– By Marielle Cuccinelli – I saw Alita: Battle Angel with a couple of male friends when it came out in February. As someone who’s hyper-aware of the objectification of women on-screen, I was much more satisfied with this film than I expected – I definitely went in prepared for anime action heroine Alita to be a fetish girl, but …
Catholic Filmmakers, LGBT Representation, and Bridging the Cultural Rift
– By James Powers – This weekend sees the conclusion of what is probably one of the largest niche film festivals in the nation. LA’s Outfest, which began last Thursday and continues through Sunday, showcases a panoply of films made by and about people across the LGBT spectrum, attracts around 40,000 attendees each year, and is apparently the oldest film …
Darcy Isn’t Dead: 5 Etiquette Customs from Jane Austen that We Should Re-Adopt
– By Anna Livia Brady – Jane Austen’s works have always been a cornerstone of our culture, and fortunately, with the auditions for JPCatholic’s Theatre production of Pride and Prejudice coming up, JPCatholic will get to experience her world on stage. But while the costumes, grandeur, and romance all speak for themselves, what really differentiates Austen’s works from others of …
Complacency Killed the Cat: Why the Pixar We Grew Up With Is Gone
– By James Powers – There was a tweet or something making the rounds a few years ago, after Pixar released Inside Out, that pithily summed up the story trajectory of the studio’s films. It went something like this: 1995: What if toys had feelings? (Toy Story) 1998: What if bugs had feelings? (A Bug’s Life) 2001: What if monsters …
Can The Shining’s Sequel Build a Bridge Between King and Kubrick?
– By James Powers – Writer-director Mike Flanagan made a big name for himself earlier this year with his Netflix series The Haunting of Hill House – an ornate, disturbing and poignant ghost story that, while not without its issues, tapped part of the horror genre’s potential in a way I’ve not really seen before. What set that show apart, …
So, What’s the Deal with Keanu Reeves?
– By James Powers – It’s finals week here at JPCatholic, and that means yours truly is doing a fluff piece. To start, here’s a little bit of wholesome memery to lighten up your Thursday: I stumbled upon this the other day, and it got me thinking – what is it about Keanu Reeves that has apparently captured our hearts? …
Dear Bob and Ted: An Open Letter from a Pro-Life Movie Lover
– By James Powers – To Bob Iger and Ted Sarandos, I’m writing you today as someone who is both thankful for and intimidated by your respective contributions to the American pop-culture landscape. As leaders at two studios that are titanic forces in their respective fields, I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that the two of you have …
8 Tips for Staying Motivated as a Screenwriter
– By Christina Mercaldo – “If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.” -Milton Berle The year after graduating with my MBA was probably the toughest of my life. It’s true that life after graduation is no joke, regardless of your major. But for writers, it’s even more of a challenge, because we continually are up against creative roadblocks like comparison, …
The War on the Canvas: Art vs. Propaganda
– By Christina Mercaldo – When I asked my absolutely brilliant writing mentor why she writes, she could have responded in a gorgeous, poetic oration that would leave any listener drooling and questioning why they were even attempting to take up the craft, when geniuses such as her had already discovered every secret of the art. But instead, she responded …
Everything You Need to Know About the MCU Before ‘Avengers: Endgame’
– By Joe Campbell – The following contains spoilers for the movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. With 22 movies, eleven years, and dozens of heroes, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) may seem like a daunting task to anyone wanting to dip their toes into the massive superhero saga today. But with Avengers: Endgame bringing all these intersecting threads, characters, …