Viral Marketing: You're Doing it Right!

I've already mentioned how excited I am about J.J Abrams' new project Super 8 - for various reasons mostly pertaining to a trailer that involves something hella strong trying to bust out of a derailed train from Area 51.

Abram's projects are no strangers to viral marketing - Cloverfield essentially built its success on it! I've never really gotten involved it in before, but I've watched people enthuse about it. My former manager followed The Dark Knight viral campaign from start to finish and it sounded amazing!

For Super 8, the initial trickle of information included some set photos - some of which (the ones I can't seem to find now) showed in store displays for a brand of ice pops called Rocket Poppeteers. A website for this brand was revealed shortly thereafter, encouraging users to register for their Astronaut Programme.

I did so, and got this in the mail shortly before Christmas! (Note: not my real name LOL!)

There is also a 3 digit code on the envelope that needs to be entered - somewhere - on the Rocket Poppeteers website. I have to say - even if I leave off here and don't bother going any further, that's a pretty impressive piece of viral marketing! They've literally been mailed all over the world!

The website has been down for a while but worked for me this morning - you can explore quite a bit but I can't get any further when it comes to using my code. It claims not to recognise my registration - this is either because they haven't launched that part of the site yet, or because I'm somehow doing something wrong!

You can still register - but I'm not sure whether they'll do another mailing! If I ever get to start work on the Twin Teamwork Fleet I will let you know! In the meantime, you can follow Rocket Poppeteers on Twitter or keep up with Scariest Thing I Ever Saw (the main viral website for Super 8) and Super 8 News if you don't want to have to figure it out for yourself ;)

I know they did a big roll out at Comic-Con so if anyone experienced that, please feel free to share!

A Steampunk Short and a Heads Up

Woah! *blows dust off blog*

Life has been nuts and is only getting more so - therefore I won't make the mistake of promising a return to (semi-)regular posting.. but I will be popping in more often with fun things to share!

I've been working on Tweeting more (but not too much) from work so you can catch me @titangrrl if you want to hear random things about working in geek publishing, you know where to go ;)

This little steampunk short popped up on one of the Livejournal communities I follow - and it's so heartbreakingly beautiful that I just had to share it.

Also through a steampunk community, I discovered a movie called The Clockwork Girl - which I had somehow managed to be shamefully unaware of! Originally scheduled for a 2010 release, I'm honestly not sure what is happening with this movie, but I so hope that it does get a release as it looks like so much fun!

Based on a comic book series of the same name, The Clockwork Girl tells the story of Tesla, a robot girl, and the hilarious mutant boy she befriends. Check out the preview on the official website and keep an eye out for it in the future!

Give a little geek this Christmas...

Not too long ago, practically every geek on the internet was reading an article about a little girl called Katie who was bullied at school for having a Star Wars water bottle that was "for boys".

In no time, a Facebook event sprang up calling for people to get their geeky pride on and wear something Star wars related on this Friday - December 10th.

Katie's mom, Carrie, posted a follow up article which I thought made a really awesome and important point - which was that we should think very carefully about how we gender label our toys and the effect that that has on children.

To that end, she suggested a really wonderful thing - which is that we each donate a Star Wars/geeky toy to a shleter/hospital/children's charity and very clearly label it as being suitable for a girl OR a boy.

If we all stop and thing about it - anyone who is in to geeky things definitely has at least a little bit of cash to spare. We go to conventions, make costumes, and buy lightsabers when we really shouldn't (GUILTY!).

So this Friday I'm heading out in my Her Universe Star Wars t-shirt and dropping my geeky gift off at the Salvation Army Christmas Present Appeal - which anyone in the UK can do at their nearest Salvation Army or participating Superdrug.

You can also Google for local children's charities or your nearest children's hospital as they always appreciate donations.

Let's make an effort to get some awesome toys to kids who wouldn't have the chance to receive gifts like that otherwise, and raise a new generation of geeks while we're at it!

Sucker Punch: The Art of the Movie by Zack Snyder

I'm just about to hit the approve button to send this out to the internets as a whole, so I thought I'd give you guys a 30 second advance preview ;)

A new and AMAZING trailer for Sucker Punch has also just hit...

This movie is going to be sexy... this book is going to be EXTRA sexy.

Preorder a copy now!!!

5 Short Films to Watch... if you've never watched short films before!

Short films often evade me for a variety of reasons - I'm too lazy to sit and watch something for 15 whole minutes, my gods damn work computer is so slow that it can't actually process video (trufax! I've actually only seen every 8th frame of the Deathly Hallows trailer!), I don't have headphones and my flatmates are watching tv... the excuses pile up!

My newfound addiction to io9 and an empty living room this evening prompted me to sit down and make my way through some of the short films I had bookmarked - and woah was it worth it.

Whether you've never watched a short film in your life or you are a veritable connoisseur (in which case I suspect you will have seen all of these anyway), at least one of these films should definitely be for you. Give them a shot; I urge you.

1. Sintel tells the heartbreaking story of a lone warrior and her dragon. Originally born as a proof-of-concept for an open source 3D creation suite called Blender, Sintel was funded by internet donations and premièred at the Netherlands Film Festival in September. It has since, justifiably, become an online sensation.

2. Fallen - aka the brief story of the cutest meteorite that ever was - catalogues the brief life of a burning lump of space rock that realises its own existence shortly before coming to an abrupt halt. Yes, yes, we all know the sperm whale got there first - and more amusingly - but this is an adorable little short and coming in at 3:50, it's not too taxing.

Fallen from Sascha Geddert on Vimeo.

3. The Anachronism is simply gorgeous. Part steampunk, part children's adventure story, part love letter to British Columbia, this one is well worth 15 minutes of your time. Two would-be explorers document the flora and fauna in the woodland surrounding their home - until they stumble on an occupant that they couldn't possibly have expected. The worthy winner of 6 Leo awards.

The Anachronism (Full Film) from Anachronism Pictures on Vimeo.

4. Just about as different in tone as you can get from the previous offerings, When It Will Be Silent is the beautiful, stylised sophomore project of film student Dan Sachar. A post-apocalyptic vignette that will take your breath away.

When it Will Be Silent (כשיהיה דומם) from Dan Sachar on Vimeo.

5. I'm cheating this one a bit, as it's actually about two films and there are only trailers available. These two short films from Polish filmmaker Grzegorz Jonkajtys look truly remarkable. The Ark has won multiple awards and even won Best of Show at Cannes in 2007. The only remaining survivors of an unknown virus that has claimed most of mankind take to the sea in order to survive. Stunning and unusual animation.

The 3rd Letter shows a remarkable vision of a dystopian future in which mankind utterly depends on bio-mechanical alteration to withstand the declining climate. The only place worse than America to lose your health insurance - as Jeffrey Brief learns.

Please suggest any other short films you may have come across that you think are particularly remarkable - and please give some of these a chance; they are incredible stories, each in their own way.

Steampunk Thursday #10: Art and Artists

The last and final Steampunk Thursday! You can catch up with all of the previous posts here.

Steampunk being the creative community that it is, artists literally abound!

Jessica Van Hulle's beautiful collection of steampunk and dieselpunk pin-ups are just begging to be on your living room wall! These oil paintings are more than just a little bit different and have a fun, quirky style.

DeviantArt is awash with beautiful steampunk pieces - Steampunk by PReilly being just one such example. Look see what a steampunk search turns up!

io9 have collected an amazing gallery of Sam Van Olffen's work - very much steampunk meats surrealist, his art is very heard to categorise but I would select AWESOME.

Of course art doesn't just live on the screen/canvas and there are some even more fantastic art pieces/furniture/just about anything you can shake a Victorian walking stick at that have been thoroughly steampunked!

This beautiful steampunk book was made by none other than geek with curves' significant other Tim - who is not only a fantastic make up artist but also a skilled prop maker and sculptor - check out his DeviantArt for more quirky creations!

If you've ever Googled 'steampunk' you've probably seen some of Datamancer's custom steampunk computers. As he proclaims himself, he creates heirlooms - and I couldn't agree more!

I hope you've enjoyed this introduction to steampunk. Remember to go to Brass Goggles for friends, Steampunk Jewellery for... well, steampunk jewellery (!) and Livejournal for steamy fashion tips!

Let myself (@jesuisbienseule) or @amy_geek know if you have any thoughts, comments, feedback or suggestions on this blog series and don't forget to follow geek with curves for all the latest geeky awesome!

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King with London Philharmonic Orchestra

Last week, just about the best thing that can happen to a fangirl (aside from maybe getting invited to dinner at Skywalker Ranch - still on my to=do list!) happened to me! A message popped up on the Lord of the Rings Livejournal community offering a single ticket to the sold-out screening of LotR:RotK at the Royal Albert Hall with the score performed live by the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

My seat was amazing. The Lord of the Rings has been such a massive part of my life for so long that it was just so incredible to be there, listening to the orchestra that had actually recorded the original score for the movies. Howard Shore is a genius - the music is so stirring and powerful that by the time the Rohirrim arrived at the Battle of the Pelennor Fields I was totally prepared to stand up and punch the air and yell when they charged into the fray.

Not only did they have the complete orchestra and a full choir, but during the applause a vaguely familiar face came to take a bow with the conductor. I can't say that I had ever really contemplated how I would feel about seeing Howard Shore before that moment, but the answer is thrilled. He made the music that was the backdrop to my life for so many years.

But I digress... if you can ever go and see a movie, any movie, with an accompanying orchestra - do it! The Royal Albert Hall have done all three LotR movies now, but given the astounding success that they appear to have been, I have no doubt that they will do this or something similar again in the future.

Star Wars in Concert don't have any tour dates listed at the moment, but keep checking the site.

The Proms did a Dr. Who night this year, too!

What They Didn't Tell You About The Zombie Apocalypse...

Surprise, surprise - yet another conversation at work inspired this. I may inadvertently end up writing Zombie Mondays!

So; you're all set for the zombie apocalypse. Holed up in your own doubly reinforced bunker with a year's supply of food. Axe and a copy of The Zombie Survival Guide in hand...

An eerie moaning sound comes from the corner. Kids; asleep. Partner; asleep. Dad; asleep. Mom; not looking her best. Fairly certain she didn't always ooze like that. Or gnaw on her own forearm...

Come to think of it; she did make that trip to the 7-Eleven while you were boarding up the windows... on her own...

Books, blogs and movies the world over prepare you for almost every possible outcome of the rise of the undead. You're prepared for the worst; food shortages, decapitating the undead with a shovel, many months barricaded in a basement with that uncle you've always found a bit creepy... you've even learned some farming skills and resigned yourself to the fact that the Earth may need to be repopulated.

But... could you kill your zombie mom?

Why I'm excited about... Sucker Punch!

Sucker Punch (March 2011) is the latest offering from Zack Snyder - and the only feathers in sight this time are those on the fans of the burlesque dancers.

Opening in the 1950's, the movie has Babydoll (Emily Browning) imprisoned in a mental institution by her stepfather and due to be lobotomised in five days. Retreating into her own mind to escape, Babydoll finds herself in an alternate world in which she must plan her escape by stealing five objects. From what I can make out; Sucker Punch has several layers of 'reality' - the real world, Babydoll's alternate reality, and another dream world within that reality. Reminding you of anything?

What's so special?

Bordello, World War I, samurai, dieselpunk, machine guns, katanas - Sucker Punch goes in every direction at once. It's highly stylised, high action that will most likely kick you five ways to Sunday.

With an almost exclusively female cast, Snyder himself has joked about about doing the opposite of 300 with this movie. To be honest, I think they're not all that dissimilar; Sucker Punch looks like every man's wet dream - bestockinged women wielding machine guns. Robots. Dragons. Swordfights. It ticks practically every box except zombies. Oh wait - they're in there too! Not that I'm complaining about any of this, mind...

It could easily go the way of The Spirit - but Sucker Punch has been generating a lot of excitement online and I think that that alone will earn it a strong opening weekend. What it may eventually lack in coherent plot, it will potentially make up for in style and (yes, I am going to say it) scantily clad women.

Pretty, pretty, pretty tiems...

On a basic level - this movie is GORGEOUS. I've seen a lot of artwork and stills from the production and it looks stunning. The costumes and set pieces are absolutely first rate - I was genuinely surprised that Weta weren't involved! All credit to Quantum Creation FX - even though I had never heard of them before!

If you like...

Well, I am reliably informed that this move even has a kitchen sink in it, so my advice would be that if you can handle style over story (although this may not end up being the case) in any way, then this is worth a view. Even at his very worst, Snyder delivers stunning visuals and I have no reason to believe that Sucker Punch won't be worth the price of a theater ticket.

Trailer with more frak me visuals here.

The six character posters (which some of you will have seen at SDCC) are available here.

Popcorn Bowl 10/2

The Hobbit Union Debacle:

7 unions instructed their members not to work on The Hobbit, claiming that the production refused to negotiate with actors on union contracts. Peter Jackson, being justifiably both hurt and frustrated, responded with remarkable clarity. Both the studios (obviously) and the New Zealand government backed Jackson's stance. Actors seem to be in support of the unions, but it's difficult to tell how much of this whole thing is political. I agree that NZ actors should have working conditions equal to those in the UK and US, but I also believe that if this issue chases The Hobbit production out of NZ, it will spell doom for the country's ability to attract big budget productions. Peter Jackson has done so much for the NZ film industry - I don't think he is out to actively disenfranchise the country or its actors.

Things in 3D:

So, if you haven't heard about this then welcome back - how was your holiday under a rock on Mars?

Star Wars is coming to theatres in 3D! Starting with The Phantom Menace in 2012... I am, at best, meh about the 3D bandwagon... but if they're properly rendered then I'm not going to say no to getting to see the saga on the silver screen!

In worse news - The Hobbit is going to be in 3D. I am 85 different kinds of pissed off. The Hobbit is an intimate little story and I did not want this.

The teaser trailer for I Am Number Four went online this week. This was released as a book a few weeks ago, but I read an early proof in June. I'm less than confident about the casting, but everything that made this a rubbish book makes it a strong script, so I will be interested to see this movie when it comes out. If you like kids that are aliens, being a teenager and buildings occasionally and unexpectedly being demolished; this is the movie for you!

I know how much you love casting rumours - the list for the female lead in the Spider-Man reboot is growing impressively.

Sherlock Holmes 2 has added Stephen Fry as Mycroft Holmes (Sherlock's brother) and Mad Men's Jared Harris as Moriarty.

Darren Aronofsky is reportedly in the running to direct the Superman reboot. I'm not sure I can visualise that, but colour me intrigued!

Tony Curtis passed away this week at the age of 85.

Comic-Con to stay in San Diego for at least the next 5 years! I intend to be at it for at least one of them!

New Deathly Hallows posters!

Now if you haven't booked a ticket to go and see one of the 25th anniversary screenings of Back to the Future, then why the hell are you still reading this? Go!

Steampunk Thursday #9: Dr. Grordbort's Rayguns

Amy is talking about Dr. Grordbort's fabulous and fantastical creations over at geek with curves for Steampunk Thursday!

Weta and steampunk? A match truly made in heaven...

Last week is our final Steampunk Thursday, so don't miss out!

Zombie Buddy System

The buddy system; a sacred and - if The Simpsons has taught us anything - utterly failproof tradition. It's been the secret behind everything from crossing the road as a kid at school to travelling across the continent in large groups.

What better scenario to apply it to than the zombie apocalypse? As Zombieland taught us, Rule #29 is Rule #29 for a reason!

One of my co-workers was lamenting the company-wide lack of preparedness for the rise of the undead the other evening. Calls for our managers to allow us to stockpile food and weapons in the basement and add a section to the employee handbook have sadly gone unheeded.

However, it seems that the buddy system has successfully been established across several floors, so I took the liberty of preparing an induction for new employees.

Welcome to [Company of Awesome]. Within your first week of employment, you will be introduced to your designated zombie buddy. This person will be selected based on a range of criteria and graded according to their optimum compatibility with you. Please take the opportunity to attend the training and team building sessions as regularly as you can - ideally you will build a good relationship with your zombie buddy as you may need to survive together in cramped conditions for a long time.

In Case of Zombie Emergency:

1. Leave your work area and find your zombie buddy immediately. Do not return for any of your possessions (unless you keep a weapon in your drawer). Do not attempt to help anyone other than your zombie buddy - if they are unprepared for the apocalypse, they will most likely die in the first few hours anyway.

2. Proceed to the prearranged safe space. If your workplace does not have a designated space, proceed to the most defensible location and grab any available weapons along the way.

3. Should this location be breached, it is best to adopt a back-to-back fighting position with your zombie buddy, unless one of you is wielding a double headed axe.

4. The fundamental basis of the zombie buddy bond is the agreement that you will look out for each other no matter what and - most importantly - that if one of you gets infected, the other will do the necessary.

5. No matter what movies may tell you; fighting zombies in revealing clothing is NOT COMFORTABLE. [Company of Awesome] respects your right to wear clothing of your choice (within reason) to work, but does request that you wear sensible footwear at all times in case of precisely this kind of emergency.

Should societal and economic structure survive in the aftermath of a zombie attack, your family/significant other(s) will be compensated in the event of your death. For more information, please apply to HR for the Zombies Ate My Loved One, What Now? leaflet.

Empire Strikes Back Poster

I was certainly appreciating my job in its own right already, but the awesome perks are starting to roll in... I won this signed limited edition 30th anniversary Empire Strikes Back poster by Joe Corroney at a pub quiz we had the other night and frak me, it's worth $40!!!

Isn't it gorgeous? I can wake every morning to see Darth Vader reaching out for me... *happy sigh*

Now if only I could currently afford a frame to put it in!

Popcorn Bowl

Here's a hit and run sum up of this weeks movie news, so you don't have to trawl dozens of news feeds all reporting the same thing!

Zack Snyder made a kids movie about owls

I know what you're thinking, and yes this is the guy that made 300 and Watchmen... Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole opened this week in American theatres and has been met with mixed reviews. A definite change of pace for Snyder, Legend of the Guardians is based on a series of children's books and has been criticised by some as being too scary for many children. Screenrant gives it an average review, but does highlight the beautiful visual style of the film - no surprise coming from Snyder, whose latest project Sucker Punch looks to be another highly stylised production. comingsoon.net discuss the 3D aspect of the film with him.

Superman reboot searches for a director

Several sources this week have reported that Christopher Nolan is talks with a shortlist of 5 directors for the reboot of the Superman franchise that was announced earlier this year. Making the hotlist are Duncan Jones (Moon), Tony Scott (Top Gun, True Romance), Zack Snyder (keeping himself in the news!), Jonathan Liebesman (Clash of the Titans 2, just announced) and Matt Reeves (Cloverfield, Let Me In).

Images from the Captain America set in Manchester

Photos have emerged of Chris Evans and Hayley Atwell on the Captain America set in Manchester. There is also a short clip of a car explosion. Captain America: The First Avenger is scheduled for release on July 22nd 2011. Oh, and hai Natalie Dormer! Where have you been since The Tudors??

Last two years of Joaquin Phoenix's life a hoax

Casey Affleck has spent the past year documenting Joaquin Phoenix's spiralling breakdown after his decision to quit acting and pursue a rap career. Except... he hasn't. Affleck and Phoenix are going to have a lot of trouble digging themselves out of this one. They've also shot their profits in the foot by admitting it right before the movie released in theatres.

New Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 Trailer

A new trailer came out on Wednesday - which you already know unless you've been living under a rock!

Chloe Moretz (aka HitGirl) cast as Emily the Strange

Not much in the way of detail yet, but the movie has apparently been confirmed.

Pixar announces first female director

Brenda Chapman will be at the helm for Brave - the story of a princess determined to become an archer. Sounds like a bit of a departure to the ordinary for Pixar, but at this stage in story development it's hardly fair to pass judgement. Chapman has a massively impressive Disney resume - Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King to name but a few. Brave is slated for a June 2012 release.

Hobbit Casting Call Spotted

Despite no official word that the MGM fiasco has been resolved, there have been rumblings from Middle Earth of late - first Sir McKellen claimed that shooting would get underway in January, then this preliminary casting call was spotted in a Wellington newspaper. I'm erring on the side of scepticism at the moment, but be warned, there will be SERIOUS squee in this corner of the interwebs once production gets underway.

Why I'm excited about... Super 8!

Since it's now officially part of my job to know what the frak is going on in the movie world, I spend a pleasant slice of my work day reading movie blogs. I've always been pretty good at keeping up with them in my spare time, but being so immersed in the current news has reminded me how completely stoked I am about several movie projects in production right now! This week's squee; Super 8!

But you HATE J.J Abrams!!!?

Rumours of my rage have been greatly exaggerated!! However, I've never quite seen eye to eye with J.J Abrams... BUT - I have never dismissed any of his films out of hand. I really wanted to see Cloverfield... I was genuinely looking forward to Star Trek... Anyhow; I digress. While we've had our differences in the past, I appreciate that the man has some fantastic ideas, and when I saw the other names attached to this project, well, I was pretty much sold in 2 words; Steven frakking Spielberg!!!

It's all down to the math...

There are a lot of equations that are vital to making a movie successful and enjoyable - a high percentage of them involve stressed accountants peering at spreadsheets - but the one that is guaranteed to = win no matter what else you throw in the mix is Steven Spielberg + aliens. I don't need to rattle on about E.T and Close Encounters... this guy knows his extraterrestrial shizzle and that's that. Spielberg's name gets slapped next to Executive Producer so much these days that one has to wonder exactly how involved he gets in the project - but I like to think that he won't be able to resist lending his awesomely spooky air to this one.

Aliens, you say?

So, what do we know about Super 8? Not a lot, is the short answer! Principal photography began earlier this week in West Virginia and Hitflix have a handy list of 10 things we currently know about Super 8. There is an official website, but it's typically cryptic at the moment.

However, there is a helpful and informative completely bitchin trailer!

The gist; Area 51, aliens, trains, AWESOME.

Steampunk Thursday #8: A Corset is a Lady's Best Friend

The corset.

Worn for centuries, reclaimed by fashion in recent years and recycled in almost every form imaginable. You can buy them on the high street, at markets and fairs, in specialist shops and in more online stores than I can shake a small top hat at.

I loved corsets long before I became interested in steampunk. I think they're beautiful, sexy, stylish, really supportive of my (bad) back and actually very comfortable to wear. I, like many others, have shopped far and wide in search of mine, but how many of us actually know exactly what we are/should be looking for?

When I popped my corset cherry, it was at a shop in Camden Lock and the sales assistant was really helpful in finding a style that I liked and fitting it correctly. I walked away with a silky black number and was very pleased with myself for a while. However, this corset only had plastic boning, and both failed to conform to my curves properly and was too long for me (my friends can tell you hilarious stories about rolling me into taxi cabs because I couldn't bend in half to sit down). I was soon to learn that this wasn't going to be a long term thing.

My second corset came from The Dark Angel and was a slight improvement, as I bought it based on my waist measurement and it was steel boned. It gave me the hourglass figure I was looking for, but still wasn't an absolutely perfect fit; I spilled out over the top in a way that was only likely to be beneficial if I was planning on charging by the hour.

At this point I realised that a tailored corset was something I was going to need to invest in.

Overbust Corset:

An overbust corset is the most common type, and extends from just under the arms to over the hips. Miss Emilly Ladybird gives sound (and professional) advice on buying a full (or overbust) corset;

When corsets were worn regularly, every lady had their favourite manufacturer, much as we do with bras today. But modern corset manufacture has become a bit of a minefield, with many cheap, badly patterned "corsets" being sold fairly cheaply on the internet and at conventions, these are bulk manufactured to "standard" sizes and to be avoided.

A corset is underwear, it is designed to change your figure shape, and every single persons figure is different. Standard sizes rarely fit anyone properly and a badly fitting corset will make you ache, a lot, and may damage your ribs.

Save up and get one made by a really, really good corsetiere whose corsets make you gasp with joy, and whose clients have similar bodyshapes to your own. Make sure it is steel boned and ensure they have a selection of corset shapes and designs to choose from, don't be wowed by surface decoration or pretty fabric, it's the shape and support that counts. A corset should enhance your figure, not just be a pretty corset.

Never ever buy a corset just by "waist" measurement. It won't fit on the hips or bust, spilling out top and bottom "muffin top" style looks terrible. Your corsetiere should ask you for plenty of measurements and insist on a fitting if they haven't made you one before.

Ooh and do note "made to measure" is not the same as bespoke. Getting a corset that has been made to your own body shape (ie bespoke,) is a far better option than having one made from a random set of measurements (made to measure)

If a fitting in person isn't possible, then they should send you a calico toile (mock up) of the corset - completely boned so you can try it on and mark any alterations. Purchasing a corset should be an experience, an enjoyable luxury not a last minute cheap grab.

If you really, really must buy an off the peg corset, then go for an underbust waspie style, worn with a very well fitting bra.

Underbust Corset:

An underbust corset begins just under the breasts and goes over the hips. Importantly; this type of corset still needs to fit you properly!!!

Waspie Corset:

A waspie (or waist cincher) is the only type of corset that you can safely buy just about anywhere without too many particulars. It is still important to try it on - a waspie needs to conform to your waist measurements and be comfortable to wear. I would always recommend trying it on - you can easily slip it on over whatever you're wearing and staff are generally really helpful, informative and eerily good at taking one look at you and knowing what size you are! If it's a really big store and there aren't a lot of staff; bring a friend/family member/significant other who knows how to lace you in (pretty much a vital element of corset ownership).

I feel the same way about corsets as I do about shoes; if you're in pain then you're damaging your body. Wear it around the shop for at least 10 or 15 minutes; if anything hurts, don't buy it. Feel good, look good, have fun!

Christina Hendricks exists below the bust line!

I want to qualify this by saying that I have not watched Mad Men and have only seen Christina Hendricks in Firefly - in which I thought she was great - but never the less; my opinion in this case is qualified by nothing other than the fact that I am a woman. Which I think is quite enough.

My problem with Christina Hendricks? Absolutely nothing. As I said; I know little about her. I am aware of Mad Men mainly as a nagging feeling that it's a really good show that I should probably get around to watching sooner or later.

The world's problem with Christina Hendricks? Where to start... An article by the BBC supposedly praising Hendricks' figure as 'ideal' sparked my irritation.

Having initially praised her curves as something every woman should aspire to, and her current role on Mad Men as a fantastic celebration of a more 'normal' figure on television, the article then goes on the cite what I presume it considers an expert.

This woman not only claims that no one should aspire to look like Hendricks, as keeping a size 14 (what they allege her size to be - I really can't say) figure requires a carefully monitored diet and exercise. She also makes the most ludicrous claim I have ever heard;

"Usually in the real world, the bigger breast goes along with a bigger tummy, wider waist or protruding abdomen."

My apologies; I and many of my friends must be living in an alternate fantasy universe then. None of us diet or do a drastic amount in the way of exercise, many have a naturally larger bust and are rocking a size 12 or 14. Believe me, it's through no effort on our part - we're just busy being normal. The gods know I love my cake!

I resent not only the implication that there is such a thing as an ideal figure, but the suggestion that this new 'ideal' is still unattainable to women! I certainly don't know Christina Hendricks, but I doubt she would appreciate being used to tell women that they can't be beautiful! ALL SIZES AND SHAPES ARE BEAUTIFUL!

My main problem though? Christina Hendricks' breasts. They're big, they're fabulous; they're all anyone can talk about.

Poor woman; many of the images of her that I've seen have been photoshopped - her figure is all people can seem to talk about when they write about her role on Mad Men. As I say; I haven't seen her act much but I'll go out on a limb and presume that she's more memorable than her breasts!

Maybe I'm taking it overly personally - largely because I've spent my adult life trying to get people to talk to my face and not my chest (really folks; they just can't hear you! Not a superpower of mine...). I'm hardly the first to bray that no woman should be regarded solely by her appearance, but the juxtaposition of the praise for Hendricks' representation of a strong, career minded woman in the 60's and the inability to focus on anything other than her cup size quite frankly pisses me off.

Above picture included to illustrate the fact that her body does indeed continue below her breasts - not something that 99% of pictures of her would make you aware of!

Steampunk Thursday #7: Steampunk on a Budget

It's Steampunk Thursday again and Amy's got a great post over at geek with curves about costuming on a budget! Get over there and check it out!

"It's easy to let your costuming costs balloon out of control. You see a must-have replica prop or a really lush fabric, and before you know it, you spent more on your costume than your prom dress (hey, back in my day, prom dresses were expensive). You can control it though, and it is absolutely possible to create a suitable costume on a budget. With steampunk, it's definitely possible to scavenge your costume or use a few shortcuts to save money."

Talk Like A Pirate Day

In every geek's brain, about 2cm to the left of the part dedicated to being on the alert for zombies is a small zone that is attuned to September 19th. Since its inception in 1996, Talk Like A Pirate Day has brought joy to millions of buccaneers and wenches alike.

Never one to be unprepared, I believe in getting a 5 day headstart on my Talk Like A Pirate Day plans! Tragically TLAPD is not an office day this year, but it does mean that we're all much freer to attend piratical events!

I've celebrated TLAPD with gusto since I discovered it in secondary school. Sometimes there have been costumes. Sometimes just the opportunity to utterly baffle my coworkers and devote countless time to sending emails with many, many more apostrophes than necessary.

Of course, no geek holiday would be complete without a splash of the alternative and the creative. Howard Hardiman (the author of the adorable and inimitable Badger) let me know about Sign Like A Pirate Day back in May. It's a fantastic event that not only raises awareness, but also teaches children some sign language and sounds like a hell of a lot of fun!

Londoners have gotten the right idea; dress as a pirate and come party at a nightclub. On a boat. Oh yes.

The internet is awash with advice on how to conduct oneself appropriately on this most auspicious of days.

How to talk like a pirate in English, German and Dutch!

Wooing wenches; it's what we're all really thinking about.

For later in the evening, when you've had a bit of grog, a handy mix and match guide to pirate insults!

It is a bit late for costume shopping, but if you're looking for inspiration, I would start with Dress Like A Pirate!

Remember to enjoy your grog and your wenches responsibly (and when a lass says no, she means it!) and don't forget to double up on your adjectives and drop your 'g's!

The Art of Drew Struzan

If Drew Struzan's name doesn't immediately ring a bell with you - and it certainly didn't with me at first - don't panic. You may not know who he is but you definitely know what he does.

Struzan's photo-real portraiture has been adorning theatre walls since the 1980's. With movie poster designs for Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter and Back to the Future under his belt, it is hardly a wonder that Struzan's iconic style is immediately recognisable.

Thankfully, someone recognised that his work needed some considerable celebration and The Art of Drew Struzan is being published this September.

Collecting the original commission sketches in addition to multiple versions of the finished posters, The Art of Drew Struzan is a visually stunning walkthrough Drew's remarkable career.

Struzan's sense of humour pervades throughout - with an amusing backstory to go with his work on each movie.

I just couldn't stop reading this book. It's a gorgeous coffee table hardback and you'll find yourself flipping through pages again and again. I thought I was just going to skim through some of the artwork, but I found myself compulsively reading.

As the book goes on, a saddening trend becomes apparent. Studios commission Struzan to do a comp poster, then ultimately go with something Photoshopped and completely minimalistic. His proposed Pan's Labyrinth poster was particularly powerful. Yet even his Back to the Future ideas were fun, quirky and ultimately unused. If anything, this book is the story of Hollywood's inability to keep up with one man's imagination.

It also has the distinction of being the only book I have ever read with both an introduction and outroduction.

Memorabilia, Star Wars, art, cinema history; if any of the above do it for you then this is the book for you. Even if you don't buy it; definitely rock up to your local bookstore and leaf through it. Try not to scare the staff with your fangirl squeals though.

You can check out a video of Drew at this year's SDCC here. Information about the feature length documentary Drew: The Man Behind the Poster can be found here.

The Art of Drew Struzan is published by Titan Books on September 14th in the USA and September 24th in the UK. US folks can pre-order it on amazon.com and UK folks on amazon.co.uk