums, and I can never get enough of him, Norah Jones, and Michael Buble. 


We also released the official logo for the new website I'm going to be Editor in Chief of, CulturSHOCK! Tomorrow I'll reveal my amazing crew of writers for you all =) (Just remind me if I forget....)

And I think that's it for now! I'm still taking applications for an LA based journalist (details HERE) so forward it to your peeps on the West coast if you know of anybody interested! 


I'm also taking applications for anyone who can make me Toothless/Pascal stuffed animal, as shown here--->


Until next time!
-Zoë

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FIRST PAGE REVEALED FROM MY COMIC "EPiC"

Isn't it beautiful, ladies and gentlemen? My ridiculously talented artist and collaborator Juan Albarran (@JuanAlbarran75 and http://juanalbarranart.blogspot.com/) emailed me this page earlier today. I've been having a stressful and rather awful week, but this single page managed to keep my spirits up.

This comic is about a girl who works in a college bookstore but also fights against bullies who pick on the underdogs of New York City. Her sidekick is a raccoon named Scooter =) I am exceedingly proud of the script and am continuously thrilled by Juan's art.

That's all for now, can't wait to hear what you guys think!

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