Catch-all | film, television, pop culture, & nearly everything in-between

Snapshots from Coronado Island

by Julia Van Valkenburg

A few weekends ago I had the chance to visit Coronado Island, just across the water from San Diego, CA. While I intended to get some work done while I was there, it was practically impossible with the near perfect weather and pacific waves calling out to me: just relax…relax…seriously dude, you need to chill… So I ended up getting about 10% of the work done that I...

September 25, 2016

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Culture, Featured, Photos, Travel

Millennials & the Age of Social Media

by Julia Van Valkenburg

For the first time in U.S. history it’s been predicted that the current crop of young-adults (also known as Generation Y or Millennials) won’t be more successful than their parents. As a middle class millennial gal, this information is especially concerning for myself and my peers. Isn’t doing as well as our parents (if not better) the epitome of the middle class, American dream? Our grandparents worked hard to give...

September 21, 2016

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Culture, Featured, Social, Thoughts

Revisiting My Undergraduate Thesis Film

by Julia Van Valkenburg

As I enter my last year of graduate school, I’ve found myself reflecting on my undergraduate years, almost longing for that simpler time. I’m only 25, yet I’ve been feeling far older, like my age is a scary number that keeps getting larger and larger and more overwhelming. But that’s a different story – one that I may return to in a separate post. This...

September 12, 2016

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Featured, Filmmaking, Nostalgia, Short Film, Thoughts

Essential Resources for Media Scholars & Fans

by Julia Van Valkenburg

Whether you study media, teach media, or are just into media – the internet is full of resources. Below is a list of the sites that I use when I’m researching a film or television series, or even putting together a lesson plan for my undergraduate discussion section. Check ’em out, and be sure to share your favorite media studies resources in the comment section below! I’m always looking...

September 5, 2016

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Featured, Movies, TV

The Best Vegan Cooking Shows Online

by Julia Van Valkenburg

If you’ve been following my blog within the past year, you may know that I made the transition from vegetarian to vegan and am loving my new lifestyle. My ability to make this transition is in large part thanks to my sister, who opened my eyes to this compassionate way of living, but I also have the internet to thank. YouTube, in particular, with...

August 28, 2016

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Favorites, Featured, Lifestyle, YouTube

Exploring “Twin Peaks”

by Julia Van Valkenburg

For my final project for CTCS 587: Television Theory, a graduate Cinema & Media Studies course at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts, I elected to do a video essay on Twin Peaks. In “Exploring ‘Twin Peaks'” I take a brief look at the production history of the series, as well as the show’s hybridization of genres. Because this was my first attempt at creating a...

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Featured, TV, video essay

September 8, 2016

Words of Wisdom from the Wisest of Them All, Oprah Winfrey

Today marks the 30th anniversary of The Oprah Winfrey Show, which premiered on September 8, 1986. The series, which is...

by Julia Van Valkenburg

August 14, 2016

Database as Artistic Form

“Database as Artistic Form” is a video project that I completed this past spring for an interactive media course...

by Julia Van Valkenburg

La Filmothèque: An Online Film Library

I recently discovered La Filmothèque, a web-based public domain film library, and I thought it would be a great resource to share...

by Julia Van Valkenburg

6 Great Road Trip Films

When I think of summer, one of the first things that comes to mind is road trips. Exploration, freedom, discovery…rediscovery....

by Julia Van Valkenburg

Tips on Marketing Your Short Film or Web Series

How To Market Your Short Film or Web Series [ and spread the word about your fundraising campaign ]...

by Julia Van Valkenburg

The Decay of Cinema or a New Cine-love?

I recently read Susan Sontag’s “The Decay of Cinema,” published in the New York Times in 1996, for the undergraduate...

by Julia Van Valkenburg

‘Under The Gun’: Examining the Gun Debate

Last week I had the chance to attend the Los Angeles premiere of Under the Gun, directed by Stephanie Soechtig...

by Julia Van Valkenburg

Gender & Representation

A couple of years ago I stumbled across Miss Representation on Netflix, and after reading the film’s description, I decided to...

by Julia Van Valkenburg

Social Media as Social Justice

I haven’t posted in a while because it’s been “one of those weeks” – or more like two. I’ve...

by Julia Van Valkenburg

The Best of Broadly

Today I wanted to post some of my favorite videos from Broadly’s YouTube channel. Broadly is a feminist offshoot...

by Julia Van Valkenburg

My Favorite Quotes from Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s “We Should All Be...

“The person more qualified to lead is not the physically stronger person. It is the more intelligent, the more knowledgeable, the...

by Julia Van Valkenburg

Happy Earth Day!

I’m no scientist, but this I know: if we continue treating our planet without care or compassion, the repercussions...

by Julia Van Valkenburg

Happy International Women’s Day!

Happy International Women’s Day! Historically, women have been erased or excluded from countless professional arenas. This occurrence of exclusion and...

by Julia Van Valkenburg

The Politics of Waiting: Those Who Wait & Those Who Don’t

“…modern society might easily be divided into two classes: those who have to wait and those who don’t,” (Ambient...

by Julia Van Valkenburg

February 15, 2016

Visiting Farm Sanctuary

Farm Sanctuary is a non-profit that is devoted to protecting farm animals from cruelty, while also working to inspire people to...

by Julia Van Valkenburg

January 20, 2016

A Day at Joshua Tree National Park

During the summer before my junior year of college I saved up to buy my very own camera. Other than my...

by Julia Van Valkenburg

Trailers for Some of My Favorite Cult Classics

Published by Julia Van Valkenburg

From magnificent treasures, to movies so bad that they’re good, here are the trailers to some of my all-time favorite cult classics! What are yours? Be sure to share...

September 14, 2016

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Cult Classics, Favorites, Latest, Movies, Trailer

Video of the Day: ‘What is neorealism?’

Published by Julia Van Valkenburg

What is neorealism? by kogonada for Sight & Sound analyzes the differences between Vittorio De Sica’s Terminal Station (1953) and David O. Selznick’s recut of the same film, released in the U.S. as Indiscretion of...

August 24, 2016

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Culture, Filmmaking, Latest, Movies, video essay, VOTD

My Advice for Incoming Grad Students

Published by Julia Van Valkenburg

After completing my first year of graduate school, I jotted down a list of things I had learned and wished I knew before starting my program. While each graduate student’s experience...

August 17, 2016

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Latest, Lifestyle, Thoughts

What Film School Taught Me as a BFA

Published by Julia Van Valkenburg

Though it’s been a little over three years since I completed my undergraduate program at The University of Arizona, I’ve decided to revisit those years in a post about what...

August 12, 2016

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Filmmaking, Latest

‘Little Miss Sunshine’ Turns 10

Published by Julia Van Valkenburg

Little Miss Sunshine was released 10 years ago today, on July 26, 2006. Though a decade old, the film still resonates as a dark comedy about the complications of life at...

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Latest, Movies, This Day In Film

Keep Portland Weird!

Published by Julia Van Valkenburg

During a recent trip to Portland, OR, I spotted the “Keep Portland Weird” mural I recognized from Portlandia, and I was pretty excited (though not excited enough to get a...

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Culture, Latest, Photos, Travel

Embracing Failure

Published by Julia Van Valkenburg

When I first started this blog (once upon a time called juliavanvalkenburg.com, ha!) I wrote a post about embracing failure and why making mistakes is essential to our personal...

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Latest, Thoughts

A Letter to Los Angeles

Published by Julia Van Valkenburg

Dear Los Angeles, I’ve been living in your expansive, complex, beautiful sprawl for over a year now, and it’s been quite a wild ride thus far. In some ways you’ve met my...

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LA, Latest, Lifestyle, Thoughts

Video of the Day: ‘Fighting For Flint’

Published by Julia Van Valkenburg

The Flint, Michigan, water crisis is an immense tragedy that is largely underreported on a national level. What has happened in Flint is an abomination – so why haven’t...

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Culture, Documentary, Latest, Short Film

A Day in Santa Barbara, CA

Published by Julia Van Valkenburg

A few weekends ago I took a day trip with my boyfriend to Santa Barbara, CA, just 80 minutes north of Los Angeles. This was my first time in Santa...

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Culture, Latest, Photos, Travel

5 Essential Food & Agriculture Docs on Netflix

Published by Julia Van Valkenburg

I believe that it is immensely important that we know where our food comes from. Not only is it in our best interest, but it’s our right! These five documentaries listed...

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Culture, Documentary, More Stuff, Netflix

Some Movies That I Simply Can’t Stand

Published by Julia Van Valkenburg

I don’t typically like writing negatively about films (because it takes so much hard work and creativity to make a movie) but I decided to get a little snarky this week...

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More Stuff, Movies

Barrio Viejo, Tucson

Published by Julia Van Valkenburg

Last weekend I was searching through my computer and rediscovered these photos I took in Tucson just a little over a year ago. Before moving to Los Angeles, I tried...

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Culture, More Stuff, Travel

25 Things

Published by Julia Van Valkenburg

Last year I shared 24 things I’ve learned in 24 years. Now, exactly one year later, I’m turning 25, and I’d like to do something just a little different!...

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Favorites, More Stuff, Thoughts

Practicing Self-care

Published by Julia Van Valkenburg

“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political welfare.” – Audre Lorde About a month ago I had an incident that made...

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Lifestyle, More Stuff, Thoughts

8 Social Media Tips for Indie Filmmakers

Published by Julia Van Valkenburg

I think I have a fairly strong grasp on marketing, specifically social media marketing, and how to expand the reach of a creative work or business. Why? In college I...

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Filmmaking, More Stuff, Social, Tips

Revisiting ‘Cowtown Keeylocko’

Published by Julia Van Valkenburg

After graduating from The University of Arizona, I landed a dead-end job that I held onto until I found the courage (and opportunity) to move to Los Angeles. One day...

February 26, 2016

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Culture, Documentary, Inspire, More Stuff, Short Film, VOTD

Watch ‘The Wolfpack’ – A Mesmerizing Documentary That’s Available on Netflix

Published by Julia Van Valkenburg

Directed by Crystal Moselle, The Wolfpack journey’s into the secluded lives of six brothers who had non-traditional upbringings, characterized by a severe lack of connection to the outside world. In order to...

February 17, 2016

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Documentary, Filmmaking, More Stuff, Movies, Netflix, Trailer

50 Facts | Get to Know Me Better

Published by Julia Van Valkenburg

I’ve reached a point where I have no idea what this blog’s identity is, really, other than that I like to write about certain things (in particular, film, television, pop-culture,...

January 28, 2016

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More Stuff, Social, Thoughts

Words of Wisdom from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Published by Julia Van Valkenburg

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?'” “Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.” “The time is...

January 18, 2016

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Culture, Icon, Inspire, More Stuff, Words

Reflections – Politics, Award Shows, & the Words We Choose

Published by Julia Van Valkenburg

Oh life, isn’t it complicated? My spring semester started this week, so I’ve had less time to dedicate to this blog. In getting back to posting, I wanted to write...

January 16, 2016

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Culture, More, Thoughts

A Weekend in San Francisco

Published by Julia Van Valkenburg

I spent last weekend in San Francisco with my boyfriend and wow, did we have a blast! It was my first time in the city and I already knew I’d love it...

January 7, 2016

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Culture, More, Photos, Travel

Ways to Break Out of a Creative Rut

Published by Julia Van Valkenburg

This was originally posted last February, but I’m back in a creative rut and I thought it was the perfect time to revisit it and try to take my own advice! Please share...

December 18, 2015

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More, Thoughts

DIVERSITY in the Words of Ava DuVernay

Published by Julia Van Valkenburg

In this short video produced by TIFF, Ava DuVernay discusses the importance of featuring diverse voices in front of and behind the camera. Not only is film forever, but...

December 6, 2015

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Culture, More, Movies, VOTD

20 Facts on the 20th Anniversary of ‘Toy Story’

Published by Julia Van Valkenburg

Toy Story was released on November 22, 1995, when I was only four years old. As much as my childhood memories are already beginning to fade, I’ll never forget what it felt...

November 22, 2015

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More, Movies, Nostalgia, This Day In Film

Get Off Your Phone

Published by Julia Van Valkenburg

I’m certainly guilty of spending too much time looking at my phone in public, but I’ve decided to make a change. I’m no longer going to use my phone...

November 19, 2015

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Culture, More, Social, Thoughts

Need a Pep-Talk? Here are 15 Quotes to Brighten Your Day

Published by Julia Van Valkenburg

With my first semester of graduate school coming to an end, I’ve been seriously stressed out and my self-esteem has suffered as a result. Whether there’s something going on at work...

November 17, 2015

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Icon, Inspire, More, Words

AFI FEST ’15: A Week of Films, Filmmakers, and Fun

Published by Julia Van Valkenburg

This year marks my first time attending AFI Fest, and my experience was truly one to remember. Festival passes start at $375, but my class schedule only allowed for me to...

November 16, 2015

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Culture, Film Festivals, LA, More, Movies

If You Care About Our Environment, Then You Must Watch ‘Cowspiracy’

Published by Julia Van Valkenburg

As a vegetarian for the past decade or so, I’ve been well aware of the ethical implications of eating meat, but I was never fully educated on the extreme impact animal agriculture...

October 18, 2015

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Documentary, Lifestyle, More, Movies, Netflix

Brief Thoughts on Netflix & Other Streaming Services

Published by Julia Van Valkenburg

In a recent interview with Vulture, Quentin Tarantino voiced his opposition to streaming on a small screen: “It’s just a generational thing, but that doesn’t mean I’m not depressed by it....

September 11, 2015

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More, Movies, Netflix, TV

My High School Playlist

Published by Julia Van Valkenburg

After perusing my iTunes library, which I honestly haven’t used much since high school, I was instantly hit with an intense wave of nostalgia. Music played a humongous role in my high school...

August 29, 2015

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Continued, Music, Nostalgia, Playlist

Yes, I Want to Share Another LA Video

Published by Julia Van Valkenburg

This may be the fourth or fifth time I’ve shared a similar video – one that features swooping images of Los Angeles’ beautiful skyline and an impressive array of...

August 23, 2015

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Continued, LA, VOTD

My 5 Favorite De Niro Performances

Published by Julia Van Valkenburg

If you asked me who my favorite actor is I’d proudly proclaim ROBERT DE NIRO, along with thousands upon thousands of other fans across the world. In each role he fills, De...

August 17, 2015

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Continued, Icon, Movies

Summer of Independence

Published by Julia Van Valkenburg

The summer I attended the Cannes Film Festival and spent three weeks in Italy was definitely the best of my life, but this one turned out to be pretty interesting too. I didn’t see...

August 15, 2015

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Continued, LA, Lifestyle, Thoughts

Crowdfunding Tips for Filmmakers

Published by Julia Van Valkenburg

For many, crowdfunding is an excellent way to fundraise for a short film or web series. For those who are trying it out for the first time, here are just a few tips...

August 14, 2015

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Continued, Crowdfunding, Filmmaking, Short Film, Web series

My Favorite TV Intros of All Time

Published by Julia Van Valkenburg

In no specific order, here are a few of my favorite TV intros of all time. Be sure to share some of your favorites in the comment section below! Freaks and Geeks If...

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Continued, Nostalgia, TV

A Response to Michael Eisner’s Comment That Beautiful, Funny Women Are Hard to Come By

Published by Julia Van Valkenburg

Earlier this week, during a conversation with Goldie Hawn at the Aspen Ideas Festival, former Disney CEO Michael Eisner shared a bit of his insight into Hollywood, stating: “From my position,...

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Continued, Culture, Thoughts, Women's Issues

GRL PWR PLYLST

Published by Julia Van Valkenburg

This playlist is for anyone in need of a little extra girl power in their lives. Enjoy, and please share your favorite anthems of womanhood in the comment section below.

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Continued, Music, Playlist

My Month Working in Beverly Hills

Published by Julia Van Valkenburg

Oh Beverly Hills. So posh. So beautiful. So vapid. Believe it or not, I’m an enormous fan of Bravo’s reality series, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. I’m guilty...

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Continued, Culture, LA, Thoughts

Unsettling & Beautiful: ‘A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night’

Published by Julia Van Valkenburg

I’m not one for reviewing movies, so lets call this a brief one-sided discussion in which you are welcome to join in the comment section below. A few weeks...

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Continued, Movies, Netflix

Revisiting My First Blog: Girl in Cannes

Published by Julia Van Valkenburg

I recently rediscovered my first blog from almost three years ago, Girl in Cannes, and thought it would be fun to share it on Catch*all. I started Girl in Cannes as...

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Blogging, CONT, Film Festivals, Travel

Skid Row & Los Angeles’ Income Gap

Published by Julia Van Valkenburg

Yesterday I showed up to work two hours early, so I originally wrote this post sitting in a coffee shop, drinking coffee and scribbling with my bright red pen in a crisp new...

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CONT, Culture, Documentary, Thoughts

EXPLORING: The Last Bookstore

Published by Julia Van Valkenburg

The Last Bookstore 453 S. Spring St., Los Angeles, CA 90013

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Art, CONT, Culture, LA, Photos

Advocating on the Behalf of Journals Everywhere

Published by Julia Van Valkenburg

I’m a serious advocate for journaling – is that technically a “real” word yet? Let me count the ways… → Writing in a journal allows you to have a conversation...

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CONT, Thoughts

Audre Lorde On Fear, Strength, Living, & Learning From Our Differences

Published by Julia Van Valkenburg

“When I dare to be powerful – to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.” “It...

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CONT, Culture, Icon, Inspire, Words

10 Facts About Francis Ford Coppola on His Birthday

Published by Julia Van Valkenburg

1. Francis Ford Coppola was born in Detroit, Michigan on April 7th, 1939, but grew up in a New York suburb. 2. When he was young he caught polio,...

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CONT, Facts, Filmmaking, Icon

First and Final Frames: A Side-By-Side Comparison

Published by Julia Van Valkenburg

This beautiful short film cuts together the first and last shots of several iconic films. Some of my favorite comparisons include Birdman, Her, The Black Swan, Gone Girl, Taxi Driver,...

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CONT, Movies, VOTD

Exploring Gender & Race On-Screen

Published by Julia Van Valkenburg

When I graduated in 2013 and started this blog, I began to watch films more critically and evaluate them with a strict sense of what a film is meant to...

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CONT, Culture, Movies, Thoughts, TV

Who Says It Has to Be Modest? A Feminist Perspective on the Bikini

Published by Lacey Bonham

The following is a response to Jessica Rey’s speech regarding bikinis. Please watch the video here prior to reading: In her speech, Rey basically argues that when going to...

January 26, 2015

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CONT, Culture, The Feminist Futon, Women's Issues

Keep Your Eyes on Your Own Paper

Published by Julia Van Valkenburg

In a roundtable interview with the Hollywood Reporter, Laura Dern said that when her third grade teacher told her to keep her eyes on her own paper, it was the greatest...

December 8, 2014

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CONT, Thoughts