Posts filed under 'Films'
No, this is not about characters from New Jersey in books (though Harlan Coben and Janet Evanovich could have us talking for awhile), this is about the play, which i got to see, and which you should see.
I like plays, for the most part. I like watching how they create sets from very little, create a mood with lighting, a little sound, and great acting, create a character with a few words, a costume, and a tone of voice you can hear all the way in the back.
Jersey Boys did excellent with all of this. Their scenes easily put you where they wanted you to go, their actors were AMAZING, and i got hooked into it right away. Plus, their voices. *dreamy sigh* Their voices. Jersey Boys is the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, told from all 4 perspectives (because as the website says, “you ask four guys, you get four different answers”), on how they got started and what happened along the way. I love the Four Seasons, and these guys carried it well. And the kid who played Frankie Valli- maybe not as good as the man himself, but pretty damn close. More than being able to watch the play again, I want to hear them sing again.
So, to keep this short (because really, watching me just gush on and on and on really doesn’t do anything for anyone, and i don’t want to let any scenes slip), go see it if at all possible. If you have any liking of the Four Seasons, it’s a must. And even if you don’t, you should go see it because ignoring all the music, the play itself was cool.
Also, my brother and I had an interesting talk about how plays cost so much more money than movies, though movies cost so much more to make. I said it’s because
July 5th, 2007
so my brother and some friends made a movie, and then this guy saw it, and now they’re going to The Cannes Film Festival.
my brother, though, had this idea brewing for awhile, and so he created a website in connection to this movie. his idea is a site that, well, this is the beginning of the “About Us” page:
Organic Cinema is a community web site for independent filmmakers.
This community allows anyone to collaborate in the film production process. From actors to screenwriters to camera supervisors, the community encompasses the broadest diversity of talent in the film industry. The spirit of our community makes the transition from independent filmmakers to Organic filmmakers possible.
anyway, so he knows i talk on blogs (i explained these are book people, make a book site, but one or two of you may be secret filmmakers) and asked me (not that one) to give you the site. i haven’t seen the whole movie yet (i know, bad sister), but my brother is a graphic artist, and for the end credits he did some amazing graphics (they turned out more squished together than he wanted, but still- according to people- the best part of the film).
so if you have any interest in philosophical films (which i must admit is not my cup of tea at all, it’s like listening to my brother) , or a secret filmmaker who wants to talk to like-minded people, or knows someone who is into film, this is the site.
http://organiccinema.com/action/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14&Itemid=31
Thank You and, if you go, enjoy.
May 15th, 2007
dialogue, plot, timing, characters…all (though there is more) of that is very important to the world of movies. they all play their own role in the making of great movies, of not so good movies, of the horrible ones that you don’t even pretend you thought were going to be good. i’ve seen them all. you probably have to. and books, in their own way, have all of the same qualities.
i was a film student for two years, and made five short films. okay, very short. for the first three movies i worked in a group, and we were broken up like this: jonny was the editor (with me annoying the crap out of him as i looked on over his shoulder), mike was an actor and would do lighting if pressed, and i did the rest. i wrote the scripts (damn good ones too), i was the director (there’s been better), i was the producer, i did lighting, and i snowed my wonderful teacher when the need arose (yes, we spent many afternoons ditching. sue us). and we made our movies.
it was after jonny finished moving this here and that there and being a general surgeon with the blade as he trimmed edges that were already beautifully trimmed (i love this guy), we realized what every great film knows: it’s nothing without music. there is no way to truly show how much music makes a difference unless you take it all out. i don’t mean sound. leave the dialogue (even if it is bad). leave the background noises of birds singing and chainsaws humming. you can’t just press mute and read subtitles, because that creates a different kind of movie (which brings up a whole other topic of deaf people watching films). after all, silent films can be great (don’t hold your breath on an example from me, i come from the age of LOUD). but music tells you who the people are and what the mood is and what’s going to happen and even what you should be feeling. and if it doesn’t tell you, it sure as hell helps you feel it. take Cruel Intentions, which i was watching earlier. in the last scene, as Kathryn (Sarah Michelle Gellar) gets distracted in the church and then walks out, the music makes it. watching her get pissed at her rude classmates (especially knowing what you know about her) is good. but the power, the passion of the music, just makes your heart pound. because with the music- and what a great song!- you know something is going to happen.
sorry, i was having a moment. but you should get the soundtrack.
anyways, i’ve been thinking of music in movies. or, to be more specific, what music is in books.
any ideas?
yes, that long rambling thing really was an introduction to that one simple question. what is it that enchances the mood you feel? i get what creates the mood- the characters, the writing, the plot, whatever floats your boat. but what is it that makes you feel more than sad- what makes you cry? what makes you laugh outloud? is there something that enchances it or is it the mood is created by *mumble mumble* and that does it?
so, what’s the music in books? just the music the author listens to when they write? just that one line of oh god that’s so sad/funny/scary? is there even music?
and on a completely other subject (because i can’t even stay focused in my own post), does anyone know what the rules are for priests and drinking?
January 7th, 2007
I couldn’t remember whether we had a tagline or not. Changed the blog name, but that’s about it. I’m going to leave the rest of the design up to you. Delete or change this post when you can so that I know you got in okay.
Edited to add all categories so that we quit getting the error when choosing a caategory from the sidebar. - Bryan
September 20th, 2006