The entertainment world went nuts this weekend over news that filmmaker J. J. Abrams will be helming the next installment in the Star Wars franchise. Apart from the sci-fi conflict of interest with his work on Star Trek, the biggest question is whether Abrams’s work gives him the chops and wherewithal to take on, arguably, […]
Continue readingNew Acquisitions – January 2013
We’re off to a strong start in 2013. Among our new titles, we’ve acquired a beloved Disney classic, Academy Award-nominated documentaries, action-thriller hits from last fall, unsettling indie success stories, a long-unavailable classic from the 1920s, and a few comedies you might remember from the 90s. Read on for a full list of what we’ve […]
Continue readingNew Films on Demand titles – January 2013
Films on Demand, a streaming video platform used by Media Services, has once again added hundreds of new titles available to watch instantly. Their collection is far-reaching, including everything from newsreel footage to informational health videos. Here are a few highlights from the newest batch. The Difference Between a Cold and the Flu (2011, 2 […]
Continue readingRelive last year’s Sundance with 2012 notables
The Sundance Film Festival is underway! It’ll be some time before we know what films will come out with good deals or publicity, but suffice to say, the spotlight has never been brighter on Park City. 2012 festival favorite Beasts of the Southern Wild recently received multiple Academy Award nominations, including for Best Picture and […]
Continue readingRemembering — and maybe introducing — Nagisa Oshima
Japanese director Nagisa Oshima died yesterday following long-term stroke complications. Oshima may not be the most well-known director outside of Japan, but he leaves behind an award-winning legacy. Oshima’s films dealt with a wide range of subjects, typically set during wartime Japan and (controversially) involving explicit sexuality. This style and thematic content earned him a […]
Continue readingWin The Dark Knight Trilogy!
To celebrate the start of the semester, we’re giving away a digital copy of The Dark Knight Trilogy, which includes all three of Christopher Nolan’s Batman movies (Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises). For a chance to win, leave a comment naming all three of the actors who have portrayed Harvey Dent/Two-Face […]
Continue readingLynda.com branches out with new tutorials
American University has a subscription to Lynda.com, a video tutorial website that can teach you skills ranging from high-end multimedia software like Photoshop to office programs like Excel. Any active member of the AU community (current students, faculty, staff, etc.) can access these tutorials through american.edu/lynda. But Lynda.com isn’t just for production software. The site […]
Continue readingWebsite reveals widespread movie screener piracy
Movie piracy is a major issue, but it can be easy to attribute it to overzealous hackers or teenagers who sneak cameras into theaters. Turns out this isn’t the case: even members of the film community are prone to leak new movies onto the Internet. An amazing new spreadsheet compiled by the author of Waxy.org […]
Continue readingOscar nominations: What can you watch right now?
The Academy Award nominations are out! There are a few surprises this time around, most significantly the inclusion of Beasts of the Southern Wild and Michael Haneke’s Amour. You can view the full list on the official Oscars website. As much as we would love for you to watch these movies, most of them aren’t […]
Continue readingGet ready for Oscar nominations with Wings
Tomorrow, the Academy will announce its nominations for the 85th Academy Awards. We can probably expect the likely nominees (Lincoln, Zero Dark Thirty, etc.), but given the widespread critical acclaim for these films, it will probably be a contentious and exciting contest. Last year, many were taken aback by the success of The Artist, the […]
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