Kaleidoscope

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Published: Aug 18, 2010

My seventh-grade school portrait begs to differ, but according to Philly photog JJ Tiziou, Everyone Is Photogenic. An offshoot to his personal website, everyoneisphotogenic.com is basically an essay on confidence written for the subjects of Tiziou's million-plus images. "Sometimes we have to remind ourselves," he says, "that the idea of 'some people' as 'photogenic' is a harmful construct. So remember this: Right now, with that little hint of a smile on your face, I think you're the cutest." Shucks.

It seems like Jonathan Ames writes for the screen — the adaptation of his novel The Extra Man (see Shaun Brady's review) comes out this weekend; the second season of his HBO series Bored to Death premières Sept. 26. For those unfamiliar, Ames is emotionally vulnerable, but his fascination with sexuality makes him less grating than the classic New York neurotic. Start with his '09 tome The Double Life Is Twice as Good (Scribner), a mix of essays, journalism and short fiction, as a means of boning up.

While Cropsey — Barbara Brancaccio and Joshua Zeman's eerie true-crime doc about a Staten Island bogeyman — is worth the ticket price, the locale seals the deal: This first-run indie is showing at the Prince Theater, which may mean one of the city's prime screening spots is on its way to revitalization. Brancaccio and Zeman will give a talk after Friday's screening (Aug. 20, princemusictheater.org) — just in case you need more convincing that Staten Island should be avoided.

Singer/guitarist Dean Wareham shouldn't be singularly blamed for the fact that folk music's become a selfish, sadly confessional art form. But if you listen to the way the shimmering, forlorn Galaxie 500 — his Boston-based ensemble with Damon & Naomi, circa 1987-91 — wrapped itself around his funereal tenor and wistful lyrics, it damn well feels as if he made indie rock cry. So take the hit, Galaxie 500 (playing Aug. 20 at the Troc, thetroc.com), and let the sobbing begin.

Claim to Unfame
A Midsummer Night's Dream