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Original Poetry by: Maria Cieslarczyk “Zodiac” The stars spoke to me, assured me that it is not a feeble-hearted thing To have been immersed with the duality of mankind And obsessed with our silly human standards of success That the flames don’t burn when you lick them, Drooling out from the soft corner of your…
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By: Maria Cieslarczyk TW: Mentions of Human Trafficking, Sweatshops, and Exploitation Last night, I attended a work-sponsored movie premiere for Enrique Santos’ new film City of Dreams (2024). While my colleagues and I had seen the trailer, nothing could’ve prepared me for the intense emotions that rippled through my body during the course of the…
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By: Maria Cieslarczyk Quite recently, I finished reading Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa (translated by Eric Ozawa) and my heart was at peace. This feeling did not come from knowing what was coming next, but in finding comfort in the (oftentimes confusing yet humbling) present moment…which is exactly what the novel is…
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By: Maria Cieslarczyk The Sunday morning of June 30th , I was lucky enough to attend a Sundance Film Institute x Choose Chicago partnership event that took place right in my city. The program included panels and Sundance Film Festival screenings all weekend long throughout Chicago (from Friday, June 28 – Sunday, June 30). The…
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By: Maria Cieslarczyk Toho Studios and Robot Communications’ action/sci-fi film Godzilla: Minus One (2023) is not only a re-telling of the timeless monster tale; it is at the forefront, an Asian-focused story that delves into the themes of war, found family, and redemption. The film won a 2024 Oscar for the Best Visual Effects Category…and…
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By: Maria Cieslarczyk I’ve always loved the power of story-telling…as a Filipina-American who immigrated to the US when I was only two years old, stories were always at the forefront of my identity. I spent my entire childhood listening to my Lola Elsie share tales in Tagalog around our kitchen table, imagining places and people…
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By: Maria Cieslarczyk Times have changed in Hollywood, and as an Asian-American, my soul is ablaze with excitement and determination. As filmmakers and film viewers, the integrity of our craft has evolved dramatically in the past hundred years, with a pressing need for diversity and inclusion at the forefront of this artistic progression. A mega…
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By: Maria Cieslarczyk Last year, I published an article for Thought Catalog on how you’re never too old to chase your dreams, and one year later, I can only humbly re-emphasize that point. Who ever said high school or college is your peak was dead wrong. Although the blessings of lifelong friends and stepping into…
The Filmscape Reverie 