How do you identify burnout? What do you do when you are in the midst of it?
Cinematic Considerations: Going Varsity in Mariachi
Plot: “In world high school mariachi, musicians from South Texas reign supreme. Under the guidance of coach Abel Acuña, the captains of Edinburg North High School team must turn shoestring and diverse, inexperienced musicians into state champions.” -IMDB
Review: Documentary films possess a rare ability to reveal worlds and characters you never knew existed. Going Varsity in Mariachi introduces a unique high school competition to a new audience. By doing so, we step into a fresh experience that reveals the magic embedded in this approach to filmmaking.
Co-Directors Sam Osborn and Alejandra Vasquez focus our attention on the competition and the bandleader. We get background information on a select few students. In my opinion, I would have loved to know these students more deeply. Outside of practice and competitions, I believe this expansion of roles and backstory would have provided a more emotionally rich film.
What we learn about these students feels like only glimpses into their personal lives. We grow to understand the sense of belonging and responsibility provided by belonging to this band. But even these glimpses center on preparation for competitions. I wanted to care more deeply about these humans who are dedicating themselves to something larger. I believe this level of understanding would have made their wins and losses so much more profound.
The filmmakers choose to have the competitions serve as the emotional focal point for this film. In these spaces, we see these students unravel the deeper meaning of losing. We see competition provide adult lessons. And we see them grow, wrestle with second chances, and aspire to greatness. The act of competition provides a level of intimacy that helps this film rise above its shortcomings.
Ultimately, this is a film about the joy of playing music together and working toward a common goal. Along the way, the students learn, and we witness the power music possesses to convey emotion. If that was the primary goal of the filmmakers, I think they achieved their aim.
Be good to each other,
Nathan
Visit Nathan at
Bears of a Certain Age with Scott and Jonny Episode 13
Welcome to “Bears of a Certain Age,” the lifestyle podcast for the bear and chub communities and their admirers, who are approaching 50 years young and up. Your Co-Hosts are Scott Fullerton from the Left of Str8 Radio Network and Jonny Shuffield from The Queer Centric. Scott and Jonny have both been entertaining the lgbtq community thru their own podcasts for a combined 20 years, and Jonny has been an entertainer and host for many lgbtq events beyond that.
We are at our 13th episode that was uploaded on October 25, 2023
We very much want this to be a listener driven show, so we are asking our audience to submit questions for our “Ask The Bears” segment; submit “Bear Hugz” for people who deserve a little public praise; Tell us about their favorite things for our “Bear Necessities Segment; and any other goofy puns that Scott can think up. Submit everything to podcastbears@gmail.com
We hope you will enjoy this episode and on YouTube, will click the little bell to get notified for future episodes. We will be up every Wednesday and will also be available on Spotify, iTunes, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, iHeart Radio, and more. Please “SHARE THE BEARS” with your friends and please give us a Thumbs Up or a 5 Star Rating so more people will be able to find us. You can follow our social media at “@bearsofacertainage” on Instagram, Threads, and Tik Tok, and look for our website soon.
(VC)The QueerCentric EP 53: Duck E. Loveless (Your Emotional Support Clown)
Join Jonny as he sits down with the Northwest’s only emotional support clown, Duck E. Loveless! This amazing performance artist talks all about the intersection of drag and clownery, the beginning of their journey and even….did you know you can be a licensed clown? There’s a lot here, so sit back, put your makeup on and let’s GO!
The QueerCentric EP 53: Duck E. Loveless (Your Emotional Support Clown)
Join Jonny as he sits down with the Northwest’s only emotional support clown, Duck E. Loveless! This amazing performance artist talks all about the intersection of drag and clownery, the beginning of their journey and even….did you know you can be a licensed clown? There’s a lot here, so sit back, put your makeup on and let’s GO!
The QueerCentric is the companion podcast to the popular digital magazine of the same name (www.thequeercentric.com ). This is a place to go beyond the pages, to talk about what is happening around us and to have meaningful conversations about the World and culture as it affects the LGBTQ+ people. The magazine was only one step in uncovering our voices again. It is important to step up and speak out, for as the World has proven, we cannot afford to be silent even for a minute. Who said we can’t have fun along the way!
Mindful Mondays: Coping Tool Box Review
What have you learned over the past weeks as we built our coping toolbox? What is your favorite tool? What are some you use that we did not mention?
Bears of a Certain Age with Scott and Jonny Episode 12
Welcome to “Bears of a Certain Age,” the lifestyle podcast for the bear and chub communities and their admirers, who are approaching 50 years young and up. Your Co-Hosts are Scott Fullerton from the Left of Str8 Radio Network and Jonny Shuffield from The Queer Centric. Scott and Jonny have both been entertaining the lgbtq community thru their own podcasts for a combined 20 years, and Jonny has been an entertainer and host for many lgbtq events beyond that.
We are at our 12th episode that was uploaded on October 18, 2023 We very much want this to be a listener driven show, so we are asking our audience to submit questions for our “Ask The Bears” segment; submit “Bear Hugz” for people who deserve a little public praise; Tell us about their favorite things for our “Bear Necessities Segment; and any other goofy puns that Scott can think up. Submit everything to podcastbears@gmail.com We hope you will enjoy this episode and on YouTube, will click the little bell to get notified for future episodes. We will be up every Wednesday and will also be available on Spotify, iTunes, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, iHeart Radio, and more.
Please “SHARE THE BEARS” with your friends and please give us a Thumbs Up or a 5 Star Rating so more people will be able to find us. You can follow our social media at “@bearsofacertainage” on Instagram, Threads, and Tik Tok, and look for our website soon.
The QueerCentric EP 52: Jeremy Whittington
We are BACK at Lunarium in Spokane, WA with special guest Jeremy Whittington! Grab some tea, sit back and get to know this creative powerhouse. We all have a story, a path that leads us where we are at this moment, and every story is worthy. As Jonny always says “If our voices held no power, they wouldn’t try to silence us, indeed the most powerful weapons any of us have are the breath in our lungs and the stories we possess. Tell your story.”
The QueerCentric is the companion podcast to the popular digital magazine of the same name (www.thequeercentric.com ). This is a place to go beyond the pages, to talk about what is happening around us and to have meaningful conversations about the World and culture as it affects the LGBTQ+ people. The magazine was only one step in uncovering our voices again. It is important to step up and speak out, for as the World has proven, we cannot afford to be silent even for a minute. Who said we can’t have fun along the way!
(VC)The QueerCentric EP 52: Jeremy Whittington
We are BACK at Lunarium in Spokane, WA with special guest Jeremy Whittington! Grab some tea, sit back and get to know this creative powerhouse. We all have a story, a path that leads us where we are at this moment, and every story is worthy. As Jonny always says “If our voices held no power, they wouldn’t try to silence us, indeed the most powerful weapons any of us have are the breath in our lungs and the stories we possess. Tell your story.”
Mindful Mondays: Laughter is a Powerful Tool
Bringing you yet another tool for your coping toolbox. Holly Meginniss and Jonathan Shuffield talk about the amazing power of laughter.