A couple weeks ago I entered myself into MUCH MUSIC’s VJ search 2009, placing myself against the rest of Canada to fight for a spot in the finals. Now it seems like everyone and their mother have entered at this point, but that determined side of me hopes I still have a chance to show Canada what I’ve got.

I have watched MUCH since I was basically born and have witnessed its many transformations throughout the years. I know what they want and I believe I have exactly what they’re looking for. Plus it’s about time that there’s some new blood on there. No more blonde bimbo Leah-types…I think the new VJ needs to be smart, hella knowledgeable and great at what they do- to entertain and inform the socks off MUCH viewers. I would love your support and your vote.

It’s pretty simple: Click on my link (see below), be kind enough to give me top stars and that’s it. See you on TV!

http://vj.muchmusic.com/gallery/3287#gallery

And so the mayhem begins! The crazy competitions take center stage here as the film’s high energy and amazing tunes compliment the journey of the Girl Scouts, and more importantly Bliss, on the derby track. As a female, I couldn’t help feel a wicked sense of appreciation that such hot, fearless females were kicking major butt on film. For anyone that’s seen roller derby live in action, they can vouch that it’s definitely an aggressive, high-impact sport, with lots of cuts, bruises and blood. Barrymore didn’t leave any of these details out in Whip It, which made the film all the more exciting to watch. On a deeper level, the struggles between Page and Harden were a mother-daughter relationship any girl could relate to. Bliss’s attempt to please her mother, while trying to stay true to herself and her passions, was a reoccurring theme in the film. At one point, I even found myself shedding a couple tears…thank goodness Harden and Page are so damn good at portraying such a real and believable relationship.

I am going to be honest. I went into Whip It having really low expectations, which were completely exceeded. Kudos needs to be given to Drew Barrymore and her directing skills- she really tapped into making a film that both felt good and looked good. And if the story or the performances aren’t appealing to you, Juliette Lewis alone as the sexy vixen Iron Maven on roller skates is enough to make it worth your movie ticket. Trust me.

Khodahafez~ Mana

All this environment-friendly consciousness on the streets of Toronto got me thinking of celebs (some of the most indulgent and wealthy people out there) and what they do to give back to mother nature. I thought of all the garbage that TIFF must have created, and the environmental footprint events like that create. I first addressed this issue with an article I wrote for my school’s newspaper The Link (if you want to read the article, I will have all my archived articles up soon). Environment and Entertainment- it’s an ongoing subject of interest for me. I wonder if we’ll be able to create art one day without creating waste. Something definitely to think about… In the meantime, I’ll be sure to carry my cloth bag for the purchase of my weekly supply of soy milk.

Khodahafez~ Mana

I arrived just in time to witness the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival, now one of the world’s most popular and prestigious film festivals. It was so exciting to experience the buzz that hung in the air, as the city prepared itself for celebrity mayhem! All the festivities went down in Yorkville, a part of downtown I soon learned is one of the most snazzy. One night I went down with a friend and we got to see all the rush of fans and photographers, as Matt Damon sat in the lounge window of the Hyatt Hotel. It was like a scene from TMZ!!!  Although I would have liked it without the experience of being crushed by a burly security guard. I also appreciated the dedication of film-goers, waiting hours in line for film tickets and seats. TIFF is clearly a festival of appreciation for the art of film first and foremost, which is why I think so many celebs are a part of it. There were so many good films playing this year that one look at the TIFF website would make your head spin. I would like to put my biast plug out there and say that My Tehran for Sale and Women without Men were films not to be missed.

I had a few celeb encounters, one being Howie Mandel (see photo). Howie Mandel was being honoured at this year’s TIFF, with his induction in Canada’s Walk of Fame. The Deal or No Deal host has definitely been around the block….hello, let’s not forget Bobby’s World???!! Although I don’t think Mr. Mandel liked me asking him to do the Bobby voice upon our meeting, however I did appreciate the polite refusal. I had the chance to be asked to assist with ET’s TIFF party for Glorious 39. They had quite the set-up as you can see from the below photos. An entire parking garage was transformed into their party headquarters. Lots of red carpet, fake plants, white silk, comfy couches and mood lighting made you forget you were on a slab of concrete. Much of the show was filmed from their party headquarters and they had a stage set up there, where Cheryl Hickey and the other reporters did interviews with celeb attendees. The highlight? Checking in one of my fav’s Geoffrey Rush into the party. SIDE NOTE- I was FLABBERGASTED that I was the sole intern to know who the hell he was when he arrived. Now Geoffrey Rush is not the type to roll in P. Diddy style with a whole entourage. He was very demure, showing up with his wife (I believe) and addressing everyone in nothing but a polite tone. When my fellow team member asked me if we should allow him in, I didn’t know if I should have laughed or be shocked. HELLO, Pirates of the Carribean? Only just one of the top grossing and watched film franchises of all time. Um, not to mention Quills, Shine, Elizabeth or Shakespeare in Love???? WTF planet are you living in? Let’s just say the film lover in me was a tad bit sad.

Before I knew it, TIFF was over in just under 10 short days but it gave me hope that there are still real film fans out there. Now don’t get me wrong, I love my over-the-top blockbusters and Hollywood fanfare just as much as the next person-there’s nothing wrong with that. I just like the fact that films with hardly any budgets or famous celebs are still being watched and appreciated. For my fellow Vancouverites, please don’t forget to check out the Vancouver International Film Festival, running October 1-16. It’s not at the level of TIFF (yet, fingers crossed!!), but it still has an awesome array of great films every year. More info at http://www.viff.org/home.html.

Khodahafez~ Mana

Now a little bit about moi: my passion for MMF (movies, music and fashion) began when I was a wee little Persian girl growing up in North Vancouver. Thankfully I had movie-obsessed parents… Most people have childhood memories of playing basketball with their dads, or going on camping trips with their family. But with my family? It was a bit of a different story. A lot of my early childhood memories consisted of us being glued to the television, watching Cher walk the Oscar’s red carpet in a hideous Bob Mackie creation, my dad putting in The Godfather VHS on repeat, or catching Mary Hart (before the facelifts) on Entertainment Tonight while helping my Mom with dinner. I’ll never forget my first movie-going experience- The Little Mermaid when I was four years old. I wasn’t big enough to see the screen from the seat, so my mom needed to bring a pillow as a booster! I was mesmerized in that dark theatre…. how could one room take you on such a magical journey!!? I wanted to go again and again! And so began my love affair.

Now this love affair has greatly evolved from my four year-old movie-going days. I took my passion to university with me, majoring in Theatre at the University of British Columbia. At the time I wanted to BE IN movies, rather than talk about them (which is more of my current focus), but I am so thankful for my time as a performer and pupil of the arts. Those four years gave me such a greater appreciation of the craft, especially all the elements of what goes into those 2 hours of entertainment people pay for.

Fast forward to the present- as my website’s mandate clearly states, I wanted to take my passion for story telling from my performing years and bring them into my new chosen path of journalism. The melding of my two worlds into one…and I couldn’t think of a more fitting place for me to be. Entertain people by talking about Entertainment! With a little bit of fashion talk thrown in. I am just finishing up my studies in Broadcast Journalism at the British Columbia Institute of Technology, and I hope to one day be the Mary Hart you watch when making dinner with your kids. So again, welcome and let the chit chat begin! Oh and PS-I would love to hear what you think and any feedback you may have.

Khodahafez~ Mana