October 31, 2009
I got your back.
You’ve got mine.
Don’t listen to the haters,
We’re doing just fine.
Voices, looks
And exaggeration.
What they say means nothing,
Just causes needless aggravation.
Believe in you and me.
Now is what we have,
No one can tell us
What it ought to be.
Our only concern
Should be loving each other.
Enjoying the gift
Of the love of another.
Copyright ©2008 Veronica Romm
January 22, 2009
One year ago today Heath Ledger died of an accidental overdose leaving behind a daughter and throngs of adoring fans. It is hard to believe it has already been a year, probably due to the amount of media coverage his last film role has received. Today the nominations for the Academy Awards were announced and not surprisingly Ledger was nominated for best supporting actor as The Joker in last years smash hit The Dark Night. Last year I wrote a post in memory of Heath and Brad Renfro who had passed right around the same time. I am re-posting (Jan. 31, 2008 was the original post date) it because I think it did a good job describing my feelings about the tragic loss of this fine young actor. May Heath rest in peace knowing he was loved and appreciated for his work as an actor as well as his character as a man.
For me when someone talented, interesting and special dies regardless of whether I knew them on a personal level, or admired their talent from a far, I grieve. The last two weeks have seen the death of two talented young men first Brad Renfro and then Heath Ledger. The minute I learned of each I had the same initial reaction.
1. Utter shock (stomach drops)
2. Disbelief (Heart races)
3. Curiosity (Reading as much as I could on initial reports)
I must digress for one moment. I interviewed both Actors between 1997-1999 when I worked press junkets for major motion pictures. They were both very young, handsome and talented, Renfro who was amazing in The Client and I had interviewed the cast of Apt Pupil.
I became a fan of Ledger’s initially for the obvious reasons, he was great to look at and charming. Through the years his films became better and he would shine in each role. Brokeback Mountain showed a mature actor taking risks and worthy of all the accolades, including an Oscar nomination. I have seen almost all of his films since. Candy was another heart breaking performance, as Ledger and Cornish brought to life the book of the same name.
The media coverage and all of the speculation took the focus off of the actual loss of Heath. Once again I experienced,
1. Anger (too young, too good)
2. Curiosity( continued almost non stop coverage by media)
3. Disbelief (Each time I saw his face, stomach drops)
Now that is has been several days and his memorial in Hollywood took place, his body is in his country and his family must bury their extraordinary son I feel,
1. Profound sadness.
2. Grief
3. And the beginnings of acceptance.
So this morning when I got on the computer I let myself truly experience the emotions by watching tributes to both Heath and Brad. Yes, I cried and smiled as I saw the familiar faces on the screen in roles I loved. I listened to their words in interviews and the songs played on tribute pieces compiled by so many on YouTube. I let myself feel the grief of knowing that these images, still or moving were the only ones left, their legacy. Of course Dark Knight has yet to be released, and this will cause a new wave of sadness and maybe anger.
The stages of grief are fluid. They are repeated and recycled until time allows otherwise. I have friends who think I am foolish, ridiculous and childish for caring at all. They certainly do not take me seriously and I usually try to avoid discussing these people with them because they say things purely out of ignorance and it simply angers me and makes me wonder how people could be so heartless.
I know that I am perhaps extra sensitive and that I cannot judge others for what they feel. However through the use of this tool, my trusty blog I can express my feelings freely and not care if I am judged to be overly sentimental or foolish. I love film and I love actors. So here is my tribute to a young man who shined on screen and whose light dimmed tragically early.
HEATH LEDGER TRIBUTE – IN MEMORY
January 15, 2009
Today November 4, 2008 we are all a part of the most important event in political history. Barack Obama, the Democratic candidate might possibly become the first black president of the United States. Watching the two years of endless campaigning has been daunting, annoying, and often shocking. Republican nominee John McCain, a Vietnam veteran and POW opposes the historical Democratic nominee.
Barack Obama
John McCain
While I am writing I am seeing voter turn out in the tri-state area at an all time high rate with lines outside the door in some locations.
The candidates
Whatever your thoughts are on the campaign, the candidates or issues one thing can not be denied and that is the importance of this unprecedented election.
What has been a campaign fraught with many unpleasant, ignorant and even funny moments, now comes down to voting. Nothing would surprise me today or tonight. I just hope that tomorrow morning there is a new president elect. May the best man win.
December 3, 2008
Social networking and it’s pros and cons have been debated since the popularity of such sites as Myspace, Facebook and Twitter have increased and become part of the new Internet age. The Megan Meier’s story is particularly disturbing and has all the elements that are facilitating an adolescent epidemic of risk taking and poor judgment. To quickly sum up the Megan Meier’s story is difficult for there are many layers. It involves female friendships, parenting skills, MySpace, boys and very irresponsible adults.
Megan Meier
Megan apparently had a falling out with her close friend and neighbor and this neighbors mom Lori Drew was concerned that Megan was going to say indecent things about her daughter. She quickly created a MySpace profile of a young handsome boy she named Josh Evans from a neighboring town, and started communicating with Megan in a flirtatious way. Megan had been dealing with self esteem issues along with every other adolescent, and found the attention of the young man exciting. He was cute and sweet and could really understand her. He told her she was pretty and wanted to be her boyfriend. She had no reason to think anything else was happening. Three weeks into the Internet relationship, he turned on Megan and said she was not the kind of person he wanted to associate with due to things he heard from kids at her school. She responded with shock, tears and hanging herself with a belt as her parents got ready for dinner downstairs.
It was quickly disclosed that the boy with whom Megan had bonded was really a collaborative effort of a family, initiated by the matriarch Mrs. Drew, and maintained by all. They explained that they started the profile on MySpace to protect their daughter from slanderous talk (never did Megan say a bad thing about her neighbor or anyone else). Since the rest of the neighborhood found out about the families twisted game, the Drew’s has complained of harassment on several occasions. To date there will be no charges found against the MySpace family hoax or any of the participants. A tragedy like this is unthinkable yet it is subtle, societal and scary.
Lori Drew
Update:
Since the story broke I have been paying close attention to the outcome. The strong outcry from all over propelled the law to be reassessed. While the heinous acts of this adult became known across the nation, and indeed even the world, justice seemed to escape Megan Meier.
In May 2008, a federal grand jury in California defied Missouri officials’ refusal to prosecute the case. It indicted Lori Drew on charges of fraudulently using an account on MySpace. Finally, someone had the (courage) to FIND a law to fit the case. Someone finally figured out how to tell Lori Drew that what she did was wrong. Justice was coming, from California of all places!
Well now the verdict is in.
While jurors could not agree on the four charges brought by the federal indictment, they did find Lori Drew guilty of three misdemeanor offenses. This is not the victory we had hoped for. However, no longer will this adult walk away — completely unpunished for her actions. Kansascity.com
This story has been one that managed to be so disgraceful and kept my attention hoping that some sort of justice would be served. Originally I feared that there would not be any charges brought against Lori Drew due to the tenuous nature of the crime. I am pleased to know that the case appalled many and that there were lawyers willing to find any loophole to indict Drew. Her behavior displays the absolute worst in people, callus and calculated Drew spun a web that led to a death. Her irresponsible and reckless disregard for the feelings of a teenager, her malice and anti-social penchant for bullying is the worst example she could possibly set for her own children. God help her family and hopefully this will be a lesson for others who think the Internet is a means for abuse and bullying.
Please read The New Yorker piece on this story here.
November 26, 2008
Led Zeppelin Thank you
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday, be safe and enjoy all the yummy food. veronicaromm
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