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@helens_zone

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I'm Helen, and I'm here to talk about...life, the universe, and everything in it.

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Until 19 years ago, I'd never heard of Glen Hansard. But then a Producer called David Collins came to do an event at the film school. He was screening and talking about this little indie movie he'd made on a shoe string, in 17 days, in Dublin. He was so passionate about this movie that he was traveling the globe on his own dime to promote it, because he knew the world needed to see and hear Glen and Marketa and the masterpiece they had created. Watching "Once" was a profound, formative moment in my life. It changed the way I saw music. It introduced me to a genre I'd never considered, which led me to the artists i listen to most today. "Once" became a favourite movie, soundtrack, and stage show of mine. This is the opening scene. Enjoy. https://youtu.be/JMqKOt7R_K8?si=i3ta-ycwUuGaSmQg by @helens_zone

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3 months ago

I am so sad to learn of the untimely passing of the incomparable Glen Hansard today. A supremely talented musician, he starred in Irish musicals The Commitments and Once, earning an Oscar for his beautiful song with Markéta Irglová, "Falling Slowly", one of my all time favourite songs. He was humble and he was brilliant. RIP Glen. by @helens_zone

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3 months ago

The Internet sucks.
A young man died. A father. A husband. A really good man, by all accounts. Who also happened to be well known worldwide, because of his job: he was an actor. But not an a list, super wealthy actor. He has a bit of money. He was worth 3 million before he got sick.
But get sick he did. And yes, there was health insurance, but in America that doesn't mean no bills. Patients still pay 20% on average, and that 20% is often hundreds of thousands each time.
James van der Beek was ill for for years, with an aggressive cancer. He and his wife made the decision to use all their money trying to keep him alive for a long as possible, and create memories for their six children.
At the end he was selling off his Dawsons Creek props and costumes to raise money because by that point there were no funds left.
And yet keyboard warriors all over are raging because there's now a fundraiser for the family, at up by their friends. Even though no one is obliged to donate. Cries of "i didn't get a gofundme" even though literallyp anyone can set one up. Cried of "but he's a celebrity!" Like that equals endless wealth. Like he's immune from financial troubles. "They should sell their house. She should go back to work". Yes, she could do those things. But thanks to thoughtful, generous friends and strangers, they won't have to.
And those who aren't raging about the audacity of the family of an ACTOR needing money, are raging because Steven Spielbergs $25k donation wasn't enough. Or because they haven't seen certain celebrity names on the gofundme, never mind all the many large anonymous donations, or the donations or other kind of help provided privately.
Geez, what do people actually have to do to keep these keyboard warriors happy?! by @helens_zone

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8 months ago

In honour of international red panda day! by @helens_zone

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a year ago

Usually I'd be writing a standard "end of year x" post here, as its the last day of the summer term, pontificating about all Charlotte's achievements in the academic year.

However this year has been very different for us, and very difficult. Although Charlotte was diagnosed with adhd 2 years ago, it turns out she's been masking all sorts of other nuerodiverse symptoms which suddenly made themselves known in November last year with the arrival of pre-teen hormones. Alongside this, following a couple of minor injuries, Charlotte developed chronic pain syndrome, which is a neurological condition meaning she feels pain much more intensely than most do, and she now has different degrees of pain every single day.

This school year has been a cacophony of appointments and meetings, physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, occupational therapy, hospital visits, medical tests, and very frustrating CAMHS waiting lists. Charlotte's biggest challenge has been her anxiety, which ramped up through the roof in November and has remained there since then. As a result, the simplest of tasks has become challenging. Our lives have changed drastically. And Charlotte hasn't been in school properly since January.

Its not all bad - she is making steps forward - both physically and mentally - every day, even if she struggles to see it. School have been brilliant, making it possible for her to join her class for key learning daily via teams. She's kept up with the curriculum and not fallen behind at all. And she's currently really determined to get back into school. She WANTS to learn, she WANTS to be with her friends, and she wants to overcome the barriers she has to do this.

In a lot of ways this year has been heartbreaking - watching my bright, bubbly girl lose some of her spark, and become so sad, in pain and fearful. But I do feel hopeful for the future. My girl is still in there, I see more and more of her every day. She's learning coping mechanisms and finding ways to enjoy life, and l know in the end, all this is going to strengthen her as a person hugely.

So here's to the end of year 5, and bring on year 6! by @helens_zone

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a year ago

Fans of Liam Payne: I see you. I feel you.
Because it's been 31 years, and I'm still not over losing this beautiful soul. by @helens_zone

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2 years ago

I’ve been thinking a lot about boyband culture, and indeed the culture of fame in general since the tragic and untimely death of One Direction’s Liam Payne this week.

Anyone who knows we will be aware of my deep love of boybands. I wasn’t particularly a superfan of 1D, growing up in the 80’s and early 90’s my boyband fixations lie elsewhere. But I followed them on the X factor, from those early first auditions to the success they eventually gained. I was excited when the show chose to join them together and create a boyband, and I knew they’d be huge.

But I want to say this: Choosing to act, or sing, or be in a boyband, or whatever it is, doesn't give people free-reign to treat you however they want. Yet that seems to be a very common perception.

No one asks for the crap that comes with being famous/in the media and it can be so hard to cope with. Singers, actors, others in the media - not one of them should have to put up with the treatment they get from the tabloid press and even their so-called 'fans'.

Being in the public eye can be very stressful. It doesn’t matter what kind of day you’re having, if you’re a public figure. You still have to smile at people that approach, wanting an autograph, a picture, a hug, to talk, even if you’re out doing the grocery shop, or to the doctors, no matter what you might have going on in your own life at the time. If you don’t stop and interact, you’re the one in the wrong. You have to put up with the tabloids talking smack about you because - that’s just what the tabloids do. You have to take abuse from strangers online and you’re not supposed to speak back.

Then there’s the people behind the scenes that treat you like a commodity, the managers, producers, directors, record companies, who schedule you to the point of utter exhaustion and then schedule you a bit more, anything to capitalise on your success while it’s hot, with zero thought for your wellbeing. Even if that means sending you to perform on a live TV show when you just found out your 18 year old sister was just killed. Because if you cancel, you’re unprofessional, you can’t do your job, and no one will want you anymore.

CONTINUED IN COMMENTS by @helens_zone

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2 years ago