5 Movies Sara Paxton has appeared in

April 25, 2011 – 9:50 am

Though actress Sara Paxton has done other television work, this list of 5 movies that she has appeared in documents the majority of Paxton’s up-and-coming career as a feature film actress.

Sleepover (2004): Paxton’s first major role in a feature film was as Stacie Blake, the antagonistic ring-leader of a group of popular 8th grade girls. Her circle, comparable to a younger version of the ‘plastics’ of Mean Girls, competes with a nerdier group of friends led by main character, Julie Corkey (Alexa Vega) for the premium lunch spot at their high school as incoming freshmen. Julie’s group wins the face off through a series of challenges in a scavenger hunt, robbing Stacie of her Queen-bee status as the movie ends with the former ‘popular girls’ eating lunch in front of the school dumpsters. The film only appealed to young teenage girls and received mostly negative reviews and an unimpressive box office revenue, but still set a precedent for Sara Paxton, despite her attitude, as a fresh and energetic star that could be received by the younger generation.

Aquamarine (2006): Paxton starred in Aquamarine as a mermaid, by the same name, who befriends Claire (Emma Roberts) and Haily (Jojo). The mermaid’s new friends realize she can retain human form as long as kept away from water. Aquamarine wishes to spend time on land to prove to her father that love exists, and if she can, she will avoid an arranged marriage under the sea. The movie is young, bubbly, bright, and gives the message that love can be found in friendship as much as romance. Though the personality of Paxton changes in Aquamarine the essence of the genre does not, but she achieved her first bit of stardom in the film that generated a sizable box office revenue.

Sydney White (2008): In Sydney White, Paxton finds herself in another teen comedy as the antagonist, Rachel Witchburn, opposite the film’s star Sydney White (Amanda Bynes). The film’s plot is based around the story-line of Disney’s Snow White and Paxton’s character parallels the Evil Witch who indulges her vanity through her college’s online Hot or Not list rather than mirror, mirror on the wall. The comedy received #6 in the U.S. box office and obtained mixed reviews that borders on mostly negative.

The Last House on the Left (2009): In this remake of the 1972 film of the same name, Paxton finally breaks out of her teeny bopper mold to star in a dramatic thriller in which she is abducted, raped, and shot (but not killed) by a group of criminals, acts that are ultimately avenged by her parents. Though the film did well enough opening weekend and generated more than twice the original film’s revenue, the ratings were a mixed bag, and Last House on the Left was by no means a blockbuster. But this role for Paxton was dramatically different from those of her former films and expanded her credibility as a serious actress considerably.

The Innkeepers (2011): Paxton’s latest role is another thriller in which her and her coworker patrol a haunted inn that is soon going out of business. Though this is a horror movie, there is a surprising amount of comedy and clever crafting of characters. Paxton and Pat Healy work wonderfully together, showing Sara’s skill for creating on-screen chemistry. The film was not widely distributed but generally well received.

Although Sara Paxton has played in movie roles that I absolutely love, I would have loved to seen her in the Twilight saga. If she were to star in the newest Twilight film, Breaking Dawn, I definitely would had bought Sara Paxton Breaking Dawn t-shirts. Sara Paxton through these 5 movies has show both consistency and evolution. She has gone from a quintessential bubbly blonde to proving herself as a serious and intelligent actress. Hopefully Paxton will continue to improve her acting abilities as well as find variation in her roles so that her already budding star-potential can be brought into full bloom.

 

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Fun Activities To Do In Woodland Hills, California

March 22, 2011 – 9:46 am

The city of Girard was originally founded in 1922 on just under 3,000 acres by businessman Victor Girard Kleinberger. It was renamed Woodland Hills in 1942 by Harry Warner of Warner Bros., which owns a great deal of property and buildings in the area. Woodland Hills is located about 20 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles in a geographically unique setting that allows for some of the highest and lowest temperatures in all of southern California. Despite the wild variations in weather, the area is a wealthy region home to a number of destinations that provide fun for everyone from bachelors to large families.

The Woodland Hills Recreation Center is the hub of all outdoor activity in the area, featuring two tennis courts, two basketball courts, three baseball diamonds and an abundance of walking trails. A large indoor area that has been used as everything form a gymnasium to a concert hall sits in the middle of the 18 acres of trails, trees and sports venues. With a little planning and the right equipment, the better part of a day can be spent at the Center, which also offeres several picnic tables and a large playground.

For folks who would rather get inside of air-conditioned confines and take part in the American pastime of shopping, the Topanga Plaza Shopping Center houses a Macy’s, a Pinkberry and a Neiman Marcus, amongst dozens of other designer stores where you can buy everything from high fashion eyewear, handbags, shoes and other items. Folks with fine tastes in food and clothing can head south a few blocks to the Promenade at Woodland Hills Shopping Center, which boasts of a P.F. Chang’s, an AMC movie theatre and a Ruth’s Chris Steak House. The locale is just a block north of the large buildings that tower over the area, forming the entirety of the sleek skyline of Woodland Hills.

Travelling two blocks to the south will put you on the other side of the city skyline and provide you with a number of beautiful photo opportunities along the way. Warner Ranch Park occupies the acreage between Calipha Street and Marylee Street and is the perfect place to spend a relaxing weekend afternoon listening to live music and perusing the offerings of local vendors. The wide open area lends itself to frisbee, soccer, or picnicking and also features a playground for the youngsters.

AMF Woodlake Lanes, located just north of Highway 101, is a great place to unwind after a long day. The place has a friendly staff and a clean environment, which are two huge pluses for any bowling alley. Woodlake Lanes stays open into the wee hours on Friday nights and weekends, providing all of the normal trappings of a quality bowling alley.

Los Angeles is certainly one of the nation’s major hubs of live entertainment, and Pierce College provides a number of options. The college blends into the landscape perfectly and is less than a mile to the east of many of the aforementioned locations. Tickets to events ranging from plays to football games can be purchased at the last miute for surprisingly low prices. Seeing athletic competitions or artistic performances at a college always fills a person with a sense of youthfulness and appreciation.

Whatever your pleasure, Woodland Hills is a hidden slice of paradise that often gets overlooked in the massive landscape of Los Angeles.

 

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Historical Facts About The San Fernando Valley

February 2, 2011 – 9:43 am

The San Fernando Valley is located in called Southern California. It is formed by the Transverse Ranges that encircle it. It encompasses half the land area of the city of Los Angeles and all of Burbank, Calabasas, Glendale, Hidden Hills and San Fernando. In all over one and three quarter million people call the valley home. Culturally, politically and socially the area has changed dramatically since the Spanish first arrived there in 1797.

When the Spanish first came in 1797, they met a thriving community of Native American peoples on the land. There were the Tongva, Tatavium and Chumash people. These groups had lived peacefully in the valley for over 8,000 years. They had built a large number of settlements and supported themselves by hunting and trading. The land was fertile and well-watered and it was easy for the Native Americans to live a comfortable life hunting the animals common to the area.

The Spanish built the Mission San Fernando Rey de Espana in the valley near a Native American settlement in 1797. Within a few years a conflict erupted between the men of the mission and Los Angeles. The Spanish conquest of California continued and in 1822 Spanish California, including the San Fernando Valley, became part of the kingdom of Mexico. But the conflict over the water continued and in 1834 the Franciscans were evicted and Mission San Fernando was taken over by Governor Juan Alvarado.

When gold was discovered in Placerita Canyon in 1842, the valley saw a mini gold rush. By the end of the war in 1848 the mission, the valley and all of Spanish California had become the property of the United States and California became the 31st state in 1850. David Alexander and Alexander Bell became the first Americans to own land in the San Fernando Valley when they bought land there in 1851. By 1854 stage coach service began in the valley, opening it up for further development. A large earthquake knocked down the mission building in 1857 ending their role in the valley for a period. President Abraham Lincoln returned ownership of 170 acres of the mission property to the church in the early 1860s.

By the mid 1860 development of the San Fernando Valley had begun in earnest. Roads were cut, a post office established and the San Fernando Farm Homestead Association bought a half interest in the valley for $2.00 an acre. In 1874 the city of San Fernando was established by Charles Maclay. He had bought the northern half of the valley. The Southern Pacific Railroad established a line running from San Fernando to Los Angeles. Another line soon linked San Fernando to the north through a tunnel. By 1880 the population of San Fernando Township was 1,305 people. Three years later the region’s first newspaper, The San Fernando Comet was founded.

The valley continued to blossom. In 1887 Burbank, Glendale, Monte Vista and Pacoima were founded and an orange grove over two miles long was planted just south of the old mission property. Within a year the towns of Chatsworth Park and Toulica were founded. Telephone service reached the valley in 1894 and the next year lemon and orange growers formed the San Fernando Fruit Growers Coop.

By 1898 the automobile had come to the valley and the region has grown by leaps and bounds since then. It has seen people like Howard Hughes, Edgar Rich Burroughs, Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart and entities like Universal City, Walt Disney Studios and Anhheuser-Busch make their mark. Today the area continues to thrive, welcoming people from all over the world.

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Sara Paxton Discography

January 5, 2011 – 9:34 am

Sara Paxton is best known for her roles as a teenager in the television series Darcy’s Wild Life and the hit film Aquamarine. However, Sara actually started acting at a very early age, often singing and acting for friends and family as a young child. She landed her first film role in the 1997 comedy Liar, Liar at the age of 9. She went on to enjoy a steady stream of acting work in film and television throughout the late 1990’s and early 2000’s.

Sara was finally able to combine her love of singing and acting during her time playing title character Darcy Fields on Darcy’s Wild Life, which aired on Discovery Kids from 2004 to 2006. The popular program cast Sara as a teenager assisting at a rural veterinary clinic. Her vocal track, “Take a Walk” was frequently featured on the show and was released on the show’s soundtrack in 2005 along with another of her tracks, “There for You.” Darcy’s Wild Life was a breakout moment for Sara, and it even earned her an Emmy nomination in 2006. It also helped her land one of the lead roles in the teen movie smash Aquamarine.

Sara Paxton received rave reviews for her performance as a teenage mermaid in Aquamarine. The 2006 film grossed over $7 million in its opening weekend alone and placed Sara firmly on the path to becoming a young Hollywood starlet. The film also gave her another opportunity to showcase her musical talents. The film’s soundtrack included her song “Connected”, which was an English version of the song “Tenerte y Quererte” by Mexican group RDB.

Sara also contributed songs to several other Hollywood soundtracks. In the summer of 2005, she had a recurring role on the television series Summerland and recorded a song for the show’s soundtrack during that same time period. The song was titled “Don’t Wanna Be Alone” and featured teen pop star Jesse McCartney. Sara also recorded tracks for a Disney compilation and her 2008 film Superhero Movie.

The music industry took notice of Sara’s successful contributions to these soundtracks, and she was signed to Epic Records in 2005. Sara soon began recording an album titled The Ups and Downs, which she has described as a combination of pop and rock. While the album has not been released in its entirety, she has released several singles from it including “Kiss Me Like You Mean It” and “Here We Go Again.” Fans waiting to hear more of her vocal talents may have to wait a little longer, as there is no release date set for her album.

Sara Paxton currently has several films in production, with many slated for release in the near future. Sara’s discography is already diverse and impressive, but it is also no doubt far from over. Sara’s fans will just have to wait and see what the star decides to do next.

Singles

• “Here We Go Again” – 2005
• “Temporary” – 2006
• “Kiss Me Like You Mean It” – 2008

Soundtrack Contributions

• “Take a Walk” Darcy’s Wild Life – 2005
• “There for You” Darcy’s Wild Life – 2005
• “Don’t Wanna Be Alone” with Jesse McCartney Summerland – 2005
• “Connected” Aquamarine – 2006
• “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” Disneymania 4 – 2006
• “I Need a Hero” Superhero! Movie – 2008

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Sara Paxton Biography

December 1, 2010 – 9:31 am

Actress, singer and model Sara Paxton was born on April 25, 1988. The blond and blue-eyed beauty was born and raised in Woodland Hills, California. Sara is an only child. Her mother, Lucia, is Mexican and a dentist and her father, Steve, is Irish and a businessman. Her father is distantly related to actor Bill Paxton.

Sara was eight years old when she began her acting career. Her first television appearance was on a game show called “Small Talk.” During the next few years, Sara also appeared in other small roles in both film and television. She received her first Emmy nomination at the age of 16.

In 2004, Sara became more widely known for her starring role in the WB’s “Summerland” which also starred then teen heartthrob Jesse McCartney. From 2004 to 2005, Paxton played McCartney’s jealous and troubled girlfriend. This was a strong role for Paxton, and it showed off her acting ability. In 2004, Sara also starred in the Darcy’s Wild Life series. In 2006, Paxton graduated from El Camino Real High School in Woodland Hills and then began acting full time.

Paxton later starred in a few comedies including 2007’s “Sydney White” which spoofed Snow White. In 2008, she starred in the spoof “Superhero Movie.” In 2009, Paxton took on a role in the very dark and violent film “The Last House on the Left.” She played a young woman who is kidnapped and assaulted by her brutal attackers. The film was a remake the 1972 film of the same name by Wes Craven. Paxton said her role in this film was both mentally and physically challenging. Paxton also revealed that she took on this role because she was looking for a part with more substance and dimension. She was tired of the fluffy and lightweight comedic roles and did not want to be tied down to playing one type of role.

Acting is Sara Paxton’s first passion, but she also loves to sing. She recorded a song for the “Aquamarine” soundtrack entitled “Connected.” In 2006, she signed a record deal with Epic Records and worked on the title track for the film “Superhero Movie.” Paxton’s debut pop/rock CD entitled “The Ups and Downs” was released in 2007 by Epic records.

Attending college has always been very important to Sara. In 2006, she enrolled in the film studies program at the University of Southern California. Sara believes that it is extremely important for people to broaden their minds by learning. Paxton majored in business and minored in history. Sara is known to be a history buff and fanatic. Sara talked about starting her own production company after graduating from college.

Sara’s other notable films include 1997’s “Liar Liar” which stared Jim Carrey, 2004’s “Sleepover,” and 2006’s “Return to Halloweentown.” She made appearances in hit TV shows such as Lizzie McGuire, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CSI: Miami, Malcolm in the Middle and Will & Grace.

The actress, who is aspired by big screen beauties such as Goldie Hawn and Reese Witherspoon, is a very busy actress these days. Paxton has several films in production or pre-production for this year and next year. Sara speaks fluent Spanish and makes her home in the San Fernando Valley.

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