The new stand-up comedy special Marcella Arguello: Bitch Grow Up! debuts on Friday, February 10 on HBO Latino and will be available to stream on HBO Max. This Galentine’s Day, tune in to watch Marcella Arguello, one of Los Angeles’ most exciting Latinx comedians, deliver a night of unadulterated laughter.
In Bitch, Grow Up!, Arguello couples her larger-than-life stage presence with her brutally honest take on post-pandemic hook ups and why broke men are better in bed, an exploration of how “Beauty and the Beast” triggered an epiphany, and a self-reflection on her middle school D.A.R.E. essay. Marcella Arguello makes her standalone debut with this hilariously relatable stand-up comedy special taped at the Roulette Intermedium in Brooklyn, New York.
HBO’s beloved “Entre Nos” franchise has showcased dozens of incredibly talented Latino comedy performers including Gina Brillon, Chris Estrada, and Shayla Rivera. The eight standalone comedy specials...
In Bitch, Grow Up!, Arguello couples her larger-than-life stage presence with her brutally honest take on post-pandemic hook ups and why broke men are better in bed, an exploration of how “Beauty and the Beast” triggered an epiphany, and a self-reflection on her middle school D.A.R.E. essay. Marcella Arguello makes her standalone debut with this hilariously relatable stand-up comedy special taped at the Roulette Intermedium in Brooklyn, New York.
HBO’s beloved “Entre Nos” franchise has showcased dozens of incredibly talented Latino comedy performers including Gina Brillon, Chris Estrada, and Shayla Rivera. The eight standalone comedy specials...
- 2/3/2023
- by TV Shows Martin Cid Magazine
- Martin Cid - TV
Hollywood’s favorite Latina maid is about to get a lesson in feminism — from the mouth of her vagina.
In “Valentina,” a short film currently raising money on Kickstarter, the title character is a cleaning lady obsessed with — what else? — being clean. Set in the near future, a heat wave and power outage shatter Valentina’s creature comforts, forcing her to confront her own filth. Especially one part of her body that is most susceptible to heat and sweat. According to filmmaker Mary Angélica Molina, the film explores “what happens when she’s confronted with this part of her body that she has either ignored or tried to keep under control.”
Read More: Mark Duplass’ Pet Project ‘Unlovable,’ from Web Star Charlene deGuzman, Launches Kickstarter Campaign
Molina, who spoke to IndieWire by phone, is a twice-recognized Sundance fellow (for screenwriting and creative producing) who cites Luis Buñuel as an influence.
In “Valentina,” a short film currently raising money on Kickstarter, the title character is a cleaning lady obsessed with — what else? — being clean. Set in the near future, a heat wave and power outage shatter Valentina’s creature comforts, forcing her to confront her own filth. Especially one part of her body that is most susceptible to heat and sweat. According to filmmaker Mary Angélica Molina, the film explores “what happens when she’s confronted with this part of her body that she has either ignored or tried to keep under control.”
Read More: Mark Duplass’ Pet Project ‘Unlovable,’ from Web Star Charlene deGuzman, Launches Kickstarter Campaign
Molina, who spoke to IndieWire by phone, is a twice-recognized Sundance fellow (for screenwriting and creative producing) who cites Luis Buñuel as an influence.
- 10/10/2016
- by Jude Dry
- Indiewire
I recently sat down with director Isabel Coixet, and actors Patricia Clarkson and Sarita Choudhury at the Crosby Hotel in New York City, to discuss their new film "Learning to Drive." The film, written by Sarah Kernochan, is based on the autobiographical New Yorker short story by Katha Pollit, a long-time political columnist for the Nation.
Wendy is a fiery Manhattan author whose husband has just left her for a younger woman; Darwan is a soft-spoken taxi driver from India on the verge of an arranged marriage. As Wendy sets out to reclaim her independence, she runs into a barrier common to many lifelong New Yorkers: she’s never learned to drive. When Wendy hires Darwan to teach her, her unraveling life and his calm restraint seem like an awkward fit. But as he shows her how to take control of the wheel, and she coaches him on how to impress a woman, their unlikely friendship awakens them to the joy, humor, and love in starting life anew.
My conversation began with Isabel Coixet and Sarita Choudhury
Isabel Coixet’s award-winning film credits include "Demaisiado viejo para morir joven," "Things I Never Told You,""My Life Without Me," "The Secret Life of Words," "Paris, je t’aime," "Elegy," "Map of the Sounds of Tokyo," "Yesterday Never Ends," "Another Me," "Nobody Wants the Night," as well as documentaries, including "Invisibles."
Currently, Sarita Choudhury can be seen on Showtime’s "Homeland." Her film credits include "Admission," "Gayby," "Midnight’s Children," "Generation Um…," "Entre Nos," "The Accidental Husband," "Lady in the Water," "The War Within," "Mississippi Masala," "Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love," "She Hate Me," "Just a Kiss," "Wild West," "High Art," "The House of the Spirits," "Gloria," and "A Perfect Murder."
Susan Kouguell: Tell me about the process of how "Learning to Drive" came about.
Isabel Coixet: We started talking about making this film with Patricia and Ben Kingsley when we were making "Elegy" (directed by Coixet, starring Clarkson and Kingsley) and we got along very well and we wanted to make another film together. Patricia discovered the short story by Katha Pollit, and she gave it to me and I thought it was wonderful. And then we got the screenwriter Sarah Kernocha involved. The film is a comedy but not a classical comedy. It was a very difficult film to pitch because you know financiers and producers want something they can put in one box and you can’t with this film. It was a long process. It took nine years.
Some Words Unspoken and the Intimacy of the Camera
Isabel Coixet: There is always this romantic feeling underneath [subtext], I think there is that possibility. You have to be true to your words. If they are true, you will have to stick to your words.
Sarita Choudhury: That’s what happens with people you meet. No you were my inspiration don’t make me your inspiration.
Isabel Coixet: I love Henry James. There is a possibility of romance in the air. My romantic side is always excited when I see something like this.
Sarita Choudhury: I had so few words in the film. In a way, I kept the words because I had to know not to say them. For us the script -- the situational was also in the script; the languidness. It was because Isabel holds the camera. There was a pace created to it. When you’re acting you can feel where the camera is, but when the camera is at the end of Isabel’s hand and she’s moving it, it almost creates an intimacy between you and the camera, and you and the actor. There’s a pace you normally don’t get in film. You didn’t know when she was on your face; you had to keep acting like acting in the theatre.
On The Lack of Women Directors
Isabel Coixet: There are so many articles about it. I’m always afraid to play the victim, to complain too much. I know there is an inequity with men and women directors. This is an issue in the world. I always say, (Coixet smiles) we have to ask for more salary to make up for all these years and maybe if we ask for more they’ll give us the same as a man.
I want to put my words where my mouth is by producing female directors; they are amazing talented people. I’m producing three short films and a feature documentary. That’s what I do.
Sarita Choudhury: I just did a young woman’s short film; there is something about her that’s brilliant. I’ve done two short films. I can’t change the caste system and I can’t do the voluntary work I need to be doing. Film is no different from the world, like Isabel said. That’s our work, to get every woman involved. And if a man is brilliant, let him in too.
I then asked Patricia Clarkson about her involvement with "Learning to Drive."
Academy Award® nominee and Emmy Award-winning actress, Patricia Clarkson, has worked extensively in independent films. The National Board of Review and the National Society of Film Critics named her Best Supporting Actress of the Year for "Pieces of April" and "The Station Agent." Her many film credits include "The Maze Runner," "Last Weekend," "Friends With Benefits," "One Day," "Easy A," "Shutter Island," "Vicky Christina Barcelona," "Elegy," "No Reservations," "All the Kings’ Men," "Lars and the Real Girl, and "Good Night, and Good Luck."
Susan Kouguell: What attracted you to the project?
Patricia Clarkson: I loved the Katha Pollit story in The New Yorker; it serendipitously came to me. I love Wendy, I love this character. I was nine years younger at the time, but I still felt I knew her. I was relentless trying to get this film made with producer Dana Friedman. I found it an equal dose of funny and tragic. I liked the almost commedia dell'arte aspect; this absurd situation and finding the tragic comedy. A woman who is brilliant who lives a great life -- she has everything, but “forgets to look up,” and then meets a man who has experienced tragic loss. They have disparate worlds. I found it a quintessential New York story, but it’s also universal. It’s an independent film, but it’s not independently-minded.
Some Final Words
The disparate worlds about which Clarkson refers to in regard to her character, Wendy’s relationship with Darwan [Ben Kingsley] -- the life of a financially successful New Yorker compared to the immigrant’s struggle, was a thematic element that I further discussed with Coixet and Choudhury. As Choudhury said to me, Coixet’s visual choices of her character, such as the moment when she watches feet walk by her basement apartment window, feeling trapped, underscore the poignancy of this fish-out-of-water situation. Coixet captures these elements with a delicate balance of both drama and comedy.
It was an inspiring morning to speak with these three powerful and talented women, who are committed to sharing their knowledge with the next generation of female filmmakers.
Award-winning screenwriter and filmmaker, Susan Kouguell teaches screenwriting at Purchase College Suny, and presents international seminars on screenwriting and film. Author of Savvy Characters Sell Screenplays! and The Savvy Screenwriter, she is chairperson of Su-City Pictures East, LLC, a consulting company founded in 1990 where she works with writers, filmmakers, and executives worldwide. www.su-city-pictures.com, http://su-city-pictures.com/wpblog...
Wendy is a fiery Manhattan author whose husband has just left her for a younger woman; Darwan is a soft-spoken taxi driver from India on the verge of an arranged marriage. As Wendy sets out to reclaim her independence, she runs into a barrier common to many lifelong New Yorkers: she’s never learned to drive. When Wendy hires Darwan to teach her, her unraveling life and his calm restraint seem like an awkward fit. But as he shows her how to take control of the wheel, and she coaches him on how to impress a woman, their unlikely friendship awakens them to the joy, humor, and love in starting life anew.
My conversation began with Isabel Coixet and Sarita Choudhury
Isabel Coixet’s award-winning film credits include "Demaisiado viejo para morir joven," "Things I Never Told You,""My Life Without Me," "The Secret Life of Words," "Paris, je t’aime," "Elegy," "Map of the Sounds of Tokyo," "Yesterday Never Ends," "Another Me," "Nobody Wants the Night," as well as documentaries, including "Invisibles."
Currently, Sarita Choudhury can be seen on Showtime’s "Homeland." Her film credits include "Admission," "Gayby," "Midnight’s Children," "Generation Um…," "Entre Nos," "The Accidental Husband," "Lady in the Water," "The War Within," "Mississippi Masala," "Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love," "She Hate Me," "Just a Kiss," "Wild West," "High Art," "The House of the Spirits," "Gloria," and "A Perfect Murder."
Susan Kouguell: Tell me about the process of how "Learning to Drive" came about.
Isabel Coixet: We started talking about making this film with Patricia and Ben Kingsley when we were making "Elegy" (directed by Coixet, starring Clarkson and Kingsley) and we got along very well and we wanted to make another film together. Patricia discovered the short story by Katha Pollit, and she gave it to me and I thought it was wonderful. And then we got the screenwriter Sarah Kernocha involved. The film is a comedy but not a classical comedy. It was a very difficult film to pitch because you know financiers and producers want something they can put in one box and you can’t with this film. It was a long process. It took nine years.
Some Words Unspoken and the Intimacy of the Camera
Isabel Coixet: There is always this romantic feeling underneath [subtext], I think there is that possibility. You have to be true to your words. If they are true, you will have to stick to your words.
Sarita Choudhury: That’s what happens with people you meet. No you were my inspiration don’t make me your inspiration.
Isabel Coixet: I love Henry James. There is a possibility of romance in the air. My romantic side is always excited when I see something like this.
Sarita Choudhury: I had so few words in the film. In a way, I kept the words because I had to know not to say them. For us the script -- the situational was also in the script; the languidness. It was because Isabel holds the camera. There was a pace created to it. When you’re acting you can feel where the camera is, but when the camera is at the end of Isabel’s hand and she’s moving it, it almost creates an intimacy between you and the camera, and you and the actor. There’s a pace you normally don’t get in film. You didn’t know when she was on your face; you had to keep acting like acting in the theatre.
On The Lack of Women Directors
Isabel Coixet: There are so many articles about it. I’m always afraid to play the victim, to complain too much. I know there is an inequity with men and women directors. This is an issue in the world. I always say, (Coixet smiles) we have to ask for more salary to make up for all these years and maybe if we ask for more they’ll give us the same as a man.
I want to put my words where my mouth is by producing female directors; they are amazing talented people. I’m producing three short films and a feature documentary. That’s what I do.
Sarita Choudhury: I just did a young woman’s short film; there is something about her that’s brilliant. I’ve done two short films. I can’t change the caste system and I can’t do the voluntary work I need to be doing. Film is no different from the world, like Isabel said. That’s our work, to get every woman involved. And if a man is brilliant, let him in too.
I then asked Patricia Clarkson about her involvement with "Learning to Drive."
Academy Award® nominee and Emmy Award-winning actress, Patricia Clarkson, has worked extensively in independent films. The National Board of Review and the National Society of Film Critics named her Best Supporting Actress of the Year for "Pieces of April" and "The Station Agent." Her many film credits include "The Maze Runner," "Last Weekend," "Friends With Benefits," "One Day," "Easy A," "Shutter Island," "Vicky Christina Barcelona," "Elegy," "No Reservations," "All the Kings’ Men," "Lars and the Real Girl, and "Good Night, and Good Luck."
Susan Kouguell: What attracted you to the project?
Patricia Clarkson: I loved the Katha Pollit story in The New Yorker; it serendipitously came to me. I love Wendy, I love this character. I was nine years younger at the time, but I still felt I knew her. I was relentless trying to get this film made with producer Dana Friedman. I found it an equal dose of funny and tragic. I liked the almost commedia dell'arte aspect; this absurd situation and finding the tragic comedy. A woman who is brilliant who lives a great life -- she has everything, but “forgets to look up,” and then meets a man who has experienced tragic loss. They have disparate worlds. I found it a quintessential New York story, but it’s also universal. It’s an independent film, but it’s not independently-minded.
Some Final Words
The disparate worlds about which Clarkson refers to in regard to her character, Wendy’s relationship with Darwan [Ben Kingsley] -- the life of a financially successful New Yorker compared to the immigrant’s struggle, was a thematic element that I further discussed with Coixet and Choudhury. As Choudhury said to me, Coixet’s visual choices of her character, such as the moment when she watches feet walk by her basement apartment window, feeling trapped, underscore the poignancy of this fish-out-of-water situation. Coixet captures these elements with a delicate balance of both drama and comedy.
It was an inspiring morning to speak with these three powerful and talented women, who are committed to sharing their knowledge with the next generation of female filmmakers.
Award-winning screenwriter and filmmaker, Susan Kouguell teaches screenwriting at Purchase College Suny, and presents international seminars on screenwriting and film. Author of Savvy Characters Sell Screenplays! and The Savvy Screenwriter, she is chairperson of Su-City Pictures East, LLC, a consulting company founded in 1990 where she works with writers, filmmakers, and executives worldwide. www.su-city-pictures.com, http://su-city-pictures.com/wpblog...
- 8/21/2015
- by Susan Kouguell
- Sydney's Buzz
World Bank study recommends 51 films using development as a plot device - sometimes at expense of accuracy and complexity
International development is just about at the bottom of the list of things that the average westerner thinks about each day. News organisations are closing their foreign bureaus. One of the big Us television networks turned down more money for global health reporting after a series, entirely funded by grants, led to a dip in viewers. In other words ratings were so bad that the network turned down millions of dollars. It is that tough.
Aside from advocacy efforts like (the much-criticised) Kony 2012 and Oxfam advertisements, how do people learn about the world around them? The answer could be Hollywood. Reporting on Africa does not get much attention in the Us, but a film staring Leonardo DiCaprio about Sierra Leone does.
A film like Blood Diamond, setting aside its problems, brings...
International development is just about at the bottom of the list of things that the average westerner thinks about each day. News organisations are closing their foreign bureaus. One of the big Us television networks turned down more money for global health reporting after a series, entirely funded by grants, led to a dip in viewers. In other words ratings were so bad that the network turned down millions of dollars. It is that tough.
Aside from advocacy efforts like (the much-criticised) Kony 2012 and Oxfam advertisements, how do people learn about the world around them? The answer could be Hollywood. Reporting on Africa does not get much attention in the Us, but a film staring Leonardo DiCaprio about Sierra Leone does.
A film like Blood Diamond, setting aside its problems, brings...
- 9/5/2013
- The Guardian - Film News
We're excited at the Austin Film Society to annouce that filmmakers Matthew Akers (Marina Abramovic: The Artist Is Present), Paola Mendoza (Entre Nos) and Brent Hoff (Wholphin) will be coming to town in August to serve on our 2012 Texas Filmmakers' Product Fund review panel. All three will be part of the process of dividing up the $100,000 in cash and in-kind support that will go toward helping Texas filmmakers work on their film and video projects.
Tfpf, created in 1996, has given away around $1.2 million to assist Texas filmmakers in getting their projects made. Funding for the program comes from revenues from benefit film premieres as well as donations and the Texas Commission on the Arts. So far, over 348 projects have been the beneficiary of Tfpf grants. This year, we received over 168 applications seeking funding. Grants for the 2012 Tfpf will be announced on Monday, August 27.
"We're honored to have three highly accomplished...
Tfpf, created in 1996, has given away around $1.2 million to assist Texas filmmakers in getting their projects made. Funding for the program comes from revenues from benefit film premieres as well as donations and the Texas Commission on the Arts. So far, over 348 projects have been the beneficiary of Tfpf grants. This year, we received over 168 applications seeking funding. Grants for the 2012 Tfpf will be announced on Monday, August 27.
"We're honored to have three highly accomplished...
- 8/6/2012
- by Contributors
- Slackerwood
Filmmaker Paola Mendoza (Entre Nos, and one of our 25 New Faces) just forwarded this video she directed with filmmaker Topaz Adizes for FilmAid. It’s the organization’s first video, in support of World Refugee Day on June 20, and the music is The Joy Formidable’s “A Heavy Abacus.” While volunteering as Visiting Teaching Artists for FilmAid, Mendoza and Adizes shot this piece featuring Sudanese refugees in the Kakuma refugee camp in Northern Kenya. It was shot with a Canon 7D using two bounce boards and an iPhone as a monitor for the kids to lip sync to.
For more information on FilmAid, visit their site.
… Read the rest...
For more information on FilmAid, visit their site.
… Read the rest...
- 6/6/2012
- by Scott Macaulay
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
The theme of this year's festival, which runs May 24-30, is "Adios Clichés!" The films reflect the diversity of the country and what it means to be Mexican today. Features include "Días de Gracia (Days of Grace)," an official entry at Cannes that focuses on the drama swirling around soccer's World Cup; "Cristiada (For Greater Glory)," a historic epic starring Andy Garcia and Eva Longoria; and "Aqui Entre Nos (Between Us)," a comedy about a father and husband refusing to go to work. Montalban Theatre, 1615 N. Vine St., Hollywood. $10. (323) 871-2420 or www.holamexicoff.com.
- 5/23/2012
- by help@backstage.com ()
- backstage.com
Since its publication, new developments are worth reporting. This film which deals with youth's alienation from the Revolution in Cuba shows life imitating art as its two young actors, planning to be present at Tribeca's premiere, have been reported missing since their landing in Miami. Read more here.
It's safe to say that Lucy Mulloy was born to make films. Her awards cabinet will tell you the exact same thing. As an Nyu student, the native Brit was nominated for a Student Academy Award and has gone on to win numerous accolades including the Emerging Narrative Talent Award in 2010 at The Tribeca Film Festival where she is making her U.S. feature film debut with Una Noche this week. Una Noche is a labor of love that has been years in the making. It stemmed from a short film idea Mulloy had upon visiting Cuba and listening to the people's stories. And it lovingly shows on screen. Cast with non-actors Una Noche is a non judgemental look at Cuba through the eyes of people whose nostalgia for the Revolution fades every year along with their dreams. In Una Noche, Lucy captures the pulse of Cuba and with her portrayal of youth and its beautiful juxtaposition to the decaying architecture of Havana. Here are 10 questions with Writer/ Director Lucy Mulloy... (Actually, it's only 9 - Lucy dodged my question about the controversial decision to cast non-Latinos in the film The Perez Family by Director Mira Nair. She pleaded the fifth citing not having seen the film).
LatinoBuzz: Who put the camera in your hand?
Lucy Mulloy: Nyu did. Sandi Sissel, our cinematography professor, told us to sleep with the camera. She is fantastic and was really encouraging. In your first days at Nyu grad film they throw you a 16mm camera, a roll of black and white film and say come back with a short movie in a couple of days. It was very liberating and took away the stigma attached with shooting being too complicated. We were given the chance to mess up and to get comfortable with the camera. It was a great time to experiment. It's exhilarating to hear the flutter of film and see the flicker of celluloid passing though the lens as you shoot.
LatinoBuzz: You are having daiquiris with Hemingway, his drink of choice, at the famed Floridita bar that he used to frequent in Havana, he's drunk and being good old Ernest in fine form, what would you ask him?
Lucy Mulloy: I’d ask him to take me fishing.
LatinoBuzz: You studied politics at Oxford - how much politics went into the writing of the film and what evolved during your time in Cuba?
Lucy Mulloy: I went to Cuba in the first place because I was curious about the system. That was before I ever thought about making a movie there. I was not out to make a political movie. I wanted to tell a story that felt real about people and emotions, things that are familiar to me. The film is about three people who come together and change one another. Their circumstances and their perspectives within the context of their society are all very different. I am not interested in telling people what to think about Cuba, but more in exploring the characters’ journeys.
LatinoBuzz: If you could sing a love song to Cuba -- which is it?
Lucy Mulloy: There are a few songs that come into my head, but the one that takes me to a warm Havana evening is Francisco Cespedes, Remolino. We used to play it over and over. Maite and Yanelis would sing along when we were going crazy in pre-production late nights. Hearing it takes me back to Cuba and the lyrics are about being taken away, about a love that is overwhelming... it's about sacrifice and distance. When I am in Cuba I miss my family and friends outside and when I am not there I miss Havana. As soon as you land in Cuba, there’s a feeling that comes over you in the heat; it's in the air, it’s something I have not felt in any other place. I miss that.
LatinoBuzz: With wonderful indies such as 'Pariah', 'Mosquita Y Mari', 'Entre Nos', 'Yelling to The Sky', 'Circumstance', 'Una Noche' etc. we are seeing emerging female talent behind the camera - are you hopeful? And what does being a female in the film industry mean to you?
Lucy Mulloy: There are a lot of women making great films. They are making independent movies, forging their own ways, selecting their own teams. None of the films cited are industry films. There is no question about whether women can make great movies. Clearly they can, but the question is whether they are being invited into the studio system to make them. Progress needs to come from within the industry – they need to catch up and embrace more female directors.
LatinoBuzz: Any part of the journey of making this film you deplored?
Lucy Mulloy: No, some parts were hard, but I learnt so much making this film. I am much more equipped now for the next movie. I have been very much involved with the production side of Una Noche and this has taught me a lot. It’s a huge privilege that I was able to bring the script into fruition.
LatinoBuzz: I wondered when I saw your film if the cinema of Humberto Solás and Tomás Gutiérrez Alea influenced it at all?
Lucy Mulloy: I loved the movie Soy Cuba (Mikail Kalatozov). I saw it after I came back from Cuba the first time and it blew me away. It is so masterfully made, pushing boundaries cinematographically. It inspired me for sure.
LatinoBuzz: You can pick any actor from history to direct. A leading lady for him from history? Set it anywhere in the world. Who are they and what's the plot? Go.
Lucy Mulloy: I would choose young Marlon Brando and a young Cathy Tyson. It would be set in Tunis in 2040 where she would be his drug counselor. As he comes off his addiction he would become more obsessed with her.
LatinoBuzz: You picked 3 wonderful non-traditional actors -- what is your hope for them after Una Noche has reached its destiny?
Lucy Mulloy: I would love to make another movie with them. I know that they all want to pursue careers in acting. I think people usually like what they are good at. They all have a natural talent. I really hope that they get to act more and do what makes them happy. I was very lucky to find them.
For screening times and tickets to see 'Una Noche' at The Tribeca Film Festival http://www.tribecafilm.com/filmguide/una_noche-film41550.html#.T44479WK7Kf. And 'Love' and 'Like' them at https://www.facebook.com/UnaNocheFilm...
It's safe to say that Lucy Mulloy was born to make films. Her awards cabinet will tell you the exact same thing. As an Nyu student, the native Brit was nominated for a Student Academy Award and has gone on to win numerous accolades including the Emerging Narrative Talent Award in 2010 at The Tribeca Film Festival where she is making her U.S. feature film debut with Una Noche this week. Una Noche is a labor of love that has been years in the making. It stemmed from a short film idea Mulloy had upon visiting Cuba and listening to the people's stories. And it lovingly shows on screen. Cast with non-actors Una Noche is a non judgemental look at Cuba through the eyes of people whose nostalgia for the Revolution fades every year along with their dreams. In Una Noche, Lucy captures the pulse of Cuba and with her portrayal of youth and its beautiful juxtaposition to the decaying architecture of Havana. Here are 10 questions with Writer/ Director Lucy Mulloy... (Actually, it's only 9 - Lucy dodged my question about the controversial decision to cast non-Latinos in the film The Perez Family by Director Mira Nair. She pleaded the fifth citing not having seen the film).
LatinoBuzz: Who put the camera in your hand?
Lucy Mulloy: Nyu did. Sandi Sissel, our cinematography professor, told us to sleep with the camera. She is fantastic and was really encouraging. In your first days at Nyu grad film they throw you a 16mm camera, a roll of black and white film and say come back with a short movie in a couple of days. It was very liberating and took away the stigma attached with shooting being too complicated. We were given the chance to mess up and to get comfortable with the camera. It was a great time to experiment. It's exhilarating to hear the flutter of film and see the flicker of celluloid passing though the lens as you shoot.
LatinoBuzz: You are having daiquiris with Hemingway, his drink of choice, at the famed Floridita bar that he used to frequent in Havana, he's drunk and being good old Ernest in fine form, what would you ask him?
Lucy Mulloy: I’d ask him to take me fishing.
LatinoBuzz: You studied politics at Oxford - how much politics went into the writing of the film and what evolved during your time in Cuba?
Lucy Mulloy: I went to Cuba in the first place because I was curious about the system. That was before I ever thought about making a movie there. I was not out to make a political movie. I wanted to tell a story that felt real about people and emotions, things that are familiar to me. The film is about three people who come together and change one another. Their circumstances and their perspectives within the context of their society are all very different. I am not interested in telling people what to think about Cuba, but more in exploring the characters’ journeys.
LatinoBuzz: If you could sing a love song to Cuba -- which is it?
Lucy Mulloy: There are a few songs that come into my head, but the one that takes me to a warm Havana evening is Francisco Cespedes, Remolino. We used to play it over and over. Maite and Yanelis would sing along when we were going crazy in pre-production late nights. Hearing it takes me back to Cuba and the lyrics are about being taken away, about a love that is overwhelming... it's about sacrifice and distance. When I am in Cuba I miss my family and friends outside and when I am not there I miss Havana. As soon as you land in Cuba, there’s a feeling that comes over you in the heat; it's in the air, it’s something I have not felt in any other place. I miss that.
LatinoBuzz: With wonderful indies such as 'Pariah', 'Mosquita Y Mari', 'Entre Nos', 'Yelling to The Sky', 'Circumstance', 'Una Noche' etc. we are seeing emerging female talent behind the camera - are you hopeful? And what does being a female in the film industry mean to you?
Lucy Mulloy: There are a lot of women making great films. They are making independent movies, forging their own ways, selecting their own teams. None of the films cited are industry films. There is no question about whether women can make great movies. Clearly they can, but the question is whether they are being invited into the studio system to make them. Progress needs to come from within the industry – they need to catch up and embrace more female directors.
LatinoBuzz: Any part of the journey of making this film you deplored?
Lucy Mulloy: No, some parts were hard, but I learnt so much making this film. I am much more equipped now for the next movie. I have been very much involved with the production side of Una Noche and this has taught me a lot. It’s a huge privilege that I was able to bring the script into fruition.
LatinoBuzz: I wondered when I saw your film if the cinema of Humberto Solás and Tomás Gutiérrez Alea influenced it at all?
Lucy Mulloy: I loved the movie Soy Cuba (Mikail Kalatozov). I saw it after I came back from Cuba the first time and it blew me away. It is so masterfully made, pushing boundaries cinematographically. It inspired me for sure.
LatinoBuzz: You can pick any actor from history to direct. A leading lady for him from history? Set it anywhere in the world. Who are they and what's the plot? Go.
Lucy Mulloy: I would choose young Marlon Brando and a young Cathy Tyson. It would be set in Tunis in 2040 where she would be his drug counselor. As he comes off his addiction he would become more obsessed with her.
LatinoBuzz: You picked 3 wonderful non-traditional actors -- what is your hope for them after Una Noche has reached its destiny?
Lucy Mulloy: I would love to make another movie with them. I know that they all want to pursue careers in acting. I think people usually like what they are good at. They all have a natural talent. I really hope that they get to act more and do what makes them happy. I was very lucky to find them.
For screening times and tickets to see 'Una Noche' at The Tribeca Film Festival http://www.tribecafilm.com/filmguide/una_noche-film41550.html#.T44479WK7Kf. And 'Love' and 'Like' them at https://www.facebook.com/UnaNocheFilm...
- 4/19/2012
- by Juan Caceres
- Sydney's Buzz
Though her Sundance hit Pariah opens through Focus in the winter, producer Nekisa Cooper hasn’t slowed down as she reached out to us about a project she’s currently getting off the ground through Kickstarter, Five Nights In Maine, directed by Bay Area filmmaker Maris Curran. They are currently trying to raise $40,000.
Here’s the synopsis:
Sherwin and Fiona are at a crossroads. As an interracial couple living in the south, they seem to have created an idyllic bubble for their love. But after a recent visit to her ailing and prickly mother, Fiona is changed. Suddenly, their relationship is contentious and with no explanation, she announces she does not want to have kids. And then, she is gone. After tragically losing Fiona to a car accident, Sherwin is overwhelmed with grief and guilt. When a call comes from his estranged mother-in-law, Lucinda, inviting him to visit her in Maine,...
Here’s the synopsis:
Sherwin and Fiona are at a crossroads. As an interracial couple living in the south, they seem to have created an idyllic bubble for their love. But after a recent visit to her ailing and prickly mother, Fiona is changed. Suddenly, their relationship is contentious and with no explanation, she announces she does not want to have kids. And then, she is gone. After tragically losing Fiona to a car accident, Sherwin is overwhelmed with grief and guilt. When a call comes from his estranged mother-in-law, Lucinda, inviting him to visit her in Maine,...
- 8/23/2011
- by Jason Guerrasio
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Laliff’s 15th Anniversary Opening Night Gala Celebration will take place on Sunday July 17 at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood, California. Produaced by Beverly Hills and Mexico City based production company La Banda, this family comedy is the directing debut of Patricia Martinez de Velasco ♀ ♀ ♀ ! A true comedy about a family Aqui Entre Nos (Between Us) explores the twists and turns that family relationships experience over time. Jesus Ochoa’s performance as Rodolfo Guerra, the patriarch of the family, won him the Best Actor Award at the Guadalajara International Film Festival. Rodolfo feels that the family sees…...
- 7/16/2011
- Sydney's Buzz
Each week within this column we strive to pair the latest in theatrical releases to the worthwhile titles currently available on Netflix Instant Watch.
This week Cars 2 gives sequels a bad name, and Bad Teacher attempts to cash in on the R-rated comedy wave, while limited release offers A Better Life and discovers Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop. Now, if these features can’t fulfill your need for animated tales of triumph, rotten role models, immigrant-centered drama and sidesplitting tour docs, don’t fret. We’ve got a line up that’s sure keep you on the edge of your seat as you kick back in your AC!
— — —
Cars 2
Larry the Cable Guy returns to voice the buck-toothed pick-up truck Mater, who falls into a world of international espionage as his buddy Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) spins his wheels abroad. Michael Caine, John Turturro and Eddie Izzard join the free-wheelin’ cast.
This week Cars 2 gives sequels a bad name, and Bad Teacher attempts to cash in on the R-rated comedy wave, while limited release offers A Better Life and discovers Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop. Now, if these features can’t fulfill your need for animated tales of triumph, rotten role models, immigrant-centered drama and sidesplitting tour docs, don’t fret. We’ve got a line up that’s sure keep you on the edge of your seat as you kick back in your AC!
— — —
Cars 2
Larry the Cable Guy returns to voice the buck-toothed pick-up truck Mater, who falls into a world of international espionage as his buddy Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) spins his wheels abroad. Michael Caine, John Turturro and Eddie Izzard join the free-wheelin’ cast.
- 6/23/2011
- by Kristy Puchko
- The Film Stage
Hollywood has lots of explosions, big budgets and even bigger stars to bring attention to its offerings. But all the money in the world doesn’t guarantee a good film (*cough* *cough* Battlefield Earth), and a lack thereof doesn’t mean a film can’t capture the imaginations of its audience. There are plenty of great movies made on independent budgets, outside of Hollywood or even the United States, or that get straight-to-dvd releases. In this edition of "Off the Radar," we take check out the Criterion Blu-ray release of M (starring Peter Lorre), Max and Mary (starring Toni Collette and Philip Seymour Hoffman), and Entre Nos (starring Paola Mendoza, Sebastian Villada, Laura Montana, and Anthony Chisholm). Entre Nos DVD Entre Nos is a touching tale about a Columbian immigrant, Mariana (Paola Mendoza), who follows her husband with their two children to New York City on her husband’s whim,...
- 9/13/2010
- by Bill Jones
- BuzzFocus.com
Chicago – Not to be confused with “The Secret in Their Eyes,” “The Secret of Kells,” or “The Secret,” this French family drama is saddled with a most unfortunate title for its American release. Though the picture’s original title, “The Grain and the Mullet,” may not sound like an upgrade, it offered an intriguing metaphor for the film’s unlikely union of two unforgettable characters.
The first is Slimane, played by Habib Boufares as an aging, exhausted man who can’t seem to catch up with the ever-changing world. His thirty-five years of laborious work at a shipyard job are brought to a screeching halt when his boss fires him for not working fast enough (thus illustrating that speed is valued above quality). As Slimane delivers fish to various members of his family, he’s greeted with hostility by his ex-wife (Bouraouïa Marzouk) and begrudging affection by one of his daughters,...
The first is Slimane, played by Habib Boufares as an aging, exhausted man who can’t seem to catch up with the ever-changing world. His thirty-five years of laborious work at a shipyard job are brought to a screeching halt when his boss fires him for not working fast enough (thus illustrating that speed is valued above quality). As Slimane delivers fish to various members of his family, he’s greeted with hostility by his ex-wife (Bouraouïa Marzouk) and begrudging affection by one of his daughters,...
- 8/4/2010
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Have you ever heard of David Riker’s 1998 film The City? This half-film, half-social experiment mixed actual immigrants (their legal status is anyone’s guess) with professional actors to put forward a semi-authentic experience cloaked by a conventional storyline. Watching Entre Nos, written and directed by Gloria Le Morte and Paola Mendoza, who also stars as the lead Mariana, I could not shake the feeling that I’ve seen it all before, better executed and more resonant. Entre Nos is an intimate character study that never rises above simply showcasing the day-in-day-out struggle of a newly immigrated mother and her two children.
Arguably, that may be enough and the film does not hesitate to tug on the heartstrings as Mariana treks from Colombia to New York City with her two children, Andrea (Laura Montana) and Gabriel (Sebastian Villada), in tow. They are six and ten, respectively and their mother is...
Arguably, that may be enough and the film does not hesitate to tug on the heartstrings as Mariana treks from Colombia to New York City with her two children, Andrea (Laura Montana) and Gabriel (Sebastian Villada), in tow. They are six and ten, respectively and their mother is...
- 8/4/2010
- by Mark Zhuravsky
- JustPressPlay.net
DVD Playhouse—July 2010
By
Allen Gardner
Two From Powell/Pressburger Criterion releases gorgeous new transfers of two of the greatest films to come out of post-war Britain, from that period’s greatest filmmaking team: Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. Black Narcissus was originally released in 1947 and caused a sensation with its explosive story about a nun (Deborah Kerr), cloistered in a remote convent in the Himalayas, who must battle elements both external (the punishing weather) and internal (temptations of the flesh over duty to the spirit). Also features stellar turns by England’s greatest actresses at the time: Flora Robson, Kathleen Byron and a young Jean Simmons. One of the most dazzling films ever made, bolstered by Oscar-winning cinematography from Jack Cardiff. Bonuses: New transfer, supervised by Cardiff, editor Thelma Schoonmaker Powell; Introduction by filmmaker Bernard Tavernier; Commentary by Powell and Martin Scorsese; Featurettes; Documentaries and interviews; Trailer. The Red Shoes,...
By
Allen Gardner
Two From Powell/Pressburger Criterion releases gorgeous new transfers of two of the greatest films to come out of post-war Britain, from that period’s greatest filmmaking team: Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. Black Narcissus was originally released in 1947 and caused a sensation with its explosive story about a nun (Deborah Kerr), cloistered in a remote convent in the Himalayas, who must battle elements both external (the punishing weather) and internal (temptations of the flesh over duty to the spirit). Also features stellar turns by England’s greatest actresses at the time: Flora Robson, Kathleen Byron and a young Jean Simmons. One of the most dazzling films ever made, bolstered by Oscar-winning cinematography from Jack Cardiff. Bonuses: New transfer, supervised by Cardiff, editor Thelma Schoonmaker Powell; Introduction by filmmaker Bernard Tavernier; Commentary by Powell and Martin Scorsese; Featurettes; Documentaries and interviews; Trailer. The Red Shoes,...
- 7/27/2010
- by The Hollywood Interview.com
- The Hollywood Interview
Chicago – Some art house films are political polemics disguised as personal stories. “Entre Nos” is not one of them. Though its DVD includes a PSA on immigration reform, and comes packaged with a label exclaiming, “One of Michael Moore’s 20 ‘Best Pictures of 2009,’” the film itself does not have a message to preach. It’s a tale of people rather than ideas, and is all the more effective because of it.
“Entre Nos,” which translates to “Between Us,” marks an impressive feature debut from Paola Mendoza, who serves as co-director, writer and lead actress. The film is largely inspired by the true story of Mendoza’s own mother, a Colombian immigrant who brought up her two children in New York City, after her husband abandoned the family. It’s a simple premise, yet the emotional struggles of the characters are complex, and thankfully not spoon-fed to the audience. Though the...
“Entre Nos,” which translates to “Between Us,” marks an impressive feature debut from Paola Mendoza, who serves as co-director, writer and lead actress. The film is largely inspired by the true story of Mendoza’s own mother, a Colombian immigrant who brought up her two children in New York City, after her husband abandoned the family. It’s a simple premise, yet the emotional struggles of the characters are complex, and thankfully not spoon-fed to the audience. Though the...
- 7/26/2010
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
If you're looking for a movie to buy or rent this week, for once there are plenty of options including Kevin Smith's Cop Out, The Losers starring Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Zoe Saldana, and The Runaways starring Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning. Bong Joon-Ho's stunning thriller Mother also hits stores today along with one of his older films called Barking Dogs Don't Bite, the Belgian stop motion animated film A Town Called Panic, and the Oscar-nominated documentary The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers. Also, you definitely don't want to pass up on the action and the drama of Jersey Shore: Season One Uncensored or the educational value of Peter Serafinowicz's mock science show Look Around You. What will you be picking up this week? Cop Out [1] (+ Blu-ray [2]) The Losers [3] (+ Blu-ray [4]) The Runaways [5] (+ Blu-ray [6]) Mother [7] (+ Blu-ray [8]) Barking Dogs Never Bite [9] The Bong Joon-Ho...
- 7/20/2010
- by Sean
- FilmJunk
For Mariana, things go bad in the very first scene of “Entre Nos” (“Between Us” in English). Having newly arrived in America, Mariana is finding life with husband Antonio (Andres Munar) less than welcoming. After sending for his wife and their two children, 10-year old Gabriel (Sebastian Villada) and 6-year old Andrea (Laura Montana), Antonio is having doubts. Soon, he’s gone again, telling Mariana he’s gotten a new job down in Miami, where he will send for them once he’s settled. Days go by, and nothing. It quickly becomes apparent to Mariana that Antonio has abandoned her and the children to fend for themselves. It’s just her first summer in Queens, New York, where she doesn’t speak the language and knows no one, and things are about to get a lot worse. That’s just the first 10 minutes of “Entre Nos”. What follows is a...
- 6/12/2010
- by Nix
- Beyond Hollywood
With all the hoopla going on surrounding the new Arizona immigration law, a film like Paola Mendoza’s “Entre Nos” (“Between Us”) needs to get more notice. The film has been successfully playing the festival circuit since 2009, and earlier this month got a limited theatrical run. I haven’t seen the film yet (hopefully they’ll be sending a screener my way soon), but from the trailer, it looks like the kind of film that has arrived at just the perfect time. Can’t say for sure if it’ll change any minds about the immigration debate, but I actually know a couple of families in a similar situation (albeit not nearly as dire) as the one the film’s female lead (played by director Paola Mendoza) find herself, and I can assure you, it is indeed a very complex issue that defies a simple “pro” or “con” argument. Mariana...
- 5/16/2010
- by Nix
- Beyond Hollywood
We've got three new movies in wide release this weekend, including Ridley Scott's Robin Hood starring Russell Crowe, the romantic comedy Just Wright starring Common and Queen Latifah, and Letters to Juliet starring Amanda Seyfried (which also sneak previewed last weekend). It's probably going to be tough for any of them to take down Iron Man 2, but at least two of them are aimed at a pretty different audience. Elsewhere in limited release, there is the Ken Loach comedy Looking for Eric, the immigrant drama Entre Nos, and Beetle Queen Conquers Tokyo, a documentary about Japan's obsession with insects. What will you be checking out this weekend? Robin Hood [1] Letters to Juliet [2] Just Wright [3] Looking for Eric [4] (limited) Daddy Longlegs [5] (limited) Princess Kaiulani [6] (limited) Entre Nos [7] (limited) Beetle Queen Conquers Tokyo [8] (limited) Deadfall Trail [9] (limited) [1] http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0955308/ [2] http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0892318/ [3] http://www.
- 5/14/2010
- by Sean
- FilmJunk
Paola Mendoza, an immigrant from South America, had a tough time growing up in New York City. Her real-life story provides the basis for "Entre Nos," which she co-directed and co-wrote with Gloria La Morte. She's also the film's star. Mendoza gives a heart-tugging performance as Mariana, a loving wife and mother of two young children whose husband one day picks up and moves to Florida, with no plans to return. Then Mariana is thrown out of her apartment, forcing her, her son...
- 5/14/2010
- by By V.A MUSETTO
- NYPost.com
A heartbreaking, but ultimately inspiring, story of a single mother's immigration to NYC, Entre Nos was one of the undisputed crowd favorites of the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival. The film, which also won an honorable jury mention, clearly resonated with audiences who related to the simple story of struggle, poverty, and, above all, love. On the eve of the film's theatrical release this weekend, co-director (and star of the film) Paola Mendoza shares stories from the last year, during which she's learned that interactions with real people certainly trump reviews. [Note: The New York Times review is quite lovely.] As Entre Nos gears up for its NYC theatrical release this Friday, I'm entering a new stage... Reviews! As of this morning, we have been reviewed by two NYC sources, and to be quite honest they have been mixed at best. Did it hurt when I first read them? Yes. Did my ...
- 5/12/2010
- TribecaFilm.com
I have to say that I’m always interested in and surprised by what entertains filmmakers and Moore’s list does not disappoint. There are, as should be expected, quite a few films on this list that I have not seen but of those I have seen I agree with his #’s 6, 7, 17, & 20 picks. Here ripped from an e-mail that was posted on another website are Michael Moore’s list of the 20 “best pictures” he saw in the year 2009:
1. “Troubled Water” (see above)
2. “Everlasting Moments” – A wife in the early 20th century wins a camera and it changes her life (from Sweden).
3. “Captain Abu Raed” – This first feature from Jordan tells the story of an airport janitor who the neighborhood kids believe is a pilot.
4. “Che” – A brilliant, unexpected mega-film about Che Guevara by Steven Soderbergh.
5. “Dead Snow” – The scariest film I’ve seen in a while about zombie Nazis...
1. “Troubled Water” (see above)
2. “Everlasting Moments” – A wife in the early 20th century wins a camera and it changes her life (from Sweden).
3. “Captain Abu Raed” – This first feature from Jordan tells the story of an airport janitor who the neighborhood kids believe is a pilot.
4. “Che” – A brilliant, unexpected mega-film about Che Guevara by Steven Soderbergh.
5. “Dead Snow” – The scariest film I’ve seen in a while about zombie Nazis...
- 3/16/2010
- by creth
- Atomic Popcorn
In the new issue of Filmmaker, Esther Robinson penned "The Big Art/Little Debt Plan," which discusses the relation of filmmakers to risk, their films, and their money. She reached out to several filmmakers by email, and their responses helped shape her article. We are running several of the responses Esther received here on the blog. Below is the one from Paola Mendoza, director of Entre Nos. What strategies did you employ to stay no/low debt during your production? My strategy was pretty simple I refused to go into debt. While making art is the essence of who I am, I cannot make art at the expense of my future and my family’s future. If I cannot find a creative way to tell stories without spending my money irresponsibly than I...
- 2/7/2010
- by Scott Macaulay
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
When I set out to write about Entre Nos, a film I think everyone should see, I was haunted by a conversation I had a few weeks ago with a woman I really don't know very well at all. Let's call her Christina: she is in her 30s, married with 2 small children, and she came from Mexico with her husband some years ago. Christina lives near me and cleans houses for a living; her husband does construction work, and had a job working on jobs through Columbia University until three months ago, when his work dried up. Christina's baby is about 6 months old and she worked throughout her entire pregnancy - hard, physical work. I remember I saw her a week away from her delivery date trudging to a job she could not afford not to do, no matter how tired she was. The conversation that haunts me is the...
- 2/5/2010
- TribecaFilm.com
The Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival is coming to a close and the award winners were announced Sunday night in a presentation hosted by Fliff president Gregory von Hausch.
Among the big winners was "Entre Nos," the new immigrant drama which picked up 4 awards, including The Seashell Award for Best Film of the festival, Best Actress in a Foreign Film for star Paola Mendoza, who also co-wrote and co-directed the film, The Special Jury Award for Debut by a Child, and The President's Award for Best Feature Film. "This film is close to our hearts and was a labor of love. We couldn't be more thrilled," said co-director and writer Gloria La Morte.
"Punching the Clown," a comedy about a satirical singer/songwriter, scored Best American Indie Film, Best Actor in an American Indie for star Henry Phillips and Best Director of an American Indie for Gregori Viens.
"Trucker," starring Michelle Monaghan and Nathan Fillion,...
Among the big winners was "Entre Nos," the new immigrant drama which picked up 4 awards, including The Seashell Award for Best Film of the festival, Best Actress in a Foreign Film for star Paola Mendoza, who also co-wrote and co-directed the film, The Special Jury Award for Debut by a Child, and The President's Award for Best Feature Film. "This film is close to our hearts and was a labor of love. We couldn't be more thrilled," said co-director and writer Gloria La Morte.
"Punching the Clown," a comedy about a satirical singer/songwriter, scored Best American Indie Film, Best Actor in an American Indie for star Henry Phillips and Best Director of an American Indie for Gregori Viens.
"Trucker," starring Michelle Monaghan and Nathan Fillion,...
- 11/10/2009
- icelebz.com
Philippe Lioret’s “Welcome” received the $100,000 grand prize for best dramatic feature at the Heartland Film Festival in Indianapolis on Saturday.
Gabriel Noble’s “P-Star Rising” took the best documentary feature prize, while Dean Yamada’s “Bicycle” (Jitensha) earned the Vison Award for best short film.
Ed Catmull, president of Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios, was honored with the Pioneering Spirit Award.
Crystal Heart Awards were presented to Hilla Medalia’s "After the Storm”; "Bicycle" (Jitensha); Dag Hoel and Havard Bustnes’ "Big John"; Rene Bo Hanson's "The Eagle Hunter’s Son”; Gloria La Morte and Paola Mendoza's "Entre Nos"; Irene Taylor Brodsky's "The Final Inch”; Zvi Spielmann's "For My Father"; Melody George's "Marbles With Thoreau"; "P-Star Rising"; Debra Zimmerman's "Rough Aunties"; Greg Barker's "Sergio"; Omri Givon's "Seven Minutes in Heaven"; Christian Sonderby Jepsen's "Side by Side"; Jeremiah Crowell's "Small Collection"; and "Welcome.
Gabriel Noble’s “P-Star Rising” took the best documentary feature prize, while Dean Yamada’s “Bicycle” (Jitensha) earned the Vison Award for best short film.
Ed Catmull, president of Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios, was honored with the Pioneering Spirit Award.
Crystal Heart Awards were presented to Hilla Medalia’s "After the Storm”; "Bicycle" (Jitensha); Dag Hoel and Havard Bustnes’ "Big John"; Rene Bo Hanson's "The Eagle Hunter’s Son”; Gloria La Morte and Paola Mendoza's "Entre Nos"; Irene Taylor Brodsky's "The Final Inch”; Zvi Spielmann's "For My Father"; Melody George's "Marbles With Thoreau"; "P-Star Rising"; Debra Zimmerman's "Rough Aunties"; Greg Barker's "Sergio"; Omri Givon's "Seven Minutes in Heaven"; Christian Sonderby Jepsen's "Side by Side"; Jeremiah Crowell's "Small Collection"; and "Welcome.
- 10/18/2009
- by By Gregg Kilday
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Chris Brown reflected on his actions against Rihanna and the price he is paying for them on Wednesday night's "Larry King Live." Brown, who appeared with his mother Joyce and lawyer Mark Geragos, told King that when he first saw the infamous picture of Rihanna's battered face about a week after the incident, "I didn't know what to think at the time. I was like 'What?'" "I was just disappointed in myself," he added. "I feel totally ashamed about what I did." When King asked the R&B star why he felt he acted out violently against Rihanna, Brown said, "There's a lot of stuff I wish I could have changed that night." He answered "no" when asked if he remembered the incident, but in the days following tonight's taped King interview, he clarified the remark, saying, "That 30 seconds of the interview they used of me was taken from...
- 9/3/2009
- by TheInsider
- TheInsider.com
Tickets went on sale today for this Friday's Avatar sneak preview -- did you get yours? That'd be an impressive feat, as Fox's Avatar website (through which the ticketing is being done) is a slow, buggy monstrosity given to timeouts, broken programming, and pages that don't load. It's not as though it's flooded with ticket requests, as near as I can tell; after thirty minutes of timeouts and reloading, I finally reached a page where I could reserve tickets for an AMC theater in La and it still had hundreds of seats available. Sadly, my order wasn't successful until I'd spent 500-odd times attempting to enact it. Maybe we could put one o' them CG supercomputers to use here? [Avatar]...
- 8/17/2009
- Movieline
A competition to reinvent the suburbs announces 20 finalist entries.
The 20 finalists in a competition to reimagine the suburbs have been announced, and the ideas scan a wide range: From pie-in-the-sky to why-isn't-this-happening now.
The Reurbia competition, sponsored by Inhabitat and Dwell, had a phenomenally quick turn around: After an initial announcement on July 8, entries were due by July 31 and the first round of judging took place last week. And yet despite that break-neck speed, many of the ideas are big and meaty. The more far-out include a plan for zeppelins that would ferry suburban commuters in the city center, to a wacky idea for turning suburbs into low-rise blocks, by stacking scores of modular boxes atop each other. You can even vote for your favorite--and the futuristic stuff seems to be particularly popular.
But frankly, that stuff leaves us cold, because suburban sprawl is actually a problem that needs to be solved now,...
The 20 finalists in a competition to reimagine the suburbs have been announced, and the ideas scan a wide range: From pie-in-the-sky to why-isn't-this-happening now.
The Reurbia competition, sponsored by Inhabitat and Dwell, had a phenomenally quick turn around: After an initial announcement on July 8, entries were due by July 31 and the first round of judging took place last week. And yet despite that break-neck speed, many of the ideas are big and meaty. The more far-out include a plan for zeppelins that would ferry suburban commuters in the city center, to a wacky idea for turning suburbs into low-rise blocks, by stacking scores of modular boxes atop each other. You can even vote for your favorite--and the futuristic stuff seems to be particularly popular.
But frankly, that stuff leaves us cold, because suburban sprawl is actually a problem that needs to be solved now,...
- 8/10/2009
- by Cliff Kuang
- Fast Company
Is it me or has the search for The Green Hornet's Kato lasted longer than the eventual movie will in theaters? At the very least the rumors have come to an end. Sony has officially announced that Taiwanese actor-singer-heartthrob Jay Chou has been cast as sidekick Kato to Seth Rogen's Green Hornet. Chou takes over for the previously attached Stephen Chow who dropped off the project after coming to his senses. The Green Hornet is loosely based on the TV series from the sixties that featured a masked crime-fighting white man and his masked Asian ass-kicking chauffeur. The white guy takes all the crime fighting credit of course. The series starred Bruce Lee as Kato and Van Williams as his boss. The new film version is co-written by Rogen and will be directed by Michel Gondry for release next summer. Chou is extremely popular in Asian pop culture for his multiple chart-topping albums as well...
- 8/8/2009
- by Rob Hunter
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
Before director Peter Berg goes off to helm the Battleship movie for Universal, or anything else for that matter, I want to see his epic new Dune movie first. Maybe it's because I'm a big sci-fi fan and because I think we could use another Dune adaptation, I'm not exactly sure, but I hope it happens soon. SciFi Wire caught up with Berg recently and asked him about the status of Dune, which he says he's working on "getting up and running." So while we still don't know when we'll ever see this, he does talk more about what we can expect to see (if it ever happens). And of course, he wants this to be different than before. "I had a much more different experience, I think, with the book than David Lynch did," Berg says about Lynch's Dune movie from 1984, one of two big adaptations of Frank Herbert...
- 8/6/2009
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Jon Gosselin is really taking advantage of his newfound bachelor status. First he made headlines when he was seen cavorting around Paris with his new girlfriend Hailey Glassman. Now he's hitting a different town with a different woman in tow. Jon, who recently filed for a divorce from wife and mother of his eight children Kate Gosselin, was spotted at restaurant Accademia di Vino in New York City's Upper East Side with a different Kate over the weekend. The "Jon & Kate Plus 8" reality television star was seen dining with Kate Major. The best part? This Kate ...
- 7/20/2009
- by By Actress Archives
When Derek Jeter, Albert Pujols, Orlando Hudson and the rest of the All-Stars take the field for tonight's Mlb All-Star Game in St. Louis, each will have a chance to raise a million dollars for cancer research with one swing of the bat. It's part of the "Hit It Here" campaign sponsored by MasterCard and Major League Baseball. If a player hits one of three signs in home-run territory, Stand Up To Cancer's groundbreaking research benefits. I'll be rooting for the players to swing for the fences -- and the signs! But whether one of the All-Stars hits a homer for research or not, Major League Baseball has already proven itself to be an important player in the fight against cancer. A long-time supporter of cancer research and education, Mlb is taking its commitment to an entirely new...
- 7/14/2009
- by Sherry Lansing
- Huffington Post
Kristin Cavallari and Stephanie Pratt, swooping down on Compartes Chocolatier in Brentwood on a Friday afternoon with—natch!—a camera crew in tow. Ya think any outings between these two would go undocumented? Unlikely. A source says K.C. was "supernice," despite her mean-girl reality-tv persona, and added the "superskinny" stars weren't afraid to devour a big ol' plate of chocolates, marshmallows and gelato. Riveting TV, folks, we know you can't wait. One gal who actually works for her paycheck as opposed to just going shopping was... Venus Williams, at the Donovan House at the Thompson Hotel in D.C. Still in her tennis attire, Ven arrived late, having just...
- 7/10/2009
- E! Online
At the midway point of the Tribeca Film Festival most covering it are walking around with a look of relief as this year's slate of a tolerable 85 films has made it a less strenuous undertaking to get a good grasp of what the fest has to offer (and it's nice to step in an air conditioned theater during this heatwave). Here are four titles that have stuck out for me. Entre nos A tour-de-force performance by Paoloa Mendoza, who also shares writing and directing credits with editor Gloria La Morte, this very personal tale follows a Colombian woman's struggle to provide food and shelter for her two kids after the father leaves them. With no source of income Mariana (Mendoza) sells empanadas on the street and collects cans, but when she can't...
- 4/29/2009
- by Jason Guerrasio
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
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