Hello February
February is upon us and we have just about settled into the New Year. It may be the shortest month but the team here at Rianne Pictures have a big pick and mix of recommendations to fill your time with! Grab your notepad, snuggle into a blanket, and jot down some of our suggestions for the month. But first, hear from Caris on what we have been up to at RP so far in the new year…
WHAT ARE WE UP TO?
Well, January wasn’t exactly the fresh start we were hoping for, less than a week into the new year, and we were hit with a new lockdown. It’s safe to say, this one is certainly much harder than the last. But we’re hanging in there and making steady progress on our 2021 plans for Rianne Pictures and ensuring our team members are kept connected during this isolated time. I know I’ve felt lonelier this time around and knowing you have a support unit is a comforting factor.
January saw the end of our application process for RP:Evolve, we were overwhelmed not only by the number of applications that we received but also the quality of stories and passion that were shared with us from aspiring filmmakers. The scheme kicks off in March for our lucky mentorees and due to the popularity of the scheme, we’ll be back in the Summer opening applications again! We’ll also be advertising places for our workshops for a very affordable fee too, so look out for those!
We’re very close to securing our venue for Women X 2021. Planning a festival during another lockdown isn’t the easiest, but it’s something for us to look forward. If things go ahead with our venue post lockdown it will be an exciting challenge, if we’re under the same circumstances as now, we look forward to welcoming everyone online again with some fresh new ideas for both our guests and our filmmakers. Submissions are still open until June too if you’re looking for a home for your short film this year!
Over at RP: Editorial in January we interviewed some of the incredibly talented female filmmakers at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, where they opened up about the transition to virtual festivals and how the pandemic has affected their careers over the past year. You can catch up on those interviews here. I also wrote a piece about easing ourselves into the new year, which is still relevant now…as it feels like December never really ended.
Not Having It All returned with an episode on High School Musical, can you believe it’s been 15 years since Troy Bolton entered our lives? We have our third birthday for the podcast coming up and they’ll be a nice little online event celebrating it that you can be a part of, so watch this space. If you’re not following us on Spotify yet, help us out and hit that button!
We're also joining forces with Screen Queens again for a horror watch-a-long, all in celebration of Women In Horror Month! Just click the link here to register.
Now back over to Sophie for your monthly recommendations.
Caris x
TV SHOWS
The Serpent - BBC
The Serpent - BBC iPlayer
Currently showing on BBC iPlayer is crime drama, The Serpent, the story of serial killer, Charles Sobhraj, and the tourists he murdered in Thailand in the 1970s. Emily has just finished it and recommends it - not only for the gripping story but for the wardrobe envy of Jenna Coleman’s character, who wears fantastic 70s suits, blouses and sunglasses!
The X Files - Amazon Prime
A classic favourite, Meghann has recently gotten super into The X Files again and has been loving seeing her boyfriend’s reactions as he watches it for the first time! Starring the incomparable Gillian Anderson, the show follows two special agents as they investigate paranormal and supernatural cases. If you haven’t yet started, consider this your nudge to begin (I’m seeing it as mine!) as all seasons can be found on Amazon Prime.
Pretend It’s a City - Netflix
Pretend It’s a City - Netflix
Available to watch on Netflix, Pretend It’s a City is a limited series from Martin Scorsese, where he explores the New York City streets with writer, Fran Lebowitz. Des highly recommends the series - it made her very nostalgic for New York (particularly since we can’t travel right now) and she, along with Rachel who joined the team a couple of months back, adores Scorsese’s wild, infectious laughter in every scene!
The Great - Channel Four
If you’re in the mood for period dramas, The Great is a wonderfully satirical one currently airing weekly on Channel Four (you can also catch up on demand). The show stars Elle Fanning and follows Catherine the Great’s rise to power in 18th Century Russia. Emily is currently watching and greatly enjoying it - particularly that it claims to “occasionally” be historically accurate!
Spinning Out - Netflix
Spinning Out - Netflix
Pearl has recently finished Spinning Out on Netflix, a show about ice skating starring Kaya Scodelario as a figure skating hopeful Olympian. It was sadly cancelled after the first season but it’s still worth checking out - it sensitively depicts many realities of bipolar disorder.
Bridgerton - Netflix
Oh one does enjoy a period drama once in a while when one is not promenading for marriage. Caris has finally jumped on the Bridgerton train after much pressure from the rest of the team and she’s enjoying the ridiculousness of things along with the classical renditions of modern pop songs.
Films
To All the Boys: Always and Forever - Netflix
To All the Boys: Always and Forever - Netflix
Fan of the first two films in the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before franchise? Well the third one is set to be released on Netflix on the 12th February so set yourself that reminder! Neha, a self-confessed stan of Lana Condor (who plays lovable protagonist, Lara Jean), is hyped for the newest and final adaptation of the wonderful young adult books of the same name by Jenny Han. If you want some light, teen films to brighten your month, definitely check these out.
Fat in Film - Instagram
Not a film specifically but a fantastic Insta account to highlight fatness in film! Fat in Film, created by film industry gem Grace Barber-Plentie, is a wonderful account, showcasing positive representations of fat characters in films. It’s respectful, fun, and it brings me joy whenever I see a post - follow Fat in Film here! Grace also set up a Letterboxd list containing all the films featured so far on the account.
Podcasts
All these podcasts can be found on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or various other podcast platforms - check the link in each paragraph to find exactly where to listen.
The Renner Files - RedCircle
The Renner Files - RedCircle
Focusing on the disastrous app by Jeremy Renner, The Renner Files is a short podcast investigating everything to do with the app and how it all went so horribly wrong! Despite not being interested in fan apps or Jeremy Renner in general, Jade listened to every episode in a day and describes it as riveting, hilarious, and a masterpiece. What more do you need to entice you?
Moody’s Pod
Short form podcasts can be so brilliant and Courtney is loving one at the moment called Moony’s Pod! The show is led by hosts Erin and Nick who revisit Moody’s Point, a segment of Nickelodeon’s The Amanda Show which was a playful spoof on melodramatic dramas like Dawson’s Creek. A fun little nostalgic ride to strap yourself into - check it out here.
My Dad Wrote a Porno
My Dad Wrote a Porno
You’ve most likely heard of this since I’m pretty sure it is one of the biggest podcasts in the world but I cannot recommend it enough! In case you haven’t heard of it, My Dad Wrote a Porno is a podcast where Jamie Morton, along with his two friends James Cooper and Alice Levine (who I adore!), reads out some terrible erotic fiction his dad has written under the ridiculous pen name, Rocky Flintstone. It’s honestly hilarious and I have cried laughing at it before now! It’s my go to for escapism. The sixth series (each series is based on a new book) is out in May so now is the perfect time to start if you haven’t yet.
Dr. Death - Wondery
This pod can get a little graphic but if you’re interested in the story then it’s worth it. Ashton has been listening to seasons one and two of Dr. Death which focuses on telling true stories of horrific malpractice by various doctors. It’s heartbreaking and scary to hear the stories of those who were affected by these crimes. Check it out here on Wondery’s site.
Music
Waitress: Original Broadway Cast Recording
Keep Trying - Lauren Bird
Are we recommending our favourite artist, Lauren Bird (who just so happens to be part of the team), again? Yes! Her latest single was released late last month and is named Keep Trying - it’s beautiful and highlights the unattainable standards placed upon us. You can listen to this song and the rest of her wonderful music here! Our founder Caris also put together her music video too, starring some familiar furry friends…
Waitress: Original Broadway Cast Recording
If you’re stuck in the Winter blues and waiting for Spring, or if you just want to have a little sing and dance, then get yourself listening to the Waitress musical soundtrack! It is my absolute favourite musical and I cannot stop listening to it lately (or ever to be honest). Definitely makes me miss the theatre but also fills the void a little. It’s hard to choose favourites but The Negative, Never Getting Rid of Me, and Opening Up are fantastically fun and What Baking Can Do and She Used to Be Mine are the ones to sing dramatically to yourself. The whole album is delightful, whether you’ve seen the musical or not.
Books
I will be linking to the publishers or author’s website for each book - if you can, please consider buying these books (and others) from your local independent bookshop to support them!
The Shelf - Helly Acton
Our first book recommendation of the month is The Shelf by Helly Acton. Set in a game show where recently dumped women have to ‘compete’ to be the best, Ashton describes it as a little cheesy but also great to see women being friends and not taking any crap from men! Find out more about the book here.
Sorry Not Sorry - Naya Rivera
Sorry Not Sorry - Naya Rivera
Fans of our podcast won’t be shocked to hear this recommendation is from Caris! Sorry Not Sorry by Naya Rivera is her first foray into audiobooks and she is finding it amazing to hear Naya’s stories firsthand, told with such wonderful energy. Naya outlines her childhood and teen years as a child star as well as looking to the future, which is heartbreaking to read now. Interesting, funny, sad - Sorry Not Sorry is a wonderful autobiography whether you’ve always been a fan or just want to read her story.
Highway of Tears - Jessica McDiarmid
Alina is currently reading the heartbreaking non-fiction book Highway of Tears by Jessica McDiarmid. It’s about missing and murdered Indigenous women along Highway 16 in British Columbia, Canada. The book is an exploration of why Indigenous women are more vulnerable. Although the author herself is not Indigenous, the book is endorsed by Indigenous communities that live along the highway. A difficult read but important and Alina believes it is a very well crafted novel from the journalist.
Great Ape Journal
If you fancy a funny read then look no further because Neha has got you covered! Great Ape Journal is a literary journal for absurdist humour and issue two is out now, available here. It’s such a fun, unique and quirky read that you will thoroughly enjoy and be recommending to everyone you know! Submissions for issue three are open now and close in April so if there are any writers out there with funny pieces, give it a go and submit!
Games
The Sims 4 Paranormal Stuff - Credit to EA
The Sims 4 Paranormal Stuff - EA
Caris is a die hard fan of The Sims (no judgement, we love it) and had to include the newest expansion pack, The Sims 4 Paranormal Stuff in Hello February. This pack has fantastic new features - you can take your Sims to a haunted house, take part in a séance, and become a ghost hunter. It’s some nice, silly fun to distract you from the real world. You can find out more and buy the pack here.
Two Point Hospital - Two Point Studios
If, like me, you played (and loved) the fantastic Theme Hospital on PC as a kid then I have the perfect recommendation for you! Two Point Hospital is very similar in many ways to it’s predecessor, Theme Hospital, and has all the nostalgia of the original but with better graphics, more levels and tasks, and loads more ridiculous ailments (the very punny Jest Infection, Mock Star Syndrome where you look and act like Freddie Mercury, Lightheadedness but you have a light bulb for a head). I’ve been playing it on Nintendo Switch whenever I have spare time and have raved about it to everyone I know so it had to end up on this list!
Other
“The Mediocrities of A24” YouTube Video - Yhara Zayd
Sometimes, you just can’t beat a good YouTube video and Pearl has a wonderful channel recommendation. Yhara Zayd makes fantastic analytical video essays about films and TV and a recent one that Pearl enjoyed is titled “The Mediocrities of A24”. Check out this video and the rest of her channel here.
Martha Brook - Stationery Shop
Martha Brook is a favourite stationery shop of both myself and Caris! They have recently announced a new product, which is a life planner. It’s perfect if you are looking for something cute to keep your ideas and appointments on track. Plus, it comes in three colours!
