Why You Should Maybe See "The Road" but I Can't

The Road novel ruined my Christmas vacation.

But every American who does or will eventually vote, must read this book or, at last resort, see the film opening November 25.

Two years ago I received a copy of the novel as a Christmas present. My gift–giver and I only knew that it was an Oprah book and we loved The Poisonwood Bible and respect Toni Morrison and the other authors that she has recommended. (The books in her club are not fluff).

Had some quiet down time on vacation, so I figured I’d read the first few chapters and save the rest for my subway rides to work the following week.

I finished it in four hours, never taking a break, and probably holding my breath the whole time.

Upon finishing it, I cried. I felt changed.

I felt scared for my children.

I felt afraid for the world.

Cormac McCarthy’s depiction of what would happen if civilization suffered from (some unnamed) disaster was so detailed, so plausible, such a speaking-out-loud of what I, as a child of the cold war and no-nukes was too scared to think–through so fully, that it just devastated me.

The book pulled all the situations and scenarios and images that I kept in the back in the farthest corner of my head, under locks and keys.

Oh-no-he-didn't! Yes, McCarthy went there.

THIS IS NOT A DISASTER ADVENTURE NOVEL. Maybe the film will be, but the novel is an intense story of a father and his son who love and care for each other through most extreme circumstances. There is a fleeting story of a wife/mother’s-love, albeit obviously expanded in the movie so that there can be a significant female character cast with an A-list actress (Charlize Theron).

But this is, beyond the tragedies, a heart-warming story of father of son. McCarthy has put on a human face, pulls you in, walks along the road with the main characters, makes it deep. Makes you care.

Makes you think.

It’s depressing as hell.

When the 2008 Presidential race kicked into full gear, I prayed and wished that every candidate would read The Road. I wished that every American citizen of voting age read the book before Election Day. All terrorists. It would have changed the world–view of some of them.

I hoped Oprah gave the Obamas a copy. Maybe they have read it.

[Deep sigh here]

I never thought anyone would be able to make a movie version of this novel.

That’s not entirely true.

I never wanted a movie version to be made.

In spite of my wanting everyone to read the novel, I wanted to protect everyone from not reading the novel. A film version would be too much. I didn't want to dredge up those raw fears again, that I had worked hard to fight back into the farthest corner of my mind, and put back under locks and keys.

I wouldn't want to subject my children to it. It would make them feel less safe in the world.

But you and your older teens should.

Now, to the film, which happens to open not only when the weather begins mimic the climate in the novel, it’s also sadistically–near to the holidays.

As with every person who is disappointed by the movie version of a favorite novel (Eragon the movie is so horrible that all copies should be burned and remade; Eragon the book is a revelation), of course there are doubts about making The Road. The casting of the main male character (no characters have proper names in the novel) — Viggo Mortensen — is perfect. The son is played by Kodi Smit-McPhee. A tough part. Other cast members include Guy Pearce and Robert Duvall (bless him; Duvall is one of the most brilliant actors ever). The director, John Hillcoat and adapter of the screenplay, Joe Penhall, are from Australia and the the U.K., respectively, and not well–known in the U.S.

I hope the filmmakers haven't just exploited the titillating and sensational aspects of the story and forsaken its heart, its never–ending senses of love and hope.

In spite of my struggle with two conflicting emotions/opinions (should or shouldn’t), logic prevails and I recommend everyone take a journey on some version of The Road.

But you most likely not see me there again.

LaGuardia HS of the Arts Dance Audition Info

Here’s the deal on the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts dance audition process, as told by the head of the dance department to a friend of mine:

BRING: bring Pens for writing the essay. Please bring drink and food because people who are auditioning for multiple talents will be there all day.

Wear: Leotard, tights, ballet slippers. Boys wear close–fitting tees and dance tights or tight sweatpants — they need to see the line of your leg and body. No baggy clothes.

Important – Strategy: Go to Music/Vocals first because they take the least amount of time. Arrive a 8am sharp and get them over–with. Do Dance and/or Drama last; it’s a longer process. Art is definitely at least two hours because of the drawing–from–memory assignment. Those auditioning for more than two studios may need to come back.

Audition: Dance Students go upstairs in groups of 20’s or 25’s to fill out forms, write a short essay. Students take a mini ballet class and then a mini modern class. Once done, DO NOT LEAVE. Wait to receive a paper with instructions from the head of the dance department.

Scoring: They have specific quantifiers and standards and they are looking at body alignment, technique and performance. ONE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE THIN. She said that those who become professional ballet dancers after graduation will be thin, but Broadway and modern, etc dancers do not have to be thin.

They are looking for passion for movement, flexibility and strength. She said call her if one wants more details on the quantifiers and standards.

Experience: They take children with no experience; however they could reject some children who have been studying dance since they were 3 years–old IF they have had bad training. They can teach those who know nothing but they can't un-teach and re-train those who learned all wrong. Too late. They're not impressed by experience. And forget anyone put on pointe before the age of 11.5 years old. Bones were not developed.

(Frank Sinatra HS of the Arts only takes those with at least a year of experience and knowledge of basic terminology.)

Return Visit: they don't call it “call backs” because it’s not for narrowing down prospects. At the end of the first audition, kids may get a paper from the dance head telling them to come back in a couple of weeks. The call backs are for when they could not decide. A child will be admitted even if they only do the first group audition. Don’t read any more into whether or not one is asked to return or not.

Return Audition: will have a more extensive and demanding ballet and then modern class. You will then do a 1–minute solo using whatever techniques you do best: even karate, gymnastics, ethnic, pointe, hip-hop. They are looking for musicality. BRING YOUR MUSIC CD; no dancing without music. The solo will be done in front of three or five faculty plus the other students in the group. The scorers could stop you half–way so PUT YOUR BEST MOVES IN THE FIRST 30 SECONDS!

Note to Hip–Hop dancers: are asked if they are aware they will only learn ballet and modern in the school and that there is no jazz or hip–hop. They are asked if they are okay with that.

Do not Bring: photos, resumes, recommendations. They will be tossed without looking at.

Parents: Leave the students at the theater. Parents can go up to one of the cafeterias for PTA bake sale and chatting with PTA members. Go shopping. Go to an early movie (if auditioning for more than one studio). Go out for a meal.

Results: 85 will be accepted for 60 seats; 60–66 will likely enroll. No waiting list. Out–of–towners auditioned in the summer. Tours only after acceptance.

Second Chances: One can audition again in the 9th grade, or switch from another studio for 10th grade if already in LaGuardia. She said the other schools (ie Sinatra, Talent Unlimited) can enroll kids at any time.

If NOT Accepted: 1,500 audition for dance. The department head can give out names of other schools to which to apply once decisions are made.

SCHOOL LIFE

WARNING: she stressed that no one should audition if they are not really interested in their talent, for they will get discouraged by sophomore year. It’s that intense. The goal of the school is to turn out dancers/musicians/artists ready for professional career or Juilliard. Only 1/3 go on to academic colleges to be doctors, lawyers, business, engineers; the rest move onto conservatories or arts colleges.

So if you don't really love your art, and love it every day, don't audition for LaGuardia — and Frank Sinatra HS, for that matter.

Freshman Life: Arrive at 8:10am. They take one academic class followed by four periods of talent. Lunch is next (approx 12:30pm). The rest of the day is academics. School ends at 3:50pm. Freshman year is the toughest because there are so many academic requirements. It’s in the academic classes where they get to meet other types of students (and boys, since only 20% of dancers will likely be boys, not that the other talents are any better).

Dance Freshman are split into two groups and take ballet based on experience in a placement test. That’s why newbies are admitted even though they don’t know the terminology. All teachers have/had danced professionally themselves for at least six years.

AP/Honors Classes: The dance head was annoyed that because of the City budget cuts, the talent departments were cut but the academics were saved. (I wonder if all the talent heads have this peculiar twisted thinking). So LaGuardia is still offering all the AP classes. There is also the DaVinci Honors program for excellent students.

Dancers will learn: ballet, modern, tap, choreography, pointe, nutrition, career management.

Performing Opportunities: as a Conservatory school, no dance performances until the Junior year’s choreography course showcase. Then there is the Senior Showcase in February and the Graduates concert. Otherwise, they are there to study dance, not waste time in rehearsals. “If you want to perform, go somewhere else,” she said.

Summer Assignments: every student MUST take summer courses, somewhere, either at their neighborhood dance school or in the City. The dance head can help arrange for free summer courses through Paul Taylor, NYC Dance Alliances, ABT and Ballet Hispanico based on financial aid status.

Outside Dance Classes: Freshman should NOT take outside weekday dance classes. The academics are too rigorous. They can take weekend classes during the school year, as long as grades don’t suffer.

(According to the Frank Sinatra dance head, students are encouraged to take outside classes if they want to really become professional dancers. Just two hours in-school is not enough.)

That’s it!

High School Admissions Peril Part IV

It Begins.
Some of you may have already conducted interviews (Beacon) or have taken assessment tests (Bard), but the Peril really doesn't start until November 7 and 8.


The Specialized High School Admission Test (SHSAT) takes place this weekend for students without accommodations. Until early December, 28,000 hopeful students will vie for approximately 5,000 seats in eight different schools in the boroughs.


Also, thousands of artful-leaning students begin vying for 600 spots at LaGuardia HS this weekend (who're the rocket scientists that scheduled these two events the same weekend?)


Good luck.


Remember, just do your best, and rank your favorite schools with the highest–required cutoff score as your first choice on the sheet, even if that isn't your real first choice. And be sure to end your list with a school that has the lowest cutoff score, even if you're not interested in it.


There are two reasons for this strategy. 


First look at the approximate cutoff scores of the October 2008 test:

          Stuyvesant - 563
          Bronx Science - 515
          American Studies at Lehman College - 502
          Queens Sciences - 502
          Math, Science and Engineering at City College - 498

          Brooklyn Tech - 487<

          Staten Island Tech - 485

          Brooklyn Latin - 475

Let's say if, in 2008, because you're hesitant about traveling to Manhattan or because you're pessimistic about not scoring high enough, you put Brooklyn Tech first, then Stuyvesant second. The results came in and your score was 569.

Do you know where you would be admitted?

Brooklyn Tech.

Suppose you realized the commute to Stuy wasn't so bad, or you're so pleasantly surprised about how well you did, do you think you can call the DOE and get switched into Stuy, your 2nd choice?


Nope.


This is why the accepted strategy is to put the school requiring the highest score first. All the schools have rigorous, impressive curricula, but you should always aim high.

Second Reason:

It is becoming widely known that students who are accepted to SHSAT schools and LaGuardia hear about not only their specialized high school choice, but also learn which non-specialized school has accepted them.


How this works – specialized high schools send out letters in February. There's a deadline to accept the offer, but it's before the other schools send their notices, which is usually late March. Can't make a decision unless one knows all the offers on the table, can you?


Thusly, those students who are accepted to a specialized HS also receive notices from the other schools in February — a month ahead of everyone else. It is not clear if these students are getting special treatment or if the majority of decisions are made by February, but only SHSAT-takers/LaGuardia auditioners learn the results earlier.

A perk for doing well-enough on that test/audition.

Either way, rank the high ones highest and stick a low one at the bottom of the list. Please note that Brooklyn Latin is an excellent school; it's the reputation of the neighborhood (Bushwick) that keeps some families away.

The whole HS selection process does not seem fair or logical. Perhaps because there are just not enough really good schools that can turn out really good, smart kids. Not enough seats in good schools. So the current New York City HS selection situation is NOT a Great Idea.

Election Day — Exercise Is Good For You

Kids, we all know from the year 2000 election that it's important to get out to vote, no matter what.

Every vote does count.

Considering that even up to 1965, around when most of your parents were born, there were Americans who were prevented from voting, you'd think that every person would line up at 6am at the polling place to make sure their voice is heard.

Voter tampering and intimidation still occurs; it did not end in the 60's.

Sometimes, we Americans get complacent and assume the "other guy" will vote the way we want. Well, whenever there is a close election, they are proved wrong.

Primaries count, also, for whoever wins the primary will be on the final ballot in November. Someone who did not vote in the primary will step into the voting booth on Election Day and say, "how did these people get on the ballot? I don't like him/her!"

Well, those candidates got on the ballot because a small number of people came out to the primary election exercised their right to vote.

So, in case you didn't know, today's Election Day. If you're of age and registered, go out and exercise your precious right to vote. Exercise is good for you.

Walk into that booth thinking of the countries that restrict women — yes, in this day.

Think of countries where violence and intimidation prevents certain ethnicities — yes in this day; see Afghanistan and Iraq for the most recent examples.

Think of the parts of our very own country where there are still accusations of people being told lies to stop them from voting: if their utility bill was not paid, or the district was redrawn and the voting location moved across town, or the date was changed (!), or the machines don't work, or their picture will be taken when they enter/exit… lots of overt and covert shenanigans still occur in the U.S.

I'm forming a new motto: "Vote. If people want to prevent you from doing it, then it must be important. Vote."

And kids, register as soon as you turn 18. Pre-fill out your voter registration forms and mail them to arrive the day after your birthday. It's your right.