While Gaza is suffering under Israeli siege and Fatah-Hamas fighting getting uglier with an upcoming elections, a group of Palestinian women organizes one of a kind cultural event.While Gaza is suffering under Israeli siege and Fatah-Hamas fighting getting uglier... more
Mobile, Alabama based independent filmmaking group Fighting Owl Films is set to produce an independent feature in the city utilizing local talent. The feature, titled “The Night Shift”, is based on Fighting Owl Films' short film of the same name which proved an online hit, was positively reviewed in "Fangoria" magazine's online edition earlier in 2009 and has screened in several festivals across the United States.
A supernatural adventure-comedy, “The Night Shift” centers on Rue Morgan, the undead night watchman at Pinewood Oaks Cemetery. Rue, along with his buddy Herb, a limbless corpse, spends his nights trying to keep the cemetery’s cantankerous residents in, and his days dreaming of a date with hard-nosed day-shifter, Claire. It’s an okay afterlife until a scourge of supernatural occurrences leave Rue not only watching the cemetery, but also watching his back!
The short film’s positive reception coupled with the disillusionment with Hollywood’s current output of remakes and reboots encouraged the filmmakers to pursue their dream of turning the original “The Night Shift” into a feature length adventure film. Thomas Smith, the film’s writer/director and co-producer, is hoping to recapture some of the cinematic magic of the 80s Amblin films he grew up with that had a lasting influence.
“Growing up as a child of the 80s, the world depicted on film had a completely different atmosphere,” Smith says. “The films possessed a graininess and lived-in look that added an extra dimension of realism. There also seemed to be a greater emphasis on character and storytelling and less of the headache-inducing flash and sensory overload that’s become so commonplace today. It was the era of ‘Gremlins’, ‘Ghostbusters’ and ‘Indiana Jones’, films everyone could enjoy, not just children or adult audiences. That’s what we’re hoping to recapture with ‘The Night Shift’.”
The independent feature has secured its cast. Returning from the short to reprise their roles of Rue Morgan, Claire Rennfield and Herbie West are Khristian Fulmer, Erin Lilley and Soren Odom, respectively. New additions to the cast include Andrew Crider as Adramalech, the villainous vengence demon with an affinity for western wear, Jordan Woodall as Curly and Jonathan Pruitt as the mysterious Captain Roderick Blake. The film, currently in pre-production, is expected to begin shooting in May 2010.
The Ambassador of Taiwan His Excellency Mr. Wenchyi Ong said that beside its unifying force a good film can easily strike a chord in the viewer. He was formally inaugurating the festival of films from Taiwan at Asian Academy of Film & Television. Family value, respect for the elderly, belief in democracy and diversity, working as a team and attaching importance to spiritual life are the dominant commonalities between the people of Taiwan and India he added. In his introductory remarks Prof. Sandeep Marwah said that watching films from Taiwan would indeed be a refreshing experience for the students. The Ambassador disclosed that he has invited the well known Taiwanese Director Ang Lee to make his next film in India and hoped that collaboration with Indian film producers will lead to making great films to tell the world remarkable stories of both India and Taiwan. The Ambassador of Taiwan accepted the life membership of International Film & Television Club on this occasion. Later he spoke to Noida people through Radio Noida 107.4 FM.The Ambassador of Taiwan His Excellency Mr. Wenchyi Ong said that beside its unifying... more
In the this episode of The Rotten Tomatoes Show, Brett Erlich and Ellen Fox lead ensemble reviews of "Michael Jackson's This is It," "The House of the Devil," and "Gentlemen Broncos," Ellen celebrates "This Is It" by breaking down the Top 5 Worst Actor/Musicians and Brett takes us out to the ball game with his new song, "Last Second Plays."
The Rotten Tomatoes Show is a movie review show that airs on Thursday nights at 10:30 e/p on Current TV. From reviews of the newest releases to commentary on cult favorites and movie trends, each episode of The Rotten Tomatoes Show is a fast-paced, comedic journey through the week in cinema.
On January 28, 2010, eight Sundance ‘10 filmmakers will take their films from San Franciso, CA to Brooklyn, NY and beyond. Dubbed Sundance Film Festival U.S.A, the new initiative is being pitched by the festival as “a night of ideas across the country.”
In Park City on that night, the event will be anchored by the North American premiere of Michael Winterbottom and Mat Whitecross’s “The Shock Doctrine,” based on the Naomi Klein book, featuring a screening of the film and a deeper discussion lead by Robert Redford.
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Sundance will "dispatch eight other festival films"to the other eight locations around the United States.
It's an interesting concept and one that'll happen in the middle of the festival, so who knows if "buzz films" will be shipped out or how this will work.On January 28, 2010, eight Sundance ‘10 filmmakers will take their films from San... more
Wow, ‘Alien’ Artist H.R. Giger was asked to design the Batmobile? See the results and read other little tid-bits of film news by clicking on the link!Wow, ‘Alien’ Artist H.R. Giger was asked to design the Batmobile? See the results... more
Catherine Bauknight's feature documentary film, "Hawai`i A Voice For Sovereignty", has been awarded the Best Documentary Feature Film and Best Environmental Film awards at the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival.
"I'm incredibly happy to have received recognition from such a prestigious film festival in New York.", Bauknight says. "These awards are certainly of importance to the film, but more importantly, to the Hawaiian people. They have put a lot of their heart and soul into this documentary to get their message out to the world for sovereign rights in their homeland.
"To have a venue such as New York appreciate the importance of the Hawaiian culture, their relationship to the land, and their concern for the environment, is outstanding.
"The world is becoming aware of the Native Hawaiians and the importance of their magnificent culture! Aloha Ke Akua," she stated.
Earlier this year, at the Maui Flm Festival, Bauknight's film was presented with The Audience Award - Best Hawai`i Film.
Next be screening will be Nov. 4, 2009 at the American Film Market in Los Angeles for worldwide distribution.http://FreeHawaii.Info
Catherine Bauknight's feature documentary film, "Hawai`i A... more
French photographer Guy Bourdin, one of my faves, was a master of composition and color, who not only took incredible still photographs of women but also transcended his visual art onto film using super 8s.
Bourdin's strong color contrast, highly sexualised photographs of beautiful girls is like soft porn with a dark and sinister edge. His other worldly creations are nothing short of being shocking, provocative and surreal.
His experimental films retain the same surrealism as his photographs but some offer a softer, more poetic character study of his subjects.
Bourdin is regarded as a highly influential fashion photographer whose work can clearly be seen resonating in many of the new and young fashion photographers of today.French photographer Guy Bourdin, one of my faves, was a master of composition and... more
If there is one man that understands the lust women have for shoes its this man himself.
Ask any female who is sitting right next to u now and prepare to witness how sexually charged she becomes (blood pumping, faster breathing) as she screams in orgasmic glory: CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN!
His shoes are pure sexual beauties. Perfection. The cut is ALWAYS right. The man knows EXACTLY what to expose, how to elongate the legs, how to make you WANT to suffer in 6 inch pencil thin stilettos. Basically, LOUBOUTIN = SEX
And now, he's going behind the camera for his film debut which he wrote and directed inspired by Hitchcock's Psycho which 'tells the story of a young woman finding her ultimate fantasy... at the new Hollywood Boutique of Christian Louboutin.' HEAVEN!If there is one man that understands the lust women have for shoes its this man... more
Definately one of my faves. This is so hauntingly beautiful. And the colors...oh the colors!Definately one of my faves. This is so hauntingly beautiful. And the colors...oh the... more
This is a totally bad ass collab!
Film shot by one of my favorite photographers, Emma Summerton, for one of my fave London based fashion designers BodyAmr's S/S10 collection.
I love this video because it reminds me of Guy Bourdin's photographic work but its alot darker. This could be a product of Bourdin and David Lynch's sweet film love making. Sexy woman (check), eery (check), mysterious (check), surreal (CHECK!) And the music is spot on! So hauntingly beautiful. Its amazing how powerful music is in setting the right tone for a piece.
Emma has done a series of self portraits using polariods that span about 7 years , she has successfully developed a photographic style of her own but you can definately see the influence of Bourdin in her work.
Incidently, the sexy lady in the film is none other than Emma herself.
Watch the high quality video at www.bodyamr.comThis is a totally bad ass collab!
Film shot by one of my favorite photographers, Emma... more
25th anniversary screening of a truly surreal film
Here's what the NLF wiki has to say:
The plot concerns a young man (Galligan) who dreams of becoming an artist. On returning to his relatives in Manhattan, he finds that the Port Authority has taken control of the city, and is forced to work in a menial job under a trigger-happy boss (Aykroyd). His kindness to a tramp leads him to be taken into an underground network where he discovers that the city's tramps are controlling the destiny of all the cities in the world. They instruct him to travel to the moon on a mission to spread peace and find his true love (Lauren Tom). Galligan accidentally finds a bus travelling to the moon. Bill Murray plays the bus conductor.lunartinis!
a bus to the moon!
directed by tom schiller (SNL's schiller's reel)... more
Escalator etiquette in most countries tends to match the rules of the road. In New York and Taipei, motorists and escalator users keep to the right, while in Singapore and Tokyo both keep to the left.
So why do passengers on the London Underground stand on the right-hand side of escalators when the rules of the road dictate that we drive on the left?
The mystery has been solved by a silent film from the 1920s that has been restored recently for The Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival.
A visual joke in Underground, the first film to use extensive footage of the Tube, shows how the design of early escalators meant that it was important to step off with the right foot.
Unlike modern “comb” escalators, where the end of the moving stairway is at right angles to the direction of travel, older “shunt” escalators ended with a diagonal so that the stairway finished sooner for the right foot than for the left.
The idea was to allow passengers to keep their left foot on a moving stairway as they stepped off with their right.
Passengers who chose not to walk down the escalators were asked to stand on the right so that anyone wishing to overtake them at the end would be able to take advantage of the extra section of moving stairway.
When Underground was released in 1928, most Londoners were familiar with escalators but Asquith was the first film director to make them an important part of the plot.
Underground will receive a gala performance as part of The Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival on Friday at the Queen Elizabeth Hall.Escalator etiquette in most countries tends to match the rules of the road. In New... more
Irony, thy name is the International Cinematographer’s Film Festival in Macedonia.
Or, as the festival director said:
"Macedonia does not have an extradition treaty with America."
Of course, in the future, festivals courting directors by claiming "we don't have extradition treaties with America" may not exactly be the best place to show your film.Irony, thy name is the International Cinematographer’s Film Festival in Macedonia.... more
Houston We Have A Problem is a feature documentary about America's voracious appetite for oil from the insider's perspective of the Energy Capital of the World - Houston Texas. The film explores our dangerous addiction to oil through candid insights from the Barons, Wildcatters, CEO's and Roughnecks that comprise the world of Big Oil. Oilmen on oil addiction.Houston We Have A Problem is a feature documentary about America's voracious appetite... more
A list of six films from which you can pick and choose your own at-home film festival, including 1989 cyberpunk Japanese classic Tetsuo: The Iron ManA list of six films from which you can pick and choose your own at-home film festival,... more
After weeks of think pieces decrying the 2009 New York Film Festival as too elitist, too arty and too tough for a regular crowd, indieWire's Eugene Hernandez brings 10 questions to the selection committee and Film Society of Lincoln Center programmer Richard Peña.
And they are wonderfully awesome.After weeks of think pieces decrying the 2009 New York Film Festival as too elitist,... more
The master of horror, Svengoolie, will make a red-carpet entrance for his cheering fans to kick off the fourth annual Six Corners Monster Film Festival on Oct. 23 & 25 at the Portage Theater, 4050 N. Milwaukee.
Follow Link for more details.The master of horror, Svengoolie, will make a red-carpet entrance for his cheering... more