Happy Birthday Chris Pine? (Or Epic Post of Self-Wank is Epic.)
It’s not that I don’t wish the man a fantastic 29th birthday, full of fun and friends and family. I do, most ardently; boy totally deserves it. It’s just that I can’t believe I’m even doing this. My even saying that, my even knowing when his birthday is, my even caring enough to make this rambling, incoherent LJ post, is utterly baffling to my brain. Utterly and devastatingly. You have no idea.
Because I AM NOT THAT GIRL. You know the girls I mean, the crazy ones who obsesses over some prettyboy celebrity, someone who learns when their birthday is and scours the news for info on what they are up to and what projects they have in the works, someone who freaking reads Just Jared just for new paparazzi photos (because paparazzi, while filing a service that people undoubtedly want, are doing so at the expense of the well-being, peace of mind, and even sometimes the life of the people they are taking photos of, and choose to not care, therefore are the spawns of Satan.) Well, guess what, somewhere within the last few months I have somehow become THAT GIRL - I have somehow become an utterly devoted fan of Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto - and while I can’t stop being this and don’t think I want to, it somewhat devastates me and who I thought I was.
Because while that’s fine for a fourteen year old girl, someone at my stage of life, in their later twenties and is seeing the wheels creaking inexorably towards the ominous age of 30 (which in Utah years just means shoot yourself in the head NOW, you will never find a man), who is college educated, has a real-person job and life and interests, should be more mature, right? Should be over crazy crushes on random people they don’t know? I mean, I’m the age my MOM was when she got married. I should have my adult face almost formed now. So how can I be squeeing over two celebs I know like someone half my age, like a ridiculous Twihard or Jonas Brothers groupie? (Full disclosure: I fully admit to all the not-quite-so-grown-up habits I have and will probably always retain on some level; I am fully aware that I am not quite as grown-up as I like to think I am. But still, there are boundaries of inane behavior, people, and I can’t tell when exactly I crossed it and if there is a way to get back to where I was and if I would even take it if presented with the chance.)
Let’s just say it’s been a crazy year for me. A lot of the things I’ve always used to define myself are slowly breaking dissolving and becoming something new, something better, but infinitely stranger. Some of that is my own making, my own desire, and some has snuck up on me without warning. Star Trek was definitely one of those sneaky things; I never expected that shortly after my birthday, I would see a movie that would capture my imagination so intensely, surprise and exhilarate me, and dramatically reshape and restructure the things I always believed about myself.
Because I am not a Trekkie. At least I wasn’t at the beginning of this year. Never have been, never wanted to be, and never assumed anything would ever force me onto the horrifying path of becoming one. I suspect this has to do with a bit with my geek/nerd complex; I am one, sure, everyone is on whatever subject they are truly passionate about, whether it be design or sports or art or movies or writing or electronics or indie music or hipster tees or wherever their interests lie. I don’t apologize for the things I love, but I am a little bit in the closet about a few of those things, depending on the audience; my desire to write and illustrate stories with Elicia “When We Grow Up,” history, design, anime, even my Mormonism in select circles. I hold the things I love close to me, even more so if I believe someone might trample over them with their grubby boots of ignorance or disdain. (It’s an admittedly crappy defense mechanism, but it’s mine; leave me be.) So I can become at times somewhat uncomfortable about the nerdy things I love. But Star Trek was this whole other level of geeky bizarreness that I couldn’t contemplate, could not even fathom in its mad epicness in the world of fangasm and fantasy. It was something I could always point to at my low points and say, hey I may be an uber nerd, but at least I’m not so far gone as to be a Trekkie! (I’m sorry how snobbish that sounds, but that was my thinking. It was to make me feel better, not as a real putdown to the nice, energetic, devoted fans of the franchise.) But then JJ took a baseball bat to the franchise, and rebuilt it with the screenwriters and designers and composer and the actors into something exciting and beautiful and moving and real. And surprisingly, I completely, utterly adored it. Loved loved loved. It took all the things I loved about storytelling and put them into one movie. And since them I have become this weird, alien creature who has seen the movie 5 times and hunts down the cast interviews and pics on YouTube and who is hunting in vain for the screenplay and the songs not on the soundtrack and who is watching TOS to get the subtle details and jokes that were lost on me. And I’m thinking that makes some strange new world of Trekkie, to have such people as myself in it, and having to redefine myself is both frightening and freeing. Life is so freaking odd.
And ultimately, Chris and Zack, Kirk and Spock, have been a huge part of that as well. They have become my new crack, or Chrach if you will. I loved them in the roles, and the more I uncovered about the people behind the roles the more I loved them too. I have always been deeply dismissive of those who hold people like athletes or celebrities or public figures on pedestals; it’s so fake and they always find a way to disappoint you in the end. So while I like to think I haven’t carved pedestals or them yet, I do deeply admire them, and hope they continue to amaze and delight me in the many things they will choose to do over the years. If I’m honest with myself, it’s kind of exhilarating and exciting to have those youthful endorphins come rushing back through my body again from squeeing over someone; it’s nice to know I can feel that deeply, that emotionally, that spontaneously again, even if it is over two celebs who don’t know me from Adam. The last celebrity I felt this way for was Heath Ledger; who I admired like crazy and whose death was a very, very shocking punch to the gut. I’ve missed caring for a celebrity with this intensity; most I’m apathetic about now, as they do bizarre things and become jerks or whatnot. The list of celebs I actually respect is a short one. But these two are at the top right now.
(Another disclosure: it’s also nice to see two handsome people, years older than me, obviously relaxed about things and seemingly in no rush to settle down. Are just enjoying lie and what they have. Helps calm down that voice in my head muttering about sell-by dates.)
So Chris, Christopher, Captain Fine, Chris Fine, Princess Whitelaw, any and every name you and your fans recognize you by, happy freakin’ birthday! Here’s is a top ten list of the things I love about Chris Pine, in honor of the day. (And don’t freak Zach fans, will do one for him eventually I’m sure.)
::
Ten Things I Love About Chris (as a fan who does not know him in real life)
1) Has a glorious head on his shoulders
No, BEHIND the glorious baby-blue eyes, people. Boy is obviously fiercely smart in real life. Is often shot by the paps with newspapers in tow (and hopefully not just doing it as research for Farragut North!) Was an English major at Berkeley, which can be code for slackerdom, but he has an amazing vocab in interviews so I’m thinking not. He has said he likes a girl who does crossword puzzles; saying smart is sexy? I hope so, because I feel the same way and admire people who do. Two words: Sacrosanct. Moribund. Boy who uses those in interviews and can hold his own with a fellow word geek has my attention.
http://www.truveo.com/star-trek-exclusive-chris-pine-and-zachary/id/1999318526
2) Is a complete thesp geek
I have a weakness for a man who can appreciate the beauty and magic of live theatre. And Chris has that in spades. His mom taught theatre and he got to help her; it sounds like she instilled in him this love for it. He has done several theatre jobs, and wrapped up one just a month or so ago at the Geffen, to rave reviews (and which I hope beyond hope he gets to reprise in the movie adaptation.) And doesn’t just perform in them, he goes to see a lot of theatre as well. Also, he wants to play both the beefy roles (Brando) but desires to be a character actor as well (Peter Lorre.) In short, my kind of man. =)
3) The Epic Bromance of Epicness that is him and Zachary Quinto
They have possibly grown apart in the time since the long press tour for Star Trek and settling into their lives and upcoming projects; they could no longer be friends or even be speaking. I have no special knowledge of where their friendship stands. But for a brief, shining moment, there was the Star Trek press tour, and the epic bromance of two intelligent, beautiful men who obviously enjoyed each other’s company. And the shoulder bumping and sideways glances and side hugs on the red carpets. And it was glorious.
Some good links to much interviewage: http://credulesque.livejournal.com/95428.html
4) Is completely realistic about the business
My biggest fear with any actor I like is that they will allow themselves to get chewed up and spit out by the industry. That it will change them, take the things I love about them and utterly corrupt them. But with Chris I am less worried than I normally would be. His parents were both actors and I have no doubt they raised him with no illusions about the pitfalls of Hollywood. From what I can gather from things like his GQ interview, he has seen people like Lindsay Lohan, tons of money but in this crazy celebrity thing, and wants as little of that in his life as possible. I also read something about his days working in a restaurant, and how that has made him appreciate his acting jobs, even when it can get tedious and inane. And he is even taking acting classes still, still honing his craft when he could totally start slacking off if he wanted and justify it in his mind. In short, as of now I like the way he is thinking.
http://www.backstage.com/bso/content_display/news-and-features/e3i4031fc1b18a4c6b4f09f261f7493dafe
5) The sense of humor
Boy is funny; that is clear in the interviews. And it also comes out in the Kirk role, magnificently. A quick wit, often times self-deprecating, which is fun to watch.
6) His big ol’ blue eyes (among other things)
Yeah, about those blue eyes. Oh my goodness. If nothing else, Chris has helped dispel somewhat my usual dislike of blue eyed, blond haired prettyboys. ( I usually like them tall, dark, and handsome.) But those eyes; how can you not stare into those eyes and think, wow, pretty. I dare you. =)
7) The crags on the left side of his face (among other things)
Okay, since I just rambled on about his physical perfections, let’s talk imperfections. I absolutely adore the scars on the let side of his face. (He has said he had bad acne when he was younger; a remnant of that? Or some cool Harrison Ford-like scar?) If I tried to vocalize why, I think it might be that he has such a unique combination of delicate features on such a masculine face; the scars give some humanity to his features, break him free of the plastic beauty his face could have (the kind his face gets when he is overphotoshopped, for example.) Plus he also has skinny little chicken legs, which I find hysterical and equally endearing.
8) Can go from grubby to gorgeous in 3.5 seconds
The geek glasses! The plaid! The basketball shorts! The clogs! Dude can rock the grub, but somehow make it work. Then he gets decked out for events and is absolutely stunning. The stripes! The vests! The hair! The matchy matchy with Zach! The wedding cake suit! The GQ summer spread! Well played, my boy, well played.
9) The loyalty
Likes staying with the people that has helped him in his career, which I admire. Stays in touch with people, like when he got together with his costar in Fat Pig to hang out; probably didn’t have to, but did. A good quality I hope he holds on to.
10) His paparazzi face
Oh, words cannot describe my adoration of the face he gets in paparazzi pics when he’s just realized they are there. It’s like you can see him saying in his mind: Wait, is that….are they….taking photos of me??? Crap, they totally are! Son of a $%&@! =) It cracks me up every time.
::
My fave places for Chris Pine (and also Star Trek) info:
http://justjared.buzznet.com/tags/chris-pine/
http://community.livejournal.com/ontd_startrek/
http://chris-pine.org/
http://pinto_fic.livejournal.com (No, NOT FOR RPF, which is just so creepy and wrong I can’t even talk about it. They have good updated info sometimes, and pics.)
Okay, that’s the end of my ridiculously long post. Liz Out!
Because I AM NOT THAT GIRL. You know the girls I mean, the crazy ones who obsesses over some prettyboy celebrity, someone who learns when their birthday is and scours the news for info on what they are up to and what projects they have in the works, someone who freaking reads Just Jared just for new paparazzi photos (because paparazzi, while filing a service that people undoubtedly want, are doing so at the expense of the well-being, peace of mind, and even sometimes the life of the people they are taking photos of, and choose to not care, therefore are the spawns of Satan.) Well, guess what, somewhere within the last few months I have somehow become THAT GIRL - I have somehow become an utterly devoted fan of Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto - and while I can’t stop being this and don’t think I want to, it somewhat devastates me and who I thought I was.
Because while that’s fine for a fourteen year old girl, someone at my stage of life, in their later twenties and is seeing the wheels creaking inexorably towards the ominous age of 30 (which in Utah years just means shoot yourself in the head NOW, you will never find a man), who is college educated, has a real-person job and life and interests, should be more mature, right? Should be over crazy crushes on random people they don’t know? I mean, I’m the age my MOM was when she got married. I should have my adult face almost formed now. So how can I be squeeing over two celebs I know like someone half my age, like a ridiculous Twihard or Jonas Brothers groupie? (Full disclosure: I fully admit to all the not-quite-so-grown-up habits I have and will probably always retain on some level; I am fully aware that I am not quite as grown-up as I like to think I am. But still, there are boundaries of inane behavior, people, and I can’t tell when exactly I crossed it and if there is a way to get back to where I was and if I would even take it if presented with the chance.)
Let’s just say it’s been a crazy year for me. A lot of the things I’ve always used to define myself are slowly breaking dissolving and becoming something new, something better, but infinitely stranger. Some of that is my own making, my own desire, and some has snuck up on me without warning. Star Trek was definitely one of those sneaky things; I never expected that shortly after my birthday, I would see a movie that would capture my imagination so intensely, surprise and exhilarate me, and dramatically reshape and restructure the things I always believed about myself.
Because I am not a Trekkie. At least I wasn’t at the beginning of this year. Never have been, never wanted to be, and never assumed anything would ever force me onto the horrifying path of becoming one. I suspect this has to do with a bit with my geek/nerd complex; I am one, sure, everyone is on whatever subject they are truly passionate about, whether it be design or sports or art or movies or writing or electronics or indie music or hipster tees or wherever their interests lie. I don’t apologize for the things I love, but I am a little bit in the closet about a few of those things, depending on the audience; my desire to write and illustrate stories with Elicia “When We Grow Up,” history, design, anime, even my Mormonism in select circles. I hold the things I love close to me, even more so if I believe someone might trample over them with their grubby boots of ignorance or disdain. (It’s an admittedly crappy defense mechanism, but it’s mine; leave me be.) So I can become at times somewhat uncomfortable about the nerdy things I love. But Star Trek was this whole other level of geeky bizarreness that I couldn’t contemplate, could not even fathom in its mad epicness in the world of fangasm and fantasy. It was something I could always point to at my low points and say, hey I may be an uber nerd, but at least I’m not so far gone as to be a Trekkie! (I’m sorry how snobbish that sounds, but that was my thinking. It was to make me feel better, not as a real putdown to the nice, energetic, devoted fans of the franchise.) But then JJ took a baseball bat to the franchise, and rebuilt it with the screenwriters and designers and composer and the actors into something exciting and beautiful and moving and real. And surprisingly, I completely, utterly adored it. Loved loved loved. It took all the things I loved about storytelling and put them into one movie. And since them I have become this weird, alien creature who has seen the movie 5 times and hunts down the cast interviews and pics on YouTube and who is hunting in vain for the screenplay and the songs not on the soundtrack and who is watching TOS to get the subtle details and jokes that were lost on me. And I’m thinking that makes some strange new world of Trekkie, to have such people as myself in it, and having to redefine myself is both frightening and freeing. Life is so freaking odd.
And ultimately, Chris and Zack, Kirk and Spock, have been a huge part of that as well. They have become my new crack, or Chrach if you will. I loved them in the roles, and the more I uncovered about the people behind the roles the more I loved them too. I have always been deeply dismissive of those who hold people like athletes or celebrities or public figures on pedestals; it’s so fake and they always find a way to disappoint you in the end. So while I like to think I haven’t carved pedestals or them yet, I do deeply admire them, and hope they continue to amaze and delight me in the many things they will choose to do over the years. If I’m honest with myself, it’s kind of exhilarating and exciting to have those youthful endorphins come rushing back through my body again from squeeing over someone; it’s nice to know I can feel that deeply, that emotionally, that spontaneously again, even if it is over two celebs who don’t know me from Adam. The last celebrity I felt this way for was Heath Ledger; who I admired like crazy and whose death was a very, very shocking punch to the gut. I’ve missed caring for a celebrity with this intensity; most I’m apathetic about now, as they do bizarre things and become jerks or whatnot. The list of celebs I actually respect is a short one. But these two are at the top right now.
(Another disclosure: it’s also nice to see two handsome people, years older than me, obviously relaxed about things and seemingly in no rush to settle down. Are just enjoying lie and what they have. Helps calm down that voice in my head muttering about sell-by dates.)
So Chris, Christopher, Captain Fine, Chris Fine, Princess Whitelaw, any and every name you and your fans recognize you by, happy freakin’ birthday! Here’s is a top ten list of the things I love about Chris Pine, in honor of the day. (And don’t freak Zach fans, will do one for him eventually I’m sure.)
::
Ten Things I Love About Chris (as a fan who does not know him in real life)
1) Has a glorious head on his shoulders
No, BEHIND the glorious baby-blue eyes, people. Boy is obviously fiercely smart in real life. Is often shot by the paps with newspapers in tow (and hopefully not just doing it as research for Farragut North!) Was an English major at Berkeley, which can be code for slackerdom, but he has an amazing vocab in interviews so I’m thinking not. He has said he likes a girl who does crossword puzzles; saying smart is sexy? I hope so, because I feel the same way and admire people who do. Two words: Sacrosanct. Moribund. Boy who uses those in interviews and can hold his own with a fellow word geek has my attention.
http://www.truveo.com/star-trek-exclusive-chris-pine-and-zachary/id/1999318526
2) Is a complete thesp geek
I have a weakness for a man who can appreciate the beauty and magic of live theatre. And Chris has that in spades. His mom taught theatre and he got to help her; it sounds like she instilled in him this love for it. He has done several theatre jobs, and wrapped up one just a month or so ago at the Geffen, to rave reviews (and which I hope beyond hope he gets to reprise in the movie adaptation.) And doesn’t just perform in them, he goes to see a lot of theatre as well. Also, he wants to play both the beefy roles (Brando) but desires to be a character actor as well (Peter Lorre.) In short, my kind of man. =)
3) The Epic Bromance of Epicness that is him and Zachary Quinto
They have possibly grown apart in the time since the long press tour for Star Trek and settling into their lives and upcoming projects; they could no longer be friends or even be speaking. I have no special knowledge of where their friendship stands. But for a brief, shining moment, there was the Star Trek press tour, and the epic bromance of two intelligent, beautiful men who obviously enjoyed each other’s company. And the shoulder bumping and sideways glances and side hugs on the red carpets. And it was glorious.
Some good links to much interviewage: http://credulesque.livejournal.com/95428.html
4) Is completely realistic about the business
My biggest fear with any actor I like is that they will allow themselves to get chewed up and spit out by the industry. That it will change them, take the things I love about them and utterly corrupt them. But with Chris I am less worried than I normally would be. His parents were both actors and I have no doubt they raised him with no illusions about the pitfalls of Hollywood. From what I can gather from things like his GQ interview, he has seen people like Lindsay Lohan, tons of money but in this crazy celebrity thing, and wants as little of that in his life as possible. I also read something about his days working in a restaurant, and how that has made him appreciate his acting jobs, even when it can get tedious and inane. And he is even taking acting classes still, still honing his craft when he could totally start slacking off if he wanted and justify it in his mind. In short, as of now I like the way he is thinking.
http://www.backstage.com/bso/content_display/news-and-features/e3i4031fc1b18a4c6b4f09f261f7493dafe
5) The sense of humor
Boy is funny; that is clear in the interviews. And it also comes out in the Kirk role, magnificently. A quick wit, often times self-deprecating, which is fun to watch.
6) His big ol’ blue eyes (among other things)
Yeah, about those blue eyes. Oh my goodness. If nothing else, Chris has helped dispel somewhat my usual dislike of blue eyed, blond haired prettyboys. ( I usually like them tall, dark, and handsome.) But those eyes; how can you not stare into those eyes and think, wow, pretty. I dare you. =)
7) The crags on the left side of his face (among other things)
Okay, since I just rambled on about his physical perfections, let’s talk imperfections. I absolutely adore the scars on the let side of his face. (He has said he had bad acne when he was younger; a remnant of that? Or some cool Harrison Ford-like scar?) If I tried to vocalize why, I think it might be that he has such a unique combination of delicate features on such a masculine face; the scars give some humanity to his features, break him free of the plastic beauty his face could have (the kind his face gets when he is overphotoshopped, for example.) Plus he also has skinny little chicken legs, which I find hysterical and equally endearing.
8) Can go from grubby to gorgeous in 3.5 seconds
The geek glasses! The plaid! The basketball shorts! The clogs! Dude can rock the grub, but somehow make it work. Then he gets decked out for events and is absolutely stunning. The stripes! The vests! The hair! The matchy matchy with Zach! The wedding cake suit! The GQ summer spread! Well played, my boy, well played.
9) The loyalty
Likes staying with the people that has helped him in his career, which I admire. Stays in touch with people, like when he got together with his costar in Fat Pig to hang out; probably didn’t have to, but did. A good quality I hope he holds on to.
10) His paparazzi face
Oh, words cannot describe my adoration of the face he gets in paparazzi pics when he’s just realized they are there. It’s like you can see him saying in his mind: Wait, is that….are they….taking photos of me??? Crap, they totally are! Son of a $%&@! =) It cracks me up every time.
::
My fave places for Chris Pine (and also Star Trek) info:
http://justjared.buzznet.com/tags/chris-pine/
http://community.livejournal.com/ontd_startrek/
http://chris-pine.org/
http://pinto_fic.livejournal.com (No, NOT FOR RPF, which is just so creepy and wrong I can’t even talk about it. They have good updated info sometimes, and pics.)
Okay, that’s the end of my ridiculously long post. Liz Out!