BFOFILMCO

Now They Fear A Doll?!

2008-10-10T07:58:00.000-07:00

Some people in this country are just f#*@ing stupid.

Enough with the fear-mongering! If properly brainwashed, one can see evil in everything.

Sarah Palin's Nightmare Scenario

2008-10-09T16:35:00.000-07:00

I've been meaning to post this for awhile.

If Sarah Palin gets into the White House, who's going to protect our Alaskan borders from that guy peering at us?

Originally from Boing-Boing.

Ulterior Motives of the Market?

2008-10-09T16:02:00.000-07:00

Ponder this conspiracy theory for a moment...

Could this whole financial collapse and subsequent bailout have been orchestrated to drive the Euro and other foreign markets down... to make the U.S. debt China and others hold near worthless (and something we could buy back at a reduced rate)... and basically put us ('us' being the rich fat cats who can and will weather any financial depression relatively unscathed, especially one that's being paid for by the federal government) back on top by driving everyone else in the ground?

It's outlandishly devious and way beyond the acumen of those running our money. Still...

Homeland Security Eliminates Probable Cause In Border Searches

2008-09-23T20:37:00.000-07:00

Hoping no one would notice, Homeland Security tossed out the need for Customs and Border Protection agents to have probable cause when searching you computer or cellphone at the border.

According to an analysis of the documents (pdf) published by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and the Asian Law Caucus (ALC), DHS reversed certain elements of border search guidelines over a year ago without so much as a peep!!

According to Raw Story...

Where customs officers previously could only "glance at documents to see if they were merchandise," the latest policy allows officers to "review and analyze" any documents in a traveler's possession with no suspicion at all. Previous prohibitions on copying documents without a traveler's permission or probable cause also were eliminated, allowing customs to "detain documents or copies for a 'reasonable period of time to perform a thorough border search.'" (Emphasis in original.)

The EFF and ALC are appealing for full disclosure on the new policies since what they were given was heavily redacted.

Some civil liberties activists worry that this new policy could be used to get around the Fourth Amendment by conducting searches that other agencies would be prohibited from doing.

You can (and should) read more about what DHS has been messing with over at EFF's site.

Did The American Taxpayer Just Get Screwed... Again?

2008-09-22T13:08:00.000-07:00

We've all been watching agog as banks and financial institutions collapsed under their own greed... and how the American taxpayer was volunteered by our own federal government to bail them out.

Most of us don't understand the specifics. That's why these financial types can maneuver so well. No layman gets the intricacies of the economy. We just trust our leaders when they say the world financial system would collapse unless we fork over our tax dollars to wipe out their billions of debt.

But, like the fine print of a credit card application, this clause comes to light.
A "critical - and radical - component of the bailout package proposed by the Bush administration" called Section 8 reads like this:

Decisions by the Secretary pursuant to the authority of this Act are non-reviewable and committed to agency discretion, and may not be reviewed by any court of law or any administrative agency.

Sounds an awful lot like the typical Bush move of consolidating all decision making power in the Executive Branch much like what happened with areas of the Patriot Act and the "War On Terror." (read more of these particulars over at The Huffington Post).

But how can I link terrorism and the economy, you ask? Well, ponder this for a moment... Naomi Klein, author of the book "The Shock Doctrine," has a point of view that makes the Section 8 clause that much more ominous. Here she is on Real Time With Bill Maher talking about "disaster capitalism".

Did Americans fall for the same kind of fear tactics twice? And if we did, are we to blame like Andrew Sullivan from The Atlantic is more than insinuating? Sure people who irresponsibly took out loans to get homes they couldn't afford are complicit, BUT the banks saw their credit reports and signed off on the bad loans anyway.

The GOP Misdirection Game

2008-08-31T08:58:00.000-07:00

While the country scratches its head at the choice of Sarah Palin as McCain's VP, the Bush Administration is up to something that has more far reaching consequences. The Raw Story has picked up on a New York Times article buried on page 8 which states that W has quietly moved to expand the reach of presidential power by ensuring that America remains in a state of permanent war.

Here are some excerpts from John Byrne's story...

Buried in a recent proposal by the Administration is a sentence that has received scant attention -- and was buried itself in the very newspaper that exposed it Saturday. It is an affirmation that the United States remains at war with al Qaeda, the Taliban and "associated organizations."

Such a re-affirmation of war carries broad legal implications that could imperil Americans' civil liberties and the rights of foreign nationals for decades to come.

It was under the guise of war that President Bush claimed a legal mandate for his warrantless wiretapping program, giving the National Security Agency power to intercept calls Americans made abroad. More of this program has emerged in recent years, and it includes the surveillance of Americans' information and exchanges online.

"War powers" have also given President Bush cover to hold Americans without habeas corpus -- detainment without explanation or charge. Jose Padilla, a Chicago resident arrested in 2002, was held without trial for five years before being convicted of conspiring to kill individuals abroad and provide support for terrorism.

Just because Bush is on his way out of the White House doesn't mean he can't leave more scars on our lives. And if you're pinning hopes to Obama getting in and reversing all of this nonsense (which seems likely, but not definite) you should ponder this... what if McCain wins? Would this be Bush's office warming present?

What the MPAA and RIAA Want Us To Believe (and FEAR)

2008-08-26T14:36:00.000-07:00

The MPAA and the RIAA have been very busy making sure they lock up all those file sharers out there (and as a result abolish one of the most efficient file sharing platforms out there... P2P or "peer to peer").

Before we get started, we should be clear about one thing... these institutions want to change copyright law in their favor. It's not about dealing with the low level of "piracy" that exists now. It's about having an iron clad hold on everything they own so that we, as consumers, no longer buy a copy of a song or movie... we just pay them for the privilege of borrowing it.

And, just for the record, I am not a "pirate". I own over 800 store bought DVDs. But I also believe sharing is the way cultures grow and learn. Think of a world without libraries or one where a friend can't loan you a recording of last night's Lost when you missed it. Sure you could watch it on ABC's flash site, but that site isn't there for your convenience. It's there to make sure ABC makes every possible dime it can.

Anyway... Wired has been keeping tabs on the MPAA's overtures to hold on to their intellectual property claiming that "piracy costs them billions of dollars in lost revenue each year". Oddly enough, though, the public has never seen any actual proof of this. We just have their litigation happy word for it.

If there is proof that I'm unaware of, please point it out to me (Threat Level has a nice post about how these $ estimates are "turkey"). In the meantime, here's where things stand.

(excerpts from Wired's Threat Level blog by David Kravets - click HERE for full article)

The Copyright Act says a rights holder has the exclusive right "to distribute copies or phonorecords of the copyrighted work to the public by sale or other transfer of ownership, or by rental, lease, or lending."
On Tuesday, in a lengthy telephone interview with Threat Level, two of the leading lawyers for the Motion Picture Association of America defined the Copyright Act as it applies to peer-to-peer file sharing networks: No actual transfer of the work is required, they said.

"You don't have to prove actual distribution. You need to prove there's works in the share folder, and that is distribution," said Joseph Geisman, MPAA's chief intellectual property attorney, as he described the so-called "making available" concept.
A host of digital rights groups, including the Electronic Frontier Foundation and a group of professors, labeled such an assertion as attempted copyright infringement, not covered under the Copyright Act. They claim infringement occurs only when there is actual proof of distribution -- that somebody else made downloads of a defendant's share folder.

The MPAA counters, saying that was never Congress' intent.

"If the other side is right," Goeckner said, "it's kind of open season on copyrighted works on the internet."

MPAA Says No Proof Needed in P2P Copyright Infringement Lawsuits

Senate Introduces IP Reform Bill Bolstering Enforcement

RIAA, MPAA Converging on Political Conventions

This Is Why The Dems May Lose

2008-08-26T11:11:00.000-07:00

They say they're Democrats, yet they are willing to vote for McCain if they don't get their way. They believe in unsubstantiated rumors that even their own favored candidate, Hillary Clinton, won't repeat (because it's not true).

Yet, here they are at the circus that is the Democratic National Convention, spewing neo-con 'fear factoids' (an original BFO phrase - use it wisely!) to a media that loves repeating nonsense until it becomes "truth". JON STEWART IS RIGHT, btw! These women are wrong.

If you have a 17 page report proving Obama is a Muslim and you truly are xenophobic enough to believe that would be a problem, you should be shouting your source's name from the rooftops. Unless, of course, your source is a disreputable one... or it's just plain WRONG.

Say what you will about the Republican Party, but when the DNC attracts the lunatic fringe, no wonder the Democrats seem shaky.

A World Wise 2 Year Old

2008-08-12T21:37:00.000-07:00

And to think grown Americans don't know where Iran is (I'm looking at you, John "The Iraqi/Pakistan border" McCain).

Bush's Big Brother Coming To The Internet

2008-08-08T09:24:00.000-07:00

Just days after Larry Lessig warned us about the existence of an 'i-Patriot Act', word leaks out that Bush and Homeland Security are "secretly" working on the Comprehensive National Cyber Security Initiative.

Essentially this is Bush's beloved spying and surveillance program... now for the internet!!

According to Raw Story:

The Comprehensive National Cyber Security Initiative, established by National Security Presidential Directive 54 and Homeland Security Presidential Directive 23 in January, is intended to improve the government's ability to defend against cybersecurity attacks.

But the Bush Boys are being secretive:

Earlier this week, the Senate Homeland Security Committee released vague details about the program, after receiving some documentation from the Administration following a hearing in March. But the Administration's response redacted information regarding the contractors involved -- despite a history of giving away massive no-bid Iraq reconstruction contractors to companies such as Halliburton, Vice President Cheney's former firm.

“The response includes information on the National Cyber Security Center, how privacy will be protected under the CNCI, how success of the initiative will be measured, and how the Department views the private sector’s role in the initiative,” wrote the committee's Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME). “The Department chose to redact information relating to contracting at the National Cyber Security Division. The senators have asked DHS explain their reasons for the redactions.”

Among the redacted questions: "Why was the determination made that the contract will be for a 10-month period?" and "How will the DHS provide appropriate oversight to ensure that the contractors support efforts do not intrude on inherently governmental functions?"

According to CNET's Stephanie Condon, the Administration won't even related how the program's "mission relates to Internet surveillance."

All this done while the world's eyes were on China for the Olympics.

Enjoy A Free Internet Before It's Gone In 2018?

2008-08-05T16:46:00.000-07:00

As many of you have suspected, the government is actively seeking ways to turn back time and get control over the internet. They say it's for security and, while that is a part of it, their motives are spurred more by the need to control the free exchange of ideas.

At Fortune’s Brainstorm Tech Conference, Lawrence Lessig, respected Law Professor from Stanford University and champion of an open internet, told the audience that “There’s going to be an i-9/11 event” which will bring about a Internet Patriot Act that would change the web as we know it. According to Lessig:

"I had dinner once with Richard Clark at the table and I said 'is there an equivalent to the Patriot Act -- an iPatriot Act -- just sitting waiting for some substantial event just waiting for them to come have the excuse for radically changing the way the Internet works?' And he said, 'Of course there is'. "

Lessig, along with Quincy Smith, CEO of CBS Interactive, Joichi Ito, CEO of Creative Commons, and Philip Rosedale, founder and chairman of Linden Lab, (Second Life), discuss how the internet may change (not necessarily for the better) in this video.

Studios Continue Getting Piracy Wrong?

2008-07-29T08:05:00.000-07:00

By now many of you have heard how The Dark Knight is shattering box office records. Almost every news story is about how much money Warner Bros. is raking in.

No story that I've seen has been about film piracy... until today.

One of the reasons I believe film piracy to be one of the most overblown "threats" out there (next to any and all warnings from Neo-Cons) is this...

...when a film tanks at the box office it was piracy that had a hand in hobbling it...

... if a film is a blockbuster, no one moans about piracy getting in the way of an even bigger opening weekend.

This must mean that piracy is only a problem for films with poor performances. At least that's what it seems to me.

Yet, Warner Bros. took extra measures to make sure piracy didn't hinder Batman.

"The film reels were delivered in staggered shipments so that a complete version was not available in theaters until the last moment.... The strategy, according to the (Los Angeles) Times, kept any print of The Dark Knight off the internet for 30 hours -- enough time to allow it to break box-office records in its first weekend."

Umm, really? Here's another misconception about film piracy. People who are going to download a film from the internet, a process that could take up to 24 hours depending upon your connection, WERE NEVER GOING TO THE THEATER IN THE FIRST PLACE. A 30 hour delay is only going to put off their downloading... not make them pony up to see it in the theater.

Dark Knight was an event film. Sure there are illegal copies on line and on poor quality Hong Kong DVDs, but I'm willing to bet these measures by WB didn't hinder these illegal transactions. Nor would they have effected Dark Knight's bottom line in any significant way. Dark Knight made all the money it was supposed to and rightfully so (It's a kick ass film!).

Still, I guess if you publicly behave like there's a threat... then the threat must be real.

A Threat Of Many Arms

2008-07-22T09:32:00.000-07:00

Wow, looking back over my recent burst of posts I've determined one thing...

.... I bitch a lot!

It's all for a good reason, though. I think more people should be engaged (and possibly enraged) in/at what's going on in their world. If we knew the truth, we'd never be content to let it slide.

Take this new threat... one that could endanger the lives of every seafaring nation in the world. A mutant octopus with 96 tentacles!!

Okay, it's not really a threat. More of a curiosity. This cephalopod has the normal 8 arms to hold you, but through some alleged abnormality in regeneration each tentacle branches off into a group of baby tentacles.

I point you to this post if you take this "threat" seriously. ;-)

The Internet & Hollywood Sitting In A Tree...

2008-07-17T23:05:00.000-07:00

M-A-K-I-N-G-$!

You gotta love big business these days. I'm talking the mega corporations and congloms. With the recession everyone is feeling the bite, but to listen to the corporations, you'd think they were having a bowel resection without anesthetic.

It reminds me of a line from The Sopranos (and I'm paraphrasing), "You got a Virginia ham under one arm and you're whining that you don't have any bread."

Never has this been more apparent than in Hollywood (my fair city!).

As some of you may know, we suffered a major writers' strike this year. The Directors almost went. The actors may go any day now. One of the many issues is what workers and talent should receive for work distributed over the internet. New Media is what everyone calls it.

According to the studios, the internet is unproven, untried, unreliable and not a viable format of distribution yet. They say there's no money in them thar hills. Yet, they seem to be spending a lot of time with new media. SAG (the Screen Actor's Guild) released a paper to illustrate just how real the internet is.... and how false the studios' protests were.

From Deadline Hollywood, the estimable Nikki Finke's daily show business news blog, come a recap of Hollywood's love affair with the internet. Someone is making money here or at least about to:

• February 4, 2008—Cablevision offers Universal and Warner Bros. movies on demand the same day they debut on DVD, as long as viewers purchase the movies on disc.
• February 20-21, 2008—CBS and NBC begin streaming classic shows from their libraries online in their entirety.
• February 25, 2008—ABC and Cox Communications begin work on a video on demand (VOD) system that disables fast-forwarding of commercials.
• March 11, 2008—Apple and Lionsgate agree to allow iTunes users to make digital copies of selected movies to watch on computer, iPod, iPhone or Apple TV.
• March 12, 2008—Fox and NBC launch Hulu.com, a website that allows users to watch movies and TV shows for free with "limited commercial interruptions."
• April 2, 2008—NBC announces it will produce short, original episodes of The Office, Chuck and Heroes specifically for the Web, beginning in Summer 2008, along with an original online-only show called Fears, Secrets & Desires.
• April 13, 2008—Yahoo expands its online video presence and ties to big media and entertainment by acquiring for $160 million the online video platform Maven Networks, which has deals with CBS Sports, Sony BMG, News Corp.'s Fox News and other content providers to help manage, distribute and monetize their video platforms.
• April 16, 2008—Over ten billion online video views in the U.S. in February
2008, a 66 percent gain versus February 2007.
• April 17, 2008—Networks are acquiring the rights to new content to make the leap from Internet to television as NBC has signed up the series Gemini Division, and Channel Five has picked web drama Sofia’s Diary.
• April 28, 2008— Warner Bros. TV Group says it is resurrecting its WB Network TV brand as an ad-supported video network that will offer a mix of new programming and old series aimed at women viewers.
• April 30, 2008—Sezmi opens up a new set-top box with one terabyte of storage, a broadband Internet connection, and an antenna.
• April 30, 2008—Time Warner says it will release all of its DVD titles on VOD on a day-and-date basis this year.
• May 1, 2008—Hulu launches a YouTube channel of its own, bringing NBC back to YouTube.
• May 1, 2008—iTunes goes “day and date” with DVDs with new releases and catalog titles available from 20th Century Fox, The Walt Disney Studios, Warner Bros., Paramount Pictures, Universal Studios Home Entertainment, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Lionsgate, Image Entertainment and First Look Studio.
• May 2, 2008—Disney-ABC Television Group begins research in collaboration with Nielsen Co. regarding inserting multiple commercials into ad breaks for primetime series on its broadband player.
• May 7, 2008—NBC streams free, full episodes of The Office & 30 Rock to
iPhones in unprotected Quicktime format.
• May 13, 2008 – Bob Iger states at a New York media conference that he expects Disney to pull in $1 billion in digital revenue this year.
• May 15, 2008—CBS purchases CNET Networks making it one of the 10 most popular Internet companies in the United States, with a combined 54 million unique users per month, and approximately 200 million users worldwide.
• May 19, 2008—NetFlix Web-to-TV set-top box debuts with a price tag of $99.
• May 28, 2008—Blockbuster Inc. announces its intended launch of in-store kiosks that will allow consumers to download movies onto portable devices in two minutes.
• June 1, 2008—CBS says it will unveil a new video player that has new ad
targeting (using a content and advertising engine CBS picked up in its acquisition of Last.fm), content sharing and HD.
• June 2, 2008—A study suggests marketers should adopt VOD sales as VOD ads are more effective than broadcast ads. The reason is viewers are more likely to recall a spot seen in an on-demand context than they would an ad on linear TV.
• June 3, 2008—Sony PlayStation launches an original, unscripted monthly series.
• June 4, 2008—CBS will stream its shows online at Yahoo TV, running pre-roll advertisements.
• June 5, 2008—All BBC TV channels are being prepared to be made available online.
• June 10, 2008—Disney to stream movies online, offering them for free based on an ad-supported revenue model.
• June 10, 2008—HBO buys stake in Funny or Die, signing an additional
development deal as well.
• June 10, 2008—NetFlix set-top boxes sell out in less than three weeks.
• June 11, 2008— GoTV Networks, which produces and syndicates original and partner programming via mobile and broadband technologies, enters into a strategic partnership with talent agency CESD to combine GoTV's production studio with CESD's talent roster.
• June 12, 2008—Warner Bros. Television Group announces that its content will be distributed through branded channels on Dailymotion, Joost, Sling Media, TiVo and Veoh Networks.
• June 16, 2008—Weeds delivers 2.5 million Apple downloads.
• June 18, 2008—YouTube experiments with full-length video, enabling YouTube to offer more ads per view and other ad opportunities.
• June 19, 2008—Fox airs Rescue Me five-minute minisodes on FX and the Web in order to rekindle audience interest in the show due to the hiatus during the WGA strike. The minisodes don't connect to the new season.
• June 23, 2008—British commercial broadcast giant ITV reports a surge in its Internet activities with a four-fold rise since its launch in video catch-up, which allows viewers to watch shows they've missed that week since its launch.
• June 24, 2008—ABC syndicates content to Veoh and moves its prime time to the Web.
• June 27, 2008—Sony to create new movie download service directly to TV that utilizes the Bravia Internet Link.
• June 30, 2008—Google tests new ad-based content monetization model with Seth MacFarlane’s Cavalcade of Cartoon Comedy and uses its AdSense advertising system to syndicate the program to thousands of Web sites that are predetermined to be visited by the target audience.
• July 15, 2008—Netflix and Microsoft announce a deal that will allow Netflix
subscribers to stream 10,000 movies and TV shows to Microsoft’s Xbox consoles for viewing on television sets, beginning in Fall 2008. The deal doubles the number of movies and shows available on Xbox for download.

1 Million Possible Terrorists?

2008-07-14T18:32:00.000-07:00

Really? I mean, with a number like that shouldn't we all be dead or near death?

That's right... it was estimated that the U.S. Terrorist Watch List has 1 million names on it. Does that seem a little hight to you?

It surely does to... well, any thinking human being. There could be a lot of reasons Homeland Security got this wrong. One of them is called the paradox of the false positive. This was beautifully illustrated by author Cory Doctorow in his recent book Little Brother (a book every American should read).

Allow Mr. Doctorow to explain (this passage is from his book):

Say you have a new disease, called Super-AIDS. Only one in a million people gets Super-AIDS. You develop a test for Super-AIDS that's 99 percent accurate. I mean, 99 percent of the time, it gives the correct result -- true if the subject is infected, and false if the subject is healthy. You give the test to a million people.
One in a million people have Super-AIDS. One in a hundred people that you test will generate a "false positive" -- the test will say he has Super-AIDS even though he doesn't. That's what "99 percent accurate" means: one percent wrong.

What's one percent of one million?

1,000,000/100 = 10,000

One in a million people has Super-AIDS. If you test a million random people, you'll probably only find one case of real Super-AIDS. But your test won't identify one person as having Super-AIDS. It will identify 10,000 people as having it.

Your 99 percent accurate test will perform with 99.99 percent inaccuracy...

This is the paradox of the false positive, and here's how it applies to terrorism:

Terrorists are really rare. In a city of twenty million like New York, there might be one or two terrorists. Maybe ten of them at the outside. 10/20,000,000 = 0.00005 percent. One twenty-thousandth of a percent.

That's pretty rare all right. Now, say you've got some software that can sift through all the bank-records, or toll-pass records, or public transit records, or phone-call records in the city and catch terrorists 99 percent of the time.

In a pool of twenty million people, a 99 percent accurate test will identify two hundred thousand people as being terrorists. But only ten of them are terrorists. To catch ten bad guys, you have to haul in and investigate two hundred thousand innocent people.

Guess what? Terrorism tests aren't anywhere close to 99 percent accurate. More like 60 percent accurate. Even 40 percent accurate, sometimes.

What this all meant was that the Department of Homeland Security had set itself up to fail badly. They were trying to spot incredibly rare events -- a person is a terrorist -- with inaccurate systems.

Makes you think, don't it?

Change Congress

2008-07-13T11:42:00.000-07:00

It's becoming all too clear (especially after repeatedly caving in to Bush) that Congress is at the heart of a lot of our problems. No new president (progressive or not) will be able to fix a system that is rotting at its legislative, executive and judicial roots.

That's why Larry Lessig (Stanford law professor and champion of Creative Commons) is trying to Change Congress (for those who slept through Civics class, that's the legislative branch - don't mean to be snarky, but you'd be surprised how few seem to remember this - see my previous post).

Congress is corrupt and not in the typical Tammany Hall kind of way. I'll let Lessig explain.

My Rant About the Second Amendment

2008-07-13T11:33:00.000-07:00

I remember when the Supreme Court upheld that the Right To Bear Arms is indeed legal, a lot of gun control advocates felt like it was a body blow. If you remember your Civics class though, the Supreme Court did exactly what it was supposed to do.

As a judicial body, they aren't supposed to deem a law good or not. They are merely supposed to ensure the letter of the law is being followed. They upheld the laws that were on the books as measured against the Constitution. It's the legislative body (Congress) that makes those laws.

In other words, just because the Supreme Court said people are allowed to own guns doesn't mean laws can't be drafted to regulate how they go about arming themselves.

5 Day Waiting periods are still constitutional. Washington D.C.'s handgun ban sadly is not. That doesn't mean D.C. doesn't have options. It also doesn't mean Congress can't come up with new legislation (i.e. new laws and yes, Virginia, new amendments) to reverse the Second Amendment if need be.

If you believe in gun control, start writing to your Congressman (or woman). If they don't want to do anything about it, replace them. They work for us, you know.

BFO's Weekend Catch Up

2008-07-13T11:16:00.000-07:00

And now a few weekend items worth noticing...

In true Bush-ian fashion, his administration's folly is being left for the next guy to clean up.

According to the Washington Post:

U.S. and Iraqi negotiators have abandoned efforts to conclude a comprehensive agreement governing the long-term status of U.S troops in Iraq before the end of the Bush presidency... the failure of months of negotiations over the more detailed accord -- blamed on both the Iraqi refusal to accept U.S. terms and the complexity of the task -- deals a blow to the Bush administration's plans to leave in place a formal military architecture in Iraq that could last for years.

•••

There were some rumblings earlier this week about Viacom's pressuring YouTube to reveal people's viewing habits and track records. All this is an effort by Viacom to prove that the bulk of YouTube traffic involves some type of copyright infringement.

But why do you need private information about YouTube users to figure that out? Each post has a handy dandy view counter. Something else is going on here.

And we'll save the questionable Google practice of stockpiling user's private data for another time. This article from The Guardian kind of covers all the bases.

•••

Far be it for me to give anything that drips from Fox News as... well, news. Still this bit about Homeland Security considering ID bracelets for airline passengers is worth noting. Especially considering these bracelets are also for behavioral control. Coffee, tea or... taser?

According to terrorism expert Neil Livingstone, who is trying to downplay the possible use of these shock devices:

"Flying is not a right, it is a privilege."

Really? You mean it's a privilege when I have to pay close to $500 to fly from L.A. to Portland, Oregon... while first flying to Phoenix... after being all but strip searched by TSA flunkies who are lost at sea as to what they should look for... and then having to pay for checking my baggage? See, I feel that when I PAY for something, I better get what I paid for as more than a privilege.

It's called 'Net Neutrality'

2008-07-11T08:50:00.000-07:00

Comcast. AT&T and Time Warner are trying to limit your access to the internet. They're doing this in ways that may soon become industry standard.

Citing a shortage of bandwidth (much like the oil companies cite shortage of oil for charging us more), these internet providers are looking to charge users based on their usage. That means if you use a lot of bandwidth for downloads or playing games you will be financially penalized for going over your allotted usage.

In my opinion, this is really just a backwards way of fighting what industry power-mongers call 'piracy'. P2P (peer to peer) downloads are a fact of the internet. It's how people share files which is another way of sharing culture and ideas. Sure, some copyrighted material is violated, but that's part of the cost of having a FREE exchange like the internet.

How do I know the actions of Comcast an others is meant to limit file sharing? Because this kind of tiered charging only effects people who need high amounts of bandwidth. It doesn't effect the basic surfer of the Web.

It also can backfire since a lot of the industry media corporations are developing to catch up with the P2P culture are download services like Netflix and Hulu.com.

There's also this action from the FCC that tells me something is fishy... they're going after Comcast for another form of control which is limiting people's bandwidth without telling them.

"The head of the Federal Communications Commission said Thursday he will recommend that the nation's largest cable company be punished for violating agency principles that guarantee customers open access to the Internet.
The potentially precedent-setting move stems from a complaint against Comcast Corp. that the company had blocked Internet traffic among users of a certain type of "file sharing" software that allows them to exchange large amounts of data.
"The commission has adopted a set of principles that protects consumers access to the Internet," FCC Chairman Kevin Martin told The Associated Press late Thursday. "We found that Comcast's actions in this instance violated our principles."
Martin said Comcast has "arbitrarily" blocked Internet access, regardless of the level of traffic, and failed to disclose to consumers that it was doing so.
Company spokeswoman Sena Fitzmaurice on Thursday denied that Comcast blocks Internet content or services and that the "carefully limited measures that Comcast takes to manage traffic on its broadband network are a reasonable part" of the company's strategy to ensure all customers receive quality service."

Don't be fooled. These aren't the days of party lines where our internet is held hostage by the neighbor tying up the line. Bandwidth is for all intents and purposes a free commodity. Yes, the companies have to provide more cables, but that would warrant a one time price hike for ALL users. It's no basis for a tiered pricing structure.

Charging for bandwidth is like the banks charging you for using a foreign ATM. It doesn't cost them a dime to process that transaction since its all done over the internet.

"I've Had All I Can Stands...

2008-07-10T13:54:00.000-07:00

... and I can't stands no more." This was the battle cry for Popeye The Sailor right before he popped the top on a can of spinach and kicked some ass!

Well, with the Senate and The House passing Bush's version of FISA (and hereby stripping us citizens of our civil rights to unwarranted surveillance)... with everyone looking for a fight in Iran... with internet companies trying to choke the free flow of information by charging users for bandwidth (which is essentially free)... this blogger, who has been silent, is taking up his keyboard again.

From now on, this blog will be dedicated to pointing a finger at the shim-sham scams the government and the powerful are trying to pull over on us. We'll start with this...

Remember those missile tests Iran pulled the other day. It made people who buy into the whole terrorist fear mongering Bush-ites have been playing (don't get me wrong - there are terrorists in the world. They're just not at a threat level worthy of going all Orwellian on us - more on this in future blogs).

Back to those Iranian missiles... what would you say if those pictures spread all over major newspapers were 'Photoshopped'? Not only 'Photoshopped' but fed to the world media by Iran's own propaganda machine.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Read this bit on Boing-Boing affectionately titled "Iran: You Suck At Photoshop".

And this bit from the New York Times.

Afterwords, file this post under "Don't believe everything you see."

A Battle Won Against Broadcast Rights

2007-06-23T08:41:00.000-07:00

The Electronic Frontier Foundation is one of the major defenders against the insidious nature of broadcast rights (see the post below). Apparently, against all odds, the EFF has scored a victory for fair use and freedom everywhere. Boing-Boing (another champion in this campaign) has the update. I'll quote their summation of the WIPO's ruling because I legally can now:

"This week saw a new meeting on the treaty with the Chairman of the committee ignoring his orders from the WIPO General Assembly (which instructed him to prepare a treaty that stopped people from stealing cable, but didn't create this para-copyright regime), pushing for a rapid movement to a "diplomatic conference," the final step on the way to a global treaty. It looked bad for our heroes.
But the representatives of the world's governments wouldn't be railroaded. After a week of hard debate, all motion to a diplomatic conference has been abandoned. Instead, this has been turned into just another regular agenda item for future meetings, as in "OK, onto that broadcast treaty: is everyone in favor of this yet? No? OK, next item."
This is a gigantic victory for our side. When we started going to the World Intellectual Property Organization, we had no idea how we would manage it. There is no constitution to appeal to there. They control the venue and call the shots. But we went in and blogged the negotiations (the first ever look inside the sausage factory of a UN treaty negotiation), bringing unparalleled transparency to the negotiations. We rallied dozens of other organizations to come to Geneva. We argued. We posted guards over our position papers when someone started to throw them in the bathrooms and hide them behind the plants (first they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you -- then you win!). We slashdotted them. We wrote them letters. We went all over the world and talked to librarians, activists, and hackers. We proposed a better treaty that would limit copyright around the world and give rights to archivists, educators and disabled people to use and preserve creative works.
We kicked ass.
And we won. (For now.)"

NPR & PBS Defend Fair Use

2007-06-21T22:44:00.000-07:00

As a documentary filmmaker, I'm a big advocate of fair use. Fair use is that provision in copyright law that allows people to use a fair portion of a copyrighted work in an essay, critique, news story or commentary. It's why people are able to make a documentary like Outfoxed and not have to clear the clips from Fox News that are being called into question (and Fox, notorious for coming after anyone who disagrees with them, could do nothing about it).

Is it any wonder then that the North American Broadcasters Association (NABA) is lobbying the UN's World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) for what they call broadcast rights? A group that consists of CBS, NBC, PBS, NPR, Direct TV... and Fox Broadcasting.

Broadcast rights would belong to media companies that broadcast other people's copyrighted works. They aren't subject to the same fair use limits as copyright. That means if a filmmaker, news organization or blogger invokes fair use by recording a broadcast for criticism or parody, they still need to separately clear broadcast rights.

This is to combat piracy, says the NABA.

Yet another way to control the freedom of information, says I.

But wait! There are heroes in this battle. NPR and PBA published this response to the notion of broadcast rights.

"National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting Service do not support a Diplomatic Conference to adopt a treaty based on the April 20, 2007 non-paper because they do not believe the treaty provides adequate protection for the fair use of broadcast and cablecast matter for newsgathering and other purposes. Bell ExpressVu does not support a Diplomatic Conference because it believes the proposed exclusive retransmission right exceeds what is necessary to prevent signal piracy or protect investment and does not contain a reservation that would permit a signatory to limit or not apply the application of the retransmission right."

Yet despite NABA by-laws which require a super-majority consensus before presenting policy statements to WIPO, the other members went ahead and did it anyway... thumbing their nose at NPR and PBS.

For more on this issue, visit Boing-Boing and Public Knowledge. At least there's someone watching our freedom.

Dramatic Chipmunk

2007-06-20T20:34:00.000-07:00

This is the funniest video I've seen this year. And it's only 5 seconds.

Give this chipmunk an Oscar!

Leave Sir Salman Alone

2007-06-19T21:55:00.000-07:00

It's time for radical Muslims to get over themselves... again. There! I've said it.

Author Salman Rushdie has been chosen to receive a knighthood in Great Britain and, Iranian and Pakistani rabble rousers wasted no time in claiming insult.

For those who don't remember, there was a fatwa placed on Rushdie's life when he wrote The Satanic Verses in 1989. The reason was because Rushdie, in his work of fantastic fiction about the cosmic battle of good & evil, portrayed the Prophet Muhammad in an unfavorable light.

Look, if something insults your religion, you have fair cause to be pissy. But to turn it into a political incident is doing something far worse than an outsider making light of your Prophet... it's exploiting your Prophet for political gain.

When are the religious going to be able to take it on the other cheek? We live in a world with many different beliefs. Not everyone is going to subscribe to yours (nor should they). Whatever faith you align yourself with should be strong enough to withstand contrary opinions. Islam hasn't survived for this many centuries because it has feet of clay or a jaw of glass.

Now, we all know this outcry from Iran and Pakistan really has little to do with Rushdie's being honored. It's yet another way to voice their dissatisfaction with the West's action in their neighborhood (and I'll admit they have a long enough list). But this thing with Salman Rushdie is petty.

Evangelical Christians overreact like this all the time and they're bloody annoying. There's also been some overreactions from our own (Christian) President. Learn from their mistakes. Their errs don't give you license to be just as bad.

Realize there are going to be people who disagree with you, take comfort in the fact that your faith is impregnable to sticks and stones, and button it!

Congratulations, Sir Salman!!

An Italian Boy's Confession

2007-06-14T18:30:00.000-07:00

This is a naughty little tale, but fun. Thanks to Iva for passing it on.

"Bless me Father, for I have sinned. I have been with a loose girl".
The priest asks, "Is that you, little Johnny Parisi?"
"Yes, Father, it is."
"And who was the girl you were with?"
"I can't tell you, Father, I don't want to ruin her reputation."
"Well, Johnny, I'm sure to find out her name sooner or later, so you may
as well tell me now. Was it Tina Minetti?"
"I cannot say."
"Was it Teresa Volpe?"
"I'll never tell."
"Was it Nina Capelli?"
"I'm sorry, but I cannot name her."
"Was it Cathy Piriano?"
"My lips are sealed."
"Was it Rosa Di Angelo, then?"
"Please, Father, I cannot tell you."
The priest sighs in frustration. "You're very tight lipped, Johnny Parisi,
and I admire that. But you've sinned and have to atone. You cannot be an
altar boy now for 4 months. Now you go and behave yourself."
Johnny walks back to his pew, and his friend Nino slides over and
whispers, "What'd you get?"
"Four months vacation and five good leads."

Is Horror Dead?

2007-06-11T19:43:00.000-07:00

**as posted on Wyrdstuff**

The murmuring started when Grindhouse took a dive at the box office. Horror (at least the current wave) was over.

But the more prudent among us weren't going to play the alarmist game. One film can falter for many reasons. Grindhouse had a lot going against it (long running time, Easter weekend, limited premise).

Not to mention, everyone was in the horror biz. Movies. TV. Comics. The market was oversaturated to say the least. Even I couldn't look at another zombie thing. And I love zombies. My best friend is a zombie.

Now Hostel: Part II has opened at #6 for its first weekend. $8.75 million. Below estimates and the first film's surprising take.

Listen... you can hear those murmurings again (the morbid buggers). Is horror dead this time?

There are many reasons why Hostel: Part II could have stumbled. There was more than enough competition in theaters (Pirates 3, Ocean's 13, Knocked Up etc.). People are still debating the appeal of what some has dubbed "torture porn". It's also a sequel. Sequels rarely make as much as the original.

Hostel: Part II is also a horror film (please hold your "No, duhs!"). Despite the growing respectability over the last few years, horror is still an acquired taste for many. Most people don't get its appeal. Sure, they like to be scared, but usually in an escapist way.

Eli Roth and his partners in splatter make their brand of horror for horror fans. They are fans themselves and were disappointed at all the PG-13 fare that was passing itself as the real stuff. Horror, for them, should be visceral. It should hit you in the gut. Below the belt. Anywhere it can leave a mark.

Horror should scar you. It should stay with you long after you leave the theater. Think of it as adrenaline residue. As far back as Psycho, people knew that film was effective horror when people stayed clear of showers (and it was horror no matter what snooty cinephiles want to believe).

Jaws... the water. Texas Chainsaw... redneck territory. Halloween... the suburbs. Hostel... well, hostels. The Eastern European ones anyway.

The current splatter films scarred as well as scared. Initially. Now, as with anything, filmmakers have gone back to the gore well too many times and without enough variety.

We can blame Hollywood for this. Horror films were a dream come true for the studios. For once they had a formula for box office success. Horror films didn't need to cost much. They didn't need stars. Their fan base was loyal and willing to sit through utter shit on the off chance something good would pop up.

Low cost = bigger returns

But, as the new wave of horror grew fat, the budgets bloated as well. There was nothing wrong with Grindhouse as far as level of gore or its filmmaking in general. The thing cost over $60 million, though. The built in fans came out for Grindhouse no problem, but at $60 million a film needs to reach beyond the die hards.

That's a problem for horror, though. As I said, most people don't understand the appeal of horror... especially gore. What made Wolf Creek, Saw, and the first Hostel so successful (from a business stand point) was that they were made for essentially indie budgets. They only needed to last past the first weekend and champagne was popped. That pop made others curious. They checked these films out, saw they were actually more than guignol and, what do you know, more champagne. Pink with running blood.

Audiences had never experienced horror turned up to 11. Whatsmore, these films were smart. Characters still went off alone when a killer was on the loose, but they were more fleshed out than in the 70s. Then Joe Bob Briggs' phrase "spam in a cabin" could refer to the IQ of horror movie victims as well as what was left of them after the machete.

Sequels (and remakes) is what studios are offering as horror these days. Do they scare? Mostly. In a roller coaster kind of way. But audiences and their tastes know when they're being served meatloaf again. They'll only eat it so many times before giving sushi a try.

I was actually shocked that Eli Roth chose Hostel: Part II as his next film. He'd already been there. Already done that. Same with Rob Zombie. The Devil's Rejects was an entirely different kind of film than House of 1,000 Corpses (despite Rejects essentially being a sequel. Remaking Halloween, though, doesn't seem to be a stretch on par with what Zombie enjoys, however. (Though, to be fair, Zombie's Halloween is clearly a different take on the subject matter. If anyone can re-invent Michael Myers, I have faith that Zombie is that person. We'll see soon enough.)

Sequels, by their very nature, fall into one up-manship (the same but more of it). One up-manship can only carry a film so far, however, and in horror one usually outdoes oneself with blood.

Spraying blood is easy. Making it count for something is a little more difficult (and in horror it should always count for something). The gross out is perfectly acceptable. People (even the uninitiated) expect it. What they don't expect is something that gets under your skin. Most people don't think horror films are clever enough to do this. That's why, when they do (like The Exorcist, The Hills Have Eyes or Dawn of the Dead) they last forever.

Now this is easier said than done. I wish there was an easy method to getting under people's skin. For awhile, visceral gore was doing the trick. Now people are hip to it. More effort is required.

I'm not advocating a return to denatured horror films. Horror is nothing without its teeth. To paraphrase Clive Barker, it must break taboos. But, if Grindhouse and Hostel: Part II are symptoms of something more malignant, horror needs to shake things up again.

Is horror dead? Never. Not in a million years. People like to be scared. They like to face their own mortality. The dark side. The abyss. Whatever lurks beyond our ken sporting a chainsaw, tentacles or fangs. By doing so, we know we're alive. And, in the theater, it's a lot safer than doing it for real.

But nouveau horror filmmakers do need to live up to their promise a little more. They are horror's ambassadors. The reason horror was crossing over was the talent and audacity on display in their films. It brought outsiders into the dark where they were rewarded for their bravery with something more than Karo syrup and latex bits. As were we fans.

ONCE... the best film of the year!

2007-06-09T21:03:00.000-07:00

I recently saw Once. It's a Dublin made musical / romance and perhaps the most moving film in recent memory.

Cinematically it's quite simple. Almost handmade in the rough videography. The performances and music, however, are impossible to shake. In fact, Once has only grown deeper into my mind.

It's about a Dublin street musician who meets a Czechoslovakian woman while he's singing on the street. It is the music that attracts them and, through their songs together, we learn all about their inner emotions and history.

The two unknown leads Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová possess wells of natural talent. Hansard is already established as a musician in Ireland with his band The Frames.

The director of Once is John Carney. His film won Sundance. Now it seems to be winning audiences in search of alternatives to bloated blockbusters. Once is more than that. It's proof that magnificence is still possible in movies... mainly by being simple and true.

SEE THIS MOVIE!!!

Stem Cell Illogic

2007-06-08T00:02:00.000-07:00

Jerry Zucker, producer/director of Airplane! and the Naked Gun films, has made this short illustrating the ludicrous position of George W. Bush on stem cell research.

A bill has recently passed the House of Representatives that would expand funding for embryonic stem cell research. Bush has made it clear he would veto such a bill. Despite the fact that this research can and will save lives.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. "What a dunderhead!"

10 Rules For Making A Good Genre Movie Series

2007-05-09T11:57:00.000-07:00

This rant was first voiced on Wyrdstuff...

Spider-man 3 is out and, as we all feared, it’s a blunder from top to bottom. Just like X-Men 3, Pirates Of The Caribbean 2, and too many other genre films.

But with so much built in appeal, how could they go wrong?

While there are many reasons a film can flounder, there are a group of basic rules I’ve discovered that a genre film series should never break. These rules have been proven through constant violations by studios and filmmakers who think they know better than the fans. They are (in no particular order):

(1) If your source material has a built in audience, do all you can to honor that audience.
(2) Only one villain at a time.
(3) More is not always better.
(4) Re-imaginings & sparks of originality are fine… as long as you stay on message.
(5) Don’t always start with origin tales.
(6) Don’t give the hero any kids.
(7) Casting is everything.
(8) Keep consistent with the MPAA rating.
(9) Love and understand the genre your film belongs to.
(10) If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Allow me to expand on this list of “dos and don’ts” so perhaps people can learn from them and avoid further travesties (who am I kidding? Spidey 3 made a killing so far. It would take a 60% drop in second weekend box office for Sony or Avi Arad’s Marvel to realize they screwed up. I’ll try to enlighten them anyway).

NOTE: These rules are my humble opinion. While I’m certain many of you share them with me, I know there can be exceptions and addendums. There will also be a few SPOILERS for those who haven’t seen Spider-man 3 yet.

(1) If your source material has built in audience, do all you can to honor that audience.
Hollywood loves built in name recognition for their film projects. In their futile quest for a magic box office formula, the studios feel the more recognizable names attached to a movie, the more they’re guaranteed money. That’s why we have so many sequels, remakes and adaptations of famous properties around Summer (all with brand name stars if they can afford ‘em).

The problem is Hollywood gets a known property and then drains it of everything recognizable, usually in the name of broadening the audience. But this actually has the reverse effect and loses the built in audience that used to be a sure thing.

One of the reasons the Harry Potter films are so successful is that they stick to the source material. Sometimes slavishly, but fans are usually pleased (they’re more upset about what’s left out than anything put in, but, hey, those books get long). The films also gather new fans along the way. Why?

Because the Potter books were good to begin with. They’d already been road tested on people and were proven successful. Whatsmore, new initiates recognize the quality behind the Boy Who Lived (this point ties in to Rules #4 & 10).

Once you’ve earned the audiences trust, you can mix it up a bit. By Prisoner of Azkaban (Film 3), the Potter filmmakers felt safe enough to leave bigger bits of the book out and build on Rowling’s source material. They made something true to the book, but all its own.
A film series has to earn this trust, however. You can’t stray too far in the beginning. Otherwise you end up with head scratcher flops like Daredevil and League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen.
My favorite example of this is actually not a genre film. It’s The Honeymooners.

First, the studio faced an uphill battle in the casting of Ralph Kramden. Jackie Gleason IS Ralph Kramden (see Rule #7). Unless they could raise Gleason from the dead, however, the studio was already losing some of that built in appeal. Then they decided to “update” Ralph and make him a black man. While the studio would win an A for progressive thinking, they were already straying far from anything recognizable as The Honeymooners.

Ultimately fans of the original stayed home. They might as well have saved the money licensing the name The Honeymooners and done something original. It would have been just as tough a sale.

(2) Only one villain at a time
This one’s for Spider-Man 3. Didn’t Raimi & Co. learn anything from the Schumacher Batmans?

In a 2 hour period (even a 2 hour and 40 minute period), you only have so many minutes to tell a story. When you have three villains, you have to exhaust precious screen time establishing each of these characters. That robs the hero (the guy whose name is in the title) of his moments.

Now you could cheat the new characters of development and give the time back to the hero (as Raimi tried and then squandered away on dance numbers), but then you have underdeveloped characters. Or worse you’re forced to use canned motivations so hackneyed that even George Lucas would question writing them in.

Also the driving force behind a villain doesn’t always gel with the other villains in the piece. That’s why they had to give Harry Osborn amnesia for most of the Spidey 3, just to get his storyline out of the way.

Harry’s revenge tale doesn’t quite fit with Sandman and his crimes of passion for his little girl. If you’re going to have these bad guys synch up, you have to cover a lot of real estate before they’re on the same page. That means one of them is usually benched until the time is right. Hence the lame use of amnesia… so old it’s got whiskers!

Now try adding a third villain and all of his baggage. And a new girlfriend. Ugh, I’m getting tired just typing it. Next rule!

(3) More is not always better.
If your film is over two hours, why not split it into two films? A single film can only handle so much before it blows.

Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest was too long. There was, by my count, five storylines going (which is almost as bad as three villains). And the whole cannibal affair was amusing, but unnecessary to the major plot of Captain Jack and his escaping Davy Jones. No wonder fans were overloaded to dissatisfaction.

Now the trailers for Pirates 3 are filled to the gills with good set pieces. Each one I want to see. But in order to squeeze them all into one film (and give them the screen time they deserve), Pirates 3 will have to be 3 1/2 hours long (which at press time, it just might be).

Here’s an idea. Take all that good stuff and make two films out of the one. Why does everything have to be a trilogy these days? Stretch out that payday and go for 4 movies.

This would have done Venom some justice as opposed to shoehorning him into Spider-man 3. Raimi has commented about how he originally planned to introduce Venom at the end of 3 and leave the toothy villain to a 4th film all his own. Obviously, muddled heads prevailed and the audience was gypped.

(4) Re-imaginings & sparks of originality are fine… as long as you stay on message
Consider The Lord Of The Rings trilogy. While Peter Jackson was primarily faithful to Tolkien’s books, there were some significant changes.

The character of Faramir is totally different from the book (where he isn’t tempted by the Ring and lets Frodo go early on). Arwen’s conspicuous nature was drawn from the Appendices. The Elves fighting alongside Men at Helm’s Deep… never happened!

While these things weren’t in the books, they were in the spirit of the book. This is a tricky thing to master. Different people have different ideas as to what that spirit is. That’s why it’s better to stick to the original when possible.

Re-imaginings are a new phenomena. They’re also code word for “let’s mix it up” (I, again, point to Rule #1). Still, Batman Begins seemed to do the trick. Why? Because Christopher Nolan went back to Batman basics. No more nipples on the Batsuit. No more garish colors and villains who seemed to prep by watching Jack Nicholson’s Joker… and nothing else.

The revived Batman series is at a crossroads, though. They’ve succeeded in their revisionist take (which is actually a classical take). Now they may feel empowered to screw with The Joker. Casting Heath Ledger and, if rumors are to be believed (and they usually are), making him look like The Crow are not staying on message.

The Joker is Hugo Weaving or Guy Pearce (both originally rumored to be in the running for the Clown Prince of Crime). What I mean to say is that Joker is a little more street wise than Batman. He’s a total nutter and a psychopath. He doesn’t just laugh a lot.

Weaving and Pearce could pull of this combination of madness and genius. Heath “I Can’t Quit You” Ledger? He’s a good actor but, hasn’t as yet displayed the range needed to play this role properly. That only tells me that Nolan has decided to take Joker in a new direction.

Fans have another way of saying “new direction”. It’s “utter bulls*#t”!

(5) Don’t always start with origin tales.
Sometimes we don’t care where they came from. We just care who they are.

One of the keys to telling a story is knowing where to start. The beginning is not always the best place. Sure the more die hard fans will be curious how that kid got to wearing that spandex suit, but you could deal with that in other, more concise ways.

Yes, I mean flashbacks. Don’t believe the Robert McKee hype! Flashbacks are not lazy writing. They’re an essential mode of storytelling that’s been with us for years.

In Tim Burton’s Batman, one of the few things he got right was taking all of 5 minutes to tell us what spurred Bruce Wayne to become The Bat. And he did it at the mid point of the film. It’s more important to know who Batman is rather than who he was. Yes, the death of his parents is an important element, but you don’t need to throw it up front and you don’t need to spend the first half hour of your film showing it (see Batman Begins). Keep some mystery going.

Allow me to bring up Star Wars as another example. The two sets of trilogies prove this rule perfectly.

In the original film (celebrating its birthday this month), Lucas was wise to start in the middle. We don’t need to know how the Empire started. We just need to see they’re bad news for the galaxy. We don’t need to see what’s behind Darth Vader’s helmet. We can tell he’s an uber-villain. ’nuff said.

Then someone stole George’s brain. He decided to go against what worked before and tell us all about what made Darth Vader into a baddie. To sum up: His mom died. His friends didn’t appreciate him. He knocked up his girlfriend while being a monk (sorry, Jedi) AND he was tempted by the power of the Dark Side.

It took 3 whole films to tell us this?!

By showing us that Darth was just a boy crying for Padme robs the villain of his mystique. It’s kind of like showing the monster in a horror movie. Once you see the beast, you can come to terms with it. “Oh, it’s just a furry thing with teeth. I can handle that.” That monster was a whole lot more scary when our imagination filled in the blanks.

Same thing with Darth Vader. The person we imagined inside that metal suit (and how he got there) was much more thrilling than a crispy Hayden Christensen. Once we’ve seen Darth is just a hurt little boy, we’ll never see him any other way. Lucas has ruined that villain for anyone who watches Star Wars in episodic order (which you should never do unless on a dare and then only for great gobs of money or guilt free lovin’).

(6) Don’t give the hero any kids.
The recent “Marvel/DC” spin on the Mac/PC ads nailed it. If you give a hero a new girl, villain or fancy power, everything can go back to normal (if need be) by the end of that installment. If you give your hero a kid, that kid is always going to be there. Now you have to find a babysitter for every adventure. Otherwise your hero is jsut a deadbeat.

I’m looking at you Superman!

Most of your ill advised filmmakers think kids make characters identifiable. But as anyone with kids can tell you, they change everything. You don’t go to the movies anymore. Nor go out for dinner. Get sleep. You certainly don’t fight crime, monsters, or things from another world.

Kids in genre films (unless the kids are the protagonists) are a drag on the story. The reverse is true as well. In The Chronicles of Narnia, we know the kids have a mom. The filmmakers are wise to get her out of the way early, though, so you don’t have to constantly address her. Save that screen time for some White Witch battling.

It’s rumored Indiana Jones is getting a son. **Sigh!** It would be one thing if Indy, Jr. was just like his two fisted dad. With the casting of Shia LaBeouf, however, the film seems primed for another odd couple relationship where Indy, Jr. is the nebbishy goofball LaBeouf usually plays. I hope I’m wrong.

Now there are some films that manage to balance family affairs within the story. The Incredibles and… well, that’s pretty much it.

(7) Casting is everything.
All due respect to Brian Cox, but Anthony Hopkins is the face we see when we think of fava beans and a nice chianti. The two are so interchangeable, a film like Hannibal Rising never stood a chance (and it violated Rule # 5 at their own cost).

The only ones who’ve had success with changing their major actors are the British. James Bond and Doctor Who have the actor shell game locked. Masked heroes can also survive a change since they’re mostly behind a mask and its the mask that puts butts in the seats.

Still, sometimes you need to re-cast. If so, it’s wise to remember the qualities of the original character. The reason Daniel Craig works as James Bond is because his characterization is straight out of Ian Fleming (with a modern point of view).

Unless the character was originally created on film (like The Terminator), it’s not hard to picture someone else in the role… especially since the original description from the book or comic probably bears little to no physical resemblance to the actor playing him in the adaptation. Only the soul / essence needs to be retained.

NOTE: Hannibal Lecter seems to contradict this. Even though he was a literary creation, however, it was Silence of the Lambs that gave him broad appeal. Up until then, no one was crying out for a Hannibal Lecter movie (not even after Manhunter). He wasn’t as famous as Superman or Bilbo Baggins. Not before the Oscar winning film. So, in essence, the character as we know him was created for the film by Anthony Hopkins.

As tricky as it is to re-cast an established role, the choice of the first actor to play a main character is just as crucial. You’ve already been through my rant on The Joker. Allow me to rag on Reed Richards of The Fantastic Four.

Hero. Scientist. More than that… Richards is a friggin’ genius! Ioan Gruffudd, while being a talented actor, doesn’t project the sense of knowledge and experience necessary for us to believe he is any of these things (let alone a leader of mutant heroes). He’s too young. Too much of an everyday nice guy.

Same thing with Jessica Alba. Believing her as Sue Storm, Reed’s equally smart second in command, is as much a stretch as believing Denise Richards is a nuclear scientist! You Bond fans know of what I speak.

(8) Keep consistent with the MPAA rating
This one is mainly for horror films.

In 1979, audiences saw something they’d never seen before. Alien was a film about foul mouthed space truckers who came across a xenomorph that gestated in a human host before taking the entire crew out one by one. The scene everyone talked about… the chest burster. Gory. Shocking. An instant classic.

Alien was rated R.

Then Aliens came out in 1986. James Cameron (paying close attention to Rule #4) gave us an action movie spin on the bug hunt. Foul mouthed marines battled a whole bunch of xenomorphs and one big bitch! The gore was there (albeit less so).

The film was still rated R and the rest of the series followed suit (even if they did violate Rule# 4).

Then Aliens vs. Predator arrived. Rated PG-13. Less gore. Less swearing. Less intensity. It was like paying to see a silent movie version of Pulp Fiction. We recoginize the images, but somehow it’s not the same thing.

In horror films, gore and other taboos being broken are as integral as spandex to superheroes. Can you have a scary film that’s not rated R? Yes. But before you whip out The Sixth Sense at me, imagine a Sixth Sense sequel where the film was rated G. All the ghosts are no worse than Casper. The scares a little less intense. It wouldn’t be the same experience, would it?

(9) Love and understand the genre your film belongs to.
There are still a lot of studio suits out there who don’t get comics. They just know they make money. As a result, the studio feels they have to broaden the appeal of the source material (i.e. water it down for mass audiences). The problem is you usually end up alienating the original audience. I know this sounds a lot like Rule # 1, but there’s a difference.

If you think comics, fantasy or science fiction is juvenile, you won’t be able to suspend your disbelief. You’ll try to make grown up sense of things. To paraphrase Freud… sometimes a gamma radiated cigar is just a gamma radiated cigar.

Ang Lee did not understand The Hulk. He understood Sense & Sensibility, but had neither when it came to the big green guy. The Hulk is about rage and “Hulk smash!”. It’s not really about daddy issues (though I’m sure Bruce Banner had a few). It’s Jekyll & Hyde.

What was vexing about Ang Lee was he had a clear appreciation of fable. Somehow a bright green lug didn’t strike a chord.

Another side effect of not loving the genre you’re with is you get sloppy writing.

Audience Member: How did our hero survive falling all the way down that ravine?
Jaded Producer: What does it matter? It’s make-believe.

See a film like Van Helsing for this kind of nonsense. What the hell is a werewolf doing climbing the walls like a human fly… on his back? Even make-believe has rules. Anyone with a respect for genre entertainment would know that.

10) If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Tom Rothman… CEO at Fox… bane to a fanboy’s existence (fangirls, too). We may have to add Avi Arad, the man who forced Venom on Raimi, to the list.

Consider two successful franchises. X-Men and Spider-man.

Both had solid, but slightly stodgy first films. Then the second films (directed by the same director) were even better. Home runs! Obviously the filmmakers had a grip on the material. You’d think the producers would leave the directors alone to make the studio a lot of money.

Then Film Three comes out and the sound you heard was the hearts of fans breaking everywhere. The next sound you heard was fans collectively flipping the finger at the studios (and believe it or not that sound can be deafening).

NOTE: Yes, the third installments of both these films made cash based largely on the fact that fans trusted them. Think of how much more money they would have made if the films were good.

X-Men 3 can blame Brett Ratner. He was a studio replacement hire and hadn’t the clout to say, “Don’t kill all of the primary founders of the X-Men (Cyclops, Jean Grey and Professor X).”

He also knew better than to challenge the studio mandated Wolverine / Phoenix love story (especially the part where they get to have Hugh Jackman all naked in the climax).

While women may not quibble, this was such a contrivance. Here is an all powerful killing machine (the Phoenix/Jean Grey) and nothing can stop her power. Except for the kid who dampens any mutant’s power that gets in the same room with him. They should have thrown the kid at Phoenix, but then audiences would have been denied the sight of Wolverine’s uniform being disintegrated.

Spider-man 3 has no studio stooge to blame. Sam Raimi had the clout to say “No” to Venom especially since he went on record saying he didn’t care for the character. Marvel’s Avi Arad insisted, though. Even if it meant more villains than one film could handle.

Bad Avi! Even badder Sam! You went against your better judgment. You knew what made a good Spider-man film and you chose to listen to lesser opinions. For shame!

•••

Well, there are the rules. Take them as you will. If studios even follow one of them, who knows? We may actually be safe to go to the movies again.

My Daemon

2007-04-26T08:06:00.000-07:00

Look Out! Christians With Water Bottles!

2007-04-23T14:22:00.000-07:00

The Christian movement is growing in this nation at a disturbing rate. It's not that they've chose Christ as their savior that troubles me (hey, whatever gets you through life). It's their bloated intolerance of other people's beliefs and ways of life. Anyone with an opposing view or lifestyle is demonized and, as of Thursday night, worthy of protest.

Mike Daisey is a monolgue performer. He riffs on current events and philosophies much like many performance artists (the ones who don't pour paint on their naked bodies while reading Sylvia Plath in a recreation of being born).

Apparently, 87 people walked out of his perfomance because he had a gag about Paris Hilton that involved the word "fucking". The 87 were apparently Christian choirmembers and their parents and teachers.

One walked on stage and drenched Daisey's hand written script in water. See for yourself.

They objected to the language, but offered no reason as to their objections and insulting behavior. Some murmured that it was the language, but none of their number bothered to research what Daisey's show was all about.

Boston Globe has a full story about the incident. Daisey handled himself very well. He called after the people to stay and talk about what it was they objected to. None had the courage to stand up for their beliefs beyond pouring water in Bailey's art.

Hey, not everything is for everybody. If you find you don't like something, you are free to get up and leave. Defacing personal property is not the same thing.

The Christian (evangelicals especially) are getting vocal. Again, the only thing that scares me about this is not the "I'm Christian and I'm proud" sentiment. It's the total intolerance of others their faith is encouraging.

Somewhere, Christ is wishing he could take his resurrection back.

BE Gets A Mention Via Pat & Fangoria

2007-04-11T22:04:00.000-07:00

Body Electric gets mentioned in a Fangoria article on everyone's favorite actress (especially mine) Pat Tallman.

Apparently somebody finally woke Hollywood up about Pat. She's now playing a lead in the new zombie flick Dead Air.

You can read all about it over at Fangoria. Look for the line about Pat doing a string of "little seen short films". That's where Body Electric gets a shout out. Hey, any press is good press.

Kind Words On My Mario Bavas

2007-03-30T17:06:00.000-07:00

On April 3, Anchor Bay will be releasing a box set of Mario Bava movies and, as a stand alone, Bava's last film, Kidnapped. I produced 3 featurettes for the set and already I'm getting word that I did okay.

First came an email from British film critic Alan Jones. Alan is an authority on Italian horror. He's also the man who coined the phrase "Splat Pack" on which our Wyrd documentary is based. This is what he had to say:

Just wanted to say I watched your extras on the Bava box set and Kidnapped. Excellent. It's not often these tell me anything new but I was astonished by Mark Damon saying he directed Pit and the Pendulum. Did he mean second unit? I've never heard that before, or the Clint Eastwood connection to Leone.
Well done, Alan Jones

As I told Alan, actor/producer Mark Damon did indeed say he directed Pit and the Pendulum - a film usually attributed to Roger Corman. I could find nothing to back up this claim, but it was Mr. Damon's soap box. Therefore, I allowed him to say what he wished.

Another kind review came from DVD Savant. This review was kind enough to mention me and fellow producer Perry Martin (the man who turned me into a Bava fan) by name:

Perry Martin and Frank H. Woodward provide a new interview featurette with John Saxon. The actor comes off as personable and charming, qualities that aren't always evident in other Saxon docu appearances. Saxon's account of his Italian experience is interesting and believable; he didn't get along too well with Bava, and remembers that the director was oddly superstitious.

You can read the full review of the Bava box set HERE. I produced two featurettes for the box (one for Black Sabbath, the other for The Girl Who Knew Too Much). Reviews for Kidnapped are pending.

Up To Wyrdstuff

2007-03-29T21:33:00.000-07:00

Okay, I've been silent (again). For that I apologize, but I assure you I have been blogging.

Wyrdstuff.com is a blog my partners (Bill & Jim) and I have started for the geek in all of us. Wyrd, as some of you may know, is our production company. The same outfit producing the Lovecraft & Splat Pack documentaries.

Wyrdstuff is our way to let fans of sci-fi, horror, fantasy and beyond get to know us. We have some insightful writers over there, so check in often.

As for myself, next week will find us in Austin. We're going there to interview Harry Knowles, the true geek newsmaster. This is for the Splat Pack doc. More on how that trip goes will be mentioned on Wyrdstuff. I'll link there from here when the time comes.

Otherwise... if you know anyone who needs a talented video producer, mention my name. ;-) Life is in transition. It's not a scary this time around (as it was when I left location managing). Something tells me I'll be coming out a butterfly. A cyber-butterfly hellbent on cultural commentary.

In that vein, please find my Photoshop art of Michael Jackson... the 50 foot Robo-Jackson he wants built to walk around Las Vegas shooting lasers. No kidding. See Wyrdstuff for the whole story.

300 versus Iran

2007-03-14T14:43:00.000-07:00

It seems that American ideals have indeed infected the East... at least the litigious / "can't take it on the chin" kind.

The film 300 has caused a lot of ire in Iran. Essentially they feel the Persian forces in the fantasy re-enactment of the Battle of Thermopylae are depicted "as demons, without culture, feeling or humanity, who think of nothing except attacking other nations and killing people."

What's worse is Iran's Javad Shamghadri, cultural adviser to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, feels the film is another attempt by the U.S. to humiliate Iran in order to "compensate for its wrongdoings in order to provoke American soldiers and warmongers" against Iran.

Okay, where should I begin this "get over yourself" rebuttal?

First, the 300 Spartans in the film that do battle against the Persians are... wait for it... GREEK! Not Americans! Greeks portrayed by British and Kiwi actors!!

Yes, the film was made by Hollywood, but let me tell you something. Hollywood filmmakers are not advancing any of George W. Bush's agenda in the Middle East. If 300 was released by Fox, then Iran might have grounds for a complaint.

Second, let's examine a little bit of history. Persians under the reign of Xerxes I did invade good portions of the world... way back in 480 B.C. The Persians may not be a people "who think of nothing except attacking other nations and killing people" today, but at one point in ancient history they had an inkling. So did many other forms of civilzation... Romans, Greeks, Ottoman, Chinese, Japanese, British, German.

Thirdly, 300 is based on a graphic novel (re: comic book) which was based on a legend which was based on ancient history. Usually in the process from history to comic book there's been some artistic license.

History is written from the point of view of the victorious and while King Leonidas was defeated at Thermopylae, he took a lot of Persians with him. This, in turn, empowered the Greeks against Xerxes and led to his defeat at the Battle of Salamis. This was the beginning of the end for the Persian forces in the Greco-Persian wars. It was a long road to victory, but Leonidas lit the fuse.

Victor=Hero=Olive Wreathes, Songs, Epic Poems & hyberbole

Director Zack Snyder has said many times that 300 is supposed to have the feel of a storyteller telling the adventures of King Leonidas. That means Leonidas will be painted in epic hero strokes... not historical. Besides the filmmakers behind 300 lay no claims to historical accuracy.

Yes, Xerxes is depicted in the film as a sexually amibiguous fetish god. The rest of his forces also have some unrealistic, monstrous qualities. That is lamentable, but a by-product of a story based in the arena of good & evil. Evil will always be portrayed as ugly. It's not right. It just is and always has been (especially in the realm of legends and myth which 300 surely is - nobody has abs like the Spartans except in classical sculpture, the overzealous areas of the Bally's and the movies).

Iran shouldn't worry too much. Sadly, until Iran raised a stink, most American audiences probably didn't know that Persian and Iranian meant the same thing.

Also think of the fun the Iranian film community can have when they make their CG epic about the current Gulf War. I'd pay good money to see Dick Cheney depicted with body piercings and a harem of horrors. Wouldn't you?

Body Electric on Jaman

2007-02-27T22:44:00.000-08:00

As their tagline says, Jaman is a way to "discover, enjoy and share world cinema."
I am proud to announce that my short film Body Electric is a part of this new website.

Jaman was formed by the Cinequest Film Festival. They had shown Body Electric in their on-line fest awhile back. Last year they asked to carry my film on Jaman.

They've done a lovely page for the film. There you can either download the film or watch it on the site. You're even allowed to make comments. Here's some kind words someone wrote about the film:

A creepy, unsettling take on who's in control and who's not. Body Electric, in the vein of La Jetee, uses black and white photomontage with voice-overs to portray a familiar world that's run by a select few. By using spectacular, jaunty stills, the film effectively communicates a corrupt ethical premise without veering into didacticism. It makes you wonder why dissent is often wrongly taken to mean anti-progress.

Jaman is in the Beta stage right now which means you can join for free by clicking HERE. Tell your friends. Watch and leave comments. Boost awareness.

The Jaman page for Body Electric is HERE.

LOVECRAFT... now with Stuart Gordon

2007-01-31T19:22:00.000-08:00

A quick update on how Wyrd's documentary Lovecraft: Fear Of The Unknown is shaping up...

Currently we are in the lengthy process of acquiring stills and artwork. These will make up the bulk of the doc's cut-away material and involves raiding many a library (public & private).

Interviews are also about to continue. One person we're happy to welcome to the film is director Stuart Gordon.

(Stuart Gordon (left) with actor William H. Macy - the two worked together on the film Edmond)

Stuart directed some of the more popular film adaptations of Lovecraft's work such as Re-Animator, Dagon and From Beyond.

He's also in post production on his latest piece titled Stuck. I had the privilege of seeing an early cut of this film and I must say it is wonderfully twisted. Out of deference to Stuart, I won't say anymore about the film. I will, however, keep you posted as to when it will be in theaters near you.

Innocence Lost (or was it ever really found)

2007-01-31T19:00:00.000-08:00

There's a lot of uproar over Daniel Radcliffe's appearing in a West End production of Equus. It's not that the Harry Potter actor is stretching his acting skills so much. It's that the boy has finally become a man... with all the sexual maturity that comes with it.

Parents whose children look up to Radcliffe's portrayal of Harry are distressed that the actor appears nude in the play (and in these publicity shots). Of course this brings up the age old debate of who is supposed to parent the children.

Radcliffe is growing up. He's a serious actor and will take on many roles throughout his career. They won't all please his fans. For those worried about his role in Equus affecting their kids, I'd say it's time to either moderate what your children see OR talk to them about life and such.

The great thing about the Harry Potter books (and films) is that they grow with the characters. By Book 7 I wouldn't be surprised if themes are a great deal more adult. It's what happens when you get older. For parents, explaining these changes aren't easy, but they are part of being a parent.

So unless Daniel is somehow the father of your children, give the guy a break. After all, he's growing, too (as I'm sure your daughters may have mentioned).

In a related subject...

... just because someone deals in family entertainment doesn't mean they're all sugar, spice and everything nice. Consider these scans of the 1943 Disney's Employee manual. These pages deal with everything from sick days to personal phone calls.

They also clearly depict a guy leering at a girl's posterior!

AND a gender restrictive penthouse club!

Sometimes innocence can be a little naughty... and I think I'll leave that thought where it is.

Oscar Noms (Now With Comments!!)

2007-01-23T20:26:00.000-08:00

Two big news events occurred today. Bush's State Of The Union and the Academy Award nominations. Since I'm in a good mood and don't want to spoil it by commenting on Dubya's tired ol' "stay the course" rhetoric, I'll talk about MOVIES!!!

NOTE: You will notice I don't comment on short films. Live action, documentary or animated. That's because I haven't seen them, didn't know they existed until today and, frankly, don't care. I defy anyone else out there (excepting the filmmakers - hey, good job! You got nominated!) to say they feel otherwise.

BEST PICTURE

“Babel” (Paramount and Paramount Vantage)
An Anonymous Content/Zeta Film/Central Films Production
Alejandro González Iñárritu, Jon Kilik and Steve Golin, Producers

** Babel is a good film. Very powerful. It's weakest parts feature its most famous faces. Weak does not mean bad, however. Brad and Cate do well. Rinko Kikuchi and Adriana Barraza are just plain devestating (see below).

“The Departed” (Warner Bros.)
A Warner Bros. Pictures Production

** Hey, it's Martin Scorsese! This film was loads of fun. Not the director's best work, even if it was his most successful. This is a career nom and Scorsese is long overdue.

“Letters from Iwo Jima” (Warner Bros.)
A DreamWorks Pictures/Warner Bros. Pictures Production
Clint Eastwood, Steven Spielberg and Robert Lorenz, Producers

** Haven't seen it. I hear it's good. Better than "Flags of Our Fathers" which could work to the film's advantage.

“Little Miss Sunshine” (Fox Searchlight)
A Big Beach/Bona Fide Production

** This is the little film that could and did. Very sweet. Immediately endearing. It's why we go to the movies. By all means, rent this film and take a shine to it. As far as the prize, this film will have to look elsewhere.

“The Queen” (Miramax, Pathé and Granada)
A Granada Production
Andy Harries, Christine Langan and Tracey Seaward, Producers

** Could one of the year's best performances be in one of the most humdrum films? Apparently so. Not much happens in this film which is saying a lot considering it revolves around Princess Diana's death. Without being British and raised on the monarchy, this film seemed much ado about nothing.

BEST DIRECTOR

“Babel” (Paramount and Paramount Vantage) Alejandro González Iñárritu

“The Departed” (Warner Bros.) Martin Scorsese

“Letters from Iwo Jima” (Warner Bros.) Clint Eastwood

“The Queen” (Miramax, Pathé and Granada) Stephen Frears

“United 93” (Universal and StudioCanal) Paul Greengrass

** Each director did fine work (with the exception of Frears - you could have displayed what exactly was at stake better for the Queen). This is Marty's year, though... I hope.

BEST ACTOR

Leonardo DiCaprio in “Blood Diamond”

** Leo for "Blood Diamond"?! Not "The Departed"?! I haven't seen "Blood Diamond", nor have I met anyone who liked it. Judging from the trailer, everyone's always shouting. It's like a Blake Edwards film with social commentary. I think this nom was just to confirm Leo would show. It's all about ratings, people.

Ryan Gosling in “Half Nelson”

Peter O’Toole in “Venus”

Will Smith in “The Pursuit of Happyness”

Forest Whitaker in “The Last King of Scotland”

** I haven't seen any of these films yet. Based on the buzz, it's Forest Whitaker's time.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Alan Arkin in “Little Miss Sunshine”

Jackie Earle Haley in “Little Children”

Djimon Hounsou in “Blood Diamond”

Eddie Murphy in “Dreamgirls”

Mark Wahlberg in “The Departed”

** Arkin was pitch perfect. Wahlberg gave... well, strong support. Eddie Murphy is the shoo in, though. He deserves it best of all these guys.

BEST ACTRESS

Penélope Cruz in “Volver”

Judi Dench in “Notes on a Scandal”

Helen Mirren in “The Queen"

Meryl Streep in “The Devil Wears Prada”

Kate Winslet in “Little Children”

** Wow! This is the exact line up the Entertainment Weekly predicted. Are they that good or was there yet again too few female roles to choose from? At least these were all strong. Seeing how it's time to honor Helen Mirren's career, though (and that each of the other contenders already have statues except Cruz who still has some good years in her), one doesn't need to be Kriswell to figure this race out.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Adriana Barraza in “Babel”

Cate Blanchett in “Notes on a Scandal”

Abigail Breslin in “Little Miss Sunshine”

Jennifer Hudson in “Dreamgirls”

Rinko Kikuchi in “Babel”

** We all know that Jennifer Hudson is the favorite and, considering this is her first role, it makes her Effie all the more impressive. That said, Hudson's reward should be the instant stardom she's received (and her revenge on Simon Callow). Rinko Kikuchi was the one ingenue who literally bared all, grabbing your heart and making you feel her every emotion. Barraza was equally moving. "Babel" may prove too heavy, though. Supporting Actress awards usually tend toward the lighter side.

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

“Borat Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan” (20th Century Fox)
Screenplay by Sacha Baron Cohen & Anthony Hines & Peter Baynham & Dan Mazer
Story by Sacha Baron Cohen & Peter Baynham & Anthony Hines & Todd Phillips

“Children of Men” (Universal)
Screenplay by Alfonso Cuarón & Timothy J. Sexton and David Arata and Mark Fergus & Hawk Ostby

“The Departed” (Warner Bros.)
Screenplay by William Monahan

“Little Children” (New Line)
Screenplay by Todd Field & Tom Perrotta

“Notes on a Scandal” (Fox Searchlight)
Screenplay by Patrick Marber

** In my humble opinion, "Children Of Men" was robbed this year. Let's give it the screenplay award at least.

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

“Babel” (Paramount and Paramount Vantage)
Written by Guillermo Arriaga

“Letters from Iwo Jima” (Warner Bros.)
Screenplay by Iris Yamashita
Story by Iris Yamashita & Paul Haggis

“Little Miss Sunshine” (Fox Searchlight)
Written by Michael Arndt

“Pan’s Labyrinth” (Picturehouse)
Written by Guillermo del Toro

“The Queen” (Miramax, Pathé and Granada)
Written by Peter Morgan

** This will be "Little Miss Sunshine's" consolation prize.

CINEMATOGRAPHY

“The Black Dahlia” (Universal) Vilmos Zsigmond

“Children of Men” (Universal) Emmanuel Lubezki

“The Illusionist” (Yari Film Group) Dick Pope

“Pan’s Labyrinth” (Picturehouse) Guillermo Navarro

“The Prestige” (Buena Vista) Wally Pfister

** These are some fine looking films. But cinematography isn't all light and shadow (something "Pan's Labyrinth" regrettably had too much of). "Children Of Men" has one of the most electric sequences with expert camera choreography. Visceral without resorting to incoherent shaky cam. Give Lubezki a cigar!

ART DIRECTION

“Dreamgirls” (DreamWorks and Paramount)
Art Direction: John Myhre
Set Decoration: Nancy Haigh

“The Good Shepherd” (Universal)
Art Direction: Jeannine Oppewall
Set Decoration: Gretchen Rau and Leslie E. Rollins

“Pan’s Labyrinth” (Picturehouse)
Art Direction: Eugenio Caballero
Set Decoration: Pilar Revuelta

“Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” (Buena Vista)
Art Direction: Rick Heinrichs
Set Decoration: Cheryl A. Carasik

“The Prestige” (Buena Vista)
Art Direction: Nathan Crowley
Set Decoration: Julie Ochipinti

** Here again the nominees are all worthy. I have the feeling "Dreamgirls" will get the nod.

COSTUME DESIGN

“Curse of the Golden Flower” (Sony Pictures Classics) Yee Chung Man

“The Devil Wears Prada” (20th Century Fox) Patricia Field

“Dreamgirls” (DreamWorks and Paramount) Sharen Davis

“Marie Antoinette” (Sony Pictures Releasing) Milena Canonero

“The Queen” (Miramax, Pathé and Granada) Consolata Boyle

** Hmmm, go figure that all the costume nominees revolve around flashy style (with the exception of "The Queen" which wins kudos for realism). I'm going to go with "Dreamgirls" Beyonce' looked mighty fine in her sparkling gowns.

BEST EDITING

“Babel” (Paramount and Paramount Vantage)
Stephen Mirrione and Douglas Crise

“Blood Diamond” (Warner Bros.)
Steven Rosenblum

“Children of Men” (Universal)
Alex Rodríguez and Alfonso Cuarón

“The Departed” (Warner Bros.)
Thelma Schoonmaker

“United 93” (Universal and StudioCanal)
Clare Douglas, Christopher Rouse and Richard Pearson

** Tough call. Well, we can drop "Blood Diamond" (I really don't know how this film slipped in in multiple categories). If "Babel" takes Best Picture, which I think it will, the editing award will follow suit.

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

“Cars”

“Happy Feet”

“Monster House”

** Oh, please! "Cars" all the way. Even Pixar's weakest is far better than anything else. "Monster House", using the same mo-cap gear as "Polar Express" is just too damn creepy looking. "Happy Feet" may serve an upset, though.

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

“Deliver Us from Evil” (Lionsgate)
A Disarming Films Production
Amy Berg and Frank Donner

“An Inconvenient Truth” (Paramount Classics and Participant Productions)
A Lawrence Bender/Laurie David Production
Davis Guggenheim

“Iraq in Fragments” (Typecast Releasing)
A Typecast Pictures/Daylight Factory Production
James Longley and John Sinno

“Jesus Camp” (Magnolia Pictures)
A Loki Films Production
Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady

“My Country, My Country” (Zeitgeist Films)
A Praxis Films Production
Laura Poitras and Jocelyn Glatzer

** Hey, this is the first year where I know most of the documentary nominees. Two attack the Christian side of life pretty hard ("Evil" and "Jesus Camp", but that's like shooting fish in a barrel these days. I'm going to go with "Inconvenient Truth". It's how Hollywood will make its liberal cry heard this year. Okay, we'll also have Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon.

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

“After the Wedding” A Zentropa Entertainments 16 Production
Denmark

“Days of Glory (Indigènes)” A Tessalit Production
Algeria

“The Lives of Others” A Wiedemann & Berg Production
Germany

“Pan’s Labyrinth” A Tequila Gang/Esperanto Filmoj/Estudios Picasso Production
Mexico

“Water” A Hamilton-Mehta Production
Canada

** Remember how "Pan's Labyrinth" wowed them at Cannes? It didn't turn out as great as it should have. Del Toro has been better (and will be again). "Pan's" is Del Toro's "Color Purple". More adult fare, but not fully successful. Why am I ignoring the other noms? Because this is the one place people can honor Del Toro's flawed masterwork. Unless... (see below)

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

“Babel” (Paramount and Paramount Vantage) Gustavo Santaolalla

“The Good German” (Warner Bros.) Thomas Newman

“Notes on a Scandal” (Fox Searchlight) Philip Glass

“Pan’s Labyrinth” (Picturehouse) Javier Navarrete

“The Queen” (Miramax, Pathé and Granada) Alexandre Desplat

** Who cares? Throw a dart. None stick out in mind.

BEST SONG

“I Need to Wake Up” from “An Inconvenient Truth”
(Paramount Classics and Participant Productions)
Music and Lyric by Melissa Etheridge

“Listen” from “Dreamgirls”
(DreamWorks and Paramount)
Music by Henry Krieger and Scott Cutler
Lyric by Anne Preven

“Love You I Do” from “Dreamgirls”
(DreamWorks and Paramount)
Music by Henry Krieger
Lyric by Siedah Garrett

“Our Town” from “Cars”
(Buena Vista)
Music and Lyric by Randy Newman

“Patience” from “Dreamgirls”
(DreamWorks and Paramount)
Music by Henry Krieger
Lyric by Willie Reale

** Don't care, don't care, don't care. Best songs lead to musical numbers on Oscar night. Musical numbers lead us into the third hour of tedium. Give it to "Dreamgirls" and let's move on.

BEST SOUND EDITING

“Apocalypto” (Buena Vista)
Sean McCormack and Kami Asgar

“Blood Diamond” (Warner Bros.)
Lon Bender

“Flags of Our Fathers” (DreamWorks and Warner Bros., Distributed by Paramount)
Alan Robert Murray and Bub Asman

“Letters from Iwo Jima” (Warner Bros.)
Alan Robert Murray

“Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” (Buena Vista)
Christopher Boyes and George Watters II

** I still don't know the difference between Sound Editing and Sound Mixing. Give it to "Blood Diamond". Then there will be some justification for it being present.

BEST SOUND MIXING

“Apocalypto” (Buena Vista)
Kevin O’Connell, Greg P. Russell and Fernando Camara

“Blood Diamond” (Warner Bros.)
Andy Nelson, Anna Behlmer and Ivan Sharrock

“Dreamgirls” (DreamWorks and Paramount)
Michael Minkler, Bob Beemer and Willie Burton

“Flags of Our Fathers” (DreamWorks and Warner Bros., Distributed by Paramount)
John Reitz, Dave Campbell, Gregg Rudloff and Walt Martin

“Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” (Buena Vista)
Paul Massey, Christopher Boyes and Lee Orloff

** See above

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

“Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” (Buena Vista)
John Knoll, Hal Hickel, Charles Gibson and Allen Hall

“Poseidon” (Warner Bros.)
Boyd Shermis, Kim Libreri, Chaz Jarrett and John Frazier

“Superman Returns” (Warner Bros.)
Mark Stetson, Neil Corbould, Richard R. Hoover and Jon Thum

** A tough one. "Pirates" was very flash. "Superman" was old school, torn right from the pages. "Poseidon" was more than a case of deja vu. I'll go with "Pirates".

BEST MAKE UP

“Apocalypto” (Buena Vista) Aldo Signoretti and Vittorio Sodano

“Click” (Sony Pictures Releasing) Kazuhiro Tsuji and Bill Corso

“Pan’s Labyrinth” (Picturehouse) David Marti and Montse Ribe

** Here's the other place "Pan's Labyrinth" could score. Very cool creature stuff as well as realistic horrors of war and torture. "Apocalypto" was also quite an achievement. Those Maya tattoos were not easy. The less said about "Click", the better.

There are the nominations with comments. Feel free to challenge me wherever you wish.

Wonders Of Science & Technology

2007-01-09T13:06:00.000-08:00

While the internet is justifiably buzzing about the marvel known as iPhone, one discovery passed my notice. This one proves that you can't keep a good medical advancement down.

Scientists have discovered stem cells in amniotic fluid!

Despite many roadblocks, stem cell research forges on. These amniotic stem cells can be used to grow several different tissue cell types, including brain, liver and bone.

While embryonic stem cells still hold the most possibility, this is a major step forward. You can read more by clicking the link above.

And I do advise looking in on the iPhone. It's damn cool!

Who Needs Tea Leaves When You've Got Bush

2007-01-08T15:11:00.000-08:00

A foul and mysterious stench swept through New York causing nausea and distress...

A volcano in Montserrat shot ash 5 miles into the sky as a harbinger of catastrophe to come...

Police shut down 10 blocks in downtown Austin for several hours Monday after 63 birds were found dead in the street...

And President Bush is planning to announce his plans for Iraq on Wednesday night.

COINCIDENCE?! I say, "NAY!"

Already the world, natural and political, are reacting to small details of Bush's scheme. To deal with a war that was horribly planned, with no exit strategy, and a body count far outweighing the inciting incident, Bush plans to...

... do the same, but bigger.

Now, if I put as much stock in the Bible as our Holy Cheerleader In Chief does, I would recognize biblical portents when they sat in the pew next to me. Like the time Washington D.C. was carpeted by cicadas back in May 2004... about the halfway point of this Iraq war.

Did a plague of locusts ring any bells? Sadly, no. I guess the President is selective in the faith he places in the Good Book.

No doubt he'll ignore these harbingers as well.

20,000 more troops? More money for jobs and reconstruction programs? I guess we'll have to wait till Wednesday to "not" be surprised. Click here for a preview.

And Now For Someone Inspiring... Claudia Castillo

2007-01-02T22:47:00.000-08:00

As a counterpoint to my previous posts of ranting, I want to write briefly of a most inspiring woman I met over the holidays.

Her name is Claudia Castillo. She was one of Colombia's top gymnasts. Was on her way to the Olympics. During practice, Claudia suffered an accident that broke her neck and left her a quadriplegic. She was 13 at the time.

Despite what must have been a team of medical naysayers, Claudia and her mother Gloria refused to accept the situation. She pressed on. After 11 intense and invasive surgeries (courtesy of The Shriners Of Philadelphia no less), Claudia has regained use of her upper shoulders and arms.

Now 29 years old, Claudia is in the first of five years required to attain her Doctorate in Psychology. With Gloria and their poodle Lily by her side (trained by Gloria to fetch anything Claudia may need including medical supplies), Claudia is a perfect example of the human spirit that sometimes gets lost in today's helter skelter.

She is a miraculous person and I wanted to mention her name to all of you.

Saddam Is Dead (and other things to make 2007 wince)

2007-01-02T22:06:00.000-08:00

NOTE: This blog entry is a tad... well, pessimistic. Rest assured, I am quite OPTIMISTIC about 2007 so far. Lots of projects to accomplish. Many fine resolutions to observe. There's also Spider Man 3 and the new Harry Potter film. That said, there are still a few dunderheads out there that I want to point at with fond derision. Enjoy!

Saddam Hussein has been executed. Do you feel safer now? I believe we were promised the world would be safer when everyone's favorite dictator met the long drop with the short stop.

Do you feel safe?

I guess I'd feel a whole lot safer if certain news items weren't rushed into ether-print just as the year was new.

Consider the debate over whether to broadcast Saddam's death or not to broadcast. Doesn't matter now. Someone posted it on the internet. We've gone from Britney's "vagflash" (their words, not mine) to Evil Doer snuff films. How I long for the halcyon days of Lonely Girl!

There's also a bit over at everyone's favorite whistle blower Boing Boing that makes my Zealot Senses tingle.

There's a book for sale at the Grand Canyon National Park claiming that the canyon was a result of Noah's Flood.

Click here if you want to smash your head into your laptop.

I feel artist Kate Kretz has tapped into these early January days with her oil painting entitled Blessed Art Thou.

2007 is 2 days old and I feel blessed.

Do you feel blessed?

A Cthulhu Christmas

2006-12-23T21:35:00.000-08:00

Seeing as we're producing an H.P. Lovecraft documentary, I would be remiss if I didn't direct you to...

The 9 Days Of Judgement!!

Enjoy!!

Second Verse Same As The First?

2006-12-22T20:41:00.000-08:00

In the spirit of the holidays, I attended an elementary school "Holiday-Sing-A-Long".

No, it's not just something I do. My niece Paige asked me personally to come and, as I am quickly finding out, I can't say no to the kid.

What made this pageant a cut above the rest was not my niece singing like an angel (she did, though... along with the 100 other kids singing back up). No, this "all denominational" fest staggered the mind by offering the lost verses to the Dreidel Song.

You know the words...

I had a little dreidel,
I made it out of clay,
And when it's dry and ready,
With dreidel I shall play.

Apparently that's not all there is to the song. The next verse sees the singer making a dreidel of snow. Then soap. Then, of all things... cheese.

I had a little dreidel,
I made it out of cheese,
And when I add some pepper,
My dreidel made me sneeze.

Or something to that effect. Who knew?

This almost rivals the discovery of an honest to God giant squid. Seriously. Check it out on CNN.

Still a dreidel made of cheese is not as shocking as the truth behind Kirk & Spock. For all the sordid details check out this mash up.

Happy Holidays! For those who didn't receive it already, I have a year end comic up for all to see. It's like those tomes friends send in Christmas cards to catch you up on all the things they were too busy to call you about.

Nowadays, I guess they have blogs.

Maybe Bush Really Is That Stupid

2006-12-19T22:40:00.000-08:00

My mother was the first to tell me there was stupidity in the air. "Bush plans to increase troops in Iraq", she all but moaned.

When I got home, I checked out the news wires. Sure enough, this Christmas present from our Commander In Chief was waiting:

Bush plans to increase size of military

You can read the article yourself either here or at some other shocked & awed news site. Allow me to point out a few salient points, however:

Top generals have expressed concern that even temporarily shipping thousands of more troops would be largely ineffective in the absence of bold new political and economic steps, and that it would leave the already stretched Army and Marines Corps even thinner once the surge ended.

They also worry that it feeds a perception that the strife and chaos in Iraq is mainly a military problem; in their view it is largely political, fed by economic distress.

Maybe "stupid" is the wrong word. "Foolish" is more like it. And "stubborn". This Administration is so hellbent on turning the failure of Iraq into a victory, just to prove their point, they are now going to add fuel to the fire... the same fuel Iraq could and should be selling to get back on its feet after we messed up the place.

Terrorists are not one dimensional men in black hats twirling their moustaches. Yes, they do evil things, but they aren't spawned without motive. Terrorism is born out of ideology. That means this is a war of ideology. Big surprise!

Any layman who reads a newspaper could see that America's going into Iraq would spawn more terrorism, a civil war and world wide hatred of American policy. But those lay people who spoke out at the time were shouted down as being "unpatriotic". Now each of these forecasts have come true... and still Bush won't listen to reason. He must think America is a baseball team he can run into the ground again.

Dare I say, try some diplomacy for once. Suck it up. Admit you were abysmally wrong and seek help from the rest of the world like we should have in the beginning... if they'll even take our calls at this point.

Oh, and on a side note... don't you moderates be fooled by John "Surge" McCain's support of this plan. Any man who sides with the neo-cons who so ravaged his reputation during the 2000 election is not to be respected.

Bava, Saxon & The Birth Of Jesus

2006-12-15T13:56:00.000-08:00

As usual, I find the gap between blog entries grows in proportion to my slate. There's a big push from Anchor Bay to finish all the extras for the Mario Bava box set. When I say all the extras that means 3 featurettes... each one produced by yours truly.

The first two (for Black Sabbbath and Rabid Dogs) are complete. The third involved an interview with actor John Saxon.

Check out the man's IMDB listing. He's been in everything. He fought Bruce Lee (on screen). He faced off against Freddy Kreuger (again... on screen). His memories of Bava will be paired with The Girl Who Knew Too Much (aka The Evil Eye).

As the year winds down and we prepare for Christ's birthday bash (if you subscribe to that way of thinking... according to some guesses, the man was born in April. I guess the Church reckoned that being born and resurrected in the same month would boggle a few heads), I ready for 2007 and its projects...

Lovecraft: Fear Of The Unknown will continue with more interviews and a trip to Providence.

There should be an announcement of a whole slate of wyrd projects that my Lovecraft producers and I will be putting together. Trust me. They'll be for the geek in all of us.

I'll also be returning to screenwriting as I prepare Cenote for ready and willing eyes and delve into a project tentatively titled The Heartfelt Quest Of Paige Nicole.

Other friends and acquaintances should also be busy next year. Allow me to give a shout out to Geraldine Hughes. She was kind enough to grace my short film Frank? with her talent. Now she can be seen on the big, big screen in Rocky Balboa.

Filmmaker Chris Sivertson (The Lost) recently saw his feature debut sold to Anchor Bay. Chris was very helpful on the "Working With A Master" piece I did on Lucky McKee. In fact, Chris is in it. He's directing Lindsey Lohan in a thriller as we speak.

That's all the updates for now (except for this Masters Of Horror plug... look for Fair Haired Child at your local video depot -- it's the last of my 12 featurettes for Season One). Rants will come when I'm not rendering timelines. You editors know of what I speak.

Hello! My Name Is...

2006-12-06T22:48:00.000-08:00

While I enjoy a brief reprieve from the combined forces of production and holiday madness, a belated post seemed like a good idea.

I survived the triple threat of Thanksgiving, my 38th birthday and my 20th high school reunion. All this thanks to a loving and supportive family, reasonably clean living and name tags.

Regarding class reunions... don't believe the hype! While the Carroll '86 reunion committee did a fine job, all the apprehension fell away the moment I realized I was in a room full of strangers. Outside of the small handful of classmates I still hear from, I hardly remembered a soul.

Don't get me wrong. There were charming people around the open bar (including a stunning woman from San Diego who I failed to introduce myself to -- some things haven't changed in 20 years!). Some even seemed to remember me... slightly.

I could blame the memory lapse on the Catholic school system that segregated us into Girl's Side & Boy's Side. How could I remember any of the girls when I hardly knew them to begin with? I have to stop blaming the Church at some point, though.

Nope, it's just this. In fine Proustian fashion, high school reunions awaken all the awkward tendencies of youth. Why else would a 38 year old person act like they're reliving the prom? The truth is that the people you dread seeing won't be there (or be recognizable). The girl or boy you always wish you went out with... they'll be married with children and not what you once fantasized about at all (don't worry, you won't look like you did either -- unless you've sold your soul. I'm looking at your Mr. Vanderlaag).

In the tradition of the late and witty Douglas Adams, I can now officially label high school reunions as... mostly harmless.

BTW, thanks to my fellow classmates for my "Most Hollywood" award. We'll discuss how it can be construed as an insult some other time. I know your hearts were in the right place (even if it did take a glance at the yearbook to remember who I once was).

Farewell Gary Graver

2006-11-20T20:03:00.000-08:00

The passing of cinematographer / filmmaker Gary Graver deserves its own post. For those who don't know, Graver served as Orson Welles cameraman on many of the maverick's final projects. These included F FOR FAKE, THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WIND, and many independent efforts.

Through Graver and Oja Kodar's loyalty and dedication, Orson was able to keep making films and experimenting with the medium. Many of these films were never finished, but with Graver at his side, Orson was always complete.

Graver died last Thursday of cancer at age 68.

You can visit Gary Graver's personal site for a better glimpse at his life and vastly under-appreciated career.

Phew! I Was Worried About This One

2006-11-20T16:04:00.000-08:00

The featurette I produced for John McNaughton's Haeckel's Tale had me a little worried. It was right in the middle of the Masters Of Horror cycle and cut in small bursts around the holidays. I'm glad Fangoria saw fit to say this about "Working With A Master":

This is undeniably the most informative, not to mention attention-grabbing, featurette on the disc...

For the full Fangoria review, click HERE.

Top 5 Things Since Last Time

2006-11-18T22:00:00.000-08:00

Things are crazy busy with me producing three new featurettes for the Mario Bava box set coming soon. That and the Lovecraft documentary leaves me with little time to elaborate on the following happenings. Please forgive my keeping it short.

1) The interviews with Peter Straub and S.T. Joshi were splendid. Both are delightful people and far more engaging than they may be willing to admit. I found myself hypnotized by their answers. That should bode well for the documentary. Thank you, gentlemen!

2) By now you've all heard about this rag tag bunch that took control of Congress. They're called the Democrats. I hear they'll be good for the country. It's about time.

3) Daniel Craig is officially the second best James Bond. Casino Royale is a near perfect Bond film. The film followed Ian Fleming's book in all the best ways. This (like those Democrats) is a favorable sign.

4) My 20th high school reunion is coming up, a ceremony all middle-agers must go through. In a bit of trivia cooked up by the reunion committee, it was revealed that actress Maria Bello went to my high school. I shall file this under things I wish I knew then.

5) www.boingboing.net had some funny kitty pictures up recently. This is my favorite:

They also have a running log of the travesties, insults and downright stupidity that studios and other congloms are trying to slip by us consumers of downloadable content. I advise checking them out if you already haven't.

More Than Enough Reasons To Vote

2006-11-02T12:37:00.000-08:00

As part of his campaigning duty, Al Gore has been sending out a few reasons to get out and vote. They are simple and to the bone. They also make you wish he would run again in 2008. In 2000, to be fair, Gore walked into too many Rove-traps. Since then he's grown lean and mean.

Here's the straight dope from Gore about the crooked dopes making fatal decisions:

Do it because the ice is melting in the Arctic, in Greenland and all over the world, and unless we take on the climate crisis soon, we could cross a point of no return.

Do it because the war in Iraq is a disaster, and our brave men and women who are fighting and dying there need an honorable and speedy path home.

Do it because in the wealthiest nation in the world, there are millions of kids who can't go the doctor when they get sick because they don't have health care.

Do it because President Bush and this Congress have chipped away at our fundamental rights-—rights guaranteed every citizen-—that make our country a beacon of freedom. Do it because our government shouldn't be able to wire-tap innocent citizens without a warrant.

Do it because of Abu Ghraib. Do it to tell the world that America won't sanction torture-—and we fire the politicians who do. That's the real no-brainer.

Do it because five years after September 11th, President Bush and the Republican Congress have made us all less safe.

But most of all, do it because the country we all love needs our help. Our democracy is in trouble. America needs you. And in these next four days, you can come to her aid.

Projects, Resignations & Bones

2006-11-01T19:14:00.000-08:00

This Friday, Jim Myers and I head to New York. There we'll be adding two interviews to our A-list heavy Lovecraft documentary.

Peter Straub - author of Ghost Story, Koko and Lost Boy Lost Girl

S.T. Joshi - the world's foremost Lovecraft scholar and editor of most modern editions of H.P.L's work

It's looking to be a busy latter half of 2006. In addition to Lovecraft, I will be producing two featurettes for the Mario Bava collection that Anchor Bay is putting out.

Bava was a master of Italian horror. His stylistic portrayal of violence helped shape modern horror films, especially the slasher genre. In some ways, Bava was as influential on horror films as H.P. Lovecraft was on horror in general.

Bava didn't always work in the horror genre, however. His last film, Rabid Dogs (Cani Arrabbiati). While dealing with the subject of fear, Rabid Dogs was basically a crime picture... taking place entirely in a car!

It was never finished in his lifetime (financing fell through during its editing), but his son Lamberto, leading actress Lea Lander and producer Alfredo Leone bought the negative and shot the few bits needed to wrap up Mario's vision.

With all this work, I've sadly had to give up some extracurricular activity. After two years, I have resigned from Monsters & Critics as one of their LA reviewers. It was a fun run and I owe much to editor James Wray for allowing me to contribute when I could.

My last review (for Alomodovar's fim Volver) can be read HERE. Don't worry, though. You can watch this space for movie cheers and jeers.

Keeping in the horror vein for Halloween (naturally), I paid a visit to Boney Island. Imagine Coney Island if all the carneys and marks were skeletons. Better yet, see for yourself.

Me As Pop Art

2006-10-27T17:25:00.000-07:00

... OR "Am I That Bald As A Cartoon?"

To The Guillotine!!

2006-10-18T17:53:00.000-07:00

No, this isn't a cry for George W. Bush's head. There's not much in it worth cutting off and putting on a spike anyway.

This is a review of Marie Antoinette... quite possibly the worst film this year (even if I did walk out on All The King's Men - Marie Antoinette gets extra points for being annoying).

Yes, I know Kirsten Dunst is always cute and tasty (or so I hear), but this one stinketh. Read my rant over at Monsters & Critics...

Frank's Scathing "Marie Antoinette" Review

To be fair, other nominees for the suck of 2006:

All The King's Men
The DaVinci Code
Keeping Up With The Steins
Renaissance
X Men: The Last Stand
Monster House
Clerks II
Hollywoodland

First Habeas Corpus, Next Freedom Of Information

2006-10-17T12:33:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, yesterday started the new order of America. With Bush signing his terrorism bill, anyone designated as an "enemy combatant" (presumably by a representative of the new fascist regime), can be held without habeas corpus or even knowledge of what they are being tried for. As pointed out by Edward Gomez at sfgate.com:

"Now, technically, as in Stalin's Soviet Union, Hitler's Germany, Mao's China or Pol Pot's Cambodia, anyone labeled an "enemy combatant" - again, by whom; by Bush? - can be whisked away and never heard from again. That kind of authority, in the hands of corrupt or untruthful politicians, may or may not be an effective tool in some kind of "war on terror," but it certainly can be a useful tool when it comes to silencing their opponents."

Now our department of Homeland Security is targeting the internet's free exchange of information.

It's no big secret that the government has been trying to get their mitts on the web. So far, corporations have been monopolizing things for them. But this current climate of fear could lead Chertoff to police our emails and blogs.

"That'll never happen in America", you say? I point out yesterday's travesty as evidence that it can and is happening.

See how Chertoff is trying to scare us into thinking the internet is a breeding ground for terrorism HERE.

Now for some of my favorite points of Bush's War of Fear signing yesterday (from Reuters):

"With the bill I'm about to sign, the men our intelligence officials believe orchestrated the murder of nearly 3,000 innocent people will face justice," Bush said.

Still playing the 9/11 card, he is. Well, it is an election year.

"It is a rare occasion when a president can sign a bill that he knows will save American lives," Bush said. "I have that privilege this morning."

Yet, Bush has cost more human lives than the events of 9/11. True, a good deal of those are Iraqi lives, so I guess he still gets to go to Heaven.

Bush signed the bill in the White House East Room, at a table with a sign positioned on the front that said "Protecting America."

Didn't Carl Rove and his goons learn from the "Mission Accomplished" screw up? You know when Bush flew on to the aircraft carrier declaring the war in Iraq had been won?

Guess what. We're still at war and the target of such hatred in the world, "Protecting America" can only be some kind of sick, ironic joke.

For the full story of how Bush has yet again stripped us of our rights as Americans, click HERE

Hit In The Head With A Plane

2006-10-16T16:22:00.000-07:00

The upside of restless nights (like the one I experienced yesterday eve) is that you have some whacked out dreams...

"I was sitting in my car at a busy commuter airport when I saw a Gulfstream jet get torn apart in the sky. Not explode. Torn wing from wing. The tail section spun wildly towards me. I prepared for the worst by ducking.

The tail section hit my car, causing a perfect cartoon dent in the roof (think Wile E. Coyote running into a shovel). Right into my head. I survived, but was hit in the head by a plane of all things.

I left my car in a bit of a stew. I had been hit in the head with a plane, yet I could get no one to call my friends and family to let them know. They were all too busy with the wreckage of the Gulfstream ("The third one to go that week", my dream said to me.)

"Hey, you're bleeding."

"I know! I got hit in the head with a plane!"

Then I woke up.

Another Fine Author

2006-10-13T13:05:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, we received wonderful news. CAITLIN KIERNAN, weaver of dark fantasies like Silk and the collection Tales Of Pain & Wonder, kindly agreed to be a part of the Lovecraft documentary.

I'm looking forward to sitting with Caitlin in January. She was also kind enough to mention our project in her blog. Her new book, Daughter Of Hounds, will be available from Penguin soon (though you can put your pre-order in now through Amazon).

Will Direct For Food

2006-10-11T15:35:00.000-07:00

I love Terry Gilliam! Last week he took to the streets of New York to personally shill his new film TIDELAND. Check out the video of his campaign HERE

As an indie filmmaker myself, I understand the quest for funding. This Lovecraft documentary involves a lot of personal investment. It is more than a little fun, though. Speaking of which... anyone want to contribute to the arts? -- Not you, Mom & Dad. You've done enough. ;-)

We're getting ready to go to New York on November 7th. There we will interview author Peter Straub and Lovecraft scholar S.T. Joshi. Mr. Straub was kind enough to offer his home as a location. We're still not sure where we'll interview Mr. Joshi, though. Anyone want to contribute a space in New York? You'll get to rub elbows with a not quite so young up and comer.

WARNING: A brief political rant follows!

I'd comment on the report of 600,000 Iraqi deaths since Bush's junta began, but that would be a downer ending.

But I must say, "Fuck, McCain, for jumping on the "blame Clinton" bandwagon. Wasn't it Bush's buddy John Bolton that once told Iran and North Korea to "take a number" after our Iraq boondoggle? Hardly the rhetoric an ambassador should be spouting. Where do you think Johnny get it from?

And who do you think Crazy Kim is responding to? Dubya or Bubba?

Hail Cthulhu!!

2006-10-09T00:00:00.000-07:00

Just returned from the H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival in Portland. We interviewed noted horror author Ramsey Campbell, theologian / horror writer Robert Price, and festival founder Andrew Migliore.

Andrew has been increasingly helpful in supporting the documentary. He arranged the interviews for this weekend. At the fest, we (Bill & myself) met plenty or artists (Lee Moyer, artist of the poster above), filmmakers (Mariano Baino, DARK WATERS), and the legion of Lovecraft fans who all voiced their support & interest in a Lovecraft doc.

All in all, it was quite a productive weekend. Thanks to Andrew, Bill, Forrest (our cameraman) and, above all, Ramsey and Rob.

For those interested, check out the links for each of these people.

Ramsey Campbell

Robert Price

Andrew Migliore / Lurker Films

Lee Moyer

Mariano Baino

I'm going to bed now with the comforting notion that Bush is keeping us safe from an insurgency of hatred he created while allowing North Korea to test their first nuclear weapon.

Yeah, I feel about as safe as if the Old Ones had returned to feast on our souls.

There's Too Much... Let Me Sum Up.

2006-10-05T10:50:00.000-07:00

So much has happened since last I made an entry here. In the spirit of catching up, allow me to go through a checklist of occurrences... in no particular order...

1) We (that means my partners of old Bill Bigboote and Jim Myers) have started production on an independent documentary titled LOVECRAFT: FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN. The piece will focus on the life, work and mind of H.P. Lovecraft. This man is the father of modern horror and weird tales. In many ways, he was Poe's successor. If you've ever heard of the Cthulhu mythos or the Necronomicon... they were both created by this man.

What started as a DVD featurette for RE-ANIMATOR took on a life of its own. Celebrated and award winning writers and filmmakers all agreed to speak on camera about Lovecraft. Neil Gaiman, Peter Straub, Guillermo Del Toro, Stuart Gordon, S.T. Joshi, Ramsey Campbell and Robert Price. It was a shock when this roster of A-list talent failed to convince Anchor Bay to pony up the conservative budget. That's when I decided to make it myself.

We've interviewed Del Toro and Gaiman. I'm off to Portland tomorrow to interview Campbell and Price at the H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival (yes, he even has a festival).

Neil Gaiman proved to be a delight. Not that Del Toro was anything but pleasant. It's just when you meet your idol (as Neil Gaiman is to me), they sometimes fail to measure up. They are just people, after all. Gaiman was the glowing exception. He was generous with his time and talent. The documentary shall benefit greatly.

Del Toro did show us maquettes and artist renderings for his planned adaptation of Lovecraft's AT THE MOUNTAINS OF MADNESS. For all Lovecraft fans out there, I have only this to say. Del Toro has nailed it on the head! Please, please, please allow this film to get made.

More soon...

2) Since I mentioned Anchor Bay, allow me to update. With Liberty Media buying them and sister company IDT Entertainment, there has been a slow down. This is to be expected when a corporate takeover takes place (and is probably why they dragged their feet on LOVECRAFT).

This means DVD featurette production has slowed down and the anemic things they've assigned to convince Crest to keep our team employed fails to inspire.

This is too bad since MASTERS OF HORROR ended on such a high note. The last "Working With A Master" I produced was on director William Malone (HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL, FEAR DotCOM). Bill Malone is a monster kid just like me and it was a pleasure making his tribute. He was very appreciative of the job I did. Thank you, Bill.

Equally appreciative was good ol' Bob Burns. Bob is one of the foremost collectors of movie props and costumes in Hollywood. He has the original Time Machine and an alien from each ALIEN movie. That only skims the surface. He also owns the original King Kong!

Bob was also one of the top ape actors in the biz. Remember THE GHOST BUSTERS? Not Bill Murray. Forrest Tucker and Larry Storch. Bob Burns was Tracy The Gorilla. Bob gave the William Malone piece "Two Gorilla Thumbs Up!" That is the highest rating I could ever hope for.

After MOH, I did a featurette for CFQ's THE DARKROOM. Mark Altman is the man who runs the CFQ empire (including Cinefantastique magazine). He has been producing low budget horror flicks for some time now. His productions are the best of all. Here are his kind words about the featurette I did for him:

What I really liked was that it's entertaining but informative. It's not just a bunch of b.s. It delves into the various facets of the script and the filmmaking and it's not just fluff which DVD promo material so often is. I think when the fans start posting reviews when it comes out you'll be gratified by the result. -- M.A.

Let's hope he's right about the fans.

What's next for me at Anchor Bay? I shudder to say it. Remember the breakdancing craze that blipped in your local theater? It was the heady days of the 80s and BREAKIN', BREAKIN' 2: ELECTRIC BUGALOO and BEAT STREET did their best at representin'. Sadly, I won't be doing anything for any of these films. The steaming pile that AB scooped up is the Lorenzo Lamas opus BODY ROCK.

BODY ROCK? It was an actual breakdancing movie. AB wants to do a VH1 style look back at breakin'. You know those shows like "Top 10 Celebrity Break Ups" where they have a bunch of comedians you've never heard of throwing in their two cents? It will be like that, but with comedians who are greatly talented and should be known by everyone. Now if they'll only return my calls.

3) Kinoscope finally launched. This is my short film podcast. Short films from around the world brought to you by Kinoscope. You can go to www.kinoscope.net if you want to check out the films. We do have a talented line up and I hope to continue. If you know anyone with a short film who would like to participate, let me know.

BFOFILMCO has had a facelift. There is now a DVD Spook Show section that allows you to see clips from the MOH featurettes. Just click on the box art and see what I've been doing with my time. www.bfofilmco.com

4) You may have noticed I've steered clear of politics so far. I was saving the best for last. Besides... what can one say in the face of our civil liberties being stripped away by fascist neo-Christians trying to grease their way to rapture with Iraqi oil?

What's sad is we're inspiring other countries to do the same. What Israel did in Lebanon was deplorable and the U.S. just let it happen. In some ways it was our way of waging war against Iran (and vice versa) using Israel and Hezbollah as puppets. The first week of incursion was understandable. Hezbollah did breach Israel's border and kidnapped soldiers. By Week 3, however, Israel lost the high ground.

Then we have this "torture bill" of Dubya's that wants to do away with habeas corpus. Imagine a world where you can be detained and never be told what your crime is. Kafka did and I think he meant to warn us when he wrote of K.

There's also the war crimes indemnification that Bush is seeking. Am I the only one who thinks that "Get Out Of The Hague Free" card is meant for our soon to be ex-Prez?

Then we have this current scandal with Congressman Mark Foley. Putting the heart of his controversy aside, it has turned over a few neo-Christian rocks. Check out these words of tolerance from Paul M. Weyrich, head of the Free Congress Foundation:

"Homosexuals are obsessed with sex."

This is brought to you by the man who founded the Heritage Foundation and who lobbies "to influence the appointment of social conservatives and religious right judges to the federal bench".. I'm both shocked and awed, but if I'm horny to the point of obsession, does that mean I'm gay as well?

And then as I go to post this blog, Arch Emperor Bush plans to defy Congress and our civil right yet again by saying he has the power to edit the Homeland Security Department's reports about whether it obeys privacy rules while handling background checks, ID cards and watchlists. Read this http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061005/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_privacy

This President has lied to us, put us in harm's way, wasted our nation's surplus and environment. And they impeached Clinton for a blow job. Somebody please lock these people up!

On the plus side, I recently saw the documentary WHY WE FIGHT. This is a modern spin on Frank Capra's WWII propaganda masterpieces where we look at how the military-industrial complex has gotten out of hand. Originally when outgoing President Eisenhower warned us of this, he wanted to call it a military-industrial-CONGRESSIONAL complex. That's right! As guilty as Bush is, Congress is just as culpable. Rent this film!

5) Movies have been especially blah this year. I know. What's new? To be fair, it takes a while from the time Hollywood realizes their product is shit and the time new, improved movies arrive. I'm hanging in there because I love film so much. Here's the best of 2006 so far:

THE DESCENT
BRICK
UNITED 93
HARD CANDY
EDMOND
INCONVENIENT TRUTH
THE U.S. vs JOHN LENNON
THE ILLUSIONIST
TALLADEGA NIGHTS: THE LEGEND OF RICKY BOBBY
SLITHER
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHEST
CARS
SUPERMAN RETURNS

That's all for now. I will write with more when I can. That means I'll see you in a month. ;-)

Comic Con Day One

2006-07-21T07:46:00.000-07:00

Comic Con International kicked off its 2006 session with more bodies walking the convention floor than even the San Diego event staff was prepared for.

Though Thursday's events promised much in the way of stars, exclusive peeks and free swag, it was still early in the 4 day event with many big ticket items still to come.

In year's past, CCI has been a launching pad for Hollywood's latest "phantasies" and this year promises to be no different. In an odd twist, however, the big screen is being overshadowed by the small. Television fare like LOST, THE 4400, BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, and even VERONICA MARS are all promising hints of the season to come.

Not that movies are unrepresented. As today proved, Hollywood has learned the merit of courting the geek vote and not just the studios are seeking approval.

•••

In what initially seemed like an odd pairing of the ink and celluloid worlds, actress Rosario Dawson (SIN CITY, RENT) announced the launch of "O.C.T. Occult Crimes Taskforce" via Image Comics. Dawson created the book with David Atchison.

Dawson actually has a comic book heritage. Her Uncle Gus Vazquez is a penciller having worked on everything from "Green Lantern" to "Spider-Man" and now O.C.T.

O.C.T. follows NYPD officer Sophia Ortiz (modelled on Dawson's beautifully fit features). It seems there is a division in the NYPD that monitors magic users and creatures to make sure they do not infringe on the normal populace.

As Issue #1 states, "Manhattan is a portal to a hellish realm where the creatures of our nightmares exist." More than just being a BUFFY / X-FILES offspring, O.C.T. brews its mythology with bits of New York history. The Indians that sold Manhattan to the colonists... well, they knew the place was haunted and wanted to get it off their hands.

Atchison plans on employing other factoids of history as O.C.T. continues past its 4-issue mini series. A case in point is the use of an actual Blue Law that exists in Florida. The law prohibits the breeding of an elephant and a dog. In Dawson & Atchison's scheme, the reason for this is because something unholy could be spawned from such a union (the real reason... only those twisted Floridians can comment).

Dawson remarked how she respects the Comic Con crowd for the lack of butt kissing they exhibit. She acknowleded that the fans are a tough audience and you have to earn their respect. Obviously the studios agree.

•••

Warner Brothers Animation hawked a trio of CG offerings. First up was THE ANT BULLY.

What can you say about a film which, at first glance, looks like one of Dreamworks' early mediocrities? The character design is not all that different from ANTZ and even sports big name voice talent (swap Woody Allen for Nicolas Cage, Sharon Stone for Julia Roberts, etc.).

Director John Davis (JIMMY NEUTRON) came prepared to show that, even though he's aware of the animated bug films that have come before, "The Ant Bully" would be different. It hurts, though, when you show the design process from storybook (THE ANT BULLY is based on a book Tom Hanks used to read to his kids) to CG render. Especially when the art from the book is so much more engaging.

Still, the humor of Davis' presentation indicates that the man's funny bone is in the right place. If this translates over to theaters on July 28, we could have something.

HAPPY FEET looks to be much better. The tale of a penguin who can't sing, but can tap dance up a storm is a hyper realistic look at Antarctic mayhem. Obviously the film will cash in on those wanting more MARCH OF THE PENGUINS (only with bigger musical numbers).

Director George Miller (BABE:PIG IN THE CITY, ROAD WARRIOR) sent a demo reel that seems just crazy enough to work. A mix of pop music (Chicago, Stevie Wonder) with celebrity voices (Robin Williams, Elijah Wood) is iffy on its own. But when you make some of those penguins Latino... then you have comedy! Seriously, having seen the film in action, HAPPY FEET may have us all dancing on November 17.

What may have us jump kicking is the CG version of TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES. We only saw a trailer and some unfinished animation here in San Diego, but what there was comes closest to the original comic book that started it all. These turtles can move!

The film pulls a SUPERMAN RETURNS and picks up where the live action films left off. Corey Feldman will not be lending a voice, however. Director Kevin Munroe has gone for more of a Kung Fu theater vibe and pulled back on the pizza jokes (though there is plenty to laugh over). The film opens in March 2007. Check out the trailer at the head of THE ANT BULLY.

•••

LionsGate Films has proudly assumed the mantel of "House Of Horror". Their panel even began with a montage of all the modern chillers they've released (from BLAIR WITCH to HOSTEL). 2006 will add three new titles to their library: SKINWALKERS, THE DESCENT and SAW III. There will also be a Jason Statham bust 'em up called CRANK.

SKINWALKERS is creature effects guru Stan Winston's attempt at producing the best werewolf movie ever. After a perplexing clip that had no set up, Winston and director Jim Isaac (JASON X) teased the audience with promises of "werewolves that can kick your ass" and no CG effects, only traditional. All this may have meant something if they filled us in on the story. All the tight lipped producer and director would say is that it involves a boy, his family and two groups of lycanthropes with different philosophies. I guess we'll see what it's all about soon enough.

SAW III looks to be more of the same... and that's a good things for Jigsaw fans. Judging from the brutal clip, however, the torture series seems in danger of being an exercise in one up-manship.

Consider a scene where a man is pierced with chains through his shoulders, sides, ankles, hands and lip. To live he must tear the chains through his flesh or suffer evisceration by a nail bomb. Director Darren Bousman and writer Leigh Whannell (the same team for all SAW films) spare us nothing. We'll see if the MPAA will support their decision.

Is it horrifying? Absolutely. Is it necessary? After a fashion, sadism stops being entertainment. October 27 will tell if others agree with me.

The non-horror CRANK follows a hit man who has been injected with a poison that will kill him in 90 minutes. The poison acts on his adrenaline to the point where, like the bus in SPEED, if the hit man slows down, he dies.

Jason Statham is the hit man and CRANK seems to follow in the spirit of his TRANSPORTER films. The dual directors of Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor seem keen on giving us action sequences that are more kinetic than usual. Mention was made of shooting a car chase with one of the directors on roller skates. I imagine insurance was an issue.

•••

Guillermo Del Toro brought a fine conclusion to a full day at Comic Con. First up was a look at his new film PAN'S LABYRINTH. This is the first fantasy film to compete in Cannes.

Del Toro didn't tell too much about the story except to say it is his most magical movie and also contains one of his scariest scenes. This is one time where the audience didn't mind a lack of explanation. The visual textures of the sets and the nightmarish fantasy of the characters are enough to entice. Add a dose of social commentary about the dangers of fascism and we have a worthy companion to Del Toro's own THE DEVIL'S BACKBONE (also like that film, PAN'S LABYRINTH is a Spanish / Mexican co-production in Spanish).

What Del Toro did do is entertain and encourage the jam packed hall. Del Toro, like those in attendance, is a die hard fan of the genre. He feels that most people simplify the comic book culture into people who argue over what suit some character wore. In truth, Del Toro finds genre fans some of the most well cultured and well read. People's prejudice against fantasy is where Del Toro finds his pride.

To that end, Del Toro went on to reward his kindred. He confirmed that his next project is most likely to be H.P. Lovecraft's AT THE MOUNTAINS OF MADNESS. According to the filmmaker, "If you saw the maquettes (of the Old Ones) you would cry and then jerk off in the corner."

HELLBOY 2, on the other hand, is still some time off. According to Del Toro, the delay is due to a slow down at Revolution Studios. The script is completed. Money needs to follow.

Joining Del Toro on his panel was Doug Jones, the creature performer behind HELLBOY's Abe Sapien. Here Del Toro geeked out with the rest of us in hinting that Jones is to be The Silver Surfer in FANTASTIC FOUR 2. It's still a rumor, but Jones, in a very legal manner, seemed to confirm it was a possibility. Let's see if anything is revealed at the mysterious Fox panel later this weekend.

That's all for Thursday's events. Tomorrow is a day of TV goodness. Until then...

This One Is For Paige

2006-07-13T23:19:00.000-07:00

My niece (pictured above) wandered on to my site yesterday. I asked her if she felt there was anything missing. She wisely replied, "Lady and The Tramp pictures." How could I have overlooked that?

Well, Paige, here they are!! I even have one Dodee can print for you to color.

And a big shout out to my nephew Joey who turned the big one!!

A PIRATE's Life For Me... You.. Everybody!

2006-07-06T22:47:00.000-07:00

We have a winner in the summer movie excess-a-thon! Read my review of PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAN MAN'S CHEST over at Monsters & Critics

Just remember... dead men tell no tales... or buy tickets to sequels. So if you're dead, come back to life already and go check out this film.

Also... let me know what you think of my new press photo. "Distinguished yet mischievous," says I.

I Believed The Man Could Fly

2006-06-26T22:23:00.000-07:00

My review for SUPERMAN RETURNS is up on Monsters & Critics.

I'd write more on the subject here, but then you wouldn't have reason to go and read the review. (BTW, I apologize for the shoddy formatting on the M&C site. I must talk to my editor in strong, but affectionate terms.)

Does this make it official?

2006-06-20T18:20:00.000-07:00

The "Working With A Master" series I've been producing has been receiving mostly positive critiques from the horror fans out there. In fact, here's a recent review from Fangoria on the upcoming MASTERS OF HORROR: JOHN LANDIS release.

But it is this review in Video Business, the official trade magazine of the home video industry, that might just give my work an official stamp of approval. In describing the many featurettes on the DVD, Cyril Pearl states, "Working With a Master: Joe Dante" is the best..."

Thanks to everyone who has helped me achieve these notices. I'll try my best to keep up the good work.

MOUTHing Off

2006-06-02T12:02:00.000-07:00

My review of the new indie MOUTH TO MOUTH is up on Monsters & Critics

I'd write more, but I'm still a wee bit jet lagged.

Ireland 2006

2006-05-30T20:07:00.000-07:00

As some of you know, I have just returned from yet another rejuvenating visit to the Emerald Isle. This time, however, I explored Dublin and its surroundings (a special shout out here to my friend Judy O'Goldman for taking me about). Here are a few glimpses of what I saw...

To the North of Dublin, along the Boyne River in Co. Meath, is the oldest man made structure on the planet. NEWGRANGE. Newgrange pre-dates the Pyramids by 500 years. Its construction may have been for burial or may have been tied to the stars.

The markings on this stone may refer to those very heavens. Of they could refer to the interior structure of Newgrange. So precise was its construction that the Winter Solstice sun shines perfectly through an opening above the entrance to bathe the interior with golden light.

Newgrange is not the only mystical structure of the Boyne Valley. A few kilometers to the West is the Hill of Tara.

The rings of Tara are better seen from above, but this should give you a sense. Most of Ireland's history and legend is tied to the hill and its sacred mounts. Author Michael Slavin wrote an illuminating work on the hill called THE BOOK OF TARA. If you go there, you can buy this book from the author at his antique bookstore at the base...

... right below St. Patrick's church. (Yes, that St. Patrick)

In the city of Dublin, it seems as if the people have put the legendary aside. That doesn't mean they don't display their history with pride. Here is the old square of Trinity College...

... Dublin Castle...

... and a statue commemorating Molly Malone outside of Trinity's wall. Also known by the Dubs as "the tart with the cart".

Down South in Co. Wicklow, there is Devil's Glen National Park.

The lush forest is also an art museum. Many artists were commissioned to create wooden exhibits that you find along the forest path.

Further South, in Co. Wexford, is Tintern Abbey. The abbey is under renovations so I can't tell you much about ut till I read the book I bought.

One thing that struck me, especially in the town of Kilkenny, was the limited amount of public advertising compared to here in the States. Of course this ice cream truck in front of Kilkenny Castle had a slogan... one that may give off the wrong idea.

Oh, well. Those Irish can be a little cheeky.

OVER and Under-Animated

2006-05-18T23:14:00.000-07:00

Sometime ago, a super genius in Hollywood declared that 2D animation was dead. They said this based on the overwhelming success of Pixar and SHREK at the box office.

Now that we get a new 3D animated extravaganza every other month, it becomes more and more clear that dimension does matter. Dimension of STORY. Whether rendered on the computer or by hand, an animated film is only as good as its story. Walt Disney knew this. Pixar follows his example today to great acclaim. Now if only Dreamworks, Sony and God knows who else out there would get in step. Even Disney Studios is about to reverse its Eisner-bred decision to nix hand drawn work (Way to go, John Lasseter!)

Consider OVER THE HEDGE. My review over at M&C points to problems no computer can fix (BTW, I gave it 2 1/2 stars. Our new movie editor is... well, new).

What's In My Name?

2006-05-17T19:34:00.000-07:00

As sent to me by my "bored at work" friend, Jim Myers:

"Much as we would like to have blue blood running rich in our veins, it must be considered that the name WOODWARD was rampant in England and also came from those many, many people early appointed as "wardens of the woods".

These were people employed as guardians of private timber stands and game preserves. There is even an amusing Woodward crest in County Kent showing three grasshoppers on the traditional shield."

And did you know that singer Tom Jones' real name is Thomas Jones Woodward?

KEEPING UP WITH... DEAD MAN'S SHOES

2006-05-09T14:21:00.000-07:00

Now that I've grabbed your attention with a bizarro title... allow me to present you with reviews of two new films you'll probably never see. In the case of KEEPING UP WITH THE STEINS, you won't be missing much. DEAD MAN'S SHOES, on the other hand, may be worth a peek. You decide.

DEAD MAN'S SHOES review

KEEPING UP WITH THE STEINS review

And Now A Word From Mick Garris

2006-05-04T10:16:00.000-07:00

"To everyone at IDT and Anchor Bay--

I can't tell you how happy I am with the job everyone has done with the production of the MASTERS OF HORROR DVD. They were obviously made with a great abundance of expertise, enthusiasm and skill. I know everyone has seen the remarkable reviews we've been getting on the discs, but it has taken me a while to actually check out the extras, and they just knock me out.

This looks like the jewel in the Anchor Bay crown, and that's saying something. Thank you so much for all the time and attention and detail. The fans are noticing, and so am I. Great, great work, everyone.

All my appreciation,

Mick"

And this sentiment was echoed by Industry's Keith Addis...

"My grateful thanks as well! Best, K."

And Andrew Deane...

"Ditto..... Amazing job. It's greatly appreciated. Best, Andrew"

The Horror Channel Interview by Johnny Butane

2006-05-03T22:04:00.000-07:00

Johnny Butane: How did you first get involved in MASTERS OF HORROR?

Frank H. Woodward: I first started producing features for Anchor Bay in May of last year; before that I was a location manager for all sorts of films. I think the first thing I did for AB was MAN WITH THE SCREAMING BRAIN, which was kind of fun, meeting Bruce Campbell right off the bat.

At the time I was assigned to MASTERS OF HORROR, I had just started doing the interviews for THE EVIL DEAD 25th Anniversary Edition DVD that's coming out later this year. My supervising producer, Perry Martin, along with Bo Altherr at Anchor Bay, had both done the DAWN OF THE DEAD box set together, and since MASTERS was another big package like the DAWN set was, we were considered for it.

They knew they were going to be doing a lot of behind the scenes material for the discs, and one of the things they began discussing was doing a tribute piece for each director. At the time they really didn't know what the tribute piece would be about, they just knew they wanted to talk to the people who had worked with these Masters in the past. So I was assigned the tribute pieces, as they were called, Perry was set to handle the individual director's pieces, and Bo supervised the on-set features.

JB: What an amazing way to start off working with a company like Anchor Bay!

FHW: Yeah, it was very cool! I was very, I don't want to say honored cause that sounds weird, but for a guy who went to film school and moved out to L.A. to work in the industry, to meet all these directors who have inspired you to even bother trying was an amazing experience. Just to know that I’d be talking to them and all the people who worked with them... it was a bit of head rush! (laughs)

It still is, to be honest, but now it's a little less intimidating, and the more you meet these people the more you realize that they just really nice individuals. Very giving, very fun to talk to, and all of them are movie nuts! John Landis can go on for hours talking about films, and you just sit there mesmerized listening to him. You'll see when his disc comes out (June 27th); his son Max describes him as a "fountain"; that he surely is!

JB: I know it's probably unfair to ask, but do you have a favorite so far? Or maybe one that turned out particularly well?

FHW: The people or the pieces?

JB: Both.

FHW: I have to admit that Stuart Gordon was the most fun director for me so far. At the time we did the piece, even though I was familiar with RE-ANIMATOR and CASTLE FREAK, I have to say I wasn’t as familiar with his entire body of work; I had not seen films like DOLLS or DAGON until I started doing research for the piece. So seeing all these other films that he's done, you really realize that this guy is just a fantastic filmmaker!

So for me, the discovery of what a well-rounded filmmaker he is still holds a spot in my heart. That, and the fact that he's just a fantastic guy

JB: Yeah, he really is a nice guy!…

FHW: He is, yeah, and he was really helpful with the piece we did on him, too. I was able to go over to his place, he had storyboards from FROM BEYOND that he had scanned and stills from his days with The Organic Theater out in Chicago...…

JB: That part really impressed me, because I can't recall seeing much, if anything, from the Organic Theater in any previous retrospectives on the man.

FHW: What was really cool, and I'm not sure if you noticed it in the "Working With a Master" piece, but there's a still with Stuart, Dennis Franz, Joe Mantegna and David Mamet was heavily involved back then too; these are the things you find out about these directors doing this kind of project. I went into it knowing about these directors and their work, but this really gave me a better look at their whole career.

JB: How layered they can be...

FHW: Exactly. So yeah, that piece holds a special place for me; it was just so much fun to discover him a new way all together.

JB: Was there anyone who had worked with one of the Masters who you were really happy to have on camera?

FHW: I was very happy that we were able to get Dan Aykroyd for the John Landis piece, actually; he was very, very helpful working with us, too. He was just a trip!

So far we've been very fortunate in the sense that a lot of the people we approached we've been able to get in. Obviously there were some omissions that were just by virtue of timing, like Bruce Abbott for Stuart Gordon. We would have loved to have him in, but because of the production schedules of these things, which are very tight, we weren't able to get it scheduled in time.

JB: Speaking of that, how much time do you actually have to get one of these done?

FHW: Well, right now I'm working on the Joe Dante/Larry Cohen pairing (editor's note: those discs are due out in July, this interview was in early April) Really, for all intents and purposes we have a month for each pairing for me and Perry Martin, who'’s doing the director's interview. So that's quite a lot of stuff to pull together in one month...

JB: When did you do the first ones?

FHW: I believe it was October or November if I remember correctly, but that could be inaccurate since they come one after the other so it's a bit of a blur (laughs).

When the original idea came up we knew basically what we wanted to accomplish, but we didn't really know how it was going to all come together. We knew that, in the director's interviews, we'd be discussing the director's pasts and why they're considered "Masters of Horror", but we weren'’t sure how detailed the tribute pieces would be. Ultimately what I decided was that we'd have to talk to the people who worked with them in the past. It gives you a different perspective on their work so it was important we do it right.

So as you're thinking about it all of a sudden these pieces become bigger; now not only do you have to schedule people who are sometimes all over the world, but you also have to find out who owns what clip, who has the stills... it just becomes a lot of work to get done, but I loved every minute of it. We have two great guys who work with us, Jim Myers and RJ Gallentine, who help find the clips and the stills and schedule the interviews...

JB: I always wondered what kind of job that would be; it seems like it’d be pretty daunting to get all those materials together and put it all together like that.

FHW: Yeah, it's like an archeological dig sometimes! A lot of studios don't have that stuff so you have to search all over for it. We’re also lucky with, for example, directors like Stuart, Don Coscarelli, Joe Dante, who all have their own personal stills and photos that they've collected and they'’re all very giving with them, so it fills in the blanks. It helps to make these really special pieces, especially for those who are fans of these different directors.

JB: The ones that I’ve seen were both really well done and I can'’t wait for more.…

FHW: Thank you for saying so! They're a lot of fun to do, that's for sure, and a lot of work that goes into them.

JB: Now, I have to ask; have you done the Miike one yet?

FHW: I have not, no. Miike asked that his featurettes be produced in Japan, so unfortunately for me that's the one Master I won't get to do, it was be done by an outfit already in Japan.

JB: I figured that was the case, I couldn’t imagine them flying over all those stars.

FHW: Right, and plus that piece was done while they were shooting it, too.

JB: Have you seen his episode?

FHW: I have not, no, and to be honest I'm a little scared! (laughs) I know some people who have and said it's quite an experience, but at the same time very beautiful...

JB: That's just how the man works...

FHW: Right, he's always had beautiful cinematography.

JB: Do you have any real parameters for these segments?

FHW: Not a lot, no... Bo (at AB) has been really great, giving us free reign to put together the pieces in the best way we see fit. They've been very liberal in letting us do what we feel is right.

JB: So how may pieces do you have left?

FHW: Including the ones I'm working on now, for Dante and Cohen, there are six left. After this is the Argento/McNaughton, then Malone/Hooper...

JB: The Malone one should be interesting...

FHW: It should be, as I'm familiar with the man'’s work but not so much with the man himself...

JB: Plus he's only has the two horror features to his name...

FHW: Right, as well as some TALES FROM THE CRYPT and FREDDY'S NIGHTMARES stuff, but I know what you mean; it was the same sort of thing that came up for the Lucky McKee segment, but I tell you I think people are really going to enjoy it. He just loves film in general so much, and he's just great to listen to. MAY is just a fantastic film, very disturbing, but we managed to get some footage from some of his earlier work, as well, so you'll see that even though he has a few films under his belt, he brings a lot to the table.

Lucky, again, was another great guy to talk to; I was finally able to understand what the whole to-do was about this guy, you know? He doesn't have the same body of work as some of these other directors, but he definitely has a love for horror, which shows through May and the films he has been involved with like THE LOST, which just did really well at South by Southwest. McKee's not afraid to mix his horror with some romance and drama, too, which make his work very different.

PROMISE fulfilled

2006-05-02T20:14:00.000-07:00

I have a review for Chen Kaige's new film THE PROMISE (Wu Ji) up on Monsters & Critics. As you can see from this still, it is a beautiful film full of rich mythic, mysticism. It may not be the best of the wire work fantasies from Chine (HERO, HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS), but it is a delight nonetheless.

You can read my review of THE PROMISE HERE

It's Nice To Have Friends - INCIDENT review in from HC

2006-04-28T16:41:00.000-07:00

Johnny Butane over at Horror Channel has officially made my Christmas list. And not just the list for boxed cards or fruit cake. He's hereby on the Omaha Steaks list. Johnny has posted his review of MASTERS OF HORROR:INCIDENT ON AND OFF A MOUNTAIN ROAD, Don "Phantasm" Coscarelli's entry. Apparently the WORKING WITH A MASTER series of featurettes is holding up. Hopefully the honeymoon will last.

From The Annals of Johnny Butane

Regarding the conspicuous lack of a certain BC... well, BC was offered RC's slot when RC withdrew. BC was very excited and started extensive prep. Sadly (and stupidly) the VPs over at HQ decided to offer the slot to a certain LM (a very nice and talented guy and totally removed from the situation) and unceremoniously dumped BC after all of his hard work. BC vowed not to have anything to do with the show and, hence, his absence. On the bright side, wounds have been mended with time.

There... those fans who can decipher that will now know the truth. If certain VPs can figure it out, too, well... you know you screwed up.

IT Happens

2006-04-27T22:14:00.000-07:00

Sometimes a DVD producer gets no respect. It's hard enough to get credit. Many studios, like Disney, want consumers to think DVD extras spring out of from some anonymous conglom, as if the company has no individual minds at all. I guess that's just how corporations were raised. Or it could just be credit hogs in power suits.

Other times our work goes unnoticed or gets mentioned in a cast off kind of manner. Take Movie Poopshoot's summation of my featurette, BLOOD ON THE PINES, found on the lamentable IT WAITS DVD (due out May 23): "There's an enjoyable commentary track by director Munroe and star Vincent, an informative "Making Of" documentary, and the theatrical trailer."

That's it. Not even a comment about whether the thing is any good. Maybe I'm getting spoiled by all the attention MASTERS OF HORROR has been getting. Either way, here are two more reviews of IT WAITS. They're not that much more verbose, but they at least have an opinion.

My friends over at HORROR CHANNEL

Some site called COLLIDER

Now, I am in no way recommending IT WAITS to you horror fans out there. Don't let the name Stephen J. Cannell fool you. This is a turkey of the 10lb Butterball variety. The kind of film where a demon centuries old wakes up after a small eternity and somehow acquires the trap setting skills of MacGyver. Director Stephen Monroe did his best and it's for his intrepid spirit in the face of utter nonsense that I tried to make a serious "making of" piece.

That piece, by the way... fantastic!

First Reviews Of The New Batch

2006-04-26T22:17:00.000-07:00

It seems the WORKING WITH A MASTER features I've been producing for the MASTERS OF HORROR DVDs continue to please the fans out there. Here are a couple of reviews for Mick Garris' disc, CHOCOLATE. It hits the stores on May 9 along with Don Coscarelli's INCIDENT ON AND OFF A MOUNTAIN ROAD. Check 'em out!

DVD REVIEW
HORROR CHANNEL

I'm very pleased with the outcome of this mini-DVD series. I could never have done it without a good many talented folks (some pictured below). Since a good cast deserves repeating, I'd like to thank... Jim Myers, Ira Speir, Joe Campana, David Batts, Amber Griffin, RJ Gallentine, Paul Buscemi, Perry Martin, Mike DeFusco, George Bours and Bo Altherr. WORKING WITH A MASTER could never have been done without these souls.

(from LtoR, Amber Griffin - Make up & Hair, Myself, Jim Myers - Production Manager (seated), Paul Buscemi - Sound, Ira Speir - Director of Photography)

HAPPY BUNNY DAY!!!

2006-04-15T00:26:00.000-07:00

Horror Channel Undenied

2006-04-06T21:50:00.000-07:00

As I indicated in my last entry, Johnny "Josh" Butane over at The Horror Channel was very complimentary about my "WORKING WITH A MASTER: STUART GORDON" featurette. He was also kind enough to interview me about the making of these featurettes for the MASTERS OF HORROR DVD series. Just starting out in this field, I can use all the press I can get and it is much appreciated.

In the course of the interview I mentioned how I was to produce the EVIL DEAD retrospective for the 25th Anniversary edition. Indeed this is what I was working on when Bo Altherr at Anchor Bay and producer Perry Martin assigned me to the "WORKING WITH A MASTERS" series. Here's a brief news piece that Horror Channel put up to a) confirm the ED 25th Anniversary DVD and b) give readers the heads up about my upcoming review.

Little did I know that such a simple interview about the making of a "making of" featurette would cause such a stink. Anchor Bay, due to mysterious political jitters, almost put the kibosh on the whole deal. My interview... the news piece... everything. Thankfully, Bo and Mark Ward over at Anchor Bay spoke with Johnny / Josh and the interview will be allowed up in time with the second release of MoH DVDs (albeit after it is approved).

You can read the EVIL DEAD article HERE.

I'll never get the full story on why Anchor Bay was so nervous that their mother company IDT Entertainment (producers of MASTERS OF HORROR) would find out I was being interviewed about the work that I did. When someone is interested enough in your DVD to interview one of its writer / producers, I would think that's the kind of publicity you would want. As of the moment, Anchor Bay and I seem to be in agreement.

The MASTERS OF HORROR Are Loose!

2006-03-28T19:51:00.000-08:00

As some of you may know, the first two MASTERS OF HORROR DVDs came out today. I produced a featurette for each disc titled WORKING WITH A MASTER and, according to the reviews, people like them very much. Each WWM covers what it was like to work with the specific Master of Horror throughout his career. These first DVDs focus on John Carpenter ("Halloween") and Stuart Gordon ("Re-Animator").

Buy One! Buy Many! Tell your friends!!

Also look for a coming interview with me about the making of these featurettes (a "Making Of" the "Making Of", if you will) coming to the Horror Channel's site soon. Many thanks to Johnny Butane for his interest -- and for being a devout Stuart Gordon fan.

Everybody Must Get STONED (or maybe not)

2006-03-25T12:18:00.000-08:00

Here's a review of the new rock bio pic STONED. Do any of you rock fans know who Brian Jones was? If not, you should consider checking this film out. If you do know who he was, well... the film is an okay glimpse back. Either way, the review can be found HERE.

How's that for an endorsement?

And The Reviews Are In!

2006-03-19T22:51:00.000-08:00

Here are a few more glowing reviews for the first two MASTERS OF HORROR discs. My WORKING WITH A MASTER featurettes seem to be a favorite. Check out some reviews from Horror Channel and others below.

Stuart Gordon - Horror Channel review

John Carpenter - Horror Channel review

DVD Times review

John Carpenter - DVD Review review

That's "Merry Christmas" to the rest of you

2006-03-02T22:59:00.000-08:00

JOYEUX NOEL is another of the Oscar nominated foreign films this year. While it may not shine as much as TSOTSI (see previous post), it is an uplifting film about humanity in the face of war. Back in World War I, troops called their own cease fire on Christmas Eve and came into the middle of the battlefield to share in the holiday. Imagine if troops did this of their own volition today...

Anyway, my review of the moving (yet flawed) JOYEUX NOEL can be read HERE.

TSOTSI, ZOLA and My MASTERS review

2006-02-25T14:40:00.000-08:00

Just a few, quick plugs for the 3 or 4 of you out there checking up on me.

My review of South Africa's Oscar nominated film TSOTSI can be found HERE. It is a wonderful film and, if there's any justice, will walk away with a bald, gold statue.

I was also honored to interview South African sensation Zola. Zola is a hip hop icon in Johannesburg and contributed songs to the aforementioned TSOTSI. He was an inspiring man to speak with and was kind enough to dub me with an African name... NHLAKNITHO ( N-H-L-A-K-N-I-T-H-O). It is the Zulu word for wisdom (and I'll let you ponder that for yourselves). "We have a saying in Africa," Zola explained to me, "... he who listens wins the argument and you have done exactly that."

You can read more of my talk with Zola HERE.

And last, but definitely not least... as some of you well know, I have been producing a series of featurettes for the MASTERS OF HORROR DVDs. The title of this series is WORKING WITH A MASTER. Well, the first review is in and guess what piece gets mentioned in the first paragraph? I guess they like my style over at "Fangoria"

Check out the first mainstream review of my work HERE

That's all for now (and believe me it's plenty). I'm too disgusted to rant about the civil war brewing in Iraq, the knuckleheaded deal to sell our ports Bush is cooking with Dubai and South Dakota's turning back the clock by totally ignoring Roe V Wade and banning abortions -- even if the pregnancy is caused by rape or incest (lovely). There is an exception if the life of the mother is threatened (wasn't that nice of those SD pilgrims?).

With two new Bush appointees to the Supreme Court, you ladies can pull out your petticoats again. You have no say in the matter, apparently.

And I said I wasn't going to rant.

FINAL Straw

2006-02-09T22:30:00.000-08:00

As the chaos continues over the Mohammed cartoons, might I offer a diversion. My review for FINAL DESTINATION 3 is up. I by no means recommend this film as an antidote to all the stirring of the pot being done by Muslim radicals and the utterly clueless Danish press, but in a world where FINAL DESTINATION has reached its THIRD installment, can anything be taken seriously.

The review can be found HERE

And just because I can't help myself...

A representative of the Danish press corps (his name escapes me at the moment -- probably because idiots are meant to be forgotten) tried to apply some free speech logic to their actions. I'm paraphrasing here... "If we were to take into consideration everything that offended the different religious groups, we would be prevented from expressing any difference of opinion." Again I'm paraphrasing here. I must take issue with this. If you are someone who disagrees with affirmative action, you don't write an editorial featuring the "N" word no matter what free speech guarantees you. If you object to all the cover up of pedophilia in the Church, you don't publish a cartoon of Christ eyeing a little boy. Free speech demands responsibility. The Danish press, in practicing their right, were utterly irresponsible.

Now because this is a balanced blog (except where it comes to the current administration)...

I have a conundrum for the overly-outraged Muslims out there. If it is forbidden to depict the Prophet, how do you know what he looks like? And, if you don't know what he looks like, how do you know it's the Prophet in those cartoons. (NOTE: This is a trick question. The Danish press actually stated that the cartoons were of the Prophet. I'm just trying to come around to a point.)

This bit of rhetoric was supposedly the point of the original article the Danish paper published in September 2005. It was meant to point out the slippery slope of self censorship. "We are on our way to a slippery slope where no-one can tell how the self-censorship will end.", was the point of the editorial. (For more, see the BBC overview HERE) A salient point? Yes. Justification for the irresponsible nature of the cartoons themselves? Not really.

Look, I maintain life is an offense. I'm not trying to be cynical. We are many different people of many different views and tastes sharing the world together. At some point someone is going to offend someone. Maybe it will be foul language. Or a loud necktie. It could even be the fact that your next door neighbor thinks Jesus was just a fantastic rabbi. To self censor yourself to the point where self expression is sacrificed is the antithesis of free speech.

But common decency and respect for your neighbors in no way threatens that freedom. The Danish paper Jyllands-Posten should have known better.

On a thinly related topic, I just want to offer my praise to the speakers at Coretta Scott King's Funeral Service. It's time for those dissatisfied with the state of the Union to speak up and loud. It's also time to force the current administration to listen. Some may consider using Mrs. King's memorial as a platform as bad form. These people obviously have no idea what Coretta Scott King and her husband were all about... speaking out against injustice with the hopes of achieving harmony.

I say this is a thinly related topic to the Mohammed overreaction because I don't believe people are burning embassies over a cartoon. I think they are raging against a Western machine that, with Bush's War as a maiden head, doesn't show Muslims respect. It's like the LA riots over Rodney King. That wasn't about a verdict. That was a rebellion against a state of life.

So let's be the grown ups, apologize for the cartoons and solve the real problems that are allowing tempers to blaze.

Who's more embarrassing?

2006-02-04T23:55:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure who to be more embarrassed by. The paper that publishes an offensive cartoon of a major religion's prophet or the masses of that religion burning and calling for the execution of the offenders.

As some of you may be aware, 12 caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad were published in Denmark's Jyllands-Posten back in September and reprinted in European media this past week. I am shocked at the Western world for repeating such a bigoted expression in public papers. When Europe is dealing with the frustration of Muslims at the hands of those who seem not to respect or tolerate them, why pour fuel on the fire? No religion or point of view should ever be ridiculed. One may differ in opinion, but there is a well demarcated line between disagreement and insult.

That said, the response to such an offense is not destruction and violence. Protest, yes. Burning embassies, not quite. Groups like Hamas and their leader, Mahmoud Zahar, have called for the cartoonists to be punished by death. "We should have killed all those who offend the Prophet and instead here we are, protesting peacefully." he said. While it is true that Islamic law forbids any depictions of the Prophet Muhammad and that death may be the response to insulting his name, the followers of Islam, while a not so silent majority, have to realize that not all of the world adheres to their laws. It is hard to practice tolerance in the face of massive intolerance (actions of the French government, the Iraq war, etc.), but abstaining from mass violence will go a long way towards having your protest succeed.

(Just for the record... the British protestors in the picture below (the ones with those orange signs) got it right and their slogans go to the very heart of the matter. "WE DO NOT FEAR DEBATE OR CRITICISM, BUT NO ONE LIKES ABUSE." Well done!)

Is an apology warranted? Absolutely. Should the cartoonists be fired from the paper? Yes and for an utter lack of responsibility at the very least. Should the governments of the countries who reprinted the cartoon apologize? Well...

Denmark's Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen is right. You can't apologize for the results of free press. Dissenting opinions, even ones of reckless hate, are a risk of such a system. Yet in free societies, as well as life, you must take the good with the bad. The goal, however, is to continually strive for the good. It is here that I find myself embarrassed by both sides. If either the editors of the European papers or the protestors valued the good in life, they wouldn't have given in to the bad so easily. The cartoons would not have been printed and reprinted. The embassies would not have been burned. Are we regressing to the days of Holy Wars? Have we forgotten that, at heart, we all seek the same level of harmony? Yes, there are agitators... extremists, if you will... on each side. Some more extreme than others. This doesn't excuse reckless acts of inhumanity.

For an overview of the tumult click HERE

PHILLY FACES

2006-01-15T23:51:00.000-08:00

Another advancement has been made in the world of 2006. Alas, this one is not as monumental as the Great Green Piggies. It is, however, worth a good laugh.

PHILLY FACES is a Philadelphia talent agency that provides video of its clients for producers to sample. A Digital Head Shot.

While this does hint at things to come for show business casting, the videos on Philly Faces' website are... well, see for yourself. Someone needs to tell these future emperors or empresses of stage and screen that they are buck ass naked in these videos. Not to single her out, but sample Renee Richman-Weisband's video headshot.

Click HERE. You'll find her under "PAGE 3 SECTOR B" Maybe you could be the one to tell her.

To explore all of PHILLY FACES (and I strongly urge you to do so) click HERE.

All Hail The Green Piggies!!

2006-01-15T23:33:00.000-08:00

By now many of you have seen these pictures on line. For some, it must have seemed a hoax and it may still turn out to be too good to be true. The simple fact, though, is that we should praise these green pigs. Not just because they're cute in their new shade, but because they are the next step in stem cell research.

First off, these are transgenic pigs. That in and of itself is a triumph of science. According to BBC News, "to create them, DNA from jellyfish was added to about 265 pig embryos which were implanted in eight different sows. Four of the female pigs became pregnant and three male piglets were born three months ago."

These pigs are green inside and out which makes them perfect for stem cell study. How you may ask? I refer to BBC News again... "The scientists will use the transgenic pigs to study human disease. Because the pig's genetic material is green, it is easy to spot. So if, for instance, some of its stem cells are injected into another animal, scientists can track how they develop without the need for a biopsy or invasive test."

Stem cell research is a touchy subject these days. In America, we're barely even allowed to delve into the subject. The truth is that the use of stem cells may hold the key to curing diseases like MS and Alzheimers. They may hold the key to helping people. Some of the religious folk out there object to stem cell research because the oligarchy has tied it to abortion issues. Stem cell advancement is not against any god I can think of. If God truly objects to this line of knowledge, he would not have given us the capacity to come this far.

Others object to science veering too far astray into Mary Shelley territory. While Frankenstein's monster was a tad green himself, these transgenic pigs should not be seen as monsters. They are the doorway to a new possible future. ALL HAIL THE GREEN PIGGIES!!

For the full text of the BBC article click HERE

MATCH POINT for Time Lords

2005-12-30T08:42:00.000-08:00

HERE is my belated review for Woody Allen's latest, MATCH POINT. I am a big Woody fan and am happy to say this is one of his better films even if it isn't one of his early funny ones.

I'm also here to herald the arrival of the 10th Doctor Who. For those of us stateside who have been fortunate enough to keep up with the BBC's latest incarnation of the cult series, this latest episode is a relief. Christopher Eccleston (the 9th Doctor) is a hard act to follow especially since the 13 episodes he was in were some of the best of the whole Doctor Who universe (in their writing, acting and special effects). Kudos to series producer Russell T. Davies for the casting of David Tennant as the new time lord. Tennant's mix of absurdist humor, derring do and commanding presence is a return to the Jon Pertwee days (okay, is my geek showing now or what?). He will be a welcome incarnation.

Have a Happy New Year everyone!

The Hidden (CACHE) Review

2005-12-23T14:10:00.000-08:00

HERE is my review of CACHE. Enjoy!

We Three Films...

2005-12-21T23:39:00.000-08:00

Well, the year is winding down and it looks as if 2005 will go down in movie history as an underachiever. As further proof, you can read three reviews for three new films: THE WHITE COUNTESS, WOLF CREEK and CACHE.

Of these 3 only CACHE is worth a visit to your local art house. And when I say "art house" I mean that this film is for die hard cinephiles only. My review for CACHE is not up at the moment, but my laments about WHITE COUNTESS (the new and last Merchant / Ivory film) and WOLF CREEK (an Aussie horror mess) are.

Look for THE WHITE COUNTESS HERE

Visit WOLF CREEK HERE ... if you dare.

I'm off to Philadelphia tomorrow for a little Yule, family and wind chill. Merry Christmas to all (unless you insist on Happy Holidays for religious or other silly reasons)!

What? A Performance? -- Misplaced Faith In Actors

2005-12-18T10:10:00.000-08:00

Is it me or are we placing too much faith in actors these days? Judging from the current list of Golden Globe nominees, it would seem so.

Granted this year was quite possibly the weakest year for movies on record. It's hard to pick the good from the bad when you only have the mediocre. Still there are films like BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN and GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK that are receiving heaps of praise. Yes, these films feature some of the year's best acting, but the films themselves are either good but not great (BROKEBACK) or seriously flawed (GOOD NIGHT).

Actors, while being very key to the success of a movie, are not the only element that needs to work in order to achieve "best of" status. There's writing, directing, cinematography, editing, etc. All these crafts should meld together to make a whole. This year, however, the actors have been garnering the most attention because they are the only ones holding up their end. Writing is especially lacking for reasons that would take a whole other blog entry. Writing by committee, lack of story development and just plain bad writers (I'm looking at you Akiva Goldsman) all contribute. On the technical side, all films look good these days (given the level of digital technology, there really isn't any excuse for a film that looks bad), so the next step is for the director and his craftsman to shape their work to support or compliment the actor and the story.

BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN comes the closest to this. The problem is that it's a ho-hum story. It doesn't really stay with you afterwards or offer any keen insight into how country folk deal with sexuality. According to the genre known as "gay cinema", cowboys are just as intolerant as most everyone else when it comes to love between same sexes. Yes, it can be destructive. It can alienate. We know this. I'm not trying to say that, just because a story has been told once, we shouldn't sit through another point of view (that would invalidate the countless Shakespeare and Austen variations (many of which are excellent) not to mention the theatre arts that thrive on new interpretations of old plays). I simply wish BROKEBACK wasn't so stoic in depicting the damage intolerance can cause.

As for the other offerings this year, acting is the only thing that brought most films attention. Felicity Huffman in TRANSAMERICA. David Strathairn in GOOD NIGHT AND GOOD LUCK. Kong in KING KONG. Philip Seymour Hoffman in CAPOTE (well, that film was actually good all around - how'd people miss this?) But are good performances enough to earn awards?

They surely aren't enough to win box office. Hollywood for the longest time has relied on actors to translate into success. That's why they're so perplexed when a star heavy film fails (like most of the films this summer). The reason is that actors are only a part. A vital part, but only one of many.

To praise mediocre films just because the acting was believable is kind of like saying the chicken was bland, but the sauce made the meal. Okay, that wasn't the greatest of analogies, but we in Hollywood have got to start focusing on the whole dish. (Now that's writing!!)

Happy Holidays! (to you and you and you)

2005-12-12T08:59:00.000-08:00

Please forgive a little holiday blasphemy, but I couldn't resist ;-)

In related DVD news... KONG

2005-12-08T20:54:00.000-08:00

After ranting about the absurd state of legal affairs in DVD production, I'd like to point you to a DVD set that represents some of the best in featurette work.

PETER JACKSON'S KING KONG DIARIES remind me of the days when Walt Disney would make a film like THE RELUCTANT DRAGON. Even though you get a glimpse into the process, Jackson (like Disney) means to entertain you with the magic of what they do more than the technique. Each entry is a treat.

For a full review of this unprecedented DVD box set (one that shows you the "making of" before the film comes out), click HERE

Screen Actors Killed The DVD Star

2005-12-07T20:21:00.000-08:00

SAG wants a piece of DVD sales!

It all started when DVDs became big money for the studios. Usually when a corporation (like the monopolies that run Hollywood) makes a substantial profit, the people who actually helped make that product start wanting a taste. Since actors are a major reason why films have a shot at gross receipts, you can't blame them.

See, when an actor appears in a film or television show, they are entitled to residuals any time that work is shown. The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) has a formula for this kind of thing and the amount differs from deal to deal. Basically the idea of residuals makes sure that Alan Alda is fairly compensated for all the sales of M*A*S*H Fox was able to wrangle. If you're making money off someone's talent and likeness, they're entitled to something (even if Alda had to sue for what Fox owed him).

The problem is that SAG never saw the success of DVDs coming. No specifics for residuals were laid out until recently and then only in a vague notion. That's where the quagmire began. Studios are making a mint off these discs and the actors that starred in the films don't see a dime.

While negotiations over digital media continue between SAG and the studios, the actors have begun to ask for talent fees anytime they are interviewed for one of those "making of" pieces you get as a bonus feature on the DVD. This is fair. They are giving their time to a new production that will increase the worth of the DVD release.

But what about film clips?

Recently, while doing retrospective documentaries on the directors that comprise the MASTERS OF HORROR, we've run into a legal snafu over film clips and whether or not we owe money to the actors featured in those clips. These are clips of films that have already been released and, in most cases, were filmed before the new rules on DVD residuals were in place. When the actors appeared in these films, they signed away their likenesses for the purposes of that film (including publicity). The problem is that SAG insists that, if we use a clip from that old film, we're using the actor's likeness to make a new product.

Well, that's not exactly true. If I were to take a clip of Kurt Russell from THE THING and splice it in to my film about the Iditarod, then I would be using the clip to make a new product. In a documentary that discusses the making of THE THING (among other films) by John Carpenter, a clip featuring Kurt Russell is using the clip as it was originally intended... the way Kurt signed on to have his image used. As an extension of the film titled THE THING.

A clip from THE THING is just a sample of the full length movie. It doesn't become a whole new creation if you take a one minute piece out to show. The same goes for a still from that film or clips used in a trailer. Taking things a step further, if I were to include a clip from THE THING in a new DVD documentary featurette, I'm promoting that film just as any other promotion would. And the cast of THE THING allowed their likeness from that film to be used in this manner when they signed on the production. True, back in 1981 they didn't know DVDs were a possible venue for this sort of thing, but that's why all standard Hollywood contracts have a phrase that refers to "all future technologies"

Now, considering how the negotiations for a clear standard addressing DVD residuals for new productions is seeming more and more elusive, SAG (supposedly on behalf of its members) has been attempting a work around. It has to do with likeness rights.

This phenomena began when some genius on Madison Avenue came up with that whole Fred Astaire dancing with the vacuum cleaner ad. Astaire's family weren't contacted about this and, in the settlement that followed, likeness rights (as we know it) were born.

These rights have been given added dimension ever since the courts allowed actors to sue paparazzi for stealing a shot of them at the beach for "The Weekly World News". This has given the actors a new found control over their image. Again, this is fair. A still of an actor taken by a studio publicist is different than shooting through the bushes into the private backyard of an actor's home. One involves consent, one doesn't (I'll let you guess which one is which).

This right to control the use of your image shouldn't apply to using images of the actor from a film where they signed away their FILM LIKENESS (a film likeness is what an actor looks like when they appear in the movie).

In some cases, such as the families of Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi, the children of these horror icons have formed estates to control the license of their dad's images (see the above Astaire example for the reason why). This was because everyone and their uncle were making Frankenstein tee shirts and Dracula lunch boxes without giving the family their due. Again, this is right. The fine line comes when one uses a clip from FRANKENSTEIN in a documentary. One use is a blatant attempt to capitalize on Karloff's image (even if he is nearly unrecognizable under all of that make up). The other is for the purposes of discussing the film that Karloff allowed to use his likeness in return for compensation (the fact that the old studio regimes were ruthless and didn't pat Karloff what he deserved is unfortunately in the past).

Now, why do I say that SAG's pursuits of DVD money is going to kill DVD? Quite simply because the bureaucracy that is being hatched will choke off the ability to make DVDs to the quality consumers demand. People love those 'making of' featurettes. The bonus material is what makes a DVD in some cases. Some of you are probably saying, "So what? Studios have gluts of money. They can afford to give a piece." True, but once the cost and headache outweighs the return, studio interest in putting out DVDs will decline.

As of right now, this won't happen. DVD sales outrank box office and these discs are the only place some films make it into the black. But sales have begun to plateau. And, unlike Reaganomics, the trickle down effect is very much a reality in Hollywood. If the studios start losing money, the crafts that support them will start losing money. Runaway production is a prime example of this. It's not that studios are inherently evil (well, maybe Fox is). It's just that, in a town where unions have grown beyond protecting their members and are now bloated bureaucracies in their own right, too many end runs for the dollar can drive the money and the work away (to, say, Canada).

Allow me to give you an example of how things have already gone too far with this DVD business.

Consider the MASTERS OF HORROR docs I am producing for Anchor Bay. To discuss working with director Stuart Gordon, we licensed the use of trailers to his past films. This would enable me to illustrate what the interview subjects are talking about.

But apparently simply licensing the trailer isn't enough. I have to approach every actor that appears in the clip I take from the trailer. They have to grant permission for me to use their likeness. In return I am to pay them a SAG dictated fee on top of the licensing fee I paid the studio who owns the film (and all its contents). If the actor in the clip is dead, I either have to negotiate with their estate or pay an amount into an ESCROW that SAG controls for the purposes of paying off any relative that decides to come out of the woodwork.

Even if the clip I'm using is from a non-union film, one with no affiliation to SAG, I still have to pay. Some of those non-union actors have gone on to join SAG and, in some kind of time travel magic, that entitles them to SAG guaranteed rates for something they did back when SAG couldn't care less about them. It's amazing how much love quarterly dues gets ya'.

To avoid going through these exercises, I either have to use shots that don't feature any recognizable face (such as shots of feet or buildings) or just make a featurette out of a group of talking heads. This is very dull and one of the first reasons DVD critics will say to save your money and rent instead of buy.

For an actor who appeared in, for example, JARHEAD to be compensated when the JARHEAD DVD sells millions is part of doing business. That actor is a major reason why JARHEAD succeeded (as are all the other crew members, but you won't ever see them get a penny out of DVD sales - another conundrum for another time). The sale of another DVD that refers to JARHEAD in a historical context should not be considered the same thing unless that actor in the clip performed a re-enactment for the featurette.

That's my rant. I'm sure there are some fine points of the struggle that I may not be aware of. Please feel free to comment.

For more reading check out this article HERE. This shows how documentarians beyond DVD are being hurt by this nonsense as well.

TRANSAMERICA... the building is bettter

2005-12-03T08:24:00.000-08:00

As usual, I'm taking a counterposition on what many people feel is one of the year's best films. TRANSAMERICA is one of those stealth mediocrities that, due to outre subject matter like homosexuality or political grandstanding, fools people into thinking the film is any good. It happened with GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK (a noble effort hampered by the fact that it lacks any context of the times it's depicting) and it happens with this Sundance darling as well.

You can read my thoughts about TRANSAMERICA HERE

Harry Potter On Pluto

2005-11-17T12:26:00.000-08:00

I have two new reviews up over at Monsters & Critics for your reading pleasure. My review of HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE is HERE

While my review of Neil Jordan's latest film BREAKFAST ON PLUTO is HERE

There's another new addition over at Monsters & Critics. Editor James Wray and his lovely wife have a Poppy in their life now. She was born earlier this week. Life will never be the same... in a great way.

Wider, Ken! Wider!

2005-11-15T22:42:00.000-08:00

This will be a silly post, but it's an image I've come to love.

Ken Foree, star of the original DAWN OF THE DEAD and Stuart Gordon's FROM BEYOND, came in to be interviewed for the MASTERS OF HORROR / Stuart Gordon tribute. This will forever be the Ken I remember.

Isn't it precious?

Interviewing A Star

2005-11-11T19:36:00.000-08:00

Whenever you conduct an interview with a celebrity, you always hope for the best. Celebs come in many different shades, however. After all, they're only people and, as we all know, not everyone is a 'mensch'.

Having worked in the film business for some time now, I've dealt with mostly generous personalities. Most stars are quite approachable and polite. It's their handlers (publicists, assistants,etc.) than can be a rough and rude. That's because their function is to protect the star. If you think about it, the celeb has probably been approached by more than their fair share of nutcases and users. After enough of these encounters, a star can come off as distant when you meet them for the first time even if it is in a professional capacity. Again, you hope for the best.

Consider the case of Dan Aykroyd.

Dan Aykroyd was kind enough to give us some time today so that we may interview him for the MASTERS OF HORROR DVD. As I have said, I am producing a series of featurettes for this DVD that focuses on each of the 13 directors. For Dan (yes, I can call him Dan if I want to), I was going to ask him about working with John Landis.

Due to his schedule (and I'm sure a reluctance to spend his afternoon in the interview chair -- believe me, a movie star spends more time being interviewed than they do acting in movies), Dan's publicist scheduled three back to back interviews. Each was to last 15 minutes. We were the last one to go.

My crew warned me that this was the worst position to be in. When you're the last interview, the celeb is usually tired, cranky or both by the time they get to you. My crew has worked many press junkets and know of this first hand. Still, being a bit green to the whole interviewer thing, I held out hope. We've had many famous people in the chair and they've all been very forthcoming especially once we mad them feel at ease. I've also worked on movie sets where stars are quite chatty with the crew. I know it's in their nature to be good, normal people.

Respect is truly the random element, though. As some of you know, celebs don't always look on the press with kindness. That's because most press types try to milk all they can out of a celeb. True, it's their job, but it's antagonistic to the celeb at best. My crew and I are not press and I hoped this would come through to Dan. Like I said, we're really quite friendly once you get to know us and that is why the stars we interview often reciprocate.

Dan showed up a half hour early... alone. This means he was without his publicist... the one that would protect him from the first crew taking 25 minutes as opposed to the agreed upon 15. The publicist arrived half way through the stolen 25 minutes and was able to keep them from going any longer.

This, of course, put Dan in a bit of a mood. Part of the bargain all three crews made with him was that we would each keep to the 15 minutes he granted us. Dan is very professional and already someone had gone against his grain.

Dan came out looking at two other interviews before he would be set free. If each did what the first crew did, he'd be there for another hour. For all to hear, Dan asked his publicist what we were going to interview him for. "They're here for the Landis tribute piece.", she replied. "Let's keep it short.", was Dan's proclamation as he entered the second interview. Message received.

But the publicist laid down the law just in case we missed Dan's subtle hint. We would only be allowed 3 questions. Her terseness was understandable. She had a potentially grouchy client on her hands and she didn't know us from Adam. Most interview crews have a built in relationship with publicists. A foundation of trust. We hadn't earned that at this point, so we were to be corrected even before we started.

We quickly acquiesced once Dan burst out of the second interview. "We're done! Next!" This was not announced with any sense of relief or joy. The second crew had fully pissed him off. That's because they weren't supposed to interview Dan. They came to tape a simple birthday greeting for Jonathan Winters and tried to sneak in an interview. How rude!

Now, Dan wasn't really all that mad. Shouting (and the occasional hissy fit) is an old celeb trick whereby they can regain control of a situation (or, in the case of certain actresses who play sister witches on TV, a way to hide the fact that they have no idea what's going on). In this instance, however, Dan was doubly laying down the law. He didn't want a third crew to renege on their agreement.

He had no reason to worry. I'm proud to say I was able to ask him my questions succinctly and respectfully. I could visibly see him start to ease up once we got going. He answered more than 3 questions and, even though we were done in 6 minutes, Dan gave us all we needed for the Landis piece. He even gave us a Hitchcock impression that was quite good.

Then he was gone. No goodbye. No handshake (though he did greet each and every one of us when he first arrived). Dan Aykroyd was more than generous with his time. I can't really say it was a pleasant experience for either of us. Next time (if there is a next time) I hope... well, I just hope we get to go first.

... And On High Was Heard The Sound Of Throwing Up

2005-11-10T18:06:00.000-08:00

Every time Pat Robertson opens his yap, it's like putting a huge 'Kick Me' sign on God's back. You'd think this guy would learn to shut up after becoming so familiar with the taste of his own toe jam.

If ever there was an argument AGAINST intelligent design, it would be Pat Robertson.

Need proof? Look no further than this gem from Reuters...

"TELEVANGELIST ROBERTSON
WARNS TOWN OF GOD'S WRATH"

Conservative Christian televangelist Pat Robertson told citizens of a Pennsylvania town that they had rejected God by voting their school board out of office for supporting "intelligent design" and warned them on Thursday not to be surprised if disaster struck.

Robertson, a former Republican presidential candidate and founder of the influential conservative Christian Broadcasting Network and Christian Coalition, has a long record of similar apocalyptic warnings and provocative statements.

Last summer, he hit the headlines by calling for the assassination of leftist Venezuelan Present Hugo Chavez, one of President George W. Bush's most vocal international critics.

"I'd like to say to the good citizens of Dover: if there is a disaster in your area, don't turn to God, you just rejected Him from your city," Robertson said on his daily television show broadcast from Virginia, "The 700 Club."

"And don't wonder why He hasn't helped you when problems begin, if they begin. I'm not saying they will, but if they do, just remember, you just voted God out of your city. And if that's the case, don't ask for His help because he might not be there," he said.

The 700 Club claims a daily audience of around one million. It is also broadcast around the world translated into more than 70 languages.

In voting on Tuesday, all eight Dover, Pennsylvania, school board members up for re-election lost their seats after trying to introduce "intelligent design" to high school science students as an alternative to the theory of evolution.

Adherents of intelligent design argue that certain forms in nature are too complex to have evolved through natural selection and must have been created by a "designer." Opponents say it is the latest attempt by conservatives to introduce religion into the school science curriculum.

The Dover case sparked a trial in federal court that gained nationwide attention after the school board was sued by parents backed by the American Civil Liberties Union. The board ordered schools to read students a short statement in biology classes informing them that the theory of evolution is not established fact and that gaps exist in it.

The statement mentioned intelligent design as an alternate theory and recommended students read a book that explained the theory further. A decision in the case is expected before the end of the year.

In 1998, Robertson warned the city of Orlando, Florida that it risked hurricanes, earthquakes and terrorist bombs after it allowed homosexual organizations to put up rainbow flags in support of sexual diversity.

It makes you wonder what God fearing areas like those blasted by Katrina did to piss the Almighty off. Maybe they sent donations to 700 Club once too often.