Archive | TSoS US RSS feed for this section

Inside USA Network’s Political Animals Premiere + Afterparty

By Jessica on July 15, 2012 in Events, Reviews, Telly, TSoS US

USA Network’s new show Political Animals premiered on the 25th at the Morgan Library and Museum in Manhattan. I love museum venues, and this one, which I hadn’t heard of before, once housed the rare books collection of American banking tycoon, J.P. Morgan. It was very cool to explore, although the small space made it a bit crowded (press had to view the screening in the lobby while regular guests got to go to a legit screening room).

USA outfitted the entire place with giant red, white and blue balloons in keeping with the theme of the show- which, if you couldn’t tell, centres around American politics.

Actually the show is basically a soap-y dramatized version of the Hillary Clinton story, starring Sigourney Weaver as a former First Lady turned Presidental Candidate turned Secretary of State, and Ciaran Hinds as the sleazy ex President.

I am (or used to be) obsessed with politics and basically worship Hillary Clinton if you didn’t know (I once volunteered for her campaign, and would go on possessed rants about all the unjust sexism I’d see in the media) so theoretically this show is right up my alley. It’s not a bad show, but it’s very heavyhanded and the dialogue is too on the nose (which means the characters unrealistically say exactly what they feel exactly when they feel it). It is a summer show on USA though, and not HBO or anything, so I can’t fault it or anything. I also enjoy that there is an Asian character.

On the other hand, the event itself was highly enjoyable, with both a photobooth and gift bags containing branded animal crackers and t-shifts.

I joked I would somehow charm creator Greg Berlanti into giving me a writing job on one of his shows but chickened out of talking to him (it was a bad day: I had to endure a pervert in an empty subway car going there). An actor he worked with did tell me he is one of the nicest, most genuine people in Hollywood. That is of course, completely expected: as if an asshole could create the sensitive father/ son drama Everwood.

Greg Berlanti, phwoar.

He is also extremely, extremely good looking- not even good looking for a writer, but good looking by general standards to. Prompting me to wonder why someone with looks like that would choose to write if he could act/ model/ run for political office instead. Actually, this was something that Carla Gugino said to some wannabe journalist in the show, except with porn star as top in the list of options. Never mind, I take it back, Political Animals is a good show. Go watch it.

Comments { 0 }

Review: Estee Lauder Mad Men Collection Blush + Lipstick

By Jessica on June 10, 2012 in Beauty, Limited Edition, Make Upz, Reviews, Telly, TSoS US

First of all, I love Mad Men more than life itself. Okay, that’s not entirely true- at least this season it isn’t. Admittedly my life too suffers from ups and downs in quality, but this season has been uncharacteristically uneven. Nevertheless, Mad Men is still known as the little cable show that could. As AMC’s first scripted series, it put the scrappy channel on the map, and along the way, introduced the world to the glory that is Jon Hamm. And it is also a juggernaut in the fashion world, with its influence evident on catwalks since the very first season.

Surprisingly enough, with a plot centered around the Golden Age of the advertising industry, there have been relatively few media tie-in products capitalizing on its success. Most likely, Matthew Weiner, the notoriously anal showrunner, keeps a tight leash on the licensing rights. But in any case, in the years past, Mad Men has inspired a decidedly uninspired line at Banana Republic, and a line of limited edition Mad Men Barbie Dolls that little resembled the actors.

Constance Jablonski by Craig McDean for Estee Lauder Mad Men Collection.

This year, however, Estee Lauder teamed up with the show to introduce a limited edition creme rouge blush and lipstick set, in Evening Rose and Cherry, respectively. I’ve been drooling over them since it was announced three months ago, right when the current season first premiered. Estee Lauder was nice enough to provide a set for review, to coincide with the season finale this Sunday.

And what is not to love about the whole thing? The retro ’60s inspired ads feature a Betty Draper-like blonde ingenue with a “who, me?” look on her face. You know- the dream. The packaging itself is also vintage inspired- old fashioned typography on a box with a lovely floral design and a wallpaper like feel. Not unlike something you’d dig up in your grandmother’s trunks in the attic when you were a small child- if your grandmother was a rich white lady that is, which mine was not.

Obligatory Instagram shot

A gold pleather pouch house the shiny gold casings of both the compact and the tiny bullet sized lipstick (the size is true to lipstick size in the olden days). The overall effect is incredibly classy. Way too classy to carry around and wear on a daily basis, at least for me. I will have to save it to whip out only on special occasions- like during the intermission of an opera or whathaveyou, right after I catch the eye of a Daniel Craig lookalike and right before I make a fool of myself in front of him.

But in all seriousness- the creme rouge is soft and quite easy to apply, and the color is a classic shade suitable for just about all skin tones. The lipstick, though lovely, is a bright, pink red, that I don’t quite think can be pulled off by just anyone. At $25, the lipstick is a good collector’s item for vintage makeup junkies, but you’d get more use out of the $40 blush.

Fancy creme rouge making a mockery out of my other blush

I applaud Estee Lauder for reviving a part of its history, and only wish it wasn’t limited to just the one lipstick color and blush. They will launch a second collection to coincide with season 6 next year, so hopefully that can be remedied. The supply is highly limited, so get it at Esteelauder.com while it lasts. And don’t forget to catch the season finale of Mad Men this Sunday. I myself will be attending a dressy season finale party in Manhattan, where I expect to show off my newest toys at every opportunity.

Betty Draper would approve.

The Mad Men Limited Edition Collection was provided by Estee Lauder for review purpose. There is no pay for play unless specifically listed as advertorial or sponsored. See FAQs for more details.

Comments { 1 }

The Clio Awards 2012 + Afterparty: A Night at the Museum

By Jessica on June 6, 2012 in Events, TSoS US

The Clio Awards are the so-called Oscars of the advertising industry. But for your average non industry person like moi, it’s better known for being featured on an episode of Mad Men a few seasons back. Don Draper attends and wins a Clio in the middle of the day, get enormously sloshed as a result, and botches a business meeting back at the office immediately thereafter.

Don Draper and the gang at the awards: Real life attendees are not nearly as attractive, alas.

The Clios still goes on today, but thankfully things have changed a bit since the ’60s. For one thing, it’s now held in the nighttime and not in the middle of the workday. Obviously that was a very bright idea, and I wonder how many Mad Men esque screwups occurred before that happened.

It’s also no longer a stuffy, formal, linen covered tables and place settings event. For the second year in a row, it took place at the Museum of Natural History. I’m not sure if it’s only a New York City thing, but the best affairs always happen in rented out museums. I attended a tricked out afterparty for the movie Tower Heist at the Museum of Modern Art a couple of months ago, and I also attended a very fancy Ball at the Met a couple of years back (no, not the Costume Institute Gala, but one day). So I was pretty darn excited for the Clios, just because of the venue.

Outside the Museum of Natural History

The awards portion of the program was held in a theatre normally used to showcase nature films, and the afterparty was in another wing, in a giant two floor room with a lifesized whale hanging suspended on the ceiling. Needless to say, it was very, very cool. I got a little lost on the way to the theatre as the museum is quite a labyrinth, but had a lot of fun wandering around, briefly checking out all the exhibits afterhours, with the lights dimmed and no other visitors around.

Awards ceremony itself- yes it was Standing Room Only.

The awards was hosted by Joan Rivers, who cracked predictable, Kardashian related jokes. Someone came up with the bright idea of announcing the winners beforehand, and only allowing a few honorees to speak, thus limiting the awards to a breezy 90 minutes. This year’s lifetime achievement winners were Piyush Pandey- the Godfather of Indian advertising, Annie Leibowitz and Anthony Bourdain. I actually missed the speeches of the latter two because I was on the phone outside with my guest, who had horrible luck with the subways that night. Yes, leave it to me to miss appearances by the two famous people in attendance. Piyush Pandey’s video introduction and speech was heartwarming and inspiring though, as you would expect from someone who probably isn’t that used to this sort of hoopla.

Handing out statuettes to the winners at the afterparty.

The afterparty was balls out amazing, the best that I’ve attended, food, decor, and venue wise. This was no small part due to the catering services of Pinch Food Design, which I can only describe as what it would be like if Steve Jobs ran a catering company. Their philosophy is that artful and memorable presentation is everything, and small plates and appetizers were served in the most ingenious contraptions, that I can’t even describe using words. If you are lucky enough to be invited to any event catered by Pinch Food Design, just say yes, and don’t eat anything beforehand, is my advice.

Innovative catering display.

Unfortunately I didn’t get to really talk to anyone because I was too busy waiting anxiously for my friend (who arrived just as the party ended) and also stuffing my face. They did have a photobooth, which I’m always happy to see.

What can I say, really, other than that the real Oscars probably isn’t as cool as a night at the museum. The only thing that could’ve topped all of that is if there had been swag, har har. Which reminds me, I should definitely start an event planning consultation service.

Comments { 0 }

Inside the USA Network Upfronts + Afterparty

By Jessica on May 18, 2012 in Events, Telly, TSoS US

This week marked the end of Upfronts Week in New York. If you don’t know what Upfronts are – and it’s cool if you don’t, I only knew the term from Lisa Kudrow’s shortlived HBO show, The Comeback- it’s a yearly ritual where all the TV networks put on a show to pimp out their upcoming season to advertisers in New York. It’s purely an insider’s event: they fly their major stars, show runners and executives to the East Coast for a week long affair of boozing and schmoozing with the sponsors who bankroll them. For the masses not involved in either industries, this week is better known as the time when renewals and cancellations are announced.

I was lucky enough to get a press invite to the USA Upfronts presentation this year. It was my very first Upfronts, and it also happened to be the very last event this year. The USA Network is one of the few cable channels to do one, and certainly it’s the cable network with fanciest venue- this year’s was held at Alice Tully Hall of New York City’s Lincoln Centre, better known as the home of the New York Philharmonic. Of course that’s probably because, as repeated multiple times during the presentation, USA is currently the highest rated cable network in the US.

USA TV posters featured inside the Alice Tully Hall

Glitzier Upfronts typically include some kind of musical performance or comic routine. The USA Network had both: performances from Mark Ronson, the Dap-Kings and Erykah Badu, as well as a genuinely funny monologue by Bruce Campbell. The show itself is basically like a very, very awkward awards show, if you can imagine such a thing.

Erykah Badu (who replaced Jennifer Hudson last minute) killing it onstage after the presentation.

Two actors come on stage every few minutes to present a little video segment on a new show (Graceland! Political Animals!), or some warmhearted corporate slogan (USA doesn’t stand for hate!). Like an awards show, there is a lot of poorly scripted banter. Unlike an awards show, that is literally all there is. There are no genuine, unscripted moments, ever. The only laughs happened when the actors messed up reading the teleprompters. I have a degree in screenwriting and know people who went on to make big bucks writing award show banter, so I always feel bitter when I have to witness stuff like that which I could do better myself. But I digress.

Of course the Upfronts parties are where it’s at. The big networks hold theirs at fancy restaurants and steakhouses across New York. USA held theirs in the lobby of the theater where they put on their show. It was a bit crowded, but I couldn’t complain. There was booze and food, and it satisfied my ultimate event requirements: there were both a photobooth and swag. Okay, so their gift bag contained a T-Shirt and some postcards- but who doesn’t appreciate a free T-Shirt to sleep in? It’s the simple things that make me happy.

The crowds outside the Lincoln Center afterparty

Photobooths on the other hand are pretty much de riguer at happening events these days. I am known to haughtily complain on twitter if I am at an event and there isn’t one. USA did one better by hiring photographers with ~~polaroid cameras~~ Fujifilm Instax cameras to mingle amongst the crowds, asking if anyone wanted a picture taken. My one complaint was that the photographers weren’t so much photographers as mildly competent models from a low level modeling agency. I had to ask one of them this because my photo with Matt Bomer came out with my face half cut off.

Which brings me to to the fact that I did something which I never, ever do, which is, I walked around and asked actors to pose for photos. Yes, like I was some tourist or something. As I might have mentioned before, I went to film school, and as a rule, am trained to remain stony faced around famous actors, no matter how good looking they may be. God forbid I act like some fan or something lest they recognize me later on in life. But the Upfront crowd was full of ad industry types with no such pretensions. The actors were essentially paid to hang around, fake small talk and pose for photographs. It was a little sad, actually, but that’s what you got to do. So when in Rome, I figured. Like a Pokemon Master, I collected Polaroids with Matt Bomer, Tim DeKay, Mehcad Brooks, Christopher Gorham (I commended him for his performance in Popular), and Gina Torres (who is depressingly skinny in real life). My one regret was that I couldn’t find Piper Perabo, and that I didn’t have the guts to interrupt Bruce Campbell’s conversation for a photo.

All in all, I had a blast at USA Upfronts. Here’s to the future, where I hope to attend many more of them, hopefully at least once as a showrunner or writer.

**note from Sabrina – I can’t explain how jealous I am that Jessica got to meet Matt Bomer. SO SO GREEN WITH ENVY.

Matt Bomer

Comments { 1 }

Review: Girl Model, a Documentary

By Jessica on May 10, 2012 in Behind The Scenes, Fashion, Reviews, TSoS US

Dear Loyal The Science of Style Readers

I’m Jessica, the new contributing writer from the US. I’m based in New York City, where grew up, and went to high school and college (university to you). After attending series of pretentious schools, I graduated with a very expensive degree in Dramatic Writing (screenwriting and playwriting) and history, which is pretty much as useless as you’d imagine.

I, among other things, enjoy accumulating useless entertainment industry gossip, and consuming an unhealthy amount of media. In my spare time, I love to travel, getting into conversations with random people, being sneaky and getting myself into sticky yet hilarious situations. I also love politics and current events, enjoy being right all the time and have a particular knack for pissing off self important people with a well timed cutting remark. As you can expect, I am an insufferable little know-it-all, unemployable in any other field except writing.

My love for fashion was started by the TV shows Mad Men, and What Not to Wear, as well as all the gorgeous European models I hung out with while studying abroad in Berlin. I also love online shopping, Broadway shows, Taylor Swift, swimming and good food.

It’s well known that the modeling world in the West is dominated by teens and preteens from the developing world. Eastern Europe, in particular, supplies the swaths of alien eyed, wispy, thin young girls on the runways every year, while Brazil sources the more curvaceous types you’ll find in Victoria’s Secret catalogues. These women- and you can barely call them women, as they’e barely hit their teens – come from poor countries, have few years of proper education, and usually barely speak English. And for every household name that came from rags to riches, hundreds of others struggle for years on end with no payoff.

Every so often, rumblings about the problems that are so pervasive to the industry makes its way to the press. Those stories usually centre around eating disorders, or exploitative labor practices, or the antics of Terry Richardson and are often sensationalized. Girl Model on the other hand, attempts to tell the truth of what does goes on in the modeling industry. If you ever wondered how the hamburger is made, “Girl Model” follows the supply chain to the very beginning, a beauty pageant in a small town deep inside Siberia.

“Girl Model” centers around two narratives. The 13 year old Nadya, wins the pageant and a coveted contract to model in Japan, with the 30something British modelling scout, Ashley. Nadya is an innocent girl with a dollike face from the countryside, as you would expect, while Ashley is coldblooded and unhinged, her job consisting of travelling throughout Eastern Europe signing childlike models for the Asian market. Ashley once modeled herself in Japan, and much of the dramatic irony in the piece are of the stories that she tells her young recruits of the glamorous life that await them. Her own life, however, says otherwise.

Model scout Ashley

Nadya, on the other hand, is genuine, and her narrative is the heart of the story. It’s to the filmmakers’ credit that her story isn’t sensationalized. Yes – she’s made to prance around in a bikini in the full glare of grown men at the beginning, and it is deeply unsettling; Ashley unflinchingly compares the process to prostitution later on in the film. But the worst moments that await her in Tokyo are the days and days of non stop rejection. She gets further and further in debt to her agency, and returns home a financial burden on her parents.

Ashley’s story on the other hand is manipulative and unnecessary. Apparently she herself pitched the idea for the documentary to the filmmakers and she wastes no time mugging for the cameras. She shows off the her collection of plastic baby dolls, which, of course, she dissects in her spare time, because she can’t have children of her own. She makes long and vague speeches about how lonely she is and gazes forlornly into the distance on multiple occasions. A lot of screen time could have been cut indulging her narcissism, and the film would have been stronger for it.

Ultimately Girl Model tells a story about the not so lurid, but still sad realities of the people that populate the modeling industry- the young girls forced to grow up all too quickly, and the adults, who never quite grew up themselves.

Jessica Wu is a writer in her early 20s from New York City. She has a very expensive and very useless degree in Dramatic Writing, enjoys travel, food and politics, and has a knack for mouthing off in front of important people.

Girl Model is available on DVD now and is screening worldwide. Check the site for a screening in your country.

Comments { 1 }