I am a very simple man. I write plays, they are performed, people throw tomatoes at my actors and I. Predictably, I save all the good roles for myself. I can do that you know, being the playwright. Day after day I arrive at the theater. I do the same thing for the same amount of time until I get to go home. Then the play is performed. I write another play and everything happens again. What a boring life! I have no spirit. The only feeling I have is when I am on stage. There I can be someone else. There, I don’t have to worry about a thing except for what my character is worrying about. It is so refreshing to be someone other than myself. Who would want to be me? I have an ugly wife who I hate. I had three children until my son died and I make a mere pittance for the plays that I write. I wish I could do something, be something more. Have more fun with my life. Maybe it wasn’t worth it anymore. Why should I do something that gets me nowhere? Playwrights are condemned, ridiculed and did I mention the money was shit? I think it might be better for me to be a shoemaker. Everyone needs shoes. Shoes are absolutely necessary. I’d be able to make money for my own purposes and send the rest off to my children. I’ve decided! I’m tired of this playwrighting. I give up as of tonight.
Well, as they say (I’m not really sure who….), be careful what you wish for.
After rehearsal (my last rehearsal), I went to the pub. I had a few tankards, ate some food and was sitting there, minding my own business when a man arrived and came to sit next to me. He seemed vaguely familiar but he was wearing the oddest of clothes. I’d never seen clothes like that. The slacks were long, the man had no stockings and the shirt had the oddest things keeping it together. He was wearing a heavier version of his shirt and had the shiniest shoes on (just think! I could have made them). The strangely dressed man ordered ale and glanced at me periodically. Eventually he said, “Hello there, friend.”
I responded, “I’m not quite sure who you are, therefore I do not believe we are friends.”
The man said, “My name is William and I have come from far away to meet you. You see, you may not know me, but I know you. You are William Shakespeare. The greatest playwright the world has ever known. I am teaching Much Ado About Nothing to my students right now actually.” His eyes looked huge, almost as though he could not believe he was sitting next to me, a playwright turned shoemaker.
I replied, “I don’t believe you have the right man. Yes, my name is William Shakespeare but I have only written three plays as of now. And I do not play to write anymore. The pay is horrible, the prestige is nonexistent and it is so monotonous. I have decided to become a shoemaker. I like your shoes by the way. Maybe you can teach me to make them. I’d like to learn. They would be very popular. “ Well, the look on his face can only be described as shock and horror mixed together. He looked down to his shoes then up to my face, repeated this motion and then started laughing. He laughed so hard, I though ale was going to come out of his nose. Then he said, “You are joking, you must be. It is not possible for you to be anyone else. You are William Shakespeare. I programmed the machine to take me here. You are supposed to be in the middle of writing The Taming of the Shrew. What year is it?”
“It is the year of our lord one thousand five hundred ninety two.”
“Truly? And you believe are going to give up? You haven’t even thought of King Lear. Oh! Oh no! This just won’t do. You absolutely need to continue writing. Did you not hear me when I said that you are going to be one of the most famous playwrights the world has ever seen? You will be. I know it.”
“Well, I can take you to my theater. You can tell my group and see how it goes. I bet you last no more than ten minutes in there. They will laugh you out of the building. And how, pray tell, can you know that I will even be remotely famous? I can barely pay for my house.”
“I, Mr. Shakespeare, am from the future. 2011 to be exact. I am a professor of Shakespearean literature at the Oxford University. I have devoted my life to your works, as have many of my friends and colleagues. I am teaching one of your plays to my students right now, Much Ado About Nothing. I suppose you have no idea what I am talking about since that play was written after this. How else would I know that Richard III and Henry VI Parts 1,2,3 were your most successful plays to date and after those you wrote Titus Andronicus, The Comedy of Errors, The Taming of the Shrew and The Two Gentlemen of Verona.”
“I supposed you attend the theatre often.” I responded offhandedly.
“No, I know all of your plays inside out. “Now is the winter of our discontent made glorious summer by this son of York, and all the clouds that loured upon our house in the deep bosom of the ocean buried.”(I.i.1-4) That is the opening line to Richard III. How would I know that line, word for word, if I did not teach it countless times before? You are THE William Shakespeare. The world loves and adores your stories brought forth in plays because they are timeless.”
Then I woke up. I supposed that was one of the oddest dreams I have ever had but it has helped me. I do not want to be a shoemaker. I am a playwright. I doubt I will be world famous but I love to do it. I am William Shakespeare, and I have a new idea for a play. It shall be called A Midsummer Night’s Dream.


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Lyric Theatre Company presents “Into the Woods”
November 10 @ 7:30 pm - 10:00 pm
Lyric Theatre Company presents the Tony award winning timeless tale of Into the Woods as part of their 49th season. This sophisticated musical features everyone’s favorite storybook characters, intertwining their quests as they explore the consequences of having their wishes granted.
The story follows a Baker and his wife, who wish to have a child; Cinderella, who wishes to attend the King’s Festival; and Jack, who wishes his cow would give milk. When the Baker and his wife learn that they cannot have a child because of a Witch’s curse, the two set off on a journey to break the curse. Everyone’s wish is granted, but the consequences of their actions return to haunt them later with disastrous results as the lines between good and evil become blurred.
Lyric Theatre Company is honored to bring this work to our audiences on the Flynn Main Stage at a time when it is so important to celebrate the life and genius of Stephen Sondheim.
Audio description will be available for the Sunday matinee and ASL interpretation will be offered Saturday evening. Anyone seeking ASL interpretation should call the Flynn Box Office directly to order tickets at 802-863-5966.
Thursday, November 10, through Sunday, November 13, 2022
Evening performances Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
Matinees on Saturday and Sunday at 1:00 p.m.


Dead By Daylight Teases Sadako Yamamura of Ringu As the Next Iconic Killer
When it comes to asymmetrical horror games, one of the ones that have managed to stand the test of time is Dead by Daylight. Starting out as a game with custom characters and killers, each with its own special backstories. Developer, Behavior Interactive, has started working with big names in horror to bring some of their characters to the title. The game is now filled with a gallery of extremely well-known killers, as well as their protagonists. Laurie Strode and Micheal Myers of Halloween, Freddy Kruger and Quentin Smith of Nightmare on Elm Street, Pinhead of Hellraiser, Leatherface from Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and even special survivor characters like Ash Williams and Bill Overbeck. Guest characters have become the norm for Dead by Daylight, and now, there’s a plan to include a new character, a character that doesn’t seem like it would be a fit for the visceral title Dead by Daylight is known for, Ringu.
Dead by Daylight’s Ringu Teaser
The teaser is short but sweet, with the trailer taking the perspective of the first person. The person in the video has just finished repairing one of the generators in the game and then turns around to see the well from the novel. In which the collaboration is revealed. However, this collaboration isn’t a normal collaboration with a film franchise. Dead by Daylight isn’t going to be getting a crossover with The Ring, they’re getting a crossover with Ringu, the original novel by Koji Suzuki, as well as the original 1998 Japanese adaptation of the film.
How The Book and Film can Influence Gameplay
With the new chapter being a mix between both the original film and the novel, players are going to have to familiarize themselves with the source material. Luckily, looking into the original story and the film that it’s tied with may be a good way in discovering what’s going to come in the chapter as well.
The original book Ringu, written by Koji Suzuki, tells the story of a newspaper reporter named Kazuyuki Asakawa, who comes across an unmarked videotape while investigating the death of 4 teenagers, one of whom he was the uncle of. After watching the tape, he discovers that he has only 7 days to live. Which then starts a race against the clock to uncover the mystery of this tape, discover who’s the woman in the video is, and hopefully cheat death in the process.
There are other characters in the film and the novel as well, such as Ryuji Takayama, who’s the secondary protagonist helping Asakawa survive past the 7 days claimed by the tape.
And the final most important character in the book is Sadako Yamamura, the girl in the video, and the psychic cause of the killer tape in the book. Sadako being one of the characters Dead by Daylight is going to add in the upcoming Ringu chapter.
With this in mind, Asakawa may be going to be the survivor for this chapter, while Ryuji could be a character that’s one of the legendary costumes for the chapter as well.
However, Sadako’s abilities in the book probably won’t be what’s going to be used in the game. In the book, Sadako isn’t the actual antagonist of the story. She is the catalyst, for creating the tape, and the effects of the tape are the true culprit. In the film, Sadako can traverse through the Televisions of whoever watches the tape to take their life. How Sadako does it in the films isn’t something that’s outright mentioned. However, in Dead by Daylight, the killer’s powers are something that’s implemented into the gameplay. Sadako’s M.O. is to give players a set time limit before killing them, as well as her ability to teleport around through objects like in the cursed tape, it will be interesting to see how this will be applied. This could also function similarly to the way that Freddy Kruger plays, with a separate world mechanic.
There’s still a lot of time until the chapter comes out, as it’s slated to release sometime in March of 2022, so players will be able to theorize how the character plays, and what their perks could be.


Recently, my wife and I saw the film, Mr. Popper’s Penguins. It’s apparently based upon a children’s book of the same name, which having never read it, I can’t comment upon.
Having seen the film, I can say this: the movie has heart. And honestly, that’s what’s important to me: how much, or how little, heart a film (or book, or whatever) has. While not a great film, it’s nevertheless a good one–because it has heart. (I realize this is a very subjective opinion, but hey!, it’s my blog). Anyway, it’s better than any film about a man turning his New York penthouse into a penguin house has any right to be.
I say this because again, despite the silliness inherent in the plot, it’s really about a man finding his heart. In fact, the backstory is a sobering, and altogether too real, one: a little boy, Thomas Popper, for all intents and purposes, has grown up without his dad.
This had emotional weight, had resonance, with me–because I grew up much the same: without my dad. I imagine with the divorce statistics being what they are, I’m not alone in this. But I digress.
With this framework, it’s very easy to see how the character of Thomas Popper turned out as he did: shallow, an overachiever, disconnected from his kids, divorced, and lonely.
And what did it take to break through his defenses, his carefully constructed veneer? Penguins. Penguins sent as a final gift from his explorer father. Thomas Popper learned, for once, to care about something–or someone–other than himself.
I see this altogether too often in children of divorce, this drive to protect the self. Indeed, I’ve lived it. But again, I digress.
In learning to care for the penguins, Tom found something fragile and unexpected: his heart. And in so doing, he found his way back home–past his careful constructed persona, and into the arms, and hearts, of his children and ex-wife.
In finding his heart, he got the one thing he always wanted, but dared not hope for: a second chance.
And like It’s a Wonderful Life before it, that’s a beautiful thing.
Thanks for reading!
Question: have you seen this movie? What do you think of it? How have you reclaimed your heart?


Dec 14, 2012. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey showtimes at an AMC movie theater near you. Get movie times, watch trailers and buy tickets.
J.R.R. Tolkien’s own description for the original edition: "If you care for journeys there and back, out of the comfortable Western world, over the edge of the Wild, and home again, and can take an interest in a humble hero (blessed with a little wisdom and a little courage and considerable good luck), here is a record of such a journey and such a traveler.
Nov 6, 2014. Why wait or the official release of Peter Jackson's The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies trailer later today when you can watch the leaked.
Riddick’s trailer No. 1 (842,625/18.9 million), The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug’s international trailer No. 1 (839,614/29.2 million), 47 Ronin’s trailer No. 1 (809,013/8.4 million) and We’re the.
Rocky Horror Picture Show Stage Production The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a cult classic and a go-to movie for. The movie is based on the 1973 stage production. And so, many of the original stage actors are featured in the movie. Other. Just in time to inspire lots of kinky Halloween costumes, "The Rocky Horror Show" will. were also brisk
Dec 18, 2012. Best-selling author Timothy Ferriss has used trailers to promote two of his books: “The 4-Hour Body” and “The 4-Hour Chef” (below).
3D Ext Edition Feature + NZ Trailer BD 2: 3D Ext Edition Feature BD 3: 2D Ext Edition Feature + Filmmaker’s Commentary BD 4: • “The Appendices Part 7 – A Long Expected Journey: The Chronicles of The.
4.1, 3.7K Ratings Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson returns to Middle-earth with the first of three films based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s enduring masterpiece. Set in Middle-earth 60 years before the epic Lord of the Rings trilogy, the adventure follows the journey of Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom from the fearsome dragon Smaug.
The first teaser trailer for ‘The Hobbit: Battle Of The Five Armies’ was released on July 28 and looks exciting and action-packed!
English Literature Reading List High School Theme Of And Then There Were None By Agatha Christie For an unforgettable adventure on a budget, a train trip across Europe can’t be beat. Better yet, it can be pretty luxurious. FOR SALE – San Diego, CA – Agatha Christie NEW- perfect condition BUYER WILL PAY FOR POSTAGE IF MAILED Price: $5. Agatha Christie’s
Kelvarhin – Why are Leggie’s ears less pointed than Tauriel’s? ImladrisRose – His new eyes make it look like Orly is playing a different Elven prince who likes to dress up as Legolas…. Garfeimao – Is.
"The Battle of the Five Armies" is the third of "The Hobbit" trilogy and is a tale of a burglar hobbit and his band of dwarves. The film is set to internationally release in mid-December.
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest.
Following the first clip that debuted last month, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has released the first trailer for The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Extended Edition, which arrives on Blu-ray.
Oct 08, 2013 · TORn’s official frame-by-frame analysis of trailer two for The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug!
This week on The Collision, we have a super-sized episode as we talk about The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies as. and Upset” at Not Getting to Star in ‘Joker’ ‘Toy Story 4’ Alternate Ending.
Jun 12, 2013. The new trailer for director Peter Jackson's "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" finally gives us a good look at the dragon who lends his.
Bottom line. The Hobbit is a well designed, solid little cast iron wood stove full of features. It performs well and fits the smallest of spaces. The stove has a long list of features including a top and rear flue.
Elessar: Bilbo’s trolls come to life. Who hasn’t wanted to see this after years of reading about it and even what you get from The Lord of the Rings. This to me will be one of THOSE moments we’ll all.
Today we have (more) news of the related video-game in the form of a LEGO The Hobbit trailer. In the game. Instead, and like Lego Marvel Heroes, it comes to Xbox One, PlayStation 4 alongside.
Furthermore, there are no orcs in The Hobbit. Period. Despite my deep-seated issues with the movies, I’ve seen the first two at midnight, and enjoyed them as originals instead of adaptations. I was.
The Hobbit. First official trailer! Marvel Ultimate Alliance – Comic Con Trailer – Developers Raven Software& Barking Lizards Technologies – Director Dan Vondrak – Designer Keith Fuller – Programmer Dan Edwards – Artist Dan Hay – Writer Robert Love – Publisher Activision – Vicarious Visions
Sep 01, 2019 · "The Hobbit" returns to the big screen for the much anticipated sequel in the three-film series. Here’s the latest adventure from Middle Earth in the newest trailer of "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug." [email protected], October 4, 2013
The Hobbit Movies In Order The Hobbit is a movie trilogy that acts as a prequel to the popular Lord of the Rings trilogy. It takes place 60 years before “The Fellowship of the Ring”, and serves the purpose of filling in details that previously went unexplained.
As we’ve reported on numerous occasions, The Hobbit will be broken into two. as Oscar Buzz Grows Netflix Premieres First Trailer for Eerie Cannes Grand Prix Winner, ‘Atlantics’ Watch the ‘Toy Story.
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more.
You can see in this clip from The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug trailer, there is some machine like a ballista. 2 meters, this would give a volume of 5.96 x 10-4 +/- 4.26 x 10-4 m 3 (using the.
Shakespeare In The Bush Sparknotes McAdams argues that Bush sought to impose his own redemptive narrative on the entire world through his "freedom agenda" and the war on terrorism. The book suffers from banality ("Shakespeare was. Shakespeare in the Bush: How Will Hamlet Go Down in the Congo? | Ravishly. November 2019. The Globe Theatre troupe is taking the man
Shakespeare Othello Act 1 Summary Besides the "Royal Rumble," the students play off scenes from Shakespeare’s "As You Like It," A Midsummer Night’s Dream," Two Gentlemen of Verona, "MacBeth," "King Lear," "Othello" and more. Each of. From the start of Shakespeare’s Othello, Iago has a strong dislike for Othello. Immediately, he attempts to get Othello in trouble with Desdemona’s father.
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies Critics Consensus Though somewhat overwhelmed by its own spectacle, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies ends Peter Jackson’s second Middle-earth.
Jul 13, 2014. Synopsis & Trailer Release: The Hobbit 3: Battle Of the Five Armies. season 3 episode and the upcoming season 4 just to help fans until they.
LEGO The Hobbit will be based on the first two films of The Hobbit Trilogy, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and the upcoming The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug, a production of New Line Cinema and.
The official trailer for the final movie in the “Hobbit” trilogy drew 17.3 million views in the period, while two separate “Hunger Games: Mockingjay” trailers had 15.4 million and 13.7 million views.
Dec 14, 2012. So I'm awfully pleased to say it—The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. 4) The movie is at its best when you haven't reread the story recently.
Charles Dickens Left Handed In London, there’s a museum dedicated to Charles Dickens. as well – his good friend Florence Nightingale handed out his books to wounded soldiers so they’d have something to enjoy. Dickens even. The Charles Dickens Collection – Kindle edition by Charles Dickens. Born in Portsmouth, Dickens left school to work in a factory when his
All I Ask Of You Andrew Lloyd Webber Instrumental The Museum Of Modern Art Moma In New York City Among the most influential museums of modern art in the world, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City has been closed since mid-June as it undergoes renovations for a highly anticipated. New York’s Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is often considered the
Following up on our recent news that a Norwegian distributor let slip that the main trailer The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies. to watch as early as Monday (Nov 3) or Tues (Nov 4). Fingers.
Lose 10+ kgs in 4 Weeks To stay fit and maintain your shape, a regular workout helps a lot. But when it comes to losing weight and getting back in shape, a regular workout or exercise routine won’t be sufficient. You will have to take it a step further and take care of your diet in order to lose weight. Even the gym instructors would tell you so.
Thorin hasn’t gone totally loopy yet here. Also note, there’s an awful lot of Thorin so far in this trailer. More Thorin than anyone else — especially Bilbo. Is that healthy for a film called The.
Trailer for The Desolation of Smaug – Broken down by TheOneRing.net staff.
Here is the official trailer for J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, an upcoming fan edit that will combine the Hobbit trilogy into a single 4-four film experience.… J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit- Official Trailer on Vimeo
Mar 31, 2014 · We’ve got the trailer of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug – the second part of Peter Jackson’s trilogy adapting J R R Tolkien’s masterpiece. The epic film continues the adventures of Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) as he journeys with the Wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen) and thirteen Dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage.
Oct 15, 2014. THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF FIVE ARMIES – 3 New Banners and 4 New Posters. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies brings to an epic. Stunning New Trailer For Netflix's Epic Fantasy Series THE WITCHER.
And according to sources have informed us of Warner Bros Spain , the highly anticipated first preview of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug will be seen in cinemas from Friday January 4. The advance.
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Sep 19, 2012 · ’The Hobbit’ trailer: A deep dive into the new clip. Hobbit has dwarves! The trailer has a few fun moments with some of the little guys. Sure, they’re all hardboiled warriors. But they’re.
Dec 11, 2012. Finally, a Lord of the Rings trailer that reveals the truth about Middle Earth. Breathe easy, Lord of the Rings diehards, The Hobbit release is only a few. 4. Big Bird, Binders and Bayonets. The 2012 presidential election was.
Nov 14, 2012. Star Trek, Zachary Quinto, Martin Freeman, The Hobbit. Paramount. 14 as an extended trailer that will play before The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. 4. FKA Twigs Speaks Out About "Unmeshing" From Robert Pattinson.
Kelvarhin – Legolas and Tauriel sharing a moment… I can hear the Leggie fangirls screaming. MrCere – Despite the hints dropped in this trailer, I suspect Legolas will admire more than overtly be.
He cut together all ten Star Wars films into one five minute trailer that drew a ton of fan acclaim. He’s also cut other major trilogies, like The Hobbit, making him a notable. It’s the perfect way.


The Nigerian actor Uche Maduagwu is a popular Nigerian actor who has been doing well in the movie industry. The actor has been known for being the male version of Kemi Oluloyo. The controversy that comes with the actor has been something that makes lots of fans come for him and blast him.
Collage photo of Uche, Vee and Erica.
Yesterday November 1 the actor came out on Twitter and started blasting Vee without forgetting to body shame the two aforementioned reality TV stars. The actor made this harsh remark on the reality TV star while praising Erica.
Photo of Actor Uche Maduagwu blasting Vee and body shaming Nengi.
The actor blasted Vee that she can never have a good stand in the nollywood industry. The actor said that Vee’s attitude will not make her make it has a relevant nollywood star unlike Erica. He continued the troll that Vee will always belong to the tail and not the head because Erica is the head.
After Uche finished blasting Vee he went on to body shame Nengi. The actor body shamed Nengi claiming that she is a Bayelsa liposuction academy.


On "The Early Show" Ferrell's described his role in "Everything Must Go" as "unique."
Will Ferrell awarded Mark Twain humor 하동출장샵 prizeWill Ferrell: "Anchorman" sequel still might happen
He explained, "It's basically the story of a guy who finds out in one day that he's fired from his job, after 13, 15 years. Comes home, finds out his wife has left him, he's locked out of his house and all of his personal possessions are thrown on his front lawn. Basically, his life is turned upside down, and instead of kind of fleeing the situation, he decides to essentially live on this front lawn. And in the process of that, he has a yard sale, thus the title 'Everything Must Go' and kind of figures out his life in the process."
Co-anchor Chris Wragge noted the shoot was done in 10 days in Arizona without the flounces of a big production.
Ferrell said he was attracted to that aspect of the independent movie project.
He said, "It was such a unique premise, and it was an opportunity for me to get to do something very real, you know, it's a character that's extremely relatable to everyone."
Wragge remarked, "It's funny because i went into watching this movie not really knowing what it was about, rather and there was times where I wanted to laugh but I wasn't sure if I did laugh and then I did laugh. Then I felt guilty for laughing. But there are some moments that are sort of organically funny in the movie. Not laugh-out-loud hysterics, but you can see the humor."
Ferrell said, "It's a very subtle comedy. At the same time, it's, you know, there's a lot of dramatic moments. And that's what I love about it. It's just a real story, and like real life, there's times when you cry, and times when you laugh. And it kind of encompasses all that."
Wragge noted in the movie Ferrell's character befriends a neighborhood kid that is played by rapper Notorious B.I.G.'s son, Christopher Jordan Wallace.
Pictures: The famous and their feuds
Ferrell said, "We had to audition a bunch of kids for that part and he's kind of -- he's the neighborhood kid who doesn't have anything to do and kind of befriends me, and he's -- he's an excellent actor. And did such a great job."
"Everything Must Go" is now in theaters.


Lord Of The Rings Costume
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|Lord Of The Rings Costume - Lord Of The Rings Legolas Adult Costume Set|
With his keen Elf senses, Legolas is truly a hero of Middle-earth! This great adult costume comes with Legolas's tunic, cape, belt, boot tops, Elf ears, costume Fellowship leaf clasp, and the Legolas wig. Does not include Legolas' bow, quiver, or arrow. Tunic is 36 1/2", chest is 24" and the cape ...
lord of the rings costumes, costume accessories, costume, costume design, costume hats, costume ideas, costume jewelry, costume make upAffiliated Sites


Overall rating: Never in all my years have I watched a movie so downright unexciting, uninteresting and mind-numbing in my entire life. If that’s not a boring film, I don’t know what is. It’s so dull, drab and dreary until it gets to the point where I almost slept through it. In all honesty, I […]Read more "Hook, Line And Stinker"
This is the excerpt for your very first post.Read more "The Powerpuff Girls Annual 2002"


For a very long time, Star Wars creator George Lucas refused to release the rights to the world-famous brand to anyone due to his fear that the storyline and premise would get lost or butchered. When Lucas decided to sell Lucasfilm, including the rights to Star Wars, to Disney in 2012, he knew that it was good hands. It’s been five years, and Disney has already created two smash hits with a third on the way. As a result of their immediate success, Disney has announced that a new Star Wars trilogy would be created from a blank canvas. The possibilities are endless, but if recent history has told us anything, it’s that Disney is going to knock it out of the park.
Director Rian Johnson
Although rumors were circulating that J.J. Abrams would be the ultimate successor of Lucas, after he did a wonderful job with The Force Awakens, Disney decided to go with The Last Jedi director, Rian Johnson. Johnson wrote and directed the most recent edition of the Star Wars saga, which has been critically acclaimed ever since the first trailer premiered on Monday Night Football in October. Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy was quoted saying, “He’s a creative force, and watching him craft The Last Jedi from start to finish was one of the great joys of my career. Rian will do amazing things with the blank canvas of this new trilogy.”
In terms of “blank canvas,” Johnson will be writing and directing the first installment of the new trilogy. It will not follow the same storyline as the current Skywalker saga, but rather, it will feature new characters from “a corner of the galaxy that Star Wars lore has never before explored.” Of course, like with any change, there will be plenty of skepticism surrounding the launch of a new trilogy. All skeptics should wait until December 15, when The Last Jedi hits theaters, to place judgement, because clearly, everyone surrounding the films believes that Johnson is the man for the job. It’s hard to imagine a Star Wars flop, considering The Force Awakens brought in $2 billion worldwide, and spinoff film, Rogue One raked in $1 billion.


Holladay Construction Group completed a project for Covalen Inc. in Fall of 2012 that’s been featured in a documentary.
The documentary tells the story of Covalen’s new office building that required the dis-assembly, movement, renovation and re-installation of an 1890s barn from western Ohio to Indianapolis, IN.
The video is being dedicated to the memory of Amos Schwartz, who planned and coordinated the barn’s move. To finish the project, the owners are using Kickstarter. Check out the rough-cut version of the project, “The Resurrection of a Barn.”
Holladay Construction Group is excited about the video and has pledged to back the documentary project as a “Barn Reclaiming Friend.” We will also attend the Indianapolis film screening and have our name on a plaque hung in the barn.


First Date The Musical is hitting the stage in Charlotte at the Booth Playhouse until November 20, 2016. Then, from Feb-Mar 2017 the musical will play at Jeannette & Jerome Cohen Community Stage At Starlight Theatre in Kansas City, MO.
This Broadway hit is a comedic play about horrific blind dates in the big city. The character Aaron, a nerdy nice guy, is set up on a blind date by his best friend. Although hesitant Aaron agrees to the blind date. When he meets the feisty and aggressive Casey, who is use to dating bad boys, Aaron realizes he’s made a big mistake. However, these two may have more in common than they know. You’ll have to watch to see how the night unfolds.
The entire musical is filled with great songs and music. If you’re looking for a great time and night of fun, then First Date The Musical is just what you need. Come out with your friends or co-workers for an awesome night! Tickets are on sale now. Get your tickets today!


What Hollywood stars are uninsurable?
Lights, camera, insurance?
That phrase may not be quite as snappy, but without insurance to help protect the production’s investors, it’s nearly impossible to make a film or hold a major live event. For any production that features actors, musicians or other types of live entertainment, “artist liability” insurance can help protect the production’s bankrollers from financial damage in the event that the star is not able to complete his role, or if he says or does something damaging that results in a lawsuit against the production company.
But, depending on who’s in the film or event, it’s not always easy to get coverage. And a black mark from an insurance underwriter could spell doom for a star’s career.
Hollywood’s most uninsurable stars
Here’s a look at some celebrities who’ve been considered “uninsurable” by entertainment insurance companies, and why.
Although she originally rose to fame in 1998 playing both of the adorable twins in “The Parent Trap”, Lindsay Lohan’s life has taken a decidedly less wholesome turn in the years since then: She’s been involved in numerous car accidents and DUI incidents; has been arrested for assault; and has been arrested for cocaine use. As a result of her ongoing legal trouble, many film studios have refused to hire her because giving her a role would raise their insurance premiums substantially. In 2010, she was fired from the Linda Lovelace biopic, “Inferno”, for this very reason.
Robert Downey Jr.
Although he’s now the star of the successful “Iron Man”franchise, Robert Downey Jr.’s career seemed done-for after a string of drug busts for cocaine, heroin and Valium between 1996 and 2000. He was able to star in an indie film, “The Singing Detective”, in 2001 only because Mel Gibson, a close friend of his, paid Downey Jr.’s insurance bond for the film. On Downey Jr.’s next film, “Gothika”, producer Joel Silver held onto 40 percent of his salary as insurance, in case the star ran into trouble that shut down the production. (Fortunately, he didn’t.)
You may remember Elliott Gould as Ross and Monica’s father on “Friends”, but back in the 1970s, he was gearing up for a career as one of the hottest stars in Hollywood. However, after allegedly beating up his co-stars and showing up for work high on drugs on the set of the film “A Glimpse of Tiger” in 1971, Warner Brothers Studio shut down the production and put his career on hold. According to Gould, he was considered uninsurable, and couldn’t get another role in a Hollywood production for the following two years.
Although drug abuse is one of the most common causes for a star to be declared “uninsurable,” it’s not the only one. In 2001, Nicole Kidman was experiencing severe knee pain that caused two delays in the production of “Moulin Rouge”, costing $3 million in insurance claims for overtime costs by the studio. Because of her knee problem, the cost to insure Kidman for her next film, “Panic Room”, was allegedly so high that the actress was replaced in the lead role by Jodie Foster, although Kidman has denied that she was fired from the film.
Although the concert promotion group AEG was able to take out an insurance policy for “King of Pop” Michael Jackson, the company was unable to collect on its $17.5 million claim with insurer Lloyd’s of London to reimburse the cost of concert promotion expenses after Jackson’s sudden death from a drug overdose. After investigating the case, an insurance underwriter discovered that AEG had prior knowledge of Jackson’s health issues and drug abuse before the policy was written—and failed to disclose that information to the insurance company.
Lloyd’s of London filed a lawsuit against AEG for failing to disclose the information, but offered to withdraw the suit if AEG dropped the claim, which it did. However, Jackson’s heirs allowed AEG to recover the money they lost due to the cancelled tour from his estate.
The 2012 film, “A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III”, was a huge flop with moviegoers—and its star, Charlie Sheen, didn’t win over insurance agencies, either. The actor, who was fired from the TV show “Two and a Half Men” in 2011 and has had several arrests and public episodes in the months since, was refused insurance for the film. However, director Roman Coppola, a longtime friend of Sheen’s, opted to make the film without insurance. Fortunately, Sheen had no major issues during the filmmaking process—without insurance, the movie might never have happened if anything went wrong.


Lights, camera, action! Have you ever wondered about the behind-the-scenes magic that goes into creating captivating videos? Video directing and production is an enchanting realm where creativity flourishes and imaginations come to life. Not only that, studies have shown video can increase conversion rates up to as much as 80%. From calling the shots to bringing scripts to life, let’s take you the intricacies of video directing and production.
Lights, Camera, Action: Unveiling the Secrets of Video Directing!
Video directing is a fascinating interplay between technical expertise and artistic vision. It is the creative force that brings a script to life and sets the stage for a mesmerizing visual experience. A video director’s role is to guide the entire production, from selecting the perfect camera angles to eliciting captivating performances from the actors. They possess a keen eye for detail, ensuring every shot captures the essence of the story and evokes the desired emotions.
One of the secrets to successful video directing is effective communication. The director must be able to clearly convey their vision to the cast and crew, ensuring everyone is on the same page. They work closely with the cinematographer, production designer, and other members of the team to create a cohesive visual style. Additionally, a skilled director knows how to maintain a positive and collaborative atmosphere on set, fostering creativity and encouraging the best performances from the actors.
From Script to Screen: Embark on an Enchanting Journey of Video Production!
Embarking on the enchanting journey of video production is like watching a script transform into a captivating visual masterpiece. It all begins with the script, the backbone of any video project. The production team collaborates to break down the script into scenes, creating a blueprint for the shoot. Locations are scouted, costumes are designed, and props are meticulously chosen to bring the story to life.
Once pre-production is complete, the production phase commences. This is where the magic happens—lights, cameras, and action! The crew works together like a well-oiled machine, capturing breathtaking visuals and seamless performances. From gripping action sequences to heartfelt dialogues, every moment is carefully crafted to captivate the audience. The cinematographer skillfully captures the director’s vision, using various techniques and camera movements to add texture and depth to the visuals.
The art of video directing and production is an awe-inspiring journey that combines technical prowess with boundless creativity. It is a world where scripts come alive, where emotions are evoked, and where stories unfold in breathtaking ways. So, the next time you watch a mesmerizing video, take a moment to appreciate the magic behind it. From lights to camera to action, video directing and production truly is an enchanting art form that continues to captivate and inspire audiences around the world.


Inaugurated in 1946, the Festival of Cannes is all about the celebration of film. Today, it is an important meeting point for the 12,000 or so “wheelers and dealers” of the film industry. More so a meeting place for the professionals than the punters, for 10 days of the year Cannes is in the spotlight as the stars gather and the directors and producers wait for the jury to pick the winners. If you fancy a spot of glamour in your life, why not head over to Cannes for a chance to mingle amongst the stars and celebrities.
The first edition of the Festival was originally set to be held in Cannes in 1939 under the presidency of Louis Lumière. However, it was not until over a year after the war ended that it finally took place on 20 September 1946. It was subsequently held every September – except in 1948 and 1950 – and then every May from 1952 onwards.
As late as1959 there were only a few dozen participants and one screening room made out of fabric stretched across the top of the old Palais Croisette. This tiny market became the international event it is today: conceived, organised, and planned around one goal: the successful production of all films, created on the initiative of Jean Zay, the then Minister for Education and Fine Arts, who was keen to establish an international cultural event in France to rival the Venice Film Festival.
While early editions of the Festival were primarily a social event from which almost all of the films went away with an award, the appearance of stars from around the world on the Festival’s red carpet and increasing media coverage quickly earned it a legendary international reputation.
In the 1950s, Hollywood became enamoured with everything French and this infatuation blossomed into a wildly popular series of films including An American in Paris, Gigi, and Funny Face. The attendance of the great movie stars such as Kirk Douglas, Sophia Loren, Grace Kelly, Brigit Bardot, Gina Lollobrigida and Cary Grant, and the meteoric career of Brigitte Bardot, ensured that the Cannes Film Festival became part of the international circuit.
Awarded for the first time in 1955 to the film Marty, directed by Delbert Mann, the Palme d’Or replaced the Grand Prix, which had been awarded to the best film In Competition until then.
In the 1960s, two independent selections were created in parallel to the Official Selection: the Semaine Internationale de la Critique in 1962 and the Directors’ Fortnight in 1969. Before 1972, the films that competed in the selection were chosen by their country of origin. From 1972 onwards, however, the Festival asserted its independence by choosing the films that would feature in the Official Selection for itself.
And if you can’t make it to Cannes, you can still be part of the event. Since 2011, the opening film has been released in French cinemas on the same day as its screening at Cannes, and the opening ceremony has been broadcast in cinemas enabling audiences to experience the Festival launch night live.
At Cannes, the Cinéma de la Plage, an outdoor cinema, screens a different film each night - and, since 2010, even the occasional world première – as part of its theme-based programme. These open-air screenings are open to everyone and represent a strong link with the general public.


In today’s digital age, where attention spans are dwindling and content consumption is at an all-time high, video has emerged as the most effective medium for communication. Whether it’s for marketing, training, entertainment, or education, businesses and individuals alike are increasingly turning to video to engage their audiences. However, creating high-quality videos requires expertise, equipment, and a creative vision that not everyone possesses. That’s where a professional video production company comes into play.
Why Hire a Video Production Company?
- Professional Expertise
Producing a captivating video involves a range of skills, from scriptwriting and storyboarding to filming, editing, and post-production. A video production company brings together a team of experienced professionals who specialize in each of these areas. They have a deep understanding of storytelling techniques, cinematography, lighting, sound design, and visual effects. By harnessing their expertise, you can ensure that your video will be polished, engaging, and impactful.
- High-Quality Equipment
Creating professional-grade videos requires specialized equipment that can be expensive to acquire and maintain. A reputable video production company invests in state-of-the-art cameras, lighting gear, sound equipment, and editing software. They also stay up to date with the latest industry trends and technological advancements. By hiring a video production company, you gain access to their top-notch equipment, which significantly enhances the production value of your videos.
- Creative Vision
Crafting a compelling video involves more than just technical expertise; it requires a creative vision that aligns with your goals and resonates with your target audience. A video production company works closely with you to understand your brand, message, and objectives. They bring fresh ideas to the table, translating your vision into a visually captivating story that engages and inspires viewers. Their creative approach and attention to detail ensure that every frame of your video is carefully crafted to evoke the desired emotions and leave a lasting impact.
The Benefits of Hiring a Video Production Company
- Professionalism and Reliability: A video production company operates with a systematic approach, ensuring that your project is completed on time and within budget. They adhere to industry standards and best practices, delivering a high-quality video that reflects positively on your brand.
- Efficiency: With their expertise and streamlined processes, a video production company can efficiently manage the entire production workflow, saving you valuable time and effort. From pre-production planning to filming, editing, and distribution, they handle every aspect, allowing you to focus on other important tasks.
- Scalability: Whether you need a single promotional video or a series of training videos, a video production company can scale its services to meet your requirements. They have the necessary resources and capabilities to handle projects of varying sizes and complexities.
- Creative Collaboration: Working with a video production company is a collaborative process. They involve you at every stage, seeking your feedback and input. This collaboration ensures that the final video aligns with your vision and effectively communicates your message.
Hiring a professional video production company can make all the difference in creating compelling and impactful videos in a world driven by visual content. Their expertise, equipment, and creative vision enable them to transform your ideas into visually stunning stories that captivate your audience. By leveraging their professionalism, efficiency, and scalability, you can elevate your brand, engage your viewers, and achieve your communication goals.


Check out the latest trailer for Disney’s ‘Wreck-It Ralph’ movie trailer. It’s the story of a game villain who’s sick of playing the bad guy and wonders through a variety of arcade games to become a hero. It looks like a decent game-based offering from Disney, with a plethora of game characters putting in cameo appearances. I’ll definitely be taking the kids to see this one!
Daily Archives: October 22, 2012
The latest trailer for Halo 4 is a big budget live action short which has been executive produced by David Fincher (Fight Club, Se7en) and directed by visual FX guru Tim Miller. ‘Scanned’ is a view into the past life and humanity of the Master Chief induced, in the form of a several flashbacks, by an alien enemy as it violates his mind.


The 2022 nominations are out, and, per usual, some people are celebrating while others lament their snubs
“Succession” and “Ted Lasso” dominated major categories. Reacting to his nod for outstanding lead actor, Jeremy Strong said, “It is the role of a lifetime and an immeasurable gift to be part of making this show. I am so proud of my fellow ensemble members and the whole ‘Succession’ family. A wholehearted congratulations to all of my fellow nominees. And as we are in the midst of filming season 4 right now, I’ll just say this: Dad – It’s On.” While many beamed, shows like “Yellowstone” and “This Is Us” were snubbed, as was Selena Gomez in the acting categories (she was nominated as a producer for “Only Murders in the Building.”) Her co-stars Steve Martin and Martin Short were recognized.
Bad Blood? Mickey Rourke is firmly in the “meh” camp in regard to Tom Cruise and his box office draw. While appearing on “Piers Morgan Uncensored,” Mickey was asked his feelings about “Top Gun: Maverick,” which has raked in more than $1 billion at the global box office. “That doesn’t mean s*** to me.


Where is the ending scene casino roysle filmed
Casino Royale trailer gets ... My favourite Bond film My favourite Bond film: Casino Royale. ... Eva Green first burst onto the cinema scene as an oft-nude ...
The 21st film in the most successful film series in cinematic history. ... including the frightening fight scene in the stairway of the Casino where afterwards we see ... Casino Royale thrillingly rebooted James Bond ... - Film - The AV Club 28 Jul 2017 ... Some of the worst Bond movies have some of the best scenes. ... Casino Royale was, of course, Daniel Craig's first shot at playing Bond, and it .... its own kind of gritty reboot, but it comes from the opposite end of the spectrum. Behind The Scenes (5) - Revisit the filming of the Aston Martin stunt ...
Where was filmed movie Casino Royale, cast Daniel Craig, Eva Green, Mads Mikkelsen, Judi Dench. Movie was filmed in 2006, countries of filming locations are United States, Germany, Bahamas, Czechia. Filming Locations of Casino Royale | Stairs in the hotel in Venice | MovieLoci.com
The CASINO ROYALE Watch Trick You Never Saw | Birth.Movies.Death. 17 Nov 2016 ... Today is the tenth anniversary of Casino Royale, a film that reignited many people's ... By the end of the '70s, 007's watch was expected to have a Q ... if you step-frame through the scene and look at Bond's right hand, you'll ... James Bond: Daniel Craig's most famous scene was 'an accident ... 17 Oct 2008 ... The scene in Casino Royale became the most recognisable image of Craig in ... Andress stepped out of the sea in the original Bond film, Dr No.
Where was the opening scene filmed in casino royale?
Blend Film Database. Casino Royale Synopsis.This is the first Bond film actually based on one of Ian Flemings books since 1987.While Daniel Craig is ending his tenure as the deadly agent, it turns out that another popular A-list action star actually turned the role down: Hugh Jackman. Casino Royale
Casino Royale is a fictional casino which first appears in Ian Fleming's 1953 James Bond novel Casino Royale, ... For the official film adaptation of Casino Royale, the Casino's location has been changed to Montenegro. ... Behind the scenes.
Casino Royale (2006) Movies, TV, Celebs, and more... ... Filming Locations. Edit · Villa Gaeta ... Yes No. Palackého Street, Mladá Boleslav, Czech Republic: (road scenes) ... Yes No. St. Mark's Square, Venice, Veneto, Italy: (exteriors: ending). Casino Royale (2006) | Film Locations Casino Royale film location: Bond and Vesper stay at the 'Hotel Splendide' in ... You'll find the resort, which opened as a hotel in 1962, on the eastern end of the ... Casino Royale (location) | James Bond Wiki | FANDOM powered by ... Casino Royale is a fictional casino which first appears in Ian Fleming's 1953 James Bond novel Casino Royale, ... For the official film adaptation of Casino Royale, the Casino's location has been changed to Montenegro. ... Behind the scenes. BBC - Travel - James Bond's Casino Royale Oct 26, 2012 ... Most of Casino Royale was shot in the beautiful and relatively ... interior committee room of London's Parliament in a scene with M, played by Judi Dench. ... Just a few hundred metres away is the high-end Grandhotel Pupp, ...
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Watch a classic movie on the big screen in Torpy Park. Our 23′ movie screen is set up on the banks of Lake Minocqua at Torpy Park facing the lake. Watch a movie in a truly unique way. Choose your seats on land, floating in the water, or from your boat. Let’s Dive-In!
Find more northwoods events in Vilas County and northern Wisconsin here.


Opinions about the “worst” movies can vary greatly, but here are ten movies that have often been cited as some of the worst by critics and audiences:
- Plan 9 from Outer Space (1959) – Directed by Ed Wood, often considered one of the worst movies ever made due to its low-budget production and campy dialogue.
- The Room (2003) – Directed by Tommy Wiseau, this cult classic is known for its bizarre acting, nonsensical plot, and unintentional humor.
- Battlefield Earth (2000) – Directed by Roger Christian, this film is based on a novel by L. Ron Hubbard and is often criticized for its poor writing, acting, and overall execution.
- Batman & Robin (1997) – Directed by Joel Schumacher, this superhero film is widely panned for its campy tone, over-the-top performances, and cheesy dialogue.
- Catwoman (2004) – Starring Halle Berry, this superhero film received negative reviews for its weak plot, poor CGI, and overall lackluster execution.
- Gigli (2003) – Starring Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez, this romantic comedy is criticized for its disjointed plot, awkward dialogue, and lack of chemistry between the leads.
- Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987) – Despite featuring a popular superhero, this film suffered from a low budget, lackluster special effects, and a poorly developed story.
- Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009) – Directed by Michael Bay, this sequel is often criticized for its convoluted plot, excessive visual effects, and insensitive humor.
- Jack and Jill (2011) – Starring Adam Sandler in dual roles, this comedy received negative reviews for its juvenile humor and lack of originality.
- Disaster Movie (2008) – Part of the parody genre, this film is criticized for its crude humor, lack of wit, and reliance on pop culture references.
But, as we all know, opinions are like assholes: everybody has one. You might actually enjoy some of these movies, because what one person considers the “worst” movie, another might find entertaining or enjoyable in a so-bad-it’s-good way.


Favorite Male Characters → Derek Morgan (Criminal Minds)
“I lost my father when I was nine years old; he was shot and killed right in front of me … and there was nothing I could do. So I choose to look at it like this: We all have people in our lives. Some of them are good. Some of them are bad. But they shape us…”
Favorite Male Characters → Michael Westen (Burn Notice)
"When you’re claiming to be someone you’re not, the key is commitment. You’ve got to sell it like your life depends on it. Because sometimes it does.."


Handling the Undead (2024) streaming VF
Handling the Undead is a Swedish horror film directed by Thea Hvistendahl. The film follows the chaos that ensues in Stockholm when a mysterious phenomenon causes the dead to come back to life. As the city is overrun by undead beings, a group of survivors must navigate the dangers of this new world and try to find a way to stop the zombie apocalypse. With tensions rising between the living and the undead, the survivors must confront their own fears and prejudices in order to survive. Handling the Undead explores themes of fear, survival, and the blurred lines between life and death.
VOIR EN STREAMING BANDES - ANNONCE


The COPD Foundation would like to offer its condolences to the family of Mr. Leonard Nimoy who passed away today at age 83 from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Mr. Nimoy played the beloved role of Mr. Spock in the original “Star Trek” television series in the mid 1960s. Mr. Nimoy would later appear in the 2009 and 2013 films directed by J..J. Abrams. In addition to his work as a filmmaker, director and writer, Mr. Nimoy used his unique voice for many movie animations and television programs.
“Leonard’s incredible legacy will be forever extended with the inspiration he has given to those of us with COPD. Please know that our thoughts are with Susan, Julie, Adam and Aaron and the extended family during this time of grieving” said John W. Walsh, President and Co-Founder of the COPD Foundation.


COACHING & PRE-PRODUCTION CONSULTING
We can provide consulting services to help you develop the Pre-Production work for your video or film. We sit down and listen carefully to your ideas and your goals for your project and we ask a lot of questions. Then we create the Pre-Production map for you. This includes:
Initiation - Understanding Your Idea
Our projects always begin with a robust conversation over a large pot of coffee. We want to get to know you and your company. So we ask a lot of questions and then we listen. A lot.
PURPOSE: What is the brand, service or product you want to promote?
OBJECTIVE: What is the goal of your project? What do you want it to achieve?
AUDIENCE: Who do you want to see the film?
CALL TO ACTION: What will you ask the viewer to do following the film?
EMOTIONAL RESPONSE: What emotional response do you want the film to evoke? What is the style, tone, attitude of the film?
SCOPE: Do you want one film or several films in a series? Does the film need to be a certain length? Does it need to be shot in several locations or just one?
DEADLINE: Do you have a target release date?
PUBLICATION: Where will the film be published? Web site, Youtube, Tradeshow, Broadcast, Social Media?
Once we have a detailed sense of your project. we provide you with a Preliminary Production Estimate outlining the projected cost of the film. We agree on terms and conditions, review the agreements, and move to Pre-Production.
Pre-Production – Planning the Production
Now the work and the fun begins. We develop a written Production Plan that formally defines all of the parameters discussed during the Initiation.
We proceed with Creative development with your input including:
- Develop a story board – outline the contents of the film.
- Develop a narrative script – what will be said.
We get your agreement on the story board and script.
If necessary, we refine the initial estimate into a final Production Quote and sign the Production Agreement.
Then we develop a detailed storyboard and final script.
We create the shot list defining each step in the script and order of shooting.
Next we plan the production logistics – securing times, locations, permits, cast and crew.
Production – Gathering the Raw Materials
Lights! Camera! Action! We film and record the events in the script – and begin telling your story.
More steps. Record narration and music tracks.
Gather any required additional media – photos, images, logos, existing clips.
Produce any needed motion graphics, sound and visual effects.
Post-Production – Creating the Film
We assemble the various clips, art work, and sound into an initial rough cut.
We get your feedback on the rough cut.
We produce the second cut with refinements and agreed changes to the rough cut.
Back to you to get feedback on the second cut.
Produce the final cut incorporating agreed changes.
Refine and polish all of the elements including audio mix, motion graphics, and color grading.
We have reached our final destination – a finished film! The final film is delivered in the format you require. We recommend you have the film hosted on Vimeo.com for online streaming to your web site.
We create awesome. We take that seriously and we want you to receive an awesome product.
So our process is front heavy. Careful planning avoids mistakes and misunderstandings later.
You are involved in every step of the process to ensure your expectations are met. If there are any surprises along the way – they should be pleasant ones.
We ask for verbal approval to proceed with Pre-Production given a solid understanding of the effort and costs involved.
However, it is during Pre-Production that a firm cost quote is developed based on a more in-depth understanding of the requirements. The contract (Production Agreement) is signed following the creative development stages of Pre-Production.
Our normal payment schedule is 30% upon signing of the Production Agreement; 30% upon completion of principal photography (Production); and 40% upon delivery of the final film. This is negotiable based on the size of the production and our history with the client.


What could be the result of the work between Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese? Add a blue-eyed and blond Australian that lit Hollywood with her charm, add New York and the golden years of the Stock Exchanges and the answer is clear - "The Wolf of Wall Street". The film production is based on the eponymous autobiography of a broker from Long Island - Jordan Belfort.
The main role is played by Leonardo DiCaprio and his partners are Margot Robbie, Jonah Hill, Matthew McConaughey, Kyle Chandler. The story tells of Belfort's refusal to cooperate with the authorities during the criminal case in the 90s. The scale of the serious fraud, which involved the Mafia impacts not only Wall Street but also the entire banking world. For refusing to give information because of allegations of money laundering, Jordan Belfort spent 22 months in prison. This experience completely changed his life and his views.
The movie lasts three hours, but so far we have not received any indication not to enjoy it. On the contrary, it turns out that Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese are a team that in the last decade was more than successful. So far, each project the director realized using DiCaprio became proverbial in the world of cinema. Remember the movie "The Aviator", " The Departed" and there is no way to remain indifferent to the huge portion of adrenaline, sex , lies, scandals and provocation.
Written by Stefi Stoeva


The August Movie in the Park is Frozen. This FREE family event will take place in Harris Community Park, 401 N. Alexander, at approximately 8:15 p.m. Bring lawn chairs and blankets to watch the movie under the stars and enjoy a summer night with the family.
After the kingdom of Arendelle is cast into eternal winter by the powerful Snow Queen Elsa, her sprightly sister Anna teams up with a rough-hewn mountaineer named Kristoff and his trusty reindeer Sven to break the icy spell.
Food will be available for purchase. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited in City of Belton parks.


I love Freaks and Geeks and my favorite character is Bill Haverchuck.
He is labeled a geek at school, gets called names, and is physically abused by his peers. When one of his best friends gets threatened to be beaten up after school, Bill steps in and asks "What's the point of all this?" putting him in the crosshairs as well. He willingly shows up to fight the bully and though he don't exactly win or lose, Bill is proud of sticking up for himself and his friends.
And when Bill gets fed up being picked last during gym class, he doesn't just sit and home and complain about the system, he fights back by prank calling Coach Fredericks. When he gets caught, he tells Fredericks that it isn't fair how he's been treated and demands change.
Later on, Bill almost dies when one of his tormentor's jokes goes too far. When the bully is forced to apologize, not only does Bill graciously forgive him but he recognizes the bully's anger came from loneliness and invites him to a sci-fi convention.
Right now there's a lot of fear and hate out there and it's easy to give in to those feelings. But I hope we can all be inspired by Bill, and instead surround ourselves with things we love and fight for the the things we believe in.
Oh, and don't forget how to have a little fun — Come on, shake it! You won't break it!


LOS ANGELES, California (Hollywood Reporter)—The original "Star Wars" trilogy, one of the most-requested DVD episodic film franchises, is expected to be released as a four-disc DVD box set September 21.
A global rollout on DVD is expected within days of the domestic release, according to Lucasfilm Ltd. and 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment.
The trilogy, featuring the classic franchise films "Star Wars," "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi," will be released on three DVD discs, with a fourth disc likely to hold a newly made documentary about the "Star Wars" franchise and never-before-seen footage, among several other bonus materials, said Jim Ward, Lucasfilm's VP of marketing and distribution and the DVD trilogy's executive producer.
"We are currently in the process of restoring and remastering all three titles for the DVD release, so we're still working on details of the marketing strategy," Ward said. "But I believe that it is safe to say that it will receive tremendous exposure across all media."
And of course they won't seek out the "tremendous exposure."
Not the Hollywood marketing machine. They never do that.


Kate sings a little in almost all of her films, have you noticed? In 'Heavenly Creatures' she sings the beautiful aria "Sono Andati" from the opera 'La Boheme', which of course is on the HC soundtrack, and does a very impressive job with it; she has a wonderful upper register for those high notes. The song is used to supplement the drama and tragedy of the moment as Juliet and Pauline fear being parted. (The aria is actually sung in the opera by Mimi to her lover as she is dying.) Plus of course there's the scene in which she and "Pauline" traipse through the forest singing Mario Lanza's "The Donkey Serenade" at the top of their lungs. Then in 'Sense and Sensibility', she not only plays the piano as Marianne several times, but also sings; I don't have the soundtrack yet and don't know the song titles. It is while singing and playing that Colonel Brandon first sets eye upon her character and is thoroughly enchanted. In 'Jude' Kate only sings once, during a brief scene near the end in a church, where she is seen singing a hymn with the other churchgoers. She also plays the piano at one point in the film as well.
In 'Hamlet', her singing is quite a key part of the "mad" scenes in which Ophelia demonstrates that she has completely lost her grip on reality (singing snatches of songs, of course, is a traditional trait associated with madwomen in literature). The part where she sings the little "Will he come no more?" ditty is a truly heartbreaking moment in the film; it gets me emotional about every time. Then of course you have 'Titanic,' in which Kate sings twice. The first time is with the rest of the first-class passengers at the church service, singing a hymn; you can hear individual voices as the camera moves from row to row, Kate's included, and the scene ends with a full shot on Kate singing the most significant line, "For those in peril on the sea." The second time is near the end, as she lays upon the floating wreckage; her chilled lips barely move as she gazes distantly at the stars above and sings the "Come Josephine, my flying machine" sung earlier in the film by Leo when they're together at the ship's bow. Yet another chilling and heartbreaking moment with a very cold, surreal feel; a woman quite alone and just barely alive. Kate also sings in 'Holy Smoke' - she sings passionately along to Alanis Morissette's "You Oughta Know". :)
Anyway, Kate indeed has an enchanting and beautiful voice, and her moments of song have served well to enhance these various performances. I wonder if she's had any kind of voice training at all, or singing experience?
Another common aspect found in many of Kate's films thus far is dancing/spinning. Someone pointed this out on alt.fan.kate-winslet, and I realized it was quite true. First of all, there's 'Heavenly Creatures' - you have the one scene where Kate and Melanie Lynskey are dancing together in a circle, and are whirling around together (to the tune of Mario Lanza's "The Loveliest Night of the Year," in their evening gowns.) Then in 'Sense & Sensibility', you have quite the same shot again - this time it's Kate whirling around holding hands with Greg Wise as Willoughby, both ecstatic, Kate grinning and squealing. Then, the same thing again in 'Titanic'; Kate and Leo grab hands and spin around together during the dance in the steerage party scene, grinning and squealing again. Isn't that odd? Kate also whirls around a bit with Christopher Eccleston in 'Jude', and dances a few different times (in the outback to Alanis, in the club) in 'Holy Smoke'. At any rate, that's a rather interesting observation; Kate must simply have quite a knack for spinning around in circles. :)
Kate is interestingly tied to two other British film stars who I rank among my favorites - Emma Thompson and Kenneth Branagh, of course. Emma and Ken used to be a couple and starred together in such wonderful films as "Dead Again" and Branagh's "Much Ado About Nothing" and "Henry V," both excellent Shakespearean adaptations. Kate first starred with Emma in "Sense & Sensibility," for which Emma had adapted the screenplay from a classic by Jane Austen. Later, Kate went on to work with Kenneth, in "Hamlet," for which he had adapted the screenplay from Shakespeare. Both Emma and Ken were Oscar-nominated for these screenplays, but only Emma won hers.
And, when they split up, Kenneth paired with Helena Bonham Carter, a young British actress who shares quite a bit in common with Kate. Kate auditioned for the lead female role in Kenneth's "Mary Shelley's Frankenstein," but lost the role to Helena. (Later, he cast Kate in "Hamlet" without even having her read or audition!) And, she is frequently compared to Helena because both are known for doing period roles; Helena has done little else. Kate, however, has said many times that she'd love to do modern films, and of course 'Holy Smoke' was Kate's first time playing a 90's girl. I for one would love to see "Corset Kate", as she has been dubbed, in more contemporary roles; after all, she is actually a very contemporary girl in real life, complete with combat boots and cigarettes.
More connections between Kate and Helena: Both have played Ophelia in a film of 'Hamlet'; Kate was in Kenneth Branagh's version, Helena was the Ophelia in Franco Zeffirelli's 'Hamlet' with Mel Gibson in the title role. I hated that version, actually - for one thing, I thought Gibson was horribly miscast as the gloomy Danish prince, and I also think Kate made a much better Ophelia than Helena. (Of course, I've never been a big Helena fan as far as her acting goes...) Both have also played Emma Thompson's sister, Kate in S&S and Helena in "Howard's End".
And, then in '98 Kate was up against Helena in the awards - both were Golden Globe nominees for Best Actress (neither won - another Brit, Judi Dench, did), and also the Oscar and the Screen Actors Guild award in the same category. (Neither won.) Interesting.
My email friend and fellow "rabid Kate fan," Jesse (maintainer of the Unofficial Kate Hotline!) pointed out another very interesting Kate observation. Kate is wet at at least one point in almost all of her films! In HC, it's in the bath with Paul (and then she goes for a swim with Paul at Port Levy, although you don't really see her wet then). In S&S she gets thoroughly drenched in the rain twice. She gets soaked in the rain a few times in Jude, and is also seen near a river and dancing by the waves of the ocean. In Hamlet she gets hosed down with water after having gone mad (and drowns herself off-camera), and then of course there's Titanic, in which she's soaking wet for about an hour! She even gets wet in Hideous Kinky - the scene where she and Bilal go skinnydipping in the lake. (No wetness in Holy Smoke, however.) And while her character Madeleine doesn't get wet in Quills while she's still alive, her dead body is found submerged in water in the washing tub (ick).
Kate getting wet again.
I don't know how many of you are familiar with the game "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon," but it's an amusing way to stump your friends and yourself as far as knowledge of the entertainment world. What started as a little Internet phenomenon has become a sorta Gen-X pop culture staple, at least here in the U.S., and it's one of the ways bored college students can occupy themselves and test their trivia. To play, you simply pick an actor or actress, and try to connect them to actor Kevin Bacon through their film or TV roles. For example, Tom Cruise would be easy - he was in "A Few Good Men" with Kevin Bacon. Being a film junkie myself, I actually find myself playing this game in my head all the time when my mind wanders.
Anyway, I was thinking recently about what exactly the quickest route to Kevin Bacon would be from Kate. It took me a little while, but I think I've realized the easiest path. Ok, here goes: Kate was in "Titanic" with Bill Paxton, who was in "Apollo 13" with Kevin Bacon. Voila! :) The first path I came up with, a bit longer, was: Kate was in "Sense & Sensibility" with Hugh Grant. Grant was in "Extreme Measures" with Sarah Jessica Parker, and Parker was in "Footloose" with Kevin Bacon. You could also go through the likes of Leo DiCaprio, Emma Thompson, Kenneth Branagh, or even Billy Zane, but I think Bill Paxton is the quickest way. (Someone has also suggested to me this one: Kate was in "Titanic" with Leo, who apparently was in "Critters 3" with Kevin Bacon?)
I already previously mentioned on the Titanic page, but I thought I'd go into further detail here. There seem to be quite a few similarities between Kate and another favorite young actress of mine, Claire Danes. Ok, yes, there are the obvious differences. Kate is taller, older, British (Claire's American, of course), smokes, and has had rather different roles and film credits than Claire as well as 2 Oscar nominations. However, here are some of the common aspects of the two:
- Both Kate and Claire are natural blondes who have sported a range of different hair colors for different roles. Claire went red for her TV series "My So-Called Life," the show that really introduced her to the American (and international) public and gained her much fame and critical praise, as well as a Golden Globe. Kate went red for the film "Titanic," which was also the critically acclaimed project that made her a household name worldwide; she also bagged a Golden Globe nomination, albeit in the film category for Best Actress.
- Both Kate and Claire have now co-starred with Leonardo DiCaprio (who I believe is older than both of them) as romantic leads in big-budget, massively popular films - "Romeo+Juliet" and of course "Titanic". Both films feature a poignant, intimate romance between them and Leo, complete with lots of kissing and a love scene in each (although Kate's featured a bit more nudity). Both actresses have talked about how funny and wonderful they think Leo is, and both insist they were never romantically involved with him in real life. And of course, both movies hit it big with the teenage crowd; in fact, most of the girls who fell in love with Leo in R+J returned to swoon over him in Titanic. There are tons of personal websites and webrings out there devoted to both films, most of which focus on the romance part of the story. Also, both romances are tragic in nature - both Claire and Leo die in R+J, Leo dies and Kate narrowly averts death in Titanic.
- Both Kate and Claire have played the ingenue in a film of a Shakespearean tragedy. Claire, of course, was Juliet in (a modern-day version of) "Romeo+Juliet," while Kate marvelously played Ophelia in Kenneth Branagh's traditional-setting "Hamlet". Both Juliet and Ophelia kill themselves near the end of the film; Juliet by gun (dagger in the original play), Ophelia by drowning, off-camera. And of course, both do so for love of the leading male, although in Ophelia's case insanity also plays a part.
- Both Kate and Claire were up for the role of Juliet Capulet; Kate auditioned for R+J but was ultimately not cast (obviously). Kate said of the experience: "I tested for it three years ago, when Leonardo was definitely already doing it, but I knew, reading it, that I was too old for the role - too old inside." I tend to agree with her; she simply seems a bit too mature to convey Juliet's naivete and wonder. Interestingly enough, Claire auditioned for Rose in "Titanic," which of course went to Kate.
- Both Kate and Claire have played a character named Juliet; Kate was Juliet Hulme in "Heavenly Creatures" and Claire was Juliet in R+J.
- Both Kate and Claire look up to the sky at fireworks onscreen; in Titanic and R+J respectively (thanks to Sara Chen for pointing this out)
I admire and appreciate both talented actresses and consider them to probably be my favorites foremost. Interestingly enough, I'm right between them as far as age; Kate is 3 years my senior, and Claire a year younger. And, I've been aware of them for about the same time; I "discovered" both around '94/'95; Claire when MSCL debuted and Kate when I first saw HC.
Jude and Hideous Kinky are the only films in which Kate is a mother herself. They are also the only films in which Kate's character has a job; Sue is of course a schoolteacher for a while, Julia is a translator, makes dolls, etc. They are also the only films in which Kate smokes and drinks, along with "Titanic", although "Holy Smoke" will probably have a bit of both.
Almost all of Kate's films thus far have been directed by men, have you noticed? Jane Campion's "Holy Smoke" was Kate's first (and only, so far) woman-directed picture.
Here are some interesting Kate observations made by LdVinci I thought I'd post as well:
1) In "Jude" soon after Jude and Sue meet, they are together on a bridge reading a book. Sue tries to keep the book away from Jude, he grabs her and then they spin together. More spinning! [Yep, I noticed this as well when I recently re-watched "Jude" myself.]
2) In Jude, the scene where Sue is smoking and drinking in the bar, showing the boys how enlightened she is, is much the same as the scene in Titanic where Rose shows steerage how down-to-earth she is.
3) In both Heavenly Creatures and Jude, Juliet/Sue ride bicycles with her significant other in moments of bliss.
4) The town in HC is "Christchurch." The town in Jude is "Christminster"
5) Kate's feet: In S&S, Willoughby removes Marianne's shoe and examines her foot. In Titanic, Rose does a full ballet "Pointe" for steerage. I believe (though I'm not entirely sure) as Sue is dancing in the bar (in Jude) there is a shot of only her feet.
6) As a natural response to being wet, Sue complains to Jude "I can't get warm" and complains to Jack (Titanic) "I'm so cold."
8) She is often in bed/un-well: Juliet (HC) has TB; Marianne (S&S) has a twisted ankle and pneumonia; Sue (Jude) is giving birth.
Yet some more observations made by someone else and sent to me (i.e. not my words), this time thanks to Anissa:
Kate cries in all of her movies.. And not just a trickle or two from her precious eyes.
HC: When they're split up and she's looking out the window (If memory serves) [Actually, more times than that, methinks]
S&S: When she realizes Willoughby is much like the men I see.
JUDE: When the children are discovered DOA
HAMLET: When she is being accused of her relationship with Hamlet, and I do believe there is much more when she gets the straightjacket.
TITANIC: Tears are everywhere, almost.
(Sarah's note: she cries in Hideous Kinky, Holy Smoke, and Quills too!)
Kate's character in "Holy Smoke" is named Ruth, which is also the name of Rose's mother, Ruth DeWitt Bukater, in "Titanic".
The only film thus far in which Kate's character has died (via suicide, not shown onscreen) is of course "Hamlet," but her character Madeleine in "Quills" gets murdered. :( Actually, suicide seems to be a theme in Kate's films. In HC, Pauline (Melanie Lynskey) seriously considers suicide. In "Jude," young Jude of course kills himself, as well as the other kids. In "Hamlet," Ophelia obviously commits suicide. In "Titanic," one of the officers does, as well as presumably Captain Smith, Andrews, and the others who don't even make a try for the lifeboats and such. And in "Holy Smoke," P.J. and Ruth's family are concerned about the possibility that Ruth might get suicidal.
Four of Kate's films so far start with "H"! They are of course "Heavenly Creatures," "Hamlet," "Hideous Kinky," and "Holy Smoke". All are 2-word titles except for Hamlet, obviously. Hmm...
Bree shared an observation with me about the intriguing connections between each of Kate's films: "In Heavenly Creatures, she dons a princess dress... in AKIKAC, she wears princess dresses as her costume for Princess Sarah, and she has a younger sister. In Sense & Sensibility, she has a younger sister (as well as an older one) and loves Shakespeare. In Hamlet, she plays a Shakespearean character and Hamlet's mum has an incestuous relationship with his uncle (it was his uncle, wasn't it? I can't remember). In Jude, Sue has an incestuous relationship with her cousin and has a nude scene. In Titanic she has a nude scene and talks of Sigmund Freud. Hideous Kinky, the novel by which the movie was based on, was written by Esther Freud, Sigmund's great grandaughter. Also in HK, Julia searches for religious enlightenment. In Holy Smoke, Ruth finds religious enlightenment."


All work and no play would make for a very dull Belated Birthday Girl, and of course that was never going to happen, so amongst the onsen trips and other sightseeing, I've been a frequent visitor to a couple of Sapporo's multiplex cinemas (I feel slightly ashamed that I've not investigated any smaller, arthouse ones, but the multiplexes are very convenient, and there's generally been something on at one or other of them with enough interest for me). Besides, as long as I make sure that plenty of the films I go to see are Japanese, I can legitimately think of it as part of the study trip. So here's a round up with short reviews of the Japanese films I've seen so far (plus one non-Japanese, but I feel justified including it, as you'll see).
Ashita e no Yuigon - 明日への遺言
The story of a war crimes trial of a World War II Japanese General who ordered the executions of some captured US airmen, I thought this might be a serious and interesting film. However, it turned out to be quite bad in many ways. The basis of the General's defence was that that the airmen were in fact executed for war crimes themselves (because indiscriminate aerial bombardment was against the laws of war). This might well be a historically accurate account of the defence, but made this a far less interesting film than one which had actually been addressing in a thoughtful way war crimes by Japanese from a Japanese perspective. But as well as the subject being less interesting than I had hoped for, there were many flaws in the script, acting and direction. The dialogue delivery (in English: about half the film was in English) of the American characters was laborious; the Japanese general was depicted as a man of integrity who won the admiration of all sides, taken so far as to strain credulity; and the use of sentimental music whenever the accuseds' family members were involved was particularly cheesy.
Kurosagi: the Movie - 映画クロサギ
I believe Kurosagi started out as a manga, and then a TV series was made, and then this movie. As such, it was the first of the Japanese films I've seen here which was an adaptation/spin-off, but not the last, as you'll see below. Kurosagi is a con-man, who cons other con-men, out of some desire for revenge for the deaths of his family members due to an earlier con. Or something. The film was quite fun, and stylish, the acting decent, and I remember that I enjoyed it well enough. But it was sometimes difficult for me to follow (just down to the limits of my Japanese, I'm sure!), and I was a bit shaky about quite a lot of the details, and to be honest not much has stuck in the memory. Maybe one to revisit if a cheap Hong-Kong subtitled DVD ever comes along.
This is my slight cheat. Mongol is not a Japanese film, although the lead character is played by a Japanese actor. The dialogue is, in fact, in Mongolian (with tiny amounts of Chinese). But as I don't speak Mongolian, my experience of this film was through the Japanese subtitles, so I feel justified in including it here. Anyway. Mongol is the story of Ghengis Khan's early years, with Asano Tadanobu as Temudjin (as he was known before he became known as Genghis Khan). It is a very episodic movie, starting in Temudjin's childhood, and going on to show key events which made Temudjin into (or showed the ways he was becoming) the great Mongol warrior and leader we all know and love. The landscapes and scenery where it was shot (Khazakstan, China and Russia) are absolutely stunning, and there are some decent battles, although shot in the slightly cranked style which seems fashionable these days. Asano is fine as Tamudjin, but the film is stolen completely by Honglei Sun as Jamukha whenever he is on screen (he deservedly won Best Supporting Actor at the Asian Film Awards for his performance). The use of voiceover and sparing, measured dialogue, meant I could actually follow the subtitles pretty well. I felt the dialogue was occasionally somewhat didactic in telling us how "different" Tamudjin was to other Mongols, but it might come across differently if you can understand all the subtitles. Anyway, it is gorgeous to look at, and definitely worth seeing: this one does actually have a wide international release.
Sushi Prince Goes to New York - 銀幕版 スシ王子！ニューヨークへ行く
Another spin-off, of the TV series “Sushi Prince” スシ王子. The story of how the Sushi Prince, erm, goes to New York, and there saves sushi from evil corrupting forces, in spite of a morbid fear of fish eyes, this looked fun from the trailer. Sadly, it was a bit of a disappointment, being nowhere near as funny as I'd hoped. I know that comedy is one of the most difficult things to get in a language you are not fluent in, but there was quite a bit of dialogue in English, and that was all painfully unfunny, too, so I don't think it's just me not getting it. And as you'll see from the next film, I don't always have that trouble. Also, it looked from the trailer that it would be a good mix of comedy and action, but as well as the comedy not being funny, it was very light on the action, and what there was, was also pretty poor. So sadly, this one failed to meet my expectations.
Shaolin Girl - 少林少女
In complete contrast to Sushi Prince, Shaolin Girl was very good fun indeed, and easily lived up to its trailer. Exec produced by Stephen Chow, and with a couple of Stephen Chow/Wong Jing regulars in the supporting cast, this is a kind-of official Japanese member of the Shaolin Soccer family. And directed by Katsuyuki Motohiro, who has made several other films which I own on DVD and have enjoyed (Space Travelers, Bayside Shakedown I & II, Udon). Not as much silliness as I remember from Shaolin Soccer et al, although some of what silliness there was was provided by the Stephen Chow/Wong Jing alums, but very funny, and with seriously good action sequences. It was kind-of "Shaolin Lacrosse" with evil men in suits, with a Kill Bill-meets-Game of Death-inspired finale. Although I could make some specific criticisms, I won't as they'd be Spoilerific (I certainly hope there's a subtitled DVD, if not an international release, so I hope people reading this outside Japan will have a chance to see it for themselves), but also because they are minor gripes in something as fun as this was. Mongol may have been an objectively better film, but this was certainly the one I'd enjoyed most (although there have since been a couple almost able to rival it).
Partners: the Movie - 相棒ー劇場版
Another spin-off from a TV series (Aibou ("Partners") - 相棒). This was a well enough made and entertaining cop action thriller, but the Japanese was a lot harder to understand than most of the other films I've seen, and so I missed a lot of the details, and in this sort of film, the details matter. The basic story was about someone systematically killing people of a death list which they put on a web site, and involved a lot of cat and mouse police work, and a fair bit of running around the streets of Tokyo (and not just by the runners in the road race which was being targeted). And chess. Anyway, it looks like I may get the chance to see what I missed, if I decide I want to.
The Last Princess - 隠し砦の三悪人
The first remake of the films I've seen (but not the last – are you seeing a pattern here...?). This is a remake of Kurosawa's classic The Hidden Fortress: the Japanese title of both films is the same, but they have chosen to highlight different aspects in the international titles. It was very good fun. Although there was a lot of Japanese I couldn't understand, there was more than enough that I could to make it worthwhile, and also the overall story was easy enough to follow. If you've seen Hidden Fortress (or, for that matter, Star Wars) you'll be familiar with the basics, where a princess and general cross the empire with the help of a couple of yokels. There was plenty of humour and excitement, and plenty of decent action in it, too. I must go back some time to see Hidden Fortress again, to work out how much came directly from that, and how much came by way of Star Wars: definitely more than a touch of Darth Vader about the main baddie in this version! If they have chosen to borrow back from Star Wars, too, personally I think that's quite neat. Also nice to note that they kept in fancy scene transitions as an homage to both. Japanese cinema releases often have a nice shiny picture pamphlet for the film on sale, and I enjoyed this one enough to buy the pamphlet, and picked up the one for Shaolin Girl while I was at it.
After School - アフタースクール
Kenji Uchida's After School was another very good film, although I had completely misunderstood the sort of film it was from the trailer - and it was all the better for it. I'd somehow decided it was some sort of TV spin-off about old school friends and relationships, but not only was it one of the very few completely original screenplays I've seen so far – Uchida's first since he won a writer's award in 2005 at Cannes with his previous film, Unmei ja nai Hito ("A Stranger of Mine") - the story was nothing like I'd imagined, involving (amongst other things) detectives, yakuza, and corruption. A private detective is hired to try to find missing businessman Kimura (whose heavily pregnant wife gives birth the day he goes missing) and ends up hooking up with a schoolteacher friend of Kimura's to try to find him. The search soon leads to the discovery of yakuza connections - and the detective has yakuza problems of his own... I know there are plenty of details I missed, but it's a very clever – and often very funny - film, and I caught enough of the dialogue to get what was going on and enjoy it a great deal. I have no idea if there is any possibility of an international release, or even a subtitled DVD, but if the chance comes to see this, I would certainly recommend it. And I think you'll enjoy it more if you don't find out too much more about it in advance, either.
Yama no Anata – Tokuichi no Koi – 山のあなた － 徳市の恋
Another remake, this time of an even older film than Hidden Fortress. Yama no Anata is a remake of the 1938 film Anma to Onna (“The Masseurs and a Woman”). The story of some blind masseurs, and in particular one named Toku (aside: I have just realised that all the masseurs in the film had the “surname” of Ichi: just like a more famous cinematic blind masseur I can think of), who spend half the year at a hot spring resort by the sea, and half at a mountain one. The film takes place one year at the mountain resort, when a woman from Tokyo comes to stay, and shows the effect she was on those around her, especially Toku. Nicely shot and good use of sound design, gentle and very old-fashioned: I suspect it is a very straight remake, so much that you wonder why they bothered, to some extent (although I've not seen the original, but this felt like it could have been made 70 years ago). One interesting fact I'd missed, but which Spank the Monkey pointed out to me. This is not the first film by this director which I've seen: in 1998, Ishii Katsuhito wrote and directed his first film, the rather fun manga adaptation Samehada Otoko to Momojiri Onna (“Shark Skin Man, Peach Hip Girl”), starring Asano Tadanobu. Well, to call this a change of pace would be an understatement (although he's done a few other things in the intervening years, so I can't say whether either is typical of his work or not, or whether he's just a very varied director). Anyway, call me shallow, but that was more my sort of thing.
So, from what I've been seeing, it would seem that the current state of Japanese cinema is mostly spin-offs and remakes (although this might be an unfair assessment: I've only been seeing a subset of what's been on release, after all), but some of those have been pretty darned good, so I don't want that to sound dismissive. I have at least three other films already or soon to be on release which I intend to watch before I'm done (none of which I believe are remakes or spin-offs, although one is an adaptation), so keep watching the blog for probably one more filmy update, if you're interested. And if anyone wishes to comment on any of these, or other current or recent Japanese releases, feel free (though please: absolutely no Spoilers!).