We've almost reached our goal!

Thanks to the generous donations from friends, family, colleagues and Menagerie Creative, Team Imagine... is only a few hundred dollars short of our fundraising goal. If you haven’t already donated or would like to purchase one of our Team t-shirts for $15 + shipping (all proceeds to benefit the Avon Walk) the time to make a difference is NOW. There is less than two weeks left before we walk together as one for 39 miles.


CLICK HERE to Donate Now!

CLICK HERE if you are interested in learning more about our Team t-shirts.

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Expression = Impression

Everyone needs an outlet to express themselves; to emancipate our ideas, emotions and desires. How we do this and the means in which it is interpreted will inevitably define us.

The world as we knew it has changed. Technology has infiltrated our lives and brought with it a new avenue of communication. With the advent of social media and networking websites, such as Facebook, Twitter, Linked In etc., our world has become much larger and a lot less private. Before, conversations at a party, by the office water cooler, or even at the dinner table would not travel very far. Today, in a world of video cameras, internet and texting through our phones, word travels at a the speed of light. A casual conversation one moment, could minutes later show up as posts on twitter and before you realize, it has been read by someone in New Zealand.

How we are perceived simply comes down to what we say. When we gripe about Mondays, what does that tell the boss about our role as an employee? What if the intern announces on Twitter that he/she “felt totally useless”? What we say and/or do, can so easily run the risk of insulting or alienating a person, or worse, many people. With media such as Facebook and Twitter we all publish public content. A miscommunication today can quickly leave a bad impression tomorrow and break down relationships among a much larger group.

Speak with sincerity & clarity and leave your mark acknowledging that everything published online is forever part of your public persona.

Imagine...

What does this word mean to you? As women who have experienced the anguish of seeing our loved ones diagnosed with Breast Cancer, this word has held new meaning for us. Everyday our families imagined what life would be like without Breast Cancer. At times, the emotional and physical effects were too much to bear. So, six months ago, in honor of our family members and all of the women stricken by this horrible disease, we formed a team of women from Menagerie Creative to walk in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. It seemed only fitting that we call ourselves "Team Imagine..."

For two days, September 12th and 13th, we will join thousands of other men and women to dare to imagine a world without breast cancer. Together, we will walk 39 miles as one through the streets of Long Beach spreading awareness of this horrible disease. As part of this commitment, each team member has agreed to raise at least $1,800.00 a piece and an overall team goal of $10,000.00.

With less than a month left, Team Imagine continues on the fundraising trail with yet another break through in reaching our goal. Last Thursday night, we held a fundraiser at T.G.I. Friday's in Yorba Linda, where they generously agreed to donate 20% of every food item purchased between the hours of 5:00-9:00 P.M.. With an attendance of close to 60 people, we raised over $150.00. That coupled with private donations from the evening, we brought home over $300.00. Not too bad for a few hours of food, fun and entertainment. This leaves us with only $500.00 to go as a team to reach $5000.00, at which time, Menagerie Creative has agreed to match our funds 100% to reach our final goal of $10,000.00.

In addition to our continued success in fundraising, we each have spent many days training to prepare ourselves physically for the trek ahead. Between getting up early to walk to work, and individual walks on the weekends, our Team has fully commited to go the distance. Of course, it will be very tiring, but in the end so rewarding both for ourselves, the survivors and the men and women still enduring this terrible disease.

Furthermore, in celebrating this wonderful event, we have a limited quantity T-Shirts designed in support of Team Imagine... and the Avon Breast Cancer Walk. For $15.00 plus shipping and handling, you can own a Team Imagine... T-Shirt with all proceeds will go toward the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. And if with each generous donation of $100 or more, we will send a complimentary t-shirt as our way of saying thank you. If you would like to purchase a t-shirt, please email engage@menageriecreative.com and we will gladly follow up with you.

Team Imagine is so thankful and proud to be a part of this truly worthy event, and would like to thank everyone on behalf of ourselves and the Avon Foundation for all of the support you have shown us for the past six months. You have truly made a difference!

If you would like to make an individual donation to the cause, please visit our team’s page below.

http://info.avonfoundation.org/site/TR/Walk/LosAngeles?team_id=68442&pg=team&fr_id=1830&et=QRVkpokAIoXJoRzdlTxKYw..&s_tafId=451213

By Michelle Manley

District 9 Film review!

Blustering with an incredible first time lead actor, an intriguing story, and fantastic special effects, District 9 soars to incredible heights as one of the must see films of the decade.

29-year old South African born newcomer Neill Blomkamp proves he has all the makings of the next Spielberg with his uncompromising and unique vision. Utilizing a structure that is both standard cinema and also documentary, Blokamp effectively combines both styles to present a science fiction story that not only has great action but also timeless ideas about immigration and humanity.

The film tells the tale of one Wikus van der Merwe (a brilliant newcomer name Sharlto Copley), a field operative working for MNU, the private company tasked with maintaining the government camp "District 9", where lost alien refugees and their ship have been held for the past 20 years in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Wikus is promoted by his father in law in MNU to run an operation where all the "Prawn" (a derogatory term for the aliens) refugees would be moved out of Johannesburg and into a new camp outside of the city, away from the protesting public who has had enough of the alien presence in their city. While he inspects the slums of the rotting district, he becomes infected with a bioweapon that begins to affect his DNA in ways he cannot imagine, eventually leading to him being on the run from MNU agents and Nigerian gangsters.

The film is a non-stop thriller from beginning to end, and it's break neck pace will keep you riveted for it's 112 minute runtime. Producer Peter Jackson (of Lord of the Rings and King Kong fame), allows Blomkamp to run wild, taking risks in a summer blockbuster not seen since the likes of the Dark Knight last year. The character of Wikus is selfish, cowardly, and self-centered, and the film rarely chooses to hide that. The idea to run with an unlikable main character, one which we alternate in sympathy for throughout the film, is a strong move, as is the conscious choice to leave some ideas and explanations to the audiences imagination. Unlike certain blockbusters this summer, District 9 trusts it's audience to fill in the blanks when explanation isn't needed in order to service and make the best possible story that they could. The special effects themselves (rendered by Image Engine in Vancouver, Canada),are seamless, and again, unlike most blockbusters, are used to service the story, rather than distract from it. The Prawn creatures are among some of the best rendered creatures since Gollum in Lord of the Rings, and will hopefully be recognized by the Academy next Spring.

Exciting from beginning to end, the only flaw in District 9 is that it leaves you aching for more once you leave the theatre. It stands well enough on it's own as a great science fiction film, but the ideas for sequels will no doubt be lingering in the minds of audiences once they leave the theater. Nevertheless, the ideas and suspense of the film are what make District 9 a highly memorable time at the movies, and is among one of the best films of the year.

By Jeff Butler

Ahh the good ol days...

...when 12 or more of us sat elbow to elbow into the space of 870 square feet. Itunes played in our individual earbuds but we were still close enough to hear each other think. Our “kitchen” consisted of a box of power bars, a microwave and coffee maker sitting on top of the flat files, an endlessly dripping water cooler and miniature fridge which had a maximum capacity of 4 soft drinks and two leftover trays. There was the long magnetic crit wall that I most often used as a wallpaper version of a file cabinet. A single phone line rang in the office where Dorothy would simply call across the room. I think I could count on one hand the number of times the call wasn't for me. Twice we watched as the Irish band performed and kegs of beer were stacked just below my office window during the Orange Food Festival. Everyday about 6pm conversations in the bar below overpowered our own. And of course, no one could forget Blue Frog Bakery and the Courdin Bleu at Felix's. Mmmm. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water.

As I look at this picture and back at the moment we all stood on that Frank Lloyd Wright inspired staircase, nostalgic memories of all those shared moments flood back. I’m so thankful for those two years spent at Jensen building and blessed for how that cramped office was so instrumental in making Menagerie Creative the close-knit team we are today.

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Menagerie Creative is on istockphoto too!

It's true, Menagerie Creative is an Exclusive Istock Contributor.
Whether you need a photo of a blank magazine page to strip in your
own ad, a dinosaur hovering over a child's playground, or our most
popular vector files of explosions, you'll find new uploads every
week. Come check us out! www.istockphoto.com/MenagerieCreative.

Harry Potter in IMAX

I have to admit, I am addicted to Harry Potter. Tonight was the fourth time seeing HBP, and finally now in 3-D! I simply cannot wait until the next two films come out. My kids ask me all the time, what do I like most, Harry Potter, Star Wars or Maleficent. Well, Star Wars has always been at the top of that list, but I'm afraid now it has been usurped by the Chosen One and the Half Blood Prince. Those of you who have read book 7 know what I'm talking about when I say this is one of the most enduring love stories of all time. Those who haven't read the last of the saga have a real treat in store for them.