‘Tis the Season

Posted: 12/11/2013 in Comedy
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Tis the holiday season, so be in the holiday cheer!

Every year new movies come out around the holiday season, usually a new Christmas or holiday movie to add to the endless line of them.

This year, Tyler Perry has created “Tyler Perry’s A Madea Christmas”

Yes, Madea is back, yet again, and this time her comedic act is just right for the holidays.

This comedy can touch all of our hearts as we can relate to Madea and her discomfort in the holidays.

We all face those awkward in-laws that no one understands. We all hate the travelling, the food. There is a lot to do around the holidays.

In this movie, Tyler Perry/Madea is bribed to join a relative on a long journey to her house for the holidays. There, they are accompanied by her husband’s family as well – red necks.

It already sounds hilarious to me, rednecks and Madea’s family – what a clash.

I’m looking forward to bringing in the christmas cheer with classic movies such as how the grinch stole christmas, to miracle on 31st street, to comedies such as Home Alone, among others, and now, the new Tyler Perry’s A Madea Christmas.

Check out the trailer at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2609758/?ref_=nv_sr_1

the cast includes Tyler Perry, Larry the Cable Guy, Anna Maria Horsford, Tika Sumpter, Eric Lively, Chad Michael Murrary, and many many others!

Laugh with me, laugh with friends, laugh with family, and laugh at Madea during your Christmas holidays !

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Ron Howard

Posted: 12/11/2013 in Film Making
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Tis the season, and of course, my favorite Christmas movie is the classic, How The Grinch Stole Christmas.

Adapted from Dr. Suess’ short story, in 2000 RON HOWARD directed the new version of How The Grinch Stole Christmas – this movie is the influence to my blog about the great Ron Howard.

If you don’t know who Ron Howard is, you’re living under a rock. He’s that funky looking red-head that is the narrator on Arrested Development. He was born in 1954 and was in his first movie at 18 months old. He was the baby in Frontier Woman. Ron Howard was born into an acting family, and has successfully become an actor, director, and producer of many TV shows and films.

Ron Howard played Opie on the Andy Griffith Show (1960) and played Richie Cunningham in Happy Days (1974).

As a director, Ron Howard started his career directing shorts. His first was Old Paint, which he created in 1969 at only 15 years old. Some of his more famous works include: Parenthood, Far and Away, Apollo 13, How The Grinch Stole Christmas, A Beautiful Mind, Cinderella Man, The Da Vinci Code, Frost/Nixon, Angels and Demons, The Dilema, Rush, Made in America (A Documentary) among others.

He is well known for acting the roll of the narrator in Arrested Development as well as producing the hit television series. He has acted in the Twilight Zone, The Andy Griffith Show, Happy Days, Dennis the Menace, Grand Theft Auto, and acted in many television shows throughout his early years. Ron Howard was also featured in SNL i 1981.

Ron Howard as a writer created Grand Theft Auto in 1977, Cotton Candy (1978), Parenthood (1989), and Far and Away (1992)

I admire Ron Howards’ creative diversity, being able to write, act, direct, and produce great television shows and movies. I love the television show Arrested Development and when I found out that Ron Howard had created it, I enjoyed it so much more.

And since it is the holiday season, one of Ron Howard’s greatest work is one of my favorite movies : How The Grinch Stole Christmas.

I have a lot of respect for men and women in the industry such as Ron Howard, who have created such a broad spectrum of shows and movies. All of these great people are my role models and influencers.

Oldboy

Posted: 11/27/2013 in Drama, Thriller
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Oldboy is being released TODAY!

Although the title does not really match the description in my opinion, it sounds like a kick ass movie. The movie, directed by the infamous Spike Lee (Who I have a friend that has met him. Obviously working on getting that hookup) stars Elizabeth Olsen, Josh Brolin, Samuel L. Jackson, Hannah Ware, and Sharlto Copley, among many others.

This film coming out today is an action drama mystery movie. A man, obsessed with vengeance, sets out with a strong motive to find out why he was kidnapped and left in captivity for 20 years without reason.

The main character, Joe Doucett (played by Josh Brolin) was an advertising executive when he was suddenly kidnapped and kept in solitary confinement for 20 years. When he is inexplicably released, he obviously starts his mission to figure out why. Who orchestrated this punishment? I’m interested to find out. Also, why did they let him go? As Joe seeks vengeance, he may be caught in a web of conspiracy and torment.

We’re all going to have to go out and see this movie to find out! Watch the trailer! => http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrLcnrnEqyI

Dito Montiel

Posted: 11/24/2013 in Film Making
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Dito Montiel is a published writer, an actor, screenwriter, producer, musician, and director.

Talented and driven, Dito Montiel has turned his life around. His childhood took place in Astoria, Queens, one of the rougher of neighborhoods in Queens back in the 1980s.

Dito Montiel’s first published book, “A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints,” a memoir, depicts his younger years in Astoria, and how he left his friends and family to become someone. Dito first left to start a band with a friend. Some of you may know the hardcore band Major Conflict. He was also the lead singer in the band Gutterboy.

A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints was later adapted into a screenplay in 2006. The movie stars Shia LaBeouf, Channing Tatum, Robert Downey Jr., Dianne Wiest, and Melonie Diaz. The movie was Montiel’s first screenplay and first directed movie.

The movie really captures the 80’s, as does another one of his films I watched recently, Empire State.

Dito Montiel doesn’t have such a specific style as some other director’s in the industry today, but he does often use the same cast, and has some techniques that show through some of his movies. He often likes to have dialogue speak over a scene, not filming the speaker during the whole speech. He also has a lot of shots of cars or subways moving in a still shot, but has tracking shots of people walking, where the camera is following them as they go (they are always in the shot). He also has a very stylistic music composition, using Jonathan Elias for many of his movies (A Guide, The Son of No One, & Fighting)

Dito Montiel’s first film A GUIDE TO RECOGNIZING YOUR SAINTS is one of my favorite all time films, which is what got me into learning more about this writer/director. He is inspiring to me, as this movie (and the novel) is a memoir, and a true story about his life. The movie is very poignant, and resonates with me. I aspire to be a writer/director like Dito Montiel.

Not many people know of this director, he hasn’t made too many films. His filmography can be found at IMDB -> http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1996918/?ref_=tt_ov_dr

 

I encourage you to check out writer, director, producer, musician, and actor Dito Montiel.

 

A guide to recognizing your saints

Catching Fire

Posted: 11/18/2013 in Action
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Jennifer Lawrence in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

THE HUNGER GAMES ARE BACK!

The excitement and buzz about the new Hunger Games Saga, coming out November 22nd (Mark your calendars!) is that this movie is on fire! (My corny joke of the day)

The Hunger Games 2: Catching Fire, original story written by Suzanne Collins and screenplay adapted by Simon Beaufoy and Michael Arndt, has a big buzz in the media this week since the film goes on the big screen THIS THURSDAY. 

Catching Fire had a change in director, the director of the first Hunger Games (Gary Ross, who helped adapt that screenplay) had dropped out, but luckily Francis Lawrence took over. (Also directed I Am Legend, Water for Elephants, and is a reputable music video director)

The premier of Catching Fire is today, November 18th at the Nokia Theater!

The film had its first release in Brazil on November 15th, bringing in a hot $2.4 million and a total of $6.3 million in that country ALONE.

Things are definitely heating up for the Hunger Games considering! It’s projected to be one of the hottest movies of the year. The projected domestic box office earnings are to be $120 million ….. outrageous.

The reviews so far are looking good, but of course, it is too early for us common folk to tell. The stakes are high however, with such large success of the first in this series, us fans and audience members are really expecting a lot.

The Hunger Games 2: Catching Fire is a continuation following our heroine, Katniss (the amazingly talented and beautiful Jennifer Lawrence) as her and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) embark on a “Victor’s Tour” of the districts as a rebellion is simmering in the dystopian society of Panem. The 75th annual Hunger Games could change their society forever.

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Catching Fire

Fast Times at Ridgemont High

Posted: 11/14/2013 in Comedy
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Talk about a classic comedy. If you haven’t had the pleasure of seeing this masterpiece written by Cameron Crowe (one of my personal favorites) and directed by Amy Heckerling, then you are truly missing out.

This 1982 classic comedy is about all the teen favorites – love, sex, drugs, and rock and roll.

I feel like this movie is easily relatable, even in modern day.

We can all relate to that clown in class, the one that’s probably a stoner, an easy going guy but a real ball buster with the teachers. We all know one (or are one) and Sean Penn is the epitome of stoner. Jeff Spicoli. Every one’s favorite character in Fast Times.

We can all relate to another one of our many main characters, Stacy Hamilton (played by Jennifer Leigh) she is an average sophomore, pretty but timid, she’s less experienced than her best friend, Linda Barret (Pheobe Cates), and Stacy is anxious to lose her virginity. She desires to be a desirable girl.

Then we have the beautiful Linda Barret, you know, the popular pretty girl in school, the one that seems to get all the boys. Yeah, that bitch, that’s her. She is the goddess in the infamous pool scene where Stacy’s brother, Brad (Judge Reinhold) is caught doing something, um, indecent as he fantasizes about Linda.

On the other hand, the equal male counterparts to Stacy and Linda are Mark Ratner (Brian Backer) and his older, more experienced friend Mike Damone (Robert Romanus). Mark is similar to Stacy, very average, not as good looking as Stacy is, shy, and not very good with the ladies. His love interest becomes Stacy in the film, and I’ll let you watch and find out how that ends up.

Mr. Hand, played by Ray Walston is your classic strict, uptight, not fun, straight edge history teacher. Mr. Hand and Spicoli have a lot of comical and interesting encounters.

The movie depicts a very realistic coming-of-age comedy with relatable but dramatic characters.

Many more characters come into this film and intertwine in the high school of Ridgemont High.

If you haven’t seen Fast Times, you’re really missing out.

So go watch, laugh, and enjoy this great film

The Perfect Host

Posted: 11/14/2013 in Thriller
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Are you ever going through Netflix looking through pages and pages of movies, most of which you’ve already seen, or are outdated, or just don’t sound too appealing? That happens to me a lot, but, thankfully, I discovered a great movie on Netflix : The Perfect Host.

This film directed and written by Nick Tomnay is a thriller/drama with a good amount of comic relief.

The main character John Taylor, after an injury from a bank robbery is desperate for a place to hide out. He eventually cons his way into the home of Warrick Wilson. Taylor’s role played by Clayne Crawford and Warrick Wilson’s immaculate role is portrayed by the great David Hyde Pierce.

John Taylor wiggles his way into Warrick’s home and gets himself invited to a dinner party. This dinner party is definitely one he will never forget.

When he thought he was home free and escaped the cops, he enters the into the arms of a seemingly gentle kind-hearted man, but is quickly proven to be in a more dangerous position than ever before.

The movie has several twists and plays mind games with the audience. I don’t want to give away any details, it’s truly a great film, worth watching.

The ending will definitely catch you way off guard

RE-MAKES

Posted: 11/06/2013 in Remakes
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Let’s talk about movie re-makes, you know, when there’s a movie out there and a director takes the same movie and re-produces it. (Why do people do this? I’ll never understand … I mean there’s a gazzillion stories to be told but you wanna re-tell one ? whatever–)

Some re-makes can be entertaining. Some people prefer a remake of an old black and white movie because they enjoy the modern twist (i.e. Alice in Wonderland).

Some re-makes just look better aesthetically (i.e. The Parent Trap. I hate the original. Maybe because I grew up watching Lindsey Lohan :/ she’s a train wreck now.)

A NEW film comes out in TWO days, Friday, November 8th : Great Expectations

Great Expectations is actually very close to my heart, I read this book in honors English back in 9th grade, and it is one of my favorite books ever.

The classic novel, written by the infamous Charles Dickens, is a rags-to-riches story about the very lovable young Pip. The novel is quite lengthy, and truthfully the first 100 pages are somewhat rough to get through, but the story as a whole is a very great tale. With twists, and emotions flowing poetically through each page. I really suggest any one that enjoys reading to pick this book up and enjoy.

The novel was adapted to film first in 1946, a black and white film directed by British film maker, David Lean. It won two academy awards. This version of Great Expectations stays fairly true to the novel.

Later in 1998, Mitch Glazer wrote a remake of Great Expectations, but with a different twist. His story just shares the same themes and motivation in characters, but the characters and setting are completely different. (Do not watch this movie and think you can write your book report on Great Expectations and be good…)

in 99′ director Julian Jarrold took Tony Marchant’s script of Great Expectations and developed ANOTHER remake, this one seems more true to the original, although I’ve never seen it.

There are versions made in 2011, 2012, and now a new one to come in a few days in 2013.

I never realized that there were so many remakes, but people do enjoy re-writing something that was so great, such as a classic novel by a very notable author, such as Charles Dickens. We can all relate to the story and aspirations of Pip, which makes this film an ideal choice to recreate.

I’m personally excited to see the new Great Expectations, written by Jo Clifford and directed by Mike Newell.

Here is a link to the trailer of the 2013 version : http://www.movieinsider.com/m9846/great-expectations/videos/10417/

Screenwriting

Posted: 10/30/2013 in Film Making
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We talk about films often, and we are always discussing the final product, the finished filmed and edited version. But people rarely think about how this film came about.

The most important aspect in this industry is the writers. Where would we be without that initial idea of a story. We couldn’t get to the filming process without the storyboard and script of what we see on TV.

I’m currently majoring in screenwriting at SUNY Purchase College and am very passionate about it.

Some people hear screenwriting and don’t really know what it is that we do. But to break it down simply: Everything you see on the screen, the way characters act, and what characters say are all in the script of a television show or movie.

Generally, if you are making a feature length script, it should be close to 130 pages.

In film, generally one page of a script is equal to about a minute on film. So 130 pages comes out to about two hours, more or less.

Screenwriting has a specific format, although many writers have their own minute twists to it.

The format I learned was from Syd Field’s screenwriter’s guide. It’s a fairly easy format to follow, and they are pretty strict about format in the industry.

The format is specific because it makes it very easy to read and differentiate between different scenes, character dialogue, and direction/action. The script is formatted in this specific way so the director can easily read it.

The downfall with screenwriting is that you often write a story and have a very clear image for it – BUT the vision is not up to you, that is the director’s choice. Once you’ve been in the industry for long enough, then you can be like the great Martin Scorsese or Quentin Tarantino, who both write and direct their own films.

I feel that screenwriting is the most important part of the movie making process, and is often undermined and forgotten. But how could we have films without the initial writer?! Image

Scary Scenes

Posted: 10/16/2013 in Film Making
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HALLOWEEN

In spirit of the season, I wanted to discuss scary movies.
We all love a good horror flick right? And we can all agree that a good horror movie is hard to find.

I read a lot about scary movies recently, and I wanted to look up what makes a movie scary.
There are FOUR key components to what makes us scared when watching a scary movie. We need to be pushed to the edge of our seats, screaming at the tv, and covering our eyes to say this, this is a good scary movie.

1. When we as the viewer can see something that our character can not.

It’s that moment in the film when you see our protagonist turn down the dark hall way, then lightning flashes and a scary murderer with a mask is standing at the end of the hall behind her! This “pop up” effect makes our heart jump, as well as our anxiety for the safety of our character here!

2. Gorey is indeed scary

Although not all of us like to see brains splattered on the floor, and guys pouring out, and zombies eating hearts, and people’s throats being cut open – we can all admit its scary as fuck to see that gorey bloodiness! Movies like the SAW franchise are a perfect example of this. Even the classiic (but was remade too many times) Halloween has many gorey moments that are probably the scariest.

3. What we CAN’T see but can hear.

When we can’t see what’s going on, were on edge. You’ve got anticipation building up, and deep inside we all know that character hiding under the bed is going to be found, but were extremely scared when the monster’s footsteps are coming down the hall and into the room. The build up to the point when this monster/creature/killer is revieled is so nerve-wracking and makes us jump out of our skin.

4. The unexpected

My personal favorite scary movie technique is the sudden pop outs in a scene. When suddenly, out of nowhere, a knife goes through the wall in front of a character’s face, it was very unexpected and I bet most of you shrieked. Or when your killer is revieled and it’s the last character you expected it would be. These moments are gem’s in horror films, if done the right way, at the right moment in the film.

I think a great Halloween movie that definitely hits all these points are the “Halloween” movies (all of them…and yes.. they make a remake about every 6 years. For some reason).

I think another very very very very (very) important factor in a horror movie is the MUSIC.

We all know the tune to Halloween. We all know the tune for the Saw movies. We all know the tune of the ringer that’s in “One Missed Call” and we know these songs because they impact our feeling as we watch the film. Scary music in a scary scene, as the music builds up, the scene builds intesity. They go hand in hand and are crucial for a scary movie.

So please, go home, get in the mood, throw on your favorite horror flicks and pick out the scariest scenes in the movie. I bet the scenes will hit one of my four points. Let me know!

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