Teen Art Out Nr 20 by Simona Mihalca

Interview

Teen Art Out nr 20 ISSN 2284 – 6549 ISSN–L = 2284 – 6549

Our editorial team Editor-in-Chief: Editors:

Simona Mihalca Julia N. Hamermesz Andreea Albulescu Mihnea Săvulescu Andreea Bădeu Aubrey Joy N. Songcog Kasey Rae Elizabeth Gilham Koustav Shaw Michela Sereni

Photo credits:

Andrei Apostol Claudia Cristea AD – Passion Photography “The Puppeteer” –art project Photography: Stefan Curta Video editing: InvidFilms Creative concept & styling: Vanda Petrescu MUA: Diana Enaiche Hair-styling: Ioana-Iulia Goicea Model: Roxana Porumbacu (freelance model) Puppeteer: Cristina Tane Clothes and accessories: 109 - Delikatessen SS2014, New Look - AW 2013/2014, unique pieces by zazie.v, stylist’s wardrobe, LaChatterie accesories, Milinery Atelier by Gabriela Dumitran (head accesories).

Cover design:

Ruxandra Marin

Cover graphics: Design:

Andrei Apostol Ioana- Mădălina Sterpu We reserve the right to select the submissions received before publishing.

Contact:

www.artout.ro teen@artout.ro

Interview

SUMARY LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Young an beautiful, Simona Mihalca

INTERVIEW Diane van Giersbergen & Marco Heubaum (Xandria)

YOUNG AN BEAUTIFUL Young an beautiful, Koustav Shaw Body acceptance, Elizabeth Gilham Butterfly, Andreea Albulescu Secrets & breath, Aubrey Joy N. Songcog Oblivion, Andreea Bădeu Time is youth, Mihnea Săvulescu

14 17 20 22 26 28

IDEAS ON CELLULOID A film and a film experience, Kasey Rae

PHOTO PROJECT Claudia Cristea The Puppeteer

35 48

SOCIAL WATCH Killing loneliness with you, Michela Sereni

Letter from the editor

Young and beautiful by Simona Mihalca

Photo: Ad Passion Photography

t is a rare occurrence for me or us to be quoting Lana del Ray. She is undoubtedly, a great performer, but to me she was and is the queen of hipsters. However, this one song made a difference. Probably because so many people sang the song to me, or merely wrote me the lyrics. But they do have something special. What is it to be young and beautiful? We sure mean to express that. We are at that age and we

can surely imagine or say what we live. But the song is actually deeper than that, and of course, so do we. We have to talk about a broad spectrum of feelings, ones so intense that they do not wither with time, they do not depend on the ephemeral concept of beauty. Maybe we have not seen it all, we certainly do not claim to have done that. Our wisdom has its limits, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s growing. Each and every day, we feel and learn. So this is

Letter from the editor

where you come in and we let you tell us about your feelings, tell us what you think it is that makes you young and beautiful. We seem to be coming back to an issue of love. While itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easy to write about it, it still makes for the hardest topic. Such is the nature of it and we do not doubt it. But there is nothing without love. Someone said that everything worth writing is either about love or death, and we surely prefer the former.

So come on, we dare you! Read what we have once again brought in front of you. Maybe you will like our newest interview with Diane and Marco from Xandria. And if, somehow, in doing so you find something that raises your eyebrow, that challenges you and makes you think, we want to hear it. Will you still love me when Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m no longer young and beautiful?

Simona Mihalca, Editor-in-Chief 5

Petite Histoire

inter view 6

Interview

Interview:

Diane van Giersbergen & Marco Heubaum Hello and thank you for agreeing to chat with us! I will start by congratulating you on your newest release, “Sacrificium”. How does it feel to finally have it out there for everyone to enjoy? Many artists say that releasing an album is a relief, like letting out a lot of energy that was trapped before. Was it like that for you, or do you live the recording/editing/ mastering/general CD-making process in another way?

Dianne: Hi and thank you for welcoming us! I am proud that our album is out there now and that we are receiving so many, many positive reactions! For me, since I joined the process when all the songs were already written and the guys had even entered the studio, is has not been such a big ‘finally it’s out there’ relief, but I know for the guys it must definitely feel like that. 7

Interview What were the best and worst parts about releasing this album? What are you most proud of? Dianne: The best part is always that through recording you hear the songs come to live, you watch them grow and coach them into the compositions they are now. Having the finished album in your hand is also one of the best moments ever! The â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;worstâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; part, but I would rather name it complicated than worse, was fitting all of the recordings and preparing into my already busy schedule. It was quite a challenge but we managed!

What was the main source of inspiration for this album? The cover and the lyrics are very rich and detailed: it's obvious that you put a lot of effort and time in the whole product. Marco: Yes, we did. We care a lot for every creative aspect and also for it having a profound meaning. The background for writing lyrics have been the bad times the band and I personally had to go through last year, and , coloured by this, all the terrifying things you see when you look around in todayÂ´s world. So most lyrics are very personal, dealing with my feelings and inner

Interview demons, and my thoughts about what´s going around. But the range of lyrics is quite diverse, I also wrote some lyrics inspired by fantasy stories, and Dianne also wrote two lyrics that have very interesting topics, one about the dark origin of the “Little Red Riding Hood” fairytail. The newest cover, in fact, shows a yellow/orange, flamemade, rising phoenix: that's the perfect contrast for your previous art (it was blue, more melancholic and nostalgic: falling, old ruins were pictured in it). Was it intentional? What's the meaning behind it?

Marco: Well, it´s not that the colours of the new album indicate a more optimistic mood. The idea behind the cover is related to the lyrics of the title track, which deals which the ultimate sacrifice that we can give. It is about all the people giving or risking their lives for higher ideals like freedom, truth, justice or love. All the people you see in the news, in the Ukraine, in Syria, in Egypt, in North Korea right now or read about in history books, people that tried to make this world a better place for the living, and for us heirs of them. I mean, I live in a quite save and free region of the

Interview world, and I think many who read this also do, and we owe it to these people. So this song, written from the perspective of someone in such a situation, is also a sign of respect dedicated to them. The phoenix on the cover symbolizes the ideals one is fighting for, and that rise from the ashes of one´s sacrifice. The dark creatures on the cover symbolize the forces that want to keep people in injustice, slavery, and poverty. So you can also say, this cover is more about reality, whilst the cover of “Neverworld´s End” was more personal, more about the inner fantasy world. But in fact this is strongly connected, because the loss of your fantasy

world I described on the last album is a direct result from what you see in this world. Mankind in a whole, despite the people fighting for their ideals like I said before, will never really become what you hoped for in the beginning of your life, when you think your generation will help making this world a better place. These hopes are the Neverworld – but not reality. That sets a very definite line between your two works. In your opinion, what's the biggest difference between “Sacrificium” and “Neverworld's End”, or your older CDs? Since the first listen, it's clear that there's the typical Xandria-vibe, but everything sounds really new and refreshing: it's a long road away from some of your first releases! Marco: Yes, from our first releases it´s definitely a long road. We see “Neverworld´s End” as the beginning of a new chapter, that is not really connected to the older albums nor do we see it as a continuation of what we have done before. So I see, in contrast to that, “Sacrificium” as strongly connected to “Neverworld´s End”, because it IS actually meant as a continuation of this. Nevertheless, there are of course some differences, because we developed further, tried out some new things. It´s only natural.

Interview You could say, when “Neverworld´s End” has been the deliberately planned and created work of many years, building a basis for our new sound, “Sacrificium” was more of a experimenting and trying-out on this basis, but without having a strict picture in mind what it would become in the end. The album sounds more operatic and powerful than ever. Was that a conscious choice or did it come naturally to fit Diane’s amazing voice? How did you chose her? Marco: Yes, we also wanted to push the operatic and orchestral part even a little more to see how far we can go. That was one of the try-out things here. For this objective we also hired a real choir for the first time, the Pa´dam choir from the Netherlands, that also could be seen on the “Black Symphony” concert by Within Temptation for example. Dianne was a perfect fit for our sound, when she was suggested by our co-producer Joost van den Broek, who was involved in looking for a new singer. She has a very versatile voice, so we can go as operatic as we want, but also can do a lot of other things. I think on the next album we will emphasize more on her specific voice qualities, because then we can work with

her voice from the beginning on. Because, when Dianne joined the band, “Sacrificium” was almost completely written already. Dianne has obviously done an incredible work: the fans had high expectation, but she satisfied them fully! How hard was it for her to sing her vocal parts? Did she collaborate in the writing process, at least for her lines? Dianne: Thank you for your compliments! When I joined the guys in the studio all the songs were already written, but for the vocal lines we had some freedom to change them a little and set them to the best timbres of my voice.

Interview Lisa Middelhauve has recently posted some chapters of her career, including some very troubling parts regarding her time in Xandria. Looking back, can you see and agree with her image of how toxic the atmosphere in the band was? Despite that, we are all really happy for all her constant support of the band, it's a very healthy and constructive behavior. It could be an example for other bands. Marco: I don´t really want to look back to that time I have to say. Because concerning the atmosphere in the band before Lisa´s departure I agree, it was really difficult. There were severe differences on both the creative and personal level that have been growing over a longer time and having reached a point when it was just not possible to go on like this

anymore. And I guess both sides have their own perspective and explanations here, which is just normal. Anyway, neutrally said, it is only natural that people grow apart in their way of thinking and ideas sometimes, so the best thing in this case is to go separate ways. This was the only way for this band to not be completely breaking up, and to enable both sides to follow their own path. The picture of Dianne, Simone and Marcela is pretty famous by now. How did that super group came to be? Dianne: I was called on a Tuesday by our promo contact from Napalm that the Dutch metal magazine ‘Aardschok’ wanted to do a special edition with Marcela, Simone and me because all three of us would be releasing our albums within 1 month. 2 days later we all traveled to Amsterdam to do this photo shoot together. The shoot itself was fun and for me it was a big honor to work together with these talented ladies. Thank you for your time, and much love from your Romanian fans! We hope to see you soon; meanwhile, good luck for the promoting of your last gem! Dianne: Thanks you so much! We hope to see you on the road!

Young and beautiful

Young and beautiful by Koustav Shaw

Photo: Ad Passion Photography

hey say the prime time of a life is in its youth when it is most beautiful as it can be. Everything seems beautiful in its youth because it brims full with passion and motivation for every unknown desire out there. My dear readers, we bring you a young and beautiful issue for this month so 14

that we all can enjoy the youth of our lives together. Youth has always been beautiful not because of wrinkled free skin or the strength of our back but of the stupidity and immaturity that drove us to do crazy thing without a moment of hesitation.

Young and beautiful

We often say that we don’t want to live a life filled with regrets but every time we back down from doing something crazy that could have made us happy, we are putting it on the regret’s list. And even if it doesn’t make us happy then surely it will make us wise, so there’s no loss in listening to your

heart when you are young and do something that will make you beautiful from the inside. No matter what differences lies between us we simply can’t ignore the fact that today we are as young as we can be in this life because tomorrow we will be a day older so if you really want to do something then today 15

Young and beautiful is the day. Songs have been written, stories have been told to us as kids of Princes and Princesses when they were young, stupid and they made mistakes which changed their lives forever. We still fancy those stories as a gem in our lives because what we always wanted to do and never could do because of the world or the society have failed to do the same to those characters from our childhood stories. They led their lives as they always wanted and for that they were even willing to risk everything they hold close to them. The motive behind this monthly issue of ours is to rekindle the youth that still lies in you so that you can fulfill all your dreams you have left under the pile of judgments of right or wrong, necessary or unnecessary. Go out, live your dream, do what makes you happy, make

mistakes, fall in love because it’s your life and you must live it before it time’s up. The dreams you once had a child, the things you wanted to be are just waiting for you for a long, long time. Don’t ruin it by prioritizing with something that has no actual value in your life. I personally feel that it’s better to lead a life filled with mistakes of doing those and that’s than that of regrets wishing what if I had done that and those. It’s simply your choice. Life has always been simple and if we stop thinking about others and their words then we may not be loved by all but we will happy on our own. I think I have made my point clear so what will you do is up to you. Anyway, this where I sign off for now because I am already tired and need rest. I give my best to both you and your family so that all your dreams may come true. With love, as always!

Koustav Shaw

Young and beautiful

Body acceptance by Elizabeth Gilham Photo: Andrei Apostol

hen people ask why it took me so long to accept my body and why I preach body positivity and selfacceptance, I can only give them a blank stare. There is no one answer to that question. It’s not that simple. They wouldn’t have the time or understanding to know what it’s like having a body like mine and living in this society today. Where every magazine, commercial, buildboard, television show, movie, song, etcetera; protests against it. So I decided to make a list;

Because my childhood memories are sitting in doctors’ offices being told I would die when I grew up if I didn’t lose weight. Because when I was in the hospital they checked my sugar every time I ate even though I am not diabetic but “just in case”. Because people shot me disapproving looks every time I touched food to the point I would wait until I was alone and binge eat. Because scales, furniture and exercise equipment have a weight limit. 17

Young and beautiful

Because plus sizes are found few and far between in stores, and are set aside in their own tiny section. Because fat actresses and actors only get comedy roles. Because the bully is always the fat kid. Because movie theaters, stadiums, restaurants, schools and amusement parks are all “standard” size seating.

in sweats is “sloppy”. Because if a stranger had to describe me they would say “the heavy set woman”. Because I’m the “before” picture. Because a fat person wouldn’t be caught dead on the cover of a magazine. Because I get told I have a “pretty face”.

Because the label “one size fits all” tells me that I don’t exist.

Because I would be more beautiful “if i lost weight”.

Because I’m “lucky” if someone is romantically interested in me.

Because I can’t walk into a fast food restaurant without feeling every persons eyes burning into the back of my head.

Because finding me attractive is considered a “fetish”. Because leggings on a skinny girl are sexy but “gross” on a fat chick. Because a skinny person in sweats is “casual” while a fat person

Because people “surprised” at my confidence.

are

Because every other commercial is about a new diet or weight loss pill. Because I carved the word “fat” in to my skin numerous times,

Young and beautiful

thinking that’s all i was. Because I was taught that my body defined who i am. Because loving myself is considered “glorifying obesity”. Because the word “fat” is considered an insult. Because I’ve been to five different therapists and instead of teaching me to love myself, they told me to lose weight to cure my depression. Because every aspect of my life was telling me I needed to be skinny. Because no one ever once said to me that my body was acceptable. Because how was I supposed to accept something, let alone love it, that everything around me viewed and projected in a negative light; taught, showed and told me was unacceptable, disgusting, and wrong?

This is why it took me my entire life to be able to look in the mirror and not feel ashamed at what I saw. This is why I am so into body positivity and self-acceptance. I know there are many people living now as I was until this year and I want them to know that their body is beautiful just the way it is. There is nothing wrong, disgusting and unacceptable about it. It’s your body. You don’t require anyone else’s approval. Dress it, express it and love it however you please because you’re stuck with it. Hating it isn’t going to change it and changing it won’t make you happy. You have to accept it, learn it and love it. Put an end to stereotypes, fat stigma, fat shaming and give the finger to the media, society and anyone who tries to tell you differently. You are beautiful being the lowest number on the scale, the highest and at all the ones in between. Love yourself, accept yourself, and those who matter will too.

Elizabeth Gilham 19

Young and beautiful

Butterfly by Andreea Albulescu Photo: Ad-Passion Photography

Young and beautiful

e have been told all our life that, because we are young, we cannot have problems. All you have to do is have fun, enjoy your youth, study and laugh all day. Unfortunately, they omit a very important thing: being young means metamorphosis; it is the journey which starts at the end of childhood and ends when someone turns into a grown up. And as every journey, it has its ups and downs:

the main symptom of this disease. Whether it is homework or any other thing, young people seem to enjoy postponing everything until the very last moment, work madly for a short amount of time, get tired, sleep and then start it all over again. Also, let’s not forget about the constant complaints. Yes, we all complain about other people complaining about other people who complain about… and so far and so on (Complainseption!)

One of the most common and yet annoying things is the phenomenon called”mood swings”. Just when you thought that you’ve got everything you ever wanted, something totally unexpected happens and… BANG! Your day suddenly turns from pink to gray. Well, it is something normal for teenagers, but as normal as it is, it still can ruin a perfect day so bad that even ice-cream and good TV series won’t help.

Jokes aside now, it is about time we returned to a more poetical language..

Another strange thing is the illness called laziness. Very often met, it ‘’affects’’ a huge procent of young people. It is directly linked to procrastination, which represents

Young people should really enjoy their energy, spend their free time surrounded by friends and spend money on their hobbies. We can compare ourselves to butterflies. We all start as children and until we become adults we learn about whom we really are and who would we want to be. We have to face lots and lots of different situations and when we will finally get out of the cocoon and start the life of our own, we would all be full developed butterflies, ready to spread the wings and fly.

Andreea Albulescu 21

Young and beautiful

SECRETS & BREATH by Aubrey Joy Songcog Photo: Ad-Passion Photography

“There’s beauty in the silver singing river. There’s beauty in the sunrise in the sky But none of these and nothing else can match the beauty That I remember in my true love’s eyes.” “Tomorrow is a Long Time”

Young and beautiful

t the beginning of time, when the universe was made, there were two stars afraid --afraid of growing apart, afraid of animating away. So on a secret agreement, a conspiracy on how to stay together, they align themselves every night. Two dearly stars plotting a constellation. They said’ we must find an immortal capable of a love like ours. So on the day she was born, they shoot themselves from the sky and fell on her eyes, to live and

to rest themselves up to infinity in those oculus. Two of them breath and spark together. So when she’s passionate and fervid, looking at her beautiful face is like staring on a celestials in love, a harmony of a galaxy, a silver lining. “She walks in beauty, like the night Of cloudless climes and starry skies; And all that’s best of dark and bright Meet in her aspect and her eyes. Thus mellowed to that tender light Which heaven to gaudy day denies” An excerpt from “She Walks in Beauty”

Young and beautiful

There is something beautiful in her. I don’t know if it is a ray of light that streaks from her smile or the ocean that moves inside her heart. She seems like a poem made up of flesh, bone, and blood. A force of her own. A bright moon on a sad day. I think the most beautiful thing I ever did was learning her, a phenomenon and a marvel to my universe I’m learning to decipher. And the most beautiful thing she ever did was letting me When I reached into the night, there was a gravity and there she was, under the stars and moonlight shadows. That shiver she passed along, waved on the empty ridges of my skin. Her touch left a scent on my skin, a memory, an imprint, daisies and green lingering in the tracks of her fingerprints. It’s like the way air kisses when temperature drops, a way the storm moves and envelopes everything. She is an intricate vibrant life. Every soft breath from her lips, and every timid

heartbeat is precious and beautiful. I don’t just want her heart. I want the moon in the lining of her skin, her blood and bones, her voice, her thoughts, her pulse, and most of all, her fingertips everywhere. There is a longing to discover her, each line and corner, each secret and scar.

II “You told me I was beautiful, It meant so much to me, But when I looked into the mirror, There was no beauty I could see. I asked you why you said that, I asked you why you lied, Then you told me to look closer, Because I’m beautiful inside.” The day he told me I was beautiful, I started tasting acid on my tongue and soon enough I couldn’t eat my breakfast, soon enough I couldn’t speak at all. Then I look in to his eyes and see a flash of ocean behind it. His eyes were

Young and beautiful

so beautiful, the first sight even drowned me, that when you put him in the brine, all the world will be in love with the ocean.

How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.” An excerpt from “She Walks in Beauty”

Together, we search for the constellations. We are parallels, separated by nothing. All the feelings and words are unspoken. The stars were in his eyes and his eyes were in my soul, and my soul was confined in his. Bound and together, parted and never, touching and touched. His scribble of passion is a layers and layers of a beautiful complication.

Without feathers, we fell, and the earth shifted. We lay on a perfect sighs down and stars above. We are beautiful in the moonlight, in wind, in the deep grass and shadows of trees. I have been here before and after but never forever. This is a place I saved for you.

III “One shade the more, one ray the less, Had half impaired the nameless grace Which waves in every raven tress, Or softly lightens o’er her face; Where thoughts serenely sweet express,

Standing under an endless universe with the bravery to breathe and love. I can feel that there is something beautiful beyond the stars and in the galaxies we will never know. To press your hand on my skin and feel it, to know that you have always deserved to be found, that you are absolute and perfect. This must be the infinity. Secrets and breath, alive and growing old together toward the stars and when we die, beautiful constellations will align with our souls.

Aubrey Joy Songcog 25

Young and beautiful

“Just put some make-up on”, they said “And don’t forget your high-heeled shoes Remember to water the lilies And throw some petals onto your bed.” A few moments later She appeared in the fervent sun Breathlessly hoping they admired the glitter She had added to her bun.

Young and beautiful

Oblivion by Andreea Bădeu

Photo: Andrei Apostol

Flawlessly slinking But catching no eye Left in oblivion and thinking She’d never give it another try. Back she was to her chamber Alone, dejected and frustrated Knowing that “forever” had severed And the petals had withered.

Andreea Badeu 27

Young and beautiful

Time is Youth by Mihnea Săvulescu Photo: Ad-Passion Photography

t would be a lie to say that you don’t want to stay young a beautiful. Everyone wants that, you, me, your parents, friends, everyone wants it. You want it for the power that it gives you, the strength it makes you feel, the energy which you have and for little else. No experience, no view of the world, no nothing. Just something that isn’t yours and which will disappear given enough time. It’s a pragmatic view of the world, if a sad one. Youth is wasted on the young, as they do not have the knowledge or experience to entertain the idea of youth by itself, let alone use it

to its full potential. And beauty… Beauty is deceiving, a concealment of evil or a sugar coat on nothing of value. Having them gives you a false strength, a false power. And ultimately, they are not yours. Time cures you of them, it gives you knowledge, real strength, but it takes away the energy it brought. Even the false sense of power was good in a certain way, as it provided the means to get the experience you have known. But, that is the price, a hard one at that. A price you always have to pay, regardless of how rich, powerful, poor, ill, healthy or… Beautiful you are. Sure, we all die

Young and beautiful

eventually, we all grow old and bitter that the young donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know how to live, but we were all the same. THIS IS A CRAZY WORLD IN WHICH WE LIVE, AND TO SURVIVE, YOU HAVE TO BE CRAZIER. Yesterday is history, every moment youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve lived has to count to something, and youth and beauty do not make those moments count more. Ultimately, what you have to do is just to live. Live life without thinking of youth or beauty. Take it as it is, with the good, the bad, the ugly and the crazy, let life be your youth and beauty, let life take its toll and you and it will let you to take your toll on her. At the end of the day, just be alive.

Mihnea Savulescu 29

Ideas on celluloid

A Film and a Film Experience by Kasey Rae

ucked discretely inside a white clad section of London lies a small independent French cinema, Ciné Lumière. A quaint diverse crowd (most of which are chain smoking and chatting away to friends) waits outside its doors for the screening of JeanPierre’s new film , ‘The Young and Prodigious T.S Spivet’. The main draw to the screening may be the Q+A that follows the film, with Jean-Pierre the French Film maker who was previously responsible for beautiful works such as ‘Amélie’ and ‘Delicatessen’ and the lead actress Helena Bonham Carter, who plays Doctor Clair. When the heavy cinema doors open the small crowd spills into a marble lobby full of hyped up members of the press who are busy setting up equipment and too distracted by their camera’s to remember their manners. This small flaw is easily looked over when the rest of the audience and

myself sit on the big plush blue cinema chairs with 3-D glasses in hand, ready for the screen to transform into a portal to a new world, one being introduced to an audience for the first time. With everyone sat comfortably in their chair (including Bonham Carter who is apparently making a rare exception in watching a film she stars in ). Director Jean-Pierre takes the stage to introduce his new film to us. His smugness and blunt attitude shows itself quickly when the first thing he says to the audience is “if you are sat on the side row the 3-D will not work, those are terrible seats” . Most directors, one could reasonably assume, would take the part of a host at this time and comfort the audience, prepare them for what they’re about to see and maybe even make them laugh. The only laughable thing about Jean-Pierre’s opening speech are his snide comments and blunt attitude, which sends me into the wrong direction and right into 31

Ideas on celluloid

discomfort. The film starts with crisp and vivid imagery, the green American farmland the film is set in rolls into a blue horizon. a perfectly natural and factual take on an American goat farm, with a touch of pastel in the color scheme giving it that perfect measure of dreaminess that Jean-Pierre always adds to his films. The star of the film, T.S Spivet, narrates the film throughout which is both common and fitting in a book to film adaption. Bonham Carter’s voice also shines through as she shows off her voice acting chops by turning her upper class British accent into a rural American one and doing so very convincingly. Even though the film revolves around the 12 year old genius that is T.S, this film is far from a ‘children’s movie’. It is very family oriented and is absolutely perfect for a

family trying to deal with a loss, or any tragedy as most families come to deal with at some point. The realistic process of healing among loved ones is shown so perfectly in this film, Isolation and distraction being the family members main tactic. When the credits rolled everyone in the room has been given a great ride with a story that comes full circle, although that should always be expected in a film it seems to be a rarity. Although the film itself is a great one, my friends and myself found that watching a film with the lead actress sat just behind you can be a somewhat awkward. The actress herself also found watching the film to be a bizarre experience, especially when it came to seeing herself in 3D “I’m not sure how I feel about seeing my bum in 3D” Helena says once her and Jean-Pierre

Ideas on celluloid

made their way to the stage “that was definitely a new experience.” Jean-Pierre sits between the constantly cackling actress and the eager journalist with a slight sneer on his face, answering every question with a certain reluctance. When the journalist beside him asks for advice on how to become a “successful” film maker Jean-Pierre shares a cryptic piece of advice, his answer delivered as if the question exhausted him “Just... do it. If you love making films then make them.” The Q&A follows this exact formula: excited journalist or audience member asks a question, Jean-Pierre says something rude (one of his many insults to Americans and American studio’s perhaps) and Helena Bonham Carter tries to lighten things up with jokes, sometimes bragging when she see’s the chance to do so.

Funny on-set antidotes are shared by both film maker and actress; such as how Helena would slap her 11 year old co-star on the back of the head to “help him focus” when he was acting up and ruining her concentration before a take. Or how that same 11 year old refused to act for Jean-Pierre on certain days and would fake an illness just to leave the filmset. After what feels like 10 minutes pass the questions are called to an end, when all occupants of the stage take a huge gulp of water to prepare for the press that awaits them in the lobby. After seeing the looks on their faces I feel lucky I get to escape to the cafe around the corner, and when I leave that small French cinema, I leave with a film experience that even exceeds that of the film itself.

Kasey Rae

Petite Histoire

photo project 34

Photography project

Claudia Cristea

Model : Elena Cristina Trifan Photo & Edit : Claudia I Cristea Photography Creative : Claudia I Cristea Photography & Dragos Stanciu MUA : Irina Turturean Hair : HairStyle Artwork by Natalia Cantir Styling : Elena B창giu

letter from theproject Photography editor

Photography project

letter from theproject Photography editor

Photography project

letter from theproject Photography editor

Photography project

letter from theproject Photography editor

social watch

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Killing Loneliness With You by Michela Sereni

ntroverts everywhere, let’s unite!(In a ‘you can stay just where you are and offer me emotional support, without putting me in a state of pressure, thank you!’ way). Osho says that words have three sides: a literal one, one that we thrust upon them, and a last one, determinate by the listener. We often use them with a personal meaning which we’ve given them, forgetting they already have their own, proper one. We twist and switch them, putting them in places where they don’t belong (it’s been scientifically proven by: me, that this is the main and first cause of misunderstandings or fights). This often happens with verbs or nouns that are linked to feelings, because they’re different for each person. Take ‘alone’ and ‘lonely’ as an example: they’re not interchangeable, yet they are used as such in everyday talking. Being alone “means that 44

you are in solitude, that there is no one around. This does not have to be a negative thing, although many associate being alone with depression and gloom” (MindBodyGreen). Following this definition, it’s clear that solitude can be a method of self-care, a moment of analysis of one’s self. Moreover, it can be a way to re-charge yourself after a week filled with events and meetings. “Aloneness is finding freedom in this very same isolation; it’s the strange state of bliss that comes with being truly, honestly, unapologetically content in your own company” (ThoughtCatalog). Sitting on your bedroom’s floor and buying yourself fairy wings (trust me on this: you WILL wear those. And if you don’t have any place to, then you’re clearly not making many right choices. Accept it and find the nearest park/forest/ summer festival. There. You’re welcome); going shopping and painting your nails Ferrari red. You don’t need the physical presence of

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someone else if you’re an introvert, or if you’re simply someone who finds mentally tiring being with others. “Being alone gives you a chance to focus on the most important person, which is you. One should always take time to be alone, in order to maintain peace of mind. Being alone can give you the opportunity to step back and evaluate yourself, that you’ve never had before. Always take time for yourself in order to get -and keep- things in your life together” (Examiner). If done incorrectly, sadly, alone-time can evolve into a winged, three-headed beast: loneliness. “It is more of an emotional state that cripples and burdens and brings on sickness if lingered in for too long” (SoulPancake). To be clear: this feeling doesn’t come as a direct consequence of being alone; as a matter of fact, loneliness is a tiny grey worm, and it’s able to creep in even when we’re surrounded by people. In those situations, it’s

harder to shake it off, because we’re not allowed to think about ourselves, and the fact that there are other physical and material presences might be taken as an indicator of the fact that we should feel connected to those around us; when it’s not so, we tend to feel worse and worse, letting the rot dig deeper, developing in guilt (“they’re with me, why do I have to be like this?” [a recent extract from: ‘my mind’ a novel by me]). It’s born from a sense of abandon, and it’s a strange sly sadness that can be found in any place, at any time. However, it’s rather easy to let the gloom take over, falling into a spiral of negative thinking, when we are closed in a bathroom or laying on the bed. Brain and heart are connected (not in the ways we’d like them to, yet bound all the same): thoughts come from a messy mix of the two, and it’s exceptionally common to let them guide us in negative states of mind. This said, being able 45

Letter Watch Social from the editor to treat ourselves rightly, staying far from circumstances that trigger us, then becomes the key to the world of Alone Time, which has been tactfully placed in the Real Of Self Empowerment. Another trait that separates these two is how we perceive our own persona. “The difference is in having a sense of self. When we are alone and still know that we are with ourselveswe do not feel lonely” (SP). “’Alone’ is something one chooses, loneliness is the result of being alone, or feeling alone when it hasn’t been chosen so, but they aren’t the same, and they don’t necessarily lead to one another”(RoleReboot) Therefore, it’s essential to master the ability to be alone without letting the dark force take us (even though they’ve got the smoking hot guys), because it’s one of the best methods to define our identity, through in-depth analysis. “We can’t allow ourselves to be defined by the people we surround ourselves with. We can’t allow ourselves to be defined by our relationship status or our weekend plans or the screaming silence of our mobile phone” (The Difference Between Loneliness And Being Alone).

Michela Sereni 46

Interview

photo project 47

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The Puppeteer

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Letter Watch Social from the editor

The Puppeteer Video

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Photography: Stefan Curta Video editing: InvidFilms Creative concept & styling: Vanda Petrescu MUA: Diana Enaiche Hair-styling: Ioana-Iulia Goicea Model: Roxana Porumbacu (freelance model) Puppeteer: Cristina Tane Clothes and accessories: 109 - Delikatessen SS2014, New Look - AW 2013/2014, unique pieces by zazie.v, stylistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wardrobe, LaChatterie accesories, Milinery Atelier by Gabriela Dumitran (head accesories).