The online shop has added new products, including plus-size t-shirts. These plus-size shirts are for all three styles of Dorothy Parker shirts. Check them out!
With Youtube taking off and being part of the pop culture, it was only a matter of time before Dorothy Parker was part of it. But instead of just uploading (and not legally) clips of Jennifer Jason Leigh from Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle, some rising filmmaker's have taken their own creative look at the medium. So I was very pleased to hear from Layla Collins in Ireland, who sent me the link to her own Parker video. It is her take on "Inscription for the Ceiling of a Bedroom" on Youtube. Here is the clip, followed by a short Q&A:
Where are you from, what do you do, and how did you learn about Dorothy Parker?
I am from Dublin, Ireland. I am currently studying Multimedia Design which incorporates, web design, graphic design, animation, and short films. But under my other personna I am a signer-songwriter with my sister Jessie. We have an album called 'Kinetic' which has just been released in the U.S. by Kramer on Second Shimmy.
I can't remember the first time I heard about Dorothy Parker, but the time I really became interested in her and her work was after I saw the film Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle.
What does Dorothy Parker mean to you?
I found the story of her life very moving and inspirational, but it was her poems that really intrigued me. Her command of language and rapier wit is something I really admire. Although she is quite well known amoungst certain people, I think she is still somewhat under sung. She was ahead of her time in so many ways, as an independent, free spirted, highly intelligent woman who did not suffer fools gladly. In this time of over blown celebrities and superficial talent she is still someone who shines through with great intergrity and style.
Why did you choose "Inscription for the Ceiling of a Bedroom"?
I chose it firstly because I love the poem. It condenses so much into so few lines, something she is a master at. Secondly the poem has a particular resonance for me as I have suffered from chronic Fatigue/ME for over 10 years so I know a lot about being trapped in bed!
How long did it take you to produce your video?
It took about 2 weeks altogether, I found the recording of her reading the poem from the Dorothy Parker website, I then had to take the photos (in my friend Jennie's beautiful house, she is also a Dorothy fan!). I edited the photos in college and composed the music, put it all together in Final cut pro, and spent quite a while editing and re-editing.
What is next?
At the moment I am working on projects in Web design/graphic design, but I hope to make another short piece in the next few weeks......Oh yes and still trying to find time to write songs for the next album!
Last July we had a house tour and cocktail party at Dorothy Parker's former home in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. See the photos here. Well the $3.8 million dollar estate (on 20 acres) is still on the market. The real estate broker has now turned to Youtube to submit a photo slide show, narrated of course, of the home. Have a look.
The Walking Tour will be held on Sunday, despite the weather. If the snow is over your knee, then it will be cancelled, and we will stay in the Algonquin Hotel lobby and drink copious amounts of cocktails.
Otherwise, the walk will continue, beginning at Noon. Hope to see you there.
Check out this new widget that Random House has unveiled. It allows you to browse inside books and see sample pages and chapters. Users can blow them up to large size for easy using. There also is a very cool tool that lets Web site users put the code directly onto their blogs. I tried it out for the New Yorker series of books (many about cartoons) and they have quite a few. So far there are no other publishers that are doing this so well, and quite as cool. Hats off to Random House for such a technological wonder! Now when will the others such as Penguin and HarperCollins follow suit?
This is another cool one. Wow. Such a great tool for web site owners.
