What Jackson Heaven must look like...
Friday, July 03, 2009
Production blubs - AU PAIR, KS & NAILBITER
J.T. O'Neal, writer/director of AU PAIR, KS was kind enough to pass this on - an assembly of the opening credits of the film. This isn't likely the final version, but it's a taste of what's coming down the pike.
Work begins on another project very soon -- as always, there's not much that I'll be able to say while it's in production. I can say that this is the long awaited NAILBITER, Patrick Rea's new feature. You can check out Patrick's site SenoReality Pictures, for official word about the film... there's a very enigmatic trailer up that offers up a hint of what to expect.
Have a happy 4th!
J.T. O'Neal, writer/director of AU PAIR, KS was kind enough to pass this on - an assembly of the opening credits of the film. This isn't likely the final version, but it's a taste of what's coming down the pike.
Work begins on another project very soon -- as always, there's not much that I'll be able to say while it's in production. I can say that this is the long awaited NAILBITER, Patrick Rea's new feature. You can check out Patrick's site SenoReality Pictures, for official word about the film... there's a very enigmatic trailer up that offers up a hint of what to expect.
Have a happy 4th!
Friday, June 26, 2009
In God We Tru$t
In light of the recent death of pop culture icons, Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson, it seems wise to spend some time thinking of spiritual matters -- even though there was no personal connection/relation to any of these people, it seemed like they were a huge part of ones life... and it's pretty devastating that they've passed on from this mortal Earth... it's WORSE than an actual family member or friend dying... After all, they were Famous.
So, for solace, I turn to the right Reverend Andy Kaufman, or Armageddon T. Thunderbird, as his character is called in a practically unknown comedy called IN GOD WE TRU$T, British comedian Marty Feldman's second film as actor/director. No one saw it when it came out in 1980 - until it was run and rerun on cable. And you can't find it on DVD, at least in this country.
Listen to The Word, Brothers and Sisters!
Words to provide comfort... even for Gov. Sanford in his hour of need.
Truly Inspirational!
I think that the Republicans have their slogan for 2012, finally.
In light of the recent death of pop culture icons, Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson, it seems wise to spend some time thinking of spiritual matters -- even though there was no personal connection/relation to any of these people, it seemed like they were a huge part of ones life... and it's pretty devastating that they've passed on from this mortal Earth... it's WORSE than an actual family member or friend dying... After all, they were Famous.
So, for solace, I turn to the right Reverend Andy Kaufman, or Armageddon T. Thunderbird, as his character is called in a practically unknown comedy called IN GOD WE TRU$T, British comedian Marty Feldman's second film as actor/director. No one saw it when it came out in 1980 - until it was run and rerun on cable. And you can't find it on DVD, at least in this country.
Listen to The Word, Brothers and Sisters!
Words to provide comfort... even for Gov. Sanford in his hour of need.
Truly Inspirational!
I think that the Republicans have their slogan for 2012, finally.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Killing Michael Bay
Still relevant after all these years...
(YouTube edit for language and time - but STILL funny as Hell!)
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
AFTER LAST SEASON: ART PRANK OR THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME?
If you keep up with film blogs on the Net, then you've heard of this.... for those of you who haven't, it all started months ago when a trailer went up...
... and those who saw it promptly went, What the F***?
Then it was announced that it was going into release - into only 4 theaters around the country on June 6... and slowly, reviews started to trickle out, a Facebook page started attracting the curious, even an interview with the director, 'Mark Region', was published - and after all of that, it's STILL not very clear whether or not the film is the product of ineptitude, or a shrewd prank helped along by the Internet.
The only way to tell for sure is to see the film and judge for yourself, which by only screening in 4 theaters sort of takes that option off of the table. I do have an opinion, formed by all the evidence gathered - from the trailer, the website, the poster artwork and all of the other stuff, which accomplishes the rare achievement of not really telling you anything - and now this item regarding the release prints, that this is probably the best deadpan film prank since the news item a few years ago that Orson Welles was working on a "Batman" movie in the 1940's.
I'd still be curious to see it - though I suspect it to be a prank, I think that there is a serious intent behind it. I'm very surprised that no one has brought up BE KIND, REWIND yet.
and an example NOT connected to the film, but inspired by it:
It also brought to mind the kids who spent years making their own version of RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, which was a cute story and made everyone feel quite warm and fuzzy for a couple of minutes. But those were kids, farting around with a camcorder and remaking something that they'd already seen -- plus, kids, (and most people) don't have millions of dollars laying around for 'production value', which is something that a lot is invested in... after all, most of the reason given for escalating costs of production, is being able to get that 'value' onscreen. Indie films really have to make the most of 'production value' since the name of the game is to Never Let Them See You Sweat. So it's somewhat offensive if things look shoddy, or aren't up to snuff.
But there are ALWAYS exceptions.
Zachary Oberzan did a one man show based on FIRST BLOOD, then he shot FIRST BLOOD in his apartment, by himself, for the cost of $96. One qualifier - his adaptation is based on the characterization of John Rambo from David Morrell's novel, rather than any attempt to imitate Stallone.
I think it begs the question that if one can accept this aesthetic when imitating something that one has already seen, why is it resisted when someone uses that aesthetic to do 'original' work, or work that isn't based on spectacle?
I'll be curious to see if AFTER LAST SEASON makes it into any other theaters, or at least some sort of DVD release. Probably the best venue would be as a traveling art installation.
If you keep up with film blogs on the Net, then you've heard of this.... for those of you who haven't, it all started months ago when a trailer went up...
... and those who saw it promptly went, What the F***?
Then it was announced that it was going into release - into only 4 theaters around the country on June 6... and slowly, reviews started to trickle out, a Facebook page started attracting the curious, even an interview with the director, 'Mark Region', was published - and after all of that, it's STILL not very clear whether or not the film is the product of ineptitude, or a shrewd prank helped along by the Internet.
The only way to tell for sure is to see the film and judge for yourself, which by only screening in 4 theaters sort of takes that option off of the table. I do have an opinion, formed by all the evidence gathered - from the trailer, the website, the poster artwork and all of the other stuff, which accomplishes the rare achievement of not really telling you anything - and now this item regarding the release prints, that this is probably the best deadpan film prank since the news item a few years ago that Orson Welles was working on a "Batman" movie in the 1940's.
I'd still be curious to see it - though I suspect it to be a prank, I think that there is a serious intent behind it. I'm very surprised that no one has brought up BE KIND, REWIND yet.
and an example NOT connected to the film, but inspired by it:
It also brought to mind the kids who spent years making their own version of RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, which was a cute story and made everyone feel quite warm and fuzzy for a couple of minutes. But those were kids, farting around with a camcorder and remaking something that they'd already seen -- plus, kids, (and most people) don't have millions of dollars laying around for 'production value', which is something that a lot is invested in... after all, most of the reason given for escalating costs of production, is being able to get that 'value' onscreen. Indie films really have to make the most of 'production value' since the name of the game is to Never Let Them See You Sweat. So it's somewhat offensive if things look shoddy, or aren't up to snuff.
But there are ALWAYS exceptions.
Zachary Oberzan did a one man show based on FIRST BLOOD, then he shot FIRST BLOOD in his apartment, by himself, for the cost of $96. One qualifier - his adaptation is based on the characterization of John Rambo from David Morrell's novel, rather than any attempt to imitate Stallone.
I think it begs the question that if one can accept this aesthetic when imitating something that one has already seen, why is it resisted when someone uses that aesthetic to do 'original' work, or work that isn't based on spectacle?
I'll be curious to see if AFTER LAST SEASON makes it into any other theaters, or at least some sort of DVD release. Probably the best venue would be as a traveling art installation.
Friday, June 12, 2009
THE BIBLE AND GUN CLUB AKA Sarah Palin's favorite documentary
The following two YouTube clips are from a 1996 indie film called THE BIBLE AND GUN CLUB. It's pretty much only been seen at festivals in this country and on television overseas. Search it out - it's hard to find, but worth it.
If you want an idea of the mindset of Sarah Palin and her ilk, and the people that they're reaching for (such as the asshole who intended a bloodbath at the Holocaust Museum in D.C.), this should give you a good idea.
Remember - Satire is only history that hasn't occurred yet.
The following two YouTube clips are from a 1996 indie film called THE BIBLE AND GUN CLUB. It's pretty much only been seen at festivals in this country and on television overseas. Search it out - it's hard to find, but worth it.
If you want an idea of the mindset of Sarah Palin and her ilk, and the people that they're reaching for (such as the asshole who intended a bloodbath at the Holocaust Museum in D.C.), this should give you a good idea.
Remember - Satire is only history that hasn't occurred yet.
Friday, June 05, 2009
Cult Animation: TWICE UPON A TIME and THE THIEF AND THE COBBLER
Take a look at this clip from YouTube:
If you're going, "WTF?!", settle in and watch all 8 segments. You won't be sorry.
Chances are you've never even heard of this film... or, if you're one of the obsessive few who remember some press about this in the early 80's, you haven't seen it.
This is one of the great 'lost' films of the 80's, particularly strange since it is a Lucasfilm Production; one of those projects that Lucas wanted to champion -- well, so much for that.
The history of the film has been detailed in print, and has been touched upon in the blog world and websites; what it boils down to is that what was envisioned by some to be a family film got made into something a bit edgier -- and being neither fish or fowl, the film fell between the cracks, with those being lucky enough to see it left to wonder if it really existed.
I got to catch one 'clandestine' screening at the UCSF campus in the early 1990's - had no idea that it had been broadcast on HBO several times before being pulled. And now, thanks to YouTube, this is the version you're now able to see.
Although it seems that this would be perfect DVD fodder - most of the people involved in the production have gone on to bigger things, like Henry Selick and David Fincher; most of the humor would be better received - it's sort of like the twisted progeny of Jay Ward, and its opening scene has been homaged by Tim Burton in BATMAN RETURNS; and most of all, it's produced by GEORGE LUCAS. But that's not a guarantee of anything - though it deserves a better presentation, this may be the main way people finally discover this film.
Another lost animation classic also up on the 'Tube is THE THIEF AND THE COBBLER, in a 'Recobbled' Cut. The legendary project by animator Richard Williams, it was years in production and finally taken away from him and finished up in an inferior version called ARABIAN KNIGHTS in the 90's. The Recobbled Cut is a fan-made project, which attempts to present the film as close to Williams' intent as possible, including pencil tests of unfinished sequences and original voice tracks. Obsessives kept this alive via websites and blogs; it's worth an hour and a half of your time to watch -- and then wonder how Disney never gets sued over films like, say ALADDIN.
Take a look at this clip from YouTube:
If you're going, "WTF?!", settle in and watch all 8 segments. You won't be sorry.
Chances are you've never even heard of this film... or, if you're one of the obsessive few who remember some press about this in the early 80's, you haven't seen it.
This is one of the great 'lost' films of the 80's, particularly strange since it is a Lucasfilm Production; one of those projects that Lucas wanted to champion -- well, so much for that.
The history of the film has been detailed in print, and has been touched upon in the blog world and websites; what it boils down to is that what was envisioned by some to be a family film got made into something a bit edgier -- and being neither fish or fowl, the film fell between the cracks, with those being lucky enough to see it left to wonder if it really existed.
I got to catch one 'clandestine' screening at the UCSF campus in the early 1990's - had no idea that it had been broadcast on HBO several times before being pulled. And now, thanks to YouTube, this is the version you're now able to see.
Although it seems that this would be perfect DVD fodder - most of the people involved in the production have gone on to bigger things, like Henry Selick and David Fincher; most of the humor would be better received - it's sort of like the twisted progeny of Jay Ward, and its opening scene has been homaged by Tim Burton in BATMAN RETURNS; and most of all, it's produced by GEORGE LUCAS. But that's not a guarantee of anything - though it deserves a better presentation, this may be the main way people finally discover this film.
Another lost animation classic also up on the 'Tube is THE THIEF AND THE COBBLER, in a 'Recobbled' Cut. The legendary project by animator Richard Williams, it was years in production and finally taken away from him and finished up in an inferior version called ARABIAN KNIGHTS in the 90's. The Recobbled Cut is a fan-made project, which attempts to present the film as close to Williams' intent as possible, including pencil tests of unfinished sequences and original voice tracks. Obsessives kept this alive via websites and blogs; it's worth an hour and a half of your time to watch -- and then wonder how Disney never gets sued over films like, say ALADDIN.
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