Michaela Calabrese
Bio
Hello! My name is Michaela Calabrese. I've had a passion for writing since I was little; from research-heavy articles with citations galore to lighter introspections about abstract concepts (and some nerdier posts about my favorite fandoms)
Stories (22/0)
Hostage House Review
Move aside, Hollywood blockbusters; the independent film community is coming back strong! Hostage House, directed by David Benullo, was just released to Netflix, and proves that you don’t need flashy effects or loud car chases to make an entertaining film. Sometimes, all you need is a handful of talented actors, a beautiful house, and a cameraman and director who know what they’re doing (i.e no shaky cam THANK GOD!)
By Michaela Calabrese3 years ago in Humans
Blood, Sweat, and Tears
Superheroes seem to cry a lot nowadays, don’t they? How refreshing is that, right? No, I’m not being sarcastic; I am actually thrilled with the trend of superheroes (and super-powered characters in general) showing more vulnerability in media lately. When they get hurt, you can see the pain in their eyes. When they’re lonely, sad, unsure, they don’t always approach those situations with the stiff upper lip they used to. This seems like a new trend, but…is it, really? Or have we, as the audience, just been given permission to let our heroes’ weaker moments sit with us longer?
By Michaela Calabrese3 years ago in Geeks
Loki Episode Two: New Answers, New Questions
Heyyy episode three is coming out tomorrow! Time for a last-minute Loki review! This episode was a give-and-take for me. We didn’t get the same powerhouse emotional moments Episode One gave us, but we did get a massive leap forward in terms of story development; to the extent that people are saying the whole MCU could be affected. There’s only a few hours before Episode Three, and there’s a lot of ground to cover; so let’s jump right into the recap! Spoilers ahead.
By Michaela Calabrese3 years ago in Geeks
Every Step, Every Stumbling Block
So! You want to be a writer! You want to tell stories that will last a lifetime. Maybe you want to make a little money. First of all, if you’re becoming a writer because you think doing so will magically lift you into a better financial situation, you’re in it for the wrong reasons. Sure, plenty of people have gotten lucky and gotten rich on the first try; but, the most famous example regularly gets cancelled on social media nowadays, and no amount of magic spells will change that. It takes work, patience, and a surprising amount of pain. You’re going to doubt yourself. That’s just reality.
By Michaela Calabrese3 years ago in Humans
Mental Meeting
Hey, team! Circle up; it’s almost sequel time, so we need to have a little meeting about where you all are and what I need from you. I’ve got my current A-squad, you’re all doing amazing! I know it’s bizarre to suddenly be thrown from the abstract to the real world; but, you’ve handled it with grace for the most part. B-squad, I know you’re chomping at the bit to get out on the field! I need a little more patience from you. There’s a lot of set-up and exposition to sort out, and we don’t want to fumble on that. If it comes across as clunky, we’ll lose the audience we’ve started to build! You don’t want to perform to rows of empty seats, do you?
By Michaela Calabrese3 years ago in Humans
Dipping My Toe in the Water
I’ll be honest, I’ve been on a bit of a hiatus recently. Part of that has been because my mental illnesses are on the fritz again; like bad wiring in a cheap lamp. Motivation flickers on and off, my body aches here one day and there the next, and every day I question whether I can still call myself a “young writer” at Twenty-four.
By Michaela Calabrese3 years ago in Journal