Spring Break may be getting in the way of my blogging, but I need to live life to write about it.
And boy, do I have stories to tell!
First of all though, check out my adventures in “Little India” with Mohammad Ali’s “Spice of Life” food and culture tour.
You can learn more about the tours on the website here.
Aaaand part 2, here we go!
I had fun with this one and tried a few speed-ups and a blooper at the end.
Enjoy!
Here it is! My very first vlog/self-starring highlight video all about my first day at the “Women In Travel” Summit.
Don’t worry, I threw in a few shots of St. Patrick’s Day for all the Irish and Chicago fans.
Now, I’m still new to video, so forgive the shaky camera (haven’t figured out how to walk, talk and film at the same time yet!)
Part 2 and highlights from my “Little India” tour coming soon.
The Women in Travel Summit, hosted by Go Girl Travel this weekend March 14-16, is not only my first, but the first ever conference for women travel bloggers!
Held in Chicago at the Palmer House Hotel, it’s going to be an awesome weekend of networking, story-swapping and advice on making money while writing a travel blog.
My dream job, right there.
Now, this blog may not focus so much on travel, but I’m hoping that with the tips from super-successful travel bloggers, I can give Masala FM a little makeover 🙂
After all, travel doesn’t have to be about leaving the country. You don’t even have to move from the couch! Some of my favorite adventures around the world have begun and ended in Bollywood films and world music and dance.
I don’t have to see the world to appreciate it!
But it would still be nice to combine what I need to do (make money) with things I really want to do (writing and travel). Who doesn’t want to earn a living doing what they love!
And that’s why I’ll be at the WIT Summit this weekend, making friends, taking names (and lots of notes) and learning how to make a career out of this weird freelance media-writer-radio-blogger mish-mash I’ve got going on.
And don’t worry! I will be documenting the whole thing for you all to enjoy.
With any luck I will even have my brand-new camera to help me out.
Check out the amazing WITSummit schedule here!
I am a terrible film critic.
I could judge acting, cinematography, plot, script and music for hours. I could even attempt to tell you if the special effects were worth the cinema ticket.
But I usually forget about all that. Especially when Bollywood is involved.
Yes, the acting may be cheesy, the dancing extravagant and the plots unrealistic, but that is not the point.
Bollywood is an experience.
For example, I saw Dhoom 3 recently. Starring Aamir Khan, Katrina Kaif and Abhishek Bachchan and revolving around bank heists and a circus set in Chicago, it was three hours of non-stop colour and action.
Sure, the “twin brother magicians rob banks” plot was a bit “Prestige”-meets-“Now You See Me”.
But whether it was Katrina’s remarkably tasteful strip tease, Aamir with dual personalities or rubber-burning motorcycle scenes on familiar streets with Abhishek that captured my imagination, I don’t know.
I couldn’t look away once.
We judge our viewing experience by certain standards.
These standards may be personal, critical, but are most often cultural.
And that is where viewers of international media hit a snag.
America in particular has a very specific idea of what makes a good film. It must be believable, authentic and the world of fantasy and reality must be clearly defined for the audience.
That’s what we have genres for.
What Americans don’t realize when is that many cultures don’t feel the need to make that same distinction.Â
Why is a film or drama with “bit of everything” so difficult for some people to enjoy? What’s so bad about song and dance, bright colours and tragedy, comedy and romance in the same story?
Dhoom 3 was by no means realistic. Circus tricks defied gravity, there was little character development and it was both flashy and overly-dependent on action and movement to drive the story.
But it was an excellent example of Indian cinema on American streets, two cultures colliding to form an exciting three-hour ride.
It was an experience.
When people go to a movie theatre, log in to Netflix or download the latest box offices hits, they expect to be transported to a different world.
Why? Because it’s an experience.
Film is rarely meant to inform or explain, it is entertainment for entertainment’s sake.
And entertainment requires the suspension of belief.
Before I forget, I did finally look up the showtimes for Gori Tere Pyaar Mein and it will be in Chicago this weekend.
Take a look at the showtimes here.
Also, take a look at Oneindia’s review of the film.
Thanks to the final few weeks of school craziness, I may not make it out to see GTPM this weekend, but I am looking forward to some serious rest and relaxation over Thanksgiving break (which will hopefully include Bollywood movies), so you may see a review in the next week or two.
No promises, though!
Bollywood Groove is a Chicago-based company that offers dance classes to all ages.
I was privileged to be a member of the company’s dance troupe until medical issues made dancing difficult (stupid back). However, as the troupe’s Media Coordinator, I’m still able to get a behind-the-scenes glimpse of their performances around Chicago.
This is a collection of shots I took while following Bollywood Groove dance troupe through their recent annual show at the Athenaeum Theatre in Chicago.
I went to see Joffrey Ballet’s “La Bayadere” a few weeks ago and I had a great time!
Coincidentally, I also had a video project due for class, so I thought I’d practice my still-new reporting and camera skills and review the show myself, BBC style.
So here you are, for the first time ever, the Desi girl behind the blog…Leanna Johnson, reporting live from Chicago!
Drum roll, please!
Be sure to look for productions of La Bayadere at a theatre near you!
We’ve got some exciting events coming up at Masala FM, so stay tuned!
…I’ve always wanted to say that.
Seriously though, I am very excited about a new addition to my blog and I hope you will be too.
Leaving the wonderful world of K-drama for a bit (until Lee Min Ho finishes that badly thought-out, but well-timed kiss), let’s look at the Bollywood forecast!
I have to say that the upcoming film I’m most looking forward to is “Gori Tere Pyaar Mein” (My Fair Lady, In Your Love).
Starring Kareena Kapoor Khan (“Jab We Met”, “Kabhie Khushi Kabhie Gham”) and Imran Khan (“Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na”, “I Hate Luv Storys”), we’ve got to of India’s best comedians battling it out as a shallow player and a driven activist. Judging by the trailer, there’s going to be a lot of “Desi beat”, considering that most of the movie seems to be set in a (very dusty) rural village.
But see the trailer for yourself!
Though actually, this is the part I’m most looking forward to (the picture on the left is from their previous film “Main Tu Aur Ekk Tu”):
And you can read Bollywood Life‘s thought-provoking review about the film here.
Opening Nov. 22nd, in a theater that’s probably nowhere near you!
But don’t worry, Chicagoans, this is one I plan to see, so expect showtime updates soon.
Masala FM 