Archives for May 2017

Exclusive with Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales Directors Joachim Ronning & Espen Sandberg #PiratesLifeEvent

May 31, 2017 By Cori

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Last week we had the honor of sitting down with Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales Directors Joachim Ronning & Espen Sandberg. They were both charming and a pleasure to listen to. They have been friends since they were little boys and their friendship and rapport with each other was very apparent. Here’s what we learned:

Photo Credit: Louise Bishop- MomStart.com

How did the movie fall into your laps?

Espen Sandberg: Yeah, it didn’t fall. We chased it. We really wanted to make this movie. And I think the basic reason as you know Joachim and I started making movies together when we were 10. Movies that inspired us back then was you know the Spielberg and Lucas and Zemeckis films. And this franchise just reminds us of that. And it has that unique blend of spectacle and humor and scary parts and also a lot of heart. So that meant a lot to us.

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The special effects were amazing. What made you decide to go with dead sharks and how did that come about?

Joachim Ronning: Well, it was in the script (Joachim joked)

Espen Sandberg: It’s a huge inspiration. (Espen joked)

Joachim Ronning: (It was) brilliantly written by Jeff Nathanson. And then it became our job to translate that and to add elements in the action sequence. The idea was on paper but that scene where he jumps over the boat. That’s all coming as we’re developing the idea. But the ghost sharks are part of the look of the ghosts basically. That was important. The design of the ghosts became a long process that we did together with Javier Bardem as well. And the production designers and the VFX supervisors. Going in and trying to find what can give it a ghostly appearance without losing the actors basically. Javier is so wonderful and you don’t want to mess it too much up. So, that’s where it started. And then the ghost sharks came from that trying to be a part of that family, so to speak.

You work as a team so often, do you have individual roles interacting?

Joachim Ronning: (Jokingly) We only work every other day.

Espen Sandberg: It’s very easy for everyone.

Joachim Ronning: You know we don’t really know any other way of doing this then being together. For us, it’s a very natural process. And I think it’s a collaborative one. We include the actors and the crew and everyone as part of the discussion basically. And we try to create a safe work environment. You know where every idea is welcome and everybody can be a part of the discussion. And that’s important to us. I think that’s like probably one of the strong advantages that we have as a directing team.

Photo Credit: Louise Bishop- MomStart.com

Was there any part of the creative talk that you really enjoyed that didn’t make it in the film? Any specific instances?

Joachim Ronning: This has been a very long journey for us. I think almost four years. Almost four years we’ve been working on this movie which is long even for big movies. And of course like in that process 1 ½ year just working on the script there’s always going to be so many different versions and ideas and the process is very long and complex. I think that probably one of the things that we had the most versions of is probably Jack Sparrow’s back story and his origin story, how he became Jack the sparrow and all of that. I remember we had like 10 or 15 versions of that. That was a long and grueling process because the mythology of Pirates of the Caribbean, the series and movies, it’s so at least I think it’s a complex mythology. There’s a lot of fans out there that knows everything. And so it was important for us to be ahead of that and not mess with any previous back stories.

Espen Sandberg: We also wanted to blend that back story of Jack also with Salazar’s. So that their relationship and the revenge story became personal so to speak.

When you were filming the young Jack scenes was the process similar to Rogue One and filming Leah, the young Leah in terms of the CGI for his face?

Joachim Ronning : I would say yes and no because the Leah was not with Carrie Fisher but we shot with Johnny Depp. So the youthification that we call it. I’ve been misquoted in so many newspapers saying, beautification but it’s youthification. We shot it with Johnny and then spent the year in the computer basically.

Espen Sandberg: “Now we can do 21 Jump Street again!” Espen joked.

Joachim Ronning: Yeah, exactly. He was thrilled when he saw the result. He was a little like freaked out by it looking at it but he loved it. And that was a fun moment.

What was it like working with Johnny Depp? And what was the chemistry like onset?

Espen Sandberg: It’s amazing. He’s so funny. What you see with Jack Sparrow is all Johnny. He’s a genius. I mean for us he’s like up there with Chaplin and the other ones because his timing is just perfect and he has such a weird imagination. So he comes up with the craziest ideas. And for us, the highlight was always going into his trailer in the morning and going through the scenes and the lines and trying to come up with even more cool stuff to do to make it even more funny. And of course when we started shooting he would do something completely different. And everyone was sort of thrown off but that also makes it come alive and funny.

You said that you pursued this title. Is there a specific reason you wanted to do the next installment in the series or was it just this type of origin story that you were attracted to?

Joachim Ronning: The origin story in the movie came from us actually. That was something we wanted to explore. That was something that as fans of the franchise ourselves we were curious about Jack Sparrow. We were thinking well, that could be cool and they liked that. Disney liked it. And Johnny liked it too. He was a little bit more reserved because he’s very protective of this character of course. He’s a tricky movie character, Jack Sparrow because he doesn’t really have what they call the character arc. He learns nothing during his journey. It’s not richer for the experience. So he was very curious to where we would go with it. And then creating how he got his name and all of that. It’s a little bit risky. But then when we presented it and when we started shooting he really embraced it and that was cool. So that was a big part of what we brought to get the job in the first place.

Why did you want to make this movie?

Joachim Ronning: Why we wanted to do the movie? Like a little bit like Espen was saying, when we grew up you know we were very influenced by Hollywood adventure family movies, movies that inspired us to become filmmakers in the first place. And Pirates reminds us of that. It’s very much that fun movies that gives you energy. We both have kids. And to be able to do that was also a big part of why we wanted to do this. It’s something they can relate to and be a part of. And now we’ve been doing the premieres, all over the world and they’ve been traveling with us. And that wouldn’t work if it was a horror movie. It was a big part of it to make something that we saw ourselves in when we were kids and to make something for our kids.

Disney's "PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES"..Director Joachim Rønning on set...©Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Were there any other villains that you explored before settling with Captain Salazar?

Espen Sandberg: He (Salazar) wasn’t Spanish when we came but then when Javier agreed to come on, be a part of this then he became Spanish. So I think he was originally British or something like that. So that’s what changed with Javier.

What’s in store for the franchise? Will there be another one?

Joachim Ronning: I hope so.

Espen Sandberg: We wish we had that position. We are fans of the franchise so we certainly hope that it continues. We’ll see. We’re just going to enjoy this now and see how it goes. But we’re crossing fingers.

Joachim Ronning: Yeah, it’s up to the audience I think now. And then Disney will make a decision.

What are you hoping people walk away with from the film?

Joachim Ronning: I think that for us again it’s something that was very important for us that we touch upon a little bit was the emotional core of the story and the kind of family theme that the film has. And that a treasure is not always you know a chest of gold. It could be other things.

Espen Sandberg: Even for a pirate.

Joachim Ronning: Even for a pirate. And I think that was something we really fought hard to do because I was really inspired by the first movie I think in the series that had a big heart. And then of course you have the adventure and you have the scares and you have the comedy. I hope that the audience will moved by it as well.

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Photo Credit: Louise Bishop- MomStart.com

You mentioned you started working together basically when you were 10 years old. Are your children in the same boat? Do your kids try to make movies together?

Joachim Ronning: Yeah, I would say so.

Espen Sandberg: They’re best friends actually so they’re super close. And they’re doing a lot of creative stuff so we’ll see.

Joachim Ronning: Yeah, we have five kids between us. I have two, Espen has three.

Espen Sandberg: Yeah, they’re 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 (years old). Yeah, so it’s a good bunch to travel with.

How did your partnership begin?

Espen Sandberg: Through dance. We were break dancers. We were 10. And we immediately started making movies instead. And luckily we didn’t pursue the dancing career. We went for the moviemaking.

Joachim Ronning: We were in elementary school, my dad bought a video camera so that’s why we kind of drifted into that and became very interested in film.

Do you have any of those early films?

Joachim Ronning: Oh yeah, absolutely. It’s hilarious. And we were talking like this (in a high pitched voice).

What’s it like being part of such an iconic part of Disney history? Is this what you’ve wanted to have that kind of feather in your cap?

Joachim Ronning: For sure. No, it’s a dream come true. I think we grew up with this in movies.

Espen Sandberg: And it’s so much bigger than us. It’s amazing to go to China and there’s thousands of screaming fans. It’s such a global phenomenon and it’s because they love the universe. They love the characters. And for us to be a part of that and keep that story going is really cool.

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Disclosure- I was invited by Disney to attend this all expense paid press trip but all opinions are 100% my own.

Filed Under: Disney, Entertainment, Movies, Movies Tagged With: Espen Sandberg, Joachim Ronning, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales

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Exclusive with Kaya Scodelario aka Carina Smyth- Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales #PiratesLifeEvent

May 30, 2017 By Cori

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Photo credit- Louise Bishop at MomStart.com

Last week as part of the Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales press trip we had the opportunity to sit down with the beautiful and talented actress, Kaya Scodelario who plays Carina Smyth. It was such a pleasure to listen to her speak about what it was like wearing a corset, working with Johnny Depp, being the only woman in a male dominated main cast, and lots more. There are a few spoilers below so heads up. Here are some of the things we learned:

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On Wearing A Corset

There’s something really cool about a corset, it does feel quite empowering actually, because you have to sit up strong. The first day is awful. And I’d get my husband to secretly loosen it up at lunchtime so that I could eat and stuff. But it does feel very strong. I like that Carina’s dress, it isn’t perfect, it’s actually tattered and old and ripped up and dirty. That helped me understand a bit of her back story. I think this is a dress that she’s held onto because it’s kind of the only one she has, and she’s managed to make it as practical as possible to her.

On Getting Her Role as Carina Smyth

I was actually I heard about it years ago, maybe four years ago they had a first draft of the script and the character was two characters, because they still hadn’t really decided what they wanted to do with her. And then it came back around couple years later and I was shooting in Albuquerque with my Maze Runner guys. And I had to do a self tape and I didn’t have enough time. So I said boys please help me. And I had all the Maze Runner boys doing this audition tape for me, which was really sweet of them. And then I flew to Los Angeles to meet with Brenton. We sat down and did a chemistry read. We just got on really well. He’s a really nice guy. And as an actor we kind of bounced off each other and we really enjoyed fleshing out the scene, working out what we wanted to do with it, and it went from there.

On Being the Only Main Female In a Male Dominated Lead Cast

I’ve been incredibly, I shouldn’t say lucky because it should be like that- but the guys have never made me feel like the only woman, especially on Maze Runner, especially with this, they always treat me exactly the same. I’ve never felt like, you know, I’ll walk on the set and they’re like the girl is here, we have to stop farting. They continue to do that anyway. I’ve grown up with guys, I love them my best friends are guys and I like that energy. I think they can- once they get over you being a woman, it can actually be kind of bonding and nice and but yeah it was interesting. And the last two movies have been very male dominated.

On the Differences Between the Set of Maze Runner Movies and Pirates of the Caribbean

The Maze Runner Boys were family so we can kind of push the boundary a little bit more, the jokes are a bit dirtier and a bit riskier. And we have that kind of connection where no one will get offended, we can just kind of say anything. With this I didn’t really want to push the boundary with Johnny Depp too much but it was a lot of fun. But there’s also Maze Runner we shot for a relative small budget for what it is and in a very short amount of time. But this you have a responsibility to make sure the work is the important thing. So I think we were all very focused and we wanted to finish our days and do the best we possibly could. But there were definitely moments of fun in between.

On Working With Johnny Depp

It’s wonderful. I mean when you watch the movie, you get to see the one take that’s selected, we get to see the fifty five other ones that he comes up with on the spot. And he’s just a genius, he really is, there’s a reason why he’s so successful. And he’s good at what he does. And his improvisation. My first day on set with him I had to be really serious in a scene and I just laughed and laughed and laughed. I was like “I’m going to get fired, there’s no way they’re going to put up with me”. He really just brings it every single time.

Photo credit- Louise Bishop at MomStart.com

On Being a Strong Female Character in a Male Dominated Storyline

Every role I look for a woman that I would have liked to have seen at thirteen on the big screen. And it’s a huge responsibility because people forget in blockbusters that we’re not simple, there are multi layers and there’s a lot going on and she has a lot of that. I mean, she’s an orphan, she’s a survivor. She’s also stubborn and argumentative and she’s also funny and flirty and there’s so much to her. And I’m grateful that they wrote her this way. Usually with a film this size, unfortunately there isn’t time to layer out a character too much because there’s so much going on. I made a real effort with her to try and hit all those beats, it’s something that I hope my son grows up watching and respects in women and understands in women, that we aren’t just the Disney princess or the love interest or the damsel in distress and she’s certainly not any of those things.

On Studying Astronomy For Her Part

Yeah I did some basic stuff. Unfortunately I had about three weeks between being cast and then moving my life to Australia for six months and learning lines. With my dyslexia it takes me a lot longer to learn a script. So I didn’t have as much time as I would have liked to really research it. I made sure that I was comfortable with the timepiece that I have to use. I made sure I knew how that worked and all the ins and outs of it. But since promoting it, it’s something that I feel like now I’d actually really like to get into a little bit more.

On Doing Her Own Stunts

I do I really love to do all that stuff. It’s not things you do every day in life. If you get the opportunity to do it, especially when you have a great crew that you know it’s going to be safe and it’s going to be done the proper way. But I actually injured my shoulder. I popped out something in there on the Black Pearl of all places. So afterwards it was kind of tough. We had about four weeks of filming still so I had to wear a sling in between takes and I had to go quite easy on it. But I did all the swimming. I swam in the Australian ocean with the sharks and every other thing that can kill you there. And it was a lot of fun. I love having the opportunity to do that stuff.

On Input and Improvisation Of Her Character

With this the words are always great, what’s on the page is always the best thing possible and we have these incredible writers that know what works for these movies. But I am very instinctual and that’s how I like to work. I like to improvise and I like to make sure that the dialogue fits my voice and my character’s voice. They were really great about it, the directors are really open, every morning we’d sit down and run through what we were going to do for the day. They’d ask if I had any issues with any of the dialogue, if there’s anything I felt would work better. There was a day where Johnny actually came into my trailer beforehand and reworked an entire scene with me, which I was amazed at, that they still do let you have that creative freedom.

SPOILER ALERT- On Tapping Into Emotions To Bring the Final Scene With Barbossa To Life

Well I have a real personal connection with all that. My father lived far away from me and he’d always say if you look up at Orion’s Belt, we’re both looking at the same star. And he passed away. So it was very easy for me to tap into that moment. Also getting to work with an actor like Geoffrey. When you look in his eyes, he’s wonderful. He’s just a really giving actor. And for me a film like Pirates, you don’t expect to have that really strong emotional beat, especially as an actor, to get a chance to in the middle of all this craziness just kind of go quiet. And really focus on that relationship. It was an honor. And I think we both- we really thought it was important and we wanted to treat it with as much respect as possible.

On the Audience Takeaway of the Movie

I hope that they understand that this is an adventure for the whole family. It’s something that should be seen on the big screen and the best technology possible. We spent six months making this and two years in post production for a reason. That’s how it should be seen and that’s how the whole family will enjoy it at its best.

Photo credit- Louise Bishop at MomStart.com

On Having Dyslexia

Well the biggest thing for me was just knowing that I wasn’t the only one. I remember when I was twelve and I was diagnosed, I was really freaked out by it because I didn’t understand what it was. For me it meant I’m dumb, that’s all I knew. I thought “well this just means that I can’t ever achieve what other people can”. And then they had a poster up in my school saying Tom Cruise has dyslexia. And that instantly to me was like, oh okay, well he’s doing all right. Maybe I’ll be okay. It’s just about having an open conversation about it. There are great resources out there, my school was wonderful, they gave me extra time in exams. I had a one to one teacher in classes for my reading because that’s where I really struggled. Just have an open conversation about it and then to find support groups and to make sure that the school also understand what it is. Because it’s kind of a taboo subject. We don’t really know much about it. So the more we can discuss and the more resources we can bring into schools, I think the better.

On Her Favorite Disney Classic Movie

I was always obsessed with the Dalmatians. I don’t know why I just loved A Hundred And One Dalmatians and I actually had a Dalmatian themed bedroom growing up. My poor mother had to paint like white walls and black splotches everywhere. I’ve always loved the animated Dalmatians movie and then also the live action I think was really, really good. I’ve always loved that.

"PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES"..The villainous Captain Salazar (Javier Bardem) pursues Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) as he searches for the trident used by Poseidon..Pictured: Kaya Scodelario (Carina Smyth)..Ph: Peter Mountain..© Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

SPOILER ALERT- On What She Would Like To See For Her Character Going Forward

I would really like to see her exploring her love of the stars and astronomy. And going out to the ocean. Also this new identity that she has, she’s the daughter of an infamous pirate. I think that’s it’ll be cool to see whether she takes that on or not. What she does with that new kind of mission in life.

On What She Would Like Her Son To See For Her Character Going Forward

I’d just like him to be a bit more interested. I took him to a screening with his little baby headphones and he just seemed to look at his feet the whole time. “Oh toes!” So I just hope by the time we do the next one that he’ll actually like to interact with it a bit more. I think he’d like to see mommy wielding a sword and getting to do some more action-y stuff. I think that would be really cool.

Photo credit- Louise Bishop at MomStart.com

Go see Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales in theaters NOW!!! It is sooo good. Make sure to stay after the credits for a bonus scene!

POTC Poster Check out my Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales review and Los Angeles Premiere experience.

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES now in theaters everywhere!

Disclosure- I was invited by Disney to attend this all expense paid press trip but all opinions are 100% my own.

Filed Under: Disney, Entertainment, Movies, Movies Tagged With: Carina Smyth, Kaya Scodelario, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales

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What’s Your Perfect Pet?

May 28, 2017 By Cori

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Every home needs a pet! There’s just something so wonderful about being able to bring a new addition into your home that you and your family can care for and love. A lot of people love the idea of pets as a whole, but there are some who aren’t sure about the idea of having yet another being in the house eating the food and taking up space. However, no matter what your opinion is, the most important thing is to be aware that not every type of pet is going to be perfect for every home! You should make sure to select the kind of pet that’s going to fit in with your family and your lifestyle. Here are a few things to consider when deciding what your perfect pet really is.

How attached do you want to get?

Picture Taken From Pexels

This might sound like a slightly odd question. After all, surely you want to get as attached as possible, right? Why would you bring an animal into your home if you didn’t want to get attached to it? However, there are plenty of reasons why you might want a pet that you won’t get quite as close to. For a lot of people, especially kids, the loss of a pet can be like the loss of a family member. If that’s the case and you feel as though your family might be especially sensitive then maybe something like a hamster or a fish might be better. Sure, you and your kids will be sad when they die, but those kinds of animals have much shorter lifespans that cats or dogs, and it means that they will be slightly less crucial to your family’s dynamic. It might sound harsh to say that, but a lot of people simply aren’t emotionally equipped to handle the kind of grief that comes with the loss of a beloved family pet. Of course, if you do want a pet that will become a member of your family then a dog may well be perfect. Getting a puppy is a great way to really feel as though your family has grown by one. You can spend your time looking for the perfect pup, looking up dog names for boys and girls, and figuring out what kinds of breeds would suit your family. For many young kids, having a puppy in the house feels very similar to having a new sibling around.

How much time can you commit?

Picture Taken From Pexels

Of course, if you work long shifts every single day and don’t have the time or energy in the evenings to take your pet on long walks, then a dog might not be right for you. If you’re looking for a pet that you can shower with affection but don’t necessarily have to dedicate huge amounts of time to training, then you might be better off with something like a cat. Although, many reptiles can be fantastic pets if you’re in this situation. A lot of lizards and snakes can be surprisingly affectionate, but they are also pretty happy to be left alone for incredibly long stretches of time as long as they are fed and watered regularly.

Filed Under: Pets

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A Bone To Pick: Making a Conscious Effort to Care for Your Joints

May 28, 2017 By Cori

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Joints are the connections between two bones that allow you to move freely, carrying out actions like turning your head, moving your fingers, bending your elbows or knees and twisting your hips. Soft tissue (a combination of cartilage and synovium) cushions the joints and is lubricated with synovial fluid to allow smooth motion without your bones rubbing against one another. It is said that there are around 360 joints in the average human body and maintenance of them is crucial for a comfortable and pain-free life. So how do you take care of all of them?

Rectify Problems Early On

So many people are reluctant when it comes to visiting their local GP. Often, individuals will turn a blind eye to problems, brushing them under the carpet until they are creating unbearable pain or sickness. Don’t let this happen. If you notice any stiffness or pain developing in your joints, seek out advice. As they say, prevention is better than cure. If you find that problems are advanced, contact a specialist. If you find that you are having problems with your elbows, a good Elbow Surgeon can work wonders. They will resolve the problem and put your body back at ease and out of pain. No matter what your problem, professionals will be able to improve it in some way.

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Exercise

Your joints are supported by your muscles. So, if we are to follow the logic, stronger muscles mean better-supported joints. Your joints are already under a lot of pressure. Especially your knees, spine, and hips, which support the majority of your body weight. So give them a helping hand by increasing your muscle mass. Opt for a weight training routine incorporating dumbbell squats, lunges, and press ups. Start with low weights and build up over time. Diving straight in the deep end could result in injury, which is the opposite of what you set out to do. If you are new to weight training, hire a personal trainer to create a personal workout plan and to monitor your progress. They will also ensure that you are using the right techniques.

Monitor Your Weight

Your joints support your bodyweight, so if you are excessively overweight, you are subjugating them to continuous pressure. This can only last so long before you start to notice and feel repercussions. Losing a few pounds will prevent wear and tear on your joints. So try out a healthier, more balanced diet and (as advised above) regular exercise. If your joints feel sore or painful, opt for low-impact exercise like swimming. The water will support your weight while you get a thorough, full body workout.

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Eat Well

Start eating with your joints in mind. This doesn’t just mean smaller portions and balanced meals. Maintain strong bones with plenty of calcium-rich foods, such as milk, cheese, and other dairy products. If you are lactose intolerant or vegan, don’t worry. Soy milk, broccoli, and kale are also rich in calcium. If all else fails, you can always consider taking supplements.

Filed Under: Health, Fitness, Weightloss, and Wellness

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Exclusive Q&A with Brenton Thwaites aka Henry Turner- Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales #PiratesLifeEvent

May 26, 2017 By Cori

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Brenton Thwaites as Henry

Brenton Thwaites, who portrays Henry Turner in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales has been a fan of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies since he was a young boy growing up in Queensland, Australia. No one was more delighted than he to discover that not only had he been cast as the young lead of the film, but that it would film almost entirely in Queensland, Australia! Last week we sat down with him for a Q&A session. He was so friendly and warm. Just look at that charming smile:

Photo credit- Louise Bishop at MomStart.com

How did you become involved on the film?

I auditioned a multiple amount of times with Ron and Chris here in L.A., and then I met the directors at a place in Venice Beach. Then the movie got put on hold for awhile and I re-auditioned about a year later. I met Jerry Bruckheimer and the producers and got the part.

What’s it like stepping into a role having Elizabeth Swan and Will Turner as your parents and having to take that story on?

I feel as though as it was kind of easier than not having them because they provided such a backstory for my character. We start the movie, Dead Men Tell No Tales, with the boy version in my character, basically saying I believe there’s a treasure that can break your curse and I can spend more time with you. And he says, okay, well if there is, go find Jack Sparrow. He can help you find it. So I feel like the goal and obligation for my character has already been set and that gives Henry a lot more drive and focus for the whole movie.

What was it like working opposite Johnny Depp, the iconic Captain Jack Sparrow?

It was terrifying. It’s still terrifying. It’s always terrifying because you never know what he’s gonna say or do and it always results in humiliation for me. You are always entering a scene thinking this guy now has done five movies worth of Jack Sparrow. And he’s on the ball, irreverent, and impulsive. You just anticipate what he’s gonna do and say, so that’s great because as an actor it kind of improves your acting in the sense that you’re always open and free and relaxed to go with the flow, but it’s also pretty terrifying.

So what’s a typical day on set?

Typically a day on a set for me is I get out of the house at seven; I run down for a quick surf. I get out of the water at eight, rush home, I’m half an hour late. I get picked up eight o’clock so my driver speeds down the highway and risks our lives trying to get to work on time. And then I get made up and sit in the trailer for five hours and then we start working.

The logistics, sets change, and everyday there was something crazy happening. For this one they like to give the directors all the tools to play around with so we would all come to work. Javier would get made up. Geoffrey would get in makeup. We would all be ready in case they wanted to do some improvised shot or something. They could kinda use any actor at any time. So it was cool way of shooting but it meant that I got better at my guitar very quickly. (Oh what I would give to be serenaded by Brenton with his guitar!)

Since filming you’ve become a father. So what is it like now having done a few Disney films that your baby’s going to see one day?

Well, it’s great being a part of Disney because as a studio it really plays for the younger audiences. I did Maleficent which was released in 2014. It is something I can’t wait for my daughter to see. Pirates may take a while just because it’s quite scary. Maleficent is, as well, but there’s moments in Pirates where I even get scared. So I think it might take a while. I don’t know when- maybe until next year when she’s two.

So you came in the fifth movie and you’re a real newcomer to this whole universe. Do you feel like they value your input as a newcomer?

I think they did value my input as an actor- as an newcomer. There were so many different characters coming into this one to make it a fresh new thing and I think all the old-school dudes really wanted to make it fresh and exciting. It’s something they hadn’t done before. So Javier coming on board, myself, Kaya, and the two new directors who- that primarily done independent films were supported and encouraged on this one.

Did you do any special training for your role?

Just sword fighting. I had a few hand combat fights that we more or less did on the day and the sword fighting stuff we trained three weeks before the principal photographer. I also had to do a little accent work, but I’d done it many times before so I kind of just started right in with that British RP dialect.

You were recently named the breakthrough performer of the year. How does that feel?

It’s great. When I first heard of CinemaCon and that I was to get that award, I had no idea what it was to be honest. I did a bit of research and looked at the guys that had received that award in the past five/ten years and kinda just went, “wow, I don’t think I’m in that caliber of actor with those guys”. But to be even considered or thought of in that same group of actors is really exciting.

You had a lot of scenes with Johnny Depp. Was he doing things to make you laugh?

Everything. If you guys look closely, me and Kaya, behind the scenes are like this, [covering his face to not laugh], just trying not to laugh. I was looking down and away. I was shaking [trying not to laugh].

Photo credit- Louise Bishop at MomStart.com

What was it like when you first walked onto the set and see it all? What were you thinking; what were your emotions?

I was thinking, “wow, it’s really rained” because my first day on the set, it had been pouring for months or weeks and the town of St. Martin which was a farm town called Maudsland, which was about twenty minutes west of the studio, was covered in mud. Everything was [muddy and] they kinda used it in the movie which is really cool and dramatic and adds to the dirtiness of the pirate’s world, but I remember thinking I’m gonna have to get some new shoes. It’s squelching and you’re squelching around. I had a scene where my character Henry is hiding behind a pillar and he’s spying on Jack Sparrow. I remember thinking, “wow, what a perfect way to start the movie, to see Jack Sparrow drinking rum in the middle of the street, and the whole, whole parade of red soldiers trying to catch him.”

How many locations did you film at and did you have a favorite location?

We shot at about five or six different locations; mainly the studios. I was talking about Saint Martins Square twenty minutes west of the studios where all the mud was. We shot there for a good month and a half and we shot in Northern New South Wales. They had a beautiful beach- both Hastings Point for our entrance into Saint Martins, I think the coastal element.

And my favorite location was up on Hamilton Island, shooting out on the Great Barrier Reef. We had some days we shot at a beach called White Haven Beach which is beautiful squeaky beach. When you walk on the sand, it squeaks which is not so good for the sound, but it’s great for effect, and it looks beautiful, and I think we had the most fun right there. Javier’s like a five year old kid. As soon as he finishes a scene, he stripping off,jumping in the sea, playing, and fighting in the sand. It was the funniest thing I’ve ever seen.

Photo credit- Louise Bishop at MomStart.com

Once the film is put together and you got to see what they did, can you tell us what that was like for you?

The visual effects side of things for this one was mostly behind the actor’s consciousness. In Maleficent, it was a lot of work that we would have to do with our imaginations to be specifically creating creatures that weren’t there. On Gods of Egypt, we did the same thing, but on Pirates, we were lucky because all of Javier’s makeup and all the ghosts were there. They looked fantastic. The sets were real. They had beautiful set pieces that allowed us to play and feel like we were actually in the space. The CGI (computer generated imagery), I was surprised to see Javier’s hair. It was mainly in the background, the CGI stuff which gave it this great depth of field when you watch it. But for us, we were luck that we had so much given to us on the day.

Speaking of set pieces, did you take anything from the set?

I didn’t, but if this ever gets back to the producer, I would’ve liked to have taken a rowboat because my mom’s in the corner over there; I told her before we wrap the movie that I would bring her a rowboat home and make a veggie garden out of it.

What is your hope that audience takes away from the film?

I just hope they’re entertained. This kind of movie with all the genres slotted into this two hour gap. It’s the kind of movie that never loses its drive and has so many action pieces, set pieces,comedic elements, romance,supernatural. There’s something for everyone in this movie. So I hope everyone takes something from it and connects with the characters.

Photo credit- Louise Bishop at MomStart.com

Check out my Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales review and Los Angeles Premiere experience. Go see Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales in theaters TODAY!!!

Johnny Depp returns to the big screen as the iconic, swashbuckling anti-hero Jack Sparrow in the all-new “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.” The rip-roaring adventure finds down-on-his-luck Captain Jack feeling the winds of ill-fortune blowing strongly his way when deadly ghost sailors, led by the terrifying Captain Salazar (Javier Bardem), escape from the Devil’s Triangle bent on killing every pirate at sea—notably Jack. Jack’s only hope of survival lies in the legendary Trident of Poseidon, but to find it he must forge an uneasy alliance with Carina Smyth (Kaya Scodelario), a brilliant and beautiful astronomer, and Henry (Brenton Thwaites), a headstrong young sailor in the Royal Navy. At the helm of the Dying Gull, his pitifully small and shabby ship, Captain Jack seeks not only to reverse his recent spate of ill fortune, but to save his very life from the most formidable and malicious foe he has ever faced.

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES opens in theaters everywhere TODAY!

Disclosure- I was invited by Disney to attend this all expense paid press trip but all opinions are 100% my own.

Filed Under: Disney, Entertainment, Movies, Movies Tagged With: Brenton Thwaites, Henry Turner, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales

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DIY Solutions for Common HVAC Problems

May 26, 2017 By Cori

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HVAC stands for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. Essentially, your HVAC system maintains a comfortable temperature within your home, by cycling air in and out of your home.

Your HVAC system works hard every day, without a break, cooling exterior air and removing warm air from inside. As such, it will occasionally face some problems with or without regularly scheduled maintenance. While some HVAC problems will require a professional repair company, a competent homeowner can fix other issues and perform maintenance duties on the unit.

Common problems generally come from dirty or clogged air filters, clogged drains in your HVAC system, debris from around the outside unit, or low refrigerant. Like any technological, hard-working system, regularly maintenance is highly advised. Below are some common HVAC problems that, fortunately, have do-it-yourself solutions.

Dirty or Clogged Air Filter

One of the simplest and most common problems with any HVAC system comes from a dirty or clogged air filter. Since it’s recommended that you change your air filter every 3-4 months, neglecting to do so means your system isn’t running at its top efficiency. Think of it like removing lint from your dryer, but on a grander scale. The passage of air is what makes the HVAC capable of cooling or heating your home.

If your HVAC unit becomes clogged, airflow slows down or may even come to a complete stop. This can also cause your system to shutdown or even breakdown completely. To avoid being forced to pay for a new system sooner than necessary, take the time to change your filter every 3-4 months, or more frequently if you live in a dusty area or have pets that also live in the home.

Clogged Drains

In addition to cleaning out shower drains and sinks, your HVAC unit also has a drainage system that can get clogged if neglected for too long. If your HVAC system’s drains get clogged, it’s possible that this could lead to major water damage, which can be one of the most complicated and costly repairs for a home.

If you notice a leak near your air conditioner, make sure to address the problem immediately. If it looks like you can fix the problem yourself, go ahead and get out the wet-dry vacuum to clean the drain line. Then, run a water hose through the line to make sure it’s clear. If the job looks more complicated than a quick fix, call a professional to make sure the job is done right.

Remove Debris from Outside Unit

Similar to cleaning your air filter, it’s also important to clean the area around the exterior unit. If nothing else, make sure there are no piles of leaves or excess dirt around the base of the unit and trim back shrubbery to increase airflow. If the exterior unit is too crowded, the system can become overworked just trying to find air to bring into the home.

For those who want to take this a step further, take some time to remove the cage from your exterior unit and clean it with a garden hose or brush. The more air that circulates in and out of your home, the better your HVAC system will run year-round. This type of job should also be performed regularly.

Preventative Maintenance

All in all, preventative maintenance is key for any homeowner. Similar to changing filters and oil on your vehicle, an HVAC system requires regular maintenance and inspections to work well consistently. This means checking filters, cleaning debris from the exterior unit, and cleaning the drainage system.

Some weekend handymen might want to take their inspections a step further, but most HVAC problems come from clogged drains and dirty filters. If you’re not experienced with electricity, it’s not a good idea to dive into fixing more complicated issues, such as faulty wiring or low refrigerant problems.

For Freon leaks or any other signs that you might need to change your AC unit, make sure to call a professional to come out and evaluate your HVAC problems. Since your air conditioning system is likely the most expensive and most used device in your home, maintain what you can and call a professional for larger, more difficult jobs.

Filed Under: For The Home

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Exclusive with Geoffrey Rush aka Captain Barbossa From Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales #PiratesLifeEvent

May 25, 2017 By Cori

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Disclosure- I was invited by Disney to attend this all expense paid press trip but all opinions are 100% my own.

geoffrey rush barbossa

We sat down with the talented Geoffrey Rush aka Captain Barbossa for a Q&A. Geoffrey was so interesting to listen to. He is quite the story teller and the time just flew. Here are a few things he shared with us:

Photo credit- Louise Bishop at MomStart.com

On his character, Barbossa:

I think in the first one before I actually entered into the story, he (Barbossa) was described rather fearfully by the two pirates that are now my assistants. ‘He’s spat out from the mouth of hell.’ Which is to me that was the key line. I thought, well, whenever I enter into this story, if you don’t see that then he’s a liar. So, he was pretty much the dark villain of the piece. He is a sort of poignant but rather ridiculous comic madman.

The director said I’ve been toying with the idea of the British rock stars of the ‘60s because the pirates always had sort of clear-cut identities. The real black beard used to have fuse wire burning in his beard that when people saw him they thought he was the devil. That (story) would go from ship to ship from port to port. So I said with Barbossa I wanna make him very arrogant and very pompous and very superior and maybe a bit slightly self-diluted about how bright he actually. Penny Rose, the Costume Designer, gave me this great kind of flamboyant outfit and I was a bit more like a glam rock star.

Then when I worked for the king in Pirates 4 I really insisted that I have a very elaborate wig and lovely makeup and a beauty spot. The teeth were always the same. And then, unfortunately, when he put on the courtly makeup with his crusty skin, he didn’t look any prettier. Barbossa isn’t somebody with any sense of personal style whatsoever. He wouldn’t care if he mixed checks with stripes.

Photo credit- Louise Bishop at MomStart.com

On coming back from the dead:

Gore phoned me up and said,”we’re gonna go to Asia.” And I said, “well, that’s great. You’ll all have a marvelous time. It was really fun being in the first film.” He said, “oh, no, no, no. We’ll go to Asia. We’re gonna have a new sort of Asian villain that Chow Yun-fat played. You’re gonna come back as a very secret surprise right in the end of the second film.” I said, “oh, right. How? I’m dead!” He said, “Well, it’s gonna be voodoo.” I said, “What do you mean Movie magic?” He said,” No, Tia Dalma needs you to get all the global pirates together to break the curse. It’ll become a big part of the story.” So, I sort of became like a politician. I was the guy getting the global pirate “G20” meeting together. And that was fun to play, because he’s a control freak and he loves thinking he’s the most powerful person on the planet.

On Johnny Depp (“Captain Jack Sparrow”):
It was just fantastic to think someone like Johnny was the king of the independent films, (with) great characters like Edward Scissor Hands and What’s Eating Gilbert Grape and all of the things that he did. For him to create such a unique, unpredictable pirate — there’s nothing like it in literature or cinema before. And he got nominated for a Best Actor, which is just fantastic. These actual adventure films just don’t really get a look in on that territory. But I remember him telling me when we shot the first film, we can’t be stereotypes. We’ve gotta create really imaginative kind of people that an audience will get very engaged with.

On Captain Jack Sparrow:
We’ve sort of decided now that The Black Pearl is our mutual girlfriend and we both want her.

"PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES"..The villainous Captain Salazar (Javier Bardem) pursues Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) as he searches for the trident used by Poseidon...Pictured: Geoffrey Rush (Barbossa)..Ph: Film Frame..© Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
© Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

On Barbossa’s peg leg:

I think back in the days when Robert Newton played Long John Silver. I think he did with the leg strapped up which would’ve been painful. So, I went down that path and talked to a prosthetist who specializes in amputees. The engineering they do now is molded beautifully in titanium or whatever. It’s amazing engineering. (You have) to train it to be a good part of you. And when I had it strapped up, I couldn’t stand up. I mean it was just impossible. And I said, “You know what? I’ll act the leg.” I wore a blue screen stocking that I made sure that we made the heel of it like the point that it would be. And I just got good at having that leg had no life in it. And there were shocking bits. Do you remember in the fourth film Jack and I are both tied up in trees and you think this is one of the situations where Jack Sparrow, he will not or cannot get out of this scenario. They’re surrounded by Spanish guards and I suggested, “Can I unscrew the leg and take it off?” And I had rum inside and was using it, which was kind of nice. At first I said I’ll take it off and it’ll sort of spring a weapon or something like that, but rum seemed good. But they made up the end of my knee to look like kind of pulpy like a wound that had never really (healed). It should be pretty ugly, because they would’ve bite this bullet. They would’ve sawed it off. He actually took his own leg off to escape from Black Beard’s ship. So, I quite like that there was that ruthlessness that he would damage himself to stay alive.

"PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES"..The villainous Captain Salazar (Javier Bardem) pursues Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) as he searches for the trident used by Poseidon..Ph: Film Frame..©Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
©Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

On Jack the Monkey:
Yes, the monkey’s great. The monkey’s trained to really have no relationship with me because if it did it would just be looking for things to eat in my wig. Also they’re very loyal to their owner if trained correctly. So, if I pulled a sword or somebody yelled fire or whatever, the monkey would just go. They’re very high strung. They would leap away and do all that sort of stuff. So the monkey is completely in the hands of the trainer. And the trainers are brilliant. They’re able to throw in all the instructions in around the dialogue.

The monkey in the first movie was Tara. In subsequent movies the part was played by Pablo and Chiquita. Chiquita was slightly smaller and she was better for fitting under the hat. Pablo was slightly bigger. He was supposed to do all the stunt work. There was one scene where the monkey had to swim from one boat to the other and Pablo got on the edge of the boat and just froze and thought, you know, there’s no way I’m doing this. So, you know, Chiquita got on. “I’ll do it!” And, she jumped in and swam. They were a good team.They would always be eating, getting peanut rewards or little bits of dried banana and stuff like that. And I used to love it. It was very comforting because I’d feel them on my shoulder going, eee eee eee eee eee eee ehuh-eee eee. You know, making all those little noises. And you just get very warm soft, aromatic, peanut breath. So, every time I had the monkey in the scene there was a real kind of connection.

When we shot on the Gulf Coast on the last one, I was in having a costume fitting. And they said Pablo’s having his costume fitting, because they wear the little pants and everything and this little frilly shirt. And he came in and then- this has been five years or something. And he looked across the room at me and went [KISSING NOISE]. And it was so sweet. And it was so sweet. I said to Martin, “It looked like he (the monkey) was going, Geoff, it’s been five years. We’re baaaack.” I said to Martin, “Would he remember me over five years?” He said, “Yeah, he’d remember the smell of your ear wax.”

It was so sweet. He (Pablo) gave me as a wrap gift. He gave me a painting that he did. It’s really amazing. And it’s framed.It’s got these mad, green spreads, like abstract – I call it abstract simian expressionism. And then there’s some yellow over on this side. It’s really quite artistic. I don’t know what that is. That could’ve been the contents of the diaper that he wears. It’s signed (with his paw print). It’s an original by Pablo.

On Kaya Scodelario (“Carina Smyth”):

Kaya is such a gorgeous actress, and she’s got a very feisty, natural funky quality. My daughter worked on the film in the costume department, and they’re the same age. And I don’t know if Skin’s shown here in the states. It was very popular teenage series in the UK, and Kaya played one of the main characters in that. And I love the fact that she’s extolled as being this really brilliant, female astronomer. And the fact that for all of her rationale, empirical, scientific aspiration, she still has to deal with the fact that somebody like Salazar existed as well, who’s supernatural.

Photo credit- Louise Bishop at MomStart.com

Check out my Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales review and Los Angeles Premiere experience. Go see Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales starting May 26th.

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES opens in theaters everywhere May 26th!

Filed Under: Disney, Entertainment, Movies, Movies Tagged With: Captain Barbossa, Geoffrey Rush, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales

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Chatting with Javier Bardem aka Captain Salazar From Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales #PiratesLifeEvent

May 24, 2017 By Cori

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Thank you for visiting Cori's Cozy Corner! Please make sure to like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and subscribe to our E-mails!

Disclosure- I was invited by Disney to attend this all expense paid press trip but all opinions are 100% my own.

javier bardem

Photo credit- Louise Bishop at MomStart.com

We sat down for a candid interview with Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales newcomer Javier Bardem. Javier plays Captain Salazar, the villainous ghost captain who is searching for Captain Jack Sparrow to exact his revenge. I think we scared him a little when he walked into a room of 25 applauding women. He said he was only expecting 1 or 2 women but we promised to go easy on him. Here’s what we learned:

DeadMenTellNoTales58e6b3c15b2b9 Javier told us it took 3 hours to get his makeup applied. We asked how he was able to portray really intense emotions through all of the makeup and Javier replied,”Very good question, that was one of my concerns to see if my facial expression can go through the mask. The makeup people did an amazing job and once I had the mask on my face, I realized that I could express myself through it, which is important. Otherwise, your performance is killed by it. One of the things that these special effects people have done so well in this movie is that they brought magic into the performance without killing it, like the hair, it’s fantastic.” It was done in just the right way that it didn’t “kill the physicality of the performance”. I have to agree with Javier on this. The hair is “hypnotic“. The directors came up with this amazing idea. Wait until you see how his hair just floats in the air as if it were underwater. It is one of my favorite special effects in the movie.

Ever wonder what it would be like talking with the black goo coming out of your mouth? Javier said it was like talking through monkey poo. We all laughed at that. “It was a liquid. They told me it was supposed to be like chocolate, chocolate my ***. It taste worse than that and they were supposed to put it on the teeth. I said give me that, so I drank it and then I went to play the first scene. I think it was with Geoffrey Rush and it starts to pour out of my mouth and he was very disgusted.”

Javier described the intensity and drive of his character so well “I thought it (the black goo) was like a rage pouring out. It’s not blood. It’s like the rage of the character coming out, like something more physical, like a bull. I’d always thought the character was like a bull, like a wounded bull with the blood and moving like wounded and breathing like out of breath and with a very strong idea for revenge towards [Jack Sparrow].

javier bardem2

Photo credit- Louise Bishop at MomStart.com

Javier got involved with the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise in 2010 when he went to the set to visit his wife Penelope Cruz who was in the 4th movie and he was very envious. He was jealous of special effects, the sword fights, wardrobe, etc. So Javier said to Jerry Bruckheimer, “Jerry, please give me a job!” 5 years later he was finally given the role. Javier loved the idea that he would get to play the same character in 2 different ways- alive and dead. His character is all about pride and honor when he was alive and then pain and revenge when he was dead. Javier pulled inspiration to portray his role from the idea of a wounded animal. He wanted to bring bullfighting culture to his part and bring some of that flavor to his role.

How does Javier like to spend his down time? He enjoys drawing faces, bodies, and expressions. He loves using a pencil and sketching. I’d love an original Javier Bardem sketch, wouldn’t you?

One question on many of our minds was what it was like to work with Johnny Depp. Javier said he met Johnny in 1999, on the set of the movie, Before Nightfall. He said that Johnny is caring, funny, a gentleman, and he doesn’t give himself much importance at all. “I remember that it was so hot, we were sitting on a roof and it was summertime. It was 3 p.m. People were like fainting out of the heat, and there was only one umbrella and of course the production went running to give him (Johnny) with the umbrella and he was like no. The umbrella is not for me. The umbrella is for Javier because that’s the guy who has to keep shooting when I leave. You need to protect him. And that was without making too much noise about it, but I saw that and I thought that talks a lot about him.”

“When I do the movie now, in 2015, he was the same guy except that he’s playing Jack Sparrow which is an iconic character. He becomes Jack Sparrow and he’s so funny to watch and he will do and say anything and he will be brilliant. I had to cut the scene sometimes because I was laughing. He’s a great colleague and a beautiful guy.”

Make sure to check out my upcoming interviews of some of the other actors in this movie. They shared a similar sentiment about Johnny Depp’s ability to make everyone around him laugh.

javier group2 Photo credit- Louise Bishop at MomStart.com

Check out my Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales review and Los Angeles Premiere experience. Go see Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales starting May 26th.

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES opens in theaters everywhere May 26th!

Filed Under: Disney, Entertainment, Movies, Movies Tagged With: Captain Salazar, Javier Bardem, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales

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5 Signs That Show You’re Not Sleeping Enough at Night

May 23, 2017 By Cori

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Sleep deprivation is a serious issue that far too many people take for granted. There are many associated effects, such as feeling moody and poor memory, that can seriously harm our lifestyle and careers. While many busy people swear by getting just a couple hours of sleep per day, they’re actually damaging their health in the long term. Our bodies need time to recharge and that’s where sleeping comes in, so if you deprive your body of that privilege then you’re ultimately going to encounter adverse health effects that could eventually lead to serious complications.

It’s clear to many people that a good night’s sleep is important, but there are still too many people that take this too lightly. If you’re unsure if you’re sleep deprived or not, then here are a couple of signs that show you’re not sleeping enough at night.

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You Always Feel Tired During the Day

This is one of the more obvious points, but it still has to be said. Your tiredness might not be because of the physical work you do at your job, it probably isn’t because of your diet and it might not be because you’re overexerting yourself—it’s probably because you aren’t sleeping enough. If you aren’t getting at least 7 hours of sleep at night, then chances are you’re probably depriving yourself of the sleep that your body needs. Try your best not to stress your body out and get an hour or two of shut-eye at night and you’ll find yourself yawning less. However, if you get a good 7-8 hours of sleep per night and you still feel tired, then you may want to speak with your doctor to ensure it’s not an underlying health problem. If you’re having trouble falling asleep, then replacing your mattress with something new, getting luxury California King sheets and adjusting your pillows to the way you sleep can make a huge difference in comfort.

You’re Constantly Having Mood Swings

The amount of sleep you get at night and your mood are closely linked. Most people already know that if you wake up early or you don’t get enough sleep, you’re in an irritable and foul mood that can quickly spiral out of control. Not only are you more susceptible to mood swings, but it can also make you more aggressive in some situations, you might feel stressed out and there are times when a lack of sleep can make you feel hopeless and sad. This mental exhaustion can have damaging long-term effects if not managed correctly. If you’re limited yourself to less than 6 hours of sleep per day, then you’ll notice a dramatic and immediate difference in your mood after you resume a regular sleeping schedule.

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You Find It Difficult to Remember Things

Poor sleep quality can actually contribute to memory loss and even brain deterioration in the elderly. However, even for young people, a lack of sleep can make it difficult to remember certain things. Sleep helps to keep your mind healthy so that you have an easier time acquiring and recalling memories. A lack of sleep reverses this effect, and you’ll find it’s a lot more difficult to recall memories when you’re running on fumes. This can harm your work and make it difficult for you to perform daily tasks.

You’re Getting Sick More Easily Than Before

A lack of sleep has actually been shown to negatively affect your immune system. As you sleep, your body naturally bolsters its immune system by releasing proteins called cytokines. These help you fight infections, inflammations and even the effects of stress. A lack of sleep prevents these cytokines from being produced by your body and your immune system will be weakened as a result. If you want to stay healthy and stop falling ill, then remember to stick to a regular sleeping schedule and get at least 7 hours of sleep per night.

You’re Making Mistakes at Work and Can’t Focus

If you’ve ever been at work talking to someone then suddenly zone out, chances are your focus is probably shot and you need a little bit more sleep. It’s hard to focus after sleeping just a couple of hours because your brain hasn’t had time to rest and recuperate. This negatively affects your work and you might find yourself dozing off at the wheel or during work. Driving while drowsy is incredibly dangerous and is equal to driving while drunk—something that comes with a serious penalty. Instead of relying on copious amounts of caffeine, get some more sleep so that your brain has time to recover from the previous day. This will help you in preventing mistakes, it will increase your focus, and you will ultimately be more productive throughout the day.

Filed Under: Health, Fitness, Weightloss, and Wellness

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A Peek Inside Walt Disney’s Private Offices #BambiBluray

May 23, 2017 By Cori

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Disclosure- I was invited by Disney to attend this all expense paid press trip but all opinions are 100% my own.

walt's offices Growing up in South Florida with easy access to Walt Disney World I have always been a fan of all things Disney but never in my wildest dreams would I have predicted that I would one day have the chance to peek inside Walt Disney’s office where all the magic happened from 1940-1966. Just think about all the films that came out during that era- HELLO, BAMBI! Being inside this 3rd floor office suite was so surreal. Our tour started out in Walt’s secretary’s office where his secretary, Tammie Wilck, worked for Walt Disney until 1968, just a few years after his death and when the office closed. Can’t you just picture her sitting there taking notes for Mr. Disney?

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Once the office was closed, Dave Smith found the archives in Suite 3H and inventoried everything in Walt Disney’s offices. Over the years the office has been remodeled several times and occupied by several people such as Disney President and CEO Ron Miller (1972-1984), Disney President and Chief Operating Officer Frank Wells and Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer Michael Eisner (1986-1990), Disney Vice Chairman of the Board Roy E. Disney (1991-2003), Producers Shaun Cassidy and Ned Nalle (2008-2011), and Producers Marc Cherry and Sabrina Wind (2011-2015). In 2015 the offices in 3H were renovated to look like how they had looked when Walt Disney originally occupied them and they were reopened as a permanent exhibit honoring Walt Disney.

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Walt Disney had 2 different offices, one just past the other. Each office was filled with pictures, knick knacks, and memorabilia that Walt loved. The first one was his Formal Office where he conducted most of his business. It is where he held appointments with important guests and conducted important business. It is said that he spent at least a few minutes each day behind his “formal desk” signing letters to fans and business associates around the world. 20170518_131732

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Walt Disney even had a grand piano in his office where composers and songwriters such as Leopold Stokowski and the Sherman Brothers were known to stop by to play for Mr. Disney. I can just imagine what it must have been like when other famous voices would stop by the office and gather around the piano to play tunes for Walt Disney! piano sign

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Just past the formal office was Walt Disney’s working office. This is where Walt spent most of his days meeting with producers, directors, writers, artists, and others. He conducted his daily business here and the room was often filled wall to wall with people. I wonder who graced these halls? Who stopped by to go over ideas for new projects and movies with Walt Disney in this office? Historians say that sometimes the office was so crowded that people had to sit on the floor. Imagine sitting on the floor in Walt Disney’s office with him going over ideas?!??! 20170518_131810

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Walt’s office suite even had a kitchenette. I wonder how many late nights he spent at his office needing to fix himself a quick meal? Who did Walt serve meals to in this kitchenette? Such history right in front of my eyes. The whole experience was surreal.

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You can see in the pictures below how much attention to detail the archivists took when recreating Walt’s office to be exactly the way it was when he occupied it. This private room and gallery space is where his private quarters were located. It was designed as an apartment/overnight space but he rarely used it as such. Usually he just used this space to relax at the end of the day.

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There was no shortage of pictures on the walls and knick knacks on shelves. Walt Disney surrounded himself with things he loved. Look at all these caricatures, cartoons, and sketches of Walt Disney.

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There was even a torch from the 1960 Olympics!

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It wasn’t part of Walt’s office but I wanted to share another special photo with you. As we left Walt’s office and made our way to another building we were taken down to a special underground tunnel. What’s so special about this tunnel? It was built so artists could take the cells of movies they were working on from one building to another without worrying about it getting wet if it was raining outside. I wonder what movie cells passed through this tunnel that I passed through? I get chills just thinking about it!

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You can learn about the Disney Archives and more by visiting d23.com/walt-disney-archives/.

Filed Under: Disney, Entertainment Tagged With: Walt Disney

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Archives for May 2017

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SPOILER ALERT- On What She Would Like To See For Her Character Going Forward

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