Screen Chatter

“…you’re going to burn in a very special level of hell. A level they reserve for child molesters and people who talk at the theater.” -Shepherd Book

Something tells me filmman will appreciate this the most:

HAGEBOC ’12 – Week 5

Predict the #1 film for the weekend of December 21 – December 23, 2012. The one who predicts closest to the total Friday to Sunday gross for the #1 film wins 4 points. Runner-up gains 2 points. Predicting within half a million earns 2 extra points.

(All bonus questions only refer to Fri-Sun grosses as well)

Bonus 1:
Will Amour or Zero Dark Thirty have a higher per-screen average?

Bonus 2:
Which film will end up in the #2 spot?

Bonus 3:
Which film will end up in the #3 spot?

There are a couple of wide releases tomorrow and the rest on Friday, so the deadline is WEDNESDAY THURSDAY 11:59 pm EST. Good luck!

SCORES
Jackrabbit Slim – 18
Rob – 14.5
Joe – 8.5
Juan – 3.5
James – 2.5
Filmman – 0.5

HAGEBOC ’12 – Week 4

Supposedly a bye week, but this is what I would have proposed.

Predict the #1 Middle Earth themed film for the weekend of December 14 – December 16, 2012. The one who predicts closest to the total Friday to Sunday gross for the #1 film wins 4 points. Runner-up gains 2 points. Predicting within half a million earns 2 extra points.

Bonus 1:
Which film will end up in the #2 spot?
Bonus 2:
Will the IMAX gross for The Hobbit be more or less than $18 million for the weekend?

Deadline is FRIDAY 08:59 am EST. Good luck!

SCORES
Jackrabbit Slim – 17.5
Rob – 10
Joe – 8
James – 2.5
Juan – 1.5
Filmman – 0.5

Random Thread – December 2012

Have a holly jolly fiscal cliff-mas!

Random Thread for November 2012

Remember when Nic had a column at Hollywood Elsewhere? Anyone?

Between Frames – A Walt Disney Family Museum Exhibit

In San Francisco’s Presidio, just down the road from where Industrial Light & Magic is using the latest in computer animation technology, the Walt Disney Family Museum (previous review here) is presenting an exhibition dedicated to a different type of animation technology that is over 100 years old. Between Frames: The Magic Behind Stop Motion Animation(on view from September 27, 2012 through April 28, 2013) explores the history and evolution of stop motion animation in the United States and, according to WDFM CEO Gabriella Calicchio, “is part of a new exhibition program showcasing artists and art forms that inspired and influenced Walt Disney and his animators.”

King Kong and Mighty Joe Young armatures

For animation fans, learning the history of stop motion is a worthwhile endeavor. Exhibition curator Anel Muller states, “I’m very excited about this exhibition, obviously… One of the most interesting things I uncovered is the people behind stop motion animation.” These people include Ray Harryhausen, Phil Tippett, Henry Selick and Tim Burton who all helped bring this art form to new generations of moviegoers and Saturday morning television viewers. Muller was able to obtain numerous drawings, models, puppets, interactive armatures and replicas (“[They] said ‘Take anything you want,’” she recalled) used in various films, television shows and commercials including Gumby, King Kong, Star Wars, The Nightmare Before Christmas and more.

Replica of an All Terrain Armored Transport

Display case contents range from a replica of King Kong from the 1930’s to models of Coraline and Robot Chicken from the first decade of 21^st century.

One of the main goals at the Walt Disney Family Museum is inspiration through education. While one may not immediately connect stop motion with Walt Disney himself, the Museum notes that Walt began his animation career in Kansas City using this type of animation for advertisements. The galleries exist to educate you on Walt Disney’s history and accomplishments which will hopefully inspire you to follow your own passion. This goal is not lost on Muller who says, “I hope that when visitors leave this exhibit that they feel a surge of inspiration, that they will find creativity in their own lives.”

Video promo:

Random Thread for October

Or as my daughter’s World History teacher said in an e-mail this weekend – ROCKtober

A Day in the Life of John Lasseter

I wonder if part of his duties is making a documentary of himself.

John Carter (of Mars) Trailer

Apparently this is something for the Internet to get excited about. Or trash. It’s always both

Random Thread of February

Birthday month!

Random Thread of January

Pretend I wrote this at 1:1:11 on 1/1/11

True Grit (2010)

Prior to seeing this I considered myself the prime candidate for this movie: I’ve never read the book or saw the original film, I was bringing no baggage or expectations into this film unlike so many I see (e.g. – Narnia below) and I’m a fan of the Coen Brothers.

True Grit is the story of Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld) seeking retribution for the murder of her father by no-good outlaw Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin). Since Maddie is only 14 she hires a US Marshall, Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges), to help her find the man so that she may execute justice herself. Chaney is also wanted by Texas Ranger LaBoeuf (Matt Damon) for a prior murder of a Texas state senator (and his dog). The film follows the lawmen and Maddie’s attempts (& contretemps) along the way to find the criminal(s).

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

It’s unfortunate that this film appears to be the end of the line (it’s doing less business than The Golden Compass) for the current incarnation of this series because The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is probably the most crowd-pleasing of all three.

As the film begins Edmund and Lucy – the two youngest of the four Pevensie children – are shown to be boarding with their aunt, uncle and one younger cousin named Eustace. WWII is still in full swing and the Pevensie parents, along with eldest daughter Susan, are away in America while Peter is presumably at university or in the war. Cousin Eustace is a whiny antagonistic brat so of course Edmund and Lucy want out. Conveniently they are called to Narnia (this time through a painting). Eustace happens to be in the room and is whisked away with them to the far away land.

Ingenious Twilight Eclipse Tie-in

I’ve never read the books, nor do I intend to. I have not seen the movies, nor do I intend to. But this postcard from my local blood bank made me roll my eyes at first glance, laugh at second, and then come to appreciate how clever this really is! Clearly not sponsored or endorsed by the film at all, this is just coattail riding that will have all Twi-hards forcing their parents and/or loved ones to donate blood so they can get free tickets to a morning showing.

The donation even happens from the afternoon through the evening – aka twilight. Witty! These vampires sure have a creative way of getting their meals…

I’m not crazy after all

I mentioned this a while back and when I saw them today I had to take screencaps. Someone WordPress is messing around with GoogleAds again. This time I found them in the Public Enemies post.