Rendering via Landmark Theaters We’ve talked about the struggles of DC movie theaters in the past, especially neighborhood community theaters like the recently re-opened West End Cinema that have to compete with major chains and often need to foot the bill for new digital projection systems themselves. As it turns out, costs of operation aren’t […]
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How copyright law makes Star Wars homage, not theft
The fever over Star Wars: The Force Awakens has faded now (we haven’t posted about it in over a month!), but there’s still plenty to dissect about it. One of the greatest criticisms of the movie was its tendency to retread themes, imagery, and structure from the original film – ignoring that the first movies […]
Continue readingBill Clinton watched Groundhog Day while in office – and lots of comedies, oddly
Today is America’s favorite non-holiday that we’re all still obligated to talk about: Groundhog Day! The classic Bill Murray movie with that name came out 23 years ago this month and almost immediately had its fans – including, apparently, Bill Clinton. That’s a clumsy topical segue into a new list from Gizmodo’s Matt Novak of […]
Continue readingAtlas Obscura thinks Fritz Lang may have invented rocket countdowns
Life imitates art, but rarely does art have the chance to define the hallmark of a totally unrelated field. For an example of when a film managed to capture the public imagination that strongly, read Cara Giaimo’s article for Atlas Obscura about how German director Fritz Lang essentially popularized the basic ideas of space travel. […]
Continue readingNeed inspiration to watch more this year? Track it like Soderbergh
Several of us might have made New Year’s resolutions to watch new things – to see more films in theaters, maybe, or to stop streaming The West Wing on loop. There’s always that pull to be a more responsible, cultured consumer of entertainment, but committing to a quality movie or television show every week can […]
Continue readingThe Star Wars saga, as seen for the first time by kids
The Star Wars series has understandably become a major cultural touchstone for several generations. For parents of a certain nerdy persuasion, introducing a child to R2-D2 and the Jedis for the first time can be a make-or-break moment. What order do you show the films in? Does the “I am your father” twist matter? What […]
Continue readingThe Hateful Eight makes the case for physical film, so what if it backfires?
The upcoming release of Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight is a pivotal moment for physical film. Tarantino famously loves film stock (having shelled out money to keep film production plants running); the director wants his upcoming movie to showcase the rich power of film in a way that’s undeniable to studios and audiences. But showing […]
Continue readingSpecial event film screenings grow with audiences and theaters alike
Archipelago Cinema, via the KT Wong Cinema In a little over two weeks, Star Wars: The Force Awakens debuts, and insiders hope that raises the tide for the whole film industry. Like Jurassic World this summer, a new Star Wars movie is a cultural event, and although that usually spells huge profits for theaters and […]
Continue readingHow We Made looks at the inauspicious production of My Beautiful Laundrette
We hadn’t stumbled across it until now, but since 2012, The Guardian has been publishing “How We Made,” a weekly column that invites creative types to talk about the history of their works, including films and television shows. This leads to all sorts of great anecdotes, often about the emotional, personal side of production. This […]
Continue readingThe Hobbit featurette shows the emotion toll of filmmaking
Campus is mostly deserted today, what with everyone leaving early for Thanksgiving. Enjoy the trip! This happens to be the time of year when courses assign final projects, and for film students, that might mean producing a short or a demo reel. It can be stressful… but you don’t know the agony of filmmaking until […]
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