The new clothes are worn in, the pencils are duller, binders are starting to fill with notes, and assignments are jotted down in agendas; that’s right, school is now in full force. Students are now adjusting back into the school routine and getting to know their teachers; whether good or bad, school is now in session.
Throughout my studies (and I am still in school), the best teachers I have ever had were in high school. It is in high school where I met teachers completely devoted and passionate about their career. Although not every teacher I had fit this description, the majority of them did. I had a drama teacher that fought tooth-and-nail for a better classroom to perform, a writer’s craft teacher who quoted lines from his favourite short stories, and a math teacher who explained numbers so that even the most mathematically challenged students-myself included-could understand the equations. I have been so fortunate throughout high school to have teachers that not only love the subject they teach, but care about their students’ success.
The most amazing teacher I ever had throughout high school was my history teacher. Mr. R, who also taught the anthropology, sociology and psychology class, not only got the students interested about the subjects he taught, but got them excited about learning. Mr. R’s forte was history. He is the only person I’ve ever met who eats, sleeps and breathes it. In grade 11, students built giant wooden shields inspired by the Romans, grouped together, and then the grade 12’s tried to attack us. When I entered Mr. R’s grade 12 history class, besides getting my turn to attack the grade 11’s, I got to dress up in uniform and fight in a war reenactment. Strange, I know, but every single grade 12 in Mr. R’s history class had the most amazing time. Mr. R and his wife, along with some history students, meticulously sewed the costumes for every single student. He worked tirelessly. To him, teaching was more than just a paycheque, it was his passion.
Now that I’m in university, I look back on high school and miss my favourite teachers. I’ve had a few good teachers in university, but none like those high school teachers that sewed costumes all weekend, performed silly imitations of the elderly, congratulated us on our accomplishments, and giggled when we performed drama skits. I miss the teachers that came to work with a bright smile on their face because they loved greeting tired, angst-ridden teenagers in the morning; I miss the teachers that got excited over new assignments, and wrote long comments about each students’ work because they wanted them to learn.
My teachers in university just aren’t the same. They don’t care the way high school teachers do, and I miss that. Assignments must be completed by deadline, regardless of whether you have the tools necessary to complete them. I came to university to learn, and in many classes I have learned a lot. But in some classes, I’ve just felt frustrated and overwhelmed. But that’s university for ya, and that’s what high school teachers always warned us about. I guess I thought I could avoid the frustration, the stress, and the burden, because I have thus far. But, in my third year of university, it has finally hit me. I guess I can’t avoid the unavoidable.
The good thing to come out of my frustration? A spot in my heart for the amazing teachers-and fantastic guidance counsellor-I had in high school. I miss them, especially on those bad days when nothing is going right with school assignments.
So, in an ode to amazing teachers everywhere; whether it be elementary, middle, high school or even post secondary educators, I’ve listed three heart-warming movies featuring fantastic people enlightening the minds of our future. The quality is poor because the movies are dated, but all three are worth a trip to Blockbuster.
Ever since watching him spin doctor his way through sticky situations as a representative for the tobacco industry in Thank You for Smoking, I’ve been a fan of Aaron Eckhart. The films Eckhart stars in have a very distinctive quality about them, one that borders between a dark comedy and drama. Although Eckhart has been the leading character in a number of films, most recognize the actor for his role as Harvey Dent in The Dark Knight. It’s hard not to notice the talent this actor possesses when his character reveals the burnt side of his face at the end of The Dark Knight, but many of his films fly under-the-radar.
Newly released Love Happens, starring Aaron Eckhart alongside Jennifer Aniston and Martin Sheen, is a film about a man who lies for a living. It may sound like Thank You for Smoking, but it’s not. Burke Ryan is the best-selling author of A-Okay, a self-help book for those recovering from the loss of a loved one. He writes about the death of his wife, how attending her funeral helped him heal, refuses to drink alcohol, and overall, how he has moved on from tragedy to lead a very happy and successful life. There’s only one problem, not one ounce of this is true. But Ryan isn’t doing speaking engagements and furthering his brand for fame or fortune, he really does just want to set things right.
Burke Ryan meets flower shop owner Eloise at his hotel, where she provides the flower arrangements, but their relationship is really a side story to Ryan’s professional mess. Yes, the promotional posters show Aaron Eckhart and Jennifer Aniston looking all lovey-dovey in front of the Seattle Space Needle. And yes, the film is titled Love Happens. And yes, every commercial for the film portrays it as a romantic comedy. But, Love Happens is really a film about moving on, not only from death, but from our mistakes. It is a more mainstream Eckhart flick, but fans of his are sure to love it!
To me, Thank You for Smoking is what put Aaron Eckhart on the map. I didn’t recognize the actor from his role as George, Julia Roberts’ love interest in Erin Brockovich, but after watching Thank You for Smoking, I’ve become a devoted fan. Nick Naylor (Eckhart), a lobbyist for the tobacco industry, hangs out with the representatives of alcohol and guns, comparing notes on how many people died of what he represents each week over a meal. They call themselves the M.O.D. Squad, a.k.a. “Merchants of Death” Squad. He spin doctors everyone into agreeing that tobacco isn’t that bad-including a talk show featuring the health association and a teenage boy with cancer-and is quite content with his life. But when Naylor’s son comes to visit, he begins to question everything he’s always defended for money. Thank You for Smoking is a satire that questions money over morals and the important things in life.
Aaron Eckhart is a fantastic actor that can portray a person’s subtleties in dark comedies. He never overacts and always fits a character like a glove. I’m looking forward to him taking on a role very different from his successful businessman portrayals, when he reprises his role as Harvey Dent, who is now Two Face.
I love entertainment. I love the glitz, glamor and drama of the industry. I thrive on television, film, music, novels and everything pop culture. I do hope to work in entertainment, however, I am actually studying hard-hitting real journalism.
I attend Ryerson University, a school that has produced journalists who work at the CBC, Globe and Mail, and the Toronto Star among many other media. Everyday I enter classes that encourage me to be ruthless but kind, a go getter, thirsty for information and fearless. And although journalism teachers are training students to enter a newsroom floor ready to photograph the inhabitants of a crack house, interview the mother of a murdered child, and cover a dramatic court case; it is also training me to enter the world of entertainment journalism, because there is nothing more cut throat than the entertainment industry.
I love journalism. I respect hard hitting news journalists who cover a gory story without batting an eyelash. I grew up watching 20/20 and was fascinated by the stories of deceit, murder, abuse, and the absurd equally as much as I loved the latest celebrity interview with Barbara Walters. As much as I want to be an entertainment journalist, I still would love to do a little hard-hitting news on the side.
Perusing the shelves of books at Indigo, I came across Bridget Harrison’s memoir Tabloid Love: Looking for Mr. Right in All the Wrong Places. The memoir chronicles the life of Bridge Harrison after she moves to New York City on the exchange program from London. Her four-month gig at the New York Post turns into years when Bridget falls in love with the City That Never Sleeps. The premise of the memoir is about Bridget’s tumultuous dating life in New York, however, the book is really about working as a newspaper reporter. Although Bridget writes a dating column in the Post, she also works as a reporter, traipsing across the city trying to get a scoop. From boiling subway stations to a mother who just lost her son, Bridget must race to get her quote. Just like Barbara Walters’ Audition (which I highly recommend) is actually about her personal life, Bridget Harrison’s Tabloid Love is actually about working as a reporter. Tabloid Love is not a great book. Heck, it’s not even a good book; but for those pursuing a career in journalism, it really gives you a glimpse into that world.
For those pursuing a career in journalism and looking for a medium outside of television and newspaper, there is a fantastic website called MediaStorm. The winner of two Emmys, MediaStorm features incredible audio slideshows. Audio slideshows are photographs to audio edited together in a slideshow, which creates a documentary on various subjects. Founded by the Missouri School of Journalism in 1994 and relaunched in March 2005, MediaStorm pieces have appeared on PBS and the websites for MSNBC, Reuters and NPR. The pieces are an incredible cross between art and journalism and are sure to inspire anyone interested in journalism, photography, film, and documentary.
Documentaries have been gaining in popularity. Love him or hate him, a lot of that has to do with Michael Moore. While he is biased and not always accurate, Michael Moore has managed to bring documentaries to the mainstream. Although most documentaries have gone under-the-radar, the success of Moore’s films have created more opportunities for other documentary film makers. Capitalism: A Love Story is Moore’s latest film, covering the financial crisis in America.
