What are your top five break-up songs?
Submitted by gt.
And Dido does these songs so, so well.
Belated birthday dinner with the fam (and family friends) at La Barca...
If only you knew how many pictures exist where Ross is pointing a knife at me....
Logan (far left) was seriously trying to pimp his friends out to me. He's a senior in high school.
A cool little meme seen on Redzilla and Val's blogs. Mind if I play along?
1. What is a physical feature you admire in both men and women, that you find yourself noticing or comparing when out and about?
I love a nose with character and charm, on both men and women. I love graceful arms and hands. A man with shirt sleeves rolled up to just below the elbow, exposing toned forearms with small wrists, fine-boned, expressive, thin-skinned hands and just the right amount of arm air (not a gorilla, but not a waxed freak), is a total turnon. I prefer pianist's hands to string-players' hands. I've dated professional violists and violinists; their left-hand fingertips get all flattened and calloused.On women, I really dislike the ultra-chiselled, stringy, overly muscular arms that seem to be the rage in Hollywood (e.g. Madonna and Jennifer Aniston). I like slender, feminine arms. I think Kzinti answered this question with "good posture", which I also find extremely attractive. Perhaps because I'm brown, I'm also fascinated with pale, creamy skin. I love those British and Dutch men with the rose-and-white complexions, and pink knuckles.
2. Who is someone we've heard of who possesses this admirable feature?
Mr. BrownA has a great nose, lovely hands and a beautiful fair complexion. My concert pianist ex had marvellous hands, of course. All the dancers I know have amazing posture.
3. If you could "safely" explore an addictive or otherwise unhealthful or unsafe vice, which one would you choose and why?
I have a profound aversion to excess of any kind. I admire discipline, and indulging in too much of anything--booze, drugs, food, sex, gambling-- is anathema. That being said, when I was on percocet for my horse-fall injuries back in November, the effect was interesting. It isn't so much that the pain completely disappears-- you just don't give a shit. Plus I slept like a baby. So I would have to say painkillers.
4. In which TV show currently airing would you like to be a regular character? Describe the character a bit.
I'd like to be on Rome. I think I'd be an exotic, wealthy young widow from "the east", educated and well-travelled. Part of Roman society but, as a foreigner, exempt from its restrictions. I'd be a patroness of the arts--but I'd be secretly spying for Rome's enemies. Perhaps a romantic entanglement with Vorenus would be in the cards.
5. If you could be a member of the opposite sex for a day, what you would try out?
I'd love to know what it's like to be really strong--guy strong. Like, to have enough upper body strength to do stunts like chin-ups and one-armed push ups, and lift heavy shit.
'Prince Caspian' Looks for $80M Open
(latimes.com) Testing faith is a major theme of "The
Chronicles of Narnia" stories, but Hollywood clearly has confidence in
the fantasy film franchise from Walden Media and Walt Disney Pictures.
"The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian," opening today at 3,929
theaters in the U.S. and Canada, is essentially the only movie of the
summer with a weekend to itself (even next week's "Indiana Jones and
the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" and Will Smith's upcoming "Hancock"
face a piece of road kill -- er, a "counterprogramming" picture going
wide).
Pent-up demand should help the sequel to "The Chronicles of Narnia:
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" outdo the original, at least on
the initial weekend. Consumer tracking surveys show that the
big-budget "Prince Caspian" could debut at $75 million to $80 million,
knocking Marvel Studios and Paramount Pictures' "Iron Man" from the
top of the box-office heap.
Digital Domain IPO Vanishes
(online.wsj.com) The largest U.S. IPO ever, that of Visa Inc., managed a successful debut in March, and is now trading 88% above its IPO price of $44. Others haven't been as lucky; unprofitable special-effects firm Digital Domain failed to price last month, and it has no firm date set for the future.
"If you speak with people who have been following the [stock] markets for a long time, many of them say the current circumstances in the U.S. economy are unlike any they have ever seen before. Their ability to predict where the market will go is limited due to a lack of relevant history," says Scott Gehsmann, a global capital-markets partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers. "This uncertainty is causing volatility, and volatility is challenging deal execution."
'Speed Racer' & Orig. 'Star Wars' Have Same Opening Weekend
(io9.com) In an interesting column over at AMC, scifi writer and film critic John Scalzi explains why Speed Racer is doomed not so much because of its content, but because of the changing economics of film distribution. He points out that when Star Wars went into wide release in 1977, it garnered the equivalent (adjusted for inflation) of about $20 million its opening weekend — exactly what Speed Racer earned. And it was considered a monster hit. What has changed? For one thing, Star Wars was able to stay in theaters for nearly a year.
These days, a hit film usually scores over $50 million at the box office its first week, and it's not unusual for it to have as much as a fifty percent dropoff in the following weeks. In other words, hit films are almost never created via word-of-mouth anymore. Either the studio and reviewers have created enough buzz about a film before opening day to drive insane crowds into the theaters, or the film flops.
Hong Kong Ups Visual f/x Profile
(variety.com) Special effects in Hong Kong movies have ranged from the distinctly ropey to absolutely eye-popping.
But the territory is now becoming a serious player as a vfx supplier to the local, mainland Chinese and international markets, leaving behind the days when removal of wirework was stock in trade and topline effects went to firms in California or Australia.
But if those pics failed to give Hong Kong effects the global showcase that was hoped for, there are signs that bigger, more international movies are also beckoning. Most notable of these is Universe Entertainment's $12 million "Storm Riders II," helmed by Danny and Oxide Pang. Pic, which started lensing last month, will aim for a "300"- or "Sin City"-like look using greenscreens throughout."It is more than an adaptation," says Universe's CEO Alvin Lam. "Visually, it will be a comicbook. CG will be dominant throughout." Lam also says they are aiming for a look never before seen in a Hong Kong movie -- though the Pangs' "Re-Cycle" was an astonishing technical triumph that preemed in Cannes two years ago and delivered a beautiful, if confusing, fantasy universe.
Effects for "Storm Riders II" will come from Hong Kong's newest vfx player FatFace Prods. The company, which was founded by Centro alum Ng Yuen-fai, moved from commercials into feature movies only with "Re-Cycle" but has picked up a string of awards.Although genre restrictions still exist, there are now signs that more mainland Chinese movies are making use of effects -- and that more of them are turning to Hong Kong for the job.
Where Zhang Yimou's "Hero" went to the Orphanage, Australia's Animal Logic and Tweak Films for its effects in 2002, his 2004 "House of Flying Daggers" used Menfond and Animal Logic, and his 2006 "Curse of the Golden Flower" was serviced by Centro and the U.K.'s Moving Picture Co. FatFace's second feature was Peter Chan's stunning $30 million "Warlords."
Hong Kong firms face competition from neighboring China, which turns out thousands of effects and animation graduates every year, but which has lower standards and is more focused on low-cost servicing of TV.
"Hong Kong has a great future for effects," Lam says. "These
days, the equipment and software is the same everywhere and anyone with
money can buy it. Hong Kong's strength is its creativity -- it has good
directors and great CGI directors."
Steam-Punk Sci-fi For "City of Ember"
The latest fantasy novel adaption from Fox Walden is City of Ember.
Based on the 2003 novel by Jeanne Duprau, Ember follows two kids, Lina
and Doon, who live in the City of Ember, where the sky is always dark.
As Ember's power source begins to fail and the lamps start to flicker,
they search for clues that will unlock ancient mysteries about the
city and save the people of Ember.
Take a look: http://www.slashfilm.com/2008/05/15/city-of-ember-movie-trailer/
Columbia Pictures has 'Goosebumps'
(moviehole.net) Columbia Pictures has "Goosebumps" – and not
because another "Da Vinci Code" pic is in the works. No, they've
actually snagged the rights to R.L. Stine's young-adult series,
according to Variety.
"Numerous people have tried to bring 'Goosebumps' to the bigscreen,
but luckily Scholastic never found the right fit," said Producer Neal
Moritz ("2 Fast 2 Furious")."I've been a huge fan of the property for
a long time. I met with Deborah [Forte] several times and convinced
her that Original and Sony were the best place to take it."
Sony and Scholastic see the property as a potential franchise.
"The time is ripe for doing a movie," said Forte, who dubbed
"Goosebumps" the original "safe scare" property. "The first generation
of 'Goosebumps' fans are in their early 20s now."
Studio is fast-tracking the project and is focusing on finding a writer.
Moritz said they likely will cast unknown child actors and then pepper
the film with well-known thesps in supporting roles, much like Warner
did with the "Harry Potter" franchise.
The series also spawned a live-action TV show that aired on the Fox
Kids Network in the 1990s. Episodes of that series returned to the
small screen last year on Cartoon Network.
Matt Tolmach, co-president of Columbia, called the franchise "a truly
global brand that excites kids everywhere." He added, "With so much
rich source material available to us, we expect to deliver a film that
will chill and thrill fans of this unique family-friendly franchise".
'CGI Haters Club' Will Love Swedish Hulk
(inentertainment.co.uk) We recently told you about the Universal release of The Incredible Hulk and the new international trailer and you will probably remember me banging on about the CGI which I totally hate , well a fan has come along and made his own model which I must say is much better than Hollywood's version.
Jonas Thornqvist from Sweden created this new Incredible Hulk model using 3ds max, mental ray and Photoshop software, he said that though the new movie is coming out he wanted to create his very own version, he carried on to say that it was very hard to make the model with that much mass but he did enjoy the process.
Well all I can say is Jonas you are a god and a genius because I agree that the model you created is by far much better than the CGI crap that the film has. Come on people come here and debate all you like I still stand by the fact the CGI within the film makes the Incredible Hulk look pathetic, even more so child like material. It is supposed to be a great movie fair enough but come on it is not supposed to be an animated film.
Take a look: http://www.inentertainment.co.uk/20080516/all-cgi-haters-of-the-incredible-hulk-will-love-fans-model-he-created/
Go Riding with the 'Transformers'!
(moviehole.net) Sounds like those robots-in-disguise might
be chasing down some bikers?
A casting call just arrived in my inbox advertising for a "female
motorcycle rider" to do a days work on "Transformers".
This "Very Attractive Female Actor Under 30 Years Old" must "have
extensive experience/training in riding motorcycles".
The actress would be a day-player.
WALL-E Spotted in LA is Animatronic Heaven
(nentertainment.co.uk)
Oh my god this is so cute, it reminds me of Johnny 5, Disney/Pixar have
developed an amazing mobile animatronics version of WALL-E to run
around the Disney amusement parks, the video shows WALL-E in action and
you can see why he is easy to fall in love with, that voice is well
cool.
Just so you know the movie is out this year, in the UK it releases 18 July 2008, and in USA it releases 27 June 2008, it releases in many other countries this year also.
Take a look: http://www.vimeo.com/1014358
James Cameron's Plans After Avatar?
(The Hollywood Reporter) "After 'Avatar,' I want to do
something a lot smaller," James Cameron told The Hollywood Reporter on
Thursday.
A possible next project is The Dive, a true story about the romance
between controversial Cuban free diver Francisco "Pipin" Ferreras and
Frenchwoman Audrey Mestre. Under his guidance, Mestre became a free
diver who broke several world records but died in 2002 while
competing.
"It's a drama, a love story," Cameron said. "This will require
underwater photography, which will look gorgeous in 3-D."
ILM's Contribution to 'Speed Racer' Clarified
(huntingtonnews.net) Regarding Tony Rutherford's review of
Speed Racer posted [May 13 http://www.huntingtonnews.net/
columns/080513-rutherford-columnsspeedracermovie.html], it seems that
Mr. Rutherford is under the impression that Industrial Light & Magic
was the primary visual effects house on the film -- which couldn't be
further from the truth.
ILM was called in late in the post production schedule to work on a
single sequence which totaled roughly 38 shots, or 4-minutes of screen
time. Another company, Digital Domain, was the primary vendor for the
effects work contributing nearly 2-hours of the work that appears in
the film.
We certainly would not your readers to think we were taking credit for
the work of another company and to that end, I hope Mr. Rutherford's
review will be corrected as soon as possible.
If you'd like to see our work look no further than Marvel's new film
Iron Man for which Industrial Light & Magic was the primary visual
effects house on.
Thank you,
Greg Grusby
Technical Publicist, INDUSTRIAL LIGHT & MAGIC
San Francisco CA 94129
Source: http://www.huntingtonnews.net/letters/080515-grusby-lettertotheeditor.html
CG VFX: Director Discretion Advisory
(thepost.ohiou.edu) As technology advances, the
special effects created through computers become more and more
unbelievable.
t's hard to believe that the fight scenes in movies such as Spider-Man
can be so exciting, or that viewers get so attached to Gollum in the
Lord of the Rings movies, even though what's on the screen is
essentially the result of a bunch of ones and zeros.
Despite these advances, it's still hard for filmmakers to create an
entire virtual world that audiences want to see.
One of the most recent examples of this was Beowulf director Robert
Zemeckis' version of the ancient legend. The movie failed to
connect to some audiences because the world that Zemeckis created was too fake.
The technique used on Beowulf involved taking the actors' performances
and animating over them, creating a frightening effect where the
characters seemed to have hollow eyes and very little soul.
Last weekend, the Wachowski Brothers' Speed Racer opened to both
critical and commercial failure. Although the actors in Speed Racer
were still live action, the race scenes were horrible computer
animation.
If I had to guess, most audiences were probably turned off by the fact
that it seemed as if the races lacked the dramatic weight of Cars.
So how is it that filmmakers can't make a movie as exciting as a cartoon?
Because instead of using computer effects to enhance the movie, filmmakers
just used computers to fill in for their lack of storytelling.
The reason that Gollum is so compelling is not just because he's a
computer creation. It's because the story of Gollum is so sad that the
expressions on his face just enhance it.
None of that is evident in Beowulf, where the hero's lust for women —
his supposed Achilles' heel — is something of an afterthought. It
barely comes through the animation.
The more filmmakers use computers for special effects, the more
amazing the special effects have become. But if the effects become the
substitution for actual stories, films are in for a lot of trouble.
Ethan Goldsmith is a junior video production major and a columnist for
The Post. Send him an e-mail at eg973705@ohiou.edu.
Darth Vader Spared Jail
(fox23.com) A man who dressed up as Darth Vader and attacked the founder of Britain's first Jedi church was spared jail today.
Arwel Wynne Hughes, 27, donned a black cape and bin bag to confront the Star Wars obsessives while they filmed a documentary to promote their Jedi Church, which was formed last year.
He escaped prison, landing a two-month suspended sentence.
Show us a photograph from a wedding.
Submitted by Connie.
August 19, 1999. Santa Cruz Boardwalk in the front seat of the Giant Dipper. The train is FULL of our friends and family. We'd gotten married on the pier just 30 min prior and this was our first ride as Mr. and Mrs. Lehman. We are wearing the shirts we tie dyed for the event, every one is - we made 70. hm... I look younger now than I did in the photo and Ben looks older now! Wait, is that HAIR on his head?! <3
But for the rest of you sulphurous bastards, there's this.
Really, Voiceover Guy? Nothing worse than, dog forbid, people smelling traces of the breakfast burrito you ate earlier? Cyclones and earthquakes kill tens of thousands, girls get locked away in basement caves for 20 years and are forced to bear their rapist father's incestuous spawn, dirty old perverts get to amass a collection of obedient, underage brides in the name of religious freedom, children die of easily preventable diseases every minute. But no, there is NOTHING WORSE than the smell of other people's poop.
