Lauren Wilford
@laurenwilford.bsky.social
movies, philosophy, looking around. exasperated humanism & compassionate cynicism. hospitality work.
laurenwilford.com
@lauren_wilford on the other site
laurenwilford.com
@lauren_wilford on the other site
Mia Threapleton in The Phoenician Scheme is a tremendous addition to the Wes Anderson troupe. Intuitively gets the assignment of the dialogue— keeping up with the quick, dense patter but with a knowing twinkle behind the eyes, & the exact correct cocktail of cynicism & sincerity
June 11, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Mia Threapleton in The Phoenician Scheme is a tremendous addition to the Wes Anderson troupe. Intuitively gets the assignment of the dialogue— keeping up with the quick, dense patter but with a knowing twinkle behind the eyes, & the exact correct cocktail of cynicism & sincerity
it’s funny how one’s experience of “the world” in modern American life is mostly just the experiences you have inside a handful of particular buildings (home, work, school, cafe, etc)
people who spend time in different buildings than you have an entirely different life
people who spend time in different buildings than you have an entirely different life
June 11, 2025 at 6:53 PM
it’s funny how one’s experience of “the world” in modern American life is mostly just the experiences you have inside a handful of particular buildings (home, work, school, cafe, etc)
people who spend time in different buildings than you have an entirely different life
people who spend time in different buildings than you have an entirely different life
most people’s psych needs are met by 1) daytime working (ideally with both mind and body) on something interesting & appropriately challenging, and 2) evening relaxing/reveling with good company—in nature as much as possible for both. I think “village life” used to provide this as a matter of course
June 9, 2025 at 2:45 PM
most people’s psych needs are met by 1) daytime working (ideally with both mind and body) on something interesting & appropriately challenging, and 2) evening relaxing/reveling with good company—in nature as much as possible for both. I think “village life” used to provide this as a matter of course
Have gotten comments from gen z questioning the point of the American greeting ritual. I used to feel the same way in my first service jobs. I thought it was "fake," performative, extractive, "emotional labor" (though we didn't have that phrase). Here's how I changed my mind:
June 4, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Have gotten comments from gen z questioning the point of the American greeting ritual. I used to feel the same way in my first service jobs. I thought it was "fake," performative, extractive, "emotional labor" (though we didn't have that phrase). Here's how I changed my mind:
in general, gen z culture doesn’t have a norm for greeting/acknowledging people they don’t already know. Their custom is headphones/eyes down until engagement is required. It’s a “don’t speak unless spoken to” culture. This of course feels dehumanizing to anyone older
June 3, 2025 at 9:33 PM
in general, gen z culture doesn’t have a norm for greeting/acknowledging people they don’t already know. Their custom is headphones/eyes down until engagement is required. It’s a “don’t speak unless spoken to” culture. This of course feels dehumanizing to anyone older
I remember my first experience of using headphones as a kid, with my mom’s Walkman in the 90s— the music felt “non-diegetic,” like it was coming from nowhere, the score to my life. I fantasized about being in the “opening credits” sequence of my own TV show. It was intoxicating
June 1, 2025 at 6:26 PM
I remember my first experience of using headphones as a kid, with my mom’s Walkman in the 90s— the music felt “non-diegetic,” like it was coming from nowhere, the score to my life. I fantasized about being in the “opening credits” sequence of my own TV show. It was intoxicating
the good life in the 21st c looks like a lot of offline time punctuated by strategic, powerful uses of the internet
the bad life is constantly being plugged into the stream but never really using it for anything but entertainment
the bad life is constantly being plugged into the stream but never really using it for anything but entertainment
May 29, 2025 at 6:20 PM
the good life in the 21st c looks like a lot of offline time punctuated by strategic, powerful uses of the internet
the bad life is constantly being plugged into the stream but never really using it for anything but entertainment
the bad life is constantly being plugged into the stream but never really using it for anything but entertainment
it is funny that I somewhat rebelliously got into film as the "lower art form" when I was in school reading the great books, and now I feel like I'm championing film as the "high art form" in a sea of short form slop. But I didn't move, culture did
May 29, 2025 at 4:49 PM
it is funny that I somewhat rebelliously got into film as the "lower art form" when I was in school reading the great books, and now I feel like I'm championing film as the "high art form" in a sea of short form slop. But I didn't move, culture did
I think the concept of "introversion" impeded my development as a young person, and I think we need to do away with the introvert/extrovert distinction. It made me feel like socializing and social graces were the province of a certain kind of person that I was not
May 29, 2025 at 3:59 PM
I think the concept of "introversion" impeded my development as a young person, and I think we need to do away with the introvert/extrovert distinction. It made me feel like socializing and social graces were the province of a certain kind of person that I was not
Le Trou, or The Hole, Jacques Becker, 1960: riveting yet meditative prison break movie. Long, dialogue-free scenes of guys slowly problem-solving their way through an underground puzzle-world, like the best point-and-click video games. Put it on late at night with the lights off
March 24, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Le Trou, or The Hole, Jacques Becker, 1960: riveting yet meditative prison break movie. Long, dialogue-free scenes of guys slowly problem-solving their way through an underground puzzle-world, like the best point-and-click video games. Put it on late at night with the lights off
I swear sometimes that waiting tables is the best job in the world. Just being at a nice restaurant. Smiling at babies. Practicing getting a vibe going with different kinds of people. Finding your preferred verbiage for describing food/wine. Working with your body. Improvising
March 24, 2025 at 9:02 PM
I swear sometimes that waiting tables is the best job in the world. Just being at a nice restaurant. Smiling at babies. Practicing getting a vibe going with different kinds of people. Finding your preferred verbiage for describing food/wine. Working with your body. Improvising
Herman Melville really understood “I am going to become the joker”
March 20, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Herman Melville really understood “I am going to become the joker”
this is me at my job loving my cool life
March 12, 2025 at 6:59 PM
this is me at my job loving my cool life
me at my local slices joint, where the guys still have gauges and play metal like it’s the 90s & sling slices in and out of the oven with dancelike grace
March 12, 2025 at 6:58 PM
me at my local slices joint, where the guys still have gauges and play metal like it’s the 90s & sling slices in and out of the oven with dancelike grace
Shocked to report that a huge leatherbound hardback actually offers a superior UX. I always thought they were books you only bought for show; I started reading this copy because it’s the one we had around. Stays open on its own. Props up easily. Generous margins. Pleasant heft
March 12, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Shocked to report that a huge leatherbound hardback actually offers a superior UX. I always thought they were books you only bought for show; I started reading this copy because it’s the one we had around. Stays open on its own. Props up easily. Generous margins. Pleasant heft
The Remains of the Day: beautiful cautionary tale about the way that work (esp service work) can incentivize hollowing yourself out. The perfect butler has no opinions, emotions, desires, needs. Nightmare about believing that being thought good at your job is all there is
March 9, 2025 at 6:49 AM
The Remains of the Day: beautiful cautionary tale about the way that work (esp service work) can incentivize hollowing yourself out. The perfect butler has no opinions, emotions, desires, needs. Nightmare about believing that being thought good at your job is all there is
the main thing Hook is really good at, which I think is essential for great children's art, is creating "arenas" or "playing spaces" into which child viewers can project themselves imaginatively. Production designer Norman Garwood (also did Brazil!) did incredible work here
March 9, 2025 at 1:17 AM
the main thing Hook is really good at, which I think is essential for great children's art, is creating "arenas" or "playing spaces" into which child viewers can project themselves imaginatively. Production designer Norman Garwood (also did Brazil!) did incredible work here
rewatched Hook last night because we were sick and I need everyone to check out the camera direction and staging in this sequence. The dolly backwards to reveal the broken glass, then ending the shot with the dolly back in to Maggie Smith… let Spielberg cook!! Let him Hook
March 9, 2025 at 1:16 AM
rewatched Hook last night because we were sick and I need everyone to check out the camera direction and staging in this sequence. The dolly backwards to reveal the broken glass, then ending the shot with the dolly back in to Maggie Smith… let Spielberg cook!! Let him Hook
a few days ago I was looking for a movie to watch as the flu was coming on. Could feel cognition slipping & needed something engaging enough to distract, but would hold my hand with exposition and voiceover. IDEAL conditions for a first viewing of The Big Short. Absolute programming coup
March 6, 2025 at 1:21 AM
a few days ago I was looking for a movie to watch as the flu was coming on. Could feel cognition slipping & needed something engaging enough to distract, but would hold my hand with exposition and voiceover. IDEAL conditions for a first viewing of The Big Short. Absolute programming coup
what I’m liking about Moby Dick so far is that it’s an amazing model for how a smart and observant person can understand the entire universe as refracted through the lens of their day job
March 6, 2025 at 12:59 AM
what I’m liking about Moby Dick so far is that it’s an amazing model for how a smart and observant person can understand the entire universe as refracted through the lens of their day job
started my day by reading classic literature for an hour and now experiencing stable levels of focus, motivation, and interest throughout the day… fascinating stuff
March 6, 2025 at 12:25 AM
started my day by reading classic literature for an hour and now experiencing stable levels of focus, motivation, and interest throughout the day… fascinating stuff
I do think some movies get celebrated merely for being a good idea for a movie
March 3, 2025 at 11:05 PM
I do think some movies get celebrated merely for being a good idea for a movie
Gene Hackman was a giant. He lit up every second of celluloid he was ever in, bringing a twinkling, crackling, itchy, bristly energy to every role. The man was always ALIVE in the part, charging any film he was in with a sense of mischief and deadly seriousness at once
February 27, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Gene Hackman was a giant. He lit up every second of celluloid he was ever in, bringing a twinkling, crackling, itchy, bristly energy to every role. The man was always ALIVE in the part, charging any film he was in with a sense of mischief and deadly seriousness at once
watched The Wicker Man (1973) and was struck by the way that it’s a post-rationalist nightmare— Lord Summersile is a smart, educated guy who’s thoughtful about the way religion meets people’s deepest needs, who both participates in his cult and stands above and apart from it
February 26, 2025 at 6:21 PM
watched The Wicker Man (1973) and was struck by the way that it’s a post-rationalist nightmare— Lord Summersile is a smart, educated guy who’s thoughtful about the way religion meets people’s deepest needs, who both participates in his cult and stands above and apart from it
a great fb marketplace/craigslist purchase is such a powerful experience. Putting cash directly in the palm of another human being, for a beautiful antique that’s going to last way longer than whatever you would have picked up at Target… incredibly high agency vibe
January 16, 2025 at 4:37 PM
a great fb marketplace/craigslist purchase is such a powerful experience. Putting cash directly in the palm of another human being, for a beautiful antique that’s going to last way longer than whatever you would have picked up at Target… incredibly high agency vibe