In a Heartbeat tells the heartwarming story of Sherwin, a closeted middle school student, whose heart literally pops out of his chest to chase the boy of his dreams.
The long-awaited short film has been receiving loads of attention even before its release earlier July 31, 2017.
Creators Beth David and Esteban Bravo launched a Kickstarter last year for $3,000 to produce the film and were shocked when they went $11,000 over their goal. And it's easy to see why! Beautifully animated and scored, In a Heartbeat tugs at all the right heartstrings.
It was incredibly important for Beth and Esteban to tell a gay love story.
"Being gay is a subject that hasn't been wildly explored in computer animation," they explained in their Kickstarter video.
"We want to put out a message of love and self-acceptance to all the kids and young people who struggle to identify with LGBT+, just like Sherwin does."
“All I Want for Christmas Is You” is a song performed by American singer and songwriter Mariah Carey.
She wrote and produced the song with Walter Afanasieff. Columbia Records released it on November 1, 1994, as the lead single from her first holiday album and fourth studio album, Merry Christmas. “Christmas” is an uptempo love song that includes bell chimes and heavy back-up vocals, as well as use of synthesizers.
The song’s lyrics declare that the narrator does not care about Christmas presents or lights; all she wants for Christmas is to be with her lover.
We all know that, in spite of the daily stresses of life … work, family, the world … Christmas is a time when we come together, share love and spread cheer.
There’s a magic in the air.
It’s contagious and so very special.
All look forward to the special season.
This year, it’s been very different for me … and I’m sure for many.
(precisely 65, 844,610 Americans)!
We all know why this is the case.
I’ve said many times that humor saves the day.
Here’s an attempt to do so … may fall a bit short.
Donald Trump is the Grinch in College Humor ‘You’re A Mean One, Mr. Trump’ Parody Song
by William Hoffman
~Make Christmas Great Again~
“You’re A Mean One, Mr. Trump” is animated in the style of the original film and plays on the classic tune, showing a furry grinched-out Trump killing mice, cutting the preamble of the Constitution up into a tie and dressing up as a Mexican immigrant to steal children’s Christmas presents.
The video brings to light some of his most egregious acts from the year including his proposal to bar all Muslims from the United States, build a wall on the Mexican boarder paid for by the country itself and making fun of a disabled New York Times reporter.
This Is Us (Tuesday,September 20,tracks the lives of four people turning 36 who share the same birthday: Pittsburgh resident Jack (Milo Ventimiglia), whose wife, Rebecca (Mandy Moore), is about to give birth to triplets; L.A. sitcom star Kevin (Justin Hartley) and his sister, Kate (Chrissy Metz), who is struggling with her weight; and East Coast business executive, Randall (Sterling K. Brown), who is looking for his biological father.
Kubo and the Two Strings is a 2016 American 3D stop-motion fantasy action adventure film, directed by Travis Knight, written by Marc Haimes and Chris Butler, and produced by Laika.
The film features the voices of Art Parkinson, Charlize Theron, Matthew McConaughey, Ralph Fiennes, Rooney Mara and George Takei.
~PLOT~
In ancient Japan, Kubo (Art Parkinson) is a young boy who lives with his ill mother, Sariatu (Charlize Theron), in a cave on top of a mountain. Every day he goes out to a nearby village to tell stories by manipulating pieces of paper that form into origami that moves under music played from Kubo’s shamisen.
He tells tales of great warriors seeking revenge while battling monsters, primarily of a samurai warrior named Hanzo, who is Kubo’s missing father. Every day he quickly returns to his mother when the town bell chimes signaling sunset. She instructs him not to stay outside after dark or her Sisters (his aunts) and his grandfather, the Moon King, will come to take his remaining eye, as they took the other when he was a baby.
One day, Kubo learns of a ceremony where family members communicate with deceased loved ones (Obon). He arrives at a cemetery and tries to speak to his father, but he leaves in anger when his father does not respond to him. Because Kubo has stayed outside after sundown, his mother’s Sisters (Rooney Mara) find him and try to take his eye. After they destroy the village, his mother arrives to fend off her Sisters.
His mother sends Kubo away by touching a beetle crest on his robe which gives him wings, forcing him to fly away from his mother. She tells him to find his father’s armor in order to protect Kubo from his grandfather’s evil spirits. He takes a piece of her hair before she is seemingly killed by her Sisters.
Upon his return to the village, he is able to reclaim the helmet and puts it on. He is greeted by Raiden (Ralph Fiennes), the ghost that appeared to Kubo in his dream. Raiden is revealed to be his grandfather, the Moon King. The Moon King, who needs Kubo’s eye to rid Kubo of all his powers and memories, transforms into the “Moon Beast” and fights Kubo. Kubo is defeated and tossed into the cemetery where the Moon King corners him as well as the surviving villagers.
Kubo retaliates by taking off the armor and repairs his shamisen using the hair of his mother, his father’s bowstring, and one of his own hairs. He uses its magic to recruit the spirits of the villagers’ deceased, showing that memories are the strongest form of magic and can never be destroyed. The Moon King is defeated and becomes mortal, and in his human form has no recollection of who or what he was.
The villagers make him believe that he is a good man. After the villagers set their lanterns near a lake, Kubo is able to speak with his parents and make peace with them, saying that he is happy he was able to go on a journey with them.
They then appear beside him in the form of spirits.
“IOTD” is image of the day, a concept I came up with. I teach visual meditative therapy – or in easy terms – a mini mental holiday. For some people it is very difficult for them to get their image right. I post an image a day for people to use in their mini mental vacay. Some are serious, some are silly, and some are just beautiful!”
From our hour to your house!
It Is What It Is 