Just a RegularJOE (3)

Or maybe it's passion
Though still involved in hit RECord and indie cinema, Gordon-Levitt has also found his way into mainstream Hollywood. Keeping one foot in the independent realm, his performances in smaller films like (500) Days of Summer have earned him award nominations. Otherwise, he jumps wholeheartedly into big studio productions like last years's The Dark Knight Rises and Lincoln. But why all the activity?

"I love acting, I love making movies, and that's why I do it. This is a job which I try to get involved with as much as I can." And seeing that he has written, directed, and starred in his current project, no one can accuse him of limited involvement.

Gordon-Levitt often explains his success this way: "I'm really lucky. I'm really grateful... And I love it." True as that may be, can a man with his talents, drive and experience credit his career to luck?

He's thankful for a pioneering grandfather, a supportive family and trusting directors that have given him chances. But he also states: Success is not important to me, nor are power or money." Maybe it's that very perspective that has given him the "lucky" life he has led.

Info Cloud
If you’re looking for an English idiom to describe something that comes easily to you like fame is to Joseph Gordon-Levitt, just remember two things: dessert and simple exercise.

Right. Let’s start with the dessert: easy as pie. And by that, we mean “eating pie,” since making pies requires time, effort and some expertise. For me, there are few things easier than eating a piece of pie.

Hmm… not even eating a piece of cake? Of course, “piece of cake” is one of the more familiar idioms that suggests something took little or no effort.

OK. So that’s the dessert. Now here’s the simple exercise section: a walk in the park. It’s another creative way to express: That was easy.

Good one, Ken. Now let’s combine the dessert and the simple exercise themes for our last “that’s easy” idiom: cakewalk.

“Cakewalk” has an interesting origin. It comes out of 19th century America, and was a form of public entertainment for African Americans. It was something like a dance contest.

That’s right, Ken. The person or couple who had the fanciest or most entertaining footwork actually won a big cake as a prize.

今天這一課有一個子標題:
Joseph Gordon-Levitt makes fame look so easy. 他把成名讓人已為輕而易舉
我們不仿來學幾個表示輕而易舉的片語:
a piece of cake 當做片語表示很容易達成的事
如果你去考試覺得簡單的不得了, 可以說:
That test was a piece of cake. 那個考試簡單的不得了
另外, cakewalk 蛋糕步舞蹈 是19世紀美國黑人以蛋糕步舞蹈做為的獎品遊戲
那這個字現在也用來表示輕而易舉
除了蛋糕也可以用pie來表示, as easy as pie 像pie 一樣容易
這句話不是說pie很好做, 而是說pie 吃起來很輕鬆,
最後, 在公園裡散步應該是很輕鬆很愜意的事,
所以 a walk in the park 指的就是一件很容易辦到的事
Don't worry. It will be a walk in the park.

Grammar Gym
True as that may be: Although that may be true
True as that may be, can a man with his talents, drive and experience credit his career to luck?
- The traffic jam was really bad; true as that may be, Gray could have come to work earlier.
- The team is running out of time; true as that may be, the team members should continue to work out a solution.


Language Lab
indie adj.
/ˈɪndi/
not connected with or created by a major producer of music or movies

mainstream adj. 主流的 [main 主要的/ stream 潮流]
- The director's first mainstream Hollywood movie was a disaster.
這位導演第一部的主流好萊塢電影是個大災難
mainstream n. 主流
- The policy is to help minorities enter the mainstream of America.
這個政策是要幫幫助少數minorities 進入美國主流

realm n
/ˈrɛlm/.
1 : an area of activity, interest, or knowledge
2 : a country that is ruled by a king or queen

nomination n. 提名
the act of officially suggesting someone or something for a position, duty, or prize, or the fact of being suggested for it;
the name of a book, film, actor etc that has been suggested to receive an honour or prize
- The film got six Oscar nominations.
這部電影得到了六項奧斯卡提名
nominate v. 
- Dave was nominated as the chairman of the committee.
Dave 被提名為委員會的主席
被提名的人叫做 nominee 
- All the nominees for this award happen to be female.
這項獎項剛好所有的侯選人都是女的

wholeheartedly adv.
wholehearted adj. 
having or showing no doubt or uncertainty about doing something, supporting someone, etc.  

credit v.
credit to someone or something 歸功給某個對象
if something is credited to someone or something, they have achieved it or are the reason for it
- Steve credits his success to his colleagues.
Steve 把這個成功歸功給他的同事
credit n. 讚揚, 認可
approval or praise that you give to someone for something they have done
- It's unfair to take all the credit for yourself. We work as a team.
把功勞都歸給你是不公平的, 我們是一個團隊一起工作的

supportive adj.給予支持的, 給予幫助的 [support v. 支持]
giving help or encouragement to someone
- Vivian's husband has been very supportive of her career.
Vivian 的丈夫一直都很支持她的事業
supporting adj. 搭配的
having a less important part than the main actor or actress
- the best supporting actress 最佳女配角


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