AFM and AFI Fest 2012

AFI NEWS: Nov 1st 2012

AFI Fest 2012 opens with a "bang!" or should I say a "knife slash!" with the Gala Opening Premiere of Hitchcock, the biopic of Alfred Hitchcock's life as he was making the movie Psycho in the 1960's. Hitchcock stars Oscar winner, Anthony Hopkins well disguised as Hitchcock and Oscar-winner, Helen Mirren as his long-suffering wife, Alma. The film is directed by writer-turned-director, Sacha Gervasi in his first feature directing role. Gervasi broke out in a big way as the writer of The Terminal which starred Tom Hanks and he also wrote Henry's Crime which starred Keanu Reeves then he went on to direct Anvil: The Story of Anvil. Gervasi seems to have a nice, quirky take on things plus I've loved Alfred Hitchcock since childhood so I was eager to see this movie.

I went to the AFI box office at Hollywood and Highland at 10 in the morning and snagged tickets to see Hitchcock. I was late arriving but I got to see some of the red carpet arrivals. Then I handed my tickets to the event staff and I was told the tickets were only vouchers which lead me to a long serpentine ticket line. Thankfully, I was blessed that the line was a fast-moving line so I sat and chatted for 30 minutes then we got tickets and were allowed inside.

We were seated in the over-flow theater Chinese 6 not the main viewing theater which was Graumann's Chinese Theater, where the director and the movie's stars usually do a brief intro with thank yous etc. Unfortunately, both Hopkins and Mirren were not able to attend because they're filming the movie, Red 2, together in England. However, they taped a brief video which was played for us prior to the start of the movie. Hopkins and Mirren apologized for their absences and then they talked about their support of the film, the film studio and of their fondness for director, Gervasi.

IMHO Review:
I'm on the fence about Hitchcock actually. It wasn't the acting that didn't work for me because Hopkins did his best to inhabit Hitchcock by mimicking his slow speech, his mannerisms etc. and Mirren is always solid though I might have casted someone a bit softer in style to be Alma. Scarlet Johansen was so-so for me but she didn't detract from the film. Jessica Biel was good and the guy who played Anthony Perkins looked eerily like him.

The real problem with the film for me was with the source material from the book and resulting script which made me leave the film feeling that Hitchcock was a pervert and mentally unwell instead of the amazingly creative, quirky humorous person that he was. The pacing was a bit off, too and some of the dream sequences didn't gel. I also didn't feel the love between Alma and Hitch at all either and I can't imagine which woman would consider this film a love story as advertised.

In fact, here were so many depictions of Hitchcock being down-right hateful and abusive to women that I was secretly hoping that one of the women would grab the "shower scene knife" and let him have it. It seems that other women in the theater felt that way as many women left the theater looking puzzled yet all the men left happy and smiling. So if you're a guy you'll probably love Hitchcock but, girls, I'd say miss it.

Sunday Nov 4th 2012
Rise of the Guardians (3D):

I was blessed to get a gala ticket to Rise of the Guardians, a new animation from Disney studios. There was a brief wait then they we were ushered past the red carpet and seated in the Graumann's Chinese Theater. Jeffrey Katzenberg was asked to stand and be acknowledge for his hard work at Disney and everyone applauded for him loudly. Then there were brief comments by the film's director, Peter Ramsey and Alec Baldwin, who plays a broad-shouldered sword carrying Russian Santa Claus along with Hugh Jackman who voices a muscled Ausssie Easter Bunny in the film.

Star Sightings:
Alec Baldwin exited down the center aisle then walked right behind me. He stood there for a bit then they ushered him to an exit to my right.

IMHO Review:
After getting over my 3D glasses headache, I sat back in my seat to enjoy this film. Unfortunately, the film did not hold my interest at all. The problem again was with the source material and the script. The Jack Frost storyline was boring and I wanted to know more about the back story of the other Guardians like Santa or the bunny instead. I loved the elves and the abominable snowmen though and again I wished the movie featured them more. The literal "nightmares" were also a nice CGI effect and Sandman was way cool, too. So "see it" if you want to see what's up in CGI effects but don't expect a story. Consider a "miss it" if you're taking young kids because at times the movie's themes were too dark.


AFM 2012 : Nov 6th 2012 Election Day
I finally dropped by the American Film Market (AFM) at the Loew's Santa Monica Hotel at 1700 Ocean Avenue and AFM seems the same as the past few years. The Asian contigent (especially the Chinese) seemed smaller this year but that may just be my biased assessment as I hung out with some Chinese filmmakers at AFM in 2010. I didn't schedule any conferences or pitches this year so I just grabbed some trade mags and strolled about the beautiful hotel. It was turning dusk so everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves in the lobby as filmmakers and buyers from all over the world networked as they drank cocktails.

AFM Update: Twilight's Breakin Dawn and the Virgin Islands Film Office:

 Twilight: Breaking Dawn 2 cast shoot scenes in St. Thomas


 

I got to hang out with someone working with the Virgin Islands Film Office. It appears that a critical part of Breaking Dawn Part 2 including all the scenes on the fictitious Isla Esme were filmed in St. Thomas and that footage is now being used to promote the U.S. Virgin Islands as a film location for future films. Read what Twilight actors, Robert Patterson and Kristen Stewart said about filming in St. Thomas here  
http://collider.com/robert-pattinson-twilight-breaking-dawn-2-interview/208112/    

Interested in shooting in the Virgin Islands? Go to http://www.filmusvi.com/

Election Day at AFM 2012

Tue Nov 6th, 2012 Election Day  

I dropped by the AFM at 5:45 pm and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves in the lobby as filmmakers and buyers from all over the world gathered around the large TV monitors and watched the blow-by-blow TV news coverage of the U.S. Presidential election results as they drank cocktails. Seemingly, all the Europeans and the Brazilians were pro-Obama and hating not only on Romney but they were hating on everything American (especially the French). Many Asians were pro-Obama, too but a lot less vocal about it. Sadly, no American in the group corrected our foreign "guests" for their vile "hater" attitude towards Romney and the red states. 

I find it odd that Americans are called "ugly Americans" abroad but I don't know many Americans who would think of going to a foreign country and trashing them so vocally during their election process. No matter who wins the Presidency, I thank God that anyone can speak freely in America despite their race or place of origin. I'm also very thankful for the civil right to vote despite my race, color or creed and I'm thankful to the many Americans who fought to make that possible. I'm proud to be an American and so I voted!

Update: Nov 7th 2012 
It was a close vote but President Obama won another term. Now we'd better stop this "red state" "blue state" nonsense and get to work solving the nation's problems!

**See my adventures with a President Obama look-a-like at my AFM 2010 post and see my Obama pumpkin that I carved in 2010.

Remember,

Hurricane Sandy Hits the East Coast

Oct 30th 2012

Hurricane Sandy hit the east coast of the U.S. with forceful winds and severe flooding after devastating parts of Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Cuba. Early reports state that NY, NJ and CT are the worst hit. I just saw some footage of the aftermath and I'm in shock.

NY looks almost post-apocalyptic and the Jersey Shore is almost gone. I know what it's like to live through a hurricane and the hard weeks and months of recovery so I'm praying hard for all those affected by this mega-storm.

Update: Oct 31st 2012
Subways are still closed and power still out for most of the affected areas of New York City and the Jersey Shore looks totalled. News reports are stating that 66 people have died due to the storm in the U.S. plus the number that died in the Caribbean.

Update: Nov 5th 2012

NBC/Universal did a Sandy Relief Telethon with performances by New York and New Jersey natives, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, Mary J. Blige plus Jimmy Fallon, Steve Tyler, Christina Aguilera and more. They raised more than 20 million dollars which they will donate to the American Red Cross for relief funds for the Hurrican Sandy victims. Reports now state that over 100 deaths have been directly related to the storms effects in the U.S.

Update: Nov 8th 2012
Ecclesia Church is partnering with Samaritan's Purse and Reformation Hope to raise funds for Hurricane Sandy Relief in the Northeast and Haiti. Ecclesia Church will match $1 for each $1 donated in hopes of raising 20k. To Donate go to  www.churchinhollywood.com/#/giving/hurricane-relief

Best Documentaries of 2012

IMHO Movie Reviews:

Side by Side

I saw the documentary, Side by Side at the NoHo Laemmle Theaters in August and I can't stop raving about it!

Side by Side is all about digital v.s. film or how more and more movies are being made digitally as the celluloid filmmaking process (cameras included) fades away. This film is directed by Chris Kenneally who I think did a marvelous job with the subject matter. Also, well done was the way actor, Keanu Reeves (The Matrix, Speed, The Gift, Thumbsucker) did double-duty as the on-screen interviewer and narrator for the film. Reeves also co-produced the film through his production company with fellow producer, Justin Szlasa. 

Watching Side by Side was very educational for me. In fact, it almost felt like Film School 101 because I got such amazing insights from the greats of filmmaking such as Martin Scorsese, David Fincher, David Lynch, Chris Nolan etc. on where they stood on digital versus celluloid filmmaking. A film like this could have become too technical and unengaging in the wrong hands but the subject was so well presented that nothing went over my head.

Side by Side is full of fun and humor, too as are the film's director and producers, which I found out at the Q&A following the screening. Kenneally and Reeves recounted how Reeves came up with the idea for the documentary and then they jokingly shared amusing anecdotes on how they got all the cinematic legends in the doc to agree to the interviews. Kenneally and Reeves even called upon the film's cinematographer, Chris Cassidy to answer a few questions about cinematography for the film.

IMHO: Side by Side is a  "must see" if you love movies and the film industry so don't miss it! It's both fun and informative and it'll kept you interested the entire time.

**Kudos to Tribeca Films for getting the distribution rights for SBS in the U.S. SBS is currently available on VOD but I hope it is released more widely in theaters in the US and abroad because I think they may have a chance of an Oscar nomination with this doc- it's that good!.

(see more of my comments as blessedinLA   www.DeadlineHollywood.com )

                               The Side by Side team  (Cassidy, Szlasa, Kenneally, Revees)
Update: 10/1/12
I've suggested Side by Side for the "must see" list for the film discussion group at my church so we'll see  : )  

Update:  10-20-12
Side by Side was screened for the Academy of Arts and Sciences on Oct 7th 2012. Could an Oscar nomination be in the works? I hope so!

UPDATE: 10-24-12

Live in or around NYC? Side by Side screens for FREE at Tribeca Cinema for the Future of Film
Symposium with a post-film discussion panel planned - don't miss it! Best doc of the year for me and
a "must see" if you're a film buff!  http://futureoffilmoctober2012.eventbrite.com/#

See the full list of Side by Side's upcoming screenings in the U.S. and internationally
HERE   http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/sidebysidethemovie?fref=ts

You can also watch Side by Side on Video On Demand (VOD) $5.99 for a 3-day rental
HERE      http://www.amazon.com/Side-by/dp/B0090EJZA8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1351233469&sr=8-1&keywords=side+by+side+movie

I still hope Company Films & Tribeca bring Side by Side back to L.A. theaters soon so more industry folk can see it on a large screen here as SBS has finished it's run in the L.A. area.

Update: 11/8/12   Side by Side is coming back to LA!
The Hollywood Post Alliance hosts a screening of Side By Side followed by a Q&A with the director and producers at Arclight Theater on 11/19. A small reception will follow. Get tickets at
http://www.hpaonline.com/side-by-side-screening

More IMHO Reviews to come:
I hope to see a few other documentaries this year especially Searching for Sugar Man which I've heard the most about. I'll also post more of my IMHO reviews starting with the new Indie film, Sironia which was directed by Brandon Dickerson, the former lead Pastor of Ecclesia Church.

"This Is Home" Art Exhibit

SEPT 2012

Hey, art lovers!
Ecclesia Church has another art exhibit up called "This Is Home" and my pencil drawing of my mom among the flora and fauna of the Virgin Islands was selected for it. "This Is Home" runs from August 26th - October 21st and it's filled with amazing artwork from some of Ecclesia's and the L.A.-area's best artists. I'm truly honored to have been selected to show my work at Ecclesia again and I now feel like I can honestly call myself a legitimate artist. Pics of the exhibit to come real soon :)

Update 9-7-12:
No pics of the exhibit yet because my camera isn't working. I have posted an earlier pic of my newly exhibited drawing of my mom on here. I e-mailed it to my mom, too and she said it didn't really look like her. I assured her that I had changed the final drawing a lot before submitting it and that it was now looking more like her. But she's right, something's still not right about it...

Update 10-2-12:
I finished another drawing of my mom that I think looks very much like her. She was right that the one of her that's now in the Home exhibit was of her younger self so it looked more like me. I finally realize why these drawings were so difficult for me to do. I just couldn't bring myself to age my mother's face... to add lines and loss of volume to a face that
I love so dearly... a face that looks so much like mine... Then I thought, "That chica looks good for 75 and a 1/2" and I finished the drawing-lol.

God's very blessings to my mom!

Summer 2012 Wrap Up

I was side-lined most of the summer with an inner ear and balance problem and could not post here as usual. Below are the summary of my thoughts on most of this summer's events--"better late than never".

Mass Shooting in Colorado at Dark Knight's Midnight Opening:

I was too shocked and saddened by the news of this to even post about it. God bless Christian Bale for going to visit the victims' families and the survivors in such a humble and caring fashion. I've been praying for all those affected but I think Joseph Barkley, Ecclesia's pastor, said it best when he tweeted...

"Praying for Colorado right now---for every wound, every broken piece. God heal completely."   https://twitter.com/jkbarkley

Summer Olympics In London Over--Best Ratings Ever For NBC

I liked most of what I saw of the Olympics. NBC still irritated with the prime time delay of events but otherwise they did okay. Loved the Women's Gymnastic team (and the nick names like "Flying Squirrel"), Women's Volleyball (both Court and Beach), Track and Field and Swimming events and Archery.

Though I like Danny Boyle's movies, I didn't exactly get the Opening Ceremony (health service staff pushing gurneys?) but I must say that the Brits really stepped it up for sure. I thought it was funny, too that the usually "egotistical" Americans wore staid looking suits and berets to the Opening Ceremony while the Brits wore loud gold lame tracksuits. The British suits were probably made in China, too (lol).

Summer Box Office Way Down This Year:
Even The Avengers movie box office numbers couldn't stop the Box office from being down this year. Movies with big stars didn't fair all that well either nor did rebooted or retooled franchises like Spider-Man or Bourne Identity.

Falling Stars:
Movie and TV Greats We Lost this Summer:

Actor, Sherman Helmsley from The Jeffersons and Amen TV shows has died. I grew up watching Mr. Helmsley and he always could make me laugh. I recently found out that he was a talented singer and musician, too.

Nora Ephron the amazing female writer-turned-director of When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle and Julie and Julia  and countless others has died. She was a trailblazer for women in Hollywood and will definitely be missed.

Tony Scott, director of many loved movies like Top Gun, Beverly Hills Cop 2, Enemy of the State, Crimson Tide and many TV shows and brother of Ridley Scott died after jumping off a bridge. I don't know what was going on in Mr. Scott's life that could have lead to this tragedy but I'm praying for his family.

Oscar-nominated actor, Michael Clark Duncan from Green Mile died from complications after he suffered a heart attack. Apparently Duncan has been hospitalized since July with a poor prognosis. I'm here in LA and hadn't even heard he was sick. I saw him once (see previous entry) and he was so nice and gentle that every age and race of people were hugging on him. I've always liked him and his acting but his voice was amazing to hear in real life. I will really miss him but I understand that he was very very ill.

May they all rest in peace.

Summer Box Office Heats Up!

It seems that there was something for everyone at theaters these past few week! Pixar's animated heroine with a bow and arrow, Brave best out its rivals in its first week but went down to #3 behind Mark Wahberg and his raunchy, pot smoking talking teddy bear voiced by Seth McFarlane in Ted followed by more raunchiness with Matthew McConaghey and Channing Tatum starring as male strippers in  Magic Mike. Brave was followed by a gun-totting Madea in Witness Protection for the #1, 2 and #4 spots, respectively.

Things got even hotter as the new Spider Man reboot opened to great numbers. I'm looking forward to The Dark Knight Rises, the newest Batman sequel with Tom Hardy as Bane as well as Anne Hathaway as Catwoman, which opens July 20th. Meanwhile Comic-Con starts this weekend so there should be 1 or 2 interesting stories coming out of that.

Olympics:
The London Summer Olympics starts runs July 27th -August but it is doubtful that this will take much out of the summer B.O. numbers.

My IMHO Movie Reviews:
I'm way behind on my summer movie viewing and reviewing 'cause I'm busy writing and polishing a few scripts. Also, my movie logline (story idea) and part of my movie outline was selected for the short film project, Let's Make A Movie for the Alameda Writers Group. The AWG plans to make the short film in 2013 and the script is in it's first draft. If all goes well, I should be getting my first and second writing credits! I should be returning to my IMHO reviews by mid July so "stay tuned"!

Update:
I read an interesting conversation on deadline.com about animated movie characters Ted, the raunchy teddy bear from the movie, Ted and Toon Town's Roger Rabbit from Who Killed Roger Rabbit fame as compared to Citizen Kane ("what!"). Of course, I couldn't resist making a comment on Jessica Rabbit versus Angelina Jolie. So sad that Jessica's never won an Oscar ;D Check my response and more here:
http://www.deadline.com/2012/06/early-fireworks-ted-and-magic-mike-open-with-huge-2m-midnights/