Throwing Muses
Throwing Muses
The Amare Pearl and Its Muse: A one on one interview with Francisco Amare spokesperson Patricia Francisco by Juana D
"No pearl is like the other," She tells me while placing each necklace on top of a coffee table. I couldn't have agreed more. When I first heard of this assignment to write about The Francisco Amare Group and their introduction of the Baroque, or rather" irregular pearl", I was rather skeptical. My world revolved around current issues, political conflicts, around people's rallies, congress hearings and government matters. So much for being a reporter on-the-go. It follows I was rather baffled upon being designated the assignment, upon which I was suspecting a prank-in-the-making.
But here I was, watching former beauty queen Patricia Francisco gracefully playing with her pearls. Before this, I have never really seen her up close, though I have heard raves and commendations of her beauty from colleagues. True, it has been three years since the media has seen her grace print, billboard and television advertisements, after which she disappeared a day after her shoot for a local soda brand. No one really knew what occurred, where she went and why. Rumors have it she was bored and travelled the world. Others say she married a wealthy Arab sheikh and lived in a desert palace. Still critics suspected her to be pregnant and have gained weight. Once I heard one of her detractors claiming he has seen her inside a supermarket doing groceries- an overweight, pathetic version of the had-been Patricia Francisco in her winning form.
None of this proves to be true however, as Francisco Amare Group spokesperson epitomized Life in the flesh. There was something about her- something novel and contagiously radiant as she spoke of The Francisco Amare Pearls as if she was talking to one of her girl friends during a girl's day out.
"Don't be surprised," she said, breaking the ice. "Pearls have been women's companion since the time of Cleopatra. Doesn't it make sense that pearls evolve alongside fashion?" I couldn't have agreed more. Before me was a variety of pearls I never even knew existed: heart-shaped glasslike textures to those of formless, semi-rough ones which colors range from a strange neon lime to that of metallic purple.
Then there were differing shapes-from classic spherical transitioning to coin- shaped resemblances to peanut- shaped forms and what's this? Fish? I looked closer. Yep. Fish, hearts and stars. Who knew a pearl enthusiast has this much variety?
Baffled, my question was, "How come I've seen this just now?"
"It's a secret," She joked while handing me out a "Penelope", a necklace of tear-shaped pearls to touch, "Kidding aside, abstract, formless pearls have been in existence for as long as time could tell. From where I come from, pearl farmers throw them out after a harvest. A pearl farmer waits for three years only to be disappointed when his pearls turn out far from spherical. You can imagine him going home to his wife beaten and disappointed like a little boy coming home after a school fight."
So what does the name Francisco Amare have to do with all these?
"Francisco Amare is not just about pearls," she muses. "Francisco Amare is about passion so strongly felt; it can either kill or bring someone to life. By the rule of adversity, we are what we are- but without spirit and adrenaline, we are only as significant as a lamp is to a light bulb."
"Francisco Amare is a state of being," She continues. "It is pretty much like collective potential harnessed for eons then at the right time released for that one-time significant blow. It has been there- it is there. Lives are spent chasing after it, but great men and women, whose names we know today, did nothing but own it."
And pearls?
"Baroque pearls have always been looked down upon in the pearl grading caste system. Jewelers acknowledge their uniqueness every now and then though more often than not, a baroque is a pearl farmer's curse."
She adds, "Who ever said skinny was in, or that blondes have more fun? Who said you have to be all these and compromise who you are to be considered beautiful, at the very least accepted? Each of us has had conflicts- everyone has a story to tell. Our pearls have theirs too- and the story behind each scratch, each bump and each deviation is a statement, an experience. Its story, its agony, its struggle to survive transcends proportional beauty that in the end an Amare pearl is more than beautiful, it is in actuality, alive."
So what shall be expecting from The Group in the future?
"Hmm. I don't really know.", she murmured while lining up her pearls once more- this time from the biggest to smallest of size. "Who am I to tell? We go where the wind takes us. Isn't that what life is all about?"
For more information on The Francisco Amare Group, visit their website at http://www.thefranciscoamaregroup.tk or email them at info@thefranciscoamaregroup.tk
About the Author
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Throwing Muses
Throwing Muses - Counting Backwards
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Muses $27.99 Mary Ann Mercer Muses - Art Print |
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Virgil and the Muses $44.99 Virgil and the Muses - Giclee Print |
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Muses and Magpies $39.99 Muses and Magpies - Giclee Print |
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Muses and Apollo $39.99 Muses and Apollo - Giclee Print |
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The Muses and Athena $39.99 The Muses and Athena - Giclee Print |
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Dance of the Muses $109.99 Julius Romanus Dance of the Muses - Framed Art Print |
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Apollo And The Muses $204.99 Claude Lorrain Apollo And The Muses - Framed Art Print |
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Muses I $17.99 Eustache Le Sueur Muses I - Art Print |
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Muses V $17.99 Eustache Le Sueur Muses V - Art Print |
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Minerva with the Muses $34.99 Jacques Stella Minerva with the Muses - Giclee Print |
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Hesiod and the Muses $49.99 Gustave Moreau Hesiod and the Muses - Giclee Print |
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Hercules and the Muses $34.99 Alessandro Allori Hercules and the Muses - Giclee Print |
Breaking a leg still "Good Luck" in Hollywood?
The Short Film "Paging David Cronenberg" stars Veronica Grey and Paul Bubbo. It is 7:23 minutes long, in honor of one of their Hero's birthday - Martin Gore of Depeche Mode, who is born on July 23 or 7/23.
The project was born from several ideas, linked to Martin Scorsese's "Departed" and Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Rings."
Veronica, who has been paying her dues as an actress in Hollywood since her teens in 1996, was in 2006 mentored by a couple named Marc and Elaine Zicree.
In September 2006, The Zicrees suggested that Veronica follow the example set by Elijah Wood, star of megablockbuster trilogy "The Lord of the Rings."
The Zicrees told Veronica that when Elijah heard that Peter Jackson was going to shoot "Lord of the Rings," Elijah (who was relatively unknown at the time) got his friend Sean Astin (supposedly washed-up child actor) and they shot a short film of one of the scenes from the book by J.R.R. Tolkien.
They got the short film to Mr. Jackson.
Long story short, Mr. Jackson, who had intended to originally cast only UK based actors, was so impressed with their efforts that he flew to Los Angeles to meet Elijah and Sean, and the rest is film history.
This story is legendary among actor wannabes in Hollywood, as acting teachers tell this inspiring story in their classes to encourage their students.
Apparently Vera Farmiga did the same thing as Elijah Wood and that is how she got her part in "The Departed" by Martin Scorsese.
Doesn't anyone ever wonder how a relative unknown gets to do love scenes opposite both Leonardo DiCaprio AND Matt Damon?
So the Zicrees encouraged Veronica to pick her favorite director, and get SOMETHING to him, rather than continue "throwing a bunch of work out there randomly hoping something sticks."
Well that was a no-brainer.
Easy.
David Cronenberg. He was born on 3/15, and Veronica on 3/14.
Plus some of her top favorite movies of all time were directed by him:
"eXistenZ," "Scanners," and "Naked Lunch," to name a Few.
And she had had the opportunity to meet him twice in person already.
The first time was in September 2005, at the Getty Center, when Cronenberg hosted a screening of Fellini's "La Dolce Vita" at the Skirball Center in Los Angeles.
Veronica found the film "too long" and left to go wander around in the middle of Skirball.
Who should she bump into in the hallway, where they would be left alone to have a meaningful exchange?
You got it. Mr. Cronenberg. His first words to her were "scolding" her for walking out of the film.
She met him again in January 2006, just a few months later, in Palm Springs, when Mr. Cronenberg was presented with the Visionary Award at the Palm Springs International Film Festival.
So Veronica felt positive that if she created a piece of film, she could get at Least "get it" to him. She kept an eye on Mr. Cronenberg's IMDB page to see what his upcoming projects would be.
"London Fields" by Martin Amis was set to go into production by Muse Productions. Turns out Veronica actually has acquaintances at Muse, since they released "Spun" which was written by her friend Will De Los Santos and scored by her associate Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins.
Veronica was extra excited because Muse Productions is located literally steps from her own townhouse in Venice, California.
And so a short film was born on October 2006, Only One month after the Zicrees suggested it. They took some pages from "London Fields" and added a few homages that only Mr. Cronenberg, or his fans, would "get."
It was never shot with ANY commercial purpose. Simply a labor of love to get to Mr. Cronenberg while allowing divine will to take its course.
Co-stars in the film include Paul Bubbo and Chris DeWolf. It was edited by Roberto Jimenez and Produced by Michael L. Lynch.
On the day of shooting which began at 5am, it was so dark, that Veronica could not see the bottom step and twisted her ankle badly.
She considered it a great omen for "breaking a leg."
So if you watch the film, notice her limping along if you look closely.
Music by Brian Hyland, Billy Corgan, and Madonna are in the short film.
Meanwhile, according to IMDB, "London Fields" is no longer on Mr. Cronenberg's plate, as is the nature of the industry; however, "Paging David Cronenberg" indeed premiered at the Cannes Film Festival 2008 and has brought interesting attention to Veronica Grey.
In the 2007 #1 Album "Zeitgeist" by Smashing Pumpkins, Billy Corgan references this short film in the song "Neverlost" when he sings, "I've seen the film. I know the place." Venice, California happens to be the Place. Not quite Hollywood, but still a good location to break a leg!
About the Author
40 seconds of "Paging David Cronenberg" may be viewed on http://www.myspace.com/3Fifteen.
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Rock Video Monthly: Alternative Releases - May 1995 $7.95 Videos from the following artists: Belly, The Stone Roses, PJ Harvey, Love Battery, Ween, Matthew Sweet, Throwing Muses, Dave Stewart, Certain Distant Suns, Soul Coughing.... |
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