Following a screening of her work at the Jacob Burns Film Center, Elaine May when asked which of the aspects of filmmaking—writing, directing, acting—she prefers, answered “They’re really different parts of the brain. Writing is close to acting. In directing, you control. Acting, you can’t control how good you are, and you can’t control how… Continue Reading
China –Highest grossing cinema territory in the world.
It has been known for generations that U.S. studios got their highest gross sales overseas. Some say this is one of the causes in lack of diveristy in film. It is also no secret that during the rise of Naziism, U.S. studios catered to the German moviegoing audience, often getting the most sales in Germany. … Continue Reading
Cinema’s Exiles: From Hitler to Hollywood – Anchors TCM Celebration
I have been communicating for years with Producer/Director Karen Thomas regarding her 2009 PBS documentary Cinema Exiles: From Hitler to Hollywood. I had been urging her to get the fabulous story released into general circulation. I received an email today from Karen with exciting news First the film will anchor a celebration on Turner Classic Movies… Continue Reading
Video essay on Sirk’s Imitation of Life
Catherine Grant forwarded the following on Twitter. It is worth a watch and discussion. “Watch @Delliott_Smith‘s richly informative & campily enjoyable video essay on melodrama & Sirk’s IMITATION OF LIFE. https://vimeo.com/80130945 “ Continue Reading
10 Cloverfield Lane – Put it back in the can
It has been a really long time since I have felt the level of disgust for a movie that I felt for 10 Cloverfield Lane. Many years ago all the people in my apartment building used to get togethr on Friday nights to watch Creature Features. These were B level films at best with zombies,… Continue Reading
She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry now streaming and DVD
If you didn’t see it in the theaters last year I urge each of you to stream the documentary She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry now available on amazon, itunes, google etc. See HERE for more information from Music Box Films This is a powerful well-made documentary and presents the story of an important part of… Continue Reading
88th Oscars and The Vibes — Tell The Story of Filmmaking
The 88th Academy Awards production had a very different feel to it from those of recent years. All to the plus. Introductory presentations were crisper without the slapstick comedy that often occurred between presenters and acceptance speeches were crisper, to the point and most importantly shorter. All the other fifty thank-you acknowledgment scrolled by on… Continue Reading
Music in Film –A New Study Group
The past few weeks I have been in the process of preparing a new study group for Spring. Music in Film will look at the many roles that music plays during the course of a film; the people who compose and the directors who make use of it. We will look at how music at… Continue Reading
Son of Saul revisited
Now that film is released in Chicago and elsewhere, just wanted to remind you to see my Oct. 23 post from CIFF screening. Saw it again this weekend in original format. Absolutely gripping. Continue Reading
Do We Need the Oscars?
Much has been said in recent days about how the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which present the Oscars, needs fixing. Without getting too deeply into the “OscarsSoWhite” issue I would like to put forth for consideration the question of whether the tightly controlled Oscars are even necessary or representative of the filmmakers.… Continue Reading