Showbiz
'Before VFX' Is Fascinating
A couple days ago I posted a video showing some before and after visual effects shots from various TV shows and movies. Many people were surprised at the number of effects being used and also that, in many cases, effects were used at all.
Yeah, Hollywood likes to use visual effects to do almost anything these days. They do it a lot. To help illustrate just how much, a new website has sprung up showcasing what the author calls “The Canvas” of visual effects.
It’s a fascinating look at the “Before” shots in lots of famous movies including The Dark Knight, Twilight, Captain America, Kick-Ass, Avatar and a whole lot more. Plus, it gives you a greater appreciation for what the actors have to go through. Playing a big, emotional scene with a bunch of dots stuck to your face can’t be that easy.
Here’s a few of the “Before” pictures. Head over to the Before VFX website for a whole lot more.
[caption id=“attachment_2872” align=“aligncenter” width=“525”]
“Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl”[/caption]
[caption id=“attachment_2873” align=“aligncenter” width=“525”]
“Kick-Ass”[/caption]
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“Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance”[/caption]
Some Oscar Thoughts and Predictions Because People Asked
As you’re likely aware, the Oscar nominations were announced this week by the event’s host, Seth MacFairlane, and the lovely actress Emma Stone. As usual, the nominations brought a flurry of angry denouncements from people on Twitter, and elsewhere, about what film, actor or director got “snubbed” and how the Academy doesn’t know what it’s doing.
This kind of anger and confusion is to be expected and happens every year. After a few years of really caring a lot, I’ve pretty much given up being angry, outraged or disappointed by anything the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences says, does or thinks is worthy of consideration.
The opinion of that group just doesn’t matter all that much to me, except for my friends who are actually in the Academy. Their opinion means a great deal to me. You know who you are and I thank you.
Still, seeing as how they went to all the trouble of announcing nominations, I suppose I should comment on them and make a few predictions. So, with that in mind, let’s go through the major categories and I’ll tell you who I think should win and then who I predict will win.
Let’s play our game.
Best Actor
Bradley Cooper in Silver Linings Playbook Daniel Day-Lewis in Lincoln Hugh Jackman in Les Misérables Joaquin Phoenix in The Master Denzel Washington in Flight
I’m torn right off the bat. On the surface it seems Daniel Day-Lewis should have this one locked up. He basically channeled Lincoln in the movie and from the first moment he’s on screen, he owns. Still, people really seem to love Hugh Jackman (and you can’t blame them really) and he’s playing a pretty well known character in a pretty well known musical, so it could end up being him.
As for the rest of the nominees, as much as I love Denzel, this feels more like a courtesy nomination, so I don’t think it will be him. Joaquin Phoenix won’t get it either because he’s been better in other things. Plus, nobody is going to give props to a movie that basically rips Scientology a new one. Not in today’s Hollywood.
This brings me to Bradley Cooper. Not bad for a guy who played what my friends and I used to call “Casual Will” on Alias. Good for you Bradley, but this isn’t your year. This is also a courtesy nomination. Don’t worry, you’ll get ‘em next time – or maybe the time after that.
Who should win? Hugh Jackman Who will win? Daniel Day-Lewis
Happy Friday No. 2221 with Added Debate Spin and Harry Hamlin!
I would like to take this moment and wish each and every one of you a happy Friday. I’m having a pretty good day so far. I’ve continued my workouts and went to the gym at 7AM. It didn’t hurt that much. Don’t tell my trainer.
I’ve also started to get in touch with some old friends and colleagues to get the ball rolling faster on my triumphant return to the business of show. So that’s cool. So far, people have been very nice and encouraging about the idea.
With all the unemployment these days, they probably, genuinely do wish me well. At least I like to think so. As for the debate last night between Mr. Biden and Mr. Ryan, I’ve really got nothing insightful to say. I already know who I’m voting for (shocker, it’s the incumbent) so the VP debate, and the P debates, are pretty much wasted on me.
Still, it did seem that Mr. Ryan was kinda uncomfortable and that Mr. Biden was sorta a dick. In truth, I don’t really care for the kind of debate where the participants try to shout over each other to make a point. I know that’s the style of discourse that’s popular on TV these days (thanks a pantload Fox News), but that doesn’t mean I have to like it . . . or watch it.
I spent about ten minutes watching Mr. Biden and Mr. Ryan then I turned the channel and watched some movies, including such classics as New Jack City and the very first movie I ever got paid to work on, Save Me, starring Harry Hamlin (that’s him with his mouth open above), Lysette Anthony and Michael Ironside. I was the Key Set PA on that show, a position much like how Anthony Michael Hall’s character describes himself in Sixteen Candles: “King of the Dipshits.”
Still, I didn’t care at the time. I was working on a movie set and getting paid for it (not much, but still). The truth is, I loved every damn minute of it.
Going Back to Cali?
I’m not really going back to Cali, because I never left. I was just using that as more of a fun metaphor for what I’m considering. Well, it’s fun to me anyway, and that’s what counts.
This is my website, after all. If you don’t like it, get one of your own. I hear they’re pretty easy and cheap to get these days. You can’t beat that.
Anyway, what I’m considering is a full time return to the business of show. Since I stopped making movies, TV programs and the like I’ve spent a lot of time working on various other things, including The Flickcast. I still want to do those things but, in truth, the bug to get back to my first love has bitten me again . . . and hard. In fact, I think it’s infected.
Sorry about the weird insect imagery. Don’t mean to digress. Moving on. The difference this time is I won’t be going back doing what I did before (producing, etc.). Instead, I’m going to go back on my own terms with my own projects as a writer and director. Or, at the very least, I’m going to give it my best shot.
It all sounds good on the surface and if things continue to go the way I’ve set them in motion, all should be well. Watch this space for further developments.
On a related note, the site move I recently complained about for The Flickcast is done. It actually went well and didn’t even cost me that much. So I got that going for me, which is nice.
Please feel free to resume your kind patronage of that fine website. Thanks. And my children thank you. . . Or they will when I finally get some.
Behind the Scenes of 'Blade Runner' with Sean Young
I don’t think it’s much of a secret that I’m a film nerd. I love movies of all genres but have a special place in my heart for sci-fi. Among my favorites is Ridley Scott’s 1982 film Blade Runner.
The film, an adaptation of Phillip K. Dick's novel "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep," made quite an impression on me as a young man. I saw the film at a rough cut screening in San Diego after having won tickets on a local radio station and was treated to a version somewhat different from the finished product. It was a great experience.
I've watched the film so many times since that day and each time I still see something new in it. It was definitely before its time and not something soon to be repeated -- any potential reboot/remake notwithstanding.
One of the stars of the film is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sean_Young">Sean Young</a>. She played Rachel, the replicant who thought she was human. During my travels in Hollywood I almost worked with Sean on a film but she ended up doing it and I ended up dropping out. At least I had the pleasure of meeting her once during pre-production.
She could not have been nicer during the meeting and towards the end even put up with a few<em> Blade Runner </em> questions from me that had absolutely nothing to do with the project we were talking about at the time. I enjoyed that meeting very much.
Recently, Sean <a href="http://s94802126.onlinehome.us/msy/My_Albums_13-16/Pages/15._Polaroids.html">put up a bunch of polaroid photos</a> of her, and others, taken during the <em>Blade Runner</em> shoot. They are pretty cool and show a lot of my favorite actors as their younger selves. They also give us a glimpse into the friendship and bond that takes place during the making of a film.
I've often heard people in the business describe the filmmaking process as like going to war. You have a mission and you have a group of people all working together to reach a common objective. I've never been to war nor do I ascribe the same significance to filmmaking as I do to the sacrifices made by our men and women in uniform.
However, I get what they mean. Long hours, sometimes difficult working conditions and a sense that you're isolated except for the rest of the people working with you can lead to that esprit de corps often talked about in military circles.
I've experienced the bond and friendship that comes from hours, days, weeks and months "in the trenches" and often it <em>is</em> an amazing experience that you keep with you for the rest of your life. It's one of the things I miss most about working in the business, on set, helping to create something.
Still, I do like what I'm doing now. Writing is, in some ways, much harder. But is also very rewarding when you know you've done a good job on something. As you often work alone, you don't develop the camaraderie and bond as you would on set but the sense of accomplishing and creating something is certainly there, and often more pronounced.
No, I don't think I would change how things are now. I've got my memories of the good times and I'm still great friends with many of my comrades in arms. For me, those are enough.
Phoebe Cates Is Number One
How I didn’t see this before I’ll never know, but apparently the site Mr. Skin rated the all-time best nude scenes in movies and one of my favorite actresses of all time was number one. I’m talking about, of course, Phoebe Cates in Fast Times at Ridgemont High.
To a young man such as myself, Cates represented all that was awesome about girls and helped start us on the way to manhood. I’m very happy that many others obviously share my enthusiasm for Cates. She truly is one of a kind and still looks great today (at 46), btw.
But here she is in her younger days in one of my favorite movies of all time. Also, keep in mind, this video is probably NSFW. Enjoy.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbHth5ErTs8?rel=0&w=420&h=315]
Video Friday - RIP Bettie Page
In case you don’t know who I’m talking about, here’s some video that points out the true phenomenon that was Bettie Page – who, sadly, passed away yesterday at the age of 85. Time Magazine also has some great photos and a tribute over here, so take a look. Enjoy.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0Ynlp7sxZs&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0]
Video Friday - The Matrix Runs on Windows
Just imagine how annoying and frustrating things would have been for Neo, Morpheus, Trinity and the gang if The Matrix ran on Windows. Although, if it did and ended up having this many errors, we might have been spared the two sequels.
Alas, that didn't happen. But its fun to think about the what if? Enjoy.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yX8yrOAjfKM&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0]
I've Been at Comic-Con
Yes, all the thrills, chills, excitement and sweaty fanboys you could ever want. But also, great artists, writers, costumes, cool shows and all the true geekery you could ever want. This is Comic-Con and no matter what the negatives, I still seem to go back every year.
I’ll probably do a longer post-mortem later, but until then I just want to highlight a couple of the great things that happened to me, and around me, during the show. Here’s a few:
Meeting Robert Englund (aka Freddy Krueger).
Meeting Stan “The Man” Lee
Meeting Joss Whedon
Getting to hang out with some great friends and the cool people I work with at ComicMix.
Making some great new friends from in and around the “business.”
Getting a chance to talk a little about my own personal projects with people in a position to do something about them and be taken seriously and met with enthusiasm.
Oh, and did I mention I met Joss Whedon. That was cool. Matt Raub, one of my ComicMix pals, met him as well earlier in the week while we were hanging at the Hyatt bar. Which, as it turns out, was pretty much the place to hang out.
It seemed that after all the parties and events that people felt compelled to attend, most anyone would end up at the Hyatt to actually have a bit of fun and relax. Glad we were there too.
For some of my interviews and such done during the show, check out ComicMix.
Last, but certainly not least, here’s a few pics of the “BSG” cast (including my personal favorite Katee Sackhoff) taken by my pal Tony Mark during the press event.
Check them out after the jump. Enjoy.
WGA Strike by The Daily Show Writers
Really, at this point, what more could I add?
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzRHlpEmr0w&rel=1]
'Planet of the Apes' and LA Locations Fun
For some reason I'm up late watching Conquest of the Planet of the Apes on Sci-Fi Channel. I don't know the exact reason for watching it other than it happens to be on and I like Planet of the Apes movies. This is the one where the apes revolt against their human oppressors and take over the planet in futuristic 1991. The movie was actually released in 1972 and was partially filmed in the then very futuristic-looking Century City Mall -- now known as Westfield Century City.
A great deal of the film was also shot at the very nice <a href="http://www.uci.edu/">UC Irvine</a> Campus as well. The college's buildings have also seen quite a bit of film production over the years, including this <em>Apes</em> film and sequences from other films like <em>Ocean's Eleven</em>, <em>Poltergeist</em> and TVs <em>Arrested Development</em>.
If you ever get to Irvine, or better yet, LA you can go to the mall and see the actual locations used in the film. They are still there and in most cases look pretty much the same. Century City is a pretty popular area where other films like <em>Die Hard</em> and <em>Liar Liar</em> (starring Jim Carrey) were filmed -- which makes sense, especially in the case of <em>Die Hard</em>, as the entire area used to be part of the giant backlot of 20th Century Fox Studios. In fact, the infamous Nakatomi building in the film is actually the Fox Tower.
<img src="http://cullrich.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/foxtower.jpg" alt="foxtower.jpg">
But really, you can't go very many places in LA without seeing a place where something was filmed for some movie or TV show. In fact, its hard to drive through the city sometimes without running into some actual filming taking place on the streets, in the buildings or at the swimming pool of your favorite hotel.
You can always tell when you see old and obviouly retired motocycle cops sitting on their motorcycles on the side of the road that you're getting near to some film or TV production. Orange cones are many times a telltale sign as well. Also, look for the big trucks filled with all sorts of equipment and a whole bunch of people mostly standing around waiting to spring into action at a moments notice.
Really, that's what a lot of film and TV production is -- standing around. Well, sometimes, if you're smart and/or important, you actually get to sit. Either way, you end up waiting for the opportunity to do something much of the time. Not that people who work in production don't work very, very, very hard. They do, believe me. I've been there. Its just that you have a lot of downtime and waiting around and then a period of intense activity. Then, its back to waiting again. That's just the nature of the business. Hurry up and wait.
Portland - The New Hollywood?
I recently did a <a href="http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=11255">piece</a> for CBR about Portland, its creativity and its thriving comic book scene. I found Portland to be inspirational for many reasons, chief of which is the fact that it just feels like a great place to "get things done." It has many of the big city virtues but still manages to maintain some of the small-town feel and, dare I say it, innocence, so often lacking in other places -- like Los Angeles.
When I was there talking to a great many of the people responsible for putting Portland on the map as a creative town and a town where there are lots of talented people producing some great stuff, I also got a sense that something else was just around the corner. That we hadn't seen everything that was going to happen in Portland and that comics were just the tip of the proverbial iceberg.
Well, if you take a look at <a href="http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117969711.html?categoryid=13&cs=1&nid=2562">this article</a> in <em>Variety</em>, I guess we now have an idea what that something else might be: Hollywood. Hollywood, it seems, is in love with comic books and wants to make as many comic books into movies as possible. In many ways that's a good thing. It gives people who work in comics a chance to see their work on the big screen and potentially puts a lot more money in their pockets. It also opens up these stories to a much greater potential audience who may, after discovering the movie they just enjoyed was based on a graphic novel or comic book, go to their local comic book store to check out a few more. They might even end up purchasing some too.
But I wonder if, in the end, this attention will really be good for comics and Portland. My first clue that all may not be perfect in this new relationship is the title of the <em>Variety</em> article. It's pretty openly condescending to comic book creators, calling them "wannabes." Of course, that may not be an insult to Hollywood people. After all, doesn't everyone want to work in the movies?
From experience I know that Hollywood often has a tendency to find that "next big thing," use it until there's no more left and then move on to the next thing. Unfortunately, that often leaves quite a bit of destruction in its wake. As someone who likes comics, comic book creators, publishers <em>and</em> Portland, I just hope Hollywood doesn't do the same to them when its finished squeezing every penny it can.
I hope Hollywood, in its desperation to save a dying business model, bring people into the theaters and sell lots of DVDs, doesn't end up ruining comics for the rest of us and crushing that last bit of innocence in Portland and comics we could all use a little more of now and again. That would be a shame indeed.
Trying Something New
As people who know me well can attest, I'm pretty much the kind of person who likes to do the same things pretty much all of the time. I like to eat at the same restaurants, go to the same bars, drink the same beverages, see similar kinds of movies, read similar kinds of books and comic books, etc. You get the idea.
Another thing I usually do has to do with my writing. When I leave the house to write out in the world I almost always go to my particular Starbucks to do it. The reasons for this are simple. I know the place, I know the people and I know what I'm getting when I go there. That can pretty much be applied to the other things I do pretty much all the time. I've been around long enough to know what I like and like what I know. No harm in doing what you want to do, is there?
Even though I'm what you would call a "creature of habit" every once in awhile I like to mix things up. So today, instead of going to my usual Starbucks to write some stuff for Cinematical and work on the pilot that can't yet be discussed, I decided to try something new today. I threw caution to the wind and went not to Starbucks but instead, to a place called LuLu's Beehive in Sherman Oaks. That was a couple hours ago and so far, so good.
When I first got here I was privy to an interesting argument between what could best be described as a few "disgruntled" writers. There were three middle-aged dudes arguing about how various studios around town don't know what they are doing, that executives and development people are "idiots" and how the hole business of show i basically a blight on society. Of course, in the next minute they bragged about their upcoming projects and the stuff they had in development and their upcoming deals so they can't hate the business too much as they are still hip-deep in it. Its funny to hear these kinds of conversations because that's what showbiz does to people.
I like to think of showbiz as being like chocolate cake. Its one of those things you know is bad for you but its also so good you just can't help yourself. And really, as I've probably said before, the worst day on a movie set is still so much better than the best day working at a bank or some other "real" job type job. Yes, showbiz and I have had our share of issues. But like any dysfunctional relationship we have also had our very good days as well so I can't say its all bad. Plus, as anyone who knows me will tell you: I love cake.
<em>photo "borrowed" from my former boss at LAist <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/misterjt/415321412/" target="_blank">jason toney</a> </em>
News and where to get it plus Mel Gibson
as we all know, the middle east seems to be imploding by the minute. we can’t seem to get a handle on iraq and now isreal and pretty much anyone else are trying to kill each other. so, if you want all the bad news, i’m sure there are a few places around the net where you can get your fill.
if you have no clue where to go, following are a few suggestions. if you are like me, you like to get your news with a little opinion thrown in. hopefully, said opinion is an informed one and makes for an interesting read. the following links fill those criteria, at least for me. there are countless others but these also have a certain level of writing quality which i can only aspire to. i don’t always agree with what’s being said on these sites but they are rarely borning:
and if you lean more to the right:
or, there are the more traditional sites such as:
and, if you are less interested in cold hard truth and more interested in cold hard truth mixed with humor, try this:
and be sure to watch:
the daily show with john stewart
now don’t you feel much more informed and ready to speak at parties and not sound like an idiot? these sources of information can help you but you have to also keep in mind that drinking six beers and then trying to talk to people doesn’t make you smarter, it just makes you drunk. and many times drunk people are just annoying and say really stupid things that, of course, they don’t mean. let’s all learn a lesson from mel gibson, shall we?
me, myself and i
yes, its all about me, me and again, me. i am now working on a couple of super secret projects that only a few key people know about. two are for one major electronics giant and the other is for an even bigger multi-media giant. anyway, the first two involve some actual filming (in HD really so no film) and also some fire, cops and a lot of action. good fun. the third one might involve filming as well but that’s still up for discussion.
plus, one of them also involves a rather well-known sports figure who is really quite cute as well. so, that should be fun. anyway, i would love to share more but can’t at this moment. that’s right, i can give you no clue as to who the sports figure is. sorry.
i can say that its actually much more fun to be back producing stuff than i thought it was going to be. at first, i was kinda not really that interested. producing things like this requires a lot of time and effort and often a little bit of stress, which i always try to avoid (the stress i mean. work is ok).
now that it has been a week or two, its actually pretty fun to be back into it. i’m sort of surprised really but also relieved as well. i’m glad it hasn’t been a total nightmare working with bad people who yell for no reason and can’t make decisions. who needs that, right? the people that i am doing this with seem much nicer and easy going and a pleasure to work with. so, i got that going for me. which is nice. plus, i get to work with friends and hire people that i like so that’s a good feeling too. and the money’s not bad either, which is also another plus.
on another front, i am looking forward to getting my hands on the new T-Mobile MDA next week. i will be picking one up and trying to determine if this i finally the device that will solve my problem of wanting one tool that is a phone/organizer and also gets email, etc. it has a lot of features and seems, at least on paper, to have what it takes. i should have it tuesday so i will let you know how it goes. although these jobs are taking more and more time (hence the infrequent posting) so i don’t know when i will really get some sort of review up.
i know some people (friends of mine) seem not to like t-mobile but they have been fine for me so far. their network seems to be pretty good here in los angeles. i even get signal in my home office which never happened with cingular/att. although, that was a few years ago. maybe they are better now. anyway, cingular is also going to have the MDA but they are calling it something else. i’m glad t-mobile is getting the mda as i don’t want to have to keep up with our cingular account to get one. now i can drop cingular completely now that i have moved all of our numbers over to t-mobile.
hope its a good device and as good as the specs indicate. it would be nice to find something. the blackberry is good just not great. same with the treo 650. i liked them both i just don’t love them. will i have to wait for an apple smartphone or will the MDA do the trick? come on t-mobile, rise to the challenge.
No broadcast flag and the intel macintosh
just an update. the broadcast flag was not attached to an appropriations bill. over at the eff they are pretty happy about the rise of citizen activism that helped the cause. the eff’s new activism coordinator, Danny O’Brien, sees this as a victory for sift citizen action. well, i guess it could be that.
i prefer to think that the people in congress are not so dumb as to put through just any legislation that the entertainment industry or other giant lobby may want. especially legislation as lame as the broadcast flag. maybe i have too much confidence in our government? i don’t know. they can’t all be morons. can they?
and, those crazy kids at think secret have some details and photos of the intel based macintosh that is being shipped to developers. check it out. it looks like a macintosh with an intel motherboard and cpu inside. cool.