Saturday morning the refurbished Aero Theatre in Santa Monica came to life with fans, producers, directors, actors and other industry professionals. It was all about movies; getting behind the scenes of some films that don’t necessarily get the limelight they deserve. From the ‘horse’s mouth’ those in attendance heard stories of struggle and triumph from the people who fight in the trenches of Hollywood daily to bring quality entertainment to the screen.
Dollars, Euros and Pounds are tight everywhere, film no exception. It takes lots of networking, schmoozing, convincing, cajoling and attracting the best actors possible to draw enough funding to produce a film. The making seems to be the easy part, if you can call rollerblading behind your sprinting star to get him on film in a foot chase, getting the substantial knee of Gerard Butler punted into your eye nearly knocking you unconscious, or sending your stuntman to the hospital after your star has planted his head into an unforeseen pane of glass easy. Distribution? Another marathon of grace and nerves of steel.
The weekend began with the presentation of some short films by up and coming film makers. Marques Pardue, Paul Winston, Eric Egan sat on the panel discussing their short Shattered Allegiance about skinhead gang violence and the humanity inherent in us all.
Q&A focusing on the impact of comics on film today followed presentation of the launch of the graphic-novelesque Code Name Zeus. Documentarian Nick Bicanic returned too speak of his road to notoriety and acceptance.
Ted Collins and Andy Cowen presented their short Knocked Down about a funny little man trying to make a career in, you guessed it---the movies.
The hit of the shorts was the 2001 take off of an old joke told in the French foreign legion about what lonely soldiers in the desert do to keep themselves sane. Jewel Of The Sahara stars the now famous Gerard Butler in what amounts to a silly romp showing early indications of his ability to poke fun at himself and do nearly anything for the gag. Director Ariel Vromen spoke after the screening ansering fan questions.
Actor Zack Ward showed us a clip from the upcoming thrilled/horror film, Devil’s Tomb.
Jason Connery and Mark Ryan did an ‘actor’s cut’ voice over of an old episode of the camp Robin Of Sherwood television series still shown worldwide. Definite seeds of Zena and Hercules can be seen in this twenty five year old take on the English anti hero.
The night was concluded with Sony Studios premiere showing of the thriller Poker Club. The entire cast and crew were on hand. Writer/producer/star Johnathon Schauch led a fascinating discussion of the challenges in filming the story based on a novel ending in a unexpected twist a product of his fertile mind.
Sunday was Neveldine/Taylor day as their brilliant action film Crank was screened, the dynamic duo of writer/directors entertaining the audience with their recollections of the process as the film unfolded.
Disclosures of their upcoming Sept 4th action/thriller/scifi release, Game, sent the fans into waves of chuckles as director Brian Taylor revealed a touching story about the rough and tumble star, Gerard Butler and his little pug, Lolita.
Many thanks for all the hard work of the organizers. The designated charity DSALA (Downs Syndrome Association of Los Angeles) will benefit greatly from the tireless efforts of Linda Judd, Dayna Linton, Missy Blum, Stephanie Hendricks and countless other supporters.
Saturday in San Francisco Moscone Center's Esplanade Room was a film love fest repleat with something for nearly all tastes. The day began with the panel presentation, discussion and Q&A from the panel for the highly anticipated release of the Watchmen. On March 6th the wait will be over for fans of this most popular graphic novel turned film. After years of development hell, director Zack Snyder has fashioned a retelling as true to the novel as his previous smash 300 was to the Frank Miller original
Cast members added their enthusiasm to Zack's smooth presentation of the first 17 minutes of the film. Brilliantly creative camerawork/framing/angles combined with bonechilling storytelling launches the film into the hearts of fans as well as those who know nothing of the tale. Two of the best known actors, Jeffrey Dean Morgan (Gray's Anatomy, P.S. I Love You) and (practically perfect) Patrick Wilson (Raoul in Joel Schmacher's Phantom of the Opera, Angels In America) sat in affable friendship enjoying the screening of the film as much as the four thousand fans that packed the hall.
Director JJ Abrams (Alias, Lost, Mission Impossible 3) presented a knock out trailer for the return of the Star Trek franchise to the big screen.
May 8th will bring the prequel to the original television series to the big screen much to the delight of fans new and old.Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto will recreate the duo of Captain James T. Kirk and his first officer Mr. Spock.
Zachary Quinto
Chris Pine
Zoe Saldana
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Fifties Sci-Fi homage film, Alien Trespass staring 'Will' of TV's Will and Grace (Eric McCormack and girl next door, Jenni Baird) is coming to theaters to entertain those who just can't get enough of the charming period genre.
Perhaps the hit of the day was the presentation made by the Pixar folks. Director and writer, Pete Docteur and Producer Jonas Rivera screened footage from what is sure to be a big hit. The audience roared at the antics of the unlikely characters as surprise after surprise illuminated the screen seducing the overflow room under its spell. What genius comes out of Marin County with each new offering from these charismatic artists.
Carl Fredricksen (voiced by Edward Asner) is 78 years old. When Carl was a child, he met and eventually married a girl named Ellie who grew up in a small midwestern town. Ellie always dreamed of exploring the mountains, but she died before she got a chance. Now, when developers threaten to move him into an assisted living home, Carl decides to fulfill his promise to Ellie. To accomplish this, he uses a huge number of balloons to make the house fly - but unwittingly takes a chubby eight-year-old Wilderness Explorer named Russell with him. The two opposites match up for thrilling adventures as they encounter wild terrain, unexpected foes, and all the terrifying creatures that wait in the jungle.
Another reinvention undertaking sure to draw in the action crowd,Terminator: Salvation will be released May 21st.
After Skynet has destroyed much of humanity in a nuclear holocaust, a group of survivors led by John Connor (Christian Bale) struggles to keep the machines from finishing the job.
Cast members on panel included Anton Yelchin (playing Kyle Reese), Bryce Dallas Howard (Kate Conner), Moon Bloodgood as Blair WIlliams and rapper "Common" as Barnes.
Anton Yelchin
Bryce Dallas Howard
Moon Bloodgood
Common
