28/12/2018

Putting the Phone Down On 2018

(beep)

Well hello there future anna, we're currently in the weird week between Christmas and new year where no one really knows what day it is! haha! Today I thought it'd be cool to look back at the New Years resolutions I set at the beginning of this year and see if I kept up with them! I also did this last year and I think I'm gonna make it a tradition!

If you wanna read my resolution blog post from last year, I'll leave it here: https://annasnothere.blogspot.com/2018/01/ring-ring-its-2018.html

So let's have a look...

record a second of footage everyday!

YES I HAVE DONE THIS!!! Well, there might have been the odd day when I forgot, but I mostly did it and looking back at my memories over the past year is so much fun! It's been a lot of hard work so I might do it again next year, I'm not sure! But if you're thinking about doing it, I highly recommend! Just don't leave all the editing til the last few days of the year like me!!!

write down my dreams!

I was really excited for this one. but I never actually ended up doing it. it's much harder than you think to write down your dreams. so much happens and it can be hard to explain, so I just kinda gave up haha!! If I ever had an odd or interesting dream I always spoke to people about it though!


note good things that happen everyday!

So I started this at the beginning of the year using a diary that my brother had bought me but I slowly stopped doing it. I think I just forgot BUT when I moved to London my grandparents bought me a diary and as well as jotting down dates and times and what I need to do, I also treat it like a diary and talk about my day, my feelings, and the good things that have happened! So I guess I've upgraded this resolution and I'm really happy with doing it!


try not to complain as much!

I would like to say that I have completed this wish of mine. I have become a little more spontaneous, well tried to, and learnt to go with the flow even though at times I wanna break down, but because of that I have left the complaining out. My goal is to support everyone's dreams and just be happy so complaiingc is no longer allowed (although it's admitted sometimes)!

So those were my new year's resolutions for this year and I think I've done pretty well!! There are some I will continue with and others I won't, but I'm pretty happy with who I am as I look at this year ending and I hope to continue being as happy and recording it because I love looking back over memories and seeing cherished times!

I literally have no clue what day it is but I hope you had a lovely Christmas if you celebrated it! See you around!

(beep)

10/12/2018

2018 Look Back

(beep)

omg can you believe 2018 is nearly over!?!? did we even. live it?!!? it's just gone so so fast! anyway, last year answered these questions that I found and I thought it'd be lovely to do it again to look back at my year, because even though it's been a lil sad at times, it's been really GOOD!!

Was it the best year of your life?

mm yes. I think it has.

did you move?

YES I MOVED TO LONDON WHAT THE HECK!?! still cannot believe it. I'm here in like my fave city and wow, how crazy!!

did you make a lot of new friends?

hmm... I made a few. actually I made quite a lot when I think about it haha! I've made some lifelong friends from the bfi screenwriting course I went on, met some amazing people from the Bastille and katy Perry shows I went to (shout out to ya'll) and made a few friends in London who are so so cool and yeah all the people I'm friends with are really special to me!! 

what's the hardest thing you went through?

I'm not really sure. when I think back there's nothing that really stands out. sure I was a little homesick when I moved to London but now I'm really happy here. I think the hardest thing I went through was losing friends and realising that not everyone will always be there for me even if I'm there for them. it SUCKS but normal to lose people. I'm still sad about it but it's ok. the people I have in my life are the best!

did you achieve a goal?

I guess I wanted to write more, and I've done that a lot over this year! I still have scripts to finish, but hopefully I can continue with my motivation and write even more!

did it go by fast to you?

YES!!!! so fast!! just like last year!

did your clothing style change?

I think my style has become a little more me, and I know the kinda things I wanna buy now and in the future! I'm happy with my style which I haven't been in the past. I'm also hoping to buy a suit for my cousins wedding next year so hopefully I can find something cool!

what was the dumbest trend in your opinion?

hmm I wanna say the weird dances from fortnight? fortnite? I don't know but people randomly did them and it confused me haha!

what's something you wish you could redo that you did this year?

there's nothing I want to do over, but there are moments I want to relive. the bfi course, the Bastille and katy Perry tours, just spending time with friends and family!!!

how many relationships did you get in?

ooooh... one. feeling all the loving feels!!

what's something you did that you never had before?

I went to 2 film festivals!! seriously such amazing experiences! I met some incredible people, watched some fascinating films and just had the best time!! so excited to go to more in the future, they are so much fun!

was school good or bad? why?

like last year, I don't go to school so will talk about work instead. up until august I was in the same 2 jobs as last year and I enjoyed them! I liked the people I worked with and am still bffs with some of them now! I see then each time I go home! obviously there were times I hated working but that's life! now in London, I love my job! I really love the people I work for/with and I am just so happy. it's all going really well!

best memory you made?

concerts are my happy place. I just feel so safe. this year I have been to so many shows and seen so many of my favourite artists, but I think one of my best memories of the year is watching katy Perry in Manchester and just dancing and singing my tiny heart out. it was so special. I wish I could relive that moment again and again and again.


this year has been a special one. I feel so happy with who I am and how I've grown. I've finally felt ready for things I thought I never would be and I'm just so happy looking back at all I have done this year. thank you for being part of it if you have, lots of love x

(beep)

07/12/2018

My Thoughts On Bastille's Mixtape 'OPH4'

(beep)

Hello there, whether you know me personally or we have only just met, you are probably aware that I love bastille. I love their music so much, and so many of their songs really have special meanings to me and places in my heart. Anyway, they have a mixtape that they release called ‘Other People’s Heartache’ and yesterday (I think it was yesterday) they released the 4thpart of it. I haven’t listened to any of it yet (fake fan alert), apart from the first track which they posted a while ago, but I can’t really remember it, so this is gonna be like my other music reviews where I type as I listen so you can have my true reactions! Let’s go!

Wild World – Intro ft Kianja

Aw my heart!!!!!!! It’s just so nice to hear new stuff from my fave band even though I’ve heard this before hahah! This is a pretty cover of Cat Stevens song and I think it’s the perfect opening to the mixtape, leaving the last album Wild World and beginning the transition to the upcoming Doom Days, which will be with us SOON (UGHH)!!!

Would I Lie To You? ft Kianja, S-X, Craig David

Ooh ok yes. Its pretty yet punchy. AHHHHH IT’S A COVER OF CHARLES AND EDDIE WTFFF!! Ok when dan talks rather than sings in his gritty kinda voice it’s like wow mmm ok. I loved Kianja on the previous song so it’s lovely to hear more from them! I can imagine this on my sister’s playlist. She likes party, upbeat songs but if they’re chill too. I did not know this would be a cover so I’m just a lil shocked, but I really like it. 

Grip ft Seeb

Ok I’ve paused the track just a second. So, if you’re a fan of bastille, you’ll know that this song is a good old classic that just hasn’t properly been released yet. Dan has been saying SOON for years but here we finally have it. Fake fan alert – I have only listened to the original once (if it’s not on spotify, I don’t listen to it) so it’ll be quite nice hearing it without much prior love for it. Ok, play!! Guitar… kinda like a good old dj song, again, another one for my sister. THE DEVIL’S GOT MY ARMSssss I like it! I can imagine driving at night listening to this and screaming the chorus, whether alone or with a friend. I’d never heard of Seeb til this collab, but I love how they’ve layered different sections and really bought it to life. The lyrics are pretty depressing, but it makes it so much more accessible if that makes sense. Oh I like this bridge. Yeah, some people may not like it but I do.

Don’t Let Go (Love) ft Craig David, Kianja, Swarmz

AHH THIS IS THE SONG FROM THE TRAILER OH MY GOSH FREE YOUR BODY AND MIND NAH IT’S A COVER I AM IN LOVEEEE!! Mmm ok it’s pretty chill, I just wasn’t expecting this. I didn’t know which songs would be covers so it’s really nice to hear fresh versions of older songs. I love the FREE YOUR BODY AND MIND bits, kinda like most of the songs from Wild World using extracts and things. Oh yes Swarmz!!!!! So far I’ve loved each song. It’s not my normal music taste, but I’ll happily add them to playlists, but I will definitely let my sister know that they exist because she will love them! Wow it’s really cinematic and the end.

Flowers ft Rationale, James Arthur

TWO EVILS WHAT THE HECK?!!! Wow rationale what a VOICE! It’s another cover!!! Ok I can imagine this in a movie. It’s cute and not what I expected, and I really really like it. Hello there James! Such a powerful trio of voices. This mixtape really focuses on love, especially looking at the album art. It’s really interesting to see because so many bas songs focus on death and not happy things (haha), so it’s pretty sweet to hear this collection.

The Descent ft Lily Moore, Moss Kena, Jacob Banks

Ok I have paused this one too, and again it’s a bas song that’s been out for a while and I think it was released for record store day a few years ago but don’t hold me to that, but yeah I’ve only heard it once or twice because it wasn’t ever on spotify, so again, this will be a review from fresh ears. Press play please. OOOOOHH I really like this like REALLY LIKE IT!! That beat, mm yes. BE THE ONE TO CALL ME BABY!! Yes this is going straight on my playlist. Ok so if we look at the kinda story of the mixtape so far, we leave Wild World on The Anchor which is pretty cute, so what if this album shows the character in the story getting close to the person they love/are friends with, and even though it’s all been going right, it’s suddenly gone wrong, cue this song. Idk, just my thoughts! I just really like this song, oh wow just looked and it’s nearly 6 mins long, I’m half way through what’ll happen?? Damn Jacob Banks is amazing! It’s so peaceful but so heart breaking. Aw baby, this is sad. Who hurt you?!?!?

Warmth – Outro ft Moss Kena

OH MY GOSH IT’S WARMTH BUT THE LYRICS HAVE CHANGED TO SUM UP THE ALBUM AND MIXTAPE. Dan sounds so emotional and raw. It’s like the intro. I imagine him clicking haha! DEAFEN ME WITH MUSIC omg wow.


Wow wow wow woweeee. I loved it. It’s not really music I normally listen to but I loved how they’ve kinda upgraded their sound and what they wanna talk about. It’s like they’re done with singing about sad stuff and wanna open up to new emotions. They’re scared but excited for the new chapter. To deafen us with new music. I’m excited for Doom Days, whenever SOON may be!!

Enjoy it future anna! 

(beep)

01/12/2018

FILM REVIEW: Assassination Nation


The other day I went to the cinema to see Assassination Nation.

I loved it. It was as if The Purge, 13 Reasons Why and Kill Bill had a crossover episode. It was bloody and exciting, and I just really like films like this.

The film introduces us to a group of 4 friends, who live for selfies and social media. As a hacker begins to spread the precious documents of the mayor and the head teacher, the girls become the next victims and find themselves being blamed and chased by an angry mob who are ready to kill.

I really really enjoyed the film. It gave a new face to the idea of revenge, as well as spreading the message that social media is taking over, and privacy is hard to come by nowadays. I also liked how it touched on high school friendships and relationships, and the pressures that exist. I think it’s the only film I’ve seen recently that gave an accurate depiction and I’m grateful for that.

The rest of the review will contain spoilers, so if you’re happy with that, please continue, and if not, I’ll see you around. If you do go and see the film, bare in mind that it is rated an 18 and shows strong violence, blood, gore, and a bunch of other things that are given to us in a trigger warning at the beginning of the film which I thought was cool. So if a long list of things like that isn’t your cup of tea, probably best to not see it.

STORY

So, you know the basic outline, but I’m going to go into a little detail on the beginning, middle and end.

We meet the girls, the 4 best friends and as this story is mainly from Lily’s view, we learn that she has a ‘Daddy’ and a boyfriend. The girls are unashamed of the pictures they post and the lives they lead, even though society isn’t happy with them doing that.

A mysterious hacker leaks the contents of the Mayor’s computer, including sexual images, and during a press conference, he shoots himself as it’s too much to cope with.

The same then happens to the head teach of the high school, but instead of sexual images, the town sees his porn history and naked photos of his young daughter. Parents will him to resign but he doesn’t, leading to violence.

The girls and the school find this all fun and games until a larger leak takes place, meaning that videos and photos sent to Lily’s Daddy (ew that’s not nice, I am all for everyone enjoying their lives, but saying that is horrible haha) are leaked, leading to her boyfriend exposing her as the town slut.

Lily is blamed for the hacks and the town forms a mob to kill her and her 3 best friends for what they have supposedly done to the town. This leads to a lot of blood and violence but some awesome girl power scenes in amazing red coats.

Lily puts out a video to say her side of the story and the girls of the town see it to rally with them to face the mob, and that’s that.

I think the story is a really interesting one, and true to what happens on social media. If something is leaked or someone states their opinion or starts a rumour, everything gets a little, well, a lot out of hand. People are quick to blame or pull the trigger without actually looking for the truth, which nearly gets Lily and her friends killed. I do not know what I’d do if something like this happened to me, but it wouldn’t be anywhere near as dramatic!

I like how the whole film went a little insane and turned to murder. It was an interesting take, but when you think about it and how the internet literally controls us, it is a possible option.

I love Tarantino films and anything like this really, so it’s so cool that this exists and as soon as I left the cinema, I just wanted to see it again.

CAST

I didn’t know any of the cast prior to the film apart from Bella Thorne who actually had a smaller role than I thought she did.

It starred Odessa Young as Lily and I thought she was an incredible actress. She really gave everything to the role and was so emotional and just perfect.

Hari Nef also stars in it and wow, I am literally obsessed with her. I really like the representation this film had, and even though we’ve still got a long way to go, I think its amazing how the film told her story. She is such a force and I cannot wait to see what she’s in next!

I think the whole cast was so well chosen. They all naturally fell into the roles and played such realistic parts.

The only character I didn’t really like was Lily’s younger brother who turned out to be the hacker in the end. I don’t know what it was, I just felt that he wasn’t as developed as the other characters and I didn’t feel connected to him or even bothered about him, but maybe that was the point!

MUSIC & SOUND

To be honest, thinking back to seeing the film, the music doesn’t come to mind. It was pretty standard music throughout and the sound was pretty good. However!!! The credits at the end were on another level! They had a school marching band playing ‘We Can’t Stop’ by Miley Cyrus and it was such a mood. After seeing the town turn to blood and murder, it was so cool to suddenly see calm and such a normal thing like a marching band.

CINEMATOGRAPHY

I thought the film was shot really well. It was handheld but still professional. There was lots of panning and shots that were typically a certain genre to show the contrast between classic teen movie and revenge horror. I often felt like we were spying on the characters, like the world was when they posted pictures. It was really interesting.

MISE-EN-SCENE

I loved the use of neon signs so much. The whole aesthetic of the girls was so pretty and girly but also what a lot of people would describe as slutty but I loved the vibe so much. It was like a grunge girl tumblr bedroom come to life and I was living for it. It was then such an opposite to the final scenes where the girls are all wearing latex red coats, ready to go murder everyone. I liked how the girls remained themselves through the film and we could see that through the colours.

ANYTHING ELSE?

I think that’s everything. I really enjoyed the film, it made me laugh, it shocked me but most importantly it really made me think about the society we are living in and how someone’s life can be so easily ruined. Fake news and rumours fly around so often that we often become oblivious to it, but I really hope that I can find out the truth for myself from now on.

So that’s my kinda review/me just spilling my thoughts on Assassination Nation. Have you seen it? Are you going to? What are your thoughts? Let me know as I’d love to hear your opinion.

Have a great day, and I’ll see you next time.

WATCH/LISTEN TO THE REVIEW HERE: https://www.instagram.com/tv/Bq1t1VTnlaW/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet