Issue 6: New Year, New Me?
11/5/25
“Enjoy where you are”
Hi, and welcome to the sixth installment of “Pretty in Print”. Each week, we explore the headlines, share the critiques, and romanticize our lives. So grab your chai, get comfy, and let’s dive in!
The Scoop
Influencer Alix Earle was seen with Tom Brady in St. Barths after recently calling it quits with her ex-boyfriend of two years and football player Braxton Berrios. (Source)
Fans are torn on the Stranger Things finale, marking the end of the franchise after ten years on Netflix. (Source)
Steffon Diggs, the Patriots’ wide receiver, is facing assault and strangulation charges against his live-in chef, Mila Adams. (Source)
Taylor Swift was seen with Stevie Nicks as a guest for Este Haim’s New Year’s Eve wedding. (Source)
Dove Cameron and Damiano David announced their engagement via Instagram on January 3rd. (Source)
The Critics’ Choice Awards reveal their 2026 winners:
One Battle After Another: Best Picture
Timothée Chalamet (Marty Supreme): Best Actor
Jessie Buckley (Hamnet): Best Actress
Chic Critique
How A24 Is Changing The Future of Cinema.
Movies are boring. Since early 2020, it’s just been a never-ending series of sequels, continuations, and just bad movies. The plot was either revealed in the trailer, it was poorly written, or it was just an all-around snooze-fest. It just felt like the movie industry was more focused on profit (the never-ending cycle of sequels and prequels) than on producing high-quality movies.
Now I know the title of this section is ambitious, but without a doubt, I believe A24’s movies are single-handedly (or playing a major role) in helping movies escape from their sleep-inducing rut. Obviously, there have been good movies to come out aside from A24, which, if you don’t know, is a New York-based entertainment company known for films such as Midsommar, Moonlight, and most recently, Marty Supreme.
But in my opinion, some of the most interesting and adventurous movies that have come out recently have been from A24. Take the Oscar-winning film Everything, Everywhere, All at Once as an example. The film is undoubtedly adventurous, from its concept to its costume design, to even its use of metaphors to ponder the meaning of life. As said in a review by owen is a filmaholic “it liberates the audience from the shackles of logic, sanity, and mediocre filmmaking.”
The film took risks in all aspects, which was ultimately loved by the audience. It was talked about online for weeks and even months; garnered the entertainment company 397 wins according to IMDb, and was rated a 4.3 on Letterboxd (which roughly translates to cinematic masterpiece). The public’s love of the movie is proof that the people yearn for creativity, and A24 is willing to provide.
The company averages a release of 18-24 movies a year. Some of them don’t perform well, like Opus and Dwayne Johnson's The Smashing Machine. But even so, they are still adventurous movies that challenge the norm of filmmaking. Looking ahead to 2025, A24 has been hyping up the release of their movie Marty Supreme. The film starring Timothée Chalamet has gotten people excited like never before.
Whether due to the marketing, stacked list of actors, or the prospect of the movie itself, the film company has brought back excitement. TikToks were circulating of people expressing more excitement for Marty Supreme than celebrating Christmas Day! I mean, if people are so excited for a movie that there are edits coming out from just a trailer, it has to be a sign that they are doing something right. Although the box office hasn’t caught up, the idea that the movie has created excitement and packed movie theaters at a time when there are normally five people in the theater is telling.
It’s telling us the people want excitement, they want creativity, and they want something new. And I believe A24 is willing to deliver. That’s why in the theater, even though there were five A24 trailers back-to-back, I wasn’t annoyed. I was inspired. The company shows a dedication to the true meaning of film: ART. And I believe for that reason, they will be a part of the future of cinema.
The Hot List
How Rachel Sennott Proves That Being Chronically Online Is A Superpower.
To the average person, a screentime of eight hours seems slightly concerning. In I Love LA, Rachel Sennott proves that being chronically online can actually be a superpower. The HBO show was created by the Gen Z phenomenon, Rachel Sennott. The show follows a friend group navigating social media, friendship, love, and career, all while living in the city of angels, aka Los Angeles.
The core friend group is played by Rachel Sennott, True Whitaker, Jordan Firstman, and Odessa A’zion. The show quickly grew popular on social media for its niche references and relatability to the current generation. In the final episode, when Charlie wore the “Can you quiz me on ocean facts?” shirt, a reference to “fish girl” from the viral Buzzfeed video, there was a collective smile on everyone’s face (to be specific, everyone with an insane screentime).
But in all seriousness, I think that I Love LA is more than just a funny show, I think it clearly shows our generation that growing up online is not the setback everyone makes it out to be. Because of our access, we have learned to adapt and develop our creativity like never before. Sennott is proof that powerful messages can be delivered in a way that embraces the generation’s love for social media. It’s evidence that humor and impact can coincide and that Gen Z is breaking boundaries for what it means to be a creative.
The show could have been a flashy and surface-level telling of life in LA, but instead, it touched on topics that can be relatable to anyone born after 1995. Finding a good job is hard, and even harder in the area you're passionate about. Adulting is hard when the world seems stacked against you. And all of these messages are delivered in a way that seems to be tailored for our generation to understand.
All in all, I think the comedy is endearing, and Rachel Sennott can artfully develop the messages of growing up in an age of uncertainty. But most importantly, I think it can also act as inspiration. The time we are spending online can be important. It can be channeled into what we love. If you love scrolling on art TikTok, create your own instead of consuming. Or if you know a bunch of niche references, make it into merch that you know people will definitely buy. Or if, like me, you like knowing everything going on in Hollywood and yapping about it, start a Substack and write. Take those eight hours of screentime and make it your superpower. You're going to be doomscrolling anyway, so why not have fun with it?
Sof’s Edit
My Goals for 2026
For this issue’s Sof’s Edit, I thought I would list my top 5 goals for 2026, because I figure if I share them with everyone here, I have no choice but to follow through. By the end of 2026, I’m going to look back at this article and, for once (hopefully), I’ll be able to say that I accomplished all my goals for the New Year.
Complete at least one 75 Hard-Ish
My best friend and I mutually agreed to start a 75 Hard-Ish with the rules of working out 4-5 times a week, reading for ten minutes a day, journaling, eating better, and making sure we spend time outside. My intention with this goal is to prove to myself that I can be consistent when it comes to my own self-care.
Watch 150 movies
2026 is looking like a great year for cinema. From Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, to Avengers Doomsday, to Dune: Part Three, all of which are movies I want to watch. Aside from that, there are so many classics I want to catch up on. I basically just want to max out my Letterboxd this year.
Read 12 books
One book for every month. I’ve found that in the past few years, I’ve stopped reading so much, and this is coming from the person who used to read five books in one week. So, as we move on to 2026, I want to make sure I feed the part of me that loves lying down with a good book. And if there are any good movies or books you recommend, drop a comment!
Have more audacity
Sometimes I let the fear stop me from doing what I want to. Fear of failure and judgment are two very strong forces. But it doesn’t do anything but hold me back. So in 2026, I am going to try to have more audacity in all aspects of my life.
Don’t just wish for it, work for it
That’s my mantra for 2026. I have big dreams and a lot of Pinterest boards, but as I mentioned in my 3rd Love Notes & Lessons, sometimes I tend to dream more than I do. And that’s why this year I’m actually working towards my goals. Hence, writing this at 1:22 AM on a Monday. But I’m declaring it now, this is the year my dreams come true!
So those are my dreams, and in 360 days, let’s hope I accomplish them.
Thanks for tuning in to this week’s issue of Pretty in Print. This week’s Pretty Playlist Pick is 3 Strikes by Terror Jr (In honor of 2026 being the new 2016).