Tag Archive for "film"
Some people really have a way with words to point of creating a new art form. One of these must have been the famous American film director Samuel Goldwyn. Who said the most extraordinary things, many of which, whilst making perfect sense to him just totally confused those around him (or made them laugh!). For example there’s the famous phrase, “A verbal contract isn’t worth the paper it’s written on” quoted by thousands of businessmen ever since and “If Roosevelt were alive today, he’d turn over in his grave”. He also affirmed that,”A bachelor’s life is no life for a single man” and that, “A Hospital is no place to be sick” (where else?). My father is fond of quoting him saying, “Any man who goes to a psychiatrist ought to have his head examined” Samuel Goldwyn died in 1974. I wonder if there were people at his funeral who fulfilled another of his famous phrases,”The reason so many people turned up at his funeral is that they wanted to make sure he was dead.”
He loathed the advent of television and as regards colour television he famously said, “Color television! Bah, I won’t believe it until I see it in black and white”. He also made the comment, “Why should people go out and pay money to see bad films when they can stay at home and see bad television for nothing?” where today the TV may not have changed much but many of the films are truly awesome! Perhaps, the film-makers today put more work into grooming their stars for success. As Samuel Goldwyn put it, “Give me a couple of years, and I’ll make that actress an overnight success.“ He was intolerant of fawning staff around him proclaiming,”I don’t want any yes-men around me. I want everybody to tell me the truth even if it costs them their job.” He also said he was willing to admit that he might not always be right, but he was never wrong!
His phrase, “If I could drop dead right now, I’d be the happiest man alive” may have been in 1974 or maybe not. Well, wherever he is now he must be working on his autobiography since he firmly believed this to be the time to write one as shown in his famous quotation, “I don’t think anyone should write their autobiography until after they’re dead.” Since that would preclude being paid any royalties I think most of us would reply with another of his well-known quips and say, “Include me out.”
Artist Dan Woods is well-known for the many books he has illustrated along with album covers and film projects etc. He is also a very accomplished musician who has toured with great names such as Captain Sensible, Attila the Stockbroker and The Fish Brothers. He also once famously fronted a band on a major tour of Germany when their front-man was taken ill at the last minute! Now he is part of the growing enterprise called Renegade Arts Entertainment of which he is both a founder member and shareholder. Funded by a well-known entrepreneur with excellent connections in media and marketing in Europe, Canada and the USA Renegade Arts Entertainment looks ready to take on the world! In its first months of life it has already seen the completion of a number of successful projects including film work for the legendary heavy rock band Judas Priest. The team at Renegade Arts Entertainment are all inspired and motivated to make their mark. A high level of commitment is the company’s driving force. The company is not so much interested in taking on standard business contracts as generating exciting and original ideas that it can market around the globe. You can get an insight into the wonderful world of Renegade Arts Entertainment by visiting their new website here. For more on the art of Dan Woods click here.
Tolkien artist extraordinaire John Howe who worked with Alan Lee on Peter Jackson’s epic Lord of the Rings film trilogy will be attending Comic Con in San Diego this summer, an event which he says he is quite looking forward to. More news on exactly what he’ll be doing there is not available. Apparently it depends on what his editor tells him he’ll be doing there. Let’s hope the editor knows …
It really is great to feature some artforms here that are not painting or drawing. These short films are so well designed and produced it is hard to believe they have been done by amateurs. Whether you like cats or not the chances are that the following short films will have you rolling off your chair and giggling helplessly on the floor. The third one is particularly recommended for engineers or anyone in a similar profession - ENJOY!
“… and then I’ll shag its muvva … maybe I’ll go dahn the pub forra laager .. or get in a pizza!” For those who believed Beowulf was Scandinavian it can now be revealed that he is a cheeky cockney (Ray Winstone). But that’s not the real issue with this film. How many people don’t realise they are actually going to see a computer game rather than a film? Several near us didn’t, judging by the comments. I’m sure there is a film review of Beowulf 2007 out there saying how awesome and wicked this Beowulf film is. Either they are between the ages of 12 and 14 or they have never seen Anthony Hopkins act because even with it being his voice this totally computer generated film cannot produce his acting ability. Very well done but the characters are flat and lifeless compared to real actors. Lusty young men hoping to see Angelina Jolie naked are treated to an animation nude straight out of Manga instead. So; why is it not the actors themselves in this film? Apart from Ms Jolie being understandably reluctant, it’s all about money as usual. Much cheaper to make an animated film than use real people (we all remember the terrible dodgy original Lord of the Rings film before Peter Jackson did it properly). As a big fan of Neil Gaiman’s work I’m really sorry he was involved in this Beowulf con trick … because that is surely what it is .. all the hype and big names to get people, who never otherwise would, to sit in front of a computer game masquerading as a film for two hours. Neil Gaiman can be forgiven as his passionate interest in old legends must have made the offer irresistible. So let’s blame Robert Zemeckis for this con trick. Do yourself a favour if you haven’t seen this Beowulf film and don’t. Animation is fine in its place but trying to take the place of real acting is pathetic. Anthony Hopkins is a brilliant actor, his animated double in this film is nothing like brilliant. A cardboard cut-out. A positive note though, the dragon is excellent! But then, it should be as that is where animation works - creating the imaginative images that do not exist in real life. If a trend set by this Beowulf film was to continue do we end up with a race of people who think real life is as flat and lifeless as these characters? Does the whole world turn into one great computer game? Should cinemas be allowed to show this film without a declaration that the whole film is CGI with no live actors? What do you think?
The next film version of Beowulf is going to be an ecological one apparently … “I’m Bio Wolf, I’ll save yor planet!”
