Another week of X Factor... Another Victory for CeCe!

So after narrowly escaping the axe last week on The X Factor, CeCe was facing a tough road ahead as the competition continued to get smaller and the Top 3 contestants continued to remain solidified each week. With what seemingly looked like her final night on the show, Miss X to the O chose to go out with a BANG! Choosing the "Moulin Rouge" rendition of La Belle's "Lady Marmalade" as her Number 1 song choice this week.

With dancers in tow and dressed to the nine's, CeCe stormed the stage with the fierceness and confidence that has been missing for so many weeks since the judges started bringing her down to shape her into something she is not. With one last act of defiance and the blessing of her coach, Demi Lovato, CeCe proved once more why she is a force to be reckoned with.

So like I said, if she was going down, she was going down fighting and when the judges threw their two cents in, it became clear that they were a little swayed by her performance. L.A. Reid and Britney Spears conceded to liking the circus that she put on, but Simon Cowell had the most interesting opinion of them all. the man who has been a see saw of opinion during this entire contest, never seems to be satisfied with the product that CeCe puts out. This time around he said that while she had stepped it up a notch, she had given him too much and that she should "pack her bags."

I sensed a ploy in his voice, as if whatever Simon says steers the audience in another direction, I had seen it in the past on American Idol and I was seeing it once more here. His negative remarks were actually a veiled vote of confidence to help CeCe stick around for another week. So the following night when it was time to learn what the world had decided, it would turn out to be a night full of shocking turns of events. First off the Sudden Death elimination, which has become a staple of the competition each week, claimed Paige Thomas as its victim. After putting up such a strong performance of Rick Astley's viral hit "Never Gonna Give You Up" and proving that she could really shine as a pop superstar, Paige was cut loose, leaving Demi Lovato with only CeCe left in her stable of artists.

Then came the ominous Top 5...

CeCe's hard work and determination paid off once more, when the votes came through and put her once again in 5th Place, saving her for another week. I was glad to see Diamond White at the bottom, In my personal opinion, I think that she should have never been brought back into the competition after being eliminated from the Top 16. I think that in a competition like this, once you are eliminated, that should be it. You failed to prove your worth in a do or die situation and your loss is your fault. CeCe has proven herself time and again in the sing off rounds and every time she has emerged the victor.

Diamond White's face off against Vino Alan found the older singer going home after a last minute song change ultimately cost him the competition.

But, I think that CeCe is honestly living on borrowed time at this point, the competition is getting down to the heavy hitters and seemingly no one will be able to beat Tate Stevens and Carly Rose in the Top 2 spots. The two of them are getting a lot of press and support around the country for obvious reasons and the stronghold that is their fan base might be impossible to break at this point. With Vino shockingly gone now, I think Emblem 3 will claim the third spot, with their boyish (annoying) charms that speak to the loins of every teenage girl, they should safely make a secure stance in the final rounds.

 

If she can outlast Diamond and 5th harmony I will be amazed, but I think that Diamond might have a resurgence next week since she was at the bottom this week and 5th Harmony could easily fall since there really isn't a market for female singing groups right now. So what happens when CeCe has to go head to head with 5 girls at once?... I can't wait to find out.

The more and more I watch the show, I feel like I am watching a real life "Street Fighter," mixed in with a little "Hunger Games" and "Scott Pilgrim vs the World." I am excited to see how this ends with only a few more weeks left to go, but as always I wish CeCe the best of luck in her journey. She has done everything right thus far and I know that she can truly rise out of this TV show as a superstar.

Hopefully, the excitement will continue next week!

Thanks for voting

-P

Student Film -"Swing" Finally Hits the Internet

I've had the opportunity to be behind the camera for a handful of Student Films this year, and I am pleased to be posting, what I think, is one of my favorites. "Swing" was written and directed by my good friend Joshua McNew from class at the University of Missouri - St. Louis.

It's a short drama about a championship boxer faced with the painful reminder of his father's mental and physical abuse as a child. When his father returns after some time away, both of them must face their demons and accept the fact that fighting runs in their blood. Loosely based on the relationship between boxer, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and his father, "Swing" takes an emotional look at how the priorities of a parent can sometimes overshadow the development of their child. The film stars Maurice Walters II (of "The Stakes") as the distant and abusive father and Topher Hall as the evasive, strong willed boxer.

I had a blast making this film over the course of 2 days this past October and did a marathon edit in just a few short hours to have it ready for a class screening the next day.

I hope you enjoy!
Feel free to leave you comments below... 

-P

CeCe Fights her way out of another Elimination!

If you are new to my site and are wondering why I am so obsessed with The X Factor this season, it's because one of my best clients is a current contestant. Miss CeCe Frey, has been kicking ass and taking names for the last few weeks on the show and this week was tasked with having to sing her way out of another elimination round... on Thanksgiving!

The week started Wednesday, when she gave an emotional performance of Bette Midler's "Wind Beneath My Wings" dedicated to her late-sister. 

This was the strong type of performance that the judges have been asking of her each and every week, and it showed when they each went to cast their opinions. Unfortunately, it is usually the opposite of their votes that sits with the general public. And sure enough on the following night, 10 Contestants were whittled down to 8, when first the R&B crooner, Arin Ray was abruptly eliminated in a sudden death round and then CeCe found herself in the bottom two with 13 year old, Beatrice Miller.

Some people can disagree with me all they want, but CeCe is in her PRIME and when faced against a 13 year old opponent, who has yet to develop into her voice, I think the choice was pretty obvious. Sure enough with a 3-1 vote, the judges chose to send Beatrice home and keep CeCe one more week, with a certain air of uncertainty still lingering.

While the competition continues to get stiffer and the Top 3 remains solidified week by week, its almost certain that Miss X to the O's time on the show will be coming to an end shortly. But let's just hope she can hang in there for a lil while longer!

Thanks for voting AMERICA!

-P

Happy Thanksgiving! Do you have "Hungry Eyes"?

I got together this last week with some old friends of mine from the band, Last Nights Vice to make a quick lil holiday video for the upcoming season, with a little too much affection for gravy and mashed potatoes.

There's really no explanation needed, it was just fun to make and fun to watch!

Enjoy!

-P

CeCe Stuns the World! - Placing 5th This Week!

After coming in the Bottom Two for the last few weeks on The X Factor, it seemed as though CeCe's time on the show was beginning to run out. With voting mostly in the hands of the audience at home, it was up to them to decide where she would rank on this week's show.

The theme was DIVAS this week, and CeCe went with Eric Carmen's "All By Myself" made famous by Celine Dion. 

Taking note from the judges critiques over the last few weeks, she made the safe decision by performing a straight ballad, the same tactic which has gotten out of jams in the past during the competition. Unfortunately, the hypocritical gang of celebs seemed to be thinking the opposite and criticised her song choice and execution. Even Simon Cowell, CeCe's unexpected champion in the past, called her performance "Cabaret." 

The one that got me the most riled up, was Britney Spears' simple response: "Sorry, I just don't get it." I mean, I know I'm not one to talk... but when did Britney Spears become an expert on singing competitions? Obviously her presence is bigger than life and as a former teen star, she can really guide the teen category in the right direction, but we are talking about someone who's live shows consist mostly of lip synced dance escapades. Not to mention, every episode of this season she comes across like a coked out has been with too much make on to cover up her accelerated age from booze and drugs NOTE: Britney Spears is 3 years older than me, but yet looks like she's a decade older.

Sorry, I needed to rant. (I should be careful though, I know WetPaint.com has been keeping an eye on my site, haha).

So when all was looking bleak for the farm girl from Decatur, IL. the votes from America came through!

Jumping 7 spots from last week, CeCe made a stance in the competition and proved that she could hang with the top dogs. So here's to another successful week on The X Factor and with any luck, let's hope it continues for your girl.

Keep watching!

-P