Warner Bros. wanted to add flashback, mission control scenes to Gravity
Gravity's been getting a lot of attention since its release on Friday. Besides breaking the record for an October release, it's also been receiving a lot of praise from both critics and audiences. However, imagine how different the film would be had it gone the way distributor Warner Bros. originally envisioned.
Writer/director Alfonso Cuaron recently shared some of the WB executives' suggestions for the film during its production process in an interview with io9. The execs wanted the film to have flashback sequences to have the audience empathize more with Sandra Bullock's character, Dr. Ryan Stone, in order for them to truly cheer her on. Furthermore, the studio wanted the perspective to shift over to scenes from mission control and their frantic attempts at locating and rescuing Stone from space, complete with a romantic subplot between her and a mission control commander.
Luckily, the studio trusted Cuaron's vision for Gravity, which I praised for its singular focus. If you haven't seen Gravity yet, be sure you do so on a 3D IMAX screen. You won't regret it.
[io9, via The Playlist]
The Wolf of Wall Street might release in 2013 after all
A couple of weeks ago, word came out that The Wolf of Wall Street would miss a 2013 release date due to Paramount Pictures wanting director Martin Scorsese to trim the film's three-hour cut closer to two hours. At the time, it appeared that the extra editing would take an extended period of time, possibly delaying the film into early January. However, a Christmas miracle may be taking place in the editing room.
While the film is all but guaranteed to miss its original November 15th date, Scorsese and long-time Scorsese collaborator/editor Thelma Schoonmaker are working frantically to trim the film down with intentions of submitting it to Paramount before Thanksgiving. If the duo can turn in a suitable cut by then, it's likely that Paramount would release the film on Christmas, delaying their other Christmas Day release, Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, into next year. Considering Scorsese's pedigree and any Oscar attraction, it makes sense that Paramount would want to release The Wolf of Wall Street by the end of the year.
[via /Film]
Russ & Roger Go Beyond, film based on Russ Meyer and Roger Ebert's friendship, in production
With the 49th Chicago International Film Festival set to begin this Thursday with a tribute to famed Chicago film critic Roger Ebert, it's safe to say that his death this past April is still felt across the city. What better way could there possibly be to commemorate the life of a man whose entire legacy was established through film criticism than by making a film detailing one of the most pivotal periods of his life?
Sobini Films, Permut Presentations, and Chautaqua Entertainment have acquired the screenplay for Russ & Roger Go Beyond, a comedy film written by Christopher Cluess (SNL, The Simpsons). The film will center around the friendship made between Ebert and Russ Meyer, director of Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!, as they collaborated to make the 1970 film, Beyond the Valley of the Dolls in which Ebert wrote the screenplay. No cast or crew outside of Cluess have been announced for the film.
[Video] George Lucas' son, Jett Lucas, discusses Star Wars Episode VII
So many rumors and discussions have followed the upcoming Star Wars trilogy since the franchise was sold to Disney and handed to J.J. Abrams to direct. Will it be about Jacen and Jaina Solo? Will they be as cheesy as the Prequel Trilogy? Will they be full of lens flares and explosions?
One rumor or point of discussion revolves around George Lucas' influence on the film. Since he sold Lucasfilm to Disney around Halloween 2012, many have wondered whether he would let future Star Wars films grow or would flex his muscle over any plot points or decisions he may disagree with. In an interview with Flicks and the City, Lucas' son, Jett Lucas, answered some of the behind-the-scenes questions swirling around the upcoming sequel, including Lucas' influence, his thoughts on Abrams taking over, casting rumors, and more. Watch the video below, Padawans.
http://youtu.be/lnr18AUym-o
[Flicks and the City, via /Film]
[Video] Pharrell talks to Spike Lee about his past
"I didn't choose film; film chose me."
As part of the ARTST TLK series on Reserve Channel's YouTube page, Pharrell sat down with Spike Lee to talk about the famed film director's past, including his introduction to film, his love for New York, and more. Despite my hesitance towards his films (Oldboy, specifically), I love and respect just how passionate and knowledgeable Spike is when it comes to film; you can hear how serious he takes the craft and his career in his voice in the video below.
http://youtu.be/p8RCqI9zSgU
Blue is the Warmest Color had actress Lea Seydoux "feeling like a prostitute"
Blue is the Warmest Color was my most anticipated film screening at the 49th Chicago International Film Festival. I attended a pre-festival press screening for the French film last week ago, and it met my expectations... but also let me down in a number of ways (the review will be up this weekend). Controversy has swirled around the film's graphic, sometimes exploitative sex scenes between the two leads, Lea Seydoux and Adele Exarchopoulos, and their frosty relationship with director Abdellatif Kechiche. In spite of the controversy, the film was also awarded the Palme d'or, Cannes Film Festival's highest award, as well as becoming the only film in Cannes history to award the Palme d'Or to both the director and lead actors.
In a talk with The Independent, Seydoux elaborated on her feelings over the aforementioned sex scenes and how they had her "feeling like a prostitute":
“Of course it was kind of humiliating sometimes, I was feeling like a prostitute. Of course, he uses that sometimes. He was using three cameras, and when you have to fake your orgasm for six hours...," the actress said. "I can't say that it was nothing. But for me it is more difficult to show my feelings than my body.”
In response, Kehiche justified the multiple cameras and rumored dozens of takes:
"Concerning the love scenes, I didn't ask for anything other than the expression of a form of passion. I felt like showing this carnal and passionate love, entirely guided by desire. [...] For me, the scenes as they are in the film don't go far enough. It's true that we did start them over often, but for very evident reason. I couldn't ask Adele and Lea to make desire last, they had to want to do the scene."
Blue is the Warmest Color will generate a lot of buzz upon its release. If you have the time, I strongly urge you to catch its only Chicago International Film Festival screening this Saturday, October 12tmh at 6:30pm. If you can't swing it, the film will receive a very limited theatrical release on October 25th..
[The Independent, via The Playlist]
LG Display is working on a bendable, unbreakable smartphone display
LG Display announced today that they are going to mass produce the world's first flexible OLED smartphone display. The new, 6-inch panel will be built on plastic instead of glass, giving the screen its flexibility. The screens will be concave, meaning the phones using the display won't simply be flat devices. Given the use of plastic, the new displays will only weigh 7.2g and with a thickness of 0.44mm.
The next step in smartphone technology is upon us. With these new flexible OLED displays, screens won't crack when dropped (although some minor scratches might still be visible); however, the new screens will only be used with LG phones. Samsung is rumored to be using a flexible screen for one of their next upcoming phones, while Apple hasn't revealed their plans to adopt the new trend.
More on the new LG displays will be revealed soon.
[via Engadget]
KnowRoaming SIM Sticker to End Roaming Charges
The worst thing that can happen is coming home one day and seeing the roaming charges on your cell phone bill after traveling abroad. The charges add up quickly, and it gets quite expensive getting your phone to work internationally. KnowRoaming has developed a product that will end those roaming charges and help you use your phone internationally without having to pay a fortune. Whether you have an iPhone or Android, all you have to do is take a sticker and apply it to your sim card, and KnowRoaming takes care of the rest. Instead of paying your network's roaming rate, you would only have to pay local rates as if you lived where you were visiting. KnowRoaming makes it easy, and all you need is your phone, their app, the sticker, and you're good to go. To learn more on how it works and all of the features, make sure to visit the KnowRoaming website.
[Via Uncrate]