carrie*connects

Events | Boston MFA Hosts a Giant Karaoke Party

I love this event - a giant dancing and karaoke party held on the Museum of Fine Art in Boston's front lawn to kick off what sounds like an interesting exhibit.

As described by the museum: ""Seeing Songs" presents an eclectic mix of work—mainly from the Museum's collections—that draws on music as inspiration, focusing on abstract as well as representational art and connections to musical forms as varied as classical, jazz, and pop.

From lyrical works on paper by Wassily Kandinsky and a painting by Stuart Davis that depicts music as gesture and improvisation, to recent videos by Gillian Wearing and Candice Breitz that explore the relationship between pop stars and their fans, this exhibition brings together an international group of artists in whose work we see songs."

The Vogue-ing party included a giant screen and a Madonna impersonator which celebrated one of the key pieces by artist Candice Breitz’s - a video installation entitled "Queen (A Portrait of Madonna)".

One thing to note: A stated goal of both the installation and the event was to involve younger people with the museum - they publicized it through social media like Twitter and Facebook, ect to this end.   So I thought it was kind of interesting that the main musical icons featured were Madonna, Michael Jackson, Neil Diamond - all artists over 50 that I wouldn't necessarily associate with a your typical urban youth - I would see Katy Perry and Black Eyed Peas perhaps as more appropriate, however perhaps they have not achieved iconic status yet in the eyes of the museum.  Here's a video of the dancing and singing. 

Fashion PR | Patricia Fields May Pull Out of Sex & the City Film?

Wow - no Pat Field for the Sex and the City Sequel?  That's what Grazia is reporting - apparently Sarah Jessica Parker wants Carrie Bradshaw to be a little more down to earth and thrifty - aka - a Recessionista - in the next incarnation of the film.  I get that - the film was on HBO over the weekend so I caught bits of it (for the 40th time) and it reminded me that the outfits were a little out of line with what anyone but a millionaire could afford.  It's a bit out of tune with the way people are feeling these days I think.

Having said that I'm a huge fan of Pat Field's use of color and line - she's shown above with some creations from the line she designed for Mark's and Spencer in the UK - if you look closely you'll notice that versions of both pieces were featured in the first SATC movie.   She's also really done a fab job styling Ugly Betty and the Confessions of a Shopaholic film. 

Of the SATC situation Fields told Grazia, "I don't use the recession as a reference for my creativity."

While many will ponder and lament this, it could be a huge opening for smaller fashion brands to do product placement on the film should Fields actually leave.  Fields is notoriously obsessed with top labels, and her own design work, generally leaving smaller companies out in the cold. 

Grazia is also reporting that Fields would love to do a makeover on Susan Boyle -- OK!

via Grazia

Slumdog Kid Actors to Get New Homes

When Rubina Ali and Azharuddin Ismail from Slumdog Millionaire posed for these adorable shots in Beverly Hills just prior to the Academy Awards this past weekend, they weren't living the well cushioned life that it seems.  We've watched kids like Dakota Fanning, Haley Joel Osmet, and Abigail Breslin play downtrodden, abused, and misunderstood characters for years, never imagining that the roles they were playing were virtually slices of their real lifes.

But even though the film Slumdog Millionaire brought in more than $100 Million at the box office, these two little darlings apparently still subsisted in Indian slums.  According to Reuters, Rubiana Ali, 8, (shown right) currently lives in a tiny hovel in a rubbish strewn slum near railway tracks in India's financial hub. Azharuddin Ismail (left) sleeps under a polythene sheet-covered roof in the same slum. Open sewers run nearby and both homes have no running water.

Now, with all the intense media attention and public pressure thanks to Slumdog's big Oscar win, the children are being "given" homes, apparently by the Indian government in an undisclosed location.  

While producers of the film said these two were paid above local Indian wages and enrolled in school for the first time with a fund set up to pay for their education, medical emergencies and "basic living costs" they apparently have not reached out to help the stars of their film any further.  

But in another peculiar twist to me, below is a photo of the Slumdog kids' parents snapped as they were watching the Oscar broadcast - to me they don't look like people who live in the type of environment described, no matter how much grooming they were treated to during Oscar week. 

So where the truth lies in this PR coin toss is yet to be seen.  Hopefully the kids will win. 

**UPDATE:  According to the Sun - the little boy Azharuddin Ismail was beaten in public upon his return to India yesterday.

source: reuters, wireimage

Marley is Top Dog for the Holidays.

 
Marley and Me was tops at the Holiday Box Office bringing in $37 Million.  Just goes to show that everyone loves an adorable dog story!  Second was Bedtime Stories with $28.1 Million, and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button was third with $27 Million.

Netflix's Buzz branding - Times Square site for movie marathon

Netflix has proven that it's about as innovative as the imagination can run when it comes to stunts, promotion, and publicity.

Their latest stunt was this movie watching marathon which took place in where else? Times Square.  The world's top destination for wave after wave of buzz branding.

According to the press release for the event:

"Held in a plexi-glass house in New York's Times Square, the [Netflix Popcorn Bowl] event began with eight Netflix challengers and narrowed to two by the 72-hour mark. The participants began the journey with this summer's hit "Iron Man" (2008), and concluded with the contemporary classic "Thelma & Louise" (1991)." 

Susan Sarandon herself delivered the final film and offered some words of encouragement to the  final two movie fans.

The winners, Suresh Joachim and Claudia Wavra were named after 123 hours and 10 minutes of continuous movie watching.  Hey, I think I could do that.  Apparently Joachim is a Guinness World Record veteran, as he holds 33 titles already.

According to the contest's rules, each movie had to be viewed until the last credit rolled. Under Guinness World Record rules, competitors could not divert their eyes from the screen, but were allowed 10-minute breaks between movies.

Pretty silly and fun, I'm sure teens thought it was keen. 

Notes on Demi - beauty trend or Pop Fiction?

When I saw these photos of Demi Moore at the premiere of Flawless the other night I was amazed.

She turns 46 this year and  really looks fabulous-with her shiny long hair set against a gorgeous fringed tweed and lambskin Chanel coat.  And even better, she seems really happy.  I think that Ashton is on to something here!

I thought maybe Demi was working a little Bo, a good amount of exercise and yoga, and had some great face care products on her shelf (she is the face of Helena Rubinstein after all).  And maybe she even does a juice fast here and there! 

Then I saw the David Letterman interview. 

Wow, I've been following beauty trends with a keen interest for (err...a really long time now) and even I was startled by Demi's leech story.

Not only did Demi say that she lay on a bed in "someone's house" in Austria and let someone put a leech into her belly button, and body areas further south, but she took a turpentine bath first!  And wants to go back for more!

Now whether Demi's just pulling our leg here is anyone's guess - she's certainly gotten great press coverage with this little story - watch for yourself below and decide.  Something about the way she tells it makes me wonder if this one wasn't conjured up with a little help from Ashton...perhaps as a segment for Kutcher's new show Pop Fiction?   (as was Avril Lavigne's diaper bag buying spree a few weeks back)   

Petunia's "Juno Bag" featured in Chicago Tribune

Perhaps you saw our nifty post a few weeks back about our client Petunia Pickle Bottom's Tutu Roll bag playing supporting diaper bag in the film Juno. 

Over the weekend the Chicago Tribune picked up the story and ran it in their Sunday "Q" lifestyle section over the weekend. 

Writer Kelly Haramis describes the Tutu Roll's performance as such:

"Petunia Pickle Bottom's Tutu Roll Boxy Backpack diaper bag made a cameo appearance in "Juno." Although it only stayed on-screen for a moment, Q thinks it will have star, er, staying power at playdates and Mommy & Me classes."

We think Petunia's Tutu Roll may be remembered a bit more fondly than Ellen Page's Red Carpet dress.

and the nominee for best picture...Juno!...and best diaper bag...Petunia!

When they announced the Oscar nominees this morning we were thrilled to see Juno among the Best Picture contenders.  And while Ellen Page, Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman did a great job in their roles, we wanted to point out the contribution of our client, Petunia Pickle Bottom's, Tutu Roll Boxy Backpack. 

While it didn't have a speaking part, we want to think that its role in the scene with Jenn Garner and Jason Bateman having a disagreement was an important one. While they are arguing in the front hallway of their home, the Tutu Roll Boxy Backpack sits quietly, taking in the conflict...it's beautiful green and petal pink flowers promising a future of happier times.  We can imagine excursions with the expectant baby as Jen joyously straps the bag on her back, stuffed with all the things she needs for taking care of the little one, hands free so she can hold the baby or stroll her with the greatest of ease. 

We can see by the choice of design that Jen's character is creative and has a flair for the whimsical, while still holding to her practical side. 

Kudos to Petunia Pickle Bottom for creating such a dynamic bag.  Congratulations to Ellen Page for her nomination, and to the producers of Juno for such a great film!   

Sex and the City Movie Trailer

I suppose I'll never grow up - or it least it seems that way sometimes.  I couldn't help but get a thrill out of seeing the Sex and the City Movie Trailer this morning.  An election year, Sex & the City is back, and American Idol is in hi-def...ahhh...it's going to be a good year:-)