Archive for Movies

Summary: A productive rehearsal can keep pacing on set fast and ready for shooting.

When you’re filming a production, it’s important for actors to have some time to work together on their scenes and run lines. Rehearsing helps everyone get acquainted with the space, and for other actors to build some camaraderie and anticipation on set. Rehearsal time tends to be more limited on film or television, but it’s an important part of stage acting and direction.

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Script Time

Actors need to know lines, but they should have a keen sense of flow for the scene too. While you’re preparing the camera or setting the stage, actors should be on their feet and blocking scenes. This should happen naturally, even if they are sitting and running through lines with each other.

If an actor under reads, meaning they have not studied the script enough, then blocking and rehearsing will give them some much needed prompts before stepping in front of the camera. However, this might be unacceptable to you as a director. Actors like to approach the story with fresh eyes, but that’s not always the most professional decision to make. As director, you need to make yourself responsible for actors learning lines, and a table read or blocking session can be a good time to make sure that’s getting done.

Table reads are to hear the tone of the scenes, not a time to hash out specifics. Try to keep in mind that actors are like tools to get the job done. You should also have a feel for what you want.


 

Bio: Charles Matthau is a director, producer and storyteller who runs The Charles Matthau Company in Los Angeles. Charles Matthau is best known for his adaptations, which include “The Grass Harp” and “Freaky Deaky.”

Written by: Charles Matthau

Summary: Think a book is un-filmable? These tips might make you reconsider.

As a first-time director, or even someone with a movie or two on their demo reel, you will find yourself in a position where you take whatever project comes your way. One of the trends you’ll find is that many of these are, or were, books and short stories. Studios purchase rights to these projects all the time, but they end up sitting “on the shelf” waiting to get made. Watchmen, the film based on Alan Moore’s comic book of the same name, is a great example.

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The rights to Watchmen were purchased in 1986, but the film didn’t see the light of day until 2009. All sorts of problems cropped up related to production. Alan Moore didn’t want to write the script, but a rewritten script completely changed the iconic and poignant ending. Terry Gilliam was attached to direct at one point, but dropped the project because he stated the comic was ultimately “un-filmable.”

The film “Watchmen” was eventually made, and it was made using this important tip.

Change the Source Material

Any hardcore fan is probably conjuring expletives and counter arguments, but don’t be afraid to change elements of the plot to suit your needs. This is not license to completely alter the plot, the theme or the characters (although it’s certainly been done before). Both Watchmen and Blade Runner made significant changes from the source material, but did so because the film version demanded that level of insight.

When the director investigates source material, he or she should be looking for key elements that make the story pop. Distill those beats into the barebones of your script, then begin writing for the screen. Always remember that books give us insight that movies cannot. You have to be willing to pull the essence of your subject matter into the script.


 

Bio: The Matthau Company is a production company that recently released “Freaky Deaky,” an adaptation of Elmore Leonard’s story starring Christian Slater and Crispin Glover. The Charles Matthau Company is best known for the adaptation of Capotes “The Grass Harp” Starring Walter Matthau and directed by Charlie Matthau.

Will 2015 be better for movies?

Movie ticket sales in the United States are dwindling for many years. The number of movie goers dropped from 1.5 billion ten years ago to 1.3 billion in 2013. Availability of titles online and bigger and better TVs are in the market, ticket sales may continue its slippery slope. However, movie theaters are counting on blockbuster releases in 2015. In the pipeline include super heroes such ad James Bond, Luke Skywalker and Tony Stark. Star Wars, Avengers film series from Marvel, Paranormal Activity and Mission Impossible from Viacom’s Paramount Pictures are also scheduled for release during the next year along with the finale for The Hunger Games from Loins Gate Entertainment. Twentieth Century Fox is also scheduled to release its Taken 3 and The Fantastic Four.

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Summer time is the most important period for movie ticket sales. However, 2014 summer has seen almost 20 percent drop in ticket sales. Who is to blame for the lost sales? Netflix streaming services has seen growth during the same period. A-list movie stars are doing more and more television productions. To attract more viewers into theaters, theater owners are now planning to add laser projections which will improve the quality of film screen images.

2013: Another banner year for movies

2013 has been another record breaking year for the movie industry. In terms of total domestic ticket sales, a total ticket sale income of $11 billion for 2013 beat the record set in the previous year, which was $10.8 billion. One contributing factor is the rising cost of average ticket prices which stands at $8.05 for the year. Another reason is big hits that came out in 2013. The Iron Man 3 was the big box office winner earning more than $409 million just in North America. Gravity is also contributed to the 2013 success. Other popular releases include The Wolf of Wall Street, American Hustle, 12 Years a Slave and Nebraska.

3D offerings continued to show progress in 2013. Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters that came out on January 25, 2013 started the year for 3D movies with 47 Ronin that ended the year with a release on December 25, 2013. Among notable 3D movies of the year Frozen and Monsters University leads the field of many 3D movies released in 2013.

However, one not so bright spot for 2013 was the attendance which stayed somewhat flat for the year. Compared to 2012, numbers show a slight drop of 1.3 percent of the total attendance in 2013.

True Blood is Back for Season 4

Article by Harout Daniels of Signal Television

Truebies fret not for True Blood is back for its 4th season! True Blood is an American television drama series broadcasted by the cable network HBO. It is an adaptation of the series of novels written by Charlaine Harris.  It tells a love story between a telepathic waitress and a vampire. It is set in the fictional town of Bon Temps in the state of Louisiana, USA.

 Meet The Principal Characters:

 Sookie Stackhouse, the main character in the series is played by actress, Anna Paquin. She has a gift for telepathy and she works in Merlotte’s Bar as a waitress. She falls in love with a vampire named Bill Compton.

 Bill Compton, the vampire is played by actor Stephen Moyer. He falls in love with Sookie and they start a relationship. He tries to hold on to his humanity by holding on to his memories as a human. He was turned into a vampire during the American Civil War.

 Sam Merlotte, the bar owner is played by actor Sam Trammel. Sam is a shape-shifter. His adoptive family abandons him after he first changed into a beagle but then his dying adoptive father tells him of his origins, although his adoptive mother advises him not to find his birth parents because she said they were bad people.

 Jason Stackhouse is Sookie’s brother, played by actor Ryan Kwanten.  He is somewhat self absorbed and has been known to be dim-witted. He supervises a road crew during the day.

 Tara Thornton is played by actress Rutina Wesley. Tara is Sookie’s bestfriend.

 Lafayette Reynolds is played by actor, Nelsan Ellis. He is a gay prostitute, a drug dealer and a member of Jason’s road crew. He is cousins with Tara. In the novel, he was killed, however because of the character’s popularity; in the series he was saved.

Interesting facts about Jetfire in Transformers 2

In the Transformers sequel ‘The Revenge of the Fallen’ Decepticon forces return to Earth with a mission: take Sam Witwicky prisoner. Why? because he learns the truth about the ancient origins of the Transformers. This sequel introduces many new Autobots, and one of them is Jetfire. A few interesting facts about Jetfire:

– His Japanese name is Sky Fire.
– Jetfire’s alternate mode is a SR-71 blackbird
– Speed – 200mph, record altitude flight – 85068 ft
– A poll held before the casting of the movie placed Jetfire in 4th place.
– Jetfire is voiced by John Turturro. He also appeared in the Transformers as Reggie Simmons. Turturro is a well known actor, writer, and director.
– Jetfire was a former Decepticon. He decides to change to an Autobot due to his age.
– He has a special ability, which is his ability to join with Optimus Prime.
– Jetfire can be identified by his cane beard and creaking voice.
– Originally serving the Fallen, Jetfire is one of the few Transformers to remain on Earth since the dawn of mankind.

The sequel portrays Jetfire as an old Decepticon, sickened by the ambitions of his counterparts, which moves him to leave the Cybertron and hide. He has a desire to remain anonymous and yearns for peace and quiet, until he is awakened by Sam. When he is awoken he is unwilling to fight, but is convinced to fight not for the Decepticons by the Autobots.

Indiana Jones DVD Set – 27 Years of Movie History

The Indiana Jones DVD Set, according to Paramount is one of the fastest-selling DVD sets ever. Paramount records indicate that the trilogy sold over 1 million copies, grossing over $50 million in just its first week. The first Indiana Jones movie was released way back in 1981, with the fourth and final one in 2008, making the entire series a twenty-seven year long production.

Raiders of the Lost Ark
The first in the Indiana Jones franchise, Jones fights the Nazis who are in search of the Ark of the Covenant. The film, originating from George Lucas’s desire to create a modern version of the 1930s and 40s serials, it became the top grossing film of 1981, and remains one of the highest-grossing films ever made. Nominated for nine Academy Awards that year, it won five.

The Temple of Doom
In this, Jones arrives in India, and is asked to find a mystical stone and stumbles upon the Kali Thuggee cult. This movie was originally to be set in China with a hidden valley inhabited by dinosaurs, while other cancelled plot devices included the Monkey King and a haunted castle in Scotland. The filmmakers were denied permission to film in India as the government found the script racist, and was then filmed in Sri Lanka.

The Last Crusade
This movie saw Harrison Ford teaming up with Sean Connery, playing his father to find the Holy Grail. They fight off the Nazi’s again, but this time in 1936, before the World War II. Last Crusade, interestingly shows the side of the younger Jones played by River Phoenix, growing into the archaeologist he becomes. This installation was a financial success, outdoing the other two with $474,171,806 at the worldwide box office.

Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Released 19 years after the third movie, it pays tribute to science fiction B-movies, pitting Jones against Soviet agents. This film, which was a development hell, was finally a financial success, grossing over $786 million worldwide, becoming the second highest grossing film of 2008.

Popcorn Supplies Needed for your Movie Theatre at Home

When putting together your movie theatre at home, you must invest in a surround sound system. Varying in cost, you should be able to find one that fits your budget. Make sure it comes with a DVD and Blu Ray player. Once armed with a good surround sound system, everyday television watching becomes quite an experience. Next, put together the full movie theatre experience by adding popcorn supplies to your stock.

While making popcorn to most people entails putting a bag in the microwave for a few minutes, most people want their popcorn to taste like ‘traditional movie popcorn’. Fortunately, nowadays popcorn makers are inexpensive, and are available in department stores and online as well. Ranging in several sizes, they can cost as little as $20 or as high as $2000.

Popcorn is a must-have when watching movies, especially at home. Keep your movie theatre at home well stocked. Popcorn can be bought in large bags, or smaller 1 lb bags. You’ll need to purchase Canola oil or Coconut oil to make sure the kernels pop evenly. The next thing to consider purchasing is a popcorn machine to achieve that ‘movie theatre’ popcorn. If you feel like showing off and have the space, go all out and buy a popcorn cart. Meant to replicate old red painted carts, you must get red and white popcorn holders to go with it. The flavouring of the popcorn is equally important. Find one that resembles closest taste to that of movie popcorn and you are all set for popcorn supplies for your movie theatre at home.