We wanted to take a break from our normal programming to wish a fond farewell to our colleague Todd Chappell. Todd has been with the AU Library and Media Services since 2010, and his tenure as New Media Center Coordinator led to a customer service boom. Todd is departing the AU Library to further his […]
Continue readingSame as it ever was? Neurological study explains why we miss film goofs
Spotting continuity errors can be both one of the most fun and one of the most annoying parts of the film-watching experience. Sometimes, odd mistakes and slip-ups are amusing and add an extra wrinkle to the appreciation of the film’s craftsmanship (Black Dynamite, HU DVD 8479, is based almost entirely around these sort of mistakes). […]
Continue readingLearn about the AU’s Cinema Studies program TODAY!
AU’s Cinema Studies program is the source of the university’s most exciting film happenings. If you’re unfamiliar with their work, each year, the Cinema Studies program organizes a public film festival that’s held here in the AU Library. This year, their morbid food-themed series has gone swimmingly, with movies like Troll 2 and Chicken Run […]
Continue readingFilmmaker IQ whets your appetite with a history of movie trailers
We love Filmmaker IQ and their video crash courses on the history of film. In the past we’re posted about their lesson on aspect ratios. This time around, they’ve prepared a history of movie trailers. You can either follow along in the video (embedded above) or read the article for roughly the same content. Trailers […]
Continue readingAre DVD pirates curating culture?
The film industry has waged an uphill war against piracy for many, many years. Even in parts of the world with sub-par Internet access, physical piracy and reproduction of DVDs continue to dog Hollywood’s bottom line. But the continued spread of piracy in developing countries has an unusual cultural effect as well: bootleggers are becoming […]
Continue readingMoviegoers still give critical reviews a thumbs-up
Social media word-of-mouth isn’t much of a punchline anymore. Positive reaction from friends is a strong factor in people’s media choices, and with no one to fill the critical void left by Roger Ebert’s death last year, some in the blogosphere have speculated that social media is replacing film critics as the go-to source for […]
Continue readingRIP James Rebhorn, “that guy”
We’ve had to eulogize legendary directors and filmmakers all-too-frequently this year, but this time, we want to turn attention to a famous and well-loved actor who you might not even recognize by name. James Rebhorn, who died last week at age 65, is the ultimate “that guy,” an recognizable actor who appeared in seemingly everything […]
Continue reading“Transportation coordinator”? How film industry changes affect local businesses
The film industry is very expensive. Big movie budgets often run above $200 million, and even smaller films like Nebraska can cost about $10 million. Where does that all go? Once you remove all the big expenses like actors, special effects, advertising, and various studio fees, much of that budget goes to the crew and […]
Continue readingNew Acquisitions – March 2014
Welcome back from spring break! Since you’ve been gone, we’ve been very busy. The AU Library is now home to many of the year’s biggest award nominees, including Captain Phillips, Blue is the Warmest Color, 12 Years a Slave, Lee Daniel’s The Butler, Prisoners, and Gravity. And if you’re feeling something lighter, we now also […]
Continue readingAlternative programming: the NCAA’s equity problem
As you may have heard, American University’s men’s basketball team beat Boston University yesterday, winning their first Patriot League title in five years and earning a coveted spot in the March Madness tournament bracket. Go Eagles! This is crazy exciting for AU, but let’s step back for a minute. March Madness has become a formidable […]
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