“I want you to like it here. I wish we could stay here forever… and ever… and ever.”
Let the Right One In
It’s been a while since I’ve written in here. Sorry ‘bout that. I just saw the Swedish film, Let the Right One In. I’m curious about the remake, since it was a great vampire movie, but there’s just so many films I need to catch up with: Machete, The Social Network, The Town. Any suggestions from you folks?
Thank you, guys. When I was… I was nine and I asked my dad, “Can I have your movie camera? That old, wind-up 8 millimeter camera that was in your drawer?” And he goes, “Sure, take it.” And I took it and I started making movies with it and I started being as creative as I could, and never once in my life did my parents ever say, “What you’re doing is a waste of time.” Never. And I grew up, I had teachers, I had colleagues, I had people that I worked with all through my life who always told me what you’re doing is not a waste of time. So that was normal to me that it was OK to do that. I know there are kids out there that don’t have that support system so if you’re out there and you’re listening, listen to me: If you want to be creative, get out there and do it. It’s not a waste of time. Do it. OK? Thank you. Thank you.
Michael Giacchino, winner of best original score for “Up”
Modern Family
I was just at the Paley Television Festival for the Modern Family event. Modern Family has got to be one of the best comedies on TV right now. Watch some episodes here. The most interesting thing mentioned was by Creator/Executive Producer Steven Levitan. He mentioned that the show is not pretending to be a documentary, but rather it’s a family show in the documentary style. Actor Ty Burrell mentioned that It is as though only the family is aware of the camera, and when they look at the camera, they are looking at the audience directly. They screened the latest episode that should air this Wednesday. It is downright brilliant.
On the Waterfront
I had seen On the Waterfront many years ago. To be perfectly honest I had forgotten a lot about the plot of the film. Having seen the film in my early twenties, I can remember liking the film and seeing that it was important, but I don’t remember the film having a great effect on me. Watching it on the big screen at the Egyptian Theater last Friday was quite the experience, for a number of reasons. Focusing on the film though, I can say that seeing it on the big screen allowed me to really appreciate the acting on a whole new level. Playing devil’s advocate, it’s possible that I understand it on a more mature level, being older now.
This reminds me of another incident somewhat involving the Egyptian Theater. In my early to mid-twenties, I spend a ton of time going to a lot of revival houses like the New Beverly Theater, LACMA, The Egyptian, The Crest, etc. to watch older movies. A group of friends and I were planning on seeing a 70mm print of Aliens at the Egyptian. Unfortunately it was sold out. My friends voted to go to Laemmle’s Royal theater to see the rereleased and restored The Bicycle Thief (aka Bicycle Thieves). It was a film that I had seen on home video (probably Laserdisc) and not really liking it. The Bicycle Thief is considered one of the most touching and important films in cinema history. To be honest, I just didn’t get it, I thought it was seriously overrated. That is, until I saw it that night on the big screen. I blamed my mood when first watching the film for my opinion of it. Then again, it could have been seeing it on a large screen, in the dark, and with an audience that forced me to see, I mean really see how great the movie really was.
I could go on with my worries of how the moviegoing experience is being lost to the ease of downloading films on a small computer screen, but I’ll leave my feelings on the subject for another time.
Robert Rodriguez on the BBC (Video from YouTube, which is unfortunately blocked on the school network.)
Pick up a camera. Shoot something. No matter how small, no matter how cheesy, no matter whether your friends and your sister star in it. Put your name on it as director. Now you’re a director. Everything after that you’re just negotiating your budget and your fee.
James Cameron, director of Avatar, Titanic, & Aliens.
Michel Gondry has a mind that I hope to one day begin to understand.
Krzysztof Kieslowski made everyday human emotion as exciting as an action movie.
Martin Scorsese Here’s a filmmaker whose passion and love for cinema pours off the screen in his films.
Lars von Trier is an artist. Not to everyone’s taste, but certainly for mine.
