My Entertainment News » Filmmaking

Sundance Film Festival, Festival Dailies

Gerry Grant — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 02:32:06 +0000

Sundance Film Festival is the biggest film festival in the United States. I couldn’t attend this year, maybe next year. Time Warner cable does have the Sundance Film Festival, Festival Dailies so I will watch and report on the Sundance Film Festival from watching that, now that it works. Time Warner Cable does not work most of the time; I am planning on switching to the Dish Network.

The Sundance Film Festival, Festival Dailies starts with a short message from Robert Redford talking about the importance of the entertainment industry delivering the message about saving the environment but delivering the message in an entertaining way.

The first report starts with Whitney Cummings reporting from Sundance on day one of 10 days. Sundance Film Festival, Festival Dailies reports that it is to be the year of the actress and the year of big documentaries, many about global warming.

How does a picture get picked for the Sundance Film Festival? Festival Programmers pick the films that get presented at the Sundance Film Festival from thousands of submissions. How many get submitted to the Sundance Film Festival? 7,732. How many films get accepted to the Sundance Film Festival? 196, According to Geoffrey Gilmole the director of the Sundance Film Festival. He states that the festival feels very fresh this year.

Festival Programmers talk about how this years Sundance Film Festival has attracted a higher quality filmmaker. Senior programmer Shari Frilot talks about how being a discovery festival they can’t even depend on standards that they used last year. Caroline Libresco another Senior Programmer says it is like a whole new frontier, you’ve a whole new generation of feature filmmakers. They have come of age and they are telling more mature stories. David Courier, programmer, Sundance Film Festival talks about how the stories are more global stories, “less US centric than they have been.”

Shari Frilot goes on to say that watching these films she gets almost a barometer of our times. The 2007 Sundance Film Festival had 1,362 documentary features submitted and only 42 accepted. If you think that is competitive try getting a short film accepted. Only 71 short films were accepted at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival of 4,445 submitted.

Geoffrey Gilmole explains that filmmaking is still about money and making a film with the broadest possible audience, but the independent filmmaker comes not so much with hopes of wealth but more independent filmmakers come to the with the Sundance Film Festival hoping that they will have their film seen. I am sure they also have the dream that they will be found or discovered and get funding for their next film.

Sundance Film Festival, Festival Dailies are pretty cool to watch. If you didn’t make it to the Sundance Film Festival, or even if you did be sure to watch the Sundance Film Festival, Festival Dailies.

Michael Berlin | Podcast

Gerry Grant — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 13:49:51 +0000

Michael Berlin is a well known screenwriter, playwright and psychologist, who has consulted with The Newport Beach Film Festival, The Orange County Museum of Art, and The Orange County Performing Arts Center. Michael is the founder of The Jewish Film festival of Orange County which now enters its 15th year. Michael has written animated series, Bruno the Kid, has produced House Calls, a reality series and created pilots for CBS, Vice Girls and ABC Lorne and Max. The feature films include Anguish, which has been winner of six European Film Awards; Paramount’s Breaking Point and Republic Pictures and the Robo-Warrior series for Paramount Pictures.

In this podcast, Michael Berlin gives valuable tips on how to start as a screenwriter, how to write good scripts, and much more. Michael has written, produced or consulted on several television episodes like Miami Vice, Cagney and Lacey, Hunter, Earth: Final Conflict, Diagnosis: Murder, Beauty & The Beast, The Exile, The Outer Limits and many more. Michael also talks about how he started as a psychologist in New York. He later hooked up with a parter and wrote Miami Vice.

Michael says to be a good screenwriter you have to love to read and write. You have to learn to use language properly. He also advices using good softwares for formatting the script properly. Michael says it is important for new writers that their scripts reach right people. It is extremely essential for those entering the industry to do their homework first. For more such tips listen to the podcast.

>>Listen to My Entertainment News Michael Berlin Podcast

Happy Feet Will Make You Real Happy

Gerry Grant — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 07:04:12 +0000

You have heard about “Casino Royale”, the latest flick of James Bond. Well, the news is that Bond is having sleepless nights because of a group of penguins. According to “Internet Movie Database” (IMDB) “Happy Feet”, a non-Pixar 3D animated movie, is giving Bond a run for his money. George Miller’s new animated film Happy Feet is believed to be one of the year’s ‘hottest toons’.

This new film engages into storytelling tactics that will move you to enchanting vistas. This wonderful movie opens up with an enchanting and beautiful snowy glass ball sky. The first half of the film makes you relaxed and you sway with the rhythm, in the second half the film suddenly takes an unexpected turn, but all in all it is an entertaining one which will make you glued to the seat. What makes it more captivating is that an animated film about penguins has quite a dramatic edge to it. The film carries some really socially important things, while at the same time making the temperament of the film fancy-free and foot-loose.

George Miller, the director, has taken a different approach in his film, as it used to happen at Aesop fables, using animals to illustrate a parable about human beings. The director has used the same procedure in his film, so instead of turning these flightless birds into people, he transforms the people as penguins. Although many of you will associate Happy Feet with March of Penguins, they are entirely different.

The pivotal character is Mumble who is different from other penguins, since the penguins sing romantic songs to find their mate, but Mumble on the other hand can only dance. But his community doesn’t approve of this and avoids him like anything. Then one day he comes across a different type of penguin group, who praise his dancing and helps him to woo his lady love, Gloria. But a problem arises when they find there is a mysterious lack of fish in the ocean. And Mumble sets out to solve the mystery as well as win the heart of Gloria.

Another entertaining thing about the film is the music, which is really splendid. There are the songs from Moulin Rouge! Beach Boys, Stevie Wonder and many other recent hits. The camerawork by Miller is outstanding, mostly using “the bird’s-eye-view” technique. When the young ones learn to swim, Miller choreographs a beautiful underwater ballet. No doubt about the animation, which is just superb, as the penguins and the environments all look real and makes the characters look unique. The voice over by Robin Williams, Elijah Wood as Mumble, is superb, Brittany Murphy as Gloria delivers fantastic vocal chords, while Nicole Kidman as Norman Jean are first rate.

Finally, “Happy Feet” delivers a good message for the kids. It tells them to express themselves and also teaches them to respect their environment. Though there are scary moments for young kids as well as some mature themes, but overall it is enjoyable.

“Happy Feet”, November 17, 2006 Weekend Gross $41.5 with its waddling feet is already dancing ahead of “Casino Royale”, November 17, 2006 Weekend Gross $40.8 according to Internet Movie Database (IMDB). What say Bond!

Casino Royale Bond, James Bond, or is it?

Gerry Grant — Sat, 25 Nov 2006 17:07:11 +0000

Casino Royale was the first James Bond novel written by Ian Fleming. The movie could be called a prequel or origin story. It starts with a short bit shot in classic Film Noir style of black and white, dark shadows and obscure camera angles. James Bond has not earned his 007 designation yet and must complete two kills before he does. The first kill almost kills him but the second one is quick and effortless. This makes it clear that Casino Royal is how James Bond gets his start.

I thought Daniel Craig as James Bond was too old to play a very young James Bond, we see an agent that is characterized as cold and detached when he kills. His softer loving character comes out later as having an unbelievable soft affectionate side when he finally falls in love with Vesper Lynd played by actress Eva Green.

Discuss it here.

The origins of James Bond takes a little bit of getting used to as it incorporates 2006 cell phones, used a little too much, and the latest Austin Martin. The first part of the film is right on with unbelievable stunts and a chase scene that makes you think you are watching the best James Bond movie ever. Once he blows up the embassy you might as well go home and watch celebrity poker. The movie turns into something in the high channels on TV with a very long poker game that is explained to us with some very insulting dialogue that speaks to us like we have no idea how poker is played or that one hundred million is a lot of money. The bad guys leave the accountant, who is critical to their plot to steal the money, tied up in the middle of the road for anyone to come along and run over. Bond barely misses her and wrecks his new Austin Martin, a very sad part of the movie. They destroyed three of the $300,000 cars shooting the scene. Bond’s capture results in a quick torture scene and a new character that enters and shoots everyone but Bond and the girl. The new killer makes the unbelievable statement that he does not care about the money he just wants to be able to trust his banker.

At this point the movie shifts to Bond doing a complete unexplained change of character that has him leaving Her Majesty’s service and running off with the beautiful accountant Vesper (Eva Green). At this point the movie or the audience needs the heart defribulator from the glove compartment of Bond’s Austin Martin to get our hearts started again as we all go into cardiac boredom.

As Bond and the accountant Vesper arrive in Venice to buy groceries it seems the movie has died a slow painful death, some unidentified new characters are not introduced but give Bond someone to chase. He does this instead of answering the banker’s question if it is OK to transfer all the money into a new account that Bond does not control. At this point the story makes no sense at all and ends with M played by Judi Dench needing to explain to everyone what happened and who the new bad guys were. James Bond movies don’t always make sense but they usually have some great action. This one does not make sense and has a very boring one hour in the middle. The screenwriters Neal Purvis and Robert Wade need to take a screen writing course or read Robert McKee’s book on screenwriting called “Story.”

Daniel Craig was great as James Bond with a real depth of character. Unfortunately the screenwriter butchered what could have been a great new style of James Bond Movies. Now I know why a cute cartoon, “Happy Feet”, beat “Casino Royale” in the opening weekend for gross ticket sales.

IMDb Casino Royale Movie Trivia IMDb Casino Royale

Best Newport Beach Podcast Interview Was with Bai Ling

Gerry Grant — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 04:10:23 +0000

>>The Newport Beach Film Festival Podcast

It was a dark and stormy night and I had just watched an action hero movie at the Newport Beach Film Festival. I was new to doing interviews, my talent Sara Pentz was not feeling well and did not show up for the festival, so I was doing the interviews myself. I was standing outside the Edwards Island Theater in the middle of The OC, a place I had grown up in. Very much like the show “The OC” only we lived in much nicer houses and had more money. She looked vulnerable standing off to the side so I asked if she needed a ride to the big party at the museum. She smiled like a million bucks and said, “Sure that would be very nice, can you give my friend a ride to?” “Of course I replied.” Her friend came out, a solid action hero muscle looking type who looked very familiar. He had just been in the movie I had just watched. I had bagged a press pass so I was going to as many movies as family and work would allow.

I went to get the van telling them I would pick them up and half expecting them not to be waiting. They sat in the back like it was a limo. He even turned the light on. I spent more time with my eyes on the rear view mirror than the road watching them like it was a scene in a movie. I dropped them off and went to look for a place to park. I figured I would never see her again, especially after the way the big guy was kanoodling with her in the back of the van. The light being on was like he wanted to be on-stage.

When I got inside the Newport Museum of Modern Art the party was rocking. This having a press pass was better than big waves on a summer day at the nude beach at Camp Pendleton. Then I saw her, she was standing all alone, something I had to remedy. The action hero had moved on to the next audience like a new part. I went up to her like a fisherman approaching a record swordfish; hopeful but not very cofident. She said her name was Bai Ling and, yes she was in a movie in the festival called “Edmond.” She eyed my press pass like it was live bait, wary, but hoping it was real. Why not I thought, I asked the big question: Could I set up an interview with her? “Yes that would be nice.” Bai Ling replied, here is my cell phone number. “Give me a call.” I was as giddy as a high school kid who just got the head cheerleader’s number.

It took a couple calls but we set it up for the nicest hotel in a town that is known for nice, The Island. Of course I ran the gamut of sexual fantasies before the day arrived enjoying them as much as possible knowing that was all they would be. I arrived early and got all set up. She came into the lobby dressed very casual. Why did I not have a camera? We sat and talked, it was like sex when it is finally good for the first time. I was hooked. This doing interviews was a rush, the whole thing was so hot. She had a ride to LA she replied to my desperate inquiry about if she needed me to drive her. By now I had seen the movie Edmond where she plays a stripper so the whole fantasy level had moved up to a completely unobtainable level. The sound of her voice, her clean fresh scent and the look in her face as she talked about touching herself will be with me for a very long time. You have to hear the interview to know what this means. [hairrise]

Hear for yourself the Newport Beach Film Festival Podcast from The OC

Yes I think Bai Ling is the real thing, and having grown up in The OC I have met and known some very famous actors, one of which has an airport named after him.

bai ling

Bai Ling Interview at the Newport Beach Film Festival

Gerry Grant — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 23:26:50 +0000

Go to the My Entertainment News Bai Ling podcast

Bai Ling is her off-the-wall self as talks to interviewer Gerry Grant about being from the moon, her career starting when she was fourteen and entertained for the People’s Liberation Army and how she got the part in “Wild Wild West.” Bai Ling is a Chinese actress, and a known face in the American movies. She was born on 10th October, 1970 in Chengdu in China and now lives in Southern California.

In 1999 her two films were released ‘Anna and the King’ and ‘Wild Wild West’. In 2000 ‘Row Your Boat’ released followed by two films in 2001 ‘The Lost Empire’ and ‘The Breed’. In 2002 three films starring Ling were released ‘Storm Watch’, ‘Point of Origin’ and ‘Face’. Bai Ling starred in five film in 2004, ‘The Beautiful Country’, ‘My Baby’s Daddy’, ‘She Hate Me’, ‘Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow’ and ‘Three.. Extremes – Dumplings’. She appears in the film ‘Edmond’” which was screened at the Newport Beach Film Festival.

CLICK HERE To Listen to the My Entertainment News Bai Ling podcast

Bai Ling | My Entertainment news Podcast

Gerry Grant — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 14:44:02 +0000

Bai Ling is a Chinese actress and one of the most known Chinese faces in the American movies. She hugged fame in 1999, when her two films were released – ‘Anna and the King’ and ‘Wild Wild West’.

She has not looked back after that. With 3 releases in 2002, five films in 2004, Bai already has 5 movies against her name in 2006. The movies are ‘ Living & Dying ‘, ‘ After Sex ‘, ‘ Southland Tales’, ‘ Man About Town’ and ‘The Gene Generation ‘.

This podcast is an open conversation with Bai Ling.

>>Listen to My Entertainment News Bai Ling podcast

bai ling

Newport Beach Film Festival | Introduction Podcast

Gerry Grant — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 11:26:22 +0000

The Newport Beach Film Festival spotlights films, features, shorts, documentaries, and animation from around the world. The movies compete for Jury Awards and Audience Awards. The Festival also hosts premiere galas, yacht parties, and interaction sessions with filmmakers.

This podcast covers the film festival and it’s entire range of activities at the Newport Beach Film Festival. You can also listen to the interview of the famed director Max Makowski as part of the series.

>> Listen to podcast