Why did I start tearing up in the middle of the airport when you told Olivia Wilde she should direct “Booksmart”?? 🥹
This is such a wonderful retelling of what I can only imagine to be a difficult and exciting and frustrating and rewarding and nerve-wracking experience! Thank you for sharing... I hope to keep this energy and these emotions with me! 🙌🏼
Whoa, so much here. This is such a generous and thoughtful post. Love this: "The film was a Bechdel-Wallace Test in reverse: the women weren’t fighting over a man; they were fighting over their obsession with each other."
Mar 22, 2023·edited Mar 22, 2023Liked by Amber Tamblyn
I had “practical” parents who believed in good, compliant children, not risk takers that challenged the status quo. I wonder how many of us had youthful tenacity siphoned from us? I’m 40 now and an accomplished professional, and yet I still fight [daily] the all-too-natural urge to question myself or concede when being challenged or facing challenges. What a wonderful reminder of how a strong support system and ardent mentors can fan a flame others may be desperate to put out. Thank you for sharing!
Beautiful. And powerful. And inspiring. Yes. There was an uphill climb in my personal life where I succeeded. I self published a memoir about my traumatic childhood, escape from communism as a teen and coming to America. I write about pursuing the American dream and the “becoming “ - a wife, a mother, a successful entrepreneur. I wrote about the breaking…. The putter shell cracking to reveal the pain and heartbreak inside. And then the healing and search for self and the path back home to my heart. And after being told that no one cared about my story because I wasn’t famous - many women came. And the book is now self-published and a best seller in women writers on Amazon. All thanks to the women who loved, encouraged and co-created this project with me - my gift to the world and the message of hope to so many I desire to bring. “Unraveling” is out for sale and I hope to one day meet the women who will adapt it into a film. Thank you for your timely and expansive message. I too will use March as a springboard to an even greater version of myself and my creativity and strength. ♥️🙏
Amber, your kick-ass attitude is something I have tried to instill in my four daughters. In a world sick with testosterone, we need this! We need you as role model. PS Hugs to your Dad. He is a cool dude.
I concur with Sarah. Be sure to direct another movie. I’ve felt inspired by your work for a long time and this to me was a culmination of your many strengths. Not to mention a great showcase of Shawkat’s talent.
I’ve often thought of an adaptation as a chance to capture the feeling of the filmmaker’s experience reading a novel rather than just a straightforward adaptation. You did all of that and more with PIB.
I’m in it now. Recovering with long COVID and a long list of undiagnosed problems, including short term memory loss. My female health care providers have been so understanding and caring. They’ve done a mountain of FMLA and insurance forms. The men dismissed me and said “see you in two years”. Six months into this and we’re just now gaining real help. My husband and these women are saints.
What a powerful, endearing story Amber. The push uphill in the face of adversity and your plan was A all the way. I’m very grateful that you’ve given this over to the world. Thank you for your words.
I feel like motherhood is a constant uphill climb. I don't know what I would do without my mom and my sister as I navigate all aspects of motherhood and being a Stay-at-home Mom.
In a world of male poets and women poets who are very young (think Amanda Gorman and some 10 year old who was named by her city (?), it is hard to get work published if you are over 50. I raised 6 kids (including 2 step kids) and went back to get my degree in poetry at age 55. I had been writing for a very long time, but wasn't sure if what I was doing was of value. I had been a mentally and physically abused spouse for ten years and the game I ran on myself came from his constant belittling of me. After divorcing and remarrying a great supportive guy, I decided to return to writing and do it with verve! I was (am) serious about writing, including my own substack now! I got a fair number of poems published in good places and started leading workshops. I discovered that I could really do this. My best friend, Lizzie, said "why are you not well-known?" You are a natural teacher of this stuff. So, egged on by her, I have become more determined to get myself more out into the daylight of the writing world. My substack is the way I'm doing that. Goals set for myself: #1 put out quality learning and writing experiences for people who would enjoy knowing what I have learned (isn't that why we do these newsletters?) #2 to get 200 + subscribers by the end of this year with most of them paid subscribers. #3 to maybe get noticed and asked to do this thing on a national scale. #4 to make sure my girls know it is never too late to shine. #4 is working. My eldest got her Masters this year at age 55, my youngest starts her Masters program on Monday at age 49. The other girls are successful at careers they chose and enjoy. All four are kind, wonderful humans who go out of their way to help wherever there is need. They have been terrific moms too. I know they are proud of me.
If you are "of a certain age," don't hold back. Get out there and kick some ass in whatever way you desire. Make a splash!
also, if you have a secret (or not so secret) yen to know and write poetry, I'm your mentor-in-waiting. carolbach.substack.com (shameless promo here!)
Why did I start tearing up in the middle of the airport when you told Olivia Wilde she should direct “Booksmart”?? 🥹
This is such a wonderful retelling of what I can only imagine to be a difficult and exciting and frustrating and rewarding and nerve-wracking experience! Thank you for sharing... I hope to keep this energy and these emotions with me! 🙌🏼
Whoa, so much here. This is such a generous and thoughtful post. Love this: "The film was a Bechdel-Wallace Test in reverse: the women weren’t fighting over a man; they were fighting over their obsession with each other."
My former thesis advisor told me that I couldn’t write at all, and that I was going nowhere academically.
I think of him every time my law firm tells me that I’m one of the best writers there.
I had “practical” parents who believed in good, compliant children, not risk takers that challenged the status quo. I wonder how many of us had youthful tenacity siphoned from us? I’m 40 now and an accomplished professional, and yet I still fight [daily] the all-too-natural urge to question myself or concede when being challenged or facing challenges. What a wonderful reminder of how a strong support system and ardent mentors can fan a flame others may be desperate to put out. Thank you for sharing!
Beautiful. And powerful. And inspiring. Yes. There was an uphill climb in my personal life where I succeeded. I self published a memoir about my traumatic childhood, escape from communism as a teen and coming to America. I write about pursuing the American dream and the “becoming “ - a wife, a mother, a successful entrepreneur. I wrote about the breaking…. The putter shell cracking to reveal the pain and heartbreak inside. And then the healing and search for self and the path back home to my heart. And after being told that no one cared about my story because I wasn’t famous - many women came. And the book is now self-published and a best seller in women writers on Amazon. All thanks to the women who loved, encouraged and co-created this project with me - my gift to the world and the message of hope to so many I desire to bring. “Unraveling” is out for sale and I hope to one day meet the women who will adapt it into a film. Thank you for your timely and expansive message. I too will use March as a springboard to an even greater version of myself and my creativity and strength. ♥️🙏
Amber, your kick-ass attitude is something I have tried to instill in my four daughters. In a world sick with testosterone, we need this! We need you as role model. PS Hugs to your Dad. He is a cool dude.
I concur with Sarah. Be sure to direct another movie. I’ve felt inspired by your work for a long time and this to me was a culmination of your many strengths. Not to mention a great showcase of Shawkat’s talent.
I’ve often thought of an adaptation as a chance to capture the feeling of the filmmaker’s experience reading a novel rather than just a straightforward adaptation. You did all of that and more with PIB.
Love you! x
I’m in it now. Recovering with long COVID and a long list of undiagnosed problems, including short term memory loss. My female health care providers have been so understanding and caring. They’ve done a mountain of FMLA and insurance forms. The men dismissed me and said “see you in two years”. Six months into this and we’re just now gaining real help. My husband and these women are saints.
What a powerful, endearing story Amber. The push uphill in the face of adversity and your plan was A all the way. I’m very grateful that you’ve given this over to the world. Thank you for your words.
I feel like motherhood is a constant uphill climb. I don't know what I would do without my mom and my sister as I navigate all aspects of motherhood and being a Stay-at-home Mom.
In a world of male poets and women poets who are very young (think Amanda Gorman and some 10 year old who was named by her city (?), it is hard to get work published if you are over 50. I raised 6 kids (including 2 step kids) and went back to get my degree in poetry at age 55. I had been writing for a very long time, but wasn't sure if what I was doing was of value. I had been a mentally and physically abused spouse for ten years and the game I ran on myself came from his constant belittling of me. After divorcing and remarrying a great supportive guy, I decided to return to writing and do it with verve! I was (am) serious about writing, including my own substack now! I got a fair number of poems published in good places and started leading workshops. I discovered that I could really do this. My best friend, Lizzie, said "why are you not well-known?" You are a natural teacher of this stuff. So, egged on by her, I have become more determined to get myself more out into the daylight of the writing world. My substack is the way I'm doing that. Goals set for myself: #1 put out quality learning and writing experiences for people who would enjoy knowing what I have learned (isn't that why we do these newsletters?) #2 to get 200 + subscribers by the end of this year with most of them paid subscribers. #3 to maybe get noticed and asked to do this thing on a national scale. #4 to make sure my girls know it is never too late to shine. #4 is working. My eldest got her Masters this year at age 55, my youngest starts her Masters program on Monday at age 49. The other girls are successful at careers they chose and enjoy. All four are kind, wonderful humans who go out of their way to help wherever there is need. They have been terrific moms too. I know they are proud of me.
If you are "of a certain age," don't hold back. Get out there and kick some ass in whatever way you desire. Make a splash!
also, if you have a secret (or not so secret) yen to know and write poetry, I'm your mentor-in-waiting. carolbach.substack.com (shameless promo here!)