Friday, July 25, 2008

Wall E Toy Domain goes on Sale at eBay


Wall-E movie has made it big at the box office and now they are even selling the toys to go along with the movie. Probably a hot ticket item for this Christmas to be watching out for. The one thing you may not know is someone is also selling the domain name related to the movie as well. Located on eBay they are selling the domain name Wall E Toy .com and for the price they are asking doesn't seem at all that unreasonable for any domainer out there.

Wall E Toy.com
Domain name on sale now at
eBay for
cheaper then you think!

Wall-E toys are now being sold at Toys R Us and all over eBay ranging from small action figures to full size remote control one called Ultimate Wall-E and the iDanceWall-E versions sold by Sharper Image which is an MP3 player version. We also found these domains to be on sale over at eBay as well

iDanceWall-E.com
Domain name on sale nowat eBay.
Check
out all the auctions!

Christmas time is going to be a busy one especially for online sales this year and we believe that Wall-E will make a big hit and perhaps be the next tickle me Elmo.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Kevin Smith's new horror script



Kevin Smith, more commonly known from the character he played as Silent Bob with his partner Jay is a very well known writer and director. He is the one that wrote the script and filmed such memorable movies as Clerks, Clerks 2, Dogma, and others in his comical scheme of writing. However now he takes a turn into uncharted waters as he is in the works once again in writing a script for a more of a horror script as he puts it.
Smith says that it would not be in the sense of a traditional horror script most people would classify one as with blood flying everywhere, but more of one such as that of a Japanese horror flick.
The name for his new script already has a name for itself called "Red State" which he says is something completely different then the fans are use to seeing in his work. He does not want to give out to many details of the script but it has been completed and is currently looking for someone to fund the project. He is doubtful that the major studios may accept his script and may have to find another alternative route to funding the production.
He does however say that it is based on a character of a preacher whom has strong beliefs in a religion but that is as far and as much as he will say for now. However we can rest assure that from Smith's past works of art, that this will be something interesting to see as well.

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Atari gets a movie deal



Nolan Bushnell (Left) and Actor Leonardo DiCaprio that will be playing his character.


Paramount Pictures has given the go ahead to produce a film based on the history of Atari and its founder Nolan Bushnell, and who would be playing the main character based on its founder? Well this was a shock when we heard it would be Leonardo DiCaprio.
Bushnell actually had another name for his company before deciding on the name Atari which was Syzygy. However a candle maker already had the name and they decided to go with Arari. The name Atari is actually Japanese meaning to take over or conquer.
Leonardo DiCaprio will be the leading character in this movie and is said to be coming out in 2010 which is still a few years away. However it should be a great movie knowing who is playing the main character. DiCaprio has won three Oscars along with numerous other awards for with his latest being in Blood Diamond. DiCaprio is no amature actor and devotes all of his talent into the characters he portrays such as that as The Aviator movie starring the role of Hughes. So we can expect great things with this coming movie in 2010.

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Indiana Jones 5 a possibility according to Lucas

George Lucas recently told Fox News that it is more then a strong possibility that another Indy movie is possible. He adds that Steven Spielberg and himself have left an open door to another production into the making of Indy V.

"I haven't even told Steven or the star, Harrison Ford this," Lucas said. "But I have an idea to make Shia LeBeouf the lead character next time and have Harrison come back, like Sean Connery did in the last movie. I can see it working out."

Guess we will soon be seeing the next sequeal to the Indiana Jones franchise.


Sunday, May 11, 2008

Who will be the next Terminator

Terminator 4 (previously known as Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins, but now rumored to be Terminator: The Return of the Terminator) is the upcoming fourth installment to the Terminator film series, scheduled to be released on May 22, 2009.

Christian Bale (John Conner)

It is written by David Campbell Wilson, John Brancato, and Michael Ferris, directed by Joseph "McG" McGinty Nichol, and stars actor Christian Bale as John Connor. Anton Yelchin is playing a young Kyle Reese, who befriends Marcus, an early Terminator. Sam Worthington is playing Marcus; he was personally recommended to McG by Terminator creator James Cameron.

Rapper Common (John Conner's Reinforcement)

Josh Brolin has been mentioned in a possible role as the Terminator. Moon Bloodgood is reported to be the female lead of the film. She will play "a no-nonsense and battle-hardened member of the resistance".Shooting of the film is expected to start on May 5, 2008 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Stan Winston will supervise the visual effects

.

Josh Brolin (Rumors to be the next Terminator)

Monday, May 5, 2008

Hollywood Sign


Hollywood sign today
The Hollywood sign as we know it today is a landmark symbolizing where block busters hit movies are made. Well this was the case years ago but today the only filming made in Hollywood are in its studio editing rooms.

Hollywood sign in the late 70's falling apart

The Hollywood sign was actually erected in 1923 and was a marketing tool used to sell real estate in the area. It actually read Hollywoodland back then and was only made to be temporary. The original sign was made to stand on telephone poles and had light bulbs all over it.


The original Hollywoodland sign in 1923

By 1949 the chamber of commerce took it over and decided to get rid of the last 4 letters and kept the name Hollywood in kept up with its repairs. Over the years there have been countless movies that had filmed there but by the late 70's the sign was in desperate need of repairs.

Celebrities such as Alice Cooper and Hugh Hefner donated money to help rebuild the sign and by 1978 the sign had been once again re-erected. Of course that did not stop vandals from trying to destroy the sign so a high tech $100,000 security system was installed. The signs letters are now held in place with steel I beams dug 13 feet into the ground and is not going anywhere.


Friday, May 2, 2008

Paramount Pictures Biography



Paramount Pictures was founded by William Wadsworth Hodkinson in 1914 and was born in Independence, Kansas. He is known as The Man who invented Hollywood. Hodkinson opened his first film theater in Ogden, Utah in 1902 charging 5 cents a show. His studio is older then Universal Studios by 1 month.


W.W. Hodkinson (Founder of Paramount Pictures)

As a young man, Hodkinson was a messenger with the Western Union Telegraph Company, and he worked for other companies as a messenger, callboy, telegrapher, and signal operator. In 1902, he was a trick bicycle rider and later became a salesman with I.C.S


Paramount Pictures

Paramount Pictures was actually a merger of a few other film production companies that Hodkinson brought together. Doing so made Paramount the largest film distribution and production company hands down.

The Paramount Logo was also designed by Hodkinson doodling a mountain and became the companies logo in 1914. Hodkinson left the film industry in 1926 and started the Hodkinson Avaition Corperation and later formed the Central American Aviation Corporation and Companía Nacional de Aviación in Guatemala.


Universal Studios History


The founder of Universal Studios was Carl Laemmle which was a German immigrant who settled in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. His first job in the states was managing a clothing store. In 1905 he was inspired by what was called Nickelodeons. They where a theatre that showed silent films with a piano player that added the drama to the film since sound was not yet invented to add to the films of the time. The name Nickelodeon came from a mixture of two words , Nickel because it cost back then 5 cents to see a movie and Odeon from the Greek word for roofed theatre. Put them together and you have what is called a Nickelodeon.


Carl Laemmle (Founder of Universal)

Carl Laemmle was so inspired by those Nicelodeons that he had decided to buy some of his own. He started making his own silent films but to his dismay Thomas Edison had what was called "The Motion Picture Trust" which mainly prohibited actors from having a star rating, which would lead to higher pay. Carl Laemmle fought this with Edison even though Edison had hired gangsters to damage his sets. Nonetheless Carl Laemmle came out on top and is this very fight that changed the movie industry's standards. Other film producers followed Carl Laemmle by dropping from The Motion Picture Trust as well.


Nickelodeons of the 1900's

Below is an actual video of Carl Laemmle from a trip he took to Europe.




Thursday, May 1, 2008

Warner Brothers



Warner Brothers incorporated is one one of the worlds largest producers of film, television and entertainment.The company was started by four brothers from Poland and an ambition they had.


Warner Brothers

Harry, Albert, Sam, and Jack Warner are the founders of Warner Brothers as we know it today. After leaving Poland they went to Ontario, Canada where they first started an exhibition business. They acquired a projector in which they went to the states and opened up their first theater, the Cascade in New Castle, Pennsylvania. Of course they where silent pictures for the time period in which was 1903.In 1904, the Warners founded the Pittsburgh-based Duquesne Amusement & Supply Company (the precursor to Warner Bros. Pictures) to distribute films.Within a few years this led to the distribution of pictures across a four-state area. In 1912 Harry Warner hired an auditor named Paul Ashley Chase. By the time of World War I they had begun producing films, and in 1918 the brothers opened the Warner Bros. studio on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood. Sam and Jack Warner produced the pictures, while Harry and Albert Warner and their auditor and now controller Paul Ashley Chase handled finance and distribution in New York. In 1923, they formally incorporated as Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Would you be an actor given the chance?


Would you become an actor given the chance? A chance at making lots of money and fame sounds good to a lot of us but are you willing to give what it takes?

The fact is that getting the opportunity to act in a motion picture movie or even a thirty second commercial sounds great, but it also involves long hours in front of a camera and production crew under hot lights. Most of us work an 8-10 hour day and go home with weekends off, where an actor can work up to 16-20 hours per day, seven days a week for months on end. Then of course there is the photo opportunities you must take and all the hard work involved in remembering your lines and putting 100% of yourself into the character you will portray with many takes over and over again on the same scene.

Most of us only thing of the fortune and fame and not really think of what it takes after your in the business. Getting there is only half of the battle.

Are you willing to add weight for a roll? or loose weight for that matter. Are you willing to do what it takes to get there? This is a question that you should ask yourself if you are thinking of getting into the business. Some people spend thousands trying to get into the business and the truth of the matter is that it just takes persistence.

Keeping on top of all the agents you submit your picture to is key.

What I would like to get are some comments on those that have been in the business and if you have give some comments on how someone can break into the business themselves. What are your thoughts?

Special effects studios


Special effects studios are responsible for creating believable creatures, making another world we have never seen before, and or a multitude of other illusions. The most recognized company in the film industry to accomplish these tasks is know as Industrial Light and Magic.

Industrial Light and Magic was created by George Lucas after he found out that 20th Century Fox had closed their doors on their own special effects studio. Lucas found himself in an awkward situation especially it happening after getting the go ahead to start his Star Wars movie. He decided to create his own company ILM or Industrial Light and Magic.

The company has created dozens of effects for several other movies over the years since 1975. Their latest work was on the film Iron Man due in theaters soon.


Los Angeles Film School


The Los Angeles Film School is a great place to start if you are interested in pursuing a career in the film industry.Not to mention its in the heart of where most movies we see today are made. Of course there are many film schools out there however why not go to a school that is much cheaper then Full Sail has to offer and the Los Angeles Film School is located in Los Angeles where Hollywood movie executives and studios are located. The real kicker here is it cost about $30,000 cheaper to go to the Los Angeles Film School then Full Sail does.

There are many other film schools in the Los Angeles area as well as the entire state of California. However for this article I decided to do some research on the Los Angels film school to start out.

The Los Angeles Film School was founded by Hollywood professionals. The school is located off Sunset Blvd near Vine Street in Hollywood California. The Los Angeles Film School offers a one year "hands on" experience into the program.

However before the building became a film school it was RCA's recording studio where all the greats would record their albums including Elvis Presley.

The current tuition cost to attend the school is $42,000 and the requirements are that you must have a high school diploma or GED pass their test they have. If you are under 18 years of age a parents consent.

Multimedia production software

Multimedia production software is used to edit films, tv shows and more. So what is it? Multimedia production software such as Avid Technologies and Final Cut Pro are used quite often in the editing room. Here is a look into the editing softwares commonly used.




Film editing has been done has been around for many moons and is the process used to clean up the final film. It is used to delete scenes, add other scenes in different sequences then it was filmed and splicing in frames among other tasks. The Final Cut Pro software is used with Macintosh based computers and was created by Apple. Of course there is also the Final Cut Express which is more streamlined for the amateur starting out. It is much less to purchase then the Final Cut Pro edition but doesn't have everything the Final Cut Pro edition has in it. These editing softwares are also highly used in deleting backgrounds and adding others such as the use with green and blue screens.

Below I added some videos on the use of these programs and what they are capable of doing in the film industry.


Saturday, April 26, 2008

Jaws movie



We all remember the old movie Jaws, and some of the younger generation remember Jaws not from the movie but perhaps from the attraction at Universal Studios. The thing we may not know is the many failures encountered by the film crew during the production of the movie.


The Orca boat used in Jaws

This is one of Steven Spielberg's earlier movies that proved to be more of a nightmare to make then anything else. There where 2 mechanical sharks made that where named by the film crew Bruce. However due to the fact that the sharks where used in salt water there where many mechanical problems during production.


Martha's Vineyard where filming took place

Not only where the sharks a problem but so was the boat Orca that was used in the film started to actually sink and take on water also during production. This proved to be quite a task and the crew nicknamed the film Flaws instead of Jaws. Nonetheless Steven Speilberg did pull through.


Bruce the Jaws shark used in production

Bruce still does exist in Universal Studios, but has been stored for many years under the hot sun and has been showing its age.

Below is a video from the film crew.


Spider-man behind the scenes


Spider-man shooting began on January 8th 2001 in Culver City. Filming for the movie was in New York and California. The scene where Peter gets bit by the spider was filmed inside the National history museum in Los Angeles, California , shooting for the interior of Norman Osborn's home was at the Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills, California, and shooting for the interior shots of the Daily Bugle was in Pacific Electricity Building also in California.


National History Museum Los Angeles(Where Peter gets Bitten)

The Sony soundstages 27 and 29 where used for the complex scenes in Time Square where the Green Goblin and Spider-man fight.

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Pacific Electric (Daily Bugle Scenes)

The original costumes that where created for Spiderman where stolen during productions and Sony had put up a $25,000 reward for the return however they where never returned. The webbing that came from Spider-man was a computer generated one or also called CGI effect. During the scenes of the Green Goblin and Spider-man fighting in the air was done in separately with the two characters. Spider-man was actually filmed with a green screen where the Green Goblin was shot with a blue screen and then where combined later in film editing.


Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills (Norman Osborn's Home)

I decided to put in some videos of some of the bloopers from Spider-man.






Friday, April 25, 2008

Terminator four coming out



Terminator movies that we all remember starring Arnold Schwarzenegger where ones that everyone remembers. Now theres even talks about Terminator 4 coming out in 2009 believe it or not.

The last Terminator three movie was partially funded by Arnold himself to make it all happen.He originally wanted James Cameron to direct the movie however Cameron declined the offer but told Arnold to accept no less then $30 million for the part.The movie was going to be filmed in Vancouver British Columbia however Arnold wanted to keep the movie to be made in Los Angeles as part of his campaign for office. It is said that Arnold paid $6 million of his own money to film the movie in Los Angeles.

Below are some videos of the making of Terminator movies. Both past and present.










I am Legned movie


The I am Legend movie originally thought to be filmed in Los Angeles, the director Akiva Goldsman whom signed on to direct decided to move the locoation to New York. However the studio executives didn't think that New York would be a good place to film the movie. It wasn't until Goldsman decided to go to New York and film some spots in time square and have the people digitally removed that the executives had a different frame of mind.


Will Smith

Much of the weeds that grow in the cracks in New York where flown in from Florida. During the filming of the movie there where also a lot of New Yorkers whom where not so fond of the filming location the studio chose. They had to close a lot of the areas around New York off for filming. Will Smith is said to have never seen so many middle fingers pointed at him in his career during the filming.


Brooklyn Bridge

The most expensive part of the filming was on the Brooklin Bridge which is said to have cost in Five million dollars. Below are some videos on the behind the scenes look into the making of the film.







Thursday, April 24, 2008

Titanic movie


James Cameron's Titanic movie was a both major success and was also thought on the same note by the media to possibly be a major flop due to the fact of its late arrival. The film was a major accomplishment for both Cameron and Fox Studios whom acquired the area needed to build the set itself.

Production began on the modern day scenes with the actual Titanic ship under water. The ship used is called the Akademik Mstislav Keldysh and is an actual Russian scientific research vessel. Cameron had gone to Fox Studios to get the movie under way and they had gone out and purchased an area in which the recreation of the ship was built in Playas de Rosarito


Russian scientific research vessel used in the film

The set is basically a few buildings surrounding a hugh water tank. However, due to keeping cost down the ship was more or less a shell and was dismantled and sold as scrap after the sinking scenes.


Reconstructed set for sinking of the ship

The undertaking of such a project was a great big responsibility and there where a few stunt men that did get hurt in the production along with a few actors including Kate Winslet and Leonardo de Caprio that got sick during filming.

Below are some videos of the actual making of the film.





Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Clerks


The movie Clerks was written and directed by Keven Smith whom before making his film worked in a convenience store in Leonardo, New Jersey. He had started working in the store after dropping out of film school he was attending.
It wasn't until 1991 that he got the idea to write a script for a low budget movie that he thought he could do from a movie he saw called "Slacker".
The movie Clerks was said to have cost Keven Smith $27,575. To get the money he had needed he maxed out all of his credit cards and also borrowed some money from his parents to make it all happen.
The movie was filmed in the same store Smith had been working in as a convenience clerk. The owners allowed him to film during the night hours while the store was closed. Due to the yellowish green lighting in the store it was filmed in black and white. All of the blinds in the store where closed to not give off the fact it was filmed at night.


Kevin Smith

During the making of the film Smith did have to continue working as an actual clerk during the day at the store and film at night. Due to this he didn't get much sleep but of course as we all know it was well worth it in the end. Filming lasted a total of 21 days to shoot and with a few changes made to the movie it was picked up by Miramax.

Monday, April 14, 2008

Prefer to be an actor or director?

The movie business or entertainment business for that matter is not an easy one. Most actors work longer hours then most of us do at our regular jobs. Hours consisting of 5am sometimes even earlier and working 15-18 hour days sometimes 7 days straight. That goes for directors too sometimes even more hours then actors do since they are involved in every aspect of movie or television work.

Showbiz is a hard business to get into but even harder to work in it. There are a lot of others out there that want to do the same thing you may be wanting to do yourself. But nonetheless it is possible for anyone to get into the business with persistence. The keys to any success. One common mistake a lot of people make is paying to get into the business. I have seen it time and time again. You go to some get together for someone to tell you if you have it or not, keep you in a room for those who get to stay and tell you it will cost X amount of dollars to go see producers that will be at a specific function. Now how these people know whether you have it or not is them just picking and choosing who they think will have the money to go on to the next round. It is the biggest rip off going on and lots of people get shafted for it. Don't fall for it.

If you really want to get into show business here is some helpful advice. There are websites out there that list auditions happening all over the US that I have seen. All you really have to do instead of spending hundreds on a portfolio is take some poloroid or simple snap shot of yourself with NO MAKEUP on. The agents want to see your actual face , not a make believe one. Next you mail it to talent agents. They are listed on both your local telephone book and online.

If the talent agent thinks he/she can get you work they will pay for your portfolio not you! The agent makes a percentage of what you make. Its there business to get you work.

Also start off in city plays, if you are still in high school join the drama club. Colleges and University's also throw plays so try and join. It helps in your resume. Most of your first works may be in commercials.

If your interested in directing you may want to take some college courses on learning what you can. Another alternative is to volunteer to work on sets or for film production studios to learn the business.

Got any other questions? Perhaps I myself or someone else that comments can help you out on your quest. Networking is key so get to know people.

So what would you want to be? Director? or Actor?

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Breakfast Club


The Breakfast Club

We all remember the movie Breakfast Club from back in the 80's so here is a little known things about the movie.

The school used in the movies exterior shots was the same one used in Ferris Buellers Day off. The director John Hughes that also came up with the idea for the Breakfast Club thought the actors should eat lunch with the students in the school to try and stay in character. However Jud Nelson was said to get into character even off screen so much that he was almost fired. Below is a short video featuring both The Breakfast Club and Ferris Buellers Day off filming.




Here is what they all look like now




Behind the scenes of Back to the Future



Back to the Future was an idea hatched by Bob Gale whom was one day going through his fathers high school year book thinking what it would be like to meet his father in that time period. Only difference is from the movie and in real life is that the characters had been reversed. Bob Gale was more of the nerd going through high school and his father a class president and highlyrespected in school.

Some of the shots for the movie where shot in Universals backlot in California such as that of the courthouse. The houses you seen in the movie where actual houses in the neighborhoods of Passadena.


Courthouse in Universal Studios Backlot

The original character for the movie was suppose to be at the beginning Micheal J. Fox which did play in the movie, however at the begining they could not get him because he had a prior obligation to finish up Teen Wolf and Family Ties at the time. Erick Sholtz actually played the character of Marty Mc Fly for the first 4 weeks of filming until Steven Spielberg had come back from being out of the country decided that Eric Sholtz was not right for the part of Marty Mc Fly. By this time Micheal J. Fox was available and had finished filming Teen Wolf, so they got lucky enough to get him to play the part of Marty Mc Fly.


Micheal J. Fox (Marty McFly)

Of course Eric Sholtz is not seen in the movie, some parts of him being in the movie are still there and where never cut out. Such as the scene of him driving the De Lorean through the mall parking lot is of him. The producers thought since you couldn't see his face why should it be cut out.


Crispin Glover (George McFly)

In the original script for the movie Doc Browns name was Professor Brown and instead of him having a dog named Einstein he had a chimp. The script was pitched to several companies including Disney only to be turned down. Universal did pick up the script but made some changes to the script into the finished product you see on screen.

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Christopher Lloyd (Doc Brown)


Lea Thompston ( Lorraine McFly)


Thomas F. Wilson (Biff)