Child Actors to Adult Actors

I grew up watching many child actors that are now adult actors.  I have watched these actors through the years … Kurt Russell, Jodie Foster, Drew Barrymore, Blake Edwards, Mickey Rooney, Josh Brolin, Elizabeth Taylor, and Natasha Richardson. I know there are many many more and will continue to post them as I remember them.

Please feel free to add some names.  It may help to jog my memory.

I am trying to post pictures of the actors as children and adults, but I’m having technical difficulties.

Kurt Russell as a child actor

Roman Polanski Part II

Roman Polanski follow-up article from my previous blog posting, Polanski, Criminal, Cinematic Genius, or both?

Avatar!

I can’t say enough great things about the film Avatar.  The graphics were akin to what The Wizard of Oz was for its time.  The story line was engaging and felt original.  The combination of 3D graphics, character, and story development was amazing — need I mention the direction was incredible?  I would like to see it at an IMAX theatre for sure.  Please see post Films I would Like to See for Avatar’s Trailer.

Regarding the Online Script Website Inktip

After much ado, I have decided not to renew my Inktip membership.  The fact that I only get my loglines viewed for one week out of six was the major deterrent for me.

Script Posting Query (Related to Inktip.com)

I am part of an online service Inktip, where  entertainment pros can look at your scripts.  As I previously mentioned in one of my posts you must protect your scripts before posting them on this site.

I have been a member of this site for quite some time.  The first couple of years I was on it, my scripts got significant recognition.  It seems I even came close to being picked up for one of my scripts.  However, after a severe roller-coaster ride with that company and others, things seemed to die down.  Subsequently I’ve had some companies repeatedly look at my logline every time it is reposted. (Every six weeks you can bring your script to the top of the Inktip list.  This was not the case in the beginning of Inktip’s existence.  As soon as the company became extremely popular and practiced only reposting your work every six weeks, the chances of having your posts viewed went down significantly.)

So, the query is, I am once again at the crossroads of renewing my scripts on Inktip … do I renew my scripts on Inktip for another six months at $60.00 US a piece?

A thing I find strange is companies who gear their productions toward horror flicks often visit my loglines.  My script information does not include anything related to horror, so this is rather annoying and perplexing.  Perhaps these people think they can turn anything into a horror flick.  That’s scary, isn’t it?

If anyone knows of another genuine website to post one’s scripts, please let me know.  Perhaps a change of venue is what is in order.   Any ideas?

Hollywood Protests “Real World Issues”, Eventually

A book I am highly interested in getting is:

Hollywood Speaks Out: Pictures that Dared to Protest Real World Issues, by Robert L. Hillard

“Hollywood Speaks Out explores that rare Hollywood feature that dared to tackle red-hot, social issues whilst American society was gripped by the convulsion and controversy they generated.

• Explores why Hollywood has always been risk-adverse, and how most feature films deal with controversial issues long after the controversy is past
• Organized around such important issues as poverty, racism, sexism, war, anti-Semitism, and homophobia
• Discusses the relevance and the impact of feature films from Modern Times to WALL-E

In spite of its professed liberalism, Hollywood has always been risk-adverse, and most feature films deal with controversial issues long after the controversy is past. Hollywood Speaks Out explores that rare Hollywood feature that dared to tackle red-hot, social issues while America herself struggled to come to terms . Organized around issues that map the culture wars of the past and the present moment–poverty, racism, sexism, war, anti-Semitism, and homophobia–this engaging text captures American cultural and social history in cinematic real-time–fromThe Birth of a Nation, Boys Don’t Cry, and American Beauty to  Silkwood,  Syriana, and Transamerica.”

I am interested in reading this book because I grew up in the 1960’s when there was a fight for Civil Rights, the protest against the War in Vietnam, the fight for Women’s Rights, the fight against McCarthyism and the Red Scare, and the Chicago Daley Machine were some of the biggest controversies of that time.  I wish more films were made to expose the injustices that prevailed then and which, paralyzed the American people, including my family.  Apparently this books speaks to those issues.

If anyone has read this book, I would be interested in hearing your thoughts.

Film Critics Siskel and Ebert

Siskel and Ebert

I remember growing up with the Film Critics Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert . They had film columns in the Chicago newspapers and on the program At the Movies that criticised films.  They branded the ideas of two thumbs up for both of them liking a film.  Of course there was two thumbs down, for both disliking the film.    Then there was one thumb up and one thumb down for a split decision on what they thought of a film.

Siskel and Ebert had a way of criticising a film and one another’s viewpoints while toying with one another.  Somehow this was all done without them getting too nasty.  They were very entertaining.

There really hasn’t been a duo that can match Siskel and Eberts capability to criticize a film on television, radio and newspaper.  Check out video result of Siskel and Ebert.   Also, check out Siskel and Ebert top ten choices for 1969-1998.

And as Siskel and Ebert would say … “See you at the movies.”

Film Critics and information on Film

To find out about film ratings and opinions on films my family uses the websites IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes.  The books we use are Leonard Maltin yearly Movie Guides.  A very good book to peruse is  1001 Movies You must see before you Die by Steven Jay Schneider.  Another one this author came out with is 501 Movie Directors: A Comprehensive Guide to the Greatest Filmmakers.

Before we watch a film my family and I like to make sure the film is interesting, it has decent ratings (though we keep in mind we may have different tastes in film) and that it has either interesting actors or directors.

If any one has additional sources of information on films, please let me know.

Books made into Films

I always thought it must be rather difficult to make books into films.  Mostly it has to be hard to translate or grasp an author’s style, flavor, or their characters.  Not only that, but you have to capture one’s imagination that comes with the reading of that particular book.  Many films rewrite a novel’s intent, but few can be praised for being true to the book.

Books brought to film are listed at the previously highlighted text, so I will not post them again here.  It is an amazing list.  Penguin books has numerous books available which have been made into films.  It is a very long and interesting list.

Books you should read before seeing the film according to the Geeks of Doom website.

My favorites are Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austin, Heart of Darkness (Apocalypse Now) Joseph Conrad, Harry Potter books J.K. Rowling (some but not all) and James and the Giant Peach and most of Roald Dahl’s children’s books.  My list could go on and on, but if you look at the sites I suggested you may find one you are interested in reading, and watching the film.

Sometimes there is an argument as to whether or not one should read the book first before watching the film.  I would say it depends on the book and the film.  For me I never really like to see the film until I have read the book.  However, that all changed with the film Lord of the Rings.  I watched the film series and loved it.  After the first film in the series my son gave me the book.  I was happy to say the film had not ruined the book for me.  If anything, it made it a richer and more magnificent reading.

Perhaps the best idea is to go with your gut feeling about which to do first.   You can even experiment and read a book and then watch a film, then reverse the order to see which way you like the best.

Television Shows that I Like and Recommend

If anyone has a chance to see the series Damages, with Glenn Close, William Hurt et al., you will be totally amazed.  It is riveting, seductive, and just plain fantastic.  It has an easy to follow complex plot.

Glenn Close William Hurt However, you must start at the beginning of the series, or you may be lost forever.  It is well worth seeking the entire two seasons that are available thus far.  I may be wrong though, the beginning of the third season may also be available.  It is basically about a corrupt law firm run by a highly intelligent and ruthless person, Glenn Close.  She really is Crulla De Ville times a million.

Flashforward is a new one for me.  I would have liked to have started at the beginning of this series.  I hope to catch up on them one day.

CSI is one of my favorite shows.  It always seems to renew itself just when you thought all was said and done.

Law and Order is also one of my favorites.  I actually like them all.

The Tudors is outstanding.  It makes you wonder why someone didn’t stop King Henry the Eighth in his terror ridden path.

Jonathan Rhys Meyers

House, Hugh Laurie, also a primo show.  If you can get over a person who is beyond narcissistic then this is the show for you.  The character

House is uber intelligent, and messes with peoples’ minds all at the same time he messes with his own.  It is a thought-provoking show like Damages.

Entourage is outrageously funny.  I watched this for some time, but have put it aside lately for other shows that are more alluring to me.

I also love PBS shows such as Masterpiece, Masterpiece Contemporary, and Nova.  These shows round out my television viewing.

(I will post trailers for these shows ASAP)