BuzzSugar

Buzz In: What Books Do You Think Would Make Good Movies?

BuzzSugar — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 08:30:08 PDT

There are constantly news of books being adapted for film, and some are great ideas while others make me wary. There are loads of bad adaptations (remember Suburban Girl based on Melissa Bank's The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing? Yeah, most people don't.) and a few examples of the opposite (The Jane Austen Book Club made for a better movie than book, in my opinion).

So while the risks are high, the results hit-or-miss, Hollywood consistently turns to the bookshelf for new ideas. What stories have you been able to easily envision on the big screen? I have always thought the epic page-turner I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb would make a great movie (and apparently there's one in development, but details are vague). Also, earth to Hollywood: Jennifer Weiner's Good in Bed would make a great movie with a relatable protagonist - and it already has a fan base to boot. So what is the hold up? I know Jodi Picoult's novel My Sister's Keeper is being adapted, though I also think Vanishing Acts would translate well to screen. Finally, the whole time I was reading Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, I could see it played out as a movie - though it would need a director with a brilliant, artful eye.

What books do you think would do well on the silver screen?

Source

Foods That Can Make You Look Pregnant

Shape — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 04:29:06 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Shape here on FitSugar.

Over the weekend, I saw a photo of a female celebrity (who is in a relationship with a male celeb) leaving a café with the caption, "Baby bump?" and I had to refrain myself from shouting out loud, "Come on, can't a girl eat without the world thinking she's having a baby?!"

The truth is having a perfectly flat stomach all the time just isn't normal. After you eat or drink, food and liquids naturally expand your stomach and intestines, so at least a little "bump" is inevitable every single day. So if you regularly get stalked by paparazzi or you have family members who are anxiously awaiting news of a new addition, here's the lowdown on when you might get mistaken for being pregnant:

See which foods may make you look pregnant after the break!

What to Expect When You're Expecting Set Visit: Elizabeth Banks on Her Fake Bump and Personal Baby Joy

Becky Kirsch — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:05:11 PST

Some of the biggest names in Hollywood will share the big screen in the upcoming comedy What to Expect When You're Expecting, which follows different mothers-to-be as they prepare for the arrivals of their bundles of joy. Cameron Diaz, Brooklyn Decker, Anna Kendrick, and Elizabeth Banks are among the famous ladies who strapped on fake baby bumps to portray different kinds of pregnant women, and Banks's character, Wendy, doesn't exactly have an easy time of it.

I visited the Atlanta set of the film last year, where Banks was shooting a climactic scene in which her character addresses all the woes of pregnancy - in an auditorium with a rather large audience. The hilarious meltdown, which you can see in the opening of the trailer for What to Expect When You're Expecting, includes harsh truths like "I'm calling it: pregnancy sucks." It was great fun to see Banks film the passionate speech again and again, especially since the funny lady mixed up her one-liners from one take to another. What was even more interesting was seeing all of the extras who played the audience members, since the group of women was a mix of actual pregnant women and women rocking fake baby bumps.

I chatted with Banks about her own experience filming the movie, and she revealed that she actually felt like she was in her own little movie, since she doesn't have much screen time with her costars. Banks was refreshingly honest about not having any parenting tips and also admitted that though welcoming her son, Felix, has brought her a great deal of joy, it hasn't changed her stance on how she feels about kids in general. Here's more of what Banks had to say about pregnancy and motherhood:

What inspired you to take this role?
Elizabeth Banks: I cried when I read the script. It has a really great ending: at the end of the movie, everybody has a baby! It really is just a very relatable story for everyone: anybody who is a parent, has considered being a parent, has a baby, whatever. It's just very universal, what happens in the film. We really explore so many great storylines and different paths to getting a child. I had a unique path to getting my son, so I understand how everybody's path to their child is different.

How does it feel to wear the bump?
EB: It's sweaty! [Laughs] I think it's probably a decent approximation; it weighs a good 10 lbs. The boobs weigh about 6 lbs. They are really unbelievable. It's fun. It definitely makes you sit and walk in a totally different way. As an actor, it's a great prop.

How did you change when you became a mom?
EB: I get drunk much faster and easier, and it's a big problem, so I can't go out very much. I find that I underestimated the amount of joy. I'm really learning about my capacity for joy through my son.

To see what Banks had to say about baby fever and her parenting tips, just keep reading.

11 Rules to Dramatically Increase Your Productivity

Wise Bread — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:35:04 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart Wise Bread story here on Savvy!

There's a problem with a lot of productivity advice out there, and it's this - your "rules" for personal productivity are often going to be different than mine. Sure, sometimes there's overlap. Sure, you can always learn from others.

But if you want to see a dramatic increase in your productivity, spend less time reading and memorizing other people's rules, and more time figuring out what your own rules are. You'll be more productive and in a way that works with who you are.

So I'm sharing a few of my personal productivity rules. Maybe some of them will work for you or inspire you to think of your own.

1. Small Daily Movements Become Big Accomplishments

I tend to think that I must have big blocks of time in order to get any forward movement. So I hesitate and procrastinate, waiting for that "open time" when I can really push and get a lot done on whatever the current project is.

Turns out, that's a waste of time. Small daily movements add up. It's just that the movements or steps themselves are so small, I think they don't count. They do.

I have to constantly remind myself that I don't need a whole day or a whole week to devote to some project. I just need to take the 10 or 20 minutes I have here and there and use them. I need to achieve a little bit of forward movement every day. That adds up, and it builds momentum, and pretty soon there's been quite a lot accomplished.

For more rules, read after the jump.

5 Reasons Not to Skip Winter Farmers Markets

Lizzie Fuhr — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:24:23 PST

I know, it's really cold outside. But the shift in weather is no excuse to shift your diet away from local, sustainable, fresh food! You may not get to wear shorts and a tank, but making a trip to a farmers market is just as productive an excursion in the cooler months as it is in the hot Summer sun. Are you picking up what I'm putting down? Here are five reasons you shouldn't skip farmers markets in the Winter.

A little green goes a long way. While the chilly weather and lack of sunshine is bound to affect your mood, you'll be feeling recharged after you head to a farmers market, in all of its colorful Winter splendor. As I've said to myself: a little green goes a long way amid all the gray.
Try out new fruits and veggies. Even if the farmers market doesn't have what I'm looking for, it always proves to be a great experience: you're forced to think outside your typical box and pull for fruits and vegetables you might not have been exposed to before. If you've moved to a new city or are living in a different climate, getting to a farmers market is an awesome way to see what your new region has to offer your taste buds. Who knows? Maybe you'll find your new favorite nosh.

Keep reading for three more reasons why you shouldn't skip Winter markets.

Jennifer Morrison Talks About the Fairy Tale She Wants on Once Upon a Time and Emma's New Love Interest

Shannon Vestal — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:34:19 PST

Jennifer Morrison plays Emma on Once Upon a Time, the show's reluctant heroine who has been chosen to break the curse of a town full of fairy-tale characters. I chatted with Morrison about the series, and I had to know how she felt about Graham's shocking death and whether we'll ever see him again. We also discussed the upcoming tales we'll get to see on the show, including the story Morrison would love to see play out. Read my interview below, and if you want to catch up with the show, you can watch episodes online here.

BuzzSugar: We were really upset when Graham died; were you sad when you found out it was going to happen?
Jennifer Morrison: Well, we knew what was coming in the story line since the beginning of the season. But all of us were upset because we love Jamie Dornan, and I thought he was just absolutely fabulous in the show. We all were very close, you know? So it felt like a huge loss, not just on the show, but just personally. We were all really close friends, and we still feel that loss. It feels weird with him not being in Vancouver with us.

Buzz: Is there any way that Dornan might return?
JM: The thing is, just because he died in reality doesn't mean that he can't return as the huntsman, because those are flashbacks. So, depending on the structure of the show, and the story we decide to tell, as far as I understand, there's room for him to exist still in fairy-tale land.

Buzz: With him gone, is Emma getting another love interest?
JM: Well, this last episode that aired, there's a stranger that comes to town, played by Eion Bailey, who is in that very last scene in that last episode that aired. I don't know for sure where they're cutting this at, but I know that there is a possibility that this stranger in town could somehow be connected to Emma at some point. Beyond that, I don't really know.

To find out what else Morrison said about the show, including the fairy tale she hopes to see on Once Upon a Time, just keep reading.

The Vampire Diaries "The Ties That Bind": The Good, The Bad, and The Bloody

Shannon Vestal — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 07:56:35 PST

It's a family reunion for Bonnie and her estranged mother on this week's The Vampire Diaries, but their meeting is less than magic (I'm sorry, I had to). They need her to open up one of Klaus's sealed coffins, but like most things on this show, they have to get through a bit of sticky business first. Meanwhile, Tyler recruits someone to help free him of his sire bond to Klaus so he can be with Caroline again, and Elena gets something off of her chest.

Even though there were no hot makeouts this week and not much major happened, it's still another entertaining episode with a lot going on. Ready to discuss? To get to the good, the bad, and the bloody, just keep reading.

10 Things You Do to Save Money That End Up Costing You More

Wise Bread — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:15:37 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart Wise Bread story here on Savvy!

Have you heard of the expression “penny wise, pound foolish”? It’s something I heard a lot growing up, from my parents, and it can have multiple meanings:

You are very careful with small amounts of money, but throw caution to the wind with large amounts. This is akin to someone who eats from the dollar menu every day but then blows a hundred dollars every month on a gym membership that’s never used.
You do things to save money now, only to have those savings cost you more farther down the road.

The second definition is what I’m focusing on today, because it’s a lot easier to fall into the trap of saving money only to have it bite you later on. Here then are 10 things that you may be doing to save money that could actually cost you a lot more in the weeks, months, or years to come.

RELATED: The Case For Expensive Shoes

1. Avoiding Regular Checkups With the Doctor, Dentist, or Optician

It’s something I did in college when money was tight. “Aah, who needs to pay money to a dentist to have him tell me I should floss more?” Well, after leaving the dentist alone for a few years, I paid the price. Avoiding the regular cleanings and checkups left me facing a hefty bill later on when I needed a bunch of costly fillings. I was lucky that I didn’t need root canals or replacement teeth. Now I have a dental plan that covers free checkups twice a year, but even if you don’t, get to the dentist and doctor for health checks. It’s a lot better to pay a co-pay now than pay for major surgery later on. And worse still, it could even cost you your life, especially as so many conditions can be treated if they’re caught early enough.

Read on for more.

Peter Dinklage Says Game of Thrones Is "Not Done Killing Off People"

Molly Goodson — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 18:39:08 PST

Peter Dinklage took home yet another accolade, winning the best actor in a drama TV series Golden Globe for his work in Game of Thrones this evening. During his acceptance speech Peter revealed it's the first night he and his wife have left their newborn baby girl at home with a babysitter, so his first press room question was about checking in on the little one. From there, he gushed about the GOT writing staff and said there are some more surprises - and deaths - coming our way in season two. Check it out:

On checking in with the babysitter: Yes. Texting is everything. She’s a baby. Crying never killed anyone. Well, maybe that’s not true.

On what makes his role so important: The fellow cast and crew make it so much fun to go to work. Even the mountains of Northern Ireland would get old. The cast and crew is incredible. The character is a lot of fun.

On this proving action fantasy series can work: Yeah, it depends on the writing. We have a handful of the greatest writers in the business. They have such incredible source material. That is everything to me. Doesn’t really matter about the genre, just the great writing. Hopefully it will give that genre a little more respect.

On season two: Just like the end of the first season, you never know what's going to happen. It's a really smart narrative. I’m sad that was so surprising, writing has gotten so formulaic. You have to push the envelope and challenge people's expectations. That adds to the addiction of the show. You never know what's around the corner. We are not done killing off people and it's amazing the people they choose.

Kate Winslet Reveals Dreams to Play a Man and Liz Taylor in Golden Globes Press Room

Molly Goodson — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 17:52:27 PST

Kate Winslet stepped back into the Golden Globes press room shortly after accepting the latest statue for her collection. She won for her work in Mildred Pierce, but backstage, talk turned to future roles. She apparently has her eye on playing Elizabeth Taylor as well as taking on the part of a man someday. Plus, Kate told us why roast chicken became a favorite in her household:

On the rumors both she and Lindsay Lohan want to play Elizabeth Taylor: "I think I’ll decline to comment, that’s the first I’ve heard of that story. It’s a massive undertaking for anybody who should be fortunate enough to get that part. I’m not gonna go there, dude!"

On dream future roles: "I would like to someday play a man. That is something that I do know. I don’t know what kind of man. I don’t know whether that would ever happen or not. That would be the ultimate challenge."

On learning to cook for the part: "I was taught to section up a chicken by Tom Colicchio! He used a technique that was quite old-fashioned so it married up. My children were eating a lot of chicken!"

On how Ricky Gervais is doing as a host: "He seems to be doing absolutely fine. I’ve been back here for about the past half-hour, so unless he’s fallen over or started drinking too much, I think he’s doing OK."

Best fashion advice she's ever received: "Wear something that I feel comfortable in, not to wear something just because someone else is telling me to. I think that is true of life as well."