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The MakingOf Blog
Actress America Ferrara shares her most embarrassing behind-the-scenes moment with MakingOf
direct link: http://makingof.com/posts/watch/1409/america-ferrera-talks-our-family-wedding
MakingOf recently sat down with America Ferrara in Los Angeles to ask her what it was like on-set while filming the new movie "Our Family Wedding." During our conversation, she describes why the first day of shooting didn't go as planned and how an unexpected fall kicked off the hilarious tone that lasted for the rest of the shoot. Ferrara also reveals that even though she is known for filming the popular, comedic television series "Ugly Betty," she doesn't necessarily prefer comedies to dramas.
"Our Family Wedding" teaches the lesson "our marriage, their wedding" to a newly engaged couple through hilarious mishaps that occur when an entire family gets involved with planning the big day. The movie stars Forest Whitaker, Carlos Mencia, America Ferrara, Regina King and Lance Gross and will be in theaters on March 12th.
Click here to watch our full interview with America Ferrara.
Click here to watch our interview with co-stars Carlos Mencia and Anjelah Johnson.
Click here to watch our interview with co-stars Forest Whitaker and Regina King.
PREMIERE: "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" full length trailer - Watch it here on MakingOf!
Twihards everywhere can rejoice. The premiere of this summer's "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" trailer has arrived online (it will debut in theaters in front of Robert Pattinson's new film "Remember Me" this weekend) and is now live on MakingOf. After yesterday's short 10 second teaser trailer, this full length version shows Bella facing a choice between her loves Edward and Jacob. The Volturi, werewolves and vampires are back in the new film as well.
The third installment of the Twilight series is rumored to be the darkest of the three films and the trailer further fuels this theory. Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner all reprise their roles for the latest film and it was directed by "Hard Candy" and "30 Days of Night" director David Slade. "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" is the third in the series of movies based on Stephanie Meyer's popular books. The film is scheduled for release on June 30, 2010.
Click here to watch the trailer premiere.
Click here to watch MakingOf's exclusive interviews with Twilight writer Melissa Rosenberg and producer Wyck Godfrey.
Antoine Fuqua met up with MakingOf in LA to film an exclusive interview about his film "Brooklyn's Finest"
Director Antoine Fuqua, whose new film "Brooklyn's Finest" is currently in theaters, sat down with MakingOf CEO Christine Aylward to answer questions about the biggest challenge he faces as a director, how he cast this film and to reveal his feelings about having to re-cut the movie once it was finished.
During this interview, Fuqua also describes how he envisioned his cast while he was reading the script and shares that the first actor he called was Wesley Snipes. He saw similarities between the character and Snipes which he explains by saying, "Here's a guy who doesn't want his old life yet he can't get the new life he wants. He's stuck in the middle." He also goes into detail about cutting his film down from 145 minutes to two hours and calls that part of the process a "curse and a blessing."
Fuqua's filmography includes the Academy Award nominated movie "Training Day" and the Mark Wahlberg action flick "Shooter."
click here to watch the full interview.
Comedians Carlos Mencia and Anjelah Johnson discuss their on-set comedic chemistry in this MakingOf interview
Comedian and actor Carlos Mencia and co-star Anjelah Johnson recently sat down with MakingOf to answer questions about their new comedy "Our Family Wedding." During this interview, the pair reflect on why filming in Los Angeles was "so much fun" and confirm that what happens off camera does affect what happens on camera. Mencia also shares that the cast's comedic energy played a big role and says with certainty, "If you got to see the movie that was in-between the movie - you really would've laughed."
"Our Family Wedding" teaches the lesson "our marriage, their wedding" to a newly engaged couple through hilarious mishaps that occur when an entire family gets involved with planning the big day. The movie stars Forest Whitaker, Carlos Mencia, America Ferrara, Regina King and Lance Gross and will be in theaters on March 12th.
Sound Designer Paul Ottosson shares his experience editing and mixing "The Hurt Locker" with MakingOf
Paul Ottosson is nominated for two Academy Awards for Best Sound Editing and Best Sound Mixing for his work on the independent film "The Hurt Locker." He invited MakingOf to his Los Angeles office to discuss his profession and experience in detail. In this exclusive interview, Ottosson describes the most challenging parts of his work and explains that he evaluates battle scenes extensively before mixing the sound. He then details that he must think through facts such as from certain distance a bullet would hit and kill you before anyone would hear it. He also reminisces about screening the film with veterans and names that as one of his most rewarding moments.
To watch the full interview click here.
To watch MakingOf's interview with Director Kathryn Bigelow click here.
Behind-the-scenes Web destination MakingOf.com debuts exclusive “Shutter Island” video that features interviews with Martin Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio and novelist Dennis Lahane
Today MakingOf.com, the first and only centralized behind-the-scenes Web destination, continued it’s coverage of the number one film “Shutter Island” by premiering an exclusive featurette. The video includes interviews that reveal why director Martin Scorsese chose to bring novelist Dennis Lahane’s story to the big screen. In this piece, Scorsese also describes the appeal of working with material rooted in gothic filmmaking and lists the elements in the story that attracted him to the project. Leonardo DiCaprio also shares his thoughts on the character dynamics in the film.
Click here to watch the exclusive featurette.
Writer-director Tom Ford sat down with MakingOf to discuss how he cast Academy Award Best Actor nominee Colin Firth in his debut film "A Single Man."
In MakingOf's first segment with fashion designer turned filmmaker Tom Ford, he shares how he cast both Colin Firth and Julianne Moore in his first film "A Single Man." In this exclusive interview, Ford reveals that he'd written the screenplay hoping Moore would respond to it and that he "can't imagine anyone else playing this part other than Colin." He also discusses how despite limited rehearsal time his actors were able to shine. He then references a John Huston quote which said "he did his directing of actors when he cast a film."
Colin Firth was nominated for his first Academy Award for his portrayal of George Falconer, a British college professor living in Los Angeles in 1962. He is up for Best Actor alongside actors Jeff Bridges ("Crazy Heart"), George Clooney ("Up in the Air"), Morgan Freeman ("Invictus") and Jeremy Renner ("The Hurt Locker").
To watch the full interview click here.
To see all of MakingOf's extensive Oscar® coverage, click here.
"Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire" composer Mario Grigorov describes his initial reaction to the the Best Picture contender as "powerful and capturing" in this MakingOf interview
In this exclusive interview, composer Mario Grigorov provides his reasoning for leaving a career as a touring musician and describes how he fell in love with working on films along the way. His work can currently be seen on screen in the Academy Award nominated independent feature "Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire." In between fielding questions about the technical aspects of his job, Grigorov also describes his process as an artist. When it comes to his routine, he says "It's so ironic. I have to place myself in the position of not caring to write really beautiful music."
To watch the full interview click here.
Best Actress Academy Award nominee Helen Mirren answers MakingOf's questions with her "The Last Station" co-star James McAvoy
Oscar-nominated actress Helen Mirren and her co-star James McAvoy sat down with MakingOf to discuss their roles in the independent film "The Last Station." During the conversation, the duo dive into what attracted them to the story and agree that working on a project that involved such an ensemble cast was very appealing. They also joke about James' fictional method acting and relive their shared favorite scene.
"The Last Station" is a drama that takes place during the last year in the life of Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy. It is currently in theaters and is nominated for two Academy Awards (Best Actress and Best Supporting Actor) and five Independent Spirit Awards (Best Screenplay, Best Feature, Best Supporting Male, Best Director and Best Female Lead).
Click here to watch the full interview.
Forest Whitaker and Regina King discuss working together for the first time in this MakingOf interview
Academy Award winning actor Forest Whitaker and co-star Regina King recently sat down with MakingOf to talk about their new film "Our Family Wedding." During this interview, the acting duo compares prepping for a comedy to preparing for dramatic shoots. King describes working on comedies as "less intense," while Whitaker points out that the funny material and cast resulted in there being "an ease throughout the shoot." The pair also list the factors that establish a comedic rhythm on-set and King reveals that funny men Whitaker and co-star Carlos Mencia would go and go and go until cut was yelled three or four times.
"Our Family Wedding" teaches the lesson "our marriage, their wedding" to a newly engaged couple through hilarious mishaps that occur when an entire family gets involved with planning the big day. The movie stars Forest Whitaker, America Ferrara, Carlos Mencia, Regina King and Lance Gross and will be in theaters on March 12th.
Click here to watch the full interview.
Documentary filmmakers talk to MakingOf about following up their hit "Spellbound" with new film "Lucky"
Director Jeffrey Blitz and producer Sean Welch sat down with MakingOf during the Sundance Film Festival to talk about their new film "Lucky." The documentary focuses on how lottery winners lives are turned upside down after their big payouts. "Lucky" intentionally shatters perceptions about the ultimate American dream and Blitz describes it as being "a movie about how people's lives transform in a gigantic way very quickly."
The filmmaking team also share that they faced plenty of naysayers along the way when shooting the popular documentary "Spellbound." The lesson they learned after the movie became a hit, is that for better or worse they should always trust their instincts.
To watch the full interview click here.
First-time documentary filmmaker Josh Fox highlights how he made his film "Gasland" during this MakingOf interview
Director Josh Fox's feature "Gasland" - a film about Natural Gas drilling - won the Special Jury Prize for Documentary at this year's Sundance Film Festival and was one of the most praised documentaries. Fox visited the MakingOf House at Sundance to talk about his passion project and to offer advice to aspiring filmmakers on how to film a documentary with minimal resources.
In this interview, he also shares some of the astonishing revelations he found while filming. These findings include discovering houses where the tap water could be lit on fire right out of the sink and the uncovering of huge gas explosions that are constantly covered up by the government. Through these observations, Fox raises heartfelt questions about what energy companies are doing in the name of chasing money.
To watch the full interview and learn more about the documentary "Gasland" click here.
"Skateland" filmmakers visited MakingOf's Sundance House for an exclusive interview
“Skateland” marks the directorial debut of Anthony Burns, who co-wrote the film along with Brandon and Heath Freeman. The Texas trio sat down with MakingOf during the Sundance Film Festival to share their path to production. During this conversation, they also emphasize the importance of a good casting director and reveal their most ambitious scenes.
The film is set in 1983, and Skateland, the roller rink and local hangout of a small town, is becoming a fading memory of an earlier time, when disco and roller-skating were king. The party scene is getting stale, and 19-year-old Ritchie’s romantic life is as cloudy as his future. He struggles to make sense of it all, and decisions do not come easily to the carefree young man. When tragedy strikes his friends and family, Ritchie must face the music—and make the biggest decision of his life.
The film stars Twilight's Ashley Greene, Shiloh Fernandez, Heath Freeman, Taylor Handley, AJ Buckley and Haley Ramm and is screening next at the SXSW Film Festival in March.
To watch the full interview click here.
"Drunk History" creators share the inspiration for their hilarious short film with MakingOf
Director Jeremy Konner and creator Derek Waters sat down with MakingOf for an exclusive interview after their short film "Drunk History: Douglass & Lincoln" won the Sundance Jury Prize in Short Filmmaking. This hilarious short is part of a web series that has become an online phenomenon and revolves around intoxicated people talking about historical events. During our conversation, the creators delved into what originally motivated them to come up with this idea. They also discuss how they were able to cast Will Ferrell to play Abraham Lincoln and Don Cheadle to portray Frederick Douglass.
To watch our full interview click here.
"The Hurt Locker" takes home six awards - including Best Picture and Best Director - at the 2010 BAFTA Awards
Kathryn Bigelow's film "The Hurt Locker" continued it's dominance of Awards Season at last night's BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television) Awards. Bigelow was named Best Director - the first woman ever to take home this award - and the Iraq war drama won five other awards, including Best Film, Best Editing, Best Sound, Best Original Screenplay and Best Cinematography.
Other award recipients included the blockbuster "Avatar" which won two technical awards, for Best Production Design and Best Visual Effects. Lead acting's top honors were given to Colin Firth for "A Single Man" and Carey Mulligan for "An Education." Mo'Nique and Christoph Waltz were named as the year's best supporting actors for their roles in "Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire" and "Inglourious Basterds." The Best Original Screenplay award was given to Mark Boal for "The Hurt Locker" and Best Adapted Screenplay went to "Up in the Air" writers Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner. Kristen Stewart was named The Orange Rising Star after receiving the most votes from the public.
Links to our exclusive interviews with some of the night's big winners below:
Click here to watch our interview with Best Director Kathryn Bigelow.
Click here to watch our interview with Best Actress Carey Mulligan.
Click here to watch our interview with Best Adapted Screenplay winner Jason Reitman.
Click here to watch our interview with Outstanding Debut winner Duncan Jones.
"Frozen" director shares his horror secrets with MakingOf in this exclusive interview
In the second segment from our interview with "Frozen" director Adam Green, he reveals the secrets to creating a successful horror film. His advice includes his recommended way to build a cool killer, his unique way of storyboarding his scenes shot-by-shot (hint: it involves action figures!) and the importance of knowing when to imply things the camera doesn't see. The conversation also covers the importance of being as vivid as possible in the script writing process and why horror writers should be very descriptive when it comes to the death scenes.
Anchor Bay Entertainment released "Frozen" on February 12th and it is currently in theaters. The movie tells the story of three skiers (Kevin Zegers, Shawn Ashmore and Emma Bell) who get stranded on a chairlift after the ski resort closes.
Click here to watch the full interview
Click here to watch our first segment with Adam Green in which he details the challenges he faced on the "Frozen" shoot
The cast of "Animal Kingdom" describe their on-set dynamic to MakingOf
link: http://makingof.com/posts/watch/1310/-animal-kingdom-cast-interview
The cast of David Michod's debut feature "Animal Kingdom" sat down with MakingOf at the Sundance Film Festival to talk about what attracted them to this Melbourne-based crime drama. During the conversation, they describe the pre-production techniques the crew used and refer to the first time filmmaker's style as "hands off" and "a dream." They also joke about the armorer's weapon training and reveal that they changed very little in the script during the independent film's production.
Sony Pictures Classics announced yesterday that they have acquired all US and Latin American rights to the film. Joel Edgerton, James Frecheville, Sullivan Stapleton, Jacki Weaver and Ben Mendelsohn star in this drama which also won Sundance's World Cinema Grand Jury Prize.
To watch the full interview click here.
Documentary filmmaker Davis Guggenheim discusses shooting his movie "Waiting for Superman"
link: http://makingof.com/posts/watch/1305/director-david-guggenheim-on-waiting-for-superman
In this exclusive interview, director Davis Guggenheim ("It Might Get Loud," "An Inconvenient Truth") shares how he got his start in documentary filmmaking and what motivated his choice to stray from features films over a decade ago. Our conversation with Guggenheim also delves into why he chose to shoot a documentary on education (his second) and how the ingredients for a good movie are always the same. As he says, "a good documentary should provide the audience with an experience and connect them to what is possible."
"Waiting for Superman" follows a handful of promising kids through the current public-education system and explores the problems they face. By putting a name to frightening statistics, Guggenheim motivates a need for change and offers possible options for transformation and improvement. "Waiting for Superman" was picked up for distribution at the Sundance Film Festival by Paramount Vantage and is scheduled to be released this year.
Click here for the exclusive interview.
Directing duo Jay and Mark Duplass talk their trademark shooting style with MakingOf
link: http://makingof.com/posts/watch/1266/jay-mark-duplass-talk-cyrus
"Cyrus" filmmakers Jay and Mark Duplass met up with MakingOf at Sundance to talk about their trademark shooting style. During this conversation, the brothers share how they function as a directing team and reveal that they use walkie talkies to communicate with one another between takes. The interview also dives into their shared feelings on improv and how they encourage actors to go beyond the script. As Jay describes, the goal is to "create an environment where lightning can strike and we can capture it."
Their latest outing "Cyrus" stars John C. Reilly, Marisa Tomei and Jonah Hill. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and is is scheduled to be released by Fox Searchlight this summer.
Click here to watch the full interview.
Click here to watch the trailer and clips from "Cyrus."
"Winter's Bone" cast talks to MakingOf about their award-winning film
link: http://makingof.com/posts/watch/1297/the-cast-of-winter-s-bone
Director Debra Granik's film "Winter's Bone" won big last month at the Sundance Film Festival. Not only did the independent movie secure distribution with Roadside Attractions, it also was awarded the dramatic competition grand jury prize. The ensemble cast sat down with MakingOf to share how they got involved with the project, what filming in the Ozarks was like and how they each connected with Granik and their characters.
The film, which tells the story of an Ozark Mountain girl who hunts down her missing father in hopes of saving their home, was adapted from the Daniel Woodrell novel of the same name. The cast includes Jennifer Lawrence, Dale Dickey, Lauren Sweetser, John Hawkes, Kevin Breznahan, Tate Taylor, Casey MacLaren, Cody Brown and Charlotte Lucas.
To watch the full interview click here
To watch an exclusive interview with director Debra Granik click here
MakingOf.com Exclusive: "Restrepo" directors reveal the unimaginable conditions they faced when filming their documentary
link: http://makingof.com/posts/watch/1284/directors-sebastian-junger-and-tim-hetherington
MakingOf.com had the opportunity to sit down with first-time directors Tim Hetherington and Sebastian Junger at the Sundance Film Festival. Their documentary won the Grand Jury Prize and received acclaim for exposing the realities of war in a truthful and raw way. During this interview, the Vanity Fair journalists turned filmmakers detail the emotional and physical challenges they encountered while filming - including carrying 80 lbs worth of equipment with a broken leg and surviving an attack when trying to reach the outpost by Humvee. Junger also shares, "In my mind, I wasn't drawing a distinction between journalism and filmmaking, to me they are the same thing."
"Restrepo" chronicles the deployment of a platoon of U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan's Korengal Valley. The movie focuses on a remote 15-man outpost, "Restrepo," named after a platoon medic who was killed in action. The goal of the film is to make viewers feel as if they have just been through a 90-minute deployment.
To watch the full interview and learn more about the revolutionary film click here.
"Frozen" director explains to MakingOf.com how he endured a blizzard to shoot his film
link: http://makingof.com/posts/watch/1279/director-adam-green-talks-frozen
In this exclusive interview with MakingOf.com, director Adam Green discusses how he dealt with sub-zero temperatures and filming on a moving ski lift to create his Sundance film "Frozen." The discussion covers the immense challenges (both physically and technically) of shooting a one-location thriller while dangling in the air. Green also confirms that the horror movie was entirely shot outdoors, and despite what reviewers report, the production did not involve green screens or a sound stage.
"Frozen" is being distributed by Anchor Bay Entertainment and opens in theaters on Friday, February 12. The movie tells the story of three skiers (Kevin Zegers, Shawn Ashmore and Emma Bell) who get stranded on a chairlift after the ski resort closes. The group wait for help in the dark as the reality of the nightmare hits them. With wolf howls on the near horizon, they make crucial decisions that determine if they are going to survive.
Click here to watch the full interview on MakingOf.com.
Joel Schumacher, Chace Crawford, Curtis '50 Cent' Jackson and Emma Roberts share on-set stories
link: http://makingof.com/posts/watch/1277/director-joel-schumacher-cast
During this exclusive interview with MakingOf.com, director Joel Schumacher and actors Chace Crawford, Curtis '50 Cent' Jackson and Emma Roberts discuss their drama "Twelve" which closed this year's Sundance Film Festival. The topics of conversation range from guerilla-style filmmaking to dealing with paparazzi while shooting. Schumacher shares how he kept everything on schedule and managed to shoot six scenes in under 12 hours each day. He also playfully refers to himself as "the oldest living student filmmaker."
"Twelve" was acquired before it screened by Publisher Hanover House for around $2 million. There are plans for a major-market theatrical rollout this year. The adaptation is based on the best-selling novel by Nick McDonell and chronicles the violent and drug-fueled exploits of priviledged Manhattan teens. The ensemble cast includes: Chace Crawford, Emma Roberts, Rory Culkin, Curtis '50 Cent' Jackson, Ellen Barkin and narration by long-time Schumacher collaborator Kiefer Sutherland.
click here to see the full interview on MakingOf.com.
The creative team behind the Sundance film "Douchebag" kept it real on-set
link: http://makingof.com/posts/watch/1272/douchebag-director-cast-interview
Director Drake Doremus made his Sundance debut with the film "Douchebag." While at the festival, he dropped by the MakingOf House with editor turned actor Andrew Dickler and actors Marguerite Moreau and Ben York Jones to discuss how the independent movie was cast, where the storyline of reconnecting with a 5th grade girlfriend sprung from and the role improv played on-set. In this interview, the team also talks about their shared desire to "make it real" and how they started each day of shooting with a scripted dialogue that eventually evolved into improved conversation.
The film tells the story of Sam Nussbaum who is about to be married, but his fiancee questions why his only brother, Tom, isn't coming to the wedding. Unsatisfied with his lame reply, she surprises him by bringing the two brothers together. Sam and Tom then embark on a journey to find Tom's only love while Sam avoids commitment for a bit longer. Sundance describes the film as an "offbeat comedy that gives a modern twist to sibling rivalry."
To learn more about the film and watch the full interview click here.
To watch a clip from the film click here.
Writer-director Josh Radnor and actress Malin Akerman share on-set stories from their first collaboration
link: http://makingof.com/posts/watch/1268/josh-radnor-malin-akerman
Josh Radnor's directoral debut "Happythankyoumoreplease" tells the story of six friends who juggle love, friendship, and growing up while living in New York City. Radnor hand picked actress Malin Akerman ("Watchmen," "Couple's Retreat") to be a part of the ensemble cast. The duo took time out of their hectic Sundance schedules to talk to MakingOf about the story's origin, the rehearsal process and how Akerman got into character.
In this interview, Radnor describes how his acting career influenced the way he directed, while Akerman shares that when preparing for a role, "You start with a well-written script and you're halfway there."
To watch the full interview click here.
After a strong Sundance bow, "Catfish" lands at Relativity Media's Rogue Label
link: http://makingof.com/posts/watch/1182/-catfish-interview
Following it's Sundance premiere, "Catfish" was met with a standing ovation and a flood of interest from potential distributors. After screening the film on CAA's recommendation, director Brett Ratner championed the project to Relativity Media CEO Ryan Kavanaugh who then closed the deal to distribute the social media documentary through Relativity's Rogue label.
The film follows Nev Schulman, a 24-year old New York photographer, who starts an online correspondence with an 8-year-old girl and her family after she contacts him asking for permission to paint one of his pictures. The story captures the connections he makes both online and off and highlights how nowadays electronic communication often replaces face-to-face personal contact.
MakingOf sponsored the film's Sundance party and sat down with the co-directors and star the day of the premiere. Click here to watch our exclusive interview that includes the filmmakers reaction to their first Sundance screening.
Director Debra Granik talks to MakingOf about her film "Winter's Bone"
link: http://makingof.com/insiders/artist/318/debra-granik
Debra Granik visited the MakingOf House at Sundance to talk about her acclaimed film "Winter's Bone." During this intimate interview, Granik discusses adapting the story, the challenge of proving a film's worth before you get a chance to make it and calls shooting an independent film "the emotional equivalent to climbing Mt. Everest."
"Winter's Bone"took home both the Grand Jury Prize and top screenwriting award at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. The film tells the story of a Missouri mountain girl who searches for her meth-dealing father in the Ozarks while caring for her family. The North American rights to the Dramatic Competition thriller were acquired by Roadside Attractions and they are planning on a summer release.
Click here to watch the full interview.
Director Derek Cianfrance shares the origin of "Blue Valentine" in this exclusive interview
link:http://makingof.com/posts/watch/1223/derek-cianfrance-discusses-blue-valentine
Derek Cianfrance took time out of his hectic Sundance schedule to sit down with MakingOf to discuss his much-buzzed about film "Blue Valentine." During this conversation, Cianfrance describes why the film took twelve years to make, his motivation for the story and how he collaborated closely with actors Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams throughout the process.
"Blue Valentine" was recently picked up for distribution by The Weinstein Company at Sundance. The film chronicles the dissolving marriage between Dean (Gosling) and Cindy (Williams) and is told in flashbacks.
Click here to view our exclusive interviews with actors Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams.
Directors Guild of America names Kathryn Bigelow best director for "The Hurt Locker"
Kathryn Bigelow was named the best director of 2009 by the Directors Guild of America for her work on the Iraq-war drama "The Hurt Locker." This year's awards ceremony marks the first time in the DGA's history a female director was awarded their top prize. Bigelow won out over the following nominees: James Cameron ("Avatar"), Jason Reitman ("Up in the Air"), Lee Daniels ("Precious"), and Quentin Tarantino ("Inglourious Basterds").
The DGA Awards are viewed within the industry as a reliable forecaster for the Academy Awards - the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the DGA have chosen different directors just six times in the last 61 years.
Upon receiving the award, Bigelow called it "the most incredible moment of my life."
Click here to watch MakingOf's exclusive interview with Kathryn Bigelow.
Click here to go behind the scenes of "The Hurt Locker."
2010 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES AWARDS
Animal Kingdom, The Red Chapel, Restrepo, and Winter's Bone Earn Grand Jury Prizes
Audience Favorites Feature Contracorriente, happythankyoumoreplease, WAITING FOR SUPERMAN, and Wasteland
Park City, UT-The Jury, Audience, NEXT, and other special award-winners of the 2010 Sundance Film Festival were announced tonight at the Festival's Awards Ceremony hosted by David Hyde Pierce (star of The Perfect Host which premiered in this year's Park City at Midnight section) in Park City, Utah. Highlights from the Awards Ceremony can be seen on the Festival website, www.sundance.org/festival.
Films receiving Jury Awards were selected from four categories: U.S. Dramatic Competition, U.S. Documentary Competition, World Cinema Dramatic Competition and World Cinema Documentary Competition. All films in competition were also eligible for Sundance Film Festival Audience Awards as selected by Festival audiences. The U.S. Audience Awards presented by Honda and World Cinema Audience Awards were announced by Louis C.K. Joseph Gordon Levitt announced the new Best of NEXT award, chosen by peers in the section and presented by YouTube™ in celebration of films made with little or no budget.
Jury Prizes in Shorts Filmmaking were awarded to American and international short-form films on Tuesday, January 26. Other awards recognized at the ceremony included the Sundance / NHK International Filmmakers Award, created to honor and support emerging filmmakers with their next screenplays, and the Alfred P. Sloan Prize, awarded to a film which excels in addressing compelling topics in science or technology.
"Great films make for a great festival," said John Cooper, Director of the Sundance Film Festival. "This year it was as if I could feel a shift in the DNA of the film community - the reaction to the films was inspiring."
"These awards celebrate the diversity of this year's program," said Trevor Groth, the Festival's Director of Programming. "Hopefully the attention these prizes bring will allow the films to connect with a wider audience hungry for choice."
The 2010 Sundance Film Festival Juries consisted of:
U.S. Documentary Competition: Greg Barker, Dayna Goldfine, Nancy Miller, Morgan Spurlock, Ondi Timoner; U.S. Dramatic Competition: Russell Banks, Jason Kliot, Karyn Kusama, Parker Posey, Robert Yeoman; World Cinema Documentary Competition: Jennifer Baichwal, Jeffrey Brown, Asako Fujioka; World Cinema Dramatic Competition: Alison Maclean, Lisa Schwarzbaum, Sigurjon "Joni" Sighvatsson; Shorts Competition: Sterlin Harjo, Brent Hoff, Christine Vachon; Alfred P. Sloan Award: Peter Galison, Darcy Kelley, Joe Palca, Paul Sereno, Marianna Palka.
For the 2010 Sundance Film Festival, 117 feature-length films were selected including 85 world premieres, 11 North American premieres, and 12 U.S. premieres representing 39 countries with 51 first-time filmmakers, including 27 in competition. These films were selected from 3,724 feature-length film submissions composed of 1,920 U.S. and 1,804 international feature-length films.
2010 Sundance Film Festival Award Winners:
The Grand Jury Prize: Documentary was presented to Restrepo, directed by Sebastian Junger and Tim Hetherington. Sebastian Junger and Tim Hetherington's year dug in with the Second Platoon in one of Afghanistan's most strategically crucial valleys reveals extraordinary insight into the surreal combination of back breaking labor, deadly firefights, and camaraderie as the soldiers painfully push back the Taliban.
The Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic was presented to Winter's Bone, directed by Debra Granik; written by Debra Granik and Anne Rosellini. An unflinching Ozark Mountain girl hacks through dangerous social terrain as she hunts down her missing father while trying to keep her family intact.
The World Cinema Jury Prize: Documentary was presented to The Red Chapel (Det Røde Kapel)directed by Mads Brügger. A journalist with no scruples, a self-proclaimed spastic, and a comedian travel to North Korea under the guise of a cultural exchange visit to challenge one of the world's most notorious regimes. Denmark
The World Cinema Jury Prize: Dramatic was presented to Animal Kingdom, written and directed by David Michôd. After the death of his mother, a seventeen year-old boy is thrust precariously between an explosive criminal family and a detective who thinks he can save him. Australia
The Audience Awards are presented to both a dramatic and documentary film in four Competitions as voted by Sundance Film Festival audiences. The 2010 Sundance Film Festival Audience Awards are presented by Honda.
The Audience Award: Documentary was presented to WAITING FOR SUPERMAN, directed by Davis Guggenheim, for his examination of the crisis of public education in the United States through multiple interlocking stories.
The Audience Award: Dramatic was presented to happythankyoumoreplease, written and directed by Josh Radnor, about six New Yorkers juggling love, friendship, and the keenly challenging specter of adulthood.
The World Cinema Audience Award: Documentary was presented to Wasteland, directed by Lucy Walker about international art star Vik Muniz, garbage pickers in the world's largest landfill in Rio de Janeiro and the transformative power of art. United Kingdom / Brazil
The World Cinema Audience Award: Dramatic was presented to Contracorriente (Undertow) written and directed by Javier Fuentes-Leõn, an unusual ghost story set on the Peruvian seaside in which a married fisherman struggles to reconcile his devotion to his male lover within his town's rigid traditions. Peru / Colombia / France / Germany
New for 2010: Best of NEXT. Selected by ballots cast by the eight NEXT filmmakers, this award celebrates a film creating the greatest art on a low budget. The Best of NEXT award is presented by YouTube™.
The Best of NEXT award was presented to Homewrecker, directed by Todd Barnes and Brad Barnes and written by Todd Barnes, Brad Barnes, and Sophie Goodhart. The last romantic in New York City is an ex-con locksmith on work release.
Directing Awards recognize excellence in directing for dramatic and documentary features.
The Directing Award: Documentary was presented to Smash His Camera, directed by Leon Gast, about famous celebrity photographer and original paparazzo, Ron Galella.
The Directing Award: Dramatic was presented to 3 Backyards, directed and written by Eric Mendelsohn. The film is about a trio of brief, life-altering adventures unfolding in a seemingly normal autumn day.
The World Cinema Directing Award: Documentary was presented to Space Tourists, directed by Christian Frei who explores the impact of space tourism in the heavens and on earth. Switzerland
The World Cinema Directing Award: Dramatic was presented to Southern District, directed and written by Juan Carlos Valdivia, about a bourgeois family in La Paz, Bolivia who watches as social change begins to penetrate their insulated world. Bolivia
The Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award was presented to Winter's Bone, directed by Debra Granik; written by Debra Granik and Anne Rosellini. An unflinching Ozark Mountain girl hacks through dangerous social terrain as she hunts down her missing father while trying to keep her family intact.
The World Cinema Screenwriting Award was presented to Southern District, written and directed by Juan Carlos Valdivia, about a bourgeois family in La Paz, Bolivia who watches as social change begins to penetrate their insulated world. Bolivia
The Documentary Editing Award was presented to Joan Rivers-A Piece Of Work, edited by Penelope Falk; directed by Ricki Stern and Annie Sundberg. An exposé chronicling the private dramas of irreverent, legendary comedian and pop icon Joan Rivers.
The World Cinema Documentary Editing Award was presented to A Film Unfinished, written and directed by Yael Hersonski. Edited by Joëlle Alexis. The film is a powerful documentary about Nazi-produced propaganda films. Germany / Israel.
The Excellence in Cinematography Awards honor exceptional cinematography in both dramatic and documentary categories:
The Excellence in Cinematography Award: Documentary was presented to The Oath, directed by Laura Poitras. Cinematographers: Kirsten Johnson and Laura Poitras. The interlocking drama of two brothers-in-law whose associations with al Qaeda in the 1990s propelled them on divergent courses.
The Excellence in Cinematography Award: Dramatic was presented to Obselidia,written and directed by Diane Bell. Cinematographer: Zak Mulligan. In his quest to document nearly extinct occupations, a man unexpectedly finds romance.
The World Cinema Cinematography Award: Documentary was presented to His & Hers, directed by Ken Wardrop. Cinematographers: Kate McCullough and Michael Lavelle. A 90-year-old love story through the collective voice of 70 days at different stages of their lives. Ireland
The World Cinema Cinematography Award: Dramatic was presented to The Man Next Door (El Hombre de al Lado). Directors and cinematographers Mariano Cohn and Gastón Duprat. A small incident over two neighbors' common wall sparks a conflict which affects the intimacy of the view over the chimney; the protagonist sparks a conflict and with paranoiac obsession destroys everyday life. Argentina
A World Cinema Special Jury Prize: Dramatic for Breakout Performance was presented to Tatiana Maslany for her role as a starry-eyed teenager in Grown Up Movie Star. Canada
A World Cinema Special Jury Prize: Documentary was presented to Enemies of the People, directed by Rob Lemkin and Thet Sambath, for their watershed account of Cambodian history and a quest for closure on one of the world's darkest episodes. Cambodia / United Kingdom
A Special Jury Prize: Documentary was presented to GASLAND, directed by Josh Fox. With spirit, strength, and a sense of humor, Fox's personal documentary takes a look at how natural gas affects our air and drinking water.
A Special Jury Prize: Dramatic was presented to Sympathy for Delicious, directed by Mark Ruffalo; written by and starring Christopher Thornton about a recently paralyzed DJ who seeks out the dubious world of faith healing.
As announced on Tuesday, the 2010 Jury Prize in Short Filmmaking was awarded to Drunk History: Douglass & Lincoln (Director: Jeremy Konner). The 2010 Jury Prize in International Short Filmmaking was given to The Six Dollar Fifty Man / New Zealand (Directors and screenwriters: Mark Albiston and Louis Sutherland). In addition, the jury awarded Honorable Mentions in Short Filmmaking to: Born Sweet / USA, Cambodia (Director: Cynthia Wade); Can We Talk? / United Kingdom (Director and screenwriter: Jim Owen); Dock Ellis & The LSD No-No / USA (Director: James Blagden); How I Met Your Father / Spain (Director and screenwriter: Álex Montoya); Quadrangle / USA (Director: Amy Grappell); Rob and Valentyna in Scotland / USA, United Kingdom (Director: Eric Lynne; Screenwriters: Eric Lynne and Rob Chester Smith), and Young Love / Australia (Director and screenwriter: Ariel Kleiman).
Obselidia, written and directed by Diane Bell, is the recipient of this year's Alfred P. Sloan Prize. The Prize, which carries a $20,000 cash award by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, is presented to an outstanding feature film focusing on science or technology as a theme, or depicting a scientist, engineer, or mathematician as a major character.
Sundance Institute and NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) on Thursday announced the winners of the Sundance / NHK International Filmmakers Awards honoring and supporting emerging filmmakers-one each from the United States, Japan, Europe, and Latin America. The winning filmmakers and projects are: Amat Escalante, Heli from Mexico; Andrey Zvyagintsev, Elenafrom Russia; Daisuke Yamaoka, The Wonderful Lives at Asahigaoka (written with Yugo Eto) from Japan; and Benh Zeitlin, Beasts of the Southern Wild (written with Lucy Alibar) from the United States.
2010 Sundance Film Festival Sponsors
The 2010 Sundance Film Festival sponsors to date include: Presenting Sponsors-Entertainment Weekly, HP, Honda and Sundance Channel; Leadership Sponsors-American Express, Bing™, DIRECTV, G-Technology by Hitachi, Southwest Airlines and YouTube™; Sustaining Sponsors-ABSOLUT® VODKA, Blockbuster Inc., FilterForGood®, a partnership between Brita® and Nalgene®, L'Oréal Paris, Sony Electronics Inc., Stella Artois®, Timberland and Utah Film Commission. Their support will defray costs associated with the 10-day Festival and the nonprofit Sundance Institute's year-round programs for independent film and theatre artists. In return, sponsorship of the preeminent Festival provides these organizations with global exposure, a platform for brand impressions and unique access to Festival attendees.
About Sundance Institute
Founded by Robert Redford in 1981, Sundance Institute is a not-for-profit organization that fosters the development of original storytelling in film and theatre. Internationally recognized for its artistic development programs for directors, screenwriters, producers, film composers, playwrights and theatre artists, Sundance Institute has nurtured such projects as Angels in America, Spring Awakening, Boys Don't Cry and Born into Brothels.
Naomi Watts and Samuel L. Jackson explain what they love about their film “Mother & Child”
link: http://makingof.com/posts/watch/1200/actors-samuel-l-jackson-and-naomi-watts
In an in-depth interview with MakingOf, Naomi Watts and Samuel L. Jackson shared what attracted them to their Sundance film “Mother & Child.” Watts praised the script’s three great stories, pointing out the rarity of finding so many great female characters in one film. Jackson told us that the material drew him in because it offered a new romantic dynamic he had never played in a film.
The duo also described how they dove into filming without much rehearsal—the first thing they shot was a scene in bed together. Jackson found this strategy worked in the story’s favor; because the actors were unfamiliar with each other when they began shooting, the film captured the necessary tentativeness and distance between his character and Watts’. He and Watts agreed that their director, Rodrigo García, along with the crew, relaxed them with sensitivity to the actors’ comfort, and helped them convey the film’s poignant statement about relationships and parenthood.
“Mother & Child” tells the stories of three women: a 50-year-old physical therapist, the daughter she gave up for adoption 35 years earlier, and a woman looking to adopt her first child. Their lives and stories intertwine and explore the depth of love and maternal bonds.
Click here for more content on “Mother & Child”
MakingOf hits RECord with Joseph Gordon-Levitt at Sundance
link: http://makingof.com/posts/watch/1205/joseph-gordon-levitt-discusses-hitrecord
Five years ago, actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt started a Web site to upload videos that he’d made. Since then, it’s evolved into hitRECord.org, an online art sharing community that Gordon-Levitt launched as a professional collaborative production company at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Gordon-Levitt sat down with MakingOf CEO Christine Aylward at hitRECord’s New Frontier showcase for a personal conversation to communicate his passion for the site, the production company, and its ever-growing artistic community.
Gordon-Levitt likened hitRECord to the Sundance Film Festival itself, in that both break down the barriers of industry exclusivity and offer avenues of artistic expression—Sundance opens its doors to small, low-budget, unknown films, and hitRECord does the same for any artist with an Internet connection. Gordon-Levitt explained how artists, including himself, are often the worst judge of what they've made. He told us how hitRECord encourages artists to accept their own unfinished work without the inhibition of perfection, and to release their “RECords,” as he does, for others to build upon in order to create something greater.
HitRECord.org allows anyone to upload art, from text to audio, video, photographs, drawings or paintings. Other users then download contributions and remix them, adding their own content to create a larger collaborative work of art. As a production company, hitRECord then uses Gordon-Levitt’s position in the entertainment industry to release the collaborative projects as potentially money-making productions, and shares any profits with the contributing hitRECord artists. Visit hitRECord.org to work with Joseph Gordon-Levitt and take part in this collaborative creative community.
Philip Seymour Hoffman visits MakingOf to discuss his directorial debut, “Jack Goes Boating”
link: http://makingof.com/posts/watch/1192/phillip-seymour-hoffman-on-character-development
Philip Seymour Hoffman stopped by the MakingOf House to talk with us about his directorial debut, “Jack Goes Boating,” which just premiered at Sundance. Hoffman, who had previously starred in the theatrical production of “Jack Goes Boating,” worked with playwright/screenwriter Robert Glaudini to adapt this play about love, betrayal, friendship, and grace centered around two working-class New York City couples. Hoffman reprises his stage role onscreen while simultaneously directing, adding to an already illustrious career that includes films from “Doubt” to “Mission: Impossible III” to “Almost Famous.”
During his comprehensive conversation, he explained the importance of creating believable characters to which audiences can relate. Hoffman emphasized how, as a director, he strove to personalize the film by focusing upon realistic people and their universal hopes, fears, and relationships.
Click here for more content on Hoffman’s “Jack Goes Boating.”
Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams talk in-depth with MakingOf about their Sundance film “Blue Valentine"
link: http://makingof.com/posts/watch/1197/ryan-gosling-and-michelle-williams
“Blue Valentine” stars Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams conducted an in-depth conversation with MakingOf during the Sundance Film Festival. In this intimate interview, Gosling and Williams shared their passion for the film, and discussed the unique style director Derek Cianfrance used to immerse the two leads in their roles; this included making memories in the house used for the set, spending time decorating it, sleeping in it, and buying groceries as a family. Both actors paid tribute to their director’s creativity, which helped them become attached to the environment and form a deep familial connection. Ultimately, this enabled the actors to bring genuine life to their roles, creating a film with universal themes that involves its viewers mentally and emotionally.
Shifting between two time periods, “Blue Valentine” follows Gosling and Williams as a married couple, both in the height of their love and in the disintegration of their marriage.
Click here for more content on “Blue Valentine.”
Sundance Exclusive: "Catfish" filmmakers and star visit the MakingOf House
link: http://makingof.com/posts/watch/1182/catfish-interview
"Catfish" premiered on Friday, January 22nd to a sold-out crowd and received a standing ovation. Filmmakers Andrew Jarecki and Ariel Schulman and star Nev Schulman sat down with MakingOf later that day to discuss the production, how they found out they got into Sundance and their reaction to the premiere screening. MakingOf also sponsored the premiere after-party which was attended by industry insiders and celebrated the film's overwhelming positive response.
The documentary tells the story of Nev, a 24-year-old New York-based photographer and the connections he makes both online and off. The story is a product of our times, where social networking, mobile devices, and electronic communication often replace face-to-face personal contact.
Click here to watch the interview
Robert Redford declares Sundance 2010 is "going back to our roots with fresh new voices."
link: http://makingof.com/posts/watch/1122/sundance-2010-opening-press-conference
Festival Founder Robert Redford kicked off today's press conference at the packed Egyptian Theater with remarks about the origins of the festival. He admitted that initially he wasn't sure the festival would "last more than 10 years." He then discussed the evolution of the fest and recommended attendees not believe the hype and wait until the screenings have ended before deciding which movies stand out.
Throughout the conversation he sat next to first year festival director John Cooper who shared his expertise and strategy when it comes to selecting the festival's lineup. Cooper discussed the festival's NEXT section as well as other recent adjustments to the programming to ensure that the festival continues to evolve.
The charming, candid hour-long discussion touched on other topics including Redford's dislike for swag and corporate marketing efforts that have nothing to do with film, Cooper's experience in year's past and Redford's recollection of a time he outsmarted paparazzi Ron Galella, whose the subject one of this year's documentaries, "Smash His Camera."
Click here to watch our video highlights from the conference
"The Dry Land" Script Supervisor shares her on-set responsibilities
link: http://makingof.com/posts/watch/1063/script-supervisor-kathleen-messmer
Script Supervisor Kathleen Messmer welcomed MakingOf on-set during the production of "The Dry Land." During our interview, Messmer shared her script notes and explained what is required of her on a daily basis while filming. "The Dry Land" was shot in New Mexico last summer and is premiering at this year's Sundance Film Festival next week.
The independent film follows a young man as he returns home from a tour of duty. Despite the support of his wife and his mother, he is unable to settle back into his small town life and decides to travel the country with an Army buddy in search of redemption. "The Dry Land" is written and directed by Ryan Piers Williams and stars America Ferrara.
Click here to watch the full interview.
MakingOf.com features an exclusive behind the scenes clip from "Smokin’ Aces 2: Assassins’ Ball"
link: http://makingof.com/posts/watch/1051/-ready-aim-fire
'Ready Aim Fire' takes viewers behind-the-scenes at the weapon coordination and gun training facilities on-set. This action packed clip features the weapon experts teaching actor Autumn Resser how to shoot a gun and maintain the utmost safety on-set. The clip also features appearances by co-stars Martha Higareda and David Richmond-Peck.
"Smokin’ Aces 2: Assassins’ Ball." is the sequel to the 2006 film. It is directed by P.J. Pesce and features an ensemble cast that includes Tom Berenger, Clayne Crawford, Tommy Flanagan, Martha Higareda, Ernie Hudson, Vinnie Jones, Carrie Keagan, Keegan Connor Tracy and Autumn Reeser.
Own "Smokin’ Aces 2: Assassins’ Ball” on DVD or Blu-Ray January 19th 2010.
Click here to watch the explosive clip now
"Tooth Fairy" director Michael Lembeck names Billy Crystal scene his favorite
link: http://makingof.com/posts/watch/1038/michael-lembeck-discusses-tooth-fairy
Director Michael Lembeck recently sat down with MakingOf to discuss how he convinces actors to be in his films. During this interview, he emphasizes that his initial conversations focus on the thematic material, entertainment value and emotional content of the film. He also shares that his favorite scene from "Tooth Fairy" was between Dwayne Johnson and Billy Crystal and describes it as a "comedy clinic."
Lembeck has worked in the entertainment industry for more than four decades. He started his career as an actor, transitioned to directing hit television series and now directs films that include: "The In Laws," the second and third installments in "The Santa Clause" trilogy and "Connie and Carla."
Click here to view the full interview.
Check back next week for more interviews with Director Michael Lembeck. "Tooth Fairy" is in theaters on January 22nd.
The visionaries behind documentary "Every Little Step" talk to MakingOf exclusively about their collaboration on the film
link: http://makingof.com/posts/watch/1026/in-conversation-james-stern-adam-del-deo
James Stern, Chairman and CEO of Endgame Entertainment, is a prolific producer who has made more than 20 feature films, 15 Broadway and off Broadway hits including "The Producers," "Stomp" and "Hairspray." MakingOf's latest 'In Conversation' pairs Stern with producing and directing partner Adam Del Deo to talk about their collaboration on the film "Every Little Step."
The documentary explores the incredible journey of the revival of 'A Chorus Line' from an ambitious idea to an international phenomenon. It compares and contrasts the original musical with the revival and was edited together from more than 450 hours worth of footage. Throughout the interview, Stern and Del Dio reminisce about the production.
Stern describes it best when he references Del Deo's initial feeling that, "This has to be a dance movie that happens to be a documentary. It can't be a documentary about dance."
To watch the exclusive 'In Conversation' interview and to learn more about the film click here.
Legendary actor Harrison Ford talks acting and storytelling
link: http://makingof.com/posts/watch/986/harrison-ford-discusses-acting-and-storytelling
While promoting his latest film "Extraordinary Measures," iconic actor Harrison Ford discusses acting and storytelling with MakingOf. He acknowledges that aiming for a successful collaboration with the director is a key motivator for him when he chooses his roles. He also emphasizes the importance of the story by saying, "The strongest utility for an actor is to alloy with the story. It's not as much about performance as it is about storytelling."
Ford is best known for his legendary roles in classic film sagas that include the original "Star Wars" trilogy and "Indiana Jones." He is also known for his parts in the movies "Patriot Games," "Clear and Present Danger," "The Fugitive," and "Air Force One."
click here to watch the full interview.
"Extraordinary Measures" is in theaters January 22nd, 2010.
Actor, writer, and director Tim Blake Nelson explains the origins of his filmmaking career
link: http://makingof.com/posts/watch/1031/tim-blake-nelson-on-his-path-into-the-industry
Tim Blake Nelson sat down with MakingOf to discuss his path to filmmaking and how his background influences the creative choices he makes. In the interview, Nelson describes growing up in an "intellectual boot camp" and his choice to pursue a Classics major in college. It was while attending acting school at Juliard however that he realized he missed literature. This realization led him to start writing for his classmates. His play "Eye of God" went on to become both his first screenplay and film.
Casting veteran Juliet Taylor shares industry insight
link: http://makingof.com/posts/watch/96/juliet-taylor-discusses-casting
Juliet Taylor sat down with MakingOf to talk about the need to always try and get it right when it comes to casting films. Throughout this segment, Taylor also discusses her process when working with directors like Woody Allen and shares her dislike for the phrase "discovering people." She admittedly likes to rebel against that expression and feels fortunate that she was lucky enough to discover actors like Meryl Streep when they were first starting their careers.
Taylor has worked in casting for more than three decades and has collaborated with some of the industry's most respected directors including Mike Nichols, Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese.
Click here to view the full interview.
"The Last Station" director talks financing, storyboarding and working closely with actors
link: http://makingof.com/posts/watch/863/michael-hoffman-discusses-the-last-station
During this exclusive interview with MakingOf, writer-director Michael Hoffman delves into why co-productions often make sense and the reasoning behind exploring all locations for filming. He advices filmmakers to look closely at their subject matter and describes some incentives to consider when securing financing. Throughout the segment, Hoffman also discusses working through the inevitable writer's block. He describes it as "you're sitting there and it's like nothing is talking back to you."
Hoffman is best known for his films "A Midsummer Night's Dream," "One Fine Day," and "Soapdish." His latest project "The Last Station" is currently in select theaters and stars Christopher Plummer, Helen Mirren, James McAvoy and Paul Giamatti. The film tells the captivating story of the great Russian writer Leo Tolstoy and explores the last year of his life.
"The Last Station," earned five Independent Spirit Awards nominations last month. It was nominated for best film, best director and screenplay for Michael Hoffman, best female lead for Helen Mirren and supporting actor for Christopher Plummer. The film also recently garnered two Golden Globe nominations - best female lead for Helen Mirren and supporting actor for Christopher Plummer.
Click here to watch the full interview.
Director Michel Gondry reveals how he "finds himself" in his projects
link: http://makingof.com/posts/watch/974/michel-gondry-on-finding-himself-in-projects
French film, music video and commercial director Michel Gondry is revered for his distinct and daring filmmaking choices. In this exclusive conversation with MakingOf, Gondry discusses how he got into directing, why the spirit of the project always wins out and the type of characters that interest him the most. He also lists past and present screen legends Charlie Chaplin and Bill Murray as two of his personal favorites.
Gondry's latest film "The Green Hornet" stars Seth Rogen and Cameron Diaz and is scheduled to be released on December 17, 2010. He has previously directed features that include "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," "The Science of Sleep" and "Be Kind Rewind." He has also directed music videos for artists that range from Bjork to The White Stripes to Radiohead.
Click here to watch the full interview.
Ben Stiller describes the importance of working towards the director's vision
link: http://makingof.com/insiders/artist/ben/stiller/67
Industry veteran Ben Stiller talked with MakingOf about the influence of his parents' acting careers on his decision to get involved with filmmaking and how he approaches working with different directors. When describing his inspiration he shares, "the idea of performing in movies was always something I felt connected to." He also emphasizes the importance of being "on the same page" as the director you are working with and finds that it's beneficial to collaborate with filmmakers who see him "in a different way than he sees himself."
Stiller's career has spanned more than two decades and encompasses working on more than thirty films. His next project, the Noah Baumbach directed "Greenberg" is scheduled to be released on March 12, 2010.
Click here to view the full interview.
"Anvil! The Story of Anvil" director talks to MakingOf about the risk he took with the film's distribution strategy
link: http://makingof.com/vault/media/directo-sacha-gervasi-discusses-festival-distribution/975
Sacha Gervasi's directorial debut, the applauded rock documentary "Anvil! The Story of Anvil," beat the odds and earned distribution and a hardcore fan base after Gervasi passed on the deals offered to him following the film's premiere at the Sundance Film Festival. Gervasi discusses how he approached the film's release, why he and his producers felt distributors initially "didn't get it" and also shares his reaction to the overwhelming response from both music fans and musicians. The documentary follows the Toronto-based, heavy metal band Anvil on their life long quest for elusive fame and fortune. The Online Film Critics Society recently named the film its Best Documentary and it is expected to earn an Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary.
To watch the full interview click here.
"Coraline" director Henry Selick shares what he considers the most rewarding part of filmmaking
link: http://makingof.com/insiders/media/henry/selick/henry-sellick-discusses-directing/253/971
Henry Selick is the industry's go-to-guy for creating adult-themed cartoons that appeal to both young and old moviegoers. MakingOf recently sat down with Selick to talk to him about how kids ultimately end up loving things that scare them. He goes on to describe the balance that must exist between the various elements and describes his past successful collaborations. After working with artists like Neil Gaiman, Tim Burton and Wes Anderson on his films, he believes that the key is trust.
The stop-motion animated film "Coraline" is now on DVD and was recently nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Film.
Click here to watch the full interview.
Actress Aubrey Plaza on why writing stand-up comedy is "a totally different animal"
link: http://makingof.com/insiders/media/aubrey/plaza/aubrey-plaza-discusses-comedy-writing/117/962
MakingOf sat down with Aubrey Plaza to learn more about her writing process and how she comes up with her comedic material. During the interview, she reveals that she carries a notebook with her to jot down initial joke ideas in. She also discusses that she isn't disciplined or rigid when it comes to scheduling her writing time and she always thinks about how she can heighten her material to make it come full circle.
Plaza stars on the television show "Parks and Recreation," and last summer acted alongside Adam Sandler in Judd Apatow's film "Funny People." She also recently wrapped production on her next film "Scott Pilgrim vs. The World."
To watch the full interview click here.
Bryce Dallas Howard calls portraying a Tennessee Williams' heroine a "tremendous responsibility."
Actress Bryce Dallas Howard joins the distinguished group of women who have portrayed Tennessee Williams' heroines on screen with her latest, "The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond." Howard recently told MakingOf that her role in the independent film was inspired by Vivien Leigh's performance as Blanche DuBois and admits to being "quite nervous to do this character." She elaborates, "it's not anything that I ever thought I would get to do - playing a Tennessee Williams heroine - it's an incredible notion."
The film, based on a previously unproduced screenplay by Williams ("The Glass Menagerie," "A Streetcar Named Desire," "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof"), revolves around Howard's 1920s Southern socialite Fisher Willow as she falls in love with the poor Jimmy Dobyne (Chris Evans). She takes him as her date to her high society events and loses one of her prized teardrop diamond earrings along the way, which leads to accusations and tests their evolving relationship.
"The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond" is currently playing in select theaters.
To watch the full interview click here.
Sundance pick “Bass Ackwards” hopes to change independent film distribution in 2010
The Sundance Film Festival kicks of January 20th and with it a batch of more than 120 films will be screened throughout the 10 day festival. In that batch, the film “Bass Ackwards” will be screened in the Sundance NEXT category, a new category designed for films with little to no budget.
“Bass Ackwards,” written, directed and starring Linas Philips, started with an idea about a guy with a cut off 73 VW wagon. The film is produced by Thomas Woodrow who is looking to change the classic, “sell your film at Sundance” model for a new approach of releasing the film on DVD and On Demand a day after it premiers at Sundance. The film has blessing from executive producer Mark Duplass, a Sundance favorite and star of 2005’s “Puffy Chair” and most recently FX’s “The League.”
Look forward to more “Bass Ackward” content to come and see it premiere next month in Park City, Utah.
Visit the http://www.bassackwardsfilm.com for more information.
First time director Jodie Markell films Tennessee Williams material for her movie "The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond"
Actress turned director Jodie Markell is passionate about theater and Tennessee Williams writing, which explains why she chose Williams unpublished, unproduced screenplay "The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond" for her first feature film.
In this exclusive interview with MakingOf, Markell reveals that actress Bryce Dallas Howard was her first choice to play Fisher Willow after seeing her performances in M Night Shyamalan movies. She explains, "I had never seen an actress of her generation with so much presence, clarity and focus." She goes on to discuss capturing the South's vanishing landscape and the production design that went into creating the story's 1920s atmosphere.
The film opens in select theaters on December 30th.
Producer Wyck Godfrey talks about Will Ferrell's role in his next film "Everything Must Go"
Today MakingOf debuts a new segment from our exclusive interview with Wyck Godfrey. The "Twilight Saga" producer sat down with us and revealed production details for his next project - the independent film "Everything Must Go." In March Godfrey and partner Marty Bowen are scheduled to begin production through their Temple Hills Production company. The movie will be written and directed by Dan Rush and will star Will Ferrell as a man who loses his job and ends up living for a few days on a couch in his front yard.
To hear more about the film and watch the full interview click here.
Exploring the production behind "Up in the Air"
link: http://makingof.com/happening_now/media/up-in-the-air/production-featurette/99/934
MakingOf secured exclusive footage with the team that collaborated directly with director Jason Reitman to bring his vision for "Up in the Air" to the screen. This feature highlights interviews with some of the crew including: Producer Ivan Reitman, Director of Photography Eric Steelberg, Production Designer Steve Sakland, Costume Designer Danny Glicker and Editor Dana E. Glauberman.
In addition to highlighting their individual roles, the segment showcases the detail that went into every aspect of George Clooney's character Ryan Bingham's life. From designing hotel rooms with Ryan in mind to carefully selecting a wardrobe that would fit in a carry-on bag, the team created an atmosphere that romanticized travel and brought the script to life in a believable way.
The film opens nationwide on December 25th.
To view the entire feature click here.
To view the trailer and clips for "Up in the Air" click here.
To view MakingOf's interviews with director Jason Reitman and actresses Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick click here.
Exploring the fantastical world behind the film "The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus"
MakingOf sat down with writer-director Terry Gilliam, actress Lily Cole and actor Verne Troyer to discuss their film “The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus." This feature highlights our interviews with them as well as showcases the spectacular "Imaginarium" themed sequences that appear anytime a character voyages into their imagination. Gilliam admits the film's complexity in terms of narrative and characters is intentional by saying, "I go out of my way not to make movies that one little line will describe what it is."
The film marks Heath Ledger’s final performance and the cast also includes: Johnny Depp, Jude Law, Colin Farrell, Christopher Plummer, Tom Waits, Verne Troyer and Lily Cole. It opens in select theaters on December 25th.
To view the entire feature click here.
To view the trailer for "The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus" click here.
Acting legend Robert Duvall on casting and filming "Crazy Heart"
link: http://makingof.com/happening_now/media/crazy-heart/robert-duvall-discusses-crazy-heart/212/933
Robert Duvall has been acting in and most recently producing films for more than 40 years. During this time he has starred in classics such as "The Godfather," "The Godfather: II," and "Tender Mercies." This weekend his latest film "Crazy Heart," which he co-stars in and produced, opens in theaters across the country.
MakingOf recently sat down with Duvall to learn more about his role in casting the film and what it was like on-set with first time director Scott Cooper. During the interview, he reveals that the set was very relaxed and shares that "a good director will allow you to improvise." He goes on to compare the atmosphere while filming to "The Godfather" because director Francis Ford Coppola would want to see what each actor would bring to their character.
Duvall also discusses how he initially reached out to Awards Season favorite Jeff Bridges about joining the cast and calls him "one of our finest actors, I've always been a fan."
To watch the full interview click here.
To watch MakingOf's other Crazy Heart interviews - Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Scott Cooper - click here.
"Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightening Thief" screenwriter Craig Titley talks to MakingOf.com
Craig Titley sat down with Making Of to talk about adapting the anticipated "Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightening Thief" story. During this interview, he shares that each day his goal is to either write for 5 hours or to write 5 pages - whichever comes first. He also describes his belief that being able to answer why a film needs to be made is a fundamental part of the process and key motivator for the writer.
"Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightening Thief" is scheduled to be released in theaters on February 12, 2010.
Click here to watch the full interview.
“Avatar” breaks new ground in 3D cinema, check out MakingOf.com for behind-the-scenes featurettes, movie clips, and more
James Cameron’s “Avatar” opened Thursday evening at midnight to a welcomed audience of film fanatics and fanboys and a respectable $27 million at the box office. With Roger Ebert and Steven Spielberg both comparing there first viewings of “Avatar” to the first time they saw “Star Wars,” this film is a must see for anyone interested in the future of cinema. A project more than 14 years in the making, James Cameron’s initial 114-page treatment developed the story, the characters, and certain aspects of the imaginary world of Pandora. Originally the film was to go into production immediately following "Titanic," but Cameron held off because he had to wait “for technology to catch up” to his vision.
James Cameron’s “Avatar” is a 3D fantasy adventure film that tells the story of Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), a paralyzed US Marine sent to the planet Pandora to take part in an avatar project, originally spearheaded by his twin-brother before his untimely demise. When Jake lands on Pandora and straps into his avatar body, he regains the ability to walk and infiltrate the indigenous aliens of the planet called the Na’vi. There Jake meets a young female Na’vi named Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) who befriends Jake and teaches him the ways of her kin. Soon Jake finds himself in a struggle...
Click on the links below for all things "Avatar" on MakingOf.com.
Trailer - http://makingof.com/happening_now/media/avatar/-avatar-trailer/184/805
Features
James Cameron’s Vision - http://makingof.com/happening_now/media/avatar/james-cameron-s-vision/184/806
Story – http://makingof.com/happening_now/media/avatar/-story-featurette/184/901
Behind-the-Scenes of “Avatar” - http://makingof.com/happening_now/media/avatar/behind-the-scenes-of-avatar/184/928
Movie Clips
“This is Your Avatar Now Jake” -http://makingof.com/happening_now/media/avatar/-this-is-your-avatar-now-jake/184/929
“When You Are Ready” - http://makingof.com/happening_now/media/avatar/-when-you-are-ready/184/902
“You Should See Your Faces” - http://makingof.com/happening_now/media/avatar/-you-should-see-your-faces/184/921
First-time director Scott Cooper reflects on shooting his film "Crazy Heart"
link: http://makingof.com/happening_now/media/crazy-heart/scott-cooper-discusses-crazy-heart/212/897
MakingOf recently sat down with director Scott Cooper to ask him what it was like on the set of his first movie "Crazy Heart." Cooper reveals that his acting background influenced the way he directed the ensemble cast and that he intentionally let the camera linger while shooting. He describes, "I wanted the film to feel like there were no fingerprints from the director and that the editing was invisible."
In this segment, he also names his favorite scenes from the 24-day shoot and shares that his intent was for "this picture to feel like it was born out of the 1970s. A time in which characterization and behavior were prized."
To watch the full interview click here.
"Coraline" director Henry Selick takes stop-motion animation to new levels
link: http://makingof.com/vault/media/henry-selick-discusses-coraline/896
Henry Selick is the industry's go-to-guy for creating adult-themed cartoons that appeal to both young and old moviegoers. During this exclusive interview with MakingOf, Selick covers the timeline that his latest film "Coraline" required, the complexity of the sets and compares shooting stop-motion animation to live action, "everything is real."
Two of his films ("The Nightmare Before Christmas" and "Coraline") have been released in 3D and Selick believes that ""Avatar" is the film that is "either going to get 3D to take off completely or maintain this slow and steady growth."
Click here to watch the full interview.
Actor Jeff Bridges lists the music of "Crazy Heart" as his favorite part of working on the film
link: http://makingof.com/happening_now/media/crazy-heart/jeff-bridges-discusses-crazy-heart/212/891
MakingOf sat down with actor Jeff Bridges to talk about his acclaimed performance in the independent film "Crazy Heart." His characterization of alcoholic singer-songwriter Bad Black is generating heavy Oscar buzz and already scored him a Golden Globe nomination this week. If awards season predictions prove correct, this portrayal will earn Bridges his fifth Academy Award nomination for Best Actor and potentially his first win.
During this interview, Bridges reveals that the music was his favorite part of working on the film and that Kris Kristofferson was a big influence on his character. He also shares that his old friend Music Producer T Bone Burnett told him before production began that, "We're gonna either look for songs that are just suited for you perfectly or we're going to write them tailor made for you." Bridges praises the film's musical elements and compliments first-time director Scott Cooper on his ability to let the actors improv on-set.
To watch the full interview click here.
Actress Maggie Gyllenhaal calls working with the cast of "Crazy Heart" a luxury
link: http://makingof.com/happening_now/media/crazy-heart/maggie-gyllenhal-discusses-crazy-heart/212/890
In this exclusive conversation, actress Maggie Gyllenhaal talks with MakingOf about how she delved into playing a young reporter and the love interest of Jeff Bridges' character in her latest film "Crazy Heart." The music-driven, country drama is generating significant Oscar buzz and co-star Bridges was recently nominated for a Golden Globe Award.
During this interview, Gyllenhall describes the scene that stands out as her favorite from the film. She also reveals that when it comes to selecting roles, she chooses parts carefully but admits that it always works out that "the ones that fall in my lap are the ones that are meant to be." In fact, her participation in "Crazy Heart" happened this way. She also highlights the big difference between making an independent film vs. studio movies.
To watch the full interview click here.
"The Black Swan" writer-director Darren Aronofsky discusses his filmmaking choices with MakingOf
Today, MakingOf premieres it's third interview with writer-director Darren Aronofsky. The focus is on the collaborative nature of filmmaking, which in his opinion is all about "bringing different experts together to express themselves as a group." He further explains that his first three films ("Pi," "Requiem for a Dream," and "The Fountain") were shot using an identical crew but for "The Wrestler" he chose to shake things up and worked with an almost entirely different group. The key to success, he shares, is "surrounding yourself with people you respect and admire."
Aronofsky is currently working with his latest crew on the production of his fifth film "The Black Swan." The supernatural thriller is set in the world of New York ballet and the cast includes Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Winona Ryder and Vincent Cassel
In this interview, he also highlights that a film is made three times during the production cycle. The first version is the script, the second is the footage secured during filming and the third is what results from the editing process. When discussing editing, Aronofsky reveals his favorite motto, "A film is not done until you cut your favorite scene."
Click here to watch the full exclusive interview.
Executive Producer James Stern talks with MakingOf About his decision to develop "An Education"
link: http://makingof.com/vault/media/producer-jim-stern-discusses-an-education/885
James Stern, Chairman and CEO of Endgame Entertainment, is a prolific producer who has made more than 20 feature films, 15 Broadway and off Broadway hits including "The Producers," "Stomp" and "Hairspray," and produced and directed documentary films. MakingOf CEO Christine Aylward talks with Stern about the factors that motivated him to get involved with the independent film "An Education." In the conversation Stern praises Nick Hornby's writing and calls him "one of my real heroes." He further details that as a father, the script stood out to him for it's ability to capture the main character's journey from innocence to knowledge.
Later in the conversation, Stern reflects on an early meeting he had with director Lone Scherfig and recalls an important point she made. He explains Scherfig was adamant that she didn't want this to be a period piece. She wanted it to be a film that was "made in that period." He agreed and although the production was a "leap of faith to some degree" he feels it turned out perfectly.
"An Education" is currently in theaters and lead actress Carey Mulligan was recently nominated for a Golden Globe Award. The movie's ensemble cast also includes Peter Sarsgaard, Dominic Cooper, Emma Thompson and Alfred Molina.
To watch the full interview click here.
To watch MakingOf's interview with actress Carey Mulligan click here.
To watch MakingOf's interview with director Lone Scherfig click here.
"Up in the Air" tops Golden Globe with 6 Nominations
Early this morning the Hollywood Foreign Press Association announced its nominations for the 67th Annual Golden Globes Awards. "Up in the Air" topped the list with six nominations, including best picture, drama, best director of Jason Reitman, best actor for George Clooney and best supporting actress for Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick. CLICK HERE to watch MakingOf's behind-the-scenes coverage of "Up in the Air," including exclusive interviews with Reitman, Farmiga and Kendrick. And read more to see the full list of the nominees.
Click on the nominee below to see exclusive interviews, clips, trailers and more from MakingOf.com.
FILM
BEST FEATURE - DRAMA
"Inglourious Basterds"
BEST FEATURE - COMEDY
"It's Complicated"
"Nine"
ACTOR - DRAMA
George Clooney, "Up in the Air"
Colin Firth, "A Single Man"
ACTRESS - DRAMA
Emily Blunt, "The Young Victoria"
Sandra Bullock, "The Blind Side"
Helen Mirren, "The Last Station"
Carey Mulligan, "An Education"
ACTOR - COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Daniel Day-Lewis, "Nine"
Robert Downey Jr., "Sherlock Holmes"
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, "500 Days of Summer"
Michael Stuhlbarg, "A Serious Man"
ACTRESS - COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Sandra Bullock, "The Proposal"
Marion Cotillard, "Nine"
Julia Roberts,"Duplicity"
Meryl Streep, "It's Complicated"
Meryl Streep, "Julie & Julia"
DIRECTOR – MOTION PICTURE
Kathryn Bigelow - "The Hurt Locker"
Jason Reitman - "Up in the Air"
Quentin Tarantino - "Inglourious Basterds"
SUPPORTING ACTOR
Matt Damon - "Invictus"
Woody Harrelson - "The Messenger"
Christopher Plummer - "The Last Station"
Stanley Tucci - "The Lovely Bones"
Christopher Waltz - "Inglorious Basterds"
SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Penelope Cruz - "Nine"
Vera Farmiga - "Up in the Air"
Anna Kendrick - "Up in the Air"
Mo'Nique - "Precious"
Julianne Moore - "A Single Man"
ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
"Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs"
"Coraline"
BEST ORIGINAL SONG
"Cinema Italiano" from "Nine"
"I Want to Come Home" from "Everybody's Fine"
"I Will See You" from "Avatar"
"The Weary Kind" from "Crazy Heart"
"Winter" from "Brothers"
TV
TELEVISION SERIES - DRAMA
"Big Love"
"Dexter"
"House"
"Mad Men"
"True Blood"
BEST ACTOR - DRAMA
Simon Baker, "The Mentalist"
Michael C. Hall, "Dexter"
Jon Hamm, "Mad Men"
Hugh Laurie, "House"
Bill Paxton, "Big Love"
BEST ACTRESS - DRAMA
Glenn Close, "Damages"
January Jones, "Mad Men"
Juliana Margulies, "The Good Wife"
Anna Paquin, "True Blood"
Kyra Sedgwick, "The Closer"
MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
"George O'Keeffe"
"Grey Gardens"
"Into the Storm"
"Little Dorrit"
Actress Carey Mulligan on her star-making role in "An Education"
link: http://makingof.com/vault/media/carey-mulligan-discusses-an-education/881
Carey Mulligan's portrayal of a London teenager who falls for an older man in the film "An Education" has garnered universal acclaim from critics. The continuous Awards Season buzz has enabled the film to stay relevant from the first screenings at The Sundance Film Festival through this morning's Golden Globe nominations. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association nominated Mulligan for Best Actress - Drama along with fellow actresses Emily Blunt, Sandra Bullock, Helen Mirren and Gabourey Sidibe.
MakingOf's CEO Christine Aylward sat down with Mulligan to learn more about her characterization of Jenny and the process she goes through before each film to get into character. During the interview, Mulligan also reveals she was initially attracted to the project out of her love for writer Nick Hornby's work. Her praise extends to co-star Peter Sarsgaard who she admits always kept her on her game. She describes that she was scared of certain scenes but ultimately she says "when there are things that scare me, that's always a draw."
To watch the full interview click here.
To see an interview with "An Education" director Lone Scherfig click here.
N.Y. critics pick 'Hurt Locker' as best picture
link: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3i323ddc5ff8ac614282d183b9c1ead588
Gregg Kilday. The Hollywood Reporter
Dec 14, 2009, 11:59 AM ET
The New York Film Critics Circle named the Iraq-set war drama "The Hurt Locker" its best film of the year at its annual voting meeting on Monday.
It also hailed the film's director, Kathryn Bigelow, as the year's best director.
In a rare instance of critical agreement, the Los Angeles Film Critics Assn., which met Sunday, also bestowed its top prizes on "Hurt" and Bigelow.
The New Yorkers gave best actress honors to Meryl Streep for embodying Julia Child in "Julie & Julia." George Clooney was singled out as best actor for his work in both the zeitgeist comedy drama "Up in the Air" and the animated "Fantastic Mr. Fox." "Fox" was also chosen best animated film of the year.
In the supporting categories, the New York group joined a growing chorus, awarding best supporting actress to Mo'Nique for "Precious" and best supporting actor to Christoph Waltz for "Inglourious Basterds."
Like their counterparts in L.A., the New York critics gave cinematography honors to Christian Berger for the black-and-white cinematography of "The White Ribbon."
Terence Davies' autobiographical documentary "Of Time and the City" was named best non-fiction film, and Olivier Assayas' French feature "Summer Hours" was selected best foreign film.
Steve McQueen's "Hunger" was named best first feature.
The group also voted for a special award to be given to Andrew Sarris for his contribution to film criticism.
The awards will be handed out on Jan. 11 at Crimson in New York's Flat Iron district.
Director Lone Scherfig on her film "An Education"
link: http://makingof.com/happening_now/media/an-education/lone-scherfig-awards-season-interview/70/876
The film, "An Education," a coming-of-age tale based on the autobiographical accounts of journalist Lynn Barber, has received both audience and critical acclaim. Now an Awards Season contender, moviegoers and critics have embraced the film and applauded it's story and characters. Director Lone Scherfig recently sat down with MakingOf to talk about her casting choices, the importance of integrity and authenticity when making the movie, and her favorite part of the filmmaking process.
Scherfig reveals that Peter Sarsgaard was signed on to the project first and that they discovered Carey Mulligan from a stack of DVD auditions. Scherberg describes that they knew they would cast someone who wasn't well known yet as Jenny. She calls Mulligan's performance "brilliant, really something else" and praises her for being able to show all the contradictions the character is made of.
Click here to see the full interview and hear more about the filming of "An Education."
"Public Enemies" armorer exclusively shows MakingOf the weapons used in the film
link: http://makingof.com/vault/media/the-weapons-of-public-enemies/875
Hollywood Armorer Harry Lu conducted this interview in the warehouse that holds the thousands of weapons his team uses for feature film production. During the segment, Lu pulled examples of the guns he worked with Director Michael Mann to select for the film "Public Enemies." He also talks about dissecting a scene, the importance of using historically correct equipment and compliments Actor Johnny Depp by saying "He is a natural talent, a great shot and a pleasure to work with."
In "Public Enemies," filmmaker Michael Mann directs Johnny Depp, Christian Bale and Marion Cotillard in the story of legendary outlaw John Dillinger - the charismatic bank robber whose lightening raids maid him the number one target of the FBI. The action packed film was released on DVD on December 8th.
click here to watch the interview.
Writer-Director Michael Hoffman on how he cast his film "The Last Station"
Writer-Director Michael Hoffman sat down with MakingOf to talk about his latest work “The Last Station.” The film's cast is led by some of the industry's most esteemed actors including: James McAvoy, Christopher Plummer, Paul Giamatti and Helen Mirren. Hoffman walks viewers through the casting process and reveals his good fortune by stating "Every actor I asked...said yes."
In this segment, Hoffman also talks about the realization that occurred while writing the script. Although he thought about making this movie in 1989, he now knows that he had to have experienced marriage to tell the story properly. He expands on this by detailing how marriage often lends itself to being a "tragic comedy."
"The Last Station" revolves around the last year in the life of Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy and dominated last week's nominations for the 25th Film Independent Spirit Awards with five nominations. The movie was nominated for best film, best director and screenplay for Michael Hoffman, best female lead for Helen Mirren and supporting actor for Christopher Plummer. It opens in select theaters this weekend.
Click here to watch the full interview.
Actress Vera Farmiga on what she looks for in a role and why she chose "Up in the Air"
link: http://makingof.com/happening_now/media/up-in-the-air/vera-farmiga-discusses-up-in-the-air/99/861
Vera Farmiga sat down with MakingOf to talk about her new film “Up in the Air” in which she acts alongside George Clooney and newcomer Anna Kendrick. The movie is written and directed by Jason Reitman who also helmed the films "Thank You For Smoking" and "Juno."
In our second segment, Farmiga discusses what she looks for in a role and points out that her character choices are now influenced by different factors than they were in the past. She explains that before she would look for characters that "turned her head" and nowadays she is much more focused on what the story has to say. She also describes how her pregnancy and new baby informed her characterization of Alex.
Click here to watch the full interview.
MakingOf Exclusive: Watch the “Up in the Air” Opening Credits and an interview with Designer Gareth Smith
link: http://makingof.com/happening_now/media/up-in-the-air/opening-credits-sequence/99/854
Today MakingOf premiered the Web exclusive of the opening credits sequence for Director Jason Reitman’s third feature “Up in the Air.” An awards season favorite, the film recently received two best picture awards, one from the Washington DC Area Film Critics Association (WAFCA) and the other from the National Board of Review Awards (NBR). Along with best picture, the movie was awarded the Best Adapted Screenplay from the WAFCA and George Clooney won Best Actor at both as well.
Reitman has worked with graphic design studio Shadow Play on each of his three films ("Thank You For Smoking", "Juno" and "Up In The Air"). These title sequences are an essential part of his films and have been applauded for their ability to set the tone for the film.
Click here to watch the opening title sequence.
An Interview with Gareth Smith of Shadow Play Studios
link: http://makingof.com/happening_now/media/up-in-the-air/gareth-smith-discusses-opening-credits/99/776
During this exclusive interview with MakingOf, Smith reveals the process that Shadow Play goes through when testing out various concepts. He explains that they tried an illustrated version of the "Up In the Air" credits and that the look and feel of the opening shifted when the song changed. He emphasizes how crucial it is that the opening credits match the tone of the film and details how the song choice influenced their work on this film.
To watch the interview click here.
"Up tn the Air" Writer-Director Jason Reitman defines what draws him to a project
link: http://makingof.com/happening_now/media/up-in-the-air/jason-reitman-describes-what/99/858
Today, MakingOf premieres the second part of our interview with "Up in the Air" Writer-Director Jason Reitman. In this segment, Reitman credits watching his father work on films like "Ghostbusters" (a set he calls "magical") and "Stripes" as having a big influence on his choice to become a director. He talks candidly about how that decision required him to face the presumptions often associated with children of famous filmmakers.
Reitman also answers what draws him to a project by stating "it requires a main character that has a very contrarian viewpoint to a polarizing issue." He further describes that his intent when filming is not to aim for humor but rather to capture honesty and make the people on screen seem as truthful as possible.
Click here to watch the full interview and hear Reitman reveal when he first felt like a filmmaker.
To watch all of MakingOf's "Up In The Air" interviews and clips click here.
"Twilight" writer Melissa Rosenberg's advice for aspiring artists: form a writing group
MakingOf's latest interview with writer Melissa Rosenberg focuses on her writing group and how their "essential" feedback has influenced and shaped her career over the past 19 years. In this segment, Rosenberg opens up about her script writing process, how she wrote the first "Twilight" movie in merely five weeks and why everything she works on is vetted through her peers in some way.
Rosenberg also reveals that the group meets every Wednesday over dinner and that each writer brings along a project or pitch they are working on for the others to see. According to Rosenberg, surrounding yourself with a circle of talented writers who offer great feedback is fundamental to developing your craft. She drives this point home by stating "I definitely would not have the career I have without them."
For more insight about her writing group and process click here.
Actress Anna Kendrick discusses "Up in the Air" and acting alongside George Clooney with MakingOf
link: http://makingof.com/happening_now/media/up-in-the-air/anna-kendrick-discusses-up-in-the-air/99/852
Anna Kendrick is most known for her part in this fall's blockbuster "Twilight: New Moon" but it's her latest role that has the industry and critics buzzing. She recently sat down with MakingOf to talk about working on the critically acclaimed film "Up In The Air." During the interview, Kendrick praises her co-star George Clooney's on-set behavior and elaborates that "his awareness for other people is something to aspire to." She admits to being excited about working with him before the shoot and confirms that "He is amazing. Everything you hear about him is absolutely true."
Kendrick reveals that she didn't like to stray from the page when she was in character or in her words "rigid Natalie mode." She also discusses her characterization of the hyper-organized Natalie Keener and how she searched for what bothers her about losing control.
Click here to see the full Anna Kendrick interview and click here to see all of MakingOf's content from Up In the Air
Producer Wyck Godfrey reveals "Gears of War" tone to MakingOf
Producer Wyck Godfrey took a break from talking "Twilight" to reveal the direction the highly anticipated "Gears of War" movie is headed. In this exclusive conversation with MakingOf, Godfrey describes his vision for the video game adaptation as being like "Cloverfield". He further explains "we really want to focus on a world that's running well and then it's Emergence Day." During this interview he also mentions director Len Wiseman and describes how he pitched the hit video game's creators.
To watch the full interview - click here
Director Robert Connolly on his politically charged film "Balibo"
link: http://makingof.com/happening_now/media/balibo/director-robert-connolly-discusses-balibo/172/844
Director Robert Connolly talks with MakingOf about the audience's emotional reaction to his film "Balibo" at the 2009 Toronto Film Festival. "Balibo" is an emotional, politically charged movie that tells the story of five Australian newsmen who were brutally murdered by Indonesian soldiers in 1975. Since its Australian premiere earlier this year, the film has been stirring up controversy in Indonesia, being branded by the government as “offensive” and resulting in its removal from the line-up at Jakarta Fest. Last week “Balibo” was in the news again when the Indonesian Film Censorship Board nationally banned the movie from screening.
Connolly sat down with MakingOf to discuss why journalists make great protagonists and the motivation behind making his film. He also reveals that he's "personally always loved war correspondence films,” and believes that there are far too many journalist deaths each year that result in the disappearance of freedom of speech.
Click here to watch MakingOf's exclusive interview with Robert Connolly.
Writer-Director Kirk Jones explains how he cast Robert DeNiro in "Everybody's Fine"
Kirk Jones is a British filmmaker whose work includes "Waking Ned Devine" and "Nanny McPhee." His latest movie "Everybody's Fine" marks the first time he filmed in the US and hosts an all-star cast. The movie stars acting legend Robert DeNiro as a retired worker and father of four who embarks on a roadtrip to visit his children for the holidays.
In this exclusive interview, Jones walks viewers through how he convinced DeNiro to sign on to the project and also emphasizes the significance of their first meeting. He reflects on that day and his nerves by explaining "I knew I only had one shot."
Click here to watch the full interview.
"Up in the Air" wins best film by the National Board of Review. Writer/Director Jason Reitman talks with MakingOf in an exclusive interview about the behind-the-scenes of one of this year's strongest Oscar contenders.
link: http://makingof.com/happening_now/media/up-in-the-air/jason-reitman-discusses-up-in-the-air/99/803
Jason Reitman is best known for his first two films, "Thank You For Smoking" and "Juno," and is back in the spotlight with his latest "Up in the Air." The film is based on the novel by Walter Kirn and stars George Clooney as Ryan Bingham, a frequent flier who makes a living by firing downsized employees. While some filmmakers choose to steer clear of controversial subjects, Reitman has proven yet again that he is the master of navigating a seemingly sensitive topic with compassion, humanity and ease.
Reitman explains to MakingOf that when adapting a book he thinks of the material as a tool box and that "anything in it is fair game." He further details that early on he uses post it notes to mark the material he plans on using. He also answers why he thinks about the actors very early on in the process and describes the unconventional method his crew used when filming a key scene.
Anna Kendrick, who plays Clooney's colleague, also won best supporting actress by the National Board of Review. MakingOf was delighted to talk with her about starring opposite Clooney and filming "Up in the Air" at the same time as "Twilight: New Moon". Check back next week to watch MakingOf's exclusive interview with her.
Click here to watch Jason Reitman's full interview.
Opening credits guru Gareth Smith talks to MakingOf about his team's work on Jason Reitman's "Up in the Air"
link: http://makingof.com/happening_now/media/up-in-the-air/gareth-smith-discusses-opening-credits/99/776
Shadow Play, the company that conceptualized and created the opening credits for each of Jason Reitman's three films, was co-founded by designer Gareth Smith. The title sequences for both 2005's "Thank You For Smoking" and 2007's "Juno" captured the audience right from the start and his team's work on "Up in the Air" is no exception.
During this exclusive interview with MakingOf, Smith reveals the process that Shadow Play goes through when testing out various concepts. He explains that they tried an illustrated version of the "Up In the Air" credits and that the look and feel of the opening shifted when the song changed. He emphasizes how crucial it is that the opening credits match the tone of the film and details how the song choice influenced their work on this film.
To watch the entire interview click here.
Director Sacha Gervasi discusses the year's most talked about rock documentary "Anvil! The Story of Anvil" with MakingOf
Sacha Gervasi's directorial debut, the applauded rock documentary "Anvil! The Story of Anvil," beat the odds and earned distribution and a hardcore fan following after most distributors passed on the film. The true story follows the Toronto-based, heavy metal band on their life long quest for elusive fame and fortune.
Gervasi recently sat down with MakingOf to talk about how he got involved with the project, his expectations before filming began and what he learned from a bunch of middle aged rockers along the way. He details that "I knew that people would go in laughing and if it was done right by the end they'd be really surprised by the authenticity and courage it took for these guys to pursue their dreams."
To watch the entire segment and hear Gervasi's advice for aspiring writers click here.
MakingOf.com debuts an exclusive clip from the new film "Brothers"
link: http://makingof.com/happening_now/media/brothers/-impactful-reviews-tv-spot/205/793
Today, MakingOf premiered an exclusive TV spot to promote the soon to be released film "Brothers." The clip features a first look at scenes from the film and highlights the lead actor's praised performances. "Brothers" is directed by Jim Sheridan and stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Tobey Maguire and Natalie Portman. It is being released in theaters this Friday, December 4th.
Click here to watch the exclusive clip.
Exclusive: Anna Kendrick discusses her Twitter handle
At the press day for her new film "Up in the Air", actress Anna Kendrick revealed the meaning behind her Twitter name. As with many others, Anna couldn't get her name because someone was posing as an imposter. She decided to take matters into her own hand and use a nickname that actor Nicholas D'Agosto used for her on the set of "Rocket Science". Eventually director Jason Reitman of "Up in the Air" also called her that nickname - AK47.
Follow @MakingOf and @AnnaKendrick47 on Twitter today!
"Twilight" Producer Wyck Godfrey confirms there are plans to make “Breaking Dawn”
link: http://makingof.com/insiders/media/wyck/godfrey/wyck-godfrey-discusses-breaking-dawn/196/784
Although it hasn't been officially announced, with the success of the first “Twilight” film and the huge opening of “The Twilight Saga: New Moon”, it’s no secret plans are in the works for the adaptation of the fourth and final book in the series, “Breaking Dawn”.
In this short clip, Godfrey opens up about the start time of pre-production on the fourth and final installment in the "Twilight" franchise.
Click here to watch him discuss the new film.
Vera Farmiga reveals her favorite scenes from her new film "Up in the Air" to MakingOf.com
link: http://makingof.com/happening_now/media/up-in-the-air/vera-farmiga-discusses-up-in-the-air/99/783
Over the past decade actress Vera Farmiga has starred in films that range from "The Manchurian Candidate" to "The Departed" and has shared the screen with industry veterans such as Christopher Walken, Richard Gere, and Jon Voight. She has also worked with iconic directors including both Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese.
Farmiga recently sat down with MakingOf.com to talk about her new film “Up in the Air” in which she acts alongside George Clooney and newcomer Anna Kendrick. The film is written and directed by Jason Reitman who also helmed the films "Thank You For Smoking" and "Juno". Reitman wrote Alex, the character Farmiga portrays, with her in mind.
In the interview, Farmiga discusses her character development and explains that when it comes to on-screen chemistry "You don't really prepare for something like that. You have to be in the moment. One part rely on chemistry and one part on the incredible text we had." She also describes why she enjoyed shooting an untraditional love scene with George Clooney and their frequent flier cards.
Click here to watch the full interview.
Executive Producer Jill Footlick describes her role on the set of "The Private Lives of Pippa Lee"
Jill Footlick started out in the industry in the mid-90's as a New York based production manager and her work was a part of films like "Boy's Don't Cry." Her most recent job was the role of executive producer on Rebecca Miller's new film "The Private Lives of Pippa Lee". Footlick describes to MakingOf how she got involved in the project, her responsibility both creatively and financially and reflects on the film's premiere at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival.
click here to see the full interview.
Writer-Director Rebecca Miller opens up to MakingOf about her film "The Private Lives of Pippa Lee"
Rebecca Miller is an independent filmmaker whose latest work "The Private Lives of Pippa Lee" opens this Friday. The movie is an adaptation of Miller's first novel that shares the same name and the title character is played by both Robin Wright and Blake Lively. The story focuses on one woman's journey and the timing jumps between the past and present throughout to show how past events form the foundation of who people become.
During this interview with MakingOf, Miller reveals her writing and directing influences, how she prepares for sudden changes on set and why her depth of knowledge is a key part of the production process. She also identifies the line of dialogue from this film that she feels is the driving force of the story.
To hear more about this personal adaptation click here.
The writing team behind "500 Days of Summer" wonder if fans thought the film had a "happy ending"
Today, MakingOf premieres the second part of our exclusive interview with the "500 Days of Summer" writers: Scott Neustadter and Michael H Weber. The duo recently sat down with us and opened up about their curiosity over what Summer's version of the film would look like. They admit the movie started from a "I'm angry at this girl. How dare she." viewpoint but progressed and ended on a different note. During the interview they also debated the bench scene that closes the film - is this another one of Tom's fantasies or reality?
Click here to watch the full interview
Director John Hillcoat talks about "The Road" and his longtime love of Cormac McCarthy's writing
John Hillcoat's adaptation of "The Road" revolves around lead actor Viggo Mortensson's performance as a father trudging through the barren, post-apocalytic world with his son. The director sat down with MakingOf to discuss how he prepared to shoot the film, translating "the magic of the book" and working with actors who will hold their own on the big screen.
The interview also delves into Hillcoat's storyboarding strategy which includes outlining everything with the DP and then using those plans as a "blueprint" once shooting begins.
click here to watch the full interview.
Twilight Producer Wyck Godfrey breaks down a key scene from "Twilight: New Moon" exclusively for MakingOf
In his latest interview with MakingOf, Producer Wyck Godfrey walks fans through how lead actress Kristen Stewart shot the scene where she jumps off a cliff into a wave-filled, freezing body of water. Godfrey notes that they shot this portion of the blockbuster against a green screen because there were no appropriate cliffs available on location in Canada. He also details that Stewart not only silenced her fear of water when jumping into a tank filled with waves and divers but also filmed this scene while she was sick.
"The Twilight Saga: New Moon" posted the third-largest opening in domestic box-office history this weekend with over $140 million worth of ticket sales domestically. This opening more than doubled the first weekend receipts of last year's "Twilight".
To watch Godfrey explain how they shot this pivotal scene in "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" click here.
Actor Lluis Homar re-teams with director Pedro Almodovar for his new film "Broken Embraces"
Spanish actor Lluis Homar stars opposite Penelope Cruz in Pedro Almodovar's latest "Broken Embraces." Homar explained to MakingOf how he immersed himself into his role as a blind screenwriter and what it was like to be on-set with Almodovar.
During this interview, Homar also describes how he found out that he'd been cast in this film. He admits that Almodovar, who he worked with six years ago, revealed in an interview that he would be a part of this project. Homar then highlights how they both conducted interviews with blind men to find the inspiration for his character.
Click here to watch the full length interview.
Actor Verne Troyer shows his dramatic side in "The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus"
Verne Troyer is best known for playing Mini-Me and acting alongside Mike Meyers in the comedic Austin Powers films. While his latest role occasionally offers comic relief, it's the serious tone of his portrayal he wants to talk about.
MakingOf recently sat down with Troyer to discuss his work in director Terry Gilliam's "The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus." During the interview the actor shared that he felt "very honored Gilliam gave me a chance to portray a dramatic character." Troyer also admitted that the director, who he worked with on "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas", personally wrote this role for him and that their friendship influenced the characterization of Percy.
Click here to see Verne Troyer describe how he reacted when he saw the finished film.
Melissa Rosenberg talks with MakingOf.com about what happens the morning after premieres and how she juggled her work on both “Twilight: New Moon” and “Dexter”
Today MakingOf.com features another exclusive conversation with writer Melissa Rosenberg. In this segment, Rosenberg talks about keeping a consistent tone throughout the "Twilight" movies and opens up about how she balances writing the film franchise as well as working as head writer on the popular Showtime series “Dexter”.
Rosenberg also candidly describes that "Writing is a very humbling job. You go to the press junkets, you go to the red carpet and the next morning you wake up facing a blank page." She further explains that "Just because you get all this attention and praise doesn't mean the ideas are any easier to come by."
For more insight about her role as the writer of “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” and the television series "Dexter" click here.
Industry newcomer Lily Cole talks about acting opposite Heath Ledger in legendary director Terry GIlliam's "The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus"
British actress Lily Cole recently chatted with MakingOf about her transition from modeling to acting and her breakout role in Terry Gilliam's latest film. Cole describes how after working with Marilyn Manson and being cast in the Sally Potter film "Rage" she was given the script and auditioned for "The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus." She also reveals which scene was her favorite to film and how Heath Ledger encouraged ad libbing on set.
Her advice for landing roles is simple "I just let scripts come to me as naturally as possible - as opposed to chasing after them."
To watch the interview in it's entirety click here.
Twilight Producer Wyck Godfrey Talks with MakingOf.com About Casting Edward and Bella and the Chemistry between Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson
Today MakingOf continues its conversation with "Twilight: New Moon" Producer Wyck Godfrey. Godfrey shines some light on the casting process that went into finding the perfect Bella and Edward. When asked about the greatest challenge as a producer on "Twilight," he reveals that it was getting Bella right and describes how crucial Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson's chemistry is to the film's success.
He further explains that there were skeptics when the lead parts were initially cast but that he "can't imagine anyone else playing Bella" and that Pattinson has a "timeless romanticism to his behavior that really captured Edward."
Click here to see Godfrey talk about the audition process and how they knew Pattinson was the one only weeks before the first "Twilight" shoot began.
What does a Food Stylist do? Valerie Smith, Food Stylist for "Titanic" Talks with MakingOf.com and Explains
Valerie Aikman-Smith, a food stylist who recently published her first book "Salt: Cooking with the World's Favorite Seasoning," has worked in the film industry for more than 15 years on movies including "Titantic," "Ocean's 11," "Vanilla Sky" and many more. Aikman-Smith didn't set out to be a food stylist, in fact she didn't know the job existed. She loved to cook but knew she didn't want to be a chef in a restaurant. When she discovered the job of food stylist while watching a special on cable, Aikman-Smith knew she found the perfect job. Aikman-Smith shares her path, her love of cooking and talks about her first film project, James Cameron’s “Titanic.”
Click here to watch her full interview.
"Blessed" helmer Ana Kokkinos discusses directing an ensemble film with lead Miranda Otto
Director Ana Kokkinos and actor Miranda Otto, who's appeared onscreen in blockbusters like “War of the Worlds” and the "Lord of the Rings” trilogy, sat down with MakingOf to discuss their film “Blessed.” The story revolves around seven lost youths who wander the Melbroune streets while their mothers await their return.
Kokkinos shares her abiity to get actors out of their heads in order to embody their characters completely. She also opens up about the design of the film, her approach to filming this ensemble piece and how she and Otto worked together to ensure they hit the right tone with their takes.
Click here to view the full interview.
Production Designer of "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World" shares his industry insight with MakingOf
William Sandell continues his discussion with MakingOf and in his latest segment opens up about the fragility of his position and advises aspiring production designers on how to cope with industry politics. Sandell notes that on-set his allegiance is always with the director and stresses the importance of being honest.
Click here to learn more from William Sandell, an industry veteran whose work can be seen in films that include “Robocop,” “Air Force One,” “The Perfect Storm,” and “Poseidon.”
An Exclusive Look at "Anvil! The Story of Anvil," a Documentary Touted as an Award Contender
Sacha Gervasi's directorial debut, the applauded rock documentary "Anvil! The Story of Anvil," beat the odds and earned distribution and a hardcore fan following after most distributors passed on the film. The true story was recently released on DVD and follows the Toronto-based, heavy metal band on their life long quest for elusive fame and fortune. Gervasi recently sat down with MakingOf and opened up about director Michel Gondry's positive reaction to the film. He also breaks the news that the band is scheduled to appear in the opening sequence of Gondry's new film, "The Green Hornet." Gervasi exclusively reveals (warning: spoiler alert) that the band members of Anvil literally "blow up" while rocking out in a blaze of glory.
To view the first part of our interview with Gervasi click here. To see an exclusive interview where Michel Gondry discusses working with actors click here.
Make sure and check back for more footage from our interview including details regarding Gervasi's first meeting with the band, the challenges and advantages of shooting a documentary, and the legions of famous fans (including Madonna) who support Anvil.
Director Marc Forster Discusses the Importance of Failure
Today MakingOf releases part three in a series of interviews with Marc Forster, the talented director of films including "Finding Neverland," "Quantum of Solace" and "The Kite Runner." Forster shares his insight on why failure is important -- "only through failure can you find new creativity." He also talks about how he is drawn to projects that challenge him, the importance of communication on-set, and the unpredictable nature of filmmaking.
click here to watch his exclusive interview on MakingOf.
Screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg Shares Behind the Scenes Stories on "The Twilight Saga"
Melissa Rosenberg is the person who took the words from the three Twilight books and turned them into stories for the screen. MakingOf sat down with Rosenberg and talked about the process of using the rich material in the books to write the screenplays, collaborating with director Chris Weiz, and her virtual script re-writing process on Eclipse. Rosenberg, who is also the lead screenwriter on the popular series "Dexter," also talked with MakingOf about Anna Kendrick's amazing ability to improvise and the profound influence of each director's style and visibility on each Twilight movie.
Click here to watch her new interview.
Wyck Godfrey Discusses Producing "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" and the Decision Behind Three Directors
Producer Wyck Godfrey plays an instrumental role in bringing the film phenomenon "Twilight" to theaters. His background producing feature films, which range from "Behind Enemy Lines" to "When a Stranger Calls" prepared him for overseeing production on this blockbuster franchise. Two weeks before the highly anticipated release of "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" Godfrey sat down with MakingOf to share the decision behind bringing different directorial styles to each film, his close collaboration with director Chris Weitz and the team's focus on satisfying the film's rabid fans.
Click here to learn more about Godfrey's on-set experience and stay tuned all week for more "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" coverage - including an exclusive interview with screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg, behind-the-scenes content and more.
Robert Jason on the role of the Gaffer
Robert Jason has been in the industry for over twenty years and has worked on a variety of films including "Ghostbusters", "Rush Hour", "Ocean's Twelve", and "The Black Dahlia". Jason sat down with MakingOf to explain the role of the gaffer, a person who works closely with the cinematographer to capture the best image possible.
Click here to learn more about how important a gaffer is on set and the challenges between lighting between different genders.
Steven Poster opens up about “The Box”
Cinematographer Steven Poster continues his conversation with MakingOf to discuss "The Box" which is in theaters this weekend. The discussion topics range from how he collaborated with director Richard Kelly to why he skips storyboarding. The reason for the latter is that he prefers to create free-hand sketches to visualize scenes. They give him a rough idea where to place the camera and that freedom allows Poster and Kelly to come up with new and interesting ideas on the spot.
Click here to learn more about his on-set strategies.
Writer - Director Richard Curtis
Richard Curtis's distinguished writing talent has been displayed in hit British films that include "Four Weddings and a Funeral", "Notting Hil", and "Love Actually" - which he also directed. His latest ensemble piece which he wrote and directed as well is "Pirate Radio," which stars Philip Seymour Hoffman, Rhys Ifans and Bill Nighy.
MakingOf recently sat down with Curtis to talk through his process and learn what happened behind the scenes on "Pirate Radio". Curtis reveals that when he was writing the script he put together a soundtrack to help keep the process moving and he often writes scenes with specific songs in mind. He also tells us that the biggest challenge with this film was getting it down to a "reasonable" length. He shot in a very fluid way and encouraged improvisation and his original assembly clocked in at over five hours.
Click here to watch MakingOf's interview with Richard Curtis that covers everything from where he gets his inspiration to his advice for aspiring screenwriters.
Terry Gilliam discusses the Miracles of Filmmaking
Terry Gilliam has been working tirelessly to enliven his audiences for more than 40 years. He has used his imagination and creativity to lure in audiences with unforgettable films such as "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" "The Fisher King," "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" and "Brazil". This year Gilliam brings us another unforgettable film, "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus”. The movie is much-anticatipated; production was almost shut down mid way due to the tragic death of the lead actor, Heath Ledger. What might have halted others to a standstill only delayed Gilliam. While the cast and crew were devastated by Ledger's death, all agreed the movie must be completed and everyone close to the project made it their mission to finish the film.
MakingOf sat down with Gilliam to learn more about the making of "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus". “Imaginarium’s” initial concept came from the simple notion of bringing something from another time into present day. Gilliam thought that a “traveling theater” would be the perfect starting place. He then added the need to make a choice between good and not good and then good and evil. As Gilliam does in all his films he started mixing things together and out came a movie that includes themes of imagination, mortality, family, and more.
Click here to watch the first part of MakingOf’s interview with Terry Gilliam as he discussed the production, his love of cinema and the influences of Georges Méliès. And continue to visit MakingOf as we add interviews with the cast and crew.
Richard Kelly advises aspiring filmmakers
This week Richard Kelly is back in theaters with his film “The Box” which stars Cameron Diaz and James Marsden. The story revolves around a couple who find a wooden box on their doorstep that if they chose to open it will grant them a million dollars and kill someone they don't know.
Kelly spoke with MakingOf to talk through his advice for aspiring directors. In our exclusive conversation he highlights the importance of studying the on-set process, holding on to your own voice and notes the significance of writing for yourself and not the marketplace. He elaborates that he never thinks about formula and always makes sure that his scripts "grab" him.
To see the full interview and learn more about Richard Kelly and his process click here.
Mike White on producing and acting in his friends' new movie "Gentlemen Broncos"
Writer Mike White has spent the past twelve years working both behind and in front of the camera. He has written movies that range from studio releases such as "School of Rock" and "Nacho Libre" to independent films including "The Good Girl" and his directorial debut "Year of the Dog". MakingOf recently sat down with White to discuss the importance of defining the scope of a movie, why the shooting location is key to the end result and why he chose to act in "Gentlemen Broncos."
Click here to watch the full interview.
"Gentlemen Broncos" director on his character driven stories
Jared Hess, director of "Napolean Dynamite" and "Nacho Libre," is back with his take on another quirky tale. Over the weekend his newest film "Gentlemen Broncos" opened in limited theaters and expands this weekend. The movie which plays on absurdity stars Jemaine Clement, Jennifer Coolidge and Sam Rockwell and is co-written by his wife Jerusha Hess.
In Hess's first conversation with MakingOf he dives into how he works with his wife to create these fantastical characters and explains that they "populate our films with characters who are loosely based on family members or people we grew up with." He also delves into how he worked with Flight of the Concords star Jemaine Clement and why his music supervisor Randy Poster is able to build a soundtrack around his eccentric leads.
Click here to watch the interview now.
MakingOf Celebrates Halloween
This weekend MakingOf dusts off the cobwebs and digs deep into the Vault to pull out behind-the-scenes footage from some of the scariest, jump-out-of-your-seat films of the past thirty years. Take a trip with MakingOf as we explore the designs of the werewolves from “Underworld: Evolution”. Explore the eerie haunted town of “Silent Hill” and revisit the resurgence of the slasher genre with “I Know What You Did Last Summer”. Halloween past wouldn't be complete without highlighting the classic ghost comedy "Ghostbusters" -- take a ride hunting for ghosts in the Ecto-1 from the original “Ghostbusters” film.
In theaters this weekend is Paramount’s “Paranormal Activity”. Last weekend the indie horror film took the top spot at the box office with an estimated gross of $22 million. The movie stands out in a crowd; it was made for less than $15,000 and premiered at Slamdance. After being championed by an executive at Dreamworks, the movie legitimately scared director Steven Spielberg. Dreamworks picked up "Paranormal Activity" with the intention of creating a big budget remake of the film and placing the original as a DVD extra. Instead, "Paranormal Activity" scared audiences through the festival circuit and at select midnight screenings where a buzz for the film began to cultivate. With the help of organic word of mouth promotion online and off "Paranormal Activity" is on track to become this decade's “The Blair Witch Project.”
What are some of your favorite scary movies? Which famous movie characters will take over your body this Halloween? Let us know by interacting in the MakingOf Community, which is now even easier to become a part of with Facebook Connect.
Have a fun and safe Halloween from everyone at MakingOf!
Mark Duplass on Resourceful Filmmaking
Four years after Mark Duplass co-created the indie sensation "The Puffy Chair." The film still maintains cult status. Watch this interview with Mark Duplass as he reflects on co-writing, co-producing, co-directing and starring. “It’s sort of the available materials school of filmmaking, don’t write a script and try and fill in what you got – figure out what you got and write the script to match for it.”
Click here to learn more from Mark Duplass and check out the premiere of "The League" tonight on FX.
Actor Aidan Quinn discusses picking a project
Actor Aidan Quinn has touched fans of film, theatre and television for more than two decades. He has worked on films ranging from big budget studio films such as "Legends of the Fall" to independent films including "Songcatcher", "Nine Lives" and most recently "A Shine of Rainbows". Quinn has worked with some of the greatest actors of our time - Meryl Streep, Liam Neeson, Brad Pitt, Robert Duvall and Johnny Depp, and many others. MakingOf had the opportunity to talk with Quinn about what he looks for in a project, his preparation process, and what he’s learned from fellow actors along the way.
Click here to see the full interview.
John Krasinski discusses starting out
John Krasinski is best known for his role as Jim Halpert on NBC’s “The Office.” Before the show started it’s 6th season, Krasinski sat down with MakingOf to talk about getting started in the industry. One of his first roles was actually in a play written by fellow “Office” star and scribe BJ Novak. While reflecting on his first few gigs, Krasinski also takes note of the huge opportunity it is to be a working paid actor and the responsibility he has to the actors guild as well as the audience.
Click here to learn more about John Krasinski and the role of the actor.
Director Marc Forster on inspiration and making a film your own
Marc Forster is an established director who is known for his esteemed body of work and the wide range of subject matter his filmography covers. He has directed actors like Halle Berry, Kate Winslet, Johnny Depp, Will Ferrell and Daniel Craig in revered films like “Monster’s Ball,” "Finding Neverland,” “Stranger than Fiction," and his latest "Quantum of Solace."
During this interview with MakingOf, Forester emphasizes the importance of the story arc and how necessary a strong connection between the story and the director is. His other industry advice includes working with talented short film directors, viewing as many old and new movies as possible and urging young filmmakers to focus on the realistic scope of their story.
Click here to watch the full interview and learn about the first film he shot with a six-figure budget.
Writer-Director Rian Johnson on his debut “Brick”
In 2005, Rian Johnson burst onto the festival circuit with his first feature film “Brick.” This MakingOf exclusive interview looks back at how he got his debut made, discloses what artists he drew inspiration from and highlights how lead Joseph Gordon Levitt was cast. He also guides viewers through what it was like to be a writer with a "very weird script" to a filmmaker going into production. His strategy included getting his work in the hands of "literally anyone who would read it".
To see the full interview and hear more about how Johnson completed his first feature click here.
45th Chicago International Film Festival Announces Audience Choice Awards
The centerpiece film of the 45th anniversary Chicago International Film Festival, Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire, was named the Festival’s Audience Choice Award winner Friday. “Like everyone else who’s seen it, I was left absolutely shattered by Precious,” says founder and artistic director Michael Kutza. “We were proud to honor both director Lee Daniels and actress Gabourey Sidibe at the Festival this year, and we’re thrilled that the Chicago audience responded so well to the film.”
Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire, to be released theatrically by Lionsgate Entertainment, has won audience prizes in Canada and Spain as well as the U.S. The Chicago International Film Festival Audience Award is the fourth audience prize for the film.
Lone Scherfig’s An Education, a Sony Pictures Classics release, ranked next in the audience voting. The French/Belgian coproduction No Hard Feelings! from director Yves Hanchar and distributed by Pyramide International, followed in the voting. The directors of all three films were present for their screenings.
Filmgoers receive ballots at each screening they attend, and votes are weighted so that a film screening once has the same eligibility as a film screening multiple times.
see the new trailer for the film by clicking here.
"Motherhood" creator Katherine Dieckmann describes film as the female version of "Curb Your Enthusiasm"
Writer-director Katherine Dieckmann sat down with MakingOf to discuss her take on parenting and how she channeled it into her new film "Motherhood" which stars Uma Thurman, Anthony Edwards and Minnie Driver. Through highlighting her changing New York neighborhood and the aging and evolution of characters. She also explains that the film shares similarities with Larry David's "Curb Your Enthusiasm," with Uma Thurman's character portraying the cranky female version of him. Dieckmann also expands on her casting process and the rich interactions between her three leads.
Click here to watch the full interview and see "Motherhood" in select theaters today.
Uma Thurman on her lead role in “Motherhood”
MakingOf is home to a new, exclusive clip that features Academy Award nominated actress Uma Thurman discussing her latest film, the indie comedy “Motherhood,” which opens in select theaters Friday.
Thurman describes “Motherhood” as “honest, lifelike, and human,” and further explains that she related so much to her character that she felt the story was almost autobiographical. The film takes a sincere look at what it takes to be a mother, approaching the subject in a "humorous way that reveals something truthful.”
click here to see the interview.
SAW VI Screenwriters Dunstan and Melton Discuss the Creation of the "Saw" Series
Screenwriters Marcus Dunstan and Patrick Melton, the team responsible for scaring audiences around the world every Halloween for the past three years, now bring us "Saw VI". Dunstan and Melton sit down with MakingOf to discuss their detailed writing process, the difference between the original “Saw” lore and the current "Saw VI" and to share their advice for screenwriters. Look for “Saw VI” in theaters Friday October 23. Watch the full interview with the screenwriters Dunstan and Melton by clicking here.
Director Adam Elliot finds "true 3D" in claymation
Adam Elliot is most known for winning the Oscar for his clay animated short film "Harvie Krumpet". He's back with his first full-length feature film, “Mary and Max” which is releasing in select theaters and on local cable on-demand this week. Elliot spent over six years making “Mary & Max,” which has gone on to become Australia's biggest animated film. Elliot brought in set builders from “Star Wars” and post-production supervisors from Peter Jackson’s “King Kong” and is proud to say “everything you see on the screen is handmade - no special effects were done on a computer.” He continued, “Rain is wire, fire is red cellophane, and all the water [in the film] is sexual lubricant!”
Click here to see Adam Elliot's full interview on "Mary & Max".
Click here to see an exclusive look behind-the-scenes with Eric Bana.
Click here to see clips from the film.
Brendan Gleeson goes gangster in the new mob movie "Perrier's Bounty"
Actor Brendan Gleeson shares details with MakingOf about his role in Ian Fitzgibbon’s latest film “Perrier's Bounty,” which co-stars Cillian Murphy. Gleeson describes his character, lead gangster Darren Perrier, as a disillusioned man who at his core “abuses the goodness of human nature.” "Perrier’s Bounty" follows Gleeson's character who’s looking to exact his revenge on a trio of fugitives responsible for the accidental death of one of his cronies. This role is the latest in Gleeson's extensive body of work which includes parts in "In Bruges", "Beowulf" and the Harry Potter films.
Click here to learn more about the film and Gleeson's strategy for emotionally capturing the truth.
First Look: Rian Johnson discusses his next film "Looper"
Writer-Director Rian Johnson continues his MakingOf series with a sneak peak at his next film "Looper". Johnson explains that it will be a change of pace from his last outing "The Brothers Bloom" and categorizes "Looper" as belonging in a "darker, sci-fi" genre. Watch the exclusive interview to hear more about his latest work and why the script has been giving him a headache.
Click here to watch a conversation you can only see on MakingOf.
Co-stars Eddie Marsan & Martin Compston play the scenes straight
Actors Eddie Marsan & Martin Compston recently sat down with MakingOf to discuss their collaboration on "The Disappearance of Alice Creed." Watch the co-stars share how they initially got involved with the project, their goals on set and the similarities between their acting processes. Marsan describes that behind-the-scenes he likes to pace around while listening to music and visualizing images rather than running lines. Compston adds that he too is a pacer and lit up when he realized he shares an acting method with Marsan.
Find out what else happened when the cameras weren't rolling by clicking here.
Screenwriter John August on "Go"
John August's latest MakingOf interview concludes his screenwriting segments with a look back at his first film "Go". August first got involved in the 1999 film after graduating from film school. In this interview, he highlights how he worked for years to develop a 35-page short film script that led him to develop a film that could "reset." August accomplished this by expanding the short film story into three different perspectives which each revealed different character motives.
Click here to find out more about August's producing strategies and the development of "Go".
J Blakeson on his Directorial Debut
MakingOf sat down with Director J Blakeson to talk about his first feature "The Disappearance of Alice Creed". In this interview, Blakeson shares how he learned from his actors Eddie Marsan and Martin Compston and built suspense in every scene. He also describes collaborating with his Director of Photography Philipp Blaubach on the composition of shots.
click here to watch the interview with Director J Blakeson.
The Role of the Production Designer
Production designer William Sandell has been an industry leader for more than two decades. His state of the art work has set the tone for hit movies such as “Robocop,” “Air Force One,” “The Perfect Storm,”“Master and Commander” and “Poseidon.”
Sandell recently took time to chat with MakingOf about the role of the production designer and explain how crucial it is to work closely with the director to capture the look the script is after.
Click here to hear his expert advice about production design.
Tim Blake Nelson on Leaves of Grass
Tim Blake Nelson is widely known for his acting work, having appeared in more than 30 films and television shows throughout his career.This year Nelson continues to expand his film repertoire by screenwriting and directing his latest “Leaves of Grass.”
In “Leaves of Grass,” Edward Norton plays two completely different characters and many scenes called for each of them to interact with one another - through both dialogue and physical motions. In his MakingOf interview, Nelson discusses the challenges of shooting one actor playing multiple roles and the camera tricks that are needed to make each scene believable.
Watch the full interview by clicking here.
EXCLUSIVE: Actress / Comedian Aubrey Plaza shares her tricks of the trade
2009 was a busy year for actress/comedian Aubrey Plaza. She stars on the show “Parks and Recreation,” acted opposite Adam Sandler in Judd Apatow's film “Funny People", and was named one of Variety’s “10 Comics to Watch”. Plaza sat down with MakingOf to talk about her transition from sketch comedy to film and shared why she always asks her directors alot of questions, never avoids taking risks and counts on the little things to make her stand out.
To view Aubrey Plaza’s full interview - click here
EXCLUSIVE: "Eyes Wide Open" to reach audiences through international co-production strategy
MakingOf's interview with "Eyes Wide Open" director Haim Tabakman and producer Raphael Katz provides an inside look at international co-production - a growing filmmaking strategy. Their team worked with Israel, Germany and France's film commissions to co-produce this project. Tabakman and Katz explain the driving force behind this model is that by splitting the financing between multiple countries, certain control and creative input is shared, insuring everyone will get the best possible (and profitable) product.
The controversial "Eyes Wide Open" storyline revolves around the drama that ensues when a married butcher falls in love with a seductive younger man in Jerusalem's insular ultra-orthodox community. Want to hear more about it? Click here to watch the full interview.
EXCLUSIVE: Writer/Director Rodrigo Garcia discusses his latest film "Mother and Child"
Rodrigo Garcia's film "Mother and Child" recently premiered at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival. The drama stood out for it's strong performances from a cast that includes Annette Bening, Samuel L. Jackson, Naomi Watts and Kerry Washington. Garcia is no stranger to the festival circuit, in 2005 his movie "Nine Lives" also received critical acclaim.
During this exclusive interview Garcia offers future filmmakers some sound advice, “you will never recuperate from problems with the script or from hiring the wrong actors." He also describes how he worked closely with his cinematographer Xavier Grobet to ensure he captured "raw" performances from his cast and outlines how he and his producers were able to finance the low-budget, Los Angeles shoot.
To view the full interview and learn more about "Mother and Child" - click here
Actor-Musician Eve and Andrew Wilson talk about the Making Of 'Whip It'
Entertainer Eve is one of the most popular recording artists of the decade, with more than 7 million copies of her first three albums sold worldwide. When Eve isn't on stage performing or in the studio writing new material she can be seen in acting rolls in films including xXx with Vin Diesel, The Barbershop films, and The Cookout. Eve is back on the big screen this Friday in Whip It and MakingOf had the pleasure to sit with Eve and talk about the pressure working on such an intense physical set, the shifts she makes between working in the music industry and working on a film, and the power of roller derby.
Andrew Wilson, the older brother of actors Luke and Owen Wilson is no stranger to Drew Barrymore's work. Having parts in four of Drew's films (Never Been Kissed, both Charlie's Angels films, and Fever Pitch) the role of the 'Coach' in Drew's directorial debut was a perfect spot for him. Andrew loved every minute on set, constantly "surrounded by beautiful women," and reflects on his favorite moment, which included an epic food fight with the cast.
see the full interview by clicking here.
Working with Actors
Darren Aronofsky on Directing
Producer, screenwriter and director Darren Aronofsky is one of the most unique voices in filmmaking today. Each of his four feature films (Pi, Requiem for a Dream, The Fountain, and The Wrestler) have explored entirely different concepts and themes. Months after the release of Aronosfky's acclaimed movie The Wrestler, he sat down with MakingOf to discuss his directing process.
When working with actors, Aronofsky's first step is to establish trust and give direct, clear vision. He believes this approach gives actors power to bring the story and character alive. Based on his own experience, Aronofsky gives great advise to filmmakers on how to develop great stories. "It's more likely that the audience will relate to your movie if you share stories that are your own and important to you. Everything gets messed up when you try to repeat or copy; reach into your own happiness, struggles and victories - that's what people want to see."
Click here to learn more from Aronofsky on working with actors, his directing challenges, and his advice to future generations of storytellers and filmmakers.
Click here to learn about Darren Aronofsky's Screenwriting Strategies.
Lone Scherfig on An Education
When it premiered at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival, An Education, a coming-of-age tale based on the autobiographical accounts of journalist Lynn Barber, received both audience and critical acclaim. This Friday, moviegoers across the nation will be able to see Director Lone Scherfig’s award winning film in theaters. Scherfig recently sat down with MakingOf to discuss working with actors and her collaborative process on An Education.
Scherfig describes herself as “not a very controlling director,” who gives actors the freedom to contribute their own interpretations of each scene and character. Scherberg believes that in order to move the story forward, the director must focus on the tones of each actor in a scene, as opposed to their individual acting style. When asked about whom she collaborates with most frequently, Scherfig brings up her relationship with the composer, noting that adding a score to a film allows the director to effectively illicit the desired emotion from an audience.
To see the full interview and hear more about the An Education, which is receiving great Oscar buzz click here.
The Role of Improvisation in Film
Director Jason Lehel and Actress Emily Lape Discuss Dramatic Improvisation
During the 100-day strike by the Writers Guild of America, cinematographer Jason Lehel wanted to make a movie, with or without a script. Watch Lehel's exclusive interview MakingOf where he explains the process of making the improvised drama Gaia – produced with no script, no shooting schedule, and no predetermined set locations. The results include Lehel allowing the actors explore and create the story in the moment, believing the idea of risk and improvisation was critical to keep the movie balanced and flowing. On-set lead actress Emily Lape used the Ivana Chubbuck “inner monologue” acting method, writing out her characters thoughts and feelings before every take. Find out more about the improvised film Gaia and the Ivana Chubbuck method by clicking here.
Rachel Harris Talks Comedic Improv and Todd Philips
This summer's hit comedy The Hangover gave comedy actress and Groundlings alumna Rachel Harris the chance to work with director Todd Phillips. Watch MakingOf's exclusive interview and learn how during pre-production Philips worked with Harris to created a back story for her character, Melissa. Hear how Philips also created a comfortable atmosphere that allowed Harris, along with co-stars Ed Helms and Zach Galifianakis, the freedom to try anything and why that open atmosphere paid off for everyone involved. Click here to see the full interview.
In Conversations: The Casts of Bran Nue Dae and the Coen Brothers' A Serious Man
In Conversation: The Cast of Bran Nue Dae including Academy Award Winner Geoffrey Rush
Long time fan of the theater and acclaimed actor Geoffrey Rush stars alongside Ernie Dingo and newcomer Rocky McKenzie in the musical Aboriginal film Bran Nue Dae released in Canada and Australia. MakingOf recently sat down with the cast members to learn about the original concept and its historical roots.
Bran Nue Dae started as a 1990's stage production in Broome, Western Australia, and it was during its early nineties run that Geoffrey Rush first saw the play. Like others who had seen the production, Rush couldn’t believe how the performance and music “kicked on stage!” and immediately envisioned the story on film.
The uniqueness of Bran Nue Dae that caught the attention of Rush and other was its expression of the indigenous people of Western Australia and their equal respect for music and religion. This focus on music comes through in a lavish production of song and dance that is depicted in the film. Click here to hear Geoffrey Rush talk with the other cast members about his love of the pop rock and country western music included in the film.
In Conversation: The Cast of A Serious Man with Richard Kind, Sari Lennick and Michael Stuhlbarg, Part Two
Academy Award-winning screenwriting and directing team, Joel and Ethan Coen are back in theaters this Friday with A Serious Man. MakingOf continues our discussion with lead actors Richard Kind, Sari Lennick, and Michael Stuhbarg. Click here to learn more about the Coen Brothers collaboration process and vision.
Richard Kind was enthusiastic when describing the production ‘sides’ he received on set each day. Throughout the filiming, the Coen Brothers sent out note cards with complete script lines, a thorough shot list, as well as detailed storyboards on the shots for the day to ensure everyone on set knew the specific vision they were striving to meet.
Being open in this way with the cast and crew with regards to the production process creates room for collaboration as Sari Lenick noticed when she shares the story of being caught off-guard by the directing team when asked for her opinion on a costume design. Lenick described the nervousness that she felt on set when approached by directors of this caliber, but what got her through was the constant reminder that, “they think you can do it.”
Click here to see the first part of our In Conversation with the cast of A Serious Man
MakingOf Continues to Spotlight its Coverage of Whip It
Today's features explore the directorial process of first-time director Drew Barrymore, and includes a discussion with the film's screenwriter Shauna Cross regarding her collaboration with Barrymore and her take on the necessary skills to become a successful writer for film.
WHIP IT PRESS CONFERENCE (EXTENDED)
Barrymore begins the interview by explaining her love of the new challenges inherent in the role of director and how these challenges influenced her approach to the film. Calling on her experience as an actor, the director was cognizant of the difficulty of balancing the discipline and fun necessary on a set to develop characters that appear and feel natural, and not stiff. To this end, Barrymore focused on being a problem solver, leading and guiding her cast and crew, but also preserving informal time for improvisation and dialog.
Actor Daniel Stern offers praise for Barrymore's balanced approach, calling her not only the technical leader on set, but also the emotional leader of the film and it's cast and crew. Additional praise for Barrymore's directing talents comes from Actor Landon Pigg and Actress Alia Shawkat who say that in preparing for an emotionally taxing scene, there were zero barriers between the director and actor.
Click here to see more from the director and cast of Whip It
SCREENWRITER SHAUNA CROSS ON WHIP IT
MakingOf sat down with screenwriter Shauna Cross to discuss the skills important to a screenwriter and how they were essential to her work on Whip It. A film-school-educated screenwriter, Cross compares a good screenwriter to a “a really good business person,” explaining the need to think like an audience while creating fresh work that invokes passion in others. She also stresses the importance of being a continuous reader in order to develop into an intuitive writer, explaining that “reading a ton of screenplays, even awful ones, is beneficial".
Cross was ecstatic about collaborating with director Drew Barrymore and the unique opportunity to develop the Whip It screenplay while simultaneously completing the novel on which the film is based. The screenwriter also discusses the importance of character development in the writing process, and in the case of Whip It the additional need to cast believable actresses to portray the strong personalities in the very real Texas derby scene.
Click here for additional insight from the screenwriter of Whip It
Actor-Musician Eve and Andrew Wilson talk about the Making Of Whip It
Entertainer Eve is one of the most popular recording artists of the decade, with more than 7 million copies of her first three albums sold worldwide. When Eve isn't on stage performing or in the studio writing new material she can be seen in acting rolls in films including xXx with Vin Diesel, The Barbershop films, and The Cookout. Eve is back on the big screen this Friday in Whip It and MakingOf had the pleasure to sit with Eve and talk about the pressure working on such an intense physical set, the shifts she makes between working in the music industry and working on a film, and the power of roller derby.
Andrew Wilson, the older brother of actors Luke and Owen Wilson is no stranger to Drew Barrymore's work. Having parts in four of Drew's films (Never Been Kissed, both Charlie's Angels films, and Fever Pitch) the role of the 'Coach' in Drew's directorial debut was a perfect spot for him. Andrew loved every minute on set, constantly "surrounded by beautiful women," and reflects on his favorite moment, which included an epic food fight with the cast.
see the full interview by clicking here.
Today MakingOf Goes Behind the Scenes with the Cast of Whip It, Drew Barrymore’s Directorial Debut
After a welcomed reception at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), Drew Barrymore’s anticipated directorial debut, Whip It, graces theaters this week. Barrymore, with the help of her team of indie all stars, embraces the humor and charm in Shauna Cross’ story of reluctant teenage beauty queen, Bliss Cavendar’s (Ellen Page) quest to find her own voice. When chance places a flyer for a roller derby competition in her path, Bliss discovers her own passion and finds acceptance with an offbeat roller derby team, and along the way learns the most important lesson in the rink, “to be your own hero.”
In anticipation of the film’s release, today MakingOf presents exclusive interviews with lead actor Ellen Page and Whip It supporting actor, Juliette Lewis. Academy Award nominee Ellen Page’s body of work includes a wide range of films - from big budget blockbusters (The X-Men Franchise) to low budget independent films (Smart People, Hard Candy), to the Academy Award winning Juno. Page talks candidly with MakingOf about the transition from a ten year old memorizing lines, to her realization at fifteen that she “was finally playing someone who wasn’t her.” Page also gives insight into the family camaraderie on Barrymore’s set and the relationships that grew out of working with the ensemble cast. Click here to see her full interiview.
Academy Award nominated actor Juliette Lewis (Cape Fear, Natural Born Killers, From Dusk Till Dawn) is a welcomed addition to the roller derby’s band of eclectic characters. After touring with her former band Juliette and the Licks, and more recently The New Romantiques, Lewis was happy to take a break from the road and jump back into filmmaking. Lewis explores her “love of the [film] medium,” and describes the roles first time, second time, and veteran directors have given her. Click here to see her full interview.
Stay tuned this week for additional MakingOf coverage of Whip It, including exclusive interviews with actor-musicians Eve and Landon Pigg and actors Allia Shawkat and Andrew Wilson; and screenwriter Shauna Cross.
Also expect more coverage including a behind-the-scenes featurette, character profiles and additional film clips.
Tomorrow look forward to an exclusive discussion on James Cameron’s Avatar: The Game.
The Creative Coalition Joins Forces with MakingOf
This year, MakingOf joins forces with The Creative Coalition to co-host a dinner celebrating the art and craft of filmmaking and honoring its champions. With a host committee including Natalie Portman, Harvey Weinstein, Bob Weinstein, Dan Glickman, Hal Sadoff, Robert Baruc and Bill Clark, this event is part of The Creative Coalition’s Spotlight Initiative that supports filmmakers who bring attention to pervasive themes and powerful messages through their work. Among this year’s honorees are Lee Daniels, Director of Precious, Rebecca Miller, Director of Private Lives of Pippa Lee, Alejandro Amenábar, Director of Agora and John Hillcoat, Director of The Road.
MakingOf.com provides a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of new movies before they hit theaters and connects fans with the directors, actors, actresses, writers and producers who bring the world of film to life. Here fans enjoy exclusive on-set video segments captured during filming, exclusive one-on-one video interviews with filmmakers, movie trailers, photos, and clips.
featured blogs
Actress America Ferrara shares her most embarrassing behind-the-scenes moment with MakingOf
The MakingOf Team
America Ferrara discusses what it was like on the set of "Our Family Wedding."
"The Pacific" writer Bruce C. McKenna shares with MakingOf his experience collaborating with Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg on the development of their highly anticipated HBO miniseries
Christine Aylward, Co-Founder
Before the premiere of HBO's epic, $200-million World War II miniseries "The Pacific," I had the privledge to talk with screenwriter and co-executive producer Bruce C. McKenna.
2010 TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES WORLD NARRATIVE AND DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION
MakingOf Festival News,
9th Annual Festival to Present 85 Feature-Length and 47 Short Film Selections from April 21 – May 2, 2010
featured articles
No Film School's Guide to DSLR Shooting
Filmmaker Magazine
Ryan Bilsborrow-Koo has just posted an astonishingly detailed and useful article on his No Film School site called "The DSLR Cinematography Guide."
Tom Ford interviewed by Gus Van Sant
Interview Magazine
Tom Ford is without question one of the mostrecognizable fashion designers America has ever produced.
Why Having Ten Best-Picture Nominees is Working
Vanity Fair
Ten nominees has made potential longshots, which in past years would have had no hope, seem vaguely viable.
Screenwriter-Director Paul Cotter on Shooting on a Micro-Budget
Film News Briefs
This week FilmNewsBriefs had the pleasure of speaking with writer/director Paul Cotter, who made his feature film BOMBER on a micro-budget (aka, under $150,000).
