Jason Pollock’s new documentary The Youngest Candidate, follows five young men and women (ages 18-20) who are running or have run for office in cities across America. His own political interests were spurred when he worked as the personal assistant to filmmaker Michael Moore, the man behind controversial documentaries Fahrenheit 9/11 and Bowling for Columbine. And where did Jason’s movie premiere? Why, at the Traverse City Film Festival in Moore’s home state of Michigan, of course. Moore cofounded the festival in 2004 and it is held every July. Although any aspiring filmmaker is encouraged to submit his or her film for consideration, the festival’s website notes that “special emphasis is given to foreign films, American independents, documentaries, and films which have been overlooked but deserve the attention of a public starved to see a good movie.”
Archive for July, 2008
How do you really know when you’ve made it as a supermodel? Is it when you book your first international campaign? Maybe when you appear on the cover of Vogue? Or is it when you get your very own personal assistant?
As of today, model and It Girl Agyness Deyn now fits all three of those criteria. Fashionista reports today that Agyness just hired a ersonal assistant. The assistant (an unnamed female) will have normal PA duties like booking Agyness’ travel and managing her schedule. Though Agyness is British, she has a home in Brooklyn and the assistant will be based in the U.S.
In terms of boss style, will Agyness be more like Kate Moss (who threw her assistant a baby shower) or Naomi Campbell (who threw a cell phone at her assistant)? Fashionista seems to think Agyness will be more of the former, calling her “one of the nicest and most easygoing [models] that we’ve ever met.” And they would know.
It may be really hot outside, but odds are good your office is an icebox. You may feel like an idiot going outside in a sundress but carrying a sweater with you, even though it’s 90 degrees outside. But, even though you’re getting a cold because of the huge temperature differences, if you so much as think about touching the thermostat you’re likely to set off an office war.
In the New York Post, Sara Stewart reports on the throwdowns that have occurred in companies when people have wildly differing opinions on what constitutes “room temperature.” Is it the one overweight, sweaty person in the office who demands it be extra cold? Or maybe the boss likes it hot and everyone else puts up with it to keep him happy? Or maybe the “eco-warrior” in the office turns it off even on sweltering days because using too much energy is bad for the environment? Get some tips for keeping the peace.
Because there are not enough themed weeks and months in the year, I finally got a week in my honor. Yes, that’s right, July 29-August 4 is Honor Single Working Women Week. I’m single! I’m a woman! I work! Yep, all the criteria fits. I’ve always wanted my own week. And since I didn’t find out about it til this morning I already missed an entire day. I hope I can be compensated for that.
However, according to About.com, this week is supposed to honor single working moms. I’m all for honoring single working moms, don’t get me wrong. But why pass up an opportunity to acknowledge that many women have a hard time in the workplace–we’re underpaid, overworked, and still not taken as seriously as our male counterparts. And if we’re single, odds are we’re supporting ourselves, and possibly a dog or a cat or a boyfriend whose band hasn’t made it yet, on the salary of one poor assistant. We pink collar workers have got to stick together. And it’s going to take a lot more than a week to change the system.
I really like watching Giada De Laurentiis on the Food Network. Yeah, the show could go a little lighter on the gratuitous shots of her cleavage while she’s chopping garlic, but otherwise her recipes all look tasty and she’s a thousand times more knowledgeable and actually qualified as a chef than, like, Sandra Lee.
Giada’s show Everyday Italian was technically cancelled when she took some time off to have a baby, but she’s back with a new, softer-focused, lifestyle-centric show, Giada at Home. And what will be different on her new show? Giada’s daughter, Jade (Giada means “jade” in Italian) might make the occasional appearance on the show. Giada hinted that her show might have “a certain tiny assistant from time to time.”
Um, I hope in this case Giada’s just trying to be cute, because she should know better than to actually have her baby assist her in the kitchen. Sure, when little Jade is a toddler she can help out doing some easy stuff like stirring or whatever, but as a baby her main ‘job’ should be to sit there and look adorable while Mom whips up yet another tasty-looking ravioli recipe.
So, you probably heard that Hasbro, who own the copyright on Scrabble, finally got everyone’s favorite workplace distraction, Scrabulous, shut down, leaving many assistants without a way of slacking during the day.
Andrea Lavinthal and Jessica Rozler are the authors of Friend or Frenemy?: A Guide to the Friends You Need and the Ones You Don’t, which comes out on August 5. The Frenemy is one of the most lethal kinds of bad bosses, and Andrea and Jessica have a section in their book that explains exactly how to handle frenemies in the workplace. They spoke with STA about identifying frenemies, how to stay above the fray, and, of course, The Hills.
STA: Have either of you ever worked for a frenemy?
AL: I did. I felt like I was pledging my boss’ own personal sorority. I also had a coworker frenemy, we had this girl who was a lingering intern who was my age. She hung out with the staff to try and get a job and she tried to replace me when I went on vacation. She would RSVP to invites under my name. She made me feel like I was crazy and paranoid.
STA: How do you identify a frenemy, ideally before someone tries to steal your job?
AL & JR: If you have a sense of discomfort, are competitive, exhausted, and irritable. Frenemies put you on your guard. Some people have an “office gossip”–the office gossip is a frenemy to the entire office.
STA: What can you do when you identify a frenemy and have to work with him or her?
Continue reading ‘the sta interview: andrea lavinthal and jessica rozler’
STA’s Favorite Boss, Naomi Campbell, never resists a chance to shoot off her mouth. In an interview with the Daily Mirror, she said, while talking some smack about Madonna:
Kabbalah is not a religion, it’s a programme. I don’t like to get hooked on things like that. It reminds me of AA but just with different words. They’ve got the same principles. We’re all looking for positivity in our lives and looking towards the light but I just believe in God.
I am religious. I pray most days and do my thing. But each to their own.
What exactly is “doing your thing,” Ms. Campbell? Do you pray that you avoid jail time for your most recent assistant assault? Or perhaps you prefer to demonstrate your faith by donating to charity, helping the poor, and giving food to the hungry?
If Naomi Campbell actually prays for anything other than the contract for the new Versace campaign, I’ll… I don’t know, eat my hat or something.
Ever die of shame when you’re at a networking event and you have to hand someone your business card which outs you as a lowly assistant at a not-so-cool company? Thanks to TBS’ seriously cute website, you can now get your name on a business card from a fictional company like Samantha Jones Public Relations (Sex and the City), Central Perk Coffee Shop (Friends), or Vandelay Industries (Seinfeld). Feel free to steal office cardstock (the really nice kind) for your new-card-printing project.
Once you’ve successfully hired yourself at a nonexistent company, you can amuse yourself with Office Origami or snarky Office Signs.